The Spectator., 1915-07-23
CHAPTER xl.
The Castle of the Terror.

TIC CdStfe or the error.
 The big Finn rowed me down the swollen river.
 After nearly a mile, the stream again opened out into a broad lake where. in the distance, saw rising sheer and high from the water, long square building of three stories, with tall round tower at one corner-an old medieval castle it seemed to be. From one of the small windows of the tower. as we came into view of it, light was shining upon the water, and my guide seeing it, grunted in satis- ]. faction. It had undoubtedly been placed there as signal. After waiting live minutes or so, he pulled straight across the lake to the high, dark tower that descended into the water. The place was as grim and silent as any had ever seen, an impregnable strong hold of the days before siege guns were invented. the fortress of some feudal prince or count who had prob ably held the surrounding country in thraldom. A small wooden ledge and half a dozen steps led up to low arched door, which opened noiselessly, and the dark figure of woman stood peering forth.
 My guide uttered some reassuring word in Finnish in low half-whisper, and then slowly pushed the boat along to the ledge, saying:
 Your high nobility may disembark There is at present no danger"
 l rose, gripped big rusty chain to steady myself. and climbed into the narrow doorway in the ponderous wall where l found myself in the darkness beside the female who had apparently been expecting our arrival and watch ing our signal.
 Without word she led me through a short passage, and then, striking a match, lit big old-fashioned lantern. As the light fell upon her I recognized that she was a member of some re- ligious order. The thin ascetic coun. tenance was that of woman of strong character. and her funereal habit seemed much too large for her stunted, shrunken figure.
 "The sister speaks French?" I haz- arded in that language, knowing that in most convents throughout Europe French Is known.
 "Oui. m sieur. But are you not afraid to venture here? No strangers are permitted here, you know. If your presence was discovered you would not leave this place alive-so I warn you. By admitting you I am betraying my trust, and that I should not have done were it not compulsory"
 Compulsory! How?"
 ''The order of the chief of police Even here, we cannot afford to offend him."
 So the fellow Boranski had really kept faith with me, and at his order the closed door of the convent had been opened.
 Of course not" I answered. Rus sian officialdom is all-powerful in Fin. land nowadays. But where is the lady?"
 You are still prepared to risk your liberty and life?" she asked in a hoarse voASS, Auii VI SIiA ucduiHR.
 T am," l said, Lead me to her"
 You are on Russian soil now. m'sieur. not English" she remarked in her broken English If your ob- ject were known. you would never be spared to return to your own land Ah!" she sighed, you do not know the mysteries and terrors of Finland. am a French subject. born in Tours. and brought to Helsingfors when I was fifteen. I have been in Finland forty i've years. Once we were happy here. hut since the czar appointed Baron Oberg to be governor general" and she shrugged her shoulders without finishing her sentence.
 Baron Oberg--governor general of Finland!' gasped.
 Certainly. Did you not know?" she said. dropping into French Tt is four years now that he has held au- preme power to crush and Russify these poor Films. An, m sieur! this country. once so prosperous, is a blbt upon the face of Europe. His methods are the worst and most unscrY~ - nny employed by RuasiA Bel /. 5 n&6n " mnn Ahn hnn1 6p