Gilpin observer., 1910-03-24
CHAPTER XIV.
An Exchange Of Compliments.

An EScndn9e OF compliments.
The method Oh loshat and lotka was
out of the question now, even for
Gen. Catkoff. The wild bandits of
Manchuria. who respect no govern
ment on earth, and whose only patri-
otic sentiment consists in the fact
that they would rather kill Russian
than any other foreign devil" were
aroused and were thirsting for loot
and vengeance. 1t would be counting
death to go up that river unless es-
corted by a troop of cavalry. More
over, it was the duty of every man
about the boat to remain by the prin-
cess side. Rei1forcements were sure
to arrive in the shape of muZhiks or
Bouriats, who. impatient of remaining
on the stranded steamer below, had
pushed on afoot or by lotka. There
was always the chance, too, that
squad of Cossack cavalrymen might
come along, following the military
road, long stretch of which was Wis
ible from the boat, between the skirts
of the forest and the edge of the
river.
In addition to Hardy and the gen.
eral and the captain, there were on
board five members of the crew.
Weapons could be provided for all of
these. The captain took a hurried in
ventory and found that, with economy,
there was enough food to last all
hands five days. AS the first day wore
on, an occasional horseman could be
seen on the Manchurian side, in the
dim foreground of the forest. These
horsemen appeared singly at first,
then in twos, and finally in groups of
three or four. They were evidently
increasing in numbers and collecting
in the vicinity of the stranded steam
er. Toward evening Smulders and his
"Chulia" came along. The German
had persuaded the Viennese to en-
bark with him in 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
danger, and probably owed their i'm
munity 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
smulders, when Hardy explained to
him the danger of continuing the jour-
ney, ''and l will fight for my Chulia
till 1 die"
How is your suit coming on?" asked
Hardy. smiling. "She must like you
pretty well. or she would not come up
the river with YOU
"Ah, she would have come up NIT
Russian, so come along init the, only
lotka and she have to come NIT me.
She will not much and have no
peevo. SO think go mad. Ach, l loaf
her very heavy!"
Nothing happened that night, save
the arrival of four Bouriats, riding by
turns a very tired and incredibly bony
horse. After shouted conversation
with the captain, two of them mounted
the animal and rode out to the boat.
They were 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 n 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
was long and they shot wildly, not
putting Hardy and his friends in any
great danger, though they made their
perfectly plain. The Prin.
cess Romanovna, attired in the gown |
of light blue and the hat trimmed with |
blue flowers, stood by the generals |
side, eyeing the scene with calm In.
terest, twirling her open parasol care
lessly on her shoulder.
AS they stood looking, reinforce
ments to the Chinese arrived from
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 Increased from
six to 20. Hardy became convinced |
that the Chinese intended to attack,
when their number should become suf-
great. and here. by n strange |
freak Of chance. he found himself &C.
lively involved in the ancient and un. |
ending war between Russia and Asia |
mixed up in o fight to the death.
which was as much his fight as 1t was
the captains or the generals. or that
Il any sailor or Bouriat on board.
stvIyNN ~ A.