Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-01-03
THE LOST MAIL BAGS

On the harbor tho dark waters of the sea
of Japan reflected the twinklirg lights
from half q dozen vessels lying snugly
AT anchor, and westward behind the
town the moon shone dimly on the
snowclad plains and rugged slopes of
,he sikota mountains, beyond which,
across the frozen waters OF the Anur,
stretched for thousands Of leagues the
Great Siberian desert. Vladivostok
might almost DO called tho jumping
of place" Of the world, lying as it docs
ON tho very eastern extremity of the
great Russian empire.
A few years ago IL was barren spit
Of land. uninhabited and forlorn. Now
The Russian drum beats at sunrise, and
ships Of all nations float their flags In
the harbor.
On this particular evening, whilo IN
The narrow street OF the town all was
silent save for tho occasional tread OF II
Russian sentry, sounds Of mirth and
laughter fioated from the brilliantly
lighted windows of the long. low garti-
son house. for the commandant of the
station was giving u dinner
1t was quite cosmopolitan gathering
that filled tho long table, for among tho
guests were Russian. French and Eng.
iish naval officers. and two or three
Anglo.lndians who had come up from
Shanghai on the mail steamer.
The last course had been removed, and
ihe quickened conversation that comes
with tho cigars had just commenced,
when the commandant was summoned
outside. and, when he returned n mo.
rent or two later, tho most observant Of
tho guests detected faint shadow in
his face.
Tho assemblagc broke up at a late
hour, and rs tho guests passed out on
the way TO their vessels young French
officer cried ont TO tho coinmandant;
"What IS tho matter, mon capitainej
You look sad and depressed"
CAPTAIN Shanoif laughed.
ait is nothing, Lieutenant Garceau,"
he replied-."nothing but the onerous
burden Of official duties. However, II
you havo on board your vessel nun
WAN nun AA'A NiA anu NAA' ilNNtA1 VI an
African lion You can send him TO me-"
The Frenchman, taking this ia jest,
laughed and passed on with choory
Eau reyoir."
One young man, who had overheard
this brief conversation, purposely lin.
gercd till tho last, aud IA the command.
ant held out his hand to bid him good
night he said;
"Captain Shanolf, pardon my intru.
sion. heard your conversation with
the Frenchman. j saw, though he did
not, that you were in earnest, and now
offer you my services"
The captain looked at him in surprise.
"You arc one of the passengers by the
mail steamer from Shanghai he said.
"You arc correct, said thoman. my
name is Luke Mowbray, OF the Indian
civil service
"And what IL your object in making
this propositions" nslsed the captain.
~ am fond OF adventure and sport, 4"
replied Mowbfay. "Sinco leaving India
l have had n duh time Of it, and my
chance for excitement and change will
be doubly welcome"
Tho Russian captain stood in hesi;a.
fion FOR u moment, and then leading tn
way silently to an apartment beyond the
dining hall he motioned Mowbray to a
seat and sat down facing him.
Now" said Captain Shanoif, ~ will
explain my conversation with the
Frcnchman as briefly MS possible.
Thirty miles from here. among the
Sikota mountains, there is u small de.
tachment Of Russians engaged In mining
operations. Mail bags are conveyed To
thom twice a week by a native, who
makes tho return journey in two days.
A month ago the carrier left Vladivo.
ftok for the encampmont. He has not
been heard Of since, Two weeks ago a
second carrier started, and he, too. has
completely disappeared. Formore than
a month we havo heard nothing of our
companions, 1t IS u profound mystery.
Tonight learn that no one can DO found
who will undertake TO carry the mil
bag. The natives here arc towards,
and what fow men | have, while they
are good soldiers, are not the men to un-
rayel u mystery"
"What is your theory asked Now.
bray, "Robbors? Wild bcasts2 Or
could they have lost their wayG'
"Wild animals AFRO scarce said tho
captain. "Thero are no robbers in this
part Of Russia, and tho path. while
difficult, is plain
"When should the mail bag go;" went
on Mowbray.
at came by today's steamer, md
should leave early in tho morning,
replied Shanof.
"Woll," said Mowbray, "tho ad
venture promises well. Twill undertake
TO reach the cncampment with the mai
bag"
Captain Shanon at first refused tC
listen to his proposition; but Mowbray
insisted 30 firmly that he at last gave {
reluctant consent.
Although no hesitated to incur tho re
sponsibility that would assuredly fall OF
his shoulders in case anything shoIllt
beiall tho brave young fellow, he wa,
secretly overioyed ut his good fortune
Tor the strange disappearance Of the two
natives had produced such an eilec,
upon both natives and soldiers that no
one could be found in Vladiyostok who
would undertake the journey.
Moreover, the captain had u grave sus-
pcion that tho native carriers might
have fed into tho interior with tho mai!
bag, for strangely enough .ho missing
mon Werc prothprs