CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1903-01-29
The Courier Of
I h G c z a r


Michael Strogoff was rapidly nearing
Kalyvan when distant detonations
reached his ears.
He stopped and distinctly heard the
dull. heavy reports which shook the
air, mingled with sharper and shriller
sounds, the cause of which he well
knew.
He was only half mile from Kaly-
van when a long jet of flame flashed
betwixt the houses of the city, and the
spire of a church crumbled down in the
middle of torrent of embers and fire.
At that moment the detonations were
very violent Soon the flames stretched
forth on the left of the city. The fire
had devoured whole quarter of Kaly-
van.
Michael Strogoff was running across
the plain, trying to reach the cover of
some trees scattered here and there,
when a detachment of Tartar cavalry
appeared on the right.
Michael Strogoff could no longer go
in that direction. The horsemen ad-
vanced rapidly toward the city, and 1t
was difficult for him to escape. Sud
denly at the corner of thicket he saw
y
unperceived.
To run, to hide himself, to ask and
to take there. If need be. something to
renew his strength, for he was exhaust
ed with fatigue and hunger, was MI
chael Strogoff's only resource. He fled
then to this shelter. and, drawing near.
he perceived that it was telegraph
station. Two wires were going east
and west, and a third was stretched to
ward Kalyvan.
One would suppose that under the
circumstances that station would have
been abandoned. but as II was Michael
Strogoff could find there a refuge. wait
for the night If need be to travel again
across the steppe which was searched
by the Tartar pickets.
Michael Strogoff hurried toward the
door Of that house and opened 1t hasti-
ly. single person was In the room
where the dispatches were written. He
was an employee. calm. cool. indiffer-
ent to all that was going on outside.
Faithful to his post, he waited behind
his window for the public to claim his
services.
Michael Strogon went to him and
with voice broken by fatigue asked:
"Whas do you known
Nothing" answered the employee.
smiling.
"Are the Russians and Tartars fight
ingT'
People say So"
"But who are the victorsT
81 don't know"
fy, tha r,iA ct nf
these terrible occurrences, so much in
difference even, was hardly possible.
"And is not the wire cutT" asked Mi
chael Strogofr.
at is cut between Kalyvan and kras-
noiarsk. but it works yet between Kaly-
van and the Russian frontier"
For the government
"For the government when they think
II proper, for the public when they pay.
1t is 10 copecks a word. wait your
orders. sir"
Michael Strogoff was going to answer
that strange operator that he had no
dispatch to send; that he wanted only
a little bread and water. when sudden
ly the door of the house was abruptly
opened.
yaded by the Tartars and was about to
jump through the window when he mo-
ticed that two men only entered the
room and that they were far from be-
ing Tartar soldiers.
One OF them held a dispatch written
in pencil, and. outrunning the other. he
was at the window of the stoical en-
ployee. In those two men Michael
Strogoff was astonished to discover two
persons he had thought never to see
again. They were the correspondents
Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet. no
more travelling companions but rivals.
enemies, now that they were operating
on the battlefield.
They had left Ichlm few hours only
after the departure Of Michael Strogofr.
and II they arrived before him at Kaly-
van in following the same route 1t was
because Michael Strogoff had lost three
days on the borders of the Irish. And
now. after having witnessed the battle
between the Russians and the Tartars
In front of the city, leaving the city
when the struggle was still going on In
the streets. they had to run to the sta
ton to send away their dispatches to
Europe. each seeking to rob the other
of priority In describing the stirring
events.
Michael Strogoff kept at distance in
the shadow, and without being seen he
could see all and hear all He was
probably about to learn Important news
and know If he ought to enter KalyvaD
or not.
Harry Blount, more alert than his
colleague, had possession of the win
dow and handed in his dispatch, while
Alcide Jolivet, contrary to his habits.
stopped impatiently. Ten copecks a
word said the operator. taking the
dispatch.