Pluck And Luck (no. 793) (1913 08 13)
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VA DALE CELL fee N - AND OTHER STORIES Disengaging herself from George, she spoke a few words in Russian, pointing at him with her finger. Instantly the boys were seized: hands were pressed over their mouths. and they were hustled into the sleigh. \ \ FRENMTOUSY, PUBLISHER. 168 We 2320 ST MEW - YORK
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PLUCK AND LUCK " Stories of Adventure Tssued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second-COlass Matter February 10, 1913, me! the Post lag oh New York, y brarian Y., under act of March 8, 1879. of Congress, Washington, D. 0O., “No. 793. SENT TO Entered according to Act of Oongress, in the year 1913, in & by Fran k Tousey, Publisher, 168 West 23d St.. NEW YORK, AUGUST 18, 1913. he office o; New Vier Price 5 ‘Cents, SIBERIA The Strange Adventures of Two American Boys | By GEN. JAS. A.. GORDON * CHAPTER I. THE HOUSE WITH THE SEVEN FLIGHTS OF STAIRS. 1 As this story of the strange adventures of two American boys in the wilds of Siberia is strictly true we propose to con- _ fine ourselves to the facts, and tell it with as little embellish- J ment as possible, for there is so much to relate that there is no room for neatly turned phrases and high flown words. It all began one night in the month of January several years ago, before the great trans-continental railroad between Rus- sia and Siberia was begun. Nowadays such adventures as we are about to describe would be impossible in Russia. for convicts sent to Siberia are put on board the train, and go flying through to their destrue- tion, reaching the remotest parts of the great Russian Empire in a matter of a few days. Janeway & Jack’s Great American, Vaudevilles had made quite a hit at the Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg. Vaudeville, served up in the American style, was something new in St. Petersburg then, and crowds packed the theatre nightly. The management was reaping a harvest, and the artists who _ had consented to come to Russia with fear and trembling were now only too glad that they had accepted the engagement. For a month and more a steady stream of roubles had been flowing into their pockets; and there was talk of remaining in the Czar’s capital all winter, if the things continued to go on in the flourishing manner w hich they had during the past few weeks. ' Among the most popular artists connected with the show were George Moore and Nat Franklin, contortionists, who had ; - appeared under the name of the Zimerini Brothers. Both were double-jointed—born so—and in addition both had been thoroughly trained to their business, and although 4 both were the sons of old-time professionals, the boys, whose ages were eighteen and nineteen, respectively, had not met until they came together in Janeway &\Jack’s company, but as they oceupied. the same stateroom in the voyage across the Aflan- tic, and had been roommates ever since, they had not only be- ) come very well acquainted, but had grown to be fast friends. On the particular January evening mentioned, the boys, hav- - ing done their second turn, and being twice encored into the _ bargain, left the theatre by the stage door, and started down the Gorokhovaia Oulitza, keeping on until they came to the great iron bridge across the Neva where’ the first of the strange train of adventures which ultimately led them into the wilds of Siberia took place. “Say, Naty to-night’s crowd was the biggest yet,” remarked George: “Why, the very aisles were packed. It’s the first time they have let them stand up ‘between the seats, Was ag Linst hela walt <i thy ‘ous fellow naturally, and as soon as he accepted the engage- — ‘ment with Janeway & Jacks he procured instruction books and — r ee asa it| over lage hes ec ee os were hustled | ar th “T understand it is,” replied Nat; “but I guess, the crowd was too much for the ushers, and they* worked their way in, law or no law. When I was in front the crowd reached a- block away from the door; but what do you say to haying a _ little supper at Delgosky’s eee to-night?” +4 BUN Ns you were wolng 10 stop this night supper busi- ness?” “Well, so I am, in part. “These late suppers every night’ have been just playi ing the mischief with me, but once in a while it won't harm. It’s as cold as Gréenland to-night, and I’m.as hungry as a wolf.” y “You know very well you don’t have to ask me twice,” laughed Nat. “I’ve got a reputation to sustain the matter of . feeding, so I’m with you, old man; but, say, what’s the matter with that girl? Is she going to commit suicide, or what? See how she is leaning over the railing! If she falls on the ice” down there she will be pretty sure to crack her skull.” i The girl in question stood alone at a little distance ahead of © them leaning over the railing, and apparently looking down upon the ice. She wore a long pelisse with a fur hood, which completely — concealed her features, and there she stood like a statue until ” the boys came up to her, when she suddenly turned, and with a loud ery flung her arms about George’s neck and began weeping and sobbing in a wild, hysterical fashion which seared — the boy so that he did not. know what to do or say, “Good heavens! What shall I do, Nat?’ he exclaimed. “Take her off! She'll strangle me! Talk to her! Say some thing to make her quiet. Do, for goodness sake!” - F Now, Nat could speak a little Russian, for he was a studi- i went to work to study Russian. As he had kept steadily oh et it the language was not altogether incomprehensible to him, but when it came to talking himself that was quite another es ue thing. vi pecistontiig he found a person: who could understand ve é a little, but with the young lady~in the fur pelisse he could is make no headway at all. Nor could George detach himself from her embraces with: oi out resorting to positive force. wit a It was very embarrassing. “Sn There were not many persons crossing the bridge on. foot, but sleighs of every description were flying past, and sud a large covered sleigh stopped beside the group, four m an ‘springing out and surrounding the boys. .The girl instantly recovered from her hysterics. : “Disengaging herself from George, she spoke a few ‘paola lees in Russian, pointing at him with her finger Be the same Instantly the boys were seized ; strong hands" were press
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SENT TO SIBERIA. There was not the least chance given them to say a Sora or do a thing, for a revolver’ was pressed close to the fore-| head of each, “and they were grufily ordered to keep still or ‘die, which command Nat perfectly understood, The girl followed them into the sleigh, the curtains were |’ paid down, while the three horses, which were attached to ‘it, went flying over the snow. Not a word was spoken. When Nat tried to protest the cold muzzle of the revolver ‘was pressed against his forehead and ‘a hand clutched him by the throat, choking him’ until he igigged. Square after square was covered, corner after corner turned. _ The situation of our two Ameri¢an boys was terrible. Vis- ‘ions of Nihilists, e¢hain gangs and Siberian mines began to rise up before them. Above all things, they had been warned “not to talk politics, and to keep to themselves, and they hon- ‘estly tried to do so, but here was an emergency which no one ‘could foresee. At last the sleigh took a sudden tury, and the boys could ’ ‘|hear two great gates slam behind them. _.The sleigh stopped and the girl got out, followed by two of the men. _ The two who held the revolvers now pushed the boys for- ; ward, and they were confronted by two other revolvers when ithey stepped upon tite snow in a courtyard in front of a tall, ‘narrow house. ~ Tt was evidently a lodging house of the meaner sort. The \ Windows were lighted up, and there were poorly dressed peo- ple in the courtyard and pouring in and out of the door. ; Nobody paid the least attention to the sleigh or its occu- ) pants. ? In New York there would have been a crowd around it in “jan instant under similar circumstances, but it was not so here, for everyone seemed to be blind and deaf to what was _ going on. The girl led the way through the open door, and George and Nat, still held close prisoners, were led after her. The hall was dark, dirty and ill smelling, and so were the stairs uf which the boys were now led. . This “vas one flight of stairs. Then they went up another. After that it was another and another still. . Four flights of stairs so far and then a pause for breath. Three more flights followed. Seven flights of stairs, and then another pause in total dark- ess. a) raps upon ‘an unseen door followed, which were an- ‘swered by seven trom within, and a deep voice called ari in ' Russian : “Who comes here?” 1 < CHAPTER It. ' CAPTURED BY THE CZAR’S POLICE, : By this time George and Nat bad given themselves up for ‘at ost. Bach boy had his arm clutched in a grip like iron, and al- ‘though they could not see them they knew: that the revolvers _ were still close to their heads. --. Somebody answered, saying somethiitig in. Russian which ‘George could not understand, and then, the door flew open and they were pulled into a good-sized room which was liter- ally packed. with men. It was so hot from a big stove and so ‘ta discern the faces of the staring |crowd. Not a word was spoken as the door closed behind them and the boys were led‘up to a small table behind which sat a man _' with a tremendously large mustache writing in a big book. The room was evidently on the top ‘oor of the house, for a large skylight opened in the ceiling through which some of the hot air and smoke escaped, or the room would have been mei untenable. The windows were not. only Closed but heavy curtains hung Vin front of them. Some of the men smoked pipes, others puffed ; oe cigarettes—there was scarcely anyone who was not smok- | ing. No women wete present. The girl who had been the mearfs of the capture of George and Nat had disappeared. For fully ten minutes the two boys stood there in front of the table. Still no one’spoke, the man with the huge mustache ‘continuing to write in the big book, . Mf At length: he closed it with a bang, and everybody bent for- vard- eX) xpectantly, as much as to say: “It is coming now.” ‘The. man behind the table began to speak, Peering. him- to pice od and Nat. ba roar < thick with tobacco smoke that it was next to impossible to } failed him. AED Gasol eo) ee that Nat could» not make ye, a word he said, until “it last he paused, calling out: 1 hy “Speak! Answer! Are you dumb?” 4 Nat tried it in Russian, but it was no use. Th ea “Ts there anyone here who speaks English?” George called out then. “This is all a mistake. We can’t speak Russian énough to make ourselves understood.” “Tt won't do,” said the man behind the table, and he was going on to say more, when 4 man with a long, black begga s got up and coming forward’said in English : | “Tf you won't speak in Russian, speak in HBnglish, Let us hear what you have to say?” George took it up now. In a very emphatic manner he ex- plained who they were and what’ had happened. “We don’t know you,” he wound up with. “It‘s all a mis- take, as I said before. We are simply two American boys who belong to Janeway & Jacks’ show, which is now performing at the Imperial Theatre. Some of you must have seen us there. We are contortionists. If you don’t believe what) I say we will prove it to you right now.” ifs “Liar! Traitor! We know’ you well!” hissed the man with the black beard, shaking his fist in George’s face. “Of course you can speak Hnglish, since you have lived in London for two years at our expense—wasting the money which ought to have been devoted to the good of the cause!” “Why, neither of us was ever in London in our lives,” de- elared George, emphatically. “I tell you, mister, you are all wrong. Give me a chance to prove it. We will aon you that we are professional contortionists. We will do our act for you right here and now.” Upon this, the man with the black veda seeming to. be somewhat impressed, turned and gets hts the crowd s abe sian. A storm of protest, apparently, nthe ed. The man “penta the table produced a gavel and rapped loudly for silence, then, spoke for a few moments to the bearded man—of course, noth- | ing of what he said was understood by the boys. The man with the black beard then addréssed George in slow, measured tones, speaking again in as good ‘English as — the boy could have used himself. “Tyan Rousky and Pietro Proona, your ruse has failed, Nes he said. ‘You have lied to us, you have Meceived. us, you have © betrayed the cause of Nibilism, and the decision of this lodge | is that you shall die. It is all arranged. We bave been watch- ing for your. appearance in\ St. Petersburg for weeks and — everything is settled. No power on earth can save you from our hands. Here and now in this room you shall die, and your bodies will be thrown, into the Neva through a hole cut in the — ice to receive them. Such is the doom of traitors. ‘The con- solation of the church shall be denied you, but you are now given ten minutes. to confess or to say your prayers, as. yo please. If you confess you will be shot through the heart an instantly killed: If you remain stubborn, and still persist. in. denying your identity, then the daggers of the brethren will do the fatal work; each brother shall have -his strike at ‘you, and each shall strike you where he can.” It is useless to deny that Hie boys jihad frightened—terribly frightened. There were at least forty men i the seapelt ‘To. think of escape was simply absurd. Nay Nat covered his face with his hands and palais deeply over- come, but George faced his tormentors with flashing eV eB: and remained singularly cool. ~ “T want to say to you again that it is all a mistake,” ee said. “I tell you once more that we can prove every word. we have said. Send for the manager of the company which is — performing af the Imperial Theatre and he will identify us as George Moore and Nat Franklin. We are both Americans, and professional contortionists. We were never in Hngland in our lives, and it might be necessary for me to tell ¥5R that . werwere never in St. Petersburg before.” ! “What you say is of no avail,” was the reply. “We know that you came here with the ‘American ” theatrical company. — We know that you are contortionists. So were Ivan Rousky and Piero Proona. What you bring forward as proofs of rons innocence are positively proofs of your ult.’ i . ¢ This was the time when even Geor,2 gs ‘splendid courage aie (i “It’s no use, Nat,” he whispered. “We are doomed.” “Tt looks so—it certainly looks so,” replied Nat, in a broken ae ae UES * wi an voice, “Nothing can save us!’ No one will ever ow what — became of us! _ Oh, my ‘poor mother ! This will ne heart!” : voy ae ee tee * “We must think aul” said aged shies no tiie
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. SENT TO SIBERIA. CN ia rea ae ae Btn useless’ regrets. think us? It is better to be shot than to be hacked to pieces with knives.” .“I, don’t know! I can’t decide. It seems just horrible for a fellow to die with a lie en his lips.” ' All this time the man with the black beard stood apart; the Nihilists in the room had drawn their daggers and sat motion- less, eyeing the youthful prisoners with malevolent glances ; the man behind the table held his watch in his hand. . “Time’s up!” he exclaimed, in Russian, shutting the case of his watch with a snap. _, “Do you confess?” demanded the man with the black beard, stepping forward. { What George’s answer might haye been he was destined never to know. Suddenly the: door was burst in with a loud crash, and at the same instant the skylight opening in the roof was thrown back, and into the room a force of fully twenty of the city po- lice came rushing with drawn revolvers, while a dozen rifles were thrust down through the skylight overhead. SSTRANGE EXPERIENCES IN THE UNDERGROUND CELL. George and Nat hailed the sudden and unexpected descent of the police upon the Nihilist lodge with joy. They thought, and very naturally, that their mauele were all over. | CHAPTER III. } | How fearfully mistaken they were in this will soon be | shown. soit ; The surprise was complete, and the Nihilists were captured / to a man. . Indeed, there was no attempt to show fight, and George was amazed at the spiritless way in which these plotters against the government handled themselves. Amid a great deal of excited talking and fierce gestures, which. went for nothing, the Nihilists were handcuffed two )- andy two and marched down those seven flights of stairss Of course, George tried to explain matters in English, and Nat attempted the same thing in Russian, but absolutely no at- , tention was paid to them. . . They had been found with the’ rest, and no. distinction was i made, | Nat could not talk enpugh Russian to make himself under- stood, and if any of the police understood Wnglish they kept | the fact bravely to themselves. . } So the boys were handcuffed together and hus tled off with the rest. A great crowd followed them thrpugh the streets, but it was a silent crowd—very different from what it would have been in New York. Nor did it follow far when they turned into a great square, eyer béen in before. A’ band of mounted Cossacks suddenly ap- "peared and charged upon the crowd without mercy, scatter- - ing them in all directions. Indeed, they did not wait to be scattered, for the greater part of them took to their heels and ran. In a few moments the police rounded up their prisoners be- for a large, gloomy-looking stone pues. with heayily barred windows, A small door was opened, and the Nihilists were marched in two and two, the others remaining out in the piercing cold until the order for the next pair to move, and there was some- ‘times a lapse of as much as ten minutes between the entrance of the pairs. George and Nat, being well down the line, had to wait nearly an hour before their turn came, and as th» thermom- : ‘eter stood below zero, they were so cold when at last they were | ushered into the big building that they could magegpi speak. = But talking had not been allowed thus far. n If anyone attempted to speak he got a rap over the head \ “pith a policeman’s sword. It was not until the boys found * themselveg facing a man in military dress, seated behind a desk in a big barn-like room, that the necessity for saying any- thing came. in This officer; whgeser he might have been, like the head of the Nihilist lodge, was engaged in writing in a big book, and kept the boys shivering and shaking before him for a good ten minutes before he spoke. .. Then when he did speak it was in Russian, and o was -nobody present who understood English. _ _ The officer grew angry when George tried to wee him un- ayers that he could not comprehend a word that was being Shall I confess that we are the men they | corridors, until at last they stopped before an iron door. | which neither George nor Nat recognized as a place they had | He began to think that they were “playing it on him,” an ; Nat remarked. ? Suddenly he sprang up and shouted ‘out, angrily. ; Immediately two policemen who stood guarding the boys whacked them over the head wae the flat of their swords. This did no good. The officer grew more and. more enraged, and when George, wrote on a leaf of his memorandum book: “We are Americans. We are members of the Janeway & Jacks’, Theatrical Company, performing,at the Imperial Th atre,” he spit on the paper, and Searane it down upon Si ie) floor stamped bis foot on it. ; This ended the trying interview. Tnimediately the boys were seized and dragged through a long.corridor, hurried down two flights of stone steps, and turned over to a horrible hunch-| back, who was so drunk that he could scarcely stand. Jingling a huge bunch of keyes in his hand, the hunchback ~ pushed the boys before him, chuckling and showing his yellow, fangs of teeth, and they advanced through several long, gloomy] ie This the hunehback opened, and as he did so a mad rush of - foul, heated air burst forth. H ‘Into the darkness the boys were pushed, still handcuffed) together, and the door clanging behind them they heard. the key turn in the lock. \ “Oh, George! This is the end! This means Siberia sure!” groaned Nat, falling back against the slimy stone wall. “Take it easy,’ was the quiet reply. “If it means Siberia, it’s only the beginning, it can’t be so! Someone will listen to us. Surely we shall be able to send word to Mr. Jacks, and it isn’t possible. ee he will Beye any serious trouble in eae s free.” "Nat, howeyer, was iueondola bile: and. it took George a yal . ten minutes to quiet him down. “Now, come; let's see what we can do for ourselves right! here and now, * he said at length. “First and foremost, what ; makes this infernal place so hot?” te “Well, that’s something I’ll never tell you,” ‘yeplied Nat, ie: calmer now. “It must be over a hundred, and after half freez-| = ing to death outside there the change ig terrible. I feel as) M though I was in a Turkish bath.” | “There must be some good’ reason oF it. Got a match, Nat?” : “Lots of them.” \ | @ “Well, light one of them, and let’s see what we can make Bee out of this infernal hole. Say, I don’t see the slightest neces-| ia sity for stich fellows as you and I standing here handcuffed} — any longer. It would be a pity if we couldn’t work out of) — these bracelets, and I think we can.” Nat struck a mateh then. As the feeble flame flared up the| boys saw that they were standing in quite a Jarge inclosure} walled up with stone on all sides. Over in one corner down! ~ close to the floor was a round hole searcely big enough to ad-, mit the body of an ordinary sized man. | j It was here that the hot air came, as the boys soon found! iad out. ers It, rushed out fineaen the opening like a blast trom some! fiery furnace.” ies: The cell seemed to be growing hotter every istaidene and it) ae had been hot enough to almost roast the boys when ae Ese. eame in. George now set to work on the handcuffs. It was’ one 0 his tricks to compress his hand into a remarkably’/small ¢om- pass. He was a perfect expert at the Indian box trick. It}. was his boast that no committee had been able to wba tie him up, and with Nat it was just the same. Ne So soon as they started out to free themselves. ‘the hand- euffs had to go. It was the tightest squeeze that George had ever had,, but Nat’s hand was smaller and he got it out with less diffie z In.a moment the boys were ‘free, and George, giving the! handeuffs a kick, sent them ringing over into the furthermo; corner of the cell. , eae “That's better!” he exclaimed. “What's next, Nat?” te '“Blest if I can tell you! We are in the dark here in more senses than one. I must get oft some of these clothes or Shall die.” \ “Same here.: The heat seems to comé out, of that hole. dow there by the floor. Blest if I don’t think I'll crawl in there and see if it don’t connect with some chimney, for while don’t propose to try to climb to the roof of the, prison just it would be well. enough to know that we could do it if wanted tae} +s Nat opposed the “move, but’ George was, deters
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4 by SENT. TO * ping himself to his underclothes,; he made Nat hold a mateh while he wriggled into the hole. Tew could haye done it, and few would have cared to at- ‘tempt it, but it was all in the line of George’s business, and in spite of the intense heat he persevered. : He had brought a few matches with him, . from time. to time as he advanced. Perhaps twenty feet were covered and the stones! were grow- ing too hot to be borne, when all at once George came to the end of the opening and perceived a ruddy glow of light ahead. One glance up and another down was all he had timé for. Above him was a wide flue, below, he found himself looking into a fiery furnace, and he pulled away in a hurry with the palms of his hands almost, scorched, when all at once a hide- ous yell Tene out behind him. an™ he lit them “George! George!” he could hear Nat’s voice shoviting, eand back he crawled, wriggling along like a snake. Again the yell was heard. It sounded like the maddened ery of a lunatic, and George’s heart beat wildly as he backed out of the opening and sprang to his feet, for now he could hear the sounds of two persons struggling in the darkness. “George! Save me!” choking me to death !” “Who is it?’ What is it?” cried George. . The only answer was that same demoniacal yell, and then eame'the sound of someone falling heavily upon the stone floor > of the cell. Nat's voice shouted again. ‘He's CHAPTER IY, Be ABOUT THE MADMAN WHO CAME IN AND OUT. " “Double on him, Nat! Double on him! Giye him the grand . throw!” shouted George into the datkness, at the same time ' fumbling in his pockets for a mat¢h. ‘Now, this was stage talk. George and Nat could do almost -anything in the | ray of bodily contortion—they were really _quite wonderfil in their way. , - fo “double” onia man meant to bend down suddenly and thrust the head between his legs. To give him the “grand f throw” meant to seize hold of the man’s legs. while in that po- sition, suddenly straighten up, and throw him over the head. George and Nat could both do this, The leverage thus ap- plied is tremendous, and a man of comparatively slight physique can easily throw a strong, heavy one if he ean bycank get hold of him right. - Somebody had fallen in the darkness, but somebody had got, up again, and once more that any cry rang out through’ the cell. Nat did not answet George’s call; and a inert later the “match was found and lighted. : ‘ All was still now in the cell. George saw Nat leaning against the wall Renting like a dog, his eyes starting half out, of his head. ~~ And) right Nati the strange bart of the whole’ business came in. There was no one else in the cell! ; “Nat! Nat!” cried George, making his way ib to his chum. “What is it? Who was here? Where is he now? What is it » all about?” } Nat seemed to recover himself then. * Ags the match went out: on vhe clutched hold of George convulsively. “Oh, I-don’t know! -1 don’t know!” he gasped. “I don’t _ know who it was! Itjumped on me suddenly, and got hold of my neck. I was wise strangled! Oh, has it gone? Has gone?” Of course it has gone. “Man or dey ily {Devil pothing ! It must have been a man, and from the th ow y ‘he yelled I should say he was crazy, but where in the ; world did he go to? How did he get‘in here?” “T can't tell you anything at all about it,” replied Nat. ‘What was it?) Was it a man?” “All =e it was tertible! I shall never get oy er it! What shall do it he comes Leora ae tt Bune it was you.” ih fell, a und that was. ‘the last of bim V Deets \ : ot a bak you. tturt?” i pee, Nay ae ong: | Wable to jump on us at any moment? ‘that awful time. b¢ know is that he Jumped on me while I was listening to you. | On, no. Te went. dosh all ee and then he pave Piticss | there w fas; bread, ‘eat; eotfee. and \ SIBERIA. chs situation the best we can, of course. What did you find in : the hole?” “Tt leads into a big chimney, and there is a blazing furnace at the bottom of it. So under this place is red hot. I suppose that’s the way they heat the cells,*but I don’t see how they expect a man to live in them with no ventilation. Nat, it’s a terrible thing, but whatever comes to ‘us we must keep cool.” ~ “Of course we must. I realize that. If it was only light I could stand almost anything, but to think of being shut up here in the dark and that thing liable’to jump in on us at om e time—it's enough to drive me mad!” “Perhaps he won’t come again. ‘Try to make the best of it. They can’t keep us here forever. I’m going to be hopeful and try to believe that it will al’ come out right in the end.” Now this was all very well as ‘far as it went, but the “mad man” did come again. ~ A About twenty minutes later, while the boys were leaning aa against the wall talking to each other, a shuffling; sound was — ( suddenly heard in the darkness. mee 4 It seemed to come from away over in the furthermost ar ner of the cell. “There’s something there,” whispered Nat, match.” x “Sure,” replied George; “but just wait a moment. im pende for him if he comes here. All at once the same hideous yell rang out! The boys felt their blood fairly run cold. Nat struck the mateh in a hurry then, and they saw Avene ing toward them an ugly misshapen figure all dressed in rags’ | j It had been a man once, of course, but it was more like an ‘ animal now, with its crooked form, tangled beard, and great shock of hair, which seemed to stand up all over its head. The lighting of the match had a very peculiar effect on the madman, for such he undoubtedly yas. He gave a yell and, turning, ran back to the wall over in one corner. He seemed to throw hirnself against the wall with cenit force, and then instantly disappeared. say “Great Scott! How terrible!” exclaimed Gdaiee “There must be a swinging door there which leads to anothér cell.” _ “That's what! But what are we ever to do with#that thing nt it keeps up like a #4 “py | Hight a f a I believe I shall go mad myself!” The hours of the night dragged slowly by... Words fail us when we attempt to describe the horrors of Again and again the Same scene was repeated. Me 38 As many as twenty times the madman passed in and out is through the swinging door, at the other end of the cell. | He always gave the same yell when he came ir. and gave it again when he went out, as he inv ariably aid as soon as the mateh was struck. Of course this vodditeod constant ta Potarn ca on the part of the boys, and no-such thing as sleep was to ‘be thought of. | George’s fear was that the matches would Become exhausted before relief came’ to them, but Nat still had three when a key. was heard grating in the lock, and they knew La psa 2 was coming at last. 3 Perhaps the madman heard the sound, too; at all events he eame in through the swinging door at ‘the same instant, a =! nouncing his presence with the same old yell, : THe cell door flew back, and the hunchbaék entered, carry ing a lantern and a basket. By this time the madman was haif way across the floor, and instead of, turning back ‘as usual, he ran toward the keeper, yelling madly, who, muttering something in Russian, put, doy the latitern and the basket, and drawing out a short whip o several thongs from under ‘his blouse, threw himsel* upon th nae eh hideous creature and began to) beat him over the Soniivnis nd shoulders. : : i For a moment thé: madman: stood abredt Snarling and pe ving like an animal, he tried to dodgé the whip and get: hota of a the threat of the hunchback, who did not seem to be “i afraid of him, but, just laid on the whip the faster, wi NM nde at once the madman with a fearful yell gave it. et aet ein ere pounced through the door and was gone. a ¢ This ended it. The boys saw no more of, him after t The keeper instantly shot a bolt whieh, secured ie ing door. ; No. doubt it had been left open by accident, never knew anything about it, for the. Lp returnec ket in silence, at the same making: a eee for tl | proach. Saying a few words: in russian,
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t SENT TO SIBERIA. ae BEES ae a “Eat all you want to, you will soon be called,” the keeper re- treated, leaving the lantern behind him. Two hours more of imprisonment followed. - George's watch now showed that it was eight o’clock. Occasionally they could hear the madman yelling in the ad- joining cell, but beyond that he did not trouble them, and at last the keeper returned and told the boys to put on their clothes and follow him, never even alluding to the fact that the handcuffs were gone. “This means anotbur examination, I suppose,” gloomily. “Well, I don’t know where it will land us. This is Russia, and I fear fie worst.” “Instead of that hope for the best,” replied George. gine can't do anything to us. We have got letters and papers to show who we are. ‘I shall insist upon Mr. Jacks being sent for, and once be does it will be all right.” But Nat was right and George was wrong. This was Russia and not New York. Here justice, as we understand the word, is a thing un- known, and in its place five words are substituted: : The will cf the Czar! said Nat CHAPTER Y. BEFORE THE JUDGES. The boys were led by the hunehback to the end of the eor- ridor, and there turned over to the same official who had re- ceived them the night before. - He led them in silence to a large room on the ground floor of the building; not the room in which they had been -pre- viously received, but another. ; : It was a great, barn-like inclosure, with no seats of any! kind, except. behind a large desk raised high above the floor, where three men in gorgeous uniforms, glittering with medals and decorations, sat in solemn state. There were several other men standing about, some on the _Taised platform and some on the floor. ' All surveyed the youthful prisoners in grim silence. George looked in vain for a sympathetic face among them, but there was none to be seen. ‘Placed in front of the high desk, the boys were now ad- dressed by one of the officers in Russian. In the same language Nat replied that they could speak lit- tle Russian; that they were Americans, and desired an inter- ‘preter. ' He succeeded in making himself understood, and by the or- der of the judge a man came forward, saying that he could ie English, and that they ay do their talking through im, . The judge then procured,a nenes and read as follows: “Tyan Rousky and Pietro” Proona, you are charged with be- ‘ing members of the Nihilist lodge meeting at No, 86 Dagma _ street, which den of traitors was descended upon by the police ‘lastnight. As you and your fellow members have been plot- ting against the life of the Czar and the government of this empire, his Imperial Majesty has decreed that there shall be “ but one sentence meted out to each and every one of you. “You are to be sent to Siberia for the term of your natural + lives; but as his Imperial Majesty is ever ready tc temper] _ justice with mercy, an opportunity is now afforded you to (ik make known any mitigating circumstances which you know to} exist. These will be taken into consideration by this court, and if they deem them of sufficient importance they will be laid, before the Ozar and you will be returned to prison to await his decision in the matter. If not you will at once be hae to Hkatrinburg to begin your MOUTASY to the Siberian _ mines,” It was a terriple shock td hear ‘lane words slowly and sol- _emnly pronounced. With these three men, then rested the decision whether any ,» story the boys might tell was worthy of consideration. There they sat with faces as immovable as three Sphinxes, but J _ George did not give up hope. Stepping forward he boldly ad- dressed the judges. te “We are not the persons you have named. We are Americans § ae and members of Janeway & Jacks’: theatrical company, now’ performing at the Imperial Theatre. We were seized on the Neva bridge last night and taken to that house. We were _ never there before; we do not know any of the men who were there, They mistook us for the persons named, and were ake all plain. bas? have been i in profound silence. —- about to kill us when the police broke into the room. We de-| mand that one of our managers be sent for to identify us,| which. will prove the he ese pe a making to be true, and : It was a well-worded appeal ‘and te to have some effect. * The three men behind. the desk - consulted together for a momem, and then one said: : “It is impossible to do as you request. The Janeway & Jacks’ company were ordered out of St. Petersburg last night, — and are now on their way to the German frontier.” “They can be telegraphed,” said George. “Wire Mr. Tacks. ¢ He will tell you that two of his Pi pany are missing, and de-— scribe us:' We are known on the stage as the Zimerini . Brothers. Here are letters addressed ‘to me. My mame is — George Moore; my cxiene is Nat Franklin, he will’show you. letters, also.’* The letters were passed up, gravely examined’ by the judges, and handed back. No reply was made to George’s sug- gestion. For a few moments the judges eonsulted together, and then addressing the boys, one said: “You claim to be contortionists, do you not?” , “We do,” replied George: “You will be given an opportunity to prove your claim,” said. the judge. ‘Do some of your acts here.” This seemed a singular way of getting at the truth, bees there was no such thing as disputing the will of these m: “It’s going against us, George,” whispered Nat. “If the j company has really been ordered out of the city what onearth shall we do?” 4 “The best we can, every time. Cheer up! Let's do the tami- 4 bler act.” ; “Oh, I can’t! I’m sure I should fail. Every joint in my body is stiff from the dampness of that infernal cell!” id “T’ll do the chair act,” said George; “you can do what you like, but I adyise you to try and limber up and do something. It won’t do to refuse these fellows, of course.” George then turned to the interpreter and informed him that in order to do theit act ine would have to strip to the under- clothes. This was told to the judges, and word came back to. Bo ahead. The boys.then proceeded to strip. By George’s order two chairs were ‘placed face to face in front of the judge’s desk. ° : Upon one chair George placed a glass of water, and then mounted the other chair, turning his back to the glass. It was an old act, of course, but a good one, nevertheless, — and the reader must remember that these events happened a number of years ago. aa George now announced himself as ready to bégin, when sud- denly the judge who had been: doing the talking ordered tite. to wait. - . “Rona Inaysky.!” he called out. k Nite frat One of the court attendants passed through a side aber: ‘and : presently returned leading a man. securely handcuffed. oe George’s heart shnk. : It was the black-bearded, English-speaking man of the NE hilist lodge! ii ‘ “Are these the boys?” asked the judge. , , “They are, your highness,” was the reply. “Take your. places near to them and. wateh their peter ance,” was the order, and the judge added : “T shall have something to say to you by and by.” . Then George got the order to proceed, and there is no: deny ing that it was with a heavy heart that he obeyed. °~ é He now bent backward, further and further, dropping his head until he was able to take the tumbler between ‘his peer, and swallow a portion of the water. = Nat was ready for his act now. = - As thé moment came for George to Gales the iiehoeel suddenly bent back until his head almost touched the’ and then up it came between his legs, with his face tu to George, and in that position he ‘shouted : “Bravo! Well done!” } ‘ i CHAPTER VI. SENT TO SIBERIA FOR LIFE. ‘In the Imperial Theatre, where the young iaptonten had nightly performed these same acts, they vere oe greeted with a storm of applause. Not so here, however, for the majesty of the The really clever contortions of the two doys | were Rona Imaysky alone seemed to be interested. eet and Nat straightened up, he looked
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_-¢an accustom himself to anything. ‘ 5 be fact that it was is that? Our old enemy, Rona Tnavsky, e here!” De ee boy with an evil, repulsive face. no one else. his companion after him. SENT TO SIBERIA. - “They are, your highnéss,” was Inavsky’s reply. “Ts that their act?” was asked again, the interpreter quietly doing his work all the while. Ve “It is, your highness.” “You mean that they are Tvan Rousky and, Pietro Proona?” “J do, your highness.” | “Which is which?” , “Phat is Rousky,” said .the . Nihilist, pointing to George. “The other is Proona.” ' “Tt 18 false,” cried George. “I utterly deny it. “boys who have been know yn in St. Petersburg as the Zimerini ‘Brothers. Do not condemn us upon the word of that traitor! Send for the American minister. He will protect us. He will prove that what we says true.” 5 There was a long conversation between the three judges then, which the interpreter did not repeat. “It’s all up with us, George,’ sad: Nat, dolefully. “They will believe that scoundrel, because they want to believe him, and nothing that we can say will do-the least good.” -At length the judge who had done the talking turned and addressed the boys again. “Your request is denied,” he said, in measured tones. “This , court is satisfied that you are the persons we claim you to. be. Further discussion cannot be permitted. Ivan Rousky and | Pietro. Proona, you are conyicted of plotting against the Czar. | The sentence is that you shall be sent to Siberia. for life.” | “Tt was a terrible blow. -No matter to record George’s wild attempt to aieea his case’ still further, which was promptly checked. No matter to: describe how they were dragged back to their cell, or to tell of the five weary days and nights which fol-| low ed before they were taken out of the prison “and put into a ear, which would disgrace an American cattle train; and then conveyed to Wkatrinburg, a city in Western Siberia, just be- yond the Ural mountains. ' Here, at that time, the railroad ended, and the long; weary tramp in the chain gang was about to begin. ‘It was a terrible thing—terrible beyond endurance, and the hi a mistake did not make it one bit better. ‘Still, terrible as it-was, George ,and Nat had, in a measure, ; grown used to the situation, for when one is still young one. Our, two American boys now lived only on the ‘almost yain Rope’ of} eseape. | Night had fallen on Hkatrinburg when the train came into the barn-like station, and a number of people stood under the | flaring lights to see the wretched convicts alight from the ears. George and Nat were chained together.. ‘ There was an iron band around George’s left angle, and one ' around Nat’s right,pwith a chain about two Bae long betiveen | ‘them. — ‘ It was the same with the wrists. ¥ ‘Thus the boys were allowed some freedom of movement. The iron bands. were very close fitting. Probably the hunchback in the prison reported about the handcuffs, and it was under- } stood that a sharp eye must be kept upon the’ two young ¢con- | tortionists. | -At all events, their fetters were more .closely fitted than thane of any of the other conyicts, and they were placed at! ic the head of the line. “The fun is about to begin, Nat,” whispered George, as they | stood in: the station watching their companions:in misery come * off the cars. “Do you know I belieye that I could work ny | right hand out of this bracelet, if I was only anes time, but ’ where would be the use?” : “Tt wouldn't be a bit of use,” replied Nat, “I think IT might do the same thing with both my hands, but you couldn’t get the irons off your legs to save your soul.’ : “Could with a file, all right.” ; By thunder! Who ' “J think’ I see you getting a file. Look! as true as I’m stand- A man wearing a heayy black beard, and loaded down with chains, had just alighted from the next car chained to a beard-, / It was the Bnglish- speaking Nihilist of the secret lodge and He worked his way toward ‘the boys, dragging | ‘No one attempted to stop him. A line of soldiers stood ; - drawn up along the platform, and no convict could have} _ passed them without being instantly shot down. Thus without | dy moyement the wretched prisoners chose to make inside the e no.one attempted to interfere. i Ha, / Rousky ! Ha, Proona! Well ‘met, Bromens ‘We are iis 4 f ee » . 4 A ‘ a i ; 4 ae by We are the | stil together, it seems,” said Inavsky, with that same evel sinile. “Youre a fiend,” said George, “that’s what you are. TI ‘thought I could neyer smile again, but I could laugh to see you here.” “Oh, I never hoped to escape,” retorted Inavsky. ‘My doom ‘Was sealed from the first. The only satisfaction I had was in putting you two in the same box with me, and I got that all right, it seems.” “Do you really believe that we are the fellows you claim we are?” asked ‘George, controlling himself. the best he could. “Do I helleve it? Of course I believe it,” was the reply. “I am aman of honor. Do you suppose for a moment that would swear away the liberty of the innocent? The life, I may say, for if it had not been for the descent of the police ‘you would have been instantly killed.” “You are wrong,” said George, agvith a sigh.. “All wrong. Perhaps you believe what you say. I cannot tell. Did you know Rousky and Proona personally?’ Ansyer, me that.’. : “TI did not; but here comes one who did. Look there at the ast car.” Two women were just getting off, chained precisely the same _Way as the men. One was old and ugly, the other young and very pretty. Instantly the boys both recognized her as the girl who had stopped them on the Neva bridge. “She here!” gasped George. : “Of course,” replied the convict. “She was betrayed like the rest of us by the English spy to whom you told our se- ¢rets. Ah, Telia! This way! Here they are! Rousky ! | Proona! See!” The girl stopped short and threw up her mapacled hands. — “Those boys Rousky and Proona!” she cried. ' TNO, no! It is a mistake! They are not the ones !” gs CHAPTER YIi. SORROW WHICH CAME TOO LATE, George and Nat eyed the excited girl gloomily. She seemed to be in great agony of mind, and pe to he sineere in her grief. > | Raising his unmanacled hand to his hat, Georga said with | ' perfect civility : r iy “Well, Miss, it is rather late in the day for you to be. dane for the great wrong you haye done to us.” | “It is! It is, indeed !? replied the girl. weeping. ; The old woman to whom she was tied detked the handcuffs viciously. “Stop that bawling, you young she- wolf!” she cried in Rus- - sian. ‘‘What*have you to weep for? If you had left husband ~ ‘and children and _grandchildren behind you as I have there would ‘be something for you to maké a noise about, but as it is there is nothing at all.” ~~ “Tt can’t be helped now,” continued George: gloomily. ; haps you are the cause of the company we belonged to being driven from‘St. Petersburg—I suppose. you are at the bottom | of it all.” Zs “T am—I am!” wept the gil. “It was all a mistake, I be: , lieved what I said. Merciful heaven, has it not come back t me? Am I not in the same box as yourselves?’ The old woman dragged her roughly away then. not understand the’ Wnglish which the girl Lelia spoke with ‘perfect accent, and she was consequently jealous about it. Eyi- dently she thought that Lelia was talking about her. While this was going on the man Thaysky stood like outs paralyzed staring at the boys. “Tt can't be! It can’t be true!” he kept. muttering. “Oh, heaven, what have I done?” His agitation was terrible. His. grief seemed to be afeere, “What you have done is to have us sent to Siberia,” replied George, bitterly. “What you haye done is to break up the best - chance two young fellows ever had, and cs ruin us fe ite, , that’s all, and that’s enough. ~~ “It is so!” said Thaysky. “Forgive! Forgive!" George was silent. Nat was completely overcome, and turr his head away. “Porgive! Forgive!” repeated Inavsky. “You boys don't know what we have got to go through with, A journey of | 8,000 miles on foot, full of perils, lies ahead of us. We may not live to reach our déstination—some of us surely never: will. It fs a fearful thing to'die feeling that you have wronged the innocent. Forgive me!” Forgive! Worgive!” wey forgive you, friend,” said, Nat, brokenly, but George said nothing. He ‘could not find it in his La Ca foretvg, his man ? who had so deeily wronged | him: “Per. | She pote *y 4 ot toa i Ke
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JZ SENT TO Before anything further could be said, the guards started. to get the convicts into line, and Inavsky and his companion Were lost sight of. _As before, George and Nat were put at the head of the line, for some reason unexplainable. , It was a dismal precession. In numbers the convicts ran up into the hundreds. A long line of men, women and children wended their weary way over the snow-covered plain in the rear of the boys. They were chained two and two, all except the children, who trudged along beside their parents. For the most part they were a ragged, dirty throng, with stolid, animal-like faces, pitiful to ook at, but there were men and women of intelligence and education among. them. In each instance, except the case of George and Nat, every intelligent person was chained fo one of the peasant Glaks: This was in case of any attempt at escape. It was exyected that the peasant would be ready » betray any plot that the other might form. In front of the train a motnted guard of. fifty soldiers rode; in the rear was a similar band, while on each side of the line every twenty feet was a mounted soldier. These men were provided with whips with long deather lashes. If anyone: showed signs of lagging he or she got the whip over the head. It made absolutely no difference whether it was man» or woman, down came the whip just the same. There was no objection made to talking, although in former times it is said that if one convict spoke to his mate he was brutally beaten. This was certainly a comfort to George and Nat, and you may be very sure they discussed their miserable situation in all its bearings as they trudged along over the hard, frozen snow. “You ought to have forgiven ‘Inaysky, George,” said Nat. “I know you think I am soft hearted for being so ready to do it, but I could not do otherwise. While our situation is bad, his must be worse a thousand times.” ~ “T don’t see it,” replied George. “What he suffers we have to suffer, too. He would have killed us there in that Nihilist Jodge inside of two minutes if the police had not broken in. j I don’t see that we have any right to forgive.” . “But think of what his feelings must be. now that he knows how. deeply he has wronged us. It would drive me mad.” Oh, don’t you. fool yourself,” retorted George. “It won't worry him a bit after a day or two. Why didn’t he listen to us-at the time? What use is there in talking about it now?’ This was the difference in the boys, and no one can blame George for the stand he took, yet everyone who expects to be forgiven should learn to forgive—there can be no two opinions about that. The mareh was continued until noon, and then a halt was made by the side of a frozen stream and provisions were doled out. The fare was course, but such as it was. (were was plenty of it. The Russian government does not starve itS victims on the march; it has use for them later on. Every man, or rather every pair of convicts, had to cook bis own provisions. A hole was cut in the ice for water, great fires were built, and the meal prepared., The halt was of two hours’ duration, which gave everyone plenty of time, and when the stop was first made, » one change _ for the better came. The handcuffs were now removed from all but a few of the more refractory prisoners and some’ who were ecg gM erimni- » nals—who had committed murder and the like. ~ ‘The leg irons, however. were not disturbed. They were to | remain as they were to the end of the weary march. At the end of the halt the march was resumed, and contin- * ued until nightfall, when the tretched procession came to a group of long, low buildings, which marked the end of the first day's journey. This was the first of a long series of convict stations, whieb: | in those days, stretched out along the read from Ekatrinburg to Tobolsk, and beyond. Fach of these stations was under the command of a Rus- sian officer and a coimpany_of,,soldiers. To escape from one was next to impossible. ‘The men were now turned into one of the long buildings to _ pass the night. the women being quartered in another. They were little better than cattle pens. An enormous stove heated “the long room beyond endurance. There were no beds, and no chaixs. The cony icts could sit on the floor, lie down or stand up, just as they pleased, but notb- _ ang, in the oe of Funishing was. deened near to. ins if v7 rea rey . / SIBERIA. Ba ; crease their comfort in any way, and to make matters worse the place was abominably dirty and filled with vermin. « - We have described this station in some detail, because. was the same with every other one all along the road. George and Nat lay sleepless on the floor that night, but they learned to sleep later, and finally came to look forward to their arrival at these stations as a relief. This was the first day. The second was just like it,’ and thirty more followed before there came the enenian? change ~ to break the monotony of the dreary march. it > George and Nat were now deep in the wilds of Siberia, Ee: A : no more chance of escape from their awful situation than they — had of flying to the moon. a CHAPTER VIII. ee ON THE MARCH. Yet, hopeless as the situation seemed, a change was close. at hand which was destined to bring about the escape of many of the convicts, for the time heing at least, and as George, — , Moore and Nat Franklin were among the number we propose — to break in upon the monotony of the long march and advance. our story to the time and place where it occurred. It was now the middle of February and the cold had become, most intense. We have said nothing about the sufferings of the boys from cold, for where is the use? tenth part as bad as that of most of the convicts, for they were both provided with good overcoats, mufflers and gloves,» i which had not been taken from them. The worst was fect, for the soles of their shoes had long ago been worn through, and it would have gone hard with them if they had — not wrapped their feet up in old bagging which the guards” Besides, their case was not one-~ — were instructed to provide freely for all who cared to use ee ; It was wonderful how warm, if kept them, and it wor! all right in cold weather. .The worst was when the thaws came and the road was slushy. Wet.feet brought on chil- blains, and: Nat had his feet frozen three times, while | sot the same dose twice, =) the boys both suffered a Pitti on that score. * But to come to the escape. Rouvna station was left behind at afk 0) clock in the moni. ing, and the march for Plestesky taken up at an early hour, for the distance was longer than usual, and as it looked like show, it was thought desirable to make an earl start. a The storm struck the convict band at a little after. four o'clock in the afternoon, w ith a good hour’s march still ahead _ of them. It proved to be a regular blizzard, and George ‘and Nat, still at the head of the line. got the worst of all. There was not much talking done during that hour, you may be very sure. Nat began to give out,at about half-past four, and he caught = hold of George’s arm, exclaiming: “I’m afraid I’m a goner! — T don't believe I can keep on my feet ten minutes longer.. | What shall I do?” 2 deal = et George was terribly frightened, and no wonder, for a break i | dow n meant simply death. | During that long. weary march the boys dveadful things happen. fiad seen pikes 4 To break down meant first the whip and then the revolver. 6: Those who failed c®pletely, and could not be driven ah |any fuxther, were simply shot, the leg irons openéd and the | partner driven on with the rest, while the carcass of the poor jwiretch who bad given aut was.left for the wolves. — |. In one ease, where the key to the leg iron would not wo the hoys saw a woman sho was) perfectly able to go a | shot down with her partner. | ‘they could not detach her from. the dying. woman at i ‘side. so she was simply killed and the ite corpses thrown ou! jo@the road. | H Horrible? Of course it was horrible. but we are simply Te lating what was a common occurrence in those days. “Brace up, Nat! You lean on me!” said George,. enco agingly. “If you don’t we will be sent to the hci and you know what will happen then. Sabena b “I’m doing my best, George.” Wee “What's the matter? Are you in pa |. “No, no! Just weakness, take my breath away. J ean scarcely raise one foot abov other. , Oh, heavens! Here it ‘comes 1", The burly Cossack guard ou Nat's side had! Just caught of him. Lance up there!” he. elonges crackin his whip. pee < This snow ye my. face seem to
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ee | SENT TO SIBERIA. both understand Russian well enough now to know all that|rounding George and Nat, and the boys were hurried along _ was said. Poor Nat tried to-brace up, but his foot-steps faltered, and he had to cling to George for support. Crack! Crack! The merciless whip came down oyer his head and shoulders. A “Don’t strike him! up,” cried George. “You had better,” said the guard, warningly. “If you don’t there will be another dose, and if that don’t work you two will be sent to the rear.’ ‘George knew what he meant. For a while they would be allowed to hobble along, the best they could with the other weaklings, but if they fell too far behind it meant death to Nat and nothing else. But*Nat himself was almost past caring. He groaned under the lash that time, but when he got it - again, as he did in about fifteen minutes, he simply clung to _ + George without life enough to utter a sound. George thought he was dead. He actually believed that he was holding up a corpse, His strong arm was tight about Nat, the poor boy’s head rested. upon his shoulder, and his feet-did not move. George was simply carrying him along. 3 _ Of course this could not last long. hy “Fall out!’’ cried the Cossack. “To the rear!” | The fatal words fell heavily upon George, but they seemed ~_..to rouse, Nat to action. He suddenly straightened up and stood on his feet. . “Tm all right! I can go on!” he cried, and go he did until meee the station at Piestesky was reached. tG _He had slept while George was carrying him, and the sleep chad done him good, . But now a surprise awaited all, guards and convicts alike. - As they neared the station a bright light was seen shining through the snow ahead. of them.’ They could hear voices shouting: “Fire! inet, and the dreadful truth dawned upon all... Here they were be a raging snowstorm in the midst of a vast wilderness. ; for miles aroung there was supposed to be,no other shelter than the station Plestesky. - Cold, hungry, worn out with.the fatigue of the long march, 5 he condition of the wretched band was truly deplorable. - From some cause or another, which the boys never learned, x fae station had taken fire, and when they came in. sight of it Ey they | saw. os it. was bi a in flames. P Leave him to me, and J’ll help him CHAPTER IX. ’ THE ESCAPE. It was. just as serious a matter for the soldiers and guards is it was for the convicts, for all stood an equal chance of erishing in the storm. . ‘On the right lay a frozen river with high mountains rising beyond it; on the left was a dense forest of dark hemlocks d fir “Escape might well have seemed hopeless—it was hopeless any number of these wretched beings—yet there were some rild spirits among them ready to take any desperate chance. £ The instant the truth was discovered’ tHe order came for the diers to ride ahead and assist in putting out the fire. The convict train was halted and stood in the storm pro- ‘tected only by the guards, Who started the fire the hoys never knew, but some one id. suddenly ‘there was a wild shout all at once: ‘Down with. the guards! Down with the guariis!” ; # Tt. was mutiny! Jt was also madness! adness is sometimes catching. It proved so in this case. 1 in an instant there was a rush made upon the Cos- sacks, several of whom WELG dragged off their Borses and trampled to death. Teast, ‘seized with panic, ‘dashed on to joih the soldiers, ery, and twenty. voices soared A uprising! | An uprising!” and calling for help. came in time to stop Che movement in part, but “no altogether. ; te ‘ ‘number of the convicts made a rush for the she io as a ‘ boxe in ae see oe the ‘their rifles ready for business. ‘ Map this way!” a mad stampede, a hopeless struggle for. freedom, ote Bag arith dee convicts rae with the rest. “George! George! gasped Nat. “Death and nothing else!” groaned George. “If we get to the mountains we shall only starve, if we are not captured; and if we are we shall be surely shot.” ' He was wrong there, for the Russian government shoots no ~ able-bodied man who is likely to be of any use to it, but it meant the knout and the quicksilver mines and other horrors even worse than death. “ There was no help for the boys, however. BS. In it they were, and in it they had to stay, at least until . they could detach themselves frota the crowd. They were borne helplessly on over the frozen river ‘and into the forest and up the mountainside. \ Here the mad crowd began to scatter. Some fell in the snow, some went to the right, “and Bore to the left. There was no more pushing and crowding. The boys could have gone back if they had wanted to, and this is what George started to do. “We can never hope to escape, Nat,” he said, stopping short. “Let’s go back and give ourselves up. This is only madness. Pdbntl man and woman of these fools is simply going to sure death.” He was just about to turn back when a tall man with a heavy black beard dragging a stupid-looking boy after him — by the irons, came rushing up to them through the snow. “No, no! Don’t go back! Don’t go back!” he exclaimed in English. - “There is a chance—there is always a chance! Wo |. might as well perish here on the mountain to-night as to go “y on to our destination.. You boys don’t realize what lies before — you—what we have to expect. hi “Tnavsky!” gasped George, recognizing the man with whom he had never exchanged one word since their meeting in the station at Ekatrinburg, although he had seen him many times. ; “Yes; Inavsky!” cried the Nihilist. “Look here, boy; I've | got a file. I managed to secrete it before we started, and no one has taken it away from me since. I can get off the leg-. irons if-we can only find shelter. We may succeed in working our way to the Turaguese settlements, and so on south. There is hope! Try it! Strike out for freedom with me He The prospect was too tempting for George to refube. f “T'll do it!” he exclaimed. “I’m with you if Nat can stand it. But can we trust you?. That's the point.” ; ' “Kill me if I betray you!” cried Inaysky. “I will never — raise a hand against you. Boys, you don’t know us Russians. ‘i We are bad enemies, but, we are also good friends, true — friends. Here, f will help carry our Nat. Get back of him > on one side; I will take hold of him on the other; between — us we will help him along. Straight on! Straight on! One way is as good, as another, and our only chance is to keep away from those madmen. Where they go the soldiers will go. Ha! Here they come!” ~ A loud shout was heard on the river. Looking back among — the trees they could see fifty, at least, of the troop TEAS ae i across the ice. “ They had left their horses behind them, and they carried | i What shall we do? This means death!” To meet them meant death, but, as. the Nihilist said, they followed the crowd separating at the base of the mountain — and dashing fearlessly into, the woods right and left. ed Meanwhile, George and: the others were pushing, on with - what speed they could. Bish It was not much, however. Nat was perfectly wetiieey now. The excitement had put the finishing touch to’ the poor boy’ Ss condition. He neyer said a word, but just let his ‘head rest’ upon George’s shoulder as they carried him along. The sey was he had fainted, but George thought that he was dea “We will save him. We will save him!” cried the Nihilist. “On! On! Just a little further! Ah, heaven! What is t sgn . They had come suddenly up against a wall of rock oe z towered above their heads as far as they could see. © i They hurried to the right and» came to a precipice; ing, they tried it on the left and came to ano her. | All at once there was a shout behind them: 2 “This way!” cried a Voice, “This way! Some ee them bee “They are tracking us!” cried George. “AI is Jost." ee ig che say it ae Lae peer a ig ee » Your
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nee ‘> eried alec giving him a brutal kick. Peace!” SENT TO SIBERIA. There was an open space low down on the ledge which | did not reach to the ground. All stooped down and crawled under the overhanging ledge, | dragging poor Nat after them the best they could. “Saved!” gasped Inavsky. “By St. Michael, the. Lord is with us! Saved!. Saved;” 5 They were at the entrance to a cave. Before them extended a large black opening in ‘under the elifis, the roof of which was about as high as their heads. Into this they crawled and stood huddled together as the! We were to go to certain mines near the frontier. soldiers came huirying up to the cliffs. CHAPTER X. THE AWFUL NIGHT OF SUSPENSE. “Well, here we are,” gasped Inavsky. “Now it’s life or death! Wait, let us see which!” George lay panting upon the floor of the cave, more dead than alive. Nat Jay upon the floor beside his friend, scarcely breathing. Such was the desperate situation when the Russian soldiers wallowing through the snow came up the mountainside and against the’ cliffs. Of course they halted, for without the secret of the cave they could go no further. Lights flashed under the rocks. George could hear them talking, and he knew enough Russian now to understand al- most every word that was-said. “They came this way!” one voice exclaimed. “Certainly they did,’ another replied. “But where did they go? Which way did they turn?” “They seemed to have turned both ways, as Rear as I can see.’ “Follow to the right, “you, - -Ivan. Ill take it to _the left. We must find them, if they dre still here.” “Where shall we meet?” ‘ “A shot will call us together. If I find them I will fire twice.” : ‘ They separated then. “Keep perfectly quiet,” said Inaysky. again, of course.” The wait was only a minute. Back they came, swearing terribly. “They must have jumped off the rocks my way,’ said the first voice. “Same my way,’ replied the other. “Sure they did not return?” “Tow can we tell? There is not snow enough’ under the ledges to leave tracks.” “And what tracks there are lead to the precipice your way?” “They do. How about yours??” “Tt is the same.’ “We have lost them, Ivan.” “Certainly we have, Michael.” ; “Juet us then return down the mountain and join the others. Wwe are but wasting time here.” } Their retreating footsteps were eagerly listened to hye ie fugitives in the cave, you may he sure. We have neglected to mention that all this time tavaey had, chained to him, a stupid-looking lad. " At length the flash of the light was seen no: more, and the voices ceased ta be heard. The enemy had departed, and Inavsky, falling on his Reser prayed in Russian. “Safe! Safe!” he cried, springing up at last with such vie. lence that he threw the boy on his face. The boy set up a howl and began to scold in peculiar lan- guage. ; ' Peace, dog! “They will be back Do you want to betray us with your yelping?” “Don't hurt the poor fellow,”, pleaded George. . “Hurt him! « How can you hurt such swine? » Stand jon,your feet!” “What is he? Not a Russian?” said George. “No, no! No Russian. A Tunguése.” “That is, one of the native tribes who inhabit this part. of the, country?” ; “Yog, ‘ “You can speak his language? You understand him?” “Not I! I know nothing of it. male -Can’t you, Peter?” Tr can Aer three tongues, ” replied Peter, proudly j said Inavsky. Get up, Peter! | ‘| bridg: 7 He has been several years in Russia, ‘but Siberia is} — 5 As his native land.” is He can speak a ai “T can speak my language, and I can speak your Janguage, © }andg I can speak Chinese.” “He means the Tartar Chinese of the northern frontier,” “It'is very different from the true Chinese.” “How near are we to the frontier?” “T do not know. Perhaps a hundred miles; perhaps’ rae perhaps less: I\cannot tell.” “Are we not near Tobolski?” “We are beyond Tobolski. We followed ‘the southern route, Some of those poor wretclies have been overtaken, Hear their cries.” © ai Shots were heard adnate with wild shouts and yells. For a few moments they continued, then all was still. “Have they killed them all?” breathed George. . eo) “No, no! One or two, perhaps, but no more. All will get the. knout, but the soldiers do not kill. of those men at the mines. What good is a dead man to dig for silver-and gold?” ive os “That's so,’ sighed George. “But what shall.we do?” we shall all be dead before many days, I fear,” “Don’t say it; don’t think it,” replied Inavsky. “We are i going to fight for our lives, boy. First of all, to look to your. friend.” “He is dead already, I am afraid,” groaned George. “y don’t The Czar has need vie think anything can save him, even if there is still life left.” x “Never give up! Never! Never! Never!” cried Inaysky. “See what we have done already. By keeping well under the rocks where there was but dittle snow, we have thrown them off the scent. They will not return: we wandered away and perished on the mountain. We eee safe.” “T wish I could think so,” sighed George, who was shiver: ing so that he could scarcely speak; “but what are you staring — about for? If you can see no, more than I can see in this: dark € hole, that is just nothing at all.” Y ; “Wait!” said the Nihilist. “I am listening. I nave reason to believe that there is some one here Pe. ourselves.” “What!” “Oh, ‘don’t be scared. people; some: poor wretch like ourselves.” “But what makes you think so?’ “I saw footprints leading up to the rocks before we made ‘ a any in the snow; you did not observe them, but 1: ide Page “This is important. ia “Indeed it is. Whist! I will call. an answer. That will settle it. Now!” ' “Ts any one here? Is any one here?” the Nihilist shouted in Russian then. Perhaps we ‘shall | get It will be supposed that — It is no worse than one of our own rn a! There was silence for a moment, and then as though coming * from a great distance off, a voice called back: : “Who speaks?” . A TInavsky shouted some rapid words that George could understand. “Ah, my friend, it is you, then!” the voice esc I will come!” * “That’s a woman!” cried George. : ; “It is,” replied Inavsky. “Wait a moment. to. be treated to a surprise.” tia ies hs are going. ha Footsteps were heard in the distance. There was sous ? one approaching through the depths of the cave, But at the same instant George, heard a still more welcome sound, . i It was simply his own name spoken in Nat's voice, ie “Nat! Nat!” he cried, dropping sano. his knees beside | friend. While George bent over Nat, chafing his. hands, the foot steps came close up to them. if “Ts it you, then?” cried Inavsky. A’ girl) dragging ing chain, to ae an iron’ ball wae siti saa “Peace, I say! | Proaching. George could not see her tace, but ae knew the voice she said) 2) : “Yes, it is I, Inavsky. “Whom have we here?” Gey 2 lect aN It was Lelia Resky, hee girl who had betrayed Geor e ani Nat into the hands of the ‘Nihilists that nishe: on th M2 gaits: CHAPTER XL. i i ms THE STABT THROUGH THE AVE!) ok
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10 SENT TO SIBERIA. Nat slept some and woke up quite his old self. While he slept Peter, the Tunguese, had worked on the leg frons which bound George and Nat together, for Inavsky in- sisted that the first attempt should be made with them. The file was a small one, but Peter was strong and patient. . Before midnight he had the’ irons cut through both on George’s leg and Nat’s, and the boys were free. ’ Then it was Inavsky’s turn to. be freed from Peter. George did that while Nat slept. He proved just as good a hand at the file as, Peter, and about two o'clock he had the satisfaction of seeing the leg \ iron drop away from the Nithilist’s leg. It was Lelia’s turn next and Inavsky took his turn at the file. The horrible old woman who was,chained to Lelia had given out the first week of the journey. She was promptly shot and her body left for the wolves to devour and since then Lelia with a heavy ball and chain attached to her leg had traveled on alone. Inavsky had the iron cut through by three o’clock and the file was then turned over.to Peter, who soon had the band off his own Thus with the dawn all stood free, It turned off warmer in the night and the storm ceased. Of course there was a great deal of talking done as the ‘night wore on. ¢ Again and again Tnavsics and Lelia expressed their sorrow at the sad mistake which had put the boys in their present plight, but just how it came to be made they never knew. Lelia was a bright, cheerful person’and Inavsky seemed full of energy and pluck. ‘ They talked freely on every subject but. the affairs of the _ Nihilist lodge. Concerning that they never exchanged a word in the hearing of the boys. “Well,” exclaimed Inavsky, as daylight. came creeping into * the cave, “here we are, and nowewhat to do? It is most for- tunate that you found the cave, Lelia: My anxiety from the ‘first was for you. It was the best of good luck that gent you here and I look upon it as an omen. We are going to have ' good luck right through, Never shall the Czar’s mines see us we are going ‘pg escape.” % “We have gc to take. the first step, however,’ replied George, “and it puzzles me not a little to know what that is to be.” * “That's decided already,” replied Inavsky. “Peter and I have been talking. He thinks he knows this place. He says that there are Tunguese settlements on the other side of the mountain; and remember, George, every step taken in that direction is a step toward freedom. Only thing is if Nat can stand it.” 7 “T can stand anything the rest can,” declared Nat. » right now. Have no fears about me.’ ' “Wirgt of all to see where we are and then for the start,” said the Nihilist. ‘Worst is, we have nothing to eat and may have nothing for several days to come. Let us take account of stock, boys, and see what we possess that is liable ‘to besusefu] to us in our present situation. I have the file. IT also have several hundred matches hidden away in my 7 ora Ae but that is all.” ' “TI Have.a big jack-knife,” said Gcorge. hidden in my boot.” | Ue “Good! Good! And Nat?” ia *“T don't think I can offer anything to the common stock,” - replied Nat. “What does Lelia say?” feo “1° have matches,” replied Lelia, “several thousand of them, '. and aiso a-pair of scissors-and some needles and thread,” - Peter had nothing, but Inavsky declared that George's “knife was worth all the rest. k Re ~The party now bia sia to leaye the cave and go out upon ‘the cliffs. _ They could look down upon the river and across to the Tuined station at Plestesky. There the blackened remains of the buildings could be ~ distinctiy seen’ and before them stood the convict : band with the, soldiers drawn up in line. ‘Evidently many of the convicts had been found and brought back again and the day’s march was about to begin. oy As they stood watching them they saw the start made and they saw something else which filled them with alarm. Only a portion of the soldiers joined the procession, the others as the start was made, leaving their horses behind them, turned abruptly aud started to cross the frozen river. “They are coming after us an@ the others who have not en captured!” cried Inavsk}. “It is useless for us to think “Tm all “T have’ kept it ‘ trying to cross the mountain now. We must remain exactly | “l’m ready for anything but that,” said George. “To stay here and wait for them to come and get us won’t suit me at all.. What do you say to pushing on through the cave? There may be another opening. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that were so and if it is we ean come out on some other bare of the mountain where very likely we shall be safe.” “I’m with you,” said Inavsky. “I don’t object to that at all.” “For my part. I was just about to propose it,’ said Lelia. I thought so, by the sound, and when I lit two of my matches I could not see the walls anywhere.” “The sooner we start the better,” said Inavsky. be very sure they will hunt for this place first of all. I will throw these irens down over the rocks below. do for them to be found here.” Hastily gathering up the broken irons and the ball and chain Inavsky crawled out under the overhanging. ledge and threw them down over the rocks. die was back again in a moment with his eyes all ablaze with excitement. “They are coming right up the hill!” he cried. “We start now. It’s-a question of must! There is nothing else’for us to do. You lead off, George. Hach one take hold of the other so that we may not get separated. No, lighting of matches yet. J’ bring up the rear, because I can better understand what they are saying. Now we go!” In single file and holding on to each other the wretched. convicts’ started off into the darkness. They were none too soon. Inside of a few moments loud shouts were heard behind them. “They have come!" breathed the Nihilist. eave. Hark! Don’t you hear what they are saying? know that we have been there.” “We'can never escape them!” groaned Lelia. George said nothing, but pushed on rapidly. Hig heart sank, for he could “hear the footsteps of the sol- diers hurrying after them and it seemed to him simply pheetail a teh possikie that they could escape. ee “You may Wait! It won't “They are in the They CHAPTER XII. BHARSKINS AND BEARS, : ~ “sores, this isn’t going to go,” whispered Nat, who came next behind. ; “Tm going, however,” replied George, “and 1m’ going to” keep on going until we are captured; that’s all.” “That's right. Push ahead! Push ahead!” eried Inavsky. “Never giye\up until the. last gasp! Hello! What's the That ter now?” The matler was they all went down in a heap, tuinibling’ on | top of each other and Peter started up the echoes of the care h with a yell of terror. ef “Stop that, you fool!” whispered Inavsky, clapping his Me over the Tunguese’ boy’s mouth, for Inavsky being last was on top of the pile. “Wait” a minute,” said George; “we have made. a “discovery here.” ' t “What is it?) There is no time to watt. M “Skins of some sort. I’m going to strike a match, it you. will let me have one.” “No, no! That weuld give us dead away.” } “J don’t. think so. They must have a light ‘and we don’t me it, so they can’t seq ours. Try it, Inavsky: They have | stopped, anyhow. I think we are safe enough.’ “Tl! do as you say, though I think we run a risk,” replied. the Nihilist, at the same time striking the match, . “A find-in furs!” cried Nat. “That’s what we went over. This will serve us a good turn all right, George.” Ry. “You het it will,” said, George. “If we can’t send those gol- tf diers hustling out of the cave now, I don’t know a thing. — Lelia, you and Inavsky and Peter crouch down behind Sch i big rock there; leave the rest to Nat and me,” 5 What they had stumbled over was a pile of six or eight bearskins. Byidently some hunter had made q atorbhauae ofr the cave; but, be that as it may, George instantly comprehended Nat’s ; idea of the good use to which they could be put. , ie, Pho rock alluded to was’ an enormous mass, which had ie probably fallen from the roof of the cave. é } It was big enough to shelter a dozen people and Inaveky; Lelia and Peter had scarcely taken their places behind it when the tramp of feet was heard again and a: ray of ght was seen in the distance. A man was coming into the cave carrying a lantern. ri He was one of the Russian soldiers and at Teast Bas dozen more were close behind him, inet 3 Gant Sadh
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ag “Inavsky to ba a match. SENT TO SIBERIA. a Pe ane At the point where the light appeared the cave took a turn, which accounted for its not being seen before. “Going to do the bear act, I suppose?” whispered George... “Of course,” said Nat. ‘Was there ever anything so lucky as finding these skins? It looks as though they were put here on purpose for us; only thing is how the deuce are we going to fasten them on?” “Only thing is if we don’t get shot for our trouble,” replied George. “I’ve got plenty of safety pins. No difficulty about making the skins stay on.” To imitate a couple of performing bears was one of the regular acts of the Zimerini Brothers ‘and these skins were just as good for their purposes as the ones they always carried about with them. The heads and claws were on, and although the skins had not been tanned at all, they were still flexible enough to do ~the work. In a moment the two boys had each appropriated one and wrapped it around him. George supplied the pins and as they were ‘accustomed to work very rapidly they were ready for business in a moment. On came the scldiers, talking and calling out to each other. They were armed with muskets and certainly the prospect was anything but a ‘pleasant one to contemplate as the boys peeped out from under the skins. The man with the lantern had no gun and was considerably ahead. “T don’t believe you will find them here, Captain Pushkin!” he called ‘out. “How could they find the opening under those rocks on a night as dark as last night was? I sii we are making a-mistake to waste time in this place.” “Get on! Get on!” shouted the officer. « “It may ‘be that you are right, but I am going a Ittle farther, at all events. Holy St./Michael! What now?” Suddenly a terrific growling was heard and two bears came waddling out of the shadows into full view. “Bears! Bears!” yelled the man with the lantern. “Shoot them, captain!” George was very close to him and ‘he made one quick rush, snarling and snapping. Rising up he struck at the fellow with all his might, knocking him flat. © Instantly the light was extinguished, the lantern having fallen from his hand. The growling grew more terrifying than.ever then. Two shots were fired as the lantern went out and then the ‘ whole party took to’their heels and ran back through the darkness. The man with the lantern, gaining his feet, sprinted back with the rest. | “This is no place for us! one of the soldiers cry out. In a*‘moment they, had passed around the bend of the rocks and wére gone. ‘ “Hold on, Nat! Don’t make a move yet,” whispered George. ‘We want to see first if they are coming back again.” They waited fully ten minutes before area to éall ‘- “You did that well. They are not here!” Nat heard “Capital! Capital!” cried the Nihilist. Lelia Jaughed so that if I had not kept my hand over her mouth I don’t know what might have happened.” “They are gone and what is more I don’t believe they mean to come back again,” said Lelia, “Is it safe to light’ the lan-: tern, now?” : paid “T’think so; try it,” replied George. “This is great luck. If the oil only holds out half our troubles are over. We had better ¢ach one of us take one of these skins along; they will be elegant for sleeping in if it turns off cold, as it is sure to do soon.” “The lantern was lighted and for a few moments they waited in fear and trembling. ~ Nothiug more was heard of the soldiers and soon the march was resumed. For more than an hour they kept on through the cave. At last it began to grow narrower and suddenly George saw daylight ahead. «We are coming out!” nd cried. { “Yes, and some one is coming in!’’ gasped Inavsky. “Look!” The form of a giant man, clothed entirely in skins, sud- denly rose up between them and the light. He held an enormous club in his hand and as he caught sight of the little party he threw back his head and with a savage yell, Tushed toward them, waving his. club. wildly. ‘ : ¢ i CHAPTER ‘XIII. AMONG THE TUNGUESE. The sudden appearance of the big, heavy giant up against the light was enough to startle any one and it is no wonder Lelia grasped George’s arm, trembling all over, as she clung: to him. ye i “Hold on! Don't say a word—don’t be scared!” exclaimed the Nihilist, in a hurried whisper. “It’s only a ghapeiyree Talk to him, Peter, Find out what he wants.” But Peter held back. .He seemed to be almost as padiys seared as Lelia herseli. Inavsky pushed him forward, however, and while the rest ‘ stood still he advanced to meet the giant, who was coming” forward swinging his club with a threatening air. His whole appearance changed, however, when Peter began. to talk to him and they kept up a rapid conversation. for’ several minutes. It was the harshest langusiee George had ever heard : Nat said it sounded like Chinese, but Inavsky declared that it bore no resemblance ‘to the Chinese language whatever. — After a little Peter seemed to satisfy the Tunguesé and He’ held out his right hand toward Inavsky, putting the left be- hind him and shaking his head so violently that his great mop of long, black hair went swishing across his face. eg “Tt’s all right now; that’s his way of saying how do you: do —glad to see you,” exclaimed Peter. “Don’t touch his hand, ; but hold out yours toward him ait shake your heads lig same way. Then wé- will all’be friends.” This was done and the friendship was put on a firmer pasta" sd when the Tunguese, saying the Russian word for) tobacco several times, got a plug from Inavsky, who had managed tor conceal several about him, it seémed. “He’s all right now,” said»Peter. “He lives in a village ‘only . a little way*from-here. He says he knew my father and that — he will help us. It is well that we met.” Peter was right in making this statement, for the meeting with the hairy Tunguese giant probably saved their lives. ~ They had reached the end of the one and the Tunguese. led the way out into the open and they saw that they had» passed through the mountain and were now looking down upon an immense stretch of country which extended away toward the south as-far as the eye could reach. Far in the distance the boys could distinguish the line of a |river, frozen, of course, with snow-covered mountains rising: beyond, while at the foot, of the mountain there was a collec- tion of skin-covered tents, which Peter declared to be: the Tunguese village. Before starting down to this village, which the Tunguese wanted to do right away, Inavsky with Peter’s help started in to ask him a great number of questions. — The boys, listened attentively and were able to understand : enough to grasp Inavsky’s plan. , The distant river was the Amoor, which marks the thontioe between this part of Siberia and the Chinese empire. “a The mountains the Tunguese declared to be in China and he promised to guide the party across the aver if a wanted af to go. The boys and Lelia were wild with delight. ae It seemed to them that their troubles were all over and ‘ae ; they began to descend the mountain Lelia said as much ae great many times, but Inav8ky threw cold water on it all when he took George aside and said: “Don’t hope for too much, my boy. That girl is too enthu- . siastic. She does not ow these Tunguese; they are’ the } most superstitious and treacherous people on the face of the | earth and if the soldiers a 4 they would sell ‘us out in ae moment—that is so.” “But Peter would help us, as ste George. “He will be a host in himself. I can’t help feeling encouraged, Inavsky. 1 believe it is all going to come out right now.” 4 “How can we trust:Peter?” was the reply. know of him? “What do we I never saw the boy until I was chained to. him just before we got on the train. He is like all the rest of | f his people, treacherous. » You can believe nothing they say, and notwithstanding the Amoor looks so near, it is at least a hundred miles away from us. _We have plenty of trouble ahead, you may be very sure; but there is no use in saying so to Lelia, for it only will cast her down. 2 “What he says is true, of course,” remarked Nat, when George came to report this conversation. “All the same, ha believe we are going to escape, I don’t look ever is Rev the |. inside of a Siberian mine now, and, for my part, I - had just | as soon be aed by the. Tunguese, ag to eee on ate, gen
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12 ' bale OS SENT TO STBERTA. “There's a way out of it,” said George, quietly, “and before we get through with the Tunguese I think we can surprise them a bit and Inavsky and Lelia, too.” Nat laughed, saying: “Oh, I know what you mean well enough, but I’m so stiff that I don’ know as I ever could do it.” “You can and you must,” said George and they talked together in whispers fora while as they kept on down the mountain, following Peter and the Tunguese. At last they reached the level i a short walk brought them to the village. _ Peter and the Tunguese had gone “afiead and carried the news of their coming and the result was a great commotion among the tents. x Men, women and children turned out in great numbers to Meet them. Huge, shaggy dogs, barking furiously, came dashing ahead of the throng and the men waved long spears, shouting and yelling in a way that was anything but encour- aging, to say the least. “By St. Michael, I don’t like this!” exclaimed Inavsky. “It would be just like that rascal Peter to make himself secure and let his people turn us over to the Russians for a reward.” “We can't do a thing about it,” said Lelia. “We have got to take everything just as it comes.” George and Nat, keeping close together, made no reply. “You seem to take it easy,’’ remarked the Nihilist, who ap- peared to be rather vexed that the boys did not get as excited over the situation as he was himself. “Wait,” replied George. “Let them come a bit nearer and then Nat and [ will do our part.” “Hello! I can guess what you are driving ‘at! exclaimed _ »Inavsky. , “Hold our coats then,” said.George. “We must be free.” Off came the overcoats, which, dnavsky threw across his arm and as the yelling crowd’ of savages drew near the young contortionists suddenly bent their bodies back farther and farther until their heads touched’ the ground. * ' The Tunguese stopped short and stared in awe. Then the heads of the two boys catne up between their legs and with their faces turned outward and their hands extended they went waddling toward the Tunguese, who broke ranks with yells of tergor and fled back toward the pee “Good! Goocf” cried Inavsky. “Just the thing!” exclaimed Lelia; “you have them where we want them now!” With a bound ‘the boys were on their feet again and they all walked toward the tents slowly. ti locked like a deserted village now. Even the dogs, scared off by what they probably took to be two mysterious mon- sters, had taken to their heels and disappeared. ~ CHAPTER XIV, | ON TO THE FRONTIER. George got to laughing so that he could scarcely speak. “That fixed them!” he exclaimed. “Indeed it did,” declared Inavsky. great shamans, I’m sure.” “What are shamans?” asked Nat. “Jugglers,” replied the Nihilist. “Same as the medicine men among your Indians. The Tunguese tribes:are great on | that sort of thing.” _ “We'll give them Seothee dose when they show themselves “ven Peter seemed to get scared. Here he “They look upon you as ; again,” said Nat. Peter came sneaking out of a tent. He gazed upon the boys with a look of awe. _. “The chief wants to speak, but hé is afraid,” he said. “TI did. not know that they were shamans,” he added, pointing to “the boys. “The chief is very much afraid. Utd _ “Oh, we won’t hurt him, Peter,” exclaimed George. “Tell him to come right out and bring everybody else with ‘him, -only, like a good boy, keep the dogs "2 If he is afraid of shamans, we are afraid of dogs.” j Peter popped into a tent and presently came out: lowain very ' stout Tunguese and two women. — Many others were peeping out from behind the itd which bors. in front of the tents and all eyes were fixed upon the oys _Inavsky was still loaded down with the coats and the bear- Wink; which he had taken charge of to leave the boys free to ; Immediately George and Nat turned their heads completely fs around and, facing behind them, yadvanced toward the chief and the women. Le three eave: yells. of terror ane Saninved into the tent again, leaving Peter standing’ with his mouth and eyes wide open. j “Oh, you are great shamans! Great shamans!” he cried. “You frighten my people almost to death.” “Tell them we ‘are the greatest shamans in the world, Peter,” said Inavsky. “Tell them we want two dog teams to take us to the river and a guide and food enough to last us on the journey. Teli them if they will let us have these things I will give them all these bearskins and that if they refuse the. shaman boys will put a curse on the village and all their children and dogs will die. Tell them that, Peter, and tell them quick.” “It is a great thing to have professionals with us,” salt, Lelia. ‘We are going to get what we want here.” “Shall we give them any more?” asked George. “We can let them have half a dozen acts if you say the word.” “No, no!” replied Inavsky. “You have given them enough. You can’t trust these Tunguese. The only way to do is to ~ make them afraid of you. Mark what I tell you, boys, Peter will never go with us. He is just as much afraid as the rest.” While they stood quietly waiting the Tunguese came sneak- ing out of the tents one by one. \Inavsky spoke to them in Russian, but they did ane seem to understand a word he said. ; At last Peter appeared again. “Tt shall be as you wish, my lord,” he said to Inaysky; “but the chief says you must go to a tent, which I will show you, and he wants you to start now, just as soon as the dogs can- be harnessed to the sled.” “Good!” cried Inavsky. eourse, Peter?” “You are coming with us, a > Peter said yes, but he evidently meant no, for from that ae time forward they.saw nothing of him. Inavsky declared that he probably changed his clothes and > dressed himself like the rest. In one of the Tunguese skin coats and a heavy. woolen hood pulled down over his eyes it would have been difficult. to recognize Peter. In fact there was a great sameness about the faces of these Tunguese. Lelia and the boys declared that they all looked exactly alike. But they did not bother themselves about Peter, of course. If the Tunguese boy wanted to stay with his friends nobody had the least objection. rE $ i He led the way to a large empty tent at the" edge of the — village and then disappearing was never seen again. Here they waited almost an hour before any one came near them, although the Tunguese gathered at the doors of their. tents were watching them all the time. A little before the end of the hour three men appeared — timidly, each carrying a great basket packed with frozen ried. bear’s meat, dried venison and a kind of native bread. pinion: There were flasks of some term ted liquor like kumyss_ ; also, and rolls of butter. Inavsky declared that there were provisions enough to last. ka a month if they were carefully used. A little after that two dog sleds, drawn by six dogs each, appeared: They were driven by old men, who seemed to be terribly > afraid of the shamans. Each of the drivers turned his head away as he droye uD to the tent. This Inavsky declared was to ward off the evil eye! One, of the drivers could speak fairly good Russian and. he. ee, announced that everything was ready for a start, so two ‘of the baskets were put on -the first sled with the boys and one on the other, in which Inavsky and Lelia rode. The Russian-speaking Tunguese, who drove this sled, dee clared that he knew nothing of Peter and did not think he. was coming, so after some hesitation the start was. made — without him and away the sleds went flying over the snow, ry passing out of sight of the village in a few minutes and enter- ing a dense forest, where they flew on among slant. trees which grew wide apart, with no sign of a road. It was a great triumph. Seger Mae a) ; George was fairly wild with excitement, “We've won!” he cried. Hooray! We have seen the last of the convict gang forever!” , “Don’t you be too sure,’ Inavsky called back. “TI only hope it is so, but until we are fairly across the Amoor we can’t i] ourselves safe from the power of the Czar.’ KP 1 ese “How about it when we get to. ‘China?”. asked Nat. the Russians be able to follow us across the, frontier?” “They would in a minute if they knew we were replied oe tev “but rm Boh sre to do ony Reais Ss 4 Wed * +o Sy “We are safely off for China! “
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SENT TO Everything has gone finely so far and our good luck may hold out to the end.” There was no further trouble that day at all events. Before night came they had covered twenty miles and were still in the forest. It was beginning to grow colder now and the wind sighed dismalfy among the tree-tops. “Tt looks like a storm,’ remarked ‘Inavsky, as his sled came up alongside the one the boys were on for the moment. “I can’t make this old fellow say where we are going to bass the night.’ “Perhaps he don’t know,” suggested George. “We aré managing to keep warm enough. Unless there is going to be _a big storm, I don’t know that it really makes any difference. Td just as soon ride all'night as not.” “T wouldn’t,” returned Inavsky. “There’s something wrong about it all, I'm afraid. When we first started out this old fellow could speak English well enough; but now he seems to have forgotten every word of it. Lelia feels very much worried about this.” : “Indeed I do,” said Lelia. “You see, I have heard a Jot about the treachery of these Tunguese. My father spent two years among them, They are a merciless race and very sly.” “We are éoming somewhere. at last!” cried Tnavsky. there’s a light ahead.” The light burned faintly among the trees and at the same moment it was discovered the Tunguese who was driving the boys’ sled gave a wild and piercing cry. “T don’t like that,” muttered Inavsky. “That’s a signal, sure. I’m afraid the old chief has sent a runner on ahead to tell them that we are coming. I wonder what it means?” “It means treachery,” said Lelia, dismally. “If they don’t _ rob and murder us we shall do well.” “Well, really, I don’t see what they are going to rob us of,” Jaughed Nat, “and-if it comes to a PIAS, of murder, why, we can fight as well as they.” He had scarcely spoken when an Sriieldig cry was heard in the forest and the light was flashed up and down three times. “It’s a signal!” cried Inavsky. “They have sent a runner ahead to notify them of our coming. I don’t like this.” Evidently the dog drivers liked it, however. They laid the whips upon their dogs in great shape and the sleds went flying over the frozen snow. “See, a CHAPTER XV. THE OLD RUIN IN THE FOREST. “Ask him what it means, Inavsky. Ask him what house it is.” i George was beginning to feel worried now and it took a good deal to worry him. In the distance among the trees they could see a queer old ‘stone building half in ruins, with a great fire burning in front of it. ‘There was no one near the fire and the whole place wore an air of gloom, which was anything but reassuring. Inavsky ‘tackled his driver So at George’s suggestion, but it did no good. The old Tunguese only grunted ‘and shook his head. While - pefore he had been able to speak Russian well enough, not a word would he utter now, and there was a flerce look in his ugly=face which none of the little party liked. : “You will have to give them some of your tricks again, boys,” said Lelia. “If this don’t turn out to be a Russian post- ' house, or I am very much mistaken. 2 Lt “Tt certainly is a post-house,” said Inaysky, “but I don’t "| pelieve it is occupied now. I think you will find the old post- road to the Amoor just beyond it. The road used at present lies several versts to the eastward of this. - “Hello!” exclaimed George. “You speak as though you had been in this part of the country before.” : “J have,” replied Inaysky, and that was all he would say. ‘In this, like everything’ else about himself, the Nihilist was - anabsolute sphinx. As they drew near the old ruin the Russian-speaking driver turned suddenly upon Inavsky and said: “You stay here until morning. ‘To-morrow we go on. Get are to sleep.” ppeared to welcome wet ene the drivers did not get off the leds. hale a ; ; Supper. out by the fire and take your baskets out. This is where you nf “The teams were dean up beside the fire then, but no one | iene) a ells which ponent. abe Lelia so thelr fost SIBERIA. The boys got down and removed the baskets, gnavshy aig ras |ing Lelia off the sled. He had scarcely set his basket down upon ‘the snow when both drivers gave a wild yell, then away flew the dogs into the darkness and the sleds were run out of sight. Inavsky’s language would not look well in print. He swore a blue streak, as the saying. goes. - “They have simply abandoned us, that’s all,” he declared. “They .didn’t want us in their village, so they brought. us away off here, and now we can shift for ourselves” Of course there was nothing to do but to make the best of it. “At all events, we are away beyond the‘reach of the Czar's | soldiers,’ said George, “and that’s one good thing.” “T don’t know whether we are or not,” declared: Inavsky.. “I tell you, there is no end to the treachery of these Tunguese. There may be a troop stationed near to watch for escapes over the frontier. For all I know there may have been a ons opened somewhere around here since my time.” The first thing was to examine the old post-house, ; George cut a piece off one of the branches of the nearest, tree, which, being a pitch pine, bitrned freely, and they set out to examine the ruin. It was absolutely deserted and there was nothing about the dirty rooms to. indicate that it had been ocenpied in many years. 2 “T feel as though we were being watched,” said Lelia, when, they returned to the fire at last. “There was certainly some one here just beforé we came and I believe there is still.” is “Let them watch,’ said Geerge. “I’m going to have some We have got grub enough and we may as well aIBE it: Come on, Nat; lend a fellow.a hand.” . ‘ The fire was then replenished and soon a good ctr of broiled venison, toasted on the end of a sharp stick, prepared. This was eaten beside the fire, for it was getting colder, and there was a deadly chill in the old house. . ‘ ‘But it would not do to. sleep out of doors, so the boys built d up a fire in the big fire-place in one of the lower rooms. », ~ It was now growing late and as no one had shown them- selves, Inaysky, Lelia and Nat lay adh fe before the fire and went to sleep. George remained on guard and it was. arranged that he. : should arouse the Nihilist. to take his place shortly vatter 4 midnight. pat It was dreary work watching; for the best part of two hours Bite George paced up and down before the old post-house,. stopping: in the walk occasionally to replenish the fire. a Not a sound was heard, except the perpetual sighing ‘of the, wind through the tops of the tall pines. © Tired out at last, George sat down by the fire and ‘leaned his head against the stone wall. t He had no intention of going to sleep, but that is exactly — what he did’ He was thoroughly tired, having had no sleep now for twenty-four hours; so there is no wonder that before vane the boy knew it he was off in the land of Nod. Bie How long he slept he never knew, but all at once he found: 2 himself wide awake and staring, and brought upon his feet by : an awful yell, which rang out through the deserted rooms. “Holy St. Michael, what is that?” cried Inavsky, starting: up at the same instant, and both saw two hideous, ‘ghastly. figures appear in the open ‘doorway—a sight which made thei blood run cold. f 7, ; Pai Flee eee CHAPTER XVI. ; Pe ie eit GEORGE'S GREAT SCHEME. ae The sight in the doorway of the old post-house 1 was. certainly, peculiar enough to startle any one. There stood two figures, dressed in bear-skins, each holding a big club with a round knob on the end, all covered wit! smaller knobs and sharp spikes. - 5 Instead of heads, perched upon the shoulders of each figui 8. was a grinning skull, and around their necks were abies fo re bones and animals’ teeth. Ramin. They stood there motionless. and again the wild. ory ra lout, seeming to come from somewhere in. the forest ie, them. < Inavsky recovered himself in a moment. “Tunguese medicine men trying to scare us!” he \yileherta “Give them something, my boy.” me George had arrived at the same conclusion himself, a w all ready. Instantly he bent Horwara,\ and, putting his” hoa his legs, faced the two figures backward, at the s
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SENT TO SIBERIA. (14 Lelia screamed, but Nat, catching sight of George, seemed ito understand on the instant what the matter was. , Down went his head in the same way, and the two boys ‘went waddling toward the figures in the doorway. ' They had stood their ground until then; and perhaps it was their astonishment that made them do ft, bit’as the boys eame toward them they suddenly stepped back, uttering dis- mal groans. | George and Nat went straight’ on. | They expected to see the two ghost players take to their heels and run, and one did 80, but.the other, giving an awful yell, fell to the ground, writhing in a fit. The pasteboard skull tumbled off, exhibiting the black head jof a Tunguese beneath, |} Meanwhile the other dashed away into the darkness of the forest on the other side of the trail. 5 The boys resumed the upright on the instant. “T guess we have done the scaring this time,” laughed ‘George. “Is this a genuine fit or a fake?’ \ Inaysky, who had lighted the lantern, flashed it in the fel- ‘low’s face and examined him closely. He was quieter now and extept for an occasidnal twitch of the whole body, lay perfectly still, foaming slightly at the mouth and muttering some unintelligible words. “This is no fit,’ said the Nihilist. “By gracious, if I could fonly. speak Tunguese I could show you strange things now.” | “He’s a shaman,” said Lelia, “that’s, what he is.” ! “Of course,” replied Inavsky. . “He thought to play some trick on us, but he has fallen into the trap himself. Oh, I'd igive a thousand roubles if I-coyld only speak to him! We'd find out how far we are from the frontier then and whether ‘we are being followed or not and everything else we want to know.” '“J don’t understand you at all,” said George. would explain.” “T.certainly will, Keep your eyes on thé forest while we are » talking, boys. We may fully expect an attack.” “Push!” breathed Lelia. “I see three'or four figures hiding (behind the trees. I certainly do. 'There’s trouble ahead for us, and I don’t see what is to be done.” “We'll go right for *em!” said George, “I wish you Come on, Nat.” Among othe:Jthings he could imitate the barking of a dog, | the crowing of a cock and, in fact, the cries of half a dozen ‘animals, and Nat, who had been practicing for' some time _.tunder his direction, could do almost as’ well himself: , All in an instant the forest: resounded ‘with strange cries, which startled Inavsky and Lelia almost a8 much as they did the Tunguese. . There was one short, stumpy fellow who sprang out from ,behind a tree just in front of George. He ran well for a ‘minute, when all at once his foot struck a stone and down he went flat on his face. George pounced on him ih an instant, and, ‘collar of his fur coat, lifted him to his feet. The fellow howled like a matiiac and fought desperately for & moment. But George had @ firm grip on him and as he dragged him \back to the post-housé the Tunguese stopped struggling and , pega to whine, begging in Russian that the “great shaman” ‘would spare. his life. “Hello!” cried Inavsky. “Good for you, George! We have _ got an interpreter. Now I'll show you something which will astonish you. Let me talk.” He commenced to rattle away to the Tunguese in Russian, ‘d apeaking so rapidly that George could not make out a word. “Tt’s all right,” he said in a moment, “They think you are ‘great Shamans and that is why they came here. He says that there is treasure supposed to be hidden in the old post-house * and they followed us here from the Tunguese village. Their idea was to capture you two and through you find the hidden treasure. It is something their shamans’ have never been clutching the ‘equal to,: but they. thought they might be able to succeed. Re ‘through you.” d “Blest if I understand what you mean at all,” anid eure. “T wish you would explain.” “Pm going to now,” replied Inavsky. “You know what hypnotism is, of course. Don’t tell me you don’t believe in it. Hypnotism is an admitted scientific fact.” *T didn’t say that I did not believe in it,” replied George. “T suppose there is something in it, but I don’ t see what it has to do with us.” - “Perhaps not, but Peter has undoubtedly told these fellows - that you were great shamans. Now, all these shamans go into '. the hypnotic trance. They don’t Wait for any one to hypnotize we them. » They do it to themselves and then they talk and }angwer questions and tell all sorts of strange things. Prob- ably they thought that you could do the same and that ‘you might be able to tell where the hidden treasure lies. At all events that's as near as I can come to it from what this bag low says.” “By thunder! I see a way ou of our troubles thioust this!” exclaimed George. “T can’t understand you at all,” daid the Nihilist. “No, but you will when I show you. Will you promuss to do just as I say?” Inavsky hesitated. “Do it,’ said Lelia. “George knows what he is abet. a “You had’ better,” added Nat. “Don’t go’ back on George and you can just bet hé will carry you through.” i George himself said nothing. There was a merry twinkle in: . his eyes in spite of the seriousness of the situation, for if there was anything he dearly loved it was a joke, and he thought he could see his way to a good one now. “I’m willing,” said Inavsky, “only I would like to give a little exhibition of Tunguese shamanism first. These shamans who ‘throw themselves into trances are really wonderful. I have seen them do some very remarkable things»sin tay: time,” “Go ahead,” said George, “only first do as I tell you.” “Well, what is it?” “Make that fellow understand that Nat and I really are great shamans; that we can. tell them just where the buried treasure is hidden and that we will do it if the whole band will come right up here and show themselves without fear. They must bring back the dog sleds and have everything ready for a start, for we shall want to be on the move just as s00n as Wwe ie away the secret. You understand?” a think I do,” said Inavsky; “but we are running a great r | ” > ‘ ‘ “Leave it all to me. Will you do what I say?” Inavsky consentedeand while he begat talking to the oner in Russianf George turned to Nat, and, drawing aside, whispered to him for a few momehts. “Right,” said Nat., “We'll give these rabies a little vaudeville show that’ will surprise them. I think it can be done all right.” CHAPTER VIL Veet THE WHITE SHAMANS SURPRISH THE TUNSUESE. While all this’ was going on the Tunguese lay in a deep. trance. “Y've explained to this fellow and he, says they will all come, if you will promise not to throw the evil eye on them or hurt them in any way,’ said Inavsky. “You promised, of course?” replied George. “Certainly I did.” “Then why don’t he go after his friends?” be “Tl want my show first, George. I believe in this sort of thing,” said the Nihilist, and he spoke so earnestly that George had not a word of objection to make. Inavsky now stepped up to the shaman and said something in Russian to the prisoner which Georgé did not catch. ; ‘The Tunguese called to the shaman in a loud voice. -Jnavsky in a low voice translated the conversation witleh followed into English and we shall give it all just as though it had taken place In that tongue. “Speak! Speak! Speak!” said the Tunguese. “T will speak now,’ replied the shaman, without daring his éyes or changing his position. “I am waiting to speak. Why do you keep me waiting so?” “Are we being followed?” asked Inavsky, tell me what you see.” “I gee men on horses,” replied the shaman. of them. They are Russians. village. They have come around the mountain with the hole | in it. They are looking for you and your friends. They are asking our chief which way you went. If they capture you they will take you back to a. place where the post-house was destroyed by fire.” “As 'T thought. We ate being followed,” muttered Inavsky. “I was sure they would not let'me go.” Then he added ee “Does the chief tell them which way we went?” By “He does.” oy “And they are still following us?” “Look back and “There are ten ‘ “Phey are just riding out of the village now, but it ta! a ( é It will take them some time to get here.” “Look ahead ue the Dé you see any soldiers in our way?” - “Wait.” long road. “Leave those people,” said Inavsky. . road to the river. _*This will take time,” replied the shaman. They are riding into our ~ pe uy
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‘4 dn the white shamans, which is more than I do, SENT TO SIBERIA. He was silent for a moment and then said: ; “T have been all along the road, but-! cannot see any Rus- sian soldiers until you come to the river. They are there at | the post-house by the ferry. I do not see how you are going to get Across.’ “nough,” said Inaysky. “You may wake now.” “Do you believe all that?” asked George, as Inavsky ceased to. speak. “Implicitly,” replied the Nihilist. “If there was time I could prove the wonderful powers of this man. to you. I could make him. tell you your whole past history, in a way that would amaze you; but since we are being followed, you had better undertake your. work, for there is no! time to be lost,” As Inavsky thus spoke the shaman opened his eyes and began staring around. The moment he caught sight of the boys he sprang to his feet and ran like a deer into the’ forest, the Tunguese prisoner bursting into a gruff laugh at the haste which he made. “He-is afraid of the white shamans,” he said. “After him!” cried Inavsky. I tell you and the. white shamans will show you where the buried treasure is hidden. The Tunguese needed no second bidding, but was gone in a minute. “Will they come?” said Lelia. “I am wondering.” “So am J,” replied Inavsky. “If they don’t we had better take to the woods at once, for it is just as sure that we are being followed as that we are standing here. Do you believe me, boys?” ; “JT can’t say whether I do or not,” replied George: “I don’t know anything about Tunguese magic, but. as you say you do, T.am willing to take your word for it.. What I am beside _is, whether they will come or not. “And what I am wondering is how many, dog sleds they have,’ said Nat. “If there’s more than the three we are ‘in the soup.” _ “I can manage one,” said Lelia, plan.” “Here they come!” exclaimed Inavsky. “I think I ean guess your “They take stock Now, then, ‘boys, see what you can do.” The Tunguese were slowly ene from the forest. and gathering around the door of the old post-house. ~ There were,as many as forty of them and with their big fur coats and queer hats they looked a strange lot. them were armed with long spears and it was certainly run- ning a great risk on thespart of the boys to put themselves in their power; but George and Nat faced this queer audience as calmly as they had faced more intelligent ones many a time before. © The Tunguese who had been the interpreter came up to Inavsky and gaid: _ “We are here, my lord, to begin?” ‘ “Tt is not,” replied Inavsky, loftily. ‘Where are the dog sleds? Until they come we can do nothing. You call the white men dogs, Well, so we are. Our shamans draw their power from dogs. Let the dogs come and we will begin,” - George and Nat stood together with faces as grave as judges. Inavsky was simply carrying out what George’ had told him to do in. case the dogs did not come. The headmen of the Tunguese consulted ‘together and then went back into the woods and, after a few moments, six dog teams were driven up. Two were those which had been stolen from the boys and with the other four no doubt some of the Tunguese had fol- lowed the party from the village to the old post-house, Everything was now in readiness for the boys to try their great experiment. , “We may be able to bluff them. I don’t know,” George whispered to Nat. “Anyhow, it is better than having a fight.” Inavsky and Lelia had their instructions and they now took up their positions near the dog teams. _ George and Nat advanced toward the Tunguese and, sud- ' denly throwing themselves backward, stood on their hands with their feet in the air, and walked about on the oy among the dogs, startling the animals) not a little. Indeed, ere several of the Tunguese all they could do to ‘keep them quie Then other contortionist tricks were performed, some of -which were really quite clever. Inaysky, through the interpreter, told the’ Tunguese not to be afraid and that in a few. moments the white shamans would have drawn power enough from the dogs to be able to tell where the buried treasure was hidden. : ; Awe eS ft ne. | 4 Aig eet \ Na . ft Ee v Is it the will of the white shamans “Bring them all back just da ‘and fainter behind them. ae At last they suddenly emerged from the forest ‘and cam out upon a broad steppe without trees, which Inavsky ‘declare i ¥ As. soon as he saw that he had them all. well interested, |Géorge was ready for business and he and Nat walked over near the door of the old post-house, the Tunguese gathering -around him, some holding blazing pine knots, which threw Hight on the. weird scene. | tnaysky came up and stood heside them, but Lelia remained near the sleds. , Nat how began his part-of the work. fst He made a series of fantastic passes over George’s head with his hands. George winked rapidly and began to twitch his arms ‘and legs. just as. he had seen the shaman do. Presently he closed his eyes and seemed to sleep, although still standing up before Nat, “The white shaman does not fall down as ‘the Tunguese shaman does!” called out Inavsky and the interpreter ex- plained. Nat then began to talk. What he said need not be repeated here, for it. was only a lot of nonsense; but Inaysky traks- i ed it to the audience in ‘quite a different way, telling them | these were’the two most wonderful shamans on earth a that they could locaté, buried treasure anywhere it nee pened to be and never fail. “They can make the spirit which guards the treasure speak right out from the place,’ announced the Nihilist, at last. “The spirit speaks three times and says: ‘Here I am! Here I am! Here IT am!’ If the hiding place of the treasure is immediately attacked then and you keep right at it until the treasure is exposed the spirit will always leave it, but if the work is stopped, the treasure Will vanish and the spirit never speak again.” This was Tavsky's little speech and whew he paused, Nat waved his hand dramatically and snapped his fingers three times in George's’ face. 4 Immediately a deep voice called out inside the post- ‘house: “Here’I am! Here Iam! Here I am!” “Now!” shouted Inavsky. ‘Go. for the treasure! Once more the spirit will’ speak and this time from the very place!” And again, this time from a certain spot against the cerumb- ‘, ling stone wall, the voice called out: ’ “Here Iam! Here Iam! Here I am!” . The Tunguese threw themselves*into their work “ake 'g0 te many wild beasts, pushing and crowding, each trying to get.a chanee to use the sharp sticks and bits of iron with which — CHAPTER, XVIII. CHASED BY WHITE WOLVES. : “Now is ‘our time, Inavsky,” whispered Nat. toward the sleds. Is there anybody left behind me? any one looking after the dogs?” Nat did ‘not dare to look around himself and as for Géoune it would have spoiled all for him to have opened his eyes then. Most of sat ee come provided, to pry out the stones from the wall, “Move over | Is sed “Tt’s all right,” nee Inavsky, “You are a splendid ‘ven- — triloquist, George. By thunder, you did that well!” “Ready, then,” said Nat, and all three made a dash for the dog sleds. Lelia sprang upon one, Inavsky on another and. ie bona each took theirs. Away the sleds flew like lightning over the frozen snow, disappearing in the dark forest. As the start was made Inavsky with the long dog. whip lashed the dogs of the > remaining two sleds and sent them flying off. f To describe the scene which followed at the old Dost-houge:’ would be next to impossible. Many of the Tunguese comprehended flying after the fugitives, at the same time giving chase over the frozen snow; but others, still believing in the white Bie shanians, _Stuck to their work at the stones. “We are right in it!” erled Inavsky. base it up! They never can overtake us now.” , On they flew, the shouts SEY, stretched away to the Amoor River. “It must be a good twenty English miles away’ rom as yet,” he added. “If we can only make it before the troops overtake us, I shall be thankful, but I have my doubts.” “So you still believe in your shaman?” remarked ee They had slackened speed and: the four sleds Ls ic ru Bide by Bes ROW. tay ry ae Ps it , ¢ ; ne aN et A A OE AN Ta i AY a at they had been’ fooled and, rushing out, yelling like demons, sent their spears; — of the Tunguese, growing fainter “Keep it up, boys;,
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f 16 SENT TO > ~f * Pas $ 1 q i i { : SIBERTA, pie gr —— “Of course I do,’’ replied Inavsky. “I believe in that troop of soldiers following us just as firmly as the Tunguese be- lieved in the treasure in the wall before we made that rush for the sleds. Hark! What was that?’ A short, sharp bark was heard behind them. “The other dogs,’ said Nat. “I can’t see them, though.” “T'm afraid that is no dog,” said Lelia, turning pale. “Indeed it isn’t,” said Inavsky. “That’s a wolf fast enough.” . A dismal howl was heard even as he spoke and the barking came again and again and soon they saw a troop of at least twenty white animals not much larger than the dogs they were driving coming rapidly after them over the snow. George and Nat had not spoken a word for some moments now. «They knew nothing about wolves rg they took it for gragted that Inavsky knew all about them. Indeed, they did not realize their danger until the Nihilist spoke. dl “We are in for it,” he said. “I don’t see that there is any help for us, Lelia, do you?” » “We must let one team go and it’ had patter be mine,” replied the brave girl, quietly. “My hands are so cold and benumbed now that I can hardly hold the reins,” “Will they overtake us?” asked Nat. “They certainly will,” replied Inavsky. “They are the white wolves and those are the most dangerous kind of all. There is ‘no escaping them. rane of the dogs must go to feed them, that’s all.” He pulled in as*he spoke and Lelia BUS OIE too, oe off her sled and. climbed upon his. The wolves gave wild yelps as they saw this, movement. They seemed to comprehehd exactly what it meant. ‘So did the dos which were to be abandoned. The poor creatures howled dismally and made frantic efforts _to keep up with Inaysky’s sled. George and Nat pulled in a little to let the.other sleds come up to them and then away they all wget flying me full speed ~again.. ~ f; The wolves increased their speed also and so dia the aban- doned dogs. - These went off to the right and ran-for thely lives. The wolvesiwent flying past the sleds a. moment later. . Their tongues were lolling out and they were yelping savagely. '. Inavsky and the boys struck at them with their whips and they sheered off and, overtaking the dogs, sprang upon them furiously, throwing the poor brutes down and tearing them to pieces in a manner awful to witness, but the chase was Hi ’ stopped for the time being and the sleds went flying on. “It will only be for a short time,” said Inavsky, dismally. iM "You will be amazed when you see how soon they will finish up those four dogs and be after us again.” : “How far do you saipese we have come?’ George called ae out from the other sled, .. “About ten miles, which leaves us as aapiene farther to go,” Teplied Inavsky and as he spoke the sharp crack of a rifle was heard behind them. > “Holy St. ‘Michael! That's worse than the wolves! The es eds are upon us!” shouted the Nihilist, rising in his seat. _ But. the steppes were rolling here and there and when the j boys Jooked back they could see nothing. : Ont On! Faster! Faster!” yelled Inavsky and he brought the whip down over his dogs with a resounding crack whitch ‘sent them bounding ahead over the snow. ¢ CHAPTER XIX. | - CAPTURING THE RIVER GUARD. os are there, and dus the number the ee ‘said : i ' Czar, once a convict eg Pe in Siberia, hes a thing almos 1 * infor begin to think were were safe.” ie EDO, vey see the RG : running? ibaa in ii ae ra ¥ Was coming,” replied the Nihilist. “On account of the roll of - the steppes you ¢an't see them sitting down. They are firing at the wolves. We haye escaped one danger only to run into an- other; but with the help of the holy St. Michael we are going to escape this, too.” As he spoke, the’ Nihilist urged his dogs forward, dashed in. ahead of George and Nat, and turned abruptly to tke left. George instantly followed him. He saw what the movement meant. This part of the steppe was badly “cradled,” that is, it was very rolling. There was a rise, then a deep er eo another rise. Some of the cradles were so deep that a man on horseback could easily hide in one. The way of our trayelers had led them across the cradles thus far. E Now Inaysky started to run through one of the cradles. The snow was packed down and frozen so hard that the sled runners left.no imprint, . To the Nihilist it looked very doubtful if the Czar’s soldiers had yet seen them, and he determined that they ib not catch sight of them if he could help it. Their chance lay in the delay of the wolves. . Several shots N now rang out. The troops were making it hot for the wolves, | evidently. : ; ; “Oh! Oh! Oh!” shouted Inavsky. “This is our idet chance!” They covered a mile along the cradle in short order. “ Then Inavsky, who still held the lead, cut across to the next % cradle, anc ran another mile along that. All this was done without a word prem the Nihilist as to iis plans. At last he drew rein on the dogs, and,, looking back. for per- haps the twentieth time, exclaimed : i w “Well, boys, I think we have given them the slip all fiber Now for the river!’ “We have a lot of time,” said George. “If they have kept , on to the river they must be half way there by this.” rai uh “Let them get there,” replied Inavsky. “They are going to the ferry—we are not. Don’t you worry. It means more than death to be caught, and I don’t intend that sa Sug thing s shall happen. Now _then, off we go!” It was over the cradles again then. The Beier seemed ney ver it to tire, and really madé splendid time. - { When they crossed the third ridge from the point where this eonversation took place they saw in the distance a bang of mounted men galloping rapidly ‘southward. As far as George could make out, they were not discovered, and in a moment they were down in a cradle again. | “When — they came up on*the next rise the men had disappeared. aS No, further adventures occurred before reaching the Amoor — River, nor did they see a solitary soul, not even a biaeeah unguese, ‘ ¥ Inavsky seemed to have chosen his road well, for the coun- 3 try appeared to be utterly deserted. = - known, and even in China it was doubtful if they Naa mit Me Sade arrested and sent back. ; posts you are tt eried Tnavsky, as pene came cout upon. a i The river seemed to be about a mile ‘across. ce both at there was a line of ice, but there was a broad channel o
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SENT TO SIBERIA. qcRE NSE RES ETS RE ac oa SRW FE Poca A US TS “What are you going to.do to get across?” asked Lelia. “You men could swim, perhaps, but I can’t. I see no chance for me.” “Of course we are not going to desert you,” said Inaysky. | “Wait! Wait! I want time to think. Where is the ferry? Oh, I see it there! Look, boys! ‘There are the troops !” Inaysky waved his hand toward the west. 2 Far in the distance a cluster of buildings ‘could be seen on the shore. The Russian flag was flying from one of them, and on the opposite shore there were other buildings; from the roof of one of these the three-cornered yellow dragon flag, of China waved, “That's the last place on earth we want to get to,” said Tnav- sky. “I was thinking, George, that we might drive our sleds right out on the ice as far as it is safe to go, and there unhitch the dogs, rig up some kind of a mast to one of the sleds, put up a bearskin for a sail, and in that way get across.” “Tt’s possible, and I can: see no other way.” “That's just what I was thinking of,” declared Nat. “My idea is that it could be done, for the wind is behind us, and it is blowing pretty strong, too.” “Wait! We are discovered!” eried Lelia. “Look there!” She pointed down to the river bank about half a mile, beyond the point their position overlooked. Two men stood on the bank. They were running the Rus- sian flag up a tall pole which had not been observed by the fugitives until now. ; ; ' F Inavsky groaned in despair.’ “1 see our finish in this,” he declared. “I’m afraid there is to be escape for us. Look over _ to the ferry! Yes, it is as I feared!” Pi f The flag on the ferry house was dipped twice in answer to the signal given by the two men who were now looking up at them. r A few minutes later they all saw a troop of soldiers leave the ferry buildings and ride toward them along the shore. “We are lost!” exclaimed Inaysky, gloomily. ‘There is about as much chance now of our escaping across the Amoor as there is of our flying to the moon.” “I shall kill myself before I’ll be taken,” said Lelia, de- cidedly. “I'll run out on the ice and jump into the water. I have had a taste of freedom, and I will never go ‘9 the mines now! Never! On that I am resolved!” “Don’t say it,” said George. ‘We asl tdtentig Agni do busi- ness that way. While there is life there is hope. Inaysky, I believe there is still a chan¢e for us to get across.” “How?”? demanded the Nihilist. “I wish you would explain.” “Take the bull by the horns. In other words, drive straight for the guard. Probably those two are all of them, We will all four get on one’sled. Nat and I will hide under the bear- skins, an@ when we show ourselves we will give them such a scare that they will be glad to come to terms.” | Anaysky, did not speak for a moment. “That is certainly our only chance,” he said, at last. ‘the € ances are they have a boat down there, and, of course, » there is a house in under the bank. If we could get their arms aw ay from them there is no telling hubs we ene not be able ‘to do. of 3 “You will try it, then?” asked George. “Yes,” said the Nihilist. “I'll try it.” “How long a time do you suppose we have got?” “Less than half/an hour, We may have that. _coming pretty fast.” ’ f “Then here goes!” cried George. “We will sneak in under tne the bearskings now. If there are only two men down there owe. ought to be good for them. it there are sii Hite is Lass » £0, Lee hous.) ae : They. are $ Tunning an awful risk,” said George, “but the thing is “And ay -as lightning seized Ivan’s rifle, which he dropped in his ‘tright, ‘the door. shouted Tnavsky. had Cues dust where ss It was a gloomy outlook. surely, but still there was. ‘a fighting chance. ‘ Lashing his dogs furiously, Inavsky started for the river bank, while the dogs attached to the other sleds, not liking the idea of being abandoned, came trotting on behind. t CHAPTER XX. CROSSING THE AMOOR. , There were only two men guarding this point jon the river front. Col. secure te was one and Ivan Roff, his assistant, the pce ; ¥ On ‘either side of the different denies across ihe Amoor at this part of the Siberian boundary such guards are stationed not so much on account of escaping convicts, for escapes are very rare, as to be on the lookout for tea smugglers from the Chinese shore. Inaysky knew this, but he thought he had gone sufficiently to the eastward to avoid the guards, while the event proved that rg he had not. Col. Michelsky, an ignorant, pompous officer, the most of , whose life had been spent in Siberia, saw the party when they first drove out upon the bluff, He never suspected them of be- ing convicts, but he did think they were smugglers, so he made haste to give the signal to the ferry guard. When he saw the foremost sled turn and start down the slope, he thought that he — must have been mistaken, and that these were only travelers who had lost their way. On they came, and the gallant colonel was not a little puz- zled to make out what had become of the other two members of the party, for he was certain that he had seen four persons, and now only two were visible; and here were the other teams bs following on without drivers or riders. : Col. Michelsky, who had been applying himself freely to the 7, vodka bottle that morning, could not understand it at all, and ~ having told Ivan Rouff that he must be drunk when the fel- low. declared that there was nobody on the other two sleds, he went into the guard-house and took another big horn of vodka in the hope that it would make him see straighter. Then tak- ing his rifle, he came out again just in time to see the sled driven by Inavsky come dashing down the hill. 7 SNe oe “Halt!” cried the colonel, in his best Russian. “Halt, and — give an account of yourself. What do wish here?” Gjcairoe Inavsky never answered a word. Neither did Lelia, but both sprang off the sled and Ey, wi their arms, each giving a wild ery. ‘ “Holy St. Michael! What, then, is the matter with youve eried the colonel. Are you both mad?” ; He was thinking of delirium tremens when he, spoke, and tt is safe to say that Ivan had the same idea in his head, for both fs had been playing cards | and drinking vodka all night. aK 2 They thought more about that unpleasant complaint a sec- ond later, when the bearskins on the sled were suddenly thrown aside and two boys stepped off backward, with their » wee aUEDED: so that they faced the two guards. Be a Per: y out someting in Russian which, being tr anslated vee oa American, meant ‘ ‘sot ‘em again !?.° RAN f This was Inaysky’s chance, and he took it. eee Throwing himself upon Col. Michelsky, he snatched his rif away and presented it at the man’s head; while Lelia, as quic and ,taking to his heels, ran into He guard house and ‘slamme j “Stand where you are! Do AS we tell you ae pan, “ate George had the colonel by the throat then, ind Nat, sna the rifle away from Lelia, broke i into ‘the Baas hone an soon com hin, iit ee xe
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men were at the mercy of the Nihilist and his companions be- ‘tween the ice fields with the wind blowing as it was. y= a wild shout, and, turning suddenly, rode down the bank onto ia the ice, itt * - find there is no escape!” : _ The water was running like a mill-race and the channel was : full of great black rocks, which doubled the danger of crossing fect gale. Tin afraid that our chances of,escape are pretty slim.” ah ‘wouldn't attempt to cross myself, bult what-am I to do to bem oe 18 SENT TO SIBERIA. The. whole thing was accomplished so quickly that the two fore they realized what it all meant. It was Inavsky’s time to act now, and he lest no time doing it, rattling off his Russian so rapidly that the boys could not understand one word. . “Is there a boat?’ demanded George, anxiously. make out what you say.” “There are two,” replied Inavsky. smaller one. It is all right.’ “What language do you speak?’ stammered the colonel. “Who are you? What does this mean?” “We are Pnglish. Refuse to help us if you dare!” retorted Inavsky. “I have told you what you must do. Get out the boats. We must cross at once.” “It is impossible now. In half an hour the wind will go down, and then——” ‘Dog! You mean mischief. In half an hour the guard from the ferry will-be here to stop us! Get out the boats now! We must cross at once! ‘ Refuse to help us, and we will lay you both dead upon the snow !” Col.: Michelsky swore in Russian, but with his own riflé in the hands of a desperate man, and aimed at his head, what was he to do? “This will cost me my position, and probably my life,” he growled. “I see what you are now. You are escaped convicts. I had better be dead than have this misfortune happen to me. Still, you have me in your power, and I suppose it must be as you say.” And so it was. The fight was fairly won, and there was no farther attempt at opposition on the part of the guard. The two boats were now drawn out of a boat-house down under the bank f the river. ‘One was a fairly good-sized boat, but it was not large enough to hold them all, and Inaysky insisted that Col, Michelsky and ‘Ivan should go with them, for he felt more than doubtful about his own ability to navigate the boats across the channel be- “T can't “One large and one . “You two and Lelia can go in the big boat with this man,” he said, pointing to the colonel. “I will follow with the other. It is the only safe way.” ; Both boats were shod with a steel runner fastened along the keel, so that they could be drawn out on the ice. Lelia now took back the rifle and Inavsky acting as guard on one side, she did the same on the other, while the boys and the two Russians started to pull the boats out over the ice. They had searcely started when the mounted ‘guard came in wat in the distance. Evidently they guessed what had happened, for they set up “hat settles you !” growled the colonel. “Waster! Faster!” cried Inavsky. “It may settle us, but it settles you, too, for we shall kill you both just as soon as we CHAPTER XXI. THE JOSS HOUSE IN THE FOREST. the Amoor with the wind blowing off the Siberian shore a per- . “We are here,” said Inavsky, “and now that we dre ‘here, “It’s a frightful risk to run,” said Col. Michelsky, but I “Don't let's talk! YF exclaimed Lelia. “Oh, don’t let's talk! Sarasa ae an eek UREA yg oe i Ee SP eS Os Pr OR er Birr Se ere VO ee Pas ag AOS RE OLS I eI ie 2S ah atl 2 + SR a ol RS SR ee SS bene eon It is either that or death, for I will throw myself into the Look! They are close upon us! I will never live to be taken. river first.” j “In with the boats!” eried George. “There has been too much time wasted in talking already! In with the boats, or we shall all have to jump in and swim across.” | } They had reached the farthest point on the ice to which it was safe to go, and the Czar’s troops were now dpe within rifle range, and advancing rapidly. Of course the horses could not come up to where the fugitives were, but there was nothing to hinder the soldiers coming on foot. In a moment they might expect to hear the rifles erack, and to have the shots come flying tow ards them. Haste was indeed a matter of life or death, ‘ Seizing one of the oars, George reversed it, and, by striking hard, managed to break away the ice in front of the boat. . Gol. Michelsky helped him with another oar, aig Ivan and Nat did as much for the smaller boat. They then pushed the boats into the water, and. all franped in. “Don’t ask us to, row!” pleaded the colonel. “We have to ~ come back again. We cannot live in China. Treat us as pris- — oners. Be merciful enough.for that.” “That's reasonable, and we will do it,” replied Gongs, sale ing an oar. “Guard this man, Lelia! a move!” Nat was ready with the other oar by this time, and the rey shot off into the channel. Inavsky and Ivan quickly followed, the latter doing the rowing. ““Stop! Stop, there! mercy !’’ shouted the leader of the Czar’s troops. x They had shouted many times, but’ these were the first « words the boys were able to understand. es) The open channel was only about a inaeod feet across, but the wind did not blow exactly across the river. Instead of ‘that, it came in a slanting direction, and was taking them Sonat stream. Strong hands’ and atout hearts! who did not know what it was to give up! f This was the state of affairs in the larger boat, but poor Inavsky’s fix was a bad one, for he could not row and stand guard. | Ivan had no desire to well the boat across to the Chinese shore. . : Now the firing began, The mounted troops had advandia as far as they dared; they lined up, and, turning their rifles upon the eseaped conyicts, blazed away. round proved that the Gzar’s troops were entirely within Tange. — The bullets. came whizzing past their heads, yet nobody ducked down but Col. Michelsky, The boys just set Fag, gts and pulled the harder, and Lelia never said a’ word: ; Again the rifles cracked, and then again, a third ri fol ; lowing close upon the second. : From Inaysky’s boat. a wild ery rang opt, and’ the man Tans dropped his oars and fell back. Tnaysky made a wild effort, ae : seize the oars, but failed. wise “It’s all up with me, boys!” he shouted, despairingly. “Look out for Lelia! Save yourselves!” a and sent it flying down the Amoor among the rocks. “TInavsky! Inavsky!” screamed Lelia, She would have _“*Good-by !”" shouted George. . 4 “Good-by ! heard against the wind. Two plucky Taare boys fy As he thus spoke the swift running current seized his boat. thrown herself into the water, but Nat prevented Mer. ean ‘ Heaven bless. you!” came: the eeewan: “tesbiy | an ol, Shoot him if me pay! of Stop, or we will shoot ‘you ‘without iy se George’s heart was in hig mouth, so to speak, for. the first — i at ‘s "
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‘ier el SENT TO — Miche’ “Say that again, and I'll kill you!” screamed Lélia, strik- ing him on the head with the barrel of his own rifle with such | foree that nothing but the fur cap which hé wore saved him from a fractured skull. Again the rifles cracked, but this time the bullets fell into the «water. The boat was out of range at last,'and inside of five mintites they ran hard up against the ice which extended out from the Chinese shore. Col. Michelsky had not spoken a word since Lelia struck him. In obedience to George’s command, he seized one pair of oars, while George sprang out and helped Lelia onto the ice. Nat immediately followed. The troops on the opposite side of the channel watched their moyements, but made no sign, for where was the use? “Well, you are safe, but I’m doomed to #o to the mines,” groaned the Russian. “At least leave ine my rifle so that I ean shoot myself. It is better for me to die .than to go batk over there.” Mi + In the bottom of his heart George was sincerely sorry for the wretched man, es of course he could not comply with his request. Waiting for nothing further, all ran off over the 6a toward the high banks about a quarter of a mile away. They could see nothing of Inavsky now. The boat had en- tirely disappeared. % Lelia was silently weeping. The poor ait seemed to feel terribly. George tried to comfort her the best he sate but of course there was little that he could say to make her feel any better. The last they saw of Col., Michelsky he was pulling back across the channel to meet his fate. : Reaching the bank, they climbed up the best they could, Lelia falling twice on its hard, slippery side. “China at last!” cried George: “Oh, Nat, what lies before us now?” “Well, here’s woods right before us,” said Nat, sels was nothing if not practical, “and the sooner we get into them thé “better, I say.” A dense forest came down almost to the bank of the river. There was not. a house in sight, or any sign of life, but. be- ‘fore they had advanced a hundred yards they came suddenly upon a Clearing in the middle of Which :stood an octagonal building made of porcelain tiles of various colors, and hung all oyer with queerly-shaped bells. “A joss house!” cried Nat. “That’s,what it is. What's the matter with Lelia? Catch her, George, quick!” George was just in time to seize the fainting girl in his strong arms. “It has been too much for her,” he gasped. if we don’t do something. Come on, Nat! inside there, whatever we go up against. % George lifted the poor girl bodily and staggered toward the | “She will die We must take her poreelain tower, Nat going ahead with the rifle grasped in his * hand. ° They had almost reached it, when a wild clash of gongs broke the silence, and inside the tower they heard a hundred voices yelling like mad. BOX pe nab ‘ CHAPTER XXII. IN THE HEAD OF THE WAR GOD. The situation of George and Nat had now become almost too ' trying to be endured. - ~ a) With Lelia fainting on their hands and the joss-house in the _ forest full of Chinamen, as George saw must be the case, it was really very hard to know what to do. iss e ‘He re escape, and “I’m glad of it,” growled Col.| SIBERIA. . 3 Something had to be done pretty quick, however; in her pres- ent condition Lelia was Hable to die, for, to make matters worse, it had now begun to snow again. ( The wind had blown in a regular blizzard, and this made the ‘situation ten tintes more serious than it otherw ise would have ‘been. ‘i Meanwhile the clashing gongs continued, and the chorus of voices shouted louder than ever, and yet not a soul was to be seen anywhere around the porcelain pagoda. “We must get Lelia under cover, no matter what happens,” panted George, as he staggered on with his burden. “Nat, you go ahead and see what you can strike.” “It’s. what will strike us, I am thinking,” replied Nat. “To go in there among that howling mob cati’t mean atiy good to us.” He ran on as he spoke, and by the time George had come up to the tower Nat had some information to impart that was worth listening to. “This way, George! “I’ve struck the very place. end, but it will do the business at presént all right.” There was a low door close to where Nat stood. It was dowh at the bottom of a short flight of steps, and led into the toweér. “Have you tried it?” panted George. » “Yes, I have been inside. Didn’t you see me come out?’ ‘Didn't see anything, this snow blinds me so. Is it all right in there?’ sé “Yes, come on! Now is our time while there is nobody in the room,” — Not fully understanding what this meant, George staggeretl on through the door which Nat threw open, and found himself in a snug little room where a fire of glowing coals burned in a tall brazier. It was just’the place for the emergency, as Nat had said. There was a handsome rug spread over the floor, and a low bamboo couch covered with soft pillows drawn up against the ~ brazier. On this George made haste to lay Lelia down, straight- ening himself up with a sigh of relief. ; “Ts she dead?” asked Nat, greatly alarmed. “No, no!” replied George. than a faint. See, she is opening her eyes now. feel, Lelia? Are you better? Speak to us! Poor thing! has suffered so much. She is all worn out, Nat. there was something I could give her!” “What's in this bottle, I wonder?” exclaimed Nat, going over to a little table where a wicker flask and several pretty poree-, lain cups stood. He drew the cork out and put the bottle to his nose. _ “This smells all right, George,” he said. good stuff, sure.” This way!” he whispered mysteridtisky, It may be the death of us in the 3 How do you She “It’s some kind of “Liquor?” ™ PM): “es: 4 “Let's taste it, Pour some out.” ar Nat poured a little of the liquor into one of the cups. It was white and sweet. Then he put it to his lips. me “Samschu !” he exclaimed. “I have tasted this before.” “what's samschu ?” asked George. 1 “Rice brandy. It’s all tight. Let's take the chances and give her a little.” i “T don’t think it is anything more 5 Oh, I wish — They did it, mixing the stuff with water, of which there Was i plenty in an earthen jar. Lelia drank the contents of the cup feebly, and it instantly é revived her. ; “Boys, where am 1?” she asked. “oh, I feel so weak! Inavsky ! This has almost killed me. but he was my husband. This is a judgment on me for not be- ing more careful. It was I who lured you to this dena vs ED ti 4 ‘ aa ¥ Sebi You did not: know it} _ i ry
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20 SENT TO SIBERIA. Then she began crying and moaning in a way dreadful to listen to, which was all very hard for the’ boys. “So Inavsky was your husband!” exclaimed George, when she at length grew calm. “Well, I guessed it. But don’t de- 'spair. I think there is more than a fighting chance for him. .The boat didn’t upset. He may escape; there’s a thousand ways in which it could come about... Now, Lelia, you lie here for a moment, while we investigate, and try to find out where we are. Our very lives may depend upon it: You are not afraid to stay alone?” “Oh, no,” replied the poor girl. “I’m not afraid. Go on. I know it is necessary. In a few moments I shall be stronger; meanwhile just let me lie here.” The boys immediately went out into the passage and started | upon their dangerous task. The noise overhead still continued. clashing of gongs and wild chorus of many voices. It was too dark in the passage to see much, but George had the matches, and he immediately lighted one, discovering a narrow and very steep flight of steps leading up into the tower. “Phis is our way, Nat. Come on!” he whispered. “It may lead us to our death, but I’m going straight ahead.” Thus saying, George crept softly up the stairs, lighting matches as he went, until he brought up against a little door not over three feet high. The din was deafening now. Whatever it was all about was certainly close to them. Trying the door and finding it un- fastened, the boys passed through it, finding themselves inside of a great hollow mass of metal of most irregular shape. “Here the sounds of the clashing gongs reverberated to that extent that it was impossible to hear oneself speak. George struck another match and stared around. Then the truth flashed upon him. He was inside of some great image. ar came through three holes here. One was the mouth, the other two the eyes. He tried to tell his dis- - eovery to Nat; who was right behind him on the ladder, but the “din was.so dreadful that he could not make him hear. or the eye-holes, and saw a great crowd of saae eieeate kneeling upon the floor of a circular room. They were all shouting and yelling at the top of their lungs, ‘while in front, at the foot of the altar upon which the idol stood, was a row of nore ai iid furiously » ‘upon great brass gongs. Tx enough, _for there, standing in front of the altar, with their hands tied behind them, were five men and two women. The men wore the dress of clergymen. They were evidently mis- - sionaries, and it was equally plain that Chinamen were about } to kill them in honor of their heathen gods. OHAPTER Xxul. ; an _| THE RESOUE OF THE MISSIONARIES. “yell, what do you think of it all, Nat?” "It's a hard show for us, George, that’s one thing sure.” At the base of the image, which was a great bronze repre- Bion of the Chinese war god, resting upon a high plat- form, there was a little door similar to the one’in the back of the image through which the boys had come. Nat opened it a little way, and George saw that it led out tees upon the platform. _ “Shut it, quick!” he whispered. is, we can’t make them’ understand. Perhaps, though, they will|if the troops should come?” take it for a warning, and let the missionaries go. That's our ‘only hope,” “AML Hab d sean ese Sa There was the same} _ And this was not all. The cause of the uproar was apparent | Going up a step higher, George peered out through one of | Ward the platform, calling out in English: my good, sir,” exclaimed George, as he worked. | priest of the joss-house, where they Ap Lelia wide awake “We can do it. Only thing |it not so, father? You will not, wong these unfortunate ones “Anything | to hoeat the monotony, | by them. tle room below, finding everything just as they had vet with | ie Lelia in a deep sleep. * “The coast is as clear as it will ever be,” said George. “Come ahead, Nat. We will make our strike now. i The same silence prevailed when they got inside the war odie George crept up the ladder and peered out through the eye. The Chinamen were still kneeling in prayer, and the mission- aries stood huddled together, guarded by six men with drawn swords. They looked the picture of despair. The time had come for George to make his first move. Put- ting his lips to the mouth-hole of the image, as many a sly old priest had done before him in ages gone by, no doubt, he 4 shouted out: “Hello; Hello! Hello!” . ' Every man was on his feet in an instant. There was a great jabbering in Chinese, and all eyes were turned upon the image of the war god. “You want to let those people go!’ bellowed George. “If you don’t lightning will.strike your old joss-house and kill — . every mother’s son of you? Do you hear that, you fellow dogs!” ° Without waiting to see what the effect of this saubaabenent was upon the audience, George came down the ladder, and an instant later the congregation in the joss-house were treated to a free turn by the celebrated Zimerini Brothers, for out upon — \ the platform two waddling figures suddenly appeared, with | their heads between their legs, shaking their. fists at the fright- ened Chinamen, who made a break for the door of the temple, screaming and yelling and tumbling. over each other in ‘their’ anxiety to escape the vengeance of their gods. In less time than it takes to tell it the missionaries were lett alone in the joss-house, and the porcelain tower was surrounded — by a howling mob of Chinamen, running about madly ‘in the snow. Of course there was great excitement amoung the prisoners, ; too. ea | One—an old man in the dress of a Catholic ie prieit—ame to- “Away, you evil ones! Begone!” ie See “No hard words, mister!” eried George. “We have risked our lives to save you! If,you want to escape you must Join a us, and not fight against us!” With this George jumped off the platform, and, whipping ou his knife, cut the bonds of all the prisoners. “We are only two American contortionists, and no evil ones, The situation was too pressing to admit any argument, ‘pit the missionaries followed George up on the platform, and Nat é led them through the little door into the big bronze war ‘god. A few moments later all were gathered in the little room be- low, which belonged, as they afterward learned, to the head and quite her old self again/ | Of course she was greatly surprised at this sudden influx ( people, and listened eagerly to the explanation ae Nat. A council of war was immediately held. — George explained to the Rev. Mr. Pendergast se and wha they were. “T see but little ies of our escaping,” said the missionary, “hut if help comes you three shall pass as our friends, and take your chances with us. Father Doronsky here, rho is. a Rus sian missionary of the Greek chureh, will surely: help us. ii Tie The white-haired old ussian priest, Me whom these’ remark were addressed, Paorppely assured the boys that. rs would stand | Then came the question of what move they ¢ ‘eueak ‘to a ithe only iyi Was. ia ae arrival of th Rosslan troops, sor
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‘ me - SENT TO SIBERIA, et of the native converts having been sent across the Amoor to im-. plore their aid. From the description of the place to which they had gone George saw only too clearly that it must be the ‘ferry station, |. and his heart sank, for if the troops came it was more than ; likely that they would be the same men who had chased them over the ice. * ba as suddenly to a climax. There was a rush of many feet on the stairs, and yoites were heard calling to each other, all of which was quickly followed by a thunderous banging on the door. “They have come!” said Mr. Pendergast. not escape them. May God have merey on us! two noble young men brought to us was.only temporary. Now only that door stands between us and death.’ eth ae we could , ‘ > CHAPTER XXIV. CONCLUSION, i “We are in a trap, Nat, and: there is no earthly way of get- ting out of it that I see,” said George, drawing his friend to one side. “What do you think we ought to do?” ‘im blest if I know,” replied Nat, dismally. “It ldoks to me yery much as if we had come to the end of our rope. Here! we are in a regular trap, sure.enough. d only ww. ish we had never come into the infernal place.” “Shere is no use in wishing that nov.” - “Not a bit.” 7 We “We saved these poor people from being killed up there in the joss-house, anyhow.” rt “Yes, but only for the moment. There's no help for us, even , lf they should get it. If the Russfan troops come we shall be recognized, as sure as fate, and sent back’ to Siberia again.” It was all too true to be denied, for. the thundering at the ‘doot was still kept right up, and it was surely only a question | of time when the door must yield and the Chinese on the other side of it come pouring in. All conversation had now ceased. : : Most of the missionaries were on their knees praying for de- liverance, and those who were not stood watching the trembling wood with gloomy faces. { } _ It was evident that all had given up hope. - “There she goes!” cried Nat, as one of the panels of the _ door eame crashing in. . Before George could answer the door was burst open and the - mob of Chinamen were in the room. vt : It looked then as though the end had indeed come. Many of the Chinamen were armed with queer old swords, and there was a rush when the door first gave way, which was, checked. by a tall Chinaman shouting out something entirely unintelli- ae ‘gible to the prisoners, but which George always: believed pre- vented them all from being massacred then and there. — - Immediately all hands were seized and dragged out at the snow. : i Resistance was entirely useless. George found himself in the hands of two armed Celestials su near we a howling |. “mob. | Phey w ere all being dragged around to ‘the main entrance of | - the joss-house, and there could be little doubt that ‘the inten-| ~ tion was to sacrifice the entire party to the war god. 2 Perhaps it was so, and pethaps some other fate would have | been theirs. The truth was never krown, for, just as they _ reached. the foot of the steps the blare of a bugle was heard, “and a troop of forty horsemen came dashing upon the scene. i w Gy was the Russian relief Der come ‘ACT OSS the Jaa to! save them. ‘Close behind the mounted Cossacks rode ty or tore of the ‘» While they were still discussing the situation matters came The relief these Imperial Chinese troops inter the command of a young man- “dari in, who immediately pulled out a yellow paper and read it — aloud to the mob, who listened to the imperial eee with awe. | The effect was immediate. : 4 The prisoners were at once released and the Liat slunk away, disappearing. in the forest. The missionaries were then given heresd and rode under the escort of the troops to the Chinese town at the ferry. A crossing was made here in a substantial boat, which was provided. with a steel-shod prow for the STH ORS of breaking : the ice. ; ‘Sh Of course all this was an immense relief to every one of the little bandeexcept only to George, Nat and Lelia, who looked for nothing else than to be immediately recognized ane sent, back among the Siberian convicts again. Better fortune awaited them, however. It happened that the: party which had pursued them over the, ice had not yet re- turned, and it also happened, by great good luek, that there was a party of merchants at the ferry just ready to start for To- bolsk witha load of tea, and it was determined to send the missionaries along with them, since provisions were scarce at | the station, and the Russian commandant did not wish to be | burdened with their support. Coie True to his promise, the Russian priest gave in the names — ‘of George, Nat and Lelia as members of the missionary band, , and. through the influence of Mr. Pendergast the others were ree induced to keep a still tongue. So it worked out well, and long before the troops sent to cap, ture the escaping convicts to the station arrived. the whole party was on their way to Tobolsk, where they arrived in due. time without having met with any adventure of note. From Tobolsk an early start was made for Ekatrinburg, and’ | fortune still favoring, the convicts there crossed the Russian frontier with the missionary band unsuspected. Here they took the train and were soon in St. Petersburg. Lelia’s danger time had now come; but by George's: Bak j advice she made no effort to communicate with any of. her friends. They all there stuck close to the missionaries, and left) _ it. to the Rey. Mr. Pendergast to have the assumed names - which they had giver included in the general password which wei was to take the missionary band across the frontier. ; Then it was Germany. and then London, yiets at’ last they ae were able to breathe freely. , ; Here Lelia decided to. remain, as she had many friends, among the exiled Nihilists, but George and Nat lost no time in engaging passage on the first steamer for New York, where. they. arrived safely ten days later, thankftl enough for their’ fortunate escape from a living death in the Siberian mines, — As. the Janeway & Jacks’ combination was still abroad, eats accepted another engagement, and bie soon doing as! well at their profession as ever. 4 Six months later they received in a letter from Lelia the joy- ful intelligence that Inavsky managed to reach the Chinese ; | shore safely, and after many adventures got to Pekin, and ; had then just reached London and joined his wife. — ane A ¥ear later George and Nat welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Tnaveky 5 in New York, from which place they went west. Beas were living in Chicago at last accounts. A The Zimerini Brothers are still on the stage, as ibe ; know 8, and are reckoned the sy erest’ ce a ei in | | country. i They have not been abroad ay ta: however, and it is. dod ful if they ever do go. for both are now. nahi and d (> care to leave the United States. | George and Nat have not forgotten. those dark anys in Ri sia, when, they: were arrested by mistake an S Next week’s issue will contain “HAL, TH LIC | BOY; sa THE eae: or eee ROC KS.” j seta sesh aes saat eel wees oie
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PLUCK AND LUCK, o CURRENT NEWS A. J. Dudeck, of Petoskey, Mich., has received a post- eard dated June 11, 1913, announcing that a message which he tossed overboard July %, 1909, while on the steamer President Lincoln one day out from New York, has been found on the south coast of the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales, England. Clarence Bowman, of Vandergrift, Pa., has established a record by trapping 39 rats in one night. Procuring an iron tub, he placed it in one of their favotite haunts and partly filled it with bran, liberally feeding the rats for a few days. Then he half filled the tub with water and seattered a liberal layer of bran over this. The next morn- ing he found the tub black with.drowned rats. Invading the cradle of the one-year-old son of John E. Copenhavor, near York, Pa., a two-foot garter snake bit the child on the neck and then closed its jaws on the nipple of the baby’s nursing bottle. Peering into the cradle to see - what was making the baby cry, a six-year-old brother dis- covered the snake, which at once ended its greedy meal and darted under a cupboard. The father was called and killed . the reptile, The honey i near Fostoria, O., have contracted the opium habit. Like the Chinese, they get theirs from the poppy, as many residents of Fostoria grow the Oriental _ flowers. The bees have found this out and of late they . have been leaving acres of clover blossoms to hunt out the poppy beds. They work very vigorously for an hour or so and then fall to the ground apparently as stupefied as the Chinese opium smokers after “hitting the pipe.’ ° Only about 30,000 acres of national forest land have been burned over so far this season, according to reports to the forest service. This area is an infinitesimal pro- portion of the total acreage éontained in the 163 forests under Federal supervision. The ‘record encourages the hope that the fire loss this year will be small. Conditions everywhere except in the Southwest, it is said, are more - than ordinarily favorable. Four fires are burning on the ~ Qoconino forest, Arizona, and during the past two weeks ” there have been fifty-eight fires on the national forests in __ Arizona and New Mexico. The charred wreckage of an aeroplane, with, the in- -cinerated bodies of two aviators lying in the ashes, was ‘found recently near Nonancourt, on the railroad from Paris to Granville. The dead aviators were identified as _ aman named Percin, who was experimenting with a new é monoplane of his own invention, and his son, who had ac- ; companied him as mechanic. Their aeroplane capsized at a height of 150 feet. It fell with a crash to the ground : and. the violence of the impact caused the fuel tank to ex- a plode. The aviators were pinned beneath the motor, and, being unable to extricate themselves, were burned to death. ities iad hon turned her attention to the boy. The Nayy Department has received through the De- partment of State a silver loving cup, which the Japanesee’ _ Government desires to present to the U. 8, 8. Charleston. It appears that during August, 1910, there was a flood in the City of Tokio, Japan, which caused suffering and . hardship among the people. The U. 8..8. Charleston, in company with the U. 8. S. Saratoga and U. S. 8. New Orleans, was in the vicinity of Tokio at the time of the flood in that city, and the officers and men raised a fund, which was sent ashore for the relief of the sufferers. The incident had been forgotten yntil the receipt of correspond- ence from the State Department, together with the cup, in which it was stated that the Japanese Government de- sired to present to the Charleston the silver cup. Nhe 2a cup is now on its way to the Charleston, which is on our Pacific Coast, where it will be placed on exhibition and propérly cared for. ; 1 agit’ on a 4 30 One of the humblest home in Hillsdale, Mich., was made the happiest in the whole country lately when. Mrs. Mary J. Welsh, who ‘has been blind for fifty years, recovered her sight. When she was a girl of sixteen her eyes failed — until she became entirely blind. In that condition she. married and is the mother of eight children whom she never saw until to-day. T8 make her burden dowbly hard, her husband became ill and she was foreed to take in washing to support the family. She struggle@ on until her children weré able to earn some money for: them- selves. Then things became a bit easier for her, but her sightless eyes still ached for a sight of the children: Sev- — 7a operations were tried and were unsuccessful. .The sons, now grown up, brought the mother to Chicago, ~ whereshe was taken to a hospital for treatment. Surgeons examined her and found she was suffering from a double cataract. She was discharged ftom the hospital, and twa fy sons and a daughter greeted her. She was taken home to Hillsdale, where the entire family welcomed her. Seeing that the life of Frank Hanna, a boy, of Sharon, Pa., was in danger, as he was being dragged along the — road im a runaway, Frances Heanly sent her horse gal- loping in pursuit of the maddened horse and as she reached. its side leaped on its back and brought it to a~ standstill. Young Hanna was not badly hurt. ‘Hanna was vi driving home in a buggy when his horse ran away.” Ta oe endeavoring to stop the animal he became entangled. in y the reins and fell from the buggy. His horse started on ‘another spurt and the lad was being dragged ‘along the + rough road when his predicament was discovered by Miss Heanly, who was horseback riding along the road. The — young woman gave pursuit and within 100° yards over- se took the runaway. Steadying herself in /her saddle, ind, f ; leaped to the back of the runaway and after stopping him The buggy was not broken and she drove the boy home. - The ites of. the lad offered abe girl a reward, but: ane, Dy cates Bier
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PLUCK AND LUCK. THE GIRL HE LEFT BEHIND ——or—— THE HERO OF THE 7th By J. P, RICHARDS. ry (A Serial Story) bigs CHAPTER XIV. (Continued.) “He is sleeping,” he murmured, pausing, and pressing his hand to his heart. “God bless him, he is sleeping, and _ I am just in time to save him. Let him rest, for he is worn and weary from long nights of vigil, while 1 am strong and wakeful. so, will do his duty.” It was a strange thing to see a drummer boy bend over a sleeping soldier and kiss his unconscious brow, and yet-that was exactly what the pale moon and the little glittering stars witnessed that night. Then the boy paced slowly to and fro on sentinel duty while the weary soldier slum- - bered peacefully on. “The drummer boy’s well-shaped limbs neyer seemed to tire, as he went his ceaseless rounds, a smile of perfect contentment hovering about his perfect lips, ‘and how it _, ever happened he could not say, but just at that moment the moon went under a cloud and darkness reigned. When he once more reached the spot where Jack Navarro sat sleeping, a sudden thrill of horror shot through his breast, for there standing directly over the unconscious soldier, his tomahawk raised above his helpless head, was an Indian chief, hideous in war-paint and feathers, a fiendish grin upon his ugly face. “Por only one instant did the brave drummer boy pause, and then setting his teeth, he took deliberate aim at the redskin and fired. A wild‘shriek of agony rang out upon the night.air, the echoes dying away among the hills and vales, then all was very still for a few moments. J Te ; CHAPTER XV. A HERO, | At the sound of that sharp report Jack Navarro sprang to his feet and looked about him in a dazed, bewildered manner, He could not at first understand what it all meant, but in an instant he comprehended, for there upon the ground before him with the life blood gushing in a crimson tide from a wound in his breast. lay the savage, and with face whiter than it ever would be when he lay in Shis coffin was the messenger boy who of late had: become a drummer boy of note.: _ “What in heaven is the: matter # ?” the young man Aasked, hoarsely. “TI must have fallen asleep, and you. know the penalty for that ? If I should be found sleeping ‘at. my post my life would pay the penalty, and you——” “No, no, no, you were not sleeping,” and the boy clasped : his. hands. together entreatingly. “You were not. sleeping, ~ you were wide- awake, and I can. prove it. Oh, for the love of heaven do not say eat tee were re or ven. will be Let him sleep, and J, who love him | ‘shot a neglect of duty, ag Why,” with a shrill, nervotis laugh, * “you were wide-awake when I shot the savage, and — but for my interference, he would have killed you!” Jack Navarro gave him a quick, keen glance, but before he could saysanything in reply, the other sentinels who were on duty came’hurrying up to him. .They had all heard the sharp report of the rifle, and they wondered at it, . But one look at the dusky, prostrate form lying upon the ground, told the tale, and the next moment the brave drummer boy found himself lifted wpon the shoulders ¢f the little group, while a cheer rent the very skies. “Hurrah for the drummer of the 7th!” they all cried in chorus. “Hurrah for the bravest boy. that ever struck the. head of a drum!” > _ “Nonsense, boys!” and he struggled to get away from, them. “You are foolish. I have.done nothing. Any other —other man ‘would have done the same thing, If I had not shot the Indian he would have shot Mr, Navarro, so what could 1.do. No, that is my mistake. He would not _ have shot him—he would have killed ‘big with his toma- hawk, which is a hundred times worse.’ “Keep quiet, kid,” they answered—"keep quiet!” - We. know a hera when we see one, and you ‘are made of the right stuff, Why, Lord bless you, what are you but a mere baby boy! and yet you have more grit than a man six feet, tall. You, need not try to get down, for we ate going to. keep you here.” When the colonel heard of the drummer boy’ s heroie act; he sent for him to come to his private room at once. He had always admired him, yet he had at the same time - looked upon him as rather a weak, timid sort of youth aside from his skill as a drummer. S “My boy, I am proud of you,” he said, taking him by the hand. “I am proud of you and you are an honor to, the Tth. You will yet make a great soldier.” “Thank-you, sir,” and the blushing youth bowed low be- fore him; “you are more than kind. All I did was my — duty. Any other—other man would have done the same.” He faltered and stammered over the word man and the sharp-eyed colonel looked at him curiously. » fe “You are one of the bravest boys I ever met,” he said, slowly. “But do you know you are more like a girl than: you are like a boy.” # The youth started nervously. “T—TI never thought I looked like a girl,” and his voice ve trembled as he spoke. “No one ever said so before. - an not my fault if TE do.” ‘The bluff good-natured colonel threw back his * te Jaughing long : and heartily. : “You amuse me with your quaint old-fashioned re-— ty f marks,” he said. “But I must once more tell you that you area hero. Poor spect Jack! But for your bravery, he would be now lying dead. Everybody in thé regi- ment is so fond of him, too, and had we lost him the hoya: would never have ceased’ to grieve. JI never yet saw a man ora woman who did not like Jack, as for children and ani- mals they simply go wild over him.” “T do not see how they can help liking him,” the ‘youth said, with a strange smile, “for he is certainly the kindest) man I ever knew. He is as polite and courteous to the poor and lowly as the high and rich,” ard ; is Oe be’ ee . % 4 ihe
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4 PLU CK AND. LUCK. A world’s golfing record was established in the elimina- tion -play of the Western championship tournament at the Homewood Country Club, Chicago, the other day, by H. P. Allis, 3d, of Milwaukee, ‘Alfis "holed ‘out ‘int one _ from the first tee, thé first time in recorded annals’ of the game that such a feat has been accomplished at the dis- - tance—290 yards. Allis’ drive was perfect, according to _ experts, who said the ball would not have rolled six eae further had it missed the cup. It is reported that four large battle-cruisers are to be laid down’ this year in the Russian yards, and that they -- will be among the largest of their class in existence, each ship being of 30, 000° tons displacement and driven by turbines of 75,000 horse-power. Also eight torpedo- boat idestroyers of the largest size, similar in design to the _ “Novik,” are being built, the hulls in Rissia and the _ turbines by the Vulcan Company of Hamburg. These ships will ‘be of 1 ,280 tons displacement and will be de- signed for 85 iste, The “Novik” made 36 knots on trial and is .to- -day Be fastest ocean vessel afloat. pes David J. Smith and William Duncan, fishermen of New he (Castle, Del., had an hour’s fight with a man-eating shark in the middie of Delawaie Bay, near Ship John Light- _. house, the other day. The two men were fishing for at sturgeon, which are worth $200 each, when they saw their net sinking, and, drawing it in, found a twelve-foot Le shark entangled in it. Smith imiat a large“hook into the ‘huge fish several times. The shark then tried +o bite|t _ through the hull of the boat, but its teeth broke off. Smith again imbedded the hook in the ans and it thrashed about so eee it er aw aye) i ‘The Bina sliding movement of the top of Mount _ Caroline, Switzerland, which threatgned to overwhelm the village of Fleurier a couple of weeks ago, has stopped, but the people in the valley live in hourly anxiety that the millions of tons of rockand earth above them will fall upon the town. The authorities have ordered .the in- habitants of the, danger zone to move temporarily. Watchers have been posted on neighboring peaks, con- nected by improvised telephone lines, with sentinels be- low, to signal at any moment, day or night, the recurrence of the movement. Deep trenclies are being dug at the base of the mouttain-in the hope of: arresting the land- slide, if it- comes, or at) least cheek it for a few moments. transferred to the Pacifie Coast for permanent duty _ > shortly. after the opening’ lof *the Panama Canal,” said a BS Jo os hus: Daniels, Secretary. of the Navy, during a stop in or oo pay en Hopes from Seattle to Los Angeles. lollowin anama Canal,” 2 Mire ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST 4 {compose the food of men in’ colder regions, pan on asdenbis portion of the “ataane) fleet will be}: lantic fleet through the canal. We are planning at present to leave a considerable portion of the fleet in Pacific waters for permanent duty. Plans to this effect are being — made because we consider the Pacific Coast’ the great frontier of America, and its development is one of the most important factors confronting the nation to-day. ~ Facing the coast is the Orient, with its millions of people and wonderful trade possibilities, “There is more popula- tion facing the Pacific Coast than any other boundary of | the nation. The importance of the Western coast has Uy long been underespimated. is Hoi ae EK, 7 Wire-glass is said to s both burglar-proof and Hoe ie proof. . In the first case, the wire netting embedded in its — center cannot, it is claimed, be broken or cut noiselessly, — so that entrance by means of doors or cellar coverings of ig . this material by thieves is rendered difficult, if not im- fe 4 possible. Such glass is, however, more often employed for fe fireproofing than, for other purposes, and it enters largely — into the construction of elevator doors, partitions, win-) dows, etc. One expert; who has tested wire-glass up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping it at this high tem- perature for half an hour at a time, states that at the first tush of heat the glass crackles, hut that, the netting holds it togethex so that flames cannot pass through. Tt - will, it seems, hold flame up to the melting-point, which fee is different in different kinds of glass, since some melt, at 1,000 degrees and others withstand 2,000 degrees success fully. When a stream of water is turned on wire-glass that hag melted almost to the running point, it. immediately” ee: solidifies, so that it is a material well. suited for elevator shafts, where a sudden rush of flame would crack ordinar a glass and admit fire to all floors. if 1 Es Much has been said with reference te the adaptati in: nature to the wants of mankind. Another point — view shows the same facts as evidence that man has adapte himself to the varying conditions of life. An exception, to what is regarded as a general law is found in the dis- tribution of fis ies. It'is observed that in the warm waters” ; of the Nile, for instance, fish of many kinds abound, but that they are all of poor quality. Indeed, the same mi, ght. be said of. the fish in all warm waters. ‘Very few varietie competent authorities assure us, ate fit for the table. Now. it happens to be the case that in hot climates the lighter sorts, of food are most in demand. The human system ~ does not need in the tropics the meats that ko. dangely ‘The sendit Big: of fish from Norway to the countries about the ‘Mediter- ranean is one of the oldest branches of trade i in the his- 1 7 ‘tory of commerce. Where the fish was of ge cae the population was scanty, and, on the other hand wher the population ‘Was numerous the fish was poor Tt see ‘to be a reasonable inference that both men an fish | ay sought ‘the a of the glo wher conditions SAF
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PLUCK AND “LUCK. On the Wheel fora Fortune im pay = fee tot The Wonderful Adventures of a Boy Bicyclist By WILLIAM WADE. ; (A Serial Story) CHAPTER XV. (Continued.) “On the way they did not meet the stranger, whom they were so anxious to avoid, and at last they were in the -eabin, and safe for the time’ at least. Horace secured the door and hung the buffalo skin ‘Ws fore the window. Then he turned to the rescued ones: “Tell me all, why you were abducted, who the ee man is,” he said. “The stranger is undoubtedly insane, and IT am now _ sure he was here, working his hidden gold mine, when Lyman Duncan, Sylvia’s father, took possession of the val- ley and built our cabin. The mine shows that its owner has been at work in it for a long time. The strange man stole wpon me as noiseless as a shadow when he abducted Hs me. The first intimation I had of his presence was when he sprang upon me, clutched my throat, preventing my _ making the least sound. Then he raised me in his strong » arms and carried, me swiftly to-his mine. There he bound me to the rocks. F | “Meanwhile, he talked witty to himself. What he said was incoherent at times and disconnected. But I «gathered that he was mad, and that he feared he had ‘come in search of his mine—that he meant to capture us one by one and finally put us to death. “Tis mania seemed to take the form that every one was seeking for his mine and meant to rob him ‘of it,” 4 ‘replied Hester, Then Sylvia told how she had been carried away. She had been standing with her back to the open cabin » door after Horace went to the spring, when she was seized _ in precisely the same way that Hester had been captured, i and she too was carried away-in the mad miner’s arms to : the hidden tunnel. / “Tt is good news * to learn that your abductor is not - leagued with Buckley, at all events,” said Horace.. PSBat, Hester, T have something to tell you, which is en that we’ are in greater peril “trom that villain than s “What is ii? Tell ene Have you made any new bai covery since I was carried away! oe ae asked in anxious in one camera. s “Let me see it—the picture,” requested H ester.” a Horace hastened to bring the kodak picture. — “vealed in it as he peered down from the summit of the “aocky wall. pig And while she looked. an expression of ecoapition came upon her face. wah know that man!” she ‘exclaimed. ’ “Yes, wk cannot | ‘despair. ' Hester looked. at the face of the man which was Te- te f } te men or unfriendly Indians.’ He was said to be one the most citnning and experienced Beouts on the border, but a lawless desperado.” “Ah, then I think we may be sure of the meaning of his presence here,” said Horace, quickly. “Yes; it must be that. Buckley sent him out to seitehs: for you and Sylvia, and so we may decide that Buckley and the rest ‘of the band of outlaws are somewhere nob. very far away,” Hester rejoined. After that the trio remained in the cabin mati dayne came. A little later they went to the lookout rock. But each one carried a rifle. If they met the wmadias they * meant to protect themselves. They reached the pass without seeing anything of the - madman, and soon they gained the lofty swmanit’ which” commanded stich an extended view. Scareely had they reached the elevation when Hester pointed in the direction of the pass, and said, in low and : thrilling tones : “Look yonder! Our worst; fears are vealized ! dein ‘a his men are coming.” aren Tt was so. Horace and Sylvia looked in the direction which Hester indicated. And they saw a line of men on, foot, coming atone the narrow pass, There was a score of them. They could see their polished rifle, barrels glittering in the sunlight. “We can only try to be brave now and defend the bar- ricade to the last,” said Hester, while Horace and obs looked at the approaching enemy./-\.\'. : The young girl. was deathly pale. She felt all.the pea of her perilous. situation... She realized how hopeless in the end must be the unequal strife that was to come. . haces Horace felt her tremble at his side, =~ fee His arm encircled her slender ee and he bade her not “Hope always while there. is life. The guilty do whe always triumph. There is sometimes a just providence in such things,” he said. Then they hastily descended fromm the lookout: rock. And with rifles in hand, Horace and Hester took their — places at two of the Toophbles in the wall which, formed the barricade. | Bees There was still a third Tdophdte.' isa , ck After a moment Sylvia sprang to it with the ae es had carried from the cabin, saying with a showing Uy “desperation which the situation had. awakened - daa her heart and banished some of her fears: “J will’/not be useless. I, too, will help you ice the wall Agernst our noes | Bethe ea me io ‘use ‘a ride” ss thitation.. i ace Then heh became silent, while th > pe thro ad ee of Wie awit Almost half an eine albcea, ein Tam, Then the vanguard e the out band came i
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te * PLUCK AND LUCK. - NEWS PARAGRAPHS ———— eee _ With the opening of the Fall term of the public schools in Passaic, N. J., it is planned that one period during each - day will be set acide for pupils to take a bath. This does not mean that the pupils will be required to-take a, bath every day, but there will be stipulated periods when chil- dren will be led under shower baths and given a thorough washing. his idea is being promoted by a civic organiza- tion of the city in which there are a number of leading business ‘men and is endorsed by the Superintendent of Schools. An explosive ten times more powerful than dynamite has been discovered. The discoverer is Prof. Darsonvill of the College of France. Important results are expected from it. Prof. Darsonvill has just made: his discovery public at Leraure. The new explosive gets its force from the liquefaction of gases. It probably will be called Dar- sonvillite, and consists simply of a mixture of lamp black and liquid gas. Many experiments have been made with it in quarries near Paris, and it is said to have been satis- factory in every way. ° ~ To the cation of Revolutionary relics in Continental Memorial Hall, Washington, is to be added a walking - stick made from one of the timbers of John Paul Jones’ famous old ship the Alliance. ‘The stick will be loaned. to the collection by Miss Marion: H. Brazier, of Boston. It was once the property of. Captain U. Shillaber, who car- ried it on three voyages around the world on sailing ships. He willed it to his brother, who left it to Mrs. Emma S$. Clement, of Newton, Mass. The cane was acquired by the John Paul Jones Chapter, of the ‘Daughters of the Sk American Revolution last: year. A new type of steam ferry has lately been ie in use at the port of Hamburg. It. somewhat, resembles a craft “used in England for a few years past, and is characterized _by the tack that the main deck is movable and can be paneer or lowered by as much as 15 feet, the deck being _strong enough to carry, six large hauling wagons. The * daily “Yariations in thé tide level at Hambukes made this kind of ferryboat; necessary. ‘Of 170 tons displacement, the new ferry is 120 feet long and 50. feet wide and car. _. vies. triple-expansion engines giving 650 horse-power. to affect the treetop summer. home. When the boat enters the HS 5 it comes into a small and completely sheltered dock. ~Himulating the ainians: nature, the Ardenites of Arden, Del., ing i in the trees. birds and other creatures of have taken to sleep- Frederick Whiteside ahd bis brother were the first They planned their bungalow. in the. midst of four tall poplars, and, after Beyerat ¢ dave! eee ‘a little Seleteeed with a rustic staircase night. of their powder preparations. y Aerial bungalows ave the latest innovation) in this colony of single taxers antl socialists, and, in con- sequence, there is seth gossip there among the boughs at Belgium: re thirty feet high leading to it, was completed. As soon as the new home in “Poplar Row” was finished, Bien Worth ington emulated the Whitesides. Then Fielding / Downs, the leader of all things musical at Arden, thought he, too, would have one, and one by one the colonists de- fs termined to slumber in the tall timber. None of those who have tried the pure oxygen treatment at night in the treetops say they want to sleep near the ground again. War Department officials have been placed in an em- barrassing position, it became known. recently, by a re- quest from agents of the French Government for the assist- ance of the “department’s ordnance bureau in perfecting the smokeless powder now used by the French army and navy. A series of unexplained disastrous explosions in the French magazines aboard ship and ashore is said to have led to this request, which is unusual in view of the con- — sistent efforts made by most nations to protect the secret The’ War Department buys a all of its powder under contract from an American com- _ pany, and this corporation has protested vigorously against rr : the disclosure of its trade secrets to a foreign government, - os asserting that, from patriotie motives, it had previously — rejected overtures from this foreign government. to. aol it Va powder or to Veiares a powder aeaiee in Pages Cn Fruits-are a rapidly growing acted’: in the are eS of the United States. The value of fruits and nuts passing through the Custom Houses of the United States in the i fiscal year just-ended approximates #90,000, 000, and is ee twice as great as that of a decade ago. The exports of the 0 fiscal year 1913 amount to $37,000,000, speaking in round terms, against $18,000,000 in 1903, a. decade, earlier ; and the imports approximate $42,000,000 against $24,000,000 in 1903. These figures do not inelide the trade, with : Hawaii and Porto Rico, which sent to continental United States over $6,500,000 worth of fruits and nuts during: the last fiscal year. Fruits exported are chiefly apples, prunes, apricots, raisins.and oranges, | and go, largely to Europe; while those imported are chiefly bananas, Jemons, olives, currants and grapes. The imports of nuts, almonds, walnuts, cocoanuts and. cocoanut meat are drawn prin- eipally from the tropics. Of the $37,000,000 worth of fruits exported during the year, apples alone amounted about: $11, 000,000. in value, ‘of which, about $8, 000, 000. were in their natural state and about. $3, 000,000 ‘dtied, Burope takes the bulk of epples, both green and dried, having taken in 1912, from whieh period | complete: figures. are at hand, over four-fifths of the total. England is. as far the greatest purchaser of fruit in the natural state, having taken, in 1912, $2,750,000 worth of green appl against $750,000 by Canada, and $500,000 by. Germany, Of the dried apples exported, Germany is the Jargest chaser, having taken in 1912, $2, 333,000 worth, agal $1,125,000, by the Netherlands and es 000 ) wor : ere: oe ae sf
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PLUCK AND LUCK. INTERESTING TOPICS ’ Phe sUnited” States Treasury handled in actual cash / during the last fiscal year $7,071,520,000, breaking all previous records, and’ exceeding the transactions of the . previous year by $469,769,000 and those of three years 2 ago by $1,478,826,000. Tnclyding bonds, checks and war- rants. the Treasury handled over $10,000,000,000 during the year. This amount, which does not include the trans- actions of the sub-treasuries, was handled without the loss of a cent. ‘The receiving teller of the Government took in over the counter $75,353,000 during the year; the paying teller cashed $118,177,000 in checks and warrants; the shipping teller sent out $884,518,000, and the “change teller” made “small change” for more than $50,000,000. a r Pe ee SS ee ; RESULTS OF THE MAWSON EXPEDITION. The experiences and achievement of My. Frank Wild and his seven companions, who formed the second base of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, have just been _ made public. After leaving Mawson and the main party at Adelie Land, the second detachment sailed westward -», along the Antarctic coast, under. orders to form ‘a base _.on Sabrina Land or. Knox Land, The former land was { found not to exist,.and ice prevented access to Knox Land. Finally the party was landed, with its stores, on a lofty ‘moving glacier, which Wild thinks was mistaken by Wilkes for “Termination Land. It was named “Shackleton ~» Glacier.” From this base surveys were made all along the coast from 101 degrees east longitude, on the east, to ¥ the point reached by the German expedition of 1902 on the west, besides penetrating inward—in one place 50 miles. The main result of these explorations was the dis- | covery of a tract of land having 350 miles of coast, and probably extending south to the ‘pole, which the explorers named “Queen Mary’s Land.” On an island 65 miles west of the expedition’s base was discovered the largest rookery of Emperor penguins heretofore recorded. Some 7,600 young Emperor birds were found here, besides innumerable ordinary penguins, The Mawson expedition as a whole _ may be’said to have resulted in the accurate delineation of about 1,000 miles of new coastline. ‘e ar HONESTY IN PRISONERS. ~ Recently a visitor to the Tombs dropped $140, and al- i though he was ‘pretty sure where he had lost the money he gave up hope of getting it again. Besides, theré was a / repugnance | to telling how careless he had been when the < very surroundings should have enjoined caution upon him. - Strange to relate, a prisoner found the money and duly handed it in to the warden. , Seems an odd thing to many, but it is by no means unprecedented. | Once during a visit to Sing Sing a Manhattan politieta a work bench in one of the buildings where convicts. were engaged in fabric work. He kept a sharp eye out, for he hr nt Propose to lose his mately ect had been presented ¥ ) in an. experimental mood left his gold watch and chain on | 1 to him by admiring associates of a ward club of which he had beén president. After ten minutes the politician Tes, turned and could not find his watch, He had noticed several convicts passing in and out, one of them: passing quite near him. He complained of hig loss to the head — keeper. ‘Che conyicts were lined up.’ One of them, the man who passed close, grinned. “Are you looking for your watch?” he asked. “I certainly am,™ said the politician severely. “It’s in your pocket.” So it was. The man who passed close had put it there. He was a clever pick- pocket. He enjoyed the laugh, and then said: “If it had only been gold.” The politician retorted that it was gold. “Oh, no it isn’t,” said the convict. “But it was given - to me by my club, It is an expensive watch.” The cons, vict grinned again. “I know the club,” said he, “and I. know the man they gave the money to buy ity \ He’s up here now. He bought a pretty go watch—a fairly good one-but it’s plated.” ’ EXPLORER FINDS PIGMY TRIBE. Captain Cecil G. Rawling, the explorer, has recently given English scientists some interesting accounts of a new tribe of pygmies, found by his expedition in i aicilans Dutch New Guinea. These little people, known as the Tapiros, average a fect. 834 inches in height. They were found living-in- the low-lying ‘hills of the Kapare River. On the approach of the white men they ran away, but the expedition suc- ceeded in capturing three, whose curiosity brought them |. near camp, At first they were greatly frightened, but. kindness ‘won them over and a few months later the ex-» plorers were enabled to establish trading relations with the tribe and were allowed to visit and stay in their village of Wombirmi. This ‘village is hidden away in the forest high up the'mountainside, and was only found after many .” fruitless attempts. While no open: hostility was shown to the whites, they were not exactly received with open Of the women and children they saw nothing, but thats shrill cries could be heard as they fled up the mountain, side on the approach of a stranger. ; Describing the men, Captain Rawling says, taken as a whole, fiat they are well made and wiry, while their “ color is a dark chocolate. The hair, usually black, but sometimes with, a touch of brown or even red, is worn short. Many grow beards, the older men dyeing theirs red. Like all native tribes, they wear necklets of animal — bones and other small possessions. Their only clothing consists of a covering around the loins. ‘Their houses and surroundings,” says Captain Rawl- - ing, “are considerably in advance of those of their large- _ te framed brethren of the plains: ‘To the list of Negritos, . i which with the Negrillos are the known’ tribes of pygmies. inhabiting the earth, must now be added the newly dis- Ra covered tribe of Tapiros, who, so far as their stature is ne concerned, take Rie nex ee ae Pygmies
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PLUCK AND LUCK. The army dirigible Schuette-Lanz was completely wrecked, one soldier was killed and one fatally injured when the huge airship broke from its anchorage near ‘WSchnéidemuehl the other day. The big dirigible, which is of the new type, 500 feet long, broke away from its moorings when the sun caused an expansion of the gas. ‘Two ,soldiers, who, were on sentry duty, rushed to “the ropes when “the Schuette-Lanz began to break away. As they struggled to make the ropes» secure the soldiers be- came entangled and as the balloon arose they were carried “up with it. At a height of 200 feet the men held on “desperately to the ropes, but were finally shaken off. One ‘was dead when picked up and there is no hope for the - recovery of the other. The big dirigible cruised for an _ hour without a crew or pilot before it came down. Then ‘it fell in a forest and was wrecked. { - SEALED ALIVE IN A SOLID STONE WALL. The identity and fate of a young girl who was walled up and left to die in a building near Barcelona, Spain, has caused thy Spanish authorities to institute a rigid in- vestigation. he affair was made public through the state- - ment made by Esteban Gutierrez, a donsriason, who tells f a thrillin story of how he was compelled, at the oe of a revolver, to do the work. Gutierrez declares that, after he had ddverticad. 1 in a newspaper, for work, two well-dressed men called at his}, ‘i address and asked him to accompany them in a motor car into the country a short. i we to make some ur gent re- "pairs. Reaching a dined ‘ghd on the aiitakeirts of the city, the i, two men and a ‘chauffeur ‘seized, bound and blindfolded _ ~ the stonemason, and a few minutes later the car stopped in front of a lonely house. The mason declares. he was led inside and ordered to wall up a narrow aperture, the stone and mortar being in’ readiness. Gutierrez says he heard some one sobbing, and, tearing the bandage from his eyes, he saw a young girl, bound with Topes, and wedged in the aperture. “He was promptly knocked down by his captors, and, when he arose was ordered to build a wall so as to anelose the girl, and when he refused was threatened with re- yolyers. The mason declares that, at. the points of the guns, he was compelled to wall up the young gitl, after which the car conveyed him to the woods several miles way, when he was unbound, given $20 in’ silver and rarned not to speak of the incident, Lost, he wandered al hours before he Was ‘discovered bya. woodsman, dei aped sacle He he 2 ae at once to the: police. ke A FEW GOOD ITEMS (i ee ‘our shoes every year and would buy more if were, when it comes to footwear ‘to sell. “Ameriedin shoes are just as common'in Hong Kong as they are in Piccadilly; © you can buy good ones at the general store in the Australian ~ bush or pit: up a pair in Chile or Cape Town. At some fe far distant point Yankee shoes seem to be the sole Amport, re American footgear’ brings the highest prices in Aus- j tralian cities. Shoes that fetch $5 in New York cost $11 _ there. Makes retailing in the United States at $2. 50 and 5s $3.50 are priced at $6.50 and $7.50 in the Antipodean ‘con- tinent. Though the tariff favors English-made shoes there ~ by 14 per cent. and Australian-made shoes can be. from $2.50 to $4.50, American shoes go like hotcakes to those who can afford to pay the higher price. Tie ee Wages have gone up in Chile, and this always. means an added demand for shoes. According to consular. re- ports from Santiago, the imports of American shoes = oy now abnormal, especially among, the better grades, ane BOE eeporae ues is in our asi in ‘Chile. Ret: there of pai pe manufacture is shoes, and’ ee year the demand is greater. The general use of m cars, motorcycles and bicycles has rendered obsolete the heavy footwear once in vogue in Switzerland and es lighter, more comfortable, better fitting and far more st American shoe is supplanting home makes;* Only ‘a years ago a rarity, now all the better class of. shops _ Switzerland display Uncle Sam’s shoes and adverti he : s “American.” Only the more conservative styles’ were — Boneh at first, but now) the latest Broadway and oe ayeriue shapes g go just as well under the shadow of ; as they do in the streets of skyscraping New York. Our shoes are in brisk demand in the ‘Nethe cost about 30: per cent.-more than they do here. “So are the Dutch in imitating, however, that they m own shoes in their ie euetien and labet them “Ame Poor. Here Sam has no, arene. ne ate utatior wear them now.” The Pile pein use , about a men. could get their stocks on te same terms as houses sell. ian consequence is that they make eee as eh as th people are able to pay. The pair of shoes in Am $2.50 whee costs there £ from sa Mes ee retail. |
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PLUCK AND LUCK. PLUCK AND LUCK. NEW YORK, AUGUST 138, {Oral oes is a ‘ Postage Free. ay HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P.O. Money Ordor, Check ie’ or Registered Leiter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. be. We accept Postage Stamps the same as cash. “When sénding silver if wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envel- ei ope. Write your name and address plainly, Address letters to rf SincLaim Tousxy, President - Frank Tousey, ‘Publisher N. Hasrines, Treasurer : Oaas. K, Nrbawben, Secretary 168 West 23d SEG NING | ITEMS OF CURRENT NEWS United States officers, assisted by Mexican consular agents, captured the largest consignment of contraband ammunition ever taken at HE} Paso, Texas, when they dis- - covered four Mexicans ‘covering coal boxes containing 448,000 rounds of rifle cartridges in the Santa Fe Rail- - road yards. uy \ All previous records of big trees discovered in Wash- (4 ington and Oregon forests ees been eclipsed by the <P esi find in. Sanheaiak County, Wash. The giant ig a yellow fir, is nearly sixty-six feet in eirdumiference at the butt and ie 28 feet to the first limb, which measures 100 inches in circumference. The estimated height of the big fir is 300 feet. i , . Count von Zeppelin is building his largest dirizible with be a view to crossing the Atlantic to the United States in “the late summer. He expects to make the trip in from 3 thirty to sixty hours’ time. German warships are to be distributed along the course to assist the airship in, case abi is obliged to descend. The sale of a seat on the Stock eee recently for $37,000 established a new low record in “the present down- ward movement. The highest price paid for a seat was $95,000 in 1905. The iowa price on record\ since 1868 ie Avas ‘$2,750.in 1871. The last previous /sale Was at Shas; 000. The following seats have been posted for trans- fer: Henry Coolidge to Emile de’ Planque. and David ‘Ives. Mackie. to Brdderiok H. Tate. It is said to have’ Coolidge’s. seat which sold for the new low ; ip “The: Paris fire - department intends. to’ déuble the |'T “capacity afforded by its present automobile fire engine, uhex Of a lighter design than the ones already in use. ‘ ‘The new engines will carry six men instead of fifteen. On ‘the weg bisa ds mounted a Deitetns tank 50. as a | opening. o. py the use of fifteen automobile fire pumps which “will | 29 sized fires during the daytime. The number of automo- ‘|biles. used by. the chief firemen is also to be increased. In order that all her animal pets might be cared for Mrs. Edith Rogers Gallatly, of 34 West Fifty-seventh street, New York, who died on July 17 at Westport, Conn., provided i in her will, which was filed recently, that all her stock in the Paterson & Ramapo Railroad and in the Paterson & Hudson River Railroad should be used “for the joint and several benefits of such horses and dogs as I may die possessed of. The interest alone is to be used to provide the animals with a good home and the — surplus, if any, to be added to the principal, and on the death of the last surviving animal to be given to the. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as a trust fund, the interest to be used each year to prevent aged to animals and provide homes for the same,’ The largest grain storehouse west of the Great Lakes - has just been completed at Argentine, Kan., by the Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe Railroad. The eeruntane igh of reinforced concrete and will hold 2,750,000 bushels of: grain in 72 bins, each 79 feet high and 25 feet in diameter. _ | During the grain season 50 men will be employed handling the bumper. crops of the Middle West. Three hundred’ carloads of sand, 700 tons of steel, 60 carloads of stone, 20 carloads of cement and 300,000 feet of lumber were used in the construction’ of the bins, which rest on a foundation of 4,570 piles, 80 feet long, on top of which is a slab of concrete two feet thick. The grain is first, dumped from the cars onto the boot tank, then raised to. the top of the house in a belt elevator, a distance of 165 - feet. Then it goes to the scales, capable of weighing a) carload at a time. Belts carry the grain to. the bins. There are six belts used in conveying the grain. Hach ° is 1,100 feet long, three feet wide and three xsi of ap’ 4 ined thick, \ te ter ‘B. Cortelyou, Susidend of the Cenwonldiane aoe Company, of New York, stood at a silver mounted contact . key me hundred feet beneath the surface of the Bronx — River the other afternoon and sent an electric spark ‘dol a charge of dynamite which lifted the last stone. barrier — from the new Astoria. tunnel. William H. Bradley, ‘chief engineer, stood at his side. Mr. Cortelyou led a party of! — forty men down into the tunnel to witness the final Each was clad in high top boots, rubber coats | and rubber hats. As Mr. Cortelyou touched the contact - se |key deafening echoes of the heavy blast boomed through — the underground passage. Down the dimly lighted cor mider a great wall of rock trembled and fell in fragments, a The blast w elded another link between Long Island and New York City. The Astoria tunnel, through. which t 1 gas mains, each six feet in diameter are to be laid, a begun in the summer of 1910. It lies at a depth: of 246 feet, is one mile long, 21. feet high and 19 feet 9 inche wide. The Bronx sha it i isi at, Bort; Morris and the Queens b} at nents? _ Eng in | np as on the faces pci on
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| a ie he PLUCK AND. LUCK. THE NEWS IN SHORT ARTICLES : MEXICO Ww BLCOMES JAPANESE. Mexico’s demonstrations of friendship. are pleasing but embarrassing to Japan, It is-feared in ‘Tokio that they may be misunderstood in the United States and affect the friendly relations with America, The Japanese news- papers are chagrined at the outcome of the California negotiations, but express gratification that Mexico, unlike the United States, weloonies Japanese emigrants. They point out, however, that anything in the nature of an alli- ance between Japan and Mexico would be impossible, as it would undoubtedly awaken suspicion that Japan was fos- tering bellicose designs. A FIRE ENGINE. FOR SIAM. > The King of Siam recently, ordered an mp-to-date fire engine, but he did not care to have it self-propelled or » even provided with tongue or shafts for horse transporta- tion, and so, although a gasoline engine is used to drive the fire pump, the mackie has to be “hauled to the fire by hand. Such a fire engine may strike us as ridiculous, but it is a sensible apparatus where the machine does not have to be hauled a freat distance. Thi fatt, fire engines’ of this type have been developed’ in ‘Bugland. One of them is employed by the Great Eastern Railway for protecting | its: ‘property. ” Tt is considered hardly worth while to pro- _vide'the machine with motor propulsion, as no long trips would ever be demanded of it... The fire engine, which is to be used for the protection of the royal palace at Bang- kok, is fitted with a 45 to 50-horse-powet, 4-cylinder en- gine, driving’ a 2-stage, 300-gallon turbine pump. The Whole apparatus weighs about one ton. THE PANAMA CANAL. Colonel G. W. Goethals, chief engineer in charge of the construction of the Panama Canal, has notified Lieutenant Colonel David du B. Gaillard, chief of the central division of the, canal, that steam shovel work in the Culebra Cut section will hereafter be conducted on the assumption that the Gamboa Dike will be dynamited on October.10. While it had previously been announced that this dynamiting MAS aN would take place after October 1, this is the first time the actual date has’ been named. The destruction of the dike will allow the Gatun Lake to flood the cut, thereby prac- tically connecting the Atlantic and Pacific, although actual navigation of the canal probably will not be attempted for some time thereafter. Excavation in the cut henceforth will be confined mainly to removing the remaining hard rock -sections between Cucaracha slide and Empire, a dis- tance of one mile. + ? BASEBALL, IN JAPAN, Al Japan is showing a prowing interest in baseball, which is fast becoming the national sport of the’ country. Count Okuma, the veteran statesman}, ‘Baron Sakatani, _ Mayor of Tokio, and others equally, prominent haye thrown the opening balls at a number of contests, ineluding those | : fie b between the x nines ee Leland ss se iutcith Oa fel there for Foren TOR i! fornia, and the‘nine from Kelo and: Meiji universities of Japan. When: the Stanford boys were visiting Osaka, » Toshitake Okubo, Governor of the tee personally ; opened ‘the series. ea - Governor Okubu is a brother of the oe Foreign © Minister, Baron Makino, and is a Yale man. He says he ~ was one of the first players of baseball in Japan, which was played, as early: as 1885 in Tokio, introduced by Americans in the employ of the Government. Mr. Okubu names a number of prefectural Governors and Ministers of State as his old Playmates. “At Yale,” he declared, ee: Ma was an enthusiastic fan.” i Baseball is not eonfined to the caacrattiee of. “Tapan. There is. no professional league, but athletic organiza- tian in various parts of the empire have formed nines.and the public is enthusiastic in support. o The Stanford players were greatly impressed with the skill of ‘the Japanese players, and declared that baseball, ‘although ‘peculiarly an American game, is admirably — adapted to the Japanese, who are quick im their movements and quick thinkers on the diamond. Ms rae FORTUNE IN A MICHIGAN LAKE. ©” @ Gull Lake is one of the prettiest lekes in Michigan, and. ju has more cottages than any other, there being over 300,” . some of them palatial residences with modef improye- _ ments, owned by folks not only of Michigan, butaalso from 1 Southern States. a Thousands of walnut as a wood now of almost prive- | less value, lie hidden in fathoms of water. No one knows ~ the exact spot, as the man who af the secret died several ‘ years @go. ; Gull Lake was not always the any body of vaio q it now is. In the last sixty years the lake has risen ap- — Siasenae twenty feet. James Phillips, who carried the i mail, says he could walk across to tite island “forty-five y yearsyago. On the westside of the lake there was a large. F walnut groye. A changed course of the lake caused this grove to become inundated with about eighteen feet of water. In the winter the water. froze, breaking off the trees. “A man mania Hawk brought ‘the steamer’ ‘Orystal pel the lake, and these stumps in the water made him go around the east side of the lake, three-quarters of a m le out of his way. Hawk rigged up a saw and. spent a whole | summer sawing off these logs five feet under the water. _ This caused such a sensation that he made money carrying passengers who came from 4ll over the State. 430% ie About nine years ago Captain Frank Dutcher took the ‘ job of pulling the stumps out of the lake. In some case it was necessary to use dynamite. The logs were tal Te into deep water and sunk. Every year stumps are seen floating just below the surface of the water, but. the - jority of them are on the bottom, waterlogged, but. in good concitiony As the lake is 300 feet pon in some place PN ie r \ ?
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ITcH POWDER. Gee whiz! What fun you~ can have with this stuff. Moisten the tip of your finger, tap it-en the contents of the box, and @ little bit will stick, Then shake hands with yeur friend, or drop a speck down nis back. In a minute he will fecl as if he had the g2 8 seven years’ itch. It will inake him seratch, rear, squirm and make faces. .But it is perfectly harmless, az it ls made -frem the seeds of wild roses, The horrible itch stepa in a few minutes, or can be checked immediately by rubbing the spot with a wet cloth. While it is working, you will be apt to laugh your Buspender buttons e@. The best joke of all. Price 16 conts # bex, By mati, postpaid. WOLIF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St.. N. ¥. GOOD LUCK BANKS. Ornamental as well as useful. Made of highly nickeled - brass. Tt held; just One Dollar. When filed «2 opens itself. Remains locked until refilled. Can be used as a watchoharm. Money refund- ed if not saticfied, Price, We. by mail. LY Senarens, 347 Winthrop St., Brooklyn, N. ¥. ae ey CACHOO OR SNEEZING POWDER. The grextest fun-maker of chem all, A small amount of this powder, when blown in, a roem, will causo everyene to sneeze without anyone knowing where it comes from. It is very Hght, wil fleat in the air for sometime, and penetrate every neok and cerner ef a roem. It is perfecttly harm- less. Cechee is put up in bottles, and ene bettle contains enovgh te be used from 10 te 46 times. Price, by mail, 10c. each; 3 for 25e, WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St. N. ¥. SUT ie CES AE SE ha SPS 8 X-RAY WONDER This is a wonderful lttle optics! illusion. In use, you apparently see the bones In vour hand, the hole in a = pipe-stem, the lead in a pene ex cil, setc. The. principle on — | ~S which it is operated cannot be disclosed here, but it will afford no end of fun’ for any person who has one. “rice, 15 cents each, by wail, postpaid. H, KF. LANG, 1315 Centre St., B’klyn, N.Y. 2 Eat aL IE ah Bie a SO 5 TIME SWIMMING FISH 4 Here is « fine mechanical toy. it is an imitation gold- fish, about 4% inches long, and contains a water-tight compartment which will not ; allow it to sink. To keep it uy in a natural position, the lower fin is ballasted with ~Jead.. To make it work, @ spring is wound up. You then throw it in the water, and the machinery inside causes the tail to wiggle, and propel it in the most lifelike man- ner. When it runs down the fish floats until it is recovered, and it can then be rewound. Races between two of these fishes are very interesting. Price, 25 cents each by mail, post- paid. C. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. ———— i: | LAUGHABLE EGG TRICK er says to the audience taps him on top of the is is the funniest Je trick i that he requ’res some s out of his ever exhibited and always produces roars of laughter. The perform- ‘eggs for ene of his Aax- periments." As no spec- tator carries any, he calls his agsisi ant, 4, he gags, and an es come chtntic this is repeated until six eggs are produced. it is an easy trick to perform, once and always makes a hit. Dt- 25 cents Y¥, you know how, m1 yections given for working it. Price, “by mail, postpaid. H. FE. LANG, 1315 Centre St., B’klyn. N CARTER AEROPLANE No. 1. rf ‘ ‘Will fly on @ horizontal line 150 feet! Can be flown in the house, and will not injure itself mor anything in the room. The most per- fect little aeroplane made. The motive power is fur- nished by twisted rubber bands ‘contained within the tubular body of the ma-~ f chine. It is actuate te ropeller at each end revolving in op Jaieeutions: Variation In height may be ob- “tained by moving the planes ant the balance oa ht. It can be made to fly either to the & or balance. side- ght or the left by moving the Price, wise before it is released for flight. “Bhe; each, delivered. ee: U, Senarens, 347 Winthrop St., Brockiyz, N. ¥, Penetration \ The World’s Record Holders Remington-UMC .22 cal. cartridges have broken two records in two years. Lit Prog 1: ty} Ly} Aid The Remington-UMC cohs make a find The present world’s 100-shot gallery record, 2484 ex 2500, held by Arthur Hubalek was made with these hard hitting .22’s. They will help you, too, to break your best shooting records, Remington- UMC .22’s are made, too, with hollow point bullets. This increases their shocking and killing power. “¥ Remington- UMC—the perfect shooting combination REMINGTON ARMS-UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO, 299 Broadway, New York City THE BUGHOUSE PUZZLE. It is the most mysti- fying puzzle eyer in- vented, and consists of 14 pieces of metal, acked in a neat little ox. With them you ean form a checker board—that is, if you The trick is to do it, and a tougher job you never tackled. Several other interesting combinations are possible. Get a box and see how many you can do, Price 12 cents each, by mail, postpaid. “i. F, LANG. 1815 Centre St.. B’kiyn, N. ¥. know how. WHISTLEPHONE ‘This is one of the Breatest musical in- struments ever invent- ed, It is made entirely invisible when With it, in a few mo- ments, you can learn 4 ab to- play all kinds ‘of tunes, ave lots of fun, please and amuse your friends and make some money, too. Fine for either song or plano accompaniment or by itself alone. You piace the whistlephone in the mouth with half circle out, place end of tongue to rounded part and blow gently as if to gool the lips. A few trials will ena- ble one to play any tune or ait. \ Price $ cents 4h by mail, post-paid il. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., S’klyn, N. ¥. in, use, BLACK-EYE JOKE. New and amusing joker. The victim is told to hold the tube close to his eye so as to exclude all light from the back, and then to remove the tube until pictures appear in the center. In trying to locate the pictures he will re- ceive the finest black-eye you ever saw. We furnish a small box of blackening preparation with each tube, so the joke can be used in- | definitely. Those not in the trick : will be caught every time. Abso- ae et ted Price by mail 1l5e. each; C4 Ce r WOLFF NOVELTY €O., 29 W. 26th St, N. ¥. -” Kywad’a W ater.Wings SS Ld - e Learn to, swim by one trial ‘ Price 26 cents, Postpaid These water-wings take up no more room thans pooket-hankerchlet. They weigh 6 ounees and sup- port from 50 to 260 pounds, With a pniranyous can 1e0rn to swim or fons, Koruse, you hve only to wet them, plow them op, and pres, vogether Ting marks under the month piece, Hi. F. WANG. 1815 Centre St, Biklyn, MY. - ¢ of metal and is almost> e two. | Og | OBAGCCO HABIT aire improve your hea'ch. proleng your life. No more sto! trouble, no foul breath, no heart weakness, Regain may. . mh es calm waite Hey eyes and bide anental stren, 5 ether you chew; or smoke cles: ene oer ime teresting Tobacco Book. worth: Te weight in gol Bailes ee. £. J. WOODS, 534 Sixth Ave.,228 C. New York, N. Wizard Repeating « LIQUID PISTOL Wil stop the most vic. lous dog (or man) with- out permanent injury, Perfectly saie to carry without danger ofieakage, Fires and recharges by . pulling the trigger. Loads from any Liquid. No cartpidges required. Over shote inone loading, All dealers, or by mall, 5Qc, Pistol with rubber cov- — ered holster. Siac. olsters separate, 10c, Send mouey order. No postage stamps or coins accepted. PARKER, STEARNS & CO., 273 GEORGIA AVE., BROOKLYN, Nl. ¥ are NOISY HANDKERCHIEF. . A great deal of amusement may be had with this little article. It imitates the blow- ing of the nose exactly, except that the noise is magnified at _ least a dozen times, and (Mikeens sounds like the bass-horn in @ German band. This device is used by simply placing it between the teeth and blowing. The harder the blow the louder the noise. Price, 10¢, each by mail, postpaid, © WOLIEE NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., +p d. THE AULTOPHONE, A small musical instrue ment that produces very sweet musical notes by placing it between thelips with the tongue over the edge, and blowing gently into the instrument. The nétes produced are ot unlike those of the fife and flute. We send full printed instruaetions whereby anyone can pla anything. they can hum, whistle or sing, pa VCng very little practice. Price, 10¢.; 3 for Cc. BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. - mailed, postpaid. ELECTRIO’ PUSH Re phen TON.—The base is m: ie 3 maple, and the center p: $ of black walnut, the whole hing about 1% inches jameter, with @ wie hook on the back £0 to view your Now ‘Hlectrio~ “= 4 Bell, when your Trend Ie it puch the button expecting to hear it fring. As zoon as he touches it, you will see some of the Ivellest tancing you ever witnessed. aon Blectric Button is heavily charged and witli give 2 smart shock when the button ts pushed. . . Price 102., by mail, postpaid. . 4 s WOLEF NOVELTY CQ. 89 W. 26th Bt. M. \
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FUTITLE ne Peer ee alle asl JAPANESE WATER FLOWERS is FLUeTiL Ha CR CH 5O nf Without exception. the Also known as 2 ten pins and ees on most beautiful and in- Japanese butterfly. A Siege DOM Deiee SDS teresting things on the \\\ pleasing novelty en- box. With one of these ap POR Eis eye cones y)) closed in an envelope. 7 ef a dozen ried-up ream TEAC ae eae sprigs, neatly encaged e Wf ea Rin ppoige play ten-pins on y¥ in handsomely decorat- Gut: through. the ath for several yards, Made of colored paper to represent a butter- dining-room table just DAS onvelopie gOst ora’ they are imported from Japan. Place one sprig i as well as the game ean be played In a regular alley. Every game kknown to professional bowlers can be worked in a bowl of water, ate . with these pins. Price, 10c. per box by mail and it begins to exude , SY six inches wide. Price, 100. postpaid. ; various bright tints. Then it slowly opens out M, V. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N.Y." M. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. | inte various shapes ef exquisite flowers. They are of all colors fn ue sue It is very VANISHING CIGAR. amusing ft0 wate them take form. RE EEA ORC Ee WE eae Smali size, price 5 cents; large size, 10 | Be This cigar is made in exact imitation of a good one. It is held by a rub- ber cord which, with the This is a double whistle, pro-'| centa s package, by mail, postpaid. i ducing loud but very, rich, har- | yyy. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N. ¥. monious sounds, entirely differ- “4 attached safety pin, fs ent from ordinary whistles. It fastened on the duside of is just the ene gO ie tee the sléeve: When offered - or sportsmen, its peculiar double to a friend, as it fs ; by gna ‘résonant tones at once ate pp lpenohice eon? 8 Hingtanitig aisaraeae about to be taken, it will tracting attention. s an im- e improv: te i Price, 10e. each by mail, postpaid. ported whistle, handsomely } manatone. This flute a y nickel plated,’ and will be found will be found, to be C, BEHR. 150 W. 62d St., New York City. a very useful and handy pocket | the most, enjoya companion. Price, 10¢.; 3 for article ever offered; JAPANESE TWIRLER. 25e.; one dozen, We., sent by nickel plated, finely A wonderful imported paper mail, postpaid. : polished; each put novelty. By a simple manipu- lation of the wooden handles a number of beautiful figures can WOLFF NOVELTY CO.. 29 W. 26th 8t.. N. ¥. up in a box with full 5 be produced. It takes on several instruction how to use. them. Price, combinations of magnificent colors. _ Price, 10c,, postpaid, — 18c., postpaid. NOVELTY CO., bubbles can be blown. VOW. gun Be 9°" It is a wooden, cigar- “3 RS aa ey Se 29 W. 26th St., N.Y. ©) Be Sd. Did erp oncas: LITTLE CHECKER BOARDS. | apne Seese en BUBBLE BLOWER. { With this device, a continuous series of ~ ing a “small vial, in which there is a piece Something new for the boys. A top you can filled with wat in paaisaciy Waeeoraten Ww. water, and a peculiarly perforate in wit cork is inserted. When you blow in to the This is a decktea hore mouthpiece, it sets up a hydraulic pressure elty. It is of large — through the cork perforations and causes size, made of brass, and bubble after bubble to come out. -No need of has a heavy balance — @ipping into water once the’ little bottle is rim, The shank con- — @iled. Price, 10c. each by mail, postpaid. . tains a powerful spring ‘and has an outer casing. the) ©; BEHR, 150 W. 62d St., New York City. shank has a milled edge HALE MASKS. Walse-faces “beaten a mile! a 3 There are 7 in a set and represent Price % cents each by mail. They are made pa es RD . SAR SHoge r gil “ of Ga eae totio erie pore So sd aise Best. top-one the anakKet : clown, Fox randpa, an Englis of 6% x 3 nehes, and are so handy in size 4 os * j ; Johnny AA Ling aa ceaae mateo thet they can be carried in the pocket. They | Price 12 cents each, by mall, post-paid = bilist. Beautifully Mthographed | contain 24 red and black checkers, and are 4 H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St. B’klyn, N. ¥. | in eeche Ea ne re @ durable pat eee elt plate as ane | moar parene ye ws ¢ quality of cardboard. They have: boardg made. e box an can be fastene ‘ 1 eyeholes and string perforations. | together in a moment by means of patent LITTLE ACC RDEONS ¥ wit Price, 6c. each, or the full set of! joints in the-ends. Full directions printed on oat The smallest, cheapest, | 7 for 25c.. postpaid : each box. { and best sounding mus- — ical instrument for the j H. F, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. | M, V. GALLIGAN, tres roe b L r i price. This perfect lit- ; ; 419 W. 56th Bt., N. Y. ' tle accordeon has four E keys and eight notes, a ~ complete scale, upon — Which you can play al- * most any tune. Tt about 5x 2% inches in size, and is not a toy, — but a practical and serviceable accordeon in’ — every respect; with ordinary care it will last ~ for years, and ‘produces sweet music and per- fect harmony. Anyone can learn to play it with very little practice. i alin MYSTIC PUZZLE DOUBLE CLAPPERS The newest and most novel puzzle on the market. It consists of a flat piece of wood 1% x3. inches, neatly . - covered with imita- They are handsornely made of white wood, tion pooper Ki re AB Ng sone ara ‘pric Us deren Pane Pi a aa eross-bar an ng in n each side a steel spring is secured, wit ; : \ / the hole are nickel-plated. The object 1s to | fiat leaden discs at the ends. They produce Price 12 cents each, by mail, post-paid iH, get the small ring off the bar. It absolutely 'a tremendous clatter, and yet they, can be| WOLFE NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. ¥. _ cannot be done by anyone not In the secret. ; played even better than the most éxpensive oe NS Sc WN oe ie ea More fun to -be had with it than with any bones used by minstrels. The finest article S34) other puzzle made. It is not breakable and of its kind on the market. Price 7 centn a THE FLUTOPHONE. 7 fe can be) carried in the vest pocket. pair, postpaid. A new musical In- — Price 10 cents each by mail; ‘post-paid _. M, V. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N. ¥. strument, producing the _ sweetest dulcet tones of ‘the flute. Ths upper part of the instrument is placed in the mouth, — the lps covering the openings in the centre. — H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St.. Z’kiyn, N. ¥. a THE FLUTTER-BY. : This mechanicw flying machine is worked by a r mew principle. It looks Then by blowing gent like a beautiful butter- upon it you can’ play fly, about 9 inches wide, | any tune desired as.easily as whistling. gee In action its wing move- | little practice is required to become a finished — TABLE RAISING TRICK The most mystifying Arick ever done by a magician! The per- former shows 4 plain light table. He places his hand’ flat upon its = ments are exactly lke | Player. It is made entirely of metal, and will | top. The table clings | those of a live butterfly. It will travel|siast a Hitime. We will send full instructions” » to his hand as if glued there. He may swing | through the air about 25 feet, in the most! with each instrument. Sf yi Sere ' 4t in the air, but che table will not leave his | natural manner. As flying toys are all the / rice 8 cents, by mail, postpaid. hand until he sets it on the floor again. The | rage, this one should be a source of profit and} 4, A, WARFORD, 16 Hart St., B’klyn, ‘table a be bene: to rae that there are | a acca Me to aioe lls ane young. Price, : | Mo strings or wires attached. e. each by mail, postpaid. : ak 12) Price 12 cents each, by mail, post-paid | H. KF, LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. RUBBER TACKS. ity «M, VW. GALLIGAN, 419 W. 56th St., N. ¥. ; They come six in a box. aa 2 » A wonderful imitation of — the real tack. Made of — 1 N MUSICAL SEAT (| LIGHTNING TRICK BOX. : ; The! box in which The best joke out. A startling and pleasing illu- } t be oe cay have woe sion! “The ways of the world are B\\\\ : i than < Rite devious,” says Matthew Arnold, BIS \). Va can play a lot it Oud: OF eee S| but the ways of the Lightning fase with the tacks novelties.. be Br Trick Box when properly handled f . have to do is to place are admitted to be puzzling and Chiaden a ee ey uncertain. You take off the lid fon, if possible). Then : ; » {tell your friend to sit yep OL Mae roms i \ down. An unearthly shriek from the little round drum will send } your victim up in the air, the most puzzled | takin and astonished mortal on earth. Don’t miss | getting one of these genuine laugh producers. | | Perfectly harmless, and never misses doing its work. : A 2 vice, only 10e.; 3 GALLIGAN, 419
Page 34
PLUVUVCHE AND X10 Crs 761 Governor G ae shea peers 778 The Boys of Bang-Up Canyon; or, The Search for the Lost Gold us; or, The War on No-Man’s Island. be , 762 es qn the Pirate's Isle: or, The Ship That Salied ou riday, |772 Madcap, the Middy ; or, Tracking a Pirate's Treasure. By Captain je os. H. gon.) 0 + he son. t 763 A Wizard of Wall Street; or, Th 780 Captain Columbia; or, The Wonderful Adventures of a Yo Banker. By H. K. Shackleford. ep Carers et Henry) Carew, B0y American, By Berton Bertrew. i 164 Little B. B.; or, The Boy With the Bear. By Allyn Draper. 781 The Young Rip Van Winkle. A Story of Adventure. By Richard _765 Fred the Foundry Boy; or. Fighting the Iron Kings. By Richard cage tr rele R. Montgomery, 782 Young Monte Cristo; or, The Millions of the Sunken Island. 766 The White World; or, The Slaves of Sibéria. By Howard Austin. By Howard Austin. 167 eo gt Peale or, The Boy Miners of Blizzard Bay. By | 788 be Hasneed. Toll House; or, The Ghosts of the River Road. 5 , y n_ Draper. 768 Dan aoe: His Double; or, The Church Under the River. By Allan | 784 — pea Duelist; or, The Hero of the Biba. By General Jas. : ordon. 769 weit ne Boy Scout; or, Beyond the Sierra Madres. By 785 psd “ on Farm; or, A Brave Boy’s Fight for a Home. f y an Arno. 770 ahs Be ce or, The Boy Elephant Hunters of Ceylon, | 786 ae poets aera or, The Boys Who Beat the League. By i iy :< ackleford. 771 Cae Leap aoe a ot Cutting Their Way to the Pole. By | 787 Tone Reses Jack; or, The Boys of the Panhandle Range. By P. T. . Me: 4 ymond. ‘ 772 That Boy of Brown’s; or, The Wreck of the Denver Mail. By | 788 Three Strikes and Out; or, The Boss Battery of the Boss Ball Club. As Berton Bertrew. 789 On the Square; or, The Only ae to Win. By Allan Arnold. 8 The Rival Automobiles; or, A Race for a Hundred Thousand. By | 790 Sam and His Shadow; er, The Mystery of the Other Boy. By Allyn Draper. Berton Bertrew. 174 eich aah w; or, The Young Prince of the Throttle. By Jas. | 791 Se ewe Wrecks; or, The SNES Cruise of the ‘‘Red, " i an ue.” By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. 175 MAE eer, Wonders or, Downing the White Robed Band. By | 792 Billy, the Bank Seaiededer Oi: The Boy ‘Who Was Shut in the 176 Th ine, pee a. Vault. By Rickard R. Montgomery. By rer bipubey eee or, the Pride of the Boss Boarding School. | 7938 Bent ye aren or, The Strange adventures of Two American Boys. 4 yy Gen. Jas. A. Gordon. 1717 Hero Forty-Four; or, The Boy Fireman of Ashland. By Hx-Fire|794 Hal, the Lighthouse Boy; or, The Mystery of Ragged Rocks. By Chief Warden. Allyn Draper. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - 168 West 23d St., New York. IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our weeklies and cannot prdcure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Write out and fill in your Order and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - - 168 West 28d St., New York, a © la Os OKACULUM AND No. 1. NAPOLEON’ DREAM BOOK.—Contfning the great oracle of human destiny; a the true meaning of almost any kind of dreams, together with charms, ceremonies, and curious games of cards. ; No. 2% HOW TO DO TRICKS.—Thoe great book of magic and card tricks, containing full instruction on all the leading card tricks of the day, also the most popular magical illu- ‘sions as performed by our leading magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book. o, 3 HOW TO FLIRT.—The arts and les of flirtation are fully explained by this tle book. Besides the various methods of handkerchief, fan, glove, parasol, window and hat flirtation, it contains a full list of the _ language and sentiment of flowers. ‘o. 4. HOW TO DANCE is the title of - this little book. It contains full instructions in the art of dancing, etiquette in the ball- room and at parties, how to dress, and full directions for calling off In all popular square dances. No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.—A com- plete guide te love, courtship and marriage, ving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to e@ observed, with many curious and interest- ing things not generally known, Ne, 6. HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE. Giving full instruction for the use of dumb- slis, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal ars and various other methods of developing good, healthy muscle; containing over sixty lustrations. HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.—Hand- _No. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILO- UIST.—By Harry Kennedy. Every intelli- ent boy reading this book of instructions can aster the art, and create any amount of fun ‘or himself and friends, It im the greatest ook ever published. HOW TO BOX.—The art of self- defense made easy. Containing over thirty fiiustrations of guards, blows, and the differ- ent positions of a goed boxer. Every boy _ghould obtain one of these useful and instruc- tive books, as it will teach you how to box "without an instructor. t No. 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVH-LETTERS, —A most complete little book, eontaining full directions for writing love-letters, and when when to use them, giving specimen letters ‘for young and old. No. 12. ow TO WRITE LETTERS TO ADIES.—Giving complete instructions for writing létters to ladies on all subjects; also letters of introduction, notes and requestey No. 13. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF ‘For gale by all newadealers, or will pe sent to any address on receipt of price, 10 cts. per copy, or 8 for 25 FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, hh a - - - - FL Peimeaip de i LTIQUETTE.—It is a great life secret, and one that every young man desires to know all about, There’, ep Dees in it, No. 14. HOW O MAKE CANDY.—A complete hand-book for making all kinds of candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc., etc, No. 18, HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL. —One of the brightest and most valuable little books ever given to the world, EX\very- body wishes to know how to become beauti- ful, both male and female. The secret is simple, and almost costless. No. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVEN- ING PARTY.—A complete compendium of games, sports, card diversions, comic recita- tions, etc., suitable for parlor or drawing- room entertainment. It contains more for the money than any book published. Ne 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever published. It contains full instructions about guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fish- ing, together with description of game and ah. No, 22. HOW TO DO SECUND SIGHT.—. Heller’s second sight explained by his former assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explaining how the secret dialogues were carried on between the magician and the boy on the stage; also giv- ing all the codes and signals. o. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.— This little book gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlucky days. N No. 24. HOW TO WRITK LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN.—Containing full directions for writing to gentlemen on all subjects. No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.— Containing full instructions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Em- bracing thirty-five illustrations. By Professor W. Macdonald. No, 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT,—Fully illustrated. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with in- structions on swimming and riding, companien sports to boating. No. 27. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF RECITATIONS.—Containing the most popular selections in use, comprising Dutch dialect, French dialect, Yankee and Irish dialect pieces, together with many standard readings, No. 28. w TO TELL FORTUNES,— Everyone is desirous of knowing what his fu- ture Mfe will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be convinced. f ‘ No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVEN- TOR.—Every boy should know how inventions originated. This book explains them all, giv- ing example in electricity, hydraulics, magne- tism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, ete, No. 30, HOW TO COOK.—One of the most instructive books on cooking ever publish¢ It containg recipes for cooking meats, fis game, and oysters; also pi puddings, cakes and all kinds of pastry, and & eri colleo- tion of recipes, No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A “PEAKER. —Containing fourteen illustrations, giving th ‘different positions requisite to become a wpeaker, reader and elocutionist. Also con- taining gems from all the popular authors ef prose and poetry. No. 32. HOW TO RIDE A_ BICYCLE.— Containing instructions for beginners, choice of a machine, hints on training, etc. A come plete book. Full of practical illustrations. No. 85. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.—A com- plete and useful little book, containing the rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelle, backgammon, See dominoes, etc. No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUM —Containing all the leading conundrums o' the day, amusing riddles, curious catches and witty aa ty W TO BECO: . 0. 38. JOME YOUR r DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, Seateiming caer ful and practical information in the treatment of ordinary diseases and ailments common te every family. Abounding in useful and effeo- | tive recipes for general complaints. No. 89. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, POULTRY, PIGEONS AND RABBITS.—A useful and in: structive book. ees py eye Spey No. 40, HOW TO MAKE D SET TRA —Including hints on how to catch moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also how to cure skins. opiously illustrated. No. 41, THE BOYS OF NE 'W YORK END MEN’S JOKE BOOK.—Containing a great va- riety of the latest jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book, 0, 42, ‘HE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied as- ‘sortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end men’s jokes, Just the thing for home amusement and amateur shows. No, 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIAN. —Containing the grandest assortment of mag- ical illusions ever placed before the publia Also tricks with cards. incantations, etc. No. 44. HOW TO WRITE IN AN BUM.—A_ grand collection of Album vaores suitable for any time and occasion; embrac- ing Lines of Love, Affection, Sentiment, Hu- mor, Respect, and Condolence; also Verses Suitable for Valentines and Weddings. STREL GUIDE OK. - m thing new and very instructive. Every boy should obtain this book, as it contains full instructiong for organizing an amateur min- — atrel troupe. eae cts., in money or postage stamps, by — " * 168 West 23d St., New York