But a
word from the exile reassured 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 airship," he explained to Tom, "and wanted to see for
themselves.
Pages:
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122