As for Sandoff, the possibility of escape thrilled and cheered him and left no room in his heart for the dark side of the question. He, too, had faith in Vera. His past experience had taught him something of her strength of character. As there was little opportunity for conversation, Shamarin conceived a course of procedure and boldly took the initiative. When the four had eaten their supper—for the lieutenant’s harsh order concerning Sandoff and Shamarin was for some reason not carried out—and were lounging on the hard platforms before retiring, Shamarin revealed the whole affair to Butin and Vraskoi. He felt safe in doing this, for both were political prisoners and had a high sense of honor. The result was satisfactory. As concerned themselves, Butin and Vraskoi refused to entertain for a moment any project of escape at such a time of year, but they cheerfully offered to assist their companions to the best of their ability, although by so doing they would lay themselves open to severe punishment. “It will be nothing worse than a deprivation of food, or being chained to our barrows for a week or so,” remarked Vraskoi. “We can endure that easily enough. Surely you would do the same in our place.” This was quite true, and the services of the two brave men were reluctantly accepted. While waiting for the prison to quiet down and the night guard to go on duty, Shamarin told Sandoff that his sister had been confined for the past year in the female prison at Ust Kara—which was the most southerly of the settlements. He had seen her but once in that time, on which occasion, three months before, they had mutually agreed to try to escape during the approaching spring, and attempt to make their way to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. “Why she has chosen this time to escape I do not know,” concluded Shamarin. “But depend upon it she has a good reason. I know her well enough for that.” “I believe you,” replied Sandoff. “God willing, we will join her before midnight.” “It will be a partial reparation for what we have made you suffer, if through her efforts you get safely out of Siberia,” rejoined Shamarin. “It will be a terrible blow when she learns of your misfortune. She will reproach herself bitterly.” “That will be needless,” said Sandoff. “Fate willed that we should suffer in this way. Your sister saved my life. Could I have acted otherwise than I did? But let us dismiss the past and think only of the future. It will be better.” “Yes, that is true,” assented Shamarin. “We will think only of the future.”