Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-07-05
CHAPTER XIII.
THE STORM ON THE CASPIAN.

kE@SENNy SCautly. 4Wo VI thS hSH NA'
E& the polling while the third
man slept. At times. under the cover
of favoring darkness, Harvey would
emerge from his hiding place, and
while Alma kept watch for pursuing
Russians Irons assisted with the boat
to give one of the hardworking Astra-
khans a rest On the third day they
saw a boat overhauling them.
1--WE must keep well under cover I'LL
that boat has passed u.s." said Harvey.
what do you make it out to be, Char
ka"
It was a long, low vessel. without
masts, with high bow and stern. 1t
was propelled by four rowers, two on
each side, and a fifth man sat in the
stern with paddle to steer.
1--WE have nothing to fear from that"
said Charka. THAT is Turkish ca
yik. Some rich merchant perhaps from
Constantinople has brought his pleas
ure boat all the way to the fair. Think
of carrying a boat across land"
"That may be 80 or not" said Har.
vey. "a boat might be built at T1fis
after the Turkish model. 1t Is safer
for us to be out of sight"
The long boat came on rapidly, and
Harvey and Alma again crawled under
the hay.
Charka grumbled enviously as he
saw the four rowers bending to their
task. The Turkish cayik seemed more
anxious to avoid the hayboat than
Charka was to avoid the cayik. It
steered to the opposite side Of the riv-
er, the efforts Of the rowers were dou-
bled, and at burst Of speed 1t went
by.
At night they were within sight Of
the village Of Salain. Though it was
q dark night, Charka, who had the
lives of his passengers in mind, for
bade them coming from under the hay.
''The steamboat Of the Muscovites
has not yet returned up the river" he
said. 1T is lying at Salain to watch
the boats that 60 out upon the Cas-
pian."
tiveness of Harvey. He crawled to the
edge of the hay to observe what was
going on.
"Charka," he said, that Turkish
boat is up to something. I notice the
Russian is going to intercept it. There's
business of some kind going on. Get
nearer, that we may hear the conver-
sation."
AS they came opposite the lights OF
the town they saw the Russian boat
shoot out from the land and in the ra-
dius Of the strong electric light in her
bow saw the cayik evidently trying to
escape.
"They are after the Turk! We are
in for 1t, too" walled Charka.
Keep a cool head, Charka," said
Harvey. Remember, precious life de-
pends upon your shrewdness."
81 know"
"Stop where you are" came a voice
from the Russian. 1--WE will inspect
. you"
Knowing the uselessness Of refusing,
Charka made his way toward the
launch, which had now steamed up
alongside the cayik.
at is true. most excellent sirs," q
Turkish voice from the cayik was say
ing. 81 am an Osmanli. 1t is also true
that am Hafz Effendi. who once
acted as merchant in those goods the
men Of Georgia and Circassia had to
sell. I stole nothing, but when IA
ther wished to place his beautiful
daughter in the house Of a wealthy
prince l carried on the negotiations.
But that is all done. Even the other
day a girl was stolen. but 1t was an
American, not an OsmanL. who stole
her."
"Yes, and we want that American
nowT growled the officer in command.
what have you in those sacks"
Nothing, excellent sir, but some Of
the goods l took to the fair and which
I did not sell. shall return to Astra-
bad and thence to Constantinople by
way Of the caravan"
go on" said the officer, and the
cayik shot away.
"Now, you," said the officer to Char
ka. Hello! 1t is that slow old hay
boat. Well, my friend. where are you
goingT"
81, too, my master, am going to AS
trabad," said Charka.
Does every one who goes to the fair
ut Tifis 60 from there to Astrabad"
mot all, excellent captain; but at
Astrabad there are many caravans
gathering, and can sell my hay. The
camels need it. To ascend the Volga
to the big fair at Mini Novgorod would
take too long,"
Go on. There will be q fine min.
Cling of races at Astrabad."
mo finer than at Titlis." said Charka
as the hayboat slowly drew away. 1.-The
scum Of the earth and the cream were
at Tifis."
The launch turned back to the wharf
where it had been lying.
Charka felt that he was safe, and as
there was a slight breeze he raised hiu
sail. He had but one thing more to fear,
he reasoned, and that was Russian
gunboat. Boatloads Of hay were not III
frequent on the Caspian, and he felt
assured that it would not be difficult to
hoodwink the captain Of the gunboat.
Under sail the boat made better prog
ress and was soon out on the Caspian
where in the inky darkness nothing