The Iola register., 1901-12-27

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"Yes," answered the Siberian, "for
there are some things that even plain
merchant cannot receive without re-
turning"
"BlowsT
"Blows, young man. l am of an age
and strength to tell you So"
| Michael went up to the postmaster
and laid his two powerful hands on his
shoulders.
Then in n peculiarly calm tone he
said:
"Be off, my friend; be off could
kill you"
The postmaster understood this time.
81 like him better for that" he NUT
tered as he retired without adding an
other word.
At o'clock the next morning, the
oath of July, three strong horses we're
harnessed to the tarantass. Michael
and Nadia took their places, and Ichim,
with its dlsagreeable remembrances,
was soon left far behind.
The next day, July %, at 3 o'clock in
the morning the tarantass arrived at
I the posthouse in Tioukalmsk, having
accomplished a distance of 100 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 a
fine prize for such robbers.
Only by dint of n large bribe could
Michael get over the unwillingness 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, wSs
known in the Siberian provinces, and n
Russian specially exempted from obey
ing these orders would certainly have
drawn public attention to himself, n
thing above all to be avoided by the
cars 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 3
In the afternoon 1t had reached Kou-
latsinskoe. eighty versts farther on.
An hour after this 1t 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
Atal mountains. it flows from the
southeast to the northwest and emp
ties itself into the Obi after a course Of
nearly 1000 yersts.
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 n regular torrent. rem
dering the passage difficult enough. A
= swimmer could not have crossed, how
ever powerful a one he might be, and
: even in n 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 he 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 off.
For few minutes all went well. 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
i they gained the middle of the stream
, 1t grew deeper and deeper until at last
they could only just reach the bottom.
The ends of the poles We're only 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 a delay,
, watched the boatmen with some un-
easiness.
Look outr cried one OF them to his
/ comrade.
The shout was occasioned by the new
direction the boat was rapidly taking.
) II had pot into tho diract ni1rrnnt and
; was being swept down the river. By
; diligent use Of the poles, putting the
ends in a series of notches cut below
the gunwale, the boatmen manager to
keep their craft against the stream and
slowly urged 1t in a slanting direction
toward the right bank. .---
TO be Continued)