The Iola register., 1902-01-31
1heCourier
Of theCzar
BY JULES VERNE

InAt sword, heated TO Wnlte neat, ne
had just drawn from the iron pan
where the perfumed Goals were burn
Ing
Michael Strogoff was about to be
made blind according to the Tartar GUS
tom, with heated blade passed over
his eyes!
Michael Strogoff did not seek to re-
sist. Nothing else existed in his eyes
than his mother, whom he devoured
then with his look. All his life was in
this last vision.
Maria Strogoff, with her eyes wide
open and her arms stretched toward
him, was looking at him.
The white heated blade passed over
the eyes of Michael Strogoff.
A loud cry cf despair was heard. Old
Maria fell life.@ss TO the earth!
Michael St.ogoff wCs blind.
His orders having been executed, the
emir retired with all his household.
Soon there only remained on the pla-
teau Ivan Ogareff and the torchbear-
ers.
Did the miserable wretch wish to in
suit him still more and after the ex-
ecutioner give him the last blow?
Ivan Ogareff slowly approached Mi
chael Strogoff, who heard him coming
and at once Strengthened himself.
Ivan Ogareff drew from his pocket
the emperor's letter He opened 1t and
as the last insult placed 1t before the
eyes Of the courier of the cZar, before
those eyes whose light had been bru-
tally extinguished forever, saying at
the same time:
"Read now, Michael Strogoff; read
and go and repeat at Irkutsk what you
shall have read. The true courier Of
the czar is myselfw
Having said this, the traitor placed
the letter in his breast. Then, without
turning round, he left the place, and
the torchbearers followed him.
Michael Strogoff remained alone.
some PAGES from his mother, vino was
nfeless, perhaps dead.
One heard at a distance the cries, the
songs, all the noise of the orgies.
Tomsk was illuminated and was bright
as city during great feast.
Michael Strogoff listened. The scene
of the late revels and crime was silent
and deserted.
He dragged himself by cropping to-
ward the place where his mother had
fallen. He found her with his hand.
He bent down toward her. He brought
his figure near to hers. He listened
to the beatings of her heart. Then one
would have said that he spoke to heI
In n low voice.
- Did old Maria still live and did she
hear the words her son spoke to her?
In any case she did not make any
sign of life by movement.
Michael Strogoff kissed her forehead
and her white hairs. Then he rose
and, cropping with his foot and trying
to hold his hands in such n way as t
guide him, he walked by little and lit
tie to the end of the plateau.
Suddenly Nadia appeared.
She went straight to her companion
A dagger that she he i served TO Gu
the cords that bound the arms of Mi
chael Strogof.
He, blind as he was, did not know
who it was who was releasing him, 70
Nadia had not spoken word.
But, that done, said she:
Brother
NADIA" murmured Michael Strogofl
''Nadlaw
"Come, brother" replied Nadia
"Henceforth my eyes shall be you
eyes, and it is who will conduct yo
to Irkutskw
In half an hour after Michael Stro
goff and Nadia had left Tomsk.
..fo certain number of the prisoners o
that night were able to escape from tn
Tartars, for officers and soldiers, a
more or less besotted had unconscious
Iy relaxed the severe surveillance whic
they had maintained up to that tint
both at the camp of Zabedeiro and dul
ing the march Of the convoy.
Nadia, after having been led ou
with the other prisoners, had been abb
10 escape and return to the plateau
the very moment Michael StrogoH wa
being conducted before the emir.
There in the midst Of the crowd sl
had seen all. Not n cry had escape
her when the blade, white with hea
passed over the eyes of her companion
She had the strength to remain motion
less and silent. a providential inspire
tion told her to preserve herself sti
free to guide the son Of Maria Strogo
to the end which he had sworn to a
tain. Her heart for the moment cease
to beat when the old Siberian fell lif
less, but thought soon restored a
her energy.
81 will be the dog of the blind man
she said to herself.
After the departure Of Ivan Ogare
Nadia had hidden in the shade. 81
: waited until the crowds left the pl
teau. Michael Strogoff, abandoned {
a miserable being to be feared by