The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-06-24

tary existence with his family, his herds
Of yaks, or "koutars," which. are cattle
with horses tails, his diminutive sheep,
his thick-haired goats. The molting OF
these animals, IL we may 80 phrase 1t, is
a natural consequence Of the climate, and
they change the dressing gown or winter
for the white fur coat Of summer. 1t 10
the same with the dog, whose coat be-
comes whittier in the hot season.
As the passes are ascended, wide
breaks in the ranges yield frequent
glimpses of the more distant portions OF
the plateau. In many places are clumps
Of birches and junipers, which are the
principal trees of the Pamir, and on the
undulating plains grow tamarisks and
sedges and mugwort, and sort OF reed
very abundant by the sides of the saline
pools, and a dwarf labiate called tiers
kenne" by the kirghizes.
The major mentioned certain animals
which constitute somewhat varied
fauna on the heights of the Pamir. 1t
is even necessary to keep an eye on the
platforms of the cars in case stray pam
Their or bear might seek a ride without
any right to travel either first or second
class. During the day our companions
were on the lookout from both ends OF
the cars. What shouts arose when plan
tigrades or felines capered along the line
with intentions that certainly seemed
suspicious! A few revolver shots were
discharged, without much necessity per-
haps, but they amused as well as reas-
sured the travellers. In the afternoon we
were witnesses of magnificent shot,
which killed instantly an enormous pan
Their just as he was landing on the side
step of the third carriage.
1t was our superb Mongol to whom
we were indebted for this marksman's
masterpiece.
what hand and what an eye" said
to the major, who continued to look OH
Faruskiar with suspicion.
Among the other animals of the Pa
miriam fauna appeared wolves and foxes,
and docks of those large wild sheep with
gnarled and gracefully curved horns,
which are known to tho natives as ar
kars. High in the sky few the vultures,
bearded and unbearded, and amid the
clouds Of white vapor we left behind us
were many crows and pigeons and turtle
doves and wagtails.
The day passed without adventure. AT
6 o'clock in the evening we crossed the
frontier, after a run of nearly two thou
sand three hundred kilometers, accom-
plished in four days since leaving Uzun
Ada. Two hundred and fifty kilometers
beyond we shall be at Kachgar. Al
though we are now in Chinese Turkes-
tan, it will not be till we reach that town
that we shall have our first experience
Of Chinese administration.
Dinner over about nine o'clock, we
stretched ourselves on our beds, in the
hope, or rather the conviction, that the
night will be as calm as the preceding
one.
1t was not to be so. At first the train
was running down the slopes Of the Pa
mir at great speed. Then it resumed its
normal rate along the level.
It was about one in the morning when
was suddenly awakened. At the same
time Major Noltitz and most of our
companions jumped up. There were loud
shouts in the rear of the train. What
had happened?
Anxiety seized upon the travelers-that
confused, unreasonable anxiety caused
by the slightest incident on railroad.
what is the matter? What is the
matterY
These words were uttered in alarm
from all sides, and in different languages.
My first thought was that we were at
tackled. I thought of the famous XII
Tsang, the Mongol pirate. In moment
the train began to slow, evidently pre-
pairing to stop. Popof came into the van,
and 1 asked him what had happened.
"An accident" he reDlied "a counlinp
has broken, and the two last vans are
left behind
(To be. continued.l