The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1877-04-07
MICHAEL sTRoGoFF.
THE REMARKABLE ADVENTURE OF A
COURIER OF THE GAR.

COURIER OF THE GAR.
AT the cars brilliant fete at the
new palace of Moscow a 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 Geographic 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 infOrma-
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 command
of the barbarian forces of Feofar
Khan. Ivan Ogareff cherished an
undyiDg hate toward the cars brother
who, though unacquainted personally
with him, had orce inflicted a humili.
alton upon him. This prince would
soon be at Irkutsk, the capital Of west
srn Siberia, and it was the traitor
Ogareffs intention, relying on the
grand dukes ignorance of his appear
ance, to enter that city during its APP
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,
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 800
versts which divided Irkusk from
Moscow it was Michael Strogofi, the
handsome captain of the couriers of
the czar. SO said the car, when he
withdrew from his guests and handed
him an autographs letter for the
grand duke, receiving his promise
to deliver the dispatch in the princes
hand.
Possessed of podoroJine, or i'm.
perial permit, empowering Nicholas
korpanof, merchant, TO engage horses
at all post stages on his route, clad in
a disguise befitted his assumed char
acter, and with ample funds, Strogoff
took the train TO Nijni-NovgOrod,
which he reached when the great an
uusl fair had drawn thither STRANGERS
from all parts of Europe and Asa.
Just after his arrival there the fair
was broken up by an imperial decree
INTENDED TO prevent OgareH from
crossing tho Uran forbidding Europe
ans and commanding AsiaticS to leave
the province at once. Strogotfs po
Joroina of course exempted him from
the operation of this edicI, and partl.
through pity, partly as means of avert
;nr srsniciop, he took with him an in
teTcsting girl whom he had met on th'
oars and who would otherwise hav'
been unable TO continue her journey t
Irkotsk. where she wished to JOIN he
father. a Russian exile.
A Siberian himself, and acquainte'
with most dialects Of the steppes, b
had heard tall gypsy at Novgor0
making mysterious remark ana n
stlerward noticed the same gypsy dis
embarking with troupe OF Tsigant
from a steamer on the Kama at
mace whence lay a road over the IRA
s6ghtly more circuitous than the OF
ii had selected for himself. In pas
ing over the Urals during a terri
s5rm, his fair companion, Nadia
whon he had cautioned TO adore
him as "brother,' perfnFmed her fl
-. % hsroiam By sbG0tlns q bear IN
rhose cave lhsy Ind teeD !aEcea
wss ibslter Thspes be went on