Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-01-05

Although he glanced rapidly from one
side to the other, he could not have
seen Michael Strogoff owing to his pre-
cipitous retreat
The detachment went at full trot into
the narrow street Neither the officer
nor his escort concerned themselves
about the inha bitants. Several unlucky
ones had scarcely time to make way
for their passage. There were, there
fore. few half stitied cries, to which
the thrusts of the lance gave en- instant
reply, and the street was Immediately
cleared.
When the escort had disappeared.
"Who is that officer?" asked Michael
Strogoff, returning toward tie ncjik.
And while putting the question his face
was pale as that of a corpse.
ut is Ivan Ogareff," replied the Sibe-
rian, but in deep voice which breath
ed hatred.
"He" cried Michael Strcgof, from
whom the word escaped with an accent
OF fury which he could not conquer.
! He had Just recognized in this officer
the traveller who had struck him at the
posting house of Ichim. and, although
he had only caught a glimpse of him, it
burst upon his mind at the same time
that this traveller was the old Zingari
whose words he had overheard in the
market place of Mini Novgorod.
The mujik and Michael resumed their
way and arrived at the posting house.
To leave Omsk by one of the breaches
would not be difficult after nightfau.
| As for purchasing a carriage to replace
! the tarantass, that was impossible.
| There was none to be let or sold. But
| what want had Michael Strogoff now
( for carriage? Was he not alone alas?
/ A horse would suffice him, and, very
fortunately, horse could be had. 1t
was an animal of mettle, capable of
enduring much fatigue, and Michael
Strogof, accomplished horseman as he
I was, could make good use of it.
The horse cost a high price, and
few moments later Michael was ready
: to start. 1t was then o'clock in the
! afternoon.
Michael Strogoff, compelled to wait
till nightfall in order to pass the forti-
fications, but not desiring to show him
self in the streets of Omsk. remained in
| the posting house and there partook Of
| food.
There was a great crowd in the pub
lie room, it being the resort of numbers
of the anxious inhabitants, who at this
eventful period collected there to OBJ
tain news. They were talking Of the
/ of Of
vite troops, not at Omsk, but at Tomsk,
a corps intended to recaptUre that town
from the Tartars of Feofar-Kahn.
Michael Strogoff lent an attentive ear
to all that was said, but took no part
in the conversation.
Suddenly a cry made him tremble, a
cry which penetrated to the depths of
his soul, and these two words, SO to
speak, rushed into his ear:
MY son.
His mother, the old woman Maria,
was before him, Trembling, she smil-
ed upon him. She stretched forth her
arms to him. Michael Strogoff arose.
He was about to throw himself
The thought of duty. the serious dan
ger for his mother and himself in this
unfortunate meeting, suddenly stopped
him, and such was his command over
himself that not a muscle of his face
moved.
There were twenty people in the pub
lie room. Among them were perhaps
spies, and was it not known in the
town THAT the son of Maria Strogoff
belonged to the corps of the couriers OF
the car?
To be continued