Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-20

ward evening Smulders and his
"Chulia" came along. The German
had persuaded the Viennses to en-
bark with him In q lotka and they had
made nearly as great progress as the
steamer, with Its frequent delays on
account Of the sand-banks and the
necessity of taking on wood. They had
come on, perfectly unconscious Of dan.
ger, and probably owed their immune
tY to the fact that they had stuck
close to the Siberian side. to which
the Chinese did not often cross.
I'VE will stay here" declared Smul-
ders, when Hardy explained to him
the danger of continuing the journey.
land will fight for my Chnlia till I
de-
How is your suit coming on?" ask
ed Hardy smiling "She must like you
pretty we'll, or she would not come up
the river With YOU !"
All, she would have come up NIT a
Russian, so come along NIT the only
lotka and she have to come nit me.
She will not much and have no peevo.
SO | think go mad. All, loaf her
very heavy!"
Nothing happened that>night, save
the arrival of four Boufiats, riding
by turns very tired and Incredibly
bony horse. After shouted CONVEX
sation with the captain. two of them
mounted the animal and rode out to
the boat. They we're armed with short
rifles and heavy cavalry swords. They
turned the horse loose. which swan
to shore, and was used by the other
two as living ferry. one riding this
time, while his comrade held fast to
the animals tail.
In the morning six Manchurians
rode down to the waters edge and be-
gan firing at the boat. The distance
putting Hardy and his friends in any
great danger, though they made their
intentions perfectly plain. The
Princess Romanovna, attired in the
gown of light blue and the hat trim
med with blue flowers. stood by the
generals side cycling the scene with
calm interest, twirling her open para
sol carelessly on her shoulder.
II think you had better go below,
Madame" said Hardy, "a stray shot
might hit you.
There is no danger" she replied.
'they can not hit the boat and they
are great cowards-they DIRE moi
come nearer. If you could wound one
of them, they would all run away
Hardy glanced at her admiringly.
''The range is too long" he replied,
lingering his rifle affectionatsly and
Familiarity. "If they would come a
little closer, now. we might teach
them lesson. That big fellow, rid
ing up and down before them, seems
to be the leader"
Don't you think you could hit
him?' she asked. 81 have great faith
in your craftsmanship, very natural
ly."
mot at this distance, and find no
amusement In shooting unless I am
pretty sure OF my mark"
AS they stood looking, reinforce
ments to the Chinese arrived from
4 time to time. Other horsemen rode
out from the depths of the woods
! till. in the, course Of an hour, the
strength, OF the company had increas
ed from six to twenty. Hardy became
convinced that the Chinese intended
to attack, when their numbers should
become sufficiently great, and here
by a strange freak of chance he found
himself actively involved in the an
cient and amending war between
Russia and Asia-mixed up in a
fight to the death, which was as much
his fight as 1t was the captains or
the generals or that Of any sailor or
Bouriat on board. For it was his duty
| to defend, to the last drop of blood II
his body and with all his remarkable
skill, the fair, imperious. high-spirited
| lady who stood by his side. And. even
! though he was face to face with de
| sperate danger, perhaps with hor
/ rible death, he felt fierce joy in be
ling there. He did not know whethe,
or not she knew he was a tradesman
a mere hireling who was scarcel.
better than clerk He had not tolt
her. and he did not care. At Stryten
SIX he would begin that life. Now, ana
| till then. he was her knighterrant
| and she should not be ashamed O.
him.
Twill you," he said to the Princess
convey slight suggestion to the
general for me? make it in all humil
ity."
She looked at him inquiringly as b,
explained. AS result, some of the
men were set to work dragging uI
mattresses and bedding and piline
them against the roll to form g barrl
cade. This work was not more thar
half completed when the brigandI
made their first attack. Emboldenet
by the accession of half a dozen re
cruits, they deployed In long line
and, swing their rifles about theil
heads, they came galloplng on through
the shallow water of the river, tn.
chief we'll in advance The genera
gave quick sharp order and his lit
tie army fell or their knees behine
the half-finished barricade. on the tor
OF which they rested their rifles.
Evidently, being a good soldier, hi
had ordered the men not to fire til
the enemy should get close Smuldert
| had no rifle, but he seized a stou
boat-hook, shod with a sharp irol
pont, and sank on his knees shouting
"They shall never get my Chulia!
On came the wild line, splashin:
through the water, which was now VI
to the horses knees. When they ha'
traversed about one-third of the dis
/ toron fha1, on 1o1ihoroto1