Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-12-11
THE COURIER OF THE CZAR,
AZ JULES VERNE.

young girl that. rocked by the monoto-
nous motion of the kibitka, she soon
fell into a sleep that resembled an utter
prostration. Michael Strogoff and Mich
olas made a bed for her on the birch
leaves as we'll as they were able. The
compassionate young man was much
moved, and If tear did not escape the
eyes Of Michael Strogoff in truth 1t
was because the redhot iron had burn
ed them dry.
"She Is pretty" said Nicholas.
"Yes." answered Michael Strogo6.
"These darlings would be strong. for
they are courageous, but they are real
ly only weak. Do you come a great
distance"
"From a great distance"
"Poor young folks! 1t must have
hurt you much when they burned your
eyes,"
"Very much" said Michael Strogoff,
turning as though he could see Nicho-
las.
Did you not cry?"
"YeS."
81 also should have cried. To think
that one can never see again those he
loves! Anyhow they see you. That is
perhaps some consolation"
"Yes. perhaps. Tell me. friend" de-
manded Michael Strogoff, "have you
never seen me anywhere before to-
day"
You, my good man? No. never"
"It is because the sound Of your voice
Is not unknown to me-"
"Do you see?" said Nicholas, smiling.
"He knows the sound Of my voice.
Perhaps you ask me this to learn
whence come. Oh, am going to
tell you. am coming from Kalyvan."
From Kalyvan?" said Michael Stro-
goff. "Well, then 1t is there that met
you. You were at the telegraph Of
fee"
''That may be-" answered Nicholas.
81 lived there. was employed as tele
graph operator"
And you remained at your post to
the last moment?"
"Eh! 1t is especially at that moment
one ought to be there"
"It was the day when an Englishman
and Frenchman. rubles in their
hands, disputed the turn at your wick
ct, and when the Englishman telegraph
ed the first verses Of the Bible?
THAT my good man. is possible. but
do not remember it."
"What! You do not remember IT.!
81 never read the dispatches which |
transmit. My duty being to forget
them. the shortest way Is to be igno-
rant Of them"
This answer was characteristic OF
Nicholas Pigassof.
However. the kibitka kept on its easy
course. which Michael Strogof would
have liked 10 render more rapid. but
Nicholas and his horse were accustom-
ed to a gait from which neither the one
nor the other could depart. The horse
walked for three hours and then rest
ed for one. and this day and night.
During the halts the horse pastured.
the travellers Of the kibitka ate in conf
pany with the faithful Serko. The HI"
bitka was provisioned for at least
twenty persons. and Nicholas had gen.
erouSly placed the reserved food ut the
disposal Of his two guests. whom he
believed to be brother and sister.
On the 22d Of August the kibitka
reached the town Of AtchinSk, which
was $50 verStS from Tomsk. \ hum
dred and twenty vcrsts still separated
1t from KrasnoarSk No incident had
marked this journey. During the six
days they had been together Nicholas.
Michael Strogoff and Nadia lad re-
mained just the same. the one In his
unalterable calmnrSS. the other two
anxious and looking forward TO the
moment when their companion would
separate from them.
On the evening Of the 25th Of August
the kibitka was only half a verst from
krasnoiarsk. One could see on the
right and left the numerous wooden
crosses which are erected along the
road at the approaches to the town. 1t
was o'clock at night.
The kibitka had stopped.
"Whcrc are We. sister," asked MI.
chael Strogoff.
"a little over half verst from the
first houses" answered Nadia.
HAS the town. then. gone to sleep!
No noise strikes upon my ear
i Ten minutes aftcrward the kibitka
entered the principal street.
Krasnoiarsk was deserted! There was
not any longer IN Athenian in this
ATHENS Of the North" as it is called
by Mime. de Bourboulon. Not one Of
those equpagcs. so splendidly rugged
out. ratified along the handsome VIDE
streets. Not foot passenger trod the
sidewalks that skirted those magnil'
cent houses Of wood. palat' in their
grandeur!
Not living soul remained in kras'
noiarSk.
Michael Strogoff. Nadia and Nicholas
had not to search long for place III
which to rest. The first house Of which
they tried the door was empty, as were
all the rest. They found nothing there
but Il heap of leaves. For want oi
, something better. the horse had to De
content with this meagcr food. AS FOL
the provisions Of the kiDitka. they were
not exhausted, and each one took hlS
., share. Then. after having knelt be
; fore a modest picture Of the Panaghld
that was hanging on the wall ant
which the last flame Of lamp still III
up. Nicholas and the young girl rel
aslrrn while Michael StrOgOff remain