if
t
m
1 mf
if.
!
v
. RUSSIA'S PETROLEUM.
THE OIL FIELDS ON THE WEST
COAST OF THE CASPIAN.
Brief Drcriitton of Baku "Wntprlns"
tho Street, with Nnphtlin Kcsliluuin,
Tho System of Itorlns WoIIk A Itc
marl;nblo nraiitlon A In-otltablo Well.
Baku, tho great oil emporium, Is on tho
wft coart of tho Caspian sea, about n third
ol tho distance from its southern to its
northern extremity. It is nt the foot of tho
abrupt eastern end of tho Caucasus range,
which occupies tho entire isthmus, mul Is
characterized at both extremities by striking
volcanic developments. Thoso about Baku
nro most remarkablo. Tho city had twenty
years ago 10,000 inhabitants, and now con
tains 00,000. Though so much of it is mod
ern, tho streets and shops of tho old Persian
city remain, with its towers, markets, baths,
shop3 and temples, giving an cxcolleut idea
of Persian architecture without tho troublo
of going into tho realms of the shah to seek
it.
Tho whole placo is as redolent of tho odors
of kcroseno as a town in tho oil districts of
western Pennsylvania. They penetrate with
equal impartiality hotels, privnto residences
and public parks and gardens. Though tho
soil of tho cntiro region is impregnated with
naphtha and coal oil, and tho sea is often
covered with a thick coating, tho wells nro
nt sorao littlo distanco from tho city. Tho
refineries only nro adjacent to tho port. They
occupy tho middle of tho city area, and tho
reservoirs o naphthi render by their smells
the passageof tho traveler from tho steamer
or tho railroad station to his hotel almost in
tolerable. Water is not yet abundant, and
is dclivored by Tartar carriers. For "water
ing" tho streets tho residuum of naphtha is
used, which, tolerably ilrm in cool weather,
yields easily to tho tread in summer, tho foot
linking into it as if it were mud of a certain
consistency. It costs only one-eighth of a
cent a pound. Tho sidewalks nro paved with
a sort of bituminous concrete equally sensi
blo to tho suu's rays. This oil residuum is
also employed for heating steamer and loco
reotivo boilers. It is cheap and easily trans
ported, and its uso is likely to extend from
tho Transcaspian railroad nnd Caspian steam
ers into other ports of Russia where coal is
dear and wood not plentiful.
The port is at tho landward end of tho lit
tlo peninsula of Apehcron, whero it joins tho
main coast on tho southern side. Tho center
of volcanic activity is to tho east or north
east of'Baku on this peninsula, and but a few
milc3 distant, and is characterized by littlo
craters of mud in a constant state of ebulli
tion. This surfaco changes constantly its
form nnd level, nnd from its crevices issuo
currents of gaa which tho application of a
lighted match may 1: hullo Into a general
conflagration. This plain, seen on n quiet
night from tho Virgin's Tower, seems cov
ered with phosphorescent flames. In 1885
one of theso mud volcanoes burst, sending up
to a height of 300 feet a jet of gas that took
fire and menaced tho wholo country with
ruin. Fortunately it subsided as suddenly as
it had appeared.
A railroad eight mile3 In length connocts
Baku with tho oil producing center, which is
on a plateau 203 feet abovo tho level of tho
sea. It i3 a sort of basin two milos in
diameter, surrounded by low hills of lime
stone. At tho bottom of this depression,
which is composed of alternate strata of sand
and snarl, 400 wola havo been sunk, most of
which havo given excellent results. They
nro owned by companies and private indi
viduals. Being within so small a spaco thoy
aro necessarily crowded clcsely together, and
tho skeleton structures necesssary for their
operation givo at a distanco tho appearance
of a grovo or small forest. Tho system of
boring Is borrowed from America. Instead
of tii'j shaft used by tho French a heavy
trepan with 5. steel point is employed, which
is lifted by machinery and let fall with n
rotary movement. In Pennsylvania thero
nre woll3 over 2,0C0 feet in depth. 1'hoso of
iJaku havo not gone so far, though somo of
them havo crccedei! half that distance. To
sink 0:10 1,000 feet sts 815,000 anil a year's
time, nnd it has as yet yielded nothing.
Singular difilculty is experienced from tho
gas which so crmcatC3 tho sand that tho holo
is often filled as fast as bored, nnd tho 6and
oven forced far up into tho tubing already in
place. Tho work has gono on for twenty
years, and as no record has been kept show
ing thickness of strata, wells nro still suok at
hnzard without reference to locality.
At Baku tho oil does not seem to exist in
level sheets. Tho wells sunk give dilTercuti
results. Soma prove abundant ; others aro at
ouco exhausted. Of four continuous wells,
tho first gavo out at 200 feet, tho second at
BOO, tho third at 2S2 and tho fourth ut 3T,0.
Land purchased at $10 tho sageno (about 175
squaro feet), next a profitable well, produces
nothing. On tho other hand it often hap
pens that, as in tho caso of artesian wells in
America, a. new well sunk by the sldo of a
valuable old ono takes tho supply ami renders
it worthless at least without further boring.
Tho deposits seem to bo in small pockets, en
abling a well to bo fed by two of thorn ut dif
ferent depths at tho samo time. It has been
proved that thero aro subterranean commu
nications, for it often happens that tho oil of
Eoveral wells may bo colored by coloring mat
ter thrown into ono of them at tho surface
Flowing wells aro rare. Pumps nro usually
necessary. "When a spurt of oil 13 coming
tho workmen aro mado awnro of it by tho
noiso that precedes. Thoy at onco tako flight,
nnd not a moment too soon, for tho forco of
tho stream is sometimes sufllcient to throw
tho structure and machinery at tho top hun
dreds of feet into tho nir. Tho pockets aro
supposed to contain at tho bottom a stratum
of water, at tho top gas, with tho crudo pe
troleum bst wcon them. "When uo well strikes
tho oil, tho gas suddenly expands, forcing it
tip to tho opening with violoncc. Sometimes
thero i3 an eruption of sand sufllcient to bury
tho works about tho mouth of tho well. Ono
eruption filled all the canals near by contain
ing petroleum, created great lakes, and
finally, finding no more receptacles, formed a
channel to tho Caspian and so carried off its
surplus. Somo of theso flowing wells havo
not 'only been of no advantage to their pro
prietors, but havo ruined them by having to
pay for tho damago caused to their neigh
bors. Ono of them produced 10,000,000
pounds a day, and its product was so care
fully preserved that tho dally profit from it
was 00,000. A flowing well docs not usually
lost moro than two months. It then becomes
n pumping well end tho oil is extracted as
in America.
Tbo eruption of 16S7 is tho most remarkn
hlo on record. The oil mixed with sand was
thrown to tho height of over 400 feet, and
ns expanded by the wind nnd illuminated by
tho sun, resembled a golden goyser. Tho
buildings were burled under a mountain of
sand and earth. Streams of oil flowed la
o-Ju-y direction. An army of workmen la
bored under a tempest of oil to check tho
flow. Iron rails laid across the opening wero
completely worn out by tbo friction of tha
Jet of sand and oil, and it was only finally
ttopped by shoving over tbo oriflco an ini
uiemo fromoworlc moko of thick oak planks
and railroad iron. The oil is convoyed from
tho Hells to tho refineries at Baku by iron
pipes as in America. TIuaj wtre introduced
about tulrtcva yean ojo, fiaa Franciico
Cliruaicftt
unt TRICKS OF TRADE.
THE CHEMIST THE MAGICIAN OF
THE PRESENT DAY.
couijH'lltldii tho I.lfo of Trade, hnt Not
Always Kcnrflclnl to the Public The
lhi!tii' of Ailultenttlon Systematically
Cnrrleil On Tho Kosult. Q
In this era of universal enlightonmont
tho training of tho successful tradesman
is inuch broader than that of his predo
rossor of 9ft y years ago. Tho latter con
sidered himsolf fully educated when he
ablo to dlstinq'.ti.ih tho quality of tho
di.Icrent grades of thu tHous articles in
v. 'tieh ho dealt, nnd as very few methods
of nophlslication and adulteration wero
kr.own. his task was n comparatively easy
ono. With the merchant of the present
0y, however, everything is different. Ho
it.h depend on his own judgment only in
very few Instances. Ho must know'jQ-t
only how to manipulate his wares mi us
to undersell his competitors, but he
must bo continually on his guard
to make stiro that the ntticlea
whk"!i he hin:self buy shall Iw just
as represented. Ho may bo a dealer hi
woolens and buy his stock from t'.io
de.;eon who pasics the plate m church,
V(v ho iv. vcr neglects to havo hi. samples
examined bv an expert, and analyzed UO
11 'C?ss.iry. But the strangest phase of
tho whole mutter in that, so universal haa
th" cuotom become, ho docs not consider
it any reflection 011 his neighbor to tako
this course,-and if lie finds that tho goo da
aro not ns represented, ho thinks none the
worse of Iiini, after he has claimed and
s.viired his rebate. No branch of trade U
fre? from this sophistication, aud as long
as the resulting article ia not injurious to
the health of tho people, wo have come to
accept it without a murmur, as an inovit
;iblo result of competition. With such a
stato of affairs, it will readily be seen that
th.' merchant of "ye olden tinio" would
now stand a slim chanco of success unless
hu called in outside, aid.
A NEW ADl'lTEHATION.
The chemist is really tho magician, who
today is sought by 0116 party to develop a
new adulteration, nnd to-morrow ia called
upon to nnalyzo tho article which ho has
just succeeded in adulterating. His'm
boratory becomes tho confessional for
merchants of all degree.?, and ho must bo
aa silent and secrst aa t lie clergyman. But
lr.3 power ia greater than the ecclesiastic,
who cannot read our thoughts, and who
may know only what wo care to tell him.
But to tho eliemist all facts within his
province are accessible. If wo aro frank
with him, we can render easier the work
whi.'h wo have for hir.ito'do. If, how
ever, ho has a suspicion that anything liar
been withheld, ho has but to mak 1 mi
analysis and tho whole secret is open to
him. In Ids realm, he is king. IIo pays
to tho merchant, "Uo thus," and tho busi
ness man, realizing that his only way
nucces is by following suck injwwcti-jns,
dees so, and is relioved for a time. Sooa,
however, he leani3 that ho is bciw uwdw
sold, and onco more hw recourse to tlw
magician, who finds that sow-u bretkor
genius has stolen his chana, awtl it loo-i-omes
necessary for him to cosjwro v.-; a
moro powerful" one, only to liava k, ia
time, again stolen.
The following incident, retaUd by a dis
tinguished chemist, may bo interesting,
as showing how systematically this busi
uesti of adulteration is carried on. Tho
gentleman mentioned was recently con
lulted by a lirm of oil dealers, who wero
naturally anxious to learn how it war, that
their competitor was always able to under
sell them, in face of tho faet that tho
chemist of their factory could not dtacovcr
any adulteration in the ir rival's product.
On dialysis, no foreign substance ap
peared, and tho consulting chemist was
forced to confess himself nonplused. In
tho courso of conversation ha happened to
mention, quite incidentally, that tho only
impurity ho had been able to find was a
tmco of" petroleum oil, which ho haa con
sidered accidental. The oil dealer inuuirod
tho amount of this oil present, and on
l'-uliug that it was about 2.V per cent., im
mediately said that tho problem waa
solved. 'Two and a hall per cent,, ho ex
plained, made in a. b.irrel of forty gallons
it iliffereivio of 0110 gallon, and, by extract
ing this quantity of an oil worth fifty
cents, aud substituting a gallon of an in
ferior kind worth, say, ten cents, hisviv.il
had been enabled to draw away ahnoit all
his trade.
POISONOUS DT.S.
Tcople havo beconio so accustomed to
iiuding Iho discission of tho subject cl
adulteration confined to articlos of food
and drink that they aro apt to consider
that this is tho only part of it of any im
portance. Physicians, however, esn tell
a different story. For instance, they aro
frequently consulted for disorders which
can bo directly traced to cheaply dyed
ar'.icler. of dress, mid many of tho most
obstinate cases of skin diseaso aro duo to
poisonous coloring matters.
Before tho nit of dyeing had progressed
much most of they dyeing colors in uso
were prepared from simple vegetable ex
tracts. Soon, however, tho demand was
greater than tho supply, and tho chemist
wai called upon for substitutes. Step by
step ho followed nature back to her labor
atory, and fmally was ablo to announce
that" ho could produce at will i:i unlim
ited quantities a dyo stuff which could
not bo distinguished by any test, cither
chemical or physical, from tho natural
product. Tho substanco which ho had
mado was alizarino, tho coloring matter
of madder, and tho articlo from 7hlch ha
mado it was common coal tar. This dis
covery worked a revolution in thy indus
trial world. The path, onco it lud keen
pointed out, was easy to follow, and ill
quick succession came tho announcements
of new colors mado from this same waste
product coal tar until at tho present
day uny color or tint can bo supplied
from it.
But hore, too, tho practice of EopkUti
cation soon becamo a prominent factor,
until tho question was, not how well can
dyes bo made, but how cheaply. Tho
process of manufacture is a long ono, and
great caro la required at every step to
thoroughly remove tho powerful chemical
agents by which tho necessary changes
aro brought about. Hero was tho oppor
tunity for cheapening tho final product.
An incomplcto removal of theso chemicals
rveaus less labor and less cxponse; henco
the indifferently finished product can bo
sold cheaper. Unfortunately, however,
theso impurities thus left in tho dyo aro
in most instances highly irritating to tho
skin, and when an articlo dyed with such
substances Is worn it is very liable to
cause troublo, especially if tho skin U
chafed or scratched. Bostou Herald.
Tho Nunian Shad.
A single shad produces 100,000 eggs,
and only about 0,000 aro hatched natur
ally. By tho artificial method 08,000 aro
6uceeesfully httched. No wonder tbJa
fias iish gts cheaper crery year.
' BAR HARBOR.
A Wild, Weird Tale of Love
and Adventure.
3"V AMOS x. e 13 .
rcnusnxu ur SreciAi. Amuscismkxt wrrn
aits Amioa.
iCopyriyUtJ, iw, bg O, JT. MUttyhAn Alt
UigKIt litterttd.'
"Fairfax," said Kebbitt, taking hhn
aside, "thoso trami -ifatu'm generally carry
small crew?. I supposo seven or eight of
them may come ushoro, leaving tho other
half-dozen to look after the vessel. Now,
with these cannon, ws llvo men ought to
annihilate them, if need bo. So I adviso
yon not inereaec tho number of your con
ildunts. Your brother, Oxford and Uogor
and myself are qulto enough to lot into tho
secret of this vast wealth."
Near night-fall a faint lino of smoke was
seen curling upward some fifteen or Rirteeu
miles to tho northwest. Nebbitt, whP had
returned to tho yacht, .viid to the Ciptain :
" Suppose you steam out about six knots
an hour, and meet thai craft. If sho ia tho
Vanipa, signal to m.' by passing her, with
out ultettug your course; and don't return
till morning. If it ii not tho Vampu, coinj
back at once."
Off steamed the "Xamovxa," the flvo men
observing her from their hiding placo.
Nearer and nearer camo tho stranger.
Fmally, tho two vessels met O.ud passed
close to each other, perhaps four and a half
miles from the shore. With bated breath
and straining eyes, tho little party watched
tho 'Namovna." She pursued 1111 onward
course, vcer.ug neither to port nor star
board. "It's tho Vanipa !" cried they together.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
a ncnT ron ui'b,
It wai, S'.deol, the Vampa. ClumsOy and
slowly that huge, black, unwieldy craft
forged ahead, cleaving her way through tho
glasay waters, and, when darkness foil,
camo to anchor ubout a quarter of a inilo
from hind.
There was uo nroon ; but tho stars gave a
feeblo glimmer, enough to enable ouo
faintly to distinguRh objects at moderate
dlstunce.
By and by lights wero soon flashing over
tho "water mid' tho dip of huatyoars grow
louder. Then came tho sound us of a boat's
keel grating over tho pebbles, and soon, in
the darkness, a black mass, moving as one
man, camo tramping solidly up tha slope
with measured step toward tho tower, which
loomed uy higU ad clear against tho starlit
dosie of heaven.
Fairfax bejjjsi eou-Hfrin; Hie men as they
a; reached nearer.
"TweAtv, twnv-nc, twRfV-tw. twenty-TwnSTY-ron:",
1UVENTY-FI-VHI
'05-roat hen-vcHs I Anil, nil paworfwl fel
lw, armed to tho toeth, to. Bays, this is
n i''g-!.it for life?, UK1 Wio 'Nu-mevna's' urcw
thirty iwilss uwjf,'! WiM yati ri-s-k i-ti"
"Wiie I b(?.g.ii torn I fiuta-kl" qjie'ch
JMflit, primly.
A3 no Bt-her mim said n-roy-t'tok-i-g t-he$- vrA
kiv' I'iuie-t, watching Mia twr-n of events.
Up It iwiiwUed, t-lM't ssil'id plnvlaiwc wf dcs
papaya won; s-hauleler to s-h)Hld'er, fo;r
nwi-ks dett-p; six men in nli-i-ie; their easo
kHivoa a-Hii g-u3 a-w-1 pts-tola g-leamimg u-nd
gli-'rterw-g in iho sfcw-Hjjht; sRciit and gvku
ustd lod on by a K-ia-n of g.:-g.aiifrii sto:i3,
who s4rode imori0vwly bofopo tliom.
"That's Jkrtteol" whiapjBCel Favr-fkvc-, a-.s
he gkuicdd mournfully ivt his ewn bi'ok-ii
arm and thu.ii at tho toefc.-ieude3 foavAO f
the man.
At a word froM their loatfc-r, the me-n,
with one accord, paMsud a-Ml s-Vasd mt-itm-less,
lilw statues in tho nigh-t. St-(Ajipi.v.g
out before tlwm, he remained s-Ment a mo
ment. Every voico wms hu&hod, siwo W-r.M,
of tho brcccu wuvrauriwg tkrc)a.gJi tho t-ww-er
aH4 th wavo Ic-ppm.;.; tko s-Vra-xtl.
The Vo began. Neb'itt, 0Ssrl a-ai-l Fui
fax, with their eweellevit knoAvloso of
Italian, wore easily unuW-rd t i;Mow W-w.
"ilnten, yo know hw I vmw-IsI havo
tho (1 reel: woman; but t'ku ir, willy fl
esc.'iped me. Yo know haw wo sKjw oK-r
stubborn captain and his sVnlw, Luiol, uni
that swart Nubian fiend, tw, wVpst- kmf
bit bo viciously into my swee-heaf.el aids.
Ye know how we havo all ris&od our lives
like brave men. But, like bravo men, now
havo we como to our reward I Tho VtiKipu
Is ours and so aro tho broad seas and all
that sails them. For, with tho riches of that
Greek dug, wo can uiako our ship a fortress
imnregnable. 1
"Wdl you follow 1110 and llvo tho life I
speak off"
"Wo will!" eaino back tho deep-toned
annwer.
'Then will I read the writing."
Amidst tho most breathless silence,
broken only by tho roll of tho swell on tho
shore and tho distant sound of .steam es
:aping from tho Vampa's safety-vulva,
Matteo, translating tho Englioh into Italian,
read in a harsh, hard voieo that penetrated
far and neur Into tho quiet night air.
" Ten mites to tha suulhimt tf Taii'lcra stands
he ruiiird toiccr, LI Mala. Tttenty tte tint
iiorthwanl from it ea'tevn doorway it i atone,
lurf-covcrttl. IhU atone encloses the month of
aw oUl ue'l, Ion; since dried. J)oun this will,
nftermy father' death, Alt and I cast all hit
Health Jtuvlt of uitto'd value, bras:-bound
caks and boxes b'lrstiivi H'h gold and silver
;jtti, diamond of ma'.chlesssptendor, pearl far
QuUhtnlnu ihote of I ml, a thousand fashing
prtctoiu itoncs and mi melted ingots riches
enough for the mwhUst dreamt of avarice."
A wild cheer broke forth at tho conclusion
of his words. But it was hushed into im
mediate silence by tho sharply-uttered com
mand and threatening gesture of tho
Italian.
"Now, mates, I scanned tho slioro with
keenest eyo for signs of lifo when wo ap
proached, but saw none, savo that stranger
craft which wo left bo'.ilnd us, steaming fnr
out to sea. But I like not her looks, nor do
I know what hidden dangers lurk before us.
Therefore, rest on your units and bo ready
nt a moment's warning to follow mo to tho
death."
"Ay! that will wo!" answered thoy all
with ono accord, as they clashed their
weapons together.
Then, suddenly, tho leader drew himself
to hlo full height, and, looming gigantically
up in tho darkness, put his hand ujon ono f
the pistols in his bolt, und In slow, measured
tonos that implied but ono answer to his
question, uBked :
"Shall JIatteo's share bo one-third Sor
aiUii Tj'i u i r.a ic- "
Acunbrok'on inFaco prevailed, whlch'bo.
tokened tho unwillingness of tho baud to
assent to any such unequal division.
Onco again, sharp and clear, piercing tho
calm air like tho hard, cold riug of steel,
rang out tho resistless question, while tho
sudden flash of a pistol-barrel, drawn from
his belt, shot through the gloom. Cowed to
obedienco by tho tremendous power which
that fearless man wielded over them, thoy
promptly rcsKnded as ouo man :
"It shall bo!"
Then, hold tho lantorn, Tito. Now, one,
two, three, four!" aud ho counted off twenty
step, with tho compass in huud, aud stood
eroct mid still.
"OIto mo tho Iron bar, Tito."
LUtfh in air ho roUcd It and brought it
' down with sji'h great f jrco that P drovo
3lj Hri:
r "ill. wPMPfe .
miiii is .in: lit: 11 used it.
down through the earth nnd rebounded from
tho stone which lay beneath. Jiatteo's net
face relaxed for an Instant into a smilo ur.d
hijt evil eyes glittered with avarice.
A tremendous nhout burst forth from tha
excited Italians nnd went echoing and re
echoing about the tower nnd fur along tho
shore, liven Mattco'a mighty will could not
restrain this outbreak.
In the midst of tho hubbub and confusion,
n calm, yet clearly-penetrating voice, speak
ing in tho pu-Qst Italian, fell through the
gloom like a keen knife.
You are directly In tho range of our can
non nnd rii'.cs. In jii3t ten seconds, if you
do not turn and llee, you will all bo dead
men!"
At the first words an awful fear camo
upon tho murderers, und they shook aa If It
had boon tho voice of tho avenging ungel
calling down from tho clouds to theni. But
Mnttco, who never yet lost his preseneo of
mind nor knew fear, dropped tho Iron bar,
picked up his fallen rifle, and thundered out
u command to them in such terriblo tones
that thoy were willed, perforce, to obedi
ence. A sharp rattle of musketry re
sounded through tho air and twenty-ilvo
singing bullots flow high over tho heads of
tho llvo men concealed "in tho bushes, and
then the Italians did "turn and ily," but not
to the shore; for. quick as a Hash, they all
disappeared within tho tower, whence con
stant bursts of flamo und sharp reports be
gan speedily to issue.
Hore was a turn in tho tido of nffairsl
Twenty-ilvo nrmed men behind bullet-proof
walls ready to pick of! ut their convenience
five unprotected foes I
In an instant both Nebbitt and Fairfax
sprang to their feet, amid that whizzing
hail of lead, mid, each sighting u camion,
pulled tho strings.
Two broad, blinding sheets of flamo shot
out far into tho darkness, lighting it far and
wide, ami, with a roar like thunder, each iron
trubo hurled out of its hugo throat n mass of
shot and grapnel Mutt went screeching and
touring and plunging throug-li tho dilapi
dated arches and windows of tho crumbling
tower briugiu-g down st-ono and mortar
BU&M-mg aOoat Mm eas of t-ho inmates.
M'atteo) called to Micm to quit tho place.
A-s q.u-ii'Uy as thoy had entered, so quickly
they issued forth t wen.ty-two in number.
Only throe killed by that hail of death or by
tho fatting debris 1
Tho pawer ivnd dlstfiplino c-xerciscd over
his savler-s loy tho man Mwttco was uliuost
lm-Kitfuleus.
Totally iwi-a;iual.ut-ed w-il-h tho number
and stren-g-'A of their lulvepsaries, In the
fiiwo of what might bo uerfrawi ond Instant
dwa-th to tho eutw'o band, they iuwuediately
foil into line, and presenting an array two
nm-liH deep, on the.y name at full ru-n, Mdittcg
lca&ug and uneouiiiagikiig them, tho fr(iu.t
rcwn:: k-ccptog u-p u s-teas!y llo wi-th Re
volve ra
Twe-Mty-twa B-plondld'ly-'lswi'pii-nod a-nd
niirvelously-Mwh'fiHed 111011, all ih's-pejuHo
vi!vaM-s, aK-n-st live I Bst those live there
wsw ns tino for landing tho ya-K-nan upitki
l-yk-:.g I-hli, Uspt up a p filing, datully lire,
wiiilo ti'.' bvdluts of the Italiiiyn spd by
ii'.wW'Vowsly, vh'!w,,LX'H'g or tkvir Ueas iXw
S HllWiy evil llOHWM.S.
Ouh by one they fell twenty-ene, tweaty,
i-Mieicou ! Only c-iglijati now ff 1 1
"f'-ire Ioav en id dww't loso your hand!"
jw-Md NuVaiKt, as k "nroppsd" unntlicr
am.
Four reoro fell. And now thoy wero but
fourteen, but all men of unusual physical
strength, led on by a man of iron nervo and
inusclo, himself equal to any flvo of them
fourteen desperadoes, liable at any moment
n.iN'oi.No uiMsm.i' ri'Li. Axn sTitAjaiiT at
MATlT.O'U TIlllOAT.
to bo reinforced from tho Vampa or by
wounded comrades who might, also, at any
moment, recover strength sufllcient to rejoin
tho fray.
Suddenly Matteo shouted:
"Como on, my men I Thoy are only two or
three ; und tho fowor wo are, in tho end, tho
larger each mnu's share of that treasure.
Drop bullets and tako to your knives I"
"Ono more volley !" cried Nebbitt, as ho
fired his last cartridge, and down fell uu
other of tho aswillunts. "Then grip for your
lives 1"
With that ho mado n Hying leap over tho
littlo sund barricade which they hod raised
nnd flung himself full und straight at
Malteo's thront. which ho seized llko a vico
in tho grip of his steely fingers. Tho giant
camhli.1 backward uud rulsod his uluirn
knlfo to driTS it up to tho handle In tho
back of tho American; but tho latter, by a
sudden, strong, upward movement of his
arm, cleverly turned tho blow naido and it
foil harmlessly in air. Concentrating all his
norvo-born strength in ono suiKJrhurnaii
effort, Nebbitt actually dashed Mils Goliath
to tho ground, where tho two rolled over and
over and ovor again in their awful struggles;
now ono above, now tho othor. But Ida enor
mous physical strength and will threw tho
odds fearfully on tho sldo of Mnttoo; for
when ho fell ho had dropped his knife, und
wai now gripping tho American In his long,
powerful anna, whoso muscles of iron slow
Iv und rolontlossly uloiod about tho cheit
of his adversary, until it seemed to Nobbitt 1
as if his ribs wero crunching and cnu-king
V f
on.l his very lifo being crushed cut in diat
awful bug of death, Fortunately, his nrms
were outside. I'utLng both hands ng.V.nst
the chin of tho Italian, ho suddenly nn.l
shandy jerked tho man's head upward and
backward. Taken nt unnwarcs, Mnttco, to
save his neck from belug broken, relaxed
his grip for 11 moment.
Quick as n flush of lightning his an
tagonist, who was beneath, relied tho giant
over, leaped to his feet, and, grasping tho
knlfo lying closo by, plunged it into the
heart of llnydeo's murderer, who was
struggling to his feet, but bo awful was Mio
force of tho blow that tho blado drove clear
through the man's lungs and passed out bc
twecu his shoulders, and, without so much a3
a groan. Matteo fell back, foue icm
All this happened in far less time Minn it
takes to read about it, but not n moment too
quickly. For when Nebbitt, breathless and
aching from tho crushing grip of his foe,
but qulto "gamo" yitt was enabled to turn
his attention to tho Vithers, ho saw Oxford
engaged in deadly coyest with thrco men
whom lio v.n.i holding nt bay with his rifle,
which he grasped by Iqi muzzlo ns ho would
n club, i.ad was whirling ubout him with
such lightning-like lyc'idity that It looked
like the Hying spokes uf 11 swiftly-revolving
wheel, lie had already brained two of his
assailants.
lhinu and Arthur Fairfax, back to back,
tho one .".winging his rillo lustily and tho
other wielding 11 keen sword in his unin
jured right hand, wero lighting desperately
with four fQ tho Italians, whilo 11 hugo
rutlliiu was decidedly worsting poor Itoger,
who was bravely trying to defend himself.
lire Nebbitt could reach him, Roger
groaned deeply, and, suddenly relaxing his
hold on tho other, fell backward 11a if dead.
Tho It :il On raised his knlfo to strike tho
prostrate man, but Nebbitt had already
picked up the valet's riile, With which ho
dealt the eilain such 11 terrific blow on tho
head that tho soauiuu dropped to tho eiiO.h
like a log.
Tho victor then sprang to tho side of Ox
ford, splendidly holding his own against
those three swarthy opponents, who did not
dare como within rnngo of that lightning
swinging rillo, but hung aloof, watching for
a chanco to spring upon the Englishman.
None too soon was this timely aid ; for, de
spairing of tiring their adversary, ono of
tho men stepped backward and, stooping
quickly down, picked up 11 pistob which ho
was just about to lire at Oxford, when Neb
bitt, with n moot awful, blood-curdling yell
that pierced far into tho night and must
havo greatly terrified thoso who remained
on tho Vampa, bounded forward with u tre
mendous leap and brought down tho rillo
butt squarely upon top of tho man's head
with such resistless impetus thnt it crashed
through bono and brain and literally split
open Ids skull from top to bottom, driving
tho vertebra of his neck down into his body,
so Mint, completely collapsed, ho was
crushed to tho earth as If by tho mighty
hammer of a pile-driver, whilo Nebbitt felt
Mio rapid bullet from his discharging pistol
burn his own check llko a hot iron.
Although ho could have done so more than
once, Arthur Fairfax refrained from trans
fixing either of his two men, ns ho would,
then, loso his sword and thus bo weaponless
ngainst the othor. However, nerved to des
peration by that frightful yell of Nebbitt,
ho mado a hasty lungo forward and passed
tho blado completely through tho lnrger fol
low; then, quick as a flush, struck outward
with his left fool, suddonly tripping up tho
other, who fell sprawling to tho ground.
Boforo tho mini could spring to his foot,
Fairfax whipped out his revolver and shot
him through tho head.
Tho remaining four Italians, finding them
selves now outnumbered, turned nnd fled
towards their boats. Justus Fairfax was
crying out: "Let them got IOon't follow
them I" 0110 of the dospenadocs uuo.vpot'tod
ly tiwned anS fired his pistol. Wlth-n slump
cry, Dana dropped to tho gAiauiuU
Tho oyo of F-ai-r-ftwc llirs-hed llvo and ho
dashed forward nftcr the ili!ewi.ginii-ii, dr.inw-in-g
his re-voiver. AU ig, onca ho stepped
liiiUiHoiwii'g to h!use!if :
"Why siiwu-ld II K Is neiMn- scW doJon-s.e.
IOimki ihiiV ntb? dead.."
A.s it was, ls bifoWiop-uvrs- on'," stiwimed-.
llp.-t piwr Uoor had received 11 dVep st.fb
fii which it tonic liisi miwuy a lon di'.y to
recover. Fuirf.ic lilinsroif csuaped without
so much ns a scar. Nebbitt nnd Oxford dis
covered about their body several littlo
slashes and nbrasures of tho skin nuspl
jmisly hko Ivfifo-cuts and bullet-grazes
sTiowing narrow escapes from death.
CIAPTKU XXXIV.
"a:ji so tiikv wkiii: hahuieM"
Tragic was tho fnto of llnydeo, but moro
awful yet was tho end of hor murderers I
Fifteen men, nil stono deud? hying scat
tered, heltoNfikeltcr, hore and thero, gushed
and bloody, and not ono of them with his
back to tho foo bravo, if bad I
Ah! that was n dreadful fight, n fearful
slaughter! And all through greed of gold.
But thus was tho cruel death of Haydeo
nvonged.
What should bo done with tholr bodies!
Should they lcavo them to ret thero on
Afric'n burning cands for tho foul birds
hovering high in air to gorge themselves
upon! Or cast them on tho ebbing tide,
food for tho carrion fish of tho seal
"They fought lileo bravo mon. (llvo them
a bravo man's burial!" quoth Fairfax.
" Where J" queried Nobbitt.
"Didn't they como to find tho well!"
this with grim humor. "Thou show It to
them."
"Why should wo prolong tho tnlo of ftiolr
African adventures by tolling how thoy
cleared away almost every vestige of Mint
frightful seeno of enrnngo; how thoy tem
porarily heaped tho hideous pile of corpses
bohindtho walls of tho tower; how thoy loft
tho treasure still hiding in tho woll; how,
when morning and tho "Namovna" came,
thoy lay lolling about on tho sands, smoking
und chatting ns unconcernedly us if they
had not passed n night of horror; how they
satisfied tho captiiiii's questionings with tho
remark that their universal condition nroso
from 11 littlo tusalo with somo wandering
vagabonds on shore; and then 'ferociously
'sat down" on till further quartos on his
jnrt-"b.v the way, wo scared 'em well with
those camion"; how Nobbitt und Fulrfnx
cleverly improvised a hollduy at Tiuiglers
for Mio entire crew, captain und all, much
to tholr nmuzcmoiit; how, when tho meu
tvoro woll ashore, the five horooa, nil alono,
itcamod buck to tho towor, and how thoro
thoy completed tho work begun by tho dead
Matteo und his associates, und, too, with
tho tools of tho latter I
Haydeo's description of hor father's
wealth fell far short of tho truth. Casks
1 Vs casks upon casks I conipletely filled
Anil paoked nnd literally bursting with
thousands a-iil &3us4r.ds of crisp silver and
gold coins, long bars uT yellow bullion of
tho purest of virgin goM, great slabs of
rich, white, shining sllvir, box after box
loaded and groaning wltlr diamonds boforo
whoso brilliance thoso of Solomon's mines
wore as colorless glass, jwarls, whoso opal
luster would havo dimmed and mado palo
thoso of Cleopatra, rubles, amethysts,
gurnets, onyx-stones, opals, 11 thousand,
yea! ton tunes a thousand priceless flashing
gems of purest water I wealth that days
of ceaseless countingcould scarcely cnumor
utol Lastly, thoy found a golden, Jeweled cask
et in which was a scroll whereon were
written tla'60 wurdst...
"To thee, Hn.rdce, my daughter, bequcntk
I my own walt'i, increased by that of Mu
ley A.1 Halef, tho last nnd greatest astrol
oger, who was buried with his treasures;
ovcry slnvo who took part in tho burial,
being nt onco put to death by Ida mistress,
with whom the secret died. Accident re
vealed to mo his tomb. Thy riches will
make theo n Princess."
Casting tho corpses of tho dead fiallors
down tho well, they sealed tho top with stono
over which was again spread tho turf.
Nebbitt had n private room on tho "Na
movna" 111 which ho sometimes kept his val
uables. Ho alono possessed tho key nnd
never allowed any ono to enter. This was
exactly suited for receiving fhf. treasures
of tho well. And there they packed them,
high and close, and lashed them securely
down, to keep tho casks nnd boxes from
lulling ubout in n storm; and, having mado
nil fast, they shut tho door and Nebbitt
turned tho look again and put tho key In I1L1
safe.
When tho seamen came aboard once mora
from tho streete of Tnnglers they exhibited
grentcurioslty over tho last strange freakof '
their master nnd his guests. Whoever heard
of giving n holiday to all your crow and run
ning off with your own steam yachO Their
sharp eyes sought evidenco for its cause,
but found none (and it was many n long
day ere the Tangicrs trip ceased to bo their
favorite touU of conversation).. they all
foil to wcrk, and, at nightfall, Tangicrs waa
far bohiud.
it c
In nn upper chamber of Cragie Castlo sit
Lydin and Natalie, busied with their
needles. -Both have been silent for soma
time, ns both nre deep in thought. A maid
enters quietly nnd hands a note to Lyilia. ln
an instant the hot blood mounts to kct
face, mid in nil instant, too, It goes. Sho
looks up at tho girl with a nod and goes on
with her work. By and by sho glance j
hnaUlyaud furtively nt Natalie, who ap
pears to bo atill deeply absorbed in hor
fancy-work. Then she rises and steaS soft
ly out of tho room on tlptoe,0uiuuiticed by
the Princess; returning soon to the foot of
B . II I. 1 " . T J t a .
w vfTr-" few"
lmTUUNlNO SOON TO TUB voot or. Tni
sTAir.s.
tho stairs, her face n trifle pal'onu'd h'cr lip'
nervously working. With a streng-ofTort
sho controls herself and calls out, hi ordi
nary tones:
"O Natalie, just stop do.w.n into tho con
servatory a moment, will you.) I havo. some
thing I want to show you."
A rustle of robes i3hcar.don'th'cistnlr.wny,
a light step echoes dow.n tho long luUI.-tha
curtains 111:0 pulled npar.t and- n slight;
hasty er.y ulngs momontnKll.y thnougli tn'a
coiwldor.s and quickly dies away. Wiliat
Is IW o
Lydla-lias pifased out Into tho garden
whore itho and lonnu Faliifax-walkloisur.eIy
up nnd down between tho autumn fl'o.wers,
gold'eu brig-ht, uud she listens to tho
wondeiif-ul tulo of the-sear.ch for Haydeo's
Hidden tr.i'ti3Ure und Mint last drcad-f-ul fight
on I'liO'Siinda of- Mhi:occo. A-ud, whilo shu
listens mono ami more sho sees tho re
senrblnnco between tho two brothers only
tbjit IOuna is darker and more quiot, almost,
shy in manner; for ho has not that eager,
nervous look of his brother, that look that
suggests a restless, almost unhappy spirit
mid more mid more sho grows to like his.
gentle, low-toned voico nnd mild, yet in- e
telllgcntoye. And deeper and deeper in lovu
with his beautiful companion fulls thu
hitherto unimprcBslonublo Dana.
Just us they near tho conservatory door,
it opens and down tho stops como Nat
alie and Arthur, ami 011 tho Princess' finger
shines tho signet-ring of Haydeo and around.
her.ueck gleams tho uecklaco of pearls and
tho soft light of lovo Is in her eyos.
Thus thoy stroll up tho long, broad walk,
thoso happy four, two by two, arm in arm,
and whoro yondor noblo oak spreads iu
gnarled and leafy brunches, they slowly
turn and so pas 3 out of sight.
Tim i:n'.
Hi) Viui( it to Talk.
"Nico day," oxclalmed tho littlo red
headed man who entered tho street-car,
nnd took a scat bo3ido a fat, morose, Teu
ton. Tho fut man scowls nt tho littlo rcd-had-cd
man, but remains silent.
" Cooler than it waa," remarks tho little,
man, presently.
This sentiment tho fat man decided to re
sent, and taking out his handkerchlof, re
moves his hat, disclosing 11 bald head, mops
tho perspiration from Ills brow, whilo lio
says :
"I hof my 'pinions oof a vcllor votdolds a
great big liu like dot."
"What is tho matter with your heudl"
continues tho rcd-hcuded man, "haven't you
any hair down your way I"
"Yah, blenty red hair," Bald tho fat Teu
ton," but doy use him iill oopmlt somo IltMo
plamo vools before I don't got any,"
Tho red-headed man subsided.
J.Dllliur-Wo, Oulluunr."
Court What Is your namol
Prisoner-William Oallogor, sorr.
Court Yon aro accused-with killing: a
man. What havo you to say for yourself.
Prisoner Suah, 'twas an onlntiiitlonal
caso av sllf-doilnse, yur honor, so ut was.
Court How can thut hoi
Prisoner Woll, yo see, sorr, tha corpo
Illvln bliss him I ho struk mo foir.it, uorr,
so 'o did, nn' Ol'd tha goon 'n my hund, just
for tor intimidate him, sorr. An may Ol
niver stop off tha stuud uv soom blackguard
in tho crowd didn't yoll: "Lotthur-go, Gal
lager." an' an' an' Ol lotthur go, sorr,
tad.scruu tcr mo.
'onoinlzliiK Tot'uaiotlve Fuel.
The nailroadQazctte estimates that tbet
wero atwut 000,000,000 train miles of railway
in tho United States In 1637, and by taking aa
train miles aa accounting for tho burning '
0110 ton of coal, tho conclusion is reached that,
tho railways of tho country consumed about?
1,000,000 tons of coal in 18S7. As but S
per cent, or thereabout of tho jwwer stored
in tho coal is utilized In hauling a train, th
opportunity for economy may bo noted at a
glance. Tills field promise to bo an import
ant ono in tho matter of study on tbo iart e
hoods of motivo power dcpartm&nts ou U
railways of tho couutry. Bradstreet's.