The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-04

| OGOlQ SUOulOeEeU, OScD CuSSlS0 uoA'
His powerful head possessed the fine
features Of the Caucasian race. His
we'll knit frame seemed built for the
performance of feats Of strength. It
would have been a difficult task to
move such q man against his will, for
when his feet were once planted on the
ground IT. was as if they had taken root.
AS he doffed his Muscovite cap locks
Of thick curly hair fell over his broad,
massive forehead. When his ordinarl-
IL pale face became at all flushed, it
arose solely from more rapid action
Of the heart, under the influence Of a
quicker circulation. His eyes Of deep
blue looked with a clear, frank. firm
gaze.
The slightly contracted eyebrows in
dicated lofty heroism-"the hero's coo!
courage" according to the definition Of
the physiologist. He possessed q fine
nose, with large nostrils, and q well
shaped mouth, with the slightly pro-
jecting lips which denote q generous
and noble heart.
Michael Strogoff had the tempera-
ment Of man Of action, who does not
bite his nails or scratch his head in
doubt and indecsion. Sparing Of ges-
lures as Of words, he always stood mo-
tionless like a soldier before his supe-
rior, but when ne moved his step show
ed 4 frmness, freeuoG! of movement,
which proved the confidence and vivac-
ity Of his mind.
Michael Strogoff wore a handsome
military uniform, something resembling
that of q light cavalry officer in the
feld-boots, spurs, half tightly fitting
trousers, brown pelisse, trimmed with
fur and ornamented with yellow braid.
On his breast elittered cross and
medals.
Michael Strogoff belonged to the spe-
cial corps of the cars couriers, rank
ing as an officer among those picked
men. His most discernible character
particularly in his walk, his face,
| in the whole man, and which the car
perceived at a glance-was that he was
q "fulfller of orders" He therefore
possessed one Of the most serYiceable
qualities in Russia-one which the cele-
brated novelist Turgeneff 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 rebellious country, surmount
obstacles and brave perils Of all sorts,
Michael Strogof 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 its different dia-
lects, not only from having Travelled
there before. but because be was Of
! Siberian origin.
When he was fourteen, Michael Stro-
,off had killed his first bear quite
lone. Tha 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 latitudes, 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 iciclcs, 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 frame of iron, as Cen
eral KissoG had said, and, what was
no less true, heart of gold.
The only sentiment Of love felt by
Michael StrogoG was that which he en-
! tertained for his mother, the aged Mar
ia, who could never be induced to leave
the house Of the Strogofs at Omsk, on
the banks of tie Istish, where the old
huntsman and she had lived so long to-
gether. When her son left her, lie
went away with 4 full heart, but prom
Using to come and see her whenever he
could possibly Go so, and this promise
he had always religiousiy Kept.
When Michael was twenty, i 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 journey to
the Caucasus, through the midst Of
difficult country, Tavagcd By some rest
less successors Of Schamyl then, later,
in an important mission to PetrepoloW-
ski, in Kamchatl;a, the extreme limit
Of Asiatic Russia. During these long
journeys he displayed such marvellous
coolness, 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 mighe be separated from her by
thousands of versts ard winter had
rendered the roads almost impossible,
he had never failed to devote to his
old mother. Having been much en-
ployed il the south Of the empire, he
had not seen OLD Maria for three years
three agcs-the first time in his life
he had Leen so long absent from her.
Now, however, in few days he would
obtain his furlough, and he had &C
cordingly already made preparations
for departure for Omsk when the
events which have been related oc-
Cured Michael Strogof was there
fore introduced Into the cars presence