Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1915-08-20
CHAPTER XII.
The Castle of the Terror.

The Castle of the Terror.
The big Finn rowed me down the
swollen river.
After nearly a mile, the stream
again opened out into broad lake
/ where, in the distance, l saw rising
sheer and high from the water, a long
square building of three stories, with
a 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 1t,
light was shining upon the water, and
my guide seeing it, grunted in salts
faction. 1t had undoubtedly been
placed there as signal. After waiting
five 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
we're 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 dozen steps led up to low
aTched door, which opened noiselessly,
and the dark figure of woman stood
peering forth
My guide uttered some reassuring
word in Finnish in a low half-whisper,
and then slowly pushed the boat along
10 the ledge, saying:
"VOIty bioI, ,oI1iI;+vy 10 ~
There is at present no danger"
rose, gripped a 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
short passage, and then, striking a
match, lit big old-fashioned lantern.
As the light fell upon her recognized
that she was a member of some re-
ligious order. The thin ascetic coun-
tenance was that of a woman OF
strong character, and her funereal
habit seemed much too large for her
stunted, shrunken figure
The sister speaks French?' / haz-
arded in that language, knowing that
IN most converts throughout Europe
French is known.
"Oui, m'sieur. But are you not afraid
TO venture here2 No strangers are
permitted here, you know. If your
presence was discovered you would
not leave this place alive-so / warn
you. By admitting you am betraying
my trust and that 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 Beransh had really
Kept faith with me, and at his order
tile closed door of the convent had
been opened.
OF course not" answered. rus
sian otficialdom is all-powerful in Fin
land nowadays. But where is the
)ady?"
You are still prepared to risk your
liberty and life?" she asked In q horse
voice, full of grim meaning.
am said. Lead me to her."
You are on Russian soil now,
u sieur, not English" she remarked
n her broken English. IF your OBJ
lect were known, you would never be
spared to return to your own land.
AT she sighed, you do not know the
mysteries and terrors OF Finland. /
am F1'"nch subject, born in Tours,
an brought to Helsingfcrs when was
i-1een. l have been in Finland forty
.s years Once we were happy here.
pe1 since the car appointed Baron
'oers to be governor general" and
rae shrugged her shoulders without
finishing her sentence.
baron oberg- governor general Of
audi" gasped.
Certainly. Did you not know she
SAD dropping into French. 1T is
IYuF years now that he has held SUI
p'ens power to crush and Russify
'"ese poor Firms. All, m'sieur! this
country, once so prosperous. is a blot
'pon the face of Europe. His methods
0Ie the worst and most INSCRIPTIONS
ol any employed by Russia. Before he
SSAa here ha was the best hated man