Morris tribune., 1902-03-01

turned away with disdafn when Ivan
Ogaref presented himself before the
enir. and they waited, not without
some impatience, for the feast to be-
gin
do you see, my dear Blount," said
Alcide JoliVet, 1--WE are come too soon,
like good citizens who must needs come
or lose their money. All this is only
the rising Of the curtain. 1t would
have been better taste to have arrived
only for the ballet
What balletg asked Harry Blount.
The obligatory ballet, faith. But I
think the curtain is about to rise. =
Alcide Joliyet spoke as If he were at
the opera, and, taking his glass from
its case, he prepared to have look at,
as connoisseur, the first subjects Of
,Feofar's troop. &.
u But tedious ceremony was to pre-
cede the amusements.
Meanwhile most of the prisoners had
passed before the enir, and in passing
each of them had to PROSTATE the fore
head to touch the very dust as sign
Of serVility. 1t was the slavery which
commenced with humiliation. When
the unfortunates were too slow in bend
ing, the rude hand Of the guards cast
them violently ito the earth. Alcid6
JoliVet and his companion could not
assist at such a spectacle without feel
ing the greatest indignation.
'".This Is coWardly! Let us go aWay'
said Alcide JoliYet.
NO." replied Harry Blount; "we
must see ALL
''See all! AhY' cried Alcide Jolivet
suddenly, selling the arm Of his COM
panion.
!"'What is the matter with you?' ask
ed the former.
J Z. Look! Blount, it is shey'
@She? .#.
sThe sister of our fellow traveller.
Alone and prisoner! We must save
herr
@Restrain yourself" coldly replied
Harry Blount. sour intervention in
behalf of this young girl would be more
hurtful than useful to her. ~l ......
Alcide Jolivet, ready to rush forward,
stopped himself, and Nadia, who had
not perceived them, being half yelled
by her hair, passed in her turn before
the enir, without attracting his atten-
ton. . . r 49,. r.. ~
In the meantime, after Nadia, Maria
Strogoff had arrived, and as she did
not throw herself quickly enough into
the dust the guards brutally pushed
her.
Maria Strogoff fell.
Her son made a terrible movement,
which the soldiers who were guarding
him could with difficulty master. 3D..
But old Maria raised herself, and
they were about to drag her when Ivan
Ogareff interviewed, saying:
"Let this woman remain" ...
AS for Nadia, she was thrown back
among the crowd of prisoners. The
look of Ivan Ogareff had not fixed it
self upon her.
Michael Strogof was then led before
the emir, and there he remained erect,
without lowering his eyes.
EeYour face to the groundy' Ivan Oga-
ref cried out to him. ...u
''Nov' replied Michael Strogoff. Two
guards wished to force him to bend.
but it was ihey who were thrown to
the ground by the hand Of the robust
young man.
Ivan Ogareff advanced toward Mi
chael Strogof.
"You are about to de-" said he.
81 shall de-" fercely answered Mi
chael Strogoff, "but your face of trait
Or, Ivan, will not the less bear and for
ever the Infamous mark Of the knout!'
Ivan Ogareff at this answer became
horribly pale.
''Who is this prisoner?' demanded
he emir in a voice the more menacing
because of it's calmness.
"a Russian spy" answered Ivan Oga-
eff.
In making out Michael Strogof spy
le knew the sentence pronounced
lgainst him would be the more terri
lie.
Michael strogof moved toward Ivan
)gareff. s--.-
The soldiers stopped him.
which the whole crowd bent their
leads. Afterward he motioned with
lis hand for the Koran, which was
,rought to him. He opened the book
nd placed his finger on one of the
ages. %
1t was chance, or rather, as these
RENTALS think, God himself, who was
bout to decide the fate Of Michael
trogoff. The people of central Asia
i've the name of 'tfaP' to this practice.
Lfter having interpreted the sense Of
be verse tonched by the finger of the
Judge they apply the sentence, what
yer it may be.
The emir had left his finger resting 4
n the page of the Koran. The chief
f the ulemas, then approaching, read
18th a loud voice a verse which fin
she'd with these words:
"And he shall see no more the things
{ the earth" Russian spy" said
'eofar-Khan, "you came to see what
passing in the camp of the Tartars!