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Show "And will she be given all this, even Romanovna being aboard, the train started slowly on its journey if the rest of us are compelled to sleep on the decks? to Khabarovka. "Certainly, replied the Russian. Her highness is her highness. CHAPTER IX. Hardy was about to declaim against a government where the aristocracy Into ibera. The journey Into Sibera was begun! enjoyed such privileges, but, fortuhis French was not quite equal Sibera, that vast mysterious region nately, his indignation, and in the moment to be come name to has whose very of hesitation he remembered Consul synonymous with all that is most dreaded by the human race exile, Greeners warning. "And who in the world is the Prineternal farewells, the clanking of chains over endless frozen roads, the cess Romanovna? he asked, with a He would knout, despair, all the horrors of a slight tinge of sarcasm. In have who the dickto liked say living death! but he did not know the French ens," of in his sat compartment Hardy s cars and gazed for "the dickens. one of the exThe Princess. Romanovna, from the window, eagerly scanning the landscape for some sign or evi- plained the Russian, belongs to one dence of the things that had given the of the oldest families in the empire. His She is a distant relative of the czar, country its sinister reputation. and here first impression, as the train left who is my imperial master She is immenseVladivostok behind, was a complete he took his hat off. refutation of all preconceived notions. ly rich and has city palaces at Moscow and Petersburg, besides a country estate near the former city. She is as wealthy as she Is beautiful. She must be very wealthy, then, said the American, with conviction. The Russian smiled. "Monsieur speaks the truth," he said. "He is also like all Americans, very gallant. When we take zakouska again, we will drink to the Princess Romanovna. "With pleasure, said Hardy. After two very comfortable nights the train bearing gYederick Courtlaud Hardy arrived, about noon, at Khabarovka, on the lordly Amur. It had been raining and the low wooden station resembled an ark stranded in seas of black mud. Hardy found an agent of the company awaiting him here, a San Franciscan, who nearly fell on his neck at seeing a fellow countryman and hearing again the English language spoken. He did not know that Americans could become so demonstrative. His goods were loaded upon a telega, a sort of long boat upon wheels and without springs, and were sent away to the Alexsay at its wharf, two or three miles distant, while Hardy and the agent took seats in a droshky and tore furiously away to the companys store, over rocks and through ruts for me you came out to take me off, for my knowledge of Russian fortunate SYNOPSIS. 500-mil- e Frederick Hardy, a fashionable Boston Jg as yet, rather limited. X'lety man. lost his wealth, was jilted . You can start up the river day by a girl and by a friend to take charge of an American Trading Company after replied the Vladifltore in Russia. On his journey through Japan he met Stapleton Neville, sup- vostok agent, on the Alexsay, which posedly an Englishman. They agreed to goes as far as Blagovestchensk. You go together to Russia. Because of suspicious circumstances they were several will be quite comfortable on her, and times molested the Hardy will be likely to get a room all to was arrested andby found Japanese. upon his person were papers showing maps of Jap forts. yourself, as I understand she is not On a train crowded. Hardy was proven he met Aisonie Sano,guiltless. daughter of a Jap "That will suit me perfectly, said merchant. In Nevilles shoes Jap found pictures of forts, proving him to be a Hardy. I see no reason for lingering RusRussian spy Hardy departed for sia on a steamer, which was wrecked here, fascinating as the towm looks, shortly afterward He was rescued by any longer than is necessary. & Russian steamer. On reaching Vladivostok he was well treated. He started "By the way," volunteered the other, you will have quite a distinCHAPTER VII. guished traveling companion, If you go on the Alexsay, the Princess Rot i first-clas- Zakouska. manovna, who has been here visiting The Russian steamer that took Har- her relative, Gen. Romanoff. She has dy Into Vladivostok was an iron tub made a sensation in the garrison soof the tramp variety, and not a soul ciety here. Shes a stunning-lookinon board could speak a word of any woman." "Women do not interest me, re- tongue ever heard before by the American. He soon became aware, however, that the burly captain and his two officers meant to be kind to him, and that their idea of friendliness consisted principally in getting him to eat and drink as much and as frequently as possible. After vainly attempting to converse with him and learning only that he was American, the captain led him to the diniug room and introduced him to one of the great institutions of Russia, the zakouska. a lunch of washed down with much strong drink. At one end of the room, near the sidetable was set, spread with board,-a dishes of sardines, sardels, caviar, chunks of pickled fish, sandwiches, and shrimp in bottles. The captain poured out two generous bumpers of a white liquid into glasses, handed one to Hardy, clinked and drained the contents of the other at a gulp. Hardy swallowed the liquid, and the tears came into his eyes; he nearly strangled. He looked about for water, but in vain. He was to learn soon that water, for drinking and washing purposes, is the one thiug most difficult of all to obtain In Holy' Russia. Zakouska lasted, off and on, for about an hour. By combining the utmost firmness with evident good nature. Hardy managed to pull through without getting drunk, thereby accomplishing a feat quite "remarkable in a foreigner accepting Russian hospitality. The next afternoon they entered the magnificent harbor of Vladivostok, passing the high rock, crowned with a lighthouse, that stands as a sentinel at its mouth. The city, not visible till the last moment, burst suddenly on Hardys view and gave him a very favorable impression of the country Into which he had come to live and to retrieve, if possible, his shattered fortunes. Here, crowning the hills that dominate the harbor, was a modern, European city of houses, many of them several stories in height, evidently built of brick and stone. A couvery trim in their ple of white paint, besides numerous merchant vessels flying the Russian flag, lay at anchor in the bay, while several Chinese sampans and a junk or two, drifting about, bore witness that here the extremes of the east and the west meet and overlap. Two or three of the sampans, indeed, floated up to Hardys ship as she cast anchor, and Gracefully Entered the Car. owners made clamortheir long-cueous application to carry any one I came here to work. There were no convicts anywhere in , plied Hardy. ashore who might wish to go. Hardy not to in fashionable society, sight, no fields of ice or snow. mingle had already picked out the Celestial suddenly remembering stead, he was journeying on a pleas-hianyhow, him, whose appearance best suited it Is not like- - ant summer's day through a vividly fortunes changed take wondering whether he would a princess would become wild- - green prairie, wide as the eye could that ly a Japanese money, when he noticed reach, where fat cattle waded up to ! ly enthusiastic over a storekeeper. steam-launcrapidly approaching, and The next morning Hardy took his Hieir knees in lush grass, and yellow a cheerful voice hailed him. in the railwav train bound north dandelions, as large as tea saucers, place Is that an American on board tiger-lilieswayed and through Siberia for Khabarovka, on ami fierce there? million in the balmy the nodded by firstHe had obtained a Amur. the Yes, Hardy shouted back, thrill- class compartment and sat waiting for braize. He had expected to find some-traiing with sudden delight at the sound the to pull out on schedule time ' tlling different, somehow, in the how did you of his mother-longue- , hect of Sibera itsc'f. something slnis oclock eight know? icr and forbidding. Yet this, save for did train hut the hour arrived The the "By the cut of your clothes. Where not move. greater luxuriance of the vegeta, A quarter-pasthalf past, Is your baggage?" no signs of de- tion end the profusion and brilliancy were and still there In my cabin. been a At last, impatient, he arose of the flowers, might have said ihe man in the parture. All right, or Manitoba. of Minnesota stretch out into the long narrow and launch, Til have it brought out. Get hall stepped Hardy Weary at last of sitting. that ran the entire length of the In here and Ill take you ashore." An intelligent-lookinRussian went out into the long hall at one siclcar. to the A fpw words of gruff Russian was pacing up ana down, and him of the car and walked up and down. captain, and Hardys trunks and bag- Hardy asked in the best French at his Here he found the Russian who spoke gage were brought out, and five min- commandand alpo French, promenading, utes later he was flying ashore in the squeezed against the w'all several we do Whv the "Wlmt is matter? launch of the American Trading Comtimes to ,et hiul Pass- not start? pany. Pardon, monsieur," said this the Russian; "On attend." replied As he was leaving, the captain are waiting for the Princess Ro- - Heman as the tra;n stopped, but we dashed up and wrung his hand, asking remain here long enough to take manovna ah! here she comes now! anxiously; zakouska. Perhaps you feel the need winThe American looked front the Zakouska? Do you know what refreshment? He wants to know, explained Har- dow. A droshky was diiving up, and the zakouska is?" I slender and a in want sat it exquisitetail, dy, leaning over the mil. if "Oh. yes, replied Hardy, laughing. more zakouska. Ive had zakouska ly graceful woman, fairly smothered I know what zakouska is very well ! filled the that floweis in What a lifetime. me costly enough to last I should indeed like some." and were piled beside her on tlm i e I tell him? Rus-nHave you secured your compart"Tell him nyet!" came the reply, scat. Her face was of the purest on the Alexsay? asked the Rusment was marveiher of siim hands complexion type, the American shook the the captain and his two kind hearted t'is. her eyes were a laughing blue, sian. "No," replied " dy, why? Will officers vigorously, repealing many and her hair was of the color of ripe the boat be cro w heat. J?" times; "I hardly think so, hut the Princess X.vet! nyet! nyet! nyet! "By .love! sighed Hardy, "but shes Romanovna is going on her, and it is a thotctichbred and a beauty, too! for likely that all the best accommoda- of time look The plenty princess VIII. CHAPTER r adieus, after which she languid!'- uons will have been reserved for her ami giacefuliy entered the car. Tie- Fortunately, she does not seem to be Enter the Princess. in to her, traveling with much of a suite. Her I want to go to the American con- ofliceis brought her flowers where highness will probably require two ot the to descended platform, sul's," said Hardy, "as soon as I land, at.d sorrow- - three cabins for herself, a couple for nd then I should like to get located they stood in an adoring and their in hands, her baggage, one for each of her two their caps ful I group can catch the first ill In a hotel comf "i M s'eamer up the river. It's j And then, he, highness the Princess maids, and one for her man." red-face- hors-doeuvre- with one Julius Sinulders to take A long walk in the woods, to gather wild flowers and to catch a sight of one of the cuckoos, that fill the forests of Siberia with their strange cries, as though millions of invisible Swiss clocks were hanging among th trees. On their return, the two men heard the sound of shooting "My God! cried the American, hi face blanching as he thought of th princess, "I believe the brigands have attacked the boat, He ran toward the sound, followed by Smulders, and beheld Gen. Catkoff shooting at a bottle on a stump at a distance of 20 paces. The general was military governor of Irkutsk, now on his way to his post, from which he had been absent three months. Ha was a gray, corpulent man, with a kindly face, the only person aboard of sufficient rank to associate Intimately with the princess, in whom he seemed to take a fatherly interest. He fired now five times and missed, much to the amusement of the princess, who In fact, her derisive stood near. the pompous laughter so irritated general that he threw the weapon spitefully on the ground and began to explain volubly to his fair tormentor. "What does he say? asked the German of a Viennese opera singer from Vladivostok, who was also one of th spectators; and a moment later h explained to Hardy. "He says Its an American pistol from Vladivostok, and that its no "There is a little spice of danger attending the Journey, said the agent, on taking leave; "the ship that went up ahead of this was fired on by Manchurian brigands. I saw several bullet holes In her side myself, made by rifle balls. But I hardly think you need feel much apprehension. Since the Cossacks destroyed Alguu and killed every living man, woman and child that could not get away the Chinese have been pretty quiet. That taught them a lesson they will not soon forget. I have heard It rumored that they have been somewhat emboldened of late by Japanese agitators who are working among them. The Japanese, they tell me, are talking of war with Russia. Foolish people! The Russians would eat them up. Japan would be a Russian province two months after the declaration of hostilities. Twould be a pity, too Japan is a picturesque country, as T remember it. Hardy laid under his bed that night an American rifle, the property of the Trading Company, taken by the agent's advice from the stores in Khabarovka. He slept soundly, but had a vivid dream of the Princess Romanovna and Aisoiue racing over a Siberian meadow, the one in a droshky and the other in a Jinrikisha. CHAPTER ex-ac- ty X. Her Highness Smiles. The trip from Khabarovka to Blagovestchensk occupied five days and was uneventful when compared with the more exciting happenings that befell Courtland Hardy and his fellow passengers farther on. Still, two Or three things occurred worthy of record; one, at least, that Hardy himself regarded as epochal in his life. He came into direct contact with the Princess Romanovna and acquired a nodding acquaintance with her. As tills befell on the first day out, and as she nodded to him once each day, namely, in the morning, bis good fortune brought to him four nods and as many very sweet smiles between Khabarovka and Blagovestchensk. It was perhaps fortunate that he could not good." men-of-wa- d s , h , g - ; g.n-"the- car-elm!- in-'- i j - 1 - j y Hardy Offered the Revolver to the General. and puddles, the mud spraying in a centrifugal shower from the bumping and whizzing wheels. "Tell him to drive slower." shouted We hate plenty of time. Uaidy. .o power on eartli could make a Russian cabman drive slow," replied the agent; "they are the lineal descendants of Jehu, and their speed is You might a part of their natuies. as well try to make the Atnur run up hill. talk to her, as she might have dis-ocouraged any advances. Anything of this kind would have hurt his pride, for the Courtland Hardys maintain the fiction of family superiority, and, in their hearts, believe themselves "just as good as anybody," as the old notig says of .My Aunt Sally. It was during one of the long delays caused by the necessity of taking on wood, that Hardy's acquaintance with the princess began. The Alexsay was a stern wheeler, drawing feet of water, and she stopped five or six times each 21 hours for a fresh fuel supply, tne men bringing it, two and the steep two, on long bars down bank and across the springy plank to f in darkness as black as and in a drizzling rain, Hardy went on board the Alexsay, to begin Ills long journey up the Amur. The water, the agent informed him, was rising, owing to the recent rains, and there would he little danger of ground- tin deck Learning that there would he a stop ing. . The trip to Blagovestchensk of about three hours, Hardv went out1 should he made in flvs days That night, Ink Courtland Hardy picked up th weapon ahd examined it. It was not an expensive model, but a practical arm of honest blue steel. He tossed It familiarly in his band and then said "Will you ask our fair to Smulders; Interpreter here to present my compliments to the general, and tell him that I am an American and beg th privilege of proving the excellence of this American weapon?" As the Viennese addressed the general, Hardy lifted his hat gracefully. The princess clapped her little hands, nodded pleasantly at the American Bravo! Bravo!" It was and cried; she, evidently, who persuaded the general to reload the weapon and accede to the request. Now, as usual, there was a group of peasant women standing about, who had come down to the boat from th Lord knows where, to sell milk. Hardy tossed 50 copecks on the ground, and, picking up five bottles, walked to a log near the stump, where he set them in a row. Then he returned to the group standing about the general and commenced firing. The distance was in reality not great nor the feat difficult for so good a shot. The effect, however, was spectacular, for between the rapid "cracks" of the weapon eould be heard the "chlng, ehlng, ching of the breaking bottles, Hardy offered the revolver to the general with a polite salute, but the latter generously complimented his marksmanship and begged that he would keep It, adding to the gift the box of cartridges whleh he produced from a coat pocket. The Americau was somewhat embarrassed. His prld t was averse to the acceptance of the gift, yet he was unable to explain that lie meant no offense. He stood offering the pistol to the Russian, while the latter pressed the cartridges on him. The princess relieved the situation by taking the cartridges and handing them to Hardy with a beseeching little moue. He accepted with a courtly bow, as graceful as though he were saluting a cotillion partner. The princess replied in kind and walked away on the arm of the general. The only other incident worth recording happened at night, after all the passengers had retired. A party of h'iden marauders fired on the boat, and one of the bullets passed through Hardys cabin window. That they were Chinese was evident from a war arrow, with its iron point, that was found sticking to the rail the next morning. "They are becoming very restless, said Smulders, in his broken English, "hut they will hardly dare much to do" and he pointed to a long line of dusty Cossacks that were trotting along tlie military road that skirts the Amur. "The river is well guarded, and If they make depredations, the Cossacks take terrible vengeance. I am glad that they did not harm my Chulia." Julia was the name of a Viennese singer on board, with whom Smulders was fast becoming infatuated A little way below Blagovestchensk they passed the blackened ruins of Aigurn, the once populous Chinese city which the Cossacks had destroyed not veiy long before. "They found the bodies of 4,000 men, women and children in the ruins." explained Smulders. "and into the river they .thousands have driven That scare the Chinese, hut they also not like it much " "I should thiuk," said Hardy, "that tiu'y would he vexed at such treat mont, to iy the least." He looked carefully to h's rifle and pistol that very day. .fi Tt roXTlNIClt i |