Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-12-25
THE COURIER OF THE CZAR,
az JULES VERNE.

endeavored. but in vain, to master bis
anger.
81 tell the truth, your highness," cool
ly replied Ivan Ogareff. 81 was pres
ent at that battle of Krasnoiarsk, and
1t Is there where ! was made prisoner!'
The grand duke became calm, and by
sign he gave Ivan Ogareff to under.
stand that he did not doubt his verac-
ity.
"On what day did this battle of
Krasnoiarsk take place" he asked.
ION the I'd Of September"
"And now all the Tartar forces are
concentrated around lrkutsk|
GAIL"
"And you would number them att
"Four hundred thousand men"
A new exaggeration Of Ivan Ogaref
in reckoning the numbers Of the Tar
tar army and tending always to the
same end.
"And l must not expect any succor
from the provinces Of the west?" ask
ed the grand duke.
None, your highness-at least before
the end Of winter"
every we'll. Listen to this, Michael
Strogoff: Should no relief come to me,
neither from the west nor the east, and
were there 100000 Tartars. would
not give up Irkutsk!'
The wicked eye Of Ivan Ogaref light
ly blinked. The traitor seemed to say
that the brother of the czar was reck-
oning without treason.
The grand duke, Of nervous temper
ament. had great difficulty in preserv.
Ing his calmness on learning this dis.
astrous news. He walked up and down
the room under the eyes Of Ivan Oga.
ref, who covered him as n prey re-.
served for his vengeance. He stopped
! at the windows. He looked out upon
the Tartar fires. He was trying to
find out the noise, the greater part OF
which was caused by the grating Of the
ice on the river.
A quarter Of an hour passed without
his putting another question. Then.
again taking up the letter. he read a
| passage Of 1t and said:
"You know, Michael Strogoff. that
there WTuestfun IN -ti1ts fettpr Of
traitor against whom | have to be on
my guard?"
Eyes, your highness."
"He Is to attempt to enter lrkutsk
disguised to win my confidence; then
at the proper time. to deliver up the
town to the Tartars."
Il know all that. your highness. and
also know that Ivan Ogaref has
sworn personal vengeance on the broth
er Of the car"
"WhyT
"They say that that officer had been
condemned by the grand duke to a
most humiliating degradation"
"Yes, | remember. But he deserved
it. that wretch. who was afterward to
serve against his country and to lead
there an invasion of barbarianS"
His majesty the car" answered
Ivan Ogareff. relied especially OH the
fact that you were aware Of the Grim
inal projects of Ivan Ogareff against
your person"
"Yes: the letter Informed me Of it."
"And his majesty told 1t to me him.
self, while warning me to mistrust that
traitor above all during my Journey
across Siberia"
Have you ever met himT'
Eyes. your highneSs. after the battle
of Krasnoiarsk. Could he have sus-
pected that ! was the bearer Of q let.
ter addressed to your highness and IN
which all his projects were dirulGed
should not now be standing before
you"
"Yes, you would have been lost" an
swered the grand duke. And how did
you escape"
"By throwing myself into the lrtish.'
And how did you enter lrkutsk|
During a Sortie that was made this
very night to repel Tartar detach'
ment | joined in with the defenders OF
the town. was able to make myself
known. and they AT once conducted me
before your highness."
well done. Michael Strogotf." an
swered the grand duke. You have
shown courage and zeal during this
difficult mission. shall not forget
you. Have you any favor TO ask Of
me"
} None if 1t be not that Of fighting by
the side of your highness." answered
Ivan Ogareff.
LET it be so. Michael Strogoff. From
this day l attach you to my person,
and you shall be lodged in this palace"
And If in conformity with the inten.
/ ton which is attributed to him Ivan
Ogareff should present himself before
your highness under false name
, I'VE would unmask him, thanks to
you who know him. and by my order
he should die under the knout. Co.
Ivan Ogareff gave the military salute
to the grand duke, not forgetting that
J he was captain in the corps OF the cou-
riers of the car. and he withdrew.
Ivan Ogareff had just now played with
success his base role. The grand dukes
T confidence had been accorded him full
and entire. He could abuse 1t when
! and where he thought proper. he
would even live in that palace. he
would know all the secrets Of the de-
fense. He held. therefore, the situation
| in his hand No one in lrkutsk kne"
) him. No one could tear off his mask.
He resolved. therefore, to begin the
work without more delay.
: Ivan Ogareff. having every facility
of seeing, observing and acting. spent
| l. L.. In fnrt iG q.