The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-25

than thlrty-hHe YerStS, they arrived at
kamsk, q more considerable town, wa
tered by the river Of the same name.
q small af1uent of the Yenisei, which
descends from the mountains Of Sa-
yanSk.
On going out from kamsk Michael
Informed Nadia and Nicholas that they
would find only one little town Of some
Importance, Mini Oudinsk, before r.
kutsk. Nicholas answered that he
knew that there was 2 telegraphic sta
ton in that town. Therefore if Mini
Oudinsk had been abandoned ike
Kamsk he would certainly be obliged
to seek for some occupation in the cap
itaI Of eastern Siberia.
From Kamsk to the neighboring town
was very long, about hundred and
thirty versts.
After having crossed the little river
of Biriousa the kibitka reached Biriou-
sinsk on the morning Of thu 9Th Of Sep
tember. There, very fortunately, Mich
clas, who saw his provisions becoming
exhausted, found in an abandoned bake
house 4 dozen cakes, prepared with
mutton fat, and large supply Of boil
ed rice.
After a reasonable halt they contin-
ued their journey once more on tie aft
ernoon Of the Sth Of September. The
distance to Irkutsk was not more than
500 versts. Nothing in their rear sig
nailed the advance guard CT the Tar
tars. AIichac! Strogof had therefore
settled down to think that his Journey
would rot again be interrupted and
that in eight days or in ten at the most
he would be in the presence Of the
grand duke.
In coming out Of Biriousinsk 4 hare
crossed the road about thirty PAGES in
front Of the kibitka.
"Ahr' said Nicholas.
what is the matter, friend?' asked
Michael Strogoff eagerly, rs q blind
man whom the least noise held on the
watch.
Did you not see:' said Nicholas,
whose smiling face suddenly became
cloudy.
Then be added:
"Ah, 70, you could not see, and it is
happy for you, good father!'
But have seen nothing" said Ma
dia.
$50 much the better! So much the
better, But IL have seem
What was it. them" asked Michael
Strogoff.
"a hare that came across our PATH
answered Nicholas.
In Russia when hare crosses the
path of-a traveller popular belief locks
upon it as sign Of approaching evil.
Nicholas. superstitious as are the
greater part Of the Russians. had stop
ped the kibitka.
Michael Strogof understood the hes
itation Of his companion, although he
did not share his credulity regarding
hares crossing the path. and he wished
to reassure him.
eve have nothing to fear. friend"
be said to him.
Nothing for you nor for her, know,
good father" answered Nicholas, but
for mer'
And, continuing. said he:
1T is my destiny"
And he again put his horse to the
trot.
Meanwhile, in spite Of the sad prog
nostications, the day passed by With
out any accident.
Next day. Sept. 8, at noon the kibitka
halted at the town Of Alsalevsk. as de-
serted as was the surrounding country.
There Oh the threshold Of q house
Nadia found two Of those knives with
long, sharp blades used by Siberian
hunters. She gave one Of them to Mi
chael Strogof, who hid it under his
coat, and she kept the other for her
self. The kibitka was not more than
sixty-fve versts from Mini Oudinsk.
Nicholas during the last two days
had not been able to regain his usual
good humor. The evil omen had affect
ed him more than one could have be-
lieved, and he who up 70 that time had
never remained an hour without talk
ing had now long spells Of silence. from
which even Nadia could with difficulty
withdraw him.
In spite of all his somewhat fatalistic
resignation he would not believe him
self safe except within the walls Of
Irkutsk. Many Russians would have
thought like Nicholas, and more than
one, pulling the bride Of his horse,
would have turned back after seeing
hare cross their path.
The next day, toward ! o'clock in the
afternoon, Nicholas deserted on the
horizon the high belfries of the church
es Of Mini Oudinsk. They were cl'owr-
ed with thick columns OF "apor which
could not be clouds.
Nicholas and Nadia looked and COM !
municated to Michael StrcgofI the re-
suit of their observations. They must
decide their course Of action at once.
If the town had been abandoned. they
could pass through it without any risk,
but if by a movement that they could
not explain the Tartars already occu-
pied it they must turn it at any price.