The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-12-14


t;e as a poor g,gl whose means are
small would do. Michael Srogof
thought Il best TO content himself with
the fare which satisfied his companion.
ana In less than twenty minutes MI
chael Strogor and Nadia returned on
deck. There they seated themselves In
the stern, and without other preamble
Nadia. lowering her voice SO as 10 be
heard by him alone. began:
Brother, am the daughter OF an ex-
lie. Ny nn-e Is Nadia Fedor. My
mother died e. Riga scarcely month
ago. and / am going to Irkutsk to re-
join ny father and share his exile"
IL, toe. am going TO IrkutslS." answer.
ed Michael, "and shall thank heaven
II IL enables me TO give Nadia Fedor
safe into her fathers hands"
THANK you, brother" replied Nadia.
Michael Strogoff then added that he
had obtained a special podorojna for
Siberia and that the Russian authori-
ties could in no way hinder him.
Nadia asked nothing moro. She saw
In this fortunate meeting with Michael
means only Of accelcrating her jour
ney to her father.
II had" said she. "a permit which
authorized me TO so 10 IrkCtsk. but the
order of the governor of Mini Novgo-
rod annulled that, and but for you.
brother. | should have been unable to
leave the town. and without doubt
should have persisted"
'And dared you alone, Nadia" said
Michael. attempt to cross the steppes
of Siberian"
''The Tartar invasion was not known
when l left Riga" replied the young
girl. ut was only at Moscow that
learned that news"
"And Notwithstanding that you con-
tinued your journeyY
'It was my duty"
This word showed the character Of
the courageous girl.
She then spoke of her father, Wassill
Fedor. He was n much esteemed ply
stefan at Riga, but his connection with
some secret society having been as
serted he received orders to start for
Irkutsk. and the police who brought
the order conducted him without delay
beyond the frontier. Wassili Fedor had
but time 10 embrace his sick wife and
his daughter, SO soon TO be left alone.
when. shedding bitter tears. he was
led away
A year and half after her husbands
departure Mime. Fedor died In the arms
OF her daughter. who was thus left
alone and almost pennlless. Nadia Fe-
dor then asked and easily obtained
from the Russian government an ar-
thoriZation to join her father at Ir-
kutsk. She wrote and told him she
was starting. she had barely enough
money for this long journey, and yet
she did not hesitate to undertake 1t.
She would do what she could. God
would DO the rest
The next day. the 10th Of July. the
Caucasus reached Perm, the last place
at which she touched on the Kama.
The government OF which Perm Is
the capital Is one OF the largest In the
Russian empire and, extending over the
Ural mountains, encroaches on Slbe-
rian territory. Marble quarrics, mines
OF salt. platinum. gold and coal are
worked here on large scale. Although
Perm by it's situation has become an
important town, IL Is by no means at
traetive, being extremely muddy and
dirty and possessing no resources. This
want OF comfort Is OF no consequence
10 those going from Russia to Siberia,
for they come from the more civilized
districts and are supplied with all nee
essaries, but to those arriving from the
countries of central Asia. after long
and fatiguing journey, Ii would no
doubt be more satisfactory II the first
European town OF the empire. situated
on the Asiatic frontier, were better sup
piled with stores.
At Perm the travellers sell their ychi-
clcs, more or less damaged by the long
journey across the plains OF Siberia.
There. too, those passing from Europe
to Asia purchase carriages during the
summer and sleighs In tho winter sea-
son before starting for a several
months journey through the steppes.
Michael Strogof had already sketch
ed out his programme. SO now he had
only TO execute IL.
A vehicle carrying the mall usually
runs across the Ural mountains, but
at the present time this. OF course, was
discontinued. Even II 1t had not been
So, Michael S;rogoT would not have
taken II. as &c wished 10 travel IS fast
as possible without depending on any
one. He wisely preferred TO buy n car
riage and journey by stages, stimulat-
ing the zeal Of the Positions by tips.
Unfortunately. In consequence Of the
measures taken against foreigners OF
Aslatic origin, large number OF tray
elcrs had already left Perm. and there
fore conyeyances were extremely rare.
Michael was obliged to content himself
with what had been rejected by others
AS TO horses, as long as the ears cou.
rIer was not Ia Siberia he could exhibit
his podoroJna without danger. and the
postmasters would give him the prefer
ence. But once out Of Euro poan Rus
sin. he had 70 depend alone on The pow
er OF bis rubles.