Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-03-02
The Courier
of the Gar
By jules Verne

Michael strogon listened.
By the noise he knew at once that a
detachment OF cavalry was advancing
toward the Dlnka.
Nadia. Nadiar' said be I'm q low
voice.
At his voice Nadia. who had remained
In prayer. rose up.
you see theml You see themr' be
said TO her.
The Tartarsl" she murmured.
II was indeed the advance guard OF
the smir which was defiling quickly on
the road TO Irkutsk.
They shall not prevent me from in
terring him." said Michael StrogofY.
And he continued his work.
Soon Nicholas body, with his hands
Joined on his breast. was laid In the
tomb. Michael Strogon and Nadia.
kneellng down, prayed the last time for
that poor being. good and inoffenslve.
who through devotedness to them had
lost his life.
And now" said Michael, throwing
back the earth. "the wolves OF the
Then bis hand stretched In menace
toward the troop OF horsemen which
was passing.
ION our journey, NadlaF' said he.
Michael Strogoff could no longer fol-
low the highroad. now occupied by the
Tartars. He must throw himself across
the steppe and turn Irkutsk. In doing
this they would have to cross the Din
ka and thus would be relieved from one
great anxiety.
Nadia could no longer drag herself
along. but she could see for him. He
took her In his arms and struck into
the southwest of the province.
There remained for them to travel
more than 200 versts. How could 1t
be done? How could food be found on
the journey?
BY what superhuman energy would
they succeed in passing the first slopes
OF the Sayensk mountains? Neither
Nadia nor he could tell.
And yet twelve days after. at o'clock
In the evening. an immense sheet Of
water rolled at the feet Of Michael Stro-
gon.
II was Lake Baikal.
Lake Baikal Is situated at a height
pf LOO feet above the level of the sea.
is length 1t about 900 versts, it's
breadth about a hundred. It's depth Is
unknown. Nine. de Bourboulon tells
rs that the sailors say that 1t wishes to
be called Mrs. Sea-" IL one calls II
MFR. Lake." II at once Is In a rage.
anyhow. according to n Russian legend.
Russian Is never drowned there
This immense basin OF fresh water,
ed by more than 300 rivers, Is embos-
med In n magnificent circle OF vol
anic mountains. 1t has no other out
et but the Angara, which, after hav-
hg passed Irkutsk, throws itself into
he Yenisel little above the town Of
eniselsk.
The first days OF October had come.
he sun now sank below the horizon at
o'clock. and the long nights allowed
be temperature to fall to zero In the
thermometers. The first snow, which
Fas to remain until summer. already
hltened the neighboring heights. Dur
x the Siberian winter this interior
IN, with its Ice several feet thick, is
btted with trains OF couriers and cara
pms.
1t was at the southwest point Of the
Ike that Michael Strogoff had just ar
we'd. carrying Nadia, whose whole
G. so TO speak, was concentrated In
n eyes. What could they both expect
this wild part OF the province but
die there OF want and restitution
hd yet how many still remained to be
hde of those G,000 versts that the
urler OF the car should attain his
n? Only sixty versts along the shore
the lake as far as the mouth of the
Fer Angara, and eighty versts from
mouth OF the Angara to Irkutsk-
all hundred and forty versts, say
hree days journey for n strong and
yorous man even on foot.
;ome fifty people found themselves
sembled at the corner which forms
southwest point of the lake.
iadia first perceived this group when
chael Strogoff. carrying her in his
ns, came out from the defile of the
untalns.
Stopr' she cried. "The Tartarsl The
rtarsT'
he young girl feared for an instant
{ II was nothing else than a de
hment OF Tartars sent to scour tn,
res OF Lake Baikal. In which cas-
ht would be cut of for both.
ut Nadia was soon reassured OF
head.
They are Russiansr' she cried.
nd after this last effort her eyelld'
ed, and her head fell down on tn,