The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-02-17
CHAPTER XIX.
A PeriIous Mission.

A Perlous Mission.
During all this time the forest hreB
were increasing in intensity and
spreading with great rapidity.
Vividly 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,
in 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:
1--WE have nothing to fear from the
Chinese, I 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 tele-
graph, connecting with the one above.
1t is possible for a boat of shallow
draft to get down the river to little
distance back. The general asked the
men if one of their number would not
volunteer to carry a dispatch to the
stauUn, but I am ashamed to say that
no one has responded They are de-
tered by the dreadful fate of poor
Stenka."
Il will go!" cried Hardy. ASK the
general to let me go. l can keep to
the middle of the stream till | 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. I am foreigner and,
II captured, shall not be in so great
danger as a Russian. 1t is not a diff
ticult 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 thought" she said. The
general refuses. He says it would be
an eternal disgrace to the Russian
arms if foreigner should undertake
this thing. He is making one more
appeal to the men. He is calling them
sheep, Japanese, poltroons."
Il had hoped" said Hardy, sadly,
that you people would no longer re-
gard me quite in the light of for
eigner. AS far, at least, as the peo-
pie OH the boat are concerned, have
tried to earn the right to be counted
one of you. If I have done anything
to merit your own regard, personally,
I ask you, as an especial favor, to
prepare this dispatch for me and let
me be off! l tell you again, that 1
shall certainly 60 with or without it.
If you refuse, l shall on the instant
jump into the river and start on my
journey"
Il beg of you not to put it in that
way" replied the princess. "If you
put it in that way, you know cannot
refuse. hope the occasion may arise
some day that will allow me in some
way to show in befitting manner my
great and lasting gratitude to you. But
now you are taking an unfair advan-
tage. You are seeking to place me
under still greater obligations to you"
Il ask for no gratitude" replied
Hardy. Il am simply seeking favor,
an accommodation from you. | am
begging you to write few lines for
me. Does your highness still refuse?
Well, then, good.by, and God be with
you! If we do not meet again, 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
the dispatch for you"
She went to her cabin and Hardy
made his few hurried preparations 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 fiat
bottle, empty, bat tightly corked.
WhG he returned to the deck, he
found the princess awaiting him, with
the dispatch ready. Hardy wound it
into tight cyiint or and pokea it into
the bottle. which he eorked and put
into his pocket