The Boy Nihilist | Page 5

the letter.
Whatever it contained, it suddenly made a change in facial expression of the prince, who glanced from it to Barnwell.
"Do you know this Paul Zobriskie?" he asked, earnestly.
"No. I never met him until I saw him on the steamer, and he asked me to deliver this letter to you," said he.
"Are you sure of that?"
"I am."
"And know nothing about him?"
"Nothing further than hearing of him as a socialistic agitator."
"And you know nothing of the contents of this letter?"
"Nothing whatever. He told me nothing further than that it was important, and that I must give it to no one but you."
"What are you?"
"A simple American citizen, sir."
"Do you belong to any secret society?"
"No, sir."
The prince regarded him a moment, and then turned to read more of the letter, wondering at the same time why Zobriskie should have trusted such a fatal document to any but a tried and trusted Nihilist.
The conclusion he arrived at was that there was treachery somewhere, or that there was a possibility of such a contingency, and to guard himself he resolved to put the unsuspecting stranger under arrest.
Without a word further, he touched a bell, and in an instant three gendarmes presented themselves.
"This man is a prisoner; remove him to the castle for further disposition," said he.
Young Barnwell started in surprise. What did it mean?
The officers approached him, when he turned to the prince.
"What is the meaning of this, sir?" he demanded indignantly.
"State prisoners are not always allowed to know State reasons."
"But I am no State prisoner; I am an American citizen, and I demand to know why I am arrested."
"You may learn in time."
"I will appeal to the American Minister, to the Czar of Russia even."
"No, you will not. Away with him!" said the prince, determined above all things that he should make no such an appeal or have a chance to do so.
"Do you really mean this outrage?"
"Call it what you like, but wait and see," he replied, waving him away.
The officers knew nothing but duty, and in spite of young Barnwell's protests and struggles, he was overpowered and dragged away in the direction of the Bastile.
Tobasco followed closely after them. What he had seen and heard confirmed his suspicions that the prince was a traitor, and that he had ordered Barnwell's arrest through fear.
As for Barnwell, he, of course, saw that it was an outrage of the deepest dye, and he had no idea of submitting to it.
His American blood was up, and, knowing his own great strength, he watched his opportunity as the guards led him from the prince's quarters towards the Bastile. He suddenly wrenched himself away, and knocked one of them sprawling upon the courtyard flags.
Quick as thought almost, he sent another of them toppling against the wall of a building.
A third was on the point of firing at him with his musket, when Tobasco dealt him a stinging blow from behind, that sent him sprawling on top of his comrades.
"Quick, young man! Escape by the gate yonder, and fly to the American minister for protection," said Tobasco; and without waiting for an explanation he fled, and in an instant more was on the street, while Tobasco quickly secreted himself in a deep doorway, for his work was not done yet.
Recovering from their stunned condition, the gendarmes raised an alarm in the courtyard, which quickly brought out the prince's followers, and even the prince himself rushed from his room into the courtyard, to ascertain the cause of the alarm.
Flitting like a shadow almost, Tobasco ran from his hiding-place into the office that the prince had hurriedly left; and seeing the paper and envelope lying upon his table, hastily secured it and again returned to his hiding-place.
It did not take Prince Mastowix but a moment to find out that the young American had escaped from his guard, and he was wild with rage.
"After him, laggards! What are you standing here for? Retake him, or I'll have every rascal of you knouted!" he roared.
But this exhibition on his part only made the confusion greater for a moment.
Finally, without any attempt at order, a rush was made by servants and soldiers for the gate to join in the pursuit.
Tobasco, looking more like a peasant servant than anything else, mingled in the rush, shouting the loudest of any of them in urging the pursuit, and in this way, escaped from the palace without exciting the least suspicion.
Once free from the palace-gate, young Barnwell had no idea whatever of the best way to go, but being determined to escape at all hazards, he shot off to the right and ran like a deer.
But he had only time to gain a block or so ahead before the mob of soldiers and retainers rushed out and caught sight of him.
Then the pace was quickened. Barnwell glanced