Year: 1873

was another little hill that cut Off the view, and
that far, at least the coast was clear
We were about pushing on, when five
horsemen suddenly came dashing over the HILL and


seeing us wheeled off towards the river and dis
/ appeared. 1t began to grow exciting. We pushed
4 on as fast as our horses could carry us, but the


sand was so deep and they were SO tired that we


could not urge them out OF walk. The cannonade
i suddenly ceased. We approached the summit OF
the hill, whicn was covered with short growth OF
Sn6s-drol and again passed over. This time our
eyes were rewarded with view OF something


but not exactly what would have given US the
most pleasure. AT the distance OF about two miles
there was line OF horses right across our path,
probably 100 in all, scattered along a line OF
mile in length / could not see any men,
but Monstraf, my Kura-Kalpak guide, who
had advanced with me to reconnoitre,
assured he could make out men and
that by their costume they were either Kirgheez or
Turcomans he could not say which, but certainly
not Russians. This looked bad. II they were
Krgheez they were friends, but II Turcomans, then


indeed, our position was almost as bad as it well
could be- IL they were Turcomans we had three
courses before Us, all OF which were entirely i'm
practicable. Go back TO Khala-ata-make circuit
or 10 to 20 miles, through the sand and get around
them, or try to hide until night and tnen steal
through their lines. Our horses were too feeble
to attempt either OF the first two plans we could
not urge them out Of a walk, and as to hiding,
there was no cover but few little hillocks There
was every probability that we would be discovered
before night Unfortunately the cannonade had
ceased and could not determine now iar the
Russians were nor their exact direction.
While deliDeratng what to do two horsemen
suddenly detached themselves from the line and
started towards us as though they had seen some
thing in our direction and were coming to see


what II was. Matters were now coming TO a
crisis. Retreat was impossible, as there was no
cover within two or three miles that would have
tempted a rabbit. ordered my meu to disnount
and aide as Wen as they could and have their
arms ready. They were all well armed, having
among them two revolvers, two double barreled
breech-ioading guns and four single shotguns


loaded with slugs. The trouble was none OF them
could be counted on TO hut anything further than
10 leet, even II they did not run away nv in
tention was to allow the two Turcomans to ap.
proach within 10 yards, kl them ana II possible
seize their horses, for with one good horse would
have rsked reaching the Russians. II
would be desperate attempt, as the
rest OF them would be down on us
as soon as they would hear the report
OF firearms, and then-but / had no time TO think
OF my further movements. the two Turcomans
were within so yards, coming forward In a very
careless manner, as II they suspected the presence
OF an enemy. looked around at my followers to
see who j coull count on Old AK Mamatefr


looked perfectly stolid, as though 1t were matter
OF the utmost Indifference TO him. had made life
burden to him by dragging him here where he
had never engaged 10 go, and the sooner he got
rid or IL the better. Monstraf looked shaky and
the other three uneasy. The only one CT them who
seemed to be ready for the fray was the young
Kirgheez from Pirousky. As soon as / saw his
eye 1 knew ! could count on him to the
last. / was lying down among the bushes.
with rifle cooked, and kept asking Monstraf
every moment If he stlll thought they we're
were within 25 yards. and | was about to pull the
trigger when he sprang up, gave a shout and threw
up his cap, Wild with JOY. lie had recognized a
Krgheez and an acquaintance. We shook hands
with one another all around. aud when the two
Kirgleez WHO we're returning to Khala-ata in
formed us that the Russians were only about three
miles further on and that they we're bombarding a
tort across the river, we sprang into our saddles
and pushed on. in half an hour we had reached a
hnlock on the river bank, from which we had an
extensive view OF the river and valley. The
OXus here was about thrcc-quarters OF
mie "ide, ana the opposite bank
ABOUT 90 feet high. When arrived
on the scene, 1t was covered q little lower down
with horsemen, who we're g9llopng about, utterlng
wld cries while two pieces Of cannon, placed
uown near the water's edge IN front OF little fort


win emDrasures for cannon, were booming away


WIN might and main. Looking down the river ON


my own side beneld tue Russians al tho dtatanca