Morris tribune., 1902-03-01

wished to receive them with all tn
d pomp and display Of an Asiatic soyer
Il eign
When the orders for a halt had beer
4 given, the prisoners, Worns out with {
three days journey, a prey to the mos
burning thirst, could at length quencl
4 their thirst and take some repose.
Il The sun had already set, but the hori
ION was still lighted up by the twilight
when Nadia, supporting Maria Stro
i gof, reached the banks of the Tom
4 The two had not been able SO far tt
penetrate the ranks of those who
thronged the high bank, and they came
to drink in their turn.
The old Siberian bent over the fresh
stream, and Nadia, having plunged he1
hands into it, carried it to the lips OF
Maria. Then she refreshed herself in
4 her turn. The cold water of the pure
stream seemed to give back life to the
i old woman and the young girl Sud
i denly Nadia, as she left the banks,
] Strengthened herself. An involuntary
i cry escaped her lips. 0
Michael Strogoff was there and only
4 & .
some PAGES from her! 1t was he!
At the cry of Nadia Michael Strogoff
had started but he had sufficient com
mand Of himself not to utter word
which could compromise him.
And yet at the very moment that Ma
! dia had recognized him he had recog-
nized his mother. Michael Strogof at
this unexpected meeting, not feeling
| himself to be any longer master of him.
self, raised his hand to his eyes and i'm
mediately left the spot. Nadia was in
stinctively Fastening forward to rejoin
him when the old Siberian whispered
these words in her ear:
"Stay, my daughterv' x ...-
'It is hep answered Nadia in a voice
trembling with emotion. "He lives,
mother!. It is hep 7..l.
''It is my son." answered Maria Stro-
golf; sit is Michael Strogoff, and you
seefthat do not take one step toward
him. Follow my example,"
Michael Strogof had just experienced
one Of the most violent emotions. which
it is ever given to man to feel His
mother and Nadia were there. Those
two prisoners, each Of whom seemed to
hold the first place in his heart, were
there joined with him in one common
misfortune. Did Nadia know who he
was? No, for he had seen the gesture
of Maria Strogoff holding her back at
the moment she was about to rush upon
him. Maria Strogoff had understood
all and kept her secret.
Michael Strogoff could then hope that
this fresh and unexpected meeting at
the camp Of Zabedeiro would have no
injurious. consequences neither for his
mother nor for himself, but he did
not know that certain particulars of
that scene, rapidly as it had passed,
had been gained by Sangarre, the spy
of Ivan Ogareff.
The gypsy was there, few PAGES
from the bank, watching as ever the
old Siberian, without her suspecting it.
She had not been able to perceive Mi
chael Srogof, who had already dis
appeared when she turned round, but
the gesture of the mother, withhold
ing Nadia, had not escaped her, and
light from Marfa's eyes told her every
thing. - .l.
There was no longer any doubt that
the son of Maria Strogoff, the courier
Of the car, was now at Zabedeiro
among the prisoners of Ivan Ogaref.
SangaaTe did not know him, but she
knew he was there. She did not thez
attempt to discover him, thing Ei17cn
would have been impossible in the
midst4of this. numerous crowd.
AS for again spying after Nadia and
Maria Strogof, this was equally use
less. 1t was evident that these two wo-
men would be on their guard, and it
would be impossib to seize by sur
prise anything of a nature to compro-
mise the courier of the czar.
?. The gypsy had then only one thought |
Ito warn Ivan Ogaref. Wherefore she
Immediately left the camp. /
A quarter Of an hour afterward she
arrived at Zabedeiro and was shown |
into the house occupied by the lieuten- /
ant of the emir. 3@r.-
Ivan Ogareff Immediately received the
gypsy. '' @~
w udL w yO0 W1S11 SduSdl1Ct AC |
asked.
"The son Of Maria Strogof is at the
camp" answered Sangarre.
ga prisoner?'
"a prisoner"
"Ah," cried Ivan 'Ogareff, 81 knew
''You knew nothing, Ivan," said the
gypsy, 'for you do not even know
him."
"But do you know him? You have
seen him, SanGarre?
81 have not seen him, but saw his
mother betray herself by a movement
which has told me everything"
"Do you not deceive yourself?'
81 do not,''
"You know the Importance I attach
to the arrest of this courier" said Ivan
Ogareff. eff the letter which was sent
to him from Moscow reaches Irkutsk,
and it should be handed to the grand
duke, the grand duke would be on his
guard, and l should not be able to
IL, Jo44 ct !