The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-11

if it enables me to give Nadia Fedor
safe into her fathers hands"
Thank you, brother" replied Nadia.
Michael Strogof then added that be
had obtained q special podorojna for
Siberia and that the Russian authori-
ties could in no way hinder him.
Nadia asked nothing more. She~saw
in this fortunate meeting with Michael
q means only Of accelerating her jour
ney to her father.
Il had" said she, "a permit which
authorized me 10 60 to lrkutSk, but the
order of the governor of Mini Novgo-
rod annulled that, and but for you,
brother, I should have been unable to
leave the town, and without doubt l
should have perished."
And dared you alone, NaGia,' said
Michael, attempt to cross the steDpes
OF Siberia:''
THE Tartar invasion was not Known
when I left Riga" replied the young
girl. 1T was only at Moscow that l
learned that news
'-AnQ NOTWITHSTANDING that you COIL
tinued your Journey"
''It was my duty
This word showed the character Of
the courageous girl.
She then spoke Of her father, Wassi!l
Fedor He was q much esteemed ply.
sician 81 Riga, but his connection with
some secret society having been as
serted he received orders to start for
Irkutsk, and the police who brought
the order conducted him without delay
beyond the frontier. Wassii Fedor had
but time TO embrace his sick wife and
his daughter, so soon to be left alone,
when, shedding bitter tears. he was
led away. .
A year ard half after her husbands
departure Mn2c. Fedor died in the arms
OF her daughter. who was thus left
alone and almost penniless. Nadia Fe-
cor then asked and easily obtained
from the Russian government an au-
thorization to join her father at Ii.
kutsk. She wrote and told him she
was starting. She had barely enough
money for this long journey, and yet
she did not hesitate to undertake it..
She would do what she could. God
would co the rest.
The next day, the 10Th of July, tie
Caucasus reached Perm, the last place
at which she touched on the Kama.
The government Of which Perm is
the capital is one Of the largest in the
Russian empire and, extending over the
Urai noun aims. encroacheS on Sibe-
rian territory Marble quarries, mines
Of salt. platinum, gold and coal are
worked here on large scale. Although
Perm by its situation has become an
important town, it is by no means at
tractive. being extremely muddy ard
dirty and possessing no resources. This
want Of comfort is Of no consequence
to those going from Russia to Siberia,
for they come from the more civilized
districts and are supplied with all nee
essaries, but to those arriving from the
countries Of central Asia, after lons
and fatiguing journey, it would NO
doubt be more satisfactory if the first
European town Of the empire, situated
on the As;atic frontier were better SUP
piled with stores.
At Perm the travellers sell their vetii-
cleS, more or less damaged by the long
journey across the plains Of Siberia.
There, too. those passing frsm Europe
to Asia purchase carriages during the
summer and sleighs in the winter sea.
son before starting for several
months journey through tie steppas.
Michael StrogoT had already sketch
ed out his programme, so now he had
only to execute it.
4 vehicle carrying the mail usually
runs across the Ural mountains, but
at the present time this, Of course, was
discontinued. Even if it had not been
so, Michael Strogoff would not have
taken it, as he wished to travel as fast
as possible without depending on any
one. He wisely preferred to buy q car
riage and journey by stages, stimulat-
ing the zeal Of the positions by tips.
Unfortunately, in consequence Of the
measures taken against foreigners of
Asiatic origin, large number Of trav-
elers had already left Perm, and there
fore conveyances We're extremely rare.
Michael was obliged to content himself
with what had been rejected by others.
AS to horses, as long as the czar's cou-
rier was not in Siberia he could exhibit
his podorojna without danger, and the
postmasters would give him the prefer
ence. But once out Of European Rus
sia, he had to depend alone on the pow
er Of his rubieS.
But to what sort Of vehicle should
he harness his horses?
Michael Strogof was lucky enough to
discover tarantass.
It is to be hoped that the invention Of
Russian coachbuilders will devise
some improvement in this last named
vehicle. Springs are wanting in 1t, so
it is very uncomfortable. In the alb
sence Of iron. wood is not spared, but
it's four wheels, with eight or nine feet
between them, assure certain equllib-
rum over the jolting, rough roads. a
splash board protects the travellers from
the mud, and q strong leather hood,
which may be pulled quite over the oc-
cupiers, shelters them from the great
heat and violent storms of the summer.
It was not without careful search
that Michael managed to discover this
tarantass and there was probably not
a second to be found in all the town Of
Perm. Notwithstanding that, he hag-
gled long ABOUT the price, for forms
sake. to act up 20 his part as Nicholas
Korpanoff. q plain merchant Of 1r-
kutsk.
Nadia had followed her companion in
his search after suitable vehicle. AL
though the object Of each was differ
ent, both were equally anxious to ar
rive and consequently to start. One
would have said the same will animat-
ed them both.
Sister" said Michael, ~T wish