The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-04

COW and lrkutsk, about
to be traversed by Mi
chael Strogoff, was $500
RE1SESIFNNS versts. Before the teie-
SSSsISSSs graph wire extended from
the UraI mountains to
the eastern frontier Of Siberia the dis
patch service was performed by cou-
riers, those who Travelled the most rap
idly taking eighteen days to set from
Moscow to Jrkutsk.
In the first place, however, he must
not travel as courier Of the car Usu-
ally would. No one must even suspect
what he really was. Spies swarm in a
rebellious country. Let him be recog-
nized, and his mission would be in dan
ger. Also, while supplying him with a
large sum Of money, which was suftl-
cient for his journey and would facili-
tate it in some measure, General kls-
soft had not given him any document
specifying that he was in the emperor's
service, which is the sesame par eH-
cellence. He contented himself with
furnishing him with q Dodorojna.
The podorojna was made out in the
name Of Nicholas korpanof, merchant,
living at Irkutsk. It authorized Nicho-
las Korpanoff to be accompanied, II
requisite, by one or more persons, and,
moreover, it was by special notification
made available in the event OF the Mus
covite government forbidding natives
Of any other countries to leave Russia.
The podorojna is simply permission
to take post horses, but Michael Stro-
gof wels not to use it unless he was
sure that by so doing lie would not ex-
cite suspicion as 70 his mission-that Is
to say, while lie was on European ter
ritory. The consequence was that IN
Siberia. while traversing the insurSent
provinces, he would have no power
over the relays either in the choice OF
horses in preference to others or in de-
manding conveyances for his personal
use. Neither was Michael Strogof to
forget that he was no longer q courier,
but plain merchant. Nicholas horpa-
nof, travelling from Moscow to Irkutsk,
and as such exposed to all the impedi-
ments Of an ordinary journey.
To pass unknown more or less rapid
ly, but to pass somehow or other-such
were the directions he had received.
Thirty years previously the escort of
g. traveller Of rank consisted Of not less
than 200 mounted Cossacks, 200 foot
soldiers, % Baskir horsemen, 800 CAM
els, 400 horses, 25 wagons, , portable
boats and 2 pieces Of cannon. All this
was requisite for a journey in Siberia.
Michael Strogoff, however, had nei.
ther cannon nor horsemen nor foot SOL
diers nor beasts of burden. He would
travel in a carriage or on horseback
when he could, on foot when he could
not.
There would be no difficulty in get.
ting over the first 1,500 yersts, the dis.
lance between Moscow and the Rus
sian frontier Railroads, post carriages,
steamboats,, relays Of horses, were at
every cne's disposal and consequently
at the disposal Of the courier Of the
czar.
Accordingly on the morning OF the
18th Of July, having dofed his uniform,
with a knapsack on his back, dressed
in the simple Russian costume, tightly
fitting tunic, the traditional belt Of the
moujik, wide trousers, gartered at the
knees, and high boots, Michael Stro-
goff arrived a. the station in time for
the first train. He carried no arms,
openly at least, but under his belt was
hidden q revolver and in his pocket
one of those large knives with which
Siberian hunter can so neatly disem-
bowel bear without injuring its pre-
cious fur.
4 crowd Of travellers had collected at
the Moscow station. The stations on
the Russian railroads arc much used as
places for meeting not only by those
who are about to proceed by the train,
but by friends who come to see them
off. 1t indeed resembles from the va
riety Of characters assembled small
news exchange.
The train in which Michael took his
place was to set him down at Mini
Noveorod. There terminated at that
time the iron road which, uniting Mos
COW and st. Petersburg, will eventually
continue to the Russian frontier. 1t was
a journey Of about 400 versts, and the
train would accomplish it in ten hours
Once arrived at Mini Noygorod, Stro'
goff would, according to circumstances,
either take the land route or the steam
er on the Volga, so as to reach the Ural
mountains as soon as possible.
Michael Strogoff ensconsed himself
in his corner like worthy citizen
whose affairs 60 we'll with him and
who endeavors to kill time by sleep.
Nevertheless, as he was not alone in
his compartment, he slept with one eye
open and listened with both his ears.
In fact, the rumor of the rising Of the
Kirghiz hordes and Of the Tartar inTa
sion had transoired in seme degree.
The occupants Of the carriage, whom
chance had made bis travelling compan
ions, discussed the subject, though with
:&,c caution which has become habit