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

house dozen cakes, prepared VIII
mutton fat, and large supply Of boil
ed rice.
After a reasonable halt they contin
ued their journey once more on the aft
eruoon of the Sth of September. Th,
distance to Irkutsk was not more thai
600 versts. Nothing in their rear sig
nailed the advance guard of the Tar
tars. Michael Strogoff had therefcr'
settled down to think that his journe!
would not again be interrupted ant
that in eight days or in ten at the mos
he would be in the presence Of th'
grand duke.
In coming out of Blriousinsk har'
crossed the road about thirty PAGES IL
Iront Of the kibitka.
"Ahw said Nicholas.
"What is the matter, friend?" asked
Michael Strogoff eagerly. as q blint
man whom the least noise held on th'
watch.
"Did you not seeT said Nicholas
whose smiling face suddenly became
cloudy.
Then he added:
"Ah, no, you could not see, and it II
happy for you, good father"
"But I have seen nothing" said Ma
dia.
$50 much the better! So much th'
better! But IL have seen!'
what was 1t, then?" asked Michae
Strogoff.
"a hare that came across our PATH!
answered Nicholas.
In Russia when q hare crosses thu
path of a traveller popular belief looks
upon 1t as a sign Of approaching evil.
Nicholas, superstltious as are the
greater part of the Russians. had stop
ped the kibltka.
Michael Strogof understood the hes
itation Of his companion, although ht
did not share his credulity regarding
hares crossing the path, and he wished
to reassure him.
eve have nothing to fear. friend.
he said to him.
Nothing for you nor for her. know
good father" answered Nicholas, "but
for me!'
And, continuing. said he:
1T 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. 8, at noon the kibitka
halted at the town Of Alsalevsk, as de
serted as was the surrounding country
There on the threshold Of n 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-fve versts from Mini Oud;nsk.
Nicholas during the last two days
had not been able to regain his usual
good humor. The evil omen had affect
ed him more than one could have be
lieved, and I've who up to that time had
never remained an hour without talk
Ing had now long spells Of silence, from
which even Nadia could with difficulty
withdraw him.
In spite of all his somewhat fatalistic
resignation he would not believe HIM
self safe except within the walls OF
Irkutsk. Many Russians would have
thought like Nicholas, and more than
one, pulling the bride Of his horse,
would have turned back after seeing q
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
II the town had been abandoned. they
could pass through 1t without any risk,
but II by a movement that they could
not explain the Tartars already occu-
pied 1t they must turn 1t at any price.
"Let US advance prudently." said MI
chael Strogoff, "but let US advance!
Another verst was made.
He was about to propose to Nicholas
to leave the route and In case Of neces.
sity only to regain It after having turn
ed Mini Oudlnsk. when the sound OF q
gun was heard on the, right. A ball
hissed, and the horse In the kibitka'
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 Oudlnsk.
The next day. 18th Of September, the
detachment passed through the town
Of Chibarlinskoe.
At that time an incident occurred
which was to have very serious conse.
quences.
The night had come. The Tartar
horsemen, having had a halt. were
more or less drunk. They were about
to continue their journey.
Nadia, who up to that time. as though
by a miracle, had been respected by
those soldiers, was insulted by one OF
them.
Michael Strogoff had been able to see
neither the insult nor the, insulting per-
sen, but Nicholas had seen for him.
Then quietly. without having reflect
ed, without perhaps having any con-
sciousness Of his action. Nicholas made
straight for the soldier, and before the
latter could make any movement to
stop him, snatching pistol from the
pommel Of his saddle. he discharged !,
full at his breast.
The officer who had command OF tne
FIN Ancient Foe
To health and happiness is scrofula-
as ugly as ever since time immemorial'
Il causes punches in the neck, dis
figures the skin, inAamcs the mucous
membrane, wastes the muscles, weak
hA