The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-02-21

10 the sea, Tor tney know tnat no
person could some here with anything
but evil intent" He picked up a huge
bowlder, poising it aloft with ease.
Follow met" he cried, and hurled
himself with his burden against the
door.
That was the mightiest blow that
ever l saw struck. It shivered the
oaken timbers from bottom to top.
Only the iron bolts restrained the frag-
ments of the door. A moment later
and we had cleared away this obstruc-
ton, just as two bearded giants step
ped along the flags within and con-
fronted US.
Yield" cried Nikolai in Rus
sian, covering them with his revolver.
They threw up their hands with
alacrity. where is your companion?"
Nikolai asked.
in the light chamber" they answer
ed sullenly.
We dashed pell-mell up the stone
stairs. We came upon him as he
descended; in a twinkling he was dis
armed. The lighthouse was ours. 1t
was the work of a few moments to
pour out the oil and break the lenses.
I'VE should have kept those fellows
prisoners" said Nikolai. Still, they
can do no harm. They will not dare
attack us, and there is nowhere for
them to go. Now, men, back to the
boat.
We hurried down. AS we ran we
heard shouts beneath us-defiant,
hooking, they seemed. When WI
reached the ruins of the door below
the cries came from the darkness,
mingled with the pounding of the surf.
Nikolai exclaimed aloud and ran on
alone across the slippery rocks. l
heard him stumble and fall. Then
curses came to us from without, and
a hail of bullets whizzed past our
ears. At the same instant we heard
oars grating against the rocks.
Then we understood. We had not
thought to guard our boat The watch
men had taken it, and, knowing every
inch of the coast, would doubtless run
it away.
Another hail of bullets made US
dodge. Nikolai came limping back
to me, his face c~onvulsed with fury.
Were trapped like rats" he said
between his teeth. Then a thought
struck him.
They must have a boat of their
own" he called. Follow mel" He
dashed across the rocks again, the rest
of us after him. When we reached
the other side we found the remains
of a painter. The lighthouse keepers
had taken their own BOAT as we'll.
And, while we waited there, a suces-
sion of five shots came from the dark.
ness on this side also. We covered
: back into the darkness.
, One man in that boat" said Nj.
kolai. Those shots are from his
magazine. And two in the other.
Now-are they acting in concert, or
does each think we are the other?"
We were soon undeceived. AS by a
signal, a volley came from either side.
Two Of our men cried, stumbled, and
sliding across the slippery weed
| splashed into the sea.
: The wind was rising, and all the
while the breakers had been pounding
upon the rocks. We shouted in vain
: we could not make our voices hearC
above the uproar of the elements
Rain was falling, mingled with a ligh'
I snow.
+ Into the lighthouse, men," crieC
Nikolai; and we reached cover JUS
as another volley fiattened itsel
J, against the massive walls.
l We looked around US. In a tiny
chamber was a heavy table, boltet
into the stone. Nikolai set his shoul
der against it and wrenched it bodil.
from its fastenings. Then we hal
+ dragged, half carried it along the mar
! row passage to the doorway, where
we tilted it on end. 1t fitted the orr
I fee well and formed a barricadI
against surprise.
o But our condition was a desperat,
one. We had only our cutlasses n
d revolvers against rifles, and no NOR
than twelve cartridges apiece. Ye
a we were three against three; and i
g u a~dversaries had command of tn,
offensive there was always the yacht
e AS the attack was not renewed, W
left the third Oh guard and descended
into the bottom story of the light
house. Here we found a curious
winding passageway, cut out of tn
living rock, apparently, and opening
; into an extensive chamber, e~videntl.
the work of engineers. At the en-
t trance we discovered ample provision
9 in the shape of flour and sailed meat
; as well as dried fruits and a grea
8 tank of water, connecting with wha
s must have been a rain reservoir OF
the top of the lighthouse. AS W
approached the chamber in the roc
a low moan reached my ears.
o There are men in therel" l cried t
It Nikolai.
y Who are your" he called.
= Only a moan answered. An oil am
d was burning in a niche of the dam
n wall. Nikolai snatched it up and, des
pite my warnings, advanced towar
the dark recesses of the prison, l TO,
g lowing. In the far nook we saw
y sight that called forth a cry of pit
from my companion.
r Stretched out upon a bed Of filth
+ straw, his hands chained to stee
staples in the wall, was an old mar
emaciated. and apparently upon tn
n verge of death. Beside him knelt
OF EUROPE