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

struck by the brutal traveller felt like
q burn.
"For my country and the Father" ht
muttered as he ended his evening pray
er.
He especially felt a great wish tt
know who was the man who hat
struck him, whence he came and where
he was going. AS to his face, the fea
lures of it were so deeply engraved or
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.
"Yes."
"Do you know that man who tool
my horses"
"No."
Had you never seen him before?"
"Never."
"Who do you think he wasY
"a man who knows how to make
himself obeyed."
Michael fixed his piercing gaze upon
the Siberian, but the other did no,
quail before 1t.
"Do you dare to Judge me-" exclaim'
ed Michael.
EYES," answered the Siberian. "fol
there are some things that even plain
merchant cannot receive without re
turning"
"BlowsY
"Blows, young man. I am Of an age
and strength to tell you So"
Michael went up to the postmaster
and laid his two powerful hands on hii
shoulders.
Then in a peculiarly calm tone be
said:
"Be of. my friend; be OIL I could
kill you"
The postmaster understood this time
az like him better for that" he NUT
tered as he retired without adding an
other word.
At 8 o'clock the next morning, the
oath Of July. three strong horses were
harnessed to the tarantass. Michael
and Nadia took their places, and Ichim
with its disagreeable remembrances
was soon left far behind.
The next day. July rs. at 8 o'clock In
the morning. the tarantass arrived al
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 q
fine prize for such robbers.
Only by dlnt Of a large bribe could
Michael get over the unwlllingness 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
Russian specially exempted from obey
ing these orders would certainly have
drawn public attention to himself. q
thing above all to be avoided by the
cars courier. As to the drivers hesi'
tation, either the rascal traded on the
travellers impatlence or he really had
good reason to fear some misfortune.
However, at last the tarantass start
ed and made such good way that by !
in the afternoon It had reached Kou'
latsinskoe, eighty vsrsts farther on
An hour after this It was on the banks
of the Irtish. 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
Atal mountains. 1t 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 thu
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
derlng the passage difficult enough. A
swimmer could not have crossed. how
ever powerful a one he might be. and
even In a ferryboat there would bt
some danger.
But Michael and Nadia, determined
to brave all perlls whatever they might
be. did not dream Of shrinking from
this one.
However. Michael proposed to bill
young companion that he should Cross
drst, embarking In the ferryboat will
the tarantass and horses. as he feared
that the weight Of this load would rem
der It less safe. After landing the car
rage on the opposite bank he woult
return and fetch Nadia.
The girl refused. It would be th'
delay Of an honr. and she would no
for her safety alone be the cause OF 1t
The embarkation was made not with
out dificulty. for the banks were partl!
flooded and the boat could not get u
near enough.
However. after halt an hours sxer
tiea The boatmsa GET ths fauatass en-