Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-07-14
CHAPTER XVIII.
TCOntjnlled,1

passed, and, as we have seen, 1t has
not been without its adventure If the
record is kept up their stay in Bonn
bay must be an eventful one.
One of Joe's frst duties upon visiting
the barracks is to deliver a message
from the commandant at Cairo, which
probably contains information respect
ing Baron Popoff; for the officer who
reads it looks very grave. and asks the
American many question concerning
the doings of the Russian. which Joe.
fortunately, is in position to answer.
At this time England is greatly dis
turbed over the actions of Russia's
ruler He is said to be making prep
arations for pushing south through the
Afghan territory to point where his
troops will be knocking at the door of
India. A great railroad is about to be
built for strategic purposes. and no
one positively knows where 1t is aimed
at-mcaning no British subject.
Hence, the appearance Of shrewd
like the baron, upon the soil Of lp1ia,
Is likely to create sensation His
name has been connected with numer-
GUS unscrupulous political moves IN
Bulgari, and Roumania. and all along
the Balkans, SO that it long ago be-
came thoroughly known to all the
reading world. Thoce who watch the
moves upon the chessboard of Europe
can see deep purpose in every action,
however careless it may appear to the
casual lookeron.
Those officers stationed in India
have, of course, peculiar interest IN
everything the White CIR does. They
are threatened by no other nation,
France is busy in Tonquin and AL
giers; Germany in Central Africa;
Italy in Abyssinia, while Austria has
no foreign policy, and Spain is con.
cerned almost wholly in he" West In
dia possessions. 1t Is Russia who
stretches her vast domains across the
Atlantic to Pacific, and yearns to reach
the Indian Ocean as well. Year after
wear she placates the tribes en- route,
slowly but surely stretching her hand
nearer the prize. The day will Ger
tainly come when the flercest wal
Asia has ever known will be fought
on neutral territory between these two
giants. One has only to travel to In
dia by the overland route, via Herat,
to see the evidences of Russian en-.
croachment. Almost to the gates OF
India the traveller finds here and there
along the road Russian robats. or
small waysde houses of refuge,
erected through charity, where the
weary pilgrim can pass a night With
out any charge for the shelter,
No reasonable man doubts that Eng
land must some day be prepared to
fight for her Indian empire: nor Is
there any reason to believe but that
she will be able to hold her own
against that cunning foe who would
creep in at the back door while the
mistress is engaged in sweeping and
garnishlng the front of the house.
Whatever may be the mission Of the
baron to India. now that his presence
is known. it is not likely that he will
be allowed to go about without some
sort of secret espionage.
When the evening meal has been dis
posed of, Sandy and Mynheer Joe de-
eide to see what Bombay looks like
after nightfall SO they dress as
quietly as possible, not forgetting to
carry their firearms, as there must al
ways be a certain amount of danger
traversing the streets alone.
MI Grimes hopes to be all right by
morning but thinks he had better rest
until then Molly complains of a head
ache probably the result of her excit-
ing race for assistance, and begs 20
be excused. This has Il influence
upon Mynhcer Joe in inducing him to
accept Sandy's proposal that they take
q stroll, for he has no desire to spend
the evening alone, Demosthencs som
planning of bruises received in his tun'-
ble which he wishes to battle.
Peace rcigns in the neighborhood OF
the little hostelry near the foot or
Malabar Hill, save in one quarter.
Joe draws the attention OF his artist"
correspondent comrade to the rear OF
the hotel, whence loud voices of dis.
cussion come. The row seems to he
between the bobaiee and mnssaljee
under him. The cook berates the scu|
lion and the latter assumes rldicU'
lously dramatic attitude, with his head
cooked On one side. Sandy eagerly
takes it in. If he could only repro
duce that scene OIL paper. it would 10
a dandy. At any rate, his memory 10
gor,J, and he may succeed.
Ia they walk on in the soft, balny
moonlight, the angry voice of the @o-
baiee continues to float after him. Elm
ally there Is a huhbub,- and they
know ne has launched forth o:her az
gumentS than mere words.
1t is not long before they have
reached the ralvc quarter. Perhaps
some unusual festival is taking place;
Mt any rate, the shops AMI bazars are
Gghted up and thronss are on the
street. AS in the densely populated
cities of China. the people of Bombny
seem to Lave 10 particular time #
rest, unless during the hot part of the
day their en- husiasm dwindles to a
low peg. Nights cooling breezes
hr;,o +bem all out.of doors. and the