Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-01-19

peuneO up III bOme luClOsure WneIe, III
treated. poorly fed and exposed to all
the inclemencies Of the weather. they
would await Feofar's pleasure.
The most docIle and patient Of them
all was undoubtedly Michael Strogoff.
He allowed himself to be led, for they
were leading him where he wished to
20 and under conditions Of safety
which free he could not have found on
the road from Kalyvan to Tomsk. To
escape before reaching that town was
TO risk again falling into the hands OF
the scouts who were securing the
steppe.
At the same time with Michael Stro-
goff and many other prisoners Harry
Blount and Alcide Jolivet had also been
taken to the Tartar camp. Their for
mer travelling companion, captured like
them at the telegraph office, knew that
they were penned up with him In the
Enclosure. guarded by numerous senti-
nels. but he did not wish to accost
them. 1t mattered little to him. at this
time especially, what they might think
OF him since the affair at lchim. Be-
sides, he desired to be alone. that he
might act alone IL necessary. He there
fore held himself aloof from his for
mer acquaintance.
From the moment that Harry Blount
had fallen by his side Jolivet had not
ceased his attentions to him. During
the journey from Kalyvan to the camp
that Is to say, for several hours
Blount, by leaning on his companions
arm, had been enabled to follow the
rest Of the prisoners. He had tried TO
make known that he was British sub
j9ct, but 1t had no effect on the bar
barians, who only replied by prods with
a lance or sword. The correspondent
of The Daily Telegraph was therefore
obliged to submit to the common lot,
resolving to protest later and to obtain
satisfaction for such treatment. But
the journey was not the less disagree
able to him, for his wound caused him
much pain, and without Alcide Jolivet's
assistance he might never have reached
the camp.
Jolivet, whose practical philosophy
never abandoned him, had physically
and morally strengthened his cOmpan-
Ion by every means in his power. His
first care when they found themselves
definitely established in the Enclosure
was to examine Blount's wound. Hav-
ing managed to draw off his coat. he
found that the shoulder had been only
grazed by the shot.
This is nothing" he said: "a mere
scratch. After two or three dressings
you will be all to rights"
"But these dressings" asked BlOunt.
81 will make them for you myself"
"Then you are something of Il doc
tori"
"All Frenchmen are something of
doctors"
And on this affirmation Alcide. tear
Ing his handkerchief, made lint Of one
piece, bandages of the other. took some
water from a well dug in the middle of
the Enclosure, bathed the wound, which
happily was not serious, and skllfully
placed the wet rag on Harry Blounts
shoulder.
81 thank you, NJ. Jolivet," said Har-
~, stretching himself on n bed of dry
| leaves which his companion had ar
ranged for him In the shade of a birch
| tree.
"Now let us talk of what we ought
to do. assure you l have no intention
OF remaining a prisoner to these Tar
tars for an indefinite time"
| "NOr either"
1
tunity?
Eyes, IL there Is no other way Of re-
gaining our liberty"
do you know of any other?" asked
Blount, looking at his companion.
Certainly. We are not belligerents
we are neutral, and we will claim our
freedom"
"No; he would not understand" an
swered Jolivet; "but from his lieuten
ant, Ivan Ogareff."
HE is a villain"
mo doubt, but the villain Is n Rus
sian. He knows that it does not do tC
trihe with the rights of men, and he
has no interest to retain us. On the
| NOhNldAys DuI W dSh q laNOk Va TIA
gentleman does not quite suit my
taste"
But that gentleman is not in tn,
camp, or at least l have not seen hin
here" observed Blount.
HE will come. He will not fail Il
do that. He must join the emir. Sibe
ria Is cut In two now. and very certain
ly Feofar's army is only waiting TO
him to advance on Irkutsk"
and, once free, what shall we dO?"
"Once free, we will continue on
campaign and follow the Tartars unit
the time comes when we can make on
way into the Russian camp. We mus
not give up the game. No, indeed; w
have only just begun"
The event so much wished for by 10
livet and Blount, SO much dreaded b.
Michael, occurred on the morning o