Once there, become familiar with the place and its mountainous
surroundings, after which this diagram will assist you in finding the
cave where the gold is hidden," and he took from his breast, next to his
poor old wrinkled flesh, a strip of folded parchment, which, when
unfolded, was about eight inches square.

Barnwell took it with hands that trembled fully as much as the old man's
did.

"On it is a map which you can easily study out and decipher, and which
will surely lead you to the hidden treasure. It is a wild and
uninhabited part of the town, only about five miles from the frontier
border. That red dot there marks the spot where it is secreted, and you
notice that all lines on the diagram lead to it. Mark the line leading
up from the old post-road, and on it are marked the---"

At that instant a servant entered the cell and announced that the
surgeon wanted "No. 1000," which was Barnwell; and remembering how long
he had been absent, he hastily thrust the parchment under his shirt.

"I come," said he in Russian, and the slave went away. "I will see you
again at the first opportunity. Drink the remainder of the brandy," and
he almost pressed it to his thin lips.

"Be on your guard, my son; for from this hour your watchfulness must
begin. Farewell."

"Farewell; and I shall hope to find you better when I come again," said
Barnwell.

"But do not be surprised to find me dead."

"Cheer up, your time is not yet come, I hope; and, besides, I want
further instructions."

He did not wait for a reply, but hurried to the surgeon's office.

CHAPTER IX.

THE DEAD EXILE.

On reaching the chief surgeon's quarters he found that irritable petty
tyrant possessed of much temper on account of his long absence.

"If you don't pay more attention to your duties, I will have you sent
into the mines."

"Pardon me, sir, but I found the old man very low, and, tried to comfort
him," said Barnwell, respectfully.

"Curse him, let him die. He only lingers from pure obstinacy to make
trouble here. The wolves are waiting for his carcass. Go and bring my
dinner!"

Barnwell hurried from the presence of the brute; but he could have
choked the life out of him for what he had said.

But, brute that he was, he fell upon the food that was soon placed
before him, and after gorging himself and washing it down with fiery
Russian brandy, he showed more of his brute instincts by becoming more
peaceable, and finally going to sleep in h