The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-06-07
BY Jules Verpe
CONTINUED


the grand duke, whose firmly set lips
scarcely allowed the words to pass.
1T was more than an engagement,
your highness,' answered Ivan Oga-
ref; sit was battle"
"a battleY
"Twenty thousand Russians, coming
from the provinces of the frontier and
from the government of Tobolsk, came
into collision with force of hundred
and fifty thousand Tartars, and in spite
of their courage they have been ami
hilated"
"You lie! cried the grand duke, who
endeavored, but in vain, to master his
anger.
81 tell the truth, your highness," cool
ly replied Ivan Ogareff 81 was pres
ent at that battle of Krasnoiarsk, and
1t Is there where l was made prisonerv'
The grand duke became calm, and by
a sign he gave Ivan Ogareff to under
stand that he did not doubt his verac-
ity.
"On what day did this battle Of
Krasnoiarsk take placer he asked.
"On the I'd Of September"
"And now all the Tartar forces are
concentrated around Irkutsk?
GAIL"
"And you would number them at
-Four hundred thousand menw
! A new exaggeration of Ivan Ogareff
in reckoning the numbers of the Tar
tar army and tending always to the
same end.
And | must not expect any succor
from the provinces of the west?' ask
ed the grand duke.
None, your highness-at least before
the end of winter"
Every well. Listen to this, Michael
Strogoff: Should no relief come to me
neither from the west nor the east, ana
were there 100000 Tartars, / would
not give up IrkutskW
The wicked eye of Ivan Ogareff light
ly blinked. The traitor seemed to say
that the brother of the car was reck-
onng without treason.
The grand duke, of a nervous temper.
ament, had great difficulty in preserv-
Ing his calmness on learning this dis
astrous news He walked up and down
the room under the eyes Of Ivan Oga-
ref, who covered him as a prey re-
served for his vengeance. He stopped
at the windows. He looked out upon
the Tartar fires. He was trying to
find out the noise, the greater part of
which was caused by the grating of the
ice on the river.
A quarter of an hour passed without
| his M.
again taking up the letter, he read a
passage of it and said;
"You know, Michael Strogoff, that
there is question in this letter of a
traitor against whom l have to be- on
my guard?"
Eyes, your highness"
He is to attempt to enter Irkutsk
disguised to win my confidence; then,
at the proper time, to deliver up the
town to the Tartars"
II know all that, your highness, and
l also know that Ivan Ogareff has
sworn personal vengeance on the broth
er Of the car"
"Why?'
They say that that officer had been
condemned by the grand duke to
most humiliating degradation"
Eyes, | remember. But he deserved
1t, that wretch, who was afterward to
serve against his country and to lead
there an invasion Of barbarians"
His majesty the car" answered
Ivan Ogareff. 'relied especially on the
fact that you were aware Of the Grim
inal projects of Ivan Ogareff against
your person"
Eyes; the letter informed me Of it."
'And his majesty told 1t to me him
self, while warning me to mlstrust that
traitor above all during my journey
across Siberia"
Have you ever met him?"
Eyes, your highness, after the battle
of Krasnoiarsk. Could he have sus-
pected that l was the bearer Of a let
ter addressed to your highness and in
which all his projects were divulged
/ should not now be standing before
you"
Eyes, you would have been lost" an
swered the grand duke. "And how did
you escape?"
by throwing myself into the Irtish."
And how did you enter IrkutskY'
During a sortie that was made this
very night to repel a Tartar detach-
ment Joined in with the defenders of
the town. l was able to make myself
known, and they at once conducted me
before your highness."
"Well done, Michael Strogoff," an
swered the grand duke. you have
shown courage and zeal during this
difficult mission. shall not forget
you. Have you any favor to ask OF
mew
"None IL 1t be not that of fighting by
the side of your highness," answered
Ivan Ogareff.
Let it be SO, Michael Strogoff. From
this day ! attach you to my person,
and you shall be lodged in this palace"
And IL In conformity with the inten-
ton which Is attributed to him Ivan
Ogaref should present himself before
your highness under false name
1--WE would unmask him, thanks to
you who know him and nv NV ordar