Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-03-16
The Courier
of the Gar
BY jules Verne

your highness shall order n sortie we
shall be ready TO execute your orders"
Very well. sir" answered the grand
duke. let us wait until the leading
columns appear on the heights. and we
will crush the invaders"
Then, turning TO General voranzoff,
eve will visit tomorrow" said he. 1.-THE
works on the right bank. The Angara
will soon become icebound. and per-
haps the Tartars will be able TO cross
It."
'Will your highness permit me to
make an observationI" said the chief
OF the merchants.
''Make II, sir"
Il have seen the temperature fall
many n time to 90 and 40 below zero.
and the river has been filled with float
Ing pieces Of ice without being entirely
frozen. This is owing no doubt TO the
rapidity Of the current. II, then, the
Tartars have no other means OF cross
ing the river, l can assure your high
ness they cannot possibly cross in that
manner" The governor general con-
hrmed this assertion.
ut Is a very fortunate circumstance"
answered the grand duke. "Neverthe-
less let US be prepared for every emer
gency."
Then. turning to the head OF the po-
lice, he asked him:
"IIave you nothing to say to meY'
81 have TO place before your high
ness" said the head of the police, "a
petition which has been addressed to
you"
"By whomp
"By the exiles of Siberia, who, as
your hlghness knows, are 10 the num-
Der Of 500 in this city"
The political exiles, scattered all over
the province. had indeed been concen-
trated at Irkutsk from the commence
ment Of the invasion. They had obey
ed the order to rally at the town and
TO abandon the villages where they ex-
ercised different professions. Some
were doctors, others professors, either
at the Japanese school or at the school
OF navigation. From the beginning the
grand duke, like the car, trusting to
their patriotism, had armed them, and
he had found in them brave defenders.
"What do the exiles ask forT said
the grand duke.
''They ask your highness' permits
sion," answered the head Of the police,
Ito form a special corps and to lead the
sortie."
YES" said the grand duke. with an
emotion which he did not seek to con-
ceal, "these exiles are Russians, and II
is indeed their right to fight for their
country"
81 can assure your highness," said
the governor general, that we have no
better soldiers"
But they must have a leader" said
the grand duke. "Who shall he beY'
would your highness like to have
one," said the head Of the police, who
has distinguished himself on many &C.
caslonsT
els he RussianY
eyes, a Russian of the Baltic prov
inces."
"What is his nameT
"Wassili Feodor."
That exile was the father of Nadia.
Wassili Feodor, as Is known, exer.
clsed at Irkutsk the profession Of a
doctor. He was an educated and char.
liable man and at the same time a man
OF the greatest courage and patriotism
When he was not occupied with the
sick, he was engaged In organizing re-
sistance. 1t was he who had united bis
companions in exile In common action
The exiles, up to that time scattered
among the population, had borne them
selves in battle In such a manner as tC
draw the attention OF the grand duke
In several sorties they had paid with
their blood their debt to holy Russia
holy indeed and adored by her children
Wassili Feodor had conducted himself
PERIODICALLY. On several occasions his
name had been mentioned as the BRAY
est OF the brave, but he had asked mel
Their for graces nor favors, and wher
the exiles formed n special corps be
had no idsa they would choose him q:
their leader. When the head OF the
police had pronounced that name be
fore the grand duke. the latter replied
that II was not unknown to him.
Indeed" answered General voran
Eon, "Wassill Feodor Is a man Of valol
md courage. His influence over hii
companions has always been yer,
great"
How long has he been ut Irkutsk T
sked the grand duke.
Two years"
"And his conductT
His conduct" answered the hea,
Z the police. ''ls that Of q man VIII
ubmits TO the special laws unde
which he lives"