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Show SYNOPSIS. "convey Frederick Hardy, a fashionable Vnn ooti'iy man, lout his weulth, i wu jiiiiu to t;i k bv a Klrl Hni "nt by " an American TrndiriK t'omtmnv ot ehrg 'rli-m- n hi Journey ilirnuvii tore In Huaala, met Biapleton Neville, ki.jj. JiiDMn h an ooJvdlv KngllMhi'ian. They agrei i for humlUty.-- . Z ,URTU,n11 1 n",k,' 10 lhe " oxSain?"?1 ah'm b. resu,Bwr t, some of t to work i an" 5; and PU2 of 7'treHses bedding circumstance they wern Hevemi He. the molested linn's by Japan. Hardy "I k WH" not . rv.,wu arrested end found upon lilit "' than half tnnp. ofcm Jup furtn. Wl.r. papers BhowlngkuIHU-hkwas a Iruln proven Hurrtv flrHt aUa, k' he met AlBonie Buno. datiKhter of a Jup men hant. In Neville's shoes Jap found crVts n thTH0V,f ha,f of forts, proving him to tie a in a long lln Rlctures Bpy. Hardy departed f()r Uiih-tl- s n a steamer, willed wim wrecked afterward. H wa renciM t,y ney C"me KIlUP"8 n through I liorlly Rniwlan Bteanier. On reaching Vladi- th of u,e riv- vostok he was well fronted. He started we r.nwatr for Siberia, meeting Prlncem Ilomanovna The general n the train. Hardy boarded a vennel fur BHveaqulck. sharp order and his It 1,1k Amur. Hardy showed the prince rifle shot. The steitmer army f,., ,m thplr fc inertness as a The plinreKa and h,r a Htranded. Tlie princess thanked of which they rested their rifles saved their Uvea. Hardy for his heroism. hal ,nUy; b'lns a 8,KM, the nmn not to Are till CHAPTER XIV. the enemy Kmld r,M!)e gmil,d(,M An Exchange of Compliment. Tbe method of losnaf and lotka was out of the question now, even for The wild bandits of Gen. Catkoft. Manchuria, who respect no government on earth, and whoHe only patriotic sentiment consists in the fact to totiether to IIubhI. -- . BBBJBSBBBBBBBBSSSSSSSBBBBr mi,. . L ' 1 .if ' m Hardy shot and the chief still came on. followed by his men, shouting like wild Indians. In their barbaric tongue. The American shot again without result. Then he swore softly, a good, honest Saxon oath, removed hi eyeglass, wiped his eyes with hla hand-kehlef. replaced his glasses, laid his cheek on bis weapon and shot a third time. The chief", rifle dropped into the yellow Amur, his arms fell to his side, and he plunged over his horse's flank, head first Into the water. The animal whirled about and charged on th line behind him, dragging his rider's body, which hung by one stirrup. The other brigands turned and followed their leader's body to tho bank and disappeared Into the dark Mamhurlan woods. The princess approached Hardy and extended her hand. "I congratulate you, monsieur," she n that they would rather kill a Russian than any other "foreign devil," were aroused and were thirsting for loot H would be courting and vengeance. death to go up that liver unless escorted by a troop of cavalry. Moreover, it was tbe duty of every man about the boat to remain by the princess' side. Reinforcements were sure to arrive in the shape of muzhiks or Bouriats, who, Impatient of remaining on the stranded steamer below, had pushed on afoot or by lotka. There was always the chance, too, that a (quad of Cossack cavalrymen might come along, following the military road, a long stretch of which was visible from the boat, between the skirts of the forest and the dge of the river. In addition to Hardy and the general and the captain, there were on board five members of the crew. Weapons could be provided for all of these. The captain took a hurried inventory and found that, with economy, there was enough food to last all hands five days. As the first day wore on, an occasional horseman could be seen on the Manchurian side, in the dim foreground of tho forest. These horsemen appeared singly at first, then in twos, and finally in groups of three or four. They were evidently Increasing in numbers and collecting in the vicinity of the stranded steamer. Toward evening Smulders and his "Cbulla" came along. The German had persuaded the Viennese to embark with him In a lotka and they had made nearly as great progress as the steamer, with its frequent delays on account of the sand-bankand the necessity of taking on wood. They had come on, perfectly of unconscious danger, and probably owed their immunity to the fact thttt they bad stuck close to the Siberian side, to which the Chinese did not often cross. "We vill stay here," declared The Chief's Rifle Dropped Smulders, when Hardy explained to him the Jourthe of danger continuing had no rifle, but he seized a stout ney, "and I vill fight for my Chulia , shod with a sharp Iron till I die." and sank on his knees, shoutHow is your suit coming on? asked point, Hardy, smiling. "She must like you ing: "They shall never get my Chulia!" pretty well, or she would not come up On came the wild line, splashing 'the river with you." the water, which was now up through "Ah, she vould have come up mit a knees. When they had horses' the to Russian, so I come along mit Die only of the disabout lotka and she have to come mit me. traversed and deliberately stopped . ... they tance, .1 ei one viu not mucn ana i nave no took aim. The general spoke sharply feevo, so I think I go mad. Ach. I loaf to tho princess, who sat down on the nor very heavy!" deck behind the barricade. At this Nothing happened that night, nave moment the brigands fired and several tie arrival of Tour Rouriats, riding by of the bullets passed over tho boat turns a very tired and Incredibly bony ami splashed in the water on the horse. After a shouted conversation farther side. One struck the smokelth the captain, two of them mounted stack with a "pluff." and another, evitoe animal and rode out to the boat. dently flattened by its impact with the They were armed with short rilios The old water, hummed musically. nd heavy flint hint;, swords. without They cavalry general stood erect, turned the horse loose, which swam to repeating some order to his men. HU hore, and was used aluost by the other two voice sounded affectionate, 18 living ferry, one riding this time, ine his comrade held fast to the caressing. measured Hardy raised his rifle and Wlmal's tall. distance. the 'n 'he of morning six Manchurluns "What does he say?" he asked We down o the water'B her. edge and by kneeling the princess, tiring at the boat. The distance "Not yet, my children, not yet." a ion,, ail(j they Bhot wildly, not can do "Now "said the American, "you Mting Hardy and his friends in any I think will; if you me. for Peat danger, though they mado their m.methim; the chief now. Ask the gen1 can hit wtentlons perfectly plain. The favor to you, to let attired in the? gown eral, as a special "liRht blue and the hat trimmed with me try!" silent upon The Mam l.m'htna sat )e flowers, stood by the general's th"ir eyes with w. eyeing the scono with calm in their horses, shading if possible, the to see, eKt G hands, , irling hot open parasol care- their The pr.ncess result of their volley. and spoke bun led-A the to general ran they stood l.mUlnir reinforceturned and to him. and the latter ?eal8 to the Chinese arrived from . America.. The e to time. ... Other horsemen rode nodded at Hardy. and raised justed his plHoe-noa onu to his shoulder. It was In the course of an hour, tho strength better done had he but J 1 " company had Increased from - at deer to 20. Hardy became convinced Adirondack- his muscles as tense as and the Ch,,e8e. Intended to attack, to press e . Just as he was about his rifle their number should become suf- swung Xc chief uUy K,.liati and here by a .trange Sshead. of t chance, he found himself r tin-a,nvolvpi In the ancient and between Russia and Asia 'ed up In a fight to the death, was as much his fight as it was .i ' "Plain's or the or that .. general's, ..m. ln or Hourlat on .'uoara.i nvn - or a sash. he said to the princess, evidently ribbon- HHnnMMMBMaHfjiMaiBBMMBMHMHHHHMHHHi "I will endure anything from him, at least until we have rescued you from this danger." A small hand crept down his arm, found bis hand, and pressed It "Morel, mon ami!" whispered the v princess. was heard . At that moment a splash by the side of tho boat "Go below!" said Hardy In a voice of command the voice that a real woman likes to hear sometimes from a real man; and he stepped lightly to the spot. He could see nothing, could hear nothing more, but he found the general standing at the place, which was on the down-streaside, gazing Into the water. For a moment Hardy had confidently expected to see a throng of Chinese climbing up the sides. If this splash had indicated the arrival of the enemy, however, there was nothing In tbe general's demeanor, to betray the fact. He did not move, did not awake the sleeping crew, but turned with a sigh and crossed the deck. He was stopped by the princess, who walked with him for a few seconds. CHAPTER XV. "He has sent one of the crew, Stcn-k- a Pugacheff, down the river for "llrave Burning Arrows. help," she said to Hardy, On deck all was silence, save for Stenka! He hopes to get far enough the whispering, bubbling and plash- in tbe darkness to escape the eyes of ing of the treacherous Amur, or the the band which Is collected here, and occasional cry of some lone water- then he will take to the woods. Is he fowl, high overhead, following the not a hero, this simple CossackT .It course of the river. Hardy, coming Is 30 versts. to the military station, above after his Interview with Roman- and there Is death waiting for him at off, found the general on watch. Two every step." of the men also were awake, and were A light flashed and went out 30 or listening and peering Into the dark- 40 yards below, and Immediately a ness with a vigilance that proved that blazing object described an arc they understood that their own lives through the air and fell on the deck as well as the lives, of all on board, not far from their feet. One glance depended on their alertness. The wag enough to show that the object American also listened and watched, was an arrow which, freighted with straining his eyes to seo If. here and Borue highly inflammable material, there In the darkness, darker forms was sticking upright in the deck and could be seen of the foe stealthily ap- burning-- like a candle. It cast conproaching. siderable light Hardy leaped to Hardy had not been standing on the snatch it, but, ere he reached It, one deck more than 20 minutes, when he of the Cossack soldiers anticipated felt a hand laid lightly upon his arm. him and threw the blazing missile Into It was so dark that he could not dis- the river. Just as he was In the act tinguish the outline of the form stand- - of seizing It, several shots rang out you would not be able to break away from the fascinations of the geisha girls, who so strongly appealed to you." Hardy Ignored the hand. "I believe that you played a scoundrelly trick on me In Japan," he said, looking Romnnoff coolly In the eye and speaking with great calmness, "but am content, for the present, to pass It by. I uh suppose you have Acyour own code as a gentleman. cording to mine, It Is our duty now to sink all private differences and unite In the rescue of this lady from a most perilous position." "You are right," replied Romanoff, becoming Insolent; "an addition to tbe crew Is not to be despised at a time like this, especially a fellow who can shoot as you can. You ought to open a gallery in Petersburg;. You'd make He turned his back your fortune." rudely, but looked over his shoulder to add: "Hut let us have no misunderstanding. Nothing you can do here will prevent my finding out why the Japanese were no friendly to you and what you are really doing In Russia." s ...... be-fa- s Zt ac-tJ- .. yi" tit .111-Ko- PfnVw'a' savage-- p CHAPTER XVI. Into the Yellow Amur. said, "on your splendid marksman-ship.- " boat-hook- one-thir- 30 Chinese shooting arrows, accompanied by from six to ten riflemen, if they were trying to set fire to the boat, or merely to light It tip so that they, might pot at Its occupants from the safety of the darkness, It soon became evident that their schema was not destined to prove highly successful. Tho men, for one thing, made themselves plainly visible for an Instant or so while they were scratching their matches and applying the burning arrows to the string. Tbey kept shooting now, sporadically. First here and there and then in some other spot a red, fitful light would gleam for an Instant, dyeing a patch in the river blood-reby Its radiance, and revealing a wild,' looking Mongolian, armed with great bow and quiver, who flicked Into view for a moment and as soon was swallowed up again by darkness. Hardy, not understanding the general's orders, reasoned that he would be pardoned for acting under his own. If he were going wrong, be reflected. It would be easy to stop him. lie therefore held his rifle ready for action, as a man who Is expecting a covey of quail to rise, and stood watching the water, alert tense,, keen as a cat about to spring. His chance came soon, when one of those lights flashed nearly ln tho direction of his gazo and not far away. He threw the gun to his shoulder and fired. H could not see tho sights, but he could make out the object plainly, and he knew he should not go far wrong. He missed, for the Chinese, standing In the water, fitted about waist-deethe arrow to the string and discharged It. The shot rang out loud and clear. It seemed to Hardy that be had never heard a rifle make such a loud report before. The general exclaimed: i "Monsieur Hardy, ah!" and made no further comment, bo tho American continued his shooting ouce, twice, three times. Meanwhile the attacking party seemed to be approaching a little nearer, and they succeeded tu lodging several of their burning missilea In the woodwork of the boat; one arrow In tho rail, two in the side of th wheelhouse, and one In the hull. These were broken off almost as soou a.i they stuck and did no damage, for, strange to tsay, the Chinese themselves had ceased firing their rifles. And now Hardy had the inexpressible joy of hilling one of the attacking party, who fell backward Into the water with his blazing arrow In his hand. "I'm getting the knack of It," he muttered; "I shall be able to do it more frequently now. Terhaps I, alone, can stop them." A moment later he heard sudden shouting, the sound of running feet, snarls of rage and the splash of heavy bodies falling Into the water. A party of Chinese, that had crept down from above In rowboats, was attempting to board, and the Dourlats and crew were repelling them savagely w 1th bayonets and swords. about "I take your hand, madame," he replied, "but I cannot accept the conIt was very bad shootgratulations. ing. My only excuse Is that this Is the first time I have used this rifle." to Smulders dropped his boat-hoothe deck, and running up to the American, seized both his hands In his fat, pink palms. "You have saved my Chulia!" he ' I. H mm V'lVl w I n jl. LO&'. , U . ' 1 i VML'I, sobbed. There was, indeed, no further attack on the part of the Chinese that afternoon, and at night, before the iiKHin arose, the besieged received an A man heard Important recruit. shouting from the Russian side was allowed to approach and come on board. Hardy could not see his face, as lights were not allowed on deck, but he thought lie recognized the voice, even though it was speaking Russian. The newcomer went Immediately. Half an hour after arrival. Hardy was summoned by the princess to her cabin. "Mr. Hardy," she said In French, "this is my cousin, liorls Romanoff. 1 take pleasure In Introducing two brave men to each other. Mr. Hardy has saved my life, and Horis haB braved the most fearful dangers to roach my side. When he arrived at Vladivostok and Inquired for me he learned that had started for Moscow, so he did not wait a moment, but fairly flew up the river. Had ho known what gallant defenders were by my side he would not have felt such anxiety." Hardy took this last remark as simply complimentary to himself and the bravo old general, and he acknowledged it by a polite bow; how could he know that Horls Romanoff was a suitor for his fair cousin's hand, who was a cousin far removed, after all, and that the princess often tried the big fellow's temper in the most Insidious and seemingly Innocent ways. "This Is an unexpected pleasure, Mr. Hardy," said Romanoff In English, extending his hand, "I hardly hoped to meet you again In Russia. I feared . my.' II I W v m Ml ' III ' I'm ' V i ii i i ill ', ' .7 .11 III s he-lo- 1 He Threw the Gun to His Shoulder and Fired. Battle by Moonlight. The burning arrows had been a At, version, as tho books on tactics say, to draw tho attention of the little hand of defenders and occupy It completely on tno down stream side, while another attacking party crent tin tinder cover of darkness and boarded from above. Tint for tho fact that the wily old general, fearing the trick, had kept a guard stationed at that side, me ruse mlgnt have succeeded perfectly. The boat as wo have rppii. was swung diagonally ncrofis a sort of channel, her nose and stern being tniDeddea In sand banks. Tho Chinese. coming down stream In three row- boats, struck her at either end and near the middle, their evident Intention being to spread the Russians out as much as possible. At this moment a frayed and worn old moon floated up out of. tho Siberian forest. Hardy saw, by Its light a' wide expanse of water, dimly shining between ghostly forcnts; ho saw several Mongolian heads, covered with round black caps, looking over the side of the boat; he saw Julius Smulders whirl a heavy oak pole In the air and bring It down cut tone of these heads with terrific fore; he saw one of the Rourlats cleave another head so completely thtt f stood erect for a second, while the other fell over the victim's! shoulder, as the Rouriat wrenched jnt hla sword, which was Imbedded In the rail; ho saw a gigantic Manchurian, with a long twohanded sword, leap aboard, to bo thrust through by a bayonet lunge Just as his feet struck tho . one-hal- lug by his side, but he knew, with- and the man was slightly wounded in out looking around, that this was the the arm, as waB discovered later for tho brave fellow mado no outcry at princess, "We must not speak loud," she the time. The general sprang to the whispered, "the general has com- princess' side, took her by the arm manded absolute silence." He could and turned her toward the gangway, feel her warm breath on his cheek and speaking kindly but firmly to her. her hair brushed his brow. "I came "Da, da!" she replied, and left the to say that you must not mind my dock. cousin. I saw at a -l- ance that he The first arrow was but the precurdoes not like you, and 1 think I under- sor of a shower of 20 or more, the mastand tho reason." jority of which either passed far over "What possible reason could he tho vessel or fell short thus proving have for not liking me?" asked Hardy. that the accuracy of the first shot had "I assure you I never did bim any in- been largely the result of a lucky tentional harm." guess. "He Is very brave, is my poor cousOno of the arrows stuck fast In the in, and he Is furious that It was you rail and a sailor broke It off by strikand not he who saved my life from ing It with a long pole. The rifle volthe brigands. Dear with bim, I beg ley of which It was the precursor did of you. He will come to his souses no damage, as most of the Russians In a day or two and will himself thank were either lying on their stomachs, or were crouching behind the Improyou." Tor your sake," whispered Hardy, vised bulwarks. TLera were evidently . deck. . All this the American took In with one glance of the eye just as tho moon rose above the woods. ' (TO B13 CONTINUED.) Mirage Seen In Scotland One morning recently there was a curious mirage seen at the entrance of the Firth of Forth, Scotland. It had all the appearance of an Island studded with trees and spires, many of which seemed As upside down. viewed from Dunbar It had a; lovely aspect, as It was encircled ; by j rainbow of abnormal: proportions- -" London MalL |