The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-05-03

great black eyes, and she retired with
a calm step. Ogaren pressed his spurs
into his horses tanks and, followed by
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 dismounted, entered and
stood before the emr
Feofar-Kahn was a man of forty,
tall. rather pale, of a 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
greet of brilliant diamonds, Feofar pre-
sented an aspect rather strange than
imposing for q Tartar SardanapaluS
an undisputed sovereign, who directs
at his pleasure the life and fortunes of
his subjects, whose power is unlimited,
and to whom at 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 a Bokharian carpet
The emir approached Ogareff and
gave him g 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 l have to make known
to you," answered Ogareff.
Ivan Ogaref spoke in the Tartar Ian
guage, giving to his phrases the en-
phatic turn which distinguishes the Ian
guage of the orentals
This is not the time for unnecessary
words. What l have done at the head
of your troops you know. The lines of
the Ichm and the Irish are now in
our power, and the Turcoman horse
men can battle their horses in the now
Tartar waters. The Kirghiz hordes
rose at 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. 1.-THE invasion
has been sudden, and before the Rus
sian army can succor them Irkutsk or
Tobolsk will have fallen into your pow
err. The cars troops have been over
whelmed at Kalyvan, as they will be
everywhere where yours meet them"
'And what advice does your devotion
to the Tartar cause suggest?" asked
the emir after few moments silence.
my ADVICE" answered Ivan Ogareff
quickly, sis to march to meet the sun.
1t is to give the grass of the eastern
steppes to the Turcoman horses to con-
sumo. 1t is to take Irkutsk, the capital
of the eastern provinces, and with it a
hostage the possession of whom is
worth a whole country. In the place
of the car the grand duke, his brother,
must fall into your hands,"
This was the great result aimed at
by Ivan Ogareff. TO listen to him one
would have taken him for one Of the
cruel descendants of Stephen Razine,
the celebrated pirate who ravaged
southern Russia in the eighteenth cen
fury. To seize the grand duke, murder
him pitilessly, would fully satisfy his
hatred. Besides, with the capture of
Irkutsk, all eastern Siberia would pass
under the Tartar dominion.
1T shall be thus, Ivan," replied Eco
far.
"What are your orders?
To-day our headquarters shall be re-
moved to Tomsk."
Ogareff bowed, and, followed by the
housch-begui, he retired to execute the
emir's orders.
AS he was about to mount his horse
to return to the outposts a tumult
broke out at some distance, in the part
of the camp reserved for the prisoners.
Shouts were heard and two or three
shots fired. Perhaps it was an attempt
at revolt or escape which must be sum-
marily suppressed.
Ivan Ogareff and the housch-begui
walked forward a few steps, and al
most Immediately two men, whom the
soldiers had not been able to keep back,
appeared before them.
The housch-begui, without more in
formation, made sign which was an
order for death, and the heads of the
two prisoners would have rolled on the
ground had not Ogarefr uttered a few
words which arrested the sword al
ready raised.
The Russian had Derceiyed that these