The Iola register., 1902-01-03

or night was his emperor's mission for
even n moment absent from his mind.
Not the presence of the greatest dan
ger, the tortures of hunger and thirst,
the WEAKNESS of excessive fatigue, not
even all combined could cause him to
forget that n momentous matter was
| lntrustcd to his courage, his zeal, his
fidelity and his endurance. Michael
Strogoff was worthy of this trust.
"Where am II" asked he.
upon the right bank of the Irish,
the mujik.
"What wound can / have received
which could have thus prostrated me2
1t was not gunshot woundT
"No; n lance thrust upon the head,
now healing" replied the mujik. aft
er a few days rest, little father, thou
wilt be able to proceed. Thou dldst fall
into the river, but the Tartars neither
touched nor searched thee, and thy
purse is still in thy pocket"
Michael Strogoff gripped the mujik's
hand. Then, recovering himself with
sudden effort, Friend" said he, chow
long have been in thy hutY
"Three days"
''Three days lost"'
"Three days hast thou lain uncon-
scious."
Hast thou horse to sell meW
"Thou wishest to go?"
AT once"
81 have neither horse nor carriage,
little father. Where the Tartar has
passed there remains nothingr
"Wcll. | will 20 on foot to Omsk to
find a horse
"a few more hours of rest and thou
wilt be in a better condition to pur'ue
thy journey
Not an hourr'
"Come. now" replied the mujlk, rec
ognizing the fact that it was useless
to struggle against the will Of his guest
II will guide thee myself. Besides"
he added. "the Russians are still in
great force at Omsk, and thou couldst
perhaps pass unperceived."
Friend" replied Michael, heaven
reward thee for all thou hast done for
me-"
Reward! Only fools expect reward
on earth" replied the mujik.
Michael Strogoff went out of the hut
When he tried to walk he was seized
with such faintncsS that without the
assistance of the mujik he would have
fallen, but the fresh air quickly re-
vived him. He then felt the wound in
his head, the violence of which his fur
cap had lessencd. With the energy
which he possessed he was not man
to succumb under such n trilc. Before
his eyes lay a single goal-far dist mt
Irkutsk. He must reach 1t! But he
must pass through Omsk without stop
ping there.
God protect my mother and Nadlaw
he murmued. Il have no longer the
right to think of themw
Michael Strogoff and the mujlk soon
arrived in the mercantile quarter Of the
lower town, and, although under mill
tary occupation, they entered ii with
out difficulty. The surrounding earth
work had been destroyed in many
places, and there were the breaches
through which the marauders who fol-
lowed the armies of Feofar-hahn had
penetrated.
The mujik was conducting his guest
straight TO the posting house when in n
narrow street Michael Strogoff, com
ing to n sudden stop, sprang behind n
jutting wall.
What is the matterW quickly asked
the mujik, much astonished at this sud
den movement.
"Silence" hastily replied Michael
Strogoff, with his finger on his lips.
At this moment a detachment de-
bouched from the principal square into
| the street which Michael Strogoff and
his companion had been just following
At the head of the detachment, com
posed of twenty horsemen, was an OFF,
Ger dressed in very simple uniform.
Although he glanced rapidly from one
side to the other, he could not have
seen Michael Strogoff owing to his pre-
cipitous retreat.
The detachment went at full trot into
the narrow street. Neither the officer
nor his escort concerned themselves
about the inhabitants. Several unlucky
ones nad scarcely time TO make way
for their passage. There were, there
fore, few half stifled cries, to which
the thrusts of the lance gave an instant
reply, and the street was Immediately
cleared.
When the escort had disappeared,
"Who is that officer?" asked Michael
Strogoff, returning toward the muJik.
And while putting the question his face
was pale as that of a corpse.
ut is Ivan Ogareff," replied the Sibe-
rian, but in deep voice which breath
ed hatred.
"Hew cried Michael Strogoff, from
whom the word escaped with an accent
Of fury which he could not conquer.
He had Just recognized in this officer
the traveller who had struck him at the
posting house of Ichim, and, although
ha had only 0aupbf a ylinnca NJ him a.