The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-05-24
BY Jules VerDe
,(coNTINuED)


Tartars, had been abandoned on the
steppe to there die of hunger and thirst
and perhaps to be torn into pieces by
the fangs of wolves or the beaks of birds
of prey. A most horrible punishment
for the victim thus imprisoned in the
earth, who presses the earth without
being able to cast it off, having his
arms tied and fastened to his body like
those of a corpse in coffin. The vic
tim, living in this clay mold, which he
is unable to break, can do nothing but
implore death, which is too slow in
coming!
1t was there the Tartars had inferred
their prisoner for three days. For
three days Nicholas had been waiting
for succor, which had come at last TOO
late.
The vultures had perceived that head
exposed to the suns rays, and for some
hours the dog defended his master
against these ferocous birds.
Michael Strogoff dug the earth with
his claspknife to release it from that
imprisoned body.
The eyes of Nicholas, closed until
then, once more opened themselves.
He recognized Michael and Nadia.
Then he murmured:
"Adieu, friends / am happy to have
seen you once more. Pray for me-"
And these words were the last
Michael Strogoff continued to dig the
soil, which, being strongly trodden
down, had the hardness of a rock, and
at length he succeeded in drawing from
1t the body of the unfortunate man.
He listened if his heart still beat. 1t
beat no more!
He wished then to bury it., that it
might not remain exposed on the
steppe, and that hole in which Nicho-
las had been buried alive he enlarged
and deepened In such a manner as to
be able to lay him there when dead.
The faithful Serko was placed near his
master.
At that moment a great noise was
heard on the road about half verst
away.
Michael Strogoff listened
BY the noise he knew at once that a
detachment of cavalry was advancing
toward the Dinka.
NADIA. Nadiav said he in low
voice.
At his voice Nadia, who had remained
J In prayer, rose up.
"You see theml You see themv he
said to her
''The Tartars!" she murmured
1t was indeed the advance guard of
the emir which was defling quickly on
the road to Irkutsk.
'They shall not prevent me from in
terring him." said Michael Strogoff.
And he continued his work.
Soon Nicholas body, with his hands
Joined on his breast, was laid in the
tomb. Michael Strogoff and Nadia.
kneeling down. prayed the last time for
!, that poor being, good and inoffensive.
who through devotedness to them had
lost his life
"And now" said Michael. throwing
back the earth, "the wolves of the
steppe shall not devour him"
Then his hand stretched in menace
toward the troop of horsemen which
was passing.
ION our journey, Nadiav said he.
Michael Strogoff could no longer fol-
low the highroad. now occupied by the
Tartars. He must throw himself across
the steppe and turn Irkutsk. In doing
this they would have to cross the Din
ka and thus would be relieved from one
great anxiety.
Nadia could no longer drag herself
along. but she could see for him. He
took her in his arms and struck into
the southwest of the province.
There remained for them to travel
more than 200 versts. How could it
be done? How could food be found on
the journey?
By what superhuman energy would
they succeed in passing the first slopes
of the Sayensk mountains? Neither
Nadia nor he could tell.
And yet twelve days after, at 6 clock
; in the evening. an immense sheet Of
water rolled at the feet of Michael Stro-
gof.
1t was Lake Baikal.
Lake Baikal Is situated at a height
OF LOO feet above the level of the sea.
Its length it about 900 versts, its
breadth about a hundred. Its depth is
!, unknown. Nine de Bourboulon tells
us that the sailors say that it wishes to
be called Mrs. Sea-" If one calls it
Mr. Lake" it at once is in a rage.
Anyhow, according to a Russian legend.
a Russian is never drowned there.
This immense basin of fresh water.
fed by more than 800 rivers. is embos-
omed in magnificent circle of vol
canic mountains. 1t has no other out
let but the Angara, which, after hav-
ing passed Irkutsk, throws itself into
the Yenisei little above the town of
Yeniseisk.
The first days of October had come
5 o'clock, and the long nights allowed
the temperature to fall to zero in the
thermometers. The first snow, which
was to remain until summer, already
whitened the neighboring heights. Dur
ing the Siberian winter this interior
sea, with its ice several feet thick, is
dotted with trains of couriers and cara
| vans.
% 81