s passed steadily under the branches along the side of the
Neva. From a bush he picked a shred of white cloth, and it seemed to
him a veritable battle had taken place there. Torn branches strewed the
grass. He went on. Very close to the bank he saw by examination of the
soil, where there was no more trace of tiny heels and little soles,
that the woman who had been found there was carried, and carried, into a
boat, of which the place of fastening to the bank was still visible.

"They have carried off Natacha," he cried in a surge of anguish.
"bungler that I am, that is my fault too--all my fault--all my fault!
They wished to avenge Michael Nikolaievitch's death, for which they hold
Natacha responsible, and they have kidnapped her."

His eyes searched the great arm of the river for a boat. The river was
deserted. Not a sail, nothing visible on the dead waters! "What shall I
do? What shall I do? I must save her."

He resumed his course along the river. Who could give him any useful
information? He drew near a little shelter occupied by a guard. The
guard was speaking to an officer. Perhaps he had noticed something
during his watch that evening along the river. That branch of the river
was almost always deserted after the day was over. A boat plying
between these shores in the twilight would certainly attract attention.
Rouletabille showed the guard the paper Koupriane had given him in the
beginning, and with the officer (who turned out to be a police officer)
as interpreter, he asked his questions. As a matter of fact the guard
had been sufficiently puzzled by the doings and comings of a light boat
which, after disappearing for an instant, around the bend of the river,
had suddenly rowed swiftly out again and accosted a sailing-yacht which
appeared at the opening of the gulf. It was one of those small but rapid
and elegant sailing craft such as are seen in the Lachtka regattas.

Lachtka! "The Bay of Lachtka!"

The word was a ray of light for the reporter, who recalled now the
counsel Gounsovski had given him. "Watch the Bay of Lachtka, and tell
me then if you still believe Natacha is innocent!" Gounsovski must have
known when he said this that Natacha had embarked in company with the
Nihilists, but evidently he was ignorant that she had gone with them
under compulsion, as their prisoner.

Was it too late to save Natacha? In any case, before he died, he would
try in every way possible, so as at least to have kept her a