, 1904-06-08

DO1l HUH Nv 0ADe - OOOn uD
close. and two officers came aboard.
"You beast!' exclaimed one. "What
do you mean by s%neaking away in the
night?"
"Hold on, my friend" said Harvey
for the officer had looked at him while
%sneaking. 81 don't sneak. don't
know what you want. but you are seri.
onsly interfering in my business.
have engaged this man to take me to
Astrakhan.'
.Astrakhan, But why did you leave
Tifis in the night?'
'sTihis? | haven't been to Tifis."
.0This boat left Tiflis in the night
three-four nights ago"
with that | have nothing to do.
Joined the boat at Salain and bargain
ed with this man, who seems to be in
command. to take mi to Astrakhan or
mt me aboard a a that was going
there"
as that true, OsmanliY" asked the
officer.
SIT is true, o great representative Of
the greatest ruler on earth except the
padishah.'
.sThen tell me why you left Tifis in
the night"
30 great one, l will tell you what
happened. 1t is a strange tale that |
can scarcely believe myself. Perhaps
if is not known to thee, o great one,
that brought a cargo of goods to
Tifis. which | sold to the bazaars. |
had been waiting for a cargo to take to
Astrakhan for there awaits me there a
valuable cargo for Astrabad. | dis
covered some of the finest linen, and as
wished to sail early in the morning |
went to the bazaar of lgnatz Biartelkis
and told him what | had found. He
and his lovely daughter at once re-
turned with me to the boat. | placed
some wine before them and went to
cct some of the linen. | was selzed
and knocked down and some cloth
was stuffed in my mouth. | heard the
merchant speaking and also the girl
.cream. but | was bound securely and
could not go to the relief of this young
LADY,. did not know what her father
! was doing. but | could hear him speak
ing loudly and harshly. In the morn
e ing two came to me and said
they had taken command of my boat.
n They did not permit Inc to go far from
them. and through me they gave orders
? to the men. We sailed from THIS, ana
at a small place just before we reached
: Salain these men left the boat. But
. they ordered me to take the girl to
Astrakhan. They also said that at
ri n;oo,r would GOT on hoard
. and that he would go to Astrakhan
also, but | believed that something was
c wrong and refused to take him. Al
Salain this mar did come out from the
II wharf and came on board at the risk
- of his life and insisted upon being car
ried to Astrakhan. He asked If had
l.. the young lady, and l told him no. |
was about to put them on board thai
boat when | saw your smoke and be-
lieved it was wisest to wait and tell
you the truth"
- us that true? Could you under
q stand" the officer asked of Harvey.
- THAT part concerning me is all true
:, except that | asked for no young lady
~ have heard of no young lady since
came on the boat"
, Where is this young lady?" asked
: the officer.
=, 81 will bring her to you" said Has
san.
. He went into the cabin and soon re
:, turned with Koura, who gave a scream
=, of delight when she saw the Russian
~ officer.
~ ooh, my father! What have they
II, done to himY
"That is to be learned. He was at
,, tackled by two men who remained OF
"a the boat until it nearly reached TIT
Caspian. What do you know apou
this strange matterT
rs $50 little! So little! We went u
!, see some linen"
Ibid you see Hassan struck
81 saw nothing. l was blindfolded.
what did your father sayY"
Nothing. l did not hear him speak.
"There seems to be some truth Il
\ this story. Do you swear you tell IN
j truth. Osmanli?"
] 81 swear by Allah"
4 "And you, my friend? Who are you!
\ "I am an American. If / had know
I there was a young lady here in tror
BILE, would have assisted her. LOOK
Y like a game of kidnap to me"
\ Never mind what it looks like
] you. Explain your presence"
Il 81 am going to Astrakhan. wal
II TO get to the big fair at Novgorou |
/ exhibit some windmills."
\ "And you did not go to the big Ia
\ 40 U;a;.ov