The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-03-16
MICHAEL STROGOFF.
THE REMARKABLE ADVENTURE OF A
COURIER OF THE CZAR.

lhE hIsmhIh hbl1lI ADN lAAN blNi@ VI "a
COURIER OF THE CZAR.
At the cars brilliant fete at the
new palace of Moscow shadow sat
upon the face of the imperial host,
who every now and then withdrew to
hold hurried consultation with a
trusted counselor. Siberia had been
invaded by the Tartar hordes of FeOfar
Khan, Emir of Bokhara, and the sim
gle telegraphic wire which connected
Russia with her most distant Asiatic
provinces had been cut that night in
two places in western Siberia. The
car had Just received secret intorma-
ton that Colonel Ivan Ogaref, an able
but INSCRIPTIONS officer of semi-Tartar
origin, had been the instigator of the
war, and was then on his way to the
Asiatic frontier to assume commend
of the barbarian forces of Feofar
Khan. Ivan Ogareft cherished an
undying hate toward the czar's brother
who, though unacquainted personally
with him, had orce inflicted humili'
alton upon bin. This prince would
soon be at Irkutsk, the capital of west
ern Siberia, and it was the traitor
Ogaref's intention, relying on the
grand dukes ignorance of his appear
ance, to enter that city during its ap-
preaching siege and seek an opportu-
nifty to betray the grand duke to his
savage enemies.
To warn the unconscious prince of
the treachery which threatened him,
a messenger must be found who united
extreme boldness to extreme caution,
and the utmost loyalty to the ut
most physical endurance. If any
body could elude death, discovery
or capture through the 5000
versts which divided Irkusk from
Moscow it was Michael Strogof, the
handsome captain of the couriers of
the car. So said the czar, when he
withdrew from his guests and handed
him an autographic letter for the
grand duke, receiving his promise
to deliver the dispatch in the princes
hand.
Possessed of a podorojine, or i'm.
perial permit, empowering. Nicholas
Korpanoff, merchant, to engage horses
at all post stages on his route, clad in
disguise beftted his assumed char.
acter, and with ample funds, Strogof
took the train to Nijni-Novgorod,
which he reached when the great an
nual fair had drawn thither strangers
from all parts of Europe and Asia.
Just after his arrival there the fair
was broken up by an imperial decree
(intended to prevent Ogaref, from
crossing the UraD forbidding Europe
ans and commanding Asiatics to leave
the province at once. StrogoHYs po-
doroina of course exempted him from
the operation Of this edicr, and partly
through pity, partly as means of avert
ING suspicion, he took with him an in
teresting girl whom he had met on the
cars, and who would otherwise have
been unable to continue her journey to
Irkotsk, where she wished TO join her
father, Russian exile.
A Siberian himself, and acquainted
with most dialects of the steppes, he
had heard tall gypsy at Novgorod
making a mysterious remark, and he
afterward noticed the same gypsy dis
embarking with troupe Of Tsiganes
from n steamer on the Kama at a
place whence lay road over the Urals
slightly more circuitous than the one
he had selected for himself. In pass
ing over the Urals during a terrific
storm, his fair companion, Madam
whom he had cautioned to address
him as "brother," performed her first
act of heroism by shooting bear into
whose cave they had been forced tC
take shelter. Thence he went on by
RELAYS of horses with the speed of
second Phineas Fogg, at one place pas
sively enduring blow from a naughty
Russian officer rather than endangel
the success of his mission. Little die
he fancy that his insulter YVES thu
pyp,y who had before attracted his at
tenti)n, and that gypsy was lval
Ogareff!
In crossing the Irtych the raft wa
attacked by Tartar boats and Nadit
captured but Srogoif though wound
cd with lan0s. ep0apcd by swimmipI
aaasT wNtsh Without losing an boH