Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-01-19
1gT" asked Ivan Osaren.

as the time approaching when you
will force the old woman to speakT'
at is approaching. Sangarre."
when will the old woman speak,
when we reach Tomsk."
"And we shall be there
"In three days"
A strange CLEAN shot from Sangarre's
great black eyes. and she retired with
calm step. Ogareff pressed his spurs
into his horses TANKS and, followed by
his staff of Tartar officers, rode toward
the emir's tent
Feofar-Kha 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 emir.
Feofar-Kahn was a man of forty,
tall, rather pale, Of 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-
scented 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 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 a rich divan which
occupied the back part Of the tent, tie
ground being hidden under the thick
velvet pile of Bokharian carpet.
The emir approached Ogareff and
gave him 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.
II 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 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 done 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 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. The invasion
has been sudden, and before the Rus
sian army can succOr them Irkutsk or
Tobolsk will have fallen into your pow
! er. 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, lis 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 q
hostage the possession of whom Is
worth whole country. In the place
of the car the grand duke. his brother
must fail into your hands"
This was the great result aimed al
by Ivan Oga"eff. To listen to him one
would have taken him for one of the
cruel descendants of Stephen Razine
the celebrated pirate who ravageG
southern Russia in the eighteenth cen
fury. To seize the grand duke, murder
him pitilessly. would fully satisfy hi'
hatred. Besides, with the capture Of
Irkutsk. all eastern Siberia would pas!
under the Tartar dominion.
1T shall be thus, Ivan," replied Fec
far.
What are your orders?"
To-day our headquarters shall be re
moved to Tomsk.'
Ogareff bowed, and, followed by TIT
housch-begui. he retired to execute thu
emirs orders.
As he was about to mount his hors
to return to the outposts a tumul
broke out at some distance, in the par
of the camp reserved for the prisoners
Shouts were heard and two or thre
shots fired. Perhaps it was an attemp
at revolt or escape, which must be sum
marily suppressed.