f these, he was told to remove all his clothing and was then
handed a large, coarse towel. At this, he heaved a sigh of relief and even
chuckled a little at his fright. He was merely being given a bath--a
Russian steam-bath. He had heard of such baths, and was now thoroughly in
favor of them.

"A bath is a bath," he whispered to himself as he twisted the towel about
his hips, "and a great luxury in this country."

He was pushed into the other compartment. It was stinging cold out here. A
second guard appeared with a great metal can filled with the glowing coals
from the fire Johnny had seen outside. He set this down upon a small
stand, the top of which was on a level with Johnny's waist, and backed
out. A third man appeared with a bucket of water and a huge gourd. Taking
a position directly in front of the door, this guard dipped a full gourd
of water and poured it on the coals. Instantly a dense cloud of steam rose
to the ceiling. This much steam, Johnny figured, would give one a
comfortable bath. But at that moment, with a fiendish leer on his face,
the man threw on another gourdful, then another. The door slammed and a
bar thudded into place.

Immediately Johnny took in the full horror of his situation. He was to be
steamed alive. Already the dense, white cloud was descending. Lower and
lower it came. He crouched down to avoid it. In another moment, it would
engulf him. No man could live in such a place.

His mind worked like chain-lightning. This cabinet? How was it fastened
down? How strongly? His fingers felt for the lower edge of it. Working
them down and under, he secured a hold. Then, with all his superb
strength, he heaved away. Something snapped, but still the thing held
firm. He heaved again. The touch of steam on his back lent him new power.
Crack! Crack! Then the uprooted cabinet swayed a second and then crashed
into three of the gaping spectators.

Johnny leaped forward. A burly fellow seized his arms. Using an old
college trick, Johnny fell backward, taking the man with him. Then, with
his foot on the other's stomach, he sent him whirling into two other men,
and, before they could recover from their astonishment, Johnny went
sprinting down the side of the long row of willows, which had proved his
downfall two days before.

He was headed for home. No Russian, nor Russian dog-team, could catch him.
But he was clad only in a towel, and there were many miles of snow between
him and his friends.

Sudd