The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-01-22
4 THE EXILES..
AYRUSSIAN STORY.
CHAPTER XIII PREPARATIONS FOR THE WIN.

tIl6 IugIUlV6S dIlNl Ll1G CL4CA u POAACN
paused at the edge of a small frozen river,
the water of which could be drunk. On the
hanks of this stream they could gather
drifted wood to burn during the winter.
IT was in the vicinity Of Cape Baranoff,
which bristled with rocks of strange and
fantastic shapes; one fancied he saw there
figures of men and gigantic animals scatter.
ed among ruined towers and dismantled and
crumbline walls. which one might take for
the wrecks of a fortress
The north and northwest portions OF the
cane are composed Of rocks Of schist, plung-
inc perpendicularly into the sea and cut
here and there by narrow valleys.
To the north bounding the horizon, were
vaguely outlined huge mountains of ice,
called icebergs by English and American
nayigators A little in front of them stretch
ed out vast open space in the ice.
TTpon the Siberian shores of the Arctic
Ocean. one does not see immense glaciers
like those of Smiths Strait. Nevertheless,
as the current Of the Polar Sea flows from
west to east, it will readily be understood
that enormous masses of ice are drawn to-
wards Behring's Strait From various
causes, the height of the frozen mountains
augments as one leaves the coast behind
him.
At this spot on the shore of the Arctic
Ocean the people from the banks Of the
Kolima stop, when they start out to hunt
the fur producing animals.
There exists. between the limit they az
sign to themselves and that adopted by the
Tchouktchis a neutral and uninhabited zone
very favorable for the establishment of a
winter camp for fugitives-
The coast was covered with drifted wood
which could be utilized in the construction
of a hut for the winter, which gave promise
ef being excessively severe.
Everybody assisted in erecting the hut
3ven Yermac. The interior was so arranged
as to furnish, besides the room common to
all. chamber for Nadege, in which her
pologue was erected. The men were to
sleep together, in another apartment. On q
sort of bed made Of pieces of wood. A rein
deer skin was hung over the door of the
hut Outside, a covered passage, construct
ed with blocks of snow, formed a screen,
preventing the icy air from penetrating into
the hut when anyone entered or went out.
The hut which was very low, was strength
ened by means of an exterior wall Of hard
ened snow, precautiOn taken against hur-
ricanes which, otherwise would have swept
it away. The roof, exceedingly slight de-
spite the care bestowed upon it by the exiles,
had been in like manner covered with solid
cakes of snow. Finally, in front Of the
passage, a veritable glacis formed of enOr-
nous blocks was designed to act as an OBJ
stacle to the tempests and to prevent the
hut from being suddenly invaded and shut
in by the snow.
Afterwards, they took an inventory Of
what they possessed. Their property, be-
sides a large quantity of skins and furs vari
ously fashioned consisted of the following
objects an iron plate with four feet for the
hearth, an iron tripod, boiler and kettle,
some spoons, knives and forks, a lantern,
a saw, two hatchets, two hunting knives,
pistols and guns with hundred cartridges
for each gun, a thermometer and the tiny
compass belonging to the charms Of Yegor's
watch-chain-the watch was to play the
important role of chrOnOmeter.
Unfortunately, the supply Of food as the
reader already knows, was not large.
From the first day, the chief of police re-
fused the food that was offered to him. A
kettle had been placed upon the fire in
order to make soup from reindeer meat.
The meat set aside, each One except Yer
mac, dipped spoon into the kettle. Yer
mac drew from his sack some rye biscuits
he had furnished himself with at the ostrOg
these, with morsel Of youkoula of mouk-
soune "a sort of sea gudgeon dried,) consti-
tuted his supper.
Yegor and M. Lafleur looked at each 9TH
err painfully impressed by the chief of po-
Ices determination.
And when you have eaten your biscuit,
what them" asked the Partisan.
Tomorrow, shall begin hunting" re.
sponded Yermac.
ITO hunt ono must have a gun!"
land you have mine No matter! will
set traps. You will trust me with hatchet
to prepare my traps, will you not?"
Certainly" said Yegor, who admired the
character of the chief of police.
But you will be compelled to have bait, ,
observed the Partisan.
Right; did not think of that, answered
Yermac and ceasing to eat, he put aside
his morsel of youkoula.
He refused the tea prepared with melted
snow, and, after his more than primitive re.
past eaten amid biting cold, stretched him
self out dressed as he was upon the planks
of the camp bed, having previously changed
his stockings, a precaution without which
one would expose himself to the risk Of
freezing his feet.
The next day, he set ten traps, formed OF
roughly constructed boxes embedded in the
snow. In each box he placed the bait.
Above, heavy fat piece of wood, held in
position by spring, was designed to fall
upon the animal-which, in touching the
bait, would free the spring-and retain it
until the arrival of Yermac.
Twenty-four hours afterwards, the chief
of police, his Ratchet in his hand, visited his
traps, one by one, but found nothing in
them. Returning towards the hut, with the
prospect of fast before him. he saw some
makarcha plants and with difficulty pulled
them to eat the roots.
They formed mis- breakfast, dinner and
supper that day.
Yegor begged Nadege, who was affected
by Yermac's stoical resolution, not to pay
too much attention to him; that was, per-
haps, the only way to induce him to act
otherwise.
Very early in the morning everybody was
astir. They rekindled the fire which, little
%1O ha3 i