Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-08-13
THE RECOGNITION.

IHE RECOONIIlON.
Fair voyage, captain, and safe re-
turn," cried the commandant of Fort
Ross, as his boat left the side of the frig-
ate, and moved toward the shore. SIN
three months shall expect you back"
"Do so. Success to the colony in the
meantime, "replied Capt. Kotzebue, wav-
ing his hat as the distance increased be-
tween the boat and 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-a stalwart young
man, with hsavy, eXpressionless features
and dark, brooding eyes-took no part in
the cheering, but standing with folded
arms little apart from the others, re-
garded the departing vessel with gaze
of silent intensity. Him the command
ant addressed the moment he stepped on
shore.
"What, Feodor, you hereP l thought
you were unwell." ."
81 am better now, your eXcellency,"
replied the young man, quietly and re-
spectfully.
your recovery is rather sudden" OBJ
served the commandant, dryly, looking
at him askance.
The suspicion implied by the tone and
manner of the speaker caused an anx-
ious, hunted look to come into Feodor's
mournful eyes, which the officer noticed
whereupon, being naturally averse tc
the indicting of unnecessary, pain, he
FASTENED to add kindly:
"Never mind, however. | am glaC
you have recovered. You may resume
your duties now, if you feel able"
Feodor bowed and looked relieved
while the commandant, walking towarC
his quarters, muttered:
81 never could make him out. He
a strange fellow"
b Both assertions were certainly true
I Feodor undoubtedly was strange fel
. low; and since the morning, month
ago, when he had first appeared, wet an
II dripping, at the settlement, claiming t
have been lost overheard the night pre-
vious from Russian whaler, nobody ha
ever been able to make him out" Hi
appearance and story seemed so equivC
, cal that the commander would doubtles
have taken measures ere long looking
a thorough investigation of his case ha
. not the castaway, during the first wee
l of his stay at Ross, proved himself sue
valuable addition to the working fore
of the settlement that its ruler was Loaf
to discover any reason of depriving hin
I self of so valuable an assistant. AS
:. was, affairs were allowed to remain j
: statu quo.
j Feodor-by this name was he called
showed himself to be intelligent, indu
trious, faithful and obedient; never il
" terfered with others, and attended strict
to his own business. Thus had tin
L passed until the arrival of Capt. Kotz
: bue, in the spring Of 1924, with orde
from the Russian government to ASST
the settlers at Ross in every manner pc
sible. Finding, however, upon his a
"a rival, that his services would not
~ in request for several months, he put
a, o1; ;,,folxr cDr
st cruise to San Francisco and the San
wich Islands, while at the settlemer
~ after his departure, the days and wee
t, dragged by in the dull and lifeless fas
ion natural to existence in spot so !
mote from the world and its excit
ments. The commandant and his Of
GERS, when not occupied in the perforl
ance of duty, spent Their time prin
pally in calculating the shortest possil
period necessary for Kotzebue to COZ
plete his cruise and return. There W
another, also, who, from the questic
3D. he occasionally asked, appeared to ia
considerable interest in the proba|
date of the frigate's temperance. l.
was Feodor. He had, since his sudC
recovery from his more sudden illnc
been as efficient and faithful follow
" as previously, and the commander
Dc. confidence in him increased daily.
1c' it was destined to receive asevere sho
On the morning when the white can
81. of the vessel was at last visible in
II distance, Feodor souglltan audience "
ms @ his commander
"Well, Feodor," said the officer, as
to young man entered his presence, Wv
can do for youPn
II am come, your excellency, to
one leave of absence"
"I fear it is impossible, my good
low; but how many days do you wis
"Three or four weeks"
rk. "Weeks! In the name of all
saints, man, where do you intend t
the in this wildernessp' demanded th
P. tonished officer