The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-17
THE BUSTARDHUNT
BY Charles Won FaIck

Prof. Charles Won Fslck, is teacher of mod
ern languages at the University OF southern
California His dctiop here is very similar
TO that OF the charming little tale. Anita, by
the same author, which appeared n these col
umns some weeks ago and when mas s,nce
periodicals. Professor Falck's productions are
as a rule very attractive and always quite
true to nature The professor is distin-
guished scholar and an undoubted acquisition
to the university.
The night was cold. All day it had
been raining, and only in the even ng, as
the sun was setting, the clouds parted,
promising Il bright morning for the COM
ing day. The moon smiled and myriads
of stars looked down upon old 'mother
EARTH that Fall had kissed with the
breath OF death; and gentle wind was
playing with the rusting, fallen leaves.
whispering the tale of the dying year.
Frost had covered the sloppy mud OF the
country roads with light crust, which
grew thicker as the cold increased with
the approaching dawn.
Night had spread its dark shadows
over the country. Man and beast were
resting in peaceful sleep, and strange
sounded the blows of q dozen hammers
and axes, in regular intervals, some three
versts 1.-TWO miles) off, from the estate
and village of Bielogorka, situated in the
south part Of the black loan district OF
Russia a greav steppcs.
Here in the cold moonlight night men
were building an enclosure of about
hundred feet square from rough green
poles, SO tight that even a lamb could not
slip through.
That American BARN, said one of
the men, could not have chosen better
day to come. You can be sure the trap
pes won t fly in the morning, and II
that drove the gamekeeper is watching
are not scared off and move away it will
make grand hunt. and I can already
smell one of the tat fellows roasting in
my mother pot"
Yes" answered Trafi II, another OF the
laborers, 1T looks favorable; but say,
speaking of that American BARN, how is
that? he don t look at all as il he was a real
American. You know in the book my
sister, the -nanka nurse girD brought
over the other night, those pictures of the
American? There the mushicks (peas
ants) were all black, and the barins( gentle
mem wore great big hats, and pants with
fringes on the Sides and you know their
Cossacks are all brown as copper copecks
and ride their little horses half naked,
and for hat they wear crown of chick
en- feathers they shoot with poisoned
arrows and in place of lances they have
little axes. My sister said they are always
fighting, the 'barins' and kill them when
ever they have a chance. They ought to
have car like we have-wouldn't he fix
ttem?"
We'll, answered Epir1, 81 am sure |
don't know how that is, but my cousin,
the valet said that the strange BARN is
really an American 'dworanin' mobile
mani, because he calls every woman
man, and that is a sure sign, he says"
The morning was approaching. The
horizon began to show a pinkish tint.
The men had finished the enclosure, and
were trying the gate, to make sure that it
would not refuse to work at the most i'm
portan moment. a stableman made his
appearance leading two wcll-bred horses,
with plain light English saddles, an
nouncing that the BARN" and his
American guest would follow in very
short time.
Ten minutes later there arrived Count
Shachoff and Frank Clark in "droga, y
vehicle on four wheels without any
springs, on the axles of which rested the
ends of six-foot board, two and half
feet wide. which formed the seat and
was upholstered. On each side was at
tached foot rest connected with tue
seat by a solid stretch OF leather. protected
from the mud of the wheels by wings
well-cushioned back kept the passen-
gers from falling off, and the driver in
bis box seat right over the front axle
thanked his Creator that his bones had
withstood the test of all the bumps and
rain aud frost had bereft of all smooth
ness.
jolts that they received while driving for
some three versts ever road that
The men all lifted with devout bows
their hats and remained bareheaded until
their masters ordered the hats to be re-
placed, and then addressing the game
keeper. who had also arrived, said:
How arc the prospects for the hunt,
Stefan?"
Very good. indeed, your honor ans
wered the man. 1.-The trappes have not
moved from behind the straw stack, and
out of the whole flock OF twenty-five or
thirty do not believe that three will
Hy.''
Well, then. let US start" said Count
Shachoff, a young man of about 30. tall,
very dark, with heavy dark mustache
twisted to a point on the ends; dressed in
high boots,a suit of rough gray soldiers
cloth. small black cap that fitted close
to his head and gloves with cuffs at
tached to them finished his dress.
Mr.. Clark. said he to his guest, a
man of the same age, middle height,
light complexion and smooth face, who
was dressed in neat short overcoat OF
light color, small checkered cap, buck
skin gloves. overshoes and gam BADGES,
you told me you were good horseman,
so l will give you your choice of the two
saddle horses. The one is little ner-
vous, but very fast; the other is much
quieter and better trained still has not
the speed, but he can jump over most
an?thing that comes in his way
Il think. Count" answered Mr.. Clark,
''the gentler of the two will have suffi.
cient fire for me. I have been a good
rider, but have not mounted a horse fol
the last three or four years.
The animals were led into the enclos-
ure. where all the men were waiting on
the bare backs of their homely little