Year: 1873

oOhNOhNO 10


The prisoner did not sink down, but he
fell down, and was allowed to remain
where he fell until he regained strength
enough to crawl up on the seat.


Z" If that's the way the bloody old
heather jibes his booms, we may as well
take in canvas at once ~ growled Joe
while l was dumbfounded. There had
been no accuser evidence, witnesses, law
yers or audience, but the whole matter had
rested with the sulen-faced official behind
the desk. The other two prisoners we're
ordered up, and disposed of in the same
way, and then it camo my turn.


"Prisoner, stand up - ordered the
judge.


been arrested without process, and do not
recognize the theory that am prisoner.
If am to be tried, want to know the
charge who makes it, and want the priv
ileges of an accused party"


"That's so ~ roared Joe, leaping up;
"you just touch a hair of his head, and
you'll feel the talons of the bird of freedom
scraping at your baldhead pretty quick
Just go ahead with this tomfoolery bust
ness if you dare %


The judge had few hairs on his head,
and they stood up straight, whilo his face
was like coal. He fidgeted around, spoke
to vlitcby, and then asked:


"Will you leave the country ?"
tgNot bu ha horpanoo,, ~ toxyIod t..
"Id see your old town under water to the
mastheads before I'd let you drive me
out p


"And you?" asked the judge, pointing
to me.


want the minister here before an
swer," was my reply.


i knew afterwards that we would both
have been set at liberty if making the
promise, but as we would not make it,
and as they did not purpose to give us
public trial, the judge consulted the spies,
and then sent us below. AS we reached
the jail we turned to the left, and entered
a room fitted up something like a black
smiths shop. A big chain was suspended
to hooks on each side of the room, and ten
person. in pairs, had already been fastened
to it.


Boarded by pirates ~ growled Joe, as
he saw that we were to be chained. "Now,
matey, let's give 'em few Yankee
knocks ~


There were five Of the Jail officials in the
room, and sharp fight ensued. Joe got
hold Of a two pound hammer with long
handle, and secured an iron bar, and they
had more than they wanted to do to even
dodge the blows. Had there been no more,
we could have walked out but after a few
minutes guard of soldiers came in with
muskets, and then the game was up.


"When you can't beat against gale you
can always run before it," remarked Joe,
as we took position alongside the chain.


There was terrible hullaboo in the pris-
on in five minutes there was whole COM
pany of soldiers present, and the twenty or
thirty officials had armed themselves as If
expecting an insurection. But we had no
further movement to make. Istood on the
left side of the chain, and band Of iron
was clasped around my arm above the
elbow, the ends slipped past each other
and a rod passed through the sides in a
hole cut for it, then through link of the
chain, and was then hammered down. The
job was done in a bungling manner, but was
nevertheless stout and strong as could be
desired. Joe was served in the same man
nar and then two more Drisonera comnlated
the chain, making fourteen in all, four of
whom were women. Joe's tongue was not
still for moment; he gave everybody
piece Of his mind, and when the blacksmith
cuffed his cars, he retafated with kick
which doubled the man in half circle.


1t was noon before we got ready to move.
Joe was singing as we moved out into the
street, was watching to catch sight of the
face of European, and the other twelve
were bowling and lamenting. There was
considerable hope yet If they marched us
through the streets of Cronsdadt and st.
Petersburg, the chances of my being seen
and identified were good. But the Rus
slams had perhaps talked over the matter ;
at any rate, we were headed for the quay
by the most direct route, and on arriving
there were hustled on board small steam
or.


"You see their game, don't youa" whis-
pered Joe "they didn't dare take us
through the streets, but win run us up the
lake, and start us for Siberia from some Of
the towns on the northeast side" Con