The Iola register., 1902-01-31


ped the kibltka.
Michael Strogoff understood the hes
itation OF his companion, although he
did not share his credullty regarding
hares crossing the path, and he wished
to reassure him.
1--WE have nothing to fear, friend
he said to him.
Nothing for you nor for her, know,
good father" answered Nicholas, "but
for mer'
And, continuing. said he:
at is my destiny"
And he again put his horse to the
trot.
Meanwhile in spite of the sad prog
nostcations. the day passed by with
out any accident.
Next day, Sept. 8, at noon the kibitka |
halted at the town of Alsalevsk, as de- |
serted as was the surrounding country. |
There on the threshold of n house
Nadia found two of those knives with
long, sharp blades used by Siberian
hunters. She gave one of them to Mi
chael StrogoGf who hid 1t under his
coat, and she kept the other for her.
1 L
sixty-five versts from Mini Oudlnsk.
Nicholas during the last two days
had not been able to regain his usual
good humor. The evil omen had affect
ed him more than one could have be-
! lieved, and he who up to that time had
never remained an hour without talk
| ing had now long spells of silence, from
which even Nadia could with difficulty
withdraw him.
In spite of all his somewhat fatalistlc
resignation he would not believe him
self safe except within the walls Of
Irkutsk. Many Russians would have
thought like Nicholas, and more than
one, pulling the bride of his horse,
would have turned back after seeing
hare cross their path.
The next day, toward o'clock in the
afternoon, Nicholas deserted on the
horizon the high belfries of the church
es Of Mini Oudinsk. They were crown
ed with thick columns of vapor which
could not be clouds.
Nicholas and Nadia looked and com
munlcated to Michael Strogoff the re-
suit of their observations. They must
decide their course of action at once.
If the town had been abandoned, they
could pass through it without any risk,
but If by a movement that they could
not explain the Tartars already occu-
pied it they must turn 1t at any price.
LET us advance prudently," said Mi
chael Strogoff, but let us advance"
Another verst was made.
He was about to propose to Nicholas
to leave the route and in case of neces-
sty only to regain 1t after having turn
ed Mini Oudinsk, when the sound of
. gun was heard on the right. a ball
hissed and the horse in the kibitka,
struck in the head, fell dead.
At the same instant dozen horse
men threw themselves on the road, and
the kibitka was surrounded. Michael
Strogoff, Nadia and Nicholas, without
! having had time to recover themselves.
were prisoners and being led rapidly
toward Mini Oudnsk.
The next day, 1lth Of September, the
detachment passed through the town
Of Chibarlinskoe.
At that time an incident occurred
, which was to have very serious conse-
. quences.
/ The night had come. The Tartar
horsemen having had halt were
more or less drunk. They were about
= to continue their journey.
Nadia, who up to that time, as though
, by a miracle, had been respected by
| those soldiers. was insulted by one of
them.
Michael Strogoff had been able to see
, neither the insult nor the insulting per
, son, but Nicholas had seen for him.
| Then quietly, without having reflect
t ed, without perhaps having any con
0 sciousness of his action, Nicholas made
straight for the soldier, and before the
3 latter could make any movement tc
l stop him, snatching n pistol from the
pommel of his saddle, he discharged II
full at his breast.
fTA ha Cnptinnadl