The Iola register., 1902-01-03
1heCourier
Of theCzar
BY JULES VERNE

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They calculated on reaching it some
hve or six versts below the landing
place; but, after all, that would not
matter so long as men and beasts could
disembark without accident. The two
stout boatmen, stimulated. moreover,
by the promise of double fare did not
doubt of succeeding In this difficult
passage of the Irish.
But they reckoned without an Incl
dent which they were powerless to pre-
vent, and neither their zeal nor their
skillfulness could under the circum-
stances have done more.
The boat was in the middle of the
current at nearly equal distances from
either shore and being carried down at
the rate Of two versts an hour when
Michael, springing to his feet, bent his
gaze up the river
Several boats, aided by oars as well
as by the current, were coming swiftly
down upon them.
MichaePs brow contracted, and an ex-
clamatlon escaped him.
"What is the matterp asked the girl.
one of the boatmen exclaimed in an ac-
cent of terror:
"The Tartars The Tartarsw
They were indeed boats full Of sol
diers, and in q few minutes they must
reach the ferryboat, it being too heav-
lily laden to escape from them.
The terrified boatmen uttered excla-
nations of despair and dropped their
poles.
Courage, my friends!" cried Michael.
"Couragel Fifty rubles for you if we
reach the right bank before the boats
overtake us"
Incited by these words, the boatmen
again worked mpAfully away, but it
soon became evident that they could
not escape the Tartars
1t was scarcely probable that they
would pass without attacking them.
On the contrary. there was everything
to be feared from robbers such as
these.
"Do not be afraid Nadia" said Mi
chael, "but be ready for anything"
II am ready" replied Nadia.
Even to throw yourself into the wa
ter when tell you?"
whenever you tell me-"
Have confidence in me, Nadia
81 have indeed"
The Tartar boats were now only a
hundred feet distant. They carried 0
detachment of Bokharian soldiers on
their way to reconnoiter round Omsk
The ferryboat was still two lengths
from the shore. The boatmen redou-
bled their efforts. Michael himself seiz-
ed pole and welded it with superhu-
man strength. If he could land the
tarantass and horses and dash off with
them, there was some chance of escap-
ing the Tartars, who were not mount
ed.
But all their efforts were in vain.
The soldiers from the first boat shout
ed.
Michael recognized the Tartar war
cry, which is usually answered by lying
fiat on the ground.
AS neither he nor the boatmen obeyed
this injunction, n volley was let fly
among them, and two of the horses
were mortally wounded.
AT the next moment violent blow
was felt. The boats had run into the
ferryboat.
''Come, Nadiav cried Michael, ready
to jump overheard.
The girl was about to follow him
when blow from lance struck him.
and he was thrown into the water. The
current swept him away. His hand
raised for an instant above the waves,
and then he disappeared.
Nadia uttered a cry, but before she
had time to throw herself after him
she was seized and dragged into one
of the boats.
In a few minutes the boatmen were
killed and the ferryboat was left to
drift away while the Tartars continued
to descend the Irish.