The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-04-02

"Has he been in the service of the
palaceT
Eyes, SIRE"
you know himT
PERSONALLY, and at various times he
has fulfilled difficult missions with sue
| cess"
"Abroadr
'In Siberia ITSELF"
Where does he come fromr
"From Omsk. He is a Siberian"
"Has he GOODNESS, intelligence, cour-
age?"
Eyes, sire; he has all the qualities
necessary to succeed even where others
might possibly fail"
What Is his ageT
Thirty"
sis he strong and vigorousT
"Sire, he can bear cold, hunger, thirst,
fatigue to the very last extremities."
"He must have frame of iron."
"Sire. he has"
"And a hearth
"a heart of gold"
| "His Manner '9<
Michael Strogoff."
els he ready to set outr'
|
the guardroom."
let him come in," said the car.
In a few minutes Michael Strogof.
the courier. entered the imperial IL
brary.
The car fixed q penetrating look
upon him without uttering q word.
while Michael stood perfectly motion
less.
Michael Strogoff was a tall, vigorous.
broad ehouldered, deep chested man.
His powerful head possessed the fine
features Of the Caucasian race. His
well knit frame seemed built for the
performance OF feats of strength. 1t
would have been a difficult task to
move such a man against his will, for
when his feet were once planted on the
ground 1t was as II they had taken root.
AS he dotted his Muscovite cap locks
of thick curly hair fell over his broad,
massive forehead. When his ordinari-
ly pale face became at all flushed. 1t
arose solely from a more rapid action
of the heart, under the Influence of a
quicker circulation. His eyes of 4 deep
blue looked with a clear, frank, firm
gaze
The slightly contracted eyebrows in
Dictated lofty heroism-"the hero's cool
courage" according to the definition Of
the Psychologist. He possessed a fine
nose. with large nostrils. and q well
shaped mouth, with the slightly pro-
/ jecting lips which denote a generous
and noble heart.
Michael Strogon had the tempera-
ment Of man of action. who does not
bite his nails or scratch his head in
doubt and indecision. sparing of ges-
| lures as Of words, he always stood mo-
tionless like a soldier before his supe-
rior, but when he moved his step show
ed frmness, freedom of movement.
which proved the confidence and vivac-
| ity of his mind.
Michael Strogoff wore a handsome
military uniform, something resembling
that Of q light cavalry officer In the
feld-boots. spurs, half tightly fitting
trousers, brown pelisse, trimmed with
fur and ornamented with yellow braid.
| On his breast glittered 4 cross and
medals.
Michael Strogon belonged to the spe-
cial corps of the cars couriers, rank
ing as an officer among those picked
men. His most discernible character
istic-particularly in his walk. his face,
in the whole man, and which the car
perceived at a glance-was that he was
"fulfller of orders" He therefore
possessed one OF the most servicea BILE
| qualities In Russia-one which the cele-
brated novelist Turgener says with
lead to the highest positions In the
Muscovite empire"
In short, II any one could accomplish
this journey from Moscow to Irkutsk
across the rebellious country, surmount
obstacles and brave perils Of all sorts,
Michael Strogoff was the man.
circumstance especially favorable
to the success of his plans was that ho
was thoroughly acquainted with the
country which he was about to trav-
erse end understood its different dia-
lects, not only from having travelled
there before. but because he was of
Siberian origin.
When he was fourteen, Michael Stro-
gofr had killed his first bear quite
alone. That was nothing But after
stripping it he dragged the giganti,
animals skin to his fathers house,
many versts distant, thus exhibiting
remarkable strength in boy 30 young.
Gifted with marvellous acuteness.
when every object was hidden in mist
or even in higher ATTITUDES. where the
polar night liz nroionged for many days.
he could find his way when others
would have had no idea whittier to d.
rect their steps. He had learned to
read almost imperceptible signs. the