The Sauk Centre herald., 1901-11-07
Continued from page 3

ly pale face became at all nuSneQ, II
arose solely from a more rapid action
of the heart, under the influence OF
quicker circulation. His eyes Of a deep
blue looked with a clear, frank, firm
gaze.
The slightly contracted eyebrows In
dicated lofty heroism-"the hero's cool
courage" according to the definition OF
the psychologist. He possessed fine
nose, with large nostrils, and well
shaped mouth, with the slightly pro-
jecting lips which denote q generous
and noble heart.
Michael Stregoff had the tempera-
ment of a man Of action, who does not
bite his nails or scratch his head IN
doubt and indecision. Sparing of ges-
lures as of words, he always stood mo-
tionless like soldier before his supe-
rior, but when he moved his step show
ed a firmness, a freedom Of movement,
which proved the confidence and vivac-
ity of his mind.
Michael Strogoff wore a handsome
military uniform, something resembling
that Of a light cavalry officer in the
field-boots. spurs, half tightly fitting
trousers, brown pelisse, trimmed with
fur and ornamented with yellow braid.
On his breast glittered a cross and
medals.
Michael Strogoff belonged to the spe-
cial corps Of the cZars cOuriers, rank
ing as an officer among those picked
men. His most discernible character
istic-particularly in his walk, his face,
in the whole man, and which the car
perceived at a glance-was that he was
4 "fulfiller Of orders" He therefore
possessed one of the most serviceable
qualities in Russia-ene which the cele-
brated novelist Turgenef says "win
lead to the highest positions in the
MuScOVite empire"
In short, if any one could accomplish
this journey from Moscow to Irkutsk
across the rebellAus country, surihount
obstacles and brave perils Of all sorts,
Michael Strogoff was the man.
A circumstance especially favorable
to the success Of his plans was that he
was thoroughly acquainted with the
country which he was about to trav.
erse and understood it's different dia.
lects, not only from having Travelled
there before, but because he was or
Siberian origin.
When he was. fourteen, Michael Stro.
goff had killed his first bear quite
alone. That was nothing. But after
stripping it he dragged the gigantic
animals skin to his fathers house,
many versts distant, thus exhibiting
remarkable strength in a, boy so young.
Gifted with marvellous acuteness,
when every object was hidden in mist
or even in higher ATTITUDES, where the
polar night is prolonged for many days,
he could find his way when others
would have had no idea whittier to di-
rect their steps. He had learned to
read almost imperceptible signs, the
forms of icicles, the appearance Of the
small branches of trees, mists rising
far away on the horizon, vague sounds
in the air, distant reports, the fight of
birds through the foggy atmospheric
thousand circumstances which are so
many words to- those who can decipher
them. Moreover, tempered by snow
like Damascus blade in the waters of
Syria, he had a frame of iron, as Gen.
eral Kissoff had said, and, what was
no less true, heart of gold.
The only sentiment of love felt by
Michael Strogoff was that which he en-
tertained for his mother, the aged Mar
ia, who could never be induced to leave
the house of the Strogotfs at Omsk, on
the banks of the Istish, where the old
huntsman and she had lived so long to-
gether. When her son left. her, he
went away with full heart, but prom
Using to come and see her whenever he
could possibly do so, and this promise
he had always religiously kept.
When Michael was, twenty, it was de-
cided that he should enter the personal
service Of the emperor of Russia, in the
corps of the couriers Of the czar. The
hardy, Intelligent, Jealous, we'll con-
Quoted young Siberian first distinguish
ed himself especially in a journey to
the Caucasus, through the midst Of
difficult country, ra7aged by some rest
less successors Of Schamyl; then, later,
in an important mission to Petrepolow-
ski, in Kamchatka, the extreme limit
of Asiatic Russia. During these long
Journeys he displayed such marvellous
GOODNESS, prudence and courage as to
gain him the appreciation and ,protec-
ton Of his chief, who rapidly advanced
him in his profession.
The furloughs which were his due
after these distant missions, although
he might be separated from her by
thousands of versts and winter had
rendered the roads almost impossible,
he had never failed to devote to his
old mother. Having been much en-
ployed in the south Of the empire, he
had not seen old Maria for three years
three ages-the first time in his life
he had been SO long absent from her.
Now, however, in a few days he would
obtain his furlough, and he had ac-
tcordingly already made preparations
for departure for Omsk when the
events which have been related oc-
CURED. Michael Strogoff was there
fore introduced into the cars presence
In complete ignorance Of what the en-
peror expected from him.
The czar, apparently satisfied with