The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-01-01
CHAPTER XV.

were the circumstances
of the Journey! Then q comfortable
vehicle, teams often renewed, we'll pro,
vided post horses, secured for them q
quick journey. Now they went on foot,
with an impossibility Of procuring for
themselves any means Of locomotion'
without resources, not knowing even
how to procure the least wants Of life,
and they had still to make 400 versts!
And. moreover, Michael StrogoS now
only saw through the eyes Of Nadia.
As for the friend whom chance had
given them, they had just lost him un-
der the most affecting circumstances.
1t was 10 o'clock at night. For the
last three heArs and q half the sun had
disappeared below the horizon. There
was not a house. not hut. in sight.
The last Tartars were lost in the dis
tance. Michael Strogof and Nadia
were indeed alone.
.To what place shall lead you. Mi
chaelY'
ITO lrkucsk," he answered.
"By the highroad?
eyes, Nadia"
Nadia took the hand Of Michsel Stro-
sof, and they once more set out on
their journey.
Next morning, Sept u, twenty versts
farther, at the town Of Toulounovskoe,
both halted for:a short time. The town
was burned down and was deserted,
During that day they had~to pass the
little stream Of the Okla, but it was
rordable, and that, passage offered no
difficulty.
But, contrary to what Michael Stro-
goF had perhaps hoped, there was not
any longer single beast Of burden in
the country. Every horse, every cam
el, had been either killed or taken
away. It was therefore on foot they
must cross this never ending steppe.
And thus they walked on for three
days
Several times Nadia was obliged to
stop. Michael Strogof then took her
in his arms, and for the moment not
having to think Of Nadia's fatigue,
while carrying her he marched more
quickly and with his untiring pace.
On the 18th Of September, at 10
o'clock at night, both reached at length
Kimilteiskoe. From the top Of hill
Nadia perceived line little less dark
on the horizon. 1t was the Oinka.
Suddenly they stopped. as .if their
feet had stepped into some cre7ice IN
the ground
a dogs bark was heard across the
steppe.
"Do you hear?" said Nadia.
Then came lamentable cry, q cry Of
despair, like the last appeal Of human
being who is about to die.
Nicholas! Nicholasr' cried the young
girl. urged on by some evil foreboding.
Michael Strogof. who listened, hung
down his head
ssCome, Michael. Conner said Nadia.
and she who just before could scarce
" drag herself along suddenly recover
ed her strength under the sway Of vio-
lent excitement.
Gave we left the road?' seid Mi
chael Strogon. feeling that he was
treading no longer the dusty road, but
the open grass field.
Eyes; It is necessary" answered Na-
dia. "It Is from over there on the right
that the cry came"'
Some minutes afterward the two were
only half 8 verst from the river.
A second bark was heard. and, al
though more feeble. 1t was certainly
nearer.
Nadia stopped.
eyes," said Michael. "it is Serko who
Is barking. He has followed his mas
ter"
'tNicholasr' cried the young girl.
Her call remained unanswered. Only
some birds Of prey rose up and disap-
peared amid the high clouds OF heaven.
Michael StrogoT listened. Nadia look
ed at the plain. lit up with flashes OF
lightning IN rapid succession. but she
saw nothing.
And yet voice came again. which
this time murmured in q piaiative tone,
Michael"
Then 6. dog, all bleeding, eame bound
ing up to Nadia. It was Serko.
Nicholas could not be FAR away. he
alone could muEmur that name Of Nj
chael. Where, was he? Nadiashad not
even: the strength to call out to him.
Michael StrogoG, lying on the ground.
searched; with his hand.
Suddenly Serko gave fresh bark
and rushed toward O. gigantic bird,
which was clawing the ground.
It was vulture. When Serko pre-
cipitated himself upon It. it rose up;
but, returning to the charge. it struck
the dog.
He again renewed the attack, but he
received q blow on the head from that
terrible beak. and this time SerSo fell
back dead on the ground.
At the same time a cry Of horror es-
capped from Nadia,
There, therew said she.
a head rose Just above the ground!
It would have struck against their feet
had it not been for the intense bright
ness that the heavens cast upon the
stepoe.
Nadia fell on her knees near that
head.
Nicholas, buried up to the neck, &C
cording to the atrocious customs Of the
Tartars, had been abandoned on the
steppe to there die Of hunger and thirst
and perhaps to be torn into pieces by
the efangs 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 cast Il of, having his
arms tied and fastened to his body like
those Of corpse in coffin! The vic
tim, living in this clay mold, which he
is unable to break, can do nothing but
implore death, which IS too slow In
coming!
It was there the Tartars had Inferred
their prisoner for three days. For