The Spectator., 1915-07-30
CHAPTER xi-Continued.

The unfortunate girl whom I was there to rescue drew back in fright against the wall for a single second, then, seeing that I had closed with the hulking fellow, she sprang forward, and with both hands seized the gun and attempted to wrest it from him. His fingers had lost the trigger. and he was trying to regain it to fire and so raise the alarm. l saw this, and with an old trick learned at Uppingham l tripped him, so that he staggered and nearly fell
 An oath escaped him, yet in that mo- ment Elma succeeded in twisting the gun from his sinewy hands, which now held with strength begotten of a Knowledge of my imminent peril. He was huge and powerful. with strength far exceeding my own, yet l had been reckoned good wrestler at Uppingham, and now my knowledge of that most ancient form of combat held me in good stead. He shouted for help. his deep, hoarse voice sounding along the stone corridors.
 AS we were struggling desperately, the English girl slipped past us with the carbine in her hand and with quick movement dragged open the heavy door that gave exit to the lake. l heard splash, and saw that Elma no longer held the sentry's weapon in her hands. Then at the same moment I heard voice outside cry in a low tone; Courage, excellency, Courage! I will come and help you"
 It was the faithful Finn. who had been awaiting me in the deep shadow, and with few strokes pulled his boat up to the narrow rickety ledge outside the door.
 Take the lady!" I succeeded in gasping in Russian. Never mind me" and I saw to my satisfaction that he guided Elma to step into the boat, which at that moment drifted past the little platform.
 I struggled valiantly, but I was slow, 1y being vanquished. Mine was a fight for life. A sudden idea flashed across my mind, and continued to struggle, at the same time gradually forcing my enemy backward towards the door. He cursed and swore and shouted until, with sudden and almost superhuman effort, tripped him, bringing his head into violent contact with the stone dinteI of the door.
 There was the sound of the crash ing of wood as the rotten platform gave way. a loud splash, and he sank like stone, for although stood watching for him to rise, l could only distinguish the woodwork floating away with the current.
 As I stood there in horror at my deed of self-defense, the place sudden ay resounded with shouts of alarm, and in the tower above me the great old rusty bell began to swing, ringing it's brazen note across the broad expanse of waters. Behind me in the passage I saw light and the glitter of arms. A shot rang out, and bullet Yhizzed past me. Then I jumped, and nearly upset the boat but taking an oar be- gan to row for life. and as we drew away from those grim, black walls the fire belched forth from three rifles.
 Again the guards fired upon us, but in the darkness their aim was faulty. Lights appeared in the high windows of the castle. and we could see that the greatest commotion had been caused by the escape of the prisoner. The men at the door in the tower were shouting to the patrol boats, calling them to row us down and capture us. but by plying our oars rapidly we shot straight across the lake until we got under the deep shadows of the oppo- site shore. Out in the center of the lake 1e could just distinguish long boat with three rowers going swiftly towards. the entrance to the river. which we so desired to gain
 The guards were rowing rapidly. the oars sounding in the rowlocks, evi- dently in the belief that we had made for the river. But the Finlander had apparently foreseen this. and for that reason we were lying safe from obser- vation in the deep shadow of an over hanging tree. A gray mist was slowly rising from the water. and the Finn. noticing 1t. hoped that 1t might favor us-