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


and the woman who had played the
| spy on him. With them and no doubt
under their direction landed about
twenty dancers and singers from IF
teen to twenty years of age, wrapped
In old cloaks, which covered their span
gled dresses. These dresses, just then
glancing in the first rays Of the sun, re-
minded Michael of the curious appear
ance which be had observed during the
night. 1t must have been the glitter
Of those spangles in the bright flames
Issuing suddenly from the steamboats,
funnel which had attracted his atten-
| ton.
Evidently" said Michael to himself,
''this troop Of zingari, after remain
ing below all day, crouched under the
| forecastle during the night. Were these
gypsies trying to show themselves as
little as possible? Such is not accord
ing to the usual custom of their race"
Michael Strogoff no longer doubted
that the expressions he had heard
which SO clearly referred to him had
proceeded from this tawny group and
had been exchanged between the old
gypsy and the woman named Sangarre.
Michael involuntarily moved toward
the gangway as the Bohemian troop
was leaving the steamboat, not to re-
turn to it gain.
The old Bohemian was there in
humble attitude, little conformable
with the effrontery natural to his race.
One would have said that he was en-
deavoring rather to avoid attention
To I'D fv-nD To l. 1,a
Drowned by the suns of every cline,
was pulled forward over his wrinkled
face His arched back was bent under
an old cloak, wrapped closely round
him Notwithstanding the heat. 1t would
have been difficult In this miserable
dress to judge of either his size or face
Near him was the gypsy Sangarre, a
woman about thirty years old. She
was tall and well made, with olive
complexion, magnificent eyes and gold
en- hair, and carried herself to perfec-
ton.
Sangarre was regarding him with a
peculiar gaze, as if she wished to fix
his features indelibly in her memory.
1t was but for few moments when
Sangarre herself followed the old man
and his troop, who had already left the
vessel.
That's a bold gypsy" said Michael
to himself. could she have recognized
me as the man whom she saw at Mini
Novgorod? These COMPOUNDED Zingaris
have the eyes Of a cat! They can see
In the dark, and that woman there
might well know
Michael Strogoff was on the point of
following Sangarre and the gypsy band,
but he stopred
mo-" thought he; mo unguarded pro.
ceedings. If 1 were to stop that old
fortune teller and his companions, my
incognito would run a risk of being dis
covered. Besides, now they have land
ed, before they can pass the frontier
shall be already beyond the Ural 1
know that they may take the route
from Kasan to Ichim, but that affords
no resources to travellers, and besides,
a tarantass drawn by four good Sibe-
rian horses will always 60 faster than
a gypsy car"
BY this time the old man and San
garre had disappeared in the crowd
An hour afterward the bell rang on
BOARD the Caucasus, calling the new
passengers and recalling the former
ones. 1t was now o'clock In the
morning. The requisite fuel had been
received on board, and about 10 o'clock
in the morning the young Livonian,
leaving her cabin, appeared on deck.
Michael Strogoff went forward and
took her hand
Look, sister, said he, leading her to |
the bows of the Caucasus.
The view was indeed well worth ex-
aiming.
The Caucasus had just then reached
the confluence of the Volga and the
Kama. There she would leave the for
mer river after having descended it for
more than 400 versts to ascend the lat
ter for AGO versts.
The Kama was here very wide. and
Its wooded banks were lovely. A few
white sails enlivened the sparkling wa
ter. The horizon was closed by a line
Of hills covered with aspens alders
and sometimes large oaks.
But these beauties Of nature could
not distract the thoughts Of the young
Livonian even for an instant. She had
left her hand In that Of her companion
and soon. turning to him, said:
AT what distance are we from Mos
cow?"
mine hundred versts," answered MI
chael.
mine hundred out of seven thou.
sandr'
The bell now announced the break
fast hour. Nadia followed Michael
Strogon to the restaurant. She ate lit
tie, as poor girl whose means are
small would do. Michael Strogoff
thought 1t best to content himself with
the fare which satisfied his companion.
and In less than twenty minutes MI
chael Strogor and Nadia returned on
deck. There they seated themselves in
the stern, and without other preamble
Nadia, lowering her voice SO as to be
heard by him alone, began:
Brother, am the daughter of an ex-
lie. My name Is Nadia Fedor Nv