The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-01-02
greater part Of the Russians, had stop
bed the kibitka.

greater part Of the Russians, had STOP
ped the kibitka.
Michael Strogoff understood the hes
itation Of his companion, although he
did not share his credulity regarding
hares crossing the path, and he wished
| to reassure him.
"We have nothing to fear, friend"
he said to him.
Nothing for you nor for her, 1 know,
good father" answered Nicholas, "but
for mev'
And, continuing. said he:
at is my destiny"
And he again put his horse to the
trot.
Meanwhile, in spite Of the sad prog
nostications, the day passed by with
out any accident.
Next day, Sept 9, at noon the kibitka
halted at the town of Alsaleysk, as de-
serted as was the surrounding country.
There on the threshold Of a house
Nadia found two of those knives with
long, sharp blades used by Siberian
hunters. She gave one of them to Mi
chael Strogoff, who hid it under his
coat, and she kept the other for her
self. The kibitka was not more than
sixty-five versts from Mini Oudinsk.
Nicholas during the last two days
had not been able to regain his usual
good humor. The evil omen had affect
ed him more than one could have be-
Heved, and he who up to that time had
never remained an hour without talk
ing had now, long spells Of silence, from
which even Nadia could with difficulty
withdraw him.
In spite Of all his somewhat fatalistic
resignation he would not believe him.
self safe except within the walls of
Irkutsk. Many Russians would have
thought like Nicholas, and more than
one, pulling the bride of his horse.
would have turned back after seeing
hare cross their path.
The next day, toward 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, Nicholas deserted on the
horizon the high belfries of the church.
es of Mini Oudinsk. They were crown
ed with thick columns of vapor which
could not be clouds. =
Nicholas and Nadia looked and COM
municated to Michael Strogoff the re-
suit Of their observations. They must
decide their course of action at once.
If the town had been abandoned. they
could pass through it without any risk,
but if by movement that they could
not explain the Tartars already occu-
pied it they must turn it at any price.
"Let us advance prudently," said Mi
chael Strogoff, "but let us advance!
Another verst was made. T.
He was about to propose to Nicholas
to leave the route and in case Of neces-
sity only to regain it after having turn
ed Mini Oudinsk, when the sound of
gun was heard on the right. A ball
Kissed, and the horse in the kibitka,
struck in the head, fell dead.
At the same instant, a dozen horse
men threw themselves on the road, and
the kibitka was surrounded. Michael
Strogoff, Nadia and Nicholas, without
having had time to recover themselves,
were prisoners and being led rapidly
toward Mini Oudinsk.
The next day, 18th Of September, the
detachment passed through the town
Of Chibarlinskoe.
At that time an incident occurred
which was to have very serious conse-
quences.
The night had come. The Tartar
horsemen, having had a halt, were
more or less drunk. They were about
to continue their journey.
Nadia, who up to that time, as though
by a miracle, had been respected by
those soldiers, was insulted by one of
them.
Michael Strogoff had been able to see
neither the insult nor the insulting per-
son, but Nicholas had seen for him.
Then quietly, without having reflect
ed, without perhaps having any con-
seriousness of his action, Nicholas made
straight for the soldier, and before the
latter could make any movement to
stop him, snatching a pistol from the
pommel of his saddle, he discharged it
full at his breast.
The officer who had command OF the
detachment ran up Immediately at the
Sound OF the pistol.
The horsemen were about to cut Mich
olas in pieces, but at sign from the
officer they bound him fast with cords,
| they flung him across horse. and the
detachment set off at gallop.
The cord which tied Michael Strogof,
gnawed by him. broke at an unexpect-
| I'd dash of the horse, and it's rider, half
dunk. carried away in quick run,
did not even perceive it. ...
Michael Strogoff and Nadia found
| themselves alone on the road.
fro BE CONTINUED