Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-07-01
CHAPTER XII.

THE SEARCH FOR THE Fue1r1vEs-Tm
HAYBoAT STARTS.
n 1HARKA Of Ashkar pretended
I'LL to waken from a deep slum.
15l Der as four soldiers, led by
SSSS subordinate officer, came rush
ing down the wharf.
"Ho, there, on board this hayboat!"
shouted the officer.
Masters, I am here" said Charka.
rubbing his eyes and blinking in the
light of the lanterns they carried
What has happened"
"A prisoner Of the czar has escaped!
Assisted by woman who is traitor.
he escaped from the prison at Tifia
tonight and must be, with his compan.
ion, somewhere In the city"
"Well, am the prisoner"
mo. you pig"
"Am l, then, the womanT
Courses upon your
"Why am I awakened with these
shouts? am peaceful man from Ash
kar, trying to sell my hay"
"Oh, your hayp' shouted one Of the
soldiers, with laugh. with the bust.
ness Of finding a prisoner Of state on
our minde, we must think Of your hay!"
As he spoke be thrust his bayonet deep
into the hay.
"By the gods," exclaimed another,
that Is an idea! This man Is from
Astrakhan and would no doubt assist
the American to escape"
"Shut your mouth, fool" said the Of.
flcer. Hrhere is no American. 1t was
a Russian who escaped"
Pardon! forgot. But the Astra'
khans do not love the car"
"How much you love the czarT' re-
piled Charka. 1T Is fear, not loyalty,
that makes you curse me and stab my
hay"
"By heaven, we will stab you! What
did you come to Tiflis for"
ITO sell my hay. 1t has been pur-
chased, but not yet paid for"
"Insolent pig! And do you think we
want hay from your"
1T is for beasts of higher class l
keep my hay" said Charka calmly.
A volley of curses answered him and
a bayonet pricked his leg.
"Charge the hayw said the officer.
"They may be hiding in it"
Burn the hay~ laughed a soldier.
THAT will settle it."
Burn it If you dare! have some.
thing in my pocket"
"a pistol, which you would use on the
soldiers Of the czarf'
mo; passport to safety signed BY
the governor"
do rot burn his hay" shouted the
officer as one Of the soldiers made
light by twisting q wisp Of the hay
into the flame Of the lantern. I'VE are
after prisoners. We do not wish to run
against the passport"
The soldiers were crawling over the
hay, jamming their bayonets deep into
1t. The officer was slashing 1t with his
saber.
Dogs Of Muscovites! When get my
money, l will not stay in this place"
What is that" demanded the Of
ficer, turning on Charka. "You call us
dogs-we who are your masters?"
"You should tell the mollah that &c
would be pleased"
Are you follower Of the mollah"
"Who else? 1t is so written. Char
ka of Ashkar was never false to the
faith"
Then leave Tilis. The governors
passport will save you from harm, but
In the name of the czar command
you to depart at once. There will then
be no chance Of your doing mischief.
We know the fugitives are not with
you now. But If they came you would
give them shelter"
II say truly would do 80 If theg
came"
Loosen your boat from Its moorings
and take yourself to the Caspian"
But my hay is already sold"
1T is robbing no one. There is plen-
ty of hay. and you say the payment
has not been made. Go. or will for
get the passport"
With assumed reluctance Charka
went to the door Of his box, into which
two soldiers had gone to investigate.
and came out with two sleepy Astra-
khans.
Behold the loving acts Of the czar.
our master" said Charka to his men.
1--WE have sold our hay. but before
payment Is made we are commanded
to 90 to the Caspian"
ut will destroy the hay. There will
be no profit from the fair" said one.
profits! You want profits from
fair and yet follow the mollah against
the car" returned one of the soldiers.
Charka made q sign. The men at
once began releasing the boat. amid
the shouts and cries of soldiers and dis
turbed boatmen all along the river.
Hundreds of soldiers flocked along the
wharfs. invaded boats, routing out
men and women that they might in
spect the most secret places.