At last the steamer came, and the two meu were put on beard, being given some 10 Ibs. of bread and some raw meat, to Jast them the voyage. Their xccommodation on board was particularly poor, being nothing more than a hold, but og one of the sailors could speak a little English they received some assistance. On bth August they arrived at Alexandrovek and were promptly taken before the Governor of the island. He was able tu speak English, and after hearing their story, said there was a telegraph station there and they could rest assured he would do them no harm. A-telegram was sent to Consul Abercrombie in Nagasaki, and pending a reply they were locked up. In the course of twenty-four baure they were again taken before the Governor, who told them that enquiries had resulted favourably. The Consul had wired that. they should.be supplied with money. The Guvernar then gave them exch ten roubles, stated that they would have their liberty, but thst they would be shown by a soldier certain parts the town they must not go to. 'They were accordingly dressed in white uniforms with brass buttons, and conducted round the town, Wilson' was struck with the beauty of the natural harbour, The town is built upon a hill, and has some nice buildings, but all' constructed of logs. The inhabitants number 6,000, of whom 4,000 are convicts. There are four large prisons, each holding about 1,000
'THE LADY DETECTIVE, During their stay they were introduced to three pleasant, amiable girls, and this Wilson believes was with the connivance of the authorities, for the girls appeared to Wilson as if they had been introduced for the purpose, if possible, of extracting any secrets from Wilson and his companion. Over and over again one girl, particularly, protested that Wilson was' a spy, and assured him that even if he were she would not betray him. She said she wanted him to take her away, and even went so far as producing a passport, authorising her to leave by the steamer. She followed Wilson on to the steamer, and when he again denied being a spy she went ashore, WORSE THAN EVER, As there was no steamer leaving just then for Nagasaki, on the 18th of August Wilson and his companion were put on board a steamer bound for Viadivostock, They hed cabin accommodation nnd were treated very well on the voyage, which lasted until the 22nd of August. Arriving in the morning ut Vindivostock, an officer and two policemen took charge of them and they were con ducted to x gaol. The surroundings of this place were abominable. They were buddied in a room with twenty-three other of the most heterogen alities; they had no sleeping niodation; and the prisoners unless they had friends to send them food had to go without, ordothe best they could. For two days they existed without food under ch circumstances, until Wilson managed to slip out of the room whilst the door was unguarded. He declined to go back, and manded to see some official. The guard, in the end, took him before an officer, who hot speaking English sent for a gentleman carrying on business in the town, and rejoicing in-" name of world-wide reputation, viz. Smith. Upon arrival Mr. Smith explained that according to the document sent with Wilson and hig friend from Alexandria, they were under arrest as spies, and that there was no intention to send them to Nagasaki. The officer refused to telegraph anywhere; said he could incur no expense, beyond writing " letter; but subsequent:
Wilson found that' even that was not done, Che officer agreed the two prisoners might have some food and generously gave them each two roubles out of his own pocket.
A GLEAM oF HOPE, The officials were very harsh, and hud it not been for Mr. Smnith's kindness, the two would have had an even worse time. Ten days more elapsed, when Mr. Smith came to offer the two men employment at two roubles a day each, telling them that if they accepted, the authorities would release thew, Witness agreed, and wrote out a statement referring the authorities amongst other places to the Union Ironworks at San Francisco, where he had been employeii for two years. Subsequently the authorities changed their minds, and declined to release the two unless' Mr. Smith entered int" a 900-rouble bond. The Intter did not see his way to do thie, they remained in gaol. The convicts in this gaol went to work down the town, and Wilsun tried to send letters out
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.