Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-20
CHAPTER VIII.

Mf(0NX1N4NNu hou ChSNSaeAAS NoAS>0ASN
vNSSSS himself he had reached
the right bank. where he
fell exhausted among the bushes.
When he recovered his senses, he
found himself in the cabin Of mujik.
who had picked him up and cared for
him and to whom he owed his life.
For how long a time had he been the
guest Of this brave Siberian? He could
not guess, but when he opened bis eyes
he saw the handsome bearded face
bending over him and regarding him
with plying eyes. He was about to
ask where he was when the mujik, an
ticipating him, said:
"Do not speak, little father, do not
speak. Thou art still too weak. will
tell thee where thou art and everything
that has passed since I brought thee to
my cabin" =,
And the mujik related to Michael
Strogor the different incidents OF the
struggle which he had witnessed-the
attack upon the ferry by the Tartar
boats, the piilage of the tarantass and
the massacre Of the boatmen.
But Michael Strogoff listened no lop-
ger. and, slipping his hand under bis
garment, he felt the imperial letter still
secured in his breast.
He breathed sigh Of relief. But that
was not all.
"a young girl accompanied me-" said
he.
"They have not killed her." replied
the mujik. anticipating the anxiety
which he read in the eyes Of his guest.
"They have carried her off In their
boat and have continued the descent OF
the Irish. 1t Is only one prisoner more
to join so many others which they are
taking to Tomsk."
Michael Strogoff was unable to reply.
He pressed his hand upon his heart to
restrain Its beating.
But. Notwithstanding these many
trials, the sentiment Of duty mastered
his whole soul
He remembered the errand which he
had undertaken. Indeed never by day
or night was his emperor's mission for
even q moment absent from his mind.
Not the presence Of the greatest dan
ger, the tortures of hunger and thirst.
the WEAKNESS Of excessive fatigue, not
even all combined could cause him to
forget that a momentous matter was
intrusted to his courage. his zeal, his
fidelity and his endurance. Michael
Strogoff was worthy Of this trust.
Where am II" asked he.
upon the right bank Of the Irish.
only FIVE versts from Omsk," replied
the mujik.
what wound can I have received
which could have thus Frustrated me?
1t was not gunshot wound"
"No; q lance thrust upon the head.
now healing" replied the mujik. aft
er a few days rest: little father, thou
wilt be able to proceed. Thou didst fall
into the river, but the Tartars neither
touched nor searched thee, and thy
purse Is still In thy pocket"
Michael Strogoff gripped the mujik's
hand. Then. recovering hiuself with a
sudden effort, Friend" said he, show
long have 1 been in thy hut"
"Three days."
'Three days lostr'
"Three days hast thou lain uncon-
scious."
"Hast thou horse to sell me"
'"Thou wishest to 60"
AT once"
IT have neither horse nor carriage.
little father. Where the Tartar has
passed there remains nothing!"
"Wen, l will 60 on foot to Omsk to
find horse"
"a few more hours of rest and thou
wilt be in a better condition to pursue
thy Journey"
"Not an hour!
"Come. now." replied the mujik. rec
ognizing the fact that it was useless
to struggle against the will Of his guest.
81 will guide thee myself. Besides" D."
he added. ''the Russians are still in
great force at Omsk, and thou couldst
perhaps pass unperceived."
Friend" replied Michael. heaven
reward thee for all thou hast done for
me-"
Reward! Only fools expect reward
on earth," replied the mujik.
Michael Strogoff went oCt Of the hut.
When he tried to walk, he was seized
with such faintness that without the
assistance Of the mujik he would have
fallen, but the fresh air quickly re-
vived him. He then felt the wound In
his head, the violence Of which his fur
cap had lessened. With the energy
which he possessed he was not man
to succumb under such triae. Before
his eyes lay single goal-far. distant
Irkutsk. He must reach It,! But he
must pass through Omsk without STOP
ping there.
"God protect my mother and Nadia!'
he murmured. II have no longer the
right to think Of them!'
Michael Strogoff and the muj.k soon
arrived in the mercantile quarter Of the
lower town. and. although under mill
tary occupation. they entered it with
out difficulty. The surrounding earth
work had been destroyed in many
places, and there were the breaches
through which the marauders who fol-
lowed the armies Of Feofar-kahn had
penetrated.
The mujik was conducting his guest
straight to the posting house when in Il
narrow street Michael Strogoff. com
ing to sudden stop. sprang behind q
jutting wall.
.Wbat "a the matterY quickly asked