diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4982-0.txt | 7702 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4982-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 140378 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4982-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 148164 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4982-h/4982-h.htm | 9435 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4982.txt | 7702 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4982.zip | bin | 0 -> 139299 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/2004-01-rbalt10.txt | 7774 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/2004-01-rbalt10.zip | bin | 0 -> 138400 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/2004-01-rbalt10h.htm | 7262 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/2004-01-rbalt10h.zip | bin | 0 -> 139051 bytes |
13 files changed, 39891 insertions, 0 deletions
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/4982-0.txt b/4982-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b32f1c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/4982-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7702 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr + +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: A Rock in the Baltic + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4982] +Last Updated: October 31, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + + + + +Produced by Jim Weiler + + + + + + +A ROCK IN THE BALTIC + +By Robert Barr, + +1906 + + + + +CHAPTER I --THE INCIDENT AT THE BANK + +IN the public room of the Sixth National Bank at Bar Harbor in Maine, +Lieutenant Alan Drummond, H.M.S. “Consternation,” stood aside to give +precedence to a lady. The Lieutenant had visited the bank for the +purpose of changing several crisp white Bank of England notes into the +currency of the country he was then visiting. The lady did not appear +to notice either his courtesy or his presence, and this was the more +remarkable since Drummond was a young man sufficiently conspicuous even +in a crowd, and he and she were, at that moment, the only customers in +the bank. He was tall, well-knit and stalwart, blond as a Scandinavian, +with dark blue eyes which he sometimes said jocularly were the colors of +his university. He had been slowly approaching the cashier’s window with +the easy movement of a man never in a hurry, when the girl appeared at +the door, and advanced rapidly to the bank counter with its brass wire +screen surrounding the arched aperture behind which stood the cashier. +Although very plainly attired, her gown nevertheless possessed a charm +of simplicity that almost suggested complex Paris, and she wore it +with that air of distinction the secret of which is supposed to be the +exclusive property of French and American women. + +The young man saw nothing of this, and although he appreciated the +beauty of the girl, what struck him at that instant was the expression +of anxiety on her face, whose apparently temporary pallor was +accentuated by an abundance of dark hair. It seemed to him that she had +resolutely set herself a task which she was most reluctant to perform. +From the moment she entered the door her large, dark eyes were fixed +almost appealingly on the cashier, and they beheld nothing else. +Drummond, mentally slow as he usually was, came to the quick conclusion +that this was a supreme moment in her life, on which perhaps great +issues depended. He saw her left hand grasp the corner of the ledge in +front of the cashier with a grip of nervous tension, as if the support +thus attained was necessary to her. Her right hand trembled slightly as +she passed an oblong slip of paper through the aperture to the calm and +indifferent official. + +“Will you give me the money for this check?” she asked in a low voice. + +The cashier scrutinized the document for some time in silence. The +signature appeared unfamiliar to him. + +“One moment, madam,” he said quietly, and retired to a desk in the back +part of the bank, where he opened a huge book, turned over some leaves +rapidly, and ran his finger down a page. His dilatory action seemed to +increase the young woman’s panic. Her pallor increased, and she swayed +slightly, as if in danger of falling, but brought her right hand to the +assistance of the left, and so steadied herself against the ledge of the +cashier’s counter. + +“By Jove!” said the Lieutenant to himself, “there’s something wrong +here. I wonder what it is. Such a pretty girl, too!” + +The cashier behind his screen saw nothing of this play of the emotions. +He returned nonchalantly to his station, and asked, in commonplace +tones: + +“How will you have the money, madam?” + +“Gold, if you please,” she replied almost in a whisper, a rosy flush +chasing the whiteness from her face, while a deep sigh marked the +passing of a crisis. + +At this juncture an extraordinary thing happened. The cashier counted +out some golden coins, and passed them through the aperture toward their +new owner. + +“Thank you,” said the girl. Then, without touching the money, she turned +like one hypnotized, her unseeing eyes still taking no heed of the big +Lieutenant, and passed rapidly out of the bank, The cashier paid +no regard to this abandonment of treasure. He was writing some +hieroglyphics on the cashed check. + +“By Jove!” gasped the Lieutenant aloud, springing forward as he spoke, +sweeping the coins into his hand, and bolting for the door. This was an +action which would have awakened the most negligent cashier had he been +in a trance. Automatically he whisked out a revolver which lay in an +open drawer under his hand. + +“Stop, you scoundrel, or I fire!” he shouted, but the Lieutenant had +already disappeared. Quick as thought the cashier darted into the +passage, and without waiting to unfasten the low door which separated +the public and private rooms of the bank, leaped over it, and, +bareheaded, gave chase. A British naval officer in uniform, rapidly +overtaking a young woman, quite unconscious of his approach, followed +by an excited, bareheaded man with a revolver in his grasp, was a sight +which would quickly have collected a crowd almost anywhere, but it +happened to be the lunch hour, and the inhabitants of that famous summer +resort were in-doors; thus, fortunately, the street was deserted. The +naval officer was there because the hour of the midday meal on board the +cruiser did not coincide with lunch time on shore. The girl was there +because it happened to be the only portion of the day when she could +withdraw unobserved from the house in which she lived, during banking +hours, to try her little agitating financial experiment. The cashier +was there because the bank had no lunch hour, and because he had just +witnessed the most suspicious circumstance that his constantly alert eye +had ever beheld. Calm and imperturbable as a bank cashier may appear to +the outside public, he is a man under constant strain during business +hours. Each person with whom he is unacquainted that confronts him at +his post is a possible robber who at any moment may attempt, either by +violence or chicanery, to filch the treasure he guards. The happening +of any event outside the usual routine at once arouses a cashier’s +distrust, and this sudden flight of a stranger with money which did not +belong to him quite justified the perturbation of the cashier. From +that point onward, innocence of conduct or explanation so explicit as to +satisfy any ordinary man, becomes evidence of more subtle guilt to the +mind of a bank official. The ordinary citizen, seeing the Lieutenant +finally overtake and accost the hurrying girl, raise his cap, then pour +into her outstretched hand the gold he had taken, would have known at +once that here was an every-day exercise of natural politeness. Not so +the cashier. The farther he got from the bank, the more poignantly did +he realize that these two in front, both strangers to him, had, by their +combined action, lured him, pistol and all, away from his post during +the dullest hour of the day. It was not the decamping with those few +pieces of gold which now troubled him: it was fear of what might +be going on behind him. He was positive that these two had acted in +conjunction. The uniform worn by the man did not impose upon him. Any +thief could easily come by a uniform, and, as his mind glanced rapidly +backwards over the various points of the scheme, he saw how effectual +the plan was: first, the incredible remissness of the woman in leaving +her gold on the counter; second, the impetuous disappearance of the +man with the money; and, third, his own heedless plunge into the street +after them. He saw the whole plot in a flash: he had literally leaped +into the trap, and during his five or ten minutes’ absence, the +accomplices of the pair might have overawed the unarmed clerks, and +walked off with the treasure. His cash drawer was unlocked, and even the +big safe stood wide open. Surprise had as effectually lured him away as +if he had been a country bumpkin. Bitterly and breathlessly did he curse +his own precipitancy. His duty was to guard the bank, yet it had not +been the bank that was robbed, but, at best a careless woman who had +failed to pick up her money. He held the check for it, and the loss, if +any, was hers, not the bank’s, yet here he was, running bareheaded down +the street like a fool, and now those two stood quite calmly together, +he handing her the money, and thus spreading a mantle of innocence over +the vile trick. But whatever was happening in the bank, he would secure +two of the culprits at least. The two, quite oblivious of the danger +that threatened them, were somewhat startled by a panting man, trembling +with rage, bareheaded, and flourishing a deadly weapon, sweeping down +upon them. + +“Come back to the bank instantly, you two!” he shouted. + +“Why?” asked the Lieutenant in a quiet voice. + +“Because I say so, for one thing.” + +“That reason is unanswerable,” replied the Lieutenant with a slight +laugh, which further exasperated his opponent. “I think you are exciting +yourself unnecessarily. May I beg you to put that pistol in your pocket? +On the cruiser we always cover up the guns when ladies honor us with +their presence. You wish me to return because I had no authority for +taking the money? Right: come along.” + +The cashier regarded this as bluff, and an attempt to give the woman +opportunity to escape. + +“You must come back also,” he said to the girl. + +“I’d rather not,” she pleaded in a low voice, and it was hardly possible +to have made a more injudicious remark if she had taken the whole +afternoon to prepare. + +Renewed determination shone from the face of the cashier. + +“You must come back to the bank,” he reiterated. + +“Oh, I say,” protested the Lieutenant, “you are now exceeding your +authority. I alone am the culprit. The young lady is quite blameless, +and you have no right to detain her for a moment.” + +The girl, who had been edging away and showing signs of flight, which +the bareheaded man, visibly on the alert, leaned forward ready to +intercept, seemed to make up her mind to bow to the inevitable. Ignoring +the cashier, she looked up at the blond Lieutenant with a slight smile +on her pretty lips. + +“It was really all my fault at the beginning,” she said, “and very +stupid of me. I am slightly acquainted with the bank manager, and I am +sure he will vouch for me, if he is there.” + +With that she turned and walked briskly toward the bank, at so rapid +a pace as to indicate that she did not wish an escort. The bareheaded +official found his anger unaccountably deserting him, while a great fear +that he had put his foot in it took its place. + +“Really,” said the Lieutenant gently, as they strode along together, “an +official in your position should be a good judge of human nature. How +any sane person, especially a young man, can look at that beautiful girl +and suspect her of evil, passes my comprehension. Do you know her?” + +“No,” said the cashier shortly. “Do you?” + +The Lieutenant laughed genially. + +“Still suspicious, eh?” he asked. “No, I don’t know her, but to use a +banking term, you may bet your bottom dollar I’m going to. Indeed, I am +rather grateful to you for your stubbornness in forcing us to return. +It’s a quality I like, and you possess it in marvelous development, so +I intend to stand by you when the managerial censure is due. I’m very +certain I met your manager at the dinner they gave us last night. Mr. +Morton, isn’t he?” + +“Yes,” growled the cashier, in gruff despondency. + +“Ah, that’s awfully jolly. One of the finest fellows I’ve met in ten +years. Now, the lady said she was acquainted with him, so if I don’t +wheedle an introduction out of him, it will show that a man at a dinner +and a man in a bank are two different individuals. You were looking +for plots; so there is mine laid bare to you. It’s an introduction, not +gold, I’m conspiring for.” + +The cashier had nothing further to say. When they entered the bank +together he saw the clerks all busily at work, and knew that no +startling event had happened during his absence. The girl had gone +direct to the manager’s room, and thither the young men followed her. +The bank manager was standing at his desk, trying to preserve a severe +financial cast of countenance, which the twinkle in his eyes belied. +The girl, also standing, had evidently been giving him a rapid sketch of +what had occurred, but now fell into silence when accuser and accomplice +appeared. + +The advent of the Englishman was a godsend to the manager. He was too +courteous a gentleman to laugh in the face of a lady who very seriously +was relating a set of incidents which appealed to his sense of humor, +so the coming of the Lieutenant enabled him to switch off his mirth on +another subject, and in reply to the officer’s cordial “Good-morning, +Mr. Morton,” he replied: + +“Why, Lieutenant, I’m delighted to see you. That was a very jolly song +you sang for us last night: I’ll never forget it. What do you call it? +Whittington Fair?” And he laughed outright, as at a genial recollection. + +The Lieutenant blushed red as a girl, and stammered: + +“Really, Mr. Morton, you know, that’s not according to the rules of +evidence. When a fellow comes up for trial, previous convictions are +never allowed to be mentioned till after the sentence. Whiddicomb Fair +should not be held against me in the present crisis.” + +The manager chuckled gleefully. The cashier, when he saw how the land +lay, had quietly withdrawn, closing the door behind him. + +“Well, Lieutenant, I think I must have this incident cabled to Europe,” + said Morton, “so the effete nations of your continent may know that a +plain bank cashier isn’t afraid to tackle the British navy. Indeed, Mr. +Drummond, if you read history, you will learn that this is a dangerous +coast for your warships. It seems rather inhospitable that a guest of +our town cannot pick all the gold he wants out of a bank, but a cashier +has necessarily somewhat narrow views on the subject. I was just about +to apologize to Miss Amhurst, who is a valued client of ours, when you +came in, and I hope, Miss Amhurst”--he continued gravely, turning to the +girl--“that you will excuse us for the inconvenience to which you have +been put.” + +“Oh, it does not matter in the least,” replied the young woman, with +nevertheless a sigh of relief. “It was all my own fault in so carelessly +leaving the money. Some time, when less in a hurry than I am at the +present moment, I will tell you how I came to make the blunder.” + +Meanwhile the manager caught and interpreted correctly an imploring look +from the Lieutenant. + +“Before you go, Miss Amhurst, will you permit me to introduce to you my +friend, Lieutenant Drummond, of H.M.S. ‘Consternation.’” + +This ritual to convention being performed, the expression on the girl’s +face showed the renewal of her anxiety to be gone, and as she turned +to the door, the officer sprang forward and opened it for her. If the +manager expected the young man to return, he was disappointed, for +Drummond threw over his shoulder the hasty remark: + +“I will see you at the Club this evening,” whereupon the genial Morton, +finding himself deserted, sat down in his swivel chair and laughed +quietly to himself. + +There was the slightest possible shade of annoyance on the girl’s face +as the sailor walked beside her from the door of the manager’s room, +through the public portion of the bank to the exit, and the young +man noticing this, became momentarily tongue-tied, but nevertheless +persisted, with a certain awkward doggedness which was not going to +allow so slight a hint that his further attendance was unnecessary, to +baffle him. He did not speak until they had passed down the stone steps +to the pavement, and then his utterance began with a half-embarrassed +stammer, as if the shadow of displeasure demanded justification on his +part. + +“You--you see, Miss Amhurst, we have been properly introduced.” + +For the first time he heard the girl laugh, just a little, and the sound +was very musical to him. + +“The introduction was of the slightest,” she said. “I cannot claim even +an acquaintance with Mr. Morton, although I did so in the presence of +his persistent subordinate. I have met the manager of the bank but once +before, and that for a few moments only, when he showed me where to sign +my name in a big book.” + +“Nevertheless,” urged Drummond, “I shall defend the validity of that +introduction against all comers. The head of a bank is a most important +man in every country, and his commendation is really very much sought +after.” + +“You appear to possess it. He complimented your singing, you know,” and +there was a roguish twinkle in the girl’s eye as she glanced up sideways +at him, while a smile came to her lips as she saw the color again mount +to his cheeks. She had never before met a man who blushed, and she could +not help regarding him rather as a big boy than a person to be taken +seriously. His stammer became more pronounced. + +“I--I think you are laughing at me, Miss Amhurst, and indeed I don’t +wonder at it, and I--I am afraid you consider me even more persistent +than the cashier. But I did want to tell you how sorry I am to have +caused you annoyance.” + +“Oh, you have not done so,” replied the girl quickly. “As I said before, +it was all my own fault in the beginning.” + +“No, I shouldn’t have taken the gold. I should have come up with you, +and told you that it still awaited you in the bank, and now I beg your +permission to walk down the street with you, because if any one were +looking at us from these windows, and saw us pursued by a bareheaded man +with a revolver, they will now, on looking out again, learn that it is +all right, and may even come to regard the revolver and the hatless one +as an optical delusion.” + +Again the girl laughed. + +“I am quite unknown in Bar Harbor, having fewer acquaintances than even +a stranger like yourself, therefore so far as I am concerned it does +not in the least matter whether any one saw us or not. We shall walk +together, then, as far as the spot where the cashier overtook us, and +this will give me an opportunity of explaining, if not of excusing, +my leaving the money on the counter. I am sure my conduct must have +appeared inexplicable both to you and the cashier, although, of course, +you would be too polite to say so.” + +“I assure you, Miss Amhurst--” + +“I know what you would say,” she interrupted, with a vivacity which had +not heretofore characterized her, “but, you see, the distance to the +corner is short, and, as I am in a hurry, if you don’t wish my story to +be continued in our next--” + +“Ah, if there is to be a next--” murmured the young man so fervently +that it was now the turn of color to redden her cheeks. + +“I am talking heedlessly,” she said quickly. “What I want to say is +this: I have never had much money. Quite recently I inherited what +had been accumulated by a relative whom I never knew. It seemed so +incredible, so strange--well, it seems incredible and strange yet--and +I have been expecting to wake and find it all a dream. Indeed, when you +overtook me at this spot where we now stand, I feared you had come to +tell me it was a mistake; to hurl me from the clouds to the hard earth +again.” + +“But it was just the reverse of that,” he cried eagerly. “Just the +reverse, remember. I came to confirm your dream, and you received from +my hand the first of your fortune.” + +“Yes,” she admitted, her eyes fixed on the sidewalk. + +“I see how it was,” he continued enthusiastically. “I suppose you had +never drawn a check before.” + +“Never,” she conceded. + +“And this was merely a test. You set up your dream against the hard +common sense of a bank, which has no dreams. You were to transform your +vision into the actual, or find it vanish. When the commonplace cashier +passed forth the coin, their jingle said to you, ‘The supposed phantasy +is real,’ but the gold pieces themselves at that supreme moment meant +no more to you than so many worthless counters, so you turned your back +upon them.” + +She looked up at him, her eyes, though moist, illumined with pleasure +inspired by the sympathy in his tones rather than the import of his +words. The girl’s life heretofore had been as scant of kindness as +of cash, and there was a deep sincerity in his voice which was as +refreshing to her lonesome heart as it was new to her experience. This +man was not so stupid as he had pretended to be. He had accurately +divined the inner meaning of what had happened. She had forgotten the +necessity for haste which had been so importunate a few minutes before. + +“You must be a mind-reader,” she said. + +“No, I am not at all a clever person,” he laughed. “Indeed, as I +told you, I am always blundering into trouble, and making things +uncomfortable for my friends. I regret to say I am rather under a cloud +just now in the service, and I have been called upon to endure the frown +of my superiors.” + +“Why, what has happened?” she asked. After their temporary halt at the +corner where they had been overtaken, they now strolled along together +like old friends, her prohibition out of mind. + +“Well, you see, I was temporarily in command of the cruiser coming down +the Baltic, and passing an island rock a few miles away, I thought it +would be a good opportunity to test a new gun that had been put +aboard when we left England. The sea was very calm, and the rock most +temptsome. Of course I knew it was Russian territory, but who could have +imagined that such a point in space was inhabited by anything else than +sea-gulls.” + +“What!” cried the girl, looking up at him with new interest. “You don’t +mean to say you are the officer that Russia demanded from England, and +England refused to give up?” + +“Oh, England could not give me up, of course, but she apologized, and +assured Russia she had no evil intent. Still, anything that sets the +diplomatists at work is frowned upon, and the man who does an act +which his government is forced to disclaim becomes unpopular with his +superiors.” + +“I read about it in the papers at the time. Didn’t the rock fire back at +you?” + +“Yes, it did, and no one could have been more surprised than I when I +saw the answering puff of smoke.” + +“How came a cannon to be there?” + +“Nobody knows. I suppose that rock in the Baltic is a concealed fort, +with galleries and gun-rooms cut in the stone after the fashion of +our defences at Gibraltar. I told the court-martial that I had added a +valuable bit of information to our naval knowledge, but I don’t suppose +this contention exercised any influence on the minds of my judges. I +also called their attention to the fact that my shell had hit, while +the Russian shot fell half a mile short. That remark nearly cost me my +commission. A court-martial has no sense of humor.” + +“I suppose everything is satisfactorily settled now?” + +“Well, hardly that. You see, Continental nations are extremely +suspicious of Britain’s good intentions, as indeed they are of the good +intentions of each other. No government likes to have--well, what we +might call a ‘frontier incident’ happen, and even if a country is quite +in the right, it nevertheless looks askance at any official of its own +who, through his stupidity, brings about an international complication. +As concerns myself, I am rather under a cloud, as I told you. The +court-martial acquitted me, but it did so with reluctance and a warning. +I shall have to walk very straight for the next year or two, and be +careful not to stub my toe, for the eyes of the Admiralty are upon me. +However, I think I can straighten this matter out. I have six months’ +leave coming on shortly, which I intend to spend in St. Petersburg. I +shall make it my business to see privately some of the officials in the +Admiralty there, and when they realize by personal inspection what a +well-intentioned idiot I am, all distrust will vanish.” + +“I should do nothing of the kind,” rejoined the girl earnestly, quite +forgetting the shortness of their acquaintance, as she had forgotten the +flight of time, while on his part he did not notice any incongruity in +the situation. “I’d leave well enough alone,” she added. + +“Why do you think that?” he asked. + +“Your own country has investigated the matter, and has deliberately run +the risk of unpleasantness by refusing to give you up. How, then, can +you go there voluntarily? You would be acting in your private capacity +directly in opposition to the decision arrived at by your government.” + +“Technically, that is so; still, England would not hold the position +she does in the world to-day if her men had not often taken a course in +their private capacity which the government would never have sanctioned. +As things stand now, Russia has not insisted on her demand, but has +sullenly accepted England’s decision, still quite convinced that my act +was not only an invasion of Russia’s domain, but a deliberate insult; +therefore the worst results of an inconsiderate action on my part +remain. If I could see the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or the head +of the Admiralty in St. Petersburg face to face for ten minutes, I’d +undertake to remove that impression.” + +“You have great faith in your persuasive powers,” she said demurely. + +The Lieutenant began to stammer again. + +“No, no, it isn’t so much that, but I have great faith in the Russian +as a judge of character. I suppose I am imagined to be a venomous, +brow-beating, truculent Russophobe, who has maliciously violated their +territory, flinging a shell into their ground and an insult into their +face. They are quite sincere in this belief. I want to remove that +impression, and there’s nothing like an ocular demonstration. I like the +Russians. One of my best friends is a Russian.” + +The girl shook her head. + +“I shouldn’t attempt it,” she persisted. “Suppose Russia arrested you, +and said to England, ‘We’ve got this man in spite of you’?” + +The Lieutenant laughed heartily. + +“That is unthinkable: Russia wouldn’t do such a thing. In spite of all +that is said about the Russian Government, its members are gentlemen. +Of course, if such a thing happened, there would be trouble. That is a +point where we’re touchy. A very cheap Englishman, wrongfully detained, +may cause a most expensive campaign. Our diplomatists may act correctly +enough, and yet leave a feeling of resentment behind. Take this very +case. Britain says coldly to Russia: + +“‘We disclaim the act, and apologize.’ + +“Now, it would be much more to the purpose if she said genially: + +“‘We have in our employment an impetuous young fool with a thirst for +information. He wished to learn how a new piece of ordnance would +act, so fired it off with no more intention of striking Russia than of +hitting the moon. He knows much more about dancing than about foreign +affairs. We’ve given him a month’s leave, and he will slip across +privately to St. Petersburg to apologize and explain. The moment you +see him you will recognize he is no menace to the peace of nations. +Meanwhile, if you can inculcate in him some cold, calm common-sense +before he returns, we’ll be ever so much obliged.’” + +“So you are determined to do what you think the government should have +done.” + +“Oh, quite. There will be nothing frigidly official about my +unauthorized mission. I have a cousin in the embassy at St. Petersburg, +but I shan’t go near him; neither shall I go to an hotel, but will get +quiet rooms somewhere that I may not run the risk of meeting any chance +acquaintances.” + +“It seems to me you are about to afford the Russian Government an +excellent opportunity of spiriting you off to Siberia, and nobody would +be the wiser.” + +Drummond indulged in the free-hearted laugh of a youth to whom life is +still rather a good joke. + +“I shouldn’t mind studying the Siberian system from the inside if they +allowed me to return before my leave was up. I believe that sort +of thing has been exaggerated by sensational writers. The Russian +Government would not countenance anything of the kind, and if the +minor officials tried to play tricks, there’s always my cousin in the +background, and it would be hard luck if I couldn’t get a line to him. +Oh, there’s no danger in my project!” + +Suddenly the girl came to a standstill, and gave expression to a little +cry of dismay. + +“What’s wrong?” asked the Lieutenant. + +“Why, we’ve walked clear out into the country!” + +“Oh, is that all? I hadn’t noticed.” + +“And there are people waiting for me. I must run.” + +“Nonsense, let them wait.” + +“I should have been back long since.” + +They had turned, and she was hurrying. + +“Think of your new fortune, Miss Amhurst, safely lodged in our friend +Morton’s bank, and don’t hurry for any one.” + +“I didn’t say it was a fortune: there’s only ten thousand dollars +there.” + +“That sounds formidable, but unless the people who are waiting for you +muster more than ten thousand apiece, I don’t think you should make +haste on their account.” + +“It’s the other way about, Mr. Drummond. Individually they are poorer +than I, therefore I should have returned long ago. Now, I fear, they +will be in a temper.” + +“Well, if anybody left me two thousand pounds, I’d take an afternoon off +to celebrate. Here we are in the suburbs again. Won’t you change your +mind and your direction; let us get back into the country, sit down on +the hillside, look at the Bay, and gloat over your wealth?” + +Dorothy Amhurst shook her head and held out her hand. + +“I must bid you good-by here, Lieutenant Drummond. This is my shortest +way home.” + +“May I not accompany you just a little farther?” + +“Please, no, I wish to go the rest of the way alone.” + +He held her hand, which she tried to withdraw, and spoke with animation. + +“There’s so much I wanted to say, but perhaps the most important is +this: I shall see you the night of the 14th, at the ball we are giving +on the ‘Consternation’?” + +“It is very likely,” laughed the girl, “unless you overlook me in +the throng. There will be a great mob. I hear you have issued many +invitations.” + +“We hope all our friends will come. It’s going to be a great function. +Your Secretary of the Navy has promised to look in on us, and our +Ambassador from Washington will be there. I assure you we are doing our +best, with festooned electric lights, hanging draperies, and all +that, for we want to make the occasion at least remotely worthy of the +hospitality we have received. Of course you have your card, but I wish +you hadn’t, so that I might have the privilege of sending you one or +more invitations.” + +“That would be quite unnecessary,” said the girl, again with a slight +laugh and heightened color. + +“If any of your friends need cards of invitation, won’t you let me know, +so that I may send them to you?” + +“I’m sure I shan’t need any, but if I do, I promise to remember your +kindness, and apply.” + +“It will be a pleasure for me to serve you. With whom shall you come? I +should like to know the name, in case I should miss you in the crowd.” + +“I expect to be with Captain Kempt, of the United States Navy.” + +“Ah,” said the Lieutenant, with a note of disappointment in his voice +which he had not the diplomacy to conceal. His hold of her hand relaxed, +and she took the opportunity to withdraw it. + +“What sort of a man is Captain Kempt? I shall be on the lookout for him, +you know.” + +“I think he is the handsomest man I have ever seen, and I know he is the +kindest and most courteous.” + +“Really? A young man, I take it?” + +“There speaks the conceit of youth,” said Dorothy, smiling. “Captain +Kempt, U.S.N., retired. His youngest daughter is just two years older +than myself.” + +“Oh, yes, Captain Kempt. I--I remember him now. He was at the dinner +last night, and sat beside our captain. What a splendid story-teller he +is!” cried the Lieutenant with honest enthusiasm. + +“I shall tell him that, and ask him how he liked your song. Good-by,” + and before the young man could collect his thoughts to make any reply, +she was gone. + +Skimming lightly over the ground at first, she gradually slackened +her pace, and slowed down to a very sober walk until she came to a +three-storied so-called “cottage” overlooking the Bay, then with a sigh +she opened the gate, and went into the house by the servant’s entrance. + + + + +CHAPTER II --IN THE SEWING-ROOM + + +THREE women occupied the sewing-room with the splendid outlook: a mother +and her two daughters. The mother sat in a low rocking-chair, a picture +of mournful helplessness, her hands listlessly resting on her lap, while +tears had left their traces on her time-worn face. The elder daughter +paced up and down the room as striking an example of energy and +impatience as was the mother of despondency. Her comely brow was marred +by an angry frown. The younger daughter stood by the long window, her +forehead resting against the pane, while her fingers drummed idly on the +window sill. Her gaze was fixed on the blue Bay, where rested the huge +British warship “Consternation,” surrounded by a section of the United +States squadron seated like white swans in the water. Sails of snow +glistened here and there on the bosom of the Bay, while motor-boats and +what-not darted this way and that impudently among the stately ships of +the fleet. + +In one corner of the room stood a sewing-machine, and on the long +table were piles of mimsy stuff out of which feminine creations are +constructed. There was no carpet on the floor, and no ceiling overhead; +merely the bare rafters and the boards that bore the pine shingles of +the outer roof; yet this attic was notable for the glorious view to be +seen from its window. It was an ideal workshop. + +The elder girl, as she walked to and fro, spoke with nervous irritation +in her voice. + +“There is absolutely no excuse, mamma, and it’s weakness in you to +pretend that there may be. The woman has been gone for hours. There’s +her lunch on the table which has never been tasted, and the servant +brought it up at twelve.” + +She pointed to a tray on which were dishes whose cold contents bore out +the truth of her remark. + +“Perhaps she’s gone on strike,” said the younger daughter, without +removing her eyes from H.M.S. “Consternation.” “I shouldn’t wonder if +we went downstairs again we’d find the house picketed to keep away +blacklegs.” + +“Oh, you can always be depended on to talk frivolous nonsense,” said her +elder sister scornfully. “It’s the silly sentimental fashion in which +both you and father treat work-people that makes them so difficult to +deal with. If the working classes were taught their place--” + +“Working classes! How you talk! Dorothy is as much a lady as we are, and +sometimes I think rather more of a lady than either of us. She is the +daughter of a clergyman.” + +“So she says,” sniffed the elder girl. + +“Well, she ought to know,” replied the younger indifferently. + +“It’s people like you who spoil dependents in her position, with your +Dorothy this and Dorothy that. Her name is Amhurst.” + +“Christened Dorothy, as witness godfather and godmother,” murmured the +younger without turning her head. + +“I think,” protested their mother meekly, as if to suggest a compromise, +and throw oil on the troubled waters, “that she is entitled to be called +Miss Amhurst, and treated with kindness but with reserve.” + +“Tush!” exclaimed the elder indignantly, indicating her rejection of the +compromise. + +“I don’t see,” murmured the younger, “why you should storm, Sabina. You +nagged and nagged at her until she’d finished your ball-dress. It +is mamma and I that have a right to complain. Our dresses are +almost untouched, while you can sail grandly along the decks of the +‘Consternation’ like a fully rigged yacht. There, I’m mixing my similes +again, as papa always says. A yacht doesn’t sail along the deck of a +battleship, does it?” + +“It’s a cruiser,” weakly corrected the mother, who knew something of +naval affairs. + +“Well, cruiser, then. Sabina is afraid that papa won’t go unless we all +have grand new dresses, but mother can put on her old black silk, and I +am going if I have to wear a cotton gown.” + +“To think of that person accepting our money, and absenting herself in +this disgraceful way!” + +“Accepting our money! That shows what it is to have an imagination. Why, +I don’t suppose Dorothy has had a penny for three months, and you know +the dress material was bought on credit.” + +“You must remember,” chided the mother mildly, “that your father is not +rich.” + +“Oh, I am only pleading for a little humanity. The girl for some reason +has gone out. She hasn’t had a bite to eat since breakfast time, and +I know there’s not a silver piece in her pocket to buy a bun in a +milk-shop.” + +“She has no business to be absent without leave,” said Sabina. + +“How you talk! As if she were a sailor on a battleship--I mean a +cruiser.” + +“Where can the girl have gone?” wailed the mother, almost wringing her +hands, partially overcome by the crisis. “Did she say anything about +going out to you, Katherine? She sometimes makes a confidant of you, +doesn’t she?” + +“Confidant!” exclaimed Sabina wrathfully. + +“I know where she has gone,” said Katherine with an innocent sigh. + +“Then why didn’t you tell us before?” exclaimed mother and daughter in +almost identical terms. + +“She has eloped with the captain of the ‘Consternation,’” explained +Katherine calmly, little guessing that her words contained a color of +truth. “Papa sat next him at the dinner last night, and says he is a +jolly old salt and a bachelor. Papa was tremendously taken with him, +and they discussed tactics together. Indeed, papa has quite a distinct +English accent this morning, and I suspect a little bit of a headache +which he tries to conceal with a wavering smile.” + +“You can’t conceal a headache, because it’s invisible,” said the mother +seriously. “I wish you wouldn’t talk so carelessly, Katherine, and you +mustn’t speak like that of your father.” + +“Oh, papa and I understand one another,” affirmed Katherine with great +confidence, and now for the first time during this conversation the +young girl turned her face away from the window, for the door had opened +to let in the culprit. + +“Now, Amhurst, what is the meaning of this?” cried Sabina before her +foot was fairly across the threshold. + +All three women looked at the newcomer. Her beautiful face was aglow, +probably through the exertion of coming up the stairs, and her eyes +shone like those of the Goddess of Freedom as she returned steadfastly +the supercilious stare with which the tall Sabina regarded her. + +“I was detained,” she said quietly. + +“Why did you go away without permission?” + +“Because I had business to do which could not be transacted in this +room.” + +“That doesn’t answer my question. Why did you not ask permission?” + +The girl slowly raised her two hands, and showed her shapely wrists +close together, and a bit of the forearm not covered by the sleeve of +her black dress. + +“Because,” she said slowly, “the shackles have fallen from these +wrists.” + +“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” said Sabina, apparently impressed +in spite of herself, but the younger daughter clapped her hands +rapturously. + +“Splendid, splendid, Dorothy,” she cried. “I don’t know what you mean +either, but you look like Maxine Elliott in that play where she--” + +“Will you keep quiet!” interrupted the elder sister over her shoulder. + +“I mean that I intend to sew here no longer,” proclaimed Dorothy. + +“Oh, Miss Amhurst, Miss Amhurst,” bemoaned the matron. “You will +heartlessly leave us in this crisis when we are helpless; when there is +not a sewing woman to be had in the place for love or money. Every one +is working night and day to be ready for the ball on the fourteenth, and +you--you whom we have nurtured--” + +“I suppose she gets more money,” sneered the elder daughter bitterly. + +“Oh, Dorothy,” said Katherine, coming a step forward and clasping her +hands, “do you mean to say I must attend the ball in a calico dress +after all? But I’m going, nevertheless, if I dance in a morning +wrapper.” + +“Katherine,” chided her mother, “don’t talk like that.” + +“Of course, where more money is in the question, kindness does not +count,” snapped the elder daughter. + +Dorothy Amhurst smiled when Sabina mentioned the word kindness. + +“With me, of course, it’s entirely a question of money,” she admitted. + +“Dorothy, I never thought it of you,” said Katherine, with an +exaggerated sigh. “I wish it were a fancy dress ball, then I’d borrow my +brother Jack’s uniform, and go in that.” + +“Katherine, I’m shocked at you,” complained the mother. + +“I don’t care: I’d make a stunning little naval cadet. But, Dorothy, you +must be starved to death; you’ve never touched your lunch.” + +“You seem to have forgotten everything to-day,” said Sabina severely. +“Duty and everything else.” + +“You are quite right,” murmured Dorothy. + +“And did you elope with the captain of the ‘Consternation,’ and were you +married secretly, and was it before a justice of the peace? Do tell us +all about it.” + +“What are you saying?” asked Dorothy, with a momentary alarm coming into +her eyes. + +“Oh, I was just telling mother and Sab that you had skipped by the light +of the noon, with the captain of the ‘Consternation,’ who was a +jolly old bachelor last night, but may be a married man to-day if my +suspicions are correct. Oh, Dorothy, must I go to the ball in a dress of +print?” + +The sewing girl bent an affectionate look on the impulsive Katherine. + +“Kate, dear,” she said, “you shall wear the grandest ball dress that +ever was seen in Bar Harbor.” + +“How dare you call my sister Kate, and talk such nonsense?” demanded +Sabina. + +“I shall always call you Miss Kempt, and now, if I have your permission, +I will sit down. I am tired.” + +“Yes, and hungry, too,” cried Katherine. “What shall I get you, Dorothy? +This is all cold.” + +“Thank you, I am not in the least hungry.” + +“Wouldn’t you like a cup of tea?” + +Dorothy laughed a little wearily. + +“Yes, I would,” she said, “and some bread and butter.” + +“And cake, too,” suggested Katherine. + +“And cake, too, if you please.” + +Katherine skipped off downstairs. + +“Well, I declare!” ejaculated Sabina with a gasp, drawing herself +together, as if the bottom had fallen out of the social fabric. + +Mrs. Captain Kempt folded her hands one over the other and put on a look +of patient resignation, as one who finds all the old landmarks swept +away from before her. + +“Is there anything else we can get for you?” asked Sabina icily. + +“Yes,” replied Dorothy, with serene confidence, “I should be very much +obliged if Captain Kempt would obtain for me a card of invitation to the +ball on the ‘Consternation.’” + +“Really!” gasped Sabina, “and may not my mother supplement my father’s +efforts by providing you with a ball dress for the occasion?” + +“I could not think of troubling her, Miss Kempt. Some of my customers +have flattered me by saying that my taste in dress is artistic, and that +my designs, if better known, might almost set a fashion in a small way, +so I shall look after my costume myself; but if Mrs. Captain Kempt were +kind enough to allow me to attend the ball under her care, I should be +very grateful for it.” + +“How admirable! And is there nothing that I can do to forward your +ambitions, Miss Amhurst?” + +“I am going to the ball merely as a looker-on, and perhaps you might +smile at me as you pass by with your different partners, so that people +would say I was an acquaintance of yours.” + +After this there was silence in the sewing room until Katherine, +followed by a maid, entered with tea and cakes. Some dress materials +that rested on a gypsy table were swept aside by the impulsive +Katherine, and the table, with the tray upon it, was placed at the +right hand of Dorothy Amhurst. When the servant left the room, Katherine +sidled to the long sewing table, sprang up lightly upon it, and sat +there swinging a dainty little foot. Sabina had seated herself in the +third chair of the room, the frown still adding severity to an otherwise +beautiful countenance. It was the younger daughter who spoke. + +“Now, Dorothy, tell us all about the elopement.” + +“What elopement?” + +“I soothed my mother’s fears by telling her that you had eloped with the +captain of the ‘Consternation.’ I must have been wrong in that guess, +because if the secret marriage I hoped had taken place, you would have +said to Sabina that the shackles were on your wrists instead of off. But +something important has happened, and I want to know all about it.” + +Dorothy made no response to this appeal, and after a minute’s silence +Sabina said practically: + +“All that has happened is that Miss Amhurst wishes father to present her +with a ticket to the ball on the ‘Consternation,’ and taking that for +granted, she requests mother to chaperon her, and further expresses a +desire that I shall be exceedingly polite to her while we are on board +the cruiser.” + +“Oh,” cried Katherine jauntily, “the last proviso is past praying for, +but the other two are quite feasible. I’d be delighted to chaperon +Dorothy myself, and as for politeness, good gracious, I’ll be polite +enough to make up for all the courteous deficiency of the rest of the +family. + + ‘For I hold that on the seas, + The expression if you please + A particularly gentlemanly tone implants, + And so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts.’ + +Now, Dorothy, don’t be bashful. Here’s your sister and your cousin and +your aunt waiting for the horrifying revelation. What has happened?” + +“I’ll tell you what is going to happen, Kate,” said the girl, smiling +at the way the other ran on. “Mrs. Captain Kempt will perhaps consent to +take you and me to New York or Boston, where we will put up at the best +hotel, and trick ourselves out in ball costumes that will be the envy of +Bar Harbor. I shall pay the expense of this trip as partial return for +your father’s kindness in getting me an invitation and your mother’s +kindness in allowing me to be one of your party.” + +“Oh, then it isn’t an elopement, but a legacy. Has the wicked but +wealthy relative died?” + +“Yes,” said Dorothy solemnly, her eyes on the floor. + +“Oh, I am so sorry for what I have just said!” + +“You always speak without thinking,” chided her mother. + +“Yes, don’t I? But, you see, I thought somehow that Dorothy had no +relatives; but if she had one who was wealthy, and who allowed her to +slave at sewing, then I say he was wicked, dead or alive, so there!” + +“When work is paid for it is not slavery,” commented Sabina with +severity and justice. + +The sewing girl looked up at her. + +“My grandfather, in Virginia, owned slaves before the war, and I have +often thought that any curse which may have been attached to slavery has +at least partly been expiated by me, as foreshadowed in the Bible, where +it says that the sins of the fathers shall affect the third or fourth +generations. I was thinking of that when I spoke of the shackles falling +from my wrists, for sometimes, Miss Kempt, you have made me doubt +whether wages and slavery are as incompatible as you appear to imagine. +My father, who was a clergyman, often spoke to me of his father’s +slaves, and while he never defended the institution, I think the past in +his mind was softened by a glamor that possibly obscured the defects of +life on the plantation. But often in depression and loneliness I have +thought I would rather have been one of my grandfather’s slaves than +endure the life I have been called upon to lead.” + +“Oh, Dorothy, don’t talk like that, or you’ll make me cry,” pleaded +Kate. “Let us be cheerful whatever happens. Tell us about the money. +Begin ‘Once upon a time,’ and then everything will be all right. No +matter how harrowing such a story begins, it always ends with lashin’s +and lashin’s of money, or else with a prince in a gorgeous uniform and +gold lace, and you get the half of his kingdom. Do go on.” + +Dorothy looked up at her impatient friend, and a radiant cheerfulness +chased away the gathering shadows from her face. + +“Well, once upon a time I lived very happily with my father in a little +rectory in a little town near the Hudson River. His family had been +ruined by the war, and when the plantation was sold, or allowed to +go derelict, whatever money came from it went to his elder and only +brother. My father was a dreamy scholar and not a business man as his +brother seems to have been. My mother had died when I was a child; I do +not remember her. My father was the kindest and most patient of men, and +all I know he taught me. We were very poor, and I undertook the duties +of housekeeper, which I performed as well as I was able, constantly +learning by my failures. But my father was so indifferent to material +comforts that there were never any reproaches. He taught me all that I +know in the way of what you might call accomplishments, and they were of +a strangely varied order--a smattering of Latin and Greek, a good deal +of French, history, literature, and even dancing, as well as music, for +he was an excellent musician. Our meager income ceased with my father’s +life, and I had to choose what I should do to earn my board and keep, +like Orphant Annie, in Whitcomb Riley’s poem. There appeared to be +three avenues open to me. I could be a governess, domestic servant, or +dressmaker. I had already earned something at the latter occupation, and +I thought if I could set up in business for myself, there was a greater +chance of gaining an independence along that line than either as a +governess or servant. But to do this I needed at least a little capital. + +“Although there had been no communication between the two brothers for +many years, I had my uncle’s address, and I wrote acquainting him with +the fact of my father’s death, and asking for some assistance to set +up in business for myself, promising to repay the amount advanced with +interest as soon as I was able, for although my father had never said +anything against his elder brother, I somehow had divined, rather than +knew, that he was a hard man, and his answering letter gave proof of +that, for it contained no expression of regret for his brother’s death. +My uncle declined to make the advance I asked for, saying that many +years before he had given my father two hundred dollars which had never +been repaid. I was thus compelled, for the time at least, to give up +my plan for opening a dressmaking establishment, even on the smallest +scale, and was obliged to take a situation similar to that which I hold +here. In three years I was able to save the two hundred dollars, which I +sent to my uncle, and promised to remit the interest if he would tell me +the age of the debt. He replied giving the information, and enclosing a +receipt for the principal, with a very correct mathematical statement of +the amount of interest if compounded annually, as was his legal right, +but expressing his readiness to accept simple interest, and give me a +receipt in full.” + +“The brute!” ejaculated Katherine, which remark brought upon her a mild +rebuke from her mother on intemperance of language. + +“Well, go on,” said Katherine, unabashed. + +“I merely mention this detail,” continued Dorothy, “as an object lesson +in honesty. Never before since the world began was there such a case of +casting bread upon the waters as was my sending the two hundred dollars. +My uncle appears to have been a most methodical man. He filed away my +letter which contained the money, also a typewritten copy of his reply, +and when he died, it was these documents which turned the attention +of the legal arm who acted for him to myself, for my uncle had left no +will. The Californian firm communicated with lawyers in New York, and +they began a series of very cautious inquiries, which at last resulted, +after I had furnished certain proofs asked for, in my being declared +heiress to my uncle’s estate.” + +“And how much did you get? How much did you get?” demanded Katherine. + +“I asked the lawyers from New York to deposit ten thousand dollars for +me in the Sixth National Bank of this town, and they did so. It was to +draw a little check against that deposit, and thus learn if it was real, +that I went out to-day.” + +“Ten thousand dollars,” murmured Katherine, in accents of deep +disappointment. “Is that all?” + +“Isn’t that enough?” asked Dorothy, with a twinkle in her eyes. + +“No, you deserve ten times as much, and I’m not going to New York or +Boston at your expense to buy new dresses. Not likely! I will attend the +ball in my calico.” + +Dorothy laughed quietly, and drew from the little satchel she wore at +her side a letter, which she handed to Katherine. + +“It’s private and confidential,” she warned her friend. + +“Oh, I won’t tell any one,” said Katherine, unfolding it. She read +eagerly half-way down the page, then sprang to her feet on the top of +the table, screaming: + +“Fifteen million dollars! Fifteen million dollars!” and, swinging her +arms back and forth like an athlete about to leap, sprang to the floor, +nearly upsetting the little table, tray and all, as she embraced Dorothy +Amhurst. + +“Fifteen millions! That’s something like! Why, mother, do you realize +that we have under our roof one of the richest young women in the world? +Don’t you see that the rest of this conference must take place in our +drawing-room under the most solemn auspices? The idea of our keeping +such an heiress in the attic!” + +“I believe,” said Sabina, slowly and coldly, “that Mr. Rockefeller’s +income is--” + +“Oh, blow Mr. Rockefeller and his income!” cried the indignant younger +sister. + +“Katherine!” pleaded the mother tearfully. + + + + +CHAPTER III --ON DECK + + +THROUGHOUT the long summer day a gentle excitement had fluttered +the hearts of those ladies, young, or not so young, who had received +invitations to the ball on board the “Consternation” that night. The +last touches were given to creations on which had been spent skill, +taste, and money. Our three young women, being most tastefully and +fashionably attired, were in high spirits, which state of feeling was +exhibited according to the nature of each; Sabina rather stately in +her exaltation; Dorothy quiet and demure; while Katherine, despite her +mother’s supplications, would not be kept quiet, but swung her graceful +gown this way and that, practising the slide of a waltz, and quoting W. +R. Gilbert, as was her custom. She glided over the floor in rhythm with +her chant. + + “When I first put this uniform on + I said, as I looked in the glass, + ‘It’s one to a million + That any civilian + My figure and form will surpass.’” + +Meanwhile, in a room downstairs that good-natured veteran Captain Kempt +was telling the latest stories to his future son-in-law, a young officer +of the American Navy, who awaited, with dutiful impatience, the advent +of the serene Sabina. When at last the ladies came down the party set +out through the gathering darkness of this heavenly summer night for the +private pier from which they were privileged, because of Captain Kempt’s +official standing, to voyage to the cruiser on the little revenue cutter +“Whip-poor-will,” which was later on to convey the Secretary of the Navy +and his entourage across the same intervening waters. Just before they +reached the pier their steps were arrested by the boom of a cannon, +followed instantly by the sudden apparition of the “Consternation” + picked out in electric light; masts, funnel and hull all outlined by +incandescent stars. + +“How beautiful!” cried Sabina, whose young man stood beside her. “It is +as if a gigantic racket, all of one color, had burst, and hung suspended +there like the planets of heaven.” + +“It reminds me,” whispered Katherine to Dorothy, “of an overgrown +pop-corn ball,” at which remark the two girls were frivolous enough to +laugh. + +“Crash!” sounded a cannon from an American ship, and then the white +squadron became visible in a blaze of lightning. And now all the yachts +and other craft on the waters flaunted their lines of fire, and the +whole Bay was illuminated like a lake in Fairyland. + +“Now,” said Captain Kempt with a chuckle, “watch the Britisher. I think +she’s going to show us some color,” and as he spoke there appeared, +spreading from nest to mast, a huge sheet of blue, with four great stars +which pointed the corners of a parallelogram, and between the stars +shone a huge white anchor. Cheers rang out from the crew of the +“Consternation,” and the band on board played “The Star-Spangled +Banner.” + +“That,” said Captain Kempt in explanation, “is the flag of the United +States Secretary of the Navy, who will be with us to-night. The visitors +have kept very quiet about this bit of illumination, but our lads got +on to the secret about a week ago, and I’ll be very much disappointed if +they don’t give ‘em tit for tat.” + +When the band on the “Consternation” ceased playing, all lights went out +on the American squadron, and then on the flagship appeared from mast +to mast a device with the Union Jack in the corner, a great red cross +dividing the flag into three white squares. As this illumination flashed +out the American band struck up the British national anthem, and the +outline lights appeared again. + +“That,” said the captain, “is the British man-o’-war’s flag.” + +The “Whip-poor-will” speedily whisked the party and others across +the sparkling waters to the foot of the grand stairway which had been +specially constructed to conduct the elect from the tide to the deck. It +was more than double as broad as the ordinary gangway, was carpeted from +top to bottom, and on every step stood a blue-jacket, each as steady as +if cast in bronze, the line forming, as one might say, a living handrail +rising toward the dark sky. + +Captain Kempt and his wife went first, followed by Sabina and her young +man with the two girls in their wake. + +“Aren’t those men splendid?” whispered Katherine to her friend. “I wish +each held an old-fashioned torch. I do love a sailor.” + +“So do I,” said Dorothy, then checked herself, and laughed a little. + +“I guess we all do,” sighed Katherine. + +On deck the bluff captain of the “Consternation,” in resplendent +uniform, stood beside Lady Angela Burford of the British Embassy at +Washington, to receive the guests of the cruiser. Behind these two were +grouped an assemblage of officers and very fashionably dressed +women, chatting vivaciously with each other. As Dorothy looked at the +princess-like Lady Angela it seemed as if she knew her; as if here were +one who had stepped out of an English romance. Her tall, proudly held +figure made the stoutish captain seem shorter than he actually was. The +natural haughtiness of those classic features was somewhat modified by a +pro tem smile. Captain Kempt looked back over his shoulder and said in a +low voice: + +“Now, young ladies, best foot forward. The Du Maurier woman is to +receive the Gibson girls.” + +“I know I shall laugh, and I fear I shall giggle,” said Katherine, but +she encountered a glance from her elder sister quite as haughty as any +Lady Angela might have bestowed, and all thought of merriment fled for +the moment; thus the ordeal passed conventionally without Katherine +either laughing or giggling. + +Sabina and her young man faded away into the crowd. Captain Kempt +was nodding to this one and that of his numerous acquaintances, and +Katherine felt Dorothy shrink a little closer to her as a tall, unknown +young man deftly threaded his way among the people, making directly for +the Captain, whom he seized by the hand in a grasp of the most cordial +friendship. + +“Captain Kempt, I am delighted to meet you again. My name is +Drummond--Lieutenant Drummond, and I had the pleasure of being +introduced to you at that dinner a week or two ago.” + +“The pleasure was mine, sir, the pleasure was mine,” exclaimed the +Captain with a cordiality equal to that with which he had been greeted. +He had not at first the least recollection of the young man, but the +Captain was something of an amateur politician, and possessed all a +politician’s expertness in facing the unknown, and making the most of +any situation in which he found himself. + +“Oh, yes, Lieutenant, I remember very well that excellent song you--” + +“Isn’t it a perfect night?” gasped the Lieutenant. “I think we are to be +congratulated on our weather.” + +He still clung to the Captain’s hand, and shook it again so warmly that +the Captain said to himself: + +“I must have made an impression on this young fellow,” then aloud he +replied jauntily: + +“Oh, we always have good weather this time of year. You see, the United +States Government runs the weather. Didn’t you know that? Yes, our +Weather Bureau is considered the best in the world.” + +The Lieutenant laughed heartily, although a hollow note intervened, for +the young man had got to the end of his conversation, realized he could +not shake hands for a third time, yet did not know what more to say. +The suavity of the politician came to his rescue in just the form the +Lieutenant had hoped. + +“Lieutenant Drummond, allow me to introduce my wife to you.” + +The lady bowed. + +“And my daughter, Katherine, and Miss Amhurst, a friend of +ours--Lieutenant Drummond, of the ‘Consternation.’” + +“I wonder,” said the Lieutenant, as if the thought had just occurred +to him, “if the young ladies would like to go to a point where they can +have a comprehensive view of the decorations. I--I may not be the best +guide, but I am rather well acquainted with the ship, you know.” + +“Don’t ask me,” said Captain Kempt. “Ask the girls. Everything I’ve had +in life has come to me because I asked, and if I didn’t get it the first +time, I asked again.” + +“Of course we want to see the decorations,” cried Katherine with +enthusiasm, and so bowing to the Captain and Mrs. Kempt, the Lieutenant +led the young women down the deck, until he came to an elevated spot out +of the way of all possible promenaders, on which had been placed in +a somewhat secluded position, yet commanding a splendid view of the +throng, a settee with just room for two, that had been taken from some +one’s cabin. A blue-jacket stood guard over it, but at a nod from the +Lieutenant he disappeared. + +“Hello!” cried Katherine, “reserved seats, eh? How different from a +theatre chair, where you are entitled to your place by holding a colored +bit of cardboard. Here a man with a cutlass stands guard. It gives one a +notion of the horrors of war, doesn’t it, Dorothy?” + +The Lieutenant laughed quite as heartily as if he had not himself hoped +to occupy the position now held by the sprightly Katherine. He was +cudgelling his brain to solve the problem represented by the adage “Two +is company, three is none.” The girls sat together on the settee and +gazed out over the brilliantly lighted, animated throng. People were +still pouring up the gangways, and the decks were rapidly becoming +crowded with a many-colored, ever-shifting galaxy of humanity. The hum +of conversation almost drowned the popular selections being played by +the cruiser’s excellent band. Suddenly one popular selection was cut in +two. The sound of the instruments ceased for a moment, then they struck +up “The Stars and Stripes for Ever.” + +“Hello,” cried Katherine, “can your band play Sousa?” + +“I should say we could,” boasted the Lieutenant, “and we can play his +music, in a way to give some hints to Mr. Sousa’s own musicians.” + +“To beat the band, eh?--Sousa’s band?” rejoined Katherine, dropping into +slang. + +“Exactly,” smiled the Lieutenant, “and now, young ladies, will you +excuse me for a few moments? This musical selection means that your +Secretary of the Navy is on the waters, and I must be in my place with +the rest of the officers to receive him and his staff with all ceremony. +Please promise you will not leave this spot till I return: I implore +you.” + +“Better put the blue-jacket on guard over us,” laughed Katherine. + +“By Jove! a very good idea.” + +Dorothy saw all levity depart from his face, giving way to a look +of sternness and command. Although he was engaged in a joke, the +subordinate must see no sign of fooling in his countenance. He said a +sharp word to a blue-jacket, who nimbly sprang to the end of the settee, +raised his hand in salute, and stiffened himself to an automaton. Then +the girls saw the tall figure of the Lieutenant wending its way to the +spot where the commander stood. + +“I say, Dorothy, we’re prisoners. I wonder what this Johnny would do if +we attempted to fly. Isn’t the Lieutenant sumptuous?” + +“He seems a very agreeable person,” murmured Dorothy. + +“Agreeable! Why, he’s splendid. I tell you, Dorothy, I’m going to have +the first dance with him. I’m the eldest. He’s big enough to divide +between two small girls like us, you know.” + +“I don’t intend to dance,” said Dorothy. + +“Nonsense, you’re not going to sit here all night with nobody to speak +to. I’ll ask the Lieutenant to bring you a man. He’ll take two or three +blue-jackets and capture anybody you want.” + +“Katherine,” said Dorothy, almost as severely as if it were the elder +sister who spoke, “if you say anything like that, I’ll go back to the +house.” + +“You can’t get back. I’ll appeal to the guard. I’ll have you locked up +if you don’t behave yourself.” + +“You should behave yourself. Really, Katherine, you must be careful what +you say, or you’ll make me feel very unhappy.” + +Katherine caught her by the elbow, and gave it an affectionate little +squeeze. + +“Don’t be frightened, Miss Propriety, I wouldn’t make you unhappy for +the world. But surely you’re going to dance?” + +Dorothy shook her head. + +“Some other time. Not to-night. There are too many people here. I +shouldn’t enjoy it, and--there are other reasons. This is all so new and +strange to me: these brilliant men and beautiful women--the lights, +the music, everything--it is as if I had stepped into another world; +something I had read about, or perhaps dreamed about, and never expected +to see.” + +“Why, you dear girl, I’m not going to dance either, then.” + +“Oh, yes, you will, Katherine; you must.” + +“I couldn’t be so selfish as to leave you here all alone.” + +“It isn’t selfish at all, Katherine. I shall enjoy myself completely +here. I don’t really wish to talk to any one, but simply to enjoy my +dream, with just a little fear at the bottom of my heart that I shall +suddenly wake up, rubbing my eyes, in the sewing room.” + +Katherine pinched her. + +“Now are you awake?” + +Dorothy smiled, still dreaming. + +“Hello!” cried Katherine, with renewed animation, “they’ve got the +Secretary safe aboard the lugger, and they seem to be clearing the decks +for action. Here is my dear Lieutenant returning; tall even among tall +men. Look at him. He’s in a great hurry, yet so polite, and doesn’t want +to bump against anybody. And now, Dorothy, don’t you be afraid. I shall +prove a perfect model of diffidence. You will be proud of me when you +learn with what timidity I pronounce prunes and prism. I think I must +languish a little at him. I don’t know quite how it’s done, but in old +English novels the girls always languished, and perhaps an Englishman +expects a little languishment in his. I wonder if he comes of a noble +family. If he doesn’t, I don’t think I’ll languish very much. Still, +what matters the pomp of pageantry and pride of race--isn’t that the way +the poem runs? I love our dear little Lieutenant for himself alone, and +I think I will have just one dance with him, at least.” + +Drummond had captured a camp-stool somewhere, and this he placed at +right angles to the settee, so that he might face the two girls, and yet +not interrupt their view. The sailor on guard once more faded away, and +the band now struck up the music of the dance. + +“Well,” cried Drummond cheerfully, “I’ve got everything settled. I’ve +received the Secretary of the Navy: our captain is to dance with his +wife, and the Secretary is Lady Angela’s partner. There they go!” + +For a few minutes the young people watched the dance, then the +Lieutenant said: + +“Ladies, I am disappointed that you have not complimented our electrical +display.” + +“I am sure it’s very nice, indeed, and most ingenious,” declared +Dorothy, speaking for the first time that evening to the officer, but +Katherine, whose little foot was tapping the deck to the dance music, +tossed her head, and declared nonchalantly that it was all very well +as a British effort at illumination, but she begged the young man to +remember that America was the home of electricity. + +“Where would you have been if it were not for Edison?” + +“I suppose,” said the Lieutenant cheerfully, “that we should have been +where Moses was when the candle went out--in the dark.” + +“You might have had torches,” said Dorothy. “My friend forgets she +was wishing the sailors held torches on that suspended stairway up the +ship’s side.” + +“I meant electric torches--Edison torches, of course.” + +Katherine was displeased at the outlook. She was extremely fond of +dancing, and here this complacent young man had planted himself down on +a camp stool to talk of electricity. + +“Miss Kempt, I am sorry that you are disappointed at our display. Your +slight upon British electrical engineering leaves us unscathed, because +this has been done by a foreign mechanic, whom I wish to present to +you.” + +“Oh, indeed,” said Katherine, rather in the usual tone of her elder +sister. “I don’t dance with mechanics, thank you.” + +She emphasized the light fantastic word, but the Lieutenant did not take +the hint; he merely laughed again in an exasperatingly good-natured way, +and said: + +“Lady Angela is going to be Jack Lamont’s partner for the next waltz.” + +“Oh,” said Katherine loftily, “Lady Angela may dance with any blacksmith +that pleases her, but I don’t. I’m taking it for granted that Jack +Lamont is your electrical tinsmith.” + +“Yes, he is, and I think him by all odds the finest fellow aboard this +ship. It’s quite likely you have read about his sister. She is a year +older than Jack, very beautiful, cultured, everything that a grande dame +should be, yet she has given away her huge estate to the peasantry, and +works with them in the fields, living as they do, and faring as they +do. There was an article about her in one of the French reviews not long +ago. She is called the Princess Natalia.” + +“The Princess Natalia!” echoed Katherine, turning her face toward the +young man. “How can Princess Natalia be a sister of Jack Lamont? Did she +marry some old prince, and take to the fields in disgust?” + +“Oh, no; Jack Lamont is a Russian. He is called Prince Ivan Lermontoff +when he’s at home, but we call him Jack Lamont for short. He’s going to +help me on the Russian business I told you of.” + +“What Russian business?” asked Katherine. “I don’t remember your +speaking of it.” + +Dorothy went white, edged a little way from her friend, while her +widening eyes flashed a warning at the Lieutenant, who, too late, +remembered that this conversation on Russia had taken place during the +walk from the bank. The young man coughed slightly behind his open hand, +reddened, and stammered: + +“Oh, I thought I had told you. Didn’t I mention the prince to you as we +were coming here?” + +“Not that I recollect,” said Katherine. “Is he a real, genuine prince? A +right down regular, regular, regular royal prince?” + +“I don’t know about the royalty, but he’s a prince in good standing in +his own land, and he is also an excellent blacksmith.” The Lieutenant +chuckled a little. “He and his sister have both been touched a good deal +by Tolstoian doctrine. Jack is the most wonderful inventor, I think, +that is at present on the earth, Edison notwithstanding. Why, he is just +now engaged on a scheme by which he can float houses from the mountains +here down to New York. Float them--pipe-line them would perhaps be a +better term. You know they have pipe-lines to carry petroleum. Very +well; Jack has a solution that dissolves stone as white sugar dissolves +in tea, and he believes he can run the fluid from the quarries to where +building is going on. It seems that he then puts this liquid into molds, +and there you have the stone again. I don’t understand the process +myself, but Jack tells me it’s marvelously cheap, and marvelously +effective. He picked up the idea from nature one time when he and I were +on our vacation at Detroit.” + +“Detroit, Michigan?” + +“The Detroit River.” + +“Well, that runs between Michigan and Canada.” + +“No, no, this is in France. I believe the real name of the river is the +Tarn. There’s a gorge called Detroit--the strait, you know. Wonderful +place--tremendous chasm. You go down in a boat, and all the tributary +rivers pour into the main stream like jets from the nozzle of a hose. +They tell me this is caused by the rain percolating through the dead +leaves on the surface of the ground far above, and thus the water +becomes saturated with carbonic acid gas, and so dissolves the limestone +until the granite is reached, and the granite forms the bed of these +underground rivers. It all seemed to me very wonderful, but it struck +Jack on his scientific side, and he has been experimenting ever since. +He says he’ll be able to build a city with a hose next year.” + +“Where does he live?” + +“On the cruiser just at present. I was instrumental in getting him +signed on as John Lamont, and he passed without question. No wonder, for +he has scientific degrees from all sorts of German universities, from +Oxford, and one or two institutions in the States. When at home he lives +in St. Petersburg.” + +“Has he a palace there?” + +Drummond laughed. + +“He’s got a blacksmith shop, with two rooms above, and I’m going to stop +with him for a few months as soon as I get my leave. When the cruiser +reaches England we pay off, and I expect to have nothing to do for six +months, so Jack and I will make for St. Petersburg.” + +“Why do you call him Lamont? Is it taken from his real name of +what-d’ye-call-it-off?” + +“Lermontoff? Yes. The Czar Demetrius, some time about the beginning of +the seventeenth century, established a Scottish Guard, just as Louis +XI did in France two hundred years before, and there came over from +Scotland Lamonts, Carmichaels, Buchanans and others, on whom were +bestowed titles and estates. Prince Ivan Lermontoff is a descendant of +the original Lamont, who was an officer in the Scottish Guard of Russia. + +“So he is really a Scotchman?” + +“That’s what I tell him when he annoys me, as I am by way of being a +Scotchman myself. Ah, the waltz is ended. Will you excuse me a moment +while I fetch his Highness?” + +Dorothy inclined her head, and Katherine fairly beamed permission. + +“Oh, Dorothy,” she exclaimed, when the Lieutenant was out of hearing, +“think of it! A real prince, and my ambition has never risen higher than +a paltry count, or some plebeian of that sort. He’s mine, Dorothy; I +found him first.” + +“I thought you had appropriated the Lieutenant?” + +“What are lieutenants to me? The proud daughter of a captain (retired) +cannot stoop to a mere lieutenant.” + +“You wouldn’t have to stoop far, Kate, with so tall a man as Mr. +Drummond.” + +“You are beginning to take notice, aren’t you, Dot? But I bestow the +Lieutenant freely upon you, because I’m going to dance with the Prince, +even if I have to ask him myself. + + She’ll toddle away, as all aver, + With the Lord High Executioner. + +Ah, here they come. Isn’t he perfectly splendid? Look at his beard! Just +the color of a brand-new twenty-dollar gold piece. See that broad +ribbon diagonally across him. I wonder what it means. And gaze at +those scintillating orders on his breast. Good gracious me, isn’t he +splendid?” + +“Yes, for a blacksmith. I wonder if he beat those stars out on his +anvil. He isn’t nearly so tall as Lieutenant Drummond.” + +“Dorothy, I’ll not allow you to disparage my Prince. How can you be so +disagreeable? I thought from the very first that the Lieutenant was too +tall. If the Prince expects me to call him ‘your Highness,’ he’ll be +disappointed.” + +“You are quite right, Kate. The term would suit the Lieutenant better.” + +“Dorothy, I believe you’re jealous.” + +“Oh, no, I’m not,” said Dorothy, shaking her head and laughing, and then +“Hush!” she added, as Katherine was about to speak again. + +The next moment the young men stood before them, and, introductions +being soberly performed, the Prince lost no time in begging Katherine to +favor him with a dance, to which request the young woman was graciously +pleased to accede, without, however, exhibiting too much haste about her +acceptance, and so they walked off together. + + + + +CHAPTER IV --“AT LAST ALONE” + + +“SOME one has taken the camp stool,” said Lieutenant Drummond. “May +I sit here?” and the young woman was good enough to give the desired +permission. + +When he had seated himself he glanced around, then impulsively held out +his hand. + +“Miss Amhurst,” he said, “how are you?” + +“Very well, thank you,” replied the girl with a smile, and after half a +moment’s hesitation she placed her hand in his. + +“Of course you dance, Miss Amhurst?” + +“Yes, but not to-night. I am here merely as a looker-on in Vienna. You +must not allow politeness to keep you away from the floor, or, perhaps, +I should say the deck. I don’t mind being alone in the least.” + +“Now, Miss Amhurst, that is not a hint, is it? Tell me that I have not +already tired you of my company.” + +“Oh, no, but I do not wish you to feel that simply because we met +casually the other day you are compelled to waste your evening sitting +out.” + +“Indeed, Miss Amhurst, although I should very much like to have the +pleasure of dancing with you, there is no one else here that I should +care to ask. I have quailed under the eagle eye of my Captain once or +twice this evening, and I have been rather endeavoring to keep out +of his sight. I fear he has found something new about me of which to +disapprove, so I have quite determined not to dance, unless you would +consent to dance with me, in which case I am quite ready to brave his +reproachful glances.” + +“Have you done anything wrong lately?” + +“Heaven only knows! I try not to be purposely wicked, and indeed have +put forth extra efforts to be extra good, but it seems all of no avail. +I endeavor to go about the ship with a subdued, humble, unobtrusive air, +but this is rather difficult for a person of my size. I don’t think a +man can droop successfully unless he’s under six feet in height.” + +Dorothy laughed with quiet content. She was surprised to find herself +so much at her ease with him, and so mildly happy. They shared a secret +together, and that of itself was an intangible bond linking him with her +who had no ties with any one else. She liked him; had liked him from the +first; and his unconcealed delight in her company was gratifying to a +girl who heretofore had found none to offer her the gentle courtesies of +life. + +“Is it the Russian business again? You do not look very much troubled +about it.” + +“Ah, that is--that is--” he stammered in apparent confusion, then +blurted out, “because you--because I am sitting here. Although I have +met you but once before, it seems somehow as if I had known you always, +and my slight anxiety that I told you of fades away in your presence. I +hope you don’t think I am forward in saying this, but really to-night, +when I saw you at the head of the gangway, I could scarcely refrain from +going directly to you and greeting you. I am afraid I made rather a hash +of it with Captain Kempt. He is too much of a gentleman to have shown +any surprise at my somewhat boisterous accosting of him, and you know I +didn’t remember him at all, but I saw that you were under his care, and +chanced it. Luckily it seems to have been Captain Kempt after all, but I +fear I surprised him, taking him by storm, as it were.” + +“I thought you did it very nicely,” said Dorothy, “and, indeed, until +this moment I hadn’t the least suspicion that you didn’t recognize him. +He is a dear old gentleman, and I’m very fond of him.” + +“I say,” said the Lieutenant, lowering his voice, “I nearly came a +cropper when I spoke of that Russian affair before your friend. I was +thinking of--of--well, I wasn’t thinking of Miss Kempt--” + +“Oh, she never noticed anything,” said Dorothy hurriedly. “You got out +of that, too, very well. I thought of telling her I had met you before +while she and I were in New York together, but the opportunity never +seemed--well, I couldn’t quite explain, and, indeed, didn’t wish to +explain my own inexplicable conduct at the bank, and so trusted to +chance. If you had greeted me first tonight, I suppose”--she smiled and +looked up at him--“I suppose I should have brazened it out somehow.” + +“Have you been in New York?” + +“Yes, we were there nearly a week.” + +“Ah, that accounts for it.” + +“Accounts for what?” + +“I have walked up and down every street, lane and alley in Bar Harbor, +hoping to catch a glimpse of you. I have haunted the town, and all the +time you were away.” + +“No wonder the Captain frowns at you! Have you been neglecting your +duty?” + +“Well, I have been stretching my shore leave just a little bit. I wanted +to apologize for talking so much about myself as we walked from the +bank.” + +“It was very interesting, and, if you remember, we walked farther than I +had intended.” + +“Were your friends waiting for you, or had they gone?” + +“They were waiting for me.” + +“I hope they weren’t cross?” + +“Oh, no. I told them I had been detained. It happened not to be +necessary to enter into details, so I was saved the task of explanation, +and, besides, we had other interesting things to discuss. This function +on the cruiser has loomed so large as a topic of conversation that there +has been little need of any other subject to talk about for several days +past.” + +“I suppose you must have attended many grander occasions than this. +Although we have endeavored to make a display, and although we possess a +reasonably efficient band, still, a cruiser is not exactly designed for +the use to which it is being put to-night. We have many disadvantages to +overcome which are not met with in the sumptuous dwellings of New York +and Bar Harbor.” + +The girl’s eyes were on the deck for some moments before she replied, +then she looked across at the dancers, and finally said: + +“I think the ball on the ‘Consternation’ quite equals anything I have +ever attended.” + +“It is nice of you to say that. Praise from--I won’t name Sir Hubert +Stanley--but rather Lady Hubert Stanley--is praise, indeed. And now, +Miss Amhurst, since I have confessed my fruitless wanderings through +Bar Harbor, may I not have the pleasure of calling upon you to-morrow or +next day?” + +Her eyes were dreamily watching the dancers. + +“I suppose,” she said slowly, with the flicker of a smile curving those +enticing lips, “that since you were so very friendly with Captain +Kempt to-night he may expect you to smoke a cigar with him, and it will +possibly happen that Katherine and I, who are very fond of the Captain, +may chance to come in while you are there.” + +“Katherine? Ah, Katherine is the name of the young lady who was with you +here--Miss Kempt?” + +“Yes.” + +“You are stopping with the Kempts, then?” + +“Yes.” + +“I wonder if they’d think I was taking a liberty if I brought Jack +Lamont with me?” + +“The Prince?” laughed Dorothy. “Is he a real prince?” + +“Oh, yes, there’s no doubt about that. I shouldn’t have taken the +liberty of introducing him to you as Prince Lermontoff if he were not, +as we say in Scotland, a real Mackay--the genuine article. Well, then, +the Prince and I will pay our respects to Captain Kempt to-morrow +afternoon.” + +“Did you say the Prince is going with you to Russia?” + +“Oh, yes. As I told you, I intend to live very quietly in St. +Petersburg, and the Prince has his shop and a pair of rooms above it in +a working quarter of the city. I shall occupy one of the rooms and he +the other. The Prince is an excellent cook, so we shan’t starve, even if +we engage no servant.” + +“Has the Prince given his estates away also?” + +“He hasn’t given them away exactly, but he is a very indulgent landlord, +and he spends so much money on his experiments and travel that, although +he has a formidable income, he is very frequently quite short of money. +Did you like him?” + +“Yes. Of course I saw him for a moment only. I wonder why they haven’t +returned. There’s been several dances since they left.” + +“Perhaps,” said the Lieutenant, with a slight return of his stammering, +“your friend may be as fond of dancing as Jack is.” + +“You are still determined to go to Russia?” + +“Quite. There is absolutely no danger. I may not accomplish anything, +but I’ll have a try at it. The Prince has a good deal of influence in +St. Petersburg, which he will use quietly on my behalf, so that I +may see the important people. I shall be glad when the Captain ceases +frowning--” + +Drummond was interrupted by a fellow-officer, who raised his cap, and +begged a word with him. + +“I think, Drummond, the Captain wanted to see you.” + +“Oh, did he say that?” + +“No, but I know he has left a note for you in your cabin. Shall I go and +fetch it?” + +“I wish you would, Chesham, if you don’t mind, and it isn’t too much +trouble.” + +“No trouble at all. Delighted, I’m sure,” said Chesham, again raising +his cap and going off. + +“Now, I wonder what I have forgotten to do.” + +Drummond heaved a sigh proportionate to himself. + +“Under the present condition of things a bit of neglect that would go +unnoticed with another man is a sign of unrepentant villainy in me. Any +other Lieutenant may steal a horse while I may not look over a hedge. +You see how necessary it is for me to go to Russia, and get this thing +smoothed over.” + +“I think, perhaps, you are too sensitive, and notice slights where +nothing of the kind is meant,” said the girl. + +Chesham returned and handed Drummond a letter. + +“Will you excuse me a moment?” he said, and as she looked at him he +flattered himself that he noticed a trace of anxiety in her eyes. He +tore open the missive. + +“By Jove!” he cried. + +“What is it?” she could not prevent herself from saying, leaning +forward. + +“I am ordered home. The Admiralty commands me to take the first steamer +for England.” + +“Is that serious?” + +He laughed with well-feigned hilarity. + +“Oh, no, not serious; it’s just their way of doing things. They might +easily have allowed me to come home in my own ship. My only fear is I +shall have to take the train for New York early to-morrow morning. But,” + he said, holding out his hands, “it is not serious if you allow me to +write to you, and if you will permit me to hope that I may receive an +answer.” + +She placed her hand in his, this time without hesitation. + +“You may write,” she said, “and I will reply. I trust it is not +serious.” + + + + +CHAPTER V --AFTER THE OPERA IS OVER + + +IN mid-afternoon of the day following the entertainment on board the +“Consternation” our two girls were seated opposite one another under the +rafters of the sewing room, in the listless, desultory manner of those +who have not gone home till morning, till daylight did appear. The +dominant note of a summer cottage is the rocking-chair, and there were +two in the sewing room, where Katherine and Dorothy swayed gently back +and forth as they talked. They sat close to the low, broad window which +presented so beautiful a picture of the blue Bay and the white shipping. +The huge “Consternation” lay moored with her broadside toward the town, +all sign of festivity already removed from hull and rigging, and, to the +scarcely slumber-satisfied eyes of the girls, something of the sadness +of departure seemed to hang as a haze around the great ship. The girls +were not discussing the past, but rather anticipating the future; +forecasting it, with long, silent pauses intervening. + +“So you will not stay with us? You are determined to turn your wealthy +back on the poor Kempt family?” Katherine was saying. + +“But I shall return to the Kempt family now and then, if they will let +me. I must get away for a time and think. My life has suddenly become +all topsy-turvy, and I need to get my bearings, as does a ship that has +been through a storm and lost her reckoning.” + +“‘She dunno where she are,’ as the song says.” + +“Exactly: that is the state of things.” + +“I think it’s too bad, Dorothy, that you did not allow us to make public +announcement of your good fortune. Just imagine what an ovation you +would have had on board the cruiser last night if it had been known that +the richest woman in that assemblage was a pretty, shy little creature +sitting all by herself, and never indulging in even one dance.” + +“I shouldn’t in the least care for that sort of ovation, Kate, and if +every one present were as well pleased with the festivities as I, they +must all have enjoyed themselves immensely. I believe my friend Kate did +my share of the dancing as well as her own.” + +“‘She danced, and she danced, and she danced them a’ din.’ I think those +are the words of the Scottish song that the Prince quoted. He seems up +in Scottish poetry, and does not even resent being called a Scotchman. +This energetic person of the song seems to have danced them all to a +standstill, as I understood him, for he informs me ‘a’ means ‘all’ and +‘din’ means ‘done,’ but I told him I’d rather learn Russian than Scotch; +it was so much easier, and his Highness was good enough to laugh at +that. Didn’t the Lieutenant ask you to dance at all?” + +“Oh, yes, he did.” + +“And you refused?” + +“I refused.” + +“I didn’t think he had sense enough to ask a girl to dance.” + +“You are ungrateful, Katherine. Remember he introduced you to the +Prince.” + +“Yes, that’s so. I had forgotten. I shall never say anything against him +again.” + +“You like the Prince, then?” + +“Of all the crowned heads, emperors, kings, sultans, monarchs of every +description, dukes, counts, earls, marquises, whom I have met, and who +have pestered my life asking me to share their royal perquisites, I +think I may say quite truthfully that I like this Jack Lamont better +than any one of them.” + +“Surely Prince Jack has not offered you his principality already?” + +“No, not yet, but with an eye to the future I have persuaded him to give +up Tolstoi and read Mark Twain, who is not only equally humorous, but +much more sensible than the Russian writer. Jack must not be allowed to +give away his estates to the peasants as his silly sister has done. I +may need them later on.” + +“Oh, you’ve got that far, have you?” + +“I have got that far: he hasn’t. He doesn’t know anything about it, but +I’ll wake him up when the right time comes. There are many elements of +sanity about him. He told me that he intended to give up his estates, +but in the first place he had been too busy, and in the second he needed +the money. His good sense, however, requires refining, so that he may +get rid of the dross. I don’t blame him; I blame Tolstoi. For instance, +when I asked him if he had patented his liquid city invention, he said +he did not wish to make a profit from his discovery, but intended it for +the good of humanity at large. Imagine such an idiotic idea as that!” + +“I think such views are entirely to his credit,” alarmed Dorothy. + +“Oh, of course, but the plan is not practicable. If he allows such an +invention to slip through his fingers, the Standard Oil people will +likely get hold of it, form a monopoly, and then where would humanity at +large be? I tell him the right way is to patent it, make all the money +he can, and use the cash for benefiting humanity under the direction of +some charitable person like myself.” + +“Did you suggest that to him?” + +“I did not intimate who the sensible person was, but I elucidated the +principle of the thing.” + +“Yes, and what did he say?” + +“Many things, Dorothy, many things. At one time he became confidential +about his possessions in foreign lands. It seems he owns several +castles, and when he visits any of them he cannot prevent the +moujiks, if that is the proper term for the peasantry over there, from +prostrating themselves on the ground as he passes by, beating their +foreheads against the earth, and chanting, in choice Russian, the +phrase: ‘Defer, defer, here comes the Lord High Executioner,’ or words +to that effect. I told him I didn’t see why he should interfere with so +picturesque a custom, and he said if I visited one of his castles that +these estimable people, at a word from him, would form a corduroy road +in the mud with their bodies, so that I might step dry-shod from the +carriage to the castle doors, and I stipulated that he should at least +spread a bit of stair carpet over the poor wretches before I made my +progress across his front yard.” + +“Well, you did become confidential if you discussed a visit to Russia.” + +“Yes, didn’t we? I suppose you don’t approve of my forward conduct?” + +“I am sure you acted with the utmost prudence, Kate.” + +“I didn’t lose any time, though, did I?” + +“I don’t know how much time is required to attain the point of +friendship you reached. I am inexperienced. It is true I have read of +love at first sight, and I am merely waiting to be told whether or not +this is an instance of it.” + +“Oh, you are very diffident, aren’t you, sitting there so bashfully!” + +“I may seem timid or bashful, but it’s merely sleepiness.” + +“You’re a bit of a humbug, Dorothy.” + +“Why?” + +“I don’t know why, but you are. No, it was not a case of love at first +sight. It was a case of feminine vengeance. Yes, you may look surprised, +but I’m telling the truth. After I walked so proudly off with his high +mightiness, we had a most agreeable dance together; then I proposed +to return to you, but the young man would not have it so, and for the +moment I felt flattered. By and by I became aware, however, that it +was not because of my company he avoided your vicinity, but that he was +sacrificing himself for his friend.” + +“What friend?” + +“Lieutenant Drummond, of course.” + +“How was he sacrificing himself for Lieutenant Drummond?” + +“I surmise that the tall Lieutenant did not fall a victim to my wiles +as I had at first supposed, but, in some unaccountable manner, one can +never tell how these things happen; he was most anxious to be left alone +with the coy Miss Dorothy Amhurst, who does not understand how long a +time it takes to fall in love at first sight, although she has read of +these things, dear, innocent girl. The first villain of the piece has +said to the second villain of the piece: ‘There’s a superfluous young +woman over on our bench; I’ll introduce you to her. You lure her off to +the giddy dance, and keep her away as long as you can, and I’ll do as +much for you some day.’ + +“Whereupon Jack Lamont probably swore--I understand that profanity +is sometimes distressingly prevalent aboard ship--but nevertheless he +allowed the Lieutenant to lead him like a lamb to the slaughter. Well, +not being powerful enough to throw him overboard when I realized the +state of the case, I did the next best thing. I became cloyingly sweet +to him. I smiled upon him: I listened to his farrago of nonsense about +the chemical components of his various notable inventions, as if a girl +attends a ball to study chemistry! Before half an hour had passed +the infant had come to the conclusion that here was the first really +sensible woman he had ever met. He soon got to making love to me, as the +horrid phrase goes, as if love were a mixture to be compounded of this +ingredient and that, and then shaken before taken. I am delighted to +add, as a testimony to my own powers of pleasing, that Jack soon forgot +he was a sacrifice, and really, with a little instruction, he would +become a most admirable flirt. He is coming to call upon me this +afternoon, and then he will get his eyes opened. I shall tread on him as +if he were one of his own moujiks.” + +“What a wonderful imagination you have, Kate. All you have said is pure +fancy. I saw he was taken with you from the very first. He never even +glanced at me.” + +“Of course not: he wasn’t allowed to.” + +“Nonsense, Kate. If I thought for a moment you were really in earnest, I +should say you underestimate your own attractions.” + +“Oh, that’s all very well, Miss Dorothy Dimple; you are trying to draw a +red herring across the trail, because you know that what I want to hear +is why Lieutenant Drummond was so anxious to get me somewhere else. What +use did he make of the opportunity the good-natured Prince and my sweet +complacency afforded him?” + +“He said nothing which might not have been overheard by any one.” + +“Come down to particulars, Dorothy, and let me judge. You are so +inexperienced, you know, that it is well to take counsel with a more +sophisticated friend.” + +“I don’t just remember--” + +“No, I thought you wouldn’t. Did he talk of himself or of you?” + +“Of himself, of course. He told me why he was going to Russia, and spoke +of some checks he had met in his profession.” + +“Ah! Did he cash them?” + +“Obstacles--difficulties that were in his way, which he hoped to +overcome.” + +“Oh, I see. And did you extend that sympathy which--” + +There was a knock at the door, and the maid came in, bearing a card. + +“Good gracious me!” cried Katherine, jumping to her feet. “The Prince +has come. What a stupid thing that we have no mirror in this room, and +it’s a sewing and sitting room, too. Do I look all right, Dorothy?” + +“To me you seem perfection.” + +“Ah, well, I can glance at a glass on the next floor. Won’t you come +down and see him trampled on?” + +“No, thank you. I shall most likely drop off to sleep, and enjoy forty +winks in this very comfortable chair. Don’t be too harsh with the +young man, Kate. You are quite wrong in your surmises about him. The +Lieutenant never made any such arrangement as you suggest, because he +talked of nothing but the most commonplace subjects all the time I was +with him, as I was just about to tell you, only you seem in such a hurry +to get away.” + +“Oh, that doesn’t deceive me in the least. I’ll be back shortly, with +the young man’s scalp dangling at my belt. Now we shan’t be long,” and +with that Katherine went skipping downstairs. + +Dorothy picked up a magazine that lay on the table, and for a few +moments turned its leaves from one story to another, trying to interest +herself, but failing. Then she lifted the newspaper that lay at her +feet, but it also was soon cast aside, and she leaned back in her chair +with half-closed eyes, looking out at the cruiser in the Bay. A slight +haze arose between her and the ship, thickening and thickening until at +last it obscured the vessel. + +Dorothy was oppressed by a sense of something forgotten, and she strove +in vain to remember what it was. It was of the utmost importance, she +was certain, and this knowledge made her mental anxiety the greater. + +At last out of the gloom she saw Sabina approach, clothed in rags, and +then a flash of intuition enabled her to grasp the difficulty. Through +her remissness the ball dress was unfinished, and the girl, springing +to her feet, turned intuitively to the sewing-machine, when the ringing +laugh of Katherine dissolved the fog. + +“Why, you poor girl, what’s the matter with you? Are you sitting down to +drudgery again? You’ve forgotten the fortune!” + +“Are--are you back already?” cried Dorothy, somewhat wildly. + +“Already! Why, bless me, I’ve been away an hour and a quarter. You dear +girl, you’ve been asleep and in slavery again!” + +“I think I was,” admitted Dorothy with a sigh. + + + + +CHAPTER VI --FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN + + +THREE days later the North Atlantic squadron of the British Navy sailed +down the coast from Halifax, did not even pause at Bar Harbor, but sent +a wireless telegram to the “Consternation,” which pulled up anchor and +joined the fleet outside, and so the war-ships departed for another +port. + +Katherine stood by the broad window in the sewing room in her favorite +attitude, her head sideways against the pane, her eyes languidly gazing +upon the Bay, fingers drumming this time a very slow march on the window +sill. Dorothy sat in a rocking-chair, reading a letter for the second +time. There had been silence in the room for some minutes, accentuated +rather than broken by the quiet drumming of the girl’s fingers on the +window sill. Finally Katherine breathed a deep sigh and murmured to +herself: + + “‘Far called our Navy fades away, + On dune and headland sinks the fire. + Lo, all our pomp of yesterday + Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.’ + +I wonder if I’ve got the lines right,” she whispered to herself. She had +forgotten there was anyone else in the room, and was quite startled when +Dorothy spoke. + +“Kate, that’s a solemn change, from Gilbert to Kipling. I always judge +your mood by your quotations. Has life suddenly become too serious for +‘Pinafore’ or the ‘Mikado’?” + +“Oh, I don’t know,” said Katherine, without turning round. “They are +humorous all, and so each furnishes something suitable for the saddened +mind. Wisdom comes through understanding your alphabet properly. +For instance, first there was Gilbert, and that gave us G; then came +Kipling, and he gave us K; thus we get an algebraic formula, G.K., which +are the initials of Chesterton, a still later arrival, and as the mind +increases in despondency it sinks lower and lower down the alphabet +until it comes to S, and thus we have Barn-yard Shaw, an improvement on +the Kail-yard school, who takes the O pshaw view of life. And relaxing +hold of him I sink deeper until I come to W--W. W. Jacobs--how I wish he +wrote poetry! He should be the humorist of all sailors, and perhaps some +time he will desert barges for battleships. Then I shall read him with +increased enjoyment.” + +“I wouldn’t give Mark Twain for the lot,” commented Dorothy with +decision. + +“Mark Twain isn’t yours to give, my dear. He belongs to me also. You’ve +forgotten that comparisons are odious. Our metier is not to compare, but +to take what pleases us from each. + + ‘How doth the little busy bee + Improve each shining hour, + And gather honey all the day + From every opening flower. + +Watts. You see, I’m still down among the W’s. Oh, Dorothy, how can +you sit there so placidly when the ‘Consternation’ has just faded from +sight? Selfish creature! + + ‘Oh, give me tears for others’ woes + And patience for mine own.’ + +I don’t know who wrote that, but you have no tears for others’ woes, +merely greeting them with ribald laughter,” for Dorothy, with the +well-read letter in her hand, was making the rafters ring with her +merriment, something that had never before happened during her long +tenancy of that room. Kate turned her head slowly round, and the +expression on her face was half-indignant, half-humorous, while her eyes +were uncertain weather prophets, and gave equal indication of sunshine +or rain.” + +“Why, Katherine, you look like a tragedy queen, rather than the spirit +of comedy! Is it really a case of ‘Tit-willow, tit-willow, tit-willow’? +You see, I’m a-rescuing you from the bottom of the alphabet, and +bringing you up to the Gilbert plane, where I am more accustomed to you, +and understand you better. Is this despondency due to the departure of +the ‘Consternation,’ and the fact that she carries away with her Jack +Lamont, blacksmith?” + +The long sigh terminated in a woeful “yes.” + +“The ship that has gone out with him we call she. If he had eloped with +a real she, then wearing the willow, or singing it, however futile, +might be understandable. As it is I see nothing in the situation to call +for a sigh.” + +“That is because you are a hardened sinner, Dorothy. You have no heart, +or at least if you have, it is untouched, and therefore you cannot +understand. If that note in your hand were a love missive, instead of a +letter from your lawyers, you would be more human, Dorothy.” + +The hand which held the paper crumpled it up slightly as Katherine +spoke. + +“Business letters are quite necessary, and belong to the world we +live in,” said Dorothy, a glow of brighter color suffusing her cheeks. +“Surely your acquaintance with Mr. Lamont is of the shortest.” + +“He has called upon me every day since the night of the ball,” + maintained Katherine stoutly. + +“Well, that’s only three times.” + +“Only three! How you talk! One would think you had never been schooled +in mathematics. Why, three is a magic figure. You can do plenty of +amazing things with it. Don’t you know that three is a numeral of love?” + +“I thought two was the number,” chimed Dorothy, with heartless mirth. + +“Three,” said Katherine taking one last look at the empty horizon, then +seating herself in front of her friend, “three is a recurring decimal. +It goes on and on and on forever, and if you write it for a thousand +years you are still as far from the end as when you began. It will +carry you round the world and back again, and never diminish. It is the +mathematical emblem of the nature of true love.” + +“Is it so serious as all that, Kate, or are you just fooling again?” + asked Dorothy, more soberly than heretofore. “Has he spoken to you?” + +“Spoken? He has done nothing but speak, and I have listened--oh, so +intently, and with such deep understanding. He has never before met such +a woman as I, and has frankly told me so.” + +“I am very glad he appreciates you, dear.” + +“Yes, you see, Dorothy, I am really much deeper than the ordinary woman. +Who, for instance, could find such a beautiful love simile from a +book of arithmetic costing twenty-five cents, as I have unearthed from +decimal fractions? With that example in mind how can you doubt that +other volumes of college learning reveal to me their inner meaning? John +presented to me, as he said good-by, a beautifully bound copy of +that celebrated text-book, ‘Saunders’ Analytical Chemistry,’ with +particularly tender passages marked in pencil, by his own dear hand.” + +Rather bewildered, for Kate’s expression was one of pathos, unrelieved +by any gleam of humor, Dorothy nevertheless laughed, although the laugh +brought no echo from Katherine. + +“And did you give him a volume of Browning in return?” + +“No, I didn’t. How can you be so unsympathetic? Is it impossible for +you to comprehend the unseen link that binds John and me? I rummaged +the book store until I found a charming little edition of ‘Marshall’s +Geologist’s Pocket Companion,’ covered with beautiful brown limp Russia +leather--I thought the Russia binding was so inspirational--with a sweet +little clasp that keeps it closed--typical of our hands at parting. +On the fly-leaf I wrote: ‘To J. L., in remembrance of many interesting +conversations with his friend, K. K.’ It only needed another K to be +emblematic and political, a reminiscence of the olden times, when you +people of the South, Dorothy, were making it hot for us deserving folks +in the North. I hadn’t time to go through the book very thoroughly, +but I found many references to limestone, which I marked, and one +particularly choice bit of English relating to the dissolution and +re-consolidation of various minerals I drew a parallelogram around in +red ink. A friend of mine in a motor launch was good enough to take the +little parcel direct to the ‘Consternation,’ and I have no doubt that +at this moment Jack is perusing it, and perhaps thinking of the giver. I +hope it’s up-to-date, and that he had not previously bought a copy.” + +“You don’t mean to say, Kate, that your conversation was entirely about +geology?” + +“Certainly not. How could you have become imbued with an idea so absurd? +We had many delightful dalliances down the romantic groves of chemistry, +heart-to-heart talks on metallurgy, and once--ah, shall I ever forget +it--while the dusk gently enfolded us, and I gazed into those bright, +speaking, intelligent eyes of his as he bent nearer and nearer; while +his low, sonorous voice in well-chosen words pictured to me the promise +which fortified cement holds out to the world; that is, ignorant person, +Portland cement strengthened by ribs of steel; and I sat listening +breathless as his glowing phrases prophesied the future of this +combination.” + +Katherine closed her eyes, rocked gently back and forth, and crooned, +almost inaudibly: + + “‘When you gang awa, Jimmie, + Faur across the sea, laddie, + When ye gang to Russian lands + What will ye send to me, laddie?’ + +I know what I shall get. It will probably be a newly discovered recipe +for the compounding of cement which will do away with the necessity of +steel strengthening.” + +“Kate, dear, you are overdoing it. It is quite right that woman should +be a mystery to man, but she should not aspire to become a mystery to +her sister woman. Are you just making fun, or is there something in all +this more serious than your words imply?” + +“Like the steel strengthening in the cement, it may be there, but +you can’t see it, and you can’t touch it, but it makes--oh, such +a difference to the slab. Heigho, Dorothy, let us forsake these +hard-headed subjects, and turn to something human. What have your +lawyers been bothering you about? No trouble over the money, is there?” + +Dorothy shook her head. + +“No. Of course, there are various matters they have to consult me about, +and get my consent to this project or the other.” + +“Read the letter. Perhaps my mathematical mind can be of assistance to +you.” + +Dorothy had concealed the letter, and did not now produce it. + +“It is with reference to your assistance, and your continued assistance, +that I wish to speak to you. Let us follow the example of the cement and +the steel, and form a compact. In one respect I am going to imitate the +‘Consternation.’ I leave Bar Harbor next week.” + +Katherine sat up in her chair, and her eyes opened wide. + +“What’s the matter with Bar Harbor?” she asked. + +“You can answer that question better than I, Kate. The Kempt family are +not visitors, but live here all the year round. What do you think is the +matter with Bar Harbor?” + +“I confess it’s a little dull in the winter time, and in all seasons it +is situated a considerable distance from New York. Where do you intend +to go, Dorothy?” + +“That will depend largely on where my friend Kate advises me to go, +because I shall take her with me if she will come.” + +“Companion, lady’s-maid, parlor maid, maid-of-all-work, cook, governess, +typewriter-girl--which have I to be? Shall I get one afternoon a week +off, and may my young man come and see me, if I happen to secure one, +and, extremely important, what are the wages?” + +“You shall fix your own salary, Kate, and my lawyer men will arrange +that the chosen sum is settled upon you so that if we fall out we can +quarrel on equal terms.” + +“Oh, I see, it’s an adopted daughter I am to be, then?” + +“An adopted sister, rather.” + +“Do you think I am going to take advantage of my friendship with an +heiress, and so pension myself off?” + +“It is I who am taking the advantage,” said Dorothy, “and I beg you to +take compassion, rather than advantage, upon a lone creature who has no +kith or kin in the world.” + +“Do you really mean it, Dot?” + +“Of course I do. Should I propose it if I didn’t?” + +“Well, this is the first proposal I’ve ever had, and I believe it +is customary to say on those occasions that it is so sudden, or so +unexpected, and time is required for consideration.” + +“How soon can you make up your mind, Kate?” + +“Oh, my mind’s already made up. I’m going to jump at your offer, but I +think it more ladylike to pretend a mild reluctance. What are you going +to do, Dorothy?” + +“I don’t know. I’ve settled on only one thing. I intend to build a +little stone and tile church, very quaint and old-fashioned, if I get +the right kind of architect to draw a plan for it, and this church is to +be situated in Haverstock.” + +“Where’s Haverstock?” + +“It is a village near the Hudson River, on the plain that stretches +toward the Catskills.” + +“It was there you lived with your father, was it not?” + +“Yes, and my church is to be called the Dr. Amhurst Memorial Church.” + +“And do you propose to live at Haverstock?” + +“I was thinking of that.” + +“Wouldn’t it be just a little dull?” + +“Yes, I suppose it is, but it seems to me a suitable place where two +young women may meditate on what they are going to do with their lives.” + +“Yes, that’s an important question for the two. I say, Dorothy, let’s +take the other side of the river, and enter Vassar College. Then we +should at least have some fun, and there would be some reasonably +well-educated people to speak to.” + +“Oh, you wish to use your lately acquired scientific knowledge in order +to pass the examinations; but, you see, I have had no tutor to school me +in the mysteries of lime-burning and the mixing of cement. Now, you have +scorned my side of the river, and I have objected to your side of the +river. That is the bad beginning which, let us hope, makes the good +ending. Who is to arbitrate on our dispute?” + +“Why, we’ll split the difference, of course.” + +“How can we do that? Live in a house-boat on the river like Frank +Stockton’s ‘Budder Grange’?” + +“No, settle in the city of New York, which is practically an island in +the Hudson.” + +“Would you like to live in New York?” + +“Wouldn’t I! Imagine any one, having the chance, living anywhere else!” + +“In a hotel, I suppose--the Holldorf for choice.” + +“Yes, we could live in a hotel until we found the ideal flat, high up +in a nice apartment house, with a view like that from the top of Mount +Washington, or from the top of the Washington Monument.” + +“But you forget I made one proviso in the beginning, and that is that I +am going to build a church, and the church is to be situated, not in the +city of New York, but in the village of Haverstock.” + +“New York is just the place from which to construct such an edifice. +Haverstock will be somewhere near the West Shore Railway. Very well. We +can take a trip up there once a week or oftener, if you like, and see +how the work is progressing, then the people of Haverstock will respect +us. As we drive from the station they’ll say: + +“‘There’s the two young ladies from New York who are building the +church.’ But if we settle down amongst them they’ll think we’re only +ordinary villagers instead of the distinguished persons we are. Or, +while our flat is being made ready we could live at one of the big +hotels in the Catskills, and come down as often as we like on the +inclined railway. Indeed, until the weather gets colder, the Catskills +is the place. + + ‘And lo, the Catskills print the distant sky, + And o’er their airy tops the faint clouds driven, + So softly blending that the cheated eye + Forgets or which is earth, or which is heaven.’” + +“That ought to carry the day for the Catskills, Kate. What sort of +habitation shall we choose? A big hotel, or a select private boarding +house?” + +“Oh, a big hotel, of course--the biggest there is, whatever its name +may be. One of those whose rates are so high that the proprietor daren’t +advertise them, but says in his announcement, ‘for terms apply to the +manager.’ It must have ample grounds, support an excellent band, and +advertise a renowned cuisine. Your room, at least, should have a private +balcony on which you can place a telescope and watch the building +of your church down below. I, being a humble person in a subordinate +position, should have a balcony also to make up for those deficiencies.” + +“Very well, Kate, that’s settled. But although two lone women may set +up housekeeping in a New York flat, they cannot very well go alone to a +fashionable hotel.” + +“Oh, yes, we can. Best of references given and required.” + +“I was going to suggest,” pursued Dorothy, not noticing the +interruption, “that we invite your father and mother to accompany us. +They might enjoy a change from sea air to mountain air.” + +Katherine frowned a little, and demurred. + +“Are you going to be fearfully conventional, Dorothy?” + +“We must pay some attention to the conventions, don’t you think?” + +“I had hoped not. I yearn to be a bachelor girl, and own a latch-key.” + +“We shall each possess a latch-key when we settle down in New York. Our +flat will be our castle, and, although our latch-key will let us in, our +Yale lock will keep other people out. A noted summer resort calls for +different treatment, because there we lead a semi-public life. Besides, +I am selfish enough to wish my coming-out to be under the auspices of so +well-known a man as Captain Kempt.” + +“All right, I’ll see what they say about it. You don’t want Sabina, I +take it?” + +“Yes, if she will consent to come.” + +“I doubt if she will, but I’ll see. Besides, now that I come to think +about it, it’s only fair I should allow my doting parents to know that I +am about to desert them.” + +With that Katherine quitted the room, and went down the stairs +hippety-hop. + +Dorothy drew the letter from its place of concealment, and read it for +the third time, although one not interested might have termed it a most +commonplace document. It began: + +“Dear Miss Amhurst,” and ended “Yours most sincerely, Alan Drummond.” It +gave some account of his doings since he bade good-bye to her. A sailor, +he informed her, needs little time for packing his belongings, and on +the occasion in question the Prince had been of great assistance. They +set out together for the early morning train, and said “au revoir” at +the station. Drummond had intended to sail from New York, but a friendly +person whom he met on the train informed him that the Liverpool liner +“Enthusiana” set out from Boston next day, so he had abandoned the New +York idea, and had taken passage on the liner named, on whose note-paper +he wrote the letter, which epistle was once more concealed as Dorothy +heard Katherine’s light step on the stair. + +That impulsive young woman burst into the sewing room. + +“We’re all going,” she cried. “Father, mother and Sabina. It seems +father has had an excellent offer to let the house furnished till the +end of September, and he says that, as he likes high life, he will put +in the time on the top of the Catskills. He abandons me, and says that +if he can borrow a shilling he is going to cut me off with it in his +will. He regrets the departure of the British Fleet, because he thinks +he might have been able to raise a real English shilling aboard. Dad +only insists on one condition, namely, that he is to pay for himself, +mother and Sabina, so he does not want a room with a balcony. I said +that in spite of his disinheritance I’d help the family out of my +salary, and so he is going to reconsider the changing of his will.” + +“We will settle the conditions when we reach the Catskills,” said +Dorothy, smiling. + + + + +CHAPTER VII --“A WAY THEY HAVE IN THE NAVY” + + +CAPTAIN and Mrs. Kempt with Sabina had resided a week in the Matterhorn +Hotel before the two girls arrived there. They had gone direct to New +York, and it required the seven days to find a flat that suited them, of +which they were to take possession on the first of October. Then there +were the lawyers to see; a great many business details to settle, and +an architect to consult. After leaving New York the girls spent a day at +Haverstock, where Dorothy Amhurst bought a piece of land as shrewdly +as if she had been in the real estate business all her life. After this +transaction the girls drove to the station on the line connecting with +the inclined railway, and so, as Katherine remarked, were “wafted to +the skies on flowery beds of ease,” which she explained to her shocked +companion was all right, because it was a quotation from a hymn. When at +last they reached their hotel, Katherine was in ecstasies. + +“Isn’t this heavenly?” she cried, “and, indeed, it ought to be, for I +understand we are three thousand feet higher than we were in New York, +and even the sky-scrapers can’t compete with such an altitude.” + +The broad valley of the Hudson lay spread beneath them, stretching +as far as the eye could see, shimmering in the thin, bluish veil of a +summer evening, and miles away the river itself could be traced like a +silver ribbon. + +The gallant Captain, who had been energetically browbeaten by his +younger daughter, and threatened with divers pains and penalties should +he fail to pay attention and take heed to instructions, had acquitted +himself with eclat in the selection of rooms for Dorothy and his +daughter. The suite was situated in one corner of the huge caravansary, +a large parlor occupying the angle, with windows on one side looking +into the forest, and on the other giving an extended view across the +valley. The front room adjoining the parlor was to be Dorothy’s very +own, and the end room belonged to Katherine, he said, as long as she +behaved herself. If Dorothy ever wished to evict her strenuous neighbor, +all she had to do was to call upon the Captain, and he would lend his +aid, at which proffer of assistance Katherine tossed her head, and +said she would try the room for a week, and, if she didn’t like it, out +Dorothy would have to go. + + + +There followed days and nights of revelry. Hops, concerts, +entertainments of all sorts, with a more pretentious ball on Saturday +night, when the week-tired man from New York arrived in the afternoon to +find temperature twenty degrees lower, and the altitude very much higher +than was the case in his busy office in the city. Katherine revelled in +this round of excitement, and indeed, so, in a milder way, did Dorothy. +After the functions were over the girls enjoyed a comforting chat +with one another in their drawing room; all windows open, and the moon +a-shining down over the luminous valley, which it seemed to fill with +mother-o’-pearl dust. + +Young Mr. J. K. Henderson of New York, having danced repeatedly with +Katherine on Saturday night, unexpectedly turned up for the hop on +the following Wednesday, when he again danced repeatedly with the same +joyous girl. It being somewhat unusual for a keen business man to take a +four hours’ journey during an afternoon in the middle of the week, and, +as a consequence, arrive late at his office next morning, Dorothy began +to wonder if a concrete formation, associated with the name of Prince +Ivan Lermontoff of Russia, was strong enough to stand an energetic +assault of this nature, supposing it were to be constantly repeated. It +was after midnight on Wednesday when the two reached the corner parlor. +Dorothy sat in a cane armchair, while Katherine threw herself into a +rocking-chair, laced her fingers behind her head, and gazed through the +open window at the misty infinity beyond. + +“Well,” sighed Katherine, “this has been the most enjoyable evening I +ever spent!” + +“Are you quite sure?” inquired her friend. + +“Certainly. Shouldn’t I know?” + +“He dances well, then?” + +“Exquisitely!” + +“Better than Jack Lamont?” + +“Well, now you mention him I must confess Jack danced very creditably.” + +“I didn’t know but you might have forgotten the Prince.” + +“No, I haven’t exactly forgotten him, but--I do think he might have +written to me.” + +“Oh, that’s it, is it? Did he ask your permission to write?” + +“Good gracious, no. We never talked of writing. Old red sandstone, +rather, was our topic of conversation. Still, he might have acknowledged +receipt of the book.” + +“But the book was given to him in return for the one he presented to +you.” + +“Yes, I suppose it was. I hadn’t thought of that.” + +“Then again, Kate, Russian notions regarding writing to young ladies +may differ from ours, or he may have fallen overboard, or touched a live +wire.” + +“Yes, there are many possibilities,” murmured Katherine dreamily. + +“It seems rather strange that Mr. Henderson should have time to come up +here in the middle of the week.” + +“Why is it strange?” asked Katherine. “Mr. Henderson is not a clerk +bound down to office hours. He’s an official high up in one of the big +insurance companies, and gets a simply tremendous salary.” + +“Really? Does he talk as well as Jack Lamont did?” + +“He talks less like the Troy Technical Institute, and more like the +‘Home Journal’ than poor Prince Jack did, and then he has a much greater +sense of humor. When I told him that the oath of an insurance man should +be ‘bet your life!’ he laughed. Now, Jack would never have seen the +point of that. Anyhow, the hour is too late, and I am too sleepy, to +worry about young men, or jokes either. Good-night!” + +Next morning’s mail brought Dorothy a bulky letter decorated with +English stamps. She locked the door, tore open the envelope, and found +many sheets of thin paper bearing the heading of the Bluewater Club, +Pall Mall. + +“I am reminded of an old adage,” she read, “to the effect that one +should never cross a bridge before arriving at it. Since I bade good-by +to you, up to this very evening, I have been plodding over a bridge +that didn’t exist, much to my own discomfort. You were with me when +I received the message ordering me home to England, and I don’t +know whether or not I succeeded in suppressing all signs of my own +perturbation, but we have in the Navy now a man who does not hesitate +to overturn a court martial, and so I feared a re-opening of the Rock in +the Baltic question, which might have meant the wrecking of my career. +I had quite made up my mind, if the worst came to the worst, to go out +West and become a cow-boy, but a passenger with whom I became acquainted +on the ‘Enthusiana’ informed me, to my regret, that the cow-boy is +largely a being of the past, to be met with only in the writings of +Stewart Edward White, Owen Wister, and several other famous men whom he +named. So you see, I went across the ocean tolerably depressed, finding +my present occupation threatened, and my future uncertain. + +“When I arrived in London I took a room at this Club, of which I have +been a member for some years, and reported immediately at the Admiralty. +But there, in spite of all diligence on my part, I was quite unable to +learn what was wanted of me. Of course, I could have gone to my Uncle, +who is in the government, and perhaps he might have enlightened me, +although he has nothing to do with the Navy, but I rather like to avoid +Uncle Metgurne. He brought me up since I was a small boy, and seems +unnecessarily ashamed of the result. It is his son who is the attache’ +in St. Petersburg that I spoke to you about.” + +Dorothy ceased reading for a moment. + +“Metgurne, Metgurne,” she said to herself. “Surely I know that name?” + +She laid down the letter, pressed the electric button, and unlocked the +door. When the servant came, she said: + +“Will you ask at the office if they have any biographical book of +reference relating to Great Britain, and if so, please bring it to me.” + +The servant appeared shortly after with a red book which proved to be an +English “Who’s Who” dated two years back. Turning the pages she came to +Metgurne. + +“Metgurne, twelfth Duke of, created 1681, Herbert George Alan.” Here +followed a number of other titles, the information that the son and heir +was Marquis of Thaxted, and belonged to the Diplomatic Service, that +Lord Metgurne was H. M. Secretary of State for Royal Dependencies; +finally a list of residences and clubs. She put down the book and +resumed the letter. + +“I think I ought to have told you that when I reach St. Petersburg I +shall be as anxious to avoid my cousin Thaxted as I am to steer clear of +his father in London. So I sat in my club, and read the papers. Dear me, +this is evidently going to be a very long letter. I hope you won’t mind. +I think perhaps you may be interested in learning how they do things +over here. + +“After two or three days of anxious waiting there came a crushing +communication from the Admiralty which confirmed my worst fears and set +me at crossing the bridge again. I was ordered to report next morning +at eleven, at Committee Room 5, in the Admiralty, and bring with me +full particulars pertaining to the firing of gun number so-and-so of the +‘Consternation’s’ equipment on such a date. I wonder since that I did +not take to drink. We have every facility for that sort of thing in this +club. However, at eleven next day, I presented myself at the Committee +Room and found in session the grimmest looking five men I have ever yet +been called upon to face. Collectively they were about ten times worse +in appearance than the court-martial I had previously encountered. Four +of the men I did not know, but the fifth I recognized at once, having +often seen his portrait. He is Admiral Sir John Pendergest, popularly +known in the service as ‘Old Grouch,’ a blue terror who knows absolutely +nothing of mercy. The lads in the service say he looks so disagreeable +because he is sorry he wasn’t born a hanging judge. Picture a face as +cleanly cut as that of some severe old Roman Senator; a face as hard as +marble, quite as cold, and nearly as white, rescued from the appearance +of a death mask by a pair of piercing eyes that glitter like steel. When +looking at him it is quite impossible to believe that such a personage +has ever been a boy who played pranks on his masters. Indeed, +Admiral Sir John Pendergest seems to have sprung, fully uniformed and +forbidding, from the earth, like those soldiers of mythology. I was +so taken aback at confronting such a man that I never noticed my old +friend, Billy Richardson, seated at the table as one of the minor +officials of the Committee. Billy tells me I looked rather white about +the lips when I realized what was ahead of me, and I daresay he was +right. My consolation is that I didn’t get red, as is my disconcerting +habit. I was accommodated with a chair, and then a ferrety-faced little +man began asking me questions, consulting every now and then a foolscap +sheet of paper which was before him. Others were ready to note down the +answers. + +“‘When did you fire the new gun from the “Consternation” in the Baltic?’ + +“Dear Miss Amhurst, I have confessed to you that I am not brilliant, +and, indeed, such confession was quite unnecessary, for you must +speedily have recognized the fact, but here let me boast for a line or +two of my one accomplishment, which is mathematical accuracy. When I +make experiments I don’t note the result by rule of thumb. My answer to +the ferret-faced man was prompt and complete. + +“‘At twenty-three minutes, seventeen seconds past ten, A.M., on May the +third of this year,’ was my reply. + +“The five high officials remained perfectly impassive, but the two +stenographers seemed somewhat taken by surprise, and one of them +whispered, ‘Did you say fifteen seconds, sir?’ + +“‘He said seventeen,’ growled Sir John Pendergest, in a voice that +seemed to come out of a sepulchre. + +“‘Who sighted the gun?’ + +“‘I did, sir.’ + +“‘Why did not the regular gunner do that?’ + +“‘He did, sir, but I also took observations, and raised the muzzle +.000327 of an inch.’ + +“‘Was your gunner inaccurate, then, to that extent?’ + +“‘No, sir, but I had weighed the ammunition, and found it short by two +ounces and thirty-seven grains.’ + +“I must not bore you with all the questions and answers. I merely give +these as samples. They questioned me about the recoil, the action of the +gun, the state of this, that and the other after firing, and luckily I +was able to answer to a dot every query put to me. At the finish one +of the judges asked me to give in my own words my opinion of the gun. +Admiral Sir John glared at him as he put this question, for of course +to any expert the answers I had furnished, all taken together, gave +an accurate verdict on the gun, assuming my statements to have been +correct, which I maintain they were. However, as Sir John made no verbal +comment, I offered my opinion as tersely as I could. + +“‘Thank you, Lieutenant Drummond,’ rumbled Sir John in his deep voice, +as if he were pronouncing sentence, and, my testimony completed, the +Committee rose. + +“I was out in the street before Billy Richardson overtook me, and then +he called himself to my attention by a resounding slap on the shoulder. + +“‘Alan, my boy,’ he cried, ‘you have done yourself proud. Your fortune’s +made.’ + +“‘As how?’ I asked, shaking him by the hand. + +“‘Why, we’ve been for weeks holding an inquiry on this blessed gun, and +the question is whether or not a lot more of them are to be made. You +know what an opinionated beast Old Grouch is. Well, my boy, you have +corroborated his opinion of the gun in every detail. He is such a +brow-beating, tyrannical brute that the rest of the Committee would +rather like to go against him if they dared, but you have put a spoke in +their wheel. Why, Sir John never said “thank you” to a human being since +he was born until twenty-seven minutes and fifteen seconds after eleven +this morning, as you would have put it,’ and at the time of writing this +letter this surmise of Billy’s appears to be justified, for the tape in +the club just now announced that the Committee has unanimously decided +in favor of the gun, and adds that this is regarded as a triumph for the +chairman, Admiral Sir John Pendergest, with various letters after his +name. + +“Dear Miss Amhurst, this letter, as I feared, has turned out intolerably +long, and like our first conversation, it is all about myself. But then, +you see, you are the only one on the other side of the water to whom +I have confided my selfish worries, and I believe you to be so +kind-hearted that I am sure you will not censure me for this once +exceeding the limits of friendly correspondence. Having been deeply +depressed during all the previous long days, the sudden reaction urges +me to go out into Pall Mall, fling my cap in the air, and whoop, which +action is quite evidently a remnant of my former cow-boy aspirations. +Truth to tell, the Russian business seems already forgotten, except by +my stout old Captain on the ‘Consternation,’ or my Uncle. The strenuous +Sir John has had me haled across the ocean merely to give testimony, +lasting about thirty-five minutes, when with a little patience he might +have waited till the ‘Consternation’ herself arrived, or else have +cabled for us to try the gun at Bar Harbor. I suppose, however, that +after my unfortunate contretemps with Russia our government was afraid +I’d chip a corner off the United States, and that they’d have to pay for +it. So perhaps after all it was greater economy to bring me across on +the liner ‘Enthusiana.’ + +“By the way, I learned yesterday that the ‘Consternation’ has been +ordered home, and so I expect to see Jack Lamont before many days are +past. The ship will be paid off at Portsmouth, and then I suppose he and +I will have our freedom for six months. I am rather looking forward to +Jack’s cooking me some weird but tasteful Russian dishes when we reach +his blacksmith’s shop in St. Petersburg. If I get on in Russia as I hope +and expect, I shall spend the rest of my leave over in the States. I saw +very little indeed of that great country, and am extremely anxious to +see more. When one is on duty aboard ship one can only take very short +excursions ashore. I should like to visit Niagara. It seems ridiculous +that one should have been all along the American coast from Canada to +New York, and never have got far enough inland to view the great Falls. + +“Russia is rather dilatory in her methods, but I surely should know +within two or three weeks whether I am going to succeed or not. If +not, then there is no use in waiting there. I shall try to persuade the +Prince to accompany me to America. During the weeks I am waiting in St. +Petersburg I shall continually impress upon him the utter futility of +a life which has not investigated the great electrical power plant at +Niagara Falls. And then he is interested in the educational system of +the United States. While we were going to the station early that morning +he told me that the United States educational system must be the +most wonderful in the world, because he found that your friend, Miss +Katherine Kempt, knew more about electricity, metallurgy, natural +philosophy and a great number of other things he is interested in, than +all the ladies he has met in Europe put together. He thinks that’s the +right sort of education for girls, and all this rather astonished me, +because, although your friend was most charming, she said nothing during +my very short acquaintance with her to lead me to suspect that she had +received a scientific training. + +“Dear Miss Amhurst, I am looking every day for a letter from you, but +none has yet been received by the Admiralty, who, when they get one, +will forward it to whatever part of the world I happen to be in.” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII --“WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME” + +A SUMMER hotel that boasts a thousand acres of forest, more or less, +which serve the purposes of a back-yard, affords its guests, even if all +its multitude of rooms are occupied, at least one spot for each visitor +to regard as his or her favorite nook. So large an extent of woodland +successfully defies landscape gardening. It insists on being left alone, +and its very immensity raises a financial barrier against trimly-kept +gravel walks. There were plenty of landscape garden walks in the +immediate vicinity of the hotel, and some of them ambitiously penetrated +into the woods, relapsing from the civilization of beaten gravel into a +primitive thicket trail, which, however, always led to some celebrated +bit of picturesqueness: a waterfall, or a pulpit rock upstanding like a +tower, or the fancied resemblance of a human face carved by Nature +from the cliff, or a view-point jutting out over the deep chasm of the +valley, which usually supported a rustic summer house or pavilion +where unknown names were carved on the woodwork--the last resort of the +undistinguished to achieve immortality by means of a jack-knife. + +Dorothy discovered a little Eden of her own, to which no discernible +covert-way led, for it was not conspicuous enough to obtain mention in +the little gratis guide which the hotel furnished--a pamphlet on coated +paper filled with half-tone engravings, and half-extravagant eulogies of +what it proclaimed to be, an earthly paradise, with the rates by the +day or week given on the cover page to show on what terms this paradise +might be enjoyed. + +Dorothy’s bower was green, and cool, and crystal, the ruggedness of the +rocks softened by the wealth of foliage. A very limpid spring, high up +and out of sight among the leaves, sent its waters tinkling down the +face of the cliff, ever filling a crystal-clear lakelet at the foot, +which yet was never full. Velvety and beautiful as was the moss +surrounding this pond, it was nevertheless too damp to form an +acceptable couch for a human being, unless that human being were brave +enough to risk the rheumatic inconveniences which followed Rip Van +Winkle’s long sleep in these very regions, so Dorothy always carried +with her from the hotel a feather-weight, spider’s-web hammock, which +she deftly slung between two saplings, their light suppleness giving an +almost pneumatic effect to this fairy net spread in a fairy glen; and +here the young woman swayed luxuriously in the relaxing delights of an +indolence still too new to have become commonplace or wearisome. + +She always expected to read a great deal in the hammock, but often the +book slipped unnoticed to the moss, and she lay looking upward at the +little discs of blue sky visible through the checkering maze of green +leaves. One afternoon, deserted by the latest piece of fictional +literature, marked in plain figures on the paper cover that protected +the cloth binding, one dollar and a half, but sold at the department +stores for one dollar and eight cents, Dorothy lay half-hypnotized by +the twinkling of the green leaves above her, when she heard a sweet +voice singing a rollicking song of the Civil War, and so knew that +Katherine was thus heralding her approach. + + “‘When Johnny comes marching home again, + Hurrah! Hurrah! + We’ll give him a hearty welcome then, + Hurrah! Hurrah! + The men will cheer, the boys will shout, + The ladies they will all turn out, + And we’ll all feel gay + When Johnny comes marching home.’” + +Dorothy went still further back into the history of her country, and +gave a faint imitation of an Indian war-whoop, to let the oncomer know +she was welcome, and presently Katherine burst impetuously through the +dense undergrowth. + +“So here you are, Miss Laziness,” she cried. + +“Here I am, Miss Energy, or shall I call you Miss-applied Energy? +Katherine, you have walked so fast that you are quite red in the face.” + +“It isn’t exertion, it’s vexation. Dorothy, I have had a perfectly +terrible time. It is the anxiety regarding the proper discipline of +parents that is spoiling the nervous system of American children. Train +them up in the way they should go, and when they are old they do depart +from it. There’s nothing more awful than to own parents who think they +possess a sense of humor. Thank goodness mother has none!” + +“Then it is your father who has been misbehaving?” + +“Of course it is. He treats the most serious problem of a woman’s life +as if it were the latest thing in ‘Life.’” + +Dorothy sat up in the hammock. + +“The most important problem? That means a proposal. Goodness gracious, +Kate, is that insurance man back here again?” + +“What insurance man?” + +“Oh, heartless and heart-breaking Katherine, is there another? Sit here +in the hammock beside me, and tell me all about it.” + +“No, thank you,” refused Katherine. “I weigh more than you, and I cannot +risk my neck through the collapse of that bit of gossamer. I must take +care of myself for his sake.” + +“Then it is the life insurance man whose interests you are consulting? +Have you taken out a policy with him?” + +“Dear me, you are nearly as bad as father, but not quite so funny. You +are referring to Mr. Henderson, I presume. A most delightful companion +for a dance, but, my dear Dorothy, life is not all glided out to the +measures of a Strauss waltz.” + +“True; quite undisputable, Kate, and them sentiments do you credit. Who +is the man?” + +“The human soul,” continued Katherine seriously, “aspires to higher +things than the society columns of the New York Sunday papers, and the +frivolous chatter of an overheated ball-room.” + +“Again you score, Kate, and are rising higher and higher in my +estimation. I see it all now. Those solemn utterances of yours point +directly toward Hugh Miller’s ‘Old Red Sandstone’ and works of that +sort, and now I remember your singing ‘When Johnny comes marching home.’ +I therefore take it that Jack Lamont has arrived.” + +“He has not.” + +“Then he has written to you?” + +“He has not.” + +“Oh, well, I give it up. Tell me the tragedy your own way.” + +For answer Katherine withdrew her hands from behind her, and offered to +her friend a sheet of paper she had been holding. Dorothy saw blazoned +on the top of it a coat-of-arms, and underneath it, written in words of +the most formal nature, was the information that Prince Ivan Lermontoff +presented his warmest regards to Captain Kempt, U.S.N., retired, +and begged permission to pay his addresses to the Captain’s daughter +Katherine. Dorothy looked up from the document, and her friend said +calmly: + +“You see, they need another Katherine in Russia.” + +“I hope she won’t be like a former one, if all I’ve read of her is true. +This letter was sent to your father, then?” + +“It was, and he seems to regard it as a huge joke. Said he was going to +cable his consent, and as the ‘Consternation’ has sailed away, he would +try to pick her up by wireless telegraphy, and secure the young man that +way: suggests that I shall have a lot of new photographs taken, so that +he can hand them out to the reporters when they call for particulars. +Sees in his mind’s eye, he says, a huge black-lettered heading in +the evening papers: ‘A Russian Prince captures one of our fairest +daughters,’ and then insultingly hinted that perhaps, after all, it +was better not to use my picture, as it might not bear out the ‘fair +daughter’ fiction of the heading.” + +“Yes, Kate, I can see that such treatment of a vital subject must have +been very provoking.” + +“Provoking? I should say it was! He pretended he was going to tack this +letter up on the notice-board in the hall of the hotel, so that every +one might know what guests of distinction the Matterhorn House held. But +the most exasperating feature of the situation is that this letter has +been lying for days and days at our cottage in Bar Harbor. I am quite +certain that I left instructions for letters to be forwarded, but, as +nothing came, I telegraphed yesterday to the people who have taken our +house, and now a whole heap of belated correspondence has arrived, with +a note from our tenant saying he did not know our address. You will see +at the bottom of the note that the Prince asks my father to communicate +with him by sending a reply to the ‘Consternation’ at New York, but +now the ‘Consternation’ has sailed for England, and poor John must have +waited and waited in vain.” + +“Write care of the ‘Consternation’ in England.” + +“But Jack told me that the ‘Consternation’ paid off as soon as she +arrived, and probably he will have gone to Russia.” + +“If you address him at the Admiralty in London, the letter will be +forwarded wherever he happens to be.” + +“How do you know?” + +“I have heard that such is the case.” + +“But you’re not sure, and I want to be certain.” + +“Are you really in love with him, Kate?” + +“Of course I am. You know that very well, and I don’t want any stupid +misapprehension to arise at the beginning, such as allows a silly author +to carry on his story to the four-hundredth page of such trash as this,” + and she gently touched with her toe the unoffending volume which lay on +the ground beneath the hammock. + +“Then why not adopt your father’s suggestion, and cable? It isn’t you +who are cabling, you know.” + +“I couldn’t consent to that. It would look as if we were in a hurry, +wouldn’t it?” + +“Then let me cable.” + +“You? To whom?” + +“Hand me up that despised book, Kate, and I’ll write my cablegram on the +fly-leaf. If you approve of the message, I’ll go to the hotel, and send +it at once.” + +Katherine gave her the book, and lent the little silver pencil which +hung jingling, with other trinkets, on the chain at her belt. Dorothy +scribbled a note, tore out the fly-leaf, and presented it to Katherine, +who read: + +“Alan Drummond, Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, London. Tell Lamont that his +letter to Captain Kempt was delayed, and did not reach the Captain until +to-day. Captain Kempt’s reply will be sent under cover to you at your +club. Arrange for forwarding if you leave England. + +“Dorothy Amhurst.” + +When Katherine finished reading she looked up at her friend, and +exclaimed: “Well!” giving that one word a meaning deep as the clear pool +on whose borders she stood. + +Dorothy’s face reddened as if the sinking western sun was shining full +upon it. + +“You write to one another, then?” + +“Yes.” + +“And is it a case of--” + +“No; friendship.” + +“Sure it is nothing more than that?” + +Dorothy shook her head. + +“Dorothy, you are a brick; that’s what you are. You will do anything to +help a friend in trouble.” + +Dorothy smiled. + +“I have so few friends that whatever I can do for them will not greatly +tax any capabilities I may possess.” + +“Nevertheless, Dorothy, I thoroughly appreciate what you have done. You +did not wish any one to know you were corresponding with him, and yet +you never hesitated a moment when you saw I was anxious.” + +“Indeed, Kate, there was nothing to conceal. Ours is a very ordinary +exchange of letters. I have only had two: one at Bar Harbor a few +days after he left, and another longer one since we came to the hotel, +written from England.” + +“Did the last one go to Bar Harbor, too? How came you to receive it when +we did not get ours?” + +“It did not go to Bar Harbor. I gave him the address of my lawyers in +New York, and they forwarded it to me here. Lieutenant Drummond was +ordered home by some one who had authority to do so, and received the +message while he was sitting with me on the night of the ball. He had +got into trouble with Russia. There had been an investigation, and he +was acquitted. I saw that he was rather worried over the order home and +I expressed my sympathy as well as I could, hoping everything would +turn out for the best. He asked if he might write and let me know the +outcome, and, being interested, I quite willingly gave him permission, +and my address. The letter I received was all about a committee meeting +at the Admiralty in which he took part. He wrote to me from the club in +Pall Mall to which I have addressed this cablegram.” + +There was a sly dimple in Katherine’s cheeks as she listened to this +straightforward explanation, and the faintest possible suspicion of a +smile flickered at the corner of her mouth. She murmured, rather than +sang: + +“‘A pair of lovesick maidens we.’” + +“One, if you please,” interrupted Dorothy. + +“‘Lovesick all against our will--’” + +“Only one.” + +“‘Twenty years hence we shan’t be A pair of lovesick maidens still.’” + +“I am pleased to note,” said Dorothy demurely, “that the letter written +by the Prince to your father has brought you back to the Gilbert and +Sullivan plane again, although in this fairy glen you should quote from +Iolanthe rather than from Patience.” + +“Yes, Dot, this spot might do for a cove in the ‘Pirates of Penzance,’ +only we’re too far from the sea. But, to return to the matter in hand, I +don’t think there will be any need to send that cablegram. I don’t like +the idea of a cablegram, anyhow. I will return to the hotel, and dictate +to my frivolous father a serious composition quite as stately and formal +as that received from the Prince. He will address it and seal it, and +then if you are kind enough to enclose it in the next letter you send to +Lieutenant Drummond, it will be sure to reach Jack Lamont ultimately.” + +Dorothy sprang from the hammock to the ground. + +“Oh,” she cried eagerly, “I’ll go into the hotel with you and write my +letter at once.” + +Katherine smiled, took her by the arm, and said: + +“You’re a dear girl, Dorothy. I’ll race you to the hotel, as soon as we +are through this thicket.” + + + + +CHAPTER IX --IN RUSSIA + + +THE next letter Dorothy received bore Russian stamps, and was dated at +the black-smith’s shop, Bolshoi Prospect, St. Petersburg. After a few +preliminaries, which need not be set down here, Drummond continued: + +“The day after Jack arrived in London, there being nothing whatever to +detain him in England, we set off together for St. Petersburg, and are +now domiciled above his blacksmith shop. We are not on the fashionable +side of the river, but our street is wide, and a very short walk brings +us to a bridge which, being crossed, allows us to wander among palaces +if we are so disposed. We have been here only four days, yet a good deal +has already been accomplished. The influence of the Prince has smoothed +my path for me. Yesterday I had an audience with a very important +personage in the Foreign Office, and to-day I have seen an officer of +high rank in the navy. The Prince warns me to mention no names, because +letters, even to a young lady, are sometimes opened before they reach +the person to whom they are addressed. These officials who have been +kind enough to receive me are gentlemen so polished that I feel quite +uncouth in their presence. I am a little shaky in my French, and feared +that my knowledge of that language might not carry me through, but both +of these officials speak English much better than I do, and they seemed +rather pleased I had voluntarily visited St. Petersburg to explain that +no discourtesy was meant in the action I had so unfortunately taken on +the Baltic, and they gave me their warmest assurances they would do +what they could to ease the tension between our respective countries. +It seems that my business here will be finished much sooner than I +expected, and then I am off on the quickest steamer for New York, in +the hope of seeing Niagara Falls. I have met with one disappointment, +however. Jack says he cannot possibly accompany me to the United States. +I have failed to arouse in him the faintest interest about the electric +works at Niagara. He insists that he is on the verge of a most important +discovery, the nature of which he does not confide in me. I think he is +working too hard, for he is looking quite haggard and overdone, but that +is always the way with him. He throws himself heart and soul into any +difficulty that confronts him, and works practically night and day until +he has solved it. + +“Yesterday he gave the whole street a fright. I had just returned +from the Foreign Office, and had gone upstairs to my room, when there +occurred an explosion that shook the building from cellar to roof, and +sent the windows of our blacksmith’s shop rattling into the street. Jack +had a most narrow escape, but is unhurt, although that fine beard of +his was badly singed. He has had it shaved off, and now sports merely a +mustache, looking quite like a man from New York. You wouldn’t recognize +him if you met him on Broadway. The carpenters and glaziers are at work +to-day repairing the damage. I told Jack that if this sort of thing kept +on I’d be compelled to patronize another hotel, but he says it won’t +happen again. It seems he was trying to combine two substances by adding +a third, and, as I understood him, the mixing took place with unexpected +suddenness. He has endeavored to explain to me the reaction, as he +calls it, which occurred, but I seem to have no head for chemistry, and +besides, if I am to be blown through the roof some of these days it will +be no consolation to me when I come down upon the pavement outside +to know accurately the different elements which contributed to my +elevation. Jack is very patient in trying to instruct me, but he could +not resist the temptation of making me ashamed by saying that your +friend, Miss Katherine Kempt, would have known at once the full +particulars of the reaction. Indeed, he says, she warned him of the +disaster, by marking a passage in a book she gave him which foreshadowed +this very thing. She must be a most remarkable young woman, and it shows +how stupid I am that I did not in the least appreciate this fact when in +her company.” + +The next letter was received a week later. He was getting on swimmingly, +both at the Foreign Office and at the Russian Admiralty. All the +officials he had met were most courteous and anxious to advance his +interests. He wrote about the misapprehensions held in England regarding +Russia, and expressed his resolve to do what he could when he returned +to remove these false impressions. + +“Of course,” he went on, “no American or Englishman can support or +justify the repressive measures so often carried out ruthlessly by the +Russian police. Still, even these may be exaggerated, for the police +have to deal with a people very much different from our own. It is +rather curious that at this moment I am in vague trouble concerning the +police. I am sure this place is watched, and I am also almost certain +that my friend Jack is being shadowed. He dresses like a workman; his +grimy blouse would delight the heart of his friend Tolstoi, but he is +known to be a Prince, and I think the authorities imagine he is playing +up to the laboring class, whom they despise. I lay it all to that +unfortunate explosion, which gathered the police about us as if they had +sprung from the ground. There was an official examination, of course, +and Jack explained, apparently to everybody’s satisfaction, exactly how +he came to make the mistake that resulted in the loss of his beard +and his windows. I don’t know exactly how to describe the feeling of +uneasiness which has come over me. At first sight this city did not +strike me as so very much different from New York or London, and +meeting, as I did, so many refined gentlemen in high places, I had come +to think St. Petersburg was after all very much like Paris, or Berlin, +or Rome. But it is different, and the difference makes itself subtly +felt, just as the air in some coast towns of Britain is relaxing, and in +others bracing. In these towns a man doesn’t notice the effect at first, +but later on he begins to feel it, and so it is here in St. Petersburg. +Great numbers of workmen pass down our street. They all seem to know who +the Prince is, and the first days we were here, they saluted him with a +deference which I supposed was due to his rank, in spite of the greasy +clothes he wore. Since the explosion an indefinable change has come over +these workmen. They salute the Prince still when we meet them on the +street, but there is in their attitude a certain sly sympathy, if I +may so term it; a bond of camaraderie which is implied in their manner +rather than expressed. Jack says this is all fancy on my part, but I +don’t think it is. These men imagine that Prince Ivan Lermontoff, who +lives among them and dresses like them, is concocting some explosive +which may yet rid them of the tyrants who make their lives so unsafe. +All this would not matter, but what does matter is the chemical +reaction, as I believe Jack would term it, which has taken place among +the authorities. The authorities undoubtedly have their spies among +the working-men, and know well what they are thinking about and talking +about. I do not believe they were satisfied with the explanations Jack +gave regarding the disaster. I have tried to impress upon Jack that +he must be more careful in walking about the town, and I have tried +to persuade him, after work, to dress like the gentleman he is, but he +laughs at my fears, and assures me that I have gone from one extreme to +the other in my opinion of St. Petersburg. First I thought it was like +all other capitals; now I have swung too far in the other direction. He +says the police of St. Petersburg would not dare arrest him, but I’m +not so sure of that. A number of things occur to me, as usual, too late. +Russia, with her perfect secret service system, must know that Prince +Lermontoff has been serving in the British Navy. They know he returned +to St. Petersburg, avoids all his old friends, and is brought to their +notice by an inexplicable explosion, and they must be well aware, also, +that he is in the company of the man who fired the shell at the rock in +the Baltic, and that he himself served on the offending cruiser. + +“As to my own affairs, I must say they are progressing slowly but +satisfactorily; nevertheless, if Jack would leave St. Petersburg, +and come with me to London or New York, where he could carry on his +experiments quite as well, or even better than here, I should depart at +once, even if I jeopardized my own prospects.” + +The next letter, some time later, began: + +“Your two charming notes to me arrived here together. It is very kind of +you to write to a poor exile and cheer him in his banishment. I should +like to see that dell where you have swung your hammock. Beware of +Hendrick Hudson’s men, so delightfully written of by Washington Irving. +If they offer you anything to drink, don’t you take it. Think how +disastrous it would be to all your friends if you went to sleep in that +hammock for twenty years. It’s the Catskills I want to see now rather +than Niagara Falls. Your second letter containing the note from Captain +Kempt to Jack was at once delivered to him. What on earth has the genial +Captain written to effect such a transformation in my friend? He came to +me that evening clothed in his right mind; in evening rig-out, with his +decorations upon it, commanded me to get into my dinner togs, took me +in a carriage across the river to the best restaurant St. Petersburg +affords, and there we had a champagne dinner in which he drank to +America and all things American. Whether it was the enthusiasm produced +by Captain Kempt’s communication, or the effect of the champagne, I do +not know, but he has reconsidered his determination not to return to the +United States, and very soon we set out together for the west. + +“I shall be glad to get out of this place. We were followed to the +restaurant, I am certain, and I am equally certain that at the next +table two police spies were seated, and these two shadowed us in a cab +until we reached our blacksmith’s shop. It is a humiliating confession +to make, but somehow the atmosphere of this place has got on my nerves, +and I shall be glad to turn my back on it. Jack pooh-poohs the idea that +he is in any danger. Even the Governor of St. Petersburg, he says, dare +not lay a finger on him, and as for the Chief of Police, he pours scorn +on that powerful official. He scouts the idea that he is being watched, +and all-in-all is quite humorous at my expense, saying that my state of +mind is more fitting for a schoolgirl than for a stalwart man over six +feet in height. One consolation is that Jack now has become as keen for +America as I am. I expect that the interview arranged for me to-morrow +with a great government official will settle my own business finally one +way or another. A while ago I was confident of success, but the repeated +delays have made me less optimistic now, although the gentle courtesy of +those in high places remains undiminished. + +“Dear Miss Amhurst, I cannot afford to fall lower in your estimation +than perhaps I deserve, so I must say that this fear which has overcome +me is all on account of my friend, and not on my own behalf at all. I +am perfectly safe in Russia, being a British subject. My cold and formal +Cousin Thaxted is a member of the British Embassy here, and my cold and +formal uncle is a Cabinet Minister in England, facts which must be well +known to these spy-informed people of St. Petersburg; so I am immune. +The worst they could do would be to order me out of the country, but +even that is unthinkable. If any one attempted to interfere with me, I +have only to act the hero of the penny novelette, draw myself up to my +full height, which, as you know, is not that of a pigmy, fold my +arms across my manly chest, cry, ‘Ha, ha!’ and sing ‘Rule Britannia,’ +whereupon the villains would wilt and withdraw. But Jack has no +such security. He is a Russian subject, and, prince or commoner, the +authorities here could do what they liked with him. I always think of +things when it is too late to act. I wish I had urged Jack ashore at +Bar Harbor, and induced him to take the oath of allegiance to the United +States. I spoke to him about that coming home in the carriage, and to my +amazement he said he wished he had thought of it himself at the time we +were over there. + +“But enough of this. I daresay he is in no real danger after all. +Nevertheless, I shall induce him to pack to-morrow, and we will make +for London together, so my next letter will bear a British stamp, and I +assure you the air of England will taste good to one benighted Britisher +whose name is Alan Drummond.” + + + + +CHAPTER X --CALAMITY UNSEEN + +THE habit of industry practised from childhood to maturity is not +obliterated by an unexpected shower of gold. Dorothy was an early riser, +and one morning, entering the parlor from her room she saw, lying upon +the table, a letter with a Russian stamp, but addressed in an unknown +hand to her friend Katherine Kempt. She surmised that here was the first +communication from the Prince, and expected to learn all about it during +the luncheon hour at the latest. But the morning and afternoon passed, +and Katherine made no sign, which Dorothy thought was most unusual. All +that day and the next Katherine went about silent, sedate and serious, +never once quoting the humorous Mr. Gilbert. On the third morning +Dorothy was surprised, emerging from her room, to see Katherine standing +by the table, a black book in her hand. On the table lay a large package +from New York, recently opened, displaying a number of volumes in what +might be termed serious binding, leather or cloth, but none showing that +high coloring which distinguishes the output of American fiction. + +“Good-morning, Dorothy. The early bird is after the worm of science.” + She held forth the volume in her hand. “Steele’s ‘Fourteen-Weeks’ Course +in Chemistry,’ an old book, but fascinatingly written. Dorothy,” she +continued with a sigh, “I want to talk seriously with you.” + +“About chemistry?” asked Dorothy. + +“About men,” said Katherine firmly, “and, incidentally, about women.” + +“An interesting subject, Kate, but you’ve got the wrong text-books. You +should have had a parcel of novels instead.” + +Dorothy seated herself, and Katherine followed her example, Steele’s +“Fourteen-Weeks’ Course” resting in her lap. + +“Every man,” began Katherine, “should have a guardian to protect him.” + +“From women?” + +“From all things that are deceptive, and not what they seem.” + +“That sounds very sententious, Kate. What does it mean?” + +“It means that man is a simpleton, easily taken in. He is too honest for +crafty women, who delude him shamelessly.” + +“Whom have you been deluding, Kate?” + +“Dorothy, I am a sneak.” + +Dorothy laughed. + +“Indeed, Katherine, you are anything but that. You couldn’t do a mean or +ungenerous action if you tried your best.” + +“You think, Dorothy, I could reform?” she asked, breathlessly, leaning +forward. + +“Reform? You don’t need to reform. You are perfectly delightful as you +are, and I know no man who is worthy of you. That’s a woman’s opinion; +one who knows you well, and there is nothing dishonest about the +opinion, either, in spite of your tirade against our sex.” + +“Dorothy, three days ago, be the same more or less, I received a letter +from John Lamont.” + +“Yes, I saw it on the table, and surmised it was from him.” + +“Did you? You were quite right. The reading of that letter has +revolutionized my character. I am a changed woman, Dorothy, and +thoroughly ashamed of myself. When I remember how I have deluded that +poor, credulous young man, in making him believe I understood even the +fringe of what he spoke about, it fills me with grief at my perfidy, but +I am determined to amend my ways if hard study will do it, and when next +I see him I shall talk to him worthily like a female Thomas A. Edison.” + +Again Dorothy laughed. + +“Now, that’s heartless of you, Dorothy. Don’t you see I’m in deadly +earnest? Must my former frivolity dog my steps through life? When I +call to mind that I made fun to you of his serious purpose in life, the +thought makes me cringe and despise myself.” + +“Nonsense, Kate, don’t go to the other extreme. I remember nothing you +have said that needs withdrawal. You have never made a malicious remark +in your life, Kate. Don’t make me defend you against yourself. You have +determined, I take it, to plunge into the subjects which interest the +man you are going to marry. That is a perfectly laudable ambition, and I +am quite sure you will succeed.” + +“I know I don’t deserve all that, Dorothy, but I like it just the +same. I like people to believe in me, even if I sometimes lose faith in +myself. May I read you an extract from his letter?” + +“Don’t if you’d rather not.” + +“I’d rather, Dorothy, if it doesn’t weary you, but you will understand +when you have heard it, in what a new light I regard myself.” + +The letter proved to be within the leaves of the late Mr. Steele’s book +on Chemistry, and from this volume she extracted it, pressed it for +a moment against her breast with her open hand, gazing across at her +friend. + +“Dorothy, my first love-letter!” + +She turned the crisp, thin pages, and began: + +“‘You may recollect that foot-note which you marked with red ink in the +book you so kindly gave me on the subject of Catalysis, which did +not pertain to the subject of the volume in question, and yet was so +illuminative to any student of chemistry. They have done a great deal +with Catalysis in Germany with amazing commercial results, but the +subject is one so recent that I had not previously gone thoroughly into +it.’” + +Katherine paused in the reading, and looked across at her auditor, an +expression almost of despair in her eloquent eyes. + +“Dorothy, what under heaven is Catalysis?” + +“Don’t ask me,” replied Dorothy, suppressing a laugh, struck by the +ludicrousness of any young and beautiful woman pressing any such +sentiments as these to her bosom. + +“Have you ever heard of a Catalytic process, Dorothy?” beseeched +Katherine. “It is one of the phrases he uses.” + +“Never; go on with the letter, Kate.” + +“‘I saw at once that if I could use Catalytic process which would be +instantaneous in its solidifying effect on my liquid limestone, instead +of waiting upon slow evaporation, I could turn out building stone faster +than one can make brick. You, I am sure, with your more alert mind, saw +this when you marked that passage in red.’” + +“Oh, Dorothy,” almost whimpered Katherine, leaning back, “how can I go +on? Don’t you see what a sneak I am? It was bad enough to cozen with my +heedless, random markings of the book, but to think that line of red ink +might have been marked in his blood, for I nearly sent the poor boy to +his death.” + +“Go on, Katherine, go on, go on!” + +“‘In my search for a Catalytic whose substance would remain unchanged +after the reaction, I quite overlooked the chemical ingredients of one +of the materials I was dealing with, and the result was an explosion +which nearly blew the roof off the shop, and quite startled poor +Drummond out of a year’s growth. However, no real harm has been done, +while I have been taught a valuable lesson; to take into account all +the elements I am using. I must not become so intent on the subject I am +pursuing as to ignore everything else.’ And now, Dorothy, I want to ask +you a most intimate question, which I beg of you to answer as frankly as +I have confided in you.” + +“I know what your question is, Kate. A girl who is engaged wishes to see +her friend in the same position. You would ask me if I am in love with +Alan Drummond, and I answer perfectly frankly that I am not.” + +“You are quite sure of that, Dorothy?” + +“Quite. He is the only man friend I have had, except my own father, and +I willingly confess to a sisterly interest in him.” + +“Well, if that is all--” + +“It is all, Kate. Why?” + +“Because there is something about him in this letter, which I would read +to you if I thought you didn’t care.” + +“Oh, he is in love with Jack’s sister, very likely. I should think that +would be a most appropriate arrangement. Jack is his best friend, and +perhaps a lover would weaken the influence which Tolstoi exerts over +an emotional person’s mind. Lieutenant Drummond, with his sanity, would +probably rescue a remnant of her estates.” + +“Oh, well, if you can talk as indifferently as that, you are all right, +Dorothy. No, there is no other woman in the case. Here’s what Jack says: + +“‘It is amazing how little an Englishman understands people of other +nations. Here is my tall friend Drummond marching nonchalantly among +dangers of which he has not the least conception. The authorities whom +he thinks so courteous are fooling him to the top of his bent. There +is, of course, no danger of his arrest, but nevertheless the eyes of the +police are upon him, and he will not believe it, any more than he will +believe he is being hoodwinked by the Foreign Minister. What I fear is +that he will be bludgeoned on the street some dark night, or involved in +a one-sided duel. Twice I have rescued him from an imminent danger +which he has not even seen. Once in a restaurant a group of officers, +apparently drunk, picked a quarrel and drew swords upon him. I had +the less difficulty in getting him away because he fears a broil, or +anything that will call down upon him the attention of his wooden-headed +cousin in the Embassy. On another occasion as we were coming home toward +midnight, a perfectly bogus brawl broke out suddenly all around us. +Drummond was unarmed, but his huge fists sent sprawling two or three +of his assailants. I had a revolver, and held the rest off, and so we +escaped. I wish he was safely back in London again.’ What do you think +of that, Dorothy?” + +“I think exactly what Mr. Lamont thinks. Lieutenant Drummond’s mission +to Russia seems to me a journey of folly.” + +“After all, I am glad you don’t care, Dorothy. He should pay attention +to what Jack says, for Jack knows Russia, and he doesn’t. Still, let +us hope he will come safely out of St. Petersburg. And now, Dot, for +breakfast, because I must get to work.” + +Next morning Dorothy saw a letter for herself on the table in the now +familiar hand-writing, and was more relieved than perhaps she would +have confessed even to her closest friend, when she saw the +twopence-halfpenny English stamp on the envelope. Yet its contents were +startling enough, and this letter she did not read to Katherine Kempt, +but bore its anxiety alone. + +DEAR MISS AMHURST: + +I write you in great trouble of mind, not trusting this letter to the +Russian post-office, but sending it by an English captain to be posted +in London. Two days ago Jack Lamont disappeared; a disappearance as +complete as if he had never existed. The night before last, about +ten o’clock, I thought I heard him come into his shop below my room. +Sometimes he works there till daylight, and as, when absorbed in his +experiments, he does not relish interruptions, even from me, I go on +with my reading until he comes upstairs. Toward eleven o’clock I thought +I heard slight sounds of a scuffle, and a smothered cry. I called out +to him, but received no answer. Taking a candle, I went downstairs, but +everything was exactly as usual, the doors locked, and not even a bench +overturned. I called aloud, but only the echo of this barn of a room +replied. I lit the gas and made a more intelligent search, but with +no result. I unlocked the door, and stood out in the street, which was +quite silent and deserted. I began to doubt that I had heard anything at +all, for, as I have told you, my nerves lately have been rather prone to +the jumps. I sat up all night waiting for him, but he did not come. Next +day I went, as had been previously arranged, to the Foreign Office, but +was kept waiting in an anteroom for two hours, and then told that the +Minister could not see me. I met a similar repulse at the Admiralty. I +dined alone at the restaurant Jack and I frequent, but saw nothing of +him. This morning he has not returned, and I am at my wit’s end, not +in the least knowing what to do. It is useless for me to appeal to +the embassy of my country, for, Jack being a Russian, it has no +jurisdiction. The last letter I received from you was tampered with. The +newspaper extract you spoke of was not there, and one of the sheets of +the letter was missing. Piffling business, I call it, this interfering +with private correspondence. + +Such was the last letter that Alan Drummond was ever to send to Dorothy +Amhurst. + + + + +CHAPTER XI --THE SNOW + + +SUMMER waned; the evenings became chill, although the sun pretended at +noon that its power was undiminished. Back to town from mountain and sea +shore filtered the warm-weather idlers, but no more letters came from +St. Petersburg to the hill by the Hudson. So far as our girls were +concerned, a curtain of silence had fallen between Europe and America. + +The flat was now furnished, and the beginning of autumn saw it occupied +by the two friends. Realization in this instance lacked the delight of +anticipation. At last Katherine was the bachelor girl she had longed to +be, but the pleasures of freedom were as Dead Sea fruit to the lips. At +last Dorothy was effectually cut off from all thoughts of slavery, with +unlimited money to do what she pleased with, yet after all, of what +advantage was it in solving the problem that haunted her by day and +filled her dreams by night. She faced the world with seeming unconcern, +for she had not the right to mourn, even if she knew he were dead. He +had made no claim; had asked for no affection; had written no word to +her but what all the world might read. Once a week she made a little +journey up the Hudson to see how her church was coming on, and at first +Katherine accompanied her, but now she went alone. Katherine was too +honest a girl to pretend an interest where she felt none. She could not +talk of architecture when she was thinking of a man and his fate. At +first she had been querulously impatient when no second communication +came. Her own letters, she said, must have reached him, otherwise they +would have been returned. Later, dumb fear took possession of her, and +she grew silent, plunged with renewed energy into her books, joined +a technical school, took lessons, and grew paler and paler until her +teachers warned her she was overdoing it. Inwardly she resented the +serene impassiveness of her friend, who consulted calmly with the +architect upon occasion about the decoration of the church, when men’s +liberty was gone, and perhaps their lives. She built up within her mind +a romance of devotion, by which her lover, warning in vain the stolid +Englishman, had at last been involved in the ruin that Drummond’s +stubbornness had brought upon them both, and unjustly implicated the +quiet woman by her side in the responsibility of this sacrifice. Once or +twice she spoke with angry impatience of Drummond and his stupidity, but +Dorothy neither defended nor excused, and so no open rupture occurred +between the two friends, for a quarrel cannot be one-sided. + +But with a woman of Katherine’s temperament the final outburst had to +come, and it came on the day that the first flurry of snow fell through +the still air, capering in large flakes past the windows of the flat +down to the muddy street far below. Katherine was standing by the +window, with her forehead leaning against the plate glass, in exactly +the attitude that had been her habit in the sewing-room at Bar Harbor, +but now the staccato of her fingers on the sill seemed to drum a Dead +March of despair. The falling snow had darkened the room, and one +electric light was aglow over the dainty Chippendale desk at which +Dorothy sat writing a letter. The smooth, regular flow of the pen over +the paper roused Katherine to a frenzy of exasperation. Suddenly she +brought her clenched fist down on the sill where her fingers had been +drumming. + +“My God,” she cried, “how can you sit there like an automaton with the +snow falling?” + +Dorothy put down her pen. + +“The snow falling?” she echoed. “I don’t understand!” + +“Of course you don’t. You don’t think of the drifts in Siberia, and the +two men you have known, whose hands you have clasped, manacled, driven +through it with the lash of a Cossack’s whip.” + +Dorothy rose quietly, and put her hands on the shoulders of the girl, +feeling her frame tremble underneath her touch. + +“Katherine,” she said, quietly, but Katherine, with a nervous twitch of +her shoulders flung off the friendly grasp. + +“Don’t touch me,” she cried. “Go back to your letter-writing. You and +the Englishman are exactly alike; unfeeling, heartless. He with his +selfish stubbornness has involved an innocent man in the calamity his +own stupidity has brought about.” + +“Katherine, sit down. I want to talk calmly with you.” + +“Calmly! Calmly! Yes, that is the word. It is easy for you to be calm +when you don’t care. But I care, and I cannot be calm.” + +“What do you wish to do, Katherine?” + +“What can I do? I am a pauper and a dependent, but one thing I am +determined to do, and that is to go and live in my father’s house.” + +“If you were in my place, what would you do Katherine?” + +“I would go to Russia.” + +“What would you do when you arrived there?” + +“If I had wealth I would use it in such a campaign of bribery and +corruption in that country of tyrants that I should release two innocent +men. I’d first find out where they were, then I’d use all the influence +I possessed with the American Ambassador to get them set free.” + +“The American Ambassador, Kate, cannot move to release either an +Englishman or a Russian.” + +“I’d do it somehow. I wouldn’t sit here like a stick or a stone, writing +letters to my architect.” + +“Would you go to Russia alone?” + +“No, I should take my father with me.” + +“That is an excellent idea, Kate. I advise you to go north by to-night’s +train, if you like, and see him, or telegraph to him to come and see +us.” + +Kate sat down, and Dorothy drew the curtains across the window pane and +snapped on the central cluster of electric lamps. + +“Will you come with me if I go north?” asked Kate, in a milder tone than +she had hitherto used. + +“I cannot. I am making an appointment with a man in this room +to-morrow.” + +“The architect, I suppose,” cried Kate with scorn. + +“No, with a man who may or may not give me information of Lamont or +Drummond.” + +Katherine stared at her open-eyed. + +“Then you have been doing something?” + +“I have been trying, but it is difficult to know what to do. I have +received information that the house in which Mr. Lamont and Mr. +Drummond lived is now deserted, and no one knows anything of its former +occupants. That information comes to me semi-officially, but it does not +lead far. I have started inquiry through more questionable channels; in +other words, I have invoked the aid of a Nihilist society, and although +I am quite determined to go to Russia with you, do not be surprised if I +am arrested the moment I set foot in St. Petersburg.” + +“Dorothy, why did you not let me know?” + +“I was anxious to get some good news to give you, but it has not come +yet.” + +“Oh, Dorothy,” moaned Katherine, struggling to keep back the tears that +would flow in spite of her. Dorothy patted her on the shoulder. + +“You have been a little unjust,” she said, “and I am going to prove that +to you, so that in trying to make amends you may perhaps stop brooding +over this crisis that faces two poor lone women. You wrong the +Englishman, as you call him. Jack was arrested at least two days before +he was. Nihilist spies say that both of them were arrested, the Prince +first, and the Englishman several days later. I had a letter from Mr. +Drummond a short time after you received yours from Mr. Lamont. I never +showed it to you, but now things are so bad that they cannot be worse, +and you are at liberty to read the letter if you wish to do so. It +tells of Jack’s disappearance, and of Drummond’s agony of mind and +helplessness in St. Petersburg. Since he has never written again, I am +sure he was arrested later. I don’t know which of the two was most at +fault for what you call stubbornness, but I believe the explosion had +more to do with the arrests than any action of theirs.” + +“And I was the cause of that,” wailed Katherine. + +“No, no, my dear girl. No one is to blame but the tyrant of Russia. Now +the Nihilists insist that neither of these men has been sent to Siberia. +They think they are in the prison of ‘St. Peter and St. Paul.’ That +information came to me to-day in the letter I was just now answering. +So, Katherine, I think you have been unjust to the Englishman. If he had +been arrested first, there might be some grounds for what you charge, +but they evidently gave him a chance to escape. He had his warning in +the disappearance of his friend, and he had several days in which to get +out of St. Petersburg, but he stood his ground.” + +“I’m sorry, Dorothy. I’m a silly fool, and to-day, when I saw the +snow--well, I got all wrought up.” + +“I think neither of the men are in the snow, and now I am going to say +something else, and then never speak of the subject again. You say I +didn’t care, and of course you are quite right, for I confessed to you +that I didn’t. But just imagine--imagine--that I cared. The Russian +Government can let the Prince go at any moment, and there’s nothing more +to be said. He has no redress, and must take the consequences of his +nationality. But if the Russian Government have arrested the Englishman; +if they have put him in the prison of ‘St. Peter and St. Paul,’ they +dare not release him, unless they are willing to face war. The Russian +Government can do nothing in his case but deny, demand proof, and +obliterate all chance of the truth ever being known. Alan Drummond is +doomed: they dare not release him. Now think for a moment how much worse +my case would be than yours, if--if--” her voice quivered and broke for +the moment, then with tightly clenched fists she recovered control of +herself, and finished: “if I cared.” + +“Oh, Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy!” gasped Katherine, springing to her +feet. + +“No, no, don’t jump at any false conclusion. We are both nervous wrecks +this afternoon. Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t care--I don’t care, +except that I hate tyranny, and am sorry for the victims of it.” + +“Dorothy, Dorothy!” + +“We need a sane man in the house, Kate. Telegraph for your father to +come down and talk to us both. I must finish my letter to the Nihilist.” + +“Dorothy!” said Katherine, kissing her. + + + + +CHAPTER XII --THE DREADED TROGZMONDOFF + + +THE Nihilist was shown into the dainty drawing room of the flat, and +found Dorothy Amhurst alone, as he had stipulated, waiting for him. +He was dressed in a sort of naval uniform and held a peaked cap in his +hand, standing awkwardly there as one unused to luxurious surroundings. +His face was bronzed with exposure to sun and storm, and although he +appeared to be little more than thirty years of age his closely cropped +hair was white. His eyes were light blue, and if ever the expression of +a man’s countenance betokened stalwart honesty, it was the face of this +sailor. He was not in the least Dorothy’s idea of a dangerous plotter. + +“Sit down,” she said, and he did so like a man ill at ease. + +“I suppose Johnson is not your real name,” she began. + +“It is the name I bear in America, Madam.” + +“Do you mind my asking you some questions?” + +“No, Madam, but if you ask me anything I am not allowed to answer I +shall not reply.” + +“How long have you been in the United States?” + +“Only a few months, Madam.” + +“How come you to speak English so well?” + +“In my young days I shipped aboard a bark plying between Helsingfors and +New York.” + +“You are a Russian?” + +“I am a Finlander, Madam.” + +“Have you been a sailor all your life?” + +“Yes, Madam. For a time I was an unimportant officer on board a +battleship in the Russian Navy, until I was discovered to be a Nihilist, +when I was cast into prison. I escaped last May, and came to New York.” + +“What have you been doing since you arrived here?” + +“I was so fortunate as to become mate on the turbine yacht ‘The Walrus,’ +owned by Mr. Stockwell.” + +“Oh, that’s the multi-millionaire whose bank failed a month ago?” + +“Yes, Madam.” + +“But does he still keep a yacht?” + +“No, Madam. I think he has never been aboard this one, although it is +probably the most expensive boat in these waters. I am told it cost +anywhere from half a million to a million. She was built by Thornycroft, +like a cruiser, with Parson’s turbine engines in her. After the failure, +Captain and crew were discharged, and I am on board as a sort of +watchman until she is sold, but there is not a large market for a boat +like ‘The Walrus,’ and I am told they will take the fittings out of her, +and sell her as a cruiser to one of the South American republics.” + +“Well, Mr. Johnson, you ought to be a reliable man, if the Court has put +you in charge of so valuable a property.” + +“I believe I am considered honest, Madam.” + +“Then why do you come to me asking ten thousand dollars for a letter +which you say was written to me, and which naturally belongs to me?” + +The man’s face deepened into a mahogany brown, and he shifted his cap +uneasily in his hands. + +“Madam, I am not acting for myself. I am Secretary of the Russian +Liberation Society. They, through their branch at St. Petersburg, have +conducted some investigations on your behalf.” + +“Yes, for which I paid them very well.” + +Johnson bowed. + +“Our object, Madam, is the repression of tyranny. For that we are in +continual need of money. It is the poor, and not the millionaires, who +subscribe to our fund. It has been discovered that you are a rich woman, +who will never miss the money asked, and so the demand was made. +Believe me, Madam, I am acting by the command of my comrades. I tried +to persuade them to leave compensation to your own generosity, but they +refused. If you consider their demand unreasonable, you have but to say +so, and I will return and tell them your decision.” + +“Have you brought the letter with you?” + +“Yes, Madam.” + +“Must I agree to your terms before seeing it?” + +“Yes, Madam.” + +“Have you read it?” + +“Yes, Madam.” + +“Do you think it worth ten thousand dollars?” + +The sailor looked up at the decorated ceiling for several moments before +he replied. + +“That is a question I cannot answer,” he said at last. “It all depends +on what you think of the writer.” + +“Answer one more question. By whom is the letter signed?” + +“There is no signature, Madam. It was found in the house where the +two young men lived. Our people searched the house from top to bottom +surreptitiously, and they think the writer was arrested before he had +finished the letter. There is no address, and nothing to show for whom +it is intended, except the phrase beginning, ‘My dearest Dorothy.’” + +The girl leaned back in her chair, and drew a long breath. “It is not +for me,” she said, hastily; then bending forward, she cried suddenly: + +“I agree to your terms: give it to me.” + +The man hesitated, fumbling in his inside pocket. + +“I was to get your promise in writing,” he demurred. + +“Give it to me, give it to me,” she demanded. “I do not break my word.” + +He handed her the letter. + +“My dearest Dorothy,” she read, in writing well known to her. “You may +judge my exalted state of mind when you see that I dare venture on such +a beginning. I have been worrying myself and other people all to +no purpose. I have received a letter from Jack this morning, and so +suspicious had I grown that for a few moments I suspected the writing +was but an imitation of his. He is a very impulsive fellow, and can +think of only one thing at a time, which accounts for his success in the +line of invention. He was telegraphed to that his sister was ill, and +left at once to see her. I had allowed my mind to become so twisted by +my fears for his safety that, as I tell you, I suspected the letter to +be counterfeit at first. I telegraphed to his estate, and received a +prompt reply saying that his sister was much better, and that he was +already on his way back, and would reach me at eleven to-night. So +that’s what happens when a grown man gets a fit of nerves. I drew the +most gloomy conclusions from the fact that I had been refused admission +to the Foreign Office and the Admiralty. Yesterday that was all +explained away. The business is at last concluded, and I was shown +copies of the letters which have been forwarded to my own chiefs at +home. Nothing could be more satisfactory. To-morrow Jack and I will be +off to England together. + +“My dearest Dorothy (second time of asking), I am not a rich man, but +then, in spite of your little fortune of Bar Harbor, you are not a rich +woman, so we stand on an equality in that, even though you are so much +my superior in everything else. I have five hundred pounds a year, which +is something less than two thousand five hundred dollars, left me by my +father. This is independent of my profession. I am very certain I will +succeed in the Navy now that the Russian Government has sent those +letters, so, the moment I was assured of that, I determined to write and +ask you to be my wife. Will you forgive my impatience, and pander to it +by cabling to me at the Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, the word ‘Yes’ or the +word ‘Undecided’? I shall not allow you the privilege of cabling ‘No.’ +And please give me a chance of pleading my case in person, if you use +the longer word. Ah, I hear Jack’s step on the stair. Very stealthily he +is coming, to surprise me, but I’ll surprise--” + +Here the writing ended. She folded the letter, and placed it in her +desk, sitting down before it. + +“Shall I make the check payable to you, or to the Society?” + +“To the Society, if you please, Madam.” + +“I shall write it for double the amount asked. I also am a believer in +liberty.” + +“Oh, Madam, that is a generosity I feel we do not deserve. I should +like to have given you the letter after all you have done for us with no +conditions attached.” + +“I am quite sure of that,” said Dorothy, bending over her writing. She +handed him the check, and he rose to go. + +“Sit down again, if you please. I wish to talk further with you. Your +people in St. Petersburg think my friends have not been sent to Siberia? +Are they sure of that?” + +“Well, Madam, they have means of knowing those who are transported, and +they are certain the two young men were not among the recent gangs sent. +They suppose them to be in the fortress of ‘St. Peter and St. Paul’, at +least that’s what they say.” + +“You speak as if you doubted it.” + +“I do doubt it.” + +“They have been sent to Siberia after all?” + +“Ah, Madam, there are worse places than Siberia. In Siberia there is a +chance: in the dreadful Trogzmondoff there is none.” + +“What is the Trogzmondoff?” + +“A bleak ‘Rock in the Baltic,’ Madam, the prison in which death is the +only goal that releases the victim.” + +Dorothy rose trembling, staring at him, her lips white. + +“‘A Rock in the Baltic!’ Is that a prison, and not a fortress, then?” + +“It is both prison and fortress, Madam. If Russia ever takes the risk of +arresting a foreigner, it is to the Trogzmondoff he is sent. They drown +the victims there; drown them in their cells. There is a spring in the +rock, and through the line of cells it runs like a beautiful rivulet, +but the pulling of a lever outside stops the exit of the water, and +drowns every prisoner within. The bodies are placed one by one on a +smooth, inclined shute of polished sandstone, down which this rivulet +runs so they glide out into space, and drop two hundred feet into the +Baltic Sea. No matter in what condition such a body is found, or how +recent may have been the execution, it is but a drowned man in the +Baltic. There are no marks of bullet or strangulation, and the currents +bear them swiftly away from the rock.” + +“How come you to know all this which seems to have been concealed from +the rest of the world?” + +“I know it, Madam, for the best of reasons. I was sentenced this very +year to Trogzmondoff. In my youth trading between Helsingfors and New +York, I took out naturalization papers in New York, because I was one +of the crew on an American ship. When they illegally impressed me at +Helsingfors and forced me to join the Russian Navy, I made the best of +a bad bargain, and being an expert seaman, was reasonably well treated, +and promoted, but at last they discovered I was in correspondence with +a Nihilist circle in London, and when I was arrested, I demanded the +rights of an American citizen. That doomed me. I was sent, without +trial, to the Trogzmondoff in April of this year. Arriving there I was +foolish enough to threaten, and say my comrades had means of letting +the United States Government know, and that a battleship would teach the +gaolers of the rock better manners. + +“The cells hewn in the rock are completely dark, so I lost all count of +time. You might think we would know night from day by the bringing in of +our meals, but such was not the case. The gaoler brought in a large loaf +of black bread, and said it was to serve me for four days. He placed the +loaf on a ledge of rock about three feet from the floor, which served +as both table and bed. In excavating the cell this ledge had been left +intact, with a bench of stone rising from the floor opposite. Indeed, so +ingenious had been the workmen who hewed out this room that they carved +a rounded stone pillow at one end of the shelf. + +“I do not know how many days I had been in prison when the explosion +occurred. It made the whole rock quiver, and I wondered what had +happened. Almost immediately afterward there seemed to be another +explosion, not nearly so harsh, which I thought was perhaps an echo +of the first. About an hour later my cell door was unlocked, and the +gaoler, with another man holding a lantern, came in. My third loaf of +black bread was partly consumed, so I must have been in prison nine +or ten days. The gaoler took the loaf outside, and when he returned. +I asked him what had happened. He answered in a surly fashion that my +American warship had fired at the rock, and that the rock had struck +back, whereupon she sailed away, crippled.” + +Dorothy, who had been listening intently to this discourse, here +interrupted with: + +“It was an English war-ship that fired the shell, and the Russian shot +did not come within half a mile of her.” + +The sailor stared at her in wide-eyed surprise. + +“You see, I have been making inquiries,” she explained. “Please go on.” + +“I never heard that it was an English ship. The gaoler sneered at me, +and said he was going to send me after the American vessel, as I suppose +he thought it was. I feared by his taking away of the bread that it was +intended to starve me to death, and was sorry I had not eaten more at my +last meal. I lay down on the shelf of rock, and soon fell asleep. I was +awakened by the water lapping around me. The cell was intensely still. +Up to this I had always enjoyed the company of a little brook that ran +along the side of the cell farthest from the door. Its music had now +ceased, and when I sprang up I found myself to the waist in very cold +water. I guessed at once the use of the levers outside the cell in the +passage which I had noticed in the light of the lantern on the day I +entered the place, and I knew now why it was that the prison door was +not pierced by one of those gratings which enable the gaoler in the +passage to look into the cell any time of night or day. Prisoners have +told me that the uncertainty of an inmate who never knew when he might +be spied upon added to the horror of the situation, but the water-tight +doors of the Trogzmondoff are free from this feature, and for a very +sinister reason. + +“The channel in the floor through which the water runs when the cell is +empty, and the tunnel at the ceiling through which the water flows when +the cell is full, give plenty of ventilation, no matter how tightly the +door may be closed. The water rose very gradually until it reached the +top outlet, then its level remained stationary. I floated on the top +quite easily, with as little exertion as was necessary to keep me in +that position. If I raised my head, my brow struck the ceiling. The next +cell to mine, lower down, was possibly empty. I heard the water pour +into it like a little cataract. The next cell above, and indeed all the +cells in that direction were flooded like my own. Of course it was +no trouble for me to keep afloat; my only danger was that the intense +coldness of the water would numb my body beyond recovery. Still, I had +been accustomed to hardships of that kind before now, in the frozen +North. At last the gentle roar of the waterfall ceased, and I realized +my cell was emptying itself. When I reached my shelf again, I stretched +my limbs back and forth as strenuously as I could, and as silently, for +I wished no sound to give any hint that I was still alive, if, indeed, +sound could penetrate to the passage, which is unlikely. Even before +the last of the water had run away from the cell, I lay stretched out +at full length on the floor, hoping I might have steadiness enough to +remain death-quiet when the men came in with the lantern. I need have +had no fear. The door was opened, one of the men picked me up by the +heels, and, using my legs as if they were the shafts of a wheelbarrow, +dragged me down the passage to the place where the stream emerged from +the last cell, and into this torrent he flung me. There was one swift, +brief moment of darkness, then I shot, feet first, into space, and +dropped down, down, down through the air like a plummet, into the arms +of my mother.” + +“Into what?” cried Dorothy, white and breathless, thinking the recital +of these agonies had turned the man’s brain. + +“The Baltic, Madam, is the Finlander’s mother. It feeds him in life, +carries him whither he wishes to go, and every true Finlander hopes to +die in her arms. The Baltic seemed almost warm after what I had been +through, and the taste of the salt on my lips was good. It was a +beautiful starlight night in May, and I floated around the rock, for I +knew that in a cove on the eastern side, concealed from all view of the +sea, lay a Finland fishing-boat, a craft that will weather any storm, +and here in the water was a man who knew how to handle it. Prisoners are +landed on the eastern side, and such advantage is taken of the natural +conformation of this precipitous rock, that a man climbing the steep +zigzag stairway which leads to the inhabited portion is hidden from +sight of any craft upon the water even four or five hundred yards +away. Nothing seen from the outside gives any token of habitation. +The fishing-boat, I suppose, is kept for cases of emergency, that the +Governor may communicate with the shore if necessary. I feared it might +be moored so securely that I could not unfasten it. Security had made +them careless, and the boat was tied merely by lines to rings in the +rock, the object being to keep her from bruising her sides against the +stone, rather than to prevent any one taking her away. I pushed her out +into the open, got quietly inside, and floated with the swift tide, not +caring to raise a sail until I was well out of gunshot distance. Once +clear of the rock I spread canvas, and by daybreak was long out of sight +of land. I made for Stockholm, and there being no mark or name on the +boat to denote that it belonged to the Russian Government, I had little +difficulty in selling it. I told the authorities what was perfectly +true: that I was a Finland sailor escaping from the tyrant of my +country, and anxious to get to America. As such events are happening +practically every week along the Swedish coast I was not interfered +with, and got enough money from the sale of the boat to enable me +to dress myself well, and take passage to England, and from there +first-class to New York on a regular liner. + +“Of course I could have shipped as a sailor from Stockholm easy enough, +but I was tired of being a common sailor, and expected, if I was +respectably clothed, to get a better position than would otherwise be +the case. This proved true, for crossing the ocean I became acquainted +with Mr. Stockwell, and he engaged me as mate of his yacht. That’s how I +escaped from the Trogzmondoff, Madam, and I think no one but a Finlander +could have done it.” + +“I quite agree with you,” said Dorothy. “You think these two men I have +been making inquiry about have been sent to the Trogzmondoff?” + +“The Russian may not be there, Madam, but the Englishman is sure to be +there.” + +“Is the cannon on the western side of the rock?” + +“I don’t know, Madam. I never saw the western side by daylight. I +noticed nothing on the eastern side as I was climbing the steps, to show +that any cannon was on the Trogzmondoff at all.” + +“I suppose you had no opportunity of finding out how many men garrison +the rock?” + +“No, Madam. I don’t think the garrison is large. The place is so secure +that it doesn’t need many men to guard it. Prisoners are never taken out +for exercise, and, as I told you, they are fed but once in four days.” + +“How large a crew can ‘The Walrus’ carry?” + +“Oh, as many as you like, Madam. The yacht is practically an ocean +liner.” + +“Is there any landing stage on the eastern side of the rock?” + +“Practically none, Madam. The steamer stood out, and I was landed in the +cove I spoke of at the foot of the stairway.” + +“It wouldn’t be possible to bring a steamer like ‘The Walrus’ alongside +the rock, then?” + +“It would be possible in calm weather, but very dangerous even then.” + +“Could you find that rock if you were in command of a ship sailing the +Baltic?” + +“Oh, yes, Madam.” + +“If twenty or thirty determined men were landed on the stairway, do you +think they could capture the garrison?” + +“Yes, if they were landed secretly, but one or two soldiers at the top +with repeating rifles might hold the stairway against an army, while +their ammunition lasted.” + +“But if a shell were fired from the steamer, might not the attacking +company get inside during the confusion among the defenders?” + +“That is possible, Madam, but a private steamer firing shells, or, +indeed, landing a hostile company, runs danger of meeting the fate of a +pirate.” + +“You would not care to try it, then?” + +“I? Oh, I should be delighted to try it, if you allow me to select the +crew. I can easily get aboard the small arms and ammunition necessary, +but I am not so sure about the cannon.” + +“Very good. I need not warn you to be extremely cautious regarding those +you take into your confidence. Meanwhile, I wish you to communicate +with the official who is authorized to sell the yacht. I am expecting +a gentleman to-morrow in whose name the vessel will probably be bought, +and I am hoping he will accept the captaincy of it.” + +“Is he capable of filling that position, Madam? Is he a sailor?” + +“He was for many years captain in the United States Navy. I offer you +the position of mate, but I will give you captain’s pay, and a large +bonus in addition if you faithfully carry out my plans, whether they +prove successful or not. I wish you to come here at this hour to-morrow, +with whoever is authorized to sell or charter the steamer. You may say I +am undecided whether to buy or charter. I must consult Captain Kempt on +that point.” + +“Thank you, Madam, I shall be here this time to-morrow.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIII --ENTRAPPED + + +PRINCE IVAN LERMONTOFF came to consider the explosion one of the +luckiest things that had ever occurred in his workshop. Its happening +so soon after he reached St. Petersburg he looked upon as particularly +fortunate, because this gave him time to follow the new trend of +thought along which his mind had been deflected by such knowledge as the +unexpected outcome of his experiment had disclosed to him. The material +he had used as a catalytic agent was a new substance which he had read +of in a scientific review, and he had purchased a small quantity of it +in London. If such a minute portion produced results so tremendous, +he began to see that a man with an apparently innocent material in his +waistcoat pocket might probably be able to destroy a naval harbor, +so long as water and stone were in conjunction. There was also a +possibility that a small quantity of ozak, as the stuff was called, +mixed with pure water, would form a reducing agent for limestone, and +perhaps for other minerals, which would work much quicker than if the +liquid was merely impregnated with carbonic acid gas. He endeavored to +purchase some ozak from Mr. Kruger, the chemist on the English quay, but +that good man had never heard of it, and a day’s search persuaded him +that it could not be got in St. Petersburg, so the Prince induced Kruger +to order half a pound of it from London or Paris, in which latter city +it had been discovered. For the arrival of this order the Prince waited +with such patience as he could call to his command, and visited poor Mr. +Kruger every day in the hope of receiving it. + +One afternoon he was delighted to hear that the box had come, although +it had not yet been unpacked. + +“I will send it to your house this evening,” said the chemist. “There +are a number of drugs in the box for your old friend Professor Potkin of +the University, and he is even more impatient for his consignment than +you are for yours. Ah, here he is,” and as he spoke the venerable Potkin +himself entered the shop. + +He shook hands warmly with Lermontoff, who had always been a favorite +pupil of his, and learned with interest that he had lately been to +England and America. + +“Cannot you dine with me this evening at half-past five?” asked the old +man. “There are three or four friends coming, to whom I shall be glad to +introduce you.” + +“Truth to tell, Professor,” demurred the Prince, “I have a friend +staying with me, and I don’t just like to leave him alone.” + +“Bring him with you, bring him with you,” said the Professor, “but in +any case be sure you come yourself. I shall be expecting you. Make your +excuses to your friend if he does not wish to endure what he might +think dry discussion, because we shall talk nothing but chemistry and +politics.” + +The Prince promised to be there whether his friend came or no. The +chemist here interrupted them, and told the Professor he might expect +his materials within two hours. + +“And your package,” he said to the Prince, “I shall send about the same +time. I have been very busy, and can trust no one to unpack this box but +myself.” + +“You need not trouble to send it, and in any case I don’t wish to run +the risk of having it delivered at a wrong address by your messenger. +I cannot afford to wait so long as would be necessary to duplicate the +order. I am dining with the Professor to-night, so will drive this way, +and take the parcel myself.” + +“Perhaps,” said the chemist, “it would be more convenient if I sent your +parcel to Professor Potkin’s house?” + +“No,” said the Prince decisively, “I shall call for it about five +o’clock.” + +The Professor laughed. + +“We experimenters,” he said, “never trust each other,” so they shook +hands and parted. + +On returning to his workshop, Lermontoff bounded up the stairs, and +hailed his friend the Lieutenant. + +“I say, Drummond, I’m going to dine to-night with Professor Potkin of +the University, my old teacher in chemistry. His hour is half-past five, +and I’ve got an invitation for you. There will be several scientists +present, and no women. Will you come?” + +“I’d a good deal rather not,” said the Englishman, “I’m wiring into +these books, and studying strategy; making plans for an attack upon +Kronstadt.” + +“Well, you take my advice, Alan, and don’t leave any of those plans +round where the St. Petersburg police will find them. Such a line +of study is carried on much safer in London than here. You’d be very +welcome, Drummond, and the old boy would be glad to see you. You don’t +need to bother about evening togs--plain living and high thinking, +you know. I’m merely going to put on a clean collar and a new tie, as +sufficient for the occasion.” + +“I’d rather not go, Jack, if you don’t mind. If I’m there you’ll all be +trying to talk English or French, and so I’d feel myself rather a damper +on the company. Besides, I don’t know anything about science, and I’m +trying to learn something about strategy. What time do you expect to be +back?” + +“Rather early; ten or half-past.” + +“Good, I’ll wait up for you.” + +At five o’clock Jack was at the chemist’s and received his package. On +opening it he found the ozak in two four-ounce, glass-stoppered bottles, +and these he put in his pocket. + +“Will you give me three spray syringes, as large a size as you have, +rubber, glass, and metal. I’m not sure but this stuff will attack one +or other of them, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life running +down to your shop.” + +Getting the syringes, he jumped into his cab, and was driven to the +Professor’s. + +“You may call for me at ten,” he said to the cabman. + +There were three others besides the Professor and himself, and they were +all interested in learning the latest scientific news from New York and +London. + +It was a quarter past ten when the company separated. Lermontoff stepped +into his cab, and the driver went rattling up the street. In all the +talk the Prince had said nothing of his own discovery, and now when he +found himself alone his mind reverted to the material in his pocket, +and he was glad the cabman was galloping his horse, that he might be the +sooner in his workshop. Suddenly he noticed that they were dashing down +a street which ended at the river. + +“I say,” he cried to the driver, “you’ve taken the wrong turning. This +is a blind street. There’s neither quay nor bridge down here. Turn +back.” + +“I see that now,” said the driver over his shoulder. “I’ll turn round at +the end where it is wider.” + +He did turn, but instead of coming up the street again, dashed through +an open archway which led into the courtyard of a large building +fronting the Neva. The moment the carriage was inside, the gates clanged +shut. + +“Now, what in the name of Saint Peter do you mean by this?” demanded the +Prince angrily. + +The cabman made no reply, but from a door to the right stepped a tall, +uniformed officer, who said: + +“Orders, your Highness, orders. The isvoshtchik is not to blame. May I +beg of your Highness to accompany me inside?” + +“Who the devil are you?” demanded the annoyed nobleman. + +“I am one who is called upon to perform a disagreeable duty, which your +Highness will make much easier by paying attention to my requests.” + +“Am I under arrest?” + +“I have not said so, Prince Ivan.” + +“Then I demand that the gates be opened that I may return home, where +more important business awaits me than talking to a stranger who refuses +to reveal his identity.” + +“I hope you will pardon me, Prince Lermontoff. I act, as the isvoshtchik +has acted, under compulsion. My identity is not in question. I ask you +for the second time to accompany me.” + +“Then, for the second time I inquire, am I under arrest? If so, show +me your warrant, and then I will go with you, merely protesting that +whoever issued such a warrant has exceeded his authority.” + +“I have seen nothing of a warrant, your Highness, and I think you are +confusing your rights with those pertaining to individuals residing in +certain countries you have recently visited.” + +“You have no warrant, then?” + +“I have none. I act on my superior’s word, and do not presume to +question it. May I hope that you will follow me without a further +parley, which is embarrassing to me, and quite unhelpful to yourself. I +have been instructed to treat you with every courtesy, but nevertheless +force has been placed at my disposal. I am even to take your word of +honor that you are unarmed, and your Highness is well aware that such +leniency is seldom shown in St. Petersburg.” + +“Well, sir, even if my word of honor failed to disarm me, your +politeness would. I carry a revolver. Do you wish it?” + +“If your Highness will condescend to give it to me.” + +The Prince held the weapon, butt forward, to the officer, who received +it with a gracious salutation. + +“You know nothing of the reason for this action?” + +“Nothing whatever, your Highness.” + +“Where are you going to take me?” + +“A walk of less than three minutes will acquaint your Highness with the +spot.” + +The Prince laughed. + +“Oh, very well,” he said. “May I write a note to a friend who is waiting +up for me?” + +“I regret, Highness, that no communications whatever can be allowed.” + +The Prince stepped down from the vehicle, walked diagonally across a +very dimly lighted courtyard with his guide, entered that section of the +rectangular building which faced the Neva, passed along a hall with one +gas jet burning, then outside again, and immediately over a gang-plank +that brought him aboard a steamer. On the lower deck a passage ran +down the center of the ship, and along this the conductor guided his +prisoner, opened the door of a stateroom in which candles were burning, +and a comfortable bed turned down for occupancy. + +“I think your Highness will find everything here that you need. +If anything further is required, the electric bell will summon an +attendant, who will get it for you.” + +“Am I not to be confronted with whoever is responsible for my arrest?” + +“I know nothing of that, your Highness. My duty ends by escorting you +here. I must ask if you have any other weapon upon you?” + +“No, I have not.” + +“Will you give me your parole that you will not attempt to escape?” + +“I shall escape if I can, of course.” + +“Thank you, Excellency,” replied the officer, as suavely as if +Lermontoff had given his parole. Out of the darkness he called a tall, +rough-looking soldier, who carried a musket with a bayonet at the end of +it. The soldier took his stand beside the door of the cabin. + +“Anything else?” asked the Prince. + +“Nothing else, your Highness, except good-night.” + +“Oh, by the way, I forgot to pay my cabman. Of course it isn’t his fault +that he brought me here.” + +“I shall have pleasure in sending him to you, and again, good-night.” + +“Good-night,” said the Prince. + +He closed the door of his cabin, pulled out his note-book, and rapidly +wrote two letters, one of which he addressed to Drummond and the other +to the Czar. When the cabman came he took him within the cabin and +closed the door. + +“Here,” he said in a loud voice that the sentry could overhear if he +liked, “how much do I owe you?” + +The driver told him. + +“That’s too much, you scoundrel,” he cried aloud, but as he did so he +placed three gold pieces in the palm of the driver’s hand together with +the two letters, and whispered: + +“Get these delivered safely, and I’ll give you ten times this money if +you call on Prince Lermontoff at the address on that note.” + +The man saluted, thanked him, and retired; a moment later he heard the +jingle of a bell, and then the steady throb of an engine. There was no +window to the stateroom, and he could not tell whether the steamer +was going up or down the river. Up, he surmised, and he suspected his +destination was Schlusselburg, the fortress-prison on an island at the +source of the Neva. He determined to go on deck and solve the question +of direction, but the soldier at the door brought down his gun and +barred the passage. + +“I am surely allowed to go on deck?” + +“You cannot pass without an order from the captain.” + +“Well, send the captain to me, then.” + +“I dare not leave the door,” said the soldier. + +Lermontoff pressed the button, and presently an attendant came to learn +what was wanted. + +“Will you ask the captain to come here?” + +The steward departed, and shortly after returned with a big, bronzed, +bearded man, whose bulk made the stateroom seem small. + +“You sent for the captain, and I am here.” + +“So am I,” said the Prince jauntily. “My name is Lermontoff. Perhaps you +have heard of me?” + +The captain shook his shaggy head. + +“I am a Prince of Russia, and by some mistake find myself your passenger +instead of spending the night in my own house. Where are you taking me, +Captain?” + +“It is forbidden that I should answer questions.” + +“Is it also forbidden that I should go on deck?” + +“The General said you were not to be allowed to leave this stateroom, as +you did not give your parole.” + +“How can I escape from a steamer in motion, Captain?” + +“It is easy to jump into the river, and perhaps swim ashore.” + +“So he is a general, is he? Well, Captain, I’ll give you my parole that +I shall not attempt to swim the Neva on so cold a night as this.” + +“I cannot allow you on deck now,” said the Captain, “but when we are in +the Gulf of Finland you may walk the deck with the sentry beside you.” + +“The Gulf of Finland!” cried Lermontoff. “Then you are going down the +river?” + +The big Captain looked at him with deep displeasure clouding his brow, +feeling that he had been led to give away information which he should +have kept to himself. + +“You are not going up to Schlusselburg, then?” + +“I told your Highness that I am not allowed to answer questions. The +General, however, has given me a letter for you, and perhaps it may +contain all you may want to know.” + +“The General has given you a letter, eh? Then why don’t you let me have +it?” + +“He told me not to disturb you to-night, but place it before you at +breakfast to-morrow.” + +“Oh, we’re going to travel all night, are we?” + +“Yes, Excellency.” + +“Did the General say you should not allow me to see the letter +to-night?” + +“No, your Excellency; he just said, ‘Do not trouble his Highness +to-night, but give him this in the morning.’” + +“In that case let me have it now.” + +The Captain pulled a letter from his pocket and presented it to the +Prince. It contained merely the two notes which Lermontoff had written +to Drummond and to the Czar. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV --A VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN + + +AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then +sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation. He +heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch +saw it was just eleven o’clock. It seemed incredible that three-quarters +of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, +and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown +destination. It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in +forty-five minutes. He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action +he would take when he found his friend missing. + +However, pondering over the matter brought no solution of the mystery, +so, being a practical young man, he cast the subject from his mind, +picked up his heavy overcoat, which he had flung on the bed, and hung +it up on the hook attached to the door. As he did this his hand came in +contact with a tube in one of the pockets, and for a moment he imagined +it was his revolver, but he found it was the metal syringe he had +purchased that evening from the chemist. This set his thoughts whirling +in another direction. He took from an inside pocket one of the bottles +of ozak, examining it under the candle light, wishing he had a piece +of rock with which to experiment. Then with a yawn he replaced the +materials in his overcoat pocket, took off his boots, and threw himself +on the bed, thankful it was not an ordinary shelf bunk, but a generous +and comfortable resting-place. Now Katherine appeared before his closed +eyes, and hand in hand they wandered into dreamland together. + +When he awoke it was pitch dark in his cabin. The candles, which he had +neglected to extinguish, had burned themselves out. The short, jerky +motion of the steamer indicated that he was aboard a small vessel, and +that this small vessel was out in the open sea. He believed that a noise +of some kind had awakened him, and this was confirmed by a knock at his +door which caused him to spring up and throw back the bolt. The steward +was there, but in the dim light of the passage he saw nothing of the +sentinel. He knew it was daylight outside. + +“The Captain, Excellency, wishes to know if you will breakfast with him +or take your meal in your room?” + +“Present my compliments to the Captain, and say I shall have great +pleasure in breakfasting with him.” + +“It will be ready in a quarter of an hour, Excellency.” + +“Very good. Come for me at that time, as I don’t know my way about the +boat.” + +The Prince washed himself, smoothed out his rumpled clothes as well as +he could, and put on his boots. While engaged in the latter operation +the door opened, and the big Captain himself entered, inclosed in +glistening oilskins. + +“Hyvaa pyvaa, Highness,” said the Captain. “Will you walk the deck +before breakfast?” + +“Good-day to you,” returned the Prince, “and by your salutation I take +you to be a Finn.” + +“I am a native of Abo,” replied the Captain, “and as you say, a Finn, +but I differ from many of my countrymen, as I am a good Russian also.” + +“Well, there are not too many good Russians, and here is one who would +rather have heard that you were a good Finn solely.” + +“It is to prevent any mistake,” replied the Captain, almost roughly, +“that I mention I am a good Russian.” + +“Right you are, Captain, and as I am a good Russian also, perhaps good +Russian Number One can tell me to what part of the world he is conveying +good Russian Number Two, a man guiltless of any crime, and unwilling, at +this moment, to take an enforced journey.” + +“We may both be good, but the day is not, Highness. It has been raining +during the night, and is still drizzling. I advise you to put on your +overcoat.” + +“Thanks, Captain, I will.” + +The Captain in most friendly manner took the overcoat from its hook, +shook it out, and held it ready to embrace its owner. Lermontoff shoved +right arm, then left, into the sleeves, hunched the coat up into place, +and buttoned it at the throat. + +“Again, Captain, my thanks. Lead the way and I will follow.” + +They emerged on deck into a dismal gray morning. No land or craft of any +kind was in sight. The horizon formed a small, close circle round +the ship. Clouds hung low, running before the wind, and bringing +intermittently little dashes of rain that seemed still further to +compress the walls of horizon. The sea was not what could be called +rough, but merely choppy and fretful, with short waves that would +not have troubled a larger craft. The steamer proved to be a small, +undistinguished dingy-looking boat, more like a commercial tramp than a +government vessel. An officer, apparently the mate, stood on the bridge, +sinewy hands grasping the rail, peering ahead into the white mist +that was almost a fog. The promenade deck afforded no great scope for +pedestrianism, but Captain and prisoner walked back and forth over the +restricted space, talking genially together as if they were old friends. +Nevertheless there was a certain cautious guardedness in the Captain’s +speech; the wary craft of an unready man who is in the presence of a +person more subtle than himself. The bluff Captain remembered he had +been caught napping the night before, when, after refusing to tell +the Prince the direction of the steamer, he had given himself away by +mentioning the Gulf of Finland. Lermontoff noticed this reluctance +to plunge into the abyss of free conversation, and so, instead of +reassuring him he would ask no more questions, he merely took upon his +own shoulders the burden of the talk, and related to the Captain certain +wonders of London and New York. + +The steward advanced respectfully to the Captain, and announced +breakfast ready, whereupon the two men followed him into a saloon not +much larger than the stateroom Lermontoff had occupied the night before, +and not nearly so comfortably furnished. A plenteous breakfast was +supplied, consisting principally of fish, steaming potatoes, black +bread, and very strong tea. The Captain swallowed cup after cup of this +scalding beverage, and it seemed to make him more and more genial as +if it had been wine. Indeed, as time went on he forgot that it was a +prisoner who sat before him, for quite innocently he said to the steward +who waited on them: + +“Have the poor devils below had anything to eat?” + +“No orders, sir,” replied the steward. + +“Oh, well, give them something--something hot. It may be their last +meal,” then turning, he met the gaze of the Prince, demanded roughly +another cup of tea, and explained: + +“Three of the crew took too much vodka in St. Petersburg yesterday.” + +The Prince nodded carelessly, as if he believed, and offered his open +cigarette case to the Captain, who shook his head. + +“I smoke a pipe,” he growled. + +The Captain rose with his lighted pipe, and together they went up on +deck again. The Prince saw nothing more of the tall sentinel who had +been his guard the night before, so without asking permission he took +it for granted that his movements, now they were in the open sea, +were unrestricted, therefore he walked up and down the deck smoking +cigarettes. At the stroke of a bell the Captain mounted the bridge and +the mate came down. + +Suddenly out of the thickness ahead loomed up a great black British +freighter making for St. Petersburg, as the Prince supposed. The two +steamers, big and little, were so close that each was compelled to sheer +off a bit; then the Captain turned on the bridge and seemed for a moment +uncertain what to do with his prisoner. A number of men were leaning +over the bulwarks of the British ship, and it would have been quite +possible for the person on one boat to give a message to those on the +other. The Prince, understanding the Captain’s quandary, looked up +at him and smiled, but made no attempt to take advantage of his +predicament. Some one on board the English ship shouted and fluttered a +handkerchief, whereupon the Prince waved his cigarette in the air, and +the big boat disappeared in the thickness of the east. + +Lermontoff walked the deck, thinking very seriously about his situation, +and wondering where they intended to take him. If he were to be put in +prison, it must be in some place of detention on the coast of Finland, +which seemed strange, because he understood that the fortresses there +were already filled with dissatisfied inhabitants of that disaffected +land. His first impression had been that banishment was intended, and he +had expected to be landed at some Swedish or German port, but a chance +remark made by the Captain at breakfast inclined him to believe that +there were other prisoners on board not quite so favorably treated as +himself. But why should he be sent out of Russia proper, or even removed +from St. Petersburg, which, he was well aware, suffered from no lack +of gaols. The continued voyage of the steamer through an open sea again +aroused the hope that Stockholm was the objective point. If they landed +him there it merely meant a little temporary inconvenience, and, once +ashore, he hoped to concoct a telegram so apparently innocent that +it would win through to his friend, and give Drummond at least the +knowledge of his abiding-place. The thought of Drummond aroused all +his old fear that the Englishman was to be the real victim, and this +enforced voyage was merely a convenient method of getting himself out of +the way. + +After lunch a dismal drizzle set in that presently increased to a steady +downpour, which drove Lermontoff to his cabin, and that room being +unprovided with either window or electric light, the Prince struck a +match to one of the candles newly placed on the washstand. He pushed the +electric button summoning the steward, and, giving him some money, +asked if there was such a thing as a piece of stone on board, carried as +ballast, or for any other reason. The steward said he would inquire, +and finally returned with a sharpening stone used for the knives in the +galley. Bolting his door, Lermontoff began an experiment, and at once +forgot he was a prisoner. He filled the wash-basin with water, and +opening one of the glass-stoppered bottles, took out with the point +of his knife a most minute portion of the substance within, which he +dissolved in the water with no apparent effect. Standing the whetstone +up on end, he filled the glass syringe, and directed a fine, vaporous +spray against the stone. It dissolved before his eyes as a sand castle +on the shore dissolves at the touch of an incoming tide. + +“By St. Peter of Russia!” he cried, “I’ve got it at last! I must write +to Katherine about this.” + +Summoning the steward again to take away this fluid, and bring him +another pailful of fresh water, Lermontoff endeavored to extract some +information from the deferential young man. + +“Have you ever been in Stockholm?” + +“No, Excellency.” + +“Or in any of the German ports?” + +“No, Excellency.” + +“Do you know where we are making for now?” + +“No, Excellency.” + +“Nor when we shall reach our destination?” + +“No, Excellency.” + +“You have some prisoners aboard?” + +“Three drunken sailors, Excellency.” + +“Yes, that’s what the Captain said. But if it meant death for a sailor +to be drunk, the commerce of the world would speedily stop.” + +“This is a government steamer, Excellency, and if a sailor here disobeys +orders he is guilty of mutiny. On a merchant vessel they would merely +put him in irons.” + +“I see. Now do you want to earn a few gold pieces?” + +“Excellency has been very generous to me already,” was the non-committal +reply of the steward, whose eyes nevertheless twinkled at the mention of +gold. + +“Well, here’s enough to make a jingle in your pocket, and here are two +letters which you are to try to get delivered when you return to St. +Petersburg.” + +“Yes, Excellency.” + +“You will do your best?” + +“Yes, Excellency.” + +“Well, if you succeed, I’ll make your fortune when I’m released.” + +“Thank you, Excellency.” + +That night at dinner the Captain opened a bottle of vodka, and conversed +genially on many topics, without touching upon the particular subject +of liberty. He partook sparingly of the stimulant, and, to Lermontoff’s +disappointment, it did not in the least loosen his tongue, and thus, +still ignorant of his fate, the Prince turned in for the second night +aboard the steamer. + +When he awoke next morning he found the engines had stopped, and, as +the vessel was motionless, surmised it had reached harbor. He heard +the intermittent chuck-chuck of a pony engine, and the screech of an +imperfectly-oiled crane, and guessed that cargo was being put ashore. + +“Now,” he said to himself, “if my former sentinel is at the door they +are going to take me to prison. If he is absent, I am to be set free.” + +He jumped up, threw back the bolt, opened the door. There was no one +there. In a very few minutes he was on deck, and found that the steamer +was lying in the lee of a huge rock, which reminded him of Mont St. +Michel in Normandy, except that it was about half again as high, and +three times as long, and that there were no buildings of any kind upon +it, nor, indeed, the least sign of human habitation. + +The morning was fine; in the east the sun had just risen, and was +flooding the grim rock with a rosy light. Except this rock, no trace of +land was visible as far as the eye could see. Alongside the steamer was +moored a sailing-boat with two masts, but provided also with thole-pins, +and sweeps for rowing. The sails were furled, and she had evidently been +brought to the steamer’s side by means of the oars. Into this craft the +crane was lowering boxes, bags, and what-not, which three or four men +were stowing away. The mate was superintending this transshipment, and +the Captain, standing with his back against the deck-house, was handing +one by one certain papers, which Lermontoff took to be bills of lading, +to a young man who signed in a book for each he received. When this +transaction was completed, the young man saluted the Captain, and +descended over the ship’s side to the sail-boat. + +“Good morning, Captain. At anchor, I see,” said Lermontoff. + +“No, not at anchor. Merely lying here. The sea is too deep, and affords +no anchorage at this point.” + +“Where are all these goods going?” + +The Captain nodded his head at the rock, and Lermontoff gazed at it +again, running his eyes from top to bottom without seeing any vestige of +civilization. + +“Then you lie to the lee of this rock, and the small boat takes the +supplies ashore?” + +“Exactly,” said the Captain. + +“The settlement, I take it, is on the other side. What is it--a +lighthouse?” + +“There’s no lighthouse,” said the Captain. + +“Sort of coastguard, then?” + +“Yes, in a way. They keep a lookout. And now, Highness, I see your +overcoat is on your back. Have you left anything in your room?” + +The Prince laughed. + +“No, Captain, I forgot to bring a portmanteau with me.” + +“Then I must say farewell to you here.” + +“What, you are not going to maroon me on this pebble in the ocean?” + +“You will be well taken care of, Highness.” + +“What place is this?” + +“It is called the Trogzmondoff, Highness, and the water surrounding you +is the Baltic.” + +“Is it Russian territory?” + +“Very, very Russian,” returned the Captain drawing a deep breath. +“This way, if your Highness pleases. There is a rope ladder, which is +sometimes a little unsteady for a landsman, so be careful.” + +“Oh, I’m accustomed to rope ladders. Hyvasti, Captain.” + +“Hyvasti, your Highness.” + +And with this mutual good-by in Finnish, the Prince went down the +swaying ladder. + + + + +CHAPTER XV --“A HOME ON THE ROLLING DEEP” + + +FOR once the humorous expression had vanished from Captain Kempt’s face, +and that good-natured man sat in the dainty drawing-room of the flat a +picture of perplexity. Dorothy had told him the story of the Nihilist, +saying she intended to purchase the yacht, and outlining what she +proposed to do with it when it was her own. Now she sat silent opposite +the genial Captain, while Katherine stood by the window, and talked +enough for two, sometimes waxing indignant, and occasionally giving, in +terse language, an opinion of her father, as is the blessed privilege +of every girl born in the land of the free, while the father took the +censure with the unprotesting mildness of his nature. + +“My dear girls, you really must listen to reason. What you propose to +do is so absurd that it doesn’t even admit of argument. Why, it’s a +filibustering expedition, that’s what it is. You girls are as crazy as +Walker of Nicaragua. Do you imagine that a retired Captain of the United +States Navy is going to take command of a pirate craft of far less legal +standing than the ‘Alabama,’ for then we were at war, but now we are +at peace. Do you actually propose to attack the domain of a friendly +country! Oh!” cried the Captain, with a mighty explosion of breath, for +at this point his supply of language entirely gave out. + +“No one would know anything about it,” persisted Katherine. + +“Not know about it? With a crew of men picked up here in New York, and +coming back to New York? Not know about it? Bless my soul, the papers +would be full of it before your men were an hour on shore. In the first +place, you’d never find the rock.” + +“Then what’s the harm of going in search of it?” demanded his daughter. +“Besides that, Johnson knows exactly where it is.” + +“Johnson, Johnson! You’re surely not silly enough to believe Johnson’s +cock-and-bull story?” + +“I believe every syllable he uttered. The man’s face showed that he was +speaking the truth.” + +“But, my dear Kate, you didn’t see him at all, as I understand the yarn. +He was here alone with you, was he not, Dorothy?” + +Dorothy smiled sadly. + +“I told Kate all about it, and gave my own impression of the man’s +appearance.” + +“You are too sensible a girl to place any credit in what he said, +surely?” + +“I did believe him, nevertheless,” replied Dorothy. + +“Why, look you here. False in one thing, false in all. I’ll just take a +single point. He speaks of a spring sending water through the cells +up there in the rock. Now, that is an impossibility. Wherever a spring +exists, it comes from a source higher than itself.” + +“There are lots of springs up in the mountains,” interrupted Katherine. +“I know one on Mount Washington that is ten times as high as the rock in +the Baltic.” + +“Quite so, Katherine, quite so, but nevertheless there is a lake, +subterraneous or above ground, which feeds your White Mountain spring, +and such a lake must be situated higher than the spring is. Why, girl, +you ought to study hydrometeorology as well as chemistry. Here is a rock +jutting up in midocean--” + +“It’s in the Baltic, near the Russian coast,” snapped Kate, “and I’ve no +doubt there are mountains in Finland that contain the lake which feeds +the spring.” + +“How far is that rock from the Finnish coast, then?” + +“Two miles and a half,” said Kate, quick as an arrow speeding from a +bow. + +“Captain, we don’t know how far it is from the coast,” amended Dorothy. + +“I’ll never believe the thing exists at all.” + +“Why, yes it does, father. How can you speak like that? Don’t you know +Lieutenant Drummond fired at it?” + +“How do you know it was the same rock?” + +“Because the rock fired back at him. There can’t be two like that in the +Baltic.” + +“No, nor one either,” said the Captain, nearing the end of his patience. + +“Captain Kempt,” said Dorothy very soothingly, as if she desired to +quell the rising storm, “you take the allegation about the spring of +water to prove that Johnson was telling untruths. I expect him here +within an hour, and I will arrange that you have an opportunity, +privately, of cross-examining him. I think when you see the man, and +listen to him, you will believe. What makes me so sure that he is +telling the truth is the fact that he mentioned the foreign vessel +firing at this rock, which I knew to be true, and which he could not +possibly have learned anything about.” + +“He might very well have learned all particulars from the papers, +Dorothy. They were full enough of the subject at the time, and, +remembering this, he thought to strengthen his story by--” + +Katherine interrupted with great scorn. + +“By adding verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing +narrative.” + +“Quite so, Kate; exactly what I was going to say myself. But to come +back to the project itself. Granting the existence of the rock, granting +the truth of Johnson’s story, granting everything, granting even that +the young men are imprisoned there, of which we have not the slightest +proof, we could no more succeed in capturing that place from a frail +pleasure yacht--” + +“It’s built like a cruiser,” said Katherine. + +“Even if it were built like a battleship we would have no chance +whatever. Why, that rock might defy a regular fleet. Our venture would +simply be a marine Jameson Raid which would set the whole world laughing +when people came to hear of it.” + +“Johnson said he could take it with half a dozen men.” + +“No, Kate,” corrected Dorothy, “he said the very reverse; that two or +three determined men on the rock with repeating rifles could defeat a +host. It was I who suggested that we should throw a shell, and then rush +the entrance in the confusion.” + +Captain Kempt threw up his hands in a gesture of despair. + +“Great heavens, Dorothy Amhurst, whom I have always regarded as the +mildest, sweetest and most charming of girls; to hear you calmly +propose to throw a shell among a lot of innocent men defending their own +territory against a perfectly unauthorized invasion! Throw a shell, say +you, as if you were talking of tossing a copper to a beggar! Oh, Lord, +I’m growing old. What will become of this younger generation? Well, I +give it up. Dorothy, my dear, whatever will happen to those unfortunate +Russians, I shall never recover from the shock of your shell. The thing +is absolutely impossible. Can’t you see that the moment you get down to +details? How are you going to procure your shells, or your shell-firing +gun? They are not to be bought at the first hardware store you come to +on Sixth Avenue.” + +“Johnson says he can get them,” proclaimed Kate with finality. + +“Oh, damn Johnson! Dorothy, I beg your pardon, but really, this daughter +of mine, combined with that Johnson of yours, is just a little more than +I can bear.” + +“Then what are we to do?” demanded his daughter. “Sit here with folded +hands?” + +“That would be a great deal better than what you propose. You should do +something sane. You mustn’t involve a pair of friendly countries in +war. Of course the United States would utterly disclaim your act, and +discredit me if I were lunatic enough to undertake such a wild goose +chase, which I’m not; but, on the other hand, if two of our girls +undertook such an expedition, no man can predict the public clamor that +might arise. Why, when the newspapers get hold of a question, you never +know where they will end it. Undoubtedly you two girls should be sent +to prison, and, with equal undoubtedness, the American people wouldn’t +permit it.” + +“You bet they wouldn’t,” said Katherine, dropping into slang. + +“Well, then, if they wouldn’t, there’s war.” + +“One moment, Captain Kempt,” said Dorothy, again in her mildest tones, +for voices had again begun to run high, “you spoke of doing something +sane. You understand the situation. What should you counsel us to do?” + +The Captain drew a long breath, and leaned back in his chair. + +“There, Dad, it’s up to you,” said Katherine. “Let us hear your +proposal, and then you’ll learn how easy it is to criticise.” + +“Well,” said the Captain hesitatingly, “there’s our diplomatic +service--” + +“Utterly useless: one man is a Russian, and the other an Englishman. +Diplomacy not only can do nothing, but won’t even try,” cried Kate +triumphantly. + +“Yet,” said the Captain, with little confidence, “although the two men +are foreigners, the two girls are Americans.” + +“We don’t count: we’ve no votes,” said Kate. “Besides, Dorothy tried the +diplomatic service, and could not even get accurate information from it. +Now, father, third time and out.” + +“Four balls are out, Kate, and I’ve only fanned the air twice. Now, +girls, I’ll tell you what I’d do. You two come with me to Washington. +We will seek a private interview with the President. He will get into +communication with the Czar, also privately, and outside of all regular +channels. The Czar will put machinery in motion that is sure to +produce those two young men much more effectually and speedily than any +cutthroat expedition on a yacht.” + +“I think,” said Dorothy, “that is an excellent plan.” + +“Of course it is,” cried the Captain enthusiastically. “Don’t you see +the pull the President will have? Why, they’ve put an Englishman into +‘the jug,’ and when the President communicates this fact to the Czar +he will be afraid to refuse, knowing that the next appeal may be from +America to England, and when you add a couple of American girls to that +political mix-up, why, what chance has the Czar?” + +“The point you raise, Captain,” said Dorothy, “is one I wish to say a +few words about. The President cannot get Mr. Drummond released, because +the Czar and all his government will be compelled to deny that they +know anything of him. Even the President couldn’t guarantee that the +Englishman would keep silence if he were set at liberty. The Czar +would know that, but your plan would undoubtedly produce Prince Ivan +Lermontoff. All the president has to do is to tell the Czar that the +Prince is engaged to an American girl, and Lermontoff will be allowed to +go.” + +“But,” objected the Captain, “as the Prince knows the Englishman is in +prison, how could they be sure of John keeping quiet when Drummond is +his best friend?” + +“He cannot know that, because the Prince was arrested several days +before Drummond was. + +“They have probably chucked them both into the same cell,” said the +Captain, but Dorothy shook her head. + +“If they had intended to do that, they would doubtless have arrested +them together. I am sure that one does not know the fate of the other, +therefore the Czar can quite readily let Lermontoff go, and he is +certain to do that at a word from the President. Besides this, I am +as confident that Jack is not in the Trogzmondoff, as I am sure that +Drummond is. Johnson said it was a prison for foreigners.” + +“Oh, Dorothy,” cried the Captain, with a deep sigh, “if we’ve got back +again to Johnson--” He waved his hand and shook his head. + +The maid opened the door and said, looking at Dorothy: + +“Mr. Paterson and Mr. Johnson.” + +“Just show them into the morning room,” said Dorothy, rising. “Captain +Kempt, it is awfully good of you to have listened so patiently to a +scheme of which you couldn’t possibly approve.” + +“Patiently!” sniffed the daughter. + +“Now I want you to do me another kindness.” + +She went to the desk and picked up a piece of paper. + +“Here is a check I have signed--a blank check. I wish you to buy the +yacht ‘Walrus’ just as she stands, and make the best bargain you can for +me. A man is so much better at this kind of negotiation than a woman.” + +“But surely, my dear Dorothy, you won’t persist in buying this yacht?” + +“It’s her own money, father,” put in Katherine. + +“Keep quiet,” said the Captain, rising, for the first time speaking with +real severity, whereupon Katherine, in spite of the fact that she was +older than twenty-one, was wise enough to obey. + +“Yes, I am quite determined, Captain,” said Dorothy sweetly. + +“But, my dear woman, don’t you see how you’ve been hoodwinked by this +man Johnson? He is shy of a job. He has already swindled you out of +twenty thousand dollars.” + +“No, he asked for ten only, Captain Kempt, and I voluntarily doubled the +amount.” + +“Nevertheless, he has worked you up to believe that these young men +are in that rock. He has done this for a very crafty purpose, and his +purpose seems likely to succeed. He knows he will be well paid, and you +have promised him a bonus besides. If he, with his Captain Kidd crew, +gets you on that yacht, you will only step ashore by giving him every +penny you possess. That’s his object. He knows you are starting out to +commit a crime--that’s the word, Dorothy, there’s no use in our mincing +matters--you will be perfectly helpless in his hands. Of course, I could +not allow my daughter Kate to go on such an expedition.” + +“I am over twenty-one years old,” cried Kate, the light of rebellion in +her eyes. + +“I do not intend that either of you shall go, Katherine.” + +“Dorothy, I’ll not submit to that,” cried Katherine, with a rising +tremor of anger in her voice, “I shall not be set aside like a child. +Who has more at stake than I? And as for capturing the rock, I’ll +dynamite it myself, and bring home as large a specimen of it as the +yacht will carry, and set it up on Bedloe’s Island beside the Goddess +and say, ‘There’s your statue of Liberty, and there’s your statue of +Tyranny!’” + +“Katherine,” chided her father, “I never before believed that a child of +mine could talk such driveling nonsense.” + +“Paternal heredity, father,” retorted Kate. + +“Your Presidential plan, Captain Kempt,” interposed Dorothy, “is +excellent so far as Prince Lermontoff is concerned, but it cannot rescue +Lieutenant Drummond. Now, there are two things you can do for me that +will make me always your debtor, as, indeed, I am already, and the first +is to purchase for me the yacht. The second is to form your own judgment +of the man Johnson, and if you distrust him, then engage for me one-half +the crew, and see that they are picked Americans.” + +“First sane idea I have heard since I came into this flat,” growled the +Captain. + +“The Americans won’t let the Finlander hold me for ransom, you may +depend upon that.” + +It was a woe-begone look the gallant Captain cast on the demure and +determined maiden, then, feeling his daughter’s eye upon him, he turned +toward her. + +“I’m going, father,” she said, with a firmness quite equal to his own, +and he on his part recognized when his daughter had toed the danger +line. He indulged in a laugh that had little of mirth in it. + +“All I can say is that I am thankful you haven’t made up your minds to +kidnap the Czar. Of course you are going, Kate, So am I.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI --CELL NUMBER NINE + +AS the sailing-boat cast off, and was shoved away from the side of the +steamer, there were eight men aboard. Six grasped the oars, and the +young clerk who had signed for the documents given to him by the Captain +took the rudder, motioning Lermontoff to a seat beside him. All the +forward part of the boat, and, indeed, the space well back toward the +stern, was piled with boxes and bags. + +“What is this place called?” asked the Prince, but the young steersman +did not reply. + +Tying the boat to iron rings at the small landing where the steps began, +three of the men shipped their oars. Each threw a bag over his shoulder, +walked up half a dozen steps and waited. The clerk motioned Lermontoff +to follow, so he stepped on the shelf of rock and looked upward at +the rugged stairway cut between the main island and an outstanding +perpendicular ledge of rock. The steps were so narrow that the +procession had to move up in Indian file; three men with bags, then the +Prince and the clerk, followed by three more men with boxes. Lermontoff +counted two hundred and thirty-seven steps, which brought him to an +elevated platform, projecting from a doorway cut in the living rock, but +shielded from all sight of the sea. The eastern sun shone through this +doorway, but did not illumine sufficiently the large room whose walls, +ceiling and floor were of solid stone. At the farther end a man in +uniform sat behind a long table on which burned an oil lamp with a green +shade. At his right hand stood a broad, round brazier containing glowing +coals, after the Oriental fashion, and the officer was holding his two +hands over it, and rubbing them together. The room, nevertheless, struck +chill as a cellar, and Lermontoff heard a constant smothered roar of +water. + +The clerk, stepping forward and saluting, presented to the Governor +seated there the papers and envelopes given him by the Captain. The +officer selected a blue sheet of paper, and scrutinized it for a moment +under the lamp. + +“Where are the others?” + +“We have landed first the supplies, Governor; then the boat will return +for the others.” + +The Governor nodded, and struck a bell with his open palm. There entered +a big man with a bunch of keys at his belt, followed by another who +carried a lighted lantern. + +“Number Nine,” said the Governor to the gaolers. + +“I beg your pardon, sir, am I a prisoner?” asked Lermontoff. + +The Governor gave utterance to a sound that was more like the grunt of +a pig than the ejaculation of a man. He did not answer, but looked up at +the questioner, and the latter saw that his face, gaunt almost as that +of a living skeleton, was pallid as putty. + +“Number Nine,” he repeated, whereupon the gaoler and the man with the +lantern put a hand each on Lermontoff’s shoulders, and marched him away. +They walked together down a long passage, the swaying lantern casting +its yellow rays on the iron bolts of door after door, until at last the +gaoler stopped, threw back six bolts, inserted a key, unlocked the door, +and pushed it ponderously open. The lantern showed it to be built like +the door of a safe, but unlike that of a safe it opened inwards. As soon +as the door came ajar Lermontoff heard the sound of flowing water, and +when the three entered, he noticed a rapid little stream sparkling in +the rays of the lantern at the further end of the cell. He saw a shelf +of rock and a stone bench before it. The gaoler placed his hands on a +black loaf, while the other held up the lantern. + +“That will last you four days,” said the gaoler. + +“Well, my son, judging from the unappetizing look of it, I think it will +last me much longer.” + +The gaoler made no reply, but he and the man with the lantern retired, +drawing the door heavily after them. Lermontoff heard the bolts thrust +into place, and the turn of the key; then silence fell, all but the +babbling of the water. He stood still in the center of the cell, his +hands thrust deep in the pockets of his overcoat, and, in spite of this +heavy garment, he shivered a little. + +“Jack, my boy,” he muttered, “this is a new deal, as they say in the +West. I can imagine a man going crazy here, if it wasn’t for that +stream. I never knew what darkness meant before. Well, let’s find out +the size of our kingdom.” + +He groped for the wall, and stumbling against the stone bench, whose +existence he had forgotten, pitched head forward to the table, and sent +the four-day loaf rolling on the floor. He made an ineffectual grasp +after the loaf, fearing it might fall into the stream and be lost to +him, but he could not find it, and now his designs for measuring the +cell gave place to the desire of finding that loaf. He got down on his +hands and knees, and felt the stone floor inch by inch for half an hour, +as he estimated the time, but never once did he touch the bread. + +“How helpless a man is in the dark, after all,” he muttered to himself. +“I must do this systematically, beginning at the edge of the stream.” + +On all fours he reached the margin of the rivulet, and felt his way +along the brink till his head struck the opposite wall. He turned round, +took up a position that he guessed was three feet nearer the door, and +again traversed the room, becoming so eager in the search that he forgot +for the moment the horror of his situation, just as, when engaged in a +chemical experiment, everything else vanished from his mind, and thus +after several journeys back and forth he was again reminded of the +existence of the stone bench by butting against it when he knew he was +still several feet from the wall. Rubbing his head, he muttered some +unfavorable phrases regarding the immovable bench, then crawled round +it twice, and resumed his transverse excursions. At last he reached the +wall that held the door, and now with breathless eagerness rubbed his +shoulder against it till he came to the opposite corner. He knew he had +touched with knees and hands practically every square inch of space in +the floor, and yet no bread. + +“Now, that’s a disaster,” cried he, getting up on his feet, and +stretching himself. “Still, a man doesn’t starve in four days. I’ve +cast my bread on the waters. It has evidently gone down the stream. Now, +what’s to hinder a man escaping by means of that watercourse? Still, if +he did, what would be the use? He’d float out into the Baltic Sea, and +if able to swim round the rock, would merely be compelled to knock at +the front door and beg admission again. No, by Jove, there’s the boat, +but they probably guard it night and day, and a man in the water would +have no chance against one in the boat. Perhaps there’s gratings between +the cells. Of course, there’s bound to be. No one would leave the bed of +a stream clear for any one to navigate. Prisoners would visit each other +in their cells, and that’s not allowed in any respectable prison. I +wonder if there’s any one next door on either side of me. An iron grid +won’t keep out the sound. I’ll try,” and going again to the margin of +the watercourse, he shouted several times as loudly as he could, but +only a sepulchral echo, as if from a vault, replied to him. + +“I imagine the adjoining cells are empty. No enjoyable companionship to +be expected here. I wonder if they’ve got the other poor devils up from +the steamer yet. I’ll sit down on the bench and listen.” + +He could have found the bench and shelf almost immediately by groping +round the wall, but he determined to exercise his sense of direction, to +pit himself against the darkness. + +“I need not hurry,” he said, “I may be a long time here.” + +In his mind he had a picture of the cell, but now that he listened to +the water it seemed to have changed its direction, and he found he +had to rearrange this mental picture, and make a different set of +calculations to fit the new position. Then he shuffled slowly forward +with hands outstretched, but he came to the wall, and not to the bench. +Again he mapped out his route, again endeavored, and again failed. + +“This is bewildering,” he muttered. “How the darkness baffles a man. For +the first time in my life I appreciate to the full the benediction of +God’s command, ‘Let there be light.’” + +He stood perplexed for a few moments, and, deeply thinking, his hands +automatically performed an operation as the servants of habit. They took +from his pocket his cigarette case, selected a tube of tobacco, placed +it between his lips, searched another pocket, brought out a match-box, +and struck a light. The striking of the match startled Lermontoff as if +it had been an explosion; then he laughed, holding the match above his +head, and there at his feet saw the loaf of black bread. It seemed as if +somebody had twisted the room end for end. The door was where he thought +the stream was, and thus he learned that sound gives no indication of +direction to a man blindfolded. The match began to wane, and feverishly +he lit his cigarette. + +“Why didn’t I think of the matches, and oh! what a pity I failed to +fill my pockets with them that night of the Professor’s dinner party! To +think that matches are selling at this moment in Sweden two hundred and +fifty for a halfpenny!” + +Guided by the spark at the end of his cigarette, he sought the bench and +sat down upon it. He was surprised to find himself so little depressed +as was actually the case. He did not feel in the least disheartened. +Something was going to happen on his behalf; of that he was quite +certain. It was perfectly ridiculous that even in Russia a loyal +subject, who had never done any illegal act in his life, a nobleman of +the empire, and a friend of the Czar, should be incarcerated for long +without trial, and even without accusation. He had no enemies that he +knew of, and many friends, and yet he experienced a vague uneasiness +when he remembered that his own course of life had been such that he +would not be missed by his friends. For more than a year he had been in +England, at sea, and in America, so much absorbed in his researches that +he had written no private letters worth speaking of, and if any friend +were asked his whereabouts, he was likely to reply: + +“Oh, Lermontoff is in some German university town, or in England, or +traveling elsewhere. I haven’t seen him or heard of him for months. Lost +in a wilderness or in an experiment, perhaps.” + +These unhappy meditations were interrupted by the clang of bolts. He +thought at first it was his own door that was being opened, but a moment +later knew it was the door of the next cell up-stream. The sound, of +course, could not penetrate the extremely thick wall, but came through +the aperture whose roof arched the watercourse. From the voices he +estimated that several prisoners were being put into one cell, and he +wondered whether or not he cared for a companion. It would all depend. +If fellow-prisoners hated each other, their enforced proximity might +prove unpleasant. + +“We are hungry,” he heard one say. “Bring us food.” + +The gaoler laughed. + +“I will give you something to drink first.” + +“That’s right,” three voices shouted. “Vodka, vodka!” + +Then the door clanged shut again, and he heard the murmur of voices in +Russian, but could not make out what was said. One of the new prisoners, +groping round, appeared to have struck the stone bench, as he himself +had done. The man in the next cell swore coarsely, and Lermontoff, +judging from such snatches of their conversation as he could hear that +they were persons of a low order, felt no desire to make their more +intimate acquaintance, and so did not shout to them, as he had intended +to do. And now he missed something that had become familiar; thought it +was a cigarette he desired, for the one he had lit had been smoked to +his very lips, then he recognized it was the murmur of the stream that +had ceased. + +“Ah, they can shut it off,” he said. “That’s interesting. I must +investigate, and learn whether or no there is communication between the +cells. Not very likely, though.” + +He crawled on hands and knees until he came to the bed of the stream, +which was now damp, but empty. Kneeling down in its course, he worked +his way toward the lower cell, and, as he expected, came to stout iron +bars. Crouching thus he sacrificed a second match, and estimated that +the distance between the two cells was as much as ten feet of solid +rock, and saw also that behind the perpendicular iron bars were another +horizontal set, then another perpendicular, then a fourth horizontal. + +While in this position he was startled by a piercing scream to the rear. +He backed out from the tunnel and stood upright once more. He heard the +sound of people splashing round in water. The screamer began to jabber +like a maniac, punctuating his ravings with shrieks. Another was cursing +vehemently, and a third appealing to the saints. Lermontoff quickly +knelt down in the watercourse, this time facing the upper cell, and +struck his third match. He saw that a steel shield, reminding him of the +thin shutter between the lenses of a camera, had been shot across the +tunnel behind the second group of cross bars, and as an engineer +be could not but admire the skill of the practical expert who had +constructed this diabolical device, for in spite of the pressure on the +other side, hardly a drop of water oozed through. He tried to reach this +shield, but could not. It was just beyond the touch of his fingers, +with his arm thrust through the two sets of bars, but if he could have +stretched that far, with the first bar retarding his shoulder, he knew +his hand would be helpless even if he had some weapon to puncture +the steel shield. The men would be drowned before he could accomplish +anything unless he was at the lever in the passage outside. + +Crawling into his cell again he heard no more of the chatter and cries +of the maniac, and he surmised that the other two were fighting for +places on bench or shelf, which was amply large enough to have supported +both, had they not been too demented with fear to recognize that fact. +The cursing man was victorious, and now he stood alone on the shelf, +roaring maledictions. Then there was the sound of a plunge, and +Lermontoff, standing there, helpless and shivering, heard the prisoner +swim round and round his cell like a furious animal, muttering and +swearing. + +“Don’t exhaust yourself like that,” shouted Lermontoff. “If you want to +live, cling to the hole at either of the two upper corners. The water +can’t rise above you then, and you can breathe till it subsides.” + +The other either did not hear, or did not heed, but tore round and round +in his confined tank, thrashing the water like a dying whale. + +“Poor devil,” moaned Jack. “What’s the use of telling him what to do. He +is doomed in any case. The other two are now better off.” + +A moment later the water began to dribble through the upper aperture +into Jack’s cell, increasing and increasing until there was the roar +of a waterfall, and he felt the cold splashing drops spurt against him. +Beyond this there was silence. It was perhaps ten minutes after that the +lever was pulled, and the water belched forth from the lower tunnel like +a mill race broken loose, temporarily flooding the floor so that Jack +was compelled to stand on the bench. + +He sunk down shivering on the stone shelf, laid his arms on the stone +pillow, and buried his face in them. + +“My God, my God!” he groaned. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII --A FELLOW SCIENTIST + + +IN this position Jack slept off and on, or rather, dozed into a kind +of semi-stupor, from which he awoke with a start now and then, as he +thought he heard again the mingled cries of devotion and malediction. +At last he slept soundly, and awoke refreshed, but hungry. The loaf +lay beside him, and with his knife he cut a slice from it, munching the +coarse bread with more of relish than he had thought possible when he +first saw it. Then he took out another cigarette, struck a match, looked +at his watch, and lit the cigarette. It was ten minutes past two. He +wondered if a night had intervened, but thought it unlikely. He had +landed very early in the morning, and now it was afternoon. He was +fearfully thirsty, but could not bring himself to drink from that stream +of death. Once more he heard the bolts shot back. + +“They are going to throw the poor wretches into the sea,” he muttered, +but the yellow gleam of a lantern showed him it was his own door that +had been unlocked. + +“You are to see the Governor,” said the gaoler gruffly. “Come with me.” + +Jack sprang to the floor of his cell, repressing a cry of delight. +Nothing the grim Governor could do to him would make his situation any +worse, and perhaps his persuasive powers upon that official might result +in some amelioration of his position. In any case there was the brief +respite of the interview, and he would gladly have chummed with the +devil himself to be free a few moments from this black pit. + +Although the outside door of the Governor’s room stood open, the room +was not as well illumined as it had been before, for the sun had now +gone round to the other side of the island, but to the prisoner’s aching +eyes it seemed a chamber of refulgence. The same lamp was burning on +the table, giving forth an odor of bad oil, but in addition to this, +two candles were lighted, which supplemented in some slight measure the +efforts of the lamp. At the end of the table lay a number of documents +under a paper-weight, arranged with the neat precision of a methodical +man. The Governor had been warming his hands over the brazier, but +ceased when Lermontoff was brought up standing before him. He lifted the +paper-weight, took from under it the two letters which Lermontoff had +given to the steward on the steamer, and handed them to the prisoner, +who thus received them back for the second time. + +“I wish to say,” remarked the Governor, with an air of bored +indifference which was evidently quite genuine, “that if you make any +further attempt to communicate with the authorities, or with friends, +you will bring on yourself punishment which will be unpleasant.” + +“As a subject of the Czar, I have the right to appeal to him,” said the +Prince. + +“The appeal you have written here,” replied the Governor, “would have +proved useless, even if it had been delivered. The Czar knows nothing +of the Trogzmondoff, which is a stronghold entirely under the control +of the Grand Dukes and of the Navy. The Trogzmondoff never gives up a +prisoner.” + +“Then I am here for a lifetime?” + +“Yes,” rejoined the Governor, with frigid calmness, “and if you give me +no trouble you will save yourself some inconvenience.” + +“Do you speak French?” asked the Prince. + +“Net.” + +“English?” + +“Net.” + +“Italian?” + +“Net.” + +“German?” + +“Da.” + +“Then,” continued Lermontoff in German, “I desire to say a few words +to you which I don’t wish this gaoler to understand. I am Prince Ivan +Lermontoff, a personal friend of the Czar’s, who, after all, is master +of the Grand Dukes and the Navy also. If you will help to put me into +communication with him, I will guarantee that no harm comes to you, and +furthermore will make you a rich man.” + +The Governor slowly shook his head. + +“What you ask is impossible. Riches are nothing to me. Bribery may +do much in other parts of the Empire, but it is powerless in the +Trogzmondoff. I shall die in the room adjoining this, as my predecessor +died. I am quite as much a prisoner in the Trogzmondoff as is your +Highness. No man who has once set foot in this room, either as Governor, +employee, or prisoner, is allowed to see the mainland again, and thus +the secret has been well kept. We have had many prisoners of equal rank +with your Highness, friends of the Czar too, I dare say, but they all +died on the Rock, and were buried in the Baltic.” + +“May I not be permitted to receive certain supplies if I pay for them? +That is allowed in other prisons.” + +The Governor shook his head. + +“I can let you have a blanket,” he said, “and a pillow, or a sheepskin +if you find it cold at first, but my power here is very limited, and, as +I tell you, the officers have little more comfort than the prisoners.” + +“Oh, I don’t care anything about comfort,” protested Lermontoff. “What +I want is some scientific apparatus. I am a student of science. I have +nothing to do with politics, and have never been implicated in any plot. +Someone in authority has made a stupid mistake, and so I am here. This +mistake I am quite certain will be discovered and remedied. I hold no +malice, and will say nothing of the place, once I am free. It is no +business of mine. But I do not wish to have the intervening time wasted. +I should like to buy some electrical machinery, and materials, for which +I am willing to pay any price that is asked.” + +“Do you understand electricity?” questioned the Governor, and for the +first time his impassive face showed a glimmer of interest. + +“Do I understand electricity? Why, for over a year I have been chief +electrician on a war-ship.” + +“Perhaps then,” said the Governor, relapsing into Russian again, “you +can tell me what is wrong with our dynamo here in the Rock. After +repeated requisition they sent machinery for lighting our offices and +passages with electricity. They apparently did not care to send an +electrician to the Trogzmondoff, but forwarded instead some books of +instruction. I have been working at it for two years and a half, but +I am still using oil lamps and candles. We wired the place without +difficulty.” He held up the candle, and showed, depending from the +ceiling, a chandelier of electric lamps which Lermontoff had not +hitherto noticed, various brackets, and one or two stand lamps in a +corner, with green silk-covered wire attached. + +“May I see your dynamo?” asked Lermontoff. + +The Governor, with one final warming of his hands, took up a candle, +told the gaoler to remove the shade from the lamp and bring it, led the +way along a passage, and then into a room where the prisoner, on first +entering, had heard the roar of water. + +“What’s this you have. A turbine? Does it give you any power?” + +“Oh, it gives power enough,” said the Governor. + +“Let’s see how you turn on the stream.” + +The Governor set the turbine at work, and the dynamo began to hum, a +sound which, to the educated ear of Lermontoff, told him several things. + +“That’s all right, Governor, turn it off. This is a somewhat +old-fashioned dynamo, but it ought to give you all the light you can +use. You must be a natural born electrician, or you never could have got +this machinery working as well as it does.” + +The dull eyes of the Governor glowed for one brief moment, then resumed +their customary expression of saddened tiredness. + +“Now,” said Jack, throwing off his coat, “I want a wrench, screwdriver, +hammer and a pair of pincers if you’ve got them.” + +“Here is the tool chest,” said the Governor, and Jack found all he +needed. Bidding the Governor hold the candle here, there and elsewhere, +and ordering the gaoler about as if he were an apprentice, Jack set +energetically to work, and for half an hour no one spoke. + +“Turn on that water again,” he commanded. + +The Governor did so, and the machine whirred with quite a different +note. Half a dozen electric lamps in the room flooded the place with a +dazzling white glow. + +“There you are,” cried Jack, rubbing the oil off his hands on a piece of +coarse sacking. “Now, Tommy, put these things back in the tool chest,” + he said to the gaoler. Then to the Governor: + +“Let’s see how things look in the big room.” + +The passage was lit, and the Governor’s room showed every mark on wall, +ceiling and floor. + +“I told you, Governor,” said Jack with a laugh, “that I didn’t know why +I was sent here, but now I understand. Providence took pity on you, and +ordered me to strike a light.” + +At that moment the gaoler entered with his jingling keys, and the +enthusiastic expression faded from the Governor’s face, leaving it once +more coldly impassive, but he spoke in German instead of Russian. + +“I am very much indebted to your Highness, and it grieves me that our +relationship remains unchanged.” + +“Oh, that’s all right,” cried Lermontoff breezily, “If it is within your +power to allow me to come and give you some lessons in electricity and +the care of dynamos, I shall be very glad to do so.” + +To this offer the Governor made no reply, but he went on still in +German. + +“I shall transfer you to cell Number One, which is not only more +comfortable, but the water there is pure. Did you say you spoke +English?” + +“Yes, quite as well as I do Russian.” + +The Governor continued, with nevertheless a little hesitation: “On the +return of the steamer there will be an English prisoner. I will give +him cell Number Two, and if you don’t talk so loud that the gaoler hears +you, it may perhaps make the day less wearisome.” + +“You are very kind,” said Jack, rigidly suppressing any trace of either +emotion or interest as he heard the intelligence; leaping at once to +certain conclusions, nevertheless. “I shan’t ask for anything more, much +as I should like to mention candles, matches, and tobacco.” + +“It is possible you may find all three in Number One before this time +to-morrow;” then in Russian the Governor said to the goaler: + +“See if Number One is ready.” + +The gaoler departed, and the Governor, throwing open a drawer in +his table, took out two candles, a box of matches, and a packet of +cigarettes. + +“Put these in your pocket,” he said. “The cell door opens very slowly, +so you will always know when the gaoler is coming. In that case blow out +your light and conceal your candle. It will last the longer.” + +The gaoler returned. + +“The cell is ready, Excellency,” he said. + +“Take away the prisoner,” commanded the Governor, gruffly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII --CELL NUMBER ONE + +CELL Number One was a great improvement on Number Nine. There was no +shelf of rock, or stone bench, but a cot bed in the corner, a table, +and a wooden chair. The living spring issued from the living rock in a +corner of the room. When the gaoler and his assistant had retired +and shoved in the outside bolts, Jack lit his candle and a cigarette, +feeling almost happy. He surveyed the premises now with more care. +The bed was of iron and fastened to the floor. On the top of it was +a mattress, a pillow, and a pair of blankets. At its head a little +triangular shelf of rock had been left in the corner, and on this +reposed a basin of tin, while a coarse piece of sacking took the place +of a towel. Jack threw off his overcoat and flung it on the bed, intent +on a satisfactory wash. He heard something jingle in the pockets, and +forgetting for the moment what it could possibly be, thrust his hand in, +and pulled out a glass-stoppered bottle of ozak. He held it out at arm’s +length, and stared at it for some moments like a man hypnotized. + +“Holy Saint Peter!” he cried, “to think that I should have forgotten +this!” + +He filled the tin basin with water, and placed it on the table. Again +he dissolved a minute portion of the chemical, and again filled the +syringe. + +“I must leave no marks on the wall that may arouse attention,” he said, +and taking the full syringe to the arch over the torrent, and placing +the candle on the floor beside him, he gently pushed in the piston. The +spray struck the rock, and the rock dissolved slightly but perceptibly. +Coming back to the table he stood for a few minutes in deep thought. +Although the cot bed was fixed to the floor, and although it was +possible that the shelf in the next cell coincided with its position, +the risk of discovery was too great to cut a passage between the two +cells there. The obvious spot to attack was the interior of the tunnel +through which the streamlet ran, but Jack, testing the temperature of +the water with his hand, doubted his physical ability to remain in that +ice-cold current more than a few minutes at a time, and if he worked in +the tunnel he would be all but submerged. He feared he would perish with +cold and cramp before he had made any impression on the rock. + +To the edge of the stream he drew the table, and, mounting it, examined +the upper orifice through which the water escaped when the cell was +full. He found he could stand on the table and work in comfort until +he had excavated sufficient rock to allow him to clamber into the upper +tunnel and so continue his operations. The water he used would flow +through the tunnel, and down to the main stream in the next cell. All +he had to do was to dissolve a semi-circular hole in the rock that would +bend round the end of those steel bars, and enter the tunnel again on +the other side. Eager to be at work, he took the full basin, shoved it +far along the tunnel until it was stopped by the bars, then, placing his +candle beside it, and standing on the table, he began operations. + +The limestone, under the influence of the spray, dissolved very slowly, +and by the time the basin of water was exhausted, all the effect +visible under the light of the candle was an exceedingly slight circular +impression which was barely visible to the naked eye. + +“I must make the solution stronger, I think,” he said, grievously +disappointed at the outcome of his labors, and as he looked at it he +heard the clank of the withdrawing bolts. Blowing out the candle he +sprang to the floor of the cell, picked up the table, set it down in +the center of the room, groped for the chair, and sat down, his heart +palpitating wildly at the fear of discovery. + +Followed as usual by the man with the lantern, the gaoler came in, +carrying a bowl of hot steaming soup, which he placed on the table, +then he took from his pocket a spoon, a small hunk of black bread, and +a piece of cheese. In the light of the lantern Lermontoff consulted his +watch, and found it was six o’clock. The gaoler took the lantern from +his assistant, held it high, and looked round the room, while Lermontoff +gazed at him in anxiety, wondering whether that brutal looking official +suspected anything. Apparently he did not, but merely wished to satisfy +himself that everything was in order, for he said more mildly than he +had hitherto spoken: + +“It is a long time since any one occupied this cell.” + +Then his eye rested on the vacant corner shelf. + +“Ah, Excellency,” he continued, “pardon me, I have forgotten. I must +bring you a basin.” + +“I’d rather you brought me a candle,” said Lermontoff nonchalantly, +although his lips were dry, and he moistened them as he spoke; then, +to learn whether money was valueless on the rock, as the Governor had +intimated, he drew from his pocket one of the remaining gold pieces, +glad that he happened to have so many, and slipped it into the palm of +the gaoler’s hand, whose fingers clutched it as eagerly as if he were in +St. Petersburg. + +“I think a candle can be managed, Excellency. Shall I bring a cup?” + +“I wish you would.” + +The door was again locked and bolted, but before Lermontoff had finished +his soup, and bread and cheese, it was opened again. The gaoler placed +a tin basin, similar to the former one, on the ledge, put a candle and a +candle-stick on the table, and a tin cup beside them. + +“I thought there was no part of Russia where bribery was extinct,” said +the Prince to himself, as the door closed again for the night. + +After supper Lermontoff again shined his table, stood upon it, lit his +candle, and resumed his tunnelling, working hard until after midnight. +His progress was deplorably slow, and the spraying of the rock proved +about as tiring a task as ever he had undertaken. His second basin-full +of solution was made a little stronger, but without perceptible +improvement, in its effect. On ceasing operations for the night he +found himself in a situation common to few prisoners, that of being +embarrassed with riches. He possessed two basins, and one of them must +be concealed. Of course he might leave his working basin in the upper +tunnel where it had rested when the gaoler had brought in his supper, +but he realized that at any moment the lantern’s rays might strike its +shining surface, and so bring on an investigation of the upper tunnel, +certain to prove the destruction of his whole scheme. A few minutes +thought, however, solved the problem admirably: he placed the basin face +downwards in the rapid stream which swept it to the iron bars between +the two cells, and there it lay quite concealed with the swift water +rippling over it. This done, he flung off his clothes, and got into +bed, not awakening until the gaoler and his assistant brought in bread, +cheese and coffee for breakfast. + +The next day he began to feel the inconveniences of the Governor’s +friendship, and wished he were safely back to the time when one loaf +lasted four days, for if such were now the case, he would be free of the +constant state of tension which the ever-recurring visits of the gaoler +caused. He feared that some day he might become so absorbed in his +occupation that he would not hear the withdrawing of the bolt, and thus, +as it were, be caught in the act. + +Shortly after lunch the Governor sent for him, and asked many questions +pertaining to the running of the dynamo. Lermontoff concealed his +impatience, and set about his instructions with exemplary earnestness. +Russian text books on electricity at hand were of the most rudimentary +description, and although the Governor could speak German he could not +read it, so the two volumes he possessed in that language were closed +to him. Therefore John was compelled to begin at the very A B C of the +science. + +The Governor, however, became so deeply interested that he momentarily +forgot his caution, unlocked a door, and took Lermontoff into a room +which he saw was the armory and ammunition store-house of the prison. +On the floor of this chamber the Governor pointed out a large battery +of accumulators, and asked what they were for. Lermontoff explained the +purposes of the battery, meanwhile examining it thoroughly, and finding +that many of the cells had been all but ruined in transit, through the +falling away of the composition in the grids. Something like half of the +accumulators, however, were intact and workable; these he uncoupled and +brought into the dynamo room, where he showed the Governor the process +of charging. He saw in the store room a box containing incandescent +lamps, coils of silk-covered wire and other material that made his eyes +glisten with delight. He spoke in German. + +“If you will give me a coil of this wire, one or two of the lamps, and +an accumulator, or indeed half a dozen of them, I will trouble you no +more for candles.” + +The Governor did not reply at the moment, but a short time after asked +Lermontoff in Russian how long it would be before the accumulators were +charged. Lermontoff stated the time, and the Governor told the gaoler +to bring the prisoner from the cell at that hour, and so dismissed his +instructor. + +One feature of this interview which pleased Lermontoff was that however +much the Governor became absorbed in these lessons, he never allowed +himself to remain alone with his prisoner. It was evident that in his +cooler moments the Governor had instructed the gaoler and his assistant +to keep ever at the heels of the Prince and always on the alert. Two +huge revolvers were thrust underneath the belt of the gaoler, and the +lantern-holder, was similarly armed. Lermontoff was pleased with this, +for if the Governor had trusted him entirely, even though he demanded no +verbal parole, it would have gone against his grain to strike down the +chief as he ruthlessly intended to do when the time was ripe for it, and +in any case, he told himself, no matter how friendly the Governor might +be, he had the misfortune to stand between his prisoner and liberty. + +Lermontoff was again taken from his cell about half an hour before the +time he had named for the completion of the charging, and although the +Governor said nothing of his intention, the gaoler and his man brought +to the cell six charged batteries, a coil of wire, and a dozen lamps. +Lermontoff now changed his working methods. He began each night as soon +as he had finished dinner, and worked till nearly morning, sleeping all +day except when interrupted by the gaoler. Jack, following the example +of Robinson Crusoe, attempted to tie knots on the tail of time by +cutting notches with his knife on the leg of the table, but most days +he forgot to perform this operation, and so his wooden almanac fell +hopelessly out of gear. He estimated that he had been a little more than +a week in prison when he heard by the clang of the bolts that the next +cell was to have an occupant. + +“I must prepare a welcome for him,” he said, and so turned out the +electric light at the end of the long flexible wire. He had arranged a +neat little switch of the accumulator, and so snapped the light on and +off at his pleasure, without the trouble of unscrewing the nuts which +held in place one of the copper ends of the wire. Going to the edge +of the stream and lighting his candle, he placed the glass bulb in the +current, paid out the flexible line attached to it, and allowed the bulb +to run the risk of being smashed against the iron bars of the passage, +but the little globe negotiated the rapids without even a perceptible +clink, and came to rest in the bed of the torrent somewhere about +the center of the next cell, tugging like a fish on a hook. Then Jack +mounted the table, leaned into the upper tunnel, and listened. + +“I protest,” Drummond cried, speaking loudly, as if the volume of +sound would convey meaning to alien ears, “I protest against this as +an outrage, and demand my right of communication with the British +Ambassador.” + +Jack heard the gaoler growl: “This loaf of bread will last you for four +days,” but as this statement was made in Russian, it conveyed no more +meaning to the Englishman than had his own protest of a moment before +brought intelligence to the gaoler. The door clanged shut, and there +followed a dead silence. + +“Now we ought to hear some good old British oaths,” said Jack to +himself, but the silence continued. + +“Hullo, Alan,” cried Jack through the bars, “I said you would be nabbed +if you didn’t leave St. Petersburg. You’ll pay attention to me next time +I warn you.” + +There was no reply, and Jack became alarmed at the continued stillness, +then he heard his friend mutter: + +“I’ll be seeing visions by and by. I thought my brain was stronger than +it is--could have sworn that was Jack’s voice.” + +Jack got speedily and quietly down, turned on the switch, and hopped +up on the table again, peering through. He knew that the stream had +now become a river of fire, and that it was sending to the ceiling an +unholy, unearthly glow. + +“Oh, damn it all!” groaned Drummond, at which Jack roared with laughter. + +“Alan,” he shouted, “fish out that electric bulb from the creek and +hold it aloft; then you’ll see where you are. I’m in the next cell; Jack +Lamont, Electrician and Coppersmith: all orders promptly attended to: +best of references, and prices satisfactory.” + +“Jack, is that really you, or have I gone demented?” + +“Oh, you always were demented, Alan, but it is I, right enough. Pick up +the light and tell me what kind of a cell you’ve got.” + +“Horrible!” cried Drummond, surveying his situation. “Walls apparently +of solid rock, and this uncanny stream running across the floor.” + +“How are you furnished? Shelf of rock, stone bench?” + +“No, there’s a table, cot bed, and a wooden chair.” + +“Why, my dear man, what are you growling about? They have given you one +of the best rooms in the hotel. You’re in the Star Chamber.” + +“Where in the name of heaven are we?” + +“Didn’t you recognize the rock from the deck of a steamer?” + +“I never saw the deck of a steamer.” + +“Then how did you come here?” + +“I was writing a letter in my room when someone threw a sack over my +head, and tied me up in a bundle, so that it was a close shave I wasn’t +smothered. I was taken in what I suppose was a cab and flung into what +I afterwards learned was the hold of a steamer. When the ship stopped, +I was carried like a sack of meal on someone’s shoulder, and unhampered +before a gaunt specter in uniform, in a room so dazzling with electric +light that I could hardly see. That was a few minutes ago, Now I am +here, and starving. Where is this prison?” + + + +“Like the Mikado, as Kate would say, the authorities are bent on making +the punishment fit the crime. You are in the rock of the Baltic, which +you fired at with that gun of yours. I told you those suave officials at +St. Petersburg were playing with you.” + +“But why have they put you here, Jack?” + +“Oh, I was like the good dog Tray, who associated with questionable +company, I suppose, and thus got into trouble.” + +“I’m sorry.” + +“You ought to be glad. I’m going to get out of this place, and I don’t +believe you could break gaol, unassisted, in twenty years. Here is where +science confronts brutality. I say, Drummond, bring your table over to +the corner, and mount it, then we can talk without shouting. Not much +chance of any one outside hearing us, even if we do clamor, but this is +a damp situation, and loud talk is bad for the throat. Cut a slice of +that brown bread and lunch with me. You’ll find it not half bad, as you +say in England, especially when you are hungry. Now,” continued Jack, as +his friend stood opposite him, and they found by experiment that their +combined reach was not long enough to enable them to shake hands +through the bars, “now, while you are luxuriating in the menu of the +Trogzmondoff, I’ll give you a sketch of my plan for escape.” + +“Do,” said Drummond. + +“I happen to have with me a pair of bottles containing a substance +which, if dissolved in water, and sprinkled on this rock, will +disintegrate it. It proves rather slow work, I must admit, but I intend +to float in to you one of the bottles, and the apparatus, so that you +may help me on your side, which plan has the advantage of giving you +useful occupation, and allowing us to complete our task in half the +time, like the engineers on each side of the Simplon Tunnel.” + +“If there are bars in the lower watercourse,” objected Drummond, “won’t +you run a risk of breaking your bottle against them?” + +“Not the slightest. I have just sent that much thinner electric lamp +through, but in this case I’ll just tie up the bottle and squirt gun in +my stocking, attach that to the wire, and the current will do the rest. +You can unload, and I’ll pull my stocking back again. If I dared wrench +off a table leg, I could perhaps shove bottle and syringe through to you +from here, but the material would come to a dead center in the middle of +this tunnel, unless I had a stick to push it within your reach. + +“Very well; we’ll work away until our excavation connects, and we have +made it of sufficient diameter for you to squeeze through. You are then +in my cell. We put out our lights, and you conceal yourself behind the +door. Gaoler and man with the lantern come in. You must be very careful +not to close the door, because if you once shove it shut we can’t open +it from this side, even though it is unlocked and the bolts drawn. +It fits like wax, and almost hermetically seals the room. You spring +forward, and deal the gaoler with your fist one of your justly +celebrated English knock-down blows, immediately after felling the man +with the lantern. Knowing something of the weight of your blow, I take +it that neither of the two men will recover consciousness until we have +taken off their outer garments, secured revolvers and keys. Then we lock +them in, you and I on the outside.” + +“My dear Jack, we don’t need any tunnel to accomplish that. The first +time these two men come into my room, I can knock them down as easily +here as there.” + +“I thought of that, and perhaps you could, but you must remember we +have only one shot. If you made a mistake; if the lantern man bolted and +fired his pistol, and once closed the door--he would not need to pause +to lock it--why, we are done for. I should be perfectly helpless in the +next room, and after the attempt they’d either drown us, or put us into +worse cells as far apart as possible.” + +“I don’t think I should miss fire,” said Drummond, confidently, “still, +I see the point, and will obey orders.” + +“My official position on the rock, ever since I arrived, has been that +of electrical tutor-in-chief to the Governor. I have started his dynamo +working, and have wired such portions of the place as were not already +wired before. During these lessons I have kept my eyes open. So far as +the prison is concerned, there is the Governor, a sort of head clerk, +the gaoler and his assistant; four men, and that is all. The gaoler’s +assistant appears to be the cook of the place, although the cooking done +is of the most limited description. The black bread is brought from St. +Petersburg, I think, as also tinned meat and soup; so the cuisine is on +a somewhat limited scale.” + +“Do you mean to say that only these four men are in charge of the +prison?” + +“Practically so, but there is the garrison as well. The soldiers live +in a suite of rooms directly above us, and as near as I can form an +opinion, there are fourteen men and two officers. When a steamer arrives +they draft as many soldiers as are necessary, unload the boat; then the +Tommies go upstairs again. The military section apparently holds little +intercourse with the officials, whom they look upon as gaolers. I should +judge that the military officer is chief of the rock, because when he +found the Governor’s room lit by electricity, he demanded the same for +his quarters. That’s how I came to get upstairs. Now, these stairs are +hewn in the rock, are circular, guarded by heavy oaken doors top and +bottom, and these doors possess steel bolts on both sides of them. It is +thus possible for either the military authorities upstairs, or the civil +authorities, to isolate themselves from the others. In case of a revolt +among the soldiers, the Governor could bolt them into their attic, +and they would find great difficulty in getting out. Now, my plan of +procedure is this. We will disarm gaoler and assistant, take their keys, +outside garments and caps. The gaoler’s toggery will fit you, and the +other fellow’s may do for me. Then we will lock them in here, and if +we meet clerk or Governor in the passages we will have time to overcome +either or both before they are aware of the change. I’ll go up the +circular stair, bolt from the inside the upper door, and afterwards +bolt the lower door. Then we open all the cells, and release the other +prisoners, descend from the rock, get into the Finnish fishing boat, +keep clear of the two cannon that are up above us, and sail for the +Swedish coast. We can’t miss it; we have only to travel west, and +ultimately we are safe. There is only one danger, which is that we may +make our attempt when the steamer is here, but we must chance that.” + +“Isn’t there any way of finding out? Couldn’t you pump the Governor?” + +“He is always very much on his guard, and is a taciturn man. The +moment the tunnel is finished I shall question him about some further +electrical material, and then perhaps I may get a hint about the +steamer. I imagine she comes irregularly, so the only safe plan would be +for us to make our attempt just after she had departed.” + +“Would there be any chance of our finding a number of the military +downstairs?” + +“I don’t think so. Now that they have their electric light they spend +their time playing cards and drinking vodka.” + +“Very well, Jack, that scheme seems reasonably feasible. Now, get +through your material to me, and issue your instructions.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX --“STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE” + +IN a very short time Drummond became as expert at the rock dissolving +as was his friend. He called it piffling slow work, but was nevertheless +extremely industrious at it, although days and weeks and, as they +suspected, months, passed before the hands of the two friends met in +the center of the rock. One lucky circumstance that favored them was the +habit of the gaoler in visiting Drummond only once every four days. + +The Lieutenant made his difficult passage, squeezing through the newly +completed tunnel half an hour after a loaf had been set upon his table. +Jack knew that the steamer had recently departed, because, two days +before, the Governor had sent for him, and had exhibited a quantity of +material recently landed, among other things a number of electric bells +and telephones which the Governor was going to have set up between +himself and the others, and also between his room and that of the clerk +and gaoler. There were dry batteries, and primary batteries, and many +odds and ends, which made Jack almost sorry he was leaving the place. + +Heavy steps, muffled by the thickness of the door, sounded along the +outer passage. + +“Ready?” whispered Jack. “Here they come. Remember if you miss your +first blow, we’re goners, you and I.” + +Drummond made no reply, for the steps had come perilously near and he +feared to be heard. Noiselessly he crossed the cell and took up his +position against the wall, just clear of the space that would be covered +by the opening of the door. + +At the same moment Jack switched off the light, leaving the room black. +Each of the two waiting prisoners could hear the other’s short breathing +through the darkness. + +On came the shuffling footsteps of the gaoler and lantern-bearer. +They had reached the door of Number One, had paused, had passed on and +stopped in front of Number Two. + +“Your cell!” whispered Jack, panic-stricken. “And they weren’t due to +look in on you for four days. It’s all up! They’ll discover the cell +is empty and give the--Where are you going, man?” he broke off, as +Drummond, leaving his place near the door, groped his way hurriedly +along the wall. + +“To squeeze my way back and make a fight for it. It’s better than--” + +“Wait!” + +Lamont’s hand was on his shoulder, and he whispered a sharp command for +silence. The two attendants had halted in front of Number Two, and while +the lantern-bearer fumbled with the awkward bolt, his companion was +saying: + +“Hold on! After all, I’ll bring the other his food first, I think.” + +“But,” remonstrated the lantern-bearer, “the Governor said we were to +bring the Englishman to him at once.” + +“What if he did? How will he know we stole a half minute to give the +Prince his dinner? If we bring the Englishman upstairs first, the Prince +may have to wait an hour before we can get back with the Englishman.” + +“Let him wait, then.” + +“With his pocket full of roubles? Not I. He may decide to give no more +of his gold pieces to a gaoler who lets him go hungry too long.” + +“I’ve got the door unfastened now and--” + +“Then fasten it again and come back with me to Number One.” + +Faint as were the words, deadened by intervening walls, their purport +reached Jack. + +“Back to your place,” he whispered, “they’re coming!” + +The rattle of bolts followed close on his words. The great door of +Number One swung ponderously inward. The lantern-bearer, holding his +light high in front of him, entered; then stepped to one side to admit +the gaoler, who came close after, the tray of food in his outstretched +hands. + +Unluckily for the captives’ plan, it was to the side of the cell +opposite to that where Alan crouched that the lantern-bearer had taken +his stand. There was no way of reaching him at a bound. The open +door stood between. Were the gaoler to be attacked first, his +fellow-attendant could readily be out of the cell and half-way up the +corridor before Alan might hope to reach him. + +The friends had counted on both men entering the room together and +crossing as usual to the table. This change of plan disconcerted them. +Already the gaoler had set down his tray and was turning toward the +door. Alan, helpless, stood impotently in the shadow, biting his +blond mustache with helpless rage. In another second their cherished +opportunity would vanish. And, as the gaoler’s next visit was to be to +Number Two, discovery stared them in the eyes. + +It was Jack who broke the momentary spell of apathy. He was standing at +the far end of the cell, near the stream. + +“Here!” he called sharply to the lantern-bearer, “bring your light. My +electric apparatus is out of order, and I’ve mislaid my matches. I want +to fix--” + +The lantern-bearer, obediently, had advanced into the room. He was +half-way across it while Lamont was still speaking. Then, from the +corner of his eye, he spied Alan crouching in the angle behind the door, +now fully exposed to the rays of the lantern. + +The man whirled about in alarm just as Alan sprang. In consequence the +Englishman’s mighty fist whizzed past his head, missing it by a full +inch. + +The gaoler, recovering from his amaze, whipped out one of the revolvers +he wore in his belt. But Jack, leaping forward, knocked it from his hand +before he could fire; and, with one hand clapped across the fellow’s +bearded lips, wound his other arm about the stalwart body so as to +prevent for the instant the drawing of the second pistol. + +Alan’s first blow had missed clean; but his second did not. Following up +his right-hand blow with all a trained boxer’s swift dexterity, he sent +a straight left hander flush on the angle of the light-bearer’s jaw. +The man dropped his lantern and collapsed into a senseless heap on the +floor, while Alan, with no further delay, rushed toward the gaoler. + +The fall of the lantern extinguished the light. The cell was again +plunged in dense blackness, through which could be heard the panting and +scuffing of the Prince and the gaoler. + +Barely a second of time had elapsed since first Jack had seized the man, +but that second had sufficed for the latter to summon his great brute +strength and shake off his less gigantic opponent and to draw his +pistol. + +“Quick, Alan!” gasped Jack. “He’s got away from me. He’ll--” + +Drummond, guided by his friend’s voice, darted forward through +the darkness, caught his foot against the sprawling body of the +lantern-bearer and fell heavily, his arms thrown out in an instinctive +gesture of self-preservation. Even as he lost his balance he heard +a sharp click, directly in front of him. The gaoler had pulled the +trigger, and his pistol--contract-made and out of order, like many of +the weapons of common soldiers in Russia’s frontier posts--had missed +fire. + +To that luckiest of mishaps, the failure of a defective cartridge to +explode, the friends owed their momentary safety. + +As Alan pitched forward, one of his outing arms struck against an +obstacle. It was a human figure, and from the feel of the leather +straps, which his fingers touched in the impact, he knew it was the +gaoler and not Lamont. + +Old football tactics coming to memory, Alan clung to the man his arm had +chanced upon, and bore him along to the ground; Jack, who had pressed +forward in the darkness, being carried down as well by the other’s fall. + +Gaoler, Prince and Englishman thus struggled on the stone floor in one +indistinguishable heap. It was no ordinary combat of two to one, for +neither of the prisoners could say which was the gaoler and which his +friend. The gaoler, troubled by no such doubts, laid about him lustily, +and was only prevented from crying out by the fact that his heavy fur +cap had, in the fall, become jammed down over his face as far as the +chin and could not for the moment be dislodged. + +He reached for and drew the sword-bayonet that hung at his side (for +his second pistol had become lost in the scrimmage), and thrust blindly +about him. Once, twice his blade met resistance and struck into flesh. + +“Jack,” panted Alan, “the beast’s stabbing. Get yourself loose and find +the electric light.” + +As he spoke, Alan’s hand found the gaoler’s throat. He knew it was not +Alan’s from the rough beard that covered it. The gaoler, maddened by the +pressure, stabbed with fresh fury; most of his blows, fortunately, going +wild in the darkness. + +Alan’s free hand reached for and located the arm that was wielding +the bayonet, and for a moment the two wrestled desperately for its +possession. + +Then a key clicked, and the room was flooded with incandescent light, +just as Alan, releasing his grip on the Russian’s throat, dealt him a +short-arm blow on the chin with all the power of his practiced muscles. +The gaoler relaxed his tense limbs and lay still, while Alan, bleeding +and exhausted, struggled to his feet. + +“Hot work, eh?” he panted. “Hard position to land a knockout from. But +I caught him just right. He’ll trouble us no more for a few minutes, I +fancy. You’re bleeding! Did he wound you?” + +“Only a scratch along my check. And you?” + +“A cut on the wrist and another on the shoulder, I think. Neither of +them bad, thanks to the lack of aim in the dark. Close call, that! Now +to tie them up. Not a movement from either yet.” + +“You must have come close to killing them with those sledge-hammer blows +of yours!” + +“It doesn’t much matter,” said the imperturbable pugilist, “they’ll be +all right in half an hour. It’s knowing where to hit. If there are only +four men downstairs, we don’t need to wear the clothes of these beasts. +Let us take only the bunch of keys and the revolvers.” + +Securing these the two stepped out into the passage, locked and bolted +the door; then Jack, who knew his way, proceeded along the passage to +the stairway, leaped nimbly up the steps, bolted the door leading to the +military quarters, then descended and bolted the bottom door. + +“Now for the clerk, and then for the Governor.” + +The clerk’s room connected with the armory, which was reached by passing +through the apartment that held turbine and dynamo, which they found +purring away merrily. + +Covering the frightened clerk with four revolvers, Jack told him in +Russian that if he made a sound it would be his last. They took him, +opened cell Number Three, which was empty, and thrust him in. + +Jangling the keys, the two entered the Governor’s room. The ancient man +looked up, but not a muscle of his face changed; even his fishy eyes +showed no signs of emotion or surprise. + +“Governor,” said Jack with deference, “although you are under the +muzzles of a quartet of revolvers, no harm is intended you. However, you +must not leave your place until you accompany us down to the boat, when +I shall hand the keys over to you, and in cell Number One you will find +gaoler and lantern man a little worse for wear, perhaps, but still in +the ring, I hope. In Number Three your clerk is awaiting you. I go now +to release your prisoners. All communication between yourself and the +military is barred. I leave my friend on guard until I return from the +cells. You must not attempt to summon assistance, or cry out, or move +from your chair. My friend does not understand either Russian or German, +so there is no use in making any appeal to him, and much as I like +you personally, and admire your assiduity in science, our case is so +desperate that if you make any motion whatever, he will be compelled to +shoot you dead.” + +The Governor bowed. + +“May I continue my writing?” he asked. + +Jack laughed heartily. + +“Certainly,” and with that he departed to the cells, which he unlocked +one by one, only to find them all empty. + +Returning, he said to the Governor: + +“Why did you not tell me that we were your only prisoners?” + +“I feared,” replied the Governor mildly, “that you might not believe +me.” + +“After all, I don’t know that I should,”, said Jack, holding out his +hand, which the other shook rather unresponsively. + +“I want to thank you,” the Governor said slowly, “for all you have told +me about electricity. That knowledge I expect to put to many useful +purposes in the future, and the exercise of it will also make the hours +drag less slowly than they did before you came.” + +“Oh, that’s all right,” cried Jack with enthusiasm. “I am sure you +are very welcome to what teaching I have been able to give you, and no +teacher could have wished a more apt pupil.” + +“It pleases me to hear you say that, Highness, although I fear I have +been lax in my duties, and perhaps the knowledge of this place which +you have got through my negligence, has assisted you in making an escape +which I had not thought possible.” + +Jack laughed good-naturedly. + +“All’s fair in love and war,” he said. “Imprisonment is a section of +war. I must admit that electricity has been a powerful aid to us. +But you cannot blame yourself, Governor, for you always took every +precaution, and the gaoler was eternally at my heels. You can never +pretend that you trusted me, you know.” + +“I tried to do my duty,” said the old man mournfully, “and if +electricity has been your helper, it has not been with my sanction. +However, there is one point about electricity which you impressed upon +me, which is that although it goes quickly, there is always a return +current.” + +“What do you mean by that, Governor?” + +“Is it not so? It goes by a wire, and returns through the earth. I +thought you told me that.” + +“Yes, but I don’t quite see why you mention that feature of the case at +this particular moment.” + +“I wanted to be sure what I have stated is true. You see, when you are +gone there will be nobody I can ask.” + +All this time the aged Governor was holding Jack’s hand rather limply. +Drummond showed signs of impatience. + +“Jack,” he cried at last, “that conversation may be very interesting, +but it’s like smoking on a powder mine. One never knows what may happen. +I shan’t feel safe until we’re well out at sea, and not even then. Get +through with your farewells as soon as possible, and let us be off.” + +“Right you are, Alan, my boy. Well, Governor, I’m reluctantly compelled +to bid you a final good-by, but here’s wishing you all sorts of luck.” + +The old man seemed reluctant to part with him, and still clung to his +hand. + +“I wanted to tell you,” he said, “of another incident, almost as +startling as your coming into this room a while since, that happened six +or eight months ago. As perhaps you know, we keep a Finland fishing-boat +down in the cove below.” + +“Yes, yes,” said Jack impatiently, drawing away his hand. + +“Well, six or eight months ago that boat disappeared, and has never been +heard of since. None of our prisoners was missing; none of the garrison +was missing; my three assistants were still here, yet in the night the +boat was taken away.” + +“Really. How interesting! Never learned the secret, did you?” + +“Never, but I took precautions, when we got the next boat, that it +should be better guarded, so I have had two men remain upon it night and +day.” + +“Are your two men armed, Governor?” + +“Yes, they are.” + +“Then they must surrender, or we will be compelled to shoot them. Come +down with us, and advise them to surrender quietly, otherwise, from safe +cover on the stairway, we can pot them in an open boat.” + +“I will go down with you,” said the Governor, “and do what I can.” + +“Of course they will obey you.” + +“Yes, they will obey me--if they hear me. I was going to add that only +yesterday did I arrange the electric bell down at the landing, with +instructions to those men to take a telegram which I had written in case +of emergencies, to the mainland, at any moment, night or day, when that +bell rang. Your Highness, the bell rang more than half an hour ago. I +have not been allowed out to see the result.” + +The placid old man put his hand on the Prince’s shoulder, as if +bestowing a benediction upon him. Drummond, who did not understand the +lingo, was amazed to see Jack fling off the Governor’s grasp, and with +what he took to be a crushing oath in Russian, spring to the door, which +he threw open. He mounted the stone bench which gave him a view of the +sea. A boat, with two sails spread, speeding to the southwest, across +the strong westerly wind, was two miles or more away. + +“Marooned, by God!” cried the Prince, swinging round and presenting his +pistol at the head of the Governor, who stood there like a statue of +dejection, and made no sign. + + + + +CHAPTER XX --ARRIVAL OF THE TURBINE YACHT + +BEFORE Jack could fire, as perhaps he had intended to do, Drummond +struck down his arm. + +“None of that, Jack,” he said. “The Russian in you has evidently been +scratched, and the Tartar has come uppermost. The Governor gave a +signal, I suppose?” + +“Yes, he did, and those two have got away while I stood babbling here, +feeling a sympathy for the old villain. That’s his return current, eh?” + +“He’s not to blame,” said Drummond. “It’s our own fault entirely. The +first thing to have done was to secure that boat.” + +“And everything worked so beautifully,” moaned Jack, “up to this point, +and one mistake ruins it. We are doomed, Alan.” + +“It isn’t so bad as that, Jack,” said the Englishman calmly. “Should +those men reach the coast safely, as no doubt they will, it may cost +Russia a bit of trouble to dislodge us.” + +“Why, hang it all,” cried Jack, “they don’t need to dislodge us. All +they’ve got to do is to stand off and starve us out. They are not +compelled to fire a gun or land a man.” + +“They’ll have to starve their own men first. It’s not likely we’re going +to go hungry and feed our prisoners.” + +“Oh, we don’t mind a little thing like that, we Russians. They may +send help, or they may not. Probably a cruiser will come within hailing +distance and try to find out what the trouble is. Then it will lie off +and wait till everybody’s dead, and after that put in a new Governor and +another garrison.” + +“You take too pessimistic a view, Jack. This isn’t the season of the +year for a cruiser to lie off in the Baltic. Winter is coming on. Most +of the harbors in Finland will be ice-closed in a month, and there’s no +shelter hereabouts in a storm. They’ll attack; probably open shell fire +on us for a while, then attempt to land a storming party. That will be +fun for us if you’ve got good rifles and plenty of ammunition.” + +Jack raised his head. + +“Oh, we’re well-equipped,” he said, “if we only have enough to eat.” + +Springing to his feet, all dejection gone, he said to the Governor: + +“Now, my friend, we’re compelled to put you into a cell. I’m sorry to do +this, but there is no other course open. Where is your larder, and what +quantity of provisions have you in stock?” + +A gloomy smile added to the dejection of the old man’s countenance. + +“You must find that out for yourself,” he said. + +“Are the soldiers upstairs well supplied with food?” + +“I will not answer any of your questions.” + +“Oh, very well. I see you are determined to go hungry yourself. Until I +am satisfied that there is more than sufficient for my friend and me, no +prisoner in my charge gets anything to eat. That’s the sort of gaoler I +am. The stubborn old beast!” he cried in English, turning to Drummond, +“won’t answer my questions.” + +“What were you asking him?” + +“I want to know about the stock of provisions.” + +“It’s quite unnecessary to ask about the grub: there’s sure to be +ample.” + +“Why?” + +“Why? Because we have reached the beginning of winter, as I said before. +There must be months when no boat can land at this rock. It’s bound to +be provisioned for several months ahead at the very lowest calculation. +Now, the first thing to do is to put this ancient Johnny in his little +cell, then I’ll tell you where our chief danger lies.” + +The Governor made neither protest nor complaint, but walked into Number +Nine, and was locked up. + +“Now, Johnny, my boy,” said Drummond, “our anxiety is the soldiers. The +moment they find they are locked in they will blow those two doors open +in just about half a jiffy. We can, of course, by sitting in front of +the lower door night and day, pick off the first four or five who come +down, but if the rest make a rush we are bound to be overpowered. They +have, presumably, plenty of powder, probably some live shells, petards, +and what-not, that will make short work even of those oaken doors. What +do you propose to do?” + +“I propose,” said Jack, “to fill their crooked stairway with cement. +There are bags and bags of it in the armory.” + +The necessity for this was prevented by an odd circumstance. The two +young men were seated in the Governor’s room, when at his table a +telephone bell rang. Jack had not noticed this instrument, and now took +up the receiver. + +“Hello, Governor,” said a voice, “your fool of a gaoler has bolted the +stairway door, and we can’t open it.” + +“Oh, I beg pardon,” replied Jack, in whatever imitation of the +Governor’s voice he could assume. “I’ll see to it at once myself.” + +He hung up the receiver and told his comrade what had happened. + +“One or both of these officers are coming down. If we get the officers +safely into a cell, there will be nobody to command the men, and it is +more than likely that the officers carry the keys of the powder room. +I’ll turn out the electric lamps in the hall, and light the lantern. You +be ready at the foot of the stairway to fire if they make the slightest +resistance.” + +The two officers came down the circular stairway, grumbling at the delay +to which they had been put. Lermontoff took advantage of the clamping +of their heavy boots in the echoing stairway to shove in the bolts once +more, and then followed them, himself followed by Drummond, into the +Governor’s room. Switching on the electric light, he said: + +“Gentlemen, I am Prince Lermontoff, in temporary charge of this prison. +The Governor is under arrest, and I regret that I must demand your +swords, although I have every reason to believe that they will be +handed back to you within a very few days after I have completed my +investigations.” + +The officers were too much accustomed to sudden changes in command to +see anything odd in this turn of affairs. Lermontoff spoke with a quiet +dignity that was very convincing, and the language he used was that of +the nobility. The two officers handed him their swords without a word of +protest. + +“I must ask you whether you have yet received your winter supply of +food.” + +“Oh, yes,” said the senior officer, “we had that nearly a month ago.” + +“Is it stored in the military portion of the rock, or below here?” + +“Our rations are packed away in a room upstairs.” + +“I am sorry, gentlemen, that I must put you into cells until my mission +is accomplished. If you will write a requisition for such rations as you +are accustomed to receive, I shall see that you are supplied. Meanwhile, +write also an order to whomsoever you entrust in command of the men +during your absence, to grant no one leave to come downstairs, and ask +him to take care that each soldier is rigidly restricted to the minimum +quantity of vodka.” + +The senior officer sat down at the table, and wrote the two orders. +The men were then placed in adjoining cells, without the thought of +resistance even occurring to them. They supposed there had been some +changes at headquarters, and were rather relieved to have the assurance +of the Prince that their arrest would prove temporary. Further +investigation showed that there would be no danger of starvation for six +months at least. + +Next day Jack, at great risk of his neck, scaled to the apex of the +island, as he had thought of flying, if possible, a signal of distress +that might attract some passing vessel. But even though he reached the +sharp ridge, he saw at once that no pole could be erected there, not +even if he possessed one. The wind aloft was terrific, and he gazed +around him at an empty sea. + +When four days had passed they began to look for the Russian relief +boat, which they knew would set out the moment the Governor’s telegram +reached St. Petersburg. + +On the fifth day Jack shouted down to Drummond, who was standing by the +door. + +“The Russian is coming: heading direct for us. She’s in a hurry, too, +crowding on all steam, and eating up the distance like a torpedo-boat +destroyer. I think it’s a cruiser. It’s not the old tub I came on, +anyway.” + +“Come down, then,” answered Alan, “and we--” + +A cry from above interrupted him. Jack, having at first glance spied the +vessel whose description he had shouted to Drummond, had now turned his +eyes eastward and stood staring aghast toward the sunrise. + +“What’s the matter?” asked Alan. + +“Matter?” echoed Jack. “They must be sending the whole Russian Navy here +in detachments to capture our unworthy selves. There’s a second boat +coming from the east--nearer by two miles than the yacht. If I hadn’t +been all taken up with the other from the moment I climbed here I’d have +seen her before.” + +“Is she a yacht, too?” + +“No. Looks like a passenger tramp. Dirty and--” + +“Merchantman, maybe.” + +“No. She’s got guns on her--” + +“Merchantman fitted out for privateersman, probably. That’s the sort of +craft Russia would be likeliest to send to a secret prison like this. +What flag does--” + +“No flag at all. Neither of them. They’re both making for the rock, full +steam, and from opposite sides. Neither can see the other, I suppose. +I--” + +“From opposite sides? That doesn’t look like a joint expedition. One of +those ships isn’t Russian. But which?” + +Jack had clambered down and stood by Alan’s side. + +“We must make ready for defense in either case,” he said. “In a few +minutes we’ll be able to see them both from the platform below.” + +“One of those boats means to blow us out of existence if it can,” mused +Jack. “The other cannot know of our existence. And yet, if she doesn’t, +what is she doing here, headed for the rock?” + +With that Jack scrambled, slid and jumped down. Drummond was very quiet +and serious. Repeating rifles stood in a row on the opposite wall, easy +to get at, but as far off as might be from the effects of a possible +shell. The two young men now mounted the stone bench by the door, which +allowed them to look over the ledge at the eastern sea. Presently the +craft appeared round the end of the island, pure white, floating like a +swan on the water, and making great headway. + +“By Jove!” said Jack, “she’s a fine one. Looks like the Czar’s yacht, +but no Russian vessel I know of can make that speed.” + +“She’s got the ear-marks of Thornycroft build about her,” commented +Drummond. “By Jove, Jack, what luck if she should prove to be English. +No flag flying, though.” + +“She’s heading for us,” said Jack, “and apparently she knows which side +the cannon is on. If she’s Russian, they’ve taken it for granted we’ve +captured the whole place, and are in command of the guns. There, she’s +turning.” + +The steamer was abreast of the rock, and perhaps three miles distant. +Now she swept a long, graceful curve westward and drew up about half a +mile east of the rock. + +“Jove, I wish I’d a pair of good glasses,” said Drummond. “They’re +lowering a boat.” + +Jack showed more Highland excitement than Russian stolidity, as he +watched the oncoming of a small boat, beautifully riding the waves, +and masterfully rowed by sailors who understood the art. Drummond stood +imperturbable as a statue. + +“The sweep of those oars is English, Jack, my boy.” + +As the boat came nearer and nearer Jack became more and more agitated. + +“I say, Alan, focus your eyes on that man at the rudder. I think my +sight’s failing me. Look closely. Did you ever see him before?” + +“I think I have, but am not quite sure.” + +“Why, he looks to me like my jovial and venerable father-in-law, Captain +Kempt, of Bar Harbor. Perfectly absurd, of course: it can’t be.” + +“He does resemble the Captain, but I only saw him once or twice.” + +“Hooray, Captain Kempt, how are you?” shouted Jack across the waters. + +The Captain raised his right hand and waved it, but made no attempt to +cover the distance with his voice. Jack ran pell-mell down the steps, +and Drummond followed in more leisurely fashion. The boat swung round to +the landing, and Captain Kempt cried cordially: + +“Hello, Prince, how are you? And that’s Lieutenant Drummond, isn’t it? +Last time I had the pleasure of seeing you, Drummond, was that night of +the ball.” + +“Yes,” said Drummond. “I was very glad to see you then, but a hundred +times happier to see you to-day.” + +“I was just cruising round these waters in my yacht, and I thought +I’d take a look at this rock you tried to obliterate. I don’t see +any perceptible damage done, but what can you expect from British +marksmanship?” + +“I struck the rock on the other side, Captain. I think your remark is +unkind, especially as I’ve just been praising the watermanship of your +men.” + +“Now, are you boys tired of this summer resort?” asked Captain Kempt. +“Is your baggage checked, and are you ready to go? Most seaside places +are deserted this time of year.” + +“We’ll be ready in a moment, captain,” cried his future son-in-law. “I +must run up and get the Governor. We’ve put a number of men in prison +here, and they’ll starve if not released. The Governor’s a good old +chap, though he played it low down on me a few days ago,” and with that +Jack disappeared up the stairway once more. + +“Had a gaol-delivery here?” asked the Captain. + +“Well, something by way of that. The Prince drilled a hole in the rock, +and we got out. We’ve put the garrison in pawn, so to speak, but I’ve +been mighty anxious these last few days because the sail-boat they had +here, and two of the garrison, escaped to the mainland with the news. We +were anxiously watching your yacht, fearing it was Russian. Jack +thought it was the Czar’s yacht. How came you by such a craft, Captain? +Splendid-looking boat that.” + +“Oh, yes, I bought her a few days before I left New York. One likes to +travel comfortably, you know. Very well fitted up she is.” + +Jack shouted from the doorway: + +“Drummond, come up here and fling overboard these loaded rifles. We +can’t take any more chances. I’m going to lock up the ammunition room +and take the key with me as a souvenir.” + +“Excuse me, Captain,” said Drummond, who followed his friend, and +presently bundles of rifles came clattering down the side of the +precipice, plunging into the sea. The two then descended the steps, Jack +in front, Drummond following with the Governor between them. + +“Now, Governor,” said Jack, “for the second time I am to bid you +farewell. Here are the keys. If you accept them you must give me your +word of honor that the boat will not be fired upon. If you do not +promise that, I’ll drop the bunch into the sea, and on your gray head be +the consequences.” + +“I give you my word of honor that you shall not be fired upon.” + +“Very well, Governor. Here are the keys, and good-by.” + +In the flurry of excitement over the yacht’s appearance, both Jack and +Drummond had temporarily forgotten the existence of the tramp steamer +the former had seen beating toward the rock. + +Now Lamont suddenly recalled it. + +“By the way, Governor,” he said, “the relief boat you so thoughtfully +sent for is on her way here. She should reach the rock at almost any +minute now. In fact, I fancy we’ve little time to waste if we want to +avoid a brush. It would be a pity to be nabbed now at the eleventh hour. +Good-by, once more.” + +But the Governor had stepped between him and the boat. + +“I--I am an old man,” he said, speaking with manifest embarrassment. +“I was sent to take charge of this prison as punishment for refusing to +join a Jew massacre plot. Governorship here means no more nor less than +a life imprisonment. My wife and children are on a little estate of mine +in Sweden. It is twelve years since I have seen them. I--” + +“If this story is a ruse to detain us--” + +“No! No!” protested the Governor, and there was no mistaking his +pathetic, eager sincerity. “But--but I shall be shot--or locked in one +of the cells and the water turned on--for letting you escape. Won’t you +take me with you? I will work my passage. Take me as far as Stockholm. +I shall be free there--free to join my wife and to live forever out of +reach of the Grand Dukes. Take me--” + +“Jump in!” ordered Jack, coming to a sudden resolution. “Heaven knows I +would not condemn my worst enemy to a perpetual life on this rock. And +you’ve been pretty decent to us, according to your lights. Jump aboard, +we’ve no time to waste.” + +Nor did the Governor waste time in obeying. The others followed, and the +boat shoved off. But scarcely had the oars caught the water when around +the promontory came a large man-o’-war’s launch, a rapid-fire gun +mounted on her bows. She was manned by about twenty men in Russian +police uniform. + +“From the ‘tramp,’” commented Alan excitedly. “And her gun is trained on +us.” + +“Get down to work!” shouted Jack to the straining oarsmen. + +“No use!” groaned Kempt. “She’ll cross within a hundred yards of us. +There’s no missing at such close range and on such a quiet sea. What a +fool I was to--” + +The launch was, indeed, bearing down on them despite the rowers’ best +efforts, and must unquestionably cut them off before they could reach +the yacht. + +Alan drew his revolver. + +“We’ve no earthly show against her,” he remarked quietly, “and it seems +hard to ‘go down in sight of port.’ But let’s do what we can.” + +“Put up that pop-gun,” ordered Kempt. “She will sink us long before +you’re in range for revolver work. I’ll run up my handkerchief for a +white flag.” + +“To surrender?” + +“What else can we do?” + +“And he lugged back to the rock, all of us? Not I, for one!” + +The launch was now within hailing distance, and every man aboard her was +glaring at the helpless little yacht-gig. + +“Wait!” + +It was the Governor who spoke. Rising from his seat in the stern, he +hailed the officer who was sighting the rapid-fire gun. + +“Lieutenant Tschersky!” he called. + +At sight of the old man’s lean, uniformed figure, rising from among the +rest, there was visible excitement and surprise aboard the launch. The +officer saluted and ordered the engine stopped that he might hear more +plainly. + +“Lieutenant,” repeated the Governor, “I am summoned aboard His Highness +the Grand Duke Vladimir’s yacht. You will proceed to the harbor and +await my return to the rock. There has been a mutiny among the garrison, +but I have quelled it.” + +The officer saluted again, gave an order, and the launch’s nose pointed +for the rock. + +“Governor,” observed Lamont, as the old man sank again into his seat, +“you’ve earned your passage to Stockholm. You need not work for it.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI --THE ELOPEMENT + +THE girls on the yacht had no expectation that Captain Kempt would +come back with the two young men. But when, through their powerful +binoculars, the girls became aware that Drummond and the Prince were +in the small boat, they both fled to the chief saloon, and sat there +holding one another’s hands. Even the exuberant Kate for once had +nothing to say. She heard the voice of her father on deck, giving +command to the mate. + +“Make for Stockholm, Johnson. Take my men-o’-war’s men--see that no one +else touches the ammunition--and fling the shells overboard. Heave the +gun after them, and then clear out the rifles and ammunition the same +way. When we reach Stockholm to-morrow morning, there must not be a gun +on board this ship, and the ridiculous rumor that got abroad among your +men that we were going to attack something or other, you will see is +entirely unfounded. You impress that on them, Johnson.” + +“Oh, Dorothy,” whispered Katherine, drawing a deep breath. “If you are +as frightened as I am, get behind me.” + +“I think I will,” answered Dorothy, and each squeezed the other’s hand. + +“I tell you what it is, Captain,” sounded the confident voice of the +Prince. “This vessel is a beauty. You have done yourself fine. I had no +idea you were such a sybarite. Why, I’ve been aboard the Czar’s yacht, +and I tell you it’s nothing--Great heavens! Katherine!” he shouted, in a +voice that made the ceiling ring. + +She was now standing up and advanced toward him with both hands held +out, a welcoming smile on her pretty lips, but he swooped down on her, +flung his arms round her like a cabman beating warmth into his hands, +kissed her on the brow, the two cheeks and the lips, swaying her back +and forward as if about to fling her upstairs. + +“Stop, stop,” she cried. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Before my +father, too! You great Russian bear!” and, breathless, she put her open +palm against his face, and shoved his head away from her. + +“Don’t bother about me, Kate,” said her father. “That’s nothing to the +way we acted when I was young. Come on, boys, to the smoking-room, +and I’ll mix you something good: real Kentucky, twenty-seven years in +barrel, and I’ve got all the other materials for a Manhattan.” + +“Jack, I am glad to see you,” panted Katherine, all in disarray, which +she endeavored to set right by an agitated touch here and there. “Now, +Jack, I’m going to take you to the smoking-room, but you’ll have to +behave yourself as you walk along the deck. I won’t be made a spectacle +of before the crew.” + +“Come along, Drummond,” said the Captain, “and bring Miss Dorothy with +you.” + +But Drummond stood in front of Dorothy Amhurst, and held out his hand. + +“You haven’t forgotten me, Miss Amhurst, I hope?” + +“Oh, no,” she replied, with a very faint smile, taking his hand. + +“It seems incredible that you are here,” he began. “What a lucky man I +am. Captain Kempt takes his yacht to rescue his son-in-law that is to +be, and incidentally rescues me as well, and then to find you here! I +suppose you came because your friend Miss Kempt was aboard?” + +“Yes, we are all but inseparable.” + +“I wrote you a letter, Miss Amhurst, the last night I was in St. +Petersburg in the summer.” + +“Yes, I received it.” + +“No, not this one. It was the night I was captured, and I never got a +chance to post it. It was an important letter--for me.” + +“I thought it important--for me,” replied Dorothy, now smiling quite +openly. “The Nihilists got it, searching your room after you had been +arrested. It was sent on to New York, and given to me.” + +“Is that possible? How did they know it was for you?” + +“I had been making inquiries through the Nihilists.” + +“I wrote you a proposal of marriage, Dorothy.” + +“It certainly read like it, but you see it wasn’t signed, and you can’t +be held to it.” + +He reached across the table, and grasped her two hands. + +“Dorothy, Dorothy,” he cried, “do you mean you would have cabled ‘Yes’?” + +“No.” + +“You would not?” + +“Of course not. I should have cabled ‘Undecided.’ One gets more for +one’s money in sending a long word. Then I should have written--” she +paused, and he cried eagerly: + +“What?” + +“What do you think?” she asked. + +“Well, do you know, Dorothy, I am beginning to think my incredible luck +will hold, and that you’d have written ‘Yes.’” + +“I don’t know about the luck: that would have been the answer.” + +He sprang up, bent over her, and she, quite unaffectedly raised her face +to his. + +“Oh, Dorothy,” he cried. + +“Oh, Alan,” she replied, with quivering voice, “I never thought to see +you again. You cannot imagine the long agony of this voyage, and not +knowing what had happened.” + +“It’s a blessing, Dorothy, you had learned nothing about the +Trogzmondoff.” + +“Ah, but I did: that’s what frightened me. We have a man on board who +was flung for dead from that dreadful rock. The Baltic saved him; his +mother, he calls it.” + +Drummond picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the luxurious +divan which ran along the side of the large room. There they sat down +together, out of sight of the stairway. + +“Did you get all of my letters?” + +“I think so.” + +“You know I am a poor man?” + +“I know you said so.” + +“Don’t you consider my position poverty? I thought every one over there +had a contempt for an income that didn’t run into tens of thousands.” + +“I told you, Alan, I had been unused to money, and so your income +appears to me quite sufficient.” + +“Then you are not afraid to trust in my future?” + +“Not the least: I believe in you.” + +“Oh, you dear girl. If you knew how sweet that sounds! Then I may tell +you. When I was in London last I ran down to Dartmouth in Devonshire. I +shall be stationed there. You see, I have finished my foreign cruising, +and Dartmouth is, for a time at least, to be my home. There’s a fine +harbor there, green hills and a beautiful river running between them, +and I found such a lovely old house; not grand at all, you know, but so +cosey and comfortable, standing on the heights overlooking the harbor, +in an old garden filled with roses, shrubs, and every kind of flower; +vines clambering about the ancient house. Two servants would keep it +going like a shot. Dorothy, what do you say?” + +Dorothy laughed quietly and whole heartedly. + +“It reads like a bit from an old English romance. I’d just love to see +such a house.” + +“You don’t care for this sort of thing, do you?” he asked, glancing +round about him. + +“What sort of thing?” + +“This yacht, these silk panelling, these gorgeous pictures, the +carving, the gilt, the horribly expensive carpet.” + +“You mean should I feel it necessary to be surrounded by such luxury? I +answer most emphatically, no. I like your ivy-covered house at Dartmouth +much better.” + +For a moment neither said anything: lips cannot speak when pressed +together. + +“Now, Dorothy, I want you to elope with me. We will be in Stockholm +long before daylight to-morrow at the rate this boat is going. I’ll get +ashore as soon as practicable, and make all inquiries at the consulate +about being married. I don’t know what the regulations are, but if it is +possible to be married quietly, say in the afternoon, will you consent +to that, and then write a letter to Captain Kempt, thanking him for the +trip on the yacht, and I’ll write, thanking him for all he has done for +me, and after that we’ll make for England together. I’ve got a letter of +credit in my pocket, which luckily the Russians did not take from me. +I shall find all the money we need at Stockholm, then we’ll cross the +Swedish country, sail to Denmark, make our way through Germany to Paris, +if you like, or to London. We shan’t travel all the time, but just take +nice little day trips, stopping at some quaint old town every afternoon +and evening.” + +“You mean to let Captain Kempt, Katherine, and the Prince go to America +alone?” + +“Of course. Why not? They don’t want us, and I’m quite sure we--well, +Dorothy, we’d be delighted to have them, to be sure--but still, I’ve +knocked a good deal about Europe, and there are some delightful old +towns I’d like to show you, and I hate traveling with a party.” + +Dorothy laughed so heartily that her head sank on his shoulder. + +“Yes, I’ll do that,” she said at last. + +And they did. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + +***** This file should be named 4982-0.txt or 4982-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/9/8/4982/ + +Produced by Jim Weiler + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at + www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” + or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +“Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email +contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the +Foundation’s web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/4982-0.zip b/4982-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..63ab76b --- /dev/null +++ b/4982-0.zip diff --git a/4982-h.zip b/4982-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3615c39 --- /dev/null +++ b/4982-h.zip diff --git a/4982-h/4982-h.htm b/4982-h/4982-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99bf70e --- /dev/null +++ b/4982-h/4982-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9435 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!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" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr, + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr + +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: A Rock in the Baltic + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4982] +Last Updated: October 31, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + + + + +Produced by Jim Weiler and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + A ROCK IN THE BALTIC + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Robert Barr, + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h4> + 1906 + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I —THE INCIDENT AT THE BANK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II —IN THE SEWING-ROOM </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III —ON DECK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV —“AT LAST ALONE” </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V —AFTER THE OPERA IS OVER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI —FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII —“A WAY THEY HAVE IN THE NAVY” + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII —“WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING + HOME” </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX —IN RUSSIA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X —CALAMITY UNSEEN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI —THE SNOW </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII —THE DREADED TROGZMONDOFF </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII —ENTRAPPED </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV —A VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV —“A HOME ON THE ROLLING DEEP” + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI —CELL NUMBER NINE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII —A FELLOW SCIENTIST </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII —CELL NUMBER ONE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX —“STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON + MAKE” </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX —ARRIVAL OF THE TURBINE YACHT + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI —THE ELOPEMENT </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I —THE INCIDENT AT THE BANK + </h2> + <p> + IN the public room of the Sixth National Bank at Bar Harbor in Maine, + Lieutenant Alan Drummond, H.M.S. “Consternation,” stood aside to give + precedence to a lady. The Lieutenant had visited the bank for the purpose + of changing several crisp white Bank of England notes into the currency of + the country he was then visiting. The lady did not appear to notice either + his courtesy or his presence, and this was the more remarkable since + Drummond was a young man sufficiently conspicuous even in a crowd, and he + and she were, at that moment, the only customers in the bank. He was tall, + well-knit and stalwart, blond as a Scandinavian, with dark blue eyes which + he sometimes said jocularly were the colors of his university. He had been + slowly approaching the cashier’s window with the easy movement of a man + never in a hurry, when the girl appeared at the door, and advanced rapidly + to the bank counter with its brass wire screen surrounding the arched + aperture behind which stood the cashier. Although very plainly attired, + her gown nevertheless possessed a charm of simplicity that almost + suggested complex Paris, and she wore it with that air of distinction the + secret of which is supposed to be the exclusive property of French and + American women. + </p> + <p> + The young man saw nothing of this, and although he appreciated the beauty + of the girl, what struck him at that instant was the expression of anxiety + on her face, whose apparently temporary pallor was accentuated by an + abundance of dark hair. It seemed to him that she had resolutely set + herself a task which she was most reluctant to perform. From the moment + she entered the door her large, dark eyes were fixed almost appealingly on + the cashier, and they beheld nothing else. Drummond, mentally slow as he + usually was, came to the quick conclusion that this was a supreme moment + in her life, on which perhaps great issues depended. He saw her left hand + grasp the corner of the ledge in front of the cashier with a grip of + nervous tension, as if the support thus attained was necessary to her. Her + right hand trembled slightly as she passed an oblong slip of paper through + the aperture to the calm and indifferent official. + </p> + <p> + “Will you give me the money for this check?” she asked in a low voice. + </p> + <p> + The cashier scrutinized the document for some time in silence. The + signature appeared unfamiliar to him. + </p> + <p> + “One moment, madam,” he said quietly, and retired to a desk in the back + part of the bank, where he opened a huge book, turned over some leaves + rapidly, and ran his finger down a page. His dilatory action seemed to + increase the young woman’s panic. Her pallor increased, and she swayed + slightly, as if in danger of falling, but brought her right hand to the + assistance of the left, and so steadied herself against the ledge of the + cashier’s counter. + </p> + <p> + “By Jove!” said the Lieutenant to himself, “there’s something wrong here. + I wonder what it is. Such a pretty girl, too!” + </p> + <p> + The cashier behind his screen saw nothing of this play of the emotions. He + returned nonchalantly to his station, and asked, in commonplace tones: + </p> + <p> + “How will you have the money, madam?” + </p> + <p> + “Gold, if you please,” she replied almost in a whisper, a rosy flush + chasing the whiteness from her face, while a deep sigh marked the passing + of a crisis. + </p> + <p> + At this juncture an extraordinary thing happened. The cashier counted out + some golden coins, and passed them through the aperture toward their new + owner. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” said the girl. Then, without touching the money, she turned + like one hypnotized, her unseeing eyes still taking no heed of the big + Lieutenant, and passed rapidly out of the bank, The cashier paid no regard + to this abandonment of treasure. He was writing some hieroglyphics on the + cashed check. + </p> + <p> + “By Jove!” gasped the Lieutenant aloud, springing forward as he spoke, + sweeping the coins into his hand, and bolting for the door. This was an + action which would have awakened the most negligent cashier had he been in + a trance. Automatically he whisked out a revolver which lay in an open + drawer under his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Stop, you scoundrel, or I fire!” he shouted, but the Lieutenant had + already disappeared. Quick as thought the cashier darted into the passage, + and without waiting to unfasten the low door which separated the public + and private rooms of the bank, leaped over it, and, bareheaded, gave + chase. A British naval officer in uniform, rapidly overtaking a young + woman, quite unconscious of his approach, followed by an excited, + bareheaded man with a revolver in his grasp, was a sight which would + quickly have collected a crowd almost anywhere, but it happened to be the + lunch hour, and the inhabitants of that famous summer resort were + in-doors; thus, fortunately, the street was deserted. The naval officer + was there because the hour of the midday meal on board the cruiser did not + coincide with lunch time on shore. The girl was there because it happened + to be the only portion of the day when she could withdraw unobserved from + the house in which she lived, during banking hours, to try her little + agitating financial experiment. The cashier was there because the bank had + no lunch hour, and because he had just witnessed the most suspicious + circumstance that his constantly alert eye had ever beheld. Calm and + imperturbable as a bank cashier may appear to the outside public, he is a + man under constant strain during business hours. Each person with whom he + is unacquainted that confronts him at his post is a possible robber who at + any moment may attempt, either by violence or chicanery, to filch the + treasure he guards. The happening of any event outside the usual routine + at once arouses a cashier’s distrust, and this sudden flight of a stranger + with money which did not belong to him quite justified the perturbation of + the cashier. From that point onward, innocence of conduct or explanation + so explicit as to satisfy any ordinary man, becomes evidence of more + subtle guilt to the mind of a bank official. The ordinary citizen, seeing + the Lieutenant finally overtake and accost the hurrying girl, raise his + cap, then pour into her outstretched hand the gold he had taken, would + have known at once that here was an every-day exercise of natural + politeness. Not so the cashier. The farther he got from the bank, the more + poignantly did he realize that these two in front, both strangers to him, + had, by their combined action, lured him, pistol and all, away from his + post during the dullest hour of the day. It was not the decamping with + those few pieces of gold which now troubled him: it was fear of what might + be going on behind him. He was positive that these two had acted in + conjunction. The uniform worn by the man did not impose upon him. Any + thief could easily come by a uniform, and, as his mind glanced rapidly + backwards over the various points of the scheme, he saw how effectual the + plan was: first, the incredible remissness of the woman in leaving her + gold on the counter; second, the impetuous disappearance of the man with + the money; and, third, his own heedless plunge into the street after them. + He saw the whole plot in a flash: he had literally leaped into the trap, + and during his five or ten minutes’ absence, the accomplices of the pair + might have overawed the unarmed clerks, and walked off with the treasure. + His cash drawer was unlocked, and even the big safe stood wide open. + Surprise had as effectually lured him away as if he had been a country + bumpkin. Bitterly and breathlessly did he curse his own precipitancy. His + duty was to guard the bank, yet it had not been the bank that was robbed, + but, at best a careless woman who had failed to pick up her money. He held + the check for it, and the loss, if any, was hers, not the bank’s, yet here + he was, running bareheaded down the street like a fool, and now those two + stood quite calmly together, he handing her the money, and thus spreading + a mantle of innocence over the vile trick. But whatever was happening in + the bank, he would secure two of the culprits at least. The two, quite + oblivious of the danger that threatened them, were somewhat startled by a + panting man, trembling with rage, bareheaded, and flourishing a deadly + weapon, sweeping down upon them. + </p> + <p> + “Come back to the bank instantly, you two!” he shouted. + </p> + <p> + “Why?” asked the Lieutenant in a quiet voice. + </p> + <p> + “Because I say so, for one thing.” + </p> + <p> + “That reason is unanswerable,” replied the Lieutenant with a slight laugh, + which further exasperated his opponent. “I think you are exciting yourself + unnecessarily. May I beg you to put that pistol in your pocket? On the + cruiser we always cover up the guns when ladies honor us with their + presence. You wish me to return because I had no authority for taking the + money? Right: come along.” + </p> + <p> + The cashier regarded this as bluff, and an attempt to give the woman + opportunity to escape. + </p> + <p> + “You must come back also,” he said to the girl. + </p> + <p> + “I’d rather not,” she pleaded in a low voice, and it was hardly possible + to have made a more injudicious remark if she had taken the whole + afternoon to prepare. + </p> + <p> + Renewed determination shone from the face of the cashier. + </p> + <p> + “You must come back to the bank,” he reiterated. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I say,” protested the Lieutenant, “you are now exceeding your + authority. I alone am the culprit. The young lady is quite blameless, and + you have no right to detain her for a moment.” + </p> + <p> + The girl, who had been edging away and showing signs of flight, which the + bareheaded man, visibly on the alert, leaned forward ready to intercept, + seemed to make up her mind to bow to the inevitable. Ignoring the cashier, + she looked up at the blond Lieutenant with a slight smile on her pretty + lips. + </p> + <p> + “It was really all my fault at the beginning,” she said, “and very stupid + of me. I am slightly acquainted with the bank manager, and I am sure he + will vouch for me, if he is there.” + </p> + <p> + With that she turned and walked briskly toward the bank, at so rapid a + pace as to indicate that she did not wish an escort. The bareheaded + official found his anger unaccountably deserting him, while a great fear + that he had put his foot in it took its place. + </p> + <p> + “Really,” said the Lieutenant gently, as they strode along together, “an + official in your position should be a good judge of human nature. How any + sane person, especially a young man, can look at that beautiful girl and + suspect her of evil, passes my comprehension. Do you know her?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the cashier shortly. “Do you?” + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant laughed genially. + </p> + <p> + “Still suspicious, eh?” he asked. “No, I don’t know her, but to use a + banking term, you may bet your bottom dollar I’m going to. Indeed, I am + rather grateful to you for your stubbornness in forcing us to return. It’s + a quality I like, and you possess it in marvelous development, so I intend + to stand by you when the managerial censure is due. I’m very certain I met + your manager at the dinner they gave us last night. Mr. Morton, isn’t he?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” growled the cashier, in gruff despondency. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, that’s awfully jolly. One of the finest fellows I’ve met in ten + years. Now, the lady said she was acquainted with him, so if I don’t + wheedle an introduction out of him, it will show that a man at a dinner + and a man in a bank are two different individuals. You were looking for + plots; so there is mine laid bare to you. It’s an introduction, not gold, + I’m conspiring for.” + </p> + <p> + The cashier had nothing further to say. When they entered the bank + together he saw the clerks all busily at work, and knew that no startling + event had happened during his absence. The girl had gone direct to the + manager’s room, and thither the young men followed her. The bank manager + was standing at his desk, trying to preserve a severe financial cast of + countenance, which the twinkle in his eyes belied. The girl, also + standing, had evidently been giving him a rapid sketch of what had + occurred, but now fell into silence when accuser and accomplice appeared. + </p> + <p> + The advent of the Englishman was a godsend to the manager. He was too + courteous a gentleman to laugh in the face of a lady who very seriously + was relating a set of incidents which appealed to his sense of humor, so + the coming of the Lieutenant enabled him to switch off his mirth on + another subject, and in reply to the officer’s cordial “Good-morning, Mr. + Morton,” he replied: + </p> + <p> + “Why, Lieutenant, I’m delighted to see you. That was a very jolly song you + sang for us last night: I’ll never forget it. What do you call it? + Whittington Fair?” And he laughed outright, as at a genial recollection. + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant blushed red as a girl, and stammered: + </p> + <p> + “Really, Mr. Morton, you know, that’s not according to the rules of + evidence. When a fellow comes up for trial, previous convictions are never + allowed to be mentioned till after the sentence. Whiddicomb Fair should + not be held against me in the present crisis.” + </p> + <p> + The manager chuckled gleefully. The cashier, when he saw how the land lay, + had quietly withdrawn, closing the door behind him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Lieutenant, I think I must have this incident cabled to Europe,” + said Morton, “so the effete nations of your continent may know that a + plain bank cashier isn’t afraid to tackle the British navy. Indeed, Mr. + Drummond, if you read history, you will learn that this is a dangerous + coast for your warships. It seems rather inhospitable that a guest of our + town cannot pick all the gold he wants out of a bank, but a cashier has + necessarily somewhat narrow views on the subject. I was just about to + apologize to Miss Amhurst, who is a valued client of ours, when you came + in, and I hope, Miss Amhurst”—he continued gravely, turning to the + girl—“that you will excuse us for the inconvenience to which you + have been put.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it does not matter in the least,” replied the young woman, with + nevertheless a sigh of relief. “It was all my own fault in so carelessly + leaving the money. Some time, when less in a hurry than I am at the + present moment, I will tell you how I came to make the blunder.” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the manager caught and interpreted correctly an imploring look + from the Lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “Before you go, Miss Amhurst, will you permit me to introduce to you my + friend, Lieutenant Drummond, of H.M.S. ‘Consternation.’” + </p> + <p> + This ritual to convention being performed, the expression on the girl’s + face showed the renewal of her anxiety to be gone, and as she turned to + the door, the officer sprang forward and opened it for her. If the manager + expected the young man to return, he was disappointed, for Drummond threw + over his shoulder the hasty remark: + </p> + <p> + “I will see you at the Club this evening,” whereupon the genial Morton, + finding himself deserted, sat down in his swivel chair and laughed quietly + to himself. + </p> + <p> + There was the slightest possible shade of annoyance on the girl’s face as + the sailor walked beside her from the door of the manager’s room, through + the public portion of the bank to the exit, and the young man noticing + this, became momentarily tongue-tied, but nevertheless persisted, with a + certain awkward doggedness which was not going to allow so slight a hint + that his further attendance was unnecessary, to baffle him. He did not + speak until they had passed down the stone steps to the pavement, and then + his utterance began with a half-embarrassed stammer, as if the shadow of + displeasure demanded justification on his part. + </p> + <p> + “You—you see, Miss Amhurst, we have been properly introduced.” + </p> + <p> + For the first time he heard the girl laugh, just a little, and the sound + was very musical to him. + </p> + <p> + “The introduction was of the slightest,” she said. “I cannot claim even an + acquaintance with Mr. Morton, although I did so in the presence of his + persistent subordinate. I have met the manager of the bank but once + before, and that for a few moments only, when he showed me where to sign + my name in a big book.” + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless,” urged Drummond, “I shall defend the validity of that + introduction against all comers. The head of a bank is a most important + man in every country, and his commendation is really very much sought + after.” + </p> + <p> + “You appear to possess it. He complimented your singing, you know,” and + there was a roguish twinkle in the girl’s eye as she glanced up sideways + at him, while a smile came to her lips as she saw the color again mount to + his cheeks. She had never before met a man who blushed, and she could not + help regarding him rather as a big boy than a person to be taken + seriously. His stammer became more pronounced. + </p> + <p> + “I—I think you are laughing at me, Miss Amhurst, and indeed I don’t + wonder at it, and I—I am afraid you consider me even more persistent + than the cashier. But I did want to tell you how sorry I am to have caused + you annoyance.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you have not done so,” replied the girl quickly. “As I said before, + it was all my own fault in the beginning.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I shouldn’t have taken the gold. I should have come up with you, and + told you that it still awaited you in the bank, and now I beg your + permission to walk down the street with you, because if any one were + looking at us from these windows, and saw us pursued by a bareheaded man + with a revolver, they will now, on looking out again, learn that it is all + right, and may even come to regard the revolver and the hatless one as an + optical delusion.” + </p> + <p> + Again the girl laughed. + </p> + <p> + “I am quite unknown in Bar Harbor, having fewer acquaintances than even a + stranger like yourself, therefore so far as I am concerned it does not in + the least matter whether any one saw us or not. We shall walk together, + then, as far as the spot where the cashier overtook us, and this will give + me an opportunity of explaining, if not of excusing, my leaving the money + on the counter. I am sure my conduct must have appeared inexplicable both + to you and the cashier, although, of course, you would be too polite to + say so.” + </p> + <p> + “I assure you, Miss Amhurst—” + </p> + <p> + “I know what you would say,” she interrupted, with a vivacity which had + not heretofore characterized her, “but, you see, the distance to the + corner is short, and, as I am in a hurry, if you don’t wish my story to be + continued in our next—” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, if there is to be a next—” murmured the young man so fervently + that it was now the turn of color to redden her cheeks. + </p> + <p> + “I am talking heedlessly,” she said quickly. “What I want to say is this: + I have never had much money. Quite recently I inherited what had been + accumulated by a relative whom I never knew. It seemed so incredible, so + strange—well, it seems incredible and strange yet—and I have + been expecting to wake and find it all a dream. Indeed, when you overtook + me at this spot where we now stand, I feared you had come to tell me it + was a mistake; to hurl me from the clouds to the hard earth again.” + </p> + <p> + “But it was just the reverse of that,” he cried eagerly. “Just the + reverse, remember. I came to confirm your dream, and you received from my + hand the first of your fortune.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” she admitted, her eyes fixed on the sidewalk. + </p> + <p> + “I see how it was,” he continued enthusiastically. “I suppose you had + never drawn a check before.” + </p> + <p> + “Never,” she conceded. + </p> + <p> + “And this was merely a test. You set up your dream against the hard common + sense of a bank, which has no dreams. You were to transform your vision + into the actual, or find it vanish. When the commonplace cashier passed + forth the coin, their jingle said to you, ‘The supposed phantasy is real,’ + but the gold pieces themselves at that supreme moment meant no more to you + than so many worthless counters, so you turned your back upon them.” + </p> + <p> + She looked up at him, her eyes, though moist, illumined with pleasure + inspired by the sympathy in his tones rather than the import of his words. + The girl’s life heretofore had been as scant of kindness as of cash, and + there was a deep sincerity in his voice which was as refreshing to her + lonesome heart as it was new to her experience. This man was not so stupid + as he had pretended to be. He had accurately divined the inner meaning of + what had happened. She had forgotten the necessity for haste which had + been so importunate a few minutes before. + </p> + <p> + “You must be a mind-reader,” she said. + </p> + <p> + “No, I am not at all a clever person,” he laughed. “Indeed, as I told you, + I am always blundering into trouble, and making things uncomfortable for + my friends. I regret to say I am rather under a cloud just now in the + service, and I have been called upon to endure the frown of my superiors.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what has happened?” she asked. After their temporary halt at the + corner where they had been overtaken, they now strolled along together + like old friends, her prohibition out of mind. + </p> + <p> + “Well, you see, I was temporarily in command of the cruiser coming down + the Baltic, and passing an island rock a few miles away, I thought it + would be a good opportunity to test a new gun that had been put aboard + when we left England. The sea was very calm, and the rock most temptsome. + Of course I knew it was Russian territory, but who could have imagined + that such a point in space was inhabited by anything else than sea-gulls.” + </p> + <p> + “What!” cried the girl, looking up at him with new interest. “You don’t + mean to say you are the officer that Russia demanded from England, and + England refused to give up?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, England could not give me up, of course, but she apologized, and + assured Russia she had no evil intent. Still, anything that sets the + diplomatists at work is frowned upon, and the man who does an act which + his government is forced to disclaim becomes unpopular with his + superiors.” + </p> + <p> + “I read about it in the papers at the time. Didn’t the rock fire back at + you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it did, and no one could have been more surprised than I when I saw + the answering puff of smoke.” + </p> + <p> + “How came a cannon to be there?” + </p> + <p> + “Nobody knows. I suppose that rock in the Baltic is a concealed fort, with + galleries and gun-rooms cut in the stone after the fashion of our defences + at Gibraltar. I told the court-martial that I had added a valuable bit of + information to our naval knowledge, but I don’t suppose this contention + exercised any influence on the minds of my judges. I also called their + attention to the fact that my shell had hit, while the Russian shot fell + half a mile short. That remark nearly cost me my commission. A + court-martial has no sense of humor.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose everything is satisfactorily settled now?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, hardly that. You see, Continental nations are extremely suspicious + of Britain’s good intentions, as indeed they are of the good intentions of + each other. No government likes to have—well, what we might call a + ‘frontier incident’ happen, and even if a country is quite in the right, + it nevertheless looks askance at any official of its own who, through his + stupidity, brings about an international complication. As concerns myself, + I am rather under a cloud, as I told you. The court-martial acquitted me, + but it did so with reluctance and a warning. I shall have to walk very + straight for the next year or two, and be careful not to stub my toe, for + the eyes of the Admiralty are upon me. However, I think I can straighten + this matter out. I have six months’ leave coming on shortly, which I + intend to spend in St. Petersburg. I shall make it my business to see + privately some of the officials in the Admiralty there, and when they + realize by personal inspection what a well-intentioned idiot I am, all + distrust will vanish.” + </p> + <p> + “I should do nothing of the kind,” rejoined the girl earnestly, quite + forgetting the shortness of their acquaintance, as she had forgotten the + flight of time, while on his part he did not notice any incongruity in the + situation. “I’d leave well enough alone,” she added. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you think that?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Your own country has investigated the matter, and has deliberately run + the risk of unpleasantness by refusing to give you up. How, then, can you + go there voluntarily? You would be acting in your private capacity + directly in opposition to the decision arrived at by your government.” + </p> + <p> + “Technically, that is so; still, England would not hold the position she + does in the world to-day if her men had not often taken a course in their + private capacity which the government would never have sanctioned. As + things stand now, Russia has not insisted on her demand, but has sullenly + accepted England’s decision, still quite convinced that my act was not + only an invasion of Russia’s domain, but a deliberate insult; therefore + the worst results of an inconsiderate action on my part remain. If I could + see the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or the head of the Admiralty in St. + Petersburg face to face for ten minutes, I’d undertake to remove that + impression.” + </p> + <p> + “You have great faith in your persuasive powers,” she said demurely. + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant began to stammer again. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, it isn’t so much that, but I have great faith in the Russian as a + judge of character. I suppose I am imagined to be a venomous, + brow-beating, truculent Russophobe, who has maliciously violated their + territory, flinging a shell into their ground and an insult into their + face. They are quite sincere in this belief. I want to remove that + impression, and there’s nothing like an ocular demonstration. I like the + Russians. One of my best friends is a Russian.” + </p> + <p> + The girl shook her head. + </p> + <p> + “I shouldn’t attempt it,” she persisted. “Suppose Russia arrested you, and + said to England, ‘We’ve got this man in spite of you’?” + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant laughed heartily. + </p> + <p> + “That is unthinkable: Russia wouldn’t do such a thing. In spite of all + that is said about the Russian Government, its members are gentlemen. Of + course, if such a thing happened, there would be trouble. That is a point + where we’re touchy. A very cheap Englishman, wrongfully detained, may + cause a most expensive campaign. Our diplomatists may act correctly + enough, and yet leave a feeling of resentment behind. Take this very case. + Britain says coldly to Russia: + </p> + <p> + “‘We disclaim the act, and apologize.’ + </p> + <p> + “Now, it would be much more to the purpose if she said genially: + </p> + <p> + “‘We have in our employment an impetuous young fool with a thirst for + information. He wished to learn how a new piece of ordnance would act, so + fired it off with no more intention of striking Russia than of hitting the + moon. He knows much more about dancing than about foreign affairs. We’ve + given him a month’s leave, and he will slip across privately to St. + Petersburg to apologize and explain. The moment you see him you will + recognize he is no menace to the peace of nations. Meanwhile, if you can + inculcate in him some cold, calm common-sense before he returns, we’ll be + ever so much obliged.’” + </p> + <p> + “So you are determined to do what you think the government should have + done.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, quite. There will be nothing frigidly official about my unauthorized + mission. I have a cousin in the embassy at St. Petersburg, but I shan’t go + near him; neither shall I go to an hotel, but will get quiet rooms + somewhere that I may not run the risk of meeting any chance + acquaintances.” + </p> + <p> + “It seems to me you are about to afford the Russian Government an + excellent opportunity of spiriting you off to Siberia, and nobody would be + the wiser.” + </p> + <p> + Drummond indulged in the free-hearted laugh of a youth to whom life is + still rather a good joke. + </p> + <p> + “I shouldn’t mind studying the Siberian system from the inside if they + allowed me to return before my leave was up. I believe that sort of thing + has been exaggerated by sensational writers. The Russian Government would + not countenance anything of the kind, and if the minor officials tried to + play tricks, there’s always my cousin in the background, and it would be + hard luck if I couldn’t get a line to him. Oh, there’s no danger in my + project!” + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the girl came to a standstill, and gave expression to a little + cry of dismay. + </p> + <p> + “What’s wrong?” asked the Lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “Why, we’ve walked clear out into the country!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, is that all? I hadn’t noticed.” + </p> + <p> + “And there are people waiting for me. I must run.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, let them wait.” + </p> + <p> + “I should have been back long since.” + </p> + <p> + They had turned, and she was hurrying. + </p> + <p> + “Think of your new fortune, Miss Amhurst, safely lodged in our friend + Morton’s bank, and don’t hurry for any one.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn’t say it was a fortune: there’s only ten thousand dollars there.” + </p> + <p> + “That sounds formidable, but unless the people who are waiting for you + muster more than ten thousand apiece, I don’t think you should make haste + on their account.” + </p> + <p> + “It’s the other way about, Mr. Drummond. Individually they are poorer than + I, therefore I should have returned long ago. Now, I fear, they will be in + a temper.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if anybody left me two thousand pounds, I’d take an afternoon off + to celebrate. Here we are in the suburbs again. Won’t you change your mind + and your direction; let us get back into the country, sit down on the + hillside, look at the Bay, and gloat over your wealth?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy Amhurst shook her head and held out her hand. + </p> + <p> + “I must bid you good-by here, Lieutenant Drummond. This is my shortest way + home.” + </p> + <p> + “May I not accompany you just a little farther?” + </p> + <p> + “Please, no, I wish to go the rest of the way alone.” + </p> + <p> + He held her hand, which she tried to withdraw, and spoke with animation. + </p> + <p> + “There’s so much I wanted to say, but perhaps the most important is this: + I shall see you the night of the 14th, at the ball we are giving on the + ‘Consternation’?” + </p> + <p> + “It is very likely,” laughed the girl, “unless you overlook me in the + throng. There will be a great mob. I hear you have issued many + invitations.” + </p> + <p> + “We hope all our friends will come. It’s going to be a great function. + Your Secretary of the Navy has promised to look in on us, and our + Ambassador from Washington will be there. I assure you we are doing our + best, with festooned electric lights, hanging draperies, and all that, for + we want to make the occasion at least remotely worthy of the hospitality + we have received. Of course you have your card, but I wish you hadn’t, so + that I might have the privilege of sending you one or more invitations.” + </p> + <p> + “That would be quite unnecessary,” said the girl, again with a slight + laugh and heightened color. + </p> + <p> + “If any of your friends need cards of invitation, won’t you let me know, + so that I may send them to you?” + </p> + <p> + “I’m sure I shan’t need any, but if I do, I promise to remember your + kindness, and apply.” + </p> + <p> + “It will be a pleasure for me to serve you. With whom shall you come? I + should like to know the name, in case I should miss you in the crowd.” + </p> + <p> + “I expect to be with Captain Kempt, of the United States Navy.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said the Lieutenant, with a note of disappointment in his voice + which he had not the diplomacy to conceal. His hold of her hand relaxed, + and she took the opportunity to withdraw it. + </p> + <p> + “What sort of a man is Captain Kempt? I shall be on the lookout for him, + you know.” + </p> + <p> + “I think he is the handsomest man I have ever seen, and I know he is the + kindest and most courteous.” + </p> + <p> + “Really? A young man, I take it?” + </p> + <p> + “There speaks the conceit of youth,” said Dorothy, smiling. “Captain + Kempt, U.S.N., retired. His youngest daughter is just two years older than + myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, Captain Kempt. I—I remember him now. He was at the dinner + last night, and sat beside our captain. What a splendid story-teller he + is!” cried the Lieutenant with honest enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + “I shall tell him that, and ask him how he liked your song. Good-by,” and + before the young man could collect his thoughts to make any reply, she was + gone. + </p> + <p> + Skimming lightly over the ground at first, she gradually slackened her + pace, and slowed down to a very sober walk until she came to a + three-storied so-called “cottage” overlooking the Bay, then with a sigh + she opened the gate, and went into the house by the servant’s entrance. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II —IN THE SEWING-ROOM + </h2> + <p> + THREE women occupied the sewing-room with the splendid outlook: a mother + and her two daughters. The mother sat in a low rocking-chair, a picture of + mournful helplessness, her hands listlessly resting on her lap, while + tears had left their traces on her time-worn face. The elder daughter + paced up and down the room as striking an example of energy and impatience + as was the mother of despondency. Her comely brow was marred by an angry + frown. The younger daughter stood by the long window, her forehead resting + against the pane, while her fingers drummed idly on the window sill. Her + gaze was fixed on the blue Bay, where rested the huge British warship + “Consternation,” surrounded by a section of the United States squadron + seated like white swans in the water. Sails of snow glistened here and + there on the bosom of the Bay, while motor-boats and what-not darted this + way and that impudently among the stately ships of the fleet. + </p> + <p> + In one corner of the room stood a sewing-machine, and on the long table + were piles of mimsy stuff out of which feminine creations are constructed. + There was no carpet on the floor, and no ceiling overhead; merely the bare + rafters and the boards that bore the pine shingles of the outer roof; yet + this attic was notable for the glorious view to be seen from its window. + It was an ideal workshop. + </p> + <p> + The elder girl, as she walked to and fro, spoke with nervous irritation in + her voice. + </p> + <p> + “There is absolutely no excuse, mamma, and it’s weakness in you to pretend + that there may be. The woman has been gone for hours. There’s her lunch on + the table which has never been tasted, and the servant brought it up at + twelve.” + </p> + <p> + She pointed to a tray on which were dishes whose cold contents bore out + the truth of her remark. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps she’s gone on strike,” said the younger daughter, without + removing her eyes from H.M.S. “Consternation.” “I shouldn’t wonder if we + went downstairs again we’d find the house picketed to keep away + blacklegs.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you can always be depended on to talk frivolous nonsense,” said her + elder sister scornfully. “It’s the silly sentimental fashion in which both + you and father treat work-people that makes them so difficult to deal + with. If the working classes were taught their place—” + </p> + <p> + “Working classes! How you talk! Dorothy is as much a lady as we are, and + sometimes I think rather more of a lady than either of us. She is the + daughter of a clergyman.” + </p> + <p> + “So she says,” sniffed the elder girl. + </p> + <p> + “Well, she ought to know,” replied the younger indifferently. + </p> + <p> + “It’s people like you who spoil dependents in her position, with your + Dorothy this and Dorothy that. Her name is Amhurst.” + </p> + <p> + “Christened Dorothy, as witness godfather and godmother,” murmured the + younger without turning her head. + </p> + <p> + “I think,” protested their mother meekly, as if to suggest a compromise, + and throw oil on the troubled waters, “that she is entitled to be called + Miss Amhurst, and treated with kindness but with reserve.” + </p> + <p> + “Tush!” exclaimed the elder indignantly, indicating her rejection of the + compromise. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t see,” murmured the younger, “why you should storm, Sabina. You + nagged and nagged at her until she’d finished your ball-dress. It is mamma + and I that have a right to complain. Our dresses are almost untouched, + while you can sail grandly along the decks of the ‘Consternation’ like a + fully rigged yacht. There, I’m mixing my similes again, as papa always + says. A yacht doesn’t sail along the deck of a battleship, does it?” + </p> + <p> + “It’s a cruiser,” weakly corrected the mother, who knew something of naval + affairs. + </p> + <p> + “Well, cruiser, then. Sabina is afraid that papa won’t go unless we all + have grand new dresses, but mother can put on her old black silk, and I am + going if I have to wear a cotton gown.” + </p> + <p> + “To think of that person accepting our money, and absenting herself in + this disgraceful way!” + </p> + <p> + “Accepting our money! That shows what it is to have an imagination. Why, I + don’t suppose Dorothy has had a penny for three months, and you know the + dress material was bought on credit.” + </p> + <p> + “You must remember,” chided the mother mildly, “that your father is not + rich.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I am only pleading for a little humanity. The girl for some reason + has gone out. She hasn’t had a bite to eat since breakfast time, and I + know there’s not a silver piece in her pocket to buy a bun in a + milk-shop.” + </p> + <p> + “She has no business to be absent without leave,” said Sabina. + </p> + <p> + “How you talk! As if she were a sailor on a battleship—I mean a + cruiser.” + </p> + <p> + “Where can the girl have gone?” wailed the mother, almost wringing her + hands, partially overcome by the crisis. “Did she say anything about going + out to you, Katherine? She sometimes makes a confidant of you, doesn’t + she?” + </p> + <p> + “Confidant!” exclaimed Sabina wrathfully. + </p> + <p> + “I know where she has gone,” said Katherine with an innocent sigh. + </p> + <p> + “Then why didn’t you tell us before?” exclaimed mother and daughter in + almost identical terms. + </p> + <p> + “She has eloped with the captain of the ‘Consternation,’” explained + Katherine calmly, little guessing that her words contained a color of + truth. “Papa sat next him at the dinner last night, and says he is a jolly + old salt and a bachelor. Papa was tremendously taken with him, and they + discussed tactics together. Indeed, papa has quite a distinct English + accent this morning, and I suspect a little bit of a headache which he + tries to conceal with a wavering smile.” + </p> + <p> + “You can’t conceal a headache, because it’s invisible,” said the mother + seriously. “I wish you wouldn’t talk so carelessly, Katherine, and you + mustn’t speak like that of your father.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, papa and I understand one another,” affirmed Katherine with great + confidence, and now for the first time during this conversation the young + girl turned her face away from the window, for the door had opened to let + in the culprit. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Amhurst, what is the meaning of this?” cried Sabina before her foot + was fairly across the threshold. + </p> + <p> + All three women looked at the newcomer. Her beautiful face was aglow, + probably through the exertion of coming up the stairs, and her eyes shone + like those of the Goddess of Freedom as she returned steadfastly the + supercilious stare with which the tall Sabina regarded her. + </p> + <p> + “I was detained,” she said quietly. + </p> + <p> + “Why did you go away without permission?” + </p> + <p> + “Because I had business to do which could not be transacted in this room.” + </p> + <p> + “That doesn’t answer my question. Why did you not ask permission?” + </p> + <p> + The girl slowly raised her two hands, and showed her shapely wrists close + together, and a bit of the forearm not covered by the sleeve of her black + dress. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” she said slowly, “the shackles have fallen from these wrists.” + </p> + <p> + “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” said Sabina, apparently impressed + in spite of herself, but the younger daughter clapped her hands + rapturously. + </p> + <p> + “Splendid, splendid, Dorothy,” she cried. “I don’t know what you mean + either, but you look like Maxine Elliott in that play where she—” + </p> + <p> + “Will you keep quiet!” interrupted the elder sister over her shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “I mean that I intend to sew here no longer,” proclaimed Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Miss Amhurst, Miss Amhurst,” bemoaned the matron. “You will + heartlessly leave us in this crisis when we are helpless; when there is + not a sewing woman to be had in the place for love or money. Every one is + working night and day to be ready for the ball on the fourteenth, and you—you + whom we have nurtured—” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose she gets more money,” sneered the elder daughter bitterly. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy,” said Katherine, coming a step forward and clasping her + hands, “do you mean to say I must attend the ball in a calico dress after + all? But I’m going, nevertheless, if I dance in a morning wrapper.” + </p> + <p> + “Katherine,” chided her mother, “don’t talk like that.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course, where more money is in the question, kindness does not count,” + snapped the elder daughter. + </p> + <p> + Dorothy Amhurst smiled when Sabina mentioned the word kindness. + </p> + <p> + “With me, of course, it’s entirely a question of money,” she admitted. + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, I never thought it of you,” said Katherine, with an exaggerated + sigh. “I wish it were a fancy dress ball, then I’d borrow my brother + Jack’s uniform, and go in that.” + </p> + <p> + “Katherine, I’m shocked at you,” complained the mother. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t care: I’d make a stunning little naval cadet. But, Dorothy, you + must be starved to death; you’ve never touched your lunch.” + </p> + <p> + “You seem to have forgotten everything to-day,” said Sabina severely. + “Duty and everything else.” + </p> + <p> + “You are quite right,” murmured Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “And did you elope with the captain of the ‘Consternation,’ and were you + married secretly, and was it before a justice of the peace? Do tell us all + about it.” + </p> + <p> + “What are you saying?” asked Dorothy, with a momentary alarm coming into + her eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I was just telling mother and Sab that you had skipped by the light + of the noon, with the captain of the ‘Consternation,’ who was a jolly old + bachelor last night, but may be a married man to-day if my suspicions are + correct. Oh, Dorothy, must I go to the ball in a dress of print?” + </p> + <p> + The sewing girl bent an affectionate look on the impulsive Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “Kate, dear,” she said, “you shall wear the grandest ball dress that ever + was seen in Bar Harbor.” + </p> + <p> + “How dare you call my sister Kate, and talk such nonsense?” demanded + Sabina. + </p> + <p> + “I shall always call you Miss Kempt, and now, if I have your permission, I + will sit down. I am tired.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and hungry, too,” cried Katherine. “What shall I get you, Dorothy? + This is all cold.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, I am not in the least hungry.” + </p> + <p> + “Wouldn’t you like a cup of tea?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy laughed a little wearily. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I would,” she said, “and some bread and butter.” + </p> + <p> + “And cake, too,” suggested Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “And cake, too, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine skipped off downstairs. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I declare!” ejaculated Sabina with a gasp, drawing herself + together, as if the bottom had fallen out of the social fabric. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Captain Kempt folded her hands one over the other and put on a look + of patient resignation, as one who finds all the old landmarks swept away + from before her. + </p> + <p> + “Is there anything else we can get for you?” asked Sabina icily. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied Dorothy, with serene confidence, “I should be very much + obliged if Captain Kempt would obtain for me a card of invitation to the + ball on the ‘Consternation.’” + </p> + <p> + “Really!” gasped Sabina, “and may not my mother supplement my father’s + efforts by providing you with a ball dress for the occasion?” + </p> + <p> + “I could not think of troubling her, Miss Kempt. Some of my customers have + flattered me by saying that my taste in dress is artistic, and that my + designs, if better known, might almost set a fashion in a small way, so I + shall look after my costume myself; but if Mrs. Captain Kempt were kind + enough to allow me to attend the ball under her care, I should be very + grateful for it.” + </p> + <p> + “How admirable! And is there nothing that I can do to forward your + ambitions, Miss Amhurst?” + </p> + <p> + “I am going to the ball merely as a looker-on, and perhaps you might smile + at me as you pass by with your different partners, so that people would + say I was an acquaintance of yours.” + </p> + <p> + After this there was silence in the sewing room until Katherine, followed + by a maid, entered with tea and cakes. Some dress materials that rested on + a gypsy table were swept aside by the impulsive Katherine, and the table, + with the tray upon it, was placed at the right hand of Dorothy Amhurst. + When the servant left the room, Katherine sidled to the long sewing table, + sprang up lightly upon it, and sat there swinging a dainty little foot. + Sabina had seated herself in the third chair of the room, the frown still + adding severity to an otherwise beautiful countenance. It was the younger + daughter who spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Dorothy, tell us all about the elopement.” + </p> + <p> + “What elopement?” + </p> + <p> + “I soothed my mother’s fears by telling her that you had eloped with the + captain of the ‘Consternation.’ I must have been wrong in that guess, + because if the secret marriage I hoped had taken place, you would have + said to Sabina that the shackles were on your wrists instead of off. But + something important has happened, and I want to know all about it.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy made no response to this appeal, and after a minute’s silence + Sabina said practically: + </p> + <p> + “All that has happened is that Miss Amhurst wishes father to present her + with a ticket to the ball on the ‘Consternation,’ and taking that for + granted, she requests mother to chaperon her, and further expresses a + desire that I shall be exceedingly polite to her while we are on board the + cruiser.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” cried Katherine jauntily, “the last proviso is past praying for, but + the other two are quite feasible. I’d be delighted to chaperon Dorothy + myself, and as for politeness, good gracious, I’ll be polite enough to + make up for all the courteous deficiency of the rest of the family. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘For I hold that on the seas, + The expression if you please + A particularly gentlemanly tone implants, + And so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts.’ +</pre> + <p> + Now, Dorothy, don’t be bashful. Here’s your sister and your cousin and + your aunt waiting for the horrifying revelation. What has happened?” + </p> + <p> + “I’ll tell you what is going to happen, Kate,” said the girl, smiling at + the way the other ran on. “Mrs. Captain Kempt will perhaps consent to take + you and me to New York or Boston, where we will put up at the best hotel, + and trick ourselves out in ball costumes that will be the envy of Bar + Harbor. I shall pay the expense of this trip as partial return for your + father’s kindness in getting me an invitation and your mother’s kindness + in allowing me to be one of your party.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, then it isn’t an elopement, but a legacy. Has the wicked but wealthy + relative died?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Dorothy solemnly, her eyes on the floor. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I am so sorry for what I have just said!” + </p> + <p> + “You always speak without thinking,” chided her mother. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, don’t I? But, you see, I thought somehow that Dorothy had no + relatives; but if she had one who was wealthy, and who allowed her to + slave at sewing, then I say he was wicked, dead or alive, so there!” + </p> + <p> + “When work is paid for it is not slavery,” commented Sabina with severity + and justice. + </p> + <p> + The sewing girl looked up at her. + </p> + <p> + “My grandfather, in Virginia, owned slaves before the war, and I have + often thought that any curse which may have been attached to slavery has + at least partly been expiated by me, as foreshadowed in the Bible, where + it says that the sins of the fathers shall affect the third or fourth + generations. I was thinking of that when I spoke of the shackles falling + from my wrists, for sometimes, Miss Kempt, you have made me doubt whether + wages and slavery are as incompatible as you appear to imagine. My father, + who was a clergyman, often spoke to me of his father’s slaves, and while + he never defended the institution, I think the past in his mind was + softened by a glamor that possibly obscured the defects of life on the + plantation. But often in depression and loneliness I have thought I would + rather have been one of my grandfather’s slaves than endure the life I + have been called upon to lead.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy, don’t talk like that, or you’ll make me cry,” pleaded Kate. + “Let us be cheerful whatever happens. Tell us about the money. Begin ‘Once + upon a time,’ and then everything will be all right. No matter how + harrowing such a story begins, it always ends with lashin’s and lashin’s + of money, or else with a prince in a gorgeous uniform and gold lace, and + you get the half of his kingdom. Do go on.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy looked up at her impatient friend, and a radiant cheerfulness + chased away the gathering shadows from her face. + </p> + <p> + “Well, once upon a time I lived very happily with my father in a little + rectory in a little town near the Hudson River. His family had been ruined + by the war, and when the plantation was sold, or allowed to go derelict, + whatever money came from it went to his elder and only brother. My father + was a dreamy scholar and not a business man as his brother seems to have + been. My mother had died when I was a child; I do not remember her. My + father was the kindest and most patient of men, and all I know he taught + me. We were very poor, and I undertook the duties of housekeeper, which I + performed as well as I was able, constantly learning by my failures. But + my father was so indifferent to material comforts that there were never + any reproaches. He taught me all that I know in the way of what you might + call accomplishments, and they were of a strangely varied order—a + smattering of Latin and Greek, a good deal of French, history, literature, + and even dancing, as well as music, for he was an excellent musician. Our + meager income ceased with my father’s life, and I had to choose what I + should do to earn my board and keep, like Orphant Annie, in Whitcomb + Riley’s poem. There appeared to be three avenues open to me. I could be a + governess, domestic servant, or dressmaker. I had already earned something + at the latter occupation, and I thought if I could set up in business for + myself, there was a greater chance of gaining an independence along that + line than either as a governess or servant. But to do this I needed at + least a little capital. + </p> + <p> + “Although there had been no communication between the two brothers for + many years, I had my uncle’s address, and I wrote acquainting him with the + fact of my father’s death, and asking for some assistance to set up in + business for myself, promising to repay the amount advanced with interest + as soon as I was able, for although my father had never said anything + against his elder brother, I somehow had divined, rather than knew, that + he was a hard man, and his answering letter gave proof of that, for it + contained no expression of regret for his brother’s death. My uncle + declined to make the advance I asked for, saying that many years before he + had given my father two hundred dollars which had never been repaid. I was + thus compelled, for the time at least, to give up my plan for opening a + dressmaking establishment, even on the smallest scale, and was obliged to + take a situation similar to that which I hold here. In three years I was + able to save the two hundred dollars, which I sent to my uncle, and + promised to remit the interest if he would tell me the age of the debt. He + replied giving the information, and enclosing a receipt for the principal, + with a very correct mathematical statement of the amount of interest if + compounded annually, as was his legal right, but expressing his readiness + to accept simple interest, and give me a receipt in full.” + </p> + <p> + “The brute!” ejaculated Katherine, which remark brought upon her a mild + rebuke from her mother on intemperance of language. + </p> + <p> + “Well, go on,” said Katherine, unabashed. + </p> + <p> + “I merely mention this detail,” continued Dorothy, “as an object lesson in + honesty. Never before since the world began was there such a case of + casting bread upon the waters as was my sending the two hundred dollars. + My uncle appears to have been a most methodical man. He filed away my + letter which contained the money, also a typewritten copy of his reply, + and when he died, it was these documents which turned the attention of the + legal arm who acted for him to myself, for my uncle had left no will. The + Californian firm communicated with lawyers in New York, and they began a + series of very cautious inquiries, which at last resulted, after I had + furnished certain proofs asked for, in my being declared heiress to my + uncle’s estate.” + </p> + <p> + “And how much did you get? How much did you get?” demanded Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “I asked the lawyers from New York to deposit ten thousand dollars for me + in the Sixth National Bank of this town, and they did so. It was to draw a + little check against that deposit, and thus learn if it was real, that I + went out to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “Ten thousand dollars,” murmured Katherine, in accents of deep + disappointment. “Is that all?” + </p> + <p> + “Isn’t that enough?” asked Dorothy, with a twinkle in her eyes. + </p> + <p> + “No, you deserve ten times as much, and I’m not going to New York or + Boston at your expense to buy new dresses. Not likely! I will attend the + ball in my calico.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy laughed quietly, and drew from the little satchel she wore at her + side a letter, which she handed to Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “It’s private and confidential,” she warned her friend. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I won’t tell any one,” said Katherine, unfolding it. She read eagerly + half-way down the page, then sprang to her feet on the top of the table, + screaming: + </p> + <p> + “Fifteen million dollars! Fifteen million dollars!” and, swinging her arms + back and forth like an athlete about to leap, sprang to the floor, nearly + upsetting the little table, tray and all, as she embraced Dorothy Amhurst. + </p> + <p> + “Fifteen millions! That’s something like! Why, mother, do you realize that + we have under our roof one of the richest young women in the world? Don’t + you see that the rest of this conference must take place in our + drawing-room under the most solemn auspices? The idea of our keeping such + an heiress in the attic!” + </p> + <p> + “I believe,” said Sabina, slowly and coldly, “that Mr. Rockefeller’s + income is—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, blow Mr. Rockefeller and his income!” cried the indignant younger + sister. + </p> + <p> + “Katherine!” pleaded the mother tearfully. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III —ON DECK + </h2> + <p> + THROUGHOUT the long summer day a gentle excitement had fluttered the + hearts of those ladies, young, or not so young, who had received + invitations to the ball on board the “Consternation” that night. The last + touches were given to creations on which had been spent skill, taste, and + money. Our three young women, being most tastefully and fashionably + attired, were in high spirits, which state of feeling was exhibited + according to the nature of each; Sabina rather stately in her exaltation; + Dorothy quiet and demure; while Katherine, despite her mother’s + supplications, would not be kept quiet, but swung her graceful gown this + way and that, practising the slide of a waltz, and quoting W. R. Gilbert, + as was her custom. She glided over the floor in rhythm with her chant. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “When I first put this uniform on + I said, as I looked in the glass, + ‘It’s one to a million + That any civilian + My figure and form will surpass.’” + </pre> + <p> + Meanwhile, in a room downstairs that good-natured veteran Captain Kempt + was telling the latest stories to his future son-in-law, a young officer + of the American Navy, who awaited, with dutiful impatience, the advent of + the serene Sabina. When at last the ladies came down the party set out + through the gathering darkness of this heavenly summer night for the + private pier from which they were privileged, because of Captain Kempt’s + official standing, to voyage to the cruiser on the little revenue cutter + “Whip-poor-will,” which was later on to convey the Secretary of the Navy + and his entourage across the same intervening waters. Just before they + reached the pier their steps were arrested by the boom of a cannon, + followed instantly by the sudden apparition of the “Consternation” picked + out in electric light; masts, funnel and hull all outlined by incandescent + stars. + </p> + <p> + “How beautiful!” cried Sabina, whose young man stood beside her. “It is as + if a gigantic racket, all of one color, had burst, and hung suspended + there like the planets of heaven.” + </p> + <p> + “It reminds me,” whispered Katherine to Dorothy, “of an overgrown pop-corn + ball,” at which remark the two girls were frivolous enough to laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Crash!” sounded a cannon from an American ship, and then the white + squadron became visible in a blaze of lightning. And now all the yachts + and other craft on the waters flaunted their lines of fire, and the whole + Bay was illuminated like a lake in Fairyland. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Captain Kempt with a chuckle, “watch the Britisher. I think + she’s going to show us some color,” and as he spoke there appeared, + spreading from nest to mast, a huge sheet of blue, with four great stars + which pointed the corners of a parallelogram, and between the stars shone + a huge white anchor. Cheers rang out from the crew of the “Consternation,” + and the band on board played “The Star-Spangled Banner.” + </p> + <p> + “That,” said Captain Kempt in explanation, “is the flag of the United + States Secretary of the Navy, who will be with us to-night. The visitors + have kept very quiet about this bit of illumination, but our lads got on + to the secret about a week ago, and I’ll be very much disappointed if they + don’t give ‘em tit for tat.” + </p> + <p> + When the band on the “Consternation” ceased playing, all lights went out + on the American squadron, and then on the flagship appeared from mast to + mast a device with the Union Jack in the corner, a great red cross + dividing the flag into three white squares. As this illumination flashed + out the American band struck up the British national anthem, and the + outline lights appeared again. + </p> + <p> + “That,” said the captain, “is the British man-o’-war’s flag.” + </p> + <p> + The “Whip-poor-will” speedily whisked the party and others across the + sparkling waters to the foot of the grand stairway which had been + specially constructed to conduct the elect from the tide to the deck. It + was more than double as broad as the ordinary gangway, was carpeted from + top to bottom, and on every step stood a blue-jacket, each as steady as if + cast in bronze, the line forming, as one might say, a living handrail + rising toward the dark sky. + </p> + <p> + Captain Kempt and his wife went first, followed by Sabina and her young + man with the two girls in their wake. + </p> + <p> + “Aren’t those men splendid?” whispered Katherine to her friend. “I wish + each held an old-fashioned torch. I do love a sailor.” + </p> + <p> + “So do I,” said Dorothy, then checked herself, and laughed a little. + </p> + <p> + “I guess we all do,” sighed Katherine. + </p> + <p> + On deck the bluff captain of the “Consternation,” in resplendent uniform, + stood beside Lady Angela Burford of the British Embassy at Washington, to + receive the guests of the cruiser. Behind these two were grouped an + assemblage of officers and very fashionably dressed women, chatting + vivaciously with each other. As Dorothy looked at the princess-like Lady + Angela it seemed as if she knew her; as if here were one who had stepped + out of an English romance. Her tall, proudly held figure made the stoutish + captain seem shorter than he actually was. The natural haughtiness of + those classic features was somewhat modified by a pro tem smile. Captain + Kempt looked back over his shoulder and said in a low voice: + </p> + <p> + “Now, young ladies, best foot forward. The Du Maurier woman is to receive + the Gibson girls.” + </p> + <p> + “I know I shall laugh, and I fear I shall giggle,” said Katherine, but she + encountered a glance from her elder sister quite as haughty as any Lady + Angela might have bestowed, and all thought of merriment fled for the + moment; thus the ordeal passed conventionally without Katherine either + laughing or giggling. + </p> + <p> + Sabina and her young man faded away into the crowd. Captain Kempt was + nodding to this one and that of his numerous acquaintances, and Katherine + felt Dorothy shrink a little closer to her as a tall, unknown young man + deftly threaded his way among the people, making directly for the Captain, + whom he seized by the hand in a grasp of the most cordial friendship. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Kempt, I am delighted to meet you again. My name is Drummond—Lieutenant + Drummond, and I had the pleasure of being introduced to you at that dinner + a week or two ago.” + </p> + <p> + “The pleasure was mine, sir, the pleasure was mine,” exclaimed the Captain + with a cordiality equal to that with which he had been greeted. He had not + at first the least recollection of the young man, but the Captain was + something of an amateur politician, and possessed all a politician’s + expertness in facing the unknown, and making the most of any situation in + which he found himself. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, Lieutenant, I remember very well that excellent song you—” + </p> + <p> + “Isn’t it a perfect night?” gasped the Lieutenant. “I think we are to be + congratulated on our weather.” + </p> + <p> + He still clung to the Captain’s hand, and shook it again so warmly that + the Captain said to himself: + </p> + <p> + “I must have made an impression on this young fellow,” then aloud he + replied jauntily: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, we always have good weather this time of year. You see, the United + States Government runs the weather. Didn’t you know that? Yes, our Weather + Bureau is considered the best in the world.” + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant laughed heartily, although a hollow note intervened, for + the young man had got to the end of his conversation, realized he could + not shake hands for a third time, yet did not know what more to say. The + suavity of the politician came to his rescue in just the form the + Lieutenant had hoped. + </p> + <p> + “Lieutenant Drummond, allow me to introduce my wife to you.” + </p> + <p> + The lady bowed. + </p> + <p> + “And my daughter, Katherine, and Miss Amhurst, a friend of ours—Lieutenant + Drummond, of the ‘Consternation.’” + </p> + <p> + “I wonder,” said the Lieutenant, as if the thought had just occurred to + him, “if the young ladies would like to go to a point where they can have + a comprehensive view of the decorations. I—I may not be the best + guide, but I am rather well acquainted with the ship, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t ask me,” said Captain Kempt. “Ask the girls. Everything I’ve had in + life has come to me because I asked, and if I didn’t get it the first + time, I asked again.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course we want to see the decorations,” cried Katherine with + enthusiasm, and so bowing to the Captain and Mrs. Kempt, the Lieutenant + led the young women down the deck, until he came to an elevated spot out + of the way of all possible promenaders, on which had been placed in a + somewhat secluded position, yet commanding a splendid view of the throng, + a settee with just room for two, that had been taken from some one’s + cabin. A blue-jacket stood guard over it, but at a nod from the Lieutenant + he disappeared. + </p> + <p> + “Hello!” cried Katherine, “reserved seats, eh? How different from a + theatre chair, where you are entitled to your place by holding a colored + bit of cardboard. Here a man with a cutlass stands guard. It gives one a + notion of the horrors of war, doesn’t it, Dorothy?” + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant laughed quite as heartily as if he had not himself hoped to + occupy the position now held by the sprightly Katherine. He was cudgelling + his brain to solve the problem represented by the adage “Two is company, + three is none.” The girls sat together on the settee and gazed out over + the brilliantly lighted, animated throng. People were still pouring up the + gangways, and the decks were rapidly becoming crowded with a many-colored, + ever-shifting galaxy of humanity. The hum of conversation almost drowned + the popular selections being played by the cruiser’s excellent band. + Suddenly one popular selection was cut in two. The sound of the + instruments ceased for a moment, then they struck up “The Stars and + Stripes for Ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Hello,” cried Katherine, “can your band play Sousa?” + </p> + <p> + “I should say we could,” boasted the Lieutenant, “and we can play his + music, in a way to give some hints to Mr. Sousa’s own musicians.” + </p> + <p> + “To beat the band, eh?—Sousa’s band?” rejoined Katherine, dropping + into slang. + </p> + <p> + “Exactly,” smiled the Lieutenant, “and now, young ladies, will you excuse + me for a few moments? This musical selection means that your Secretary of + the Navy is on the waters, and I must be in my place with the rest of the + officers to receive him and his staff with all ceremony. Please promise + you will not leave this spot till I return: I implore you.” + </p> + <p> + “Better put the blue-jacket on guard over us,” laughed Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “By Jove! a very good idea.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy saw all levity depart from his face, giving way to a look of + sternness and command. Although he was engaged in a joke, the subordinate + must see no sign of fooling in his countenance. He said a sharp word to a + blue-jacket, who nimbly sprang to the end of the settee, raised his hand + in salute, and stiffened himself to an automaton. Then the girls saw the + tall figure of the Lieutenant wending its way to the spot where the + commander stood. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Dorothy, we’re prisoners. I wonder what this Johnny would do if we + attempted to fly. Isn’t the Lieutenant sumptuous?” + </p> + <p> + “He seems a very agreeable person,” murmured Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “Agreeable! Why, he’s splendid. I tell you, Dorothy, I’m going to have the + first dance with him. I’m the eldest. He’s big enough to divide between + two small girls like us, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t intend to dance,” said Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, you’re not going to sit here all night with nobody to speak to. + I’ll ask the Lieutenant to bring you a man. He’ll take two or three + blue-jackets and capture anybody you want.” + </p> + <p> + “Katherine,” said Dorothy, almost as severely as if it were the elder + sister who spoke, “if you say anything like that, I’ll go back to the + house.” + </p> + <p> + “You can’t get back. I’ll appeal to the guard. I’ll have you locked up if + you don’t behave yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “You should behave yourself. Really, Katherine, you must be careful what + you say, or you’ll make me feel very unhappy.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine caught her by the elbow, and gave it an affectionate little + squeeze. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t be frightened, Miss Propriety, I wouldn’t make you unhappy for the + world. But surely you’re going to dance?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy shook her head. + </p> + <p> + “Some other time. Not to-night. There are too many people here. I + shouldn’t enjoy it, and—there are other reasons. This is all so new + and strange to me: these brilliant men and beautiful women—the + lights, the music, everything—it is as if I had stepped into another + world; something I had read about, or perhaps dreamed about, and never + expected to see.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you dear girl, I’m not going to dance either, then.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, you will, Katherine; you must.” + </p> + <p> + “I couldn’t be so selfish as to leave you here all alone.” + </p> + <p> + “It isn’t selfish at all, Katherine. I shall enjoy myself completely here. + I don’t really wish to talk to any one, but simply to enjoy my dream, with + just a little fear at the bottom of my heart that I shall suddenly wake + up, rubbing my eyes, in the sewing room.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine pinched her. + </p> + <p> + “Now are you awake?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy smiled, still dreaming. + </p> + <p> + “Hello!” cried Katherine, with renewed animation, “they’ve got the + Secretary safe aboard the lugger, and they seem to be clearing the decks + for action. Here is my dear Lieutenant returning; tall even among tall + men. Look at him. He’s in a great hurry, yet so polite, and doesn’t want + to bump against anybody. And now, Dorothy, don’t you be afraid. I shall + prove a perfect model of diffidence. You will be proud of me when you + learn with what timidity I pronounce prunes and prism. I think I must + languish a little at him. I don’t know quite how it’s done, but in old + English novels the girls always languished, and perhaps an Englishman + expects a little languishment in his. I wonder if he comes of a noble + family. If he doesn’t, I don’t think I’ll languish very much. Still, what + matters the pomp of pageantry and pride of race—isn’t that the way + the poem runs? I love our dear little Lieutenant for himself alone, and I + think I will have just one dance with him, at least.” + </p> + <p> + Drummond had captured a camp-stool somewhere, and this he placed at right + angles to the settee, so that he might face the two girls, and yet not + interrupt their view. The sailor on guard once more faded away, and the + band now struck up the music of the dance. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” cried Drummond cheerfully, “I’ve got everything settled. I’ve + received the Secretary of the Navy: our captain is to dance with his wife, + and the Secretary is Lady Angela’s partner. There they go!” + </p> + <p> + For a few minutes the young people watched the dance, then the Lieutenant + said: + </p> + <p> + “Ladies, I am disappointed that you have not complimented our electrical + display.” + </p> + <p> + “I am sure it’s very nice, indeed, and most ingenious,” declared Dorothy, + speaking for the first time that evening to the officer, but Katherine, + whose little foot was tapping the deck to the dance music, tossed her + head, and declared nonchalantly that it was all very well as a British + effort at illumination, but she begged the young man to remember that + America was the home of electricity. + </p> + <p> + “Where would you have been if it were not for Edison?” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose,” said the Lieutenant cheerfully, “that we should have been + where Moses was when the candle went out—in the dark.” + </p> + <p> + “You might have had torches,” said Dorothy. “My friend forgets she was + wishing the sailors held torches on that suspended stairway up the ship’s + side.” + </p> + <p> + “I meant electric torches—Edison torches, of course.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine was displeased at the outlook. She was extremely fond of + dancing, and here this complacent young man had planted himself down on a + camp stool to talk of electricity. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Kempt, I am sorry that you are disappointed at our display. Your + slight upon British electrical engineering leaves us unscathed, because + this has been done by a foreign mechanic, whom I wish to present to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, indeed,” said Katherine, rather in the usual tone of her elder + sister. “I don’t dance with mechanics, thank you.” + </p> + <p> + She emphasized the light fantastic word, but the Lieutenant did not take + the hint; he merely laughed again in an exasperatingly good-natured way, + and said: + </p> + <p> + “Lady Angela is going to be Jack Lamont’s partner for the next waltz.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said Katherine loftily, “Lady Angela may dance with any blacksmith + that pleases her, but I don’t. I’m taking it for granted that Jack Lamont + is your electrical tinsmith.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, he is, and I think him by all odds the finest fellow aboard this + ship. It’s quite likely you have read about his sister. She is a year + older than Jack, very beautiful, cultured, everything that a grande dame + should be, yet she has given away her huge estate to the peasantry, and + works with them in the fields, living as they do, and faring as they do. + There was an article about her in one of the French reviews not long ago. + She is called the Princess Natalia.” + </p> + <p> + “The Princess Natalia!” echoed Katherine, turning her face toward the + young man. “How can Princess Natalia be a sister of Jack Lamont? Did she + marry some old prince, and take to the fields in disgust?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no; Jack Lamont is a Russian. He is called Prince Ivan Lermontoff + when he’s at home, but we call him Jack Lamont for short. He’s going to + help me on the Russian business I told you of.” + </p> + <p> + “What Russian business?” asked Katherine. “I don’t remember your speaking + of it.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy went white, edged a little way from her friend, while her widening + eyes flashed a warning at the Lieutenant, who, too late, remembered that + this conversation on Russia had taken place during the walk from the bank. + The young man coughed slightly behind his open hand, reddened, and + stammered: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I thought I had told you. Didn’t I mention the prince to you as we + were coming here?” + </p> + <p> + “Not that I recollect,” said Katherine. “Is he a real, genuine prince? A + right down regular, regular, regular royal prince?” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know about the royalty, but he’s a prince in good standing in his + own land, and he is also an excellent blacksmith.” The Lieutenant chuckled + a little. “He and his sister have both been touched a good deal by + Tolstoian doctrine. Jack is the most wonderful inventor, I think, that is + at present on the earth, Edison notwithstanding. Why, he is just now + engaged on a scheme by which he can float houses from the mountains here + down to New York. Float them—pipe-line them would perhaps be a + better term. You know they have pipe-lines to carry petroleum. Very well; + Jack has a solution that dissolves stone as white sugar dissolves in tea, + and he believes he can run the fluid from the quarries to where building + is going on. It seems that he then puts this liquid into molds, and there + you have the stone again. I don’t understand the process myself, but Jack + tells me it’s marvelously cheap, and marvelously effective. He picked up + the idea from nature one time when he and I were on our vacation at + Detroit.” + </p> + <p> + “Detroit, Michigan?” + </p> + <p> + “The Detroit River.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, that runs between Michigan and Canada.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, this is in France. I believe the real name of the river is the + Tarn. There’s a gorge called Detroit—the strait, you know. Wonderful + place—tremendous chasm. You go down in a boat, and all the tributary + rivers pour into the main stream like jets from the nozzle of a hose. They + tell me this is caused by the rain percolating through the dead leaves on + the surface of the ground far above, and thus the water becomes saturated + with carbonic acid gas, and so dissolves the limestone until the granite + is reached, and the granite forms the bed of these underground rivers. It + all seemed to me very wonderful, but it struck Jack on his scientific + side, and he has been experimenting ever since. He says he’ll be able to + build a city with a hose next year.” + </p> + <p> + “Where does he live?” + </p> + <p> + “On the cruiser just at present. I was instrumental in getting him signed + on as John Lamont, and he passed without question. No wonder, for he has + scientific degrees from all sorts of German universities, from Oxford, and + one or two institutions in the States. When at home he lives in St. + Petersburg.” + </p> + <p> + “Has he a palace there?” + </p> + <p> + Drummond laughed. + </p> + <p> + “He’s got a blacksmith shop, with two rooms above, and I’m going to stop + with him for a few months as soon as I get my leave. When the cruiser + reaches England we pay off, and I expect to have nothing to do for six + months, so Jack and I will make for St. Petersburg.” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you call him Lamont? Is it taken from his real name of + what-d’ye-call-it-off?” + </p> + <p> + “Lermontoff? Yes. The Czar Demetrius, some time about the beginning of the + seventeenth century, established a Scottish Guard, just as Louis XI did in + France two hundred years before, and there came over from Scotland + Lamonts, Carmichaels, Buchanans and others, on whom were bestowed titles + and estates. Prince Ivan Lermontoff is a descendant of the original + Lamont, who was an officer in the Scottish Guard of Russia. + </p> + <p> + “So he is really a Scotchman?” + </p> + <p> + “That’s what I tell him when he annoys me, as I am by way of being a + Scotchman myself. Ah, the waltz is ended. Will you excuse me a moment + while I fetch his Highness?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy inclined her head, and Katherine fairly beamed permission. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy,” she exclaimed, when the Lieutenant was out of hearing, + “think of it! A real prince, and my ambition has never risen higher than a + paltry count, or some plebeian of that sort. He’s mine, Dorothy; I found + him first.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought you had appropriated the Lieutenant?” + </p> + <p> + “What are lieutenants to me? The proud daughter of a captain (retired) + cannot stoop to a mere lieutenant.” + </p> + <p> + “You wouldn’t have to stoop far, Kate, with so tall a man as Mr. + Drummond.” + </p> + <p> + “You are beginning to take notice, aren’t you, Dot? But I bestow the + Lieutenant freely upon you, because I’m going to dance with the Prince, + even if I have to ask him myself. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + She’ll toddle away, as all aver, + With the Lord High Executioner. +</pre> + <p> + Ah, here they come. Isn’t he perfectly splendid? Look at his beard! Just + the color of a brand-new twenty-dollar gold piece. See that broad ribbon + diagonally across him. I wonder what it means. And gaze at those + scintillating orders on his breast. Good gracious me, isn’t he splendid?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, for a blacksmith. I wonder if he beat those stars out on his anvil. + He isn’t nearly so tall as Lieutenant Drummond.” + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, I’ll not allow you to disparage my Prince. How can you be so + disagreeable? I thought from the very first that the Lieutenant was too + tall. If the Prince expects me to call him ‘your Highness,’ he’ll be + disappointed.” + </p> + <p> + “You are quite right, Kate. The term would suit the Lieutenant better.” + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, I believe you’re jealous.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no, I’m not,” said Dorothy, shaking her head and laughing, and then + “Hush!” she added, as Katherine was about to speak again. + </p> + <p> + The next moment the young men stood before them, and, introductions being + soberly performed, the Prince lost no time in begging Katherine to favor + him with a dance, to which request the young woman was graciously pleased + to accede, without, however, exhibiting too much haste about her + acceptance, and so they walked off together. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV —“AT LAST ALONE” + </h2> + <p> + “SOME one has taken the camp stool,” said Lieutenant Drummond. “May I sit + here?” and the young woman was good enough to give the desired permission. + </p> + <p> + When he had seated himself he glanced around, then impulsively held out + his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Amhurst,” he said, “how are you?” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, thank you,” replied the girl with a smile, and after half a + moment’s hesitation she placed her hand in his. + </p> + <p> + “Of course you dance, Miss Amhurst?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but not to-night. I am here merely as a looker-on in Vienna. You + must not allow politeness to keep you away from the floor, or, perhaps, I + should say the deck. I don’t mind being alone in the least.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, Miss Amhurst, that is not a hint, is it? Tell me that I have not + already tired you of my company.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no, but I do not wish you to feel that simply because we met casually + the other day you are compelled to waste your evening sitting out.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, Miss Amhurst, although I should very much like to have the + pleasure of dancing with you, there is no one else here that I should care + to ask. I have quailed under the eagle eye of my Captain once or twice + this evening, and I have been rather endeavoring to keep out of his sight. + I fear he has found something new about me of which to disapprove, so I + have quite determined not to dance, unless you would consent to dance with + me, in which case I am quite ready to brave his reproachful glances.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you done anything wrong lately?” + </p> + <p> + “Heaven only knows! I try not to be purposely wicked, and indeed have put + forth extra efforts to be extra good, but it seems all of no avail. I + endeavor to go about the ship with a subdued, humble, unobtrusive air, but + this is rather difficult for a person of my size. I don’t think a man can + droop successfully unless he’s under six feet in height.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy laughed with quiet content. She was surprised to find herself so + much at her ease with him, and so mildly happy. They shared a secret + together, and that of itself was an intangible bond linking him with her + who had no ties with any one else. She liked him; had liked him from the + first; and his unconcealed delight in her company was gratifying to a girl + who heretofore had found none to offer her the gentle courtesies of life. + </p> + <p> + “Is it the Russian business again? You do not look very much troubled + about it.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, that is—that is—” he stammered in apparent confusion, + then blurted out, “because you—because I am sitting here. Although I + have met you but once before, it seems somehow as if I had known you + always, and my slight anxiety that I told you of fades away in your + presence. I hope you don’t think I am forward in saying this, but really + to-night, when I saw you at the head of the gangway, I could scarcely + refrain from going directly to you and greeting you. I am afraid I made + rather a hash of it with Captain Kempt. He is too much of a gentleman to + have shown any surprise at my somewhat boisterous accosting of him, and + you know I didn’t remember him at all, but I saw that you were under his + care, and chanced it. Luckily it seems to have been Captain Kempt after + all, but I fear I surprised him, taking him by storm, as it were.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought you did it very nicely,” said Dorothy, “and, indeed, until this + moment I hadn’t the least suspicion that you didn’t recognize him. He is a + dear old gentleman, and I’m very fond of him.” + </p> + <p> + “I say,” said the Lieutenant, lowering his voice, “I nearly came a cropper + when I spoke of that Russian affair before your friend. I was thinking of—of—well, + I wasn’t thinking of Miss Kempt—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, she never noticed anything,” said Dorothy hurriedly. “You got out of + that, too, very well. I thought of telling her I had met you before while + she and I were in New York together, but the opportunity never seemed—well, + I couldn’t quite explain, and, indeed, didn’t wish to explain my own + inexplicable conduct at the bank, and so trusted to chance. If you had + greeted me first tonight, I suppose”—she smiled and looked up at him—“I + suppose I should have brazened it out somehow.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you been in New York?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, we were there nearly a week.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, that accounts for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Accounts for what?” + </p> + <p> + “I have walked up and down every street, lane and alley in Bar Harbor, + hoping to catch a glimpse of you. I have haunted the town, and all the + time you were away.” + </p> + <p> + “No wonder the Captain frowns at you! Have you been neglecting your duty?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I have been stretching my shore leave just a little bit. I wanted + to apologize for talking so much about myself as we walked from the bank.” + </p> + <p> + “It was very interesting, and, if you remember, we walked farther than I + had intended.” + </p> + <p> + “Were your friends waiting for you, or had they gone?” + </p> + <p> + “They were waiting for me.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope they weren’t cross?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no. I told them I had been detained. It happened not to be necessary + to enter into details, so I was saved the task of explanation, and, + besides, we had other interesting things to discuss. This function on the + cruiser has loomed so large as a topic of conversation that there has been + little need of any other subject to talk about for several days past.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose you must have attended many grander occasions than this. + Although we have endeavored to make a display, and although we possess a + reasonably efficient band, still, a cruiser is not exactly designed for + the use to which it is being put to-night. We have many disadvantages to + overcome which are not met with in the sumptuous dwellings of New York and + Bar Harbor.” + </p> + <p> + The girl’s eyes were on the deck for some moments before she replied, then + she looked across at the dancers, and finally said: + </p> + <p> + “I think the ball on the ‘Consternation’ quite equals anything I have ever + attended.” + </p> + <p> + “It is nice of you to say that. Praise from—I won’t name Sir Hubert + Stanley—but rather Lady Hubert Stanley—is praise, indeed. And + now, Miss Amhurst, since I have confessed my fruitless wanderings through + Bar Harbor, may I not have the pleasure of calling upon you to-morrow or + next day?” + </p> + <p> + Her eyes were dreamily watching the dancers. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose,” she said slowly, with the flicker of a smile curving those + enticing lips, “that since you were so very friendly with Captain Kempt + to-night he may expect you to smoke a cigar with him, and it will possibly + happen that Katherine and I, who are very fond of the Captain, may chance + to come in while you are there.” + </p> + <p> + “Katherine? Ah, Katherine is the name of the young lady who was with you + here—Miss Kempt?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “You are stopping with the Kempts, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “I wonder if they’d think I was taking a liberty if I brought Jack Lamont + with me?” + </p> + <p> + “The Prince?” laughed Dorothy. “Is he a real prince?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, there’s no doubt about that. I shouldn’t have taken the liberty + of introducing him to you as Prince Lermontoff if he were not, as we say + in Scotland, a real Mackay—the genuine article. Well, then, the + Prince and I will pay our respects to Captain Kempt to-morrow afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you say the Prince is going with you to Russia?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes. As I told you, I intend to live very quietly in St. Petersburg, + and the Prince has his shop and a pair of rooms above it in a working + quarter of the city. I shall occupy one of the rooms and he the other. The + Prince is an excellent cook, so we shan’t starve, even if we engage no + servant.” + </p> + <p> + “Has the Prince given his estates away also?” + </p> + <p> + “He hasn’t given them away exactly, but he is a very indulgent landlord, + and he spends so much money on his experiments and travel that, although + he has a formidable income, he is very frequently quite short of money. + Did you like him?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. Of course I saw him for a moment only. I wonder why they haven’t + returned. There’s been several dances since they left.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps,” said the Lieutenant, with a slight return of his stammering, + “your friend may be as fond of dancing as Jack is.” + </p> + <p> + “You are still determined to go to Russia?” + </p> + <p> + “Quite. There is absolutely no danger. I may not accomplish anything, but + I’ll have a try at it. The Prince has a good deal of influence in St. + Petersburg, which he will use quietly on my behalf, so that I may see the + important people. I shall be glad when the Captain ceases frowning—” + </p> + <p> + Drummond was interrupted by a fellow-officer, who raised his cap, and + begged a word with him. + </p> + <p> + “I think, Drummond, the Captain wanted to see you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, did he say that?” + </p> + <p> + “No, but I know he has left a note for you in your cabin. Shall I go and + fetch it?” + </p> + <p> + “I wish you would, Chesham, if you don’t mind, and it isn’t too much + trouble.” + </p> + <p> + “No trouble at all. Delighted, I’m sure,” said Chesham, again raising his + cap and going off. + </p> + <p> + “Now, I wonder what I have forgotten to do.” + </p> + <p> + Drummond heaved a sigh proportionate to himself. + </p> + <p> + “Under the present condition of things a bit of neglect that would go + unnoticed with another man is a sign of unrepentant villainy in me. Any + other Lieutenant may steal a horse while I may not look over a hedge. You + see how necessary it is for me to go to Russia, and get this thing + smoothed over.” + </p> + <p> + “I think, perhaps, you are too sensitive, and notice slights where nothing + of the kind is meant,” said the girl. + </p> + <p> + Chesham returned and handed Drummond a letter. + </p> + <p> + “Will you excuse me a moment?” he said, and as she looked at him he + flattered himself that he noticed a trace of anxiety in her eyes. He tore + open the missive. + </p> + <p> + “By Jove!” he cried. + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” she could not prevent herself from saying, leaning forward. + </p> + <p> + “I am ordered home. The Admiralty commands me to take the first steamer + for England.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that serious?” + </p> + <p> + He laughed with well-feigned hilarity. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no, not serious; it’s just their way of doing things. They might + easily have allowed me to come home in my own ship. My only fear is I + shall have to take the train for New York early to-morrow morning. But,” + he said, holding out his hands, “it is not serious if you allow me to + write to you, and if you will permit me to hope that I may receive an + answer.” + </p> + <p> + She placed her hand in his, this time without hesitation. + </p> + <p> + “You may write,” she said, “and I will reply. I trust it is not serious.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V —AFTER THE OPERA IS OVER + </h2> + <p> + IN mid-afternoon of the day following the entertainment on board the + “Consternation” our two girls were seated opposite one another under the + rafters of the sewing room, in the listless, desultory manner of those who + have not gone home till morning, till daylight did appear. The dominant + note of a summer cottage is the rocking-chair, and there were two in the + sewing room, where Katherine and Dorothy swayed gently back and forth as + they talked. They sat close to the low, broad window which presented so + beautiful a picture of the blue Bay and the white shipping. The huge + “Consternation” lay moored with her broadside toward the town, all sign of + festivity already removed from hull and rigging, and, to the scarcely + slumber-satisfied eyes of the girls, something of the sadness of departure + seemed to hang as a haze around the great ship. The girls were not + discussing the past, but rather anticipating the future; forecasting it, + with long, silent pauses intervening. + </p> + <p> + “So you will not stay with us? You are determined to turn your wealthy + back on the poor Kempt family?” Katherine was saying. + </p> + <p> + “But I shall return to the Kempt family now and then, if they will let me. + I must get away for a time and think. My life has suddenly become all + topsy-turvy, and I need to get my bearings, as does a ship that has been + through a storm and lost her reckoning.” + </p> + <p> + “‘She dunno where she are,’ as the song says.” + </p> + <p> + “Exactly: that is the state of things.” + </p> + <p> + “I think it’s too bad, Dorothy, that you did not allow us to make public + announcement of your good fortune. Just imagine what an ovation you would + have had on board the cruiser last night if it had been known that the + richest woman in that assemblage was a pretty, shy little creature sitting + all by herself, and never indulging in even one dance.” + </p> + <p> + “I shouldn’t in the least care for that sort of ovation, Kate, and if + every one present were as well pleased with the festivities as I, they + must all have enjoyed themselves immensely. I believe my friend Kate did + my share of the dancing as well as her own.” + </p> + <p> + “‘She danced, and she danced, and she danced them a’ din.’ I think those + are the words of the Scottish song that the Prince quoted. He seems up in + Scottish poetry, and does not even resent being called a Scotchman. This + energetic person of the song seems to have danced them all to a + standstill, as I understood him, for he informs me ‘a’ means ‘all’ and + ‘din’ means ‘done,’ but I told him I’d rather learn Russian than Scotch; + it was so much easier, and his Highness was good enough to laugh at that. + Didn’t the Lieutenant ask you to dance at all?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, he did.” + </p> + <p> + “And you refused?” + </p> + <p> + “I refused.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn’t think he had sense enough to ask a girl to dance.” + </p> + <p> + “You are ungrateful, Katherine. Remember he introduced you to the Prince.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that’s so. I had forgotten. I shall never say anything against him + again.” + </p> + <p> + “You like the Prince, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Of all the crowned heads, emperors, kings, sultans, monarchs of every + description, dukes, counts, earls, marquises, whom I have met, and who + have pestered my life asking me to share their royal perquisites, I think + I may say quite truthfully that I like this Jack Lamont better than any + one of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely Prince Jack has not offered you his principality already?” + </p> + <p> + “No, not yet, but with an eye to the future I have persuaded him to give + up Tolstoi and read Mark Twain, who is not only equally humorous, but much + more sensible than the Russian writer. Jack must not be allowed to give + away his estates to the peasants as his silly sister has done. I may need + them later on.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you’ve got that far, have you?” + </p> + <p> + “I have got that far: he hasn’t. He doesn’t know anything about it, but + I’ll wake him up when the right time comes. There are many elements of + sanity about him. He told me that he intended to give up his estates, but + in the first place he had been too busy, and in the second he needed the + money. His good sense, however, requires refining, so that he may get rid + of the dross. I don’t blame him; I blame Tolstoi. For instance, when I + asked him if he had patented his liquid city invention, he said he did not + wish to make a profit from his discovery, but intended it for the good of + humanity at large. Imagine such an idiotic idea as that!” + </p> + <p> + “I think such views are entirely to his credit,” alarmed Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, of course, but the plan is not practicable. If he allows such an + invention to slip through his fingers, the Standard Oil people will likely + get hold of it, form a monopoly, and then where would humanity at large + be? I tell him the right way is to patent it, make all the money he can, + and use the cash for benefiting humanity under the direction of some + charitable person like myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you suggest that to him?” + </p> + <p> + “I did not intimate who the sensible person was, but I elucidated the + principle of the thing.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and what did he say?” + </p> + <p> + “Many things, Dorothy, many things. At one time he became confidential + about his possessions in foreign lands. It seems he owns several castles, + and when he visits any of them he cannot prevent the moujiks, if that is + the proper term for the peasantry over there, from prostrating themselves + on the ground as he passes by, beating their foreheads against the earth, + and chanting, in choice Russian, the phrase: ‘Defer, defer, here comes the + Lord High Executioner,’ or words to that effect. I told him I didn’t see + why he should interfere with so picturesque a custom, and he said if I + visited one of his castles that these estimable people, at a word from + him, would form a corduroy road in the mud with their bodies, so that I + might step dry-shod from the carriage to the castle doors, and I + stipulated that he should at least spread a bit of stair carpet over the + poor wretches before I made my progress across his front yard.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, you did become confidential if you discussed a visit to Russia.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, didn’t we? I suppose you don’t approve of my forward conduct?” + </p> + <p> + “I am sure you acted with the utmost prudence, Kate.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn’t lose any time, though, did I?” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know how much time is required to attain the point of friendship + you reached. I am inexperienced. It is true I have read of love at first + sight, and I am merely waiting to be told whether or not this is an + instance of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you are very diffident, aren’t you, sitting there so bashfully!” + </p> + <p> + “I may seem timid or bashful, but it’s merely sleepiness.” + </p> + <p> + “You’re a bit of a humbug, Dorothy.” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know why, but you are. No, it was not a case of love at first + sight. It was a case of feminine vengeance. Yes, you may look surprised, + but I’m telling the truth. After I walked so proudly off with his high + mightiness, we had a most agreeable dance together; then I proposed to + return to you, but the young man would not have it so, and for the moment + I felt flattered. By and by I became aware, however, that it was not + because of my company he avoided your vicinity, but that he was + sacrificing himself for his friend.” + </p> + <p> + “What friend?” + </p> + <p> + “Lieutenant Drummond, of course.” + </p> + <p> + “How was he sacrificing himself for Lieutenant Drummond?” + </p> + <p> + “I surmise that the tall Lieutenant did not fall a victim to my wiles as I + had at first supposed, but, in some unaccountable manner, one can never + tell how these things happen; he was most anxious to be left alone with + the coy Miss Dorothy Amhurst, who does not understand how long a time it + takes to fall in love at first sight, although she has read of these + things, dear, innocent girl. The first villain of the piece has said to + the second villain of the piece: ‘There’s a superfluous young woman over + on our bench; I’ll introduce you to her. You lure her off to the giddy + dance, and keep her away as long as you can, and I’ll do as much for you + some day.’ + </p> + <p> + “Whereupon Jack Lamont probably swore—I understand that profanity is + sometimes distressingly prevalent aboard ship—but nevertheless he + allowed the Lieutenant to lead him like a lamb to the slaughter. Well, not + being powerful enough to throw him overboard when I realized the state of + the case, I did the next best thing. I became cloyingly sweet to him. I + smiled upon him: I listened to his farrago of nonsense about the chemical + components of his various notable inventions, as if a girl attends a ball + to study chemistry! Before half an hour had passed the infant had come to + the conclusion that here was the first really sensible woman he had ever + met. He soon got to making love to me, as the horrid phrase goes, as if + love were a mixture to be compounded of this ingredient and that, and then + shaken before taken. I am delighted to add, as a testimony to my own + powers of pleasing, that Jack soon forgot he was a sacrifice, and really, + with a little instruction, he would become a most admirable flirt. He is + coming to call upon me this afternoon, and then he will get his eyes + opened. I shall tread on him as if he were one of his own moujiks.” + </p> + <p> + “What a wonderful imagination you have, Kate. All you have said is pure + fancy. I saw he was taken with you from the very first. He never even + glanced at me.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course not: he wasn’t allowed to.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, Kate. If I thought for a moment you were really in earnest, I + should say you underestimate your own attractions.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that’s all very well, Miss Dorothy Dimple; you are trying to draw a + red herring across the trail, because you know that what I want to hear is + why Lieutenant Drummond was so anxious to get me somewhere else. What use + did he make of the opportunity the good-natured Prince and my sweet + complacency afforded him?” + </p> + <p> + “He said nothing which might not have been overheard by any one.” + </p> + <p> + “Come down to particulars, Dorothy, and let me judge. You are so + inexperienced, you know, that it is well to take counsel with a more + sophisticated friend.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t just remember—” + </p> + <p> + “No, I thought you wouldn’t. Did he talk of himself or of you?” + </p> + <p> + “Of himself, of course. He told me why he was going to Russia, and spoke + of some checks he had met in his profession.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Did he cash them?” + </p> + <p> + “Obstacles—difficulties that were in his way, which he hoped to + overcome.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I see. And did you extend that sympathy which—” + </p> + <p> + There was a knock at the door, and the maid came in, bearing a card. + </p> + <p> + “Good gracious me!” cried Katherine, jumping to her feet. “The Prince has + come. What a stupid thing that we have no mirror in this room, and it’s a + sewing and sitting room, too. Do I look all right, Dorothy?” + </p> + <p> + “To me you seem perfection.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, well, I can glance at a glass on the next floor. Won’t you come down + and see him trampled on?” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you. I shall most likely drop off to sleep, and enjoy forty + winks in this very comfortable chair. Don’t be too harsh with the young + man, Kate. You are quite wrong in your surmises about him. The Lieutenant + never made any such arrangement as you suggest, because he talked of + nothing but the most commonplace subjects all the time I was with him, as + I was just about to tell you, only you seem in such a hurry to get away.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that doesn’t deceive me in the least. I’ll be back shortly, with the + young man’s scalp dangling at my belt. Now we shan’t be long,” and with + that Katherine went skipping downstairs. + </p> + <p> + Dorothy picked up a magazine that lay on the table, and for a few moments + turned its leaves from one story to another, trying to interest herself, + but failing. Then she lifted the newspaper that lay at her feet, but it + also was soon cast aside, and she leaned back in her chair with + half-closed eyes, looking out at the cruiser in the Bay. A slight haze + arose between her and the ship, thickening and thickening until at last it + obscured the vessel. + </p> + <p> + Dorothy was oppressed by a sense of something forgotten, and she strove in + vain to remember what it was. It was of the utmost importance, she was + certain, and this knowledge made her mental anxiety the greater. + </p> + <p> + At last out of the gloom she saw Sabina approach, clothed in rags, and + then a flash of intuition enabled her to grasp the difficulty. Through her + remissness the ball dress was unfinished, and the girl, springing to her + feet, turned intuitively to the sewing-machine, when the ringing laugh of + Katherine dissolved the fog. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you poor girl, what’s the matter with you? Are you sitting down to + drudgery again? You’ve forgotten the fortune!” + </p> + <p> + “Are—are you back already?” cried Dorothy, somewhat wildly. + </p> + <p> + “Already! Why, bless me, I’ve been away an hour and a quarter. You dear + girl, you’ve been asleep and in slavery again!” + </p> + <p> + “I think I was,” admitted Dorothy with a sigh. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI —FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN + </h2> + <p> + THREE days later the North Atlantic squadron of the British Navy sailed + down the coast from Halifax, did not even pause at Bar Harbor, but sent a + wireless telegram to the “Consternation,” which pulled up anchor and + joined the fleet outside, and so the war-ships departed for another port. + </p> + <p> + Katherine stood by the broad window in the sewing room in her favorite + attitude, her head sideways against the pane, her eyes languidly gazing + upon the Bay, fingers drumming this time a very slow march on the window + sill. Dorothy sat in a rocking-chair, reading a letter for the second + time. There had been silence in the room for some minutes, accentuated + rather than broken by the quiet drumming of the girl’s fingers on the + window sill. Finally Katherine breathed a deep sigh and murmured to + herself: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “‘Far called our Navy fades away, + On dune and headland sinks the fire. + Lo, all our pomp of yesterday + Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.’ +</pre> + <p> + I wonder if I’ve got the lines right,” she whispered to herself. She had + forgotten there was anyone else in the room, and was quite startled when + Dorothy spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Kate, that’s a solemn change, from Gilbert to Kipling. I always judge + your mood by your quotations. Has life suddenly become too serious for + ‘Pinafore’ or the ‘Mikado’?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I don’t know,” said Katherine, without turning round. “They are + humorous all, and so each furnishes something suitable for the saddened + mind. Wisdom comes through understanding your alphabet properly. For + instance, first there was Gilbert, and that gave us G; then came Kipling, + and he gave us K; thus we get an algebraic formula, G.K., which are the + initials of Chesterton, a still later arrival, and as the mind increases + in despondency it sinks lower and lower down the alphabet until it comes + to S, and thus we have Barn-yard Shaw, an improvement on the Kail-yard + school, who takes the O pshaw view of life. And relaxing hold of him I + sink deeper until I come to W—W. W. Jacobs—how I wish he wrote + poetry! He should be the humorist of all sailors, and perhaps some time he + will desert barges for battleships. Then I shall read him with increased + enjoyment.” + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn’t give Mark Twain for the lot,” commented Dorothy with decision. + </p> + <p> + “Mark Twain isn’t yours to give, my dear. He belongs to me also. You’ve + forgotten that comparisons are odious. Our metier is not to compare, but + to take what pleases us from each. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘How doth the little busy bee + Improve each shining hour, + And gather honey all the day + From every opening flower. +</pre> + <p> + Watts. You see, I’m still down among the W’s. Oh, Dorothy, how can you sit + there so placidly when the ‘Consternation’ has just faded from sight? + Selfish creature! + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Oh, give me tears for others’ woes + And patience for mine own.’ +</pre> + <p> + I don’t know who wrote that, but you have no tears for others’ woes, + merely greeting them with ribald laughter,” for Dorothy, with the + well-read letter in her hand, was making the rafters ring with her + merriment, something that had never before happened during her long + tenancy of that room. Kate turned her head slowly round, and the + expression on her face was half-indignant, half-humorous, while her eyes + were uncertain weather prophets, and gave equal indication of sunshine or + rain.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Katherine, you look like a tragedy queen, rather than the spirit of + comedy! Is it really a case of ‘Tit-willow, tit-willow, tit-willow’? You + see, I’m a-rescuing you from the bottom of the alphabet, and bringing you + up to the Gilbert plane, where I am more accustomed to you, and understand + you better. Is this despondency due to the departure of the + ‘Consternation,’ and the fact that she carries away with her Jack Lamont, + blacksmith?” + </p> + <p> + The long sigh terminated in a woeful “yes.” + </p> + <p> + “The ship that has gone out with him we call she. If he had eloped with a + real she, then wearing the willow, or singing it, however futile, might be + understandable. As it is I see nothing in the situation to call for a + sigh.” + </p> + <p> + “That is because you are a hardened sinner, Dorothy. You have no heart, or + at least if you have, it is untouched, and therefore you cannot + understand. If that note in your hand were a love missive, instead of a + letter from your lawyers, you would be more human, Dorothy.” + </p> + <p> + The hand which held the paper crumpled it up slightly as Katherine spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Business letters are quite necessary, and belong to the world we live + in,” said Dorothy, a glow of brighter color suffusing her cheeks. “Surely + your acquaintance with Mr. Lamont is of the shortest.” + </p> + <p> + “He has called upon me every day since the night of the ball,” maintained + Katherine stoutly. + </p> + <p> + “Well, that’s only three times.” + </p> + <p> + “Only three! How you talk! One would think you had never been schooled in + mathematics. Why, three is a magic figure. You can do plenty of amazing + things with it. Don’t you know that three is a numeral of love?” + </p> + <p> + “I thought two was the number,” chimed Dorothy, with heartless mirth. + </p> + <p> + “Three,” said Katherine taking one last look at the empty horizon, then + seating herself in front of her friend, “three is a recurring decimal. It + goes on and on and on forever, and if you write it for a thousand years + you are still as far from the end as when you began. It will carry you + round the world and back again, and never diminish. It is the mathematical + emblem of the nature of true love.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it so serious as all that, Kate, or are you just fooling again?” asked + Dorothy, more soberly than heretofore. “Has he spoken to you?” + </p> + <p> + “Spoken? He has done nothing but speak, and I have listened—oh, so + intently, and with such deep understanding. He has never before met such a + woman as I, and has frankly told me so.” + </p> + <p> + “I am very glad he appreciates you, dear.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, you see, Dorothy, I am really much deeper than the ordinary woman. + Who, for instance, could find such a beautiful love simile from a book of + arithmetic costing twenty-five cents, as I have unearthed from decimal + fractions? With that example in mind how can you doubt that other volumes + of college learning reveal to me their inner meaning? John presented to + me, as he said good-by, a beautifully bound copy of that celebrated + text-book, ‘Saunders’ Analytical Chemistry,’ with particularly tender + passages marked in pencil, by his own dear hand.” + </p> + <p> + Rather bewildered, for Kate’s expression was one of pathos, unrelieved by + any gleam of humor, Dorothy nevertheless laughed, although the laugh + brought no echo from Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “And did you give him a volume of Browning in return?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I didn’t. How can you be so unsympathetic? Is it impossible for you + to comprehend the unseen link that binds John and me? I rummaged the book + store until I found a charming little edition of ‘Marshall’s Geologist’s + Pocket Companion,’ covered with beautiful brown limp Russia leather—I + thought the Russia binding was so inspirational—with a sweet little + clasp that keeps it closed—typical of our hands at parting. On the + fly-leaf I wrote: ‘To J. L., in remembrance of many interesting + conversations with his friend, K. K.’ It only needed another K to be + emblematic and political, a reminiscence of the olden times, when you + people of the South, Dorothy, were making it hot for us deserving folks in + the North. I hadn’t time to go through the book very thoroughly, but I + found many references to limestone, which I marked, and one particularly + choice bit of English relating to the dissolution and re-consolidation of + various minerals I drew a parallelogram around in red ink. A friend of + mine in a motor launch was good enough to take the little parcel direct to + the ‘Consternation,’ and I have no doubt that at this moment Jack is + perusing it, and perhaps thinking of the giver. I hope it’s up-to-date, + and that he had not previously bought a copy.” + </p> + <p> + “You don’t mean to say, Kate, that your conversation was entirely about + geology?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly not. How could you have become imbued with an idea so absurd? + We had many delightful dalliances down the romantic groves of chemistry, + heart-to-heart talks on metallurgy, and once—ah, shall I ever forget + it—while the dusk gently enfolded us, and I gazed into those bright, + speaking, intelligent eyes of his as he bent nearer and nearer; while his + low, sonorous voice in well-chosen words pictured to me the promise which + fortified cement holds out to the world; that is, ignorant person, + Portland cement strengthened by ribs of steel; and I sat listening + breathless as his glowing phrases prophesied the future of this + combination.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine closed her eyes, rocked gently back and forth, and crooned, + almost inaudibly: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “‘When you gang awa, Jimmie, + Faur across the sea, laddie, + When ye gang to Russian lands + What will ye send to me, laddie?’ +</pre> + <p> + I know what I shall get. It will probably be a newly discovered recipe for + the compounding of cement which will do away with the necessity of steel + strengthening.” + </p> + <p> + “Kate, dear, you are overdoing it. It is quite right that woman should be + a mystery to man, but she should not aspire to become a mystery to her + sister woman. Are you just making fun, or is there something in all this + more serious than your words imply?” + </p> + <p> + “Like the steel strengthening in the cement, it may be there, but you + can’t see it, and you can’t touch it, but it makes—oh, such a + difference to the slab. Heigho, Dorothy, let us forsake these hard-headed + subjects, and turn to something human. What have your lawyers been + bothering you about? No trouble over the money, is there?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy shook her head. + </p> + <p> + “No. Of course, there are various matters they have to consult me about, + and get my consent to this project or the other.” + </p> + <p> + “Read the letter. Perhaps my mathematical mind can be of assistance to + you.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy had concealed the letter, and did not now produce it. + </p> + <p> + “It is with reference to your assistance, and your continued assistance, + that I wish to speak to you. Let us follow the example of the cement and + the steel, and form a compact. In one respect I am going to imitate the + ‘Consternation.’ I leave Bar Harbor next week.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine sat up in her chair, and her eyes opened wide. + </p> + <p> + “What’s the matter with Bar Harbor?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “You can answer that question better than I, Kate. The Kempt family are + not visitors, but live here all the year round. What do you think is the + matter with Bar Harbor?” + </p> + <p> + “I confess it’s a little dull in the winter time, and in all seasons it is + situated a considerable distance from New York. Where do you intend to go, + Dorothy?” + </p> + <p> + “That will depend largely on where my friend Kate advises me to go, + because I shall take her with me if she will come.” + </p> + <p> + “Companion, lady’s-maid, parlor maid, maid-of-all-work, cook, governess, + typewriter-girl—which have I to be? Shall I get one afternoon a week + off, and may my young man come and see me, if I happen to secure one, and, + extremely important, what are the wages?” + </p> + <p> + “You shall fix your own salary, Kate, and my lawyer men will arrange that + the chosen sum is settled upon you so that if we fall out we can quarrel + on equal terms.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I see, it’s an adopted daughter I am to be, then?” + </p> + <p> + “An adopted sister, rather.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think I am going to take advantage of my friendship with an + heiress, and so pension myself off?” + </p> + <p> + “It is I who am taking the advantage,” said Dorothy, “and I beg you to + take compassion, rather than advantage, upon a lone creature who has no + kith or kin in the world.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you really mean it, Dot?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course I do. Should I propose it if I didn’t?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, this is the first proposal I’ve ever had, and I believe it is + customary to say on those occasions that it is so sudden, or so + unexpected, and time is required for consideration.” + </p> + <p> + “How soon can you make up your mind, Kate?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, my mind’s already made up. I’m going to jump at your offer, but I + think it more ladylike to pretend a mild reluctance. What are you going to + do, Dorothy?” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know. I’ve settled on only one thing. I intend to build a little + stone and tile church, very quaint and old-fashioned, if I get the right + kind of architect to draw a plan for it, and this church is to be situated + in Haverstock.” + </p> + <p> + “Where’s Haverstock?” + </p> + <p> + “It is a village near the Hudson River, on the plain that stretches toward + the Catskills.” + </p> + <p> + “It was there you lived with your father, was it not?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and my church is to be called the Dr. Amhurst Memorial Church.” + </p> + <p> + “And do you propose to live at Haverstock?” + </p> + <p> + “I was thinking of that.” + </p> + <p> + “Wouldn’t it be just a little dull?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I suppose it is, but it seems to me a suitable place where two young + women may meditate on what they are going to do with their lives.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that’s an important question for the two. I say, Dorothy, let’s take + the other side of the river, and enter Vassar College. Then we should at + least have some fun, and there would be some reasonably well-educated + people to speak to.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you wish to use your lately acquired scientific knowledge in order to + pass the examinations; but, you see, I have had no tutor to school me in + the mysteries of lime-burning and the mixing of cement. Now, you have + scorned my side of the river, and I have objected to your side of the + river. That is the bad beginning which, let us hope, makes the good + ending. Who is to arbitrate on our dispute?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, we’ll split the difference, of course.” + </p> + <p> + “How can we do that? Live in a house-boat on the river like Frank + Stockton’s ‘Budder Grange’?” + </p> + <p> + “No, settle in the city of New York, which is practically an island in the + Hudson.” + </p> + <p> + “Would you like to live in New York?” + </p> + <p> + “Wouldn’t I! Imagine any one, having the chance, living anywhere else!” + </p> + <p> + “In a hotel, I suppose—the Holldorf for choice.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, we could live in a hotel until we found the ideal flat, high up in a + nice apartment house, with a view like that from the top of Mount + Washington, or from the top of the Washington Monument.” + </p> + <p> + “But you forget I made one proviso in the beginning, and that is that I am + going to build a church, and the church is to be situated, not in the city + of New York, but in the village of Haverstock.” + </p> + <p> + “New York is just the place from which to construct such an edifice. + Haverstock will be somewhere near the West Shore Railway. Very well. We + can take a trip up there once a week or oftener, if you like, and see how + the work is progressing, then the people of Haverstock will respect us. As + we drive from the station they’ll say: + </p> + <p> + “‘There’s the two young ladies from New York who are building the church.’ + But if we settle down amongst them they’ll think we’re only ordinary + villagers instead of the distinguished persons we are. Or, while our flat + is being made ready we could live at one of the big hotels in the + Catskills, and come down as often as we like on the inclined railway. + Indeed, until the weather gets colder, the Catskills is the place. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘And lo, the Catskills print the distant sky, + And o’er their airy tops the faint clouds driven, + So softly blending that the cheated eye + Forgets or which is earth, or which is heaven.’” + </pre> + <p> + “That ought to carry the day for the Catskills, Kate. What sort of + habitation shall we choose? A big hotel, or a select private boarding + house?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a big hotel, of course—the biggest there is, whatever its name + may be. One of those whose rates are so high that the proprietor daren’t + advertise them, but says in his announcement, ‘for terms apply to the + manager.’ It must have ample grounds, support an excellent band, and + advertise a renowned cuisine. Your room, at least, should have a private + balcony on which you can place a telescope and watch the building of your + church down below. I, being a humble person in a subordinate position, + should have a balcony also to make up for those deficiencies.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Kate, that’s settled. But although two lone women may set up + housekeeping in a New York flat, they cannot very well go alone to a + fashionable hotel.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, we can. Best of references given and required.” + </p> + <p> + “I was going to suggest,” pursued Dorothy, not noticing the interruption, + “that we invite your father and mother to accompany us. They might enjoy a + change from sea air to mountain air.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine frowned a little, and demurred. + </p> + <p> + “Are you going to be fearfully conventional, Dorothy?” + </p> + <p> + “We must pay some attention to the conventions, don’t you think?” + </p> + <p> + “I had hoped not. I yearn to be a bachelor girl, and own a latch-key.” + </p> + <p> + “We shall each possess a latch-key when we settle down in New York. Our + flat will be our castle, and, although our latch-key will let us in, our + Yale lock will keep other people out. A noted summer resort calls for + different treatment, because there we lead a semi-public life. Besides, I + am selfish enough to wish my coming-out to be under the auspices of so + well-known a man as Captain Kempt.” + </p> + <p> + “All right, I’ll see what they say about it. You don’t want Sabina, I take + it?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, if she will consent to come.” + </p> + <p> + “I doubt if she will, but I’ll see. Besides, now that I come to think + about it, it’s only fair I should allow my doting parents to know that I + am about to desert them.” + </p> + <p> + With that Katherine quitted the room, and went down the stairs + hippety-hop. + </p> + <p> + Dorothy drew the letter from its place of concealment, and read it for the + third time, although one not interested might have termed it a most + commonplace document. It began: + </p> + <p> + “Dear Miss Amhurst,” and ended “Yours most sincerely, Alan Drummond.” It + gave some account of his doings since he bade good-bye to her. A sailor, + he informed her, needs little time for packing his belongings, and on the + occasion in question the Prince had been of great assistance. They set out + together for the early morning train, and said “au revoir” at the station. + Drummond had intended to sail from New York, but a friendly person whom he + met on the train informed him that the Liverpool liner “Enthusiana” set + out from Boston next day, so he had abandoned the New York idea, and had + taken passage on the liner named, on whose note-paper he wrote the letter, + which epistle was once more concealed as Dorothy heard Katherine’s light + step on the stair. + </p> + <p> + That impulsive young woman burst into the sewing room. + </p> + <p> + “We’re all going,” she cried. “Father, mother and Sabina. It seems father + has had an excellent offer to let the house furnished till the end of + September, and he says that, as he likes high life, he will put in the + time on the top of the Catskills. He abandons me, and says that if he can + borrow a shilling he is going to cut me off with it in his will. He + regrets the departure of the British Fleet, because he thinks he might + have been able to raise a real English shilling aboard. Dad only insists + on one condition, namely, that he is to pay for himself, mother and + Sabina, so he does not want a room with a balcony. I said that in spite of + his disinheritance I’d help the family out of my salary, and so he is + going to reconsider the changing of his will.” + </p> + <p> + “We will settle the conditions when we reach the Catskills,” said Dorothy, + smiling. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII —“A WAY THEY HAVE IN THE NAVY” + </h2> + <p> + CAPTAIN and Mrs. Kempt with Sabina had resided a week in the Matterhorn + Hotel before the two girls arrived there. They had gone direct to New + York, and it required the seven days to find a flat that suited them, of + which they were to take possession on the first of October. Then there + were the lawyers to see; a great many business details to settle, and an + architect to consult. After leaving New York the girls spent a day at + Haverstock, where Dorothy Amhurst bought a piece of land as shrewdly as if + she had been in the real estate business all her life. After this + transaction the girls drove to the station on the line connecting with the + inclined railway, and so, as Katherine remarked, were “wafted to the skies + on flowery beds of ease,” which she explained to her shocked companion was + all right, because it was a quotation from a hymn. When at last they + reached their hotel, Katherine was in ecstasies. + </p> + <p> + “Isn’t this heavenly?” she cried, “and, indeed, it ought to be, for I + understand we are three thousand feet higher than we were in New York, and + even the sky-scrapers can’t compete with such an altitude.” + </p> + <p> + The broad valley of the Hudson lay spread beneath them, stretching as far + as the eye could see, shimmering in the thin, bluish veil of a summer + evening, and miles away the river itself could be traced like a silver + ribbon. + </p> + <p> + The gallant Captain, who had been energetically browbeaten by his younger + daughter, and threatened with divers pains and penalties should he fail to + pay attention and take heed to instructions, had acquitted himself with + eclat in the selection of rooms for Dorothy and his daughter. The suite + was situated in one corner of the huge caravansary, a large parlor + occupying the angle, with windows on one side looking into the forest, and + on the other giving an extended view across the valley. The front room + adjoining the parlor was to be Dorothy’s very own, and the end room + belonged to Katherine, he said, as long as she behaved herself. If Dorothy + ever wished to evict her strenuous neighbor, all she had to do was to call + upon the Captain, and he would lend his aid, at which proffer of + assistance Katherine tossed her head, and said she would try the room for + a week, and, if she didn’t like it, out Dorothy would have to go. + </p> + <p> + There followed days and nights of revelry. Hops, concerts, entertainments + of all sorts, with a more pretentious ball on Saturday night, when the + week-tired man from New York arrived in the afternoon to find temperature + twenty degrees lower, and the altitude very much higher than was the case + in his busy office in the city. Katherine revelled in this round of + excitement, and indeed, so, in a milder way, did Dorothy. After the + functions were over the girls enjoyed a comforting chat with one another + in their drawing room; all windows open, and the moon a-shining down over + the luminous valley, which it seemed to fill with mother-o’-pearl dust. + </p> + <p> + Young Mr. J. K. Henderson of New York, having danced repeatedly with + Katherine on Saturday night, unexpectedly turned up for the hop on the + following Wednesday, when he again danced repeatedly with the same joyous + girl. It being somewhat unusual for a keen business man to take a four + hours’ journey during an afternoon in the middle of the week, and, as a + consequence, arrive late at his office next morning, Dorothy began to + wonder if a concrete formation, associated with the name of Prince Ivan + Lermontoff of Russia, was strong enough to stand an energetic assault of + this nature, supposing it were to be constantly repeated. It was after + midnight on Wednesday when the two reached the corner parlor. Dorothy sat + in a cane armchair, while Katherine threw herself into a rocking-chair, + laced her fingers behind her head, and gazed through the open window at + the misty infinity beyond. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” sighed Katherine, “this has been the most enjoyable evening I ever + spent!” + </p> + <p> + “Are you quite sure?” inquired her friend. + </p> + <p> + “Certainly. Shouldn’t I know?” + </p> + <p> + “He dances well, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Exquisitely!” + </p> + <p> + “Better than Jack Lamont?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, now you mention him I must confess Jack danced very creditably.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn’t know but you might have forgotten the Prince.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I haven’t exactly forgotten him, but—I do think he might have + written to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that’s it, is it? Did he ask your permission to write?” + </p> + <p> + “Good gracious, no. We never talked of writing. Old red sandstone, rather, + was our topic of conversation. Still, he might have acknowledged receipt + of the book.” + </p> + <p> + “But the book was given to him in return for the one he presented to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I suppose it was. I hadn’t thought of that.” + </p> + <p> + “Then again, Kate, Russian notions regarding writing to young ladies may + differ from ours, or he may have fallen overboard, or touched a live + wire.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, there are many possibilities,” murmured Katherine dreamily. + </p> + <p> + “It seems rather strange that Mr. Henderson should have time to come up + here in the middle of the week.” + </p> + <p> + “Why is it strange?” asked Katherine. “Mr. Henderson is not a clerk bound + down to office hours. He’s an official high up in one of the big insurance + companies, and gets a simply tremendous salary.” + </p> + <p> + “Really? Does he talk as well as Jack Lamont did?” + </p> + <p> + “He talks less like the Troy Technical Institute, and more like the ‘Home + Journal’ than poor Prince Jack did, and then he has a much greater sense + of humor. When I told him that the oath of an insurance man should be ‘bet + your life!’ he laughed. Now, Jack would never have seen the point of that. + Anyhow, the hour is too late, and I am too sleepy, to worry about young + men, or jokes either. Good-night!” + </p> + <p> + Next morning’s mail brought Dorothy a bulky letter decorated with English + stamps. She locked the door, tore open the envelope, and found many sheets + of thin paper bearing the heading of the Bluewater Club, Pall Mall. + </p> + <p> + “I am reminded of an old adage,” she read, “to the effect that one should + never cross a bridge before arriving at it. Since I bade good-by to you, + up to this very evening, I have been plodding over a bridge that didn’t + exist, much to my own discomfort. You were with me when I received the + message ordering me home to England, and I don’t know whether or not I + succeeded in suppressing all signs of my own perturbation, but we have in + the Navy now a man who does not hesitate to overturn a court martial, and + so I feared a re-opening of the Rock in the Baltic question, which might + have meant the wrecking of my career. I had quite made up my mind, if the + worst came to the worst, to go out West and become a cow-boy, but a + passenger with whom I became acquainted on the ‘Enthusiana’ informed me, + to my regret, that the cow-boy is largely a being of the past, to be met + with only in the writings of Stewart Edward White, Owen Wister, and + several other famous men whom he named. So you see, I went across the + ocean tolerably depressed, finding my present occupation threatened, and + my future uncertain. + </p> + <p> + “When I arrived in London I took a room at this Club, of which I have been + a member for some years, and reported immediately at the Admiralty. But + there, in spite of all diligence on my part, I was quite unable to learn + what was wanted of me. Of course, I could have gone to my Uncle, who is in + the government, and perhaps he might have enlightened me, although he has + nothing to do with the Navy, but I rather like to avoid Uncle Metgurne. He + brought me up since I was a small boy, and seems unnecessarily ashamed of + the result. It is his son who is the attache’ in St. Petersburg that I + spoke to you about.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy ceased reading for a moment. + </p> + <p> + “Metgurne, Metgurne,” she said to herself. “Surely I know that name?” + </p> + <p> + She laid down the letter, pressed the electric button, and unlocked the + door. When the servant came, she said: + </p> + <p> + “Will you ask at the office if they have any biographical book of + reference relating to Great Britain, and if so, please bring it to me.” + </p> + <p> + The servant appeared shortly after with a red book which proved to be an + English “Who’s Who” dated two years back. Turning the pages she came to + Metgurne. + </p> + <p> + “Metgurne, twelfth Duke of, created 1681, Herbert George Alan.” Here + followed a number of other titles, the information that the son and heir + was Marquis of Thaxted, and belonged to the Diplomatic Service, that Lord + Metgurne was H. M. Secretary of State for Royal Dependencies; finally a + list of residences and clubs. She put down the book and resumed the + letter. + </p> + <p> + “I think I ought to have told you that when I reach St. Petersburg I shall + be as anxious to avoid my cousin Thaxted as I am to steer clear of his + father in London. So I sat in my club, and read the papers. Dear me, this + is evidently going to be a very long letter. I hope you won’t mind. I + think perhaps you may be interested in learning how they do things over + here. + </p> + <p> + “After two or three days of anxious waiting there came a crushing + communication from the Admiralty which confirmed my worst fears and set me + at crossing the bridge again. I was ordered to report next morning at + eleven, at Committee Room 5, in the Admiralty, and bring with me full + particulars pertaining to the firing of gun number so-and-so of the + ‘Consternation’s’ equipment on such a date. I wonder since that I did not + take to drink. We have every facility for that sort of thing in this club. + However, at eleven next day, I presented myself at the Committee Room and + found in session the grimmest looking five men I have ever yet been called + upon to face. Collectively they were about ten times worse in appearance + than the court-martial I had previously encountered. Four of the men I did + not know, but the fifth I recognized at once, having often seen his + portrait. He is Admiral Sir John Pendergest, popularly known in the + service as ‘Old Grouch,’ a blue terror who knows absolutely nothing of + mercy. The lads in the service say he looks so disagreeable because he is + sorry he wasn’t born a hanging judge. Picture a face as cleanly cut as + that of some severe old Roman Senator; a face as hard as marble, quite as + cold, and nearly as white, rescued from the appearance of a death mask by + a pair of piercing eyes that glitter like steel. When looking at him it is + quite impossible to believe that such a personage has ever been a boy who + played pranks on his masters. Indeed, Admiral Sir John Pendergest seems to + have sprung, fully uniformed and forbidding, from the earth, like those + soldiers of mythology. I was so taken aback at confronting such a man that + I never noticed my old friend, Billy Richardson, seated at the table as + one of the minor officials of the Committee. Billy tells me I looked + rather white about the lips when I realized what was ahead of me, and I + daresay he was right. My consolation is that I didn’t get red, as is my + disconcerting habit. I was accommodated with a chair, and then a + ferrety-faced little man began asking me questions, consulting every now + and then a foolscap sheet of paper which was before him. Others were ready + to note down the answers. + </p> + <p> + “‘When did you fire the new gun from the “Consternation” in the Baltic?’ + </p> + <p> + “Dear Miss Amhurst, I have confessed to you that I am not brilliant, and, + indeed, such confession was quite unnecessary, for you must speedily have + recognized the fact, but here let me boast for a line or two of my one + accomplishment, which is mathematical accuracy. When I make experiments I + don’t note the result by rule of thumb. My answer to the ferret-faced man + was prompt and complete. + </p> + <p> + “‘At twenty-three minutes, seventeen seconds past ten, A.M., on May the + third of this year,’ was my reply. + </p> + <p> + “The five high officials remained perfectly impassive, but the two + stenographers seemed somewhat taken by surprise, and one of them + whispered, ‘Did you say fifteen seconds, sir?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘He said seventeen,’ growled Sir John Pendergest, in a voice that seemed + to come out of a sepulchre. + </p> + <p> + “‘Who sighted the gun?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I did, sir.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Why did not the regular gunner do that?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘He did, sir, but I also took observations, and raised the muzzle .000327 + of an inch.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Was your gunner inaccurate, then, to that extent?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘No, sir, but I had weighed the ammunition, and found it short by two + ounces and thirty-seven grains.’ + </p> + <p> + “I must not bore you with all the questions and answers. I merely give + these as samples. They questioned me about the recoil, the action of the + gun, the state of this, that and the other after firing, and luckily I was + able to answer to a dot every query put to me. At the finish one of the + judges asked me to give in my own words my opinion of the gun. Admiral Sir + John glared at him as he put this question, for of course to any expert + the answers I had furnished, all taken together, gave an accurate verdict + on the gun, assuming my statements to have been correct, which I maintain + they were. However, as Sir John made no verbal comment, I offered my + opinion as tersely as I could. + </p> + <p> + “‘Thank you, Lieutenant Drummond,’ rumbled Sir John in his deep voice, as + if he were pronouncing sentence, and, my testimony completed, the + Committee rose. + </p> + <p> + “I was out in the street before Billy Richardson overtook me, and then he + called himself to my attention by a resounding slap on the shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “‘Alan, my boy,’ he cried, ‘you have done yourself proud. Your fortune’s + made.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘As how?’ I asked, shaking him by the hand. + </p> + <p> + “‘Why, we’ve been for weeks holding an inquiry on this blessed gun, and + the question is whether or not a lot more of them are to be made. You know + what an opinionated beast Old Grouch is. Well, my boy, you have + corroborated his opinion of the gun in every detail. He is such a + brow-beating, tyrannical brute that the rest of the Committee would rather + like to go against him if they dared, but you have put a spoke in their + wheel. Why, Sir John never said “thank you” to a human being since he was + born until twenty-seven minutes and fifteen seconds after eleven this + morning, as you would have put it,’ and at the time of writing this letter + this surmise of Billy’s appears to be justified, for the tape in the club + just now announced that the Committee has unanimously decided in favor of + the gun, and adds that this is regarded as a triumph for the chairman, + Admiral Sir John Pendergest, with various letters after his name. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Miss Amhurst, this letter, as I feared, has turned out intolerably + long, and like our first conversation, it is all about myself. But then, + you see, you are the only one on the other side of the water to whom I + have confided my selfish worries, and I believe you to be so kind-hearted + that I am sure you will not censure me for this once exceeding the limits + of friendly correspondence. Having been deeply depressed during all the + previous long days, the sudden reaction urges me to go out into Pall Mall, + fling my cap in the air, and whoop, which action is quite evidently a + remnant of my former cow-boy aspirations. Truth to tell, the Russian + business seems already forgotten, except by my stout old Captain on the + ‘Consternation,’ or my Uncle. The strenuous Sir John has had me haled + across the ocean merely to give testimony, lasting about thirty-five + minutes, when with a little patience he might have waited till the + ‘Consternation’ herself arrived, or else have cabled for us to try the gun + at Bar Harbor. I suppose, however, that after my unfortunate contretemps + with Russia our government was afraid I’d chip a corner off the United + States, and that they’d have to pay for it. So perhaps after all it was + greater economy to bring me across on the liner ‘Enthusiana.’ + </p> + <p> + “By the way, I learned yesterday that the ‘Consternation’ has been ordered + home, and so I expect to see Jack Lamont before many days are past. The + ship will be paid off at Portsmouth, and then I suppose he and I will have + our freedom for six months. I am rather looking forward to Jack’s cooking + me some weird but tasteful Russian dishes when we reach his blacksmith’s + shop in St. Petersburg. If I get on in Russia as I hope and expect, I + shall spend the rest of my leave over in the States. I saw very little + indeed of that great country, and am extremely anxious to see more. When + one is on duty aboard ship one can only take very short excursions ashore. + I should like to visit Niagara. It seems ridiculous that one should have + been all along the American coast from Canada to New York, and never have + got far enough inland to view the great Falls. + </p> + <p> + “Russia is rather dilatory in her methods, but I surely should know within + two or three weeks whether I am going to succeed or not. If not, then + there is no use in waiting there. I shall try to persuade the Prince to + accompany me to America. During the weeks I am waiting in St. Petersburg I + shall continually impress upon him the utter futility of a life which has + not investigated the great electrical power plant at Niagara Falls. And + then he is interested in the educational system of the United States. + While we were going to the station early that morning he told me that the + United States educational system must be the most wonderful in the world, + because he found that your friend, Miss Katherine Kempt, knew more about + electricity, metallurgy, natural philosophy and a great number of other + things he is interested in, than all the ladies he has met in Europe put + together. He thinks that’s the right sort of education for girls, and all + this rather astonished me, because, although your friend was most + charming, she said nothing during my very short acquaintance with her to + lead me to suspect that she had received a scientific training. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Miss Amhurst, I am looking every day for a letter from you, but none + has yet been received by the Admiralty, who, when they get one, will + forward it to whatever part of the world I happen to be in.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII —“WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME” + </h2> + <p> + A SUMMER hotel that boasts a thousand acres of forest, more or less, which + serve the purposes of a back-yard, affords its guests, even if all its + multitude of rooms are occupied, at least one spot for each visitor to + regard as his or her favorite nook. So large an extent of woodland + successfully defies landscape gardening. It insists on being left alone, + and its very immensity raises a financial barrier against trimly-kept + gravel walks. There were plenty of landscape garden walks in the immediate + vicinity of the hotel, and some of them ambitiously penetrated into the + woods, relapsing from the civilization of beaten gravel into a primitive + thicket trail, which, however, always led to some celebrated bit of + picturesqueness: a waterfall, or a pulpit rock upstanding like a tower, or + the fancied resemblance of a human face carved by Nature from the cliff, + or a view-point jutting out over the deep chasm of the valley, which + usually supported a rustic summer house or pavilion where unknown names + were carved on the woodwork—the last resort of the undistinguished + to achieve immortality by means of a jack-knife. + </p> + <p> + Dorothy discovered a little Eden of her own, to which no discernible + covert-way led, for it was not conspicuous enough to obtain mention in the + little gratis guide which the hotel furnished—a pamphlet on coated + paper filled with half-tone engravings, and half-extravagant eulogies of + what it proclaimed to be, an earthly paradise, with the rates by the day + or week given on the cover page to show on what terms this paradise might + be enjoyed. + </p> + <p> + Dorothy’s bower was green, and cool, and crystal, the ruggedness of the + rocks softened by the wealth of foliage. A very limpid spring, high up and + out of sight among the leaves, sent its waters tinkling down the face of + the cliff, ever filling a crystal-clear lakelet at the foot, which yet was + never full. Velvety and beautiful as was the moss surrounding this pond, + it was nevertheless too damp to form an acceptable couch for a human + being, unless that human being were brave enough to risk the rheumatic + inconveniences which followed Rip Van Winkle’s long sleep in these very + regions, so Dorothy always carried with her from the hotel a + feather-weight, spider’s-web hammock, which she deftly slung between two + saplings, their light suppleness giving an almost pneumatic effect to this + fairy net spread in a fairy glen; and here the young woman swayed + luxuriously in the relaxing delights of an indolence still too new to have + become commonplace or wearisome. + </p> + <p> + She always expected to read a great deal in the hammock, but often the + book slipped unnoticed to the moss, and she lay looking upward at the + little discs of blue sky visible through the checkering maze of green + leaves. One afternoon, deserted by the latest piece of fictional + literature, marked in plain figures on the paper cover that protected the + cloth binding, one dollar and a half, but sold at the department stores + for one dollar and eight cents, Dorothy lay half-hypnotized by the + twinkling of the green leaves above her, when she heard a sweet voice + singing a rollicking song of the Civil War, and so knew that Katherine was + thus heralding her approach. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “‘When Johnny comes marching home again, + Hurrah! Hurrah! + We’ll give him a hearty welcome then, + Hurrah! Hurrah! + The men will cheer, the boys will shout, + The ladies they will all turn out, + And we’ll all feel gay + When Johnny comes marching home.’” + </pre> + <p> + Dorothy went still further back into the history of her country, and gave + a faint imitation of an Indian war-whoop, to let the oncomer know she was + welcome, and presently Katherine burst impetuously through the dense + undergrowth. + </p> + <p> + “So here you are, Miss Laziness,” she cried. + </p> + <p> + “Here I am, Miss Energy, or shall I call you Miss-applied Energy? + Katherine, you have walked so fast that you are quite red in the face.” + </p> + <p> + “It isn’t exertion, it’s vexation. Dorothy, I have had a perfectly + terrible time. It is the anxiety regarding the proper discipline of + parents that is spoiling the nervous system of American children. Train + them up in the way they should go, and when they are old they do depart + from it. There’s nothing more awful than to own parents who think they + possess a sense of humor. Thank goodness mother has none!” + </p> + <p> + “Then it is your father who has been misbehaving?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course it is. He treats the most serious problem of a woman’s life as + if it were the latest thing in ‘Life.’” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy sat up in the hammock. + </p> + <p> + “The most important problem? That means a proposal. Goodness gracious, + Kate, is that insurance man back here again?” + </p> + <p> + “What insurance man?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, heartless and heart-breaking Katherine, is there another? Sit here in + the hammock beside me, and tell me all about it.” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you,” refused Katherine. “I weigh more than you, and I cannot + risk my neck through the collapse of that bit of gossamer. I must take + care of myself for his sake.” + </p> + <p> + “Then it is the life insurance man whose interests you are consulting? + Have you taken out a policy with him?” + </p> + <p> + “Dear me, you are nearly as bad as father, but not quite so funny. You are + referring to Mr. Henderson, I presume. A most delightful companion for a + dance, but, my dear Dorothy, life is not all glided out to the measures of + a Strauss waltz.” + </p> + <p> + “True; quite undisputable, Kate, and them sentiments do you credit. Who is + the man?” + </p> + <p> + “The human soul,” continued Katherine seriously, “aspires to higher things + than the society columns of the New York Sunday papers, and the frivolous + chatter of an overheated ball-room.” + </p> + <p> + “Again you score, Kate, and are rising higher and higher in my estimation. + I see it all now. Those solemn utterances of yours point directly toward + Hugh Miller’s ‘Old Red Sandstone’ and works of that sort, and now I + remember your singing ‘When Johnny comes marching home.’ I therefore take + it that Jack Lamont has arrived.” + </p> + <p> + “He has not.” + </p> + <p> + “Then he has written to you?” + </p> + <p> + “He has not.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, well, I give it up. Tell me the tragedy your own way.” + </p> + <p> + For answer Katherine withdrew her hands from behind her, and offered to + her friend a sheet of paper she had been holding. Dorothy saw blazoned on + the top of it a coat-of-arms, and underneath it, written in words of the + most formal nature, was the information that Prince Ivan Lermontoff + presented his warmest regards to Captain Kempt, U.S.N., retired, and + begged permission to pay his addresses to the Captain’s daughter + Katherine. Dorothy looked up from the document, and her friend said + calmly: + </p> + <p> + “You see, they need another Katherine in Russia.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope she won’t be like a former one, if all I’ve read of her is true. + This letter was sent to your father, then?” + </p> + <p> + “It was, and he seems to regard it as a huge joke. Said he was going to + cable his consent, and as the ‘Consternation’ has sailed away, he would + try to pick her up by wireless telegraphy, and secure the young man that + way: suggests that I shall have a lot of new photographs taken, so that he + can hand them out to the reporters when they call for particulars. Sees in + his mind’s eye, he says, a huge black-lettered heading in the evening + papers: ‘A Russian Prince captures one of our fairest daughters,’ and then + insultingly hinted that perhaps, after all, it was better not to use my + picture, as it might not bear out the ‘fair daughter’ fiction of the + heading.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Kate, I can see that such treatment of a vital subject must have + been very provoking.” + </p> + <p> + “Provoking? I should say it was! He pretended he was going to tack this + letter up on the notice-board in the hall of the hotel, so that every one + might know what guests of distinction the Matterhorn House held. But the + most exasperating feature of the situation is that this letter has been + lying for days and days at our cottage in Bar Harbor. I am quite certain + that I left instructions for letters to be forwarded, but, as nothing + came, I telegraphed yesterday to the people who have taken our house, and + now a whole heap of belated correspondence has arrived, with a note from + our tenant saying he did not know our address. You will see at the bottom + of the note that the Prince asks my father to communicate with him by + sending a reply to the ‘Consternation’ at New York, but now the + ‘Consternation’ has sailed for England, and poor John must have waited and + waited in vain.” + </p> + <p> + “Write care of the ‘Consternation’ in England.” + </p> + <p> + “But Jack told me that the ‘Consternation’ paid off as soon as she + arrived, and probably he will have gone to Russia.” + </p> + <p> + “If you address him at the Admiralty in London, the letter will be + forwarded wherever he happens to be.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know?” + </p> + <p> + “I have heard that such is the case.” + </p> + <p> + “But you’re not sure, and I want to be certain.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you really in love with him, Kate?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course I am. You know that very well, and I don’t want any stupid + misapprehension to arise at the beginning, such as allows a silly author + to carry on his story to the four-hundredth page of such trash as this,” + and she gently touched with her toe the unoffending volume which lay on + the ground beneath the hammock. + </p> + <p> + “Then why not adopt your father’s suggestion, and cable? It isn’t you who + are cabling, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “I couldn’t consent to that. It would look as if we were in a hurry, + wouldn’t it?” + </p> + <p> + “Then let me cable.” + </p> + <p> + “You? To whom?” + </p> + <p> + “Hand me up that despised book, Kate, and I’ll write my cablegram on the + fly-leaf. If you approve of the message, I’ll go to the hotel, and send it + at once.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine gave her the book, and lent the little silver pencil which hung + jingling, with other trinkets, on the chain at her belt. Dorothy scribbled + a note, tore out the fly-leaf, and presented it to Katherine, who read: + </p> + <p> + “Alan Drummond, Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, London. Tell Lamont that his + letter to Captain Kempt was delayed, and did not reach the Captain until + to-day. Captain Kempt’s reply will be sent under cover to you at your + club. Arrange for forwarding if you leave England. + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy Amhurst.” + </p> + <p> + When Katherine finished reading she looked up at her friend, and + exclaimed: “Well!” giving that one word a meaning deep as the clear pool + on whose borders she stood. + </p> + <p> + Dorothy’s face reddened as if the sinking western sun was shining full + upon it. + </p> + <p> + “You write to one another, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “And is it a case of—” + </p> + <p> + “No; friendship.” + </p> + <p> + “Sure it is nothing more than that?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy shook her head. + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, you are a brick; that’s what you are. You will do anything to + help a friend in trouble.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy smiled. + </p> + <p> + “I have so few friends that whatever I can do for them will not greatly + tax any capabilities I may possess.” + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless, Dorothy, I thoroughly appreciate what you have done. You + did not wish any one to know you were corresponding with him, and yet you + never hesitated a moment when you saw I was anxious.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, Kate, there was nothing to conceal. Ours is a very ordinary + exchange of letters. I have only had two: one at Bar Harbor a few days + after he left, and another longer one since we came to the hotel, written + from England.” + </p> + <p> + “Did the last one go to Bar Harbor, too? How came you to receive it when + we did not get ours?” + </p> + <p> + “It did not go to Bar Harbor. I gave him the address of my lawyers in New + York, and they forwarded it to me here. Lieutenant Drummond was ordered + home by some one who had authority to do so, and received the message + while he was sitting with me on the night of the ball. He had got into + trouble with Russia. There had been an investigation, and he was + acquitted. I saw that he was rather worried over the order home and I + expressed my sympathy as well as I could, hoping everything would turn out + for the best. He asked if he might write and let me know the outcome, and, + being interested, I quite willingly gave him permission, and my address. + The letter I received was all about a committee meeting at the Admiralty + in which he took part. He wrote to me from the club in Pall Mall to which + I have addressed this cablegram.” + </p> + <p> + There was a sly dimple in Katherine’s cheeks as she listened to this + straightforward explanation, and the faintest possible suspicion of a + smile flickered at the corner of her mouth. She murmured, rather than + sang: + </p> + <p> + “‘A pair of lovesick maidens we.’” + </p> + <p> + “One, if you please,” interrupted Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “‘Lovesick all against our will—‘” + </p> + <p> + “Only one.” + </p> + <p> + “‘Twenty years hence we shan’t be A pair of lovesick maidens still.’” + </p> + <p> + “I am pleased to note,” said Dorothy demurely, “that the letter written by + the Prince to your father has brought you back to the Gilbert and Sullivan + plane again, although in this fairy glen you should quote from Iolanthe + rather than from Patience.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Dot, this spot might do for a cove in the ‘Pirates of Penzance,’ + only we’re too far from the sea. But, to return to the matter in hand, I + don’t think there will be any need to send that cablegram. I don’t like + the idea of a cablegram, anyhow. I will return to the hotel, and dictate + to my frivolous father a serious composition quite as stately and formal + as that received from the Prince. He will address it and seal it, and then + if you are kind enough to enclose it in the next letter you send to + Lieutenant Drummond, it will be sure to reach Jack Lamont ultimately.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy sprang from the hammock to the ground. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” she cried eagerly, “I’ll go into the hotel with you and write my + letter at once.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine smiled, took her by the arm, and said: + </p> + <p> + “You’re a dear girl, Dorothy. I’ll race you to the hotel, as soon as we + are through this thicket.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX —IN RUSSIA + </h2> + <p> + THE next letter Dorothy received bore Russian stamps, and was dated at the + black-smith’s shop, Bolshoi Prospect, St. Petersburg. After a few + preliminaries, which need not be set down here, Drummond continued: + </p> + <p> + “The day after Jack arrived in London, there being nothing whatever to + detain him in England, we set off together for St. Petersburg, and are now + domiciled above his blacksmith shop. We are not on the fashionable side of + the river, but our street is wide, and a very short walk brings us to a + bridge which, being crossed, allows us to wander among palaces if we are + so disposed. We have been here only four days, yet a good deal has already + been accomplished. The influence of the Prince has smoothed my path for + me. Yesterday I had an audience with a very important personage in the + Foreign Office, and to-day I have seen an officer of high rank in the + navy. The Prince warns me to mention no names, because letters, even to a + young lady, are sometimes opened before they reach the person to whom they + are addressed. These officials who have been kind enough to receive me are + gentlemen so polished that I feel quite uncouth in their presence. I am a + little shaky in my French, and feared that my knowledge of that language + might not carry me through, but both of these officials speak English much + better than I do, and they seemed rather pleased I had voluntarily visited + St. Petersburg to explain that no discourtesy was meant in the action I + had so unfortunately taken on the Baltic, and they gave me their warmest + assurances they would do what they could to ease the tension between our + respective countries. It seems that my business here will be finished much + sooner than I expected, and then I am off on the quickest steamer for New + York, in the hope of seeing Niagara Falls. I have met with one + disappointment, however. Jack says he cannot possibly accompany me to the + United States. I have failed to arouse in him the faintest interest about + the electric works at Niagara. He insists that he is on the verge of a + most important discovery, the nature of which he does not confide in me. I + think he is working too hard, for he is looking quite haggard and + overdone, but that is always the way with him. He throws himself heart and + soul into any difficulty that confronts him, and works practically night + and day until he has solved it. + </p> + <p> + “Yesterday he gave the whole street a fright. I had just returned from the + Foreign Office, and had gone upstairs to my room, when there occurred an + explosion that shook the building from cellar to roof, and sent the + windows of our blacksmith’s shop rattling into the street. Jack had a most + narrow escape, but is unhurt, although that fine beard of his was badly + singed. He has had it shaved off, and now sports merely a mustache, + looking quite like a man from New York. You wouldn’t recognize him if you + met him on Broadway. The carpenters and glaziers are at work to-day + repairing the damage. I told Jack that if this sort of thing kept on I’d + be compelled to patronize another hotel, but he says it won’t happen + again. It seems he was trying to combine two substances by adding a third, + and, as I understood him, the mixing took place with unexpected + suddenness. He has endeavored to explain to me the reaction, as he calls + it, which occurred, but I seem to have no head for chemistry, and besides, + if I am to be blown through the roof some of these days it will be no + consolation to me when I come down upon the pavement outside to know + accurately the different elements which contributed to my elevation. Jack + is very patient in trying to instruct me, but he could not resist the + temptation of making me ashamed by saying that your friend, Miss Katherine + Kempt, would have known at once the full particulars of the reaction. + Indeed, he says, she warned him of the disaster, by marking a passage in a + book she gave him which foreshadowed this very thing. She must be a most + remarkable young woman, and it shows how stupid I am that I did not in the + least appreciate this fact when in her company.” + </p> + <p> + The next letter was received a week later. He was getting on swimmingly, + both at the Foreign Office and at the Russian Admiralty. All the officials + he had met were most courteous and anxious to advance his interests. He + wrote about the misapprehensions held in England regarding Russia, and + expressed his resolve to do what he could when he returned to remove these + false impressions. + </p> + <p> + “Of course,” he went on, “no American or Englishman can support or justify + the repressive measures so often carried out ruthlessly by the Russian + police. Still, even these may be exaggerated, for the police have to deal + with a people very much different from our own. It is rather curious that + at this moment I am in vague trouble concerning the police. I am sure this + place is watched, and I am also almost certain that my friend Jack is + being shadowed. He dresses like a workman; his grimy blouse would delight + the heart of his friend Tolstoi, but he is known to be a Prince, and I + think the authorities imagine he is playing up to the laboring class, whom + they despise. I lay it all to that unfortunate explosion, which gathered + the police about us as if they had sprung from the ground. There was an + official examination, of course, and Jack explained, apparently to + everybody’s satisfaction, exactly how he came to make the mistake that + resulted in the loss of his beard and his windows. I don’t know exactly + how to describe the feeling of uneasiness which has come over me. At first + sight this city did not strike me as so very much different from New York + or London, and meeting, as I did, so many refined gentlemen in high + places, I had come to think St. Petersburg was after all very much like + Paris, or Berlin, or Rome. But it is different, and the difference makes + itself subtly felt, just as the air in some coast towns of Britain is + relaxing, and in others bracing. In these towns a man doesn’t notice the + effect at first, but later on he begins to feel it, and so it is here in + St. Petersburg. Great numbers of workmen pass down our street. They all + seem to know who the Prince is, and the first days we were here, they + saluted him with a deference which I supposed was due to his rank, in + spite of the greasy clothes he wore. Since the explosion an indefinable + change has come over these workmen. They salute the Prince still when we + meet them on the street, but there is in their attitude a certain sly + sympathy, if I may so term it; a bond of camaraderie which is implied in + their manner rather than expressed. Jack says this is all fancy on my + part, but I don’t think it is. These men imagine that Prince Ivan + Lermontoff, who lives among them and dresses like them, is concocting some + explosive which may yet rid them of the tyrants who make their lives so + unsafe. All this would not matter, but what does matter is the chemical + reaction, as I believe Jack would term it, which has taken place among the + authorities. The authorities undoubtedly have their spies among the + working-men, and know well what they are thinking about and talking about. + I do not believe they were satisfied with the explanations Jack gave + regarding the disaster. I have tried to impress upon Jack that he must be + more careful in walking about the town, and I have tried to persuade him, + after work, to dress like the gentleman he is, but he laughs at my fears, + and assures me that I have gone from one extreme to the other in my + opinion of St. Petersburg. First I thought it was like all other capitals; + now I have swung too far in the other direction. He says the police of St. + Petersburg would not dare arrest him, but I’m not so sure of that. A + number of things occur to me, as usual, too late. Russia, with her perfect + secret service system, must know that Prince Lermontoff has been serving + in the British Navy. They know he returned to St. Petersburg, avoids all + his old friends, and is brought to their notice by an inexplicable + explosion, and they must be well aware, also, that he is in the company of + the man who fired the shell at the rock in the Baltic, and that he himself + served on the offending cruiser. + </p> + <p> + “As to my own affairs, I must say they are progressing slowly but + satisfactorily; nevertheless, if Jack would leave St. Petersburg, and come + with me to London or New York, where he could carry on his experiments + quite as well, or even better than here, I should depart at once, even if + I jeopardized my own prospects.” + </p> + <p> + The next letter, some time later, began: + </p> + <p> + “Your two charming notes to me arrived here together. It is very kind of + you to write to a poor exile and cheer him in his banishment. I should + like to see that dell where you have swung your hammock. Beware of + Hendrick Hudson’s men, so delightfully written of by Washington Irving. If + they offer you anything to drink, don’t you take it. Think how disastrous + it would be to all your friends if you went to sleep in that hammock for + twenty years. It’s the Catskills I want to see now rather than Niagara + Falls. Your second letter containing the note from Captain Kempt to Jack + was at once delivered to him. What on earth has the genial Captain written + to effect such a transformation in my friend? He came to me that evening + clothed in his right mind; in evening rig-out, with his decorations upon + it, commanded me to get into my dinner togs, took me in a carriage across + the river to the best restaurant St. Petersburg affords, and there we had + a champagne dinner in which he drank to America and all things American. + Whether it was the enthusiasm produced by Captain Kempt’s communication, + or the effect of the champagne, I do not know, but he has reconsidered his + determination not to return to the United States, and very soon we set out + together for the west. + </p> + <p> + “I shall be glad to get out of this place. We were followed to the + restaurant, I am certain, and I am equally certain that at the next table + two police spies were seated, and these two shadowed us in a cab until we + reached our blacksmith’s shop. It is a humiliating confession to make, but + somehow the atmosphere of this place has got on my nerves, and I shall be + glad to turn my back on it. Jack pooh-poohs the idea that he is in any + danger. Even the Governor of St. Petersburg, he says, dare not lay a + finger on him, and as for the Chief of Police, he pours scorn on that + powerful official. He scouts the idea that he is being watched, and + all-in-all is quite humorous at my expense, saying that my state of mind + is more fitting for a schoolgirl than for a stalwart man over six feet in + height. One consolation is that Jack now has become as keen for America as + I am. I expect that the interview arranged for me to-morrow with a great + government official will settle my own business finally one way or + another. A while ago I was confident of success, but the repeated delays + have made me less optimistic now, although the gentle courtesy of those in + high places remains undiminished. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Miss Amhurst, I cannot afford to fall lower in your estimation than + perhaps I deserve, so I must say that this fear which has overcome me is + all on account of my friend, and not on my own behalf at all. I am + perfectly safe in Russia, being a British subject. My cold and formal + Cousin Thaxted is a member of the British Embassy here, and my cold and + formal uncle is a Cabinet Minister in England, facts which must be well + known to these spy-informed people of St. Petersburg; so I am immune. The + worst they could do would be to order me out of the country, but even that + is unthinkable. If any one attempted to interfere with me, I have only to + act the hero of the penny novelette, draw myself up to my full height, + which, as you know, is not that of a pigmy, fold my arms across my manly + chest, cry, ‘Ha, ha!’ and sing ‘Rule Britannia,’ whereupon the villains + would wilt and withdraw. But Jack has no such security. He is a Russian + subject, and, prince or commoner, the authorities here could do what they + liked with him. I always think of things when it is too late to act. I + wish I had urged Jack ashore at Bar Harbor, and induced him to take the + oath of allegiance to the United States. I spoke to him about that coming + home in the carriage, and to my amazement he said he wished he had thought + of it himself at the time we were over there. + </p> + <p> + “But enough of this. I daresay he is in no real danger after all. + Nevertheless, I shall induce him to pack to-morrow, and we will make for + London together, so my next letter will bear a British stamp, and I assure + you the air of England will taste good to one benighted Britisher whose + name is Alan Drummond.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X —CALAMITY UNSEEN + </h2> + <p> + THE habit of industry practised from childhood to maturity is not + obliterated by an unexpected shower of gold. Dorothy was an early riser, + and one morning, entering the parlor from her room she saw, lying upon the + table, a letter with a Russian stamp, but addressed in an unknown hand to + her friend Katherine Kempt. She surmised that here was the first + communication from the Prince, and expected to learn all about it during + the luncheon hour at the latest. But the morning and afternoon passed, and + Katherine made no sign, which Dorothy thought was most unusual. All that + day and the next Katherine went about silent, sedate and serious, never + once quoting the humorous Mr. Gilbert. On the third morning Dorothy was + surprised, emerging from her room, to see Katherine standing by the table, + a black book in her hand. On the table lay a large package from New York, + recently opened, displaying a number of volumes in what might be termed + serious binding, leather or cloth, but none showing that high coloring + which distinguishes the output of American fiction. + </p> + <p> + “Good-morning, Dorothy. The early bird is after the worm of science.” She + held forth the volume in her hand. “Steele’s ‘Fourteen-Weeks’ Course in + Chemistry,’ an old book, but fascinatingly written. Dorothy,” she + continued with a sigh, “I want to talk seriously with you.” + </p> + <p> + “About chemistry?” asked Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “About men,” said Katherine firmly, “and, incidentally, about women.” + </p> + <p> + “An interesting subject, Kate, but you’ve got the wrong text-books. You + should have had a parcel of novels instead.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy seated herself, and Katherine followed her example, Steele’s + “Fourteen-Weeks’ Course” resting in her lap. + </p> + <p> + “Every man,” began Katherine, “should have a guardian to protect him.” + </p> + <p> + “From women?” + </p> + <p> + “From all things that are deceptive, and not what they seem.” + </p> + <p> + “That sounds very sententious, Kate. What does it mean?” + </p> + <p> + “It means that man is a simpleton, easily taken in. He is too honest for + crafty women, who delude him shamelessly.” + </p> + <p> + “Whom have you been deluding, Kate?” + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, I am a sneak.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy laughed. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, Katherine, you are anything but that. You couldn’t do a mean or + ungenerous action if you tried your best.” + </p> + <p> + “You think, Dorothy, I could reform?” she asked, breathlessly, leaning + forward. + </p> + <p> + “Reform? You don’t need to reform. You are perfectly delightful as you + are, and I know no man who is worthy of you. That’s a woman’s opinion; one + who knows you well, and there is nothing dishonest about the opinion, + either, in spite of your tirade against our sex.” + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, three days ago, be the same more or less, I received a letter + from John Lamont.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I saw it on the table, and surmised it was from him.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you? You were quite right. The reading of that letter has + revolutionized my character. I am a changed woman, Dorothy, and thoroughly + ashamed of myself. When I remember how I have deluded that poor, credulous + young man, in making him believe I understood even the fringe of what he + spoke about, it fills me with grief at my perfidy, but I am determined to + amend my ways if hard study will do it, and when next I see him I shall + talk to him worthily like a female Thomas A. Edison.” + </p> + <p> + Again Dorothy laughed. + </p> + <p> + “Now, that’s heartless of you, Dorothy. Don’t you see I’m in deadly + earnest? Must my former frivolity dog my steps through life? When I call + to mind that I made fun to you of his serious purpose in life, the thought + makes me cringe and despise myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, Kate, don’t go to the other extreme. I remember nothing you + have said that needs withdrawal. You have never made a malicious remark in + your life, Kate. Don’t make me defend you against yourself. You have + determined, I take it, to plunge into the subjects which interest the man + you are going to marry. That is a perfectly laudable ambition, and I am + quite sure you will succeed.” + </p> + <p> + “I know I don’t deserve all that, Dorothy, but I like it just the same. I + like people to believe in me, even if I sometimes lose faith in myself. + May I read you an extract from his letter?” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t if you’d rather not.” + </p> + <p> + “I’d rather, Dorothy, if it doesn’t weary you, but you will understand + when you have heard it, in what a new light I regard myself.” + </p> + <p> + The letter proved to be within the leaves of the late Mr. Steele’s book on + Chemistry, and from this volume she extracted it, pressed it for a moment + against her breast with her open hand, gazing across at her friend. + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, my first love-letter!” + </p> + <p> + She turned the crisp, thin pages, and began: + </p> + <p> + “‘You may recollect that foot-note which you marked with red ink in the + book you so kindly gave me on the subject of Catalysis, which did not + pertain to the subject of the volume in question, and yet was so + illuminative to any student of chemistry. They have done a great deal with + Catalysis in Germany with amazing commercial results, but the subject is + one so recent that I had not previously gone thoroughly into it.’” + </p> + <p> + Katherine paused in the reading, and looked across at her auditor, an + expression almost of despair in her eloquent eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, what under heaven is Catalysis?” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t ask me,” replied Dorothy, suppressing a laugh, struck by the + ludicrousness of any young and beautiful woman pressing any such + sentiments as these to her bosom. + </p> + <p> + “Have you ever heard of a Catalytic process, Dorothy?” beseeched + Katherine. “It is one of the phrases he uses.” + </p> + <p> + “Never; go on with the letter, Kate.” + </p> + <p> + “‘I saw at once that if I could use Catalytic process which would be + instantaneous in its solidifying effect on my liquid limestone, instead of + waiting upon slow evaporation, I could turn out building stone faster than + one can make brick. You, I am sure, with your more alert mind, saw this + when you marked that passage in red.’” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy,” almost whimpered Katherine, leaning back, “how can I go on? + Don’t you see what a sneak I am? It was bad enough to cozen with my + heedless, random markings of the book, but to think that line of red ink + might have been marked in his blood, for I nearly sent the poor boy to his + death.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on, Katherine, go on, go on!” + </p> + <p> + “‘In my search for a Catalytic whose substance would remain unchanged + after the reaction, I quite overlooked the chemical ingredients of one of + the materials I was dealing with, and the result was an explosion which + nearly blew the roof off the shop, and quite startled poor Drummond out of + a year’s growth. However, no real harm has been done, while I have been + taught a valuable lesson; to take into account all the elements I am + using. I must not become so intent on the subject I am pursuing as to + ignore everything else.’ And now, Dorothy, I want to ask you a most + intimate question, which I beg of you to answer as frankly as I have + confided in you.” + </p> + <p> + “I know what your question is, Kate. A girl who is engaged wishes to see + her friend in the same position. You would ask me if I am in love with + Alan Drummond, and I answer perfectly frankly that I am not.” + </p> + <p> + “You are quite sure of that, Dorothy?” + </p> + <p> + “Quite. He is the only man friend I have had, except my own father, and I + willingly confess to a sisterly interest in him.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if that is all—” + </p> + <p> + “It is all, Kate. Why?” + </p> + <p> + “Because there is something about him in this letter, which I would read + to you if I thought you didn’t care.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he is in love with Jack’s sister, very likely. I should think that + would be a most appropriate arrangement. Jack is his best friend, and + perhaps a lover would weaken the influence which Tolstoi exerts over an + emotional person’s mind. Lieutenant Drummond, with his sanity, would + probably rescue a remnant of her estates.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, well, if you can talk as indifferently as that, you are all right, + Dorothy. No, there is no other woman in the case. Here’s what Jack says: + </p> + <p> + “‘It is amazing how little an Englishman understands people of other + nations. Here is my tall friend Drummond marching nonchalantly among + dangers of which he has not the least conception. The authorities whom he + thinks so courteous are fooling him to the top of his bent. There is, of + course, no danger of his arrest, but nevertheless the eyes of the police + are upon him, and he will not believe it, any more than he will believe he + is being hoodwinked by the Foreign Minister. What I fear is that he will + be bludgeoned on the street some dark night, or involved in a one-sided + duel. Twice I have rescued him from an imminent danger which he has not + even seen. Once in a restaurant a group of officers, apparently drunk, + picked a quarrel and drew swords upon him. I had the less difficulty in + getting him away because he fears a broil, or anything that will call down + upon him the attention of his wooden-headed cousin in the Embassy. On + another occasion as we were coming home toward midnight, a perfectly bogus + brawl broke out suddenly all around us. Drummond was unarmed, but his huge + fists sent sprawling two or three of his assailants. I had a revolver, and + held the rest off, and so we escaped. I wish he was safely back in London + again.’ What do you think of that, Dorothy?” + </p> + <p> + “I think exactly what Mr. Lamont thinks. Lieutenant Drummond’s mission to + Russia seems to me a journey of folly.” + </p> + <p> + “After all, I am glad you don’t care, Dorothy. He should pay attention to + what Jack says, for Jack knows Russia, and he doesn’t. Still, let us hope + he will come safely out of St. Petersburg. And now, Dot, for breakfast, + because I must get to work.” + </p> + <p> + Next morning Dorothy saw a letter for herself on the table in the now + familiar hand-writing, and was more relieved than perhaps she would have + confessed even to her closest friend, when she saw the twopence-halfpenny + English stamp on the envelope. Yet its contents were startling enough, and + this letter she did not read to Katherine Kempt, but bore its anxiety + alone. + </p> + <p> + DEAR MISS AMHURST: + </p> + <p> + I write you in great trouble of mind, not trusting this letter to the + Russian post-office, but sending it by an English captain to be posted in + London. Two days ago Jack Lamont disappeared; a disappearance as complete + as if he had never existed. The night before last, about ten o’clock, I + thought I heard him come into his shop below my room. Sometimes he works + there till daylight, and as, when absorbed in his experiments, he does not + relish interruptions, even from me, I go on with my reading until he comes + upstairs. Toward eleven o’clock I thought I heard slight sounds of a + scuffle, and a smothered cry. I called out to him, but received no answer. + Taking a candle, I went downstairs, but everything was exactly as usual, + the doors locked, and not even a bench overturned. I called aloud, but + only the echo of this barn of a room replied. I lit the gas and made a + more intelligent search, but with no result. I unlocked the door, and + stood out in the street, which was quite silent and deserted. I began to + doubt that I had heard anything at all, for, as I have told you, my nerves + lately have been rather prone to the jumps. I sat up all night waiting for + him, but he did not come. Next day I went, as had been previously + arranged, to the Foreign Office, but was kept waiting in an anteroom for + two hours, and then told that the Minister could not see me. I met a + similar repulse at the Admiralty. I dined alone at the restaurant Jack and + I frequent, but saw nothing of him. This morning he has not returned, and + I am at my wit’s end, not in the least knowing what to do. It is useless + for me to appeal to the embassy of my country, for, Jack being a Russian, + it has no jurisdiction. The last letter I received from you was tampered + with. The newspaper extract you spoke of was not there, and one of the + sheets of the letter was missing. Piffling business, I call it, this + interfering with private correspondence. + </p> + <p> + Such was the last letter that Alan Drummond was ever to send to Dorothy + Amhurst. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI —THE SNOW + </h2> + <p> + SUMMER waned; the evenings became chill, although the sun pretended at + noon that its power was undiminished. Back to town from mountain and sea + shore filtered the warm-weather idlers, but no more letters came from St. + Petersburg to the hill by the Hudson. So far as our girls were concerned, + a curtain of silence had fallen between Europe and America. + </p> + <p> + The flat was now furnished, and the beginning of autumn saw it occupied by + the two friends. Realization in this instance lacked the delight of + anticipation. At last Katherine was the bachelor girl she had longed to + be, but the pleasures of freedom were as Dead Sea fruit to the lips. At + last Dorothy was effectually cut off from all thoughts of slavery, with + unlimited money to do what she pleased with, yet after all, of what + advantage was it in solving the problem that haunted her by day and filled + her dreams by night. She faced the world with seeming unconcern, for she + had not the right to mourn, even if she knew he were dead. He had made no + claim; had asked for no affection; had written no word to her but what all + the world might read. Once a week she made a little journey up the Hudson + to see how her church was coming on, and at first Katherine accompanied + her, but now she went alone. Katherine was too honest a girl to pretend an + interest where she felt none. She could not talk of architecture when she + was thinking of a man and his fate. At first she had been querulously + impatient when no second communication came. Her own letters, she said, + must have reached him, otherwise they would have been returned. Later, + dumb fear took possession of her, and she grew silent, plunged with + renewed energy into her books, joined a technical school, took lessons, + and grew paler and paler until her teachers warned her she was overdoing + it. Inwardly she resented the serene impassiveness of her friend, who + consulted calmly with the architect upon occasion about the decoration of + the church, when men’s liberty was gone, and perhaps their lives. She + built up within her mind a romance of devotion, by which her lover, + warning in vain the stolid Englishman, had at last been involved in the + ruin that Drummond’s stubbornness had brought upon them both, and unjustly + implicated the quiet woman by her side in the responsibility of this + sacrifice. Once or twice she spoke with angry impatience of Drummond and + his stupidity, but Dorothy neither defended nor excused, and so no open + rupture occurred between the two friends, for a quarrel cannot be + one-sided. + </p> + <p> + But with a woman of Katherine’s temperament the final outburst had to + come, and it came on the day that the first flurry of snow fell through + the still air, capering in large flakes past the windows of the flat down + to the muddy street far below. Katherine was standing by the window, with + her forehead leaning against the plate glass, in exactly the attitude that + had been her habit in the sewing-room at Bar Harbor, but now the staccato + of her fingers on the sill seemed to drum a Dead March of despair. The + falling snow had darkened the room, and one electric light was aglow over + the dainty Chippendale desk at which Dorothy sat writing a letter. The + smooth, regular flow of the pen over the paper roused Katherine to a + frenzy of exasperation. Suddenly she brought her clenched fist down on the + sill where her fingers had been drumming. + </p> + <p> + “My God,” she cried, “how can you sit there like an automaton with the + snow falling?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy put down her pen. + </p> + <p> + “The snow falling?” she echoed. “I don’t understand!” + </p> + <p> + “Of course you don’t. You don’t think of the drifts in Siberia, and the + two men you have known, whose hands you have clasped, manacled, driven + through it with the lash of a Cossack’s whip.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy rose quietly, and put her hands on the shoulders of the girl, + feeling her frame tremble underneath her touch. + </p> + <p> + “Katherine,” she said, quietly, but Katherine, with a nervous twitch of + her shoulders flung off the friendly grasp. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t touch me,” she cried. “Go back to your letter-writing. You and the + Englishman are exactly alike; unfeeling, heartless. He with his selfish + stubbornness has involved an innocent man in the calamity his own + stupidity has brought about.” + </p> + <p> + “Katherine, sit down. I want to talk calmly with you.” + </p> + <p> + “Calmly! Calmly! Yes, that is the word. It is easy for you to be calm when + you don’t care. But I care, and I cannot be calm.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you wish to do, Katherine?” + </p> + <p> + “What can I do? I am a pauper and a dependent, but one thing I am + determined to do, and that is to go and live in my father’s house.” + </p> + <p> + “If you were in my place, what would you do Katherine?” + </p> + <p> + “I would go to Russia.” + </p> + <p> + “What would you do when you arrived there?” + </p> + <p> + “If I had wealth I would use it in such a campaign of bribery and + corruption in that country of tyrants that I should release two innocent + men. I’d first find out where they were, then I’d use all the influence I + possessed with the American Ambassador to get them set free.” + </p> + <p> + “The American Ambassador, Kate, cannot move to release either an + Englishman or a Russian.” + </p> + <p> + “I’d do it somehow. I wouldn’t sit here like a stick or a stone, writing + letters to my architect.” + </p> + <p> + “Would you go to Russia alone?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I should take my father with me.” + </p> + <p> + “That is an excellent idea, Kate. I advise you to go north by to-night’s + train, if you like, and see him, or telegraph to him to come and see us.” + </p> + <p> + Kate sat down, and Dorothy drew the curtains across the window pane and + snapped on the central cluster of electric lamps. + </p> + <p> + “Will you come with me if I go north?” asked Kate, in a milder tone than + she had hitherto used. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot. I am making an appointment with a man in this room to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “The architect, I suppose,” cried Kate with scorn. + </p> + <p> + “No, with a man who may or may not give me information of Lamont or + Drummond.” + </p> + <p> + Katherine stared at her open-eyed. + </p> + <p> + “Then you have been doing something?” + </p> + <p> + “I have been trying, but it is difficult to know what to do. I have + received information that the house in which Mr. Lamont and Mr. Drummond + lived is now deserted, and no one knows anything of its former occupants. + That information comes to me semi-officially, but it does not lead far. I + have started inquiry through more questionable channels; in other words, I + have invoked the aid of a Nihilist society, and although I am quite + determined to go to Russia with you, do not be surprised if I am arrested + the moment I set foot in St. Petersburg.” + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, why did you not let me know?” + </p> + <p> + “I was anxious to get some good news to give you, but it has not come + yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy,” moaned Katherine, struggling to keep back the tears that + would flow in spite of her. Dorothy patted her on the shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “You have been a little unjust,” she said, “and I am going to prove that + to you, so that in trying to make amends you may perhaps stop brooding + over this crisis that faces two poor lone women. You wrong the Englishman, + as you call him. Jack was arrested at least two days before he was. + Nihilist spies say that both of them were arrested, the Prince first, and + the Englishman several days later. I had a letter from Mr. Drummond a + short time after you received yours from Mr. Lamont. I never showed it to + you, but now things are so bad that they cannot be worse, and you are at + liberty to read the letter if you wish to do so. It tells of Jack’s + disappearance, and of Drummond’s agony of mind and helplessness in St. + Petersburg. Since he has never written again, I am sure he was arrested + later. I don’t know which of the two was most at fault for what you call + stubbornness, but I believe the explosion had more to do with the arrests + than any action of theirs.” + </p> + <p> + “And I was the cause of that,” wailed Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, my dear girl. No one is to blame but the tyrant of Russia. Now + the Nihilists insist that neither of these men has been sent to Siberia. + They think they are in the prison of ‘St. Peter and St. Paul.’ That + information came to me to-day in the letter I was just now answering. So, + Katherine, I think you have been unjust to the Englishman. If he had been + arrested first, there might be some grounds for what you charge, but they + evidently gave him a chance to escape. He had his warning in the + disappearance of his friend, and he had several days in which to get out + of St. Petersburg, but he stood his ground.” + </p> + <p> + “I’m sorry, Dorothy. I’m a silly fool, and to-day, when I saw the snow—well, + I got all wrought up.” + </p> + <p> + “I think neither of the men are in the snow, and now I am going to say + something else, and then never speak of the subject again. You say I + didn’t care, and of course you are quite right, for I confessed to you + that I didn’t. But just imagine—imagine—that I cared. The + Russian Government can let the Prince go at any moment, and there’s + nothing more to be said. He has no redress, and must take the consequences + of his nationality. But if the Russian Government have arrested the + Englishman; if they have put him in the prison of ‘St. Peter and St. + Paul,’ they dare not release him, unless they are willing to face war. The + Russian Government can do nothing in his case but deny, demand proof, and + obliterate all chance of the truth ever being known. Alan Drummond is + doomed: they dare not release him. Now think for a moment how much worse + my case would be than yours, if—if—” her voice quivered and + broke for the moment, then with tightly clenched fists she recovered + control of herself, and finished: “if I cared.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy!” gasped Katherine, springing to her feet. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, don’t jump at any false conclusion. We are both nervous wrecks + this afternoon. Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t care—I don’t care, + except that I hate tyranny, and am sorry for the victims of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, Dorothy!” + </p> + <p> + “We need a sane man in the house, Kate. Telegraph for your father to come + down and talk to us both. I must finish my letter to the Nihilist.” + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy!” said Katherine, kissing her. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII —THE DREADED TROGZMONDOFF + </h2> + <p> + THE Nihilist was shown into the dainty drawing room of the flat, and found + Dorothy Amhurst alone, as he had stipulated, waiting for him. He was + dressed in a sort of naval uniform and held a peaked cap in his hand, + standing awkwardly there as one unused to luxurious surroundings. His face + was bronzed with exposure to sun and storm, and although he appeared to be + little more than thirty years of age his closely cropped hair was white. + His eyes were light blue, and if ever the expression of a man’s + countenance betokened stalwart honesty, it was the face of this sailor. He + was not in the least Dorothy’s idea of a dangerous plotter. + </p> + <p> + “Sit down,” she said, and he did so like a man ill at ease. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose Johnson is not your real name,” she began. + </p> + <p> + “It is the name I bear in America, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mind my asking you some questions?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Madam, but if you ask me anything I am not allowed to answer I shall + not reply.” + </p> + <p> + “How long have you been in the United States?” + </p> + <p> + “Only a few months, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “How come you to speak English so well?” + </p> + <p> + “In my young days I shipped aboard a bark plying between Helsingfors and + New York.” + </p> + <p> + “You are a Russian?” + </p> + <p> + “I am a Finlander, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you been a sailor all your life?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Madam. For a time I was an unimportant officer on board a battleship + in the Russian Navy, until I was discovered to be a Nihilist, when I was + cast into prison. I escaped last May, and came to New York.” + </p> + <p> + “What have you been doing since you arrived here?” + </p> + <p> + “I was so fortunate as to become mate on the turbine yacht ‘The Walrus,’ + owned by Mr. Stockwell.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that’s the multi-millionaire whose bank failed a month ago?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “But does he still keep a yacht?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Madam. I think he has never been aboard this one, although it is + probably the most expensive boat in these waters. I am told it cost + anywhere from half a million to a million. She was built by Thornycroft, + like a cruiser, with Parson’s turbine engines in her. After the failure, + Captain and crew were discharged, and I am on board as a sort of watchman + until she is sold, but there is not a large market for a boat like ‘The + Walrus,’ and I am told they will take the fittings out of her, and sell + her as a cruiser to one of the South American republics.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Johnson, you ought to be a reliable man, if the Court has put + you in charge of so valuable a property.” + </p> + <p> + “I believe I am considered honest, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “Then why do you come to me asking ten thousand dollars for a letter which + you say was written to me, and which naturally belongs to me?” + </p> + <p> + The man’s face deepened into a mahogany brown, and he shifted his cap + uneasily in his hands. + </p> + <p> + “Madam, I am not acting for myself. I am Secretary of the Russian + Liberation Society. They, through their branch at St. Petersburg, have + conducted some investigations on your behalf.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, for which I paid them very well.” + </p> + <p> + Johnson bowed. + </p> + <p> + “Our object, Madam, is the repression of tyranny. For that we are in + continual need of money. It is the poor, and not the millionaires, who + subscribe to our fund. It has been discovered that you are a rich woman, + who will never miss the money asked, and so the demand was made. Believe + me, Madam, I am acting by the command of my comrades. I tried to persuade + them to leave compensation to your own generosity, but they refused. If + you consider their demand unreasonable, you have but to say so, and I will + return and tell them your decision.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you brought the letter with you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “Must I agree to your terms before seeing it?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you read it?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think it worth ten thousand dollars?” + </p> + <p> + The sailor looked up at the decorated ceiling for several moments before + he replied. + </p> + <p> + “That is a question I cannot answer,” he said at last. “It all depends on + what you think of the writer.” + </p> + <p> + “Answer one more question. By whom is the letter signed?” + </p> + <p> + “There is no signature, Madam. It was found in the house where the two + young men lived. Our people searched the house from top to bottom + surreptitiously, and they think the writer was arrested before he had + finished the letter. There is no address, and nothing to show for whom it + is intended, except the phrase beginning, ‘My dearest Dorothy.’” + </p> + <p> + The girl leaned back in her chair, and drew a long breath. “It is not for + me,” she said, hastily; then bending forward, she cried suddenly: + </p> + <p> + “I agree to your terms: give it to me.” + </p> + <p> + The man hesitated, fumbling in his inside pocket. + </p> + <p> + “I was to get your promise in writing,” he demurred. + </p> + <p> + “Give it to me, give it to me,” she demanded. “I do not break my word.” + </p> + <p> + He handed her the letter. + </p> + <p> + “My dearest Dorothy,” she read, in writing well known to her. “You may + judge my exalted state of mind when you see that I dare venture on such a + beginning. I have been worrying myself and other people all to no purpose. + I have received a letter from Jack this morning, and so suspicious had I + grown that for a few moments I suspected the writing was but an imitation + of his. He is a very impulsive fellow, and can think of only one thing at + a time, which accounts for his success in the line of invention. He was + telegraphed to that his sister was ill, and left at once to see her. I had + allowed my mind to become so twisted by my fears for his safety that, as I + tell you, I suspected the letter to be counterfeit at first. I telegraphed + to his estate, and received a prompt reply saying that his sister was much + better, and that he was already on his way back, and would reach me at + eleven to-night. So that’s what happens when a grown man gets a fit of + nerves. I drew the most gloomy conclusions from the fact that I had been + refused admission to the Foreign Office and the Admiralty. Yesterday that + was all explained away. The business is at last concluded, and I was shown + copies of the letters which have been forwarded to my own chiefs at home. + Nothing could be more satisfactory. To-morrow Jack and I will be off to + England together. + </p> + <p> + “My dearest Dorothy (second time of asking), I am not a rich man, but + then, in spite of your little fortune of Bar Harbor, you are not a rich + woman, so we stand on an equality in that, even though you are so much my + superior in everything else. I have five hundred pounds a year, which is + something less than two thousand five hundred dollars, left me by my + father. This is independent of my profession. I am very certain I will + succeed in the Navy now that the Russian Government has sent those + letters, so, the moment I was assured of that, I determined to write and + ask you to be my wife. Will you forgive my impatience, and pander to it by + cabling to me at the Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, the word ‘Yes’ or the word + ‘Undecided’? I shall not allow you the privilege of cabling ‘No.’ And + please give me a chance of pleading my case in person, if you use the + longer word. Ah, I hear Jack’s step on the stair. Very stealthily he is + coming, to surprise me, but I’ll surprise—” + </p> + <p> + Here the writing ended. She folded the letter, and placed it in her desk, + sitting down before it. + </p> + <p> + “Shall I make the check payable to you, or to the Society?” + </p> + <p> + “To the Society, if you please, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall write it for double the amount asked. I also am a believer in + liberty.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Madam, that is a generosity I feel we do not deserve. I should like + to have given you the letter after all you have done for us with no + conditions attached.” + </p> + <p> + “I am quite sure of that,” said Dorothy, bending over her writing. She + handed him the check, and he rose to go. + </p> + <p> + “Sit down again, if you please. I wish to talk further with you. Your + people in St. Petersburg think my friends have not been sent to Siberia? + Are they sure of that?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Madam, they have means of knowing those who are transported, and + they are certain the two young men were not among the recent gangs sent. + They suppose them to be in the fortress of ‘St. Peter and St. Paul’, at + least that’s what they say.” + </p> + <p> + “You speak as if you doubted it.” + </p> + <p> + “I do doubt it.” + </p> + <p> + “They have been sent to Siberia after all?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Madam, there are worse places than Siberia. In Siberia there is a + chance: in the dreadful Trogzmondoff there is none.” + </p> + <p> + “What is the Trogzmondoff?” + </p> + <p> + “A bleak ‘Rock in the Baltic,’ Madam, the prison in which death is the + only goal that releases the victim.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy rose trembling, staring at him, her lips white. + </p> + <p> + “‘A Rock in the Baltic!’ Is that a prison, and not a fortress, then?” + </p> + <p> + “It is both prison and fortress, Madam. If Russia ever takes the risk of + arresting a foreigner, it is to the Trogzmondoff he is sent. They drown + the victims there; drown them in their cells. There is a spring in the + rock, and through the line of cells it runs like a beautiful rivulet, but + the pulling of a lever outside stops the exit of the water, and drowns + every prisoner within. The bodies are placed one by one on a smooth, + inclined shute of polished sandstone, down which this rivulet runs so they + glide out into space, and drop two hundred feet into the Baltic Sea. No + matter in what condition such a body is found, or how recent may have been + the execution, it is but a drowned man in the Baltic. There are no marks + of bullet or strangulation, and the currents bear them swiftly away from + the rock.” + </p> + <p> + “How come you to know all this which seems to have been concealed from the + rest of the world?” + </p> + <p> + “I know it, Madam, for the best of reasons. I was sentenced this very year + to Trogzmondoff. In my youth trading between Helsingfors and New York, I + took out naturalization papers in New York, because I was one of the crew + on an American ship. When they illegally impressed me at Helsingfors and + forced me to join the Russian Navy, I made the best of a bad bargain, and + being an expert seaman, was reasonably well treated, and promoted, but at + last they discovered I was in correspondence with a Nihilist circle in + London, and when I was arrested, I demanded the rights of an American + citizen. That doomed me. I was sent, without trial, to the Trogzmondoff in + April of this year. Arriving there I was foolish enough to threaten, and + say my comrades had means of letting the United States Government know, + and that a battleship would teach the gaolers of the rock better manners. + </p> + <p> + “The cells hewn in the rock are completely dark, so I lost all count of + time. You might think we would know night from day by the bringing in of + our meals, but such was not the case. The gaoler brought in a large loaf + of black bread, and said it was to serve me for four days. He placed the + loaf on a ledge of rock about three feet from the floor, which served as + both table and bed. In excavating the cell this ledge had been left + intact, with a bench of stone rising from the floor opposite. Indeed, so + ingenious had been the workmen who hewed out this room that they carved a + rounded stone pillow at one end of the shelf. + </p> + <p> + “I do not know how many days I had been in prison when the explosion + occurred. It made the whole rock quiver, and I wondered what had happened. + Almost immediately afterward there seemed to be another explosion, not + nearly so harsh, which I thought was perhaps an echo of the first. About + an hour later my cell door was unlocked, and the gaoler, with another man + holding a lantern, came in. My third loaf of black bread was partly + consumed, so I must have been in prison nine or ten days. The gaoler took + the loaf outside, and when he returned. I asked him what had happened. He + answered in a surly fashion that my American warship had fired at the + rock, and that the rock had struck back, whereupon she sailed away, + crippled.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy, who had been listening intently to this discourse, here + interrupted with: + </p> + <p> + “It was an English war-ship that fired the shell, and the Russian shot did + not come within half a mile of her.” + </p> + <p> + The sailor stared at her in wide-eyed surprise. + </p> + <p> + “You see, I have been making inquiries,” she explained. “Please go on.” + </p> + <p> + “I never heard that it was an English ship. The gaoler sneered at me, and + said he was going to send me after the American vessel, as I suppose he + thought it was. I feared by his taking away of the bread that it was + intended to starve me to death, and was sorry I had not eaten more at my + last meal. I lay down on the shelf of rock, and soon fell asleep. I was + awakened by the water lapping around me. The cell was intensely still. Up + to this I had always enjoyed the company of a little brook that ran along + the side of the cell farthest from the door. Its music had now ceased, and + when I sprang up I found myself to the waist in very cold water. I guessed + at once the use of the levers outside the cell in the passage which I had + noticed in the light of the lantern on the day I entered the place, and I + knew now why it was that the prison door was not pierced by one of those + gratings which enable the gaoler in the passage to look into the cell any + time of night or day. Prisoners have told me that the uncertainty of an + inmate who never knew when he might be spied upon added to the horror of + the situation, but the water-tight doors of the Trogzmondoff are free from + this feature, and for a very sinister reason. + </p> + <p> + “The channel in the floor through which the water runs when the cell is + empty, and the tunnel at the ceiling through which the water flows when + the cell is full, give plenty of ventilation, no matter how tightly the + door may be closed. The water rose very gradually until it reached the top + outlet, then its level remained stationary. I floated on the top quite + easily, with as little exertion as was necessary to keep me in that + position. If I raised my head, my brow struck the ceiling. The next cell + to mine, lower down, was possibly empty. I heard the water pour into it + like a little cataract. The next cell above, and indeed all the cells in + that direction were flooded like my own. Of course it was no trouble for + me to keep afloat; my only danger was that the intense coldness of the + water would numb my body beyond recovery. Still, I had been accustomed to + hardships of that kind before now, in the frozen North. At last the gentle + roar of the waterfall ceased, and I realized my cell was emptying itself. + When I reached my shelf again, I stretched my limbs back and forth as + strenuously as I could, and as silently, for I wished no sound to give any + hint that I was still alive, if, indeed, sound could penetrate to the + passage, which is unlikely. Even before the last of the water had run away + from the cell, I lay stretched out at full length on the floor, hoping I + might have steadiness enough to remain death-quiet when the men came in + with the lantern. I need have had no fear. The door was opened, one of the + men picked me up by the heels, and, using my legs as if they were the + shafts of a wheelbarrow, dragged me down the passage to the place where + the stream emerged from the last cell, and into this torrent he flung me. + There was one swift, brief moment of darkness, then I shot, feet first, + into space, and dropped down, down, down through the air like a plummet, + into the arms of my mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Into what?” cried Dorothy, white and breathless, thinking the recital of + these agonies had turned the man’s brain. + </p> + <p> + “The Baltic, Madam, is the Finlander’s mother. It feeds him in life, + carries him whither he wishes to go, and every true Finlander hopes to die + in her arms. The Baltic seemed almost warm after what I had been through, + and the taste of the salt on my lips was good. It was a beautiful + starlight night in May, and I floated around the rock, for I knew that in + a cove on the eastern side, concealed from all view of the sea, lay a + Finland fishing-boat, a craft that will weather any storm, and here in the + water was a man who knew how to handle it. Prisoners are landed on the + eastern side, and such advantage is taken of the natural conformation of + this precipitous rock, that a man climbing the steep zigzag stairway which + leads to the inhabited portion is hidden from sight of any craft upon the + water even four or five hundred yards away. Nothing seen from the outside + gives any token of habitation. The fishing-boat, I suppose, is kept for + cases of emergency, that the Governor may communicate with the shore if + necessary. I feared it might be moored so securely that I could not + unfasten it. Security had made them careless, and the boat was tied merely + by lines to rings in the rock, the object being to keep her from bruising + her sides against the stone, rather than to prevent any one taking her + away. I pushed her out into the open, got quietly inside, and floated with + the swift tide, not caring to raise a sail until I was well out of gunshot + distance. Once clear of the rock I spread canvas, and by daybreak was long + out of sight of land. I made for Stockholm, and there being no mark or + name on the boat to denote that it belonged to the Russian Government, I + had little difficulty in selling it. I told the authorities what was + perfectly true: that I was a Finland sailor escaping from the tyrant of my + country, and anxious to get to America. As such events are happening + practically every week along the Swedish coast I was not interfered with, + and got enough money from the sale of the boat to enable me to dress + myself well, and take passage to England, and from there first-class to + New York on a regular liner. + </p> + <p> + “Of course I could have shipped as a sailor from Stockholm easy enough, + but I was tired of being a common sailor, and expected, if I was + respectably clothed, to get a better position than would otherwise be the + case. This proved true, for crossing the ocean I became acquainted with + Mr. Stockwell, and he engaged me as mate of his yacht. That’s how I + escaped from the Trogzmondoff, Madam, and I think no one but a Finlander + could have done it.” + </p> + <p> + “I quite agree with you,” said Dorothy. “You think these two men I have + been making inquiry about have been sent to the Trogzmondoff?” + </p> + <p> + “The Russian may not be there, Madam, but the Englishman is sure to be + there.” + </p> + <p> + “Is the cannon on the western side of the rock?” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know, Madam. I never saw the western side by daylight. I noticed + nothing on the eastern side as I was climbing the steps, to show that any + cannon was on the Trogzmondoff at all.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose you had no opportunity of finding out how many men garrison the + rock?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Madam. I don’t think the garrison is large. The place is so secure + that it doesn’t need many men to guard it. Prisoners are never taken out + for exercise, and, as I told you, they are fed but once in four days.” + </p> + <p> + “How large a crew can ‘The Walrus’ carry?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, as many as you like, Madam. The yacht is practically an ocean liner.” + </p> + <p> + “Is there any landing stage on the eastern side of the rock?” + </p> + <p> + “Practically none, Madam. The steamer stood out, and I was landed in the + cove I spoke of at the foot of the stairway.” + </p> + <p> + “It wouldn’t be possible to bring a steamer like ‘The Walrus’ alongside + the rock, then?” + </p> + <p> + “It would be possible in calm weather, but very dangerous even then.” + </p> + <p> + “Could you find that rock if you were in command of a ship sailing the + Baltic?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, Madam.” + </p> + <p> + “If twenty or thirty determined men were landed on the stairway, do you + think they could capture the garrison?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, if they were landed secretly, but one or two soldiers at the top + with repeating rifles might hold the stairway against an army, while their + ammunition lasted.” + </p> + <p> + “But if a shell were fired from the steamer, might not the attacking + company get inside during the confusion among the defenders?” + </p> + <p> + “That is possible, Madam, but a private steamer firing shells, or, indeed, + landing a hostile company, runs danger of meeting the fate of a pirate.” + </p> + <p> + “You would not care to try it, then?” + </p> + <p> + “I? Oh, I should be delighted to try it, if you allow me to select the + crew. I can easily get aboard the small arms and ammunition necessary, but + I am not so sure about the cannon.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good. I need not warn you to be extremely cautious regarding those + you take into your confidence. Meanwhile, I wish you to communicate with + the official who is authorized to sell the yacht. I am expecting a + gentleman to-morrow in whose name the vessel will probably be bought, and + I am hoping he will accept the captaincy of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Is he capable of filling that position, Madam? Is he a sailor?” + </p> + <p> + “He was for many years captain in the United States Navy. I offer you the + position of mate, but I will give you captain’s pay, and a large bonus in + addition if you faithfully carry out my plans, whether they prove + successful or not. I wish you to come here at this hour to-morrow, with + whoever is authorized to sell or charter the steamer. You may say I am + undecided whether to buy or charter. I must consult Captain Kempt on that + point.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Madam, I shall be here this time to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII —ENTRAPPED + </h2> + <p> + PRINCE IVAN LERMONTOFF came to consider the explosion one of the luckiest + things that had ever occurred in his workshop. Its happening so soon after + he reached St. Petersburg he looked upon as particularly fortunate, + because this gave him time to follow the new trend of thought along which + his mind had been deflected by such knowledge as the unexpected outcome of + his experiment had disclosed to him. The material he had used as a + catalytic agent was a new substance which he had read of in a scientific + review, and he had purchased a small quantity of it in London. If such a + minute portion produced results so tremendous, he began to see that a man + with an apparently innocent material in his waistcoat pocket might + probably be able to destroy a naval harbor, so long as water and stone + were in conjunction. There was also a possibility that a small quantity of + ozak, as the stuff was called, mixed with pure water, would form a + reducing agent for limestone, and perhaps for other minerals, which would + work much quicker than if the liquid was merely impregnated with carbonic + acid gas. He endeavored to purchase some ozak from Mr. Kruger, the chemist + on the English quay, but that good man had never heard of it, and a day’s + search persuaded him that it could not be got in St. Petersburg, so the + Prince induced Kruger to order half a pound of it from London or Paris, in + which latter city it had been discovered. For the arrival of this order + the Prince waited with such patience as he could call to his command, and + visited poor Mr. Kruger every day in the hope of receiving it. + </p> + <p> + One afternoon he was delighted to hear that the box had come, although it + had not yet been unpacked. + </p> + <p> + “I will send it to your house this evening,” said the chemist. “There are + a number of drugs in the box for your old friend Professor Potkin of the + University, and he is even more impatient for his consignment than you are + for yours. Ah, here he is,” and as he spoke the venerable Potkin himself + entered the shop. + </p> + <p> + He shook hands warmly with Lermontoff, who had always been a favorite + pupil of his, and learned with interest that he had lately been to England + and America. + </p> + <p> + “Cannot you dine with me this evening at half-past five?” asked the old + man. “There are three or four friends coming, to whom I shall be glad to + introduce you.” + </p> + <p> + “Truth to tell, Professor,” demurred the Prince, “I have a friend staying + with me, and I don’t just like to leave him alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Bring him with you, bring him with you,” said the Professor, “but in any + case be sure you come yourself. I shall be expecting you. Make your + excuses to your friend if he does not wish to endure what he might think + dry discussion, because we shall talk nothing but chemistry and politics.” + </p> + <p> + The Prince promised to be there whether his friend came or no. The chemist + here interrupted them, and told the Professor he might expect his + materials within two hours. + </p> + <p> + “And your package,” he said to the Prince, “I shall send about the same + time. I have been very busy, and can trust no one to unpack this box but + myself.” + </p> + <p> + “You need not trouble to send it, and in any case I don’t wish to run the + risk of having it delivered at a wrong address by your messenger. I cannot + afford to wait so long as would be necessary to duplicate the order. I am + dining with the Professor to-night, so will drive this way, and take the + parcel myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps,” said the chemist, “it would be more convenient if I sent your + parcel to Professor Potkin’s house?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the Prince decisively, “I shall call for it about five + o’clock.” + </p> + <p> + The Professor laughed. + </p> + <p> + “We experimenters,” he said, “never trust each other,” so they shook hands + and parted. + </p> + <p> + On returning to his workshop, Lermontoff bounded up the stairs, and hailed + his friend the Lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Drummond, I’m going to dine to-night with Professor Potkin of the + University, my old teacher in chemistry. His hour is half-past five, and + I’ve got an invitation for you. There will be several scientists present, + and no women. Will you come?” + </p> + <p> + “I’d a good deal rather not,” said the Englishman, “I’m wiring into these + books, and studying strategy; making plans for an attack upon Kronstadt.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, you take my advice, Alan, and don’t leave any of those plans round + where the St. Petersburg police will find them. Such a line of study is + carried on much safer in London than here. You’d be very welcome, + Drummond, and the old boy would be glad to see you. You don’t need to + bother about evening togs—plain living and high thinking, you know. + I’m merely going to put on a clean collar and a new tie, as sufficient for + the occasion.” + </p> + <p> + “I’d rather not go, Jack, if you don’t mind. If I’m there you’ll all be + trying to talk English or French, and so I’d feel myself rather a damper + on the company. Besides, I don’t know anything about science, and I’m + trying to learn something about strategy. What time do you expect to be + back?” + </p> + <p> + “Rather early; ten or half-past.” + </p> + <p> + “Good, I’ll wait up for you.” + </p> + <p> + At five o’clock Jack was at the chemist’s and received his package. On + opening it he found the ozak in two four-ounce, glass-stoppered bottles, + and these he put in his pocket. + </p> + <p> + “Will you give me three spray syringes, as large a size as you have, + rubber, glass, and metal. I’m not sure but this stuff will attack one or + other of them, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life running down + to your shop.” + </p> + <p> + Getting the syringes, he jumped into his cab, and was driven to the + Professor’s. + </p> + <p> + “You may call for me at ten,” he said to the cabman. + </p> + <p> + There were three others besides the Professor and himself, and they were + all interested in learning the latest scientific news from New York and + London. + </p> + <p> + It was a quarter past ten when the company separated. Lermontoff stepped + into his cab, and the driver went rattling up the street. In all the talk + the Prince had said nothing of his own discovery, and now when he found + himself alone his mind reverted to the material in his pocket, and he was + glad the cabman was galloping his horse, that he might be the sooner in + his workshop. Suddenly he noticed that they were dashing down a street + which ended at the river. + </p> + <p> + “I say,” he cried to the driver, “you’ve taken the wrong turning. This is + a blind street. There’s neither quay nor bridge down here. Turn back.” + </p> + <p> + “I see that now,” said the driver over his shoulder. “I’ll turn round at + the end where it is wider.” + </p> + <p> + He did turn, but instead of coming up the street again, dashed through an + open archway which led into the courtyard of a large building fronting the + Neva. The moment the carriage was inside, the gates clanged shut. + </p> + <p> + “Now, what in the name of Saint Peter do you mean by this?” demanded the + Prince angrily. + </p> + <p> + The cabman made no reply, but from a door to the right stepped a tall, + uniformed officer, who said: + </p> + <p> + “Orders, your Highness, orders. The isvoshtchik is not to blame. May I beg + of your Highness to accompany me inside?” + </p> + <p> + “Who the devil are you?” demanded the annoyed nobleman. + </p> + <p> + “I am one who is called upon to perform a disagreeable duty, which your + Highness will make much easier by paying attention to my requests.” + </p> + <p> + “Am I under arrest?” + </p> + <p> + “I have not said so, Prince Ivan.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I demand that the gates be opened that I may return home, where more + important business awaits me than talking to a stranger who refuses to + reveal his identity.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope you will pardon me, Prince Lermontoff. I act, as the isvoshtchik + has acted, under compulsion. My identity is not in question. I ask you for + the second time to accompany me.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, for the second time I inquire, am I under arrest? If so, show me + your warrant, and then I will go with you, merely protesting that whoever + issued such a warrant has exceeded his authority.” + </p> + <p> + “I have seen nothing of a warrant, your Highness, and I think you are + confusing your rights with those pertaining to individuals residing in + certain countries you have recently visited.” + </p> + <p> + “You have no warrant, then?” + </p> + <p> + “I have none. I act on my superior’s word, and do not presume to question + it. May I hope that you will follow me without a further parley, which is + embarrassing to me, and quite unhelpful to yourself. I have been + instructed to treat you with every courtesy, but nevertheless force has + been placed at my disposal. I am even to take your word of honor that you + are unarmed, and your Highness is well aware that such leniency is seldom + shown in St. Petersburg.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, even if my word of honor failed to disarm me, your politeness + would. I carry a revolver. Do you wish it?” + </p> + <p> + “If your Highness will condescend to give it to me.” + </p> + <p> + The Prince held the weapon, butt forward, to the officer, who received it + with a gracious salutation. + </p> + <p> + “You know nothing of the reason for this action?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing whatever, your Highness.” + </p> + <p> + “Where are you going to take me?” + </p> + <p> + “A walk of less than three minutes will acquaint your Highness with the + spot.” + </p> + <p> + The Prince laughed. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, very well,” he said. “May I write a note to a friend who is waiting + up for me?” + </p> + <p> + “I regret, Highness, that no communications whatever can be allowed.” + </p> + <p> + The Prince stepped down from the vehicle, walked diagonally across a very + dimly lighted courtyard with his guide, entered that section of the + rectangular building which faced the Neva, passed along a hall with one + gas jet burning, then outside again, and immediately over a gang-plank + that brought him aboard a steamer. On the lower deck a passage ran down + the center of the ship, and along this the conductor guided his prisoner, + opened the door of a stateroom in which candles were burning, and a + comfortable bed turned down for occupancy. + </p> + <p> + “I think your Highness will find everything here that you need. If + anything further is required, the electric bell will summon an attendant, + who will get it for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Am I not to be confronted with whoever is responsible for my arrest?” + </p> + <p> + “I know nothing of that, your Highness. My duty ends by escorting you + here. I must ask if you have any other weapon upon you?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I have not.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you give me your parole that you will not attempt to escape?” + </p> + <p> + “I shall escape if I can, of course.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Excellency,” replied the officer, as suavely as if Lermontoff + had given his parole. Out of the darkness he called a tall, rough-looking + soldier, who carried a musket with a bayonet at the end of it. The soldier + took his stand beside the door of the cabin. + </p> + <p> + “Anything else?” asked the Prince. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing else, your Highness, except good-night.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, by the way, I forgot to pay my cabman. Of course it isn’t his fault + that he brought me here.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall have pleasure in sending him to you, and again, good-night.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-night,” said the Prince. + </p> + <p> + He closed the door of his cabin, pulled out his note-book, and rapidly + wrote two letters, one of which he addressed to Drummond and the other to + the Czar. When the cabman came he took him within the cabin and closed the + door. + </p> + <p> + “Here,” he said in a loud voice that the sentry could overhear if he + liked, “how much do I owe you?” + </p> + <p> + The driver told him. + </p> + <p> + “That’s too much, you scoundrel,” he cried aloud, but as he did so he + placed three gold pieces in the palm of the driver’s hand together with + the two letters, and whispered: + </p> + <p> + “Get these delivered safely, and I’ll give you ten times this money if you + call on Prince Lermontoff at the address on that note.” + </p> + <p> + The man saluted, thanked him, and retired; a moment later he heard the + jingle of a bell, and then the steady throb of an engine. There was no + window to the stateroom, and he could not tell whether the steamer was + going up or down the river. Up, he surmised, and he suspected his + destination was Schlusselburg, the fortress-prison on an island at the + source of the Neva. He determined to go on deck and solve the question of + direction, but the soldier at the door brought down his gun and barred the + passage. + </p> + <p> + “I am surely allowed to go on deck?” + </p> + <p> + “You cannot pass without an order from the captain.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, send the captain to me, then.” + </p> + <p> + “I dare not leave the door,” said the soldier. + </p> + <p> + Lermontoff pressed the button, and presently an attendant came to learn + what was wanted. + </p> + <p> + “Will you ask the captain to come here?” + </p> + <p> + The steward departed, and shortly after returned with a big, bronzed, + bearded man, whose bulk made the stateroom seem small. + </p> + <p> + “You sent for the captain, and I am here.” + </p> + <p> + “So am I,” said the Prince jauntily. “My name is Lermontoff. Perhaps you + have heard of me?” + </p> + <p> + The captain shook his shaggy head. + </p> + <p> + “I am a Prince of Russia, and by some mistake find myself your passenger + instead of spending the night in my own house. Where are you taking me, + Captain?” + </p> + <p> + “It is forbidden that I should answer questions.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it also forbidden that I should go on deck?” + </p> + <p> + “The General said you were not to be allowed to leave this stateroom, as + you did not give your parole.” + </p> + <p> + “How can I escape from a steamer in motion, Captain?” + </p> + <p> + “It is easy to jump into the river, and perhaps swim ashore.” + </p> + <p> + “So he is a general, is he? Well, Captain, I’ll give you my parole that I + shall not attempt to swim the Neva on so cold a night as this.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot allow you on deck now,” said the Captain, “but when we are in + the Gulf of Finland you may walk the deck with the sentry beside you.” + </p> + <p> + “The Gulf of Finland!” cried Lermontoff. “Then you are going down the + river?” + </p> + <p> + The big Captain looked at him with deep displeasure clouding his brow, + feeling that he had been led to give away information which he should have + kept to himself. + </p> + <p> + “You are not going up to Schlusselburg, then?” + </p> + <p> + “I told your Highness that I am not allowed to answer questions. The + General, however, has given me a letter for you, and perhaps it may + contain all you may want to know.” + </p> + <p> + “The General has given you a letter, eh? Then why don’t you let me have + it?” + </p> + <p> + “He told me not to disturb you to-night, but place it before you at + breakfast to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, we’re going to travel all night, are we?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “Did the General say you should not allow me to see the letter to-night?” + </p> + <p> + “No, your Excellency; he just said, ‘Do not trouble his Highness to-night, + but give him this in the morning.’” + </p> + <p> + “In that case let me have it now.” + </p> + <p> + The Captain pulled a letter from his pocket and presented it to the + Prince. It contained merely the two notes which Lermontoff had written to + Drummond and to the Czar. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV —A VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN + </h2> + <p> + AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then + sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation. He heard + distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it + was just eleven o’clock. It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an + hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was + churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination. It + appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five + minutes. He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would + take when he found his friend missing. + </p> + <p> + However, pondering over the matter brought no solution of the mystery, so, + being a practical young man, he cast the subject from his mind, picked up + his heavy overcoat, which he had flung on the bed, and hung it up on the + hook attached to the door. As he did this his hand came in contact with a + tube in one of the pockets, and for a moment he imagined it was his + revolver, but he found it was the metal syringe he had purchased that + evening from the chemist. This set his thoughts whirling in another + direction. He took from an inside pocket one of the bottles of ozak, + examining it under the candle light, wishing he had a piece of rock with + which to experiment. Then with a yawn he replaced the materials in his + overcoat pocket, took off his boots, and threw himself on the bed, + thankful it was not an ordinary shelf bunk, but a generous and comfortable + resting-place. Now Katherine appeared before his closed eyes, and hand in + hand they wandered into dreamland together. + </p> + <p> + When he awoke it was pitch dark in his cabin. The candles, which he had + neglected to extinguish, had burned themselves out. The short, jerky + motion of the steamer indicated that he was aboard a small vessel, and + that this small vessel was out in the open sea. He believed that a noise + of some kind had awakened him, and this was confirmed by a knock at his + door which caused him to spring up and throw back the bolt. The steward + was there, but in the dim light of the passage he saw nothing of the + sentinel. He knew it was daylight outside. + </p> + <p> + “The Captain, Excellency, wishes to know if you will breakfast with him or + take your meal in your room?” + </p> + <p> + “Present my compliments to the Captain, and say I shall have great + pleasure in breakfasting with him.” + </p> + <p> + “It will be ready in a quarter of an hour, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good. Come for me at that time, as I don’t know my way about the + boat.” + </p> + <p> + The Prince washed himself, smoothed out his rumpled clothes as well as he + could, and put on his boots. While engaged in the latter operation the + door opened, and the big Captain himself entered, inclosed in glistening + oilskins. + </p> + <p> + “Hyvaa pyvaa, Highness,” said the Captain. “Will you walk the deck before + breakfast?” + </p> + <p> + “Good-day to you,” returned the Prince, “and by your salutation I take you + to be a Finn.” + </p> + <p> + “I am a native of Abo,” replied the Captain, “and as you say, a Finn, but + I differ from many of my countrymen, as I am a good Russian also.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, there are not too many good Russians, and here is one who would + rather have heard that you were a good Finn solely.” + </p> + <p> + “It is to prevent any mistake,” replied the Captain, almost roughly, “that + I mention I am a good Russian.” + </p> + <p> + “Right you are, Captain, and as I am a good Russian also, perhaps good + Russian Number One can tell me to what part of the world he is conveying + good Russian Number Two, a man guiltless of any crime, and unwilling, at + this moment, to take an enforced journey.” + </p> + <p> + “We may both be good, but the day is not, Highness. It has been raining + during the night, and is still drizzling. I advise you to put on your + overcoat.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks, Captain, I will.” + </p> + <p> + The Captain in most friendly manner took the overcoat from its hook, shook + it out, and held it ready to embrace its owner. Lermontoff shoved right + arm, then left, into the sleeves, hunched the coat up into place, and + buttoned it at the throat. + </p> + <p> + “Again, Captain, my thanks. Lead the way and I will follow.” + </p> + <p> + They emerged on deck into a dismal gray morning. No land or craft of any + kind was in sight. The horizon formed a small, close circle round the + ship. Clouds hung low, running before the wind, and bringing + intermittently little dashes of rain that seemed still further to compress + the walls of horizon. The sea was not what could be called rough, but + merely choppy and fretful, with short waves that would not have troubled a + larger craft. The steamer proved to be a small, undistinguished + dingy-looking boat, more like a commercial tramp than a government vessel. + An officer, apparently the mate, stood on the bridge, sinewy hands + grasping the rail, peering ahead into the white mist that was almost a + fog. The promenade deck afforded no great scope for pedestrianism, but + Captain and prisoner walked back and forth over the restricted space, + talking genially together as if they were old friends. Nevertheless there + was a certain cautious guardedness in the Captain’s speech; the wary craft + of an unready man who is in the presence of a person more subtle than + himself. The bluff Captain remembered he had been caught napping the night + before, when, after refusing to tell the Prince the direction of the + steamer, he had given himself away by mentioning the Gulf of Finland. + Lermontoff noticed this reluctance to plunge into the abyss of free + conversation, and so, instead of reassuring him he would ask no more + questions, he merely took upon his own shoulders the burden of the talk, + and related to the Captain certain wonders of London and New York. + </p> + <p> + The steward advanced respectfully to the Captain, and announced breakfast + ready, whereupon the two men followed him into a saloon not much larger + than the stateroom Lermontoff had occupied the night before, and not + nearly so comfortably furnished. A plenteous breakfast was supplied, + consisting principally of fish, steaming potatoes, black bread, and very + strong tea. The Captain swallowed cup after cup of this scalding beverage, + and it seemed to make him more and more genial as if it had been wine. + Indeed, as time went on he forgot that it was a prisoner who sat before + him, for quite innocently he said to the steward who waited on them: + </p> + <p> + “Have the poor devils below had anything to eat?” + </p> + <p> + “No orders, sir,” replied the steward. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, well, give them something—something hot. It may be their last + meal,” then turning, he met the gaze of the Prince, demanded roughly + another cup of tea, and explained: + </p> + <p> + “Three of the crew took too much vodka in St. Petersburg yesterday.” + </p> + <p> + The Prince nodded carelessly, as if he believed, and offered his open + cigarette case to the Captain, who shook his head. + </p> + <p> + “I smoke a pipe,” he growled. + </p> + <p> + The Captain rose with his lighted pipe, and together they went up on deck + again. The Prince saw nothing more of the tall sentinel who had been his + guard the night before, so without asking permission he took it for + granted that his movements, now they were in the open sea, were + unrestricted, therefore he walked up and down the deck smoking cigarettes. + At the stroke of a bell the Captain mounted the bridge and the mate came + down. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly out of the thickness ahead loomed up a great black British + freighter making for St. Petersburg, as the Prince supposed. The two + steamers, big and little, were so close that each was compelled to sheer + off a bit; then the Captain turned on the bridge and seemed for a moment + uncertain what to do with his prisoner. A number of men were leaning over + the bulwarks of the British ship, and it would have been quite possible + for the person on one boat to give a message to those on the other. The + Prince, understanding the Captain’s quandary, looked up at him and smiled, + but made no attempt to take advantage of his predicament. Some one on + board the English ship shouted and fluttered a handkerchief, whereupon the + Prince waved his cigarette in the air, and the big boat disappeared in the + thickness of the east. + </p> + <p> + Lermontoff walked the deck, thinking very seriously about his situation, + and wondering where they intended to take him. If he were to be put in + prison, it must be in some place of detention on the coast of Finland, + which seemed strange, because he understood that the fortresses there were + already filled with dissatisfied inhabitants of that disaffected land. His + first impression had been that banishment was intended, and he had + expected to be landed at some Swedish or German port, but a chance remark + made by the Captain at breakfast inclined him to believe that there were + other prisoners on board not quite so favorably treated as himself. But + why should he be sent out of Russia proper, or even removed from St. + Petersburg, which, he was well aware, suffered from no lack of gaols. The + continued voyage of the steamer through an open sea again aroused the hope + that Stockholm was the objective point. If they landed him there it merely + meant a little temporary inconvenience, and, once ashore, he hoped to + concoct a telegram so apparently innocent that it would win through to his + friend, and give Drummond at least the knowledge of his abiding-place. The + thought of Drummond aroused all his old fear that the Englishman was to be + the real victim, and this enforced voyage was merely a convenient method + of getting himself out of the way. + </p> + <p> + After lunch a dismal drizzle set in that presently increased to a steady + downpour, which drove Lermontoff to his cabin, and that room being + unprovided with either window or electric light, the Prince struck a match + to one of the candles newly placed on the washstand. He pushed the + electric button summoning the steward, and, giving him some money, asked + if there was such a thing as a piece of stone on board, carried as + ballast, or for any other reason. The steward said he would inquire, and + finally returned with a sharpening stone used for the knives in the + galley. Bolting his door, Lermontoff began an experiment, and at once + forgot he was a prisoner. He filled the wash-basin with water, and opening + one of the glass-stoppered bottles, took out with the point of his knife a + most minute portion of the substance within, which he dissolved in the + water with no apparent effect. Standing the whetstone up on end, he filled + the glass syringe, and directed a fine, vaporous spray against the stone. + It dissolved before his eyes as a sand castle on the shore dissolves at + the touch of an incoming tide. + </p> + <p> + “By St. Peter of Russia!” he cried, “I’ve got it at last! I must write to + Katherine about this.” + </p> + <p> + Summoning the steward again to take away this fluid, and bring him another + pailful of fresh water, Lermontoff endeavored to extract some information + from the deferential young man. + </p> + <p> + “Have you ever been in Stockholm?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “Or in any of the German ports?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you know where we are making for now?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor when we shall reach our destination?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “You have some prisoners aboard?” + </p> + <p> + “Three drunken sailors, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that’s what the Captain said. But if it meant death for a sailor to + be drunk, the commerce of the world would speedily stop.” + </p> + <p> + “This is a government steamer, Excellency, and if a sailor here disobeys + orders he is guilty of mutiny. On a merchant vessel they would merely put + him in irons.” + </p> + <p> + “I see. Now do you want to earn a few gold pieces?” + </p> + <p> + “Excellency has been very generous to me already,” was the non-committal + reply of the steward, whose eyes nevertheless twinkled at the mention of + gold. + </p> + <p> + “Well, here’s enough to make a jingle in your pocket, and here are two + letters which you are to try to get delivered when you return to St. + Petersburg.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “You will do your best?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if you succeed, I’ll make your fortune when I’m released.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Excellency.” + </p> + <p> + That night at dinner the Captain opened a bottle of vodka, and conversed + genially on many topics, without touching upon the particular subject of + liberty. He partook sparingly of the stimulant, and, to Lermontoff’s + disappointment, it did not in the least loosen his tongue, and thus, still + ignorant of his fate, the Prince turned in for the second night aboard the + steamer. + </p> + <p> + When he awoke next morning he found the engines had stopped, and, as the + vessel was motionless, surmised it had reached harbor. He heard the + intermittent chuck-chuck of a pony engine, and the screech of an + imperfectly-oiled crane, and guessed that cargo was being put ashore. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” he said to himself, “if my former sentinel is at the door they are + going to take me to prison. If he is absent, I am to be set free.” + </p> + <p> + He jumped up, threw back the bolt, opened the door. There was no one + there. In a very few minutes he was on deck, and found that the steamer + was lying in the lee of a huge rock, which reminded him of Mont St. Michel + in Normandy, except that it was about half again as high, and three times + as long, and that there were no buildings of any kind upon it, nor, + indeed, the least sign of human habitation. + </p> + <p> + The morning was fine; in the east the sun had just risen, and was flooding + the grim rock with a rosy light. Except this rock, no trace of land was + visible as far as the eye could see. Alongside the steamer was moored a + sailing-boat with two masts, but provided also with thole-pins, and sweeps + for rowing. The sails were furled, and she had evidently been brought to + the steamer’s side by means of the oars. Into this craft the crane was + lowering boxes, bags, and what-not, which three or four men were stowing + away. The mate was superintending this transshipment, and the Captain, + standing with his back against the deck-house, was handing one by one + certain papers, which Lermontoff took to be bills of lading, to a young + man who signed in a book for each he received. When this transaction was + completed, the young man saluted the Captain, and descended over the + ship’s side to the sail-boat. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Captain. At anchor, I see,” said Lermontoff. + </p> + <p> + “No, not at anchor. Merely lying here. The sea is too deep, and affords no + anchorage at this point.” + </p> + <p> + “Where are all these goods going?” + </p> + <p> + The Captain nodded his head at the rock, and Lermontoff gazed at it again, + running his eyes from top to bottom without seeing any vestige of + civilization. + </p> + <p> + “Then you lie to the lee of this rock, and the small boat takes the + supplies ashore?” + </p> + <p> + “Exactly,” said the Captain. + </p> + <p> + “The settlement, I take it, is on the other side. What is it—a + lighthouse?” + </p> + <p> + “There’s no lighthouse,” said the Captain. + </p> + <p> + “Sort of coastguard, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, in a way. They keep a lookout. And now, Highness, I see your + overcoat is on your back. Have you left anything in your room?” + </p> + <p> + The Prince laughed. + </p> + <p> + “No, Captain, I forgot to bring a portmanteau with me.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I must say farewell to you here.” + </p> + <p> + “What, you are not going to maroon me on this pebble in the ocean?” + </p> + <p> + “You will be well taken care of, Highness.” + </p> + <p> + “What place is this?” + </p> + <p> + “It is called the Trogzmondoff, Highness, and the water surrounding you is + the Baltic.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it Russian territory?” + </p> + <p> + “Very, very Russian,” returned the Captain drawing a deep breath. “This + way, if your Highness pleases. There is a rope ladder, which is sometimes + a little unsteady for a landsman, so be careful.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I’m accustomed to rope ladders. Hyvasti, Captain.” + </p> + <p> + “Hyvasti, your Highness.” + </p> + <p> + And with this mutual good-by in Finnish, the Prince went down the swaying + ladder. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV —“A HOME ON THE ROLLING DEEP” + </h2> + <p> + FOR once the humorous expression had vanished from Captain Kempt’s face, + and that good-natured man sat in the dainty drawing-room of the flat a + picture of perplexity. Dorothy had told him the story of the Nihilist, + saying she intended to purchase the yacht, and outlining what she proposed + to do with it when it was her own. Now she sat silent opposite the genial + Captain, while Katherine stood by the window, and talked enough for two, + sometimes waxing indignant, and occasionally giving, in terse language, an + opinion of her father, as is the blessed privilege of every girl born in + the land of the free, while the father took the censure with the + unprotesting mildness of his nature. + </p> + <p> + “My dear girls, you really must listen to reason. What you propose to do + is so absurd that it doesn’t even admit of argument. Why, it’s a + filibustering expedition, that’s what it is. You girls are as crazy as + Walker of Nicaragua. Do you imagine that a retired Captain of the United + States Navy is going to take command of a pirate craft of far less legal + standing than the ‘Alabama,’ for then we were at war, but now we are at + peace. Do you actually propose to attack the domain of a friendly country! + Oh!” cried the Captain, with a mighty explosion of breath, for at this + point his supply of language entirely gave out. + </p> + <p> + “No one would know anything about it,” persisted Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “Not know about it? With a crew of men picked up here in New York, and + coming back to New York? Not know about it? Bless my soul, the papers + would be full of it before your men were an hour on shore. In the first + place, you’d never find the rock.” + </p> + <p> + “Then what’s the harm of going in search of it?” demanded his daughter. + “Besides that, Johnson knows exactly where it is.” + </p> + <p> + “Johnson, Johnson! You’re surely not silly enough to believe Johnson’s + cock-and-bull story?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe every syllable he uttered. The man’s face showed that he was + speaking the truth.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear Kate, you didn’t see him at all, as I understand the yarn. + He was here alone with you, was he not, Dorothy?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy smiled sadly. + </p> + <p> + “I told Kate all about it, and gave my own impression of the man’s + appearance.” + </p> + <p> + “You are too sensible a girl to place any credit in what he said, surely?” + </p> + <p> + “I did believe him, nevertheless,” replied Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “Why, look you here. False in one thing, false in all. I’ll just take a + single point. He speaks of a spring sending water through the cells up + there in the rock. Now, that is an impossibility. Wherever a spring + exists, it comes from a source higher than itself.” + </p> + <p> + “There are lots of springs up in the mountains,” interrupted Katherine. “I + know one on Mount Washington that is ten times as high as the rock in the + Baltic.” + </p> + <p> + “Quite so, Katherine, quite so, but nevertheless there is a lake, + subterraneous or above ground, which feeds your White Mountain spring, and + such a lake must be situated higher than the spring is. Why, girl, you + ought to study hydrometeorology as well as chemistry. Here is a rock + jutting up in midocean—” + </p> + <p> + “It’s in the Baltic, near the Russian coast,” snapped Kate, “and I’ve no + doubt there are mountains in Finland that contain the lake which feeds the + spring.” + </p> + <p> + “How far is that rock from the Finnish coast, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Two miles and a half,” said Kate, quick as an arrow speeding from a bow. + </p> + <p> + “Captain, we don’t know how far it is from the coast,” amended Dorothy. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll never believe the thing exists at all.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes it does, father. How can you speak like that? Don’t you know + Lieutenant Drummond fired at it?” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know it was the same rock?” + </p> + <p> + “Because the rock fired back at him. There can’t be two like that in the + Baltic.” + </p> + <p> + “No, nor one either,” said the Captain, nearing the end of his patience. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Kempt,” said Dorothy very soothingly, as if she desired to quell + the rising storm, “you take the allegation about the spring of water to + prove that Johnson was telling untruths. I expect him here within an hour, + and I will arrange that you have an opportunity, privately, of + cross-examining him. I think when you see the man, and listen to him, you + will believe. What makes me so sure that he is telling the truth is the + fact that he mentioned the foreign vessel firing at this rock, which I + knew to be true, and which he could not possibly have learned anything + about.” + </p> + <p> + “He might very well have learned all particulars from the papers, Dorothy. + They were full enough of the subject at the time, and, remembering this, + he thought to strengthen his story by—” + </p> + <p> + Katherine interrupted with great scorn. + </p> + <p> + “By adding verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing + narrative.” + </p> + <p> + “Quite so, Kate; exactly what I was going to say myself. But to come back + to the project itself. Granting the existence of the rock, granting the + truth of Johnson’s story, granting everything, granting even that the + young men are imprisoned there, of which we have not the slightest proof, + we could no more succeed in capturing that place from a frail pleasure + yacht—” + </p> + <p> + “It’s built like a cruiser,” said Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “Even if it were built like a battleship we would have no chance whatever. + Why, that rock might defy a regular fleet. Our venture would simply be a + marine Jameson Raid which would set the whole world laughing when people + came to hear of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Johnson said he could take it with half a dozen men.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Kate,” corrected Dorothy, “he said the very reverse; that two or + three determined men on the rock with repeating rifles could defeat a + host. It was I who suggested that we should throw a shell, and then rush + the entrance in the confusion.” + </p> + <p> + Captain Kempt threw up his hands in a gesture of despair. + </p> + <p> + “Great heavens, Dorothy Amhurst, whom I have always regarded as the + mildest, sweetest and most charming of girls; to hear you calmly propose + to throw a shell among a lot of innocent men defending their own territory + against a perfectly unauthorized invasion! Throw a shell, say you, as if + you were talking of tossing a copper to a beggar! Oh, Lord, I’m growing + old. What will become of this younger generation? Well, I give it up. + Dorothy, my dear, whatever will happen to those unfortunate Russians, I + shall never recover from the shock of your shell. The thing is absolutely + impossible. Can’t you see that the moment you get down to details? How are + you going to procure your shells, or your shell-firing gun? They are not + to be bought at the first hardware store you come to on Sixth Avenue.” + </p> + <p> + “Johnson says he can get them,” proclaimed Kate with finality. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, damn Johnson! Dorothy, I beg your pardon, but really, this daughter + of mine, combined with that Johnson of yours, is just a little more than I + can bear.” + </p> + <p> + “Then what are we to do?” demanded his daughter. “Sit here with folded + hands?” + </p> + <p> + “That would be a great deal better than what you propose. You should do + something sane. You mustn’t involve a pair of friendly countries in war. + Of course the United States would utterly disclaim your act, and discredit + me if I were lunatic enough to undertake such a wild goose chase, which + I’m not; but, on the other hand, if two of our girls undertook such an + expedition, no man can predict the public clamor that might arise. Why, + when the newspapers get hold of a question, you never know where they will + end it. Undoubtedly you two girls should be sent to prison, and, with + equal undoubtedness, the American people wouldn’t permit it.” + </p> + <p> + “You bet they wouldn’t,” said Katherine, dropping into slang. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, if they wouldn’t, there’s war.” + </p> + <p> + “One moment, Captain Kempt,” said Dorothy, again in her mildest tones, for + voices had again begun to run high, “you spoke of doing something sane. + You understand the situation. What should you counsel us to do?” + </p> + <p> + The Captain drew a long breath, and leaned back in his chair. + </p> + <p> + “There, Dad, it’s up to you,” said Katherine. “Let us hear your proposal, + and then you’ll learn how easy it is to criticise.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said the Captain hesitatingly, “there’s our diplomatic service—” + </p> + <p> + “Utterly useless: one man is a Russian, and the other an Englishman. + Diplomacy not only can do nothing, but won’t even try,” cried Kate + triumphantly. + </p> + <p> + “Yet,” said the Captain, with little confidence, “although the two men are + foreigners, the two girls are Americans.” + </p> + <p> + “We don’t count: we’ve no votes,” said Kate. “Besides, Dorothy tried the + diplomatic service, and could not even get accurate information from it. + Now, father, third time and out.” + </p> + <p> + “Four balls are out, Kate, and I’ve only fanned the air twice. Now, girls, + I’ll tell you what I’d do. You two come with me to Washington. We will + seek a private interview with the President. He will get into + communication with the Czar, also privately, and outside of all regular + channels. The Czar will put machinery in motion that is sure to produce + those two young men much more effectually and speedily than any cutthroat + expedition on a yacht.” + </p> + <p> + “I think,” said Dorothy, “that is an excellent plan.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course it is,” cried the Captain enthusiastically. “Don’t you see the + pull the President will have? Why, they’ve put an Englishman into ‘the + jug,’ and when the President communicates this fact to the Czar he will be + afraid to refuse, knowing that the next appeal may be from America to + England, and when you add a couple of American girls to that political + mix-up, why, what chance has the Czar?” + </p> + <p> + “The point you raise, Captain,” said Dorothy, “is one I wish to say a few + words about. The President cannot get Mr. Drummond released, because the + Czar and all his government will be compelled to deny that they know + anything of him. Even the President couldn’t guarantee that the Englishman + would keep silence if he were set at liberty. The Czar would know that, + but your plan would undoubtedly produce Prince Ivan Lermontoff. All the + president has to do is to tell the Czar that the Prince is engaged to an + American girl, and Lermontoff will be allowed to go.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” objected the Captain, “as the Prince knows the Englishman is in + prison, how could they be sure of John keeping quiet when Drummond is his + best friend?” + </p> + <p> + “He cannot know that, because the Prince was arrested several days before + Drummond was. + </p> + <p> + “They have probably chucked them both into the same cell,” said the + Captain, but Dorothy shook her head. + </p> + <p> + “If they had intended to do that, they would doubtless have arrested them + together. I am sure that one does not know the fate of the other, + therefore the Czar can quite readily let Lermontoff go, and he is certain + to do that at a word from the President. Besides this, I am as confident + that Jack is not in the Trogzmondoff, as I am sure that Drummond is. + Johnson said it was a prison for foreigners.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy,” cried the Captain, with a deep sigh, “if we’ve got back + again to Johnson—” He waved his hand and shook his head. + </p> + <p> + The maid opened the door and said, looking at Dorothy: + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Paterson and Mr. Johnson.” + </p> + <p> + “Just show them into the morning room,” said Dorothy, rising. “Captain + Kempt, it is awfully good of you to have listened so patiently to a scheme + of which you couldn’t possibly approve.” + </p> + <p> + “Patiently!” sniffed the daughter. + </p> + <p> + “Now I want you to do me another kindness.” + </p> + <p> + She went to the desk and picked up a piece of paper. + </p> + <p> + “Here is a check I have signed—a blank check. I wish you to buy the + yacht ‘Walrus’ just as she stands, and make the best bargain you can for + me. A man is so much better at this kind of negotiation than a woman.” + </p> + <p> + “But surely, my dear Dorothy, you won’t persist in buying this yacht?” + </p> + <p> + “It’s her own money, father,” put in Katherine. + </p> + <p> + “Keep quiet,” said the Captain, rising, for the first time speaking with + real severity, whereupon Katherine, in spite of the fact that she was + older than twenty-one, was wise enough to obey. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I am quite determined, Captain,” said Dorothy sweetly. + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear woman, don’t you see how you’ve been hoodwinked by this man + Johnson? He is shy of a job. He has already swindled you out of twenty + thousand dollars.” + </p> + <p> + “No, he asked for ten only, Captain Kempt, and I voluntarily doubled the + amount.” + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless, he has worked you up to believe that these young men are in + that rock. He has done this for a very crafty purpose, and his purpose + seems likely to succeed. He knows he will be well paid, and you have + promised him a bonus besides. If he, with his Captain Kidd crew, gets you + on that yacht, you will only step ashore by giving him every penny you + possess. That’s his object. He knows you are starting out to commit a + crime—that’s the word, Dorothy, there’s no use in our mincing + matters—you will be perfectly helpless in his hands. Of course, I + could not allow my daughter Kate to go on such an expedition.” + </p> + <p> + “I am over twenty-one years old,” cried Kate, the light of rebellion in + her eyes. + </p> + <p> + “I do not intend that either of you shall go, Katherine.” + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, I’ll not submit to that,” cried Katherine, with a rising tremor + of anger in her voice, “I shall not be set aside like a child. Who has + more at stake than I? And as for capturing the rock, I’ll dynamite it + myself, and bring home as large a specimen of it as the yacht will carry, + and set it up on Bedloe’s Island beside the Goddess and say, ‘There’s your + statue of Liberty, and there’s your statue of Tyranny!’” + </p> + <p> + “Katherine,” chided her father, “I never before believed that a child of + mine could talk such driveling nonsense.” + </p> + <p> + “Paternal heredity, father,” retorted Kate. + </p> + <p> + “Your Presidential plan, Captain Kempt,” interposed Dorothy, “is excellent + so far as Prince Lermontoff is concerned, but it cannot rescue Lieutenant + Drummond. Now, there are two things you can do for me that will make me + always your debtor, as, indeed, I am already, and the first is to purchase + for me the yacht. The second is to form your own judgment of the man + Johnson, and if you distrust him, then engage for me one-half the crew, + and see that they are picked Americans.” + </p> + <p> + “First sane idea I have heard since I came into this flat,” growled the + Captain. + </p> + <p> + “The Americans won’t let the Finlander hold me for ransom, you may depend + upon that.” + </p> + <p> + It was a woe-begone look the gallant Captain cast on the demure and + determined maiden, then, feeling his daughter’s eye upon him, he turned + toward her. + </p> + <p> + “I’m going, father,” she said, with a firmness quite equal to his own, and + he on his part recognized when his daughter had toed the danger line. He + indulged in a laugh that had little of mirth in it. + </p> + <p> + “All I can say is that I am thankful you haven’t made up your minds to + kidnap the Czar. Of course you are going, Kate, So am I.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI —CELL NUMBER NINE + </h2> + <p> + AS the sailing-boat cast off, and was shoved away from the side of the + steamer, there were eight men aboard. Six grasped the oars, and the young + clerk who had signed for the documents given to him by the Captain took + the rudder, motioning Lermontoff to a seat beside him. All the forward + part of the boat, and, indeed, the space well back toward the stern, was + piled with boxes and bags. + </p> + <p> + “What is this place called?” asked the Prince, but the young steersman did + not reply. + </p> + <p> + Tying the boat to iron rings at the small landing where the steps began, + three of the men shipped their oars. Each threw a bag over his shoulder, + walked up half a dozen steps and waited. The clerk motioned Lermontoff to + follow, so he stepped on the shelf of rock and looked upward at the rugged + stairway cut between the main island and an outstanding perpendicular + ledge of rock. The steps were so narrow that the procession had to move up + in Indian file; three men with bags, then the Prince and the clerk, + followed by three more men with boxes. Lermontoff counted two hundred and + thirty-seven steps, which brought him to an elevated platform, projecting + from a doorway cut in the living rock, but shielded from all sight of the + sea. The eastern sun shone through this doorway, but did not illumine + sufficiently the large room whose walls, ceiling and floor were of solid + stone. At the farther end a man in uniform sat behind a long table on + which burned an oil lamp with a green shade. At his right hand stood a + broad, round brazier containing glowing coals, after the Oriental fashion, + and the officer was holding his two hands over it, and rubbing them + together. The room, nevertheless, struck chill as a cellar, and Lermontoff + heard a constant smothered roar of water. + </p> + <p> + The clerk, stepping forward and saluting, presented to the Governor seated + there the papers and envelopes given him by the Captain. The officer + selected a blue sheet of paper, and scrutinized it for a moment under the + lamp. + </p> + <p> + “Where are the others?” + </p> + <p> + “We have landed first the supplies, Governor; then the boat will return + for the others.” + </p> + <p> + The Governor nodded, and struck a bell with his open palm. There entered a + big man with a bunch of keys at his belt, followed by another who carried + a lighted lantern. + </p> + <p> + “Number Nine,” said the Governor to the gaolers. + </p> + <p> + “I beg your pardon, sir, am I a prisoner?” asked Lermontoff. + </p> + <p> + The Governor gave utterance to a sound that was more like the grunt of a + pig than the ejaculation of a man. He did not answer, but looked up at the + questioner, and the latter saw that his face, gaunt almost as that of a + living skeleton, was pallid as putty. + </p> + <p> + “Number Nine,” he repeated, whereupon the gaoler and the man with the + lantern put a hand each on Lermontoff’s shoulders, and marched him away. + They walked together down a long passage, the swaying lantern casting its + yellow rays on the iron bolts of door after door, until at last the gaoler + stopped, threw back six bolts, inserted a key, unlocked the door, and + pushed it ponderously open. The lantern showed it to be built like the + door of a safe, but unlike that of a safe it opened inwards. As soon as + the door came ajar Lermontoff heard the sound of flowing water, and when + the three entered, he noticed a rapid little stream sparkling in the rays + of the lantern at the further end of the cell. He saw a shelf of rock and + a stone bench before it. The gaoler placed his hands on a black loaf, + while the other held up the lantern. + </p> + <p> + “That will last you four days,” said the gaoler. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my son, judging from the unappetizing look of it, I think it will + last me much longer.” + </p> + <p> + The gaoler made no reply, but he and the man with the lantern retired, + drawing the door heavily after them. Lermontoff heard the bolts thrust + into place, and the turn of the key; then silence fell, all but the + babbling of the water. He stood still in the center of the cell, his hands + thrust deep in the pockets of his overcoat, and, in spite of this heavy + garment, he shivered a little. + </p> + <p> + “Jack, my boy,” he muttered, “this is a new deal, as they say in the West. + I can imagine a man going crazy here, if it wasn’t for that stream. I + never knew what darkness meant before. Well, let’s find out the size of + our kingdom.” + </p> + <p> + He groped for the wall, and stumbling against the stone bench, whose + existence he had forgotten, pitched head forward to the table, and sent + the four-day loaf rolling on the floor. He made an ineffectual grasp after + the loaf, fearing it might fall into the stream and be lost to him, but he + could not find it, and now his designs for measuring the cell gave place + to the desire of finding that loaf. He got down on his hands and knees, + and felt the stone floor inch by inch for half an hour, as he estimated + the time, but never once did he touch the bread. + </p> + <p> + “How helpless a man is in the dark, after all,” he muttered to himself. “I + must do this systematically, beginning at the edge of the stream.” + </p> + <p> + On all fours he reached the margin of the rivulet, and felt his way along + the brink till his head struck the opposite wall. He turned round, took up + a position that he guessed was three feet nearer the door, and again + traversed the room, becoming so eager in the search that he forgot for the + moment the horror of his situation, just as, when engaged in a chemical + experiment, everything else vanished from his mind, and thus after several + journeys back and forth he was again reminded of the existence of the + stone bench by butting against it when he knew he was still several feet + from the wall. Rubbing his head, he muttered some unfavorable phrases + regarding the immovable bench, then crawled round it twice, and resumed + his transverse excursions. At last he reached the wall that held the door, + and now with breathless eagerness rubbed his shoulder against it till he + came to the opposite corner. He knew he had touched with knees and hands + practically every square inch of space in the floor, and yet no bread. + </p> + <p> + “Now, that’s a disaster,” cried he, getting up on his feet, and stretching + himself. “Still, a man doesn’t starve in four days. I’ve cast my bread on + the waters. It has evidently gone down the stream. Now, what’s to hinder a + man escaping by means of that watercourse? Still, if he did, what would be + the use? He’d float out into the Baltic Sea, and if able to swim round the + rock, would merely be compelled to knock at the front door and beg + admission again. No, by Jove, there’s the boat, but they probably guard it + night and day, and a man in the water would have no chance against one in + the boat. Perhaps there’s gratings between the cells. Of course, there’s + bound to be. No one would leave the bed of a stream clear for any one to + navigate. Prisoners would visit each other in their cells, and that’s not + allowed in any respectable prison. I wonder if there’s any one next door + on either side of me. An iron grid won’t keep out the sound. I’ll try,” + and going again to the margin of the watercourse, he shouted several times + as loudly as he could, but only a sepulchral echo, as if from a vault, + replied to him. + </p> + <p> + “I imagine the adjoining cells are empty. No enjoyable companionship to be + expected here. I wonder if they’ve got the other poor devils up from the + steamer yet. I’ll sit down on the bench and listen.” + </p> + <p> + He could have found the bench and shelf almost immediately by groping + round the wall, but he determined to exercise his sense of direction, to + pit himself against the darkness. + </p> + <p> + “I need not hurry,” he said, “I may be a long time here.” + </p> + <p> + In his mind he had a picture of the cell, but now that he listened to the + water it seemed to have changed its direction, and he found he had to + rearrange this mental picture, and make a different set of calculations to + fit the new position. Then he shuffled slowly forward with hands + outstretched, but he came to the wall, and not to the bench. Again he + mapped out his route, again endeavored, and again failed. + </p> + <p> + “This is bewildering,” he muttered. “How the darkness baffles a man. For + the first time in my life I appreciate to the full the benediction of + God’s command, ‘Let there be light.’” + </p> + <p> + He stood perplexed for a few moments, and, deeply thinking, his hands + automatically performed an operation as the servants of habit. They took + from his pocket his cigarette case, selected a tube of tobacco, placed it + between his lips, searched another pocket, brought out a match-box, and + struck a light. The striking of the match startled Lermontoff as if it had + been an explosion; then he laughed, holding the match above his head, and + there at his feet saw the loaf of black bread. It seemed as if somebody + had twisted the room end for end. The door was where he thought the stream + was, and thus he learned that sound gives no indication of direction to a + man blindfolded. The match began to wane, and feverishly he lit his + cigarette. + </p> + <p> + “Why didn’t I think of the matches, and oh! what a pity I failed to fill + my pockets with them that night of the Professor’s dinner party! To think + that matches are selling at this moment in Sweden two hundred and fifty + for a halfpenny!” + </p> + <p> + Guided by the spark at the end of his cigarette, he sought the bench and + sat down upon it. He was surprised to find himself so little depressed as + was actually the case. He did not feel in the least disheartened. + Something was going to happen on his behalf; of that he was quite certain. + It was perfectly ridiculous that even in Russia a loyal subject, who had + never done any illegal act in his life, a nobleman of the empire, and a + friend of the Czar, should be incarcerated for long without trial, and + even without accusation. He had no enemies that he knew of, and many + friends, and yet he experienced a vague uneasiness when he remembered that + his own course of life had been such that he would not be missed by his + friends. For more than a year he had been in England, at sea, and in + America, so much absorbed in his researches that he had written no private + letters worth speaking of, and if any friend were asked his whereabouts, + he was likely to reply: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Lermontoff is in some German university town, or in England, or + traveling elsewhere. I haven’t seen him or heard of him for months. Lost + in a wilderness or in an experiment, perhaps.” + </p> + <p> + These unhappy meditations were interrupted by the clang of bolts. He + thought at first it was his own door that was being opened, but a moment + later knew it was the door of the next cell up-stream. The sound, of + course, could not penetrate the extremely thick wall, but came through the + aperture whose roof arched the watercourse. From the voices he estimated + that several prisoners were being put into one cell, and he wondered + whether or not he cared for a companion. It would all depend. If + fellow-prisoners hated each other, their enforced proximity might prove + unpleasant. + </p> + <p> + “We are hungry,” he heard one say. “Bring us food.” + </p> + <p> + The gaoler laughed. + </p> + <p> + “I will give you something to drink first.” + </p> + <p> + “That’s right,” three voices shouted. “Vodka, vodka!” + </p> + <p> + Then the door clanged shut again, and he heard the murmur of voices in + Russian, but could not make out what was said. One of the new prisoners, + groping round, appeared to have struck the stone bench, as he himself had + done. The man in the next cell swore coarsely, and Lermontoff, judging + from such snatches of their conversation as he could hear that they were + persons of a low order, felt no desire to make their more intimate + acquaintance, and so did not shout to them, as he had intended to do. And + now he missed something that had become familiar; thought it was a + cigarette he desired, for the one he had lit had been smoked to his very + lips, then he recognized it was the murmur of the stream that had ceased. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, they can shut it off,” he said. “That’s interesting. I must + investigate, and learn whether or no there is communication between the + cells. Not very likely, though.” + </p> + <p> + He crawled on hands and knees until he came to the bed of the stream, + which was now damp, but empty. Kneeling down in its course, he worked his + way toward the lower cell, and, as he expected, came to stout iron bars. + Crouching thus he sacrificed a second match, and estimated that the + distance between the two cells was as much as ten feet of solid rock, and + saw also that behind the perpendicular iron bars were another horizontal + set, then another perpendicular, then a fourth horizontal. + </p> + <p> + While in this position he was startled by a piercing scream to the rear. + He backed out from the tunnel and stood upright once more. He heard the + sound of people splashing round in water. The screamer began to jabber + like a maniac, punctuating his ravings with shrieks. Another was cursing + vehemently, and a third appealing to the saints. Lermontoff quickly knelt + down in the watercourse, this time facing the upper cell, and struck his + third match. He saw that a steel shield, reminding him of the thin shutter + between the lenses of a camera, had been shot across the tunnel behind the + second group of cross bars, and as an engineer be could not but admire the + skill of the practical expert who had constructed this diabolical device, + for in spite of the pressure on the other side, hardly a drop of water + oozed through. He tried to reach this shield, but could not. It was just + beyond the touch of his fingers, with his arm thrust through the two sets + of bars, but if he could have stretched that far, with the first bar + retarding his shoulder, he knew his hand would be helpless even if he had + some weapon to puncture the steel shield. The men would be drowned before + he could accomplish anything unless he was at the lever in the passage + outside. + </p> + <p> + Crawling into his cell again he heard no more of the chatter and cries of + the maniac, and he surmised that the other two were fighting for places on + bench or shelf, which was amply large enough to have supported both, had + they not been too demented with fear to recognize that fact. The cursing + man was victorious, and now he stood alone on the shelf, roaring + maledictions. Then there was the sound of a plunge, and Lermontoff, + standing there, helpless and shivering, heard the prisoner swim round and + round his cell like a furious animal, muttering and swearing. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t exhaust yourself like that,” shouted Lermontoff. “If you want to + live, cling to the hole at either of the two upper corners. The water + can’t rise above you then, and you can breathe till it subsides.” + </p> + <p> + The other either did not hear, or did not heed, but tore round and round + in his confined tank, thrashing the water like a dying whale. + </p> + <p> + “Poor devil,” moaned Jack. “What’s the use of telling him what to do. He + is doomed in any case. The other two are now better off.” + </p> + <p> + A moment later the water began to dribble through the upper aperture into + Jack’s cell, increasing and increasing until there was the roar of a + waterfall, and he felt the cold splashing drops spurt against him. Beyond + this there was silence. It was perhaps ten minutes after that the lever + was pulled, and the water belched forth from the lower tunnel like a mill + race broken loose, temporarily flooding the floor so that Jack was + compelled to stand on the bench. + </p> + <p> + He sunk down shivering on the stone shelf, laid his arms on the stone + pillow, and buried his face in them. + </p> + <p> + “My God, my God!” he groaned. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII —A FELLOW SCIENTIST + </h2> + <p> + IN this position Jack slept off and on, or rather, dozed into a kind of + semi-stupor, from which he awoke with a start now and then, as he thought + he heard again the mingled cries of devotion and malediction. At last he + slept soundly, and awoke refreshed, but hungry. The loaf lay beside him, + and with his knife he cut a slice from it, munching the coarse bread with + more of relish than he had thought possible when he first saw it. Then he + took out another cigarette, struck a match, looked at his watch, and lit + the cigarette. It was ten minutes past two. He wondered if a night had + intervened, but thought it unlikely. He had landed very early in the + morning, and now it was afternoon. He was fearfully thirsty, but could not + bring himself to drink from that stream of death. Once more he heard the + bolts shot back. + </p> + <p> + “They are going to throw the poor wretches into the sea,” he muttered, but + the yellow gleam of a lantern showed him it was his own door that had been + unlocked. + </p> + <p> + “You are to see the Governor,” said the gaoler gruffly. “Come with me.” + </p> + <p> + Jack sprang to the floor of his cell, repressing a cry of delight. Nothing + the grim Governor could do to him would make his situation any worse, and + perhaps his persuasive powers upon that official might result in some + amelioration of his position. In any case there was the brief respite of + the interview, and he would gladly have chummed with the devil himself to + be free a few moments from this black pit. + </p> + <p> + Although the outside door of the Governor’s room stood open, the room was + not as well illumined as it had been before, for the sun had now gone + round to the other side of the island, but to the prisoner’s aching eyes + it seemed a chamber of refulgence. The same lamp was burning on the table, + giving forth an odor of bad oil, but in addition to this, two candles were + lighted, which supplemented in some slight measure the efforts of the + lamp. At the end of the table lay a number of documents under a + paper-weight, arranged with the neat precision of a methodical man. The + Governor had been warming his hands over the brazier, but ceased when + Lermontoff was brought up standing before him. He lifted the paper-weight, + took from under it the two letters which Lermontoff had given to the + steward on the steamer, and handed them to the prisoner, who thus received + them back for the second time. + </p> + <p> + “I wish to say,” remarked the Governor, with an air of bored indifference + which was evidently quite genuine, “that if you make any further attempt + to communicate with the authorities, or with friends, you will bring on + yourself punishment which will be unpleasant.” + </p> + <p> + “As a subject of the Czar, I have the right to appeal to him,” said the + Prince. + </p> + <p> + “The appeal you have written here,” replied the Governor, “would have + proved useless, even if it had been delivered. The Czar knows nothing of + the Trogzmondoff, which is a stronghold entirely under the control of the + Grand Dukes and of the Navy. The Trogzmondoff never gives up a prisoner.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I am here for a lifetime?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” rejoined the Governor, with frigid calmness, “and if you give me no + trouble you will save yourself some inconvenience.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you speak French?” asked the Prince. + </p> + <p> + “Net.” + </p> + <p> + “English?” + </p> + <p> + “Net.” + </p> + <p> + “Italian?” + </p> + <p> + “Net.” + </p> + <p> + “German?” + </p> + <p> + “Da.” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” continued Lermontoff in German, “I desire to say a few words to + you which I don’t wish this gaoler to understand. I am Prince Ivan + Lermontoff, a personal friend of the Czar’s, who, after all, is master of + the Grand Dukes and the Navy also. If you will help to put me into + communication with him, I will guarantee that no harm comes to you, and + furthermore will make you a rich man.” + </p> + <p> + The Governor slowly shook his head. + </p> + <p> + “What you ask is impossible. Riches are nothing to me. Bribery may do much + in other parts of the Empire, but it is powerless in the Trogzmondoff. I + shall die in the room adjoining this, as my predecessor died. I am quite + as much a prisoner in the Trogzmondoff as is your Highness. No man who has + once set foot in this room, either as Governor, employee, or prisoner, is + allowed to see the mainland again, and thus the secret has been well kept. + We have had many prisoners of equal rank with your Highness, friends of + the Czar too, I dare say, but they all died on the Rock, and were buried + in the Baltic.” + </p> + <p> + “May I not be permitted to receive certain supplies if I pay for them? + That is allowed in other prisons.” + </p> + <p> + The Governor shook his head. + </p> + <p> + “I can let you have a blanket,” he said, “and a pillow, or a sheepskin if + you find it cold at first, but my power here is very limited, and, as I + tell you, the officers have little more comfort than the prisoners.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I don’t care anything about comfort,” protested Lermontoff. “What I + want is some scientific apparatus. I am a student of science. I have + nothing to do with politics, and have never been implicated in any plot. + Someone in authority has made a stupid mistake, and so I am here. This + mistake I am quite certain will be discovered and remedied. I hold no + malice, and will say nothing of the place, once I am free. It is no + business of mine. But I do not wish to have the intervening time wasted. I + should like to buy some electrical machinery, and materials, for which I + am willing to pay any price that is asked.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you understand electricity?” questioned the Governor, and for the + first time his impassive face showed a glimmer of interest. + </p> + <p> + “Do I understand electricity? Why, for over a year I have been chief + electrician on a war-ship.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps then,” said the Governor, relapsing into Russian again, “you can + tell me what is wrong with our dynamo here in the Rock. After repeated + requisition they sent machinery for lighting our offices and passages with + electricity. They apparently did not care to send an electrician to the + Trogzmondoff, but forwarded instead some books of instruction. I have been + working at it for two years and a half, but I am still using oil lamps and + candles. We wired the place without difficulty.” He held up the candle, + and showed, depending from the ceiling, a chandelier of electric lamps + which Lermontoff had not hitherto noticed, various brackets, and one or + two stand lamps in a corner, with green silk-covered wire attached. + </p> + <p> + “May I see your dynamo?” asked Lermontoff. + </p> + <p> + The Governor, with one final warming of his hands, took up a candle, told + the gaoler to remove the shade from the lamp and bring it, led the way + along a passage, and then into a room where the prisoner, on first + entering, had heard the roar of water. + </p> + <p> + “What’s this you have. A turbine? Does it give you any power?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it gives power enough,” said the Governor. + </p> + <p> + “Let’s see how you turn on the stream.” + </p> + <p> + The Governor set the turbine at work, and the dynamo began to hum, a sound + which, to the educated ear of Lermontoff, told him several things. + </p> + <p> + “That’s all right, Governor, turn it off. This is a somewhat old-fashioned + dynamo, but it ought to give you all the light you can use. You must be a + natural born electrician, or you never could have got this machinery + working as well as it does.” + </p> + <p> + The dull eyes of the Governor glowed for one brief moment, then resumed + their customary expression of saddened tiredness. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Jack, throwing off his coat, “I want a wrench, screwdriver, + hammer and a pair of pincers if you’ve got them.” + </p> + <p> + “Here is the tool chest,” said the Governor, and Jack found all he needed. + Bidding the Governor hold the candle here, there and elsewhere, and + ordering the gaoler about as if he were an apprentice, Jack set + energetically to work, and for half an hour no one spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Turn on that water again,” he commanded. + </p> + <p> + The Governor did so, and the machine whirred with quite a different note. + Half a dozen electric lamps in the room flooded the place with a dazzling + white glow. + </p> + <p> + “There you are,” cried Jack, rubbing the oil off his hands on a piece of + coarse sacking. “Now, Tommy, put these things back in the tool chest,” he + said to the gaoler. Then to the Governor: + </p> + <p> + “Let’s see how things look in the big room.” + </p> + <p> + The passage was lit, and the Governor’s room showed every mark on wall, + ceiling and floor. + </p> + <p> + “I told you, Governor,” said Jack with a laugh, “that I didn’t know why I + was sent here, but now I understand. Providence took pity on you, and + ordered me to strike a light.” + </p> + <p> + At that moment the gaoler entered with his jingling keys, and the + enthusiastic expression faded from the Governor’s face, leaving it once + more coldly impassive, but he spoke in German instead of Russian. + </p> + <p> + “I am very much indebted to your Highness, and it grieves me that our + relationship remains unchanged.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that’s all right,” cried Lermontoff breezily, “If it is within your + power to allow me to come and give you some lessons in electricity and the + care of dynamos, I shall be very glad to do so.” + </p> + <p> + To this offer the Governor made no reply, but he went on still in German. + </p> + <p> + “I shall transfer you to cell Number One, which is not only more + comfortable, but the water there is pure. Did you say you spoke English?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, quite as well as I do Russian.” + </p> + <p> + The Governor continued, with nevertheless a little hesitation: “On the + return of the steamer there will be an English prisoner. I will give him + cell Number Two, and if you don’t talk so loud that the gaoler hears you, + it may perhaps make the day less wearisome.” + </p> + <p> + “You are very kind,” said Jack, rigidly suppressing any trace of either + emotion or interest as he heard the intelligence; leaping at once to + certain conclusions, nevertheless. “I shan’t ask for anything more, much + as I should like to mention candles, matches, and tobacco.” + </p> + <p> + “It is possible you may find all three in Number One before this time + to-morrow;” then in Russian the Governor said to the goaler: + </p> + <p> + “See if Number One is ready.” + </p> + <p> + The gaoler departed, and the Governor, throwing open a drawer in his + table, took out two candles, a box of matches, and a packet of cigarettes. + </p> + <p> + “Put these in your pocket,” he said. “The cell door opens very slowly, so + you will always know when the gaoler is coming. In that case blow out your + light and conceal your candle. It will last the longer.” + </p> + <p> + The gaoler returned. + </p> + <p> + “The cell is ready, Excellency,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Take away the prisoner,” commanded the Governor, gruffly. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII —CELL NUMBER ONE + </h2> + <p> + CELL Number One was a great improvement on Number Nine. There was no shelf + of rock, or stone bench, but a cot bed in the corner, a table, and a + wooden chair. The living spring issued from the living rock in a corner of + the room. When the gaoler and his assistant had retired and shoved in the + outside bolts, Jack lit his candle and a cigarette, feeling almost happy. + He surveyed the premises now with more care. The bed was of iron and + fastened to the floor. On the top of it was a mattress, a pillow, and a + pair of blankets. At its head a little triangular shelf of rock had been + left in the corner, and on this reposed a basin of tin, while a coarse + piece of sacking took the place of a towel. Jack threw off his overcoat + and flung it on the bed, intent on a satisfactory wash. He heard something + jingle in the pockets, and forgetting for the moment what it could + possibly be, thrust his hand in, and pulled out a glass-stoppered bottle + of ozak. He held it out at arm’s length, and stared at it for some moments + like a man hypnotized. + </p> + <p> + “Holy Saint Peter!” he cried, “to think that I should have forgotten + this!” + </p> + <p> + He filled the tin basin with water, and placed it on the table. Again he + dissolved a minute portion of the chemical, and again filled the syringe. + </p> + <p> + “I must leave no marks on the wall that may arouse attention,” he said, + and taking the full syringe to the arch over the torrent, and placing the + candle on the floor beside him, he gently pushed in the piston. The spray + struck the rock, and the rock dissolved slightly but perceptibly. Coming + back to the table he stood for a few minutes in deep thought. Although the + cot bed was fixed to the floor, and although it was possible that the + shelf in the next cell coincided with its position, the risk of discovery + was too great to cut a passage between the two cells there. The obvious + spot to attack was the interior of the tunnel through which the streamlet + ran, but Jack, testing the temperature of the water with his hand, doubted + his physical ability to remain in that ice-cold current more than a few + minutes at a time, and if he worked in the tunnel he would be all but + submerged. He feared he would perish with cold and cramp before he had + made any impression on the rock. + </p> + <p> + To the edge of the stream he drew the table, and, mounting it, examined + the upper orifice through which the water escaped when the cell was full. + He found he could stand on the table and work in comfort until he had + excavated sufficient rock to allow him to clamber into the upper tunnel + and so continue his operations. The water he used would flow through the + tunnel, and down to the main stream in the next cell. All he had to do was + to dissolve a semi-circular hole in the rock that would bend round the end + of those steel bars, and enter the tunnel again on the other side. Eager + to be at work, he took the full basin, shoved it far along the tunnel + until it was stopped by the bars, then, placing his candle beside it, and + standing on the table, he began operations. + </p> + <p> + The limestone, under the influence of the spray, dissolved very slowly, + and by the time the basin of water was exhausted, all the effect visible + under the light of the candle was an exceedingly slight circular + impression which was barely visible to the naked eye. + </p> + <p> + “I must make the solution stronger, I think,” he said, grievously + disappointed at the outcome of his labors, and as he looked at it he heard + the clank of the withdrawing bolts. Blowing out the candle he sprang to + the floor of the cell, picked up the table, set it down in the center of + the room, groped for the chair, and sat down, his heart palpitating wildly + at the fear of discovery. + </p> + <p> + Followed as usual by the man with the lantern, the gaoler came in, + carrying a bowl of hot steaming soup, which he placed on the table, then + he took from his pocket a spoon, a small hunk of black bread, and a piece + of cheese. In the light of the lantern Lermontoff consulted his watch, and + found it was six o’clock. The gaoler took the lantern from his assistant, + held it high, and looked round the room, while Lermontoff gazed at him in + anxiety, wondering whether that brutal looking official suspected + anything. Apparently he did not, but merely wished to satisfy himself that + everything was in order, for he said more mildly than he had hitherto + spoken: + </p> + <p> + “It is a long time since any one occupied this cell.” + </p> + <p> + Then his eye rested on the vacant corner shelf. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Excellency,” he continued, “pardon me, I have forgotten. I must bring + you a basin.” + </p> + <p> + “I’d rather you brought me a candle,” said Lermontoff nonchalantly, + although his lips were dry, and he moistened them as he spoke; then, to + learn whether money was valueless on the rock, as the Governor had + intimated, he drew from his pocket one of the remaining gold pieces, glad + that he happened to have so many, and slipped it into the palm of the + gaoler’s hand, whose fingers clutched it as eagerly as if he were in St. + Petersburg. + </p> + <p> + “I think a candle can be managed, Excellency. Shall I bring a cup?” + </p> + <p> + “I wish you would.” + </p> + <p> + The door was again locked and bolted, but before Lermontoff had finished + his soup, and bread and cheese, it was opened again. The gaoler placed a + tin basin, similar to the former one, on the ledge, put a candle and a + candle-stick on the table, and a tin cup beside them. + </p> + <p> + “I thought there was no part of Russia where bribery was extinct,” said + the Prince to himself, as the door closed again for the night. + </p> + <p> + After supper Lermontoff again shined his table, stood upon it, lit his + candle, and resumed his tunnelling, working hard until after midnight. His + progress was deplorably slow, and the spraying of the rock proved about as + tiring a task as ever he had undertaken. His second basin-full of solution + was made a little stronger, but without perceptible improvement, in its + effect. On ceasing operations for the night he found himself in a + situation common to few prisoners, that of being embarrassed with riches. + He possessed two basins, and one of them must be concealed. Of course he + might leave his working basin in the upper tunnel where it had rested when + the gaoler had brought in his supper, but he realized that at any moment + the lantern’s rays might strike its shining surface, and so bring on an + investigation of the upper tunnel, certain to prove the destruction of his + whole scheme. A few minutes thought, however, solved the problem + admirably: he placed the basin face downwards in the rapid stream which + swept it to the iron bars between the two cells, and there it lay quite + concealed with the swift water rippling over it. This done, he flung off + his clothes, and got into bed, not awakening until the gaoler and his + assistant brought in bread, cheese and coffee for breakfast. + </p> + <p> + The next day he began to feel the inconveniences of the Governor’s + friendship, and wished he were safely back to the time when one loaf + lasted four days, for if such were now the case, he would be free of the + constant state of tension which the ever-recurring visits of the gaoler + caused. He feared that some day he might become so absorbed in his + occupation that he would not hear the withdrawing of the bolt, and thus, + as it were, be caught in the act. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after lunch the Governor sent for him, and asked many questions + pertaining to the running of the dynamo. Lermontoff concealed his + impatience, and set about his instructions with exemplary earnestness. + Russian text books on electricity at hand were of the most rudimentary + description, and although the Governor could speak German he could not + read it, so the two volumes he possessed in that language were closed to + him. Therefore John was compelled to begin at the very A B C of the + science. + </p> + <p> + The Governor, however, became so deeply interested that he momentarily + forgot his caution, unlocked a door, and took Lermontoff into a room which + he saw was the armory and ammunition store-house of the prison. On the + floor of this chamber the Governor pointed out a large battery of + accumulators, and asked what they were for. Lermontoff explained the + purposes of the battery, meanwhile examining it thoroughly, and finding + that many of the cells had been all but ruined in transit, through the + falling away of the composition in the grids. Something like half of the + accumulators, however, were intact and workable; these he uncoupled and + brought into the dynamo room, where he showed the Governor the process of + charging. He saw in the store room a box containing incandescent lamps, + coils of silk-covered wire and other material that made his eyes glisten + with delight. He spoke in German. + </p> + <p> + “If you will give me a coil of this wire, one or two of the lamps, and an + accumulator, or indeed half a dozen of them, I will trouble you no more + for candles.” + </p> + <p> + The Governor did not reply at the moment, but a short time after asked + Lermontoff in Russian how long it would be before the accumulators were + charged. Lermontoff stated the time, and the Governor told the gaoler to + bring the prisoner from the cell at that hour, and so dismissed his + instructor. + </p> + <p> + One feature of this interview which pleased Lermontoff was that however + much the Governor became absorbed in these lessons, he never allowed + himself to remain alone with his prisoner. It was evident that in his + cooler moments the Governor had instructed the gaoler and his assistant to + keep ever at the heels of the Prince and always on the alert. Two huge + revolvers were thrust underneath the belt of the gaoler, and the + lantern-holder, was similarly armed. Lermontoff was pleased with this, for + if the Governor had trusted him entirely, even though he demanded no + verbal parole, it would have gone against his grain to strike down the + chief as he ruthlessly intended to do when the time was ripe for it, and + in any case, he told himself, no matter how friendly the Governor might + be, he had the misfortune to stand between his prisoner and liberty. + </p> + <p> + Lermontoff was again taken from his cell about half an hour before the + time he had named for the completion of the charging, and although the + Governor said nothing of his intention, the gaoler and his man brought to + the cell six charged batteries, a coil of wire, and a dozen lamps. + Lermontoff now changed his working methods. He began each night as soon as + he had finished dinner, and worked till nearly morning, sleeping all day + except when interrupted by the gaoler. Jack, following the example of + Robinson Crusoe, attempted to tie knots on the tail of time by cutting + notches with his knife on the leg of the table, but most days he forgot to + perform this operation, and so his wooden almanac fell hopelessly out of + gear. He estimated that he had been a little more than a week in prison + when he heard by the clang of the bolts that the next cell was to have an + occupant. + </p> + <p> + “I must prepare a welcome for him,” he said, and so turned out the + electric light at the end of the long flexible wire. He had arranged a + neat little switch of the accumulator, and so snapped the light on and off + at his pleasure, without the trouble of unscrewing the nuts which held in + place one of the copper ends of the wire. Going to the edge of the stream + and lighting his candle, he placed the glass bulb in the current, paid out + the flexible line attached to it, and allowed the bulb to run the risk of + being smashed against the iron bars of the passage, but the little globe + negotiated the rapids without even a perceptible clink, and came to rest + in the bed of the torrent somewhere about the center of the next cell, + tugging like a fish on a hook. Then Jack mounted the table, leaned into + the upper tunnel, and listened. + </p> + <p> + “I protest,” Drummond cried, speaking loudly, as if the volume of sound + would convey meaning to alien ears, “I protest against this as an outrage, + and demand my right of communication with the British Ambassador.” + </p> + <p> + Jack heard the gaoler growl: “This loaf of bread will last you for four + days,” but as this statement was made in Russian, it conveyed no more + meaning to the Englishman than had his own protest of a moment before + brought intelligence to the gaoler. The door clanged shut, and there + followed a dead silence. + </p> + <p> + “Now we ought to hear some good old British oaths,” said Jack to himself, + but the silence continued. + </p> + <p> + “Hullo, Alan,” cried Jack through the bars, “I said you would be nabbed if + you didn’t leave St. Petersburg. You’ll pay attention to me next time I + warn you.” + </p> + <p> + There was no reply, and Jack became alarmed at the continued stillness, + then he heard his friend mutter: + </p> + <p> + “I’ll be seeing visions by and by. I thought my brain was stronger than it + is—could have sworn that was Jack’s voice.” + </p> + <p> + Jack got speedily and quietly down, turned on the switch, and hopped up on + the table again, peering through. He knew that the stream had now become a + river of fire, and that it was sending to the ceiling an unholy, unearthly + glow. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, damn it all!” groaned Drummond, at which Jack roared with laughter. + </p> + <p> + “Alan,” he shouted, “fish out that electric bulb from the creek and hold + it aloft; then you’ll see where you are. I’m in the next cell; Jack + Lamont, Electrician and Coppersmith: all orders promptly attended to: best + of references, and prices satisfactory.” + </p> + <p> + “Jack, is that really you, or have I gone demented?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you always were demented, Alan, but it is I, right enough. Pick up + the light and tell me what kind of a cell you’ve got.” + </p> + <p> + “Horrible!” cried Drummond, surveying his situation. “Walls apparently of + solid rock, and this uncanny stream running across the floor.” + </p> + <p> + “How are you furnished? Shelf of rock, stone bench?” + </p> + <p> + “No, there’s a table, cot bed, and a wooden chair.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, my dear man, what are you growling about? They have given you one of + the best rooms in the hotel. You’re in the Star Chamber.” + </p> + <p> + “Where in the name of heaven are we?” + </p> + <p> + “Didn’t you recognize the rock from the deck of a steamer?” + </p> + <p> + “I never saw the deck of a steamer.” + </p> + <p> + “Then how did you come here?” + </p> + <p> + “I was writing a letter in my room when someone threw a sack over my head, + and tied me up in a bundle, so that it was a close shave I wasn’t + smothered. I was taken in what I suppose was a cab and flung into what I + afterwards learned was the hold of a steamer. When the ship stopped, I was + carried like a sack of meal on someone’s shoulder, and unhampered before a + gaunt specter in uniform, in a room so dazzling with electric light that I + could hardly see. That was a few minutes ago, Now I am here, and starving. + Where is this prison?” + </p> + <p> + “Like the Mikado, as Kate would say, the authorities are bent on making + the punishment fit the crime. You are in the rock of the Baltic, which you + fired at with that gun of yours. I told you those suave officials at St. + Petersburg were playing with you.” + </p> + <p> + “But why have they put you here, Jack?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I was like the good dog Tray, who associated with questionable + company, I suppose, and thus got into trouble.” + </p> + <p> + “I’m sorry.” + </p> + <p> + “You ought to be glad. I’m going to get out of this place, and I don’t + believe you could break gaol, unassisted, in twenty years. Here is where + science confronts brutality. I say, Drummond, bring your table over to the + corner, and mount it, then we can talk without shouting. Not much chance + of any one outside hearing us, even if we do clamor, but this is a damp + situation, and loud talk is bad for the throat. Cut a slice of that brown + bread and lunch with me. You’ll find it not half bad, as you say in + England, especially when you are hungry. Now,” continued Jack, as his + friend stood opposite him, and they found by experiment that their + combined reach was not long enough to enable them to shake hands through + the bars, “now, while you are luxuriating in the menu of the Trogzmondoff, + I’ll give you a sketch of my plan for escape.” + </p> + <p> + “Do,” said Drummond. + </p> + <p> + “I happen to have with me a pair of bottles containing a substance which, + if dissolved in water, and sprinkled on this rock, will disintegrate it. + It proves rather slow work, I must admit, but I intend to float in to you + one of the bottles, and the apparatus, so that you may help me on your + side, which plan has the advantage of giving you useful occupation, and + allowing us to complete our task in half the time, like the engineers on + each side of the Simplon Tunnel.” + </p> + <p> + “If there are bars in the lower watercourse,” objected Drummond, “won’t + you run a risk of breaking your bottle against them?” + </p> + <p> + “Not the slightest. I have just sent that much thinner electric lamp + through, but in this case I’ll just tie up the bottle and squirt gun in my + stocking, attach that to the wire, and the current will do the rest. You + can unload, and I’ll pull my stocking back again. If I dared wrench off a + table leg, I could perhaps shove bottle and syringe through to you from + here, but the material would come to a dead center in the middle of this + tunnel, unless I had a stick to push it within your reach. + </p> + <p> + “Very well; we’ll work away until our excavation connects, and we have + made it of sufficient diameter for you to squeeze through. You are then in + my cell. We put out our lights, and you conceal yourself behind the door. + Gaoler and man with the lantern come in. You must be very careful not to + close the door, because if you once shove it shut we can’t open it from + this side, even though it is unlocked and the bolts drawn. It fits like + wax, and almost hermetically seals the room. You spring forward, and deal + the gaoler with your fist one of your justly celebrated English knock-down + blows, immediately after felling the man with the lantern. Knowing + something of the weight of your blow, I take it that neither of the two + men will recover consciousness until we have taken off their outer + garments, secured revolvers and keys. Then we lock them in, you and I on + the outside.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear Jack, we don’t need any tunnel to accomplish that. The first time + these two men come into my room, I can knock them down as easily here as + there.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought of that, and perhaps you could, but you must remember we have + only one shot. If you made a mistake; if the lantern man bolted and fired + his pistol, and once closed the door—he would not need to pause to + lock it—why, we are done for. I should be perfectly helpless in the + next room, and after the attempt they’d either drown us, or put us into + worse cells as far apart as possible.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t think I should miss fire,” said Drummond, confidently, “still, I + see the point, and will obey orders.” + </p> + <p> + “My official position on the rock, ever since I arrived, has been that of + electrical tutor-in-chief to the Governor. I have started his dynamo + working, and have wired such portions of the place as were not already + wired before. During these lessons I have kept my eyes open. So far as the + prison is concerned, there is the Governor, a sort of head clerk, the + gaoler and his assistant; four men, and that is all. The gaoler’s + assistant appears to be the cook of the place, although the cooking done + is of the most limited description. The black bread is brought from St. + Petersburg, I think, as also tinned meat and soup; so the cuisine is on a + somewhat limited scale.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to say that only these four men are in charge of the prison?” + </p> + <p> + “Practically so, but there is the garrison as well. The soldiers live in a + suite of rooms directly above us, and as near as I can form an opinion, + there are fourteen men and two officers. When a steamer arrives they draft + as many soldiers as are necessary, unload the boat; then the Tommies go + upstairs again. The military section apparently holds little intercourse + with the officials, whom they look upon as gaolers. I should judge that + the military officer is chief of the rock, because when he found the + Governor’s room lit by electricity, he demanded the same for his quarters. + That’s how I came to get upstairs. Now, these stairs are hewn in the rock, + are circular, guarded by heavy oaken doors top and bottom, and these doors + possess steel bolts on both sides of them. It is thus possible for either + the military authorities upstairs, or the civil authorities, to isolate + themselves from the others. In case of a revolt among the soldiers, the + Governor could bolt them into their attic, and they would find great + difficulty in getting out. Now, my plan of procedure is this. We will + disarm gaoler and assistant, take their keys, outside garments and caps. + The gaoler’s toggery will fit you, and the other fellow’s may do for me. + Then we will lock them in here, and if we meet clerk or Governor in the + passages we will have time to overcome either or both before they are + aware of the change. I’ll go up the circular stair, bolt from the inside + the upper door, and afterwards bolt the lower door. Then we open all the + cells, and release the other prisoners, descend from the rock, get into + the Finnish fishing boat, keep clear of the two cannon that are up above + us, and sail for the Swedish coast. We can’t miss it; we have only to + travel west, and ultimately we are safe. There is only one danger, which + is that we may make our attempt when the steamer is here, but we must + chance that.” + </p> + <p> + “Isn’t there any way of finding out? Couldn’t you pump the Governor?” + </p> + <p> + “He is always very much on his guard, and is a taciturn man. The moment + the tunnel is finished I shall question him about some further electrical + material, and then perhaps I may get a hint about the steamer. I imagine + she comes irregularly, so the only safe plan would be for us to make our + attempt just after she had departed.” + </p> + <p> + “Would there be any chance of our finding a number of the military + downstairs?” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t think so. Now that they have their electric light they spend + their time playing cards and drinking vodka.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Jack, that scheme seems reasonably feasible. Now, get through + your material to me, and issue your instructions.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX —“STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE” + </h2> + <p> + IN a very short time Drummond became as expert at the rock dissolving as + was his friend. He called it piffling slow work, but was nevertheless + extremely industrious at it, although days and weeks and, as they + suspected, months, passed before the hands of the two friends met in the + center of the rock. One lucky circumstance that favored them was the habit + of the gaoler in visiting Drummond only once every four days. + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant made his difficult passage, squeezing through the newly + completed tunnel half an hour after a loaf had been set upon his table. + Jack knew that the steamer had recently departed, because, two days + before, the Governor had sent for him, and had exhibited a quantity of + material recently landed, among other things a number of electric bells + and telephones which the Governor was going to have set up between himself + and the others, and also between his room and that of the clerk and + gaoler. There were dry batteries, and primary batteries, and many odds and + ends, which made Jack almost sorry he was leaving the place. + </p> + <p> + Heavy steps, muffled by the thickness of the door, sounded along the outer + passage. + </p> + <p> + “Ready?” whispered Jack. “Here they come. Remember if you miss your first + blow, we’re goners, you and I.” + </p> + <p> + Drummond made no reply, for the steps had come perilously near and he + feared to be heard. Noiselessly he crossed the cell and took up his + position against the wall, just clear of the space that would be covered + by the opening of the door. + </p> + <p> + At the same moment Jack switched off the light, leaving the room black. + Each of the two waiting prisoners could hear the other’s short breathing + through the darkness. + </p> + <p> + On came the shuffling footsteps of the gaoler and lantern-bearer. They had + reached the door of Number One, had paused, had passed on and stopped in + front of Number Two. + </p> + <p> + “Your cell!” whispered Jack, panic-stricken. “And they weren’t due to look + in on you for four days. It’s all up! They’ll discover the cell is empty + and give the—Where are you going, man?” he broke off, as Drummond, + leaving his place near the door, groped his way hurriedly along the wall. + </p> + <p> + “To squeeze my way back and make a fight for it. It’s better than—” + </p> + <p> + “Wait!” + </p> + <p> + Lamont’s hand was on his shoulder, and he whispered a sharp command for + silence. The two attendants had halted in front of Number Two, and while + the lantern-bearer fumbled with the awkward bolt, his companion was + saying: + </p> + <p> + “Hold on! After all, I’ll bring the other his food first, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” remonstrated the lantern-bearer, “the Governor said we were to + bring the Englishman to him at once.” + </p> + <p> + “What if he did? How will he know we stole a half minute to give the + Prince his dinner? If we bring the Englishman upstairs first, the Prince + may have to wait an hour before we can get back with the Englishman.” + </p> + <p> + “Let him wait, then.” + </p> + <p> + “With his pocket full of roubles? Not I. He may decide to give no more of + his gold pieces to a gaoler who lets him go hungry too long.” + </p> + <p> + “I’ve got the door unfastened now and—” + </p> + <p> + “Then fasten it again and come back with me to Number One.” + </p> + <p> + Faint as were the words, deadened by intervening walls, their purport + reached Jack. + </p> + <p> + “Back to your place,” he whispered, “they’re coming!” + </p> + <p> + The rattle of bolts followed close on his words. The great door of Number + One swung ponderously inward. The lantern-bearer, holding his light high + in front of him, entered; then stepped to one side to admit the gaoler, + who came close after, the tray of food in his outstretched hands. + </p> + <p> + Unluckily for the captives’ plan, it was to the side of the cell opposite + to that where Alan crouched that the lantern-bearer had taken his stand. + There was no way of reaching him at a bound. The open door stood between. + Were the gaoler to be attacked first, his fellow-attendant could readily + be out of the cell and half-way up the corridor before Alan might hope to + reach him. + </p> + <p> + The friends had counted on both men entering the room together and + crossing as usual to the table. This change of plan disconcerted them. + Already the gaoler had set down his tray and was turning toward the door. + Alan, helpless, stood impotently in the shadow, biting his blond mustache + with helpless rage. In another second their cherished opportunity would + vanish. And, as the gaoler’s next visit was to be to Number Two, discovery + stared them in the eyes. + </p> + <p> + It was Jack who broke the momentary spell of apathy. He was standing at + the far end of the cell, near the stream. + </p> + <p> + “Here!” he called sharply to the lantern-bearer, “bring your light. My + electric apparatus is out of order, and I’ve mislaid my matches. I want to + fix—” + </p> + <p> + The lantern-bearer, obediently, had advanced into the room. He was + half-way across it while Lamont was still speaking. Then, from the corner + of his eye, he spied Alan crouching in the angle behind the door, now + fully exposed to the rays of the lantern. + </p> + <p> + The man whirled about in alarm just as Alan sprang. In consequence the + Englishman’s mighty fist whizzed past his head, missing it by a full inch. + </p> + <p> + The gaoler, recovering from his amaze, whipped out one of the revolvers he + wore in his belt. But Jack, leaping forward, knocked it from his hand + before he could fire; and, with one hand clapped across the fellow’s + bearded lips, wound his other arm about the stalwart body so as to prevent + for the instant the drawing of the second pistol. + </p> + <p> + Alan’s first blow had missed clean; but his second did not. Following up + his right-hand blow with all a trained boxer’s swift dexterity, he sent a + straight left hander flush on the angle of the light-bearer’s jaw. The man + dropped his lantern and collapsed into a senseless heap on the floor, + while Alan, with no further delay, rushed toward the gaoler. + </p> + <p> + The fall of the lantern extinguished the light. The cell was again plunged + in dense blackness, through which could be heard the panting and scuffing + of the Prince and the gaoler. + </p> + <p> + Barely a second of time had elapsed since first Jack had seized the man, + but that second had sufficed for the latter to summon his great brute + strength and shake off his less gigantic opponent and to draw his pistol. + </p> + <p> + “Quick, Alan!” gasped Jack. “He’s got away from me. He’ll—” + </p> + <p> + Drummond, guided by his friend’s voice, darted forward through the + darkness, caught his foot against the sprawling body of the lantern-bearer + and fell heavily, his arms thrown out in an instinctive gesture of + self-preservation. Even as he lost his balance he heard a sharp click, + directly in front of him. The gaoler had pulled the trigger, and his + pistol—contract-made and out of order, like many of the weapons of + common soldiers in Russia’s frontier posts—had missed fire. + </p> + <p> + To that luckiest of mishaps, the failure of a defective cartridge to + explode, the friends owed their momentary safety. + </p> + <p> + As Alan pitched forward, one of his outing arms struck against an + obstacle. It was a human figure, and from the feel of the leather straps, + which his fingers touched in the impact, he knew it was the gaoler and not + Lamont. + </p> + <p> + Old football tactics coming to memory, Alan clung to the man his arm had + chanced upon, and bore him along to the ground; Jack, who had pressed + forward in the darkness, being carried down as well by the other’s fall. + </p> + <p> + Gaoler, Prince and Englishman thus struggled on the stone floor in one + indistinguishable heap. It was no ordinary combat of two to one, for + neither of the prisoners could say which was the gaoler and which his + friend. The gaoler, troubled by no such doubts, laid about him lustily, + and was only prevented from crying out by the fact that his heavy fur cap + had, in the fall, become jammed down over his face as far as the chin and + could not for the moment be dislodged. + </p> + <p> + He reached for and drew the sword-bayonet that hung at his side (for his + second pistol had become lost in the scrimmage), and thrust blindly about + him. Once, twice his blade met resistance and struck into flesh. + </p> + <p> + “Jack,” panted Alan, “the beast’s stabbing. Get yourself loose and find + the electric light.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Alan’s hand found the gaoler’s throat. He knew it was not + Alan’s from the rough beard that covered it. The gaoler, maddened by the + pressure, stabbed with fresh fury; most of his blows, fortunately, going + wild in the darkness. + </p> + <p> + Alan’s free hand reached for and located the arm that was wielding the + bayonet, and for a moment the two wrestled desperately for its possession. + </p> + <p> + Then a key clicked, and the room was flooded with incandescent light, just + as Alan, releasing his grip on the Russian’s throat, dealt him a short-arm + blow on the chin with all the power of his practiced muscles. The gaoler + relaxed his tense limbs and lay still, while Alan, bleeding and exhausted, + struggled to his feet. + </p> + <p> + “Hot work, eh?” he panted. “Hard position to land a knockout from. But I + caught him just right. He’ll trouble us no more for a few minutes, I + fancy. You’re bleeding! Did he wound you?” + </p> + <p> + “Only a scratch along my check. And you?” + </p> + <p> + “A cut on the wrist and another on the shoulder, I think. Neither of them + bad, thanks to the lack of aim in the dark. Close call, that! Now to tie + them up. Not a movement from either yet.” + </p> + <p> + “You must have come close to killing them with those sledge-hammer blows + of yours!” + </p> + <p> + “It doesn’t much matter,” said the imperturbable pugilist, “they’ll be all + right in half an hour. It’s knowing where to hit. If there are only four + men downstairs, we don’t need to wear the clothes of these beasts. Let us + take only the bunch of keys and the revolvers.” + </p> + <p> + Securing these the two stepped out into the passage, locked and bolted the + door; then Jack, who knew his way, proceeded along the passage to the + stairway, leaped nimbly up the steps, bolted the door leading to the + military quarters, then descended and bolted the bottom door. + </p> + <p> + “Now for the clerk, and then for the Governor.” + </p> + <p> + The clerk’s room connected with the armory, which was reached by passing + through the apartment that held turbine and dynamo, which they found + purring away merrily. + </p> + <p> + Covering the frightened clerk with four revolvers, Jack told him in + Russian that if he made a sound it would be his last. They took him, + opened cell Number Three, which was empty, and thrust him in. + </p> + <p> + Jangling the keys, the two entered the Governor’s room. The ancient man + looked up, but not a muscle of his face changed; even his fishy eyes + showed no signs of emotion or surprise. + </p> + <p> + “Governor,” said Jack with deference, “although you are under the muzzles + of a quartet of revolvers, no harm is intended you. However, you must not + leave your place until you accompany us down to the boat, when I shall + hand the keys over to you, and in cell Number One you will find gaoler and + lantern man a little worse for wear, perhaps, but still in the ring, I + hope. In Number Three your clerk is awaiting you. I go now to release your + prisoners. All communication between yourself and the military is barred. + I leave my friend on guard until I return from the cells. You must not + attempt to summon assistance, or cry out, or move from your chair. My + friend does not understand either Russian or German, so there is no use in + making any appeal to him, and much as I like you personally, and admire + your assiduity in science, our case is so desperate that if you make any + motion whatever, he will be compelled to shoot you dead.” + </p> + <p> + The Governor bowed. + </p> + <p> + “May I continue my writing?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + Jack laughed heartily. + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” and with that he departed to the cells, which he unlocked one + by one, only to find them all empty. + </p> + <p> + Returning, he said to the Governor: + </p> + <p> + “Why did you not tell me that we were your only prisoners?” + </p> + <p> + “I feared,” replied the Governor mildly, “that you might not believe me.” + </p> + <p> + “After all, I don’t know that I should,”, said Jack, holding out his hand, + which the other shook rather unresponsively. + </p> + <p> + “I want to thank you,” the Governor said slowly, “for all you have told me + about electricity. That knowledge I expect to put to many useful purposes + in the future, and the exercise of it will also make the hours drag less + slowly than they did before you came.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that’s all right,” cried Jack with enthusiasm. “I am sure you are + very welcome to what teaching I have been able to give you, and no teacher + could have wished a more apt pupil.” + </p> + <p> + “It pleases me to hear you say that, Highness, although I fear I have been + lax in my duties, and perhaps the knowledge of this place which you have + got through my negligence, has assisted you in making an escape which I + had not thought possible.” + </p> + <p> + Jack laughed good-naturedly. + </p> + <p> + “All’s fair in love and war,” he said. “Imprisonment is a section of war. + I must admit that electricity has been a powerful aid to us. But you + cannot blame yourself, Governor, for you always took every precaution, and + the gaoler was eternally at my heels. You can never pretend that you + trusted me, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “I tried to do my duty,” said the old man mournfully, “and if electricity + has been your helper, it has not been with my sanction. However, there is + one point about electricity which you impressed upon me, which is that + although it goes quickly, there is always a return current.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean by that, Governor?” + </p> + <p> + “Is it not so? It goes by a wire, and returns through the earth. I thought + you told me that.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but I don’t quite see why you mention that feature of the case at + this particular moment.” + </p> + <p> + “I wanted to be sure what I have stated is true. You see, when you are + gone there will be nobody I can ask.” + </p> + <p> + All this time the aged Governor was holding Jack’s hand rather limply. + Drummond showed signs of impatience. + </p> + <p> + “Jack,” he cried at last, “that conversation may be very interesting, but + it’s like smoking on a powder mine. One never knows what may happen. I + shan’t feel safe until we’re well out at sea, and not even then. Get + through with your farewells as soon as possible, and let us be off.” + </p> + <p> + “Right you are, Alan, my boy. Well, Governor, I’m reluctantly compelled to + bid you a final good-by, but here’s wishing you all sorts of luck.” + </p> + <p> + The old man seemed reluctant to part with him, and still clung to his + hand. + </p> + <p> + “I wanted to tell you,” he said, “of another incident, almost as startling + as your coming into this room a while since, that happened six or eight + months ago. As perhaps you know, we keep a Finland fishing-boat down in + the cove below.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes,” said Jack impatiently, drawing away his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Well, six or eight months ago that boat disappeared, and has never been + heard of since. None of our prisoners was missing; none of the garrison + was missing; my three assistants were still here, yet in the night the + boat was taken away.” + </p> + <p> + “Really. How interesting! Never learned the secret, did you?” + </p> + <p> + “Never, but I took precautions, when we got the next boat, that it should + be better guarded, so I have had two men remain upon it night and day.” + </p> + <p> + “Are your two men armed, Governor?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, they are.” + </p> + <p> + “Then they must surrender, or we will be compelled to shoot them. Come + down with us, and advise them to surrender quietly, otherwise, from safe + cover on the stairway, we can pot them in an open boat.” + </p> + <p> + “I will go down with you,” said the Governor, “and do what I can.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course they will obey you.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, they will obey me—if they hear me. I was going to add that + only yesterday did I arrange the electric bell down at the landing, with + instructions to those men to take a telegram which I had written in case + of emergencies, to the mainland, at any moment, night or day, when that + bell rang. Your Highness, the bell rang more than half an hour ago. I have + not been allowed out to see the result.” + </p> + <p> + The placid old man put his hand on the Prince’s shoulder, as if bestowing + a benediction upon him. Drummond, who did not understand the lingo, was + amazed to see Jack fling off the Governor’s grasp, and with what he took + to be a crushing oath in Russian, spring to the door, which he threw open. + He mounted the stone bench which gave him a view of the sea. A boat, with + two sails spread, speeding to the southwest, across the strong westerly + wind, was two miles or more away. + </p> + <p> + “Marooned, by God!” cried the Prince, swinging round and presenting his + pistol at the head of the Governor, who stood there like a statue of + dejection, and made no sign. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX —ARRIVAL OF THE TURBINE YACHT + </h2> + <p> + BEFORE Jack could fire, as perhaps he had intended to do, Drummond struck + down his arm. + </p> + <p> + “None of that, Jack,” he said. “The Russian in you has evidently been + scratched, and the Tartar has come uppermost. The Governor gave a signal, + I suppose?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, he did, and those two have got away while I stood babbling here, + feeling a sympathy for the old villain. That’s his return current, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “He’s not to blame,” said Drummond. “It’s our own fault entirely. The + first thing to have done was to secure that boat.” + </p> + <p> + “And everything worked so beautifully,” moaned Jack, “up to this point, + and one mistake ruins it. We are doomed, Alan.” + </p> + <p> + “It isn’t so bad as that, Jack,” said the Englishman calmly. “Should those + men reach the coast safely, as no doubt they will, it may cost Russia a + bit of trouble to dislodge us.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, hang it all,” cried Jack, “they don’t need to dislodge us. All + they’ve got to do is to stand off and starve us out. They are not + compelled to fire a gun or land a man.” + </p> + <p> + “They’ll have to starve their own men first. It’s not likely we’re going + to go hungry and feed our prisoners.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, we don’t mind a little thing like that, we Russians. They may send + help, or they may not. Probably a cruiser will come within hailing + distance and try to find out what the trouble is. Then it will lie off and + wait till everybody’s dead, and after that put in a new Governor and + another garrison.” + </p> + <p> + “You take too pessimistic a view, Jack. This isn’t the season of the year + for a cruiser to lie off in the Baltic. Winter is coming on. Most of the + harbors in Finland will be ice-closed in a month, and there’s no shelter + hereabouts in a storm. They’ll attack; probably open shell fire on us for + a while, then attempt to land a storming party. That will be fun for us if + you’ve got good rifles and plenty of ammunition.” + </p> + <p> + Jack raised his head. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, we’re well-equipped,” he said, “if we only have enough to eat.” + </p> + <p> + Springing to his feet, all dejection gone, he said to the Governor: + </p> + <p> + “Now, my friend, we’re compelled to put you into a cell. I’m sorry to do + this, but there is no other course open. Where is your larder, and what + quantity of provisions have you in stock?” + </p> + <p> + A gloomy smile added to the dejection of the old man’s countenance. + </p> + <p> + “You must find that out for yourself,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Are the soldiers upstairs well supplied with food?” + </p> + <p> + “I will not answer any of your questions.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, very well. I see you are determined to go hungry yourself. Until I am + satisfied that there is more than sufficient for my friend and me, no + prisoner in my charge gets anything to eat. That’s the sort of gaoler I + am. The stubborn old beast!” he cried in English, turning to Drummond, + “won’t answer my questions.” + </p> + <p> + “What were you asking him?” + </p> + <p> + “I want to know about the stock of provisions.” + </p> + <p> + “It’s quite unnecessary to ask about the grub: there’s sure to be ample.” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” + </p> + <p> + “Why? Because we have reached the beginning of winter, as I said before. + There must be months when no boat can land at this rock. It’s bound to be + provisioned for several months ahead at the very lowest calculation. Now, + the first thing to do is to put this ancient Johnny in his little cell, + then I’ll tell you where our chief danger lies.” + </p> + <p> + The Governor made neither protest nor complaint, but walked into Number + Nine, and was locked up. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Johnny, my boy,” said Drummond, “our anxiety is the soldiers. The + moment they find they are locked in they will blow those two doors open in + just about half a jiffy. We can, of course, by sitting in front of the + lower door night and day, pick off the first four or five who come down, + but if the rest make a rush we are bound to be overpowered. They have, + presumably, plenty of powder, probably some live shells, petards, and + what-not, that will make short work even of those oaken doors. What do you + propose to do?” + </p> + <p> + “I propose,” said Jack, “to fill their crooked stairway with cement. There + are bags and bags of it in the armory.” + </p> + <p> + The necessity for this was prevented by an odd circumstance. The two young + men were seated in the Governor’s room, when at his table a telephone bell + rang. Jack had not noticed this instrument, and now took up the receiver. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Governor,” said a voice, “your fool of a gaoler has bolted the + stairway door, and we can’t open it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I beg pardon,” replied Jack, in whatever imitation of the Governor’s + voice he could assume. “I’ll see to it at once myself.” + </p> + <p> + He hung up the receiver and told his comrade what had happened. + </p> + <p> + “One or both of these officers are coming down. If we get the officers + safely into a cell, there will be nobody to command the men, and it is + more than likely that the officers carry the keys of the powder room. I’ll + turn out the electric lamps in the hall, and light the lantern. You be + ready at the foot of the stairway to fire if they make the slightest + resistance.” + </p> + <p> + The two officers came down the circular stairway, grumbling at the delay + to which they had been put. Lermontoff took advantage of the clamping of + their heavy boots in the echoing stairway to shove in the bolts once more, + and then followed them, himself followed by Drummond, into the Governor’s + room. Switching on the electric light, he said: + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen, I am Prince Lermontoff, in temporary charge of this prison. + The Governor is under arrest, and I regret that I must demand your swords, + although I have every reason to believe that they will be handed back to + you within a very few days after I have completed my investigations.” + </p> + <p> + The officers were too much accustomed to sudden changes in command to see + anything odd in this turn of affairs. Lermontoff spoke with a quiet + dignity that was very convincing, and the language he used was that of the + nobility. The two officers handed him their swords without a word of + protest. + </p> + <p> + “I must ask you whether you have yet received your winter supply of food.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes,” said the senior officer, “we had that nearly a month ago.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it stored in the military portion of the rock, or below here?” + </p> + <p> + “Our rations are packed away in a room upstairs.” + </p> + <p> + “I am sorry, gentlemen, that I must put you into cells until my mission is + accomplished. If you will write a requisition for such rations as you are + accustomed to receive, I shall see that you are supplied. Meanwhile, write + also an order to whomsoever you entrust in command of the men during your + absence, to grant no one leave to come downstairs, and ask him to take + care that each soldier is rigidly restricted to the minimum quantity of + vodka.” + </p> + <p> + The senior officer sat down at the table, and wrote the two orders. The + men were then placed in adjoining cells, without the thought of resistance + even occurring to them. They supposed there had been some changes at + headquarters, and were rather relieved to have the assurance of the Prince + that their arrest would prove temporary. Further investigation showed that + there would be no danger of starvation for six months at least. + </p> + <p> + Next day Jack, at great risk of his neck, scaled to the apex of the + island, as he had thought of flying, if possible, a signal of distress + that might attract some passing vessel. But even though he reached the + sharp ridge, he saw at once that no pole could be erected there, not even + if he possessed one. The wind aloft was terrific, and he gazed around him + at an empty sea. + </p> + <p> + When four days had passed they began to look for the Russian relief boat, + which they knew would set out the moment the Governor’s telegram reached + St. Petersburg. + </p> + <p> + On the fifth day Jack shouted down to Drummond, who was standing by the + door. + </p> + <p> + “The Russian is coming: heading direct for us. She’s in a hurry, too, + crowding on all steam, and eating up the distance like a torpedo-boat + destroyer. I think it’s a cruiser. It’s not the old tub I came on, + anyway.” + </p> + <p> + “Come down, then,” answered Alan, “and we—” + </p> + <p> + A cry from above interrupted him. Jack, having at first glance spied the + vessel whose description he had shouted to Drummond, had now turned his + eyes eastward and stood staring aghast toward the sunrise. + </p> + <p> + “What’s the matter?” asked Alan. + </p> + <p> + “Matter?” echoed Jack. “They must be sending the whole Russian Navy here + in detachments to capture our unworthy selves. There’s a second boat + coming from the east—nearer by two miles than the yacht. If I hadn’t + been all taken up with the other from the moment I climbed here I’d have + seen her before.” + </p> + <p> + “Is she a yacht, too?” + </p> + <p> + “No. Looks like a passenger tramp. Dirty and—” + </p> + <p> + “Merchantman, maybe.” + </p> + <p> + “No. She’s got guns on her—” + </p> + <p> + “Merchantman fitted out for privateersman, probably. That’s the sort of + craft Russia would be likeliest to send to a secret prison like this. What + flag does—” + </p> + <p> + “No flag at all. Neither of them. They’re both making for the rock, full + steam, and from opposite sides. Neither can see the other, I suppose. I—” + </p> + <p> + “From opposite sides? That doesn’t look like a joint expedition. One of + those ships isn’t Russian. But which?” + </p> + <p> + Jack had clambered down and stood by Alan’s side. + </p> + <p> + “We must make ready for defense in either case,” he said. “In a few + minutes we’ll be able to see them both from the platform below.” + </p> + <p> + “One of those boats means to blow us out of existence if it can,” mused + Jack. “The other cannot know of our existence. And yet, if she doesn’t, + what is she doing here, headed for the rock?” + </p> + <p> + With that Jack scrambled, slid and jumped down. Drummond was very quiet + and serious. Repeating rifles stood in a row on the opposite wall, easy to + get at, but as far off as might be from the effects of a possible shell. + The two young men now mounted the stone bench by the door, which allowed + them to look over the ledge at the eastern sea. Presently the craft + appeared round the end of the island, pure white, floating like a swan on + the water, and making great headway. + </p> + <p> + “By Jove!” said Jack, “she’s a fine one. Looks like the Czar’s yacht, but + no Russian vessel I know of can make that speed.” + </p> + <p> + “She’s got the ear-marks of Thornycroft build about her,” commented + Drummond. “By Jove, Jack, what luck if she should prove to be English. No + flag flying, though.” + </p> + <p> + “She’s heading for us,” said Jack, “and apparently she knows which side + the cannon is on. If she’s Russian, they’ve taken it for granted we’ve + captured the whole place, and are in command of the guns. There, she’s + turning.” + </p> + <p> + The steamer was abreast of the rock, and perhaps three miles distant. Now + she swept a long, graceful curve westward and drew up about half a mile + east of the rock. + </p> + <p> + “Jove, I wish I’d a pair of good glasses,” said Drummond. “They’re + lowering a boat.” + </p> + <p> + Jack showed more Highland excitement than Russian stolidity, as he watched + the oncoming of a small boat, beautifully riding the waves, and + masterfully rowed by sailors who understood the art. Drummond stood + imperturbable as a statue. + </p> + <p> + “The sweep of those oars is English, Jack, my boy.” + </p> + <p> + As the boat came nearer and nearer Jack became more and more agitated. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Alan, focus your eyes on that man at the rudder. I think my + sight’s failing me. Look closely. Did you ever see him before?” + </p> + <p> + “I think I have, but am not quite sure.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, he looks to me like my jovial and venerable father-in-law, Captain + Kempt, of Bar Harbor. Perfectly absurd, of course: it can’t be.” + </p> + <p> + “He does resemble the Captain, but I only saw him once or twice.” + </p> + <p> + “Hooray, Captain Kempt, how are you?” shouted Jack across the waters. + </p> + <p> + The Captain raised his right hand and waved it, but made no attempt to + cover the distance with his voice. Jack ran pell-mell down the steps, and + Drummond followed in more leisurely fashion. The boat swung round to the + landing, and Captain Kempt cried cordially: + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Prince, how are you? And that’s Lieutenant Drummond, isn’t it? + Last time I had the pleasure of seeing you, Drummond, was that night of + the ball.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Drummond. “I was very glad to see you then, but a hundred + times happier to see you to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “I was just cruising round these waters in my yacht, and I thought I’d + take a look at this rock you tried to obliterate. I don’t see any + perceptible damage done, but what can you expect from British + marksmanship?” + </p> + <p> + “I struck the rock on the other side, Captain. I think your remark is + unkind, especially as I’ve just been praising the watermanship of your + men.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, are you boys tired of this summer resort?” asked Captain Kempt. “Is + your baggage checked, and are you ready to go? Most seaside places are + deserted this time of year.” + </p> + <p> + “We’ll be ready in a moment, captain,” cried his future son-in-law. “I + must run up and get the Governor. We’ve put a number of men in prison + here, and they’ll starve if not released. The Governor’s a good old chap, + though he played it low down on me a few days ago,” and with that Jack + disappeared up the stairway once more. + </p> + <p> + “Had a gaol-delivery here?” asked the Captain. + </p> + <p> + “Well, something by way of that. The Prince drilled a hole in the rock, + and we got out. We’ve put the garrison in pawn, so to speak, but I’ve been + mighty anxious these last few days because the sail-boat they had here, + and two of the garrison, escaped to the mainland with the news. We were + anxiously watching your yacht, fearing it was Russian. Jack thought it was + the Czar’s yacht. How came you by such a craft, Captain? Splendid-looking + boat that.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, I bought her a few days before I left New York. One likes to + travel comfortably, you know. Very well fitted up she is.” + </p> + <p> + Jack shouted from the doorway: + </p> + <p> + “Drummond, come up here and fling overboard these loaded rifles. We can’t + take any more chances. I’m going to lock up the ammunition room and take + the key with me as a souvenir.” + </p> + <p> + “Excuse me, Captain,” said Drummond, who followed his friend, and + presently bundles of rifles came clattering down the side of the + precipice, plunging into the sea. The two then descended the steps, Jack + in front, Drummond following with the Governor between them. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Governor,” said Jack, “for the second time I am to bid you farewell. + Here are the keys. If you accept them you must give me your word of honor + that the boat will not be fired upon. If you do not promise that, I’ll + drop the bunch into the sea, and on your gray head be the consequences.” + </p> + <p> + “I give you my word of honor that you shall not be fired upon.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Governor. Here are the keys, and good-by.” + </p> + <p> + In the flurry of excitement over the yacht’s appearance, both Jack and + Drummond had temporarily forgotten the existence of the tramp steamer the + former had seen beating toward the rock. + </p> + <p> + Now Lamont suddenly recalled it. + </p> + <p> + “By the way, Governor,” he said, “the relief boat you so thoughtfully sent + for is on her way here. She should reach the rock at almost any minute + now. In fact, I fancy we’ve little time to waste if we want to avoid a + brush. It would be a pity to be nabbed now at the eleventh hour. Good-by, + once more.” + </p> + <p> + But the Governor had stepped between him and the boat. + </p> + <p> + “I—I am an old man,” he said, speaking with manifest embarrassment. + “I was sent to take charge of this prison as punishment for refusing to + join a Jew massacre plot. Governorship here means no more nor less than a + life imprisonment. My wife and children are on a little estate of mine in + Sweden. It is twelve years since I have seen them. I—” + </p> + <p> + “If this story is a ruse to detain us—” + </p> + <p> + “No! No!” protested the Governor, and there was no mistaking his pathetic, + eager sincerity. “But—but I shall be shot—or locked in one of + the cells and the water turned on—for letting you escape. Won’t you + take me with you? I will work my passage. Take me as far as Stockholm. I + shall be free there—free to join my wife and to live forever out of + reach of the Grand Dukes. Take me—” + </p> + <p> + “Jump in!” ordered Jack, coming to a sudden resolution. “Heaven knows I + would not condemn my worst enemy to a perpetual life on this rock. And + you’ve been pretty decent to us, according to your lights. Jump aboard, + we’ve no time to waste.” + </p> + <p> + Nor did the Governor waste time in obeying. The others followed, and the + boat shoved off. But scarcely had the oars caught the water when around + the promontory came a large man-o’-war’s launch, a rapid-fire gun mounted + on her bows. She was manned by about twenty men in Russian police uniform. + </p> + <p> + “From the ‘tramp,’” commented Alan excitedly. “And her gun is trained on + us.” + </p> + <p> + “Get down to work!” shouted Jack to the straining oarsmen. + </p> + <p> + “No use!” groaned Kempt. “She’ll cross within a hundred yards of us. + There’s no missing at such close range and on such a quiet sea. What a + fool I was to—” + </p> + <p> + The launch was, indeed, bearing down on them despite the rowers’ best + efforts, and must unquestionably cut them off before they could reach the + yacht. + </p> + <p> + Alan drew his revolver. + </p> + <p> + “We’ve no earthly show against her,” he remarked quietly, “and it seems + hard to ‘go down in sight of port.’ But let’s do what we can.” + </p> + <p> + “Put up that pop-gun,” ordered Kempt. “She will sink us long before you’re + in range for revolver work. I’ll run up my handkerchief for a white flag.” + </p> + <p> + “To surrender?” + </p> + <p> + “What else can we do?” + </p> + <p> + “And he lugged back to the rock, all of us? Not I, for one!” + </p> + <p> + The launch was now within hailing distance, and every man aboard her was + glaring at the helpless little yacht-gig. + </p> + <p> + “Wait!” + </p> + <p> + It was the Governor who spoke. Rising from his seat in the stern, he + hailed the officer who was sighting the rapid-fire gun. + </p> + <p> + “Lieutenant Tschersky!” he called. + </p> + <p> + At sight of the old man’s lean, uniformed figure, rising from among the + rest, there was visible excitement and surprise aboard the launch. The + officer saluted and ordered the engine stopped that he might hear more + plainly. + </p> + <p> + “Lieutenant,” repeated the Governor, “I am summoned aboard His Highness + the Grand Duke Vladimir’s yacht. You will proceed to the harbor and await + my return to the rock. There has been a mutiny among the garrison, but I + have quelled it.” + </p> + <p> + The officer saluted again, gave an order, and the launch’s nose pointed + for the rock. + </p> + <p> + “Governor,” observed Lamont, as the old man sank again into his seat, + “you’ve earned your passage to Stockholm. You need not work for it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI —THE ELOPEMENT + </h2> + <p> + THE girls on the yacht had no expectation that Captain Kempt would come + back with the two young men. But when, through their powerful binoculars, + the girls became aware that Drummond and the Prince were in the small + boat, they both fled to the chief saloon, and sat there holding one + another’s hands. Even the exuberant Kate for once had nothing to say. She + heard the voice of her father on deck, giving command to the mate. + </p> + <p> + “Make for Stockholm, Johnson. Take my men-o’-war’s men—see that no + one else touches the ammunition—and fling the shells overboard. + Heave the gun after them, and then clear out the rifles and ammunition the + same way. When we reach Stockholm to-morrow morning, there must not be a + gun on board this ship, and the ridiculous rumor that got abroad among + your men that we were going to attack something or other, you will see is + entirely unfounded. You impress that on them, Johnson.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy,” whispered Katherine, drawing a deep breath. “If you are as + frightened as I am, get behind me.” + </p> + <p> + “I think I will,” answered Dorothy, and each squeezed the other’s hand. + </p> + <p> + “I tell you what it is, Captain,” sounded the confident voice of the + Prince. “This vessel is a beauty. You have done yourself fine. I had no + idea you were such a sybarite. Why, I’ve been aboard the Czar’s yacht, and + I tell you it’s nothing—Great heavens! Katherine!” he shouted, in a + voice that made the ceiling ring. + </p> + <p> + She was now standing up and advanced toward him with both hands held out, + a welcoming smile on her pretty lips, but he swooped down on her, flung + his arms round her like a cabman beating warmth into his hands, kissed her + on the brow, the two cheeks and the lips, swaying her back and forward as + if about to fling her upstairs. + </p> + <p> + “Stop, stop,” she cried. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Before my + father, too! You great Russian bear!” and, breathless, she put her open + palm against his face, and shoved his head away from her. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t bother about me, Kate,” said her father. “That’s nothing to the way + we acted when I was young. Come on, boys, to the smoking-room, and I’ll + mix you something good: real Kentucky, twenty-seven years in barrel, and + I’ve got all the other materials for a Manhattan.” + </p> + <p> + “Jack, I am glad to see you,” panted Katherine, all in disarray, which she + endeavored to set right by an agitated touch here and there. “Now, Jack, + I’m going to take you to the smoking-room, but you’ll have to behave + yourself as you walk along the deck. I won’t be made a spectacle of before + the crew.” + </p> + <p> + “Come along, Drummond,” said the Captain, “and bring Miss Dorothy with + you.” + </p> + <p> + But Drummond stood in front of Dorothy Amhurst, and held out his hand. + </p> + <p> + “You haven’t forgotten me, Miss Amhurst, I hope?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no,” she replied, with a very faint smile, taking his hand. + </p> + <p> + “It seems incredible that you are here,” he began. “What a lucky man I am. + Captain Kempt takes his yacht to rescue his son-in-law that is to be, and + incidentally rescues me as well, and then to find you here! I suppose you + came because your friend Miss Kempt was aboard?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, we are all but inseparable.” + </p> + <p> + “I wrote you a letter, Miss Amhurst, the last night I was in St. + Petersburg in the summer.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I received it.” + </p> + <p> + “No, not this one. It was the night I was captured, and I never got a + chance to post it. It was an important letter—for me.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought it important—for me,” replied Dorothy, now smiling quite + openly. “The Nihilists got it, searching your room after you had been + arrested. It was sent on to New York, and given to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that possible? How did they know it was for you?” + </p> + <p> + “I had been making inquiries through the Nihilists.” + </p> + <p> + “I wrote you a proposal of marriage, Dorothy.” + </p> + <p> + “It certainly read like it, but you see it wasn’t signed, and you can’t be + held to it.” + </p> + <p> + He reached across the table, and grasped her two hands. + </p> + <p> + “Dorothy, Dorothy,” he cried, “do you mean you would have cabled ‘Yes’?” + </p> + <p> + “No.” + </p> + <p> + “You would not?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course not. I should have cabled ‘Undecided.’ One gets more for one’s + money in sending a long word. Then I should have written—” she + paused, and he cried eagerly: + </p> + <p> + “What?” + </p> + <p> + “What do you think?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “Well, do you know, Dorothy, I am beginning to think my incredible luck + will hold, and that you’d have written ‘Yes.’” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know about the luck: that would have been the answer.” + </p> + <p> + He sprang up, bent over her, and she, quite unaffectedly raised her face + to his. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dorothy,” he cried. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Alan,” she replied, with quivering voice, “I never thought to see you + again. You cannot imagine the long agony of this voyage, and not knowing + what had happened.” + </p> + <p> + “It’s a blessing, Dorothy, you had learned nothing about the + Trogzmondoff.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but I did: that’s what frightened me. We have a man on board who was + flung for dead from that dreadful rock. The Baltic saved him; his mother, + he calls it.” + </p> + <p> + Drummond picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the luxurious divan + which ran along the side of the large room. There they sat down together, + out of sight of the stairway. + </p> + <p> + “Did you get all of my letters?” + </p> + <p> + “I think so.” + </p> + <p> + “You know I am a poor man?” + </p> + <p> + “I know you said so.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t you consider my position poverty? I thought every one over there + had a contempt for an income that didn’t run into tens of thousands.” + </p> + <p> + “I told you, Alan, I had been unused to money, and so your income appears + to me quite sufficient.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you are not afraid to trust in my future?” + </p> + <p> + “Not the least: I believe in you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you dear girl. If you knew how sweet that sounds! Then I may tell + you. When I was in London last I ran down to Dartmouth in Devonshire. I + shall be stationed there. You see, I have finished my foreign cruising, + and Dartmouth is, for a time at least, to be my home. There’s a fine + harbor there, green hills and a beautiful river running between them, and + I found such a lovely old house; not grand at all, you know, but so cosey + and comfortable, standing on the heights overlooking the harbor, in an old + garden filled with roses, shrubs, and every kind of flower; vines + clambering about the ancient house. Two servants would keep it going like + a shot. Dorothy, what do you say?” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy laughed quietly and whole heartedly. + </p> + <p> + “It reads like a bit from an old English romance. I’d just love to see + such a house.” + </p> + <p> + “You don’t care for this sort of thing, do you?” he asked, glancing round + about him. + </p> + <p> + “What sort of thing?” + </p> + <p> + “This yacht, these silk panelling, these gorgeous pictures, the carving, + the gilt, the horribly expensive carpet.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean should I feel it necessary to be surrounded by such luxury? I + answer most emphatically, no. I like your ivy-covered house at Dartmouth + much better.” + </p> + <p> + For a moment neither said anything: lips cannot speak when pressed + together. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Dorothy, I want you to elope with me. We will be in Stockholm long + before daylight to-morrow at the rate this boat is going. I’ll get ashore + as soon as practicable, and make all inquiries at the consulate about + being married. I don’t know what the regulations are, but if it is + possible to be married quietly, say in the afternoon, will you consent to + that, and then write a letter to Captain Kempt, thanking him for the trip + on the yacht, and I’ll write, thanking him for all he has done for me, and + after that we’ll make for England together. I’ve got a letter of credit in + my pocket, which luckily the Russians did not take from me. I shall find + all the money we need at Stockholm, then we’ll cross the Swedish country, + sail to Denmark, make our way through Germany to Paris, if you like, or to + London. We shan’t travel all the time, but just take nice little day + trips, stopping at some quaint old town every afternoon and evening.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean to let Captain Kempt, Katherine, and the Prince go to America + alone?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course. Why not? They don’t want us, and I’m quite sure we—well, + Dorothy, we’d be delighted to have them, to be sure—but still, I’ve + knocked a good deal about Europe, and there are some delightful old towns + I’d like to show you, and I hate traveling with a party.” + </p> + <p> + Dorothy laughed so heartily that her head sank on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I’ll do that,” she said at last. + </p> + <p> + And they did. + </p> + <p> + THE END + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + +***** This file should be named 4982-h.htm or 4982-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/9/8/4982/ + +Produced by Jim Weiler and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at + www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” + or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +“Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email +contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the +Foundation’s web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/4982.txt b/4982.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4931171 --- /dev/null +++ b/4982.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7702 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr + +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: A Rock in the Baltic + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4982] +Last Updated: August 22, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + + + + +Produced by Jim Weiler + + + + + + +A ROCK IN THE BALTIC + +By Robert Barr, + +1906 + + + + +CHAPTER I --THE INCIDENT AT THE BANK + +IN the public room of the Sixth National Bank at Bar Harbor in Maine, +Lieutenant Alan Drummond, H.M.S. "Consternation," stood aside to give +precedence to a lady. The Lieutenant had visited the bank for the +purpose of changing several crisp white Bank of England notes into the +currency of the country he was then visiting. The lady did not appear +to notice either his courtesy or his presence, and this was the more +remarkable since Drummond was a young man sufficiently conspicuous even +in a crowd, and he and she were, at that moment, the only customers in +the bank. He was tall, well-knit and stalwart, blond as a Scandinavian, +with dark blue eyes which he sometimes said jocularly were the colors of +his university. He had been slowly approaching the cashier's window with +the easy movement of a man never in a hurry, when the girl appeared at +the door, and advanced rapidly to the bank counter with its brass wire +screen surrounding the arched aperture behind which stood the cashier. +Although very plainly attired, her gown nevertheless possessed a charm +of simplicity that almost suggested complex Paris, and she wore it +with that air of distinction the secret of which is supposed to be the +exclusive property of French and American women. + +The young man saw nothing of this, and although he appreciated the +beauty of the girl, what struck him at that instant was the expression +of anxiety on her face, whose apparently temporary pallor was +accentuated by an abundance of dark hair. It seemed to him that she had +resolutely set herself a task which she was most reluctant to perform. +From the moment she entered the door her large, dark eyes were fixed +almost appealingly on the cashier, and they beheld nothing else. +Drummond, mentally slow as he usually was, came to the quick conclusion +that this was a supreme moment in her life, on which perhaps great +issues depended. He saw her left hand grasp the corner of the ledge in +front of the cashier with a grip of nervous tension, as if the support +thus attained was necessary to her. Her right hand trembled slightly as +she passed an oblong slip of paper through the aperture to the calm and +indifferent official. + +"Will you give me the money for this check?" she asked in a low voice. + +The cashier scrutinized the document for some time in silence. The +signature appeared unfamiliar to him. + +"One moment, madam," he said quietly, and retired to a desk in the back +part of the bank, where he opened a huge book, turned over some leaves +rapidly, and ran his finger down a page. His dilatory action seemed to +increase the young woman's panic. Her pallor increased, and she swayed +slightly, as if in danger of falling, but brought her right hand to the +assistance of the left, and so steadied herself against the ledge of the +cashier's counter. + +"By Jove!" said the Lieutenant to himself, "there's something wrong +here. I wonder what it is. Such a pretty girl, too!" + +The cashier behind his screen saw nothing of this play of the emotions. +He returned nonchalantly to his station, and asked, in commonplace +tones: + +"How will you have the money, madam?" + +"Gold, if you please," she replied almost in a whisper, a rosy flush +chasing the whiteness from her face, while a deep sigh marked the +passing of a crisis. + +At this juncture an extraordinary thing happened. The cashier counted +out some golden coins, and passed them through the aperture toward their +new owner. + +"Thank you," said the girl. Then, without touching the money, she turned +like one hypnotized, her unseeing eyes still taking no heed of the big +Lieutenant, and passed rapidly out of the bank, The cashier paid +no regard to this abandonment of treasure. He was writing some +hieroglyphics on the cashed check. + +"By Jove!" gasped the Lieutenant aloud, springing forward as he spoke, +sweeping the coins into his hand, and bolting for the door. This was an +action which would have awakened the most negligent cashier had he been +in a trance. Automatically he whisked out a revolver which lay in an +open drawer under his hand. + +"Stop, you scoundrel, or I fire!" he shouted, but the Lieutenant had +already disappeared. Quick as thought the cashier darted into the +passage, and without waiting to unfasten the low door which separated +the public and private rooms of the bank, leaped over it, and, +bareheaded, gave chase. A British naval officer in uniform, rapidly +overtaking a young woman, quite unconscious of his approach, followed +by an excited, bareheaded man with a revolver in his grasp, was a sight +which would quickly have collected a crowd almost anywhere, but it +happened to be the lunch hour, and the inhabitants of that famous summer +resort were in-doors; thus, fortunately, the street was deserted. The +naval officer was there because the hour of the midday meal on board the +cruiser did not coincide with lunch time on shore. The girl was there +because it happened to be the only portion of the day when she could +withdraw unobserved from the house in which she lived, during banking +hours, to try her little agitating financial experiment. The cashier +was there because the bank had no lunch hour, and because he had just +witnessed the most suspicious circumstance that his constantly alert eye +had ever beheld. Calm and imperturbable as a bank cashier may appear to +the outside public, he is a man under constant strain during business +hours. Each person with whom he is unacquainted that confronts him at +his post is a possible robber who at any moment may attempt, either by +violence or chicanery, to filch the treasure he guards. The happening +of any event outside the usual routine at once arouses a cashier's +distrust, and this sudden flight of a stranger with money which did not +belong to him quite justified the perturbation of the cashier. From +that point onward, innocence of conduct or explanation so explicit as to +satisfy any ordinary man, becomes evidence of more subtle guilt to the +mind of a bank official. The ordinary citizen, seeing the Lieutenant +finally overtake and accost the hurrying girl, raise his cap, then pour +into her outstretched hand the gold he had taken, would have known at +once that here was an every-day exercise of natural politeness. Not so +the cashier. The farther he got from the bank, the more poignantly did +he realize that these two in front, both strangers to him, had, by their +combined action, lured him, pistol and all, away from his post during +the dullest hour of the day. It was not the decamping with those few +pieces of gold which now troubled him: it was fear of what might +be going on behind him. He was positive that these two had acted in +conjunction. The uniform worn by the man did not impose upon him. Any +thief could easily come by a uniform, and, as his mind glanced rapidly +backwards over the various points of the scheme, he saw how effectual +the plan was: first, the incredible remissness of the woman in leaving +her gold on the counter; second, the impetuous disappearance of the +man with the money; and, third, his own heedless plunge into the street +after them. He saw the whole plot in a flash: he had literally leaped +into the trap, and during his five or ten minutes' absence, the +accomplices of the pair might have overawed the unarmed clerks, and +walked off with the treasure. His cash drawer was unlocked, and even the +big safe stood wide open. Surprise had as effectually lured him away as +if he had been a country bumpkin. Bitterly and breathlessly did he curse +his own precipitancy. His duty was to guard the bank, yet it had not +been the bank that was robbed, but, at best a careless woman who had +failed to pick up her money. He held the check for it, and the loss, if +any, was hers, not the bank's, yet here he was, running bareheaded down +the street like a fool, and now those two stood quite calmly together, +he handing her the money, and thus spreading a mantle of innocence over +the vile trick. But whatever was happening in the bank, he would secure +two of the culprits at least. The two, quite oblivious of the danger +that threatened them, were somewhat startled by a panting man, trembling +with rage, bareheaded, and flourishing a deadly weapon, sweeping down +upon them. + +"Come back to the bank instantly, you two!" he shouted. + +"Why?" asked the Lieutenant in a quiet voice. + +"Because I say so, for one thing." + +"That reason is unanswerable," replied the Lieutenant with a slight +laugh, which further exasperated his opponent. "I think you are exciting +yourself unnecessarily. May I beg you to put that pistol in your pocket? +On the cruiser we always cover up the guns when ladies honor us with +their presence. You wish me to return because I had no authority for +taking the money? Right: come along." + +The cashier regarded this as bluff, and an attempt to give the woman +opportunity to escape. + +"You must come back also," he said to the girl. + +"I'd rather not," she pleaded in a low voice, and it was hardly possible +to have made a more injudicious remark if she had taken the whole +afternoon to prepare. + +Renewed determination shone from the face of the cashier. + +"You must come back to the bank," he reiterated. + +"Oh, I say," protested the Lieutenant, "you are now exceeding your +authority. I alone am the culprit. The young lady is quite blameless, +and you have no right to detain her for a moment." + +The girl, who had been edging away and showing signs of flight, which +the bareheaded man, visibly on the alert, leaned forward ready to +intercept, seemed to make up her mind to bow to the inevitable. Ignoring +the cashier, she looked up at the blond Lieutenant with a slight smile +on her pretty lips. + +"It was really all my fault at the beginning," she said, "and very +stupid of me. I am slightly acquainted with the bank manager, and I am +sure he will vouch for me, if he is there." + +With that she turned and walked briskly toward the bank, at so rapid +a pace as to indicate that she did not wish an escort. The bareheaded +official found his anger unaccountably deserting him, while a great fear +that he had put his foot in it took its place. + +"Really," said the Lieutenant gently, as they strode along together, "an +official in your position should be a good judge of human nature. How +any sane person, especially a young man, can look at that beautiful girl +and suspect her of evil, passes my comprehension. Do you know her?" + +"No," said the cashier shortly. "Do you?" + +The Lieutenant laughed genially. + +"Still suspicious, eh?" he asked. "No, I don't know her, but to use a +banking term, you may bet your bottom dollar I'm going to. Indeed, I am +rather grateful to you for your stubbornness in forcing us to return. +It's a quality I like, and you possess it in marvelous development, so +I intend to stand by you when the managerial censure is due. I'm very +certain I met your manager at the dinner they gave us last night. Mr. +Morton, isn't he?" + +"Yes," growled the cashier, in gruff despondency. + +"Ah, that's awfully jolly. One of the finest fellows I've met in ten +years. Now, the lady said she was acquainted with him, so if I don't +wheedle an introduction out of him, it will show that a man at a dinner +and a man in a bank are two different individuals. You were looking +for plots; so there is mine laid bare to you. It's an introduction, not +gold, I'm conspiring for." + +The cashier had nothing further to say. When they entered the bank +together he saw the clerks all busily at work, and knew that no +startling event had happened during his absence. The girl had gone +direct to the manager's room, and thither the young men followed her. +The bank manager was standing at his desk, trying to preserve a severe +financial cast of countenance, which the twinkle in his eyes belied. +The girl, also standing, had evidently been giving him a rapid sketch of +what had occurred, but now fell into silence when accuser and accomplice +appeared. + +The advent of the Englishman was a godsend to the manager. He was too +courteous a gentleman to laugh in the face of a lady who very seriously +was relating a set of incidents which appealed to his sense of humor, +so the coming of the Lieutenant enabled him to switch off his mirth on +another subject, and in reply to the officer's cordial "Good-morning, +Mr. Morton," he replied: + +"Why, Lieutenant, I'm delighted to see you. That was a very jolly song +you sang for us last night: I'll never forget it. What do you call it? +Whittington Fair?" And he laughed outright, as at a genial recollection. + +The Lieutenant blushed red as a girl, and stammered: + +"Really, Mr. Morton, you know, that's not according to the rules of +evidence. When a fellow comes up for trial, previous convictions are +never allowed to be mentioned till after the sentence. Whiddicomb Fair +should not be held against me in the present crisis." + +The manager chuckled gleefully. The cashier, when he saw how the land +lay, had quietly withdrawn, closing the door behind him. + +"Well, Lieutenant, I think I must have this incident cabled to Europe," +said Morton, "so the effete nations of your continent may know that a +plain bank cashier isn't afraid to tackle the British navy. Indeed, Mr. +Drummond, if you read history, you will learn that this is a dangerous +coast for your warships. It seems rather inhospitable that a guest of +our town cannot pick all the gold he wants out of a bank, but a cashier +has necessarily somewhat narrow views on the subject. I was just about +to apologize to Miss Amhurst, who is a valued client of ours, when you +came in, and I hope, Miss Amhurst"--he continued gravely, turning to the +girl--"that you will excuse us for the inconvenience to which you have +been put." + +"Oh, it does not matter in the least," replied the young woman, with +nevertheless a sigh of relief. "It was all my own fault in so carelessly +leaving the money. Some time, when less in a hurry than I am at the +present moment, I will tell you how I came to make the blunder." + +Meanwhile the manager caught and interpreted correctly an imploring look +from the Lieutenant. + +"Before you go, Miss Amhurst, will you permit me to introduce to you my +friend, Lieutenant Drummond, of H.M.S. 'Consternation.'" + +This ritual to convention being performed, the expression on the girl's +face showed the renewal of her anxiety to be gone, and as she turned +to the door, the officer sprang forward and opened it for her. If the +manager expected the young man to return, he was disappointed, for +Drummond threw over his shoulder the hasty remark: + +"I will see you at the Club this evening," whereupon the genial Morton, +finding himself deserted, sat down in his swivel chair and laughed +quietly to himself. + +There was the slightest possible shade of annoyance on the girl's face +as the sailor walked beside her from the door of the manager's room, +through the public portion of the bank to the exit, and the young +man noticing this, became momentarily tongue-tied, but nevertheless +persisted, with a certain awkward doggedness which was not going to +allow so slight a hint that his further attendance was unnecessary, to +baffle him. He did not speak until they had passed down the stone steps +to the pavement, and then his utterance began with a half-embarrassed +stammer, as if the shadow of displeasure demanded justification on his +part. + +"You--you see, Miss Amhurst, we have been properly introduced." + +For the first time he heard the girl laugh, just a little, and the sound +was very musical to him. + +"The introduction was of the slightest," she said. "I cannot claim even +an acquaintance with Mr. Morton, although I did so in the presence of +his persistent subordinate. I have met the manager of the bank but once +before, and that for a few moments only, when he showed me where to sign +my name in a big book." + +"Nevertheless," urged Drummond, "I shall defend the validity of that +introduction against all comers. The head of a bank is a most important +man in every country, and his commendation is really very much sought +after." + +"You appear to possess it. He complimented your singing, you know," and +there was a roguish twinkle in the girl's eye as she glanced up sideways +at him, while a smile came to her lips as she saw the color again mount +to his cheeks. She had never before met a man who blushed, and she could +not help regarding him rather as a big boy than a person to be taken +seriously. His stammer became more pronounced. + +"I--I think you are laughing at me, Miss Amhurst, and indeed I don't +wonder at it, and I--I am afraid you consider me even more persistent +than the cashier. But I did want to tell you how sorry I am to have +caused you annoyance." + +"Oh, you have not done so," replied the girl quickly. "As I said before, +it was all my own fault in the beginning." + +"No, I shouldn't have taken the gold. I should have come up with you, +and told you that it still awaited you in the bank, and now I beg your +permission to walk down the street with you, because if any one were +looking at us from these windows, and saw us pursued by a bareheaded man +with a revolver, they will now, on looking out again, learn that it is +all right, and may even come to regard the revolver and the hatless one +as an optical delusion." + +Again the girl laughed. + +"I am quite unknown in Bar Harbor, having fewer acquaintances than even +a stranger like yourself, therefore so far as I am concerned it does +not in the least matter whether any one saw us or not. We shall walk +together, then, as far as the spot where the cashier overtook us, and +this will give me an opportunity of explaining, if not of excusing, +my leaving the money on the counter. I am sure my conduct must have +appeared inexplicable both to you and the cashier, although, of course, +you would be too polite to say so." + +"I assure you, Miss Amhurst--" + +"I know what you would say," she interrupted, with a vivacity which had +not heretofore characterized her, "but, you see, the distance to the +corner is short, and, as I am in a hurry, if you don't wish my story to +be continued in our next--" + +"Ah, if there is to be a next--" murmured the young man so fervently +that it was now the turn of color to redden her cheeks. + +"I am talking heedlessly," she said quickly. "What I want to say is +this: I have never had much money. Quite recently I inherited what +had been accumulated by a relative whom I never knew. It seemed so +incredible, so strange--well, it seems incredible and strange yet--and +I have been expecting to wake and find it all a dream. Indeed, when you +overtook me at this spot where we now stand, I feared you had come to +tell me it was a mistake; to hurl me from the clouds to the hard earth +again." + +"But it was just the reverse of that," he cried eagerly. "Just the +reverse, remember. I came to confirm your dream, and you received from +my hand the first of your fortune." + +"Yes," she admitted, her eyes fixed on the sidewalk. + +"I see how it was," he continued enthusiastically. "I suppose you had +never drawn a check before." + +"Never," she conceded. + +"And this was merely a test. You set up your dream against the hard +common sense of a bank, which has no dreams. You were to transform your +vision into the actual, or find it vanish. When the commonplace cashier +passed forth the coin, their jingle said to you, 'The supposed phantasy +is real,' but the gold pieces themselves at that supreme moment meant +no more to you than so many worthless counters, so you turned your back +upon them." + +She looked up at him, her eyes, though moist, illumined with pleasure +inspired by the sympathy in his tones rather than the import of his +words. The girl's life heretofore had been as scant of kindness as +of cash, and there was a deep sincerity in his voice which was as +refreshing to her lonesome heart as it was new to her experience. This +man was not so stupid as he had pretended to be. He had accurately +divined the inner meaning of what had happened. She had forgotten the +necessity for haste which had been so importunate a few minutes before. + +"You must be a mind-reader," she said. + +"No, I am not at all a clever person," he laughed. "Indeed, as I +told you, I am always blundering into trouble, and making things +uncomfortable for my friends. I regret to say I am rather under a cloud +just now in the service, and I have been called upon to endure the frown +of my superiors." + +"Why, what has happened?" she asked. After their temporary halt at the +corner where they had been overtaken, they now strolled along together +like old friends, her prohibition out of mind. + +"Well, you see, I was temporarily in command of the cruiser coming down +the Baltic, and passing an island rock a few miles away, I thought it +would be a good opportunity to test a new gun that had been put +aboard when we left England. The sea was very calm, and the rock most +temptsome. Of course I knew it was Russian territory, but who could have +imagined that such a point in space was inhabited by anything else than +sea-gulls." + +"What!" cried the girl, looking up at him with new interest. "You don't +mean to say you are the officer that Russia demanded from England, and +England refused to give up?" + +"Oh, England could not give me up, of course, but she apologized, and +assured Russia she had no evil intent. Still, anything that sets the +diplomatists at work is frowned upon, and the man who does an act +which his government is forced to disclaim becomes unpopular with his +superiors." + +"I read about it in the papers at the time. Didn't the rock fire back at +you?" + +"Yes, it did, and no one could have been more surprised than I when I +saw the answering puff of smoke." + +"How came a cannon to be there?" + +"Nobody knows. I suppose that rock in the Baltic is a concealed fort, +with galleries and gun-rooms cut in the stone after the fashion of +our defences at Gibraltar. I told the court-martial that I had added a +valuable bit of information to our naval knowledge, but I don't suppose +this contention exercised any influence on the minds of my judges. I +also called their attention to the fact that my shell had hit, while +the Russian shot fell half a mile short. That remark nearly cost me my +commission. A court-martial has no sense of humor." + +"I suppose everything is satisfactorily settled now?" + +"Well, hardly that. You see, Continental nations are extremely +suspicious of Britain's good intentions, as indeed they are of the good +intentions of each other. No government likes to have--well, what we +might call a 'frontier incident' happen, and even if a country is quite +in the right, it nevertheless looks askance at any official of its own +who, through his stupidity, brings about an international complication. +As concerns myself, I am rather under a cloud, as I told you. The +court-martial acquitted me, but it did so with reluctance and a warning. +I shall have to walk very straight for the next year or two, and be +careful not to stub my toe, for the eyes of the Admiralty are upon me. +However, I think I can straighten this matter out. I have six months' +leave coming on shortly, which I intend to spend in St. Petersburg. I +shall make it my business to see privately some of the officials in the +Admiralty there, and when they realize by personal inspection what a +well-intentioned idiot I am, all distrust will vanish." + +"I should do nothing of the kind," rejoined the girl earnestly, quite +forgetting the shortness of their acquaintance, as she had forgotten the +flight of time, while on his part he did not notice any incongruity in +the situation. "I'd leave well enough alone," she added. + +"Why do you think that?" he asked. + +"Your own country has investigated the matter, and has deliberately run +the risk of unpleasantness by refusing to give you up. How, then, can +you go there voluntarily? You would be acting in your private capacity +directly in opposition to the decision arrived at by your government." + +"Technically, that is so; still, England would not hold the position +she does in the world to-day if her men had not often taken a course in +their private capacity which the government would never have sanctioned. +As things stand now, Russia has not insisted on her demand, but has +sullenly accepted England's decision, still quite convinced that my act +was not only an invasion of Russia's domain, but a deliberate insult; +therefore the worst results of an inconsiderate action on my part +remain. If I could see the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or the head +of the Admiralty in St. Petersburg face to face for ten minutes, I'd +undertake to remove that impression." + +"You have great faith in your persuasive powers," she said demurely. + +The Lieutenant began to stammer again. + +"No, no, it isn't so much that, but I have great faith in the Russian +as a judge of character. I suppose I am imagined to be a venomous, +brow-beating, truculent Russophobe, who has maliciously violated their +territory, flinging a shell into their ground and an insult into their +face. They are quite sincere in this belief. I want to remove that +impression, and there's nothing like an ocular demonstration. I like the +Russians. One of my best friends is a Russian." + +The girl shook her head. + +"I shouldn't attempt it," she persisted. "Suppose Russia arrested you, +and said to England, 'We've got this man in spite of you'?" + +The Lieutenant laughed heartily. + +"That is unthinkable: Russia wouldn't do such a thing. In spite of all +that is said about the Russian Government, its members are gentlemen. +Of course, if such a thing happened, there would be trouble. That is a +point where we're touchy. A very cheap Englishman, wrongfully detained, +may cause a most expensive campaign. Our diplomatists may act correctly +enough, and yet leave a feeling of resentment behind. Take this very +case. Britain says coldly to Russia: + +"'We disclaim the act, and apologize.' + +"Now, it would be much more to the purpose if she said genially: + +"'We have in our employment an impetuous young fool with a thirst for +information. He wished to learn how a new piece of ordnance would +act, so fired it off with no more intention of striking Russia than of +hitting the moon. He knows much more about dancing than about foreign +affairs. We've given him a month's leave, and he will slip across +privately to St. Petersburg to apologize and explain. The moment you +see him you will recognize he is no menace to the peace of nations. +Meanwhile, if you can inculcate in him some cold, calm common-sense +before he returns, we'll be ever so much obliged.'" + +"So you are determined to do what you think the government should have +done." + +"Oh, quite. There will be nothing frigidly official about my +unauthorized mission. I have a cousin in the embassy at St. Petersburg, +but I shan't go near him; neither shall I go to an hotel, but will get +quiet rooms somewhere that I may not run the risk of meeting any chance +acquaintances." + +"It seems to me you are about to afford the Russian Government an +excellent opportunity of spiriting you off to Siberia, and nobody would +be the wiser." + +Drummond indulged in the free-hearted laugh of a youth to whom life is +still rather a good joke. + +"I shouldn't mind studying the Siberian system from the inside if they +allowed me to return before my leave was up. I believe that sort +of thing has been exaggerated by sensational writers. The Russian +Government would not countenance anything of the kind, and if the +minor officials tried to play tricks, there's always my cousin in the +background, and it would be hard luck if I couldn't get a line to him. +Oh, there's no danger in my project!" + +Suddenly the girl came to a standstill, and gave expression to a little +cry of dismay. + +"What's wrong?" asked the Lieutenant. + +"Why, we've walked clear out into the country!" + +"Oh, is that all? I hadn't noticed." + +"And there are people waiting for me. I must run." + +"Nonsense, let them wait." + +"I should have been back long since." + +They had turned, and she was hurrying. + +"Think of your new fortune, Miss Amhurst, safely lodged in our friend +Morton's bank, and don't hurry for any one." + +"I didn't say it was a fortune: there's only ten thousand dollars +there." + +"That sounds formidable, but unless the people who are waiting for you +muster more than ten thousand apiece, I don't think you should make +haste on their account." + +"It's the other way about, Mr. Drummond. Individually they are poorer +than I, therefore I should have returned long ago. Now, I fear, they +will be in a temper." + +"Well, if anybody left me two thousand pounds, I'd take an afternoon off +to celebrate. Here we are in the suburbs again. Won't you change your +mind and your direction; let us get back into the country, sit down on +the hillside, look at the Bay, and gloat over your wealth?" + +Dorothy Amhurst shook her head and held out her hand. + +"I must bid you good-by here, Lieutenant Drummond. This is my shortest +way home." + +"May I not accompany you just a little farther?" + +"Please, no, I wish to go the rest of the way alone." + +He held her hand, which she tried to withdraw, and spoke with animation. + +"There's so much I wanted to say, but perhaps the most important is +this: I shall see you the night of the 14th, at the ball we are giving +on the 'Consternation'?" + +"It is very likely," laughed the girl, "unless you overlook me in +the throng. There will be a great mob. I hear you have issued many +invitations." + +"We hope all our friends will come. It's going to be a great function. +Your Secretary of the Navy has promised to look in on us, and our +Ambassador from Washington will be there. I assure you we are doing our +best, with festooned electric lights, hanging draperies, and all +that, for we want to make the occasion at least remotely worthy of the +hospitality we have received. Of course you have your card, but I wish +you hadn't, so that I might have the privilege of sending you one or +more invitations." + +"That would be quite unnecessary," said the girl, again with a slight +laugh and heightened color. + +"If any of your friends need cards of invitation, won't you let me know, +so that I may send them to you?" + +"I'm sure I shan't need any, but if I do, I promise to remember your +kindness, and apply." + +"It will be a pleasure for me to serve you. With whom shall you come? I +should like to know the name, in case I should miss you in the crowd." + +"I expect to be with Captain Kempt, of the United States Navy." + +"Ah," said the Lieutenant, with a note of disappointment in his voice +which he had not the diplomacy to conceal. His hold of her hand relaxed, +and she took the opportunity to withdraw it. + +"What sort of a man is Captain Kempt? I shall be on the lookout for him, +you know." + +"I think he is the handsomest man I have ever seen, and I know he is the +kindest and most courteous." + +"Really? A young man, I take it?" + +"There speaks the conceit of youth," said Dorothy, smiling. "Captain +Kempt, U.S.N., retired. His youngest daughter is just two years older +than myself." + +"Oh, yes, Captain Kempt. I--I remember him now. He was at the dinner +last night, and sat beside our captain. What a splendid story-teller he +is!" cried the Lieutenant with honest enthusiasm. + +"I shall tell him that, and ask him how he liked your song. Good-by," +and before the young man could collect his thoughts to make any reply, +she was gone. + +Skimming lightly over the ground at first, she gradually slackened +her pace, and slowed down to a very sober walk until she came to a +three-storied so-called "cottage" overlooking the Bay, then with a sigh +she opened the gate, and went into the house by the servant's entrance. + + + + +CHAPTER II --IN THE SEWING-ROOM + + +THREE women occupied the sewing-room with the splendid outlook: a mother +and her two daughters. The mother sat in a low rocking-chair, a picture +of mournful helplessness, her hands listlessly resting on her lap, while +tears had left their traces on her time-worn face. The elder daughter +paced up and down the room as striking an example of energy and +impatience as was the mother of despondency. Her comely brow was marred +by an angry frown. The younger daughter stood by the long window, her +forehead resting against the pane, while her fingers drummed idly on the +window sill. Her gaze was fixed on the blue Bay, where rested the huge +British warship "Consternation," surrounded by a section of the United +States squadron seated like white swans in the water. Sails of snow +glistened here and there on the bosom of the Bay, while motor-boats and +what-not darted this way and that impudently among the stately ships of +the fleet. + +In one corner of the room stood a sewing-machine, and on the long +table were piles of mimsy stuff out of which feminine creations are +constructed. There was no carpet on the floor, and no ceiling overhead; +merely the bare rafters and the boards that bore the pine shingles of +the outer roof; yet this attic was notable for the glorious view to be +seen from its window. It was an ideal workshop. + +The elder girl, as she walked to and fro, spoke with nervous irritation +in her voice. + +"There is absolutely no excuse, mamma, and it's weakness in you to +pretend that there may be. The woman has been gone for hours. There's +her lunch on the table which has never been tasted, and the servant +brought it up at twelve." + +She pointed to a tray on which were dishes whose cold contents bore out +the truth of her remark. + +"Perhaps she's gone on strike," said the younger daughter, without +removing her eyes from H.M.S. "Consternation." "I shouldn't wonder if +we went downstairs again we'd find the house picketed to keep away +blacklegs." + +"Oh, you can always be depended on to talk frivolous nonsense," said her +elder sister scornfully. "It's the silly sentimental fashion in which +both you and father treat work-people that makes them so difficult to +deal with. If the working classes were taught their place--" + +"Working classes! How you talk! Dorothy is as much a lady as we are, and +sometimes I think rather more of a lady than either of us. She is the +daughter of a clergyman." + +"So she says," sniffed the elder girl. + +"Well, she ought to know," replied the younger indifferently. + +"It's people like you who spoil dependents in her position, with your +Dorothy this and Dorothy that. Her name is Amhurst." + +"Christened Dorothy, as witness godfather and godmother," murmured the +younger without turning her head. + +"I think," protested their mother meekly, as if to suggest a compromise, +and throw oil on the troubled waters, "that she is entitled to be called +Miss Amhurst, and treated with kindness but with reserve." + +"Tush!" exclaimed the elder indignantly, indicating her rejection of the +compromise. + +"I don't see," murmured the younger, "why you should storm, Sabina. You +nagged and nagged at her until she'd finished your ball-dress. It +is mamma and I that have a right to complain. Our dresses are +almost untouched, while you can sail grandly along the decks of the +'Consternation' like a fully rigged yacht. There, I'm mixing my similes +again, as papa always says. A yacht doesn't sail along the deck of a +battleship, does it?" + +"It's a cruiser," weakly corrected the mother, who knew something of +naval affairs. + +"Well, cruiser, then. Sabina is afraid that papa won't go unless we all +have grand new dresses, but mother can put on her old black silk, and I +am going if I have to wear a cotton gown." + +"To think of that person accepting our money, and absenting herself in +this disgraceful way!" + +"Accepting our money! That shows what it is to have an imagination. Why, +I don't suppose Dorothy has had a penny for three months, and you know +the dress material was bought on credit." + +"You must remember," chided the mother mildly, "that your father is not +rich." + +"Oh, I am only pleading for a little humanity. The girl for some reason +has gone out. She hasn't had a bite to eat since breakfast time, and +I know there's not a silver piece in her pocket to buy a bun in a +milk-shop." + +"She has no business to be absent without leave," said Sabina. + +"How you talk! As if she were a sailor on a battleship--I mean a +cruiser." + +"Where can the girl have gone?" wailed the mother, almost wringing her +hands, partially overcome by the crisis. "Did she say anything about +going out to you, Katherine? She sometimes makes a confidant of you, +doesn't she?" + +"Confidant!" exclaimed Sabina wrathfully. + +"I know where she has gone," said Katherine with an innocent sigh. + +"Then why didn't you tell us before?" exclaimed mother and daughter in +almost identical terms. + +"She has eloped with the captain of the 'Consternation,'" explained +Katherine calmly, little guessing that her words contained a color of +truth. "Papa sat next him at the dinner last night, and says he is a +jolly old salt and a bachelor. Papa was tremendously taken with him, +and they discussed tactics together. Indeed, papa has quite a distinct +English accent this morning, and I suspect a little bit of a headache +which he tries to conceal with a wavering smile." + +"You can't conceal a headache, because it's invisible," said the mother +seriously. "I wish you wouldn't talk so carelessly, Katherine, and you +mustn't speak like that of your father." + +"Oh, papa and I understand one another," affirmed Katherine with great +confidence, and now for the first time during this conversation the +young girl turned her face away from the window, for the door had opened +to let in the culprit. + +"Now, Amhurst, what is the meaning of this?" cried Sabina before her +foot was fairly across the threshold. + +All three women looked at the newcomer. Her beautiful face was aglow, +probably through the exertion of coming up the stairs, and her eyes +shone like those of the Goddess of Freedom as she returned steadfastly +the supercilious stare with which the tall Sabina regarded her. + +"I was detained," she said quietly. + +"Why did you go away without permission?" + +"Because I had business to do which could not be transacted in this +room." + +"That doesn't answer my question. Why did you not ask permission?" + +The girl slowly raised her two hands, and showed her shapely wrists +close together, and a bit of the forearm not covered by the sleeve of +her black dress. + +"Because," she said slowly, "the shackles have fallen from these +wrists." + +"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," said Sabina, apparently impressed +in spite of herself, but the younger daughter clapped her hands +rapturously. + +"Splendid, splendid, Dorothy," she cried. "I don't know what you mean +either, but you look like Maxine Elliott in that play where she--" + +"Will you keep quiet!" interrupted the elder sister over her shoulder. + +"I mean that I intend to sew here no longer," proclaimed Dorothy. + +"Oh, Miss Amhurst, Miss Amhurst," bemoaned the matron. "You will +heartlessly leave us in this crisis when we are helpless; when there is +not a sewing woman to be had in the place for love or money. Every one +is working night and day to be ready for the ball on the fourteenth, and +you--you whom we have nurtured--" + +"I suppose she gets more money," sneered the elder daughter bitterly. + +"Oh, Dorothy," said Katherine, coming a step forward and clasping her +hands, "do you mean to say I must attend the ball in a calico dress +after all? But I'm going, nevertheless, if I dance in a morning +wrapper." + +"Katherine," chided her mother, "don't talk like that." + +"Of course, where more money is in the question, kindness does not +count," snapped the elder daughter. + +Dorothy Amhurst smiled when Sabina mentioned the word kindness. + +"With me, of course, it's entirely a question of money," she admitted. + +"Dorothy, I never thought it of you," said Katherine, with an +exaggerated sigh. "I wish it were a fancy dress ball, then I'd borrow my +brother Jack's uniform, and go in that." + +"Katherine, I'm shocked at you," complained the mother. + +"I don't care: I'd make a stunning little naval cadet. But, Dorothy, you +must be starved to death; you've never touched your lunch." + +"You seem to have forgotten everything to-day," said Sabina severely. +"Duty and everything else." + +"You are quite right," murmured Dorothy. + +"And did you elope with the captain of the 'Consternation,' and were you +married secretly, and was it before a justice of the peace? Do tell us +all about it." + +"What are you saying?" asked Dorothy, with a momentary alarm coming into +her eyes. + +"Oh, I was just telling mother and Sab that you had skipped by the light +of the noon, with the captain of the 'Consternation,' who was a +jolly old bachelor last night, but may be a married man to-day if my +suspicions are correct. Oh, Dorothy, must I go to the ball in a dress of +print?" + +The sewing girl bent an affectionate look on the impulsive Katherine. + +"Kate, dear," she said, "you shall wear the grandest ball dress that +ever was seen in Bar Harbor." + +"How dare you call my sister Kate, and talk such nonsense?" demanded +Sabina. + +"I shall always call you Miss Kempt, and now, if I have your permission, +I will sit down. I am tired." + +"Yes, and hungry, too," cried Katherine. "What shall I get you, Dorothy? +This is all cold." + +"Thank you, I am not in the least hungry." + +"Wouldn't you like a cup of tea?" + +Dorothy laughed a little wearily. + +"Yes, I would," she said, "and some bread and butter." + +"And cake, too," suggested Katherine. + +"And cake, too, if you please." + +Katherine skipped off downstairs. + +"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Sabina with a gasp, drawing herself +together, as if the bottom had fallen out of the social fabric. + +Mrs. Captain Kempt folded her hands one over the other and put on a look +of patient resignation, as one who finds all the old landmarks swept +away from before her. + +"Is there anything else we can get for you?" asked Sabina icily. + +"Yes," replied Dorothy, with serene confidence, "I should be very much +obliged if Captain Kempt would obtain for me a card of invitation to the +ball on the 'Consternation.'" + +"Really!" gasped Sabina, "and may not my mother supplement my father's +efforts by providing you with a ball dress for the occasion?" + +"I could not think of troubling her, Miss Kempt. Some of my customers +have flattered me by saying that my taste in dress is artistic, and that +my designs, if better known, might almost set a fashion in a small way, +so I shall look after my costume myself; but if Mrs. Captain Kempt were +kind enough to allow me to attend the ball under her care, I should be +very grateful for it." + +"How admirable! And is there nothing that I can do to forward your +ambitions, Miss Amhurst?" + +"I am going to the ball merely as a looker-on, and perhaps you might +smile at me as you pass by with your different partners, so that people +would say I was an acquaintance of yours." + +After this there was silence in the sewing room until Katherine, +followed by a maid, entered with tea and cakes. Some dress materials +that rested on a gypsy table were swept aside by the impulsive +Katherine, and the table, with the tray upon it, was placed at the +right hand of Dorothy Amhurst. When the servant left the room, Katherine +sidled to the long sewing table, sprang up lightly upon it, and sat +there swinging a dainty little foot. Sabina had seated herself in the +third chair of the room, the frown still adding severity to an otherwise +beautiful countenance. It was the younger daughter who spoke. + +"Now, Dorothy, tell us all about the elopement." + +"What elopement?" + +"I soothed my mother's fears by telling her that you had eloped with the +captain of the 'Consternation.' I must have been wrong in that guess, +because if the secret marriage I hoped had taken place, you would have +said to Sabina that the shackles were on your wrists instead of off. But +something important has happened, and I want to know all about it." + +Dorothy made no response to this appeal, and after a minute's silence +Sabina said practically: + +"All that has happened is that Miss Amhurst wishes father to present her +with a ticket to the ball on the 'Consternation,' and taking that for +granted, she requests mother to chaperon her, and further expresses a +desire that I shall be exceedingly polite to her while we are on board +the cruiser." + +"Oh," cried Katherine jauntily, "the last proviso is past praying for, +but the other two are quite feasible. I'd be delighted to chaperon +Dorothy myself, and as for politeness, good gracious, I'll be polite +enough to make up for all the courteous deficiency of the rest of the +family. + + 'For I hold that on the seas, + The expression if you please + A particularly gentlemanly tone implants, + And so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts.' + +Now, Dorothy, don't be bashful. Here's your sister and your cousin and +your aunt waiting for the horrifying revelation. What has happened?" + +"I'll tell you what is going to happen, Kate," said the girl, smiling +at the way the other ran on. "Mrs. Captain Kempt will perhaps consent to +take you and me to New York or Boston, where we will put up at the best +hotel, and trick ourselves out in ball costumes that will be the envy of +Bar Harbor. I shall pay the expense of this trip as partial return for +your father's kindness in getting me an invitation and your mother's +kindness in allowing me to be one of your party." + +"Oh, then it isn't an elopement, but a legacy. Has the wicked but +wealthy relative died?" + +"Yes," said Dorothy solemnly, her eyes on the floor. + +"Oh, I am so sorry for what I have just said!" + +"You always speak without thinking," chided her mother. + +"Yes, don't I? But, you see, I thought somehow that Dorothy had no +relatives; but if she had one who was wealthy, and who allowed her to +slave at sewing, then I say he was wicked, dead or alive, so there!" + +"When work is paid for it is not slavery," commented Sabina with +severity and justice. + +The sewing girl looked up at her. + +"My grandfather, in Virginia, owned slaves before the war, and I have +often thought that any curse which may have been attached to slavery has +at least partly been expiated by me, as foreshadowed in the Bible, where +it says that the sins of the fathers shall affect the third or fourth +generations. I was thinking of that when I spoke of the shackles falling +from my wrists, for sometimes, Miss Kempt, you have made me doubt +whether wages and slavery are as incompatible as you appear to imagine. +My father, who was a clergyman, often spoke to me of his father's +slaves, and while he never defended the institution, I think the past in +his mind was softened by a glamor that possibly obscured the defects of +life on the plantation. But often in depression and loneliness I have +thought I would rather have been one of my grandfather's slaves than +endure the life I have been called upon to lead." + +"Oh, Dorothy, don't talk like that, or you'll make me cry," pleaded +Kate. "Let us be cheerful whatever happens. Tell us about the money. +Begin 'Once upon a time,' and then everything will be all right. No +matter how harrowing such a story begins, it always ends with lashin's +and lashin's of money, or else with a prince in a gorgeous uniform and +gold lace, and you get the half of his kingdom. Do go on." + +Dorothy looked up at her impatient friend, and a radiant cheerfulness +chased away the gathering shadows from her face. + +"Well, once upon a time I lived very happily with my father in a little +rectory in a little town near the Hudson River. His family had been +ruined by the war, and when the plantation was sold, or allowed to +go derelict, whatever money came from it went to his elder and only +brother. My father was a dreamy scholar and not a business man as his +brother seems to have been. My mother had died when I was a child; I do +not remember her. My father was the kindest and most patient of men, and +all I know he taught me. We were very poor, and I undertook the duties +of housekeeper, which I performed as well as I was able, constantly +learning by my failures. But my father was so indifferent to material +comforts that there were never any reproaches. He taught me all that I +know in the way of what you might call accomplishments, and they were of +a strangely varied order--a smattering of Latin and Greek, a good deal +of French, history, literature, and even dancing, as well as music, for +he was an excellent musician. Our meager income ceased with my father's +life, and I had to choose what I should do to earn my board and keep, +like Orphant Annie, in Whitcomb Riley's poem. There appeared to be +three avenues open to me. I could be a governess, domestic servant, or +dressmaker. I had already earned something at the latter occupation, and +I thought if I could set up in business for myself, there was a greater +chance of gaining an independence along that line than either as a +governess or servant. But to do this I needed at least a little capital. + +"Although there had been no communication between the two brothers for +many years, I had my uncle's address, and I wrote acquainting him with +the fact of my father's death, and asking for some assistance to set +up in business for myself, promising to repay the amount advanced with +interest as soon as I was able, for although my father had never said +anything against his elder brother, I somehow had divined, rather than +knew, that he was a hard man, and his answering letter gave proof of +that, for it contained no expression of regret for his brother's death. +My uncle declined to make the advance I asked for, saying that many +years before he had given my father two hundred dollars which had never +been repaid. I was thus compelled, for the time at least, to give up +my plan for opening a dressmaking establishment, even on the smallest +scale, and was obliged to take a situation similar to that which I hold +here. In three years I was able to save the two hundred dollars, which I +sent to my uncle, and promised to remit the interest if he would tell me +the age of the debt. He replied giving the information, and enclosing a +receipt for the principal, with a very correct mathematical statement of +the amount of interest if compounded annually, as was his legal right, +but expressing his readiness to accept simple interest, and give me a +receipt in full." + +"The brute!" ejaculated Katherine, which remark brought upon her a mild +rebuke from her mother on intemperance of language. + +"Well, go on," said Katherine, unabashed. + +"I merely mention this detail," continued Dorothy, "as an object lesson +in honesty. Never before since the world began was there such a case of +casting bread upon the waters as was my sending the two hundred dollars. +My uncle appears to have been a most methodical man. He filed away my +letter which contained the money, also a typewritten copy of his reply, +and when he died, it was these documents which turned the attention +of the legal arm who acted for him to myself, for my uncle had left no +will. The Californian firm communicated with lawyers in New York, and +they began a series of very cautious inquiries, which at last resulted, +after I had furnished certain proofs asked for, in my being declared +heiress to my uncle's estate." + +"And how much did you get? How much did you get?" demanded Katherine. + +"I asked the lawyers from New York to deposit ten thousand dollars for +me in the Sixth National Bank of this town, and they did so. It was to +draw a little check against that deposit, and thus learn if it was real, +that I went out to-day." + +"Ten thousand dollars," murmured Katherine, in accents of deep +disappointment. "Is that all?" + +"Isn't that enough?" asked Dorothy, with a twinkle in her eyes. + +"No, you deserve ten times as much, and I'm not going to New York or +Boston at your expense to buy new dresses. Not likely! I will attend the +ball in my calico." + +Dorothy laughed quietly, and drew from the little satchel she wore at +her side a letter, which she handed to Katherine. + +"It's private and confidential," she warned her friend. + +"Oh, I won't tell any one," said Katherine, unfolding it. She read +eagerly half-way down the page, then sprang to her feet on the top of +the table, screaming: + +"Fifteen million dollars! Fifteen million dollars!" and, swinging her +arms back and forth like an athlete about to leap, sprang to the floor, +nearly upsetting the little table, tray and all, as she embraced Dorothy +Amhurst. + +"Fifteen millions! That's something like! Why, mother, do you realize +that we have under our roof one of the richest young women in the world? +Don't you see that the rest of this conference must take place in our +drawing-room under the most solemn auspices? The idea of our keeping +such an heiress in the attic!" + +"I believe," said Sabina, slowly and coldly, "that Mr. Rockefeller's +income is--" + +"Oh, blow Mr. Rockefeller and his income!" cried the indignant younger +sister. + +"Katherine!" pleaded the mother tearfully. + + + + +CHAPTER III --ON DECK + + +THROUGHOUT the long summer day a gentle excitement had fluttered +the hearts of those ladies, young, or not so young, who had received +invitations to the ball on board the "Consternation" that night. The +last touches were given to creations on which had been spent skill, +taste, and money. Our three young women, being most tastefully and +fashionably attired, were in high spirits, which state of feeling was +exhibited according to the nature of each; Sabina rather stately in +her exaltation; Dorothy quiet and demure; while Katherine, despite her +mother's supplications, would not be kept quiet, but swung her graceful +gown this way and that, practising the slide of a waltz, and quoting W. +R. Gilbert, as was her custom. She glided over the floor in rhythm with +her chant. + + "When I first put this uniform on + I said, as I looked in the glass, + 'It's one to a million + That any civilian + My figure and form will surpass.'" + +Meanwhile, in a room downstairs that good-natured veteran Captain Kempt +was telling the latest stories to his future son-in-law, a young officer +of the American Navy, who awaited, with dutiful impatience, the advent +of the serene Sabina. When at last the ladies came down the party set +out through the gathering darkness of this heavenly summer night for the +private pier from which they were privileged, because of Captain Kempt's +official standing, to voyage to the cruiser on the little revenue cutter +"Whip-poor-will," which was later on to convey the Secretary of the Navy +and his entourage across the same intervening waters. Just before they +reached the pier their steps were arrested by the boom of a cannon, +followed instantly by the sudden apparition of the "Consternation" +picked out in electric light; masts, funnel and hull all outlined by +incandescent stars. + +"How beautiful!" cried Sabina, whose young man stood beside her. "It is +as if a gigantic racket, all of one color, had burst, and hung suspended +there like the planets of heaven." + +"It reminds me," whispered Katherine to Dorothy, "of an overgrown +pop-corn ball," at which remark the two girls were frivolous enough to +laugh. + +"Crash!" sounded a cannon from an American ship, and then the white +squadron became visible in a blaze of lightning. And now all the yachts +and other craft on the waters flaunted their lines of fire, and the +whole Bay was illuminated like a lake in Fairyland. + +"Now," said Captain Kempt with a chuckle, "watch the Britisher. I think +she's going to show us some color," and as he spoke there appeared, +spreading from nest to mast, a huge sheet of blue, with four great stars +which pointed the corners of a parallelogram, and between the stars +shone a huge white anchor. Cheers rang out from the crew of the +"Consternation," and the band on board played "The Star-Spangled +Banner." + +"That," said Captain Kempt in explanation, "is the flag of the United +States Secretary of the Navy, who will be with us to-night. The visitors +have kept very quiet about this bit of illumination, but our lads got +on to the secret about a week ago, and I'll be very much disappointed if +they don't give 'em tit for tat." + +When the band on the "Consternation" ceased playing, all lights went out +on the American squadron, and then on the flagship appeared from mast +to mast a device with the Union Jack in the corner, a great red cross +dividing the flag into three white squares. As this illumination flashed +out the American band struck up the British national anthem, and the +outline lights appeared again. + +"That," said the captain, "is the British man-o'-war's flag." + +The "Whip-poor-will" speedily whisked the party and others across +the sparkling waters to the foot of the grand stairway which had been +specially constructed to conduct the elect from the tide to the deck. It +was more than double as broad as the ordinary gangway, was carpeted from +top to bottom, and on every step stood a blue-jacket, each as steady as +if cast in bronze, the line forming, as one might say, a living handrail +rising toward the dark sky. + +Captain Kempt and his wife went first, followed by Sabina and her young +man with the two girls in their wake. + +"Aren't those men splendid?" whispered Katherine to her friend. "I wish +each held an old-fashioned torch. I do love a sailor." + +"So do I," said Dorothy, then checked herself, and laughed a little. + +"I guess we all do," sighed Katherine. + +On deck the bluff captain of the "Consternation," in resplendent +uniform, stood beside Lady Angela Burford of the British Embassy at +Washington, to receive the guests of the cruiser. Behind these two were +grouped an assemblage of officers and very fashionably dressed +women, chatting vivaciously with each other. As Dorothy looked at the +princess-like Lady Angela it seemed as if she knew her; as if here were +one who had stepped out of an English romance. Her tall, proudly held +figure made the stoutish captain seem shorter than he actually was. The +natural haughtiness of those classic features was somewhat modified by a +pro tem smile. Captain Kempt looked back over his shoulder and said in a +low voice: + +"Now, young ladies, best foot forward. The Du Maurier woman is to +receive the Gibson girls." + +"I know I shall laugh, and I fear I shall giggle," said Katherine, but +she encountered a glance from her elder sister quite as haughty as any +Lady Angela might have bestowed, and all thought of merriment fled for +the moment; thus the ordeal passed conventionally without Katherine +either laughing or giggling. + +Sabina and her young man faded away into the crowd. Captain Kempt +was nodding to this one and that of his numerous acquaintances, and +Katherine felt Dorothy shrink a little closer to her as a tall, unknown +young man deftly threaded his way among the people, making directly for +the Captain, whom he seized by the hand in a grasp of the most cordial +friendship. + +"Captain Kempt, I am delighted to meet you again. My name is +Drummond--Lieutenant Drummond, and I had the pleasure of being +introduced to you at that dinner a week or two ago." + +"The pleasure was mine, sir, the pleasure was mine," exclaimed the +Captain with a cordiality equal to that with which he had been greeted. +He had not at first the least recollection of the young man, but the +Captain was something of an amateur politician, and possessed all a +politician's expertness in facing the unknown, and making the most of +any situation in which he found himself. + +"Oh, yes, Lieutenant, I remember very well that excellent song you--" + +"Isn't it a perfect night?" gasped the Lieutenant. "I think we are to be +congratulated on our weather." + +He still clung to the Captain's hand, and shook it again so warmly that +the Captain said to himself: + +"I must have made an impression on this young fellow," then aloud he +replied jauntily: + +"Oh, we always have good weather this time of year. You see, the United +States Government runs the weather. Didn't you know that? Yes, our +Weather Bureau is considered the best in the world." + +The Lieutenant laughed heartily, although a hollow note intervened, for +the young man had got to the end of his conversation, realized he could +not shake hands for a third time, yet did not know what more to say. +The suavity of the politician came to his rescue in just the form the +Lieutenant had hoped. + +"Lieutenant Drummond, allow me to introduce my wife to you." + +The lady bowed. + +"And my daughter, Katherine, and Miss Amhurst, a friend of +ours--Lieutenant Drummond, of the 'Consternation.'" + +"I wonder," said the Lieutenant, as if the thought had just occurred +to him, "if the young ladies would like to go to a point where they can +have a comprehensive view of the decorations. I--I may not be the best +guide, but I am rather well acquainted with the ship, you know." + +"Don't ask me," said Captain Kempt. "Ask the girls. Everything I've had +in life has come to me because I asked, and if I didn't get it the first +time, I asked again." + +"Of course we want to see the decorations," cried Katherine with +enthusiasm, and so bowing to the Captain and Mrs. Kempt, the Lieutenant +led the young women down the deck, until he came to an elevated spot out +of the way of all possible promenaders, on which had been placed in +a somewhat secluded position, yet commanding a splendid view of the +throng, a settee with just room for two, that had been taken from some +one's cabin. A blue-jacket stood guard over it, but at a nod from the +Lieutenant he disappeared. + +"Hello!" cried Katherine, "reserved seats, eh? How different from a +theatre chair, where you are entitled to your place by holding a colored +bit of cardboard. Here a man with a cutlass stands guard. It gives one a +notion of the horrors of war, doesn't it, Dorothy?" + +The Lieutenant laughed quite as heartily as if he had not himself hoped +to occupy the position now held by the sprightly Katherine. He was +cudgelling his brain to solve the problem represented by the adage "Two +is company, three is none." The girls sat together on the settee and +gazed out over the brilliantly lighted, animated throng. People were +still pouring up the gangways, and the decks were rapidly becoming +crowded with a many-colored, ever-shifting galaxy of humanity. The hum +of conversation almost drowned the popular selections being played by +the cruiser's excellent band. Suddenly one popular selection was cut in +two. The sound of the instruments ceased for a moment, then they struck +up "The Stars and Stripes for Ever." + +"Hello," cried Katherine, "can your band play Sousa?" + +"I should say we could," boasted the Lieutenant, "and we can play his +music, in a way to give some hints to Mr. Sousa's own musicians." + +"To beat the band, eh?--Sousa's band?" rejoined Katherine, dropping into +slang. + +"Exactly," smiled the Lieutenant, "and now, young ladies, will you +excuse me for a few moments? This musical selection means that your +Secretary of the Navy is on the waters, and I must be in my place with +the rest of the officers to receive him and his staff with all ceremony. +Please promise you will not leave this spot till I return: I implore +you." + +"Better put the blue-jacket on guard over us," laughed Katherine. + +"By Jove! a very good idea." + +Dorothy saw all levity depart from his face, giving way to a look +of sternness and command. Although he was engaged in a joke, the +subordinate must see no sign of fooling in his countenance. He said a +sharp word to a blue-jacket, who nimbly sprang to the end of the settee, +raised his hand in salute, and stiffened himself to an automaton. Then +the girls saw the tall figure of the Lieutenant wending its way to the +spot where the commander stood. + +"I say, Dorothy, we're prisoners. I wonder what this Johnny would do if +we attempted to fly. Isn't the Lieutenant sumptuous?" + +"He seems a very agreeable person," murmured Dorothy. + +"Agreeable! Why, he's splendid. I tell you, Dorothy, I'm going to have +the first dance with him. I'm the eldest. He's big enough to divide +between two small girls like us, you know." + +"I don't intend to dance," said Dorothy. + +"Nonsense, you're not going to sit here all night with nobody to speak +to. I'll ask the Lieutenant to bring you a man. He'll take two or three +blue-jackets and capture anybody you want." + +"Katherine," said Dorothy, almost as severely as if it were the elder +sister who spoke, "if you say anything like that, I'll go back to the +house." + +"You can't get back. I'll appeal to the guard. I'll have you locked up +if you don't behave yourself." + +"You should behave yourself. Really, Katherine, you must be careful what +you say, or you'll make me feel very unhappy." + +Katherine caught her by the elbow, and gave it an affectionate little +squeeze. + +"Don't be frightened, Miss Propriety, I wouldn't make you unhappy for +the world. But surely you're going to dance?" + +Dorothy shook her head. + +"Some other time. Not to-night. There are too many people here. I +shouldn't enjoy it, and--there are other reasons. This is all so new and +strange to me: these brilliant men and beautiful women--the lights, +the music, everything--it is as if I had stepped into another world; +something I had read about, or perhaps dreamed about, and never expected +to see." + +"Why, you dear girl, I'm not going to dance either, then." + +"Oh, yes, you will, Katherine; you must." + +"I couldn't be so selfish as to leave you here all alone." + +"It isn't selfish at all, Katherine. I shall enjoy myself completely +here. I don't really wish to talk to any one, but simply to enjoy my +dream, with just a little fear at the bottom of my heart that I shall +suddenly wake up, rubbing my eyes, in the sewing room." + +Katherine pinched her. + +"Now are you awake?" + +Dorothy smiled, still dreaming. + +"Hello!" cried Katherine, with renewed animation, "they've got the +Secretary safe aboard the lugger, and they seem to be clearing the decks +for action. Here is my dear Lieutenant returning; tall even among tall +men. Look at him. He's in a great hurry, yet so polite, and doesn't want +to bump against anybody. And now, Dorothy, don't you be afraid. I shall +prove a perfect model of diffidence. You will be proud of me when you +learn with what timidity I pronounce prunes and prism. I think I must +languish a little at him. I don't know quite how it's done, but in old +English novels the girls always languished, and perhaps an Englishman +expects a little languishment in his. I wonder if he comes of a noble +family. If he doesn't, I don't think I'll languish very much. Still, +what matters the pomp of pageantry and pride of race--isn't that the way +the poem runs? I love our dear little Lieutenant for himself alone, and +I think I will have just one dance with him, at least." + +Drummond had captured a camp-stool somewhere, and this he placed at +right angles to the settee, so that he might face the two girls, and yet +not interrupt their view. The sailor on guard once more faded away, and +the band now struck up the music of the dance. + +"Well," cried Drummond cheerfully, "I've got everything settled. I've +received the Secretary of the Navy: our captain is to dance with his +wife, and the Secretary is Lady Angela's partner. There they go!" + +For a few minutes the young people watched the dance, then the +Lieutenant said: + +"Ladies, I am disappointed that you have not complimented our electrical +display." + +"I am sure it's very nice, indeed, and most ingenious," declared +Dorothy, speaking for the first time that evening to the officer, but +Katherine, whose little foot was tapping the deck to the dance music, +tossed her head, and declared nonchalantly that it was all very well +as a British effort at illumination, but she begged the young man to +remember that America was the home of electricity. + +"Where would you have been if it were not for Edison?" + +"I suppose," said the Lieutenant cheerfully, "that we should have been +where Moses was when the candle went out--in the dark." + +"You might have had torches," said Dorothy. "My friend forgets she +was wishing the sailors held torches on that suspended stairway up the +ship's side." + +"I meant electric torches--Edison torches, of course." + +Katherine was displeased at the outlook. She was extremely fond of +dancing, and here this complacent young man had planted himself down on +a camp stool to talk of electricity. + +"Miss Kempt, I am sorry that you are disappointed at our display. Your +slight upon British electrical engineering leaves us unscathed, because +this has been done by a foreign mechanic, whom I wish to present to +you." + +"Oh, indeed," said Katherine, rather in the usual tone of her elder +sister. "I don't dance with mechanics, thank you." + +She emphasized the light fantastic word, but the Lieutenant did not take +the hint; he merely laughed again in an exasperatingly good-natured way, +and said: + +"Lady Angela is going to be Jack Lamont's partner for the next waltz." + +"Oh," said Katherine loftily, "Lady Angela may dance with any blacksmith +that pleases her, but I don't. I'm taking it for granted that Jack +Lamont is your electrical tinsmith." + +"Yes, he is, and I think him by all odds the finest fellow aboard this +ship. It's quite likely you have read about his sister. She is a year +older than Jack, very beautiful, cultured, everything that a grande dame +should be, yet she has given away her huge estate to the peasantry, and +works with them in the fields, living as they do, and faring as they +do. There was an article about her in one of the French reviews not long +ago. She is called the Princess Natalia." + +"The Princess Natalia!" echoed Katherine, turning her face toward the +young man. "How can Princess Natalia be a sister of Jack Lamont? Did she +marry some old prince, and take to the fields in disgust?" + +"Oh, no; Jack Lamont is a Russian. He is called Prince Ivan Lermontoff +when he's at home, but we call him Jack Lamont for short. He's going to +help me on the Russian business I told you of." + +"What Russian business?" asked Katherine. "I don't remember your +speaking of it." + +Dorothy went white, edged a little way from her friend, while her +widening eyes flashed a warning at the Lieutenant, who, too late, +remembered that this conversation on Russia had taken place during the +walk from the bank. The young man coughed slightly behind his open hand, +reddened, and stammered: + +"Oh, I thought I had told you. Didn't I mention the prince to you as we +were coming here?" + +"Not that I recollect," said Katherine. "Is he a real, genuine prince? A +right down regular, regular, regular royal prince?" + +"I don't know about the royalty, but he's a prince in good standing in +his own land, and he is also an excellent blacksmith." The Lieutenant +chuckled a little. "He and his sister have both been touched a good deal +by Tolstoian doctrine. Jack is the most wonderful inventor, I think, +that is at present on the earth, Edison notwithstanding. Why, he is just +now engaged on a scheme by which he can float houses from the mountains +here down to New York. Float them--pipe-line them would perhaps be a +better term. You know they have pipe-lines to carry petroleum. Very +well; Jack has a solution that dissolves stone as white sugar dissolves +in tea, and he believes he can run the fluid from the quarries to where +building is going on. It seems that he then puts this liquid into molds, +and there you have the stone again. I don't understand the process +myself, but Jack tells me it's marvelously cheap, and marvelously +effective. He picked up the idea from nature one time when he and I were +on our vacation at Detroit." + +"Detroit, Michigan?" + +"The Detroit River." + +"Well, that runs between Michigan and Canada." + +"No, no, this is in France. I believe the real name of the river is the +Tarn. There's a gorge called Detroit--the strait, you know. Wonderful +place--tremendous chasm. You go down in a boat, and all the tributary +rivers pour into the main stream like jets from the nozzle of a hose. +They tell me this is caused by the rain percolating through the dead +leaves on the surface of the ground far above, and thus the water +becomes saturated with carbonic acid gas, and so dissolves the limestone +until the granite is reached, and the granite forms the bed of these +underground rivers. It all seemed to me very wonderful, but it struck +Jack on his scientific side, and he has been experimenting ever since. +He says he'll be able to build a city with a hose next year." + +"Where does he live?" + +"On the cruiser just at present. I was instrumental in getting him +signed on as John Lamont, and he passed without question. No wonder, for +he has scientific degrees from all sorts of German universities, from +Oxford, and one or two institutions in the States. When at home he lives +in St. Petersburg." + +"Has he a palace there?" + +Drummond laughed. + +"He's got a blacksmith shop, with two rooms above, and I'm going to stop +with him for a few months as soon as I get my leave. When the cruiser +reaches England we pay off, and I expect to have nothing to do for six +months, so Jack and I will make for St. Petersburg." + +"Why do you call him Lamont? Is it taken from his real name of +what-d'ye-call-it-off?" + +"Lermontoff? Yes. The Czar Demetrius, some time about the beginning of +the seventeenth century, established a Scottish Guard, just as Louis +XI did in France two hundred years before, and there came over from +Scotland Lamonts, Carmichaels, Buchanans and others, on whom were +bestowed titles and estates. Prince Ivan Lermontoff is a descendant of +the original Lamont, who was an officer in the Scottish Guard of Russia. + +"So he is really a Scotchman?" + +"That's what I tell him when he annoys me, as I am by way of being a +Scotchman myself. Ah, the waltz is ended. Will you excuse me a moment +while I fetch his Highness?" + +Dorothy inclined her head, and Katherine fairly beamed permission. + +"Oh, Dorothy," she exclaimed, when the Lieutenant was out of hearing, +"think of it! A real prince, and my ambition has never risen higher than +a paltry count, or some plebeian of that sort. He's mine, Dorothy; I +found him first." + +"I thought you had appropriated the Lieutenant?" + +"What are lieutenants to me? The proud daughter of a captain (retired) +cannot stoop to a mere lieutenant." + +"You wouldn't have to stoop far, Kate, with so tall a man as Mr. +Drummond." + +"You are beginning to take notice, aren't you, Dot? But I bestow the +Lieutenant freely upon you, because I'm going to dance with the Prince, +even if I have to ask him myself. + + She'll toddle away, as all aver, + With the Lord High Executioner. + +Ah, here they come. Isn't he perfectly splendid? Look at his beard! Just +the color of a brand-new twenty-dollar gold piece. See that broad +ribbon diagonally across him. I wonder what it means. And gaze at +those scintillating orders on his breast. Good gracious me, isn't he +splendid?" + +"Yes, for a blacksmith. I wonder if he beat those stars out on his +anvil. He isn't nearly so tall as Lieutenant Drummond." + +"Dorothy, I'll not allow you to disparage my Prince. How can you be so +disagreeable? I thought from the very first that the Lieutenant was too +tall. If the Prince expects me to call him 'your Highness,' he'll be +disappointed." + +"You are quite right, Kate. The term would suit the Lieutenant better." + +"Dorothy, I believe you're jealous." + +"Oh, no, I'm not," said Dorothy, shaking her head and laughing, and then +"Hush!" she added, as Katherine was about to speak again. + +The next moment the young men stood before them, and, introductions +being soberly performed, the Prince lost no time in begging Katherine to +favor him with a dance, to which request the young woman was graciously +pleased to accede, without, however, exhibiting too much haste about her +acceptance, and so they walked off together. + + + + +CHAPTER IV --"AT LAST ALONE" + + +"SOME one has taken the camp stool," said Lieutenant Drummond. "May +I sit here?" and the young woman was good enough to give the desired +permission. + +When he had seated himself he glanced around, then impulsively held out +his hand. + +"Miss Amhurst," he said, "how are you?" + +"Very well, thank you," replied the girl with a smile, and after half a +moment's hesitation she placed her hand in his. + +"Of course you dance, Miss Amhurst?" + +"Yes, but not to-night. I am here merely as a looker-on in Vienna. You +must not allow politeness to keep you away from the floor, or, perhaps, +I should say the deck. I don't mind being alone in the least." + +"Now, Miss Amhurst, that is not a hint, is it? Tell me that I have not +already tired you of my company." + +"Oh, no, but I do not wish you to feel that simply because we met +casually the other day you are compelled to waste your evening sitting +out." + +"Indeed, Miss Amhurst, although I should very much like to have the +pleasure of dancing with you, there is no one else here that I should +care to ask. I have quailed under the eagle eye of my Captain once or +twice this evening, and I have been rather endeavoring to keep out +of his sight. I fear he has found something new about me of which to +disapprove, so I have quite determined not to dance, unless you would +consent to dance with me, in which case I am quite ready to brave his +reproachful glances." + +"Have you done anything wrong lately?" + +"Heaven only knows! I try not to be purposely wicked, and indeed have +put forth extra efforts to be extra good, but it seems all of no avail. +I endeavor to go about the ship with a subdued, humble, unobtrusive air, +but this is rather difficult for a person of my size. I don't think a +man can droop successfully unless he's under six feet in height." + +Dorothy laughed with quiet content. She was surprised to find herself +so much at her ease with him, and so mildly happy. They shared a secret +together, and that of itself was an intangible bond linking him with her +who had no ties with any one else. She liked him; had liked him from the +first; and his unconcealed delight in her company was gratifying to a +girl who heretofore had found none to offer her the gentle courtesies of +life. + +"Is it the Russian business again? You do not look very much troubled +about it." + +"Ah, that is--that is--" he stammered in apparent confusion, then +blurted out, "because you--because I am sitting here. Although I have +met you but once before, it seems somehow as if I had known you always, +and my slight anxiety that I told you of fades away in your presence. I +hope you don't think I am forward in saying this, but really to-night, +when I saw you at the head of the gangway, I could scarcely refrain from +going directly to you and greeting you. I am afraid I made rather a hash +of it with Captain Kempt. He is too much of a gentleman to have shown +any surprise at my somewhat boisterous accosting of him, and you know I +didn't remember him at all, but I saw that you were under his care, and +chanced it. Luckily it seems to have been Captain Kempt after all, but I +fear I surprised him, taking him by storm, as it were." + +"I thought you did it very nicely," said Dorothy, "and, indeed, until +this moment I hadn't the least suspicion that you didn't recognize him. +He is a dear old gentleman, and I'm very fond of him." + +"I say," said the Lieutenant, lowering his voice, "I nearly came a +cropper when I spoke of that Russian affair before your friend. I was +thinking of--of--well, I wasn't thinking of Miss Kempt--" + +"Oh, she never noticed anything," said Dorothy hurriedly. "You got out +of that, too, very well. I thought of telling her I had met you before +while she and I were in New York together, but the opportunity never +seemed--well, I couldn't quite explain, and, indeed, didn't wish to +explain my own inexplicable conduct at the bank, and so trusted to +chance. If you had greeted me first tonight, I suppose"--she smiled and +looked up at him--"I suppose I should have brazened it out somehow." + +"Have you been in New York?" + +"Yes, we were there nearly a week." + +"Ah, that accounts for it." + +"Accounts for what?" + +"I have walked up and down every street, lane and alley in Bar Harbor, +hoping to catch a glimpse of you. I have haunted the town, and all the +time you were away." + +"No wonder the Captain frowns at you! Have you been neglecting your +duty?" + +"Well, I have been stretching my shore leave just a little bit. I wanted +to apologize for talking so much about myself as we walked from the +bank." + +"It was very interesting, and, if you remember, we walked farther than I +had intended." + +"Were your friends waiting for you, or had they gone?" + +"They were waiting for me." + +"I hope they weren't cross?" + +"Oh, no. I told them I had been detained. It happened not to be +necessary to enter into details, so I was saved the task of explanation, +and, besides, we had other interesting things to discuss. This function +on the cruiser has loomed so large as a topic of conversation that there +has been little need of any other subject to talk about for several days +past." + +"I suppose you must have attended many grander occasions than this. +Although we have endeavored to make a display, and although we possess a +reasonably efficient band, still, a cruiser is not exactly designed for +the use to which it is being put to-night. We have many disadvantages to +overcome which are not met with in the sumptuous dwellings of New York +and Bar Harbor." + +The girl's eyes were on the deck for some moments before she replied, +then she looked across at the dancers, and finally said: + +"I think the ball on the 'Consternation' quite equals anything I have +ever attended." + +"It is nice of you to say that. Praise from--I won't name Sir Hubert +Stanley--but rather Lady Hubert Stanley--is praise, indeed. And now, +Miss Amhurst, since I have confessed my fruitless wanderings through +Bar Harbor, may I not have the pleasure of calling upon you to-morrow or +next day?" + +Her eyes were dreamily watching the dancers. + +"I suppose," she said slowly, with the flicker of a smile curving those +enticing lips, "that since you were so very friendly with Captain +Kempt to-night he may expect you to smoke a cigar with him, and it will +possibly happen that Katherine and I, who are very fond of the Captain, +may chance to come in while you are there." + +"Katherine? Ah, Katherine is the name of the young lady who was with you +here--Miss Kempt?" + +"Yes." + +"You are stopping with the Kempts, then?" + +"Yes." + +"I wonder if they'd think I was taking a liberty if I brought Jack +Lamont with me?" + +"The Prince?" laughed Dorothy. "Is he a real prince?" + +"Oh, yes, there's no doubt about that. I shouldn't have taken the +liberty of introducing him to you as Prince Lermontoff if he were not, +as we say in Scotland, a real Mackay--the genuine article. Well, then, +the Prince and I will pay our respects to Captain Kempt to-morrow +afternoon." + +"Did you say the Prince is going with you to Russia?" + +"Oh, yes. As I told you, I intend to live very quietly in St. +Petersburg, and the Prince has his shop and a pair of rooms above it in +a working quarter of the city. I shall occupy one of the rooms and he +the other. The Prince is an excellent cook, so we shan't starve, even if +we engage no servant." + +"Has the Prince given his estates away also?" + +"He hasn't given them away exactly, but he is a very indulgent landlord, +and he spends so much money on his experiments and travel that, although +he has a formidable income, he is very frequently quite short of money. +Did you like him?" + +"Yes. Of course I saw him for a moment only. I wonder why they haven't +returned. There's been several dances since they left." + +"Perhaps," said the Lieutenant, with a slight return of his stammering, +"your friend may be as fond of dancing as Jack is." + +"You are still determined to go to Russia?" + +"Quite. There is absolutely no danger. I may not accomplish anything, +but I'll have a try at it. The Prince has a good deal of influence in +St. Petersburg, which he will use quietly on my behalf, so that I +may see the important people. I shall be glad when the Captain ceases +frowning--" + +Drummond was interrupted by a fellow-officer, who raised his cap, and +begged a word with him. + +"I think, Drummond, the Captain wanted to see you." + +"Oh, did he say that?" + +"No, but I know he has left a note for you in your cabin. Shall I go and +fetch it?" + +"I wish you would, Chesham, if you don't mind, and it isn't too much +trouble." + +"No trouble at all. Delighted, I'm sure," said Chesham, again raising +his cap and going off. + +"Now, I wonder what I have forgotten to do." + +Drummond heaved a sigh proportionate to himself. + +"Under the present condition of things a bit of neglect that would go +unnoticed with another man is a sign of unrepentant villainy in me. Any +other Lieutenant may steal a horse while I may not look over a hedge. +You see how necessary it is for me to go to Russia, and get this thing +smoothed over." + +"I think, perhaps, you are too sensitive, and notice slights where +nothing of the kind is meant," said the girl. + +Chesham returned and handed Drummond a letter. + +"Will you excuse me a moment?" he said, and as she looked at him he +flattered himself that he noticed a trace of anxiety in her eyes. He +tore open the missive. + +"By Jove!" he cried. + +"What is it?" she could not prevent herself from saying, leaning +forward. + +"I am ordered home. The Admiralty commands me to take the first steamer +for England." + +"Is that serious?" + +He laughed with well-feigned hilarity. + +"Oh, no, not serious; it's just their way of doing things. They might +easily have allowed me to come home in my own ship. My only fear is I +shall have to take the train for New York early to-morrow morning. But," +he said, holding out his hands, "it is not serious if you allow me to +write to you, and if you will permit me to hope that I may receive an +answer." + +She placed her hand in his, this time without hesitation. + +"You may write," she said, "and I will reply. I trust it is not +serious." + + + + +CHAPTER V --AFTER THE OPERA IS OVER + + +IN mid-afternoon of the day following the entertainment on board the +"Consternation" our two girls were seated opposite one another under the +rafters of the sewing room, in the listless, desultory manner of those +who have not gone home till morning, till daylight did appear. The +dominant note of a summer cottage is the rocking-chair, and there were +two in the sewing room, where Katherine and Dorothy swayed gently back +and forth as they talked. They sat close to the low, broad window which +presented so beautiful a picture of the blue Bay and the white shipping. +The huge "Consternation" lay moored with her broadside toward the town, +all sign of festivity already removed from hull and rigging, and, to the +scarcely slumber-satisfied eyes of the girls, something of the sadness +of departure seemed to hang as a haze around the great ship. The girls +were not discussing the past, but rather anticipating the future; +forecasting it, with long, silent pauses intervening. + +"So you will not stay with us? You are determined to turn your wealthy +back on the poor Kempt family?" Katherine was saying. + +"But I shall return to the Kempt family now and then, if they will let +me. I must get away for a time and think. My life has suddenly become +all topsy-turvy, and I need to get my bearings, as does a ship that has +been through a storm and lost her reckoning." + +"'She dunno where she are,' as the song says." + +"Exactly: that is the state of things." + +"I think it's too bad, Dorothy, that you did not allow us to make public +announcement of your good fortune. Just imagine what an ovation you +would have had on board the cruiser last night if it had been known that +the richest woman in that assemblage was a pretty, shy little creature +sitting all by herself, and never indulging in even one dance." + +"I shouldn't in the least care for that sort of ovation, Kate, and if +every one present were as well pleased with the festivities as I, they +must all have enjoyed themselves immensely. I believe my friend Kate did +my share of the dancing as well as her own." + +"'She danced, and she danced, and she danced them a' din.' I think those +are the words of the Scottish song that the Prince quoted. He seems up +in Scottish poetry, and does not even resent being called a Scotchman. +This energetic person of the song seems to have danced them all to a +standstill, as I understood him, for he informs me 'a' means 'all' and +'din' means 'done,' but I told him I'd rather learn Russian than Scotch; +it was so much easier, and his Highness was good enough to laugh at +that. Didn't the Lieutenant ask you to dance at all?" + +"Oh, yes, he did." + +"And you refused?" + +"I refused." + +"I didn't think he had sense enough to ask a girl to dance." + +"You are ungrateful, Katherine. Remember he introduced you to the +Prince." + +"Yes, that's so. I had forgotten. I shall never say anything against him +again." + +"You like the Prince, then?" + +"Of all the crowned heads, emperors, kings, sultans, monarchs of every +description, dukes, counts, earls, marquises, whom I have met, and who +have pestered my life asking me to share their royal perquisites, I +think I may say quite truthfully that I like this Jack Lamont better +than any one of them." + +"Surely Prince Jack has not offered you his principality already?" + +"No, not yet, but with an eye to the future I have persuaded him to give +up Tolstoi and read Mark Twain, who is not only equally humorous, but +much more sensible than the Russian writer. Jack must not be allowed to +give away his estates to the peasants as his silly sister has done. I +may need them later on." + +"Oh, you've got that far, have you?" + +"I have got that far: he hasn't. He doesn't know anything about it, but +I'll wake him up when the right time comes. There are many elements of +sanity about him. He told me that he intended to give up his estates, +but in the first place he had been too busy, and in the second he needed +the money. His good sense, however, requires refining, so that he may +get rid of the dross. I don't blame him; I blame Tolstoi. For instance, +when I asked him if he had patented his liquid city invention, he said +he did not wish to make a profit from his discovery, but intended it for +the good of humanity at large. Imagine such an idiotic idea as that!" + +"I think such views are entirely to his credit," alarmed Dorothy. + +"Oh, of course, but the plan is not practicable. If he allows such an +invention to slip through his fingers, the Standard Oil people will +likely get hold of it, form a monopoly, and then where would humanity at +large be? I tell him the right way is to patent it, make all the money +he can, and use the cash for benefiting humanity under the direction of +some charitable person like myself." + +"Did you suggest that to him?" + +"I did not intimate who the sensible person was, but I elucidated the +principle of the thing." + +"Yes, and what did he say?" + +"Many things, Dorothy, many things. At one time he became confidential +about his possessions in foreign lands. It seems he owns several +castles, and when he visits any of them he cannot prevent the +moujiks, if that is the proper term for the peasantry over there, from +prostrating themselves on the ground as he passes by, beating their +foreheads against the earth, and chanting, in choice Russian, the +phrase: 'Defer, defer, here comes the Lord High Executioner,' or words +to that effect. I told him I didn't see why he should interfere with so +picturesque a custom, and he said if I visited one of his castles that +these estimable people, at a word from him, would form a corduroy road +in the mud with their bodies, so that I might step dry-shod from the +carriage to the castle doors, and I stipulated that he should at least +spread a bit of stair carpet over the poor wretches before I made my +progress across his front yard." + +"Well, you did become confidential if you discussed a visit to Russia." + +"Yes, didn't we? I suppose you don't approve of my forward conduct?" + +"I am sure you acted with the utmost prudence, Kate." + +"I didn't lose any time, though, did I?" + +"I don't know how much time is required to attain the point of +friendship you reached. I am inexperienced. It is true I have read of +love at first sight, and I am merely waiting to be told whether or not +this is an instance of it." + +"Oh, you are very diffident, aren't you, sitting there so bashfully!" + +"I may seem timid or bashful, but it's merely sleepiness." + +"You're a bit of a humbug, Dorothy." + +"Why?" + +"I don't know why, but you are. No, it was not a case of love at first +sight. It was a case of feminine vengeance. Yes, you may look surprised, +but I'm telling the truth. After I walked so proudly off with his high +mightiness, we had a most agreeable dance together; then I proposed +to return to you, but the young man would not have it so, and for the +moment I felt flattered. By and by I became aware, however, that it +was not because of my company he avoided your vicinity, but that he was +sacrificing himself for his friend." + +"What friend?" + +"Lieutenant Drummond, of course." + +"How was he sacrificing himself for Lieutenant Drummond?" + +"I surmise that the tall Lieutenant did not fall a victim to my wiles +as I had at first supposed, but, in some unaccountable manner, one can +never tell how these things happen; he was most anxious to be left alone +with the coy Miss Dorothy Amhurst, who does not understand how long a +time it takes to fall in love at first sight, although she has read of +these things, dear, innocent girl. The first villain of the piece has +said to the second villain of the piece: 'There's a superfluous young +woman over on our bench; I'll introduce you to her. You lure her off to +the giddy dance, and keep her away as long as you can, and I'll do as +much for you some day.' + +"Whereupon Jack Lamont probably swore--I understand that profanity +is sometimes distressingly prevalent aboard ship--but nevertheless he +allowed the Lieutenant to lead him like a lamb to the slaughter. Well, +not being powerful enough to throw him overboard when I realized the +state of the case, I did the next best thing. I became cloyingly sweet +to him. I smiled upon him: I listened to his farrago of nonsense about +the chemical components of his various notable inventions, as if a girl +attends a ball to study chemistry! Before half an hour had passed +the infant had come to the conclusion that here was the first really +sensible woman he had ever met. He soon got to making love to me, as the +horrid phrase goes, as if love were a mixture to be compounded of this +ingredient and that, and then shaken before taken. I am delighted to +add, as a testimony to my own powers of pleasing, that Jack soon forgot +he was a sacrifice, and really, with a little instruction, he would +become a most admirable flirt. He is coming to call upon me this +afternoon, and then he will get his eyes opened. I shall tread on him as +if he were one of his own moujiks." + +"What a wonderful imagination you have, Kate. All you have said is pure +fancy. I saw he was taken with you from the very first. He never even +glanced at me." + +"Of course not: he wasn't allowed to." + +"Nonsense, Kate. If I thought for a moment you were really in earnest, I +should say you underestimate your own attractions." + +"Oh, that's all very well, Miss Dorothy Dimple; you are trying to draw a +red herring across the trail, because you know that what I want to hear +is why Lieutenant Drummond was so anxious to get me somewhere else. What +use did he make of the opportunity the good-natured Prince and my sweet +complacency afforded him?" + +"He said nothing which might not have been overheard by any one." + +"Come down to particulars, Dorothy, and let me judge. You are so +inexperienced, you know, that it is well to take counsel with a more +sophisticated friend." + +"I don't just remember--" + +"No, I thought you wouldn't. Did he talk of himself or of you?" + +"Of himself, of course. He told me why he was going to Russia, and spoke +of some checks he had met in his profession." + +"Ah! Did he cash them?" + +"Obstacles--difficulties that were in his way, which he hoped to +overcome." + +"Oh, I see. And did you extend that sympathy which--" + +There was a knock at the door, and the maid came in, bearing a card. + +"Good gracious me!" cried Katherine, jumping to her feet. "The Prince +has come. What a stupid thing that we have no mirror in this room, and +it's a sewing and sitting room, too. Do I look all right, Dorothy?" + +"To me you seem perfection." + +"Ah, well, I can glance at a glass on the next floor. Won't you come +down and see him trampled on?" + +"No, thank you. I shall most likely drop off to sleep, and enjoy forty +winks in this very comfortable chair. Don't be too harsh with the +young man, Kate. You are quite wrong in your surmises about him. The +Lieutenant never made any such arrangement as you suggest, because he +talked of nothing but the most commonplace subjects all the time I was +with him, as I was just about to tell you, only you seem in such a hurry +to get away." + +"Oh, that doesn't deceive me in the least. I'll be back shortly, with +the young man's scalp dangling at my belt. Now we shan't be long," and +with that Katherine went skipping downstairs. + +Dorothy picked up a magazine that lay on the table, and for a few +moments turned its leaves from one story to another, trying to interest +herself, but failing. Then she lifted the newspaper that lay at her +feet, but it also was soon cast aside, and she leaned back in her chair +with half-closed eyes, looking out at the cruiser in the Bay. A slight +haze arose between her and the ship, thickening and thickening until at +last it obscured the vessel. + +Dorothy was oppressed by a sense of something forgotten, and she strove +in vain to remember what it was. It was of the utmost importance, she +was certain, and this knowledge made her mental anxiety the greater. + +At last out of the gloom she saw Sabina approach, clothed in rags, and +then a flash of intuition enabled her to grasp the difficulty. Through +her remissness the ball dress was unfinished, and the girl, springing +to her feet, turned intuitively to the sewing-machine, when the ringing +laugh of Katherine dissolved the fog. + +"Why, you poor girl, what's the matter with you? Are you sitting down to +drudgery again? You've forgotten the fortune!" + +"Are--are you back already?" cried Dorothy, somewhat wildly. + +"Already! Why, bless me, I've been away an hour and a quarter. You dear +girl, you've been asleep and in slavery again!" + +"I think I was," admitted Dorothy with a sigh. + + + + +CHAPTER VI --FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN + + +THREE days later the North Atlantic squadron of the British Navy sailed +down the coast from Halifax, did not even pause at Bar Harbor, but sent +a wireless telegram to the "Consternation," which pulled up anchor and +joined the fleet outside, and so the war-ships departed for another +port. + +Katherine stood by the broad window in the sewing room in her favorite +attitude, her head sideways against the pane, her eyes languidly gazing +upon the Bay, fingers drumming this time a very slow march on the window +sill. Dorothy sat in a rocking-chair, reading a letter for the second +time. There had been silence in the room for some minutes, accentuated +rather than broken by the quiet drumming of the girl's fingers on the +window sill. Finally Katherine breathed a deep sigh and murmured to +herself: + + "'Far called our Navy fades away, + On dune and headland sinks the fire. + Lo, all our pomp of yesterday + Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.' + +I wonder if I've got the lines right," she whispered to herself. She had +forgotten there was anyone else in the room, and was quite startled when +Dorothy spoke. + +"Kate, that's a solemn change, from Gilbert to Kipling. I always judge +your mood by your quotations. Has life suddenly become too serious for +'Pinafore' or the 'Mikado'?" + +"Oh, I don't know," said Katherine, without turning round. "They are +humorous all, and so each furnishes something suitable for the saddened +mind. Wisdom comes through understanding your alphabet properly. +For instance, first there was Gilbert, and that gave us G; then came +Kipling, and he gave us K; thus we get an algebraic formula, G.K., which +are the initials of Chesterton, a still later arrival, and as the mind +increases in despondency it sinks lower and lower down the alphabet +until it comes to S, and thus we have Barn-yard Shaw, an improvement on +the Kail-yard school, who takes the O pshaw view of life. And relaxing +hold of him I sink deeper until I come to W--W. W. Jacobs--how I wish he +wrote poetry! He should be the humorist of all sailors, and perhaps some +time he will desert barges for battleships. Then I shall read him with +increased enjoyment." + +"I wouldn't give Mark Twain for the lot," commented Dorothy with +decision. + +"Mark Twain isn't yours to give, my dear. He belongs to me also. You've +forgotten that comparisons are odious. Our metier is not to compare, but +to take what pleases us from each. + + 'How doth the little busy bee + Improve each shining hour, + And gather honey all the day + From every opening flower. + +Watts. You see, I'm still down among the W's. Oh, Dorothy, how can +you sit there so placidly when the 'Consternation' has just faded from +sight? Selfish creature! + + 'Oh, give me tears for others' woes + And patience for mine own.' + +I don't know who wrote that, but you have no tears for others' woes, +merely greeting them with ribald laughter," for Dorothy, with the +well-read letter in her hand, was making the rafters ring with her +merriment, something that had never before happened during her long +tenancy of that room. Kate turned her head slowly round, and the +expression on her face was half-indignant, half-humorous, while her eyes +were uncertain weather prophets, and gave equal indication of sunshine +or rain." + +"Why, Katherine, you look like a tragedy queen, rather than the spirit +of comedy! Is it really a case of 'Tit-willow, tit-willow, tit-willow'? +You see, I'm a-rescuing you from the bottom of the alphabet, and +bringing you up to the Gilbert plane, where I am more accustomed to you, +and understand you better. Is this despondency due to the departure of +the 'Consternation,' and the fact that she carries away with her Jack +Lamont, blacksmith?" + +The long sigh terminated in a woeful "yes." + +"The ship that has gone out with him we call she. If he had eloped with +a real she, then wearing the willow, or singing it, however futile, +might be understandable. As it is I see nothing in the situation to call +for a sigh." + +"That is because you are a hardened sinner, Dorothy. You have no heart, +or at least if you have, it is untouched, and therefore you cannot +understand. If that note in your hand were a love missive, instead of a +letter from your lawyers, you would be more human, Dorothy." + +The hand which held the paper crumpled it up slightly as Katherine +spoke. + +"Business letters are quite necessary, and belong to the world we +live in," said Dorothy, a glow of brighter color suffusing her cheeks. +"Surely your acquaintance with Mr. Lamont is of the shortest." + +"He has called upon me every day since the night of the ball," +maintained Katherine stoutly. + +"Well, that's only three times." + +"Only three! How you talk! One would think you had never been schooled +in mathematics. Why, three is a magic figure. You can do plenty of +amazing things with it. Don't you know that three is a numeral of love?" + +"I thought two was the number," chimed Dorothy, with heartless mirth. + +"Three," said Katherine taking one last look at the empty horizon, then +seating herself in front of her friend, "three is a recurring decimal. +It goes on and on and on forever, and if you write it for a thousand +years you are still as far from the end as when you began. It will +carry you round the world and back again, and never diminish. It is the +mathematical emblem of the nature of true love." + +"Is it so serious as all that, Kate, or are you just fooling again?" +asked Dorothy, more soberly than heretofore. "Has he spoken to you?" + +"Spoken? He has done nothing but speak, and I have listened--oh, so +intently, and with such deep understanding. He has never before met such +a woman as I, and has frankly told me so." + +"I am very glad he appreciates you, dear." + +"Yes, you see, Dorothy, I am really much deeper than the ordinary woman. +Who, for instance, could find such a beautiful love simile from a +book of arithmetic costing twenty-five cents, as I have unearthed from +decimal fractions? With that example in mind how can you doubt that +other volumes of college learning reveal to me their inner meaning? John +presented to me, as he said good-by, a beautifully bound copy of +that celebrated text-book, 'Saunders' Analytical Chemistry,' with +particularly tender passages marked in pencil, by his own dear hand." + +Rather bewildered, for Kate's expression was one of pathos, unrelieved +by any gleam of humor, Dorothy nevertheless laughed, although the laugh +brought no echo from Katherine. + +"And did you give him a volume of Browning in return?" + +"No, I didn't. How can you be so unsympathetic? Is it impossible for +you to comprehend the unseen link that binds John and me? I rummaged +the book store until I found a charming little edition of 'Marshall's +Geologist's Pocket Companion,' covered with beautiful brown limp Russia +leather--I thought the Russia binding was so inspirational--with a sweet +little clasp that keeps it closed--typical of our hands at parting. +On the fly-leaf I wrote: 'To J. L., in remembrance of many interesting +conversations with his friend, K. K.' It only needed another K to be +emblematic and political, a reminiscence of the olden times, when you +people of the South, Dorothy, were making it hot for us deserving folks +in the North. I hadn't time to go through the book very thoroughly, +but I found many references to limestone, which I marked, and one +particularly choice bit of English relating to the dissolution and +re-consolidation of various minerals I drew a parallelogram around in +red ink. A friend of mine in a motor launch was good enough to take the +little parcel direct to the 'Consternation,' and I have no doubt that +at this moment Jack is perusing it, and perhaps thinking of the giver. I +hope it's up-to-date, and that he had not previously bought a copy." + +"You don't mean to say, Kate, that your conversation was entirely about +geology?" + +"Certainly not. How could you have become imbued with an idea so absurd? +We had many delightful dalliances down the romantic groves of chemistry, +heart-to-heart talks on metallurgy, and once--ah, shall I ever forget +it--while the dusk gently enfolded us, and I gazed into those bright, +speaking, intelligent eyes of his as he bent nearer and nearer; while +his low, sonorous voice in well-chosen words pictured to me the promise +which fortified cement holds out to the world; that is, ignorant person, +Portland cement strengthened by ribs of steel; and I sat listening +breathless as his glowing phrases prophesied the future of this +combination." + +Katherine closed her eyes, rocked gently back and forth, and crooned, +almost inaudibly: + + "'When you gang awa, Jimmie, + Faur across the sea, laddie, + When ye gang to Russian lands + What will ye send to me, laddie?' + +I know what I shall get. It will probably be a newly discovered recipe +for the compounding of cement which will do away with the necessity of +steel strengthening." + +"Kate, dear, you are overdoing it. It is quite right that woman should +be a mystery to man, but she should not aspire to become a mystery to +her sister woman. Are you just making fun, or is there something in all +this more serious than your words imply?" + +"Like the steel strengthening in the cement, it may be there, but +you can't see it, and you can't touch it, but it makes--oh, such +a difference to the slab. Heigho, Dorothy, let us forsake these +hard-headed subjects, and turn to something human. What have your +lawyers been bothering you about? No trouble over the money, is there?" + +Dorothy shook her head. + +"No. Of course, there are various matters they have to consult me about, +and get my consent to this project or the other." + +"Read the letter. Perhaps my mathematical mind can be of assistance to +you." + +Dorothy had concealed the letter, and did not now produce it. + +"It is with reference to your assistance, and your continued assistance, +that I wish to speak to you. Let us follow the example of the cement and +the steel, and form a compact. In one respect I am going to imitate the +'Consternation.' I leave Bar Harbor next week." + +Katherine sat up in her chair, and her eyes opened wide. + +"What's the matter with Bar Harbor?" she asked. + +"You can answer that question better than I, Kate. The Kempt family are +not visitors, but live here all the year round. What do you think is the +matter with Bar Harbor?" + +"I confess it's a little dull in the winter time, and in all seasons it +is situated a considerable distance from New York. Where do you intend +to go, Dorothy?" + +"That will depend largely on where my friend Kate advises me to go, +because I shall take her with me if she will come." + +"Companion, lady's-maid, parlor maid, maid-of-all-work, cook, governess, +typewriter-girl--which have I to be? Shall I get one afternoon a week +off, and may my young man come and see me, if I happen to secure one, +and, extremely important, what are the wages?" + +"You shall fix your own salary, Kate, and my lawyer men will arrange +that the chosen sum is settled upon you so that if we fall out we can +quarrel on equal terms." + +"Oh, I see, it's an adopted daughter I am to be, then?" + +"An adopted sister, rather." + +"Do you think I am going to take advantage of my friendship with an +heiress, and so pension myself off?" + +"It is I who am taking the advantage," said Dorothy, "and I beg you to +take compassion, rather than advantage, upon a lone creature who has no +kith or kin in the world." + +"Do you really mean it, Dot?" + +"Of course I do. Should I propose it if I didn't?" + +"Well, this is the first proposal I've ever had, and I believe it +is customary to say on those occasions that it is so sudden, or so +unexpected, and time is required for consideration." + +"How soon can you make up your mind, Kate?" + +"Oh, my mind's already made up. I'm going to jump at your offer, but I +think it more ladylike to pretend a mild reluctance. What are you going +to do, Dorothy?" + +"I don't know. I've settled on only one thing. I intend to build a +little stone and tile church, very quaint and old-fashioned, if I get +the right kind of architect to draw a plan for it, and this church is to +be situated in Haverstock." + +"Where's Haverstock?" + +"It is a village near the Hudson River, on the plain that stretches +toward the Catskills." + +"It was there you lived with your father, was it not?" + +"Yes, and my church is to be called the Dr. Amhurst Memorial Church." + +"And do you propose to live at Haverstock?" + +"I was thinking of that." + +"Wouldn't it be just a little dull?" + +"Yes, I suppose it is, but it seems to me a suitable place where two +young women may meditate on what they are going to do with their lives." + +"Yes, that's an important question for the two. I say, Dorothy, let's +take the other side of the river, and enter Vassar College. Then we +should at least have some fun, and there would be some reasonably +well-educated people to speak to." + +"Oh, you wish to use your lately acquired scientific knowledge in order +to pass the examinations; but, you see, I have had no tutor to school me +in the mysteries of lime-burning and the mixing of cement. Now, you have +scorned my side of the river, and I have objected to your side of the +river. That is the bad beginning which, let us hope, makes the good +ending. Who is to arbitrate on our dispute?" + +"Why, we'll split the difference, of course." + +"How can we do that? Live in a house-boat on the river like Frank +Stockton's 'Budder Grange'?" + +"No, settle in the city of New York, which is practically an island in +the Hudson." + +"Would you like to live in New York?" + +"Wouldn't I! Imagine any one, having the chance, living anywhere else!" + +"In a hotel, I suppose--the Holldorf for choice." + +"Yes, we could live in a hotel until we found the ideal flat, high up +in a nice apartment house, with a view like that from the top of Mount +Washington, or from the top of the Washington Monument." + +"But you forget I made one proviso in the beginning, and that is that I +am going to build a church, and the church is to be situated, not in the +city of New York, but in the village of Haverstock." + +"New York is just the place from which to construct such an edifice. +Haverstock will be somewhere near the West Shore Railway. Very well. We +can take a trip up there once a week or oftener, if you like, and see +how the work is progressing, then the people of Haverstock will respect +us. As we drive from the station they'll say: + +"'There's the two young ladies from New York who are building the +church.' But if we settle down amongst them they'll think we're only +ordinary villagers instead of the distinguished persons we are. Or, +while our flat is being made ready we could live at one of the big +hotels in the Catskills, and come down as often as we like on the +inclined railway. Indeed, until the weather gets colder, the Catskills +is the place. + + 'And lo, the Catskills print the distant sky, + And o'er their airy tops the faint clouds driven, + So softly blending that the cheated eye + Forgets or which is earth, or which is heaven.'" + +"That ought to carry the day for the Catskills, Kate. What sort of +habitation shall we choose? A big hotel, or a select private boarding +house?" + +"Oh, a big hotel, of course--the biggest there is, whatever its name +may be. One of those whose rates are so high that the proprietor daren't +advertise them, but says in his announcement, 'for terms apply to the +manager.' It must have ample grounds, support an excellent band, and +advertise a renowned cuisine. Your room, at least, should have a private +balcony on which you can place a telescope and watch the building +of your church down below. I, being a humble person in a subordinate +position, should have a balcony also to make up for those deficiencies." + +"Very well, Kate, that's settled. But although two lone women may set +up housekeeping in a New York flat, they cannot very well go alone to a +fashionable hotel." + +"Oh, yes, we can. Best of references given and required." + +"I was going to suggest," pursued Dorothy, not noticing the +interruption, "that we invite your father and mother to accompany us. +They might enjoy a change from sea air to mountain air." + +Katherine frowned a little, and demurred. + +"Are you going to be fearfully conventional, Dorothy?" + +"We must pay some attention to the conventions, don't you think?" + +"I had hoped not. I yearn to be a bachelor girl, and own a latch-key." + +"We shall each possess a latch-key when we settle down in New York. Our +flat will be our castle, and, although our latch-key will let us in, our +Yale lock will keep other people out. A noted summer resort calls for +different treatment, because there we lead a semi-public life. Besides, +I am selfish enough to wish my coming-out to be under the auspices of so +well-known a man as Captain Kempt." + +"All right, I'll see what they say about it. You don't want Sabina, I +take it?" + +"Yes, if she will consent to come." + +"I doubt if she will, but I'll see. Besides, now that I come to think +about it, it's only fair I should allow my doting parents to know that I +am about to desert them." + +With that Katherine quitted the room, and went down the stairs +hippety-hop. + +Dorothy drew the letter from its place of concealment, and read it for +the third time, although one not interested might have termed it a most +commonplace document. It began: + +"Dear Miss Amhurst," and ended "Yours most sincerely, Alan Drummond." It +gave some account of his doings since he bade good-bye to her. A sailor, +he informed her, needs little time for packing his belongings, and on +the occasion in question the Prince had been of great assistance. They +set out together for the early morning train, and said "au revoir" at +the station. Drummond had intended to sail from New York, but a friendly +person whom he met on the train informed him that the Liverpool liner +"Enthusiana" set out from Boston next day, so he had abandoned the New +York idea, and had taken passage on the liner named, on whose note-paper +he wrote the letter, which epistle was once more concealed as Dorothy +heard Katherine's light step on the stair. + +That impulsive young woman burst into the sewing room. + +"We're all going," she cried. "Father, mother and Sabina. It seems +father has had an excellent offer to let the house furnished till the +end of September, and he says that, as he likes high life, he will put +in the time on the top of the Catskills. He abandons me, and says that +if he can borrow a shilling he is going to cut me off with it in his +will. He regrets the departure of the British Fleet, because he thinks +he might have been able to raise a real English shilling aboard. Dad +only insists on one condition, namely, that he is to pay for himself, +mother and Sabina, so he does not want a room with a balcony. I said +that in spite of his disinheritance I'd help the family out of my +salary, and so he is going to reconsider the changing of his will." + +"We will settle the conditions when we reach the Catskills," said +Dorothy, smiling. + + + + +CHAPTER VII --"A WAY THEY HAVE IN THE NAVY" + + +CAPTAIN and Mrs. Kempt with Sabina had resided a week in the Matterhorn +Hotel before the two girls arrived there. They had gone direct to New +York, and it required the seven days to find a flat that suited them, of +which they were to take possession on the first of October. Then there +were the lawyers to see; a great many business details to settle, and +an architect to consult. After leaving New York the girls spent a day at +Haverstock, where Dorothy Amhurst bought a piece of land as shrewdly +as if she had been in the real estate business all her life. After this +transaction the girls drove to the station on the line connecting with +the inclined railway, and so, as Katherine remarked, were "wafted to +the skies on flowery beds of ease," which she explained to her shocked +companion was all right, because it was a quotation from a hymn. When at +last they reached their hotel, Katherine was in ecstasies. + +"Isn't this heavenly?" she cried, "and, indeed, it ought to be, for I +understand we are three thousand feet higher than we were in New York, +and even the sky-scrapers can't compete with such an altitude." + +The broad valley of the Hudson lay spread beneath them, stretching +as far as the eye could see, shimmering in the thin, bluish veil of a +summer evening, and miles away the river itself could be traced like a +silver ribbon. + +The gallant Captain, who had been energetically browbeaten by his +younger daughter, and threatened with divers pains and penalties should +he fail to pay attention and take heed to instructions, had acquitted +himself with eclat in the selection of rooms for Dorothy and his +daughter. The suite was situated in one corner of the huge caravansary, +a large parlor occupying the angle, with windows on one side looking +into the forest, and on the other giving an extended view across the +valley. The front room adjoining the parlor was to be Dorothy's very +own, and the end room belonged to Katherine, he said, as long as she +behaved herself. If Dorothy ever wished to evict her strenuous neighbor, +all she had to do was to call upon the Captain, and he would lend his +aid, at which proffer of assistance Katherine tossed her head, and +said she would try the room for a week, and, if she didn't like it, out +Dorothy would have to go. + + + +There followed days and nights of revelry. Hops, concerts, +entertainments of all sorts, with a more pretentious ball on Saturday +night, when the week-tired man from New York arrived in the afternoon to +find temperature twenty degrees lower, and the altitude very much higher +than was the case in his busy office in the city. Katherine revelled in +this round of excitement, and indeed, so, in a milder way, did Dorothy. +After the functions were over the girls enjoyed a comforting chat +with one another in their drawing room; all windows open, and the moon +a-shining down over the luminous valley, which it seemed to fill with +mother-o'-pearl dust. + +Young Mr. J. K. Henderson of New York, having danced repeatedly with +Katherine on Saturday night, unexpectedly turned up for the hop on +the following Wednesday, when he again danced repeatedly with the same +joyous girl. It being somewhat unusual for a keen business man to take a +four hours' journey during an afternoon in the middle of the week, and, +as a consequence, arrive late at his office next morning, Dorothy began +to wonder if a concrete formation, associated with the name of Prince +Ivan Lermontoff of Russia, was strong enough to stand an energetic +assault of this nature, supposing it were to be constantly repeated. It +was after midnight on Wednesday when the two reached the corner parlor. +Dorothy sat in a cane armchair, while Katherine threw herself into a +rocking-chair, laced her fingers behind her head, and gazed through the +open window at the misty infinity beyond. + +"Well," sighed Katherine, "this has been the most enjoyable evening I +ever spent!" + +"Are you quite sure?" inquired her friend. + +"Certainly. Shouldn't I know?" + +"He dances well, then?" + +"Exquisitely!" + +"Better than Jack Lamont?" + +"Well, now you mention him I must confess Jack danced very creditably." + +"I didn't know but you might have forgotten the Prince." + +"No, I haven't exactly forgotten him, but--I do think he might have +written to me." + +"Oh, that's it, is it? Did he ask your permission to write?" + +"Good gracious, no. We never talked of writing. Old red sandstone, +rather, was our topic of conversation. Still, he might have acknowledged +receipt of the book." + +"But the book was given to him in return for the one he presented to +you." + +"Yes, I suppose it was. I hadn't thought of that." + +"Then again, Kate, Russian notions regarding writing to young ladies +may differ from ours, or he may have fallen overboard, or touched a live +wire." + +"Yes, there are many possibilities," murmured Katherine dreamily. + +"It seems rather strange that Mr. Henderson should have time to come up +here in the middle of the week." + +"Why is it strange?" asked Katherine. "Mr. Henderson is not a clerk +bound down to office hours. He's an official high up in one of the big +insurance companies, and gets a simply tremendous salary." + +"Really? Does he talk as well as Jack Lamont did?" + +"He talks less like the Troy Technical Institute, and more like the +'Home Journal' than poor Prince Jack did, and then he has a much greater +sense of humor. When I told him that the oath of an insurance man should +be 'bet your life!' he laughed. Now, Jack would never have seen the +point of that. Anyhow, the hour is too late, and I am too sleepy, to +worry about young men, or jokes either. Good-night!" + +Next morning's mail brought Dorothy a bulky letter decorated with +English stamps. She locked the door, tore open the envelope, and found +many sheets of thin paper bearing the heading of the Bluewater Club, +Pall Mall. + +"I am reminded of an old adage," she read, "to the effect that one +should never cross a bridge before arriving at it. Since I bade good-by +to you, up to this very evening, I have been plodding over a bridge +that didn't exist, much to my own discomfort. You were with me when +I received the message ordering me home to England, and I don't +know whether or not I succeeded in suppressing all signs of my own +perturbation, but we have in the Navy now a man who does not hesitate +to overturn a court martial, and so I feared a re-opening of the Rock in +the Baltic question, which might have meant the wrecking of my career. +I had quite made up my mind, if the worst came to the worst, to go out +West and become a cow-boy, but a passenger with whom I became acquainted +on the 'Enthusiana' informed me, to my regret, that the cow-boy is +largely a being of the past, to be met with only in the writings of +Stewart Edward White, Owen Wister, and several other famous men whom he +named. So you see, I went across the ocean tolerably depressed, finding +my present occupation threatened, and my future uncertain. + +"When I arrived in London I took a room at this Club, of which I have +been a member for some years, and reported immediately at the Admiralty. +But there, in spite of all diligence on my part, I was quite unable to +learn what was wanted of me. Of course, I could have gone to my Uncle, +who is in the government, and perhaps he might have enlightened me, +although he has nothing to do with the Navy, but I rather like to avoid +Uncle Metgurne. He brought me up since I was a small boy, and seems +unnecessarily ashamed of the result. It is his son who is the attache' +in St. Petersburg that I spoke to you about." + +Dorothy ceased reading for a moment. + +"Metgurne, Metgurne," she said to herself. "Surely I know that name?" + +She laid down the letter, pressed the electric button, and unlocked the +door. When the servant came, she said: + +"Will you ask at the office if they have any biographical book of +reference relating to Great Britain, and if so, please bring it to me." + +The servant appeared shortly after with a red book which proved to be an +English "Who's Who" dated two years back. Turning the pages she came to +Metgurne. + +"Metgurne, twelfth Duke of, created 1681, Herbert George Alan." Here +followed a number of other titles, the information that the son and heir +was Marquis of Thaxted, and belonged to the Diplomatic Service, that +Lord Metgurne was H. M. Secretary of State for Royal Dependencies; +finally a list of residences and clubs. She put down the book and +resumed the letter. + +"I think I ought to have told you that when I reach St. Petersburg I +shall be as anxious to avoid my cousin Thaxted as I am to steer clear of +his father in London. So I sat in my club, and read the papers. Dear me, +this is evidently going to be a very long letter. I hope you won't mind. +I think perhaps you may be interested in learning how they do things +over here. + +"After two or three days of anxious waiting there came a crushing +communication from the Admiralty which confirmed my worst fears and set +me at crossing the bridge again. I was ordered to report next morning +at eleven, at Committee Room 5, in the Admiralty, and bring with me +full particulars pertaining to the firing of gun number so-and-so of the +'Consternation's' equipment on such a date. I wonder since that I did +not take to drink. We have every facility for that sort of thing in this +club. However, at eleven next day, I presented myself at the Committee +Room and found in session the grimmest looking five men I have ever yet +been called upon to face. Collectively they were about ten times worse +in appearance than the court-martial I had previously encountered. Four +of the men I did not know, but the fifth I recognized at once, having +often seen his portrait. He is Admiral Sir John Pendergest, popularly +known in the service as 'Old Grouch,' a blue terror who knows absolutely +nothing of mercy. The lads in the service say he looks so disagreeable +because he is sorry he wasn't born a hanging judge. Picture a face as +cleanly cut as that of some severe old Roman Senator; a face as hard as +marble, quite as cold, and nearly as white, rescued from the appearance +of a death mask by a pair of piercing eyes that glitter like steel. When +looking at him it is quite impossible to believe that such a personage +has ever been a boy who played pranks on his masters. Indeed, +Admiral Sir John Pendergest seems to have sprung, fully uniformed and +forbidding, from the earth, like those soldiers of mythology. I was +so taken aback at confronting such a man that I never noticed my old +friend, Billy Richardson, seated at the table as one of the minor +officials of the Committee. Billy tells me I looked rather white about +the lips when I realized what was ahead of me, and I daresay he was +right. My consolation is that I didn't get red, as is my disconcerting +habit. I was accommodated with a chair, and then a ferrety-faced little +man began asking me questions, consulting every now and then a foolscap +sheet of paper which was before him. Others were ready to note down the +answers. + +"'When did you fire the new gun from the "Consternation" in the Baltic?' + +"Dear Miss Amhurst, I have confessed to you that I am not brilliant, +and, indeed, such confession was quite unnecessary, for you must +speedily have recognized the fact, but here let me boast for a line or +two of my one accomplishment, which is mathematical accuracy. When I +make experiments I don't note the result by rule of thumb. My answer to +the ferret-faced man was prompt and complete. + +"'At twenty-three minutes, seventeen seconds past ten, A.M., on May the +third of this year,' was my reply. + +"The five high officials remained perfectly impassive, but the two +stenographers seemed somewhat taken by surprise, and one of them +whispered, 'Did you say fifteen seconds, sir?' + +"'He said seventeen,' growled Sir John Pendergest, in a voice that +seemed to come out of a sepulchre. + +"'Who sighted the gun?' + +"'I did, sir.' + +"'Why did not the regular gunner do that?' + +"'He did, sir, but I also took observations, and raised the muzzle +.000327 of an inch.' + +"'Was your gunner inaccurate, then, to that extent?' + +"'No, sir, but I had weighed the ammunition, and found it short by two +ounces and thirty-seven grains.' + +"I must not bore you with all the questions and answers. I merely give +these as samples. They questioned me about the recoil, the action of the +gun, the state of this, that and the other after firing, and luckily I +was able to answer to a dot every query put to me. At the finish one +of the judges asked me to give in my own words my opinion of the gun. +Admiral Sir John glared at him as he put this question, for of course +to any expert the answers I had furnished, all taken together, gave +an accurate verdict on the gun, assuming my statements to have been +correct, which I maintain they were. However, as Sir John made no verbal +comment, I offered my opinion as tersely as I could. + +"'Thank you, Lieutenant Drummond,' rumbled Sir John in his deep voice, +as if he were pronouncing sentence, and, my testimony completed, the +Committee rose. + +"I was out in the street before Billy Richardson overtook me, and then +he called himself to my attention by a resounding slap on the shoulder. + +"'Alan, my boy,' he cried, 'you have done yourself proud. Your fortune's +made.' + +"'As how?' I asked, shaking him by the hand. + +"'Why, we've been for weeks holding an inquiry on this blessed gun, and +the question is whether or not a lot more of them are to be made. You +know what an opinionated beast Old Grouch is. Well, my boy, you have +corroborated his opinion of the gun in every detail. He is such a +brow-beating, tyrannical brute that the rest of the Committee would +rather like to go against him if they dared, but you have put a spoke in +their wheel. Why, Sir John never said "thank you" to a human being since +he was born until twenty-seven minutes and fifteen seconds after eleven +this morning, as you would have put it,' and at the time of writing this +letter this surmise of Billy's appears to be justified, for the tape in +the club just now announced that the Committee has unanimously decided +in favor of the gun, and adds that this is regarded as a triumph for the +chairman, Admiral Sir John Pendergest, with various letters after his +name. + +"Dear Miss Amhurst, this letter, as I feared, has turned out intolerably +long, and like our first conversation, it is all about myself. But then, +you see, you are the only one on the other side of the water to whom +I have confided my selfish worries, and I believe you to be so +kind-hearted that I am sure you will not censure me for this once +exceeding the limits of friendly correspondence. Having been deeply +depressed during all the previous long days, the sudden reaction urges +me to go out into Pall Mall, fling my cap in the air, and whoop, which +action is quite evidently a remnant of my former cow-boy aspirations. +Truth to tell, the Russian business seems already forgotten, except by +my stout old Captain on the 'Consternation,' or my Uncle. The strenuous +Sir John has had me haled across the ocean merely to give testimony, +lasting about thirty-five minutes, when with a little patience he might +have waited till the 'Consternation' herself arrived, or else have +cabled for us to try the gun at Bar Harbor. I suppose, however, that +after my unfortunate contretemps with Russia our government was afraid +I'd chip a corner off the United States, and that they'd have to pay for +it. So perhaps after all it was greater economy to bring me across on +the liner 'Enthusiana.' + +"By the way, I learned yesterday that the 'Consternation' has been +ordered home, and so I expect to see Jack Lamont before many days are +past. The ship will be paid off at Portsmouth, and then I suppose he and +I will have our freedom for six months. I am rather looking forward to +Jack's cooking me some weird but tasteful Russian dishes when we reach +his blacksmith's shop in St. Petersburg. If I get on in Russia as I hope +and expect, I shall spend the rest of my leave over in the States. I saw +very little indeed of that great country, and am extremely anxious to +see more. When one is on duty aboard ship one can only take very short +excursions ashore. I should like to visit Niagara. It seems ridiculous +that one should have been all along the American coast from Canada to +New York, and never have got far enough inland to view the great Falls. + +"Russia is rather dilatory in her methods, but I surely should know +within two or three weeks whether I am going to succeed or not. If +not, then there is no use in waiting there. I shall try to persuade the +Prince to accompany me to America. During the weeks I am waiting in St. +Petersburg I shall continually impress upon him the utter futility of +a life which has not investigated the great electrical power plant at +Niagara Falls. And then he is interested in the educational system of +the United States. While we were going to the station early that morning +he told me that the United States educational system must be the +most wonderful in the world, because he found that your friend, Miss +Katherine Kempt, knew more about electricity, metallurgy, natural +philosophy and a great number of other things he is interested in, than +all the ladies he has met in Europe put together. He thinks that's the +right sort of education for girls, and all this rather astonished me, +because, although your friend was most charming, she said nothing during +my very short acquaintance with her to lead me to suspect that she had +received a scientific training. + +"Dear Miss Amhurst, I am looking every day for a letter from you, but +none has yet been received by the Admiralty, who, when they get one, +will forward it to whatever part of the world I happen to be in." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII --"WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME" + +A SUMMER hotel that boasts a thousand acres of forest, more or less, +which serve the purposes of a back-yard, affords its guests, even if all +its multitude of rooms are occupied, at least one spot for each visitor +to regard as his or her favorite nook. So large an extent of woodland +successfully defies landscape gardening. It insists on being left alone, +and its very immensity raises a financial barrier against trimly-kept +gravel walks. There were plenty of landscape garden walks in the +immediate vicinity of the hotel, and some of them ambitiously penetrated +into the woods, relapsing from the civilization of beaten gravel into a +primitive thicket trail, which, however, always led to some celebrated +bit of picturesqueness: a waterfall, or a pulpit rock upstanding like a +tower, or the fancied resemblance of a human face carved by Nature +from the cliff, or a view-point jutting out over the deep chasm of the +valley, which usually supported a rustic summer house or pavilion +where unknown names were carved on the woodwork--the last resort of the +undistinguished to achieve immortality by means of a jack-knife. + +Dorothy discovered a little Eden of her own, to which no discernible +covert-way led, for it was not conspicuous enough to obtain mention in +the little gratis guide which the hotel furnished--a pamphlet on coated +paper filled with half-tone engravings, and half-extravagant eulogies of +what it proclaimed to be, an earthly paradise, with the rates by the +day or week given on the cover page to show on what terms this paradise +might be enjoyed. + +Dorothy's bower was green, and cool, and crystal, the ruggedness of the +rocks softened by the wealth of foliage. A very limpid spring, high up +and out of sight among the leaves, sent its waters tinkling down the +face of the cliff, ever filling a crystal-clear lakelet at the foot, +which yet was never full. Velvety and beautiful as was the moss +surrounding this pond, it was nevertheless too damp to form an +acceptable couch for a human being, unless that human being were brave +enough to risk the rheumatic inconveniences which followed Rip Van +Winkle's long sleep in these very regions, so Dorothy always carried +with her from the hotel a feather-weight, spider's-web hammock, which +she deftly slung between two saplings, their light suppleness giving an +almost pneumatic effect to this fairy net spread in a fairy glen; and +here the young woman swayed luxuriously in the relaxing delights of an +indolence still too new to have become commonplace or wearisome. + +She always expected to read a great deal in the hammock, but often the +book slipped unnoticed to the moss, and she lay looking upward at the +little discs of blue sky visible through the checkering maze of green +leaves. One afternoon, deserted by the latest piece of fictional +literature, marked in plain figures on the paper cover that protected +the cloth binding, one dollar and a half, but sold at the department +stores for one dollar and eight cents, Dorothy lay half-hypnotized by +the twinkling of the green leaves above her, when she heard a sweet +voice singing a rollicking song of the Civil War, and so knew that +Katherine was thus heralding her approach. + + "'When Johnny comes marching home again, + Hurrah! Hurrah! + We'll give him a hearty welcome then, + Hurrah! Hurrah! + The men will cheer, the boys will shout, + The ladies they will all turn out, + And we'll all feel gay + When Johnny comes marching home.'" + +Dorothy went still further back into the history of her country, and +gave a faint imitation of an Indian war-whoop, to let the oncomer know +she was welcome, and presently Katherine burst impetuously through the +dense undergrowth. + +"So here you are, Miss Laziness," she cried. + +"Here I am, Miss Energy, or shall I call you Miss-applied Energy? +Katherine, you have walked so fast that you are quite red in the face." + +"It isn't exertion, it's vexation. Dorothy, I have had a perfectly +terrible time. It is the anxiety regarding the proper discipline of +parents that is spoiling the nervous system of American children. Train +them up in the way they should go, and when they are old they do depart +from it. There's nothing more awful than to own parents who think they +possess a sense of humor. Thank goodness mother has none!" + +"Then it is your father who has been misbehaving?" + +"Of course it is. He treats the most serious problem of a woman's life +as if it were the latest thing in 'Life.'" + +Dorothy sat up in the hammock. + +"The most important problem? That means a proposal. Goodness gracious, +Kate, is that insurance man back here again?" + +"What insurance man?" + +"Oh, heartless and heart-breaking Katherine, is there another? Sit here +in the hammock beside me, and tell me all about it." + +"No, thank you," refused Katherine. "I weigh more than you, and I cannot +risk my neck through the collapse of that bit of gossamer. I must take +care of myself for his sake." + +"Then it is the life insurance man whose interests you are consulting? +Have you taken out a policy with him?" + +"Dear me, you are nearly as bad as father, but not quite so funny. You +are referring to Mr. Henderson, I presume. A most delightful companion +for a dance, but, my dear Dorothy, life is not all glided out to the +measures of a Strauss waltz." + +"True; quite undisputable, Kate, and them sentiments do you credit. Who +is the man?" + +"The human soul," continued Katherine seriously, "aspires to higher +things than the society columns of the New York Sunday papers, and the +frivolous chatter of an overheated ball-room." + +"Again you score, Kate, and are rising higher and higher in my +estimation. I see it all now. Those solemn utterances of yours point +directly toward Hugh Miller's 'Old Red Sandstone' and works of that +sort, and now I remember your singing 'When Johnny comes marching home.' +I therefore take it that Jack Lamont has arrived." + +"He has not." + +"Then he has written to you?" + +"He has not." + +"Oh, well, I give it up. Tell me the tragedy your own way." + +For answer Katherine withdrew her hands from behind her, and offered to +her friend a sheet of paper she had been holding. Dorothy saw blazoned +on the top of it a coat-of-arms, and underneath it, written in words of +the most formal nature, was the information that Prince Ivan Lermontoff +presented his warmest regards to Captain Kempt, U.S.N., retired, +and begged permission to pay his addresses to the Captain's daughter +Katherine. Dorothy looked up from the document, and her friend said +calmly: + +"You see, they need another Katherine in Russia." + +"I hope she won't be like a former one, if all I've read of her is true. +This letter was sent to your father, then?" + +"It was, and he seems to regard it as a huge joke. Said he was going to +cable his consent, and as the 'Consternation' has sailed away, he would +try to pick her up by wireless telegraphy, and secure the young man that +way: suggests that I shall have a lot of new photographs taken, so that +he can hand them out to the reporters when they call for particulars. +Sees in his mind's eye, he says, a huge black-lettered heading in +the evening papers: 'A Russian Prince captures one of our fairest +daughters,' and then insultingly hinted that perhaps, after all, it +was better not to use my picture, as it might not bear out the 'fair +daughter' fiction of the heading." + +"Yes, Kate, I can see that such treatment of a vital subject must have +been very provoking." + +"Provoking? I should say it was! He pretended he was going to tack this +letter up on the notice-board in the hall of the hotel, so that every +one might know what guests of distinction the Matterhorn House held. But +the most exasperating feature of the situation is that this letter has +been lying for days and days at our cottage in Bar Harbor. I am quite +certain that I left instructions for letters to be forwarded, but, as +nothing came, I telegraphed yesterday to the people who have taken our +house, and now a whole heap of belated correspondence has arrived, with +a note from our tenant saying he did not know our address. You will see +at the bottom of the note that the Prince asks my father to communicate +with him by sending a reply to the 'Consternation' at New York, but +now the 'Consternation' has sailed for England, and poor John must have +waited and waited in vain." + +"Write care of the 'Consternation' in England." + +"But Jack told me that the 'Consternation' paid off as soon as she +arrived, and probably he will have gone to Russia." + +"If you address him at the Admiralty in London, the letter will be +forwarded wherever he happens to be." + +"How do you know?" + +"I have heard that such is the case." + +"But you're not sure, and I want to be certain." + +"Are you really in love with him, Kate?" + +"Of course I am. You know that very well, and I don't want any stupid +misapprehension to arise at the beginning, such as allows a silly author +to carry on his story to the four-hundredth page of such trash as this," +and she gently touched with her toe the unoffending volume which lay on +the ground beneath the hammock. + +"Then why not adopt your father's suggestion, and cable? It isn't you +who are cabling, you know." + +"I couldn't consent to that. It would look as if we were in a hurry, +wouldn't it?" + +"Then let me cable." + +"You? To whom?" + +"Hand me up that despised book, Kate, and I'll write my cablegram on the +fly-leaf. If you approve of the message, I'll go to the hotel, and send +it at once." + +Katherine gave her the book, and lent the little silver pencil which +hung jingling, with other trinkets, on the chain at her belt. Dorothy +scribbled a note, tore out the fly-leaf, and presented it to Katherine, +who read: + +"Alan Drummond, Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, London. Tell Lamont that his +letter to Captain Kempt was delayed, and did not reach the Captain until +to-day. Captain Kempt's reply will be sent under cover to you at your +club. Arrange for forwarding if you leave England. + +"Dorothy Amhurst." + +When Katherine finished reading she looked up at her friend, and +exclaimed: "Well!" giving that one word a meaning deep as the clear pool +on whose borders she stood. + +Dorothy's face reddened as if the sinking western sun was shining full +upon it. + +"You write to one another, then?" + +"Yes." + +"And is it a case of--" + +"No; friendship." + +"Sure it is nothing more than that?" + +Dorothy shook her head. + +"Dorothy, you are a brick; that's what you are. You will do anything to +help a friend in trouble." + +Dorothy smiled. + +"I have so few friends that whatever I can do for them will not greatly +tax any capabilities I may possess." + +"Nevertheless, Dorothy, I thoroughly appreciate what you have done. You +did not wish any one to know you were corresponding with him, and yet +you never hesitated a moment when you saw I was anxious." + +"Indeed, Kate, there was nothing to conceal. Ours is a very ordinary +exchange of letters. I have only had two: one at Bar Harbor a few +days after he left, and another longer one since we came to the hotel, +written from England." + +"Did the last one go to Bar Harbor, too? How came you to receive it when +we did not get ours?" + +"It did not go to Bar Harbor. I gave him the address of my lawyers in +New York, and they forwarded it to me here. Lieutenant Drummond was +ordered home by some one who had authority to do so, and received the +message while he was sitting with me on the night of the ball. He had +got into trouble with Russia. There had been an investigation, and he +was acquitted. I saw that he was rather worried over the order home and +I expressed my sympathy as well as I could, hoping everything would +turn out for the best. He asked if he might write and let me know the +outcome, and, being interested, I quite willingly gave him permission, +and my address. The letter I received was all about a committee meeting +at the Admiralty in which he took part. He wrote to me from the club in +Pall Mall to which I have addressed this cablegram." + +There was a sly dimple in Katherine's cheeks as she listened to this +straightforward explanation, and the faintest possible suspicion of a +smile flickered at the corner of her mouth. She murmured, rather than +sang: + +"'A pair of lovesick maidens we.'" + +"One, if you please," interrupted Dorothy. + +"'Lovesick all against our will--'" + +"Only one." + +"'Twenty years hence we shan't be A pair of lovesick maidens still.'" + +"I am pleased to note," said Dorothy demurely, "that the letter written +by the Prince to your father has brought you back to the Gilbert and +Sullivan plane again, although in this fairy glen you should quote from +Iolanthe rather than from Patience." + +"Yes, Dot, this spot might do for a cove in the 'Pirates of Penzance,' +only we're too far from the sea. But, to return to the matter in hand, I +don't think there will be any need to send that cablegram. I don't like +the idea of a cablegram, anyhow. I will return to the hotel, and dictate +to my frivolous father a serious composition quite as stately and formal +as that received from the Prince. He will address it and seal it, and +then if you are kind enough to enclose it in the next letter you send to +Lieutenant Drummond, it will be sure to reach Jack Lamont ultimately." + +Dorothy sprang from the hammock to the ground. + +"Oh," she cried eagerly, "I'll go into the hotel with you and write my +letter at once." + +Katherine smiled, took her by the arm, and said: + +"You're a dear girl, Dorothy. I'll race you to the hotel, as soon as we +are through this thicket." + + + + +CHAPTER IX --IN RUSSIA + + +THE next letter Dorothy received bore Russian stamps, and was dated at +the black-smith's shop, Bolshoi Prospect, St. Petersburg. After a few +preliminaries, which need not be set down here, Drummond continued: + +"The day after Jack arrived in London, there being nothing whatever to +detain him in England, we set off together for St. Petersburg, and are +now domiciled above his blacksmith shop. We are not on the fashionable +side of the river, but our street is wide, and a very short walk brings +us to a bridge which, being crossed, allows us to wander among palaces +if we are so disposed. We have been here only four days, yet a good deal +has already been accomplished. The influence of the Prince has smoothed +my path for me. Yesterday I had an audience with a very important +personage in the Foreign Office, and to-day I have seen an officer of +high rank in the navy. The Prince warns me to mention no names, because +letters, even to a young lady, are sometimes opened before they reach +the person to whom they are addressed. These officials who have been +kind enough to receive me are gentlemen so polished that I feel quite +uncouth in their presence. I am a little shaky in my French, and feared +that my knowledge of that language might not carry me through, but both +of these officials speak English much better than I do, and they seemed +rather pleased I had voluntarily visited St. Petersburg to explain that +no discourtesy was meant in the action I had so unfortunately taken on +the Baltic, and they gave me their warmest assurances they would do +what they could to ease the tension between our respective countries. +It seems that my business here will be finished much sooner than I +expected, and then I am off on the quickest steamer for New York, in +the hope of seeing Niagara Falls. I have met with one disappointment, +however. Jack says he cannot possibly accompany me to the United States. +I have failed to arouse in him the faintest interest about the electric +works at Niagara. He insists that he is on the verge of a most important +discovery, the nature of which he does not confide in me. I think he is +working too hard, for he is looking quite haggard and overdone, but that +is always the way with him. He throws himself heart and soul into any +difficulty that confronts him, and works practically night and day until +he has solved it. + +"Yesterday he gave the whole street a fright. I had just returned +from the Foreign Office, and had gone upstairs to my room, when there +occurred an explosion that shook the building from cellar to roof, and +sent the windows of our blacksmith's shop rattling into the street. Jack +had a most narrow escape, but is unhurt, although that fine beard of +his was badly singed. He has had it shaved off, and now sports merely a +mustache, looking quite like a man from New York. You wouldn't recognize +him if you met him on Broadway. The carpenters and glaziers are at work +to-day repairing the damage. I told Jack that if this sort of thing kept +on I'd be compelled to patronize another hotel, but he says it won't +happen again. It seems he was trying to combine two substances by adding +a third, and, as I understood him, the mixing took place with unexpected +suddenness. He has endeavored to explain to me the reaction, as he +calls it, which occurred, but I seem to have no head for chemistry, and +besides, if I am to be blown through the roof some of these days it will +be no consolation to me when I come down upon the pavement outside +to know accurately the different elements which contributed to my +elevation. Jack is very patient in trying to instruct me, but he could +not resist the temptation of making me ashamed by saying that your +friend, Miss Katherine Kempt, would have known at once the full +particulars of the reaction. Indeed, he says, she warned him of the +disaster, by marking a passage in a book she gave him which foreshadowed +this very thing. She must be a most remarkable young woman, and it shows +how stupid I am that I did not in the least appreciate this fact when in +her company." + +The next letter was received a week later. He was getting on swimmingly, +both at the Foreign Office and at the Russian Admiralty. All the +officials he had met were most courteous and anxious to advance his +interests. He wrote about the misapprehensions held in England regarding +Russia, and expressed his resolve to do what he could when he returned +to remove these false impressions. + +"Of course," he went on, "no American or Englishman can support or +justify the repressive measures so often carried out ruthlessly by the +Russian police. Still, even these may be exaggerated, for the police +have to deal with a people very much different from our own. It is +rather curious that at this moment I am in vague trouble concerning the +police. I am sure this place is watched, and I am also almost certain +that my friend Jack is being shadowed. He dresses like a workman; his +grimy blouse would delight the heart of his friend Tolstoi, but he is +known to be a Prince, and I think the authorities imagine he is playing +up to the laboring class, whom they despise. I lay it all to that +unfortunate explosion, which gathered the police about us as if they had +sprung from the ground. There was an official examination, of course, +and Jack explained, apparently to everybody's satisfaction, exactly how +he came to make the mistake that resulted in the loss of his beard +and his windows. I don't know exactly how to describe the feeling of +uneasiness which has come over me. At first sight this city did not +strike me as so very much different from New York or London, and +meeting, as I did, so many refined gentlemen in high places, I had come +to think St. Petersburg was after all very much like Paris, or Berlin, +or Rome. But it is different, and the difference makes itself subtly +felt, just as the air in some coast towns of Britain is relaxing, and in +others bracing. In these towns a man doesn't notice the effect at first, +but later on he begins to feel it, and so it is here in St. Petersburg. +Great numbers of workmen pass down our street. They all seem to know who +the Prince is, and the first days we were here, they saluted him with a +deference which I supposed was due to his rank, in spite of the greasy +clothes he wore. Since the explosion an indefinable change has come over +these workmen. They salute the Prince still when we meet them on the +street, but there is in their attitude a certain sly sympathy, if I +may so term it; a bond of camaraderie which is implied in their manner +rather than expressed. Jack says this is all fancy on my part, but I +don't think it is. These men imagine that Prince Ivan Lermontoff, who +lives among them and dresses like them, is concocting some explosive +which may yet rid them of the tyrants who make their lives so unsafe. +All this would not matter, but what does matter is the chemical +reaction, as I believe Jack would term it, which has taken place among +the authorities. The authorities undoubtedly have their spies among +the working-men, and know well what they are thinking about and talking +about. I do not believe they were satisfied with the explanations Jack +gave regarding the disaster. I have tried to impress upon Jack that +he must be more careful in walking about the town, and I have tried +to persuade him, after work, to dress like the gentleman he is, but he +laughs at my fears, and assures me that I have gone from one extreme to +the other in my opinion of St. Petersburg. First I thought it was like +all other capitals; now I have swung too far in the other direction. He +says the police of St. Petersburg would not dare arrest him, but I'm +not so sure of that. A number of things occur to me, as usual, too late. +Russia, with her perfect secret service system, must know that Prince +Lermontoff has been serving in the British Navy. They know he returned +to St. Petersburg, avoids all his old friends, and is brought to their +notice by an inexplicable explosion, and they must be well aware, also, +that he is in the company of the man who fired the shell at the rock in +the Baltic, and that he himself served on the offending cruiser. + +"As to my own affairs, I must say they are progressing slowly but +satisfactorily; nevertheless, if Jack would leave St. Petersburg, +and come with me to London or New York, where he could carry on his +experiments quite as well, or even better than here, I should depart at +once, even if I jeopardized my own prospects." + +The next letter, some time later, began: + +"Your two charming notes to me arrived here together. It is very kind of +you to write to a poor exile and cheer him in his banishment. I should +like to see that dell where you have swung your hammock. Beware of +Hendrick Hudson's men, so delightfully written of by Washington Irving. +If they offer you anything to drink, don't you take it. Think how +disastrous it would be to all your friends if you went to sleep in that +hammock for twenty years. It's the Catskills I want to see now rather +than Niagara Falls. Your second letter containing the note from Captain +Kempt to Jack was at once delivered to him. What on earth has the genial +Captain written to effect such a transformation in my friend? He came to +me that evening clothed in his right mind; in evening rig-out, with his +decorations upon it, commanded me to get into my dinner togs, took me +in a carriage across the river to the best restaurant St. Petersburg +affords, and there we had a champagne dinner in which he drank to +America and all things American. Whether it was the enthusiasm produced +by Captain Kempt's communication, or the effect of the champagne, I do +not know, but he has reconsidered his determination not to return to the +United States, and very soon we set out together for the west. + +"I shall be glad to get out of this place. We were followed to the +restaurant, I am certain, and I am equally certain that at the next +table two police spies were seated, and these two shadowed us in a cab +until we reached our blacksmith's shop. It is a humiliating confession +to make, but somehow the atmosphere of this place has got on my nerves, +and I shall be glad to turn my back on it. Jack pooh-poohs the idea that +he is in any danger. Even the Governor of St. Petersburg, he says, dare +not lay a finger on him, and as for the Chief of Police, he pours scorn +on that powerful official. He scouts the idea that he is being watched, +and all-in-all is quite humorous at my expense, saying that my state of +mind is more fitting for a schoolgirl than for a stalwart man over six +feet in height. One consolation is that Jack now has become as keen for +America as I am. I expect that the interview arranged for me to-morrow +with a great government official will settle my own business finally one +way or another. A while ago I was confident of success, but the repeated +delays have made me less optimistic now, although the gentle courtesy of +those in high places remains undiminished. + +"Dear Miss Amhurst, I cannot afford to fall lower in your estimation +than perhaps I deserve, so I must say that this fear which has overcome +me is all on account of my friend, and not on my own behalf at all. I +am perfectly safe in Russia, being a British subject. My cold and formal +Cousin Thaxted is a member of the British Embassy here, and my cold and +formal uncle is a Cabinet Minister in England, facts which must be well +known to these spy-informed people of St. Petersburg; so I am immune. +The worst they could do would be to order me out of the country, but +even that is unthinkable. If any one attempted to interfere with me, I +have only to act the hero of the penny novelette, draw myself up to my +full height, which, as you know, is not that of a pigmy, fold my +arms across my manly chest, cry, 'Ha, ha!' and sing 'Rule Britannia,' +whereupon the villains would wilt and withdraw. But Jack has no +such security. He is a Russian subject, and, prince or commoner, the +authorities here could do what they liked with him. I always think of +things when it is too late to act. I wish I had urged Jack ashore at +Bar Harbor, and induced him to take the oath of allegiance to the United +States. I spoke to him about that coming home in the carriage, and to my +amazement he said he wished he had thought of it himself at the time we +were over there. + +"But enough of this. I daresay he is in no real danger after all. +Nevertheless, I shall induce him to pack to-morrow, and we will make +for London together, so my next letter will bear a British stamp, and I +assure you the air of England will taste good to one benighted Britisher +whose name is Alan Drummond." + + + + +CHAPTER X --CALAMITY UNSEEN + +THE habit of industry practised from childhood to maturity is not +obliterated by an unexpected shower of gold. Dorothy was an early riser, +and one morning, entering the parlor from her room she saw, lying upon +the table, a letter with a Russian stamp, but addressed in an unknown +hand to her friend Katherine Kempt. She surmised that here was the first +communication from the Prince, and expected to learn all about it during +the luncheon hour at the latest. But the morning and afternoon passed, +and Katherine made no sign, which Dorothy thought was most unusual. All +that day and the next Katherine went about silent, sedate and serious, +never once quoting the humorous Mr. Gilbert. On the third morning +Dorothy was surprised, emerging from her room, to see Katherine standing +by the table, a black book in her hand. On the table lay a large package +from New York, recently opened, displaying a number of volumes in what +might be termed serious binding, leather or cloth, but none showing that +high coloring which distinguishes the output of American fiction. + +"Good-morning, Dorothy. The early bird is after the worm of science." +She held forth the volume in her hand. "Steele's 'Fourteen-Weeks' Course +in Chemistry,' an old book, but fascinatingly written. Dorothy," she +continued with a sigh, "I want to talk seriously with you." + +"About chemistry?" asked Dorothy. + +"About men," said Katherine firmly, "and, incidentally, about women." + +"An interesting subject, Kate, but you've got the wrong text-books. You +should have had a parcel of novels instead." + +Dorothy seated herself, and Katherine followed her example, Steele's +"Fourteen-Weeks' Course" resting in her lap. + +"Every man," began Katherine, "should have a guardian to protect him." + +"From women?" + +"From all things that are deceptive, and not what they seem." + +"That sounds very sententious, Kate. What does it mean?" + +"It means that man is a simpleton, easily taken in. He is too honest for +crafty women, who delude him shamelessly." + +"Whom have you been deluding, Kate?" + +"Dorothy, I am a sneak." + +Dorothy laughed. + +"Indeed, Katherine, you are anything but that. You couldn't do a mean or +ungenerous action if you tried your best." + +"You think, Dorothy, I could reform?" she asked, breathlessly, leaning +forward. + +"Reform? You don't need to reform. You are perfectly delightful as you +are, and I know no man who is worthy of you. That's a woman's opinion; +one who knows you well, and there is nothing dishonest about the +opinion, either, in spite of your tirade against our sex." + +"Dorothy, three days ago, be the same more or less, I received a letter +from John Lamont." + +"Yes, I saw it on the table, and surmised it was from him." + +"Did you? You were quite right. The reading of that letter has +revolutionized my character. I am a changed woman, Dorothy, and +thoroughly ashamed of myself. When I remember how I have deluded that +poor, credulous young man, in making him believe I understood even the +fringe of what he spoke about, it fills me with grief at my perfidy, but +I am determined to amend my ways if hard study will do it, and when next +I see him I shall talk to him worthily like a female Thomas A. Edison." + +Again Dorothy laughed. + +"Now, that's heartless of you, Dorothy. Don't you see I'm in deadly +earnest? Must my former frivolity dog my steps through life? When I +call to mind that I made fun to you of his serious purpose in life, the +thought makes me cringe and despise myself." + +"Nonsense, Kate, don't go to the other extreme. I remember nothing you +have said that needs withdrawal. You have never made a malicious remark +in your life, Kate. Don't make me defend you against yourself. You have +determined, I take it, to plunge into the subjects which interest the +man you are going to marry. That is a perfectly laudable ambition, and I +am quite sure you will succeed." + +"I know I don't deserve all that, Dorothy, but I like it just the +same. I like people to believe in me, even if I sometimes lose faith in +myself. May I read you an extract from his letter?" + +"Don't if you'd rather not." + +"I'd rather, Dorothy, if it doesn't weary you, but you will understand +when you have heard it, in what a new light I regard myself." + +The letter proved to be within the leaves of the late Mr. Steele's book +on Chemistry, and from this volume she extracted it, pressed it for +a moment against her breast with her open hand, gazing across at her +friend. + +"Dorothy, my first love-letter!" + +She turned the crisp, thin pages, and began: + +"'You may recollect that foot-note which you marked with red ink in the +book you so kindly gave me on the subject of Catalysis, which did +not pertain to the subject of the volume in question, and yet was so +illuminative to any student of chemistry. They have done a great deal +with Catalysis in Germany with amazing commercial results, but the +subject is one so recent that I had not previously gone thoroughly into +it.'" + +Katherine paused in the reading, and looked across at her auditor, an +expression almost of despair in her eloquent eyes. + +"Dorothy, what under heaven is Catalysis?" + +"Don't ask me," replied Dorothy, suppressing a laugh, struck by the +ludicrousness of any young and beautiful woman pressing any such +sentiments as these to her bosom. + +"Have you ever heard of a Catalytic process, Dorothy?" beseeched +Katherine. "It is one of the phrases he uses." + +"Never; go on with the letter, Kate." + +"'I saw at once that if I could use Catalytic process which would be +instantaneous in its solidifying effect on my liquid limestone, instead +of waiting upon slow evaporation, I could turn out building stone faster +than one can make brick. You, I am sure, with your more alert mind, saw +this when you marked that passage in red.'" + +"Oh, Dorothy," almost whimpered Katherine, leaning back, "how can I go +on? Don't you see what a sneak I am? It was bad enough to cozen with my +heedless, random markings of the book, but to think that line of red ink +might have been marked in his blood, for I nearly sent the poor boy to +his death." + +"Go on, Katherine, go on, go on!" + +"'In my search for a Catalytic whose substance would remain unchanged +after the reaction, I quite overlooked the chemical ingredients of one +of the materials I was dealing with, and the result was an explosion +which nearly blew the roof off the shop, and quite startled poor +Drummond out of a year's growth. However, no real harm has been done, +while I have been taught a valuable lesson; to take into account all +the elements I am using. I must not become so intent on the subject I am +pursuing as to ignore everything else.' And now, Dorothy, I want to ask +you a most intimate question, which I beg of you to answer as frankly as +I have confided in you." + +"I know what your question is, Kate. A girl who is engaged wishes to see +her friend in the same position. You would ask me if I am in love with +Alan Drummond, and I answer perfectly frankly that I am not." + +"You are quite sure of that, Dorothy?" + +"Quite. He is the only man friend I have had, except my own father, and +I willingly confess to a sisterly interest in him." + +"Well, if that is all--" + +"It is all, Kate. Why?" + +"Because there is something about him in this letter, which I would read +to you if I thought you didn't care." + +"Oh, he is in love with Jack's sister, very likely. I should think that +would be a most appropriate arrangement. Jack is his best friend, and +perhaps a lover would weaken the influence which Tolstoi exerts over +an emotional person's mind. Lieutenant Drummond, with his sanity, would +probably rescue a remnant of her estates." + +"Oh, well, if you can talk as indifferently as that, you are all right, +Dorothy. No, there is no other woman in the case. Here's what Jack says: + +"'It is amazing how little an Englishman understands people of other +nations. Here is my tall friend Drummond marching nonchalantly among +dangers of which he has not the least conception. The authorities whom +he thinks so courteous are fooling him to the top of his bent. There +is, of course, no danger of his arrest, but nevertheless the eyes of the +police are upon him, and he will not believe it, any more than he will +believe he is being hoodwinked by the Foreign Minister. What I fear is +that he will be bludgeoned on the street some dark night, or involved in +a one-sided duel. Twice I have rescued him from an imminent danger +which he has not even seen. Once in a restaurant a group of officers, +apparently drunk, picked a quarrel and drew swords upon him. I had +the less difficulty in getting him away because he fears a broil, or +anything that will call down upon him the attention of his wooden-headed +cousin in the Embassy. On another occasion as we were coming home toward +midnight, a perfectly bogus brawl broke out suddenly all around us. +Drummond was unarmed, but his huge fists sent sprawling two or three +of his assailants. I had a revolver, and held the rest off, and so we +escaped. I wish he was safely back in London again.' What do you think +of that, Dorothy?" + +"I think exactly what Mr. Lamont thinks. Lieutenant Drummond's mission +to Russia seems to me a journey of folly." + +"After all, I am glad you don't care, Dorothy. He should pay attention +to what Jack says, for Jack knows Russia, and he doesn't. Still, let +us hope he will come safely out of St. Petersburg. And now, Dot, for +breakfast, because I must get to work." + +Next morning Dorothy saw a letter for herself on the table in the now +familiar hand-writing, and was more relieved than perhaps she would +have confessed even to her closest friend, when she saw the +twopence-halfpenny English stamp on the envelope. Yet its contents were +startling enough, and this letter she did not read to Katherine Kempt, +but bore its anxiety alone. + +DEAR MISS AMHURST: + +I write you in great trouble of mind, not trusting this letter to the +Russian post-office, but sending it by an English captain to be posted +in London. Two days ago Jack Lamont disappeared; a disappearance as +complete as if he had never existed. The night before last, about +ten o'clock, I thought I heard him come into his shop below my room. +Sometimes he works there till daylight, and as, when absorbed in his +experiments, he does not relish interruptions, even from me, I go on +with my reading until he comes upstairs. Toward eleven o'clock I thought +I heard slight sounds of a scuffle, and a smothered cry. I called out +to him, but received no answer. Taking a candle, I went downstairs, but +everything was exactly as usual, the doors locked, and not even a bench +overturned. I called aloud, but only the echo of this barn of a room +replied. I lit the gas and made a more intelligent search, but with +no result. I unlocked the door, and stood out in the street, which was +quite silent and deserted. I began to doubt that I had heard anything at +all, for, as I have told you, my nerves lately have been rather prone to +the jumps. I sat up all night waiting for him, but he did not come. Next +day I went, as had been previously arranged, to the Foreign Office, but +was kept waiting in an anteroom for two hours, and then told that the +Minister could not see me. I met a similar repulse at the Admiralty. I +dined alone at the restaurant Jack and I frequent, but saw nothing of +him. This morning he has not returned, and I am at my wit's end, not +in the least knowing what to do. It is useless for me to appeal to +the embassy of my country, for, Jack being a Russian, it has no +jurisdiction. The last letter I received from you was tampered with. The +newspaper extract you spoke of was not there, and one of the sheets of +the letter was missing. Piffling business, I call it, this interfering +with private correspondence. + +Such was the last letter that Alan Drummond was ever to send to Dorothy +Amhurst. + + + + +CHAPTER XI --THE SNOW + + +SUMMER waned; the evenings became chill, although the sun pretended at +noon that its power was undiminished. Back to town from mountain and sea +shore filtered the warm-weather idlers, but no more letters came from +St. Petersburg to the hill by the Hudson. So far as our girls were +concerned, a curtain of silence had fallen between Europe and America. + +The flat was now furnished, and the beginning of autumn saw it occupied +by the two friends. Realization in this instance lacked the delight of +anticipation. At last Katherine was the bachelor girl she had longed to +be, but the pleasures of freedom were as Dead Sea fruit to the lips. At +last Dorothy was effectually cut off from all thoughts of slavery, with +unlimited money to do what she pleased with, yet after all, of what +advantage was it in solving the problem that haunted her by day and +filled her dreams by night. She faced the world with seeming unconcern, +for she had not the right to mourn, even if she knew he were dead. He +had made no claim; had asked for no affection; had written no word to +her but what all the world might read. Once a week she made a little +journey up the Hudson to see how her church was coming on, and at first +Katherine accompanied her, but now she went alone. Katherine was too +honest a girl to pretend an interest where she felt none. She could not +talk of architecture when she was thinking of a man and his fate. At +first she had been querulously impatient when no second communication +came. Her own letters, she said, must have reached him, otherwise they +would have been returned. Later, dumb fear took possession of her, and +she grew silent, plunged with renewed energy into her books, joined +a technical school, took lessons, and grew paler and paler until her +teachers warned her she was overdoing it. Inwardly she resented the +serene impassiveness of her friend, who consulted calmly with the +architect upon occasion about the decoration of the church, when men's +liberty was gone, and perhaps their lives. She built up within her mind +a romance of devotion, by which her lover, warning in vain the stolid +Englishman, had at last been involved in the ruin that Drummond's +stubbornness had brought upon them both, and unjustly implicated the +quiet woman by her side in the responsibility of this sacrifice. Once or +twice she spoke with angry impatience of Drummond and his stupidity, but +Dorothy neither defended nor excused, and so no open rupture occurred +between the two friends, for a quarrel cannot be one-sided. + +But with a woman of Katherine's temperament the final outburst had to +come, and it came on the day that the first flurry of snow fell through +the still air, capering in large flakes past the windows of the flat +down to the muddy street far below. Katherine was standing by the +window, with her forehead leaning against the plate glass, in exactly +the attitude that had been her habit in the sewing-room at Bar Harbor, +but now the staccato of her fingers on the sill seemed to drum a Dead +March of despair. The falling snow had darkened the room, and one +electric light was aglow over the dainty Chippendale desk at which +Dorothy sat writing a letter. The smooth, regular flow of the pen over +the paper roused Katherine to a frenzy of exasperation. Suddenly she +brought her clenched fist down on the sill where her fingers had been +drumming. + +"My God," she cried, "how can you sit there like an automaton with the +snow falling?" + +Dorothy put down her pen. + +"The snow falling?" she echoed. "I don't understand!" + +"Of course you don't. You don't think of the drifts in Siberia, and the +two men you have known, whose hands you have clasped, manacled, driven +through it with the lash of a Cossack's whip." + +Dorothy rose quietly, and put her hands on the shoulders of the girl, +feeling her frame tremble underneath her touch. + +"Katherine," she said, quietly, but Katherine, with a nervous twitch of +her shoulders flung off the friendly grasp. + +"Don't touch me," she cried. "Go back to your letter-writing. You and +the Englishman are exactly alike; unfeeling, heartless. He with his +selfish stubbornness has involved an innocent man in the calamity his +own stupidity has brought about." + +"Katherine, sit down. I want to talk calmly with you." + +"Calmly! Calmly! Yes, that is the word. It is easy for you to be calm +when you don't care. But I care, and I cannot be calm." + +"What do you wish to do, Katherine?" + +"What can I do? I am a pauper and a dependent, but one thing I am +determined to do, and that is to go and live in my father's house." + +"If you were in my place, what would you do Katherine?" + +"I would go to Russia." + +"What would you do when you arrived there?" + +"If I had wealth I would use it in such a campaign of bribery and +corruption in that country of tyrants that I should release two innocent +men. I'd first find out where they were, then I'd use all the influence +I possessed with the American Ambassador to get them set free." + +"The American Ambassador, Kate, cannot move to release either an +Englishman or a Russian." + +"I'd do it somehow. I wouldn't sit here like a stick or a stone, writing +letters to my architect." + +"Would you go to Russia alone?" + +"No, I should take my father with me." + +"That is an excellent idea, Kate. I advise you to go north by to-night's +train, if you like, and see him, or telegraph to him to come and see +us." + +Kate sat down, and Dorothy drew the curtains across the window pane and +snapped on the central cluster of electric lamps. + +"Will you come with me if I go north?" asked Kate, in a milder tone than +she had hitherto used. + +"I cannot. I am making an appointment with a man in this room +to-morrow." + +"The architect, I suppose," cried Kate with scorn. + +"No, with a man who may or may not give me information of Lamont or +Drummond." + +Katherine stared at her open-eyed. + +"Then you have been doing something?" + +"I have been trying, but it is difficult to know what to do. I have +received information that the house in which Mr. Lamont and Mr. +Drummond lived is now deserted, and no one knows anything of its former +occupants. That information comes to me semi-officially, but it does not +lead far. I have started inquiry through more questionable channels; in +other words, I have invoked the aid of a Nihilist society, and although +I am quite determined to go to Russia with you, do not be surprised if I +am arrested the moment I set foot in St. Petersburg." + +"Dorothy, why did you not let me know?" + +"I was anxious to get some good news to give you, but it has not come +yet." + +"Oh, Dorothy," moaned Katherine, struggling to keep back the tears that +would flow in spite of her. Dorothy patted her on the shoulder. + +"You have been a little unjust," she said, "and I am going to prove that +to you, so that in trying to make amends you may perhaps stop brooding +over this crisis that faces two poor lone women. You wrong the +Englishman, as you call him. Jack was arrested at least two days before +he was. Nihilist spies say that both of them were arrested, the Prince +first, and the Englishman several days later. I had a letter from Mr. +Drummond a short time after you received yours from Mr. Lamont. I never +showed it to you, but now things are so bad that they cannot be worse, +and you are at liberty to read the letter if you wish to do so. It +tells of Jack's disappearance, and of Drummond's agony of mind and +helplessness in St. Petersburg. Since he has never written again, I am +sure he was arrested later. I don't know which of the two was most at +fault for what you call stubbornness, but I believe the explosion had +more to do with the arrests than any action of theirs." + +"And I was the cause of that," wailed Katherine. + +"No, no, my dear girl. No one is to blame but the tyrant of Russia. Now +the Nihilists insist that neither of these men has been sent to Siberia. +They think they are in the prison of 'St. Peter and St. Paul.' That +information came to me to-day in the letter I was just now answering. +So, Katherine, I think you have been unjust to the Englishman. If he had +been arrested first, there might be some grounds for what you charge, +but they evidently gave him a chance to escape. He had his warning in +the disappearance of his friend, and he had several days in which to get +out of St. Petersburg, but he stood his ground." + +"I'm sorry, Dorothy. I'm a silly fool, and to-day, when I saw the +snow--well, I got all wrought up." + +"I think neither of the men are in the snow, and now I am going to say +something else, and then never speak of the subject again. You say I +didn't care, and of course you are quite right, for I confessed to you +that I didn't. But just imagine--imagine--that I cared. The Russian +Government can let the Prince go at any moment, and there's nothing more +to be said. He has no redress, and must take the consequences of his +nationality. But if the Russian Government have arrested the Englishman; +if they have put him in the prison of 'St. Peter and St. Paul,' they +dare not release him, unless they are willing to face war. The Russian +Government can do nothing in his case but deny, demand proof, and +obliterate all chance of the truth ever being known. Alan Drummond is +doomed: they dare not release him. Now think for a moment how much worse +my case would be than yours, if--if--" her voice quivered and broke for +the moment, then with tightly clenched fists she recovered control of +herself, and finished: "if I cared." + +"Oh, Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy!" gasped Katherine, springing to her +feet. + +"No, no, don't jump at any false conclusion. We are both nervous wrecks +this afternoon. Don't misunderstand me. I don't care--I don't care, +except that I hate tyranny, and am sorry for the victims of it." + +"Dorothy, Dorothy!" + +"We need a sane man in the house, Kate. Telegraph for your father to +come down and talk to us both. I must finish my letter to the Nihilist." + +"Dorothy!" said Katherine, kissing her. + + + + +CHAPTER XII --THE DREADED TROGZMONDOFF + + +THE Nihilist was shown into the dainty drawing room of the flat, and +found Dorothy Amhurst alone, as he had stipulated, waiting for him. +He was dressed in a sort of naval uniform and held a peaked cap in his +hand, standing awkwardly there as one unused to luxurious surroundings. +His face was bronzed with exposure to sun and storm, and although he +appeared to be little more than thirty years of age his closely cropped +hair was white. His eyes were light blue, and if ever the expression of +a man's countenance betokened stalwart honesty, it was the face of this +sailor. He was not in the least Dorothy's idea of a dangerous plotter. + +"Sit down," she said, and he did so like a man ill at ease. + +"I suppose Johnson is not your real name," she began. + +"It is the name I bear in America, Madam." + +"Do you mind my asking you some questions?" + +"No, Madam, but if you ask me anything I am not allowed to answer I +shall not reply." + +"How long have you been in the United States?" + +"Only a few months, Madam." + +"How come you to speak English so well?" + +"In my young days I shipped aboard a bark plying between Helsingfors and +New York." + +"You are a Russian?" + +"I am a Finlander, Madam." + +"Have you been a sailor all your life?" + +"Yes, Madam. For a time I was an unimportant officer on board a +battleship in the Russian Navy, until I was discovered to be a Nihilist, +when I was cast into prison. I escaped last May, and came to New York." + +"What have you been doing since you arrived here?" + +"I was so fortunate as to become mate on the turbine yacht 'The Walrus,' +owned by Mr. Stockwell." + +"Oh, that's the multi-millionaire whose bank failed a month ago?" + +"Yes, Madam." + +"But does he still keep a yacht?" + +"No, Madam. I think he has never been aboard this one, although it is +probably the most expensive boat in these waters. I am told it cost +anywhere from half a million to a million. She was built by Thornycroft, +like a cruiser, with Parson's turbine engines in her. After the failure, +Captain and crew were discharged, and I am on board as a sort of +watchman until she is sold, but there is not a large market for a boat +like 'The Walrus,' and I am told they will take the fittings out of her, +and sell her as a cruiser to one of the South American republics." + +"Well, Mr. Johnson, you ought to be a reliable man, if the Court has put +you in charge of so valuable a property." + +"I believe I am considered honest, Madam." + +"Then why do you come to me asking ten thousand dollars for a letter +which you say was written to me, and which naturally belongs to me?" + +The man's face deepened into a mahogany brown, and he shifted his cap +uneasily in his hands. + +"Madam, I am not acting for myself. I am Secretary of the Russian +Liberation Society. They, through their branch at St. Petersburg, have +conducted some investigations on your behalf." + +"Yes, for which I paid them very well." + +Johnson bowed. + +"Our object, Madam, is the repression of tyranny. For that we are in +continual need of money. It is the poor, and not the millionaires, who +subscribe to our fund. It has been discovered that you are a rich woman, +who will never miss the money asked, and so the demand was made. +Believe me, Madam, I am acting by the command of my comrades. I tried +to persuade them to leave compensation to your own generosity, but they +refused. If you consider their demand unreasonable, you have but to say +so, and I will return and tell them your decision." + +"Have you brought the letter with you?" + +"Yes, Madam." + +"Must I agree to your terms before seeing it?" + +"Yes, Madam." + +"Have you read it?" + +"Yes, Madam." + +"Do you think it worth ten thousand dollars?" + +The sailor looked up at the decorated ceiling for several moments before +he replied. + +"That is a question I cannot answer," he said at last. "It all depends +on what you think of the writer." + +"Answer one more question. By whom is the letter signed?" + +"There is no signature, Madam. It was found in the house where the +two young men lived. Our people searched the house from top to bottom +surreptitiously, and they think the writer was arrested before he had +finished the letter. There is no address, and nothing to show for whom +it is intended, except the phrase beginning, 'My dearest Dorothy.'" + +The girl leaned back in her chair, and drew a long breath. "It is not +for me," she said, hastily; then bending forward, she cried suddenly: + +"I agree to your terms: give it to me." + +The man hesitated, fumbling in his inside pocket. + +"I was to get your promise in writing," he demurred. + +"Give it to me, give it to me," she demanded. "I do not break my word." + +He handed her the letter. + +"My dearest Dorothy," she read, in writing well known to her. "You may +judge my exalted state of mind when you see that I dare venture on such +a beginning. I have been worrying myself and other people all to +no purpose. I have received a letter from Jack this morning, and so +suspicious had I grown that for a few moments I suspected the writing +was but an imitation of his. He is a very impulsive fellow, and can +think of only one thing at a time, which accounts for his success in the +line of invention. He was telegraphed to that his sister was ill, and +left at once to see her. I had allowed my mind to become so twisted by +my fears for his safety that, as I tell you, I suspected the letter to +be counterfeit at first. I telegraphed to his estate, and received a +prompt reply saying that his sister was much better, and that he was +already on his way back, and would reach me at eleven to-night. So +that's what happens when a grown man gets a fit of nerves. I drew the +most gloomy conclusions from the fact that I had been refused admission +to the Foreign Office and the Admiralty. Yesterday that was all +explained away. The business is at last concluded, and I was shown +copies of the letters which have been forwarded to my own chiefs at +home. Nothing could be more satisfactory. To-morrow Jack and I will be +off to England together. + +"My dearest Dorothy (second time of asking), I am not a rich man, but +then, in spite of your little fortune of Bar Harbor, you are not a rich +woman, so we stand on an equality in that, even though you are so much +my superior in everything else. I have five hundred pounds a year, which +is something less than two thousand five hundred dollars, left me by my +father. This is independent of my profession. I am very certain I will +succeed in the Navy now that the Russian Government has sent those +letters, so, the moment I was assured of that, I determined to write and +ask you to be my wife. Will you forgive my impatience, and pander to it +by cabling to me at the Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, the word 'Yes' or the +word 'Undecided'? I shall not allow you the privilege of cabling 'No.' +And please give me a chance of pleading my case in person, if you use +the longer word. Ah, I hear Jack's step on the stair. Very stealthily he +is coming, to surprise me, but I'll surprise--" + +Here the writing ended. She folded the letter, and placed it in her +desk, sitting down before it. + +"Shall I make the check payable to you, or to the Society?" + +"To the Society, if you please, Madam." + +"I shall write it for double the amount asked. I also am a believer in +liberty." + +"Oh, Madam, that is a generosity I feel we do not deserve. I should +like to have given you the letter after all you have done for us with no +conditions attached." + +"I am quite sure of that," said Dorothy, bending over her writing. She +handed him the check, and he rose to go. + +"Sit down again, if you please. I wish to talk further with you. Your +people in St. Petersburg think my friends have not been sent to Siberia? +Are they sure of that?" + +"Well, Madam, they have means of knowing those who are transported, and +they are certain the two young men were not among the recent gangs sent. +They suppose them to be in the fortress of 'St. Peter and St. Paul', at +least that's what they say." + +"You speak as if you doubted it." + +"I do doubt it." + +"They have been sent to Siberia after all?" + +"Ah, Madam, there are worse places than Siberia. In Siberia there is a +chance: in the dreadful Trogzmondoff there is none." + +"What is the Trogzmondoff?" + +"A bleak 'Rock in the Baltic,' Madam, the prison in which death is the +only goal that releases the victim." + +Dorothy rose trembling, staring at him, her lips white. + +"'A Rock in the Baltic!' Is that a prison, and not a fortress, then?" + +"It is both prison and fortress, Madam. If Russia ever takes the risk of +arresting a foreigner, it is to the Trogzmondoff he is sent. They drown +the victims there; drown them in their cells. There is a spring in the +rock, and through the line of cells it runs like a beautiful rivulet, +but the pulling of a lever outside stops the exit of the water, and +drowns every prisoner within. The bodies are placed one by one on a +smooth, inclined shute of polished sandstone, down which this rivulet +runs so they glide out into space, and drop two hundred feet into the +Baltic Sea. No matter in what condition such a body is found, or how +recent may have been the execution, it is but a drowned man in the +Baltic. There are no marks of bullet or strangulation, and the currents +bear them swiftly away from the rock." + +"How come you to know all this which seems to have been concealed from +the rest of the world?" + +"I know it, Madam, for the best of reasons. I was sentenced this very +year to Trogzmondoff. In my youth trading between Helsingfors and New +York, I took out naturalization papers in New York, because I was one +of the crew on an American ship. When they illegally impressed me at +Helsingfors and forced me to join the Russian Navy, I made the best of +a bad bargain, and being an expert seaman, was reasonably well treated, +and promoted, but at last they discovered I was in correspondence with +a Nihilist circle in London, and when I was arrested, I demanded the +rights of an American citizen. That doomed me. I was sent, without +trial, to the Trogzmondoff in April of this year. Arriving there I was +foolish enough to threaten, and say my comrades had means of letting +the United States Government know, and that a battleship would teach the +gaolers of the rock better manners. + +"The cells hewn in the rock are completely dark, so I lost all count of +time. You might think we would know night from day by the bringing in of +our meals, but such was not the case. The gaoler brought in a large loaf +of black bread, and said it was to serve me for four days. He placed the +loaf on a ledge of rock about three feet from the floor, which served +as both table and bed. In excavating the cell this ledge had been left +intact, with a bench of stone rising from the floor opposite. Indeed, so +ingenious had been the workmen who hewed out this room that they carved +a rounded stone pillow at one end of the shelf. + +"I do not know how many days I had been in prison when the explosion +occurred. It made the whole rock quiver, and I wondered what had +happened. Almost immediately afterward there seemed to be another +explosion, not nearly so harsh, which I thought was perhaps an echo +of the first. About an hour later my cell door was unlocked, and the +gaoler, with another man holding a lantern, came in. My third loaf of +black bread was partly consumed, so I must have been in prison nine +or ten days. The gaoler took the loaf outside, and when he returned. +I asked him what had happened. He answered in a surly fashion that my +American warship had fired at the rock, and that the rock had struck +back, whereupon she sailed away, crippled." + +Dorothy, who had been listening intently to this discourse, here +interrupted with: + +"It was an English war-ship that fired the shell, and the Russian shot +did not come within half a mile of her." + +The sailor stared at her in wide-eyed surprise. + +"You see, I have been making inquiries," she explained. "Please go on." + +"I never heard that it was an English ship. The gaoler sneered at me, +and said he was going to send me after the American vessel, as I suppose +he thought it was. I feared by his taking away of the bread that it was +intended to starve me to death, and was sorry I had not eaten more at my +last meal. I lay down on the shelf of rock, and soon fell asleep. I was +awakened by the water lapping around me. The cell was intensely still. +Up to this I had always enjoyed the company of a little brook that ran +along the side of the cell farthest from the door. Its music had now +ceased, and when I sprang up I found myself to the waist in very cold +water. I guessed at once the use of the levers outside the cell in the +passage which I had noticed in the light of the lantern on the day I +entered the place, and I knew now why it was that the prison door was +not pierced by one of those gratings which enable the gaoler in the +passage to look into the cell any time of night or day. Prisoners have +told me that the uncertainty of an inmate who never knew when he might +be spied upon added to the horror of the situation, but the water-tight +doors of the Trogzmondoff are free from this feature, and for a very +sinister reason. + +"The channel in the floor through which the water runs when the cell is +empty, and the tunnel at the ceiling through which the water flows when +the cell is full, give plenty of ventilation, no matter how tightly the +door may be closed. The water rose very gradually until it reached the +top outlet, then its level remained stationary. I floated on the top +quite easily, with as little exertion as was necessary to keep me in +that position. If I raised my head, my brow struck the ceiling. The next +cell to mine, lower down, was possibly empty. I heard the water pour +into it like a little cataract. The next cell above, and indeed all the +cells in that direction were flooded like my own. Of course it was +no trouble for me to keep afloat; my only danger was that the intense +coldness of the water would numb my body beyond recovery. Still, I had +been accustomed to hardships of that kind before now, in the frozen +North. At last the gentle roar of the waterfall ceased, and I realized +my cell was emptying itself. When I reached my shelf again, I stretched +my limbs back and forth as strenuously as I could, and as silently, for +I wished no sound to give any hint that I was still alive, if, indeed, +sound could penetrate to the passage, which is unlikely. Even before +the last of the water had run away from the cell, I lay stretched out +at full length on the floor, hoping I might have steadiness enough to +remain death-quiet when the men came in with the lantern. I need have +had no fear. The door was opened, one of the men picked me up by the +heels, and, using my legs as if they were the shafts of a wheelbarrow, +dragged me down the passage to the place where the stream emerged from +the last cell, and into this torrent he flung me. There was one swift, +brief moment of darkness, then I shot, feet first, into space, and +dropped down, down, down through the air like a plummet, into the arms +of my mother." + +"Into what?" cried Dorothy, white and breathless, thinking the recital +of these agonies had turned the man's brain. + +"The Baltic, Madam, is the Finlander's mother. It feeds him in life, +carries him whither he wishes to go, and every true Finlander hopes to +die in her arms. The Baltic seemed almost warm after what I had been +through, and the taste of the salt on my lips was good. It was a +beautiful starlight night in May, and I floated around the rock, for I +knew that in a cove on the eastern side, concealed from all view of the +sea, lay a Finland fishing-boat, a craft that will weather any storm, +and here in the water was a man who knew how to handle it. Prisoners are +landed on the eastern side, and such advantage is taken of the natural +conformation of this precipitous rock, that a man climbing the steep +zigzag stairway which leads to the inhabited portion is hidden from +sight of any craft upon the water even four or five hundred yards +away. Nothing seen from the outside gives any token of habitation. +The fishing-boat, I suppose, is kept for cases of emergency, that the +Governor may communicate with the shore if necessary. I feared it might +be moored so securely that I could not unfasten it. Security had made +them careless, and the boat was tied merely by lines to rings in the +rock, the object being to keep her from bruising her sides against the +stone, rather than to prevent any one taking her away. I pushed her out +into the open, got quietly inside, and floated with the swift tide, not +caring to raise a sail until I was well out of gunshot distance. Once +clear of the rock I spread canvas, and by daybreak was long out of sight +of land. I made for Stockholm, and there being no mark or name on the +boat to denote that it belonged to the Russian Government, I had little +difficulty in selling it. I told the authorities what was perfectly +true: that I was a Finland sailor escaping from the tyrant of my +country, and anxious to get to America. As such events are happening +practically every week along the Swedish coast I was not interfered +with, and got enough money from the sale of the boat to enable me +to dress myself well, and take passage to England, and from there +first-class to New York on a regular liner. + +"Of course I could have shipped as a sailor from Stockholm easy enough, +but I was tired of being a common sailor, and expected, if I was +respectably clothed, to get a better position than would otherwise be +the case. This proved true, for crossing the ocean I became acquainted +with Mr. Stockwell, and he engaged me as mate of his yacht. That's how I +escaped from the Trogzmondoff, Madam, and I think no one but a Finlander +could have done it." + +"I quite agree with you," said Dorothy. "You think these two men I have +been making inquiry about have been sent to the Trogzmondoff?" + +"The Russian may not be there, Madam, but the Englishman is sure to be +there." + +"Is the cannon on the western side of the rock?" + +"I don't know, Madam. I never saw the western side by daylight. I +noticed nothing on the eastern side as I was climbing the steps, to show +that any cannon was on the Trogzmondoff at all." + +"I suppose you had no opportunity of finding out how many men garrison +the rock?" + +"No, Madam. I don't think the garrison is large. The place is so secure +that it doesn't need many men to guard it. Prisoners are never taken out +for exercise, and, as I told you, they are fed but once in four days." + +"How large a crew can 'The Walrus' carry?" + +"Oh, as many as you like, Madam. The yacht is practically an ocean +liner." + +"Is there any landing stage on the eastern side of the rock?" + +"Practically none, Madam. The steamer stood out, and I was landed in the +cove I spoke of at the foot of the stairway." + +"It wouldn't be possible to bring a steamer like 'The Walrus' alongside +the rock, then?" + +"It would be possible in calm weather, but very dangerous even then." + +"Could you find that rock if you were in command of a ship sailing the +Baltic?" + +"Oh, yes, Madam." + +"If twenty or thirty determined men were landed on the stairway, do you +think they could capture the garrison?" + +"Yes, if they were landed secretly, but one or two soldiers at the top +with repeating rifles might hold the stairway against an army, while +their ammunition lasted." + +"But if a shell were fired from the steamer, might not the attacking +company get inside during the confusion among the defenders?" + +"That is possible, Madam, but a private steamer firing shells, or, +indeed, landing a hostile company, runs danger of meeting the fate of a +pirate." + +"You would not care to try it, then?" + +"I? Oh, I should be delighted to try it, if you allow me to select the +crew. I can easily get aboard the small arms and ammunition necessary, +but I am not so sure about the cannon." + +"Very good. I need not warn you to be extremely cautious regarding those +you take into your confidence. Meanwhile, I wish you to communicate +with the official who is authorized to sell the yacht. I am expecting +a gentleman to-morrow in whose name the vessel will probably be bought, +and I am hoping he will accept the captaincy of it." + +"Is he capable of filling that position, Madam? Is he a sailor?" + +"He was for many years captain in the United States Navy. I offer you +the position of mate, but I will give you captain's pay, and a large +bonus in addition if you faithfully carry out my plans, whether they +prove successful or not. I wish you to come here at this hour to-morrow, +with whoever is authorized to sell or charter the steamer. You may say I +am undecided whether to buy or charter. I must consult Captain Kempt on +that point." + +"Thank you, Madam, I shall be here this time to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII --ENTRAPPED + + +PRINCE IVAN LERMONTOFF came to consider the explosion one of the +luckiest things that had ever occurred in his workshop. Its happening +so soon after he reached St. Petersburg he looked upon as particularly +fortunate, because this gave him time to follow the new trend of +thought along which his mind had been deflected by such knowledge as the +unexpected outcome of his experiment had disclosed to him. The material +he had used as a catalytic agent was a new substance which he had read +of in a scientific review, and he had purchased a small quantity of it +in London. If such a minute portion produced results so tremendous, +he began to see that a man with an apparently innocent material in his +waistcoat pocket might probably be able to destroy a naval harbor, +so long as water and stone were in conjunction. There was also a +possibility that a small quantity of ozak, as the stuff was called, +mixed with pure water, would form a reducing agent for limestone, and +perhaps for other minerals, which would work much quicker than if the +liquid was merely impregnated with carbonic acid gas. He endeavored to +purchase some ozak from Mr. Kruger, the chemist on the English quay, but +that good man had never heard of it, and a day's search persuaded him +that it could not be got in St. Petersburg, so the Prince induced Kruger +to order half a pound of it from London or Paris, in which latter city +it had been discovered. For the arrival of this order the Prince waited +with such patience as he could call to his command, and visited poor Mr. +Kruger every day in the hope of receiving it. + +One afternoon he was delighted to hear that the box had come, although +it had not yet been unpacked. + +"I will send it to your house this evening," said the chemist. "There +are a number of drugs in the box for your old friend Professor Potkin of +the University, and he is even more impatient for his consignment than +you are for yours. Ah, here he is," and as he spoke the venerable Potkin +himself entered the shop. + +He shook hands warmly with Lermontoff, who had always been a favorite +pupil of his, and learned with interest that he had lately been to +England and America. + +"Cannot you dine with me this evening at half-past five?" asked the old +man. "There are three or four friends coming, to whom I shall be glad to +introduce you." + +"Truth to tell, Professor," demurred the Prince, "I have a friend +staying with me, and I don't just like to leave him alone." + +"Bring him with you, bring him with you," said the Professor, "but in +any case be sure you come yourself. I shall be expecting you. Make your +excuses to your friend if he does not wish to endure what he might +think dry discussion, because we shall talk nothing but chemistry and +politics." + +The Prince promised to be there whether his friend came or no. The +chemist here interrupted them, and told the Professor he might expect +his materials within two hours. + +"And your package," he said to the Prince, "I shall send about the same +time. I have been very busy, and can trust no one to unpack this box but +myself." + +"You need not trouble to send it, and in any case I don't wish to run +the risk of having it delivered at a wrong address by your messenger. +I cannot afford to wait so long as would be necessary to duplicate the +order. I am dining with the Professor to-night, so will drive this way, +and take the parcel myself." + +"Perhaps," said the chemist, "it would be more convenient if I sent your +parcel to Professor Potkin's house?" + +"No," said the Prince decisively, "I shall call for it about five +o'clock." + +The Professor laughed. + +"We experimenters," he said, "never trust each other," so they shook +hands and parted. + +On returning to his workshop, Lermontoff bounded up the stairs, and +hailed his friend the Lieutenant. + +"I say, Drummond, I'm going to dine to-night with Professor Potkin of +the University, my old teacher in chemistry. His hour is half-past five, +and I've got an invitation for you. There will be several scientists +present, and no women. Will you come?" + +"I'd a good deal rather not," said the Englishman, "I'm wiring into +these books, and studying strategy; making plans for an attack upon +Kronstadt." + +"Well, you take my advice, Alan, and don't leave any of those plans +round where the St. Petersburg police will find them. Such a line +of study is carried on much safer in London than here. You'd be very +welcome, Drummond, and the old boy would be glad to see you. You don't +need to bother about evening togs--plain living and high thinking, +you know. I'm merely going to put on a clean collar and a new tie, as +sufficient for the occasion." + +"I'd rather not go, Jack, if you don't mind. If I'm there you'll all be +trying to talk English or French, and so I'd feel myself rather a damper +on the company. Besides, I don't know anything about science, and I'm +trying to learn something about strategy. What time do you expect to be +back?" + +"Rather early; ten or half-past." + +"Good, I'll wait up for you." + +At five o'clock Jack was at the chemist's and received his package. On +opening it he found the ozak in two four-ounce, glass-stoppered bottles, +and these he put in his pocket. + +"Will you give me three spray syringes, as large a size as you have, +rubber, glass, and metal. I'm not sure but this stuff will attack one +or other of them, and I don't want to spend the rest of my life running +down to your shop." + +Getting the syringes, he jumped into his cab, and was driven to the +Professor's. + +"You may call for me at ten," he said to the cabman. + +There were three others besides the Professor and himself, and they were +all interested in learning the latest scientific news from New York and +London. + +It was a quarter past ten when the company separated. Lermontoff stepped +into his cab, and the driver went rattling up the street. In all the +talk the Prince had said nothing of his own discovery, and now when he +found himself alone his mind reverted to the material in his pocket, +and he was glad the cabman was galloping his horse, that he might be the +sooner in his workshop. Suddenly he noticed that they were dashing down +a street which ended at the river. + +"I say," he cried to the driver, "you've taken the wrong turning. This +is a blind street. There's neither quay nor bridge down here. Turn +back." + +"I see that now," said the driver over his shoulder. "I'll turn round at +the end where it is wider." + +He did turn, but instead of coming up the street again, dashed through +an open archway which led into the courtyard of a large building +fronting the Neva. The moment the carriage was inside, the gates clanged +shut. + +"Now, what in the name of Saint Peter do you mean by this?" demanded the +Prince angrily. + +The cabman made no reply, but from a door to the right stepped a tall, +uniformed officer, who said: + +"Orders, your Highness, orders. The isvoshtchik is not to blame. May I +beg of your Highness to accompany me inside?" + +"Who the devil are you?" demanded the annoyed nobleman. + +"I am one who is called upon to perform a disagreeable duty, which your +Highness will make much easier by paying attention to my requests." + +"Am I under arrest?" + +"I have not said so, Prince Ivan." + +"Then I demand that the gates be opened that I may return home, where +more important business awaits me than talking to a stranger who refuses +to reveal his identity." + +"I hope you will pardon me, Prince Lermontoff. I act, as the isvoshtchik +has acted, under compulsion. My identity is not in question. I ask you +for the second time to accompany me." + +"Then, for the second time I inquire, am I under arrest? If so, show +me your warrant, and then I will go with you, merely protesting that +whoever issued such a warrant has exceeded his authority." + +"I have seen nothing of a warrant, your Highness, and I think you are +confusing your rights with those pertaining to individuals residing in +certain countries you have recently visited." + +"You have no warrant, then?" + +"I have none. I act on my superior's word, and do not presume to +question it. May I hope that you will follow me without a further +parley, which is embarrassing to me, and quite unhelpful to yourself. I +have been instructed to treat you with every courtesy, but nevertheless +force has been placed at my disposal. I am even to take your word of +honor that you are unarmed, and your Highness is well aware that such +leniency is seldom shown in St. Petersburg." + +"Well, sir, even if my word of honor failed to disarm me, your +politeness would. I carry a revolver. Do you wish it?" + +"If your Highness will condescend to give it to me." + +The Prince held the weapon, butt forward, to the officer, who received +it with a gracious salutation. + +"You know nothing of the reason for this action?" + +"Nothing whatever, your Highness." + +"Where are you going to take me?" + +"A walk of less than three minutes will acquaint your Highness with the +spot." + +The Prince laughed. + +"Oh, very well," he said. "May I write a note to a friend who is waiting +up for me?" + +"I regret, Highness, that no communications whatever can be allowed." + +The Prince stepped down from the vehicle, walked diagonally across a +very dimly lighted courtyard with his guide, entered that section of the +rectangular building which faced the Neva, passed along a hall with one +gas jet burning, then outside again, and immediately over a gang-plank +that brought him aboard a steamer. On the lower deck a passage ran +down the center of the ship, and along this the conductor guided his +prisoner, opened the door of a stateroom in which candles were burning, +and a comfortable bed turned down for occupancy. + +"I think your Highness will find everything here that you need. +If anything further is required, the electric bell will summon an +attendant, who will get it for you." + +"Am I not to be confronted with whoever is responsible for my arrest?" + +"I know nothing of that, your Highness. My duty ends by escorting you +here. I must ask if you have any other weapon upon you?" + +"No, I have not." + +"Will you give me your parole that you will not attempt to escape?" + +"I shall escape if I can, of course." + +"Thank you, Excellency," replied the officer, as suavely as if +Lermontoff had given his parole. Out of the darkness he called a tall, +rough-looking soldier, who carried a musket with a bayonet at the end of +it. The soldier took his stand beside the door of the cabin. + +"Anything else?" asked the Prince. + +"Nothing else, your Highness, except good-night." + +"Oh, by the way, I forgot to pay my cabman. Of course it isn't his fault +that he brought me here." + +"I shall have pleasure in sending him to you, and again, good-night." + +"Good-night," said the Prince. + +He closed the door of his cabin, pulled out his note-book, and rapidly +wrote two letters, one of which he addressed to Drummond and the other +to the Czar. When the cabman came he took him within the cabin and +closed the door. + +"Here," he said in a loud voice that the sentry could overhear if he +liked, "how much do I owe you?" + +The driver told him. + +"That's too much, you scoundrel," he cried aloud, but as he did so he +placed three gold pieces in the palm of the driver's hand together with +the two letters, and whispered: + +"Get these delivered safely, and I'll give you ten times this money if +you call on Prince Lermontoff at the address on that note." + +The man saluted, thanked him, and retired; a moment later he heard the +jingle of a bell, and then the steady throb of an engine. There was no +window to the stateroom, and he could not tell whether the steamer +was going up or down the river. Up, he surmised, and he suspected his +destination was Schlusselburg, the fortress-prison on an island at the +source of the Neva. He determined to go on deck and solve the question +of direction, but the soldier at the door brought down his gun and +barred the passage. + +"I am surely allowed to go on deck?" + +"You cannot pass without an order from the captain." + +"Well, send the captain to me, then." + +"I dare not leave the door," said the soldier. + +Lermontoff pressed the button, and presently an attendant came to learn +what was wanted. + +"Will you ask the captain to come here?" + +The steward departed, and shortly after returned with a big, bronzed, +bearded man, whose bulk made the stateroom seem small. + +"You sent for the captain, and I am here." + +"So am I," said the Prince jauntily. "My name is Lermontoff. Perhaps you +have heard of me?" + +The captain shook his shaggy head. + +"I am a Prince of Russia, and by some mistake find myself your passenger +instead of spending the night in my own house. Where are you taking me, +Captain?" + +"It is forbidden that I should answer questions." + +"Is it also forbidden that I should go on deck?" + +"The General said you were not to be allowed to leave this stateroom, as +you did not give your parole." + +"How can I escape from a steamer in motion, Captain?" + +"It is easy to jump into the river, and perhaps swim ashore." + +"So he is a general, is he? Well, Captain, I'll give you my parole that +I shall not attempt to swim the Neva on so cold a night as this." + +"I cannot allow you on deck now," said the Captain, "but when we are in +the Gulf of Finland you may walk the deck with the sentry beside you." + +"The Gulf of Finland!" cried Lermontoff. "Then you are going down the +river?" + +The big Captain looked at him with deep displeasure clouding his brow, +feeling that he had been led to give away information which he should +have kept to himself. + +"You are not going up to Schlusselburg, then?" + +"I told your Highness that I am not allowed to answer questions. The +General, however, has given me a letter for you, and perhaps it may +contain all you may want to know." + +"The General has given you a letter, eh? Then why don't you let me have +it?" + +"He told me not to disturb you to-night, but place it before you at +breakfast to-morrow." + +"Oh, we're going to travel all night, are we?" + +"Yes, Excellency." + +"Did the General say you should not allow me to see the letter +to-night?" + +"No, your Excellency; he just said, 'Do not trouble his Highness +to-night, but give him this in the morning.'" + +"In that case let me have it now." + +The Captain pulled a letter from his pocket and presented it to the +Prince. It contained merely the two notes which Lermontoff had written +to Drummond and to the Czar. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV --A VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN + + +AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then +sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation. He +heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch +saw it was just eleven o'clock. It seemed incredible that three-quarters +of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, +and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown +destination. It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in +forty-five minutes. He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action +he would take when he found his friend missing. + +However, pondering over the matter brought no solution of the mystery, +so, being a practical young man, he cast the subject from his mind, +picked up his heavy overcoat, which he had flung on the bed, and hung +it up on the hook attached to the door. As he did this his hand came in +contact with a tube in one of the pockets, and for a moment he imagined +it was his revolver, but he found it was the metal syringe he had +purchased that evening from the chemist. This set his thoughts whirling +in another direction. He took from an inside pocket one of the bottles +of ozak, examining it under the candle light, wishing he had a piece +of rock with which to experiment. Then with a yawn he replaced the +materials in his overcoat pocket, took off his boots, and threw himself +on the bed, thankful it was not an ordinary shelf bunk, but a generous +and comfortable resting-place. Now Katherine appeared before his closed +eyes, and hand in hand they wandered into dreamland together. + +When he awoke it was pitch dark in his cabin. The candles, which he had +neglected to extinguish, had burned themselves out. The short, jerky +motion of the steamer indicated that he was aboard a small vessel, and +that this small vessel was out in the open sea. He believed that a noise +of some kind had awakened him, and this was confirmed by a knock at his +door which caused him to spring up and throw back the bolt. The steward +was there, but in the dim light of the passage he saw nothing of the +sentinel. He knew it was daylight outside. + +"The Captain, Excellency, wishes to know if you will breakfast with him +or take your meal in your room?" + +"Present my compliments to the Captain, and say I shall have great +pleasure in breakfasting with him." + +"It will be ready in a quarter of an hour, Excellency." + +"Very good. Come for me at that time, as I don't know my way about the +boat." + +The Prince washed himself, smoothed out his rumpled clothes as well as +he could, and put on his boots. While engaged in the latter operation +the door opened, and the big Captain himself entered, inclosed in +glistening oilskins. + +"Hyvaa pyvaa, Highness," said the Captain. "Will you walk the deck +before breakfast?" + +"Good-day to you," returned the Prince, "and by your salutation I take +you to be a Finn." + +"I am a native of Abo," replied the Captain, "and as you say, a Finn, +but I differ from many of my countrymen, as I am a good Russian also." + +"Well, there are not too many good Russians, and here is one who would +rather have heard that you were a good Finn solely." + +"It is to prevent any mistake," replied the Captain, almost roughly, +"that I mention I am a good Russian." + +"Right you are, Captain, and as I am a good Russian also, perhaps good +Russian Number One can tell me to what part of the world he is conveying +good Russian Number Two, a man guiltless of any crime, and unwilling, at +this moment, to take an enforced journey." + +"We may both be good, but the day is not, Highness. It has been raining +during the night, and is still drizzling. I advise you to put on your +overcoat." + +"Thanks, Captain, I will." + +The Captain in most friendly manner took the overcoat from its hook, +shook it out, and held it ready to embrace its owner. Lermontoff shoved +right arm, then left, into the sleeves, hunched the coat up into place, +and buttoned it at the throat. + +"Again, Captain, my thanks. Lead the way and I will follow." + +They emerged on deck into a dismal gray morning. No land or craft of any +kind was in sight. The horizon formed a small, close circle round +the ship. Clouds hung low, running before the wind, and bringing +intermittently little dashes of rain that seemed still further to +compress the walls of horizon. The sea was not what could be called +rough, but merely choppy and fretful, with short waves that would +not have troubled a larger craft. The steamer proved to be a small, +undistinguished dingy-looking boat, more like a commercial tramp than a +government vessel. An officer, apparently the mate, stood on the bridge, +sinewy hands grasping the rail, peering ahead into the white mist +that was almost a fog. The promenade deck afforded no great scope for +pedestrianism, but Captain and prisoner walked back and forth over the +restricted space, talking genially together as if they were old friends. +Nevertheless there was a certain cautious guardedness in the Captain's +speech; the wary craft of an unready man who is in the presence of a +person more subtle than himself. The bluff Captain remembered he had +been caught napping the night before, when, after refusing to tell +the Prince the direction of the steamer, he had given himself away by +mentioning the Gulf of Finland. Lermontoff noticed this reluctance +to plunge into the abyss of free conversation, and so, instead of +reassuring him he would ask no more questions, he merely took upon his +own shoulders the burden of the talk, and related to the Captain certain +wonders of London and New York. + +The steward advanced respectfully to the Captain, and announced +breakfast ready, whereupon the two men followed him into a saloon not +much larger than the stateroom Lermontoff had occupied the night before, +and not nearly so comfortably furnished. A plenteous breakfast was +supplied, consisting principally of fish, steaming potatoes, black +bread, and very strong tea. The Captain swallowed cup after cup of this +scalding beverage, and it seemed to make him more and more genial as +if it had been wine. Indeed, as time went on he forgot that it was a +prisoner who sat before him, for quite innocently he said to the steward +who waited on them: + +"Have the poor devils below had anything to eat?" + +"No orders, sir," replied the steward. + +"Oh, well, give them something--something hot. It may be their last +meal," then turning, he met the gaze of the Prince, demanded roughly +another cup of tea, and explained: + +"Three of the crew took too much vodka in St. Petersburg yesterday." + +The Prince nodded carelessly, as if he believed, and offered his open +cigarette case to the Captain, who shook his head. + +"I smoke a pipe," he growled. + +The Captain rose with his lighted pipe, and together they went up on +deck again. The Prince saw nothing more of the tall sentinel who had +been his guard the night before, so without asking permission he took +it for granted that his movements, now they were in the open sea, +were unrestricted, therefore he walked up and down the deck smoking +cigarettes. At the stroke of a bell the Captain mounted the bridge and +the mate came down. + +Suddenly out of the thickness ahead loomed up a great black British +freighter making for St. Petersburg, as the Prince supposed. The two +steamers, big and little, were so close that each was compelled to sheer +off a bit; then the Captain turned on the bridge and seemed for a moment +uncertain what to do with his prisoner. A number of men were leaning +over the bulwarks of the British ship, and it would have been quite +possible for the person on one boat to give a message to those on the +other. The Prince, understanding the Captain's quandary, looked up +at him and smiled, but made no attempt to take advantage of his +predicament. Some one on board the English ship shouted and fluttered a +handkerchief, whereupon the Prince waved his cigarette in the air, and +the big boat disappeared in the thickness of the east. + +Lermontoff walked the deck, thinking very seriously about his situation, +and wondering where they intended to take him. If he were to be put in +prison, it must be in some place of detention on the coast of Finland, +which seemed strange, because he understood that the fortresses there +were already filled with dissatisfied inhabitants of that disaffected +land. His first impression had been that banishment was intended, and he +had expected to be landed at some Swedish or German port, but a chance +remark made by the Captain at breakfast inclined him to believe that +there were other prisoners on board not quite so favorably treated as +himself. But why should he be sent out of Russia proper, or even removed +from St. Petersburg, which, he was well aware, suffered from no lack +of gaols. The continued voyage of the steamer through an open sea again +aroused the hope that Stockholm was the objective point. If they landed +him there it merely meant a little temporary inconvenience, and, once +ashore, he hoped to concoct a telegram so apparently innocent that +it would win through to his friend, and give Drummond at least the +knowledge of his abiding-place. The thought of Drummond aroused all +his old fear that the Englishman was to be the real victim, and this +enforced voyage was merely a convenient method of getting himself out of +the way. + +After lunch a dismal drizzle set in that presently increased to a steady +downpour, which drove Lermontoff to his cabin, and that room being +unprovided with either window or electric light, the Prince struck a +match to one of the candles newly placed on the washstand. He pushed the +electric button summoning the steward, and, giving him some money, +asked if there was such a thing as a piece of stone on board, carried as +ballast, or for any other reason. The steward said he would inquire, +and finally returned with a sharpening stone used for the knives in the +galley. Bolting his door, Lermontoff began an experiment, and at once +forgot he was a prisoner. He filled the wash-basin with water, and +opening one of the glass-stoppered bottles, took out with the point +of his knife a most minute portion of the substance within, which he +dissolved in the water with no apparent effect. Standing the whetstone +up on end, he filled the glass syringe, and directed a fine, vaporous +spray against the stone. It dissolved before his eyes as a sand castle +on the shore dissolves at the touch of an incoming tide. + +"By St. Peter of Russia!" he cried, "I've got it at last! I must write +to Katherine about this." + +Summoning the steward again to take away this fluid, and bring him +another pailful of fresh water, Lermontoff endeavored to extract some +information from the deferential young man. + +"Have you ever been in Stockholm?" + +"No, Excellency." + +"Or in any of the German ports?" + +"No, Excellency." + +"Do you know where we are making for now?" + +"No, Excellency." + +"Nor when we shall reach our destination?" + +"No, Excellency." + +"You have some prisoners aboard?" + +"Three drunken sailors, Excellency." + +"Yes, that's what the Captain said. But if it meant death for a sailor +to be drunk, the commerce of the world would speedily stop." + +"This is a government steamer, Excellency, and if a sailor here disobeys +orders he is guilty of mutiny. On a merchant vessel they would merely +put him in irons." + +"I see. Now do you want to earn a few gold pieces?" + +"Excellency has been very generous to me already," was the non-committal +reply of the steward, whose eyes nevertheless twinkled at the mention of +gold. + +"Well, here's enough to make a jingle in your pocket, and here are two +letters which you are to try to get delivered when you return to St. +Petersburg." + +"Yes, Excellency." + +"You will do your best?" + +"Yes, Excellency." + +"Well, if you succeed, I'll make your fortune when I'm released." + +"Thank you, Excellency." + +That night at dinner the Captain opened a bottle of vodka, and conversed +genially on many topics, without touching upon the particular subject +of liberty. He partook sparingly of the stimulant, and, to Lermontoff's +disappointment, it did not in the least loosen his tongue, and thus, +still ignorant of his fate, the Prince turned in for the second night +aboard the steamer. + +When he awoke next morning he found the engines had stopped, and, as +the vessel was motionless, surmised it had reached harbor. He heard +the intermittent chuck-chuck of a pony engine, and the screech of an +imperfectly-oiled crane, and guessed that cargo was being put ashore. + +"Now," he said to himself, "if my former sentinel is at the door they +are going to take me to prison. If he is absent, I am to be set free." + +He jumped up, threw back the bolt, opened the door. There was no one +there. In a very few minutes he was on deck, and found that the steamer +was lying in the lee of a huge rock, which reminded him of Mont St. +Michel in Normandy, except that it was about half again as high, and +three times as long, and that there were no buildings of any kind upon +it, nor, indeed, the least sign of human habitation. + +The morning was fine; in the east the sun had just risen, and was +flooding the grim rock with a rosy light. Except this rock, no trace of +land was visible as far as the eye could see. Alongside the steamer was +moored a sailing-boat with two masts, but provided also with thole-pins, +and sweeps for rowing. The sails were furled, and she had evidently been +brought to the steamer's side by means of the oars. Into this craft the +crane was lowering boxes, bags, and what-not, which three or four men +were stowing away. The mate was superintending this transshipment, and +the Captain, standing with his back against the deck-house, was handing +one by one certain papers, which Lermontoff took to be bills of lading, +to a young man who signed in a book for each he received. When this +transaction was completed, the young man saluted the Captain, and +descended over the ship's side to the sail-boat. + +"Good morning, Captain. At anchor, I see," said Lermontoff. + +"No, not at anchor. Merely lying here. The sea is too deep, and affords +no anchorage at this point." + +"Where are all these goods going?" + +The Captain nodded his head at the rock, and Lermontoff gazed at it +again, running his eyes from top to bottom without seeing any vestige of +civilization. + +"Then you lie to the lee of this rock, and the small boat takes the +supplies ashore?" + +"Exactly," said the Captain. + +"The settlement, I take it, is on the other side. What is it--a +lighthouse?" + +"There's no lighthouse," said the Captain. + +"Sort of coastguard, then?" + +"Yes, in a way. They keep a lookout. And now, Highness, I see your +overcoat is on your back. Have you left anything in your room?" + +The Prince laughed. + +"No, Captain, I forgot to bring a portmanteau with me." + +"Then I must say farewell to you here." + +"What, you are not going to maroon me on this pebble in the ocean?" + +"You will be well taken care of, Highness." + +"What place is this?" + +"It is called the Trogzmondoff, Highness, and the water surrounding you +is the Baltic." + +"Is it Russian territory?" + +"Very, very Russian," returned the Captain drawing a deep breath. +"This way, if your Highness pleases. There is a rope ladder, which is +sometimes a little unsteady for a landsman, so be careful." + +"Oh, I'm accustomed to rope ladders. Hyvasti, Captain." + +"Hyvasti, your Highness." + +And with this mutual good-by in Finnish, the Prince went down the +swaying ladder. + + + + +CHAPTER XV --"A HOME ON THE ROLLING DEEP" + + +FOR once the humorous expression had vanished from Captain Kempt's face, +and that good-natured man sat in the dainty drawing-room of the flat a +picture of perplexity. Dorothy had told him the story of the Nihilist, +saying she intended to purchase the yacht, and outlining what she +proposed to do with it when it was her own. Now she sat silent opposite +the genial Captain, while Katherine stood by the window, and talked +enough for two, sometimes waxing indignant, and occasionally giving, in +terse language, an opinion of her father, as is the blessed privilege +of every girl born in the land of the free, while the father took the +censure with the unprotesting mildness of his nature. + +"My dear girls, you really must listen to reason. What you propose to +do is so absurd that it doesn't even admit of argument. Why, it's a +filibustering expedition, that's what it is. You girls are as crazy as +Walker of Nicaragua. Do you imagine that a retired Captain of the United +States Navy is going to take command of a pirate craft of far less legal +standing than the 'Alabama,' for then we were at war, but now we are +at peace. Do you actually propose to attack the domain of a friendly +country! Oh!" cried the Captain, with a mighty explosion of breath, for +at this point his supply of language entirely gave out. + +"No one would know anything about it," persisted Katherine. + +"Not know about it? With a crew of men picked up here in New York, and +coming back to New York? Not know about it? Bless my soul, the papers +would be full of it before your men were an hour on shore. In the first +place, you'd never find the rock." + +"Then what's the harm of going in search of it?" demanded his daughter. +"Besides that, Johnson knows exactly where it is." + +"Johnson, Johnson! You're surely not silly enough to believe Johnson's +cock-and-bull story?" + +"I believe every syllable he uttered. The man's face showed that he was +speaking the truth." + +"But, my dear Kate, you didn't see him at all, as I understand the yarn. +He was here alone with you, was he not, Dorothy?" + +Dorothy smiled sadly. + +"I told Kate all about it, and gave my own impression of the man's +appearance." + +"You are too sensible a girl to place any credit in what he said, +surely?" + +"I did believe him, nevertheless," replied Dorothy. + +"Why, look you here. False in one thing, false in all. I'll just take a +single point. He speaks of a spring sending water through the cells +up there in the rock. Now, that is an impossibility. Wherever a spring +exists, it comes from a source higher than itself." + +"There are lots of springs up in the mountains," interrupted Katherine. +"I know one on Mount Washington that is ten times as high as the rock in +the Baltic." + +"Quite so, Katherine, quite so, but nevertheless there is a lake, +subterraneous or above ground, which feeds your White Mountain spring, +and such a lake must be situated higher than the spring is. Why, girl, +you ought to study hydrometeorology as well as chemistry. Here is a rock +jutting up in midocean--" + +"It's in the Baltic, near the Russian coast," snapped Kate, "and I've no +doubt there are mountains in Finland that contain the lake which feeds +the spring." + +"How far is that rock from the Finnish coast, then?" + +"Two miles and a half," said Kate, quick as an arrow speeding from a +bow. + +"Captain, we don't know how far it is from the coast," amended Dorothy. + +"I'll never believe the thing exists at all." + +"Why, yes it does, father. How can you speak like that? Don't you know +Lieutenant Drummond fired at it?" + +"How do you know it was the same rock?" + +"Because the rock fired back at him. There can't be two like that in the +Baltic." + +"No, nor one either," said the Captain, nearing the end of his patience. + +"Captain Kempt," said Dorothy very soothingly, as if she desired to +quell the rising storm, "you take the allegation about the spring of +water to prove that Johnson was telling untruths. I expect him here +within an hour, and I will arrange that you have an opportunity, +privately, of cross-examining him. I think when you see the man, and +listen to him, you will believe. What makes me so sure that he is +telling the truth is the fact that he mentioned the foreign vessel +firing at this rock, which I knew to be true, and which he could not +possibly have learned anything about." + +"He might very well have learned all particulars from the papers, +Dorothy. They were full enough of the subject at the time, and, +remembering this, he thought to strengthen his story by--" + +Katherine interrupted with great scorn. + +"By adding verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing +narrative." + +"Quite so, Kate; exactly what I was going to say myself. But to come +back to the project itself. Granting the existence of the rock, granting +the truth of Johnson's story, granting everything, granting even that +the young men are imprisoned there, of which we have not the slightest +proof, we could no more succeed in capturing that place from a frail +pleasure yacht--" + +"It's built like a cruiser," said Katherine. + +"Even if it were built like a battleship we would have no chance +whatever. Why, that rock might defy a regular fleet. Our venture would +simply be a marine Jameson Raid which would set the whole world laughing +when people came to hear of it." + +"Johnson said he could take it with half a dozen men." + +"No, Kate," corrected Dorothy, "he said the very reverse; that two or +three determined men on the rock with repeating rifles could defeat a +host. It was I who suggested that we should throw a shell, and then rush +the entrance in the confusion." + +Captain Kempt threw up his hands in a gesture of despair. + +"Great heavens, Dorothy Amhurst, whom I have always regarded as the +mildest, sweetest and most charming of girls; to hear you calmly +propose to throw a shell among a lot of innocent men defending their own +territory against a perfectly unauthorized invasion! Throw a shell, say +you, as if you were talking of tossing a copper to a beggar! Oh, Lord, +I'm growing old. What will become of this younger generation? Well, I +give it up. Dorothy, my dear, whatever will happen to those unfortunate +Russians, I shall never recover from the shock of your shell. The thing +is absolutely impossible. Can't you see that the moment you get down to +details? How are you going to procure your shells, or your shell-firing +gun? They are not to be bought at the first hardware store you come to +on Sixth Avenue." + +"Johnson says he can get them," proclaimed Kate with finality. + +"Oh, damn Johnson! Dorothy, I beg your pardon, but really, this daughter +of mine, combined with that Johnson of yours, is just a little more than +I can bear." + +"Then what are we to do?" demanded his daughter. "Sit here with folded +hands?" + +"That would be a great deal better than what you propose. You should do +something sane. You mustn't involve a pair of friendly countries in +war. Of course the United States would utterly disclaim your act, and +discredit me if I were lunatic enough to undertake such a wild goose +chase, which I'm not; but, on the other hand, if two of our girls +undertook such an expedition, no man can predict the public clamor that +might arise. Why, when the newspapers get hold of a question, you never +know where they will end it. Undoubtedly you two girls should be sent +to prison, and, with equal undoubtedness, the American people wouldn't +permit it." + +"You bet they wouldn't," said Katherine, dropping into slang. + +"Well, then, if they wouldn't, there's war." + +"One moment, Captain Kempt," said Dorothy, again in her mildest tones, +for voices had again begun to run high, "you spoke of doing something +sane. You understand the situation. What should you counsel us to do?" + +The Captain drew a long breath, and leaned back in his chair. + +"There, Dad, it's up to you," said Katherine. "Let us hear your +proposal, and then you'll learn how easy it is to criticise." + +"Well," said the Captain hesitatingly, "there's our diplomatic +service--" + +"Utterly useless: one man is a Russian, and the other an Englishman. +Diplomacy not only can do nothing, but won't even try," cried Kate +triumphantly. + +"Yet," said the Captain, with little confidence, "although the two men +are foreigners, the two girls are Americans." + +"We don't count: we've no votes," said Kate. "Besides, Dorothy tried the +diplomatic service, and could not even get accurate information from it. +Now, father, third time and out." + +"Four balls are out, Kate, and I've only fanned the air twice. Now, +girls, I'll tell you what I'd do. You two come with me to Washington. +We will seek a private interview with the President. He will get into +communication with the Czar, also privately, and outside of all regular +channels. The Czar will put machinery in motion that is sure to +produce those two young men much more effectually and speedily than any +cutthroat expedition on a yacht." + +"I think," said Dorothy, "that is an excellent plan." + +"Of course it is," cried the Captain enthusiastically. "Don't you see +the pull the President will have? Why, they've put an Englishman into +'the jug,' and when the President communicates this fact to the Czar +he will be afraid to refuse, knowing that the next appeal may be from +America to England, and when you add a couple of American girls to that +political mix-up, why, what chance has the Czar?" + +"The point you raise, Captain," said Dorothy, "is one I wish to say a +few words about. The President cannot get Mr. Drummond released, because +the Czar and all his government will be compelled to deny that they +know anything of him. Even the President couldn't guarantee that the +Englishman would keep silence if he were set at liberty. The Czar +would know that, but your plan would undoubtedly produce Prince Ivan +Lermontoff. All the president has to do is to tell the Czar that the +Prince is engaged to an American girl, and Lermontoff will be allowed to +go." + +"But," objected the Captain, "as the Prince knows the Englishman is in +prison, how could they be sure of John keeping quiet when Drummond is +his best friend?" + +"He cannot know that, because the Prince was arrested several days +before Drummond was. + +"They have probably chucked them both into the same cell," said the +Captain, but Dorothy shook her head. + +"If they had intended to do that, they would doubtless have arrested +them together. I am sure that one does not know the fate of the other, +therefore the Czar can quite readily let Lermontoff go, and he is +certain to do that at a word from the President. Besides this, I am +as confident that Jack is not in the Trogzmondoff, as I am sure that +Drummond is. Johnson said it was a prison for foreigners." + +"Oh, Dorothy," cried the Captain, with a deep sigh, "if we've got back +again to Johnson--" He waved his hand and shook his head. + +The maid opened the door and said, looking at Dorothy: + +"Mr. Paterson and Mr. Johnson." + +"Just show them into the morning room," said Dorothy, rising. "Captain +Kempt, it is awfully good of you to have listened so patiently to a +scheme of which you couldn't possibly approve." + +"Patiently!" sniffed the daughter. + +"Now I want you to do me another kindness." + +She went to the desk and picked up a piece of paper. + +"Here is a check I have signed--a blank check. I wish you to buy the +yacht 'Walrus' just as she stands, and make the best bargain you can for +me. A man is so much better at this kind of negotiation than a woman." + +"But surely, my dear Dorothy, you won't persist in buying this yacht?" + +"It's her own money, father," put in Katherine. + +"Keep quiet," said the Captain, rising, for the first time speaking with +real severity, whereupon Katherine, in spite of the fact that she was +older than twenty-one, was wise enough to obey. + +"Yes, I am quite determined, Captain," said Dorothy sweetly. + +"But, my dear woman, don't you see how you've been hoodwinked by this +man Johnson? He is shy of a job. He has already swindled you out of +twenty thousand dollars." + +"No, he asked for ten only, Captain Kempt, and I voluntarily doubled the +amount." + +"Nevertheless, he has worked you up to believe that these young men +are in that rock. He has done this for a very crafty purpose, and his +purpose seems likely to succeed. He knows he will be well paid, and you +have promised him a bonus besides. If he, with his Captain Kidd crew, +gets you on that yacht, you will only step ashore by giving him every +penny you possess. That's his object. He knows you are starting out to +commit a crime--that's the word, Dorothy, there's no use in our mincing +matters--you will be perfectly helpless in his hands. Of course, I could +not allow my daughter Kate to go on such an expedition." + +"I am over twenty-one years old," cried Kate, the light of rebellion in +her eyes. + +"I do not intend that either of you shall go, Katherine." + +"Dorothy, I'll not submit to that," cried Katherine, with a rising +tremor of anger in her voice, "I shall not be set aside like a child. +Who has more at stake than I? And as for capturing the rock, I'll +dynamite it myself, and bring home as large a specimen of it as the +yacht will carry, and set it up on Bedloe's Island beside the Goddess +and say, 'There's your statue of Liberty, and there's your statue of +Tyranny!'" + +"Katherine," chided her father, "I never before believed that a child of +mine could talk such driveling nonsense." + +"Paternal heredity, father," retorted Kate. + +"Your Presidential plan, Captain Kempt," interposed Dorothy, "is +excellent so far as Prince Lermontoff is concerned, but it cannot rescue +Lieutenant Drummond. Now, there are two things you can do for me that +will make me always your debtor, as, indeed, I am already, and the first +is to purchase for me the yacht. The second is to form your own judgment +of the man Johnson, and if you distrust him, then engage for me one-half +the crew, and see that they are picked Americans." + +"First sane idea I have heard since I came into this flat," growled the +Captain. + +"The Americans won't let the Finlander hold me for ransom, you may +depend upon that." + +It was a woe-begone look the gallant Captain cast on the demure and +determined maiden, then, feeling his daughter's eye upon him, he turned +toward her. + +"I'm going, father," she said, with a firmness quite equal to his own, +and he on his part recognized when his daughter had toed the danger +line. He indulged in a laugh that had little of mirth in it. + +"All I can say is that I am thankful you haven't made up your minds to +kidnap the Czar. Of course you are going, Kate, So am I." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI --CELL NUMBER NINE + +AS the sailing-boat cast off, and was shoved away from the side of the +steamer, there were eight men aboard. Six grasped the oars, and the +young clerk who had signed for the documents given to him by the Captain +took the rudder, motioning Lermontoff to a seat beside him. All the +forward part of the boat, and, indeed, the space well back toward the +stern, was piled with boxes and bags. + +"What is this place called?" asked the Prince, but the young steersman +did not reply. + +Tying the boat to iron rings at the small landing where the steps began, +three of the men shipped their oars. Each threw a bag over his shoulder, +walked up half a dozen steps and waited. The clerk motioned Lermontoff +to follow, so he stepped on the shelf of rock and looked upward at +the rugged stairway cut between the main island and an outstanding +perpendicular ledge of rock. The steps were so narrow that the +procession had to move up in Indian file; three men with bags, then the +Prince and the clerk, followed by three more men with boxes. Lermontoff +counted two hundred and thirty-seven steps, which brought him to an +elevated platform, projecting from a doorway cut in the living rock, but +shielded from all sight of the sea. The eastern sun shone through this +doorway, but did not illumine sufficiently the large room whose walls, +ceiling and floor were of solid stone. At the farther end a man in +uniform sat behind a long table on which burned an oil lamp with a green +shade. At his right hand stood a broad, round brazier containing glowing +coals, after the Oriental fashion, and the officer was holding his two +hands over it, and rubbing them together. The room, nevertheless, struck +chill as a cellar, and Lermontoff heard a constant smothered roar of +water. + +The clerk, stepping forward and saluting, presented to the Governor +seated there the papers and envelopes given him by the Captain. The +officer selected a blue sheet of paper, and scrutinized it for a moment +under the lamp. + +"Where are the others?" + +"We have landed first the supplies, Governor; then the boat will return +for the others." + +The Governor nodded, and struck a bell with his open palm. There entered +a big man with a bunch of keys at his belt, followed by another who +carried a lighted lantern. + +"Number Nine," said the Governor to the gaolers. + +"I beg your pardon, sir, am I a prisoner?" asked Lermontoff. + +The Governor gave utterance to a sound that was more like the grunt of +a pig than the ejaculation of a man. He did not answer, but looked up at +the questioner, and the latter saw that his face, gaunt almost as that +of a living skeleton, was pallid as putty. + +"Number Nine," he repeated, whereupon the gaoler and the man with the +lantern put a hand each on Lermontoff's shoulders, and marched him away. +They walked together down a long passage, the swaying lantern casting +its yellow rays on the iron bolts of door after door, until at last the +gaoler stopped, threw back six bolts, inserted a key, unlocked the door, +and pushed it ponderously open. The lantern showed it to be built like +the door of a safe, but unlike that of a safe it opened inwards. As soon +as the door came ajar Lermontoff heard the sound of flowing water, and +when the three entered, he noticed a rapid little stream sparkling in +the rays of the lantern at the further end of the cell. He saw a shelf +of rock and a stone bench before it. The gaoler placed his hands on a +black loaf, while the other held up the lantern. + +"That will last you four days," said the gaoler. + +"Well, my son, judging from the unappetizing look of it, I think it will +last me much longer." + +The gaoler made no reply, but he and the man with the lantern retired, +drawing the door heavily after them. Lermontoff heard the bolts thrust +into place, and the turn of the key; then silence fell, all but the +babbling of the water. He stood still in the center of the cell, his +hands thrust deep in the pockets of his overcoat, and, in spite of this +heavy garment, he shivered a little. + +"Jack, my boy," he muttered, "this is a new deal, as they say in the +West. I can imagine a man going crazy here, if it wasn't for that +stream. I never knew what darkness meant before. Well, let's find out +the size of our kingdom." + +He groped for the wall, and stumbling against the stone bench, whose +existence he had forgotten, pitched head forward to the table, and sent +the four-day loaf rolling on the floor. He made an ineffectual grasp +after the loaf, fearing it might fall into the stream and be lost to +him, but he could not find it, and now his designs for measuring the +cell gave place to the desire of finding that loaf. He got down on his +hands and knees, and felt the stone floor inch by inch for half an hour, +as he estimated the time, but never once did he touch the bread. + +"How helpless a man is in the dark, after all," he muttered to himself. +"I must do this systematically, beginning at the edge of the stream." + +On all fours he reached the margin of the rivulet, and felt his way +along the brink till his head struck the opposite wall. He turned round, +took up a position that he guessed was three feet nearer the door, and +again traversed the room, becoming so eager in the search that he forgot +for the moment the horror of his situation, just as, when engaged in a +chemical experiment, everything else vanished from his mind, and thus +after several journeys back and forth he was again reminded of the +existence of the stone bench by butting against it when he knew he was +still several feet from the wall. Rubbing his head, he muttered some +unfavorable phrases regarding the immovable bench, then crawled round +it twice, and resumed his transverse excursions. At last he reached the +wall that held the door, and now with breathless eagerness rubbed his +shoulder against it till he came to the opposite corner. He knew he had +touched with knees and hands practically every square inch of space in +the floor, and yet no bread. + +"Now, that's a disaster," cried he, getting up on his feet, and +stretching himself. "Still, a man doesn't starve in four days. I've +cast my bread on the waters. It has evidently gone down the stream. Now, +what's to hinder a man escaping by means of that watercourse? Still, if +he did, what would be the use? He'd float out into the Baltic Sea, and +if able to swim round the rock, would merely be compelled to knock at +the front door and beg admission again. No, by Jove, there's the boat, +but they probably guard it night and day, and a man in the water would +have no chance against one in the boat. Perhaps there's gratings between +the cells. Of course, there's bound to be. No one would leave the bed of +a stream clear for any one to navigate. Prisoners would visit each other +in their cells, and that's not allowed in any respectable prison. I +wonder if there's any one next door on either side of me. An iron grid +won't keep out the sound. I'll try," and going again to the margin of +the watercourse, he shouted several times as loudly as he could, but +only a sepulchral echo, as if from a vault, replied to him. + +"I imagine the adjoining cells are empty. No enjoyable companionship to +be expected here. I wonder if they've got the other poor devils up from +the steamer yet. I'll sit down on the bench and listen." + +He could have found the bench and shelf almost immediately by groping +round the wall, but he determined to exercise his sense of direction, to +pit himself against the darkness. + +"I need not hurry," he said, "I may be a long time here." + +In his mind he had a picture of the cell, but now that he listened to +the water it seemed to have changed its direction, and he found he +had to rearrange this mental picture, and make a different set of +calculations to fit the new position. Then he shuffled slowly forward +with hands outstretched, but he came to the wall, and not to the bench. +Again he mapped out his route, again endeavored, and again failed. + +"This is bewildering," he muttered. "How the darkness baffles a man. For +the first time in my life I appreciate to the full the benediction of +God's command, 'Let there be light.'" + +He stood perplexed for a few moments, and, deeply thinking, his hands +automatically performed an operation as the servants of habit. They took +from his pocket his cigarette case, selected a tube of tobacco, placed +it between his lips, searched another pocket, brought out a match-box, +and struck a light. The striking of the match startled Lermontoff as if +it had been an explosion; then he laughed, holding the match above his +head, and there at his feet saw the loaf of black bread. It seemed as if +somebody had twisted the room end for end. The door was where he thought +the stream was, and thus he learned that sound gives no indication of +direction to a man blindfolded. The match began to wane, and feverishly +he lit his cigarette. + +"Why didn't I think of the matches, and oh! what a pity I failed to +fill my pockets with them that night of the Professor's dinner party! To +think that matches are selling at this moment in Sweden two hundred and +fifty for a halfpenny!" + +Guided by the spark at the end of his cigarette, he sought the bench and +sat down upon it. He was surprised to find himself so little depressed +as was actually the case. He did not feel in the least disheartened. +Something was going to happen on his behalf; of that he was quite +certain. It was perfectly ridiculous that even in Russia a loyal +subject, who had never done any illegal act in his life, a nobleman of +the empire, and a friend of the Czar, should be incarcerated for long +without trial, and even without accusation. He had no enemies that he +knew of, and many friends, and yet he experienced a vague uneasiness +when he remembered that his own course of life had been such that he +would not be missed by his friends. For more than a year he had been in +England, at sea, and in America, so much absorbed in his researches that +he had written no private letters worth speaking of, and if any friend +were asked his whereabouts, he was likely to reply: + +"Oh, Lermontoff is in some German university town, or in England, or +traveling elsewhere. I haven't seen him or heard of him for months. Lost +in a wilderness or in an experiment, perhaps." + +These unhappy meditations were interrupted by the clang of bolts. He +thought at first it was his own door that was being opened, but a moment +later knew it was the door of the next cell up-stream. The sound, of +course, could not penetrate the extremely thick wall, but came through +the aperture whose roof arched the watercourse. From the voices he +estimated that several prisoners were being put into one cell, and he +wondered whether or not he cared for a companion. It would all depend. +If fellow-prisoners hated each other, their enforced proximity might +prove unpleasant. + +"We are hungry," he heard one say. "Bring us food." + +The gaoler laughed. + +"I will give you something to drink first." + +"That's right," three voices shouted. "Vodka, vodka!" + +Then the door clanged shut again, and he heard the murmur of voices in +Russian, but could not make out what was said. One of the new prisoners, +groping round, appeared to have struck the stone bench, as he himself +had done. The man in the next cell swore coarsely, and Lermontoff, +judging from such snatches of their conversation as he could hear that +they were persons of a low order, felt no desire to make their more +intimate acquaintance, and so did not shout to them, as he had intended +to do. And now he missed something that had become familiar; thought it +was a cigarette he desired, for the one he had lit had been smoked to +his very lips, then he recognized it was the murmur of the stream that +had ceased. + +"Ah, they can shut it off," he said. "That's interesting. I must +investigate, and learn whether or no there is communication between the +cells. Not very likely, though." + +He crawled on hands and knees until he came to the bed of the stream, +which was now damp, but empty. Kneeling down in its course, he worked +his way toward the lower cell, and, as he expected, came to stout iron +bars. Crouching thus he sacrificed a second match, and estimated that +the distance between the two cells was as much as ten feet of solid +rock, and saw also that behind the perpendicular iron bars were another +horizontal set, then another perpendicular, then a fourth horizontal. + +While in this position he was startled by a piercing scream to the rear. +He backed out from the tunnel and stood upright once more. He heard the +sound of people splashing round in water. The screamer began to jabber +like a maniac, punctuating his ravings with shrieks. Another was cursing +vehemently, and a third appealing to the saints. Lermontoff quickly +knelt down in the watercourse, this time facing the upper cell, and +struck his third match. He saw that a steel shield, reminding him of the +thin shutter between the lenses of a camera, had been shot across the +tunnel behind the second group of cross bars, and as an engineer +be could not but admire the skill of the practical expert who had +constructed this diabolical device, for in spite of the pressure on the +other side, hardly a drop of water oozed through. He tried to reach this +shield, but could not. It was just beyond the touch of his fingers, +with his arm thrust through the two sets of bars, but if he could have +stretched that far, with the first bar retarding his shoulder, he knew +his hand would be helpless even if he had some weapon to puncture +the steel shield. The men would be drowned before he could accomplish +anything unless he was at the lever in the passage outside. + +Crawling into his cell again he heard no more of the chatter and cries +of the maniac, and he surmised that the other two were fighting for +places on bench or shelf, which was amply large enough to have supported +both, had they not been too demented with fear to recognize that fact. +The cursing man was victorious, and now he stood alone on the shelf, +roaring maledictions. Then there was the sound of a plunge, and +Lermontoff, standing there, helpless and shivering, heard the prisoner +swim round and round his cell like a furious animal, muttering and +swearing. + +"Don't exhaust yourself like that," shouted Lermontoff. "If you want to +live, cling to the hole at either of the two upper corners. The water +can't rise above you then, and you can breathe till it subsides." + +The other either did not hear, or did not heed, but tore round and round +in his confined tank, thrashing the water like a dying whale. + +"Poor devil," moaned Jack. "What's the use of telling him what to do. He +is doomed in any case. The other two are now better off." + +A moment later the water began to dribble through the upper aperture +into Jack's cell, increasing and increasing until there was the roar +of a waterfall, and he felt the cold splashing drops spurt against him. +Beyond this there was silence. It was perhaps ten minutes after that the +lever was pulled, and the water belched forth from the lower tunnel like +a mill race broken loose, temporarily flooding the floor so that Jack +was compelled to stand on the bench. + +He sunk down shivering on the stone shelf, laid his arms on the stone +pillow, and buried his face in them. + +"My God, my God!" he groaned. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII --A FELLOW SCIENTIST + + +IN this position Jack slept off and on, or rather, dozed into a kind +of semi-stupor, from which he awoke with a start now and then, as he +thought he heard again the mingled cries of devotion and malediction. +At last he slept soundly, and awoke refreshed, but hungry. The loaf +lay beside him, and with his knife he cut a slice from it, munching the +coarse bread with more of relish than he had thought possible when he +first saw it. Then he took out another cigarette, struck a match, looked +at his watch, and lit the cigarette. It was ten minutes past two. He +wondered if a night had intervened, but thought it unlikely. He had +landed very early in the morning, and now it was afternoon. He was +fearfully thirsty, but could not bring himself to drink from that stream +of death. Once more he heard the bolts shot back. + +"They are going to throw the poor wretches into the sea," he muttered, +but the yellow gleam of a lantern showed him it was his own door that +had been unlocked. + +"You are to see the Governor," said the gaoler gruffly. "Come with me." + +Jack sprang to the floor of his cell, repressing a cry of delight. +Nothing the grim Governor could do to him would make his situation any +worse, and perhaps his persuasive powers upon that official might result +in some amelioration of his position. In any case there was the brief +respite of the interview, and he would gladly have chummed with the +devil himself to be free a few moments from this black pit. + +Although the outside door of the Governor's room stood open, the room +was not as well illumined as it had been before, for the sun had now +gone round to the other side of the island, but to the prisoner's aching +eyes it seemed a chamber of refulgence. The same lamp was burning on +the table, giving forth an odor of bad oil, but in addition to this, +two candles were lighted, which supplemented in some slight measure the +efforts of the lamp. At the end of the table lay a number of documents +under a paper-weight, arranged with the neat precision of a methodical +man. The Governor had been warming his hands over the brazier, but +ceased when Lermontoff was brought up standing before him. He lifted the +paper-weight, took from under it the two letters which Lermontoff had +given to the steward on the steamer, and handed them to the prisoner, +who thus received them back for the second time. + +"I wish to say," remarked the Governor, with an air of bored +indifference which was evidently quite genuine, "that if you make any +further attempt to communicate with the authorities, or with friends, +you will bring on yourself punishment which will be unpleasant." + +"As a subject of the Czar, I have the right to appeal to him," said the +Prince. + +"The appeal you have written here," replied the Governor, "would have +proved useless, even if it had been delivered. The Czar knows nothing +of the Trogzmondoff, which is a stronghold entirely under the control +of the Grand Dukes and of the Navy. The Trogzmondoff never gives up a +prisoner." + +"Then I am here for a lifetime?" + +"Yes," rejoined the Governor, with frigid calmness, "and if you give me +no trouble you will save yourself some inconvenience." + +"Do you speak French?" asked the Prince. + +"Net." + +"English?" + +"Net." + +"Italian?" + +"Net." + +"German?" + +"Da." + +"Then," continued Lermontoff in German, "I desire to say a few words +to you which I don't wish this gaoler to understand. I am Prince Ivan +Lermontoff, a personal friend of the Czar's, who, after all, is master +of the Grand Dukes and the Navy also. If you will help to put me into +communication with him, I will guarantee that no harm comes to you, and +furthermore will make you a rich man." + +The Governor slowly shook his head. + +"What you ask is impossible. Riches are nothing to me. Bribery may +do much in other parts of the Empire, but it is powerless in the +Trogzmondoff. I shall die in the room adjoining this, as my predecessor +died. I am quite as much a prisoner in the Trogzmondoff as is your +Highness. No man who has once set foot in this room, either as Governor, +employee, or prisoner, is allowed to see the mainland again, and thus +the secret has been well kept. We have had many prisoners of equal rank +with your Highness, friends of the Czar too, I dare say, but they all +died on the Rock, and were buried in the Baltic." + +"May I not be permitted to receive certain supplies if I pay for them? +That is allowed in other prisons." + +The Governor shook his head. + +"I can let you have a blanket," he said, "and a pillow, or a sheepskin +if you find it cold at first, but my power here is very limited, and, as +I tell you, the officers have little more comfort than the prisoners." + +"Oh, I don't care anything about comfort," protested Lermontoff. "What +I want is some scientific apparatus. I am a student of science. I have +nothing to do with politics, and have never been implicated in any plot. +Someone in authority has made a stupid mistake, and so I am here. This +mistake I am quite certain will be discovered and remedied. I hold no +malice, and will say nothing of the place, once I am free. It is no +business of mine. But I do not wish to have the intervening time wasted. +I should like to buy some electrical machinery, and materials, for which +I am willing to pay any price that is asked." + +"Do you understand electricity?" questioned the Governor, and for the +first time his impassive face showed a glimmer of interest. + +"Do I understand electricity? Why, for over a year I have been chief +electrician on a war-ship." + +"Perhaps then," said the Governor, relapsing into Russian again, "you +can tell me what is wrong with our dynamo here in the Rock. After +repeated requisition they sent machinery for lighting our offices and +passages with electricity. They apparently did not care to send an +electrician to the Trogzmondoff, but forwarded instead some books of +instruction. I have been working at it for two years and a half, but +I am still using oil lamps and candles. We wired the place without +difficulty." He held up the candle, and showed, depending from the +ceiling, a chandelier of electric lamps which Lermontoff had not +hitherto noticed, various brackets, and one or two stand lamps in a +corner, with green silk-covered wire attached. + +"May I see your dynamo?" asked Lermontoff. + +The Governor, with one final warming of his hands, took up a candle, +told the gaoler to remove the shade from the lamp and bring it, led the +way along a passage, and then into a room where the prisoner, on first +entering, had heard the roar of water. + +"What's this you have. A turbine? Does it give you any power?" + +"Oh, it gives power enough," said the Governor. + +"Let's see how you turn on the stream." + +The Governor set the turbine at work, and the dynamo began to hum, a +sound which, to the educated ear of Lermontoff, told him several things. + +"That's all right, Governor, turn it off. This is a somewhat +old-fashioned dynamo, but it ought to give you all the light you can +use. You must be a natural born electrician, or you never could have got +this machinery working as well as it does." + +The dull eyes of the Governor glowed for one brief moment, then resumed +their customary expression of saddened tiredness. + +"Now," said Jack, throwing off his coat, "I want a wrench, screwdriver, +hammer and a pair of pincers if you've got them." + +"Here is the tool chest," said the Governor, and Jack found all he +needed. Bidding the Governor hold the candle here, there and elsewhere, +and ordering the gaoler about as if he were an apprentice, Jack set +energetically to work, and for half an hour no one spoke. + +"Turn on that water again," he commanded. + +The Governor did so, and the machine whirred with quite a different +note. Half a dozen electric lamps in the room flooded the place with a +dazzling white glow. + +"There you are," cried Jack, rubbing the oil off his hands on a piece of +coarse sacking. "Now, Tommy, put these things back in the tool chest," +he said to the gaoler. Then to the Governor: + +"Let's see how things look in the big room." + +The passage was lit, and the Governor's room showed every mark on wall, +ceiling and floor. + +"I told you, Governor," said Jack with a laugh, "that I didn't know why +I was sent here, but now I understand. Providence took pity on you, and +ordered me to strike a light." + +At that moment the gaoler entered with his jingling keys, and the +enthusiastic expression faded from the Governor's face, leaving it once +more coldly impassive, but he spoke in German instead of Russian. + +"I am very much indebted to your Highness, and it grieves me that our +relationship remains unchanged." + +"Oh, that's all right," cried Lermontoff breezily, "If it is within your +power to allow me to come and give you some lessons in electricity and +the care of dynamos, I shall be very glad to do so." + +To this offer the Governor made no reply, but he went on still in +German. + +"I shall transfer you to cell Number One, which is not only more +comfortable, but the water there is pure. Did you say you spoke +English?" + +"Yes, quite as well as I do Russian." + +The Governor continued, with nevertheless a little hesitation: "On the +return of the steamer there will be an English prisoner. I will give +him cell Number Two, and if you don't talk so loud that the gaoler hears +you, it may perhaps make the day less wearisome." + +"You are very kind," said Jack, rigidly suppressing any trace of either +emotion or interest as he heard the intelligence; leaping at once to +certain conclusions, nevertheless. "I shan't ask for anything more, much +as I should like to mention candles, matches, and tobacco." + +"It is possible you may find all three in Number One before this time +to-morrow;" then in Russian the Governor said to the goaler: + +"See if Number One is ready." + +The gaoler departed, and the Governor, throwing open a drawer in +his table, took out two candles, a box of matches, and a packet of +cigarettes. + +"Put these in your pocket," he said. "The cell door opens very slowly, +so you will always know when the gaoler is coming. In that case blow out +your light and conceal your candle. It will last the longer." + +The gaoler returned. + +"The cell is ready, Excellency," he said. + +"Take away the prisoner," commanded the Governor, gruffly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII --CELL NUMBER ONE + +CELL Number One was a great improvement on Number Nine. There was no +shelf of rock, or stone bench, but a cot bed in the corner, a table, +and a wooden chair. The living spring issued from the living rock in a +corner of the room. When the gaoler and his assistant had retired +and shoved in the outside bolts, Jack lit his candle and a cigarette, +feeling almost happy. He surveyed the premises now with more care. +The bed was of iron and fastened to the floor. On the top of it was +a mattress, a pillow, and a pair of blankets. At its head a little +triangular shelf of rock had been left in the corner, and on this +reposed a basin of tin, while a coarse piece of sacking took the place +of a towel. Jack threw off his overcoat and flung it on the bed, intent +on a satisfactory wash. He heard something jingle in the pockets, and +forgetting for the moment what it could possibly be, thrust his hand in, +and pulled out a glass-stoppered bottle of ozak. He held it out at arm's +length, and stared at it for some moments like a man hypnotized. + +"Holy Saint Peter!" he cried, "to think that I should have forgotten +this!" + +He filled the tin basin with water, and placed it on the table. Again +he dissolved a minute portion of the chemical, and again filled the +syringe. + +"I must leave no marks on the wall that may arouse attention," he said, +and taking the full syringe to the arch over the torrent, and placing +the candle on the floor beside him, he gently pushed in the piston. The +spray struck the rock, and the rock dissolved slightly but perceptibly. +Coming back to the table he stood for a few minutes in deep thought. +Although the cot bed was fixed to the floor, and although it was +possible that the shelf in the next cell coincided with its position, +the risk of discovery was too great to cut a passage between the two +cells there. The obvious spot to attack was the interior of the tunnel +through which the streamlet ran, but Jack, testing the temperature of +the water with his hand, doubted his physical ability to remain in that +ice-cold current more than a few minutes at a time, and if he worked in +the tunnel he would be all but submerged. He feared he would perish with +cold and cramp before he had made any impression on the rock. + +To the edge of the stream he drew the table, and, mounting it, examined +the upper orifice through which the water escaped when the cell was +full. He found he could stand on the table and work in comfort until +he had excavated sufficient rock to allow him to clamber into the upper +tunnel and so continue his operations. The water he used would flow +through the tunnel, and down to the main stream in the next cell. All +he had to do was to dissolve a semi-circular hole in the rock that would +bend round the end of those steel bars, and enter the tunnel again on +the other side. Eager to be at work, he took the full basin, shoved it +far along the tunnel until it was stopped by the bars, then, placing his +candle beside it, and standing on the table, he began operations. + +The limestone, under the influence of the spray, dissolved very slowly, +and by the time the basin of water was exhausted, all the effect +visible under the light of the candle was an exceedingly slight circular +impression which was barely visible to the naked eye. + +"I must make the solution stronger, I think," he said, grievously +disappointed at the outcome of his labors, and as he looked at it he +heard the clank of the withdrawing bolts. Blowing out the candle he +sprang to the floor of the cell, picked up the table, set it down in +the center of the room, groped for the chair, and sat down, his heart +palpitating wildly at the fear of discovery. + +Followed as usual by the man with the lantern, the gaoler came in, +carrying a bowl of hot steaming soup, which he placed on the table, +then he took from his pocket a spoon, a small hunk of black bread, and +a piece of cheese. In the light of the lantern Lermontoff consulted his +watch, and found it was six o'clock. The gaoler took the lantern from +his assistant, held it high, and looked round the room, while Lermontoff +gazed at him in anxiety, wondering whether that brutal looking official +suspected anything. Apparently he did not, but merely wished to satisfy +himself that everything was in order, for he said more mildly than he +had hitherto spoken: + +"It is a long time since any one occupied this cell." + +Then his eye rested on the vacant corner shelf. + +"Ah, Excellency," he continued, "pardon me, I have forgotten. I must +bring you a basin." + +"I'd rather you brought me a candle," said Lermontoff nonchalantly, +although his lips were dry, and he moistened them as he spoke; then, +to learn whether money was valueless on the rock, as the Governor had +intimated, he drew from his pocket one of the remaining gold pieces, +glad that he happened to have so many, and slipped it into the palm of +the gaoler's hand, whose fingers clutched it as eagerly as if he were in +St. Petersburg. + +"I think a candle can be managed, Excellency. Shall I bring a cup?" + +"I wish you would." + +The door was again locked and bolted, but before Lermontoff had finished +his soup, and bread and cheese, it was opened again. The gaoler placed +a tin basin, similar to the former one, on the ledge, put a candle and a +candle-stick on the table, and a tin cup beside them. + +"I thought there was no part of Russia where bribery was extinct," said +the Prince to himself, as the door closed again for the night. + +After supper Lermontoff again shined his table, stood upon it, lit his +candle, and resumed his tunnelling, working hard until after midnight. +His progress was deplorably slow, and the spraying of the rock proved +about as tiring a task as ever he had undertaken. His second basin-full +of solution was made a little stronger, but without perceptible +improvement, in its effect. On ceasing operations for the night he +found himself in a situation common to few prisoners, that of being +embarrassed with riches. He possessed two basins, and one of them must +be concealed. Of course he might leave his working basin in the upper +tunnel where it had rested when the gaoler had brought in his supper, +but he realized that at any moment the lantern's rays might strike its +shining surface, and so bring on an investigation of the upper tunnel, +certain to prove the destruction of his whole scheme. A few minutes +thought, however, solved the problem admirably: he placed the basin face +downwards in the rapid stream which swept it to the iron bars between +the two cells, and there it lay quite concealed with the swift water +rippling over it. This done, he flung off his clothes, and got into +bed, not awakening until the gaoler and his assistant brought in bread, +cheese and coffee for breakfast. + +The next day he began to feel the inconveniences of the Governor's +friendship, and wished he were safely back to the time when one loaf +lasted four days, for if such were now the case, he would be free of the +constant state of tension which the ever-recurring visits of the gaoler +caused. He feared that some day he might become so absorbed in his +occupation that he would not hear the withdrawing of the bolt, and thus, +as it were, be caught in the act. + +Shortly after lunch the Governor sent for him, and asked many questions +pertaining to the running of the dynamo. Lermontoff concealed his +impatience, and set about his instructions with exemplary earnestness. +Russian text books on electricity at hand were of the most rudimentary +description, and although the Governor could speak German he could not +read it, so the two volumes he possessed in that language were closed +to him. Therefore John was compelled to begin at the very A B C of the +science. + +The Governor, however, became so deeply interested that he momentarily +forgot his caution, unlocked a door, and took Lermontoff into a room +which he saw was the armory and ammunition store-house of the prison. +On the floor of this chamber the Governor pointed out a large battery +of accumulators, and asked what they were for. Lermontoff explained the +purposes of the battery, meanwhile examining it thoroughly, and finding +that many of the cells had been all but ruined in transit, through the +falling away of the composition in the grids. Something like half of the +accumulators, however, were intact and workable; these he uncoupled and +brought into the dynamo room, where he showed the Governor the process +of charging. He saw in the store room a box containing incandescent +lamps, coils of silk-covered wire and other material that made his eyes +glisten with delight. He spoke in German. + +"If you will give me a coil of this wire, one or two of the lamps, and +an accumulator, or indeed half a dozen of them, I will trouble you no +more for candles." + +The Governor did not reply at the moment, but a short time after asked +Lermontoff in Russian how long it would be before the accumulators were +charged. Lermontoff stated the time, and the Governor told the gaoler +to bring the prisoner from the cell at that hour, and so dismissed his +instructor. + +One feature of this interview which pleased Lermontoff was that however +much the Governor became absorbed in these lessons, he never allowed +himself to remain alone with his prisoner. It was evident that in his +cooler moments the Governor had instructed the gaoler and his assistant +to keep ever at the heels of the Prince and always on the alert. Two +huge revolvers were thrust underneath the belt of the gaoler, and the +lantern-holder, was similarly armed. Lermontoff was pleased with this, +for if the Governor had trusted him entirely, even though he demanded no +verbal parole, it would have gone against his grain to strike down the +chief as he ruthlessly intended to do when the time was ripe for it, and +in any case, he told himself, no matter how friendly the Governor might +be, he had the misfortune to stand between his prisoner and liberty. + +Lermontoff was again taken from his cell about half an hour before the +time he had named for the completion of the charging, and although the +Governor said nothing of his intention, the gaoler and his man brought +to the cell six charged batteries, a coil of wire, and a dozen lamps. +Lermontoff now changed his working methods. He began each night as soon +as he had finished dinner, and worked till nearly morning, sleeping all +day except when interrupted by the gaoler. Jack, following the example +of Robinson Crusoe, attempted to tie knots on the tail of time by +cutting notches with his knife on the leg of the table, but most days +he forgot to perform this operation, and so his wooden almanac fell +hopelessly out of gear. He estimated that he had been a little more than +a week in prison when he heard by the clang of the bolts that the next +cell was to have an occupant. + +"I must prepare a welcome for him," he said, and so turned out the +electric light at the end of the long flexible wire. He had arranged a +neat little switch of the accumulator, and so snapped the light on and +off at his pleasure, without the trouble of unscrewing the nuts which +held in place one of the copper ends of the wire. Going to the edge +of the stream and lighting his candle, he placed the glass bulb in the +current, paid out the flexible line attached to it, and allowed the bulb +to run the risk of being smashed against the iron bars of the passage, +but the little globe negotiated the rapids without even a perceptible +clink, and came to rest in the bed of the torrent somewhere about +the center of the next cell, tugging like a fish on a hook. Then Jack +mounted the table, leaned into the upper tunnel, and listened. + +"I protest," Drummond cried, speaking loudly, as if the volume of +sound would convey meaning to alien ears, "I protest against this as +an outrage, and demand my right of communication with the British +Ambassador." + +Jack heard the gaoler growl: "This loaf of bread will last you for four +days," but as this statement was made in Russian, it conveyed no more +meaning to the Englishman than had his own protest of a moment before +brought intelligence to the gaoler. The door clanged shut, and there +followed a dead silence. + +"Now we ought to hear some good old British oaths," said Jack to +himself, but the silence continued. + +"Hullo, Alan," cried Jack through the bars, "I said you would be nabbed +if you didn't leave St. Petersburg. You'll pay attention to me next time +I warn you." + +There was no reply, and Jack became alarmed at the continued stillness, +then he heard his friend mutter: + +"I'll be seeing visions by and by. I thought my brain was stronger than +it is--could have sworn that was Jack's voice." + +Jack got speedily and quietly down, turned on the switch, and hopped +up on the table again, peering through. He knew that the stream had +now become a river of fire, and that it was sending to the ceiling an +unholy, unearthly glow. + +"Oh, damn it all!" groaned Drummond, at which Jack roared with laughter. + +"Alan," he shouted, "fish out that electric bulb from the creek and +hold it aloft; then you'll see where you are. I'm in the next cell; Jack +Lamont, Electrician and Coppersmith: all orders promptly attended to: +best of references, and prices satisfactory." + +"Jack, is that really you, or have I gone demented?" + +"Oh, you always were demented, Alan, but it is I, right enough. Pick up +the light and tell me what kind of a cell you've got." + +"Horrible!" cried Drummond, surveying his situation. "Walls apparently +of solid rock, and this uncanny stream running across the floor." + +"How are you furnished? Shelf of rock, stone bench?" + +"No, there's a table, cot bed, and a wooden chair." + +"Why, my dear man, what are you growling about? They have given you one +of the best rooms in the hotel. You're in the Star Chamber." + +"Where in the name of heaven are we?" + +"Didn't you recognize the rock from the deck of a steamer?" + +"I never saw the deck of a steamer." + +"Then how did you come here?" + +"I was writing a letter in my room when someone threw a sack over my +head, and tied me up in a bundle, so that it was a close shave I wasn't +smothered. I was taken in what I suppose was a cab and flung into what +I afterwards learned was the hold of a steamer. When the ship stopped, +I was carried like a sack of meal on someone's shoulder, and unhampered +before a gaunt specter in uniform, in a room so dazzling with electric +light that I could hardly see. That was a few minutes ago, Now I am +here, and starving. Where is this prison?" + + + +"Like the Mikado, as Kate would say, the authorities are bent on making +the punishment fit the crime. You are in the rock of the Baltic, which +you fired at with that gun of yours. I told you those suave officials at +St. Petersburg were playing with you." + +"But why have they put you here, Jack?" + +"Oh, I was like the good dog Tray, who associated with questionable +company, I suppose, and thus got into trouble." + +"I'm sorry." + +"You ought to be glad. I'm going to get out of this place, and I don't +believe you could break gaol, unassisted, in twenty years. Here is where +science confronts brutality. I say, Drummond, bring your table over to +the corner, and mount it, then we can talk without shouting. Not much +chance of any one outside hearing us, even if we do clamor, but this is +a damp situation, and loud talk is bad for the throat. Cut a slice of +that brown bread and lunch with me. You'll find it not half bad, as you +say in England, especially when you are hungry. Now," continued Jack, as +his friend stood opposite him, and they found by experiment that their +combined reach was not long enough to enable them to shake hands +through the bars, "now, while you are luxuriating in the menu of the +Trogzmondoff, I'll give you a sketch of my plan for escape." + +"Do," said Drummond. + +"I happen to have with me a pair of bottles containing a substance +which, if dissolved in water, and sprinkled on this rock, will +disintegrate it. It proves rather slow work, I must admit, but I intend +to float in to you one of the bottles, and the apparatus, so that you +may help me on your side, which plan has the advantage of giving you +useful occupation, and allowing us to complete our task in half the +time, like the engineers on each side of the Simplon Tunnel." + +"If there are bars in the lower watercourse," objected Drummond, "won't +you run a risk of breaking your bottle against them?" + +"Not the slightest. I have just sent that much thinner electric lamp +through, but in this case I'll just tie up the bottle and squirt gun in +my stocking, attach that to the wire, and the current will do the rest. +You can unload, and I'll pull my stocking back again. If I dared wrench +off a table leg, I could perhaps shove bottle and syringe through to you +from here, but the material would come to a dead center in the middle of +this tunnel, unless I had a stick to push it within your reach. + +"Very well; we'll work away until our excavation connects, and we have +made it of sufficient diameter for you to squeeze through. You are then +in my cell. We put out our lights, and you conceal yourself behind the +door. Gaoler and man with the lantern come in. You must be very careful +not to close the door, because if you once shove it shut we can't open +it from this side, even though it is unlocked and the bolts drawn. +It fits like wax, and almost hermetically seals the room. You spring +forward, and deal the gaoler with your fist one of your justly +celebrated English knock-down blows, immediately after felling the man +with the lantern. Knowing something of the weight of your blow, I take +it that neither of the two men will recover consciousness until we have +taken off their outer garments, secured revolvers and keys. Then we lock +them in, you and I on the outside." + +"My dear Jack, we don't need any tunnel to accomplish that. The first +time these two men come into my room, I can knock them down as easily +here as there." + +"I thought of that, and perhaps you could, but you must remember we +have only one shot. If you made a mistake; if the lantern man bolted and +fired his pistol, and once closed the door--he would not need to pause +to lock it--why, we are done for. I should be perfectly helpless in the +next room, and after the attempt they'd either drown us, or put us into +worse cells as far apart as possible." + +"I don't think I should miss fire," said Drummond, confidently, "still, +I see the point, and will obey orders." + +"My official position on the rock, ever since I arrived, has been that +of electrical tutor-in-chief to the Governor. I have started his dynamo +working, and have wired such portions of the place as were not already +wired before. During these lessons I have kept my eyes open. So far as +the prison is concerned, there is the Governor, a sort of head clerk, +the gaoler and his assistant; four men, and that is all. The gaoler's +assistant appears to be the cook of the place, although the cooking done +is of the most limited description. The black bread is brought from St. +Petersburg, I think, as also tinned meat and soup; so the cuisine is on +a somewhat limited scale." + +"Do you mean to say that only these four men are in charge of the +prison?" + +"Practically so, but there is the garrison as well. The soldiers live +in a suite of rooms directly above us, and as near as I can form an +opinion, there are fourteen men and two officers. When a steamer arrives +they draft as many soldiers as are necessary, unload the boat; then the +Tommies go upstairs again. The military section apparently holds little +intercourse with the officials, whom they look upon as gaolers. I should +judge that the military officer is chief of the rock, because when he +found the Governor's room lit by electricity, he demanded the same for +his quarters. That's how I came to get upstairs. Now, these stairs are +hewn in the rock, are circular, guarded by heavy oaken doors top and +bottom, and these doors possess steel bolts on both sides of them. It is +thus possible for either the military authorities upstairs, or the civil +authorities, to isolate themselves from the others. In case of a revolt +among the soldiers, the Governor could bolt them into their attic, +and they would find great difficulty in getting out. Now, my plan of +procedure is this. We will disarm gaoler and assistant, take their keys, +outside garments and caps. The gaoler's toggery will fit you, and the +other fellow's may do for me. Then we will lock them in here, and if +we meet clerk or Governor in the passages we will have time to overcome +either or both before they are aware of the change. I'll go up the +circular stair, bolt from the inside the upper door, and afterwards +bolt the lower door. Then we open all the cells, and release the other +prisoners, descend from the rock, get into the Finnish fishing boat, +keep clear of the two cannon that are up above us, and sail for the +Swedish coast. We can't miss it; we have only to travel west, and +ultimately we are safe. There is only one danger, which is that we may +make our attempt when the steamer is here, but we must chance that." + +"Isn't there any way of finding out? Couldn't you pump the Governor?" + +"He is always very much on his guard, and is a taciturn man. The +moment the tunnel is finished I shall question him about some further +electrical material, and then perhaps I may get a hint about the +steamer. I imagine she comes irregularly, so the only safe plan would be +for us to make our attempt just after she had departed." + +"Would there be any chance of our finding a number of the military +downstairs?" + +"I don't think so. Now that they have their electric light they spend +their time playing cards and drinking vodka." + +"Very well, Jack, that scheme seems reasonably feasible. Now, get +through your material to me, and issue your instructions." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX --"STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE" + +IN a very short time Drummond became as expert at the rock dissolving +as was his friend. He called it piffling slow work, but was nevertheless +extremely industrious at it, although days and weeks and, as they +suspected, months, passed before the hands of the two friends met in +the center of the rock. One lucky circumstance that favored them was the +habit of the gaoler in visiting Drummond only once every four days. + +The Lieutenant made his difficult passage, squeezing through the newly +completed tunnel half an hour after a loaf had been set upon his table. +Jack knew that the steamer had recently departed, because, two days +before, the Governor had sent for him, and had exhibited a quantity of +material recently landed, among other things a number of electric bells +and telephones which the Governor was going to have set up between +himself and the others, and also between his room and that of the clerk +and gaoler. There were dry batteries, and primary batteries, and many +odds and ends, which made Jack almost sorry he was leaving the place. + +Heavy steps, muffled by the thickness of the door, sounded along the +outer passage. + +"Ready?" whispered Jack. "Here they come. Remember if you miss your +first blow, we're goners, you and I." + +Drummond made no reply, for the steps had come perilously near and he +feared to be heard. Noiselessly he crossed the cell and took up his +position against the wall, just clear of the space that would be covered +by the opening of the door. + +At the same moment Jack switched off the light, leaving the room black. +Each of the two waiting prisoners could hear the other's short breathing +through the darkness. + +On came the shuffling footsteps of the gaoler and lantern-bearer. +They had reached the door of Number One, had paused, had passed on and +stopped in front of Number Two. + +"Your cell!" whispered Jack, panic-stricken. "And they weren't due to +look in on you for four days. It's all up! They'll discover the cell +is empty and give the--Where are you going, man?" he broke off, as +Drummond, leaving his place near the door, groped his way hurriedly +along the wall. + +"To squeeze my way back and make a fight for it. It's better than--" + +"Wait!" + +Lamont's hand was on his shoulder, and he whispered a sharp command for +silence. The two attendants had halted in front of Number Two, and while +the lantern-bearer fumbled with the awkward bolt, his companion was +saying: + +"Hold on! After all, I'll bring the other his food first, I think." + +"But," remonstrated the lantern-bearer, "the Governor said we were to +bring the Englishman to him at once." + +"What if he did? How will he know we stole a half minute to give the +Prince his dinner? If we bring the Englishman upstairs first, the Prince +may have to wait an hour before we can get back with the Englishman." + +"Let him wait, then." + +"With his pocket full of roubles? Not I. He may decide to give no more +of his gold pieces to a gaoler who lets him go hungry too long." + +"I've got the door unfastened now and--" + +"Then fasten it again and come back with me to Number One." + +Faint as were the words, deadened by intervening walls, their purport +reached Jack. + +"Back to your place," he whispered, "they're coming!" + +The rattle of bolts followed close on his words. The great door of +Number One swung ponderously inward. The lantern-bearer, holding his +light high in front of him, entered; then stepped to one side to admit +the gaoler, who came close after, the tray of food in his outstretched +hands. + +Unluckily for the captives' plan, it was to the side of the cell +opposite to that where Alan crouched that the lantern-bearer had taken +his stand. There was no way of reaching him at a bound. The open +door stood between. Were the gaoler to be attacked first, his +fellow-attendant could readily be out of the cell and half-way up the +corridor before Alan might hope to reach him. + +The friends had counted on both men entering the room together and +crossing as usual to the table. This change of plan disconcerted them. +Already the gaoler had set down his tray and was turning toward the +door. Alan, helpless, stood impotently in the shadow, biting his +blond mustache with helpless rage. In another second their cherished +opportunity would vanish. And, as the gaoler's next visit was to be to +Number Two, discovery stared them in the eyes. + +It was Jack who broke the momentary spell of apathy. He was standing at +the far end of the cell, near the stream. + +"Here!" he called sharply to the lantern-bearer, "bring your light. My +electric apparatus is out of order, and I've mislaid my matches. I want +to fix--" + +The lantern-bearer, obediently, had advanced into the room. He was +half-way across it while Lamont was still speaking. Then, from the +corner of his eye, he spied Alan crouching in the angle behind the door, +now fully exposed to the rays of the lantern. + +The man whirled about in alarm just as Alan sprang. In consequence the +Englishman's mighty fist whizzed past his head, missing it by a full +inch. + +The gaoler, recovering from his amaze, whipped out one of the revolvers +he wore in his belt. But Jack, leaping forward, knocked it from his hand +before he could fire; and, with one hand clapped across the fellow's +bearded lips, wound his other arm about the stalwart body so as to +prevent for the instant the drawing of the second pistol. + +Alan's first blow had missed clean; but his second did not. Following up +his right-hand blow with all a trained boxer's swift dexterity, he sent +a straight left hander flush on the angle of the light-bearer's jaw. +The man dropped his lantern and collapsed into a senseless heap on the +floor, while Alan, with no further delay, rushed toward the gaoler. + +The fall of the lantern extinguished the light. The cell was again +plunged in dense blackness, through which could be heard the panting and +scuffing of the Prince and the gaoler. + +Barely a second of time had elapsed since first Jack had seized the man, +but that second had sufficed for the latter to summon his great brute +strength and shake off his less gigantic opponent and to draw his +pistol. + +"Quick, Alan!" gasped Jack. "He's got away from me. He'll--" + +Drummond, guided by his friend's voice, darted forward through +the darkness, caught his foot against the sprawling body of the +lantern-bearer and fell heavily, his arms thrown out in an instinctive +gesture of self-preservation. Even as he lost his balance he heard +a sharp click, directly in front of him. The gaoler had pulled the +trigger, and his pistol--contract-made and out of order, like many of +the weapons of common soldiers in Russia's frontier posts--had missed +fire. + +To that luckiest of mishaps, the failure of a defective cartridge to +explode, the friends owed their momentary safety. + +As Alan pitched forward, one of his outing arms struck against an +obstacle. It was a human figure, and from the feel of the leather +straps, which his fingers touched in the impact, he knew it was the +gaoler and not Lamont. + +Old football tactics coming to memory, Alan clung to the man his arm had +chanced upon, and bore him along to the ground; Jack, who had pressed +forward in the darkness, being carried down as well by the other's fall. + +Gaoler, Prince and Englishman thus struggled on the stone floor in one +indistinguishable heap. It was no ordinary combat of two to one, for +neither of the prisoners could say which was the gaoler and which his +friend. The gaoler, troubled by no such doubts, laid about him lustily, +and was only prevented from crying out by the fact that his heavy fur +cap had, in the fall, become jammed down over his face as far as the +chin and could not for the moment be dislodged. + +He reached for and drew the sword-bayonet that hung at his side (for +his second pistol had become lost in the scrimmage), and thrust blindly +about him. Once, twice his blade met resistance and struck into flesh. + +"Jack," panted Alan, "the beast's stabbing. Get yourself loose and find +the electric light." + +As he spoke, Alan's hand found the gaoler's throat. He knew it was not +Alan's from the rough beard that covered it. The gaoler, maddened by the +pressure, stabbed with fresh fury; most of his blows, fortunately, going +wild in the darkness. + +Alan's free hand reached for and located the arm that was wielding +the bayonet, and for a moment the two wrestled desperately for its +possession. + +Then a key clicked, and the room was flooded with incandescent light, +just as Alan, releasing his grip on the Russian's throat, dealt him a +short-arm blow on the chin with all the power of his practiced muscles. +The gaoler relaxed his tense limbs and lay still, while Alan, bleeding +and exhausted, struggled to his feet. + +"Hot work, eh?" he panted. "Hard position to land a knockout from. But +I caught him just right. He'll trouble us no more for a few minutes, I +fancy. You're bleeding! Did he wound you?" + +"Only a scratch along my check. And you?" + +"A cut on the wrist and another on the shoulder, I think. Neither of +them bad, thanks to the lack of aim in the dark. Close call, that! Now +to tie them up. Not a movement from either yet." + +"You must have come close to killing them with those sledge-hammer blows +of yours!" + +"It doesn't much matter," said the imperturbable pugilist, "they'll be +all right in half an hour. It's knowing where to hit. If there are only +four men downstairs, we don't need to wear the clothes of these beasts. +Let us take only the bunch of keys and the revolvers." + +Securing these the two stepped out into the passage, locked and bolted +the door; then Jack, who knew his way, proceeded along the passage to +the stairway, leaped nimbly up the steps, bolted the door leading to the +military quarters, then descended and bolted the bottom door. + +"Now for the clerk, and then for the Governor." + +The clerk's room connected with the armory, which was reached by passing +through the apartment that held turbine and dynamo, which they found +purring away merrily. + +Covering the frightened clerk with four revolvers, Jack told him in +Russian that if he made a sound it would be his last. They took him, +opened cell Number Three, which was empty, and thrust him in. + +Jangling the keys, the two entered the Governor's room. The ancient man +looked up, but not a muscle of his face changed; even his fishy eyes +showed no signs of emotion or surprise. + +"Governor," said Jack with deference, "although you are under the +muzzles of a quartet of revolvers, no harm is intended you. However, you +must not leave your place until you accompany us down to the boat, when +I shall hand the keys over to you, and in cell Number One you will find +gaoler and lantern man a little worse for wear, perhaps, but still in +the ring, I hope. In Number Three your clerk is awaiting you. I go now +to release your prisoners. All communication between yourself and the +military is barred. I leave my friend on guard until I return from the +cells. You must not attempt to summon assistance, or cry out, or move +from your chair. My friend does not understand either Russian or German, +so there is no use in making any appeal to him, and much as I like +you personally, and admire your assiduity in science, our case is so +desperate that if you make any motion whatever, he will be compelled to +shoot you dead." + +The Governor bowed. + +"May I continue my writing?" he asked. + +Jack laughed heartily. + +"Certainly," and with that he departed to the cells, which he unlocked +one by one, only to find them all empty. + +Returning, he said to the Governor: + +"Why did you not tell me that we were your only prisoners?" + +"I feared," replied the Governor mildly, "that you might not believe +me." + +"After all, I don't know that I should,", said Jack, holding out his +hand, which the other shook rather unresponsively. + +"I want to thank you," the Governor said slowly, "for all you have told +me about electricity. That knowledge I expect to put to many useful +purposes in the future, and the exercise of it will also make the hours +drag less slowly than they did before you came." + +"Oh, that's all right," cried Jack with enthusiasm. "I am sure you +are very welcome to what teaching I have been able to give you, and no +teacher could have wished a more apt pupil." + +"It pleases me to hear you say that, Highness, although I fear I have +been lax in my duties, and perhaps the knowledge of this place which +you have got through my negligence, has assisted you in making an escape +which I had not thought possible." + +Jack laughed good-naturedly. + +"All's fair in love and war," he said. "Imprisonment is a section of +war. I must admit that electricity has been a powerful aid to us. +But you cannot blame yourself, Governor, for you always took every +precaution, and the gaoler was eternally at my heels. You can never +pretend that you trusted me, you know." + +"I tried to do my duty," said the old man mournfully, "and if +electricity has been your helper, it has not been with my sanction. +However, there is one point about electricity which you impressed upon +me, which is that although it goes quickly, there is always a return +current." + +"What do you mean by that, Governor?" + +"Is it not so? It goes by a wire, and returns through the earth. I +thought you told me that." + +"Yes, but I don't quite see why you mention that feature of the case at +this particular moment." + +"I wanted to be sure what I have stated is true. You see, when you are +gone there will be nobody I can ask." + +All this time the aged Governor was holding Jack's hand rather limply. +Drummond showed signs of impatience. + +"Jack," he cried at last, "that conversation may be very interesting, +but it's like smoking on a powder mine. One never knows what may happen. +I shan't feel safe until we're well out at sea, and not even then. Get +through with your farewells as soon as possible, and let us be off." + +"Right you are, Alan, my boy. Well, Governor, I'm reluctantly compelled +to bid you a final good-by, but here's wishing you all sorts of luck." + +The old man seemed reluctant to part with him, and still clung to his +hand. + +"I wanted to tell you," he said, "of another incident, almost as +startling as your coming into this room a while since, that happened six +or eight months ago. As perhaps you know, we keep a Finland fishing-boat +down in the cove below." + +"Yes, yes," said Jack impatiently, drawing away his hand. + +"Well, six or eight months ago that boat disappeared, and has never been +heard of since. None of our prisoners was missing; none of the garrison +was missing; my three assistants were still here, yet in the night the +boat was taken away." + +"Really. How interesting! Never learned the secret, did you?" + +"Never, but I took precautions, when we got the next boat, that it +should be better guarded, so I have had two men remain upon it night and +day." + +"Are your two men armed, Governor?" + +"Yes, they are." + +"Then they must surrender, or we will be compelled to shoot them. Come +down with us, and advise them to surrender quietly, otherwise, from safe +cover on the stairway, we can pot them in an open boat." + +"I will go down with you," said the Governor, "and do what I can." + +"Of course they will obey you." + +"Yes, they will obey me--if they hear me. I was going to add that only +yesterday did I arrange the electric bell down at the landing, with +instructions to those men to take a telegram which I had written in case +of emergencies, to the mainland, at any moment, night or day, when that +bell rang. Your Highness, the bell rang more than half an hour ago. I +have not been allowed out to see the result." + +The placid old man put his hand on the Prince's shoulder, as if +bestowing a benediction upon him. Drummond, who did not understand the +lingo, was amazed to see Jack fling off the Governor's grasp, and with +what he took to be a crushing oath in Russian, spring to the door, which +he threw open. He mounted the stone bench which gave him a view of the +sea. A boat, with two sails spread, speeding to the southwest, across +the strong westerly wind, was two miles or more away. + +"Marooned, by God!" cried the Prince, swinging round and presenting his +pistol at the head of the Governor, who stood there like a statue of +dejection, and made no sign. + + + + +CHAPTER XX --ARRIVAL OF THE TURBINE YACHT + +BEFORE Jack could fire, as perhaps he had intended to do, Drummond +struck down his arm. + +"None of that, Jack," he said. "The Russian in you has evidently been +scratched, and the Tartar has come uppermost. The Governor gave a +signal, I suppose?" + +"Yes, he did, and those two have got away while I stood babbling here, +feeling a sympathy for the old villain. That's his return current, eh?" + +"He's not to blame," said Drummond. "It's our own fault entirely. The +first thing to have done was to secure that boat." + +"And everything worked so beautifully," moaned Jack, "up to this point, +and one mistake ruins it. We are doomed, Alan." + +"It isn't so bad as that, Jack," said the Englishman calmly. "Should +those men reach the coast safely, as no doubt they will, it may cost +Russia a bit of trouble to dislodge us." + +"Why, hang it all," cried Jack, "they don't need to dislodge us. All +they've got to do is to stand off and starve us out. They are not +compelled to fire a gun or land a man." + +"They'll have to starve their own men first. It's not likely we're going +to go hungry and feed our prisoners." + +"Oh, we don't mind a little thing like that, we Russians. They may +send help, or they may not. Probably a cruiser will come within hailing +distance and try to find out what the trouble is. Then it will lie off +and wait till everybody's dead, and after that put in a new Governor and +another garrison." + +"You take too pessimistic a view, Jack. This isn't the season of the +year for a cruiser to lie off in the Baltic. Winter is coming on. Most +of the harbors in Finland will be ice-closed in a month, and there's no +shelter hereabouts in a storm. They'll attack; probably open shell fire +on us for a while, then attempt to land a storming party. That will be +fun for us if you've got good rifles and plenty of ammunition." + +Jack raised his head. + +"Oh, we're well-equipped," he said, "if we only have enough to eat." + +Springing to his feet, all dejection gone, he said to the Governor: + +"Now, my friend, we're compelled to put you into a cell. I'm sorry to do +this, but there is no other course open. Where is your larder, and what +quantity of provisions have you in stock?" + +A gloomy smile added to the dejection of the old man's countenance. + +"You must find that out for yourself," he said. + +"Are the soldiers upstairs well supplied with food?" + +"I will not answer any of your questions." + +"Oh, very well. I see you are determined to go hungry yourself. Until I +am satisfied that there is more than sufficient for my friend and me, no +prisoner in my charge gets anything to eat. That's the sort of gaoler I +am. The stubborn old beast!" he cried in English, turning to Drummond, +"won't answer my questions." + +"What were you asking him?" + +"I want to know about the stock of provisions." + +"It's quite unnecessary to ask about the grub: there's sure to be +ample." + +"Why?" + +"Why? Because we have reached the beginning of winter, as I said before. +There must be months when no boat can land at this rock. It's bound to +be provisioned for several months ahead at the very lowest calculation. +Now, the first thing to do is to put this ancient Johnny in his little +cell, then I'll tell you where our chief danger lies." + +The Governor made neither protest nor complaint, but walked into Number +Nine, and was locked up. + +"Now, Johnny, my boy," said Drummond, "our anxiety is the soldiers. The +moment they find they are locked in they will blow those two doors open +in just about half a jiffy. We can, of course, by sitting in front of +the lower door night and day, pick off the first four or five who come +down, but if the rest make a rush we are bound to be overpowered. They +have, presumably, plenty of powder, probably some live shells, petards, +and what-not, that will make short work even of those oaken doors. What +do you propose to do?" + +"I propose," said Jack, "to fill their crooked stairway with cement. +There are bags and bags of it in the armory." + +The necessity for this was prevented by an odd circumstance. The two +young men were seated in the Governor's room, when at his table a +telephone bell rang. Jack had not noticed this instrument, and now took +up the receiver. + +"Hello, Governor," said a voice, "your fool of a gaoler has bolted the +stairway door, and we can't open it." + +"Oh, I beg pardon," replied Jack, in whatever imitation of the +Governor's voice he could assume. "I'll see to it at once myself." + +He hung up the receiver and told his comrade what had happened. + +"One or both of these officers are coming down. If we get the officers +safely into a cell, there will be nobody to command the men, and it is +more than likely that the officers carry the keys of the powder room. +I'll turn out the electric lamps in the hall, and light the lantern. You +be ready at the foot of the stairway to fire if they make the slightest +resistance." + +The two officers came down the circular stairway, grumbling at the delay +to which they had been put. Lermontoff took advantage of the clamping +of their heavy boots in the echoing stairway to shove in the bolts once +more, and then followed them, himself followed by Drummond, into the +Governor's room. Switching on the electric light, he said: + +"Gentlemen, I am Prince Lermontoff, in temporary charge of this prison. +The Governor is under arrest, and I regret that I must demand your +swords, although I have every reason to believe that they will be +handed back to you within a very few days after I have completed my +investigations." + +The officers were too much accustomed to sudden changes in command to +see anything odd in this turn of affairs. Lermontoff spoke with a quiet +dignity that was very convincing, and the language he used was that of +the nobility. The two officers handed him their swords without a word of +protest. + +"I must ask you whether you have yet received your winter supply of +food." + +"Oh, yes," said the senior officer, "we had that nearly a month ago." + +"Is it stored in the military portion of the rock, or below here?" + +"Our rations are packed away in a room upstairs." + +"I am sorry, gentlemen, that I must put you into cells until my mission +is accomplished. If you will write a requisition for such rations as you +are accustomed to receive, I shall see that you are supplied. Meanwhile, +write also an order to whomsoever you entrust in command of the men +during your absence, to grant no one leave to come downstairs, and ask +him to take care that each soldier is rigidly restricted to the minimum +quantity of vodka." + +The senior officer sat down at the table, and wrote the two orders. +The men were then placed in adjoining cells, without the thought of +resistance even occurring to them. They supposed there had been some +changes at headquarters, and were rather relieved to have the assurance +of the Prince that their arrest would prove temporary. Further +investigation showed that there would be no danger of starvation for six +months at least. + +Next day Jack, at great risk of his neck, scaled to the apex of the +island, as he had thought of flying, if possible, a signal of distress +that might attract some passing vessel. But even though he reached the +sharp ridge, he saw at once that no pole could be erected there, not +even if he possessed one. The wind aloft was terrific, and he gazed +around him at an empty sea. + +When four days had passed they began to look for the Russian relief +boat, which they knew would set out the moment the Governor's telegram +reached St. Petersburg. + +On the fifth day Jack shouted down to Drummond, who was standing by the +door. + +"The Russian is coming: heading direct for us. She's in a hurry, too, +crowding on all steam, and eating up the distance like a torpedo-boat +destroyer. I think it's a cruiser. It's not the old tub I came on, +anyway." + +"Come down, then," answered Alan, "and we--" + +A cry from above interrupted him. Jack, having at first glance spied the +vessel whose description he had shouted to Drummond, had now turned his +eyes eastward and stood staring aghast toward the sunrise. + +"What's the matter?" asked Alan. + +"Matter?" echoed Jack. "They must be sending the whole Russian Navy here +in detachments to capture our unworthy selves. There's a second boat +coming from the east--nearer by two miles than the yacht. If I hadn't +been all taken up with the other from the moment I climbed here I'd have +seen her before." + +"Is she a yacht, too?" + +"No. Looks like a passenger tramp. Dirty and--" + +"Merchantman, maybe." + +"No. She's got guns on her--" + +"Merchantman fitted out for privateersman, probably. That's the sort of +craft Russia would be likeliest to send to a secret prison like this. +What flag does--" + +"No flag at all. Neither of them. They're both making for the rock, full +steam, and from opposite sides. Neither can see the other, I suppose. +I--" + +"From opposite sides? That doesn't look like a joint expedition. One of +those ships isn't Russian. But which?" + +Jack had clambered down and stood by Alan's side. + +"We must make ready for defense in either case," he said. "In a few +minutes we'll be able to see them both from the platform below." + +"One of those boats means to blow us out of existence if it can," mused +Jack. "The other cannot know of our existence. And yet, if she doesn't, +what is she doing here, headed for the rock?" + +With that Jack scrambled, slid and jumped down. Drummond was very quiet +and serious. Repeating rifles stood in a row on the opposite wall, easy +to get at, but as far off as might be from the effects of a possible +shell. The two young men now mounted the stone bench by the door, which +allowed them to look over the ledge at the eastern sea. Presently the +craft appeared round the end of the island, pure white, floating like a +swan on the water, and making great headway. + +"By Jove!" said Jack, "she's a fine one. Looks like the Czar's yacht, +but no Russian vessel I know of can make that speed." + +"She's got the ear-marks of Thornycroft build about her," commented +Drummond. "By Jove, Jack, what luck if she should prove to be English. +No flag flying, though." + +"She's heading for us," said Jack, "and apparently she knows which side +the cannon is on. If she's Russian, they've taken it for granted we've +captured the whole place, and are in command of the guns. There, she's +turning." + +The steamer was abreast of the rock, and perhaps three miles distant. +Now she swept a long, graceful curve westward and drew up about half a +mile east of the rock. + +"Jove, I wish I'd a pair of good glasses," said Drummond. "They're +lowering a boat." + +Jack showed more Highland excitement than Russian stolidity, as he +watched the oncoming of a small boat, beautifully riding the waves, +and masterfully rowed by sailors who understood the art. Drummond stood +imperturbable as a statue. + +"The sweep of those oars is English, Jack, my boy." + +As the boat came nearer and nearer Jack became more and more agitated. + +"I say, Alan, focus your eyes on that man at the rudder. I think my +sight's failing me. Look closely. Did you ever see him before?" + +"I think I have, but am not quite sure." + +"Why, he looks to me like my jovial and venerable father-in-law, Captain +Kempt, of Bar Harbor. Perfectly absurd, of course: it can't be." + +"He does resemble the Captain, but I only saw him once or twice." + +"Hooray, Captain Kempt, how are you?" shouted Jack across the waters. + +The Captain raised his right hand and waved it, but made no attempt to +cover the distance with his voice. Jack ran pell-mell down the steps, +and Drummond followed in more leisurely fashion. The boat swung round to +the landing, and Captain Kempt cried cordially: + +"Hello, Prince, how are you? And that's Lieutenant Drummond, isn't it? +Last time I had the pleasure of seeing you, Drummond, was that night of +the ball." + +"Yes," said Drummond. "I was very glad to see you then, but a hundred +times happier to see you to-day." + +"I was just cruising round these waters in my yacht, and I thought +I'd take a look at this rock you tried to obliterate. I don't see +any perceptible damage done, but what can you expect from British +marksmanship?" + +"I struck the rock on the other side, Captain. I think your remark is +unkind, especially as I've just been praising the watermanship of your +men." + +"Now, are you boys tired of this summer resort?" asked Captain Kempt. +"Is your baggage checked, and are you ready to go? Most seaside places +are deserted this time of year." + +"We'll be ready in a moment, captain," cried his future son-in-law. "I +must run up and get the Governor. We've put a number of men in prison +here, and they'll starve if not released. The Governor's a good old +chap, though he played it low down on me a few days ago," and with that +Jack disappeared up the stairway once more. + +"Had a gaol-delivery here?" asked the Captain. + +"Well, something by way of that. The Prince drilled a hole in the rock, +and we got out. We've put the garrison in pawn, so to speak, but I've +been mighty anxious these last few days because the sail-boat they had +here, and two of the garrison, escaped to the mainland with the news. We +were anxiously watching your yacht, fearing it was Russian. Jack +thought it was the Czar's yacht. How came you by such a craft, Captain? +Splendid-looking boat that." + +"Oh, yes, I bought her a few days before I left New York. One likes to +travel comfortably, you know. Very well fitted up she is." + +Jack shouted from the doorway: + +"Drummond, come up here and fling overboard these loaded rifles. We +can't take any more chances. I'm going to lock up the ammunition room +and take the key with me as a souvenir." + +"Excuse me, Captain," said Drummond, who followed his friend, and +presently bundles of rifles came clattering down the side of the +precipice, plunging into the sea. The two then descended the steps, Jack +in front, Drummond following with the Governor between them. + +"Now, Governor," said Jack, "for the second time I am to bid you +farewell. Here are the keys. If you accept them you must give me your +word of honor that the boat will not be fired upon. If you do not +promise that, I'll drop the bunch into the sea, and on your gray head be +the consequences." + +"I give you my word of honor that you shall not be fired upon." + +"Very well, Governor. Here are the keys, and good-by." + +In the flurry of excitement over the yacht's appearance, both Jack and +Drummond had temporarily forgotten the existence of the tramp steamer +the former had seen beating toward the rock. + +Now Lamont suddenly recalled it. + +"By the way, Governor," he said, "the relief boat you so thoughtfully +sent for is on her way here. She should reach the rock at almost any +minute now. In fact, I fancy we've little time to waste if we want to +avoid a brush. It would be a pity to be nabbed now at the eleventh hour. +Good-by, once more." + +But the Governor had stepped between him and the boat. + +"I--I am an old man," he said, speaking with manifest embarrassment. +"I was sent to take charge of this prison as punishment for refusing to +join a Jew massacre plot. Governorship here means no more nor less than +a life imprisonment. My wife and children are on a little estate of mine +in Sweden. It is twelve years since I have seen them. I--" + +"If this story is a ruse to detain us--" + +"No! No!" protested the Governor, and there was no mistaking his +pathetic, eager sincerity. "But--but I shall be shot--or locked in one +of the cells and the water turned on--for letting you escape. Won't you +take me with you? I will work my passage. Take me as far as Stockholm. +I shall be free there--free to join my wife and to live forever out of +reach of the Grand Dukes. Take me--" + +"Jump in!" ordered Jack, coming to a sudden resolution. "Heaven knows I +would not condemn my worst enemy to a perpetual life on this rock. And +you've been pretty decent to us, according to your lights. Jump aboard, +we've no time to waste." + +Nor did the Governor waste time in obeying. The others followed, and the +boat shoved off. But scarcely had the oars caught the water when around +the promontory came a large man-o'-war's launch, a rapid-fire gun +mounted on her bows. She was manned by about twenty men in Russian +police uniform. + +"From the 'tramp,'" commented Alan excitedly. "And her gun is trained on +us." + +"Get down to work!" shouted Jack to the straining oarsmen. + +"No use!" groaned Kempt. "She'll cross within a hundred yards of us. +There's no missing at such close range and on such a quiet sea. What a +fool I was to--" + +The launch was, indeed, bearing down on them despite the rowers' best +efforts, and must unquestionably cut them off before they could reach +the yacht. + +Alan drew his revolver. + +"We've no earthly show against her," he remarked quietly, "and it seems +hard to 'go down in sight of port.' But let's do what we can." + +"Put up that pop-gun," ordered Kempt. "She will sink us long before +you're in range for revolver work. I'll run up my handkerchief for a +white flag." + +"To surrender?" + +"What else can we do?" + +"And he lugged back to the rock, all of us? Not I, for one!" + +The launch was now within hailing distance, and every man aboard her was +glaring at the helpless little yacht-gig. + +"Wait!" + +It was the Governor who spoke. Rising from his seat in the stern, he +hailed the officer who was sighting the rapid-fire gun. + +"Lieutenant Tschersky!" he called. + +At sight of the old man's lean, uniformed figure, rising from among the +rest, there was visible excitement and surprise aboard the launch. The +officer saluted and ordered the engine stopped that he might hear more +plainly. + +"Lieutenant," repeated the Governor, "I am summoned aboard His Highness +the Grand Duke Vladimir's yacht. You will proceed to the harbor and +await my return to the rock. There has been a mutiny among the garrison, +but I have quelled it." + +The officer saluted again, gave an order, and the launch's nose pointed +for the rock. + +"Governor," observed Lamont, as the old man sank again into his seat, +"you've earned your passage to Stockholm. You need not work for it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI --THE ELOPEMENT + +THE girls on the yacht had no expectation that Captain Kempt would +come back with the two young men. But when, through their powerful +binoculars, the girls became aware that Drummond and the Prince were +in the small boat, they both fled to the chief saloon, and sat there +holding one another's hands. Even the exuberant Kate for once had +nothing to say. She heard the voice of her father on deck, giving +command to the mate. + +"Make for Stockholm, Johnson. Take my men-o'-war's men--see that no one +else touches the ammunition--and fling the shells overboard. Heave the +gun after them, and then clear out the rifles and ammunition the same +way. When we reach Stockholm to-morrow morning, there must not be a gun +on board this ship, and the ridiculous rumor that got abroad among your +men that we were going to attack something or other, you will see is +entirely unfounded. You impress that on them, Johnson." + +"Oh, Dorothy," whispered Katherine, drawing a deep breath. "If you are +as frightened as I am, get behind me." + +"I think I will," answered Dorothy, and each squeezed the other's hand. + +"I tell you what it is, Captain," sounded the confident voice of the +Prince. "This vessel is a beauty. You have done yourself fine. I had no +idea you were such a sybarite. Why, I've been aboard the Czar's yacht, +and I tell you it's nothing--Great heavens! Katherine!" he shouted, in a +voice that made the ceiling ring. + +She was now standing up and advanced toward him with both hands held +out, a welcoming smile on her pretty lips, but he swooped down on her, +flung his arms round her like a cabman beating warmth into his hands, +kissed her on the brow, the two cheeks and the lips, swaying her back +and forward as if about to fling her upstairs. + +"Stop, stop," she cried. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Before my +father, too! You great Russian bear!" and, breathless, she put her open +palm against his face, and shoved his head away from her. + +"Don't bother about me, Kate," said her father. "That's nothing to the +way we acted when I was young. Come on, boys, to the smoking-room, +and I'll mix you something good: real Kentucky, twenty-seven years in +barrel, and I've got all the other materials for a Manhattan." + +"Jack, I am glad to see you," panted Katherine, all in disarray, which +she endeavored to set right by an agitated touch here and there. "Now, +Jack, I'm going to take you to the smoking-room, but you'll have to +behave yourself as you walk along the deck. I won't be made a spectacle +of before the crew." + +"Come along, Drummond," said the Captain, "and bring Miss Dorothy with +you." + +But Drummond stood in front of Dorothy Amhurst, and held out his hand. + +"You haven't forgotten me, Miss Amhurst, I hope?" + +"Oh, no," she replied, with a very faint smile, taking his hand. + +"It seems incredible that you are here," he began. "What a lucky man I +am. Captain Kempt takes his yacht to rescue his son-in-law that is to +be, and incidentally rescues me as well, and then to find you here! I +suppose you came because your friend Miss Kempt was aboard?" + +"Yes, we are all but inseparable." + +"I wrote you a letter, Miss Amhurst, the last night I was in St. +Petersburg in the summer." + +"Yes, I received it." + +"No, not this one. It was the night I was captured, and I never got a +chance to post it. It was an important letter--for me." + +"I thought it important--for me," replied Dorothy, now smiling quite +openly. "The Nihilists got it, searching your room after you had been +arrested. It was sent on to New York, and given to me." + +"Is that possible? How did they know it was for you?" + +"I had been making inquiries through the Nihilists." + +"I wrote you a proposal of marriage, Dorothy." + +"It certainly read like it, but you see it wasn't signed, and you can't +be held to it." + +He reached across the table, and grasped her two hands. + +"Dorothy, Dorothy," he cried, "do you mean you would have cabled 'Yes'?" + +"No." + +"You would not?" + +"Of course not. I should have cabled 'Undecided.' One gets more for +one's money in sending a long word. Then I should have written--" she +paused, and he cried eagerly: + +"What?" + +"What do you think?" she asked. + +"Well, do you know, Dorothy, I am beginning to think my incredible luck +will hold, and that you'd have written 'Yes.'" + +"I don't know about the luck: that would have been the answer." + +He sprang up, bent over her, and she, quite unaffectedly raised her face +to his. + +"Oh, Dorothy," he cried. + +"Oh, Alan," she replied, with quivering voice, "I never thought to see +you again. You cannot imagine the long agony of this voyage, and not +knowing what had happened." + +"It's a blessing, Dorothy, you had learned nothing about the +Trogzmondoff." + +"Ah, but I did: that's what frightened me. We have a man on board who +was flung for dead from that dreadful rock. The Baltic saved him; his +mother, he calls it." + +Drummond picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the luxurious +divan which ran along the side of the large room. There they sat down +together, out of sight of the stairway. + +"Did you get all of my letters?" + +"I think so." + +"You know I am a poor man?" + +"I know you said so." + +"Don't you consider my position poverty? I thought every one over there +had a contempt for an income that didn't run into tens of thousands." + +"I told you, Alan, I had been unused to money, and so your income +appears to me quite sufficient." + +"Then you are not afraid to trust in my future?" + +"Not the least: I believe in you." + +"Oh, you dear girl. If you knew how sweet that sounds! Then I may tell +you. When I was in London last I ran down to Dartmouth in Devonshire. I +shall be stationed there. You see, I have finished my foreign cruising, +and Dartmouth is, for a time at least, to be my home. There's a fine +harbor there, green hills and a beautiful river running between them, +and I found such a lovely old house; not grand at all, you know, but so +cosey and comfortable, standing on the heights overlooking the harbor, +in an old garden filled with roses, shrubs, and every kind of flower; +vines clambering about the ancient house. Two servants would keep it +going like a shot. Dorothy, what do you say?" + +Dorothy laughed quietly and whole heartedly. + +"It reads like a bit from an old English romance. I'd just love to see +such a house." + +"You don't care for this sort of thing, do you?" he asked, glancing +round about him. + +"What sort of thing?" + +"This yacht, these silk panelling, these gorgeous pictures, the +carving, the gilt, the horribly expensive carpet." + +"You mean should I feel it necessary to be surrounded by such luxury? I +answer most emphatically, no. I like your ivy-covered house at Dartmouth +much better." + +For a moment neither said anything: lips cannot speak when pressed +together. + +"Now, Dorothy, I want you to elope with me. We will be in Stockholm +long before daylight to-morrow at the rate this boat is going. I'll get +ashore as soon as practicable, and make all inquiries at the consulate +about being married. I don't know what the regulations are, but if it is +possible to be married quietly, say in the afternoon, will you consent +to that, and then write a letter to Captain Kempt, thanking him for the +trip on the yacht, and I'll write, thanking him for all he has done for +me, and after that we'll make for England together. I've got a letter of +credit in my pocket, which luckily the Russians did not take from me. +I shall find all the money we need at Stockholm, then we'll cross the +Swedish country, sail to Denmark, make our way through Germany to Paris, +if you like, or to London. We shan't travel all the time, but just take +nice little day trips, stopping at some quaint old town every afternoon +and evening." + +"You mean to let Captain Kempt, Katherine, and the Prince go to America +alone?" + +"Of course. Why not? They don't want us, and I'm quite sure we--well, +Dorothy, we'd be delighted to have them, to be sure--but still, I've +knocked a good deal about Europe, and there are some delightful old +towns I'd like to show you, and I hate traveling with a party." + +Dorothy laughed so heartily that her head sank on his shoulder. + +"Yes, I'll do that," she said at last. + +And they did. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + +***** This file should be named 4982.txt or 4982.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/9/8/4982/ + +Produced by Jim Weiler + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at + www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email +contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the +Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/4982.zip b/4982.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e5a4237 --- /dev/null +++ b/4982.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..def274b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #4982 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4982) diff --git a/old/2004-01-rbalt10.txt b/old/2004-01-rbalt10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2442664 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2004-01-rbalt10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7774 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Rock in the Baltic + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4982] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 7, 2002] +[Date last updated: November 14, 2004] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + + + + +This eBook was prepared by Jim Weiler, xooqi.com. + + + + A Rock in the Baltic + +by Robert Barr, 1906 + _________________________________________________________________ + + CHAPTER I + + THE INCIDENT AT THE BANK + +IN the public room of the Sixth National Bank at Bar Harbor in Maine, +Lieutenant Alan Drummond, H.M.S. "Consternation," stood aside to give +precedence to a lady. The Lieutenant had visited the bank for the +purpose of changing several crisp white Bank of England notes into the +currency of the country he was then visiting. The lady did not appear +to notice either his courtesy or his presence, and this was the more +remarkable since Drummond was a young man sufficiently conspicuous +even in a crowd, and he and she were, at that moment, the only +customers in the bank. He was tall, well-knit and stalwart, blond as a +Scandinavian, with dark blue eyes which he sometimes said jocularly +were the colors of his university. He had been slowly approaching the +cashier's window with the easy movement of a man never in a hurry, +when the girl appeared at the door, and advanced rapidly to the bank +counter with its brass wire screen surrounding the arched aperture +behind which stood the cashier. Although very plainly attired, her +gown nevertheless possessed a charm of simplicity that almost +suggested complex Paris, and she wore it with that air of distinction +the secret of which is supposed to be the exclusive property of French +and American women. + +The young man saw nothing of this, and although he appreciated the +beauty of the girl, what struck him at that instant was the expression +of anxiety on her face, whose apparently temporary pallor was +accentuated by an abundance of dark hair. It seemed to him that she +had resolutely set herself a task which she was most reluctant to +perform. From the moment she entered the door her large, dark eyes +were fixed almost appealingly on the cashier, and they beheld nothing +else. Drummond, mentally slow as he usually was, came to the quick +conclusion that this was a supreme moment in her life, on which +perhaps great issues depended. He saw her left hand grasp the corner +of the ledge in front of the cashier with a grip of nervous tension, +as if the support thus attained was necessary to her. Her right hand +trembled slightly as she passed an oblong slip of paper through the +aperture to the calm and indifferent official. + +"Will you give me the money for this check?" she asked in a low voice. + +The cashier scrutinized the document for some time in silence. The +signature appeared unfamiliar to him. + +"One moment, madam," he said quietly, and retired to a desk in the +back part of the bank, where he opened a huge book, turned over some +leaves rapidly, and ran his finger down a page. His dilatory action +seemed to increase the young woman's panic. Her pallor increased, and +she swayed slightly, as if in danger of falling, but brought her right +hand to the assistance of the left, and so steadied herself against +the ledge of the cashier's counter. + +"By Jove!" said the Lieutenant to himself, "there's something wrong +here. I wonder what it is. Such a pretty girl, too!" + +The cashier behind his screen saw nothing of this play of the +emotions. He returned nonchalantly to his station, and asked, in +commonplace tones: + +"How will you have the money, madam?" + +"Gold, if you please," she replied almost in a whisper, a rosy flush +chasing the whiteness from her face, while a deep sigh marked the +passing of a crisis. + +At this juncture an extraordinary thing happened. The cashier counted +out some golden coins, and passed them through the aperture toward +their new owner. + +"Thank you," said the girl. Then, without touching the money, she +turned like one hypnotized, her unseeing eyes still taking no heed of +the big Lieutenant, and passed rapidly out of the bank, The cashier +paid no regard to this abandonment of treasure. He was writing some +hieroglyphics on the cashed check. + +"By Jove!" gasped the Lieutenant aloud, springing forward as he spoke, +sweeping the coins into his hand, and bolting for the door. This was +an action which would have awakened the most negligent cashier had he +been in a trance. Automatically he whisked out a revolver which lay in +an open drawer under his hand. + +"Stop, you scoundrel, or I fire!" he shouted, but the Lieutenant had +already disappeared. Quick as thought the cashier darted into the +passage, and without waiting to unfasten the low door which separated +the public and private rooms of the bank, leaped over it, and, +bareheaded, gave chase. A British naval officer in uniform, rapidly +overtaking a young woman, quite unconscious of his approach, followed +by an excited, bareheaded man with a revolver in his grasp, was a +sight which would quickly have collected a crowd almost anywhere, but +it happened to be the lunch hour, and the inhabitants of that famous +summer resort were in-doors; thus, fortunately, the street was +deserted. The naval officer was there because the hour of the midday +meal on board the cruiser did not coincide with lunch time on shore. +The girl was there because it happened to be the only portion of the +day when she could withdraw unobserved from the house in which she +lived, during banking hours, to try her little agitating financial +experiment. The cashier was there because the bank had no lunch hour, +and because he had just witnessed the most suspicious circumstance +that his constantly alert eye had ever beheld. Calm and imperturbable +as a bank cashier may appear to the outside public, he is a man under +constant strain during business hours. Each person with whom he is +unacquainted that confronts him at his post is a possible robber who +at any moment may attempt, either by violence or chicanery, to filch +the treasure he guards. The happening of any event outside the usual +routine at once arouses a cashier's distrust, and this sudden flight +of a stranger with money which did not belong to him quite justified +the perturbation of the cashier. From that point onward, innocence of +conduct or explanation so explicit as to satisfy any ordinary man, +becomes evidence of more subtle guilt to the mind of a bank official. +The ordinary citizen, seeing the Lieutenant finally overtake and +accost the hurrying girl, raise his cap, then pour into her +outstretched hand the gold he had taken, would have known at once that +here was an every-day exercise of natural politeness. Not so the +cashier. The farther he got from the bank, the more poignantly did he +realize that these two in front, both strangers to him, had, by their +combined action, lured him, pistol and all, away from his post during +the dullest hour of the day. It was not the decamping with those few +pieces of gold which now troubled him: it was fear of what might be +going on behind him. He was positive that these two had acted in +conjunction. The uniform worn by the man did not impose upon him. Any +thief could easily come by a uniform, and, as his mind glanced rapidly +backwards over the various points of the scheme, he saw how effectual +the plan was: first, the incredible remissness of the woman in leaving +her gold on the counter; second, the impetuous disappearance of the +man with the money; and, third, his own heedless plunge into the +street after them. He saw the whole plot in a flash: he had literally +leaped into the trap, and during his five or ten minutes' absence, the +accomplices of the pair might have overawed the unarmed clerks, and +walked off with the treasure. His cash drawer was unlocked, and even +the big safe stood wide open. Surprise had as effectually lured him +away as if he had been a country bumpkin. Bitterly and breathlessly +did he curse his own precipitancy. His duty was to guard the bank, yet +it had not been the bank that was robbed, but, at best a careless +woman who had failed to pick up her money. He held the check for it, +and the loss, if any, was hers, not the bank's, yet here he was, +running bareheaded down the street like a fool, and now those two +stood quite calmly together, he handing her the money, and thus +spreading a mantle of innocence over the vile trick. But whatever was +happening in the bank, he would secure two of the culprits at least. +The two, quite oblivious of the danger that threatened them, were +somewhat startled by a panting man, trembling with rage, bareheaded, +and flourishing a deadly weapon, sweeping down upon them. + +"Come back to the bank instantly, you two!" he shouted. + +"Why?" asked the Lieutenant in a quiet voice. + +"Because I say so, for one thing." + +"That reason is unanswerable," replied the Lieutenant with a slight +laugh, which further exasperated his opponent. "I think you are +exciting yourself unnecessarily. May I beg you to put that pistol in +your pocket? On the cruiser we always cover up the guns when ladies +honor us with their presence. You wish me to return because I had no +authority for taking the money? Right: come along." + +The cashier regarded this as bluff, and an attempt to give the woman +opportunity to escape. + +"You must come back also," he said to the girl. + +"I'd rather not," she pleaded in a low voice, and it was hardly +possible to have made a more injudicious remark if she had taken the +whole afternoon to prepare. + +Renewed determination shone from the face of the cashier. + +"You must come back to the bank," he reiterated. + +"Oh, I say," protested the Lieutenant, "you are now exceeding your +authority. I alone am the culprit. The young lady is quite blameless, +and you have no right to detain her for a moment." + +The girl, who had been edging away and showing signs of flight, which +the bareheaded man, visibly on the alert, leaned forward ready to +intercept, seemed to make up her mind to bow to the inevitable. +Ignoring the cashier, she looked up at the blond Lieutenant with a +slight smile on her pretty lips. + +"It was really all my fault at the beginning," she said, "and very +stupid of me. I am slightly acquainted with the bank manager, and I am +sure he will vouch for me, if he is there." + +With that she turned and walked briskly toward the bank, at so rapid a +pace as to indicate that she did not wish an escort. The bareheaded +official found his anger unaccountably deserting him, while a great +fear that he had put his foot in it took its place. + +"Really," said the Lieutenant gently, as they strode along together, +"an official in your position should be a good judge of human nature. +How any sane person, especially a young man, can look at that +beautiful girl and suspect her of evil, passes my comprehension. Do +you know her?" + +"No," said the cashier shortly. "Do you?" + +The Lieutenant laughed genially. + +"Still suspicious, eh?" he asked. "No, I don't know her, but to use a +banking term, you may bet your bottom dollar I'm going to. Indeed, I +am rather grateful to you for your stubbornness in forcing us to +return. It's a quality I like, and you possess it in marvelous +development, so I intend to stand by you when the managerial censure +is due. I'm very certain I met your manager at the dinner they gave us +last night. Mr. Morton, isn't he?" + +"Yes," growled the cashier, in gruff despondency. + +"Ah, that's awfully jolly. One of the finest fellows I've met in ten +years. Now, the lady said she was acquainted with him, so if I don't +wheedle an introduction out of him, it will show that a man at a +dinner and a man in a bank are two different individuals. You were +looking for plots; so there is mine laid bare to you. It's an +introduction, not gold, I'm conspiring for." + +The cashier had nothing further to say. When they entered the bank +together he saw the clerks all busily at work, and knew that no +startling event had happened during his absence. The girl had gone +direct to the manager's room, and thither the young men followed her. +The bank manager was standing at his desk, trying to preserve a severe +financial cast of countenance, which the twinkle in his eyes belied. +The girl, also standing, had evidently been giving him a rapid sketch +of what had occurred, but now fell into silence when accuser and +accomplice appeared. + +The advent of the Englishman was a godsend to the manager. He was too +courteous a gentleman to laugh in the face of a lady who very +seriously was relating a set of incidents which appealed to his sense +of humor, so the coming of the Lieutenant enabled him to switch off +his mirth on another subject, and in reply to the officer's cordial +"Good-morning, Mr. Morton," he replied: + +"Why, Lieutenant, I'm delighted to see you. That was a very jolly song +you sang for us last night: I'll never forget it. What do you call it? +Whittington Fair?" And he laughed outright, as at a genial +recollection. + +The Lieutenant blushed red as a girl, and stammered: + +"Really, Mr. Morton, you know, that's not according to the rules of +evidence. When a fellow comes up for trial, previous convictions are +never allowed to be mentioned till after the sentence. Whiddicomb Fair +should not be held against me in the present crisis." + +The manager chuckled gleefully. The cashier, when he saw how the land +lay, had quietly withdrawn, closing the door behind him. + +"Well, Lieutenant, I think I must have this incident cabled to +Europe," said Morton, "so the effete nations of your continent may +know that a plain bank cashier isn't afraid to tackle the British +navy. Indeed, Mr. Drummond, if you read history, you will learn that +this is a dangerous coast for your warships. It seems rather +inhospitable that a guest of our town cannot pick all the gold he +wants out of a bank, but a cashier has necessarily somewhat narrow +views on the subject. I was just about to apologize to Miss Amhurst, +who is a valued client of ours, when you came in, and I hope, Miss +Amhurst"-- he continued gravely, turning to the girl-- "that you will +excuse us for the inconvenience to which you have been put." + +"Oh, it does not matter in the least," replied the young woman, with +nevertheless a sigh of relief. "It was all my own fault in so +carelessly leaving the money. Some time, when less in a hurry than I +am at the present moment, I will tell you how I came to make the +blunder." + +Meanwhile the manager caught and interpreted correctly an imploring +look from the Lieutenant. + +"Before you go, Miss Amhurst, will you permit me to introduce to you +my friend, Lieutenant Drummond, of H.M.S. 'Consternation.'" + +This ritual to convention being performed, the expression on the +girl's face showed the renewal of her anxiety to be gone, and as she +turned to the door, the officer sprang forward and opened it for her. +If the manager expected the young man to return, he was disappointed, +for Drummond threw over his shoulder the hasty remark: + +"I will see you at the Club this evening," whereupon the genial +Morton, finding himself deserted, sat down in his swivel chair and +laughed quietly to himself. + +There was the slightest possible shade of annoyance on the girl's face +as the sailor walked beside her from the door of the manager's room, +through the public portion of the bank to the exit, and the young man +noticing this, became momentarily tongue-tied, but nevertheless +persisted, with a certain awkward doggedness which was not going to +allow so slight a hint that his further attendance was unnecessary, to +baffle him. He did not speak until they had passed down the stone +steps to the pavement, and then his utterance began with a +half-embarrassed stammer, as if the shadow of displeasure demanded +justification on his part. + +"You-- you see, Miss Amhurst, we have been properly introduced." + +For the first time he heard the girl laugh, just a little, and the +sound was very musical to him. + +"The introduction was of the slightest," she said. "I cannot claim +even an acquaintance with Mr. Morton, although I did so in the +presence of his persistent subordinate. I have met the manager of the +bank but once before, and that for a few moments only, when he showed +me where to sign my name in a big book." + +"Nevertheless," urged Drummond, "I shall defend the validity of that +introduction against all comers. The head of a bank is a most +important man in every country, and his commendation is really very +much sought after." + +"You appear to possess it. He complimented your singing, you know," +and there was a roguish twinkle in the girl's eye as she glanced up +sideways at him, while a smile came to her lips as she saw the color +again mount to his cheeks. She had never before met a man who blushed, +and she could not help regarding him rather as a big boy than a person +to be taken seriously. His stammer became more pronounced. + +"I-- I think you are laughing at me, Miss Amhurst, and indeed I don't +wonder at it, and I-- I am afraid you consider me even more persistent +than the cashier. But I did want to tell you how sorry I am to have +caused you annoyance." + +"Oh, you have not done so," replied the girl quickly. "As I said +before, it was all my own fault in the beginning." + +"No, I shouldn't have taken the gold. I should have come up with you, +and told you that it still awaited you in the bank, and now I beg your +permission to walk down the street with you, because if any one were +looking at us from these windows, and saw us pursued by a bareheaded +man with a revolver, they will now, on looking out again, learn that +it is all right, and may even come to regard the revolver and the +hatless one as an optical delusion." + +Again the girl laughed. + +"I am quite unknown in Bar Harbor, having fewer acquaintances than +even a stranger like yourself, therefore so far as I am concerned it +does not in the least matter whether any one saw us or not. We shall +walk together, then, as far as the spot where the cashier overtook us, +and this will give me an opportunity of explaining, if not of +excusing, my leaving the money on the counter. I am sure my conduct +must have appeared inexplicable both to you and the cashier, although, +of course, you would be too polite to say so." + +"I assure you, Miss Amhurst--" + +"I know what you would say," she interrupted, with a vivacity which +had not heretofore characterized her, "but, you see, the distance to +the corner is short, and, as I am in a hurry, if you don't wish my +story to be continued in our next--" + +"Ah, if there is to be a next--" murmured the young man so fervently +that it was now the turn of color to redden her cheeks. + +"I am talking heedlessly," she said quickly. "What I want to say is +this: I have never had much money. Quite recently I inherited what had +been accumulated by a relative whom I never knew. It seemed so +incredible, so strange-- well, it seems incredible and strange yet-- +and I have been expecting to wake and find it all a dream. Indeed, +when you overtook me at this spot where we now stand, I feared you had +come to tell me it was a mistake; to hurl me from the clouds to the +hard earth again." + +"But it was just the reverse of that," he cried eagerly. "Just the +reverse, remember. I came to confirm your dream, and you received from +my hand the first of your fortune." + +"Yes," she admitted, her eyes fixed on the sidewalk. + +"I see how it was," he continued enthusiastically. "I suppose you had +never drawn a check before." + +"Never," she conceded. + +"And this was merely a test. You set up your dream against the hard +common sense of a bank, which has no dreams. You were to transform +your vision into the actual, or find it vanish. When the commonplace +cashier passed forth the coin, their jingle said to you, 'The supposed +phantasy is real,' but the gold pieces themselves at that supreme +moment meant no more to you than so many worthless counters, so you +turned your back upon them." + +She looked up at him, her eyes, though moist, illumined with pleasure +inspired by the sympathy in his tones rather than the import of his +words. The girl's life heretofore had been as scant of kindness as of +cash, and there was a deep sincerity in his voice which was as +refreshing to her lonesome heart as it was new to her experience. This +man was not so stupid as he had pretended to be. He had accurately +divined the inner meaning of what had happened. She had forgotten the +necessity for haste which had been so importunate a few minutes +before. + +"You must be a mind-reader," she said. + +"No, I am not at all a clever person," he laughed. "Indeed, as I told +you, I am always blundering into trouble, and making things +uncomfortable for my friends. I regret to say I am rather under a +cloud just now in the service, and I have been called upon to endure +the frown of my superiors." + +"Why, what has happened?" she asked. After their temporary halt at the +corner where they had been overtaken, they now strolled along together +like old friends, her prohibition out of mind. + +"Well, you see, I was temporarily in command of the cruiser coming +down the Baltic, and passing an island rock a few miles away, I +thought it would be a good opportunity to test a new gun that had been +put aboard when we left England. The sea was very calm, and the rock +most temptsome. Of course I knew it was Russian territory, but who +could have imagined that such a point in space was inhabited by +anything else than sea-gulls." + +"What!" cried the girl, looking up at him with new interest. "You +don't mean to say you are the officer that Russia demanded from +England, and England refused to give up?" + +"Oh, England could not give me up, of course, but she apologized, and +assured Russia she had no evil intent. Still, anything that sets the +diplomatists at work is frowned upon, and the man who does an act +which his government is forced to disclaim becomes unpopular with his +superiors." + +"I read about it in the papers at the time. Didn't the rock fire back +at you?" + +"Yes, it did, and no one could have been more surprised than I when I +saw the answering puff of smoke." + +"How came a cannon to be there?" + +"Nobody knows. I suppose that rock in the Baltic is a concealed fort, +with galleries and gun-rooms cut in the stone after the fashion of our +defences at Gibraltar. I told the court-martial that I had added a +valuable bit of information to our naval knowledge, but I don't +suppose this contention exercised any influence on the minds of my +judges. I also called their attention to the fact that my shell had +hit, while the Russian shot fell half a mile short. That remark nearly +cost me my commission. A court-martial has no sense of humor." + +"I suppose everything is satisfactorily settled now?" + +"Well, hardly that. You see, Continental nations are extremely +suspicious of Britain's good intentions, as indeed they are of the +good intentions of each other. No government likes to have-- well, +what we might call a 'frontier incident' happen, and even if a country +is quite in the right, it nevertheless looks askance at any official +of its own who, through his stupidity, brings about an international +complication. As concerns myself, I am rather under a cloud, as I told +you. The court-martial acquitted me, but it did so with reluctance and +a warning. I shall have to walk very straight for the next year or +two, and be careful not to stub my toe, for the eyes of the Admiralty +are upon me. However, I think I can straighten this matter out. I have +six months' leave coming on shortly, which I intend to spend in St. +Petersburg. I shall make it my business to see privately some of the +officials in the Admiralty there, and when they realize by personal +inspection what a well-intentioned idiot I am, all distrust will +vanish." + +"I should do nothing of the kind," rejoined the girl earnestly, quite +forgetting the shortness of their acquaintance, as she had forgotten +the flight of time, while on his part he did not notice any +incongruity in the situation. "I'd leave well enough alone," she +added. + +"Why do you think that?" he asked. + +"Your own country has investigated the matter, and has deliberately +run the risk of unpleasantness by refusing to give you up. How, then, +can you go there voluntarily? You would be acting in your private +capacity directly in opposition to the decision arrived at by your +government." + +"Technically, that is so; still, England would not hold the position +she does in the world to-day if her men had not often taken a course +in their private capacity which the government would never have +sanctioned. As things stand now, Russia has not insisted on her +demand, but has sullenly accepted England's decision, still quite +convinced that my act was not only an invasion of Russia's domain, but +a deliberate insult; therefore the worst results of an inconsiderate +action on my part remain. If I could see the Minister for Foreign +Affairs, or the head of the Admiralty in St. Petersburg face to face +for ten minutes, I'd undertake to remove that impression." + +"You have great faith in your persuasive powers," she said demurely. + +The Lieutenant began to stammer again. + +"No, no, it isn't so much that, but I have great faith in the Russian +as a judge of character. I suppose I am imagined to be a venomous, +brow-beating, truculent Russophobe, who has maliciously violated their +territory, flinging a shell into their ground and an insult into their +face. They are quite sincere in this belief. I want to remove that +impression, and there's nothing like an ocular demonstration. I like +the Russians. One of my best friends is a Russian." + +The girl shook her head. + +"I shouldn't attempt it," she persisted. "Suppose Russia arrested you, +and said to England, 'We've got this man in spite of you'?" + +The Lieutenant laughed heartily. + +"That is unthinkable: Russia wouldn't do such a thing. In spite of all +that is said about the Russian Government, its members are gentlemen. +Of course, if such a thing happened, there would be trouble. That is a +point where we're touchy. A very cheap Englishman, wrongfully +detained, may cause a most expensive campaign. Our diplomatists may +act correctly enough, and yet leave a feeling of resentment behind. +Take this very case. Britain says coldly to Russia: + +"'We disclaim the act, and apologize.' + +"Now, it would be much more to the purpose if she said genially: + +"'We have in our employment an impetuous young fool with a thirst for +information. He wished to learn how a new piece of ordnance would act, +so fired it off with no more intention of striking Russia than of +hitting the moon. He knows much more about dancing than about foreign +affairs. We've given him a month's leave, and he will slip across +privately to St. Petersburg to apologize and explain. The moment you +see him you will recognize he is no menace to the peace of nations. +Meanwhile, if you can inculcate in him some cold, calm common-sense +before he returns, we'll be ever so much obliged.'" + +"So you are determined to do what you think the government should have +done." + +"Oh, quite. There will be nothing frigidly official about my +unauthorized mission. I have a cousin in the embassy at St. +Petersburg, but I shan't go near him; neither shall I go to an hotel, +but will get quiet rooms somewhere that I may not run the risk of +meeting any chance acquaintances." + +"It seems to me you are about to afford the Russian Government an +excellent opportunity of spiriting you off to Siberia, and nobody +would be the wiser." + +Drummond indulged in the free-hearted laugh of a youth to whom life is +still rather a good joke. + +"I shouldn't mind studying the Siberian system from the inside if they +allowed me to return before my leave was up. I believe that sort of +thing has been exaggerated by sensational writers. The Russian +Government would not countenance anything of the kind, and if the +minor officials tried to play tricks, there's always my cousin in the +background, and it would be hard luck if I couldn't get a line to him. +Oh, there's no danger in my project!" + +Suddenly the girl came to a standstill, and gave expression to a +little cry of dismay. + +"What's wrong?" asked the Lieutenant. + +"Why, we've walked clear out into the country!" + +"Oh, is that all? I hadn't noticed." + +"And there are people waiting for me. I must run." + +"Nonsense, let them wait." + +"I should have been back long since." + +They had turned, and she was hurrying. + +"Think of your new fortune, Miss Amhurst, safely lodged in our friend +Morton's bank, and don't hurry for any one." + +"I didn't say it was a fortune: there's only ten thousand dollars +there." + +"That sounds formidable, but unless the people who are waiting for you +muster more than ten thousand apiece, I don't think you should make +haste on their account." + +"It's the other way about, Mr. Drummond. Individually they are poorer +than I, therefore I should have returned long ago. Now, I fear, they +will be in a temper." + +"Well, if anybody left me two thousand pounds, I'd take an afternoon +off to celebrate. Here we are in the suburbs again. Won't you change +your mind and your direction; let us get back into the country, sit +down on the hillside, look at the Bay, and gloat over your wealth?" + +Dorothy Amhurst shook her head and held out her hand. + +"I must bid you good-by here, Lieutenant Drummond. This is my shortest +way home." + +"May I not accompany you just a little farther?" + +"Please, no, I wish to go the rest of the way alone." + +He held her hand, which she tried to withdraw, and spoke with +animation. + +"There's so much I wanted to say, but perhaps the most important is +this: I shall see you the night of the 14th, at the ball we are giving +on the 'Consternation'?" + +"It is very likely," laughed the girl, "unless you overlook me in the +throng. There will be a great mob. I hear you have issued many +invitations." + +"We hope all our friends will come. It's going to be a great function. +Your Secretary of the Navy has promised to look in on us, and our +Ambassador from Washington will be there. I assure you we are doing +our best, with festooned electric lights, hanging draperies, and all +that, for we want to make the occasion at least remotely worthy of the +hospitality we have received. Of course you have your card, but I wish +you hadn't, so that I might have the privilege of sending you one or +more invitations." + +"That would be quite unnecessary," said the girl, again with a slight +laugh and heightened color. + +"If any of your friends need cards of invitation, won't you let me +know, so that I may send them to you?" + +"I'm sure I shan't need any, but if I do, I promise to remember your +kindness, and apply." + +"It will be a pleasure for me to serve you. With whom shall you come? +I should like to know the name, in case I should miss you in the +crowd." + +"I expect to be with Captain Kempt, of the United States Navy." + +"Ah," said the Lieutenant, with a note of disappointment in his voice +which he had not the diplomacy to conceal. His hold of her hand +relaxed, and she took the opportunity to withdraw it. + +"What sort of a man is Captain Kempt? I shall be on the lookout for +him, you know." + +"I think he is the handsomest man I have ever seen, and I know he is +the kindest and most courteous." + +"Really? A young man, I take it?" + +"There speaks the conceit of youth," said Dorothy, smiling. "Captain +Kempt, U.S.N., retired. His youngest daughter is just two years older +than myself." + +"Oh, yes, Captain Kempt. I-- I remember him now. He was at the dinner +last night, and sat beside our captain. What a splendid story-teller +he is!" cried the Lieutenant with honest enthusiasm. + +"I shall tell him that, and ask him how he liked your song. Good-by," +and before the young man could collect his thoughts to make any reply, +she was gone. + +Skimming lightly over the ground at first, she gradually slackened her +pace, and slowed down to a very sober walk until she came to a +three-storied so-called "cottage" overlooking the Bay, then with a +sigh she opened the gate, and went into the house by the servant's +entrance. + + CHAPTER II + + IN THE SEWING-ROOM + +THREE women occupied the sewing-room with the splendid outlook: a +mother and her two daughters. The mother sat in a low rocking-chair, a +picture of mournful helplessness, her hands listlessly resting on her +lap, while tears had left their traces on her time-worn face. The +elder daughter paced up and down the room as striking an example of +energy and impatience as was the mother of despondency. Her comely +brow was marred by an angry frown. The younger daughter stood by the +long window, her forehead resting against the pane, while her fingers +drummed idly on the window sill. Her gaze was fixed on the blue Bay, +where rested the huge British warship "Consternation," surrounded by a +section of the United States squadron seated like white swans in the +water. Sails of snow glistened here and there on the bosom of the Bay, +while motor-boats and what-not darted this way and that impudently +among the stately ships of the fleet. + +In one corner of the room stood a sewing-machine, and on the long +table were piles of mimsy stuff out of which feminine creations are +constructed. There was no carpet on the floor, and no ceiling +overhead; merely the bare rafters and the boards that bore the pine +shingles of the outer roof; yet this attic was notable for the +glorious view to be seen from its window. It was an ideal workshop. + +The elder girl, as she walked to and fro, spoke with nervous +irritation in her voice. + +"There is absolutely no excuse, mamma, and it's weakness in you to +pretend that there may be. The woman has been gone for hours. There's +her lunch on the table which has never been tasted, and the servant +brought it up at twelve." + +She pointed to a tray on which were dishes whose cold contents bore +out the truth of her remark. + +"Perhaps she's gone on strike," said the younger daughter, without +removing her eyes from H.M.S. "Consternation." "I shouldn't wonder if +we went downstairs again we'd find the house picketed to keep away +blacklegs." + +"Oh, you can always be depended on to talk frivolous nonsense," said +her elder sister scornfully. "It's the silly sentimental fashion in +which both you and father treat work-people that makes them so +difficult to deal with. If the working classes were taught their +place--" + +"Working classes! How you talk! Dorothy is as much a lady as we are, +and sometimes I think rather more of a lady than either of us. She is +the daughter of a clergyman." + +"So she says," sniffed the elder girl. + +"Well, she ought to know," replied the younger indifferently. + +"It's people like you who spoil dependents in her position, with your +Dorothy this and Dorothy that. Her name is Amhurst." + +"Christened Dorothy, as witness godfather and godmother," murmured the +younger without turning her head. + +"I think," protested their mother meekly, as if to suggest a +compromise, and throw oil on the troubled waters, "that she is +entitled to be called Miss Amhurst, and treated with kindness but with +reserve." + +"Tush!" exclaimed the elder indignantly, indicating her rejection of +the compromise. + +"I don't see," murmured the younger, "why you should storm, Sabina. +You nagged and nagged at her until she'd finished your ball-dress. It +is mamma and I that have a right to complain. Our dresses are almost +untouched, while you can sail grandly along the decks of the +'Consternation' like a fully rigged yacht. There, I'm mixing my +similes again, as papa always says. A yacht doesn't sail along the +deck of a battleship, does it?" + +"It's a cruiser," weakly corrected the mother, who knew something of +naval affairs. + +"Well, cruiser, then. Sabina is afraid that papa won't go unless we +all have grand new dresses, but mother can put on her old black silk, +and I am going if I have to wear a cotton gown." + +"To think of that person accepting our money, and absenting herself in +this disgraceful way!" + +"Accepting our money! That shows what it is to have an imagination. +Why, I don't suppose Dorothy has had a penny for three months, and you +know the dress material was bought on credit." + +"You must remember," chided the mother mildly, "that your father is +not rich." + +"Oh, I am only pleading for a little humanity. The girl for some +reason has gone out. She hasn't had a bite to eat since breakfast +time, and I know there's not a silver piece in her pocket to buy a bun +in a milk-shop." + +"She has no business to be absent without leave," said Sabina. + +"How you talk! As if she were a sailor on a battleship-- I mean a +cruiser." + +"Where can the girl have gone?" wailed the mother, almost wringing her +hands, partially overcome by the crisis. "Did she say anything about +going out to you, Katherine? She sometimes makes a confidant of you, +doesn't she?" + +"Confidant!" exclaimed Sabina wrathfully. + +"I know where she has gone," said Katherine with an innocent sigh. + +"Then why didn't you tell us before?" exclaimed mother and daughter in +almost identical terms. + +"She has eloped with the captain of the 'Consternation,'" explained +Katherine calmly, little guessing that her words contained a color of +truth. "Papa sat next him at the dinner last night, and says he is a +jolly old salt and a bachelor. Papa was tremendously taken with him, +and they discussed tactics together. Indeed, papa has quite a distinct +English accent this morning, and I suspect a little bit of a headache +which he tries to conceal with a wavering smile." + +"You can't conceal a headache, because it's invisible," said the +mother seriously. "I wish you wouldn't talk so carelessly, Katherine, +and you mustn't speak like that of your father." + +"Oh, papa and I understand one another," affirmed Katherine with great +confidence, and now for the first time during this conversation the +young girl turned her face away from the window, for the door had +opened to let in the culprit. + +"Now, Amhurst, what is the meaning of this?" cried Sabina before her +foot was fairly across the threshold. + +All three women looked at the newcomer. Her beautiful face was aglow, +probably through the exertion of coming up the stairs, and her eyes +shone like those of the Goddess of Freedom as she returned steadfastly +the supercilious stare with which the tall Sabina regarded her. + +"I was detained," she said quietly. + +"Why did you go away without permission?" + +"Because I had business to do which could not be transacted in this +room." + +"That doesn't answer my question. Why did you not ask permission?" + +The girl slowly raised her two hands, and showed her shapely wrists +close together, and a bit of the forearm not covered by the sleeve of +her black dress. + +"Because," she said slowly, "the shackles have fallen from these +wrists." + +"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," said Sabina, apparently +impressed in spite of herself, but the younger daughter clapped her +hands rapturously. + +"Splendid, splendid, Dorothy," she cried. "I don't know what you mean +either, but you look like Maxine Elliott in that play where she--" + +"Will you keep quiet!" interrupted the elder sister over her shoulder. + +"I mean that I intend to sew here no longer," proclaimed Dorothy. + +"Oh, Miss Amhurst, Miss Amhurst," bemoaned the matron. "You will +heartlessly leave us in this crisis when we are helpless; when there +is not a sewing woman to be had in the place for love or money. Every +one is working night and day to be ready for the ball on the +fourteenth, and you-- you whom we have nurtured--" + +"I suppose she gets more money," sneered the elder daughter bitterly. + +"Oh, Dorothy," said Katherine, coming a step forward and clasping her +hands, "do you mean to say I must attend the ball in a calico dress +after all? But I'm going, nevertheless, if I dance in a morning +wrapper." + +"Katherine," chided her mother, "don't talk like that." + +"Of course, where more money is in the question, kindness does not +count," snapped the elder daughter. + +Dorothy Amhurst smiled when Sabina mentioned the word kindness. + +"With me, of course, it's entirely a question of money," she admitted. + +"Dorothy, I never thought it of you," said Katherine, with an +exaggerated sigh. "I wish it were a fancy dress ball, then I'd borrow +my brother Jack's uniform, and go in that." + +"Katherine, I'm shocked at you," complained the mother. + +"I don't care: I'd make a stunning little naval cadet. But, Dorothy, +you must be starved to death; you've never touched your lunch." + +"You seem to have forgotten everything to-day," said Sabina severely. +"Duty and everything else." + +"You are quite right," murmured Dorothy. + +"And did you elope with the captain of the 'Consternation,' and were +you married secretly, and was it before a justice of the peace? Do +tell us all about it." + +"What are you saying?" asked Dorothy, with a momentary alarm coming +into her eyes. + +"Oh, I was just telling mother and Sab that you had skipped by the +light of the noon, with the captain of the 'Consternation,' who was a +jolly old bachelor last night, but may be a married man to-day if my +suspicions are correct. Oh, Dorothy, must I go to the ball in a dress +of print?" + +The sewing girl bent an affectionate look on the impulsive Katherine. + +"Kate, dear," she said, "you shall wear the grandest ball dress that +ever was seen in Bar Harbor." + +"How dare you call my sister Kate, and talk such nonsense?" demanded +Sabina. + +"I shall always call you Miss Kempt, and now, if I have your +permission, I will sit down. I am tired." + +"Yes, and hungry, too," cried Katherine. "What shall I get you, +Dorothy? This is all cold." + +"Thank you, I am not in the least hungry." + +"Wouldn't you like a cup of tea?" + +Dorothy laughed a little wearily. + +"Yes, I would," she said, "and some bread and butter." + +"And cake, too," suggested Katherine. + +"And cake, too, if you please." + +Katherine skipped off downstairs. + +"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Sabina with a gasp, drawing herself +together, as if the bottom had fallen out of the social fabric. + +Mrs. Captain Kempt folded her hands one over the other and put on a +look of patient resignation, as one who finds all the old landmarks +swept away from before her. + +"Is there anything else we can get for you?" asked Sabina icily. + +"Yes," replied Dorothy, with serene confidence, "I should be very much +obliged if Captain Kempt would obtain for me a card of invitation to +the ball on the 'Consternation.'" + +"Really!" gasped Sabina, "and may not my mother supplement my father's +efforts by providing you with a ball dress for the occasion?" + +"I could not think of troubling her, Miss Kempt. Some of my customers +have flattered me by saying that my taste in dress is artistic, and +that my designs, if better known, might almost set a fashion in a +small way, so I shall look after my costume myself; but if Mrs. +Captain Kempt were kind enough to allow me to attend the ball under +her care, I should be very grateful for it." + +"How admirable! And is there nothing that I can do to forward your +ambitions, Miss Amhurst?" + +"I am going to the ball merely as a looker-on, and perhaps you might +smile at me as you pass by with your different partners, so that +people would say I was an acquaintance of yours." + +After this there was silence in the sewing room until Katherine, +followed by a maid, entered with tea and cakes. Some dress materials +that rested on a gypsy table were swept aside by the impulsive +Katherine, and the table, with the tray upon it, was placed at the +right hand of Dorothy Amhurst. When the servant left the room, +Katherine sidled to the long sewing table, sprang up lightly upon it, +and sat there swinging a dainty little foot. Sabina had seated herself +in the third chair of the room, the frown still adding severity to an +otherwise beautiful countenance. It was the younger daughter who +spoke. + +"Now, Dorothy, tell us all about the elopement." + +"What elopement?" + +"I soothed my mother's fears by telling her that you had eloped with +the captain of the 'Consternation.' I must have been wrong in that +guess, because if the secret marriage I hoped had taken place, you +would have said to Sabina that the shackles were on your wrists +instead of off. But something important has happened, and I want to +know all about it." + +Dorothy made no response to this appeal, and after a minute's silence +Sabina said practically: + +"All that has happened is that Miss Amhurst wishes father to present +her with a ticket to the ball on the 'Consternation,' and taking that +for granted, she requests mother to chaperon her, and further +expresses a desire that I shall be exceedingly polite to her while we +are on board the cruiser." + +"Oh," cried Katherine jauntily, "the last proviso is past praying for, +but the other two are quite feasible. I'd be delighted to chaperon +Dorothy myself, and as for politeness, good gracious, I'll be polite +enough to make up for all the courteous deficiency of the rest of the +family. + + 'For I hold that on the seas, + The expression if you please + A particularly gentlemanly tone implants, + And so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts.' + +Now, Dorothy, don't be bashful. Here's your sister and your cousin and +your aunt waiting for the horrifying revelation. What has happened?" + +"I'll tell you what is going to happen, Kate," said the girl, smiling +at the way the other ran on. "Mrs. Captain Kempt will perhaps consent +to take you and me to New York or Boston, where we will put up at the +best hotel, and trick ourselves out in ball costumes that will be the +envy of Bar Harbor. I shall pay the expense of this trip as partial +return for your father's kindness in getting me an invitation and your +mother's kindness in allowing me to be one of your party." + +"Oh, then it isn't an elopement, but a legacy. Has the wicked but +wealthy relative died?" + +"Yes," said Dorothy solemnly, her eyes on the floor. + +"Oh, I am so sorry for what I have just said!" + +"You always speak without thinking," chided her mother. + +"Yes, don't I? But, you see, I thought somehow that Dorothy had no +relatives; but if she had one who was wealthy, and who allowed her to +slave at sewing, then I say he was wicked, dead or alive, so there!" + +"When work is paid for it is not slavery," commented Sabina with +severity and justice. + +The sewing girl looked up at her. + +"My grandfather, in Virginia, owned slaves before the war, and I have +often thought that any curse which may have been attached to slavery +has at least partly been expiated by me, as foreshadowed in the Bible, +where it says that the sins of the fathers shall affect the third or +fourth generations. I was thinking of that when I spoke of the +shackles falling from my wrists, for sometimes, Miss Kempt, you have +made me doubt whether wages and slavery are as incompatible as you +appear to imagine. My father, who was a clergyman, often spoke to me +of his father's slaves, and while he never defended the institution, I +think the past in his mind was softened by a glamor that possibly +obscured the defects of life on the plantation. But often in +depression and loneliness I have thought I would rather have been one +of my grandfather's slaves than endure the life I have been called +upon to lead." + +"Oh, Dorothy, don't talk like that, or you'll make me cry," pleaded +Kate. "Let us be cheerful whatever happens. Tell us about the money. +Begin 'Once upon a time,' and then everything will be all right. No +matter how harrowing such a story begins, it always ends with lashin's +and lashin's of money, or else with a prince in a gorgeous uniform and +gold lace, and you get the half of his kingdom. Do go on." + +Dorothy looked up at her impatient friend, and a radiant cheerfulness +chased away the gathering shadows from her face. + +"Well, once upon a time I lived very happily with my father in a +little rectory in a little town near the Hudson River. His family had +been ruined by the war, and when the plantation was sold, or allowed +to go derelict, whatever money came from it went to his elder and only +brother. My father was a dreamy scholar and not a business man as his +brother seems to have been. My mother had died when I was a child; I +do not remember her. My father was the kindest and most patient of +men, and all I know he taught me. We were very poor, and I undertook +the duties of housekeeper, which I performed as well as I was able, +constantly learning by my failures. But my father was so indifferent +to material comforts that there were never any reproaches. He taught +me all that I know in the way of what you might call accomplishments, +and they were of a strangely varied order-- a smattering of Latin and +Greek, a good deal of French, history, literature, and even dancing, +as well as music, for he was an excellent musician. Our meager income +ceased with my father's life, and I had to choose what I should do to +earn my board and keep, like Orphant Annie, in Whitcomb Riley's poem. +There appeared to be three avenues open to me. I could be a governess, +domestic servant, or dressmaker. I had already earned something at the +latter occupation, and I thought if I could set up in business for +myself, there was a greater chance of gaining an independence along +that line than either as a governess or servant. But to do this I +needed at least a little capital. + +"Although there had been no communication between the two brothers for +many years, I had my uncle's address, and I wrote acquainting him with +the fact of my father's death, and asking for some assistance to set +up in business for myself, promising to repay the amount advanced with +interest as soon as I was able, for although my father had never said +anything against his elder brother, I somehow had divined, rather than +knew, that he was a hard man, and his answering letter gave proof of +that, for it contained no expression of regret for his brother's +death. My uncle declined to make the advance I asked for, saying that +many years before he had given my father two hundred dollars which had +never been repaid. I was thus compelled, for the time at least, to +give up my plan for opening a dressmaking establishment, even on the +smallest scale, and was obliged to take a situation similar to that +which I hold here. In three years I was able to save the two hundred +dollars, which I sent to my uncle, and promised to remit the interest +if he would tell me the age of the debt. He replied giving the +information, and enclosing a receipt for the principal, with a very +correct mathematical statement of the amount of interest if compounded +annually, as was his legal right, but expressing his readiness to +accept simple interest, and give me a receipt in full." + +"The brute!" ejaculated Katherine, which remark brought upon her a +mild rebuke from her mother on intemperance of language. + +"Well, go on," said Katherine, unabashed. + +"I merely mention this detail," continued Dorothy, "as an object +lesson in honesty. Never before since the world began was there such a +case of casting bread upon the waters as was my sending the two +hundred dollars. My uncle appears to have been a most methodical man. +He filed away my letter which contained the money, also a typewritten +copy of his reply, and when he died, it was these documents which +turned the attention of the legal arm who acted for him to myself, for +my uncle had left no will. The Californian firm communicated with +lawyers in New York, and they began a series of very cautious +inquiries, which at last resulted, after I had furnished certain +proofs asked for, in my being declared heiress to my uncle's estate." + +"And how much did you get? How much did you get?" demanded Katherine. + +"I asked the lawyers from New York to deposit ten thousand dollars for +me in the Sixth National Bank of this town, and they did so. It was to +draw a little check against that deposit, and thus learn if it was +real, that I went out to-day." + +"Ten thousand dollars," murmured Katherine, in accents of deep +disappointment. "Is that all?" + +"Isn't that enough?" asked Dorothy, with a twinkle in her eyes. + +"No, you deserve ten times as much, and I'm not going to New York or +Boston at your expense to buy new dresses. Not likely! I will attend +the ball in my calico." + +Dorothy laughed quietly, and drew from the little satchel she wore at +her side a letter, which she handed to Katherine. + +"It's private and confidential," she warned her friend. + +"Oh, I won't tell any one," said Katherine, unfolding it. She read +eagerly half-way down the page, then sprang to her feet on the top of +the table, screaming: + +"Fifteen million dollars! Fifteen million dollars!" and, swinging her +arms back and forth like an athlete about to leap, sprang to the +floor, nearly upsetting the little table, tray and all, as she +embraced Dorothy Amhurst. + +"Fifteen millions! That's something like! Why, mother, do you realize +that we have under our roof one of the richest young women in the +world? Don't you see that the rest of this conference must take place +in our drawing-room under the most solemn auspices? The idea of our +keeping such an heiress in the attic!" + +"I believe," said Sabina, slowly and coldly, "that Mr. Rockefeller's +income is--" + +"Oh, blow Mr. Rockefeller and his income!" cried the indignant younger +sister. + +"Katherine!" pleaded the mother tearfully. + + CHAPTER III + + ON DECK + +THROUGHOUT the long summer day a gentle excitement had fluttered the +hearts of those ladies, young, or not so young, who had received +invitations to the ball on board the "Consternation" that night. The +last touches were given to creations on which had been spent skill, +taste, and money. Our three young women, being most tastefully and +fashionably attired, were in high spirits, which state of feeling was +exhibited according to the nature of each; Sabina rather stately in +her exaltation; Dorothy quiet and demure; while Katherine, despite her +mother's supplications, would not be kept quiet, but swung her +graceful gown this way and that, practising the slide of a waltz, and +quoting W. R. Gilbert, as was her custom. She glided over the floor in +rhythm with her chant. + + "When I first put this uniform on + I said, as I looked in the glass, + 'It's one to a million + That any civilian + My figure and form will surpass.'" + +Meanwhile, in a room downstairs that good-natured veteran Captain +Kempt was telling the latest stories to his future son-in-law, a young +officer of the American Navy, who awaited, with dutiful impatience, +the advent of the serene Sabina. When at last the ladies came down the +party set out through the gathering darkness of this heavenly summer +night for the private pier from which they were privileged, because of +Captain Kempt's official standing, to voyage to the cruiser on the +little revenue cutter "Whip-poor-will," which was later on to convey +the Secretary of the Navy and his entourage across the same +intervening waters. Just before they reached the pier their steps were +arrested by the boom of a cannon, followed instantly by the sudden +apparition of the "Consternation" picked out in electric light; masts, +funnel and hull all outlined by incandescent stars. + +"How beautiful!" cried Sabina, whose young man stood beside her. "It +is as if a gigantic racket, all of one color, had burst, and hung +suspended there like the planets of heaven." + +"It reminds me," whispered Katherine to Dorothy, "of an overgrown +pop-corn ball," at which remark the two girls were frivolous enough to +laugh. + +"Crash!" sounded a cannon from an American ship, and then the white +squadron became visible in a blaze of lightning. And now all the +yachts and other craft on the waters flaunted their lines of fire, and +the whole Bay was illuminated like a lake in Fairyland. + +"Now," said Captain Kempt with a chuckle, "watch the Britisher. I +think she's going to show us some color," and as he spoke there +appeared, spreading from nest to mast, a huge sheet of blue, with four +great stars which pointed the corners of a parallelogram, and between +the stars shone a huge white anchor. Cheers rang out from the crew of +the "Consternation," and the band on board played "The Star-Spangled +Banner." + +"That," said Captain Kempt in explanation, "is the flag of the United +States Secretary of the Navy, who will be with us to-night. The +visitors have kept very quiet about this bit of illumination, but our +lads got on to the secret about a week ago, and I'll be very much +disappointed if they don't give 'em tit for tat." + +When the band on the "Consternation" ceased playing, all lights went +out on the American squadron, and then on the flagship appeared from +mast to mast a device with the Union Jack in the corner, a great red +cross dividing the flag into three white squares. As this illumination +flashed out the American band struck up the British national anthem, +and the outline lights appeared again. + +"That," said the captain, "is the British man-o'-war's flag." + +The "Whip-poor-will" speedily whisked the party and others across the +sparkling waters to the foot of the grand stairway which had been +specially constructed to conduct the elect from the tide to the deck. +It was more than double as broad as the ordinary gangway, was carpeted +from top to bottom, and on every step stood a blue-jacket, each as +steady as if cast in bronze, the line forming, as one might say, a +living handrail rising toward the dark sky. + +Captain Kempt and his wife went first, followed by Sabina and her +young man with the two girls in their wake. + +"Aren't those men splendid?" whispered Katherine to her friend. "I +wish each held an old-fashioned torch. I do love a sailor." + +"So do I," said Dorothy, then checked herself, and laughed a little. + +"I guess we all do," sighed Katherine. + +On deck the bluff captain of the "Consternation," in resplendent +uniform, stood beside Lady Angela Burford of the British Embassy at +Washington, to receive the guests of the cruiser. Behind these two +were grouped an assemblage of officers and very fashionably dressed +women, chatting vivaciously with each other. As Dorothy looked at the +princess-like Lady Angela it seemed as if she knew her; as if here +were one who had stepped out of an English romance. Her tall, proudly +held figure made the stoutish captain seem shorter than he actually +was. The natural haughtiness of those classic features was somewhat +modified by a pro tem smile. Captain Kempt looked back over his +shoulder and said in a low voice: + +"Now, young ladies, best foot forward. The Du Maurier woman is to +receive the Gibson girls." + +"I know I shall laugh, and I fear I shall giggle," said Katherine, but +she encountered a glance from her elder sister quite as haughty as any +Lady Angela might have bestowed, and all thought of merriment fled for +the moment; thus the ordeal passed conventionally without Katherine +either laughing or giggling. + +Sabina and her young man faded away into the crowd. Captain Kempt was +nodding to this one and that of his numerous acquaintances, and +Katherine felt Dorothy shrink a little closer to her as a tall, +unknown young man deftly threaded his way among the people, making +directly for the Captain, whom he seized by the hand in a grasp of the +most cordial friendship. + +"Captain Kempt, I am delighted to meet you again. My name is +Drummond-- Lieutenant Drummond, and I had the pleasure of being +introduced to you at that dinner a week or two ago." + +"The pleasure was mine, sir, the pleasure was mine," exclaimed the +Captain with a cordiality equal to that with which he had been +greeted. He had not at first the least recollection of the young man, +but the Captain was something of an amateur politician, and possessed +all a politician's expertness in facing the unknown, and making the +most of any situation in which he found himself. + +"Oh, yes, Lieutenant, I remember very well that excellent song you--" + +"Isn't it a perfect night?" gasped the Lieutenant. "I think we are to +be congratulated on our weather." + +He still clung to the Captain's hand, and shook it again so warmly +that the Captain said to himself: + +"I must have made an impression on this young fellow," then aloud he +replied jauntily: + +"Oh, we always have good weather this time of year. You see, the +United States Government runs the weather. Didn't you know that? Yes, +our Weather Bureau is considered the best in the world." + +The Lieutenant laughed heartily, although a hollow note intervened, +for the young man had got to the end of his conversation, realized he +could not shake hands for a third time, yet did not know what more to +say. The suavity of the politician came to his rescue in just the form +the Lieutenant had hoped. + +"Lieutenant Drummond, allow me to introduce my wife to you." + +The lady bowed. + +"And my daughter, Katherine, and Miss Amhurst, a friend of ours-- +Lieutenant Drummond, of the 'Consternation.'" + +"I wonder," said the Lieutenant, as if the thought had just occurred +to him, "if the young ladies would like to go to a point where they +can have a comprehensive view of the decorations. I-- I may not be the +best guide, but I am rather well acquainted with the ship, you know." + +"Don't ask me," said Captain Kempt. "Ask the girls. Everything I've +had in life has come to me because I asked, and if I didn't get it the +first time, I asked again." + +"Of course we want to see the decorations," cried Katherine with +enthusiasm, and so bowing to the Captain and Mrs. Kempt, the +Lieutenant led the young women down the deck, until he came to an +elevated spot out of the way of all possible promenaders, on which had +been placed in a somewhat secluded position, yet commanding a splendid +view of the throng, a settee with just room for two, that had been +taken from some one's cabin. A blue-jacket stood guard over it, but at +a nod from the Lieutenant he disappeared. + +"Hello!" cried Katherine, "reserved seats, eh? How different from a +theatre chair, where you are entitled to your place by holding a +colored bit of cardboard. Here a man with a cutlass stands guard. It +gives one a notion of the horrors of war, doesn't it, Dorothy?" + +The Lieutenant laughed quite as heartily as if he had not himself +hoped to occupy the position now held by the sprightly Katherine. He +was cudgelling his brain to solve the problem represented by the adage +"Two is company, three is none." The girls sat together on the settee +and gazed out over the brilliantly lighted, animated throng. People +were still pouring up the gangways, and the decks were rapidly +becoming crowded with a many-colored, ever-shifting galaxy of +humanity. The hum of conversation almost drowned the popular +selections being played by the cruiser's excellent band. Suddenly one +popular selection was cut in two. The sound of the instruments ceased +for a moment, then they struck up "The Stars and Stripes for Ever." + +"Hello," cried Katherine, "can your band play Sousa?" + +"I should say we could," boasted the Lieutenant, "and we can play his +music, in a way to give some hints to Mr. Sousa's own musicians." + +"To beat the band, eh?-- Sousa's band?" rejoined Katherine, dropping +into slang. + +"Exactly," smiled the Lieutenant, "and now, young ladies, will you +excuse me for a few moments? This musical selection means that your +Secretary of the Navy is on the waters, and I must be in my place with +the rest of the officers to receive him and his staff with all +ceremony. Please promise you will not leave this spot till I return: I +implore you." + +"Better put the blue-jacket on guard over us," laughed Katherine. + +"By Jove! a very good idea." + +Dorothy saw all levity depart from his face, giving way to a look of +sternness and command. Although he was engaged in a joke, the +subordinate must see no sign of fooling in his countenance. He said a +sharp word to a blue-jacket, who nimbly sprang to the end of the +settee, raised his hand in salute, and stiffened himself to an +automaton. Then the girls saw the tall figure of the Lieutenant +wending its way to the spot where the commander stood. + +"I say, Dorothy, we're prisoners. I wonder what this Johnny would do +if we attempted to fly. Isn't the Lieutenant sumptuous?" + +"He seems a very agreeable person," murmured Dorothy. + +"Agreeable! Why, he's splendid. I tell you, Dorothy, I'm going to have +the first dance with him. I'm the eldest. He's big enough to divide +between two small girls like us, you know." + +"I don't intend to dance," said Dorothy. + +"Nonsense, you're not going to sit here all night with nobody to speak +to. I'll ask the Lieutenant to bring you a man. He'll take two or +three blue-jackets and capture anybody you want." + +"Katherine," said Dorothy, almost as severely as if it were the elder +sister who spoke, "if you say anything like that, I'll go back to the +house." + +"You can't get back. I'll appeal to the guard. I'll have you locked up +if you don't behave yourself." + +"You should behave yourself. Really, Katherine, you must be careful +what you say, or you'll make me feel very unhappy." + +Katherine caught her by the elbow, and gave it an affectionate little +squeeze. + +"Don't be frightened, Miss Propriety, I wouldn't make you unhappy for +the world. But surely you're going to dance?" + +Dorothy shook her head. + +"Some other time. Not to-night. There are too many people here. I +shouldn't enjoy it, and-- there are other reasons. This is all so new +and strange to me: these brilliant men and beautiful women-- the +lights, the music, everything-- it is as if I had stepped into another +world; something I had read about, or perhaps dreamed about, and never +expected to see." + +"Why, you dear girl, I'm not going to dance either, then." + +"Oh, yes, you will, Katherine; you must." + +"I couldn't be so selfish as to leave you here all alone." + +"It isn't selfish at all, Katherine. I shall enjoy myself completely +here. I don't really wish to talk to any one, but simply to enjoy my +dream, with just a little fear at the bottom of my heart that I shall +suddenly wake up, rubbing my eyes, in the sewing room." + +Katherine pinched her. + +"Now are you awake?" + +Dorothy smiled, still dreaming. + +"Hello!" cried Katherine, with renewed animation, "they've got the +Secretary safe aboard the lugger, and they seem to be clearing the +decks for action. Here is my dear Lieutenant returning; tall even +among tall men. Look at him. He's in a great hurry, yet so polite, and +doesn't want to bump against anybody. And now, Dorothy, don't you be +afraid. I shall prove a perfect model of diffidence. You will be proud +of me when you learn with what timidity I pronounce prunes and prism. +I think I must languish a little at him. I don't know quite how it's +done, but in old English novels the girls always languished, and +perhaps an Englishman expects a little languishment in his. I wonder +if he comes of a noble family. If he doesn't, I don't think I'll +languish very much. Still, what matters the pomp of pageantry and +pride of race-- isn't that the way the poem runs? I love our dear +little Lieutenant for himself alone, and I think I will have just one +dance with him, at least." + +Drummond had captured a camp-stool somewhere, and this he placed at +right angles to the settee, so that he might face the two girls, and +yet not interrupt their view. The sailor on guard once more faded +away, and the band now struck up the music of the dance. + +"Well," cried Drummond cheerfully, "I've got everything settled. I've +received the Secretary of the Navy: our captain is to dance with his +wife, and the Secretary is Lady Angela's partner. There they go!" + +For a few minutes the young people watched the dance, then the +Lieutenant said: + +"Ladies, I am disappointed that you have not complimented our +electrical display." + +"I am sure it's very nice, indeed, and most ingenious," declared +Dorothy, speaking for the first time that evening to the officer, but +Katherine, whose little foot was tapping the deck to the dance music, +tossed her head, and declared nonchalantly that it was all very well +as a British effort at illumination, but she begged the young man to +remember that America was the home of electricity. + +"Where would you have been if it were not for Edison?" + +"I suppose," said the Lieutenant cheerfully, "that we should have been +where Moses was when the candle went out-- in the dark." + +"You might have had torches," said Dorothy. "My friend forgets she was +wishing the sailors held torches on that suspended stairway up the +ship's side." + +"I meant electric torches-- Edison torches, of course." + +Katherine was displeased at the outlook. She was extremely fond of +dancing, and here this complacent young man had planted himself down +on a camp stool to talk of electricity. + +"Miss Kempt, I am sorry that you are disappointed at our display. Your +slight upon British electrical engineering leaves us unscathed, +because this has been done by a foreign mechanic, whom I wish to +present to you." + +"Oh, indeed," said Katherine, rather in the usual tone of her elder +sister. "I don't dance with mechanics, thank you." + +She emphasized the light fantastic word, but the Lieutenant did not +take the hint; he merely laughed again in an exasperatingly +good-natured way, and said: + +"Lady Angela is going to be Jack Lamont's partner for the next waltz." + +"Oh," said Katherine loftily, "Lady Angela may dance with any +blacksmith that pleases her, but I don't. I'm taking it for granted +that Jack Lamont is your electrical tinsmith." + +"Yes, he is, and I think him by all odds the finest fellow aboard this +ship. It's quite likely you have read about his sister. She is a year +older than Jack, very beautiful, cultured, everything that a grande +dame should be, yet she has given away her huge estate to the +peasantry, and works with them in the fields, living as they do, and +faring as they do. There was an article about her in one of the French +reviews not long ago. She is called the Princess Natalia." + +"The Princess Natalia!" echoed Katherine, turning her face toward the +young man. "How can Princess Natalia be a sister of Jack Lamont? Did +she marry some old prince, and take to the fields in disgust?" + +"Oh, no; Jack Lamont is a Russian. He is called Prince Ivan Lermontoff +when he's at home, but we call him Jack Lamont for short. He's going +to help me on the Russian business I told you of." + +"What Russian business?" asked Katherine. "I don't remember your +speaking of it." + +Dorothy went white, edged a little way from her friend, while her +widening eyes flashed a warning at the Lieutenant, who, too late, +remembered that this conversation on Russia had taken place during the +walk from the bank. The young man coughed slightly behind his open +hand, reddened, and stammered: + +"Oh, I thought I had told you. Didn't I mention the prince to you as +we were coming here?" + +"Not that I recollect," said Katherine. "Is he a real, genuine prince? +A right down regular, regular, regular royal prince?" + +"I don't know about the royalty, but he's a prince in good standing in +his own land, and he is also an excellent blacksmith." The Lieutenant +chuckled a little. "He and his sister have both been touched a good +deal by Tolstoian doctrine. Jack is the most wonderful inventor, I +think, that is at present on the earth, Edison notwithstanding. Why, +he is just now engaged on a scheme by which he can float houses from +the mountains here down to New York. Float them-- pipe-line them would +perhaps be a better term. You know they have pipe-lines to carry +petroleum. Very well; Jack has a solution that dissolves stone as +white sugar dissolves in tea, and he believes he can run the fluid +from the quarries to where building is going on. It seems that he then +puts this liquid into molds, and there you have the stone again. I +don't understand the process myself, but Jack tells me it's +marvelously cheap, and marvelously effective. He picked up the idea +from nature one time when he and I were on our vacation at Detroit." + +"Detroit, Michigan?" + +"The Detroit River." + +"Well, that runs between Michigan and Canada." + +"No, no, this is in France. I believe the real name of the river is +the Tarn. There's a gorge called Detroit-- the strait, you know. +Wonderful place-- tremendous chasm. You go down in a boat, and all the +tributary rivers pour into the main stream like jets from the nozzle +of a hose. They tell me this is caused by the rain percolating through +the dead leaves on the surface of the ground far above, and thus the +water becomes saturated with carbonic acid gas, and so dissolves the +limestone until the granite is reached, and the granite forms the bed +of these underground rivers. It all seemed to me very wonderful, but +it struck Jack on his scientific side, and he has been experimenting +ever since. He says he'll be able to build a city with a hose next +year." + +"Where does he live?" + +"On the cruiser just at present. I was instrumental in getting him +signed on as John Lamont, and he passed without question. No wonder, +for he has scientific degrees from all sorts of German universities, +from Oxford, and one or two institutions in the States. When at home +he lives in St. Petersburg." + +"Has he a palace there?" + +Drummond laughed. + +"He's got a blacksmith shop, with two rooms above, and I'm going to +stop with him for a few months as soon as I get my leave. When the +cruiser reaches England we pay off, and I expect to have nothing to do +for six months, so Jack and I will make for St. Petersburg." + +"Why do you call him Lamont? Is it taken from his real name of +what-d'ye-call-it-off?" + +"Lermontoff? Yes. The Czar Demetrius, some time about the beginning of +the seventeenth century, established a Scottish Guard, just as Louis +XI did in France two hundred years before, and there came over from +Scotland Lamonts, Carmichaels, Buchanans and others, on whom were +bestowed titles and estates. Prince Ivan Lermontoff is a descendant of +the original Lamont, who was an officer in the Scottish Guard of +Russia. + +"So he is really a Scotchman?" + +"That's what I tell him when he annoys me, as I am by way of being a +Scotchman myself. Ah, the waltz is ended. Will you excuse me a moment +while I fetch his Highness?" + +Dorothy inclined her head, and Katherine fairly beamed permission. + +"Oh, Dorothy," she exclaimed, when the Lieutenant was out of hearing, +"think of it! A real prince, and my ambition has never risen higher +than a paltry count, or some plebeian of that sort. He's mine, +Dorothy; I found him first." + +"I thought you had appropriated the Lieutenant?" + +"What are lieutenants to me? The proud daughter of a captain (retired) +cannot stoop to a mere lieutenant." + +"You wouldn't have to stoop far, Kate, with so tall a man as Mr. +Drummond." + +"You are beginning to take notice, aren't you, Dot? But I bestow the +Lieutenant freely upon you, because I'm going to dance with the +Prince, even if I have to ask him myself. + + She'll toddle away, as all aver, + With the Lord High Executioner. + +Ah, here they come. Isn't he perfectly splendid? Look at his beard! +Just the color of a brand-new twenty-dollar gold piece. See that broad +ribbon diagonally across him. I wonder what it means. And gaze at +those scintillating orders on his breast. Good gracious me, isn't he +splendid?" + +"Yes, for a blacksmith. I wonder if he beat those stars out on his +anvil. He isn't nearly so tall as Lieutenant Drummond." + +"Dorothy, I'll not allow you to disparage my Prince. How can you be so +disagreeable? I thought from the very first that the Lieutenant was +too tall. If the Prince expects me to call him 'your Highness,' he'll +be disappointed." + +"You are quite right, Kate. The term would suit the Lieutenant +better." + +"Dorothy, I believe you're jealous." + +"Oh, no, I'm not," said Dorothy, shaking her head and laughing, and +then "Hush!" she added, as Katherine was about to speak again. + +The next moment the young men stood before them, and, introductions +being soberly performed, the Prince lost no time in begging Katherine +to favor him with a dance, to which request the young woman was +graciously pleased to accede, without, however, exhibiting too much +haste about her acceptance, and so they walked off together. + + CHAPTER IV + + "AT LAST ALONE" + +"SOME one has taken the camp stool," said Lieutenant Drummond. "May I +sit here?" and the young woman was good enough to give the desired +permission. + +When he had seated himself he glanced around, then impulsively held +out his hand. + +"Miss Amhurst," he said, "how are you?" + +"Very well, thank you," replied the girl with a smile, and after half +a moment's hesitation she placed her hand in his. + +"Of course you dance, Miss Amhurst?" + +"Yes, but not to-night. I am here merely as a looker-on in Vienna. You +must not allow politeness to keep you away from the floor, or, +perhaps, I should say the deck. I don't mind being alone in the +least." + +"Now, Miss Amhurst, that is not a hint, is it? Tell me that I have not +already tired you of my company." + +"Oh, no, but I do not wish you to feel that simply because we met +casually the other day you are compelled to waste your evening sitting +out." + +"Indeed, Miss Amhurst, although I should very much like to have the +pleasure of dancing with you, there is no one else here that I should +care to ask. I have quailed under the eagle eye of my Captain once or +twice this evening, and I have been rather endeavoring to keep out of +his sight. I fear he has found something new about me of which to +disapprove, so I have quite determined not to dance, unless you would +consent to dance with me, in which case I am quite ready to brave his +reproachful glances." + +"Have you done anything wrong lately?" + +"Heaven only knows! I try not to be purposely wicked, and indeed have +put forth extra efforts to be extra good, but it seems all of no +avail. I endeavor to go about the ship with a subdued, humble, +unobtrusive air, but this is rather difficult for a person of my size. +I don't think a man can droop successfully unless he's under six feet +in height." + +Dorothy laughed with quiet content. She was surprised to find herself +so much at her ease with him, and so mildly happy. They shared a +secret together, and that of itself was an intangible bond linking him +with her who had no ties with any one else. She liked him; had liked +him from the first; and his unconcealed delight in her company was +gratifying to a girl who heretofore had found none to offer her the +gentle courtesies of life. + +"Is it the Russian business again? You do not look very much troubled +about it." + +"Ah, that is-- that is--" he stammered in apparent confusion, then +blurted out, "because you-- because I am sitting here. Although I have +met you but once before, it seems somehow as if I had known you +always, and my slight anxiety that I told you of fades away in your +presence. I hope you don't think I am forward in saying this, but +really to-night, when I saw you at the head of the gangway, I could +scarcely refrain from going directly to you and greeting you. I am +afraid I made rather a hash of it with Captain Kempt. He is too much +of a gentleman to have shown any surprise at my somewhat boisterous +accosting of him, and you know I didn't remember him at all, but I saw +that you were under his care, and chanced it. Luckily it seems to have +been Captain Kempt after all, but I fear I surprised him, taking him +by storm, as it were." + +"I thought you did it very nicely," said Dorothy, "and, indeed, until +this moment I hadn't the least suspicion that you didn't recognize +him. He is a dear old gentleman, and I'm very fond of him." + +"I say," said the Lieutenant, lowering his voice, "I nearly came a +cropper when I spoke of that Russian affair before your friend. I was +thinking of-- of-- well, I wasn't thinking of Miss Kempt--" + +"Oh, she never noticed anything," said Dorothy hurriedly. "You got out +of that, too, very well. I thought of telling her I had met you before +while she and I were in New York together, but the opportunity never +seemed-- well, I couldn't quite explain, and, indeed, didn't wish to +explain my own inexplicable conduct at the bank, and so trusted to +chance. If you had greeted me first tonight, I suppose"-- she smiled +and looked up at him-- "I suppose I should have brazened it out +somehow." + +"Have you been in New York?" + +"Yes, we were there nearly a week." + +"Ah, that accounts for it." + +"Accounts for what?" + +"I have walked up and down every street, lane and alley in Bar Harbor, +hoping to catch a glimpse of you. I have haunted the town, and all the +time you were away." + +"No wonder the Captain frowns at you! Have you been neglecting your +duty?" + +"Well, I have been stretching my shore leave just a little bit. I +wanted to apologize for talking so much about myself as we walked from +the bank." + +"It was very interesting, and, if you remember, we walked farther than +I had intended." + +"Were your friends waiting for you, or had they gone?" + +"They were waiting for me." + +"I hope they weren't cross?" + +"Oh, no. I told them I had been detained. It happened not to be +necessary to enter into details, so I was saved the task of +explanation, and, besides, we had other interesting things to discuss. +This function on the cruiser has loomed so large as a topic of +conversation that there has been little need of any other subject to +talk about for several days past." + +"I suppose you must have attended many grander occasions than this. +Although we have endeavored to make a display, and although we possess +a reasonably efficient band, still, a cruiser is not exactly designed +for the use to which it is being put to-night. We have many +disadvantages to overcome which are not met with in the sumptuous +dwellings of New York and Bar Harbor." + +The girl's eyes were on the deck for some moments before she replied, +then she looked across at the dancers, and finally said: + +"I think the ball on the 'Consternation' quite equals anything I have +ever attended." + +"It is nice of you to say that. Praise from-- I won't name Sir Hubert +Stanley-- but rather Lady Hubert Stanley-- is praise, indeed. And now, +Miss Amhurst, since I have confessed my fruitless wanderings through +Bar Harbor, may I not have the pleasure of calling upon you to-morrow +or next day?" + +Her eyes were dreamily watching the dancers. + +"I suppose," she said slowly, with the flicker of a smile curving +those enticing lips, "that since you were so very friendly with +Captain Kempt to-night he may expect you to smoke a cigar with him, +and it will possibly happen that Katherine and I, who are very fond of +the Captain, may chance to come in while you are there." + +"Katherine? Ah, Katherine is the name of the young lady who was with +you here-- Miss Kempt?" + +"Yes." + +"You are stopping with the Kempts, then?" + +"Yes." + +"I wonder if they'd think I was taking a liberty if I brought Jack +Lamont with me?" + +"The Prince?" laughed Dorothy. "Is he a real prince?" + +"Oh, yes, there's no doubt about that. I shouldn't have taken the +liberty of introducing him to you as Prince Lermontoff if he were not, +as we say in Scotland, a real Mackay-- the genuine article. Well, +then, the Prince and I will pay our respects to Captain Kempt +to-morrow afternoon." + +"Did you say the Prince is going with you to Russia?" + +"Oh, yes. As I told you, I intend to live very quietly in St. +Petersburg, and the Prince has his shop and a pair of rooms above it +in a working quarter of the city. I shall occupy one of the rooms and +he the other. The Prince is an excellent cook, so we shan't starve, +even if we engage no servant." + +"Has the Prince given his estates away also?" + +"He hasn't given them away exactly, but he is a very indulgent +landlord, and he spends so much money on his experiments and travel +that, although he has a formidable income, he is very frequently quite +short of money. Did you like him?" + +"Yes. Of course I saw him for a moment only. I wonder why they haven't +returned. There's been several dances since they left." + +"Perhaps," said the Lieutenant, with a slight return of his +stammering, "your friend may be as fond of dancing as Jack is." + +"You are still determined to go to Russia?" + +"Quite. There is absolutely no danger. I may not accomplish anything, +but I'll have a try at it. The Prince has a good deal of influence in +St. Petersburg, which he will use quietly on my behalf, so that I may +see the important people. I shall be glad when the Captain ceases +frowning--" + +Drummond was interrupted by a fellow-officer, who raised his cap, and +begged a word with him. + +"I think, Drummond, the Captain wanted to see you." + +"Oh, did he say that?" + +"No, but I know he has left a note for you in your cabin. Shall I go +and fetch it?" + +"I wish you would, Chesham, if you don't mind, and it isn't too much +trouble." + +"No trouble at all. Delighted, I'm sure," said Chesham, again raising +his cap and going off. + +"Now, I wonder what I have forgotten to do." + +Drummond heaved a sigh proportionate to himself. + +"Under the present condition of things a bit of neglect that would go +unnoticed with another man is a sign of unrepentant villainy in me. +Any other Lieutenant may steal a horse while I may not look over a +hedge. You see how necessary it is for me to go to Russia, and get +this thing smoothed over." + +"I think, perhaps, you are too sensitive, and notice slights where +nothing of the kind is meant," said the girl. + +Chesham returned and handed Drummond a letter. + +"Will you excuse me a moment?" he said, and as she looked at him he +flattered himself that he noticed a trace of anxiety in her eyes. He +tore open the missive. + +"By Jove!" he cried. + +"What is it?" she could not prevent herself from saying, leaning +forward. + +"I am ordered home. The Admiralty commands me to take the first +steamer for England." + +"Is that serious?" + +He laughed with well-feigned hilarity. + +"Oh, no, not serious; it's just their way of doing things. They might +easily have allowed me to come home in my own ship. My only fear is I +shall have to take the train for New York early to-morrow morning. +But," he said, holding out his hands, "it is not serious if you allow +me to write to you, and if you will permit me to hope that I may +receive an answer." + +She placed her hand in his, this time without hesitation. + +"You may write," she said, "and I will reply. I trust it is not +serious." + + CHAPTER V + + AFTER THE OPERA IS OVER + +IN mid-afternoon of the day following the entertainment on board the +"Consternation" our two girls were seated opposite one another under +the rafters of the sewing room, in the listless, desultory manner of +those who have not gone home till morning, till daylight did appear. +The dominant note of a summer cottage is the rocking-chair, and there +were two in the sewing room, where Katherine and Dorothy swayed gently +back and forth as they talked. They sat close to the low, broad window +which presented so beautiful a picture of the blue Bay and the white +shipping. The huge "Consternation" lay moored with her broadside +toward the town, all sign of festivity already removed from hull and +rigging, and, to the scarcely slumber-satisfied eyes of the girls, +something of the sadness of departure seemed to hang as a haze around +the great ship. The girls were not discussing the past, but rather +anticipating the future; forecasting it, with long, silent pauses +intervening. + +"So you will not stay with us? You are determined to turn your wealthy +back on the poor Kempt family?" Katherine was saying. + +"But I shall return to the Kempt family now and then, if they will let +me. I must get away for a time and think. My life has suddenly become +all topsy-turvy, and I need to get my bearings, as does a ship that +has been through a storm and lost her reckoning." + +"'She dunno where she are,' as the song says." + +"Exactly: that is the state of things." + +"I think it's too bad, Dorothy, that you did not allow us to make +public announcement of your good fortune. Just imagine what an ovation +you would have had on board the cruiser last night if it had been +known that the richest woman in that assemblage was a pretty, shy +little creature sitting all by herself, and never indulging in even +one dance." + +"I shouldn't in the least care for that sort of ovation, Kate, and if +every one present were as well pleased with the festivities as I, they +must all have enjoyed themselves immensely. I believe my friend Kate +did my share of the dancing as well as her own." + +"'She danced, and she danced, and she danced them a' din.' I think +those are the words of the Scottish song that the Prince quoted. He +seems up in Scottish poetry, and does not even resent being called a +Scotchman. This energetic person of the song seems to have danced them +all to a standstill, as I understood him, for he informs me 'a' means +'all' and 'din' means 'done,' but I told him I'd rather learn Russian +than Scotch; it was so much easier, and his Highness was good enough +to laugh at that. Didn't the Lieutenant ask you to dance at all?" + +"Oh, yes, he did." + +"And you refused?" + +"I refused." + +"I didn't think he had sense enough to ask a girl to dance." + +"You are ungrateful, Katherine. Remember he introduced you to the +Prince." + +"Yes, that's so. I had forgotten. I shall never say anything against +him again." + +"You like the Prince, then?" + +"Of all the crowned heads, emperors, kings, sultans, monarchs of every +description, dukes, counts, earls, marquises, whom I have met, and who +have pestered my life asking me to share their royal perquisites, I +think I may say quite truthfully that I like this Jack Lamont better +than any one of them." + +"Surely Prince Jack has not offered you his principality already?" + +"No, not yet, but with an eye to the future I have persuaded him to +give up Tolstoi and read Mark Twain, who is not only equally humorous, +but much more sensible than the Russian writer. Jack must not be +allowed to give away his estates to the peasants as his silly sister +has done. I may need them later on." + +"Oh, you've got that far, have you?" + +"I have got that far: he hasn't. He doesn't know anything about it, +but I'll wake him up when the right time comes. There are many +elements of sanity about him. He told me that he intended to give up +his estates, but in the first place he had been too busy, and in the +second he needed the money. His good sense, however, requires +refining, so that he may get rid of the dross. I don't blame him; I +blame Tolstoi. For instance, when I asked him if he had patented his +liquid city invention, he said he did not wish to make a profit from +his discovery, but intended it for the good of humanity at large. +Imagine such an idiotic idea as that!" + +"I think such views are entirely to his credit," alarmed Dorothy. + +"Oh, of course, but the plan is not practicable. If he allows such an +invention to slip through his fingers, the Standard Oil people will +likely get hold of it, form a monopoly, and then where would humanity +at large be? I tell him the right way is to patent it, make all the +money he can, and use the cash for benefiting humanity under the +direction of some charitable person like myself." + +"Did you suggest that to him?" + +"I did not intimate who the sensible person was, but I elucidated the +principle of the thing." + +"Yes, and what did he say?" + +"Many things, Dorothy, many things. At one time he became confidential +about his possessions in foreign lands. It seems he owns several +castles, and when he visits any of them he cannot prevent the moujiks, +if that is the proper term for the peasantry over there, from +prostrating themselves on the ground as he passes by, beating their +foreheads against the earth, and chanting, in choice Russian, the +phrase: 'Defer, defer, here comes the Lord High Executioner,' or words +to that effect. I told him I didn't see why he should interfere with +so picturesque a custom, and he said if I visited one of his castles +that these estimable people, at a word from him, would form a corduroy +road in the mud with their bodies, so that I might step dry-shod from +the carriage to the castle doors, and I stipulated that he should at +least spread a bit of stair carpet over the poor wretches before I +made my progress across his front yard." + +"Well, you did become confidential if you discussed a visit to +Russia." + +"Yes, didn't we? I suppose you don't approve of my forward conduct?" + +"I am sure you acted with the utmost prudence, Kate." + +"I didn't lose any time, though, did I?" + +"I don't know how much time is required to attain the point of +friendship you reached. I am inexperienced. It is true I have read of +love at first sight, and I am merely waiting to be told whether or not +this is an instance of it." + +"Oh, you are very diffident, aren't you, sitting there so bashfully!" + +"I may seem timid or bashful, but it's merely sleepiness." + +"You're a bit of a humbug, Dorothy." + +"Why?" + +"I don't know why, but you are. No, it was not a case of love at first +sight. It was a case of feminine vengeance. Yes, you may look +surprised, but I'm telling the truth. After I walked so proudly off +with his high mightiness, we had a most agreeable dance together; then +I proposed to return to you, but the young man would not have it so, +and for the moment I felt flattered. By and by I became aware, +however, that it was not because of my company he avoided your +vicinity, but that he was sacrificing himself for his friend." + +"What friend?" + +"Lieutenant Drummond, of course." + +"How was he sacrificing himself for Lieutenant Drummond?" + +"I surmise that the tall Lieutenant did not fall a victim to my wiles +as I had at first supposed, but, in some unaccountable manner, one can +never tell how these things happen; he was most anxious to be left +alone with the coy Miss Dorothy Amhurst, who does not understand how +long a time it takes to fall in love at first sight, although she has +read of these things, dear, innocent girl. The first villain of the +piece has said to the second villain of the piece: 'There's a +superfluous young woman over on our bench; I'll introduce you to her. +You lure her off to the giddy dance, and keep her away as long as you +can, and I'll do as much for you some day.' + +"Whereupon Jack Lamont probably swore-- I understand that profanity is +sometimes distressingly prevalent aboard ship-- but nevertheless he +allowed the Lieutenant to lead him like a lamb to the slaughter. Well, +not being powerful enough to throw him overboard when I realized the +state of the case, I did the next best thing. I became cloyingly sweet +to him. I smiled upon him: I listened to his farrago of nonsense about +the chemical components of his various notable inventions, as if a +girl attends a ball to study chemistry! Before half an hour had passed +the infant had come to the conclusion that here was the first really +sensible woman he had ever met. He soon got to making love to me, as +the horrid phrase goes, as if love were a mixture to be compounded of +this ingredient and that, and then shaken before taken. I am delighted +to add, as a testimony to my own powers of pleasing, that Jack soon +forgot he was a sacrifice, and really, with a little instruction, he +would become a most admirable flirt. He is coming to call upon me this +afternoon, and then he will get his eyes opened. I shall tread on him +as if he were one of his own moujiks." + +"What a wonderful imagination you have, Kate. All you have said is +pure fancy. I saw he was taken with you from the very first. He never +even glanced at me." + +"Of course not: he wasn't allowed to." + +"Nonsense, Kate. If I thought for a moment you were really in earnest, +I should say you underestimate your own attractions." + +"Oh, that's all very well, Miss Dorothy Dimple; you are trying to draw +a red herring across the trail, because you know that what I want to +hear is why Lieutenant Drummond was so anxious to get me somewhere +else. What use did he make of the opportunity the good-natured Prince +and my sweet complacency afforded him?" + +"He said nothing which might not have been overheard by any one." + +"Come down to particulars, Dorothy, and let me judge. You are so +inexperienced, you know, that it is well to take counsel with a more +sophisticated friend." + +"I don't just remember--" + +"No, I thought you wouldn't. Did he talk of himself or of you?" + +"Of himself, of course. He told me why he was going to Russia, and +spoke of some checks he had met in his profession." + +"Ah! Did he cash them?" + +"Obstacles-- difficulties that were in his way, which he hoped to +overcome." + +"Oh, I see. And did you extend that sympathy which--" + +There was a knock at the door, and the maid came in, bearing a card. + +"Good gracious me!" cried Katherine, jumping to her feet. "The Prince +has come. What a stupid thing that we have no mirror in this room, and +it's a sewing and sitting room, too. Do I look all right, Dorothy?" + +"To me you seem perfection." + +"Ah, well, I can glance at a glass on the next floor. Won't you come +down and see him trampled on?" + +"No, thank you. I shall most likely drop off to sleep, and enjoy forty +winks in this very comfortable chair. Don't be too harsh with the +young man, Kate. You are quite wrong in your surmises about him. The +Lieutenant never made any such arrangement as you suggest, because he +talked of nothing but the most commonplace subjects all the time I was +with him, as I was just about to tell you, only you seem in such a +hurry to get away." + +"Oh, that doesn't deceive me in the least. I'll be back shortly, with +the young man's scalp dangling at my belt. Now we shan't be long," and +with that Katherine went skipping downstairs. + +Dorothy picked up a magazine that lay on the table, and for a few +moments turned its leaves from one story to another, trying to +interest herself, but failing. Then she lifted the newspaper that lay +at her feet, but it also was soon cast aside, and she leaned back in +her chair with half-closed eyes, looking out at the cruiser in the +Bay. A slight haze arose between her and the ship, thickening and +thickening until at last it obscured the vessel. + +Dorothy was oppressed by a sense of something forgotten, and she +strove in vain to remember what it was. It was of the utmost +importance, she was certain, and this knowledge made her mental +anxiety the greater. + +At last out of the gloom she saw Sabina approach, clothed in rags, and +then a flash of intuition enabled her to grasp the difficulty. Through +her remissness the ball dress was unfinished, and the girl, springing +to her feet, turned intuitively to the sewing-machine, when the +ringing laugh of Katherine dissolved the fog. + +"Why, you poor girl, what's the matter with you? Are you sitting down +to drudgery again? You've forgotten the fortune!" + +"Are-- are you back already?" cried Dorothy, somewhat wildly. + +"Already! Why, bless me, I've been away an hour and a quarter. You +dear girl, you've been asleep and in slavery again!" + +"I think I was," admitted Dorothy with a sigh. + + CHAPTER VI + + FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN + +THREE days later the North Atlantic squadron of the British Navy +sailed down the coast from Halifax, did not even pause at Bar Harbor, +but sent a wireless telegram to the "Consternation," which pulled up +anchor and joined the fleet outside, and so the war-ships departed for +another port. + +Katherine stood by the broad window in the sewing room in her favorite +attitude, her head sideways against the pane, her eyes languidly +gazing upon the Bay, fingers drumming this time a very slow march on +the window sill. Dorothy sat in a rocking-chair, reading a letter for +the second time. There had been silence in the room for some minutes, +accentuated rather than broken by the quiet drumming of the girl's +fingers on the window sill. Finally Katherine breathed a deep sigh and +murmured to herself: + + "'Far called our Navy fades away, + On dune and headland sinks the fire. + Lo, all our pomp of yesterday + Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.' + +I wonder if I've got the lines right," she whispered to herself. She +had forgotten there was anyone else in the room, and was quite +startled when Dorothy spoke. + +"Kate, that's a solemn change, from Gilbert to Kipling. I always judge +your mood by your quotations. Has life suddenly become too serious for +'Pinafore' or the 'Mikado'?" + +"Oh, I don't know," said Katherine, without turning round. "They are +humorous all, and so each furnishes something suitable for the +saddened mind. Wisdom comes through understanding your alphabet +properly. For instance, first there was Gilbert, and that gave us G; +then came Kipling, and he gave us K; thus we get an algebraic formula, +G.K., which are the initials of Chesterton, a still later arrival, and +as the mind increases in despondency it sinks lower and lower down the +alphabet until it comes to S, and thus we have Barn-yard Shaw, an +improvement on the Kail-yard school, who takes the O pshaw view of +life. And relaxing hold of him I sink deeper until I come to W-- W. W. +Jacobs-- how I wish he wrote poetry! He should be the humorist of all +sailors, and perhaps some time he will desert barges for battleships. +Then I shall read him with increased enjoyment." + +"I wouldn't give Mark Twain for the lot," commented Dorothy with +decision. + +"Mark Twain isn't yours to give, my dear. He belongs to me also. +You've forgotten that comparisons are odious. Our metier is not to +compare, but to take what pleases us from each. + + 'How doth the little busy bee + Improve each shining hour, + And gather honey all the day + From every opening flower. + +Watts. You see, I'm still down among the W's. Oh, Dorothy, how can you +sit there so placidly when the 'Consternation' has just faded from +sight? Selfish creature! + + 'Oh, give me tears for others' woes + And patience for mine own.' + +I don't know who wrote that, but you have no tears for others' woes, +merely greeting them with ribald laughter," for Dorothy, with the +well-read letter in her hand, was making the rafters ring with her +merriment, something that had never before happened during her long +tenancy of that room. Kate turned her head slowly round, and the +expression on her face was half-indignant, half-humorous, while her +eyes were uncertain weather prophets, and gave equal indication of +sunshine or rain. + +"Why, Katherine, you look like a tragedy queen, rather than the spirit +of comedy! Is it really a case of 'Tit-willow, tit-willow, +tit-willow'? You see, I'm a-rescuing you from the bottom of the +alphabet, and bringing you up to the Gilbert plane, where I am more +accustomed to you, and understand you better. Is this despondency due +to the departure of the 'Consternation,' and the fact that she carries +away with her Jack Lamont, blacksmith?" + +The long sigh terminated in a woeful "yes." + +"The ship that has gone out with him we call she. If he had eloped +with a real she, then wearing the willow, or singing it, however +futile, might be understandable. As it is I see nothing in the +situation to call for a sigh." + +"That is because you are a hardened sinner, Dorothy. You have no +heart, or at least if you have, it is untouched, and therefore you +cannot understand. If that note in your hand were a love missive, +instead of a letter from your lawyers, you would be more human, +Dorothy." + +The hand which held the paper crumpled it up slightly as Katherine +spoke. + +"Business letters are quite necessary, and belong to the world we live +in," said Dorothy, a glow of brighter color suffusing her cheeks. +"Surely your acquaintance with Mr. Lamont is of the shortest." + +"He has called upon me every day since the night of the ball," +maintained Katherine stoutly. + +"Well, that's only three times." + +"Only three! How you talk! One would think you had never been schooled +in mathematics. Why, three is a magic figure. You can do plenty of +amazing things with it. Don't you know that three is a numeral of +love?" + +"I thought two was the number," chimed Dorothy, with heartless mirth. + +"Three," said Katherine taking one last look at the empty horizon, +then seating herself in front of her friend, "three is a recurring +decimal. It goes on and on and on forever, and if you write it for a +thousand years you are still as far from the end as when you began. It +will carry you round the world and back again, and never diminish. It +is the mathematical emblem of the nature of true love." + +"Is it so serious as all that, Kate, or are you just fooling again?" +asked Dorothy, more soberly than heretofore. "Has he spoken to you?" + +"Spoken? He has done nothing but speak, and I have listened-- oh, so +intently, and with such deep understanding. He has never before met +such a woman as I, and has frankly told me so." + +"I am very glad he appreciates you, dear." + +"Yes, you see, Dorothy, I am really much deeper than the ordinary +woman. Who, for instance, could find such a beautiful love simile from +a book of arithmetic costing twenty-five cents, as I have unearthed +from decimal fractions? With that example in mind how can you doubt +that other volumes of college learning reveal to me their inner +meaning? John presented to me, as he said good-by, a beautifully bound +copy of that celebrated text-book, 'Saunders' Analytical Chemistry,' +with particularly tender passages marked in pencil, by his own dear +hand." + +Rather bewildered, for Kate's expression was one of pathos, unrelieved +by any gleam of humor, Dorothy nevertheless laughed, although the +laugh brought no echo from Katherine. + +"And did you give him a volume of Browning in return?" + +"No, I didn't. How can you be so unsympathetic? Is it impossible for +you to comprehend the unseen link that binds John and me? I rummaged +the book store until I found a charming little edition of 'Marshall's +Geologist's Pocket Companion,' covered with beautiful brown limp +Russia leather-- I thought the Russia binding was so inspirational-- +with a sweet little clasp that keeps it closed-- typical of our hands +at parting. On the fly-leaf I wrote: 'To J. L., in remembrance of many +interesting conversations with his friend, K. K.' It only needed +another K to be emblematic and political, a reminiscence of the olden +times, when you people of the South, Dorothy, were making it hot for +us deserving folks in the North. I hadn't time to go through the book +very thoroughly, but I found many references to limestone, which I +marked, and one particularly choice bit of English relating to the +dissolution and re-consolidation of various minerals I drew a +parallelogram around in red ink. A friend of mine in a motor launch +was good enough to take the little parcel direct to the +'Consternation,' and I have no doubt that at this moment Jack is +perusing it, and perhaps thinking of the giver. I hope it's +up-to-date, and that he had not previously bought a copy." + +"You don't mean to say, Kate, that your conversation was entirely +about geology?" + +"Certainly not. How could you have become imbued with an idea so +absurd? We had many delightful dalliances down the romantic groves of +chemistry, heart-to-heart talks on metallurgy, and once-- ah, shall I +ever forget it-- while the dusk gently enfolded us, and I gazed into +those bright, speaking, intelligent eyes of his as he bent nearer and +nearer; while his low, sonorous voice in well-chosen words pictured to +me the promise which fortified cement holds out to the world; that is, +ignorant person, Portland cement strengthened by ribs of steel; and I +sat listening breathless as his glowing phrases prophesied the future +of this combination." + +Katherine closed her eyes, rocked gently back and forth, and crooned, +almost inaudibly: + + "'When you gang awa, Jimmie, + Faur across the sea, laddie, + When ye gang to Russian lands + What will ye send to me, laddie?' + +I know what I shall get. It will probably be a newly discovered recipe +for the compounding of cement which will do away with the necessity of +steel strengthening." + +"Kate, dear, you are overdoing it. It is quite right that woman should +be a mystery to man, but she should not aspire to become a mystery to +her sister woman. Are you just making fun, or is there something in +all this more serious than your words imply?" + +"Like the steel strengthening in the cement, it may be there, but you +can't see it, and you can't touch it, but it makes-- oh, such a +difference to the slab. Heigho, Dorothy, let us forsake these +hard-headed subjects, and turn to something human. What have your +lawyers been bothering you about? No trouble over the money, is +there?" + +Dorothy shook her head. + +"No. Of course, there are various matters they have to consult me +about, and get my consent to this project or the other." + +"Read the letter. Perhaps my mathematical mind can be of assistance to +you." + +Dorothy had concealed the letter, and did not now produce it. + +"It is with reference to your assistance, and your continued +assistance, that I wish to speak to you. Let us follow the example of +the cement and the steel, and form a compact. In one respect I am +going to imitate the 'Consternation.' I leave Bar Harbor next week." + +Katherine sat up in her chair, and her eyes opened wide. + +"What's the matter with Bar Harbor?" she asked. + +"You can answer that question better than I, Kate. The Kempt family +are not visitors, but live here all the year round. What do you think +is the matter with Bar Harbor?" + +"I confess it's a little dull in the winter time, and in all seasons +it is situated a considerable distance from New York. Where do you +intend to go, Dorothy?" + +"That will depend largely on where my friend Kate advises me to go, +because I shall take her with me if she will come." + +"Companion, lady's-maid, parlor maid, maid-of-all-work, cook, +governess, typewriter-girl--which have I to be? Shall I get one +afternoon a week off, and may my young man come and see me, if I +happen to secure one, and, extremely important, what are the wages?" + +"You shall fix your own salary, Kate, and my lawyer men will arrange +that the chosen sum is settled upon you so that if we fall out we can +quarrel on equal terms." + +"Oh, I see, it's an adopted daughter I am to be, then?" + +"An adopted sister, rather." + +"Do you think I am going to take advantage of my friendship with an +heiress, and so pension myself off?" + +"It is I who am taking the advantage," said Dorothy, "and I beg you to +take compassion, rather than advantage, upon a lone creature who has +no kith or kin in the world." + +"Do you really mean it, Dot?" + +"Of course I do. Should I propose it if I didn't?" + +"Well, this is the first proposal I've ever had, and I believe it is +customary to say on those occasions that it is so sudden, or so +unexpected, and time is required for consideration." + +"How soon can you make up your mind, Kate?" + +"Oh, my mind's already made up. I'm going to jump at your offer, but I +think it more ladylike to pretend a mild reluctance. What are you +going to do, Dorothy?" + +"I don't know. I've settled on only one thing. I intend to build a +little stone and tile church, very quaint and old-fashioned, if I get +the right kind of architect to draw a plan for it, and this church is +to be situated in Haverstock." + +"Where's Haverstock?" + +"It is a village near the Hudson River, on the plain that stretches +toward the Catskills." + +"It was there you lived with your father, was it not?" + +"Yes, and my church is to be called the Dr. Amhurst Memorial Church." + +"And do you propose to live at Haverstock?" + +"I was thinking of that." + +"Wouldn't it be just a little dull?" + +"Yes, I suppose it is, but it seems to me a suitable place where two +young women may meditate on what they are going to do with their +lives." + +"Yes, that's an important question for the two. I say, Dorothy, let's +take the other side of the river, and enter Vassar College. Then we +should at least have some fun, and there would be some reasonably +well-educated people to speak to." + +"Oh, you wish to use your lately acquired scientific knowledge in +order to pass the examinations; but, you see, I have had no tutor to +school me in the mysteries of lime-burning and the mixing of cement. +Now, you have scorned my side of the river, and I have objected to +your side of the river. That is the bad beginning which, let us hope, +makes the good ending. Who is to arbitrate on our dispute?" + +"Why, we'll split the difference, of course." + +"How can we do that? Live in a house-boat on the river like Frank +Stockton's 'Budder Grange'?" + +"No, settle in the city of New York, which is practically an island in +the Hudson." + +"Would you like to live in New York?" + +"Wouldn't I! Imagine any one, having the chance, living anywhere +else!" + +"In a hotel, I suppose-- the Holldorf for choice." + +"Yes, we could live in a hotel until we found the ideal flat, high up +in a nice apartment house, with a view like that from the top of Mount +Washington, or from the top of the Washington Monument." + +"But you forget I made one proviso in the beginning, and that is that +I am going to build a church, and the church is to be situated, not in +the city of New York, but in the village of Haverstock." + +"New York is just the place from which to construct such an edifice. +Haverstock will be somewhere near the West Shore Railway. Very well. +We can take a trip up there once a week or oftener, if you like, and +see how the work is progressing, then the people of Haverstock will +respect us. As we drive from the station they'll say: + +"'There's the two young ladies from New York who are building the +church.' But if we settle down amongst them they'll think we're only +ordinary villagers instead of the distinguished persons we are. Or, +while our flat is being made ready we could live at one of the big +hotels in the Catskills, and come down as often as we like on the +inclined railway. Indeed, until the weather gets colder, the Catskills +is the place. + + 'And lo, the Catskills print the distant sky, + And o'er their airy tops the faint clouds driven, + So softly blending that the cheated eye + Forgets or which is earth, or which is heaven.'" + +"That ought to carry the day for the Catskills, Kate. What sort of +habitation shall we choose? A big hotel, or a select private boarding +house?" + +"Oh, a big hotel, of course-- the biggest there is, whatever its name +may be. One of those whose rates are so high that the proprietor +daren't advertise them, but says in his announcement, 'for terms apply +to the manager.' It must have ample grounds, support an excellent +band, and advertise a renowned cuisine. Your room, at least, should +have a private balcony on which you can place a telescope and watch +the building of your church down below. I, being a humble person in a +subordinate position, should have a balcony also to make up for those +deficiencies." + +"Very well, Kate, that's settled. But although two lone women may set +up housekeeping in a New York flat, they cannot very well go alone to +a fashionable hotel." + +"Oh, yes, we can. Best of references given and required." + +"I was going to suggest," pursued Dorothy, not noticing the +interruption, "that we invite your father and mother to accompany us. +They might enjoy a change from sea air to mountain air." + +Katherine frowned a little, and demurred. + +"Are you going to be fearfully conventional, Dorothy?" + +"We must pay some attention to the conventions, don't you think?" + +"I had hoped not. I yearn to be a bachelor girl, and own a latch-key." + +"We shall each possess a latch-key when we settle down in New York. +Our flat will be our castle, and, although our latch-key will let us +in, our Yale lock will keep other people out. A noted summer resort +calls for different treatment, because there we lead a semi-public +life. Besides, I am selfish enough to wish my coming-out to be under +the auspices of so well-known a man as Captain Kempt." + +"All right, I'll see what they say about it. You don't want Sabina, I +take it?" + +"Yes, if she will consent to come." + +"I doubt if she will, but I'll see. Besides, now that I come to think +about it, it's only fair I should allow my doting parents to know that +I am about to desert them." + +With that Katherine quitted the room, and went down the stairs +hippety-hop. + +Dorothy drew the letter from its place of concealment, and read it for +the third time, although one not interested might have termed it a +most commonplace document. It began: + +"Dear Miss Amhurst," and ended "Yours most sincerely, Alan Drummond." +It gave some account of his doings since he bade good-bye to her. A +sailor, he informed her, needs little time for packing his belongings, +and on the occasion in question the Prince had been of great +assistance. They set out together for the early morning train, and +said "au revoir" at the station. Drummond had intended to sail from +New York, but a friendly person whom he met on the train informed him +that the Liverpool liner "Enthusiana" set out from Boston next day, so +he had abandoned the New York idea, and had taken passage on the liner +named, on whose note-paper he wrote the letter, which epistle was once +more concealed as Dorothy heard Katherine's light step on the stair. + +That impulsive young woman burst into the sewing room. + +"We're all going," she cried. "Father, mother and Sabina. It seems +father has had an excellent offer to let the house furnished till the +end of September, and he says that, as he likes high life, he will put +in the time on the top of the Catskills. He abandons me, and says that +if he can borrow a shilling he is going to cut me off with it in his +will. He regrets the departure of the British Fleet, because he thinks +he might have been able to raise a real English shilling aboard. Dad +only insists on one condition, namely, that he is to pay for himself, +mother and Sabina, so he does not want a room with a balcony. I said +that in spite of his disinheritance I'd help the family out of my +salary, and so he is going to reconsider the changing of his will." + +"We will settle the conditions when we reach the Catskills," said +Dorothy, smiling. + + CHAPTER VII + + "A WAY THEY HAVE IN THE NAVY" + +CAPTAIN and Mrs. Kempt with Sabina had resided a week in the +Matterhorn Hotel before the two girls arrived there. They had gone +direct to New York, and it required the seven days to find a flat that +suited them, of which they were to take possession on the first of +October. Then there were the lawyers to see; a great many business +details to settle, and an architect to consult. After leaving New York +the girls spent a day at Haverstock, where Dorothy Amhurst bought a +piece of land as shrewdly as if she had been in the real estate +business all her life. After this transaction the girls drove to the +station on the line connecting with the inclined railway, and so, as +Katherine remarked, were "wafted to the skies on flowery beds of +ease," which she explained to her shocked companion was all right, +because it was a quotation from a hymn. When at last they reached +their hotel, Katherine was in ecstasies. + +"Isn't this heavenly?" she cried, "and, indeed, it ought to be, for I +understand we are three thousand feet higher than we were in New York, +and even the sky-scrapers can't compete with such an altitude." + +The broad valley of the Hudson lay spread beneath them, stretching as +far as the eye could see, shimmering in the thin, bluish veil of a +summer evening, and miles away the river itself could be traced like a +silver ribbon. + +The gallant Captain, who had been energetically browbeaten by his +younger daughter, and threatened with divers pains and penalties +should he fail to pay attention and take heed to instructions, had +acquitted himself with eclat in the selection of rooms for Dorothy and +his daughter. The suite was situated in one corner of the huge +caravansary, a large parlor occupying the angle, with windows on one +side looking into the forest, and on the other giving an extended view +across the valley. The front room adjoining the parlor was to be +Dorothy's very own, and the end room belonged to Katherine, he said, +as long as she behaved herself. If Dorothy ever wished to evict her +strenuous neighbor, all she had to do was to call upon the Captain, +and he would lend his aid, at which proffer of assistance Katherine +tossed her head, and said she would try the room for a week, and, if +she didn't like it, out Dorothy would have to go. + + + +There followed days and nights of revelry. Hops, concerts, +entertainments of all sorts, with a more pretentious ball on Saturday +night, when the week-tired man from New York arrived in the afternoon +to find temperature twenty degrees lower, and the altitude very much +higher than was the case in his busy office in the city. Katherine +revelled in this round of excitement, and indeed, so, in a milder way, +did Dorothy. After the functions were over the girls enjoyed a +comforting chat with one another in their drawing room; all windows +open, and the moon a-shining down over the luminous valley, which it +seemed to fill with mother-o'-pearl dust. + +Young Mr. J. K. Henderson of New York, having danced repeatedly with +Katherine on Saturday night, unexpectedly turned up for the hop on the +following Wednesday, when he again danced repeatedly with the same +joyous girl. It being somewhat unusual for a keen business man to take +a four hours' journey during an afternoon in the middle of the week, +and, as a consequence, arrive late at his office next morning, Dorothy +began to wonder if a concrete formation, associated with the name of +Prince Ivan Lermontoff of Russia, was strong enough to stand an +energetic assault of this nature, supposing it were to be constantly +repeated. It was after midnight on Wednesday when the two reached the +corner parlor. Dorothy sat in a cane armchair, while Katherine threw +herself into a rocking-chair, laced her fingers behind her head, and +gazed through the open window at the misty infinity beyond. + +"Well," sighed Katherine, "this has been the most enjoyable evening I +ever spent!" + +"Are you quite sure?" inquired her friend. + +"Certainly. Shouldn't I know?" + +"He dances well, then?" + +"Exquisitely!" + +"Better than Jack Lamont?" + +"Well, now you mention him I must confess Jack danced very +creditably." + +"I didn't know but you might have forgotten the Prince." + +"No, I haven't exactly forgotten him, but-- I do think he might have +written to me." + +"Oh, that's it, is it? Did he ask your permission to write?" + +"Good gracious, no. We never talked of writing. Old red sandstone, +rather, was our topic of conversation. Still, he might have +acknowledged receipt of the book." + +"But the book was given to him in return for the one he presented to +you." + +"Yes, I suppose it was. I hadn't thought of that." + +"Then again, Kate, Russian notions regarding writing to young ladies +may differ from ours, or he may have fallen overboard, or touched a +live wire." + +"Yes, there are many possibilities," murmured Katherine dreamily. + +"It seems rather strange that Mr. Henderson should have time to come +up here in the middle of the week." + +"Why is it strange?" asked Katherine. "Mr. Henderson is not a clerk +bound down to office hours. He's an official high up in one of the big +insurance companies, and gets a simply tremendous salary." + +"Really? Does he talk as well as Jack Lamont did?" + +"He talks less like the Troy Technical Institute, and more like the +'Home Journal' than poor Prince Jack did, and then he has a much +greater sense of humor. When I told him that the oath of an insurance +man should be 'bet your life!' he laughed. Now, Jack would never have +seen the point of that. Anyhow, the hour is too late, and I am too +sleepy, to worry about young men, or jokes either. Good-night!" + +Next morning's mail brought Dorothy a bulky letter decorated with +English stamps. She locked the door, tore open the envelope, and found +many sheets of thin paper bearing the heading of the Bluewater Club, +Pall Mall. + +"I am reminded of an old adage," she read, "to the effect that one +should never cross a bridge before arriving at it. Since I bade +good-by to you, up to this very evening, I have been plodding over a +bridge that didn't exist, much to my own discomfort. You were with me +when I received the message ordering me home to England, and I don't +know whether or not I succeeded in suppressing all signs of my own +perturbation, but we have in the Navy now a man who does not hesitate +to overturn a court martial, and so I feared a re-opening of the Rock +in the Baltic question, which might have meant the wrecking of my +career. I had quite made up my mind, if the worst came to the worst, +to go out West and become a cow-boy, but a passenger with whom I +became acquainted on the 'Enthusiana' informed me, to my regret, that +the cow-boy is largely a being of the past, to be met with only in the +writings of Stewart Edward White, Owen Wister, and several other +famous men whom he named. So you see, I went across the ocean +tolerably depressed, finding my present occupation threatened, and my +future uncertain. + +"When I arrived in London I took a room at this Club, of which I have +been a member for some years, and reported immediately at the +Admiralty. But there, in spite of all diligence on my part, I was +quite unable to learn what was wanted of me. Of course, I could have +gone to my Uncle, who is in the government, and perhaps he might have +enlightened me, although he has nothing to do with the Navy, but I +rather like to avoid Uncle Metgurne. He brought me up since I was a +small boy, and seems unnecessarily ashamed of the result. It is his +son who is the attache' in St. Petersburg that I spoke to you about." + +Dorothy ceased reading for a moment. + +"Metgurne, Metgurne," she said to herself. "Surely I know that name?" + +She laid down the letter, pressed the electric button, and unlocked +the door. When the servant came, she said: + +"Will you ask at the office if they have any biographical book of +reference relating to Great Britain, and if so, please bring it to +me." + +The servant appeared shortly after with a red book which proved to be +an English "Who's Who" dated two years back. Turning the pages she +came to Metgurne. + +"Metgurne, twelfth Duke of, created 1681, Herbert George Alan." Here +followed a number of other titles, the information that the son and +heir was Marquis of Thaxted, and belonged to the Diplomatic Service, +that Lord Metgurne was H. M. Secretary of State for Royal +Dependencies; finally a list of residences and clubs. She put down the +book and resumed the letter. + +"I think I ought to have told you that when I reach St. Petersburg I +shall be as anxious to avoid my cousin Thaxted as I am to steer clear +of his father in London. So I sat in my club, and read the papers. +Dear me, this is evidently going to be a very long letter. I hope you +won't mind. I think perhaps you may be interested in learning how they +do things over here. + +"After two or three days of anxious waiting there came a crushing +communication from the Admiralty which confirmed my worst fears and +set me at crossing the bridge again. I was ordered to report next +morning at eleven, at Committee Room 5, in the Admiralty, and bring +with me full particulars pertaining to the firing of gun number +so-and-so of the 'Consternation's' equipment on such a date. I wonder +since that I did not take to drink. We have every facility for that +sort of thing in this club. However, at eleven next day, I presented +myself at the Committee Room and found in session the grimmest looking +five men I have ever yet been called upon to face. Collectively they +were about ten times worse in appearance than the court-martial I had +previously encountered. Four of the men I did not know, but the fifth +I recognized at once, having often seen his portrait. He is Admiral +Sir John Pendergest, popularly known in the service as 'Old Grouch,' a +blue terror who knows absolutely nothing of mercy. The lads in the +service say he looks so disagreeable because he is sorry he wasn't +born a hanging judge. Picture a face as cleanly cut as that of some +severe old Roman Senator; a face as hard as marble, quite as cold, and +nearly as white, rescued from the appearance of a death mask by a pair +of piercing eyes that glitter like steel. When looking at him it is +quite impossible to believe that such a personage has ever been a boy +who played pranks on his masters. Indeed, Admiral Sir John Pendergest +seems to have sprung, fully uniformed and forbidding, from the earth, +like those soldiers of mythology. I was so taken aback at confronting +such a man that I never noticed my old friend, Billy Richardson, +seated at the table as one of the minor officials of the Committee. +Billy tells me I looked rather white about the lips when I realized +what was ahead of me, and I daresay he was right. My consolation is +that I didn't get red, as is my disconcerting habit. I was +accommodated with a chair, and then a ferrety-faced little man began +asking me questions, consulting every now and then a foolscap sheet of +paper which was before him. Others were ready to note down the +answers. + +"'When did you fire the new gun from the "Consternation" in the +Baltic?' + +"Dear Miss Amhurst, I have confessed to you that I am not brilliant, +and, indeed, such confession was quite unnecessary, for you must +speedily have recognized the fact, but here let me boast for a line or +two of my one accomplishment, which is mathematical accuracy. When I +make experiments I don't note the result by rule of thumb. My answer +to the ferret-faced man was prompt and complete. + +"'At twenty-three minutes, seventeen seconds past ten, A.M., on May +the third of this year,' was my reply. + +"The five high officials remained perfectly impassive, but the two +stenographers seemed somewhat taken by surprise, and one of them +whispered, 'Did you say fifteen seconds, sir?' + +"'He said seventeen,' growled Sir John Pendergest, in a voice that +seemed to come out of a sepulchre. + +"'Who sighted the gun?' + +"'I did, sir.' + +"'Why did not the regular gunner do that?' + +"'He did, sir, but I also took observations, and raised the muzzle +.000327 of an inch.' + +"'Was your gunner inaccurate, then, to that extent?' + +"'No, sir, but I had weighed the ammunition, and found it short by two +ounces and thirty-seven grains.' + +"I must not bore you with all the questions and answers. I merely give +these as samples. They questioned me about the recoil, the action of +the gun, the state of this, that and the other after firing, and +luckily I was able to answer to a dot every query put to me. At the +finish one of the judges asked me to give in my own words my opinion +of the gun. Admiral Sir John glared at him as he put this question, +for of course to any expert the answers I had furnished, all taken +together, gave an accurate verdict on the gun, assuming my statements +to have been correct, which I maintain they were. However, as Sir John +made no verbal comment, I offered my opinion as tersely as I could. + +"'Thank you, Lieutenant Drummond,' rumbled Sir John in his deep voice, +as if he were pronouncing sentence, and, my testimony completed, the +Committee rose. + +"I was out in the street before Billy Richardson overtook me, and then +he called himself to my attention by a resounding slap on the +shoulder. + +"'Alan, my boy,' he cried, 'you have done yourself proud. Your +fortune's made.' + +"'As how?' I asked, shaking him by the hand. + +"'Why, we've been for weeks holding an inquiry on this blessed gun, +and the question is whether or not a lot more of them are to be made. +You know what an opinionated beast Old Grouch is. Well, my boy, you +have corroborated his opinion of the gun in every detail. He is such a +brow-beating, tyrannical brute that the rest of the Committee would +rather like to go against him if they dared, but you have put a spoke +in their wheel. Why, Sir John never said "thank you" to a human being +since he was born until twenty-seven minutes and fifteen seconds after +eleven this morning, as you would have put it,' and at the time of +writing this letter this surmise of Billy's appears to be justified, +for the tape in the club just now announced that the Committee has +unanimously decided in favor of the gun, and adds that this is +regarded as a triumph for the chairman, Admiral Sir John Pendergest, +with various letters after his name. + +"Dear Miss Amhurst, this letter, as I feared, has turned out +intolerably long, and like our first conversation, it is all about +myself. But then, you see, you are the only one on the other side of +the water to whom I have confided my selfish worries, and I believe +you to be so kind-hearted that I am sure you will not censure me for +this once exceeding the limits of friendly correspondence. Having been +deeply depressed during all the previous long days, the sudden +reaction urges me to go out into Pall Mall, fling my cap in the air, +and whoop, which action is quite evidently a remnant of my former +cow-boy aspirations. Truth to tell, the Russian business seems already +forgotten, except by my stout old Captain on the 'Consternation,' or +my Uncle. The strenuous Sir John has had me haled across the ocean +merely to give testimony, lasting about thirty-five minutes, when with +a little patience he might have waited till the 'Consternation' +herself arrived, or else have cabled for us to try the gun at Bar +Harbor. I suppose, however, that after my unfortunate contretemps with +Russia our government was afraid I'd chip a corner off the United +States, and that they'd have to pay for it. So perhaps after all it +was greater economy to bring me across on the liner 'Enthusiana.' + +"By the way, I learned yesterday that the 'Consternation' has been +ordered home, and so I expect to see Jack Lamont before many days are +past. The ship will be paid off at Portsmouth, and then I suppose he +and I will have our freedom for six months. I am rather looking +forward to Jack's cooking me some weird but tasteful Russian dishes +when we reach his blacksmith's shop in St. Petersburg. If I get on in +Russia as I hope and expect, I shall spend the rest of my leave over +in the States. I saw very little indeed of that great country, and am +extremely anxious to see more. When one is on duty aboard ship one can +only take very short excursions ashore. I should like to visit +Niagara. It seems ridiculous that one should have been all along the +American coast from Canada to New York, and never have got far enough +inland to view the great Falls. + +"Russia is rather dilatory in her methods, but I surely should +know within two or three weeks whether I am going to succeed or +not. If not, then there is no use in waiting there. I shall try +to persuade the Prince to accompany me to America. During the +weeks I am waiting in St. Petersburg I shall continually +impress upon him the utter futility of a life which has not +investigated the great electrical power plant at Niagara Falls. And +then he is interested in the educational system of the United States. +While we were going to the station early that morning he told me that +the United States educational system must be the most wonderful in the +world, because he found that your friend, Miss Katherine Kempt, knew +more about electricity, metallurgy, natural philosophy and a great +number of other things he is interested in, than all the ladies he has +met in Europe put together. He thinks that's the right sort of +education for girls, and all this rather astonished me, because, +although your friend was most charming, she said nothing during my +very short acquaintance with her to lead me to suspect that she had +received a scientific training. + +"Dear Miss Amhurst, I am looking every day for a letter from you, +but none has yet been received by the Admiralty, who, when they get +one, will forward it to whatever part of the world I happen to be in." + + CHAPTER VIII + + "WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME" + +A SUMMER hotel that boasts a thousand acres of forest, more or less, +which serve the purposes of a back-yard, affords its guests, even if +all its multitude of rooms are occupied, at least one spot for each +visitor to regard as his or her favorite nook. So large an extent of +woodland successfully defies landscape gardening. It insists on being +left alone, and its very immensity raises a financial barrier against +trimly-kept gravel walks. There were plenty of landscape garden walks +in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, and some of them ambitiously +penetrated into the woods, relapsing from the civilization of beaten +gravel into a primitive thicket trail, which, however, always led to +some celebrated bit of picturesqueness: a waterfall, or a pulpit rock +upstanding like a tower, or the fancied resemblance of a human face +carved by Nature from the cliff, or a view-point jutting out over the +deep chasm of the valley, which usually supported a rustic summer +house or pavilion where unknown names were carved on the woodwork-- +the last resort of the undistinguished to achieve immortality by means +of a jack-knife. + +Dorothy discovered a little Eden of her own, to which no discernible +covert-way led, for it was not conspicuous enough to obtain mention in +the little gratis guide which the hotel furnished-- a pamphlet on +coated paper filled with half-tone engravings, and half-extravagant +eulogies of what it proclaimed to be, an earthly paradise, with the +rates by the day or week given on the cover page to show on what terms +this paradise might be enjoyed. + +Dorothy's bower was green, and cool, and crystal, the ruggedness of +the rocks softened by the wealth of foliage. A very limpid spring, +high up and out of sight among the leaves, sent its waters tinkling +down the face of the cliff, ever filling a crystal-clear lakelet at +the foot, which yet was never full. Velvety and beautiful as was the +moss surrounding this pond, it was nevertheless too damp to form an +acceptable couch for a human being, unless that human being were brave +enough to risk the rheumatic inconveniences which followed Rip Van +Winkle's long sleep in these very regions, so Dorothy always carried +with her from the hotel a feather-weight, spider's-web hammock, which +she deftly slung between two saplings, their light suppleness giving +an almost pneumatic effect to this fairy net spread in a fairy glen; +and here the young woman swayed luxuriously in the relaxing delights +of an indolence still too new to have become commonplace or wearisome. + +She always expected to read a great deal in the hammock, but often the +book slipped unnoticed to the moss, and she lay looking upward at the +little discs of blue sky visible through the checkering maze of green +leaves. One afternoon, deserted by the latest piece of fictional +literature, marked in plain figures on the paper cover that protected +the cloth binding, one dollar and a half, but sold at the department +stores for one dollar and eight cents, Dorothy lay half-hypnotized by +the twinkling of the green leaves above her, when she heard a sweet +voice singing a rollicking song of the Civil War, and so knew that +Katherine was thus heralding her approach. + + "'When Johnny comes marching home again, + Hurrah! Hurrah! + We'll give him a hearty welcome then, + Hurrah! Hurrah! + The men will cheer, the boys will shout, + The ladies they will all turn out, + And we'll all feel gay + When Johnny comes marching home.'" + +Dorothy went still further back into the history of her country, and +gave a faint imitation of an Indian war-whoop, to let the oncomer know +she was welcome, and presently Katherine burst impetuously through the +dense undergrowth. + +"So here you are, Miss Laziness," she cried. + +"Here I am, Miss Energy, or shall I call you Miss-applied Energy? +Katherine, you have walked so fast that you are quite red in the +face." + +"It isn't exertion, it's vexation. Dorothy, I have had a perfectly +terrible time. It is the anxiety regarding the proper discipline of +parents that is spoiling the nervous system of American children. +Train them up in the way they should go, and when they are old they do +depart from it. There's nothing more awful than to own parents who +think they possess a sense of humor. Thank goodness mother has none!" + +"Then it is your father who has been misbehaving?" + +"Of course it is. He treats the most serious problem of a woman's life +as if it were the latest thing in 'Life.'" + +Dorothy sat up in the hammock. + +"The most important problem? That means a proposal. Goodness gracious, +Kate, is that insurance man back here again?" + +"What insurance man?" + +"Oh, heartless and heart-breaking Katherine, is there another? Sit +here in the hammock beside me, and tell me all about it." + +"No, thank you," refused Katherine. "I weigh more than you, and I +cannot risk my neck through the collapse of that bit of gossamer. I +must take care of myself for his sake." + +"Then it is the life insurance man whose interests you are consulting? +Have you taken out a policy with him?" + +"Dear me, you are nearly as bad as father, but not quite so funny. You +are referring to Mr. Henderson, I presume. A most delightful companion +for a dance, but, my dear Dorothy, life is not all glided out to the +measures of a Strauss waltz." + +"True; quite undisputable, Kate, and them sentiments do you credit. +Who is the man?" + +"The human soul," continued Katherine seriously, "aspires to higher +things than the society columns of the New York Sunday papers, and the +frivolous chatter of an overheated ball-room." + +"Again you score, Kate, and are rising higher and higher in my +estimation. I see it all now. Those solemn utterances of yours point +directly toward Hugh Miller's 'Old Red Sandstone' and works of that +sort, and now I remember your singing 'When Johnny comes marching +home.' I therefore take it that Jack Lamont has arrived." + +"He has not." + +"Then he has written to you?" + +"He has not." + +"Oh, well, I give it up. Tell me the tragedy your own way." + +For answer Katherine withdrew her hands from behind her, and offered +to her friend a sheet of paper she had been holding. Dorothy saw +blazoned on the top of it a coat-of-arms, and underneath it, written +in words of the most formal nature, was the information that Prince +Ivan Lermontoff presented his warmest regards to Captain Kempt, +U.S.N., retired, and begged permission to pay his addresses to the +Captain's daughter Katherine. Dorothy looked up from the document, and +her friend said calmly: + +"You see, they need another Katherine in Russia." + +"I hope she won't be like a former one, if all I've read of her is +true. This letter was sent to your father, then?" + +"It was, and he seems to regard it as a huge joke. Said he was going +to cable his consent, and as the 'Consternation' has sailed away, he +would try to pick her up by wireless telegraphy, and secure the young +man that way: suggests that I shall have a lot of new photographs +taken, so that he can hand them out to the reporters when they call +for particulars. Sees in his mind's eye, he says, a huge +black-lettered heading in the evening papers: 'A Russian Prince +captures one of our fairest daughters,' and then insultingly hinted +that perhaps, after all, it was better not to use my picture, as it +might not bear out the 'fair daughter' fiction of the heading." + +"Yes, Kate, I can see that such treatment of a vital subject must have +been very provoking." + +"Provoking? I should say it was! He pretended he was going to tack +this letter up on the notice-board in the hall of the hotel, so that +every one might know what guests of distinction the Matterhorn House +held. But the most exasperating feature of the situation is that this +letter has been lying for days and days at our cottage in Bar Harbor. +I am quite certain that I left instructions for letters to be +forwarded, but, as nothing came, I telegraphed yesterday to the people +who have taken our house, and now a whole heap of belated +correspondence has arrived, with a note from our tenant saying he did +not know our address. You will see at the bottom of the note that the +Prince asks my father to communicate with him by sending a reply to +the 'Consternation' at New York, but now the 'Consternation' has +sailed for England, and poor John must have waited and waited in +vain." + +"Write care of the 'Consternation' in England." + +"But Jack told me that the 'Consternation' paid off as soon as she +arrived, and probably he will have gone to Russia." + +"If you address him at the Admiralty in London, the letter will be +forwarded whereever he happens to be." + +"How do you know?" + +"I have heard that such is the case." + +"But you're not sure, and I want to be certain." + +"Are you really in love with him, Kate?" + +"Of course I am. You know that very well, and I don't want any stupid +misapprehension to arise at the beginning, such as allows a silly +author to carry on his story to the four-hundredth page of such trash +as this," and she gently touched with her toe the unoffending volume +which lay on the ground beneath the hammock. + +"Then why not adopt your father's suggestion, and cable? It isn't you +who are cabling, you know." + +"I couldn't consent to that. It would look as if we were in a hurry, +wouldn't it?" + +"Then let me cable." + +"You? To whom?" + +"Hand me up that despised book, Kate, and I'll write my cablegram on +the fly-leaf. If you approve of the message, I'll go to the hotel, and +send it at once." + +Katherine gave her the book, and lent the little silver pencil which +hung jingling, with other trinkets, on the chain at her belt. Dorothy +scribbled a note, tore out the fly-leaf, and presented it to +Katherine, who read: + +"Alan Drummond, Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, London. Tell Lamont that +his letter to Captain Kempt was delayed, and did not reach the Captain +until to-day. Captain Kempt's reply will be sent under cover to you at +your club. Arrange for forwarding if you leave England. + +Dorothy Amhurst." + +When Katherine finished reading she looked up at her friend, and +exclaimed: "Well!" giving that one word a meaning deep as the clear +pool on whose borders she stood. + +Dorothy's face reddened as if the sinking western sun was shining full +upon it. + +"You write to one another, then?" + +"Yes." + +"And is it a case of--" + +"No; friendship." + +"Sure it is nothing more than that?" + +Dorothy shook her head. + +"Dorothy, you are a brick; that's what you are. You will do anything +to help a friend in trouble." + +Dorothy smiled. + +"I have so few friends that whatever I can do for them will not +greatly tax any capabilities I may possess." + +"Nevertheless, Dorothy, I thoroughly appreciate what you have done. +You did not wish any one to know you were corresponding with him, and +yet you never hesitated a moment when you saw I was anxious." + +"Indeed, Kate, there was nothing to conceal. Ours is a very ordinary +exchange of letters. I have only had two: one at Bar Harbor a few days +after he left, and another longer one since we came to the hotel, +written from England." + +"Did the last one go to Bar Harbor, too? How came you to receive it +when we did not get ours?" + +"It did not go to Bar Harbor. I gave him the address of my lawyers in +New York, and they forwarded it to me here. Lieutenant Drummond was +ordered home by some one who had authority to do so, and received the +message while he was sitting with me on the night of the ball. He had +got into trouble with Russia. There had been an investigation, and he +was acquitted. I saw that he was rather worried over the order home +and I expressed my sympathy as well as I could, hoping everything +would turn out for the best. He asked if he might write and let me +know the outcome, and, being interested, I quite willingly gave him +permission, and my address. The letter I received was all about a +committee meeting at the Admiralty in which he took part. He wrote to +me from the club in Pall Mall to which I have addressed this +cablegram." + +There was a sly dimple in Katherine's cheeks as she listened to this +straightforward explanation, and the faintest possible suspicion of a +smile flickered at the corner of her mouth. She murmured, rather than +sang: + +"'A pair of lovesick maidens we.'" + +"One, if you please," interrupted Dorothy. + +"'Lovesick all against our will-- '" + +"Only one." + +"'Twenty years hence we shan't be +A pair of lovesick maidens still.'" + +"I am pleased to note," said Dorothy demurely, "that the letter +written by the Prince to your father has brought you back to the +Gilbert and Sullivan plane again, although in this fairy glen you +should quote from Iolanthe rather than from Patience." + +"Yes, Dot, this spot might do for a cove in the 'Pirates of Penzance,' +only we're too far from the sea. But, to return to the matter in hand, +I don't think there will be any need to send that cablegram. I don't +like the idea of a cablegram, anyhow. I will return to the hotel, and +dictate to my frivolous father a serious composition quite as stately +and formal as that received from the Prince. He will address it and +seal it, and then if you are kind enough to enclose it in the next +letter you send to Lieutenant Drummond, it will be sure to reach Jack +Lamont ultimately." + +Dorothy sprang from the hammock to the ground. + +"Oh," she cried eagerly, "I'll go into the hotel with you and write my +letter at once." + +Katherine smiled, took her by the arm, and said: + +"You're a dear girl, Dorothy. I'll race you to the hotel, as soon as +we are through this thicket." + + CHAPTER IX + + IN RUSSIA + +THE next letter Dorothy received bore Russian stamps, and was dated at +the black-smith's shop, Bolshoi Prospect, St. Petersburg. After a few +preliminaries, which need not be set down here, Drummond continued: + +"The day after Jack arrived in London, there being nothing whatever to +detain him in England, we set off together for St. Petersburg, and are +now domiciled above his blacksmith shop. We are not on the fashionable +side of the river, but our street is wide, and a very short walk +brings us to a bridge which, being crossed, allows us to wander among +palaces if we are so disposed. We have been here only four days, yet a +good deal has already been accomplished. The influence of the Prince +has smoothed my path for me. Yesterday I had an audience with a very +important personage in the Foreign Office, and to-day I have seen an +officer of high rank in the navy. The Prince warns me to mention no +names, because letters, even to a young lady, are sometimes opened +before they reach the person to whom they are addressed. These +officials who have been kind enough to receive me are gentlemen so +polished that I feel quite uncouth in their presence. I am a little +shaky in my French, and feared that my knowledge of that language +might not carry me through, but both of these officials speak English +much better than I do, and they seemed rather pleased I had +voluntarily visited St. Petersburg to explain that no discourtesy was +meant in the action I had so unfortunately taken on the Baltic, and +they gave me their warmest assurances they would do what they could to +ease the tension between our respective countries. It seems that my +business here will be finished much sooner than I expected, and then I +am off on the quickest steamer for New York, in the hope of seeing +Niagara Falls. I have met with one disappointment, however. Jack says +he cannot possibly accompany me to the United States. I have failed to +arouse in him the faintest interest about the electric works at +Niagara. He insists that he is on the verge of a most important +discovery, the nature of which he does not confide in me. I think he +is working too hard, for he is looking quite haggard and overdone, but +that is always the way with him. He throws himself heart and soul into +any difficulty that confronts him, and works practically night and day +until he has solved it. + +"Yesterday he gave the whole street a fright. I had just returned from +the Foreign Office, and had gone upstairs to my room, when there +occurred an explosion that shook the building from cellar to roof, and +sent the windows of our blacksmith's shop rattling into the street. +Jack had a most narrow escape, but is unhurt, although that fine beard +of his was badly singed. He has had it shaved off, and now sports +merely a mustache, looking quite like a man from New York. You +wouldn't recognize him if you met him on Broadway. The carpenters and +glaziers are at work to-day repairing the damage. I told Jack that if +this sort of thing kept on I'd be compelled to patronize another +hotel, but he says it won't happen again. It seems he was trying to +combine two substances by adding a third, and, as I understood him, +the mixing took place with unexpected suddenness. He has endeavored to +explain to me the reaction, as he calls it, which occurred, but I seem +to have no head for chemistry, and besides, if I am to be blown +through the roof some of these days it will be no consolation to me +when I come down upon the pavement outside to know accurately the +different elements which contributed to my elevation. Jack is very +patient in trying to instruct me, but he could not resist the +temptation of making me ashamed by saying that your friend, Miss +Katherine Kempt, would have known at once the full particulars of the +reaction. Indeed, he says, she warned him of the disaster, by marking +a passage in a book she gave him which foreshadowed this very thing. +She must be a most remarkable young woman, and it shows how stupid I +am that I did not in the least appreciate this fact when in her +company." + +The next letter was received a week later. He was getting on +swimmingly, both at the Foreign Office and at the Russian Admiralty. +All the officials he had met were most courteous and anxious to +advance his interests. He wrote about the misapprehensions held in +England regarding Russia, and expressed his resolve to do what he +could when he returned to remove these false impressions. + +"Of course," he went on, "no American or Englishman can support or +justify the repressive measures so often carried out ruthlessly by the +Russian police. Still, even these may be exaggerated, for the police +have to deal with a people very much different from our own. It is +rather curious that at this moment I am in vague trouble concerning +the police. I am sure this place is watched, and I am also almost +certain that my friend Jack is being shadowed. He dresses like a +workman; his grimy blouse would delight the heart of his friend +Tolstoi, but he is known to be a Prince, and I think the authorities +imagine he is playing up to the laboring class, whom they despise. I +lay it all to that unfortunate explosion, which gathered the police +about us as if they had sprung from the ground. There was an official +examination, of course, and Jack explained, apparently to everybody's +satisfaction, exactly how he came to make the mistake that resulted in +the loss of his beard and his windows. I don't know exactly how to +describe the feeling of uneasiness which has come over me. At first +sight this city did not strike me as so very much different from New +York or London, and meeting, as I did, so many refined gentlemen in +high places, I had come to think St. Petersburg was after all very +much like Paris, or Berlin, or Rome. But it is different, and the +difference makes itself subtly felt, just as the air in some coast +towns of Britain is relaxing, and in others bracing. In these towns a +man doesn't notice the effect at first, but later on he begins to feel +it, and so it is here in St. Petersburg. Great numbers of workmen pass +down our street. They all seem to know who the Prince is, and the +first days we were here, they saluted him with a deference which I +supposed was due to his rank, in spite of the greasy clothes he wore. +Since the explosion an indefinable change has come over these workmen. +They salute the Prince still when we meet them on the street, but +there is in their attitude a certain sly sympathy, if I may so term +it; a bond of camaraderie which is implied in their manner rather than +expressed. Jack says this is all fancy on my part, but I don't think +it is. These men imagine that Prince Ivan Lermontoff, who lives among +them and dresses like them, is concocting some explosive which may yet +rid them of the tyrants who make their lives so unsafe. All this would +not matter, but what does matter is the chemical reaction, as I +believe Jack would term it, which has taken place among the +authorities. The authorities undoubtedly have their spies among the +working-men, and know well what they are thinking about and talking +about. I do not believe they were satisfied with the explanations Jack +gave regarding the disaster. I have tried to impress upon Jack that he +must be more careful in walking about the town, and I have tried to +persuade him, after work, to dress like the gentleman he is, but he +laughs at my fears, and assures me that I have gone from one extreme +to the other in my opinion of St. Petersburg. First I thought it was +like all other capitals; now I have swung too far in the other +direction. He says the police of St. Petersburg would not dare arrest +him, but I'm not so sure of that. A number of things occur to me, as +usual, too late. Russia, with her perfect secret service system, must +know that Prince Lermontoff has been serving in the British Navy. They +know he returned to St. Petersburg, avoids all his old friends, and is +brought to their notice by an inexplicable explosion, and they must be +well aware, also, that he is in the company of the man who fired the +shell at the rock in the Baltic, and that he himself served on the +offending cruiser. + +"As to my own affairs, I must say they are progressing slowly but +satisfactorily; nevertheless, if Jack would leave St. Petersburg, and +come with me to London or New York, where he could carry on his +experiments quite as well, or even better than here, I should depart +at once, even if I jeopardized my own prospects." + +The next letter, some time later, began: + +"Your two charming notes to me arrived here together. It is very kind +of you to write to a poor exile and cheer him in his banishment. I +should like to see that dell where you have swung your hammock. Beware +of Hendrick Hudson's men, so delightfully written of by Washington +Irving. If they offer you anything to drink, don't you take it. Think +how disastrous it would be to all your friends if you went to sleep in +that hammock for twenty years. It's the Catskills I want to see now +rather than Niagara Falls. Your second letter containing the note from +Captain Kempt to Jack was at once delivered to him. What on earth has +the genial Captain written to effect such a transformation in my +friend? He came to me that evening clothed in his right mind; in +evening rig-out, with his decorations upon it, commanded me to get +into my dinner togs, took me in a carriage across the river to the +best restaurant St. Petersburg affords, and there we had a champagne +dinner in which he drank to America and all things American. Whether +it was the enthusiasm produced by Captain Kempt's communication, or +the effect of the champagne, I do not know, but he has reconsidered +his determination not to return to the United States, and very soon we +set out together for the west. + +"I shall be glad to get out of this place. We were followed to the +restaurant, I am certain, and I am equally certain that at the next +table two police spies were seated, and these two shadowed us in a cab +until we reached our blacksmith's shop. It is a humiliating confession +to make, but somehow the atmosphere of this place has got on my +nerves, and I shall be glad to turn my back on it. Jack pooh-poohs the +idea that he is in any danger. Even the Governor of St. Petersburg, he +says, dare not lay a finger on him, and as for the Chief of Police, he +pours scorn on that powerful official. He scouts the idea that he is +being watched, and all-in-all is quite humorous at my expense, saying +that my state of mind is more fitting for a schoolgirl than for a +stalwart man over six feet in height. One consolation is that Jack now +has become as keen for America as I am. I expect that the interview +arranged for me to-morrow with a great government official will settle +my own business finally one way or another. A while ago I was +confident of success, but the repeated delays have made me less +optimistic now, although the gentle courtesy of those in high places +remains undiminished. + +"Dear Miss Amhurst, I cannot afford to fall lower in your estimation +than perhaps I deserve, so I must say that this fear which has +overcome me is all on account of my friend, and not on my own behalf +at all. I am perfectly safe in Russia, being a British subject. My +cold and formal Cousin Thaxted is a member of the British Embassy +here, and my cold and formal uncle is a Cabinet Minister in England, +facts which must be well known to these spy-informed people of St. +Petersburg; so I am immune. The worst they could do would be to order +me out of the country, but even that is unthinkable. If any one +attempted to interfere with me, I have only to act the hero of the +penny novelette, draw myself up to my full height, which, as you know, +is not that of a pigmy, fold my arms across my manly chest, cry, 'Ha, +ha!' and sing 'Rule Britannia,' whereupon the villains would wilt and +withdraw. But Jack has no such security. He is a Russian subject, and, +prince or commoner, the authorities here could do what they liked with +him. I always think of things when it is too late to act. I wish I had +urged Jack ashore at Bar Harbor, and induced him to take the oath of +allegiance to the United States. I spoke to him about that coming home +in the carriage, and to my amazement he said he wished he had thought +of it himself at the time we were over there. + +"But enough of this. I daresay he is in no real danger after all. +Nevertheless, I shall induce him to pack to-morrow, and we will make +for London together, so my next letter will bear a British stamp, and +I assure you the air of England will taste good to one benighted +Britisher whose name is Alan Drummond." + + CHAPTER X + + CALAMITY UNSEEN + +THE habit of industry practised from childhood to maturity is not +obliterated by an unexpected shower of gold. Dorothy was an early +riser, and one morning, entering the parlor from her room she saw, +lying upon the table, a letter with a Russian stamp, but addressed in +an unknown hand to her friend Katherine Kempt. She surmised that here +was the first communication from the Prince, and expected to learn all +about it during the luncheon hour at the latest. But the morning and +afternoon passed, and Katherine made no sign, which Dorothy thought +was most unusual. All that day and the next Katherine went about +silent, sedate and serious, never once quoting the humorous Mr. +Gilbert. On the third morning Dorothy was surprised, emerging from her +room, to see Katherine standing by the table, a black book in her +hand. On the table lay a large package from New York, recently opened, +displaying a number of volumes in what might be termed serious +binding, leather or cloth, but none showing that high coloring which +distinguishes the output of American fiction. + +"Good-morning, Dorothy. The early bird is after the worm of science." +She held forth the volume in her hand. "Steele's 'Fourteen-Weeks' +Course in Chemistry,' an old book, but fascinatingly written. +Dorothy," she continued with a sigh, "I want to talk seriously with +you." + +"About chemistry?" asked Dorothy. + +"About men," said Katherine firmly, "and, incidentally, about women." + +"An interesting subject, Kate, but you've got the wrong text-books. +You should have had a parcel of novels instead." + +Dorothy seated herself, and Katherine followed her example, Steele's +"Fourteen-Weeks' Course" resting in her lap. + +"Every man," began Katherine, "should have a guardian to protect him." + +"From women?" + +"From all things that are deceptive, and not what they seem." + +"That sounds very sententious, Kate. What does it mean?" + +"It means that man is a simpleton, easily taken in. He is too honest +for crafty women, who delude him shamelessly." + +"Whom have you been deluding, Kate?" + +"Dorothy, I am a sneak." + +Dorothy laughed. + +"Indeed, Katherine, you are anything but that. You couldn't do a mean +or ungenerous action if you tried your best." + +"You think, Dorothy, I could reform?" she asked, breathlessly, leaning +forward. + +"Reform? You don't need to reform. You are perfectly delightful as you +are, and I know no man who is worthy of you. That's a woman's opinion; +one who knows you well, and there is nothing dishonest about the +opinion, either, in spite of your tirade against our sex." + +"Dorothy, three days ago, be the same more or less, I received a +letter from John Lamont." + +"Yes, I saw it on the table, and surmised it was from him." + +"Did you? You were quite right. The reading of that letter has +revolutionized my character. I am a changed woman, Dorothy, and +thoroughly ashamed of myself. When I remember how I have deluded that +poor, credulous young man, in making him believe I understood even the +fringe of what he spoke about, it fills me with grief at my perfidy, +but I am determined to amend my ways if hard study will do it, and +when next I see him I shall talk to him worthily like a female Thomas +A. Edison." + +Again Dorothy laughed. + +"Now, that's heartless of you, Dorothy. Don't you see I'm in deadly +earnest? Must my former frivolity dog my steps through life? When I +call to mind that I made fun to you of his serious purpose in life, +the thought makes me cringe and despise myself." + +"Nonsense, Kate, don't go to the other extreme. I remember nothing you +have said that needs withdrawal. You have never made a malicious +remark in your life, Kate. Don't make me defend you against yourself. +You have determined, I take it, to plunge into the subjects which +interest the man you are going to marry. That is a perfectly laudable +ambition, and I am quite sure you will succeed." + +"I know I don't deserve all that, Dorothy, but I like it just the +same. I like people to believe in me, even if I sometimes lose faith +in myself. May I read you an extract from his letter?" + +"Don't if you'd rather not." + +"I'd rather, Dorothy, if it doesn't weary you, but you will understand +when you have heard it, in what a new light I regard myself." + +The letter proved to be within the leaves of the late Mr. Steele's +book on Chemistry, and from this volume she extracted it, pressed it +for a moment against her breast with her open hand, gazing across at +her friend. + +"Dorothy, my first love-letter!" + +She turned the crisp, thin pages, and began: + +"'You may recollect that foot-note which you marked with red ink in +the book you so kindly gave me on the subject of Catalysis, which did +not pertain to the subject of the volume in question, and yet was so +illuminative to any student of chemistry. They have done a great deal +with Catalysis in Germany with amazing commercial results, but the +subject is one so recent that I had not previously gone thoroughly +into it.'" + +Katherine paused in the reading, and looked across at her auditor, an +expression almost of despair in her eloquent eyes. + +"Dorothy, what under heaven is Catalysis?" + +"Don't ask me," replied Dorothy, suppressing a laugh, struck by the +ludicrousness of any young and beautiful woman pressing any such +sentiments as these to her bosom. + +"Have you ever heard of a Catalytic process, Dorothy?" beseeched +Katherine. "It is one of the phrases he uses." + +"Never; go on with the letter, Kate." + +"'I saw at once that if I could use Catalytic process which would be +instantaneous in its solidifying effect on my liquid limestone, +instead of waiting upon slow evaporation, I could turn out building +stone faster than one can make brick. You, I am sure, with your more +alert mind, saw this when you marked that passage in red.'" + +"Oh, Dorothy," almost whimpered Katherine, leaning back, "how can I go +on? Don't you see what a sneak I am? It was bad enough to cozen with +my heedless, random markings of the book, but to think that line of +red ink might have been marked in his blood, for I nearly sent the +poor boy to his death." + +"Go on, Katherine, go on, go on!" + +"'In my search for a Catalytic whose substance would remain unchanged +after the reaction, I quite overlooked the chemical ingredients of one +of the materials I was dealing with, and the result was an explosion +which nearly blew the roof off the shop, and quite startled poor +Drummond out of a year's growth. However, no real harm has been done, +while I have been taught a valuable lesson; to take into account all +the elements I am using. I must not become so intent on the subject I +am pursuing as to ignore everything else.' And now, Dorothy, I want to +ask you a most intimate question, which I beg of you to answer as +frankly as I have confided in you." + +"I know what your question is, Kate. A girl who is engaged wishes to +see her friend in the same position. You would ask me if I am in love +with Alan Drummond, and I answer perfectly frankly that I am not." + +"You are quite sure of that, Dorothy?" + +"Quite. He is the only man friend I have had, except my own father, +and I willingly confess to a sisterly interest in him." + +"Well, if that is all--" + +"It is all, Kate. Why?" + +"Because there is something about him in this letter, which I would +read to you if I thought you didn't care." + +"Oh, he is in love with Jack's sister, very likely. I should think +that would be a most appropriate arrangement. Jack is his best friend, +and perhaps a lover would weaken the influence which Tolstoi exerts +over an emotional person's mind. Lieutenant Drummond, with his sanity, +would probably rescue a remnant of her estates." + +"Oh, well, if you can talk as indifferently as that, you are all +right, Dorothy. No, there is no other woman in the case. Here's what +Jack says: + +"'It is amazing how little an Englishman understands people of other +nations. Here is my tall friend Drummond marching nonchalantly among +dangers of which he has not the least conception. The authorities whom +he thinks so courteous are fooling him to the top of his bent. There +is, of course, no danger of his arrest, but nevertheless the eyes of +the police are upon him, and he will not believe it, any more than be +will believe he is being hoodwinked by the Foreign Minister. What I +fear is that he will be bludgeoned on the street some dark night, or +involved in a one-sided duel. Twice I have rescued him from an +imminent danger which he has not even seen. Once in a restaurant a +group of officers, apparently drunk, picked a quarrel and drew swords +upon him. I had the less difficulty in getting him away because he +fears a broil, or anything that will call down upon him the attention +of his wooden-headed cousin in the Embassy. On another occasion as we +were coming home toward midnight, a perfectly bogus brawl broke out +suddenly all around us. Drummond was unarmed, but his huge fists sent +sprawling two or three of his assailants. I had a revolver, and held +the rest off, and so we escaped. I wish he was safely back in London +again.' What do you think of that, Dorothy?" + +"I think exactly what Mr. Lamont thinks. Lieutenant Drummond's mission +to Russia seems to me a journey of folly." + +"After all, I am glad you don't care, Dorothy. He should pay attention +to what Jack says, for Jack knows Russia, and he doesn't. Still, let +us hope he will come safely out of St. Petersburg. And now, Dot, for +breakfast, because I must get to work." + +Next morning Dorothy saw a letter for herself on the table in the now +familiar hand-writing, and was more relieved than perhaps she would +have confessed even to her closest friend, when she saw the +twopence-halfpenny English stamp on the envelope. Yet its contents +were startling enough, and this letter she did not read to Katherine +Kempt, but bore its anxiety alone. + +DEAR MISS AMHURST: + +I write you in great trouble of mind, not trusting this letter to the +Russian post-office, but sending it by an English captain to be posted +in London. Two days ago Jack Lamont disappeared; a disappearance as +complete as if he had never existed. The night before last, about ten +o'clock, I thought I heard him come into his shop below my room. +Sometimes he works there till daylight, and as, when absorbed in his +experiments, he does not relish interruptions, even from me, I go on +with my reading until he comes upstairs. Toward eleven o'clock I +thought I heard slight sounds of a scuffle, and a smothered cry. I +called out to him, but received no answer. Taking a candle, I went +downstairs, but everything was exactly as usual, the doors locked, and +not even a bench overturned. I called aloud, but only the echo of this +barn of a room replied. I lit the gas and made a more intelligent +search, but with no result. I unlocked the door, and stood out in the +street, which was quite silent and deserted. I began to doubt that I +had heard anything at all, for, as I have told you, my nerves lately +have been rather prone to the jumps. I sat up all night waiting for +him, but he did not come. Next day I went, as had been previously +arranged, to the Foreign Office, but was kept waiting in an anteroom +for two hours, and then told that the Minister could not see me. I met +a similar repulse at the Admiralty. I dined alone at the restaurant +Jack and I frequent, but saw nothing of him. This morning he has not +returned, and I am at my wit's end, not in the least knowing what to +do. It is useless for me to appeal to the embassy of my country, for, +Jack being a Russian, it has no jurisdiction. The last letter I +received from you was tampered with. The newspaper extract you spoke +of was not there, and one of the sheets of the letter was missing. +Piffling business, I call it, this interfering with private +correspondence. + +Such was the last letter that Alan Drummond was ever to send to +Dorothy Amhurst. + + CHAPTER XI + + THE SNOW + +SUMMER waned; the evenings became chill, although the sun pretended at +noon that its power was undiminished. Back to town from mountain and +sea shore filtered the warm-weather idlers, but no more letters came +from St. Petersburg to the hill by the Hudson. So far as our girls +were concerned, a curtain of silence had fallen between Europe and +America. + +The flat was now furnished, and the beginning of autumn saw it +occupied by the two friends. Realization in this instance lacked the +delight of anticipation. At last Katherine was the bachelor girl she +had longed to be, but the pleasures of freedom were as Dead Sea fruit +to the lips. At last Dorothy was effectually cut off from all thoughts +of slavery, with unlimited money to do what she pleased with, yet +after all, of what advantage was it in solving the problem that +haunted her by day and filled her dreams by night. She faced the world +with seeming unconcern, for she had not the right to mourn, even if +she knew he were dead. He had made no claim; had asked for no +affection; had written no word to her but what all the world might +read. Once a week she made a little journey up the Hudson to see how +her church was coming on, and at first Katherine accompanied her, but +now she went alone. Katherine was too honest a girl to pretend an +interest where she felt none. She could not talk of architecture when +she was thinking of a man and his fate. At first she had been +querulously impatient when no second communication came. Her own +letters, she said, must have reached him, otherwise they would have +been returned. Later, dumb fear took possession of her, and she grew +silent, plunged with renewed energy into her books, joined a technical +school, took lessons, and grew paler and paler until her teachers +warned her she was overdoing it. Inwardly she resented the serene +impassiveness of her friend, who consulted calmly with the architect +upon occasion about the decoration of the church, when men's liberty +was gone, and perhaps their lives. She built up within her mind a +romance of devotion, by which her lover, warning in vain the stolid +Englishman, had at last been involved in the ruin that Drummond's +stubbornness had brought upon them both, and unjustly implicated the +quiet woman by her side in the responsibility of this sacrifice. Once +or twice she spoke with angry impatience of Drummond and his +stupidity, but Dorothy neither defended nor excused, and so no open +rupture occurred between the two friends, for a quarrel cannot be +one-sided. + +But with a woman of Katherine's temperament the final outburst had to +come, and it came on the day that the first flurry of snow fell +through the still air, capering in large flakes past the windows of +the flat down to the muddy street far below. Katherine was standing by +the window, with her forehead leaning against the plate glass, in +exactly the attitude that had been her habit in the sewing-room at Bar +Harbor, but now the staccato of her fingers on the sill seemed to drum +a Dead March of despair. The falling snow had darkened the room, and +one electric light was aglow over the dainty Chippendale desk at which +Dorothy sat writing a letter. The smooth, regular flow of the pen over +the paper roused Katherine to a frenzy of exasperation. Suddenly she +brought her clenched fist down on the sill where her fingers had been +drumming. + +"My God," she cried, "how can you sit there like an automaton with the +snow falling?" + +Dorothy put down her pen. + +"The snow falling?" she echoed. "I don't understand!" + +"Of course you don't. You don't think of the drifts in Siberia, and +the two men you have known, whose hands you have clasped, manacled, +driven through it with the lash of a Cossack's whip." + +Dorothy rose quietly, and put her hands on the shoulders of the girl, +feeling her frame tremble underneath her touch. + +"Katherine," she said, quietly, but Katherine, with a nervous twitch +of her shoulders flung off the friendly grasp. + +"Don't touch me," she cried. "Go back to your letter-writing. You and +the Englishman are exactly alike; unfeeling, heartless. He with his +selfish stubbornness has involved an innocent man in the calamity his +own stupidity has brought about." + +"Katherine, sit down. I want to talk calmly with you." + +"Calmly! Calmly! Yes, that is the word. It is easy for you to be calm +when you don't care. But I care, and I cannot be calm." + +"What do you wish to do, Katherine?" + +"What can I do? I am a pauper and a dependent, but one thing I am +determined to do, and that is to go and live in my father's house." + +"If you were in my place, what would you do Katherine?" + +"I would go to Russia." + +"What would you do when you arrived there?" + +"If I had wealth I would use it in such a campaign of bribery and +corruption in that country of tyrants that I should release two +innocent men. I'd first find out where they were, then I'd use all the +influence I possessed with the American Ambassador to get them set +free." + +"The American Ambassador, Kate, cannot move to release either an +Englishman or a Russian." + +"I'd do it somehow. I wouldn't sit here like a stick or a stone, +writing letters to my architect." + +"Would you go to Russia alone?" + +"No, I should take my father with me." + +"That is an excellent idea, Kate. I advise you to go north by +to-night's train, if you like, and see him, or telegraph to him to +come and see us." + +Kate sat down, and Dorothy drew the curtains across the window pane +and snapped on the central cluster of electric lamps. + +"Will you come with me if I go north?" asked Kate, in a milder tone +than she had hitherto used. + +"I cannot. I am making an appointment with a man in this room +to-morrow." + +"The architect, I suppose," cried Kate with scorn. + +"No, with a man who may or may not give me information of Lamont or +Drummond." + +Katherine stared at her open-eyed. + +"Then you have been doing something?" + +"I have been trying, but it is difficult to know what to do. I have +received information that the house in which Mr. Lamont and Mr. +Drummond lived is now deserted, and no one knows anything of its +former occupants. That information comes to me semi-officially, but it +does not lead far. I have started inquiry through more questionable +channels; in other words, I have invoked the aid of a Nihilist +society, and although I am quite determined to go to Russia with you, +do not be surprised if I am arrested the moment I set foot in St. +Petersburg." + +"Dorothy, why did you not let me know?" + +"I was anxious to get some good news to give you, but it has not come +yet." + +"Oh, Dorothy," moaned Katherine, struggling to keep back the tears +that would flow in spite of her. Dorothy patted her on the shoulder. + +"You have been a little unjust," she said, "and I am going to prove +that to you, so that in trying to make amends you may perhaps stop +brooding over this crisis that faces two poor lone women. You wrong +the Englishman, as you call him. Jack was arrested at least two days +before he was. Nihilist spies say that both of them were arrested, the +Prince first, and the Englishman several days later. I had a letter +from Mr. Drummond a short time after you received yours from Mr. +Lamont. I never showed it to you, but now things are so bad that they +cannot be worse, and you are at liberty to read the letter if you wish +to do so. It tells of Jack's disappearance, and of Drummond's agony of +mind and helplessness in St. Petersburg. Since he has never written +again, I am sure he was arrested later. I don't know which of the two +was most at fault for what you call stubbornness, but I believe the +explosion had more to do with the arrests than any action of theirs." + +"And I was the cause of that," wailed Katherine. + +"No, no, my dear girl. No one is to blame but the tyrant of Russia. +Now the Nihilists insist that neither of these men has been sent to +Siberia. They think they are in the prison of 'St. Peter and St. +Paul.' That information came to me to-day in the letter I was just now +answering. So, Katherine, I think you have been unjust to the +Englishman. If he had been arrested first, there might be some grounds +for what you charge, but they evidently gave him a chance to escape. +He had his warning in the disappearance of his friend, and he had +several days in which to get out of St. Petersburg, but he stood his +ground." + +"I'm sorry, Dorothy. I'm a silly fool, and to-day, when I saw the +snow-- well, I got all wrought up." + +"I think neither of the men are in the snow, and now I am going to say +something else, and then never speak of the subject again. You say I +didn't care, and of course you are quite right, for I confessed to you +that I didn't. But just imagine-- imagine-- that I cared. The Russian +Government can let the Prince go at any moment, and there's nothing +more to be said. He has no redress, and must take the consequences of +his nationality. But if the Russian Government have arrested the +Englishman; if they have put him in the prison of 'St. Peter and St. +Paul,' they dare not release him, unless they are willing to face war. +The Russian Government can do nothing in his case but deny, demand +proof, and obliterate all chance of the truth ever being known. Alan +Drummond is doomed: they dare not release him. Now think for a moment +how much worse my case would be than yours, if-- if--" her voice +quivered and broke for the moment, then with tightly clenched fists +she recovered control of herself, and finished: "if I cared." + +"Oh, Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy!" gasped Katherine, springing to her +feet. + +"No, no, don't jump at any false conclusion. We are both nervous +wrecks this afternoon. Don't misunderstand me. I don't care-- I don't +care, except that I hate tyranny, and am sorry for the victims of it." + +"Dorothy, Dorothy!" + +"We need a sane man in the house, Kate. Telegraph for your father to +come down and talk to us both. I must finish my letter to the +Nihilist." + +"Dorothy!" said Katherine, kissing her. + + CHAPTER XII + + THE DREADED TROGZMONDOFF + +THE Nihilist was shown into the dainty drawing room of the flat, and +found Dorothy Amhurst alone, as he had stipulated, waiting for him. He +was dressed in a sort of naval uniform and held a peaked cap in his +hand, standing awkwardly there as one unused to luxurious +surroundings. His face was bronzed with exposure to sun and storm, and +although he appeared to be little more than thirty years of age his +closely cropped hair was white. His eyes were light blue, and if ever +the expression of a man's countenance betokened stalwart honesty, it +was the face of this sailor. He was not in the least Dorothy's idea of +a dangerous plotter. + +"Sit down," she said, and he did so like a man ill at ease. + +"I suppose Johnson is not your real name," she began. + +"It is the name I bear in America, Madam." + +"Do you mind my asking you some questions?" + +"No, Madam, but if you ask me anything I am not allowed to answer I +shall not reply." + +"How long have you been in the United States?" + +"Only a few months, Madam." + +"How come you to speak English so well?" + +"In my young days I shipped aboard a bark plying between Helsingfors +and New York." + +"You are a Russian?" + +"I am a Finlander, Madam." + +"Have you been a sailor all your life?" + +"Yes, Madam. For a time I was an unimportant officer on board a +battleship in the Russian Navy, until I was discovered to be a +Nihilist, when I was cast into prison. I escaped last May, and came to +New York." + +"What have you been doing since you arrived here?" + +"I was so fortunate as to become mate on the turbine yacht 'The +Walrus,' owned by Mr. Stockwell." + +"Oh, that's the multi-millionaire whose bank failed a month ago?" + +"Yes, Madam." + +"But does he still keep a yacht?" + +"No, Madam. I think he has never been aboard this one, although it is +probably the most expensive boat in these waters. I am told it cost +anywhere from half a million to a million. She was built by +Thornycroft, like a cruiser, with Parson's turbine engines in her. +After the failure, Captain and crew were discharged, and I am on board +as a sort of watchman until she is sold, but there is not a large +market for a boat like 'The Walrus,' and I am told they will take the +fittings out of her, and sell her as a cruiser to one of the South +American republics." + +"Well, Mr. Johnson, you ought to be a reliable man, if the Court has +put you in charge of so valuable a property." + +"I believe I am considered honest, Madam." + +"Then why do you come to me asking ten thousand dollars for a letter +which you say was written to me, and which naturally belongs to me?" + +The man's face deepened into a mahogany brown, and he shifted his cap +uneasily in his hands. + +"Madam, I am not acting for myself. I am Secretary of the Russian +Liberation Society. They, through their branch at St. Petersburg, have +conducted some investigations on your behalf." + +"Yes, for which I paid them very well." + +Johnson bowed. + +"Our object, Madam, is the repression of tyranny. For that we are in +continual need of money. It is the poor, and not the millionaires, who +subscribe to our fund. It has been discovered that you are a rich +woman, who will never miss the money asked, and so the demand was +made. Believe me, Madam, I am acting by the command of my comrades. I +tried to persuade them to leave compensation to your own generosity, +but they refused. If you consider their demand unreasonable, you have +but to say so, and I will return and tell them your decision." + +"Have you brought the letter with you?" + +"Yes, Madam." + +"Must I agree to your terms before seeing it?" + +"Yes, Madam." + +"Have you read it?" + +"Yes, Madam." + +"Do you think it worth ten thousand dollars?" + +The sailor looked up at the decorated ceiling for several moments +before he replied. + +"That is a question I cannot answer," he said at last. "It all depends +on what you think of the writer." + +"Answer one more question. By whom is the letter signed?" + +"There is no signature, Madam. It was found in the house where the two +young men lived. Our people searched the house from top to bottom +surreptitiously, and they think the writer was arrested before he had +finished the letter. There is no address, and nothing to show for whom +it is intended, except the phrase beginning, 'My dearest Dorothy.'" + +The girl leaned back in her chair, and drew a long breath. "It is not +for me," she said, hastily; then bending forward, she cried suddenly: + +"I agree to your terms: give it to me." + +The man hesitated, fumbling in his inside pocket. + +"I was to get your promise in writing," he demurred. + +"Give it to me, give it to me," she demanded. "I do not break my +word." + +He handed her the letter. + +"My dearest Dorothy," she read, in writing well known to her. "You may +judge my exalted state of mind when you see that I dare venture on +such a beginning. I have been worrying myself and other people all to +no purpose. I have received a letter from Jack this morning, and so +suspicious had I grown that for a few moments I suspected the writing +was but an imitation of his. He is a very impulsive fellow, and can +think of only one thing at a time, which accounts for his success in +the line of invention. He was telegraphed to that his sister was ill, +and left at once to see her. I had allowed my mind to become so +twisted by my fears for his safety that, as I tell you, I suspected +the letter to be counterfeit at first. I telegraphed to his estate, +and received a prompt reply saying that his sister was much better, +and that he was already on his way back, and would reach me at eleven +to-night. So that's what happens when a grown man gets a fit of +nerves. I drew the most gloomy conclusions from the fact that I had +been refused admission to the Foreign Office and the Admiralty. +Yesterday that was all explained away. The business is at last +concluded, and I was shown copies of the letters which have been +forwarded to my own chiefs at home. Nothing could be more +satisfactory. To-morrow Jack and I will be off to England together. + +"My dearest Dorothy (second time of asking), I am not a rich man, but +then, in spite of your little fortune of Bar Harbor, you are not a +rich woman, so we stand on an equality in that, even though you are so +much my superior in everything else. I have five hundred pounds a +year, which is something less than two thousand five hundred dollars, +left me by my father. This is independent of my profession. I am very +certain I will succeed in the Navy now that the Russian Government has +sent those letters, so, the moment I was assured of that, I determined +to write and ask you to be my wife. Will you forgive my impatience, +and pander to it by cabling to me at the Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, +the word 'Yes' or the word 'Undecided'? I shall not allow you the +privilege of cabling 'No.' And please give me a chance of pleading my +case in person, if you use the longer word. Ah, I hear Jack's step on +the stair. Very stealthily he is coming, to surprise me, but I'll +surprise--" + +Here the writing ended. She folded the letter, and placed it in her +desk, sitting down before it. + +"Shall I make the check payable to you, or to the Society?" + +"To the Society, if you please, Madam." + +"I shall write it for double the amount asked. I also am a believer in +liberty." + +"Oh, Madam, that is a generosity I feel we do not deserve. I should +like to have given you the letter after all you have done for us with +no conditions attached." + +"I am quite sure of that," said Dorothy, bending over her writing. She +handed him the check, and he rose to go. + +"Sit down again, if you please. I wish to talk further with you. Your +people in St. Petersburg think my friends have not been sent to +Siberia? Are they sure of that?" + +"Well, Madam, they have means of knowing those who are transported, +and they are certain the two young men were not among the recent gangs +sent. They suppose them to be in the fortress of 'St. Peter and St. +Paul', at least that's what they say." + +"You speak as if you doubted it." + +"I do doubt it." + +"They have been sent to Siberia after all?" + +"Ah, Madam, there are worse places than Siberia. In Siberia there is a +chance: in the dreadful Trogzmondoff there is none." + +"What is the Trogzmondoff?" + +"A bleak 'Rock in the Baltic,' Madam, the prison in which death is the +only goal that releases the victim." + +Dorothy rose trembling, staring at him, her lips white. + +"'A Rock in the Baltic!' Is that a prison, and not a fortress, then?" + +"It is both prison and fortress, Madam. If Russia ever takes the risk +of arresting a foreigner, it is to the Trogzmondoff he is sent. They +drown the victims there; drown them in their cells. There is a spring +in the rock, and through the line of cells it runs like a beautiful +rivulet, but the pulling of a lever outside stops the exit of the +water, and drowns every prisoner within. The bodies are placed one by +one on a smooth, inclined shute of polished sandstone, down which this +rivulet runs so they glide out into space, and drop two hundred feet +into the Baltic Sea. No matter in what condition such a body is found, +or how recent may have been the execution, it is but a drowned man in +the Baltic. There are no marks of bullet or strangulation, and the +currents bear them swiftly away from the rock." + +"How come you to know all this which seems to have been concealed from +the rest of the world?" + +"I know it, Madam, for the best of reasons. I was sentenced this very +year to Trogzmondoff. In my youth trading between Helsingfors and New +York, I took out naturalization papers in New York, because I was one +of the crew on an American ship. When they illegally impressed me at +Helsingfors and forced me to join the Russian Navy, I made the best of +a bad bargain, and being an expert seaman, was reasonably well +treated, and promoted, but at last they discovered I was in +correspondence with a Nihilist circle in London, and when I was +arrested, I demanded the rights of an American citizen. That doomed +me. I was sent, without trial, to the Trogzmondoff in April of this +year. Arriving there I was foolish enough to threaten, and say my +comrades had means of letting the United States Government know, and +that a battleship would teach the gaolers of the rock better manners. + +"The cells hewn in the rock are completely dark, so I lost all count +of time. You might think we would know night from day by the bringing +in of our meals, but such was not the case. The gaoler brought in a +large loaf of black bread, and said it was to serve me for four days. +He placed the loaf on a ledge of rock about three feet from the floor, +which served as both table and bed. In excavating the cell this ledge +had been left intact, with a bench of stone rising from the floor +opposite. Indeed, so ingenious had been the workmen who hewed out this +room that they carved a rounded stone pillow at one end of the shelf. + +"I do not know how many days I had been in prison when the explosion +occurred. It made the whole rock quiver, and I wondered what had +happened. Almost immediately afterward there seemed to be another +explosion, not nearly so harsh, which I thought was perhaps an echo of +the first. About an hour later my cell door was unlocked, and the +gaoler, with another man holding a lantern, came in. My third loaf of +black bread was partly consumed, so I must have been in prison nine or +ten days. The gaoler took the loaf outside, and when he returned. I +asked him what had happened. He answered in a surly fashion that my +American warship had fired at the rock, and that the rock had struck +back, whereupon she sailed away, crippled." + +Dorothy, who had been listening intently to this discourse, here +interrupted with: + +"It was an English war-ship that fired the shell, and the Russian shot +did not come within half a mile of her." + +The sailor stared at her in wide-eyed surprise. + +"You see, I have been making inquiries," she explained. "Please go +on." + +"I never heard that it was an English ship. The gaoler sneered at me, +and said he was going to send me after the American vessel, as I +suppose he thought it was. I feared by his taking away of the bread +that it was intended to starve me to death, and was sorry I had not +eaten more at my last meal. I lay down on the shelf of rock, and soon +fell asleep. I was awakened by the water lapping around me. The cell +was intensely still. Up to this I had always enjoyed the company of a +little brook that ran along the side of the cell farthest from the +door. Its music had now ceased, and when I sprang up I found myself to +the waist in very cold water. I guessed at once the use of the levers +outside the cell in the passage which I had noticed in the light of +the lantern on the day I entered the place, and I knew now why it was +that the prison door was not pierced by one of those gratings which +enable the gaoler in the passage to look into the cell any time of +night or day. Prisoners have told me that the uncertainty of an inmate +who never knew when he might be spied upon added to the horror of the +situation, but the water-tight doors of the Trogzmondoff are free from +this feature, and for a very sinister reason. + +"The channel in the floor through which the water runs when the cell +is empty, and the tunnel at the ceiling through which the water flows +when the cell is full, give plenty of ventilation, no matter how +tightly the door may he closed. The water rose very gradually until it +reached the top outlet, then its level remained stationary. I floated +on the top quite easily, with as little exertion as was necessary to +keep me in that position. If I raised my head, my brow struck the +ceiling. The next cell to mine, lower down, was possibly empty. I +heard the water pour into it like a little cataract. The next cell +above, and indeed all the cells in that direction were flooded like my +own. Of course it was no trouble for me to keep afloat; my only danger +was that the intense coldness of the water would numb my body beyond +recovery. Still, I had been accustomed to hardships of that kind +before now, in the frozen North. At last the gentle roar of the +waterfall ceased, and I realized my cell was emptying itself. When I +reached my shelf again, I stretched my limbs back and forth as +strenuously as I could, and as silently, for I wished no sound to give +any hint that I was still alive, if, indeed, sound could penetrate to +the passage, which is unlikely. Even before the last of the water had +run away from the cell, I lay stretched out at full length on the +floor, hoping I might have steadiness enough to remain death-quiet +when the men came in with the lantern. I need have had no fear. The +door was opened, one of the men picked me up by the heels, and, using +my legs as if they were the shafts of a wheelbarrow, dragged me down +the passage to the place where the stream emerged from the last cell, +and into this torrent he flung me. There was one swift, brief moment +of darkness, then I shot, feet first, into space, and dropped down, +down, down through the air like a plummet, into the arms of my +mother." + +"Into what?" cried Dorothy, white and breathless, thinking the recital +of these agonies had turned the man's brain. + +"The Baltic, Madam, is the Finlander's mother. It feeds him in life, +carries him whither he wishes to go, and every true Finlander hopes to +die in her arms. The Baltic seemed almost warm after what I had been +through, and the taste of the salt on my lips was good. It was a +beautiful starlight night in May, and I floated around the rock, for I +knew that in a cove on the eastern side, concealed from all view of +the sea, lay a Finland fishing-boat, a craft that will weather any +storm, and here in the water was a man who knew how to handle it. +Prisoners are landed on the eastern side, and such advantage is taken +of the natural conformation of this precipitous rock, that a man +climbing the steep zigzag stairway which leads to the inhabited +portion is hidden from sight of any craft upon the water even four or +five hundred yards away. Nothing seen from the outside gives any token +of habitation. The fishing-boat, I suppose, is kept for cases of +emergency, that the Governor may communicate with the shore if +necessary. I feared it might be moored so securely that I could not +unfasten it. Security had made them careless, and the boat was tied +merely by lines to rings in the rock, the object being to keep her +from bruising her sides against the stone, rather than to prevent any +one taking her away. I pushed her out into the open, got quietly +inside, and floated with the swift tide, not caring to raise a sail +until I was well out of gunshot distance. Once clear of the rock I +spread canvas, and by daybreak was long out of sight of land. I made +for Stockholm, and there being no mark or name on the boat to denote +that it belonged to the Russian Government, I had little difficulty in +selling it. I told the authorities what was perfectly true: that I was +a Finland sailor escaping from the tyrant of my country, and anxious +to get to America. As such events are happening practically every week +along the Swedish coast I was not interfered with, and got enough +money from the sale of the boat to enable me to dress myself well, and +take passage to England, and from there first-class to New York on a +regular liner. + +"Of course I could have shipped as a sailor from Stockholm easy +enough, but I was tired of being a common sailor, and expected, if I +was respectably clothed, to get a better position than would otherwise +be the case. This proved true, for crossing the ocean I became +acquainted with Mr. Stockwell, and he engaged me as mate of his yacht. +That's how I escaped from the Trogzmondoff, Madam, and I think no one +but a Finlander could have done it." + +"I quite agree with you," said Dorothy. "You think these two men I +have been making inquiry about have been sent to the Trogzmondoff?" + +"The Russian may not be there, Madam, but the Englishman is sure to be +there." + +"Is the cannon on the western side of the rock?" + +"I don't know, Madam. I never saw the western side by daylight. I +noticed nothing on the eastern side as I was climbing the steps, to +show that any cannon was on the Trogzmondoff at all." + +"I suppose you had no opportunity of finding out how many men garrison +the rock?" + +"No, Madam. I don't think the garrison is large. The place is so +secure that it doesn't need many men to guard it. Prisoners are never +taken out for exercise, and, as I told you, they are fed but once in +four days." + +"How large a crew can 'The Walrus' carry?" + +"Oh, as many as you like, Madam. The yacht is practically an ocean +liner." + +"Is there any landing stage on the eastern side of the rock?" + +"Practically none, Madam. The steamer stood out, and I was landed in +the cove I spoke of at the foot of the stairway." + +"It wouldn't be possible to bring a steamer like 'The Walrus' +alongside the rock, then?" + +"It would be possible in calm weather, but very dangerous even then." + +"Could you find that rock if you were in command of a ship sailing the +Baltic?" + +"Oh, yes, Madam." + +"If twenty or thirty determined men were landed on the stairway, do +you think they could capture the garrison?" + +"Yes, if they were landed secretly, but one or two soldiers at the top +with repeating rifles might hold the stairway against an army, while +their ammunition lasted." + +"But if a shell were fired from the steamer, might not the attacking +company get inside during the confusion among the defenders?" + +"That is possible, Madam, but a private steamer firing shells, or, +indeed, landing a hostile company, runs danger of meeting the fate of +a pirate." + +"You would not care to try it, then?" + +"I? Oh, I should be delighted to try it, if you allow me to select the +crew. I can easily get aboard the small arms and ammunition necessary, +but I am not so sure about the cannon." + +"Very good. I need not warn you to be extremely cautious regarding +those you take into your confidence. Meanwhile, I wish you to +communicate with the official who is authorized to sell the yacht. I +am expecting a gentleman to-morrow in whose name the vessel will +probably be bought, and I am hoping he will accept the captaincy of +it." + +"Is he capable of filling that position, Madam? Is he a sailor?" + +"He was for many years captain in the United States Navy. I offer you +the position of mate, but I will give you captain's pay, and a large +bonus in addition if you faithfully carry out my plans, whether they +prove successful or not. I wish you to come here at this hour +to-morrow, with whoever is authorized to sell or charter the steamer. +You may say I am undecided whether to buy or charter. I must consult +Captain Kempt on that point." + +"Thank you, Madam, I shall be here this time to-morrow." + + CHAPTER XIII + + ENTRAPPED + +PRINCE IVAN LERMONTOFF came to consider the explosion one of the +luckiest things that had ever occurred in his workshop. Its happening +so soon after he reached St. Petersburg he looked upon as particularly +fortunate, because this gave him time to follow the new trend of +thought along which his mind had been deflected by such knowledge as +the unexpected outcome of his experiment had disclosed to him. The +material he had used as a catalytic agent was a new substance which he +had read of in a scientific review, and he had purchased a small +quantity of it in London. If such a minute portion produced results so +tremendous, he began to see that a man with an apparently innocent +material in his waistcoat pocket might probably be able to destroy a +naval harbor, so long as water and stone were in conjunction. There +was also a possibility that a small quantity of ozak, as the stuff was +called, mixed with pure water, would form a reducing agent for +limestone, and perhaps for other minerals, which would work much +quicker than if the liquid was merely impregnated with carbonic acid +gas. He endeavored to purchase some ozak from Mr. Kruger, the chemist +on the English quay, but that good man had never heard of it, and a +day's search persuaded him that it could not be got in St. Petersburg, +so the Prince induced Kruger to order half a pound of it from London +or Paris, in which latter city it had been discovered. For the arrival +of this order the Prince waited with such patience as he could call to +his command, and visited poor Mr. Kruger every day in the hope of +receiving it. + +One afternoon he was delighted to hear that the box had come, although +it had not yet been unpacked. + +"I will send it to your house this evening," said the chemist. "There +are a number of drugs in the box for your old friend Professor Potkin +of the University, and he is even more impatient for his consignment +than you are for yours. Ah, here he is," and as he spoke the venerable +Potkin himself entered the shop. + +He shook hands warmly with Lermontoff, who had always been a favorite +pupil of his, and learned with interest that he had lately been to +England and America. + +"Cannot you dine with me this evening at half-past five?" asked the +old man. "There are three or four friends coming, to whom I shall be +glad to introduce you." + +"Truth to tell, Professor," demurred the Prince, "I have a friend +staying with me, and I don't just like to leave him alone." + +"Bring him with you, bring him with you," said the Professor, "but in +any case be sure you come yourself. I shall be expecting you. Make +your excuses to your friend if he does not wish to endure what he +might think dry discussion, because we shall talk nothing but +chemistry and politics." + +The Prince promised to be there whether his friend came or no. The +chemist here interrupted them, and told the Professor he might expect +his materials within two hours. + +"And your package," he said to the Prince, "I shall send about the +same time. I have been very busy, and can trust no one to unpack this +box but myself." + +"You need not trouble to send it, and in any case I don't wish to run +the risk of having it delivered at a wrong address by your messenger. +I cannot afford to wait so long as would be necessary to duplicate the +order. I am dining with the Professor to-night, so will drive this +way, and take the parcel myself." + +"Perhaps," said the chemist, "it would be more convenient if I sent +your parcel to Professor Potkin's house?" + +"No," said the Prince decisively, "I shall call for it about five +o'clock." + +The Professor laughed. + +"We experimenters," he said, "never trust each other," so they shook +hands and parted. + +On returning to his workshop, Lermontoff bounded up the stairs, and +hailed his friend the Lieutenant. + +"I say, Drummond, I'm going to dine to-night with Professor Potkin of +the University, my old teacher in chemistry. His hour is half-past +five, and I've got an invitation for you. There will be several +scientists present, and no women. Will you come?" + +"I'd a good deal rather not," said the Englishman, "I'm wiring into +these books, and studying strategy; making plans for an attack upon +Kronstadt." + +"Well, you take my advice, Alan, and don't leave any of those plans +round where the St. Petersburg police will find them. Such a line of +study is carried on much safer in London than here. You'd be very +welcome, Drummond, and the old boy would be glad to see you. You don't +need to bother about evening togs-- plain living and high thinking, +you know. I'm merely going to put on a clean collar and a new tie, as +sufficient for the occasion." + +"I'd rather not go, Jack, if you don't mind. If I'm there you'll all +be trying to talk English or French, and so I'd feel myself rather a +damper on the company. Besides, I don't know anything about science, +and I'm trying to learn something about strategy. What time do you +expect to be back?" + +"Rather early; ten or half-past." + +"Good, I'll wait up for you." + +At five o'clock Jack was at the chemist's and received his package. On +opening it he found the ozak in two four-ounce, glass-stoppered +bottles, and these be put in his pocket. + +"Will you give me three spray syringes, as large a size as you have, +rubber, glass, and metal. I'm not sure but this stuff will attack one +or other of them, and I don't want to spend the rest of my life +running down to your shop." + +Getting the syringes, he jumped into his cab, and was driven to the +Professor's. + +"You may call for me at ten," he said to the cabman. + +There were three others besides the Professor and himself, and they +were all interested in learning the latest scientific news from New +York and London. + +It was a quarter past ten when the company separated. Lermontoff +stepped into his cab, and the driver went rattling up the street. In +all the talk the Prince had said nothing of his own discovery, and now +when he found himself alone his mind reverted to the material in his +pocket, and he was glad the cabman was galloping his horse, that he +might be the sooner in his workshop. Suddenly he noticed that they +were dashing down a street which ended at the river. + +"I say," he cried to the driver, "you've taken the wrong turning. This +is a blind street. There's neither quay nor bridge down here. Turn +back." + +"I see that now," said the driver over his shoulder. "I'll turn round +at the end where it is wider." + +He did turn, but instead of coming up the street again, dashed through +an open archway which led into the courtyard of a large building +fronting the Neva. The moment the carriage was inside, the gates +clanged shut. + +"Now, what in the name of Saint Peter do you mean by this?" demanded +the Prince angrily. + +The cabman made no reply, but from a door to the right stepped a tall, +uniformed officer, who said: + +"Orders, your Highness, orders. The isvoshtchik is not to blame. May I +beg of your Highness to accompany me inside?" + +"Who the devil are you?" demanded the annoyed nobleman. + +"I am one who is called upon to perform a disagreeable duty, which +your Highness will make much easier by paying attention to my +requests." + +"Am I under arrest?" + +"I have not said so, Prince Ivan." + +"Then I demand that the gates be opened that I may return home, where +more important business awaits me than talking to a stranger who +refuses to reveal his identity." + +"I hope you will pardon me, Prince Lermontoff. I act, as the +isvoshtchik has acted, under compulsion. My identity is not in +question. I ask you for the second time to accompany me." + +"Then, for the second time I inquire, am I under arrest? If so, show +me your warrant, and then I will go with you, merely protesting that +whoever issued such a warrant has exceeded his authority." + +"I have seen nothing of a warrant, your Highness, and I think you are +confusing your rights with those pertaining to individuals residing in +certain countries you have recently visited." + +"You have no warrant, then?" + +"I have none. I act on my superior's word, and do not presume to +question it. May I hope that you will follow me without a further +parley, which is embarrassing to me, and quite unhelpful to yourself. +I have been instructed to treat you with every courtesy, but +nevertheless force has been placed at my disposal. I am even to take +your word of honor that you are unarmed, and your Highness is well +aware that such leniency is seldom shown in St. Petersburg." + +"Well, sir, even if my word of honor failed to disarm me, your +politeness would. I carry a revolver. Do you wish it?" + +"If your Highness will condescend to give it to me." + +The Prince held the weapon, butt forward, to the officer, who received +it with a gracious salutation. + +"You know nothing of the reason for this action?" + +"Nothing whatever, your Highness." + +"Where are you going to take me?" + +"A walk of less than three minutes will acquaint your Highness with +the spot." + +The Prince laughed. + +"Oh, very well," he said. "May I write a note to a friend who is +waiting up for me?" + +"I regret, Highness, that no communications whatever can be allowed." + +The Prince stepped down from the vehicle, walked diagonally across a +very dimly lighted courtyard with his guide, entered that section of +the rectangular building which faced the Neva, passed along a hall +with one gas jet burning, then outside again, and immediately over a +gang-plank that brought him aboard a steamer. On the lower deck a +passage ran down the center of the ship, and along this the conductor +guided his prisoner, opened the door of a stateroom in which candles +were burning, and a comfortable bed turned down for occupancy. + +"I think your Highness will find everything here that you need. If +anything further is required, the electric bell will summon an +attendant, who will get it for you." + +"Am I not to be confronted with whoever is responsible for my arrest?" + +"I know nothing of that, your Highness. My duty ends by escorting you +here. I must ask if you have any other weapon upon you?" + +"No, I have not." + +"Will you give me your parole that you will not attempt to escape?" + +"I shall escape if I can, of course." + +"Thank you, Excellency," replied the officer, as suavely as if +Lermontoff had given his parole. Out of the darkness he called a tall, +rough-looking soldier, who carried a musket with a bayonet at the end +of it. The soldier took his stand beside the door of the cabin. + +"Anything else?" asked the Prince. + +"Nothing else, your Highness, except good-night." + +"Oh, by the way, I forgot to pay my cabman. Of course it isn't his +fault that he brought me here." + +"I shall have pleasure in sending him to you, and again, good-night." + +"Good-night," said the Prince. + +He closed the door of his cabin, pulled out his note-book, and rapidly +wrote two letters, one of which he addressed to Drummond and the other +to the Czar. When the cabman came he took him within the cabin and +closed the door. + +"Here," he said in a loud voice that the sentry could overhear if he +liked, "how much do I owe you?" + +The driver told him. + +"That's too much, you scoundrel," he cried aloud, but as he did so he +placed three gold pieces in the palm of the driver's hand together +with the two letters, and whispered: + +"Get these delivered safely, and I'll give you ten times this money if +you call on Prince Lermontoff at the address on that note." + +The man saluted, thanked him, and retired; a moment later he heard the +jingle of a bell, and then the steady throb of an engine. There was no +window to the stateroom, and he could not tell whether the steamer was +going up or down the river. Up, he surmised, and he suspected his +destination was Schlusselburg, the fortress-prison on an island at the +source of the Neva. He determined to go on deck and solve the question +of direction, but the soldier at the door brought down his gun and +barred the passage. + +"I am surely allowed to go on deck?" + +"You cannot pass without an order from the captain." + +"Well, send the captain to me, then." + +"I dare not leave the door," said the soldier. + +Lermontoff pressed the button, and presently an attendant came to +learn what was wanted. + +"Will you ask the captain to come here?" + +The steward departed, and shortly after returned with a big, bronzed, +bearded man, whose bulk made the stateroom seem small. + +"You sent for the captain, and I am here." + +"So am I," said the Prince jauntily. "My name is Lermontoff. Perhaps +you have heard of me?" + +The captain shook his shaggy head. + +"I am a Prince of Russia, and by some mistake find myself your +passenger instead of spending the night in my own house. Where are you +taking me, Captain?" + +"It is forbidden that I should answer questions." + +"Is it also forbidden that I should go on deck?" + +"The General said you were not to be allowed to leave this stateroom, +as you did not give your parole." + +"How can I escape from a steamer in motion, Captain?" + +"It is easy to jump into the river, and perhaps swim ashore." + +"So he is a general, is he? Well, Captain, I'll give you my parole +that I shall not attempt to swim the Neva on so cold a night as this." + +"I cannot allow you on deck now," said the Captain, "but when we are +in the Gulf of Finland you may walk the deck with the sentry beside +you." + +"The Gulf of Finland!" cried Lermontoff. "Then you are going down the +river?" + +The big Captain looked at him with deep displeasure clouding his brow, +feeling that he had been led to give away information which he should +have kept to himself. + +"You are not going up to Schlusselburg, then?" + +"I told your Highness that I am not allowed to answer questions. The +General, however, has given me a letter for you, and perhaps it may +contain all you may want to know." + +"The General has given you a letter, eh? Then why don't you let me +have it?" + +"He told me not to disturb you to-night, but place it before you at +breakfast to-morrow." + +"Oh, we're going to travel all night, are we?" + +"Yes, Excellency." + +"Did the General say you should not allow me to see the letter +to-night?" + +"No, your Excellency; he just said, 'Do not trouble his Highness +to-night, but give him this in the morning.'" + +"In that case let me have it now." + +The Captain pulled a letter from his pocket and presented it to the +Prince. It contained merely the two notes which Lermontoff had written +to Drummond and to the Czar. + + CHAPTER XIV + + A VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN + +AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, +then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation. +He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his +watch saw it was just eleven o'clock. It seemed incredible that +three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors +of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an +unknown destination. It appeared impossible that so much could have +happened in forty-five minutes. He wondered what Drummond was doing, +and what action he would take when he found his friend missing. + +However, pondering over the matter brought no solution of the mystery, +so, being a practical young man, he cast the subject from his mind, +picked up his heavy overcoat, which he had flung on the bed, and hung +it up on the hook attached to the door. As he did this his hand came +in contact with a tube in one of the pockets, and for a moment he +imagined it was his revolver, but he found it was the metal syringe he +had purchased that evening from the chemist. This set his thoughts +whirling in another direction. He took from an inside pocket one of +the bottles of ozak, examining it under the candle light, wishing he +had a piece of rock with which to experiment. Then with a yawn he +replaced the materials in his overcoat pocket, took off his boots, and +threw himself on the bed, thankful it was not an ordinary shelf bunk, +but a generous and comfortable resting-place. Now Katherine appeared +before his closed eyes, and hand in hand they wandered into dreamland +together. + +When he awoke it was pitch dark in his cabin. The candles, which he +had neglected to extinguish, had burned themselves out. The short, +jerky motion of the steamer indicated that he was aboard a small +vessel, and that this small vessel was out in the open sea. He +believed that a noise of some kind had awakened him, and this was +confirmed by a knock at his door which caused him to spring up and +throw back the bolt. The steward was there, but in the dim light of +the passage he saw nothing of the sentinel. He knew it was daylight +outside. + +"The Captain, Excellency, wishes to know if you will breakfast with +him or take your meal in your room?" + +"Present my compliments to the Captain, and say I shall have great +pleasure in breakfasting with him." + +"It will be ready in a quarter of an hour, Excellency." + +"Very good. Come for me at that time, as I don't know my way about the +boat." + +The Prince washed himself, smoothed out his rumpled clothes as well as +he could, and put on his boots. While engaged in the latter operation +the door opened, and the big Captain himself entered, inclosed in +glistening oilskins. + +"Hyvaa pyvaa, Highness," said the Captain. "Will you walk the deck +before breakfast?" + +"Good-day to you," returned the Prince, "and by your salutation I take +you to be a Finn." + +"I am a native of Abo," replied the Captain, "and as you say, a Finn, +but I differ from many of my countrymen, as I am a good Russian also." + +"Well, there are not too many good Russians, and here is one who would +rather have heard that you were a good Finn solely." + +"It is to prevent any mistake," replied the Captain, almost roughly, +"that I mention I am a good Russian." + +"Right you are, Captain, and as I am a good Russian also, perhaps good +Russian Number One can tell me to what part of the world he is +conveying good Russian Number Two, a man guiltless of any crime, and +unwilling, at this moment, to take an enforced journey." + +"We may both be good, but the day is not, Highness. It has been +raining during the night, and is still drizzling. I advise you to put +on your overcoat." + +"Thanks, Captain, I will." + +The Captain in most friendly manner took the overcoat from its hook, +shook it out, and held it ready to embrace its owner. Lermontoff +shoved right arm, then left, into the sleeves, hunched the coat up +into place, and buttoned it at the throat. + +"Again, Captain, my thanks. Lead the way and I will follow." + +They emerged on deck into a dismal gray morning. No land or craft of +any kind was in sight. The horizon formed a small, close circle round +the ship. Clouds hung low, running before the wind, and bringing +intermittently little dashes of rain that seemed still further to +compress the walls of horizon. The sea was not what could be called +rough, but merely choppy and fretful, with short waves that would not +have troubled a larger craft. The steamer proved to be a small, +undistinguished dingy-looking boat, more like a commercial tramp than +a government vessel. An officer, apparently the mate, stood on the +bridge, sinewy hands grasping the rail, peering ahead into the white +mist that was almost a fog. The promenade deck afforded no great scope +for pedestrianism, but Captain and prisoner walked back and forth over +the restricted space, talking genially together as if they were old +friends. Nevertheless there was a certain cautious guardedness in the +Captain's speech; the wary craft of an unready man who is in the +presence of a person more subtle than himself. The bluff Captain +remembered he had been caught napping the night before, when, after +refusing to tell the Prince the direction of the steamer, he had given +himself away by mentioning the Gulf of Finland. Lermontoff noticed +this reluctance to plunge into the abyss of free conversation, and so, +instead of reassuring him he would ask no more questions, he merely +took upon his own shoulders the burden of the talk, and related to the +Captain certain wonders of London and New York. + +The steward advanced respectfully to the Captain, and announced +breakfast ready, whereupon the two men followed him into a saloon not +much larger than the stateroom Lermontoff had occupied the night +before, and not nearly so comfortably furnished. A plenteous breakfast +was supplied, consisting principally of fish, steaming potatoes, black +bread, and very strong tea. The Captain swallowed cup after cup of +this scalding beverage, and it seemed to make him more and more genial +as if it had been wine. Indeed, as time went on he forgot that it was +a prisoner who sat before him, for quite innocently he said to the +steward who waited on them: + +"Have the poor devils below had anything to eat?" + +"No orders, sir," replied the steward. + +"Oh, well, give them something-- something hot. It may be their last +meal," then turning, he met the gaze of the Prince, demanded roughly +another cup of tea, and explained: + +"Three of the crew took too much vodka in St. Petersburg yesterday." + +The Prince nodded carelessly, as if he believed, and offered his open +cigarette case to the Captain, who shook his head. + +"I smoke a pipe," he growled. + +The Captain rose with his lighted pipe, and together they went up on +deck again. The Prince saw nothing more of the tall sentinel who had +been his guard the night before, so without asking permission he took +it for granted that his movements, now they were in the open sea, were +unrestricted, therefore he walked up and down the deck smoking +cigarettes. At the stroke of a bell the Captain mounted the bridge and +the mate came down. + +Suddenly out of the thickness ahead loomed up a great black British +freighter making for St. Petersburg, as the Prince supposed. The two +steamers, big and little, were so close that each was compelled to +sheer off a bit; then the Captain turned on the bridge and seemed for +a moment uncertain what to do with his prisoner. A number of men were +leaning over the bulwarks of the British ship, and it would have been +quite possible for the person on one boat to give a message to those +on the other. The Prince, understanding the Captain's quandary, looked +up at him and smiled, but made no attempt to take advantage of his +predicament. Some one on board the English ship shouted and fluttered +a handkerchief, whereupon the Prince waved his cigarette in the air, +and the big boat disappeared in the thickness of the east. + +Lermontoff walked the deck, thinking very seriously about his +situation, and wondering where they intended to take him. If he were +to be put in prison, it must be in some place of detention on the +coast of Finland, which seemed strange, because he understood that the +fortresses there were already filled with dissatisfied inhabitants of +that disaffected land. His first impression had been that banishment +was intended, and he had expected to be landed at some Swedish or +German port, but a chance remark made by the Captain at breakfast +inclined him to believe that there were other prisoners on board not +quite so favorably treated as himself. But why should he be sent out +of Russia proper, or even removed from St. Petersburg, which, he was +well aware, suffered from no lack of gaols. The continued voyage of +the steamer through an open sea again aroused the hope that Stockholm +was the objective point. If they landed him there it merely meant a +little temporary inconvenience, and, once ashore, he hoped to concoct +a telegram so apparently innocent that it would win through to his +friend, and give Drummond at least the knowledge of his abiding-place. +The thought of Drummond aroused all his old fear that the Englishman +was to be the real victim, and this enforced voyage was merely a +convenient method of getting himself out of the way. + +After lunch a dismal drizzle set in that presently increased to a +steady downpour, which drove Lermontoff to his cabin, and that room +being unprovided with either window or electric light, the Prince +struck a match to one of the candles newly placed on the washstand. He +pushed the electric button summoning the steward, and, giving him some +money, asked if there was such a thing as a piece of stone on board, +carried as ballast, or for any other reason. The steward said he would +inquire, and finally returned with a sharpening stone used for the +knives in the galley. Bolting his door, Lermontoff began an +experiment, and at once forgot he was a prisoner. He filled the +wash-basin with water, and opening one of the glass-stoppered bottles, +took out with the point of his knife a most minute portion of the +substance within, which he dissolved in the water with no apparent +effect. Standing the whetstone up on end, he filled the glass syringe, +and directed a fine, vaporous spray against the stone. It dissolved +before his eyes as a sand castle on the shore dissolves at the touch +of an incoming tide. + +"By St. Peter of Russia!" he cried, "I've got it at last! I must write +to Katherine about this." + +Summoning the steward again to take away this fluid, and bring him +another pailful of fresh water, Lermontoff endeavored to extract some +information from the deferential young man. + +"Have you ever been in Stockholm?" + +"No, Excellency." + +"Or in any of the German ports?" + +"No, Excellency." + +"Do you know where we are making for now?" + +"No, Excellency." + +"Nor when we shall reach our destination?" + +"No, Excellency." + +"You have some prisoners aboard?" + +"Three drunken sailors, Excellency." + +"Yes, that's what the Captain said. But if it meant death for a sailor +to be drunk, the commerce of the world would speedily stop." + +"This is a government steamer, Excellency, and if a sailor here +disobeys orders he is guilty of mutiny. On a merchant vessel they +would merely put him in irons." + +"I see. Now do you want to earn a few gold pieces?" + +"Excellency has been very generous to me already," was the +non-committal reply of the steward, whose eyes nevertheless twinkled +at the mention of gold. + +"Well, here's enough to make a jingle in your pocket, and here are two +letters which you are to try to get delivered when you return to St. +Petersburg." + +"Yes, Excellency." + +"You will do your best?" + +"Yes, Excellency." + +"Well, if you succeed, I'll make your fortune when I'm released." + +"Thank you, Excellency." + +That night at dinner the Captain opened a bottle of vodka, and +conversed genially on many topics, without touching upon the +particular subject of liberty. He partook sparingly of the stimulant, +and, to Lermontoff's disappointment, it did not in the least loosen +his tongue, and thus, still ignorant of his fate, the Prince turned in +for the second night aboard the steamer. + +When he awoke next morning he found the engines had stopped, and, as +the vessel was motionless, surmised it had reached harbor. He heard +the intermittent chuck-chuck of a pony engine, and the screech of an +imperfectly-oiled crane, and guessed that cargo was being put ashore. + +"Now," he said to himself, "if my former sentinel is at the door they +are going to take me to prison. If he is absent, I am to be set free." + +He jumped up, threw back the bolt, opened the door. There was no one +there. In a very few minutes he was on deck, and found that the +steamer was lying in the lee of a huge rock, which reminded him of +Mont St. Michel in Normandy, except that it was about half again as +high, and three times as long, and that there were no buildings of any +kind upon it, nor, indeed, the least sign of human habitation. + +The morning was fine; in the east the sun had just risen, and was +flooding the grim rock with a rosy light. Except this rock, no trace +of land was visible as far as the eye could see. Alongside the steamer +was moored a sailing-boat with two masts, but provided also with +thole-pins, and sweeps for rowing. The sails were furled, and she had +evidently been brought to the steamer's side by means of the oars. +Into this craft the crane was lowering boxes, bags, and what-not, +which three or four men were stowing away. The mate was superintending +this transshipment, and the Captain, standing with his back against +the deck-house, was handing one by one certain papers, which +Lermontoff took to be bills of lading, to a young man who signed in a +book for each he received. When this transaction was completed, the +young man saluted the Captain, and descended over the ship's side to +the sail-boat. + +"Good morning, Captain. At anchor, I see," said Lermontoff. + +"No, not at anchor. Merely lying here. The sea is too deep, and +affords no anchorage at this point." + +"Where are all these goods going?" + +The Captain nodded his head at the rock, and Lermontoff gazed at it +again, running his eyes from top to bottom without seeing any vestige +of civilization. + +"Then you lie to the lee of this rock, and the small boat takes the +supplies ashore?" + +"Exactly," said the Captain. + +"The settlement, I take it, is on the other side. What is it-- a +lighthouse?" + +"There's no lighthouse," said the Captain. + +"Sort of coastguard, then?" + +"Yes, in a way. They keep a lookout. And now, Highness, I see your +overcoat is on your back. Have you left anything in your room?" + +The Prince laughed. + +"No, Captain, I forgot to bring a portmanteau with me." + +"Then I must say farewell to you here." + +"What, you are not going to maroon me on this pebble in the ocean?" + +"You will be well taken care of, Highness." + +"What place is this?" + +"It is called the Trogzmondoff, Highness, and the water surrounding +you is the Baltic." + +"Is it Russian territory?" + +"Very, very Russian," returned the Captain drawing a deep breath. +"This way, if your Highness pleases. There is a rope ladder, which is +sometimes a little unsteady for a landsman, so be careful." + +"Oh, I'm accustomed to rope ladders. Hyvasti, Captain." + +"Hyvasti, your Highness." + +And with this mutual good-by in Finnish, the Prince went down the +swaying ladder. + + CHAPTER XV + + "A HOME ON THE ROLLING DEEP" + +FOR once the humorous expression had vanished from Captain Kempt's +face, and that good-natured man sat in the dainty drawing-room of the +flat a picture of perplexity. Dorothy had told him the story of the +Nihilist, saying she intended to purchase the yacht, and outlining +what she proposed to do with it when it was her own. Now she sat +silent opposite the genial Captain, while Katherine stood by the +window, and talked enough for two, sometimes waxing indignant, and +occasionally giving, in terse language, an opinion of her father, as +is the blessed privilege of every girl born in the land of the free, +while the father took the censure with the unprotesting mildness of +his nature. + +"My dear girls, you really must listen to reason. What you propose to +do is so absurd that it doesn't even admit of argument. Why, it's a +filibustering expedition, that's what it is. You girls are as crazy as +Walker of Nicaragua. Do you imagine that a retired Captain of the +United States Navy is going to take command of a pirate craft of far +less legal standing than the 'Alabama,' for then we were at war, but +now we are at peace. Do you actually propose to attack the domain of a +friendly country! Oh!" cried the Captain, with a mighty explosion of +breath, for at this point his supply of language entirely gave out. + +"No one would know anything about it," persisted Katherine. + +"Not know about it? With a crew of men picked up here in New York, and +coming back to New York? Not know about it? Bless my soul, the papers +would be full of it before your men were an hour on shore. In the +first place, you'd never find the rock." + +"Then what's the harm of going in search of it?" demanded his +daughter. "Besides that, Johnson knows exactly where it is." + +"Johnson, Johnson! You're surely not silly enough to believe Johnson's +cock-and-bull story?" + +"I believe every syllable he uttered. The man's face showed that he +was speaking the truth." + +"But, my dear Kate, you didn't see him at all, as I understand the +yarn. He was here alone with you, was he not, Dorothy?" + +Dorothy smiled sadly. + +"I told Kate all about it, and gave my own impression of the man's +appearance." + +"You are too sensible a girl to place any credit in what he said, +surely?" + +"I did believe him, nevertheless," replied Dorothy. + +"Why, look you here. False in one thing, false in all. I'll just take +a single point. He speaks of a spring sending water through the cells +up there in the rock. Now, that is an impossibility. Wherever a spring +exists, it comes from a source higher than itself." + +"There are lots of springs up in the mountains," interrupted +Katherine. "I know one on Mount Washington that is ten times as high +as the rock in the Baltic." + +"Quite so, Katherine, quite so, but nevertheless there is a lake, +subterraneous or above ground, which feeds your White Mountain spring, +and such a lake must be situated higher than the spring is. Why, girl, +you ought to study hydrometeorology as well as chemistry. Here is a +rock jutting up in midocean--" + +"It's in the Baltic, near the Russian coast," snapped Kate, "and I've +no doubt there are mountains in Finland that contain the lake which +feeds the spring." + +"How far is that rock from the Finnish coast, then?" + +"Two miles and a half," said Kate, quick as an arrow speeding from a +bow. + +"Captain, we don't know how far it is from the coast," amended +Dorothy. + +"I'll never believe the thing exists at all." + +"Why, yes it does, father. How can you speak like that? Don't you know +Lieutenant Drummond fired at it?" + +"How do you know it was the same rock?" + +"Because the rock fired back at him. There can't be two like that in +the Baltic." + +"No, nor one either," said the Captain, nearing the end of his +patience. + +"Captain Kempt," said Dorothy very soothingly, as if she desired to +quell the rising storm, "you take the allegation about the spring of +water to prove that Johnson was telling untruths. I expect him here +within an hour, and I will arrange that you have an opportunity, +privately, of cross-examining him. I think when you see the man, and +listen to him, you will believe. What makes me so sure that he is +telling the truth is the fact that he mentioned the foreign vessel +firing at this rock, which I knew to be true, and which he could not +possibly have learned anything about." + +"He might very well have learned all particulars from the papers, +Dorothy. They were full enough of the subject at the time, and, +remembering this, he thought to strengthen his story by--" + +Katherine interrupted with great scorn. + +"By adding verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing +narrative." + +"Quite so, Kate; exactly what I was going to say myself. But to come +back to the project itself. Granting the existence of the rock, +granting the truth of Johnson's story, granting everything, granting +even that the young men are imprisoned there, of which we have not the +slightest proof, we could no more succeed in capturing that place from +a frail pleasure yacht--" + +"It's built like a cruiser," said Katherine. + +"Even if it were built like a battleship we would have no chance +whatever. Why, that rock might defy a regular fleet. Our venture would +simply be a marine Jameson Raid which would set the whole world +laughing when people came to hear of it." + +"Johnson said he could take it with half a dozen men." + +"No, Kate," corrected Dorothy, "he said the very reverse; that two or +three determined men on the rock with repeating rifles could defeat a +host. It was I who suggested that we should throw a shell, and then +rush the entrance in the confusion." + +Captain Kempt threw up his hands in a gesture of despair. + +"Great heavens, Dorothy Amhurst, whom I have always regarded as the +mildest, sweetest and most charming of girls; to hear you calmly +propose to throw a shell among a lot of innocent men defending their +own territory against a perfectly unauthorized invasion! Throw a +shell, say you, as if you were talking of tossing a copper to a +beggar! Oh, Lord, I'm growing old. What will become of this younger +generation? Well, I give it up. Dorothy, my dear, whatever will happen +to those unfortunate Russians, I shall never recover from the shock of +your shell. The thing is absolutely impossible. Can't you see that the +moment you get down to details? How are you going to procure your +shells, or your shell-firing gun? They are not to be bought at the +first hardware store you come to on Sixth Avenue." + +"Johnson says he can get them," proclaimed Kate with finality. + +"Oh, damn Johnson! Dorothy, I beg your pardon, but really, this +daughter of mine, combined with that Johnson of yours, is just a +little more than I can bear." + +"Then what are we to do?" demanded his daughter. "Sit here with folded +hands?" + +"That would be a great deal better than what you propose. You should +do something sane. You mustn't involve a pair of friendly countries in +war. Of course the United States would utterly disclaim your act, and +discredit me if I were lunatic enough to undertake such a wild goose +chase, which I'm not; but, on the other hand, if two of our girls +undertook such an expedition, no man can predict the public clamor +that might arise. Why, when the newspapers get hold of a question, you +never know where they will end it. Undoubtedly you two girls should be +sent to prison, and, with equal undoubtedness, the American people +wouldn't permit it." + +"You bet they wouldn't," said Katherine, dropping into slang. + +"Well, then, if they wouldn't, there's war." + +"One moment, Captain Kempt," said Dorothy, again in her mildest tones, +for voices had again begun to run high, "you spoke of doing something +sane. You understand the situation. What should you counsel us to do?" + +The Captain drew a long breath, and leaned back in his chair. + +"There, Dad, it's up to you," said Katherine. "Let us hear your +proposal, and then you'll learn how easy it is to criticise." + +"Well," said the Captain hesitatingly, "there's our diplomatic +service--" + +"Utterly useless: one man is a Russian, and the other an Englishman. +Diplomacy not only can do nothing, but won't even try," cried Kate +triumphantly. + +"Yet," said the Captain, with little confidence, "although the two men +are foreigners, the two girls are Americans." + +"We don't count: we've no votes," said Kate. "Besides, Dorothy tried +the diplomatic service, and could not even get accurate information +from it. Now, father, third time and out." + +"Four balls are out, Kate, and I've only fanned the air twice. Now, +girls, I'll tell you what I'd do. You two come with me to Washington. +We will seek a private interview with the President. He will get into +communication with the Czar, also privately, and outside of all +regular channels. The Czar will put machinery in motion that is sure +to produce those two young men much more effectually and speedily than +any cutthroat expedition on a yacht." + +"I think," said Dorothy, "that is an excellent plan." + +"Of course it is," cried the Captain enthusiastically. "Don't you see +the pull the President will have? Why, they've put an Englishman into +'the jug,' and when the President communicates this fact to the Czar +he will be afraid to refuse, knowing that the next appeal may be from +America to England, and when you add a couple of American girls to +that political mix-up, why, what chance has the Czar?" + +"The point you raise, Captain," said Dorothy, "is one I wish to say a +few words about. The President cannot get Mr. Drummond released, +because the Czar and all his government will be compelled to deny that +they know anything of him. Even the President couldn't guarantee that +the Englishman would keep silence if he were set at liberty. The Czar +would know that, but your plan would undoubtedly produce Prince Ivan +Lermontoff. All the president has to do is to tell the Czar that the +Prince is engaged to an American girl, and Lermontoff will be allowed +to go." + +"But," objected the Captain, "as the Prince knows the Englishman is in +prison, how could they be sure of John keeping quiet when Drummond is +his best friend?" + +"He cannot know that, because the Prince was arrested several days +before Drummond was. + +"They have probably chucked them both into the same cell," said the +Captain, but Dorothy shook her head. + +"If they had intended to do that, they would doubtless have arrested +them together. I am sure that one does not know the fate of the other, +therefore the Czar can quite readily let Lermontoff go, and he is +certain to do that at a word from the President. Besides this, I am as +confident that Jack is not in the Trogzmondoff, as I am sure that +Drummond is. Johnson said it was a prison for foreigners." + +"Oh, Dorothy," cried the Captain, with a deep sigh, "if we've got back +again to Johnson--" He waved his hand and shook his head. + +The maid opened the door and said, looking at Dorothy: + +"Mr. Paterson and Mr. Johnson." + +"Just show them into the morning room," said Dorothy, rising. "Captain +Kempt, it is awfully good of you to have listened so patiently to a +scheme of which you couldn't possibly approve." + +"Patiently!" sniffed the daughter. + +"Now I want you to do me another kindness." + +She went to the desk and picked up a piece of paper. + +"Here is a check I have signed-- a blank check. I wish you to buy the +yacht 'Walrus' just as she stands, and make the best bargain you can +for me. A man is so much better at this kind of negotiation than a +woman." + +"But surely, my dear Dorothy, you won't persist in buying this yacht?" + +"It's her own money, father," put in Katherine. + +"Keep quiet," said the Captain, rising, for the first time speaking +with real severity, whereupon Katherine, in spite of the fact that she +was older than twenty-one, was wise enough to obey. + +"Yes, I am quite determined, Captain," said Dorothy sweetly. + +"But, my dear woman, don't you see how you've been hoodwinked by this +man Johnson? He is shy of a job. He has already swindled you out of +twenty thousand dollars." + +"No, he asked for ten only, Captain Kempt, and I voluntarily doubled +the amount." + +"Nevertheless, he has worked you up to believe that these young men +are in that rock. He has done this for a very crafty purpose, and his +purpose seems likely to succeed. He knows he will be well paid, and +you have promised him a bonus besides. If he, with his Captain Kidd +crew, gets you on that yacht, you will only step ashore by giving him +every penny you possess. That's his object. He knows you are starting +out to commit a crime-- that's the word, Dorothy, there's no use in +our mincing matters-- you will be perfectly helpless in his hands. Of +course, I could not allow my daughter Kate to go on such an +expedition." + +"I am over twenty-one years old," cried Kate, the light of rebellion +in her eyes. + +"I do not intend that either of you shall go, Katherine." + +"Dorothy, I'll not submit to that," cried Katherine, with a rising +tremor of anger in her voice, "I shall not be set aside like a child. +Who has more at stake than I? And as for capturing the rock, I'll +dynamite it myself, and bring home as large a specimen of it as the +yacht will carry, and set it up on Bedloe's Island beside the Goddess +and say, 'There's your statue of Liberty, and there's your statue of +Tyranny!'" + +"Katherine," chided her father, "I never before believed that a child +of mine could talk such driveling nonsense." + +"Paternal heredity, father," retorted Kate. + +"Your Presidential plan, Captain Kempt," interposed Dorothy, "is +excellent so far as Prince Lermontoff is concerned, but it cannot +rescue Lieutenant Drummond. Now, there are two things you can do for +me that will make me always your debtor, as, indeed, I am already, and +the first is to purchase for me the yacht. The second is to form your +own judgment of the man Johnson, and if you distrust him, then engage +for me one-half the crew, and see that they are picked Americans." + +"First sane idea I have heard since I came into this flat," growled +the Captain. + +"The Americans won't let the Finlander hold me for ransom, you may +depend upon that." + +It was a woe-begone look the gallant Captain cast on the demure and +determined maiden, then, feeling his daughter's eye upon him, he +turned toward her. + +"I'm going, father," she said, with a firmness quite equal to his own, +and he on his part recognized when his daughter had toed the danger +line. He indulged in a laugh that had little of mirth in it. + +"All I can say is that I am thankful you haven't made up your minds to +kidnap the Czar. Of course you are going, Kate, So am I." + + CHAPTER XVI + + CELL NUMBER NINE + +AS the sailing-boat cast off, and was shoved away from the side of the +steamer, there were eight men aboard. Six grasped the oars, and the +young clerk who had signed for the documents given to him by the +Captain took the rudder, motioning Lermontoff to a seat beside him. +All the forward part of the boat, and, indeed, the space well back +toward the stern, was piled with boxes and bags. + +"What is this place called?" asked the Prince, but the young steersman +did not reply. + +Tying the boat to iron rings at the small landing where the steps +began, three of the men shipped their oars. Each threw a bag over his +shoulder, walked up half a dozen steps and waited. The clerk motioned +Lermontoff to follow, so he stepped on the shelf of rock and looked +upward at the rugged stairway cut between the main island and an +outstanding perpendicular ledge of rock. The steps were so narrow that +the procession had to move up in Indian file; three men with bags, +then the Prince and the clerk, followed by three more men with boxes. +Lermontoff counted two hundred and thirty-seven steps, which brought +him to an elevated platform, projecting from a doorway cut in the +living rock, but shielded from all sight of the sea. The eastern sun +shone through this doorway, but did not illumine sufficiently the +large room whose walls, ceiling and floor were of solid stone. At the +farther end a man in uniform sat behind a long table on which burned +an oil lamp with a green shade. At his right hand stood a broad, round +brazier containing glowing coals, after the Oriental fashion, and the +officer was holding his two hands over it, and rubbing them together. +The room, nevertheless, struck chill as a cellar, and Lermontoff heard +a constant smothered roar of water. + +The clerk, stepping forward and saluting, presented to the Governor +seated there the papers and envelopes given him by the Captain. The +officer selected a blue sheet of paper, and scrutinized it for a +moment under the lamp. + +"Where are the others?" + +"We have landed first the supplies, Governor; then the boat will +return for the others." + +The Governor nodded, and struck a bell with his open palm. There +entered a big man with a bunch of keys at his belt, followed by +another who carried a lighted lantern. + +"Number Nine," said the Governor to the gaolers. + +"I beg your pardon, sir, am I a prisoner?" asked Lermontoff. + +The Governor gave utterance to a sound that was more like the grunt of +a pig than the ejaculation of a man. He did not answer, but looked up +at the questioner, and the latter saw that his face, gaunt almost as +that of a living skeleton, was pallid as putty. + +"Number Nine," he repeated, whereupon the gaoler and the man with the +lantern put a hand each on Lermontoff's shoulders, and marched him +away. They walked together down a long passage, the swaying lantern +casting its yellow rays on the iron bolts of door after door, until at +last the gaoler stopped, threw back six bolts, inserted a key, +unlocked the door, and pushed it ponderously open. The lantern showed +it to be built like the door of a safe, but unlike that of a safe it +opened inwards. As soon as the door came ajar Lermontoff heard the +sound of flowing water, and when the three entered, he noticed a rapid +little stream sparkling in the rays of the lantern at the further end +of the cell. He saw a shelf of rock and a stone bench before it. The +gaoler placed his hands on a black loaf, while the other held up the +lantern. + +"That will last you four days," said the gaoler. + +"Well, my son, judging from the unappetizing look of it, I think it +will last me much longer." + +The gaoler made no reply, but he and the man with the lantern retired, +drawing the door heavily after them. Lermontoff heard the bolts thrust +into place, and the turn of the key; then silence fell, all but the +babbling of the water. He stood still in the center of the cell, his +hands thrust deep in the pockets of his overcoat, and, in spite of +this heavy garment, he shivered a little. + +"Jack, my boy," he muttered, "this is a new deal, as they say in the +West. I can imagine a man going crazy here, if it wasn't for that +stream. I never knew what darkness meant before. Well, let's find out +the size of our kingdom." + +He groped for the wall, and stumbling against the stone bench, whose +existence he had forgotten, pitched head forward to the table, and +sent the four-day loaf rolling on the floor. He made an ineffectual +grasp after the loaf, fearing it might fall into the stream and be +lost to him, but he could not find it, and now his designs for +measuring the cell gave place to the desire of finding that loaf. He +got down on his hands and knees, and felt the stone floor inch by inch +for half an hour, as he estimated the time, but never once did he +touch the bread. + +"How helpless a man is in the dark, after all," he muttered to +himself. "I must do this systematically, beginning at the edge of the +stream." + +On all fours he reached the margin of the rivulet, and felt his way +along the brink till his head struck the opposite wall. He turned +round, took up a position that he guessed was three feet nearer the +door, and again traversed the room, becoming so eager in the search +that he forgot for the moment the horror of his situation, just as, +when engaged in a chemical experiment, everything else vanished from +his mind, and thus after several journeys back and forth he was again +reminded of the existence of the stone bench by butting against it +when he knew he was still several feet from the wall. Rubbing his +head, he muttered some unfavorable phrases regarding the immovable +bench, then crawled round it twice, and resumed his transverse +excursions. At last he reached the wall that held the door, and now +with breathless eagerness rubbed his shoulder against it till he came +to the opposite corner. He knew he had touched with knees and hands +practically every square inch of space in the floor, and yet no bread. + +"Now, that's a disaster," cried he, getting up on his feet, and +stretching himself. "Still, a man doesn't starve in four days. I've +cast my bread on the waters. It has evidently gone down the stream. +Now, what's to hinder a man escaping by means of that watercourse? +Still, if he did, what would be the use? He'd float out into the +Baltic Sea, and if able to swim round the rock, would merely be +compelled to knock at the front door and beg admission again. No, by +Jove, there's the boat, but they probably guard it night and day, and +a man in the water would have no chance against one in the boat. +Perhaps there's gratings between the cells. Of course, there's bound +to be. No one would leave the bed of a stream clear for any one to +navigate. Prisoners would visit each other in their cells, and that's +not allowed in any respectable prison. I wonder if there's any one +next door on either side of me. An iron grid won't keep out the sound. +I'll try," and going again to the margin of the watercourse, he +shouted several times as loudly as he could, but only a sepulchral +echo, as if from a vault, replied to him. + +"I imagine the adjoining cells are empty. No enjoyable companionship +to be expected here. I wonder if they've got the other poor devils up +from the steamer yet. I'll sit down on the bench and listen." + +He could have found the bench and shelf almost immediately by groping +round the wall, but he determined to exercise his sense of direction, +to pit himself against the darkness. + +"I need not hurry," he said, "I may be a long time here." + +In his mind he had a picture of the cell, but now that he listened to +the water it seemed to have changed its direction, and he found he had +to rearrange this mental picture, and make a different set of +calculations to fit the new position. Then he shuffled slowly forward +with hands outstretched, but he came to the wall, and not to the +bench. Again he mapped out his route, again endeavored, and again +failed. + +"This is bewildering," he muttered. "How the darkness baffles a man. +For the first time in my life I appreciate to the full the benediction +of God's command, 'Let there be light.'" + +He stood perplexed for a few moments, and, deeply thinking, his hands +automatically performed an operation as the servants of habit. They +took from his pocket his cigarette case, selected a tube of tobacco, +placed it between his lips, searched another pocket, brought out a +match-box, and struck a light. The striking of the match startled +Lermontoff as if it had been an explosion; then he laughed, holding +the match above his head, and there at his feet saw the loaf of black +bread. It seemed as if somebody had twisted the room end for end. The +door was where he thought the stream was, and thus he learned that +sound gives no indication of direction to a man blindfolded. The match +began to wane, and feverishly he lit his cigarette. + +"Why didn't I think of the matches, and oh! what a pity I failed to +fill my pockets with them that night of the Professor's dinner party! +To think that matches are selling at this moment in Sweden two hundred +and fifty for a halfpenny!" + +Guided by the spark at the end of his cigarette, he sought the bench +and sat down upon it. He was surprised to find himself so little +depressed as was actually the case. He did not feel in the least +disheartened. Something was going to happen on his behalf; of that he +was quite certain. It was perfectly ridiculous that even in Russia a +loyal subject, who had never done any illegal act in his life, a +nobleman of the empire, and a friend of the Czar, should be +incarcerated for long without trial, and even without accusation. He +had no enemies that he knew of, and many friends, and yet he +experienced a vague uneasiness when be remembered that his own course +of life had been such that he would not be missed by his friends. For +more than a year he had been in England, at sea, and in America, so +much absorbed in his researches that he had written no private letters +worth speaking of, and if any friend were asked his whereabouts, he +was likely to reply: + +"Oh, Lermontoff is in some German university town, or in England, or +traveling elsewhere. I haven't seen him or heard of him for months. +Lost in a wilderness or in an experiment, perhaps." + +These unhappy meditations were interrupted by the clang of bolts. He +thought at first it was his own door that was being opened, but a +moment later knew it was the door of the next cell up-stream. The +sound, of course, could not penetrate the extremely thick wall, but +came through the aperture whose roof arched the watercourse. From the +voices he estimated that several prisoners were being put into one +cell, and he wondered whether or not he cared for a companion. It +would all depend. If fellow-prisoners hated each other, their enforced +proximity might prove unpleasant. + +"We are hungry," he heard one say. "Bring us food." + +The gaoler laughed. + +"I will give you something to drink first." + +"That's right," three voices shouted. "Vodka, vodka!" + +Then the door clanged shut again, and he heard the murmur of voices in +Russian, but could not make out what was said. One of the new +prisoners, groping round, appeared to have struck the stone bench, as +he himself had done. The man in the next cell swore coarsely, and +Lermontoff, judging from such snatches of their conversation as he +could hear that they were persons of a low order, felt no desire to +make their more intimate acquaintance, and so did not shout to them, +as he had intended to do. And now he missed something that had become +familiar; thought it was a cigarette he desired, for the one he had +lit had been smoked to his very lips, then he recognized it was the +murmur of the stream that had ceased. + +"Ah, they can shut it off," he said. "That's interesting. I must +investigate, and learn whether or no there is communication between +the cells. Not very likely, though." + +He crawled on hands and knees until he came to the bed of the stream, +which was now damp, but empty. Kneeling down in its course, he worked +his way toward the lower cell, and, as he expected, came to stout iron +bars. Crouching thus he sacrificed a second match, and estimated that +the distance between the two cells was as much as ten feet of solid +rock, and saw also that behind the perpendicular iron bars were +another horizontal set, then another perpendicular, then a fourth +horizontal. + +While in this position he was startled by a piercing scream to the +rear. He backed out from the tunnel and stood upright once more. He +heard the sound of people splashing round in water. The screamer began +to jabber like a maniac, punctuating his ravings with shrieks. Another +was cursing vehemently, and a third appealing to the saints. +Lermontoff quickly knelt down in the watercourse, this time facing the +upper cell, and struck his third match. He saw that a steel shield, +reminding him of the thin shutter between the lenses of a camera, had +been shot across the tunnel behind the second group of cross bars, and +as an engineer be could not but admire the skill of the practical +expert who had constructed this diabolical device, for in spite of the +pressure on the other side, hardly a drop of water oozed through. He +tried to reach this shield, but could not. It was just beyond the +touch of his fingers, with his arm thrust through the two sets of +bars, but if he could have stretched that far, with the first bar +retarding his shoulder, he knew his hand would be helpless even if he +had some weapon to puncture the steel shield. The men would be drowned +before he could accomplish anything unless he was at the lever in the +passage outside. + +Crawling into his cell again he heard no more of the chatter and cries +of the maniac, and he surmised that the other two were fighting for +places on bench or shelf, which was amply large enough to have +supported both, had they not been too demented with fear to recognize +that fact. The cursing man was victorious, and now he stood alone on +the shelf, roaring maledictions. Then there was the sound of a plunge, +and Lermontoff, standing there, helpless and shivering, heard the +prisoner swim round and round his cell like a furious animal, +muttering and swearing. + +"Don't exhaust yourself like that," shouted Lermontoff. "If you want +to live, cling to the hole at either of the two upper corners. The +water can't rise above you then, and you can breathe till it +subsides." + +The other either did not hear, or did not heed, but tore round and +round in his confined tank, thrashing the water like a dying whale. + +"Poor devil," moaned Jack. "What's the use of telling him what to do. +He is doomed in any case. The other two are now better off." + +A moment later the water began to dribble through the upper aperture +into Jack's cell, increasing and increasing until there was the roar +of a waterfall, and he felt the cold splashing drops spurt against +him. Beyond this there was silence. It was perhaps ten minutes after +that the lever was pulled, and the water belched forth from the lower +tunnel like a mill race broken loose, temporarily flooding the floor +so that Jack was compelled to stand on the bench. + +He sunk down shivering on the stone shelf, laid his arms on the stone +pillow, and buried his face in them. + +"My God, my God!" he groaned. + + CHAPTER XVII + + A FELLOW SCIENTIST + +IN this position Jack slept off and on, or rather, dozed into a kind +of semi-stupor, from which he awoke with a start now and then, as he +thought be heard again the mingled cries of devotion and malediction. +At last he slept soundly, and awoke refreshed, but hungry. The loaf +lay beside him, and with his knife he cut a slice from it, munching +the coarse bread with more of relish than he had thought possible when +he first saw it. Then he took out another cigarette, struck a match, +looked at his watch, and lit the cigarette. It was ten minutes past +two. He wondered if a night had intervened, but thought it unlikely. +He had landed very early in the morning, and now it was afternoon. He +was fearfully thirsty, but could not bring himself to drink from that +stream of death. Once more he heard the bolts shot back. + +"They are going to throw the poor wretches into the sea," he muttered, +but the yellow gleam of a lantern showed him it was his own door that +had been unlocked. + +"You are to see the Governor," said the gaoler gruffly. "Come with +me." + +Jack sprang to the floor of his cell, repressing a cry of delight. +Nothing the grim Governor could do to him would make his situation any +worse, and perhaps his persuasive powers upon that official might +result in some amelioration of his position. In any case there was the +brief respite of the interview, and he would gladly have chummed with +the devil himself to be free a few moments from this black pit. + +Although the outside door of the Governor's room stood open, the room +was not as well illumined as it had been before, for the sun had now +gone round to the other side of the island, but to the prisoner's +aching eyes it seemed a chamber of refulgence. The same lamp was +burning on the table, giving forth an odor of bad oil, but in addition +to this, two candles were lighted, which supplemented in some slight +measure the efforts of the lamp. At the end of the table lay a number +of documents under a paper-weight, arranged with the neat precision of +a methodical man. The Governor had been warming his hands over the +brazier, but ceased when Lermontoff was brought up standing before +him. He lifted the paper-weight, took from under it the two letters +which Lermontoff had given to the steward on the steamer, and handed +them to the prisoner, who thus received them back for the second time. + +"I wish to say," remarked the Governor, with an air of bored +indifference which was evidently quite genuine, "that if you make any +further attempt to communicate with the authorities, or with friends, +you will bring on yourself punishment which will be unpleasant." + +"As a subject of the Czar, I have the right to appeal to him," said +the Prince. + +"The appeal you have written here," replied the Governor, "would have +proved useless, even if it had been delivered. The Czar knows nothing +of the Trogzmondoff, which is a stronghold entirely under the control +of the Grand Dukes and of the Navy. The Trogzmondoff never gives up a +prisoner." + +"Then I am here for a lifetime?" + +"Yes," rejoined the Governor, with frigid calmness, "and if you give +me no trouble you will save yourself some inconvenience." + +"Do you speak French?" asked the Prince. + +"Net." + +"English?" + +"Net." + +"Italian?" + +"Net." + +"German?" + +"Da." + +"Then," continued Lermontoff in German, "I desire to say a few words +to you which I don't wish this gaoler to understand. I am Prince Ivan +Lermontoff, a personal friend of the Czar's, who, after all, is master +of the Grand Dukes and the Navy also. If you will help to put me into +communication with him, I will guarantee that no harm comes to you, +and furthermore will make you a rich man." + +The Governor slowly shook his head. + +"What you ask is impossible. Riches are nothing to me. Bribery may do +much in other parts of the Empire, but it is powerless in the +Trogzmondoff. I shall die in the room adjoining this, as my +predecessor died. I am quite as much a prisoner in the Trogzmondoff as +is your Highness. No man who has once set foot in this room, either as +Governor, employee, or prisoner, is allowed to see the mainland again, +and thus the secret has been well kept. We have had many prisoners of +equal rank with your Highness, friends of the Czar too, I dare say, +but they all died on the Rock, and were buried in the Baltic." + +"May I not be permitted to receive certain supplies if I pay for them? +That is allowed in other prisons." + +The Governor shook his head. + +"I can let you have a blanket," he said, "and a pillow, or a sheepskin +if you find it cold at first, but my power here is very limited, and, +as I tell you, the officers have little more comfort than the +prisoners." + +"Oh, I don't care anything about comfort," protested Lermontoff. "What +I want is some scientific apparatus. I am a student of science. I have +nothing to do with politics, and have never been implicated in any +plot. Someone in authority has made a stupid mistake, and so I am +here. This mistake I am quite certain will be discovered and remedied. +I hold no malice, and will say nothing of the place, once I am free. +It is no business of mine. But I do not wish to have the intervening +time wasted. I should like to buy some electrical machinery, and +materials, for which I am willing to pay any price that is asked." + +"Do you understand electricity?" questioned the Governor, and for the +first time his impassive face showed a glimmer of interest. + +"Do I understand electricity? Why, for over a year I have been chief +electrician on a war-ship." + +"Perhaps then," said the Governor, relapsing into Russian again, "you +can tell me what is wrong with our dynamo here in the Rock. After +repeated requisition they sent machinery for lighting our offices and +passages with electricity. They apparently did not care to send an +electrician to the Trogzmondoff, but forwarded instead some books of +instruction. I have been working at it for two years and a half, but I +am still using oil lamps and candles. We wired the place without +difficulty." He held up the candle, and showed, depending from the +ceiling, a chandelier of electric lamps which Lermontoff had not +hitherto noticed, various brackets, and one or two stand lamps in a +corner, with green silk-covered wire attached. + +"May I see your dynamo?" asked Lermontoff. + +The Governor, with one final warming of his hands, took up a candle, +told the gaoler to remove the shade from the lamp and bring it, led +the way along a passage, and then into a room where the prisoner, on +first entering, had heard the roar of water. + +"What's this you have. A turbine? Does it give you any power?" + +"Oh, it gives power enough," said the Governor. + +"Let's see how you turn on the stream." + +The Governor set the turbine at work, and the dynamo began to hum, a +sound which, to the educated ear of Lermontoff, told him several +things. + +"That's all right, Governor, turn it off. This is a somewhat +old-fashioned dynamo, but it ought to give you all the light you can +use. You must be a natural born electrician, or you never could have +got this machinery working as well as it does." + +The dull eyes of the Governor glowed for one brief moment, then +resumed their customary expression of saddened tiredness. + +"Now," said Jack, throwing off his coat, "I want a wrench, +screwdriver, hammer and a pair of pincers if you've got them." + +"Here is the tool chest," said the Governor, and Jack found all he +needed. Bidding the Governor hold the candle here, there and +elsewhere, and ordering the gaoler about as if he were an apprentice, +Jack set energetically to work, and for half an hour no one spoke. + +"Turn on that water again," he commanded. + +The Governor did so, and the machine whirred with quite a different +note. Half a dozen electric lamps in the room flooded the place with a +dazzling white glow. + +"There you are," cried Jack, rubbing the oil off his hands on a piece +of coarse sacking. "Now, Tommy, put these things back in the tool +chest," he said to the gaoler. Then to the Governor: + +"Let's see how things look in the big room." + +The passage was lit, and the Governor's room showed every mark on +wall, ceiling and floor. + +"I told you, Governor," said Jack with a laugh, "that I didn't know +why I was sent here, but now I understand. Providence took pity on +you, and ordered me to strike a light." + +At that moment the gaoler entered with his jingling keys, and the +enthusiastic expression faded from the Governor's face, leaving it +once more coldly impassive, but he spoke in German instead of Russian. + +"I am very much indebted to your Highness, and it grieves me that our +relationship remains unchanged." + +"Oh, that's all right," cried Lermontoff breezily, "If it is within +your power to allow me to come and give you some lessons in +electricity and the care of dynamos, I shall be very glad to do so." + +To this offer the Governor made no reply, but he went on still in +German. + +"I shall transfer you to cell Number One, which is not only more +comfortable, but the water there is pure. Did you say you spoke +English?" + +"Yes, quite as well as I do Russian." + +The Governor continued, with nevertheless a little hesitation: "On the +return of the steamer there will be an English prisoner. I will give +him cell Number Two, and if you don't talk so loud that the gaoler +hears you, it may perhaps make the day less wearisome." + +"You are very kind," said Jack, rigidly suppressing any trace of +either emotion or interest as he heard the intelligence; leaping at +once to certain conclusions, nevertheless. "I shan't ask for anything +more, much as I should like to mention candles, matches, and tobacco." + +"It is possible you may find all three in Number One before this time +to-morrow;" then in Russian the Governor said to the goaler: + +"See if Number One is ready." + +The gaoler departed, and the Governor, throwing open a drawer in his +table, took out two candles, a box of matches, and a packet of +cigarettes. + +"Put these in your pocket," he said. "The cell door opens very slowly, +so you will always know when the gaoler is coming. In that case blow +out your light and conceal your candle. It will last the longer." + +The gaoler returned. + +"The cell is ready, Excellency," he said. + +"Take away the prisoner," commanded the Governor, gruffly. + + CHAPTER XVIII + + CELL NUMBER ONE + +CELL Number One was a great improvement on Number Nine. There was no +shelf of rock, or stone bench, but a cot bed in the corner, a table, +and a wooden chair. The living spring issued from the living rock in a +corner of the room. When the gaoler and his assistant had retired and +shoved in the outside bolts, Jack lit his candle and a cigarette, +feeling almost happy. He surveyed the premises now with more care. The +bed was of iron and fastened to the floor. On the top of it was a +mattress, a pillow, and a pair of blankets. At its head a little +triangular shelf of rock had been left in the corner, and on this +reposed a basin of tin, while a coarse piece of sacking took the place +of a towel. Jack threw off his overcoat and flung it on the bed, +intent on a satisfactory wash. He heard something jingle in the +pockets, and forgetting for the moment what it could possibly be, +thrust his hand in, and pulled out a glass-stoppered bottle of ozak. +He held it out at arm's length, and stared at it for some moments like +a man hypnotized. + +"Holy Saint Peter!" he cried, "to think that I should have forgotten +this!" + +He filled the tin basin with water, and placed it on the table. Again +he dissolved a minute portion of the chemical, and again filled the +syringe. + +"I must leave no marks on the wall that may arouse attention," he +said, and taking the full syringe to the arch over the torrent, and +placing the candle on the floor beside him, he gently pushed in the +piston. The spray struck the rock, and the rock dissolved slightly but +perceptibly. Coming back to the table he stood for a few minutes in +deep thought. Although the cot bed was fixed to the floor, and +although it was possible that the shelf in the next cell coincided +with its position, the risk of discovery was too great to cut a +passage between the two cells there. The obvious spot to attack was +the interior of the tunnel through which the streamlet ran, but Jack, +testing the temperature of the water with his hand, doubted his +physical ability to remain in that ice-cold current more than a few +minutes at a time, and if he worked in the tunnel he would be all but +submerged. He feared he would perish with cold and cramp before he had +made any impression on the rock. + +To the edge of the stream he drew the table, and, mounting it, +examined the upper orifice through which the water escaped when the +cell was full. He found he could stand on the table and work in +comfort until he had excavated sufficient rock to allow him to clamber +into the upper tunnel and so continue his operations. The water he +used would flow through the tunnel, and down to the main stream in the +next cell. All he had to do was to dissolve a semi-circular hole in +the rock that would bend round the end of those steel bars, and enter +the tunnel again on the other side. Eager to be at work, he took the +full basin, shoved it far along the tunnel until it was stopped by the +bars, then, placing his candle beside it, and standing on the table, +he began operations. + +The limestone, under the influence of the spray, dissolved very +slowly, and by the time the basin of water was exhausted, all the +effect visible under the light of the candle was an exceedingly slight +circular impression which was barely visible to the naked eye. + +"I must make the solution stronger, I think," he said, grievously +disappointed at the outcome of his labors, and as he looked at it he +heard the clank of the withdrawing bolts. Blowing out the candle he +sprang to the floor of the cell, picked up the table, set it down in +the center of the room, groped for the chair, and sat down, his heart +palpitating wildly at the fear of discovery. + +Followed as usual by the man with the lantern, the gaoler came in, +carrying a bowl of hot steaming soup, which he placed on the table, +then he took from his pocket a spoon, a small hunk of black bread, and +a piece of cheese. In the light of the lantern Lermontoff consulted +his watch, and found it was six o'clock. The gaoler took the lantern +from his assistant, held it high, and looked round the room, while +Lermontoff gazed at him in anxiety, wondering whether that brutal +looking official suspected anything. Apparently he did not, but merely +wished to satisfy himself that everything was in order, for he said +more mildly than he had hitherto spoken: + +"It is a long time since any one occupied this cell." + +Then his eye rested on the vacant corner shelf. + +"Ah, Excellency," he continued, "pardon me, I have forgotten. I must +bring you a basin." + +"I'd rather you brought me a candle," said Lermontoff nonchalantly, +although his lips were dry, and he moistened them as he spoke; then, +to learn whether money was valueless on the rock, as the Governor had +intimated, he drew from his pocket one of the remaining gold pieces, +glad that he happened to have so many, and slipped it into the palm of +the gaoler's hand, whose fingers clutched it as eagerly as if he were +in St. Petersburg. + +"I think a candle can be managed, Excellency. Shall I bring a cup?" + +"I wish you would." + +The door was again locked and bolted, but before Lermontoff had +finished his soup, and bread and cheese, it was opened again. The +gaoler placed a tin basin, similar to the former one, on the ledge, +put a candle and a candle-stick on the table, and a tin cup beside +them. + +"I thought there was no part of Russia where bribery was extinct," +said the Prince to himself, as the door closed again for the night. + +After supper Lermontoff again shined his table, stood upon it, lit his +candle, and resumed his tunnelling, working hard until after midnight. +His progress was deplorably slow, and the spraying of the rock proved +about as tiring a task as ever he had undertaken. His second +basin-full of solution was made a little stronger, but without +perceptible improvement, in its effect. On ceasing operations for the +night he found himself in a situation common to few prisoners, that of +being embarrassed with riches. He possessed two basins, and one of +them must be concealed. Of course he might leave his working basin in +the upper tunnel where it had rested when the gaoler had brought in +his supper, but he realized that at any moment the lantern's rays +might strike its shining surface, and so bring on an investigation of +the upper tunnel, certain to prove the destruction of his whole +scheme. A few minutes thought, however, solved the problem admirably: +he placed the basin face downwards in the rapid stream which swept it +to the iron bars between the two cells, and there it lay quite +concealed with the swift water rippling over it. This done, he flung +off his clothes, and got into bed, not awakening until the gaoler and +his assistant brought in bread, cheese and coffee for breakfast. + +The next day he began to feel the inconveniences of the Governor's +friendship, and wished he were safely back to the time when one loaf +lasted four days, for if such were now the case, he would be free of +the constant state of tension which the ever-recurring visits of the +gaoler caused. He feared that some day he might become so absorbed in +his occupation that he would not hear the withdrawing of the bolt, and +thus, as it were, be caught in the act. + +Shortly after lunch the Governor sent for him, and asked many +questions pertaining to the running of the dynamo. Lermontoff +concealed his impatience, and set about his instructions with +exemplary earnestness. Russian text books on electricity at hand were +of the most rudimentary description, and although the Governor could +speak German he could not read it, so the two volumes he possessed in +that language were closed to him. Therefore John was compelled to +begin at the very A B C of the science. + +The Governor, however, became so deeply interested that he momentarily +forgot his caution, unlocked a door, and took Lermontoff into a room +which he saw was the armory and ammunition store-house of the prison. +On the floor of this chamber the Governor pointed out a large battery +of accumulators, and asked what they were for. Lermontoff explained +the purposes of the battery, meanwhile examining it thoroughly, and +finding that many of the cells had been all but ruined in transit, +through the falling away of the composition in the grids. Something +like half of the accumulators, however, were intact and workable; +these he uncoupled and brought into the dynamo room, where he showed +the Governor the process of charging. He saw in the store room a box +containing incandescent lamps, coils of silk-covered wire and other +material that made his eyes glisten with delight. He spoke in German. + +"If you will give me a coil of this wire, one or two of the lamps, and +an accumulator, or indeed half a dozen of them, I will trouble you no +more for candles." + +The Governor did not reply at the moment, but a short time after asked +Lermontoff in Russian how long it would be before the accumulators +were charged. Lermontoff stated the time, and the Governor told the +gaoler to bring the prisoner from the cell at that hour, and so +dismissed his instructor. + +One feature of this interview which pleased Lermontoff was that +however much the Governor became absorbed in these lessons, he never +allowed himself to remain alone with his prisoner. It was evident that +in his cooler moments the Governor had instructed the gaoler and his +assistant to keep ever at the heels of the Prince and always on the +alert. Two huge revolvers were thrust underneath the belt of the +gaoler, and the lantern-holder, was similarly armed. Lermontoff was +pleased with this, for if the Governor had trusted him entirely, even +though he demanded no verbal parole, it would have gone against his +grain to strike down the chief as he ruthlessly intended to do when +the time was ripe for it, and in any case, he told himself, no matter +how friendly the Governor might be, he had the misfortune to stand +between his prisoner and liberty. + +Lermontoff was again taken from his cell about half an hour before the +time he had named for the completion of the charging, and although the +Governor said nothing of his intention, the gaoler and his man brought +to the cell six charged batteries, a coil of wire, and a dozen lamps. +Lermontoff now changed his working methods. He began each night as +soon as he had finished dinner, and worked till nearly morning, +sleeping all day except when interrupted by the gaoler. Jack, +following the example of Robinson Crusoe, attempted to tie knots on +the tail of time by cutting notches with his knife on the leg of the +table, but most days he forgot to perform this operation, and so his +wooden almanac fell hopelessly out of gear. He estimated that he had +been a little more than a week in prison when he heard by the clang of +the bolts that the next cell was to have an occupant. + +"I must prepare a welcome for him," he said, and so turned out the +electric light at the end of the long flexible wire. He had arranged a +neat little switch of the accumulator, and so snapped the light on and +off at his pleasure, without the trouble of unscrewing the nuts which +held in place one of the copper ends of the wire. Going to the edge of +the stream and lighting his candle, he placed the glass bulb in the +current, paid out the flexible line attached to it, and allowed the +bulb to run the risk of being smashed against the iron bars of the +passage, but the little globe negotiated the rapids without even a +perceptible clink, and came to rest in the bed of the torrent +somewhere about the center of the next cell, tugging like a fish on a +hook. Then Jack mounted the table, leaned into the upper tunnel, and +listened. + +"I protest," Drummond cried, speaking loudly, as if the volume of +sound would convey meaning to alien ears, "I protest against this as +an outrage, and demand my right of communication with the British +Ambassador." + +Jack heard the gaoler growl: "This loaf of bread will last you for +four days," but as this statement was made in Russian, it conveyed no +more meaning to the Englishman than had his own protest of a moment +before brought intelligence to the gaoler. The door clanged shut, and +there followed a dead silence. + +"Now we ought to hear some good old British oaths," said Jack to +himself, but the silence continued. + +"Hullo, Alan," cried Jack through the bars, "I said you would be +nabbed if you didn't leave St. Petersburg. You'll pay attention to me +next time I warn you." + +There was no reply, and Jack became alarmed at the continued +stillness, then he heard his friend mutter: + +"I'll be seeing visions by and by. I thought my brain was stronger +than it is-- could have sworn that was Jack's voice." + +Jack got speedily and quietly down, turned on the switch, and hopped +up on the table again, peering through. He knew that the stream had +now become a river of fire, and that it was sending to the ceiling an +unholy, unearthly glow. + +"Oh, damn it all!" groaned Drummond, at which Jack roared with +laughter. + +"Alan," he shouted, "fish out that electric bulb from the creek and +hold it aloft; then you'll see where you are. I'm in the next cell; +Jack Lamont, Electrician and Coppersmith: all orders promptly attended +to: best of references, and prices satisfactory." + +"Jack, is that really you, or have I gone demented?" + +"Oh, you always were demented, Alan, but it is I, right enough. Pick +up the light and tell me what kind of a cell you've got." + +"Horrible!" cried Drummond, surveying his situation. "Walls apparently +of solid rock, and this uncanny stream running across the floor." + +"How are you furnished? Shelf of rock, stone bench?" + +"No, there's a table, cot bed, and a wooden chair." + +"Why, my dear man, what are you growling about? They have given you +one of the best rooms in the hotel. You're in the Star Chamber." + +"Where in the name of heaven are we?" + +"Didn't you recognize the rock from the deck of a steamer?" + +"I never saw the deck of a steamer." + +"Then how did you come here?" + +"I was writing a letter in my room when someone threw a sack over my +head, and tied me up in a bundle, so that it was a close shave I +wasn't smothered. I was taken in what I suppose was a cab and flung +into what I afterwards learned was the hold of a steamer. When the +ship stopped, I was carried like a sack of meal on someone's shoulder, +and unhampered before a gaunt specter in uniform, in a room so +dazzling with electric light that I could hardly see. That was a few +minutes ago, Now I am here, and starving. Where is this prison?" + + + +"Like the Mikado, as Kate would say, the authorities are bent on +making the punishment fit the crime. You are in the rock of the +Baltic, which you fired at with that gun of yours. I told you those +suave officials at St. Petersburg were playing with you." + +"But why have they put you here, Jack?" + +"Oh, I was like the good dog Tray, who associated with questionable +company, I suppose, and thus got into trouble." + +"I'm sorry." + +"You ought to be glad. I'm going to get out of this place, and I don't +believe you could break gaol, unassisted, in twenty years. Here is +where science confronts brutality. I say, Drummond, bring your table +over to the corner, and mount it, then we can talk without shouting. +Not much chance of any one outside hearing us, even if we do clamor, +but this is a damp situation, and loud talk is bad for the throat. Cut +a slice of that brown bread and lunch with me. You'll find it not half +bad, as you say in England, especially when you are hungry. Now," +continued Jack, as his friend stood opposite him, and they found by +experiment that their combined reach was not long enough to enable +them to shake hands through the bars, "now, while you are luxuriating +in the menu of the Trogzmondoff, I'll give you a sketch of my plan for +escape." + +"Do," said Drummond. + +"I happen to have with me a pair of bottles containing a substance +which, if dissolved in water, and sprinkled on this rock, will +disintegrate it. It proves rather slow work, I must admit, but I +intend to float in to you one of the bottles, and the apparatus, so +that you may help me on your side, which plan has the advantage of +giving you useful occupation, and allowing us to complete our task in +half the time, like the engineers on each side of the Simplon Tunnel." + +"If there are bars in the lower watercourse," objected Drummond, +"won't you run a risk of breaking your bottle against them?" + +"Not the slightest. I have just sent that much thinner electric lamp +through, but in this case I'll just tie up the bottle and squirt gun +in my stocking, attach that to the wire, and the current will do the +rest. You can unload, and I'll pull my stocking back again. If I dared +wrench off a table leg, I could perhaps shove bottle and syringe +through to you from here, but the material would come to a dead center +in the middle of this tunnel, unless I had a stick to push it within +your reach. + +"Very well; we'll work away until our excavation connects, and we have +made it of sufficient diameter for you to squeeze through. You are +then in my cell. We put out our lights, and you conceal yourself +behind the door. Gaoler and man with the lantern come in. You must be +very careful not to close the door, because if you once shove it shut +we can't open it from this side, even though it is unlocked and the +bolts drawn. It fits like wax, and almost hermetically seals the room. +You spring forward, and deal the gaoler with your fist one of your +justly celebrated English knock-down blows, immediately after felling +the man with the lantern. Knowing something of the weight of your +blow, I take it that neither of the two men will recover consciousness +until we have taken off their outer garments, secured revolvers and +keys. Then we lock them in, you and I on the outside." + +"My dear Jack, we don't need any tunnel to accomplish that. The first +time these two men come into my room, I can knock them down as easily +here as there." + +"I thought of that, and perhaps you could, but you must remember we +have only one shot. If you made a mistake; if the lantern man bolted +and fired his pistol, and once closed the door-- he would not need to +pause to lock it-- why, we are done for. I should be perfectly +helpless in the next room, and after the attempt they'd either drown +us, or put us into worse cells as far apart as possible." + +"I don't think I should miss fire," said Drummond, confidently, +"still, I see the point, and will obey orders." + +"My official position on the rock, ever since I arrived, has been that +of electrical tutor-in-chief to the Governor. I have started his +dynamo working, and have wired such portions of the place as were not +already wired before. During these lessons I have kept my eyes open. +So far as the prison is concerned, there is the Governor, a sort of +head clerk, the gaoler and his assistant; four men, and that is all. +The gaoler's assistant appears to be the cook of the place, although +the cooking done is of the most limited description. The black bread +is brought from St. Petersburg, I think, as also tinned meat and soup; +so the cuisine is on a somewhat limited scale." + +"Do you mean to say that only these four men are in charge of the +prison?" + +"Practically so, but there is the garrison as well. The soldiers live +in a suite of rooms directly above us, and as near as I can form an +opinion, there are fourteen men and two officers. When a steamer +arrives they draft as many soldiers as are necessary, unload the boat; +then the Tommies go upstairs again. The military section apparently +holds little intercourse with the officials, whom they look upon as +gaolers. I should judge that the military officer is chief of the +rock, because when he found the Governor's room lit by electricity, he +demanded the same for his quarters. That's how I came to get upstairs. +Now, these stairs are hewn in the rock, are circular, guarded by heavy +oaken doors top and bottom, and these doors possess steel bolts on +both sides of them. It is thus possible for either the military +authorities upstairs, or the civil authorities, to isolate themselves +from the others. In case of a revolt among the soldiers, the Governor +could bolt them into their attic, and they would find great difficulty +in getting out. Now, my plan of procedure is this. We will disarm +gaoler and assistant, take their keys, outside garments and caps. The +gaoler's toggery will fit you, and the other fellow's may do for me. +Then we will lock them in here, and if we meet clerk or Governor in +the passages we will have time to overcome either or both before they +are aware of the change. I'll go up the circular stair, bolt from the +inside the upper door, and afterwards bolt the lower door. Then we +open all the cells, and release the other prisoners, descend from the +rock, get into the Finnish fishing boat, keep clear of the two cannon +that are up above us, and sail for the Swedish coast. We can't miss +it; we have only to travel west, and ultimately we are safe. There is +only one danger, which is that we may make our attempt when the +steamer is here, but we must chance that." + +"Isn't there any way of finding out? Couldn't you pump the Governor?" + +"He is always very much on his guard, and is a taciturn man. The +moment the tunnel is finished I shall question him about some further +electrical material, and then perhaps I may get a hint about the +steamer. I imagine she comes irregularly, so the only safe plan would +be for us to make our attempt just after she had departed." + +"Would there be any chance of our finding a number of the military +downstairs?" + +"I don't think so. Now that they have their electric light they spend +their time playing cards and drinking vodka." + +"Very well, Jack, that scheme seems reasonably feasible. Now, get +through your material to me, and issue your instructions." + + CHAPTER XIX + + "STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE" + +IN a very short time Drummond became as expert at the rock dissolving +as was his friend. He called it piffling slow work, but was +nevertheless extremely industrious at it, although days and weeks and, +as they suspected, months, passed before the hands of the two friends +met in the center of the rock. One lucky circumstance that favored +them was the habit of the gaoler in visiting Drummond only once every +four days. + +The Lieutenant made his difficult passage, squeezing through the newly +completed tunnel half an hour after a loaf had been set upon his +table. Jack knew that the steamer had recently departed, because, two +days before, the Governor had sent for him, and had exhibited a +quantity of material recently landed, among other things a number of +electric bells and telephones which the Governor was going to have set +up between himself and the others, and also between his room and that +of the clerk and gaoler. There were dry batteries, and primary +batteries, and many odds and ends, which made Jack almost sorry he was +leaving the place. + +Heavy steps, muffled by the thickness of the door, sounded along the +outer passage. + +"Ready?" whispered Jack. "Here they come. Remember if you miss your +first blow, we're goners, you and I." + +Drummond made no reply, for the steps had come perilously near and he +feared to be heard. Noiselessly he crossed the cell and took up his +position against the wall, just clear of the space that would be +covered by the opening of the door. + +At the same moment Jack switched off the light, leaving the room +black. Each of the two waiting prisoners could hear the other's short +breathing through the darkness. + +On came the shuffling footsteps of the gaoler and lantern-bearer. They +had reached the door of Number One, had paused, had passed on and +stopped in front of Number Two. + +"Your cell!" whispered Jack, panic-stricken. "And they weren't due to +look in on you for four days. It's all up! They'll discover the cell +is empty and give the-- Where are you going, man?" he broke off, as +Drummond, leaving his place near the door, groped his way hurriedly +along the wall. + +"To squeeze my way back and make a fight for it. It's better than--" + +"Wait!" + +Lamont's hand was on his shoulder, and he whispered a sharp command +for silence. The two attendants had halted in front of Number Two, and +while the lantern-bearer fumbled with the awkward bolt, his companion +was saying: + +"Hold on! After all, I'll bring the other his food first, I think." + +"But," remonstrated the lantern-bearer, "the Governor said we were to +bring the Englishman to him at once." + +"What if he did? How will he know we stole a half minute to give the +Prince his dinner? If we bring the Englishman upstairs first, the +Prince may have to wait an hour before we can get back with the +Englishman." + +"Let him wait, then." + +"With his pocket full of roubles? Not I. He may decide to give no more +of his gold pieces to a gaoler who lets him go hungry too long." + +"I've got the door unfastened now and--" + +"Then fasten it again and come back with me to Number One." + +Faint as were the words, deadened by intervening walls, their purport +reached Jack. + +"Back to your place," he whispered, "they're coming!" + +The rattle of bolts followed close on his words. The great door of +Number One swung ponderously inward. The lantern-bearer, holding his +light high in front of him, entered; then stepped to one side to admit +the gaoler, who came close after, the tray of food in his outstretched +hands. + +Unluckily for the captives' plan, it was to the side of the cell +opposite to that where Alan crouched that the lantern-bearer had taken +his stand. There was no way of reaching him at a bound. The open door +stood between. Were the gaoler to be attacked first, his +fellow-attendant could readily be out of the cell and half-way up the +corridor before Alan might hope to reach him. + +The friends had counted on both men entering the room together and +crossing as usual to the table. This change of plan disconcerted them. +Already the gaoler had set down his tray and was turning toward the +door. Alan, helpless, stood impotently in the shadow, biting his blond +mustache with helpless rage. In another second their cherished +opportunity would vanish. And, as the gaoler's next visit was to be to +Number Two, discovery stared them in the eyes. + +It was Jack who broke the momentary spell of apathy. He was standing +at the far end of the cell, near the stream. + +"Here!" he called sharply to the lantern-bearer, "bring your light. My +electric apparatus is out of order, and I've mislaid my matches. I +want to fix--" + +The lantern-bearer, obediently, had advanced into the room. He was +half-way across it while Lamont was still speaking. Then, from the +corner of his eye, he spied Alan crouching in the angle behind the +door, now fully exposed to the rays of the lantern. + +The man whirled about in alarm just as Alan sprang. In consequence the +Englishman's mighty fist whizzed past his head, missing it by a full +inch. + +The gaoler, recovering from his amaze, whipped out one of the +revolvers he wore in his belt. But Jack, leaping forward, knocked it +from his hand before he could fire; and, with one hand clapped across +the fellow's bearded lips, wound his other arm about the stalwart body +so as to prevent for the instant the drawing of the second pistol. + +Alan's first blow had missed clean; but his second did not. Following +up his right-hand blow with all a trained boxer's swift dexterity, he +sent a straight left hander flush on the angle of the light-bearer's +jaw. The man dropped his lantern and collapsed into a senseless heap +on the floor, while Alan, with no further delay, rushed toward the +gaoler. + +The fall of the lantern extinguished the light. The cell was again +plunged in dense blackness, through which could be heard the panting +and scuffing of the Prince and the gaoler. + +Barely a second of time had elapsed since first Jack had seized the +man, but that second had sufficed for the latter to summon his great +brute strength and shake off his less gigantic opponent and to draw +his pistol. + +"Quick, Alan!" gasped Jack. "He's got away from me. He'll--" + +Drummond, guided by his friend's voice, darted forward through the +darkness, caught his foot against the sprawling body of the +lantern-bearer and fell heavily, his arms thrown out in an instinctive +gesture of self-preservation. Even as he lost his balance he heard a +sharp click, directly in front of him. The gaoler had pulled the +trigger, and his pistol-- contract-made and out of order, like many of +the weapons of common soldiers in Russia's frontier posts-- had missed +fire. + +To that luckiest of mishaps, the failure of a defective cartridge to +explode, the friends owed their momentary safety. + +As Alan pitched forward, one of his outing arms struck against an +obstacle. It was a human figure, and from the feel of the leather +straps, which his fingers touched in the impact, he knew it was the +gaoler and not Lamont. + +Old football tactics coming to memory, Alan clung to the man his arm +had chanced upon, and bore him along to the ground; Jack, who had +pressed forward in the darkness, being carried down as well by the +other's fall. + +Gaoler, Prince and Englishman thus struggled on the stone floor in one +indistinguishable heap. It was no ordinary combat of two to one, for +neither of the prisoners could say which was the gaoler and which his +friend. The gaoler, troubled by no such doubts, laid about him +lustily, and was only prevented from crying out by the fact that his +heavy fur cap had, in the fall, become jammed down over his face as +far as the chin and could not for the moment be dislodged. + +He reached for and drew the sword-bayonet that hung at his side (for +his second pistol had become lost in the scrimmage), and thrust +blindly about him. Once, twice his blade met resistance and struck +into flesh. + +"Jack," panted Alan, "the beast's stabbing. Get yourself loose and +find the electric light." + +As he spoke, Alan's hand found the gaoler's throat. He knew it was not +Alan's from the rough beard that covered it. The gaoler, maddened by +the pressure, stabbed with fresh fury; most of his blows, fortunately, +going wild in the darkness. + +Alan's free hand reached for and located the arm that was wielding the +bayonet, and for a moment the two wrestled desperately for its +possession. + +Then a key clicked, and the room was flooded with incandescent light, +just as Alan, releasing his grip on the Russian's throat, dealt him a +short-arm blow on the chin with all the power of his practiced +muscles. The gaoler relaxed his tense limbs and lay still, while Alan, +bleeding and exhausted, struggled to his feet. + +"Hot work, eh?" he panted. "Hard position to land a knockout from. But +I caught him just right. He'll trouble us no more for a few minutes, I +fancy. You're bleeding! Did he wound you?" + +"Only a scratch along my check. And you?" + +"A cut on the wrist and another on the shoulder, I think. Neither of +them bad, thanks to the lack of aim in the dark. Close call, that! Now +to tie them up. Not a movement from either yet." + +"You must have come close to killing them with those sledge-hammer +blows of yours!" + +"It doesn't much matter," said the imperturbable pugilist, "they'll be +all right in half an hour. It's knowing where to hit. If there are +only four men downstairs, we don't need to wear the clothes of these +beasts. Let us take only the bunch of keys and the revolvers." + +Securing these the two stepped out into the passage, locked and bolted +the door; then Jack, who knew his way, proceeded along the passage to +the stairway, leaped nimbly up the steps, bolted the door leading to +the military quarters, then descended and bolted the bottom door. + +"Now for the clerk, and then for the Governor." + +The clerk's room connected with the armory, which was reached by +passing through the apartment that held turbine and dynamo, which they +found purring away merrily. + +Covering the frightened clerk with four revolvers, Jack told him in +Russian that if he made a sound it would be his last. They took him, +opened cell Number Three, which was empty, and thrust him in. + +Jangling the keys, the two entered the Governor's room. The ancient +man looked up, but not a muscle of his face changed; even his fishy +eyes showed no signs of emotion or surprise. + +"Governor," said Jack with deference, "although you are under the +muzzles of a quartet of revolvers, no harm is intended you. However, +you must not leave your place until you accompany us down to the boat, +when I shall hand the keys over to you, and in cell Number One you +will find gaoler and lantern man a little worse for wear, perhaps, but +still in the ring, I hope. In Number Three your clerk is awaiting you. +I go now to release your prisoners. All communication between yourself +and the military is barred. I leave my friend on guard until I return +from the cells. You must not attempt to summon assistance, or cry out, +or move from your chair. My friend does not understand either Russian +or German, so there is no use in making any appeal to him, and much as +I like you personally, and admire your assiduity in science, our case +is so desperate that if you make any motion whatever, he will be +compelled to shoot you dead." + +The Governor bowed. + +"May I continue my writing?" he asked. + +Jack laughed heartily. + +"Certainly," and with that he departed to the cells, which he unlocked +one by one, only to find them all empty. + +Returning, he said to the Governor: + +"Why did you not tell me that we were your only prisoners?" + +"I feared," replied the Governor mildly, "that you might not believe +me." + +"After all, I don't know that I should,", said Jack, holding out his +hand, which the other shook rather unresponsively. + +"I want to thank you," the Governor said slowly, "for all you have +told me about electricity. That knowledge I expect to put to many +useful purposes in the future, and the exercise of it will also make +the hours drag less slowly than they did before you came." + +"Oh, that's all right," cried Jack with enthusiasm. "I am sure you are +very welcome to what teaching I have been able to give you, and no +teacher could have wished a more apt pupil." + +"It pleases me to hear you say that, Highness, although I fear I have +been lax in my duties, and perhaps the knowledge of this place which +you have got through my negligence, has assisted you in making an +escape which I had not thought possible." + +Jack laughed good-naturedly. + +"All's fair in love and war," he said. "Imprisonment is a section of +war. I must admit that electricity has been a powerful aid to us. But +you cannot blame yourself, Governor, for you always took every +precaution, and the gaoler was eternally at my heels. You can never +pretend that you trusted me, you know." + +"I tried to do my duty," said the old man mournfully, "and if +electricity has been your helper, it has not been with my sanction. +However, there is one point about electricity which you impressed upon +me, which is that although it goes quickly, there is always a return +current." + +"What do you mean by that, Governor?" + +"Is it not so? It goes by a wire, and returns through the earth. I +thought you told me that." + +"Yes, but I don't quite see why you mention that feature of the case +at this particular moment." + +"I wanted to be sure what I have stated is true. You see, when you are +gone there will be nobody I can ask." + +All this time the aged Governor was holding Jack's hand rather limply. +Drummond showed signs of impatience. + +"Jack," he cried at last, "that conversation may be very interesting, +but it's like smoking on a powder mine. One never knows what may +happen. I shan't feel safe until we're well out at sea, and not even +then. Get through with your farewells as soon as possible, and let us +be off." + +"Right you are, Alan, my boy. Well, Governor, I'm reluctantly +compelled to bid you a final good-by, but here's wishing you all sorts +of luck." + +The old man seemed reluctant to part with him, and still clung to his +hand. + +"I wanted to tell you," he said, "of another incident, almost as +startling as your coming into this room a while since, that happened +six or eight months ago. As perhaps you know, we keep a Finland +fishing-boat down in the cove below." + +"Yes, yes," said Jack impatiently, drawing away his hand. + +"Well, six or eight months ago that boat disappeared, and has never +been heard of since. None of our prisoners was missing; none of the +garrison was missing; my three assistants were still here, yet in the +night the boat was taken away." + +"Really. How interesting! Never learned the secret, did you?" + +"Never, but I took precautions, when we got the next boat, that it +should be better guarded, so I have had two men remain upon it night +and day." + +"Are your two men armed, Governor?" + +"Yes, they are." + +"Then they must surrender, or we will be compelled to shoot them. Come +down with us, and advise them to surrender quietly, otherwise, from +safe cover on the stairway, we can pot them in an open boat." + +"I will go down with you," said the Governor, "and do what I can." + +"Of course they will obey you." + +"Yes, they will obey me-- if they hear me. I was going to add that +only yesterday did I arrange the electric bell down at the landing, +with instructions to those men to take a telegram which I had written +in case of emergencies, to the mainland, at any moment, night or day, +when that bell rang. Your Highness, the bell rang more than half an +hour ago. I have not been allowed out to see the result." + +The placid old man put his hand on the Prince's shoulder, as if +bestowing a benediction upon him. Drummond, who did not understand the +lingo, was amazed to see Jack fling off the Governor's grasp, and with +what he took to be a crushing oath in Russian, spring to the door, +which he threw open. He mounted the stone bench which gave him a view +of the sea. A boat, with two sails spread, speeding to the southwest, +across the strong westerly wind, was two miles or more away. + +"Marooned, by God!" cried the Prince, swinging round and presenting +his pistol at the head of the Governor, who stood there like a statue +of dejection, and made no sign. + + CHAPTER XX + + ARRIVAL OF THE TURBINE YACHT + +BEFORE Jack could fire, as perhaps he had intended to do, Drummond +struck down his arm. + +"None of that, Jack," he said. "The Russian in you has evidently been +scratched, and the Tartar has come uppermost. The Governor gave a +signal, I suppose?" + +"Yes, he did, and those two have got away while I stood babbling here, +feeling a sympathy for the old villain. That's his return current, +eh?" + +"He's not to blame," said Drummond. "It's our own fault entirely. The +first thing to have done was to secure that boat." + +"And everything worked so beautifully," moaned Jack, "up to this +point, and one mistake ruins it. We are doomed, Alan." + +"It isn't so bad as that, Jack," said the Englishman calmly. "Should +those men reach the coast safely, as no doubt they will, it may cost +Russia a bit of trouble to dislodge us." + +"Why, hang it all," cried Jack, "they don't need to dislodge us. All +they've got to do is to stand off and starve us out. They are not +compelled to fire a gun or land a man." + +"They'll have to starve their own men first. It's not likely we're +going to go hungry and feed our prisoners." + +"Oh, we don't mind a little thing like that, we Russians. They may +send help, or they may not. Probably a cruiser will come within +hailing distance and try to find out what the trouble is. Then it will +lie off and wait till everybody's dead, and after that put in a new +Governor and another garrison." + +"You take too pessimistic a view, Jack. This isn't the season of the +year for a cruiser to lie off in the Baltic. Winter is coming on. Most +of the harbors in Finland will be ice-closed in a month, and there's +no shelter hereabouts in a storm. They'll attack; probably open shell +fire on us for a while, then attempt to land a storming party. That +will be fun for us if you've got good rifles and plenty of +ammunition." + +Jack raised his head. + +"Oh, we're well-equipped," he said, "if we only have enough to eat." + +Springing to his feet, all dejection gone, he said to the Governor: + +"Now, my friend, we're compelled to put you into a cell. I'm sorry to +do this, but there is no other course open. Where is your larder, and +what quantity of provisions have you in stock?" + +A gloomy smile added to the dejection of the old man's countenance. + +"You must find that out for yourself," he said. + +"Are the soldiers upstairs well supplied with food?" + +"I will not answer any of your questions." + +"Oh, very well. I see you are determined to go hungry yourself. Until +I am satisfied that there is more than sufficient for my friend and +me, no prisoner in my charge gets anything to eat. That's the sort of +gaoler I am. The stubborn old beast!" he cried in English, turning to +Drummond, "won't answer my questions." + +"What were you asking him?" + +"I want to know about the stock of provisions." + +"It's quite unnecessary to ask about the grub: there's sure to be +ample." + +"Why?" + +"Why? Because we have reached the beginning of winter, as I said +before. There must be months when no boat can land at this rock. It's +bound to be provisioned for several months ahead at the very lowest +calculation. Now, the first thing to do is to put this ancient Johnny +in his little cell, then I'll tell you where our chief danger lies." + +The Governor made neither protest nor complaint, but walked into +Number Nine, and was locked up. + +"Now, Johnny, my boy," said Drummond, "our anxiety is the soldiers. +The moment they find they are locked in they will blow those two doors +open in just about half a jiffy. We can, of course, by sitting in +front of the lower door night and day, pick off the first four or five +who come down, but if the rest make a rush we are bound to be +overpowered. They have, presumably, plenty of powder, probably some +live shells, petards, and what-not, that will make short work even of +those oaken doors. What do you propose to do?" + +"I propose," said Jack, "to fill their crooked stairway with cement. +There are bags and bags of it in the armory." + +The necessity for this was prevented by an odd circumstance. The two +young men were seated in the Governor's room, when at his table a +telephone bell rang. Jack had not noticed this instrument, and now +took up the receiver. + +"Hello, Governor," said a voice, "your fool of a gaoler has bolted the +stairway door, and we can't open it." + +"Oh, I beg pardon," replied Jack, in whatever imitation of the +Governor's voice he could assume. "I'll see to it at once myself." + +He hung up the receiver and told his comrade what had happened. + +"One or both of these officers are coming down. If we get the officers +safely into a cell, there will be nobody to command the men, and it is +more than likely that the officers carry the keys of the powder room. +I'll turn out the electric lamps in the hall, and light the lantern. +You be ready at the foot of the stairway to fire if they make the +slightest resistance." + +The two officers came down the circular stairway, grumbling at the +delay to which they had been put. Lermontoff took advantage of the +clamping of their heavy boots in the echoing stairway to shove in the +bolts once more, and then followed them, himself followed by Drummond, +into the Governor's room. Switching on the electric light, he said: + +"Gentlemen, I am Prince Lermontoff, in temporary charge of this +prison. The Governor is under arrest, and I regret that I must demand +your swords, although I have every reason to believe that they will be +handed back to you within a very few days after I have completed my +investigations." + +The officers were too much accustomed to sudden changes in command to +see anything odd in this turn of affairs. Lermontoff spoke with a +quiet dignity that was very convincing, and the language he used was +that of the nobility. The two officers handed him their swords without +a word of protest. + +"I must ask you whether you have yet received your winter supply of +food." + +"Oh, yes," said the senior officer, "we had that nearly a month ago." + +"Is it stored in the military portion of the rock, or below here?" + +"Our rations are packed away in a room upstairs." + +"I am sorry, gentlemen, that I must put you into cells until my +mission is accomplished. If you will write a requisition for such +rations as you are accustomed to receive, I shall see that you are +supplied. Meanwhile, write also an order to whomsoever you entrust in +command of the men during your absence, to grant no one leave to come +downstairs, and ask him to take care that each soldier is rigidly +restricted to the minimum quantity of vodka." + +The senior officer sat down at the table, and wrote the two orders. +The men were then placed in adjoining cells, without the thought of +resistance even occurring to them. They supposed there had been some +changes at headquarters, and were rather relieved to have the +assurance of the Prince that their arrest would prove temporary. +Further investigation showed that there would be no danger of +starvation for six months at least. + +Next day Jack, at great risk of his neck, scaled to the apex of the +island, as he had thought of flying, if possible, a signal of distress +that might attract some passing vessel. But even though he reached the +sharp ridge, he saw at once that no pole could be erected there, not +even if he possessed one. The wind aloft was terrific, and he gazed +around him at an empty sea. + +When four days had passed they began to look for the Russian relief +boat, which they knew would set out the moment the Governor's telegram +reached St. Petersburg. + +On the fifth day Jack shouted down to Drummond, who was standing by +the door. + +"The Russian is coming: heading direct for us. She's in a hurry, too, +crowding on all steam, and eating up the distance like a torpedo-boat +destroyer. I think it's a cruiser. It's not the old tub I came on, +anyway." + +"Come down, then," answered Alan, "and we--" + +A cry from above interrupted him. Jack, having at first glance spied +the vessel whose description he had shouted to Drummond, had now +turned his eyes eastward and stood staring aghast toward the sunrise. + +"What's the matter?" asked Alan. + +"Matter?" echoed Jack. "They must be sending the whole Russian Navy +here in detachments to capture our unworthy selves. There's a second +boat coming from the east-- nearer by two miles than the yacht. If I +hadn't been all taken up with the other from the moment I climbed here +I'd have seen her before." + +"Is she a yacht, too?" + +"No. Looks like a passenger tramp. Dirty and--" + +"Merchantman, maybe." + +"No. She's got guns on her--" + +"Merchantman fitted out for privateersman, probably. That's the sort +of craft Russia would be likeliest to send to a secret prison like +this. What flag does--" + +"No flag at all. Neither of them. They're both making for the rock, +full steam, and from opposite sides. Neither can see the other, I +suppose. I--" + +"From opposite sides? That doesn't look like a joint expedition. One +of those ships isn't Russian. But which?" + +Jack had clambered down and stood by Alan's side. + +"We must make ready for defense in either case," he said. "In a few +minutes we'll be able to see them both from the platform below." + +"One of those boats means to blow us out of existence if it can," +mused Jack. "The other cannot know of our existence. And yet, if she +doesn't, what is she doing here, headed for the rock?" + +With that Jack scrambled, slid and jumped down. Drummond was very +quiet and serious. Repeating rifles stood in a row on the opposite +wall, easy to get at, but as far off as might be from the effects of a +possible shell. The two young men now mounted the stone bench by the +door, which allowed them to look over the ledge at the eastern sea. +Presently the craft appeared round the end of the island, pure white, +floating like a swan on the water, and making great headway. + +"By Jove!" said Jack, "she's a fine one. Looks like the Czar's yacht, +but no Russian vessel I know of can make that speed." + +"She's got the ear-marks of Thornycroft build about her," commented +Drummond. "By Jove, Jack, what luck if she should prove to be English. +No flag flying, though." + +"She's heading for us," said Jack, "and apparently she knows which +side the cannon is on. If she's Russian, they've taken it for granted +we've captured the whole place, and are in command of the guns. There, +she's turning." + +The steamer was abreast of the rock, and perhaps three miles distant. +Now she swept a long, graceful curve westward and drew up about half a +mile east of the rock. + +"Jove, I wish I'd a pair of good glasses," said Drummond. "They're +lowering a boat." + +Jack showed more Highland excitement than Russian stolidity, as he +watched the oncoming of a small boat, beautifully riding the waves, +and masterfully rowed by sailors who understood the art. Drummond +stood imperturbable as a statue. + +"The sweep of those oars is English, Jack, my boy." + +As the boat came nearer and nearer Jack became more and more agitated. + +"I say, Alan, focus your eyes on that man at the rudder. I think my +sight's failing me. Look closely. Did you ever see him before?" + +"I think I have, but am not quite sure." + +"Why, he looks to me like my jovial and venerable father-in-law, +Captain Kempt, of Bar Harbor. Perfectly absurd, of course: it can't +be." + +"He does resemble the Captain, but I only saw him once or twice." + +"Hooray, Captain Kempt, how are you?" shouted Jack across the waters. + +The Captain raised his right hand and waved it, but made no attempt to +cover the distance with his voice. Jack ran pell-mell down the steps, +and Drummond followed in more leisurely fashion. The boat swung round +to the landing, and Captain Kempt cried cordially: + +"Hello, Prince, how are you? And that's Lieutenant Drummond, isn't it? +Last time I had the pleasure of seeing you, Drummond, was that night +of the ball." + +"Yes," said Drummond. "I was very glad to see you then, but a hundred +times happier to see you to-day." + +"I was just cruising round these waters in my yacht, and I thought I'd +take a look at this rock you tried to obliterate. I don't see any +perceptible damage done, but what can you expect from British +marksmanship?" + +"I struck the rock on the other side, Captain. I think your remark is +unkind, especially as I've just been praising the watermanship of your +men." + +"Now, are you boys tired of this summer resort?" asked Captain Kempt. +"Is your baggage checked, and are you ready to go? Most seaside places +are deserted this time of year." + +"We'll be ready in a moment, captain," cried his future son-in-law. "I +must run up and get the Governor. We've put a number of men in prison +here, and they'll starve if not released. The Governor's a good old +chap, though he played it low down on me a few days ago," and with +that Jack disappeared up the stairway once more. + +"Had a gaol-delivery here?" asked the Captain. + +"Well, something by way of that. The Prince drilled a hole in the +rock, and we got out. We've put the garrison in pawn, so to speak, but +I've been mighty anxious these last few days because the sail-boat +they had here, and two of the garrison, escaped to the mainland with +the news. We were anxiously watching your yacht, fearing it was +Russian. Jack thought it was the Czar's yacht. How came you by such a +craft, Captain? Splendid-looking boat that." + +"Oh, yes, I bought her a few days before I left New York. One likes to +travel comfortably, you know. Very well fitted up she is." + +Jack shouted from the doorway: + +"Drummond, come up here and fling overboard these loaded rifles. We +can't take any more chances. I'm going to lock up the ammunition room +and take the key with me as a souvenir." + +"Excuse me, Captain," said Drummond, who followed his friend, and +presently bundles of rifles came clattering down the side of the +precipice, plunging into the sea. The two then descended the steps, +Jack in front, Drummond following with the Governor between them. + +"Now, Governor," said Jack, "for the second time I am to bid you +farewell. Here are the keys. If you accept them you must give me your +word of honor that the boat will not be fired upon. If you do not +promise that, I'll drop the bunch into the sea, and on your gray head +be the consequences." + +"I give you my word of honor that you shall not be fired upon." + +"Very well, Governor. Here are the keys, and good-by." + +In the flurry of excitement over the yacht's appearance, both Jack and +Drummond had temporarily forgotten the existence of the tramp steamer +the former had seen beating toward the rock. + +Now Lamont suddenly recalled it. + +"By the way, Governor," he said, "the relief boat you so thoughtfully +sent for is on her way here. She should reach the rock at almost any +minute now. In fact, I fancy we've little time to waste if we want to +avoid a brush. It would be a pity to be nabbed now at the eleventh +hour. Good-by, once more." + +But the Governor had stepped between him and the boat. + +"I-- I am an old man," he said, speaking with manifest embarrassment. +"I was sent to take charge of this prison as punishment for refusing +to join a Jew massacre plot. Governorship here means no more nor less +than a life imprisonment. My wife and children are on a little estate +of mine in Sweden. It is twelve years since I have seen them. I--" + +"If this story is a ruse to detain us--" + +"No! No!" protested the Governor, and there was no mistaking his +pathetic, eager sincerity. "But-- but I shall be shot-- or locked in +one of the cells and the water turned on-- for letting you escape. +Won't you take me with you? I will work my passage. Take me as far as +Stockholm. I shall be free there-- free to join my wife and to live +forever out of reach of the Grand Dukes. Take me--" + +"Jump in!" ordered Jack, coming to a sudden resolution. "Heaven knows +I would not condemn my worst enemy to a perpetual life on this rock. +And you've been pretty decent to us, according to your lights. Jump +aboard, we've no time to waste." + +Nor did the Governor waste time in obeying. The others followed, and +the boat shoved off. But scarcely had the oars caught the water when +around the promontory came a large man-o'-war's launch, a rapid-fire +gun mounted on her bows. She was manned by about twenty men in Russian +police uniform. + +"From the 'tramp,'" commented Alan excitedly. "And her gun is trained +on us." + +"Get down to work!" shouted Jack to the straining oarsmen. + +"No use!" groaned Kempt. "She'll cross within a hundred yards of us. +There's no missing at such close range and on such a quiet sea. What a +fool I was to--" + +The launch was, indeed, bearing down on them despite the rowers' best +efforts, and must unquestionably cut them off before they could reach +the yacht. + +Alan drew his revolver. + +"We've no earthly show against her," he remarked quietly, "and it +seems hard to 'go down in sight of port.' But let's do what we can." + +"Put up that pop-gun," ordered Kempt. "She will sink us long before +you're in range for revolver work. I'll run up my handkerchief for a +white flag." + +"To surrender?" + +"What else can we do?" + +"And be lugged back to the rock, all of us? Not I, for one!" + +The launch was now within hailing distance, and every man aboard her +was glaring at the helpless little yacht-gig. + +"Wait!" + +It was the Governor who spoke. Rising from his seat in the stern, he +hailed the officer who was sighting the rapid-fire gun. + +"Lieutenant Tschersky!" he called. + +At sight of the old man's lean, uniformed figure, rising from among +the rest, there was visible excitement and surprise aboard the launch. +The officer saluted and ordered the engine stopped that he might hear +more plainly. + +"Lieutenant," repeated the Governor, "I am summoned aboard His +Highness the Grand Duke Vladimir's yacht. You will proceed to the +harbor and await my return to the rock. There has been a mutiny among +the garrison, but I have quelled it." + +The officer saluted again, gave an order, and the launch's nose +pointed for the rock. + +"Governor," observed Lamont, as the old man sank again into his seat, +"you've earned your passage to Stockholm. You need not work for it." + + CHAPTER XXI + + THE ELOPEMENT + +THE girls on the yacht had no expectation that Captain Kempt would +come back with the two young men. But when, through their powerful +binoculars, the girls became aware that Drummond and the Prince were +in the small boat, they both fled to the chief saloon, and sat there +holding one another's hands. Even the exuberant Kate for once had +nothing to say. She heard the voice of her father on deck, giving +command to the mate. + +"Make for Stockholm, Johnson. Take my men-o'-war's men-- see that no +one else touches the ammunition-- and fling the shells overboard. +Heave the gun after them, and then clear out the rifles and ammunition +the same way. When we reach Stockholm to-morrow morning, there must +not be a gun on board this ship, and the ridiculous rumor that got +abroad among your men that we were going to attack something or other, +you will see is entirely unfounded. You impress that on them, +Johnson." + +"Oh, Dorothy," whispered Katherine, drawing a deep breath. "If you are +as frightened as I am, get behind me." + +"I think I will," answered Dorothy, and each squeezed the other's +hand. + +"I tell you what it is, Captain," sounded the confident voice of the +Prince. "This vessel is a beauty. You have done yourself fine. I had +no idea you were such a sybarite. Why, I've been aboard the Czar's +yacht, and I tell you it's nothing-- Great heavens! Katherine!" he +shouted, in a voice that made the ceiling ring. + +She was now standing up and advanced toward him with both hands held +out, a welcoming smile on her pretty lips, but he swooped down on her, +flung his arms round her like a cabman beating warmth into his hands, +kissed her on the brow, the two cheeks and the lips, swaying her back +and forward as if about to fling her upstairs. + +"Stop, stop," she cried. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Before my +father, too! You great Russian bear!" and, breathless, she put her +open palm against his face, and shoved his head away from her. + +"Don't bother about me, Kate," said her father. "That's nothing to the +way we acted when I was young. Come on, boys, to the smoking-room, and +I'll mix you something good: real Kentucky, twenty-seven years in +barrel, and I've got all the other materials for a Manhattan." + +"Jack, I am glad to see you," panted Katherine, all in disarray, which +she endeavored to set right by an agitated touch here and there. "Now, +Jack, I'm going to take you to the smoking-room, but you'll have to +behave yourself as you walk along the deck. I won't be made a +spectacle of before the crew." + +"Come along, Drummond," said the Captain, "and bring Miss Dorothy with +you." + +But Drummond stood in front of Dorothy Amhurst, and held out his hand. + +"You haven't forgotten me, Miss Amhurst, I hope?" + +"Oh, no," she replied, with a very faint smile, taking his hand. + +"It seems incredible that you are here," he began. "What a lucky man I +am. Captain Kempt takes his yacht to rescue his son-in-law that is to +be, and incidentally rescues me as well, and then to find you here! I +suppose you came because your friend Miss Kempt was aboard?" + +"Yes, we are all but inseparable." + +"I wrote you a letter, Miss Amhurst, the last night I was in St. +Petersburg in the summer." + +"Yes, I received it." + +"No, not this one. It was the night I was captured, and I never got a +chance to post it. It was an important letter-- for me." + +"I thought it important-- for me," replied Dorothy, now smiling quite +openly. "The Nihilists got it, searching your room after you had been +arrested. It was sent on to New York, and given to me." + +"Is that possible? How did they know it was for you?" + +"I had been making inquiries through the Nihilists." + +"I wrote you a proposal of marriage, Dorothy." + +"It certainly read like it, but you see it wasn't signed, and you +can't be held to it." + +He reached across the table, and grasped her two hands. + +"Dorothy, Dorothy," he cried, "do you mean you would have cabled +'Yes'?" + +"No." + +"You would not?" + +"Of course not. I should have cabled 'Undecided.' One gets more for +one's money in sending a long word. Then I should have written--" she +paused, and he cried eagerly: + +"What?" + +"What do you think?" she asked. + +"Well, do you know, Dorothy, I am beginning to think my incredible +luck will hold, and that you'd have written 'Yes.'" + +"I don't know about the luck: that would have been the answer." + +He sprang up, bent over her, and she, quite unaffectedly raised her +face to his. + +"Oh, Dorothy," he cried. + +"Oh, Alan," she replied, with quivering voice, "I never thought to see +you again. You cannot imagine the long agony of this voyage, and not +knowing what had happened." + +"It's a blessing, Dorothy, you had learned nothing about the +Trogzmondoff." + +"Ah, but I did: that's what frightened me. We have a man on board who +was flung for dead from that dreadful rock. The Baltic saved him; his +mother, he calls it." + +Drummond picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the luxurious +divan which ran along the side of the large room. There they sat down +together, out of sight of the stairway. + +"Did you get all of my letters?" + +"I think so." + +"You know I am a poor man?" + +"I know you said so." + +"Don't you consider my position poverty? I thought every one over +there had a contempt for an income that didn't run into tens of +thousands." + +"I told you, Alan, I had been unused to money, and so your income +appears to me quite sufficient." + +"Then you are not afraid to trust in my future?" + +"Not the least: I believe in you." + +"Oh, you dear girl. If you knew how sweet that sounds! Then I may tell +you. When I was in London last I ran down to Dartmouth in Devonshire. +I shall be stationed there. You see, I have finished my foreign +cruising, and Dartmouth is, for a time at least, to be my home. +There's a fine harbor there, green hills and a beautiful river running +between them, and I found such a lovely old house; not grand at all, +you know, but so cosey and comfortable, standing on the heights +overlooking the harbor, in an old garden filled with roses, shrubs, +and every kind of flower; vines clambering about the ancient house. +Two servants would keep it going like a shot. Dorothy, what do you +say?" + +Dorothy laughed quietly and whole heartedly. + +"It reads like a bit from an old English romance. I'd just love to see +such a house." + +"You don't care for this sort of thing, do you?" he asked, glancing +round about him. + +"What sort of thing?" + +"This yacht, these silk pannellings, these gorgeous pictures, the +carving, the gilt, the horribly expensive carpet." + +"You mean should I feel it necessary to be surrounded by such luxury? +I answer most emphatically, no. I like your ivy-covered house at +Dartmouth much better." + +For a moment neither said anything: lips cannot speak when pressed +together. + +"Now, Dorothy, I want you to elope with me. We will be in Stockholm +long before daylight to-morrow at the rate this boat is going. I'll +get ashore as soon as practicable, and make all inquiries at the +consulate about being married. I don't know what the regulations are, +but if it is possible to be married quietly, say in the afternoon, +will you consent to that, and then write a letter to Captain Kempt, +thanking him for the trip on the yacht, and I'll write, thanking him +for all he has done for me, and after that we'll make for England +together. I've got a letter of credit in my pocket, which luckily the +Russians did not take from me. I shall find all the money we need at +Stockholm, then we'll cross the Swedish country, sail to Denmark, make +our way through Germany to Paris, if you like, or to London. We shan't +travel all the time, but just take nice little day trips, stopping at +some quaint old town every afternoon and evening." + +"You mean to let Captain Kempt, Katherine, and the Prince go to +America alone?" + +"Of course. Why not? They don't want us, and I'm quite sure we-- well, +Dorothy, we'd be delighted to have them, to be sure-- but still, I've +knocked a good deal about Europe, and there are some delightful old +towns I'd like to show you, and I hate traveling with a party." + +Dorothy laughed so heartily that her head sank on his shoulder. + +"Yes, I'll do that," she said at last. + +And they did. + + THE END + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + +This file should be named rbalt10.txt or rbalt10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, rbalt11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, rbalt10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/2004-01-rbalt10.zip b/old/2004-01-rbalt10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b201d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2004-01-rbalt10.zip diff --git a/old/2004-01-rbalt10h.htm b/old/2004-01-rbalt10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb95039 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2004-01-rbalt10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7262 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>A Rock in the Baltic</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + + +<pre>The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock in the Baltic, by Robert Barr + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Rock in the Baltic + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4982] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 7, 2002] +[Date last updated: November 14, 2004] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +</pre> + + +<h1>A Rock in the Baltic</h1> +<h2>by Robert Barr, 1906</h2> + <HR> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<h4>THE INCIDENT AT THE BANK</h4> +<P> +IN the public room of the Sixth National Bank at Bar Harbor in Maine, Lieutenant +Alan Drummond, H.M.S. "Consternation," stood aside to give precedence to +a lady. The Lieutenant had visited the bank for the purpose of changing several +crisp white Bank of England notes into the currency of the country he was +then visiting. The lady did not appear to notice either his courtesy or his +presence, and this was the more remarkable since Drummond was a young man +sufficiently conspicuous even in a crowd, and he and she were, at that moment, +the only customers in the bank. He was tall, well-knit and stalwart, blond +as a Scandinavian, with dark blue eyes which he sometimes said jocularly +were the colors of his university. He had been slowly approaching the cashier's +window with the easy movement of a man never in a hurry, when the girl appeared +at the door, and advanced rapidly to the bank counter with its brass wire +screen surrounding the arched aperture behind which stood the cashier. Although +very plainly attired, her gown nevertheless possessed a charm of simplicity +that almost suggested complex Paris, and she wore it with that air of distinction +the secret of which is supposed to be the exclusive property of French and +American women. +<P> +The young man saw nothing of this, and although he appreciated the beauty +of the girl, what struck him at that instant was the expression of anxiety +on her face, whose apparently temporary pallor was accentuated by an abundance +of dark hair. It seemed to him that she had resolutely set herself a task +which she was most reluctant to perform. From the moment she entered the +door her large, dark eyes were fixed almost appealingly on the cashier, and +they beheld nothing else. Drummond, mentally slow as he usually was, came +to the quick conclusion that this was a supreme moment in her life, on which +perhaps great issues depended. He saw her left hand grasp the corner of the +ledge in front of the cashier with a grip of nervous tension, as if the support +thus attained was necessary to her. Her right hand trembled slightly as she +passed an oblong slip of paper through the aperture to the calm and indifferent +official. +<P> +"Will you give me the money for this check?" she asked in a low voice. +<P> +The cashier scrutinized the document for some time in silence. The signature +appeared unfamiliar to him. +<P> +"One moment, madam," he said quietly, and retired to a desk in the back part +of the bank, where he opened a huge book, turned over some leaves rapidly, +and ran his finger down a page. His dilatory action seemed to increase the +young woman's panic. Her pallor increased, and she swayed slightly, as if +in danger of falling, but brought her right hand to the assistance of the +left, and so steadied herself against the ledge of the cashier's counter. +<P> +"By Jove!" said the Lieutenant to himself, "there's something wrong here. +I wonder what it is. Such a pretty girl, too!" +<P> +The cashier behind his screen saw nothing of this play of the emotions. He +returned nonchalantly to his station, and asked, in commonplace tones: +<P> +"How will you have the money, madam?" +<P> +"Gold, if you please," she replied almost in a whisper, a rosy flush chasing +the whiteness from her face, while a deep sigh marked the passing of a crisis. +<P> +At this juncture an extraordinary thing happened. The cashier counted out +some golden coins, and passed them through the aperture toward their new +owner. +<P> +"Thank you," said the girl. Then, without touching the money, she turned +like one hypnotized, her unseeing eyes still taking no heed of the big +Lieutenant, and passed rapidly out of the bank, The cashier paid no regard +to this abandonment of treasure. He was writing some hieroglyphics on the +cashed check. +<P> +"By Jove!" gasped the Lieutenant aloud, springing forward as he spoke, sweeping +the coins into his hand, and bolting for the door. This was an action which +would have awakened the most negligent cashier had he been in a trance. +Automatically he whisked out a revolver which lay in an open drawer under +his hand. +<P> +"Stop, you scoundrel, or I fire!" he shouted, but the Lieutenant had already +disappeared. Quick as thought the cashier darted into the passage, and without +waiting to unfasten the low door which separated the public and private rooms +of the bank, leaped over it, and, bareheaded, gave chase. A British naval +officer in uniform, rapidly overtaking a young woman, quite unconscious of +his approach, followed by an excited, bareheaded man with a revolver in his +grasp, was a sight which would quickly have collected a crowd almost anywhere, +but it happened to be the lunch hour, and the inhabitants of that famous +summer resort were in-doors; thus, fortunately, the street was deserted. +The naval officer was there because the hour of the midday meal on board +the cruiser did not coincide with lunch time on shore. The girl was there +because it happened to be the only portion of the day when she could withdraw +unobserved from the house in which she lived, during banking hours, to try +her little agitating financial experiment. The cashier was there because +the bank had no lunch hour, and because he had just witnessed the most suspicious +circumstance that his constantly alert eye had ever beheld. Calm and +imperturbable as a bank cashier may appear to the outside public, he is a +man under constant strain during business hours. Each person with whom he +is unacquainted that confronts him at his post is a possible robber who at +any moment may attempt, either by violence or chicanery, to filch the treasure +he guards. The happening of any event outside the usual routine at once arouses +a cashier's distrust, and this sudden flight of a stranger with money which +did not belong to him quite justified the perturbation of the cashier. From +that point onward, innocence of conduct or explanation so explicit as to +satisfy any ordinary man, becomes evidence of more subtle guilt to the mind +of a bank official. The ordinary citizen, seeing the Lieutenant finally overtake +and accost the hurrying girl, raise his cap, then pour into her outstretched +hand the gold he had taken, would have known at once that here was an every-day +exercise of natural politeness. Not so the cashier. The farther he got from +the bank, the more poignantly did he realize that these two in front, both +strangers to him, had, by their combined action, lured him, pistol and all, +away from his post during the dullest hour of the day. It was not the decamping +with those few pieces of gold which now troubled him: it was fear of what +might be going on behind him. He was positive that these two had acted in +conjunction. The uniform worn by the man did not impose upon him. Any thief +could easily come by a uniform, and, as his mind glanced rapidly backwards +over the various points of the scheme, he saw how effectual the plan was: +first, the incredible remissness of the woman in leaving her gold on the +counter; second, the impetuous disappearance of the man with the money; and, +third, his own heedless plunge into the street after them. He saw the whole +plot in a flash: he had literally leaped into the trap, and during his five +or ten minutes' absence, the accomplices of the pair might have overawed +the unarmed clerks, and walked off with the treasure. His cash drawer was +unlocked, and even the big safe stood wide open. Surprise had as effectually +lured him away as if he had been a country bumpkin. Bitterly and breathlessly +did he curse his own precipitancy. His duty was to guard the bank, yet it +had not been the bank that was robbed, but, at best a careless woman who +had failed to pick up her money. He held the check for it, and the loss, +if any, was hers, not the bank's, yet here he was, running bareheaded down +the street like a fool, and now those two stood quite calmly together, he +handing her the money, and thus spreading a mantle of innocence over the +vile trick. But whatever was happening in the bank, he would secure two of +the culprits at least. The two, quite oblivious of the danger that threatened +them, were somewhat startled by a panting man, trembling with rage, bareheaded, +and flourishing a deadly weapon, sweeping down upon them. +<P> +"Come back to the bank instantly, you two!" he shouted. +<P> +"Why?" asked the Lieutenant in a quiet voice. +<P> +"Because I say so, for one thing." +<P> +"That reason is unanswerable," replied the Lieutenant with a slight laugh, +which further exasperated his opponent. "I think you are exciting yourself +unnecessarily. May I beg you to put that pistol in your pocket? On the cruiser +we always cover up the guns when ladies honor us with their presence. You +wish me to return because I had no authority for taking the money? Right: +come along." +<P> +The cashier regarded this as bluff, and an attempt to give the woman opportunity +to escape. +<P> +"You must come back also," he said to the girl. +<P> +"I'd rather not," she pleaded in a low voice, and it was hardly possible +to have made a more injudicious remark if she had taken the whole afternoon +to prepare. +<P> +Renewed determination shone from the face of the cashier. +<P> +"You must come back to the bank," he reiterated. +<P> +"Oh, I say," protested the Lieutenant, "you are now exceeding your authority. +I alone am the culprit. The young lady is quite blameless, and you have no +right to detain her for a moment." +<P> +The girl, who had been edging away and showing signs of flight, which the +bareheaded man, visibly on the alert, leaned forward ready to intercept, +seemed to make up her mind to bow to the inevitable. Ignoring the cashier, +she looked up at the blond Lieutenant with a slight smile on her pretty lips. +<P> +"It was really all my fault at the beginning," she said, "and very stupid +of me. I am slightly acquainted with the bank manager, and I am sure he will +vouch for me, if he is there." +<P> +With that she turned and walked briskly toward the bank, at so rapid a pace +as to indicate that she did not wish an escort. The bareheaded official found +his anger unaccountably deserting him, while a great fear that he had put +his foot in it took its place. +<P> +"Really," said the Lieutenant gently, as they strode along together, "an +official in your position should be a good judge of human nature. How any +sane person, especially a young man, can look at that beautiful girl and +suspect her of evil, passes my comprehension. Do you know her?" +<P> +"No," said the cashier shortly. "Do you?" +<P> +The Lieutenant laughed genially. +<P> +"Still suspicious, eh?" he asked. "No, I don't know her, but to use a banking +term, you may bet your bottom dollar I'm going to. Indeed, I am rather grateful +to you for your stubbornness in forcing us to return. It's a quality I like, +and you possess it in marvelous development, so I intend to stand by you +when the managerial censure is due. I'm very certain I met your manager at +the dinner they gave us last night. Mr. Morton, isn't he?" +<P> +"Yes," growled the cashier, in gruff despondency. +<P> +"Ah, that's awfully jolly. One of the finest fellows I've met in ten years. +Now, the lady said she was acquainted with him, so if I don't wheedle an +introduction out of him, it will show that a man at a dinner and a man in +a bank are two different individuals. You were looking for plots; so there +is mine laid bare to you. It's an introduction, not gold, I'm conspiring +for." +<P> +The cashier had nothing further to say. When they entered the bank together +he saw the clerks all busily at work, and knew that no startling event had +happened during his absence. The girl had gone direct to the manager's room, +and thither the young men followed her. The bank manager was standing at +his desk, trying to preserve a severe financial cast of countenance, which +the twinkle in his eyes belied. The girl, also standing, had evidently been +giving him a rapid sketch of what had occurred, but now fell into silence +when accuser and accomplice appeared. +<P> +The advent of the Englishman was a godsend to the manager. He was too courteous +a gentleman to laugh in the face of a lady who very seriously was relating +a set of incidents which appealed to his sense of humor, so the coming of +the Lieutenant enabled him to switch off his mirth on another subject, and +in reply to the officer's cordial "Good-morning, Mr. Morton," he replied: +<P> +"Why, Lieutenant, I'm delighted to see you. That was a very jolly song you +sang for us last night: I'll never forget it. What do you call it? Whittington +Fair?" And he laughed outright, as at a genial recollection. +<P> +The Lieutenant blushed red as a girl, and stammered: +<P> +"Really, Mr. Morton, you know, that's not according to the rules of evidence. +When a fellow comes up for trial, previous convictions are never allowed +to be mentioned till after the sentence. Whiddicomb Fair should not be held +against me in the present crisis." +<P> +The manager chuckled gleefully. The cashier, when he saw how the land lay, +had quietly withdrawn, closing the door behind him. +<P> +"Well, Lieutenant, I think I must have this incident cabled to Europe," said +Morton, "so the effete nations of your continent may know that a plain bank +cashier isn't afraid to tackle the British navy. Indeed, Mr. Drummond, if +you read history, you will learn that this is a dangerous coast for your +warships. It seems rather inhospitable that a guest of our town cannot pick +all the gold he wants out of a bank, but a cashier has necessarily somewhat +narrow views on the subject. I was just about to apologize to Miss Amhurst, +who is a valued client of ours, when you came in, and I hope, Miss Amhurst"— he +continued gravely, turning to the girl— "that you will excuse us for the +inconvenience to which you have been put." +<P> +"Oh, it does not matter in the least," replied the young woman, with nevertheless +a sigh of relief. "It was all my own fault in so carelessly leaving the money. +Some time, when less in a hurry than I am at the present moment, I will tell +you how I came to make the blunder." +<P> +Meanwhile the manager caught and interpreted correctly an imploring look +from the Lieutenant. +<P> +"Before you go, Miss Amhurst, will you permit me to introduce to you my friend, +Lieutenant Drummond, of H.M.S. 'Consternation.'" +<P> +This ritual to convention being performed, the expression on the girl's face +showed the renewal of her anxiety to be gone, and as she turned to the door, +the officer sprang forward and opened it for her. If the manager expected +the young man to return, he was disappointed, for Drummond threw over his +shoulder the hasty remark: +<P> +"I will see you at the Club this evening," whereupon the genial Morton, finding +himself deserted, sat down in his swivel chair and laughed quietly to himself. +<P> +There was the slightest possible shade of annoyance on the girl's face as +the sailor walked beside her from the door of the manager's room, through +the public portion of the bank to the exit, and the young man noticing this, +became momentarily tongue-tied, but nevertheless persisted, with a certain +awkward doggedness which was not going to allow so slight a hint that his +further attendance was unnecessary, to baffle him. He did not speak until +they had passed down the stone steps to the pavement, and then his utterance +began with a half-embarrassed stammer, as if the shadow of displeasure demanded +justification on his part. +<P> +"You— you see, Miss Amhurst, we have been properly introduced." +<P> +For the first time he heard the girl laugh, just a little, and the sound +was very musical to him. +<P> +"The introduction was of the slightest," she said. "I cannot claim even an +acquaintance with Mr. Morton, although I did so in the presence of his persistent +subordinate. I have met the manager of the bank but once before, and that +for a few moments only, when he showed me where to sign my name in a big +book." +<P> +"Nevertheless," urged Drummond, "I shall defend the validity of that introduction +against all comers. The head of a bank is a most important man in every country, +and his commendation is really very much sought after." +<P> +"You appear to possess it. He complimented your singing, you know," and there +was a roguish twinkle in the girl's eye as she glanced up sideways at him, +while a smile came to her lips as she saw the color again mount to his cheeks. +She had never before met a man who blushed, and she could not help regarding +him rather as a big boy than a person to be taken seriously. His stammer +became more pronounced. +<P> +"I— I think you are laughing at me, Miss Amhurst, and indeed I don't wonder +at it, and I— I am afraid you consider me even more persistent than the cashier. +But I did want to tell you how sorry I am to have caused you annoyance." +<P> +"Oh, you have not done so," replied the girl quickly. "As I said before, +it was all my own fault in the beginning." +<P> +"No, I shouldn't have taken the gold. I should have come up with you, and +told you that it still awaited you in the bank, and now I beg your permission +to walk down the street with you, because if any one were looking at us from +these windows, and saw us pursued by a bareheaded man with a revolver, they +will now, on looking out again, learn that it is all right, and may even +come to regard the revolver and the hatless one as an optical delusion." +<P> +Again the girl laughed. +<P> +"I am quite unknown in Bar Harbor, having fewer acquaintances than even a +stranger like yourself, therefore so far as I am concerned it does not in +the least matter whether any one saw us or not. We shall walk together, then, +as far as the spot where the cashier overtook us, and this will give me an +opportunity of explaining, if not of excusing, my leaving the money on the +counter. I am sure my conduct must have appeared inexplicable both to you +and the cashier, although, of course, you would be too polite to say so." +<P> +"I assure you, Miss Amhurst—" +<P> +"I know what you would say," she interrupted, with a vivacity which had not +heretofore characterized her, "but, you see, the distance to the corner is +short, and, as I am in a hurry, if you don't wish my story to be continued +in our next—" +<P> +"Ah, if there is to be a next—" murmured the young man so fervently that +it was now the turn of color to redden her cheeks. +<P> +"I am talking heedlessly," she said quickly. "What I want to say is this: +I have never had much money. Quite recently I inherited what had been accumulated +by a relative whom I never knew. It seemed so incredible, so strange— well, +it seems incredible and strange yet— and I have been expecting to wake and +find it all a dream. Indeed, when you overtook me at this spot where we now +stand, I feared you had come to tell me it was a mistake; to hurl me from +the clouds to the hard earth again." +<P> +"But it was just the reverse of that," he cried eagerly. "Just the reverse, +remember. I came to confirm your dream, and you received from my hand the +first of your fortune." +<P> +"Yes," she admitted, her eyes fixed on the sidewalk. +<P> +"I see how it was," he continued enthusiastically. "I suppose you had never +drawn a check before." +<P> +"Never," she conceded. +<P> +"And this was merely a test. You set up your dream against the hard common +sense of a bank, which has no dreams. You were to transform your vision into +the actual, or find it vanish. When the commonplace cashier passed forth +the coin, their jingle said to you, 'The supposed phantasy is real,' but +the gold pieces themselves at that supreme moment meant no more to you than +so many worthless counters, so you turned your back upon them." +<P> +She looked up at him, her eyes, though moist, illumined with pleasure inspired +by the sympathy in his tones rather than the import of his words. The girl's +life heretofore had been as scant of kindness as of cash, and there was a +deep sincerity in his voice which was as refreshing to her lonesome heart +as it was new to her experience. This man was not so stupid as he had pretended +to be. He had accurately divined the inner meaning of what had happened. +She had forgotten the necessity for haste which had been so importunate a +few minutes before. +<P> +"You must be a mind-reader," she said. +<P> +"No, I am not at all a clever person," he laughed. "Indeed, as I told you, +I am always blundering into trouble, and making things uncomfortable for +my friends. I regret to say I am rather under a cloud just now in the service, +and I have been called upon to endure the frown of my superiors." +<P> +"Why, what has happened?" she asked. After their temporary halt at the corner +where they had been overtaken, they now strolled along together like old +friends, her prohibition out of mind. +<P> +"Well, you see, I was temporarily in command of the cruiser coming down the +Baltic, and passing an island rock a few miles away, I thought it would be +a good opportunity to test a new gun that had been put aboard when we left +England. The sea was very calm, and the rock most temptsome. Of course I +knew it was Russian territory, but who could have imagined that such a point +in space was inhabited by anything else than sea-gulls." +<P> +"What!" cried the girl, looking up at him with new interest. "You don't mean +to say you are the officer that Russia demanded from England, and England +refused to give up?" +<P> +"Oh, England could not give me up, of course, but she apologized, and assured +Russia she had no evil intent. Still, anything that sets the diplomatists +at work is frowned upon, and the man who does an act which his government +is forced to disclaim becomes unpopular with his superiors." +<P> +"I read about it in the papers at the time. Didn't the rock fire back at +you?" +<P> +"Yes, it did, and no one could have been more surprised than I when I saw +the answering puff of smoke." +<P> +"How came a cannon to be there?" +<P> +"Nobody knows. I suppose that rock in the Baltic is a concealed fort, with +galleries and gun-rooms cut in the stone after the fashion of our defences +at Gibraltar. I told the court-martial that I had added a valuable bit of +information to our naval knowledge, but I don't suppose this contention exercised +any influence on the minds of my judges. I also called their attention to +the fact that my shell had hit, while the Russian shot fell half a mile short. +That remark nearly cost me my commission. A court-martial has no sense of +humor." +<P> +"I suppose everything is satisfactorily settled now?" +<P> +"Well, hardly that. You see, Continental nations are extremely suspicious +of Britain's good intentions, as indeed they are of the good intentions of +each other. No government likes to have— well, what we might call a 'frontier +incident' happen, and even if a country is quite in the right, it nevertheless +looks askance at any official of its own who, through his stupidity, brings +about an international complication. As concerns myself, I am rather under +a cloud, as I told you. The court-martial acquitted me, but it did so with +reluctance and a warning. I shall have to walk very straight for the next +year or two, and be careful not to stub my toe, for the eyes of the Admiralty +are upon me. However, I think I can straighten this matter out. I have six +months' leave coming on shortly, which I intend to spend in St. Petersburg. +I shall make it my business to see privately some of the officials in the +Admiralty there, and when they realize by personal inspection what a +well-intentioned idiot I am, all distrust will vanish." +<P> +"I should do nothing of the kind," rejoined the girl earnestly, quite forgetting +the shortness of their acquaintance, as she had forgotten the flight of time, +while on his part he did not notice any incongruity in the situation. "I'd +leave well enough alone," she added. +<P> +"Why do you think that?" he asked. +<P> +"Your own country has investigated the matter, and has deliberately run the +risk of unpleasantness by refusing to give you up. How, then, can you go +there voluntarily? You would be acting in your private capacity directly +in opposition to the decision arrived at by your government." +<P> +"Technically, that is so; still, England would not hold the position she +does in the world to-day if her men had not often taken a course in their +private capacity which the government would never have sanctioned. As things +stand now, Russia has not insisted on her demand, but has sullenly accepted +England's decision, still quite convinced that my act was not only an invasion +of Russia's domain, but a deliberate insult; therefore the worst results +of an inconsiderate action on my part remain. If I could see the Minister +for Foreign Affairs, or the head of the Admiralty in St. Petersburg face +to face for ten minutes, I'd undertake to remove that impression." +<P> +"You have great faith in your persuasive powers," she said demurely. +<P> +The Lieutenant began to stammer again. +<P> +"No, no, it isn't so much that, but I have great faith in the Russian as +a judge of character. I suppose I am imagined to be a venomous, brow-beating, +truculent Russophobe, who has maliciously violated their territory, flinging +a shell into their ground and an insult into their face. They are quite sincere +in this belief. I want to remove that impression, and there's nothing like +an ocular demonstration. I like the Russians. One of my best friends is a +Russian." +<P> +The girl shook her head. +<P> +"I shouldn't attempt it," she persisted. "Suppose Russia arrested you, and +said to England, 'We've got this man in spite of you'?" +<P> +The Lieutenant laughed heartily. +<P> +"That is unthinkable: Russia wouldn't do such a thing. In spite of all that +is said about the Russian Government, its members are gentlemen. Of course, +if such a thing happened, there would be trouble. That is a point where we're +touchy. A very cheap Englishman, wrongfully detained, may cause a most expensive +campaign. Our diplomatists may act correctly enough, and yet leave a feeling +of resentment behind. Take this very case. Britain says coldly to Russia: +<P> +"'We disclaim the act, and apologize.' +<P> +"Now, it would be much more to the purpose if she said genially: +<P> +"'We have in our employment an impetuous young fool with a thirst for +information. He wished to learn how a new piece of ordnance would act, so +fired it off with no more intention of striking Russia than of hitting the +moon. He knows much more about dancing than about foreign affairs. We've +given him a month's leave, and he will slip across privately to St. Petersburg +to apologize and explain. The moment you see him you will recognize he is +no menace to the peace of nations. Meanwhile, if you can inculcate in him +some cold, calm common-sense before he returns, we'll be ever so much obliged.'" +<P> +"So you are determined to do what you think the government should have done." +<P> +"Oh, quite. There will be nothing frigidly official about my unauthorized +mission. I have a cousin in the embassy at St. Petersburg, but I shan't go +near him; neither shall I go to an hotel, but will get quiet rooms somewhere +that I may not run the risk of meeting any chance acquaintances." +<P> +"It seems to me you are about to afford the Russian Government an excellent +opportunity of spiriting you off to Siberia, and nobody would be the wiser." +<P> +Drummond indulged in the free-hearted laugh of a youth to whom life is still +rather a good joke. +<P> +"I shouldn't mind studying the Siberian system from the inside if they allowed +me to return before my leave was up. I believe that sort of thing has been +exaggerated by sensational writers. The Russian Government would not countenance +anything of the kind, and if the minor officials tried to play tricks, there's +always my cousin in the background, and it would be hard luck if I couldn't +get a line to him. Oh, there's no danger in my project!" +<P> +Suddenly the girl came to a standstill, and gave expression to a little cry +of dismay. +<P> +"What's wrong?" asked the Lieutenant. +<P> +"Why, we've walked clear out into the country!" +<P> +"Oh, is that all? I hadn't noticed." +<P> +"And there are people waiting for me. I must run." +<P> +"Nonsense, let them wait." +<P> +"I should have been back long since." +<P> +They had turned, and she was hurrying. +<P> +"Think of your new fortune, Miss Amhurst, safely lodged in our friend Morton's +bank, and don't hurry for any one." +<P> +"I didn't say it was a fortune: there's only ten thousand dollars there." +<P> +"That sounds formidable, but unless the people who are waiting for you muster +more than ten thousand apiece, I don't think you should make haste on their +account." +<P> +"It's the other way about, Mr. Drummond. Individually they are poorer than +I, therefore I should have returned long ago. Now, I fear, they will be in +a temper." +<P> +"Well, if anybody left me two thousand pounds, I'd take an afternoon off +to celebrate. Here we are in the suburbs again. Won't you change your mind +and your direction; let us get back into the country, sit down on the hillside, +look at the Bay, and gloat over your wealth?" +<P> +Dorothy Amhurst shook her head and held out her hand. +<P> +"I must bid you good-by here, Lieutenant Drummond. This is my shortest way +home." +<P> +"May I not accompany you just a little farther?" +<P> +"Please, no, I wish to go the rest of the way alone." +<P> +He held her hand, which she tried to withdraw, and spoke with animation. +<P> +"There's so much I wanted to say, but perhaps the most important is this: +I shall see you the night of the 14th, at the ball we are giving on the +'Consternation'?" +<P> +"It is very likely," laughed the girl, "unless you overlook me in the throng. +There will be a great mob. I hear you have issued many invitations." +<P> +"We hope all our friends will come. It's going to be a great function. Your +Secretary of the Navy has promised to look in on us, and our Ambassador from +Washington will be there. I assure you we are doing our best, with festooned +electric lights, hanging draperies, and all that, for we want to make the +occasion at least remotely worthy of the hospitality we have received. Of +course you have your card, but I wish you hadn't, so that I might have the +privilege of sending you one or more invitations." +<P> +"That would be quite unnecessary," said the girl, again with a slight laugh +and heightened color. +<P> +"If any of your friends need cards of invitation, won't you let me know, +so that I may send them to you?" +<P> +"I'm sure I shan't need any, but if I do, I promise to remember your kindness, +and apply." +<P> +"It will be a pleasure for me to serve you. With whom shall you come? I should +like to know the name, in case I should miss you in the crowd." +<P> +"I expect to be with Captain Kempt, of the United States Navy." +<P> +"Ah," said the Lieutenant, with a note of disappointment in his voice which +he had not the diplomacy to conceal. His hold of her hand relaxed, and she +took the opportunity to withdraw it. +<P> +"What sort of a man is Captain Kempt? I shall be on the lookout for him, +you know." +<P> +"I think he is the handsomest man I have ever seen, and I know he is the +kindest and most courteous." +<P> +"Really? A young man, I take it?" +<P> +"There speaks the conceit of youth," said Dorothy, smiling. "Captain Kempt, +U.S.N., retired. His youngest daughter is just two years older than myself." +<P> +"Oh, yes, Captain Kempt. I— I remember him now. He was at the dinner last +night, and sat beside our captain. What a splendid story-teller he is!" cried +the Lieutenant with honest enthusiasm. +<P> +"I shall tell him that, and ask him how he liked your song. Good-by," and +before the young man could collect his thoughts to make any reply, she was +gone. +<P> +Skimming lightly over the ground at first, she gradually slackened her pace, +and slowed down to a very sober walk until she came to a three-storied so-called +"cottage" overlooking the Bay, then with a sigh she opened the gate, and +went into the house by the servant's entrance. +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<h4>IN THE SEWING-ROOM</h4> +<P> +THREE women occupied the sewing-room with the splendid outlook: a mother +and her two daughters. The mother sat in a low rocking-chair, a picture of +mournful helplessness, her hands listlessly resting on her lap, while tears +had left their traces on her time-worn face. The elder daughter paced up +and down the room as striking an example of energy and impatience as was +the mother of despondency. Her comely brow was marred by an angry frown. +The younger daughter stood by the long window, her forehead resting against +the pane, while her fingers drummed idly on the window sill. Her gaze was +fixed on the blue Bay, where rested the huge British warship "Consternation," +surrounded by a section of the United States squadron seated like white swans +in the water. Sails of snow glistened here and there on the bosom of the +Bay, while motor-boats and what-not darted this way and that impudently among +the stately ships of the fleet. +<P> +In one corner of the room stood a sewing-machine, and on the long table were +piles of mimsy stuff out of which feminine creations are constructed. There +was no carpet on the floor, and no ceiling overhead; merely the bare rafters +and the boards that bore the pine shingles of the outer roof; yet this attic +was notable for the glorious view to be seen from its window. It was an ideal +workshop. +<P> +The elder girl, as she walked to and fro, spoke with nervous irritation in +her voice. +<P> +"There is absolutely no excuse, mamma, and it's weakness in you to pretend +that there may be. The woman has been gone for hours. There's her lunch on +the table which has never been tasted, and the servant brought it up at twelve." +<P> +She pointed to a tray on which were dishes whose cold contents bore out the +truth of her remark. +<P> +"Perhaps she's gone on strike," said the younger daughter, without removing +her eyes from H.M.S. "Consternation." "I shouldn't wonder if we went downstairs +again we'd find the house picketed to keep away blacklegs." +<P> +"Oh, you can always be depended on to talk frivolous nonsense," said her +elder sister scornfully. "It's the silly sentimental fashion in which both +you and father treat work-people that makes them so difficult to deal with. +If the working classes were taught their place—" +<P> +"Working classes! How you talk! Dorothy is as much a lady as we are, and +sometimes I think rather more of a lady than either of us. She is the daughter +of a clergyman." +<P> +"So she says," sniffed the elder girl. +<P> +"Well, she ought to know," replied the younger indifferently. +<P> +"It's people like you who spoil dependents in her position, with your Dorothy +this and Dorothy that. Her name is Amhurst." +<P> +"Christened Dorothy, as witness godfather and godmother," murmured the younger +without turning her head. +<P> +"I think," protested their mother meekly, as if to suggest a compromise, +and throw oil on the troubled waters, "that she is entitled to be called +<I>Miss</I> Amhurst, and treated with kindness but with reserve." +<P> +"Tush!" exclaimed the elder indignantly, indicating her rejection of the +compromise. +<P> +"I don't see," murmured the younger, "why you should storm, Sabina. You nagged +and nagged at her until she'd finished your ball-dress. It is mamma and I +that have a right to complain. Our dresses are almost untouched, while you +can sail grandly along the decks of the 'Consternation' like a fully rigged +yacht. There, I'm mixing my similes again, as papa always says. A yacht doesn't +sail along the deck of a battleship, does it?" +<P> +"It's a cruiser," weakly corrected the mother, who knew something of naval +affairs. +<P> +"Well, cruiser, then. Sabina is afraid that papa won't go unless we all have +grand new dresses, but mother can put on her old black silk, and I am going +if I have to wear a cotton gown." +<P> +"To think of that person accepting our money, and absenting herself in this +disgraceful way!" +<P> +"Accepting our money! That shows what it is to have an imagination. Why, +I don't suppose Dorothy has had a penny for three months, and you know the +dress material was bought on credit." +<P> +"You must remember," chided the mother mildly, "that your father is not rich." +<P> +"Oh, I am only pleading for a little humanity. The girl for some reason has +gone out. She hasn't had a bite to eat since breakfast time, and I know there's +not a silver piece in her pocket to buy a bun in a milk-shop." +<P> +"She has no business to be absent without leave," said Sabina. +<P> +"How you talk! As if she were a sailor on a battleship— I mean a cruiser." +<P> +"Where can the girl have gone?" wailed the mother, almost wringing her hands, +partially overcome by the crisis. "Did she say anything about going out to +you, Katherine? She sometimes makes a confidant of you, doesn't she?" +<P> +"Confidant!" exclaimed Sabina wrathfully. +<P> +"I know where she has gone," said Katherine with an innocent sigh. +<P> +"Then why didn't you tell us before?" exclaimed mother and daughter in almost +identical terms. +<P> +"She has eloped with the captain of the 'Consternation,'" explained Katherine +calmly, little guessing that her words contained a color of truth. "Papa +sat next him at the dinner last night, and says he is a jolly old salt and +a bachelor. Papa was tremendously taken with him, and they discussed tactics +together. Indeed, papa has quite a distinct English accent this morning, +and I suspect a little bit of a headache which he tries to conceal with a +wavering smile." +<P> +"You can't conceal a headache, because it's invisible," said the mother +seriously. "I wish you wouldn't talk so carelessly, Katherine, and you mustn't +speak like that of your father." +<P> +"Oh, papa and I understand one another," affirmed Katherine with great +confidence, and now for the first time during this conversation the young +girl turned her face away from the window, for the door had opened to let +in the culprit. +<P> +"Now, Amhurst, what is the meaning of this?" cried Sabina before her foot +was fairly across the threshold. +<P> +All three women looked at the newcomer. Her beautiful face was aglow, probably +through the exertion of coming up the stairs, and her eyes shone like those +of the Goddess of Freedom as she returned steadfastly the supercilious stare +with which the tall Sabina regarded her. +<P> +"I was detained," she said quietly. +<P> +"Why did you go away without permission?" +<P> +"Because I had business to do which could not be transacted in this room." +<P> +"That doesn't answer my question. Why did you not ask permission?" +<P> +The girl slowly raised her two hands, and showed her shapely wrists close +together, and a bit of the forearm not covered by the sleeve of her black +dress. +<P> +"Because," she said slowly, "the shackles have fallen from these wrists." +<P> +"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," said Sabina, apparently impressed +in spite of herself, but the younger daughter clapped her hands rapturously. +<P> +"Splendid, splendid, Dorothy," she cried. "I don't know what you mean either, +but you look like Maxine Elliott in that play where she—" +<P> +"<I>Will</I> you keep quiet!" interrupted the elder sister over her shoulder. +<P> +"I mean that I intend to sew here no longer," proclaimed Dorothy. +<P> +"Oh, Miss Amhurst, Miss Amhurst," bemoaned the matron. "You will heartlessly +leave us in this crisis when we are helpless; when there is not a sewing +woman to be had in the place for love or money. Every one is working night +and day to be ready for the ball on the fourteenth, and you— you whom we +have nurtured—" +<P> +"I suppose she gets more money," sneered the elder daughter bitterly. +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy," said Katherine, coming a step forward and clasping her hands, +"do you mean to say I must attend the ball in a calico dress after all? But +I'm going, nevertheless, if I dance in a morning wrapper." +<P> +"Katherine," chided her mother, "don't talk like that." +<P> +"Of course, where more money is in the question, kindness does not count," +snapped the elder daughter. +<P> +Dorothy Amhurst smiled when Sabina mentioned the word kindness. +<P> +"With me, of course, it's entirely a question of money," she admitted. +<P> +"Dorothy, I never thought it of you," said Katherine, with an exaggerated +sigh. "I wish it were a fancy dress ball, then I'd borrow my brother Jack's +uniform, and go in that." +<P> +"Katherine, I'm shocked at you," complained the mother. +<P> +"I don't care: I'd make a stunning little naval cadet. But, Dorothy, you +must be starved to death; you've never touched your lunch." +<P> +"You seem to have forgotten everything to-day," said Sabina severely. "Duty +and everything else." +<P> +"You are quite right," murmured Dorothy. +<P> +"And did you elope with the captain of the 'Consternation,' and were you +married secretly, and was it before a justice of the peace? Do tell us all +about it." +<P> +"What are you saying?" asked Dorothy, with a momentary alarm coming into +her eyes. +<P> +"Oh, I was just telling mother and Sab that you had skipped by the light +of the noon, with the captain of the 'Consternation,' who was a jolly old +bachelor last night, but may be a married man to-day if my suspicions are +correct. Oh, Dorothy, must I go to the ball in a dress of print?" +<P> +The sewing girl bent an affectionate look on the impulsive Katherine. +<P> +"Kate, dear," she said, "you shall wear the grandest ball dress that ever +was seen in Bar Harbor." +<P> +"How dare you call my sister Kate, and talk such nonsense?" demanded Sabina. +<P> +"I shall always call you Miss Kempt, and now, if I have your permission, +I will sit down. I am tired." +<P> +"Yes, and hungry, too," cried Katherine. "What shall I get you, Dorothy? +This is all cold." +<P> +"Thank you, I am not in the least hungry." +<P> +"Wouldn't you like a cup of tea?" +<P> +Dorothy laughed a little wearily. +<P> +"Yes, I would," she said, "and some bread and butter." +<P> +"And cake, too," suggested Katherine. +<P> +"And cake, too, if you please." +<P> +Katherine skipped off downstairs. +<P> +"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Sabina with a gasp, drawing herself together, +as if the bottom had fallen out of the social fabric. +<P> +Mrs. Captain Kempt folded her hands one over the other and put on a look +of patient resignation, as one who finds all the old landmarks swept away +from before her. +<P> +"Is there anything else we can get for you?" asked Sabina icily. +<P> +"Yes," replied Dorothy, with serene confidence, "I should be very much obliged +if Captain Kempt would obtain for me a card of invitation to the ball on +the 'Consternation.'" +<P> +"Really!" gasped Sabina, "and may not my mother supplement my father's efforts +by providing you with a ball dress for the occasion?" +<P> +"I could not think of troubling her, Miss Kempt. Some of my customers have +flattered me by saying that my taste in dress is artistic, and that my designs, +if better known, might almost set a fashion in a small way, so I shall look +after my costume myself; but if Mrs. Captain Kempt were kind enough to allow +me to attend the ball under her care, I should be very grateful for it." +<P> +"How admirable! And is there nothing that I can do to forward your ambitions, +Miss Amhurst?" +<P> +"I am going to the ball merely as a looker-on, and perhaps you might smile +at me as you pass by with your different partners, so that people would say +I was an acquaintance of yours." +<P> +After this there was silence in the sewing room until Katherine, followed +by a maid, entered with tea and cakes. Some dress materials that rested on +a gypsy table were swept aside by the impulsive Katherine, and the table, +with the tray upon it, was placed at the right hand of Dorothy Amhurst. When +the servant left the room, Katherine sidled to the long sewing table, sprang +up lightly upon it, and sat there swinging a dainty little foot. Sabina had +seated herself in the third chair of the room, the frown still adding severity +to an otherwise beautiful countenance. It was the younger daughter who spoke. +<P> +"Now, Dorothy, tell us all about the elopement." +<P> +"What elopement?" +<P> +"I soothed my mother's fears by telling her that you had eloped with the +captain of the 'Consternation.' I must have been wrong in that guess, because +if the secret marriage I hoped had taken place, you would have said to Sabina +that the shackles were on your wrists instead of off. But something important +has happened, and I want to know all about it." +<P> +Dorothy made no response to this appeal, and after a minute's silence Sabina +said practically: +<P> +"All that has happened is that Miss Amhurst wishes father to present her +with a ticket to the ball on the 'Consternation,' and taking that for granted, +she requests mother to chaperon her, and further expresses a desire that +I shall be exceedingly polite to her while we are on board the cruiser." +<P> +"Oh," cried Katherine jauntily, "the last proviso is past praying for, but +the other two are quite feasible. I'd be delighted to chaperon Dorothy myself, +and as for politeness, good gracious, I'll be polite enough to make up for +all the courteous deficiency of the rest of the family. +<BLOCKQUOTE> +'For I hold that on the seas,<BR> + The expression if you please<BR> + A particularly gentlemanly tone implants,<BR> + And so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts.' +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +Now, Dorothy, don't be bashful. Here's your sister and your cousin and your +aunt waiting for the horrifying revelation. What has happened?" +<P> +"I'll tell you what is going to happen, Kate," said the girl, smiling at +the way the other ran on. "Mrs. Captain Kempt will perhaps consent to take +you and me to New York or Boston, where we will put up at the best hotel, +and trick ourselves out in ball costumes that will be the envy of Bar Harbor. +I shall pay the expense of this trip as partial return for your father's +kindness in getting me an invitation and your mother's kindness in allowing +me to be one of your party." +<P> +"Oh, then it isn't an elopement, but a legacy. Has the wicked but wealthy +relative died?" +<P> +"Yes," said Dorothy solemnly, her eyes on the floor. +<P> +"Oh, I am so sorry for what I have just said!" +<P> +"You always speak without thinking," chided her mother. +<P> +"Yes, don't I? But, you see, I thought somehow that Dorothy had no relatives; +but if she had one who was wealthy, and who allowed her to slave at sewing, +then I say he was wicked, dead or alive, so there!" +<P> +"When work is paid for it is not slavery," commented Sabina with severity +and justice. +<P> +The sewing girl looked up at her. +<P> +"My grandfather, in Virginia, owned slaves before the war, and I have often +thought that any curse which may have been attached to slavery has at least +partly been expiated by me, as foreshadowed in the Bible, where it says that +the sins of the fathers shall affect the third or fourth generations. I was +thinking of that when I spoke of the shackles falling from my wrists, for +sometimes, Miss Kempt, you have made me doubt whether wages and slavery are +as incompatible as you appear to imagine. My father, who was a clergyman, +often spoke to me of his father's slaves, and while he never defended the +institution, I think the past in his mind was softened by a glamor that possibly +obscured the defects of life on the plantation. But often in depression and +loneliness I have thought I would rather have been one of my grandfather's +slaves than endure the life I have been called upon to lead." +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy, don't talk like that, or you'll make me cry," pleaded Kate. +"Let us be cheerful whatever happens. Tell us about the money. Begin 'Once +upon a time,' and then everything will be all right. No matter how harrowing +such a story begins, it always ends with lashin's and lashin's of money, +or else with a prince in a gorgeous uniform and gold lace, and you get the +half of his kingdom. <I>Do</I> go on." +<P> +Dorothy looked up at her impatient friend, and a radiant cheerfulness chased +away the gathering shadows from her face. +<P> +"Well, once upon a time I lived very happily with my father in a little rectory +in a little town near the Hudson River. His family had been ruined by the +war, and when the plantation was sold, or allowed to go derelict, whatever +money came from it went to his elder and only brother. My father was a dreamy +scholar and not a business man as his brother seems to have been. <I>My</I> +mother had died when I was a child; I do not remember her. My father was +the kindest and most patient of men, and all I know he taught me. We were +very poor, and I undertook the duties of housekeeper, which I performed as +well as I was able, constantly learning by my failures. But my father was +so indifferent to material comforts that there were never any reproaches. +He taught me all that I know in the way of what you might call accomplishments, +and they were of a strangely varied order— a smattering of Latin and Greek, +a good deal of French, history, literature, and even dancing, as well as +music, for he was an excellent musician. Our meager income ceased with my +father's life, and I had to choose what I should do to earn my board and +keep, like Orphant Annie, in Whitcomb Riley's poem. There appeared to be +three avenues open to me. I could be a governess, domestic servant, or +dressmaker. I had already earned something at the latter occupation, and +I thought if I could set up in business for myself, there was a greater chance +of gaining an independence along that line than either as a governess or +servant. But to do this I needed at least a little capital. +<P> +"Although there had been no communication between the two brothers for many +years, I had my uncle's address, and I wrote acquainting him with the fact +of my father's death, and asking for some assistance to set up in business +for myself, promising to repay the amount advanced with interest as soon +as I was able, for although my father had never said anything against his +elder brother, I somehow had divined, rather than knew, that he was a hard +man, and his answering letter gave proof of that, for it contained no expression +of regret for his brother's death. My uncle declined to make the advance +I asked for, saying that many years before he had given my father two hundred +dollars which had never been repaid. I was thus compelled, for the time at +least, to give up my plan for opening a dressmaking establishment, even on +the smallest scale, and was obliged to take a situation similar to that which +I hold here. In three years I was able to save the two hundred dollars, which +I sent to my uncle, and promised to remit the interest if he would tell me +the age of the debt. He replied giving the information, and enclosing a receipt +for the principal, with a very correct mathematical statement of the amount +of interest if compounded annually, as was his legal right, but expressing +his readiness to accept simple interest, and give me a receipt in full." +<P> +"The brute!" ejaculated Katherine, which remark brought upon her a mild rebuke +from her mother on intemperance of language. +<P> +"Well, go on," said Katherine, unabashed. +<P> +"I merely mention this detail," continued Dorothy, "as an object lesson in +honesty. Never before since the world began was there such a case of casting +bread upon the waters as was my sending the two hundred dollars. My uncle +appears to have been a most methodical man. He filed away my letter which +contained the money, also a typewritten copy of his reply, and when he died, +it was these documents which turned the attention of the legal arm who acted +for him to myself, for my uncle had left no will. The Californian firm +communicated with lawyers in New York, and they began a series of very cautious +inquiries, which at last resulted, after I had furnished certain proofs asked +for, in my being declared heiress to my uncle's estate." +<P> +"And how much did you get? How much did you get?" demanded Katherine. +<P> +"I asked the lawyers from New York to deposit ten thousand dollars for me +in the Sixth National Bank of this town, and they did so. It was to draw +a little check against that deposit, and thus learn if it was real, that +I went out to-day." +<P> +"Ten thousand dollars," murmured Katherine, in accents of deep disappointment. +"Is that all?" +<P> +"Isn't that enough?" asked Dorothy, with a twinkle in her eyes. +<P> +"No, you deserve ten times as much, and I'm not going to New York or Boston +at your expense to buy new dresses. Not likely! I will attend the ball in +my calico." +<P> +Dorothy laughed quietly, and drew from the little satchel she wore at her +side a letter, which she handed to Katherine. +<P> +"It's private and confidential," she warned her friend. +<P> +"Oh, I won't tell any one," said Katherine, unfolding it. She read eagerly +half-way down the page, then sprang to her feet on the top of the table, +screaming: +<P> +"Fifteen million dollars! Fifteen million dollars!" and, swinging her arms +back and forth like an athlete about to leap, sprang to the floor, nearly +upsetting the little table, tray and all, as she embraced Dorothy Amhurst. +<P> +"Fifteen millions! That's something like! Why, mother, do you realize that +we have under our roof one of the richest young women in the world? Don't +you see that the rest of this conference must take place in our drawing-room +under the most solemn auspices? The idea of our keeping such an heiress in +the attic!" +<P> +"I believe," said Sabina, slowly and coldly, "that Mr. Rockefeller's income +is—" +<P> +"Oh, blow Mr. Rockefeller and his income!" cried the indignant younger sister. +<P> +"Katherine!" pleaded the mother tearfully. +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<h4>ON DECK</h4> +<P> +THROUGHOUT the long summer day a gentle excitement had fluttered the hearts +of those ladies, young, or not so young, who had received invitations to +the ball on board the "Consternation" that night. The last touches were given +to creations on which had been spent skill, taste, and money. Our three young +women, being most tastefully and fashionably attired, were in high spirits, +which state of feeling was exhibited according to the nature of each; Sabina +rather stately in her exaltation; Dorothy quiet and demure; while Katherine, +despite her mother's supplications, would not be kept quiet, but swung her +graceful gown this way and that, practising the slide of a waltz, and quoting +W. R. Gilbert, as was her custom. She glided over the floor in rhythm with +her chant. +<BLOCKQUOTE> +"When I first put this uniform on<BR> + I said, as I looked in the glass,<BR> + 'It's one to a million<BR> + That any civilian<BR> + My figure and form will surpass.'" +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +Meanwhile, in a room downstairs that good-natured veteran Captain Kempt was +telling the latest stories to his future son-in-law, a young officer of the +American Navy, who awaited, with dutiful impatience, the advent of the serene +Sabina. When at last the ladies came down the party set out through the gathering +darkness of this heavenly summer night for the private pier from which they +were privileged, because of Captain Kempt's official standing, to voyage +to the cruiser on the little revenue cutter "Whip-poor-will," which was later +on to convey the Secretary of the Navy and his entourage across the same +intervening waters. Just before they reached the pier their steps were arrested +by the boom of a cannon, followed instantly by the sudden apparition of the +"Consternation" picked out in electric light; masts, funnel and hull all +outlined by incandescent stars. +<P> +"How beautiful!" cried Sabina, whose young man stood beside her. "It is as +if a gigantic racket, all of one color, had burst, and hung suspended there +like the planets of heaven." +<P> +"It reminds me," whispered Katherine to Dorothy, "of an overgrown pop-corn +ball," at which remark the two girls were frivolous enough to laugh. +<P> +"Crash!" sounded a cannon from an American ship, and then the white squadron +became visible in a blaze of lightning. And now all the yachts and other +craft on the waters flaunted their lines of fire, and the whole Bay was +illuminated like a lake in Fairyland. +<P> +"Now," said Captain Kempt with a chuckle, "watch the Britisher. I think she's +going to show us some color," and as he spoke there appeared, spreading from +nest to mast, a huge sheet of blue, with four great stars which pointed the +corners of a parallelogram, and between the stars shone a huge white anchor. +Cheers rang out from the crew of the "Consternation," and the band on board +played "The Star-Spangled Banner." +<P> +"That," said Captain Kempt in explanation, "is the flag of the United States +Secretary of the Navy, who will be with us to-night. The visitors have kept +very quiet about this bit of illumination, but our lads got on to the secret +about a week ago, and I'll be very much disappointed if they don't give 'em +tit for tat." +<P> +When the band on the "Consternation" ceased playing, all lights went out +on the American squadron, and then on the flagship appeared from mast to +mast a device with the Union Jack in the corner, a great red cross dividing +the flag into three white squares. As this illumination flashed out the American +band struck up the British national anthem, and the outline lights appeared +again. +<P> +"That," said the captain, "is the British man-o'-war's flag." +<P> +The "Whip-poor-will" speedily whisked the party and others across the sparkling +waters to the foot of the grand stairway which had been specially constructed +to conduct the elect from the tide to the deck. It was more than double as +broad as the ordinary gangway, was carpeted from top to bottom, and on every +step stood a blue-jacket, each as steady as if cast in bronze, the line forming, +as one might say, a living handrail rising toward the dark sky. +<P> +Captain Kempt and his wife went first, followed by Sabina and her young man +with the two girls in their wake. +<P> +"Aren't those men splendid?" whispered Katherine to her friend. "I wish each +held an old-fashioned torch. I do love a sailor." +<P> +"So do I," said Dorothy, then checked herself, and laughed a little. +<P> +"I guess we all do," sighed Katherine. +<P> +On deck the bluff captain of the "Consternation," in resplendent uniform, +stood beside Lady Angela Burford of the British Embassy at Washington, to +receive the guests of the cruiser. Behind these two were grouped an assemblage +of officers and very fashionably dressed women, chatting vivaciously with +each other. As Dorothy looked at the princess-like Lady Angela it seemed +as if she knew her; as if here were one who had stepped out of an English +romance. Her tall, proudly held figure made the stoutish captain seem shorter +than he actually was. The natural haughtiness of those classic features was +somewhat modified by a <I>pro tem</I> smile. Captain Kempt looked back over +his shoulder and said in a low voice: +<P> +"Now, young ladies, best foot forward. The Du Maurier woman is to receive +the Gibson girls." +<P> +"I know I shall laugh, and I fear I shall giggle," said Katherine, but she +encountered a glance from her elder sister quite as haughty as any Lady Angela +might have bestowed, and all thought of merriment fled for the moment; thus +the ordeal passed conventionally without Katherine either laughing or giggling. +<P> +Sabina and her young man faded away into the crowd. Captain Kempt was nodding +to this one and that of his numerous acquaintances, and Katherine felt Dorothy +shrink a little closer to her as a tall, unknown young man deftly threaded +his way among the people, making directly for the Captain, whom he seized +by the hand in a grasp of the most cordial friendship. +<P> +"Captain Kempt, I am delighted to meet you again. My name is Drummond— Lieutenant +Drummond, and I had the pleasure of being introduced to you at that dinner +a week or two ago." +<P> +"The pleasure was mine, sir, the pleasure was mine," exclaimed the Captain +with a cordiality equal to that with which he had been greeted. He had not +at first the least recollection of the young man, but the Captain was something +of an amateur politician, and possessed all a politician's expertness in +facing the unknown, and making the most of any situation in which he found +himself. +<P> +"Oh, yes, Lieutenant, I remember very well that excellent song you—" +<P> +"Isn't it a perfect night?" gasped the Lieutenant. "I think we are to be +congratulated on our weather." +<P> +He still clung to the Captain's hand, and shook it again so warmly that the +Captain said to himself: +<P> +"I must have made an impression on this young fellow," then aloud he replied +jauntily: +<P> +"Oh, we always have good weather this time of year. You see, the United States +Government runs the weather. Didn't you know that? Yes, our Weather Bureau +is considered the best in the world." +<P> +The Lieutenant laughed heartily, although a hollow note intervened, for the +young man had got to the end of his conversation, realized he could not shake +hands for a third time, yet did not know what more to say. The suavity of +the politician came to his rescue in just the form the Lieutenant had hoped. +<P> +"Lieutenant Drummond, allow me to introduce my wife to you." +<P> +The lady bowed. +<P> +"And my daughter, Katherine, and Miss Amhurst, a friend of ours— Lieutenant +Drummond, of the 'Consternation.'" +<P> +"I wonder," said the Lieutenant, as if the thought had just occurred to him, +"if the young ladies would like to go to a point where they can have a +comprehensive view of the decorations. I— I may not be the best guide, but +I am rather well acquainted with the ship, you know." +<P> +"Don't ask me," said Captain Kempt. "Ask the girls. Everything I've had in +life has come to me because I asked, and if I didn't get it the first time, +I asked again." +<P> +"Of course we want to see the decorations," cried Katherine with enthusiasm, +and so bowing to the Captain and Mrs. Kempt, the Lieutenant led the young +women down the deck, until he came to an elevated spot out of the way of +all possible promenaders, on which had been placed in a somewhat secluded +position, yet commanding a splendid view of the throng, a settee with just +room for two, that had been taken from some one's cabin. A blue-jacket stood +guard over it, but at a nod from the Lieutenant he disappeared. +<P> +"Hello!" cried Katherine, "reserved seats, eh? How different from a theatre +chair, where you are entitled to your place by holding a colored bit of +cardboard. Here a man with a cutlass stands guard. It gives one a notion +of the horrors of war, doesn't it, Dorothy?" +<P> +The Lieutenant laughed quite as heartily as if he had not himself hoped to +occupy the position now held by the sprightly Katherine. He was cudgelling +his brain to solve the problem represented by the adage "Two is company, +three is none." The girls sat together on the settee and gazed out over the +brilliantly lighted, animated throng. People were still pouring up the gangways, +and the decks were rapidly becoming crowded with a many-colored, ever-shifting +galaxy of humanity. The hum of conversation almost drowned the popular selections +being played by the cruiser's excellent band. Suddenly one popular selection +was cut in two. The sound of the instruments ceased for a moment, then they +struck up "The Stars and Stripes for Ever." +<P> +"Hello," cried Katherine, "can your band play Sousa?" +<P> +"I should say we could," boasted the Lieutenant, "and we can play his music, +in a way to give some hints to Mr. Sousa's own musicians." +<P> +"To beat the band, eh?— Sousa's band?" rejoined Katherine, dropping into +slang. +<P> +"Exactly," smiled the Lieutenant, "and now, young ladies, will you excuse +me for a few moments? This musical selection means that your Secretary of +the Navy is on the waters, and I must be in my place with the rest of the +officers to receive him and his staff with all ceremony. Please promise you +will not leave this spot till I return: I implore you." +<P> +"Better put the blue-jacket on guard over us," laughed Katherine. +<P> +"By Jove! a very good idea." +<P> +Dorothy saw all levity depart from his face, giving way to a look of sternness +and command. Although he was engaged in a joke, the subordinate must see +no sign of fooling in his countenance. He said a sharp word to a blue-jacket, +who nimbly sprang to the end of the settee, raised his hand in salute, and +stiffened himself to an automaton. Then the girls saw the tall figure of +the Lieutenant wending its way to the spot where the commander stood. +<P> +"I say, Dorothy, we're prisoners. I wonder what this Johnny would do if we +attempted to <I>fly</I>. Isn't the Lieutenant sumptuous?" +<P> +"He seems a very agreeable person," murmured Dorothy. +<P> +"Agreeable! Why, he's splendid. I tell you, Dorothy, I'm going to have the +first dance with him. I'm the eldest. He's big enough to divide between two +small girls like us, you know." +<P> +"I don't intend to dance," said Dorothy. +<P> +"Nonsense, you're not going to sit here all night with nobody to speak to. +I'll ask the Lieutenant to bring you a man. He'll take two or three blue-jackets +and capture anybody you want." +<P> +"Katherine," said Dorothy, almost as severely as if it were the elder sister +who spoke, "if you say anything like that, I'll go back to the house." +<P> +"You can't get back. I'll appeal to the guard. I'll have you locked up if +you don't behave yourself." +<P> +"You should behave yourself. Really, Katherine, you must be careful what +you say, or you'll make me feel very unhappy." +<P> +Katherine caught her by the elbow, and gave it an affectionate little squeeze. +<P> +"Don't be frightened, Miss Propriety, I wouldn't make you unhappy for the +world. But surely you're going to dance?" +<P> +Dorothy shook her head. +<P> +"Some other time. Not to-night. There are too many people here. I shouldn't +enjoy it, and— there are other reasons. This is all so new and strange to +me: these brilliant men and beautiful women— the lights, the music, +everything— it is as if I had stepped into another world; something I had +read about, or perhaps dreamed about, and never expected to see." +<P> +"Why, you dear girl, I'm not going to dance either, then." +<P> +"Oh, yes, you will, Katherine; you must." +<P> +"I couldn't be so selfish as to leave you here all alone." +<P> +"It isn't selfish at all, Katherine. I shall enjoy myself completely here. +I don't really wish to talk to any one, but simply to enjoy my dream, with +just a little fear at the bottom of my heart that I shall suddenly wake up, +rubbing my eyes, in the sewing room." +<P> +Katherine pinched her. +<P> +"Now are you awake?" +<P> +Dorothy smiled, still dreaming. +<P> +"Hello!" cried Katherine, with renewed animation, "they've got the Secretary +safe aboard the lugger, and they seem to be clearing the decks for action. +Here is my dear Lieutenant returning; tall even among tall men. Look at him. +He's in a great hurry, yet so polite, and doesn't want to bump against anybody. +And now, Dorothy, don't you be afraid. I shall prove a perfect model of +diffidence. You will be proud of me when you learn with what timidity I pronounce +prunes and prism. I think I must languish a little at him. I don't know quite +how it's done, but in old English novels the girls always languished, and +perhaps an Englishman expects a little languishment in his. I wonder if he +comes of a noble family. If he doesn't, I don't think I'll languish very +much. Still, what matters the pomp of pageantry and pride of race— isn't +that the way the poem runs? I love our dear little Lieutenant for himself +alone, and I think I will have just one dance with him, at least." +<P> +Drummond had captured a camp-stool somewhere, and this he placed at right +angles to the settee, so that he might face the two girls, and yet not interrupt +their view. The sailor on guard once more faded away, and the band now struck +up the music of the dance. +<P> +"Well," cried Drummond cheerfully, "I've got everything settled. I've received +the Secretary of the Navy: our captain is to dance with his wife, and the +Secretary is Lady Angela's partner. There they go!" +<P> +For a few minutes the young people watched the dance, then the Lieutenant +said: +<P> +"Ladies, I am disappointed that you have not complimented our electrical +display." +<P> +"I am sure it's very nice, indeed, and most ingenious," declared Dorothy, +speaking for the first time that evening to the officer, but Katherine, whose +little foot was tapping the deck to the dance music, tossed her head, and +declared nonchalantly that it was all very well as a British effort at +illumination, but she begged the young man to remember that America was the +home of electricity. +<P> +"Where would you have been if it were not for Edison?" +<P> +"I suppose," said the Lieutenant cheerfully, "that we should have been where +Moses was when the candle went out— in the dark." +<P> +"You might have had torches," said Dorothy. "My friend forgets she was wishing +the sailors held torches on that suspended stairway up the ship's side." +<P> +"I meant electric torches— Edison torches, of course." +<P> +Katherine was displeased at the outlook. She was extremely fond of dancing, +and here this complacent young man had planted himself down on a camp stool +to talk of electricity. +<P> +"Miss Kempt, I am sorry that you are disappointed at our display. Your slight +upon British electrical engineering leaves us unscathed, because this has +been done by a foreign mechanic, whom I wish to present to you." +<P> +"Oh, indeed," said Katherine, rather in the usual tone of her elder sister. +"I don't dance with mechanics, thank you." +<P> +She emphasized the light fantastic word, but the Lieutenant did not take +the hint; he merely laughed again in an exasperatingly good-natured way, +and said: +<P> +"Lady Angela is going to be Jack Lamont's partner for the next waltz." +<P> +"Oh," said Katherine loftily, "Lady Angela may dance with any blacksmith +that pleases her, but I don't. I'm taking it for granted that Jack Lamont +is your electrical tinsmith." +<P> +"Yes, he is, and I think him by all odds the finest fellow aboard this ship. +It's quite likely you have read about his sister. She is a year older than +Jack, very beautiful, cultured, everything that a <I>grande dame</I> should +be, yet she has given away her huge estate to the peasantry, and works with +them in the fields, living as they do, and faring as they do. There was an +article about her in one of the French reviews not long ago. She is called +the Princess Natalia." +<P> +"The Princess Natalia!" echoed Katherine, turning her face toward the young +man. "How can Princess Natalia be a sister of Jack Lamont? Did she marry +some old prince, and take to the fields in disgust?" +<P> +"Oh, no; Jack Lamont is a Russian. He is called Prince Ivan Lermontoff when +he's at home, but we call him Jack Lamont for short. He's going to help me +on the Russian business I told you of." +<P> +"What Russian business?" asked Katherine. "I don't remember your speaking +of it." +<P> +Dorothy went white, edged a little way from her friend, while her widening +eyes flashed a warning at the Lieutenant, who, too late, remembered that +this conversation on Russia had taken place during the walk from the bank. +The young man coughed slightly behind his open hand, reddened, and stammered: +<P> +"Oh, I thought I had told you. Didn't I mention the prince to you as we were +coming here?" +<P> +"Not that I recollect," said Katherine. "Is he a real, genuine prince? A +right down regular, regular, regular royal prince?" +<P> +"I don't know about the royalty, but he's a prince in good standing in his +own land, and he is also an excellent blacksmith." The Lieutenant chuckled +a little. "He and his sister have both been touched a good deal by Tolstoian +doctrine. Jack is the most wonderful inventor, I think, that is at present +on the earth, Edison notwithstanding. Why, he is just now engaged on a scheme +by which he can float houses from the mountains here down to New York. Float +them— pipe-line them would perhaps be a better term. You know they have +pipe-lines to carry petroleum. Very well; Jack has a solution that dissolves +stone as white sugar dissolves in tea, and he believes he can run the fluid +from the quarries to where building is going on. It seems that he then puts +this liquid into molds, and there you have the stone again. I don't understand +the process myself, but Jack tells me it's marvelously cheap, and marvelously +effective. He picked up the idea from nature one time when he and I were +on our vacation at Detroit." +<P> +"Detroit, Michigan?" +<P> +"The Detroit River." +<P> +"Well, that runs between Michigan and Canada." +<P> +"No, no, this is in France. I believe the real name of the river is the Tarn. +There's a gorge called Detroit— the strait, you know. Wonderful place— tremendous +chasm. You go down in a boat, and all the tributary rivers pour into the +main stream like jets from the nozzle of a hose. They tell me this is caused +by the rain percolating through the dead leaves on the surface of the ground +far above, and thus the water becomes saturated with carbonic acid gas, and +so dissolves the limestone until the granite is reached, and the granite +forms the bed of these underground rivers. It all seemed to me very wonderful, +but it struck Jack on his scientific side, and he has been experimenting +ever since. He says he'll be able to build a city with a hose next year." +<P> +"Where does he live?" +<P> +"On the cruiser just at present. I was instrumental in getting him signed +on as John Lamont, and he passed without question. No wonder, for he has +scientific degrees from all sorts of German universities, from Oxford, and +one or two institutions in the States. When at home he lives in St. Petersburg." +<P> +"Has he a palace there?" +<P> +Drummond laughed. +<P> +"He's got a blacksmith shop, with two rooms above, and I'm going to stop +with him for a few months as soon as I get my leave. When the cruiser reaches +England we pay off, and I expect to have nothing to do for six months, so +Jack and I will make for St. Petersburg." +<P> +"Why do you call him Lamont? Is it taken from his real name of +what-d'ye-call-it-off?" +<P> +"Lermontoff? Yes. The Czar Demetrius, some time about the beginning of the +seventeenth century, established a Scottish Guard, just as Louis XI did in +France two hundred years before, and there came over from Scotland Lamonts, +Carmichaels, Buchanans and others, on whom were bestowed titles and estates. +Prince Ivan Lermontoff is a descendant of the original Lamont, who was an +officer in the Scottish Guard of Russia. +<P> +"So he is really a Scotchman?" +<P> +"That's what I tell him when he annoys me, as I am by way of being a Scotchman +myself. Ah, the waltz is ended. Will you excuse me a moment while I fetch +his Highness?" +<P> +Dorothy inclined her head, and Katherine fairly beamed permission. +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy," she exclaimed, when the Lieutenant was out of hearing, "think +of it! A real prince, and my ambition has never risen higher than a paltry +count, or some plebeian of that sort. He's mine, Dorothy; I found him first." +<P> +"I thought you had appropriated the Lieutenant?" +<P> +"What are lieutenants to me? The proud daughter of a captain (retired) cannot +stoop to a mere lieutenant." +<P> +"You wouldn't have to stoop far, Kate, with so tall a man as Mr. Drummond." +<P> +"You are beginning to take notice, aren't you, Dot? But I bestow the Lieutenant +freely upon you, because I'm going to dance with the Prince, even if I have +to ask him myself. +<BLOCKQUOTE> +She'll toddle away, as all aver,<BR> + With the Lord High Executioner. +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +Ah, here they come. Isn't he perfectly splendid? Look at his beard! Just +the color of a brand-new twenty-dollar gold piece. See that broad ribbon +diagonally across him. I wonder what it means. And gaze at those scintillating +orders on his breast. Good gracious me, isn't he splendid?" +<P> +"Yes, for a blacksmith. I wonder if he beat those stars out on his anvil. +He isn't nearly so tall as Lieutenant Drummond." +<P> +"Dorothy, I'll not allow you to disparage my Prince. How can you be so +disagreeable? I thought from the very first that the Lieutenant was too tall. +If the Prince expects me to call him 'your Highness,' he'll be disappointed." +<P> +"You are quite right, Kate. The term would suit the Lieutenant better." +<P> +"Dorothy, I believe you're jealous." +<P> +"Oh, no, I'm not," said Dorothy, shaking her head and laughing, and then +"Hush!" she added, as Katherine was about to speak again. +<P> +The next moment the young men stood before them, and, introductions being +soberly performed, the Prince lost no time in begging Katherine to favor +him with a dance, to which request the young woman was graciously pleased +to accede, without, however, exhibiting too much haste about her acceptance, +and so they walked off together. +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<h4>"AT LAST ALONE"</h4> +<P> +"SOME one has taken the camp stool," said Lieutenant Drummond. "May I sit +here?" and the young woman was good enough to give the desired permission. +<P> +When he had seated himself he glanced around, then impulsively held out his +hand. +<P> +"Miss Amhurst," he said, "how are you?" +<P> +"Very well, thank you," replied the girl with a smile, and after half a moment's +hesitation she placed her hand in his. +<P> +"Of course you dance, Miss Amhurst?" +<P> +"Yes, but not to-night. I am here merely as a looker-on in Vienna. You must +not allow politeness to keep you away from the floor, or, perhaps, I should +say the deck. I don't mind being alone in the least." +<P> +"Now, Miss Amhurst, that is not a hint, is it? Tell me that I have not already +tired you of my company." +<P> +"Oh, no, but I do not wish you to feel that simply because we met casually +the other day you are compelled to waste your evening sitting out." +<P> +"Indeed, Miss Amhurst, although I should very much like to have the pleasure +of dancing with you, there is no one else here that I should care to ask. +I have quailed under the eagle eye of my Captain once or twice this evening, +and I have been rather endeavoring to keep out of his sight. I fear he has +found something new about me of which to disapprove, so I have quite determined +not to dance, unless you would consent to dance with me, in which case I +am quite ready to brave his reproachful glances." +<P> +"Have you done anything wrong lately?" +<P> +"Heaven only knows! I try not to be purposely wicked, and indeed have put +forth extra efforts to be extra good, but it seems all of no avail. I endeavor +to go about the ship with a subdued, humble, unobtrusive air, but this is +rather difficult for a person of my size. I don't think a man can droop +successfully unless he's under six feet in height." +<P> +Dorothy laughed with quiet content. She was surprised to find herself so +much at her ease with him, and so mildly happy. They shared a secret together, +and that of itself was an intangible bond linking him with her who had no +ties with any one else. She liked him; had liked him from the first; and +his unconcealed delight in her company was gratifying to a girl who heretofore +had found none to offer her the gentle courtesies of life. +<P> +"Is it the Russian business again? You do not look very much troubled about +it." +<P> +"Ah, that is— that is—" he stammered in apparent confusion, then blurted +out, "because you— because I am sitting here. Although I have met you but +once before, it seems somehow as if I had known you always, and my slight +anxiety that I told you of fades away in your presence. I hope you don't +think I am forward in saying this, but really to-night, when I saw you at +the head of the gangway, I could scarcely refrain from going directly to +you and greeting you. I am afraid I made rather a hash of it with Captain +Kempt. He is too much of a gentleman to have shown any surprise at my somewhat +boisterous accosting of him, and you know I didn't remember him at all, but +I saw that you were under his care, and chanced it. Luckily it seems to have +been Captain Kempt after all, but I fear I surprised him, taking him by storm, +as it were." +<P> +"I thought you did it very nicely," said Dorothy, "and, indeed, until this +moment I hadn't the least suspicion that you didn't recognize him. He is +a dear old gentleman, and I'm very fond of him." +<P> +"I say," said the Lieutenant, lowering his voice, "I nearly came a cropper +when I spoke of that Russian affair before your friend. I was thinking +of— of— well, I wasn't thinking of Miss Kempt—" +<P> +"Oh, she never noticed anything," said Dorothy hurriedly. "You got out of +that, too, very well. I thought of telling her I had met you before while +she and I were in New York together, but the opportunity never seemed— well, +I couldn't quite explain, and, indeed, didn't wish to explain my own inexplicable +conduct at the bank, and so trusted to chance. If you had greeted me first +tonight, I suppose"— she smiled and looked up at him— "I suppose I should +have brazened it out somehow." +<P> +"Have you been in New York?" +<P> +"Yes, we were there nearly a week." +<P> +"Ah, that accounts for it." +<P> +"Accounts for what?" +<P> +"I have walked up and down every street, lane and alley in Bar Harbor, hoping +to catch a glimpse of you. I have haunted the town, and all the time you +were away." +<P> +"No wonder the Captain frowns at you! Have you been neglecting your duty?" +<P> +"Well, I have been stretching my shore leave just a little bit. I wanted +to apologize for talking so much about myself as we walked from the bank." +<P> +"It was very interesting, and, if you remember, we walked farther than I +had intended." +<P> +"Were your friends waiting for you, or had they gone?" +<P> +"They were waiting for me." +<P> +"I hope they weren't cross?" +<P> +"Oh, no. I told them I had been detained. It happened not to be necessary +to enter into details, so I was saved the task of explanation, and, besides, +we had other interesting things to discuss. This function on the cruiser +has loomed so large as a topic of conversation that there has been little +need of any other subject to talk about for several days past." +<P> +"I suppose you must have attended many grander occasions than this. Although +we have endeavored to make a display, and although we possess a reasonably +efficient band, still, a cruiser is not exactly designed for the use to which +it is being put to-night. We have many disadvantages to overcome which are +not met with in the sumptuous dwellings of New York and Bar Harbor." +<P> +The girl's eyes were on the deck for some moments before she replied, then +she looked across at the dancers, and finally said: +<P> +"I think the ball on the 'Consternation' quite equals anything I have ever +attended." +<P> +"It is nice of you to say that. Praise from— I won't name Sir Hubert Stanley— but +rather Lady Hubert Stanley— is praise, indeed. And now, Miss Amhurst, since +I have confessed my fruitless wanderings through Bar Harbor, may I not have +the pleasure of calling upon you to-morrow or next day?" +<P> +Her eyes were dreamily watching the dancers. +<P> +"I suppose," she said slowly, with the flicker of a smile curving those enticing +lips, "that since you were so very friendly with Captain Kempt to-night he +may expect you to smoke a cigar with him, and it will possibly happen that +Katherine and I, who are very fond of the Captain, may chance to come in +while you are there." +<P> +"Katherine? Ah, Katherine is the name of the young lady who was with you +here— Miss Kempt?" +<P> +"Yes." +<P> +"You are stopping with the Kempts, then?" +<P> +"Yes." +<P> +"I wonder if they'd think I was taking a liberty if I brought Jack Lamont +with me?" +<P> +"The Prince?" laughed Dorothy. "Is he a real prince?" +<P> +"Oh, yes, there's no doubt about that. I shouldn't have taken the liberty +of introducing him to you as Prince Lermontoff if he were not, as we say +in Scotland, a real Mackay— the genuine article. Well, then, the Prince and +I will pay our respects to Captain Kempt to-morrow afternoon." +<P> +"Did you say the Prince is going with you to Russia?" +<P> +"Oh, yes. As I told you, I intend to live very quietly in St. Petersburg, +and the Prince has his shop and a pair of rooms above it in a working quarter +of the city. I shall occupy one of the rooms and he the other. The Prince +is an excellent cook, so we shan't starve, even if we engage no servant." +<P> +"Has the Prince given his estates away also?" +<P> +"He hasn't given them away exactly, but he is a very indulgent landlord, +and he spends so much money on his experiments and travel that, although +he has a formidable income, he is very frequently quite short of money. Did +you like him?" +<P> +"Yes. Of course I saw him for a moment only. I wonder why they haven't returned. +There's been several dances since they left." +<P> +"Perhaps," said the Lieutenant, with a slight return of his stammering, "your +friend may be as fond of dancing as Jack is." +<P> +"You are still determined to go to Russia?" +<P> +"Quite. There is absolutely no danger. I may not accomplish anything, but +I'll have a try at it. The Prince has a good deal of influence in St. Petersburg, +which he will use quietly on my behalf, so that I may see the important people. +I shall be glad when the Captain ceases frowning—" +<P> +Drummond was interrupted by a fellow-officer, who raised his cap, and begged +a word with him. +<P> +"I think, Drummond, the Captain wanted to see you." +<P> +"Oh, did he say that?" +<P> +"No, but I know he has left a note for you in your cabin. Shall I go and +fetch it?" +<P> +"I wish you would, Chesham, if you don't mind, and it isn't too much trouble." +<P> +"No trouble at all. Delighted, I'm sure," said Chesham, again raising his +cap and going off. +<P> +"Now, I wonder what I have forgotten to do." +<P> +Drummond heaved a sigh proportionate to himself. +<P> +"Under the present condition of things a bit of neglect that would go unnoticed +with another man is a sign of unrepentant villainy in me. Any other Lieutenant +may steal a horse while I may not look over a hedge. You see how necessary +it is for me to go to Russia, and get this thing smoothed over." +<P> +"I think, perhaps, you are too sensitive, and notice slights where nothing +of the kind is meant," said the girl. +<P> +Chesham returned and handed Drummond a letter. +<P> +"Will you excuse me a moment?" he said, and as she looked at him he flattered +himself that he noticed a trace of anxiety in her eyes. He tore open the +missive. +<P> +"By Jove!" he cried. +<P> +"What is it?" she could not prevent herself from saying, leaning forward. +<P> +"I am ordered home. The Admiralty commands me to take the first steamer for +England." +<P> +"Is that serious?" +<P> +He laughed with well-feigned hilarity. +<P> +"Oh, no, not serious; it's just their way of doing things. They might easily +have allowed me to come home in my own ship. My only fear is I shall have +to take the train for New York early to-morrow morning. But," he said, holding +out his hands, "it is not serious if you allow me to write to you, and if +you will permit me to hope that I may receive an answer." +<P> +She placed her hand in his, this time without hesitation. +<P> +"You may write," she said, "and I will reply. I trust it is not serious." +<h3>CHAPTER V</h3> +<h4>AFTER THE OPERA IS OVER</h4> +<P> +IN mid-afternoon of the day following the entertainment on board the +"Consternation" our two girls were seated opposite one another under the +rafters of the sewing room, in the listless, desultory manner of those who +have not gone home till morning, till daylight did appear. The dominant note +of a summer cottage is the rocking-chair, and there were two in the sewing +room, where Katherine and Dorothy swayed gently back and forth as they talked. +They sat close to the low, broad window which presented so beautiful a picture +of the blue Bay and the white shipping. The huge "Consternation" lay moored +with her broadside toward the town, all sign of festivity already removed +from hull and rigging, and, to the scarcely slumber-satisfied eyes of the +girls, something of the sadness of departure seemed to hang as a haze around +the great ship. The girls were not discussing the past, but rather anticipating +the future; forecasting it, with long, silent pauses intervening. +<P> +"So you will not stay with us? You are determined to turn your wealthy back +on the poor Kempt family?" Katherine was saying. +<P> +"But I shall return to the Kempt family now and then, if they will let me. +I must get away for a time and think. My life has suddenly become all +topsy-turvy, and I need to get my bearings, as does a ship that has been +through a storm and lost her reckoning." +<P> +"'She dunno where she are,' as the song says." +<P> +"Exactly: that is the state of things." +<P> +"I think it's too bad, Dorothy, that you did not allow us to make public +announcement of your good fortune. Just imagine what an ovation you would +have had on board the cruiser last night if it had been known that the richest +woman in that assemblage was a pretty, shy little creature sitting all by +herself, and never indulging in even one dance." +<P> +"I shouldn't in the least care for that sort of ovation, Kate, and if every +one present were as well pleased with the festivities as I, they must all +have enjoyed themselves immensely. I believe my friend Kate did my share +of the dancing as well as her own." +<P> +"'She danced, and she danced, and she danced them a' din.' I think those +are the words of the Scottish song that the Prince quoted. He seems up in +Scottish poetry, and does not even resent being called a Scotchman. This +energetic person of the song seems to have danced them all to a standstill, +as I understood him, for he informs me 'a' means 'all' and 'din' means 'done,' +but I told him I'd rather learn Russian than Scotch; it was so much easier, +and his Highness was good enough to laugh at that. Didn't the Lieutenant +ask you to dance at all?" +<P> +"Oh, yes, he did." +<P> +"And you refused?" +<P> +"I refused." +<P> +"I didn't think he had sense enough to ask a girl to dance." +<P> +"You are ungrateful, Katherine. Remember he introduced you to the Prince." +<P> +"Yes, that's so. I had forgotten. I shall never say anything against him +again." +<P> +"You like the Prince, then?" +<P> +"Of all the crowned heads, emperors, kings, sultans, monarchs of every +description, dukes, counts, earls, marquises, whom I have met, and who have +pestered my life asking me to share their royal perquisites, I think I may +say quite truthfully that I like this Jack Lamont better than any one of +them." +<P> +"Surely Prince Jack has not offered you his principality already?" +<P> +"No, not yet, but with an eye to the future I have persuaded him to give +up Tolstoi and read Mark Twain, who is not only equally humorous, but much +more sensible than the Russian writer. Jack must not be allowed to give away +his estates to the peasants as his silly sister has done. I may need them +later on." +<P> +"Oh, you've got that far, have you?" +<P> +"I have got that far: he hasn't. He doesn't know anything about it, but I'll +wake him up when the right time comes. There are many elements of sanity +about him. He told me that he intended to give up his estates, but in the +first place he had been too busy, and in the second he needed the money. +His good sense, however, requires refining, so that he may get rid of the +dross. I don't blame him; I blame Tolstoi. For instance, when I asked him +if he had patented his liquid city invention, he said he did not wish to +make a profit from his discovery, but intended it for the good of humanity +at large. Imagine such an idiotic idea as that!" +<P> +"I think such views are entirely to his credit," alarmed Dorothy. +<P> +"Oh, of course, but the plan is not practicable. If he allows such an invention +to slip through his fingers, the Standard Oil people will likely get hold +of it, form a monopoly, and then where would humanity at large be? I tell +him the right way is to patent it, make all the money he can, and use the +cash for benefiting humanity under the direction of some charitable person +like myself." +<P> +"Did you suggest that to him?" +<P> +"I did not intimate who the sensible person was, but I elucidated the principle +of the thing." +<P> +"Yes, and what did he say?" +<P> +"Many things, Dorothy, many things. At one time he became confidential about +his possessions in foreign lands. It seems he owns several castles, and when +he visits any of them he cannot prevent the moujiks, if that is the proper +term for the peasantry over there, from prostrating themselves on the ground +as he passes by, beating their foreheads against the earth, and chanting, +in choice Russian, the phrase: 'Defer, defer, here comes the Lord High +Executioner,' or words to that effect. I told him I didn't see why he should +interfere with so picturesque a custom, and he said if I visited one of his +castles that these estimable people, at a word from him, would form a corduroy +road in the mud with their bodies, so that I might step dry-shod from the +carriage to the castle doors, and I stipulated that he should at least spread +a bit of stair carpet over the poor wretches before I made my progress across +his front yard." +<P> +"Well, you <I>did</I> become confidential if you discussed a visit to Russia." +<P> +"Yes, didn't we? I suppose you don't approve of my forward conduct?" +<P> +"I am sure you acted with the utmost prudence, Kate." +<P> +"I didn't lose any time, though, did I?" +<P> +"I don't know how much time is required to attain the point of friendship +you reached. I am inexperienced. It is true I have read of love at first +sight, and I am merely waiting to be told whether or not this is an instance +of it." +<P> +"Oh, you are very diffident, aren't you, sitting there so bashfully!" +<P> +"I may seem timid or bashful, but it's merely sleepiness." +<P> +"You're a bit of a humbug, Dorothy." +<P> +"Why?" +<P> +"I don't know why, but you are. No, it was not a case of love at first sight. +It was a case of feminine vengeance. Yes, you may look surprised, but I'm +telling the truth. After I walked so proudly off with his high mightiness, +we had a most agreeable dance together; then I proposed to return to you, +but the young man would not have it so, and for the moment I felt flattered. +By and by I became aware, however, that it was not because of my company +he avoided your vicinity, but that he was sacrificing himself for his friend." +<P> +"What friend?" +<P> +"Lieutenant Drummond, of course." +<P> +"How was he sacrificing himself for Lieutenant Drummond?" +<P> +"I surmise that the tall Lieutenant did not fall a victim to my wiles as +I had at first supposed, but, in some unaccountable manner, one can never +tell how these things happen; he was most anxious to be left alone with the +coy Miss Dorothy Amhurst, who does not understand how long a time it takes +to fall in love at first sight, although she has read of these things, dear, +innocent girl. The first villain of the piece has said to the second villain +of the piece: 'There's a superfluous young woman over on our bench; I'll +introduce you to her. You lure her off to the giddy dance, and keep her away +as long as you can, and I'll do as much for you some day.' +<P> +"Whereupon Jack Lamont probably swore— I understand that profanity is sometimes +distressingly prevalent aboard ship— but nevertheless he allowed the Lieutenant +to lead him like a lamb to the slaughter. Well, not being powerful enough +to throw him overboard when I realized the state of the case, I did the next +best thing. I became cloyingly sweet to him. I smiled upon him: I listened +to his farrago of nonsense about the chemical components of his various notable +inventions, as if a girl attends a ball to study chemistry! Before half an +hour had passed the infant had come to the conclusion that here was the first +really sensible woman he had ever met. He soon got to making love to me, +as the horrid phrase goes, as if love were a mixture to be compounded of +this ingredient and that, and then shaken before taken. I am delighted to +add, as a testimony to my own powers of pleasing, that Jack soon forgot he +was a sacrifice, and really, with a little instruction, he would become a +most admirable flirt. He is coming to call upon me this afternoon, and then +he will get his eyes opened. I shall tread on him as if he were one of his +own moujiks." +<P> +"What a wonderful imagination you have, Kate. All you have said is pure fancy. +I saw he was taken with you from the very first. He never even glanced at +me." +<P> +"Of course not: he wasn't allowed to." +<P> +"Nonsense, Kate. If I thought for a moment you were really in earnest, I +should say you underestimate your own attractions." +<P> +"Oh, that's all very well, Miss Dorothy Dimple; you are trying to draw a +red herring across the trail, because you know that what I want to hear is +why Lieutenant Drummond was so anxious to get me somewhere else. What use +did he make of the opportunity the good-natured Prince and my sweet complacency +afforded him?" +<P> +"He said nothing which might not have been overheard by any one." +<P> +"Come down to particulars, Dorothy, and let me judge. You are so inexperienced, +you know, that it is well to take counsel with a more sophisticated friend." +<P> +"I don't just remember—" +<P> +"No, I thought you wouldn't. Did he talk of himself or of you?" +<P> +"Of himself, of course. He told me why he was going to Russia, and spoke +of some checks he had met in his profession." +<P> +"Ah! Did he cash them?" +<P> +"Obstacles— difficulties that were in his way, which he hoped to overcome." +<P> +"Oh, I see. And did you extend that sympathy which—" +<P> +There was a knock at the door, and the maid came in, bearing a card. +<P> +"Good gracious me!" cried Katherine, jumping to her feet. "The Prince has +come. What a stupid thing that we have no mirror in this room, and it's a +sewing and sitting room, too. Do I look all right, Dorothy?" +<P> +"To me you seem perfection." +<P> +"Ah, well, I can glance at a glass on the next floor. Won't you come down +and see him trampled on?" +<P> +"No, thank you. I shall most likely drop off to sleep, and enjoy forty winks +in this very comfortable chair. Don't be too harsh with the young man, Kate. +You are quite wrong in your surmises about him. The Lieutenant never made +any such arrangement as you suggest, because he talked of nothing but the +most commonplace subjects all the time I was with him, as I was just about +to tell you, only you seem in such a hurry to get away." +<P> +"Oh, that doesn't deceive me in the least. I'll be back shortly, with the +young man's scalp dangling at my belt. Now we shan't be long," and with that +Katherine went skipping downstairs. +<P> +Dorothy picked up a magazine that lay on the table, and for a few moments +turned its leaves from one story to another, trying to interest herself, +but failing. Then she lifted the newspaper that lay at her feet, but it also +was soon cast aside, and she leaned back in her chair with half-closed eyes, +looking out at the cruiser in the Bay. A slight haze arose between her and +the ship, thickening and thickening until at last it obscured the vessel. +<P> +Dorothy was oppressed by a sense of something forgotten, and she strove in +vain to remember what it was. It was of the utmost importance, she was certain, +and this knowledge made her mental anxiety the greater. +<P> +At last out of the gloom she saw Sabina approach, clothed in rags, and then +a flash of intuition enabled her to grasp the difficulty. Through her remissness +the ball dress was unfinished, and the girl, springing to her feet, turned +intuitively to the sewing-machine, when the ringing laugh of Katherine dissolved +the fog. +<P> +"Why, you poor girl, what's the matter with you? Are you sitting down to +drudgery again? You've forgotten the fortune!" +<P> +"Are— are you back already?" cried Dorothy, somewhat wildly. +<P> +"Already! Why, bless me, I've been away an hour and a quarter. You dear girl, +you've been asleep and in slavery again!" +<P> +"I think I was," admitted Dorothy with a sigh. +<h3>CHAPTER VI</h3> +<h4>FROM SEA TO MOUNTAIN</h4> +<P> +THREE days later the North Atlantic squadron of the British Navy sailed down +the coast from Halifax, did not even pause at Bar Harbor, but sent a wireless +telegram to the "Consternation," which pulled up anchor and joined the fleet +outside, and so the war-ships departed for another port. +<P> +Katherine stood by the broad window in the sewing room in her favorite attitude, +her head sideways against the pane, her eyes languidly gazing upon the Bay, +fingers drumming this time a very slow march on the window sill. Dorothy +sat in a rocking-chair, reading a letter for the second time. There had been +silence in the room for some minutes, accentuated rather than broken by the +quiet drumming of the girl's fingers on the window sill. Finally Katherine +breathed a deep sigh and murmured to herself: +<BLOCKQUOTE> +"'Far called our Navy fades away,<BR> + On dune and headland sinks the fire.<BR> + Lo, all our pomp of yesterday<BR> + Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.' +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +I wonder if I've got the lines right," she whispered to herself. She had +forgotten there was anyone else in the room, and was quite startled when +Dorothy spoke. +<P> +"Kate, that's a solemn change, from Gilbert to Kipling. I always judge your +mood by your quotations. Has life suddenly become too serious for 'Pinafore' +or the 'Mikado'?" +<P> +"Oh, I don't know," said Katherine, without turning round. "They are humorous +all, and so each furnishes something suitable for the saddened mind. Wisdom +comes through understanding your alphabet properly. For instance, first there +was Gilbert, and that gave us G; then came Kipling, and he gave us K; thus +we get an algebraic formula, G.K., which are the initials of Chesterton, +a still later arrival, and as the mind increases in despondency it sinks +lower and lower down the alphabet until it comes to S, and thus we have Barn-yard +Shaw, an improvement on the Kail-yard school, who takes the O pshaw view +of life. And relaxing hold of him I sink deeper until I come to W— W. W. +Jacobs— how I wish he wrote poetry! He should be the humorist of all sailors, +and perhaps some time he will desert barges for battleships. Then I shall +read him with increased enjoyment." +<P> +"I wouldn't give Mark Twain for the lot," commented Dorothy with decision. +<P> +"Mark Twain isn't yours to give, my dear. He belongs to me also. You've forgotten +that comparisons are odious. Our <I>metier</I> is not to compare, but to +take what pleases us from each. +<BLOCKQUOTE> +'How doth the little busy bee<BR> + Improve each shining hour,<BR> + And gather honey all the day<BR> + From every opening flower. +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +Watts. You see, I'm still down among the W's. Oh, Dorothy, how can you sit +there so placidly when the 'Consternation' has just faded from sight? Selfish +creature! +<BLOCKQUOTE> +'Oh, give me tears for others' woes<BR> + And patience for mine own.' +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +I don't know who wrote that, but you have no tears for others' woes, merely +greeting them with ribald laughter," for Dorothy, with the well-read letter +in her hand, was making the rafters ring with her merriment, something that +had never before happened during her long tenancy of that room. Kate turned +her head slowly round, and the expression on her face was half-indignant, +half-humorous, while her eyes were uncertain weather prophets, and gave equal +indication of sunshine or rain. +<P> +"Why, Katherine, you look like a tragedy queen, rather than the spirit of +comedy! Is it really a case of 'Tit-willow, tit-willow, tit-willow'? You +see, I'm a-rescuing you from the bottom of the alphabet, and bringing you +up to the Gilbert plane, where I am more accustomed to you, and understand +you better. Is this despondency due to the departure of the 'Consternation,' +and the fact that she carries away with her Jack Lamont, blacksmith?" +<P> +The long sigh terminated in a woeful "yes." +<P> +"The ship that has gone out with him we call she. If he had eloped with a +real she, then wearing the willow, or singing it, however futile, might be +understandable. As it is I see nothing in the situation to call for a sigh." +<P> +"That is because you are a hardened sinner, Dorothy. You have no heart, or +at least if you have, it is untouched, and therefore you cannot understand. +If that note in your hand were a love missive, instead of a letter from your +lawyers, you would be more human, Dorothy." +<P> +The hand which held the paper crumpled it up slightly as Katherine spoke. +<P> +"Business letters are quite necessary, and belong to the world we live in," +said Dorothy, a glow of brighter color suffusing her cheeks. "Surely your +acquaintance with Mr. Lamont is of the shortest." +<P> +"He has called upon me every day since the night of the ball," maintained +Katherine stoutly. +<P> +"Well, that's only three times." +<P> +"Only three! How you talk! One would think you had never been schooled in +mathematics. Why, three is a magic figure. You can do plenty of amazing things +with it. Don't you know that three is a numeral of love?" +<P> +"I thought two was the number," chimed Dorothy, with heartless mirth. +<P> +"Three," said Katherine taking one last look at the empty horizon, then seating +herself in front of her friend, "three is a recurring decimal. It goes on +and on and on forever, and if you write it for a thousand years you are still +as far from the end as when you began. It will carry you round the world +and back again, and never diminish. It is the mathematical emblem of the +nature of true love." +<P> +"Is it so serious as all that, Kate, or are you just fooling again?" asked +Dorothy, more soberly than heretofore. "Has he spoken to you?" +<P> +"Spoken? He has done nothing but speak, and I have listened— oh, so intently, +and with such deep understanding. He has never before met such a woman as +I, and has frankly told me so." +<P> +"I am very glad he appreciates you, dear." +<P> +"Yes, you see, Dorothy, I am really much deeper than the ordinary woman. +Who, for instance, could find such a beautiful love simile from a book of +arithmetic costing twenty-five cents, as I have unearthed from decimal fractions? +With that example in mind how can you doubt that other volumes of college +learning reveal to me their inner meaning? John presented to me, as he said +good-by, a beautifully bound copy of that celebrated text-book, 'Saunders' +Analytical Chemistry,' with particularly tender passages marked in pencil, +by his own dear hand." +<P> +Rather bewildered, for Kate's expression was one of pathos, unrelieved by +any gleam of humor, Dorothy nevertheless laughed, although the laugh brought +no echo from Katherine. +<P> +"And did you give him a volume of Browning in return?" +<P> +"No, I didn't. How can you be so unsympathetic? Is it impossible for you +to comprehend the unseen link that binds John and me? I rummaged the book +store until I found a charming little edition of 'Marshall's Geologist's +Pocket Companion,' covered with beautiful brown limp Russia leather— I thought +the Russia binding was so inspirational— with a sweet little clasp that keeps +it closed— typical of our hands at parting. On the fly-leaf I wrote: 'To +J. L., in remembrance of many interesting conversations with his friend, +K. K.' It only needed another K to be emblematic and political, a reminiscence +of the olden times, when you people of the South, Dorothy, were making it +hot for us deserving folks in the North. I hadn't time to go through the +book very thoroughly, but I found many references to limestone, which I marked, +and one particularly choice bit of English relating to the dissolution and +re-consolidation of various minerals I drew a parallelogram around in red +ink. A friend of mine in a motor launch was good enough to take the little +parcel direct to the 'Consternation,' and I have no doubt that at this moment +Jack is perusing it, and perhaps thinking of the giver. I hope it's up-to-date, +and that he had not previously bought a copy." +<P> +"You don't mean to say, Kate, that your conversation was entirely about geology?" +<P> +"Certainly not. How could you have become imbued with an idea so absurd? +We had many delightful dalliances down the romantic groves of chemistry, +heart-to-heart talks on metallurgy, and once— ah, shall I ever forget it— while +the dusk gently enfolded us, and I gazed into those bright, speaking, intelligent +eyes of his as he bent nearer and nearer; while his low, sonorous voice in +well-chosen words pictured to me the promise which fortified cement holds +out to the world; that is, ignorant person, Portland cement strengthened +by ribs of steel; and I sat listening breathless as his glowing phrases +prophesied the future of this combination." +<P> +Katherine closed her eyes, rocked gently back and forth, and crooned, almost +inaudibly: +<BLOCKQUOTE> +"'When you gang awa, Jimmie,<BR> + Faur across the sea, laddie,<BR> + When ye gang to Russian lands<BR> + What will ye send to me, laddie?' +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +I know what I shall get. It will probably be a newly discovered recipe for +the compounding of cement which will do away with the necessity of steel +strengthening." +<P> +"Kate, dear, you are overdoing it. It is quite right that woman should be +a mystery to man, but she should not aspire to become a mystery to her sister +woman. Are you just making fun, or is there something in all this more serious +than your words imply?" +<P> +"Like the steel strengthening in the cement, it may be there, but you can't +see it, and you can't touch it, but it makes— oh, such a difference to the +slab. Heigho, Dorothy, let us forsake these hard-headed subjects, and turn +to something human. What have your lawyers been bothering you about? No trouble +over the money, is there?" +<P> +Dorothy shook her head. +<P> +"No. Of course, there are various matters they have to consult me about, +and get my consent to this project or the other." +<P> +"Read the letter. Perhaps my mathematical mind can be of assistance to you." +<P> +Dorothy had concealed the letter, and did not now produce it. +<P> +"It is with reference to your assistance, and your continued assistance, +that I wish to speak to you. Let us follow the example of the cement and +the steel, and form a compact. In one respect I am going to imitate the +'Consternation.' I leave Bar Harbor next week." +<P> +Katherine sat up in her chair, and her eyes opened wide. +<P> +"What's the matter with Bar Harbor?" she asked. +<P> +"You can answer that question better than I, Kate. The Kempt family are not +visitors, but live here all the year round. What do you think is the matter +with Bar Harbor?" +<P> +"I confess it's a little dull in the winter time, and in all seasons it is +situated a considerable distance from New York. Where do you intend to go, +Dorothy?" +<P> +"That will depend largely on where my friend Kate advises me to go, because +I shall take her with me if she will come." +<P> +"Companion, lady's-maid, parlor maid, maid-of-all-work, cook, governess, +typewriter-girl--which have I to be? Shall I get one afternoon a week off, +and may my young man come and see me, if I happen to secure one, and, extremely +important, what are the wages?" +<P> +"You shall fix your own salary, Kate, and my lawyer men will arrange that +the chosen sum is settled upon you so that if we fall out we can quarrel +on equal terms." +<P> +"Oh, I see, it's an adopted daughter I am to be, then?" +<P> +"An adopted sister, rather." +<P> +"Do you think I am going to take advantage of my friendship with an heiress, +and so pension myself off?" +<P> +"It is I who am taking the advantage," said Dorothy, "and I beg you to take +compassion, rather than advantage, upon a lone creature who has no kith or +kin in the world." +<P> +"Do you really mean it, Dot?" +<P> +"Of course I do. Should I propose it if I didn't?" +<P> +"Well, this is the first proposal I've ever had, and I believe it is customary +to say on those occasions that it is so sudden, or so unexpected, and time +is required for consideration." +<P> +"How soon can you make up your mind, Kate?" +<P> +"Oh, my mind's already made up. I'm going to jump at your offer, but I think +it more ladylike to pretend a mild reluctance. What are you going to do, +Dorothy?" +<P> +"I don't know. I've settled on only one thing. I intend to build a little +stone and tile church, very quaint and old-fashioned, if I get the right +kind of architect to draw a plan for it, and this church is to be situated +in Haverstock." +<P> +"Where's Haverstock?" +<P> +"It is a village near the Hudson River, on the plain that stretches toward +the Catskills." +<P> +"It was there you lived with your father, was it not?" +<P> +"Yes, and my church is to be called the Dr. Amhurst Memorial Church." +<P> +"And do you propose to live at Haverstock?" +<P> +"I was thinking of that." +<P> +"Wouldn't it be just a little dull?" +<P> +"Yes, I suppose it is, but it seems to me a suitable place where two young +women may meditate on what they are going to do with their lives." +<P> +"Yes, that's an important question for the two. I say, Dorothy, let's take +the other side of the river, and enter Vassar College. Then we should at +least have some fun, and there would be some reasonably well-educated people +to speak to." +<P> +"Oh, you wish to use your lately acquired scientific knowledge in order to +pass the examinations; but, you see, I have had no tutor to school me in +the mysteries of lime-burning and the mixing of cement. Now, you have scorned +my side of the river, and I have objected to your side of the river. That +is the bad beginning which, let us hope, makes the good ending. Who is to +arbitrate on our dispute?" +<P> +"Why, we'll split the difference, of course." +<P> +"How can we do that? Live in a house-boat on the river like Frank Stockton's +'Budder Grange'?" +<P> +"No, settle in the city of New York, which is practically an island in the +Hudson." +<P> +"Would you like to live in New York?" +<P> +"Wouldn't I! Imagine any one, having the chance, living anywhere else!" +<P> +"In a hotel, I suppose— the Holldorf for choice." +<P> +"Yes, we could live in a hotel until we found the ideal flat, high up in +a nice apartment house, with a view like that from the top of Mount Washington, +or from the top of the Washington Monument." +<P> +"But you forget I made one proviso in the beginning, and that is that I am +going to build a church, and the church is to be situated, not in the city +of New York, but in the village of Haverstock." +<P> +"New York is just the place from which to construct such an edifice. Haverstock +will be somewhere near the West Shore Railway. Very well. We can take a trip +up there once a week or oftener, if you like, and see how the work is +progressing, then the people of Haverstock will respect us. As we drive from +the station they'll say: +<P> +"'There's the two young ladies from New York who are building the church.' +But if we settle down amongst them they'll think we're only ordinary villagers +instead of the distinguished persons we are. Or, while our flat is being +made ready we could live at one of the big hotels in the Catskills, and come +down as often as we like on the inclined railway. Indeed, until the weather +gets colder, the Catskills is the place. +<BLOCKQUOTE> +'And lo, the Catskills print the distant sky,<BR> + And o'er their airy tops the faint clouds driven,<BR> + So softly blending that the cheated eye<BR> + Forgets or which is earth, or which is heaven.'" +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +"That ought to carry the day for the Catskills, Kate. What sort of habitation +shall we choose? A big hotel, or a select private boarding house?" +<P> +"Oh, a big hotel, of course— the biggest there is, whatever its name may +be. One of those whose rates are so high that the proprietor daren't advertise +them, but says in his announcement, 'for terms apply to the manager.' It +must have ample grounds, support an excellent band, and advertise a renowned +cuisine. Your room, at least, should have a private balcony on which you +can place a telescope and watch the building of your church down below. I, +being a humble person in a subordinate position, should have a balcony also +to make up for those deficiencies." +<P> +"Very well, Kate, that's settled. But although two lone women may set up +housekeeping in a New York flat, they cannot very well go alone to a fashionable +hotel." +<P> +"Oh, yes, we can. Best of references given and required." +<P> +"I was going to suggest," pursued Dorothy, not noticing the interruption, +"that we invite your father and mother to accompany us. They might enjoy +a change from sea air to mountain air." +<P> +Katherine frowned a little, and demurred. +<P> +"Are you going to be fearfully conventional, Dorothy?" +<P> +"We must pay some attention to the conventions, don't you think?" +<P> +"I had hoped not. I yearn to be a bachelor girl, and own a latch-key." +<P> +"We shall each possess a latch-key when we settle down in New York. Our flat +will be our castle, and, although our latch-key will let us in, our Yale +lock will keep other people out. A noted summer resort calls for different +treatment, because there we lead a semi-public life. Besides, I am selfish +enough to wish my coming-out to be under the auspices of so well-known a +man as Captain Kempt." +<P> +"All right, I'll see what they say about it. You don't want Sabina, I take +it?" +<P> +"Yes, if she will consent to come." +<P> +"I doubt if she will, but I'll see. Besides, now that I come to think about +it, it's only fair I should allow my doting parents to know that I am about +to desert them." +<P> +With that Katherine quitted the room, and went down the stairs hippety-hop. +<P> +Dorothy drew the letter from its place of concealment, and read it for the +third time, although one not interested might have termed it a most commonplace +document. It began: +<P> +"Dear Miss Amhurst," and ended "Yours most sincerely, Alan Drummond." It +gave some account of his doings since he bade good-bye to her. A sailor, +he informed her, needs little time for packing his belongings, and on the +occasion in question the Prince had been of great assistance. They set out +together for the early morning train, and said "au revoir" at the station. +Drummond had intended to sail from New York, but a friendly person whom he +met on the train informed him that the Liverpool liner "Enthusiana" set out +from Boston next day, so he had abandoned the New York idea, and had taken +passage on the liner named, on whose note-paper he wrote the letter, which +epistle was once more concealed as Dorothy heard Katherine's light step on +the stair. +<P> +That impulsive young woman burst into the sewing room. +<P> +"We're <I>all</I> going," she cried. "Father, mother and Sabina. It seems +father has had an excellent offer to let the house furnished till the end +of September, and he says that, as he likes high life, he will put in the +time on the top of the Catskills. He abandons me, and says that if he can +borrow a shilling he is going to cut me off with it in his will. He regrets +the departure of the British Fleet, because he thinks he might have been +able to raise a real English shilling aboard. Dad only insists on one condition, +namely, that he is to pay for himself, mother and Sabina, so he does not +want a room with a balcony. I said that in spite of his disinheritance I'd +help the family out of my salary, and so he is going to reconsider the changing +of his will." +<P> +"We will settle the conditions when we reach the Catskills," said Dorothy, +smiling. +<h3>CHAPTER VII</h3> +<h4>"A WAY THEY HAVE IN THE NAVY"</h4> +<P> +CAPTAIN and Mrs. Kempt with Sabina had resided a week in the Matterhorn Hotel +before the two girls arrived there. They had gone direct to New York, and +it required the seven days to find a flat that suited them, of which they +were to take possession on the first of October. Then there were the lawyers +to see; a great many business details to settle, and an architect to consult. +After leaving New York the girls spent a day at Haverstock, where Dorothy +Amhurst bought a piece of land as shrewdly as if she had been in the real +estate business all her life. After this transaction the girls drove to the +station on the line connecting with the inclined railway, and so, as Katherine +remarked, were "wafted to the skies on flowery beds of ease," which she explained +to her shocked companion was all right, because it was a quotation from a +hymn. When at last they reached their hotel, Katherine was in ecstasies. +<P> +"Isn't this heavenly?" she cried, "and, indeed, it ought to be, for I understand +we are three thousand feet higher than we were in New York, and even the +sky-scrapers can't compete with such an altitude." +<P> +The broad valley of the Hudson lay spread beneath them, stretching as far +as the eye could see, shimmering in the thin, bluish veil of a summer evening, +and miles away the river itself could be traced like a silver ribbon. +<P> +The gallant Captain, who had been energetically browbeaten by his younger +daughter, and threatened with divers pains and penalties should he fail to +pay attention and take heed to instructions, had acquitted himself with +<I>eclat</I> in the selection of rooms for Dorothy and his daughter. The +suite was situated in one corner of the huge caravansary, a large parlor +occupying the angle, with windows on one side looking into the forest, and +on the other giving an extended view across the valley. The front room adjoining +the parlor was to be Dorothy's very own, and the end room belonged to Katherine, +he said, as long as she behaved herself. If Dorothy ever wished to evict +her strenuous neighbor, all she had to do was to call upon the Captain, and +he would lend his aid, at which proffer of assistance Katherine tossed her +head, and said she would try the room for a week, and, if she didn't like +it, out Dorothy would have to go. +<P> +There followed days and nights of revelry. Hops, concerts, entertainments +of all sorts, with a more pretentious ball on Saturday night, when the week-tired +man from New York arrived in the afternoon to find temperature twenty degrees +lower, and the altitude very much higher than was the case in his busy office +in the city. Katherine revelled in this round of excitement, and indeed, +so, in a milder way, did Dorothy. After the functions were over the girls +enjoyed a comforting chat with one another in their drawing room; all windows +open, and the moon a-shining down over the luminous valley, which it seemed +to fill with mother-o'-pearl dust. +<P> +Young Mr. J. K. Henderson of New York, having danced repeatedly with Katherine +on Saturday night, unexpectedly turned up for the hop on the following Wednesday, +when he again danced repeatedly with the same joyous girl. It being somewhat +unusual for a keen business man to take a four hours' journey during an afternoon +in the middle of the week, and, as a consequence, arrive late at his office +next morning, Dorothy began to wonder if a concrete formation, associated +with the name of Prince Ivan Lermontoff of Russia, was strong enough to stand +an energetic assault of this nature, supposing it were to be constantly repeated. +It was after midnight on Wednesday when the two reached the corner parlor. +Dorothy sat in a cane armchair, while Katherine threw herself into a +rocking-chair, laced her fingers behind her head, and gazed through the open +window at the misty infinity beyond. +<P> +"Well," sighed Katherine, "this has been the most enjoyable evening I ever +spent!" +<P> +"Are you quite sure?" inquired her friend. +<P> +"Certainly. Shouldn't I know?" +<P> +"He dances well, then?" +<P> +"Exquisitely!" +<P> +"Better than Jack Lamont?" +<P> +"Well, now you mention him I must confess Jack danced very creditably." +<P> +"I didn't know but you might have forgotten the Prince." +<P> +"No, I haven't exactly forgotten him, but— I do think he might have written +to me." +<P> +"Oh, that's it, is it? Did he ask your permission to write?" +<P> +"Good gracious, no. We never talked of writing. Old red sandstone, rather, +was our topic of conversation. Still, he might have acknowledged receipt +of the book." +<P> +"But the book was given to him in return for the one he presented to you." +<P> +"Yes, I suppose it was. I hadn't thought of that." +<P> +"Then again, Kate, Russian notions regarding writing to young ladies may +differ from ours, or he may have fallen overboard, or touched a live wire." +<P> +"Yes, there are many possibilities," murmured Katherine dreamily. +<P> +"It seems rather strange that Mr. Henderson should have time to come up here +in the middle of the week." +<P> +"Why is it strange?" asked Katherine. "Mr. Henderson is not a clerk bound +down to office hours. He's an official high up in one of the big insurance +companies, and gets a simply tremendous salary." +<P> +"Really? Does he talk as well as Jack Lamont did?" +<P> +"He talks less like the Troy Technical Institute, and more like the 'Home +Journal' than poor Prince Jack did, and then he has a much greater sense +of humor. When I told him that the oath of an insurance man should be 'bet +your life!' he laughed. Now, Jack would never have seen the point of that. +Anyhow, the hour is too late, and I am too sleepy, to worry about young men, +or jokes either. Good-night!" +<P> +Next morning's mail brought Dorothy a bulky letter decorated with English +stamps. She locked the door, tore open the envelope, and found many sheets +of thin paper bearing the heading of the Bluewater Club, Pall Mall. +<P> +"I am reminded of an old adage," she read, "to the effect that one should +never cross a bridge before arriving at it. Since I bade good-by to you, +up to this very evening, I have been plodding over a bridge that didn't exist, +much to my own discomfort. You were with me when I received the message ordering +me home to England, and I don't know whether or not I succeeded in suppressing +all signs of my own perturbation, but we have in the Navy now a man who does +not hesitate to overturn a court martial, and so I feared a re-opening of +the Rock in the Baltic question, which might have meant the wrecking of my +career. I had quite made up my mind, if the worst came to the worst, to go +out West and become a cow-boy, but a passenger with whom I became acquainted +on the 'Enthusiana' informed me, to my regret, that the cow-boy is largely +a being of the past, to be met with only in the writings of Stewart Edward +White, Owen Wister, and several other famous men whom he named. So you see, +I went across the ocean tolerably depressed, finding my present occupation +threatened, and my future uncertain. +<P> +"When I arrived in London I took a room at this Club, of which I have been +a member for some years, and reported immediately at the Admiralty. But there, +in spite of all diligence on my part, I was quite unable to learn what was +wanted of me. Of course, I could have gone to my Uncle, who is in the government, +and perhaps he might have enlightened me, although he has nothing to do with +the Navy, but I rather like to avoid Uncle Metgurne. He brought me up since +I was a small boy, and seems unnecessarily ashamed of the result. It is his +son who is the <I>attache'</I> in St. Petersburg that I spoke to you about." +<P> +Dorothy ceased reading for a moment. +<P> +"Metgurne, Metgurne," she said to herself. "Surely I know that name?" +<P> +She laid down the letter, pressed the electric button, and unlocked the door. +When the servant came, she said: +<P> +"Will you ask at the office if they have any biographical book of reference +relating to Great Britain, and if so, please bring it to me." +<P> +The servant appeared shortly after with a red book which proved to be an +English "Who's Who" dated two years back. Turning the pages she came to Metgurne. +<P> +"Metgurne, twelfth Duke of, created 1681, Herbert George Alan." Here followed +a number of other titles, the information that the son and heir was Marquis +of Thaxted, and belonged to the Diplomatic Service, that Lord Metgurne was +H. M. Secretary of State for Royal Dependencies; finally a list of residences +and clubs. She put down the book and resumed the letter. +<P> +"I think I ought to have told you that when I reach St. Petersburg I shall +be as anxious to avoid my cousin Thaxted as I am to steer clear of his father +in London. So I sat in my club, and read the papers. Dear me, this is evidently +going to be a very long letter. I hope you won't mind. I think perhaps you +may be interested in learning how they do things over here. +<P> +"After two or three days of anxious waiting there came a crushing communication +from the Admiralty which confirmed my worst fears and set me at crossing +the bridge again. I was ordered to report next morning at eleven, at Committee +Room 5, in the Admiralty, and bring with me full particulars pertaining to +the firing of gun number so-and-so of the 'Consternation's' equipment on +such a date. I wonder since that I did not take to drink. We have every facility +for that sort of thing in this club. However, at eleven next day, I presented +myself at the Committee Room and found in session the grimmest looking five +men I have ever yet been called upon to face. Collectively they were about +ten times worse in appearance than the court-martial I had previously +encountered. Four of the men I did not know, but the fifth I recognized at +once, having often seen his portrait. He is Admiral Sir John Pendergest, +popularly known in the service as 'Old Grouch,' a blue terror who knows +absolutely nothing of mercy. The lads in the service say he looks so disagreeable +because he is sorry he wasn't born a hanging judge. Picture a face as cleanly +cut as that of some severe old Roman Senator; a face as hard as marble, quite +as cold, and nearly as white, rescued from the appearance of a death mask +by a pair of piercing eyes that glitter like steel. When looking at him it +is quite impossible to believe that such a personage has ever been a boy +who played pranks on his masters. Indeed, Admiral Sir John Pendergest seems +to have sprung, fully uniformed and forbidding, from the earth, like those +soldiers of mythology. I was so taken aback at confronting such a man that +I never noticed my old friend, Billy Richardson, seated at the table as one +of the minor officials of the Committee. Billy tells me I looked rather white +about the lips when I realized what was ahead of me, and I daresay he was +right. My consolation is that I didn't get red, as is my disconcerting habit. +I was accommodated with a chair, and then a ferrety-faced little man began +asking me questions, consulting every now and then a foolscap sheet of paper +which was before him. Others were ready to note down the answers. +<P> +"'When did you fire the new gun from the "Consternation" in the Baltic?' +<P> +"Dear Miss Amhurst, I have confessed to you that I am not brilliant, and, +indeed, such confession was quite unnecessary, for you must speedily have +recognized the fact, but here let me boast for a line or two of my one +accomplishment, which is mathematical accuracy. When I make experiments I +don't note the result by rule of thumb. My answer to the ferret-faced man +was prompt and complete. +<P> +"'At twenty-three minutes, seventeen seconds past ten, A.M., on May the third +of this year,' was my reply. +<P> +"The five high officials remained perfectly impassive, but the two stenographers +seemed somewhat taken by surprise, and one of them whispered, 'Did you say +fifteen seconds, sir?' +<P> +"'He said seventeen,' growled Sir John Pendergest, in a voice that seemed +to come out of a sepulchre. +<P> +"'Who sighted the gun?' +<P> +"'I did, sir.' +<P> +"'Why did not the regular gunner do that?' +<P> +"'He did, sir, but I also took observations, and raised the muzzle .000327 +of an inch.' +<P> +"'Was your gunner inaccurate, then, to that extent?' +<P> +"'No, sir, but I had +weighed the ammunition, and found it short by two ounces and thirty-seven +grains.' +<P> +"I must not bore you with all the questions and answers. I merely give these +as samples. They questioned me about the recoil, the action of the gun, the +state of this, that and the other after firing, and luckily I was able to +answer to a dot every query put to me. At the finish one of the judges asked +me to give in my own words my opinion of the gun. Admiral Sir John glared +at him as he put this question, for of course to any expert the answers I +had furnished, all taken together, gave an accurate verdict on the gun, assuming +my statements to have been correct, which I maintain they were. However, +as Sir John made no verbal comment, I offered my opinion as tersely as I +could. +<P> +"'Thank you, Lieutenant Drummond,' rumbled Sir John in his deep voice, as +if he were pronouncing sentence, and, my testimony completed, the Committee +rose. +<P> +"I was out in the street before Billy Richardson overtook me, and then he +called himself to my attention by a resounding slap on the shoulder. +<P> +"'Alan, my boy,' he cried, 'you have done yourself proud. Your fortune's +made.' +<P> +"'As how?' I asked, shaking him by the hand. +<P> +"'Why, we've been for weeks holding an inquiry on this blessed gun, and the +question is whether or not a lot more of them are to be made. You know what +an opinionated beast Old Grouch is. Well, my boy, you have corroborated his +opinion of the gun in every detail. He is such a brow-beating, tyrannical +brute that the rest of the Committee would rather like to go against him +if they dared, but you have put a spoke in their wheel. Why, Sir John never +said "thank you" to a human being since he was born until twenty-seven minutes +and fifteen seconds after eleven this morning, as you would have put it,' +and at the time of writing this letter this surmise of Billy's appears to +be justified, for the tape in the club just now announced that the Committee +has unanimously decided in favor of the gun, and adds that this is regarded +as a triumph for the chairman, Admiral Sir John Pendergest, with various +letters after his name. +<P> +"Dear Miss Amhurst, this letter, as I feared, has turned out intolerably +long, and like our first conversation, it is all about myself. But then, +you see, you are the only one on the other side of the water to whom I have +confided my selfish worries, and I believe you to be so kind-hearted that +I am sure you will not censure me for this once exceeding the limits of friendly +correspondence. Having been deeply depressed during all the previous long +days, the sudden reaction urges me to go out into Pall Mall, fling my cap +in the air, and whoop, which action is quite evidently a remnant of my former +cow-boy aspirations. Truth to tell, the Russian business seems already forgotten, +except by my stout old Captain on the 'Consternation,' or my Uncle. The strenuous +Sir John has had me haled across the ocean merely to give testimony, lasting +about thirty-five minutes, when with a little patience he might have waited +till the 'Consternation' herself arrived, or else have cabled for us to try +the gun at Bar Harbor. I suppose, however, that after my unfortunate +<I>contretemps</I> with Russia our government was afraid I'd chip a corner +off the United States, and that they'd have to pay for it. So perhaps after +all it was greater economy to bring me across on the liner 'Enthusiana.' +<P> +"By the way, I learned yesterday that the 'Consternation' has been ordered +home, and so I expect to see Jack Lamont before many days are past. The ship +will be paid off at Portsmouth, and then I suppose he and I will have our +freedom for six months. I am rather looking forward to Jack's cooking me +some weird but tasteful Russian dishes when we reach his blacksmith's shop +in St. Petersburg. If I get on in Russia as I hope and expect, I shall spend +the rest of my leave over in the States. I saw very little indeed of that +great country, and am extremely anxious to see more. When one is on duty +aboard ship one can only take very short excursions ashore. I should like +to visit Niagara. It seems ridiculous that one should have been all along +the American coast from Canada to New York, and never have got far enough +inland to view the great Falls. + +<p>"Russia is rather dilatory in her methods, +but I surely should know within two or three weeks whether I am going to +succeed or not. If not, then there is no use in waiting there. I shall try +to persuade the Prince to accompany me to America. During the weeks I am +waiting in St. Petersburg I shall continually impress upon him the utter +futility of a life which has not investigated the great electrical power +plant at Niagara Falls. And then he is interested in the educational system +of the United States. While we were going to the station early that morning +he told me that the United States educational system must be the most wonderful +in the world, because he found that your friend, Miss Katherine Kempt, knew +more about electricity, metallurgy, natural philosophy and a great number +of other things he is interested in, than all the ladies he has met in Europe +put together. He thinks that's the right sort of education for girls, and +all this rather astonished me, because, although your friend was most charming, +she said nothing during my very short acquaintance with her to lead me to +suspect that she had received a scientific training. + +<p>"Dear Miss Amhurst, +I am looking every day for a letter from you, but none has yet been received +by the Admiralty, who, when they get one, will forward it to whatever part +of the world I happen to be in." +<h3>CHAPTER VIII</h3> +<h4>"WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME"</h4> +<P> +A SUMMER hotel that boasts a thousand acres of forest, more or less, which +serve the purposes of a back-yard, affords its guests, even if all its multitude +of rooms are occupied, at least one spot for each visitor to regard as his +or her favorite nook. So large an extent of woodland successfully defies +landscape gardening. It insists on being left alone, and its very immensity +raises a financial barrier against trimly-kept gravel walks. There were plenty +of landscape garden walks in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, and some +of them ambitiously penetrated into the woods, relapsing from the civilization +of beaten gravel into a primitive thicket trail, which, however, always led +to some celebrated bit of picturesqueness: a waterfall, or a pulpit rock +upstanding like a tower, or the fancied resemblance of a human face carved +by Nature from the cliff, or a view-point jutting out over the deep chasm +of the valley, which usually supported a rustic summer house or pavilion +where unknown names were carved on the woodwork— the last resort of the +undistinguished to achieve immortality by means of a jack-knife. +<P> +Dorothy discovered a little Eden of her own, to which no discernible covert-way +led, for it was not conspicuous enough to obtain mention in the little gratis +guide which the hotel furnished— a pamphlet on coated paper filled with half-tone +engravings, and half-extravagant eulogies of what it proclaimed to be, an +earthly paradise, with the rates by the day or week given on the cover page +to show on what terms this paradise might be enjoyed. +<P> +Dorothy's bower was green, and cool, and crystal, the ruggedness of the rocks +softened by the wealth of foliage. A very limpid spring, high up and out +of sight among the leaves, sent its waters tinkling down the face of the +cliff, ever filling a crystal-clear lakelet at the foot, which yet was never +full. Velvety and beautiful as was the moss surrounding this pond, it was +nevertheless too damp to form an acceptable couch for a human being, unless +that human being were brave enough to risk the rheumatic inconveniences which +followed Rip Van Winkle's long sleep in these very regions, so Dorothy always +carried with her from the hotel a feather-weight, spider's-web hammock, which +she deftly slung between two saplings, their light suppleness giving an almost +pneumatic effect to this fairy net spread in a fairy glen; and here the young +woman swayed luxuriously in the relaxing delights of an indolence still too +new to have become commonplace or wearisome. +<P> +She always expected to read a great deal in the hammock, but often the book +slipped unnoticed to the moss, and she lay looking upward at the little discs +of blue sky visible through the checkering maze of green leaves. One afternoon, +deserted by the latest piece of fictional literature, marked in plain figures +on the paper cover that protected the cloth binding, one dollar and a half, +but sold at the department stores for one dollar and eight cents, Dorothy +lay half-hypnotized by the twinkling of the green leaves above her, when +she heard a sweet voice singing a rollicking song of the Civil War, and so +knew that Katherine was thus heralding her approach. +<BLOCKQUOTE> +"'When Johnny comes marching home again,<BR> + Hurrah! + Hurrah!<BR> + We'll give him a hearty welcome then,<BR> + Hurrah! + Hurrah!<BR> + The men will cheer, the boys will shout,<BR> + The ladies they will all turn out,<BR> + And we'll all feel gay<BR> + When Johnny comes marching home.'" +</BLOCKQUOTE> +<P> +Dorothy went still further back into the history of her country, and gave +a faint imitation of an Indian war-whoop, to let the oncomer know she was +welcome, and presently Katherine burst impetuously through the dense undergrowth. +<P> +"So here you are, Miss Laziness," she cried. +<P> +"Here I am, Miss Energy, or shall I call you Miss-applied Energy? Katherine, +you have walked so fast that you are quite red in the face." +<P> +"It isn't exertion, it's vexation. Dorothy, I have had a perfectly terrible +time. It is the anxiety regarding the proper discipline of parents that is +spoiling the nervous system of American children. Train them up in the way +they should go, and when they are old they <I>do</I> depart from it. There's +nothing more awful than to own parents who think they possess a sense of +humor. Thank goodness mother has none!" +<P> +"Then it is your father who has been misbehaving?" +<P> +"Of course it is. He treats the most serious problem of a woman's life as +if it were the latest thing in 'Life.'" +<P> +Dorothy sat up in the hammock. +<P> +"The most important problem? That means a proposal. Goodness gracious, Kate, +is that insurance man back here again?" +<P> +"<I>What</I> insurance man?" +<P> +"Oh, heartless and heart-breaking Katherine, is there another? Sit here in +the hammock beside me, and tell me all about it." +<P> +"No, thank you," refused Katherine. "I weigh more than you, and I cannot +risk my neck through the collapse of that bit of gossamer. I must take care +of myself for his sake." +<P> +"Then it is the life insurance man whose interests you are consulting? Have +you taken out a policy with him?" +<P> +"Dear me, you are nearly as bad as father, but not quite so funny. You are +referring to Mr. Henderson, I presume. A most delightful companion for a +dance, but, my dear Dorothy, life is not all glided out to the measures of +a Strauss waltz." +<P> +"True; quite undisputable, Kate, and them sentiments do you credit. Who is +the man?" +<P> +"The human soul," continued Katherine seriously, "aspires to higher things +than the society columns of the New York Sunday papers, and the frivolous +chatter of an overheated ball-room." +<P> +"Again you score, Kate, and are rising higher and higher in my estimation. +I see it all now. Those solemn utterances of yours point directly toward +Hugh Miller's 'Old Red Sandstone' and works of that sort, and now I remember +your singing 'When Johnny comes marching home.' I therefore take it that +Jack Lamont has arrived." +<P> +"He has not." +<P> +"Then he has written to you?" +<P> +"He has not." +<P> +"Oh, well, I give it up. Tell me the tragedy your own way." +<P> +For answer Katherine withdrew her hands from behind her, and offered to her +friend a sheet of paper she had been holding. Dorothy saw blazoned on the +top of it a coat-of-arms, and underneath it, written in words of the most +formal nature, was the information that Prince Ivan Lermontoff presented +his warmest regards to Captain Kempt, U.S.N., retired, and begged permission +to pay his addresses to the Captain's daughter Katherine. Dorothy looked +up from the document, and her friend said calmly: +<P> +"You see, they need another Katherine in Russia." +<P> +"I hope she won't be like a former one, if all I've read of her is true. +This letter was sent to your father, then?" +<P> +"It was, and he seems to regard it as a huge joke. Said he was going to cable +his consent, and as the 'Consternation' has sailed away, he would try to +pick her up by wireless telegraphy, and secure the young man that way: suggests +that I shall have a lot of new photographs taken, so that he can hand them +out to the reporters when they call for particulars. Sees in his mind's eye, +he says, a huge black-lettered heading in the evening papers: 'A Russian +Prince captures one of our fairest daughters,' and then insultingly hinted +that perhaps, after all, it was better not to use my picture, as it might +not bear out the 'fair daughter' fiction of the heading." +<P> +"Yes, Kate, I can see that such treatment of a vital subject must have been +very provoking." +<P> +"Provoking? I should say it was! He pretended he was going to tack this letter +up on the notice-board in the hall of the hotel, so that every one might +know what guests of distinction the Matterhorn House held. But the most +exasperating feature of the situation is that this letter has been lying +for days and days at our cottage in Bar Harbor. I am quite certain that I +left instructions for letters to be forwarded, but, as nothing came, I +telegraphed yesterday to the people who have taken our house, and now a whole +heap of belated correspondence has arrived, with a note from our tenant saying +he did not know our address. You will see at the bottom of the note that +the Prince asks my father to communicate with him by sending a reply to the +'Consternation' at New York, but now the 'Consternation' has sailed for England, +and poor John must have waited and waited in vain." +<P> +"Write care of the 'Consternation' in England." +<P> +"But Jack told me that the 'Consternation' paid off as soon as she arrived, +and probably he will have gone to Russia." +<P> +"If you address him at the Admiralty in London, the letter will be forwarded +whereever he happens to be." +<P> +"How do you know?" +<P> +"I have heard that such is the case." +<P> +"But you're not sure, and I want to be certain." +<P> +"Are you really in love with him, Kate?" +<P> +"Of course I am. You know that very well, and I don't want any stupid +misapprehension to arise at the beginning, such as allows a silly author +to carry on his story to the four-hundredth page of such trash as this," +and she gently touched with her toe the unoffending volume which lay on the +ground beneath the hammock. +<P> +"Then why not adopt your father's suggestion, and cable? It isn't you who +are cabling, you know." +<P> +"I couldn't consent to that. It would look as if we were in a hurry, wouldn't +it?" +<P> +"Then let me cable." +<P> +"You? To whom?" +<P> +"Hand me up that despised book, Kate, and I'll write my cablegram on the +fly-leaf. If you approve of the message, I'll go to the hotel, and send it +at once." +<P> +Katherine gave her the book, and lent the little silver pencil which hung +jingling, with other trinkets, on the chain at her belt. Dorothy scribbled +a note, tore out the fly-leaf, and presented it to Katherine, who read: +<P> +"Alan Drummond, Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, London. Tell Lamont that his letter +to Captain Kempt was delayed, and did not reach the Captain until to-day. +Captain Kempt's reply will be sent under cover to you at your club. Arrange +for forwarding if you leave England. +<P> +Dorothy Amhurst." +<P> +When Katherine finished reading she looked up at her friend, and exclaimed: +"Well!" giving that one word a meaning deep as the clear pool on whose borders +she stood. +<P> +Dorothy's face reddened as if the sinking western sun was shining full upon +it. +<P> +"You write to one another, then?" +<P> +"Yes." +<P> +"And is it a case of—" +<P> +"No; friendship." +<P> +"Sure it is nothing more than that?" +<P> +Dorothy shook her head. +<P> +"Dorothy, you are a brick; that's what you are. You will do anything to help +a friend in trouble." +<P> +Dorothy smiled. +<P> +"I have so few friends that whatever I can do for them will not greatly tax +any capabilities I may possess." +<P> +"Nevertheless, Dorothy, I thoroughly appreciate what you have done. You did +not wish any one to know you were corresponding with him, and yet you never +hesitated a moment when you saw I was anxious." +<P> +"Indeed, Kate, there was nothing to conceal. Ours is a very ordinary exchange +of letters. I have only had two: one at Bar Harbor a few days after he left, +and another longer one since we came to the hotel, written from England." +<P> +"Did the last one go to Bar Harbor, too? How came you to receive it when +we did not get ours?" +<P> +"It did not go to Bar Harbor. I gave him the address of my lawyers in New +York, and they forwarded it to me here. Lieutenant Drummond was ordered home +by some one who had authority to do so, and received the message while he +was sitting with me on the night of the ball. He had got into trouble with +Russia. There had been an investigation, and he was acquitted. I saw that +he was rather worried over the order home and I expressed my sympathy as +well as I could, hoping everything would turn out for the best. He asked +if he might write and let me know the outcome, and, being interested, I quite +willingly gave him permission, and my address. The letter I received was +all about a committee meeting at the Admiralty in which he took part. He +wrote to me from the club in Pall Mall to which I have addressed this cablegram." +<P> +There was a sly dimple in Katherine's cheeks as she listened to this +straightforward explanation, and the faintest possible suspicion of a smile +flickered at the corner of her mouth. She murmured, rather than sang: +<P> +"'A pair of lovesick maidens we.'" +<P> +"One, if you please," interrupted Dorothy. +<P> +"'Lovesick all against our will— '" +<P> +"Only one." +<P> +"'Twenty years hence we shan't be +<br> +A pair of lovesick maidens still.'" +<P> +"I am pleased to note," said Dorothy demurely, "that the letter written by +the Prince to your father has brought you back to the Gilbert and Sullivan +plane again, although in this fairy glen you should quote from Iolanthe rather +than from Patience." +<P> +"Yes, Dot, this spot might do for a cove in the 'Pirates of Penzance,' only +we're too far from the sea. But, to return to the matter in hand, I don't +think there will be any need to send that cablegram. I don't like the idea +of a cablegram, anyhow. I will return to the hotel, and dictate to my frivolous +father a serious composition quite as stately and formal as that received +from the Prince. He will address it and seal it, and then if you are kind +enough to enclose it in the next letter you send to Lieutenant Drummond, +it will be sure to reach Jack Lamont ultimately." +<P> +Dorothy sprang from the hammock to the ground. +<P> +"Oh," she cried eagerly, "I'll go into the hotel with you and write my letter +at once." +<P> +Katherine smiled, took her by the arm, and said: +<P> +"You're a dear girl, Dorothy. I'll race you to the hotel, as soon as we are +through this thicket." +<h3>CHAPTER IX</h3> +<h4>IN RUSSIA</h4> +<P> +THE next letter Dorothy received bore Russian stamps, and was dated at the +black-smith's shop, Bolshoi Prospect, St. Petersburg. After a few preliminaries, +which need not be set down here, Drummond continued: +<P> +"The day after Jack arrived in London, there being nothing whatever to detain +him in England, we set off together for St. Petersburg, and are now domiciled +above his blacksmith shop. We are not on the fashionable side of the river, +but our street is wide, and a very short walk brings us to a bridge which, +being crossed, allows us to wander among palaces if we are so disposed. We +have been here only four days, yet a good deal has already been accomplished. +The influence of the Prince has smoothed my path for me. Yesterday I had +an audience with a very important personage in the Foreign Office, and to-day +I have seen an officer of high rank in the navy. The Prince warns me to mention +no names, because letters, even to a young lady, are sometimes opened before +they reach the person to whom they are addressed. These officials who have +been kind enough to receive me are gentlemen so polished that I feel quite +uncouth in their presence. I am a little shaky in my French, and feared that +my knowledge of that language might not carry me through, but both of these +officials speak English much better than I do, and they seemed rather pleased +I had voluntarily visited St. Petersburg to explain that no discourtesy was +meant in the action I had so unfortunately taken on the Baltic, and they +gave me their warmest assurances they would do what they could to ease the +tension between our respective countries. It seems that my business here +will be finished much sooner than I expected, and then I am off on the quickest +steamer for New York, in the hope of seeing Niagara Falls. I have met with +one disappointment, however. Jack says he cannot possibly accompany me to +the United States. I have failed to arouse in him the faintest interest about +the electric works at Niagara. He insists that he is on the verge of a most +important discovery, the nature of which he does not confide in me. I think +he is working too hard, for he is looking quite haggard and overdone, but +that is always the way with him. He throws himself heart and soul into any +difficulty that confronts him, and works practically night and day until +he has solved it. +<P> +"Yesterday he gave the whole street a fright. I had just returned from the +Foreign Office, and had gone upstairs to my room, when there occurred an +explosion that shook the building from cellar to roof, and sent the windows +of our blacksmith's shop rattling into the street. Jack had a most narrow +escape, but is unhurt, although that fine beard of his was badly singed. +He has had it shaved off, and now sports merely a mustache, looking quite +like a man from New York. You wouldn't recognize him if you met him on Broadway. +The carpenters and glaziers are at work to-day repairing the damage. I told +Jack that if this sort of thing kept on I'd be compelled to patronize another +hotel, but he says it won't happen again. It seems he was trying to combine +two substances by adding a third, and, as I understood him, the mixing took +place with unexpected suddenness. He has endeavored to explain to me the +reaction, as he calls it, which occurred, but I seem to have no head for +chemistry, and besides, if I am to be blown through the roof some of these +days it will be no consolation to me when I come down upon the pavement outside +to know accurately the different elements which contributed to my elevation. +Jack is very patient in trying to instruct me, but he could not resist the +temptation of making me ashamed by saying that your friend, Miss Katherine +Kempt, would have known at once the full particulars of the reaction. Indeed, +he says, she warned him of the disaster, by marking a passage in a book she +gave him which foreshadowed this very thing. She must be a most remarkable +young woman, and it shows how stupid I am that I did not in the least appreciate +this fact when in her company." +<P> +The next letter was received a week later. He was getting on swimmingly, +both at the Foreign Office and at the Russian Admiralty. All the officials +he had met were most courteous and anxious to advance his interests. He wrote +about the misapprehensions held in England regarding Russia, and expressed +his resolve to do what he could when he returned to remove these false +impressions. +<P> +"Of course," he went on, "no American or Englishman can support or justify +the repressive measures so often carried out ruthlessly by the Russian police. +Still, even these may be exaggerated, for the police have to deal with a +people very much different from our own. It is rather curious that at this +moment I am in vague trouble concerning the police. I am sure this place +is watched, and I am also almost certain that my friend Jack is being shadowed. +He dresses like a workman; his grimy blouse would delight the heart of his +friend Tolstoi, but he is known to be a Prince, and I think the authorities +imagine he is playing up to the laboring class, whom they despise. I lay +it all to that unfortunate explosion, which gathered the police about us +as if they had sprung from the ground. There was an official examination, +of course, and Jack explained, apparently to everybody's satisfaction, exactly +how he came to make the mistake that resulted in the loss of his beard and +his windows. I don't know exactly how to describe the feeling of uneasiness +which has come over me. At first sight this city did not strike me as so +very much different from New York or London, and meeting, as I did, so many +refined gentlemen in high places, I had come to think St. Petersburg was +after all very much like Paris, or Berlin, or Rome. But it is different, +and the difference makes itself subtly felt, just as the air in some coast +towns of Britain is relaxing, and in others bracing. In these towns a man +doesn't notice the effect at first, but later on he begins to feel it, and +so it is here in St. Petersburg. Great numbers of workmen pass down our street. +They all seem to know who the Prince is, and the first days we were here, +they saluted him with a deference which I supposed was due to his rank, in +spite of the greasy clothes he wore. Since the explosion an indefinable change +has come over these workmen. They salute the Prince still when we meet them +on the street, but there is in their attitude a certain sly sympathy, if +I may so term it; a bond of camaraderie which is implied in their manner +rather than expressed. Jack says this is all fancy on my part, but I don't +think it is. These men imagine that Prince Ivan Lermontoff, who lives among +them and dresses like them, is concocting some explosive which may yet rid +them of the tyrants who make their lives so unsafe. All this would not matter, +but what does matter is the chemical reaction, as I believe Jack would term +it, which has taken place among the authorities. The authorities undoubtedly +have their spies among the working-men, and know well what they are thinking +about and talking about. I do not believe they were satisfied with the +explanations Jack gave regarding the disaster. I have tried to impress upon +Jack that he must be more careful in walking about the town, and I have tried +to persuade him, after work, to dress like the gentleman he is, but he laughs +at my fears, and assures me that I have gone from one extreme to the other +in my opinion of St. Petersburg. First I thought it was like all other capitals; +now I have swung too far in the other direction. He says the police of St. +Petersburg would not dare arrest him, but I'm not so sure of that. A number +of things occur to me, as usual, too late. Russia, with her perfect secret +service system, must know that Prince Lermontoff has been serving in the +British Navy. They know he returned to St. Petersburg, avoids all his old +friends, and is brought to their notice by an inexplicable explosion, and +they must be well aware, also, that he is in the company of the man who fired +the shell at the rock in the Baltic, and that he himself served on the offending +cruiser. +<P> +"As to my own affairs, I must say they are progressing slowly but satisfactorily; +nevertheless, if Jack would leave St. Petersburg, and come with me to London +or New York, where he could carry on his experiments quite as well, or even +better than here, I should depart at once, even if I jeopardized my own +prospects." +<P> +The next letter, some time later, began: +<P> +"Your two charming notes to me arrived here together. It is very kind of +you to write to a poor exile and cheer him in his banishment. I should like +to see that dell where you have swung your hammock. Beware of Hendrick Hudson's +men, so delightfully written of by Washington Irving. If they offer you anything +to drink, don't you take it. Think how disastrous it would be to all your +friends if you went to sleep in that hammock for twenty years. It's the Catskills +I want to see now rather than Niagara Falls. Your second letter containing +the note from Captain Kempt to Jack was at once delivered to him. What on +earth has the genial Captain written to effect such a transformation in my +friend? He came to me that evening clothed in his right mind; in evening +rig-out, with his decorations upon it, commanded me to get into my dinner +togs, took me in a carriage across the river to the best restaurant St. +Petersburg affords, and there we had a champagne dinner in which he drank +to America and all things American. Whether it was the enthusiasm produced +by Captain Kempt's communication, or the effect of the champagne, I do not +know, but he has reconsidered his determination not to return to the United +States, and very soon we set out together for the west. +<P> +"I shall be glad to get out of this place. We were followed to the restaurant, +I am certain, and I am equally certain that at the next table two police +spies were seated, and these two shadowed us in a cab until we reached our +blacksmith's shop. It is a humiliating confession to make, but somehow the +atmosphere of this place has got on my nerves, and I shall be glad to turn +my back on it. Jack pooh-poohs the idea that he is in any danger. Even the +Governor of St. Petersburg, he says, dare not lay a finger on him, and as +for the Chief of Police, he pours scorn on that powerful official. He scouts +the idea that he is being watched, and all-in-all is quite humorous at my +expense, saying that my state of mind is more fitting for a schoolgirl than +for a stalwart man over six feet in height. One consolation is that Jack +now has become as keen for America as I am. I expect that the interview arranged +for me to-morrow with a great government official will settle my own business +finally one way or another. A while ago I was confident of success, but the +repeated delays have made me less optimistic now, although the gentle courtesy +of those in high places remains undiminished. +<P> +"Dear Miss Amhurst, I cannot afford to fall lower in your estimation than +perhaps I deserve, so I must say that this fear which has overcome me is +all on account of my friend, and not on my own behalf at all. I am perfectly +safe in Russia, being a British subject. My cold and formal Cousin Thaxted +is a member of the British Embassy here, and my cold and formal uncle is +a Cabinet Minister in England, facts which must be well known to these +spy-informed people of St. Petersburg; so I am immune. The worst they could +do would be to order me out of the country, but even that is unthinkable. +If any one attempted to interfere with me, I have only to act the hero of +the penny novelette, draw myself up to my full height, which, as you know, +is not that of a pigmy, fold my arms across my manly chest, cry, 'Ha, ha!' +and sing 'Rule Britannia,' whereupon the villains would wilt and withdraw. +But Jack has no such security. He is a Russian subject, and, prince or commoner, +the authorities here could do what they liked with him. I always think of +things when it is too late to act. I wish I had urged Jack ashore at Bar +Harbor, and induced him to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. +I spoke to him about that coming home in the carriage, and to my amazement +he said he wished he had thought of it himself at the time we were over there. +<P> +"But enough of this. I daresay he is in no real danger after all. Nevertheless, +I shall induce him to pack to-morrow, and we will make for London together, +so my next letter will bear a British stamp, and I assure you the air of +England will taste good to one benighted Britisher whose name is Alan Drummond." +<h3>CHAPTER X</h3> +<h4>CALAMITY UNSEEN</h4> +<P> +THE habit of industry practised from childhood to maturity is not obliterated +by an unexpected shower of gold. Dorothy was an early riser, and one morning, +entering the parlor from her room she saw, lying upon the table, a letter +with a Russian stamp, but addressed in an unknown hand to her friend Katherine +Kempt. She surmised that here was the first communication from the Prince, +and expected to learn all about it during the luncheon hour at the latest. +But the morning and afternoon passed, and Katherine made no sign, which Dorothy +thought was most unusual. All that day and the next Katherine went about +silent, sedate and serious, never once quoting the humorous Mr. Gilbert. +On the third morning Dorothy was surprised, emerging from her room, to see +Katherine standing by the table, a black book in her hand. On the table lay +a large package from New York, recently opened, displaying a number of volumes +in what might be termed serious binding, leather or cloth, but none showing +that high coloring which distinguishes the output of American fiction. +<P> +"Good-morning, Dorothy. The early bird is after the worm of science." She +held forth the volume in her hand. "Steele's 'Fourteen-Weeks' Course in +Chemistry,' an old book, but fascinatingly written. Dorothy," she continued +with a sigh, "I want to talk seriously with you." +<P> +"About chemistry?" asked Dorothy. +<P> +"About men," said Katherine firmly, "and, incidentally, about women." +<P> +"An interesting subject, Kate, but you've got the wrong text-books. You should +have had a parcel of novels instead." +<P> +Dorothy seated herself, and Katherine followed her example, Steele's +"Fourteen-Weeks' Course" resting in her lap. +<P> +"Every man," began Katherine, "should have a guardian to protect him." +<P> +"From women?" +<P> +"From all things that are deceptive, and not what they seem." +<P> +"That sounds very sententious, Kate. What does it mean?" +<P> +"It means that man is a simpleton, easily taken in. He is too honest for +crafty women, who delude him shamelessly." +<P> +"Whom have you been deluding, Kate?" +<P> +"Dorothy, I am a sneak." +<P> +Dorothy laughed. +<P> +"Indeed, Katherine, you are anything but that. You couldn't do a mean or +ungenerous action if you tried your best." +<P> +"You think, Dorothy, I could reform?" she asked, breathlessly, leaning forward. +<P> +"Reform? You don't need to reform. You are perfectly delightful as you are, +and I know no man who is worthy of you. That's a woman's opinion; one who +knows you well, and there is nothing dishonest about the opinion, either, +in spite of your tirade against our sex." +<P> +"Dorothy, three days ago, be the same more or less, I received a letter from +John Lamont." +<P> +"Yes, I saw it on the table, and surmised it was from him." +<P> +"Did you? You were quite right. The reading of that letter has revolutionized +my character. I am a changed woman, Dorothy, and thoroughly ashamed of myself. +When I remember how I have deluded that poor, credulous young man, in making +him believe I understood even the fringe of what he spoke about, it fills +me with grief at my perfidy, but I am determined to amend my ways if hard +study will do it, and when next I see him I shall talk to him worthily like +a female Thomas A. Edison." +<P> +Again Dorothy laughed. +<P> +"Now, that's heartless of you, Dorothy. Don't you see I'm in deadly earnest? +Must my former frivolity dog my steps through life? When I call to mind that +I made fun to you of his serious purpose in life, the thought makes me cringe +and despise myself." +<P> +"Nonsense, Kate, don't go to the other extreme. I remember nothing you have +said that needs withdrawal. You have never made a malicious remark in your +life, Kate. Don't make me defend you against yourself. You have determined, +I take it, to plunge into the subjects which interest the man you are going +to marry. That is a perfectly laudable ambition, and I am quite sure you +will succeed." +<P> +"I know I don't deserve all that, Dorothy, but I like it just the same. I +like people to believe in me, even if I sometimes lose faith in myself. May +I read you an extract from his letter?" +<P> +"Don't if you'd rather not." +<P> +"I'd rather, Dorothy, if it doesn't weary you, but you will understand when +you have heard it, in what a new light I regard myself." +<P> +The letter proved to be within the leaves of the late Mr. Steele's book on +Chemistry, and from this volume she extracted it, pressed it for a moment +against her breast with her open hand, gazing across at her friend. +<P> +"Dorothy, my first love-letter!" +<P> +She turned the crisp, thin pages, and began: +<P> +"'You may recollect that foot-note which you marked with red ink in the book +you so kindly gave me on the subject of Catalysis, which did not pertain +to the subject of the volume in question, and yet was so illuminative to +any student of chemistry. They have done a great deal with Catalysis in Germany +with amazing commercial results, but the subject is one so recent that I +had not previously gone thoroughly into it.'" +<P> +Katherine paused in the reading, and looked across at her auditor, an expression +almost of despair in her eloquent eyes. +<P> +"Dorothy, what under heaven is Catalysis?" +<P> +"Don't ask me," replied Dorothy, suppressing a laugh, struck by the ludicrousness +of any young and beautiful woman pressing any such sentiments as these to +her bosom. +<P> +"Have you ever heard of a Catalytic process, Dorothy?" beseeched Katherine. +"It is one of the phrases he uses." +<P> +"Never; go on with the letter, Kate." +<P> +"'I saw at once that if I could use Catalytic process which would be +instantaneous in its solidifying effect on my liquid limestone, instead of +waiting upon slow evaporation, I could turn out building stone faster than +one can make brick. You, I am sure, with your more alert mind, saw this when +you marked that passage in red.'" +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy," almost whimpered Katherine, +leaning back, "how can I go on? Don't you see what a sneak I am? It was bad +enough to cozen with my heedless, random markings of the book, but to think +that line of red ink might have been marked in his blood, for I nearly sent +the poor boy to his death." +<P> +"Go on, Katherine, go on, go on!" +<P> +"'In my search for a Catalytic whose substance would remain unchanged after +the reaction, I quite overlooked the chemical ingredients of one of the materials +I was dealing with, and the result was an explosion which nearly blew the +roof off the shop, and quite startled poor Drummond out of a year's growth. +However, no real harm has been done, while I have been taught a valuable +lesson; to take into account all the elements I am using. I must not become +so intent on the subject I am pursuing as to ignore everything else.' And +now, Dorothy, I want to ask you a most intimate question, which I beg of +you to answer as frankly as I have confided in you." +<P> +"I know what your question is, Kate. A girl who is engaged wishes to see +her friend in the same position. You would ask me if I am in love with Alan +Drummond, and I answer perfectly frankly that I am not." +<P> +"You are quite sure of that, Dorothy?" +<P> +"Quite. He is the only man friend I have had, except my own father, and I +willingly confess to a sisterly interest in him." +<P> +"Well, if that is all—" +<P> +"It is all, Kate. Why?" +<P> +"Because there is something about him in this letter, which I would read +to you if I thought you didn't care." +<P> +"Oh, he is in love with Jack's sister, very likely. I should think that would +be a most appropriate arrangement. Jack is his best friend, and perhaps a +lover would weaken the influence which Tolstoi exerts over an emotional person's +mind. Lieutenant Drummond, with his sanity, would probably rescue a remnant +of her estates." +<P> +"Oh, well, if you can talk as indifferently as that, you are all right, Dorothy. +No, there is no other woman in the case. Here's what Jack says: +<P> +"'It is amazing how little an Englishman understands people of other nations. +Here is my tall friend Drummond marching nonchalantly among dangers of which +he has not the least conception. The authorities whom he thinks so courteous +are fooling him to the top of his bent. There is, of course, no danger of +his arrest, but nevertheless the eyes of the police are upon him, and he +will not believe it, any more than be will believe he is being hoodwinked +by the Foreign Minister. What I fear is that he will be bludgeoned on the +street some dark night, or involved in a one-sided duel. Twice I have rescued +him from an imminent danger which he has not even seen. Once in a restaurant +a group of officers, apparently drunk, picked a quarrel and drew swords upon +him. I had the less difficulty in getting him away because he fears a broil, +or anything that will call down upon him the attention of his wooden-headed +cousin in the Embassy. On another occasion as we were coming home toward +midnight, a perfectly bogus brawl broke out suddenly all around us. Drummond +was unarmed, but his huge fists sent sprawling two or three of his assailants. +I had a revolver, and held the rest off, and so we escaped. I wish he was +safely back in London again.' What do you think of that, Dorothy?" +<P> +"I think exactly what Mr. Lamont thinks. Lieutenant Drummond's mission to +Russia seems to me a journey of folly." +<P> +"After all, I am glad you don't care, Dorothy. He should pay attention to +what Jack says, for Jack knows Russia, and he doesn't. Still, let us hope +he will come safely out of St. Petersburg. And now, Dot, for breakfast, because +I must get to work." +<P> +Next morning Dorothy saw a letter for herself on the table in the now familiar +hand-writing, and was more relieved than perhaps she would have confessed +even to her closest friend, when she saw the twopence-halfpenny English stamp +on the envelope. Yet its contents were startling enough, and this letter +she did not read to Katherine Kempt, but bore its anxiety alone. +<P> +D<FONT size=-1>EAR</FONT> M<FONT size=-1>ISS</FONT> +A<FONT size=-1>MHURST:</FONT> +<P> +I write you in great trouble of mind, not trusting this letter to the Russian +post-office, but sending it by an English captain to be posted in London. +Two days ago Jack Lamont disappeared; a disappearance as complete as if he +had never existed. The night before last, about ten o'clock, I thought I +heard him come into his shop below my room. Sometimes he works there till +daylight, and as, when absorbed in his experiments, he does not relish +interruptions, even from me, I go on with my reading until he comes upstairs. +Toward eleven o'clock I thought I heard slight sounds of a scuffle, and a +smothered cry. I called out to him, but received no answer. Taking a candle, +I went downstairs, but everything was exactly as usual, the doors locked, +and not even a bench overturned. I called aloud, but only the echo of this +barn of a room replied. I lit the gas and made a more intelligent search, +but with no result. I unlocked the door, and stood out in the street, which +was quite silent and deserted. I began to doubt that I had heard anything +at all, for, as I have told you, my nerves lately have been rather prone +to the jumps. I sat up all night waiting for him, but he did not come. Next +day I went, as had been previously arranged, to the Foreign Office, but was +kept waiting in an anteroom for two hours, and then told that the Minister +could not see me. I met a similar repulse at the Admiralty. I dined alone +at the restaurant Jack and I frequent, but saw nothing of him. This morning +he has not returned, and I am at my wit's end, not in the least knowing what +to do. It is useless for me to appeal to the embassy of my country, for, +Jack being a Russian, it has no jurisdiction. The last letter I received +from you was tampered with. The newspaper extract you spoke of was not there, +and one of the sheets of the letter was missing. Piffling business, I call +it, this interfering with private correspondence. +<P> +Such was the last letter that Alan Drummond was ever to send to Dorothy Amhurst. +<h3>CHAPTER XI</h3> +<h4>THE SNOW</h4> +<P> +SUMMER waned; the evenings became chill, although the sun pretended at noon +that its power was undiminished. Back to town from mountain and sea shore +filtered the warm-weather idlers, but no more letters came from St. Petersburg +to the hill by the Hudson. So far as our girls were concerned, a curtain +of silence had fallen between Europe and America. +<P> +The flat was now furnished, and the beginning of autumn saw it occupied by +the two friends. Realization in this instance lacked the delight of anticipation. +At last Katherine was the bachelor girl she had longed to be, but the pleasures +of freedom were as Dead Sea fruit to the lips. At last Dorothy was effectually +cut off from all thoughts of slavery, with unlimited money to do what she +pleased with, yet after all, of what advantage was it in solving the problem +that haunted her by day and filled her dreams by night. She faced the world +with seeming unconcern, for she had not the right to mourn, even if she knew +he were dead. He had made no claim; had asked for no affection; had written +no word to her but what all the world might read. Once a week she made a +little journey up the Hudson to see how her church was coming on, and at +first Katherine accompanied her, but now she went alone. Katherine was too +honest a girl to pretend an interest where she felt none. She could not talk +of architecture when she was thinking of a man and his fate. At first she +had been querulously impatient when no second communication came. Her own +letters, she said, must have reached him, otherwise they would have been +returned. Later, dumb fear took possession of her, and she grew silent, plunged +with renewed energy into her books, joined a technical school, took lessons, +and grew paler and paler until her teachers warned her she was overdoing +it. Inwardly she resented the serene impassiveness of her friend, who consulted +calmly with the architect upon occasion about the decoration of the church, +when men's liberty was gone, and perhaps their lives. She built up within +her mind a romance of devotion, by which her lover, warning in vain the stolid +Englishman, had at last been involved in the ruin that Drummond's stubbornness +had brought upon them both, and unjustly implicated the quiet woman by her +side in the responsibility of this sacrifice. Once or twice she spoke with +angry impatience of Drummond and his stupidity, but Dorothy neither defended +nor excused, and so no open rupture occurred between the two friends, for +a quarrel cannot be one-sided. +<P> +But with a woman of Katherine's temperament the final outburst had to come, +and it came on the day that the first flurry of snow fell through the still +air, capering in large flakes past the windows of the flat down to the muddy +street far below. Katherine was standing by the window, with her forehead +leaning against the plate glass, in exactly the attitude that had been her +habit in the sewing-room at Bar Harbor, but now the staccato of her fingers +on the sill seemed to drum a Dead March of despair. The falling snow had +darkened the room, and one electric light was aglow over the dainty Chippendale +desk at which Dorothy sat writing a letter. The smooth, regular flow of the +pen over the paper roused Katherine to a frenzy of exasperation. Suddenly +she brought her clenched fist down on the sill where her fingers had been +drumming. +<P> +"My God," she cried, "how can you sit there like an automaton with the snow +falling?" +<P> +Dorothy put down her pen. +<P> +"The snow falling?" she echoed. "I don't understand!" +<P> +"Of course you don't. You don't think of the drifts in Siberia, and the two +men you have known, whose hands you have clasped, manacled, driven through +it with the lash of a Cossack's whip." +<P> +Dorothy rose quietly, and put her hands on the shoulders of the girl, feeling +her frame tremble underneath her touch. +<P> +"Katherine," she said, quietly, but Katherine, with a nervous twitch of her +shoulders flung off the friendly grasp. +<P> +"Don't touch me," she cried. "Go back to your letter-writing. You and the +Englishman are exactly alike; unfeeling, heartless. He with his selfish +stubbornness has involved an innocent man in the calamity his own stupidity +has brought about." +<P> +"Katherine, sit down. I want to talk calmly with you." +<P> +"Calmly! Calmly! Yes, that is the word. It is easy for you to be calm when +you don't care. But I care, and I cannot be calm." +<P> +"What do you wish to do, Katherine?" +<P> +"What can I do? I am a pauper and a dependent, but one thing I am determined +to do, and that is to go and live in my father's house." +<P> +"If you were in my place, what would you do Katherine?" +<P> +"I would go to Russia." +<P> +"What would you do when you arrived there?" +<P> +"If I had wealth I would use it in such a campaign of bribery and corruption +in that country of tyrants that I should release two innocent men. I'd first +find out where they were, then I'd use all the influence I possessed with +the American Ambassador to get them set free." +<P> +"The American Ambassador, Kate, cannot move to release either an Englishman +or a Russian." +<P> +"I'd do it somehow. I wouldn't sit here like a stick or a stone, writing +letters to my architect." +<P> +"Would you go to Russia alone?" +<P> +"No, I should take my father with me." +<P> +"That is an excellent idea, Kate. I advise you to go north by to-night's +train, if you like, and see him, or telegraph to him to come and see us." +<P> +Kate sat down, and Dorothy drew the curtains across the window pane and snapped +on the central cluster of electric lamps. +<P> +"Will you come with me if I go north?" asked Kate, in a milder tone than +she had hitherto used. +<P> +"I cannot. I am making an appointment with a man in this room to-morrow." +<P> +"The architect, I suppose," cried Kate with scorn. +<P> +"No, with a man who may or may not give me information of Lamont or Drummond." +<P> +Katherine stared at her open-eyed. +<P> +"Then you have been doing something?" +<P> +"I have been trying, but it is difficult to know what to do. I have received +information that the house in which Mr. Lamont and Mr. Drummond lived is +now deserted, and no one knows anything of its former occupants. That information +comes to me semi-officially, but it does not lead far. I have started inquiry +through more questionable channels; in other words, I have invoked the aid +of a Nihilist society, and although I am quite determined to go to Russia +with you, do not be surprised if I am arrested the moment I set foot in St. +Petersburg." +<P> +"Dorothy, why did you not let me know?" +<P> +"I was anxious to get some good news to give you, but it has not come yet." +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy," moaned Katherine, struggling to keep back the tears that would +flow in spite of her. Dorothy patted her on the shoulder. +<P> +"You have been a little unjust," she said, "and I am going to prove that +to you, so that in trying to make amends you may perhaps stop brooding over +this crisis that faces two poor lone women. You wrong the Englishman, as +you call him. Jack was arrested at least two days before he was. Nihilist +spies say that both of them were arrested, the Prince first, and the Englishman +several days later. I had a letter from Mr. Drummond a short time after you +received yours from Mr. Lamont. I never showed it to you, but now things +are so bad that they cannot be worse, and you are at liberty to read the +letter if you wish to do so. It tells of Jack's disappearance, and of Drummond's +agony of mind and helplessness in St. Petersburg. Since he has never written +again, I am sure he was arrested later. I don't know which of the two was +most at fault for what you call stubbornness, but I believe the explosion +had more to do with the arrests than any action of theirs." +<P> +"And I was the cause of that," wailed Katherine. +<P> +"No, no, my dear girl. No one is to blame but the tyrant of Russia. Now the +Nihilists insist that neither of these men has been sent to Siberia. They +think they are in the prison of 'St. Peter and St. Paul.' That information +came to me to-day in the letter I was just now answering. So, Katherine, +I think you have been unjust to the Englishman. If he had been arrested first, +there might be some grounds for what you charge, but they evidently gave +him a chance to escape. He had his warning in the disappearance of his friend, +and he had several days in which to get out of St. Petersburg, but he stood +his ground." +<P> +"I'm sorry, Dorothy. I'm a silly fool, and to-day, when I saw the snow— well, +I got all wrought up." +<P> +"I think neither of the men are in the snow, and now I am going to say something +else, and then never speak of the subject again. You say I didn't care, and +of course you are quite right, for I confessed to you that I didn't. But +just imagine— imagine— that I cared. The Russian Government can let the Prince +go at any moment, and there's nothing more to be said. He has no redress, +and must take the consequences of his nationality. But if the Russian Government +have arrested the Englishman; if they have put him in the prison of 'St. +Peter and St. Paul,' they dare not release him, unless they are willing to +face war. The Russian Government can do nothing in his case but deny, demand +proof, and obliterate all chance of the truth ever being known. Alan Drummond +is doomed: they dare not release him. Now think for a moment how much worse +my case would be than yours, if— if—" her voice quivered and broke for the +moment, then with tightly clenched fists she recovered control of herself, +and finished: "if I cared." +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy!" gasped Katherine, springing to her feet. +<P> +"No, no, don't jump at any false conclusion. We are both nervous wrecks this +afternoon. Don't misunderstand me. I don't care— I don't care, except that +I hate tyranny, and am sorry for the victims of it." +<P> +"Dorothy, Dorothy!" +<P> +"We need a sane man in the house, Kate. Telegraph for your father to come +down and talk to us both. I must finish my letter to the Nihilist." +<P> +"Dorothy!" said Katherine, kissing her. +<h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> +<h4>THE DREADED TROGZMONDOFF</h4> +<P> +THE Nihilist was shown into the dainty drawing room of the flat, and found +Dorothy Amhurst alone, as he had stipulated, waiting for him. He was dressed +in a sort of naval uniform and held a peaked cap in his hand, standing awkwardly +there as one unused to luxurious surroundings. His face was bronzed with +exposure to sun and storm, and although he appeared to be little more than +thirty years of age his closely cropped hair was white. His eyes were light +blue, and if ever the expression of a man's countenance betokened stalwart +honesty, it was the face of this sailor. He was not in the least Dorothy's +idea of a dangerous plotter. +<P> +"Sit down," she said, and he did so like a man ill at ease. +<P> +"I suppose Johnson is not your real name," she began. +<P> +"It is the name I bear in America, Madam." +<P> +"Do you mind my asking you some questions?" +<P> +"No, Madam, but if you ask me anything I am not allowed to answer I shall +not reply." +<P> +"How long have you been in the United States?" +<P> +"Only a few months, Madam." +<P> +"How come you to speak English so well?" +<P> +"In my young days I shipped aboard a bark plying between Helsingfors and +New York." +<P> +"You are a Russian?" +<P> +"I am a Finlander, Madam." +<P> +"Have you been a sailor all your life?" +<P> +"Yes, Madam. For a time I was an unimportant officer on board a battleship +in the Russian Navy, until I was discovered to be a Nihilist, when I was +cast into prison. I escaped last May, and came to New York." +<P> +"What have you been doing since you arrived here?" +<P> +"I was so fortunate as to become mate on the turbine yacht 'The Walrus,' +owned by Mr. Stockwell." +<P> +"Oh, that's the multi-millionaire whose bank failed a month ago?" +<P> +"Yes, Madam." +<P> +"But does he still keep a yacht?" +<P> +"No, Madam. I think he has never been aboard this one, although it is probably +the most expensive boat in these waters. I am told it cost anywhere from +half a million to a million. She was built by Thornycroft, like a cruiser, +with Parson's turbine engines in her. After the failure, Captain and crew +were discharged, and I am on board as a sort of watchman until she is sold, +but there is not a large market for a boat like 'The Walrus,' and I am told +they will take the fittings out of her, and sell her as a cruiser to one +of the South American republics." +<P> +"Well, Mr. Johnson, you ought to be a reliable man, if the Court has put +you in charge of so valuable a property." +<P> +"I believe I am considered honest, Madam." +<P> +"Then why do you come to me asking ten thousand dollars for a letter which +you say was written to me, and which naturally belongs to me?" +<P> +The man's face deepened into a mahogany brown, and he shifted his cap uneasily +in his hands. +<P> +"Madam, I am not acting for myself. I am Secretary of the Russian Liberation +Society. They, through their branch at St. Petersburg, have conducted some +investigations on your behalf." +<P> +"Yes, for which I paid them very well." +<P> +Johnson bowed. +<P> +"Our object, Madam, is the repression of tyranny. For that we are in continual +need of money. It is the poor, and not the millionaires, who subscribe to +our fund. It has been discovered that you are a rich woman, who will never +miss the money asked, and so the demand was made. Believe me, Madam, I am +acting by the command of my comrades. I tried to persuade them to leave +compensation to your own generosity, but they refused. If you consider their +demand unreasonable, you have but to say so, and I will return and tell them +your decision." +<P> +"Have you brought the letter with you?" +<P> +"Yes, Madam." +<P> +"Must I agree to your terms before seeing it?" +<P> +"Yes, Madam." +<P> +"Have you read it?" +<P> +"Yes, Madam." +<P> +"Do you think it worth ten thousand dollars?" +<P> +The sailor looked up at the decorated ceiling for several moments before +he replied. +<P> +"That is a question I cannot answer," he said at last. "It all depends on +what you think of the writer." +<P> +"Answer one more question. By whom is the letter signed?" +<P> +"There is no signature, Madam. It was found in the house where the two young +men lived. Our people searched the house from top to bottom surreptitiously, +and they think the writer was arrested before he had finished the letter. +There is no address, and nothing to show for whom it is intended, except +the phrase beginning, 'My dearest Dorothy.'" +<P> +The girl leaned back in her chair, and drew a long breath. "It is not for +me," she said, hastily; then bending forward, she cried suddenly: +<P> +"I agree to your terms: give it to me." +<P> +The man hesitated, fumbling in his inside pocket. +<P> +"I was to get your promise in writing," he demurred. +<P> +"Give it to me, give it to me," she demanded. "I do not break my word." +<P> +He handed her the letter. +<P> +"My dearest Dorothy," she read, in writing well known to her. "You may judge +my exalted state of mind when you see that I dare venture on such a beginning. +I have been worrying myself and other people all to no purpose. I have received +a letter from Jack this morning, and so suspicious had I grown that for a +few moments I suspected the writing was but an imitation of his. He is a +very impulsive fellow, and can think of only one thing at a time, which accounts +for his success in the line of invention. He was telegraphed to that his +sister was ill, and left at once to see her. I had allowed my mind to become +so twisted by my fears for his safety that, as I tell you, I suspected the +letter to be counterfeit at first. I telegraphed to his estate, and received +a prompt reply saying that his sister was much better, and that he was already +on his way back, and would reach me at eleven to-night. So that's what happens +when a grown man gets a fit of nerves. I drew the most gloomy conclusions +from the fact that I had been refused admission to the Foreign Office and +the Admiralty. Yesterday that was all explained away. The business is at +last concluded, and I was shown copies of the letters which have been forwarded +to my own chiefs at home. Nothing could be more satisfactory. To-morrow Jack +and I will be off to England together. + +<p>"My dearest Dorothy (second time of +asking), I am not a rich man, but then, in spite of your little fortune of +Bar Harbor, you are not a rich woman, so we stand on an equality in that, +even though you are so much my superior in everything else. I have five hundred +pounds a year, which is something less than two thousand five hundred dollars, +left me by my father. This is independent of my profession. I am very certain +I will succeed in the Navy now that the Russian Government has sent those +letters, so, the moment I was assured of that, I determined to write and +ask you to be my wife. Will you forgive my impatience, and pander to it by +cabling to me at the Bluewater Club, Pall Mall, the word 'Yes' or the word +'Undecided'? I shall not allow you the privilege of cabling 'No.' And please +give me a chance of pleading my case in person, if you use the longer word. +Ah, I hear Jack's step on the stair. Very stealthily he is coming, to surprise +me, but I'll surprise—" +<P> +Here the writing ended. She folded the letter, and placed it in her desk, +sitting down before it. +<P> +"Shall I make the check payable to you, or to the Society?" +<P> +"To the Society, if you please, Madam." +<P> +"I shall write it for double the amount asked. I also am a believer in liberty." +<P> +"Oh, Madam, that is a generosity I feel we do not deserve. I should like +to have given you the letter after all you have done for us with no conditions +attached." +<P> +"I am quite sure of that," said Dorothy, bending over her writing. She handed +him the check, and he rose to go. +<P> +"Sit down again, if you please. I wish to talk further with you. Your people +in St. Petersburg think my friends have not been sent to Siberia? Are they +sure of that?" +<P> +"Well, Madam, they have means of knowing those who are transported, and they +are certain the two young men were not among the recent gangs sent. They +suppose them to be in the fortress of 'St. Peter and St. Paul', at least +that's what they say." +<P> +"You speak as if you doubted it." +<P> +"I do doubt it." +<P> +"They have been sent to Siberia after all?" +<P> +"Ah, Madam, there are worse places than Siberia. In Siberia there is a chance: +in the dreadful Trogzmondoff there is none." +<P> +"What is the Trogzmondoff?" +<P> +"A bleak 'Rock in the Baltic,' Madam, the prison in which death is the only +goal that releases the victim." +<P> +Dorothy rose trembling, staring at him, her lips white. +<P> +"'A Rock in the Baltic!' Is that a prison, and not a fortress, then?" +<P> +"It is both prison and fortress, Madam. If Russia ever takes the risk of +arresting a foreigner, it is to the Trogzmondoff he is sent. They drown the +victims there; drown them in their cells. There is a spring in the rock, +and through the line of cells it runs like a beautiful rivulet, but the pulling +of a lever outside stops the exit of the water, and drowns every prisoner +within. The bodies are placed one by one on a smooth, inclined shute of polished +sandstone, down which this rivulet runs so they glide out into space, and +drop two hundred feet into the Baltic Sea. No matter in what condition such +a body is found, or how recent may have been the execution, it is but a drowned +man in the Baltic. There are no marks of bullet or strangulation, and the +currents bear them swiftly away from the rock." +<P> +"How come you to know all this which seems to have been concealed from the +rest of the world?" +<P> +"I know it, Madam, for the best of reasons. I was sentenced this very year +to Trogzmondoff. In my youth trading between Helsingfors and New York, I +took out naturalization papers in New York, because I was one of the crew +on an American ship. When they illegally impressed me at Helsingfors and +forced me to join the Russian Navy, I made the best of a bad bargain, and +being an expert seaman, was reasonably well treated, and promoted, but at +last they discovered I was in correspondence with a Nihilist circle in London, +and when I was arrested, I demanded the rights of an American citizen. That +doomed me. I was sent, without trial, to the Trogzmondoff in April of this +year. Arriving there I was foolish enough to threaten, and say my comrades +had means of letting the United States Government know, and that a battleship +would teach the gaolers of the rock better manners. +<P> +"The cells hewn in the rock are completely dark, so I lost all count of time. +You might think we would know night from day by the bringing in of our meals, +but such was not the case. The gaoler brought in a large loaf of black bread, +and said it was to serve me for four days. He placed the loaf on a ledge +of rock about three feet from the floor, which served as both table and bed. +In excavating the cell this ledge had been left intact, with a bench of stone +rising from the floor opposite. Indeed, so ingenious had been the workmen +who hewed out this room that they carved a rounded stone pillow at one end +of the shelf. + +<p>"I do not know how many days I had been in prison when the +explosion occurred. It made the whole rock quiver, and I wondered what had +happened. Almost immediately afterward there seemed to be another explosion, +not nearly so harsh, which I thought was perhaps an echo of the first. About +an hour later my cell door was unlocked, and the gaoler, with another man +holding a lantern, came in. My third loaf of black bread was partly consumed, +so I must have been in prison nine or ten days. The gaoler took the loaf +outside, and when he returned. I asked him what had happened. He answered +in a surly fashion that my American warship had fired at the rock, and that +the rock had struck back, whereupon she sailed away, crippled." +<P> +Dorothy, who had been listening intently to this discourse, here interrupted +with: +<P> +"It was an English war-ship that fired the shell, and the Russian shot did +not come within half a mile of her." +<P> +The sailor stared at her in wide-eyed surprise. +<P> +"You see, I have been making inquiries," she explained. "Please go on." +<P> +"I never heard that it was an English ship. The gaoler sneered at me, and +said he was going to send me after the American vessel, as I suppose he thought +it was. I feared by his taking away of the bread that it was intended to +starve me to death, and was sorry I had not eaten more at my last meal. I +lay down on the shelf of rock, and soon fell asleep. I was awakened by the +water lapping around me. The cell was intensely still. Up to this I had always +enjoyed the company of a little brook that ran along the side of the cell +farthest from the door. Its music had now ceased, and when I sprang up I +found myself to the waist in very cold water. I guessed at once the use of +the levers outside the cell in the passage which I had noticed in the light +of the lantern on the day I entered the place, and I knew now why it was +that the prison door was not pierced by one of those gratings which enable +the gaoler in the passage to look into the cell any time of night or day. +Prisoners have told me that the uncertainty of an inmate who never knew when +he might be spied upon added to the horror of the situation, but the water-tight +doors of the Trogzmondoff are free from this feature, and for a very sinister +reason. +<P> +"The channel in the floor through which the water runs when the cell is empty, +and the tunnel at the ceiling through which the water flows when the cell +is full, give plenty of ventilation, no matter how tightly the door may he +closed. The water rose very gradually until it reached the top outlet, then +its level remained stationary. I floated on the top quite easily, with as +little exertion as was necessary to keep me in that position. If I raised +my head, my brow struck the ceiling. The next cell to mine, lower down, was +possibly empty. I heard the water pour into it like a little cataract. The +next cell above, and indeed all the cells in that direction were flooded +like my own. Of course it was no trouble for me to keep afloat; my only danger +was that the intense coldness of the water would numb my body beyond recovery. +Still, I had been accustomed to hardships of that kind before now, in the +frozen North. At last the gentle roar of the waterfall ceased, and I realized +my cell was emptying itself. When I reached my shelf again, I stretched my +limbs back and forth as strenuously as I could, and as silently, for I wished +no sound to give any hint that I was still alive, if, indeed, sound could +penetrate to the passage, which is unlikely. Even before the last of the +water had run away from the cell, I lay stretched out at full length on the +floor, hoping I might have steadiness enough to remain death-quiet when the +men came in with the lantern. I need have had no fear. The door was opened, +one of the men picked me up by the heels, and, using my legs as if they were +the shafts of a wheelbarrow, dragged me down the passage to the place where +the stream emerged from the last cell, and into this torrent he flung me. +There was one swift, brief moment of darkness, then I shot, feet first, into +space, and dropped down, down, down through the air like a plummet, into +the arms of my mother." +<P> +"Into what?" cried Dorothy, white and breathless, thinking the recital of +these agonies had turned the man's brain. +<P> +"The Baltic, Madam, is the Finlander's mother. It feeds him in life, carries +him whither he wishes to go, and every true Finlander hopes to die in her +arms. The Baltic seemed almost warm after what I had been through, and the +taste of the salt on my lips was good. It was a beautiful starlight night +in May, and I floated around the rock, for I knew that in a cove on the eastern +side, concealed from all view of the sea, lay a Finland fishing-boat, a craft +that will weather any storm, and here in the water was a man who knew how +to handle it. Prisoners are landed on the eastern side, and such advantage +is taken of the natural conformation of this precipitous rock, that a man +climbing the steep zigzag stairway which leads to the inhabited portion is +hidden from sight of any craft upon the water even four or five hundred yards +away. Nothing seen from the outside gives any token of habitation. The +fishing-boat, I suppose, is kept for cases of emergency, that the Governor +may communicate with the shore if necessary. I feared it might be moored +so securely that I could not unfasten it. Security had made them careless, +and the boat was tied merely by lines to rings in the rock, the object being +to keep her from bruising her sides against the stone, rather than to prevent +any one taking her away. I pushed her out into the open, got quietly inside, +and floated with the swift tide, not caring to raise a sail until I was well +out of gunshot distance. Once clear of the rock I spread canvas, and by daybreak +was long out of sight of land. I made for Stockholm, and there being no mark +or name on the boat to denote that it belonged to the Russian Government, +I had little difficulty in selling it. I told the authorities what was perfectly +true: that I was a Finland sailor escaping from the tyrant of my country, +and anxious to get to America. As such events are happening practically every +week along the Swedish coast I was not interfered with, and got enough money +from the sale of the boat to enable me to dress myself well, and take passage +to England, and from there first-class to New York on a regular liner. +<P> +"Of course I could have shipped as a sailor from Stockholm easy enough, but +I was tired of being a common sailor, and expected, if I was respectably +clothed, to get a better position than would otherwise be the case. This +proved true, for crossing the ocean I became acquainted with Mr. Stockwell, +and he engaged me as mate of his yacht. That's how I escaped from the +Trogzmondoff, Madam, and I think no one but a Finlander could have done it." +<P> +"I quite agree with you," said Dorothy. "You think these two men I have been +making inquiry about have been sent to the Trogzmondoff?" +<P> +"The Russian may not be there, Madam, but the Englishman is sure to be there." +<P> +"Is the cannon on the western side of the rock?" +<P> +"I don't know, Madam. I never saw the western side by daylight. I noticed +nothing on the eastern side as I was climbing the steps, to show that any +cannon was on the Trogzmondoff at all." +<P> +"I suppose you had no opportunity of finding out how many men garrison the +rock?" +<P> +"No, Madam. I don't think the garrison is large. The place is so secure that +it doesn't need many men to guard it. Prisoners are never taken out for exercise, +and, as I told you, they are fed but once in four days." +<P> +"How large a crew can 'The Walrus' carry?" +<P> +"Oh, as many as you like, Madam. The yacht is practically an ocean liner." +<P> +"Is there any landing stage on the eastern side of the rock?" +<P> +"Practically none, Madam. The steamer stood out, and I was landed in the +cove I spoke of at the foot of the stairway." +<P> +"It wouldn't be possible to bring a steamer like 'The Walrus' alongside the +rock, then?" +<P> +"It would be possible in calm weather, but very dangerous even then." +<P> +"Could you find that rock if you were in command of a ship sailing the Baltic?" +<P> +"Oh, yes, Madam." +<P> +"If twenty or thirty determined men were landed on the stairway, do you think +they could capture the garrison?" +<P> +"Yes, if they were landed secretly, but one or two soldiers at the top with +repeating rifles might hold the stairway against an army, while their ammunition +lasted." +<P> +"But if a shell were fired from the steamer, might not the attacking company +get inside during the confusion among the defenders?" +<P> +"That is possible, Madam, but a private steamer firing shells, or, indeed, +landing a hostile company, runs danger of meeting the fate of a pirate." +<P> +"You would not care to try it, then?" +<P> +"I? Oh, I should be delighted to try it, if you allow me to select the crew. +I can easily get aboard the small arms and ammunition necessary, but I am +not so sure about the cannon." +<P> +"Very good. I need not warn you to be extremely cautious regarding those +you take into your confidence. Meanwhile, I wish you to communicate with +the official who is authorized to sell the yacht. I am expecting a gentleman +to-morrow in whose name the vessel will probably be bought, and I am hoping +he will accept the captaincy of it." +<P> +"Is he capable of filling that position, Madam? Is he a sailor?" +<P> +"He was for many years captain in the United States Navy. I offer you the +position of mate, but I will give you captain's pay, and a large bonus in +addition if you faithfully carry out my plans, whether they prove successful +or not. I wish you to come here at this hour to-morrow, with whoever is +authorized to sell or charter the steamer. You may say I am undecided whether +to buy or charter. I must consult Captain Kempt on that point." +<P> +"Thank you, Madam, I shall be here this time to-morrow." +<h3>CHAPTER XIII</h3> +<h4>ENTRAPPED</h4> +<P> +PRINCE IVAN LERMONTOFF came to consider the explosion one of the luckiest +things that had ever occurred in his workshop. Its happening so soon after +he reached St. Petersburg he looked upon as particularly fortunate, because +this gave him time to follow the new trend of thought along which his mind +had been deflected by such knowledge as the unexpected outcome of his experiment +had disclosed to him. The material he had used as a catalytic agent was a +new substance which he had read of in a scientific review, and he had purchased +a small quantity of it in London. If such a minute portion produced results +so tremendous, he began to see that a man with an apparently innocent material +in his waistcoat pocket might probably be able to destroy a naval harbor, +so long as water and stone were in conjunction. There was also a possibility +that a small quantity of ozak, as the stuff was called, mixed with pure water, +would form a reducing agent for limestone, and perhaps for other minerals, +which would work much quicker than if the liquid was merely impregnated with +carbonic acid gas. He endeavored to purchase some ozak from Mr. Kruger, the +chemist on the English quay, but that good man had never heard of it, and +a day's search persuaded him that it could not be got in St. Petersburg, +so the Prince induced Kruger to order half a pound of it from London or Paris, +in which latter city it had been discovered. For the arrival of this order +the Prince waited with such patience as he could call to his command, and +visited poor Mr. Kruger every day in the hope of receiving it. +<P> +One afternoon he was delighted to hear that the box had come, although it +had not yet been unpacked. +<P> +"I will send it to your house this evening," said the chemist. "There are +a number of drugs in the box for your old friend Professor Potkin of the +University, and he is even more impatient for his consignment than you are +for yours. Ah, here he is," and as he spoke the venerable Potkin himself +entered the shop. +<P> +He shook hands warmly with Lermontoff, who had always been a favorite pupil +of his, and learned with interest that he had lately been to England and +America. +<P> +"Cannot you dine with me this evening at half-past five?" asked the old man. +"There are three or four friends coming, to whom I shall be glad to introduce +you." +<P> +"Truth to tell, Professor," demurred the Prince, "I have a friend staying +with me, and I don't just like to leave him alone." +<P> +"Bring him with you, bring him with you," said the Professor, "but in any +case be sure you come yourself. I shall be expecting you. Make your excuses +to your friend if he does not wish to endure what he might think dry discussion, +because we shall talk nothing but chemistry and politics." +<P> +The Prince promised to be there whether his friend came or no. The chemist +here interrupted them, and told the Professor he might expect his materials +within two hours. +<P> +"And your package," he said to the Prince, "I shall send about the same time. +I have been very busy, and can trust no one to unpack this box but myself." +<P> +"You need not trouble to send it, and in any case I don't wish to run the +risk of having it delivered at a wrong address by your messenger. I cannot +afford to wait so long as would be necessary to duplicate the order. I am +dining with the Professor to-night, so will drive this way, and take the +parcel myself." +<P> +"Perhaps," said the chemist, "it would be more convenient if I sent your +parcel to Professor Potkin's house?" +<P> +"No," said the Prince decisively, "I shall call for it about five o'clock." +<P> +The Professor laughed. +<P> +"We experimenters," he said, "never trust each other," so they shook hands +and parted. +<P> +On returning to his workshop, Lermontoff bounded up the stairs, and hailed +his friend the Lieutenant. +<P> +"I say, Drummond, I'm going to dine to-night with Professor Potkin of the +University, my old teacher in chemistry. His hour is half-past five, and +I've got an invitation for you. There will be several scientists present, +and no women. Will you come?" +<P> +"I'd a good deal rather not," said the Englishman, "I'm wiring into these +books, and studying strategy; making plans for an attack upon Kronstadt." +<P> +"Well, you take my advice, Alan, and don't leave any of those plans round +where the St. Petersburg police will find them. Such a line of study is carried +on much safer in London than here. You'd be very welcome, Drummond, and the +old boy would be glad to see you. You don't need to bother about evening +togs— plain living and high thinking, you know. I'm merely going to put on +a clean collar and a new tie, as sufficient for the occasion." +<P> +"I'd rather not go, Jack, if you don't mind. If I'm there you'll all be trying +to talk English or French, and so I'd feel myself rather a damper on the +company. Besides, I don't know anything about science, and I'm trying to +learn something about strategy. What time do you expect to be back?" +<P> +"Rather early; ten or half-past." +<P> +"Good, I'll wait up for you." +<P> +At five o'clock Jack was at the chemist's and received his package. On opening +it he found the ozak in two four-ounce, glass-stoppered bottles, and these +be put in his pocket. +<P> +"Will you give me three spray syringes, as large a size as you have, rubber, +glass, and metal. I'm not sure but this stuff will attack one or other of +them, and I don't want to spend the rest of my life running down to your +shop." +<P> +Getting the syringes, he jumped into his cab, and was driven to the Professor's. +<P> +"You may call for me at ten," he said to the cabman. +<P> +There were three others besides the Professor and himself, and they were +all interested in learning the latest scientific news from New York and London. +<P> +It was a quarter past ten when the company separated. Lermontoff stepped +into his cab, and the driver went rattling up the street. In all the talk +the Prince had said nothing of his own discovery, and now when he found himself +alone his mind reverted to the material in his pocket, and he was glad the +cabman was galloping his horse, that he might be the sooner in his workshop. +Suddenly he noticed that they were dashing down a street which ended at the +river. +<P> +"I say," he cried to the driver, "you've taken the wrong turning. This is +a blind street. There's neither quay nor bridge down here. Turn back." +<P> +"I see that now," said the driver over his shoulder. "I'll turn round at +the end where it is wider." +<P> +He did turn, but instead of coming up the street again, dashed through an +open archway which led into the courtyard of a large building fronting the +Neva. The moment the carriage was inside, the gates clanged shut. +<P> +"Now, what in the name of Saint Peter do you mean by this?" demanded the +Prince angrily. +<P> +The cabman made no reply, but from a door to the right stepped a tall, uniformed +officer, who said: +<P> +"Orders, your Highness, orders. The isvoshtchik is not to blame. May I beg +of your Highness to accompany me inside?" +<P> +"Who the devil are you?" demanded the annoyed nobleman. +<P> +"I am one who is called upon to perform a disagreeable duty, which your Highness +will make much easier by paying attention to my requests." +<P> +"Am I under arrest?" +<P> +"I have not said so, Prince Ivan." +<P> +"Then I demand that the gates be opened that I may return home, where more +important business awaits me than talking to a stranger who refuses to reveal +his identity." +<P> +"I hope you will pardon me, Prince Lermontoff. I act, as the isvoshtchik +has acted, under compulsion. My identity is not in question. I ask you for +the second time to accompany me." +<P> +"Then, for the second time I inquire, am I under arrest? If so, show me your +warrant, and then I will go with you, merely protesting that whoever issued +such a warrant has exceeded his authority." +<P> +"I have seen nothing of a warrant, your Highness, and I think you are confusing +your rights with those pertaining to individuals residing in certain countries +you have recently visited." +<P> +"You have no warrant, then?" +<P> +"I have none. I act on my superior's word, and do not presume to question +it. May I hope that you will follow me without a further parley, which is +embarrassing to me, and quite unhelpful to yourself. I have been instructed +to treat you with every courtesy, but nevertheless force has been placed +at my disposal. I am even to take your word of honor that you are unarmed, +and your Highness is well aware that such leniency is seldom shown in St. +Petersburg." +<P> +"Well, sir, even if my word of honor failed to disarm me, your politeness +would. I carry a revolver. Do you wish it?" +<P> +"If your Highness will condescend to give it to me." +<P> +The Prince held the weapon, butt forward, to the officer, who received it +with a gracious salutation. +<P> +"You know nothing of the reason for this action?" +<P> +"Nothing whatever, your Highness." +<P> +"Where are you going to take me?" +<P> +"A walk of less than three minutes will acquaint your Highness with the spot." +<P> +The Prince laughed. +<P> +"Oh, very well," he said. "May I write a note to a friend who is waiting +up for me?" +<P> +"I regret, Highness, that no communications whatever can be allowed." +<P> +The Prince stepped down from the vehicle, walked diagonally across a very +dimly lighted courtyard with his guide, entered that section of the rectangular +building which faced the Neva, passed along a hall with one gas jet burning, +then outside again, and immediately over a gang-plank that brought him aboard +a steamer. On the lower deck a passage ran down the center of the ship, and +along this the conductor guided his prisoner, opened the door of a stateroom +in which candles were burning, and a comfortable bed turned down for occupancy. +<P> +"I think your Highness will find everything here that you need. If anything +further is required, the electric bell will summon an attendant, who will +get it for you." +<P> +"Am I not to be confronted with whoever is responsible for my arrest?" +<P> +"I know nothing of that, your Highness. My duty ends by escorting you here. +I must ask if you have any other weapon upon you?" +<P> +"No, I have not." +<P> +"Will you give me your parole that you will not attempt to escape?" +<P> +"I shall escape if I can, of course." +<P> +"Thank you, Excellency," replied the officer, as suavely as if Lermontoff +had given his parole. Out of the darkness he called a tall, rough-looking +soldier, who carried a musket with a bayonet at the end of it. The soldier +took his stand beside the door of the cabin. +<P> +"Anything else?" asked the Prince. +<P> +"Nothing else, your Highness, except good-night." +<P> +"Oh, by the way, I forgot to pay my cabman. Of course it isn't his fault +that he brought me here." +<P> +"I shall have pleasure in sending him to you, and again, good-night." +<P> +"Good-night," said the Prince. +<P> +He closed the door of his cabin, pulled out his note-book, and rapidly wrote +two letters, one of which he addressed to Drummond and the other to the Czar. +When the cabman came he took him within the cabin and closed the door. +<P> +"Here," he said in a loud voice that the sentry could overhear if he liked, +"how much do I owe you?" +<P> +The driver told him. +<P> +"That's too much, you scoundrel," he cried aloud, but as he did so he placed +three gold pieces in the palm of the driver's hand together with the two +letters, and whispered: +<P> +"Get these delivered safely, and I'll give you ten times this money if you +call on Prince Lermontoff at the address on that note." +<P> +The man saluted, thanked him, and retired; a moment later he heard the jingle +of a bell, and then the steady throb of an engine. There was no window to +the stateroom, and he could not tell whether the steamer was going up or +down the river. Up, he surmised, and he suspected his destination was +Schlusselburg, the fortress-prison on an island at the source of the Neva. +He determined to go on deck and solve the question of direction, but the +soldier at the door brought down his gun and barred the passage. +<P> +"I am surely allowed to go on deck?" +<P> +"You cannot pass without an order from the captain." +<P> +"Well, send the captain to me, then." +<P> +"I dare not leave the door," said the soldier. +<P> +Lermontoff pressed the button, and presently an attendant came to learn what +was wanted. +<P> +"Will you ask the captain to come here?" +<P> +The steward departed, and shortly after returned with a big, bronzed, bearded +man, whose bulk made the stateroom seem small. +<P> +"You sent for the captain, and I am here." +<P> +"So am I," said the Prince jauntily. "My name is Lermontoff. Perhaps you +have heard of me?" +<P> +The captain shook his shaggy head. +<P> +"I am a Prince of Russia, and by some mistake find myself your passenger +instead of spending the night in my own house. Where are you taking me, Captain?" +<P> +"It is forbidden that I should answer questions." +<P> +"Is it also forbidden that I should go on deck?" +<P> +"The General said you were not to be allowed to leave this stateroom, as +you did not give your parole." +<P> +"How can I escape from a steamer in motion, Captain?" +<P> +"It is easy to jump into the river, and perhaps swim ashore." +<P> +"So he is a general, is he? Well, Captain, I'll give you my parole that I +shall not attempt to swim the Neva on so cold a night as this." +<P> +"I cannot allow you on deck now," said the Captain, "but when we are in the +Gulf of Finland you may walk the deck with the sentry beside you." +<P> +"The Gulf of Finland!" cried Lermontoff. "Then you are going down the river?" +<P> +The big Captain looked at him with deep displeasure clouding his brow, feeling +that he had been led to give away information which he should have kept to +himself. +<P> +"You are not going up to Schlusselburg, then?" +<P> +"I told your Highness that I am not allowed to answer questions. The General, +however, has given me a letter for you, and perhaps it may contain all you +may want to know." +<P> +"The General has given you a letter, eh? Then why don't you let me have it?" +<P> +"He told me not to disturb you to-night, but place it before you at breakfast +to-morrow." +<P> +"Oh, we're going to travel all night, are we?" +<P> +"Yes, Excellency." +<P> +"Did the General say you should not allow me to see the letter to-night?" +<P> +"No, your Excellency; he just said, 'Do not trouble his Highness to-night, +but give him this in the morning.'" +<P> +"In that case let me have it now." +<P> +The Captain pulled a letter from his pocket and presented it to the Prince. +It contained merely the two notes which Lermontoff had written to Drummond +and to the Czar. +<h3>CHAPTER XIV</h3> +<h4>A VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN</h4> +<P> +AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat +down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation. He heard distant +bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just +eleven o'clock. It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously +he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way +in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination. It appeared impossible that +so much could have happened in forty-five minutes. He wondered what Drummond +was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing. +<P> +However, pondering over the matter brought no solution of the mystery, so, +being a practical young man, he cast the subject from his mind, picked up +his heavy overcoat, which he had flung on the bed, and hung it up on the +hook attached to the door. As he did this his hand came in contact with a +tube in one of the pockets, and for a moment he imagined it was his revolver, +but he found it was the metal syringe he had purchased that evening from +the chemist. This set his thoughts whirling in another direction. He took +from an inside pocket one of the bottles of ozak, examining it under the +candle light, wishing he had a piece of rock with which to experiment. Then +with a yawn he replaced the materials in his overcoat pocket, took off his +boots, and threw himself on the bed, thankful it was not an ordinary shelf +bunk, but a generous and comfortable resting-place. Now Katherine appeared +before his closed eyes, and hand in hand they wandered into dreamland together. +<P> +When he awoke it was pitch dark in his cabin. The candles, which he had neglected +to extinguish, had burned themselves out. The short, jerky motion of the +steamer indicated that he was aboard a small vessel, and that this small +vessel was out in the open sea. He believed that a noise of some kind had +awakened him, and this was confirmed by a knock at his door which caused +him to spring up and throw back the bolt. The steward was there, but in the +dim light of the passage he saw nothing of the sentinel. He knew it was daylight +outside. +<P> +"The Captain, Excellency, wishes to know if you will breakfast with him or +take your meal in your room?" +<P> +"Present my compliments to the Captain, and say I shall have great pleasure +in breakfasting with him." +<P> +"It will be ready in a quarter of an hour, Excellency." +<P> +"Very good. Come for me at that time, as I don't know my way about the boat." +<P> +The Prince washed himself, smoothed out his rumpled clothes as well as he +could, and put on his boots. While engaged in the latter operation the door +opened, and the big Captain himself entered, inclosed in glistening oilskins. +<P> +"Hyvaa pyvaa, Highness," said the Captain. "Will you walk the deck before +breakfast?" +<P> +"Good-day to <I>you</I>," returned the Prince, "and by your salutation I +take you to be a Finn." +<P> +"I am a native of Abo," replied the Captain, "and as you say, a Finn, but +I differ from many of my countrymen, as I am a good Russian also." +<P> +"Well, there are not too many good Russians, and here is one who would rather +have heard that you were a good Finn solely." +<P> +"It is to prevent any mistake," replied the Captain, almost roughly, "that +I mention I am a good Russian." +<P> +"Right you are, Captain, and as I am a good Russian also, perhaps good Russian +Number One can tell me to what part of the world he is conveying good Russian +Number Two, a man guiltless of any crime, and unwilling, at this moment, +to take an enforced journey." +<P> +"We may both be good, but the day is not, Highness. It has been raining during +the night, and is still drizzling. I advise you to put on your overcoat." +<P> +"Thanks, Captain, I will." +<P> +The Captain in most friendly manner took the overcoat from its hook, shook +it out, and held it ready to embrace its owner. Lermontoff shoved right arm, +then left, into the sleeves, hunched the coat up into place, and buttoned +it at the throat. +<P> +"Again, Captain, my thanks. Lead the way and I will follow." +<P> +They emerged on deck into a dismal gray morning. No land or craft of any +kind was in sight. The horizon formed a small, close circle round the ship. +Clouds hung low, running before the wind, and bringing intermittently little +dashes of rain that seemed still further to compress the walls of horizon. +The sea was not what could be called rough, but merely choppy and fretful, +with short waves that would not have troubled a larger craft. The steamer +proved to be a small, undistinguished dingy-looking boat, more like a commercial +tramp than a government vessel. An officer, apparently the mate, stood on +the bridge, sinewy hands grasping the rail, peering ahead into the white +mist that was almost a fog. The promenade deck afforded no great scope for +pedestrianism, but Captain and prisoner walked back and forth over the restricted +space, talking genially together as if they were old friends. Nevertheless +there was a certain cautious guardedness in the Captain's speech; the wary +craft of an unready man who is in the presence of a person more subtle than +himself. The bluff Captain remembered he had been caught napping the night +before, when, after refusing to tell the Prince the direction of the steamer, +he had given himself away by mentioning the Gulf of Finland. Lermontoff noticed +this reluctance to plunge into the abyss of free conversation, and so, instead +of reassuring him he would ask no more questions, he merely took upon his +own shoulders the burden of the talk, and related to the Captain certain +wonders of London and New York. +<P> +The steward advanced respectfully to the Captain, and announced breakfast +ready, whereupon the two men followed him into a saloon not much larger than +the stateroom Lermontoff had occupied the night before, and not nearly so +comfortably furnished. A plenteous breakfast was supplied, consisting principally +of fish, steaming potatoes, black bread, and very strong tea. The Captain +swallowed cup after cup of this scalding beverage, and it seemed to make +him more and more genial as if it had been wine. Indeed, as time went on +he forgot that it was a prisoner who sat before him, for quite innocently +he said to the steward who waited on them: +<P> +"Have the poor devils below had anything to eat?" +<P> +"No orders, sir," replied the steward. +<P> +"Oh, well, give them something— something hot. It may be their last meal," +then turning, he met the gaze of the Prince, demanded roughly another cup +of tea, and explained: +<P> +"Three of the crew took too much vodka in St. Petersburg yesterday." +<P> +The Prince nodded carelessly, as if he believed, and offered his open cigarette +case to the Captain, who shook his head. +<P> +"I smoke a pipe," he growled. +<P> +The Captain rose with his lighted pipe, and together they went up on deck +again. The Prince saw nothing more of the tall sentinel who had been his +guard the night before, so without asking permission he took it for granted +that his movements, now they were in the open sea, were unrestricted, therefore +he walked up and down the deck smoking cigarettes. At the stroke of a bell +the Captain mounted the bridge and the mate came down. +<P> +Suddenly out of the thickness ahead loomed up a great black British freighter +making for St. Petersburg, as the Prince supposed. The two steamers, big +and little, were so close that each was compelled to sheer off a bit; then +the Captain turned on the bridge and seemed for a moment uncertain what to +do with his prisoner. A number of men were leaning over the bulwarks of the +British ship, and it would have been quite possible for the person on one +boat to give a message to those on the other. The Prince, understanding the +Captain's quandary, looked up at him and smiled, but made no attempt to take +advantage of his predicament. Some one on board the English ship shouted +and fluttered a handkerchief, whereupon the Prince waved his cigarette in +the air, and the big boat disappeared in the thickness of the east. +<P> +Lermontoff walked the deck, thinking very seriously about his situation, +and wondering where they intended to take him. If he were to be put in prison, +it must be in some place of detention on the coast of Finland, which seemed +strange, because he understood that the fortresses there were already filled +with dissatisfied inhabitants of that disaffected land. His first impression +had been that banishment was intended, and he had expected to be landed at +some Swedish or German port, but a chance remark made by the Captain at breakfast +inclined him to believe that there were other prisoners on board not quite +so favorably treated as himself. But why should he be sent out of Russia +proper, or even removed from St. Petersburg, which, he was well aware, suffered +from no lack of gaols. The continued voyage of the steamer through an open +sea again aroused the hope that Stockholm was the objective point. If they +landed him there it merely meant a little temporary inconvenience, and, once +ashore, he hoped to concoct a telegram so apparently innocent that it would +win through to his friend, and give Drummond at least the knowledge of his +abiding-place. The thought of Drummond aroused all his old fear that the +Englishman was to be the real victim, and this enforced voyage was merely +a convenient method of getting himself out of the way. +<P> +After lunch a dismal drizzle set in that presently increased to a steady +downpour, which drove Lermontoff to his cabin, and that room being unprovided +with either window or electric light, the Prince struck a match to one of +the candles newly placed on the washstand. He pushed the electric button +summoning the steward, and, giving him some money, asked if there was such +a thing as a piece of stone on board, carried as ballast, or for any other +reason. The steward said he would inquire, and finally returned with a sharpening +stone used for the knives in the galley. Bolting his door, Lermontoff began +an experiment, and at once forgot he was a prisoner. He filled the wash-basin +with water, and opening one of the glass-stoppered bottles, took out with +the point of his knife a most minute portion of the substance within, which +he dissolved in the water with no apparent effect. Standing the whetstone +up on end, he filled the glass syringe, and directed a fine, vaporous spray +against the stone. It dissolved before his eyes as a sand castle on the shore +dissolves at the touch of an incoming tide. +<P> +"By St. Peter of Russia!" he cried, "I've got it at last! I must write to +Katherine about this." +<P> +Summoning the steward again to take away this fluid, and bring him another +pailful of fresh water, Lermontoff endeavored to extract some information +from the deferential young man. +<P> +"Have you ever been in Stockholm?" +<P> +"No, Excellency." +<P> +"Or in any of the German ports?" +<P> +"No, Excellency." +<P> +"Do you know where we are making for now?" +<P> +"No, Excellency." +<P> +"Nor when we shall reach our destination?" +<P> +"No, Excellency." +<P> +"You have some prisoners aboard?" +<P> +"Three drunken sailors, Excellency." +<P> +"Yes, that's what the Captain said. But if it meant death for a sailor to +be drunk, the commerce of the world would speedily stop." +<P> +"This is a government steamer, Excellency, and if a sailor here disobeys +orders he is guilty of mutiny. On a merchant vessel they would merely put +him in irons." +<P> +"I see. Now do you want to earn a few gold pieces?" +<P> +"Excellency has been very generous to me already," was the non-committal +reply of the steward, whose eyes nevertheless twinkled at the mention of +gold. +<P> +"Well, here's enough to make a jingle in your pocket, and here are two letters +which you are to try to get delivered when you return to St. Petersburg." +<P> +"Yes, Excellency." +<P> +"You will do your best?" +<P> +"Yes, Excellency." +<P> +"Well, if you succeed, I'll make your fortune when I'm released." +<P> +"Thank you, Excellency." +<P> +That night at dinner the Captain opened a bottle of vodka, and conversed +genially on many topics, without touching upon the particular subject of +liberty. He partook sparingly of the stimulant, and, to Lermontoff's +disappointment, it did not in the least loosen his tongue, and thus, still +ignorant of his fate, the Prince turned in for the second night aboard the +steamer. +<P> +When he awoke next morning he found the engines had stopped, and, as the +vessel was motionless, surmised it had reached harbor. He heard the intermittent +chuck-chuck of a pony engine, and the screech of an imperfectly-oiled crane, +and guessed that cargo was being put ashore. +<P> +"Now," he said to himself, "if my former sentinel is at the door they are +going to take me to prison. If he is absent, I am to be set free." +<P> +He jumped up, threw back the bolt, opened the door. There was no one there. +In a very few minutes he was on deck, and found that the steamer was lying +in the lee of a huge rock, which reminded him of Mont St. Michel in Normandy, +except that it was about half again as high, and three times as long, and +that there were no buildings of any kind upon it, nor, indeed, the least +sign of human habitation. +<P> +The morning was fine; in the east the sun had just risen, and was flooding +the grim rock with a rosy light. Except this rock, no trace of land was visible +as far as the eye could see. Alongside the steamer was moored a sailing-boat +with two masts, but provided also with thole-pins, and sweeps for rowing. +The sails were furled, and she had evidently been brought to the steamer's +side by means of the oars. Into this craft the crane was lowering boxes, +bags, and what-not, which three or four men were stowing away. The mate was +superintending this transshipment, and the Captain, standing with his back +against the deck-house, was handing one by one certain papers, which Lermontoff +took to be bills of lading, to a young man who signed in a book for each +he received. When this transaction was completed, the young man saluted the +Captain, and descended over the ship's side to the sail-boat. +<P> +"Good morning, Captain. At anchor, I see," said Lermontoff. +<P> +"No, not at anchor. Merely lying here. The sea is too deep, and affords no +anchorage at this point." +<P> +"Where are all these goods going?" +<P> +The Captain nodded his head at the rock, and Lermontoff gazed at it again, +running his eyes from top to bottom without seeing any vestige of civilization. +<P> +"Then you lie to the lee of this rock, and the small boat takes the supplies +ashore?" +<P> +"Exactly," said the Captain. +<P> +"The settlement, I take it, is on the other side. What is it— a lighthouse?" +<P> +"There's no lighthouse," said the Captain. +<P> +"Sort of coastguard, then?" +<P> +"Yes, in a way. They keep a lookout. And now, Highness, I see your overcoat +is on your back. Have you left anything in your room?" +<P> +The Prince laughed. +<P> +"No, Captain, I forgot to bring a portmanteau with me." +<P> +"Then I must say farewell to you here." +<P> +"What, you are not going to maroon me on this pebble in the ocean?" +<P> +"You will be well taken care of, Highness." +<P> +"What place is this?" +<P> +"It is called the Trogzmondoff, Highness, and the water surrounding you is +the Baltic." +<P> +"Is it Russian territory?" +<P> +"Very, <I>very</I> Russian," returned the Captain drawing a deep breath. +"This way, if your Highness pleases. There is a rope ladder, which is sometimes +a little unsteady for a landsman, so be careful." +<P> +"Oh, I'm accustomed to rope ladders. Hyvasti, Captain." +<P> +"Hyvasti, your Highness." +<P> +And with this mutual good-by in Finnish, the Prince went down the swaying +ladder. +<h3>CHAPTER XV</h3> +<h4>"A HOME ON THE ROLLING DEEP"</h4> +<P> +FOR once the humorous expression had vanished from Captain Kempt's face, +and that good-natured man sat in the dainty drawing-room of the flat a picture +of perplexity. Dorothy had told him the story of the Nihilist, saying she +intended to purchase the yacht, and outlining what she proposed to do with +it when it was her own. Now she sat silent opposite the genial Captain, while +Katherine stood by the window, and talked enough for two, sometimes waxing +indignant, and occasionally giving, in terse language, an opinion of her +father, as is the blessed privilege of every girl born in the land of the +free, while the father took the censure with the unprotesting mildness of +his nature. +<P> +"My dear girls, you really must listen to reason. What you propose to do +is so absurd that it doesn't even admit of argument. Why, it's a filibustering +expedition, that's what it is. You girls are as crazy as Walker of Nicaragua. +Do you imagine that a retired Captain of the United States Navy is going +to take command of a pirate craft of far less legal standing than the 'Alabama,' +for then we were at war, but now we are at peace. Do you actually propose +to attack the domain of a friendly country! Oh!" cried the Captain, with +a mighty explosion of breath, for at this point his supply of language entirely +gave out. +<P> +"No one would know anything about it," persisted Katherine. +<P> +"Not know about it? With a crew of men picked up here in New York, and coming +back to New York? Not know about it? Bless my soul, the papers would be full +of it before your men were an hour on shore. In the first place, you'd never +find the rock." +<P> +"Then what's the harm of going in search of it?" demanded his daughter. "Besides +that, Johnson knows exactly where it is." +<P> +"Johnson, Johnson! You're surely not silly enough to believe Johnson's +cock-and-bull story?" +<P> +"I believe every syllable he uttered. The man's face showed that he was speaking +the truth." +<P> +"But, my dear Kate, you didn't see him at all, as I understand the yarn. +He was here alone with you, was he not, Dorothy?" +<P> +Dorothy smiled sadly. +<P> +"I told Kate all about it, and gave my own impression of the man's appearance." +<P> +"You are too sensible a girl to place any credit in what he said, surely?" +<P> +"I did believe him, nevertheless," replied Dorothy. +<P> +"Why, look you here. False in one thing, false in all. I'll just take a single +point. He speaks of a spring sending water through the cells up there in +the rock. Now, that is an impossibility. Wherever a spring exists, it comes +from a source higher than itself." +<P> +"There are lots of springs up in the mountains," interrupted Katherine. "I +know one on Mount Washington that is ten times as high as the rock in the +Baltic." +<P> +"Quite so, Katherine, quite so, but nevertheless there is a lake, subterraneous +or above ground, which feeds your White Mountain spring, and such a lake +must be situated higher than the spring is. Why, girl, you ought to study +hydrometeorology as well as chemistry. Here is a rock jutting up in midocean—" +<P> +"It's in the Baltic, near the Russian coast," snapped Kate, "and I've no +doubt there are mountains in Finland that contain the lake which feeds the +spring." +<P> +"How far is that rock from the Finnish coast, then?" +<P> +"Two miles and a half," said Kate, quick as an arrow speeding from a bow. +<P> +"Captain, we don't know how far it is from the coast," amended Dorothy. +<P> +"I'll never believe the thing exists at all." +<P> +"Why, yes it does, father. How can you speak like that? Don't you know Lieutenant +Drummond fired at it?" +<P> +"How do you know it was the same rock?" +<P> +"Because the rock fired back at him. There can't be two like that in the +Baltic." +<P> +"No, nor one either," said the Captain, nearing the end of his patience. +<P> +"Captain Kempt," said Dorothy very soothingly, as if she desired to quell +the rising storm, "you take the allegation about the spring of water to prove +that Johnson was telling untruths. I expect him here within an hour, and +I will arrange that you have an opportunity, privately, of cross-examining +him. I think when you see the man, and listen to him, you will believe. What +makes me so sure that he is telling the truth is the fact that he mentioned +the foreign vessel firing at this rock, which I knew to be true, and which +he could not possibly have learned anything about." +<P> +"He might very well have learned all particulars from the papers, Dorothy. +They were full enough of the subject at the time, and, remembering this, +he thought to strengthen his story by—" +<P> +Katherine interrupted with great scorn. +<P> +"By adding verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative." +<P> +"Quite so, Kate; exactly what I was going to say myself. But to come back +to the project itself. Granting the existence of the rock, granting the truth +of Johnson's story, granting everything, granting even that the young men +are imprisoned there, of which we have not the slightest proof, we could +no more succeed in capturing that place from a frail pleasure yacht—" +<P> +"It's built like a cruiser," said Katherine. +<P> +"Even if it were built like a battleship we would have no chance whatever. +Why, that rock might defy a regular fleet. Our venture would simply be a +marine Jameson Raid which would set the whole world laughing when people +came to hear of it." +<P> +"Johnson said he could take it with half a dozen men." +<P> +"No, Kate," corrected Dorothy, "he said the very reverse; that two or three +determined men on the rock with repeating rifles could defeat a host. It +was I who suggested that we should throw a shell, and then rush the entrance +in the confusion." +<P> +Captain Kempt threw up his hands in a gesture of despair. +<P> +"Great heavens, Dorothy Amhurst, whom I have always regarded as the mildest, +sweetest and most charming of girls; to hear you calmly propose to throw +a shell among a lot of innocent men defending their own territory against +a perfectly unauthorized invasion! Throw a shell, say you, as if you were +talking of tossing a copper to a beggar! Oh, Lord, I'm growing old. What +will become of this younger generation? Well, I give it up. Dorothy, my dear, +whatever will happen to those unfortunate Russians, I shall never recover +from the shock of your shell. The thing is absolutely impossible. Can't you +see that the moment you get down to details? How are you going to procure +your shells, or your shell-firing gun? They are not to be bought at the first +hardware store you come to on Sixth Avenue." +<P> +"Johnson says he can get them," proclaimed Kate with finality. +<P> +"Oh, damn Johnson! Dorothy, I beg your pardon, but really, this daughter +of mine, combined with that Johnson of yours, is just a little more than +I can bear." +<P> +"Then what are we to do?" demanded his daughter. "Sit here with folded hands?" +<P> +"That would be a great deal better than what you propose. You should do something +sane. You mustn't involve a pair of friendly countries in war. Of course +the United States would utterly disclaim your act, and discredit me if I +were lunatic enough to undertake such a wild goose chase, which I'm not; +but, on the other hand, if two of our girls undertook such an expedition, +no man can predict the public clamor that might arise. Why, when the newspapers +get hold of a question, you never know where they will end it. Undoubtedly +you two girls should be sent to prison, and, with equal undoubtedness, the +American people wouldn't permit it." +<P> +"You bet they wouldn't," said Katherine, dropping into slang. +<P> +"Well, then, if they wouldn't, there's war." +<P> +"One moment, Captain Kempt," said Dorothy, again in her mildest tones, for +voices had again begun to run high, "you spoke of doing something sane. You +understand the situation. What should you counsel us to do?" +<P> +The Captain drew a long breath, and leaned back in his chair. +<P> +"There, Dad, it's up to you," said Katherine. "Let us hear your proposal, +and then you'll learn how easy it is to criticise." +<P> +"Well," said the Captain hesitatingly, "there's our diplomatic service—" +<P> +"Utterly useless: one man is a Russian, and the other an Englishman. Diplomacy +not only can do nothing, but won't even try," cried Kate triumphantly. +<P> +"Yet," said the Captain, with little confidence, "although the two men are +foreigners, the two girls are Americans." +<P> +"We don't count: we've no votes," said Kate. "Besides, Dorothy tried the +diplomatic service, and could not even get accurate information from it. +Now, father, third time and out." +<P> +"Four balls are out, Kate, and I've only fanned the air twice. Now, girls, +I'll tell you what I'd do. You two come with me to Washington. We will seek +a private interview with the President. He will get into communication with +the Czar, also privately, and outside of all regular channels. The Czar will +put machinery in motion that is sure to produce those two young men much +more effectually and speedily than any cutthroat expedition on a yacht." +<P> +"I think," said Dorothy, "that is an excellent plan." +<P> +"Of course it is," cried the Captain enthusiastically. "Don't you see the +pull the President will have? Why, they've put an Englishman into 'the jug,' +and when the President communicates this fact to the Czar he will be afraid +to refuse, knowing that the next appeal may be from America to England, and +when you add a couple of American girls to that political mix-up, why, what +chance has the Czar?" +<P> +"The point you raise, Captain," said Dorothy, "is one I wish to say a few +words about. The President cannot get Mr. Drummond released, because the +Czar and all his government will be compelled to deny that they know anything +of him. Even the President couldn't guarantee that the Englishman would keep +silence if he were set at liberty. The Czar would know that, but your plan +would undoubtedly produce Prince Ivan Lermontoff. All the president has to +do is to tell the Czar that the Prince is engaged to an American girl, and +Lermontoff will be allowed to go." +<P> +"But," objected the Captain, "as the Prince knows the Englishman is in prison, +how could they be sure of John keeping quiet when Drummond is his best friend?" +<P> +"He cannot know that, because the Prince was arrested several days before +Drummond was. +<P> +"They have probably chucked them both into the same cell," said the Captain, +but Dorothy shook her head. +<P> +"If they had intended to do that, they would doubtless have arrested them +together. I am sure that one does not know the fate of the other, therefore +the Czar can quite readily let Lermontoff go, and he is certain to do that +at a word from the President. Besides this, I am as confident that Jack is +not in the Trogzmondoff, as I am sure that Drummond is. Johnson said it was +a prison for foreigners." +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy," cried the Captain, with a deep sigh, "if we've got back again +to Johnson—" He waved his hand and shook his head. +<P> +The maid opened the door and said, looking at Dorothy: +<P> +"Mr. Paterson and Mr. Johnson." +<P> +"Just show them into the morning room," said Dorothy, rising. "Captain Kempt, +it is awfully good of you to have listened so patiently to a scheme of which +you couldn't possibly approve." +<P> +"Patiently!" sniffed the daughter. +<P> +"Now I want you to do me another kindness." +<P> +She went to the desk and picked up a piece of paper. +<P> +"Here is a check I have signed— a blank check. I wish you to buy the yacht +'Walrus' just as she stands, and make the best bargain you can for me. A +man is so much better at this kind of negotiation than a woman." +<P> +"But surely, my dear Dorothy, you won't persist in buying this yacht?" +<P> +"It's her own money, father," put in Katherine. +<P> +"Keep quiet," said the Captain, rising, for the first time speaking with +real severity, whereupon Katherine, in spite of the fact that she was older +than twenty-one, was wise enough to obey. +<P> +"Yes, I am quite determined, Captain," said Dorothy sweetly. +<P> +"But, my dear woman, don't you see how you've been hoodwinked by this man +Johnson? He is shy of a job. He has already swindled you out of twenty thousand +dollars." +<P> +"No, he asked for ten only, Captain Kempt, and I voluntarily doubled the +amount." +<P> +"Nevertheless, he has worked you up to believe that these young men are in +that rock. He has done this for a very crafty purpose, and his purpose seems +likely to succeed. He knows he will be well paid, and you have promised him +a bonus besides. If he, with his Captain Kidd crew, gets you on that yacht, +you will only step ashore by giving him every penny you possess. That's his +object. He knows you are starting out to commit a crime— that's the word, +Dorothy, there's no use in our mincing matters— you will be perfectly helpless +in his hands. Of course, I could not allow my daughter Kate to go on such +an expedition." +<P> +"I am over twenty-one years old," cried Kate, the light of rebellion in her +eyes. +<P> +"I do not intend that either of you shall go, Katherine." +<P> +"Dorothy, I'll not submit to that," cried Katherine, with a rising tremor +of anger in her voice, "I shall not be set aside like a child. Who has more +at stake than I? And as for capturing the rock, I'll dynamite it myself, +and bring home as large a specimen of it as the yacht will carry, and set +it up on Bedloe's Island beside the Goddess and say, 'There's your statue +of Liberty, and there's your statue of Tyranny!'" +<P> +"Katherine," chided her father, "I never before believed that a child of +mine could talk such driveling nonsense." +<P> +"Paternal heredity, father," retorted Kate. +<P> +"Your Presidential plan, Captain Kempt," interposed Dorothy, "is excellent +so far as Prince Lermontoff is concerned, but it cannot rescue Lieutenant +Drummond. Now, there are two things you can do for me that will make me always +your debtor, as, indeed, I am already, and the first is to purchase for me +the yacht. The second is to form your own judgment of the man Johnson, and +if you distrust him, then engage for me one-half the crew, and see that they +are picked Americans." +<P> +"First sane idea I have heard since I came into this flat," growled the Captain. +<P> +"The Americans won't let the Finlander hold me for ransom, you may depend +upon that." +<P> +It was a woe-begone look the gallant Captain cast on the demure and determined +maiden, then, feeling his daughter's eye upon him, he turned toward her. +<P> +"I'm going, father," she said, with a firmness quite equal to his own, and +he on his part recognized when his daughter had toed the danger line. He +indulged in a laugh that had little of mirth in it. +<P> +"All I can say is that I am thankful you haven't made up your minds to kidnap +the Czar. Of course you are going, Kate, So am I." +<h3>CHAPTER XVI</h3> +<h4>CELL NUMBER NINE</h4> +<P> +AS the sailing-boat cast off, and was shoved away from the side of the steamer, +there were eight men aboard. Six grasped the oars, and the young clerk who +had signed for the documents given to him by the Captain took the rudder, +motioning Lermontoff to a seat beside him. All the forward part of the boat, +and, indeed, the space well back toward the stern, was piled with boxes and +bags. +<P> +"What is this place called?" asked the Prince, but the young steersman did +not reply. +<P> +Tying the boat to iron rings at the small landing where the steps began, +three of the men shipped their oars. Each threw a bag over his shoulder, +walked up half a dozen steps and waited. The clerk motioned Lermontoff to +follow, so he stepped on the shelf of rock and looked upward at the rugged +stairway cut between the main island and an outstanding perpendicular ledge +of rock. The steps were so narrow that the procession had to move up in Indian +file; three men with bags, then the Prince and the clerk, followed by three +more men with boxes. Lermontoff counted two hundred and thirty-seven steps, +which brought him to an elevated platform, projecting from a doorway cut +in the living rock, but shielded from all sight of the sea. The eastern sun +shone through this doorway, but did not illumine sufficiently the large room +whose walls, ceiling and floor were of solid stone. At the farther end a +man in uniform sat behind a long table on which burned an oil lamp with a +green shade. At his right hand stood a broad, round brazier containing glowing +coals, after the Oriental fashion, and the officer was holding his two hands +over it, and rubbing them together. The room, nevertheless, struck chill +as a cellar, and Lermontoff heard a constant smothered roar of water. +<P> +The clerk, stepping forward and saluting, presented to the Governor seated +there the papers and envelopes given him by the Captain. The officer selected +a blue sheet of paper, and scrutinized it for a moment under the lamp. +<P> +"Where are the others?" +<P> +"We have landed first the supplies, Governor; then the boat will return for +the others." +<P> +The Governor nodded, and struck a bell with his open palm. There entered +a big man with a bunch of keys at his belt, followed by another who carried +a lighted lantern. +<P> +"Number Nine," said the Governor to the gaolers. +<P> +"I beg your pardon, sir, am I a prisoner?" asked Lermontoff. +<P> +The Governor gave utterance to a sound that was more like the grunt of a +pig than the ejaculation of a man. He did not answer, but looked up at the +questioner, and the latter saw that his face, gaunt almost as that of a living +skeleton, was pallid as putty. +<P> +"Number Nine," he repeated, whereupon the gaoler and the man with the lantern +put a hand each on Lermontoff's shoulders, and marched him away. They walked +together down a long passage, the swaying lantern casting its yellow rays +on the iron bolts of door after door, until at last the gaoler stopped, threw +back six bolts, inserted a key, unlocked the door, and pushed it ponderously +open. The lantern showed it to be built like the door of a safe, but unlike +that of a safe it opened inwards. As soon as the door came ajar Lermontoff +heard the sound of flowing water, and when the three entered, he noticed +a rapid little stream sparkling in the rays of the lantern at the further +end of the cell. He saw a shelf of rock and a stone bench before it. The +gaoler placed his hands on a black loaf, while the other held up the lantern. +<P> +"That will last you four days," said the gaoler. +<P> +"Well, my son, judging from the unappetizing look of it, I think it will +last me much longer." +<P> +The gaoler made no reply, but he and the man with the lantern retired, drawing +the door heavily after them. Lermontoff heard the bolts thrust into place, +and the turn of the key; then silence fell, all but the babbling of the water. +He stood still in the center of the cell, his hands thrust deep in the pockets +of his overcoat, and, in spite of this heavy garment, he shivered a little. +<P> +"Jack, my boy," he muttered, "this is a new deal, as they say in the West. +I can imagine a man going crazy here, if it wasn't for that stream. I never +knew what darkness meant before. Well, let's find out the size of our kingdom." +<P> +He groped for the wall, and stumbling against the stone bench, whose existence +he had forgotten, pitched head forward to the table, and sent the four-day +loaf rolling on the floor. He made an ineffectual grasp after the loaf, fearing +it might fall into the stream and be lost to him, but he could not find it, +and now his designs for measuring the cell gave place to the desire of finding +that loaf. He got down on his hands and knees, and felt the stone floor inch +by inch for half an hour, as he estimated the time, but never once did he +touch the bread. +<P> +"How helpless a man is in the dark, after all," he muttered to himself. "I +must do this systematically, beginning at the edge of the stream." +<P> +On all fours he reached the margin of the rivulet, and felt his way along +the brink till his head struck the opposite wall. He turned round, took up +a position that he guessed was three feet nearer the door, and again traversed +the room, becoming so eager in the search that he forgot for the moment the +horror of his situation, just as, when engaged in a chemical experiment, +everything else vanished from his mind, and thus after several journeys back +and forth he was again reminded of the existence of the stone bench by butting +against it when he knew he was still several feet from the wall. Rubbing +his head, he muttered some unfavorable phrases regarding the immovable bench, +then crawled round it twice, and resumed his transverse excursions. At last +he reached the wall that held the door, and now with breathless eagerness +rubbed his shoulder against it till he came to the opposite corner. He knew +he had touched with knees and hands practically every square inch of space +in the floor, and yet no bread. +<P> +"Now, that's a disaster," cried he, getting up on his feet, and stretching +himself. "Still, a man doesn't starve in four days. I've cast my bread on +the waters. It has evidently gone down the stream. Now, what's to hinder +a man escaping by means of that watercourse? Still, if he did, what would +be the use? He'd float out into the Baltic Sea, and if able to swim round +the rock, would merely be compelled to knock at the front door and beg admission +again. No, by Jove, there's the boat, but they probably guard it night and +day, and a man in the water would have no chance against one in the boat. +Perhaps there's gratings between the cells. Of course, there's bound to be. +No one would leave the bed of a stream clear for any one to navigate. Prisoners +would visit each other in their cells, and that's not allowed in any respectable +prison. I wonder if there's any one next door on either side of me. An iron +grid won't keep out the sound. I'll try," and going again to the margin of +the watercourse, he shouted several times as loudly as he could, but only +a sepulchral echo, as if from a vault, replied to him. +<P> +"I imagine the adjoining cells are empty. No enjoyable companionship to be +expected here. I wonder if they've got the other poor devils up from the +steamer yet. I'll sit down on the bench and listen." +<P> +He could have found the bench and shelf almost immediately by groping round +the wall, but he determined to exercise his sense of direction, to pit himself +against the darkness. +<P> +"I need not hurry," he said, "I may be a long time here." +<P> +In his mind he had a picture of the cell, but now that he listened to the +water it seemed to have changed its direction, and he found he had to rearrange +this mental picture, and make a different set of calculations to fit the +new position. Then he shuffled slowly forward with hands outstretched, but +he came to the wall, and not to the bench. Again he mapped out his route, +again endeavored, and again failed. +<P> +"This is bewildering," he muttered. "How the darkness baffles a man. For +the first time in my life I appreciate to the full the benediction of God's +command, 'Let there be light.'" +<P> +He stood perplexed for a few moments, and, deeply thinking, his hands +automatically performed an operation as the servants of habit. They took +from his pocket his cigarette case, selected a tube of tobacco, placed it +between his lips, searched another pocket, brought out a match-box, and struck +a light. The striking of the match startled Lermontoff as if it had been +an explosion; then he laughed, holding the match above his head, and there +at his feet saw the loaf of black bread. It seemed as if somebody had twisted +the room end for end. The door was where he thought the stream was, and thus +he learned that sound gives no indication of direction to a man blindfolded. +The match began to wane, and feverishly he lit his cigarette. +<P> +"Why didn't I think of the matches, and oh! what a pity I failed to fill +my pockets with them that night of the Professor's dinner party! To think +that matches are selling at this moment in Sweden two hundred and fifty for +a halfpenny!" +<P> +Guided by the spark at the end of his cigarette, he sought the bench and +sat down upon it. He was surprised to find himself so little depressed as +was actually the case. He did not feel in the least disheartened. Something +was going to happen on his behalf; of that he was quite certain. It was perfectly +ridiculous that even in Russia a loyal subject, who had never done any illegal +act in his life, a nobleman of the empire, and a friend of the Czar, should +be incarcerated for long without trial, and even without accusation. He had +no enemies that he knew of, and many friends, and yet he experienced a vague +uneasiness when be remembered that his own course of life had been such that +he would not be missed by his friends. For more than a year he had been in +England, at sea, and in America, so much absorbed in his researches that +he had written no private letters worth speaking of, and if any friend were +asked his whereabouts, he was likely to reply: +<P> +"Oh, Lermontoff is in some German university town, or in England, or traveling +elsewhere. I haven't seen him or heard of him for months. Lost in a wilderness +or in an experiment, perhaps." +<P> +These unhappy meditations were interrupted by the clang of bolts. He thought +at first it was his own door that was being opened, but a moment later knew +it was the door of the next cell up-stream. The sound, of course, could not +penetrate the extremely thick wall, but came through the aperture whose roof +arched the watercourse. From the voices he estimated that several prisoners +were being put into one cell, and he wondered whether or not he cared for +a companion. It would all depend. If fellow-prisoners hated each other, their +enforced proximity might prove unpleasant. +<P> +"We are hungry," he heard one say. "Bring us food." +<P> +The gaoler laughed. +<P> +"I will give you something to drink first." +<P> +"That's right," three voices shouted. "Vodka, vodka!" +<P> +Then the door clanged shut again, and he heard the murmur of voices in Russian, +but could not make out what was said. One of the new prisoners, groping round, +appeared to have struck the stone bench, as he himself had done. The man +in the next cell swore coarsely, and Lermontoff, judging from such snatches +of their conversation as he could hear that they were persons of a low order, +felt no desire to make their more intimate acquaintance, and so did not shout +to them, as he had intended to do. And now he missed something that had become +familiar; thought it was a cigarette he desired, for the one he had lit had +been smoked to his very lips, then he recognized it was the murmur of the +stream that had ceased. +<P> +"Ah, they can shut it off," he said. "That's interesting. I must investigate, +and learn whether or no there is communication between the cells. Not very +likely, though." +<P> +He crawled on hands and knees until he came to the bed of the stream, which +was now damp, but empty. Kneeling down in its course, he worked his way toward +the lower cell, and, as he expected, came to stout iron bars. Crouching thus +he sacrificed a second match, and estimated that the distance between the +two cells was as much as ten feet of solid rock, and saw also that behind +the perpendicular iron bars were another horizontal set, then another +perpendicular, then a fourth horizontal. +<P> +While in this position he was startled by a piercing scream to the rear. +He backed out from the tunnel and stood upright once more. He heard the sound +of people splashing round in water. The screamer began to jabber like a maniac, +punctuating his ravings with shrieks. Another was cursing vehemently, and +a third appealing to the saints. Lermontoff quickly knelt down in the +watercourse, this time facing the upper cell, and struck his third match. +He saw that a steel shield, reminding him of the thin shutter between the +lenses of a camera, had been shot across the tunnel behind the second group +of cross bars, and as an engineer be could not but admire the skill of the +practical expert who had constructed this diabolical device, for in spite +of the pressure on the other side, hardly a drop of water oozed through. +He tried to reach this shield, but could not. It was just beyond the touch +of his fingers, with his arm thrust through the two sets of bars, but if +he could have stretched that far, with the first bar retarding his shoulder, +he knew his hand would be helpless even if he had some weapon to puncture +the steel shield. The men would be drowned before he could accomplish anything +unless he was at the lever in the passage outside. +<P> +Crawling into his cell again he heard no more of the chatter and cries of +the maniac, and he surmised that the other two were fighting for places on +bench or shelf, which was amply large enough to have supported both, had +they not been too demented with fear to recognize that fact. The cursing +man was victorious, and now he stood alone on the shelf, roaring maledictions. +Then there was the sound of a plunge, and Lermontoff, standing there, helpless +and shivering, heard the prisoner swim round and round his cell like a furious +animal, muttering and swearing. +<P> +"Don't exhaust yourself like that," shouted Lermontoff. "If you want to live, +cling to the hole at either of the two upper corners. The water can't rise +above you then, and you can breathe till it subsides." +<P> +The other either did not hear, or did not heed, but tore round and round +in his confined tank, thrashing the water like a dying whale. +<P> +"Poor devil," moaned Jack. "What's the use of telling him what to do. He +is doomed in any case. The other two are now better off." +<P> +A moment later the water began to dribble through the upper aperture into +Jack's cell, increasing and increasing until there was the roar of a waterfall, +and he felt the cold splashing drops spurt against him. Beyond this there +was silence. It was perhaps ten minutes after that the lever was pulled, +and the water belched forth from the lower tunnel like a mill race broken +loose, temporarily flooding the floor so that Jack was compelled to stand +on the bench. +<P> +He sunk down shivering on the stone shelf, laid his arms on the stone pillow, +and buried his face in them. +<P> +"My God, my God!" he groaned. +<h3>CHAPTER XVII</h3> +<h4>A FELLOW SCIENTIST</h4> +<P> +IN this position Jack slept off and on, or rather, dozed into a kind of +semi-stupor, from which he awoke with a start now and then, as he thought +be heard again the mingled cries of devotion and malediction. At last he +slept soundly, and awoke refreshed, but hungry. The loaf lay beside him, +and with his knife he cut a slice from it, munching the coarse bread with +more of relish than he had thought possible when he first saw it. Then he +took out another cigarette, struck a match, looked at his watch, and lit +the cigarette. It was ten minutes past two. He wondered if a night had +intervened, but thought it unlikely. He had landed very early in the morning, +and now it was afternoon. He was fearfully thirsty, but could not bring himself +to drink from that stream of death. Once more he heard the bolts shot back. +<P> +"They are going to throw the poor wretches into the sea," he muttered, but +the yellow gleam of a lantern showed him it was his own door that had been +unlocked. +<P> +"You are to see the Governor," said the gaoler gruffly. "Come with me." +<P> +Jack sprang to the floor of his cell, repressing a cry of delight. Nothing +the grim Governor could do to him would make his situation any worse, and +perhaps his persuasive powers upon that official might result in some +amelioration of his position. In any case there was the brief respite of +the interview, and he would gladly have chummed with the devil himself to +be free a few moments from this black pit. +<P> +Although the outside door of the Governor's room stood open, the room was +not as well illumined as it had been before, for the sun had now gone round +to the other side of the island, but to the prisoner's aching eyes it seemed +a chamber of refulgence. The same lamp was burning on the table, giving forth +an odor of bad oil, but in addition to this, two candles were lighted, which +supplemented in some slight measure the efforts of the lamp. At the end of +the table lay a number of documents under a paper-weight, arranged with the +neat precision of a methodical man. The Governor had been warming his hands +over the brazier, but ceased when Lermontoff was brought up standing before +him. He lifted the paper-weight, took from under it the two letters which +Lermontoff had given to the steward on the steamer, and handed them to the +prisoner, who thus received them back for the second time. +<P> +"I wish to say," remarked the Governor, with an air of bored indifference +which was evidently quite genuine, "that if you make any further attempt +to communicate with the authorities, or with friends, you will bring on yourself +punishment which will be unpleasant." +<P> +"As a subject of the Czar, I have the right to appeal to him," said the Prince. +<P> +"The appeal you have written here," replied the Governor, "would have proved +useless, even if it had been delivered. The Czar knows nothing of the +Trogzmondoff, which is a stronghold entirely under the control of the Grand +Dukes and of the Navy. The Trogzmondoff never gives up a prisoner." +<P> +"Then I am here for a lifetime?" +<P> +"Yes," rejoined the Governor, with frigid calmness, "and if you give me no +trouble you will save yourself some inconvenience." +<P> +"Do you speak French?" asked the Prince. +<P> +"Net." +<P> +"English?" +<P> +"Net." +<P> +"Italian?" +<P> +"Net." +<P> +"German?" +<P> +"Da." +<P> +"Then," continued Lermontoff in German, "I desire to say a few words to you +which I don't wish this gaoler to understand. I am Prince Ivan Lermontoff, +a personal friend of the Czar's, who, after all, is master of the Grand Dukes +and the Navy also. If you will help to put me into communication with him, +I will guarantee that no harm comes to you, and furthermore will make you +a rich man." +<P> +The Governor slowly shook his head. +<P> +"What you ask is impossible. Riches are nothing to me. Bribery may do much +in other parts of the Empire, but it is powerless in the Trogzmondoff. I +shall die in the room adjoining this, as my predecessor died. I am quite +as much a prisoner in the Trogzmondoff as is your Highness. No man who has +once set foot in this room, either as Governor, employee, or prisoner, is +allowed to see the mainland again, and thus the secret has been well kept. +We have had many prisoners of equal rank with your Highness, friends of the +Czar too, I dare say, but they all died on the Rock, and were buried in the +Baltic." +<P> +"May I not be permitted to receive certain supplies if I pay for them? That +is allowed in other prisons." +<P> +The Governor shook his head. +<P> +"I can let you have a blanket," he said, "and a pillow, or a sheepskin if +you find it cold at first, but my power here is very limited, and, as I tell +you, the officers have little more comfort than the prisoners." +<P> +"Oh, I don't care anything about comfort," protested Lermontoff. "What I +want is some scientific apparatus. I am a student of science. I have nothing +to do with politics, and have never been implicated in any plot. Someone +in authority has made a stupid mistake, and so I am here. This mistake I +am quite certain will be discovered and remedied. I hold no malice, and will +say nothing of the place, once I am free. It is no business of mine. But +I do not wish to have the intervening time wasted. I should like to buy some +electrical machinery, and materials, for which I am willing to pay any price +that is asked." +<P> +"Do you understand electricity?" questioned the Governor, and for the first +time his impassive face showed a glimmer of interest. +<P> +"Do I understand electricity? Why, for over a year I have been chief electrician +on a war-ship." +<P> +"Perhaps then," said the Governor, relapsing into Russian again, "you can +tell me what is wrong with our dynamo here in the Rock. After repeated +requisition they sent machinery for lighting our offices and passages with +electricity. They apparently did not care to send an electrician to the +Trogzmondoff, but forwarded instead some books of instruction. I have been +working at it for two years and a half, but I am still using oil lamps and +candles. We wired the place without difficulty." He held up the candle, and +showed, depending from the ceiling, a chandelier of electric lamps which +Lermontoff had not hitherto noticed, various brackets, and one or two stand +lamps in a corner, with green silk-covered wire attached. +<P> +"May I see your dynamo?" asked Lermontoff. +<P> +The Governor, with one final warming of his hands, took up a candle, told +the gaoler to remove the shade from the lamp and bring it, led the way along +a passage, and then into a room where the prisoner, on first entering, had +heard the roar of water. +<P> +"What's this you have. A turbine? Does it give you any power?" +<P> +"Oh, it gives power enough," said the Governor. +<P> +"Let's see how you turn on the stream." +<P> +The Governor set the turbine at work, and the dynamo began to hum, a sound +which, to the educated ear of Lermontoff, told him several things. +<P> +"That's all right, Governor, turn it off. This is a somewhat old-fashioned +dynamo, but it ought to give you all the light you can use. You must be a +natural born electrician, or you never could have got this machinery working +as well as it does." +<P> +The dull eyes of the Governor glowed for one brief moment, then resumed their +customary expression of saddened tiredness. +<P> +"Now," said Jack, throwing off his coat, "I want a wrench, screwdriver, hammer +and a pair of pincers if you've got them." +<P> +"Here is the tool chest," said the Governor, and Jack found all he needed. +Bidding the Governor hold the candle here, there and elsewhere, and ordering +the gaoler about as if he were an apprentice, Jack set energetically to work, +and for half an hour no one spoke. +<P> +"Turn on that water again," he commanded. +<P> +The Governor did so, and the machine whirred with quite a different note. +Half a dozen electric lamps in the room flooded the place with a dazzling +white glow. +<P> +"There you are," cried Jack, rubbing the oil off his hands on a piece of +coarse sacking. "Now, Tommy, put these things back in the tool chest," he +said to the gaoler. Then to the Governor: +<P> +"Let's see how things look in the big room." +<P> +The passage was lit, and the Governor's room showed every mark on wall, ceiling +and floor. +<P> +"I told you, Governor," said Jack with a laugh, "that I didn't know why I +was sent here, but now I understand. Providence took pity on you, and ordered +me to strike a light." +<P> +At that moment the gaoler entered with his jingling keys, and the enthusiastic +expression faded from the Governor's face, leaving it once more coldly impassive, +but he spoke in German instead of Russian. +<P> +"I am very much indebted to your Highness, and it grieves me that our +relationship remains unchanged." +<P> +"Oh, that's all right," cried Lermontoff breezily, "If it is within your +power to allow me to come and give you some lessons in electricity and the +care of dynamos, I shall be very glad to do so." +<P> +To this offer the Governor made no reply, but he went on still in German. +<P> +"I shall transfer you to cell Number One, which is not only more comfortable, +but the water there is pure. Did you say you spoke English?" +<P> +"Yes, quite as well as I do Russian." +<P> +The Governor continued, with nevertheless a little hesitation: "On the return +of the steamer there will be an English prisoner. I will give him cell Number +Two, and if you don't talk so loud that the gaoler hears you, it may perhaps +make the day less wearisome." +<P> +"You are very kind," said Jack, rigidly suppressing any trace of either emotion +or interest as he heard the intelligence; leaping at once to certain conclusions, +nevertheless. "I shan't ask for anything more, much as I should like to mention +candles, matches, and tobacco." +<P> +"It is possible you may find all three in Number One before this time to-morrow;" +then in Russian the Governor said to the gaoler: +<P> +"See if Number One is ready." +<P> +The gaoler departed, and the Governor, throwing open a drawer in his table, +took out two candles, a box of matches, and a packet of cigarettes. +<P> +"Put these in your pocket," he said. "The cell door opens very slowly, so +you will always know when the gaoler is coming. In that case blow out your +light and conceal your candle. It will last the longer." +<P> +The gaoler returned. +<P> +"The cell is ready, Excellency," he said. +<P> +"Take away the prisoner," commanded the Governor, gruffly. +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII</h3> +<h4>CELL NUMBER ONE</h4> +<P> +CELL Number One was a great improvement on Number Nine. There was no shelf +of rock, or stone bench, but a cot bed in the corner, a table, and a wooden +chair. The living spring issued from the living rock in a corner of the room. +When the gaoler and his assistant had retired and shoved in the outside bolts, +Jack lit his candle and a cigarette, feeling almost happy. He surveyed the +premises now with more care. The bed was of iron and fastened to the floor. +On the top of it was a mattress, a pillow, and a pair of blankets. At its +head a little triangular shelf of rock had been left in the corner, and on +this reposed a basin of tin, while a coarse piece of sacking took the place +of a towel. Jack threw off his overcoat and flung it on the bed, intent on +a satisfactory wash. He heard something jingle in the pockets, and forgetting +for the moment what it could possibly be, thrust his hand in, and pulled +out a glass-stoppered bottle of ozak. He held it out at arm's length, and +stared at it for some moments like a man hypnotized. +<P> +"Holy Saint Peter!" he cried, "to think that I should have forgotten this!" +<P> +He filled the tin basin with water, and placed it on the table. Again he +dissolved a minute portion of the chemical, and again filled the syringe. +<P> +"I must leave no marks on the wall that may arouse attention," he said, and +taking the full syringe to the arch over the torrent, and placing the candle +on the floor beside him, he gently pushed in the piston. The spray struck +the rock, and the rock dissolved slightly but perceptibly. Coming back to +the table he stood for a few minutes in deep thought. Although the cot bed +was fixed to the floor, and although it was possible that the shelf in the +next cell coincided with its position, the risk of discovery was too great +to cut a passage between the two cells there. The obvious spot to attack +was the interior of the tunnel through which the streamlet ran, but Jack, +testing the temperature of the water with his hand, doubted his physical +ability to remain in that ice-cold current more than a few minutes at a time, +and if he worked in the tunnel he would be all but submerged. He feared he +would perish with cold and cramp before he had made any impression on the +rock. +<P> +To the edge of the stream he drew the table, and, mounting it, examined the +upper orifice through which the water escaped when the cell was full. He +found he could stand on the table and work in comfort until he had excavated +sufficient rock to allow him to clamber into the upper tunnel and so continue +his operations. The water he used would flow through the tunnel, and down +to the main stream in the next cell. All he had to do was to dissolve a +semi-circular hole in the rock that would bend round the end of those steel +bars, and enter the tunnel again on the other side. Eager to be at work, +he took the full basin, shoved it far along the tunnel until it was stopped +by the bars, then, placing his candle beside it, and standing on the table, +he began operations. +<P> +The limestone, under the influence of the spray, dissolved very slowly, and +by the time the basin of water was exhausted, all the effect visible under +the light of the candle was an exceedingly slight circular impression which +was barely visible to the naked eye. +<P> +"I must make the solution stronger, I think," he said, grievously disappointed +at the outcome of his labors, and as he looked at it he heard the clank of +the withdrawing bolts. Blowing out the candle he sprang to the floor of the +cell, picked up the table, set it down in the center of the room, groped +for the chair, and sat down, his heart palpitating wildly at the fear of +discovery. +<P> +Followed as usual by the man with the lantern, the gaoler came in, carrying +a bowl of hot steaming soup, which he placed on the table, then he took from +his pocket a spoon, a small hunk of black bread, and a piece of cheese. In +the light of the lantern Lermontoff consulted his watch, and found it was +six o'clock. The gaoler took the lantern from his assistant, held it high, +and looked round the room, while Lermontoff gazed at him in anxiety, wondering +whether that brutal looking official suspected anything. Apparently he did +not, but merely wished to satisfy himself that everything was in order, for +he said more mildly than he had hitherto spoken: +<P> +"It is a long time since any one occupied this cell." +<P> +Then his eye rested on the vacant corner shelf. +<P> +"Ah, Excellency," he continued, "pardon me, I have forgotten. I must bring +you a basin." +<P> +"I'd rather you brought me a candle," said Lermontoff nonchalantly, although +his lips were dry, and he moistened them as he spoke; then, to learn whether +money was valueless on the rock, as the Governor had intimated, he drew from +his pocket one of the remaining gold pieces, glad that he happened to have +so many, and slipped it into the palm of the gaoler's hand, whose fingers +clutched it as eagerly as if he were in St. Petersburg. +<P> +"I think a candle can be managed, Excellency. Shall I bring a cup?" +<P> +"I wish you would." +<P> +The door was again locked and bolted, but before Lermontoff had finished +his soup, and bread and cheese, it was opened again. The gaoler placed a +tin basin, similar to the former one, on the ledge, put a candle and a +candle-stick on the table, and a tin cup beside them. +<P> +"I thought there was no part of Russia where bribery was extinct," said the +Prince to himself, as the door closed again for the night. +<P> +After supper Lermontoff again shined his table, stood upon it, lit his candle, +and resumed his tunnelling, working hard until after midnight. His progress +was deplorably slow, and the spraying of the rock proved about as tiring +a task as ever he had undertaken. His second basin-full of solution was made +a little stronger, but without perceptible improvement, in its effect. On +ceasing operations for the night he found himself in a situation common to +few prisoners, that of being embarrassed with riches. He possessed two basins, +and one of them must be concealed. Of course he might leave his working basin +in the upper tunnel where it had rested when the gaoler had brought in his +supper, but he realized that at any moment the lantern's rays might strike +its shining surface, and so bring on an investigation of the upper tunnel, +certain to prove the destruction of his whole scheme. A few minutes thought, +however, solved the problem admirably: he placed the basin face downwards +in the rapid stream which swept it to the iron bars between the two cells, +and there it lay quite concealed with the swift water rippling over it. This +done, he flung off his clothes, and got into bed, not awakening until the +gaoler and his assistant brought in bread, cheese and coffee for breakfast. +<P> +The next day he began to feel the inconveniences of the Governor's friendship, +and wished he were safely back to the time when one loaf lasted four days, +for if such were now the case, he would be free of the constant state of +tension which the ever-recurring visits of the gaoler caused. He feared that +some day he might become so absorbed in his occupation that he would not +hear the withdrawing of the bolt, and thus, as it were, be caught in the +act. +<P> +Shortly after lunch the Governor sent for him, and asked many questions +pertaining to the running of the dynamo. Lermontoff concealed his impatience, +and set about his instructions with exemplary earnestness. Russian text books +on electricity at hand were of the most rudimentary description, and although +the Governor could speak German he could not read it, so the two volumes +he possessed in that language were closed to him. Therefore John was compelled +to begin at the very A B C of the science. +<P> +The Governor, however, became so deeply interested that he momentarily forgot +his caution, unlocked a door, and took Lermontoff into a room which he saw +was the armory and ammunition store-house of the prison. On the floor of +this chamber the Governor pointed out a large battery of accumulators, and +asked what they were for. Lermontoff explained the purposes of the battery, +meanwhile examining it thoroughly, and finding that many of the cells had +been all but ruined in transit, through the falling away of the composition +in the grids. Something like half of the accumulators, however, were intact +and workable; these he uncoupled and brought into the dynamo room, where +he showed the Governor the process of charging. He saw in the store room +a box containing incandescent lamps, coils of silk-covered wire and other +material that made his eyes glisten with delight. He spoke in German. +<P> +"If you will give me a coil of this wire, one or two of the lamps, and an +accumulator, or indeed half a dozen of them, I will trouble you no more for +candles." +<P> +The Governor did not reply at the moment, but a short time after asked Lermontoff +in Russian how long it would be before the accumulators were charged. Lermontoff +stated the time, and the Governor told the gaoler to bring the prisoner from +the cell at that hour, and so dismissed his instructor. +<P> +One feature of this interview which pleased Lermontoff was that however much +the Governor became absorbed in these lessons, he never allowed himself to +remain alone with his prisoner. It was evident that in his cooler moments +the Governor had instructed the gaoler and his assistant to keep ever at +the heels of the Prince and always on the alert. Two huge revolvers were +thrust underneath the belt of the gaoler, and the lantern-holder, was similarly +armed. Lermontoff was pleased with this, for if the Governor had trusted +him entirely, even though he demanded no verbal parole, it would have gone +against his grain to strike down the chief as he ruthlessly intended to do +when the time was ripe for it, and in any case, he told himself, no matter +how friendly the Governor might be, he had the misfortune to stand between +his prisoner and liberty. +<P> +Lermontoff was again taken from his cell about half an hour before the time +he had named for the completion of the charging, and although the Governor +said nothing of his intention, the gaoler and his man brought to the cell +six charged batteries, a coil of wire, and a dozen lamps. Lermontoff now +changed his working methods. He began each night as soon as he had finished +dinner, and worked till nearly morning, sleeping all day except when interrupted +by the gaoler. Jack, following the example of Robinson Crusoe, attempted +to tie knots on the tail of time by cutting notches with his knife on the +leg of the table, but most days he forgot to perform this operation, and +so his wooden almanac fell hopelessly out of gear. He estimated that he had +been a little more than a week in prison when he heard by the clang of the +bolts that the next cell was to have an occupant. +<P> +"I must prepare a welcome for him," he said, and so turned out the electric +light at the end of the long flexible wire. He had arranged a neat little +switch of the accumulator, and so snapped the light on and off at his pleasure, +without the trouble of unscrewing the nuts which held in place one of the +copper ends of the wire. Going to the edge of the stream and lighting his +candle, he placed the glass bulb in the current, paid out the flexible line +attached to it, and allowed the bulb to run the risk of being smashed against +the iron bars of the passage, but the little globe negotiated the rapids +without even a perceptible clink, and came to rest in the bed of the torrent +somewhere about the center of the next cell, tugging like a fish on a hook. +Then Jack mounted the table, leaned into the upper tunnel, and listened. +<P> +"I protest," Drummond cried, speaking loudly, as if the volume of sound would +convey meaning to alien ears, "I protest against this as an outrage, and +demand my right of communication with the British Ambassador." +<P> +Jack heard the gaoler growl: "This loaf of bread will last you for four days," +but as this statement was made in Russian, it conveyed no more meaning to +the Englishman than had his own protest of a moment before brought intelligence +to the gaoler. The door clanged shut, and there followed a dead silence. +<P> +"Now we ought to hear some good old British oaths," said Jack to himself, +but the silence continued. +<P> +"Hullo, Alan," cried Jack through the bars, "I said you would be nabbed if +you didn't leave St. Petersburg. You'll pay attention to me next time I warn +you." +<P> +There was no reply, and Jack became alarmed at the continued stillness, then +he heard his friend mutter: +<P> +"I'll be seeing visions by and by. I thought my brain was stronger than it +is— could have sworn that was Jack's voice." +<P> +Jack got speedily and quietly down, turned on the switch, and hopped up on +the table again, peering through. He knew that the stream had now become +a river of fire, and that it was sending to the ceiling an unholy, unearthly +glow. +<P> +"Oh, damn it all!" groaned Drummond, at which Jack roared with laughter. +<P> +"Alan," he shouted, "fish out that electric bulb from the creek and hold +it aloft; then you'll see where you are. I'm in the next cell; Jack Lamont, +Electrician and Coppersmith: all orders promptly attended to: best of references, +and prices satisfactory." +<P> +"Jack, is that really you, or have I gone demented?" +<P> +"Oh, you always <I>were</I> demented, Alan, but it is I, right enough. Pick +up the light and tell me what kind of a cell you've got." +<P> +"Horrible!" cried Drummond, surveying his situation. "Walls apparently of +solid rock, and this uncanny stream running across the floor." +<P> +"How are you furnished? Shelf of rock, stone bench?" +<P> +"No, there's a table, cot bed, and a wooden chair." +<P> +"Why, my dear man, what are you growling about? They have given you one of +the best rooms in the hotel. You're in the Star Chamber." +<P> +"Where in the name of heaven are we?" +<P> +"Didn't you recognize the rock from the deck of a steamer?" +<P> +"I never saw the deck of a steamer." +<P> +"Then how did you come here?" +<P> +"I was writing a letter in my room when someone threw a sack over my head, +and tied me up in a bundle, so that it was a close shave I wasn't smothered. +I was taken in what I suppose was a cab and flung into what I afterwards +learned was the hold of a steamer. When the ship stopped, I was carried like +a sack of meal on someone's shoulder, and unhampered before a gaunt specter +in uniform, in a room so dazzling with electric light that I could hardly +see. That was a few minutes ago, Now I am here, and starving. Where is this +prison?" +<P> +"Like the Mikado, as Kate would say, the authorities are bent on making the +punishment fit the crime. You are in the rock of the Baltic, which you fired +at with that gun of yours. I told you those suave officials at St. Petersburg +were playing with you." +<P> +"But why have they put you here, Jack?" +<P> +"Oh, I was like the good dog Tray, who associated with questionable company, +I suppose, and thus got into trouble." +<P> +"I'm sorry." +<P> +"You ought to be glad. I'm going to get out of this place, and I don't believe +you could break gaol, unassisted, in twenty years. Here is where science +confronts brutality. I say, Drummond, bring your table over to the corner, +and mount it, then we can talk without shouting. Not much chance of any one +outside hearing us, even if we do clamor, but this is a damp situation, and +loud talk is bad for the throat. Cut a slice of that brown bread and lunch +with me. You'll find it not half bad, as you say in England, especially when +you are hungry. Now," continued Jack, as his friend stood opposite him, and +they found by experiment that their combined reach was not long enough to +enable them to shake hands through the bars, "now, while you are luxuriating +in the menu of the Trogzmondoff, I'll give you a sketch of my plan for escape." +<P> +"Do," said Drummond. +<P> +"I happen to have with me a pair of bottles containing a substance which, +if dissolved in water, and sprinkled on this rock, will disintegrate it. +It proves rather slow work, I must admit, but I intend to float in to you +one of the bottles, and the apparatus, so that you may help me on your side, +which plan has the advantage of giving you useful occupation, and allowing +us to complete our task in half the time, like the engineers on each side +of the Simplon Tunnel." +<P> +"If there are bars in the lower watercourse," objected Drummond, "won't you +run a risk of breaking your bottle against them?" +<P> +"Not the slightest. I have just sent that much thinner electric lamp through, +but in this case I'll just tie up the bottle and squirt gun in my stocking, +attach that to the wire, and the current will do the rest. You can unload, +and I'll pull my stocking back again. If I dared wrench off a table leg, +I could perhaps shove bottle and syringe through to you from here, but the +material would come to a dead center in the middle of this tunnel, unless +I had a stick to push it within your reach. +<P> +"Very well; we'll work away until our excavation connects, and we have made +it of sufficient diameter for you to squeeze through. You are then in my +cell. We put out our lights, and you conceal yourself behind the door. Gaoler +and man with the lantern come in. You must be very careful not to close the +door, because if you once shove it shut we can't open it from this side, +even though it is unlocked and the bolts drawn. It fits like wax, and almost +hermetically seals the room. You spring forward, and deal the gaoler with +your fist one of your justly celebrated English knock-down blows, immediately +after felling the man with the lantern. Knowing something of the weight of +your blow, I take it that neither of the two men will recover consciousness +until we have taken off their outer garments, secured revolvers and keys. +Then we lock them in, you and I on the outside." +<P> +"My dear Jack, we don't need any tunnel to accomplish that. The first time +these two men come into my room, I can knock them down as easily here as +there." +<P> +"I thought of that, and perhaps you could, but you must remember we have +only one shot. If you made a mistake; if the lantern man bolted and fired +his pistol, and once closed the door— he would not need to pause to lock +it— why, we are done for. I should be perfectly helpless in the next room, +and after the attempt they'd either drown us, or put us into worse cells +as far apart as possible." +<P> +"I don't think I should miss fire," said Drummond, confidently, "still, I +see the point, and will obey orders." +<P> +"My official position on the rock, ever since I arrived, has been that of +electrical tutor-in-chief to the Governor. I have started his dynamo working, +and have wired such portions of the place as were not already wired before. +During these lessons I have kept my eyes open. So far as the prison is concerned, +there is the Governor, a sort of head clerk, the gaoler and his assistant; +four men, and that is all. The gaoler's assistant appears to be the cook +of the place, although the cooking done is of the most limited description. +The black bread is brought from St. Petersburg, I think, as also tinned meat +and soup; so the cuisine is on a somewhat limited scale." +<P> +"Do you mean to say that only these four men are in charge of the prison?" +<P> +"Practically so, but there is the garrison as well. The soldiers live in +a suite of rooms directly above us, and as near as I can form an opinion, +there are fourteen men and two officers. When a steamer arrives they draft +as many soldiers as are necessary, unload the boat; then the Tommies go upstairs +again. The military section apparently holds little intercourse with the +officials, whom they look upon as gaolers. I should judge that the military +officer is chief of the rock, because when he found the Governor's room lit +by electricity, he demanded the same for his quarters. That's how I came +to get upstairs. Now, these stairs are hewn in the rock, are circular, guarded +by heavy oaken doors top and bottom, and these doors possess steel bolts +on both sides of them. It is thus possible for either the military authorities +upstairs, or the civil authorities, to isolate themselves from the others. +In case of a revolt among the soldiers, the Governor could bolt them into +their attic, and they would find great difficulty in getting out. Now, my +plan of procedure is this. We will disarm gaoler and assistant, take their +keys, outside garments and caps. The gaoler's toggery will fit you, and the +other fellow's may do for me. Then we will lock them in here, and if we meet +clerk or Governor in the passages we will have time to overcome either or +both before they are aware of the change. I'll go up the circular stair, +bolt from the inside the upper door, and afterwards bolt the lower door. +Then we open all the cells, and release the other prisoners, descend from +the rock, get into the Finnish fishing boat, keep clear of the two cannon +that are up above us, and sail for the Swedish coast. We can't miss it; we +have only to travel west, and ultimately we are safe. There is only one danger, +which is that we may make our attempt when the steamer is here, but we must +chance that." +<P> +"Isn't there any way of finding out? Couldn't you pump the Governor?" +<P> +"He is always very much on his guard, and is a taciturn man. The moment the +tunnel is finished I shall question him about some further electrical material, +and then perhaps I may get a hint about the steamer. I imagine she comes +irregularly, so the only safe plan would be for us to make our attempt just +after she had departed." +<P> +"Would there be any chance of our finding a number of the military downstairs?" +<P> +"I don't think so. Now that they have their electric light they spend their +time playing cards and drinking vodka." +<P> +"Very well, Jack, that scheme seems reasonably feasible. Now, get through +your material to me, and issue your instructions." +<h3>CHAPTER XIX</h3> +<h4>"STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE"</h4> +<P> +IN a very short time Drummond became as expert at the rock dissolving as +was his friend. He called it piffling slow work, but was nevertheless extremely +industrious at it, although days and weeks and, as they suspected, months, +passed before the hands of the two friends met in the center of the rock. +One lucky circumstance that favored them was the habit of the gaoler in visiting +Drummond only once every four days. +<P> +The Lieutenant made his difficult passage, squeezing through the newly completed +tunnel half an hour after a loaf had been set upon his table. Jack knew that +the steamer had recently departed, because, two days before, the Governor +had sent for him, and had exhibited a quantity of material recently landed, +among other things a number of electric bells and telephones which the Governor +was going to have set up between himself and the others, and also between +his room and that of the clerk and gaoler. There were dry batteries, and +primary batteries, and many odds and ends, which made Jack almost sorry he +was leaving the place. +<P> +Heavy steps, muffled by the thickness of the door, sounded along the outer +passage. +<P> +"Ready?" whispered Jack. "Here they come. Remember if you miss your first +blow, we're goners, you and I." +<P> +Drummond made no reply, for the steps had come perilously near and he feared +to be heard. Noiselessly he crossed the cell and took up his position against +the wall, just clear of the space that would be covered by the opening of +the door. +<P> +At the same moment Jack switched off the light, leaving the room black. Each +of the two waiting prisoners could hear the other's short breathing through +the darkness. +<P> +On came the shuffling footsteps of the gaoler and lantern-bearer. They had +reached the door of Number One, had paused, had <I>passed on</I> and stopped +in front of Number Two. +<P> +"Your cell!" whispered Jack, panic-stricken. "And they weren't due to look +in on you for four days. It's all up! They'll discover the cell is empty +and give the— Where are you going, man?" he broke off, as Drummond, leaving +his place near the door, groped his way hurriedly along the wall. +<P> +"To squeeze my way back and make a fight for it. It's better than—" +<P> +"Wait!" +<P> +Lamont's hand was on his shoulder, and he whispered a sharp command for silence. +The two attendants had halted in front of Number Two, and while the +lantern-bearer fumbled with the awkward bolt, his companion was saying: +<P> +"Hold on! After all, I'll bring the other his food first, I think." +<P> +"But," remonstrated the lantern-bearer, "the Governor said we were to bring +the Englishman to him at once." +<P> +"What if he did? How will he know we stole a half minute to give the Prince +his dinner? If we bring the Englishman upstairs first, the Prince may have +to wait an hour before we can get back with the Englishman." +<P> +"Let him wait, then." +<P> +"With his pocket full of roubles? Not I. He may decide to give no more of +his gold pieces to a gaoler who lets him go hungry too long." +<P> +"I've got the door unfastened now and—" +<P> +"Then fasten it again and come back with me to Number One." +<P> +Faint as were the words, deadened by intervening walls, their purport reached +Jack. +<P> +"Back to your place," he whispered, "they're coming!" +<P> +The rattle of bolts followed close on his words. The great door of Number +One swung ponderously inward. The lantern-bearer, holding his light high +in front of him, entered; then stepped to one side to admit the gaoler, who +came close after, the tray of food in his outstretched hands. +<P> +Unluckily for the captives' plan, it was to the side of the cell opposite +to that where Alan crouched that the lantern-bearer had taken his stand. +There was no way of reaching him at a bound. The open door stood between. +Were the gaoler to be attacked first, his fellow-attendant could readily +be out of the cell and half-way up the corridor before Alan might hope to +reach him. +<P> +The friends had counted on both men entering the room together and crossing +as usual to the table. This change of plan disconcerted them. Already the +gaoler had set down his tray and was turning toward the door. Alan, helpless, +stood impotently in the shadow, biting his blond mustache with helpless rage. +In another second their cherished opportunity would vanish. And, as the gaoler's +next visit was to be to Number Two, discovery stared them in the eyes. +<P> +It was Jack who broke the momentary spell of apathy. He was standing at the +far end of the cell, near the stream. +<P> +"Here!" he called sharply to the lantern-bearer, "bring your light. My electric +apparatus is out of order, and I've mislaid my matches. I want to fix—" +<P> +The lantern-bearer, obediently, had advanced into the room. He was half-way +across it while Lamont was still speaking. Then, from the corner of his eye, +he spied Alan crouching in the angle behind the door, now fully exposed to +the rays of the lantern. +<P> +The man whirled about in alarm just as Alan sprang. In consequence the +Englishman's mighty fist whizzed past his head, missing it by a full inch. +<P> +The gaoler, recovering from his amaze, whipped out one of the revolvers he +wore in his belt. But Jack, leaping forward, knocked it from his hand before +he could fire; and, with one hand clapped across the fellow's bearded lips, +wound his other arm about the stalwart body so as to prevent for the instant +the drawing of the second pistol. +<P> +Alan's first blow had missed clean; but his second did not. Following up +his right-hand blow with all a trained boxer's swift dexterity, he sent a +straight left hander flush on the angle of the light-bearer's jaw. The man +dropped his lantern and collapsed into a senseless heap on the floor, while +Alan, with no further delay, rushed toward the gaoler. +<P> +The fall of the lantern extinguished the light. The cell was again plunged +in dense blackness, through which could be heard the panting and scuffing +of the Prince and the gaoler. +<P> +Barely a second of time had elapsed since first Jack had seized the man, +but that second had sufficed for the latter to summon his great brute strength +and shake off his less gigantic opponent and to draw his pistol. +<P> +"Quick, Alan!" gasped Jack. "He's got away from me. He'll—" +<P> +Drummond, guided by his friend's voice, darted forward through the darkness, +caught his foot against the sprawling body of the lantern-bearer and fell +heavily, his arms thrown out in an instinctive gesture of self-preservation. +Even as he lost his balance he heard a sharp click, directly in front of +him. The gaoler had pulled the trigger, and his pistol— contract-made and +out of order, like many of the weapons of common soldiers in Russia's frontier +posts— had missed fire. +<P> +To that luckiest of mishaps, the failure of a defective cartridge to explode, +the friends owed their momentary safety. +<P> +As Alan pitched forward, one of his outing arms struck against an obstacle. +It was a human figure, and from the feel of the leather straps, which his +fingers touched in the impact, he knew it was the gaoler and not Lamont. +<P> +Old football tactics coming to memory, Alan clung to the man his arm had +chanced upon, and bore him along to the ground; Jack, who had pressed forward +in the darkness, being carried down as well by the other's fall. +<P> +Gaoler, Prince and Englishman thus struggled on the stone floor in one +indistinguishable heap. It was no ordinary combat of two to one, for neither +of the prisoners could say which was the gaoler and which his friend. The +gaoler, troubled by no such doubts, laid about him lustily, and was only +prevented from crying out by the fact that his heavy fur cap had, in the +fall, become jammed down over his face as far as the chin and could not for +the moment be dislodged. +<P> +He reached for and drew the sword-bayonet that hung at his side (for his +second pistol had become lost in the scrimmage), and thrust blindly about +him. Once, twice his blade met resistance and struck into flesh. +<P> +"Jack," panted Alan, "the beast's stabbing. Get yourself loose and find the +electric light." +<P> +As he spoke, Alan's hand found the gaoler's throat. He knew it was not Alan's +from the rough beard that covered it. The gaoler, maddened by the pressure, +stabbed with fresh fury; most of his blows, fortunately, going wild in the +darkness. +<P> +Alan's free hand reached for and located the arm that was wielding the bayonet, +and for a moment the two wrestled desperately for its possession. +<P> +Then a key clicked, and the room was flooded with incandescent light, just +as Alan, releasing his grip on the Russian's throat, dealt him a short-arm +blow on the chin with all the power of his practiced muscles. The gaoler +relaxed his tense limbs and lay still, while Alan, bleeding and exhausted, +struggled to his feet. +<P> +"Hot work, eh?" he panted. "Hard position to land a knockout from. But I +caught him just right. He'll trouble us no more for a few minutes, I fancy. +You're bleeding! Did he wound you?" +<P> +"Only a scratch along my check. And you?" +<P> +"A cut on the wrist and another on the shoulder, I think. Neither of them +bad, thanks to the lack of aim in the dark. Close call, that! Now to tie +them up. Not a movement from either yet." +<P> +"You must have come close to killing them with those sledge-hammer blows +of yours!" +<P> +"It doesn't much matter," said the imperturbable pugilist, "they'll be all +right in half an hour. It's knowing where to hit. If there are only four +men downstairs, we don't need to wear the clothes of these beasts. Let us +take only the bunch of keys and the revolvers." +<P> +Securing these the two stepped out into the passage, locked and bolted the +door; then Jack, who knew his way, proceeded along the passage to the stairway, +leaped nimbly up the steps, bolted the door leading to the military quarters, +then descended and bolted the bottom door. +<P> +"Now for the clerk, and then for the Governor." +<P> +The clerk's room connected with the armory, which was reached by passing +through the apartment that held turbine and dynamo, which they found purring +away merrily. +<P> +Covering the frightened clerk with four revolvers, Jack told him in Russian +that if he made a sound it would be his last. They took him, opened cell +Number Three, which was empty, and thrust him in. +<P> +Jangling the keys, the two entered the Governor's room. The ancient man looked +up, but not a muscle of his face changed; even his fishy eyes showed no signs +of emotion or surprise. +<P> +"Governor," said Jack with deference, "although you are under the muzzles +of a quartet of revolvers, no harm is intended you. However, you must not +leave your place until you accompany us down to the boat, when I shall hand +the keys over to you, and in cell Number One you will find gaoler and lantern +man a little worse for wear, perhaps, but still in the ring, I hope. In Number +Three your clerk is awaiting you. I go now to release your prisoners. All +communication between yourself and the military is barred. I leave my friend +on guard until I return from the cells. You must not attempt to summon +assistance, or cry out, or move from your chair. My friend does not understand +either Russian or German, so there is no use in making any appeal to him, +and much as I like you personally, and admire your assiduity in science, +our case is so desperate that if you make any motion whatever, he will be +compelled to shoot you dead." +<P> +The Governor bowed. +<P> +"May I continue my writing?" he asked. +<P> +Jack laughed heartily. +<P> +"Certainly," and with that he departed to the cells, which he unlocked one +by one, only to find them all empty. +<P> +Returning, he said to the Governor: +<P> +"Why did you not tell me that we were your only prisoners?" +<P> +"I feared," replied the Governor mildly, "that you might not believe me." +<P> +"After all, I don't know that I should,", said Jack, holding out his hand, +which the other shook rather unresponsively. +<P> +"I want to thank you," the Governor said slowly, "for all you have told me +about electricity. That knowledge I expect to put to many useful purposes +in the future, and the exercise of it will also make the hours drag less +slowly than they did before you came." +<P> +"Oh, that's all right," cried Jack with enthusiasm. "I am sure you are very +welcome to what teaching I have been able to give you, and no teacher could +have wished a more apt pupil." +<P> +"It pleases me to hear you say that, Highness, although I fear I have been +lax in my duties, and perhaps the knowledge of this place which you have +got through my negligence, has assisted you in making an escape which I had +not thought possible." +<P> +Jack laughed good-naturedly. +<P> +"All's fair in love and war," he said. "Imprisonment is a section of war. +I must admit that electricity has been a powerful aid to us. But you cannot +blame yourself, Governor, for you always took every precaution, and the gaoler +was eternally at my heels. You can never pretend that you trusted me, you +know." +<P> +"I tried to do my duty," said the old man mournfully, "and if electricity +has been your helper, it has not been with my sanction. However, there is +one point about electricity which you impressed upon me, which is that although +it goes quickly, there is always a return current." +<P> +"What do you mean by that, Governor?" +<P> +"Is it not so? It goes by a wire, and returns through the earth. I thought +you told me that." +<P> +"Yes, but I don't quite see why you mention that feature of the case at this +particular moment." +<P> +"I wanted to be sure what I have stated is true. You see, when you are gone +there will be nobody I can ask." +<P> +All this time the aged Governor was holding Jack's hand rather limply. Drummond +showed signs of impatience. +<P> +"Jack," he cried at last, "that conversation may be very interesting, but +it's like smoking on a powder mine. One never knows what may happen. I shan't +feel safe until we're well out at sea, and not even then. Get through with +your farewells as soon as possible, and let us be off." +<P> +"Right you are, Alan, my boy. Well, Governor, I'm reluctantly compelled to +bid you a final good-by, but here's wishing you all sorts of luck." +<P> +The old man seemed reluctant to part with him, and still clung to his hand. +<P> +"I wanted to tell you," he said, "of another incident, almost as startling +as your coming into this room a while since, that happened six or eight months +ago. As perhaps you know, we keep a Finland fishing-boat down in the cove +below." +<P> +"Yes, yes," said Jack impatiently, drawing away his hand. +<P> +"Well, six or eight months ago that boat disappeared, and has never been +heard of since. None of our prisoners was missing; none of the garrison was +missing; my three assistants were still here, yet in the night the boat was +taken away." +<P> +"Really. How interesting! Never learned the secret, did you?" +<P> +"Never, but I took precautions, when we got the next boat, that it should +be better guarded, so I have had two men remain upon it night and day." +<P> +"Are your two men armed, Governor?" +<P> +"Yes, they are." +<P> +"Then they must surrender, or we will be compelled to shoot them. Come down +with us, and advise them to surrender quietly, otherwise, from safe cover +on the stairway, we can pot them in an open boat." +<P> +"I will go down with you," said the Governor, "and do what I can." +<P> +"Of course they will obey you." +<P> +"Yes, they will obey me— if they hear me. I was going to add that only yesterday +did I arrange the electric bell down at the landing, with instructions to +those men to take a telegram which I had written in case of emergencies, +to the mainland, at any moment, night or day, when that bell rang. Your Highness, +the bell rang more than half an hour ago. I have not been allowed out to +see the result." +<P> +The placid old man put his hand on the Prince's shoulder, as if bestowing +a benediction upon him. Drummond, who did not understand the lingo, was amazed +to see Jack fling off the Governor's grasp, and with what he took to be a +crushing oath in Russian, spring to the door, which he threw open. He mounted +the stone bench which gave him a view of the sea. A boat, with two sails +spread, speeding to the southwest, across the strong westerly wind, was two +miles or more away. +<P> +"Marooned, by God!" cried the Prince, swinging round and presenting his pistol +at the head of the Governor, who stood there like a statue of dejection, +and made no sign. +<h3>CHAPTER XX</h3> +<h4>ARRIVAL OF THE TURBINE YACHT</h4> +<P> +BEFORE Jack could fire, as perhaps he had intended to do, Drummond struck +down his arm. +<P> +"None of that, Jack," he said. "The Russian in you has evidently been scratched, +and the Tartar has come uppermost. The Governor gave a signal, I suppose?" +<P> +"Yes, he did, and those two have got away while I stood babbling here, feeling +a sympathy for the old villain. That's his return current, eh?" +<P> +"He's not to blame," said Drummond. "It's our own fault entirely. The first +thing to have done was to secure that boat." +<P> +"And everything worked so beautifully," moaned Jack, "up to this point, and +one mistake ruins it. We are doomed, Alan." +<P> +"It isn't so bad as that, Jack," said the Englishman calmly. "Should those +men reach the coast safely, as no doubt they will, it may cost Russia a bit +of trouble to dislodge us." +<P> +"Why, hang it all," cried Jack, "they don't <I>need</I> to dislodge us. All +they've got to do is to stand off and starve us out. They are not compelled +to fire a gun or land a man." +<P> +"They'll have to starve their own men first. It's not likely we're going +to go hungry and feed our prisoners." +<P> +"Oh, we don't mind a little thing like that, we Russians. They may send help, +or they may not. Probably a cruiser will come within hailing distance and +try to find out what the trouble is. Then it will lie off and wait till +everybody's dead, and after that put in a new Governor and another garrison." +<P> +"You take too pessimistic a view, Jack. This isn't the season of the year +for a cruiser to lie off in the Baltic. Winter is coming on. Most of the +harbors in Finland will be ice-closed in a month, and there's no shelter +hereabouts in a storm. They'll attack; probably open shell fire on us for +a while, then attempt to land a storming party. That will be fun for us if +you've got good rifles and plenty of ammunition." +<P> +Jack raised his head. +<P> +"Oh, we're well-equipped," he said, "if we only have enough to eat." +<P> +Springing to his feet, all dejection gone, he said to the Governor: +<P> +"Now, my friend, we're compelled to put you into a cell. I'm sorry to do +this, but there is no other course open. Where is your larder, and what quantity +of provisions have you in stock?" +<P> +A gloomy smile added to the dejection of the old man's countenance. +<P> +"You must find that out for yourself," he said. +<P> +"Are the soldiers upstairs well supplied with food?" +<P> +"I will not answer any of your questions." +<P> +"Oh, very well. I see you are determined to go hungry yourself. Until I am +satisfied that there is more than sufficient for my friend and me, no prisoner +in my charge gets anything to eat. That's the sort of gaoler I am. The stubborn +old beast!" he cried in English, turning to Drummond, "won't answer my +questions." +<P> +"What were you asking him?" +<P> +"I want to know about the stock of provisions." +<P> +"It's quite unnecessary to ask about the grub: there's sure to be ample." +<P> +"Why?" +<P> +"Why? Because we have reached the beginning of winter, as I said before. +There must be months when no boat can land at this rock. It's bound to be +provisioned for several months ahead at the very lowest calculation. Now, +the first thing to do is to put this ancient Johnny in his little cell, then +I'll tell you where our chief danger lies." +<P> +The Governor made neither protest nor complaint, but walked into Number Nine, +and was locked up. +<P> +"Now, Johnny, my boy," said Drummond, "our anxiety is the soldiers. The moment +they find they are locked in they will blow those two doors open in just +about half a jiffy. We can, of course, by sitting in front of the lower door +night and day, pick off the first four or five who come down, but if the +rest make a rush we are bound to be overpowered. They have, presumably, plenty +of powder, probably some live shells, petards, and what-not, that will make +short work even of those oaken doors. What do you propose to do?" +<P> +"I propose," said Jack, "to fill their crooked stairway with cement. There +are bags and bags of it in the armory." +<P> +The necessity for this was prevented by an odd circumstance. The two young +men were seated in the Governor's room, when at his table a telephone bell +rang. Jack had not noticed this instrument, and now took up the receiver. +<P> +"Hello, Governor," said a voice, "your fool of a gaoler has bolted the stairway +door, and we can't open it." +<P> +"Oh, I beg pardon," replied Jack, in whatever imitation of the Governor's +voice he could assume. "I'll see to it at once myself." +<P> +He hung up the receiver and told his comrade what had happened. +<P> +"One or both of these officers are coming down. If we get the officers safely +into a cell, there will be nobody to command the men, and it is more than +likely that the officers carry the keys of the powder room. I'll turn out +the electric lamps in the hall, and light the lantern. You be ready at the +foot of the stairway to fire if they make the slightest resistance." +<P> +The two officers came down the circular stairway, grumbling at the delay +to which they had been put. Lermontoff took advantage of the clamping of +their heavy boots in the echoing stairway to shove in the bolts once more, +and then followed them, himself followed by Drummond, into the Governor's +room. Switching on the electric light, he said: +<P> +"Gentlemen, I am Prince Lermontoff, in temporary charge of this prison. The +Governor is under arrest, and I regret that I must demand your swords, although +I have every reason to believe that they will be handed back to you within +a very few days after I have completed my investigations." +<P> +The officers were too much accustomed to sudden changes in command to see +anything odd in this turn of affairs. Lermontoff spoke with a quiet dignity +that was very convincing, and the language he used was that of the nobility. +The two officers handed him their swords without a word of protest. +<P> +"I must ask you whether you have yet received your winter supply of food." +<P> +"Oh, yes," said the senior officer, "we had that nearly a month ago." +<P> +"Is it stored in the military portion of the rock, or below here?" +<P> +"Our rations are packed away in a room upstairs." +<P> +"I am sorry, gentlemen, that I must put you into cells until my mission is +accomplished. If you will write a requisition for such rations as you are +accustomed to receive, I shall see that you are supplied. Meanwhile, write +also an order to whomsoever you entrust in command of the men during your +absence, to grant no one leave to come downstairs, and ask him to take care +that each soldier is rigidly restricted to the minimum quantity of vodka." +<P> +The senior officer sat down at the table, and wrote the two orders. The men +were then placed in adjoining cells, without the thought of resistance even +occurring to them. They supposed there had been some changes at headquarters, +and were rather relieved to have the assurance of the Prince that their arrest +would prove temporary. Further investigation showed that there would be no +danger of starvation for six months at least. +<P> +Next day Jack, at great risk of his neck, scaled to the apex of the island, +as he had thought of flying, if possible, a signal of distress that might +attract some passing vessel. But even though he reached the sharp ridge, +he saw at once that no pole could be erected there, not even if he possessed +one. The wind aloft was terrific, and he gazed around him at an empty sea. +<P> +When four days had passed they began to look for the Russian relief boat, +which they knew would set out the moment the Governor's telegram reached +St. Petersburg. +<P> +On the fifth day Jack shouted down to Drummond, who was standing by the door. +<P> +"The Russian is coming: heading direct for us. She's in a hurry, too, crowding +on all steam, and eating up the distance like a torpedo-boat destroyer. I +think it's a cruiser. It's not the old tub I came on, anyway." +<P> +"Come down, then," answered Alan, "and we—" +<P> +A cry from above interrupted him. Jack, having at first glance spied the +vessel whose description he had shouted to Drummond, had now turned his eyes +eastward and stood staring aghast toward the sunrise. +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Alan. +<P> +"Matter?" echoed Jack. "They must be sending the whole Russian Navy here +in detachments to capture our unworthy selves. There's a second boat coming +from the east— nearer by two miles than the yacht. If I hadn't been all taken +up with the other from the moment I climbed here I'd have seen her before." +<P> +"Is she a yacht, too?" +<P> +"No. Looks like a passenger tramp. Dirty and—" +<P> +"Merchantman, maybe." +<P> +"No. She's got guns on her—" +<P> +"Merchantman fitted out for privateersman, probably. That's the sort of craft +Russia would be likeliest to send to a secret prison like this. What flag +does—" +<P> +"No flag at all. Neither of them. They're both making for the rock, full +steam, and from opposite sides. Neither can see the other, I suppose. I—" +<P> +"From opposite sides? That doesn't look like a joint expedition. One of those +ships isn't Russian. But which?" +<P> +Jack had clambered down and stood by Alan's side. +<P> +"We must make ready for defense in either case," he said. "In a few minutes +we'll be able to see them both from the platform below." +<P> +"One of those boats means to blow us out of existence if it can," mused Jack. +"The other cannot know of our existence. And yet, if she doesn't, what is +she doing here, headed for the rock?" +<P> +With that Jack scrambled, slid and jumped down. Drummond was very quiet and +serious. Repeating rifles stood in a row on the opposite wall, easy to get +at, but as far off as might be from the effects of a possible shell. The +two young men now mounted the stone bench by the door, which allowed them +to look over the ledge at the eastern sea. Presently the craft appeared round +the end of the island, pure white, floating like a swan on the water, and +making great headway. +<P> +"By Jove!" said Jack, "she's a fine one. Looks like the Czar's yacht, but +no Russian vessel I know of can make that speed." +<P> +"She's got the ear-marks of Thornycroft build about her," commented Drummond. +"By Jove, Jack, what luck if she should prove to be English. No flag flying, +though." +<P> +"She's heading for us," said Jack, "and apparently she knows which side the +cannon is on. If she's Russian, they've taken it for granted we've captured +the whole place, and are in command of the guns. There, she's turning." +<P> +The steamer was abreast of the rock, and perhaps three miles distant. Now +she swept a long, graceful curve westward and drew up about half a mile east +of the rock. +<P> +"Jove, I wish I'd a pair of good glasses," said Drummond. "They're lowering +a boat." +<P> +Jack showed more Highland excitement than Russian stolidity, as he watched +the oncoming of a small boat, beautifully riding the waves, and masterfully +rowed by sailors who understood the art. Drummond stood imperturbable as +a statue. +<P> +"The sweep of those oars is English, Jack, my boy." +<P> +As the boat came nearer and nearer Jack became more and more agitated. +<P> +"I say, Alan, focus your eyes on that man at the rudder. I think my sight's +failing me. Look closely. Did you ever see him before?" +<P> +"I think I have, but am not quite sure." +<P> +"Why, he looks to me like my jovial and venerable father-in-law, Captain +Kempt, of Bar Harbor. Perfectly absurd, of course: it can't be." +<P> +"He does resemble the Captain, but I only saw him once or twice." +<P> +"Hooray, Captain Kempt, how are you?" shouted Jack across the waters. +<P> +The Captain raised his right hand and waved it, but made no attempt to cover +the distance with his voice. Jack ran pell-mell down the steps, and Drummond +followed in more leisurely fashion. The boat swung round to the landing, +and Captain Kempt cried cordially: +<P> +"Hello, Prince, how are you? And that's Lieutenant Drummond, isn't it? Last +time I had the pleasure of seeing you, Drummond, was that night of the ball." +<P> +"Yes," said Drummond. "I was very glad to see you then, but a hundred times +happier to see you to-day." +<P> +"I was just cruising round these waters in my yacht, and I thought I'd take +a look at this rock you tried to obliterate. I don't see any perceptible +damage done, but what can you expect from British marksmanship?" +<P> +"I struck the rock on the other side, Captain. I think your remark is unkind, +especially as I've just been praising the watermanship of your men." +<P> +"Now, are you boys tired of this summer resort?" asked Captain Kempt. "Is +your baggage checked, and are you ready to go? Most seaside places are deserted +this time of year." +<P> +"We'll be ready in a moment, captain," cried his future son-in-law. "I must +run up and get the Governor. We've put a number of men in prison here, and +they'll starve if not released. The Governor's a good old chap, though he +played it low down on me a few days ago," and with that Jack disappeared +up the stairway once more. +<P> +"Had a gaol-delivery here?" asked the Captain. +<P> +"Well, something by way of that. The Prince drilled a hole in the rock, and +we got out. We've put the garrison in pawn, so to speak, but I've been mighty +anxious these last few days because the sail-boat they had here, and two +of the garrison, escaped to the mainland with the news. We were anxiously +watching your yacht, fearing it was Russian. Jack thought it was the Czar's +yacht. How came you by such a craft, Captain? Splendid-looking boat that." +<P> +"Oh, yes, I bought her a few days before I left New York. One likes to travel +comfortably, you know. Very well fitted up she is." +<P> +Jack shouted from the doorway: +<P> +"Drummond, come up here and fling overboard these loaded rifles. We can't +take any more chances. I'm going to lock up the ammunition room and take +the key with me as a souvenir." +<P> +"Excuse me, Captain," said Drummond, who followed his friend, and presently +bundles of rifles came clattering down the side of the precipice, plunging +into the sea. The two then descended the steps, Jack in front, Drummond following +with the Governor between them. +<P> +"Now, Governor," said Jack, "for the second time I am to bid you farewell. +Here are the keys. If you accept them you must give me your word of honor +that the boat will not be fired upon. If you do not promise that, I'll drop +the bunch into the sea, and on your gray head be the consequences." +<P> +"I give you my word of honor that you shall not be fired upon." +<P> +"Very well, Governor. Here are the keys, and good-by." +<P> +In the flurry of excitement over the yacht's appearance, both Jack and Drummond +had temporarily forgotten the existence of the tramp steamer the former had +seen beating toward the rock. +<P> +Now Lamont suddenly recalled it. +<P> +"By the way, Governor," he said, "the relief boat you so thoughtfully sent +for is on her way here. She should reach the rock at almost any minute now. +In fact, I fancy we've little time to waste if we want to avoid a brush. +It would be a pity to be nabbed now at the eleventh hour. Good-by, once more." +<P> +But the Governor had stepped between him and the boat. +<P> +"I— I am an old man," he said, speaking with manifest embarrassment. "I was +sent to take charge of this prison as punishment for refusing to join a Jew +massacre plot. Governorship here means no more nor less than a life imprisonment. +My wife and children are on a little estate of mine in Sweden. It is twelve +years since I have seen them. I—" +<P> +"If this story is a ruse to detain us—" +<P> +"No! No!" protested the Governor, and there was no mistaking his pathetic, +eager sincerity. "But— but I shall be shot— or locked in one of the cells +and the water turned on— for letting you escape. Won't you take me with you? +I will work my passage. Take me as far as Stockholm. I shall be free there— free +to join my wife and to live forever out of reach of the Grand Dukes. Take +me—" +<P> +"Jump in!" ordered Jack, coming to a sudden resolution. "Heaven knows I would +not condemn my worst enemy to a perpetual life on this rock. And you've been +pretty decent to us, according to your lights. Jump aboard, we've no time +to waste." +<P> +Nor did the Governor waste time in obeying. The others followed, and the +boat shoved off. But scarcely had the oars caught the water when around the +promontory came a large man-o'-war's launch, a rapid-fire gun mounted on +her bows. She was manned by about twenty men in Russian police uniform. +<P> +"From the 'tramp,'" commented Alan excitedly. "And her gun is trained on +us." +<P> +"Get down to work!" shouted Jack to the straining oarsmen. +<P> +"No use!" groaned Kempt. "She'll cross within a hundred yards of us. There's +no missing at such close range and on such a quiet sea. What a fool I was +to—" +<P> +The launch was, indeed, bearing down on them despite the rowers' best efforts, +and must unquestionably cut them off before they could reach the yacht. +<P> +Alan drew his revolver. +<P> +"We've no earthly show against her," he remarked quietly, "and it seems hard +to 'go down in sight of port.' But let's do what we can." +<P> +"Put up that pop-gun," ordered Kempt. "She will sink us long before you're +in range for revolver work. I'll run up my handkerchief for a white flag." +<P> +"To surrender?" +<P> +"What else can we do?" +<P> +"And be lugged back to the rock, all of us? Not I, for one!" +<P> +The launch was now within hailing distance, and every man aboard her was +glaring at the helpless little yacht-gig. +<P> +"Wait!" +<P> +It was the Governor who spoke. Rising from his seat in the stern, he hailed +the officer who was sighting the rapid-fire gun. +<P> +"Lieutenant Tschersky!" he called. +<P> +At sight of the old man's lean, uniformed figure, rising from among the rest, +there was visible excitement and surprise aboard the launch. The officer +saluted and ordered the engine stopped that he might hear more plainly. +<P> +"Lieutenant," repeated the Governor, "I am summoned aboard His Highness the +Grand Duke Vladimir's yacht. You will proceed to the harbor and await my +return to the rock. There has been a mutiny among the garrison, but I have +quelled it." +<P> +The officer saluted again, gave an order, and the launch's nose pointed for +the rock. +<P> +"Governor," observed Lamont, as the old man sank again into his seat, "you've +earned your passage to Stockholm. You need not work for it." +<h3>CHAPTER XXI</h3> +<h4>THE ELOPEMENT</h4> +<P> +THE girls on the yacht had no expectation that Captain Kempt would come back +with the two young men. But when, through their powerful binoculars, the +girls became aware that Drummond and the Prince were in the small boat, they +both fled to the chief saloon, and sat there holding one another's hands. +Even the exuberant Kate for once had nothing to say. She heard the voice +of her father on deck, giving command to the mate. +<P> +"Make for Stockholm, Johnson. Take my men-o'-war's men— see that no one else +touches the ammunition— and fling the shells overboard. Heave the gun after +them, and then clear out the rifles and ammunition the same way. When we +reach Stockholm to-morrow morning, there must not be a gun on board this +ship, and the ridiculous rumor that got abroad among your men that we were +going to attack something or other, you will see is entirely unfounded. You +impress that on them, Johnson." +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy," whispered Katherine, drawing a deep breath. "If you are as +frightened as I am, get behind me." +<P> +"I think I will," answered Dorothy, and each squeezed the other's hand. +<P> +"I tell you what it is, Captain," sounded the confident voice of the Prince. +"This vessel is a beauty. You have done yourself fine. I had no idea you +were such a sybarite. Why, I've been aboard the Czar's yacht, and I tell +you it's nothing— Great heavens! Katherine!" he shouted, in a voice that +made the ceiling ring. +<P> +She was now standing up and advanced toward him with both hands held out, +a welcoming smile on her pretty lips, but he swooped down on her, flung his +arms round her like a cabman beating warmth into his hands, kissed her on +the brow, the two cheeks and the lips, swaying her back and forward as if +about to fling her upstairs. +<P> +"Stop, stop," she cried. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Before my father, +too! You great Russian bear!" and, breathless, she put her open palm against +his face, and shoved his head away from her. +<P> +"Don't bother about me, Kate," said her father. "That's nothing to the way +we acted when I was young. Come on, boys, to the smoking-room, and I'll mix +you something good: real Kentucky, twenty-seven years in barrel, and I've +got all the other materials for a Manhattan." +<P> +"Jack, I am glad to see you," panted Katherine, all in disarray, which she +endeavored to set right by an agitated touch here and there. "Now, Jack, +I'm going to take you to the smoking-room, but you'll have to behave yourself +as you walk along the deck. I won't be made a spectacle of before the crew." +<P> +"Come along, Drummond," said the Captain, "and bring Miss Dorothy with you." +<P> +But Drummond stood in front of Dorothy Amhurst, and held out his hand. +<P> +"You haven't forgotten me, Miss Amhurst, I hope?" +<P> +"Oh, no," she replied, with a very faint smile, taking his hand. +<P> +"It seems incredible that you are here," he began. "What a lucky man I am. +Captain Kempt takes his yacht to rescue his son-in-law that is to be, and +incidentally rescues me as well, and then to find you here! I suppose you +came because your friend Miss Kempt was aboard?" +<P> +"Yes, we are all but inseparable." +<P> +"I wrote you a letter, Miss Amhurst, the last night I was in St. Petersburg +in the summer." +<P> +"Yes, I received it." +<P> +"No, not this one. It was the night I was captured, and I never got a chance +to post it. It was an important letter— for me." +<P> +"I thought it important— for me," replied Dorothy, now smiling quite openly. +"The Nihilists got it, searching your room after you had been arrested. It +was sent on to New York, and given to me." +<P> +"Is that possible? How did they know it was for you?" +<P> +"I had been making inquiries through the Nihilists." +<P> +"I wrote you a proposal of marriage, Dorothy." +<P> +"It certainly read like it, but you see it wasn't signed, and you can't be +held to it." +<P> +He reached across the table, and grasped her two hands. +<P> +"Dorothy, Dorothy," he cried, "do you mean you would have cabled 'Yes'?" +<P> +"No." +<P> +"You would not?" +<P> +"Of course not. I should have cabled 'Undecided.' One gets more for one's +money in sending a long word. Then I should have written—" she paused, and +he cried eagerly: +<P> +"What?" +<P> +"What do you think?" she asked. +<P> +"Well, do you know, Dorothy, I am beginning to think my incredible luck will +hold, and that you'd have written 'Yes.'" +<P> +"I don't know about the luck: that would have been the answer." +<P> +He sprang up, bent over her, and she, quite unaffectedly raised her face +to his. +<P> +"Oh, Dorothy," he cried. +<P> +"Oh, Alan," she replied, with quivering voice, "I never thought to see you +again. You cannot imagine the long agony of this voyage, and not knowing +what had happened." +<P> +"It's a blessing, Dorothy, you had learned nothing about the Trogzmondoff." +<P> +"Ah, but I did: that's what frightened me. We have a man on board who was +flung for dead from that dreadful rock. The Baltic saved him; his mother, +he calls it." +<P> +Drummond picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the luxurious divan +which ran along the side of the large room. There they sat down together, +out of sight of the stairway. +<P> +"Did you get all of my letters?" +<P> +"I think so." +<P> +"You know I am a poor man?" +<P> +"I know you said so." +<P> +"Don't you consider my position poverty? I thought every one over there had +a contempt for an income that didn't run into tens of thousands." +<P> +"I told you, Alan, I had been unused to money, and so your income appears +to me quite sufficient." +<P> +"Then you are not afraid to trust in my future?" +<P> +"Not the least: I believe in you." +<P> +"Oh, you dear girl. If you knew how sweet that sounds! Then I may tell you. +When I was in London last I ran down to Dartmouth in Devonshire. I shall +be stationed there. You see, I have finished my foreign cruising, and Dartmouth +is, for a time at least, to be my home. There's a fine harbor there, green +hills and a beautiful river running between them, and I found such a lovely +old house; not grand at all, you know, but so cosey and comfortable, standing +on the heights overlooking the harbor, in an old garden filled with roses, +shrubs, and every kind of flower; vines clambering about the ancient house. +Two servants would keep it going like a shot. Dorothy, what do you say?" +<P> +Dorothy laughed quietly and whole heartedly. +<P> +"It reads like a bit from an old English romance. I'd just love to see such +a house." +<P> +"You don't care for this sort of thing, do you?" he asked, glancing round +about him. +<P> +"What sort of thing?" +<P> +"This yacht, these silk pannellings, these gorgeous pictures, the carving, +the gilt, the horribly expensive carpet." +<P> +"You mean should I feel it necessary to be surrounded by such luxury? I answer +most emphatically, no. I like your ivy-covered house at Dartmouth much better." +<P> +For a moment neither said anything: lips cannot speak when pressed together. +<P> +"Now, Dorothy, I want you to elope with me. We will be in Stockholm long +before daylight to-morrow at the rate this boat is going. I'll get ashore +as soon as practicable, and make all inquiries at the consulate about being +married. I don't know what the regulations are, but if it is possible to +be married quietly, say in the afternoon, will you consent to that, and then +write a letter to Captain Kempt, thanking him for the trip on the yacht, +and I'll write, thanking him for all he has done for me, and after that we'll +make for England together. I've got a letter of credit in my pocket, which +luckily the Russians did not take from me. I shall find all the money we +need at Stockholm, then we'll cross the Swedish country, sail to Denmark, +make our way through Germany to Paris, if you like, or to London. We shan't +travel all the time, but just take nice little day trips, stopping at some +quaint old town every afternoon and evening." +<P> +"You mean to let Captain Kempt, Katherine, and the Prince go to America alone?" +<P> +"Of course. Why not? They don't want us, and I'm quite sure we— well, Dorothy, +we'd be delighted to have them, to be sure— but still, I've knocked a good +deal about Europe, and there are some delightful old towns I'd like to show +you, and I hate traveling with a party." +<P> +Dorothy laughed so heartily that her head sank on his shoulder. +<P> +"Yes, I'll do that," she said at last. +<P> +And they did. +<h4>THE END</h4> +<P> + <HR> + +<pre> +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, A ROCK IN THE BALTIC *** + +This file should be named rbalt10.txt or rbalt10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, rbalt11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, rbalt10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +<a href="http://gutenberg.net">http://gutenberg.net</a> or +<a href="http://promo.net/pg">http://promo.net/pg</a> + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +<a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04">http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04</a> or +<a href="ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03">ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03</a> + +Or /etext03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html">http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html</a> + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +<a href="mailto:hart@pobox.com">hart@pobox.com</a> + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + + + +</pre> +</BODY></HTML> diff --git a/old/2004-01-rbalt10h.zip b/old/2004-01-rbalt10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e618edf --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2004-01-rbalt10h.zip |