Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-10

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 a 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 q momentous matter was
intrusted to his courage, his zeal, his
fidelity and his endurance. Michael
StrogOff was worthy of this trust.
"Where am I?' asked he.
upon the right bank Of the Irish,
only five versts from Omsk," replied
| tie mujik.
"What wound can have received
| which could have thus prostrated me?
1t was not gunshot wound?"
"No; 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 himself with a
sudden effort. Friend" said he, show
long have been in thy hut?"
'"Three days"
'Three days lostp'
"Three days aast thou lain uncon-
scious."
"Hast thou a horse to sell mel"
''Thou wishest to go?"
"At once"
IT have neither horse nor carriage,
little father. Where the Tartar has
passed there remains nothingw
"Well. will 60 on foot to Omsk to
find horse"
"a few more hours of rest and thou
wilt be In better condition to pursue
thy Journey"
Not an hour!'
"Come. now." replied the mujik, rec
ognizing the fact that 1t was useless
to struggle against the will Of his guest,
81 will guide thee myself. Besides"
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 out 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 O man
to succumb under such trife. Before
his eyes lay a 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. 81 have no longer the
right to think Of them!"
Michael Strogoff and the mujik soon
arrived in the mercantile quarter Of the
lower town, and, although under mill
tary occupation, they entered 1t 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
narrow street Michael Strogoff, COM
ing to q sudden stop, sprang behind q
jutting wall.
"What Is the matterw quickly asked
the mujik, much astonished at this sud-
den movement.
"Silence!' hastily replied Michael
Strogoff, with his finger on his lips.
At this moment a detachment de-
bouched from the principal square into
the street which Michael Strogoff and
his companion had been just following.
At the head of the detachment, COM
posed of twenty horsemen, was an ofh-
Ger dressed In very simple uniform.
Although he glanced rapidly from one
side to the other, he could not have
seen Michael Strogof owing to his pre-
cipitous retreat.
The detachment went at full trot into
the narrow street Neither the officer
nor his escort concerned themselves
about the Inhabitants. Several unlucky
ones had scarcely time to make way
for their passage. There were. there
fore, a few half stifed cries, to which
the thrusts Of the lance gave an instant
reply, and the street was Immediately
cleared.
When the escort had disappeared,
"Who Is that officerT asked Michael
Strogoff, returning toward the mujik.
And while putting the question bis face
was pale as that Of corpse.
at is Ivan Ogareff," replied the Sibe-
rlan, but In deep voice which breath
ed hatred.
"Hev cried Michael Strogon, from
whom the word escaped with an accent
Of fury which he could not conquer.
He had just recognized In this officer
che traveller who had struck him at the
posting house Of Ichim, and, although
he had only caught glimpse Of him, 1t
burst upon his mind at the same time
that this traveller was the old Zingari
whose words he had overheard In the
market place Of Mini Novgorod.
The mujik and Michael resumed their
way and arrived ut the posting house.
10 leave Omsk by one Of the breaches
would not be difficult after nightfall.
Ms for purchasing carriage to replace
mn Ck,,Ecol IN !.