The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-02-26
CHAPTER xXxIv.-sAFE AT LAST.

CHAPTER XXXIV.-SAFE AT LAST.
This was commencement Of success for
M Lafeur.
He took breath.
Then the fugitives looked around them,
examining with curiosity this horrible place,
repulsive in it's filth where Nadege had
lived for several weeks OF its ordinary
inhabitants there now remained only the
two wives of the native chief and the two
female slaves, all of whom were completely
subiugated by the power of the foreign
chaman, who was superior to every other
chaman.
These charnans or sorcerers, feared and
respected by the Tchouktchis, are ordinarily
recruited from among feeble-minded young
people, to whom the aged have related so
many of those mysterious and terrible
things, which form the foundation Of popu-
lar belief, that one day their reason entirely
forsakes them. The long hours of solitude,
the excessive cold and the frequent hunger
have also, it is believed, real influence
over certain nervous organizations, which
they derange, and it is in perfect good faith
and without the least idea of trickery that
the new chamans, without other consecra-
ton than their declared lunacy, take pos
in country given to idolatry, though traces
of Christianity are encountered there. These
traces are even numerous, but altogether on
the surface.
Of the aforementioned fact the fugitives
promptly had proof. The kamakay had
scarcely gone when a native entered the tent,
drawn thither by the announcement OF the
presence of a chaman.
He was an aged man, who was distin-
guished from the other natives by sort OF
elegance in his attire. He wore suspended
from his neck over his hairy koukhlyanka,
two images and four crosses. Upon his
breast were spread out two certificates en-
closed between two little boards, and the
fugitives Immediately learned from his
wordy declarations that one of these papers
attested the baptism of himself and hissthree
sons. The other, which he had received
from powerful chief-he did not know it
was the Czar-was kamley in red cloth
sent in acknowledgment of the receipt of
present Of the fur of polar fox.
To thoroughly establish his orthodoxy, he
made while speaking numerous signs of
the cross. The Partisan promised himself
to make of Annawa-such was the name Of
this old native-a useful auxiliary for the
deliverance of Nadege.
He commenced by instructing Tekel to in
form him that they intended to remain IN
the chiefs tent as long as they were obliged
to stay in the country. It was then March
and the fugitives, who could not think OF
retracing their steps to resume possession
OF their hut at Cape Baranoff, had no other
resource than to gain time. AS soon as the
days grew longer and less cold, they would
plunge into the interior of the Tchouktchi
peninsula. 1t was necessary for them to
| gain the shores Of the Aniouy, then, by as
cending towards the sources of that river,
across a mountainous district, to reach the
Anadyr and descend that stream towards
Behring's Strait.
The kamakay's tent, despite the terrible
stencil which came from the alcove, was,
| without doubt the most comfortable habita-
ton Of the region.
To take possession of it. by the power OF
/ the occult sciences, would be masterstroke.
The Partisan, followed by the old man, who
continued his signs of the cross, went three
times around the tent, beating the magic
drum. After this he declared to the
amazed native that whoever should try to
enter the tent without his permission would
be stricken with death at the new moon.
During this singular ceremony, Nuketou
and Kokeriabin, aided by the two slaves,
gathered together what they wished to
carry away, and Nadege saw those cruel
women. who had caused her so much suffer
ITO be continued.