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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/23094-h.zip b/23094-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..958d4b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/23094-h.zip diff --git a/23094-h/23094-h.htm b/23094-h/23094-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9808e1c --- /dev/null +++ b/23094-h/23094-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6160 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> +<title>The Boy Nihilist, or, Young America in Russia by Allan Arnold</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +.chapter {text-align: center; color: red; font-weight: bolder} +p {text-indent: 20px} +p.non {text-indent: 0px} +h2 {text-align: center; color: navy} +h3 {text-align: center; color: navy} +hr {width: 50%; color: navy} +td.issue {color: red; font-weight: bolder; padding-right: 5px; vertical-align: top} +body {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%} +</style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Nihilist, by Allan Arnold + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Nihilist + or, Young America in Russia + +Author: Allan Arnold + +Release Date: October 20, 2007 [EBook #23094] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY NIHILIST *** + + + + +Produced by Richard Halsey + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p style="text-align: center"> + <img src="images/cover-pal-576.jpg" width="575" height="824" alt="cover" + style="border: none" /> +</p> + +<h2>THE BOY NIHILIST,<br /> +or,<br /> +Young America in Russia</h2> + +<h3>By ALLAN ARNOLD.</h3> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER I. +<br /> <br /> +THE UNSUSPECTING TRAVELER.</p> + +<p> +The steamship Baltic was on the point of sailing from America to Europe.</p> + +<p> +The usual scenes were visible on the wharf–the rushing on board of +belated freight and baggage–the crush of passengers and their friends +on deck, or down in the cabins, where partings were being drunk in wine; +the crowd of steerage passengers forward, trying to keep out of the way +of the sailors, and at the same time to salute or converse with their +friends on the dock; the rattle and bustle all around; the blow of steam +from the impatient boilers; the sharp, brisk orders of the junior +officers; the rush of carriages with passengers, and the shouting of +draymen anxious to get their loads aboard–all these sights and sounds +were both felt and visible as a bright-looking young man, distinctly +American to all appearances, alighted from a cab and walked up the +steamer's gang-plank, followed by a porter and the driver with trunks +and parcels.</p> + +<p> +He was indeed a bright-looking youth, such as you will find in New York +oftener than anywhere else, and as he reached the deck his hand was +grasped by several young and enthusiastic friends who had come aboard to +see him off.</p> + +<p> +This was William Barnwell, a young New Yorker, slightly over twenty-one +years of age, who had recently inherited quite a fortune from a deceased +relative, and he was now on the point of starting on a tour which he +intended should encompass the globe.</p> + +<p> +He was now alone in the world, so far as relations were concerned, +although he had a large circle of friends to whom he was greatly +attached, as they were to him.</p> + +<p> +From boyhood up he had always been an enthusiast in almost everything, +but more especially in politics and revolution, as shown in national +struggles, and the pride of his life was the history of the American +Revolution, and the success of the patriots in that cause.</p> + +<p> +But outside of his being an enthusiast and a lover of liberty, he was +not known, and had never taken any prominent part in any of the social +or political movements of the day, beyond sympathizing with the +struggles of the working men and women of the world in their struggles +to better themselves.</p> + +<p> +These facts were not only known to his friends, but to many men +belonging to the secret societies of Ireland, Germany, and Russia. That +is to say, they knew him only as a bright young fellow, possessing +brains and pluck, together with enthusiasm, which, if rightly directed, +would make him a valuable member of any secret organization having the +liberty of the people at heart. But beyond this nothing particular was +known of him.</p> + +<p> +His friends gathered around and wished him a prosperous voyage and a +happy return, and with refreshments and flowers they expressed +themselves as only New Yorkers do on such occasions.</p> + +<p> +And as he stood there on deck, surrounded by his friends, he looked +indeed like a representative American young gentleman.</p> + +<p> +He was light-complexioned, nearly six feet in height, and proportioned +like an athlete; bright, smart, and intelligent.</p> + +<p> +And while the excitement of "sailing-day" was at its height, and young +Barnwell was in the midst of his friends, a strange man approached and +tapped him on the shoulder.</p> + +<p> +The young man turned to see who it was, but he did not know him.</p> + +<p> +"Can I speak a word with you?" the stranger asked, with a strong foreign +accent.</p> + +<p> +"Certainly. Excuse me a moment, my friends. I will join you presently," +said Barnwell, walking away with the stranger, a little way forward of +the main hatch, out of the crowd.</p> + +<p> +"You are William Barnwell, I believe?" said the stranger.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, that is my name," said Will.</p> + +<p> +"I was sure of it. You are going abroad for pleasure, I understand?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes."</p> + +<p> +"You are an American?"</p> + +<p> +"I am proud to acknowledge it," said Will, drawing himself up to his +full height.</p> + +<p> +"And let me tell you, young man, I know you thoroughly–know you for a +thorough-bred American gentleman."</p> + +<p> +"Thank you."</p> + +<p> +"You would do almost anything in the cause of human liberty?"</p> + +<p> +"I would."</p> + +<p> +"I wish I had known you before."</p> + +<p> +"Why?"</p> + +<p> +"I might have bound you closer."</p> + +<p> +"To what?"</p> + +<p> +"The heart of human liberty."</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p> +"I cannot tell you now. But when will you go to St. Petersburg, Russia?"</p> + +<p> +"Well, I did intend to go there at once, and from there visit the +different capitals."</p> + +<p> +"And will you go to St. Petersburg?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly."</p> + +<p> +"And will you do me a favor–will you do it in the cause of human +liberty?" asked the stranger, catching hold of his hand.</p> + +<p> +"I will."</p> + +<p> +The stranger appeared like a Russian or a Polish Jew, but there was +something about him that seemed to interest Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Can I trust you beyond a doubt?"</p> + +<p> +"I think you can in ordinary matters. Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p> +"For very good reasons. And when you know that the lives and liberty of +hundreds of brave men and women depend upon your trust and faith, will +you swear to be true?"</p> + +<p> +"I will swear, sir," said Barnwell, earnestly, for he was becoming more +strongly interested.</p> + +<p> +The stranger appeared to hesitate as though not daring to trust the +entire importance of the business to the young man. But he finally +concluded what to do, evidently, and drawing Barnwell still further away +from the throng, he took a large brown envelope from the breast-pocket +of his coat.</p> + +<p> +"Everybody in St. Petersburg knows Prince Mastowix, and it will be an +easy matter for you to find and approach him, seeing that you have your +passport all right. Will you swear to me to place this envelope in his +hand, allowing no one else to see or handle it?" asked the stranger, +with great earnestness.</p> + +<p> +"I will swear to do so if you will tell me your name, and assure me that +I shall not be breaking any law of my country by so doing."</p> + +<p> +"Paul Zobriskie is my name," said he, after hesitating an instant, and +gazing sharply at the brave youth before him.</p> + +<p> +"I think I have heard the name before, in connection with socialistic +matters," mused Will.</p> + +<p> +"Very likely; but keep that to yourself, for it will be better for you +not to know me in Russia. As to the other, I assure you that you will +break no law, social, moral, or political, in giving this to Prince +Mastowix."</p> + +<p> +"Very well. On those conditions I will convey the packet to him," said +he, taking it.</p> + +<p> +"Good; and the prince will be of great service to you during your stay +in Russia, and perhaps furnish letters which will assist you in many +other capitals."</p> + +<p> +"Thanks. That is just what I require, as I have no letters of +introduction anywhere beyond my passport, and shall be a stranger +everywhere," said Barnwell, evidently delighted with such a prospect.</p> + +<p> +"Good speed to you," said Zobriskie, shaking him cordially by the hand.</p> + +<p> +"Thank you," and they parted, Barnwell thrusting the envelope into his +breast-pocket.</p> + +<p> +He returned to his waiting friends and apologized for his protracted +absence.</p> + +<p> +"Do you know that man, Billy?" asked one of his friends.</p> + +<p> +"Well, not particularly. He wanted me to deliver a letter for him, +that's all."</p> + +<p> +"Well, keep an eye on yourself."</p> + +<p> +"What for?"</p> + +<p> +"That man is an exiled Nihilist, and there may be danger in what you are +doing," said he.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I guess not. It is only to deliver a letter to a certain man in St. +Petersburg," replied Barnwell, carelessly.</p> + +<p> +"Well, in these times, anything that is connected in the remotest way +with the city of the Czar is suspicious. Have an eye to yourself, +Billy," he added again.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, never fear. I shall at least do that. But come, I have some good +cheer waiting for you in my cabin. Friends, follow me," said he, leading +the way through the crowd to the cabin stairway.</p> + +<p> +And there they gathered to receive his cheer, and to wish him all the +fortune and good luck that could wait on mortal man.</p> + +<p> +But while all this was going on there was a pair of small black eyes +fastened upon him, as his own shadow might cling to him–fastened from +the moment Paul Zobriskie drew him aside to converse.</p> + +<p> +Those eyes belonged to one Tobasco, a Russian detective, stationed in +New York, and he knew his business thoroughly, having been intrusted +with the duty of watching the Nihilists who were fermenting plans +against the empire on this side of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p> +He had overheard but little that had passed between Paul Zobriskie and +the unsuspicious young American, but while his eyes appeared directed in +some other way, he saw the well-known Russian Nihilist deliver him a +parcel, knowing him to be going to St. Petersburg (for this much he had +overheard), and it at once became his duty to shadow this young man and +ascertain the nature of his mission, even though he did not know it +himself.</p> + +<p> +So he at once took measures to provide himself with a passage, and going +on shore, he purchased a few necessaries which he had not time to get +from his lodgings, and he wrote a letter to his landlord, informing him +of his unexpected departure, together with instructions regarding his +personal effects.</p> + +<p> +Only a few moments after his return to the steamer's deck, the cry "All +ashore!" was heard, and young Barnwell came on deck with his companions +to take a final leave of them, as dozens of others were doing with the +groups of friends surrounding them.</p> + +<p> +It is at such a time as this that the feelings of friendship come out +the strongest.</p> + +<p> +Those who have taken passage, even on ever so large and staunch a ship, +seem like ants on a piece of driftwood, especially when the number of +shipwrecks is considered, and that among the first-class steamships; and +when friend parts with friend each understands the danger and +uncertainty of ever meeting again, and consequently the partings are +more pathetic, the handshakes more intense, embraces more fervent and +sensational than they would be under other circumstances.</p> + +<p> +But those embraces were exchanged, those earnest handshakes indulged in, +and everybody not going to Europe was ordered ashore. What partings, +what expectations!</p> + +<p> +The gang-plank is finally drawn ashore, the last lines loosened from +cleats and spiles, the engineer's bell rings, and the black hull of the +Baltic moves slowly from her pier.</p> + +<p> +Friends on the dock give cheers to those on board, and they, in return, +wave their handkerchiefs, kiss their hands–aye, from the cabin to the +steerage-passengers, and the forecastle (those not employed), all waft +their good-by greetings to those who are left behind, not knowing +whether they may be the more fortunate or not.</p> + +<p> +William Barnwell stood on the after-deck waving his hat to the friends +he had just parted with, and in spite of the dangers of the deep, of +which he never thought, wondering how long it would be before they would +meet again.</p> + +<p> +The secret police agent stood near the main-hatch, and watched him +narrowly.</p> + +<p> +Darkness was just closing in when the gallant steamer, with her nose +pointed to the southeast, passed the Sandy Hook light, and began to lay +her course towards England.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER II. +<br /> <br /> +THE SPY AND THE VICTIM.</p> + +<p> +The noble steamer Baltic plowed her way through the buffeting bosoms of +the blue Atlantic oceanward.</p> + +<p> +There was no land, in sight, there was no moon to light the waves, but +their own phosphorescence made the bounding billows visible to those who +came on deck. The sky above was clear, and the stars twinkled in the +blue above like diamonds in sapphire setting.</p> + +<p> +There were a goodly number of passengers on deck, both cabin and +steerage, and the hum of voices could be heard above the "clang-clang" +of the engines, the "whurr" of the propeller, and the long lines of foam +which shot away to larboard and starboard like streaks of silver gave +food for reflection and conversation.</p> + +<p> +Billy Barnwell was on deck, and in a very short time a conversation +sprang up between him and an aged gentleman, by whose side sat a young +lady with a veil over her face.</p> + +<p> +Her voice was full and sweet, and the old gentleman's voice was that of +a man who was perfectly balanced, showing in all respects a person of +more than ordinary conditions in life–a refined gentleman.</p> + +<p> +But in the uncertain light of the cabin skylights Barnwell could not see +plainly enough to distinguish faces, although the voice of both the old +man and the young lady were so impressed upon his mind that he could not +forget them.</p> + +<p> +Tobasco was also on deck, as it was his province to be, and he watched +young Barnwell, of course, and also the people with whom he was +conversing.</p> + +<p> +Indeed, he seldom allowed them out of his sight during the entire +voyage.</p> + +<p> +It seemed strange to them, but on meeting the next morning on deck, all +three of them recognized each other at once, not-withstanding they had +only met each other in the dim and uncertain light thrown into the +darkness by the lights from the cabin skylights.</p> + +<p> +But neither of them seemed in the least surprised, the old gentleman was +just such a person as young Barnwell judged him to be, and the young man +was in no way different from what he had esteemed him. But to Barnwell's +mind the young lady was far more beautiful and attractive than her voice +had led him to think the night before.</p> + +<p> +She was about eighteen years of age, well-developed, bright and +beautiful, and he was not long in learning that they held the +relationship of father and daughter; and after a mutual introduction +brought about in this sea-going way, it proved that the old gentleman, +whose name was Clark, had been an old-time friend of Barnwell's father, +and this brought them into very close relationship while on the voyage.</p> + +<p> +He was wealthy, a widower, and with his only child was going abroad for +pleasure; and before their arrival at London the young couple had become +more than ordinary friends, and parted there with an arranged meeting a +month hence at Berlin, after which they were to travel in company.</p> + +<p> +The spy, Tobasco, meanwhile, never allowed Barnwell to escape his +observation; and when he set out for St. Petersburg it was only because +Barnwell was going there also.</p> + +<p> +He was one of the keenest spies in the employ of the prefect of police, +and had been sent to America to watch the movements of Socialists, who +were in active sympathy with the terrible Nihilists of Russia, under the +leadership of Paul Zobriskie.</p> + +<p> +And watching this Nihilist so closely accounts for his being on board +the steamer where we first met him, and of his sailing away in the +manner he did. He had long suspected Prince Mastowix of infidelity to +the Czar, notwithstanding the trust that was reposed in him; and +overhearing Zobriskie mention his name in connection with the giving the +letter to Barnwell, he suddenly determined to find out whether or not +his suspicions were correct.</p> + +<p> +Arriving at St. Petersburg, Barnwell was driven to a good hotel, +intending while there to finish his visit and deliver the letters +meantime, that, however, being only of a slight consideration; for, +although he understood that it was a message of importance, it, so far +as he was concerned, was only a slight, friendly obligation in the +delivering of it to Prince Mastowix, after which he would be free to do +as he liked.</p> + +<p> +Indeed, his mind for the most part was filled with pleasant thoughts of +beautiful Laura Clark, and the pleasure he should enjoy when they met at +Berlin, never to part again if he could have his way about matters which +agitated his heart, and to which he knew she was not at all indifferent, +if she really were not quite as willing as he was.</p> + +<p> +Tobasco also took quarters at the same hotel, yet so guarded had he kept +himself aloof during all the time, there was not the slightest danger of +Barnwell's ever knowing that he had been a fellow-passenger, but he +never relinquished his watchfulness for a moment, for if young Barnwell +was in his apartments he knew it, and if he was abroad he was sure to be +almost as near as his shadow.</p> + +<p> +The third day after his arrival, and after he had learned how to reach +Prince Mastowix, he set out for his palace.</p> + +<p> +But how little the young man knew of the ways of Russian aristocracy!</p> + +<p> +Arriving at the prince's palace, he found it guarded at every point by +police, and when he made known to them that he had private and important +business with his highness, he at once became an object of more than +ordinary interest, especially when it was learned that he was an +American.</p> + +<p> +Tobasco, now in the disguise of a Russian peasant, was close at hand, +watching everything, while pretending to be a subject for alms.</p> + +<p> +An officer took Barnwell's name in to the prince, and finally returned, +saying that he was empowered to receive any communication the stranger +might have for Prince Mastowix, and was astounded almost when the young +American told him that he must see the prince in person.</p> + +<p> +In those Nihilistic days such a proceeding as that would never do, and +after further consultation with the prince, the detectives and officers +were ordered to search the stranger for concealed weapons.</p> + +<p> +"No, sir, I refuse," said Barnwell. "I am a simple American citizen, +with a message for Prince Mastowix, and if that is not sufficient I will +retire."</p> + +<p> +This was unheard-of audacity; but one of the officers volunteered to say +to the prince what the young American had said, all the while believing +that the youngster would ordered under arrest for his presumption.</p> + +<p> +Contrary to expectations, however, the prince ordered stranger to be +admitted to his presence, and he was accordingly conducted thither.</p> + +<p> +"Well?" said the prince, looking at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p> +"Are you the Prince Mastowix?" asked Barnwell, calmly.</p> + +<p> +"I am. Who are you?"</p> + +<p> +"William Barnwell, of New York, United States of America," said he +proudly.</p> + +<p> +"Well, what have you to do or say to me?" asked the prince, haughtily.</p> + +<p> +"Only this, prince, and a very little. On the eve of leaving New York I +was approached by one Paul Zobriskie—"</p> + +<p> +"Silence!" shouted the prince, and after waiting a moment, as though to +recover himself, he waved his attendants from the room. Then, turning to +Barnwell, he beckoned him approach nearer. "What did you say?" he asked, +in a lower key.</p> + +<p> +"Simply what I said, sir; and to finish the business between us, allow +me to deliver you this letter," said he, presenting to him, feeling +somewhat aggrieved on account of the arrogant manner in which he was +received both by the prince and his attendants.</p> + +<p> +The prince took the letter, and Barnwell was about to retire.</p> + +<p> +"Wait!" said the Prince, severely.</p> + +<p> +"My mission is fulfilled, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Wait until we see whether it is or not," replied the haughty +aristocrat, and he proceeded to open the letter.</p> + +<p> +Whatever it contained, it suddenly made a change in facial expression of +the prince, who glanced from it to Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Do you know this Paul Zobriskie?" he asked, earnestly.</p> + +<p> +"No. I never met him until I saw him on the steamer, and he asked me to +deliver this letter to you," said he.</p> + +<p> +"Are you sure of that?"</p> + +<p> +"I am."</p> + +<p> +"And know nothing about him?"</p> + +<p> +"Nothing further than hearing of him as a socialistic agitator."</p> + +<p> +"And you know nothing of the contents of this letter?"</p> + +<p> +"Nothing whatever. He told me nothing further than that it was +important, and that I must give it to no one but you."</p> + +<p> +"What are you?"</p> + +<p> +"A simple American citizen, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Do you belong to any secret society?"</p> + +<p> +"No, sir."</p> + +<p> +The prince regarded him a moment, and then turned to read more of the +letter, wondering at the same time why Zobriskie should have trusted +such a fatal document to any but a tried and trusted Nihilist.</p> + +<p> +The conclusion he arrived at was that there was treachery somewhere, or +that there was a possibility of such a contingency, and to guard himself +he resolved to put the unsuspecting stranger under arrest.</p> + +<p> +Without a word further, he touched a bell, and in an instant three +gendarmes presented themselves.</p> + +<p> +"This man is a prisoner; remove him to the castle for further +disposition," said he.</p> + +<p> +Young Barnwell started in surprise. What did it mean?</p> + +<p> +The officers approached him, when he turned to the prince.</p> + +<p> +"What is the meaning of this, sir?" he demanded indignantly.</p> + +<p> +"State prisoners are not always allowed to know State reasons."</p> + +<p> +"But I am no State prisoner; I am an American citizen, and I demand to +know why I am arrested."</p> + +<p> +"You may learn in time."</p> + +<p> +"I will appeal to the American Minister, to the Czar of Russia even."</p> + +<p> +"No, you will not. Away with him!" said the prince, determined above all +things that he should make no such an appeal or have a chance to do so.</p> + +<p> +"Do you really mean this outrage?"</p> + +<p> +"Call it what you like, but wait and see," he replied, waving him away.</p> + +<p> +The officers knew nothing but duty, and in spite of young Barnwell's +protests and struggles, he was overpowered and dragged away in the +direction of the Bastile.</p> + +<p> +Tobasco followed closely after them. What he had seen and heard +confirmed his suspicions that the prince was a traitor, and that he had +ordered Barnwell's arrest through fear.</p> + +<p> +As for Barnwell, he, of course, saw that it was an outrage of the +deepest dye, and he had no idea of submitting to it.</p> + +<p> +His American blood was up, and, knowing his own great strength, he +watched his opportunity as the guards led him from the prince's quarters +towards the Bastile. He suddenly wrenched himself away, and knocked one +of them sprawling upon the courtyard flags.</p> + +<p> +Quick as thought almost, he sent another of them toppling against the +wall of a building.</p> + +<p> +A third was on the point of firing at him with his musket, when Tobasco +dealt him a stinging blow from behind, that sent him sprawling on top of +his comrades.</p> + +<p> +"Quick, young man! Escape by the gate yonder, and fly to the American +minister for protection," said Tobasco; and without waiting for an +explanation he fled, and in an instant more was on the street, while +Tobasco quickly secreted himself in a deep doorway, for his work was not +done yet.</p> + +<p> +Recovering from their stunned condition, the gendarmes raised an alarm +in the courtyard, which quickly brought out the prince's followers, and +even the prince himself rushed from his room into the courtyard, to +ascertain the cause of the alarm.</p> + +<p> +Flitting like a shadow almost, Tobasco ran from his hiding-place into +the office that the prince had hurriedly left; and seeing the paper and +envelope lying upon his table, hastily secured it and again returned to +his hiding-place.</p> + +<p> +It did not take Prince Mastowix but a moment to find out that the young +American had escaped from his guard, and he was wild with rage.</p> + +<p> +"After him, laggards! What are you standing here for? Retake him, or +I'll have every rascal of you knouted!" he roared.</p> + +<p> +But this exhibition on his part only made the confusion greater for a +moment.</p> + +<p> +Finally, without any attempt at order, a rush was made by servants and +soldiers for the gate to join in the pursuit.</p> + +<p> +Tobasco, looking more like a peasant servant than anything else, mingled +in the rush, shouting the loudest of any of them in urging the pursuit, +and in this way, escaped from the palace without exciting the least +suspicion.</p> + +<p> +Once free from the palace-gate, young Barnwell had no idea whatever of +the best way to go, but being determined to escape at all hazards, he +shot off to the right and ran like a deer.</p> + +<p> +But he had only time to gain a block or so ahead before the mob of +soldiers and retainers rushed out and caught sight of him.</p> + +<p> +Then the pace was quickened. Barnwell glanced over his shoulder, and saw +them coming after in the shape of a howling mob, and he plunged onward +at still greater speed, going he knew not where, nor caring either, so +long as he got away, and could find direction to the American Minister's +residence.</p> + +<p> +He asked several as he ran for direction, but no one seemed to +understand his language, and the mob at his heels, augmented by the +police and citizens, was growing larger and larger every moment.</p> + +<p> +But still he kept the lead, and paid no attention to several shots fired +after him.</p> + +<p> +He was a stranger in the city, and not knowing which way to go, was +finally captured, roughly taken in charge, and handcuffed.</p> + +<p> +In the meantime, Tobasco made his escape complete, but stopped to see +the soldiers drag the young American back to the prison to which tyranny +had consigned him.</p> + +<p> +The excitement among the populace ran high, and rumor had it that the +authorities had captured an important Nihilist official; and this, of +course, roused that numerous and much-dreaded body of secret destroyers +to learn, if possible, through their agents, all the particulars of the +case.</p> + +<p> +William Barnwell was thrown into a dark and loathsome dungeon, from +whence the body of many a poor prisoner had been borne after death, +produced by torture and starvation.</p> + +<p> +"Curses on my luck!" he muttered, after collecting his thoughts for a +moment. "It must be that I have been betrayed by that Paul Zobriskie +into the hands of the Russian authorities. But what could have been his +motive, when I was an innocent stranger, and only did what I did to +accommodate him? What will be the result if I cannot communicate with +the American Minister? I am evidently taken for a Nihilist, and goodness +only knows what the end of it all will be. Am I destined to die in this +horrible place, without having a chance to communicate with my friends? +The thought is dreadful! It must not, shall not be; but–stay. What has +been the fate of other good men who have fallen into the hands of this +despotic government? That fate may be mine, and I sent to Siberia +without even a trial. Oh, the thought will drive me mad!" he cried, and +bowed his head, as he sat there on the filthy straw of his unlighted +dungeon.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER III. +<br /> <br /> +A FRIGHTENED AND ENRAGED RASCAL.</p> + +<p> +When Prince Mastowix returned to his room from ordering the guard to +pursue and recapture William Barnwell, the first thing he did was to +seek for the paper he had left upon his table when the alarm of escape +rang out so startlingly in the courtyard, the very paper that the young +American had placed in his hands only a few moments before, and which +Tobasco, the secret spy of the government, had secured during the +confusion incidental to Barnwell's escape, and in which he had acted a +friendly part.</p> + +<p> +He started and looked wildly around. Then he felt in his pockets to see +if he had not placed it there in his excitement. Then he looked hastily +into several drawers where he possibly might have placed it in the +moment of hurry, and even upon the floor, where it might have fallen.</p> + +<p> +But nowhere could he find it, and his excitement grew until it was +almost uncontrollable.</p> + +<p> +Where was that fatal document?</p> + +<p> +Again and again he went through his pockets and drawers, but all to no +purpose–the paper could not be found.</p> + +<p> +He struck a bell savagely, and a clerk came hastily from an inner room.</p> + +<p> +"Huon, has any person from your room been in here within the last few +minutes?"</p> + +<p> +"No, Excellency, no one," replied the clerk.</p> + +<p> +"Are you certain of that?"</p> + +<p> +"I am, for I am seated by the door, and I never allow anyone to enter +your Excellency's chamber unless you summon them."</p> + +<p> +"And have you seen any person here?"</p> + +<p> +"No one, Excellency."</p> + +<p> +"Will you swear to that, or shall I work the knout in order to bring out +the truth?" demanded the prince.</p> + +<p> +"I swear it by my religion."</p> + +<p> +"Down on your knees and swear!" thundered the prince, and the trembling +wretch obeyed like a true Russian slave.</p> + +<p> +"Return," added the tyrant, pointing the way, and the next instant he +was alone.</p> + +<p> +"Perdition catch me, but this is dreadful. What can have become of that +document?" he mused, as he threw himself into his chair. "Who could have +taken it? I have only one person about me who can read English, and he +is not here to-day," and again he began searching for the fatal paper.</p> + +<p> +All to no purpose, though, of course, and he finally convinced himself +that it was neither in his office nor about his person.</p> + +<p> +"Curses on my luck, for if that correspondence is found out, it means +death or Siberia to me. Could that American have regained it without my +seeing him do it? Great Scott!" he suddenly exclaimed, and hurried to +the Bastile.</p> + +<p> +The possibility of Barnwell's having secured the document did not make +the prince's case any the better. Indeed, it was probably worse, for the +captain of the Bastile may have searched him and secured it himself.</p> + +<p> +Such fears as these hurried him onward, until he reached the prison +where Barnwell was confined, and he instantly summoned the captain.</p> + +<p> +"The prisoner I sent here but now?"</p> + +<p> +"He is in a cell down below."</p> + +<p> +"Did you search him?"</p> + +<p> +"I did."</p> + +<p> +"What did you find?" he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p> +"A passport, a quantity of money, some jewelry, and letters."</p> + +<p> +"Let me see the papers," and they were promptly shown to him. He looked +them over eagerly, but there was no trace of the fatal document from +Zobriski.</p> + +<p> +"Are these all you took from him?"</p> + +<p> +"All, Excellency."</p> + +<p> +"Who searched him?"</p> + +<p> +"One of the guards."</p> + +<p> +"Did you see him do it?"</p> + +<p> +"It was done under my own eyes."</p> + +<p> +"And you will swear that these comprise all the papers he had on his +person?"</p> + +<p> +"I swear it, Excellency."</p> + +<p> +The prince was more confused at this than he was before, for if he had +not taken it at the time of his arrest who could have done so?</p> + +<p> +He dared make no explanation to the jailer, for he knew him to be a +loyal man, and one of the fiercest persecutors of the Nihilists in the +Czar's official household. And yet he half believed that he had secured +the correspondence, and was withholding it for a purpose against him.</p> + +<p> +Finally he said:</p> + +<p> +"Conduct me to the prisoner's cell."</p> + +<p> +"This way, Excellency," and he led him to the stout and heavily-grated +door.</p> + +<p> +"Now leave us," and the officer retired.</p> + +<p> +Prince Mastowix glanced up and down the dimly-lighted corridor to make +sure that no one was in sight, and then he spoke.</p> + +<p> +"William Barnwell," and the young man quickly leaped to his feet and +went to the bars.</p> + +<p> +"Who is it?" he asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p> +"The man who sent you here."</p> + +<p> +"Then you are a rascal," replied Barnwell; and it was fortunate for the +tyrant that he was protected by the iron grating, or he would have been +clutched by the throat.</p> + +<p> +"Careful, young man. I may have acted hastily in your case."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and unjustly."</p> + +<p> +"Well, wrongs may be righted."</p> + +<p> +"Then let me out of this horrible dungeon."</p> + +<p> +"I will, on one condition."</p> + +<p> +"Name it."</p> + +<p> +"That you tell me whether you took that paper again which you brought me +from New York."</p> + +<p> +"No, sir; I never saw it after I gave it to you," replied Barnwell. "You +held it in your hand when I was dragged from your office."</p> + +<p> +The prince now remembered that this was true, and it made the mystery +even greater than before.</p> + +<p> +He turned to go.</p> + +<p> +"But your promise?" said Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Bah!" was the only reply he received, and the next moment he was alone +again.</p> + +<p> +A mocking laugh came from the opposite cell-door grating, and naturally +the abandoned youth looked in the direction.</p> + +<p> +But the face he saw between the bars was hideous enough to make his +blood almost curdle.</p> + +<p> +How old that face was, of what nationality, of what grade of intellect, +he could not tell, for his face was in the shade of that dark place.</p> + +<p> +Again came the mocking laugh, as young Barnwell stood looking and +wondering.</p> + +<p> +"Who are you?" he finally asked.</p> + +<p> +That laugh again, and Barnwell concluded that the person must be a +lunatic, although he could but shudder at the thought that he might have +been driven to madness by the very same imprisonment which enshackled +him, and so turned away.</p> + +<p> +His own misery was quite enough for him, and just then he was in no +humor to listen to another's.</p> + +<p> +"Ha, ha, ha! So you are in the trap, eh?" asked the mysterious prisoner.</p> + +<p> +"What trap?" asked Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"The rat-trap of the great Russian Empire."</p> + +<p> +"I don't know. Who are you?"</p> + +<p> +"Nobody; for the moment a person gets into the great political rat-trap +he loses his identity, and is simply known by a number. I am Number +Nineteen; you are Number Twenty."</p> + +<p> +"How do you know?"</p> + +<p> +"I can see the number of your cell, as you can, of course, see mine."</p> + +<p> +"What were you brought here for?"</p> + +<p> +"For fancying that I was a man, and that I had rights in the world. I +was thrown into this dungeon–it must be three months ago–for throwing +down the horse of a nobleman who attempted to drive over me. I have had +no trial, and expect none. I am as dead to the world as it is to me. I +am simply Number Nineteen, and when this prison gets too full of the +victims of tyranny, I shall be hustled off to Siberia, to make room for +new victims."</p> + +<p> +"It is dreadful. But in my case I did nothing against the law. I simply +brought a letter from America to Prince Mastowix, and he at once threw +me into this place."</p> + +<p> +"Ah! he is the same who threw me into this dungeon, because I resented +being run over."</p> + +<p> +"And for that you think you will be sent to Siberia?" asked Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"I am sure of it."</p> + +<p> +"For so slight an offense?"</p> + +<p> +"Many a slighter one has consigned better men than I am to the mines of +Siberia for life. As for you, you have somehow offended the tyrant."</p> + +<p> +"I cannot understand how. I brought a letter to him from a man in New +York."</p> + +<p> +"What man?"</p> + +<p> +"One Paul Zobriskie."</p> + +<p> +"Paul Zobriskie!" exclaimed the man, clutching the bars that grated the +window of his door. "Do you know him?"</p> + +<p> +"No; I was simply on the point of sailing for Europe when he approached +and asked me to deliver a letter to Prince Mastowix. I did so, and you +know the rest."</p> + +<p> +"Paul Zobriskie is the greatest terror that Russian tyranny knows. He is +a bugbear; but why should he be in correspondence with Prince Mastowix?"</p> + +<p> +"I know nothing about it."</p> + +<p> +"There is a mystery somewhere," mused the man.</p> + +<p> +"If there is, I know nothing about it."</p> + +<p> +"Were I at liberty, I would take pains to find out what this mystery +is."</p> + +<p> +"But how can they hold me?"</p> + +<p> +"By the right of might; just as they hold me. Once in their clutches, +there is no escape. Even were you known to be innocent of any crime, it +would make no difference. The innocent and the guilty are treated alike +in Russia. There is no liberty–no justice in the land. But the time +will come when the Nihilists will shake the tyranny out of the empire +with dynamite!" said he, fiercely.</p> + +<p> +"Silence, slaves!" cried a rough voice near by, and the next instant the +burly form of a keeper stood between them. "Nineteen, you have already +made trouble enough. You must have the knout," and unlocking the door of +his cell, he seized him by the hair of the head and dragged him out and +down through the corridor.</p> + +<p> +Two minutes later the blood was almost curdled in Barnwell's veins by +the shrieking of that same poor wretch, undergoing punishment.</p> + +<p> +But he was not brought back to his cell, and what became of him Barnwell +never knew.</p> + +<p> +His thoughts, however, were soon turned from the wretched stranger to +himself, and to wondering what his own fate would be.</p> + +<p> +One thing he felt certain of, and that was that Prince Mastowix would +never assist him in regaining his liberty.</p> + +<p> +The letter he had so accommodatingly brought from New York undoubtedly +contained something of great importance, but why he should suffer on +account of it he could not see.</p> + +<p> +Could he but make his case known to the American minister, he would +undoubtely be given his liberty, but this he could not do, and it was +the prince who prevented him.</p> + +<p> +He had resolved that the young American should be sent to Siberia, even +knowing that he was guilty of no wrong; and even Tobasco, with all the +proofs of the prince's perfidy in his possession, paid no attention to +Barnwell, although he knew him to be simply a victim. Liberty or life +was nothing to him so long as he could make a point with the prefect of +police and secure unsuspected game. Such is the Russian sense of right +and justice.</p> + +<p> +Day after day dragged its slow length along, and all the while Prince +Mastowix was in a dreadful state of uncertainty. No trace had been found +of the missing paper; and after preferring a charge of assault against +William Barnwell, who was described as a spy of the Nihilists, a form of +trial was gone through with, as with others who were not allowed to be +present, and a verdict rendered up against him, condemning him to +Siberia during the pleasure of the government.</p> + +<p> +That is the way the tyrants of Russia serve people, whether guilty or +innocent, if they happen to incur their displeasure in any way.</p> + +<p> +Is it any wonder that they revolt, or that they resort to secret +intrigue, to dynamite, and all other means, however bloody the +unthinking world may regard them, to give back some of the terror which +they have dealt out for centuries? No, it is no wonder at all.</p> + +<p> +Two weeks William Barnwell languished in the filthy cell of that +Bastile, when he was finally marched out into the courtyard one day, in +company with some fifty other wretches who had been sentenced to exile.</p> + +<p> +And what a change those two weeks had produced in that handsome American +youth! Unwashed, unkempt, dazed by the light of day he had been kept +from so long, his most intimate friends would not have known him.</p> + +<p> +The detail was ready, and outside of the prison were hundreds of loving +ones, waiting to take a last farewell of fathers, brothers, lovers, whom +they would probably never see again. But Barnwell had no one waiting for +him, and it seemed that life, hope, ambition, everything was crushed out +of him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER IV. +<br /> <br /> +SWIFT RETRIBUTION.</p> + +<p> +Retribution does not always go with justice, however, as in this case, +notably.</p> + +<p> +William Barnwell was hurried away to exile, for reasons the reader fully +understands; but even then Prince Mastowix felt far from secure. The +unaccountable absence of that correspondence haunted him day and night.</p> + +<p> +But not for long, however, for that treasonable document was in the +hands of General Walisky, prefect of police, and by him presented to the +Czar and his ministers, together with all the particulars in the case.</p> + +<p> +Action was at once taken and search made for the young American who had +innocently acted as the messenger.</p> + +<p> +But the spirit of the fiend was soon shown, for Mastowix had destroyed +every trace of the American's individuality, blending it with others +who, like him, were simply known by numbers.</p> + +<p> +From the moment a political prisoner is thrown into prison in Russia, he +loses his identity, although the authorities keep a secret roll +containing the names and other particulars regarding the unfortunate +wretches, but that roll is never seen by the outside world.</p> + +<p> +In the fortress-like Bastile over which Prince Mastowix held sway, he +had charge of this fearful secret record; but the better to blot his +existence out, should inquiries ever be made, he applied a false name to +the "No. 20"; described him as a Russian, a Nihilist, who had been +caught in holding correspondence with Paul Zobriskie, and who had also +assaulted Prince Mastowix.</p> + +<p> +But he was arrested and taken before the tribunal, where in the most +defiant manner, he demanded to know why a person of his distinguished +title and record as a servant of the czar was now a prisoner.</p> + +<p> +"Prince Mastowix," said the president of the tribunal, "it ill becomes a +traitor to the State to exhibit such arrogance."</p> + +<p> +"Who dare say I am a traitor–who dare say it lies in his throat!" +hissed Mastowix, although he felt in his heart that something dreadful +was impending.</p> + +<p> +"Silence! Here is a document addressed to you from New York, by Paul +Zobriskie, in which he addresses you in unmistakable terms of +fraternity, and refers to other correspondence, together with certain +other information which he had received, and which could never have +reached him save through you. What have you to say?"</p> + +<p> +It required all the nerve the traitor had to prevent him from falling to +the floor. The members of the tribunal watched him narrowly, and saw +that he grew very pale.</p> + +<p> +But finally he found strength to speak.</p> + +<p> +"It is false both in matter and spirit," he said; but the next uppermost +question in his thoughts was–what spy could have obtained possession of +the document?</p> + +<p> +"And you plead?"</p> + +<p> +"Not guilty!" he replied, aggressively.</p> + +<p> +"Call Tobasco," said the president, and a guard soon produced the police +spy, and he was sworn.</p> + +<p> +"Do you recognize that document?" the president asked, handing him +Zobriskie's letter?</p> + +<p> +"I do."</p> + +<p> +"Give us the history of it."</p> + +<p> +"I first saw it in New York, in the hands of Paul Zobriskie, on board +the steamer Baltic, then about to sail. I was watching Zobriskie, and +saw him approach a young man and ask him if he was going to St. +Petersburg, and on being informed that he was, asked him if he would +deliver this letter to Prince Mastowix, at the same time enjoining him +to be very careful and not let it reach another's hands."</p> + +<p> +"It is false, vile spy!" roared the prince.</p> + +<p> +"Silence!" shouted the president. "Proceed!"</p> + +<p> +"The young American agreed to do as directed, and having had occasion to +suspect that Prince Mastowix was a Nihilist leader in disguise, I +resolved to follow the bearer of the letter, although I could not learn +that he was a Nihilist. I did so, and watched him closely. I saw him +visit the prince, and contrived to follow in the disguise of an +attendant. I saw him give him the letter, and for doing so he was +arrested. The boy struggled and finally escaped. During the confusion in +the courtyard the prince ran out to learn what it was about, and I then +contrived to steal the letter, which still lay upon his table, and to +escape with it without detection. I took it to the prefect of police."</p> + +<p> +Mastowix was so completely staggered at this that he sat glaring wildly +at the spy, unable to move or speak.</p> + +<p> +The members of the tribunal consulted for only a moment.</p> + +<p> +Finally the president spoke:</p> + +<p> +"Prince Mastowix that was, Peter Mastowix that is, this document and the +evidence has been placed before our imperial master, the Czar, and by +his orders you have been brought here for trial and condemnation. The +tribunal adjudges you guilty of treason to the State, and sentences you +to death. Remove the prisoner!"</p> + +<p> +Bowed and completely broken, the guilty wretch, the petty tyrant who had +heaped wrong, misery and death upon so many others, was taken from the +inquisition, crushed and broken.</p> + +<p> +Three days later he was led out into the yard of the very prison over +which he had long and cruelly held rule, and shot to death by the guard, +the very men whom he commanded oft before.</p> + +<p> +There is neither justice nor pity among the Russian nobles, and no +remorse in the hearts of the peasant soldiery who have been brutalized +for a thousand years. So this guard shot their late commander as they +would have fired upon a dog; indeed, if there was any feeling in their +breasts, it was one of revenge for the many brutal wrongs they had +suffered at his hands.</p> + +<p> +It was a severe blow to the Nihilists of Russia, this discovery and +death of Mastowix, but as no cause was assigned for it, they were left +to conjecture, although they feared the worst.</p> + +<p> +Mastowix was ambitious; he even had the hardihood to look to the +extinction of the royal family at the hands of this powerful order, and +trusted to chance to place himself high in power, if not on the very +throne of a new dynasty.</p> + +<p> +And he was of great service to the Nihilists, for he could keep them +well posted continually. But that fatal letter cut him off, while yet +his hope was in the bud, as well as other prominent members of the +order, for eight others whose names were mentioned by Zobriskie were +also arrested and sentenced to exile in the terrible mines of Siberia.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER V. +<br /> <br /> +SIBERIA.</p> + +<p> +A glance at the map will show the geographical location of far-away +Siberia, but no map, no book will tell you what a hell on earth this +northernmost arm of the Russian Empire is.</p> + +<p> +But little is known of it in Russia itself, not even by the members of +the autocratic political family, beyond the fact of its being a dreary, +frozen land of political exile, a region without light or hope for the +banished.</p> + +<p> +The people shudder at the mention of it, for they have heard much of it +from the broken wretches who have been fortunate enough to escape, after +years of toil and suffering. They know that the innocent as well as the +guilty are liable to be sent there; that thousands upon thousands have +died or been murdered there by the autocrat's petty tyrants, placed +there to guard and work them, and that their bones molder or bleach upon +the inhospitable shores, where wolves lay in wait for the bodies of +victims which are thrown where they can reach them, and thus save the +trouble of burial.</p> + +<p> +A large portion of the penal colony is honey-combed with mines, which +the prisoners are forced to work for the benefit of the government that +has exiled them there; and thousands of poor wretches, when once forced +into them, never again see the light of day, but drag out a miserable +existence hundreds of feet underground.</p> + +<p> +The serfs have been nominally freed; but slavery of the most horrible +and degrading kinds is rampant in Russia to-day. The press is gagged and +suppressed, and no man is free to speak his opinion regarding the +tyrants and their doings.</p> + +<p> +Is it any wonder the people meet in secret conclave and resort to +dynamite?</p> + +<p> +After a long and dreary passage, William Barnwell was landed, with his +companions in misery, not one of whom could speak English, in Siberia, +more dead than alive.</p> + +<p> +They had been treated worse than cattle during transportation, and now +their fortunes were on the eve of being made even worse.</p> + +<p> +However guilty the others of his party may have been, his case was one +of the grossest injustice, and one that the United States would have +been quick to demand satisfaction for had there been an opportunity of +finding it out.</p> + +<p> +As before stated, there is no such a thing in Russia as justice. All is +selfish tyranny and inborn ingratitude.</p> + +<p> +They–the members of the secret tribunal–knew that the important letter +which enabled the government to arrest dangerous and wholly unsuspected +enemies had been brought over by a young American gentleman, and also +that his identity had been blotted out, and he sent to Siberia; but +whether he was innocent or guilty, they never gave themselves the +trouble to think, and so, virtually, that was the end of him, so far as +they were concerned or cared; not even thanks enough for the result he +had innocently brought about to inquire into his case at all.</p> + +<p> +On the first day of their arrival they were assigned to different gangs +for different mines, and on the second, to give the newcomers an idea of +what insubordination brought about, they were treated to the revolting +sight of the punishing of prisoners with the knout.</p> + +<p> +There were nearly fifty of them, but what their crimes had been Barnwell +had no means of knowing, as he could not understand the Russian +language.</p> + +<p> +But the poor, miserable wretches were unmercifully flogged on their bare +backs with that terrible weapon of torture, the knout; and while some of +them sent up piteous cries as the cruel whip tore their flesh, others +received their punishment in stolid silence, as though disdaining to let +the tyrants know that they suffered, while still others paid back every +lash with a curse.</p> + +<p> +It was one of the most terrible sights that young Barnwell had ever +conceived of even, and being forced to witness it he became sick and +faint at heart. He had read of such things but until now he never +believed them possible. He could not believe that anything wearing the +human form could be so fiendishly cruel. Indeed, it seemed to be a +holiday treat to those bearded beasts who wielded the thongs, and +whenever a particular case was administered upon they would look at the +newcomer with mocking leers.</p> + +<p> +Finally to Barnwell's infinite horror a young Russian girl was brought +out bared to the waist.</p> + +<p> +She could not have been above twenty years of age and under different +circumstances would have been beautiful and evidently belonged to a +grade higher than the peasants.</p> + +<p> +"Zera Vola!" he heard the governor's officer call as the girl was led +out for punishment.</p> + +<p> +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Barnwell, "are they going to flog her? I had +rather die myself than see it!"</p> + +<p> +He looked around, but no one appeared to understand him, although he +noted the horror and disgust on the faces of the new exiles.</p> + +<p> +The girl was blushing deeply at this forced exposition of her person, +but she seemed otherwise firm and undaunted.</p> + +<p> +The wretch with the knout grinned, and made some insulting remarks, +which his fellow-brutes appeared to enjoy very much.</p> + +<p> +Then she was placed in position and forced to bow her head so that her +beautiful back might be rounded up for the cruel blows. And yet she did +not flinch, and Barnwell saw red scars that told of previous +castigations.</p> + +<p> +The grinning rascal raised his knout to strike her, when young Barnwell, +mad with indignation, leaped into the arena.</p> + +<p> +With one powerful blow he felled the burly rascal like a log, and +seizing his knout, placed his foot upon him and raised it as if to +strike.</p> + +<p> +The movement was so sudden and so bold that the officers were for a +moment paralyzed and stood looking at him.</p> + +<p> +"Wretches, to strike a woman! Flog me if you must vent your brutality, +but if you claim to be men, don't harm that girl!" he cried.</p> + +<p> +She was the only one present who understood the English language.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, sir," said she, "they will kill you for this!"</p> + +<p> +"Let them; I had rather die than witness such horrible brutality."</p> + +<p> +The next instant he was seized, or an attempt was made to seize him, but +before they succeeded in doing so, at least six of them felt his +powerful blows and went down under them.</p> + +<p> +Quick orders were given, and his clothes were stripped from him, and he +was held in position while the executioner rained blow after blow upon +him to revenge the one he had received.</p> + +<p> +And then he was hurried away and thrust into a cold, damp dungeon, his +lacerated flesh bleeding copiously, but with his heart still unbroken.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VI. +<br /> <br /> +STRANGE ACQUAINTANCE.</p> + +<p> +William Barnwell suffered terribly during the next forty-eight hours +after his terrible flogging, for having resented the punishment of a +girl, for during all that time he was left without his clothes and +without food.</p> + +<p> +But his clothes were finally thrown into his cell, together with half a +loaf of black bread, dry and moldy.</p> + +<p> +He had never known what hunger was before, but now he seized that +disgusting loaf and ate it with avidity, and while doing so he dressed +himself, but without having a chance to wash his lacerations, the blood +of which had dried upon his back.</p> + +<p> +But he had suffered much from the cold, and his clothes were welcome +indeed.</p> + +<p> +What would be the next move?</p> + +<p> +He realized that he was a Russian victim, and that in all probability he +would never leave Siberia alive, and that his friends would never know +his fate.</p> + +<p> +Indeed, he understood now that exile to Siberia was like suddenly +sinking into the earth or the sea, never to be seen or heard of again.</p> + +<p> +The particulars of his case were, however, reported to the secretary of +the governor of Siberia, and through him to the governor, who, for some +reason or other, became interested to such a degree that he ordered the +presumptuous prisoner brought before him.</p> + +<p> +When taken from his loathsome cell, young Barnwell did not know, did not +care what his fate was to be. He was so stiff that he could scarcely +walk, and the doing so caused him great pain.</p> + +<p> +He was marched to the governor's palace by two armed guards, and +presently taken into his presence.</p> + +<p> +But he was far from being the handsome-looking youth he was before he +fell into the hands of Russian tyrants, although, in spite of his badly +lacerated back, he still maintained his erect carriage and independent +bearing.</p> + +<p> +The governor looked at him for a moment and then spoke to him in +Russian, but Barnwell shook his head. Then he spoke German, but he did +not understand that.</p> + +<p> +"English," said he.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, you are an Englishman–eh?" asked the governor, who appeared to be +the master of many languages.</p> + +<p> +"No, sir; I am an American," replied Barnwell indignantly.</p> + +<p> +"What brings you here?"</p> + +<p> +"Fraud, deceit, and Russian tyranny."</p> + +<p> +"What did you do?"</p> + +<p> +"Simply brought a letter from New York, from Paul Zobriskie, without +knowing what its contents were–simply to oblige a stranger–and this is +my reward," said he bitterly.</p> + +<p> +"Paul Zobriskie! To whom directed?" the governor asked cautiously.</p> + +<p> +"Prince Mastowix."</p> + +<p> +"Ah! he has been lately executed."</p> + +<p> +"Thank God!" exclaimed Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"And you knew nothing of the contents of the letter?"</p> + +<p> +"Nothing; but it is evident that he thought I did, and when I assured +him that I was not a Nihilist, he ordered my arrest, and here I am in +cursed Siberia."</p> + +<p> +"You speak too strongly."</p> + +<p> +"Because I have been outraged."</p> + +<p> +"You struck one of the guard."</p> + +<p> +"Yes; because he was about to strike a lady on her bare back with his +cruel knout, which act my American blood revolted at," replied Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"That is the way we punish refractory prisoners."</p> + +<p> +"Well, it is the way of brutes and fiends."</p> + +<p> +"You are altogether too outspoken, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Why should I not be? I owe no allegiance to the Czar," replied +Barnwell, quickly.</p> + +<p> +"But you owe respect to me, sir."</p> + +<p> +"As the kid owes respect to the wolf in whose power it is."</p> + +<p> +"Be cautious, I advise you. If what you say of yourself is true, why did +you not appeal to the American Minister at St. Petersburg?"</p> + +<p> +"I was not permitted to do so, sir, but was thrown into a dungeon."</p> + +<p> +"Did you know Zobriskie was a Nihilist?"</p> + +<p> +"I did not. He accosted me when on the eve of sailing, and asked me as a +favor to hand the letter to Prince Mastowix. I did so without suspecting +that I was in any danger."</p> + +<p> +"But it appears that you were in danger, and as I learn from St. +Petersburg, that letter by some means or other got into the hands of the +authorities, he was arrested, brought before the tribunal, proven to be +a Nihilist in disguise, and executed. It is very strange," he added.</p> + +<p> +"But I am not to blame, and why should I suffer for the faults of +others?"</p> + +<p> +"Well, you should not."</p> + +<p> +"Then send me back to St. Petersburg," said Barnwell, eagerly.</p> + +<p> +"That I cannot do without an imperial order. But I will forward the +particulars of your case to the authorities, and then, if they see fit +to act favorably towards you, I will send you back again with pleasure," +replied the governor, who was not altogether bad at heart.</p> + +<p> +"How long will it take?"</p> + +<p> +"That I cannot say."</p> + +<p> +"And what of the money that was taken from me, and my passport, and not +returned?"</p> + +<p> +"Well, sir, if you succeed in establishing your innocence, they will be +restored to you. Was your passport franked by the American Minister?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes; and that should enable him to establish both my identity and my +innocence."</p> + +<p> +"But it might take him a long time to show the Imperial Government that +you are not an enemy to Russia."</p> + +<p> +"But it can be shown."</p> + +<p> +"We shall see."</p> + +<p> +"And in the meantime must I remain in that dungeon?"</p> + +<p> +"No, I will remand you to the guard-house until I can find employment +for you."</p> + +<p> +"Thank you for this much, governor. I have lately inherited a fortune, +and had just set out on a tour around the world, when this unexpected +occurrence stopped me. I am also engaged to be married to a lovely girl, +who knows nothing of me since I parted with her in London for the sole +purpose of delivering this unfortunate letter, and if you can forward +matters any, you will not only win a substantial reward, but the +gratitude of loving hearts."</p> + +<p> +"I will see what can be done," said he, waving him away.</p> + +<p> +"Please do."</p> + +<p> +"Take him to the guard-house and treat him as a prisoner of the second +class until you hear from me again," said the governor to the guard, +speaking in Russian.</p> + +<p> +And William Barnwell was marched away by them with a somewhat lighter +heart.</p> + +<p> +The governor of Siberia sat meditating for some time after being left +alone.</p> + +<p> +He had been a schoolmate of Paul Mastowix, and well remembered that even +as a boy his chief characteristic was hypocrisy, and even in after years +he had many times suspected the loyalty of the man, and was not at all +surprised to learn that he was an active Nihilist behind a mask of +loyalty.</p> + +<p> +And it was so strange that the innocent cause of his sudden downfall +should now come under his charge. The fact gave him an interest in the +young man which he would not otherwise have had, for he evidently +believed his story.</p> + +<p> +So he set to work to think of a place where he could put him until such +time as he could make sure regarding him, and after consulting with the +superintendent, he concluded to put him into the general reception-room, +to act as an assistant in receiving new convicts sent to Siberia.</p> + +<p> +And the following day he was installed there. In the meantime, however +his wounds had been dressed by one of the surgeons–a rare condescension +to a prisoner.</p> + +<p> +It was a strange place, but there was little to do, save when a new +batch of prisoners arrived; and as he had already gone through with the +prisoner part of the business, the place after all did not seem so +strange to him.</p> + +<p> +There were altogether about a dozen men belonging to this department, +and for the most part they were exiles for life, or long terms, who had +become blunted and reconciled-men whose hopes and ambitions were gone, +and who only lived because they could not die–men whose time had not +yet come.</p> + +<p> +The employees in this department seldom spoke to each other. Some of +them were old men, some actually tottering and evidently longing for the +grave, and when young Barnwell was put among them he was not received +with favor, hardly with prison civility.</p> + +<p> +"He is a spy," said one.</p> + +<p> +"Put here to watch us," said another.</p> + +<p> +"But what can he learn? We have no secrets, no desires but to die," +remarked a third.</p> + +<p> +"Yet there must be some reason for this young man's being placed here; +keep an eye on him," whispered a fourth.</p> + +<p> +"Bah!" was the general expression, for they knew there was no occasion +to watch them, and if there was they would not be there, but down in the +gold mines, hundreds of feet below, where they now suffered with the +cold.</p> + +<p> +And so it passed into a matter of indifference with them. They regarded +themselves as favored above the general run of exiles, and they would +not, dared not, question the appearance of the newcomer.</p> + +<p> +As before stated, there was but little to do; in fact. It was little +better than a hospital for favored or dying ones, and so they wondered +for a little while, and then resolved themselves into the same idiotic +company they had become to be.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell comprehended the situation, and resolved to fit himself to it, +for he was buoyed up with a hope of release which the others might once +have had, but which they did not have now.</p> + +<p> +He tried to speak with them, but not one of them appeared to understand +English; and after his first day in this department he began to lose +heart, and had it not been for the hope which buoyed him up, he might +have fallen as low as any of the others there.</p> + +<p> +On the third day he was given the position of servant to the surgeon, +and as he spoke some English, he found it comparatively easy to get +along with him, although, of course, he had great difficulty in any +position, on account of his not being able to speak the abominable +Russian.</p> + +<p> +The hospital for dying or disabled exiles was a most barbarous place, +more like a black hole than a hospital, its principal object being, it +seemed, to hurry prisoners out of the world, after they had become +incapacitated by age, sickness, or accident for working in the mines.</p> + +<p> +There were hundreds of those miserable wretches there, in all states of +conditions, and dozens a week were carted away, and to whom death was a +welcome change.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell was horrified by the sights which met his eyes, and the sounds +which racked his ears; but the thought that he would not have to remain +there long gave him strength to bear up and endure the pitiful sights.</p> + +<p> +The surgeon took quite a fancy to him, and did all he could to teach him +the Russian language, so that he might be more useful. But not having +the time to devote, he sent him to an old man by the name of Batavsky, +who spoke both English and Russian.</p> + +<p> +"He will teach you if he likes you, but if not he will not speak a +word," said he.</p> + +<p> +"Who and what is he?" asked Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Peter Batavsky has been here over thirty years–sent here for +conspiracy against Czar Nicholas. He has worked in the mines until +within the last fifteen months, since which time he has gone mad, and +the governor ordered him here."</p> + +<p> +"Taking lessons of a madman!"</p> + +<p> +"Well, I am not certain he will give you any at all. He is rational +enough at times to do so if he happens to take to you; if not, he will +not notice you at all."</p> + +<p> +"It is a strange situation, but as I am anxious to learn the Russian +language, why, I will take almost any chance to do it, and to oblige +you, doctor."</p> + +<p> +And with this understanding Barnwell went to the cell of old Peter +Batavsky.</p> + +<p> +He found him indeed a character, even if he was insane at times.</p> + +<p> +He was at least seventy years of age, bent and bowed by hard work and +long imprisonment.</p> + +<p> +His thin hair was white, and his skin like old parchment, but his eyes +were bright, and even in his age showed the fires of youth, as well as a +high-born nature, all of which had not yet been crushed out of him by +misfortune.</p> + +<p> +But in youth he must have been a magnificent specimen of physical +manhood, standing at least six feet in height, and the surgeon had told +him that he belonged to a wealthy and influential family up to the time +of his apostacy.</p> + +<p> +He occupied a narrow cell, in which he secluded himself almost +continually, holding no intercourse with his fellow-unfortunates.</p> + +<p> +To this cell young Barnwell made his way, armed with the surgeon's +request, which he at once made known to him.</p> + +<p> +The old man looked him all over in the most scrutinizing manner, for his +great hallucination was that he was beset with spies who were bound to +bring him before the secret tribunal.</p> + +<p> +But there was something about the old lunatic which attracted the young +American, and there seemed to be a counter attraction between them.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VII. +<br /> <br /> +STRANGE TUTOR OF RUSSIAN.</p> + +<p> +"And the surgeon wishes me to teach you the Russian language, does he?" +asked old Batavsky, reclining on his miserable couch.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir, if you will be so good," replied Barnwell, politely.</p> + +<p> +"So good!"</p> + +<p> +"That is what he said, sir."</p> + +<p> +"You are English, eh?"</p> + +<p> +"I speak nothing but English, although I am an American."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, an American, eh? You must be the only American in Siberia."</p> + +<p> +"I certainly hope so, sir."</p> + +<p> +"And so do I; but he wants to have you learn it so as to become a more +useful slave. How long have you been here?"</p> + +<p> +"I came with the last consignment."</p> + +<p> +"Are you a Nihilist?" asked the old man, after a moment's silence, +during which he looked at him sharply.</p> + +<p> +"No, sir; but I think the Russian police authorities will drive me to +being one."</p> + +<p> +The old man rose quickly to a sitting position.</p> + +<p> +"What were you sent here for?"</p> + +<p> +"I was sent here by the treachery of one who has since been executed."</p> + +<p> +"Who was it?"</p> + +<p> +"Prince Mastowix."</p> + +<p> +"Mastowix!" exclaimed Batavsky, and this time he tottered to his feet.</p> + +<p> +He was trembling violently, and his eyes, before half closed, were now +wide open and glaring at Barnwell strangely.</p> + +<p> +"Prince Mastowix, did you say?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir; the governor of the Bastile."</p> + +<p> +"Executed, did you say?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Heaven be praised!" cried the old man, falling heavily upon his couch.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell watched him in surprise for two or three minutes, and then he +spoke:</p> + +<p> +"Did you know him, sir?"</p> + +<p> +"Know him! Do my thirty-five years of exile, slavery, despair, know him? +Yes, it was his treachery that consigned me here, and he was rewarded by +Alexander with a title for his work. Oh, do I know him? And he is dead? +Tell me all about it–he was executed–stay a moment. What is your +name?" he asked excitedly.</p> + +<p> +"William Barnwell, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Good; now tell me all about it."</p> + +<p> +"It is a long story, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Give me every word of it, boy–every word!"</p> + +<p> +He seemed indeed like a maniac now, and under some circumstances +Barnwell would have been afraid of him.</p> + +<p> +But it seemed the news he had brought had given him a favorable footing +in the old man's estimation.</p> + +<p> +So he began with the story, first with his meeting Zobriskie on the +steamer, and so on until he was landed in Siberia.</p> + +<p> +Batavsky listened with the utmost attention, and at points showed much +excitement, trembling violently and scarcely able to restrain himself.</p> + +<p> +"And the villain Mastowix had become a Nihilist?" said he.</p> + +<p> +"It would seem so, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Then he did it to betray the society, provided he could not rise higher +with it."</p> + +<p> +"Very likely, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I know him well! Oh, he was a very fiend! But he is dead?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, my son, this barren waste, those deep-down mines yonder have been +peopled by his victims. Aye, the very wolves have gnawed the bones of +his victims until they have come to know him as a benefactor, I'll dare +be sworn. But he is dead–he has been executed! Thank Heaven!" and with +another wild laugh he sank upon his couch and buried his face in the +straw.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell stood gazing at him with awe and wonder.</p> + +<p> +"What a terrible history must be his," he thought, as he regarded him.</p> + +<p> +It was some moments before the old man regained sufficient composure to +command himself.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell could say nothing, and so he waited for the old man to resume.</p> + +<p> +Presently, with a sigh, he roused himself and sat upright on his couch.</p> + +<p> +"How is it with you, sir?"</p> + +<p> +"I–I hardly know, my son," he replied, after a pause, during which he +looked earnestly at him. "I am supposed to-that is, the surgeon has been +so good as to ask me to teach you the Russian language. You have been +outraged."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir; but not to the extent that you have been," said Barnwell, +taking his hand.</p> + +<p> +"My son, I like you," said he, returning the pressure of his hand. +"There is something about you that fills a long vacant place in my +heart. I will do all I can to teach you the Russian language, but at the +same time, if I find you apt, I will teach you even more than that, for +there is much more to be learned, my son."</p> + +<p> +"And I hope I may be found worthy, for I will admit that I like you much +more than words can express. I was told something of the time you have +slaved here, and also that you were now insane, but it does not seem +so."</p> + +<p> +The old man was silent a moment.</p> + +<p> +"Well, my son, I will not say but you have been rightly informed, for +there are times when I do not know myself, and it may be that I am then +insane. But what would you or any man be, suffering all I have +suffered?"</p> + +<p> +"It is a wonder that you are alive, my dear sir," said Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"I wonder at it myself, but I have clung to life for the sake of +revenge–for the hope I had of one day escaping from this frozen place +and killing the villain whose treachery consigned me here. And now you +come and tell me that other means have taken away my revenge! I–I feel +a great change creeping over me. Yes, yes–but I will do all I can to +teach you the Russian language."</p> + +<p> +"But, from what I have told you, you can understand that I have not long +to remain here, and probably but little use for the language."</p> + +<p> +"Poor boy!" moaned the old man, shaking his bowed head sadly.</p> + +<p> +"Why do you so exclaim?"</p> + +<p> +"You hope to escape?"</p> + +<p> +"I do."</p> + +<p> +"Ah! do not lay that flattering unction to your immortal soul, my son."</p> + +<p> +"Why not? The governor assured me that he would present my case to the +authorities."</p> + +<p> +"But he never will."</p> + +<p> +"What!"</p> + +<p> +"Or if he does it, will never be acted upon. Oh, how many have I known +in the thirty-five years that I have toiled and suffered here, who held +hopes just as bright, and whose unredeemed and unclaimed bones now +whiten on Siberian snows! I do not wish to dishearten you, nor do I wish +to buoy you up with false hopes."</p> + +<p> +"But my case is different, my dear sir."</p> + +<p> +"It may be, as one-half differs from another; but remember that once a +name is obliterated and the owner of it is transported to Siberia, there +is no power on earth to reclaim him."</p> + +<p> +"But I am an American, and no criminal,"</p> + +<p> +"True; but who is to find that out, and who bring it to the notice of +those powerful enough to demand an investigation? No; when once a person +is disposed of in Russia in this way, that closes his career."</p> + +<p> +"Do you really think so, sir?" asked Barnwell, feeling his heart sink +within him.</p> + +<p> +"Have I not had evidence enough of it. The police are too busy at home +to notice even the recommendations of the Governor of Siberia. The +authorities send all here–they call none back under any circumstances."</p> + +<p> +"Is that so?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes; guilty or innocent."</p> + +<p> +"And you believe that I am destined to drag out my life here?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, unless you escape."</p> + +<p> +"Escape?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes."</p> + +<p> +"Can it be done?"</p> + +<p> +"I don't know. It may have been done, although I could never do it. +There have been several mysterious disappearances during my time here, +but we could never learn whether they escaped or died, or were tortured +to death."</p> + +<p> +"And would you have me abandon hope?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, of pardon and reinstatement."</p> + +<p> +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Barnwell, bowing his head abjectly.</p> + +<p> +"I give you no false hopes. I would that I could be sure of your +escape," he mused.</p> + +<p> +"Why?"</p> + +<p> +"That is, if I found you worthy."</p> + +<p> +"Of what?"</p> + +<p> +"Of the trust I would repose in some true heart," said the old man, +sadly.</p> + +<p> +"You speak vaguely, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Well, I may be able to speak more plainly by and by. But in the +meantime I will take particular pains to teach you the Russian +language."</p> + +<p> +"I thank you, but mournfully, since you lead me to believe that my only +use for it will be here in Siberia."</p> + +<p> +"I would not banish hope."</p> + +<p> +"Of what?"</p> + +<p> +"Of your ultimate escape from here."</p> + +<p> +"How?"</p> + +<p> +"That will be a future consideration."</p> + +<p> +"But do you believe there is a chance?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes. While the springs and muscles of youth are potent, there is always +a chance–always a hope."</p> + +<p> +"I will dare anything; but I am a stranger here, and know not, how to +move."</p> + +<p> +"Then possess your soul in peace for a while. You have not the strength +of a lion, but you may have the cunning of a fox. Assume to be contented +with your lot, and learn all you can of your surroundings. Learn well +the road away from here. It may take years, as it has in my case, and +you may never succeed, as I have not, but it behooves a brave man to be +always ready to take advantage of circumstances. You have not been sent +here as a dangerous criminal, and will not be so closely guarded as I +have always been, the proof of which is that the governor assigns you +here for hospital duty. But the proof that there is a very remote +probability of your ever being recalled by the powers that consigned you +here is this wish on the surgeon's part for you to learn the Russian +language so as to become more useful here."</p> + +<p> +"I will not learn it," said Barnwell, with a sudden burst of +indignation.</p> + +<p> +"Walt a moment. Will you take me for a guide?"</p> + +<p> +"With all my heart I will."</p> + +<p> +"Then do all in your power to learn the language, and at the same time +to appear to be reconciled. More follows."</p> + +<p> +"I will obey you, sir."</p> + +<p> +"I see you are both brave and sensible. Force does not work here, save +to oppress. Be cunning, be sly, and, after you have mastered the +language and the situation, then there will be more hope for you. And, +when you are strong enough, I will tell you the story of my life."</p> + +<p> +"Strong enough?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes; for it will take more than ordinary strength to stand it. But I +feel a great change since meeting you. The ambition and rage for revenge +has been toned down, and now a relapse may follow it."</p> + +<p> +"How?"</p> + +<p> +"This hope of revenge on Mastowix has buoyed me up during all these +years; but now that I find that you have been the innocent cause of +bringing retribution upon him, I feel that my life's object, my object +for living, no longer exists, and a relapse from that high excitement is +coming on, and I may die at any moment; but, thank goodness, perfectly +sane."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, do not talk so, please. You are the only friend I have in all this +vast expanse of human misery. Do not think of dying, I beg of you," said +Barnwell, greatly excited.</p> + +<p> +"Goodness knows how long the time may be; but do not leave me, my son, +do not leave me. I have a premonition of death, and that must not be +until I have transferred a great secret into some worthy hands."</p> + +<p> +"And you still trust me?"</p> + +<p> +"I will. I feel that I can. Come and see me again to-morrow to–mind +you–to take still further lessons in the Russian language."</p> + +<p> +"I will come."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VIII. +<br /> <br /> +THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND A STORY.</p> + +<p> +The next day, and for several days, William Barnwell visited the cell of +old Peter Batavsky for the purpose of receiving lessons in the Russian +language.</p> + +<p> +The poor old exile was undoubtedly right when he said that the surgeon +of the hospital wanted him to learn it so that he would become a more +valuable slave.</p> + +<p> +But at the same time he had convinced him that it was best for him to +learn it, and so he applied himself with all diligence, greatly to the +delight of the hospital surgeon, who, having taken a fancy to the +American youth, without stopping to think or to care about the cruel +tyranny that had taken him there, wanted him to become even more useful, +as he undoubtedly could be by learning to speak Russian.</p> + +<p> +And old Batavsky had learned to love him during the time. But as his +excitement over the death of Prince Mastowix subsided he became more and +more rational.</p> + +<p> +His whole intent now seemed to be to teach Barnwell the language, and +then to confide to him not only the story of his eventful life, but the +pith of it, which covered a great secret.</p> + +<p> +And the young exile had also learned to have a most profound respect for +Batavsky, whom he found to be a highly educated man of more than +ordinary ability, and how he could be thus consigned to such a dreadful +place for life was more than he could understand, knowing but little of +the dark deeds and ways of Russian tyrants.</p> + +<p> +But in spite of what the old man had told him regarding the +improbability of his ever being released, he still hoped that the +governor would make good his word, and that his case would in time reach +the American Minister at St. Petersburg, and that his government would +interfere and demand his release.</p> + +<p> +And so he struggled on and hoped, learning rapidly all the while, and +making himself more and more valuable to the chief surgeon. And, too, he +was becoming hardened somewhat, and used to the suffering which he saw +in the hospital, and which was so revolting to his nature at first.</p> + +<p> +Week after week, month after month, went by without bringing him any +word of hope, and he was not permitted to see the governor for the +purpose of asking him if he had sent his case back to St. Petersburg as +he agreed.</p> + +<p> +He could do nothing but labor, wait and hope. Every month or so there +would come a batch of prisoners from St. Petersburg or Moscow, and +official dispatches, but nothing came for him; no word, no suggestion +that he was even remembered in any way.</p> + +<p> +Hope began to die in his heart, where he had nursed it so long.</p> + +<p> +Was he, then, really doomed for life?</p> + +<p> +And what of the beautiful girl of whom he was so fond, and whom he +promised to meet at Berlin?</p> + +<p> +Would she not forget and condemn him for failing to keep his word, not +knowing why did did not keep it?</p> + +<p> +One day when he went to the cell occupied by old Batavsky, he found him +unexpectedly low and evidently very ill; in fact, he was nearly +unconscious.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell at once sprang to his side.</p> + +<p> +"Are you ill, sir? Speak to me."</p> + +<p> +The old man opened his eyes slowly when he caught him by the hand, but +he did not speak, and Barnwell went at once and reported the case to the +chief surgeon, and asked for some brandy for him.</p> + +<p> +"No; let him die! he cannot live much longer anyway," was the brutal +reply.</p> + +<p> +"But I am getting along so nicely in learning the language of him—"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, well, take him some brandy, then."</p> + +<p> +Without losing a moment he hastened back to the old man with a cup of +brandy.</p> + +<p> +"Here, sir, take some of this, and it will make you feel better," said +he, raising his head tenderly, so as to enable him to do so.</p> + +<p> +Batavsky allowed him to place the cup to his lips, and he drank several +swallows of the strong liquor, after which he lay down again.</p> + +<p> +"Thank you, my son."</p> + +<p> +"Do you feel better, sir?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes; it warms my old blood a trifle. It was very kind of you to get it +for me, but I shall not tax your kindness much longer," he said, with a +sigh.</p> + +<p> +"It is no tax to do a helpless person a kindness," replied young man.</p> + +<p> +"True, but I am so unused to kindness. Yet I am glad you came to me +to-day, for knowing I have but a short time to live, I wish to confide a +secret to you."</p> + +<p> +"Are you strong enough to talk? Take another sip of the brandy."</p> + +<p> +"Thank you, my son; keep it, for it may enable me to tell my story +through, but I could not do so without it. The secret I am about to +transmit to your keeping has been my secret for nearly forty years. I +have hoped and hoped for thirty-five of those years that I should escape +in some way, but the hope is finally dead in me, and I transfer it to +you, who are full of life, youth, strength, and hope.</p> + +<p> +"After I am dead, be it the ambition of your life to get away from this +accursed place."</p> + +<p> +"Doubt not it shall be, sir."</p> + +<p> +"And should it be your misfortune not to be able to do so, promise me +that before you die you will transmit the secret to some intelligent +Nihilist, in the hope that he may succeed."</p> + +<p> +"I promise you, sir, and I will exact a like promise from him if you +wish it."</p> + +<p> +"It shall be yours to judge, my son. As I have stated to you at +different times, I was betrayed by Mastowix, with whom I was engaged +with others in a plot against Nicholas, Czar of Russia. I was worth a +million of rubles, and the whole of it I pledged to the cause of human +liberty in Russia. Mastowix knew this, and he also knew that other +members of the society had large sums thus pledged. After a while I half +suspected him, and so secreted my gold in a place known only to myself."</p> + +<p> +"A million of rubles!" mused Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, my son, gold rubles. Well, Mastowix, when he thought the time ripe +for his villainy, betrayed us all, with the understanding that he was to +have one-half of all the government could find belonging to us, together +with an office in which he could rise to ennoblement. Nicholas accepted +his proposition, and we were banished to Siberia. All of my companions +are dead, and all these years Mastowix has reveled in their money and +the smiles of the autocrats. But he failed to find my rubles, as I +intended he should do, for no eye saw the spot where I secreted it. And +all these long weary years I have waited and hoped to escape, so I might +secure that money and put it to the use I originally dedicated it to. +Now, my son, will you see that this money is recovered and turned +against tyranny?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, if I ever escape. Every ruble of it shall help crush a tyrant," +said he resolutely. + +"Spoken like the brave youth I know you are."</p> + +<p> +"But if I never succeed in escaping, then the money will molder and +still be as useless as it has been during your long imprisonment," he +replied sadly.</p> + +<p> +"True, but you must escape. You have youth on your side, and can afford +to bide your time. Again, you have an advantage that I never had. You +will probably never be sent into the mines where I have slaved my life +away, never, but once a year, seeing the light of day, and this will +give you opportunities for escape which I have never had. Play your +cards so as to win the confidence of your superiors, and when the right +time comes manage somehow to escape. How, I will not undertake to tell +you. That you must work out yourself. But shape your course for the +German frontier, and once across the border you will be safe."</p> + +<p> +"So far away?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, for there is liberty and safety nowhere short of there. If you +succeed, the money is yours, to do with as you like, only assure me that +a portion of it shall eke your revenge, and mine."</p> + +<p> +"I promise you, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Good. If you live to reach Germany, make inquiries for the village of +Mertz. Once there, become familiar with the place and its mountainous +surroundings, after which this diagram will assist you in finding the +cave where the gold is hidden," and he took from his breast, next to his +poor old wrinkled flesh, a strip of folded parchment, which, when +unfolded, was about eight inches square.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell took it with hands that trembled fully as much as the old man's +did.</p> + +<p> +"On it is a map which you can easily study out and decipher, and which +will surely lead you to the hidden treasure. It is a wild and +uninhabited part of the town, only about five miles from the frontier +border. That red dot there marks the spot where it is secreted, and you +notice that all lines on the diagram lead to it. Mark the line leading +up from the old post-road, and on it are marked the—"</p> + +<p> +At that instant a servant entered the cell and announced that the +surgeon wanted "No. 1000," which was Barnwell; and remembering how long +he had been absent, he hastily thrust the parchment under his shirt.</p> + +<p> +"I come," said he in Russian, and the slave went away. "I will see you +again at the first opportunity. Drink the remainder of the brandy," and +he almost pressed it to his thin lips.</p> + +<p> +"Be on your guard, my son; for from this hour your watchfulness must +begin. Farewell."</p> + +<p> +"Farewell; and I shall hope to find you better when I come again," said +Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"But do not be surprised to find me dead."</p> + +<p> +"Cheer up, your time is not yet come, I hope; and, besides, I want +further instructions."</p> + +<p> +He did not wait for a reply, but hurried to the surgeon's office.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER IX. +<br /> <br /> +THE DEAD EXILE.</p> + +<p> +On reaching the chief surgeon's quarters he found that irritable petty +tyrant possessed of much temper on account of his long absence.</p> + +<p> +"If you don't pay more attention to your duties, I will have you sent +into the mines."</p> + +<p> +"Pardon me, sir, but I found the old man very low, and, tried to comfort +him," said Barnwell, respectfully.</p> + +<p> +"Curse him, let him die. He only lingers from pure obstinacy to make +trouble here. The wolves are waiting for his carcass. Go and bring my +dinner!"</p> + +<p> +Barnwell hurried from the presence of the brute; but he could have +choked the life out of him for what he had said.</p> + +<p> +But, brute that he was, he fell upon the food that was soon placed +before him, and after gorging himself and washing it down with fiery +Russian brandy, he showed more of his brute instincts by becoming more +peaceable, and finally going to sleep in his chair.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell removed the wreck of the feast as noiselessly as possible, and +left him alone, not daring, however, to go far away, for fear of again +exciting his ire, knowing that he had the power to consign him to the +underground mines, or even to kill him like a dog. And so he sat and +waited his pleasure.</p> + +<p> +But his anxiety was hardly to be mastered, for he wanted a few more +words with Batavsky regarding the solution of the diagram he had given +him, not knowing whether he would be alive when he might see him next.</p> + +<p> +What new thoughts crowded themselves into his mind now!</p> + +<p> +And although his desire to escape was no greater than ever, yet the +possibilities that would now attend it were overwhelming, almost.</p> + +<p> +But how was he to give force to all this–how could he escape from that +closely-guarded colony, with armed sentinels at every turn, and trained +bloodhounds ready to follow any scents even if he escaped from the +guards. He would be sure to be missed, and the guards knowing nothing of +his whereabouts, let it be supposed, those savage brutes would be +started out in every direction until they found his scent, and then run +him down to death from their fangs or for an easy capture.</p> + +<p> +He had seen too much of it during the terrible year he had lived in +Siberia. Many a wretch, ambitious to be free, he had known to set his +life upon the hazard of a chance, and attempt to escape into the Ural +mountains, only to be run to bay by those terrible hounds, and either +killed by them or dragged back into the captivity sure to be made worse +than before.</p> + +<p> +And he had seen men have their flesh stripped from their naked backs +with the cruel knout, in the hands of unfeeling wretches.</p> + +<p> +And had he not been buoyed up by hope of one day escaping, he would +surely have taken his own life as he had actually seen others do when +hope failed them.</p> + +<p> +The situation was a dreadful one, even to a criminal; but what was it to +an innocent man like William Barnwell? But, after all, it gave nerve to +his heart.</p> + +<p> +While cogitating thus, Kanoffskie, the chief surgeon, awoke with a +snort.</p> + +<p> +He glared wildly around the room in a startled way.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell looked at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p> +"Did you see anything?" he finally asked.</p> + +<p> +"Nothing unusual, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Did you hear anything?"</p> + +<p> +"Nothing, sir."</p> + +<p> + +"Did I cry out in my sleep?"</p> + +<p> +"No, sir, not that I heard."</p> + +<p> +"It must have been a nightmare, but it was dreadful," mused Kanoffskie.</p> + +<p> +"They are sometimes very horrid, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Very strange. How is old Batavsky?"</p> + +<p> +"I have not seen him since, sir."</p> + +<p> +"I thought in my dream that he had me by the throat, and was strangling +me with his bony fingers. And I thought he hissed in my ear that he was +going to take me with him. I was powerless in his dreadful grasp, and I +thought he dragged me down, down, through some huge volcano's crater, +sulphurous and suffocating, growing hotter and hotter all the while as +we plunged downward, until finally I saw the blue and yellow flames dart +up as though to meet and welcome us, and heard the agonized cries of +anguished beings far below! Anon I could see them writhing in their +fiery torment, and I recognized many faces there that I had seen on +earth. As I drew nearer they seemed to forget their agonies, and joined +in a glad, wild chorus of imprecating welcome to me. Fiends came at me +with blazing swords and fiery prongs, and in my extreme terror I awoke. +Oh, it was dreadful!" he added, hiding his face in his hands.</p> + +<p> +"It surely must have been, sir, and I have read of such sleeping +agonies. But, after all, it was but a dream," said Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, but such a dream! Barnwell, I would not go through the agony of +such a dream again for Alexander's crown. You are an educated, well-read +man. Tell me, do you believe there is such an awful place?" he asked, +and he seemed to have forgotten all his old hauteur.</p> + +<p> +"Our common religion teaches us that there is."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Heaven, forgive and keep me from it," said he, bowing his head +abjectly. + +"My dear sir, you lay too much stress on an ugly dream. Remember that +you went to sleep after eating a hearty dinner and they often cause ugly +dreams," said Barnwell, for thought it would best serve his purpose to +attribute it to it might be, rather than to what it probably was–a +warning of the future.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, if I could only think so I would abandon the sin of gluttony at +once. But that terrible face, those bony fingers, which seemed to +penetrate my neck like eagle's claws!" and involuntarily he placed his +hand upon his neck, as if he really expected to find lacerations there, +showing that he was greatly frightened.</p> + +<p> +"Barnwell, go and see how Batavsky does," he added.</p> + +<p> +"I will, sir."</p> + +<p> +"And hurry to let me know."</p> + +<p> +Barnwell withdrew, and Kanoffskie bowed his head upon the table before +him, repeating a simple prayer of the Greek Church which he had not +quite forgotten.</p> + +<p> +The young man made haste to Batavsky's cell, but there the old exile, +dead, with his eyes staring wide and glassy.</p> + +<p> +He had died alone, without a friendly hand to close his eyes with a +prayer.</p> + +<p> +In truth, his death at any moment was not unexpected by Barnwell, but +coming as it did at the very moment of Kanoffskie's dream, made it seem +more strange and horrible.</p> + +<p> +Indeed, there seemed to be something horribly supernatural about it.</p> + +<p> +He stood for a moment gazing upon the rigid features of the poor old +man, hardly daring to return and tell Kanoffskie of his death.</p> + +<p> +"But it serves him right," he thought; and covering the dead man's face +with a blanket, he returned to the surgeon's office.</p> + +<p> +"Well?" he asked, with quick anxiety.</p> + +<p> +"The old man is dead, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Dead–dead, say you?" shrieked Kanoffskie, springing to his feet, +trembling and pale.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir, he is dead."</p> + +<p> +"How–how long since, do you think?" he asked, in a choked voice.</p> + +<p> +"Probably fifteen or twenty minutes; he is scarcely cold yet."</p> + +<p> +"Heavens!" he exclaimed, and sank back in his chair.</p> + +<p> +"It might have been expected, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but in connection with my dream! Barnwell, my dream! It must have +come simultaneously with it!" and the wretched man seemed scarcely able +to sit in his chair, so greatly did he tremble, while great beads of +perspiration stood out upon his forehead.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell hastened to set a glass of wine before him, which he +tremblingly bore to his mouth and swallowed at a gulp.</p> + +<p> +"More!" he gasped, and Barnwell poured him out another.</p> + +<p> +"That will revive you, sir, I hope."</p> + +<p> +But the surgeon made no reply. He sat there glaring at vacancy for fully +five minutes, and neither of them spoke a word.</p> + +<p> +Finally he pointed to the empty glass, and again Barnwell filled it with +brandy, which he drank.</p> + +<p> +He was evidently trying to nerve himself up.</p> + +<p> +"What a strange coincidence, Barnwell."</p> + +<p> +"Very strange, indeed, sir; but do not let it weigh too heavily on your +mind, I beg of you. Regard it as simply a strange coincidence, nothing +more."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Barnwell, it must be something more! I have ill-treated that man, +and even his death may be laid to my door and I have abused others even +to death–those whose faces I saw in that deep-down, horrid hole–they +who welcomed me with such fiendish and exultant shouts," said he, with +his head bowed low.</p> + +<p> +There could be no doubt but that he spoke the truth, and this made it +seem all the more strange. He had always been a tyrant in his office, +and many a poor wretch had he sent to his long home after he became +useless to the government.</p> + +<p> +He had never been credited with possessing either fear or a heart, but +now he showed that he was a moral as well as a physical coward, and was +racked by most agonizing fears.</p> + +<p> +"Barnwell," he finally said, "see that the old man is decently buried, +and a prayer said over his grave. Yes, be sure and bury him decently in +a coffin, and a grave so deep that the worms may not reach it, and then +come to me again. But see that you bury him tenderly, and say nothing of +this to any person living."</p> + +<p> +"You shall be obeyed, sir," said Barnwell, hurrying from the room, glad +to carry out such an order in the dead old exile's behalf.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER X. +<br /> <br /> +BURIED DECENTLY.</p> + +<p> +It was a mournful pleasure to William Barnwell to be able to place the +body of poor old Batavsky in a respectable coffin and see it given a +Christian burial, instead of being thrown, like hundreds of others, into +a ravine, for the wolves to devour and fight over.</p> + +<p> +And it caused no little comment and speculation among those employed +about the hospital, for they had become so used to seeing the dead +barbarously disposed of, that it was an event to see one given Christian +burial.</p> + +<p> +Some said Batavsky was an exiled nobleman, and that he had been thus +buried by order of the governor, but no one suspected for a moment that +it was at the orders of the surgeon-in-chief, whose dream had frightened +him into the semblance of a human being.</p> + +<p> +When all had been done, and the grave marked with Batavsky's prison +number, Barnwell returned, as ordered, to Kanoffskie.</p> + +<p> +"Is he buried?" was his first question.</p> + +<p> +"He is, sir."</p> + +<p> +"And decently?"</p> + +<p> +"As a Christian should be buried, sir."</p> + +<p> +"And a prayer was said?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p> +Kanoffskie vented a sigh of relief, but he was a frightened and an +altered man.</p> + +<p> +He was pale and trembling, and he glared wildly about, as though +expecting to see the ghosts of his victims, or the real return of +Batavsky to drag him down, as he had done in that awful dream.</p> + +<p> +"Have you any further orders, sir?"</p> + +<p> +"No; but stay–come to me again just before dark–I may want you," said +Kanoffskie, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p> +"Very well," replied Barnwell, bowing himself from the room.</p> + +<p> +He understood very well that the iron had entered the tyrant's heart, +and he resolved to work upon it.</p> + +<p> +That terrible dream was not all for nothing, even though he did not +believe in dreams, and the young American made up his mind to humor the +man, and see what would come of it in the future.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell mingled with his fellow-servants in the hospital, and answered +their questions regarding Batavsky.</p> + +<p> +Concluding that it was best to humor the prevailing idea, he half-way +admitted that the old man belonged to a noble family, and that he had +been given a Christian burial at the instigation of the Czar himself.</p> + +<p> +This, of course, produced food for comment and controversy for a long +time, during which Barnwell, now able to speak the Russian language, was +able to converse and to learn much.</p> + +<p> +The short days of Siberia give one but a moment's warning between +daylight and total darkness, and although this is not known or felt away +down in the gold-mines, where they work from four o'clock in the morning +until ten o'clock at night–where night and day are all the same to the +poor victims–those on the surface of the earth understand that when the +sun goes down darkness follows, save when the Aurora Borealis comes with +its weird light to illuminate the frozen world of Siberia.</p> + +<p> +Kanoffskie waited with impatience.</p> + +<p> +Somehow or other this young American had wormed himself into his cold +and beastly nature, and even exercised more influence over him than he +knew of.</p> + +<p> +Darkness came on, and Barnwell went to his master, as ordered.</p> + +<p> +He found him pacing his office in a highly nervous state.</p> + +<p> +"I am here, surgeon," said Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Stay here. Do not leave me," said the surgeon, with a sigh.</p> + +<p> +"I will do so, sir," replied Barnwell. "You seem nervous."</p> + +<p> +"No, well–you saw him decently buried?" he asked, stopping before +Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p> +"And there was a prayer said over him?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, by the chaplain from the government house," said Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"And you buried him deep?"</p> + +<p> +"Fully five feet underground."</p> + +<p> +"That is well. And a prayer was said?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p> +Kanoffskie seemed entirely at sea.</p> + +<p> +"Will you retire, sir?"</p> + +<p> +"No, I shall remain here all night, and you will remain with me," +replied Kanoffskie, timidly.</p> + +<p> +"But you will not sleep in your chair?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and so must you. But he had Christian burial?" he asked, +anxiously.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, everything was all right."</p> + +<p> +"Thank goodness! But that dream troubles me, Barnwell," said he.</p> + +<p> +"Let it not, my dear sir–it was only a dream."</p> + +<p> +"But the coincidence!"</p> + +<p> +"True, it is a strange one; but only think, my dear sir, how many dreams +you might have–many dreams you have had, or may have hereafter, in +which there has been, and will be, no coincidence. It is merely a +happen-so, my dear sir."</p> + +<p> +"No–no, Barnwell. I cannot believe it. But I feel better now that he +has had a Christian burial, and you assure me that a holy prayer was +said over his dead body."</p> + +<p> +"Rest assured on that point, sir."</p> + +<p> +"But it was such a dreadful dream."</p> + +<p> +"So I grant you, sir."</p> + +<p> +"And happening just at the moment of old Batavsky's death!"</p> + +<p> +"As I said before, simply a coincidence."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, if I could only think so! Light the lamps."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir," and he at once proceeded to light a chandelier of oil-lamps.</p> + +<p> +The gloom of coming night had weighed upon him, but now that there was +light in the room, he felt better, and more composed, but still ill at +ease.</p> + +<p> +Finally he fell asleep, but it was long past midnight, and after he had +gone through with all sorts of mental misery, and then Barnwell ventured +to sleep himself.</p> + +<p> +But it was a wild sleep that came to him, for all that he had passed +through during the day had so wrought up his feelings that it was next +to impossible for him to sleep.</p> + +<p> +But both of them got gradually quieted down, and slept, one an honest +man, and the other a rascal, and for an hour or more they kept it up, +until Kanoffskie again fell into a nightmare.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell was awakened.</p> + +<p> +"Help! help! Take him away!" cried Kanoffskie, in his sleep. "No, no! do +not let him drag me down to that pit! I know it, I know it, but do not +let him drag me down! I repent!"</p> + +<p> +And much more he said that Barnwell was perforce obliged to listen to, +and of course he could not sleep.</p> + +<p> +But the night went on, and finally the doctor awoke.</p> + +<p> +He glared wildly around.</p> + +<p> +"Have you slept all night?" was the first question he asked, looking at +Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"No, doctor; you kept me awake."</p> + +<p> +"In what way?"</p> + +<p> +"You were talking in your sleep, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Indeed; what did I say?"</p> + +<p> +"Your mind seemed to be on old Batavsky."</p> + +<p> +"Did I mention his name?"</p> + +<p> +"No, sir, not directly; but you recalled portions of your horrible +dream."</p> + +<p> +"Did I?" and he fell to musing.</p> + +<p> +Nothing further happened at this time, but the next day Kanoffskie +visited the governor, who was startled by his altered appearance, and at +once inquired the meaning of it.</p> + +<p> +"Your Excellency, I am not well. I am overworked, and have come to ask +you to grant me a year's leave of absence," replied Kanoffskie.</p> + +<p> +"You certainly do look ill, doctor, but who can fill your place in the +interim?"</p> + +<p> +"Waskoff is fully competent, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Very well, then; I will appoint him to fill your place for a year," +replied the governor, writing the order.</p> + +<p> +"Thanks, your Excellency. And may I take a servant along with me, for I +am not able to travel so far alone."</p> + +<p> +"Yes; but on arriving at St. Petersburg, report the fact and the +servant's number to the Prefect of Police."</p> + +<p> +"I shall obey you, sir."</p> + +<p> +"When do you propose to set out?"</p> + +<p> +"By the next convoy."</p> + +<p> +"Very well, but let me see you again before you start, for I have +several private commissions which I wish you to undertake for me."</p> + +<p> +"With the greatest pleasure, Excellency."</p> + +<p> +"And I trust you will return in better health, and well rested."</p> + +<p> +"I hope so, sir," replied Kanoffsky, bowing himself from the room.</p> + +<p> +He was indeed a changed man, and the governor did not fail to notice it, +as did others who noticed him.</p> + +<p> +Some of the old hospital inmates whom he had abused at various times, as +he had the dead Batavsky, said among themselves that the spirits of his +dead victims were haunting him, which was pretty nearly the truth.</p> + +<p> +And to get away from them was, now that he had received leave of +absence, what now urged him in the preparations.</p> + +<p> +He dared not encounter those horrible dreams again.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XI. +<br /> <br /> +KANOFFSKIE AND HIS SERVANT.</p> + +<p> +"Barnwell, come here," said the miserable surgeon. "I have obtained +leave of absence, and shall set out for St. Petersburg at once, taking +with me a servant. Now make haste with my packing."</p> + +<p> +"Going to take a servant with you?" asked the young American, anxiously.</p> + +<p> +"Yes."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, will you take me?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I shall take you. But why do you manifest so much anxiety?"</p> + +<p> +"Well, sir, I think it only natural that I should do so. I abhor this +place, as you must know, and even a temporary change would be agreeable, +and make me more reconciled to my fate when I return with you."</p> + +<p> +"But I may not return at all."</p> + +<p> +"And, Providence keeping me, I will not," thought Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"If I can get the ear of the Czar, and his favor, I shall never return +to this accursed place," said Kanoffskie, shuddering.</p> + +<p> +"I do not blame you for not wishing to."</p> + +<p> +"But on arriving at St. Petersburg I must report to the Prefect of +Police, and procure a permit from him to retain a convict as my +servant."</p> + +<p> +"Yes."</p> + +<p> +"Your number and personal description will have to agree with your +sentence and commitment, and ever after that, while you remain, you will +be under police surveillance."</p> + +<p> +"True, I dare say."</p> + +<p> +"So you must not become elated with the idea of liberty."</p> + +<p> +"No; but it will be such a change, my dear sir, and I am so thankful to +you for taking me. I will be a true and faithful servant to you."</p> + +<p> +"Did I not think so I certainly should not take you, and any attempt on +your part to escape would not only consign you to the mines for life, +but very likely get me into serious trouble also."</p> + +<p> +"I shall not forget it, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Very well. Now, set at work without delay and get my effects boxed up," +said Kanoffskie, going from the room.</p> + +<p> +Collecting Kanoffskie's effects took Barnwell to various places, and +among others to the governor's palace.</p> + +<p> +Here he encountered Zora Vola, the girl whose knouting he had witnessed +and resented.</p> + +<p> +It appeared that the governor had inquired into her case after the +occurrence, and had taken her to the palace laundry.</p> + +<p> +The recognition was mutual and instant.</p> + +<p> +Just then she chanced to be alone, and she sprang joyfully towards him.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, sir, I am so glad of an opportunity to speak with you, and to thank +you, as I have so often done in my prayers, for shielding me from those +cruel thongs," said she earnestly.</p> + +<p> +"I would that I could do even more than that for you," said he, taking +her hands.</p> + +<p> +"You are not a Russian?"</p> + +<p> +"No. I have learned the language because it may assist me, not becausse +I love it," said he bitterly.</p> + +<p> +"Then you are not a Nihilist?"</p> + +<p> +"No, only in heart."</p> + +<p> +"How long were you sent here for?"</p> + +<p> +"Goodness only knows."</p> + +<p> +"And for what, pray?"</p> + +<p> +"For nothing wrong. I am an American, but was foolish enough, supposing +I was doing no harm, to bring a letter from New York to St. Petersburg +to Prince Mastowix."</p> + +<p> +"The wretch! I know him well," said she bitterly.</p> + +<p> +"But he was somehow caught in his own trap and afterwards executed, +though not until he had sent me here, fearing, probably, that I knew the +contents of the fatal letter."</p> + +<p> +"Good!"</p> + +<p> +"And what brings you here?" he asked.</p> + +<p> +"I am a Nihilist, and was betrayed with others by that same Mastowix, +who claimed to be one of us, and here I am for life," she added.</p> + +<p> +"What a shame. The conduct of Russian tyrants produces the very enemies +they try to exterminate."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and we shall never get away from this frozen world until the +Nihilists have their heels upon the tyrants' necks.</p> + +<p> +"It would seem so. But I am going to St. Petersburg to-morrow."</p> + +<p> +"To St. Petersburg?" she asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p> +"Yes. Dr. Kanoffskie is going on a leave of absence, and I am going with +him as his valet."</p> + +<p> +"To dear old St. Petersburg! Oh, how I wish I could see it once more! +Stay, will you take a letter to my brother there?"</p> + +<p> +"With pleasure."</p> + +<p> +"I have it here. It was written nearly a year ago, and I have carried it +in my bosom, hoping to find some way of sending it to him. Tell him how +it is with me here, and he will bless you for the message."</p> + +<p> +"But, come to think of it, would it not be better for both your brother +and myself if I simply took a verbal message from you to him? I shall be +under the police eye all the time, and the letter might be found and get +us both into trouble."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, you are right," she said, after a moment's reflection, and then +she told him the message she would have him deliver.</p> + +<p> +Then, receiving his address, he charged his mind with it, and started to +go.</p> + +<p> +"One moment more; tell me your name, that I may remember and pray for +you always," she said, appealingly.</p> + +<p> +"William Barnwell; and yours?"</p> + +<p> +"Zora Vola."</p> + +<p> +"I shall not forget it."</p> + +<p> +"As I shall never forget yours."</p> + +<p> +"I have hopes, Zora, and if I ever live to realize them, you shall +benefit thereby."</p> + +<p> +"God bless and keep you, sir!"</p> + +<p> +"And may He give you heart and hope in your misery," replied he, again +shaking her hands and returning to the hospital.</p> + +<p> +The next day Kanoffskie and his valet started with the government train +that makes that terrible journey from St. Petersburg to Siberia twice +every year, and at the end of three months they reached the capitol.</p> + +<p> +And, oh, what a relief it was to Barnwell, who had all but given up the +hope of ever seeing a semblance of civilization again. How his heart +thrilled as he nursed his hopes!</p> + +<p> +Kanoffsky seemed greatly altered, although for the past two months he +had lost much of the nervousness produced by old Batavsky's death, as +though from leaving the scene of it further and further behind.</p> + +<p> +His confidence in Barnwell seemed to grow stronger every day; but, on +arriving at St. Petersburg, he obeyed the governor's instructions +relative to reporting to the prefect of police, without an hour's loss +of time.</p> + +<p> +This he did as a measure of personal safety as much as for his +promptness in obeying orders, for he was determined to keep himself +entirely above police suspicion.</p> + +<p> +Should he fail to do so, and it should come to the ears of the +authorities, it might not only annul his leave of absence, but get him +into other difficulty.</p> + +<p> +He had made up his mind never to return to his post of duty, and if he +could not bring influence enough to bear upon the minister of war to get +him another assignment, he resolved to take advantage of his year's +leave of absence and escape the empire.</p> + +<p> +He took lodgings in a respectable quarter; and Barnwell enacted the part +of a valet there with even greater perfection than he had while +journeying from Siberia.</p> + +<p> +But he was watching his opportunities, knowing that he was a marked man +with the police, and known to every member of it.</p> + +<p> +The first thing to do was to insure confidence in Kanoffskie and the +police, and this he exerted himself to do, feeling certain that the time +would come before the year was up for him to carry out his plans.</p> + +<p> +With Kanoffskie it was an easy matter, and as he was a government +officer against whom there was no suspicion, Barnwell was allowed +greater latitude on that account.</p> + +<p> +So, one day, after they had been in St. Petersburg about a month, he +managed while carrying a message for Kanoffskie, to get near the +official residence of the American minister, over which the Stars and +Stripes of the great republic floated proudly. It thrilled him to the +heart as he once more beheld that ensign of liberty, and, suddenly +changing his direction, he rushed into the building and demanded to see +the representative of the United States.</p> + +<p> +An attendant directed him to that officer's chamber, just as two +officers of the police, who had observed his movements, entered the +outer room.</p> + +<p> +"You, sir, are the American minister?" said Barnwell, rushing hurriedly +into his presence.</p> + +<p> +"I am. What do you wish?"</p> + +<p> +"I claim the protection due to an outraged citizen of the United +States."</p> + +<p> +"Who are you?"</p> + +<p> +"William Barnwell. My name is on your books, and you personally saw my +passport."</p> + +<p> +At that moment the Russian officers entered.</p> + +<p> +"Ah! I defy you now! The Stars and Stripes once more wave above me!" +shouted Barnwell, as the officers approached him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XII. +<br /> <br /> +A FREE MAN ONCE MORE.</p> + +<p> +"Stand aside, officers, until I investigate this case," said the +American minister, in a tone of command that the tyrannical minions of +the law knew too much to disobey, for at that time the United States and +Russia were on exceedingly friendly terms.</p> + +<p> +"Now, what is your story?" he asked, turning to young Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"It is this, sir," he answered, and thereupon he proceeded to give the +representative of his native land the history of his case, so well known +to the reader.</p> + +<p> +It was a startling story of cruel outrage, as we all know, and the +recital of it made the minister very indignant.</p> + +<p> +Turning to the officers, he said:</p> + +<p> +"You can shadow this man if you think it your duty, but you must not +arrest or interfere with him in any way while he is under the protection +of the American flag. I shall take him at once before the prime +minister," and without loss of time he proceeded to do so.</p> + +<p> +He was instantly admitted to the august presence of that high +functionary, where the story was again told and verified.</p> + +<p> +The minister of state was astounded, both at the audacity of the outrage +and the fact of his being a victim of Prince Mastowix, the very letter +he had innocently brought being the one that sealed the traitor's fate.</p> + +<p> +The whole business was confirmed by Tobasco, the police spy, who secured +the letter and gave it to the prefect of police.</p> + +<p> +Search was at once made for the passport and money belonging to +Barnwell, and after a deal of red tape had been unwound the property was +found and restored to him.</p> + +<p> +And not only that, but the Russian prime minister ordered him to be paid +five thousand rubles for indemnity, and the American minister rendered a +most abject apology for the the outrage.</p> + +<p> +This was followed at once by orders from the prefect of police to all +his subordinates touching Barnwell's case; espionage was withdrawn, his +"Number" obliterated from the secret records, and in a short time he was +one of the freest men in the Russian empire.</p> + +<p> +In justice to Surgeon Kanoffskie, he cleared him of all complicity in +the matter, although he promptly withdrew, of course, from the menial +attitude he had so long occupied towards him, and which had enabled him +to escape.</p> + +<p> +Yes, he was a free man once more, and had, through the dictates of his +country, been the recipient of an apology almost from the throne. Yet +all this did not efface the cruel stripes left by the knout, or efface +from his heart the wrong and misery he had endured.</p> + +<p> +Indeed, he felt quite as bitter towards the tyrannical government as +ever, and there was awful bitterness in his heart.</p> + +<p> +A few days after regaining his rights, he remembered Zora Vola and the +message he had agreed to carry to her brother, and without loss of time +set about finding him, a task he soon found to be an exceedingly +difficult one, on account of his being known to the police as an active +and a dangerous Nihilist.</p> + +<p> +Nor was this all. After spending a whole week without finding him, he +became convinced that he, as well as other Nihilists, had other names +than, their own, by which they were known only to undoubted and trusted +ones of the mysterious brotherhood.</p> + +<p> +This discouraged him to such a degree that he was on the point of giving +up the task and resuming his own greater one–that of securing the +million rubles secreted so many years ago by Batavsky.</p> + +<p> +But so perfect and secret is the Nihilist organization in the larger +cities of Russia, that they employ spy for spy with the government, and +their enemies are watched as carefully as they are themselves, which, in +a measure, accounts for their great success and the infrequency of their +being detected.</p> + +<p> +In this way it became known to Vola that an American was seeking him +under his real name, and a spy was at once put upon his track to learn +about him.</p> + +<p> +This, of course, he did not know. Indeed, he had at one time made +inquiries of this very same spy regarding the object of his search, but, +although questioned closely, he would reveal nothing relating to his +business.</p> + +<p> +Finally Vola, being convinced that the man seeking him was not an enemy, +nor in any way employed by the authorities met him purposely one day at +his hotel–the very day, in fact, on which he had concluded to abandon +the search.</p> + +<p> +He approached and addressed him in Russian, which by this time Barnwell +understood quite well, as the reader must know, and asked him the +direction to a certain street.</p> + +<p> +"I am a stranger here," replied Barnwell, "but would gladly direct you +if I could. Most likely the men at the hotel office can direct you," he +added, politely.</p> + +<p> +"Ah, thank you; but I would not like to inquire of them for the person I +am in search of," and looking around, as if to make sure that he was not +likely to be observed or overheard, he lowered his voice, and added: "I +am in search of a man by the name of Vola."</p> + +<p> +Barnwell leaped to his feet.</p> + +<p> +"Peter Vola?" he asked.</p> + +<p> +"Hush! The same. Do you know him?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, if I could but find him. It is remarkable," mused Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"What is remarkable?"</p> + +<p> +"Why, that I have been unsuccessfully searching for a man by that name +for a week."</p> + +<p> +"Do you know him?"</p> + +<p> +"I do not."</p> + +<p> +"Have you business with him?"</p> + +<p> +"No; but I have a message for him."</p> + +<p> +"Indeed; from whom, pray?"</p> + +<p> +"Pardon me, that is my business and his."</p> + +<p> +"Pardon me also, for asking the question. But if I can find direction to +the street I asked you about, I can present you to him," said the +stranger, who was a distinguished-looking man, about fifty years of age.</p> + +<p> +"You would greatly oblige me by doing so."</p> + +<p> +"Wait a moment; perhaps that dismounted cossack can direct me," saying +which, he followed the soldier into the cafe.</p> + +<p> +There was a crowd in there, and Barnwell would have been puzzled to see +whether the stranger actually spoke with the soldier; but after a minute +or so he returned.</p> + +<p> +"I have learned it. Follow me," said he, turning from the room. + +Barnwell did as directed, and together they walked three or four +squares, and then turned into a side street.</p> + +<p> +A short distance down it he found the number, and knocked upon the door +in a curious sort of manner, and presently it was opened by an +attendant.</p> + +<p> +"Show me Vola's chamber," said the man, in a low tone of voice, and the +attendant conducted them to it.</p> + +<p> +"Remain here a moment, and I will bring him before you," said the +stranger, pointing to a chair that stood in the plainly-furnished room.</p> + +<p> +Being left alone, Barnwell could but reflect upon the strangeness of the +stranger's behavior, for, indeed, he did not seem like a stranger there +at all.</p> + +<p> +At the expiration of five minutes the door opened, and, apparently, +another person entered the room.</p> + +<p> +"I am told you are in search of one Peter Vola," said he, taking a seat +in front of him.</p> + +<p> +"I am, and have been for several days," replied Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"What do you wish with him?"</p> + +<p> +"That is his business and mine, sir."</p> + +<p> +"Indeed? Might I ask what it relates to?"</p> + +<p> +"You might, indeed, but I should not inform you unless you were Peter +Vola."</p> + +<p> +"But do you not know that he is hunted by the police, and that it is +positively dangerous on your part to be even inquiring for him?"</p> + +<p> +"I was not aware of it, sir."</p> + +<p> +"But it is a fact, nevertheless."</p> + +<p> +"I am sorry to know that. But I am a stranger here."</p> + +<p> +"I observe that you are not a Russian."</p> + +<p> +"No, I am an American just discharged from Siberia."</p> + +<p> +"Siberia!" exclaimed the man, starting.</p> + +<p> +"Yes; I agreed to deliver a letter, of which I knew nothing, to Prince +Mastowix, from Paul Zobriskie, of New York."</p> + +<p> +"Paul Zobriskie?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes. He accosted me on the steamer as I was about to sail and asked me +to deliver the letter, which I did, and fearing probably that because I +was not a Nihilist that I might betray him, he had me arrested and sent +to Siberia, where I suffered the tortures of the damned for more than a +year, until chance took me here again, as the valet of a surgeon on +leave of absence, when I managed to escape long enough to reach the +American minister, who quickly secured my liberation, together with an +official apology and indemnity."</p> + +<p> +"You astonish me, sir."</p> + +<p> +"But I am telling you too much, perhaps."</p> + +<p> +"No, you are not, young man, for I am Peter Vola," said the man, leaping +to his feet and extending his hand, "I am the same man who accosted and +conducted you hither, for I have had a spy on your track ever since you +imprudently inquired for me. But I feel that I can trust you."</p> + +<p> +"You can. I am not a Nihilist in form, but I am one at heart, and will +yet make these despots feel what I have undeservedly felt," said he, +vehemently.</p> + +<p> +"Good. We need you. But you spoke of a message you had for me."</p> + +<p> +"Yes."</p> + +<p> +"From Siberia?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes."</p> + +<p> +"And from—"</p> + +<p> +"Whom do you think?" asked Barnwell, resolved to put a final test to the +man's identity.</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps from my poor sister, Zora."</p> + +<p> +"The same."</p> + +<p> +"Heaven be praised!"</p> + +<p> +"She had a letter written to send you, but I thought it might be unsafe +to have on my person, both for you and myself."</p> + +<p> +"You were right."</p> + +<p> +"So I took her verbal message."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, tell me of my poor dear sister!" the man almost cried, and +thereupon Barnwell related his acquaintance with her, together with the +story of his life in Siberia, as already known to the reader.</p> + +<p> +Then he repeated the message Zora had entrusted him with, while tears +streamed down the brother's face.</p> + +<p> +"Poor girl, what a fate is hers! But if she lives she shall yet be free. +Oh, sir, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kindness +to her and to me, and if we are never able to repay you, Heaven surely +will do so," said Vola, greatly moved.</p> + +<p> +"I am amply repaid by being able to do someone a kindness. But my +mission has not yet begun. I have a trust to keep of which I have not +yet spoken. You, of course, know of Batavsky?"</p> + +<p> +"I have heard of him, but he worked and was exiled before my time +almost–at least, before I began to work."</p> + +<p> +"Well, at his death I received from him a certain charge that may +possibly enable me to benefit his compatriots in Russia; but he told me +to become an active Nihilist, that I might be the better able to work +successfully."</p> + +<p> +"And so you shall, my dear brother, for I feel that I may call you so," +said Vola, at the same time embracing him. "Put yourself in my charge, +and you shall be initiated into the Order of Liberty."</p> + +<p> +"I will do so, and there is my hand," said Barnwell, earnestly.</p> + +<p> +"Which I take in the name of humanity. But in our order one brother can +initiate another. We have no lodge-meetings, no names, being simply +known by numbers, and those numbers known only to a trusted few. Night +shall not come upon us before you shall know how to send and receive a +communication–how to act, and how to avoid detection."</p> + +<p> +"Good! Just so soon as that is done I shall go to Germany, and most +likely work altogether outside of Russia for the present."</p> + +<p> +"It shall be as you wish, for I see your heart is in the matter."</p> + +<p> +"Aye, my very soul!"</p> + +<p> +"Good!" and leading him into an inner room, he proceeded to initiate him +into the mysteries of that mysterious order, known the world over as +Nihilists.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XIII. +<br /> <br /> +TUE YOUNG NIHILIST.</p> + +<p> +A week from that time, and after William Barnwell had made himself +thoroughly familiar with the secrets and the workings of this great and +mysterious order, the order that has shaken thrones and hurled tyrants +to their final account, he started for Germany.</p> + +<p> +The reader knows something of the cruel sufferings of our hero. Being a +free-born American, a natural hater of tyranny in all its forms, and +enduring it as he did, it is no wonder that he sought revenge, and that +his heart should naturally go out in behalf of oppressed humanity, when +he had tasted of that barbarian oppression himself.</p> + +<p> +With his identity thoroughly established, his passports all correct, and +his heart full with the new doctrine that his initiation had developed +in him, together with the mission which poor old Batavsky had intrusted +him with, he bade good-by to Russia.</p> + +<p> +From St. Petersburg he went to Warsaw, and from there to Posen, Germany, +where he felt for the first time since leaving his native land that he +was in the domain of freedom.</p> + +<p> +Before leaving Russia he had sent home for his entire fortune, and at +Berlin had it converted into German money, and it was so considerable +that he soon became known as the rich cosmopolitan.</p> + +<p> +Gradually he made his way towards the little hamlet of Merz, near the +border, and when the warm season began he went there with his servant, +horses and carriage (one built to order for a special object), and took +up his residence in a small town patronized almost entirely by the few +travelers who find their way to this part of Germany.</p> + +<p> +He was now near the alleged hiding-place of Batavsky's rubles, and while +seemingly only rambling over the wild country, he was studying the +diagram that the old man had given him and trying to locate the +hiding-place by the aid of it.</p> + +<p> +The location most nearly agreeing with the diagram was about a mile from +the little tavern, and every day he would visit it with his gun, or +sometimes with a sketch-book, the better to enable him to throw off +suspicion should he chance to encounter anyone–a very improbable thing, +however, since it was a desolate, uninhabited region, without roads and +with nothing to attract anyone save its cragged grandeur.</p> + +<p> +Indeed, it was so barren of game that the landlord advised him to go in +any other direction when in search of it.</p> + +<p> +But day by day he visited it, and the oftener he did so the greater the +fascination of the rugged hills became to him.</p> + +<p> +The thought that a million rubles lay hidden away somewhere in the +vicinity was a fascination in itself, but the more he went the more he +felt that the spirit of the old exile was hovering about the place.</p> + +<p> +Often and often he wished that he but possessed the means–which so many +claim nowadays–of communicating with the departed, for the feeling grew +upon him so that he could not resist its influence.</p> + +<p> +"Batavsky!" he said one day, involuntarily, and the echo of the word +from half a dozen peaks and crags so startled him that he did not try it +again.</p> + +<p> +But for some reason or other, the last of the echoes was the loudest, +and the name came back to him as clearly as he had spoken it, from a +hill of verdureless rocks some two thousand yards distant:</p> + +<p> +"Batavsky!"</p> + +<p> +"Goodness, how distinct!" he mused. "But why more distinct from that +inaccessible hill than from the others? Was it the work of–ah, pshaw! I +am allowing the absurdity of spiritualism to get the better of my +reason. And yet, after all, who knows? There be more things in Heaven +and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy. But it was only echo."</p> + +<p> +He was seated on an opposite eminence, holding the worn old diagram in +his hand, and trying to get at a certain point which would be the key to +the location, but could not find it.</p> + +<p> +Finally, almost involuntarily, he started down the declivity and began +slowly to make his way towards the forbidding pile of rocks which had +sent back the echo so startlingly.</p> + +<p> +Why he sought the place he did not know. It was no more promising than +other immediate locations, and besides, he had visited it a day or two +before, although from another direction.</p> + +<p> +Slowly he approached and surveyed it, comparing it with his diagram. At +length he saw a point that seemed to resemble the one he sought, and +after studying it a moment, started to see if he could find the +succeeding one.</p> + +<p> +Coming close to a dark opening, he was startled by fierce growls, and +the next instant half a dozen fierce wolves sprang from it, and set upon +him savagely.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XIV. +<br /> <br /> +A VICTORY DEARLY BOUGHT.</p> + +<p> +It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the attack was so +sudden and unexpected that Barnwell was completely off his guard at the +moment.</p> + +<p> +One of the fiercest wolves, hungry, huge and gaunt, sprang at his throat +and bore him to the earth.</p> + +<p> +Seizing the brute by the throat with both hands, he with almost +superhuman strength dashed him away long enough to rise to his knees and +to pull his revolver, the other wolves having by this time joined +savagely in the attack.</p> + +<p> +Unable to get upon his feet, he poked the muzzle of his pistol straight +into the mouth of the now risen wolf, as he again came towards him, and +fired.</p> + +<p> +It was a fatal shot, and the wolf fell dead.</p> + +<p> +Still he was pinioned by others, and for a long time he was so placed +that he could reach only one of them with his weapon, but this one he +sent to the shades quickly.</p> + +<p> +Then one after another he dispatched them, although, unlike the +generality of wolves, they fought until the last one was dead, being +undoubtedly nearly starved.</p> + +<p> +Meantime his clothing and flesh had been dreadfully torn, and the blood +was flowing from at least a dozen ragged wounds, and he was so overcome +with exhaustion that he could scarcely rise to his feet.</p> + +<p> +But the first thing he did was to refill the chambers of his trusty +revolver, in case he might be attacked again.</p> + +<p> +His next thought was to attend to his wounds, but finding these required +a surgeon, he made his way sorely back to the tavern, and dispatched his +servant for one.</p> + +<p> +After relating the story of his adventure to the landlord while waiting +the surgeon's coming, that individual said:</p> + +<p> +"I should have told you about it, sir, but you men of the world do not +believe in such things."</p> + +<p> +"What things–wolves?" asked Barnwell, between his groans of agony.</p> + +<p> +"Well, sir, not that exactly. In fact, I hardly know how to explain +myself to you, since I know nothing save by hearsay, and what +mountaineers say."</p> + +<p> +"About what?"</p> + +<p> +"Well, it has become folklore in these parts that there is a cave +somewhere in the Hardt Bergs, containing a vast amount of stolen gold, +every coin of which is spotted with human blood, that is guarded by a +pack of fierce wolves placed there by the devil. It has been said that +desperate men have tried to reach the treasure, but that they have +always been slain and eaten by the guardian wolves."</p> + +<p> +"Nonsense. Simply a story told in the twilight to frighten children, who +after growing up come to believe it true."</p> + +<p> +The landlord shook his head.</p> + +<p> +"I see you also believe it. Well, I will not dispute or argue with you +regarding the legend, but you must see that I did not come upon that +particular cave, since I killed the wolves and am here with but a few +scratches."</p> + +<p> +"Rather hard scratches, sir."</p> + +<p> +"But I shall survive them, and neither this nor the danger of coming +upon the real devil-guarded cave will deter me from visiting the hills +whenever I like."</p> + +<p> +"You are a brave man, sir."</p> + +<p> +"No; simply a sensible one. I am not superstitious, nor do I believe in +such legends. I would be ashamed to do so."</p> + +<p> +"Well," replied the landlord, shrugging his shoulders, "you can afford +to do as you please, but you are sure to have no company when you go +hunting in that direction."</p> + +<p> +"And I want none–at least, not the company of persons who believe in +such nonsense."</p> + +<p> +"Ah, the surgeon has come."</p> + +<p> +"Hurry him here, for my wounds pain me exceedingly," said Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +The surgeon was soon at his side, and proceeded to dress his wounds, +exchanging only sufficient words to learn the cause of them, for he was +a man of medicine, not words.</p> + +<p> +"When will you come again?" asked Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"When your hurts need redressing."</p> + +<p> +"And that will be?"</p> + +<p> +"To-morrow."</p> + +<p> +"How long will I probably be laid up?"</p> + +<p> +"A week," and he went away.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell experienced great relief from the skillful dressing his wounds +had received, and he was presently able to collect his thoughts.</p> + +<p> +And naturally enough they ran back to the wolf's den, where he had found +the starting point that corresponded with Batavsky's diagram, and the +legend which the landlord had told him of. What a startling coincidence +it was, to say the least of it!</p> + +<p> +Of course, he did not for a moment believe the supernatural part of it, +but it certainly was strange that he should have been met by a pack of +hungry wolves just as it seemed that he was on the threshold of success.</p> + +<p> +But the more he thought the matter over, the more reasonable did it seem +to him that, even if that were the location of Batavsky's buried +treasure, it was only natural that wolves should rendezvous there. But +how superstition should locate money there was more than he could +understand.</p> + +<p> +Then the thought came to his mind–what if that gold had been discovered +by someone and removed? In what other way could the legend of bloody +gold have come into existence?</p> + +<p> +But speculation was not congenial to his temper just then. He had gone, +so far, and nothing short of success or failure would satisfy him now.</p> + +<p> +That night his wounds pained when he lay down, and he slept but little. +Indeed, it was nearly morning before anything like sound slumber fell +upon his eyelids.</p> + +<p> +And even then he dreamed wild, exciting dreams, occasioned, of course, +by the events of the day before. But in one of them he thought he saw +Batavsky, and he smiled upon him, and while uttering no word, encouraged +him by his looks to persevere. With this he awoke, and the thread of the +dream ran through his mind again.</p> + +<p> +"This will never do," said he, calling his servant to light a candle. +"There is something in the very air of mountainous Germany that is not +real, and that kindles superstition. I will read until morning."</p> + +<p> +But after reading awhile on a drowsy romance he fell asleep again, and +the sun was shining in at the lattice when he awoke.</p> + +<p> +When the surgeon had dressed his wounds again that day, he felt so much +better that he was assisted to a chair that stood under a broad +linden-tree, where, a part of the time, he read and restudied Batavsky's +queer diagram until it was fairly burned into his memory.</p> + +<p> +Then he would smoke, and make glad the landlord's heart by indulging in +a bottle of wine, and again employ his servant in setting up targets for +him to practice upon with his pistol.</p> + +<p> +Already he had become somewhat famous for his eccentricities, but when +the landlord and his one or two guests saw with what ease he shot a hole +through the Ace of Spades at fifty paces, they were unbounded in their +applause.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell was indeed a wonderful shot, both with a rifle and a pistol, +having won several prizes in shooting tournaments at home, and it seemed +as though the experiences he had gone through during the previous two or +three years had toughened his muscles and steadied his nerves to a +remarkable degree.</p> + +<p> +And thus he employed his time for five days, all the while impatient at +the delay, and on the sixth he was so far recovered that he could walk +with the assistance of a cane, and he celebrated the event by telling +his servant to hold a lighted cigar in his fingers at the distance of +fifty paces, and from it he shot the ashes so deftly that the bullet +scarcely raised a spark of fire.</p> + +<p> +This convinced him apparently that he was all right again, and in the +afternoon he and his servant went out to ride.</p> + +<p> +This servant of his was a Russian, to whom he had been introduced by +Vola, and he was a character for fidelity and secretiveness. His name +was Ulrich, and Barnwell had saved him from going to prison by paying a +fine that he would never have been able to pay, and he at once became +attached to his new master by all the ties that bind a lesser intellect +and fortune to the two degrees higher.</p> + +<p> +He never questioned, never told Barnwell's affairs, even if he knew +them, and was ever quick to know his slightest wants.</p> + +<p> +He was a Nihilist, and knew in a general way that his master was one, +from seeing him so much with Vola, and so he silently worked and waited, +fully believing that he would in time do good work for the downtrodden +of his native land.</p> + +<p> +On the afternoon of the sixth day Barnwell seeing to be almost wholly +recovered, and Ulrich drove him out, going in the weird hills once more.</p> + +<p> +This time he was armed with two revolvers, and his rifle was ready to +hand in the body of his wagon, the peculiarity in the build of which has +been mentioned before, and which consisted principally in a strong iron +box, incased by a fancy wooden one which was fashioned for a seat.</p> + +<p> +It was slightly odd in its build, but it was admired by everybody for +the superiority of its make, and generally regarded simply as a +tourist's carriage, made on purpose and in a superior manner.</p> + +<p> +Arriving at the end of the road that led up into the hills, they halted.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XV. +<br /> <br /> +IN THE DEVIL'S CAVE.</p> + +<p> +"Remain here, Ulrich, until I return," said Barnwell, alighting.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p> +Armed for almost any encounter, young Barnwell started to find the cave +in front of which he had had such a sanguinary struggle a week before.</p> + +<p> +He had no difficulty in finding it; but he was on his guard this time.</p> + +<p> +There lay the carcasses of the wolves he had slain, and the very fact of +their not having been devoured was positive evidence that there were no +other wolves in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p> +Glancing around, and listening for a moment, he became convinced that +the cave was now tenantless, and so he passed on beyond the first point +that he had before discovered, and began looking for the next.</p> + +<p> +Holding the diagram in one hand, and a revolver in the other, he was not +long in finding it, and thus two points were gained that corresponded +with it.</p> + +<p> +Again he consulted and compared.</p> + +<p> +Ten feet marked on the diagram, and then there was an index finger +pointing east.</p> + +<p> +He paced the distance as accurately as he could, but by this time he had +entered the cave so far that he could scarcely see about the place.</p> + +<p> +But he had come prepared for just such an emergency as this, and taking +a candle and match from his game-bag, he proceeded to make a light.</p> + +<p> +He glanced cautiously around the dark and somber cave, and the first +thing his eyes rested on were the forms of two dead wolf cubs, evidently +belonging to one of the mothers he had slain the week before, and +undoubtedly starved to death in consequence.</p> + +<p> +But this attracted his attention for only a moment.</p> + +<p> +Standing at the distance of ten feet from the last-discovered point, he +held up a little compass that he wore as a charm to his watch chain, in +order to ascertain in which direction east lay.</p> + +<p> +The tiny magnet finally stood still and pointed. The east lay to the +right.</p> + +<p> +Again, by the aid of his candle, he searched for indications.</p> + +<p> +The walls were damp and seemingly solid.</p> + +<p> +Had he lost the lead? With the butt of his pistol he began rapping along +the stone wall.</p> + +<p> +It seemed like original adamant.</p> + +<p> +Then he paused, and again consulted the diagram.</p> + +<p> +He seemed to have followed it correctly.</p> + +<p> +There were no further marks upon it, and he finally began to fear that +he was on the wrong scent after all.</p> + +<p> +Again he went to the mouth of the cave, and retraced each point +carefully.</p> + +<p> +There could be no mistake about it, provided he was in the right place; +and if he was not, it was a strange coincidence that two such peculiar +points should exist in more than one cave.</p> + +<p> +Once more he approached the side of the cave to which the index finger +pointed, and made a still closer examination of it.</p> + +<p> +But it was as solid as granite could be, as indicated by sounds.</p> + +<p> +He was about to give up, with the idea that he was in the wrong cave, +and began slowly to walk towards the opening.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly he remembered that in the Russian language "erweldt" signified +west, a thing he had not thought of before.</p> + +<p> +With a glad cry he retraced his steps to the point indicated, and then +began to examine the walls, which he found more broken than those on the +other side.</p> + +<p> +There were faint indications of mosses in one or two places, and on +sounding them he came upon one large rock that did not seem so firm as +the others.</p> + +<p> +Holding his candle closer, he saw what might have been cement or +something of the kind, and with a throbbing heart he drew a stout +burglar's jimmy from his bag and began prying into a seam.</p> + +<p> +It was a powerful tool, worked by a powerful man, and soon the rock, +which was fully two feet square, but of irregular shape, began to show +signs of getting loose.</p> + +<p> +"Ah! this must be it," said he, as he saw bits of cement crumble and +fall.</p> + +<p> +But it was no child's-play to move that stone, weighing, as it probably +did, five hundred pounds, and held by the cement that had hardened for +more than thirty years.</p> + +<p> +Little by little, however, he worked one end of it partially free, and +saw that it stood out at least three inches beyond where it was, and in +addition to this, the cement had now lost its hold, and with one +powerful last effort the rock fell with an echoing thud some three feet +to the bottom of the cave.</p> + +<p> +Within there was a rough chamber, five or six feet in irregular diameter +every way; and if this was the Devil's Cave, as it was called, this one +must surely have been his oven, so very like one was it.</p> + +<p> +Reaching in to allow his candle to light the place, he saw numerous +bags, made of reindeer hide tanned without removing the hair.</p> + +<p> +"Thank heaven I have found it! Batavsky was as true as steel, and I will +be true to his memory!" said Barnwell, holding the candle aloft.</p> + +<p> +It was fully a minute before he could summon sufficient courage to +proceed further, so startled were his nerve over the sudden fruition of +his hopes.</p> + +<p> +Then, mastering his emotions, he reached in and lifted one of the bags +from its long resting-place.</p> + +<p> +It weighed fully ten pounds, and when he set it down upon the sill of +the opening, there was a confused rattling and clinking inside of the +hair-covered bag, a sound that only one coined metal in the world will +emit–gold.</p> + +<p> +There was no need of opening it to make sure that the contents were +genuine. The sound told that; and old Batavsky's truth, proved up to the +point, was a further guarantee for it.</p> + +<p> +Taking out another one, he started with one in each hand for his wagon, +by which Ulrich was waiting, like the patient, honest soul he was.</p> + +<p> +Nothing that Barnwell did surprised him. He honestly believed him to be +more than an ordinary man, and capable of doing anything short of +raising the dead; and when he him approaching with those unique bags in +his hand, his curiosity was not aroused sufficiently to make him ask any +questions.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell understood and had faith in him of the strongest kind.</p> + +<p> +Setting down the bags by the side of the wagon, he wiped the +perspiration from his brow, and then, taking a peculiar key from his +pocket, he proceeded to throw back the wagon-seat and to unlock the iron +chest beneath it.</p> + +<p> +Now, Ulrich had never known that such a contrivance existed in the wagon +before, although understanding that it was a very heavy vehicle; but he +evinced no surprise, asked no questions.</p> + +<p> +Getting up into the wagon, Barnwell told him to hand the bags up to him, +and without a word he did so.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell stowed them carefully away in the large iron box. Then closing +it and locking it again, he motioned Ulrich to follow him.</p> + +<p> +The horses were securely fastened, and there was not a sound, even of +birds, in that desolate locality, so all was safe.</p> + +<p> +Without exchanging a word, they went back to the cave and brought each +two more of the bags, which were placed in the strong-box.</p> + +<p> +It was but little past noon when they began, and for two hours they +robbed that golden cell of its treasures and transferred it to the +wagon.</p> + +<p> +The bags were in an excellent state of preservation, for the place was +perfectly dry, and besides, they had evidently been prepared with some +unusual treatment which made them almost indestructible.</p> + +<p> +Finally the chamber was emptied, and Barnwell could but think of the +toil and risk in transporting so much gold to such a far-off place. It +seemed to him almost as marvelous as that it had remained there all +those years without being recovered. But Batavsky was no ordinary man, +and undoubtedly knew exactly what he was doing.</p> + +<p> +Ulrich's face was a study.</p> + +<p> +Had they been transporting bags of stones it could not have been more +stolid.</p> + +<p> +He worshiped the young American, and for him it was to obey without a +question, and this he readily did.</p> + +<p> +He often looked upon his position as an exalted one, as compared with +what it would have been had Barnwell not saved him from a debtor's +prison, which is only another name in Russia for a poor debtor's grave.</p> + +<p> +Well, when all the bags had been removed, it was found that the box was +too full to admit of the last four, and these Barnwell placed at his +feet after the seat had been returned to its place, showing nothing +unusual.</p> + +<p> +"Now, then, back to the tavern, and not a word of this to anyone," said +Barnwell.</p> + +<p> +"Sir, I am your slave," said Ulrich.</p> + +<p> +"Say not that. You are my servant, my companion and friend. We are both +of us members of the same great order. You work in your way, I in mine. +There are no slaves in our order, Ulrich."</p> + +<p> +"It must be so, sir, for you say it," he replied, turning the horses +homeward.</p> + +<p> +This was conclusive.</p> + +<p> +The bags of gold made a heavy load, and bent the springs well down, but +the horses and the wagon were strong, and these would have deceived +almost anybody regarding the amount of weight they carried.</p> + +<p> +The roads being rough for some distance, they drove slowly and just +before getting out into the open they met a hunter with a good string of +game.</p> + +<p> +Remembering that he had gone out to shoot, and that they had no game, +Barnwell stopped the peasant and bought his choicest birds, after which +they drove to the tavern.</p> + +<p> +Barnwell handed the game to a servant, who afterwards held the horses +while he and Ulrich carried the four bags of gold to his room.</p> + +<p> +Then the wagon was carefully housed, as usual, and the horses taken care +of, after which Barnwell strolled leisurely into the bar-room, where the +landlord and his wife were examining the game.</p> + +<p> +"Good luck to-day, I see."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, yes, I've had very good luck to-day; and will you oblige me by +having one of those pheasants cooked for my supper, together with a stew +in your best German style made of one of those hares?"</p> + +<p> +"Certainly, sir," replied the landlady, at the same time bustling away +with the game.</p> + +<p> +"I am tired and hungry, so let me have the best you can do."</p> + +<p> +"With all my heart, sir."</p> + +<p> +"And, landlord, bring me a bottle of your choicest Johannisberg out here +on the porch, where I can enjoy it in the shade."</p> + +<p> +The landlord hastened to comply.</p> + +<p> +"What an appetite it gives, and how generous a good day's sport makes a +man," he mused. "A few such customers as this one is would make us rich, +and enable us to pay off the thousand marks due on our place."</p> + +<p> +He set the delicious wine before him, and Barnwell drank a hearty +draught.</p> + +<p> +"Ah! nowhere in the world can such wine be found as in Germany."</p> + +<p> +"I am glad you think so, sir, for I hope you will stay long with us, and +be so well pleased that you will come again."</p> + +<p> +"I shall certainly remain with you, if I ever come back again, for I +like both you and your good frau. But to-morrow I must away to Berlin on +business."</p> + +<p> +"So soon?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes. My life is made up of business and pleasure. Business must have an +inning now."</p> + +<p> +"I am sorry, sir," said the old man, sadly.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, well; others will come."</p> + +<p> +"Visitors are rare here, sir. Now and then a poor artist stops here, and +sometimes tourists wander this way; but it is a life-time rarity to meet +with a rich cosmopolitan like yourself, who is willing to help us along +a bit."</p> + +<p> +"But you must be well off in any event."</p> + +<p> +"No, sir; although we should be if the thousand marks' mortgage was paid +off."</p> + +<p> +"When it is due?"</p> + +<p> +"Within a week."</p> + +<p> +"And how much have you towards it?"</p> + +<p> +"Five hundred."</p> + +<p> +"All right; keep the five hundred, and here are a thousand to free you +from embarrassment," said Barnwell, counting out the bills.</p> + +<p> +The old landlord was so overcome that he fell upon his knees speechless, +seeing which, his wife ran to him, thinking him ill.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Gretchen! Look at him; the good American gentleman has saved us and +our home!"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, sir, what induced you?"</p> + +<p> +"The idea of making somebody as happy as I am myself. Take it and be +happy. All I ask in return is that you be good to the poor and +unfortunate."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, sir, bless you!" cried the landlord.</p> + +<p> +"Amen! And you shall have just the nicest dinner you ever had in your +life," said his wife, brushing the tears from her eyes and hurrying +away.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XVI. +<br /> <br /> +TRUE TO HIS TRUST.</p> + +<p> +That night, after all had retired, William Barnwell, in the privacy of +his own chamber, untied one of the bags, and emptied its contents upon +his bed, so that the noise of the jingle might be smothered.</p> + +<p> +He was a good judge of Russian gold, and this he found to be genuine, +coined in double roubles, with dates mostly before and during the reign +of Czar Nicholas, the tyrant par excellence of Russia, which is saying +much.</p> + +<p> +He was a ruler who knew nothing of humanity or justice, who was quite as +bad, save in form and outward show, as Catherine or her barbarian +predecessors, always excepting Peter the Great.</p> + +<p> +It took England, France and Sardinia to teach him the rudiments of +civilization, and even then he died a barbarian at heart, as he had +always lived, leaving a conquered monarchy to his son, who tried to +appease the world by abolishing serfdom, although he probably never +would have done so had not the teachings of Batavsky and others taken +root in the hearts of the Russian people, creating a diversion in favor +of political liberty, which he thought to smother while freeing the +serfs.</p> + +<p> +So much for history, but it had to come in, this being in nearly all +respects a historical story.</p> + +<p> +"Slightly mildewed, but every one of them genuine," said Barnwell, after +he had tested several thousand dollars' worth of them. "And if poor old +Batavsky's spirit is hovering near to me, and to the yellow coin he +devoted to the advancement of human liberty and equality, it shall see +that I shall prove true to my trust. To-morrow I will away to Berlin, to +place this to my credit, after which–well, after which, we shall see!"</p> + +<p> +Then he fell into a reverie. He dreamed a thousand things and considered +a thousand possibilities, but as he pushed them away for future +consideration, the form of the beautiful Laura Clark filled his mental +vision.</p> + +<p> +What had become of her, and what did she think of his conduct?</p> + +<p> +Beautiful and rich, it would be strange, indeed, if she had not long ago +found a mate, but he resolved to write to her father in New York, +explaining the whole business, if only to clear himself of any blame +that his mysterious disappearance had produced.</p> + +<p> +Yes; but not until after he had deposited this gold in the Royal Bank at +Berlin.</p> + +<p> +The next morning he rode away with his golden freight, and at the first +regular railroad station that he came upon he placed his wagon and +horses in the hands of the Royal Express, engaging that the whole +equipment should be delivered safely at the Royal Bank of Berlin, it +being understood that his servant, Ulrich, should sleep in the car +containing the horses and carriage until their safe delivery as agreed +upon.</p> + +<p> +The journey occupied two days, but at the end of it Barnwell had the +satisfaction of landing his gold in the vaults of the Royal Bank, and +having his credit established there for an almost unlimited amount, +although the old Russian coin, coming in such a strange way, excited +much comment with the bank officials who counted and weighed it.</p> + +<p> +There was a mystery surrounding so much money, deposited all at once and +in such a way, but the depositor proved himself all right so far as his +papers and nationality were concerned; and in a very short time young +Barnwell came to be known as the Fairies' Son, a man to whom they had +given unlimited wealth, every rouble of which would double itself at +their bidding.</p> + +<p> +This, of course, did not obtain with the officers of the bank. They +simply looked at the gold, counted and weighed.</p> + +<p> +But Barnwell was pleased to be regarded as a Fairies' Son, for it would +enable him to work more effectually.</p> + +<p> +And it was not long before he became known to the Nihilists residing in +Berlin, and, naturally enough, he soon became a leading man among them.</p> + +<p> +He took modest lodgings, supporting only his servant, but in spite of +all precautions, he was shadowed by Russian police agents, who seem to +be everywhere.</p> + +<p> +It is one of the most perfect and far-reaching police systems in the +world, and before Barnwell had been there a month they learned all about +him.</p> + +<p> +And this, of course, showed them all he had so unjustly suffered, and +they could well understand then why he associated with well-known +Nihilists, having undoubtedly become one himself for revenge.</p> + +<p> +But they could not penetrate the mystery of his enormous wealth, unless, +indeed, he were one of those famous American bonanza kings, or at least +the son of one, and obtained his wealth directly from America.</p> + +<p> +Try their best, however, they could not entrap him so that the German +authorities would molest him, for in a very short time he was surrounded +by as faithful a set of detectives as those employed by the Russian +police, and the game soon became diamond cut diamond.</p> + +<p> +But while all these moves were being made–one to find out what the +other was doing–other and unsuspected moves were being made which were +to astound the world.</p> + +<p> +Suddenly, and without any visible or traceable reason, the spirit of +Russian Nihilism began to flame again, and with greater fierceness than +ever before.</p> + +<p> +Nihilist papers and documents, printed both in the Russian and Polish +languages, were scattered broadcast, and in such a secret manner that +the police were wholly at fault, and the despots of Russia began to +tremble as they had never done before.</p> + +<p> +Money seemed to be plentiful, and a more perfect organization effected +than were the Russian police.</p> + +<p> +Day by day it grew, and a dread uncertainty pervaded the society of the +aristocrats, and the utmost precautions were taken to protect the life +of the Czar Alexander and the royal family.</p> + +<p> +Now and then the police would discover Nihilists at work; but all the +branches worked independently, and the detection of one could not lead +to what the others were doing.</p> + +<p> +But what astonished and bothered the Russian police was the simple +perfection to which the Nihilists had been reduced in their way of +working, showing unmistakably that a skillful organizer was at their +head.</p> + +<p> +The great mystery surrounding everything completely baffled the Russian +police, and though they half suspected Barnwell, they were not able to +bring anything home to him, and he all the while maintained the +appearance of a rich cosmopolitan, and if they followed him in his many +journeyings they were unable to see that he was doing more than +traveling for pleasure.</p> + +<p> +One day, while riding in "Unter Linden," who should he meet but Mr. +Clark and his beautiful daughter riding in the opposite direction, but +he was so changed that neither of them recognized him, although looking +directly at him.</p> + +<p> +Laura Clark was also somewhat changed, but by her being in her father's +company, Barnwell came to the conclusion that she was yet unmarried, and +had most likely proved true to their betrothal, nearly three years +before.</p> + +<p> +He was determined to present himself, and so ordered his coachman to +turn about and follow their carriage.</p> + +<p> +In a few moments it stopped in front of a fashionable hotel, which they +entered, and were soon lost to sight.</p> + +<p> +Calling a servant, he told him to take his card to Mr. Clark, and +quietly waited in the parlor for a reply.</p> + +<p> +Presently that gentleman came down with the card in his hand, and a look +of inquiry on his face.</p> + +<p> +"Mr. Clark, you do not recognize me," said he, rising.</p> + +<p> +"No, not as a young American gentleman, bearing the name of William +Barnwell, whom I met some three or four years ago," said the old man.</p> + +<p> +"Well, sir, I am the same individual."</p> + +<p> +"Indeed, but you have greatly changed."</p> + +<p> +There was an unmistakable coolness visible in Mr. Clark's conduct +towards him, but he readily understood why it was so, for after +betrothing himself to his daughter he had disappeared mysteriously, and +given no sign.</p> + +<p> +"Well, sir, when you learn what I have been through since last we met, +you will not wonder at the change in me. Is Laura well?"</p> + +<p> +Mr. Clark looked at him a moment without making any reply, then +beckoning him to follow, led the way to their parlors.</p> + +<p> +"Are you sure she will welcome me, sir?"</p> + +<p> +"That will depend; Laura, please come this way a moment," he called.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, papa, dear, what is it?" she asked, as she came from her chamber, +and her sweet voice thrilled him just as it used to.</p> + +<p> +"Do you know this gentleman?"</p> + +<p> +She gazed at Barnwell a moment, and then sat down in a chair without +speaking.</p> + +<p> +"Do you not recognize me, Miss Clark?"</p> + +<p> +"It is barely possible that you are Mr. Barnwell, but if so, you are +greatly changed," she said, calmly.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I am William Barnwell; there is good cause for the change you see +in me. I saw you driving out, but now, and resolved to see you both, if +for no other reason than to explain my conduct to you."</p> + +<p> +Then he proceeded to relate the story of his life since parting with +them, the story that the reader knows so well, holding them spellbound +for an hour or more with it, after which he was forgiven, and their old +relations resumed, greatly to the delight of all three, and especially +of Mr. Clark, who had noticed that his daughter was becoming more and +more low-spirited as the time grew longer, and Barnwell not heard from.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XVII. +<br /> <br /> +THE DEATH OF AN EMPEROR.</p> + +<p> +One thing, however, Barnwell did not tell Mr. Clark or his daughter; and +that was how he was making use of the vast amount of money that had been +given him by Batavsky. That was always to remain a secret within his own +breast.</p> + +<p> +He felt that he was simply fulfilling a sacred trust, and gaining +revenge for his own terrible suffering.</p> + +<p> +He loved his beautiful countrywoman, and as soon as he had finished his +work he would make her his wife, and resume the travels he had set out +upon years before.</p> + +<p> +Naturally he was much in her company after their reunion, and this again +threw the detectives from the scent, for before long it became known to +them that they were to be married, and start for France and other +countries of Europe.</p> + +<p> +And yet the Nihilists in Russia and in Poland continued to be more +active and aggressive, and the police authorities made but little, if +any, headway in arresting them.</p> + +<p> +At length the aristocracy of St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Moscow, and other +large centers became almost panic stricken–not even daring to trust +their oldest servants.</p> + +<p> +This feeling was increased when the Czar found a note on his +dressing-bureau, which read as follows:</p> + +<p> +"Alexander.–My life was as good as that of your tyrant father, +Nicholas. He murdered me. My spirit will murder you.–Batavsky."</p> + +<p> +That the note was placed there by some bold Nihilist, a member of the +emperor's household, there could be no doubt, and although his personal +staff and ministers advised him to take no notice of it, it struck +terror to his heart.</p> + +<p> +Every member of his household was taken in hand by the police and +questioned, and each one made to give a sample of his handwriting, but +nothing could be found out.</p> + +<p> +Extra precautions were taken, however, and the Czar never ventured forth +without a double guard, and even the streets were guarded by the police +to insure his safety.</p> + +<p> +But another warning came, as if to show him that even those who guarded +him needed guards for themselves, when one day the prefect of police was +killed on the steps of his official residence, and no clew of the +assassin could be found, although lying near his body was found a paper +with the simple name of Batavsky written upon it in Russian.</p> + +<p> +Then the Czar began to question who this Batavsky was, and it was +finally ascertained that an influential man by that name had been +transported to Siberia by the Emperor Nicholas for engaging in a +revolution–in fact, that he was one of the first Nihilists of Russia, +and was supposed to be enormously rich.</p> + +<p> +But those riches were never found, and the old revolutionist had died in +Siberia, and so nothing came of the inquiry save a deeper mystery.</p> + +<p> +Two or three attempts upon the Czar's life were made and failed. Those +who were caught or suspected were put to death, but so soon as one was +taken from the work two more were ready to fill his place.</p> + +<p> +And while in this terror, the Czar and his official household instead of +doing anything towards relieving the burdens under which the people +groaned, and which drove them to these bitter acts of revenge and +reprisal, took all means possible to bind their chains closer yet, and +to stamp out Nihilism with an iron heel.</p> + +<p> +"Laura, you know I told you of poor old Batavsky in Siberia?" he asked +of Miss Clark one day.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Will, I remember," she replied.</p> + +<p> +"Well, I dreamed of him last night, and have a presentiment that his +presence will soon be felt on earth."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Will, you are such a dreamer, you are. Let us talk of something +else:."</p> + +<p> +"As you please. I merely mentioned it; so let's wait and see have +arranged everything."</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that will be so nice! You are so good!"</p> + +<p> +"As I should be, to one who has waited for me so faithfully and so long. +But the dark clouds are rolling by, Laura, and after a little I shall be +my own master again."</p> + +<p> +"And are you not so now?" she asked.</p> + +<p> +"Not wholly. I have had a sacred duty to perform, and it will soon be +finished."</p> + +<p> +Of course both were busy with their preparations for departure, and she +paid but little attention to what he said, as it was upon a subject she +knew nothing of, and yet her woman's wit and insight told her that her +lover was engaged in something of a mysterious nature, and she hailed +with delight the prospect of getting out of Germany and back to America.</p> + +<p> +The following day the whole world was startled and monarchs trembled at +a dynamite explosion in St. Petersburg.</p> + +<p> +The Czar Alexander was riding along in a carriage, closely guarded by +soldiers and mounted police, when, without an instant's warning, a +cartridge exploded directly under his carriage, killing everybody and +everything within a radius of fifty yards, producing the greatest havoc +and devastation.</p> + +<p> +"Quick–the czar!" cried those who had escaped the terrible explosion.</p> + +<p> +And a rush was made to the scene of the wreck, where lay mangled horses +and human beings, and out of that chaos of desolation they dragged the +mangled body of the Czar of all the Russias!</p> + +<p> +Panic and consternation seized St. Petersburg, seized all Russia–the +whole world, in fact.</p> + +<p> +Instant search was made for those who perpetrated the terrible deed.</p> + +<p> +One or two suspected individuals were put to the sword without judge or +jury, yet they were innocent of the deed.</p> + +<p> +Detectives and secret service officers took possession of the spot and +examined everything–every shovelful of snow even.</p> + +<p> +Out of the ruin wrought by the terrific explosion one of the officers +pulled a small metal plate, crooked and bent by the concussion.</p> + +<p> +The dead emperor had been borne tenderly to the palace, and all Russia +was in tears, either of joy or sorrow.</p> + +<p> +The officers read an inscription on the plate they had found.</p> + +<p> +It was graven deep and clear in pure Russian. It read:</p> + +<p> +"The spirit of Peter Batavsky, raging for revenge, calls for the Czar, +the son of his murderer! Long live the Russian people!"</p> + +<p> +That was all, but it amazed those who read it, for it bore the same name +that had so terrified the Czar on another occasion.</p> + +<p> +Never before had such a shock been given to the world, not even the +assassination of Julius Caesar was a comparison to it.</p> + +<p> +But while the excitement was at its burning height, William Barnwell and +his affianced left Berlin for London.</p> + +<p> +"Batavsky, you are terribly avenged!" said he, as they sped from German +soil.</p> + +<h3> +* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</h3> + +<p> +This story naturally ends here.</p> + +<p> +But a few words more need be said.</p> + +<p> +Marriage, happiness, wealth became the portion of the Boy Nihilist, and +here falls the curtain on this strange and romantic drama.</p> + +<h3> +THE END.</h3> + +<p> +Read "<span style="font-weight: bolder">LUCKY DICK GOLDEN; or, THE BOY MINERS OF PLACER CREEK,</span>" by An Old +Scout, which will be the next number (577) of <em>"Pluck and Luck."</em></p> + +<hr style="width: 25%" /> + +<p> +SPECIAL NOTICE: All back numbers of this weekly except the following are +in print: 1 to 5, 7, 8, 10 to 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29 to 31, 34 to 36, 38 +to 40, 42, 43, 48 to 50, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 69, 75, 81, +84 to 86, 89, 92 to 94, 100, 107, 109, 110, 116, 119, 124 to 126, 162, +163, 166, 171, 179 to 181, 212, 265. If you cannot obtain the ones you +want from any newsdealer, send the price in money or postage stamps by +mail to FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 24 UNION SQUARE, New York, and you will +receive the copies you order, by return mail.</p> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> + +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 250%; margin-bottom: .1em; + font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">PLUCK AND LUCK.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: -.5em"> +32 PAGES +Contains All Sorts of Stories +Beautifully Colored Covers +PRICE 5 CENTS</p> + +<table> +<tr> <th style="text-align: center" colspan="2">LATEST ISSUES:</th> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">507</td> + <td>The Doomed City; or, The Hidden Foe of Plummerdale. By Howard + Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">508</td> + <td>The Pride of the Volunteers; or, Burke Halliday, the Boy Fireman. By + Ex-Fire-Chief Warden.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">509</td> + <td>The Boy Mutineers; or, Slavery or Death. By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">510</td> + <td>Always Ready; or, The Best Engineer on the Road. By Jas. C. Merritt.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">511</td> + <td>Branded a Deserter; or, Boy Rivals in Love and War. By Gen'l Jas. A. + Gordon.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">512</td> + <td>A Scout at 16; or, A Boy's Wild Life on the Frontier. By An Old + Scout.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">513</td> + <td>Diamond Dave, the Waif; or, The Search for the Great Blue Stone. By + Richard R. Montgomery.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">514</td> + <td>The Little Corsican; or, The Boy of the Barricades. By Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">515</td> + <td>Headlight Tom, the Boy Engineer. By Jas. C. Merritt.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">516</td> + <td>The Sealed Despatch; or, The Blind Boy of Moscow. By Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">517</td> + <td>The Swamp Rats; or, The Boys Who Fought for Washington. By Gen'l + Jas. A. Gordon.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">518</td> + <td>Nino, the Wonder of the Air. A Story of Circus Life. By Berton + Bertrew.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">519</td> + <td>A Fireman at Sixteen; or, Through Flame and Smoke. By Ex-Fire-Chief + Warden.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">520</td> + <td>100 Feet Above the Housetops; or, The Mystery of the Old Church + Steeple. By Allyn Draper.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">521</td> + <td>The Boy Explorers; or, Abandoned in the Land of Ice. By Capt. Thos. + H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">522</td> + <td>The Mystery of the Volcano. A True Story of Mexico. By Howard + Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">523</td> + <td>Fighting with Washington; or, The Boy Regiment of the Revolution. By + Gen'l. Jas. A. Gordon.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">524</td> + <td>The Smartest Boy in Philadelphia; or, Dick Rollins' Fight for a + Living. By Allyn Draper.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">525</td> + <td>The White Boy Chief; or, The Terror of the North Platte. By An Old + Scout.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">526</td> + <td>The Boy Senator; or, How He Won His Toga. By Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">527</td> + <td>Napoleon's Boy Guardsman; or, A Hero at Eighteen. By Richard R. + Montgomery.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">528</td> + <td>Driven Adrift; or, The Trip of the Daisy. By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">529</td> + <td>Rob the Waif. A Story of Life in New York. By Howard Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">530</td> + <td>The Wildest Boy in New York; or, Saved at the Brink. (A True + Temperance Story.) By H. K. Shackleford.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">531</td> + <td>Bushwhacker Ben; or, The Union Boys of Tennessee. By Col. Ralph + Fenton.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">532</td> + <td>The Night Riders of Ravenswood. (A Strange Story of Arizona.) By + Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">533</td> + <td>Phil, the Boy Fireman; or, Through Flames to Victory. By + Ex-Fire-Chief Warden.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">534</td> + <td>The Boy Slave; or, A Young New Yorker in Central America. By Howard + Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">535</td> + <td>Dunning & Co.; the Boy Brokers. (A Story of Wall Street.) By A + Retired Broker.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">536</td> + <td>Daniel Boone's Best Shot; or, The Perils of the Kentucky Pioneers. + By An Old Scout.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">537</td> + <td>Ollie, the Office Boy; or, The Struggles of a Poor Waif. By Allyn + Draper.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">538</td> + <td>The Two Boy Stowaways; or, A Strange Voyage on a Doomed Ship. By + Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">539</td> + <td>Columbia; or, The Young Firemen of Glendale. By Ex-Fire-Chief + Warden.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">540</td> + <td>Paddling on the Amazon; or, Three Boy Canoeists in South America. By + Richard R. Montgomery.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">541</td> + <td>Happy Jack, the Daring Spy. A Story of the Great Rebellion. By Gen'l + Jas. A. Gordon.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">542</td> + <td>Nameless Nat; or, A Millionaire in Rags. By Allyn Draper.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">543</td> + <td>The Boy Mail-Carrier; or, Government Service in Minnesota. By An Old + Scout.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">544</td> + <td>The Boy Messenger of Russia; or, The Czar's Secret Despatch Bearer. + By Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">545</td> + <td>Monte Cristo, Jr.; or, The Diamonds of the Borgias. By Howard + Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">546</td> + <td>The Boy Privateer Captain; or, Lost on a Nameless Sea. By Capt. + Thos. H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">547</td> + <td>The Boys in Blue; or, The Football Champions of Cherryville. By + Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">548</td> + <td>From Bootblack to Broker; or, The Luck of a Wall Street Boy. By a + Retired Broker.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">549</td> + <td>The Block House Boys; or, The Young Pioneers of the Great Lakes. By + An Old Scout.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">550</td> + <td>The White Boy Slaves; or, The Student Exiles of Siberia. By Richard + R. Montgomery.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">551</td> + <td>A Coral Prison; or, The Two Boy Hermits of the Indian Ocean. By + Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">552</td> + <td>Dick "I will!"; or, The Plucky Fight of a Boy Orphan. By Allyn + Draper.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">553</td> + <td>Larry of the Lantern; or, The Smugglers of the Irish Coast. By + Berton Bertrew.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">554</td> + <td>My Chum Charlie; or, The Strange Adventures of Two New York Boys. By + Howard Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">555</td> + <td>The Boyhood Days of "Pawnee Bill"; or, From the Schoolroom to the + Frontier. By An Old Scout.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">556</td> + <td>The Young Deserters; or, The Mystery of Ramsey Island. By Capt. + Thos. H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">557</td> + <td>The Bowery Prince; or, A Bootblack's Road to Fame. By Howard Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">558</td> + <td>Jack Mosby, the Guerilla King; or, Riding and Raiding in the + Rebellion. By Gen'l. Jas. A. Gordon.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">559</td> + <td>A Lawyer at 17, and the Fee that Made His Fortune. By Richard R. + Montgomery.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">560</td> + <td>The Houseboat Boys; or, Stirring Adventures in the Northwest. By + Allyn Draper.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">561</td> + <td>The Dark Sons of Ireland; or, Plotting Under the Shannon Water. By + Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">562</td> + <td>Young Karl Kruger; or, The Richest Boy in the Transvaal. By Berton + Bertrew.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">563</td> + <td>The Phantom Fireman; or, The Mystery of Mark Howland's Life. By + Ex-Fire-Chief Warden.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">564</td> + <td>Ben Brevier; or, The Romance of a Young Printer. By Allyn Draper.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">565</td> + <td>The Signal Service Boys; or, Fighting Above the Clouds. By Gen'l + Jas. A. Gordon.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">566</td> + <td>The Red Privateer; or, The First to Float the Stars and Stripes. By + Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">567</td> + <td>The Iron Spirit; or, The Mystery of the Plains. By An Old Scout.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">568</td> + <td>The Sons of the Sword; or, The Watchers From the Rhine. By Richard + R. Montgomery.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">569</td> + <td>The Lost Island; or, A Romance of a Forgotten World. By Howard + Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">570</td> + <td>The White Wolf of the Gaitees; or, A Mystery of the Mountain. By + Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">571</td> + <td>The Senator's Secretary; or, The Brightest Boy in Washington. By + Allyn Draper.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">572</td> + <td>Whirlwind Jack; or, Captain Heald's Boy Messenger. By Gen'l Jas. A. + Gordon.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">573</td> + <td>The Gypsy's Son; or, The Double Life. By Howard Austin.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">574</td> + <td>The Transient Island; or, Cast Away in the Sooth Sea. By Capt. Thos. + H. Wilson.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">575</td> + <td>The Boys of Black Bay; or, The Young Lumber King of the North Woods. + By Berton Bertrew.</td> </tr> + +<tr> <td class="issue">576</td> + <td>The Boy Nihilist; or, Young America in Russia. By Allan Arnold.</td> </tr> </table> + +<p class="non"> +For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt +of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by <span style="font-weight: bolder; font-size: 120%"> +FRANK TOUSEY, +Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York.</span></p> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> + +<p style="font-size: 150%; text-align: center; margin-bottom: .1em"> +IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS</p> + +<p class="non" style="margin-top: 0em">of our Weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be +obtained from this office direct. Cut out and fill in the following +Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want +and we will send them to you by return mail. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Nihilist + or, Young America in Russia + +Author: Allan Arnold + +Release Date: October 20, 2007 [EBook #23094] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY NIHILIST *** + + + + +Produced by Richard Halsey + + + + +THE BOY NIHILIST, +or, +Young America in Russia + +By ALLAN ARNOLD. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE UNSUSPECTING TRAVELER. + +The steamship Baltic was on the point of sailing from America to Europe. + +The usual scenes were visible on the wharf--the rushing on board of +belated freight and baggage--the crush of passengers and their friends +on deck, or down in the cabins, where partings were being drunk in wine; +the crowd of steerage passengers forward, trying to keep out of the way +of the sailors, and at the same time to salute or converse with their +friends on the dock; the rattle and bustle all around; the blow of steam +from the impatient boilers; the sharp, brisk orders of the junior +officers; the rush of carriages with passengers, and the shouting of +draymen anxious to get their loads aboard--all these sights and sounds +were both felt and visible as a bright-looking young man, distinctly +American to all appearances, alighted from a cab and walked up the +steamer's gang-plank, followed by a porter and the driver with trunks +and parcels. + +He was indeed a bright-looking youth, such as you will find in New York +oftener than anywhere else, and as he reached the deck his hand was +grasped by several young and enthusiastic friends who had come aboard to +see him off. + +This was William Barnwell, a young New Yorker, slightly over twenty-one +years of age, who had recently inherited quite a fortune from a deceased +relative, and he was now on the point of starting on a tour which he +intended should encompass the globe. + +He was now alone in the world, so far as relations were concerned, +although he had a large circle of friends to whom he was greatly +attached, as they were to him. + +From boyhood up he had always been an enthusiast in almost everything, +but more especially in politics and revolution, as shown in national +struggles, and the pride of his life was the history of the American +Revolution, and the success of the patriots in that cause. + +But outside of his being an enthusiast and a lover of liberty, he was +not known, and had never taken any prominent part in any of the social +or political movements of the day, beyond sympathizing with the +struggles of the working men and women of the world in their struggles +to better themselves. + +These facts were not only known to his friends, but to many men +belonging to the secret societies of Ireland, Germany, and Russia. That +is to say, they knew him only as a bright young fellow, possessing +brains and pluck, together with enthusiasm, which, if rightly directed, +would make him a valuable member of any secret organization having the +liberty of the people at heart. But beyond this nothing particular was +known of him. + +His friends gathered around and wished him a prosperous voyage and a +happy return, and with refreshments and flowers they expressed +themselves as only New Yorkers do on such occasions. + +And as he stood there on deck, surrounded by his friends, he looked +indeed like a representative American young gentleman. + +He was light-complexioned, nearly six feet in height, and proportioned +like an athlete; bright, smart, and intelligent. + +And while the excitement of "sailing-day" was at its height, and young +Barnwell was in the midst of his friends, a strange man approached and +tapped him on the shoulder. + +The young man turned to see who it was, but he did not know him. + +"Can I speak a word with you?" the stranger asked, with a strong foreign +accent. + +"Certainly. Excuse me a moment, my friends. I will join you presently," +said Barnwell, walking away with the stranger, a little way forward of +the main hatch, out of the crowd. + +"You are William Barnwell, I believe?" said the stranger. + +"Yes, that is my name," said Will. + +"I was sure of it. You are going abroad for pleasure, I understand?" + +"Yes." + +"You are an American?" + +"I am proud to acknowledge it," said Will, drawing himself up to his +full height. + +"And let me tell you, young man, I know you thoroughly--know you for a +thorough-bred American gentleman." + +"Thank you." + +"You would do almost anything in the cause of human liberty?" + +"I would." + +"I wish I had known you before." + +"Why?" + +"I might have bound you closer." + +"To what?" + +"The heart of human liberty." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I cannot tell you now. But when will you go to St. Petersburg, Russia?" + +"Well, I did intend to go there at once, and from there visit the +different capitals." + +"And will you go to St. Petersburg?" + +"Certainly." + +"And will you do me a favor--will you do it in the cause of human +liberty?" asked the stranger, catching hold of his hand. + +"I will." + +The stranger appeared like a Russian or a Polish Jew, but there was +something about him that seemed to interest Barnwell. + +"Can I trust you beyond a doubt?" + +"I think you can in ordinary matters. Why do you ask?" + +"For very good reasons. And when you know that the lives and liberty of +hundreds of brave men and women depend upon your trust and faith, will +you swear to be true?" + +"I will swear, sir," said Barnwell, earnestly, for he was becoming more +strongly interested. + +The stranger appeared to hesitate as though not daring to trust the +entire importance of the business to the young man. But he finally +concluded what to do, evidently, and drawing Barnwell still further away +from the throng, he took a large brown envelope from the breast-pocket +of his coat. + +"Everybody in St. Petersburg knows Prince Mastowix, and it will be an +easy matter for you to find and approach him, seeing that you have your +passport all right. Will you swear to me to place this envelope in his +hand, allowing no one else to see or handle it?" asked the stranger, +with great earnestness. + +"I will swear to do so if you will tell me your name, and assure me that +I shall not be breaking any law of my country by so doing." + +"Paul Zobriskie is my name," said he, after hesitating an instant, and +gazing sharply at the brave youth before him. + +"I think I have heard the name before, in connection with socialistic +matters," mused Will. + +"Very likely; but keep that to yourself, for it will be better for you +not to know me in Russia. As to the other, I assure you that you will +break no law, social, moral, or political, in giving this to Prince +Mastowix." + +"Very well. On those conditions I will convey the packet to him," said +he, taking it. + +"Good; and the prince will be of great service to you during your stay +in Russia, and perhaps furnish letters which will assist you in many +other capitals." + +"Thanks. That is just what I require, as I have no letters of +introduction anywhere beyond my passport, and shall be a stranger +everywhere," said Barnwell, evidently delighted with such a prospect. + +"Good speed to you," said Zobriskie, shaking him cordially by the hand. + +"Thank you," and they parted, Barnwell thrusting the envelope into his +breast-pocket. + +He returned to his waiting friends and apologized for his protracted +absence. + +"Do you know that man, Billy?" asked one of his friends. + +"Well, not particularly. He wanted me to deliver a letter for him, +that's all." + +"Well, keep an eye on yourself." + +"What for?" + +"That man is an exiled Nihilist, and there may be danger in what you are +doing," said he. + +"Oh, I guess not. It is only to deliver a letter to a certain man in St. +Petersburg," replied Barnwell, carelessly. + +"Well, in these times, anything that is connected in the remotest way +with the city of the Czar is suspicious. Have an eye to yourself, +Billy," he added again. + +"Oh, never fear. I shall at least do that. But come, I have some good +cheer waiting for you in my cabin. Friends, follow me," said he, leading +the way through the crowd to the cabin stairway. + +And there they gathered to receive his cheer, and to wish him all the +fortune and good luck that could wait on mortal man. + +But while all this was going on there was a pair of small black eyes +fastened upon him, as his own shadow might cling to him--fastened from +the moment Paul Zobriskie drew him aside to converse. + +Those eyes belonged to one Tobasco, a Russian detective, stationed in +New York, and he knew his business thoroughly, having been intrusted +with the duty of watching the Nihilists who were fermenting plans +against the empire on this side of the Atlantic. + +He had overheard but little that had passed between Paul Zobriskie and +the unsuspicious young American, but while his eyes appeared directed in +some other way, he saw the well-known Russian Nihilist deliver him a +parcel, knowing him to be going to St. Petersburg (for this much he had +overheard), and it at once became his duty to shadow this young man and +ascertain the nature of his mission, even though he did not know it +himself. + +So he at once took measures to provide himself with a passage, and going +on shore, he purchased a few necessaries which he had not time to get +from his lodgings, and he wrote a letter to his landlord, informing him +of his unexpected departure, together with instructions regarding his +personal effects. + +Only a few moments after his return to the steamer's deck, the cry "All +ashore!" was heard, and young Barnwell came on deck with his companions +to take a final leave of them, as dozens of others were doing with the +groups of friends surrounding them. + +It is at such a time as this that the feelings of friendship come out +the strongest. + +Those who have taken passage, even on ever so large and staunch a ship, +seem like ants on a piece of driftwood, especially when the number of +shipwrecks is considered, and that among the first-class steamships; and +when friend parts with friend each understands the danger and +uncertainty of ever meeting again, and consequently the partings are +more pathetic, the handshakes more intense, embraces more fervent and +sensational than they would be under other circumstances. + +But those embraces were exchanged, those earnest handshakes indulged in, +and everybody not going to Europe was ordered ashore. What partings, +what expectations! + +The gang-plank is finally drawn ashore, the last lines loosened from +cleats and spiles, the engineer's bell rings, and the black hull of the +Baltic moves slowly from her pier. + +Friends on the dock give cheers to those on board, and they, in return, +wave their handkerchiefs, kiss their hands--aye, from the cabin to the +steerage-passengers, and the forecastle (those not employed), all waft +their good-by greetings to those who are left behind, not knowing +whether they may be the more fortunate or not. + +William Barnwell stood on the after-deck waving his hat to the friends +he had just parted with, and in spite of the dangers of the deep, of +which he never thought, wondering how long it would be before they would +meet again. + +The secret police agent stood near the main-hatch, and watched him +narrowly. + +Darkness was just closing in when the gallant steamer, with her nose +pointed to the southeast, passed the Sandy Hook light, and began to lay +her course towards England. + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SPY AND THE VICTIM. + +The noble steamer Baltic plowed her way through the buffeting bosoms of +the blue Atlantic oceanward. + +There was no land, in sight, there was no moon to light the waves, but +their own phosphorescence made the bounding billows visible to those who +came on deck. The sky above was clear, and the stars twinkled in the +blue above like diamonds in sapphire setting. + +There were a goodly number of passengers on deck, both cabin and +steerage, and the hum of voices could be heard above the "clang-clang" +of the engines, the "whurr" of the propeller, and the long lines of foam +which shot away to larboard and starboard like streaks of silver gave +food for reflection and conversation. + +Billy Barnwell was on deck, and in a very short time a conversation +sprang up between him and an aged gentleman, by whose side sat a young +lady with a veil over her face. + +Her voice was full and sweet, and the old gentleman's voice was that of +a man who was perfectly balanced, showing in all respects a person of +more than ordinary conditions in life--a refined gentleman. + +But in the uncertain light of the cabin skylights Barnwell could not see +plainly enough to distinguish faces, although the voice of both the old +man and the young lady were so impressed upon his mind that he could not +forget them. + +Tobasco was also on deck, as it was his province to be, and he watched +young Barnwell, of course, and also the people with whom he was +conversing. + +Indeed, he seldom allowed them out of his sight during the entire +voyage. + +It seemed strange to them, but on meeting the next morning on deck, all +three of them recognized each other at once, not-withstanding they had +only met each other in the dim and uncertain light thrown into the +darkness by the lights from the cabin skylights. + +But neither of them seemed in the least surprised, the old gentleman was +just such a person as young Barnwell judged him to be, and the young man +was in no way different from what he had esteemed him. But to Barnwell's +mind the young lady was far more beautiful and attractive than her voice +had led him to think the night before. + +She was about eighteen years of age, well-developed, bright and +beautiful, and he was not long in learning that they held the +relationship of father and daughter; and after a mutual introduction +brought about in this sea-going way, it proved that the old gentleman, +whose name was Clark, had been an old-time friend of Barnwell's father, +and this brought them into very close relationship while on the voyage. + +He was wealthy, a widower, and with his only child was going abroad for +pleasure; and before their arrival at London the young couple had become +more than ordinary friends, and parted there with an arranged meeting a +month hence at Berlin, after which they were to travel in company. + +The spy, Tobasco, meanwhile, never allowed Barnwell to escape his +observation; and when he set out for St. Petersburg it was only because +Barnwell was going there also. + +He was one of the keenest spies in the employ of the prefect of police, +and had been sent to America to watch the movements of Socialists, who +were in active sympathy with the terrible Nihilists of Russia, under the +leadership of Paul Zobriskie. + +And watching this Nihilist so closely accounts for his being on board +the steamer where we first met him, and of his sailing away in the +manner he did. He had long suspected Prince Mastowix of infidelity to +the Czar, notwithstanding the trust that was reposed in him; and +overhearing Zobriskie mention his name in connection with the giving the +letter to Barnwell, he suddenly determined to find out whether or not +his suspicions were correct. + +Arriving at St. Petersburg, Barnwell was driven to a good hotel, +intending while there to finish his visit and deliver the letters +meantime, that, however, being only of a slight consideration; for, +although he understood that it was a message of importance, it, so far +as he was concerned, was only a slight, friendly obligation in the +delivering of it to Prince Mastowix, after which he would be free to do +as he liked. + +Indeed, his mind for the most part was filled with pleasant thoughts of +beautiful Laura Clark, and the pleasure he should enjoy when they met at +Berlin, never to part again if he could have his way about matters which +agitated his heart, and to which he knew she was not at all indifferent, +if she really were not quite as willing as he was. + +Tobasco also took quarters at the same hotel, yet so guarded had he kept +himself aloof during all the time, there was not the slightest danger of +Barnwell's ever knowing that he had been a fellow-passenger, but he +never relinquished his watchfulness for a moment, for if young Barnwell +was in his apartments he knew it, and if he was abroad he was sure to be +almost as near as his shadow. + +The third day after his arrival, and after he had learned how to reach +Prince Mastowix, he set out for his palace. + +But how little the young man knew of the ways of Russian aristocracy! + +Arriving at the prince's palace, he found it guarded at every point by +police, and when he made known to them that he had private and important +business with his highness, he at once became an object of more than +ordinary interest, especially when it was learned that he was an +American. + +Tobasco, now in the disguise of a Russian peasant, was close at hand, +watching everything, while pretending to be a subject for alms. + +An officer took Barnwell's name in to the prince, and finally returned, +saying that he was empowered to receive any communication the stranger +might have for Prince Mastowix, and was astounded almost when the young +American told him that he must see the prince in person. + +In those Nihilistic days such a proceeding as that would never do, and +after further consultation with the prince, the detectives and officers +were ordered to search the stranger for concealed weapons. + +"No, sir, I refuse," said Barnwell. "I am a simple American citizen, +with a message for Prince Mastowix, and if that is not sufficient I will +retire." + +This was unheard-of audacity; but one of the officers volunteered to say +to the prince what the young American had said, all the while believing +that the youngster would ordered under arrest for his presumption. + +Contrary to expectations, however, the prince ordered stranger to be +admitted to his presence, and he was accordingly conducted thither. + +"Well?" said the prince, looking at him inquiringly. + +"Are you the Prince Mastowix?" asked Barnwell, calmly. + +"I am. Who are you?" + +"William Barnwell, of New York, United States of America," said he +proudly. + +"Well, what have you to do or say to me?" asked the prince, haughtily. + +"Only this, prince, and a very little. On the eve of leaving New York I +was approached by one Paul Zobriskie---" + +"Silence!" shouted the prince, and after waiting a moment, as though to +recover himself, he waved his attendants from the room. Then, turning to +Barnwell, he beckoned him approach nearer. "What did you say?" he asked, +in a lower key. + +"Simply what I said, sir; and to finish the business between us, allow +me to deliver you this letter," said he, presenting to him, feeling +somewhat aggrieved on account of the arrogant manner in which he was +received both by the prince and his attendants. + +The prince took the letter, and Barnwell was about to retire. + +"Wait!" said the Prince, severely. + +"My mission is fulfilled, sir." + +"Wait until we see whether it is or not," replied the haughty +aristocrat, and he proceeded to open the letter. + +Whatever it contained, it suddenly made a change in facial expression of +the prince, who glanced from it to Barnwell. + +"Do you know this Paul Zobriskie?" he asked, earnestly. + +"No. I never met him until I saw him on the steamer, and he asked me to +deliver this letter to you," said he. + +"Are you sure of that?" + +"I am." + +"And know nothing about him?" + +"Nothing further than hearing of him as a socialistic agitator." + +"And you know nothing of the contents of this letter?" + +"Nothing whatever. He told me nothing further than that it was +important, and that I must give it to no one but you." + +"What are you?" + +"A simple American citizen, sir." + +"Do you belong to any secret society?" + +"No, sir." + +The prince regarded him a moment, and then turned to read more of the +letter, wondering at the same time why Zobriskie should have trusted +such a fatal document to any but a tried and trusted Nihilist. + +The conclusion he arrived at was that there was treachery somewhere, or +that there was a possibility of such a contingency, and to guard himself +he resolved to put the unsuspecting stranger under arrest. + +Without a word further, he touched a bell, and in an instant three +gendarmes presented themselves. + +"This man is a prisoner; remove him to the castle for further +disposition," said he. + +Young Barnwell started in surprise. What did it mean? + +The officers approached him, when he turned to the prince. + +"What is the meaning of this, sir?" he demanded indignantly. + +"State prisoners are not always allowed to know State reasons." + +"But I am no State prisoner; I am an American citizen, and I demand to +know why I am arrested." + +"You may learn in time." + +"I will appeal to the American Minister, to the Czar of Russia even." + +"No, you will not. Away with him!" said the prince, determined above all +things that he should make no such an appeal or have a chance to do so. + +"Do you really mean this outrage?" + +"Call it what you like, but wait and see," he replied, waving him away. + +The officers knew nothing but duty, and in spite of young Barnwell's +protests and struggles, he was overpowered and dragged away in the +direction of the Bastile. + +Tobasco followed closely after them. What he had seen and heard +confirmed his suspicions that the prince was a traitor, and that he had +ordered Barnwell's arrest through fear. + +As for Barnwell, he, of course, saw that it was an outrage of the +deepest dye, and he had no idea of submitting to it. + +His American blood was up, and, knowing his own great strength, he +watched his opportunity as the guards led him from the prince's quarters +towards the Bastile. He suddenly wrenched himself away, and knocked one +of them sprawling upon the courtyard flags. + +Quick as thought almost, he sent another of them toppling against the +wall of a building. + +A third was on the point of firing at him with his musket, when Tobasco +dealt him a stinging blow from behind, that sent him sprawling on top of +his comrades. + +"Quick, young man! Escape by the gate yonder, and fly to the American +minister for protection," said Tobasco; and without waiting for an +explanation he fled, and in an instant more was on the street, while +Tobasco quickly secreted himself in a deep doorway, for his work was not +done yet. + +Recovering from their stunned condition, the gendarmes raised an alarm +in the courtyard, which quickly brought out the prince's followers, and +even the prince himself rushed from his room into the courtyard, to +ascertain the cause of the alarm. + +Flitting like a shadow almost, Tobasco ran from his hiding-place into +the office that the prince had hurriedly left; and seeing the paper and +envelope lying upon his table, hastily secured it and again returned to +his hiding-place. + +It did not take Prince Mastowix but a moment to find out that the young +American had escaped from his guard, and he was wild with rage. + +"After him, laggards! What are you standing here for? Retake him, or +I'll have every rascal of you knouted!" he roared. + +But this exhibition on his part only made the confusion greater for a +moment. + +Finally, without any attempt at order, a rush was made by servants and +soldiers for the gate to join in the pursuit. + +Tobasco, looking more like a peasant servant than anything else, mingled +in the rush, shouting the loudest of any of them in urging the pursuit, +and in this way, escaped from the palace without exciting the least +suspicion. + +Once free from the palace-gate, young Barnwell had no idea whatever of +the best way to go, but being determined to escape at all hazards, he +shot off to the right and ran like a deer. + +But he had only time to gain a block or so ahead before the mob of +soldiers and retainers rushed out and caught sight of him. + +Then the pace was quickened. Barnwell glanced over his shoulder, and saw +them coming after in the shape of a howling mob, and he plunged onward +at still greater speed, going he knew not where, nor caring either, so +long as he got away, and could find direction to the American Minister's +residence. + +He asked several as he ran for direction, but no one seemed to +understand his language, and the mob at his heels, augmented by the +police and citizens, was growing larger and larger every moment. + +But still he kept the lead, and paid no attention to several shots fired +after him. + +He was a stranger in the city, and not knowing which way to go, was +finally captured, roughly taken in charge, and handcuffed. + +In the meantime, Tobasco made his escape complete, but stopped to see +the soldiers drag the young American back to the prison to which tyranny +had consigned him. + +The excitement among the populace ran high, and rumor had it that the +authorities had captured an important Nihilist official; and this, of +course, roused that numerous and much-dreaded body of secret destroyers +to learn, if possible, through their agents, all the particulars of the +case. + +William Barnwell was thrown into a dark and loathsome dungeon, from +whence the body of many a poor prisoner had been borne after death, +produced by torture and starvation. + +"Curses on my luck!" he muttered, after collecting his thoughts for a +moment. "It must be that I have been betrayed by that Paul Zobriskie +into the hands of the Russian authorities. But what could have been his +motive, when I was an innocent stranger, and only did what I did to +accommodate him? What will be the result if I cannot communicate with +the American Minister? I am evidently taken for a Nihilist, and goodness +only knows what the end of it all will be. Am I destined to die in this +horrible place, without having a chance to communicate with my friends? +The thought is dreadful! It must not, shall not be; but--stay. What has +been the fate of other good men who have fallen into the hands of this +despotic government? That fate may be mine, and I sent to Siberia +without even a trial. Oh, the thought will drive me mad!" he cried, and +bowed his head, as he sat there on the filthy straw of his unlighted +dungeon. + + +CHAPTER III. + +A FRIGHTENED AND ENRAGED RASCAL. + +When Prince Mastowix returned to his room from ordering the guard to +pursue and recapture William Barnwell, the first thing he did was to +seek for the paper he had left upon his table when the alarm of escape +rang out so startlingly in the courtyard, the very paper that the young +American had placed in his hands only a few moments before, and which +Tobasco, the secret spy of the government, had secured during the +confusion incidental to Barnwell's escape, and in which he had acted a +friendly part. + +He started and looked wildly around. Then he felt in his pockets to see +if he had not placed it there in his excitement. Then he looked hastily +into several drawers where he possibly might have placed it in the +moment of hurry, and even upon the floor, where it might have fallen. + +But nowhere could he find it, and his excitement grew until it was +almost uncontrollable. + +Where was that fatal document? + +Again and again he went through his pockets and drawers, but all to no +purpose--the paper could not be found. + +He struck a bell savagely, and a clerk came hastily from an inner room. + +"Huon, has any person from your room been in here within the last few +minutes?" + +"No, Excellency, no one," replied the clerk. + +"Are you certain of that?" + +"I am, for I am seated by the door, and I never allow anyone to enter +your Excellency's chamber unless you summon them." + +"And have you seen any person here?" + +"No one, Excellency." + +"Will you swear to that, or shall I work the knout in order to bring out +the truth?" demanded the prince. + +"I swear it by my religion." + +"Down on your knees and swear!" thundered the prince, and the trembling +wretch obeyed like a true Russian slave. + +"Return," added the tyrant, pointing the way, and the next instant he +was alone. + +"Perdition catch me, but this is dreadful. What can have become of that +document?" he mused, as he threw himself into his chair. "Who could have +taken it? I have only one person about me who can read English, and he +is not here to-day," and again he began searching for the fatal paper. + +All to no purpose, though, of course, and he finally convinced himself +that it was neither in his office nor about his person. + +"Curses on my luck, for if that correspondence is found out, it means +death or Siberia to me. Could that American have regained it without my +seeing him do it? Great Scott!" he suddenly exclaimed, and hurried to +the Bastile. + +The possibility of Barnwell's having secured the document did not make +the prince's case any the better. Indeed, it was probably worse, for the +captain of the Bastile may have searched him and secured it himself. + +Such fears as these hurried him onward, until he reached the prison +where Barnwell was confined, and he instantly summoned the captain. + +"The prisoner I sent here but now?" + +"He is in a cell down below." + +"Did you search him?" + +"I did." + +"What did you find?" he asked, anxiously. + +"A passport, a quantity of money, some jewelry, and letters." + +"Let me see the papers," and they were promptly shown to him. He looked +them over eagerly, but there was no trace of the fatal document from +Zobriski. + +"Are these all you took from him?" + +"All, Excellency." + +"Who searched him?" + +"One of the guards." + +"Did you see him do it?" + +"It was done under my own eyes." + +"And you will swear that these comprise all the papers he had on his +person?" + +"I swear it, Excellency." + +The prince was more confused at this than he was before, for if he had +not taken it at the time of his arrest who could have done so? + +He dared make no explanation to the jailer, for he knew him to be a +loyal man, and one of the fiercest persecutors of the Nihilists in the +Czar's official household. And yet he half believed that he had secured +the correspondence, and was withholding it for a purpose against him. + +Finally he said: + +"Conduct me to the prisoner's cell." + +"This way, Excellency," and he led him to the stout and heavily-grated +door. + +"Now leave us," and the officer retired. + +Prince Mastowix glanced up and down the dimly-lighted corridor to make +sure that no one was in sight, and then he spoke. + +"William Barnwell," and the young man quickly leaped to his feet and +went to the bars. + +"Who is it?" he asked, eagerly. + +"The man who sent you here." + +"Then you are a rascal," replied Barnwell; and it was fortunate for the +tyrant that he was protected by the iron grating, or he would have been +clutched by the throat. + +"Careful, young man. I may have acted hastily in your case." + +"Yes, and unjustly." + +"Well, wrongs may be righted." + +"Then let me out of this horrible dungeon." + +"I will, on one condition." + +"Name it." + +"That you tell me whether you took that paper again which you brought me +from New York." + +"No, sir; I never saw it after I gave it to you," replied Barnwell. "You +held it in your hand when I was dragged from your office." + +The prince now remembered that this was true, and it made the mystery +even greater than before. + +He turned to go. + +"But your promise?" said Barnwell. + +"Bah!" was the only reply he received, and the next moment he was alone +again. + +A mocking laugh came from the opposite cell-door grating, and naturally +the abandoned youth looked in the direction. + +But the face he saw between the bars was hideous enough to make his +blood almost curdle. + +How old that face was, of what nationality, of what grade of intellect, +he could not tell, for his face was in the shade of that dark place. + +Again came the mocking laugh, as young Barnwell stood looking and +wondering. + +"Who are you?" he finally asked. + +That laugh again, and Barnwell concluded that the person must be a +lunatic, although he could but shudder at the thought that he might have +been driven to madness by the very same imprisonment which enshackled +him, and so turned away. + +His own misery was quite enough for him, and just then he was in no +humor to listen to another's. + +"Ha, ha, ha! So you are in the trap, eh?" asked the mysterious prisoner. + +"What trap?" asked Barnwell. + +"The rat-trap of the great Russian Empire." + +"I don't know. Who are you?" + +"Nobody; for the moment a person gets into the great political rat-trap +he loses his identity, and is simply known by a number. I am Number +Nineteen; you are Number Twenty." + +"How do you know?" + +"I can see the number of your cell, as you can, of course, see mine." + +"What were you brought here for?" + +"For fancying that I was a man, and that I had rights in the world. I +was thrown into this dungeon--it must be three months ago--for throwing +down the horse of a nobleman who attempted to drive over me. I have had +no trial, and expect none. I am as dead to the world as it is to me. I +am simply Number Nineteen, and when this prison gets too full of the +victims of tyranny, I shall be hustled off to Siberia, to make room for +new victims." + +"It is dreadful. But in my case I did nothing against the law. I simply +brought a letter from America to Prince Mastowix, and he at once threw +me into this place." + +"Ah! he is the same who threw me into this dungeon, because I resented +being run over." + +"And for that you think you will be sent to Siberia?" asked Barnwell. + +"I am sure of it." + +"For so slight an offense?" + +"Many a slighter one has consigned better men than I am to the mines of +Siberia for life. As for you, you have somehow offended the tyrant." + +"I cannot understand how. I brought a letter to him from a man in New +York." + +"What man?" + +"One Paul Zobriskie." + +"Paul Zobriskie!" exclaimed the man, clutching the bars that grated the +window of his door. "Do you know him?" + +"No; I was simply on the point of sailing for Europe when he approached +and asked me to deliver a letter to Prince Mastowix. I did so, and you +know the rest." + +"Paul Zobriskie is the greatest terror that Russian tyranny knows. He is +a bugbear; but why should he be in correspondence with Prince Mastowix?" + +"I know nothing about it." + +"There is a mystery somewhere," mused the man. + +"If there is, I know nothing about it." + +"Were I at liberty, I would take pains to find out what this mystery +is." + +"But how can they hold me?" + +"By the right of might; just as they hold me. Once in their clutches, +there is no escape. Even were you known to be innocent of any crime, it +would make no difference. The innocent and the guilty are treated alike +in Russia. There is no liberty--no justice in the land. But the time +will come when the Nihilists will shake the tyranny out of the empire +with dynamite!" said he, fiercely. + +"Silence, slaves!" cried a rough voice near by, and the next instant the +burly form of a keeper stood between them. "Nineteen, you have already +made trouble enough. You must have the knout," and unlocking the door of +his cell, he seized him by the hair of the head and dragged him out and +down through the corridor. + +Two minutes later the blood was almost curdled in Barnwell's veins by +the shrieking of that same poor wretch, undergoing punishment. + +But he was not brought back to his cell, and what became of him Barnwell +never knew. + +His thoughts, however, were soon turned from the wretched stranger to +himself, and to wondering what his own fate would be. + +One thing he felt certain of, and that was that Prince Mastowix would +never assist him in regaining his liberty. + +The letter he had so accommodatingly brought from New York undoubtedly +contained something of great importance, but why he should suffer on +account of it he could not see. + +Could he but make his case known to the American minister, he would +undoubtely be given his liberty, but this he could not do, and it was +the prince who prevented him. + +He had resolved that the young American should be sent to Siberia, even +knowing that he was guilty of no wrong; and even Tobasco, with all the +proofs of the prince's perfidy in his possession, paid no attention to +Barnwell, although he knew him to be simply a victim. Liberty or life +was nothing to him so long as he could make a point with the prefect of +police and secure unsuspected game. Such is the Russian sense of right +and justice. + +Day after day dragged its slow length along, and all the while Prince +Mastowix was in a dreadful state of uncertainty. No trace had been found +of the missing paper; and after preferring a charge of assault against +William Barnwell, who was described as a spy of the Nihilists, a form of +trial was gone through with, as with others who were not allowed to be +present, and a verdict rendered up against him, condemning him to +Siberia during the pleasure of the government. + +That is the way the tyrants of Russia serve people, whether guilty or +innocent, if they happen to incur their displeasure in any way. + +Is it any wonder that they revolt, or that they resort to secret +intrigue, to dynamite, and all other means, however bloody the +unthinking world may regard them, to give back some of the terror which +they have dealt out for centuries? No, it is no wonder at all. + +Two weeks William Barnwell languished in the filthy cell of that +Bastile, when he was finally marched out into the courtyard one day, in +company with some fifty other wretches who had been sentenced to exile. + +And what a change those two weeks had produced in that handsome American +youth! Unwashed, unkempt, dazed by the light of day he had been kept +from so long, his most intimate friends would not have known him. + +The detail was ready, and outside of the prison were hundreds of loving +ones, waiting to take a last farewell of fathers, brothers, lovers, whom +they would probably never see again. But Barnwell had no one waiting for +him, and it seemed that life, hope, ambition, everything was crushed out +of him. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +SWIFT RETRIBUTION. + +Retribution does not always go with justice, however, as in this case, +notably. + +William Barnwell was hurried away to exile, for reasons the reader fully +understands; but even then Prince Mastowix felt far from secure. The +unaccountable absence of that correspondence haunted him day and night. + +But not for long, however, for that treasonable document was in the +hands of General Walisky, prefect of police, and by him presented to the +Czar and his ministers, together with all the particulars in the case. + +Action was at once taken and search made for the young American who had +innocently acted as the messenger. + +But the spirit of the fiend was soon shown, for Mastowix had destroyed +every trace of the American's individuality, blending it with others +who, like him, were simply known by numbers. + +From the moment a political prisoner is thrown into prison in Russia, he +loses his identity, although the authorities keep a secret roll +containing the names and other particulars regarding the unfortunate +wretches, but that roll is never seen by the outside world. + +In the fortress-like Bastile over which Prince Mastowix held sway, he +had charge of this fearful secret record; but the better to blot his +existence out, should inquiries ever be made, he applied a false name to +the "No. 20"; described him as a Russian, a Nihilist, who had been +caught in holding correspondence with Paul Zobriskie, and who had also +assaulted Prince Mastowix. + +But he was arrested and taken before the tribunal, where in the most +defiant manner, he demanded to know why a person of his distinguished +title and record as a servant of the czar was now a prisoner. + +"Prince Mastowix," said the president of the tribunal, "it ill becomes a +traitor to the State to exhibit such arrogance." + +"Who dare say I am a traitor--who dare say it lies in his throat!" +hissed Mastowix, although he felt in his heart that something dreadful +was impending. + +"Silence! Here is a document addressed to you from New York, by Paul +Zobriskie, in which he addresses you in unmistakable terms of +fraternity, and refers to other correspondence, together with certain +other information which he had received, and which could never have +reached him save through you. What have you to say?" + +It required all the nerve the traitor had to prevent him from falling to +the floor. The members of the tribunal watched him narrowly, and saw +that he grew very pale. + +But finally he found strength to speak. + +"It is false both in matter and spirit," he said; but the next uppermost +question in his thoughts was--what spy could have obtained possession of +the document? + +"And you plead?" + +"Not guilty!" he replied, aggressively. + +"Call Tobasco," said the president, and a guard soon produced the police +spy, and he was sworn. + +"Do you recognize that document?" the president asked, handing him +Zobriskie's letter? + +"I do." + +"Give us the history of it." + +"I first saw it in New York, in the hands of Paul Zobriskie, on board +the steamer Baltic, then about to sail. I was watching Zobriskie, and +saw him approach a young man and ask him if he was going to St. +Petersburg, and on being informed that he was, asked him if he would +deliver this letter to Prince Mastowix, at the same time enjoining him +to be very careful and not let it reach another's hands." + +"It is false, vile spy!" roared the prince. + +"Silence!" shouted the president. "Proceed!" + +"The young American agreed to do as directed, and having had occasion to +suspect that Prince Mastowix was a Nihilist leader in disguise, I +resolved to follow the bearer of the letter, although I could not learn +that he was a Nihilist. I did so, and watched him closely. I saw him +visit the prince, and contrived to follow in the disguise of an +attendant. I saw him give him the letter, and for doing so he was +arrested. The boy struggled and finally escaped. During the confusion in +the courtyard the prince ran out to learn what it was about, and I then +contrived to steal the letter, which still lay upon his table, and to +escape with it without detection. I took it to the prefect of police." + +Mastowix was so completely staggered at this that he sat glaring wildly +at the spy, unable to move or speak. + +The members of the tribunal consulted for only a moment. + +Finally the president spoke: + +"Prince Mastowix that was, Peter Mastowix that is, this document and the +evidence has been placed before our imperial master, the Czar, and by +his orders you have been brought here for trial and condemnation. The +tribunal adjudges you guilty of treason to the State, and sentences you +to death. Remove the prisoner!" + +Bowed and completely broken, the guilty wretch, the petty tyrant who had +heaped wrong, misery and death upon so many others, was taken from the +inquisition, crushed and broken. + +Three days later he was led out into the yard of the very prison over +which he had long and cruelly held rule, and shot to death by the guard, +the very men whom he commanded oft before. + +There is neither justice nor pity among the Russian nobles, and no +remorse in the hearts of the peasant soldiery who have been brutalized +for a thousand years. So this guard shot their late commander as they +would have fired upon a dog; indeed, if there was any feeling in their +breasts, it was one of revenge for the many brutal wrongs they had +suffered at his hands. + +It was a severe blow to the Nihilists of Russia, this discovery and +death of Mastowix, but as no cause was assigned for it, they were left +to conjecture, although they feared the worst. + +Mastowix was ambitious; he even had the hardihood to look to the +extinction of the royal family at the hands of this powerful order, and +trusted to chance to place himself high in power, if not on the very +throne of a new dynasty. + +And he was of great service to the Nihilists, for he could keep them +well posted continually. But that fatal letter cut him off, while yet +his hope was in the bud, as well as other prominent members of the +order, for eight others whose names were mentioned by Zobriskie were +also arrested and sentenced to exile in the terrible mines of Siberia. + + +CHAPTER V. + +SIBERIA. + +A glance at the map will show the geographical location of far-away +Siberia, but no map, no book will tell you what a hell on earth this +northernmost arm of the Russian Empire is. + +But little is known of it in Russia itself, not even by the members of +the autocratic political family, beyond the fact of its being a dreary, +frozen land of political exile, a region without light or hope for the +banished. + +The people shudder at the mention of it, for they have heard much of it +from the broken wretches who have been fortunate enough to escape, after +years of toil and suffering. They know that the innocent as well as the +guilty are liable to be sent there; that thousands upon thousands have +died or been murdered there by the autocrat's petty tyrants, placed +there to guard and work them, and that their bones molder or bleach upon +the inhospitable shores, where wolves lay in wait for the bodies of +victims which are thrown where they can reach them, and thus save the +trouble of burial. + +A large portion of the penal colony is honey-combed with mines, which +the prisoners are forced to work for the benefit of the government that +has exiled them there; and thousands of poor wretches, when once forced +into them, never again see the light of day, but drag out a miserable +existence hundreds of feet underground. + +The serfs have been nominally freed; but slavery of the most horrible +and degrading kinds is rampant in Russia to-day. The press is gagged and +suppressed, and no man is free to speak his opinion regarding the +tyrants and their doings. + +Is it any wonder the people meet in secret conclave and resort to +dynamite? + +After a long and dreary passage, William Barnwell was landed, with his +companions in misery, not one of whom could speak English, in Siberia, +more dead than alive. + +They had been treated worse than cattle during transportation, and now +their fortunes were on the eve of being made even worse. + +However guilty the others of his party may have been, his case was one +of the grossest injustice, and one that the United States would have +been quick to demand satisfaction for had there been an opportunity of +finding it out. + +As before stated, there is no such a thing in Russia as justice. All is +selfish tyranny and inborn ingratitude. + +They--the members of the secret tribunal--knew that the important letter +which enabled the government to arrest dangerous and wholly unsuspected +enemies had been brought over by a young American gentleman, and also +that his identity had been blotted out, and he sent to Siberia; but +whether he was innocent or guilty, they never gave themselves the +trouble to think, and so, virtually, that was the end of him, so far as +they were concerned or cared; not even thanks enough for the result he +had innocently brought about to inquire into his case at all. + +On the first day of their arrival they were assigned to different gangs +for different mines, and on the second, to give the newcomers an idea of +what insubordination brought about, they were treated to the revolting +sight of the punishing of prisoners with the knout. + +There were nearly fifty of them, but what their crimes had been Barnwell +had no means of knowing, as he could not understand the Russian +language. + +But the poor, miserable wretches were unmercifully flogged on their bare +backs with that terrible weapon of torture, the knout; and while some of +them sent up piteous cries as the cruel whip tore their flesh, others +received their punishment in stolid silence, as though disdaining to let +the tyrants know that they suffered, while still others paid back every +lash with a curse. + +It was one of the most terrible sights that young Barnwell had ever +conceived of even, and being forced to witness it he became sick and +faint at heart. He had read of such things but until now he never +believed them possible. He could not believe that anything wearing the +human form could be so fiendishly cruel. Indeed, it seemed to be a +holiday treat to those bearded beasts who wielded the thongs, and +whenever a particular case was administered upon they would look at the +newcomer with mocking leers. + +Finally to Barnwell's infinite horror a young Russian girl was brought +out bared to the waist. + +She could not have been above twenty years of age and under different +circumstances would have been beautiful and evidently belonged to a +grade higher than the peasants. + +"Zera Vola!" he heard the governor's officer call as the girl was led +out for punishment. + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Barnwell, "are they going to flog her? I had +rather die myself than see it!" + +He looked around, but no one appeared to understand him, although he +noted the horror and disgust on the faces of the new exiles. + +The girl was blushing deeply at this forced exposition of her person, +but she seemed otherwise firm and undaunted. + +The wretch with the knout grinned, and made some insulting remarks, +which his fellow-brutes appeared to enjoy very much. + +Then she was placed in position and forced to bow her head so that her +beautiful back might be rounded up for the cruel blows. And yet she did +not flinch, and Barnwell saw red scars that told of previous +castigations. + +The grinning rascal raised his knout to strike her, when young Barnwell, +mad with indignation, leaped into the arena. + +With one powerful blow he felled the burly rascal like a log, and +seizing his knout, placed his foot upon him and raised it as if to +strike. + +The movement was so sudden and so bold that the officers were for a +moment paralyzed and stood looking at him. + +"Wretches, to strike a woman! Flog me if you must vent your brutality, +but if you claim to be men, don't harm that girl!" he cried. + +She was the only one present who understood the English language. + +"Oh, sir," said she, "they will kill you for this!" + +"Let them; I had rather die than witness such horrible brutality." + +The next instant he was seized, or an attempt was made to seize him, but +before they succeeded in doing so, at least six of them felt his +powerful blows and went down under them. + +Quick orders were given, and his clothes were stripped from him, and he +was held in position while the executioner rained blow after blow upon +him to revenge the one he had received. + +And then he was hurried away and thrust into a cold, damp dungeon, his +lacerated flesh bleeding copiously, but with his heart still unbroken. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +STRANGE ACQUAINTANCE. + +William Barnwell suffered terribly during the next forty-eight hours +after his terrible flogging, for having resented the punishment of a +girl, for during all that time he was left without his clothes and +without food. + +But his clothes were finally thrown into his cell, together with half a +loaf of black bread, dry and moldy. + +He had never known what hunger was before, but now he seized that +disgusting loaf and ate it with avidity, and while doing so he dressed +himself, but without having a chance to wash his lacerations, the blood +of which had dried upon his back. + +But he had suffered much from the cold, and his clothes were welcome +indeed. + +What would be the next move? + +He realized that he was a Russian victim, and that in all probability he +would never leave Siberia alive, and that his friends would never know +his fate. + +Indeed, he understood now that exile to Siberia was like suddenly +sinking into the earth or the sea, never to be seen or heard of again. + +The particulars of his case were, however, reported to the secretary of +the governor of Siberia, and through him to the governor, who, for some +reason or other, became interested to such a degree that he ordered the +presumptuous prisoner brought before him. + +When taken from his loathsome cell, young Barnwell did not know, did not +care what his fate was to be. He was so stiff that he could scarcely +walk, and the doing so caused him great pain. + +He was marched to the governor's palace by two armed guards, and +presently taken into his presence. + +But he was far from being the handsome-looking youth he was before he +fell into the hands of Russian tyrants, although, in spite of his badly +lacerated back, he still maintained his erect carriage and independent +bearing. + +The governor looked at him for a moment and then spoke to him in +Russian, but Barnwell shook his head. Then he spoke German, but he did +not understand that. + +"English," said he. + +"Oh, you are an Englishman--eh?" asked the governor, who appeared to be +the master of many languages. + +"No, sir; I am an American," replied Barnwell indignantly. + +"What brings you here?" + +"Fraud, deceit, and Russian tyranny." + +"What did you do?" + +"Simply brought a letter from New York, from Paul Zobriskie, without +knowing what its contents were--simply to oblige a stranger--and this is +my reward," said he bitterly. + +"Paul Zobriskie! To whom directed?" the governor asked cautiously. + +"Prince Mastowix." + +"Ah! he has been lately executed." + +"Thank God!" exclaimed Barnwell. + +"And you knew nothing of the contents of the letter?" + +"Nothing; but it is evident that he thought I did, and when I assured +him that I was not a Nihilist, he ordered my arrest, and here I am in +cursed Siberia." + +"You speak too strongly." + +"Because I have been outraged." + +"You struck one of the guard." + +"Yes; because he was about to strike a lady on her bare back with his +cruel knout, which act my American blood revolted at," replied Barnwell. + +"That is the way we punish refractory prisoners." + +"Well, it is the way of brutes and fiends." + +"You are altogether too outspoken, sir." + +"Why should I not be? I owe no allegiance to the Czar," replied +Barnwell, quickly. + +"But you owe respect to me, sir." + +"As the kid owes respect to the wolf in whose power it is." + +"Be cautious, I advise you. If what you say of yourself is true, why did +you not appeal to the American Minister at St. Petersburg?" + +"I was not permitted to do so, sir, but was thrown into a dungeon." + +"Did you know Zobriskie was a Nihilist?" + +"I did not. He accosted me when on the eve of sailing, and asked me as a +favor to hand the letter to Prince Mastowix. I did so without suspecting +that I was in any danger." + +"But it appears that you were in danger, and as I learn from St. +Petersburg, that letter by some means or other got into the hands of the +authorities, he was arrested, brought before the tribunal, proven to be +a Nihilist in disguise, and executed. It is very strange," he added. + +"But I am not to blame, and why should I suffer for the faults of +others?" + +"Well, you should not." + +"Then send me back to St. Petersburg," said Barnwell, eagerly. + +"That I cannot do without an imperial order. But I will forward the +particulars of your case to the authorities, and then, if they see fit +to act favorably towards you, I will send you back again with pleasure," +replied the governor, who was not altogether bad at heart. + +"How long will it take?" + +"That I cannot say." + +"And what of the money that was taken from me, and my passport, and not +returned?" + +"Well, sir, if you succeed in establishing your innocence, they will be +restored to you. Was your passport franked by the American Minister?" + +"Yes; and that should enable him to establish both my identity and my +innocence." + +"But it might take him a long time to show the Imperial Government that +you are not an enemy to Russia." + +"But it can be shown." + +"We shall see." + +"And in the meantime must I remain in that dungeon?" + +"No, I will remand you to the guard-house until I can find employment +for you." + +"Thank you for this much, governor. I have lately inherited a fortune, +and had just set out on a tour around the world, when this unexpected +occurrence stopped me. I am also engaged to be married to a lovely girl, +who knows nothing of me since I parted with her in London for the sole +purpose of delivering this unfortunate letter, and if you can forward +matters any, you will not only win a substantial reward, but the +gratitude of loving hearts." + +"I will see what can be done," said he, waving him away. + +"Please do." + +"Take him to the guard-house and treat him as a prisoner of the second +class until you hear from me again," said the governor to the guard, +speaking in Russian. + +And William Barnwell was marched away by them with a somewhat lighter +heart. + +The governor of Siberia sat meditating for some time after being left +alone. + +He had been a schoolmate of Paul Mastowix, and well remembered that even +as a boy his chief characteristic was hypocrisy, and even in after years +he had many times suspected the loyalty of the man, and was not at all +surprised to learn that he was an active Nihilist behind a mask of +loyalty. + +And it was so strange that the innocent cause of his sudden downfall +should now come under his charge. The fact gave him an interest in the +young man which he would not otherwise have had, for he evidently +believed his story. + +So he set to work to think of a place where he could put him until such +time as he could make sure regarding him, and after consulting with the +superintendent, he concluded to put him into the general reception-room, +to act as an assistant in receiving new convicts sent to Siberia. + +And the following day he was installed there. In the meantime, however +his wounds had been dressed by one of the surgeons--a rare condescension +to a prisoner. + +It was a strange place, but there was little to do, save when a new +batch of prisoners arrived; and as he had already gone through with the +prisoner part of the business, the place after all did not seem so +strange to him. + +There were altogether about a dozen men belonging to this department, +and for the most part they were exiles for life, or long terms, who had +become blunted and reconciled-men whose hopes and ambitions were gone, +and who only lived because they could not die--men whose time had not +yet come. + +The employees in this department seldom spoke to each other. Some of +them were old men, some actually tottering and evidently longing for the +grave, and when young Barnwell was put among them he was not received +with favor, hardly with prison civility. + +"He is a spy," said one. + +"Put here to watch us," said another. + +"But what can he learn? We have no secrets, no desires but to die," +remarked a third. + +"Yet there must be some reason for this young man's being placed here; +keep an eye on him," whispered a fourth. + +"Bah!" was the general expression, for they knew there was no occasion +to watch them, and if there was they would not be there, but down in the +gold mines, hundreds of feet below, where they now suffered with the +cold. + +And so it passed into a matter of indifference with them. They regarded +themselves as favored above the general run of exiles, and they would +not, dared not, question the appearance of the newcomer. + +As before stated, there was but little to do; in fact. It was little +better than a hospital for favored or dying ones, and so they wondered +for a little while, and then resolved themselves into the same idiotic +company they had become to be. + +Barnwell comprehended the situation, and resolved to fit himself to it, +for he was buoyed up with a hope of release which the others might once +have had, but which they did not have now. + +He tried to speak with them, but not one of them appeared to understand +English; and after his first day in this department he began to lose +heart, and had it not been for the hope which buoyed him up, he might +have fallen as low as any of the others there. + +On the third day he was given the position of servant to the surgeon, +and as he spoke some English, he found it comparatively easy to get +along with him, although, of course, he had great difficulty in any +position, on account of his not being able to speak the abominable +Russian. + +The hospital for dying or disabled exiles was a most barbarous place, +more like a black hole than a hospital, its principal object being, it +seemed, to hurry prisoners out of the world, after they had become +incapacitated by age, sickness, or accident for working in the mines. + +There were hundreds of those miserable wretches there, in all states of +conditions, and dozens a week were carted away, and to whom death was a +welcome change. + +Barnwell was horrified by the sights which met his eyes, and the sounds +which racked his ears; but the thought that he would not have to remain +there long gave him strength to bear up and endure the pitiful sights. + +The surgeon took quite a fancy to him, and did all he could to teach him +the Russian language, so that he might be more useful. But not having +the time to devote, he sent him to an old man by the name of Batavsky, +who spoke both English and Russian. + +"He will teach you if he likes you, but if not he will not speak a +word," said he. + +"Who and what is he?" asked Barnwell. + +"Peter Batavsky has been here over thirty years--sent here for +conspiracy against Czar Nicholas. He has worked in the mines until +within the last fifteen months, since which time he has gone mad, and +the governor ordered him here." + +"Taking lessons of a madman!" + +"Well, I am not certain he will give you any at all. He is rational +enough at times to do so if he happens to take to you; if not, he will +not notice you at all." + +"It is a strange situation, but as I am anxious to learn the Russian +language, why, I will take almost any chance to do it, and to oblige +you, doctor." + +And with this understanding Barnwell went to the cell of old Peter +Batavsky. + +He found him indeed a character, even if he was insane at times. + +He was at least seventy years of age, bent and bowed by hard work and +long imprisonment. + +His thin hair was white, and his skin like old parchment, but his eyes +were bright, and even in his age showed the fires of youth, as well as a +high-born nature, all of which had not yet been crushed out of him by +misfortune. + +But in youth he must have been a magnificent specimen of physical +manhood, standing at least six feet in height, and the surgeon had told +him that he belonged to a wealthy and influential family up to the time +of his apostacy. + +He occupied a narrow cell, in which he secluded himself almost +continually, holding no intercourse with his fellow-unfortunates. + +To this cell young Barnwell made his way, armed with the surgeon's +request, which he at once made known to him. + +The old man looked him all over in the most scrutinizing manner, for his +great hallucination was that he was beset with spies who were bound to +bring him before the secret tribunal. + +But there was something about the old lunatic which attracted the young +American, and there seemed to be a counter attraction between them. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +STRANGE TUTOR OF RUSSIAN. + +"And the surgeon wishes me to teach you the Russian language, does he?" +asked old Batavsky, reclining on his miserable couch. + +"Yes, sir, if you will be so good," replied Barnwell, politely. + +"So good!" + +"That is what he said, sir." + +"You are English, eh?" + +"I speak nothing but English, although I am an American." + +"Oh, an American, eh? You must be the only American in Siberia." + +"I certainly hope so, sir." + +"And so do I; but he wants to have you learn it so as to become a more +useful slave. How long have you been here?" + +"I came with the last consignment." + +"Are you a Nihilist?" asked the old man, after a moment's silence, +during which he looked at him sharply. + +"No, sir; but I think the Russian police authorities will drive me to +being one." + +The old man rose quickly to a sitting position. + +"What were you sent here for?" + +"I was sent here by the treachery of one who has since been executed." + +"Who was it?" + +"Prince Mastowix." + +"Mastowix!" exclaimed Batavsky, and this time he tottered to his feet. + +He was trembling violently, and his eyes, before half closed, were now +wide open and glaring at Barnwell strangely. + +"Prince Mastowix, did you say?" + +"Yes, sir; the governor of the Bastile." + +"Executed, did you say?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Heaven be praised!" cried the old man, falling heavily upon his couch. + +Barnwell watched him in surprise for two or three minutes, and then he +spoke: + +"Did you know him, sir?" + +"Know him! Do my thirty-five years of exile, slavery, despair, know him? +Yes, it was his treachery that consigned me here, and he was rewarded by +Alexander with a title for his work. Oh, do I know him? And he is dead? +Tell me all about it--he was executed--stay a moment. What is your +name?" he asked excitedly. + +"William Barnwell, sir." + +"Good; now tell me all about it." + +"It is a long story, sir." + +"Give me every word of it, boy--every word!" + +He seemed indeed like a maniac now, and under some circumstances +Barnwell would have been afraid of him. + +But it seemed the news he had brought had given him a favorable footing +in the old man's estimation. + +So he began with the story, first with his meeting Zobriskie on the +steamer, and so on until he was landed in Siberia. + +Batavsky listened with the utmost attention, and at points showed much +excitement, trembling violently and scarcely able to restrain himself. + +"And the villain Mastowix had become a Nihilist?" said he. + +"It would seem so, sir." + +"Then he did it to betray the society, provided he could not rise higher +with it." + +"Very likely, sir." + +"Oh, I know him well! Oh, he was a very fiend! But he is dead?" + +"Yes." + +"Oh, my son, this barren waste, those deep-down mines yonder have been +peopled by his victims. Aye, the very wolves have gnawed the bones of +his victims until they have come to know him as a benefactor, I'll dare +be sworn. But he is dead--he has been executed! Thank Heaven!" and with +another wild laugh he sank upon his couch and buried his face in the +straw. + +Barnwell stood gazing at him with awe and wonder. + +"What a terrible history must be his," he thought, as he regarded him. + +It was some moments before the old man regained sufficient composure to +command himself. + +Barnwell could say nothing, and so he waited for the old man to resume. + +Presently, with a sigh, he roused himself and sat upright on his couch. + +"How is it with you, sir?" + +"I--I hardly know, my son," he replied, after a pause, during which he +looked earnestly at him. "I am supposed to-that is, the surgeon has been +so good as to ask me to teach you the Russian language. You have been +outraged." + +"Yes, sir; but not to the extent that you have been," said Barnwell, +taking his hand. + +"My son, I like you," said he, returning the pressure of his hand. +"There is something about you that fills a long vacant place in my +heart. I will do all I can to teach you the Russian language, but at the +same time, if I find you apt, I will teach you even more than that, for +there is much more to be learned, my son." + +"And I hope I may be found worthy, for I will admit that I like you much +more than words can express. I was told something of the time you have +slaved here, and also that you were now insane, but it does not seem +so." + +The old man was silent a moment. + +"Well, my son, I will not say but you have been rightly informed, for +there are times when I do not know myself, and it may be that I am then +insane. But what would you or any man be, suffering all I have +suffered?" + +"It is a wonder that you are alive, my dear sir," said Barnwell. + +"I wonder at it myself, but I have clung to life for the sake of +revenge--for the hope I had of one day escaping from this frozen place +and killing the villain whose treachery consigned me here. And now you +come and tell me that other means have taken away my revenge! I--I feel +a great change creeping over me. Yes, yes--but I will do all I can to +teach you the Russian language." + +"But, from what I have told you, you can understand that I have not long +to remain here, and probably but little use for the language." + +"Poor boy!" moaned the old man, shaking his bowed head sadly. + +"Why do you so exclaim?" + +"You hope to escape?" + +"I do." + +"Ah! do not lay that flattering unction to your immortal soul, my son." + +"Why not? The governor assured me that he would present my case to the +authorities." + +"But he never will." + +"What!" + +"Or if he does it, will never be acted upon. Oh, how many have I known +in the thirty-five years that I have toiled and suffered here, who held +hopes just as bright, and whose unredeemed and unclaimed bones now +whiten on Siberian snows! I do not wish to dishearten you, nor do I wish +to buoy you up with false hopes." + +"But my case is different, my dear sir." + +"It may be, as one-half differs from another; but remember that once a +name is obliterated and the owner of it is transported to Siberia, there +is no power on earth to reclaim him." + +"But I am an American, and no criminal," + +"True; but who is to find that out, and who bring it to the notice of +those powerful enough to demand an investigation? No; when once a person +is disposed of in Russia in this way, that closes his career." + +"Do you really think so, sir?" asked Barnwell, feeling his heart sink +within him. + +"Have I not had evidence enough of it. The police are too busy at home +to notice even the recommendations of the Governor of Siberia. The +authorities send all here--they call none back under any circumstances." + +"Is that so?" + +"Yes; guilty or innocent." + +"And you believe that I am destined to drag out my life here?" + +"Yes, unless you escape." + +"Escape?" + +"Yes." + +"Can it be done?" + +"I don't know. It may have been done, although I could never do it. +There have been several mysterious disappearances during my time here, +but we could never learn whether they escaped or died, or were tortured +to death." + +"And would you have me abandon hope?" + +"Yes, of pardon and reinstatement." + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Barnwell, bowing his head abjectly. + +"I give you no false hopes. I would that I could be sure of your +escape," he mused. + +"Why?" + +"That is, if I found you worthy." + +"Of what?" + +"Of the trust I would repose in some true heart," said the old man, +sadly. + +"You speak vaguely, sir." + +"Well, I may be able to speak more plainly by and by. But in the +meantime I will take particular pains to teach you the Russian +language." + +"I thank you, but mournfully, since you lead me to believe that my only +use for it will be here in Siberia." + +"I would not banish hope." + +"Of what?" + +"Of your ultimate escape from here." + +"How?" + +"That will be a future consideration." + +"But do you believe there is a chance?" + +"Yes. While the springs and muscles of youth are potent, there is always +a chance--always a hope." + +"I will dare anything; but I am a stranger here, and know not, how to +move." + +"Then possess your soul in peace for a while. You have not the strength +of a lion, but you may have the cunning of a fox. Assume to be contented +with your lot, and learn all you can of your surroundings. Learn well +the road away from here. It may take years, as it has in my case, and +you may never succeed, as I have not, but it behooves a brave man to be +always ready to take advantage of circumstances. You have not been sent +here as a dangerous criminal, and will not be so closely guarded as I +have always been, the proof of which is that the governor assigns you +here for hospital duty. But the proof that there is a very remote +probability of your ever being recalled by the powers that consigned you +here is this wish on the surgeon's part for you to learn the Russian +language so as to become more useful here." + +"I will not learn it," said Barnwell, with a sudden burst of +indignation. + +"Walt a moment. Will you take me for a guide?" + +"With all my heart I will." + +"Then do all in your power to learn the language, and at the same time +to appear to be reconciled. More follows." + +"I will obey you, sir." + +"I see you are both brave and sensible. Force does not work here, save +to oppress. Be cunning, be sly, and, after you have mastered the +language and the situation, then there will be more hope for you. And, +when you are strong enough, I will tell you the story of my life." + +"Strong enough?" + +"Yes; for it will take more than ordinary strength to stand it. But I +feel a great change since meeting you. The ambition and rage for revenge +has been toned down, and now a relapse may follow it." + +"How?" + +"This hope of revenge on Mastowix has buoyed me up during all these +years; but now that I find that you have been the innocent cause of +bringing retribution upon him, I feel that my life's object, my object +for living, no longer exists, and a relapse from that high excitement is +coming on, and I may die at any moment; but, thank goodness, perfectly +sane." + +"Oh, do not talk so, please. You are the only friend I have in all this +vast expanse of human misery. Do not think of dying, I beg of you," said +Barnwell, greatly excited. + +"Goodness knows how long the time may be; but do not leave me, my son, +do not leave me. I have a premonition of death, and that must not be +until I have transferred a great secret into some worthy hands." + +"And you still trust me?" + +"I will. I feel that I can. Come and see me again to-morrow to--mind +you--to take still further lessons in the Russian language." + +"I will come." + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND A STORY. + +The next day, and for several days, William Barnwell visited the cell of +old Peter Batavsky for the purpose of receiving lessons in the Russian +language. + +The poor old exile was undoubtedly right when he said that the surgeon +of the hospital wanted him to learn it so that he would become a more +valuable slave. + +But at the same time he had convinced him that it was best for him to +learn it, and so he applied himself with all diligence, greatly to the +delight of the hospital surgeon, who, having taken a fancy to the +American youth, without stopping to think or to care about the cruel +tyranny that had taken him there, wanted him to become even more useful, +as he undoubtedly could be by learning to speak Russian. + +And old Batavsky had learned to love him during the time. But as his +excitement over the death of Prince Mastowix subsided he became more and +more rational. + +His whole intent now seemed to be to teach Barnwell the language, and +then to confide to him not only the story of his eventful life, but the +pith of it, which covered a great secret. + +And the young exile had also learned to have a most profound respect for +Batavsky, whom he found to be a highly educated man of more than +ordinary ability, and how he could be thus consigned to such a dreadful +place for life was more than he could understand, knowing but little of +the dark deeds and ways of Russian tyrants. + +But in spite of what the old man had told him regarding the +improbability of his ever being released, he still hoped that the +governor would make good his word, and that his case would in time reach +the American Minister at St. Petersburg, and that his government would +interfere and demand his release. + +And so he struggled on and hoped, learning rapidly all the while, and +making himself more and more valuable to the chief surgeon. And, too, he +was becoming hardened somewhat, and used to the suffering which he saw +in the hospital, and which was so revolting to his nature at first. + +Week after week, month after month, went by without bringing him any +word of hope, and he was not permitted to see the governor for the +purpose of asking him if he had sent his case back to St. Petersburg as +he agreed. + +He could do nothing but labor, wait and hope. Every month or so there +would come a batch of prisoners from St. Petersburg or Moscow, and +official dispatches, but nothing came for him; no word, no suggestion +that he was even remembered in any way. + +Hope began to die in his heart, where he had nursed it so long. + +Was he, then, really doomed for life? + +And what of the beautiful girl of whom he was so fond, and whom he +promised to meet at Berlin? + +Would she not forget and condemn him for failing to keep his word, not +knowing why did did not keep it? + +One day when he went to the cell occupied by old Batavsky, he found him +unexpectedly low and evidently very ill; in fact, he was nearly +unconscious. + +Barnwell at once sprang to his side. + +"Are you ill, sir? Speak to me." + +The old man opened his eyes slowly when he caught him by the hand, but +he did not speak, and Barnwell went at once and reported the case to the +chief surgeon, and asked for some brandy for him. + +"No; let him die! he cannot live much longer anyway," was the brutal +reply. + +"But I am getting along so nicely in learning the language of him---" + +"Oh, well, take him some brandy, then." + +Without losing a moment he hastened back to the old man with a cup of +brandy. + +"Here, sir, take some of this, and it will make you feel better," said +he, raising his head tenderly, so as to enable him to do so. + +Batavsky allowed him to place the cup to his lips, and he drank several +swallows of the strong liquor, after which he lay down again. + +"Thank you, my son." + +"Do you feel better, sir?" + +"Yes; it warms my old blood a trifle. It was very kind of you to get it +for me, but I shall not tax your kindness much longer," he said, with a +sigh. + +"It is no tax to do a helpless person a kindness," replied young man. + +"True, but I am so unused to kindness. Yet I am glad you came to me +to-day, for knowing I have but a short time to live, I wish to confide a +secret to you." + +"Are you strong enough to talk? Take another sip of the brandy." + +"Thank you, my son; keep it, for it may enable me to tell my story +through, but I could not do so without it. The secret I am about to +transmit to your keeping has been my secret for nearly forty years. I +have hoped and hoped for thirty-five of those years that I should escape +in some way, but the hope is finally dead in me, and I transfer it to +you, who are full of life, youth, strength, and hope. + +"After I am dead, be it the ambition of your life to get away from this +accursed place." + +"Doubt not it shall be, sir." + +"And should it be your misfortune not to be able to do so, promise me +that before you die you will transmit the secret to some intelligent +Nihilist, in the hope that he may succeed." + +"I promise you, sir, and I will exact a like promise from him if you +wish it." + +"It shall be yours to judge, my son. As I have stated to you at +different times, I was betrayed by Mastowix, with whom I was engaged +with others in a plot against Nicholas, Czar of Russia. I was worth a +million of rubles, and the whole of it I pledged to the cause of human +liberty in Russia. Mastowix knew this, and he also knew that other +members of the society had large sums thus pledged. After a while I half +suspected him, and so secreted my gold in a place known only to myself." + +"A million of rubles!" mused Barnwell. + +"Yes, my son, gold rubles. Well, Mastowix, when he thought the time ripe +for his villainy, betrayed us all, with the understanding that he was to +have one-half of all the government could find belonging to us, together +with an office in which he could rise to ennoblement. Nicholas accepted +his proposition, and we were banished to Siberia. All of my companions +are dead, and all these years Mastowix has reveled in their money and +the smiles of the autocrats. But he failed to find my rubles, as I +intended he should do, for no eye saw the spot where I secreted it. And +all these long weary years I have waited and hoped to escape, so I might +secure that money and put it to the use I originally dedicated it to. +Now, my son, will you see that this money is recovered and turned +against tyranny?" + +"Yes, if I ever escape. Every ruble of it shall help crush a tyrant," +said he resolutely. + +"Spoken like the brave youth I know you are." + +"But if I never succeed in escaping, then the money will molder and +still be as useless as it has been during your long imprisonment," he +replied sadly. + +"True, but you must escape. You have youth on your side, and can afford +to bide your time. Again, you have an advantage that I never had. You +will probably never be sent into the mines where I have slaved my life +away, never, but once a year, seeing the light of day, and this will +give you opportunities for escape which I have never had. Play your +cards so as to win the confidence of your superiors, and when the right +time comes manage somehow to escape. How, I will not undertake to tell +you. That you must work out yourself. But shape your course for the +German frontier, and once across the border you will be safe." + +"So far away?" + +"Yes, for there is liberty and safety nowhere short of there. If you +succeed, the money is yours, to do with as you like, only assure me that +a portion of it shall eke your revenge, and mine." + +"I promise you, sir." + +"Good. If you live to reach Germany, make inquiries for the village of +Mertz. Once there, become familiar with the place and its mountainous +surroundings, after which this diagram will assist you in finding the +cave where the gold is hidden," and he took from his breast, next to his +poor old wrinkled flesh, a strip of folded parchment, which, when +unfolded, was about eight inches square. + +Barnwell took it with hands that trembled fully as much as the old man's +did. + +"On it is a map which you can easily study out and decipher, and which +will surely lead you to the hidden treasure. It is a wild and +uninhabited part of the town, only about five miles from the frontier +border. That red dot there marks the spot where it is secreted, and you +notice that all lines on the diagram lead to it. Mark the line leading +up from the old post-road, and on it are marked the---" + +At that instant a servant entered the cell and announced that the +surgeon wanted "No. 1000," which was Barnwell; and remembering how long +he had been absent, he hastily thrust the parchment under his shirt. + +"I come," said he in Russian, and the slave went away. "I will see you +again at the first opportunity. Drink the remainder of the brandy," and +he almost pressed it to his thin lips. + +"Be on your guard, my son; for from this hour your watchfulness must +begin. Farewell." + +"Farewell; and I shall hope to find you better when I come again," said +Barnwell. + +"But do not be surprised to find me dead." + +"Cheer up, your time is not yet come, I hope; and, besides, I want +further instructions." + +He did not wait for a reply, but hurried to the surgeon's office. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE DEAD EXILE. + +On reaching the chief surgeon's quarters he found that irritable petty +tyrant possessed of much temper on account of his long absence. + +"If you don't pay more attention to your duties, I will have you sent +into the mines." + +"Pardon me, sir, but I found the old man very low, and, tried to comfort +him," said Barnwell, respectfully. + +"Curse him, let him die. He only lingers from pure obstinacy to make +trouble here. The wolves are waiting for his carcass. Go and bring my +dinner!" + +Barnwell hurried from the presence of the brute; but he could have +choked the life out of him for what he had said. + +But, brute that he was, he fell upon the food that was soon placed +before him, and after gorging himself and washing it down with fiery +Russian brandy, he showed more of his brute instincts by becoming more +peaceable, and finally going to sleep in his chair. + +Barnwell removed the wreck of the feast as noiselessly as possible, and +left him alone, not daring, however, to go far away, for fear of again +exciting his ire, knowing that he had the power to consign him to the +underground mines, or even to kill him like a dog. And so he sat and +waited his pleasure. + +But his anxiety was hardly to be mastered, for he wanted a few more +words with Batavsky regarding the solution of the diagram he had given +him, not knowing whether he would be alive when he might see him next. + +What new thoughts crowded themselves into his mind now! + +And although his desire to escape was no greater than ever, yet the +possibilities that would now attend it were overwhelming, almost. + +But how was he to give force to all this--how could he escape from that +closely-guarded colony, with armed sentinels at every turn, and trained +bloodhounds ready to follow any scents even if he escaped from the +guards. He would be sure to be missed, and the guards knowing nothing of +his whereabouts, let it be supposed, those savage brutes would be +started out in every direction until they found his scent, and then run +him down to death from their fangs or for an easy capture. + +He had seen too much of it during the terrible year he had lived in +Siberia. Many a wretch, ambitious to be free, he had known to set his +life upon the hazard of a chance, and attempt to escape into the Ural +mountains, only to be run to bay by those terrible hounds, and either +killed by them or dragged back into the captivity sure to be made worse +than before. + +And he had seen men have their flesh stripped from their naked backs +with the cruel knout, in the hands of unfeeling wretches. + +And had he not been buoyed up by hope of one day escaping, he would +surely have taken his own life as he had actually seen others do when +hope failed them. + +The situation was a dreadful one, even to a criminal; but what was it to +an innocent man like William Barnwell? But, after all, it gave nerve to +his heart. + +While cogitating thus, Kanoffskie, the chief surgeon, awoke with a +snort. + +He glared wildly around the room in a startled way. + +Barnwell looked at him inquiringly. + +"Did you see anything?" he finally asked. + +"Nothing unusual, sir." + +"Did you hear anything?" + +"Nothing, sir." + +"Did I cry out in my sleep?" + +"No, sir, not that I heard." + +"It must have been a nightmare, but it was dreadful," mused Kanoffskie. + +"They are sometimes very horrid, sir." + +"Very strange. How is old Batavsky?" + +"I have not seen him since, sir." + +"I thought in my dream that he had me by the throat, and was strangling +me with his bony fingers. And I thought he hissed in my ear that he was +going to take me with him. I was powerless in his dreadful grasp, and I +thought he dragged me down, down, through some huge volcano's crater, +sulphurous and suffocating, growing hotter and hotter all the while as +we plunged downward, until finally I saw the blue and yellow flames dart +up as though to meet and welcome us, and heard the agonized cries of +anguished beings far below! Anon I could see them writhing in their +fiery torment, and I recognized many faces there that I had seen on +earth. As I drew nearer they seemed to forget their agonies, and joined +in a glad, wild chorus of imprecating welcome to me. Fiends came at me +with blazing swords and fiery prongs, and in my extreme terror I awoke. +Oh, it was dreadful!" he added, hiding his face in his hands. + +"It surely must have been, sir, and I have read of such sleeping +agonies. But, after all, it was but a dream," said Barnwell. + +"Oh, but such a dream! Barnwell, I would not go through the agony of +such a dream again for Alexander's crown. You are an educated, well-read +man. Tell me, do you believe there is such an awful place?" he asked, +and he seemed to have forgotten all his old hauteur. + +"Our common religion teaches us that there is." + +"Oh, Heaven, forgive and keep me from it," said he, bowing his head +abjectly. + +"My dear sir, you lay too much stress on an ugly dream. Remember that +you went to sleep after eating a hearty dinner and they often cause ugly +dreams," said Barnwell, for thought it would best serve his purpose to +attribute it to it might be, rather than to what it probably was--a +warning of the future. + +"Oh, if I could only think so I would abandon the sin of gluttony at +once. But that terrible face, those bony fingers, which seemed to +penetrate my neck like eagle's claws!" and involuntarily he placed his +hand upon his neck, as if he really expected to find lacerations there, +showing that he was greatly frightened. + +"Barnwell, go and see how Batavsky does," he added. + +"I will, sir." + +"And hurry to let me know." + +Barnwell withdrew, and Kanoffskie bowed his head upon the table before +him, repeating a simple prayer of the Greek Church which he had not +quite forgotten. + +The young man made haste to Batavsky's cell, but there the old exile, +dead, with his eyes staring wide and glassy. + +He had died alone, without a friendly hand to close his eyes with a +prayer. + +In truth, his death at any moment was not unexpected by Barnwell, but +coming as it did at the very moment of Kanoffskie's dream, made it seem +more strange and horrible. + +Indeed, there seemed to be something horribly supernatural about it. + +He stood for a moment gazing upon the rigid features of the poor old +man, hardly daring to return and tell Kanoffskie of his death. + +"But it serves him right," he thought; and covering the dead man's face +with a blanket, he returned to the surgeon's office. + +"Well?" he asked, with quick anxiety. + +"The old man is dead, sir." + +"Dead--dead, say you?" shrieked Kanoffskie, springing to his feet, +trembling and pale. + +"Yes, sir, he is dead." + +"How--how long since, do you think?" he asked, in a choked voice. + +"Probably fifteen or twenty minutes; he is scarcely cold yet." + +"Heavens!" he exclaimed, and sank back in his chair. + +"It might have been expected, sir." + +"Yes, but in connection with my dream! Barnwell, my dream! It must have +come simultaneously with it!" and the wretched man seemed scarcely able +to sit in his chair, so greatly did he tremble, while great beads of +perspiration stood out upon his forehead. + +Barnwell hastened to set a glass of wine before him, which he +tremblingly bore to his mouth and swallowed at a gulp. + +"More!" he gasped, and Barnwell poured him out another. + +"That will revive you, sir, I hope." + +But the surgeon made no reply. He sat there glaring at vacancy for fully +five minutes, and neither of them spoke a word. + +Finally he pointed to the empty glass, and again Barnwell filled it with +brandy, which he drank. + +He was evidently trying to nerve himself up. + +"What a strange coincidence, Barnwell." + +"Very strange, indeed, sir; but do not let it weigh too heavily on your +mind, I beg of you. Regard it as simply a strange coincidence, nothing +more." + +"Oh, Barnwell, it must be something more! I have ill-treated that man, +and even his death may be laid to my door and I have abused others even +to death--those whose faces I saw in that deep-down, horrid hole--they +who welcomed me with such fiendish and exultant shouts," said he, with +his head bowed low. + +There could be no doubt but that he spoke the truth, and this made it +seem all the more strange. He had always been a tyrant in his office, +and many a poor wretch had he sent to his long home after he became +useless to the government. + +He had never been credited with possessing either fear or a heart, but +now he showed that he was a moral as well as a physical coward, and was +racked by most agonizing fears. + +"Barnwell," he finally said, "see that the old man is decently buried, +and a prayer said over his grave. Yes, be sure and bury him decently in +a coffin, and a grave so deep that the worms may not reach it, and then +come to me again. But see that you bury him tenderly, and say nothing of +this to any person living." + +"You shall be obeyed, sir," said Barnwell, hurrying from the room, glad +to carry out such an order in the dead old exile's behalf. + + +CHAPTER X. + +BURIED DECENTLY. + +It was a mournful pleasure to William Barnwell to be able to place the +body of poor old Batavsky in a respectable coffin and see it given a +Christian burial, instead of being thrown, like hundreds of others, into +a ravine, for the wolves to devour and fight over. + +And it caused no little comment and speculation among those employed +about the hospital, for they had become so used to seeing the dead +barbarously disposed of, that it was an event to see one given Christian +burial. + +Some said Batavsky was an exiled nobleman, and that he had been thus +buried by order of the governor, but no one suspected for a moment that +it was at the orders of the surgeon-in-chief, whose dream had frightened +him into the semblance of a human being. + +When all had been done, and the grave marked with Batavsky's prison +number, Barnwell returned, as ordered, to Kanoffskie. + +"Is he buried?" was his first question. + +"He is, sir." + +"And decently?" + +"As a Christian should be buried, sir." + +"And a prayer was said?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Kanoffskie vented a sigh of relief, but he was a frightened and an +altered man. + +He was pale and trembling, and he glared wildly about, as though +expecting to see the ghosts of his victims, or the real return of +Batavsky to drag him down, as he had done in that awful dream. + +"Have you any further orders, sir?" + +"No; but stay--come to me again just before dark--I may want you," said +Kanoffskie, hesitatingly. + +"Very well," replied Barnwell, bowing himself from the room. + +He understood very well that the iron had entered the tyrant's heart, +and he resolved to work upon it. + +That terrible dream was not all for nothing, even though he did not +believe in dreams, and the young American made up his mind to humor the +man, and see what would come of it in the future. + +Barnwell mingled with his fellow-servants in the hospital, and answered +their questions regarding Batavsky. + +Concluding that it was best to humor the prevailing idea, he half-way +admitted that the old man belonged to a noble family, and that he had +been given a Christian burial at the instigation of the Czar himself. + +This, of course, produced food for comment and controversy for a long +time, during which Barnwell, now able to speak the Russian language, was +able to converse and to learn much. + +The short days of Siberia give one but a moment's warning between +daylight and total darkness, and although this is not known or felt away +down in the gold-mines, where they work from four o'clock in the morning +until ten o'clock at night--where night and day are all the same to the +poor victims--those on the surface of the earth understand that when the +sun goes down darkness follows, save when the Aurora Borealis comes with +its weird light to illuminate the frozen world of Siberia. + +Kanoffskie waited with impatience. + +Somehow or other this young American had wormed himself into his cold +and beastly nature, and even exercised more influence over him than he +knew of. + +Darkness came on, and Barnwell went to his master, as ordered. + +He found him pacing his office in a highly nervous state. + +"I am here, surgeon," said Barnwell. + +"Stay here. Do not leave me," said the surgeon, with a sigh. + +"I will do so, sir," replied Barnwell. "You seem nervous." + +"No, well--you saw him decently buried?" he asked, stopping before +Barnwell. + +"Yes, sir." + +"And there was a prayer said over him?" + +"Yes, by the chaplain from the government house," said Barnwell. + +"And you buried him deep?" + +"Fully five feet underground." + +"That is well. And a prayer was said?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Kanoffskie seemed entirely at sea. + +"Will you retire, sir?" + +"No, I shall remain here all night, and you will remain with me," +replied Kanoffskie, timidly. + +"But you will not sleep in your chair?" + +"Yes, and so must you. But he had Christian burial?" he asked, +anxiously. + +"Yes, everything was all right." + +"Thank goodness! But that dream troubles me, Barnwell," said he. + +"Let it not, my dear sir--it was only a dream." + +"But the coincidence!" + +"True, it is a strange one; but only think, my dear sir, how many dreams +you might have--many dreams you have had, or may have hereafter, in +which there has been, and will be, no coincidence. It is merely a +happen-so, my dear sir." + +"No--no, Barnwell. I cannot believe it. But I feel better now that he +has had a Christian burial, and you assure me that a holy prayer was +said over his dead body." + +"Rest assured on that point, sir." + +"But it was such a dreadful dream." + +"So I grant you, sir." + +"And happening just at the moment of old Batavsky's death!" + +"As I said before, simply a coincidence." + +"Oh, if I could only think so! Light the lamps." + +"Yes, sir," and he at once proceeded to light a chandelier of oil-lamps. + +The gloom of coming night had weighed upon him, but now that there was +light in the room, he felt better, and more composed, but still ill at +ease. + +Finally he fell asleep, but it was long past midnight, and after he had +gone through with all sorts of mental misery, and then Barnwell ventured +to sleep himself. + +But it was a wild sleep that came to him, for all that he had passed +through during the day had so wrought up his feelings that it was next +to impossible for him to sleep. + +But both of them got gradually quieted down, and slept, one an honest +man, and the other a rascal, and for an hour or more they kept it up, +until Kanoffskie again fell into a nightmare. + +Barnwell was awakened. + +"Help! help! Take him away!" cried Kanoffskie, in his sleep. "No, no! do +not let him drag me down to that pit! I know it, I know it, but do not +let him drag me down! I repent!" + +And much more he said that Barnwell was perforce obliged to listen to, +and of course he could not sleep. + +But the night went on, and finally the doctor awoke. + +He glared wildly around. + +"Have you slept all night?" was the first question he asked, looking at +Barnwell. + +"No, doctor; you kept me awake." + +"In what way?" + +"You were talking in your sleep, sir." + +"Indeed; what did I say?" + +"Your mind seemed to be on old Batavsky." + +"Did I mention his name?" + +"No, sir, not directly; but you recalled portions of your horrible +dream." + +"Did I?" and he fell to musing. + +Nothing further happened at this time, but the next day Kanoffskie +visited the governor, who was startled by his altered appearance, and at +once inquired the meaning of it. + +"Your Excellency, I am not well. I am overworked, and have come to ask +you to grant me a year's leave of absence," replied Kanoffskie. + +"You certainly do look ill, doctor, but who can fill your place in the +interim?" + +"Waskoff is fully competent, sir." + +"Very well, then; I will appoint him to fill your place for a year," +replied the governor, writing the order. + +"Thanks, your Excellency. And may I take a servant along with me, for I +am not able to travel so far alone." + +"Yes; but on arriving at St. Petersburg, report the fact and the +servant's number to the Prefect of Police." + +"I shall obey you, sir." + +"When do you propose to set out?" + +"By the next convoy." + +"Very well, but let me see you again before you start, for I have +several private commissions which I wish you to undertake for me." + +"With the greatest pleasure, Excellency." + +"And I trust you will return in better health, and well rested." + +"I hope so, sir," replied Kanoffsky, bowing himself from the room. + +He was indeed a changed man, and the governor did not fail to notice it, +as did others who noticed him. + +Some of the old hospital inmates whom he had abused at various times, as +he had the dead Batavsky, said among themselves that the spirits of his +dead victims were haunting him, which was pretty nearly the truth. + +And to get away from them was, now that he had received leave of +absence, what now urged him in the preparations. + +He dared not encounter those horrible dreams again. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +KANOFFSKIE AND HIS SERVANT. + +"Barnwell, come here," said the miserable surgeon. "I have obtained +leave of absence, and shall set out for St. Petersburg at once, taking +with me a servant. Now make haste with my packing." + +"Going to take a servant with you?" asked the young American, anxiously. + +"Yes." + +"Oh, will you take me?" + +"Yes, I shall take you. But why do you manifest so much anxiety?" + +"Well, sir, I think it only natural that I should do so. I abhor this +place, as you must know, and even a temporary change would be agreeable, +and make me more reconciled to my fate when I return with you." + +"But I may not return at all." + +"And, Providence keeping me, I will not," thought Barnwell. + +"If I can get the ear of the Czar, and his favor, I shall never return +to this accursed place," said Kanoffskie, shuddering. + +"I do not blame you for not wishing to." + +"But on arriving at St. Petersburg I must report to the Prefect of +Police, and procure a permit from him to retain a convict as my +servant." + +"Yes." + +"Your number and personal description will have to agree with your +sentence and commitment, and ever after that, while you remain, you will +be under police surveillance." + +"True, I dare say." + +"So you must not become elated with the idea of liberty." + +"No; but it will be such a change, my dear sir, and I am so thankful to +you for taking me. I will be a true and faithful servant to you." + +"Did I not think so I certainly should not take you, and any attempt on +your part to escape would not only consign you to the mines for life, +but very likely get me into serious trouble also." + +"I shall not forget it, sir." + +"Very well. Now, set at work without delay and get my effects boxed up," +said Kanoffskie, going from the room. + +Collecting Kanoffskie's effects took Barnwell to various places, and +among others to the governor's palace. + +Here he encountered Zora Vola, the girl whose knouting he had witnessed +and resented. + +It appeared that the governor had inquired into her case after the +occurrence, and had taken her to the palace laundry. + +The recognition was mutual and instant. + +Just then she chanced to be alone, and she sprang joyfully towards him. + +"Oh, sir, I am so glad of an opportunity to speak with you, and to thank +you, as I have so often done in my prayers, for shielding me from those +cruel thongs," said she earnestly. + +"I would that I could do even more than that for you," said he, taking +her hands. + +"You are not a Russian?" + +"No. I have learned the language because it may assist me, not becausse +I love it," said he bitterly. + +"Then you are not a Nihilist?" + +"No, only in heart." + +"How long were you sent here for?" + +"Goodness only knows." + +"And for what, pray?" + +"For nothing wrong. I am an American, but was foolish enough, supposing +I was doing no harm, to bring a letter from New York to St. Petersburg +to Prince Mastowix." + +"The wretch! I know him well," said she bitterly. + +"But he was somehow caught in his own trap and afterwards executed, +though not until he had sent me here, fearing, probably, that I knew the +contents of the fatal letter." + +"Good!" + +"And what brings you here?" he asked. + +"I am a Nihilist, and was betrayed with others by that same Mastowix, +who claimed to be one of us, and here I am for life," she added. + +"What a shame. The conduct of Russian tyrants produces the very enemies +they try to exterminate." + +"Yes, and we shall never get away from this frozen world until the +Nihilists have their heels upon the tyrants' necks. + +"It would seem so. But I am going to St. Petersburg to-morrow." + +"To St. Petersburg?" she asked, eagerly. + +"Yes. Dr. Kanoffskie is going on a leave of absence, and I am going with +him as his valet." + +"To dear old St. Petersburg! Oh, how I wish I could see it once more! +Stay, will you take a letter to my brother there?" + +"With pleasure." + +"I have it here. It was written nearly a year ago, and I have carried it +in my bosom, hoping to find some way of sending it to him. Tell him how +it is with me here, and he will bless you for the message." + +"But, come to think of it, would it not be better for both your brother +and myself if I simply took a verbal message from you to him? I shall be +under the police eye all the time, and the letter might be found and get +us both into trouble." + +"Yes, you are right," she said, after a moment's reflection, and then +she told him the message she would have him deliver. + +Then, receiving his address, he charged his mind with it, and started to +go. + +"One moment more; tell me your name, that I may remember and pray for +you always," she said, appealingly. + +"William Barnwell; and yours?" + +"Zora Vola." + +"I shall not forget it." + +"As I shall never forget yours." + +"I have hopes, Zora, and if I ever live to realize them, you shall +benefit thereby." + +"God bless and keep you, sir!" + +"And may He give you heart and hope in your misery," replied he, again +shaking her hands and returning to the hospital. + +The next day Kanoffskie and his valet started with the government train +that makes that terrible journey from St. Petersburg to Siberia twice +every year, and at the end of three months they reached the capitol. + +And, oh, what a relief it was to Barnwell, who had all but given up the +hope of ever seeing a semblance of civilization again. How his heart +thrilled as he nursed his hopes! + +Kanoffsky seemed greatly altered, although for the past two months he +had lost much of the nervousness produced by old Batavsky's death, as +though from leaving the scene of it further and further behind. + +His confidence in Barnwell seemed to grow stronger every day; but, on +arriving at St. Petersburg, he obeyed the governor's instructions +relative to reporting to the prefect of police, without an hour's loss +of time. + +This he did as a measure of personal safety as much as for his +promptness in obeying orders, for he was determined to keep himself +entirely above police suspicion. + +Should he fail to do so, and it should come to the ears of the +authorities, it might not only annul his leave of absence, but get him +into other difficulty. + +He had made up his mind never to return to his post of duty, and if he +could not bring influence enough to bear upon the minister of war to get +him another assignment, he resolved to take advantage of his year's +leave of absence and escape the empire. + +He took lodgings in a respectable quarter; and Barnwell enacted the part +of a valet there with even greater perfection than he had while +journeying from Siberia. + +But he was watching his opportunities, knowing that he was a marked man +with the police, and known to every member of it. + +The first thing to do was to insure confidence in Kanoffskie and the +police, and this he exerted himself to do, feeling certain that the time +would come before the year was up for him to carry out his plans. + +With Kanoffskie it was an easy matter, and as he was a government +officer against whom there was no suspicion, Barnwell was allowed +greater latitude on that account. + +So, one day, after they had been in St. Petersburg about a month, he +managed while carrying a message for Kanoffskie, to get near the +official residence of the American minister, over which the Stars and +Stripes of the great republic floated proudly. It thrilled him to the +heart as he once more beheld that ensign of liberty, and, suddenly +changing his direction, he rushed into the building and demanded to see +the representative of the United States. + +An attendant directed him to that officer's chamber, just as two +officers of the police, who had observed his movements, entered the +outer room. + +"You, sir, are the American minister?" said Barnwell, rushing hurriedly +into his presence. + +"I am. What do you wish?" + +"I claim the protection due to an outraged citizen of the United +States." + +"Who are you?" + +"William Barnwell. My name is on your books, and you personally saw my +passport." + +At that moment the Russian officers entered. + +"Ah! I defy you now! The Stars and Stripes once more wave above me!" +shouted Barnwell, as the officers approached him. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A FREE MAN ONCE MORE. + +"Stand aside, officers, until I investigate this case," said the +American minister, in a tone of command that the tyrannical minions of +the law knew too much to disobey, for at that time the United States and +Russia were on exceedingly friendly terms. + +"Now, what is your story?" he asked, turning to young Barnwell. + +"It is this, sir," he answered, and thereupon he proceeded to give the +representative of his native land the history of his case, so well known +to the reader. + +It was a startling story of cruel outrage, as we all know, and the +recital of it made the minister very indignant. + +Turning to the officers, he said: + +"You can shadow this man if you think it your duty, but you must not +arrest or interfere with him in any way while he is under the protection +of the American flag. I shall take him at once before the prime +minister," and without loss of time he proceeded to do so. + +He was instantly admitted to the august presence of that high +functionary, where the story was again told and verified. + +The minister of state was astounded, both at the audacity of the outrage +and the fact of his being a victim of Prince Mastowix, the very letter +he had innocently brought being the one that sealed the traitor's fate. + +The whole business was confirmed by Tobasco, the police spy, who secured +the letter and gave it to the prefect of police. + +Search was at once made for the passport and money belonging to +Barnwell, and after a deal of red tape had been unwound the property was +found and restored to him. + +And not only that, but the Russian prime minister ordered him to be paid +five thousand rubles for indemnity, and the American minister rendered a +most abject apology for the the outrage. + +This was followed at once by orders from the prefect of police to all +his subordinates touching Barnwell's case; espionage was withdrawn, his +"Number" obliterated from the secret records, and in a short time he was +one of the freest men in the Russian empire. + +In justice to Surgeon Kanoffskie, he cleared him of all complicity in +the matter, although he promptly withdrew, of course, from the menial +attitude he had so long occupied towards him, and which had enabled him +to escape. + +Yes, he was a free man once more, and had, through the dictates of his +country, been the recipient of an apology almost from the throne. Yet +all this did not efface the cruel stripes left by the knout, or efface +from his heart the wrong and misery he had endured. + +Indeed, he felt quite as bitter towards the tyrannical government as +ever, and there was awful bitterness in his heart. + +A few days after regaining his rights, he remembered Zora Vola and the +message he had agreed to carry to her brother, and without loss of time +set about finding him, a task he soon found to be an exceedingly +difficult one, on account of his being known to the police as an active +and a dangerous Nihilist. + +Nor was this all. After spending a whole week without finding him, he +became convinced that he, as well as other Nihilists, had other names +than, their own, by which they were known only to undoubted and trusted +ones of the mysterious brotherhood. + +This discouraged him to such a degree that he was on the point of giving +up the task and resuming his own greater one--that of securing the +million rubles secreted so many years ago by Batavsky. + +But so perfect and secret is the Nihilist organization in the larger +cities of Russia, that they employ spy for spy with the government, and +their enemies are watched as carefully as they are themselves, which, in +a measure, accounts for their great success and the infrequency of their +being detected. + +In this way it became known to Vola that an American was seeking him +under his real name, and a spy was at once put upon his track to learn +about him. + +This, of course, he did not know. Indeed, he had at one time made +inquiries of this very same spy regarding the object of his search, but, +although questioned closely, he would reveal nothing relating to his +business. + +Finally Vola, being convinced that the man seeking him was not an enemy, +nor in any way employed by the authorities met him purposely one day at +his hotel--the very day, in fact, on which he had concluded to abandon +the search. + +He approached and addressed him in Russian, which by this time Barnwell +understood quite well, as the reader must know, and asked him the +direction to a certain street. + +"I am a stranger here," replied Barnwell, "but would gladly direct you +if I could. Most likely the men at the hotel office can direct you," he +added, politely. + +"Ah, thank you; but I would not like to inquire of them for the person I +am in search of," and looking around, as if to make sure that he was not +likely to be observed or overheard, he lowered his voice, and added: "I +am in search of a man by the name of Vola." + +Barnwell leaped to his feet. + +"Peter Vola?" he asked. + +"Hush! The same. Do you know him?" + +"Yes, if I could but find him. It is remarkable," mused Barnwell. + +"What is remarkable?" + +"Why, that I have been unsuccessfully searching for a man by that name +for a week." + +"Do you know him?" + +"I do not." + +"Have you business with him?" + +"No; but I have a message for him." + +"Indeed; from whom, pray?" + +"Pardon me, that is my business and his." + +"Pardon me also, for asking the question. But if I can find direction to +the street I asked you about, I can present you to him," said the +stranger, who was a distinguished-looking man, about fifty years of age. + +"You would greatly oblige me by doing so." + +"Wait a moment; perhaps that dismounted cossack can direct me," saying +which, he followed the soldier into the cafe. + +There was a crowd in there, and Barnwell would have been puzzled to see +whether the stranger actually spoke with the soldier; but after a minute +or so he returned. + +"I have learned it. Follow me," said he, turning from the room. + +Barnwell did as directed, and together they walked three or four +squares, and then turned into a side street. + +A short distance down it he found the number, and knocked upon the door +in a curious sort of manner, and presently it was opened by an +attendant. + +"Show me Vola's chamber," said the man, in a low tone of voice, and the +attendant conducted them to it. + +"Remain here a moment, and I will bring him before you," said the +stranger, pointing to a chair that stood in the plainly-furnished room. + +Being left alone, Barnwell could but reflect upon the strangeness of the +stranger's behavior, for, indeed, he did not seem like a stranger there +at all. + +At the expiration of five minutes the door opened, and, apparently, +another person entered the room. + +"I am told you are in search of one Peter Vola," said he, taking a seat +in front of him. + +"I am, and have been for several days," replied Barnwell. + +"What do you wish with him?" + +"That is his business and mine, sir." + +"Indeed? Might I ask what it relates to?" + +"You might, indeed, but I should not inform you unless you were Peter +Vola." + +"But do you not know that he is hunted by the police, and that it is +positively dangerous on your part to be even inquiring for him?" + +"I was not aware of it, sir." + +"But it is a fact, nevertheless." + +"I am sorry to know that. But I am a stranger here." + +"I observe that you are not a Russian." + +"No, I am an American just discharged from Siberia." + +"Siberia!" exclaimed the man, starting. + +"Yes; I agreed to deliver a letter, of which I knew nothing, to Prince +Mastowix, from Paul Zobriskie, of New York." + +"Paul Zobriskie?" + +"Yes. He accosted me on the steamer as I was about to sail and asked me +to deliver the letter, which I did, and fearing probably that because I +was not a Nihilist that I might betray him, he had me arrested and sent +to Siberia, where I suffered the tortures of the damned for more than a +year, until chance took me here again, as the valet of a surgeon on +leave of absence, when I managed to escape long enough to reach the +American minister, who quickly secured my liberation, together with an +official apology and indemnity." + +"You astonish me, sir." + +"But I am telling you too much, perhaps." + +"No, you are not, young man, for I am Peter Vola," said the man, leaping +to his feet and extending his hand, "I am the same man who accosted and +conducted you hither, for I have had a spy on your track ever since you +imprudently inquired for me. But I feel that I can trust you." + +"You can. I am not a Nihilist in form, but I am one at heart, and will +yet make these despots feel what I have undeservedly felt," said he, +vehemently. + +"Good. We need you. But you spoke of a message you had for me." + +"Yes." + +"From Siberia?" + +"Yes." + +"And from---" + +"Whom do you think?" asked Barnwell, resolved to put a final test to the +man's identity. + +"Perhaps from my poor sister, Zora." + +"The same." + +"Heaven be praised!" + +"She had a letter written to send you, but I thought it might be unsafe +to have on my person, both for you and myself." + +"You were right." + +"So I took her verbal message." + +"Oh, tell me of my poor dear sister!" the man almost cried, and +thereupon Barnwell related his acquaintance with her, together with the +story of his life in Siberia, as already known to the reader. + +Then he repeated the message Zora had entrusted him with, while tears +streamed down the brother's face. + +"Poor girl, what a fate is hers! But if she lives she shall yet be free. +Oh, sir, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kindness +to her and to me, and if we are never able to repay you, Heaven surely +will do so," said Vola, greatly moved. + +"I am amply repaid by being able to do someone a kindness. But my +mission has not yet begun. I have a trust to keep of which I have not +yet spoken. You, of course, know of Batavsky?" + +"I have heard of him, but he worked and was exiled before my time +almost--at least, before I began to work." + +"Well, at his death I received from him a certain charge that may +possibly enable me to benefit his compatriots in Russia; but he told me +to become an active Nihilist, that I might be the better able to work +successfully." + +"And so you shall, my dear brother, for I feel that I may call you so," +said Vola, at the same time embracing him. "Put yourself in my charge, +and you shall be initiated into the Order of Liberty." + +"I will do so, and there is my hand," said Barnwell, earnestly. + +"Which I take in the name of humanity. But in our order one brother can +initiate another. We have no lodge-meetings, no names, being simply +known by numbers, and those numbers known only to a trusted few. Night +shall not come upon us before you shall know how to send and receive a +communication--how to act, and how to avoid detection." + +"Good! Just so soon as that is done I shall go to Germany, and most +likely work altogether outside of Russia for the present." + +"It shall be as you wish, for I see your heart is in the matter." + +"Aye, my very soul!" + +"Good!" and leading him into an inner room, he proceeded to initiate him +into the mysteries of that mysterious order, known the world over as +Nihilists. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +TUE YOUNG NIHILIST. + +A week from that time, and after William Barnwell had made himself +thoroughly familiar with the secrets and the workings of this great and +mysterious order, the order that has shaken thrones and hurled tyrants +to their final account, he started for Germany. + +The reader knows something of the cruel sufferings of our hero. Being a +free-born American, a natural hater of tyranny in all its forms, and +enduring it as he did, it is no wonder that he sought revenge, and that +his heart should naturally go out in behalf of oppressed humanity, when +he had tasted of that barbarian oppression himself. + +With his identity thoroughly established, his passports all correct, and +his heart full with the new doctrine that his initiation had developed +in him, together with the mission which poor old Batavsky had intrusted +him with, he bade good-by to Russia. + +From St. Petersburg he went to Warsaw, and from there to Posen, Germany, +where he felt for the first time since leaving his native land that he +was in the domain of freedom. + +Before leaving Russia he had sent home for his entire fortune, and at +Berlin had it converted into German money, and it was so considerable +that he soon became known as the rich cosmopolitan. + +Gradually he made his way towards the little hamlet of Merz, near the +border, and when the warm season began he went there with his servant, +horses and carriage (one built to order for a special object), and took +up his residence in a small town patronized almost entirely by the few +travelers who find their way to this part of Germany. + +He was now near the alleged hiding-place of Batavsky's rubles, and while +seemingly only rambling over the wild country, he was studying the +diagram that the old man had given him and trying to locate the +hiding-place by the aid of it. + +The location most nearly agreeing with the diagram was about a mile from +the little tavern, and every day he would visit it with his gun, or +sometimes with a sketch-book, the better to enable him to throw off +suspicion should he chance to encounter anyone--a very improbable thing, +however, since it was a desolate, uninhabited region, without roads and +with nothing to attract anyone save its cragged grandeur. + +Indeed, it was so barren of game that the landlord advised him to go in +any other direction when in search of it. + +But day by day he visited it, and the oftener he did so the greater the +fascination of the rugged hills became to him. + +The thought that a million rubles lay hidden away somewhere in the +vicinity was a fascination in itself, but the more he went the more he +felt that the spirit of the old exile was hovering about the place. + +Often and often he wished that he but possessed the means--which so many +claim nowadays--of communicating with the departed, for the feeling grew +upon him so that he could not resist its influence. + +"Batavsky!" he said one day, involuntarily, and the echo of the word +from half a dozen peaks and crags so startled him that he did not try it +again. + +But for some reason or other, the last of the echoes was the loudest, +and the name came back to him as clearly as he had spoken it, from a +hill of verdureless rocks some two thousand yards distant: + +"Batavsky!" + +"Goodness, how distinct!" he mused. "But why more distinct from that +inaccessible hill than from the others? Was it the work of--ah, pshaw! I +am allowing the absurdity of spiritualism to get the better of my +reason. And yet, after all, who knows? There be more things in Heaven +and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy. But it was only echo." + +He was seated on an opposite eminence, holding the worn old diagram in +his hand, and trying to get at a certain point which would be the key to +the location, but could not find it. + +Finally, almost involuntarily, he started down the declivity and began +slowly to make his way towards the forbidding pile of rocks which had +sent back the echo so startlingly. + +Why he sought the place he did not know. It was no more promising than +other immediate locations, and besides, he had visited it a day or two +before, although from another direction. + +Slowly he approached and surveyed it, comparing it with his diagram. At +length he saw a point that seemed to resemble the one he sought, and +after studying it a moment, started to see if he could find the +succeeding one. + +Coming close to a dark opening, he was startled by fierce growls, and +the next instant half a dozen fierce wolves sprang from it, and set upon +him savagely. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A VICTORY DEARLY BOUGHT. + +It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the attack was so +sudden and unexpected that Barnwell was completely off his guard at the +moment. + +One of the fiercest wolves, hungry, huge and gaunt, sprang at his throat +and bore him to the earth. + +Seizing the brute by the throat with both hands, he with almost +superhuman strength dashed him away long enough to rise to his knees and +to pull his revolver, the other wolves having by this time joined +savagely in the attack. + +Unable to get upon his feet, he poked the muzzle of his pistol straight +into the mouth of the now risen wolf, as he again came towards him, and +fired. + +It was a fatal shot, and the wolf fell dead. + +Still he was pinioned by others, and for a long time he was so placed +that he could reach only one of them with his weapon, but this one he +sent to the shades quickly. + +Then one after another he dispatched them, although, unlike the +generality of wolves, they fought until the last one was dead, being +undoubtedly nearly starved. + +Meantime his clothing and flesh had been dreadfully torn, and the blood +was flowing from at least a dozen ragged wounds, and he was so overcome +with exhaustion that he could scarcely rise to his feet. + +But the first thing he did was to refill the chambers of his trusty +revolver, in case he might be attacked again. + +His next thought was to attend to his wounds, but finding these required +a surgeon, he made his way sorely back to the tavern, and dispatched his +servant for one. + +After relating the story of his adventure to the landlord while waiting +the surgeon's coming, that individual said: + +"I should have told you about it, sir, but you men of the world do not +believe in such things." + +"What things--wolves?" asked Barnwell, between his groans of agony. + +"Well, sir, not that exactly. In fact, I hardly know how to explain +myself to you, since I know nothing save by hearsay, and what +mountaineers say." + +"About what?" + +"Well, it has become folklore in these parts that there is a cave +somewhere in the Hardt Bergs, containing a vast amount of stolen gold, +every coin of which is spotted with human blood, that is guarded by a +pack of fierce wolves placed there by the devil. It has been said that +desperate men have tried to reach the treasure, but that they have +always been slain and eaten by the guardian wolves." + +"Nonsense. Simply a story told in the twilight to frighten children, who +after growing up come to believe it true." + +The landlord shook his head. + +"I see you also believe it. Well, I will not dispute or argue with you +regarding the legend, but you must see that I did not come upon that +particular cave, since I killed the wolves and am here with but a few +scratches." + +"Rather hard scratches, sir." + +"But I shall survive them, and neither this nor the danger of coming +upon the real devil-guarded cave will deter me from visiting the hills +whenever I like." + +"You are a brave man, sir." + +"No; simply a sensible one. I am not superstitious, nor do I believe in +such legends. I would be ashamed to do so." + +"Well," replied the landlord, shrugging his shoulders, "you can afford +to do as you please, but you are sure to have no company when you go +hunting in that direction." + +"And I want none--at least, not the company of persons who believe in +such nonsense." + +"Ah, the surgeon has come." + +"Hurry him here, for my wounds pain me exceedingly," said Barnwell. + +The surgeon was soon at his side, and proceeded to dress his wounds, +exchanging only sufficient words to learn the cause of them, for he was +a man of medicine, not words. + +"When will you come again?" asked Barnwell. + +"When your hurts need redressing." + +"And that will be?" + +"To-morrow." + +"How long will I probably be laid up?" + +"A week," and he went away. + +Barnwell experienced great relief from the skillful dressing his wounds +had received, and he was presently able to collect his thoughts. + +And naturally enough they ran back to the wolf's den, where he had found +the starting point that corresponded with Batavsky's diagram, and the +legend which the landlord had told him of. What a startling coincidence +it was, to say the least of it! + +Of course, he did not for a moment believe the supernatural part of it, +but it certainly was strange that he should have been met by a pack of +hungry wolves just as it seemed that he was on the threshold of success. + +But the more he thought the matter over, the more reasonable did it seem +to him that, even if that were the location of Batavsky's buried +treasure, it was only natural that wolves should rendezvous there. But +how superstition should locate money there was more than he could +understand. + +Then the thought came to his mind--what if that gold had been discovered +by someone and removed? In what other way could the legend of bloody +gold have come into existence? + +But speculation was not congenial to his temper just then. He had gone, +so far, and nothing short of success or failure would satisfy him now. + +That night his wounds pained when he lay down, and he slept but little. +Indeed, it was nearly morning before anything like sound slumber fell +upon his eyelids. + +And even then he dreamed wild, exciting dreams, occasioned, of course, +by the events of the day before. But in one of them he thought he saw +Batavsky, and he smiled upon him, and while uttering no word, encouraged +him by his looks to persevere. With this he awoke, and the thread of the +dream ran through his mind again. + +"This will never do," said he, calling his servant to light a candle. +"There is something in the very air of mountainous Germany that is not +real, and that kindles superstition. I will read until morning." + +But after reading awhile on a drowsy romance he fell asleep again, and +the sun was shining in at the lattice when he awoke. + +When the surgeon had dressed his wounds again that day, he felt so much +better that he was assisted to a chair that stood under a broad +linden-tree, where, a part of the time, he read and restudied Batavsky's +queer diagram until it was fairly burned into his memory. + +Then he would smoke, and make glad the landlord's heart by indulging in +a bottle of wine, and again employ his servant in setting up targets for +him to practice upon with his pistol. + +Already he had become somewhat famous for his eccentricities, but when +the landlord and his one or two guests saw with what ease he shot a hole +through the Ace of Spades at fifty paces, they were unbounded in their +applause. + +Barnwell was indeed a wonderful shot, both with a rifle and a pistol, +having won several prizes in shooting tournaments at home, and it seemed +as though the experiences he had gone through during the previous two or +three years had toughened his muscles and steadied his nerves to a +remarkable degree. + +And thus he employed his time for five days, all the while impatient at +the delay, and on the sixth he was so far recovered that he could walk +with the assistance of a cane, and he celebrated the event by telling +his servant to hold a lighted cigar in his fingers at the distance of +fifty paces, and from it he shot the ashes so deftly that the bullet +scarcely raised a spark of fire. + +This convinced him apparently that he was all right again, and in the +afternoon he and his servant went out to ride. + +This servant of his was a Russian, to whom he had been introduced by +Vola, and he was a character for fidelity and secretiveness. His name +was Ulrich, and Barnwell had saved him from going to prison by paying a +fine that he would never have been able to pay, and he at once became +attached to his new master by all the ties that bind a lesser intellect +and fortune to the two degrees higher. + +He never questioned, never told Barnwell's affairs, even if he knew +them, and was ever quick to know his slightest wants. + +He was a Nihilist, and knew in a general way that his master was one, +from seeing him so much with Vola, and so he silently worked and waited, +fully believing that he would in time do good work for the downtrodden +of his native land. + +On the afternoon of the sixth day Barnwell seeing to be almost wholly +recovered, and Ulrich drove him out, going in the weird hills once more. + +This time he was armed with two revolvers, and his rifle was ready to +hand in the body of his wagon, the peculiarity in the build of which has +been mentioned before, and which consisted principally in a strong iron +box, incased by a fancy wooden one which was fashioned for a seat. + +It was slightly odd in its build, but it was admired by everybody for +the superiority of its make, and generally regarded simply as a +tourist's carriage, made on purpose and in a superior manner. + +Arriving at the end of the road that led up into the hills, they halted. + + +CHAPTER XV. + +IN THE DEVIL'S CAVE. + +"Remain here, Ulrich, until I return," said Barnwell, alighting. + +"Yes, sir." + +Armed for almost any encounter, young Barnwell started to find the cave +in front of which he had had such a sanguinary struggle a week before. + +He had no difficulty in finding it; but he was on his guard this time. + +There lay the carcasses of the wolves he had slain, and the very fact of +their not having been devoured was positive evidence that there were no +other wolves in the neighborhood. + +Glancing around, and listening for a moment, he became convinced that +the cave was now tenantless, and so he passed on beyond the first point +that he had before discovered, and began looking for the next. + +Holding the diagram in one hand, and a revolver in the other, he was not +long in finding it, and thus two points were gained that corresponded +with it. + +Again he consulted and compared. + +Ten feet marked on the diagram, and then there was an index finger +pointing east. + +He paced the distance as accurately as he could, but by this time he had +entered the cave so far that he could scarcely see about the place. + +But he had come prepared for just such an emergency as this, and taking +a candle and match from his game-bag, he proceeded to make a light. + +He glanced cautiously around the dark and somber cave, and the first +thing his eyes rested on were the forms of two dead wolf cubs, evidently +belonging to one of the mothers he had slain the week before, and +undoubtedly starved to death in consequence. + +But this attracted his attention for only a moment. + +Standing at the distance of ten feet from the last-discovered point, he +held up a little compass that he wore as a charm to his watch chain, in +order to ascertain in which direction east lay. + +The tiny magnet finally stood still and pointed. The east lay to the +right. + +Again, by the aid of his candle, he searched for indications. + +The walls were damp and seemingly solid. + +Had he lost the lead? With the butt of his pistol he began rapping along +the stone wall. + +It seemed like original adamant. + +Then he paused, and again consulted the diagram. + +He seemed to have followed it correctly. + +There were no further marks upon it, and he finally began to fear that +he was on the wrong scent after all. + +Again he went to the mouth of the cave, and retraced each point +carefully. + +There could be no mistake about it, provided he was in the right place; +and if he was not, it was a strange coincidence that two such peculiar +points should exist in more than one cave. + +Once more he approached the side of the cave to which the index finger +pointed, and made a still closer examination of it. + +But it was as solid as granite could be, as indicated by sounds. + +He was about to give up, with the idea that he was in the wrong cave, +and began slowly to walk towards the opening. + +Suddenly he remembered that in the Russian language "erweldt" signified +west, a thing he had not thought of before. + +With a glad cry he retraced his steps to the point indicated, and then +began to examine the walls, which he found more broken than those on the +other side. + +There were faint indications of mosses in one or two places, and on +sounding them he came upon one large rock that did not seem so firm as +the others. + +Holding his candle closer, he saw what might have been cement or +something of the kind, and with a throbbing heart he drew a stout +burglar's jimmy from his bag and began prying into a seam. + +It was a powerful tool, worked by a powerful man, and soon the rock, +which was fully two feet square, but of irregular shape, began to show +signs of getting loose. + +"Ah! this must be it," said he, as he saw bits of cement crumble and +fall. + +But it was no child's-play to move that stone, weighing, as it probably +did, five hundred pounds, and held by the cement that had hardened for +more than thirty years. + +Little by little, however, he worked one end of it partially free, and +saw that it stood out at least three inches beyond where it was, and in +addition to this, the cement had now lost its hold, and with one +powerful last effort the rock fell with an echoing thud some three feet +to the bottom of the cave. + +Within there was a rough chamber, five or six feet in irregular diameter +every way; and if this was the Devil's Cave, as it was called, this one +must surely have been his oven, so very like one was it. + +Reaching in to allow his candle to light the place, he saw numerous +bags, made of reindeer hide tanned without removing the hair. + +"Thank heaven I have found it! Batavsky was as true as steel, and I will +be true to his memory!" said Barnwell, holding the candle aloft. + +It was fully a minute before he could summon sufficient courage to +proceed further, so startled were his nerve over the sudden fruition of +his hopes. + +Then, mastering his emotions, he reached in and lifted one of the bags +from its long resting-place. + +It weighed fully ten pounds, and when he set it down upon the sill of +the opening, there was a confused rattling and clinking inside of the +hair-covered bag, a sound that only one coined metal in the world will +emit--gold. + +There was no need of opening it to make sure that the contents were +genuine. The sound told that; and old Batavsky's truth, proved up to the +point, was a further guarantee for it. + +Taking out another one, he started with one in each hand for his wagon, +by which Ulrich was waiting, like the patient, honest soul he was. + +Nothing that Barnwell did surprised him. He honestly believed him to be +more than an ordinary man, and capable of doing anything short of +raising the dead; and when he him approaching with those unique bags in +his hand, his curiosity was not aroused sufficiently to make him ask any +questions. + +Barnwell understood and had faith in him of the strongest kind. + +Setting down the bags by the side of the wagon, he wiped the +perspiration from his brow, and then, taking a peculiar key from his +pocket, he proceeded to throw back the wagon-seat and to unlock the iron +chest beneath it. + +Now, Ulrich had never known that such a contrivance existed in the wagon +before, although understanding that it was a very heavy vehicle; but he +evinced no surprise, asked no questions. + +Getting up into the wagon, Barnwell told him to hand the bags up to him, +and without a word he did so. + +Barnwell stowed them carefully away in the large iron box. Then closing +it and locking it again, he motioned Ulrich to follow him. + +The horses were securely fastened, and there was not a sound, even of +birds, in that desolate locality, so all was safe. + +Without exchanging a word, they went back to the cave and brought each +two more of the bags, which were placed in the strong-box. + +It was but little past noon when they began, and for two hours they +robbed that golden cell of its treasures and transferred it to the +wagon. + +The bags were in an excellent state of preservation, for the place was +perfectly dry, and besides, they had evidently been prepared with some +unusual treatment which made them almost indestructible. + +Finally the chamber was emptied, and Barnwell could but think of the +toil and risk in transporting so much gold to such a far-off place. It +seemed to him almost as marvelous as that it had remained there all +those years without being recovered. But Batavsky was no ordinary man, +and undoubtedly knew exactly what he was doing. + +Ulrich's face was a study. + +Had they been transporting bags of stones it could not have been more +stolid. + +He worshiped the young American, and for him it was to obey without a +question, and this he readily did. + +He often looked upon his position as an exalted one, as compared with +what it would have been had Barnwell not saved him from a debtor's +prison, which is only another name in Russia for a poor debtor's grave. + +Well, when all the bags had been removed, it was found that the box was +too full to admit of the last four, and these Barnwell placed at his +feet after the seat had been returned to its place, showing nothing +unusual. + +"Now, then, back to the tavern, and not a word of this to anyone," said +Barnwell. + +"Sir, I am your slave," said Ulrich. + +"Say not that. You are my servant, my companion and friend. We are both +of us members of the same great order. You work in your way, I in mine. +There are no slaves in our order, Ulrich." + +"It must be so, sir, for you say it," he replied, turning the horses +homeward. + +This was conclusive. + +The bags of gold made a heavy load, and bent the springs well down, but +the horses and the wagon were strong, and these would have deceived +almost anybody regarding the amount of weight they carried. + +The roads being rough for some distance, they drove slowly and just +before getting out into the open they met a hunter with a good string of +game. + +Remembering that he had gone out to shoot, and that they had no game, +Barnwell stopped the peasant and bought his choicest birds, after which +they drove to the tavern. + +Barnwell handed the game to a servant, who afterwards held the horses +while he and Ulrich carried the four bags of gold to his room. + +Then the wagon was carefully housed, as usual, and the horses taken care +of, after which Barnwell strolled leisurely into the bar-room, where the +landlord and his wife were examining the game. + +"Good luck to-day, I see." + +"Oh, yes, I've had very good luck to-day; and will you oblige me by +having one of those pheasants cooked for my supper, together with a stew +in your best German style made of one of those hares?" + +"Certainly, sir," replied the landlady, at the same time bustling away +with the game. + +"I am tired and hungry, so let me have the best you can do." + +"With all my heart, sir." + +"And, landlord, bring me a bottle of your choicest Johannisberg out here +on the porch, where I can enjoy it in the shade." + +The landlord hastened to comply. + +"What an appetite it gives, and how generous a good day's sport makes a +man," he mused. "A few such customers as this one is would make us rich, +and enable us to pay off the thousand marks due on our place." + +He set the delicious wine before him, and Barnwell drank a hearty +draught. + +"Ah! nowhere in the world can such wine be found as in Germany." + +"I am glad you think so, sir, for I hope you will stay long with us, and +be so well pleased that you will come again." + +"I shall certainly remain with you, if I ever come back again, for I +like both you and your good frau. But to-morrow I must away to Berlin on +business." + +"So soon?" + +"Yes. My life is made up of business and pleasure. Business must have an +inning now." + +"I am sorry, sir," said the old man, sadly. + +"Oh, well; others will come." + +"Visitors are rare here, sir. Now and then a poor artist stops here, and +sometimes tourists wander this way; but it is a life-time rarity to meet +with a rich cosmopolitan like yourself, who is willing to help us along +a bit." + +"But you must be well off in any event." + +"No, sir; although we should be if the thousand marks' mortgage was paid +off." + +"When it is due?" + +"Within a week." + +"And how much have you towards it?" + +"Five hundred." + +"All right; keep the five hundred, and here are a thousand to free you +from embarrassment," said Barnwell, counting out the bills. + +The old landlord was so overcome that he fell upon his knees speechless, +seeing which, his wife ran to him, thinking him ill. + +"Oh, Gretchen! Look at him; the good American gentleman has saved us and +our home!" + +"Oh, sir, what induced you?" + +"The idea of making somebody as happy as I am myself. Take it and be +happy. All I ask in return is that you be good to the poor and +unfortunate." + +"Oh, sir, bless you!" cried the landlord. + +"Amen! And you shall have just the nicest dinner you ever had in your +life," said his wife, brushing the tears from her eyes and hurrying +away. + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +TRUE TO HIS TRUST. + +That night, after all had retired, William Barnwell, in the privacy of +his own chamber, untied one of the bags, and emptied its contents upon +his bed, so that the noise of the jingle might be smothered. + +He was a good judge of Russian gold, and this he found to be genuine, +coined in double roubles, with dates mostly before and during the reign +of Czar Nicholas, the tyrant par excellence of Russia, which is saying +much. + +He was a ruler who knew nothing of humanity or justice, who was quite as +bad, save in form and outward show, as Catherine or her barbarian +predecessors, always excepting Peter the Great. + +It took England, France and Sardinia to teach him the rudiments of +civilization, and even then he died a barbarian at heart, as he had +always lived, leaving a conquered monarchy to his son, who tried to +appease the world by abolishing serfdom, although he probably never +would have done so had not the teachings of Batavsky and others taken +root in the hearts of the Russian people, creating a diversion in favor +of political liberty, which he thought to smother while freeing the +serfs. + +So much for history, but it had to come in, this being in nearly all +respects a historical story. + +"Slightly mildewed, but every one of them genuine," said Barnwell, after +he had tested several thousand dollars' worth of them. "And if poor old +Batavsky's spirit is hovering near to me, and to the yellow coin he +devoted to the advancement of human liberty and equality, it shall see +that I shall prove true to my trust. To-morrow I will away to Berlin, to +place this to my credit, after which--well, after which, we shall see!" + +Then he fell into a reverie. He dreamed a thousand things and considered +a thousand possibilities, but as he pushed them away for future +consideration, the form of the beautiful Laura Clark filled his mental +vision. + +What had become of her, and what did she think of his conduct? + +Beautiful and rich, it would be strange, indeed, if she had not long ago +found a mate, but he resolved to write to her father in New York, +explaining the whole business, if only to clear himself of any blame +that his mysterious disappearance had produced. + +Yes; but not until after he had deposited this gold in the Royal Bank at +Berlin. + +The next morning he rode away with his golden freight, and at the first +regular railroad station that he came upon he placed his wagon and +horses in the hands of the Royal Express, engaging that the whole +equipment should be delivered safely at the Royal Bank of Berlin, it +being understood that his servant, Ulrich, should sleep in the car +containing the horses and carriage until their safe delivery as agreed +upon. + +The journey occupied two days, but at the end of it Barnwell had the +satisfaction of landing his gold in the vaults of the Royal Bank, and +having his credit established there for an almost unlimited amount, +although the old Russian coin, coming in such a strange way, excited +much comment with the bank officials who counted and weighed it. + +There was a mystery surrounding so much money, deposited all at once and +in such a way, but the depositor proved himself all right so far as his +papers and nationality were concerned; and in a very short time young +Barnwell came to be known as the Fairies' Son, a man to whom they had +given unlimited wealth, every rouble of which would double itself at +their bidding. + +This, of course, did not obtain with the officers of the bank. They +simply looked at the gold, counted and weighed. + +But Barnwell was pleased to be regarded as a Fairies' Son, for it would +enable him to work more effectually. + +And it was not long before he became known to the Nihilists residing in +Berlin, and, naturally enough, he soon became a leading man among them. + +He took modest lodgings, supporting only his servant, but in spite of +all precautions, he was shadowed by Russian police agents, who seem to +be everywhere. + +It is one of the most perfect and far-reaching police systems in the +world, and before Barnwell had been there a month they learned all about +him. + +And this, of course, showed them all he had so unjustly suffered, and +they could well understand then why he associated with well-known +Nihilists, having undoubtedly become one himself for revenge. + +But they could not penetrate the mystery of his enormous wealth, unless, +indeed, he were one of those famous American bonanza kings, or at least +the son of one, and obtained his wealth directly from America. + +Try their best, however, they could not entrap him so that the German +authorities would molest him, for in a very short time he was surrounded +by as faithful a set of detectives as those employed by the Russian +police, and the game soon became diamond cut diamond. + +But while all these moves were being made--one to find out what the +other was doing--other and unsuspected moves were being made which were +to astound the world. + +Suddenly, and without any visible or traceable reason, the spirit of +Russian Nihilism began to flame again, and with greater fierceness than +ever before. + +Nihilist papers and documents, printed both in the Russian and Polish +languages, were scattered broadcast, and in such a secret manner that +the police were wholly at fault, and the despots of Russia began to +tremble as they had never done before. + +Money seemed to be plentiful, and a more perfect organization effected +than were the Russian police. + +Day by day it grew, and a dread uncertainty pervaded the society of the +aristocrats, and the utmost precautions were taken to protect the life +of the Czar Alexander and the royal family. + +Now and then the police would discover Nihilists at work; but all the +branches worked independently, and the detection of one could not lead +to what the others were doing. + +But what astonished and bothered the Russian police was the simple +perfection to which the Nihilists had been reduced in their way of +working, showing unmistakably that a skillful organizer was at their +head. + +The great mystery surrounding everything completely baffled the Russian +police, and though they half suspected Barnwell, they were not able to +bring anything home to him, and he all the while maintained the +appearance of a rich cosmopolitan, and if they followed him in his many +journeyings they were unable to see that he was doing more than +traveling for pleasure. + +One day, while riding in "Unter Linden," who should he meet but Mr. +Clark and his beautiful daughter riding in the opposite direction, but +he was so changed that neither of them recognized him, although looking +directly at him. + +Laura Clark was also somewhat changed, but by her being in her father's +company, Barnwell came to the conclusion that she was yet unmarried, and +had most likely proved true to their betrothal, nearly three years +before. + +He was determined to present himself, and so ordered his coachman to +turn about and follow their carriage. + +In a few moments it stopped in front of a fashionable hotel, which they +entered, and were soon lost to sight. + +Calling a servant, he told him to take his card to Mr. Clark, and +quietly waited in the parlor for a reply. + +Presently that gentleman came down with the card in his hand, and a look +of inquiry on his face. + +"Mr. Clark, you do not recognize me," said he, rising. + +"No, not as a young American gentleman, bearing the name of William +Barnwell, whom I met some three or four years ago," said the old man. + +"Well, sir, I am the same individual." + +"Indeed, but you have greatly changed." + +There was an unmistakable coolness visible in Mr. Clark's conduct +towards him, but he readily understood why it was so, for after +betrothing himself to his daughter he had disappeared mysteriously, and +given no sign. + +"Well, sir, when you learn what I have been through since last we met, +you will not wonder at the change in me. Is Laura well?" + +Mr. Clark looked at him a moment without making any reply, then +beckoning him to follow, led the way to their parlors. + +"Are you sure she will welcome me, sir?" + +"That will depend; Laura, please come this way a moment," he called. + +"Yes, papa, dear, what is it?" she asked, as she came from her chamber, +and her sweet voice thrilled him just as it used to. + +"Do you know this gentleman?" + +She gazed at Barnwell a moment, and then sat down in a chair without +speaking. + +"Do you not recognize me, Miss Clark?" + +"It is barely possible that you are Mr. Barnwell, but if so, you are +greatly changed," she said, calmly. + +"Yes, I am William Barnwell; there is good cause for the change you see +in me. I saw you driving out, but now, and resolved to see you both, if +for no other reason than to explain my conduct to you." + +Then he proceeded to relate the story of his life since parting with +them, the story that the reader knows so well, holding them spellbound +for an hour or more with it, after which he was forgiven, and their old +relations resumed, greatly to the delight of all three, and especially +of Mr. Clark, who had noticed that his daughter was becoming more and +more low-spirited as the time grew longer, and Barnwell not heard from. + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE DEATH OF AN EMPEROR. + +One thing, however, Barnwell did not tell Mr. Clark or his daughter; and +that was how he was making use of the vast amount of money that had been +given him by Batavsky. That was always to remain a secret within his own +breast. + +He felt that he was simply fulfilling a sacred trust, and gaining +revenge for his own terrible suffering. + +He loved his beautiful countrywoman, and as soon as he had finished his +work he would make her his wife, and resume the travels he had set out +upon years before. + +Naturally he was much in her company after their reunion, and this again +threw the detectives from the scent, for before long it became known to +them that they were to be married, and start for France and other +countries of Europe. + +And yet the Nihilists in Russia and in Poland continued to be more +active and aggressive, and the police authorities made but little, if +any, headway in arresting them. + +At length the aristocracy of St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Moscow, and other +large centers became almost panic stricken--not even daring to trust +their oldest servants. + +This feeling was increased when the Czar found a note on his +dressing-bureau, which read as follows: + +"Alexander.--My life was as good as that of your tyrant father, +Nicholas. He murdered me. My spirit will murder you.--Batavsky." + +That the note was placed there by some bold Nihilist, a member of the +emperor's household, there could be no doubt, and although his personal +staff and ministers advised him to take no notice of it, it struck +terror to his heart. + +Every member of his household was taken in hand by the police and +questioned, and each one made to give a sample of his handwriting, but +nothing could be found out. + +Extra precautions were taken, however, and the Czar never ventured forth +without a double guard, and even the streets were guarded by the police +to insure his safety. + +But another warning came, as if to show him that even those who guarded +him needed guards for themselves, when one day the prefect of police was +killed on the steps of his official residence, and no clew of the +assassin could be found, although lying near his body was found a paper +with the simple name of Batavsky written upon it in Russian. + +Then the Czar began to question who this Batavsky was, and it was +finally ascertained that an influential man by that name had been +transported to Siberia by the Emperor Nicholas for engaging in a +revolution--in fact, that he was one of the first Nihilists of Russia, +and was supposed to be enormously rich. + +But those riches were never found, and the old revolutionist had died in +Siberia, and so nothing came of the inquiry save a deeper mystery. + +Two or three attempts upon the Czar's life were made and failed. Those +who were caught or suspected were put to death, but so soon as one was +taken from the work two more were ready to fill his place. + +And while in this terror, the Czar and his official household instead of +doing anything towards relieving the burdens under which the people +groaned, and which drove them to these bitter acts of revenge and +reprisal, took all means possible to bind their chains closer yet, and +to stamp out Nihilism with an iron heel. + +"Laura, you know I told you of poor old Batavsky in Siberia?" he asked +of Miss Clark one day. + +"Yes, Will, I remember," she replied. + +"Well, I dreamed of him last night, and have a presentiment that his +presence will soon be felt on earth." + +"Oh, Will, you are such a dreamer, you are. Let us talk of something +else:." + +"As you please. I merely mentioned it; so let's wait and see have +arranged everything." + +"Oh, that will be so nice! You are so good!" + +"As I should be, to one who has waited for me so faithfully and so long. +But the dark clouds are rolling by, Laura, and after a little I shall be +my own master again." + +"And are you not so now?" she asked. + +"Not wholly. I have had a sacred duty to perform, and it will soon be +finished." + +Of course both were busy with their preparations for departure, and she +paid but little attention to what he said, as it was upon a subject she +knew nothing of, and yet her woman's wit and insight told her that her +lover was engaged in something of a mysterious nature, and she hailed +with delight the prospect of getting out of Germany and back to America. + +The following day the whole world was startled and monarchs trembled at +a dynamite explosion in St. Petersburg. + +The Czar Alexander was riding along in a carriage, closely guarded by +soldiers and mounted police, when, without an instant's warning, a +cartridge exploded directly under his carriage, killing everybody and +everything within a radius of fifty yards, producing the greatest havoc +and devastation. + +"Quick--the czar!" cried those who had escaped the terrible explosion. + +And a rush was made to the scene of the wreck, where lay mangled horses +and human beings, and out of that chaos of desolation they dragged the +mangled body of the Czar of all the Russias! + +Panic and consternation seized St. Petersburg, seized all Russia--the +whole world, in fact. + +Instant search was made for those who perpetrated the terrible deed. + +One or two suspected individuals were put to the sword without judge or +jury, yet they were innocent of the deed. + +Detectives and secret service officers took possession of the spot and +examined everything--every shovelful of snow even. + +Out of the ruin wrought by the terrific explosion one of the officers +pulled a small metal plate, crooked and bent by the concussion. + +The dead emperor had been borne tenderly to the palace, and all Russia +was in tears, either of joy or sorrow. + +The officers read an inscription on the plate they had found. + +It was graven deep and clear in pure Russian. It read: + +"The spirit of Peter Batavsky, raging for revenge, calls for the Czar, +the son of his murderer! Long live the Russian people!" + +That was all, but it amazed those who read it, for it bore the same name +that had so terrified the Czar on another occasion. + +Never before had such a shock been given to the world, not even the +assassination of Julius Caesar was a comparison to it. + +But while the excitement was at its burning height, William Barnwell and +his affianced left Berlin for London. + +"Batavsky, you are terribly avenged!" said he, as they sped from German +soil. + +* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * + +This story naturally ends here. + +But a few words more need be said. + +Marriage, happiness, wealth became the portion of the Boy Nihilist, and +here falls the curtain on this strange and romantic drama. + +THE END. + +Read "LUCKY DICK GOLDEN; or, THE BOY MINERS OF PLACER CREEK," by An Old +Scout, which will be the next number (577) of "Pluck and Luck." + +* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * + +SPECIAL NOTICE: All back numbers of this weekly except the following are +in print: 1 to 5, 7, 8, 10 to 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29 to 31, 34 to 36, 38 +to 40, 42, 43, 48 to 50, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 69, 75, 81, +84 to 86, 89, 92 to 94, 100, 107, 109, 110, 116, 119, 124 to 126, 162, +163, 166, 171, 179 to 181, 212, 265. 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Montgomery. + +514 The Little Corsican; or, The Boy of the Barricades. By Allan Arnold. + +515 Headlight Tom, the Boy Engineer. By Jas. C. Merritt. + +516 The Sealed Despatch; or, The Blind Boy of Moscow. By Allan Arnold. + +517 The Swamp Rats; or, The Boys Who Fought for Washington. By Gen'l + Jas. A. Gordon. + +518 Nino, the Wonder of the Air. A Story of Circus Life. By Berton + Bertrew. + +519 A Fireman at Sixteen; or, Through Flame and Smoke. By Ex-Fire-Chief + Warden. + +520 100 Feet Above the Housetops; or, The Mystery of the Old Church + Steeple. By Allyn Draper. + +521 The Boy Explorers; or, Abandoned in the Land of Ice. By Capt. Thos. + H. Wilson. + +522 The Mystery of the Volcano. A True Story of Mexico. By Howard + Austin. + +523 Fighting with Washington; or, The Boy Regiment of the Revolution. By + Gen'l. Jas. A. Gordon. + +524 The Smartest Boy in Philadelphia; or, Dick Rollins' Fight for a + Living. By Allyn Draper. + +525 The White Boy Chief; or, The Terror of the North Platte. By An Old + Scout. + +526 The Boy Senator; or, How He Won His Toga. By Allan Arnold. + +527 Napoleon's Boy Guardsman; or, A Hero at Eighteen. By Richard R. + Montgomery. + +528 Driven Adrift; or, The Trip of the Daisy. By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. + +529 Rob the Waif. A Story of Life in New York. By Howard Austin. + +530 The Wildest Boy in New York; or, Saved at the Brink. (A True + Temperance Story.) By H. K. Shackleford. + +531 Bushwhacker Ben; or, The Union Boys of Tennessee. By Col. Ralph + Fenton. + +532 The Night Riders of Ravenswood. (A Strange Story of Arizona.) By + Allan Arnold. + +533 Phil, the Boy Fireman; or, Through Flames to Victory. By + Ex-Fire-Chief Warden. + +534 The Boy Slave; or, A Young New Yorker in Central America. By Howard + Austin. + +535 Dunning & Co.; the Boy Brokers. (A Story of Wall Street.) By A + Retired Broker. + +536 Daniel Boone's Best Shot; or, The Perils of the Kentucky Pioneers. + By An Old Scout. + +537 Ollie, the Office Boy; or, The Struggles of a Poor Waif. By Allyn + Draper. + +538 The Two Boy Stowaways; or, A Strange Voyage on a Doomed Ship. By + Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. + +539 Columbia; or, The Young Firemen of Glendale. By Ex-Fire-Chief + Warden. + +540 Paddling on the Amazon; or, Three Boy Canoeists in South America. By + Richard R. Montgomery. + +541 Happy Jack, the Daring Spy. A Story of the Great Rebellion. By Gen'l + Jas. A. Gordon. + +542 Nameless Nat; or, A Millionaire in Rags. By Allyn Draper. + +543 The Boy Mail-Carrier; or, Government Service in Minnesota. By An Old + Scout. + +544 The Boy Messenger of Russia; or, The Czar's Secret Despatch Bearer. + By Allan Arnold. + +545 Monte Cristo, Jr.; or, The Diamonds of the Borgias. By Howard + Austin. + +546 The Boy Privateer Captain; or, Lost on a Nameless Sea. By Capt. + Thos. H. Wilson. + +547 The Boys in Blue; or, The Football Champions of Cherryville. By + Allan Arnold. + +548 From Bootblack to Broker; or, The Luck of a Wall Street Boy. By a + Retired Broker. + +549 The Block House Boys; or, The Young Pioneers of the Great Lakes. By + An Old Scout. + +550 The White Boy Slaves; or, The Student Exiles of Siberia. By Richard + R. Montgomery. + +551 A Coral Prison; or, The Two Boy Hermits of the Indian Ocean. By + Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. + +552 Dick "I will!"; or, The Plucky Fight of a Boy Orphan. By Allyn + Draper. + +553 Larry of the Lantern; or, The Smugglers of the Irish Coast. By + Berton Bertrew. + +554 My Chum Charlie; or, The Strange Adventures of Two New York Boys. By + Howard Austin. + +555 The Boyhood Days of "Pawnee Bill"; or, From the Schoolroom to the + Frontier. By An Old Scout. + +556 The Young Deserters; or, The Mystery of Ramsey Island. By Capt. + Thos. H. Wilson. + +557 The Bowery Prince; or, A Bootblack's Road to Fame. By Howard Austin. + +558 Jack Mosby, the Guerilla King; or, Riding and Raiding in the + Rebellion. By Gen'l. Jas. A. Gordon. + +559 A Lawyer at 17, and the Fee that Made His Fortune. By Richard R. + Montgomery. + +560 The Houseboat Boys; or, Stirring Adventures in the Northwest. By + Allyn Draper. + +561 The Dark Sons of Ireland; or, Plotting Under the Shannon Water. By + Allan Arnold. + +562 Young Karl Kruger; or, The Richest Boy in the Transvaal. By Berton + Bertrew. + +563 The Phantom Fireman; or, The Mystery of Mark Howland's Life. By + Ex-Fire-Chief Warden. + +564 Ben Brevier; or, The Romance of a Young Printer. By Allyn Draper. + +565 The Signal Service Boys; or, Fighting Above the Clouds. By Gen'l + Jas. A. Gordon. + +566 The Red Privateer; or, The First to Float the Stars and Stripes. By + Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. + +567 The Iron Spirit; or, The Mystery of the Plains. By An Old Scout. + +568 The Sons of the Sword; or, The Watchers From the Rhine. By Richard + R. Montgomery. + +569 The Lost Island; or, A Romance of a Forgotten World. By Howard + Austin. + +570 The White Wolf of the Gaitees; or, A Mystery of the Mountain. By + Allan Arnold. + +571 The Senator's Secretary; or, The Brightest Boy in Washington. By + Allyn Draper. + +572 Whirlwind Jack; or, Captain Heald's Boy Messenger. By Gen'l Jas. A. + Gordon. + +573 The Gypsy's Son; or, The Double Life. By Howard Austin. + +574 The Transient Island; or, Cast Away in the Sooth Sea. By Capt. Thos. + H. Wilson. + +575 The Boys of Black Bay; or, The Young Lumber King of the North Woods. + By Berton Bertrew. + +576 The Boy Nihilist; or, Young America in Russia. By Allan Arnold. + +For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt +of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by FRANK TOUSEY, +Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York. + +IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS + +of our Weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be +obtained from this office direct. 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