Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-01-18


regiments of Russian soldiers were en-
camped on a fiat, sandy plain upon the
shore of the Gulf of Finland, not far
from new town which had just been
built at the mouth of the river Neva,
and called St. Petersburg. The sun
was beginning to set; and the men,
having finished their marching and
exercising, were having rest after the
days work, or beginning to get their
supper ready.
Most of them were strong and sturdy
fellows, who looked as if they could
stand a good deal Of hard work, and
hard fighting, too, before giving in.
But they certainly did not wear a very
soldier-like appearance, for all that.
They moved heavily and clumsily, and
handled their muskets as'if they had
been more used to plows and spades
than weapons of war
Awkward though they seemed, how
ever, these very men were to be able,
only few years later, to give King
Charles, of Sweden (who was then
thought to be the best soldier alive),
such beating that neither he nor his
army ever meddled with Russia again.
But, as they were now, they made a
poor figure enough and SO, no doubt,
thought big, red-haired man in Rus
sian uniform, who, with his arms folded
on his broad chest and scornful smile
On his face, was watching half dozen
Of them light fire.
"Pretty fellows you are to call your
selves soldiers |" cried he, in broken
Russian, "when you can hardly tell the
butt of a gun from its muzzle, and
don't even know how to kindle fire
yet. We manage things better in Sile
sia, where l was born and bred p
"Well, if your country is so much
better than ours, why didn't you stay
there ?" asked one of the Russian re-
cruits, sulkily.
Because / was wanted here to make
you Russian lubbers into soldiers,
answered the Silesian, iercely "and a
mighty hard job it is
The recruit muttered something be-
tween his teeth, but did not venture tc
make any direct reply; for this Silesian
Michael Kratsch, was a noted bully
and the strongest man in the regiment
and any one who tried to argue with
him generally ended by getting broker
head for his pains.
While Kratsch was still fuming a
finding no one to vent his anger upon
little drummer-boy, coming past witt
pan of water much too heavy for hi!
thin arms, stumbled against him BY
accident Like lightning, Big Michae
faced round and dealt the poor little
fellow a kick which sent him to the
ground, screaming with pain, and caus
ing him to spill every drop of thC
precious water that had cost so mucf
trouble to. bring.
An angry murmur ran through thu
group of Russians, and the Silesiar
turned savagely upon them.
"What are you growing at, dogs
If you have anything to say to me, sa,
it out. You ought to know by thi
time, should think, that one homes
Silesian is match for half dozer
such as you !"
"Are you quite sure of that ?" asked
deep voice behind him.
Every one looked round with start
for nobody had noticed a soldier stand
ing near the group, and listening to th'
Silesian's boastful talk with smile.
The newcomer picked up the littl
drummer-boy very tenderly, reilled hi
can from bucket that stood near, an,
sent him away rejoicing. Then h
came slowly up to the tall Silesian, anc
looked him full in the face.
| Kratsch eyed the stranger from hea'
TO foot, and did not altogether like tn
looks of him. His dress was nothing
very grand, to be sure, being simpl
the plain green coat Of Russian pr
vate, so soiled and threadbare that al
old-clothes man would scarcely hav
taken it as gift. But he was as tai
as Big Michael himself, while his hug
limbs and brawny chest made such
\ show of strength that most peopl
would have thought it much better t
shake hands with him than to fgh
him.
so" said the green-coated mar
quietly, lone Silesian is a match 70
half dozen Russians, Ell? Well,
can see that he's their match at brae
ging, anyhow !"
The Russians chuckled at this une,
pected hit, and one of them laughe
outright. Kratsch's face flushed pul
pie with rage, and for moment h
seemed just about to fly at the speaker
throat. But there was Something in tn
strangers bearing, and in the calm
steadfast glance of his keen, black eye
which cowed the fierce soldier, VIII
drew back with sullen growl
SWELL" said Greencoat, quietly, "w
Russians have saying that cor
doesn't grow by talking If you are
match, as you say, for any half doze
Of us, let US see what you can dor"