Part 18 (1/2)
”He wouldn't knock--he'd walk right in,” spoke Tom, as he went to the door. As he opened it he saw several dark-bearded men standing there, and in their midst Mr. Petrofsky.
For one moment our hero feared that his friend had been arrested and that the police had come to take the rest of them into custody. But a word from the exile rea.s.sured him.
”These are some of my friends,” said Mr. Petrofsky simply. ”They are Nihilists which I am not, but--”
”Nihilists yes! Always!” exclaimed one who spoke English. ”Death to the Czar and the Grand Dukes! Annihilation to the government!”
”Gently my friend, gently,” spoke Mr. Petrofsky. ”I am opposed to violence you know.” And then, while his new friends gazed wonderingly at the strange craft, he led them inside. Tom and the others were hardly able to comprehend what was about to take place.
CHAPTER XVII
ON TO SIBERIA
”Has anything happened?” asked Tom. ”Are we suspected? Have they come to warn us?”
”No, everything is all right, so far,” answered Ivan Petrofsky. ”I didn't have the success I hoped for, and we may have to wait here for a few days to get news of my brother. But these men have been very kind to me,” he went on, ”and they have ways of getting information that I have not. So they are going to aid me.”
”That's right!” exclaimed the one who had first spoken. ”We will yet win you to our cause, Brother Petrofsky. Death to the Czar and the Grand Dukes!”
”Never!” exclaimed the exile firmly. ”Peaceful measures will succeed.
But I am grateful for what you can do for me. They heard me describe your wonderful airs.h.i.+p,” he explained to Tom, ”and wanted to see for themselves.”
The Nihilists were made welcome after Mr. Petrofsky had introduced them. They had strange and almost unp.r.o.nounceable names for the ears of our friends, and I will not trouble you with them, save to say that the one who spoke English fairly well, and who was the leader, was called Nicolas Androwsky. There was much jabbering in the Russian tongue, when Mr. Petrofsky and Mr. Androwsky took the others about the craft, explaining how it worked.
”I can't show you the air glider,” said Tom, who naturally acted as guide, ”as it would take too long to put together, and besides there is not enough wind here to make it operate.”
”Then you need much wind?” asked Nicolas Androwsky.
”The harder the gale the better she flies,” answered Tom proudly.
”Bless my sand bag, but that's right!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, who, up to now had not taken much part in the conversation. He followed the party about the airs.h.i.+p, keeping in the rear, and he eyed the Nihilists as if he thought that each one had one or more dynamite bombs concealed on his person.
”Ha!” exclaimed Mr. Androwsky, turning suddenly to the odd man. ”Are you not one of us? Do you not believe that this terrible kingdom should be destroyed--made as nothing, and a new one built from its ashes? Are you not one of us?” and with a quick gesture he reached into his pocket.
”No! No!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, starting back. ”Bless my election ticket! No! Never could I throw a bomb. Please don't give me one.” Mr.
Damon started to run away.
”A bomb!” exclaimed the Nihilist, and then he drew from his pocket some pamphlets printed in Russian. ”I have no bombs. Here are some of the tracts we distribute to convert unbelievers to our cause,” he went on.
”Read them and you will understand what we are striving for. They will convert you, I am sure.”
He went on, following the rest of the party, while Mr. Damon dropped back with Ned.
”Bless my gas meter!” gasped the odd man, as he stared at the queerly-printed doc.u.ments in his hand. ”I thought he was going to give me a bomb to throw!”
”I don't blame you,” said Ned in a low voice. ”They look like desperate men, but probably they have suffered many hards.h.i.+ps, and they think their way of righting a wrong is the only way. I suppose you'll read those tracts,” he added with a smile.
”Hum! I'm afraid not,” answered Mr. Damon. ”I might just as well try to translate a Chinese laundry check. But I'll save 'em for souvenirs,”
and he carefully put them in his pocket, as if he feared they might unexpectedly turn into a bomb and blow up the airs.h.i.+p.