The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-01-31
CALLED BACK.
A Well-Told Story Of Continuous
and Absorbing Interest.
BIZ HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER XI.-CONTINUED.

CHAPTER XI.-CoNTINUED.
Tobolsk at last The sight of my
passports renders the Governor eivility
itself. He invited me to dine with him,
and, as forprudential reasons, l thought
it better to accept his invitation, treated
me royalty. His register told me all l
wanted to know about Ceneri. He had
been sent to the very extreme of the
Cars dominions, as his was case
which called for special severity. Where
he would finish his journey was not set
tied, but that made little difference to
me. AS he would travel the greater
part of the way on foot, and as there
was but one road, must overtake him,
although he left Tobolsk months ago.
The escort which accompanied that
particular gang of prisoners was under
the command of Captain Varlenoff, to
whom his Excellency would write a
few lines, which | should take with me
he would also give me a supplemental
ry passport signed by himself.
"Where do you think l shall overtake
the party?" | asked.
The Governor made a calculation.
Somewhere about Irkutsk," he
thought.
And Irkutsk two thousand miles,
more or less, from Tobolsk!
babe the great man grateful adieu
and spurred on at such speed that even
the good-tempered Ivan began to grum-
BILE. Man, even a Russian, was but
mortal, he said, and | could not ex-
pect to find Arab steeds among Govern
ment post-horses which the postmasterS
were compelled to furnish at about
twopence mile horse. | left the
yemschik and himself no time for re-
freshment Their tea had not grown cool
enough to swallow before was insist
ing on fresh start. And as for a
proper nights rest!
Tea! Until | made chat journey ]
never knew the amount of tea mortal
stomach could hold. One and all they
drank it by the gallon. They carried il
about compressed into bricks, cemented,
| heard with a shudder, by sleeps OF
some other animals blood. They drank
it morn, noon and night. Whenever
there was stoppage and boiling water
could be obtained, bucketsful of tes
were made and poured down theil
throatS.
The impressions l retain of that LONG
journey are not very deep. l was no
traversing the country for the sake o.
writing book of travels, or to observe
the manners and customs of the people
My great object was to overtake Cener
as quickly as possible, and my endeav
ors were directed to passing from on,
posting station to another as swiftly a.
l could. We sped over vast steppes
wild marshes, through forests of birch
tall pines, oak, ash, and went as straigh
to our destination as the great pos
road would take us. When natur
forced us to rest we had to put up will
such pitiful accommodation as we coulC
get Unless the place at which w
stopped was of some Importance, inn
were unknown. By dint of practice,
at last contrived to obtain almos
enough sleep, if not to satisfy me, t.
serve my needs, whilst jolting along il
the tarantass.
1t was a monotonous journey.
turned aside to visit no objects of inter
est spoken of by travellers. From NOR
to night and generally through tn
greater part of the night our wheel
rolled along the road. And at ever
posting station | read on the woode
post which stands in front of it tn
number of miles we were from 81
Petersburg, until, as the days and week
passed, l began to feel appalled, at tn
distance had come and the distance
must return. Should ever see Paulin
again? Who can say what may hav
happened before l return to England
AT times l grew quite dispirited.
| think what made me realize tn
length of the journey even more tina
days or measured miles was to see, q