Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-14
he peculiar craft slipped silently from
CHAPTER ".

shaking his hand at disappearing
steamboat "They told me l would
have four hours here, and l haven't
been away three. Now, I'd like to
know how am going to get to Astra-
khan. 1 don't want to stay in this
beastly place a week"
"Excellency, has something vexed
you?" asked a man in the dress of a
peasant.
YES" replied the young man in the
language used by the other. II am an
American and took passage on that
German boat for Astrakhan; left As
trabad on that boat thinking it would
be the quickest to reach the Volga.
When she touched here, the captain
told me could take four hours to see
the town. I've been only thrce, and
they have gone. I'll be stuck here
week"
The peasant shrugged his shoulders.
1t amused him to see this intense emo
ton over delay Of mere week.
"But there will be other boats, and
the inn of Borbous is good one"
Hang the inn Of Borbous I don't
want to stay here I'll punch that
fellows head if get to Astrakhan in
time. When does the next boat stop
here?"
ct is difficult to tell One may come
in a week, or it may be two weeks"
Pleasant, that!' muttered the Amer
lean. Fancy putting in two weeks
amid this squalor!"
"Excellency, you would have time to
go to Tiflis to the fair, although there
are but few days more of it,"
Hang Tiflis! 1t is The fair at Mini
Novgorod want to get at. I've got
some important business there"
"Then you are not rich gentleman
travelling for pleasure"
What the devil is that to you? But
there's no use in my being a savage,
and I'll tell you. My business is sell
ing American pumps, windmills, chain
pumps-all kinds. I've put lot in
want to go to Mini Novgorod and ex-
hibit there. The stuff is all on that
boat. Oh, why did leave it? And
not chance to make a sale in this
blamed town eithcr!''
1.-THE boats are beginning to come
down the Kur from Tif1is, and one
may be going to Mini Novgorod."
"If there is one, it will take me if I
have to shoot my way on board. My
name isn't Harvey Irons for nothing.
I'll show them I've got an iron cheek,
Haryeyized at that"
l II will watch for the boats while
you wait" said the peasant, II am
waiting for my sons, who went to the
fair with goods to SELL"
do they own boat?"
4 ''Yes but it is not much Of a boat. II
could not go to Astrakhan."
Mr.. Irons walked up and down the
rude wharf, smoking furiously. His
thoughts were interrupted by the peas
ant.
"a Turkish boat is coming down. ex-
cellency. do not know where it IS
going. But these boats go anywhere.
Shall call them?"
Yes. That's a good sized boat. I
must get to Astrakhan."
But it is difficult to talk at that dis.
lance If we take one Of these little
boats and go to meet them, it will be
better"
Good. I'll get on board and make
them take me to Astrakhan. Come on.
I'll pay you for your work."
Irons ard the man got into boat,
and it shot out into the stream.
"How is it that Turkish boat plies
on this sea-" asked Harvey.
",There are few only, excellency,
but the Osmanlis are everywhere. The
trade here is as good as on the Black
sea-"
Queer that the czar permits the
Turks to compete with his own people
and am not supposed to sell wind
mills"
1.-The little father is liberal. AL
may sail upon the sea, but they must
not commit crimes"
"You mean the slave trade? 1 have
heard it was abolished
Eyes, his majesty would not permit
it. Many of the Circassian and Geor
gian people sold their daughters to be
the wives of wealthy Turks"
Hail that fellow"
"Ay-oo" shouted the peasant. "Stop!
What do you want?" came a voice
from the vessel.
whittier are you bound?"
"To Astrakhan."
Jumping Jehoshaphat! What luckv
shouted Irons. Get me on board
quick"
"a passenger for Astrakhanw shout
ed the peasant, tugging away at the
paddles.
I'VE cannot take passengers"
you've got one anyway answered
Irons, who could make himself under
3 stood in many eastern languages.
: 1--WE have no passenger on the boat!
came the reply.
l NO, but you will have one might.
sool. said Irons.
; The little boat was almost directly il
the path of the sailing vessel. Irons
8 pulled his wallet from his pocket ant
a chose some pieces of gold.