Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-22
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erly line OF march, had been formed by
Count Annenkoff, who was young man
new TO the country and over confident in
his own judgment.
Hitherto, it was added, the Mongol
horsemen had contented themselves with
towering, like hawks on the wing, round
their destined prey. keeping at respec-
table distance from the rifled muskets oil
the soldiery; but there could be no doubt
that they were waiting the opportunity,
in some unguarded moment OF swooping
down upon the camp, while the move
ments OF the fugitives, incumbered as they
were by heavy baggage-train. and &C
compsned 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 mac
ton of life at kiachta and accordingly
| formed resolve which to many of my
friends appeared rash and willtul. This
was to make my way, as best | might, to
the caravan, the tardy pace OF which
would readily be overtaken, by well
mounted rider, and to persuade Ellen and
her father to trust themselves to my guild
ance back to Kiachta rather than perse-
we're 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 Tor many league around,
having frequently accompanied Tartar
hunters on their expeditions in quest of
the elk. the bustard, and the antelope of
the plains.
was excelently mounted, and felt that,
should fall in with the enemy. their shay
gy ponies could 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 traverse coun-
try watered by many streams aflluents of
the Amour, and where the provdent care
of the Russians had caused wells to be
dug in the dryer portions of the plain.
The nomad tribes with whom the Mongols
would not interfere, on the principles OF
dog not eating dog. were friendly enough
to give me food for silver roubles, and the
weather was yet as fine and mellow, al
though the season was winter.
The first long day s march brought me to
q cluster of black felt tents, conical in
shape, pitched on the banks of a shallow
brook, while hard by grazed The sheep and
buffaloes that made up the only wealth of
the horde. rode up to them without fear
for those ramblers OF Eeaslern Siberia
have little or no harm in them-and re-
cognized in the headman of the camp an
old acquaintance, who spoke little Rus
sian, and often brought in lamb skins, va
curt and wild strawberries to the market
at Kiachta.
81 would not push on were | you Cos
podin, said the white-beared patriarch,
as he set before me the simple fare-milk,
cheese and mutton kabaubs, skewered on
twig of the arbutus-that he had to offer.
They were here with us yesterday, some
hundreds of the light-fngered rogues from
across the frontier, and it 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 go back TO Mongolia
without silver enough the plate the shrine
of his joss-house. They're after the poor
folks from Cherinsk by this time; not that
they've any more fancy for the whistle OF
leaden bullet than other people have"
The gift of golden eagle, and the
promise of two more coins of the same
Inintage induced the headman to send
with me barefooted lad of his tribe, who
would, was assured, prove quite compe-
tent to conduct me to place whence
could easily overtake the caravan, and al
SO to keep up with my horse at any pace
short of a gallop. And young KAHN
chow he came by his Moslem name | can
not tell, for all these tribes of the border
are Buddists like the Mongols beyond it)
ran gallantly beside my stirrup over weary
leagues of grazing grounds and stretches
of stormy barrenness, till at length he
stopped, pointing triumphantly to "a num-
Der of footprints of horses, oxen, camels
and men, stamped into the haf.dried mud
OF shallow water-course, and with a
wave of bis hand toward dstand wreath
OF blue smoke, sure sign of bvouac fire,
he received from me the gittering eagles,
wrapped the gold in scrap Of raw sheep
skin, and thrust it into the salt gourd that
dangled by thong from his waist, and
then, with grin of leave-taking, trotted
off homeward
Continued to morrow