Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-31

His orders having been executed, the
emir retired with all his household.
Soon there only remained on the pla-
teau Ivan Ogareff and the torchbear.
ers.
Did the miserable wretch wish to In
suit him still more and after the ex-
ecutioner give him the last blow?>.
Ivan Ogareff slowly approached MI
chael strogoff, who heard him coming
and at once Strengthened himself.
Ivan Ogareff drew from his pocket
the emperor's letter. He opened 1t and
as the last insult placed It before the
eyes Of. the courier Of the czar, before
those eyes whose light had been bru.
tally extinguished forever. saying at
the same time:
"Read now, Michael Strogof; read
and 60 and repeat at Irkutsk what you
shall have read. The true courier OF
the car is myselfw
Having said this, the traitor placed
the letter in his breast. Then, without
turning round, he left the place, and
the torchbearers followed him.
Michael St,Ogoff remained alone.
some PAGES from his mother, who was
lifeless, perhaps dead.
One heard at distance the cries, the
songs, all the noise Of the orgies.
Tomsk was illuminated and was bright
rs a city during great feast.
Michael Strogoff listened. The scene
Of the late revels and crime was silent
and deserted.
He dragged himself by cropping to-
ward the place where his mother had
fallen. He found her with his hand
He bent down toward her. He brought
his figure near to hers. He listened
to the beatings Of her heart. Then one
would have said that he spoke to her
In low voice.
Did old Maria still live and did she
hear the words her son spoke to her?
In any case she did not make any
sign of life by movement.
Michael StrOgoff kissed her forehead
and her white hairs. Then he rose,
and, cropping with his foot and trying
to hold his hands in such way as to
guide him, he walked by little and lit
tie to the end Of the plateau.
Suddenly Nadia appeared.
She went straight to her companion.
A dagger that she held served to cut
the cords that bound the arms Of MI.
chael Strogoff.
He, blind as he was, did not know
who 1t was who was releasing him, for
Nadia had not spoken word.
But, that done, said she:
Brother"
"Nadia," murmured Michael Strogoff.
"Nadiaw
"Come, brother" replied Nadia.
"Henceforth my eyes shall be your
eyes, and 1t Is / who will conduct you
to Irkutsk!
In half an hour after Michael Stro-
gotf and Nadia had left Tomsk.
A certain Gambler Of the prisoners on
that night were able to escape from the
Tartars. for officers and soldiers, all
more or less besotted, had unconscious
" relaxed the severe surveillance which
they had maintained up to that time,
both at the camp Of Zabedelro and dur
Ing the march Of the convoy.
Nadia, after having been led out
with the other prisoners, had been able
to escape and return to the plateau at
the very moment Michael Strogof was
being conducted before the emir.
There in the midst Of the crowd she
had seen all. Not cry had escaped
her when the blade, white with heat,
passed over the eyes Of her companion.
She had the strength to remain notion
less and silent. A provldential inspira-
ton told her to preserve herself still
free to guide the son Of Maria Strogon
to the end which he had sworn to at
tain. Her heart for the moment ceased
to beat when the old Siberian fell life
less, but thought soon restored all
her energy.
Il will be the dog Of the blind man.
she said to herself.
After the departure Of Ivan Ogareh
Nadia had hidden In the shade. She
waited until the crowds left the pla-
teau. Michael Strogoff, abandoned as
q miserable being to be feared by no
one, was alone She saw him drag him
self as far as his mother, bend HIM
self down to her, kiss her forehead,
then raise himself up and grope for
fight.
Some moments later Michael and Ma
dia, hand in hand, had descended the
steep hillside, and, after having fol-
lowed the banks of the Tom as far as
the extremity Of the town, they hap
PLY passed out by gap in the fence.
The route for Irkutsk was the only
one that struck eastward. They could
not make a mistake. Nadia rapidly pull
ed along Michael Strogof. 1t was posi-
BILE that early next morning, after some
hours of orgies, the scouts OF the emir'