The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-11-13
THE EXILES.
A RUSSIAN STORY.
CHAPTER y1I.-rHE MrRDERoUs ROCK

Yegor of the guide.
Eat Mioure,' answered the latter; 'but,
before reaching it, we will find yourte in
which to pass the night"
Every good" said Yegor.
The road grew less and less marked The
travellers were compelled to go around num-
berS of miniature lakes bordered with larch
trees which covered their steep banks.
Yegor listened from time to time to assure
himself that they were not pursued by the
chief Of police Nadege no longer feared
the latter whom she believed dead; but
the manner of his death caused her to
imagine thousand dangers in every direc-
ton.
care we very far from Aldanskoi?" she
asked, from hour to hour.
Courage, dearest" replied the young
man. ''The guide assures me that we will
see the Aldan and the town upon it to-mor-
row."
The fugitives passed the night in the
yourte designated by the guide. While
they slept, wrapped in the coverings they
had brought with them, the guide kept up
a fire which had been lxind!ed in the centre
of this rude habitation of nomads.
A yourte is a hut in the form of a trun-
Gated pyramid; it consists of a slight frame
covered with dry grass and bits of turf. In
that occupied by the travellers were two
small windows closed, in lieu of glass, by
transparent strips of fish bladder. The
floor of the yourte was three feet below the
surrounding ground. Wide benches, which
might serve as beds, stretched along the
walls. The inhabitants of the yourte had,
doubtless, temporarily abandoned it to live
beneath tent
Very early in the morning, the travellers
reached Mioure. It is basin several square
miles in extent, a dried up ancient lake full
of excellent pasture fields and yet contain
ing number of ponds we'll stocked with
fish. They encountered there large vii
lage formed of yourtes, over which lowered
the belfrys of two churches. It possessed
animation and life, which contrasted strong
ly with the silence of the solitudes traversed
by the fugitives. In the village streets ran
various droves of horses. The inhabitants
devote themselves to cattle raising and
trading in furs. The relay station was at
Mioure
The fugitives took fresh horses and a new
guide. A sort of soup was prepared for
them composed of fish, milk fat, d few
pinches of flour and great deal of larch
bark grated fine, and after having done
honor to this altogether local dish, they re-
sumed their journey. Yegor was in haste
to reach AldanskOi; there only, on again
seeing the Partisan and Nadege's brother,
he could recover little quietude and that
confidence, now so necessary, which already
had begun to abandon him.
The roads were wretched, and it was Of
ten requisite to shun dangerous marshes.
At last they arrived at Aldanskoi, and the
first thing they saw on the outskirts of the
little town was M. Lafeur's cart Ladislas
was watching it. The child ran ioyously to
them.
''And M. Lafeur?" asked Nadcge, anx-
iously, after having warmly clasped Lads
las against her heart.
''Do you not hear?" said Ladislas.
In neighboring yOurtC, the sounds of a
little violin We're filling with JOY and motion
a half dozen young people of tho district
lads and lasses. M. Lahear soon appeared
upon the threshold, continuing to play on
his instrument. Between two measures, he
grasped Yegor's hand and calamity kissed
the tips of Nadege's fingers.
The company to whom he Was giving
such delight did not wish to part with him
at once.
eve are pursued" Yegor whispered in
his ear. ''There is not d moment to lose"
The people of the yourte finally came out,
attracted by the presence of the travellers.
Nadege, in her riding-dress, caused much
astonishment. Yegor selected this moment
te tell M. Lafeur how he had been reduced
to the cruel extremity of disembarassing
himself of the chief of police
''But," added he, the chief of police
might have been followed at short 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"
I'M. Lafeur, " said Yegor, 'your devotion
has been put to a complete enough proof.
Leave us here, and, whatever may happen,
believe me that will never forget what you
have DONE"
mo- replied the excellent M. Lafeur;
81 will quit you only when you have crossed
the Verkho-Yansk chain of mountains.
Besides, will take advantage of the OPP
portunity to enrich my herbal-the herbal
of the collection intended for my family's
town, Chateau-ThieTy. I will tell you
about it."
VI
Yegor, but they could not induce the dane
ing-master to reconsider his determination.
An instant afterwards, the Yakoute, to
whom Nj. Laheur had given rendezvous at
Aldanskoi, was presented by him to Yegor.
His name was Tekel, and he was to accom-
pany the fugitives as long as they might
need his services. He was man of about
thirty, of short stature, but solid and well
built, with countenance denoting subtle
cunning and good nature.
He it was who, the fugitives once hidden
in the forestof Ostrovoye which commences
at the bottom of the Verkho 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. Lafleur had bought the day before, on
reaching Aldanslzoi, horse for Yegor, and
a smaller one for Nadege as well as shaft
horse for the cart to be driven by Tekel and
in which Ladislas was to ride.
The relay horses and the guide, who was