Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-01-12

hSE6MNhN Ogaref had been imme-
N10NeEI diately transmitted to all
the approaches of the
city and full description Of Michael
sent to all the various commandants, in
order to prevent his departure from
Omsk. But he had already passed
through one of the breaches in the for
tifications. His horse was galloping
over the steppe, and. not having been
Immediately pursued. the chances Of
escape were in his favor.
1t was on the Goth of July, at o'clock
In the evening, that Michael Strogoff
had left Omsk. This town is situated
about half way between Moscow and
Irkutsk, where ii was necessary that
he should arrive within ten days If he
wished to get ahead Of the Tartar col
umns. 1t was evident that the IN
lucky chance which had brought him
into the presence of his mother had be-
trayed his incognito. Ivan Ogaretf was
no longer ignorant of the fact that
courier of the car had just passed
Omsk, taking the direction of lrkutsk.
The dispatches which this courier bore
must have been of immense impor-
lance. Michael Strogof knew, there
fore, that every effort would be made
to capture him.
But what he did not know and could
not know was that Maria Strogoff was
In the hands of Ivan Ogareff and that
she was about to atone, perhaps with
her life, for that natural exhibition of
her feelings which she had been unable
to restrain when she suddenly found
herself in the presence Of her son. And
II was fortunate that he was ignorant
Of it. Could he have withstood this
fresh trial?
Michael Strogoff urged on his horse,
imbuing him with all his own feverish
Impotence, requiring of him one thing
only-namely, to bear him rapidly to
the next posting house, where he could
be exchanged for a quicker conveyance.
At midnight he had cleared seventy
versts and halted at the station Of Kou-
! likovo. But there, as he feared, he
| found neither horses nor carriages.
! Several Tartar detachments had pass
ed along the highway of the steppe.
| Everything had been stolen or reQuisi-
/ toned both in the villages and in the
! posting houses. 1t was with difficulty
that Michael Strogoff was even able to
obtain some refreshment for his horse
and himself.
| 1t was of great Importance therefore
to spare his horse, for he could not tell
when or how he might be able to re-
place 1t. Desiring, however. to put the
greatest possible distance between him
self and the horsemen whom Ivan Oga-
ref had no doubt dispatched In pursuit,
he resolved to push on. After one
hours rest he resumed his course across
the steppe.
And on July 80, at p. M, Michael
Strogoff, needless of fatigue. arrived al
Elamsk.
There he was forced to give q nights
rest to his horse. The courageous
beast could not have continued thai
journey any longer.
At Elamsk there was no means OF
transportation for the same reasons a.
In the burghs already passed by-car
riages and horses were gone.
Elamsk, q small town the Tartars
had not visited yet, was almost com
pletely depopulated. for 1t was very
easy to invade it from the south ant
almost impossible to succor 1t from tn,
north. So relay Of post, police station
government building, all were aban
dOned by governmental order, and OIL
one side the functionaries, on the othe
the inhabitants, had gone to Kamsk, il
the center Of the Baraba.
Michael Strogofr was obliged to pas
the night at Elamsk to permit his hors,
to rest at least twelve hours. He re
nembered the instructions given hin
ct Moscow to cross Siberia unknown
reach Irkutsk at all hazards, but ais,
to not sacrifice success to the swiftnes
Of his passage. Consequently he wa
forced to spare the only means Of trav
ell left him.
Elamsk, and five days later. on the ST.
Of August, twenty-one days since start
Ing. he found himself 1900 versts We
distant from Irkutsk.
Michael Strogoff was rapidly nearing
Kalyvan when distant defamation
reached his ears.
He stopped and distinctly heard tn
dull, heavy reports which shook tn
air. mingled with sharper and shrille
sounds, the cause OF which he wei
knew.
He was only half a mile from Kaly
van when q long Jet Of name fashe
betwixt the houses OF the city, and tn
spire of a church crumbled down in tn
middle Of q torrent Of embers and fire.
J At that moment the detonations wer
very violent. Soon the flames stretche
forth on the left Of the city. The fir
had devoured q whole quarter of Kaly
van.
J Michael Strogoff was running acros
the plain, trying TO reach the cover c
some trees scattered here and Their,
when a detachment OF Tartar cavalr
a.