The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-01-18

still his thoughts were ever watching
over her.
At daybreak the raft, retarded by n
somewhat strong breeze which was
blowing against the action of the cur
rent. was still forty versts from the
mouth OF the Angara Most likely they
would not be able to reach IL before 3
or 4 O'Clock IN the afternoon
This was not an inconvenience; rath-
err the contrary, for the fugitives would
then descend the river during the night,
and the darkness would favor their
arrival ~ lrkutsk.
AZ o'clock IN the afternoon the
mouth Of the Angara was signaled by
the old mariner between the high gran
lite rocks Of the coast. One could per-
ceiye on the right bank the little port
Of Llventchnaia, It's church. its few
houses built on the steep.
But there was grave circumstance.
The first floating ice that had come
from the east was already forming be-
tween the banks OF the Angara and
hence descending toward Irkutsk.
However. their number could not MS
yet be great enough TO obstruct the
river nor the cold severe enough TO
unite them into one mass
The raft arrived at the little port and
stopped there for short time. The
old mariner had decided to put into
port for an hour I'm order TO make some
indispensable repairs. The trunks, hav-
ing become loose, threatened TO sepa-
rate from one another, and It was OF
great importance to rcbind them more
firmly together that they might resist
the current Of the Angara, which Is
very rapid.
The old sailor did not, therefore, eX-
pect any more fugitlvcs at the port OF
Livenitchnala. anu yet az the moment
the raft was leaving the shore two
men, coming out of n deserted house,
ran with great haste 10 the bank.
NADIA sitting az the back part Of the
raft. looked &C them Ia listIess man
ner.
a cry was about co escape her. She
seized the hand Of Michael Strogoff.
who at that moment raised his head
what Is the matter with YOU Ma
diag' he asked.
"Onr two fellow travellers, Michael
that Frenchman and that Englishman
whom we met In the detiles of the Ural
mountains"
Eyes"
Michael Strogoff shuddcred, for the
strict incognito from which he did not
wish TO depart was In danger of being
unveiled
And IN reality It was not any longer
Nicholas korpan0ff whom Aicide jolt
vet and Harry Blount were about to
see in him now, but the true Michael
Strogoff. the courier Of the car. The
journalists had already met him twice
since their separation at the posthouse
OF Ichim-the first time at the camp OF
Zabedelro, when he cut with the blow OF
the knout the face OF Ivan Ogareff, the
second time at Tomsk, when he was
condemned by the emir. They knew
therefore what 10 think OF him and his
true position as courier Of the car.
Michael Strogoff quickly took up his
part.
NADIA" said he. when that French
man and Engllshman shall come on
board beg them TO come up to me-"
They were indeed Harry Blount and
Alcide Joliyet. whom not chance. but
the force OF events. had conducted TO
the port of Livenitchnaia, just as they
had led Michael Strogoff.
The reader knows that after having
been present ut the triumphal entry OF
the Tartars into Tomsk they had gone
away before the savage execution
which terminated the feast. They had |
no doubt but their old fellow traveller
had been put to death, and they were
quite unaware that he had been only |
made blind by order OF the emr
Then, having procured horses. they |
had abandoned Tomsk that very night. |
with the fixed intention Of dating hence
forth their articles from Russian camps |
Of eastern Siberia.
Alcide Jolvct and Harry Blount set
out for Irkutsk by forced marches.
They had great hopes Of outstripplng
Fcofar.khan, and most certainly they