The indicator., 1904-07-16
A SOLDIER
OF COMMERCE
BY JONN ROE GORDON
Copyright IsJs by F. n. Toombs
Continued from last woek.)
CHAPTER MIL.

continued thus, traNennK CON
@E stantly Two OF the men did
v 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 Woodworking Astra-
khans rest. On the third day they
saw boat overhauling them.
I'VE must keep well under cover till
that boat has passed u.s." said Harvey.
What do you make 1t out TO be, Char
kaf''
II was long, low vessel without
masts. with high bow and stern. II
was propelled by four rowers. two on
each side. and fifth man sat in the
stern with IA paddle to steer
I'VE have nothing to fear from that"
said Charka. That Is a Turkish ca
yik Some rich merchant perhaps from
Consta antinople has brought his pleas
ure boat all the way TO the fair. Think
OF carrying a boat across land"
That may be so or not" said Har
vey. "A boat might be built at Titiis
AlteT lue uThlSu ulOuel IL lb bhteA
for us to be out of sight"
The long boat came on rapidly, and
| Harvey and Alma again era wled under
the hay.
Charka grumbled cnviously 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. 1t
steered to the opposite side Of the rtv-
er, the efforts OF the rowers were dou-
bled, and at a burst of speed It went
by.
At night they were within sight of
the village of Salain. Though 1t was
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. "It is lying at Salain to watch
the boats that go out upon the Cas-
plan"
This was too much for the inquisi-
tiveness of Harvey. He crawled to the
edge OF the hay to observe what was
going on.
/ 'nuThd- lie bhlu, ludt lufklBu
boat is up to something. notice the
Russian is going to intercept 1t. Thers's
business of some kind going on. Get
nearer, that we may hear the CONVEX
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 10
escape.
They are after the Turk, We are
In for 1t, too" walled Charka.
~Keep cool head, Charka," said
Harvey. Remember. precious life de-
pends upon your shrewdness"
81 know"
stop where you are" came q voice
from the Russian. I'VE will inspect
you"
Knowing the uselessness Of refusing.
Charka made his way toward the
launch, which had now steamed up
alongside the cayik.
"It is true. most excellent sirs," q
| Turkish voice from the cayik was say
ing. II am an Osmanli. 1t IL also true
that l am Hafiz Effendi, who once
acted ms merchant in those goods the
men Of Georgia and Circassia had to
sell / stole nothing, but when a IA
ther wished to place his beautiful
| daughter In the house Of wealthy
prince | carried on the negotiations.
But that is all done. Even the other
day girl was stolen, but 1t was an
American. not an Osmanli, who stole
her
| Yes, and we want that American
now" growled the officer in command
What have you in those sacksr'
Nothing, excellent sir, but some Of
the goods | took to the fair and which
l did not sell. shall return to Astra-
bad and thence to Constantinople by
way OF the caravan"
go on" said the officer, and the
rayik 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
II. too. my master, am going to A.
trabad," said Charka.
Does every one who goes to the fair
at Tifs go from there to Astrabadr'
| mot all, excellent captain; but a
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 fine min
Cling OF races at Astrabad."
No finer than at Tills." said Charka
as the hayboat slowly drew away. "The
scum of the earth and the cream were
at Tifis."
The launch turned back to the wharf
where 1t had been lying.
Charka felt that he was safe, and as
there was a slight breeze he raised his
sail. He had but one thing more to fear,