St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-10-31
FACING THE AMEER.
a Cool Head and q Clear Brain
Win in o Bold Enterprise.

''The thing that earned me my first
promotion" said Col B., of the
Sevcnty-eighth Russian infantry, rs
we sat in the balcony of the little post
house 1T Tchinaz lin one of the drcar-
lest parts Of central Asia) watching
the red glow Of sunset fading over the
broad, shining curves of the Syr-Daria
and the great plain beyond. ''was
rather . queer affair altogether"
give this story, which is perfectly
true, q nearly rs possible in the words
of the hero himself:
1T was certainly one of those things
which arc . good deal pleasanter to
talk about afterwards than to 60
through At the time, and don't much
think that should care to try it again.
anyhow.
This was how it happened: When I
first came out here the Khokandcse
still held all the country that we Rus
slams have taken since, and it would
havc been no easy matter to get even
q far Is this
"As for the country on the other side
Of the river we knew no more about it
than il it had been in the moon.
'Now. this tract beyond the river
(which belonged to the ameer Of Box
hara in those days) was just the very
place that our colonel. Tchernaicff.
particularly wanted to know about
"Wc.were pretty certain to have to
invade Bokhara sooner or later. and It
was specially important to know ii We
should find any water and forage on
the way and what sort OF country we
should have to cross
$50 when got down here with one
of our lying columns, which was maxi
ing . raid through the Khokandesc ter
rifory to give the 'cofee-faces' lesson,
bethought myself that it might be
long enough before I was s0close to the
border again, and that, as l knew the
native language pretty we'll and wasn't
afraid Of . rough ride. I'd just 60 over
into Bolkhars and SEQ what it was
H.
ssDidnt the old colonel look pleased
wheu volunteered? And hadn't to
ask twice for leave to 60. can promise
you.
"I don't think you'll ever come back.
my boy said he. but II you do you'll
see that I know how 10 reward good
service
.sWith this consolation I set Oh, &C.
companied only by two CcssackS
81 remember well how queer felt
when I stood for the first time on the
opposite bank and looked back at the
csmpfires Of our soldiers aad then for
ward at the great wide w<ste of dcs-
ert: but the bright sunshine kept my
enirits up-it's wonderful what a differ
~nce it makes sometimes whether the
days fine or gloomy-and away ! went.
merrily enough
"As foc my two Cossaclss. they looked
u comfortable - If they were going to
picnic.
went along; and well we might. in .
country where we might all have our
throats cut at any moment But for
the first two hours we didn't see = liv-
ING thing. However, I had already
msde M my mind what to do in case
n did fan in with any of the BoEha-
r;otes: and It was well had, for all 1t
once caught sight Of . cloud Of dust
far In the distance. with o sort of gilt
ter running through it every now and
then. coming right down upon us
81 saw my Cossacks looking 1t me to
- how I took il, and SO. of course. I
h.d 20 put ON 8 bold . face Is could;
tut I donx mind confessing now that l
vould have given all my chances Of
urnmotiou TO 6nd myself safe across the
border again.
However, 1t was too late to think
az that, for BY this time we werc so
near that cbuld see we had in front
~ N . BODY Of at least fifty horsemen,
every man with > gun At his back sod
esword at bis side.
II tied my white handkerchief to the
mint Of M sword. by way Of . dag Of
truce. and. bidding the Cossacks stay
where thee. we're. 4 rode forward to
meet the Bokhazfotes, who slackcned
sneed q came up apd looked 1t each
rther in . nuEsled. kind Of way. rs If
thev didn't quito know what to make
~ me. 80 a. st, .s
/. .Peaca b with you. trothers,' said
.You hsSe doubtless been sent TO
meet me bystale sreat'smcer. under the
shadow Of whose throne the whole
e.rth rests My he live . hundred and
tventy yezlsy 1 bring hin gifts. from
the car Of thA Oorooss Russians,. Let
crr horses hepUrin taEeaeh Sanareand.
that ] may make tho dust, upoa Ne
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