Year: 1873

ngly unea " at las and to think that he had prob
ably reached and crossed the oxus, and would
march TO Khva without waiting for the rest OF the
detachment to come up. Judging from the way
in which was treated by Colonel weimarn. 1t was
pretty sure that II he caught me in an attempt to
escape my position would be very disagree
able one. Nevertheless, l determined TO attempt
it. I had watched the camp routine very closely.
and decided that at break OF day, just when the
pickets were called in, when the officers OF night
duty had retired to rest and the other officers were
not yet stirring, would he The moment
the most favorable Tor fitting l observed
that the Kirgheez and Bokharians came
and went during the day at pleasure. VITA
their horses and camels and concluded
that my people could also slip quietly out OF the
camp without being noticed. therefore de-
Cided to send them on ahead the evening before.
ana ride out OF the camp next morning only ac-
companied by Ak-Mamatef. As 10 the soldiers,
who would be up, they having seen me about the
camp for the last SIX days on equal terms with the
officers, could not be supposed TO know anything
OF my real position and would not think OF stop
ping me-


In this way hoped to get at least 20 miles the
start before my absence would be observed, and
then let Colonel Weimarn catch me If he could. In
order to carry out this plan quietly and expe-
diriousy had TO take Ak-Mamate into my conf





sired to start anywhere. always found at least 10
good and sufficient reasons that made starting i'm
possible and out Of the question. He at
last, TO my utter chagrin and dsappoint-
ment. fatty refused to move another step,
except with the troops. Threats, my un-
falling resource in the desert upon emergencies
OF the kind, were out of the question here for the
simple reason that any attempt to exert my
authority would attract the attention OF everybody
in camp. Besides, had to acknowledge to myself
that the objections OF my people were, TO certain
extent, wen founded. As they very well observed,
had not told them when they engaged to go with
me, that any such service would be required OF
them; and, even II succeeded in escaping the
Russian lines We would PROBABLY fall into the
hands Of the Turcomans. They had families, they
said. and had they known that any such service
would be required OF them they would never have
come with me. Besides the objections OF my peo-
pie to rsking their heads, ound upon looking at
my horses, that the poor beasts were in mser-
able plight. There was large store OF barley in
the fort, but Colonel weimarn refused to give me
grain although l would have paid any
price demanded; and had it not been for
the kindness of Colonel Ivanhof who pro-
cnrad me little, the poor animals would
nave starved 70 death. As IL was, two OF them
looked as though they would never reach tire
Oxus, 80 that there would only remain rhree-t
will be remembered that l was obliged to leave one
IN the desert-to carry myself, my three men and
my baggage. aad there were no horses to he bought
here. One weeks standing in the hot sun with
nearly nothing to eat had reduced them to their
present pltlabe plight, and when the brave little
beasts that had carried me Tar and so patiently
came whinnying around me. asklng for something
to eat and biting ravenous.y at dry -s06S-aU0l
tbrushwoodl, in which there was not the slightest
nourishmcGt, could have seen Colonel Wenarn
in conside ably hotter place than Khaa. alta in a
perfectly cheerful frame OF mind.


FERPLExITIEs OF CONVEYANCE.


Upon tie whole my position was good deal
worse than when arrived at Khala-ata. Then my
horses although tired. were still In very fair
condition and would have reached the Amoo with
out dificulty now it was very doubtful indeed.
TO stop at Knaa-ata, however, alter having come
far. and remain there Tor an indefinite length OF
time was too absurd an ending to my wanderlngs
to be entertained as long as the slightest nope OF
escape remained / therefore determined to make
the attempt regardless OF consequences. went
to my people and told them that II they refused to
go with me would discharge them Immediately
and they might get back TO their homes as best
they could, but II they would 60 with me would
give them each 100 rubles. This proposition
staggered them, and after good deal OF murmur-
Ing they at last consented to the same even
ing. Iu the meantime, however, Colonel Weimarn,
as well as myself, had been growing uneasy at re.
ceiving no news from Kaufman and for exactly the
same reason-he feared Khiva would be taken
without hm-and he at last concluded TO march,
In hopes or meeting a courier with orders TO move
forward Curiously enough, he TOOK this resolution
the very day had planned to escape. This made
escape comparatively easy, the more especially as
Colonel Weimarn would thus know nothing or my
flight for at least "a hours, when pursuit would be
out OF the question.


At one O'Clock, on the morning Of the cath OF
May, we were all in our saddles, and the column
under march already began TO file out on the broad.
sandy read. leading nearly due west. in the direc-
tion OF Adam Koorugan and the Amoo Derya


had taken leave OF nobody, and there was no
one in camp who for a moment even dreamed OF
nv undertaking such project. dropped silently
in the rear Of the Cossacks. who had the head OF
the column. followed by my people, aud when we
had gained the summit oil the low sand hi mile
from the camp. over which the road led. as ST.
lcnty dropped out again, turned my horses heads
to the north, and penged into the darkness


My intention was to get out OF sight OF the
column before daylight by going directly away
Nomit north, then turn west and travel parallel TO
the road Tor several miles, then south again to
reach the road near Adam Koorulgan, far enough
In advance oil the column to water and rest my
horses before it should come up.


GUIDED by the north star, we proceeded slowly
and cautiously forward through the darkness over
the low rolling sand hills, sometimes STUN bling
over broken and uneven ground, again feeling only
the soft, yielding sand beneath our horses tcet "a
they trampled through the sparse saxs ara, ana
wild wormwood, or stopping to reconnoitre as we
Thought we beheld some object moving In the
darkness before US, and my Imagination in spite
OF myself made me catch gimpses OF horsemen
hitting through the obscurity. II was wid and
even foolhardy adventure, as acknowledged TO
myself with perfect frankness, and one which might
end tragicay; but the sense OF freedom and ex-
ultation OF finding myself once more in the
saddle, after my monot0nous and weary
sojourn at Khala-ata out in the open
desert, with the stars above and the
fresh air OF morning blowing In my face, was