The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-11

ing these orders would certainly have
drawn public attention to himself, a
thing above all to be avoided by the
czar's courier. AS to the drivers hesi.
tation, either the rascal traded on the
travellers impatience or he really had
good reason to fear some misfortune.
However, at last the tarantass start.
ed and made such good way that by 8
in the afternoon it had reached kou'
latsinskoe, eighty versts farther on.
An hour after this it was on the banks
of the Irish. 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
Atai mountains, it 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 the
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
dering the passage difficult enough. a
swimmer could not have crossed, how
ever powerful one he might be, and
even in ferryboat there would be
some danger.
But Michael and Nadia, determined
to brave all perils whatever they might
be, did not dream Of shrinking from
this one.
However, Michael proposed to his
young companion that be should cross
first, embarking in the ferryboat with
the tarantass and horses, as he feared
that the weight Of this load would rem
der it less safe. After landing the car
riage on the opposite bank he would
return and fetch Nadia.
The girl refused. 1t would be the
delay Of an hour, and she would not
for her safety alone be the cause Of it.
The embarkation was made not with
out difficulty, for the banks were partly
flooded and the boat could not get in
near enough.
However, after half an hours exer-
ton the boatmen got the tarantass and
the three horses on board. Michael,
Nadia and the driver embarked also.
and they showed of.
For few minutes all went we'll a
little way up the river the current was
broken by long point projecting from
the bank and formed an eddy easily
crossed by the boat: The two boatmen
propelled their barge with long poles,
which they handled cleverly, but as
they gained the middle of the stream
it grew deeper and deeper until at last
they could only just reach the bottom.
The ends Of the poles were only g foot
above the water, which rendered their
use difficult and insufficient. Michael
and Nadia, seated in the stern of the
boat and always in dread Of q delay,
watched the boatmen with some un-
eaSileSs.
Look outr cried one Of them to his
comrade.
The shout was occasioned by the new
direction the boat was rapidly taking.
It had got into the direct current and
was being swept down the river. By
diigent use Of the poles, putting the
ends in a series Of notcheS cut below
the gunwale, the boatmen managed to
keep their craft against the stream and
slowly urged it in slanting direction
toward the right bank.
They calculated. on reaching it some
five or six versts below the landing
place; but after all, that would not
matter so long as men and beasts. could
disembark without accident. The two
stout boatmen, stimulated, moreover,
by the promise Of double fare, did not
doubt of succeeding in this difficult
passage Of the Irish.
But they reckoned without an incl
dent which they were powerless to pre-
vent, and neither/their zeal nor their
skillfulness could under the circum-
stances have done more.
The boat was in the middle Of the
current at nearly equal distances from
either shore and being carried down at
the rate Of two versts an hour when
Michael, springing to his feet, bent his
gaze up the river.
Several boats, aided by oars as well
as by the current, were. coming swiftly
down upon them.
Michaers brow contracted, and an ex-
clamation escaped him.
"What is the matter?' asked the girl.
But before Michael had time to reply
one Of the boatmen exclaimed in an ac-
cent Of terror:
eThe Tartars! The Tartarsr'
They were indeed boats full of sol
diers, and in few minutes they mus.
reach the ferryboat, it being too heav'
ily laden to escape from them.
The terrified boatmen uttered excla'
nations of despair and dropped thelI
poles.
Courage, my friends!' cried Michael
Courage! Fifty rubles for you if we
reach the right bank before the boats
overtake usv'
Incited by these words, the boatmer
again worked manfully away, but it
soon became evident that they could
not escape the Tartars.
It was scarcely probable that they
would pass without attacking them.
On the contrary, there was everything
to be feared from robbers such as
these.
do not be afraid, Nadia," said Mi
chael, "but be ready for anything"
81 am ready" replied Nadia.
even to throw yourself into the wa
ter when I tell your
"Whenever you tell me-"
"Have confidence in me, Nadia" |
81 have indeed"
The Tartar boats were now only 8
hundred feet distant. They carried a
jo+o ob,oor+ ~ pol-bori co11iarS on