The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-01-18

OftheCzar
BY JULES VERNE

! ~.
hybreak the l1Ibitka was trayersInc
ae park Of birch trees to reach the
hanks ofthe Yenisel, which was cross.
I'd by the little party on an improyised
nft. ~
Michael Strogof could at length be.
lkve that the route was free as Gar ms
hlSutsk He had outstrlpped the Tar.
( iars. and when the soldiers OF the emir
hould arrive at Krasnolarsk they
you'd only hnd an abandoned town
here aud no means Of immediate com
nunieatlon between the two banks of
DC Yenlsei; hence delay of some days
fntIl bridge Of boats. difficult TO con
Hruct, should open passage to them.
I For the first time since the unlucky
y meeting with Ivan Ogareff at Omsk
Che courier Of the ear felt himself less
uneasy and could hope that no new
obstacle would arise to the accomplish
nent OF bis plans.
The klbitka, after having proceeded
about dfteen yersts toward the south
east came to and retook the long high
road across the steppe.
On the 2Sth Of August the travellers
had passed the town of Balalsk, which
was eighty versts from KrasnoIarsk.
and BY the Doth that Of Ribinsk. forty
yersts from Balaisk.
The next day, after travelling more
nan thirty-6ye yersts, they arrived at
kamsk, a more considerable town, wa
pred by the river Of the same name,
bsmall aiiluent Of the Yenisei. which
! kccnds from the mountains of Sa-
ansk
m going out from Kamsk Michael
prnled Nadia and Nicholas that they
lNld find only one little town OF some
portance, Mimi Oudinsk, before Ir-
/ kk, Nicholas answered that he
NJ that there was a telcgraphic sta
IN that town. Therefore IL Mini
knsls had been abandoned like
hlsk he would certainly be Obliged
|Nsek for some occupation IN the cap
Ansastern siberia
Kamsk to the neighboring town
LEY long. about a hundred and
Eersts
W having crossed the little river
cuSa fac kibitka reached Ririou-
on the morning OF the 4th OF Sep
". There. very fortunately, Mich
Iwho saw bis prcy.sie1s becoming
III lstcd. found In an abandoned bake
dozen cakes, prepared with
Nbn fat. and large supply Of boil
lee.
* ter a reasonable halt they contIn-
# their Journey once more on the aft
Jon of tie Ssh 81 September The
# aace 70 Irkutsk WAS not more than
81 yerSts. Nothing In their rear sig
IS "a the advance guard of the Tar
Michael strogonf had therefore
(. bed down TO think that his Journey
81 kid not again be interrupted and
\ Il IN eight days or Ia ten ~ the most
3 would be IN the presence OF the
rand duke.
In coming ont Of Biriouslnsk hire
rossed the road about thirty PAGES in
ront Of thelxibitka.
".Ahi' said Nicholas,
s'What Is the matter, friendT' asked
Ilchael Strogolf eagerly. as blind
IAN whom the least noise held on the
iatch.
sDid You not sceg' said Nicholas,
hose smiling face suddenly became
loudly.
Then he added:
"Ah. no. you could not see, and II is
Apply Tor you, good father
-s3nt ! have seen nothing" said Ma
la.
80 much the better. SO much the
citerl But IL have scent"
what was 4, tAenT asked Michael
trogoif
"a hare that came across our pathw,
nswercd Nlchc'aa
Ia Russia when hare crosses the
ath Of q traveller popular belief looks
pom Il as a sign Of approaching cvil.
Nicholas, snperstltious as are the
renter part Of the Russians, had stop
ed the klbitkn.
Michael Strogoff understood the hes
alton Of his companion. although he
ID not share his crcdulity regarding
ares crossing the path. and he wished
rcassure him.
1--WE have nothing 10 fear. friend"
2 said 10 him.
'NothIng for you nor for her, know,
BOD father" answered Nicholas. "but
,r mcr'
And. continuing. said he:
at Is my destiny
And he again put his horse TO the
'ot
Meanwhile, I'm spite OF the sad prog.
the day passed by with
III any accident.
Next day. Sept. o. at noon the klbltka
nlied az the town OF Alsalevsk, as de
,rtcd as was the surrounding country.
There on the threshold Of house
ada fornd two Of those knives with
ng. sharp blades used by Siberian
nnters. She gave one OF them 10 Mi
iael Strogoff. who hid II under his
vat. aud she kept the other for her
III. The klbltka was not more than |
xty-iivc versts from Mini Oudinsk.
Nicholas during the last two days |