Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25
THE EXILES.
A RUSSIAN STORY.
CHAPTER XIv.-ARRESTED.


had provided himself had been lost during
the burning of the forest, together with the
map Of the comparatively unknown districts
to be traversed by the fugitives; but this
map was photographed, so to speak, upon
the eXile's brain, in consequence of the
thorough study he had made of it during the
long hours he had devoted to planning his
escape.
The severe cold necessitated the adoption
of every available means of Drawing the
rigors Of the season, at the very commence
ment of the journey.
The nartas went at the average speed of
eight miles an hour. In the first, driven by
Tekel, were Yegor, Nadege, and Ladislas
The chief of police and M. Lafeur occupied
the second.
An interminable plain presented itself tt
the sight, not with distant prospect-the
light was too faint for that-but with such
uniformity in the sheet of whiteness, OF
which the nartas seemed always to occupy
the centre, that without the patter of the
hoofs of the reindeer in the snow, without
the scraping sound produced by the run
ners of the sle1ges, the travellers might
have believed their vehicles motionless.
They crossed several frozen lakes The
camp, after the first day, was even estab
lished on one of those marshes which remain
eternally frozen beneath the surface and
which are called trundras.
The second day daWned amid an intense
cold that promised well for the progress of
the fugitives. They resumed their Journey
carefully Stunned some inhabited points
where posts of CosS acl1s were located, and
where it would have been difficult to furnish
satisfactory explanation Of the object OF
this trip between the Indiguirl1a and the
Kolma in such rough weather
Suddenly, a Cossac5, driving very light
little sedge drawn by numerous dogs, shot
by the nartas like an arrow.
This Cossack had droll look, with his
lance slung across his back and his fur hood
pulled down over his eyes. One might have
thought him astraddle of an overturned iron
chair and being drawn along, despite him
self, by a dozen dogs.
1t was a courier despatched by the com.
mandcr Of d post established to the north of
the plain which the fugitivcs were crossing.
parallel to the Stanoyoi- Grebete chain. in
which rise the Indiguirza, the Kolina, and
the Omolon rivers.
The CossacI, after having passed the two
nartas, turned his team about and started
to overtakc them; Yegor and M Latleur.
therefore, ordered their drivers to put the
reindeer to the top of their speed
They had 50 much the air of fight that
tue CoasacS's curiosity was stimulated lie
wished to take a nearer look al these t5';.ycl
ers who were in such haste and who, con.
trary to the c!.StoIn OF the country, shuuaed
spe lkinr with tba people whom gooI luoh
threw n f!:c}r Wy.
In loss ~ n f. .2;2T-"s ne rcfN:na1 tne
mart e. ..&3 Ee~H" M ! NJ, ,p-,r-a aisa~ wee
forced t. stop and euter into conversation
with him.
ST wish you safe journey, Messieurs,
said the Cossacz. And here is piece OF
advice for you-go a little to the LETT, if yor
would not miss the ostrog of Verkne-Ko
limsk"
The ostrog was the post from whence the
Cossack had been despatched.
"They are not going to the ostrog," said
Yermac
where are they going, them" asked the
Cossack, more puzzled than ever, for he
couldnot understand how they could dis,
dain making halt at this post deemed q
precious refuge by those obliged to cross
these vast solitudes. Are your passports in
proper Sh2pe!" demanded he of Yegor, who
having Quilted his sledge, had advanced tt
talk with him.
'Our passports are in proper shape" an.
swered the young man. IF you were
charged with verifying them, l would show
them to you with pleasure. But what good
would that do, since you are only an ignor
ant follow?"
If N IC~ron ont aft oil
Ter to the neighboring posts, the bearer OF
information relative to some vernaks es
capped from Yakoutsk! There are-(an6
the Cossack counted the travelers) there
are four of them Che, however, saw five per
sons), and you answer so well to the de
scriptions that l shall be compelled to ash
You to go pay your respects to our Esaoulep
The Cossack thought perhaps, that he
had made a fine capture, He hcl no com
FUNCTION or false sensibility about the mat
ter. for the contempt for exiles is so great
that the natives repeat this popular s ing
By killing squirrel one gets only one skin
but by killing a vernak one gets three-1he
mans coat, shirt and hide!
Eermac was about to speak, but the Paris
ian Was too quick for him.
1--WE do not refuse" said he, 10 the Cos
sack; land, if you will lead the way. we
will follow you willingly For my part, J
should greatly relish something warm tc
eat. Do they cook well at the os frog? I dc
not believe that my companions would have
anything to say against some good pc.r-ni
can (eXtract OF meat) broth and a venisop
pate. -"
Nj. Latleur said this in pleasant tone. al
the same time endeavoring to make Yegor
comprehend by signs that it was impossible
to get clear of the plain invitation of the
CoSsack
Iegor then resumed his place, first cues.
tionlng, with look the countenance of lie
chief of police. The latter seemed absorbed
in deep meditation, the subject of which
the exile OWNED. Had Iermac not been
present Yegor certainly would have given
the Cossac> some trouble. But an attempt
of that kind, with the chief of police against
him, could not have been made without run.
ming the greatest risks
Nadege was much alarmed ct the inter.
vention of this soldier and Ladislas alry,.,.y
had tears in his eyes. Yegor treasured them
both, and directed Tekel to regulate the
speed of his sledge by that of the vehicle OF
the fatal Cossack who had thrown himself
across their road
The three nartas started abreast.
The Cossack took notion to have a race
between his dogs and the reindeer. Telzel
and his friend Chort were not averse to the
proposal and accepted the challenge, driv-
ing off at a furious rate. In less than q
quarter of an hour the ostrog was in sight.
4egor had scarcely had time to think over
how he should face the terrible trial that
was coming.
His heart beat violently.
The ostrog was small, ruined fortress