3 12 
THE STRAND MAGAZINE . 
almost reach breaking-point. Groups of 
anxious watchers whispered nervously : “ Is 
it to be peace or war? Was the prostrate 
and gasping Turk to be called upon to once 
more put up the best defence he could to the 
relentless and ever-advancing Russian forces? 5 ' 
The Grand Duke, wheeling sharply round, 
galloped off: to the hill on which the army was 
drawn up, and a few minutes afterwards a 
carriage was seen rapidly driving towards the 
spot. 
As he approached the Commander- i n -Chief , 
General IgnutiefT, rose, and speaking very 
slowly and distinctly, said : “ t have the 
honour to congratulate your Highness on the 
signature of peace/' 
A roar of satisfaction rose from the soldiers 
in the ranks. The Grand Duke rode between 
the lines and, halting on a small hill, ex- 
claimed ; “I have the honour to inform the 
army that, with the help of God, we have 
concluded a Treaty of Peace/ 5 Again the 
cheering rose and swelled, for there was not 
a man present who did not experience a feel- 
ing of intense relief that all possibility of a 
renewal of war was now at an end 
Before the march-past of the army, which 
was about twenty thousand strong, the Grand 
Duke telegraphed to the Emperor at St. 
Petersburg a brief message of congratulation 
on the great event of the day. 
“God has vouchsafed us/’ lie said, “the 
happiness of accomplishing the holy work 
begun by your Majesty ; and on the anni- 
versary of the enfranchisement of the serfs 
your Majesty has delivered the Christians 
from the Mussulman yoke/ 1 
Shortly afterwards the Sultan sent a 
message to his enemy, in which, referring to 
the circumstance of that being the anniversary 
of the Czar’s acceptance of the Throne, he, 
Loo, offered his congratulations. “ with the 
desire of renewing friendly relations.' 5 
The Emperor replied : “ I thank your 
Majesty for your congratulations, which I 
received simultaneously with the news of the 
signature of peace. I perceive in this coinci- 
dence a presage of good and lasting relations 
between us/* 
These formalities ended, on the conclusion 
of the review the Grand Duke observed to the 
officers by whom he was surrounded : “ To 
an army which has accomplished what you 
have, my friends, nothing is impossible/' 
THIS DERVISHES NEVER PAUSED TO KIRK, THEIR ONLY OBJECT WAS TO GET TO Cl OSE 
