San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-16

delayed Tor a night Il the forest By his guide,
was delivered in the morning to the gen
darmes Was | to be so treated' and |
grasped my poniard Vain fears unjust
suspicious! My peasant drove me to an inn,
where | drank some tea and changed horses.
In this way | drove on all through that day
and far into the night, where, at my last
hating place the village of Suldatskaia, |
was, while drinking tea in a crowded cabaret,
robbed of forty rubles in paper about eighty
francs and of the envelope in which they
| were contained, which, alas! also contained
a list of the villages through which | had to
pass on my journey to Archangel, and also
my passport.
One thing sustained me in the face of this
terrible loss, and that was the utter imposSi-
bility of doing anything bat go on. | con-
tinued my journey, therefore, and on the
third day of my flight found myself at the
gates of Irbit, and a thousand kilOmeters
from Ekaterininski-Zovod. Halt! and show
your passport" exclaimed the guard at the
city gate. Fortunately for me, he added in
a whisper, Give me ten kopeks, and be off
with you"
l FASTENED to comply with his demand,
and soon after found myself in crowded
inn of the poorest class and among a swarm
of peasants from all parts of Siberia. l an
uounced that | had left my passport with
the authorities, and the next morning after
breakfast | slipped out, avowedly to get it
and show it to the landlord, but really for
the purpose of leaving Irbit which | did at
once, and unchallenged, by the northern
gate. During the night, while apparently
| asleep, had reviewed my resources, and had
come to the conclusion that l could no longer
proceed in sledges nor sleep in even the
poorest inns, but must husband to the utmost
the 125 francs which remained. | walked
therefore all through the day, from time to
time munching the frozen bread and dried
fish which carried in my bag, and quench-
ing my thirst at the holes cut by the peasants
in the ice for the purpose of watering their
cattle. When night began to draw in re-
solved to prepare an Ostiak burrow to
sleep in.
Where the snow is deep and dry it is not
by any means impossible to sleep warmly in
the very heart of n forest, provided ALWAYS
that one knows how to prepare an Ostiak
urrow. This is done by following q sort of
horizontal cave in the snow Into this the
Ostiaks creep, and after piling up the snow
at the entrance of the burrOw, so as to ex-
clude the cold air, they lie down and sleep in
perfect security and warmth. succeeded per-
fectly in preparing my Ostiak bed, but was
imprudent enough to cover myself with the
furred side of my pelisse turned inward, and
slept so warmly in consequence that the snow
melted at the door Of my burrow and let in
the cold air so that l awoEe at daybreak
with my feet almost frozen, and had to rise
and begin my journey at once. 1t was a ter
| rible day. The work Of toiling through the
snow was hard enough, but toward noon
rose the terrible icy wind of Siberia, which
drove in my face with binding force, and
whirled masses Of dry light snow before it.
| Still l toiled on. The short day was closing
| in when | had to confess to myself that
| must rest or die. Fortunately | was near
| small solitary hut, and knocked at the door
| 1t was at once opened by young woman,
who motioned me to enter. | saluted her
| and her mother in the Russian fashion, and
| in reply to the usual inquiry where / was
going, and where the good God was leading
me- answered that was O workman from
the government of Tobolsz, and was going
| north to the iron foundries of Bohotsk. The
woman gave me hot supper, and l had the
infinite relief of being able to take OFF and
dry my clothes. then stretched myself on
bench and fell asleep, with an indescrib-
able sensation of relief and contentment.
thought that had neglected no precaution,
nevertheless the women began to suspect me.
| had four shirts-too great luxury for q
Siberian. was sinking into deep sleep
when was awakened by rude grasp on
my shoulder, and saw myself surrounded by
four peasants, who demanded my passport
"And what right have you to demand my
passportH l exclaimed, in feigned anger. is
one of you government otlicerP'
None of us, it is true, but we are at home"
SIS that trueE" l asked. turning to the old
peasant woman.
Eyes; they are from this village"
"Well, then" replied, ~ will tell you
that my name is Lavrenti kouzmine from
the government of Tobolsk, and that l am
going TO Bohotsk to seek work"
Forgive us. little father" RESPONDED the
peasaErs. 1--WE are excusaOle, you see, for
there are often escaped convicts about"
The rest of the night passed comfortably
and quietly, but the next morning break
fasted and babe farewell to the women, with
tbs. ClslanGSs;SSI,EZ. certainty Of passing my