The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-21


with their strange fronts. II do no.
recognize the place. This Is not the
road from the hotel to my rooms-the
road we travelled over in going. Speak
Kitow
1T is not, sahib," meekly replies the
humble driver, who stands close by
| him.
"How does this come, miserable
dog" demands the Russian, half
tempted to chastise the wretch who
has led him into this pickle.
ut is my fault. I thought to take
short cut to your rooms. The moon
betrayed me. I saw not this hole.
Thank Allah 1t is no worse" replies
the other. endeavoring apparently to
conciliate him; but the enraged Rus
sian grows warmer every minute.
"'No worser You fool, unless we
can lift the wheel out Of the hole, 1
may have to walk-all through your
stupidity! Do you know, I've mind
to teach you a lesson such as the serfs
in Russia learned long ago"
With that, the baron. blind with
passion, leaps over to the vehicle and
snatches the whip.
It is a wicked-looking instrument OF
torture, especially in the hand Of one
who knows how to handle such 4
thing; and the baron, no doubt, has
had experience among sledge-dogs dur
ing his Journeys in the frozen wastes
of Siberia to be able to pluck a piece
of flesh from a certain spot on an ami
NAL An adept with such whip can
annihilate a horse-fy that has lodged
upon the back of the leader, and, al
though the report sounds like the dis
charge of a pistol, the animal has not
been even touched.
It can be set down as certain, there
fore, that the person familiar with q
whip has no desire to feel such an in
strument Of torture laid upon his back
or legs. Kito raises his hand In pro
test.
"Sahib, forbear! 1t would not be
we'll for you to strike me-" he says
calmly.
The moon has appeared again. 1t
shows a singular spectacle-the shig-
ram partly turned over, the angry bar
on, whip in hand, and the splendid
figure Of his Hindoo driver standing
there in an attitude Of fearless warn
ing, his right arm raised as If to keep
the Russian from going too far.
Perhaps tie baron had seen the
knout laid upon wretched humanity so
often in his native land that his first
inclination Is to use a whip upon one
for whom he has conceived a sudden
anger, not counting the consequences.
That may do when applied to-the de-
based serfs Of Russia, but it will not
be endured in this land, where proud
blood flows through the veins OF even
the meanest of the people.
The baron does not know what ne
invites. He sees the action Of his driV-
er, and instead Of moderating his zeal,
IL eQr6&eS ulLu SIlu uOlc.
SYou scoundrel! Dare to threaten
me, a Russian nobleman! Take that
Even as he speaks he gives the cruei
whip a sudden momentum. The lash
cuts the air and comes with tremen-
dous snap against the limbs Of the
Hindoo driver.
He simply gives an exclamation, al
though the pain must be intense. Hard
" has the blow been struck than the
athletic form Of the driver is seen IN
motion. Instead Of retreating, he
springs toward the baron. Already be
is too near the Russian for the other to
apply the lash a second time.
He Immediately drops the whip, haV-
ing no further use for it, and throws
himself into an attitude Of self-de-
fense.
In addition to being a master with
the foils and a champion pistol-shor'
the baron has done what Russian otti-
GERS do not practice as much as their
British cousins; he knows the science
Of self-defense. he is not a giant IN
size, nor yet a pigmy. but a well
formed man, with muscles hardened
by constant exercise. :
Thus, when the Hindoo driver comes
plunging at him, Baron Popof as
sumes his favorite attitude and ex-
poets to lay the fellow out with Que
solid blow. Like many apother man,
he counts without his host
As the driver reaches the baron, ne,
too, has his hands before him In pu-
gilistic style. There Is a quick inter-
change of blows, some lightning coun-
ters. and the dull sound Of heavy
stroke is heard.
Baron Popoff gives no cry, but sinks
to the ground several feet away, sense
less. Perhaps, in that brief space OF
time when he finds his most difficult
leads met and parried by his antagon-
list, some dim suspicion Of the truth
may have flashed into his brain. No
common Hindoo driver could use his
fists in that style.
Before he has time to form definite
conclusion however, there comes the
blow that all his science cannot ward
off, and the unlucky Russian knows no
more until he opens his eyes on 4
strange scene, with the shores Of 1u-
dia low down in the east.
Others have made their appearance
Mr.. Grimes himself. Besides, here Is
Kassee and Sandy Barlow.
Then the Hindoo driver, Kito, the
man who delivered such telling blow
/ nln hn old n.