side
of the door from that on which Mrs. French was sitting.

Before many minutes had elapsed, the prisoner appeared at the door
of his cell with Paulina and his children.

"Would you kindly open the door?" he said in a courteous tone to
the guard. "They wish to depart."

The guard went toward the door, followed by Mrs. French, who stood
waiting with hands outstretched toward the weeping Paulina. As the
door swung open, the children came forth, but upon the threshold
Paulina paused, glanced into the cell, ran back and throwing herself
at the prisoner's feet, seized his hand and kissed it again and
again with loud weeping.

For a single instant the man yielded her his hand, and then in a
voice stern but not unkind, he said, "Go. My children are in your
keeping. Be faithful."

At once the woman rose and came back to the door where Mrs. French
stood waiting for her.

As they passed on, the guard turned to the men and said briefly, "Come."

As they were about to enter the cell, the boy suddenly left
Paulina's side, ran to Simon Ketzel and clutching firm hold
of his hand said, "Let me go with you."

"Go back," said the guard, but the boy still clung to Ketzel's hand.

"Oh, let him go," said Mrs. French. "He will do no harm." And the
guard gave grudging permission.

With a respectful, almost reverential mien, the men entered the cell,
knelt before the prisoner and kissed his hand. The moments were
precious and there was much to say and do, so Kalmar lost no time.

"I have sent for you," he said, "first to give you my report
which you will send back to headquarters."

Over and over again he repeated the words of his report, till he
was certain that they had it in sure possession.

"This must go at once," he said.

"At once," replied Simon.

"In a few weeks or months," continued the prisoner in a low voice,
"I expect to be free. Siberia could not hold me, and do you think that
any prison in this country can? But this report must go immediately."

"Immediately," said Simon again.

"Now," said Kalmar solemnly, "there is one thing more. Our cause
fails chiefly because of traitors. In this city is a traitor. My
oath demands his death or mine. If I fail, I must pass the work on
to another. It is for this I have called you here. You are members
of our Brotherhood. What do you say?"

The men stood silent.

"Speak!" said Kalmar in a low stern voice. "Have you no words?"

But still they stood silent and distr