The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-07-08

my thoughts eastward, and decided that
l would escape in that direction, but it
was more than two years before l could
execute my plan.
IL developed a great fondness for
hunting and trapping, and when l Sc.
cured a particularly nice piece of game
presented it to the Starosta.
zone day told the Starosta Il had
found the traces of an unusually large
sable, and hoped to secure the animal
very soon. Early the next morning |
left everything as usual in my hut, and
made the circuit of my traps; then I
started in northcasterly direction
across the hills that borde.ed the valley
of the river where our village lay.
"Whilc 1 was hurrying along with no
thought except that of my newly gained
freedom, a bend in the hill brought me
face to face with Starosta!
"Where are you going, little
brothern said he.
II tried my best to appear calm, as I
answered that had trap in that di-
rcction, and wanted to visit it.
"I will go with you,' said he.
t'I was in Dilemma l had no trap
there, and what to do did not know,
but l soon hit upon plan.
"It was in the spring Of the year, and
there were holes in the ice on the streams.
In crossing the stream | managed to fall
into the water, and was wet to the skin.
After soundly rating me for my careless.
h. nl> lopnI tho 5Ioo nf
going to the trap, and ordered me to go
home and dry my garments, of which |
had but one suit.
81 waited another week, meanwhile
setting two or three traps i'll localities
that would give an excuse for long
journeys in the direction OF freedom.
The next time | started had better for
tune, and got safely away. I felt that
the Statosta had not suspected my intcn-
tions, and would not be alarmed about
my disappearance for at lcasta fortnight;
moreover, he might think l had fallen
into the water again and been drowned.
"When night came | was a good
thirty miles away from my village. Not
daring to light fire, l passed the night
very uncomfortably. after making my
supper on some crusts of bread | had
brought in my pocket, and the raw flesh
of partridge l had knocked down
with stick.
"For fifteen days was alone in the
wilderness of Siberia, living upon the
birds, which I killed with my bow, or
caught in snares. On the fifteenth day
the birds were more shy than they had
been, and l knew l was approaching a
native camp. Sure enough, before sun
set deserted column of smoke which
led me directly to village of Tungu-
slams, the aboriginals that inhabit the
region bordering on the Arctic ocean,
and wander from place to place in search
of pasturage for their vast herds of
reindeer.
"Some of them knew few words OF
Russian, and partly by conversation and
partly by signs l told them l was the
only survivor of ship that had been
wrecked on the coast of the Arctic
ocean. Ships have been lost there at
different times, and my story was piaus-
ible enough; luckily, the absence of a
common language saved me from trou-
blesome cross examination. asked
them to take me to a Russian settlement.
but to my great JOY they were not going
to one at present. They were intend
ing to pass the summer on the shore of
the Arctic ocean, and would start for it
the very next day.
"My skill with the bow and arrow Sc
cured their friendship, and Twas allowed
to travel with them, and soon to join
their tribe. Pretending to be one of
them, adopted their dress of deerskins
ana threw away my old clothing, as it
might lead to my detection in case we
encountered any Russian explorers. |
wore my hair in Tuugusian fashion, and
stained my skin, so as to resemble my
new friends as much as possible, though
could not fatten my face nor turn my
eyes up at the corners in true Tungusian
style.
at was two months from the time I
met these aboriginals before we reached
the Arctic ocean; We made our camp
close to q summer village of Chuckchccs,
the people inhabting that part of Sibe.
ria near Behring's straits. With some
of the Tungusiaus visited the Chuck
chez village, but soon returned in great
alarm. had met two Russian traders
in the village, and was consequently
fearful OF detection. One Of them spoke
to me in Russian, but I stared at him
with an expression Of Ignorance, and re-
piled with few words of Tungusian.
'Thrcc days after we formed our camp
I went out in the morning aud saw somc-
thing which brought my heart into my
throat An American whale ship was
sailing along the coast. and not more
than three miles from shore.
cat the risk of bciug discovered by the
Russian traders, l went again to the
Chuckchec village, and persuaded the
owner Of q baidar,. or scalskin boat, to
carry me to the ship under promise Of q
fine sable skin when we returned. Great
was the astonishmcnt of the crew when
I hailed them in English, which l had
learned in my youth, and asked to be
taken on board. Drawing from my jacket
the promised sable, and giving it to the
owner of the badar, climbed the side
of the Annie Gibbs, Of New Bedford,
and was soon face to face with her cap
tain.
Not daring to explain my real char
actcr, told the captain that | was the
sole survivor Of German ship that had
been crushed in the ice during the pre-
vious summer. offered to work my
passage, and hp readily accepted me, as
he was short of men. The ship was very
successful in catching whales, and had a
full cargo Of oil by the end Of summer.
Then she went southwark, and l was
again in great peril, rs the captain
dropped into the harbor of Petrcpavlovsk,
in Kamchatka, to take in a supply of
water. Russian officers came OH board,
and | thought l was recognized, but
happily it was not so; was the most
delighted man in the world when we
sailed out again into the broad Pacific
and stcered for San Francisco.
Gas we dropped anchor in front of
that city, touched my cap to the cap.
tain and told him l was an escaped Sibe-
rian exile.
lie looked surprised, and stood un.
able to speak for fully half minute.
Then, putting his hand in his pocket, he
drew out two shining double eagles and
gave them to me- Il don't want to know
anything about it, said he, as it might
get me into trouble with the Russians.
took you for shipwrecked German,
and that's what believe you are
"And this was how escaped from
Siberia. - Youth's Companion.
Chinese Sauces.
At a Chinese dinner the attendant