Morris tribune., 1902-03-01


Her son was in the last ranks. When
in his turn he, passed before his mot,
er, Nadia shut her eyes ia order not t.
see him.
Michael Strogoff had remained ap
parently mpassible, but his hands were
bleeding from the pressure Of the fet
tiers.
Ivan Ogareff was conquered by the
son and the mother.
Sangarre, placed near him. only said
one word sKnoutp'
Yes cried Ivan Ogareff, "let this
old jade have the knout and let the
punishment continue until she der
a Tartar soldier, carrying that terri
BILE instrument Of torture, approached
Maria Strogof.
The knout is composed Of certain
number Of leather thongs, to the ends
of which are attached twisted iron wire.
One can easily understand that to be
condemned to receive a hundred and
twenty blows from such whip is the
same thing as to be condemned to
death. Marta Strogof knew it, but
she also knew that no torture upon
earth could make her speak, and she
had already offered the sacrifice Of her
life for her sons safety.
Maria Strogoff, having been seized by
two soldiers, was thrown on her knees
on the ground. Her robe, having been
torn, exposed her naked back. A saber
was fixed before her breast at the dis.
lance of only few inches, and in case
she should bend under the pain her
breast would be pierced with the sharp
point.
The Tartar raised the lash.
He was waiting. #
Go onp' said Ivan Ogaref.
The whip Kissed in the air, but before
the blow had fallen powerful hand
had wrenched it from the hands Of the
Tartar.
Michael Strogof was there! He had
leaped before this horrible scene! If
at the posthouse of Ichim he had re-
strained himself at the blow from Ivan
Ogareff, here before his mother, who
was about to be struck, he was not able
to master himself. :.
Ivan Ogareff had succeeded.
''Michael Strogoffy' he cried. =.
Then, advancing, he said: !
"Ah, was this done by the man Of
Ichim?' .s.
"HimselfY' said Michael Strogof, and,
raising the knout, he tore with it the
face of Ivan Ogareff himself.
elbow for blown MI
'Well givenY' cried the voice Of a
spectator, who fortunately hid himself
in the tumult
Twenty soldiers threw themselves on
Michael Strogof, and they were about
to kill him: But Ivan Ogareff, from
whom cry of pain and rage had es-
capped, stopped them with a motion Of
his hand.
"This man is reserved for the justice
Of the emirv' 4
The letter to the imperial armies was
found in the breast Of Michael Strogof,
not had time to destroy it, and
it was handed over to Ivan Ogaref.
The spectator who had uttered aloud
those words 'sWeH given" was no other,
than Alcide Jolivet. His companion
and himself, having halted at the camp
Of Zabedeiro, were present at this |
scene. ~.:.. ... .:s. ~. I
"My God" said he to Harry Blount,
'these people of the north are rough !
nen! Do we not owe some return to |
OUR companion Of the journey? May
Korpanoff or Strogoff succeed! What |
splendid revenge for the affair of |
Ichim!' 49,.
eyes, revenge indeed" said Harry
Blount. "But strogon is a dead man.
For his sake it would perhaps be better
not to remember him any longer"
"And allow his mother to perish I'M
Ter the knout?' s..>F Z
EDO you believe that he has acted
better by his rash haste than his moth
9r and his sister?'
81 don't believe anything; know moth
n.y." answered AIcide Joivet, "only
1ad I been in his place I should not
nave acted otherwise. What a slash!l
1h, what-the devil, we must boil over
;ometimes. God would have placed
water in our veins and not blood had
le wished US to remain always and ev-
anywhere imperturbable." .-
what a splendid incident for news
,aper articlew said Harry Blount.- eff
van Ogareff would only communicate
o us the contents Of that letterw
Ivan Ogareff, after having wiped off
he blood which covered his face, had
,roken the seal of the letter. He read
t again and again for long time, as
he wished to fathom it's contents.
Then, having given his orders that
Iichael Strogof, strongly fettered,
hould be sent on to Tomsk with the
Their prisoners, he took command of
be troops encamped at Zabedeiro, and
mid the deafening sounds of drums
nd trumpets he marched to the town
There the emir was awaiting him.
They had not long to wait for the
eutenant of Feofar. Resounding bu-
les announced his arrival.
Ivan Ogareff- flashed, as they ali
eady begun to call him dressed this
Ime in the uniform of a Tartar officer,
rriyed on horseback before the tent