Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-02-16
The Courier
Of the Gar
BY Jules Verne

fantastic steps partook OF all the coun-
tries which their race had traversed in
Europe, Of Bohemia. OF Egypt, of Italy
and OF Spain. They became animated
at the noise OF the cymbals which
changed on their arms and at the swell
Ing OF the "daires," n kind OF drum
sounded by the fingers.
Sangarre, holding one Of these daires,
which trembled between her hands. ex-
cited this troop Of veritable corybantes.
Then came forward youthful gyp-
sy, some fifteen years old ut most. lie
held in his hand 4 doutare, the two
cords Of which be made TO vibrats by .
simple gliding Of the nails. He sang.
During the couplet OF his song Of fan
tastic rhythm q danseuse came and
placed herself near him and remained
immovable, listening to him, but each
time the burden came TO the lips of the
young singer she again took up her in
terrupted dance, shaking her dare near
him and deafening him with the sound
OF her drum.
Then, after the last verse, the dancers
enlaccd the gypsy in n thousand turn
ings OF their dances.
At this moment a shower OF gold fell
from the hands Of the cmir and his al
lies. from the hands Of the officers OF
all grades, and TO the noise of the
pieces which struck the cymbals of the
dancers were blended the last murmurs
Of the doutares and tambourines.
'Prodigal as freebootersv' said Al
eide Joliyet in the ear of his compan-
ion.
And, indeed, It was stolen money
which fell In showers, for with the
Tartar tomans and scquins rained also
Muscovite duCats and rubles.
Then silence was made for an in
slant, and the voice Of the executioner,
placing his hand on the shoulder of Mi
Chael Strogoff, again spoke those words
whose repetition rendered them still
more sinister:
Look with all your eyes! Lookr'
But this time Alcde Jolivet observed
that the cxccutioner did not hold his
naked sword in his hand.
Then suddenly, as if ut n given sig
nal, all the fires Of the fantasia were
eXtinguished, the dances ceased, the
dancers disappeared. The ceremony
was terminated, and the torches alone
lit up the plateau which some instauts
before was so full of lights.
AT a sign from the emir Michael Stro-
goff was led into the middle OF the
square.
Little DESTROYS of assisting at The tor
ture reserved for this unfortunate man,
Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet then
re-entered the city.
An hour later they were Fastening
along the road to Irkutsk, and it was
among the Russians they would at
tempt to follow what Alcide Jolivet
called by anticipation ''the campaign
of revenge"
The emir made q gesture. Michael
StrogoG, pushed by the guards, APP
preached the terrace, and then in that
Tartar language which he understood
Feofar said to him:
Russian spy, you are come to see.
You have seen for the last time. In an
instant thine eyes shall be forever shut
to the light!'
1t was not with death, but with
blindness that Michael Strogoff was
about to be stricken. Loss of sight,
more terrible perhaps than loss OF life!
The unhappy man was condemned TO
lose his eyesght.
Nevertheless on hearing the penalty
pronounced by the emir Michael Stro-
goff did not become weak. lie remain
ed impossible, his large eyes open, as
IL he were wishing to concentrate all
his life in this one last look. ~.
To ask for pity from these fierce men
was useless and, besides, unworthy OF
him. He did not even think of it. All
his thought was concentrated on his
mission that had irrevocably failed, on
his mother on Nadia, whom he should
never see againl But he did not allow
20 be seen any Of the emotion which he
felt.
Besides, the feeling of vengeance, to
be accomplished at some future time
carried away his whole being.
"Ivan," said he, with a menacing
voice, Ivan, the traitor, the last threat
OF my eyes shall be for thee"
Ivan Ogareff shrugged his shoulders
But Michael Strogoff deceived him
self 1t was not in looking at Ivar
Ogareff that his eyes were to be fixed
never more TO open.
Maria Strogoff came and stood before
him. 49,.
"My mother" cried he. Eyes, yes
on thee must be turned my last lool
and not ON this miserable mani Re
main there before me, that 1 may still
see thy beloved figure; that my eye
may close while looking at theeT'