The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-17

! -o"l- ne got UP and began to peer through
{ the crack
a tartar woman was coming up the
mountain dressed in a loose Powered
SKIRT pantaloons and boots, and caftan
On hef head on which was balanced a tin
pan OF water. She led by the hand lit
| ue Tartar with shaver pate and clothed
! win shirt. The woman carried the
/ water INTO the tent, and the red Tartar
i OF yesterday came out He wore q long
I silk coat. a silver dagger in a strap. and
, ms mare feet We're slipped into low shoes
I a hlgh black astracan cap was on his
mead he sauntered forth stretching HIM
| sell and stroking his long beard. He gave
an order to a servant and walked on.
Some one opened the shed. The red
/ Tartar and another man. smaller and dark
| came IN. He had large bright black eyes,
| a black beard cut close. and bright face
| Jhat seemed to laugh. His dress was
/ handsomer than the red Tartar's. His
! blue silk coat was trimmed with silver
| braid. At his belt was large silver dag
/ ger. His red morocco shoes were also
trimmed with silver. and over these fine
| shoes he wore thicker ones. His high cap
/ was white astracan.
As the red Tartar entered he said some
/ thing in a scolding voice and looked at
Shelin from under his brows, and leaned
! on the door. The dark one quick as If
walking on springs, went straight to-
| ward Shelin, squatted down in front Of
him, grinned, slapped him on the shoulder,
| jabbered something in his language, wink
| ed his eyes, clacked his tongue, saying in
broken Russian, Good Russ, good Russ. ="
Shehn IN ierstooc nOthin but said,
water, water, give me water"
The dark Tartar kept on laughing and
jabbering. Shelin made signs with his
\ mouth that he wanted water The dark
man understood, laughed again, went
to the door and called, Dina"
A girl ran up; slim. thin, about thir-
| teen years old. very like the dark man,
| evidently his daughter the same bright
! eyes and handsome face. She wore d
long blue skirt, wide sleeves and no belt.
| At the wrists and on the front it was
| braided with red. Her legs were in
| trousers and over morocco shoes she wore
| heavier ones with high heels. Around
/ the neck was a necklace of Russian half
roubles. Her head was bare, and her
hair hung in long plaits tied with a
| ribbon embroidered with silver roubles.
| Her father spoke to her She ran away
| and returned with a little tin jug of
water, then squatter down so that her
| head was lower than her knees. She re-
| manned sitting while Shelin drank the
| water, staring at him with wide open
| eyes as if he were some strange animal.
| When Shelin handed her the jug, she
Jumped back like startled goat, so that
her father laughed. He sent her away
again She took the jug, went of and re-
turned this time with bread ON a round
| tray and squatted down as before, star
| ing at Shelin, apparently not able to take
her eyes from his face. The Tartar then
| left and bolted the door.
After while the Nogai servant came
and signed to Shelin that he was to go
somewhere with him.
Shelin set out limping in the stocks.
l II rHfn q 4
servant and found himself in Tartar
village of about ten houses and little
mosque with a tower. In front OF one
of the houses stood three horses sad
died. boys holding their brides.
The dark Tartar came quickly out and
signed for Shein to be brought there.
He laughed iabbered and re-entered the
house. Shelin followed. The room was
handsome one the walls smoothly
plastered with clay, and around the room
bright colored cushions. The walls were
hung with rugs, on which were arranged
all sorts of weapons mounted IN silver.
on one side was a small oven on "A level
with the floor. The floor was earth and
one corner was covered with felt carpet
spread with rugs and more cushions.
Sitting ON the rugs were group OF Tar
tars the dark one, the red one, and three
guests Each had pillows at his back,
and in front on little round platters, mill
lei cakes ana nlellGQ Dullti III cups ~
gether with Tartar Booza CbeeD in lit
lie pitchers. Their hands were greasy
from the buttered cakes they were cat
ing
The Tartars finished their cakes. A
Tartar woman, dressed in shirt and trous-
ers. like the girl, came in. Her head was
covered with a handkerchief. She carried
off the remains of the butter and cakes,
and brought back a bowl and pitcher with
a long slender nose. The Tartars washed
their hands, then folded them together,
knelt down, blew breath on four sides,
and recited some prayers After that one
of the guests turned to Shelin and said in
Russian:
you were captured by Kasi Mahomet,"
Dointing to the red Tartar, land you have
been given to Abdul NIurad," pointing TO
the dark one. abdul Murad is now your
master"
to talk, pointed to Shelin, laughed and
said:
The Interpreter said: He wishes you to
write a letter home for ransom, and
when the money comes you shall 60"
Shelin reflected a while and then said:
.'How much ransom does he want?''
The Tartars consulted and the interpre-
ter said
No" said shelin, Il cannot pay so
much"
"How much will you give?' said the in
terpreter.
shelin thought little and then an
swered:
give hundred roubes."
Hearing this all the Tartars began to
talk at once Abdul talked in a loud voice
to the red Tartar who only blinked his
ewes and clacked his tongue. Finally they
cuieted down and the interpreter said;
s'Tbe master declares that five hundred
roubles is not enough. He has himself
Maid two hundred roubles. Kasi Mahomet
owed him that and he took you for the
debt. Less than three thousand roubles he
cannot take and if you will not write for
II he will put you in the pit and beat you"
"You may tell him that If he tries to
frighten me he will not get ropee. for
will not write at all. was never afraid of
Won and am not now
The Interpreter translated Shelins
words. whereupon they all began to talk
At last the dark Tartar sprang up and APP
nroached Shelin, laughing and saying:
ssBrave warrior the Russian" and the
Interpreter translated for him.
1--WE will accept thousand roubles."
more than 800 I will not give, and if you
Kin me YOU win have nothing" said