The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-08-05
A Legend Of Fort Ross.

A Legend Of Fort Ross.
"Fair voyage, Captain, aud safe re
turn" cried the Commaudant Of Fort
Ross, a. his boat left the side of the fri
gate, aud moved toward the shore "Iu
three months I shall expect you back
"DO so. Success to the colony in the
meantime" replied Captain KOtzebue.
waving his hat as the distance increased
between the boat aud his ship; and the
latter with a freshening breeze, stood
out TO sea, while parting cheer arose
from the crowd of settlers lining the
beach. One, however, stalwart young
man, with heavy, eXpressiOuless fea-
--tures, and dark, brOOding eyes-took no
part in the cheering, but, standing
with folded arms a little apart from the
Others, regarded the departing vessel
with a gaze Of silent intensity. Him
the Com maudaut addressed the moment
he stepped on shore.
"What, Freodor, you here? thought
you were unWell."
al am better now, your Fxcellencv. -
replied the young man, quietly aud re-
spectfully.
"Nour recovery is rather sudden" 4"
observed the COmmaudRnt, dryly, look
ing at him askance.
The suspicion implied by the tone aud
manner Of the speaker caused an aux-
iOus, hunted look 10 come into Feodor's
mournful eyes, which the officer no
ticed; whereupon, being naturally
averse TO the infiictiOn Of unnecessary
pain, he hastened to add, kindly:
'Never mind, however. | am glad
you have recovered. You may resume
your duties now, If you feel able"
FeOdor bowed, aud looked relieved.
r. Nirfrn d
his quarters, muttered:
81 never could make him out. He is
a strange fellow"
Both assertions were certainly true
FeOdor undoubtedly was a strange fell
low. Siuce the morning, months
ago, when he had first appeared, wet
aud dripping, at the settlement, claim
ing TO have been lost overheard the
night previous from a Russian whaler,
nobody had ever been able to make
him outn His appearance and story
seemed so equivOcal that the COmman-
der would doubtless have taken meas
ures ere long looking to a thorough in
vestigation Of his case had not the cast-
away, during the first week of his stay
at Ross, proved himself such a valuable
addition 10 the working force of the set
tlement that its ruler was losth to dis
cover any reason for depriving himself
OF so valuable an assistant. As IL was,
affairs were allowed 10 remain in statu
quo.
Feodor-by this name he was called
showed hims self TO be intelligent, indus
trious, faithful, and obedient; never in
terfered with others, aud attended
strictly to his own business Thus had
time passed until the arrival Of Captain
kOtzebue, in the Spring Of 1924, with
orders from the Russian Government to
assist the settlers at Ross in every man
ner possible. Finding, however, upon
bis arrival, that his services would not
be needed for several months. he put to
sea again almost Immediately, for a
cruise 10 San Francisco aud the Sand
wich Islands, while at the settlement,
after his departure, the DAYS and weeks
dragged by in the dull aud lifeless fash
ion natural to existence in spot so re-
mote from the world and its exeitements.
The COmmandant aud bis officers, when
not occupied In the performance Of
duty, spent their time principally in
calculating she shortest possible period
necessary for KOtZehue 10 complete his
cruise and return. There was another,
also, who, from the questions he oeea-
siOnally asked, appeared to take consid-
cradle interest 10 the probable date Of
taAN AAt5AtN lfiEaAauNGs LUIS was
FeOdor. He had, since his sudden re-
cOvery from his more sudden illness,
been as efficient and faithful a follower
as previously, and the COMMANDMENTS
confidence in him increased daily. But
il was destined to receive a severe
shock. On the morning when the
white canvas Of the vessel was at last
visible In the distance, FeodOr sought
an audience with his Commander.
"Well, Feodor," said the officer, as
the young man entered his presence,
what can l do for you?"
81 am come, your Excellency, to ask
leave Of absence"
81 fear it is impossible, my good
fellow but how many days do you
wish ?"
"Three or four weeks"
"Weeks In the names Of all the
saints, man, where do YOU intend to
go-in this wilderness ?" demanded the
astouished officer.
Somewhere in the interior. Excel
lency, hunting" answered Feodor, let
ting his eyes fall beneath the others
intent gaze.
"But what sudden whim is this % re-
sumed the COmmandant. "Gou have
said nothing concerning il her tofore." {"
mo, your Excelleney, but l have
thought much. You have been kind
enough 10 notice my Indifferent health
during the last few weeks This eXpedi-
tion would, / am sure, restore it,"
81 doubt it, Feodor," replied the OFF,