The indicator., 1904-07-23

under the hay. storm overlook us.
The captain of the boat was swept
overheard, and the other men deserted
IN n small boat, thinking the American
was the c0use of the storm. NJ. Irons
ana |. left alone. have just been res.
cucd by the men on this boat At least.
l am here, but NJ. Irons Is held on the
hayboat They thought. as you did.
that | was n Russian officer"
Il know you are not now" said
koura, putting her arm around Alma.
Il recognize your voice and face. Let
them know that NJ. Irons is friend"
How shall l address them? Do you
Know them well7 When did you come "
But short time ago. l know now
that the American had nothing to do
with my abduction. OF course you
know that my father has not been
found, and had no home was lodg.
Ing with my uncle. Dimitri Blartelkis.
and one night as l was closing his
house was seized. hurried into n
urosky and taken to the river, where
l was put into a Turkish cayik."
You passed u.s." cried Alma, "but
we did not suspect that you were
there"
you could not. Even the soldiers
that camel thought they were look
Ing for me, but they must have been
looking for you-were deceived. was
thrust into sack and placed under
several other sacks OF meal and grain.
and they did not find me. oh, this Is
terrible But NJ. Irons will protect and
defend u.s.
"Will hcY' demanded short, swarthy
officer Of the ameer's boat as he turned
Alma rulcly around. Let me look ut
you. You have cut your hair II you
are woman But you must be n wom
nn, you are so beautiful. Since we
have had so much trouble with your
accursed Muscovlte officers, and have
had to take the bride of our noble
prince twice, we will recompense our
selves by taking you also. Keep each
other in good cheer, for in n short time
the officers Of our glorious ameer will
dance at the wedding of his son, the
prince. will have the American. as
you call him. thrust aside"
Reaching the deck, he gave com
mands to raise the anchor and set sail
I'VE have accomplished that for
which we came and more" he said.
The supposed officer Is, as that fellow
said, woman and n beautiful one"
what is that? asked the heavy
voice of an officer who seemed half
drunk ns he came up to where the
group stood with their spears leveled
at Harvcy's breast.
81 report kSarakal. that we have ac-
complishcd more than our mission.
We received from IIafiz Effendi and
Milk the beautiful daughter of the
merchant Biartelkis. whom they as.
sure us is the loveliest young woman
In the world and n fitting bride for
our noble prince. Now comes this load
of hay on which two cried for rescue.
One is this man you see, of race call
ed Americans. The other is clad
In Russian uniform, but proves to be
lovely young woman, as lovely as the
other. She is on board. have order
ed the ship to sail. Have done
right?"
Yes. But let me see this last one."
He went to the cabin and gazed with
delight upon the white and agitated
face of Alma.
you are prize indeed" he said.
I'VE will keep you. In obeying the
orders of the ameer and taking TO Bo-
khara bride for the prince we receive
nothing but good words for duty done,
while Haiiz Effendi gets the money.
But with you we can do as we please.
You are lovely enough to sell to a
prince and line our purses with gold"
Have mercy! Have mercy" cried
Alma, falling on her knees and holding
up her clasped hands in supplicatiOn.
"Have mercy on my friend who Is still
on the hay! Save his life, set him free
and do with me what you Will!
Karakal looked moment into her
upturned. fearful face. Then, with
grin. he went on deck.
Push that hayboat off" he shouted.
Let the infdel die or escape as he
may. Push him off!'
"In Gods name do not separate me
from my wifer' shouted Harvey des-
perately.
your wifew repeated karakal, with
a laugh. "She does not say so. She
says you are but friend. She has
found another friend on the ship. one
who Is as beautiful as herself the
daughter of Biartelkis, the merchant
of Tiflis. They will get along togeth-
er. and at Bokhara they will become
the brides of princes. But you! We
cannot make money by taking you,
and you might prove troublesome. The
storm is past. You have plenty Of
fodder and will not starve. Hay is
good. All beasts eat hay"
With shout of laughter the men
showed away with their spears, and as
the wind filled the sails of the long
black sloop Harvey, enrnged and filled
with alarm for Alma, was floating
alone on the Caspian on boat filed
with water, the load of hay settling
deeper and deeper in the sen.