The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-08-17
CHAPTER XII.
THE SEARCH FOR THE FUGITIvEs-TI
HAYROAT gTARTs


E2E9 subordinate officer, came rush
ing down the wharf.
"Ho, there, on board this hayboatr'
shouted the officer.
Masters, l am here" said Charka
rubbing his eyes and blinking in the
light of the lanterns they carried.
what has happened?"
"a prisoner Of the car has escaped
Assisted by a woman who is a traitor.
, he escaped from the prison at Tiflis
tonight and must be- with his compan-
ion, somewhere in the city"
''Weli. am l the prisoner?"
mo, you pig"
"Am l, then, the woman
Curses upon your
"Why am / awakened with these
shouts? am peaceful man from Ash
kar, trying to sell my hay"
"Oh, your hayr shouted one Of the
soldiers, with a laugh with the bust
ness of finding a prisoner of state on
our minds, we must think Of your hayw
As he spoke he thrust his bayonet deep
into the hay.
by the gods" exclaimed another,
that is an ideal This man is from
Astrakhan and would no doubt assist
the American to escape"
"Shut your mouth, fool" said the Of
fcer. There is no American. 1t was
a Russian who escaped"
Pardon! l forgot But the Astra
khans do not love the car"
How much you love the car" 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 Tifis 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 a higher class
keep my hay" said Charka calmly.
A volley Of curses answered him and
a bayonet pricked his leg.
Charge the hay" said the officer
"They may be hiding i'm it,"
Burn the hayw laughed a soldier.
"That will settle IT,"
Burn it if you dare! | have some
thing i'm my pocket"
r a pistol. which YOU would use on the
soldiers Of the czsrY'
no a passport to safety signed by
the governor"
do rot burn his hay, shouted the
officer as one of the soldiers made
light by twisting a wisp of the hay
into the fame 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
it. The officer was slashing it with his
sabcr.
Dogs Of Muscovitos. When | get my
money, will not stay in this place."
What is thatT demanded the Of
ficer, turning on Charka. You call us
dogs-we who are your masters"
You should tell the mollah that. He
would be pleased
Are you a follower of the mollah"
"Who else? 1t is so written. Char
ka of Ashkar was never false to the
faith"
Then leave Tiflis. The governors
passport will save you from harm, but
in the name of the car | 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 so if they
came"
Loosen your boat from its mornings
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 car,
our MASTER" said Charka to his men.
I'VE have sold our hay, but before
payment is made we are commanded
to go TO the Caspian"
ut will destroy the hay. There will
be no profit from the fair" said one.
"Profitsl You want profits from
fair and yet follow the mollah against
the czar? returned one Of the soldiers.
Charka made a 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 fiocked along the
wharfs, invaded boats, routing out
men and women that they might in
spect the most secret places.
Charka. grumbling and with much
make believe anger. slowly got under
way. The soldiers laughed as the hay
boat began slowly to descend the
stream. The boat was most crude
affair. Its only means OF propulsion
was a great lateen sail. useless on this
quiet night. so the men resorted to
long poles. and the big boat craw1ed