The Iola register., 1902-01-17
The Courier
OF theCzar
By JULES VERNE

uered them to be brought up to him.
They were Harry Blount and Alcide
Jolivet.
On Ogareff's arrival in the camp they
had demanded to be conducted to his
presence. The soldiers had refused. In
consequence, n struggle, an attempt at
flight, shots fred which happily missed
the two correspondents, but their exc
cution would not have been long de-
layed II 1t had not been for the inter-
vention of the emir's lieutenant
The latter observed the prisoners for
some moments, they being absolutely
unknown to him. They had been pres
ent at the scene in the posthouse at
Ichim in which Michael Strogoff had
been struck by Ogareff, but the brutal
traveller pa!c no attention to the per-
sons then collected in the common
room.
Blount and Jolivet, on the contrary.
recognized him at once, and the latter
said in a low voice: Hello! 1t seems
that Colonel Ogareff and the rude per-
sonage of lchim are onep'
Then he added in his companions
ear
Explain our affair, Blount. You will
do me n service. This Russian colonel
in the midst of Tartar camp disgusts
me, and although, thanks to him, my
head is still on my shoulders, my eyes
would exhibit my feelings were l to
Rttempt to look him in the face"
So saying, Alcide Jolivet assumed
look or complete and naughty indifer-
ence.
Whether or not Ivan Ogareff perceiv
ed that the prisoners attitude was in
sulting toward him, he did not let 1t
appear.
"Who are you, gentlemen" he asked
IN Russian in a cold tone, but free from
its rudeness.
1.-TWO correspondents of English and
French newspapers" replied Blount la
conically.
''You have doubtless papers which
will establish your identity"
Here are letters which accredit us
in Russia from the English and French
chancellor's office"
Ivan Ogareff took the letters which
Blount held out TO him and read them
hGh Silu hSs
"You ask the authorization to follow
our military operations in Siberia"
I'VE ask to be free; that is ALL" an
swered the English correspondent dry.
ly.
"You are so, gentlemen" answered
Ogareff, "and shall be curious to read
your articles in The Daily Telegraph"
"Slr" rcp..cd larry Blount, with the
most imperturbable coolness, ait is six
pence number, including postage"
And thereupon Blount returned to his
companion, who appeared to approve
completely of his replies.
Ivan Ogaref, without frownng,
J. mounted his horse and going to the
head of his escort, soon disappeared in
a cloud of dust
"Well, NJ. Joltvet, what do you think
of Colonel Ivan Ogareff, general in
chief Of the Tartar troops?" asked
Blount
II think, my dear friend" replied
Alcide, smiling that the housch-begui
made n very GRACEFUL gesture when he
gave the order for our heads to be cut
of"
Whatever was the motive which led
Ogareff to act thus in regard to the
two correspondents, they were free and
could rove at their pleasure over the
scene of war. Their intention was not
TO leave 1t. The sort of antipathy
which formerly they had entertained
for each other had given place to sin
cere friendship. Circumstances having
brought them together, they no longer
thought of separating. The petty ques-
tions of rivalry were forever eXtin-
guished Harry Blount could never
forget what he owed his companion,
who, on the other hand, never tried to
remind him of it. This friendship, TOO,
assisted the reporting operations and
was thus to the advantage of their
readers.
"And now," asked Blount, what
shall we do with our llbertyW
"Take advantage of 1t, Of course,
replied Alcide. "and go quietly to Tomsk
to see what is going on there"
until the time-very near, l hope
when we may rejoin some Russian reg
iment."
"As you say, my dear Blount, 1t won't
do to Tartarize ourselves too much
The best side is that of the most civil
iized army, and 1t is evident. that the
people of central Asia will have every
thing to lose and absolutely nothing ia
gain from this invasion, while the Rus
slams will soon repulse them. 1t is
only a matter of time"
The arrival Of Ivan Ogaref, which
had given Jolivet and Blount their lib
erty, was to Michael Strogoff, on the
contrary, a serious danger. Should
chance bring the czar's courier into
Ogareff's presence the latter could not
fall to recognize in him the traveller
whom he had 80 brutally treated at the
. Ichim posthouse, and, although Mi
chael had not replied to the insult as