The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-01-23
IA battleY'

|
it is there where was made prisoner
The grand duke became calm. and by
sign he gave Ivan Ogareff to under
stand that he did not doubt his verac-
ity.
ION what day did this battle Of
Krasnoiarsk take placer he asked.
son the I'd Of September"
"And now all the Tartar forces are
concentrated around Irkutskw
| "Allv
"And you would number them at
-Four hundred thousand menw
| A new exaggeration of Ivan Ogareff
| in reckoning the numbers of the Tar
tar army and tending always to the
same end.
"And 1 must not expect any succor
from the provinces of the west" ask
| ed the grand duke.
"None, your highness-at least before
| the end Of winter"
"Very well. Listen to this, Michael
Strogoff: Should no relief come to me.
| neither from the west nor the east, and
were there 100000 Tartars, l would
not give up Irkutskw
The wicked eye Of Ivan Ogaref light
ly blinked. The traitor seemed to say
that the brother of the czar was reck-
oning without treason.
i The grand duke, of nervous temper
hment, had great difficulty in preserv-
ing his calmness on learning this dis
astrous news. He walked up and down
the room under the eyes of Ivan Oga-
ref, who covered him as prey re-
served for his vengeance. He stopped
bit the windows. He looked out upon
the Tartar fires. He was trying, to
lind out the noise, the greater part of
which was caused by the grating of the
ice on the river.
A quarter Of an hour passed without
his putting another question. Then.
hgain taking up the letter, he read a
passage of it and said:
"You know, Michael Strogoff, that
there is question in this letter of
traitor against whom have to be on
my guard?"
Eyes, your, highness."
"He is to attempt to enter Irkutsk
disguised to win my confidence; then.
bt the proper time. to deliver up the
town to the Tartars."
81 know all that, your highness, and
also know that Ivan Ogareff has
sworn personal vengeance on the broth
err Of the car"
"Why?"
"They say that that officer had been
condemned by the grand duke to q
most humiliating degradation"
Eyes, / remember. But he deserved
1t, that wretch, who was afterward to
serve against his country and to lead
there an invasion Of barbariansw
Ellis majesty the car" answered
Ivan Ogareff. relied especially on the
fact that you were aware of the Grim
inal projects of Ivan Ogareff against
your person"
Eyes; the letter informed me of it"
"And his majesty told it to me him.
self, while warning me to mistrust that
traitor above all during my journey
across Siberia"
"Have you ever met him?"
eyes. your highness. after the battle
of Krasnoiarsk. Could he have sus-
pected that was the bearer of let
ter addressed to your highness and in
which all his projects were divulged
/ should not now be standing before
you"
Eyes, you would have been lost" an
swered the grand duke. And how did
you escape?"
"By throwing myself into the Irish"
And how did you enter IrkutskY'
During a sortie that was made this
very night to repel Tartar detach-
ment Joined in with the defenders OF
the town. was able to make myself
known, and they at once conducted me
before your highness."
"Well done. Michael Strogoff," an
swered the grand duke. You have
shown courage and zeal during this
difficult mission. l shall not forget
you. Have you any favor to ask of
me?''
None if it be not that of fighting by
the side Of your highness," answered
Ivan Ogareff.
"Let it be so, Michael Strogon. From
this day l attach you to my person,
and you shall be lodged in this palace"
"And IL in conformity with the inten-
tion which is attributed to him Ivan
Ogareff should present himself before
your highness under false name
1--WE would unmask him, thanks to
you who know him. and by my order
he should die under the knout. Co."
Ivan Ogareff gave the military salute
to the grand duke, not forgetting that
he was captain in the corps Of the cou-
riers of the car, and he withdrew.
Ivan Ogareff had just now played with
success his base role. The grand dukes
confidence had been accorded him full
and entire. He could abuse 1t when
and where he thought proper. He
would even live in that palace. He
would know all the secrets Of the de-
tense. He held, therefore, the situation
in his hand. No one in Irkutsk knew
him. No one could tear of his mask.
He resolved, therefore, to begin the
work without more delay.
Ivan. Ogareff, having every facility
of seeing, observing and acting, spent
;@ho novf dow IN visitinO Tho forfif3ca.