Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-04-21
A SOLDIER OF
COM MERGE
BY JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright. 1902. by +. II. Toombs
BY JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright, 1902, by F. r. Toombs

He removed some OF his clothing.
made n bundle OF IT and slid off into
the water. To his surprise he could
stand on bottom. Carefully he felt his
way. For short distance the water
grew more shallow. Then il got deep
er, and he was forced TO swim. After
Il short swim he again felt the ground
under his feet, and he wadcd on TO dry
land. The shore was sandy.
He moved slowly and cautiously. 1t
was difficult To locate where the light
had been. He CROPPED along. wander
my In many curves. Trees were on the
sland. but ne could see no trace Of
building After cropping some time in
he darkness he discovered what ap-
pearcd TO Ice rock about five feet
high. Feeling the surface OF this, he
found that il was not n solid rock. but
a rocky formation with an opening on
one side. Lying flat Oh the ground
and peering in, he saw n light far I'm
the earth. apparently from "A lantern
hung on peg. He slowly crawled in
side the cave. After advancing for
several feet he found that he could
stand up and walk.
A voice came from behind a shelter
Of the rocky wall that projected into
the chamber. 1t pleased Harvey that
1t was not the voice OF n Russian, fol
Russians were the only people he had
any reason 10 fear
Il have spoken" said calm. stern
voice within the concealed chamber.
81 have given the treasure rs il should
be given
but. no. my brother" came Il voice
that seemed 10 Harvey 10 tremble with
emotion. II wars a harsh, cold voice,
not like the other. you have done
well for Yourself. You have done well
for the clans i'm the mountains. But
we have not farcd as we should. Was
il not our courage that made the accu.
mutation Of this booty poSSble:'
YES. that H. So" answered the first
speaker But l am palpak. chief Of
the Zanuucks, and it was ! who plan.
ned everything The wealth that came
from the ameer's people we were com
PEELED to hide here until the ameer's
soldiers had finished their search
among orr villages. and the wealth
that came from the Buddhist temples.
which we found the most valuable of
all, and the gold that came from the
paymasters of the Russian soldiers
whom we attacked and robbed. All
these are mine mine, DO YOU under
stand. Domitanf Ii was Palpak, the
chief. who i'm the interest OF all his
people, downtrodden as they are by
the wicked ameer, strove To gain that
with which we could buy horses and
cattle and make the Zannucks wealthy
have given you enough. The rest
must be divided among the people"
No" said a third voice. thick and
cultural "Domtan is right Palpak,
though you be chief. We were with
you in all the ventures. 1t is not right
that you should rob us now
Rob YOU cried palpak angrily
"Rob YOU of what In the name OF the
white bull. of what can rob you wher
you have nothing save what | have
given YOU; tell YOU | am working
not for wealth for you. my brothers. but
for the whole people The /annucks
have been down'rodden and robbed 10y
the ameer. lie demands more tribute
than we possess He taxes us for our
wives, for our cattle and then his sol
dierS steal the cattle He taxes us for