Morris tribune., 1902-03-08


Z. .sAhY' said Nicholas.
what is the matter, friend ~ asked
Michael StrogoT eagerly, as a blind
man whom the least noise held on the
n watch
"Did you not see?s said Nicholas,
4 whose smiling face suddenly became
cloudy.
Then he added:
"Ah, no, you could not see, and It IS,
happy for you, good fatherY'
"But have seen nothing" said Ma
dia.
$50 much the better! So much the
/ better! But I'll have seenY
What was it then9 r. asked MichaeR
Strogoff.
ga hare that came across our path! T,
answered Nicholas.
/ In Russia when a hare crosses the
path Of a traveller popular belief looks
upon it rs a sign of approaching evil.
i Nicholas, superstitious as are the
i greater part of the Russians, had stop
4 ped the kibitka
/ Michael Strogof understood the hes
| itation Of his companion, although he
| did not share his credulity regarding
hares crossing the path, and he wished
to reassure him.
| ''We have nothing to fear, friend
he said to him.
Nothing for you nor for her, I know
good father" answered Nicholas, ''but
| for me!'
And, continuing, said he:
'It is my destiny"
And he again put his horse to the
| trot.
Meanwhile, in spite of the sad prog
nostications, the day passed by with
out any accident.
Next day, Sept. 9, at noon the kibitk&
halted at the town Of Alsaleysk, as de-
serted as was the surrounding country.
There on the threshold Of house
Nadia found two Of those knives with
long, sharp blades used by Siberian
hunters. She gave one Of them to Mi
chael Strogoff, who hid it under his
coat, and she kept the other for her
self The kibitka was not more than
sixty y-ffve versts from Mini Oudinsk.
Nicholas during the last two days
good humor. The evil omen had affect
ed him more than one could have be-
lieved, and he who up to that time had
never remained an hour without take
ing had now long spells Of silence, fEomi
which even Nadia could with difficulty
withdraw him. .ta.
In spite Of all his somewhat fatalistiG'
resignation he would not believe him
self safe except within the walls Of
Irkutsk. Many Russians would have
thought like Nicholas, and more than4
one, pulling the bride of his horseS;
would have turned back after seeing a.
hare cross their path. @.
The next day, toward o'clock in the
afternoon, Nicholas deserted on the
horizon the high belfries of the church
es of Mini Oudinsk. They were crown
ed with thick columns of vapor which,
could not be clouds.
Nicholas and Nadia looked and COM
municated to Michael Strogoff the re-.
suit Of their observations. They must:
decide their course of action at once,
If the town had been abandoned, they
could pass through it without any risk,
but if by a movement that they could
not explain the Tartars already occu=-
pied it they must turn it at any price. :
''Let us advance prudently," said Mi
chael Strogof, "but let us advanced"
Another verst was made. 49,
He was about to propose to Nicholas
to leave the route and in case of neces-
aity 0niJ TO regain it after having tugEls
I'd MINI Ogsa2nak when tba annR& oR q
GUa sE&a heard Or the EseaG 4 han
Missed, ana che horse sH the kfff1ffttkay.
struck in the head, fell dead.
At the same instant, a dozen horse
men threw themselves on the road, and.
the kibitka was surrounded. Michael
Strogoff, Nadia and Nicholas, without
having had time to recover themselves
were prisoners and being led rapidly
toward Mini Oudinsk.
The next day, 11th of September, the
detachment passed through the town.
Of Chibarlinskoe.
At that time an incident occurred
which was to have very serious conse
luences. E. -
The night had come. The Tartar
having udu a ucAL, WSAO
more or less drunk. They were about
% continue their journey.
Nadia, who up to that time, as though
~ miracle, had been respected by
hose soldiers, was insulted by one OF
hem.
Michael Strogof had been able to see
leither the insult nor the insulting per-
on, but Nicholas had seen for him. f#
Then quietly, without having reflect
d. without perhaps having any con-
ciousness Of his action, Nicholas made
traight for the soldier, and before the
after could make any movement to
top him, snatching a pistol from the.
ommel Of his saddle, he discharged it,
ull at his breast.
The officer who had command OF thR
etachment ran up Immediately at theo
ound of the pistol.
Tho looreonoo11 x1orn Io17% IN Mich. .