The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-01-02

was $50 versts from Tomsk. A hun
| dred 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-
manned 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
| Krasnoiarsk. One could see on the
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 kibitka had stopped.
"Where are we, sisterY' asked Mi
chael Strogoff.
"a little over 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
eutereu Tue prluclpdl street.
Krasnoiarsk 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 foot passenger trod the
sidewalks that skirted those magnifi-
cent houses Of wood, palatial in their
grandeur!
Not living soul remained in Eras-
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 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
Irkutsk. 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 OgareE 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
had passed the town of Balaisk. which
was eighty versts from Krasnoiarsk,
and by the Goth that of Ribinsk. forty
versts from Balaisk.
The next day. after travelling more
than thirty-fve versts, they arrived at
Kamsk. a more considerable town, wa
tered by the river of the same name,
a small affiuent 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 Geographic sta
ton in that town. Therefore if Mini
Oudinsk had been abandoned like
| Kamsk he would certainly be obliged
to seek for some occupation in the cap
ital of eastern Siberia.
From Kamsk to the neighboring town
was very long, about a hundred and
thirty versts.
!, After having crossed the little river
of Biriousa the kibitka reached Biriou-
Isinsk on the morning of the 18th of Sep
| TENDER. There, very fortunately, Mich
olas. who saw his provisions becoming
exhausted, found in an abandoned bake
house a dozen cakes. prepared with
mutton fat, and large supply of boil
ed rice.
After a reasonable halt they contin-
ned their journey once more on the aft
ernoon Of the 9Th Of September. The
distance to Irkutsk was not more than
BOO versts. Nothing in their rear sig
nailed the advance guard Of the Tar
, tars. Michael Strogoff had therefore
settled down to think that his journey
would not again be interrupted and
that in eight days or in ten at the most
he would be in the presence OF the
grand duke.
In coming out of Biriousinsk hare
crossed the road about thirty PAGES in
front Of the kibitka.
=