San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-18
CHAPTER xIv.-ARREsTED.

In the light produced by the atmospheric
refraction, the travellers had taken the east
ern highway, guiding themselves by means
of tiny compass, gewgaw figuring among
the charms attached to Yegors watch.
chain; the compass with which the latter
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 Che 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. Lafleur occupied
the second.
An interminable plain presented itself tc
the sight, not with a 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 sledges, 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 Cossacks were located, and
where it would have been difficult to furnish
a satisfactory explanation of the object OF
this trip between the Indiguirka and the
Kolima in such rough weather
Suddenly, a Cossack, driving very light
little sledge 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 iror
chair and being drawn along, despite him.
self, by dozen dogs.
1t was courier despatched by the com.
mander of a post established to the north OF
the plain which the fugitives were crossing.
parallel to the Stanovoi-Grebete chain, in
which rise the Indiguirka, the Kolima, and
the Omolon rivers.
The Cossack, after having passed the two
nartas, turned his team about and started
to overtake them; Yegor and NJ. 'Laf1eur
therefore, ordered their drivers to put the
reindeer to the top of their speed.
They had so much the air of flight that
the Cossack's curiosity was stimulated. He
wished to take a nearer look at these travel.
ers who were in such haste and who, con.
trary to the custom of the country, Stunned
speaking with the people whom good luck
threw in their way.
In less than five minutes he reioined the
nartas, and Yegor and his companions were
forced to stop and enter into conversation
with him
81 wish you safe iourne. Messieurs,'
said the Cossack. "And here is piece OF
advice for you-go little to the left, If yor
would not miss the ostrog Of Verkne-ho
limsk."
The ostrog was the post from whence INF
Cossack had been despatched.
"They are not going to the ostrog," SAID
Yermac.
'Vhere are they going thRn'" asked the