Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-31

the famous armorers Of Karschi or Of
Hissar.
Near him some guards had brought
tripod on which was placed an iron
dish, where some redhot Goals were
burning without emitting any smoke.
The light crust which crowned them
was due only to the incineration Of q
resinous and aromatic substance,
mixture of frankincense and benzoin,
which had been thrown on their sur
face.
Meanwhile another group Of dancers
had succeeded the first but Of race
very different. which Michael Strogon
at once recognized.
And we must believe that the two
Journalists also recognized them, for
Harry Blount said to his confrere:
These ure the Zingari Of Mini Nov
gorod."
"The very ones!' cried Alcide JoliEet.
II imagine their eyes bring more mon
ey to these spies than their legs"
And In making them out to be agents
In the service Of the emir Alcide JOli-
vet, 1t Is well known, did not deceive
himself.
In the first rank Of the gypsies ag-
ured Sangarre, In her superb costume.
strange and picturesque as 1t was,
which set of still more her beauty.
Sangarre did not dance, but stood In
the middle Of her dancing girls. whose
fantastic steps partook Of all the coun-
tries which their race had trayersed In
Europe, Of Bohemia, Of Egypt, Of Italy
and Of Spain. They became animated
at the noise of the cymbals which
changed on their arms and at the SWELL
ing of the "daires." kind Of drum
sounded by the fingers.
Sangarre. holding one Of these daires,
which trembled between her hands, cx-
cited this troop Of veritable corybantes.
Then came forward youthful gyp-
sy, some fifteen years old at most he
held In his hand douiare. the two
cords of which he made TO vibrate by
simple gliding Of the nails. He sang.
During the couplet Of his song Of fan
tastic rhythm q danseuse came and
placed herself near him and remained
immovable, listening to him, but each
time the burden came to the lips OF the
young singer she again took up her In
terrupted dance shaking her daire near
him and dea fleming him with the sound
Of her dr'lm
Then, after the last verse, the dancers
enlaced the gypsy in a thousand turn
ings Of their dances.
At this E,oment shower OF gold fell
from the hands Of the emir and his al
lies, from the hands Of the officers OF
all grades, and to the noise Of the
pieces which struck the cymbals OF the
dancers were blended the last murmurs
of the doutares and tambOurines.
"Prodigal as freebooters" said AL
eide Jolivet in the ear Of his compan-
ion.
And, indeed, 1t was stolen money
which fell in showers, for with the
Tartar tomans and sequins rained also
Muscovite ducats and rubles.
Then silence was made for an In
stant, and the voice Of the executioner,
placing his hand on the shoulder of MI
chael Strogoff, again spoke those words
whose repetition rendered them still
more sinister:
"Look with all your eyes! Look!'
But this time Alcide Jolivet observed
that the executioner did not hold his
naked sword in his hand.
Then suddenly, as II at given sig
nal, all the fires Of the fantasia were
extinguIsLed, the dances ceased. the
dancers disappeared. The ceremony
was terminated, and the torches alone
lit UP the plateau which some instants
before was so full of lights.
At n sign from the emir Michael Stro'
goff was led into the middle OF the
square.
Little desirous of assisting at the tor
ture reserved for this unfortunate man,
Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet then
re-entered the city.
An hour later they were Fastening
along the road to Irkutsk, and 1t was
among the Russians they would at
tempt to follow what Alcide Jolivet
called by anticipation "the campaign
Of revenge"
The emir made a gesture. Michael
Strogoff, pushed by the guards. ap-
preached the terrace, and then In that
Tartar language which he understood
Feofar said to him:
Russian spy, you are come to see.
You have seen for the last time. In an
instant thine eyes shall be forever shut
to the light"
It was hot with death, but with
blindness that Michael Strogof was
about to be stricken. Loss OF sight,
more terrible perhaps than loss OF life!
The unhappy man was condemned to
lose his eyesight.
Nevertheless on hearing the penalty
,~.o5 h1, tho amir Michael StrO-