The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-08-25

riously inflicted on the detested Fan
Qui.
On the fourth day after the outbreal
of hostilities, there arrived in kiachts
group of Englishmen, engineers anC
Cornish miners, from a valuable min,
on the further bank Of the Amoor, tn,
whole plant of which had been wanton
" destroyed by the Mongol raiders
They reported the station of Cherinsk
with all its factories and dwellings, e
be in flames, while the European resi-
dents, with such of their property as
they could contrive 10 save, were slow.
ly retreating, under the protection of a
military escort, toward Irkutsk.
Towards Irkutskl" l exclaimed, in.
credulously; ''you mean, surely, to-
wards Kiachta. 1t would be running
into the lions mouth to attempt the
long march over the open plains tina;
lie between the northern end of Lake
Bakal and the mountains at the head.
waters of the Amour. No one in his
senses would give such an advantage 10
he feet-foOted enemy.
Bat my informant was positive as 10
the route which the caravan of refugees
from Cherinsk had adopted. ACornish
miner, dispatched thither to purchase
powder for blasting purposes, immedi-
ately before the inroad, had rejoined
his comrades with the news. Ii APP
peared that the decision, perilously un-
wise rs il seemed 10 me, to select the
longer and more northerly line of
march. had been formed by Count An
nenkoff, who commanded the troops,
and who was a young man, new TO the
coEntry, and oyer-confident in his own
Judgment.
Hitherto, it was added, the Morgol
hOrsemen had contented themselves
with lowering, like hawks on the wing,
around the destined prey, keeping at a
respectful distance from the rified
muskets of the soldiery; but there could
be no doubt that they were waiting the
opportunity, in some unguarded mo-
ment, OF swooping down upon the camp,
while the movements Of the fugitives,
incumbered as they were by heavy
baggage train, and accompanied by
several ladies and children, were of
necessity slow. That Ellen and her
father were Of the company was all but
certain.
could no longer endure the safe in
action of life at Kiachta, and according
" formed a resolve which to many
of my friends appeared rash and will
full. This was, to make my way. as best
might, 10 the caravan, the tardy pace
Of which would readily be overtaken by
4 well-mOunted rider, and to persuade
Ellen and her father rather 10 trust
themselves to my guidance back 10 Hi
achta, than 10 persevere in the arduOus
march that otherwise lay before them.
Thanks to my love of field sports, and
to a certain restless spirit of adventure,
| had an acquaintance with the country
for many a league around, having re-
peatedly accompanied Tartar hunters
on their expeditions in quest of the elk,
the bustard, and the antelope of the
plains. l was excellently mounted, and
felt that, should Ifall in with the enemy,
their shaggy ponies would not easily
come up with my fine Turcoman steed
from the distant deserts of khiva. And
of hunger, and thirst more
terrible than hunger, those gaunt
guardians of the steppe, there
was not much risk. was to trav-
erse a country watered by many streams,
afiiuents OF the Amour, and where the
prOvident care of the Russians had
caused wells to be dug in the dryer por-
tons of the plain. The nomad tribes,
with whom even the Mongols would not
interfere, on the principal Of dog not
eating dog, were friendly enough to
give me food in exchange for silver
roubles, and the weather was as vet fine
and mellow, althous h the season was
winter.
The first long days march brought
me 10 a cluster of black felt tents conf
cal in shape, pitched on the bank of a
shallow brook, while hard by grazed
the sheep and buffaloes that made up
the only wealth Of the horde. I rode
up 10 them without fear-for these ram
blers through the plains of Eastern ST.
IBERIA have little harm in them-and
recognized in the headman of the camp
an old acquaintance, who spoke a little
Russian, and often brought in lamb
skins, yaourt, and wild strawberries, to
the market at Kiachta.
al would not push on were I you,
said the te-bearded pa
triarch, as be set before me the simple
fare-milk, cheese, and mutton ka-
baubs, skewered on a twig Of the ar
butus-that he had TO offer. "They
were here with US yesterday, some hun
dreds of the light-fingered rogues from
across the frontier, and il cost me ten
fat sheep, and many fair words, To coax
them into good behavior. They had
two white mems heads, set on spear
points, for their standards, and their
leader swore by the Holy Tooth not to
90 back TO Mongolia without silver
enough to plate the shrines Of his joss