Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-01-25
IcoNTINUED.l
CHAPTER III.

: ~
J. ! ! !;
$50 HE distance between Mos
COW and Irkutsk, about
to be traversed by MI
chael Strogoff, was 5,2OC
AE1NSNRSNN versts. Before the tele
H@&SGsg.H graph wire extended from
the Ural mountains to
the eastern frontier of Siberia the dis,
patch service was performed by cou-
sriers, those psso Travelled the most rap
idly taking eighteen days to get from
Moscow to Irkutsk
In the first place, however, he must
not travel rs a courier of the car usu-
ally would No one must even suspect
what he>really was. Spies swarm in a
rebellious country. Let him be recog-
nized and his mission would be in dan
ger Also. while supplying him with q
large sum Of money, which was suffi-
cient for his9journey and would facili-
VI tate it in some measure, General his-
soft had not given him any document
specifying that he was in the emperor's
service. which is the sesame par ex-
cellence He contented himSelf with
furnishing him with a podorojna. p 4
The podorojna was made out in the
name of Nicholas Korpanoff, merchant,
living at Irkutsk. 1t authorized Nicho-
Las Korpanof to be accompanied, II
requisite, by one or more persons, and,
moreover it was by special notification
made available in the event of the Mus
covite government forbidding natives
of any other countries to leave Russia.
la5 The poaorojna is simply a permission
to take post horses, but Michael Stro.
golf was not to use it unless he was
sure that by so doing he would not ex-
cite suspicion as to his mission-that is
$40 say. while he was on European ter
ritory. The consequence was that liz
Siberia while trav ersing the insurgent
provinces. he would have no power
y over the relays either in the choice of
horses in preference to others or in de-
manding conveyanees for his personal
use. Neither was Michael Strogon to
forget that he was no longer courier,
but plain merchant, Nicholas Korpa-
aoff, travelling from Moscow to Irkutsk,
and as such exposed to all the impedi-
ments of an ordinary journey.
To pass unknown more or less. rapid
", but to pass somehow or other-sueh
were the directions he had received.
Thirty years previously the escort of
q traveller of, rank consisted Of not less
than 200 mounted Cossacks, 200 foot
soldiers, 25 Baskir horsemen, 800 cam
els, 400 horses, 25 wagons, 2 portable
boats and pieces of cannon. All this
was requisite for a journey in Siberia.
Michael Strogoff, however, had nei-
Their cannon nor horsemen nor foot sol
diers nor beasts of burden He would
travel in q carriage or on horseback
when he could, on foot when he could
not. ss@'1t7'27''''
r. There, would be no difficulty in get
2 ting over the first 1900 versts, the dis
! lance between Moscow and the Rus
sian frontier. Railroads, post carriages,
steamboats,, relays of horses, were at
every ones disposal and consequently
at the disposal of the courier of the
Gar.
Il Accordingly on the morning of the
10th of July, having dotted his uniform,
in the simple Russian costume, tightly
fitting tunic, the traditional belt Of the
moujik, wide trousers, gartered at the
knees, and high boots, Michael Stro-
goff arrived at the station in time FOR
the first train. He carried no arms,
openly at least, but under his belt was
hidden revolver and in his pocket
one of those large knives with which
Siberian hunter can SO neatly disem-
bowel a bear without injuring its pre-
cious fur.
A crowd of travellers had collected at
the Moscow station. The stations on
the Russian railroads are much used as
places for meeting not only by those
who are about to proceed by the train,
but by friends who come to see them
off. 1t indeed resembles from the va
news exchange.
The train in which Michael took his
place was to set him down at Mini
Novgorod There terminated at that
time the iron road which, uniting Mos
COW and St. Petersburg, will eventually
continue to the Russian frontier. It was
journey Of about 400 versts, and the
train would accomplish it in ten hours.
Once arrived at Mini Noygorod, Stro-
goff would, according to circumstances,
either take the land route or the steam
er on the Volga, SO as to reach the Ural
mountains as soon as possible.
Michael Strogof ensconsed himself
in his corner like a worthy citizen
whose affairs go well with him and
who endeavors to kill time by sleep.
Nevertheless, as he was not alone in
his compartment, he slept with one eye
open and listened with both his ears.
4 In fact. the rumor Of the rising of the
4Kirghiz hordes and of the Tartar inva-
sion had transpired in some degree.
The occupants Of the carriage, whom
chance had made his travelling compan-
ions. discussed the subject, though with |
that caution which has become habit
nal among Russians, Whats know that |
spies are ever on the watch for any