Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-03-02


which was moored a raft.
The raft was about to depart.
These Russians were fugitives OF va
rious conditions whom a common In
terest had gathered together on this
point OF the Baikal.
Driven back by the Tartar scouts,
they sought to take refuge In Irkutsk.
and, not being able to reach that place
by land, since the Invaders had taken
mp position on both banks of the Anga-
ra. they hoped to gain 1t by descending
the river which runs through the town.
The fugitives had their raft fully pre-
pared for the voyage. and had Michael
Strogon been even n few hours later
he would have found the place desert
ed.
fW'. he was welcomed and hidden
TO go upon the raft at once. as its slow
motion rendered 1t advisable to lose no
time In setting out.
Their project made the heart Of Mi
chael Strogof leap for Joy. He could
now play his last chance But he had
the strength to dissemble, wishing to
preserve more strictly than ever his
incognlta.
The plan Of the fugitives was very
simple. A current OF the Baikal skirts
the higher shore Of the lake as far as
the mouth Of the Angara. 1t Is this
current which they counted upon max
Ing use OF to early reach the outlet of
Baikal. From this point to Irkutsk the
rapid waters OF the river would draw
them along at a speed of ten or twelve
versts the hour. In a day and n half
they ought to be In sight Of the town.
Every means for embarking was
wanting at that place.
They had to supply this want. A
raft, or, rather, a float of wood, like
those which generally float on the ST.
berian rivers rad been constructed.
A forest Of pine, which lowered along
the shore, had furnished the floating
material The trunks, dashed together
with willow branches, formed n plat
form on which a hundred persons
would have easily found room.
1t was on this raft that Michael Stro-
goff and Nadia were carried The
young girl was once more herself. They
gave to her some nourishment, as also
to her companion. Then, lying down
on bed of leaves, she Immediately fell
into a sound sleep.
To those who Intercepted him Mi
chael Strogoff said nothing concerning
the events which had occurred at
Tomsk. He gave himself out as an in
habitant of Krasnoiarsk who had not
hnnr1 n n 60 81, Tai L.
troops Of the emir had arrived ON the
left bank of the Dlnka, and he added
that very likely the main body of the
Tartars had taken up their position be-
fore the capital Of Siberia. Even among
friends 1t was almost as important to
preserve secrecy as to his mission as If
among enemies.
One never knows what ears are lis
tening when the tongue speaks. The
friend Of today may be the foe of to-
morrow, and even the firm friend, IL
indlscreet, Is more to be dreaded than
the known enemy.
There was not, therefore, an instant
to lose. Besides, the frost became more
and more keen. The temperature dur
Ing the night fell far below zero. Some
pieces Of ice had already formed on the
surface OF the Baikal. If the raft could
q easily make It's way on the lake, it
/ banks Of the Angara In case those
, pieces OF ice should come to impede it's
course.
Therefore for all these reasons 1t was
necessary that the fugitives should
| start without delay.
/ At o'clock at night the moorings
= were unfastened, and under the action
OF the current the raft followed the
lake shore.
! Long poles, handled by robust mu-
B jiks, sufficed to guide it. An old sailor
Of the Baikal had taken command of
the raft. He was a man of sixty, all
tanned with the breezes of the lake. A
white and very thick beard descended
on his breast. He had on his head a
fur hat. OF grave and austere ap-
pearance, his wide and long riding coat,
drawn tight at the belt, hanging down
to his heels, this silent old man, sit
ting at the stern. commanded by ges-
ture and did not speak ten words in
ten UOuTS.
Besides, the whole management con-
sisted in keeping the raft in the cur,
rent which ran along the shore, with
out allowing it to go far out into the
deep water.
Although the journey was not with
out danger, the voyagers might reason
ably hope to safely accomplish it.
20 h06
toned to both hardship and danger
No fate could be worse than the one
that awaited them if they remained.
So despite the past and present they
were many hopeful, almost happy
hearts on board that rude craft thai
hoated along so lazily.