Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-17
his staff of Tartar officers, rode toward

his staff of Tartar officers, rode toward
the emir's tent.
Feofar-Khan was expecting his lieu
tenant. The council, composed of the
bearer Of the royal seal. the khodja
and some high officers, had taken theIr
places In the tent.
Ivan Ogareff dlsmounted, entered and
stood before the emir.
Feofar-Kahn was a man Of forty,
tall, rather pale, of q fierce counte'
nance and eyes with an evil express
sion. A curly black beard flowed over
his chest. With his war costume, coat
of mail of gold and silver, cross belt
glistening with precious stones, scab'
bard curved like a yataghan and set
with sparkling gems. boots with golden
spurs, helmet ornamented with an al.
gret Of brilliant diamonds, FeOfar pre-
sented an aspect rather strange than
imposing for a Tartar Sardanapalus,
an undisputed sovereign, who directs
at his pleasure the life and fortunes OF
his subjects, whose power is unlimited,
and to whom ut Bokhara by special
privilege the title Of emir is given.
When Ivan Ogareff appeared, the
great dignitaries remained seated on
their gold embroidered cushions, but
Feofar rose from rich divan which
occupied the back part Of the tent, the
ground being hidden under the thick
velvet pile of Bokharian carpet.
The emir approached Ogareff and
gave him a kiss, the meaning Of which
he could not mistake. This kiss made
the lieutenant chief Of the council and
placed him temporarily about the
khodja.
Then Feofar addressed himself to
Ivan Ogareff.
81 have no need to question you."
said he. Speak, Ivan. You will find
here ears very ready to listen to you."
This is what have to make known
10 you," answered Ogareff.
Ivan Ogareff spoke in the Tartar Ian
guage, giving to his phrases the EN-
phatic turn which distinguishes the Ian
guage Of the Orientals.
"This is not the time for unnecessary
words. What have dore at the head
of your troops you know. The lines OF
the Ichim and the Irish are now In
our power, and the Turcoman horse
men can bathe their horses In the now
Tartar waters. The Kirghiz hOrdes
rose ut the voice Of Feofar-Khan, and
the principal Siberian route from Ichim
to Tomsk belongs to you. You can
therefore push on your troops as well
toward the east, where the sun rises, as
toward the west, where he SETS"
"But the armies Of the sultan OF st
Petersburg?" said Feofar-Khan, desig
mating the emperor Of Russia by this
strange title.
"You have nothing to fear from them
either from the east or from the west,
replied Ivan Ogareff. "The invasion
has been sudden, and before the Rus
sian army can succor them Irkutsk ol
Tobolsk will have fallen into your pow
er. The cars troops have been over
wEelmed at Kalyvan, as they Will pt
everywhere where yours meet them
"And what advice does your devotlor
to the Tartar cause suggest" asked
the emir after few moments silence.
"AIy advice" answered Ivan Ogareh
quickly, sis to march to meet the sun
It is to give the grass of the eastern
steppes to the Turcoman horses to con
sumo. It Is to take Irkutsk, the capita
of the eastern provinces, and with 1t
hostage the possession Of whom Il
worth q whole country. In the place
of the czar the grand duke, his brother
must fall into your hands"
This was the great result aimed q
by Ivan Ogaretf. To listen to him on'
would have taken him for one OF tn
cruel descendants Of Stephen RaZine
the celebrated pirate who ravaget
southern Russia in the eighteenth cen
tury. To seize the grand duke, murder
him pitilessly, would fully satisfy hi
hatred. Besides, with the capture o.
Irkutsk, all eastern Siberia would pas
under the Tartar dominion.
ut shall be thus, Ivan," replied Fec
far
"What are your orders"
"Today our headquarters shall be re
moved to Tomsk."
Ogareff bowed, and, followed by th'
housch-begui, he retired to execute TIL
emirs orders.
AS he was about to mount his hors'
to return to the outposts tumui
broke out Mt some distance, in the par
of the camp reserved for the prisoners
Shouts were heard and two or th4e
shots fired. Perhaps 1t Yas an attemp
at revolt or escape, which must be sum
marily suppressed.
Ivan Ogareff and the housch-begu
walked forward q few steps, ana al
most Immediately two men, whom III
soldiers had not been able to keep back
appeared before them.