The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-05-17

81 never read the dispatches WhiSn
transmit. My duty being to forget
them, the shortest way is to be igno-
rant of them"
This answer was characteristic OF
Nicholas Pigassof
However, the kibitka kept on its easy
course, which Michael StrogoH Woulu
have liked to render more rapid, put
Nicholas and his horse were accustom-
ed to a gait from which neither the one
nor the other could depart. Inc morse
walked for three hours and then rest
ed for one, and this day and night
During the halts the horse pastured'
the travellers of the kibitka ate in COM
pany with the faithful Serko. The kl-
bitka was provisioned for at least
twenty persons, and Nicholas had gen
erously placed the reserved food at the
disposal of his two guests. whom he
believed to be brother and sister.
On the ODD of August the kibitka
reached the town of Atchinsk, which
was $50 versts from Tomsk. A hun
bred and twenty versts still separated
it from Krasnoiarsk. No incident had
marked this journey. During the SIX
days they had been together Nicholas,
Michael Strogoff and Nadia had re-
NAMED just the same, the one in his
unalterable calmness, the other two
anxious and looking forward to the
moment when their companion would
separate from them.
On the evening Of the 25th Of August
the kibitka was only half verst from
right and left the numerous wooden
crosses which are erected along the
road at the approaches to the town. 1t
was o'clock at night.
The kibtka had stopped.
"Where are we, sister," asked Mi
chael Strogoff.
"a little over a half verst from the
first houses" answered Nadia.
HAS the town, then, gone to sleep:
No noise strikes upon my ear"
Ten minutes afterward the kibitka
entered the principal street.
Krasnoarsk was deserted There was
not any longer an Athenian in this
athens of the North" as it is called
by Nine. de Bourboulon. Not one of
those equipages, so splendidly rugged
out, ratified along the handsome wide
streets. Not a foot passenger trod the
sidewalks that skirted those magnifi-
cent houses of wood, palatial in their
grandeur!
Not a living soul remained in Kras-
noiarsk.
Michael Strogoff, Nadia and Nicholas
had not to search long for a place in
which to rest. The first house of which
they tried the door was empty, as were
all the rest. They found nothing there
but "a heap of leaves. For want of
something better, the horse had to be
content with this meager food. AS for
the provisions of the kibitka, they were
not exhausted, and each one took his
share. Then, after having knelt be-
fore a modest picture Of the Panaghia
that was hanging on the wall and
which the last flame of lamp still lit
up, Nicholas and the young girl fell
asleep, while Michael Strogoff remain
ed awake, his anxiety driving away
all sleep.
The next day, Goth of August, before
daybreak the kibitka was traversing
the park of birch trees to reach the
banks of the Yenisei, which was cross
ed by the little party on an improvised
raft.
Michael Strogoff could at length be-
lieve that the route was free as far as
lrkutsk. He had outstripped the Tar
tars, and when the soldiers of the emir
should arrive at Krasnoiarsk they
would only find an abandoned town
there and no means Of immediate com
munication between the two banks Of
the Yenisei; hence delay of some days
until bridge Of boats, difficult to con-
struct' should open passage to them
For the first time since the unlucky
meeting with Ivan OgareG at Omsk
the courier of the car felt himself less
uneasy and could hope that no new
obstacle would arise to the ACCOMPLISH
ment of his plans.
The kibitka, after having proceeded
about fifteen versts toward the south
east came to and retook the long high
road across the steppe.
On the 2Sth of-August the travellers
mad passed the town of Balaisk, which
was eighty versts from Krasnoiarsk,
and by the both that of Ribinsk, forty
versts from Balaisk.
The next day. after travelling more
than thirty-dve yersts, they arrived at
hamsk, more considerable town, wa
tered by the river of the same name.
small affluent of the Yenisei. which
descends from the mountains of Sa-
yansk.
On going out from Kamsk Michael
informed Nadia and Nicholas that they
would find only one little town of some
Importance, Mini Oudinsk, before IT.
kutsk. Nicholas answered that he
knew that there was a telegraphic sta
tion in that town. Therefore If Mini
Oudinsk had been abandoned like
hamsk he would certainly be obliged
10 seek for some occupation in the cap.
ital of eastern Siberia.
FROM Kamsk to the neighboring town
was very long. about hundred and