y
difficult one, on account of his being known to the police as an active
and a dangerous Nihilist.

Nor was this all. After spending a whole week without finding him, he
became convinced that he, as well as other Nihilists, had other names
than, their own, by which they were known only to undoubted and trusted
ones of the mysterious brotherhood.

This discouraged him to such a degree that he was on the point of giving
up the task and resuming his own greater one--that of securing the
million rubles secreted so many years ago by Batavsky.

But so perfect and secret is the Nihilist organization in the larger
cities of Russia, that they employ spy for spy with the government, and
their enemies are watched as carefully as they are themselves, which, in
a measure, accounts for their great success and the infrequency of their
being detected.

In this way it became known to Vola that an American was seeking him
under his real name, and a spy was at once put upon his track to learn
about him.

This, of course, he did not know. Indeed, he had at one time made
inquiries of this very same spy regarding the object of his search, but,
although questioned closely, he would reveal nothing relating to his
business.

Finally Vola, being convinced that the man seeking him was not an enemy,
nor in any way employed by the authorities met him purposely one day at
his hotel--the very day, in fact, on which he had concluded to abandon
the search.

He approached and addressed him in Russian, which by this time Barnwell
understood quite well, as the reader must know, and asked him the
direction to a certain street.

"I am a stranger here," replied Barnwell, "but would gladly direct you
if I could. Most likely the men at the hotel office can direct you," he
added, politely.

"Ah, thank you; but I would not like to inquire of them for the person I
am in search of," and looking around, as if to make sure that he was not
likely to be observed or overheard, he lowered his voice, and added: "I
am in search of a man by the name of Vola."

Barnwell leaped to his feet.

"Peter Vola?" he asked.

"Hush! The same. Do you know him?"

"Yes, if I could but find him. It is remarkable," mused Barnwell.

"What is remarkable?"

"Why, that I have been unsuccessfully searching for a man by that name
for a week."

"Do you know him?"

"I do not."

"Have you business with him?"

"No; but I have a message for him."

"Indeed; from whom, pr