Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-05-03
The Cars MESSENGER
O-~

AANl LIZ Lulu6 LHdL CoA hCO hiO NY
first promotion" said Colonel
B, OF the Seventy-eighth
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
gather a queer affair altogether.
1T was certainly one Of those things
which are a good deal pleasanter to
talk about afterwards than to go
through at the time; and 1 don't much
think that l should care to try 1t
again, anyhow.
This was how it happened: When
/ first came out here the Khokandese
still held all the country that we Rus
slams have taken since, ana 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
about it than if it had been in the
znOon.
Nov, 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.
1--WE were pretty certain to have to
Invade Bokhara sooner or later, and
At 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 a
desson, l bethought myself that it
might be long enough before / was 80
close to the border again, and that, as
I 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 l volunteered? And l hadn't tC
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 know how to re-
ward good service
with this consolation I set off, &C
companied only by two Cossacks.
81 remember we'll how queer felt
when l 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 OF
gloomy-and away l went, merrily
enough.
"As for my two COSsacks, they
looked as comfortable as if they were
going to picnic.
1--WE kept a bright lookout as we
went along; and we'll we might in q
country where we might all have oul
Ghroats cut at any moment. But fol
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 we'll | had, fol
all at once l caught sight Of a cloud
of dust, far in the distance, with 6
sort of glitter running through it every
now and then, coming right dowr
upon us.
Il saw my Cossacks looking at me
to see how / took it, and so, of course
l had to put on as bold face as
could; but l don't mind confessina
now that l would have given all my
chances of promotion to find mysel
safe across the border again.
However, it was too late to thinl
OF that, for by this time we were 81
near that we could see we had in from
OF us a body of at least fifty horse
men, every man with Il gun at hi
back and q sword by his side.
II tied my white handkerchief to tn
point of my sword, by way Of flal
of truce, and, bidding the Cossacks t
stay where they were, l rode forwart
to meet the Bokhariotes, who slacken
ed speed as l came up and looked a
each other in a puzzled kind Of way
as if they didn't quite know what t
make of me.
peace be with you, brothers, sait
!. You have doubtless been sent t
meet me by the great Amer, unde
the shadow Of whose throne the who'll
world rests May he live a hundre'
and twenty years! l bring him gift
from the Car Of the Oorooss (Rus
sians). Let our horses be swift {
reach Samarcand, that may max
the dust upon the threshold Of Hare
(his majesty into ointment for M
eyelidS.'
1.-The fellows looked more puzzle
than ever, but no one thought o
n ia