Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-12-11
ed by the little party on an improvlsed

tars, and when the soldiers Of the emit
should arrive at krasnoiarsk they
would only find an abandoned town
there and no means Of Immediate com
munication between the two banks OF
the Yenisei; hence delay of some days
until q bridge of boats, difficult to CON
struct. should open passage to them
For the first time since the unlucky
meeting with Ivan OgareT at Omsk
the courier of the czar felt himself less
uneasy and could hope that no new
obstacle would arise to the accomplish
ment Of his plans.
The kibitka. after having proceeded
about fifteen versts toward the south
east, came to and retook the long high
road across the steppe.
On the 2Sth of August the travellers
had passed the town Of Balaisk. which
was eighty versts from Krasnoiarsk,
and by the Goth that Of Ribinsk. forty
versts from Balaisk.
The next day. after travelling more
than thirty-five versts. they arrived at
Kamsk, q more considerable town. wa.
tered by the river Of the same name,
q small atfiuent Of the Yenisei. which
descends from the mountains Of Sa'
yansk.
On going out from Kamsk Michael
Informed Nadia and Nicholas that they
would find only one little town Of some
importance Mini Oudinsk. before lr.
kutsk. Nicholas answered that he
knew that there was telegraphic sta.
tion in that town. Therefore II Mini
Oudnsk had been abandoned like
Kamsk he would certainly be obliged
to seek for some occupation in the cap
ital of eastern Siberia.
From KamSk to the neigbboring town
was very long. about a hundred and
thirty versts.
After having crossed the little river
of BiriouSa the kibitka reached Biriou.
sinsk on the morning Of the 4th Of Sep.
tember. There. very fortunately, Mich.
olas. who saw his provisions becoming
exhausted. found In an abandoned bake
house a dozen cakes, prepared with
mutton fat, and large supply Of boil
ed rice.
After a reasonable halt they contin-
ued their journey once more on the aft
ernoon Of the Sth Of September. The
distance to Irkutsk was not more than
500 versts. Nothing in their rear sig
nailed the advance guard Of the Tar
tars. Michael Strogo(f had therefore
settled down 10 think that his journey
would not again be interrupted and
that in eight days or IN ten 1t the most
he would be in the presence Of the
grand duke.
In coming out of rBirlousinsk a hare
crossed the road about thirty PAGES IN
front Of the k!Ditka.
"Ah| said Nicholas.
"What is the matter. friendT' asked
Michael Strogoff eagerly. as a blind
man whom the least noise held on the
watch.
did you not sce?" said Nicholas.
whose smiling face suddenly became
cloudy.
Then he added:
"Ah, no, you could not see, and 1t Is
happy for you, good father!
"But l have seen nothing" said Ma
dia.
$50 much the better! So much the
better. But IL have seem"
"What was 1t. then?" asked Michael
Strogoff.
"a hare that came across our path!
answered Nicholas.
In Russia when q hare cro0ses the
path of a traveller popular belief looks
upon it as q sign of approaching evil.
Nicholas. superstitious as are the
greater part Of the Russians. had stop
ped the kibitka.
Michael Sirogoff understood the hes
itation of his companion, although he
did not share his credulity regarding
hares crossing the path, and he wished
to rcassure him.
"We have nothing to fear. friend"
he sad to him.
Nothing for you nor for her. | know,
good father" answered Nicholas, "but
for me!'
And. continuing. said he:
at is my destiny"
And he again put his horse to the
trot.
Meanwhile. in spite Of the sad prog
nostica;ionS. tEc day passed by With
out any accident.
Next day, Sept. 8, ut noon the kibltka
halted at the town of AlSalrvSk, as de-
serted as was the surrounding country.
There on the threshold Of house
Nadia found two Of those knives with
long. sharp blades used by Siberian
hunters. She gave one of them 10 Mi
chael StroSoff. who hid it under his
coat aud she kept the other for her.
self. The kibtka was not more than
siyty-five vcrsts from Mini Oudinsk.
Nicholas during the last two days
had not been able to regain his usual
good humor. The evil omen had affect
ed him more than one could have be-
lievcd, and lie who UP to that time had
never remained an hour without talk
ing had now long spells of silence. from
which even Nadia could with difficulty
withdraw him.
In spite Of all his somewhat fatalistic
resignation he would not believe him.
self safe except within the walls of
Irkutsk. Many Russians would have
thought like Nicholas. and more than
one, pulling the bride Of his horse
would have turned back after seeing Il
hare cross their path.