Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-17

have been seen. Arabs, having the
primitive type of the beautiful Semitic
races, and Turcoinans, with eyes which
looked as If they had lost the pupil-all
enrolled under the emir's flag, the flag
Of incendiares and devastatOrs.
When the prisoners were brought into
the camp, the emir was In his tent He
did not show himself. This was for
tunate no doubt. A sign, word, from
him might have been the signal for
some bloody execution. But he in
trenched himself In that isolation
which constitutes in part the majesty
of eastern kings. He who does not
show himself Is admired and, above
all, feared.
AS to the prisoners, they were to be
penned up in some inclosure where, Ill
treated, poorly fed and exposed to all
the inclemencies Of the weather, they
would await Feofar's pleasure.
The most docile and patient Of them
all was undoubtedly Michael Strogoff.
He allowed himself to be led, for they
were leading him where he wished to
60 and under conditions Of safety
which free he could not have found on
the road from Kalyvan to Tomsk. To
escape before reaching that town was
to risk again falling into the hands OF
the scouts who were securing the
steppe.
At the same time with Michael Stro-
goff and many other prisoners Harry
Blount and Alcide Jolivet had also been
taken to the Tartar camp. Their for
mer travelling companion, captured like
them Mt the telegraph office, knew that
they were penned up with him In the
inclosure, guarded by numerous senti-
nels, but he did not wish to accOst
them. 1t mattered little to him, Mt this
time especially, what they might think
of him since the affair ut lchim. Be-
sides, he desired to be alone, that he
might act alone If necessary. He there
fore held Himself aloof from his for
mer acquaintances.
From the moment that Harry Blount
had fallen by his side Jolivet had not
ceased his attentions to him. During
the journey from Kalyvan to the camp
that is to say, for several hours
Blount, by leaning on his companions
arm, had been enabled to follow the
rest Of the prisoners. He had tried to
make known that he was a British SUBJ
l,,,k Go1 off nn r.
barans, who only replied by prods with
q lance or sword. The correspondent
of The Daily Telegraph was therefore
obliged to submit to the common lot,
resolving to protest later and to obtain
satisfaction for such treatment. But
the Journey was not the less disagree
able to him, for his wound caused him
much pain, and without Alcide Jolivets
assistance he might never have reached
the camp.
Jolivet, whose practical philosophy
never abandoned him, had physically
and morally strengthened his compan.
ion by every means in his power. His
first care when they found themselves
definitely established in the inclosure
was to examine Blount's wound. Hav'
ing managed to draw off his coat, he
found that the shoulder had been only
grazed by the shot.
"This is nothing" he said; "a mere
scratch. After two or three dressings
you will be all to rights"
"But these dress.ngs?" asked Blount
81 will make them for you myself"
"Then you are something Of n doc
torT'
"All Frenchmen are something OF
doctors"
And on this affirmation Alcidc, tear
ing his handkerchief, made lint OF one
piece, bandages of the other, took some
water from a we'll dug in the middle OF
the inclosure, bathed the wound which
happily was not serious. and slil!full!
placed the wet rag on Harry Blounts
shoulder.
81 thank you, NJ. Jolivet," said Har
ry, stretching himself on n bed Of df!
leaves which his companion had ar
ranged for him in the shade Of a birch
tree.
"Now let us talk Of what we ought
to do. assure you have no intention
Of remaining prisoner to these Tar
tars for an indefinite time"
"Nor either"
eve will escape on the first oppor
tunity?"
eyes, If there is no other way of re
gaining our liberty"
"Do you know of any otherT' asked
Blount, looking at his companion.
Certainly. We are not belligerents
we are neutral, and we will claim oul
freedom" ..
"From that brute Of Feofar- r-khan!
"No; he would not understand" an
swered Jolivet; "but from his lieuten
ant, Ivan Ogareff."
"He is a villain"
"No doubt. but the villain Is Rus
sian. He knows that 1t does not 90 u
trife with the rights Of men. and IL
has no interest to retain us. On tn
..G