Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-03
THE COURIER !
OF THE CAR {
BY Jules Verne
:::s::::s:;::


the stern, and without other preamble
Nadia, lowering her voice 80 as to be
heard by him alone, began:
Brother, am the daughter of an ex.
lie. My name Is Nadia Fedor. My
mother died at Riga scarcely month
ago. and / am going to Irkutsk to re.
Join my father and share his exile"
81, too, am going to Irkutsk," answer
| ed Michael, "and shall thank heaven
If it enables me to give Nadia Fedor
safe into her fathers hands"
THANK you, brother" replied Nadia.
Michael Strogoff then added that he
had obtained 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
a means only Of accelerating her jour
ney to her father.
81 had" said she. "a permit which
authorized me to go to Irkutsk, but the
order of the governor Of Mini Novgo-
rod annulled that, and but for you,
brother, should have been unable to
leave the town, and without doubt l
should have perished."
"And dared you alone, Nadia" said
Michael, attempt to cross the steppes
of Siberian
"The Tartar invasion was not known
when l left Riga" replied the young
girl. 1T was only at Moscow that
learned that news"
"And Notwithstanding that you con-
tinued your journeyT
1T was my duty"
This word showed the character OF
the courageous girl.
She then spoke Of her father, Wassill
Fedor. He was much esteemed ply.
sician at 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. Wassili 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 and half after her husbands
departure Nine. Fedor died in the arms
Of her daughter, who was thus left
alone and almost penniless. Nadia Fe-
dor then asked and easily obtained
from the Russian government an au'
thorization to Join her father at Ir.
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 1t.
She would do what she could. God
would do the>rest.
The next day. the 10th Of July, the
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
Ural mountains, 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 az
important town, 1t is by no means at'
tractive. being extremely muddy and
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 q long
and fatiguing journey, 1t would nc
doubt be more satisfactory If the first
European town Of the empire, situated
on the Asiatic frontier, were better sup
piled with stores.
At Perm the travellers sell their vehi
cles, more or less damaged by the long
tourney across the plains Of Siberia
There, too, those passing from Europe
to Asia purchase carriages during the
summer and sleighs in the winter sea
son before starting for a severa-
months journey through the steppes.
Michael Strogoff had already sketch
ed out his programme, 30 now he hao
only to execute It
A vehicle carrying the mail usually
runs across the Ural mountains, bu,
at the present time this, Of course, waf
discontinued. Even II 1t had not beer
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 car
rage 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 were extremely rare
Michael was obliged to content himself
with what had been rejected by others
As to horses, as long as the cars cou
rier was not in Siberia he could exhibit
his podorojna without danger, and tht
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 rubles.
But to what sort Of vehicle should
he harness his horses?
Michael Strogoff was lucky enough Il
discover tarantass.
1t Is to be hoped that the invention Of
Russian coachbuilders will devise
some improvement in this last nance
vehicle. Springs are wanting in 1t, Sc
1t Is very uncomfortable. In the alb
sence Of iron. wood Is not spared, bu'
its four wheels. with eight or nine fee'
between them, assure a certain equilib
rum over the jolting, rough roads. a
splash board protects the travellers from
the mud. and strong leather hood
which may be pulled quite over the oc
cupiers. shelters them from the great
heat and violent storms Of the summer
1t was not without careful search
that Michael managed to discover thii
tarantass. and there was probably mol
q second to be found In all the town OF
Perm. Notwithstanding that. he bag
gled long about the price. for forms
N