The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-01-01

the force OF events. had conducted 10
the port Of I,ivenitchnaia. just as they
had led Micha el Strogoff.
The reader knows that after ha ing
been present at the triumphal entry of
the Tartars into Tomsk they had gone
away before the savage execution
which terminated the feast. They had
no doubt but their old fellow traveller
had been put to death. and they were
quite unaware that he had been only
made blind by order Of the emir.
Then, having procured horses, they
had abandoned Tomsk that very night,
with the fixed intention of dating hence
forth their articles from Russian camps
of eastern Siberia.
Alcide Jolivet and Harry Blount set
out for Irkutsk by forced marches.
They had great hopes Of outstripping
Feofar- Khan, and most certainly they
would have done so had not third col
umn unexpectedly made its appear
ance, having come from the southern
provinces Of the Yenlsci. Like Michael
Strogoff, they were cut off before hay
ing even reached the Dinka. Hence
they were again compelled to go down
as far as Lake Baikal.
When they arrived at Livenitchnaia,
the port was already deserted. On any
other side it was impossible for them
to enter Irkutsk, which was invested
by the Tartar armies.
They had been there for three days,
and very much embarrassed, when the
raft arrived.
The design Of the fugitives was COM
municated to them. There was cer-
tai1ly some chance Of their being able
to pass during the night and penetrate
into Irkutsk. They therefore resolved
to make the attempt.
Alcide Jolivet at once placed himself
in communication with the old mariner
and asked passage for his companion
and himself, offering to pay the fare he
fixed, whatever it might be.
"Here one does not pay anything"
gra7ely answered the old mariner.
zone risks his life; that is all.''
The two journalists embarked, and
Nadia saw them take their place in the
fore part Of the raft.
Harry Blount was always the cold
Engljshman who had scarcely address
ed word to her during the whole jour-
ney across the Ural mountains. Alcide
JoliVet seemed little more grave than
usual, and one would acknowledge that
his gravity was justified by that Of the
circumstances.
Alcide Joliyet was then installed on
the fore part Of the raft. when he felt
g hand rest on his arm. He turned
round and recognized Nadia, the sister
Of him who was no longer Nicholas
Korpanoff, but Michael Strogoff, cou-
rier Of the czar. A cry Of surprise was
about to escape him when he saw the
young girl place her finger on her lips.
"Come," said Nadia to him.
And, assuming an air Of Indifference,
Alcide Jolivet, making sign to Harry
Blount to accompany him, followed her.
But if the surprise Of the journalists
was great at meeting Nadia on that
raft it was without limits when they
perceived Michael Strogof, whom they
could not believe to be still alive. Mi
chael Strogof had not moved at their
approach.
Alcide Jolivet had turned himself to-
ward the young girl.
"Gentlemen, he does not see you,"
said the young girl. 1.-THE Tartars have
burned out his eyes! My poor brother
is blind"
A deep feeling Of pity was pictured
on the face Of Alcide Jolivet and his
companion.
An instant afterward both Of them,
seated near Michael Strogof, warmly
shook bis hands aud waited for him to
speak.
"Gentlemen," said Michael StTogof
in a low voice, you must not know
who I am nor what came to do IN ST.
IBERIA. l beg you to respect my secret.
Do you promise me?'
"On my honor" answered Alcide Joli-
vet.
ION my faith as gentleman" added
Harry Blount.
every well. gentlemen"
"Can we be Of any use to you" ask
ed Harry Blount. Would you wish
US to help you to accomplish your
task?'
81 prefer to act alone" said Michael
Strogof.
"But those scoundrels have burned
out your sight" said Alcide Jolivet.
81 have Nadia. and her eyes suffice" !"
Half an hour later the raft. after
having left the little port Of Livenitch-
naia, was fairly in the river. 1t was
o'clock in the evening. Night was fast
coming on. 1t would be very dark and
very cold also. for the temperature was
already below zero.
Alcide Jolivet and Harry Blount, al
though they had promised Michael
Strogoff to keep his secret, yet did not
leave his side. They spoke in q low
voice, and the blind man, putting what
he already knew to what they now told
him, was enabled to form an exact idea
Of the state Of affairs.
He was certain that the Tartars were
actually investing Irkutsk and that the
three columns had already formed q
junction. One could not therefore doubt
that the emir and Ivan Ogareff were
before the capital.
But why that haste to arrive there
Of the courier Of the cZar, now that the
emperor's letter could no longer be re-
mitted by him to the grand duke, and
he did not even know it's contents? AL
eide Jolivet and Harry Blount could
no more understand than could Nadia.
Besides, they had not spoken OF the
past up to the moment when Alcide
Jolivet thought it his duty to say to
Michael Strogof:
eve almost owe you some excuses
for not having shaken hands with you
before our separation at the posthouse
of Ichim"