Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-25

two varieties OF man-colonists and savage.
this huntsman had some mystery about
him. He could not be a wealthy merchant
who might have left his dwelling in the city
TO hunt with the natives, because his worr
and patched clothes spoke of poverty. Hi.
companion was evidently the chief o.
tribe OF Tunguses. His costume, made o
reindeer skins, was after the fashion Of
the natives, richly adorned with glass
beads and bits of colored cloth.
On his head he wore a handsome
sable tolpak, and the bow, with which
he killed game admirably, was ornamented
with gold pieces. 1t was, in tact, the Prince
of the Tunguses himself, one of the most
famous hunters far and near. He led the
life of a nomad in summer, when foxes
and sable retired nortbward, he crossed to
the opposite shore of the Baikal Lake and
was said to carry on a profitable trade with
some tribes on the Chinese frontier. 1enar-
Kus owned innumerable herds of reindeer
ana many tents; he had won the respect
even OF the Russian officials and inspired
them with a certain fear. because he was
closely allied with all the wandering tribes
of Tunguses and other natives.
The Siberian Prince whistled piercingly,
and at once from five different sides five
immense Siberian dogs came rushing forth.
These gigantic animals resemble wolves and
are OF imposing size; they are yellowiSh,
have black muzzle and strangely-shaped
ears. These dogs sprang up on Ienar-KuS,
barking ioyously; upon a sign of their mas
ter's these intelligent animals rushed back
to the sleigh, pulled it out and remained
near. as if awaiting further orders.
''These good creatures" said the Prince,
''are so clever and bright! 1 learnt this
way of travelling from the Samapedes of the
North. and daily rejoice at it. As to speed,
nothing can compare with these racers. To
be sure, they are not, as reindeer are, able to
draw whole family, but then they are so
much faster. Besides, they are obedient,
while reindeer
The Russian interrupted this eulogy on
his dogs by saying:
Quick, to work. 1t must be later"
They took ropes from the sleigh and began
putting the dogs into harness.
1--WE need not come back here" he said,
''the forest is empty. Tomorrow I'll take
my hunting gear to the other bank of the
Angara."
81 am very much astonished, said Ienar-
Kus. that YOU should be one of those
whom the Cars finger has touched, and
still enjoy such great freedom. l have now
been hunting 80 years in this district. l
have met a great number of exileS and have
learnt to know intimately many of them,
but no one was like you; you never remain
at any one place; you are allowed to have
firearms; you go where you list and CON-
mand othersl 1 cannot understand thatT'
"And vet have often explained it to
you. am the head OF the colonists of this
district Before me others were here, whom
you perhaps did not know"
The Tunguese shook his head.
"T have known all the colonists who were
sent here these 80 years.
perhaps they were not as cunning and as
active as l am. All the colonists of this
district would let themselves be cut to pieces
for me, because they know how zealously l
work to restore them to liberty. For three
days man has been living in nv hut.
wrapped up in furs, in my bed, and groan-
ing fearfully whenever an inspector enters.
This makes them think l am sick In ST.
IBERIA there are no physicians; exiles have
to do their work. Our district doctor is a
Polish surgeon; he knows my secret. You
see, then"
THAT may pass once"
81 have other means to mislead the au-
thorities. Day and night 1 am at work.
You know my project, and you have prom
ised me your assistance.
"a Tunguse chief keeps his promise"
"I know, Ienar, and have initiated YOU
into all our secrets because 1 know the
honesty OF your character. You see, my
friend, in my native country, far, far away,
there live many rascally people. There
treachery and vulgarity prevail, such as you,
simple children of nature, cannot imagine.
1 must return there. in order to punish
traitor and to make amends for crime.
81 have often told you: Rely on Ienar!"
Ibid you speak with the chief of the
Chalchals, that he gives US leave to march
through his land? Did you tell him we
would pay him 4, 900 fox skins and 10, 900
sables? At my storehouse in the Shaman
Valley l still have twice as many"
81 have not yet crossed the Holy Sea.
When 1 have carried you to the Shaman
Valley then I'll go to the Chalchals, and
you may rely upon il that I will make them
do what you wish. But. speaking of furs,
do you know that quite near here there is a
large storehouse?"
''Oh, yes; that is the stock of our poor
neighbors. The skins are the property OF
my fellow-suferers; we must not touch them,
not even TO further the good cause. 1 hone.
however, soon to communicate with these
poor exiles, and to win them over for our
cause. 1 have several times already sent
emissaries to them"
Ienar-kus smiled.
Il do not understand your scruples. We |
also hold the property of friend sacred, |
but here there are only strangers. However, !
others are ahead of us. In village not far |
from here there is a band of Tunguses. who |
know this magazine and mean to plunder
it. They have several times already gotten
large spoil and hauled it sway safely; and |
] have noticed during the day tracks of |
meE's feet"
"At all events I do not mean to have any, |
thing to do with thatp'
L. IL
made ready. But just then the Siberian |
beckoned to his companion to be quiet; be !
threw himself down and put his ear on the |
snow.
"A post sleighl hear bells! We must |
fee" he exclaimed, rising.
From which direction is the sleigh COM |
ing9"
From the lakeside
"Then we cannot flee, because we would |
meet them. But / must he tonight in the |
Shaman Valley. Whip the dogsI Make |
them gallopi We can pass them like a |
shadow and their horses can never overtake |
u.s."
Ienar-Kus clacked with his tongue; the |
dogs few. The traces of their small feet |
could barely be seen on the hard snow, and |
the sleigh was jerked to and iro. The marta
looked like q supernatural creature flying
llhe al dllOh ofOl VIC pidluf llh6 OHe VI tue
spirits of the North which the Tunguse wor-
ship. Wrapped up in their furs, their caps
pulled down over their ears, the two hunts
men sat close by each other, never uttering
sound.
The bells came nearer. Soon Ienar made
put sleigh with four horses; the animals
sank hall into the snow and the sleigh made
little progress.
go onr' said the Russian. ''They have
lost their way. Well pass them like q
ghost"