Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-16
CHAPTER VII.

q reason unknown to her
did not belong to himself; that he had
not the power Of doing what he de-
sired, and that in this instance especial
" he had heroically sacrificed to duty
even his resentment at the gross injury
he had received.
Nadia, therefore, asked no explana-
ton from Michael. Had not the hand
which she had extended to him already
replied to all that he might have been
able to tell her?
Michael remained silent all the even
Ing. The postmaster not being able to
supply them with fresh horses until
the next morning, whole night must
be passed at the house. Nadia could
profit by 1t to take some rest, and
room was therefore prepared for her.
The young girl would no doubt have
preferred not to leave her companion,
but she felt that he would rather be
alone, and she made ready to 60 to her
room.
Just as she was about to retire she
could not refrain from going up to MI
chael to say good night.
Brother" she whispered.
But he checked her with gesture.
The girl sighed and left the room.
Michael Strogoff did not lie down.
He could not have slept even for an
hour. The place on which he had been
struck by the brutal traveller felt like
q burn.
"For my country and the Father" he
muttered as he ended his evening pray
er.
He especially felt a great wish to
know who was the man who had
struck him, whence he came and where
he was going. AS to his face. the fea-
lures Of it were so deeply engraved on
his memory that he had no fear OF
ever forgetting them.
Michael at last asked for the post
master. The latter, Siberian Of the
old type. came directly and, looking
rather contemptuously at the young
man, waited to be questioned.
"You belong to the country?" asked
Michael-----.-....--- ..-.-,.-.....i..
"Yes"
"Do you know that man who took
my horsesT
"No."
"Had you never seen him before?"
"Never."
"Who do you think he was?"
"a man who knows how to make
himself obeyed."
Michael fixed his piercing gaze upon
the Siberian. but the other did not
quail before it.
do you dare to Judge me" exclaim-
ed Michael.
EYES," answered the Siberian, "for
there are some things that even a plain
merchant cannot receive without re-
turning"
"BlowsT
"Blows, young man. am Of an age
and strength to tell you So"
Michael went up to the postmaster
and laid his two powerful hands on his
shoulders.
Then in a peculiarly calm tone he
said:'
"Be of, my friend; be of! 1 could
kill you"
The postmaster understood this time.
'I like him better for that" he NUT
tered as he retired without adding an
other word.
At 8 o'clock the next morning, the
24th of July, three strong horses were
harnessed to the tarantass. Michael
and Nadia took their places, and 1chim.
with it's disagreeable remembrances.
was soon left far behind.
The next day, July 25. at 8 o'clock in
the morning, the tarantass arrived at
the posthouse in Tioukalmsk, having
accomplished distance Of 120 versts
since it had crossed the Ichim.
They rapidly changed horses. Here.
however, for the first time the driver
made difficulties about starting. declar-
ing that detachments Of Tartars were
rowing across the steppe and that trav-
elers, horses and carriages would be a
fine prize for such robbers.
Only by dint Of large bribe could
Michael get over the unwillingness OF
the driver, for in this instance. as In
many others, he did not wish to show
his podorojna. The last ukase, having
been transmitted by telegraph, was
known in the Siberian provinces, and a
Russian specially exempted from obey
ing these orders would certainly have
drawn public attention to himself, a
thing above all to be avoided by the
cars courier. AS to the drivers hesi-
tation, either the rascal traded on the
travellers impatience or he really had
good reason to fear some misfortune.
However, at last the tarantaSS start
ed and made such good way that by 3
In the afternoon it had reached kou-
latsinskoe. eighty versts farther on.
An hour after this 1t was on the banks
of the Irish. Omsk was now only
twenty versts distant.
The Irish Is large river and one OF
the principal Of those which flow to-
ward the north of Asia. Rising in the
Atai mountains. it flows from the
southeast to the northwest and emp
ties itself into the Obi after course of
nearly 1000 versts.
At this time of year, when all the
rivers Of the Siberian basin are much
swollen, the waters Of the Irish were
very high. In consequence the current
was changed to a regular torrent. rem.
dering the passage difficult enough. A
swimmer could not have crossed, how
ever powerful a one he might be, and
T. -, fhoro UOu16 he