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

| STROGOFF ano
IuAA Nadia had left Semilow'
IIN skoe about two hours
when Michael stopped
NN0yOf suddenly.
| hS els the road deserted =
| he asked.
| "Without soul on it." replied Nadia
"Do you not hear some noise be-
hindY'
Truly"
"If these are the Tartars, we must
| hide ourselves. Look we'll"
Listen. Michaelr' replied Nadia, as.
cending the road, which diverged some
PAGES to the right.
Michael Strogon stopped an instant
alone, stretching his ears to listen.
Nadia returned almost Immediately
and said:
'It is a vehicle. A young man is lead
Ing it."
HE is aloneT
"Alone."
Michael Strogon hesitated for q mo
ment. Ought he to hide. or ought he,
on the contrary. try the chance Of ind
Ing a place In bis vehicle, II not for
himself, at least for her? For himself,
be would be content to rest his hand
on It and would push when needed, for
his legs were far from failing him. but
he felt that Nadia, dragged on foot
since the passage of the Obi-namely.
for more that eight days-was at the
end Of her strength.
He waited. The vehicle arrived soon
ut the turn Of the read.
1t was a very dilapidated vehicle.
able to hold ~ most three persons
what Is called In that country kibitka.
The kibitka Is usually drawn by three
horses, but this one was drawn only by
one horse. with long hair and long
tail. but its >Mongolian blood affirmed
strength and courage.
A young man conducted 1t. having
near him dog.
Nadia at once saw that this young
man was a Russian. He had sweet
and phlegmatic appearance which In
Ipired confidence.
Moreover, he did not appear to be IN
the least hurry. He walked with q
quiet step in order not to overdrive his
horse, and to see him one could never
have believed that he was following a
route which the Tartars might cut on
at any moment.
Nadia, holding the hand Of Michael
StrOgofr, stood on one side.
The kibitka stopped, and the driver
looked at the young girl. at the same
time smiling.
"And where are you going In this
fashiou" he asked her as he looked
pleasantly round.
At the sound Of his voice Michael
Strogon said TO himself that be had
heard 1t somewhere. and without doubt
1t was sufficient to cause him to rec
ognlze the driver Of the kibitka, fer his
face Mt once became serene.
"Well, now. where are you goingT
repeated the young man, addressing
himself more directly to Michael Stro-
gon.
I'VE were going to Irkutsk." answer
ed the latter.
"Oh, my good man. do you not know.
then, that there are many, many versts
between this and IrkutskT
II know It"
"And you are going on foot"
"On foot"
"As for you. It's all right but the
missr'
"she is my sister," said Michael Stro-
gon, who thought 1t more prudent to
give this name again to Nadia.
Eyes. your sister, my good man. But
believe me. she will never be able to
reach Irkutsk."
"Friend," replied Michael Strogor a.
he drew near, ''the Tartars have rob
bed us, and have not a copeck to oier
thee, but II you Will take my sister
near you 1 will follow the carriage on
foot will run II 1t be necessary and
will not delay you one hour"
Brother" cried Nadia, Il DO not
wish It! l do not wish It'll Sir. my
brother Is blindT
"Blindr' said the young man IN q
voice moved with emotion.
"The Tartars have burned out bis
eyes!' answered Nadia, stretching out
her hands as though to implore pity.
Burned your eyesi Oh, poor. dear
mani am going to Krasnoiarsk.
Well, now. why do you not mount with
your sister into the kibitka? In sitting
Q little closer we shall hold each other
up. Besides. my dog will not refuse to
70 on foot. Only do not 60 fast In Or
der to spare my horse"
"Friend. what do they call your
asked Michael Strogo6.
"T am called Nicholas Pigassof."
ut Ii q name that shall never for
get" answered Michael Strogoff.
"wsll, then. mount. my good blind
man. Your sister shall be near you at
the back of the car; In front to con-
duct. There are some good birch bark
and some barley straw on the bottom.
It's like q nest Come, Serko. give us
room"
The dog jumped Of without much
asking. 1t was an animal Of the Sibe-
rian breed. with gray hide. medium
size, with q good, large and caressing
head, and which appeared to be very
attached to his master.
Michael strogon and Nadia in an In
stant were installed in the kibftka. Mi
chael Strogoff had stretched out his
hands as though to search those OF
Nicholas PigassOf.
"Is It my hands you wish to prsssl"
said Nicholas. "Here they are, my
good man. Shake them as much as
you like"
The kihitka was soon In motion. The
horse. which Nicholas never struck,
ambled along. II Michael Strogof did
not gain much In rapidity, at least new
fatigues would be spared to Nadia.
And such was the exhaustion OF the
young girl that. rocked by the monoto-
nous motion Of the kibitka. she soon
fell into a sleep that resembled an utter
prostration. Michael Strogoh and Mich
olas made a bed for her on the birch
leaves as we'll a. they were able. The
compassionate young man was much
moved. and II q tear did not escape the
eyes of Michael Strogof In truth It
was because the redhot iron had burn
ed them dry.
~Sbe IN pretty." said Nicholas.