Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-09-10

threshold Of Iazret This majesty into
/ ointment for ny eyelids.
The fellows looked more puzzled
I than ever, but no one thought of doubt
ing what ! said; for, indeed. it could
never have entered into their heads that
any Russian could be riding through
their deserts with only two men at his
back, unless he had really some busi-
ness there
80 the leader OF the band saIuted
me very politely. and said that he laid
hi forehead in the dust before the
messenger Of the great ear with a
lot more rigmarole Of the some sort:
and them the whole party turned and
rode back toward Samarcald, with me
and my Cossaclss in the center
we sls pt 1T Diizak 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 ear most sumptuouslv. Ny COS
sacks-who, like true Russian soldiers,
felt quite safe so long as their COM
handing officer showed no SIGN Of anx-
iety-ate two pounds Of pilaF Ia mess
of rice and muttonl apiece, and then
fell asleep quite comfortably.
My slum bers, however. were not so
quiet by any means. / had heard
enough of the ameer to be sure that he
wouldn't be easily taken in; and if he
found me out, it would be only being
tortured to death by inches, instead of
getting cut down at once.
''Once or twice ! thought of waking
up my Cossacks and making a run for
it: but every time | looked out Of the
tent, there were two or three Box
hariotes strolling about with guns or
their shoulders, and | soon saw chat
there was nothing for it but to go right
through with it to the end
I'VE started again little before sun
rise, and got to Samarcand about noon.
The view Of the Tchepan-Ata hills,
standing out over the rush ard foaming
of the river, was very fine; but to my
great disgust, us soon as we got to the
outskirts of the town, they blindfolded
me with a silllen scarf, SO missed see
ing just the very thing that | especially
wanted to see.
I'VE passed through several streets,
seemingly crowded, to judge by their
noise Then / felt myself lea up q
winding path and through gate; and
then, all at once, the bandage was
taken away from my eyes, and | found
myself in "A large paved court, in the
midst OF which, on a pile of cushions
sat short, fat, heavy-looliing old man,
with small, narrow black eyes
''The moment the Bollhariotes who
We're with me came near him they all
fell upon their faces; and then guessed
that this old rogue must re the ameer
himself
"'What seek you hel orooss?'
asked the amcer, looking l1eenly at me.
$50 then | plucked up courage and
told him as steadily as | could flor the
unshcathed swords all around were
rather unpleasantly suggestive) that l
had brought him gifts from the ear,
giving him III the same time my gold
watch and my revolver.
HE was quite delighted with the re-
volver, and must need fire it oil at once,
nearly shooting some Of his own at
tendants But just as all seemed to be
going well, he shot a piercing glance
at me and said:
{" Surely my brother, the ear, would
not send such gifts without sending a
letter with them?"
For moment | felt cold all over,
for then it seemed as if we were fairly
caught at last; and | knew what mercy
we might expect from these ruf1ians if
once the trick were found out.
II could seek my Cossacks looking as
blank as did, but just then bright
thought struck me.
.'About a week before, my brother in
ST. Petersburg had sent me a playbill
of the Alexander theater, with the pro-
gramme of my favorite play of Shakes
peare.
Il drew it out of my pocletbook
with flourish, and said:
The king hath spoken wisdom,
and, lo the letter Of the car of
Ooroosistan RUSSIA is before his sub
lime eyes.
THE ameer looked at it, like a
monkey at a Greek inscription; but the
huge double eagle ana the big Alex
ander' (the 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.
''As for the precious playful, it was
laid up with all honor in the archives of
Bokhara, and when our fellows took
Samarcand, seven years later, they
must have been rather astonished to
find it there. David Ker, in Golden
Days,
Lively Wires.
1t was couple of hours after mid