Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-01-07
seen you once more. Pray for me-"
And these words were the last.

Anu tQeSc WOEuS were luc Auct'
Michael Strogoff continued to dig the
soil, which, being strongly trodden
down, had the hardness of a rock, and
at length he succeeded In drawing from
It the body of the unfortunate man.
He listened II his heart still beat. 1t
beat no more!
He wished then to bury 1t, that 1t
might not remain exposed on the
steppe, and that hole in which Nicho-
las had been buried alive he enlarged
and deepened in such a manner as to
be able to lay him there when dead.
The faithful Serko was placed near his
master.
At that moment great noise was
heard on the road about half q verst
away.
Michael Strogoff listened.
By the noise he knew at once that n
detachment of cavalry was advancing
toward the Dinka.
NADIA, Nadlap' said he in a low
voice.
At his voice Nadia, who had remained
in prayer, rose up.
"You see them! You see them" he
said to her.
"The Tartarsw she murmured.
It was indeed the advance guard OF
the emir which was defiling quickly on
the road to Irkutsk.
"They shall not prevent me from in
terring him." said Michael Strogoff.
And he continued his work.
Soon Nicholas body, with his hands
Joined on his breast, was laid In the
tomb. Michael Strogoff and Nadia.
kneeling down, prayed the last time for
that poor being, good and lnoffensive,
who through devotedness to them had
lost his life.
"And now." said Michael, throwing
back the earth, "the wolves Of the
steppe shall not devour him."
Then his hand stretched in menace
toward the troop of horsemen which
was passing.
ION our journey, Nadlav' said he.
Michael Strogoff could no longer fol-
low the highroad, now occupied by the
Tartars. He must throw himself across
the steppe and turn Irkutsk. In doing
this they would have to cross the Din
ka and thus would be relieved from one
great anxiety.
Nadia could no longer drag herself
along, but she could see for him. He
took her in his arms and struck into
the southwest Of the province.
There remained for them to travel
more than 200 versts. How could 1t
be done? How could food be found on
the journey?
BY what superhuman energy would
they succeed in passing the first slopes
Of the Sayensk mountains? Neither
Nadia nor he could tell.
And yet twelve days after, at o'clock
in the evening, an immense sheet OF
water rolled at the feet Of Michael Stro-
goff.
1t was Lake Baikal.
Lake Baikal Is situated at a height
Of 1, 700 feet above the level Of the sea.
It's length 1t about 900 versts, Its
breadth about a hundred. Its depth Is
unknown. Nine. de Bourboulon tells
us that the sailors say that 1t wishes to
be called "Mrs. Sea-" II one calls 1t
"Mr Lake." it at once is In a rage.
Anyhow, according to Russian legend
a Russian is never drowned there.
This immense basin Of fresh water,
fed by more than 300 rivers, is embos-
omed in a magnificent circle OF vol
canic mountains. 1t has no other out
let but the Angara, which, after hav-
ing passed Irkutsk, throws itself into
the Yenisei q little above the town OF
Yeniseisk.
The first days Of October had come.
The sun now sank below the horizon at
8 o'clock, and the long nights allowed
the temperature to fall to zero In the
thermometers. The first snow, which
was to remain until summer, already
whitened the neighboring heights. Dur
ing the Siberian winter this interior
sea, with its ice several feet thick, is
dotted with trains of couriers and cara
vans.
It was at the southwest point Of the
lake that Michael Strogoff had just ar
rived, carrying Nadia, whose whole
life, so to speak, was concentrated In
her eyes. What could they both expect
in this wild part Of the province but
to die there of want and destitution?
And yet how many still. remained to be
made Of those 5000 versts that the
courier of the czar should attain his
end? Only sixty versts along the shore
of the lake as far as the mouth of the
river Angara, and eighty versts from
the mouth of the Angara to Irkutsk-
in all a hundred and forty versts, say
q three days journey for strong and
vigorous man even on foot.
Some fifty people found themselves