The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-12-21
1heCourier
Of theCzar
BY JULES VERNE


Perm. Notwithstanding that. he bag.
glad long about the price, for FORMS
sa3e. to act up to his part as N!cholae
plain merchant OF IL
ltsk.
Y Nadia had followed her companion ir
bis search after q suitable vehicle. Al
though the object Of each was diff.
car, both were equally anxious to at
rive and consequently ia Start. One
would have said the same WIN animal
ed them both.
Sister" said Michael. Il Wish
could have found a more comfortable
conveyance Tor YOU
DO you say that 10 me, bgothcr,
when | would have gone on foot II
need were. TO rcjon my fatherT
Il DO not doubt your courage, Nadia.
utthere ARE physical fatguea which z
woman may be unable % endure"
II shall endure them Whatever they
may be, replied the girl III you ever
hear a complaint from my lips, you
may leave me in the road and continue
a ur journey alone"
being presented by Michael, three post
horses We're harnessed 70 the tarantass.
These animals, covered with long hair,
were very Ike long legged bears. They
were small but spirited being OF Sibe-
rian breed.
They were harnessed thus One, the
largest. was secured between two long
shafts on whose farther end was a
hoop called a douga, carrying tassels
and bells. The two others We're sim
ply fastened by ropes to the steps Of the
tarantass. This was the complete har-
ness. with mere strings for reins.
Neither Michael Strogoff nor the
young Livonlan girl had any baggage.
The rapidly with which one wished TO
make the Journey and the more than
modest resources Of the other prevent
ed them from embarrassing themselves
with packages II was a fortunate
thing under the circumstances, for the
tarantass could not have carried both
baggage and travellers II was only
made for two persons. without count.
ing the driver. who kept his equilibri.
um on his narrow seat I'D a marvellous
manner.
The driver Is changed az every relay.
The man who drove the tarantass dur
ing the FIRST stage was, like his horses,
a Siberian and no less shaggy than
they-long hair, cut square on the fore
head, hat with turned up rim red belt.
coat with crossed faclngs and buttons
\ ~tampdd with the imperial cipher The
yer on coming up with his team
5r>---nw an irmisitivc glance az the pas
sengcrs of the iaraniass No luggage!
And had there been. where IN tie
world could he have slowed iti Rath-
er shabby ia appearance too. lie look.
ca ccntempinOus.
Grows said re, without caring
whether De was overheard or not
crows at G cnpecks a verst"
"No eagles sa'd Michael who un-
derStood The slaug perfectly. eagles.
do y0u hear. at 0,copecks a verst and a
tip besides.
He was answered Dy merry crack
OF the whip.
In the language OF the Russian pos
tllions the Grow is the stingy on poor
traveller who at the posthouses only
pays . or 3 copecks a worst for the
horses. The eagle IL the traveller
who does not mind expense, 20 say
nothing OF liberal tips. Therefore the
crow could not claim to fly az rapidly
as the imperial bird.
Nadia and Michael immediately took
their places taranlasa. \ small
store Of prov ems was put ln tile Lg-.
In case at alg ,Me they were Gc
In reaching the posihousCs which a.e
very comfortably provided under ~.
rectlon OF ile state. I4e hood WAS
pulled up. MS IL was insupparia .c4
and at l. a,s the taran.asa d-.-.n
by its three horses left Perm ia u
cloud OF dust.
CTI pqER VI