Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-02-10
CHAPTER XIX.
A PeriIous Mission.

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were increasing in intensity and
spreading with great rapidity.
Wildly red and narrow lanes of
flame ran zigzag to the waters edge,
like streams of fire. Monster designs
were worked out on the hillsides in
fire, notably an immense heart, and,
Din places where the vegetation was
sparse, the slopes were spotted with
tiny jets of flame.
By mid-afternoon the heat on the
Pushkin was almost intolerable and
the discomfort caused to the eyes
from the smarting smoke was great,
yet there was no longer any fear that
those on board would suffocate or
perish from the intensity of the heat.
Matters were undoubtedly at their
worst, and it was possible to live, to
breathe. Out there in the middle Of
the river there was no danger of the
boat itself catching fire, and the wind,
which was coming straight down the
stream brought GOODNESS and life
with it from the wide Siberian plains.
AS Hardy stood watching the scene
that night, the princess came up to
him and said:
I'VE have nothing to fear from the
Chinese, / fancy. They must have
gone away. They must think we are
dead"
1T is most probable" replied Hardy,
''but | fear that it will be some time
before we shall be able to take to the
road
AT the military station below"
said the princess, there is a tele-
graph, connecting with the one above.
1t i~ possible for a boat of shallow
dras. to get down the river to a little
distance back. The general asked the
men 4 n of their number would not
volursaer to carry a dispatch to the
statilA. but I am ashamed to say that
no on4 has responded. They are de-
TERED by the dreadful fate of poor
fStenka."
II WIFI go!' cried Hardy. TASK the
genera! to let me go. | can keep to
the miadle of the stream till I have
passed the fires, either wading or
swimming down the swift current.
The fires cannot extend more than a
mile or so down the river, a distance
soon passed over, and then l will take
to the highway. / am a foreigner and,
if captured, shall not be in so great
danger as a Russian. 1t is not a diff
flcult undertaking. l am sure | shall
get through"
The princess left him without a
word, but returned ten minutes later,
smiling sadly and shaking her head.
1T is as I thought" she said. 1.-THE
general refuses. He says it would be
an eternal disgrace to the Russian
arms if a foreigner should undertake
this thing. He is making one more
appeal to the men. He is calling them
sheep, Japanese, p%oltroons."
II had hoped,' said Hardy, sadly,
that you people would no longer re-
gard me quite in the Light Of a for
Beigner. AS far, at least, as the peo-
tple on the boat are concerned, I have
tried to earn the right to be counted
one Of you. If ] have done anything
ITO merit your own regard, personally,
] ask you, as an especial favor, to
prepare this dispatch for me and let
me be off! / tell you again, that +
shall certainly go, with or without it.
If you refuse, | shall on the instant
Jump into the river and start on my
Journey"
Il beg of you not to put 1t in that
way" replied the princess. IF you
put It in that way, you know | cannot
refuse. I hope the occasion may arise
some day that will allow me in some
way to show in a BETTING manner my
great and lasting gratitude to you. But
now you are taking an unfair adyan-
ftage. You are seeking to place me
under still greater obligations to you"
Il ask for ne gratitude replied
Hardy. Il am simply seeking a favor,
an accommodation from you. am
begging you to write a few lines for
me. Does your highness still refuse?
We'll, then, good-by, and God be with
you! If we do not meet again, I beg
you sometimes to think Of me as one
who, who-good-by!"
He laid one hand on the rail, but
she extended her arm and detained
him.
stay" she whispered, Il will write
che dispatch for you"
She went to her cabin and Hardy
made his few hurried preparatiOng for
departure, which consisted simply in
swallowing a few mouthfuls Of "a
kouska, In filing his flask with vodka,
and In slipping into his pocket a fiat
bottle, empty, but tightly corked.
When he returned to the deck, he
found the princess awaiting him, with
the dispatch ready. Hardy wound 1t
into a tight cylinder and poked It into
the bottle, which he corked and put
into hts pocket.