The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-02

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good horsenan, and the .oficers took him along
With them as equerry and piqueur. In the depth
p, Ine ee hiis pr. Travis siinor uisappearea WIN
mendous passage OF the Mil Ghaut.
BorANIzrSo IN THE HmALAYAs
Now this desertion Of the British army bv Mr..
Travis Minor WINS the beginning Of something
character II made a man Of him, in measure,
by the mere force OF hardship, suffering, and
s 81 gSyC s4 the rr as daley
gers, and adventures, Just as he was about per-
lshlng with fever, dysentery, and hunger, he met
PHI ID. OF Upsal, who had been in Thibet for ten
YEAR,; and was 92w gut from Ian IN search 81
banks OF the shayook. Horrebo had some qui-
Poor Minor never said cards s to him once, but
az to- ri who
now felt the spirit OF adventure on him because
to ascend the great Karakorum Pass, !" to see
the spot" he said where the Russian con-
queror will lcsk down upon India, like an eagle
Minor s who Thought l tE"t man who ' had gone
over the Niu GlfSut could go anywhere, readily
feet In the air, he thought differently; but Hor-
rebo, who had got now on the track OF some
Minor was out Of his latitude but he was the
Swedes debtor, and Horrebo was mounted on
his hobby. The redoubtnble hllsmen, Of whom
he had heard so much, had not disturbed him At
all, and here was an opportunity such az might
never again rccur TO compare the vegetation OF
northern slope Of these ranges-a fora Of which
probably less was known 1eaving out romanceTB
like N. Hue than Of any part OF the vegetable
Minor, who knew nothing about botany, but
had a strange affection for Horrcbo, consented,
attendants began to descend into the almost
untrave.led regions OF Turkestan. When they
Scs tSse% moan and se ns and a toll
some march and many indignities, they were
fetched, through rich plain full OF villages ana
mulberry plantations, into the city OF farkand.
THE TWO THREADS or DESTINY MEET.
As they hlcd into the southern gate OF the
mud ramparts, hard 10y the stone citadel, once
held by the Chinese but now by garrison Of
Usbegs Of Yacoob BcR's own choosing, caravan
OF Chinese prisoners entered by the eastern gate
from beyond the Great Wall who had been cap
tured by some OF Yacoob's videttes while trying
to make their way into kashgar The caravan
consisted Of ATTY men, camels, and numerous
horses, but had little else 70 sell besides brick
tea and some mysterious books from the far
West, said to contain all the principles Of high
magic.
yacoob Beg one OF the ablest administration
person the notion that the Turkish race and the
Mohammedan chief are played out. was at that
time 1s6S) rather new and uneasy In his Khan
ate. The Russians had not begun either TO
tempt him OF attack him. but lac had no end Of
trouble with the Chinese, whom he had recently
defeated and who wouldn't stay whipped, and
several Sepoy refugees from India, able officers
ana MohaliIIneCafls, VINO had iOught al Iclhi ana
Lucknow. and were now training his own
troops, had taught him instinctively to fear the
English. He felt the need Of severe examples,
Of stern lessons, Of rigid isolation Of his newly
created khanate by such eXtremities "a would
make his people fancy accommodation with the
torly impossible. When, therefore, he learned
that his Usbegs had brought In at once caravan
Of Chinese and party of English from India,
was expanded with Joy lie ordered the PRISON
to be all executed on the walls Of the citadel
Ss people Sf and al their O. goods
and possessions were to be Immediately de-
posted in the common treasury.
The Usbegs are civil sort OF people In the
main and ut once explained TO their prisoners
the rude destiny which awaited them. Horrebo
expressed his sincere regret at not being able TO
connect his explorations and complete them !;
requested TO nave his papers and herbaria for
the best Latin verse the occasion and his me-
mory would admit Of
Mr.. Travis Minor. on the other hand. heartily
damned the Usbegs aud the karakorum Pass.
and looked about him to see II there was no
possible means Of escape, Though how he
his care certainly did beat him. showing, at
least. that he did not even contemplate esoap-
fhe Ingenious nj tnina man probably more OF
fatalist and reader to meet death when Il came
than either Of the Western men. was now all for
escape. lie demanded an audience OF the Khan,
and told him lac WAS on his way. when captured,
to bring to the most glorious Khan Of the period
the iliustrious Iacoob Beg. the products Of the
latest development of Western civilization,
(which, one-sided as IL certainly was, succeeded
in enecting great resuitsi the marvellous Yam
kee books which taught the art Of getting some
thing out OF nothing, and which especially in
cucated the principles Of the transmutation Of
Hakim- Beg had lead and copper, he knew. as he
also had horses. but could he turn them into
godl MOI Neither could the Chinese, but the
English could, since they could read these won
derful books; and II seemed IA II the Higher
Towers Pow meant meant special compliment TO Yaco96
with the arrival Of the my sterious books. a band
OF English scientists especially educated to
Yaooob Khan demanded to see one OF the
books, and, rs soon AS the cards with their mys-
tic backs. and still more my erious faces, were
spread before him. was seized with an intense
desire TO have them Interpreted TO him. lie
sent for Horrobo and Minor. 4" Interpret these
mysterious hieroglyphcs to me, said the Khan,
teach me how to transmute the baser metals
into gold and silver, and ] will not only spare
10 Your own co9ntry'" Alas" I began the
learned naturalist, "you are deceived This 10
nothing but game II enables you to lose time
Here he was pushed aside by Mr.. Travis Minor
~ Yield to you on weeds and sech. said he.
but when It comes to kerdsl Shol Git QUIT"
He looked AZ the cards, front and back. with a
serious and intelligent face that commanded
the Khan's attention. He felt the edges OF the
Look hyar Professor. l know them kerds-
every derned spot on EN-, ace to duce, front or
advantage kerds, and III play that thar cuss
with EN- all day and night too, my head ag'inst
rupee every zeal. anu III 1 uOn I WIN MS ola
kingdom from him, my name amt Travis MI
nor.
PUZZLE FOR POLITICAL ECONOMISTS.
Explanations ensued II was evident that the
American knew something about the strange
books" and the Khan insisted on being taught.
Before night he WAS deep In the fascinating nov
elites OF four handed sevenup, the party being
made up Of the Chinese trader, Horreho Minor,
and the Khan. The next day there was lesson
IN euchre. After that came whist, then ecart6,
then bazlque. A few lessons In casino, and
vlngt-un followed, and then Minor taught the
receptive Khan how to play Boston, solitaire,
and crbbaee.
About this time there was a successful incur
sion of Chinese upon the eastern frontier, and
this was followed by "A revolt Of the Usbegs,
which YacOob Beg was barely able to put down
After the battle, the Khan sent for Minor. He
was in great distress Of mind. " | like You and
your friend" he said hut shall have to cut
your heads %. have no money my only reve-
nue. Is from the plumber Of caravans, and, while
! have been amusing myself playing cards with
you, have grown 10 DO the poorest man in my
khanate."
" II that's ALL" said Minor, " why don't YOU
invite your chiefs aud people To play with YOU -
What will that profit me - asked Yaeoob
beg IL VIII simply MAKE them idlers like ne.
No Your heads must come on"
why, good Lord, Khan !" said Minor, " II you
want money and your people have any just start
n faro bank with these cards, and viii guaran-
tee you every rupee, tael and roube in the Khan
ate In six months :"
Thl- was the beginning OF the prosperity OF
larkand. The faro bank was started, with Mi
nor Tor dealer, he To receive the regular 10 per