The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-04-12

rod annuIled that, and but for you
brother, l should have been unable tc
leave the town, and without doubt
should have persisted"
"And dared you alone, Nadia said
Michael, attempt to cross the steppes
of Siberian?
1.-THE Tartar invasion was not known
when l left Riga" replied the young
girl at was only at Moscow that
learned that news"
"And Notwithstanding that you con
tinued your journeyY
at was lay duty"
This word showed the character OF
the courageous girl.
She then spoke Of her father, Wassil
Fedor. He was a much esteemed ply
sician at Riga, but his connection with
some secret society having been as
serted he received orders to start fol
Irkutsk, aId the police who brought
the order conducted him without delay
beyond the frontier. Wassili Fedor had
but time to embrace his sick wife and
his daughter, so soon to be left alone
when, shedding bitter tears, he was
led away.
A year a.d a half after her husbands
departure Nine. Fedor died in the arms
of her daughter, who was thus left
alone and almost penniless. Nadia Fee
dor then asked and easily obtained
from the 1cussian government an au.
thorization to join her father at IT.
E11tcl- ha -
was starting. She had barely enough
money for this long journey, and yet
she did not hesitate to undertake it,
She would do what she could. God
would do the. rest.
The next day, the 10th of July, the
Caucasus reached Perm, the last place
at which che touched on the Kama.
The government of which Perm is
the capital is one of the largest In the
Russian empire and, extending over the
Ural mountains, encroaches on Sibe-
rian territory. Marble quarries, mines
of salt, platinum, gold and coal are
worked here on a large scale. Although
FERN by Its situation has become an
important town, it is by no means at.
tractve, being extremely muddy and
dirty and possessing no resources, This
want Of comfort is Of no consequence
10 those going from Russia to Siberia
Tor they come from the more civilized
districts and are supplied with all nee.
essaries, but to those arriving from the
countries OF central Asia, after a long
and fatiguing journey, it would nc
doubt be more satisfactory IL the first
european town Of the empire, situated
on the Asiatic frontier, were better SUD.
piled with stores.
At Perm the travellers sell their yehi.
cles, more or less damaged by the long
Journey across the plains Of Siberia
Inere, too, those passing from Europe
10 Asia purchase carriages during the
summer and sleighs In the winter sea-
son before starting for a several
months journey through the steppes.
Michael Strogoff had already sketch.
ed out his programme, so now he had
only to execute it.
A vehicle carrying the mail usually
runs across the Ural mountains. but
at the present time this, of course. was
discontinued. Even If It had not been
SO, Michael Strogoff would not have
taken it. as he wished'to travel os fast
as possible without depending ON anv
one. He wisely preferred to buy q chr.
rage and journey by stages. stimuIat.
lug the zeal of the positions by tips
Unfortunately, in consequence of the
measures taken against foreigners of
Asiatic origin, a large number of trav.
eiers had already left Perm, and there.
Iore conveyances were extremely rare
Michael was Obliged to content himself
with what had been rejected by others
AS TO horses, as long as the cars cor.
rier was not in Siberia he could eYb,bit
us podorojna without danger and tbe
postmasters would give him the prefer.
ence. But once out of European Rms.
sia' he had to depend alone on the now.
er Of his rubles. w"
But to what sort of vehicle sbor,d
ne harness his horses?
Michael Strogofr was lucky enouub 70
discover a tarantass. -
II Is TO be hoped that the invention q,
RUSSIAN coachbuilders win dev,sa
some improvement in this last n.uaS
vehicle. Springs are wanting in e. ~
y !" very uncomfortable. In tho al
sence OF iron, wood is not shared hit
80 'our wheels, with eight or nine feet