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

these vast solitudes. Are your passports in
proper shape!" demanded he Of Yegor, who
having quilted his sledge, had advanced t
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 fellow"
mot so ignorant, after ALI / am cour
Ter to the neighboring posts, the bearer OF
information relative to some vernaks es
capped from Yakoutskl There are-(and
the Cossack counted the travellers there
are four of them Che, however. saw five per
sons), and you answer so well to the de.
scriptions that shall be compelled TO ash
you to go pay your respects to our Esaoulep
The Cossack thought, perhaps, that he
had made fine capture. He had no com.
junction or false sensibility about the mat
ter, for the contempt for exiles is so great
that the natives repeat this popular saying
BY killing squirrel one gets only one skin,
but by killing vernak one gets three-the
mans coat, shirt and hide.
Yermac was about to speak but the Paris.
ian was too quick for him.
1--WE do not refuse" said he, to the Cos.
sack; land, if you will lead the way, we
will follow you willingly For my part,
should greatly relish something warm tc
eat. Do they cook well at the ostrog' I dc
not believe that my companions would have
anything to say against some good pemmi.
can (extract of meat broth and a venison
pate"
M. Lafleur 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.
Yegor then resumed his place, first ques-
tioning, with look the countenance of the
chief of police. The latter seemed absorbed
in deep meditation, the subject of which
the exile OWNED. Had Yermac not been
present Yegor certainly would have given
the Cossack 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 at the inter
ventiOn of this soldier and LadiSlas already
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
across their road.
The three nartas started abreast.
The Cossack took notion to have a race
between his dogs and the reindeer. TekeI
and his friend Chort were not averse to the
proposal and accepted the challenge, driv.
ing off at furious rate. In less than a
quarter of an hour the ostrog was in sight
Yegor 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
with walls formed of beams confusedly
heaped together. A little square tower still
stood at each angle despite the age of the
structure, the whole being surrounded by d
palisadc of huge logs of wood 1t was what
remained of one of those ancient fortifica
tons built, in the seventeenth century, tC
protect the first Russian pioneers against
the incursions of the natives.
Beside the ostrog stood small village
one of the most remote stations in this north.
ern region.
In the fortress, ten COsSackS composed o
post placed under the orders of an ESaoule.
Thanks to this armed band, the officer of the
Car was enabled to collect by force the tax
payable in furs-the yasak-owed by the
nomads of the district.
Yegor and his companions were brought
before the Esaoule, who occupied the larg-
est house in the village. He was an aged
Russian-an old fox whitened in his burrow
perhaps, a former under-officer of the
army who had been promoted, perhaps, =
disgraced functiohary who had been punish.
ed by Punishment
With such a man, frmnesS was necessary
Yegor summoned up all he possessed. Fl,
complained of the invitation made with arm
ed hand by one of the soldiers of the oStrog
protesting that he was accustomed to NOR,
respect.
NJ. Lafeur, thinking that his friend was
assuming too lofty tone, interposed.
Look here, my dear fellow" said he
"my gluttony did as much towards deciding
you to come to pay your respects to our
Esaoule as all that abominable CossacB
said. l am hungry and want something
warm to eat" added he, addressing the
Esaoule.
1T was not your intention to stop here
them" said the latter. You wished neither
to renew your stock Of provisions nor "a
procure fresh animalsl"
This officer, all-powerful in the district
could alone grant permission to obtain rein
deer and purchase food.
1--WE came from Yakoutsk," answered
Yegor but our reindeer, which were
brought to US from Zachiversk, are not YET
fatigued and our provisions are still album,
dant"
"And you are going"
glT,o Mini 1hia uo1,p orirl aud