The Iola register., 1902-02-07


tachment Of Tartars sent to scour the
shores of Lake Baikal, in which case
fight would be cut off for both.
But Nadia was soon reassured on
this head.
"They are Russlansp' she cried.
And after this last effort her eyelids
closed. and her head fell down on the
breast of Michael Strogoff.
But they had been perceived, and
some of those Russians, running up to
them, led the blind man and the young
girl to the border of a little beach to
which was moored raft.
The raft was about to depart.
These Russians were fugtives of va
rious conditions whom common in
terest had gathered together on this
point Of the Baikal.
Driven back by the Tartar scouts,
they sought to take refuge in Irkutsk.
and not being able to reach that place
by land, since the invaders had taken
ra, they hoped to gain 1t by descending
the river which runs through the town.
The fugitives had their raft fully pre-
pared for the voyage, and had Michael
Strogoff been even n few hours later
he would have found the place desert
ed.
Now, he was welcomed and hidden
30 go upon the raft at once, as its slow
motion rendered 1t advisable to lose no
time in setting out.
Their project made the heart of Mi
/ al, o. G..v a
now play his last chance. But he had
the strength to dssemble. wishing to
preserve more strictly than ever his
incognlta.
The plan of the fugitives wns very
| simple. A current of the Baikal skirts
the higher shore of the lake as far as
the mouth Of the Angars. 1t Is this
current which they counted upon max
ing use of to early reach the outlet OF
Baikal. From this point to Irkutsk the
rapid waters of the river would draw
them along Mt n speed of ten or twelve
versts the hour. In n day and a half
they ought to be in sight Of the town.
Every means for embarklng was
wanting at that place.
They had to supply this want. A
raft, or, rather, n float of wood, like
those which generally float on the ST.
berian rivers had been constructed.
A forest of pine, which lowered along
the shore, had furnished the floating
material The trunks, lashed together
with willow branches, formed q plat
form on which n hundred persons
would have easily found room.
1t was on this raft that Michael Stro-
goff and Nadia were carried. The
young girl was once more herself. They
gave to her some nourshment, as also
to her companion. Then, lying down
on a bed of leaves, she Immediately fell
into n sound sleep.
To those who interrogated him MI.
chael Strogoff said nothing concerning
the events which had occurred AT
Tomsk. He gave himself out as an in
habitant Of Krasnoiarsk who had not
been able to reach Irkutsk before the
troops of the emir had arrived on the
left bank of the Dlnka, and he added
that very likely the main body of the
Tartars had taken up their position be
fore the capital of Siberia. Even among
friends it was almost as important tc
) preserve secrecy as to his mission as II
among enemies.
One never knows what ears are lis
tening when the tongue speaks. The
friend of today may be the foe of to
. morrow, and even the firm friend, il
indlscreet, is more to be dreaded thar
the known enemy.
There was not, therefore. an instant
, to lose. Besides, the frost became more
/. and more keen. The temperature dur
ing the night fell far below zero. Some
pieces of ice had already formed on th'
surface of the Balkal. If the raft cout
easily make its way on the lake, Il
would not be the same between the
banks of the Angara in case those
pieces of ice should come to impede it'
course.
Therefore for all these reasons 1t was
necessary that the fugitives shoulC
, start without delay.
At g o'clock at night the mooring'
. were unfastened, and under the actor
of the current the raft followed tn,
lake shore.
Long poles, handled by robust mu
jlks, sufliced to guide it. An old sailo
; of the Baikal had taken command o
the raft. He was n man of sixty, al
tanned with the breezes of the lake. !
white and very thick beard descended
on his breast. He had on his head {
, fur hat. OF grave and austere ap
pearance, his wide and long riding coat
drawn tight at the belt, hanging dowl
: to his heels, this silent old man, sit
ting at the stern, commanded by ges
ture and did not speak ten words il
: ten hours.
Besides, the whole management con
sisted In keeping the raft in the cur
= rent which ran along the shore, with
out allowing it to go far out into tn
> deep water.
: Although the journey was not with
ont Ha anOar thA uoua oaro iuhk raa con