The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-01-27
CHAPTER VII.
Zakouska.

The Russian steamer that took Har-
ey into Vladivostok was an iron tub
OF the tramp variety. and not a soul
on board could speak a word Of any
tongue ever heard before by the Amer
lean. He soon became aware, how
ever, that the red-faced burly captain
and his two officers meant to be kind
10 him, and that their idea of friend
illness consisted principally in getting
him to eat and drink as much and as
frequently as possible. After vainly
attempting TO converse with him and
learning only that he was American,
the captain led him to the dining
room and introduced him to one OF the
great institutions OF Russia, the "a
kouska, a lunch of hors-d'oeuvres,
washed down with much strong drink
At one end Of the room. near the side
board, table was set, spread with
dishes OF sardines, sardels, caviar,
chunks of picked fish, sandwiches,
and shrimp in bottles. The captain
poured out two generous bumpers of
q white liquid into glasses, handed
one to Hardy, clinked and drained the
contents Of the other at a gulp. Har-
dy swallowed the liquid, and the tears
came into his eyes; he nearly stran-
gled. He looked about for water, but
in vain. He was to learn soon that
water, for drinking and washing pur-
poses. is the one thing most difficult
Of all to obtain in Holy Russia.
Zakouska lasted, of and on. for
about an hour
By combining the utmost firmness
with evident good nature, Hardy man
aged to pull through without getting
drunk. thereby accomplishing a feat
quite remarkable in a foreigner &C
cepting Russian hospitality.
The next afternoon they entered
the magnificent harbor of Vladivostok,
passing the high rock, crowned with
q lighthouse, that stands as a sentinel
at its mouth. The city, not visible
till the last moment, burst suddenly
on Hardy's view and gave him a very
favorable impression of the country
into which he had come TO live and
10 retrieve, If possible. his shattered
fortunes. Here, crowning the hills
that dominate the harbor, was a mod
ern, European city of houses, many Of
them several stories in height, evil
IDENTIFY built of brick and stone. A cou-
pie Of men-ofwar. very trim in their
white paint, besides numerous mer-
chant vessels flying the Russian flag.
lay at anchor in the bay. while sew
eral Chinese sampans and a junk or
two. drifting about, bore witness that
here the extremes of the east and the
west meet and overlap. Two or three
OF the sampans, indeed, foated up to
Hardy's ship as she cast anchor, and
their long-cued owners made clamor-
Gus application to carry Gny one
ashore who might Wish &c go. Hardy
had already picked out the Celestial
whose appearance best suited him,
wondering whether he would take
japanese money. when he noticed a
steam-launch rapidly approaching, and
a cheerful voice hailed him.
Is that an American on board !
there?"
Yes" Hardy shouted back. thrill |
ing with sudden delight at the sound |
vi ulh hlONutA- NOubhcf noM uiu gOu |
know"
by the cut OF your clothes Where |
Is your baggage?"
'In my cabin"
"All right" said the man in the |
launch, "I'll have It brought out Get |
in here and I'll take you ashore"
few words of gruff Russian to the |
captain, and Hardy's trunks and bag |
gage were brought out, and five min
utes later he was flying ashore in the |
launch of the American Trading Com
pany.
AS he was leaving, the captain |
dashed up and wrung his hand, asking |
anxiously:
"Zakouska?"
"He wants TO know" explained Har-
dy. leaning over the rail, IF want |
more zakouska. I've had zakouska |
enough to last me a lifetime. What |
shall tell him?"
Tell him 'nyet'!" came the reply,
and the American shook the hands OF
the eapeain and his two kindhearted
officers vigorously. repeating many
times:
"Nyet! nyet! nyetl nyeti"