The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-06-10

l
moiselle Zinca Klork to expect him in
the capital of the Chinese empire.
1t would be better for me to relieve
his anxiety this very night. That IL Inn
possible, for the train will soon stop
at Check Tepe. and then at Askhabad.
which it will leave in the first hour Of
daylight l can no longer trust to Pop
offs going to sleep.
l am absorbed in these reflections
when the locomotive stops in Check Tepe
station at l O'Clock in the morning. l. ne
train starts at o'clock, after having
been Joined by a few passengers whom
Popof tells me are Turkomans.
l envied the sleep of my companions
The dawn was appearing In the east
| Here and there were the ruins OF an
ancient city, citadel girdled with nlgn
ramparts and a succession OF long poru-
Goes extending over fifteen hundred
yards. Running over a few emDanK-
ments necessitated by the inequalities
Of the sandy ground, the train again
reaches the horizontal steppe.
We are running at a speed OF thirty
miles an hour in a southwesterly direc-
ton along the Persian frontier. 1t Is
only beyond Douchak that the line be-
gins to leave it. We reached that sta
ton at 6 o'clock in the morning.
We stop here two hours. l am of to
look at Douchak, with Major Noltits as
my cicerons. l was led to question the
major regarding the safety Of the Grand
Transasiatic across the provinces. OF Cen
trail Asia
In Turkestan, he told me, the safety
il well assured. During the years the
Transcaspian has been at work there has
been no attack to hinder the train ser
vice.
THAT is another matter" said the
major. "The Grand Transasiatic is I'M
der Chinese control, and have not
much confidence in that"
Are there not a lot of scoundrels
providing about Mongolia and Northern
China:' l asked. MY sole anxiety is
that our journey may not be devoid Of
incident"
Really, Mr.. Special Correspondent, l
admire you. Well, am afraid you will
be disappointed, as 1 have heard that
the company has treated with several
chiefs of the robber bands. But there
is one of these highwaymen who has
retained his independence and liberty of
|
| ''Who is he?''
"a bold bandit chief, half Chinaman,
half Mongol. Having for some time been
terror to Yunan, he was being too
closely pursued, and has now moved into
the northern provinces. His presence has
even been reported in that part Of Mon
golia served by the Grand Transasiatic."
| "Well. he ought to furnish q few
paragraphs"
We returned, toward the station. The
stoppage at Douchak had another half
hour to last. As l walked on the quay,
observed something going on which
would change the makeup of our train.
| Another van had arrived from Teher-
an by the branch line Of Mesched, which
puts the Persian capital in communica-
ton with the Transcaspian.
| This van was bolted and barred, and
accompanied by squad of Persian po-
lice, whose orders seemed to be not to
lose sight of 1t.
1 don't know what made me think %,
but 1t seemed as though this van had
something about it, and as the major
had left me, went and spoke to Popof,
| woh was watching over the proceedings.
| "Uopof, where IL that van going?"
ITO Pekin."
| "And what has 1t got In it?'
IAN exalted parsonage"
"Well, Popof, when this exalted per-
sonage gets out perhaps you will let
me knowY'
He will not get out"
| "Why notY'
Because he Is dead. It IL his body
they are taking to Pekin, where he will
be inferred with all the honors due to
him."
While I was looking at this van q
new passenger came up and examined
it with no less curiosity than did. He
was fine looking man Of about 40,
wearing gracefully the costume of the
richer Mongols, a tall fellow with rather
a gloomy look, a military mustache, taw-
ny complexion and eyes that never shut.
Here is a splendid fellow" l said to
myself. II don't know If he will turn
out the hero of the drama l am In
search of, but anyhow, will number
him twelve in my travelling troupe"
This leading star, soon learned from
Popof, bore the name of Faruskiar. He
was accompanied by another Mongol of
inferior rank, of about the same age.
|
ed at the van being attached to the tail
OF the train in front of the luggage van
they exchanged a few words. As soon
as the arrangements were complete the
Persians took their places in the second
class car, which preceded the mortuary
van, so as to have the precious corpse
always under their surveillance.
The signal is given. The passengers,
old and new, hurry to their places.
Among the new ones notice three Mon
gols Of forbidding appearance, who get
into the second-class car.
As put my foot on the platform /
hear the young Chinese say something to
his companion In French.
And so Pan Chao speaks, French.
What do I say? Better than French. BE
speaks Partisan. Most extraordinary! l
must have 4 talk with him.
CHAPTER TX.
For an hour the train IL running
through an oasis. We shall soon be in
the open desert 1t is half past 10.
breakfast will soon be served in the din
ing car.
| Whn~o l. roh-,.ana