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

dia. 1T is from over there on the right
that the cry came"
Some minutes afterward the two We're
only half yerst from the river.
A second bark was heard, and. al
though more feeble. II was certainly
nearer.
Nadia stopped.
.Yes,v said Michael, sit is Serko who
is barking. lie has followed his mas.
ter"
"Nicholasr' cried the young girl.
Her cnll remained unanswered. Only
some birds 81 prey rose up and disap-
peared amid the high clouds of heaven.
Michael Srogoff listened Nadia look
ed at the plain. liz up with flashes Of
lightning in rapid succession. but she
saw nothing.
And yet a voice came again, which
this time murmured IN a plaintive tone,
'Michaelw
Then a dog, all bleeding, came bound
ing up to Nadia. IL was Serko.
Nicholas could not be far away. Tie
alone could murmur that name of Mi
chael. Where was he? Nadia had not
even the strength to call out to him.
Michael Strogoff, lying on the ground.
searched with his hand.
Suddenly Serko gave fresh bark
and rushed toward a gigantic bird,
which was clawing the ground.
1t was vulture. When Serko pre-
clpltated himself upon II. IL rose up;
but returning to the charge, 1t struck
the dog.
He again renewed the attack. but he
received n blow on the head from that
terrible beak. and this time Serko fell
back dead on the ground.
At the same time cry OF horror es-
capped from Nadia.
''There. there.' said she.
A head rose just above the ground.
1t would have struck against their feet
had it not been for the intense bright
ness that the heavens cast upon the
steppe.
Nadia fell on her knees near that
head.
Nicholas, buried up TO the neck, ac-
cording to the atrocious customs of the
Tartars. had been abandoned on the
steppe to there die OF hunger and thirst
and perhaps 10 be torn into pieces by
the fangs OF wolves or the beaks OF Birds
OF prey. A most horrible punishment
for the victim thus imprisoned in the
earth. who presses the earth without
being able TO east II off. having his
arms tied and fastened 90 his body like
those Of "A corpse IN a coffin. The vie.
tim. living In ibis clay mold. which be
Is unable to break. can do nothing but
implore death. which is too slow In
coming!
II was there the Tartars had inferred
their prisoner for three days. For
three days Nicholas had been waiting
Tor succor, which had come at last too
late.
The vultures had perceived that head
exposed to the suns rays. and for some
hours the dog defended his master
against these ferCcious birds.
Michael Strogoff dug the earth with
his claspknife to release it from that
imprisoned body.
The eyes of Nicholas. closed until
ehNi' UNIV hiott oifNit'A 'hNihntlNc9.
He recognized Michael and Nadia.
Then he murmured:
'Adieu, friends. ! am happy TO have
seen you once more. Pray FOR me-"
And these words were the last
Michael Strogon continued TO dig the
soil, which, being strongly trodden
down. had the hardness OF a rock. and
at length he succeeded in drawing from
IL the body Of the unfortunate man.
lie listened lf his heart stlll beat. IL
beat no more!
He wished then 20 bury It, that II
might not romaln exposed on the
steppe, and TINT hole In which Nicho-
las had been buried alive he enlarged
and docpened In such manner as 10
be able to lay him there when dead.
The faithful scrlso was placed near his
master.
AT that moment n great noise was
heard on the road about half Il verst
away
Michael Strogoff listened.
BY the noise he knew at once that n
detachment OF cavalry was advancing
toward the Dinka
NADIA. Nadlar said lac in n low
voice.
AT his voice Nadia, who had remained
In prayer. rose up.
you see them! You see themv' lie
said 10 her.
1.-THE Tartarsw she murmured.
IL was indeed the advance guard of
the emir which was defllng quickly on
the road to Irkutsk.
They shall not prevent me from in
terring him." said Michael Strogoff.
And he continued his work.
Soon Nicholas body, with his hands
Joined on his breast, was laid In the
tomb. Michael Strogofr and Nadia,
kneellng down, prayed the last time for
that poor being. good and inoffensive,
who through devotedness TO them had
lost his life.
"And now" said Michael, throwing
back the earth. "the wolves Of the
steppe shall not devour him."
Then his hand stretched In menace