The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-10-16
EBENsBURG. PA. FRIDAY. OCTOBER I6. 1879


his forehead in the dust before the
messenger of the great ear, with a
lot more rigmarole of the some sort:
and then the whole party turned and
rode back toward Samarcand, with me
and my Cossacl1s in the center.
we slept ut Djizak that night, just
where the desert ends and the noun
tain begins. The governor pitched a
tent in the garden behind his house,
and entertained the messenger of the
great car most sumptuously. My Cos
sacks-who, like true Russian soldiers,
felt quite safe so long as their com
mand.ng officer showed no SiEn of anx-
iety-atc two pounds of pilatf Ia mess
of rice and mutton) apiece. and then
fell asleep quite comfortably.
My slumbers, however, were not so
quiet by any means l had heard
enough of the ameer to be sure that he
wouldn't be easily taken in; and if he
found mc out, it would be only being
tortured to death by inches, instead of
getting cut down at once.
''Oncc or twice / thought of waking
up my CossaclSs and making = run for
it; but every time | looked out of the
tent, there were two or three Box
hariotes strolling about with guns on
their shoulders, and | soon saw that
there was nothing for it but to go right
through with it to the end.
1--WE started again a little before sun
rise, and got to Samarcand about noon
The view of the Tchepan-Ata hills,
standing ont over the rush and foaming
of the river, was very fine; but to my
great disgust, as soon we got to the
on %irts of the town, they bIindfoIded
me with Il silllen scarf so / missed see
ing just the very thing that especially
wanted to see.
''We passed through several streets,
seemingly crowded, to judge by their
noise. Then / felt myself led up
winding path and through gate; and
then, all at once, the bandage was
taken away from my eyes, and found
myself in large paved court, in the
midst of which, on pile of cushions,
sat a shor'- fat, heavy-loo!Sing old man,
with small narrow black eyes.
The moment the Bolhariotes who
were with me came near him they all
fell upon their faces; and then guessed
that this old rogue must be the ameer
himself.
What seek you here, Oorooss?'
asked the ameer, looking keenly at me.
80 then / plucked up courage and
told him as steadily as l could flor the
tmshcaLhed swords all around were
rather unpleasantly suggestive) that l
had brought him gifts from the czar,
giving him at the same time my gold
watch and my revolver.
He wassquite delighted with the re-
volver, and must need fire it off at once,
nearly shooting some of his own at
tcndants. But just as all seemed to be
gong well, ne snoJ piercing glance
ut me and said:
'''Surely my brother, the czar, would
not send such gifts without sending
letter with them?"
For a moment felt cold all over,
for then it seemed as if we were fairly
caught at last; and l knew what mercy
we might expect from these ruffians if
once the trick were found out
Il could seek my Cossacl<s looking as
blank as did, but just then bright
thought struck me-
About n week before, my brother in
St Petersburg had sent me playbill
of the Alexander theater, with the pro-
gramme of my favorite play of Shakes
peare.
Il drew it out Of my pocketbook
with flourish, and said: 4.
The king hath spoken wisdom,
and, 10, the letter of the czar of
Ooroosistan (Russia) is before his sub
lime eyes
"The ameer looked at ii, like
monkey at a Greek inscription; but the
huge double eagle ana the big Alex
ander' Cthe only word he could read
quite satisfied him
''He dismissed me with rich presents,
and gave me an escort from his own
guard as far as the frontier, where l
was mighty glad to find myself again,
can tell you.
LAS for the precious playbill, it was
laid up with all honor in the archives of
Bollhara, and when our fellows took
Samarcand, seven years later, they
must have been rather astonished to
find it there. David Ker, in Golden
DAYS