Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-05-11

COHE thing that earned me my
first promotion" sail Colonel
x B, OF the Seventy eighth
Russian Infantry, as we sat i'll the
balcony of the little posthouse at
Tchinaz, in one of the drca"iest parts
of Central Asia, watching the rel
glow Of the sunset fading over the
broad, shining curves of the Syr-Darla
and the great plain beyond, was
rather a queer affair altogether.
1T was certainly one Of those things
which are a good deal pieasanter to
talk about afterwards than to go
! through at the time; and l don't much
think that l should care to try it
again, anyhow.
This was how it happened: When
l first came out here the KhOkande52
! 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.
LAS for the country on the other
side of the river, We knew no more
about it than if it had been in the
moon.
Now, this tract beyond the river
(Which belonged to the ANGER Of Box
hara in those days.. was just the very
place that our colonel, Tchernajeff,
particularly wanted to know about.
!, 1--WE were pretty certain to have to
! invade Bokhara sooner or later, and
, it was specially important to know if
we should find any water or forage
/ on the way, and what sort Of country
we should have to cross.
$50, when l got down here with one
of our flying columns, which was max
! ing a raid through the KhOkandese
| territory to give the 'cOffee-faces' 4
lesson, l bethougnt myself that it
might be long enough before l was 50
close to the border again, and that, as
I knew the native language pretty we'll
and wasn't afraid of a rough ride, I'd
Just go over into Bokhara and see
what it was like.
Didn't the old colonel look pleased
when 1 volunteered? And l hadn't to
ask twice for leave to go.
- don't think you'll ever come
back, my boy said he; but if you do.
you shall see that 1 know how to re-
ward good service
with this consolation l set off, &C
companied only by two Cossacks.
Il remember well how queer l felt
when 1 stood for the first time on the
opposite bank Of the river and looked
back at 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 l went, merrily
enough.
"As for my two Cossacks, they
looked as comfortable as if they were
going to q picnic.
I'VE kept a bright lookout as we
went along; and we'll we might in
country where we might all have our
threats cut at any moment. But for
the first two hours we didn't see a 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 l caught sight Of cloud
of dust, far in the distance, with 4
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 l took it, and so, of course,
1 had to put on as bold a face as
now that 1 would have given all my
chances of promotion to find myself
safe across tie border again.
However, it was too late to think
Of that, for by this time we were so
near that we could see we had in front
Of us body Of at least fifty horse
men, every man with Il gun at his
back and a sword by his side.
II tied my white handkerchief to the
point Of my sword, by way of a flag
of truce, and, bidding the Cossacks to
stay where they were, rode forward
to meet the Bokhariotes, who slacken-
ed speed as | came up and looked at
each other in puzzled kind of way.
as if they didn't quite know what to
make of me.
Peace be with you. brothers. sail
I. You have doubtless been sent to
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 gifts
from the Car Of the Oorooss rus
slams. Let our horses be swift 20
reach Samarcand, that I may make
the dust upon the threshold Of Hazret