Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-01-05
The Courier
of the Gar
BY Jules Verne
CHAPTER VII.

did not belong 20 himself; that he had
not the power Of doing what he de.
sired. and that In this instance especial
~ he had herolcally sacrificed to duty
even his resentment at the gross injury
he had received.
Nadia, therefore, asked no explana-
ton from Michael. Had not the hand
which she had extended to him already
replied 20 all that he might have been
able 20 tell her?
Michael remained silent all the even
Ing. The postmaster not being able to
supply them with fresh horses until
the next morning. n whole night must
be passed at the house. Nadia could
profit ny IL TO take some rest, and a
room was therefore prepared for her.
The young girl would no doubt have
preferred not 20 leave her companion,
but she felt that he would rather be
alone, and she made ready to go to her
room.
Just as she was about 10 retire she
could not refrain from going up to Mi
chacl to say good night.
Brother" she whispered.
But he checked her with n gesture.
The girl sighed and left the room.
Michael Strogoff did not lie down.
lie could not have slept even for an
hour. The place on which he had been
struck by the brutal traveller felt like
a burn.
"For my country and the Father" he
muttCrcd as he ended his evening pray
err
He especially felt a great wish to
know who was the man who had
struck him. whence he came and where
he was going. As TO his face, the fea-
lures Of it were so deeply engraved on
his memory that he had no fear of
ever forgetting them.
Michael at last asked for the post
master. The latter, Siberian of the
old type. came directly and, looking
rather coutcmptuously at the young
man, waited to be questioned.
you belong to the country" asked
Michael.
EYES"
"Do you know that man who took
my horses"
"No."
"IIad you never seen him before?'
Never"
"Who do you think he was"
~ man who knows how to make
himself obcycd."
Michael fixed his piercing gaze upon
the Siberian. but the other did not
quail before il.
"Do you dare to judge me?" exclaim-
ed Michael.
Eyes" answered the Siberian, "for
there are some things that even a plain
merchant cannot receive without re-
turning"
"Blows?"
"Blows, young man. l am Of an age
and strength TO tell you So"
Michael went up to the postmaster
and laid his two powerful hands on his
shoulders.
Then in n peculiarly calm tone he
said:
"Be or. my friend; be of! l could
kill you"
The postmaster understood this time.
IL like him better for that" he NUT
tered as he retired without adding an
other word.
At s o'clock the next morning, the
oath Of July. three strong horses were
harnessed TO the tarantass. Michael
and Nadia took their places, and Ichim,
with it's disagreeable remembrances
was soon left far behind.
The next day. July -. at 3 o'clock In
the morning. the tarantass arrived al
the posthouse In Tioukalmsk, having
accomplished a distance OF 100 verst:
since IL had crossed the Ichim.
They rapidly changed horses. Here
however. for the first time the driver
made difficulties about starting. declar
ing that detachments OF Tartars were
rowing across the steppe and that trav
elers, horses and carriages would be {
fine prize for such robbers.
Only by dint Of a large bride could
Michael get over the unwillingness o.
the driver. for in this instance, as IL
many others, he did not wish to show
his podorojna. The last ukase, having
been transmitted by telegraph, wa
known in the Siberian provinces, and |
Russian specially exempted from obey
Ing these orders would certainly hav
drawn public attention TO himself,
thing above all to be avoided by tn
cars courier. AS to the drivers hes
tation. either the rascal traded on tn
travellers impatlence or he really ha
good reason to fear some misfortune.
However. at last the tarantass start
ed and made such good way that by
In the afternoon IL had reached koJ
latsinskoe, eighty versts farther OF
An hour after this 1t was on the bank
OF the Irish. Omsk was now onl
twenty versts distant
The Irish is a large river and one {
the principal OF those which flow 4
ward the north OF Asia. Rising in n
Atai mountains, II flows from Il
southeast to the northwest and emf
ties itself into the Obi after a course {