Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-01-07

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IN2SV Irish. But how changed
were the circumstances
of the journey! Then comfortable
vehicle, teams often received, well pro-
vided post horses, secured for them q
quick journey. Row 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 Strogof 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 hours and half the sun bad
disappeared below the horizon. There
was not house. not hut, In sight.
The last Tartars were lost in the dis
tance. Michael Strogoff and Nadia
were indeed alone.
ITO what place shall lead you, MI
chael?"
ITO Irkutsk," he answered.
"By the highroad?"
eyes, Nadia"
Nadia took the hand of Michael Stro-
goff, and they once more set out on
their journey.
Next morning, Sept. IL, 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 1t was
fordable. and that passage offered no
difficulty.
But, contrary to what Michael Stro-
goff had perhaps hoped, there was not
any longer n single beast Of burden In
the country. Every horse, every cam
ell, had been either killed or taken
away. 1t 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 Strogoff 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, mt 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 Dinka.
Suddenly they stopped, as If their
feet had stepped into some crevlce In
the ground.
A dogs bark was heard across the
steppe.
"Do you hear?" said Nadia.
Then came n lamentable cry, cry of
despair, like the last appeal of human
being who Is about to die.
Nicholas! Nicholas" cried the young
girl, urged on by some evil foreboding.
Michael Strogoff. who listened, hung
down his head.
"Come, Michael, Gomez said Nadia.
And she who just before could scarce
ly drag herself along suddenly recover
ed her strength under the sway of yio-
lent excitement.
"Have we left the road?' said MI
chael Strogoff, feeling that he was
treading no longer the dusty road, but
the open grass field.
"Yes; it is necessary answered Ma
dia. 1T is from over there on the right
that the cry came"
Some minutes afterward the two were
only half verst from the river.
A second bark was heard, and, al
though more feeble, 1t was certainly
nearer.
Nadia stopped.
EYES," said Michael, at Is Serko who
Is barking. He has followed his mas
ter"
"Nicholasw 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 Strogoff listened. Nadia look
ed ut the plain, lit up with flashes Of
lightning in rapid succession, but she
saw nothing.
And yet a voice came again, which
this time murmured in plaintive tone,
"Michaelp
Then dog, all bleeding, came bound
ing up to Nadia. 1t was Serko.
Nicholas could not be far away. He
alone could murmur that name Of MI
chael. Where was he? Nadia had not
even the strength to call out to him.
Michael Strogoff, lying on the ground.
searched with his hand.
Suddenly Serko gave a fresh bark
and rushed toward q gigantic bird.
which was clawing the ground.
It was vulture. When Serko pre-
cipitated himself upon II, 1t rose up;
but, returning to the charge, 1t struck
the dog.
He again renewed the attack, but he
received blow on the head from that
terrible beak, and this time Serko fell
back dead on the ground.
at the same time cry Of horror es-
capped from Nadia.
"There, there~ 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
steppe.
Nadia fell on her knees near that
head.
Nicholas, buried up to the neck, ac-
eordIng 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 fangs 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 It of, having his
arms tied and fastened to his body like
those of a corpse in q 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
three days Nicholas had been waiting
Tor succor, which had come at last too
late.
The vultures had perceived that head
exposed to the suns rays, and for some
hours the dog defended his master
against these ferocious birds.
Michael Strogoff dug the earth with
his claspknife to release 1t from that