Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-21
the tips Of Nadege's fingers.

at once.
''We are pursued" Yegor whispered in
his ear. There is not moment to lo3e.n
The people of the yourte finally came out,
attracted by the presence of the travellers.
Nadege, in her riding-dress, caused much
establishment. Yegor selected this moment
te tell M. Lafieur how he had been reduced
to the cruel extremity Of disembarrassing
himself of the chief of police.
''But," added he, the chief of police
might have been followed at q sh ort distance
by several Cossacks, and the moment our
fight is discovered we have everything to
fear"
''You are right, said the Partisan. awe
must make haste"
IN. Lafeur," said Yegor, "your devotion
has been put to complete enough proof.
Leave US here, and, whatever may happen,
believe me that will never forget what you
have done"
NO" replied the excellent NJ. Lafeur;
II will quit you only when you have crossed
the Verkho- Yansk chain of mountains.
Besides, viii take advantage of the op-
portunity to enrich my herbal-the herbal
of the collection intended for my family's
town, ChateauThierry. I will tell you
about it.
Nadege joined her entreaties to those of
Yegor, but they could not induce the dane
ing-master to reconsider his determination.
An instant afterwards, the Yakoute, to
whom NJ. Lafeur had given rendezvous at
Aldanskoi, was presented by him to 4egor.
His name was Tekel, and he was to accom-
pany the fugitives as long as they might
need his services. He was a man of about
thirty, of short stature, but solid and well
built, with a countenance deuoting subtle
cunning and good nature
He it was who, the fug1.tives once hidden
in the forest of Ostr0yoye, which commences
at the bottom of the Verllho- Yansk Noun
tains, was to go on foot to Zachiversk, dis
tant two hundred and fifty miles from that
forest, to bring back at the first heavy frosts
a sledge-a narta-with a strong team of
reindeer.
NJ Laf1eur had bought the day before, on
reaching Aldanslzoi, horse for Yegor, and
a smaller ole for Nadege, as well as shaft
horse for the cart to be driven by Telzel and
in which Ladislas was to ride.
The relay horses and the guide, who was
literally paid, We're sent back.
After resting for an hour, the party set
out.
In his careful foresight, Yegor had count
ed upon the heavy frosts of September,
which alone were capable of solidifying the
softened ground which, two weeks sooner,
would offer insurmountable obstacles.
The country presented a succession of
pronounced undulati0ns. Tall trees, among
which the larch predominated, covered the
heights. The lower portions were followed
out by the action of the rains.
It was req uisite, in order to cross the Al
dan, to procure fat boat and have recourse
to the assistance Of the natives, for the
river is not less than sixteen hundred yards
broad. This stream crossed, the travellers
erected, for the first time, a square tent
made of reindeer skin and called in the Ian
guage OF the country pOlogue. M. LAT
leur had purchased it at Aldanskoi. 1t
was to be transported at first rolled up in
the bottom of the cart and afterwards in the
slcdgc.
Some provisions were taken from the
sacks, and the improvised repast only need
ed little gayety to render it charming, but
even M. Lafleur, despite all his efforts to
animate his friends, could not inspire it.
The horses, set at liberty, pastured in a
neighboring meadow.
Yegor and Nadege had good reason for
being full of care.
The chief of police, as we have seen, had
escaped from Yegor, at the same time ac-
qui1.ing convincing proof that the trip to
Aldanskoi was but the first step in an es-
cape across Siberia. Besides, the shattered
face of his cap was evidence sufficient to
convince the most incredulous that GRIM
inal attempt had been made, for why should
the governors secretary have tried to take
the life Of the chief of police if his presence
had not been an obstacle to his plansa The
shots fired by the exile clearly established
what he was about.
AS soon as he could safely quit his hiding
place, Yermac searched for his horse. He
heard it neighing frequently and compre-
hended that the animal had been Abandoned
He finally saw it in the distance, wandering
at will. Now it approached him, and then
it tore madly away as if under the influence
of fear
He strove to overtake it, but his strength
failed him. On leaving Yal1outsk, he had
brought with him only a few pounds of bis
cult, but even this slight supply of provis
ions was in the valise fastened to the horses
saddle. The recovery OF the animal was,
therefore, an imperative necessity.
Happily, the horse eventually recognized
its master and ran to him. But the fugi
tives had now more than three hours start
Of him. However, the chief of police re-
solved to continue his pursuit of them. Once
at Aldanskoi, he would procure, thought he
reliable messenger to inform the governor
Of the exiles escape, and ask for squad Of
Cossacks.
Let US return to the fugitives and the
brave man who was aiding them.
After few hours rest, they resumed
their travels. They found only marshes
before them; green grass and hills became
rare. The sky clouded; snow fell-the first
of the autumn-and the thermometer sank
to two degrees below zero. When they
again erected their tent they were forced to
light fire. Afar off, in the narrow valleys
OF the Verkho- Yansk Mountains, they heard
| a torrent roaring. The next day they ford
| ed it.
This operation was not effected without
considerable fatigue; the banks of the tor
| rent We're encountered with up-rooted trees
and enormous blocks of stone precipitated
from the neiglboring heights. But at last,
they were out Of the marshes and were ap-
preaching the Ver1ho-Yansk chain. Once
there, they would be safe!
| As they advanced, the forests, rare at
first, were more frequently met. In them
| the poplar trees grew to an enormous size.
and upon the dry lands dwarf cedars min
| gled with birches and frs. In the last
mentioned forests, heath-cocks abounded
and NJ. Laheur and little Ladislas, who
was a capital shot, hunted them with sue
cess.
At length, the passage of the formidable
chain of mountains was begun. The wind