IN GREEK WATERS: A Story of the Grecian War (1821). 6s. ON THE IRRAWADDY: A Story of the First Burmese War. 5s. THROUGH THE SIKH WAR: A Tale of the Punjaub. 6s. MAORI AND SETTLER: A Story of the New Zealand War. 5s. WITH LEE IN VIRGINIA: A Story of the American Civil War. 6s. BY SHEER PLUCK: A Tale of the Ashanti War. 5s. OUT WITH GARIBALDI: A Story of the Liberation of Italy. 5s. FOR NAME AND FAME: or, To Cabul with Roberts. 5s. THE DASH FOR KHARTOUM: A Tale of the Nile Expedition. 6s. CONDEMNED AS A NIHILIST: A Story of Escape from Siberia. 5s. WITH BULLER IN NATAL: or, A Born Leader. 6s. * * * * * [Illustration: GODFREY IS CAPTURED BY THE RUSSIAN POLICE.] * * * * * CONDEMNED AS A NIHILIST A STORY OF ESCAPE FROM SIBERIA BY G. A. HENTY Author of "Beric the Briton" "In Freedom's Cause" "The Lion of the North" "The Young Carthaginian" "Under Wellington's Command" &c. _ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER PAGET_ LONDON BLACKIE & SON, LIMITED, 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C. GLASGOW AND DUBLIN PREFACE. There are few difficulties that cannot be surmounted by patience, resolution, and pluck, and great as are the obstacles that nature and the Russian government oppose to an escape from the prisons of Siberia, such evasions have occasionally been successfully carried out, and that under far less advantageous circumstances than those under which the hero of this story undertook the venture. For the account of life in the convict establishments in Siberia I am indebted to the very valuable books by my friend the Rev. Dr. Lansdell, who has made himself thoroughly acquainted with Siberia, traversing the country from end to end and visiting all the principal prisons. He conversed not only with officials, but with many of the prisoners and convicts, and with Russian and foreign residents in the country, and his testimony as to the management of the prisons and the condition of the convicts is confirmed by other independent writers personally cognizant of the facts, and like him able to converse fluently in the language, and writing from intimate knowledge of the subject. G. A. HENTY. CONTENTS. CHAP. Page I. A GREAT CHANGE, 11 II. A CAT'S-PAW, 33 III. A HUNTING PARTY, 52 IV. A PRISONER, 67 V. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE, 86 VI. AN ESCAPE, 104 VII. THE BURIAT'S CHILD, 123 VIII. THE MINES OF KARA, 142 IX. PRISON LIFE, 163 X. PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHT, 182 XI. AFLOAT, 202 XII. WINTER, 222 XIII. HUNTING, 242 XIV. THE BREAK-UP OF WINTER, 262 XV. COASTING, 282 XVI. A SAMOYEDE ENCAMPMENT, 302 XVII. A SEA FIGHT, 322 XVIII. HOME AGAIN, 339