Now Barney had not one at hand, but he shouted:
“Howld an an’ I’ll get a rope. Shure, I’ll help ye!”
And away went the whole-souled Irishman back to the airship.
The raft was drifting very slowly so he had plenty of time.
But when he reached the Dart2 his first move was to sound the alarm. Very quickly all hands were on deck.
“What’s the matter?” asked Frank, who came up with his rifle in his hand.
“Shure, sor, there’s a poor divil out there on a raft as wants help!” cried Barney.
“On a raft?”
“Yis, sor.”
“Dear me!” exclaimed Professor Gaston. “Let us hasten to his relief!”
Frank Reade, Jr., was only half dressed, but he did not wait to complete his toilet. He went over the rail like a flash and with Barney rushed down to the river.
The Celt had brought a long rope with him. The raft had drifted nearer the shore.
Frank had a smattering of Russian among his varied3 accomplishments4, and he shouted to the fellow:
“Who are you, and how came you here?”
“I am Nicolas Nafetodi, good sir,” was the reply. “Oh, give me food, but for the love of God do not take me back to that fearful prison!”
“Ah!” cried Frank. “Then you are a convict?”
“Sentenced to exile for a crime of which I am not guilty!” replied the poor fellow. “Have mercy upon me!”
“You are right we will!” cried Frank, who was well familiar with the peculiarities5 of Russian justice.
“Have courage, my friend!”
“Bejabers, hang on to the rope!”
Barney swung it aloft and sent it circling out into the river. It fell with accuracy across the raft.
The exile grasped it and in a few moments the raft was pulled to the shore. He staggered up the river bank.
Certainly he was an object of pity at that moment. Wretched, disheveled and pallid7 he looked a fit subject for a hospital.
The voyagers would have been heartless indeed to have refused him aid.
For aught they knew he might be a hardened criminal. But Frank Reade, Jr., took a good look at his face and decided8 vastly in his favor.
There were honest lines in it which he knew could not belie9 the owner’s nature.
So Nicolas Nafetodi was led to the airship and Pomp procured10 food for him.
He ate ravenously11, and then being much refreshed told his story. It was indeed a pitiful one.
“My father,” he said, “was a well-to-do merchant in St. Petersburg. I was favored with plenty of money from an inheritance and formed the acquaintance of many wealthy youths of my own age.
“I will not make the story long, but suffice it to say that I had trouble with one who belong to the nobility.
“We loved Olga Nanarovitch, the daughter of Prince Nanarovitch. She favored my suit and from that hour Count Pietro Valdstedt was my sworn foe12.
“In an unwary moment I was decoyed into the house of a Nihilist. Before I could take my departure the police descended13 upon the place and I was taken with the rest.
“I was thrown into prison. Valdstedt hired villains14 to swear to forged evidence against me. My trial was in secret, and I was not allowed the assistance of friends.
“I was banished15 for conspiracy16 against the Czar. It was the vilest17 wrong ever done any living man.
“But I had no redress18. For eight long years I have been a slave at convict labor19, with chains to bind20 me, and almost starvation as my reward.
“I have endured tortures until a month since I managed to escape.
“I made a raft and drifted down the Lena. I knew not—I cared not—where it took me so long as it was away from that hated prison.
“But even now I know that the hounds of the prison are after me. They have crossed the country to intercept21 me, and may be upon me at any moment. Before God I pray you, if you have not hearts of stone, do not give me up to them!
“I am innocent of the crimes charged against me as God in heaven knows! I beg of you to have mercy upon me!”
The fervid22 appeal reached the heart of every one of the voyagers.
Frank interpreted the story to them, and then taking the poor wretch6’s hand, said:
“They shall never take you while we live. We believe your story and will aid you.”
The poor fellow burst into tears. He fairly embraced Frank in his joy.
“Surely there will be a reward for you up there,” he said, devoutly23, pointing upward. “You will not be punished for helping24 the poor convict.”
Barney procured some decent clothes for the escaped exile.
Then Frank said:
“Now in what way can we best give you aid? What are your plans or desires?”
“I wish to get back to St. Petersburg,” replied Nicolas.
“But will you not fall again into the hands of the law?”
“Ah, but I will not be there an hour before I will have the necessary evidence to clear the stain from my name.”
“Do you believe that?”
“I know it.”
“Then, upon my word,” cried Frank, “I will take you back to St. Petersburg in my airship!”
The Russian exile looked surprised.
“How?” he asked.
Frank repeated the assertion. Nicolas looked mystified until Frank explained to him the workings of the famous airship.
The Russian listened with wonderment. Indeed he was almost incredulous.
“And you have come across Siberia in that?” he asked.
“More than that. Completely around the world,” replied Frank.
Nicolas drew a deep breath.
“You Americans are wonderful people,” he declared. “Anything is possible to you!”
“I suppose your love, Olga, is lost to you by this time,” declared Frank. “The other fellow has probably won her.”
Nicolas drew himself up.
“Ah, you do not know the depth of Russian love!” he declared. “Olga is still true to me. Only three months ago I heard from her, and that she was spending her fortune to get evidence to clear me.”
“Noble woman!” replied Frank. “I trust she will succeed.”
“But if I could only be there myself!” cried the exile, with inspiration, “I would surely succeed.”
“You shall go there!” declared Frank. “I give you my word for it.”
But at that moment the exile gave a sharp, gasping25 cry and retreated to the side of the airship.
“My God!” he gasped26. “St. Nicholas defend me! There are the human hounds that seek my life!”
He pointed27 to the west, where the plateau merged28 into the plain. The voyagers beheld29 a thrilling sight.
A body of mounted men were approaching at full gallop30. They rode fleet Kighis ponies31 and were dressed in the uniform of the Siberian police.
For a moment the voyagers stood watching the horsemen.
Then the words of the exile aroused Frank Reade, Jr., to action.
“For the love of God, do not deliver me up to my enemies!” the Russian cried. “I will be your slave if you will save me!”
“I don’t know whether they can make an international affair out of this or not!” cried Frank. “I don’t want to create war between this barbarous country and America, but by my soul I shall not allow them to take this man away! Barney, go into the pilot-house!”
The Celt instantly obeyed.
The others armed themselves with Winchesters. Thus they stood by the airship’s rail as the Siberian police came up.
“What ho!” cried the leader, a tall, bewhiskered fellow, reining32 in his horse at sight of Nicolas, “there is your man, guards! Seize the dog and iron him!”
The fellow spoke33 in the Russian language. Every word was plain to Frank Reade, Jr.
The unfortunate exile cowered34 by the airship’s rail. The guards would have seized him, but Frank said, quietly:
“Stand firm! Aim!”
Barney was in the door of the pilot house with his rifle at his shoulder. Frank, Pomp and Professor Gaston each held a rifle aimed at the foe.
At this the guards halted.
“Back!” thundered Frank in Russian, “or every dog of you dies!”
For a moment the Russian captain sat his horse like a statue. Then he cried, in amazement35:
“What! You dare to defy the Czar?”
“I owe no allegiance to the Czar, nor do I stand in fear of his minions36!” replied Frank, resolutely38.
“Who are you?”
“We are Americans.”
“Then know you that you are upon the Czar’s territory. You shall surrender the prisoner or we shall fight!”
“We will fight, then!” declared Frank, sternly. “So long as we have blood in our veins39 we will defend this poor wretch. This may be the Czar’s territory, but when the prisoner is on the deck of the airship he is under the protection of the American flag, and that flag the United States will never permit Russia nor any other foreign country to outrage40.”
The Russian officer could not reply to this sweeping41 declaration for some moments. He knew enough of international law to know that Frank Reade, Jr., was technically42 right.
“Nevertheless,” he said, gritting43 his teeth, savagely44, “you are a good ways from America, and your fate would never be known. Unless you surrender the prisoner we will shoot every one of you.”
“Is that your craven threat?” asked Frank.
“You have heard it.”
“Then I will answer it with another. I will give you three minutes to vacate your present position. If not, we will shoot every one of you!”
Frank’s tone was firm and his manner resolute37. The Russian officer saw this. For a moment he was at a loss what to say or do.
It was likely, however, that he would have given the order to attack and blood would have been shed had it not been for an incident.
Suddenly a loud cry came from the direction of the plateau. Two horsemen were seen riding at full speed.
They wore the blood-red uniform of the Czar’s service. Instantly a cry escaped the Russian officer’s lips.
“Couriers of the Czar!” he cried. “What can they want?”
Hostilities45 were suspended for the time. Everybody watched the approach of the couriers, and the exile leaned forward with open mouth and half eager gaze.
“God be with us!” he murmured. “It may be Olga’s reprieve46!”
The next moment the couriers of the Czar reined47 in their smoking steeds. They saluted48, and the foremost asked:
“Are you Ivan Petrowsky, of the Irkutsh Prison?”
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1
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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8
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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9
belie
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| v.掩饰，证明为假 | |
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10
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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11
ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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12
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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14
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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15
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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17
vilest
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| adj.卑鄙的( vile的最高级 )；可耻的；极坏的；非常讨厌的 | |
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18
redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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19
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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20
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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21
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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22
fervid
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| adj.热情的；炽热的 | |
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23
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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24
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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26
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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27
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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28
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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29
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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30
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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31
ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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32
reining
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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33
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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34
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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35
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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36
minions
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| n.奴颜婢膝的仆从( minion的名词复数 )；走狗；宠儿；受人崇拜者 | |
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37
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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38
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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39
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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40
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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41
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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42
technically
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| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
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43
gritting
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的现在分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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44
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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45
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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46
reprieve
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| n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解 | |
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47
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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48
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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