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


The demand for q passport had shown me
how dangerous it was for me to frequent the
haunts of men. For many O night after
ward, therefore, the Ostiak burrow was my
sole refuge, and l became so accustomed to it !
that at close of day / entered the forest as if
it were a well known hostelry.
From the 18th or 10th of February to the
FIRST week in April l journeyed northward,
on.y thrice venturing to seek shelter In
house. | suffered much. The absence Of all
civilized comforts, and especially of hot food,
privation more difficult to bear than any
other on such long, cold journey, almost
brought me TO the grave. Then, too, had
constantly to struggle against that DISPOSE
ton to sleep which is death in such a case as
mine.
1t was at Paouda, high up in the Oural
mountains, that | slept in house for the
second time after leaving Irbit J was pass
ing late at night through a village, when
voice from one of the izbas (huts called out:
"Who goes therep
"a traveller"
care you going farF'
"Oh, very far"
"Well, if you choose, come in and sleep in
our house"
claimed as | entered the door. "But shall
not be a trouble TO your
"How should you trouble u.s. We are not
yet in bed. Come in"
My two good, kind hosts-an old peasant
and his wife-gave me meager supper,
which was TO me feast. In the morning
breakfasted with them, and for my food and
bed they refused any recompense. As pre-
DOrp1 IN laaNa than, ba OLD said. - &
little beyond Paoudo you will find a corps de
garde, who will look at your papers and give
you all information about your Journey
was, of course, very careful to avoid the
corps de garde, and jourrleyed on as before,
buying my provisions at the izbas during the
day, but sleeping in the forest at night
reached the summit of the OuraI noun
tains on a clear, calm night in March. The
moon was at tho full, and lit up a landscape
at once magnificent and strange, where,
gigantic rocks and trees east their shadows
on vast eXpanse of snow. a silence pro,
found and solemn reigned over all. Every
now and then a hard metallic ring was
audible, 1t was the swapping of the stones
caused by the intense cold A few days
afterward passed through Solikamsk, and
went on over the steppe of Petchara toward
Veliki OuStioug. The journey was alwaysl
the same the same vast snow covered plains,
the same deep forests, the same icy winds,
and for me always my toilsOme march, my
Ostiak burrow, and now and then a less mea-
ger repast in an izbouchka "a sort of peasant
inn.
These izbouchkas were my greatest temp
tation | dared not think of sleeping in
them. But little hot soup! How ardently
longed to stop and buy some, and eat it in Il
warm room! | could not venture TO do this
often, and one night when, after losing my
way in a whirlwind of snow, found myself
without bread, and racked by acute pain as
well as hunger, wriJhed in my burrow
and prayed for death. When morning broke
| found that could not walk. After sew
eral attempts l sank unconscious on the snow.
How long lay there do not know. l was
aroused by a loud voice. A stranger stood
beside me, who inquired what was doing in ,
the forest.
l answered that had lost my way; that
was from Tchordine, and was making pill
grimage to the monastery Of SolovetSk, but
that was dying of hunger.
1T is not surprising that you should have
lost your way in such storm, answered the
man. Il do 80 often, though l am from this
district, and know the forest well Now
taste that"
So saying, be held bottle to my mouth,
and | drank. 1t contained some excellent
brandy, which revived me at once, but at
the same time burned 80 terribly that fell
on the snow in commissions My good friend
soothed me- and gave me some bread and
dried fish, which l devoured eagerly. We
then sat down at the foot of tree, and my
companion explained that he was a trapper,
and was now on his way home with the game
which he had caught He added that he
would remain with me until | felt calner and
stronger, and would then conduct me to the
nearest izbouc aka.
Il thank you with all my heart May the
good God reward your
Eth! for what them he answered, kindly.
1--WE are Christians"
He afterward supported me TO the door of
the izbouchka, where he babe me farewell,
recommending me to God