Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-12-22
The Courier
of the Gar
BY Jules Verne

The Caucasus had been steaming on
for about two hours when the young
Livonian, addressing herself to Michael
Strogoff, said:
"Are you going to Irkutsk, brother"
"Yes, sister," answered the young
man. "We are both going the same
way. Consequently wherever go you
shall CO."
Tomorrow, brother, you shall know
why 1 left the shores of the Baltic to
go beyond the Ura1 mountains"
II ask you nothing, sister,"
"You shall know ALL" replied the girl,
with n faint smile. "a sister should
hide nothing from her brother. But
cannot today. Fatigue and sorrow have
broken me down."
"Will you go and rest in your cabin"
asked Michael.
"Yes-yes, and tomorrow
"Come, them
He hesitated to finish his sentence as
II he had wished to end it by the name
Of his companion, of which he was still
ignorant.
NADIA" said she, holding out her
hand.
"Come, Nadia" answered Michael,
"and make what use you like of your
brother Nicholas Korpanoff." And he
led the girl to the cabin engaged for
her off the saloon.
Michael Strogoff returned on deck,
and, eager for any news which might
bear on his journey, he mingled in the
groups of passengers, though without
taking any part in the conversation.
Should he by any chance be questioned
and obliged to reply he would announce
himself as the merchant Nicholas Kor-
panoff going back to the frontier in the
Caucasus, for he did not wish it to be
suspected that a special permission au-
thorlzed him to travel to Siberia.
The young Livonian did not come to
dinner. She was asleep in her cabin,
and Michael did not like to awaken
her.
Between IL and 2, the moon being
new, 1t was almost dark. Nearly all
the passengers were then asleep on the
deck, and the silence was disturbed
only by the noise of the paddles strik-
ing the water at regular intervals.
Anxiety kept Michael Strogoff awake.
He walked up and down, but always
In the stern of the steamer Once,
however, he happened to pass the en-
CINE room. He then found himself in
the part reserved for second and third
class passengers.
He stopped. Voices appeared to come
from n group Of passengers enveloped
In cloaks and wraps, so that 1t was i'm
possible to recognize them in the dark.
But 1t sometimes happened that when
the steamers chimney sent forth q
plume Of ruddy flames among the vol
umes of smoke the sparks seemed to
fall among the group as though thou
sands of spangles had been suddenly
step up the ladder when a few words
reached his ear, distinctly uttered in
that strange tongue which he had heard
during the night ut the fair.
Instinctively he stopped to listen
Protected by the shadow Of the fore
castle, he could not be perceived him
self. AS to seeing the passengers who
were talking, that was impossible. He
was obliged to confine himself to listen
Ing.
The flrst words exchanged were OF
no importance-to him at least-but
hey allowed him to recognize the
voices Of the man and woman whom he
bad heard at Mini Novgorod. This, OF
course, made him redouble his atten
Ion. 1t was, indeed, not at all i'm
possible that the gypsies, scrap OF
whose conversation he had overheard
bow banished with all their fellows
hould be on board the Caucasus.
And 1t was we'll for him that he lis
ened, for he distinctly heard this ques
lon and answer made In the Tartar
dom:
'It is said that a courier has set ou
rom Moscow for Irkutsk."
at Is SO said, Sangarre, but either
his courier will arrive too late, or b,
Till not arrive at ALL"
Michael Strogoff started involuntaril,
this reply which concerned him 81
irectly. He tried to see IL the mar
nd woman who had just spoken wer,
eally those whom he suspected, blu
be shadow was too deep, and he coult
ot succeed.
AZ - ASW hVmeAlS hlCudeA OlTOBOL
nd regained the stern of the vesse
ithout having been perceived, and
king a seat by himself, he buried hi
zee In his hands. 1t might have beer
opposed that he was asleep.
He was not asleep, however, and di,
bt even think Of sleeping. He was re
citing on this. not without q livel,
bprehension: "Who Is II knows of m,
parture and who can have any inter
( In knowing itT'