e
always ready to take advantage of circumstances. You have not been sent
here as a dangerous criminal, and will not be so closely guarded as I
have always been, the proof of which is that the governor assigns you
here for hospital duty. But the proof that there is a very remote
probability of your ever being recalled by the powers that consigned you
here is this wish on the surgeon's part for you to learn the Russian
language so as to become more useful here."

"I will not learn it," said Barnwell, with a sudden burst of
indignation.

"Walt a moment. Will you take me for a guide?"

"With all my heart I will."

"Then do all in your power to learn the language, and at the same time
to appear to be reconciled. More follows."

"I will obey you, sir."

"I see you are both brave and sensible. Force does not work here, save
to oppress. Be cunning, be sly, and, after you have mastered the
language and the situation, then there will be more hope for you. And,
when you are strong enough, I will tell you the story of my life."

"Strong enough?"

"Yes; for it will take more than ordinary strength to stand it. But I
feel a great change since meeting you. The ambition and rage for revenge
has been toned down, and now a relapse may follow it."

"How?"

"This hope of revenge on Mastowix has buoyed me up during all these
years; but now that I find that you have been the innocent cause of
bringing retribution upon him, I feel that my life's object, my object
for living, no longer exists, and a relapse from that high excitement is
coming on, and I may die at any moment; but, thank goodness, perfectly
sane."

"Oh, do not talk so, please. You are the only friend I have in all this
vast expanse of human misery. Do not think of dying, I beg of you," said
Barnwell, greatly excited.

"Goodness knows how long the time may be; but do not leave me, my son,
do not leave me. I have a premonition of death, and that must not be
until I have transferred a great secret into some worthy hands."

"And you still trust me?"

"I will. I feel that I can. Come and see me again to-morrow to--mind
you--to take still further lessons in the Russian language."

"I will come."

CHAPTER VIII.

THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND A STORY.

The next day, and for several days, William Barnwell visited the cell of
old Peter Batavsky for the purpose of receiving lessons in the Russian
language.

The poor old exile was undoubtedly right when he said that