Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-26

@HE thing that earned me my |
first promotion" said Colonel
q B, OF the Seventy-elghth
Russian Infantry, as we sat in the
balcony of the little posthouse at
Tchinaz, in one of the dreariest parts
OF Central Asia, watching the red
glow of the sunset fading over the
broad, shining curves Of the Syr-Daria
and the great plain beyond, was
rather queer affair altogether.
ut was certainly one Of those things
which are good deal pleasanter to
talk about afterwards than to go
through at the time; and don't much
think that l should care to try 1t
again, anyhow.
This was how 1t happened: When
first came out here ille Khokandese
still held all the country that we Rus
SLAMS have taken since, and it would
have been no easy matter to get even
as far as this.
''As for the country on the other
side Of the river, we knew no more
snbout it than If it had been in the
moon.
Now, this tract beyond the river
(Which belonged to the Ameer of Box
hara in those days., was just the very
place that our colonel, Tchernajeff.
particularly wanted to know about.
I'VE were pretty certain to have to
invade Bokhara sooner or later, and
1t was specially important to know If
we should find any wafer or forage
on the way, and what sort Of country
we should have to cross.
$50, when got down here with one
Of our flying columns, which was max
ing raid through tile Khokandese
territory to give the .coffee-faces' q
lesson, l bethought myself that it
might be long enough before was 50
close to the border again. and that, as
knew the native language pretty well
and wasn't afraid of rough ride, I'd
just go over into Bokhara and see
what it was like.
Didn't the old colonel look pleased
when I volunteered? And l hadn't to
ask twice for leave to go.
81 don't think you'll ever come
back, my boy said he; but If you do,
you shall see that know how to re-
ward good service
with this consolation set off, &c.
companied only by two Cossacks.
II remember well how queer felt
when stood for the first time on the
opposite bank of the river and looked
back ut the camp-fires of our soldiers
and then forward at the great wide
waste of desert; but the bright sun
shine kept my spirits up-it's wonder
full what difference it makes some
times, whether the day Is fine or
gloomy-and away went, merrily
enough.
"As for my two Cossacks, they
looked as comfortable as If they were
going to a picnic.
I'VE kept bright lookout as we
went along; and well we might in a
country where we might all have our
throats cut at any moment. But for
the first two hours we didn't see liv-
ing thing. However, l had already
made up my mind what TO do in case
we did fall in with any Of the Box
hariotes; and it was well l had, for
all at once caught sight of cloud
Of dust, far in the distance, with q
sort Of glitter running through it every
now and then, coming right down
upon US.
II saw my Cossacks looking at me
to see how took it, and 20, of course,
had to put on MS bold face as /
could; but / don't mind confessing
now that / would have given all my
chances of promotion to find myself
safe across the border again.
However, 1t was too late to think
of that, for by this time we We're SO
near that we could see we had IN from,
of us body of at least fifty horse
men, every man with gun at his
back and sword by his side.
II tied my white handkerchief to the
point of my sword, by way Of flaf
of truce and, bidding the Cossncks t.
stay where they were, rode FORWARD
to meet the Bokharlotcs, who siacken
ed speed as came up and looked al
as If they didn't quite know what tt
make Of me.
peace be with you, brothers, SAID
1. You have doubtless been sent t.
meet me by the great Ameer, under
the shadow Of whose throne the whole
world rests. May he live a hundred
and twenty years! l bring him gift:
from tile Gar of the Ooroess Rus
sians). Let our horses be swift t.
reach Samarcand, that l may make
the dust upon the threshold of Hare
(his majesty into ointment for my
eyelids.'
1.-The fellows looked more puzzled
than ever, but no one thought o.
doubling what l said; for, indeed, i
could never have entered into thei
minds that any Russian could be rid
ing through their deserts with only
two men at his back, unless he reall,
had some business there.
$50 the leader of the band salutet
me politely, and said that he laid hi
forehead in the dust before the mes
senger Of the great Gar with 10
more rigmarole of the same sort; an,
then the whole party turned and rod
back toward Samarcand, with me an,
my Cossacks III the center.
I'VE slept at Djizak that night, JUS
where the desert ends and the noun
tain begins. The governor pitched
tent in the garden behind his house
and entertained the messenger Of til
great Car sumptuously. My Cossack
who, like true Russian soldiers, fei
quite safe SO long as their command
ing officer showed no sign Of anxiet
ate about two pounds of pilafr
mess Of rice and mutton) apiece, an,
then fell asleep quite comfortably.
my slumbers, however, were not s.
quiet by any means. l had hear
enough Of the Ameer to be sure tina
lie wouldn't be easily taken in; and
he found me out 1t would be onl.
being tortured to death by Inches in
sted Of getting cnt down at once.
"Once or twice thought of fakinl
ryo.,,. -, n :, 81, 20