Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, February 4, 1899, Page 6

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A result of the con- ference the ship’s course was altered to southwest. It was about 6 in the evening when n the lookout led the deck. time it was a Russian who was out Von h aloft, and I could not make out what he said. But the captain, who hap- pened to be on deck at the time, hur- riedly called Von Mitschka, and him- self went up the mast. When he came down, Von Mitschka was standing below it, and they im- mediately began to talk without mind- ing me. I was standing quite near } enough to overhear what w: and I did not think it ineumbent upon me “to remove to a greater aigintice: | since, after all, my safety, as well as theirs, w in question, “The fellow is right—a large steam- . Without doubt,” id the skipper. “But what can a large steamer be doing here?” “That is just what 1 have been ask- ing myself.” “It cannot be—it is not possible—?” A lolok passed between the two men, from which I understood that they red that it was possible. They cannot have had information iled,” said Von Mitsechka, “We had better alter our course,” said he. “Yes; but not to a very great extent. It is possible, though not very likely, that we have been seen already—” “Pretty certain that we have been, if they are on the lookout for us,” mut- tered the skipper. “And we must not seem to be run- ning away. That would bring them after us at once.” The ship’s course was altered so as to bring her head still more to the -westward; and Von Mitschka ascend- ed the main shrouds. The captain went forward to give some orders to the men, who at once began to take out some barrels from beneath the tar- paulin which covered the deck cargo. Then he also went up the to the cross- ir In about half an hour the two came down, and I noticed that their faces were very pale. But about Von Mitschka’s eyes there was a stern €x- ! ion which made me certain that, whatever might be in store for him, he wou'd not surrender without a struggle —and that of the fiercest. He went dewn into the cabin, and I followed him. “May I ask what is the | said I, as our looks met. “We strongly suspect that we have been betrayed—that yonder steamer is a cruiser, sent to look for us.” He spoke with perfect self-command. I confess that I did not receive the news as coolly as he gave it. After all, the quarrel was none of my making. I was not a Nihilist, and it seemed hard that I should suffer death or perpetual imprisonment for the sins of others. Yet I knew well that I could expect no mercy if the cruiser—supposing her to be such—took it into her head to search the brig,.and discovered the prisoners we had on board. I did not disturb the chief by any further questions. It would have been useless. He began to walk up and down the cabin with long, hasty strides. Suddenly the boom of a heavy gun reverberating over the sea. We rushed on deck, and there, not a mile away, was a huge cruiser bearing down upon us, with the Russian flag flying at her peak. matter?” CHAPTER XIV. ‘The Defense of the “Susannah.” “What shall we do?’ said the skip- per, coming up to Von Mitschka’s side. In spite of his position on board ship, | the captain seemed not merely to rec-) ognize that the German was the mas- ter mind, but to consider himself un- der his orders, as if the supreme charge had beer conferred upon the landsman. “What shall we do?’ echoed the chief. “Sail right up to the cruiser, and when we get near enough, send a boat on board and ask for some medi- cine. That will disarm suspicion, We can say it’s small-pox.” . “J doubt if they’!l mind that,” mut- tered the skipper. “Perhaps not; but at any rate, the best way to avoid suspicion is to meet the enemy boldly.” “I suppose I had better send Borieff. He speaks German well enough.” ig “Yes. But see that he is decently dressed, and that he can answer all} questions about the port we hail from, destination, cargo, and so on, without the least hesitation.” The captain nodded, and was turing away to get the boat ready, when he THE BLACK TERROR, By JOHN K. LEYS. Concnrarnergannrrrerrorre) said, | nearly to a standstill. Then a s muttered the skipper. crossed Von Mitschka’s features, and | a swift look passed between the tw | men. asked the captain, that a aozen ten, was being shoved off from lips, As I was passing into my cabin, one of companion-way, and cried out to Von of Russia. suddenly stopped, came back and, look- ing Von Mitschka straight in the face, said: “And the prisoners?” “Time enough to think of them,” said the chief, impatiently. “If I were in your place I would have them overboard at once. Then | we, need fear nothing, for there ns no | one to betray us, unless—’ And he glanced at me significantly. “No; not in cold blood. I cannot ecnsent to it.” taken, they always find a scapegoat in these cases. I warn you that if you persist in this violation cf—” “Have you done?” bellowed the lieu- tenant. “I am going to search this ship—” * “May I ask what for?" “You will know soon enough.” I could not understand why a shrewd man like Von Mitschka was prolonging this useless controversy, until it struck me that he might be trying to gain good that would do him. So I thought test of my own. “I presume, sir,” [ said, with my chin in the air, “that it is no part of your in- structions to insult a British subject, who happens to be a passenger en board this vessel, by searching his per- son and property, without as much a saying what you are in search of? For in that case, I assure you that this is not the last that will be heard of it.” The lieutenant looked me over in her contemptuous style, and finally said: “It will only be necessary to in- spect the Herr’s cabin. With his prop- and himself we have nothing to He then left the cabin abruptly, and “It is surely better that they should} die—three brutes like these—rather than the sacrifice of so many honest | men?" i I couid see that Von Mitschka was | cruelly*agitated. The perspi ed on his brow, and he hastily wipe: aw. s he answered: “No, no! I will not have it! These men are uncon demned. It would be murder, and we not murderers. Fighin is one F sination is another. The skippe rowled sow ething inau- | dible under his breath. Before he deft | us Von Mitschka stepped up to him, | whispered a question into his ear, and received a nod in reply. A gleam of sauvage determination gleamed in the eyes of this strange man as he turned away. When we from the were backed, and were about half a mile cruiser, the brig’s topsails she Was brought all boat palled by four men and carrying one in the stern, put off, and was rapidly rowed up to the man-of-war. The cruiser, which had been going at half-speed for some time, so as to al- lew the two vessels to approach each other, now stopped; our boat went up to her side, and we could see that a col- loquy was going on betsveen Borieff, and one of the offiers of the Russian ssed, and then s rowed back ship. A few minutes 7 the boat put off, and to the brig. “What does he sa. captain, speaking over the side, as as the boat came within hail. “He says he has no medicine spare.” “Just as well; we didn’t want any,” H A grim smile | 2” inquired the scon to | You answered all his questions?” “Yes; and he seemed to be ssatis-| fied.” | The skipper and Von Mitschka ex- | changed a look of relief. | “Get in the boat as quick as you can, | and make sail at once!” cried Von! Mischka; and the captain hastened to | obey. ! The brig was slowly forging ahead, when, boom! went another gun; and, looking toward the cruiser, I could see rge boat, carrying, perhaps, a her quarter. It was plain that, on sec- ond thoughts, the captain of the cruis-| er had determined to send an officer on | board the brig. A groan burst from Von Mi nd he turned to go below. The | skipper went up to him, and f heard him “Surely, sir, you will now give orders concerning the prisoners?” | But the chief only shook his head by | way of response, | I followed Von Mitschka below, as L) wished to make one or two prepara- tions im view of the arrest I expected. the sailors came hurrying down the Where are the spirits, Without answering, Von Mitschka ran into his cabin, and brought out a hesvy jar, which the sailor carried away. Having made my preparations, I glanced through a port hole. The boat, filled with men armed to the teeth, was | aln.c alongside. Foreseeing that the interview between the naval o cer and Von Mitschka wouldl probably take place in the cabin, I decided to remain | below; and, five minutes later, 1 heard heavy footsteps on the companion lad- der. An officer in Russian naval ur form, followed by Von Mitschka, en- tered the cabin. “My orders are to see your papers, and, if I think it desirable, to search | the ship,” said the officer, abruptly. “The ship’s papers are at your Ser- vice, sir, but—search the ship! I never | heard of such a thing. What do you expect to find?” “Never mind; if there is nothing wrong with the brig, it won't hurt; you.” “Put you have no right to do any- | thing of the kind! I protest against this outrage! Russia is not at war, is | she? Who ever heard of searching a | trading vessel belonging to a friendly nation on the high seas? “Let me see your papers! I- can’t wait here all day!” was the only re- | sponse vouchsafed.’ ¥ ‘The papers were produced, and seemed to be satisfactory. I had no doubt that they had been procured from the port the Susannah left before she went to England. “Now I want to look over the vessel,” said the lieutenant, as he handed back | the papers. Again Von Mitschka, speaking as | owner of the cargo, protested, loudly , exclaiming that he had not a shadow! of right to search the brig. “No matter,” said the officer. “I inust do my duty.” “Pardon me,” said Ve Mitschka. “What I assert is that it is not, and | cannot be your duty to execute an out-| rage like this!” “Hold your tongue, or it will be the worse for you!” roared the officer. “If you persist, my government will have something to say to the govern- | main hatch, and vy soon returned, follewed by some of his men. A systematic search of the ship then began; and I soon ca conclusion that Von Mitschka fighting against time. Hardly a lo er was opened without a protest and a rummaging for keys. In a spare cab- in just forward of the maim cabin, a sailor had been hastily installed in a hammock, to act the part of the sick ; man we were supposed to have on ooard. Von Mits saw fit to protest very strongly ag: being p: to alid; and, as usual, the more rously he protested, the more sus- ious the officer became, and the more determined that at this point, at all events, his examination should be therough. But, usual, it turned out that the suspicions were unfounded. A single glance at the man in the berth was enough for the liutenant, who alled his men to follow him into the nain deck with a very ill grace. I had followed the séarch party out of the cabin; and, as the lieutenant and his pa adder, I saw a man who had come down approach Von Mits lmakea reely-perceptible When I went on deck, after the ers, I cruiser and the brig nearer to each othe a space of eighty or a hundred yards between them. The boat’s crew were on board, except three men, who had been left to mind the boat, ‘The lieutenant went forward to the us about to order it when Von Mitschka said, courteous! “If you wish to in- yect the cargo, sir, there is a large rt of it stowed on deck.” I will see what is under the hatches first,” said the officer, gruffly, and in a tone that made me think he was be- ginning to fear that his captain had been wrong, and that a severe repri- mand might be the only reward of his zeal. ae just en. oth- had drawn much There was only to be removed, rou wish to go below, this is the id the chief, and he pointed to rrow passage that rap forward from the foot of the companion way. Aguin the party descended, and a few niinutes more had been gained. “What is this?” said the officer, strik- ing with the hilt of his sword the wooden wall of the cell which con- tained the prisoners. The word d barely passed his lips when he w nswered by chorus of shouts and cries from the interior of the cage. “Help! Help! Good stranger, go and tell the police that we are shut up here, three innocent men, by these bandits! Take us out! Take us out, for the love of Heaven!” ‘The lieutenant stood as a man struck dumb, but it was only for an ins A look of intense joy, of complete ing down until there was not a foot be- tween his eyes and Von Mitschka’s, he hissed out some words. between his teeth. Then, scarcely waiting to speak a reassuring word to the prisoners, he bounded on deck. Von Mitschka and I followed him at once. Springing up to the top of the bul- wark, in his excitement, and holding on with one hand to the mizzen shrouds, the lieutenant waved his hat around his head and gave a ringing cheer, which was immediately taken up by the whole ship’s company on the cruiser. “They are here! They are here! Three of them!” yelled the Iieutenant. Von Mitschka walked up to him, and, giving him a violent shove, deliberate- ly pushed him into the sea. There was a cry from the deck of the | cruiser, and the men in the boat along- side got out their oars to go and pick up the lieutenant, thinking, merely, that he had overbaianced himself. But some of the blue-jackets who had come on board the brig saw what had been done, and they at once advanced to seize Von Mitschka. der. At that moment I saw the bulwarks of the brig on the port bow part asun- der. There was a splash, as of some zing sound, -and, looking towards the cruiser, which lay broadside on, not a hundred yards away, I noticed a ripple ' on the top of the water like that made by the nose of a large fish swimming close to the surface. It went straight towards the cruiser. Even then I did not guess the truth, so far was any thought of the kind from the borders of my fancy. No; I knew nothing until there was a roar, like that of thunder coming from the that something dreadful had happened. Yet there was no great explosion, as one might have imagined there’ would be. There was just that one dull roar, and the same instant the huge body of the cruiser gaped asunder! A huge rent as big as a house appeared in her side! She leant over, settled down on | that side, ahd, as we held our breath, —she was gone! So awful was the catastrophe that it held the arms of the men in the boat paralyzed. They were near letting the ment of the Czar; and, if I am not mis- time, though I could not conceive whut | it could do no harm to add a gentle pro- ; me to the | was | y ascended the companion | hka, | w that im the meantime the | faction, came into his face, as, bend- | “NOW!” he cried, in a voice of thun- | heavy object being thrown into the | water. Then a strange, hissing, whiz. | bottom of the sea, and IT was aware) plete was their stupefaction, And they were not the first to recoy- \ er themselves. The crew of the Su- sannah threw themselves upon the blue-jackets on board the brig before they had recovered from their surpri and the C: s sailors, fighting one man against two, or even three, were easily overpowered. Von Mitschka now turned his tention to the long-boat which, havir picked up the lieutenant, was searching for survivors er. from the cry In this she had been to some j tent successful. When the boat turned to the brig, she was filled with | half-drowned men. | ; Ata | breech] ‘uncer the | officer drown under their eyes, so Cot. | | | | \ | | j | | rd from our captein a small Vi z gun was run out from | lin where the torpedo had remained hidden, and pointed at } the boat. But the men she had on ; beard were in no condition to -figh | and one by one, the lieutenant at their + {head, they were allowed to step on board. The men were taken below, | while the lieutenant, much to hi gust, was sent to jo | the “cage.” “This a bad business,” said Von Mitschka to me at cinner that eyen- mean the destruction of * the Mhe ecru Net I! Why should {I morrn over the destruction of my enemies? I mean the presence of so many prisoner We cannot sioot . and still less can we rd to let them ¢ I doen't know what Lo- I don’t see how they are all to be housed for the | matter of that; Never mind. It mai the need for your helping us all the This was said with a smile. T did not uuderstand what was meant, but I was content to wait till the proper | re for explanation. y the brig’s head was to the south-west, and 4 the wi ir, we made geod pro- gre Something told me that we were drawing near to the end of eur Nor was I mistaken. On the g of the second @: | wreck ef the cruiser, | as I opened my eyes i. the mornin that the vessel was nearly motionle Jum g out of my berth, I looked out of the port-hole of my cabin. It faced seawards, but by craning my neck round I could s' nontory that jutted into the A mement ter I heard the spl: the ancher as it p zed into the water. {| We had ived at the secret p | All kept da next 1g the end of a rocky CHAPTER XV. | Bitters v By Maternal Orde At grandma’s gift, a new squirt-gun, Wee Willie felt quite hurt With water, water everywhere, And not ene drop to squir.. ae —Life. »,090 Offered. chel con, 000, and of- eda reward of $40,000, The loss of s far more serious, and yet it ly be recovered. A little mon- ed in Hostetter’s Stomach ll restore strength, purify the and help Reward of A weal bicod, ‘regulate the bow the stomach to pr 2k the chance.”—Phili North American, GOOD CRUPS IN CANADA. farmers Leaye Good Lands in Minneso- ta for Western Canada. Delegates representing a number of neighboring farmers in Clay county, Minnesota, who visited the monton district of Western Canada last sum- mer are evidently ve well ied with the result of th 3 They think so’well of the country that in addition to the privilege of ol ning a free homestead of 169 acres of iand they have also purchased lar In a recent interview on the sub and 1 with Western Canada. is far ahead of what we ted. We find the climate to be warmer than we expecied. for crops we have never see that can compete with them. lived in Minnesota and f some of what they count the in the Red River Valley for and have done very well in of the country, and have f: at present fi of all e It ve e but believe that this cour tern Canada) is so much better we have bought from the Cz ian Pa- cific Railway Com to) ection of land northeast of Edmonton in the Beaver Hill district. We have trav- eled through that part of 2 country and have seen the grain in the gran- aries and the amo of le that was taken off and find tl they grown as much as fifty bu s and it over to the acre, and they say that this has not been a good 2 very little if any grain had been touched by the frost. Hay seems to be plenti- ful, and if you wish to up ‘og buildings you can get the logs within ; a few miles. Coal can be at the mines for 75 cents per ton, you can dig it yourself. Nearly all kinds of ; garden truck can be grown in abund- The Island. | Hastily throwing on some clothes, I | caught up a bit of paper , and penciled a note for Von Mitschka; “I see we lave arrived. Am I at liberty to go on dec! The nswer was “Yes;” and as soon | 2s my toilet v completed, I went up the companion-ladder. We were in a small bay, opposite an island not more than half a mile | from the shore. Judging from where | we lay, I thought the island might be | | three or four miles across. I saw no | wood, but low, heath covered hills, in | |the hollow of which stood a. building | of stone—a two-storeyed Rouse of mo- derate size. Twe or three men moved about the ! beach, and presently they were joined | by another who came down from the | house. A boat was then launched, and the person who had come from the | house took his seat in the stern. In| a few minutes they were alongside; | and Von Mitschka, going to the side | | helped the visitor out of the boat, and } shook him warmly by the hand. | { The new comer was a small man with black hair, cut very short, and a | His air was; | quick nervous manner. that of a man who was constantly ap- prehensive of something happening, ntly on the alert. heen going on well?’ asked | Von Mitschka, as he took the other by the arm to lead him below. Everything. We had a visot from local tax-collectoy, but Angus talked to him and gave , and he went off well | not trouble us | the MacTavish him some whish satisfied. He will again.” | “Angus McTavish?” I could scarcely | believe my ea An Englishman—no, a Scotehman, im the service of these | outlaws! And Angus MacTavish was | to talk to the collector of taxes! Why? ; Von Mitsehka, happening to turn ' round, caught the look of amazement | in my face. | “Come down with us, and I will telll | you all about it,” he said, in a more genial manner tham I had yet seen in | him;.2nd he put his arm through mine, | and led me towards the companion way. | When we reached the cabin, he left | me and, taking the man from the is- land to the other end of the cabin, he | began to talk to him in a low tone. I | could guess, from the look of concern | and dismay on his listener's face, that Von Mitschka was recounting the ‘danger we had come through, and the | | fate of the cruiser. The conversation | | continued for some time, but I did not from the corner where Von }{ | Mitschka had left me. Then the two men changed their attitude, and at the same time, as I knew from the slight ; glances they threw in my direction, they commenced to talk about me and my mission to the island. Presently their talk came to an end, and they came. together to my end of the cabin. “Mr. Heath,” said Von Mitschka, , with the air of a prince, “let me intro- | duce to you my friend and comrade, | Frederick Lobieski, a Pole of ancient race, who has joined us im the hope of doing something for the liberation of his country. Captain Lobieski, this is the Englishman of whom I wrote to you, who is, I hope, not indisposed to render us a most important service.” | (To be continued.) | stir In the Advanced Class. Whyte—Which do you believe in, homeopathy or allopathy? Browne—Neither.—Somerville Jour- nall, in . ance. We find everything that can be grown in good demand. The farmers tell us that they can get four and a half live weight per hundred for hegs, and for three year old steers from fifty to sixty dollars per head, providing they are good. We will move into that part of the country next summer. All the people in that part of the country seem satisfied, and we do not see any reason why they should not be so.” The Messrs. Hughes also stated that they would be very glad to afford any- one desiring particulars about the sountry they had visited the fullest information, on receiving enquiries at Barnesville, Clay Co., before the Ist of June next, when it is understood they propose to return to the Edmon- ton district. A woman who hes tients does not draw the line some flattery. for compli- ut whole- T5wa Parcs tor sele, $2 per acre cash. 4 cropfiutil paid. J. Mulhall, Siaamity, ss that are tricks that The photographer has vy dark and his patrons have are vain. TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY Take Laxative Bromo Quinire Tablets. 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