Thus, when they returned that night from the mines and were locked up in their dreary cells, they found themselves confronted by a very perplexing question—how to dispose of Butin and Vraskoi.
At present they gave no thought to what lay beyond the first and most important step—the escape from the prison. It was enough for Shamarin to know that his sister had some possible plan in her head—some plan that offered a fair chance of overcoming the terrible obstacles that usually confronted fugitives who tried to escape from Siberia, and especially at this time of year—the dead of winter. He had sufficient faith in Vera to believe this, and patience enough to act and wait.
As for Sandoff, the possibility of escape thrilled and cheered him and left no room in his heart for the dark side of the question. He, too, had faith in Vera. His past experience had taught him something of her strength of character.
As there was little opportunity for conversation, Shamarin conceived a course of procedure and boldly took the initiative. When the four had eaten their supper—for the lieutenant’s harsh order concerning Sandoff and Shamarin was for some reason not carried out—and were lounging on the hard platforms before retiring, Shamarin revealed the whole affair to Butin and Vraskoi. He felt safe in doing this, for both were political prisoners and had a high sense of honor.
The result was satisfactory. As concerned themselves, Butin and Vraskoi refused to entertain for a moment any project of escape at such a time of year, but they cheerfully offered to assist their companions to the best of their ability, although by so doing they would lay themselves open to severe punishment.
“It will be nothing worse than a deprivation of food, or being chained to our barrows for a week or so,” remarked Vraskoi. “We can endure that easily enough. Surely you would do the same in our place.”
This was quite true, and the services of the two brave men were reluctantly accepted.
While waiting for the prison to quiet down and the night guard to go on duty, Shamarin told Sandoff that his sister had been confined for the past year in the female prison at Ust Kara—which was the most southerly of the settlements. He had seen her but once in that time, on which occasion, three months before, they had mutually agreed to try to escape during the approaching spring, and attempt to make their way to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast.
“Why she has chosen this time to escape I do not know,” concluded Shamarin. “But depend upon it she has a good reason. I know her well enough for that.”
“I believe you,” replied Sandoff. “God willing, we will join her before midnight.”