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diff --git a/old/strgf11.txt b/old/strgf11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..95d211e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/strgf11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12241 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Michael Strogoff, by Jules Verne +#10 in our series by Jules Verne + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by Judy Boss, Omaha, NE + + + + + +Michael Strogoff + +or + +The Courier of the Czar + +by Jules Verne + + + +Michael Strogoff + +BOOK I + +CHAPTER I A FETE AT THE NEW PALACE + +"SIRE, a fresh dispatch." + +"Whence?" + +"From Tomsk?" + +"Is the wire cut beyond that city?" + +"Yes, sire, since yesterday." + +"Telegraph hourly to Tomsk, General, and keep me informed +of all that occurs." + +"Sire, it shall be done," answered General Kissoff. + +These words were exchanged about two hours after midnight, +at the moment when the fete given at the New Palace was at +the height of its splendor. + +During the whole evening the bands of the Preobra-jensky and Paulowsky +regiments had played without cessation polkas, mazurkas, schottisches, +and waltzes from among the choicest of their repertoires. +Innumerable couples of dancers whirled through the magnificent saloons +of the palace, which stood at a few paces only from the "old house +of stones"--in former days the scene of so many terrible dramas, +the echoes of whose walls were this night awakened by the gay strains +of the musicians. + +The grand-chamberlain of the court, was, besides, well seconded +in his arduous and delicate duties. The grand-dukes and their +aides-de-camp, the chamberlains-in-waiting and other officers of +the palace, presided personally in the arrangement of the dances. +The grand duchesses, covered with diamonds, the ladies-in-waiting +in their most exquisite costumes, set the example to the wives +of the military and civil dignitaries of the ancient "city +of white stone." When, therefore, the signal for the "polonaise" +resounded through the saloons, and the guests of all ranks took +part in that measured promenade, which on occasions of this kind +has all the importance of a national dance, the mingled costumes, +the sweeping robes adorned with lace, and uniforms covered with orders, +presented a scene of dazzling splendor, lighted by hundreds of lusters +multiplied tenfold by the numerous mirrors adorning the walls. + +The grand saloon, the finest of all those contained in the New Palace, +formed to this procession of exalted personages and splendidly +dressed women a frame worthy of the magnificence they displayed. +The rich ceiling, with its gilding already softened by the touch +of time, appeared as if glittering with stars. The embroidered +drapery of the curtains and doors, falling in gorgeous folds, +assumed rich and varied hues, broken by the shadows of the heavy +masses of damask. + +Through the panes of the vast semicircular bay-windows +the light, with which the saloons were filled, shone forth +with the brilliancy of a conflagration, vividly illuminating +the gloom in which for some hours the palace had been shrouded. +The attention of those of the guests not taking +part in the dancing was attracted by the contrast. +Resting in the recesses of the windows, they could discern, +standing out dimly in the darkness, the vague outlines of the +countless towers, domes, and spires which adorn the ancient city. +Below the sculptured balconies were visible numerous sentries, +pacing silently up and down, their rifles carried horizontally +on the shoulder, and the spikes of their helmets glittering +like flames in the glare of light issuing from the palace. +The steps also of the patrols could be heard beating +time on the stones beneath with even more regularity +than the feet of the dancers on the floor of the saloon. +From time to time the watchword was repeated from post to post, +and occasionally the notes of a trumpet, mingling with +the strains of the orchestra, penetrated into their midst. +Still farther down, in front of the facade, dark masses +obscured the rays of light which proceeded from the windows +of the New Palace. These were boats descending the course +of a river, whose waters, faintly illumined by a few lamps, +washed the lower portion of the terraces. + +The principal personage who has been mentioned, the giver of the fete, +and to whom General Kissoff had been speaking in that tone +of respect with which sovereigns alone are usually addressed, +wore the simple uniform of an officer of chasseurs of the guard. +This was not affectation on his part, but the custom of a man +who cared little for dress, his contrasting strongly with the +gorgeous costumes amid which he moved, encircled by his escort +of Georgians, Cossacks, and Circassians--a brilliant band, +splendidly clad in the glittering uniforms of the Caucasus. + +This personage, of lofty stature, affable demeanor, +and physiognomy calm, though bearing traces of anxiety, +moved from group to group, seldom speaking, and appearing to pay +but little attention either to the merriment of the younger guests +or the graver remarks of the exalted dignitaries or members +of the diplomatic corps who represented at the Russian court +the principal governments of Europe. Two or three of these +astute politicians--physiognomists by virtue of their profession-- +failed not to detect on the countenance of their host symptoms +of disquietude, the source of which eluded their penetration; +but none ventured to interrogate him on the subject. + +It was evidently the intention of the officer of chasseurs that his +own anxieties should in no way cast a shade over the festivities; +and, as he was a personage whom almost the population of a world +in itself was wont to obey, the gayety of the ball was not for +a moment checked. + +Nevertheless, General Kissoff waited until the officer to whom +he had just communicated the dispatch forwarded from Tomsk should give +him permission to withdraw; but the latter still remained silent. +He had taken the telegram, he had read it carefully, +and his visage became even more clouded than before. +Involuntarily he sought the hilt of his sword, and then +passed his hand for an instant before his eyes, as though, +dazzled by the brilliancy of the light, he wished to shade them, +the better to see into the recesses of his own mind. + +"We are, then," he continued, after having drawn General Kissoff +aside towards a window, "since yesterday without intelligence +from the Grand Duke?" + +"Without any, sire; and it is to be feared that in a short time +dispatches will no longer cross the Siberian frontier." + +"But have not the troops of the provinces of Amoor and Irkutsk, +as those also of the Trans-Balkan territory, received orders +to march immediately upon Irkutsk?" + +"The orders were transmitted by the last telegram we were able +to send beyond Lake Baikal." + +"And the governments of Yeniseisk, Omsk, Semipolatinsk, +and Tobolsk--are we still in direct communication with them +as before the insurrection?" + +"Yes, sire; our dispatches have reached them, and we are assured +at the present moment that the Tartars have not advanced beyond +the Irtish and the Obi." + +"And the traitor Ivan Ogareff, are there no tidings of him?" + +"None," replied General Kissoff. "The head of the police cannot +state whether or not he has crossed the frontier." + +"Let a description of him be immediately dispatched to +Nijni-Novgorod, Perm, Ekaterenburg, Kasirnov, Tioumen, Ishim, Omsk, Tomsk, +and to all the telegraphic stations with which communication +is yet open." + +"Your majesty's orders shall be instantly carried out." + +"You will observe the strictest silence as to this." + +The General, having made a sign of respectful assent, bowing low, +mingled with the crowd, and finally left the apartments without +his departure being remarked. + +The officer remained absorbed in thought for a few moments, when, +recovering himself, he went among the various groups in the saloon, +his countenance reassuming that calm aspect which had for an +instant been disturbed. + +Nevertheless, the important occurrence which had occasioned +these rapidly exchanged words was not so unknown as the officer +of the chasseurs of the guard and General Kissoff had +possibly supposed. It was not spoken of officially, it is true, +nor even officiously, since tongues were not free; but a few +exalted personages had been informed, more or less exactly, +of the events which had taken place beyond the frontier. +At any rate, that which was only slightly known, that which was not +matter of conversation even between members of the corps diplomatique, +two guests, distinguished by no uniform, no decoration, +at this reception in the New Palace, discussed in a low voice, +and with apparently very correct information. + +By what means, by the exercise of what acuteness had these two ordinary +mortals ascertained that which so many persons of the highest rank +and importance scarcely even suspected? It is impossible to say. +Had they the gifts of foreknowledge and foresight? Did they +possess a supplementary sense, which enabled them to see beyond +that limited horizon which bounds all human gaze? Had they obtained +a peculiar power of divining the most secret events? Was it owing +to the habit, now become a second nature, of living on information, +that their mental constitution had thus become really transformed? +It was difficult to escape from this conclusion. + +Of these two men, the one was English, the other French; both were tall +and thin, but the latter was sallow as are the southern Provencals, +while the former was ruddy like a Lancashire gentleman. +The Anglo-Norman, formal, cold, grave, parsimonious of gestures +and words, appeared only to speak or gesticulate under +the influence of a spring operating at regular intervals. +The Gaul, on the contrary, lively and petulant, expressed himself +with lips, eyes, hands, all at once, having twenty different +ways of explaining his thoughts, whereas his interlocutor seemed +to have only one, immutably stereotyped on his brain. + +The strong contrast they presented would at once have struck the most +superficial observer; but a physiognomist, regarding them closely, +would have defined their particular characteristics by saying, +that if the Frenchman was "all eyes," the Englishman was "all ears." + +In fact, the visual apparatus of the one had been singularly +perfected by practice. The sensibility of its retina must +have been as instantaneous as that of those conjurors who +recognize a card merely by a rapid movement in cutting the pack +or by the arrangement only of marks invisible to others. +The Frenchman indeed possessed in the highest degree what may +be called "the memory of the eye." + +The Englishman, on the contrary, appeared especially organized +to listen and to hear. When his aural apparatus had been once +struck by the sound of a voice he could not forget it, and after ten +or even twenty years he would have recognized it among a thousand. +His ears, to be sure, had not the power of moving as freely +as those of animals who are provided with large auditory flaps; +but, since scientific men know that human ears possess, in fact, +a very limited power of movement, we should not be far wrong +in affirming that those of the said Englishman became erect, +and turned in all directions while endeavoring to gather +in the sounds, in a manner apparent only to the naturalist. +It must be observed that this perfection of sight and hearing +was of wonderful assistance to these two men in their vocation, +for the Englishman acted as correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, +and the Frenchman, as correspondent of what newspaper, +or of what newspapers, he did not say; and when asked, +he replied in a jocular manner that he corresponded with "his +cousin Madeleine." This Frenchman, however, neath his +careless surface, was wonderfully shrewd and sagacious. +Even while speaking at random, perhaps the better to hide his desire +to learn, he never forgot himself. His loquacity even helped him +to conceal his thoughts, and he was perhaps even more discreet +than his confrere of the Daily Telegraph. Both were present +at this fete given at the New Palace on the night of the 15th +of July in their character of reporters. + +It is needless to say that these two men were devoted to their mission +in the world--that they delighted to throw themselves in the track +of the most unexpected intelligence--that nothing terrified or +discouraged them from succeeding--that they possessed the imperturbable +sang froid and the genuine intrepidity of men of their calling. +Enthusiastic jockeys in this steeplechase, this hunt after information, +they leaped hedges, crossed rivers, sprang over fences, with the ardor +of pure-blooded racers, who will run "a good first" or die! + +Their journals did not restrict them with regard to money-- +the surest, the most rapid, the most perfect element of information +known to this day. It must also be added, to their honor, +that neither the one nor the other ever looked over or listened +at the walls of private life, and that they only exercised +their vocation when political or social interests were at stake. +In a word, they made what has been for some years called "the +great political and military reports." + +It will be seen, in following them, that they had generally an +independent mode of viewing events, and, above all, their consequences, +each having his own way of observing and appreciating. + +The French correspondent was named Alcide Jolivet. Harry Blount +was the name of the Englishman. They had just met for the first time +at this fete in the New Palace, of which they had been ordered to give +an account in their papers. The dissimilarity of their characters, +added to a certain amount of jealousy, which generally exists +between rivals in the same calling, might have rendered them +but little sympathetic. However, they did not avoid each other, +but endeavored rather to exchange with each other the chat of the day. +They were sportsmen, after all, hunting on the same ground. +That which one missed might be advantageously secured by the other, +and it was to their interest to meet and converse. + +This evening they were both on the look out; they felt, in fact, +that there was something in the air. + +"Even should it be only a wildgoose chase," said Alcide Jolivet +to himself, "it may be worth powder and shot." + +The two correspondents therefore began by cautiously sounding each other. + +"Really, my dear sir, this little fete is charming!" +said Alcide Jolivet pleasantly, thinking himself obliged to begin +the conversation with this eminently French phrase. + +"I have telegraphed already, 'splendid!'" replied Harry Blount calmly, +employing the word specially devoted to expressing admiration by all +subjects of the United Kingdom. + +"Nevertheless," added Alcide Jolivet, "I felt compelled to remark +to my cousin--" + +"Your cousin?" repeated Harry Blount in a tone of surprise, +interrupting his brother of the pen. + +"Yes," returned Alcide Jolivet, "my cousin Madeleine. It is with her +that I correspond, and she likes to be quickly and well informed, +does my cousin. I therefore remarked to her that, during this fete, +a sort of cloud had appeared to overshadow the sovereign's brow." + +"To me, it seemed radiant," replied Harry Blount, who perhaps, +wished to conceal his real opinion on this topic. + +"And, naturally, you made it 'radiant,' in the columns of +the Daily Telegraph." + +"Exactly." + +"Do you remember, Mr. Blount, what occurred at Zakret in 1812?" + +"I remember it as well as if I had been there, sir," +replied the English correspondent. + +"Then," continued Alcide Jolivet, "you know that, in the middle of a +fete given in his honor, it was announced to the Emperor Alexander +that Napoleon had just crossed the Niemen with the vanguard of +the French army. Nevertheless the Emperor did not leave the fete, +and notwithstanding the extreme gravity of intelligence which might cost +him his empire, he did not allow himself to show more uneasiness." + +"Than our host exhibited when General Kissoff informed him +that the telegraphic wires had just been cut between the frontier +and the government of Irkutsk." + +"Ah! you are aware of that?" + +"I am!" + +"As regards myself, it would be difficult to avoid knowing it, +since my last telegram reached Udinsk," observed Alcide Jolivet, +with some satisfaction. + +"And mine only as far as Krasnoiarsk," answered Harry Blount, +in a no less satisfied tone. + +"Then you know also that orders have been sent to the +troops of Nikolaevsk?" + +"I do, sir; and at the same time a telegram was sent to the Cossacks +of the government of Tobolsk to concentrate their forces." + +"Nothing can be more true, Mr. Blount; I was equally well acquainted +with these measures, and you may be sure that my dear cousin shall +know of them to-morrow." + +"Exactly as the readers of the Daily Telegraph shall know +it also, M. Jolivet." + +"Well, when one sees all that is going on. . . ." + +"And when one hears all that is said. . . ." + +"An interesting campaign to follow, Mr. Blount." + +"I shall follow it, M. Jolivet!" + +"Then it is possible that we shall find ourselves on ground +less safe, perhaps, than the floor of this ball-room." + +"Less safe, certainly, but--" + +"But much less slippery," added Alcide Jolivet, holding up his companion, +just as the latter, drawing back, was about to lose his equilibrium. + +Thereupon the two correspondents separated, pleased that the one +had not stolen a march on the other. + +At that moment the doors of the rooms adjoining the great reception +saloon were thrown open, disclosing to view several immense tables +beautifully laid out, and groaning under a profusion of valuable +china and gold plate. On the central table, reserved for +the princes, princesses, and members of the corps diplomatique, +glittered an epergne of inestimable price, brought from London, +and around this chef-d'oeuvre of chased gold reflected under +the light of the lusters a thousand pieces of most beautiful +service from the manufactories of Sevres. + +The guests of the New Palace immediately began to stream +towards the supper-rooms. + +At that moment. General Kissoff, who had just re-entered, quickly +approached the officer of chasseurs. + +"Well?" asked the latter abruptly, as he had done the former time. + +"Telegrams pass Tomsk no longer, sire." + +"A courier this moment!" + +The officer left the hall and entered a large antechamber adjoining. +It was a cabinet with plain oak furniture, situated in an angle of +the New Palace. Several pictures, amongst others some by Horace Vernet, +hung on the wall. + +The officer hastily opened a window, as if he felt the want +of air, and stepped out on a balcony to breathe the pure +atmosphere of a lovely July night. Beneath his eyes, +bathed in moonlight, lay a fortified inclosure, from which +rose two cathedrals, three palaces, and an arsenal. +Around this inclosure could be seen three distinct towns: +Kitai-Gorod, Beloi-Gorod, Zemlianai-Gorod--European, Tartar, +and Chinese quarters of great extent, commanded by towers, +belfries, minarets, and the cupolas of three hundred churches, +with green domes, surmounted by the silver cross. +A little winding river, here and there reflected the rays +of the moon. + +This river was the Moskowa; the town Moscow; the fortified inclosure +the Kremlin; and the officer of chasseurs of the guard, who, with folded +arms and thoughtful brow, was listening dreamily to the sounds floating +from the New Palace over the old Muscovite city, was the Czar. + + +CHAPTER II RUSSIANS AND TARTARS + +THE Czar had not so suddenly left the ball-room of the New Palace, +when the fete he was giving to the civil and military authorities +and principal people of Moscow was at the height of its brilliancy, +without ample cause; for he had just received information that serious +events were taking place beyond the frontiers of the Ural. It had become +evident that a formidable rebellion threatened to wrest the Siberian +provinces from the Russian crown. + +Asiatic Russia, or Siberia, covers a superficial area of 1,790,208 +square miles, and contains nearly two millions of inhabitants. +Extending from the Ural Mountains, which separate it +from Russia in Europe, to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, +it is bounded on the south by Turkestan and the Chinese Empire; +on the north by the Arctic Ocean, from the Sea of Kara +to Behring's Straits. It is divided into several governments +or provinces, those of Tobolsk, Yeniseisk, Irkutsk, Omsk, +and Yakutsk; contains two districts, Okhotsk and Kamtschatka; +and possesses two countries, now under the Muscovite dominion-- +that of the Kirghiz and that of the Tshouktshes. This immense +extent of steppes, which includes more than one hundred and +ten degrees from west to east, is a land to which criminals +and political offenders are banished. + +Two governor-generals represent the supreme authority of the Czar +over this vast country. The higher one resides at Irkutsk, +the far capital of Eastern Siberia. The River Tchouna separates +the two Siberias. + +No rail yet furrows these wide plains, some of which are in reality +extremely fertile. No iron ways lead from those precious mines +which make the Siberian soil far richer below than above its surface. +The traveler journeys in summer in a kibick or telga; in winter, +in a sledge. + +An electric telegraph, with a single wire more than eight thousand +versts in length, alone affords communication between the western +and eastern frontiers of Siberia. On issuing from the Ural, it passes +through Ekaterenburg, Kasirnov, Tioumen, Ishim, Omsk, Elamsk, Kolyvan, +Tomsk, Krasnoiarsk, Nijni-Udinsk, Irkutsk, Verkne-Nertschink, Strelink, +Albazine, Blagowstenks, Radde, Orlomskaya, Alexandrowskoe, and Nikolaevsk; +and six roubles and nineteen copecks are paid for every word sent +from one end to the other. From Irkutsk there is a branch to Kiatka, +on the Mongolian frontier; and from thence, for thirty copecks a word, +the post conveys the dispatches to Pekin in a fortnight. + +It was this wire, extending from Ekaterenburg to Nikolaevsk, +which had been cut, first beyond Tomsk, and then between +Tomsk and Kolyvan. + +This was why the Czar, to the communication made to him for +the second time by General Kissoff, had answered by the words, +"A courier this moment!" + +The Czar remained motionless at the window for a few moments, +when the door was again opened. The chief of police appeared +on the threshold. + +"Enter, General," said the Czar briefly, "and tell me all you +know of Ivan Ogareff." + +"He is an extremely dangerous man, sire," replied the chief of police. + +"He ranked as colonel, did he not?" + +"Yes, sire." + +"Was he an intelligent officer?" + +"Very intelligent, but a man whose spirit it was impossible to subdue; +and possessing an ambition which stopped at nothing, he became involved +in secret intrigues, and was degraded from his rank by his Highness +the Grand Duke, and exiled to Siberia." + +"How long ago was that?" + +"Two years since. Pardoned after six months of exile by your +majesty's favor, he returned to Russia." + +"And since that time, has he not revisited Siberia?" + +"Yes, sire; but he voluntarily returned there," replied the chief +of police, adding, and slightly lowering his voice, "there was +a time, sire, when NONE returned from Siberia." + +"Well, whilst I live, Siberia is and shall be a country whence +men CAN return." + +The Czar had the right to utter these words with some pride, +for often, by his clemency, he had shown that Russian justice +knew how to pardon. + +The head of the police did not reply to this observation, but it +was evident that he did not approve of such half-measures. According +to his idea, a man who had once passed the Ural Mountains in charge +of policemen, ought never again to cross them. Now, it was not thus +under the new reign, and the chief of police sincerely deplored it. +What! no banishment for life for other crimes than those against +social order! What! political exiles returning from Tobolsk, +from Yakutsk, from Irkutsk! In truth, the chief of police, +accustomed to the despotic sentences of the ukase which formerly +never pardoned, could not understand this mode of governing. +But he was silent, waiting until the Czar should interrogate him further. +The questions were not long in coming. + +"Did not Ivan Ogareff," asked the Czar, "return to Russia +a second time, after that journey through the Siberian provinces, +the object of which remains unknown?" + +"He did." + +"And have the police lost trace of him since?" + +"No, sire; for an offender only becomes really dangerous from the day +he has received his pardon." + +The Czar frowned. Perhaps the chief of police feared that he had +gone rather too far, though the stubbornness of his ideas was at +least equal to the boundless devotion he felt for his master. +But the Czar, disdaining to reply to these indirect +reproaches cast on his policy, continued his questions. +"Where was Ogareff last heard of?" + +"In the province of Perm." + +"In what town?" + +"At Perm itself." + +"What was he doing?" + +"He appeared unoccupied, and there was nothing suspicious +in his conduct." + +"Then he was not under the surveillance of the secret police?" + +"No, sire." + +"When did he leave Perm?" + +"About the month of March?" + +"To go...?" + +"Where, is unknown." + +"And it is not known what has become of him?" + +"No, sire; it is not known." + +"Well, then, I myself know," answered the Czar. "I have received +anonymous communications which did not pass through the police department; +and, in the face of events now taking place beyond the frontier, +I have every reason to believe that they are correct." + +"Do you mean, sire," cried the chief of police, "that Ivan Ogareff +has a hand in this Tartar rebellion?" + +"Indeed I do; and I will now tell you something which you +are ignorant of. After leaving Perm, Ivan Ogareff crossed +the Ural mountains, entered Siberia, and penetrated the +Kirghiz steppes, and there endeavored, not without success, +to foment rebellion amongst their nomadic population. +He then went so far south as free Turkestan; there, in the provinces +of Bokhara, Khokhand, and Koondooz, he found chiefs willing +to pour their Tartar hordes into Siberia, and excite a general +rising in Asiatic Russia. The storm has been silently gathering, +but it has at last burst like a thunderclap, and now all means +of communication between Eastern and Western Siberia have +been stopped. Moreover, Ivan Ogareff, thirsting for vengeance, +aims at the life of my brother!" + +The Czar had become excited whilst speaking, and now paced up +and down with hurried steps. The chief of police said nothing, +but he thought to himself that, during the time when the +emperors of Russia never pardoned an exile, schemes such +as those of Ivan Ogareff could never have been realized. +Approaching the Czar, who had thrown himself into an armchair, +he asked, "Your majesty has of course given orders so that this +rebellion may be suppressed as soon as possible?" + +"Yes," answered the Czar. "The last telegram which reached +Nijni-Udinsk would set in motion the troops in the governments +of Yenisei, Irkutsk, Yakutsk, as well as those in the provinces +of the Amoor and Lake Baikal. At the same time, the regiments +from Perm and Nijni-Novgorod, and the Cossacks from the frontier, +are advancing by forced marches towards the Ural Mountains; +but some weeks must pass before they can attack the Tartars." + +"And your majesty's brother, his Highness the Grand Duke, +is now isolated in the government of Irkutsk, and is no longer +in direct communication with Moscow?" + +"That is so." + +"But by the last dispatches, he must know what measures have +been taken by your majesty, and what help he may expect from +the governments nearest Irkutsk?" + +"He knows that," answered the Czar; "but what he does not know is, +that Ivan Ogareff, as well as being a rebel, is also playing the part +of a traitor, and that in him he has a personal and bitter enemy. +It is to the Grand Duke that Ogareff owes his first disgrace; +and what is more serious is, that this man is not known to him. +Ogareff's plan, therefore, is to go to Irkutsk, and, under an +assumed name, offer his services to the Grand Duke. Then, after gaining +his confidence, when the Tartars have invested Irkutsk, he will +betray the town, and with it my brother, whose life he seeks. +This is what I have learned from my secret intelligence; this is +what the Grand Duke does not know; and this is what he must know!" + +"Well, sire, an intelligent, courageous courier . . ." + +"I momentarily expect one." + +"And it is to be hoped he will be expeditious," added the chief +of police; "for, allow me to add, sire, that Siberia is a favorable +land for rebellions." + +"Do you mean to say. General, that the exiles would make common +cause with the rebels?" exclaimed the Czar. + +"Excuse me, your majesty," stammered the chief of police, +for that was really the idea suggested to him by his uneasy +and suspicious mind. + +"I believe in their patriotism," returned the Czar. + +"There are other offenders besides political exiles in Siberia," +said the chief of police. + +"The criminals? Oh, General, I give those up to you! +They are the vilest, I grant, of the human race. +They belong to no country. But the insurrection, or rather, +the rebellion, is not to oppose the emperor; it is raised +against Russia, against the country which the exiles have not +lost all hope of again seeing--and which they will see again. +No, a Russian would never unite with a Tartar, to weaken, +were it only for an hour, the Muscovite power!" + +The Czar was right in trusting to the patriotism of those whom +his policy kept, for a time, at a distance. Clemency, which was +the foundation of his justice, when he could himself direct its effects, +the modifications he had adopted with regard to applications for the +formerly terrible ukases, warranted the belief that he was not mistaken. +But even without this powerful element of success in regard to +the Tartar rebellion, circumstances were not the less very serious; +for it was to be feared that a large part of the Kirghiz population +would join the rebels. + +The Kirghiz are divided into three hordes, the greater, the lesser, +and the middle, and number nearly four hundred thousand "tents," +or two million souls. Of the different tribes some are independent +and others recognize either the sovereignty of Russia or that of +the Khans of Khiva, Khokhand, and Bokhara, the most formidable chiefs +of Turkestan. The middle horde, the richest, is also the largest, and its +encampments occupy all the space between the rivers Sara Sou, Irtish, +and the Upper Ishim, Lake Saisang and Lake Aksakal. The greater horde, +occupying the countries situated to the east of the middle one, extends as +far as the governments of Omsk and Tobolsk. Therefore, if the Kirghiz +population should rise, it would be the rebellion of Asiatic Russia, +and the first thing would be the separation of Siberia, to the east +of the Yenisei. + +It is true that these Kirghiz, mere novices in the art of war, are rather +nocturnal thieves and plunderers of caravans than regular soldiers. +As M. Levchine says, "a firm front or a square of good infantry could +repel ten times the number of Kirghiz; and a single cannon might destroy +a frightful number." + +That may be; but to do this it is necessary for the square of good +infantry to reach the rebellious country, and the cannon to leave +the arsenals of the Russian provinces, perhaps two or three thousand +versts distant. Now, except by the direct route from Ekaterenburg +to Irkutsk, the often marshy steppes are not easily practicable, +and some weeks must certainly pass before the Russian troops could +reach the Tartar hordes. + +Omsk is the center of that military organization of Western Siberia +which is intended to overawe the Kirghiz population. Here are +the bounds, more than once infringed by the half-subdued nomads, +and there was every reason to believe that Omsk was already in danger. +The line of military stations, that is to say, those Cossack +posts which are ranged in echelon from Omsk to Semipolatinsk, +must have been broken in several places. Now, it was to be +feared that the "Grand Sultans," who govern the Kirghiz +districts would either voluntarily accept, or involuntarily +submit to, the dominion of Tartars, Mussulmen like themselves, +and that to the hate caused by slavery was not united the hate +due to the antagonism of the Greek and Mussulman religions. +For some time, indeed, the Tartars of Turkestan had endeavored, +both by force and persuasion, to subdue the Kirghiz hordes. + +A few words only with respect to these Tartars. The Tartars +belong more especially to two distinct races, the Caucasian and +the Mongolian. The Caucasian race, which, as Abel de Remusat says, +"is regarded in Europe as the type of beauty in our species, +because all the nations in this part of the world have sprung from it," +includes also the Turks and the Persians. The purely Mongolian +race comprises the Mongols, Manchoux, and Thibetans. + +The Tartars who now threatened the Russian Empire, belonged to +the Caucasian race, and occupied Turkestan. This immense +country is divided into different states, governed by Khans, +and hence termed Khanats. The principal khanats are +those of Bokhara, Khokhand, Koondooz, etc. At this period, +the most important and the most formidable khanat was that +of Bokhara. Russia had already been several times at war +with its chiefs, who, for their own interests, had supported +the independence of the Kirghiz against the Muscovite dominion. +The present chief, Feofar-Khan, followed in the steps +of his predecessors. + +The khanat of Bokhara has a population of two million five +hundred thousand inhabitants, an army of sixty thousand men, +trebled in time of war, and thirty thousand horsemen. +It is a rich country, with varied animal, vegetable, +and mineral products, and has been increased by the accession +of the territories of Balkh, Aukoi, and Meimaneh. It possesses +nineteen large towns. Bokhara, surrounded by a wall measuring +more than eight English miles, and flanked with towers, +a glorious city, made illustrious by Avicenna and other +learned men of the tenth century, is regarded as the center +of Mussulman science, and ranks among the most celebrated +cities of Central Asia. Samarcand, which contains the tomb +of Tamerlane and the famous palace where the blue stone is kept +on which each new khan must seat himself on his accession, +is defended by a very strong citadel. Karschi, with its +triple cordon, situated in an oasis, surrounded by a marsh +peopled with tortoises and lizards, is almost impregnable, +Is-chardjoui is defended by a population of twenty thousand souls. +Protected by its mountains, and isolated by its steppes, +the khanat of Bokhara is a most formidable state; and Russia +would need a large force to subdue it. + +The fierce and ambitious Feofar now governed this corner +of Tartary. Relying on the other khans--principally those of Khokhand +and Koondooz, cruel and rapacious warriors, all ready to join +an enterprise so dear to Tartar instincts--aided by the chiefs +who ruled all the hordes of Central Asia, he had placed himself at +the head of the rebellion of which Ivan Ogareff was the instigator. +This traitor, impelled by insane ambition as much as by hate, +had ordered the movement so as to attack Siberia. Mad indeed +he was, if he hoped to rupture the Muscovite Empire. Acting under +his suggestion, the Emir--which is the title taken by the khans +of Bokhara--had poured his hordes over the Russian frontier. +He invaded the government of Semipolatinsk, and the Cossacks, +who were only in small force there, had been obliged to retire +before him. He had advanced farther than Lake Balkhash, +gaining over the Kirghiz population on his way. Pillaging, ravaging, +enrolling those who submitted, taking prisoners those who resisted, +he marched from one town to another, followed by those impedimenta +of Oriental sovereignty which may be called his household, +his wives and his slaves--all with the cool audacity of a modern +Ghengis-Khan. It was impossible to ascertain where he now was; +how far his soldiers had marched before the news of the rebellion +reached Moscow; or to what part of Siberia the Russian troops +had been forced to retire. All communication was interrupted. +Had the wire between Kolyvan and Tomsk been cut by Tartar scouts, +or had the Emir himself arrived at the Yeniseisk provinces? +Was all the lower part of Western Siberia in a ferment? +Had the rebellion already spread to the eastern regions? +No one could say. The only agent which fears neither cold nor heat, +which can neither be stopped by the rigors of winter nor the heat +of summer, and which flies with the rapidity of lightning-- +the electric current--was prevented from traversing the steppes, +and it was no longer possible to warn the Grand Duke, shut up +in Irkutsk, of the danger threatening him from the treason +of Ivan Ogareff. + +A courier only could supply the place of the interrupted current. +It would take this man some time to traverse the five thousand two hundred +versts between Moscow and Irkutsk. To pass the ranks of the rebels +and invaders he must display almost superhuman courage and intelligence. +But with a clear head and a firm heart much can be done. + +"Shall I be able to find this head and heart?" thought the Czar. + + +CHAPTER III MICHAEL STROGOFF MEETS THE CZAR + +THE door of the imperial cabinet was again opened and +General Kissoff was announced. + +"The courier?" inquired the Czar eagerly. + +"He is here, sire," replied General Kissoff. + +"Have you found a fitting man?" + +"I will answer for him to your majesty." + +"Has he been in the service of the Palace?" + +"Yes, sire." + +"You know him?" + +"Personally, and at various times he has fulfilled difficult +missions with success." + +"Abroad?" + +"In Siberia itself." + +"Where does he come from?" + +"From Omsk. He is a Siberian." + +"Has he coolness, intelligence, courage?" + +"Yes, sire; he has all the qualities necessary to succeed, +even where others might possibly fail." + +"What is his age?" + +"Thirty." + +"Is he strong and vigorous?" + +"Sire, he can bear cold, hunger, thirst, fatigue, to the +very last extremities." + +"He must have a frame of iron." + +"Sire, he has." + +"And a heart?" + +"A heart of gold." + +"His name?" + +"Michael Strogoff." + +"Is he ready to set out?" + +"He awaits your majesty's orders in the guard-room." + +"Let him come in," said the Czar. + +In a few moments Michael Strogoff, the courier, entered the imperial +library. He was a tall, vigorous, broad-shouldered, deep-chested man. +His powerful head possessed the fine features of the Caucasian race. +His well-knit frame seemed built for the performance of feats +of strength. It would have been a difficult task to move such a man +against his will, for when his feet were once planted on the ground, +it was as if they had taken root. As he doffed his Muscovite cap, +locks of thick curly hair fell over his broad, massive forehead. +When his ordinarily pale face became at all flushed, +it arose solely from a more rapid action of the heart. +His eyes, of a deep blue, looked with clear, frank, firm gaze. +The slightly-contracted eyebrows indicated lofty heroism--"the hero's +cool courage," according to the definition of the physiologist. +He possessed a fine nose, with large nostrils; and a well-shaped mouth, +with the slightly-projecting lips which denote a generous +and noble heart. + +Michael Strogoff had the temperament of the man of action, who does +not bite his nails or scratch his head in doubt and indecision. +Sparing of gestures as of words, he always stood motionless like a soldier +before his superior; but when he moved, his step showed a firmness, +a freedom of movement, which proved the confidence and vivacity +of his mind. + +Michael Strogoff wore a handsome military uniform something +resembling that of a light-cavalry officer in the field-- +boots, spurs, half tightly-fitting trousers, brown pelisse, +trimmed with fur and ornamented with yellow braid. +On his breast glittered a cross and several medals. + +Michael Strogoff belonged to the special corps of the Czar's +couriers, ranking as an officer among those picked men. +His most discernible characteristic--particularly in his walk, +his face, in the whole man, and which the Czar perceived +at a glance--was, that he was "a fulfiller of orders." +He therefore possessed one of the most serviceable qualities +in Russia--one which, as the celebrated novelist Tourgueneff says, +"will lead to the highest positions in the Muscovite empire." + +In short, if anyone could accomplish this journey from Moscow +to Irkutsk, across a rebellious country, surmount obstacles, +and brave perils of all sorts, Michael Strogoff was the man. + +A circumstance especially favorable to the success of his plan was, +that he was thoroughly acquainted with the country which he was +about to traverse, and understood its different dialects-- +not only from having traveled there before, but because he was +of Siberian origin. + +His father--old Peter Strogoff, dead ten years since-- +inhabited the town of Omsk, situated in the government of the +same name; and his mother, Marfa Strogoff, lived there still. +There, amid the wild steppes of the provinces of Omsk and Tobolsk, +had the famous huntsman brought up his son Michael to endure hardship. +Peter Strogoff was a huntsman by profession. Summer and winter-- +in the burning heat, as well as when the cold was sometimes fifty +degrees below zero--he scoured the frozen plains, the thickets of +birch and larch, the pine forests; setting traps; watching for small +game with his gun, and for large game with the spear or knife. +The large game was nothing less than the Siberian bear, a formidable +and ferocious animal, in size equaling its fellow of the frozen seas. +Peter Strogoff had killed more than thirty-nine bears--that is +to say, the fortieth had fallen under his blows; and, according to +Russian legends, most huntsmen who have been lucky enough up +to the thirty-ninth bear, have succumbed to the fortieth. + +Peter Strogoff had, however, passed the fatal number without even +a scratch. From that time, his son Michael, aged eleven years, +never failed to accompany him to the hunt, carrying the ragatina +or spear to aid his father, who was armed only with the knife. +When he was fourteen, Michael Strogoff had killed his first bear, +quite alone--that was nothing; but after stripping it he dragged +the gigantic animal's skin to his father's house, many versts distant, +exhibiting remarkable strength in a boy so young. + +This style of life was of great benefit to him, and when he arrived +at manhood he could bear any amount of cold, heat, hunger, thirst, +or fatigue. Like the Yakout of the northern countries, he was +made of iron. He could go four-and-twenty hours without eating, +ten nights without sleeping, and could make himself a shelter +in the open steppe where others would have been frozen to death. +Gifted with marvelous acuteness, guided by the instinct of the Delaware +of North America, over the white plain, when every object is hidden +in mist, or even in higher latitudes, where the polar night is +prolonged for many days, he could find his way when others would +have had no idea whither to turn. All his father's secrets were +known to him. He had learnt to read almost imperceptible signs-- +the forms of icicles, the appearance of the small branches of trees, +mists rising far away in the horizon, vague sounds in the air, +distant reports, the flight of birds through the foggy atmosphere, +a thousand circumstances which are so many words to those who can +decipher them. Moreover, tempered by snow like a Damascus blade +in the waters of Syria, he had a frame of iron, as General Kissoff +had said, and, what was no less true, a heart of gold. + +The only sentiment of love felt by Michael Strogoff was that which +he entertained for his mother, the aged Marfa, who could never be +induced to leave the house of the Strogoffs, at Omsk, on the banks of +the Irtish, where the old huntsman and she had lived so long together. +When her son left her, he went away with a full heart, but promising +to come and see her whenever he could possibly do so; and this promise +he had always religiously kept. + +When Michael was twenty, it was decided that he should enter +the personal service of the Emperor of Russia, in the corps +of the couriers of the Czar. The hardy, intelligent, zealous, +well-conducted young Siberian first distinguished himself especially, +in a journey to the Caucasus, through the midst of a difficult country, +ravaged by some restless successors of Schamyl; then later, +in an important mission to Petropolowski, in Kamtschatka, +the extreme limit of Asiatic Russia. During these long journeys +he displayed such marvelous coolness, prudence, and courage, +as to gain him the approbation and protection of his chiefs, +who rapidly advanced him in his profession. + +The furloughs which were his due after these distant missions, +he never failed to devote to his old mother. Having been much employed +in the south of the empire, he had not seen old Marfa for three years-- +three ages!--the first time in his life he had been so long absent +from her. Now, however, in a few days he would obtain his furlough, +and he had accordingly already made preparations for departure +for Omsk, when the events which have been related occurred. +Michael Strogoff was therefore introduced into the Czar's presence +in complete ignorance of what the emperor expected from him. + +The Czar fixed a penetrating look upon him without uttering a word, +whilst Michael stood perfectly motionless. + +The Czar, apparently satisfied with his scrutiny, motioned to the chief +of police to seat himself, and dictated in a low voice a letter of not +more than a few lines. + +The letter penned, the Czar re-read it attentively, then signed it, +preceding his name with the words "Byt po semou," which, signifying "So +be it," constitutes the decisive formula of the Russian emperors. + +The letter was then placed in an envelope, which was sealed +with the imperial arms. + +The Czar, rising, told Michael Strogoff to draw near. + +Michael advanced a few steps, and then stood motionless, +ready to answer. + +The Czar again looked him full in the face and their eyes met. +Then in an abrupt tone, "Thy name?" he asked. + +"Michael Strogoff, sire." + +"Thy rank?" + +"Captain in the corps of couriers of the Czar." + +"Thou dost know Siberia?" + +"I am a Siberian." + +"A native of?" + +"Omsk, sire." + +"Hast thou relations there?" + +"Yes sire." + +"What relations?" + +"My old mother." + +The Czar suspended his questions for a moment. Then, pointing to the +letter which he held in his hand, "Here is a letter which I charge thee, +Michael Strogoff, to deliver into the hands of the Grand Duke, +and to no other but him." + +"I will deliver it, sire." + +"The Grand Duke is at Irkutsk." + +"I will go to Irkutsk." + +"Thou wilt have to traverse a rebellious country, invaded by Tartars, +whose interest it will be to intercept this letter." + +"I will traverse it." + +"Above all, beware of the traitor, Ivan Ogareff, who will perhaps +meet thee on the way." + +"I will beware of him." + +"Wilt thou pass through Omsk?" + +"Sire, that is my route." + +"If thou dost see thy mother, there will be the risk of being recognized. +Thou must not see her!" + +Michael Strogoff hesitated a moment. + +"I will not see her," said he. + +"Swear to me that nothing will make thee acknowledge who thou art, +nor whither thou art going." + +"I swear it." + +"Michael Strogoff," continued the Czar, giving the letter to the young +courier, "take this letter; on it depends the safety of all Siberia, +and perhaps the life of my brother the Grand Duke." + +"This letter shall be delivered to his Highness the Grand Duke." + +"Then thou wilt pass whatever happens?" + +"I shall pass, or they shall kill me." + +"I want thee to live." + +"I shall live, and I shall pass," answered Michael Strogoff. + +The Czar appeared satisfied with Strogoff's calm and simple answer. + +"Go then, Michael Strogoff," said he, "go for God, for Russia, +for my brother, and for myself!" + +The courier, having saluted his sovereign, immediately left +the imperial cabinet, and, in a few minutes, the New Palace. + +"You made a good choice there, General," said the Czar. + +"I think so, sire," replied General Kissoff; "and your majesty +may be sure that Michael Strogoff will do all that a man can do." + +"He is indeed a man," said the Czar. + + +CHAPTER IV FROM MOSCOW TO NIJNI-NOVGOROD + +THE distance between Moscow and Irkutsk, about to be traversed +by Michael Strogoff, was three thousand four hundred miles. +Before the telegraph wire extended from the Ural Mountains to +the eastern frontier of Siberia, the dispatch service was performed +by couriers, those who traveled the most rapidly taking eighteen +days to get from Moscow to Irkutsk. But this was the exception, +and the journey through Asiatic Russia usually occupied from four +to five weeks, even though every available means of transport +was placed at the disposal of the Czar's messengers. + +Michael Strogoff was a man who feared neither frost nor snow. +He would have preferred traveling during the severe winter season, +in order that he might perform the whole distance by sleighs. +At that period of the year the difficulties which all other means +of locomotion present are greatly diminished, the wide steppes +being leveled by snow, while there are no rivers to cross, +but simply sheets of glass, over which the sleigh glides +rapidly and easily. + +Perhaps certain natural phenomena are most to be feared at that time, +such as long-continuing and dense fogs, excessive cold, fearfully heavy +snow-storms, which sometimes envelop whole caravans and cause +their destruction. Hungry wolves also roam over the plain in thousands. +But it would have been better for Michael Strogoff to face these risks; +for during the winter the Tartar invaders would have been stationed +in the towns, any movement of their troops would have been impracticable, +and he could consequently have more easily performed his journey. +But it was not in his power to choose either weather or time. +Whatever the circumstances, he must accept them and set out. + +Such were the difficulties which Michael Strogoff boldly confronted +and prepared to encounter. + +In the first place, he must not travel as a courier of the Czar +usually would. No one must even suspect what he really was. +Spies swarm in a rebellious country; let him be recognized, +and his mission would be in danger. Also, while supplying him +with a large sum of money, which was sufficient for his journey, +and would facilitate it in some measure, General Kissoff +had not given him any document notifying that he was on +the Emperor's service, which is the Sesame par excellence. +He contented himself with furnishing him with a "podorojna." + +This podorojna was made out in the name of Nicholas Korpanoff, merchant, +living at Irkutsk. It authorized Nicholas Korpanoff to be accompanied +by one or more persons, and, moreover, it was, by special notification, +made available in the event of the Muscovite government forbidding +natives of any other countries to leave Russia. + +The podorojna is simply a permission to take post-horses; +but Michael Strogoff was not to use it unless he was sure that +by so doing he would not excite suspicion as to his mission, +that is to say, whilst he was on European territory. +The consequence was that in Siberia, whilst traversing +the insurgent provinces, he would have no power over the relays, +either in the choice of horses in preference to others, +or in demanding conveyances for his personal use; neither was +Michael Strogoff to forget that he was no longer a courier, +but a plain merchant, Nicholas Korpanoff, traveling from Moscow +to Irkutsk, and, as such exposed to all the impediments +of an ordinary journey. + +To pass unknown, more or less rapidly, but to pass somehow, +such were the directions he had received. + +Thirty years previously, the escort of a traveler of rank consisted +of not less than two hundred mounted Cossacks, two hundred foot-soldiers, +twenty-five Baskir horsemen, three hundred camels, four hundred horses, +twenty-five wagons, two portable boats, and two pieces of cannon. +All this was requisite for a journey in Siberia. + +Michael Strogoff, however, had neither cannon, nor horsemen, +nor foot-soldiers, nor beasts of burden. He would travel +in a carriage or on horseback, when he could; on foot, +when he could not. + +There would be no difficulty in getting over the first thousand miles, +the distance between Moscow and the Russian frontier. +Railroads, post-carriages, steamboats, relays of horses, +were at everyone's disposal, and consequently at the disposal +of the courier of the Czar. + +Accordingly, on the morning of the 16th of July, having doffed +his uniform, with a knapsack on his back, dressed in the simple +Russian costume--tightly-fitting tunic, the traditional belt of +the Moujik, wide trousers, gartered at the knees, and high boots-- +Michael Strogoff arrived at the station in time for the first train. +He carried no arms, openly at least, but under his belt was +hidden a revolver and in his pocket, one of those large knives, +resembling both a cutlass and a yataghan, with which a Siberian +hunter can so neatly disembowel a bear, without injuring +its precious fur. + +A crowd of travelers had collected at the Moscow station. +The stations on the Russian railroads are much used as places +for meeting, not only by those who are about to proceed +by the train, but by friends who come to see them off. +The station resembles, from the variety of characters assembled, +a small news exchange. + +The train in which Michael took his place was to set him down at +Nijni-Novgorod. There terminated at that time, the iron road which, +uniting Moscow and St. Petersburg, has since been continued +to the Russian frontier. It was a journey of under three +hundred miles, and the train would accomplish it in ten hours. +Once arrived at Nijni-Novgorod, Strogoff would either take +the land route or the steamer on the Volga, so as to reach +the Ural Mountains as soon as possible. + +Michael Strogoff ensconced himself in his corner, like a worthy +citizen whose affairs go well with him, and who endeavors to kill +time by sleep. Nevertheless, as he was not alone in his compartment, +he slept with one eye open, and listened with both his ears. + +In fact, rumor of the rising of the Kirghiz hordes, and of the Tartar +invasion had transpired in some degree. The occupants of the carriage, +whom chance had made his traveling companions, discussed the subject, +though with that caution which has become habitual among Russians, +who know that spies are ever on the watch for any treasonable expressions +which may be uttered. + +These travelers, as well as the large number of persons +in the train, were merchants on their way to the celebrated +fair of Nijni-Novgorod;--a very mixed assembly, composed of +Jews, Turks, Cossacks, Russians, Georgians, Kalmucks, and others, +but nearly all speaking the national tongue. + +They discussed the pros and cons of the serious events which +were taking place beyond the Ural, and those merchants seemed +to fear lest the government should be led to take certain +restrictive measures, especially in the provinces bordering on +the frontier--measures from which trade would certainly suffer. +They apparently thought only of the struggle from the single +point of view of their threatened interests. The presence +of a private soldier, clad in his uniform--and the importance +of a uniform in Russia is great--would have certainly been enough +to restrain the merchants' tongues. But in the compartment occupied +by Michael Strogoff, there was no one who seemed a military man, +and the Czar's courier was not the person to betray himself. +He listened, then. + +"They say that caravan teas are up," remarked a Persian, +known by his cap of Astrakhan fur, and his ample brown robe, +worn threadbare by use. + +"Oh, there's no fear of teas falling," answered an old Jew +of sullen aspect. "Those in the market at Nijni-Novgorod will +be easily cleared off by the West; but, unfortunately, it won't +be the same with Bokhara carpets." + +"What! are you expecting goods from Bokhara?" asked the Persian. + +"No, but from Samarcand, and that is even more exposed. +The idea of reckoning on the exports of a country in which the khans +are in a state of revolt from Khiva to the Chinese frontier!" + +"Well," replied the Persian, "if the carpets do not arrive, +the drafts will not arrive either, I suppose." + +"And the profits, Father Abraham!" exclaimed the little Jew, +"do you reckon them as nothing?" + +"You are right," said another; "goods from Central Asia run a great +risk in the market, and it will be the same with the tallow and shawls +from the East." + +"Why, look out, little father," said a Russian traveler, +in a bantering tone; "you'll grease your shawls terribly if you +mix them up with your tallow." + +"That amuses you," sharply answered the merchant, who had little +relish for that sort of joke. + +"Well, if you tear your hair, or if you throw ashes on your head," +replied the traveler, "will that change the course of events? +No; no more than the course of the Exchange." + +"One can easily see that you are not a merchant," observed the little Jew. + +"Faith, no, worthy son of Abraham! I sell neither hops, +nor eider-down, nor honey, nor wax, nor hemp-seed, nor salt meat, +nor caviare, nor wood, nor wool, nor ribbons, nor, hemp, nor flax, +nor morocco, nor furs." + +"But do you buy them?" asked the Persian, interrupting +the traveler's list. + +"As little as I can, and only for my own private use," +answered the other, with a wink. + +"He's a wag," said the Jew to the Persian. + +"Or a spy," replied the other, lowering his voice. +"We had better take care, and not speak more than necessary. +The police are not over-particular in these times, and you +never can know with whom you are traveling." + +In another corner of the compartment they were speaking +less of mercantile affairs, and more of the Tartar invasion +and its annoying consequences. + +"All the horses in Siberia will be requisitioned," said a traveler, +"and communication between the different provinces of Central Asia +will become very difficult." + +"Is it true," asked his neighbor, "that the Kirghiz of the middle +horde have joined the Tartars?" + +"So it is said," answered the traveler, lowering his voice; +"but who can flatter themselves that they know anything really +of what is going on in this country?" + +"I have heard speak of a concentration of troops on the frontier. +The Don Cossacks have already gathered along the course of the Volga, +and they are to be opposed to the rebel Kirghiz." + +"If the Kirghiz descend the Irtish, the route to Irkutsk will not +be safe," observed his neighbor. "Besides, yesterday I wanted +to send a telegram to Krasnoiarsk, and it could not be forwarded. +It's to be feared that before long the Tartar columns will have +isolated Eastern Siberia." + +"In short, little father," continued the first speaker, "these merchants +have good reason for being uneasy about their trade and transactions. +After requisitioning the horses, they will take the boats, carriages, +every means of transport, until presently no one will be allowed to take +even one step in all the empire." + +"I'm much afraid that the Nijni-Novgorod fair won't end as brilliantly +as it has begun," responded the other, shaking his head. +"But the safety and integrity of the Russian territory before everything. +Business is business." + +If in this compartment the subject of conversation varied but little-- +nor did it, indeed, in the other carriages of the train--in all it +might have been observed that the talkers used much circumspection. +When they did happen to venture out of the region of facts, +they never went so far as to attempt to divine the intentions +of the Muscovite government, or even to criticize them. + +This was especially remarked by a traveler in a carriage at +the front part of the train. This person--evidently a stranger-- +made good use of his eyes, and asked numberless questions, +to which he received only evasive answers. Every minute leaning +out of the window, which he would keep down, to the great disgust +of his fellow-travelers, he lost nothing of the views to the right. +He inquired the names of the most insignificant places, +their position, what were their commerce, their manufactures, +the number of their inhabitants, the average mortality, +etc., and all this he wrote down in a note-book, already full. + +This was the correspondent Alcide Jolivet, and the reason of his putting +so many insignificant questions was, that amongst the many answers +he received, he hoped to find some interesting fact "for his cousin." +But, naturally enough, he was taken for a spy, and not a word treating +of the events of the day was uttered in his hearing. + +Finding, therefore, that he could learn nothing of the Tartar +invasion, he wrote in his book, "Travelers of great discretion. +Very close as to political matters." + +Whilst Alcide Jolivet noted down his impressions thus minutely, +his confrere, in the same train, traveling for the same object, +was devoting himself to the same work of observation in +another compartment. Neither of them had seen each other +that day at the Moscow station, and they were each ignorant +that the other had set out to visit the scene of the war. +Harry Blount, speaking little, but listening much, had not inspired +his companions with the suspicions which Alcide Jolivet had aroused. +He was not taken for a spy, and therefore his neighbors, +without constraint, gossiped in his presence, allowing themselves +even to go farther than their natural caution would in most cases +have allowed them. The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph +had thus an opportunity of observing how much recent events +preoccupied the merchants of Nijni-Novgorod, and to what a degree +the commerce with Central Asia was threatened in its transit. + +He therefore noted in his book this perfectly correct observation, +"My fellow-travelers extremely anxious. Nothing is talked of but war, +and they speak of it, with a freedom which is astonishing, as having +broken out between the Volga and the Vistula." + +The readers of the Daily Telegraph would not fail to be as well informed +as Alcide Jolivet's "cousin." But as Harry Blount, seated at the left +of the train, only saw one part of the country, which was hilly, +without giving himself the trouble of looking at the right side, +which was composed of wide plains, he added, with British assurance, +"Country mountainous between Moscow and Wladimir." + +It was evident that the Russian government purposed taking severe +measures to guard against any serious eventualities even in the interior +of the empire. The rebel lion had not crossed the Siberian frontier, +but evil influences might be feared in the Volga provinces, so near +to the country of the Kirghiz. + +The police had as yet found no traces of Ivan Ogareff. It was not +known whether the traitor, calling in the foreigner to avenge his +personal rancor, had rejoined Feofar-Khan, or whether he was endeavoring +to foment a revolt in the government of Nijni-Novgorod, which at this time +of year contained a population of such diverse elements. Perhaps among +the Persians, Armenians, or Kalmucks, who flocked to the great market, +he had agents, instructed to provoke a rising in the interior. +All this was possible, especially in such a country as Russia. In fact, +this vast empire, 4,000,000 square miles in extent, does not possess +the homogeneousness of the states of Western Europe. The Russian +territory in Europe and Asia contains more than seventy millions +of inhabitants. In it thirty different languages are spoken. +The Sclavonian race predominates, no doubt, but there are +besides Russians, Poles, Lithuanians, Courlanders. Add to these, +Finns, Laplanders, Esthonians, several other northern tribes with +unpronounceable names, the Permiaks, the Germans, the Greeks, the Tartars, +the Caucasian tribes, the Mongol, Kalmuck, Samoid, Kamtschatkan, +and Aleutian hordes, and one may understand that the unity of so vast +a state must be difficult to maintain, and that it could only be +the work of time, aided by the wisdom of many successive rulers. + +Be that as it may, Ivan Ogareff had hitherto managed to escape +all search, and very probably he might have rejoined the Tartar army. +But at every station where the train stopped, inspectors came +forward who scrutinized the travelers and subjected them all to a +minute examination, as by order of the superintendent of police, +these officials were seeking Ivan Ogareff. The government, in fact, +believed it to be certain that the traitor had not yet been able to quit +European Russia. If there appeared cause to suspect any traveler, +he was carried off to explain himself at the police station, +and in the meantime the train went on its way, no person troubling +himself about the unfortunate one left behind. + +With the Russian police, which is very arbitrary, it is absolutely +useless to argue. Military rank is conferred on its employees, +and they act in military fashion. How can anyone, moreover, +help obeying, unhesitatingly, orders which emanate from a monarch +who has the right to employ this formula at the head of his ukase: +"We, by the grace of God, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias +of Moscow, Kiev, Wladimir, and Novgorod, Czar of Kasan and Astrakhan, Czar +of Poland, Czar of Siberia, Czar of the Tauric Chersonese, Seignior +of Pskov, Prince of Smolensk, Lithuania, Volkynia, Podolia, +and Finland, Prince of Esthonia, Livonia, Courland, and of Semigallia, +of Bialystok, Karelia, Sougria, Perm, Viatka, Bulgaria, and many +other countries; Lord and Sovereign Prince of the territory +of Nijni-Novgorod, Tchemigoff, Riazan, Polotsk, Rostov, +Jaroslavl, Bielozersk, Oudoria, Obdoria, Kondinia, Vitepsk, +and of Mstislaf, Governor of the Hyperborean Regions, Lord of +the countries of Iveria, Kartalinia, Grou-zinia, Kabardinia, +and Armenia, Hereditary Lord and Suzerain of the Scherkess princes, +of those of the mountains, and of others; heir of Norway, Duke of +Schleswig-Holstein, Stormarn, Dittmarsen, and Oldenburg." A powerful +lord, in truth, is he whose arms are an eagle with two heads, +holding a scepter and a globe, surrounded by the escutcheons +of Novgorod, Wladimir, Kiev, Kasan, Astrakhan, and of Siberia, +and environed by the collar of the order of St. Andrew, surmounted by +a royal crown! + +As to Michael Strogoff, his papers were in order, and he was, +consequently, free from all police supervision. + +At the station of Wladimir the train stopped for several minutes, +which appeared sufficient to enable the correspondent of +the Daily Telegraph to take a twofold view, physical and moral, +and to form a complete estimate of this ancient capital of Russia. + +At the Wladimir station fresh travelers joined the train. +Among others, a young girl entered the compartment occupied by +Michael Strogoff. A vacant place was found opposite the courier. +The young girl took it, after placing by her side a modest traveling-bag +of red leather, which seemed to constitute all her luggage. +Then seating herself with downcast eyes, not even glancing +at the fellow-travelers whom chance had given her, she prepared +for a journey which was still to last several hours. + +Michael Strogoff could not help looking attentively at his +newly-arrived fellow-traveler. As she was so placed as to travel +with her back to the engine, he even offered her his seat, +which he might prefer to her own, but she thanked him with a +slight bend of her graceful neck. + +The young girl appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years of age. +Her head, truly charming, was of the purest Sclavonic type-- +slightly severe, and likely in a few summers to unfold into beauty +rather than mere prettiness. From beneath a sort of kerchief +which she wore on her head escaped in profusion light golden hair. +Her eyes were brown, soft, and expressive of much sweetness of temper. +The nose was straight, and attached to her pale and somewhat thin +cheeks by delicately mobile nostrils. The lips were finely cut, +but it seemed as if they had long since forgotten how to smile. + +The young traveler was tall and upright, as far as could be judged +of her figure from the very simple and ample pelisse that covered her. +Although she was still a very young girl in the literal sense of the term, +the development of her high forehead and clearly-cut features +gave the idea that she was the possessor of great moral energy-- +a point which did not escape Michael Strogoff. Evidently this +young girl had already suffered in the past, and the future +doubtless did not present itself to her in glowing colors; but she +had surely known how to struggle still with the trials of life. +Her energy was evidently both prompt and persistent, and her +calmness unalterable, even under circumstances in which a man would +be likely to give way or lose his self-command. + +Such was the impression which she produced at first sight. +Michael Strogoff, being himself of an energetic temperament, +was naturally struck by the character of her physiognomy, and, +while taking care not to cause her annoyance by a too persistent gaze, +he observed his neighbor with no small interest. The costume +of the young traveler was both extremely simple and appropriate. +She was not rich--that could be easily seen; but not the slightest +mark of negligence was to be discerned in her dress. +All her luggage was contained in the leather bag which, +for want of room, she held on her lap. + +She wore a long, dark pelisse, gracefully adjusted at the neck +by a blue tie. Under this pelisse, a short skirt, also dark, +fell over a robe which reached the ankles. Half-boots of leather, +thickly soled, as if chosen in anticipation of a long journey, +covered her small feet. + +Michael Strogoff fancied that he recognized, by certain details, +the fashion of the costume of Livonia, and thought his neighbor +a native of the Baltic provinces. + +But whither was this young girl going, alone, at an age when the fostering +care of a father, or the protection of a brother, is considered a matter +of necessity? Had she now come, after an already long journey, from the +provinces of Western Russia? Was she merely going to Nijni-Novgorod, +or was the end of her travels beyond the eastern frontiers of the empire? +Would some relation, some friend, await her arrival by the train? +Or was it not more probable, on the contrary, that she would find +herself as much isolated in the town as she was in this compartment? +It was probable. + +In fact, the effect of habits contracted in solitude was clearly +manifested in the bearing of the young girl. The manner in which +she entered the carriage and prepared herself for the journey, +the slight disturbance she caused among those around her, +the care she took not to incommode or give trouble to anyone, +all showed that she was accustomed to be alone, and to depend +on herself only. + +Michael Strogoff observed her with interest, but, himself reserved, +he sought no opportunity of accosting her. Once only, when her neighbor-- +the merchant who had jumbled together so imprudently in his remarks +tallow and shawls--being asleep, and threatening her with his great head, +which was swaying from one shoulder to the other, Michael Strogoff +awoke him somewhat roughly, and made him understand that he must +hold himself upright. + +The merchant, rude enough by nature, grumbled some words against "people +who interfere with what does not concern them," but Michael Strogoff cast +on him a glance so stern that the sleeper leant on the opposite side, +and relieved the young traveler from his unpleasant vicinity. + +The latter looked at the young man for an instant, and mute and modest +thanks were in that look. + +But a circumstance occurred which gave Strogoff a just idea +of the character of the maiden. Twelve versts before +arriving at Nijni-Novgorod, at a sharp curve of the iron way, +the train experienced a very violent shock. Then, for a minute, +it ran onto the slope of an embankment. + +Travelers more or less shaken about, cries, confusion, general disorder +in the carriages--such was the effect at first produced. +It was to be feared that some serious accident had happened. +Consequently, even before the train had stopped, the doors were opened, +and the panic-stricken passengers thought only of getting out +of the carriages. + +Michael Strogoff thought instantly of the young girl; but, while the +passengers in her compartment were precipitating themselves outside, +screaming and struggling, she had remained quietly in her place, +her face scarcely changed by a slight pallor. + +She waited--Michael Strogoff waited also. + +Both remained quiet. + +"A determined nature!" thought Michael Strogoff. + +However, all danger had quickly disappeared. A breakage of +the coupling of the luggage-van had first caused the shock to, +and then the stoppage of, the train, which in another instant +would have been thrown from the top of the embankment into a bog. +There was an hour's delay. At last, the road being cleared, +the train proceeded, and at half-past eight in the evening +arrived at the station of Nijni-Novgorod. + + +Before anyone could get out of the carriages, the inspectors of police +presented themselves at the doors and examined the passengers. + +Michael Strogoff showed his podorojna, made out in the name +of Nicholas Korpanoff. He had consequently no difficulty. +As to the other travelers in the compartment, all bound +for Nijni-Novgorod, their appearance, happily for them, +was in nowise suspicious. + +The young girl in her turn, exhibited, not a passport, since passports +are no longer required in Russia, but a permit indorsed with a +private seal, and which seemed to be of a special character. +The inspector read the permit with attention. Then, having attentively +examined the person whose description it contained: + +"You are from Riga?" he said. + +"Yes," replied the young girl. + +"You are going to Irkutsk?" + +"Yes." + +"By what route?" + +"By Perm." + +"Good!" replied the inspector. "Take care to have your permit vised, +at the police station of Nijni-Novgorod." + +The young girl bent her head in token of assent. + +Hearing these questions and replies, Michael Strogoff +experienced a mingled sentiment both of surprise and pity. +What! this young girl, alone, journeying to that far-off Siberia, +and at a time when, to its ordinary dangers, were added all the +perils of an invaded country and one in a state of insurrection! +How would she reach it? What would become of her? + +The inspection ended, the doors of the carriages were then opened, but, +before Michael Strogoff could move towards her, the young Livonian, +who had been the first to descend, had disappeared in the crowd +which thronged the platforms of the railway station. + +CHAPTER V THE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS + +NIJNI-NOVGOROD, Lower Novgorod, situate at the junction of the Volga +and the Oka, is the chief town in the district of the same name. +It was here that Michael Strogoff was obliged to leave the railway, +which at the time did not go beyond that town. Thus, as he advanced, +his traveling would become first less speedy and then less safe. + +Nijni-Novgorod, the fixed population of which is only from thirty +to thirty-five thousand inhabitants, contained at that time +more than three hundred thousand; that is to say, the population +was increased tenfold. This addition was in consequence of the +celebrated fair, which was held within the walls for three weeks. +Formerly Makariew had the benefit of this concourse of traders, +but since 1817 the fair had been removed to Nijni-Novgorod. + +Even at the late hour at which Michael Strogoff left the platform, +there was still a large number of people in the two towns, +separated by the stream of the Volga, which compose +Nijni-Novgorod. The highest of these is built on a steep rock. +and defended by a fort called in Russia "kreml." + +Michael Strogoff expected some trouble in finding a hotel, +or even an inn, to suit him. As he had not to start immediately, +for he was going to take a steamer, he was compelled to look +out for some lodging; but, before doing so, he wished to know +exactly the hour at which the steamboat would start. +He went to the office of the company whose boats plied between +Nijni-Novgorod and Perm. There, to his great annoyance, +he found that no boat started for Perm till the following +day at twelve o'clock. Seventeen hours to wait! +It was very vexatious to a man so pressed for time. +However, he never senselessly murmured. Besides, the fact was +that no other conveyance could take him so quickly either to Perm +or Kasan. It would be better, then, to wait for the steamer, +which would enable him to regain lost time. + +Here, then, was Michael Strogoff, strolling through the town +and quietly looking out for some inn in which to pass the night. +However, he troubled himself little on this score, and, but that +hunger pressed him, he would probably have wandered on till +morning in the streets of Nijni-Novgorod. He was looking +for supper rather than a bed. But he found both at the sign +of the City of Constantinople. There, the landlord offered him +a fairly comfortable room, with little furniture, it is true, +but not without an image of the Virgin, and a few saints framed +in yellow gauze. + +A goose filled with sour stuffing swimming in thick cream, +barley bread, some curds, powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon, +and a jug of kwass, the ordinary Russian beer, were placed +before him, and sufficed to satisfy his hunger. He did justice +to the meal, which was more than could be said of his neighbor +at table, who, having, in his character of "old believer" +of the sect of Raskalniks, made the vow of abstinence, +rejected the potatoes in front of him, and carefully refrained +from putting sugar in his tea. + +His supper finished, Michael Strogoff, instead of going up to his bedroom, +again strolled out into the town. But, although the long twilight +yet lingered, the crowd was already dispersing, the streets were gradually +becoming empty, and at length everyone retired to his dwelling. + +Why did not Michael Strogoff go quietly to bed, as would have seemed +more reasonable after a long railway journey? Was he thinking +of the young Livonian girl who had been his traveling companion? +Having nothing better to do, he WAS thinking of her. Did he fear that, +lost in this busy city, she might be exposed to insult? He feared so, +and with good reason. Did he hope to meet her, and, if need were, +to afford her protection? No. To meet would be difficult. +As to protection--what right had he-- + +"Alone," he said to himself, "alone, in the midst of these +wandering tribes! And yet the present dangers are nothing +compared to those she must undergo. Siberia! Irkutsk! I am +about to dare all risks for Russia, for the Czar, while she +is about to do so--For whom? For what? She is authorized +to cross the frontier! The country beyond is in revolt! +The steppes are full of Tartar bands!" + +Michael Strogoff stopped for an instant, and reflected. + +"Without doubt," thought he, "she must have determined on +undertaking her journey before the invasion. Perhaps she is +even now ignorant of what is happening. But no, that cannot be; +the merchants discussed before her the disturbances in Siberia-- +and she did not seem surprised. She did not even ask an explanation. +She must have known it then, and knowing it, is still resolute. +Poor girl! Her motive for the journey must be urgent indeed! +But though she may be brave--and she certainly is so--her strength +must fail her, and, to say nothing of dangers and obstacles, +she will be unable to endure the fatigue of such a journey. +Never can she reach Irkutsk!" + +Indulging in such reflections, Michael Strogoff wandered +on as chance led him; being well acquainted with the town, +he knew that he could easily retrace his steps. + +Having strolled on for about an hour, he seated himself +on a bench against the wall of a large wooden cottage, +which stood, with many others, on a vast open space. +He had scarcely been there five minutes when a hand was laid +heavily on his shoulder. + +"What are you doing here?" roughly demanded a tall and powerful man, +who had approached unperceived. + +"I am resting," replied Michael Strogoff. + +"Do you mean to stay all night on the bench?" + +"Yes, if I feel inclined to do so," answered Michael Strogoff, in a tone +somewhat too sharp for the simple merchant he wished to personate. + +"Come forward, then, so I can see you," said the man. + +Michael Strogoff, remembering that, above all, prudence was requisite, +instinctively drew back. "It is not necessary," he replied, +and calmly stepped back ten paces. + +The man seemed, as Michael observed him well, to have the look +of a Bohemian, such as are met at fairs, and with whom contact, +either physical or moral, is unpleasant. Then, as he looked +more attentively through the dusk, he perceived, near the cottage, +a large caravan, the usual traveling dwelling of the Zingaris or gypsies, +who swarm in Russia wherever a few copecks can be obtained. + +As the gypsy took two or three steps forward, and was about to interrogate +Michael Strogoff more closely, the door of the cottage opened. +He could just see a woman, who spoke quickly in a language which +Michael Strogoff knew to be a mixture of Mongol and Siberian. + +"Another spy! Let him alone, and come to supper. +The papluka is waiting for you." + +Michael Strogoff could not help smiling at the epithet bestowed on him, +dreading spies as he did above all else. + +In the same dialect, although his accent was very different, +the Bohemian replied in words which signify, "You are +right, Sangarre! Besides, we start to-morrow." + +"To-morrow?" repeated the woman in surprise. + +"Yes, Sangarre," replied the Bohemian; "to-morrow, and the Father +himself sends us--where we are going!" + +Thereupon the man and woman entered the cottage, and carefully +closed the door. + +"Good!" said Michael Strogoff, to himself; "if these gipsies +do not wish to be understood when they speak before me, +they had better use some other language." + +From his Siberian origin, and because he had passed his childhood in +the Steppes, Michael Strogoff, it has been said, understood almost all +the languages in usage from Tartary to the Sea of Ice. As to the exact +signification of the words he had heard, he did not trouble his head. +For why should it interest him? + +It was already late when he thought of returning to his inn to take +some repose. He followed, as he did so, the course of the Volga, +whose waters were almost hidden under the countless number of boats +floating on its bosom. + +An hour after, Michael Strogoff was sleeping soundly on one +of those Russian beds which always seem so hard to strangers, +and on the morrow, the 17th of July, he awoke at break of day. + +He had still five hours to pass in Nijni-Novgorod; it seemed to him +an age. How was he to spend the morning unless in wandering, +as he had done the evening before, through the streets? +By the time he had finished his breakfast, strapped up his bag, +had his podorojna inspected at the police office, he would have +nothing to do but start. But he was not a man to lie in bed after +the sun had risen; so he rose, dressed himself, placed the letter +with the imperial arms on it carefully at the bottom of its usual +pocket within the lining of his coat, over which he fastened +his belt; he then closed his bag and threw it over his shoulder. +This done, he had no wish to return to the City of Constantinople, +and intending to breakfast on the bank of the Volga near the wharf, +he settled his bill and left the inn. By way of precaution, +Michael Strogoff went first to the office of the steam-packet company, +and there made sure that the Caucasus would start at the appointed hour. +As he did so, the thought for the first time struck him that, +since the young Livonian girl was going to Perm, it was very +possible that her intention was also to embark in the Caucasus, +in which case he should accompany her. + +The town above with its kremlin, whose circumference measures two versts, +and which resembles that of Moscow, was altogether abandoned. +Even the governor did not reside there. But if the town above was +like a city of the dead, the town below, at all events, was alive. + +Michael Strogoff, having crossed the Volga on a bridge of boats, +guarded by mounted Cossacks, reached the square where the evening +before he had fallen in with the gipsy camp. This was somewhat +outside the town, where the fair of Nijni-Novgorod was held. +In a vast plain rose the temporary palace of the governor-general, +where by imperial orders that great functionary resided during +the whole of the fair, which, thanks to the people who composed it, +required an ever-watchful surveillance. + +This plain was now covered with booths symmetrically arranged +in such a manner as to leave avenues broad enough to allow +the crowd to pass without a crush. + +Each group of these booths, of all sizes and shapes, formed a separate +quarter particularly dedicated to some special branch of commerce. +There was the iron quarter, the furriers' quarter, the woolen quarter, +the quarter of the wood merchants, the weavers' quarter, the dried +fish quarter, etc. Some booths were even built of fancy materials, +some of bricks of tea, others of masses of salt meat--that is to say, +of samples of the goods which the owners thus announced were there to +the purchasers--a singular, and somewhat American, mode of advertisement. + +In the avenues and long alleys there was already a large assemblage +of people--the sun, which had risen at four o'clock, being +well above the horizon--an extraordinary mixture of Europeans +and Asiatics, talking, wrangling, haranguing, and bargaining. +Everything which can be bought or sold seemed to be heaped up +in this square. Furs, precious stones, silks, Cashmere shawls, +Turkey carpets, weapons from the Caucasus, gauzes from Smyrna +and Ispahan. Tiflis armor, caravan teas. European bronzes, +Swiss clocks, velvets and silks from Lyons, English cottons, +harness, fruits, vegetables, minerals from the Ural, +malachite, lapis-lazuli, spices, perfumes, medicinal herbs, +wood, tar, rope, horn, pumpkins, water-melons, etc-- +all the products of India, China, Persia, from the shores +of the Caspian and the Black Sea, from America and Europe, +were united at this corner of the globe. + +It is scarcely possible truly to portray the moving mass of human +beings surging here and there, the excitement, the confusion, +the hubbub; demonstrative as were the natives and the inferior classes, +they were completely outdone by their visitors. There were +merchants from Central Asia, who had occupied a year in escorting +their merchandise across its vast plains, and who would not again +see their shops and counting-houses for another year to come. +In short, of such importance is this fair of Nijni-Novgorod, +that the sum total of its transactions amounts yearly to nearly +a hundred million dollars. + +On one of the open spaces between the quarters of this temporary +city were numbers of mountebanks of every description; +gypsies from the mountains, telling fortunes to the credulous fools +who are ever to be found in such assemblies; Zingaris or Tsiganes-- +a name which the Russians give to the gypsies who are the descendants +of the ancient Copts--singing their wildest melodies and dancing +their most original dances; comedians of foreign theaters, +acting Shakespeare, adapted to the taste of spectators who crowded +to witness them. In the long avenues the bear showmen accompanied +their four-footed dancers, menageries resounded with the hoarse +cries of animals under the influence of the stinging whip or red-hot +irons of the tamer; and, besides all these numberless performers, +in the middle of the central square, surrounded by a circle four deep +of enthusiastic amateurs, was a band of "mariners of the Volga," +sitting on the ground, as on the deck of their vessel, +imitating the action of rowing, guided by the stick of the master +of the orchestra, the veritable helmsman of this imaginary vessel! +A whimsical and pleasing custom! + +Suddenly, according to a time-honored observance in the fair +of Nijni-Novgorod, above the heads of the vast concourse a flock +of birds was allowed to escape from the cages in which they +had been brought to the spot. In return for a few copecks +charitably offered by some good people, the bird-fanciers opened +the prison doors of their captives, who flew out in hundreds, +uttering their joyous notes. + +It should be mentioned that England and France, at all events, were this +year represented at the great fair of Nijni-Novgorod by two of the most +distinguished products of modern civilization, Messrs. Harry Blount +and Alcide Jolivet. Jolivet, an optimist by nature, found everything +agreeable, and as by chance both lodging and food were to his taste, +he jotted down in his book some memoranda particularly favorable to +the town of Nijni-Novgorod. Blount, on the contrary, having in vain hunted +for a supper, had been obliged to find a resting-place in the open air. +He therefore looked at it all from another point of view, and was +preparing an article of the most withering character against a town +in which the landlords of the inns refused to receive travelers who only +begged leave to be flayed, "morally and physically." + +Michael Strogoff, one hand in his pocket, the other holding +his cherry-stemmed pipe, appeared the most indifferent and least +impatient of men; yet, from a certain contraction of his eyebrows +every now and then, a careful observer would have seen that he was +burning to be off. + +For two hours he kept walking about the streets, only to find +himself invariably at the fair again. As he passed among the groups +of buyers and sellers he discovered that those who came from +countries on the confines of Asia manifested great uneasiness. +Their trade was visibly suffering. Another symptom also was marked. +In Russia military uniforms appear on every occasion. Soldiers are +wont to mix freely with the crowd, the police agents being almost +invariably aided by a number of Cossacks, who, lance on shoulder, +keep order in the crowd of three hundred thousand strangers. +But on this occasion the soldiers, Cossacks and the rest, did not put +in an appearance at the great market. Doubtless, a sudden order +to move having been foreseen, they were restricted to their barracks. + +Moreover, while no soldiers were to be seen, it was not so with +their officers. Since the evening before, aides-decamp, leaving the +governor's palace, galloped in every direction. An unusual movement was +going forward which a serious state of affairs could alone account for. +There were innumerable couriers on the roads both to Wladimir +and to the Ural Mountains. The exchange of telegraphic dispatches +with Moscow was incessant. + +Michael Strogoff found himself in the central square when the report +spread that the head of police had been summoned by a courier to +the palace of the governor-general. An important dispatch from Moscow, +it was said, was the cause of it. + +"The fair is to be closed," said one. + +"The regiment of Nijni-Novgorod has received the route," declared another. + +"They say that the Tartars menace Tomsk!" + +"Here is the head of police!" was shouted on every side. +A loud clapping of hands was suddenly raised, which subsided +by degrees, and finally was succeeded by absolute silence. +The head of police arrived in the middle of the central square, +and it was seen by all that he held in his hand a dispatch. + +Then, in a loud voice, he read the following announcements: +"By order of the Governor of Nijni-Novgorod. + +"1st. All Russian subjects are forbidden to quit the province +upon any pretext whatsoever. + +"2nd. All strangers of Asiatic origin are commanded to leave +the province within twenty-four hours." + + +CHAPTER VI BROTHER AND SISTER + +HOWEVER disastrous these measures might be to private interests, +they were, under the circumstances, perfectly justifiable. + +"All Russian subjects are forbidden to leave the province;" +if Ivan Ogareff was still in the province, this would at +any rate prevent him, unless with the greatest difficulty, +from rejoining Feofar-Khan, and becoming a very formidable +lieutenant to the Tartar chief. + +"All foreigners of Asiatic origin are ordered to leave the province in +four-and-twenty hours;" this would send off in a body all the traders from +Central Asia, as well as the bands of Bohemians, gipsies, etc., having +more or less sympathy with the Tartars. So many heads, so many spies-- +undoubtedly affairs required their expulsion. + +It is easy to understand the effect produced by these two thunder-claps +bursting over a town like Nijni-Novgorod, so densely crowded +with visitors, and with a commerce so greatly surpassing that of all +other places in Russia. The natives whom business called beyond +the Siberian frontier could not leave the province for a time at least. +The tenor of the first article of the order was express; it admitted +of no exception. All private interests must yield to the public weal. +As to the second article of the proclamation, the order of +expulsion which it contained admitted of no evasion either. +It only concerned foreigners of Asiatic origin, but these could do +nothing but pack up their merchandise and go back the way they came. +As to the mountebanks, of which there were a considerable number, +they had nearly a thousand versts to go before they could reach +the nearest frontier. For them it was simply misery. + +At first there rose against this unusual measure a murmur +of protestation, a cry of despair, but this was quickly +suppressed by the presence of the Cossacks and agents of police. +Immediately, what might be called the exodus from the immense +plain began. The awnings in front of the stalls were folded up; +the theaters were taken to pieces; the fires were put out; +the acrobats' ropes were lowered; the old broken-winded +horses of the traveling vans came back from their sheds. +Agents and soldiers with whip or stick stimulated the tardy ones, +and made nothing of pulling down the tents even before the poor +Bohemians had left them. + +Under these energetic measures the square of Nijni-Novgorod would, +it was evident, be entirely evacuated before the evening, +and to the tumult of the great fair would succeed the silence +of the desert. + +It must again be repeated--for it was a necessary aggravation +of these severe measures--that to all those nomads chiefly concerned +in the order of expulsion even the steppes of Siberia were forbidden, +and they would be obliged to hasten to the south of the Caspian Sea, +either to Persia, Turkey, or the plains of Turkestan. The post +of the Ural, and the mountains which form, as it were, a prolongation +of the river along the Russian frontier, they were not allowed to pass. +They were therefore under the necessity of traveling six hundred +miles before they could tread a free soil. + +Just as the reading of the proclamation by the head of the police +came to an end, an idea darted instinctively into the mind +of Michael Strogoff. "What a singular coincidence," thought he, +"between this proclamation expelling all foreigners of Asiatic origin, +and the words exchanged last evening between those two gipsies +of the Zingari race. 'The Father himself sends us where we wish +to go,' that old man said. But 'the Father' is the emperor! +He is never called anything else among the people. How could +those gipsies have foreseen the measure taken against them? how could +they have known it beforehand, and where do they wish to go? +Those are suspicious people, and it seems to me that to them +the government proclamation must be more useful than injurious." + +But these reflections were completely dispelled by another +which drove every other thought out of Michael's mind. +He forgot the Zingaris, their suspicious words, the strange +coincidence which resulted from the proclamation. +The remembrance of the young Livonian girl suddenly rushed +into his mind. "Poor child!" he thought to himself. +"She cannot now cross the frontier." + +In truth the young girl was from Riga; she was Livonian, +consequently Russian, and now could not leave Russian territory! +The permit which had been given her before the new +measures had been promulgated was no longer available. +All the routes to Siberia had just been pitilessly closed +to her, and, whatever the motive taking her to Irkutsk, +she was now forbidden to go there. + +This thought greatly occupied Michael Strogoff. He said to himself, +vaguely at first, that, without neglecting anything of what was due +to his important mission, it would perhaps be possible for him to be +of some use to this brave girl; and this idea pleased him. Knowing how +serious were the dangers which he, an energetic and vigorous man, +would have personally to encounter, he could not conceal from himself +how infinitely greater they would prove to a young unprotected girl. +As she was going to Irkutsk, she would be obliged to follow the same +road as himself, she would have to pass through the bands of invaders, +as he was about to attempt doing himself. If, moreover, she had +at her disposal only the money necessary for a journey taken under +ordinary circumstances, how could she manage to accomplish it under +conditions which made it not only perilous but expensive? + +"Well," said he, "if she takes the route to Perm, +it is nearly impossible but that I shall fall in with her. +Then, I will watch over her without her suspecting it; +and as she appears to me as anxious as myself to reach Irkutsk, +she will cause me no delay." + +But one thought leads to another. Michael Strogoff had till now thought +only of doing a kind action; but now another idea flashed into his brain; +the question presented itself under quite a new aspect. + +"The fact is," said he to himself, "that I have much more need of her +than she can have of me. Her presence will be useful in drawing +off suspicion from me. A man traveling alone across the steppe, +may be easily guessed to be a courier of the Czar. If, on the contrary, +this young girl accompanies me, I shall appear, in the eyes of all, +the Nicholas Korpanoff of my podorojna. Therefore, she must +accompany me. Therefore, I must find her again at any cost. +It is not probable that since yesterday evening she has been able +to get a carriage and leave Nijni-Novgorod. I must look for her. +And may God guide me!" + +Michael left the great square of Nijni-Novgorod, where the tumult +produced by the carrying out of the prescribed measures had now +reached its height. Recriminations from the banished strangers, +shouts from the agents and Cossacks who were using them so brutally, +together made an indescribable uproar. The girl for whom he searched +could not be there. It was now nine o'clock in the morning. +The steamboat did not start till twelve. Michael Strogoff had +therefore nearly two hours to employ in searching for her whom +he wished to make his traveling companion. + +He crossed the Volga again and hunted through the quarters +on the other side, where the crowd was much less considerable. +He entered the churches, the natural refuge for all who weep, +for all who suffer. Nowhere did he meet with the young Livonian. + +"And yet," he repeated, "she could not have left Nijni-Novgorod yet. +We'll have another look." He wandered about thus for two hours. +He went on without stopping, feeling no fatigue, obeying a potent +instinct which allowed no room for thought. All was in vain. + +It then occurred to him that perhaps the girl had not heard +of the order--though this was improbable enough, for such a +thunder-clap could not have burst without being heard by all. +Evidently interested in knowing the smallest news from Siberia, +how could she be ignorant of the measures taken by the governor, +measures which concerned her so directly? + +But, if she was ignorant of it, she would come in an hour to the quay, +and there some merciless agent would refuse her a passage! +At any cost, he must see her beforehand, and enable her to avoid +such a repulse. + +But all his endeavors were in vain, and he at length almost despaired +of finding her again. It was eleven o'clock, and Michael thought +of presenting his podorojna at the office of the head of police. +The proclamation evidently did not concern him, since the emergency +had been foreseen for him, but he wished to make sure that nothing +would hinder his departure from the town. + +Michael then returned to the other side of the Volga, +to the quarter in which was the office of the head of police. +An immense crowd was collected there; for though all foreigners +were ordered to quit the province, they had notwithstanding +to go through certain forms before they could depart. + +Without this precaution, some Russian more or less implicated +in the Tartar movement would have been able, in a disguise, to pass +the frontier--just those whom the order wished to prevent going. +The strangers were sent away, but still had to gain permission to go. + +Mountebanks, gypsies, Tsiganes, Zingaris, mingled with merchants +from Persia, Turkey, India, Turkestan, China, filled the court +and offices of the police station. + +Everyone was in a hurry, for the means of transport would be much +sought after among this crowd of banished people, and those who did +not set about it soon ran a great risk of not being able to leave +the town in the prescribed time, which would expose them to some +brutal treatment from the governor's agents. + +Owing to the strength of his elbows Michael was able to cross the court. +But to get into the office and up to the clerk's little window was a much +more difficult business. However, a word into an inspector's ear and a +few judiciously given roubles were powerful enough to gain him a passage. +The man, after taking him into the waiting-room, went to call an +upper clerk. Michael Strogoff would not be long in making everything +right with the police and being free in his movements. + +Whilst waiting, he looked about him, and what did he see? +There, fallen, rather than seated, on a bench, was a girl, +prey to a silent despair, although her face could scarcely +be seen, the profile alone being visible against the wall. +Michael Strogoff could not be mistaken. He instantly recognized +the young Livonian. + +Not knowing the governor's orders, she had come to the police office +to get her pass signed. They had refused to sign it. No doubt +she was authorized to go to Irkutsk, but the order was peremptory-- +it annulled all previous au-thorizations, and the routes to Siberia +were closed to her. Michael, delighted at having found her again, +approached the girl. + +She looked up for a moment and her face brightened on recognizing +her traveling companion. She instinctively rose and, like a drowning +man who clutches at a spar, she was about to ask his help. + +At that moment the agent touched Michael on the shoulder, +"The head of police will see you," he said. + +"Good," returned Michael. And without saying a word to her for whom +he had been searching all day, without reassuring her by even a gesture, +which might compromise either her or himself, he followed the man. + +The young Livonian, seeing the only being to whom she could look +for help disappear, fell back again on her bench. + +Three minutes had not passed before Michael Strogoff reappeared, +accompanied by the agent. In his hand he held his podorojna, +which threw open the roads to Siberia for him. He again +approached the young Livonian, and holding out his hand: +"Sister," said he. + +She understood. She rose as if some sudden inspiration prevented +her from hesitating a moment. + +"Sister," repeated Michael Strogoff, "we are authorized to continue +our journey to Irkutsk. Will you come with me?" + +"I will follow you, brother," replied the girl, putting her hand into +that of Michael Strogoff. And together they left the police station. + + +CHAPTER VII GOING DOWN THE VOLGA + +A LITTLE before midday, the steamboat's bell drew to the wharf +on the Volga an unusually large concourse of people, +for not only were those about to embark who had intended to go, +but the many who were compelled to go contrary to their wishes. +The boilers of the Caucasus were under full pressure; a slight +smoke issued from its funnel, whilst the end of the escape-pipe +and the lids of the valves were crowned with white vapor. +It is needless to say that the police kept a close watch over +the departure of the Caucasus, and showed themselves pitiless to +those travelers who did not satisfactorily answer their questions. + +Numerous Cossacks came and went on the quay, ready to assist +the agents, but they had not to interfere, as no one +ventured to offer the slightest resistance to their orders. +Exactly at the hour the last clang of the bell sounded, +the powerful wheels of the steamboat began to beat the water, +and the Caucasus passed rapidly between the two towns of which +Nijni-Novgorod is composed. + +Michael Strogoff and the young Livonian had taken a passage on board +the Caucasus. Their embarkation was made without any difficulty. +As is known, the podorojna, drawn up in the name of Nicholas Korpanoff, +authorized this merchant to be accompanied on his journey +to Siberia. They appeared, therefore, to be a brother and +sister traveling under the protection of the imperial police. +Both, seated together at the stern, gazed at the receding town, +so disturbed by the governor's order. Michael had as yet +said nothing to the girl, he had not even questioned her. +He waited until she should speak to him, when that was necessary. +She had been anxious to leave that town, in which, but for +the providential intervention of this unexpected protector, +she would have remained imprisoned. She said nothing, +but her looks spoke her thanks. + +The Volga, the Rha of the ancients, the largest river +in all Europe, is almost three thousand miles in length. +Its waters, rather unwholesome in its upper part, are improved +at Nijni-Novgorod by those of the Oka, a rapid affluent, +issuing from the central provinces of Russia. The system of +Russian canals and rivers has been justly compared to a gigantic +tree whose branches spread over every part of the empire. +The Volga forms the trunk of this tree, and it has for roots +seventy mouths opening into the Caspian Sea. It is navigable +as far as Rjef, a town in the government of Tver, that is, +along the greater part of its course. + +The steamboats plying between Perm and Nijni-Novgorod rapidly perform +the two hundred and fifty miles which separate this town from the town +of Kasan. It is true that these boats have only to descend the Volga, +which adds nearly two miles of current per hour to their own speed; +but on arriving at the confluence of the Kama, a little below Kasan, +they are obliged to quit the Volga for the smaller river, up which +they ascend to Perm. Powerful as were her machines, the Caucasus +could not thus, after entering the Kama, make against the current +more than ten miles an hour. Including an hour's stoppage at Kasan, +the voyage from Nijni-Novgorod to Perm would take from between sixty +to sixty-two hours. + +The steamer was very well arranged, and the passengers, according to +their condition or resources, occupied three distinct classes on board. +Michael Strogoff had taken care to engage two first-class cabins, +so that his young companion might retire into hers whenever she liked. + +The Caucasus was loaded with passengers of every description. +A number of Asiatic traders had thought it best to leave +Nijni-Novgorod immediately. In that part of the steamer reserved +for the first-class might be seen Armenians in long robes and a sort +of miter on their heads; Jews, known by their conical caps; rich Chinese +in their traditional costume, a very wide blue, violet, or black robe; +Turks, wearing the national turban; Hindoos, with square caps, +and a simple string for a girdle, some of whom, hold in their hands +all the traffic of Central Asia; and, lastly, Tartars, wearing boots, +ornamented with many-colored braid, and the breast a mass of embroidery. +All these merchants had been obliged to pile up their numerous bales +and chests in the hold and on the deck; and the transport of their +baggage would cost them dear, for, according to the regulations, +each person had only a right to twenty pounds' weight. + +In the bows of the Caucasus were more numerous groups of passengers, +not only foreigners, but also Russians, who were not forbidden +by the order to go back to their towns in the province. +There were mujiks with caps on their heads, and wearing +checked shirts under their wide pelisses; peasants of +the Volga, with blue trousers stuffed into their boots, +rose-colored cotton shirts, drawn in by a cord, felt caps; +a few women, habited in flowery-patterned cotton dresses, +gay-colored aprons, and bright handkerchiefs on their heads. +These were principally third-class passengers, who were, +happily, not troubled by the prospect of a long return voyage. +The Caucasus passed numerous boats being towed up the stream, +carrying all sorts of merchandise to Nijni-Novgorod. Then passed +rafts of wood interminably long, and barges loaded to the gunwale, +and nearly sinking under water. A bootless voyage they were making, +since the fair had been abruptly broken up at its outset. + +The waves caused by the steamer splashed on the banks, covered with +flocks of wild duck, who flew away uttering deafening cries. +A little farther, on the dry fields, bordered with willows, +and aspens, were scattered a few cows, sheep, and herds of pigs. +Fields, sown with thin buckwheat and rye, stretched away to a +background of half-cultivated hills, offering no remarkable prospect. +The pencil of an artist in quest of the picturesque would have found +nothing to reproduce in this monotonous landscape. + +The Caucasus had been steaming on for almost two hours, +when the young Livonian, addressing herself to Michael, said, +"Are you going to Irkutsk, brother?" + +"Yes, sister," answered the young man. "We are going the same way. +Consequently, where I go, you shall go." + +"To-morrow, brother, you shall know why I left the shores of the Baltic +to go beyond the Ural Mountains." + +"I ask you nothing, sister." + +"You shall know all," replied the girl, with a faint smile. +"A sister should hide nothing from her brother. But I cannot +to-day. Fatigue and sorrow have broken me." + +"Will you go and rest in your cabin?" asked Michael Strogoff. + +"Yes--yes; and to-morrow--" + +"Come then--" + +He hesitated to finish his sentence, as if he had wished to end it +by the name of his companion, of which he was still ignorant. + +"Nadia," said she, holding out her hand. + +"Come, Nadia," answered Michael, "and make what use you like of your +brother Nicholas Korpanoff." And he led the girl to the cabin engaged +for her off the saloon. + +Michael Strogoff returned on deck, and eager for any news +which might bear on his journey, he mingled in the groups +of passengers, though without taking any part in the conversation. +Should he by any chance be questioned, and obliged to reply, +he would announce himself as the merchant Nicholas Korpanoff, +going back to the frontier, for he did not wish it to be suspected +that a special permission authorized him to travel to Siberia. + +The foreigners in the steamer could evidently speak of nothing +but the occurrences of the day, of the order and its consequences. +These poor people, scarcely recovered from the fatigue of a journey +across Central Asia, found themselves obliged to return, and if they +did not give loud vent to their anger and despair, it was because +they dared not. Fear, mingled with respect, restrained them. +It was possible that inspectors of police, charged with watching +the passengers, had secretly embarked on board the Caucasus, +and it was just as well to keep silence; expulsion, after all, +was a good deal preferable to imprisonment in a fortress. +Therefore the men were either silent, or spoke with so much caution +that it was scarcely possible to get any useful information. + +Michael Strogoff thus could learn nothing here; but if mouths +were often shut at his approach--for they did not know him-- +his ears were soon struck by the sound of one voice, which cared +little whether it was heard or not. + +The man with the hearty voice spoke Russian, but with a French accent; +and another speaker answered him more reservedly. "What," said +the first, "are you on board this boat, too, my dear fellow; +you whom I met at the imperial fete in Moscow, and just caught +a glimpse of at Nijni-Novgorod?" + +"Yes, it's I," answered the second drily. + +"Really, I didn't expect to be so closely followed." + +"I am not following you sir; I am preceding you." + +"Precede! precede! Let us march abreast, keeping step, +like two soldiers on parade, and for the time, at least, +let us agree, if you will, that one shall not pass the other." + +"On the contrary, I shall pass you." + +"We shall see that, when we are at the seat of war; +but till then, why, let us be traveling companions. +Later, we shall have both time and occasion to be rivals." + +"Enemies." + +"Enemies, if you like. There is a precision in your words, +my dear fellow, particularly agreeable to me. One may always +know what one has to look for, with you." + +"What is the harm?" + +"No harm at all. So, in my turn, I will ask your permission to state +our respective situations." + +"State away." + +"You are going to Perm--like me?" + +"Like you." + +"And probably you will go from Perm to Ekaterenburg, since that is +the best and safest route by which to cross the Ural Mountains?" + +"Probably." + +"Once past the frontier, we shall be in Siberia, that is to say +in the midst of the invasion." + +"We shall be there." + +"Well! then, and only then, will be the time to say, Each for himself, +and God for--" + +"For me." + +"For you, all by yourself! Very well! But since we have a week +of neutral days before us, and since it is very certain that news +will not shower down upon us on the way, let us be friends until +we become rivals again." + +"Enemies." + +"Yes; that's right, enemies. But till then, let us act together, +and not try and ruin each other. All the same, I promise you +to keep to myself all that I can see--" + +"And I, all that I can hear." + +"Is that agreed?" + +"It is agreed." + +"Your hand?" + +"Here it is." And the hand of the first speaker, that is to say, +five wide-open fingers, vigorously shook the two fingers coolly +extended by the other. + +"By the bye," said the first, "I was able this morning to telegraph +the very words of the order to my cousin at seventeen minutes past ten." + +"And I sent it to the Daily Telegraph at thirteen minutes past ten." + +"Bravo, Mr. Blount!" + +"Very good, M. Jolivet." + +"I will try and match that!" + +"It will be difficult." + +"I can try, however." + +So saying, the French correspondent familiarly saluted +the Englishman, who bowed stiffly. The governor's proclamation +did not concern these two news-hunters, as they were neither +Russians nor foreigners of Asiatic origin. However, being urged +by the same instinct, they had left Nijni-Novgorod together. +It was natural that they should take the same means of transport, +and that they should follow the same route to the Siberian steppes. +Traveling companions, whether enemies or friends, they had +a week to pass together before "the hunt would be open." +And then success to the most expert! Alcide Jolivet had made +the first advances, and Harry Blount had accepted them though +he had done so coldly. + +That very day at dinner the Frenchman open as ever and even +too loquacious, the Englishman still silent and grave, were seen +hobnobbing at the same table, drinking genuine Cliquot, at six roubles +the bottle, made from the fresh sap of the birch-trees of the country. +On hearing them chatting away together, Michael Strogoff said to himself: +"Those are inquisitive and indiscreet fellows whom I shall probably +meet again on the way. It will be prudent for me to keep them +at a distance." + +The young Livonian did not come to dinner. She was asleep in her cabin, +and Michael did not like to awaken her. It was evening before she +reappeared on the deck of the Caucasus. The long twilight imparted +a coolness to the atmosphere eagerly enjoyed by the passengers +after the stifling heat of the day. As the evening advanced, +the greater number never even thought of going into the saloon. +Stretched on the benches, they inhaled with delight the slight +breeze caused by the speed of the steamer. At this time of year, +and under this latitude, the sky scarcely darkened between sunset +and dawn, and left the steersman light enough to guide his steamer +among the numerous vessels going up or down the Volga. + +Between eleven and two, however, the moon being new, it was almost dark. +Nearly all the passengers were then asleep on the deck, and the silence +was disturbed only by the noise of the paddles striking the water +at regular intervals. Anxiety kept Michael Strogoff awake. +He walked up and down, but always in the stern of the steamer. +Once, however, he happened to pass the engine-room. He then found +himself in the part reserved for second and third-class passengers. + +There, everyone was lying asleep, not only on the benches, +but also on the bales, packages, and even the deck itself. +Some care was necessary not to tread on the sleepers, who were +lying about everywhere. They were chiefly mujiks, accustomed to +hard couches, and quite satisfied with the planks of the deck. +But no doubt they would, all the same, have soundly abused +the clumsy fellow who roused them with an accidental kick. + +Michael Strogoff took care, therefore, not to disturb anyone. +By going thus to the end of the boat, he had no other idea +but that of striving against sleep by a rather longer walk. +He reached the forward deck, and was already climbing +the forecastle ladder, when he heard someone speaking near him. +He stopped. The voices appeared to come from a group of +passengers enveloped in cloaks and wraps. It was impossible +to recognize them in the dark, though it sometimes happened that, +when the steamer's chimney sent forth a plume of ruddy flames, +the sparks seemed to fall amongst the group as though thousands +of spangles had been suddenly illuminated. + +Michael was about to step up the ladder, when a few words reached his ear, +uttered in that strange tongue which he had heard during the night +at the fair. Instinctively he stopped to listen. Protected by +the shadow of the forecastle, he could not be perceived himself. +As to seeing the passengers who were talking, that was impossible. +He must confine himself to listening. + +The first words exchanged were of no importance--to him at least--but they +allowed him to recognize the voices of the man and woman whom he had heard +at Nijni-Novgorod. This, of course, made him redouble his attention. +It was, indeed, not at all impossible that these same Tsiganes, +now banished, should be on board the Caucasus. + +And it was well for him that he listened, for he distinctly +heard this question and answer made in the Tartar idiom: +"It is said that a courier has set out from Moscow for Irkutsk." + +"It is so said, Sangarre; but either this courier will arrive too late, +or he will not arrive at all." + +Michael Strogoff started involuntarily at this reply, +which concerned him so directly. He tried to see if the man +and woman who had just spoken were really those whom he suspected, +but he could not succeed. + +In a few moments Michael Strogoff had regained the stern of the vessel +without having been perceived, and, taking a seat by himself, +he buried his face in his hands. It might have been supposed +that he was asleep. + +He was not asleep, however, and did not even think of sleeping. +He was reflecting, not without a lively apprehension: +"Who is it knows of my departure, and who can have any interest +in knowing it?" + + +CHAPTER VIII GOING UP THE KAMA + +THE next day, the 18th of July, at twenty minutes to seven in the morning, +the Caucasus reached the Kasan quay, seven versts from the town. + +Kasan is situated at the confluence of the Volga +and Kasanka. It is an important chief town of the government, +and a Greek archbishopric, as well as the seat of a university. +The varied population preserves an Asiatic character. +Although the town was so far from the landing-place, a large +crowd was collected on the quay. They had come for news. +The governor of the province had published an order identical +with that of Nijni-Novgorod. Police officers and a few Cossacks kept +order among the crowd, and cleared the way both for the passengers +who were disembarking and also for those who were embarking on +board the Caucasus, minutely examining both classes of travelers. +The one were the Asiatics who were being expelled; the other, +mujiks stopping at Kasan. + +Michael Strogoff unconcernedly watched the bustle which occurs at +all quays on the arrival of a steam vessel. The Caucasus would stay +for an hour to renew her fuel. Michael did not even think of landing. +He was unwilling to leave the young Livonian girl alone on board, +as she had not yet reappeared on deck. + +The two journalists had risen at dawn, as all good huntsmen should do. +They went on shore and mingled with the crowd, each keeping to his own +peculiar mode of proceeding; Harry Blount, sketching different types, +or noting some observation; Alcide Jolivet contenting himself with +asking questions, confiding in his memory, which never failed him. + +There was a report along all the frontier that the insurrection and +invasion had reached considerable proportions. Communication between +Siberia and the empire was already extremely difficult. +All this Michael Strogoff heard from the new arrivals. +This information could not but cause him great uneasiness, +and increase his wish of being beyond the Ural Mountains, +so as to judge for himself of the truth of these rumors, +and enable him to guard against any possible contingency. +He was thinking of seeking more direct intelligence from some +native of Kasan, when his attention was suddenly diverted. + +Among the passengers who were leaving the Caucasus, Michael +recognized the troop of Tsiganes who, the day before, +had appeared in the Nijni-Novgorod fair. There, on the deck +of the steamboat were the old Bohemian and the woman. +With them, and no doubt under their direction, landed about +twenty dancers and singers, from fifteen to twenty years of age, +wrapped in old cloaks, which covered their spangled dresses. +These dresses, just then glancing in the first rays of the sun, +reminded Michael of the curious appearance which he had observed +during the night. It must have been the glitter of those spangles +in the bright flames issuing from the steamboat's funnel +which had attracted his attention. + +"Evidently," said Michael to himself, "this troop of Tsiganes, after +remaining below all day, crouched under the forecastle during the night. +Were these gipsies trying to show themselves as little as possible? +Such is not according to the usual custom of their race." + +Michael Strogoff no longer doubted that the expressions he had heard, +had proceeded from this tawny group, and had been exchanged between +the old gypsy and the woman to whom he gave the Mongolian name +of Sangarre. Michael involuntarily moved towards the gangway, +as the Bohemian troop was leaving the steamboat. + +The old Bohemian was there, in a humble attitude, +little conformable with the effrontery natural to his race. +One would have said that he was endeavoring rather to avoid +attention than to attract it. His battered hat, browned by the suns +of every clime, was pulled forward over his wrinkled face. +His arched back was bent under an old cloak, wrapped closely +round him, notwithstanding the heat. It would have been difficult, +in this miserable dress, to judge of either his size or face. +Near him was the Tsigane, Sangarre, a woman about thirty years old. +She was tall and well made, with olive complexion, magnificent eyes, +and golden hair. + +Many of the young dancers were remarkably pretty, all possessing +the clear-cut features of their race. These Tsiganes are generally +very attractive, and more than one of the great Russian nobles, +who try to vie with the English in eccentricity, has not +hesitated to choose his wife from among these gypsy girls. +One of them was humming a song of strange rhythm, which might +be thus rendered: + + "Glitters brightly the gold + In my raven locks streaming + Rich coral around + My graceful neck gleaming; + Like a bird of the air, + Through the wide world I roam." + +The laughing girl continued her song, but Michael Strogoff ceased +to listen. It struck him just then that the Tsigane, Sangarre, +was regarding him with a peculiar gaze, as if to fix his features +indelibly in her memory. + +It was but for a few moments, when Sangarre herself followed +the old man and his troop, who had already left the vessel. +"That's a bold gypsy," said Michael to himself. +"Could she have recognized me as the man whom she saw at +Nijni-Novgorod? These confounded Tsiganes have the eyes of a cat! +They can see in the dark; and that woman there might well know--" + +Michael Strogoff was on the point of following Sangarre +and the gypsy band, but he stopped. "No," thought he, +"no unguarded proceedings. If I were to stop that old +fortune teller and his companions my incognito would run +a risk of being discovered. Besides, now they have landed, +before they can pass the frontier I shall be far beyond it. +They may take the route from Kasan to Ishim, but that affords +no resources to travelers. Besides a tarantass, drawn by good +Siberian horses, will always go faster than a gypsy cart! +Come, friend Korpanoff, be easy." + +By this time the man and Sangarre had disappeared. + +Kasan is justly called the "Gate of Asia" and considered as the center +of Siberian and Bokharian commerce; for two roads begin here and lead +across the Ural Mountains. Michael Strogoff had very judiciously +chosen the one by Perm and Ekaterenburg. It is the great stage road, +well supplied with relays kept at the expense of the government, +and is prolonged from Ishim to Irkutsk. + +It is true that a second route--the one of which Michael had just spoken-- +avoiding the slight detour by Perm, also connects Kasan with Ishim. It is +perhaps shorter than the other, but this advantage is much diminished +by the absence of post-houses, the bad roads, and lack of villages. +Michael Strogoff was right in the choice he had made, and if, +as appeared probable, the gipsies should follow the second route from +Kasan to Ishim, he had every chance of arriving before them. + +An hour afterwards the bell rang on board the Caucasus, +calling the new passengers, and recalling the former ones. +It was now seven o'clock in the morning. The requisite fuel +had been received on board. The whole vessel began to vibrate +from the effects of the steam. She was ready to start. +Passengers going from Kasan to Perm were crowding on the deck. + +Michael noticed that of the two reporters Blount alone had rejoined +the steamer. Was Alcide Jolivet about to miss his passage? + +But just as the ropes were being cast off, Jolivet appeared, +tearing along. The steamer was already sheering off, the gangway +had been drawn onto the quay, but Alcide Jolivet would not stick +at such a little thing as that, so, with a bound like a harlequin, +he alighted on the deck of the Caucasus almost in his rival's arms. + +"I thought the Caucasus was going without you," said the latter. + +"Bah!" answered Jolivet, "I should soon have caught you up again, +by chartering a boat at my cousin's expense, or by traveling post +at twenty copecks a verst, and on horseback. What could I do? +It was so long a way from the quay to the telegraph office." + +"Have you been to the telegraph office?" asked Harry Blount, +biting his lips. + +"That's exactly where I have been!" answered Jolivet, with his +most amiable smile. + +"And is it still working to Kolyvan?" + +"That I don't know, but I can assure you, for instance, +that it is working from Kasan to Paris." + +"You sent a dispatch to your cousin?" + +"With enthusiasm." + +"You had learnt then--?" + +"Look here, little father, as the Russians say," replied Alcide Jolivet, +"I'm a good fellow, and I don't wish to keep anything from you. +The Tartars, and Feofar-Khan at their head, have passed Semipolatinsk, +and are descending the Irtish. Do what you like with that!" + +What! such important news, and Harry Blount had not known it; +and his rival, who had probably learned it from some inhabitant of Kasan, +had already transmitted it to Paris. The English paper was distanced! +Harry Blount, crossing his hands behind him, walked off and seated +himself in the stern without uttering a word. + +About ten o'clock in the morning, the young Livonian, leaving her cabin, +appeared on deck. Michael Strogoff went forward and took her hand. +"Look, sister!" said he, leading her to the bows of the Caucasus. + +The view was indeed well worth seeing. The Caucasus had reached +the confluence of the Volga and the Kama. There she would leave +the former river, after having descended it for nearly three +hundred miles, to ascend the latter for a full three hundred. + +The Kama was here very wide, and its wooded banks lovely. +A few white sails enlivened the sparkling water. +The horizon was closed by a line of hills covered with aspens, +alders, and sometimes large oaks. + +But these beauties of nature could not distract the thoughts +of the young Livonian even for an instant. She had left her hand +in that of her companion, and turning to him, "At what distance +are we from Moscow?" she asked. + +"Nine hundred versts," answered Michael. + +"Nine hundred, out of seven thousand!" murmured the girl. + +The bell now announced the breakfast hour. Nadia followed +Michael Strogoff to the restaurant. She ate little, and as a poor +girl whose means are small would do. Michael thought it best +to content himself with the fare which satisfied his companion; +and in less than twenty minutes he and Nadia returned on deck. +There they seated themselves in the stern, and without preamble, +Nadia, lowering her voice to be heard by him alone, began: + +"Brother, I am the daughter of an exile. My name is +Nadia Fedor. My mother died at Riga scarcely a month ago, and I +am going to Irkutsk to rejoin my father and share his exile." + +"I, too, am going to Irkutsk," answered Michael, "and I shall +thank Heaven if it enables me to give Nadia Fedor safe and sound +into her father's hands." + +"Thank you, brother," replied Nadia. + +Michael Strogoff then added that he had obtained a special +podorojna for Siberia, and that the Russian authorities could +in no way hinder his progress. + +Nadia asked nothing more. She saw in this fortunate meeting with Michael +a means only of accelerating her journey to her father. + +"I had," said she, "a permit which authorized me to go to Irkutsk, +but the new order annulled that; and but for you, brother, I should +have been unable to leave the town, in which, without doubt, +I should have perished." + +"And dared you, alone, Nadia," said Michael, "attempt to cross +the steppes of Siberia?" + +"The Tartar invasion was not known when I left Riga. It was only +at Moscow that I learnt the news." + +"And despite it, you continued your journey?" + +"It was my duty." + +The words showed the character of the brave girl. + +She then spoke of her father, Wassili Fedor. He was a much-esteemed +physician at Riga. But his connection with some secret society having +been asserted, he received orders to start for Irkutsk. The police +who brought the order conducted him without delay beyond the frontier. + +Wassili Fedor had but time to embrace his sick wife and his daughter, +so soon to be left alone, when, shedding bitter tears, he was led away. +A year and a half after her husband's departure, Madame Fedor died in +the arms of her daughter, who was thus left alone and almost penniless. +Nadia Fedor then asked, and easily obtained from the Russian government, +an authorization to join her father at Irkutsk. She wrote and told him +she was starting. She had barely enough money for this long journey, and +yet she did not hesitate to undertake it. She would do what she could. +God would do the rest. + + +CHAPTER IX DAY AND NIGHT IN A TARANTASS + +THE next day, the 19th of July, the Caucasus reached Perm, +the last place at which she touched on the Kama. + +The government of which Perm is the capital is one of the largest +in the Russian Empire, and, extending over the Ural Mountains, +encroaches on Siberian territory. Marble quarries, mines of salt, +platina, gold, and coal are worked here on a large scale. +Although Perm, by its situation, has become an important town, it is +by no means attractive, being extremely dirty, and without resources. +This want of comfort is of no consequence to those going to Siberia, +for they come from the more civilized districts, and are supplied +with all necessaries. + +At Perm travelers from Siberia resell their vehicles, +more or less damaged by the long journey across the plains. +There, too, those passing from Europe to Asia purchase carriages, +or sleighs in the winter season. + +Michael Strogoff had already sketched out his programme. +A vehicle carrying the mail usually runs across the Ural Mountains, +but this, of course, was discontinued. Even if it had not been so, +he would not have taken it, as he wished to travel as fast as possible, +without depending on anyone. He wisely preferred to buy a carriage, +and journey by stages, stimulating the zeal of the postillions +by well-applied "na vodkou," or tips. + +Unfortunately, in consequence of the measures taken against foreigners +of Asiatic origin, a large number of travelers had already left Perm, +and therefore conveyances were extremely rare. Michael was +obliged to content himself with what had been rejected by others. +As to horses, as long as the Czar's courier was not in Siberia, +he could exhibit his podorojna, and the postmasters would give him +the preference. But, once out of Europe, he had to depend alone +on the power of his roubles. + +But to what sort of a vehicle should he harness his horses? +To a telga or to a tarantass? The telga is nothing +but an open four-wheeled cart, made entirely of wood, +the pieces fastened together by means of strong rope. +Nothing could be more primitive, nothing could be less comfortable; +but, on the other hand, should any accident happen on the way, +nothing could be more easily repaired. There is no want of firs +on the Russian frontier, and axle-trees grow naturally in forests. +The post extraordinary, known by the name of "perck-ladnoi," +is carried by the telga, as any road is good enough for it. +It must be confessed that sometimes the ropes which fasten +the concern together break, and whilst the hinder part remains stuck +in some bog, the fore-part arrives at the post-house on two wheels; +but this result is considered quite satisfactory. + +Michael Strogoff would have been obliged to employ a telga, +if he had not been lucky enough to discover a tarantass. +It is to be hoped that the invention of Russian coach-builders +will devise some improvement in this last-named vehicle. +Springs are wanting in it as well as in the telga; +in the absence of iron, wood is not spared; but its four wheels, +with eight or nine feet between them, assure a certain +equilibrium over the jolting rough roads. A splash-board +protects the travelers from the mud, and a strong leathern hood, +which may be pulled quite over the occupiers, shelters them +from the great heat and violent storms of the summer. +The tarantass is as solid and as easy to repair as the telga, +and is, moreover, less addicted to leaving its hinder part +in the middle of the road. + +It was not without careful search that Michael managed to +discover this tarantass, and there was probably not a second +to be found in all Perm. He haggled long about the price, +for form's sake, to act up to his part as Nicholas Korpanoff, +a plain merchant of Irkutsk. + +Nadia had followed her companion in his search after a suitable vehicle. +Although the object of each was different, both were equally +anxious to arrive at their goal. One would have said the same will +animated them both. + +"Sister," said Michael, "I wish I could have found a more comfortable +conveyance for you." + +"Do you say that to me, brother, when I would have gone on foot, +if need were, to rejoin my father?" + +"I do not doubt your courage, Nadia, but there are physical fatigues +a woman may be unable to endure." + +"I shall endure them, whatever they be," replied the girl. +"If you ever hear a complaint from me you may leave me in the road, +and continue your journey alone." + +Half an hour later, the podorojna being presented by Michael, +three post-horses were harnessed to the tarantass. These animals, +covered with long hair, were very like long-legged bears. +They were small but spirited, being of Siberian breed. +The way in which the iemschik harnessed them was thus: +one, the largest, was secured between two long shafts, on whose +farther end was a hoop carrying tassels and bells; the two others +were simply fastened by ropes to the steps of the tarantass. +This was the complete harness, with mere strings for reins. + +Neither Michael Strogoff nor the young Livonian girl had any baggage. +The rapidity with which one wished to make the journey, and the more than +modest resources of the other, prevented them from embarrassing themselves +with packages. It was a fortunate thing, under the circumstances, +for the tarantass could not have carried both baggage and travelers. +It was only made for two persons, without counting the iemschik, +who kept his equilibrium on his narrow seat in a marvelous manner. + +The iemschik is changed at every relay. The man who drove +the tarantass during the first stage was, like his horses, +a Siberian, and no less shaggy than they; long hair, cut square +on the forehead, hat with a turned-up brim, red belt, coat with +crossed facings and buttons stamped with the imperial cipher. +The iemschik, on coming up with his team, threw an inquisitive +glance at the passengers of the tarantass. No luggage!-- +and had there been, where in the world could he have stowed it? +Rather shabby in appearance too. He looked contemptuous. + +"Crows," said he, without caring whether he was overheard or not; +"crows, at six copecks a verst!" + +"No, eagles!" said Michael, who understood the iemschik's slang perfectly; +"eagles, do you hear, at nine copecks a verst, and a tip besides." + +He was answered by a merry crack of the whip. + +In the language of the Russian postillions the "crow" is the stingy +or poor traveler, who at the post-houses only pays two or three +copecks a verst for the horses. The "eagle" is the traveler +who does not mind expense, to say nothing of liberal tips. +Therefore the crow could not claim to fly as rapidly as +the imperial bird. + +Nadia and Michael immediately took their places in the tarantass. +A small store of provisions was put in the box, in case at any time they +were delayed in reaching the post-houses, which are very comfortably +provided under direction of the State. The hood was pulled up, +as it was insupport-ably hot, and at twelve o'clock the tarantass +left Perm in a cloud of dust. + +The way in which the iemschik kept up the pace of his team would +have certainly astonished travelers who, being neither Russians +nor Siberians, were not accustomed to this sort of thing. +The leader, rather larger than the others, kept to a steady +long trot, perfectly regular, whether up or down hill. +The two other horses seemed to know no other pace than the gallop, +though they performed many an eccentric curvette as they went along. +The iemschik, however, never touched them, only urging them on +by startling cracks of his whip. But what epithets he lavished +on them, including the names of all the saints in the calendar, +when they behaved like docile and conscientious animals! +The string which served as reins would have had no influence +on the spirited beasts, but the words "na pravo," to the right, +"na levo," to the left, pronounced in a guttural tone, +were more effectual than either bridle or snaffle. + +And what amiable expressions! "Go on, my doves!" the iemschik +would say. "Go on, pretty swallows! Fly, my little pigeons! +Hold up, my cousin on the left! Gee up, my little father +on the right!" + +But when the pace slackened, what insulting expressions, +instantly understood by the sensitive animals! +"Go on, you wretched snail! Confound you, you slug! +I'll roast you alive, you tortoise, you!" + +Whether or not it was from this way of driving, which requires +the iemschiks to possess strong throats more than muscular arms, +the tarantass flew along at a rate of from twelve to fourteen +miles an hour. Michael Strogoff was accustomed both to the sort +of vehicle and the mode of traveling. Neither jerks nor jolts +incommoded him. He knew that a Russian driver never even tries +to avoid either stones, ruts, bogs, fallen trees, or trenches, +which may happen to be in the road. He was used to all that. +His companion ran a risk of being hurt by the violent jolts +of the tarantass, but she would not complain. + +For a little while Nadia did not speak. Then possessed +with the one thought, that of reaching her journey's end, +"I have calculated that there are three hundred versts +between Perm and Ekaterenburg, brother," said she. +"Am I right?" + +"You are quite right, Nadia," answered Michael; "and when we have +reached Ekaterenburg, we shall be at the foot of the Ural Mountains +on the opposite side." + +"How long will it take to get across the mountains?" + +"Forty-eight hours, for we shall travel day and night. +I say day and night, Nadia," added he, "for I cannot stop +even for a moment; I go on without rest to Irkutsk." + +"I shall not delay you, brother; no, not even for an hour, +and we will travel day and night." + +"Well then, Nadia, if the Tartar invasion has only left the road open, +we shall arrive in twenty days." + +"You have made this journey before?" asked Nadia. + +"Many times." + +"During winter we should have gone more rapidly and surely, +should we not?" + +"Yes, especially with more rapidity, but you would have suffered much +from the frost and snow." + +"What matter! Winter is the friend of Russia." + +"Yes, Nadia, but what a constitution anyone must have to endure +such friendship! I have often seen the temperature in the Siberian +steppes fall to more than forty degrees below freezing point! +I have felt, notwithstanding my reindeer coat, my heart +growing chill, my limbs stiffening, my feet freezing in triple +woolen socks; I have seen my sleigh horses covered with a +coating of ice, their breath congealed at their nostrils. +I have seen the brandy in my flask change into hard stone, +on which not even my knife could make an impression. +But my sleigh flew like the wind. Not an obstacle on the plain, +white and level farther than the eye could reach! No rivers +to stop one! Hard ice everywhere, the route open, the road sure! +But at the price of what suffering, Nadia, those alone could say, +who have never returned, but whose bodies have been covered up +by the snow storm." + +"However, you have returned, brother," said Nadia. + +"Yes, but I am a Siberian, and, when quite a child, I used to follow +my father to the chase, and so became inured to these hardships. +But when you said to me, Nadia, that winter would not have stopped you, +that you would have gone alone, ready to struggle against the frightful +Siberian climate, I seemed to see you lost in the snow and falling, +never to rise again." + +"How many times have you crossed the steppe in winter?" +asked the young Livonian. + +"Three times, Nadia, when I was going to Omsk." + +"And what were you going to do at Omsk?" + +"See my mother, who was expecting me." + +"And I am going to Irkutsk, where my father expects me. +I am taking him my mother's last words. That is as much +as to tell you, brother, that nothing would have prevented me +from setting out." + +"You are a brave girl, Nadia," replied Michael. "God Himself +would have led you." + +All day the tarantass was driven rapidly by the iemschiks, +who succeeded each other at every stage. The eagles of the mountain +would not have found their name dishonored by these "eagles" +of the highway. The high price paid for each horse, and the tips +dealt out so freely, recommended the travelers in a special way. +Perhaps the postmasters thought it singular that, after the publication +of the order, a young man and his sister, evidently both Russians, +could travel freely across Siberia, which was closed to everyone else, +but their papers were all en regle and they had the right to pass. + +However, Michael Strogoff and Nadia were not the only travelers on +their way from Perm to Ekaterenburg. At the first stages, the courier +of the Czar had learnt that a carriage preceded them, but, as there +was no want of horses, he did not trouble himself about that. + +During the day, halts were made for food alone. +At the post-houses could be found lodging and provision. +Besides, if there was not an inn, the house of the Russian peasant +would have been no less hospitable. In the villages, which are +almost all alike, with their white-walled, green-roofed chapels, +the traveler might knock at any door, and it would be opened to him. +The moujik would come out, smiling and extending his hand to his guest. +He would offer him bread and salt, the burning charcoal would +be put into the "samovar," and he would be made quite at home. +The family would turn out themselves rather than that he should +not have room. The stranger is the relation of all. +He is "one sent by God." + +On arriving that evening Michael instinctively asked the postmaster how +many hours ago the carriage which preceded them had passed that stage. + +"Two hours ago, little father," replied the postmaster. + +"Is it a berlin?" + +"No, a telga." + +"How many travelers?" + +"Two." + +"And they are going fast?" + +"Eagles!" + +"Let them put the horses to as soon as possible." + +Michael and Nadia, resolved not to stop even for an hour, +traveled all night. The weather continued fine, though the +atmosphere was heavy and becoming charged with electricity. +It was to be hoped that a storm would not burst whilst they +were among the mountains, for there it would be terrible. +Being accustomed to read atmospheric signs, Michael Strogoff +knew that a struggle of the elements was approaching. + +The night passed without incident. Notwithstanding the jolting +of the tarantass, Nadia was able to sleep for some hours. +The hood was partly raised so as to give as much air as there +was in the stifling atmosphere. + +Michael kept awake all night, mistrusting the iemschiks, who are +apt to sleep at their posts. Not an hour was lost at the relays, +not an hour on the road. + +The next day, the 20th of July, at about eight o'clock in the morning, +they caught the first glimpse of the Ural Mountains in the east. +This important chain which separates Russia from Siberia was still +at a great distance, and they could not hope to reach it until +the end of the day. The passage of the mountains must necessarily +be performed during the next night. The sky was cloudy all day, +and the temperature was therefore more bearable, but the weather +was very threatening. + +It would perhaps have been more prudent not to have ascended +the mountains during the night, and Michael would not have done so, +had he been permitted to wait; but when, at the last stage, +the iemschik drew his attention to a peal of thunder reverberating +among the rocks, he merely said: + +"Is a telga still before us?" + +"Yes." + +"How long is it in advance?" + +"Nearly an hour." + +"Forward, and a triple tip if we are at Ekaterenburg to-morrow morning." + + +CHAPTER X A STORM IN THE URAL MOUNTAINS + +THE Ural Mountains extend in a length of over two thousand miles +between Europe and Asia. Whether they are called the Urals, +which is the Tartar, or the Poyas, which is the Russian name, +they are correctly so termed; for these names signify "belt" +in both languages. Rising on the shores of the Arctic Sea, +they reach the borders of the Caspian. This was the barrier +to be crossed by Michael Strogoff before he could enter +Siberian Russia. The mountains could be crossed in one night, +if no accident happened. Unfortunately, thunder muttering +in the distance announced that a storm was at hand. +The electric tension was such that it could not be dispersed +without a tremendous explosion, which in the peculiar state +of the atmosphere would be very terrible. + +Michael took care that his young companion should be as well protected +as possible. The hood, which might have been easily blown away, +was fastened more securely with ropes, crossed above and at the back. +The traces were doubled, and, as an additional precaution, +the nave-boxes were stuffed with straw, as much to increase the strength +of the wheels as to lessen the jolting, unavoidable on a dark night. +Lastly, the fore and hinder parts, connected simply by the axles to +the body of the tarantass, were joined one to the other by a crossbar, +fixed by means of pins and screws. + +Nadia resumed her place in the cart, and Michael took his seat +beside her. Before the lowered hood hung two leathern curtains, +which would in some degree protect the travelers against the wind +and rain. Two great lanterns, suspended from the iemschik's seat, +threw a pale glimmer scarcely sufficient to light the way, +but serving as warning lights to prevent any other carriage +from running into them. + +It was well that all these precautions were taken, in expectation +of a rough night. The road led them up towards dense masses of clouds, +and should the clouds not soon resolve into rain, the fog would +be such that the tarantass would be unable to advance without danger +of falling over some precipice. + +The Ural chain does not attain any very great height, +the highest summit not being more than five thousand feet. +Eternal snow is there unknown, and what is piled up +by the Siberian winter is soon melted by the summer sun. +Shrubs and trees grow to a considerable height. +The iron and copper mines, as well as those of precious stones, +draw a considerable number of workmen to that region. +Also, those villages termed "gavody" are there met with +pretty frequently, and the road through the great passes is +easily practicable for post-carriages. + +But what is easy enough in fine weather and broad daylight, +offers difficulties and perils when the elements are engaged +in fierce warfare, and the traveler is in the midst of it. +Michael Strogoff knew from former experience what a storm +in the mountains was, and perhaps this would be as terrible +as the snowstorms which burst forth with such vehemence +in the winter. + +Rain was not yet falling, so Michael raised the leathern curtains +which protected the interior of the tarantass and looked out, +watching the sides of the road, peopled with fantastic shadows, +caused by the wavering light of the lanterns. Nadia, motionless, +her arms folded, gazed forth also, though without leaning forward, +whilst her companion, his body half out of the carriage, +examined both sky and earth. + +The calmness of the atmosphere was very threatening, the air being +perfectly still. It was just as if Nature were half stifled, +and could no longer breathe; her lungs, that is to say those gloomy, +dense clouds, not being able to perform their functions. +The silence would have been complete but for the grindings of the +wheels of the tarantass over the road, the creaking of the axles, +the snorting of the horses, and the clattering of their iron +hoofs among the pebbles, sparks flying out on every side. + +The road was perfectly deserted. The tarantass encountered neither +pedestrians nor horsemen, nor a vehicle of any description, +in the narrow defiles of the Ural, on this threatening night. +Not even the fire of a charcoal-burner was visible in the woods, +not an encampment of miners near the mines, not a hut +among the brushwood. + +Under these peculiar circumstances it might have been +allowable to postpone the journey till the morning. +Michael Strogoff, however, had not hesitated, he had no right +to stop, but then--and it began to cause him some anxiety-- +what possible reason could those travelers in the telga ahead +have for being so imprudent? + +Michael remained thus on the look-out for some time. +About eleven o'clock lightning began to blaze continuously in the sky. +The shadows of huge pines appeared and disappeared in the rapid light. +Sometimes when the tarantass neared the side of the road, deep gulfs, +lit up by the flashes, could be seen yawning beneath them. +From time to time, on their vehicle giving a worse lurch than usual, +they knew that they were crossing a bridge of roughly-hewn planks +thrown over some chasm, thunder appearing actually to be rumbling +below them. Besides this, a booming sound filled the air, +which increased as they mounted higher. With these different +noises rose the shouts of the iemschik, sometimes scolding, +sometimes coaxing his poor beasts, who were suffering more from +the oppression of the air than the roughness of the roads. +Even the bells on the shafts could no longer rouse them, +and they stumbled every instant. + +"At what time shall we reach the top of the ridge?" asked Michael +of the iemschik. + +"At one o'clock in the morning if we ever get there at all," +replied he, with a shake of his head. + +"Why, my friend, this will not be your first storm in +the mountains, will it?" + +"No, and pray God it may not be my last!" + +"Are you afraid?" + +"No, I'm not afraid, but I repeat that I think you were +wrong in starting." + +"I should have been still more wrong had I stayed." + +"Hold up, my pigeons!" cried the iemschik; it was his business to obey, +not to question. + +Just then a distant noise was heard, shrill whistling +through the atmosphere, so calm a minute before. +By the light of a dazzling flash, almost immediately followed +by a tremendous clap of thunder, Michael could see huge pines +on a high peak, bending before the blast. The wind was unchained, +but as yet it was the upper air alone which was disturbed. +Successive crashes showed that many of the trees had been unable +to resist the burst of the hurricane. An avalanche of shattered +trunks swept across the road and dashed over the precipice +on the left, two hundred feet in front of the tarantass. + +The horses stopped short. + +"Get up, my pretty doves!" cried the iemschik, adding the cracking +of his whip to the rumbling of the thunder. + +Michael took Nadia's hand. "Are you asleep, sister?" + +"No, brother." + +"Be ready for anything; here comes the storm!" + +"I am ready." + +Michael Strogoff had only just time to draw the leathern curtains, +when the storm was upon them. + +The iemschik leapt from his seat and seized the horses' +heads, for terrible danger threatened the whole party. + +The tarantass was at a standstill at a turning of the road, +down which swept the hurricane; it was absolutely necessary +to hold the animals' heads to the wind, for if the carriage +was taken broadside it must infallibly capsize and be +dashed over the precipice. The frightened horses reared, +and their driver could not manage to quiet them. His friendly +expressions had been succeeded by the most insulting epithets. +Nothing was of any use. The unfortunate animals, blinded by +the lightning, terrified by the incessant peals of thunder, +threatened every instant to break their traces and flee. +The iemschik had no longer any control over his team. + +At that moment Michael Strogoff threw himself from the tarantass +and rushed to his assistance. Endowed with more than common strength, +he managed, though not without difficulty, to master the horses. + +The storm now raged with redoubled fury. A perfect avalanche of stones +and trunks of trees began to roll down the slope above them. + +"We cannot stop here," said Michael. + +"We cannot stop anywhere," returned the iemschik, all his energies +apparently overcome by terror. "The storm will soon send us +to the bottom of the mountain, and that by the shortest way." + +"Take you that horse, coward," returned Michael, "I'll look +after this one." + +A fresh burst of the storm interrupted him. The driver and he were +obliged to crouch upon the ground to avoid being blown down. +The carriage, notwithstanding their efforts and those of the horses, +was gradually blown back, and had it not been stopped by the trunk +of a tree, it would have gone over the edge of the precipice. + +"Do not be afraid, Nadia!" cried Michael Strogoff. + +"I'm not afraid," replied the young Livonian, her voice not betraying +the slightest emotion. + +The rumbling of the thunder ceased for an instant, the terrible +blast had swept past into the gorge below. + +"Will you go back?" said the iemschik. + +"No, we must go on! Once past this turning, we shall have the shelter +of the slope." + +"But the horses won't move!" + +"Do as I do, and drag them on." + +"The storm will come back!" + +"Do you mean to obey?" + +"Do you order it?" + +"The Father orders it!" answered Michael, for the first time invoking +the all-powerful name of the Emperor. + +"Forward, my swallows!" cried the iemschik, seizing one horse, +while Michael did the same to the other. + +Thus urged, the horses began to struggle onward. +They could no longer rear, and the middle horse not being +hampered by the others, could keep in the center of the road. +It was with the greatest difficulty that either man or beasts +could stand against the wind, and for every three steps they took +in advance, they lost one, and even two, by being forced backwards. +They slipped, they fell, they got up again. The vehicle ran +a great risk of being smashed. If the hood had not been +securely fastened, it would have been blown away long before. +Michael Strogoff and the iemschik took more than two hours +in getting up this bit of road, only half a verst in length, +so directly exposed was it to the lashing of the storm. +The danger was not only from the wind which battered against +the travelers, but from the avalanche of stones and broken +trunks which were hurtling through the air. + +Suddenly, during a flash of lightning, one of these masses was seen +crashing and rolling down the mountain towards the tarantass. +The iemschik uttered a cry. + +Michael Strogoff in vain brought his whip down on the team, +they refused to move. + +A few feet farther on, and the mass would pass behind them! +Michael saw the tarantass struck, his companion crushed; +he saw there was no time to drag her from the vehicle. + +Then, possessed in this hour of peril with superhuman strength, +he threw himself behind it, and planting his feet on the ground, +by main force placed it out of danger. + +The enormous mass as it passed grazed his chest, taking away his breath +as though it had been a cannon-ball, then crushing to powder the flints +on the road, it bounded into the abyss below. + +"Oh, brother!" cried Nadia, who had seen it all by the light +of the flashes. + +"Nadia!" replied Michael, "fear nothing!" + +"It is not on my own account that I fear!" + +"God is with us, sister!" + +"With me truly, brother, since He has sent thee in my way!" +murmured the young girl. + +The impetus the tarantass had received was not to be lost, and the tired +horses once more moved forward. Dragged, so to speak, by Michael and +the iemschik, they toiled on towards a narrow pass, lying north and south, +where they would be protected from the direct sweep of the tempest. +At one end a huge rock jutted out, round the summit of which whirled +an eddy. Behind the shelter of the rock there was a comparative calm; +yet once within the circumference of the cyclone, neither man nor beast +could resist its power. + +Indeed, some firs which towered above this protection were in a trice +shorn of their tops, as though a gigantic scythe had swept across them. +The storm was now at its height. The lightning filled the defile, +and the thunderclaps had become one continued peal. The ground, +struck by the concussion, trembled as though the whole Ural chain +was shaken to its foundations. + +Happily, the tarantass could be so placed that the storm might strike +it obliquely. But the counter-currents, directed towards it by the slope, +could not be so well avoided, and so violent were they that every +instant it seemed as though it would be dashed to pieces. + +Nadia was obliged to leave her seat, and Michael, by the light +of one of the lanterns, discovered an excavation bearing the marks +of a miner's pick, where the young girl could rest in safety until +they could once more start. + +Just then--it was one o'clock in the morning--the rain began to fall +in torrents, and this in addition to the wind and lightning, +made the storm truly frightful. To continue the journey at present +was utterly impossible. Besides, having reached this pass, +they had only to descend the slopes of the Ural Mountains, and to +descend now, with the road torn up by a thousand mountain torrents, +in these eddies of wind and rain, was utter madness. + +"To wait is indeed serious," said Michael, "but it must certainly +be done, to avoid still longer detentions. The very violence +of the storm makes me hope that it will not last long. +About three o'clock the day will begin to break, and the descent, +which we cannot risk in the dark, we shall be able, if not with ease, +at least without such danger, to attempt after sunrise." + +"Let us wait, brother," replied Nadia; "but if you delay, +let it not be to spare me fatigue or danger." + +"Nadia, I know that you are ready to brave everything, but, +in exposing both of us, I risk more than my life, more than yours, +I am not fulfilling my task, that duty which before everything +else I must accomplish." + +"A duty!" murmured Nadia. + +Just then a bright flash lit up the sky; a loud clap followed. +The air was filled with sulphurous suffocating vapor, and a clump +of huge pines, struck by the electric fluid, scarcely twenty feet +from the tarantass, flared up like a gigantic torch. + +The iemschik was struck to the ground by a counter-shock, but, +regaining his feet, found himself happily unhurt. + +Just as the last growlings of the thunder were lost +in the recesses of the mountain, Michael felt Nadia's hand +pressing his, and he heard her whisper these words in his ear: +"Cries, brother! Listen!" + + +CHAPTER XI TRAVELERS IN DISTRESS + +DURING the momentary lull which followed, shouts could be distinctly +heard from farther on, at no great distance from the tarantass. +It was an earnest appeal, evidently from some traveler in distress. + +Michael listened attentively. The iemschik also listened, +but shook his head, as though it was impossible to help. + +"They are travelers calling for aid," cried Nadia. + +"They can expect nothing," replied the iemschik. + +"Why not?" cried Michael. "Ought not we do for them what they +would for us under similar circumstances?" + +"Surely you will not risk the carriage and horses!" + +"I will go on foot," replied Michael, interrupting the iemschik. + +"I will go, too, brother," said the young girl. + +"No, remain here, Nadia. The iemschik will stay with you. +I do not wish to leave him alone." + +"I will stay," replied Nadia. + +"Whatever happens, do not leave this spot." + +"You will find me where I now am." + +Michael pressed her hand, and, turning the corner of the slope, +disappeared in the darkness. + +"Your brother is wrong," said the iemschik. + +"He is right," replied Nadia simply. + +Meanwhile Strogoff strode rapidly on. If he was in a great hurry +to aid the travelers, he was also very anxious to know who it +was that had not been hindered from starting by the storm; +for he had no doubt that the cries came from the telga, +which had so long preceded him. + +The rain had stopped, but the storm was raging with redoubled fury. +The shouts, borne on the air, became more distinct. +Nothing was to be seen of the pass in which Nadia remained. +The road wound along, and the squalls, checked by the corners, +formed eddies highly dangerous, to pass which, without being +taken off his legs, Michael had to use his utmost strength. + +He soon perceived that the travelers whose shouts he had heard +were at no great distance. Even then, on account of the darkness, +Michael could not see them, yet he heard distinctly their words. + +This is what he heard, and what caused him some surprise: +"Are you coming back, blockhead?" + +"You shall have a taste of the knout at the next stage." + +"Do you hear, you devil's postillion! Hullo! Below!" + +"This is how a carriage takes you in this country!" + +"Yes, this is what you call a telga!" + +"Oh, that abominable driver! He goes on and does not appear +to have discovered that he has left us behind!" + +"To deceive me, too! Me, an honorable Englishman! I will make +a complaint at the chancellor's office and have the fellow hanged." + +This was said in a very angry tone, but was suddenly interrupted +by a burst of laughter from his companion, who exclaimed, +"Well! this is a good joke, I must say." + +"You venture to laugh!" said the Briton angrily. + +"Certainly, my dear confrere, and that most heartily. +'Pon my word I never saw anything to come up to it." + +Just then a crashing clap of thunder re-echoed through the defile, +and then died away among the distant peaks. When the sound +of the last growl had ceased, the merry voice went on: +"Yes, it undoubtedly is a good joke. This machine certainly +never came from France." + +"Nor from England," replied the other. + +On the road, by the light of the flashes, Michael saw, twenty yards +from him, two travelers, seated side by side in a most peculiar vehicle, +the wheels of which were deeply imbedded in the ruts formed in the road. + +He approached them, the one grinning from ear to ear, and the other +gloomily contemplating his situation, and recognized them as the two +reporters who had been his companions on board the Caucasus. + +"Good-morning to you, sir," cried the Frenchman. "Delighted to see +you here. Let me introduce you to my intimate enemy, Mr. Blount." + +The English reporter bowed, and was about to introduce in his turn +his companion, Alcide Jolivet, in accordance with the rules of society, +when Michael interrupted him. + +"Perfectly unnecessary, sir; we already know each other, +for we traveled together on the Volga." + +"Ah, yes! exactly so! Mr.--" + +"Nicholas Korpanoff, merchant, of Irkutsk. But may I know +what has happened which, though a misfortune to your companion, +amuses you so much?" + +"Certainly, Mr. Korpanoff," replied Alcide. "Fancy! our driver +has gone off with the front part of this confounded carriage, +and left us quietly seated in the back part! So here we +are in the worse half of a telga; no driver, no horses. +Is it not a joke?" + +"No joke at all," said the Englishman. + +"Indeed it is, my dear fellow. You do not know how to look +at the bright side of things." + +"How, pray, are we to go on?" asked Blount. + +"That is the easiest thing in the world," replied Alcide. "Go and +harness yourself to what remains of our cart; I will take the reins, +and call you my little pigeon, like a true iemschik, and you will trot +off like a real post-horse." + +"Mr. Jolivet," replied the Englishman, "this joking is going too far, +it passes all limits and--" + +"Now do be quiet, my dear sir. When you are done up, I will take +your place; and call me a broken-winded snail and faint-hearted +tortoise if I don't take you over the ground at a rattling pace." + +Alcide said all this with such perfect good-humor that Michael could +not help smiling. "Gentlemen," said he, "here is a better plan. +We have now reached the highest ridge of the Ural chain, +and thus have merely to descend the slopes of the mountain. +My carriage is close by, only two hundred yards behind. +I will lend you one of my horses, harness it to the remains +of the telga, and to-mor-how, if no accident befalls us, +we will arrive together at Ekaterenburg." + +"That, Mr. Korpanoff," said Alcide, "is indeed a generous proposal." + +"Indeed, sir," replied Michael, "I would willingly offer you places +in my tarantass, but it will only hold two, and my sister and I +already fill it." + +"Really, sir," answered Alcide, "with your horse and our demi-telga +we will go to the world's end." + +"Sir," said Harry Blount, "we most willingly accept your kind offer. +And, as to that iemschik--" + +"Oh! I assure you that you are not the first travelers who have met +with a similar misfortune," replied Michael. + +"But why should not our driver come back? He knows perfectly +well that he has left us behind, wretch that he is!" + +"He! He never suspected such a thing." + +"What! the fellow not know that he was leaving the better half +of his telga behind?" + +"Not a bit, and in all good faith is driving the fore +part into Ekaterenburg." + +"Did I not tell you that it was a good joke, confrere?" cried Alcide. + +"Then, gentlemen, if you will follow me," said Michael, +"we will return to my carriage, and--" + +"But the telga," observed the Englishman. + +"There is not the slightest fear that it will fly away, my dear Blount!" +exclaimed Alcide; "it has taken such good root in the ground, +that if it were left here until next spring it would begin to bud." + +"Come then, gentlemen," said Michael Strogoff, "and we will bring +up the tarantass." + +The Frenchman and the Englishman, descending from their seats, no longer +the hinder one, since the front had taken its departure, followed Michael. + +Walking along, Alcide Jolivet chattered away as usual, +with his invariable good-humor. "Faith, Mr. Korpanoff," +said he, "you have indeed got us out of a bad scrape." + +"I have only done, sir," replied Michael, "what anyone would +have done in my place." + +"Well, sir, you have done us a good turn, and if you are going +farther we may possibly meet again, and--" + +Alcide Jolivet did not put any direct question to Michael +as to where he was going, but the latter, not wishing it to be +suspected that he had anything to conceal, at once replied, +"I am bound for Omsk, gentlemen." + +"Mr. Blount and I," replied Alcide, "go where danger is certainly +to be found, and without doubt news also." + +"To the invaded provinces?" asked Michael with some earnestness. + +"Exactly so, Mr. Korpanoff; and we may possibly meet there." + +"Indeed, sir," replied Michael, "I have little love for cannon-balls +or lance points, and am by nature too great a lover of peace to venture +where fighting is going on." + +"I am sorry, sir, extremely sorry; we must only regret that we shall +separate so soon! But on leaving Ekaterenburg it may be our fortunate +fate to travel together, if only for a few days?" + +"Do you go on to Omsk?" asked Michael, after a moment's reflection. + +"We know nothing as yet," replied Alcide; "but we shall +certainly go as far as Ishim, and once there, our movements +must depend on circumstances." + +"Well then, gentlemen," said Michael, "we will be fellow-travelers +as far as Ishim." + +Michael would certainly have preferred to travel alone, but he could not, +without appearing at least singular, seek to separate himself +from the two reporters, who were taking the same road that he was. +Besides, since Alcide and his companion intended to make some stay +at Ishim, he thought it rather convenient than otherwise to make +that part of the journey in their company. + +Then in an indifferent tone he asked, "Do you know, with any certainty, +where this Tartar invasion is?" + +"Indeed, sir," replied Alcide, "we only know what they said +at Perm. Feofar-Khan's Tartars have invaded the whole province +of Semipolatinsk, and for some days, by forced marches, +have been descending the Irtish. You must hurry if you wish +to get to Omsk before them." + +"Indeed I must," replied Michael. + +"It is reported also that Colonel Ogareff has succeeded in passing +the frontier in disguise, and that he will not be slow in joining +the Tartar chief in the revolted country." + +"But how do they know it?" asked Michael, whom this news, +more or less true, so directly concerned. + +"Oh! as these things are always known," replied Alcide; +"it is in the air." + +"Then have you really reason to think that Colonel Ogareff +is in Siberia?" + +"I myself have heard it said that he was to take the road +from Kasan to Ekaterenburg." + +"Ah! you know that, Mr. Jolivet?" said Harry Blount, +roused from his silence. + +"I knew it," replied Alcide. + +"And do you know that he went disguised as a gypsy!" asked Blount. + +"As a gypsy!" exclaimed Michael, almost involuntarily, and he suddenly +remembered the look of the old Bohemian at Nijni-Novgorod, his voyage +on board the Caucasus, and his disembarking at Kasan. + +"Just well enough to make a few remarks on the subject in a letter +to my cousin," replied Alcide, smiling. + +"You lost no time at Kasan," dryly observed the Englishman. + +"No, my dear fellow! and while the Caucasus was laying in her supply +of fuel, I was employed in obtaining a store of information." + +Michael no longer listened to the repartee which Harry Blount +and Alcide exchanged. He was thinking of the gypsy troupe, +of the old Tsigane, whose face he had not been able to see, +and of the strange woman who accompanied him, and then of the +peculiar glance which she had cast at him. Suddenly, close by +he heard a pistol-shot. + +"Ah! forward, sirs!" cried he. + +"Hullo!" said Alcide to himself, "this quiet merchant who always +avoids bullets is in a great hurry to go where they are flying +about just now!" + +Quickly followed by Harry Blount, who was not a man to be behind +in danger, he dashed after Michael. In another instant the three +were opposite the projecting rock which protected the tarantass +at the turning of the road. + +The clump of pines struck by the lightning was still burning. +There was no one to be seen. However, Michael was not mistaken. +Suddenly a dreadful growling was heard, and then another report. + +"A bear;" cried Michael, who could not mistake the growling. +"Nadia; Nadia!" And drawing his cutlass from his belt, +Michael bounded round the buttress behind which the young girl +had promised to wait. + +The pines, completely enveloped in flames, threw a wild glare +on the scene. As Michael reached the tarantass, a huge animal +retreated towards him. + +It was a monstrous bear. The tempest had driven it from the woods, and it +had come to seek refuge in this cave, doubtless its habitual retreat, +which Nadia then occupied. + +Two of the horses, terrified at the presence of the enormous creature, +breaking their traces, had escaped, and the iemschik, thinking only +of his beasts, leaving Nadia face to face with the bear, had gone +in pursuit of them. + +But the brave girl had not lost her presence of mind. +The animal, which had not at first seen her, was attacking +the remaining horse. Nadia, leaving the shelter in which she +had been crouching, had run to the carriage, taken one of +Michael's revolvers, and, advancing resolutely towards the bear, +had fired close to it. + +The animal, slightly wounded in the shoulder, turned on the girl, +who rushed for protection behind the tarantass, but then, +seeing that the horse was attempting to break its traces, +and knowing that if it did so, and the others were not recovered, +their journey could not be continued, with the most perfect +coolness she again approached the bear, and, as it raised its paws +to strike her down, gave it the contents of the second barrel. + +This was the report which Michael had just heard. In an instant he was +on the spot. Another bound and he was between the bear and the girl. +His arm made one movement upwards, and the enormous beast, +ripped up by that terrible knife, fell to the ground a lifeless mass. +He had executed in splendid style the famous blow of the Siberian hunters, +who endeavor not to damage the precious fur of the bear, which fetches +a high price. + +"You are not wounded, sister?" said Michael, springing to the side +of the young girl. + +"No, brother," replied Nadia. + +At that moment the two journalists came up. Alcide seized +the horse's head, and, in an instant, his strong wrist mastered it. +His companion and he had seen Michael's rapid stroke. +"Bravo!" cried Alcide; "for a simple merchant, Mr. Korpanoff, +you handle the hunter's knife in a most masterly fashion." + +"Most masterly, indeed," added Blount. + +"In Siberia," replied Michael, "we are obliged to do a +little of everything." + +Alcide regarded him attentively. Seen in the bright glare, +his knife dripping with blood, his tall figure, his foot firm +on the huge carcass, he was indeed worth looking at. + +"A formidable fellow," said Alcide to himself. +Then advancing respectfully, he saluted the young girl. + +Nadia bowed slightly. + +Alcide turned towards his companion. "The sister worthy of the brother!" +said he. "Now, were I a bear, I should not meddle with two so brave +and so charming." + +Harry Blount, perfectly upright, stood, hat in hand, at some distance. +His companion's easy manners only increased his usual stiffness. + +At that moment the iemschik, who had succeeded in recapturing his +two horses, reappeared. He cast a regretful glance at the magnificent +animal lying on the ground, loth to leave it to the birds of prey, +and then proceeded once more to harness his team. + +Michael acquainted him with the travelers' situation, and his intention +of loaning one of the horses. + +"As you please," replied the iemschik. "Only, you know, +two carriages instead of one." + +"All right, my friend," said Alcide, who understood the insinuation, +"we will pay double." + +"Then gee up, my turtle-doves!" cried the iemschik. + +Nadia again took her place in the tarantass. Michael and his +companions followed on foot. It was three o'clock. The storm still +swept with terrific violence across the defile. When the first +streaks of daybreak appeared the tarantass had reached the telga, +which was still conscientiously imbedded as far as the center +of the wheel. Such being the case, it can be easily understood +how a sudden jerk would separate the front from the hinder part. +One of the horses was now harnessed by means of cords +to the remains of the telga, the reporters took their place +on the singular equipage, and the two carriages started off. +They had now only to descend the Ural slopes, in doing which there +was not the slightest difficulty. + +Six hours afterwards the two vehicles, the tarantass preceding +the telga, arrived at Ekaterenburg, nothing worthy of note having +happened in the descent. + +The first person the reporters perceived at the door of the post-house +was their iemschik, who appeared to be waiting for them. +This worthy Russian had a fine open countenance, and he smilingly +approached the travelers, and, holding out his hand, in a quiet +tone he demanded the usual "pour-boire." + +This very cool request roused Blount's ire to its highest pitch, +and had not the iemschik prudently retreated, a straight-out +blow of the fist, in true British boxing style, would have paid +his claim of "na vodkou." + +Alcide Jolivet, at this burst of anger, laughed as he had +never laughed before. + +"But the poor devil is quite right!" he cried. +"He is perfectly right, my dear fellow. It is not his fault +if we did not know how to follow him!" + +Then drawing several copecks from his pocket, "Here my friend," +said he, handing them to the iemschik; "take them. +If you have not earned them, that is not your fault." + +This redoubled Mr. Blount's irritation. He even began to speak +of a lawsuit against the owner of the telga. + +"A lawsuit in Russia, my dear fellow!" cried Alcide. "Things must +indeed change should it ever be brought to a conclusion! +Did you never hear the story of the wet-nurse who claimed payment +of twelve months' nursing of some poor little infant?" + +"I never heard it," replied Harry Blount. + +"Then you do not know what that suckling had become by the time +judgment was given in favor of the nurse?" + +"What was he, pray?" + +"Colonel of the Imperial Guard!" + +At this reply all burst into a laugh. + +Alcide, enchanted with his own joke, drew out his notebook, +and in it wrote the following memorandum, destined to +figure in a forthcoming French and Russian dictionary: +"Telga, a Russian carriage with four wheels, that is when it starts; +with two wheels, when it arrives at its destination." + + +CHAPTER XII PROVOCATION + +EKATERENBURG, geographically, is an Asiatic city; for it is situated +beyond the Ural Mountains, on the farthest eastern slopes of the chain. +Nevertheless, it belongs to the government of Perm; and, consequently, +is included in one of the great divisions of European Russia. It is +as though a morsel of Siberia lay in Russian jaws. + +Neither Michael nor his companions were likely to experience +the slightest difficulty in obtaining means of continuing their +journey in so large a town as Ekaterenburg. It was founded in 1723, +and has since become a place of considerable size, for in it +is the chief mint of the empire. There also are the headquarters +of the officials employed in the management of the mines. +Thus the town is the center of an important district, +abounding in manufactories principally for the working and refining +of gold and platina. + +Just now the population of Ekaterenburg had greatly increased; +many Russians and Siberians, menaced by the Tartar invasion, +having collected there. Thus, though it had been so troublesome +a matter to find horses and vehicles when going to Ekaterenburg, +there was no difficulty in leaving it; for under present circumstances +few travelers cared to venture on the Siberian roads. + +So it happened that Blount and Alcide had not the slightest trouble +in replacing, by a sound telga, the famous demi-carriage which had managed +to take them to Ekaterenburg. As to Michael, he retained his tarantass, +which was not much the worse for its journey across the Urals; +and he had only to harness three good horses to it to take him swiftly +over the road to Irkutsk. + +As far as Tioumen, and even up to Novo-Zaimskoe, this road has +slight inclines, which gentle undulations are the first signs +of the slopes of the Ural Mountains. But after Novo-Zaimskoe +begins the immense steppe. + +At Ichim, as we have said, the reporters intended to stop, that is at +about four hundred and twenty miles from Ekaterenburg. There they +intended to be guided by circumstances as to their route across +the invaded country, either together or separately, according as their +news-hunting instinct set them on one track or another. + +This road from Ekaterenburg to Ichim--which passes through Irkutsk-- +was the only one which Michael could take. But, as he did not run +after news, and wished, on the contrary, to avoid the country +devastated by the invaders, he determined to stop nowhere. + +"I am very happy to make part of my journey in your company," +said he to his new companions, "but I must tell you that I am most anxious +to reach Omsk; for my sister and I are going to rejoin our mother. +Who can say whether we shall arrive before the Tartars reach the town! +I must therefore stop at the post-houses only long enough to +change horses, and must travel day and night." + +"That is exactly what we intend doing," replied Blount. + +"Good," replied Michael; "but do not lose an instant. +Buy or hire a carriage whose--" + +"Whose hind wheels," added Alcide, "are warranted to arrive +at the same time as its front wheels." + +Half an hour afterwards the energetic Frenchman had found a +tarantass in which he and his companion at once seated themselves. +Michael and Nadia once more entered their own carriage, and at twelve +o'clock the two vehicles left the town of Ekaterenburg together. + +Nadia was at last in Siberia, on that long road which led +to Irkutsk. What must then have been the thoughts of the young girl? +Three strong swift horses were taking her across that land +of exile where her parent was condemned to live, for how long +she knew not, and so far from his native land. But she scarcely +noticed those long steppes over which the tarantass was rolling, +and which at one time she had despaired of ever seeing, +for her eyes were gazing at the horizon, beyond which she knew +her banished father was. She saw nothing of the country across +which she was traveling at the rate of fifteen versts an hour; +nothing of these regions of Western Siberia, so different from +those of the east. Here, indeed, were few cultivated fields; +the soil was poor, at least at the surface, but in its bowels +lay hid quantities of iron, copper, platina, and gold. +How can hands be found to cultivate the land, when it pays better +to burrow beneath the earth? The pickaxe is everywhere at work; +the spade nowhere. + +However, Nadia's thoughts sometimes left the provinces +of Lake Baikal, and returned to her present situation. +Her father's image faded away, and was replaced by that of her +generous companion as he first appeared on the Vladimir railroad. +She recalled his attentions during that journey, his arrival at +the police-station, the hearty simplicity with which he had called +her sister, his kindness to her in the descent of the Volga, +and then all that he did for her on that terrible night +of the storm in the Urals, when he saved her life at the peril +of his own. + +Thus Nadia thought of Michael. She thanked God for having given +her such a gallant protector, a friend so generous and wise. +She knew that she was safe with him, under his protection. +No brother could have done more than he. All obstacles +seemed cleared away; the performance of her journey was but a +matter of time. + +Michael remained buried in thought. He also thanked God +for having brought about this meeting with Nadia, which at +the same time enabled him to do a good action, and afforded +him additional means for concealing his true character. +He delighted in the young girl's calm intrepidity. +Was she not indeed his sister? His feeling towards his beautiful +and brave companion was rather respect than affection. +He felt that hers was one of those pure and rare hearts which +are held by all in high esteem. + +However, Michael's dangers were now beginning, since he had +reached Siberian ground. If the reporters were not mistaken, +if Ivan Ogareff had really passed the frontier, all his actions +must be made with extreme caution. Things were now altered; +Tartar spies swarmed in the Siberian provinces. His incognito +once discovered, his character as courier of the Czar known, +there was an end of his journey, and probably of his life. +Michael felt now more than ever the weight of his responsibility. + +While such were the thoughts of those occupying the first carriage, +what was happening in the second? Nothing out of the way. +Alcide spoke in sentences; Blount replied by monosyllables. +Each looked at everything in his own light, and made notes of such +incidents as occurred on the journey--few and but slightly varied-- +while they crossed the provinces of Western Siberia. + +At each relay the reporters descended from their carriage +and found themselves with Michael. Except when meals were to be +taken at the post-houses, Nadia did not leave the tarantass. +When obliged to breakfast or dine, she sat at table, but was +always very reserved, and seldom joined in conversation. + +Alcide, without going beyond the limits of strict propriety, +showed that he was greatly struck by the young girl. +He admired the silent energy which she showed in bearing all +the fatigues of so difficult a journey. + +The forced stoppages were anything but agreeable to Michael; +so he hastened the departure at each relay, roused the innkeepers, +urged on the iemschiks, and expedited the harnessing of the tarantass. +Then the hurried meal over--always much too hurried to agree with Blount, +who was a methodical eater--they started, and were driven as eagles, +for they paid like princes. + +It need scarcely be said that Blount did not trouble himself +about the girl at table. That gentleman was not in the habit +of doing two things at once. She was also one of the few +subjects of conversation which he did not care to discuss +with his companion. + +Alcide having asked him, on one occasion, how old he thought the girl, +"What girl?" he replied, quite seriously. + +"Why, Nicholas Korpanoff's sister." + +"Is she his sister?" + +"No; his grandmother!" replied Alcide, angry at his indifference. +"What age should you consider her?" + +"Had I been present at her birth I might have known." + +Very few of the Siberian peasants were to be seen in the fields. +These peasants are remarkable for their pale, grave faces, +which a celebrated traveler has compared to those of the Castilians, +without the haughtiness of the latter. Here and there some villages +already deserted indicated the approach of the Tartar hordes. +The inhabitants, having driven off their flocks of sheep, their camels, +and their horses, were taking refuge in the plains of the north. +Some tribes of the wandering Kirghiz, who remained faithful, +had transported their tents beyond the Irtych, to escape the depredations +of the invaders. + +Happily, post traveling was as yet uninterrupted; and telegraphic +communication could still be effected between places connected with +the wire. At each relay horses were to be had on the usual conditions. +At each telegraphic station the clerks transmitted messages delivered +to them, delaying for State dispatches alone. + +Thus far, then, Michael's journey had been accomplished satisfactorily. +The courier of the Czar had in no way been impeded; and, if he could +only get on to Krasnoiarsk, which seemed the farthest point attained +by Feofar-Khan's Tartars, he knew that he could arrive at Irkutsk, +before them. The day after the two carriages had left Ekaterenburg they +reached the small town of Toulouguisk at seven o'clock in the morning, +having covered two hundred and twenty versts, no event worthy +of mention having occurred. The same evening, the 22d of July, +they arrived at Tioumen. + +Tioumen, whose population is usually ten thousand inhabitants, +then contained double that number. This, the first industrial +town established by the Russians in Siberia, in which may +be seen a fine metal-refining factory and a bell foundry, +had never before presented such an animated appearance. +The correspondents immediately went off after news. +That brought by Siberian fugitives from the seat of war +was far from reassuring. They said, amongst other things, +that Feofar-Khan's army was rapidly approaching the valley +of the Ichim, and they confirmed the report that the Tartar +chief was soon to be joined by Colonel Ogareff, if he had not +been so already. Hence the conclusion was that operations +would be pushed in Eastern Siberia with the greatest activity. +However, the loyal Cossacks of the government of Tobolsk +were advancing by forced marches towards Tomsk, in the hope +of cutting off the Tartar columns. + +At midnight the town of Novo-Saimsk was reached; and the travelers +now left behind them the country broken by tree-covered hills, +the last remains of the Urals. + +Here began the regular Siberian steppe which extends to the neighborhood +of Krasnoiarsk. It is a boundless plain, a vast grassy desert; +earth and sky here form a circle as distinct as that traced +by a sweep of the compasses. The steppe presents nothing +to attract notice but the long line of the telegraph posts, +their wires vibrating in the breeze like the strings of a harp. +The road could be distinguished from the rest of the plain only by +the clouds of fine dust which rose under the wheels of the tarantass. +Had it not been for this white riband, which stretched away as far +as the eye could reach, the travelers might have thought themselves +in a desert. + +Michael and his companions again pressed rapidly forward. +The horses, urged on by the iemschik, seemed to fly over the ground, +for there was not the slightest obstacle to impede them. +The tarantass was going straight for Ichim, where the two +correspondents intended to stop, if nothing happened to make +them alter their plans. + +A hundred and twenty miles separated Novo-Saimsk from the town +of Ichim, and before eight o'clock the next evening the distance +could and should be accomplished if no time was lost. +In the opinion of the iemschiks, should the travelers not be +great lords or high functionaries, they were worthy of being so, +if it was only for their generosity in the matter of "na vodkou." + +On the afternoon of the next day, the 23rd of July, the two carriages +were not more than thirty versts from Ichim. Suddenly Michael caught +sight of a carriage--scarcely visible among the clouds of dust-- +preceding them along the road. As his horses were evidently less +fatigued than those of the other traveler, he would not be long +in overtaking it. This was neither a tarantass nor a telga, +but a post-berlin, which looked as if it had made a long journey. +The postillion was thrashing his horses with all his might, +and only kept them at a gallop by dint of abuse and blows. +The berlin had certainly not passed through Novo-Saimsk, and could +only have struck the Irkutsk road by some less frequented route +across the steppe. + +Our travelers' first thought, on seeing this berlin, was to get in front +of it, and arrive first at the relay, so as to make sure of fresh horses. +They said a word to their iemschiks, who soon brought them up +with the berlin. + +Michael Strogoff came up first. As he passed, a head was thrust +out of the window of the berlin. + +He had not time to see what it was like, but as he dashed by he distinctly +heard this word, uttered in an imperious tone: "Stop!" + +But they did not stop; on the contrary, the berlin was soon distanced +by the two tarantasses. + +It now became a regular race; for the horses of the berlin-- +no doubt excited by the sight and pace of the others-- +recovered their strength and kept up for some minutes. +The three carriages were hidden in a cloud of dust. +From this cloud issued the cracking of whips mingled with excited +shouts and exclamations of anger. + +Nevertheless, the advantage remained with Michael and his companions, +which might be very important to them if the relay was poorly provided +with horses. Two carriages were perhaps more than the postmaster could +provide for, at least in a short space of time. + +Half an hour after the berlin was left far behind, looking only a speck +on the horizon of the steppe. + +It was eight o'clock in the evening when the two carriages +reached Ichim. The news was worse and worse with regard to +the invasion. The town itself was menaced by the Tartar vanguard; +and two days before the authorities had been obliged to retreat +to Tobolsk. There was not an officer nor a soldier left in Ichim. + +On arriving at the relay, Michael Strogoff immediately asked +for horses. He had been fortunate in distancing the berlin. +Only three horses were fit to be harnessed. The others had +just come in worn out from a long stage. + +As the two correspondents intended to stop at Ichim, they had not to +trouble themselves to find transport, and had their carriage put away. +In ten minutes Michael was told that his tarantass was ready to start. + +"Good," said he. + +Then turning to the two reporters: "Well, gentlemen, the time +is come for us to separate." + +"What, Mr. Korpanoff," said Alcide Jolivet, "shall you not stop +even for an hour at Ichim?" + +"No, sir; and I also wish to leave the post-house before the arrival +of the berlin which we distanced." + +"Are you afraid that the traveler will dispute the horses with you?" + +"I particularly wish to avoid any difficulty." + +"Then, Mr. Korpanoff," said Jolivet, "it only remains for us +to thank you once more for the service you rendered us, +and the pleasure we have had in traveling with you." + +"It is possible that we shall meet you again in a few days +at Omsk," added Blount. + +"It is possible," answered Michael, "since I am going straight there." + +"Well, I wish you a safe journey, Mr. Korpanoff," said Alcide, +"and Heaven preserve you from telgas." + +The two reporters held out their hands to Michael with the intention +of cordially shaking his, when the sound of a carriage was heard outside. +Almost immediately the door was flung open and a man appeared. + +It was the traveler of the berlin, a military-looking man, +apparently about forty years of age, tall, robust in figure, +broad-shouldered, with a strongly-set head, and thick +mus-taches meeting red whiskers. He wore a plain uniform. +A cavalry saber hung at his side, and in his hand he held +a short-handled whip. + +"Horses," he demanded, with the air of a man accustomed to command. + +"I have no more disposable horses," answered the postmaster, bowing. + +"I must have some this moment." + +"It is impossible." + +"What are those horses which have just been harnessed to the tarantass +I saw at the door?" + +"They belong to this traveler," answered the postmaster, +pointing to Michael Strogoff. + +"Take them out!" said the traveler in a tone which admitted +of no reply. + +Michael then advanced. + +"These horses are engaged by me," he said. + +"What does that matter? I must have them. Come, be quick; +I have no time to lose." + +"I have no time to lose either," replied Michael, restraining +himself with difficulty. + +Nadia was near him, calm also, but secretly uneasy at a scene +which it would have been better to avoid. + +"Enough!" said the traveler. Then, going up to the postmaster, +"Let the horses be put into my berlin," he exclaimed with +a threatening gesture. + +The postmaster, much embarrassed, did not know whom to obey, +and looked at Michael, who evidently had the right to resist +the unjust demands of the traveler. + +Michael hesitated an instant. He did not wish to make use +of his podorojna, which would have drawn attention to him, +and he was most unwilling also, by giving up his horses, +to delay his journey, and yet he must not engage in a struggle +which might compromise his mission. + +The two reporters looked at him ready to support him should +he appeal to them. + +"My horses will remain in my carriage," said Michael, but without raising +his tone more than would be suitable for a plain Irkutsk merchant. + +The traveler advanced towards Michael and laid his hand +heavily on his shoulder. "Is it so?" he said roughly. +"You will not give up your horses to me?" + +"No," answered Michael. + +"Very well, they shall belong to whichever of us is able to start. +Defend yourself; I shall not spare you!" + +So saying, the traveler drew his saber from its sheath, +and Nadia threw herself before Michael. + +Blount and Alcide Jolivet advanced towards him. + +"I shall not fight," said Michael quietly, folding his arms +across his chest. + +"You will not fight?" + +"No." + +"Not even after this?" exclaimed the traveler. And before anyone +could prevent him, he struck Michael's shoulder with the handle +of the whip. At this insult Michael turned deadly pale. +His hands moved convulsively as if he would have knocked the brute down. +But by a tremendous effort he mastered himself. A duel! it was +more than a delay; it was perhaps the failure of his mission. +It would be better to lose some hours. Yes; but to swallow this affront! + +"Will you fight now, coward?" repeated the traveler, +adding coarseness to brutality. + +"No," answered Michael, without moving, but looking the other straight +in the face. + +"The horses this moment," said the man, and left the room. + +The postmaster followed him, after shrugging his shoulders and bestowing +on Michael a glance of anything but approbation. + +The effect produced on the reporters by this incident was not +to Michael's advantage. Their discomfiture was visible. +How could this strong young man allow himself to be struck +like that and not demand satisfaction for such an insult? +They contented themselves with bowing to him and retired, +Jolivet remarking to Harry Blount + +"I could not have believed that of a man who is so skillful +in finishing up Ural Mountain bears. Is it the case that a +man can be courageous at one time and a coward at another? +It is quite incomprehensible." + +A moment afterwards the noise of wheels and whip showed that +the berlin, drawn by the tarantass' horses, was driving rapidly +away from the post-house. + +Nadia, unmoved, and Michael, still quivering, remained alone in the room. +The courier of the Czar, his arms crossed over his chest was seated +motionless as a statue. A color, which could not have been the blush +of shame, had replaced the paleness on his countenance. + +Nadia did not doubt that powerful reasons alone could have allowed him +to suffer so great a humiliation from such a man. Going up to him +as he had come to her in the police-station at Nijni-Novgorod: + +"Your hand, brother," said she. + +And at the same time her hand, with an almost maternal gesture, +wiped away a tear which sprang to her companion's eye. + + +CHAPTER XIII DUTY BEFORE EVERYTHING + +NADIA, with the clear perception of a right-minded woman, +guessed that some secret motive directed all Michael Strogoff's actions; +that he, for a reason unknown to her, did not belong to himself; +and that in this instance especially he had heroically sacrificed +to duty even his resentment at the gross injury he had received. + +Nadia, therefore, asked no explanation from Michael. Had not the hand +which she had extended to him already replied to all that he might have +been able to tell her? + +Michael remained silent all the evening. The postmaster +not being able to supply them with fresh horses until +the next morning, a whole night must be passed at the house. +Nadia could profit by it to take some rest, and a room was +therefore prepared for her. + +The young girl would no doubt have preferred not to leave her companion, +but she felt that he would rather be alone, and she made ready to go +to her room. + +Just as she was about to retire she could not refrain from going up +to Michael to say good-night. + +"Brother," she whispered. But he checked her with a gesture. +The girl sighed and left the room. + +Michael Strogoff did not lie down. He could not have slept even +for an hour. The place on which he had been struck by the brutal +traveler felt like a burn. + +"For my country and the Father," he muttered as he ended +his evening prayer. + +He especially felt a great wish to know who was the man +who had struck him, whence he came, and where he was going. +As to his face, the features of it were so deeply engraven +on his memory that he had no fear of ever forgetting them. + +Michael Strogoff at last asked for the postmaster. The latter, +a Siberian of the old type, came directly, and looking rather +contemptuously at the young man, waited to be questioned. + +"You belong to the country?" asked Michael. + +"Yes." + +"Do you know that man who took my horses?" + +"No." + +"Had you never seen him before?" + +"Never." + +"Who do you think he was?" + +"A man who knows how to make himself obeyed." + +Michael fixed his piercing gaze upon the Siberian, but the other did +not quail before it. + +"Do you dare to judge me?" exclaimed Michael. + +"Yes," answered the Siberian, "there are some things even a plain +merchant cannot receive without returning." + +"Blows?" + +"Blows, young man. I am of an age and strength to tell you so." + +Michael went up to the postmaster and laid his two powerful hands +on his shoulders. + +Then in a peculiarly calm tone, "Be off, my friend," said he: +"be off! I could kill you." + +The postmaster understood. "I like him better for that," +he muttered and retired without another word. + +At eight o'clock the next morning, the 24th of July, +three strong horses were harnessed to the tarantass. +Michael Strogoff and Nadia took their places, and Ichim, +with its disagreeable remembrances, was soon left far behind. + +At the different relays at which they stopped during the day Strogoff +ascertained that the berlin still preceded them on the road to Irkutsk, +and that the traveler, as hurried as they were, never lost a minute +in pursuing his way across the steppe. + +At four o'clock in the evening they reached Abatskaia, +fifty miles farther on, where the Ichim, one of the principal +affluents of the Irtych, had to be crossed. This passage +was rather more difficult than that of the Tobol. Indeed the +current of the Ichim was very rapid just at that place. +During the Siberian winter, the rivers being all frozen +to a thickness of several feet, they are easily practicable, +and the traveler even crosses them without being aware of the fact, +for their beds have disappeared under the snowy sheet spread +uniformly over the steppe; but in summer the difficulties +of crossing are sometimes great. + +In fact, two hours were taken up in making the passage +of the Ichim, which much exasperated Michael, especially as +the boatmen gave them alarming news of the Tartar invasion. +Some of Feofar-Khan's scouts had already appeared on both banks +of the lower Ichim, in the southern parts of the government +of Tobolsk. Omsk was threatened. They spoke of an engagement +which had taken place between the Siberian and Tartar troops +on the frontier of the great Kirghese horde--an engagement not +to the advantage of the Russians, who were weak in numbers. +The troops had retreated thence, and in consequence there had +been a general emigration of all the peasants of the province. +The boatmen spoke of horrible atrocities committed by the invaders-- +pillage, theft, incendiarism, murder. Such was the system +of Tartar warfare. + +The people all fled before Feofar-Khan. Michael Strogoff's +great fear was lest, in the depopulation of the towns, +he should be unable to obtain the means of transport. +He was therefore extremely anxious to reach Omsk. Perhaps there +they would get the start of the Tartar scouts, who were coming +down the valley of the Irtych, and would find the road +open to Irkutsk. + +Just at the place where the tarantass crossed the river ended +what is called, in military language, the "Ichim chain"--a chain +of towers, or little wooden forts, extending from the southern +frontier of Siberia for a distance of nearly four hundred versts. +Formerly these forts were occupied by detachments of Cossacks, +and they protected the country against the Kirghese, as well as +against the Tartars. But since the Muscovite Government had believed +these hordes reduced to absolute submission, they had been abandoned, +and now could not be used; just at the time when they were needed. +Many of these forts had been reduced to ashes; and the boatmen even +pointed out the smoke to Michael, rising in the southern horizon, +and showing the approach of the Tartar advance-guard. + +As soon as the ferryboat landed the tarantass on the right bank of +the Ichim, the journey across the steppe was resumed with all speed. +Michael Strogoff remained very silent. He was, however, always +attentive to Nadia, helping her to bear the fatigue of this long +journey without break or rest; but the girl never complained. +She longed to give wings to the horses. Something told her that +her companion was even more anxious than herself to reach Irkutsk; +and how many versts were still between! + +It also occurred to her that if Omsk was entered by +the Tartars, Michael's mother, who lived there, would be in danger, +and that this was sufficient to explain her son's impatience +to get to her. + +Nadia at last spoke to him of old Marfa, and of how unprotected +she would be in the midst of all these events. + +"Have you received any news of your mother since the beginning +of the invasion?" she asked. + +"None, Nadia. The last letter my mother wrote to me contained +good news. Marfa is a brave and energetic Siberian woman. +Notwithstanding her age, she has preserved all her moral strength. +She knows how to suffer." + +"I shall see her, brother," said Nadia quickly. "Since you give me +the name of sister, I am Marfa's daughter." + +And as Michael did not answer she added: + +"Perhaps your mother has been able to leave Omsk?" + +"It is possible, Nadia," replied Michael; "and I hope she may have +reached Tobolsk. Marfa hates the Tartars. She knows the steppe, +and would have no fear in just taking her staff and going down the banks +of the Irtych. There is not a spot in all the province unknown to her. +Many times has she traveled all over the country with my father; +and many times I myself, when a mere child, have accompanied them +across the Siberian desert. Yes, Nadia, I trust that my mother +has left Omsk." + +"And when shall you see her?" + +"I shall see her--on my return." + +"If, however, your mother is still at Omsk, you will be able to spare +an hour to go to her?" + +"I shall not go and see her." + +"You will not see her?" + +"No, Nadia," said Michael, his chest heaving as he felt he could +not go on replying to the girl's questions. + +"You say no! Why, brother, if your mother is still at Omsk, +for what reason could you refuse to see her?" + +"For what reason, Nadia? You ask me for what reason," exclaimed Michael, +in so changed a voice that the young girl started. "For the same reason +as that which made me patient even to cowardice with the villain who--" +He could not finish his sentence. + +"Calm yourself, brother," said Nadia in a gentle voice. +"I only know one thing, or rather I do not know it, I feel it. +It is that all your conduct is now directed by the sentiment +of a duty more sacred--if there can be one--than that which unites +the son to the mother." + +Nadia was silent, and from that moment avoided every subject +which in any way touched on Michael's peculiar situation. +He had a secret motive which she must respect. She respected it. + +The next day, July 25th, at three o'clock in the morning, the tarantass +arrived at Tioukalmsk, having accomplished a distance of eighty +miles since it had crossed the Ichim. They rapidly changed horses. +Here, however, for the first time, the iemschik made difficulties +about starting, declaring that detachments of Tartars were roving +across the steppe, and that travelers, horses, and carriages would +be a fine prize for them. + +Only by dint of a large bribe could Michael get over +the unwillingness of the iemschik, for in this instance, +as in many others, he did not wish to show his podorojna. +The last ukase, having been transmitted by telegraph, was known +in the Siberian provinces; and a Russian specially exempted from +obeying these words would certainly have drawn public attention +to himself--a thing above all to be avoided by the Czar's courier. +As to the iemschik's hesitation, either the rascal traded on +the traveler's impatience or he really had good reason to fear. + +However, at last the tarantass started, and made such good way +that by three in the afternoon it had reached Koulatsinskoe, +fifty miles farther on. An hour after this it was on the banks +of the Irtych. Omsk was now only fourteen miles distant. + +The Irtych is a large river, and one of the principal of those which flow +towards the north of Asia. Rising in the Altai Mountains, it flows +from the southeast to the northwest and empties itself into the Obi, +after a course of four thousand miles. + +At this time of year, when all the rivers of the Siberian basin +are much swollen, the waters of the Irtych were very high. +In consequence the current was changed to a regular torrent, +rendering the passage difficult enough. A swimmer could not +have crossed, however powerful; and even in a ferryboat there +would be some danger. + +But Michael and Nadia, determined to brave all perils whatever +they might be, did not dream of shrinking from this one. +Michael proposed to his young companion that he should cross first, +embarking in the ferryboat with the tarantass and horses, +as he feared that the weight of this load would render it less safe. +After landing the carriage he would return and fetch Nadia. + +The girl refused. It would be the delay of an hour, and she would not, +for her safety alone, be the cause of it. + +The embarkation was made not without difficulty, for the banks +were partly flooded and the boat could not get in near enough. +However, after half an hour's exertion, the boatmen got the tarantass +and the three horses on board. The passengers embarked also, +and they shoved off. + +For a few minutes all went well. A little way up the river +the current was broken by a long point projecting from the bank, +and forming an eddy easily crossed by the boat. The two boatmen +propelled their barge with long poles, which they handled cleverly; +but as they gained the middle of the stream it grew deeper +and deeper, until at last they could only just reach the bottom. +The ends of the poles were only a foot above the water, +which rendered their use difficult. Michael and Nadia, +seated in the stern of the boat, and always in dread of a delay, +watched the boatmen with some uneasiness. + +"Look out!" cried one of them to his comrade. + +The shout was occasioned by the new direction the boat was +rapidly taking. It had got into the direct current and was +being swept down the river. By diligent use of the poles, +putting the ends in a series of notches cut below the gunwale, +the boatmen managed to keep the craft against the stream, +and slowly urged it in a slanting direction towards the right bank. + +They calculated on reaching it some five or six versts below +the landing place; but, after all, that would not matter +so long as men and beasts could disembark without accident. +The two stout boatmen, stimulated moreover by the promise +of double fare, did not doubt of succeeding in this difficult +passage of the Irtych. + +But they reckoned without an accident which they were powerless +to prevent, and neither their zeal nor their skill-fulness could, +under the circumstances, have done more. + +The boat was in the middle of the current, at nearly equal +distances from either shore, and being carried down at the rate +of two versts an hour, when Michael, springing to his feet, +bent his gaze up the river. + +Several boats, aided by oars as well as by the current, +were coming swiftly down upon them. + +Michael's brow contracted, and a cry escaped him. + +"What is the matter?" asked the girl. + +But before Michael had time to reply one of the boatmen exclaimed +in an accent of terror: + +"The Tartars! the Tartars!" + +There were indeed boats full of soldiers, and in a few minutes they must +reach the ferryboat, it being too heavily laden to escape from them. + +The terrified boatmen uttered exclamations of despair and +dropped their poles. + +"Courage, my friends!" cried Michael; "courage! Fifty roubles for you +if we reach the right bank before the boats overtake us." + +Incited by these words, the boatmen again worked manfully but it soon +become evident that they could not escape the Tartars. + +It was scarcely probable that they would pass without attacking them. +On the contrary, there was everything to be feared from robbers +such as these. + +"Do not be afraid, Nadia," said Michael; "but be ready for anything." + +"I am ready," replied Nadia. + +"Even to leap into the water when I tell you?" + +"Whenever you tell me." + +"Have confidence in me, Nadia." + +"I have, indeed!" + +The Tartar boats were now only a hundred feet distant. +They carried a detachment of Bokharian soldiers, on their way +to reconnoiter around Omsk. + +The ferryboat was still two lengths from the shore. +The boatmen redoubled their efforts. Michael himself +seized a pole and wielded it with superhuman strength. +If he could land the tarantass and horses, and dash off +with them, there was some chance of escaping the Tartars, +who were not mounted. + +But all their efforts were in vain. "Saryn na kitchou!" +shouted the soldiers from the first boat. + +Michael recognized the Tartar war-cry, which is usually answered +by lying flat on the ground. As neither he nor the boatmen obeyed +a volley was let fly, and two of the horses were mortally wounded. + +At the next moment a violent blow was felt. The boats had run +into the ferryboat. + +"Come, Nadia!" cried Michael, ready to jump overboard. + +The girl was about to follow him, when a blow from a lance struck him, +and he was thrown into the water. The current swept him away, his hand +raised for an instant above the waves, and then he disappeared. + +Nadia uttered a cry, but before she had time to throw herself +after him she was seized and dragged into one of the boats. +The boatmen were killed, the ferryboat left to drift away, +and the Tartars continued to descend the Irtych. + + +CHAPTER XIV MOTHER AND SON + +OMSK is the official capital of Western Siberia. It is not +the most important city of the government of that name, for Tomsk +has more inhabitants and is larger. But it is at Omsk that the +Governor-General of this the first half of Asiatic Russia resides. +Omsk, properly so called, is composed of two distinct towns: +one which is exclusively inhabited by the authorities and officials; +the other more especially devoted to the Siberian merchants, +although, indeed, the trade of the town is of small importance. + +This city has about 12,000 to 13,000 inhabitants. +It is defended by walls, but these are merely of earth, +and could afford only insufficient protection. The Tartars, +who were well aware of this fact, consequently tried at this +period to carry it by main force, and in this they succeeded, +after an investment of a few days. + +The garrison of Omsk, reduced to two thousand men, resisted valiantly. +But driven back, little by little, from the mercantile portion +of the place, they were compelled to take refuge in the upper town. + +It was there that the Governor-General, his officers, and soldiers +had entrenched themselves. They had made the upper quarter of Omsk +a kind of citadel, and hitherto they held out well in this species +of improvised "kreml," but without much hope of the promised succor. +The Tartar troops, who were descending the Irtych, received every +day fresh reinforcements, and, what was more serious, +they were led by an officer, a traitor to his country, but a man +of much note, and of an audacity equal to any emergency. +This man was Colonel Ivan Ogareff. + +Ivan Ogareff, terrible as any of the most savage Tartar chieftains, +was an educated soldier. Possessing on his mother's side some +Mongolian blood, he delighted in deceptive strategy and ambuscades, +stopping short of nothing when he desired to fathom some secret +or to set some trap. Deceitful by nature, he willingly had recourse +to the vilest trickery; lying when occasion demanded, excelling in +the adoption of all disguises and in every species of deception. +Further, he was cruel, and had even acted as an executioner. +Feofar-Khan possessed in him a lieutenant well capable of seconding +his designs in this savage war. + +When Michael Strogoff arrived on the banks of the Irtych, Ivan Ogareff +was already master of Omsk, and was pressing the siege of the upper +quarter of the town all the more eagerly because he must hasten to Tomsk, +where the main body of the Tartar army was concentrated. + +Tomsk, in fact, had been taken by Feofar-Khan some days previously, +and it was thence that the invaders, masters of Central Siberia, +were to march upon Irkutsk. + +Irkutsk was the real object of Ivan Ogareff. The plan of the traitor +was to reach the Grand Duke under a false name, to gain his confidence, +and to deliver into Tartar hands the town and the Grand Duke himself. +With such a town, and such a hostage, all Asiatic Siberia must necessarily +fall into the hands of the invaders. Now it was known that the Czar +was acquainted with this conspiracy, and that it was for the purpose of +baffling it that a courier had been intrusted with the important warning. +Hence, therefore, the very stringent instructions which had been given +to the young courier to pass incognito through the invaded district. + +This mission he had so far faithfully performed, but now could +he carry it to a successful completion? + +The blow which had struck Michael Strogoff was not mortal. +By swimming in a manner by which he had effectually concealed himself, +he had reached the right bank, where he fell exhausted among the bushes. + +When he recovered his senses, he found himself in the cabin of a mujik, +who had picked him up and cared for him. For how long a time had +he been the guest of this brave Siberian? He could not guess. +But when he opened his eyes he saw the handsome bearded face +bending over him, and regarding him with pitying eyes. +"Do not speak, little father," said the mujik, "Do not speak! +Thou art still too weak. I will tell thee where thou art +and everything that has passed." + +And the mujik related to Michael Strogoff the different incidents +of the struggle which he had witnessed--the attack upon the ferry +by the Tartar boats, the pillage of the tarantass, and the massacre +of the boatmen. + +But Michael Strogoff listened no longer, and slipping his hand under +his garment he felt the imperial letter still secured in his breast. +He breathed a sigh of relief. + +But that was not all. "A young girl accompanied me," said he. + +"They have not killed her," replied the mujik, anticipating the anxiety +which he read in the eyes of his guest. "They have carried her off +in their boat, and have continued the descent of Irtych. It is only +one prisoner more to join the many they are taking to Tomsk!" + +Michael Strogoff was unable to reply. He pressed his hand upon +his heart to restrain its beating. But, notwithstanding these +many trials, the sentiment of duty mastered his whole soul. +"Where am I?" asked he. + +"Upon the right bank of the Irtych, only five versts from Omsk," +replied the mujik. + +"What wound can I have received which could have thus prostrated me? +It was not a gunshot wound?" + +"No; a lance-thrust in the head, now healing," replied the mujik. +"After a few days' rest, little father, thou wilt be able to proceed. +Thou didst fall into the river; but the Tartars neither touched nor +searched thee; and thy purse is still in thy pocket." + +Michael Strogoff gripped the mujik's hand. Then, recovering himself +with a sudden effort, "Friend," said he, "how long have I been +in thy hut?" + +"Three days." + +"Three days lost!" + +"Three days hast thou lain unconscious." + +"Hast thou a horse to sell me?" + +"Thou wishest to go?" + +"At once." + +"I have neither horse nor carriage, little father. +Where the Tartar has passed there remains nothing!" + +"Well, I will go on foot to Omsk to find a horse." + +"A few more hours of rest, and thou wilt be in a better condition +to pursue thy journey." + +"Not an hour!" + +"Come now," replied the mujik, recognizing the fact that it was useless +to struggle against the will of his guest, "I will guide thee myself. +Besides," he added, "the Russians are still in great force at Omsk, +and thou couldst, perhaps, pass unperceived." + +"Friend," replied Michael Strogoff, "Heaven reward thee for all thou +hast done for me!" + +"Only fools expect reward on earth," replied the mujik. + +Michael Strogoff went out of the hut. When he tried to walk he was +seized with such faintness that, without the assistance of the mujik, +he would have fallen; but the fresh air quickly revived him. +He then felt the wound in his head, the violence of which his +fur cap had lessened. With the energy which he possessed, +he was not a man to succumb under such a trifle. Before his eyes +lay a single goal--far-distant Irkutsk. He must reach it! +But he must pass through Omsk without stopping there. + +"God protect my mother and Nadia!" he murmured. "I have no longer +the right to think of them!" + +Michael Strogoff and the mujik soon arrived in the mercantile +quarter of the lower town. The surrounding earthwork had been +destroyed in many places, and there were the breaches through which +the marauders who followed the armies of Feofar-Khan had penetrated. +Within Omsk, in its streets and squares, the Tartar soldiers swarmed +like ants; but it was easy to see that a hand of iron imposed +upon them a discipline to which they were little accustomed. +They walked nowhere alone, but in armed groups, to defend +themselves against surprise. + +In the chief square, transformed into a camp, guarded by many sentries, +2,000 Tartars bivouacked. The horses, picketed but still saddled, +were ready to start at the first order. Omsk could only be a temporary +halting-place for this Tartar cavalry, which preferred the rich plains +of Eastern Siberia, where the towns were more wealthy, and, consequently, +pillage more profitable. + +Above the mercantile town rose the upper quarter, which Ivan Ogareff, +notwithstanding several assaults vigorously made but bravely repelled, +had not yet been able to reduce. Upon its embattled walls floated +the national colors of Russia. + +It was not without a legitimate pride that Michael Strogoff and his guide, +vowing fidelity, saluted them. + +Michael Strogoff was perfectly acquainted with the town of Omsk, +and he took care to avoid those streets which were much frequented. +This was not from any fear of being recognized. In the town his old +mother only could have called him by name, but he had sworn not to +see her, and he did not. Besides--and he wished it with his whole heart-- +she might have fled into some quiet portion of the steppe. + +The mujik very fortunately knew a postmaster who, if well paid, would not +refuse at his request either to let or to sell a carriage or horses. +There remained the difficulty of leaving the town, but the breaches +in the fortifications would, of course, facilitate his departure. + +The mujik was accordingly conducting his guest straight to +the posting-house, when, in a narrow street, Michael Strogoff, +coming to a sudden stop sprang behind a jutting wall. + +"What is the matter?" asked the astonished mujik. + +"Silence!" replied Michael, with his finger on his lips. +At this moment a detachment debouched from the principal square +into the street which Michael Strogoff and his companion had +just been following. + +At the head of the detachment, composed of twenty horsemen, +was an officer dressed in a very simple uniform. +Although he glanced rapidly from one side to the other he could +not have seen Michael Strogoff, owing to his precipitous retreat. + +The detachment went at full trot into the narrow street. Neither the +officer nor his escort concerned themselves about the inhabitants. +Several unlucky ones had scarcely time to make way for their passage. +There were a few half-stifled cries, to which thrusts of the lance gave +an instant reply, and the street was immediately cleared. + +When the escort had disappeared, "Who is that officer?" +asked Michael Strogoff. And while putting the question his face +was pale as that of a corpse. + +"It is Ivan Ogareff," replied the Siberian, in a deep voice +which breathed hatred. + +"He!" cried Michael Strogoff, from whom the word escaped with +a fury he could not conquer. He had just recognized in this +officer the traveler who had struck him at the posting-house +of Ichim. And, although he had only caught a glimpse of him, +it burst upon his mind, at the same time, that this traveler +was the old Zingari whose words he had overheard in the market +place of Nijni-Novgorod. + +Michael Strogoff was not mistaken. The two men were one and the same. +It was under the garb of a Zingari, mingling with the band of Sangarre, +that Ivan Ogareff had been able to leave the town of Nijni-Novgorod, +where he had gone to seek his confidants. Sangarre and her Zingari, +well paid spies, were absolutely devoted to him. It was he who, +during the night, on the fair-ground had uttered that singular sentence, +which Michael Strogoff could not understand; it was he who was +voyaging on board the Caucasus, with the whole of the Bohemian band; +it was he who, by this other route, from Kasan to Ichim, across the Urals, +had reached Omsk, where now he held supreme authority. + +Ivan Ogareff had been barely three days at Omsk, and had it not been +for their fatal meeting at Ichim, and for the event which had detained +him three days on the banks of the Irtych, Michael Strogoff would +have evidently beaten him on the way to Irkutsk. + +And who knows how many misfortunes would have been avoided in the future! +In any case--and now more than ever--Michael Strogoff must avoid +Ivan Ogareff, and contrive not to be seen. When the moment of +encountering him face to face should arrive, he knew how to meet it, +even should the traitor be master of the whole of Siberia. + +The mujik and Michael resumed their way and arrived at +the posting-house. To leave Omsk by one of the breaches +would not be difficult after nightfall. As for purchasing +a carriage to replace the tarantass, that was impossible. +There were none to be let or sold. But what want had Michael Strogoff +now for a carriage? Was he not alone, alas? A horse would +suffice him; and, very fortunately, a horse could be had. +It was an animal of strength and mettle, and Michael Strogoff, +accomplished horseman as he was, could make good use of it. + +It was four o'clock in the afternoon. Michael Strogoff, +compelled to wait till nightfall, in order to pass the fortifications, +but not desiring to show himself, remained in the posting-house, +and there partook of food. + +There was a great crowd in the public room. They were talking +of the expected arrival of a corps of Muscovite troops, +not at Omsk, but at Tomsk--a corps intended to recapture +that town from the Tartars of Feofar-Khan. + +Michael Strogoff lent an attentive ear, but took no part +in the conversation. Suddenly a cry made him tremble, a cry +which penetrated to the depths of his soul, and these two words +rushed into his ear: "My son!" + +His mother, the old woman Marfa, was before him! Trembling, she smiled +upon him. She stretched forth her arms to him. Michael Strogoff arose. +He was about to throw himself-- + +The thought of duty, the serious danger for his mother and +himself in this unfortunate meeting, suddenly stopped him, +and such was his command over himself that not a muscle of his +face moved. There were twenty people in the public room. +Among them were, perhaps, spies, and was it not known in +the town that the son of Marfa Strogoff belonged to the corps +of the couriers of the Czar? + +Michael Strogoff did not move. + +"Michael!" cried his mother. + +"Who are you, my good lady?" Michael Strogoff stammered, +unable to speak in his usual firm tone. + +"Who am I, thou askest! Dost thou no longer know thy mother?" + +"You are mistaken," coldly replied Michael Strogoff. "A resemblance +deceives you." + +The old Marfa went up to him, and, looking straight into his eyes, +said, "Thou art not the son of Peter and Marfa Strogoff?" + +Michael Strogoff would have given his life to have locked +his mother in his arms; but if he yielded it was all over +with him, with her, with his mission, with his oath! +Completely master of himself, he closed his eyes, +in order not to see the inexpressible anguish which agitated +the revered countenance of his mother. He drew back his hands, +in order not to touch those trembling hands which sought him. +"I do not know in truth what it is you say, my good woman," +he replied, stepping back. + +"Michael!" again cried his aged mother. + +"My name is not Michael. I never was your son! I am Nicholas Korpanoff, +a merchant at Irkutsk." + +And suddenly he left the public room, whilst for the last time +the words re-echoed, "My son! my son!" + +Michael Strogoff, by a desperate effort, had gone. He did not see +his old mother, who had fallen back almost inanimate upon a bench. +But when the postmaster hastened to assist her, the aged +woman raised herself. Suddenly a thought occurred to her. +She denied by her son! It was not possible. As for being +herself deceived, and taking another for him, equally impossible. +It was certainly her son whom she had just seen; and if he had not +recognized her it was because he would not, it was because he ought not, +it was because he had some cogent reasons for acting thus! +And then, her mother's feelings arising within her, she had only +one thought--"Can I, unwittingly, have ruined him?" + +"I am mad," she said to her interrogators. "My eyes have deceived me! +This young man is not my child. He had not his voice. Let us think +no more of it; if we do I shall end by finding him everywhere." + +Less than ten minutes afterwards a Tartar officer appeared +in the posting-house. "Marfa Strogoff?" he asked. + +"It is I," replied the old woman, in a tone so calm, and with a face +so tranquil, that those who had witnessed the meeting with her son +would not have known her. + +"Come," said the officer, + +Marfa Strogoff, with firm step, followed the Tartar. Some moments +afterwards she found herself in the chief square in the presence +of Ivan Ogareff, to whom all the details of this scene had +been immediately reported. + +Ogareff, suspecting the truth, interrogated the old Siberian woman. +"Thy name?" he asked in a rough voice. + +"Marfa Strogoff." + +"Thou hast a son?" + +"Yes." + +"He is a courier of the Czar?" + +"Yes." + +"Where is he?" + +"At Moscow." + +"Thou hast no news of him?" + +"No news." + +"Since how long?" + +"Since two months." + +"Who, then, was that young man whom thou didst call thy son a few +moments ago at the posting-house?" + +"A young Siberian whom I took for him," replied Marfa Strogoff. "This is +the tenth man in whom I have thought I recognized my son since the town +has been so full of strangers. I think I see him everywhere." + +"So this young man was not Michael Strogoff?" + +"It was not Michael Strogoff." + +"Dost thou know, old woman, that I can torture thee until thou +avowest the truth?" + +"I have spoken the truth, and torture will not cause me to alter +my words in any way." + +"This Siberian was not Michael Strogoff?" asked a second +time Ivan Ogareff. + +"No, it was not he," replied a second time Marfa Strogoff. "Do you +think that for anything in the world I would deny a son whom God +has given me?" + +Ivan Ogareff regarded with an evil eye the old woman who braved +him to the face. He did not doubt but that she had recognized her +son in this young Siberian. Now if this son had first renounced +his mother, and if his mother renounced him in her turn, it could +occur only from the most weighty motive. Ogareff had therefore +no doubt that the pretended Nicholas Korpanoff was Michael Strogoff, +courier of the Czar, seeking concealment under a false name, +and charged with some mission which it would have been important +for him to know. He therefore at once gave orders for his pursuit. +Then "Let this woman be conducted to Tomsk," he said. + +While the soldiers brutally dragged her off, he added between his teeth, +"When the moment arrives I shall know how to make her speak, +this old sorceress!" + + +CHAPTER XV THE MARSHES OF THE BARABA + +IT was fortunate that Michael Strogoff had left the posting-house +so promptly. The orders of Ivan Ogareff had been immediately +transmitted to all the approaches of the city, and a 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 wall; +his horse was galloping over the steppe, and the chances +of escape were in his favor. + +It was on the 29th of July, at eight o'clock in the evening, +that Michael Strogoff had left Omsk. This town is situated about halfway +between Moscow and Irkutsk, where it was necessary that he should arrive +within ten days if he wished to get ahead of the Tartar columns. +It was evident that the unlucky chance which had brought him +into the presence of his mother had betrayed his incognito. +Ivan Ogareff was no longer ignorant of the fact that a courier of the Czar +had just passed Omsk, taking the direction of Irkutsk. The dispatches +which this courier bore must have been of immense importance. +Michael Strogoff knew, therefore, that every effort would be made +to capture him. + +But what he did not know, and could not know, was that Marfa 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 it 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 impatience, 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 fifty miles, and halted at the station +of Koulikovo. But there, as he had feared, he found neither +horses nor carriages. Several Tartar detachments had passed +along the highway of the steppe. Everything had been stolen +or requisitioned both in the villages and in the posting-houses. +It was with difficulty that Michael Strogoff was even able +to obtain some refreshment for his horse and himself. + +It was of great importance, therefore, to spare his horse, for he could +not tell when or how he might be able to replace it. Desiring, however, +to put the greatest possible distance between himself and the horsemen +who had no doubt been dispatched in pursuit, he resolved to push on. +After one hour's rest he resumed his course across the steppe. + +Hitherto the weather had been propitious for his journey. +The temperature was endurable. The nights at this time of the year +are very short, and as they are lighted by the moon, the route +over the steppe is practicable. Michael Strogoff, moreover, +was a man certain of his road and devoid of doubt or hesitation, +and in spite of the melancholy thoughts which possessed him +he had preserved his clearness of mind, and made for his +destined point as though it were visible upon the horizon. +When he did halt for a moment at some turn in the road it was +to breathe his horse. Now he would dismount to ease his steed +for a moment, and again he would place his ear to the ground +to listen for the sound of galloping horses upon the steppe. +Nothing arousing his suspicions, he resumed his way. + +On the 30th of July, at nine o'clock in the morning, Michael Strogoff +passed through the station of Touroumoff and entered the swampy district +of the Baraba. + +There, for a distance of three hundred versts, the natural obstacles +would be extremely great. He knew this, but he also knew that he would +certainly surmount them. + +These vast marshes of the Baraba, form the reservoir to all +the rain-water which finds no outlet either towards the Obi +or towards the Irtych. The soil of this vast depression is +entirely argillaceous, and therefore impermeable, so that the waters +remain there and make of it a region very difficult to cross +during the hot season. There, however, lies the way to Irkutsk, +and it is in the midst of ponds, pools, lakes, and swamps, +from which the sun draws poisonous exhalations, that the road winds, +and entails upon the traveler the greatest fatigue and danger. + +Michael Strogoff spurred his horse into the midst of a grassy prairie, +differing greatly from the close-cropped sod of the steppe, where feed the +immense Siberian herds. The grass here was five or six feet in height, +and had made room for swamp-plants, to which the dampness of the place, +assisted by the heat of summer, had given giant proportions. +These were principally canes and rushes, which formed a tangled network, +an impenetrable undergrowth, sprinkled everywhere with a thousand +flowers remarkable for the brightness of their color. + +Michael Strogoff, galloping amongst this undergrowth of cane, +was no longer visible from the swamps which bordered the road. +The tall grass rose above him, and his track was indicated only +by the flight of innumerable aquatic birds, which rose from the side +of the road and dispersed into the air in screaming flocks. + +The way, however, was clearly traceable. Now it would lie +straight between the dense thicket of marsh-plants; again it +would follow the winding shores of vast pools, some of which, +several versts in length and breadth, deserve the name of lakes. +In other localities the stagnant waters through which the road +lay had been avoided, not by bridges, but by tottering +platforms ballasted with thick layers of clay, whose joists +shook like a too weak plank thrown across an abyss. +Some of these platforms extended over three hundred feet, +and travelers by tarantass, when crossing them have experienced +a nausea like sea-sickness. + +Michael Strogoff, whether the soil beneath his feet was solid +or whether it sank under him, galloped on without halt, +leaping the space between the rotten joists; but however +fast they traveled the horse and the horseman were unable +to escape from the sting of the two-winged insects which infest +this marshy country. + +Travelers who are obliged to cross the Baraba during the summer +take care to provide themselves with masks of horse-hair, +to which is attached a coat of mail of very fine wire, +which covers their shoulders. Notwithstanding these precautions, +there are few who come out of these marshes without having +their faces, necks, and hands covered with red spots. +The atmosphere there seems to bristle with fine needles, +and one would almost say that a knight's armor would not protect +him against the darts of these dipterals. It is a dreary region, +which man dearly disputes with tipulae, gnats, mosquitos, +horse-flies, and millions of microscopic insects which are not +visible to the naked eye; but, although they are not seen, +they make themselves felt by their intolerable stinging, +to which the most callous Siberian hunters have never been able +to inure themselves. + +Michael Strogoff's horse, stung by these venomous insects, sprang forward +as if the rowels of a thousand spurs had pierced his flanks. +Mad with rage, he tore along over verst after verst with the speed +of an express train, lashing his sides with his tail, seeking by +the rapidity of his pace an alleviation of his torture. + +It required as good a horseman as Michael Strogoff not to be thrown +by the plungings of his horse, and the sudden stops and bounds +which he made to escape from the stings of his persecutors. +Having become insensible, so to speak, to physical suffering, +possessed only with the one desire to arrive at his destination +at whatever cost, he saw during this mad race only one thing-- +that the road flew rapidly behind him. + +Who would have thought that this district of the Baraba, so unhealthy +during the summer, could have afforded an asylum for human beings? +Yet it did so. Several Siberian hamlets appeared from time +to time among the giant canes. Men, women, children, and old men, +clad in the skins of beasts, their faces covered with hardened +blisters of skin, pastured their poor herds of sheep. +In order to preserve the animals from the attack of the insects, +they drove them to the leeward of fires of green wood, which were +kept burning night and day, and the pungent smoke of which floated +over the vast swamp. + +When Michael Strogoff perceived that his horse, tired out, was on +the point of succumbing, he halted at one of these wretched hamlets, +and there, forgetting his own fatigue, he himself rubbed the wounds +of the poor animal with hot grease according to the Siberian custom; +then he gave him a good feed; and it was only after he had well groomed +and provided for him that he thought of himself, and recruited his +strength by a hasty meal of bread and meat and a glass of kwass. +One hour afterwards, or at the most two, he resumed with all speed +the interminable road to Irkutsk. + +On the 30th of July, at four o'clock in the afternoon, Michael Strogoff, +insensible of every fatigue, arrived at Elamsk. There it +became necessary to give a night's rest to his horse. +The brave animal could no longer have continued the journey. +At Elamsk, as indeed elsewhere, there existed no means of transport,-- +for the same reasons as at the previous villages, neither carriages +nor horses were to be had. + +Michael Strogoff resigned himself therefore to pass the night at Elamsk, +to give his horse twelve hours' rest. He recalled the instructions which +had been given to him at Moscow--to cross Siberia incognito, to arrive +at Irkutsk, but not to sacrifice success to the rapidity of the journey; +and consequently it was necessary that he should husband the sole means +of transport which remained to him. + +On the morrow, Michael Strogoff left Elamsk at the moment when +the first Tartar scouts were signaled ten versts behind upon the road +to the Baraba, and he plunged again into the swampy region. +The road was level, which made it easy, but very tortuous, +and therefore long. It was impossible, moreover, to leave it, +and to strike a straight line across that impassable network +of pools and bogs. + +On the next day, the 1st of August, eighty miles farther, +Michael Strogoff arrived at midday at the town of Spaskoe, +and at two o'clock he halted at Pokrowskoe. His horse, +jaded since his departure from Elamsk, could not have taken +a single step more. + +There Michael Strogoff was again compelled to lose, for necessary rest, +the end of that day and the entire night; but starting again on +the following morning, and still traversing the semi-inundated soil, +on the 2nd of August, at four o'clock in the afternoon, after a stage +of fifty miles he reached Kamsk. + +The country had changed. This little village of Kamsk lies, +like an island, habitable and healthy, in the midst of the +uninhabitable district. It is situated in the very center +of the Baraba. The emigration caused by the Tartar invasion had +not yet depopulated this little town of Kamsk. Its inhabitants +probably fancied themselves safe in the center of the Baraba, +whence at least they thought they would have time to flee +if they were directly menaced. + +Michael Strogoff, although exceedingly anxious for news, +could ascertain nothing at this place. It would have been +rather to him that the Governor would have addressed himself +had he known who the pretended merchant of Irkutsk really was. +Kamsk, in fact, by its very situation seemed to be outside +the Siberian world and the grave events which troubled it. + +Besides, Michael Strogoff showed himself little, if at all. +To be unperceived was not now enough for him: he would have +wished to be invisible. The experience of the past made him +more and more circumspect in the present and the future. +Therefore he secluded himself, and not caring to traverse +the streets of the village, he would not even leave the inn +at which he had halted. + +As for his horse, he did not even think of exchanging him for +another animal. He had become accustomed to this brave creature. +He knew to what extent he could rely upon him. In buying him at Omsk +he had been lucky, and in taking him to the postmaster the generous +mujik had rendered him a great service. Besides, if Michael Strogoff +had already become attached to his horse, the horse himself seemed +to become inured, by degrees, to the fatigue of such a journey, +and provided that he got several hours of repose daily, his rider +might hope that he would carry him beyond the invaded provinces. + +So, during the evening and night of the 2nd of August, Michael Strogoff +remained confined to his inn, at the entrance of the town; which was +little frequented and out of the way of the importunate and curious. + +Exhausted with fatigue, he went to bed after having seen that his horse +lacked nothing; but his sleep was broken. What he had seen since his +departure from Moscow showed him the importance of his mission. +The rising was an extremely serious one, and the treachery +of Ogareff made it still more formidable. And when his eyes fell +upon the letter bearing upon it the authority of the imperial seal-- +the letter which, no doubt, contained the remedy for so many evils, +the safety of all this war-ravaged country--Michael Strogoff felt within +himself a fierce desire to dash on across the steppe, to accomplish +the distance which separated him from Irkutsk as the crow would fly it, +to be an eagle that he might overtop all obstacles, to be a hurricane +that he might sweep through the air at a hundred versts an hour, +and to be at last face to face with the Grand Duke, and to exclaim: +"Your highness, from his Majesty the Czar!" + +On the next morning at six o'clock, Michael Strogoff started off again. +Thanks to his extreme prudence this part of the journey was signalized +by no incident whatever. At Oubinsk he gave his horse a whole +night's rest, for he wished on the next day to accomplish the hundred +versts which lie between Oubinsk and Ikoulskoe without halting. +He started therefore at dawn; but unfortunately the Baraba proved +more detestable than ever. + +In fact, between Oubinsk and Kamakore the very heavy rains +of some previous weeks were retained by this shallow depression +as in a water-tight bowl. There was, for a long distance, no break +in the succession of swamps, pools, and lakes. One of these lakes-- +large enough to warrant its geographical nomenclature--Tchang, Chinese +in name, had to be coasted for more than twenty versts, and this +with the greatest difficulty. Hence certain delays occurred, +which all the impatience of Michael Strogoff could not avoid. +He had been well advised in not taking a carriage at Kamsk, +for his horse passed places which would have been impracticable +for a conveyance on wheels. + +In the evening, at nine o'clock, Michael Strogoff arrived +at Ikoulskoe, and halted there over night. In this remote +village of the Baraba news of the war was utterly wanting. +From its situation, this part of the province, lying in the fork +formed by the two Tartar columns which had bifurcated, +one upon Omsk and the other upon Tomsk, had hitherto escaped +the horrors of the invasion. + +But the natural obstacles were now about to disappear, for, if he +experienced no delay, Michael Strogoff should on the morrow be free +of the Baraba and arrive at Kolyvan. There he would be within +eighty miles of Tomsk. He would then be guided by circumstances, +and very probably he would decide to go around Tomsk, which, if the news +were true, was occupied by Feofar-Khan. + +But if the small towns of Ikoulskoe and Karguinsk, which he +passed on the next day, were comparatively quiet, owing to +their position in the Baraba, was it not to be dreaded that, +upon the right banks of the Obi, Michael Strogoff would have much +more to fear from man? It was probable. However, should it +become necessary, he would not hesitate to abandon the beaten +path to Irkutsk. To journey then across the steppe he would, +no doubt, run the risk of finding himself without supplies. +There would be, in fact, no longer a well-marked road. +Still, there must be no hesitation. + +Finally, towards half past three in the afternoon, Michael Strogoff +left the last depressions of the Baraba, and the dry and hard soil +of Siberia rang out once more beneath his horse's hoofs. + +He had left Moscow on the 15th of July. Therefore on this day, +the 5th of August, including more than seventy hours lost on the banks +of the Irtych, twenty days had gone by since his departure. + +One thousand miles still separated him from Irkutsk. + + +CHAPTER XVI A FINAL EFFORT + +MICHAEL'S fear of meeting the Tartars in the plains beyond +the Baraba was by no means ungrounded. The fields, trodden down +by horses' hoofs, afforded but too clear evidence that their +hordes had passed that way; the same, indeed, might be said +of these barbarians as of the Turks: "Where the Turk goes, +no grass grows." + +Michael saw at once that in traversing this country the greatest +caution was necessary. Wreaths of smoke curling upwards on +the horizon showed that huts and hamlets were still burning. +Had these been fired by the advance guard, or had the Emir's +army already advanced beyond the boundaries of the province? +Was Feofar-Khan himself in the government of Yeniseisk? Michael could +settle on no line of action until these questions were answered. +Was the country so deserted that he could not discover a single +Siberian to enlighten him? + +Michael rode on for two versts without meeting a human being. +He looked carefully for some house which had not been deserted. +Every one was tenantless. + +One hut, however, which he could just see between the trees, +was still smoking. As he approached he perceived, at some yards from +the ruins of the building, an old man surrounded by weeping children. +A woman still young, evidently his daughter and the mother of +the poor children, kneeling on the ground, was gazing on the scene +of desolation. She had at her breast a baby but a few months old; +shortly she would have not even that nourishment to give it. +Ruin and desolation were all around! + +Michael approached the old man. + +"Will you answer me a few questions?" he asked. + +"Speak," replied the old man. + +"Have the Tartars passed this way?" + +"Yes, for my house is in flames." + +"Was it an army or a detachment?" + +"An army, for, as far as eye can reach, our fields are laid waste." + +"Commanded by the Emir?" + +"By the Emir; for the Obi's waters are red." + +"Has Feofar-Khan entered Tomsk?" + +"He has." + +"Do you know if his men have entered Kolyvan?" + +"No; for Kolyvan does not yet burn." + +"Thanks, friend. Can I aid you and yours?" + +"No." + +"Good-by." + +"Farewell." + +And Michael, having presented five and twenty roubles to +the unfortunate woman, who had not even strength to thank him, +put spurs to his horse once more. + +One thing he knew; he must not pass through Tomsk. To go to Kolyvan, +which the Tartars had not yet reached, was possible. Yes, that is +what he must do; there he must prepare himself for another long stage. +There was nothing for it but, having crossed the Obi, to take the Irkutsk +road and avoid Tomsk. + +This new route decided on, Michael must not delay an instant. +Nor did he, but, putting his horse into a steady gallop, he took the road +towards the left bank of the Obi, which was still forty versts distant. +Would there be a ferry boat there, or should he, finding that the Tartars +had destroyed all the boats, be obliged to swim across? + +As to his horse, it was by this time pretty well worn out, and Michael +intended to make it perform this stage only, and then to exchange it +for a fresh one at Kolyvan. Kolyvan would be like a fresh starting point, +for on leaving that town his journey would take a new form. +So long as he traversed a devastated country the difficulties must +be very great; but if, having avoided Tomsk, he could r‚sum‚ the road +to Irkutsk across the province of Yeniseisk, which was not yet laid waste, +he would finish his journey in a few days. + +Night came on, bringing with it refreshing coolness after the heat +of the day. At midnight the steppe was profoundly dark. +The sound of the horses's hoofs alone was heard on the road, except when, +every now and then, its master spoke a few encouraging words. +In such darkness as this great care was necessary lest he should +leave the road, bordered by pools and streams, tributaries of +the Obi. Michael therefore advanced as quickly as was consistent +with safety. He trusted no less to the excellence of his eyes, +which penetrated the gloom, than to the well-proved sagacity +of his horse. + +Just as Michael dismounted to discover the exact direction of the road, +he heard a confused murmuring sound from the west. It was like +the noise of horses' hoofs at some distance on the parched ground. +Michael listened attentively, putting his ear to the ground. + +"It is a detachment of cavalry coming by the road from Omsk," +he said to himself. "They are marching very quickly, +for the noise is increasing. Are they Russians or Tartars?" + +Michael again listened. "Yes," said he, "they are at a sharp trot. +My horse cannot outstrip them. If they are Russians I will join them; +if Tartars I must avoid them. But how? Where can I hide in this steppe?" + +He gave a look around, and, through the darkness, discovered a +confused mass at a hundred paces before him on the left of the road. +"There is a copse!" he exclaimed. "To take refuge there is +to run the risk of being caught, if they are in search of me; +but I have no choice." + +In a few moments Michael, dragging his horse by the bridle, +reached a little larch wood, through which the road lay. +Beyond this it was destitute of trees, and wound among bogs +and pools, separated by dwarfed bushes, whins, and heather. +The ground on either side was quite impracticable, +and the detachment must necessarily pass through the wood. +They were pursuing the high road to Irkutsk. Plunging in about +forty feet, he was stopped by a stream running under the brushwood. +But the shadow was so deep that Michael ran no risk of +being seen, unless the wood should be carefully searched. +He therefore led his horse to the stream and fastened him to a tree, +returning to the edge of the road to listen and ascertain +with what sort of people he had to do. + +Michael had scarcely taken up his position behind a group of larches +when a confused light appeared, above which glared brighter lights +waving about in the shadow. + +"Torches!" said he to himself. And he drew quickly back, +gliding like a savage into the thickest underwood. + +As they approached the wood the horses' pace was slackened. +The horsemen were probably lighting up the road with the intention +of examining every turn. + +Michael feared this, and instinctively drew near to the bank +of the stream, ready to plunge in if necessary. + +Arrived at the top of the wood, the detachment halted. +The horsemen dismounted. There were about fifty. +A dozen of them carried torches, lighting up the road. + +By watching their preparations Michael found to his joy +that the detachment were not thinking of visiting the copse, +but only bivouacking near, to rest their horses and allow the men +to take some refreshment. The horses were soon unsaddled, +and began to graze on the thick grass which carpeted the ground. +The men meantime stretched themselves by the side of the road, +and partook of the provisions they produced from their knapsacks. + +Michael's self-possession had never deserted him, and creeping amongst +the high grass he endeavored not only to examine the new-comers, +but to hear what they said. It was a detachment from Omsk, +composed of Usbeck horsemen, a race of the Mongolian type. +These men, well built, above the medium height, rough, and wild-featured, +wore on their heads the "talpak," or black sheep-skin cap, +and on their feet yellow high-heeled boots with turned-up toes, +like the shoes of the Middle Ages. Their tunics were close-fitting, +and confined at the waist by a leathern belt braided with red. +They were armed defensively with a shield, and offensively with a +curved sword, and a flintlock musket slung at the saddle-bow. From +their shoulders hung gay-colored cloaks. + +The horses, which were feeding at liberty at the edge +of the wood, were, like their masters, of the Usbeck race. +These animals are rather smaller than the Turcomanian horses, +but are possessed of remarkable strength, and know no other pace +than the gallop. + +This detachment was commanded by a "pendja-baschi"; that is to say, +a commander of fifty men, having under him a "deh-baschi," +or simple commander of ten men. These two officers wore helmets +and half coats-of-mail; little trumpets fastened to their saddle-bows +were the distinctive signs of their rank. + +The pendja-baschi had been obliged to let his men rest, +fatigued with a long stage. He and the second officer, +smoking "beng," the leaf which forms the base of the "has-chisch," +strolled up and down the wood, so that Michael Strogoff without +being seen, could catch and understand their conversation, +which was spoken in the Tartar language. + +Michael's attention was singularly excited by their very first words. +It was of him they were speaking. + +"This courier cannot be much in advance of us," said the pendja-baschi; +"and, on the other hand, it is absolutely impossible that he can have +followed any other route than that of the Baraba." + +"Who knows if he has left Omsk?" replied the deh-baschi. "Perhaps +he is still hidden in the town." + +"That is to be wished, certainly. Colonel Ogareff would have no fear +then that the dispatches he bears should ever reach their destination." + +"They say that he is a native, a Siberian," resumed the deh-baschi. +"If so, he must be well acquainted with the country, and it is possible +that he has left the Irkutsk road, depending on rejoining it later." + +"But then we should be in advance of him," answered the pendja-baschi; +"for we left Omsk within an hour after his departure, and have +since followed the shortest road with all the speed of our horses. +He has either remained in Omsk, or we shall arrive at Tomsk before him, +so as to cut him off; in either case he will not reach Irkutsk." + +"A rugged woman, that old Siberian, who is evidently his mother," +said the deh-baschi. + +At this remark Michael's heart beat violently. + +"Yes," answered the pendja-baschi. "She stuck to it well that +the pretended merchant was not her son, but it was too late. +Colonel Ogareff was not to be taken in; and, as he said, +he will know how to make the old witch speak when the time comes." + +These words were so many dagger-thrusts for Michael. He was +known to be a courier of the Czar! A detachment of horsemen +on his track could not fail to cut him off. And, worst of all, +his mother was in the hands of the Tartars, and the cruel +Ogareff had undertaken to make her speak when he wished! + +Michael well knew that the brave Siberian would sacrifice her life +for him. He had fancied that he could not hate Ivan Ogareff more, +yet a fresh tide of hate now rose in his heart. The wretch who had +betrayed his country now threatened to torture his mother. + +The conversation between the two officers continued, and Michael +understood that an engagement was imminent in the neighborhood +of Kolyvan, between the Muscovite troops coming from the north +and the Tartars. A small Russian force of two thousand men, +reported to have reached the lower course of the Obi, were advancing +by forced marches towards Tomsk. If such was the case, +this force, which would soon find itself engaged with the main +body of Feofar-Khan's army, would be inevitably overwhelmed, +and the Irkutsk road would be in the entire possession +of the invaders. + +As to himself, Michael learnt, by some words from the pendja-baschi, +that a price was set on his head, and that orders had been given +to take him, dead or alive. + +It was necessary, therefore, to get the start of the Usbeck horsemen +on the Irkutsk road, and put the Obi between himself and them. +But to do that, he must escape before the camp was broken up. + +His determination taken, Michael prepared to execute it. + +Indeed, the halt would not be prolonged, and the pendja-baschi did +not intend to give his men more than an hour's rest, although their +horses could not have been changed for fresh ones since Omsk, +and must be as much fatigued as that of Michael Strogoff. + +There was not a moment to lose. It was within an hour of morning. +It was needful to profit by the darkness to leave the little wood +and dash along the road; but although night favored it the success +of such a flight appeared to be almost impossible. + +Not wishing to do anything at random, Michael took time for reflection, +carefully weighing the chances so as to take the best. +From the situation of the place the result was this-- +that he could not escape through the back of the wood, the stream +which bordered it being not only deep, but very wide and muddy. +Beneath this thick water was a slimy bog, on which the foot +could not rest. There was only one way open, the high-road. To +endeavor to reach it by creeping round the edge of the wood, +without attracting attention, and then to gallop at headlong speed, +required all the remaining strength and energy of his noble steed. +Too probably it would fall dead on reaching the banks of the Obi, when, +either by boat or by swimming, he must cross this important river. +This was what Michael had before him. + +His energy and courage increased in sight of danger. + +His life, his mission, his country, perhaps the safety of his mother, +were at stake. He could not hesitate. + +There was not a moment to be lost. Already there was a slight +movement among the men of the detachment. A few horsemen +were strolling up and down the road in front of the wood. +The rest were still lying at the foot of the trees, but their +horses were gradually penetrating towards the center of the wood. + +Michael had at first thought of seizing one of these horses, +but he recollected that, of course, they would be as fatigued +as his own. It was better to trust to his own brave steed, +which had already rendered him such important service. +The good animal, hidden behind a thicket, had escaped the sight +of the Usbecks. They, besides, had not penetrated so far +into the wood. + +Michael crawled up to his horse through the grass, and found him +lying down. He patted and spoke gently to him, and managed to raise +him without noise. Fortunately, the torches were entirely consumed, +and now went out, the darkness being still profound under shelter +of the larches. After replacing the bit, Michael looked to his +girths and stirrups, and began to lead his horse quietly away. +The intelligent animal followed his master without even making +the least neigh. + +A few Usbeck horses raised their heads, and began to wander towards +the edge of the wood. Michael held his revolver in his hand, +ready to blow out the brains of the first Tartar who should approach him. +But happily the alarm was not given, and he was able to gain the angle +made by the wood where it joined the road. + +To avoid being seen, Michael's intention was not to mount until +after turning a corner some two hundred feet from the wood. +Unfortunately, just at the moment that he was issuing from the wood, +an Usbeck's horse, scenting him, neighed and began to trot along +the road. His master ran to catch him, and seeing a shadowy form +moving in the dim light, "Look out!" he shouted. + +At the cry, all the men of the bivouac jumped up, and ran to seize +their horses. Michael leaped on his steed, and galloped away. +The two officers of the detachment urged on their men to follow. + +Michael heard a report, and felt a ball pass through his tunic. +Without turning his head, without replying, he spurred on, and, +clearing the brushwood with a tremendous bound, he galloped at full +speed toward the Obi. + +The Usbecks' horses being unsaddled gave him a small start, +but in less than two minutes he heard the tramp of several +horses gradually gaining on him. + +Day was now beginning to break, and objects at some distance were +becoming visible. Michael turned his head, and perceived a horseman +rapidly approaching him. It was the deh-baschi. Being better mounted, +this officer had distanced his detachment. + +Without drawing rein, Michael extended his revolver, and took +a moment's aim. The Usbeck officer, hit in the breast, +rolled on the ground. + +But the other horsemen followed him closely, and without waiting +to assist the deh-baschi, exciting each other by their shouts, +digging their spurs into their horses' sides, they gradually +diminished the distance between themselves and Michael. + +For half an hour only was the latter able to keep out of range +of the Tartars, but he well knew that his horse was becoming weaker, +and dreaded every instant that he would stumble never to rise again. + +It was now light, although the sun had not yet risen above the horizon. +Two versts distant could be seen a pale line bordered by a few trees. + +This was the Obi, which flows from the southwest to the northeast, +the surface almost level with the ground, its bed being but +the steppe itself. + +Several times shots were fired at Michael, but without hitting him, +and several times too he discharged his revolver on those of +the soldiers who pressed him too closely. Each time an Usbeck +rolled on the ground, midst cries of rage from his companions. +But this pursuit could only terminate to Michael's disadvantage. +His horse was almost exhausted. He managed to reach the bank +of the river. The Usbeck detachment was now not more than fifty +paces behind him. + +The Obi was deserted--not a boat of any description which could +take him over the water! + +"Courage, my brave horse!" cried Michael. "Come! A last effort!" +And he plunged into the river, which here was half a verst in width. + +It would have been difficult to stand against the current-- +indeed, Michael's horse could get no footing. He must therefore +swim across the river, although it was rapid as a torrent. +Even to attempt it showed Michael's marvelous courage. +The soldiers reached the bank, but hesitated to plunge in. + +The pendja-baschi seized his musket and took aim at Michael, +whom he could see in the middle of the stream. +The shot was fired, and Michael's horse, struck in the side, +was borne away by the current. + +His master, speedily disentangling himself from his stirrups, +struck out boldly for the shore. In the midst of a hailstorm +of balls he managed to reach the opposite side, and disappeared +in the rushes. + + +CHAPTER XVII THE RIVALS + +MICHAEL was in comparative safety, though his situation was +still terrible. Now that the faithful animal who had so bravely +borne him had met his death in the waters of the river, +how was he to continue his journey? + +He was on foot, without provisions, in a country devastated +by the invasion, overrun by the Emir's scouts, and still at a +considerable distance from the place he was striving to reach. +"By Heaven, I will get there!" he exclaimed, in reply to all +the reasons for faltering. "God will protect our sacred Russia." + +Michael was out of reach of the Usbeck horsemen. +They had not dared to pursue him through the river. + +Once more on solid ground Michael stopped to consider what +he should do next. He wished to avoid Tomsk, now occupied +by the Tartar troops. Nevertheless, he must reach some town, +or at least a post-house, where he could procure a horse. +A horse once found, he would throw himself out of the beaten track, +and not again take to the Irkutsk road until in the neighborhood +of Krasnoiarsk. From that place, if he were quick, he hoped +to find the way still open, and he intended to go through +the Lake Baikal provinces in a southeasterly direction. + +Michael began by going eastward. By following the course +of the Obi two versts further, he reached a picturesque little +town lying on a small hill. A few churches, with Byzantine +cupolas colored green and gold, stood up against the gray sky. +This is Kolyvan, where the officers and people employed at Kamsk +and other towns take refuge during the summer from the unhealthy +climate of the Baraba. According to the latest news obtained +by the Czar's courier, Kolyvan could not be yet in the hands +of the invaders. The Tartar troops, divided into two columns, +had marched to the left on Omsk, to the right on Tomsk, +neglecting the intermediate country. + +Michael Strogoff's plan was simply this--to reach Kolyvan before +the arrival of the Usbeck horsemen, who would ascend the other bank +of the Obi to the ferry. There he would procure clothes and a horse, +and r‚sum‚ the road to Irkutsk across the southern steppe. + +It was now three o'clock in the morning. The neighborhood of Kolyvan +was very still, and appeared to have been totally abandoned. +The country population had evidently fled to the northwards, +to the province of Yeniseisk, dreading the invasion, which they +could not resist. + +Michael was walking at a rapid pace towards Kolyvan when distant firing +struck his ear. He stopped, and clearly distinguished the dull roar +of artillery, and above it a crisp rattle which could not be mistaken. + +"It is cannon and musketry!" said he. "The little Russian body +is engaged with the Tartar army! Pray Heaven that I may arrive +at Kolyvan before them!" + +The firing became gradually louder, and soon to the left of Kolyvan +a mist collected--not smoke, but those great white clouds produced +by discharges of artillery. + +The Usbeck horsemen stopped on the left of the Obi, to await the result +of the battle. From them Michael had nothing to fear as he hastened +towards the town. + +In the meanwhile the firing increased, and became sensibly nearer. +It was no longer a confused roar, but distinct reports. +At the same time the smoke partially cleared, and it became +evident that the combatants were rapidly moving southwards. +It appeared that Kolyvan was to be attacked on the north side. +But were the Russians defending it or the Tartars? It being +impossible to decide this, Michael became greatly perplexed. + +He was not more than half a verst from Kolyvan when he observed +flames shooting up among the houses of the town, and the steeple +of a church fell in the midst of clouds of smoke and fire. +Was the struggle, then, in Kolyvan? Michael was compelled to think so. +It was evident that Russians and Tartars were fighting in +the streets of the town. Was this a time to seek refuge there? +Would he not run a risk of being taken prisoner? Should he succeed +in escaping from Kolyvan, as he had escaped from Omsk? He hesitated +and stopped a moment. Would it not be better to try, even on foot, +to reach some small town, and there procure a horse at any price? +This was the only thing to be done; and Michael, leaving the Obi, +went forward to the right of Kolyvan. + +The firing had now increased in violence. Flames soon sprang +up on the left of the town. Fire was devouring one entire +quarter of Kolyvan. + +Michael was running across the steppe endeavoring to gain the covert +of some trees when a detachment of Tartar cavalry appeared on the right. +He dared not continue in that direction. The horsemen advanced rapidly, +and it would have been difficult to escape them. + +Suddenly, in a thick clump of trees, he saw an isolated house, +which it would be possible to reach before he was perceived. +Michael had no choice but to run there, hide himself and ask +or take something to recruit his strength, for he was exhausted +with hunger and fatigue. + +He accordingly ran on towards this house, still about half +a verst distant. As he approached, he could see that it +was a telegraph office. Two wires left it in westerly and +easterly directions, and a third went towards Kolyvan. + +It was to be supposed that under the circumstances this station +was abandoned; but even if it was, Michael could take refuge there, +and wait till nightfall, if necessary, to again set out across +the steppe covered with Tartar scouts. + +He ran up to the door and pushed it open. + +A single person was in the room whence the telegraphic messages +were dispatched. This was a clerk, calm, phlegmatic, indifferent to +all that was passing outside. Faithful to his post, he waited behind +his little wicket until the public claimed his services. + +Michael ran up to him, and in a voice broken by fatigue, +"What do you know?" he asked. + +"Nothing," answered the clerk, smiling. + +"Are the Russians and Tartars engaged?" + +"They say so." + +"But who are the victors?" + +"I don't know." + +Such calmness, such indifference, in the midst of these terrible events, +was scarcely credible. + +"And is not the wire cut?" said Michael. + +"It is cut between Kolyvan and Krasnoiarsk, but it is still working +between Kolyvan and the Russian frontier." + +"For the government?" + +"For the government, when it thinks proper. For the public, +when they pay. Ten copecks a word, whenever you like, sir!" + +Michael was about to reply to this strange clerk that he had no +message to send, that he only implored a little bread and water, +when the door of the house was again thrown open. + +Thinking that it was invaded by Tartars, Michael made ready to leap +out of the window, when two men only entered the room who had nothing +of the Tartar soldier about them. One of them held a dispatch, +written in pencil, in his hand, and, passing the other, he hurried +up to the wicket of the imperturbable clerk. + +In these two men Michael recognized with astonishment, +which everyone will understand, two personages of whom he was not +thinking at all, and whom he had never expected to see again. +They were the two reporters, Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet, +no longer traveling companions, but rivals, enemies, now that they +were working on the field of battle. + +They had left Ichim only a few hours after the departure of +Michael Strogoff, and they had arrived at Kolyvan before him, +by following the same road, in consequence of his losing three days +on the banks of the Irtych. And now, after being both present +at the engagement between the Russians and Tartars before the town, +they had left just as the struggle broke out in the streets, and ran +to the telegraph office, so as to send off their rival dispatches +to Europe, and forestall each other in their report of events. + +Michael stood aside in the shadow, and without being seen +himself he could see and hear all that was going on. +He would now hear interesting news, and would find out whether +or not he could enter Kolyvan. + +Blount, having distanced his companion, took possession of +the wicket, whilst Alcide Jolivet, contrary to his usual habit, +stamped with impatience. + +"Ten copecks a word," said the clerk. + +Blount deposited a pile of roubles on the shelf, whilst his rival +looked on with a sort of stupefaction. + +"Good," said the clerk. And with the greatest coolness +in the world he began to telegraph the following dispatch: +"Daily Telegraph, London. + +"From Kolyvan, Government of Omsk, Siberia, 6th August. + +"Engagement between Russian and Tartar troops." + +The reading was in a distinct voice, so that Michael heard +all that the English correspondent was sending to his paper. + +"Russians repulsed with great loss. Tartars entered Kolyvan to-day." +These words ended the dispatch. + +"My turn now," cried Alcide Jolivet, anxious to send off his dispatch, +addressed to his cousin. + +But that was not Blount's idea, who did not intend to give +up the wicket, but have it in his power to send off the news +just as the events occurred. He would therefore not make way +for his companion. + +"But you have finished!" exclaimed Jolivet. + +"I have not finished," returned Harry Blount quietly. + +And he proceeded to write some sentences, which he handed in to the clerk, +who read out in his calm voice: "John Gilpin was a citizen of credit +and renown; a train-band captain eke was he of famous London town." + +Harry Blount was telegraphing some verses learned in his childhood, +in order to employ the time, and not give up his place to his rival. +It would perhaps cost his paper some thousands of roubles, but it +would be the first informed. France could wait. + +Jolivet's fury may be imagined, though under any other +circumstances he would have thought it fair warfare. +He even endeavored to force the clerk to take his dispatch +in preference to that of his rival. + +"It is that gentleman's right," answered the clerk coolly, +pointing to Blount, and smiling in the most amiable manner. +And he continued faithfully to transmit to the Daily Telegraph +the well-known verses of Cowper. + +Whilst he was working Blount walked to the window and, his field +glass to his eyes, watched all that was going on in the neighborhood +of Kolyvan, so as to complete his information. In a few minutes +he resumed his place at the wicket, and added to his telegram: +"Two churches are in flames. The fire appears to gain on the right. +'John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, Though wedded we have been +these twice ten tedious years, yet we no holiday have seen.'" + +Alcide Jolivet would have liked to strangle the honorable correspondent +of the Daily Telegraph. + +He again interrupted the clerk, who, quite unmoved, merely replied: +"It is his right, sir, it is his right--at ten copecks a word." + +And he telegraphed the following news, just brought him +by Blount: "Russian fugitives are escaping from the town. +'Away went Gilpin--who but he? His fame soon spread around: +He carries weight! he rides a race! 'Tis for a thousand pound!'" +And Blount turned round with a quizzical look at his rival. + +Alcide Jolivet fumed. + +In the meanwhile Harry Blount had returned to the window, but this +time his attention was diverted by the interest of the scene +before him. Therefore, when the clerk had finished telegraphing +the last lines dictated by Blount, Alcide Jolivet noiselessly +took his place at the wicket, and, just as his rival had done, +after quietly depositing a respectable pile of roubles on the shelf, +he delivered his dispatch, which the clerk read aloud: +"Madeleine Jolivet, 10, Faubourg Montmartre, Paris. + +"From Kolyvan, Government of Omsk, Siberia, 6th August. + +"Fugitives are escaping from the town. Russians defeated. +Fiercely pursued by the Tartar cavalry." + +And as Harry Blount returned he heard Jolivet completing his telegram +by singing in a mocking tone: + +"II est un petit homme, Tout habille de gris, Dans Paris!" + +Imitating his rival, Alcide Jolivet had used a merry refrain of Beranger. + +"Hallo!" said Harry Blount. + +"Just so," answered Jolivet. + +In the meantime the situation at Kolyvan was alarming in the extreme. +The battle was raging nearer, and the firing was incessant. + +At that moment the telegraph office shook to its foundations. +A shell had made a hole in the wall, and a cloud of dust +filled the office. + +Alcide was just finishing writing his lines; but to stop, dart on +the shell, seize it in both hands, throw it out of the window, +and return to the wicket, was only the affair of a moment. + +Five seconds later the shell burst outside. Continuing with +the greatest possible coolness, Alcide wrote: "A six-inch +shell has just blown up the wall of the telegraph office. +Expecting a few more of the same size." + +Michael Strogoff had no doubt that the Russians were driven +out of Kolyvan. His last resource was to set out across +the southern steppe. + +Just then renewed firing broke out close to the telegraph house, +and a perfect shower of bullets smashed all the glass in the windows. +Harry Blount fell to the ground wounded in the shoulder. + +Jolivet even at such a moment, was about to add this postscript +to his dispatch: "Harry Blount, correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, +has fallen at my side struck by--" when the imperturbable clerk +said calmly: "Sir, the wire has broken." And, leaving his wicket, +he quietly took his hat, brushed it round with his sleeve, and, +still smiling, disappeared through a little door which Michael +had not before perceived. + +The house was surrounded by Tartar soldiers, and neither Michael +nor the reporters could effect their retreat. + +Alcide Jolivet, his useless dispatch in his hand, had run +to Blount, stretched on the ground, and had bravely lifted +him on his shoulders, with the intention of flying with him. +He was too late! + +Both were prisoners; and, at the same time, Michael, taken unawares +as he was about to leap from the window, fell into the hands +of the Tartars! + +END OF BOOK I + + + +BOOK II + +CHAPTER I A TARTAR CAMP + +AT a day's march from Kolyvan, several versts beyond +the town of Diachinks, stretches a wide plain, planted here +and there with great trees, principally pines and cedars. +This part of the steppe is usually occupied during the warm +season by Siberian shepherds, and their numerous flocks. +But now it might have been searched in vain for one of its +nomad inhabitants. Not that the plain was deserted. +It presented a most animated appearance. + +There stood the Tartar tents; there Feofar-Khan, the terrible +Emir of Bokhara, was encamped; and there on the following day, +the 7th of August, were brought the prisoners taken at Kolyvan +after the annihilation of the Russian force, which had +vainly attempted to oppose the progress of the invaders. +Of the two thousand men who had engaged with the two columns +of the enemy, the bases of which rested on Tomsk and Omsk, +only a few hundred remained. Thus events were going badly, +and the imperial government appeared to have lost its power beyond +the frontiers of the Ural--for a time at least, for the Russians could +not fail eventually to defeat the savage hordes of the invaders. +But in the meantime the invasion had reached the center +of Siberia, and it was spreading through the revolted +country both to the eastern, and the western provinces. +If the troops of the Amoor and the province of Takutsk did not arrive +in time to occupy it, Irkutsk, the capital of Asiatic Russia, +being insufficiently garrisoned, would fall into the hands +of the Tartars, and the Grand Duke, brother of the Emperor, +would be sacrificed to the vengeance of Ivan Ogareff. + +What had become of Michael Strogoff? Had he broken down under +the weight of so many trials? Did he consider himself conquered +by the series of disasters which, since the adventure of Ichim, +had increased in magnitude? Did he think his cause lost? that his +mission had failed? that his orders could no longer be obeyed? + +Michael was one of those men who never give in while life exists. +He was yet alive; he still had the imperial letter safe; his disguise +had been undiscovered. He was included amongst the numerous +prisoners whom the Tartars were dragging with them like cattle; +but by approaching Tomsk he was at the same time drawing nearer +to Irkutsk. Besides, he was still in front of Ivan Ogareff. + +"I will get there!" he repeated to himself. + +Since the affair of Kolyvan all the powers of his mind were +concentrated on one object--to become free! How should he escape +from the Emir's soldiers? + +Feofar's camp presented a magnificent spectacle. + +Numberless tents, of skin, felt, or silk, glistened in the rays +of the sun. The lofty plumes which surmounted their conical +tops waved amidst banners, flags, and pennons of every color. +The richest of these tents belonged to the Seides and Khodjas, +who are the principal personages of the khanat. +A special pavilion, ornamented with a horse's tail issuing +from a sheaf of red and white sticks artistically interlaced, +indicated the high rank of these Tartar chiefs. +Then in the distance rose several thousand of the Turcoman tents, +called "karaoy," which had been carried on the backs of camels. + +The camp contained at least a hundred and fifty thousand soldiers, +as many foot as horse soldiers, collected under the name +of Alamanes. Amongst them, and as the principal types +of Turkestan, would have been directly remarked the Tadjiks, +from their regular features, white skin, tall forms, and black +eyes and hair; they formed the bulk of the Tartar army, +and of them the khanats of Khokhand and Koundouge had furnished +a contingent nearly equal to that of Bokhara. With the Tadjiks +were mingled specimens of different races who either reside +in Turkestan or whose native countries border on it. +There were Usbecks, red-bearded, small in stature, +similar to those who had pursued Michael. Here were Kirghiz, +with flat faces like the Kalmucks, dressed in coats of mail: +some carried the lance, bows, and arrows of Asiatic manufacture; +some the saber, a matchlock gun, and the "tschakane," a little +short-handled ax, the wounds from which invariably prove fatal. +There were Mongols--of middle height, with black hair plaited +into pigtails, which hung down their back; round faces, +swarthy complexions, lively deep-set eyes, scanty beards-- +dressed in blue nankeen trimmed with black plush, sword-belts of +leather with silver buckles, coats gayly braided, and silk +caps edged with fur and three ribbons fluttering behind. +Brown-skinned Afghans, too, might have been seen. +Arabs, having the primitive type of the beautiful Semitic races; +and Turcomans, with eyes which looked as if they had lost +the pupil,--all enrolled under the Emir's flag, the flag +of incendiaries and devastators. + +Among these free soldiers were a certain number of slave soldiers, +principally Persians, commanded by officers of the same nation, +and they were certainly not the least esteemed of Feofar-Khan's army. + +If to this list are added the Jews, who acted as servants, +their robes confined with a cord, and wearing on their heads instead +of the turban, which is forbidden them, little caps of dark cloth; +if with these groups are mingled some hundreds of "kalenders," a sort +of religious mendicants, clothed in rags, covered by a leopard skin, +some idea may be formed of the enormous agglomerations of different +tribes included under the general denomination of the Tartar army. + +Nothing could be more romantic than this picture, in delineating +which the most skillful artist would have exhausted all the colors +of his palette. + +Feofar's tent overlooked the others. Draped in large folds +of a brilliant silk looped with golden cords and tassels, +surmounted by tall plumes which waved in the wind like fans, +it occupied the center of a wide clearing, sheltered by a grove +of magnificent birch and pine trees. Before this tent, on a japanned +table inlaid with precious stones, was placed the sacred book of +the Koran, its pages being of thin gold-leaf delicately engraved. +Above floated the Tartar flag, quartered with the Emir's arms. + +In a semicircle round the clearing stood the tents of the great +functionaries of Bokhara. There resided the chief of the stables, +who has the right to follow the Emir on horseback even into the court +of his palace; the grand falconer; the "housch-begui," bearer of +the royal seal; the "toptschi-baschi," grand master of the artillery; +the "khodja," chief of the council, who receives the prince's kiss, +and may present himself before him with his girdle untied; +the "scheikh-oul-islam," chief of the Ulemas, representing the priests; +the "cazi-askev," who, in the Emir's absence settles all disputes +raised among the soldiers; and lastly, the chief of the astrologers, +whose great business is to consult the stars every time the Khan +thinks of changing his quarters. + +When the prisoners were brought into the camp, the Emir was in his tent. +He did not show himself. This was fortunate, no doubt. A sign, +a word from him might have been the signal for some bloody execution. +But he intrenched himself in that isolation which constitutes +in part the majesty of Eastern kings. He who does not show himself +is admired, and, above all, feared. + +As to the prisoners, they were to be penned up in some enclosure, +where, ill-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 go, and under conditions of safety +which free he could not have found on the road from Kolyvan +to Tomsk. To escape before reaching that town was to risk +again falling into the hands of the scouts, who were scouring +the steppe. The most eastern line occupied by the Tartar +columns was not situated beyond the eighty-fifth meridian, +which passes through Tomsk. This meridian once passed, +Michael considered that he should be beyond the hostile zones, +that he could traverse Genisci without danger, and gain +Krasnoiarsk before Feofar-Khan had invaded the province. + +"Once at Tomsk," he repeated to himself, to repress some feelings +of impatience which he could not entirely master, "in a few minutes +I should be beyond the outposts; and twelve hours gained on Feofar, +twelve hours on Ogareff, that surely would be enough to give me +a start of them to Irkutsk." + +The thing that Michael dreaded more than everything else was +the presence of Ivan Ogareff in the Tartar camp. Besides the danger +of being recognized, he felt, by a sort of instinct, that this +was the traitor whom it was especially necessary to precede. +He understood, too, that the union of Ogareff's troops with those +of Feofar would complete the invading army, and that the junction +once effected, the army would march en masse on the capital +of Eastern Siberia. All his apprehensions came from this quarter, +and he dreaded every instant to hear some flourish of trumpets, +announcing the arrival of the lieutenant of the Emir. + +To this was added the thought of his mother, of Nadia,-- +the one a prisoner at Omsk; the other dragged on board +the Irtych boats, and no doubt a captive, as Marfa Strogoff was. +He could do nothing for them. Should he ever see them again? +At this question, to which he dared not reply, his heart +sank very low. + +At the same time with Michael Strogoff and so many other prisoners +Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet had also been taken to the Tartar camp. +Their former traveling companion, captured like them at the telegraph +office, knew that they were penned up with him in the enclosure, +guarded by numerous sentinels, but he did not wish to accost them. +It mattered little to him, at this time especially, what they might think +of him since the affair at Ichim. Besides, he desired to be alone, +that he might act alone, if necessary. He therefore held himself aloof +from his former acquaintances. + +From the moment that Harry Blount had fallen by his side, Jolivet had +not ceased his attentions to him. During the journey from Kolyvan +to the camp--that is to say, for several hours--Blount, by leaning on his +companion's arm, had been enabled to follow the rest of the prisoners. +He tried to make known that he was a British subject; but it had no effect +on the barbarians, 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 obtain satisfaction +for such treatment. But the journey was not the less disagreeable 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 companion by every means in his power. +His first care, when they found themselves definitely established +in the enclosure, was to examine Blount's wound. Having managed +carefully 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. + +"I will make them for you myself." + +"Then you are something of a doctor?" + +"All Frenchmen are something of doctors." + +And on this affirmation Alcide, tearing 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, +and skillfully placed the wet rag on Harry Blount's shoulder. + +"I treat you with water," he said. "This liquid is the most efficacious +sedative known for the treatment of wounds, and is the most employed now. +Doctors have taken six thousand years to discover that! Yes, six thousand +years in round numbers!" + +"I thank you, M. Jolivet," answered Harry, stretching himself on a bed +of dry leaves, which his companion had arranged for him in the shade +of a birch tree. + +"Bah! it's nothing! You would do as much for me." + +"I am not quite so sure," said Blount candidly. + +"Nonsense, stupid! All English are generous." + +"Doubtless; but the French?" + +"Well, the French--they are brutes, if you like! +But what redeems them is that they are French. Say nothing +more about that, or rather, say nothing more at all. +Rest is absolutely necessary for you." + +But Harry Blount had no wish to be silent. If the wound, in prudence, +required rest, the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph was not a man +to indulge himself. + +"M. Jolivet," he asked, "do you think that our last dispatches +have been able to pass the Russian frontier?" + +"Why not?" answered Alcide. "By this time you may be sure +that my beloved cousin knows all about the affair at Kolyvan." + +"How many copies does your cousin work off of her dispatches?" +asked Blount, for the first time putting his question direct +to his companion. + +"Well," answered Alcide, laughing, "my cousin is a very discreet person, +who does not like to be talked about, and who would be in despair if she +troubled the sleep of which you are in need." + +"I don't wish to sleep," replied the Englishman. "What will your cousin +think of the affairs of Russia?" + +"That they seem for the time in a bad way. But, bah! the +Muscovite government is powerful; it cannot be really uneasy +at an invasion of barbarians." + +"Too much ambition has lost the greatest empires," answered Blount, +who was not exempt from a certain English jealousy with regard +to Russian pretensions in Central Asia. + +"Oh, do not let us talk politics," cried Jolivet. "It is forbidden +by the faculty. Nothing can be worse for wounds in the shoulder-- +unless it was to put you to sleep." + +"Let us, then, talk of what we ought to do," replied Blount. +"M. Jolivet, I have no intention at all of remaining a prisoner +to these Tartars for an indefinite time." + +"Nor I, either, by Jove!" + +"We will escape on the first opportunity?" + +"Yes, if there is no other way of regaining 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." + +"From that brute of a Feofar-Khan?" + +"No; he would not understand," answered Jolivet; "but from +his lieutenant, Ivan Ogareff." + +"He is a villain." + +" No doubt; but the villain is a Russian. He knows that it does not do +to trifle with the rights of men, and he has no interest to retain us; +on the contrary. But to ask a favor of that gentleman does not quite +suit my taste." + +"But that gentleman is not in the camp, or at least I have not seen +him here," observed Blount. + +"He will come. He will not fail to do that. He must join +the Emir. Siberia is cut in two now, and very certainly Feofar's +army is only waiting for him to advance on Irkutsk." + +"And once free, what shall we do?" + +"Once free, we will continue our campaign, and follow the Tartars, +until the time comes when we can make our way into the Russian camp. +We must not give up the game. No, indeed; we have only just begun. +You, friend, have already had the honor of being wounded in the service +of the Daily Telegraph, whilst I--I have as yet suffered nothing +in my cousin's service. Well, well! Good," murmured Alcide Jolivet; +"there he is asleep. A few hours' sleep and a few cold water compresses +are all that are required to set an Englishman on his legs again. +These fellows are made of cast iron." + +And whilst Harry Blount rested, Alcide watched near him, +after having drawn out his note book, which he loaded with notes, +determined besides to share them with his companion, for the greater +satisfaction of the readers of the Daily Telegraph. Events had +united them one with the other. They were no longer jealous of +each other. So, then, the thing that Michael Strogoff dreaded above +everything was the most lively desire of the two correspondents. +Ivan Ogareff's arrival would evidently be of use to them. +Blount and Jolivet's interest was, therefore, contrary to +that of Michael. The latter well understood the situation, +and it was one reason, added to many others, which prevented +him from approaching his former traveling companions. +He therefore managed so as not to be seen by them. + +Four days passed thus without the state of things being in +anywise altered. The prisoners heard no talk of the breaking +up of the Tartar camp. They were strictly guarded. +It would have been impossible for them to pass the cordon +of foot and horse soldiers, which watched them night and day. +As to the food which was given them it was barely sufficient. +Twice in the twenty-four hours they were thrown a piece +of the intestines of goats grilled on the coals, or a few +bits of that cheese called "kroute," made of sour ewe's milk, +and which, soaked in mare's milk, forms the Kirghiz dish, +commonly called "koumyss." And this was all. +It may be added that the weather had become detestable. +There were considerable atmospheric commotions, bringing squalls +mingled with rain. The unfortunate prisoners, destitute +of shelter, had to bear all the inclemencies of the weather, +nor was there the slightest alleviation to their misery. +Several wounded women and children died, and the prisoners were +themselves compelled to dig graves for the bodies of those whom +their jailers would not even take the trouble to bury. + +During this trying period Alcide Jolivet and Michael Strogoff worked hard, +each in the portions of the enclosure in which they found themselves. +Healthy and vigorous, they suffered less than so many others, +and could better endure the hardships to which they were exposed. +By their advice, and the assistance they rendered, they were of the +greatest possible use to their suffering and despairing fellow-captives. + +Was this state of things to last? Would Feofar-Khan, satisfied +with his first success, wait some time before marching +on Irkutsk? Such, it was to be feared, would be the case. +But it was not so. The event so much wished for by Jolivet +and Blount, so much dreaded by Michael, occurred on the morning +of the 12th of August. + +On that day the trumpets sounded, the drums beat, the cannon roared. +A huge cloud of dust swept along the road from Kolyvan. Ivan Ogareff, +followed by several thousand men, made his entry into the Tartar camp. + + +CHAPTER II CORRESPONDENTS IN TROUBLE + +IVAN OGAREFF was bringing up the main body of the army of +the Emir. The cavalry and infantry now under him had formed part +of the column which had taken Omsk. Ogareff, not having been +able to reduce the high town, in which, it must be remembered, +the governor and garrison had sought refuge, had decided to pass on, +not wishing to delay operations which ought to lead to the conquest +of Eastern Siberia. He therefore left a garrison in Omsk, and, +reinforcing himself en route with the conquerors of Kolyvan, +joined Feofar's army. + +Ivan Ogareff's soldiers halted at the outposts of the camp. +They received no orders to bivouac. Their chief's plan, +doubtless, was not to halt there, but to press on and reach +Tomsk in the shortest possible time, it being an important town, +naturally intended to become the center of future operations. + +Besides his soldiers, Ogareff was bringing a convoy +of Russian and Siberian prisoners, captured either at Omsk +or Kolyvan. These unhappy creatures were not led to +the enclosure--already too crowded--but were forced to remain +at the outposts without shelter, almost without nourishment. +What fate was Feofar-Khan reserving for these unfortunates? +Would he imprison them in Tomsk, or would some bloody execution, +familiar to the Tartar chiefs, remove them when they were found +too inconvenient? This was the secret of the capricious Emir. + +This army had not come from Omsk and Kolyvan without bringing in its +train the usual crowd of beggars, freebooters, pedlars, and gypsies, +which compose the rear-guard of an army on the march. + +All these people lived on the country traversed, and left +little of anything behind them. There was, therefore, +a necessity for pushing forward, if only to secure provisions +for the troops. The whole region between Ichim and the Obi, +now completely devastated, no longer offered any resources. +The Tartars left a desert behind them. + +Conspicuous among the gypsies who had hastened from the western provinces +was the Tsigane troop, which had accompanied Michael Strogoff as far +as Perm. Sangarre was there. This fierce spy, the tool of Ivan Ogareff, +had not deserted her master. Ogareff had traveled rapidly to Ichim, +whilst Sangarre and her band had proceeded to Omsk by the southern part +of the province. + +It may be easily understood how useful this woman was +to Ogareff. With her gypsy-band she could penetrate anywhere. +Ivan Ogareff was kept acquainted with all that was going on in +the very heart of the invaded provinces. There were a hundred eyes, +a hundred ears, open in his service. Besides, he paid liberally +for this espionage, from which he derived so much advantage. + +Once Sangarre, being implicated in a very serious affair, had been +saved by the Russian officer. She never forgot what she owed him, +and had devoted herself to his service body and soul. + +When Ivan Ogareff entered on the path of treason, +he saw at once how he might turn this woman to account. +Whatever order he might give her, Sangarre would execute it. +An inexplicable instinct, more powerful still than that of gratitude, +had urged her to make herself the slave of the traitor +to whom she had been attached since the very beginning of his +exile in Siberia. + +Confidante and accomplice, Sangarre, without country, without family, +had been delighted to put her vagabond life to the service of the invaders +thrown by Ogareff on Siberia. To the wonderful cunning natural to her +race she added a wild energy, which knew neither forgiveness nor pity. +She was a savage worthy to share the wigwam of an Apache or the hut +of an Andaman. + +Since her arrival at Omsk, where she had rejoined him with +her Tsiganes, Sangarre had not again left Ogareff. The circumstance +that Michael and Marfa Strogoff had met was known to her. +She knew and shared Ogareff's fears concerning the journey +of a courier of the Czar. Having Marfa Strogoff in her power, +she would have been the woman to torture her with all the refinement +of a RedSkin in order to wrest her secret from her. But the hour +had not yet come in which Ogareff wished the old Siberian to speak. +Sangarre had to wait, and she waited, without losing sight +of her whom she was watching, observing her slightest gestures, +her slightest words, endeavoring to catch the word "son" escaping +from her lips, but as yet always baffled by Marfa's taciturnity. + +At the first flourish of the trumpets several officers of high rank, +followed by a brilliant escort of Usbeck horsemen, moved to the front +of the camp to receive Ivan Ogareff. Arrived in his presence, +they paid him the greatest respect, and invited him to accompany them +to Feofar-Khan's tent. + +Imperturbable as usual, Ogareff replied coldly to the deference paid +to him. He was plainly dressed; but, from a sort of impudent bravado, +he still wore the uniform of a Russian officer. + +As he was about to enter the camp, Sangarre, passing among +the officers approached and remained motionless before him. +"Nothing?" asked Ogareff. + +"Nothing." + +"Have patience." + +"Is the time approaching when you will force the old woman to speak?" + +"It is approaching, Sangarre." + +"When will the old woman speak?" + +"When we reach Tomsk." + +"And we shall be there--" + +"In three days." + +A strange gleam shot from Sangarre's great black eyes, and she +retired with a calm step. Ogareff pressed his spurs into his +horse's flanks, and, followed by his staff of Tartar officers, +rode towards the Emir's tent. + +Feofar-Khan was expecting his lieutenant. The council, +composed of the bearer of the royal seal, the khodja, +and some high officers, had taken their places in the tent. +Ivan Ogareff dismounted and entered. + +Feofar-Khan was a man of forty, tall, rather pale, of a fierce +countenance, and evil eyes. A curly black beard flowed over his chest. +With his war costume, coat of mail of gold and silver, cross-belt and +scabbard glistening with precious stones, boots with golden spurs, +helmet ornamented with an aigrette of brilliant diamonds, Feofar presented +an aspect rather strange than imposing for a Tartar Sardana-palus, +an undisputed sovereign, who directs at his pleasure the life and fortune +of his subjects. + +When Ivan Ogareff appeared, the great dignitaries remained seated +on their gold-embroidered cushions; but Feofar rose from a rich +divan which occupied the back part of the tent, the ground being +hidden under the thick velvet-pile of a Bokharian carpet. + +The Emir approached Ogareff and gave him a kiss, the meaning of which +he could not mistake. This kiss made the lieutenant chief of the council, +and placed him temporarily above the khodja. + +Then Feofar spoke. "I have no need to question you," said he; +"speak, Ivan. You will find here ears very ready to listen to you." + +"Takhsir," answered Ogareff, "this is what I have to make +known to you." He spoke in the Tartar language, giving to his +phrases the emphatic turn which distinguishes the languages of +the Orientals. "Takhsir, this is not the time for unnecessary words. +What I have done at the head of your troops, you know. +The lines of the Ichim and the Irtych are now in our power; and the +Turcoman horsemen can bathe their horses in the now Tartar waters. +The Kirghiz hordes rose at the voice of Feofar-Khan. You can +now push your troops towards the east, and where the sun rises, +or towards the west, where he sets." + +"And if I march with the sun?" asked the Emir, without his countenance +betraying any of his thoughts. + +"To march with the sun," answered Ogareff, "is to throw yourself +towards Europe; it is to conquer rapidly the Siberian provinces +of Tobolsk as far as the Ural Mountains." + +"And if I go to meet this luminary of the heavens?" + +"It is to subdue to the Tartar dominion, with Irkutsk, the richest +countries of Central Asia." + +"But the armies of the Sultan of St. Petersburg?" said Feofar-Khan, +designating the Emperor of Russia by this strange title. + +"You have nothing to fear from them," replied Ivan Ogareff. +"The invasion has been sudden; and before the Russian army can +succor them, Irkutsk or Tobolsk will have fallen into your power. +The Czar's troops have been overwhelmed at Kolyvan, as they +will be everywhere where yours meet them." + +"And what advice does your devotion to the Tartar cause suggest?" +asked the Emir, after a few moments' silence. + +"My advice," answered Ivan Ogareff quickly, "is to march to meet the sun. +It is to give the grass of the eastern steppes to the Turcoman horses +to consume. It is to take Irkutsk, the capital of the eastern provinces, +and with it a hostage, the possession of whom is worth a whole country. +In the place of the Czar, the Grand Duke his brother must fall +into your hands." + +This was the great result aimed at by Ivan Ogareff. To listen +to him, one would have taken him for one of the cruel +descendants of Stephan Razine, the celebrated pirate +who ravaged Southern Russia in the eighteenth century. +To seize the Grand Duke, murder him pitilessly, would fully +satisfy his hatred. Besides, with the capture of Irkutsk, +all Eastern Siberia would pass to the Tartars. + +"It shall be thus, Ivan," replied Feofar. + +"What are your orders, Takhsir?" + +"To-day our headquarters shall be removed to Tomsk." + +Ogareff bowed, and, followed by the housch-begui, he retired +to execute the Emir's orders. + +As he was about to mount his horse, to return to the outposts, +a tumult broke out at some distance, in the part of the camp reserved +for the prisoners. Shouts were heard, and two or three shots fired. +Perhaps it was an attempt at revolt or escape, which must +be summarily suppressed. + +Ivan Ogareff and the housch-begui walked forward and almost +immediately two men, whom the soldiers had not been able to keep +back appeared before them. + +The housch-begui, without more information, made a sign which +was an order for death, and the heads of the two prisoners +would have rolled on the ground had not Ogareff uttered +a few words which arrested the sword already raised aloft. +The Russian had perceived that these prisoners were strangers, +and he ordered them to be brought to him. + +They were Harry Blount and Alcide jolivet. + +On Ogareff's arrival in the camp, they had demanded to be +conducted to his presence. The soldiers had refused. +In consequence, a struggle, an attempt at flight, shots fired +which happily missed the two correspondents, but their execution +would not have been long delayed, if it had not been for +the intervention of the Emir's lieutenant. + +The latter observed the prisoners for some moments, they being absolutely +unknown to him. They had been present at that scene in the post-house +at Ichim, in which Michael Strogoff had been struck by Ogareff; +but the brutal traveler had paid no attention to the persons then +collected in the common room. + +Blount and Jolivet, on the contrary, recognized him at once, +and the latter said in a low voice, "Hullo! It seems that Colonel Ogareff +and the rude personage of Ichim are one!" Then he added in his +companion's ear, "Explain our affair, Blount. You will do me a service. +This Russian colonel in the midst of a Tartar camp disgusts me; +and although, thanks to him, my head is still on my shoulders, +my eyes would exhibit my feelings were I to attempt to look him +in the face." + +So saying, Alcide Jolivet assumed a look of complete +and haughty indifference. + +Whether or not Ivan Ogareff perceived that the prisoner's +attitude was insulting towards him, he did not let it appear. +"Who are you, gentlemen?" he asked in Russian, in a cold tone, +but free from its usual rudeness. + +"Two correspondents of English and French newspapers," +replied Blount laconically. + +"You have, doubtless, papers which will establish your identity?" + +"Here are letters which accredit us in Russia, from the English +and French chancellor's office." + +Ivan Ogareff took the letters which Blount held out, and read +them attentively. "You ask," said he, "authorization to follow +our military operations in Siberia?" + +"We ask to be free, that is all," answered the English +correspondent dryly. + +"You are so, gentlemen," answered Ogareff; "I am curious to read +your articles in the Daily Telegraph." + +"Sir," replied Blount, with the most imperturbable coolness, +"it is sixpence a number, including postage." And thereupon +he returned to his companion, who appeared to approve completely +of his replies. + +Ivan Ogareff, without frowning, mounted his horse, and going to the head +of his escort, soon disappeared in a cloud of dust. + +"Well, Jolivet, what do you think of Colonel Ivan Ogareff, +general-in-chief of the Tartar troops?" asked Blount. + +"I think, my dear friend," replied Alcide, smiling, "that the housch-begui +made a very graceful gesture when he gave the order for our heads +to be cut off." + +Whatever was the motive which led Ogareff to act thus in regard +to the two correspondents, they were free and could rove at their +pleasure over the scene of war. Their intention was not to leave it. +The sort of antipathy which formerly they had entertained for each +other had given place to a sincere friendship. Circumstances having +brought them together, they no longer thought of separating. +The petty questions of rivalry were forever extinguished. +Harry Blount could never forget what he owed his companion, +who, on the other hand, never tried to remind him of it. +This friendship too assisted the reporting operations, and was +thus to the advantage of their readers. + +"And now," asked Blount, "what shall we do with our liberty?" + +"Take advantage of it, of course," replied Alcide, "and go quietly +to Tomsk to see what is going on there." + +"Until the time--very near, I hope--when we may rejoin +some Russian regiment?" + +"As you say, my dear Blount, it won't do to Tartarise ourselves +too much. The best side is that of the most civilized army, +and it is evident that the people of Central Asia will have +everything to lose and absolutely nothing to gain from +this invasion, while the Russians will soon repulse them. +It is only a matter of time." + +The arrival of Ivan Ogareff, which had given Jolivet and Blount their +liberty, was to Michael Strogoff, on the contrary, a serious danger. +Should chance bring the Czar's courier into Ogareff's presence, the latter +could not fail to recognize in him the traveler whom he had so brutally +treated at the Ichim post-house, and although Michael had not replied +to the insult as he would have done under any other circumstances, +attention would be drawn to him, and at once the accomplishment of his +plans would be rendered more difficult. + +This was the unpleasant side of the business. A favorable +result of his arrival, however, was the order which was given +to raise the camp that very day, and remove the headquarters +to Tomsk. This was the accomplishment of Michael's most +fervent desire. His intention, as has been said, was to reach +Tomsk concealed amongst the other prisoners; that is to say, +without any risk of falling into the hands of the scouts +who swarmed about the approaches to this important town. +However, in consequence of the arrival of Ivan Ogareff, +he questioned whether it would not be better to give up his +first plan and attempt to escape during the journey. + +Michael would, no doubt, have kept to the latter plan had he not learnt +that Feofar-Khan and Ogareff had already set out for the town with +some thousands of horsemen. "I will wait, then," said he to himself; +"at least, unless some exceptional opportunity for escape occurs. +The adverse chances are numerous on this side of Tomsk, while beyond +I shall in a few hours have passed the most advanced Tartar posts +to the east. Still three days of patience, and may God aid me!" + +It was indeed a journey of three days which the prisoners, under the guard +of a numerous detachment of Tartars, were to make across the steppe. +A hundred and fifty versts lay between the camp and the town-- +an easy march for the Emir's soldiers, who wanted for nothing, +but a wretched journey for these people, enfeebled by privations. +More than one corpse would show the road they had traversed. + +It was two o'clock in the afternoon, on the 12th of August, +under a hot sun and cloudless sky, that the toptschi-baschi +gave the order to start. + +Alcide and Blount, having bought horses, had already taken the road +to Tomsk, where events were to reunite the principal personages +of this story. + +Amongst the prisoners brought by Ivan Ogareff to the Tartar camp +was an old woman, whose taciturnity seemed to keep her apart from +all those who shared her fate. Not a murmur issued from her lips. +She was like a statue of grief. This woman was more strictly +guarded than anyone else, and, without her appearing to notice, +was constantly watched by the Tsigane Sangarre. Notwithstanding her +age she was compelled to follow the convoy of prisoners on foot, +without any alleviation of her suffering. + +However, a kind Providence had placed near her a courageous, +kind-hearted being to comfort and assist her. Amongst her companions +in misfortune a young girl, remarkable for beauty and taciturnity, +seemed to have given herself the task of watching over her. +No words had been exchanged between the two captives, but the girl +was always at the old woman's side when help was useful. +At first the mute assistance of the stranger was accepted with +some mistrust. Gradually, however, the young girl's clear glance, +her reserve, and the mysterious sympathy which draws together +those who are in misfortune, thawed Marfa Strogoff's coldness. + +Nadia--for it was she--was thus able, without knowing it, to render +to the mother those attentions which she had herself received +from the son. Her instinctive kindness had doubly inspired her. +In devoting herself to her service, Nadia secured to her youth +and beauty the protection afforded by the age of the old prisoner. + +On the crowd of unhappy people, embittered by sufferings, +this silent pair--one seeming to be the grandmother, the other +the grand-daughter--imposed a sort of respect. + +After being carried off by the Tartar scouts on the Irtych, Nadia had been +taken to Omsk. Kept prisoner in the town, she shared the fate of all +those captured by Ivan Ogareff, and consequently that of Marfa Strogoff. + +If Nadia had been less energetic, she would have succumbed to this +double blow. The interruption to her journey, the death of Michael, +made her both desperate and excited. Divided, perhaps forever, +from her father, after so many happy efforts had brought her +near him, and, to crown her grief, separated from the intrepid +companion whom God seemed to have placed in her way to lead her. +The image of Michael Strogoff, struck before her eyes with +a lance and disappearing beneath the waters of the Irtych, +never left her thoughts. + +Could such a man have died thus? For whom was God reserving His +miracles if this good man, whom a noble object was urging onwards, +had been allowed to perish so miserably? Then anger would +prevail over grief. The scene of the affront so strangely borne +by her companion at the Ichim relay returned to her memory. +Her blood boiled at the recollection. + +"Who will avenge him who can no longer avenge himself?" she said. + +And in her heart, she cried, "May it be I!" If before his death +Michael had confided his secret to her, woman, aye girl though +she was, she might have been able to carry to a successful +conclusion the interrupted task of that brother whom God had +so soon taken from her. + +Absorbed in these thoughts, it can be understood how Nadia +could remain insensible to the miseries even of her captivity. +Thus chance had united her to Marfa Strogoff without her having +the least suspicion of who she was. How could she imagine that +this old woman, a prisoner like herself, was the mother of him, +whom she only knew as the merchant Nicholas Korpanoff? And on +the other hand, how could Marfa guess that a bond of gratitude +connected this young stranger with her son? + +The thing that first struck Nadia in Marfa Strogoff was +the similarity in the way in which each bore her hard fate. +This stoicism of the old woman under the daily hardships, +this contempt of bodily suffering, could only be caused by a moral +grief equal to her own. So Nadia thought; and she was not mistaken. +It was an instinctive sympathy for that part of her misery +which Marfa did not show which first drew Nadia towards her. +This way of bearing her sorrow went to the proud heart of +the young girl. She did not offer her services; she gave them. +Marfa had neither to refuse nor accept them. In the difficult +parts of the journey, the girl was there to support her. +When the provisions were given out, the old woman would not +have moved, but Nadia shared her small portion with her; and thus +this painful journey was performed. Thanks to her companion, +Marfa was able to follow the soldiers who guarded the prisoners +without being fastened to a saddle-bow, as were many other +unfortunate wretches, and thus dragged along this road of sorrow. + +"May God reward you, my daughter, for what you have done for my old age!" +said Marfa Strogoff once, and for some time these were the only words +exchanged between the two unfortunate beings. + +During these few days, which to them appeared like centuries, +it would seem that the old woman and the girl would have been led +to speak of their situation. But Marfa Strogoff, from a caution +which may be easily understood, never spoke about herself except +with the greatest brevity. She never made the smallest allusion +to her son, nor to the unfortunate meeting. + +Nadia also, if not completely silent, spoke little. However, one day +her heart overflowed, and she told all the events which had occurred +from her departure from Wladimir to the death of Nicholas Korpanoff. + +All that her young companion told intensely interested +the old Siberian. "Nicholas Korpanoff!" said she. +"Tell me again about this Nicholas. I know only one man, +one alone, in whom such conduct would not have astonished me. +Nicholas Korpanoff! Was that really his name? Are you sure +of it, my daughter?" + +"Why should he have deceived me in this," replied Nadia, +"when he deceived me in no other way?" + +Moved, however, by a kind of presentiment, Marfa Strogoff put +questions upon questions to Nadia. + +"You told me he was fearless, my daughter. You have proved +that he has been so?" asked she. + +"Yes, fearless indeed!" replied Nadia. + +"It was just what my son would have done," said Marfa to herself. + +Then she resumed, "Did you not say that nothing stopped him, +nor astonished him; that he was so gentle in his strength that you +had a sister as well as a brother in him, and he watched over you +like a mother?" + +"Yes, yes," said Nadia. "Brother, sister, mother--he has been +all to me!" + +"And defended you like a lion?" + +"A lion indeed!" replied Nadia. "A lion, a hero!" + +"My son, my son!" thought the old Siberian. "But you said, however, +that he bore a terrible insult at that post-house in Ichim?" + +"He did bear it," answered Nadia, looking down. + +"He bore it!" murmured Marfa, shuddering. + +"Mother, mother," cried Nadia, "do not blame him! He had a secret. +A secret of which God alone is as yet the judge!" + +"And," said Marfa, raising her head and looking at Nadia as though +she would read the depths of her heart, "in that hour of humiliation +did you not despise this Nicholas Korpanoff?" + +"I admired without understanding him," replied the girl. +"I never felt him more worthy of respect." + +The old woman was silent for a minute. + +"Was he tall?" she asked. + +"Very tall." + +"And very handsome? Come, speak, my daughter." + +"He was very handsome," replied Nadia, blushing. + +"It was my son! I tell you it was my son!" exclaimed the +old woman, embracing Nadia. + +"Your son!" said Nadia amazed, "your son!" + +"Come," said Marfa; "let us get to the bottom of this, my child. +Your companion, your friend, your protector had a mother. +Did he never speak to you of his mother?" + +"Of his mother?" said Nadia. "He spoke to me of his mother as I +spoke to him of my father--often, always. He adored her." + +"Nadia, Nadia, you have just told me about my own son," +said the old woman. + +And she added impetuously, "Was he not going to see this mother, +whom you say he loved, in Omsk?" + +"No," answered Nadia, "no, he was not." + +"Not!" cried Marfa. "You dare to tell me not!" + +"I say so: but it remains to me to tell you that from motives which +outweighed everything else, motives which I do not know, I understand +that Nicholas Korpanoff had to traverse the country completely in secret. +To him it was a question of life and death, and still more, a question +of duty and honor." + +"Duty, indeed, imperious duty," said the old Siberian, +"of those who sacrifice everything, even the joy of giving +a kiss, perhaps the last, to his old mother. All that you do +not know, Nadia--all that I did not know myself--I now know. +You have made me understand everything. But the light which you +have thrown on the mysteries of my heart, I cannot return on yours. +Since my son has not told you his secret, I must keep it. +Forgive me, Nadia; I can never repay what you have done for me." + +"Mother, I ask you nothing," replied Nadia. + +All was thus explained to the old Siberian, all, even the conduct +of her son with regard to herself in the inn at Omsk. There was +no doubt that the young girl's companion was Michael Strogoff, +and that a secret mission in the invaded country obliged him +to conceal his quality of the Czar's courier. + +"Ah, my brave boy!" thought Marfa. "No, I will not betray you, +and tortures shall not wrest from me the avowal that it was you +whom I saw at Omsk." + +Marfa could with a word have paid Nadia for all her devotion to her. +She could have told her that her companion, Nicholas Korpanoff, +or rather Michael Strogoff, had not perished in the waters of the Irtych, +since it was some days after that incident that she had met him, +that she had spoken to him. + +But she restrained herself, she was silent, and contented herself +with saying, "Hope, my child! Misfortune will not overwhelm you. +You will see your father again; I feel it; and perhaps he who gave +you the name of sister is not dead. God cannot have allowed your +brave companion to perish. Hope, my child, hope! Do as I do. +The mourning which I wear is not yet for my son." + + +CHAPTER III BLOW FOR BLOW + +SUCH were now the relative situations of Marfa Strogoff +and Nadia. All was understood by the old Siberian, and though the young +girl was ignorant that her much-regretted companion still lived, +she at least knew his relationship to her whom she had made her mother; +and she thanked God for having given her the joy of taking the place +of the son whom the prisoner had lost. + +But what neither of them could know was that Michael, having been +captured at Kolyvan, was in the same convoy and was on his way +to Tomsk with them. + +The prisoners brought by Ivan Ogareff had been added to those already kept +by the Emir in the Tartar camp. These unfortunate people, consisting +of Russians, Siberians, soldiers and civilians, numbered some thousands, +and formed a column which extended over several versts. Some among them +being considered dangerous were handcuffed and fastened to a long chain. +There were, too, women and children, many of the latter suspended +to the pommels of the saddles, while the former were dragged mercilessly +along the road on foot, or driven forward as if they were animals. +The horsemen compelled them to maintain a certain order, and there were +no laggards with the exception of those who fell never to rise again. + +In consequence of this arrangement, Michael Strogoff, +marching in the first ranks of those who had left the Tartar camp-- +that is to say, among the Kolyvan prisoners--was unable to mingle +with the prisoners who had arrived after him from Omsk. He had +therefore no suspicion that his mother and Nadia were present in +the convoy, nor did they suppose that he was among those in front. +This journey from the camp to Tomsk, performed under the lashes and +spear-points of the soldiers, proved fatal to many, and terrible to all. +The prisoners traveled across the steppe, over a road made +still more dusty by the passage of the Emir and his vanguard. +Orders had been given to march rapidly. The short halts were rare. +The hundred miles under a burning sky seemed interminable, +though they were performed as rapidly as possible. + +The country, which extends from the right of the Obi to +the base of the spur detached from the Sayanok Mountains, +is very sterile. Only a few stunted and burnt-up shrubs +here and there break the monotony of the immense plain. +There was no cultivation, for there was no water; and it was water +that the prisoners, parched by their painful march, most needed. +To find a stream they must have diverged fifty versts eastward, +to the very foot of the mountains. + +There flows the Tom, a little affluent of the Obi, which passes near +Tomsk before losing itself in one of the great northern arteries. +There water would have been abundant, the steppe less arid, +the heat less severe. But the strictest orders had been given +to the commanders of the convoy to reach Tomsk by the shortest way, +for the Emir was much afraid of being taken in the flank and cut +off by some Russian column descending from the northern provinces. + +It is useless to dwell upon the sufferings of the unhappy prisoners. +Many hundreds fell on the steppe, where their bodies would lie +until winter, when the wolves would devour the remnants of their bones. + +As Nadia helped the old Siberian, so in the same way did Michael +render to his more feeble companions in misfortune such services +as his situation allowed. He encouraged some, supported others, +going to and fro, until a prick from a soldier's lance obliged him +to r‚sum‚ the place which had been assigned him in the ranks. + +Why did he not endeavor to escape? + +The reason was that he had now quite determined not to venture until +the steppe was safe for him. He was resolved in his idea of going +as far as Tomsk "at the Emir's expense," and indeed he was right. +As he observed the numerous detachments which scoured the plain +on the convoy's flanks, now to the south, now to the north, +it was evident that before he could have gone two versts +he must have been recaptured. The Tartar horsemen swarmed-- +it actually appeared as if they sprang from the earth--like insects +which a thunderstorm brings to the surface of the ground. +Flight under these conditions would have been extremely difficult, +if not impossible. The soldiers of the escort displayed +excessive vigilance, for they would have paid for the slightest +carelessness with their heads. + +At nightfall of the 15th of August, the convoy reached the little +village of Zabediero, thirty versts from Tomsk. + +The prisoners' first movement would have been to rush into the river, +but they were not allowed to leave the ranks until the halt +had been organized. Although the current of the Tom was just +now like a torrent, it might have favored the flight of some +bold or desperate man, and the strictest measures of vigilance +were taken. Boats, requisitioned at Zabediero, were brought up +to the Tom and formed a line of obstacles impossible to pass. +As to the encampment on the outskirts of the village, it was +guarded by a cordon of sentinels. + +Michael Strogoff, who now naturally thought of escape, saw, +after carefully surveying the situation, that under these +conditions it was perfectly impossible; so, not wishing +to compromise himself, he waited. + +The prisoners were to encamp for the whole night on the banks +of the Tom, for the Emir had put off the entrance of his troops +into Tomsk. It had been decided that a military fete should mark +the inauguration of the Tartar headquarters in this important city. +Feofar-Khan already occupied the fortress, but the bulk of his army +bivouacked under its walls, waiting until the time came for them +to make a solemn entry. + +Ivan Ogareff left the Emir at Tomsk, where both had arrived +the evening before, and returned to the camp at Zabediero. From here +he was to start the next day with the rear-guard of the Tartar army. +A house had been arranged for him in which to pass the night. +At sunrise horse and foot soldiers were to proceed to Tomsk, +where the Emir wished to receive them with the pomp usual +to Asiatic sovereigns. As soon as the halt was organized, +the prisoners, worn out with their three days' journey, and suffering +from burning thirst, could drink and take a little rest. +The sun had already set, when Nadia, supporting Marfa Strogoff, +reached the banks of the Tom. They had not till then been able +to get through those who crowded the banks, but at last they came +to drink in their turn. + +The old woman bent over the clear stream, and Nadia, plunging in +her hand, carried it to Marfa's lips. Then she refreshed herself. +They found new life in these welcome waters. Suddenly Nadia started up; +an involuntary cry escaped her. + +Michael Strogoff was there, a few steps from her. It was he. +The dying rays of the sun fell upon him. + +At Nadia's cry Michael started. But he had sufficient command over +himself not to utter a word by which he might have been compromised. +And yet, when he saw Nadia, he also recognized his mother. + +Feeling he could not long keep master of himself at this +unexpected meeting, he covered his eyes with his hands and +walked quickly away. + +Nadia's impulse was to run after him, but the old Siberian murmured +in her ear, "Stay, my daughter!" + +"It is he!" replied Nadia, choking with emotion. "He lives, mother! +It is he!" + +"It is my son," answered Marfa, "it is Michael Strogoff, +and you see that I do not make a step towards him! +Imitate me, my daughter." + +Michael had just experienced the most violent emotion which a man +can feel. His mother and Nadia were there! + +The two prisoners who were always together in his heart, +God had brought them together in this common misfortune. +Did Nadia know who he was? Yes, for he had seen Marfa's gesture, +holding her back as she was about to rush towards him. +Marfa, then, had understood all, and kept his secret. + +During that night, Michael was twenty times on the point +of looking for and joining his mother; but he knew that he must +resist the longing he felt to take her in his arms, and once +more press the hand of his young companion. The least imprudence +might be fatal. He had besides sworn not to see his mother. +Once at Tomsk, since he could not escape this very night, +he would set off without having even embraced the two beings +in whom all the happiness of his life was centered, and whom +he should leave exposed to so many perils. + +Michael hoped that this fresh meeting at the Zabediero camp would +have no disastrous consequences either to his mother or to himself. +But he did not know that part of this scene, although it passed +so rapidly, had been observed by Sangarre, Ogareff's spy. + +The Tsigane was there, a few paces off, on the bank, as usual, +watching the old Siberian woman. She had not caught sight +of Michael, for he disappeared before she had time to look around; +but the mother's gesture as she kept back Nadia had not escaped her, +and the look in Marfa's eyes told her all. + +It was now beyond doubt that Marfa Strogoff's son, the Czar's courier, +was at this moment in Zabediero, among Ivan Ogareff's prisoners. +Sangarre did not know him, but she knew that he was there. +She did not then attempt to discover him, for it would have been +impossible in the dark and the immense crowd. + +As for again watching Nadia and Marfa Strogoff, that was equally useless. +It was evident that the two women would keep on their guard, and it +would be impossible to overhear anything of a nature to compromise +the courier of the Czar. The Tsigane's first thought was to tell +Ivan Ogareff. She therefore immediately left the encampment. +A quarter of an hour after, she reached Zabediero, and was shown +into the house occupied by the Emir's lieutenant. Ogareff received +the Tsigane directly. + +"What have you to tell me, Sangarre?" he asked. + +"Marfa Strogoff's son is in the encampment." + +"A prisoner?" + +"A prisoner." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Ogareff, "I shall know--" + +"You will know nothing, Ivan," replied Tsigane; "for you do not +even know him by sight." + +"But you know him; you have seen him, Sangarre?" + +"I have not seen him; but his mother betrayed herself by a gesture, +which told me everything." + +"Are you not mistaken?" + +"I am not mistaken." + +"You know the importance which I attach to the apprehension +of this courier," said Ivan Ogareff. "If the letter which he has +brought from Moscow reaches Irkutsk, if it is given to the Grand Duke, +the Grand Duke will be on his guard, and I shall not be able +to get at him. I must have that letter at any price. +Now you come to tell me that the bearer of this letter is in my power. +I repeat, Sangarre, are you not mistaken?" + +Ogareff spoke with great animation. His emotion showed the extreme +importance he attached to the possession of this letter. Sangarre was not +at all put out by the urgency with which Ogareff repeated his question. +"I am not mistaken, Ivan," she said. + +"But, Sangarre, there are thousands of prisoners; and you say +that you do not know Michael Strogoff." + +"No," answered the Tsigane, with a look of savage joy, "I do not know him; +but his mother knows him. Ivan, we must make his mother speak." + +"To-morrow she shall speak!" cried Ogareff. So saying, +he extended his hand to the Tsigane, who kissed it; for there +is nothing servile in this act of respect, it being usual among +the Northern races. + +Sangarre returned to the camp. She found out Nadia and +Marfa Strogoff, and passed the night in watching them. +Although worn out with fatigue, the old woman and the girl +did not sleep. Their great anxiety kept them awake. +Michael was living, but a prisoner. Did Ogareff know him, +or would he not soon find him out? Nadia was occupied by +the one thought that he whom she had thought dead still lived. +But Marfa saw further into the future: and, although she did +not care what became of herself, she had every reason to fear +for her son. + +Sangarre, under cover of the night, had crept near the two women, +and remained there several hours listening. She heard nothing. +From an instinctive feeling of prudence not a word was exchanged between +Nadia and Marfa Strogoff. The next day, the 16th of August, about ten +in the morning, trumpet-calls resounded throughout the encampment. +The Tartar soldiers were almost immediately under arms. + +Ivan Ogareff arrived, surrounded by a large staff of Tartar officers. +His face was more clouded than usual, and his knitted brow gave signs +of latent wrath which was waiting for an occasion to break forth. + +Michael Strogoff, hidden in a group of prisoners, saw this man pass. +He had a presentiment that some catastrophe was imminent: +for Ivan Ogareff knew now that Marfa was the mother of Michael Strogoff. + +Ogareff dismounted, and his escort cleared a large circle round him. +Just then Sangarre approached him, and said, "I have no news." + +Ivan Ogareff's only reply was to give an order to one of his officers. +Then the ranks of prisoners were brutally hurried up by the soldiers. +The unfortunate people, driven on with whips, or pushed on with lances, +arranged themselves round the camp. A strong guard of soldiers drawn +up behind, rendered escape impossible. + +Silence then ensued, and, on a sign from Ivan Ogareff, Sangarre advanced +towards the group, in the midst of which stood Marfa. + +The old Siberian saw her, and knew what was going to happen. +A scornful smile passed over her face. Then leaning towards Nadia, +she said in a low tone, "You know me no longer, my daughter. +Whatever may happen, and however hard this trial may be, not a word, +not a sign. It concerns him, and not me." + +At that moment Sangarre, having regarded her for an instant, +put her hand on her shoulder. + +"What do you want with me?" said Marfa. + +"Come!" replied Sangarre, and pushing the old Siberian before her, +she took her to Ivan Ogareff, in the middle of the cleared ground. +Michael cast down his eyes that their angry flashings might not appear. + +Marfa, standing before Ivan Ogareff, drew herself up, crossed her arms +on her breast, and waited. + +"You are Marfa Strogoff?" asked Ogareff. + +"Yes," replied the old Siberian calmly. + +"Do you retract what you said to me when, three days ago, +I interrogated you at Omsk?" + +"No!" + +"Then you do not know that your son, Michael Strogoff, +courier of the Czar, has passed through Omsk?" + +"I do not know it." + +"And the man in whom you thought you recognized your son, +was not he your son?" + +"He was not my son." + +"And since then you have not seen him amongst the prisoners?" + +"No." + +"If he were pointed out, would you recognize him?" + +"No." + +On this reply, which showed such determined resolution, +a murmur was heard amongst the crowd. + +Ogareff could not restrain a threatening gesture. + +"Listen," said he to Marfa, "your son is here, and you shall +immediately point him out to me." + +"No." + +"All these men, taken at Omsk and Kolyvan, will defile before you; +and if you do not show me Michael Strogoff, you shall receive +as many blows of the knout as men shall have passed before you." + +Ivan Ogareff saw that, whatever might be his threats, +whatever might be the tortures to which he submitted her, +the indomitable Siberian would not speak. To discover the courier +of the Czar, he counted, then, not on her, but on Michael himself. +He did not believe it possible that, when mother and son were in each +other's presence, some involuntary movement would not betray him. +Of course, had he wished to seize the imperial letter, +he would simply have given orders to search all the prisoners; +but Michael might have destroyed the letter, having learnt +its contents; and if he were not recognized, if he were to +reach Irkutsk, all Ivan Ogareff's plans would be baffled. +It was thus not only the letter which the traitor must have, +but the bearer himself. + +Nadia had heard all, and she now knew who was Michael Strogoff, +and why he had wished to cross, without being recognized, +the invaded provinces of Siberia. + +On an order from Ivan Ogareff the prisoners defiled, one by one, +past Marfa, who remained immovable as a statue, and whose face +expressed only perfect indifference. + +Her son was among the last. When in his turn he passed before +his mother, Nadia shut her eyes that she might not see him. +Michael was to all appearance unmoved, but the palm of his hand +bled under his nails, which were pressed into them. + +Ivan Ogareff was baffled by mother and son. + +Sangarre, close to him, said one word, "The knout!" + +"Yes," cried Ogareff, who could no longer restrain himself; +"the knout for this wretched old woman--the knout to the death!" + +A Tartar soldier bearing this terrible instrument of torture +approached Marfa. The knout is composed of a certain number of leathern +thongs, at the end of which are attached pieces of twisted iron wire. +It is reckoned that a sentence to one hundred and twenty blows of this +whip is equivalent to a sentence of death. + +Marfa knew it, but she knew also that no torture would make her speak. +She was sacrificing her life. + +Marfa, seized by two soldiers, was forced on her knees +on the ground. Her dress torn off left her back bare. +A saber was placed before her breast, at a few inches' distance only. +Directly she bent beneath her suffering, her breast would +be pierced by the sharp steel. + +The Tartar drew himself up. He waited. "Begin!" said Ogareff. The whip +whistled in the air. + +But before it fell a powerful hand stopped the Tartar's arm. +Michael was there. He had leapt forward at this horrible scene. +If at the relay at Ichim he had restrained himself when Ogareff's whip +had struck him, here before his mother, who was about to be struck, +he could not do so. Ivan Ogareff had succeeded. + +"Michael Strogoff!" cried he. Then advancing, "Ah, the man of Ichim?" + +"Himself!" said Michael. And raising the knout he struck Ogareff +a sharp blow across the face. "Blow for blow!" said he. + +"Well repaid!" cried a voice concealed by the tumult. + +Twenty soldiers threw themselves on Michael, and in another instant +he would have been slain. + +But Ogareff, who on being struck had uttered a cry of rage and pain, +stopped them. "This man is reserved for the Emir's judgment," +said he. "Search him!" + +The letter with the imperial arms was found in Michael's bosom; +he had not had time to destroy it; it was handed to Ogareff. + +The voice which had pronounced the words, "Well repaid!" +was that of no other than Alcide Jolivet. "Par-dieu!" said +he to Blount, "they are rough, these people. +Acknowledge that we owe our traveling companion a good turn. +Korpanoff or Strogoff is worthy of it. Oh, that was fine +retaliation for the little affair at Ichim." + +"Yes, retaliation truly," replied Blount; "but Strogoff is a dead man. +I suspect that, for his own interest at all events, it would have been +better had he not possessed quite so lively a recollection of the event." + +"And let his mother perish under the knout?" + +"Do you think that either she or his sister will be a bit better +off from this outbreak of his?" + +"I do not know or think anything except that I should have done +much the same in his position," replied Alcide. "What a scar +the Colonel has received! Bah! one must boil over sometimes. +We should have had water in our veins instead of blood had it been +incumbent on us to be always and everywhere unmoved to wrath." + +"A neat little incident for our journals," observed Blount, +"if only Ivan Ogareff would let us know the contents of that letter." + +Ivan Ogareff, when he had stanched the blood which was trickling +down his face, had broken the seal. He read and re-read +the letter deliberately, as if he was determined to discover +everything it contained. + +Then having ordered that Michael, carefully bound and guarded, +should be carried on to Tomsk with the other prisoners, he took +command of the troops at Zabediero, and, amid the deafening +noise of drums and trumpets, he marched towards the town +where the Emir awaited him. + + +CHAPTER IV THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY + +TOMSK, founded in 1604, nearly in the heart of the Siberian provinces, +is one of the most important towns in Asiatic Russia. Tobolsk, situated +above the sixtieth parallel; Irkutsk, built beyond the hundredth meridian-- +have seen Tomsk increase at their expense. + +And yet Tomsk, as has been said, is not the capital of this +important province. It is at Omsk that the Governor-General +of the province and the official world reside. But Tomsk +is the most considerable town of that territory. The country +being rich, the town is so likewise, for it is in the center +of fruitful mines. In the luxury of its houses, its arrangements, +and its equipages, it might rival the greatest European capitals. +It is a city of millionaires, enriched by the spade and pickax, +and though it has not the honor of being the residence of the +Czar's representative, it can boast of including in the first +rank of its notables the chief of the merchants of the town, +the principal grantees of the imperial government's mines. + +But the millionaires were fled now, and except for the crouching poor, +the town stood empty to the hordes of Feofar-Khan. At four o'clock the +Emir made his entry into the square, greeted by a flourish of trumpets, +the rolling sound of the big drums, salvoes of artillery and musketry. + +Feofar mounted his favorite horse, which carried on its head +an aigrette of diamonds. The Emir still wore his uniform. +He was accompanied by a numerous staff, and beside him walked +the Khans of Khokhand and Koundouge and the grand dignitaries +of the Khanats. + +At the same moment appeared on the terrace the chief +of Feofar's wives, the queen, if this title may be given +to the sultana of the states of Bokhara. But, queen or slave, +this woman of Persian origin was wonderfully beautiful. +Contrary to the Mahometan custom, and no doubt by some +caprice of the Emir, she had her face uncovered. Her hair, +divided into four plaits, fell over her dazzling white shoulders, +scarcely concealed by a veil of silk worked in gold, which fell +from the back of a cap studded with gems of the highest value. +Under her blue-silk petticoat, fell the "zirdjameh" of +silken gauze, and above the sash lay the "pirahn." But from +the head to the little feet, such was the profusion of jewels-- +gold beads strung on silver threads, chaplets of turquoises, +"firouzehs" from the celebrated mines of Elbourz, +necklaces of cornelians, agates, emeralds, opals, and sapphires-- +that her dress seemed to be literally made of precious stones. +The thousands of diamonds which sparkled on her neck, arms, hands, +at her waist, and at her feet might have been valued at almost +countless millions of roubles. + +The Emir and the Khans dismounted, as did the dignitaries +who escorted them. All entered a magnificent tent erected +on the center of the first terrace. Before the tent, as usual, +the Koran was laid. + +Feofar's lieutenant did not make them wait, and before five +o'clock the trumpets announced his arrival. Ivan Ogareff-- +the Scarred Cheek, as he was already nick-named--wearing the +uniform of a Tartar officer, dismounted before the Emir's tent. +He was accompanied by a party of soldiers from the camp +at Zabediero, who ranged up at the sides of the square, +in the middle of which a place for the sports was reserved. +A large scar could be distinctly seen cut obliquely across +the traitor's face. + +Ogareff presented his principal officers to the Emir, who, +without departing from the coldness which composed the main +part of his dignity, received them in a way which satisfied +them that they stood well in the good graces of their chief. + +At least so thought Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet, the two +inseparables, now associated together in the chase after news. +After leaving Zabediero, they had proceeded rapidly to Tomsk. The plan +they had agreed upon was to leave the Tartars as soon as possible, +and to join a Russian regiment, and, if they could, to go +with them to Irkutsk. All that they had seen of the invasion, +its burnings, its pillages, its murders, had perfectly sickened them, +and they longed to be among the ranks of the Siberian army. +Jolivet had told his companion that he could not leave Tomsk without +making a sketch of the triumphal entry of the Tartar troops, +if it was only to satisfy his cousin's curiosity; but the same +evening they both intended to take the road to Irkutsk, and being +well mounted hoped to distance the Emir's scouts. + +Alcide and Blount mingled therefore in the crowd, so as to lose no +detail of a festival which ought to supply them with a hundred good +lines for an article. They admired the magnificence of Feofar-Khan, +his wives, his officers, his guards, and all the Eastern pomp, +of which the ceremonies of Europe can give not the least idea. +But they turned away with disgust when Ivan Ogareff presented +himself before the Emir, and waited with some impatience for +the amusements to begin. + +"You see, my dear Blount," said Alcide, "we have come too soon, +like honest citizens who like to get their money's worth. +All this is before the curtain rises, it would have been better +to arrive only for the ballet." + +"What ballet?" asked Blount. + +"The compulsory ballet, to be sure. But see, the curtain is going +to rise." Alcide Jolivet spoke as if he had been at the Opera, +and taking his glass from its case, he prepared, with the air +of a connoisseur, "to examine the first act of Feofar's company." + +A painful ceremony was to precede the sports. In fact, +the triumph of the vanquisher could not be complete without +the public humiliation of the vanquished. This was why several +hundreds of prisoners were brought under the soldiers' whips. +They were destined to march past Feofar-Khan and his allies +before being crammed with their companions into the prisons +in the town. + +In the first ranks of these prisoners figured Michael Strogoff. +As Ogareff had ordered, he was specially guarded by a file of soldiers. +His mother and Nadia were there also. + +The old Siberian, although energetic enough when her own safety +was in question, was frightfully pale. She expected some +terrible scene. It was not without reason that her son had been +brought before the Emir. She therefore trembled for him. +Ivan Ogareff was not a man to forgive having been struck +in public by the knout, and his vengeance would be merciless. +Some frightful punishment familiar to the barbarians of +Central Asia would, no doubt, be inflicted on Michael. Ogareff had +protected him against the soldiers because he well knew what would +happen by reserving him for the justice of the Emir. + +The mother and son had not been able to speak together since +the terrible scene in the camp at Zabediero. They had been +pitilessly kept apart--a bitter aggravation of their misery, +for it would have been some consolation to have been together +during these days of captivity. Marfa longed to ask her son's +pardon for the harm she had unintentionally done him, for she +reproached herself with not having commanded her maternal feelings. +If she had restrained herself in that post-house at Omsk, +when she found herself face to face with him, Michael would +have passed unrecognized, and all these misfortunes would +have been avoided. + +Michael, on his side, thought that if his mother was there, +if Ogareff had brought her with him, it was to make her suffer +with the sight of his own punishment, or perhaps some frightful +death was reserved for her also. + +As to Nadia, she only asked herself how she could save +them both, how come to the aid of son and mother. +As yet she could only wonder, but she felt instinctively that she +must above everything avoid drawing attention upon herself, +that she must conceal herself, make herself insignificant. +Perhaps she might at least gnaw through the meshes which +imprisoned the lion. At any rate if any opportunity was given +her she would seize upon it, and sacrifice herself, if need be, +for the son of Marfa Strogoff. + +In the meantime the greater part of the prisoners were passing before +the Emir, and as they passed each was obliged to prostrate himself, +with his forehead in the dust, in token of servitude. Slavery begins +by humiliation. When the unfortunate people were too slow in bending, +the rough guards threw them violently to the ground. + +Alcide Jolivet and his companion could not witness such a sight +without feeling indignant. + +"It is cowardly--let us go," said Alcide. + +"No," answered Blount; "we must see it all." + +"See it all!--ah!" cried Alcide, suddenly, grasping his companion's arm. + +"What is the matter with you?" asked the latter. + +"Look, Blount; it is she!" + +"What she?" + +"The sister of our traveling companion--alone, and a prisoner! +We must save her." + +"Calm yourself," replied Blount coolly. "Any interference on our part +in behalf of the young girl would be worse than useless." + +Alcide Jolivet, who had been about to rush forward, stopped, and Nadia-- +who had not perceived them, her features being half hidden by her hair-- +passed in her turn before the Emir without attracting his attention. + +However, after Nadia came Marfa Strogoff; and as she did not throw +herself quickly in the dust, the guards brutally pushed her. +She fell. + +Her son struggled so violently that the soldiers who were guarding +him could scarcely hold him back. But the old woman rose, +and they were about to drag her on, when Ogareff interposed, +saying, "Let that woman stay!" + +As to Nadia, she happily regained the crowd of prisoners. +Ivan Ogareff had taken no notice of her. + +Michael was then led before the Emir, and there he remained standing, +without casting down his eyes. + +"Your forehead to the ground!" cried Ogareff. + +"No!" answered Michael. + +Two soldiers endeavored to make him bend, but they were themselves +laid on the ground by a buffet from the young man's fist. + +Ogareff approached Michael. "You shall die!" he said. + +"I can die," answered Michael fiercely; "but your traitor's face, Ivan, +will not the less carry forever the infamous brand of the knout." + +At this reply Ivan Ogareff became perfectly livid. + +"Who is this prisoner?" asked the Emir, in a tone of voice terrible +from its very calmness. + +"A Russian spy," answered Ogareff. In asserting that Michael was a spy +he knew that the sentence pronounced against him would be terrible. + +The Emir made a sign at which all the crowd bent low their heads. +Then he pointed with his hand to the Koran, which was brought him. +He opened the sacred book and placed his finger on one of its pages. + +It was chance, or rather, according to the ideas of +these Orientals, God Himself who was about to decide the fate +of Michael Strogoff. The people of Central Asia give the name +of "fal" to this practice. After having interpreted the sense +of the verse touched by the judge's finger, they apply the sentence +whatever it may be. + +The Emir had let his finger rest on the page of the Koran. The chief +of the Ulemas then approached, and read in a loud voice a verse +which ended with these words, "And he will no more see the things +of this earth." + +"Russian spy!" exclaimed Feofar-Kahn in a voice trembling with fury, +"you have come to see what is going on in the Tartar camp. +Then look while you may." + + +CHAPTER V "LOOK WHILE YOU MAY!" + +MICHAEL was held before the Emir's throne, at the foot +of the terrace, his hands bound behind his back. +His mother overcome at last by mental and physical torture, +had sunk to the ground, daring neither to look nor listen. + +"Look while you may," exclaimed Feofar-Kahn, stretching his arm +towards Michael in a threatening manner. Doubtless Ivan Ogareff, +being well acquainted with Tartar customs, had taken in the full meaning +of these words, for his lips curled for an instant in a cruel smile; +he then took his place by Feofar-Khan. + +A trumpet call was heard. This was the signal for the amusements +to begin. "Here comes the ballet," said Alcide to Blount; +"but, contrary to our customs, these barbarians give it +before the drama." + +Michael had been commanded to look at everything. He looked. +A troop of dancers poured into the open space before the Emir's tent. +Different Tartar instruments, the "doutare," a long-handled guitar, +the "kobize," a kind of violoncello, the "tschibyzga," a long +reed flute; wind instruments, tom-toms, tambourines, united with +the deep voices of the singers, formed a strange harmony. +Added to this were the strains of an aerial orchestra, composed of +a dozen kites, which, fastened by strings to their centers, +resounded in the breeze like AEolian harps. + +Then the dancers began. The performers were all of Persian origin; +they were no longer slaves, but exercised their profession at liberty. +Formerly they figured officially in the ceremonies at the court +of Teheran, but since the accession of the reigning family, +banished or treated with contempt, they had been compelled to seek +their fortune elsewhere. They wore the national costume, and were +adorned with a profusion of jewels. Little triangles of gold, +studded with jewels, glittered in their ears. Circles of silver, +marked with black, surrounded their necks and legs. + +These performers gracefully executed various dances, sometimes alone, +sometimes in groups. Their faces were uncovered, but from time +to time they threw a light veil over their heads, and a gauze +cloud passed over their bright eyes as smoke over a starry sky. +Some of these Persians wore leathern belts embroidered +with pearls, from which hung little triangular bags. +From these bags, embroidered with golden filigree, they drew +long narrow bands of scarlet silk, on which were braided verses +of the Koran. These bands, which they held between them, +formed a belt under which the other dancers darted; and, as they +passed each verse, following the precept it contained, they either +prostrated themselves on the earth or lightly bounded upwards, +as though to take a place among the houris of Mohammed's heaven. + +But what was remarkable, and what struck Alcide, +was that the Persians appeared rather indolent than fiery. +Their passion had deserted them, and, by the kind of dances +as well as by their execution, they recalled rather the calm +and self-possessed nauch girls of India than the impassioned +dancers of Egypt. + +When this was over, a stern voice was heard saying: + +"Look while you may!" + +The man who repeated the Emir's words--a tall spare Tartar-- +was he who carried out the sentences of Feofar-Khan against offenders. +He had taken his place behind Michael, holding in his hand a broad +curved saber, one of those Damascene blades which are forged +by the celebrated armorers of Karschi or Hissar. + +Behind him guards were carrying a tripod supporting a chafing-dish +filled with live coals. No smoke arose from this, but a light +vapor surrounded it, due to the incineration of a certain aromatic +and resinous substance which he had thrown on the surface. + +The Persians were succeeded by another party of dancers, +whom Michael recognized. The journalists also appeared to +recognize them, for Blount said to his companion, "These are +the Tsiganes of Nijni-Novgorod." + +"No doubt of it," cried Alcide. "Their eyes, I imagine, +bring more money to these spies than their legs." + +In putting them down as agents in the Emir's service, Alcide Jolivet was, +by all accounts, not mistaken. + +In the first rank of the Tsiganes, Sangarre appeared, +superb in her strange and picturesque costume, which set off +still further her remarkable beauty. + +Sangarre did not dance, but she stood as a statue in the midst +of the performers, whose style of dancing was a combination +of that of all those countries through which their race +had passed--Turkey, Bohemia, Egypt, Italy, and Spain. They were +enlivened by the sound of cymbals, which clashed on their arms, +and by the hollow sounds of the "daires"--a sort of tambourine +played with the fingers. + +Sangarre, holding one of those daires, which she played between +her hands, encouraged this troupe of veritable corybantes. +A young Tsigane, of about fifteen years of age, then advanced. +He held in his hand a "doutare," strings of which he made +to vibrate by a simple movement of the nails. He sung. +During the singing of each couplet, of very peculiar rhythm, +a dancer took her position by him and remained there immovable, +listening to him, but each time that the burden came from the lips +of the young singer, she resumed her dance, dinning in his ears +with her daire, and deafening him with the clashing of her cymbals. +Then, after the last chorus, the remainder surrounded the Tsigane +in the windings of their dance. + +At that moment a shower of gold fell from the hands of the Emir and +his train, and from the hands of his officers of all ranks; to the noise +which the pieces made as they struck the cymbals of the dancers, +being added the last murmurs of the doutares and tambourines. + +"Lavish as robbers," said Alcide in the ear of his companion. +And in fact it was the result of plunder which was falling; +for, with the Tartar tomans and sequins, rained also Russian +ducats and roubles. + +Then silence followed for an instant, and the voice of the executioner, +who laid his hand on Michael's shoulder, once more pronounced the words, +which this repetition rendered more and more sinister: + +"Look while you may" + +But this time Alcide observed that the executioner no longer held +the saber bare in his hand. + +Meanwhile the sun had sunk behind the horizon. A semi-obscurity began +to envelop the plain. The mass of cedars and pines became blacker +and blacker, and the waters of the Tom, totally obscured in the distance, +mingled with the approaching shadows. + +But at that instant several hundreds of slaves, bearing lighted +torches, entered the square. Led by Sangarre, Tsiganes and +Persians reappeared before the Emir's throne, and showed off, +by the contrast, their dances of styles so different. +The instruments of the Tartar orchestra sounded forth in harmony +still more savage, accompanied by the guttural cries of the singers. +The kites, which had fallen to the ground, once more winged +their way into the sky, each bearing a parti-colored lantern, +and under a fresher breeze their harps vibrated with intenser +sound in the midst of the aerial illumination. + +Then a squadron of Tartars, in their brilliant uniforms, +mingled in the dances, whose wild fury was increasing rapidly, +and then began a performance which produced a very strange effect. +Soldiers came on the ground, armed with bare sabers and +long pistols, and, as they executed dances, they made the air +re-echo with the sudden detonations of their firearms, +which immediately set going the rumbling of the tambourines, +and grumblings of the daires, and the gnashing of doutares. + +Their arms, covered with a colored powder of some metallic ingredient, +after the Chinese fashion, threw long jets--red, green, and blue-- +so that the groups of dancers seemed to be in the midst of fireworks. +In some respects, this performance recalled the military dance +of the ancients, in the midst of naked swords; but this Tartar dance +was rendered yet more fantastic by the colored fire, which wound, +serpent-like, above the dancers, whose dresses seemed to be embroidered +with fiery hems. It was like a kaleidoscope of sparks, whose infinite +combinations varied at each movement of the dancers. + +Though it may be thought that a Parisian reporter would be perfectly +hardened to any scenic effect, which our modern ideas have carried so far, +yet Alcide Jolivet could not restrain a slight movement of the head, +which at home, between the Boulevard Montmartre and La Madeleine would +have said--"Very fair, very fair." + +Then, suddenly, at a signal, all the lights of the fantasia +were extinguished, the dances ceased, and the performers disappeared. +The ceremony was over, and the torches alone lighted up the plateau, +which a few instants before had been so brilliantly illuminated. + +On a sign from the Emir, Michael was led into the middle of the square. + +"Blount," said Alcide to his companion, "are you going to see +the end of all this?" + +"No, that I am not," replied Blount. + +"The readers of the Daily Telegraph are, I hope, not very eager +for the details of an execution a la mode Tartare?" + +"No more than your cousin!" + +"Poor fellow!" added Alcide, as he watched Michael. "That valiant +soldier should have fallen on the field of battle!" + +"Can we do nothing to save him?" said Blount. + +"Nothing!" + +The reporters recalled Michael's generous conduct towards them; +they knew now through what trials he must have passed, +ever obedient to his duty; and in the midst of these Tartars, +to whom pity is unknown, they could do nothing for him. +Having little desire to be present at the torture reserved +for the unfortunate man, they returned to the town. +An hour later, they were on the road to Irkutsk, for it was among +the Russians that they intended to follow what Alcide called, +by anticipation, "the campaign of revenge." + +Meantime, Michael was standing ready, his eyes returning the Emir's +haughty glance, while his countenance assumed an expression of intense +scorn whenever he cast his looks on Ivan Ogareff. He was prepared to die, +yet not a single sign of weakness escaped him. + +The spectators, waiting around the square, as well as Feofar-Khan's +body-guard, to whom this execution was only one of the attractions, +were eagerly expecting it. Then, their curiosity satisfied, +they would rush off to enjoy the pleasures of intoxication. + +The Emir made a sign. Michael was thrust forward by his +guards to the foot of the terrace, and Feofar said to him, +"You came to see our goings out and comings in, Russian spy. +You have seen for the last time. In an instant your eyes +will be forever shut to the day." + +Michael's fate was to be not death, but blindness; +loss of sight, more terrible perhaps than loss of life. +The unhappy man was condemned to be blinded. + +However, on hearing the Emir's sentence Michael's heart did not +grow faint. He remained unmoved, his eyes wide open, as though +he wished to concentrate his whole life into one last look. +To entreat pity from these savage men would be useless, besides, +it would be unworthy of him. He did not even think of it. +His thoughts were condensed on his mission, which had apparently +so completely failed; on his mother, on Nadia, whom he should never +more see! But he let no sign appear of the emotion he felt. +Then, a feeling of vengeance to be accomplished came over him. +"Ivan," said he, in a stern voice, "Ivan the Traitor, the last +menace of my eyes shall be for you!" + +Ivan Ogareff shrugged his shoulders. + +But Michael was not to be looking at Ivan when his eyes were put out. +Marfa Strogoff stood before him. + +"My mother!" cried he. "Yes! yes! my last glance shall be +for you, and not for this wretch! Stay there, before me! +Now I see once more your well-beloved face! Now shall my eyes +close as they rest upon it . . . !" + +The old woman, without uttering a word, advanced. + +"Take that woman away!" said Ivan. + +Two soldiers were about to seize her, but she stepped back and remained +standing a few paces from Michael. + +The executioner appeared. This time, he held his saber +bare in his hand, and this saber he had just drawn from +the chafing-dish, where he had brought it to a white heat. +Michael was going to be blinded in the Tartar fashion, +with a hot blade passed before his eyes! + +Michael did not attempt to resist. Nothing existed before +his eyes but his mother, whom his eyes seemed to devour. +All his life was in that last look. + +Marfa Strogoff, her eyes open wide, her arms extended towards +where he stood, was gazing at him. The incandescent blade passed +before Michael's eyes. + +A despairing cry was heard. His aged mother fell senseless +to the ground. Michael Strogoff was blind. + +His orders executed, the Emir retired with his train. +There remained in the square only Ivan Ogareff and the torch bearers. +Did the wretch intend to insult his victim yet further, +and yet to give him a parting blow? + +Ivan Ogareff slowly approached Michael, who, feeling him coming, +drew himself up. Ivan drew from his pocket the Imperial letter, +he opened it, and with supreme irony he held it up before +the sightless eyes of the Czar's courier, saying, "Read, now, +Michael Strogoff, read, and go and repeat at Irkutsk what you have read. +The true Courier of the Czar is Ivan Ogareff." + +This said, the traitor thrust the letter into his breast. +Then, without looking round he left the square, followed +by the torch-bearers. + +Michael was left alone, at a few paces from his mother, lying lifeless, +perhaps dead. He heard in the distance cries and songs, the varied +noises of a wild debauch. Tomsk, illuminated, glittered and gleamed. + +Michael listened. The square was silent and deserted. He went, +groping his way, towards the place where his mother had fallen. +He found her with his hand, he bent over her, he put his face +close to hers, he listened for the beating of her heart. +Then he murmured a few words. + +Did Marfa still live, and did she hear her son's words? +Whether she did so or not, she made not the slightest movement. +Michael kissed her forehead and her white locks. He then +raised himself, and, groping with his foot, trying to stretch +out his hand to guide himself, he walked by degrees to the edge +of the square. + +Suddenly Nadia appeared. She walked straight to her companion. +A knife in her hand cut the cords which bound Michael's arms. +The blind man knew not who had freed him, for Nadia had not +spoken a word. + +But this done: "Brother!" said she. + +"Nadia!" murmured Michael, "Nadia!" + +"Come, brother," replied Nadia, "use my eyes whilst yours sleep. +I will lead you to Irkutsk." + + +CHAPTER VI A FRIEND ON THE HIGHWAY + +HALF an hour afterwards, Michael and Nadia had left Tomsk. + +Many others of the prisoners were that night able to escape +from the Tartars, for officers and soldiers, all more or +less intoxicated, had unconsciously relaxed the vigilant guard +which they had hitherto maintained. Nadia, after having +been carried off with the other prisoners, had been able +to escape and return to the square, at the moment when Michael +was led before the Emir. There, mingling with the crowd, +she had witnessed the terrible scene. Not a cry escaped her +when the scorching blade passed before her companion's eyes. +She kept, by her strength of will, mute and motionless. +A providential inspiration bade her restrain herself and retain +her liberty that she might lead Marfa's son to that goal which +he had sworn to reach. Her heart for an instant ceased to beat +when the aged Siberian woman fell senseless to the ground, +but one thought restored her to her former energy. +"I will be the blind man's dog," said she. + +On Ogareff's departure, Nadia had concealed herself in the shade. +She had waited till the crowd left the square. Michael, abandoned as +a wretched being from whom nothing was to be feared, was alone. +She saw him draw himself towards his mother, bend over her, +kiss her forehead, then rise and grope his way in flight. + +A few instants later, she and he, hand in hand, had descended +the steep slope, when, after having followed the high banks +of the Tom to the furthest extremity of the town, they happily +found a breach in the inclosure. + +The road to Irkutsk was the only one which penetrated towards the east. +It could not be mistaken. It was possible that on the morrow, +after some hours of carousal, the scouts of the Emir, once more +scattering over the steppes, might cut off all communication. +It was of the greatest importance therefore to get in advance of them. +How could Nadia bear the fatigues of that night, from the l6th +to the 17th of August? How could she have found strength for so long +a stage? How could her feet, bleeding under that forced march, +have carried her thither? It is almost incomprehensible. +But it is none the less true that on the next morning, twelve hours +after their departure from Tomsk, Michael and she reached the town +of Semilowskoe, after a journey of thirty-five miles. + +Michael had not uttered a single word. It was not Nadia who held +his hand, it was he who held that of his companion during the whole +of that night; but, thanks to that trembling little hand which guided him, +he had walked at his ordinary pace. + +Semilowskoe was almost entirely abandoned. The inhabitants had fled. +Not more than two or three houses were still occupied. +All that the town contained, useful or precious, had been carried off +in wagons. However, Nadia was obliged to make a halt of a few hours. +They both required food and rest. + +The young girl led her companion to the extremity of the town. +There they found an empty house, the door wide open. +An old rickety wooden bench stood in the middle of the room, +near the high stove which is to be found in all Siberian houses. +They silently seated themselves. + +Nadia gazed in her companion's face as she had never before gazed. +There was more than gratitude, more than pity, in that look. +Could Michael have seen her, he would have read in that sweet +desolate gaze a world of devotion and tenderness. + +The eyelids of the blind man, made red by the heated blade, +fell half over his eyes. The pupils seemed to be singularly enlarged. +The rich blue of the iris was darker than formerly. The eyelashes +and eyebrows were partly burnt, but in appearance, at least, +the old penetrating look appeared to have undergone no change. +If he could no longer see, if his blindness was complete, +it was because the sensibility of the retina and optic nerve +was radically destroyed by the fierce heat of the steel. + +Then Michael stretched out his hands. + +"Are you there, Nadia?" he asked. + +"Yes," replied the young girl; "I am close to you, and I will not go +away from you, Michael." + +At his name, pronounced by Nadia for the first time, a thrill passed +through Michael's frame. He perceived that his companion knew all, +who he was. + +"Nadia," replied he, "we must separate!" + +"We separate? How so, Michael?" + +"I must not be an obstacle to your journey! Your father is waiting +for you at Irkutsk! You must rejoin your father!" + +"My father would curse me, Michael, were I to abandon you now, +after all you have done for me!" + +"Nadia, Nadia," replied Michael, "you should think only of your father!" + +"Michael," replied Nadia, "you have more need of me than my father. +Do you mean to give up going to Irkutsk?" + +"Never!" cried Michael, in a tone which plainly showed that none +of his energy was gone. + +"But you have not the letter!" + +"That letter of which Ivan Ogareff robbed me! Well! I shall +manage without it, Nadia! They have treated me as a spy! +I will act as a spy! I will go and repeat at Irkutsk all I +have seen, all I have heard; I swear it by Heaven above! +The traitor shall meet me one day face to face! But I must +arrive at Irkutsk before him." + +"And yet you speak of our separating, Michael?" + +"Nadia, they have taken everything from me!" + +"I have some roubles still, and my eyes! I can see for you, Michael; +and I will lead you thither, where you could not go alone!" + +"And how shall we go?" + +"On foot." + +"And how shall we live?" + +"By begging." + +"Let us start, Nadia." + +"Come, Michael." + +The two young people no longer kept the names "brother" and "sister." +In their common misfortune, they felt still closer united. +They left the house after an hour's repose. Nadia had procured +in the town some morsels of "tchornekhleb," a sort of barley bread, +and a little mead, called "meod" in Russia. This had cost +her nothing, for she had already begun her plan of begging. +The bread and mead had in some degree appeased Michael's hunger +and thirst. Nadia gave him the lion's share of this scanty meal. +He ate the pieces of bread his companion gave him, drank from +the gourd she held to his lips. + +"Are you eating, Nadia?" he asked several times. + +"Yes, Michael," invariably replied the young girl, who contented +herself with what her companion left. + +Michael and Nadia quitted Semilowskoe, and once more set +out on the laborious road to Irkutsk. The girl bore up +in a marvelous way against fatigue. Had Michael seen her, +perhaps he would not have had the courage to go on. +But Nadia never complained, and Michael, hearing no sigh, +walked at a speed he was unable to repress. And why? +Did he still expect to keep before the Tartars? He was on foot, +without money; he was blind, and if Nadia, his only guide, +were to be separated from him, he could only lie down +by the side of the road and there perish miserably. +But if, on the other hand, by energetic perseverance he could +reach Krasnoiarsk, all was perhaps not lost, since the governor, +to whom he would make himself known, would not hesitate to give +him the means of reaching Irkutsk. + +Michael walked on, speaking little, absorbed in his own thoughts. +He held Nadia's hand. The two were in incessant communication. It seemed +to them that they had no need of words to exchange their thoughts. +From time to time Michael said, "Speak to me, Nadia." + +"Why should I, Michael? We are thinking together!" the young +girl would reply, and contrived that her voice should not betray +her extreme fatigue. + +But sometimes, as if her heart had ceased to beat for an instant, +her limbs tottered, her steps flagged, her arms fell to her sides, +she dropped behind. Michael then stopped, he fixed his eyes on the poor +girl, as though he would try to pierce the gloom which surrounded him; +his breast heaved; then, supporting his companion more than before, +he started on afresh. + +However, amidst these continual miseries, a fortunate circumstance +on that day occurred which it appeared likely would considerably ease +their fatigue. They had been walking from Semilowskoe for two hours +when Michael stopped. + +"Is there no one on the road?" + +"Not a single soul," replied Nadia. + +"Do you not hear some noise behind us? If they are Tartars we must hide. +Keep a good look-out!" + +"Wait, Michael!" replied Nadia, going back a few steps to where the road +turned to the right. + +Michael Strogoff waited alone for a minute, listening attentively. + +Nadia returned almost immediately and said, "It is a cart. +A young man is leading it." + +"Is he alone?" + +"Alone." + +Michael hesitated an instant. Should he hide? or should he, +on the contrary, try to find a place in the vehicle, if not +for himself, at least for her? For himself, he would be quite +content to lay one hand on the cart, to push it if necessary, +for his legs showed no sign of failing him; but he felt sure +that Nadia, compelled to walk ever since they crossed the Obi, +that is, for eight days, must be almost exhausted. He waited. + +The cart was soon at the corner of the road. It was a very +dilapidated vehicle, known in the country as a kibitka, just capable +of holding three persons. Usually the kibitka is drawn by three horses, +but this had but one, a beast with long hair and a very long tail. +It was of the Mongol breed, known for strength and courage. + +A young man was leading it, with a dog beside him. +Nadia saw at once that the young man was Russian; his face +was phlegmatic, but pleasant, and at once inspired confidence. +He did not appear to be in the slightest hurry; he was not +walking fast that he might spare his horse, and, to look at him, +it would not have been believed that he was following a road +which might at any instant be swarming with Tartars. + +Nadia, holding Michael by the hand, made way for the vehicle. +The kibitka stopped, and the driver smilingly looked at the young girl. + +"And where are you going to in this fashion?" he asked, +opening wide his great honest eyes. + +At the sound of his voice, Michael said to himself that he had heard +it before. And it was satisfactory to him to recognize the man +for his brow at once cleared. + +"Well, where are you going?" repeated the young man, addressing himself +more directly to Michael. + +"We are going to Irkutsk," he replied. + +"Oh! little father, you do not know that there are still versts +and versts between you and Irkutsk?" + +"I know it." + +"And you are going on foot?" + +"On foot." + +"You, well! but the young lady?" + +"She is my sister," said Michael, who judged it prudent to give +again this name to Nadia. + +"Yes, your sister, little father! But, believe me, she will never be +able to get to Irkutsk!" + +"Friend," returned Michael, approaching him, "the Tartars have +robbed us of everything, and I have not a copeck to offer you; +but if you will take my sister with you, I will follow your cart on foot; +I will run when necessary, I will not delay you an hour!" + +"Brother," exclaimed Nadia, "I will not! I will not! +Sir, my brother is blind!" + +"Blind!" repeated the young man, much moved. + +"The Tartars have burnt out his eyes!" replied Nadia, extending her hands, +as if imploring pity. + +"Burnt out his eyes! Oh! poor little father! I am going +to Krasnoiarsk. Well, why should not you and your sister mount +in the kibitka? By sitting a little close, it will hold us +all three. Besides, my dog will not refuse to go on foot; +only I don't go fast, I spare my horse." + +"Friend, what is your name?" asked Michael. + +"My name is Nicholas Pigassof." + +"It is a name that I will never forget," said Michael. + +"Well, jump up, little blind father. Your sister will be +beside you, in the bottom of the cart; I sit in front to drive. +There is plenty of good birch bark and straw in the bottom; +it's like a nest. Serko, make room!" + +The dog jumped down without more telling. He was an animal of the +Siberian race, gray hair, of medium size, with an honest big head, +just made to pat, and he, moreover, appeared to be much attached +to his master. + +In a moment more, Michael and Nadia were seated in the kibitka. +Michael held out his hands as if to feel for those of Pigassof. "You wish +to shake my hands!" said Nicholas. "There they are, little father! +shake them as long as it will give you any pleasure." + +The kibitka moved on; the horse, which Nicholas never touched with +the whip, ambled along. Though Michael did not gain any in speed, +at least some fatigue was spared to Nadia. + +Such was the exhaustion of the young girl, that, rocked by +the monotonous movement of the kibitka, she soon fell into +a sleep, its soundness proving her complete prostration. +Michael and Nicholas laid her on the straw as comfortably as possible. +The compassionate young man was greatly moved, and if a tear +did not escape from Michael's eyes, it was because the red-hot +iron had dried up the last! + +"She is very pretty," said Nicholas. + +"Yes," replied Michael. + +"They try to be strong, little father, they are brave, +but they are weak after all, these dear little things! +Have you come from far." + +"Very far." + +"Poor young people! It must have hurt you very much when they +burnt your eyes!" + +"Very much," answered Michael, turning towards Nicholas as if +he could see him. + +"Did you not weep?" + +"Yes." + +"I should have wept too. To think that one could never +again see those one loves. But they can see you, however; +that's perhaps some consolation!" + +"Yes, perhaps. Tell me, my friend," continued Michael, +"have you never seen me anywhere before?" + +"You, little father? No, never." + +"The sound of your voice is not unknown to me." + +"Why!" returned Nicholas, smiling, "he knows the sound of my voice! +Perhaps you ask me that to find out where I come from. +I come from Kolyvan." + +"From Kolyvan?" repeated Michael. "Then it was there I met you; +you were in the telegraph office?" + +"That may be," replied Nicholas. "I was stationed there. +I was the clerk in charge of the messages." + +"And you stayed at your post up to the last moment?" + +"Why, it's at that moment one ought to be there!" + +"It was the day when an Englishman and a Frenchman were disputing, +roubles in hand, for the place at your wicket, and the Englishman +telegraphed some poetry." + +"That is possible, but I do not remember it." + +"What! you do not remember it?" + +"I never read the dispatches I send. My duty being to forget them, +the shortest way is not to know them." + +This reply showed Nicholas Pigassof's character. +In the meanwhile the kibitka pursued its way, at a pace which Michael +longed to render more rapid. But Nicholas and his horse were +accustomed to a pace which neither of them would like to alter. +The horse went for two hours and rested one--so on, day and night. +During the halts the horse grazed, the travelers ate in company +with the faithful Serko. The kibitka was provisioned for at +least twenty persons, and Nicholas generously placed his +supplies at the disposal of his two guests, whom he believed +to be brother and sister. + +After a day's rest, Nadia recovered some strength. +Nicholas took the best possible care of her. +The journey was being made under tolerable circumstances, +slowly certainly, but surely. It sometimes happened that during +the night, Nicholas, although driving, fell asleep, and snored +with a clearness which showed the calmness of his conscience. +Perhaps then, by looking close, Michael's hand might have been seen +feeling for the reins, and giving the horse a more rapid pace, +to the great astonishment of Serko, who, however, said nothing. +The trot was exchanged for the amble as soon as Nicholas awoke, +but the kibitka had not the less gained some versts. + +Thus they passed the river Ichirnsk, the villages +of Ichisnokoe, Berikylokoe, Kuskoe, the river Marunsk, the village +of the same name, Bogostowskoe, and, lastly, the Ichoula, a little +stream which divides Western from Eastern Siberia. The road +now lay sometimes across wide moors, which extended as far +as the eye could reach, sometimes through thick forests of firs, +of which they thought they should never get to the end. +Everywhere was a desert; the villages were almost entirely abandoned. +The peasants had fled beyond the Yenisei, hoping that this wide +river would perhaps stop the Tartars. + +On the 22d of August, the kibitka entered the town of Atchinsk, +two hundred and fifty miles from Tomsk. Eighty miles still lay +between them and Krasnoiarsk. + +No incident had marked the journey. For the six days during which they +had been together, Nicholas, Michael, and Nadia had remained the same, +the one in his unchange-able calm, the other two, uneasy, and thinking +of the time when their companion would leave them. + +Michael saw the country through which they traveled with the eyes +of Nicholas and the young girl. In turns, they each described to him +the scenes they passed. He knew whether he was in a forest or on a plain, +whether a hut was on the steppe, or whether any Siberian was in sight. +Nicholas was never silent, he loved to talk, and, from his peculiar +way of viewing things, his friends were amused by his conversation. +One day, Michael asked him what sort of weather it was. + +"Fine enough, little father," he answered, "but soon we shall feel +the first winter frosts. Perhaps the Tartars will go into winter +quarters during the bad season." + +Michael Strogoff shook his head with a doubtful air. + +"You do not think so, little father?" resumed Nicholas. "You think +that they will march on to Irkutsk?" + +"I fear so," replied Michael. + +"Yes . . . you are right; they have with them a bad man, +who will not let them loiter on the way. You have heard speak +of Ivan Ogareff?" + +"Yes." + +"You know that it is not right to betray one's country!" + +"No . . . it is not right . . ." answered Michael, who wished +to remain unmoved. + +"Little father," continued Nicholas, "it seems to me that you +are not half indignant enough when Ivan Ogareff is spoken of. +Your Russian heart ought to leap when his name is uttered." + +"Believe me, my friend, I hate him more than you can ever +hate him," said Michael. + +"It is not possible," replied Nicholas; "no, it is not possible! +When I think of Ivan Ogareff, of the harm which he is doing +to our sacred Russia, I get into such a rage that if I could +get hold of him--" + +"If you could get hold of him, friend?" + +"I think I should kill him." + +"And I, I am sure of it," returned Michael quietly. + + +CHAPTER VII THE PASSAGE OF THE YENISEI + +AT nightfall, on the 25th of August, the kibitka came in sight +of Krasnoiarsk. The journey from Tomsk had taken eight days. +If it had not been accomplished as rapidly as it might, +it was because Nicholas had slept little. Consequently, it was +impossible to increase his horse's pace, though in other hands, +the journey would not have taken sixty hours. + +Happily, there was no longer any fear of Tartars. Not a scout +had appeared on the road over which the kibitka had just traveled. +This was strange enough, and evidently some serious cause +had prevented the Emir's troops from marching without delay +upon Irkutsk. Something had occurred. A new Russian corps, +hastily raised in the government of Yeniseisk, had marched to Tomsk +to endeavor to retake the town. But, being too weak to withstand +the Emir's troops, now concentrated there, they had been forced +to effect a retreat. Feofar-Khan, including his own soldiers, +and those of the Khanats of Khokhand and Koun-douze, had now +under his command two hundred and fifty thousand men, to which +the Russian government could not as yet oppose a sufficient force. +The invasion could not, therefore, be immediately stopped, +and the whole Tartar army might at once march upon Irkutsk. The battle +of Tomsk was on the 22nd of August, though this Michael did not know, +but it explained why the vanguard of the Emir's army had not +appeared at Krasnoiarsk by the 25th. + +However, though Michael Strogoff could not know the events +which had occurred since his departure, he at least knew that +he was several days in advance of the Tartars, and that he need +not despair of reaching before them the town of Irkutsk, +still six hundred miles distant. + +Besides, at Krasnoiarsk, of which the population is about twelve +thousand souls, he depended upon obtaining some means of transport. +Since Nicholas Pigassof was to stop in that town, it would be +necessary to replace him by a guide, and to change the kibitka +for another more rapid vehicle. Michael, after having addressed +himself to the governor of the town, and established his identity +and quality as Courier of the Czar--which would be easy-- +doubted not that he would be enabled to get to Irkutsk in the shortest +possible time. He would thank the good Nicholas Pigassof, +and set out immediately with Nadia, for he did not wish +to leave her until he had placed her in her father's arms. +Though Nicholas had resolved to stop at Krasnoiarsk, it was +only as he said, "on condition of finding employment there." +In fact, this model clerk, after having stayed to the last +minute at his post in Kolyvan, was endeavoring to place +himself again at the disposal of the government. +"Why should I receive a salary which I have not earned?" +he would say. + +In the event of his services not being required at Krasnoiarsk, +which it was expected would be still in telegraphic communication +with Irkutsk, he proposed to go to Oudinsk, or even to the capital +of Siberia itself. In the latter case, he would continue to travel +with the brother and sister; and where would they find a surer guide, +or a more devoted friend? + +The kibitka was now only half a verst from Krasnoiarsk. The numerous +wooden crosses which are erected at the approaches to the town, could be +seen to the right and left of the road. It was seven in the evening; +the outline of the churches and of the houses built on the high +bank of the Yenisei were clearly defined against the evening sky, +and the waters of the river reflected them in the twilight. + +"Where are we, sister?" asked Michael. + +"Half a verst from the first houses," replied Nadia. + +"Can the town be asleep?" observed Michael. "Not a sound +strikes my ear." + +"And I cannot see the slightest light, nor even smoke mounting +into the air," added Nadia. + +"What a queer town!" said Nicholas. "They make no noise in it, +and go to bed uncommonly early!" + +A presentiment of impending misfortune passed across Michael's heart. +He had not said to Nadia that he had placed all his hopes on Krasnoiarsk, +where he expected to find the means of safely finishing his journey. +He much feared that his anticipations would again be disappointed. + +But Nadia had guessed his thoughts, although she could not understand why +her companion should be so anxious to reach Irkutsk, now that the Imperial +letter was gone. She one day said something of the sort to him. +"I have sworn to go to Irkutsk," he replied. + +But to accomplish his mission, it was necessary that at +Krasnoiarsk he should find some more rapid mode of locomotion. +"Well, friend," said he to Nicholas, "why are we not going on?" + +"Because I am afraid of waking up the inhabitants of the town +with the noise of my carriage!" And with a light fleck of the whip, +Nicholas put his horse in motion. + +Ten minutes after they entered the High Street. Krasnoiarsk was deserted; +there was no longer an Athenian in this "Northern Athens," +as Madame de Bourboulon has called it. Not one of their +dashing equipages swept through the wide, clean streets. +Not a pedestrian enlivened the footpaths raised at the bases +of the magnificent wooden houses, of monumental aspect! +Not a Siberian belle, dressed in the last French fashion, +promenaded the beautiful park, cleared in a forest of birch trees, +which stretches away to the banks of the Yenisei! The great bell +of the cathedral was dumb; the chimes of the churches were silent. +Here was complete desolation. There was no longer a living being +in this town, lately so lively! + +The last telegram sent from the Czar's cabinet, before the rupture +of the wire, had ordered the governor, the garrison, the inhabitants, +whoever they might be, to leave Krasnoiarsk, to carry with them +any articles of value, or which might be of use to the Tartars, +and to take refuge at Irkutsk. The same injunction was given to all +the villages of the province. It was the intention of the Muscovite +government to lay the country desert before the invaders. +No one thought for an instant of disputing these orders. +They were executed, and this was the reason why not a single human +being remained in Krasnoiarsk. + +Michael Strogoff, Nadia, and Nicholas passed silently through +the streets of the town. They felt half-stupefied. They +themselves made the only sound to be heard in this dead city. +Michael allowed nothing of what he felt to appear, +but he inwardly raged against the bad luck which pursued him, +his hopes being again disappointed. + +"Alack, alack!" cried Nicholas, "I shall never get any employment +in this desert!" + +"Friend," said Nadia, "you must go on with us." + +"I must indeed!" replied Nicholas. "The wire is no doubt +still working between Oudinsk and Irkutsk, and there-- +Shall we start, little father?" + +"Let us wait till to-morrow," answered Michael. + +"You are right," said Nicholas. "We have the Yenisei to cross, +and need light to see our way there!" + +"To see!" murmured Nadia, thinking of her blind companion. + +Nicholas heard her, and turning to Michael, "Forgive me, little father," +said he. "Alas! night and day, it is true, are all the same to you!" + +"Do not reproach yourself, friend," replied Michael, pressing his +hand over his eyes. "With you for a guide I can still act. +Take a few hours' repose. Nadia must rest too. To-morrow we +will recommence our journey!" + +Michael and his friends had not to search long for a place of rest. +The first house, the door of which they pushed open, was empty, +as well as all the others. Nothing could be found within but a +few heaps of leaves. For want of better fodder the horse had +to content himself with this scanty nourishment. The provisions +of the kibitka were not yet exhausted, so each had a share. +Then, after having knelt before a small picture of the Panaghia, +hung on the wall, and still lighted up by a flickering lamp, +Nicholas and the young girl slept, whilst Michael, over whom +sleep had no influence, watched. + +Before daybreak the next morning, the 26th of August, the horse +was drawing the kibitka through the forests of birch trees +towards the banks of the Yenisei. Michael was in much anxiety. +How was he to cross the river, if, as was probable, all boats +had been destroyed to retard the Tartars' march? He knew +the Yenisei, its width was considerable, its currents strong. +Ordinarily by means of boats specially built for the conveyance +of travelers, carriages, and horses, the passage of the Yenisei +takes about three hours, and then it is with extreme difficulty +that the boats reach the opposite bank. Now, in the absence +of any ferry, how was the kibitka to get from one bank +to the other? + +Day was breaking when the kibitka reached the left bank, +where one of the wide alleys of the park ended. +They were about a hundred feet above the Yenisei, and could +therefore survey the whole of its wide course. + +"Do you see a boat?" asked Michael, casting his eyes eagerly +about from one side to the other, mechanically, no doubt, +as if he could really see. + +"It is scarcely light yet, brother," replied Nadia. "The fog +is still thick, and we cannot see the water." + +"But I hear it roaring," said Michael. + +Indeed, from the fog issued a dull roaring sound. +The waters being high rushed down with tumultuous violence. +All three waited until the misty curtain should rise. +The sun would not be long in dispersing the vapors. + +"Well?" asked Michael. + +"The fog is beginning to roll away, brother," replied Nadia, +"and it will soon be clear." + +"Then you do not see the surface of the water yet?" + +"Not yet." + +"Have patience, little father," said Nicholas. "All this +will soon disappear. Look! here comes the breeze! +It is driving away the fog. The trees on the opposite +hills are already appearing. It is sweeping, flying away. +The kindly rays of the sun have condensed all that mass of mist. +Ah! how beautiful it is, my poor fellow, and how unfortunate +that you cannot see such a lovely sight!" + +"Do you see a boat?" asked Michael. + +"I see nothing of the sort," answered Nicholas. + +"Look well, friend, on this and the opposite bank, as far as your eye +can reach. A raft, even a canoe?" + +Nicholas and Nadia, grasping the bushes on the edge of the cliff, +bent over the water. The view they thus obtained was extensive. +At this place the Yenisei is not less than a mile in width, and forms +two arms, of unequal size, through which the waters flow swiftly. +Between these arms lie several islands, covered with alders, +willows, and poplars, looking like verdant ships, anchored in +the river. Beyond rise the high hills of the Eastern shore, +crowned with forests, whose tops were then empurpled with light. +The Yenisei stretched on either side as far as the eye could reach. +The beautiful panorama lay before them for a distance of fifty versts. + +But not a boat was to be seen. All had been taken away or destroyed, +according to order. Unless the Tartars should bring with them materials +for building a bridge of boats, their march towards Irkutsk would +certainly be stopped for some time by this barrier, the Yenisei. + +"I remember," said Michael, "that higher up, on the outskirts +of Krasnoiarsk, there is a little quay. There the boats touch. +Friend, let us go up the river, and see if some boat has not been +forgotten on the bank." + +Nadia seized Michael's hand and started off at a rapid pace in +the direction indicated. If only a boat or a barge large enough +to hold the kibitka could be found, or even one that would carry +just themselves, Michael would not hesitate to attempt the passage! +Twenty minutes after, all three had reached the little quay, +with houses on each side quite down to the water's edge. +It was like a village standing beyond the town of Krasnoiarsk. + +But not a boat was on the shore, not a barge at the little wharf, +nothing even of which a raft could be made large enough to carry +three people. Michael questioned Nicholas, who made the discouraging +reply that the crossing appeared to him absolutely impracticable. + +"We shall cross!" answered Michael. + +The search was continued. They examined the houses on the shore, +abandoned like all the rest of Krasnoiarsk. They had merely to push open +the doors and enter. The cottages were evidently those of poor people, +and quite empty. Nicholas visited one, Nadia entered another, +and even Michael went here and there and felt about, hoping to light +upon some article that might be useful. + +Nicholas and the girl had each fruitlessly rummaged these cottages +and were about to give up the search, when they heard themselves called. +Both ran to the bank and saw Michael standing on the threshold of a door. + +"Come!" he exclaimed. Nicholas and Nadia went towards him and followed +him into the cottage. + +"What are these?" asked Michael, touching several objects piled +up in a corner. + +"They are leathern bottles," answered Nicholas. + +"Are they full?" + +"Yes, full of koumyss. We have found them very opportunely +to renew our provisions!" + +"Koumyss" is a drink made of mare's or camel's milk, and is +very sustaining, and even intoxicating; so that Nicholas and his +companions could not but congratulate themselves on the discovery. + +"Save one," said Michael, "but empty the others." + +"Directly, little father." + +"These will help us to cross the Yenisei." + +"And the raft?" + +"Will be the kibitka itself, which is light enough to float. +Besides, we will sustain it, as well as the horse, with these bottles." + +"Well thought of, little father," exclaimed Nicholas, "and by God's help +we will get safely over . . . though perhaps not in a straight line, +for the current is very rapid!" + +"What does that matter?" replied Michael. "Let us get across first, +and we shall soon find out the road to Irkutsk on the other side +of the river." + +"To work, then," said Nicholas, beginning to empty the bottles. + +One full of koumyss was reserved, and the rest, with the air carefully +fastened in, were used to form a floating apparatus. Two bottles +were fastened to the horse's sides to support it in the water. +Two others were attached to the shafts to keep them on a level +with the body of the machine, thus transformed into a raft. +This work was soon finished. + +"You will not be afraid, Nadia?" asked Michael. + +"No, brother," answered the girl. + +"And you, friend?" + +"I?" cried Nicholas. "I am now going to have one of my dreams realized-- +that of sailing in a cart." + +At the spot where they were now standing, the bank sloped, +and was suitable for the launching of the kibitka. +The horse drew it into the water, and they were soon both floating. +As to Serko, he was swimming bravely. + +The three passengers, seated in the vehicle, had with due +precaution taken off their shoes and stockings; but, thanks to +the bottles, the water did not even come over their ankles. +Michael held the reins, and, according to Nicholas's directions, +guided the animal obliquely, but cautiously, so as not to exhaust +him by struggling against the current. So long as the kibitka +went with the current all was easy, and in a few minutes it +had passed the quays of Krasnoiarsk. It drifted northwards, +and it was soon evident that it would only reach the opposite +bank far below the town. But that mattered little. +The crossing would have been made without great difficulty, +even on this imperfect apparatus, had the current been regular; +but, unfortunately, there were whirlpools in numbers, +and soon the kibitka, notwithstanding all Michael's efforts, +was irresistibly drawn into one of these. + +There the danger was great. The kibitka no longer drifted, +but spun rapidly round, inclining towards the center of the eddy, +like a rider in a circus. The horse could scarcely keep his +head above water, and ran a great risk of being suffocated. +Serko had been obliged to take refuge in the carriage. + +Michael knew what was happening. He felt himself drawn round +in a gradually narrowing line, from which they could not get free. +How he longed to see, to be better able to avoid this peril, +but that was no longer possible. Nadia was silent, her hands +clinging to the sides of the cart, which was inclining more +and more towards the center of depression. + +And Nicholas, did he not understand the gravity of the situation? +Was it with him phlegm or contempt of danger, courage or indifference? +Was his life valueless in his eyes, and, according to the Eastern +expression, "an hotel for five days," which, whether one is willing +or not, must be left the sixth? At any rate, the smile on his rosy +face never faded for an instant. + +The kibitka was thus in the whirlpool, and the horse was +nearly exhausted, when, all at once, Michael, throwing off +such of his garments as might impede him, jumped into the water; +then, seizing with a strong hand the bridle of the terrified horse, +he gave him such an impulse that he managed to struggle out +of the circle, and getting again into the current, the kibitka +drifted along anew. + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed Nicholas. + +Two hours after leaving the wharf, the kibitka had crossed the widest +arm of the river, and had landed on an island more than six versts +below the starting point. + +There the horse drew the cart onto the bank, and an hour's rest +was given to the courageous animal; then the island having been +crossed under the shade of its magnificent birches, the kibitka +found itself on the shore of the smaller arm of the Yenisei. + +This passage was much easier; no whirlpools broke the course +of the river in this second bed; but the current was so rapid +that the kibitka only reached the opposite side five versts below. +They had drifted eleven versts in all. + +These great Siberian rivers across which no bridges have +as yet been thrown, are serious obstacles to the facility +of communication. All had been more or less unfortunate +to Michael Strogoff. On the Irtych, the boat which carried +him and Nadia had been attacked by Tartars. On the Obi, +after his horse had been struck by a bullet, he had only by +a miracle escaped from the horsemen who were pursuing him. +In fact, this passage of the Yenisei had been performed +the least disastrously. + +"That would not have been so amusing," exclaimed Nicholas, +rubbing his hands, as they disembarked on the right bank of the river, +"if it had not been so difficult." + +"That which has only been difficult to us, friend," +answered Michael Strogoff, "will, perhaps, be impossible +to the Tartars." + + +CHAPTER VIII A HARE CROSSES THE ROAD + +MICHAEL STROGOFF might at last hope that the road to Irkutsk +was clear. He had distanced the Tartars, now detained at Tomsk, +and when the Emir's soldiers should arrive at Krasnoiarsk they +would find only a deserted town. There being no communication +between the two banks of the Yenisei, a delay of some days +would be caused until a bridge of boats could be established, +and to accomplish this would be a difficult undertaking. +For the first time since the encounter with Ivan Ogareff at Omsk, +the courier of the Czar felt less uneasy, and began to hope +that no fresh obstacle would delay his progress. + +The road was good, for that part of it which extends +between Krasnoiarsk and Irkutsk is considered the best +in the whole journey; fewer jolts for travelers, large trees +to shade them from the heat of the sun, sometimes forests +of pines or cedars covering an extent of a hundred versts. +It was no longer the wide steppe with limitless horizon; +but the rich country was empty. Everywhere they came upon +deserted villages. The Siberian peasantry had vanished. +It was a desert, but a desert by order of the Czar. + +The weather was fine, but the air, which cooled during the night, +took some time to get warm again. Indeed it was now near September, +and in this high region the days were sensibly shortening. +Autumn here lasts but a very little while, although this part of +Siberian territory is not situated above the fifty-fifth parallel, +that of Edinburgh and Copenhagen. However, winter succeeds summer +almost unexpectedly. These winters of Asiatic Russia may be said +to be precocious, considering that during them the thermometer falls +until the mercury is frozen nearly 42 degrees below zero, and that 20 +degrees below zero is considered an unsupportable temperature. + +The weather favored our travelers. It was neither stormy nor rainy. +The health of Nadia and Michael was good, and since leaving Tomsk they +had gradually recovered from their past fatigues. + +As to Nicholas Pigassof, he had never been better in his life. +To him this journey was a trip, an agreeable excursion in which +he employed his enforced holiday. + +"Decidedly," said he, "this is pleasanter than sitting twelve hours a day, +perched on a stool, working the manip-ulator!" + + +Michael had managed to get Nicholas to make his horse quicken his pace. +To obtain this result, he had confided to Nicholas that Nadia +and he were on their way to join their father, exiled at Irkutsk, +and that they were very anxious to get there. Certainly, it would +not do to overwork the horse, for very probably they would not be +able to exchange him for another; but by giving him frequent rests-- +every ten miles, for instance--forty miles in twenty-four hours +could easily be accomplished. Besides, the animal was strong, +and of a race calculated to endure great fatigue. He was in no want +of rich pasturage along the road, the grass being thick and abundant. +Therefore, it was possible to demand an increase of work from him. + +Nicholas gave in to all these reasons. He was much moved at the situation +of these two young people, going to share their father's exile. +Nothing had ever appeared so touching to him. With what a smile he said +to Nadia: "Divine goodness! what joy will Mr. Korpanoff feel, when his +eyes behold you, when his arms open to receive you! If I go to Irkutsk-- +and that appears very probable now--will you permit me to be present at +that interview! You will, will you not?" Then, striking his forehead: +"But, I forgot, what grief too when he sees that his poor son is blind! +Ah! everything is mingled in this world!" + +However, the result of all this was the kibitka went faster, +and, according to Michael's calculations, now made almost eight +miles an hour. + +After crossing the little river Biriousa, the kibitka reached Biriousensk +on the morning of the 4th of September. There, very fortunately, +for Nicholas saw that his provisions were becoming exhausted, +he found in an oven a dozen "pogatchas," a kind of cake prepared +with sheep's fat and a large supply of plain boiled rice. +This increase was very opportune, for something would soon have +been needed to replace the koumyss with which the kibitka had been +stored at Krasnoiarsk. + +After a halt, the journey was continued in the afternoon. +The distance to Irkutsk was not now much over three hundred miles. +There was not a sign of the Tartar vanguard. Michael Strogoff had +some grounds for hoping that his journey would not be again delayed, +and that in eight days, or at most ten, he would be in the presence +of the Grand Duke. + +On leaving Biriousinsk, a hare ran across the road, in front +of the kibitka. "Ah!" exclaimed Nicholas. + +"What is the matter, friend?" asked Michael quickly, like a blind +man whom the least sound arouses. + +"Did you not see?" said Nicholas, whose bright face had become +suddenly clouded. Then he added, "Ah! no! you could not see, +and it's lucky for you, little father!" + +"But I saw nothing," said Nadia. + +"So much the better! So much the better! But I--I saw!" + +"What was it then?" asked Michael. + +"A hare crossing our road!" answered Nicholas. + +In Russia, when a hare crosses the path, the popular belief is that it +is the sign of approaching evil. Nicholas, superstitious like the greater +number of Russians, stopped the kibitka. + +Michael understood his companion's hesitation, without sharing +his credulity, and endeavored to reassure him, "There is nothing +to fear, friend," said he. + +"Nothing for you, nor for her, I know, little father," answered Nicholas, +"but for me!" + +"It is my fate," he continued. And he put his horse in +motion again. However, in spite of these forebodings the day +passed without any accident. + +At twelve o'clock the next day, the 6th of September, the kibitka +halted in the village of Alsalevok, which was as deserted +as the surrounding country. There, on a doorstep, Nadia found +two of those strong-bladed knives used by Siberian hunters. +She gave one to Michael, who concealed it among his clothes, +and kept the other herself. + +Nicholas had not recovered his usual spirits. The ill-omen had +affected him more than could have been believed, and he who formerly +was never half an hour without speaking, now fell into long +reveries from which Nadia found it difficult to arouse him. +The kibitka rolled swiftly along the road. Yes, swiftly! +Nicholas no longer thought of being so careful of his horse, +and was as anxious to arrive at his journey's end as Michael himself. +Notwithstanding his fatalism, and though resigned, +he would not believe himself in safety until within the walls +of Irkutsk. Many Russians would have thought as he did, +and more than one would have turned his horse and gone back again, +after a hare had crossed his path. + +Some observations made by him, the justice of which was proved by Nadia +transmitting them to Michael, made them fear that their trials were not +yet over. Though the land from Krasnoiarsk had been respected in its +natural productions, its forests now bore trace of fire and steel; +and it was evident that some large body of men had passed that way. + +Twenty miles before Nijni-Oudinsk, the indications of recent +devastation could not be mistaken, and it was impossible to attribute +them to others than the Tartars. It was not only that the fields +were trampled by horse's feet, and that trees were cut down. +The few houses scattered along the road were not only empty, +some had been partly demolished, others half burnt down. +The marks of bullets could be seen on their walls. + +Michael's anxiety may be imagined. He could no longer doubt +that a party of Tartars had recently passed that way, and yet +it was impossible that they could be the Emir's soldiers, +for they could not have passed without being seen. +But then, who were these new invaders, and by what out-of-the-way +path across the steppe had they been able to join the highroad +to Irkutsk? With what new enemies was the Czar's courier +now to meet? + +He did not communicate his apprehensions either to Nicholas or Nadia, +not wishing to make them uneasy. Besides, he had resolved +to continue his way, as long as no insurmountable obstacle +stopped him. Later, he would see what it was best to do. +During the ensuing day, the recent passage of a large +body of foot and horse became more and more apparent. +Smoke was seen above the horizon. The kibitka advanced cautiously. +Several houses in deserted villages still burned, and could not +have been set on fire more than four and twenty hours before. + +At last, during the day, on the 8th of September, +the kibitka stopped suddenly. The horse refused to advance. +Serko barked furiously. + +"What is the matter?" asked Michael. + +"A corpse!" replied Nicholas, who had leapt out of the kibitka. +The body was that of a moujik, horribly mutilated, and already cold. +Nicholas crossed himself. Then, aided by Michael, he carried +the body to the side of the road. He would have liked to give it +decent burial, that the wild beasts of the steppe might not feast +on the miserable remains, but Michael could not allow him the time. + +"Come, friend, come!" he exclaimed, "we must not delay, +even for an hour!" And the kibitka was driven on. + +Besides, if Nicholas had wished to render the last duties +to all the dead bodies they were now to meet with on +the Siberian highroad, he would have had enough to do! +As they approached Nijni-Oudinsk, they were found by twenties, +stretched on the ground. + +It was, however, necessary to follow this road until it was manifestly +impossible to do so longer without falling into the hands of +the invaders. The road they were following could not be abandoned, +and yet the signs of devastation and ruin increased at every village +they passed through. The blood of the victims was not yet dry. +As to gaining information about what had occurred, that was impossible. +There was not a living being left to tell the tale. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon of this day, Nicholas caught sight +of the tall steeples of the churches of Nijni-Oudinsk. Thick vapors, +which could not have been clouds, were floating around them. + +Nicholas and Nadia looked, and communicated the result of their +observations to Michael. They must make up their minds what to do. +If the town was abandoned, they could pass through without risk, +but if, by some inexplicable maneuver, the Tartars occupied it, +they must at every cost avoid the place. + +"Advance cautiously," said Michael Strogoff, "but advance!" + +A verst was soon traversed. + +"Those are not clouds, that is smoke!" exclaimed Nadia. "Brother, they +are burning the town!" + +It was, indeed, only too plain. Flashes of light appeared in the midst +of the vapor. It became thicker and thicker as it mounted upwards. +But were they Tartars who had done this? They might be Russians, +obeying the orders of the Grand Duke. Had the government of the Czar +determined that from Krasnoiarsk, from the Yenisei, not a town, +not a village should offer a refuge to the Emir's soldiers? +What was Michael to do? + +He was undecided. However, having weighed the pros and cons, +he thought that whatever might be the difficulties of a journey +across the steppe without a beaten path, he ought not to risk +capture a second time by the Tartars. He was just proposing to +Nicholas to leave the road, when a shot was heard on their right. +A ball whistled, and the horse of the kibitka fell dead, +shot through the head. + +A dozen horsemen dashed forward, and the kibitka was surrounded. +Before they knew where they were, Michael, Nadia, and Nicholas +were prisoners, and were being dragged rapidly towards Nijni-Oudinsk. + +Michael, in this second attack, had lost none of his presence of mind. +Being unable to see his enemies, he had not thought of defending himself. +Even had he possessed the use of his eyes, he would not have +attempted it. The consequences would have been his death and that +of his companions. But, though he could not see, he could listen +and understand what was said. + +From their language he found that these soldiers were Tartars, +and from their words, that they preceded the invading army. + +In short, what Michael learnt from the talk at the present moment, +as well as from the scraps of conversation he overheard later, +was this. These men were not under the direct orders of the Emir, +who was now detained beyond the Yenisei. They made part of a third +column chiefly composed of Tartars from the khanats of Khokland +and Koondooz, with which Feofar's army was to affect a junction +in the neighborhood of Irkutsk. + +By Ogareff's advice, in order to assure the success of the invasion +in the Eastern provinces, this column had skirted the base +of the Altai Mountains. Pillaging and ravaging, it had reached +the upper course of the Yenisei. There, guessing what had been +done at Krasnoiarsk by order of the Czar, and to facilitate +the passage of the river to the Emir's troops, this column +had launched a flotilla of boats, which would enable Feofar +to cross and r‚sum‚ the road to Irkutsk. Having done this, +it had descended the valley of the Yenisei and struck the road on +a level with Alsalevsk. From this little town began the frightful +course of ruin which forms the chief part of Tartar warfare. +Nijni-Oudinsk had shared the common fate, and the Tartars, +to the number of fifty thousand, had now quitted it to take up +a position before Irkutsk. Before long, they would be reinforced +by the Emir's troops. + +Such was the state of affairs at this date, most serious for this +isolated part of Eastern Siberia, and for the comparatively few +defenders of its capital. + +It can be imagined with what thoughts Michael's mind was now occupied! +Who could have been astonished had he, in his present situation, +lost all hope and all courage? Nothing of the sort, however; his lips +muttered no other words than these: "I will get there!" + +Half an hour after the attack of the Tartar horsemen, +Michael Strogoff, Nadia, and Nicholas entered Nijni-Oudinsk. The +faithful dog followed them, though at a distance. +They could not stay in the town, as it was in flames, +and about to be left by the last of the marauders. +The prisoners were therefore thrown on horses and hurried away; +Nicholas resigned as usual, Nadia, her faith in Michael unshaken, +and Michael himself, apparently indifferent, but ready to seize +any opportunity of escaping. + +The Tartars were not long in perceiving that one of their +prisoners was blind, and their natural barbarity led them to make +game of their unfortunate victim. They were traveling fast. +Michael's horse, having no one to guide him, often started aside, +and so made confusion among the ranks. This drew on his rider +such abuse and brutality as wrung Nadia's heart, and filled Nicholas +with indignation. But what could they do? They could not speak +the Tartar language, and their assistance was mercilessly refused. +Soon it occurred to these men, in a refinement of cruelty, +to exchange the horse Michael was riding for one which was blind. +The motive of the change was explained by a remark which +Michael overheard, "Perhaps that Russian can see, after all!" + +Michael was placed on this horse, and the reins ironically put +into his hand. Then, by dint of lashing, throwing stones, +and shouting, the animal was urged into a gallop. +The horse, not being guided by his rider, blind as himself, +sometimes ran into a tree, sometimes went quite off the road-- +in consequence, collisions and falls, which might have +been extremely dangerous. + +Michael did not complain. Not a murmur escaped him. +When his horse fell, he waited until it got up. +It was, indeed, soon assisted up, and the cruel fun continued. +At sight of this wicked treatment, Nicholas could not +contain himself; he endeavored to go to his friend's aid. +He was prevented, and treated brutally. + +This game would have been prolonged, to the Tartars' +great amusement, had not a serious accident put an end to it. +On the 10th of September the blind horse ran away, and made +straight for a pit, some thirty or forty feet deep, at the side +of the road. + +Nicholas tried to go after him. He was held back. +The horse, having no guide, fell with his rider to the bottom. +Nicholas and Nadia uttered a piercing cry! They believed +that their unfortunate companion had been killed. + +However, when they went to his assistance, it was found that Michael, +having been able to throw himself out of the saddle, was unhurt, +but the miserable horse had two legs broken, and was quite useless. +He was left there to die without being put out of his suffering, +and Michael, fastened to a Tartar's saddle, was obliged to follow +the detachment on foot. + +Even now, not a protest, not a complaint! He marched with +a rapid step, scarcely drawn by the cord which tied him. +He was still "the Man of Iron," of whom General Kissoff had +spoken to the Czar! + +The next day, the 11th of September, the detachment passed +through the village of Chibarlinskoe. Here an incident +occurred which had serious consequences. It was nightfall. +The Tartar horsemen, having halted, were more or less intoxicated. +They were about to start. Nadia, who till then, by a miracle, +had been respectfully treated by the soldiers, was insulted +by one of them. + +Michael could not see the insult, nor the insulter, but Nicholas +saw for him. Then, quietly, without thinking, without perhaps +knowing what he was doing, Nicholas walked straight up to the man, +and, before the latter could make the least movement to stop him, +had seized a pistol from his holster and discharged it full +at his breast. + +The officer in command of the detachment hastened up on hearing +the report. The soldiers would have cut the unfortunate Nicholas +to pieces, but at a sign from their officer, he was bound instead, +placed across a horse, and the detachment galloped off. + +The rope which fastened Michael, gnawed through by him, +broke by the sudden start of the horse, and the half-tipsy rider +galloped on without perceiving that his prisoner had escaped. + +Michael and Nadia found themselves alone on the road. + + +CHAPTER IX IN THE STEPPE + +MICHAEL STROGOFF and Nadia were once more as free as they had been +in the journey from Perm to the banks of the Irtych. But how +the conditions under which they traveled were altered! +Then, a comfortable tarantass, fresh horses, well-kept post-horses +assured the rapidity of their journey. Now they were on foot; +it was utterly impossible to procure any other means of locomotion, +they were without resources, not knowing how to obtain even food, +and they had still nearly three hundred miles to go! +Moreover, Michael could now only see with Nadia's eyes. + +As to the friend whom chance had given them, they had just +lost him, and fearful might be his fate. Michael had thrown +himself down under the brushwood at the side of the road. +Nadia stood beside him, waiting for the word from him to +continue the march. + +It was ten o'clock. The sun had more than three hours before +disappeared below the horizon. There was not a house in sight. +The last of the Tartars was lost in the distance. +Michael and Nadia were quite alone. + +"What will they do with our friend?" exclaimed the girl. +"Poor Nicholas! Our meeting will have been fatal to him!" +Michael made no response. + +"Michael," continued Nadia, "do you not know that he defended you +when you were the Tartars' sport; that he risked his life for me?" + +Michael was still silent. Motionless, his face buried in his hands; +of what was he thinking? Perhaps, although he did not answer, +he heard Nadia speak. + +Yes! he heard her, for when the young girl added, "Where shall +I lead you, Michael?" + +"To Irkutsk!" he replied. + +"By the highroad?" + +"Yes, Nadia." + +Michael was still the same man who had sworn, whatever happened, +to accomplish his object. To follow the highroad, was certainly to go +the shortest way. If the vanguard of Feofar-Khan's troops appeared, +it would then be time to strike across the country. + +Nadia took Michael's hand, and they started. + +The next morning, the 13th of September, twenty versts further, +they made a short halt in the village of Joulounov-skoe. It was +burnt and deserted. All night Nadia had tried to see if the body +of Nicholas had not been left on the road, but it was in vain +that she looked among the ruins, and searched among the dead. +Was he reserved for some cruel torture at Irkutsk? + +Nadia, exhausted with hunger, was fortunate enough to find in one +of the houses a quantity of dried meat and "soukharis," pieces +of bread, which, dried by evaporation, preserve their nutritive +qualities for an indefinite time. + +Michael and the girl loaded themselves with as much as they could carry. +They had thus a supply of food for several days, and as to water, +there would be no want of that in a district rendered fertile +by the numerous little affluents of the Angara. + +They continued their journey. Michael walked with a firm step, +and only slackened his pace for his companion's sake. +Nadia, not wishing to retard him, obliged herself to walk. +Happily, he could not see to what a miserable state fatigue +had reduced her. + +However, Michael guessed it. "You are quite done up, poor child," +he said sometimes. + +"No," she would reply. + +"When you can no longer walk, I will carry you." + +"Yes, Michael." + +During this day they came to the little river Oka, but it was fordable, +and they had no difficulty in crossing. The sky was cloudy +and the temperature moderate. There was some fear that the rain +might come on, which would much have increased their misery. +A few showers fell, but they did not last. + +They went on as before, hand in hand, speaking little, +Nadia looking about on every side; twice a day they halted. +Six hours of the night were given to sleep. In a few huts Nadia +again found a little mutton; but, contrary to Michael's hopes, +there was not a single beast of burden in the country; +horses, camels--all had been either killed or carried off. +They must still continue to plod on across this weary +steppe on foot. + +The third Tartar column, on its way to Irkutsk, had left plain traces: +here a dead horse, there an abandoned cart. The bodies of unfortunate +Siberians lay along the road, principally at the entrances to villages. +Nadia, overcoming her repugnance, looked at all these corpses! + +The chief danger lay, not before, but behind. +The advance guard of the Emir's army, commanded by Ivan Ogareff, +might at any moment appear. The boats sent down the lower +Yenisei must by this time have reached Krasnoiarsk and been +made use of. The road was therefore open to the invaders. +No Russian force could be opposed to them between Krasnoiarsk +and Lake Baikal, Michael therefore expected before long +the appearance of the Tartar scouts. + +At each halt, Nadia climbed some hill and looked anxiously +to the Westward, but as yet no cloud of dust had signaled +the approach of a troop of horse. + +Then the march was resumed; and when Michael felt that he was +dragging poor Nadia forward too rapidly, he went at a slower pace. +They spoke little, and only of Nicholas. The young girl recalled +all that this companion of a few days had done for them. + +In answering, Michael tried to give Nadia some hope of which he did +not feel a spark himself, for he well knew that the unfortunate fellow +would not escape death. + +One day Michael said to the girl, "You never speak to me +of my mother, Nadia." + +His mother! Nadia had never wished to do so. Why renew his grief? +Was not the old Siberian dead? Had not her son given the last kiss +to her corpse stretched on the plain of Tomsk? + +"Speak to me of her, Nadia," said Michael. "Speak--you will please me." + +And then Nadia did what she had not done before. She told all +that had passed between Marfa and herself since their meeting +at Omsk, where they had seen each other for the first time. +She said how an inexplicable instinct had led her towards the old +prisoner without knowing who she was, and what encouragement she +had received in return. At that time Michael Strogoff had been +to her but Nicholas Korpanoff. + +"Whom I ought always to have been," replied Michael, his brow darkening. + +Then later he added, "I have broken my oath, Nadia. I had sworn +not to see my mother!" + +"But you did not try to see her, Michael," replied Nadia. "Chance alone +brought you into her presence." + +"I had sworn, whatever might happen, not to betray myself." + +"Michael, Michael! at sight of the lash raised upon Marfa, +could you refrain? No! No oath could prevent a son from +succoring his mother!" + +"I have broken my oath, Nadia," returned Michael. "May God +and the Father pardon me!" + +"Michael," resumed the girl, "I have a question to ask you. +Do not answer it if you think you ought not. Nothing from you +would vex me!" + +"Speak, Nadia." + +"Why, now that the Czar's letter has been taken from you, +are you so anxious to reach Irkutsk?" + +Michael tightly pressed his companion's hand, but he did not answer. + +"Did you know the contents of that letter before you left Moscow?" + +"No, I did not know." + +"Must I think, Michael, that the wish alone to place me in my father's +hands draws you toward Irkutsk?" + +"No, Nadia," replied Michael, gravely. "I should deceive you if I allowed +you to believe that it was so. I go where duty orders me to go. As to +taking you to Irkutsk, is it not you, Nadia, who are now taking me there? +Do I not see with your eyes; and is it not your hand that guides me? +Have you not repaid a hundred-fold the help which I was able to give you +at first? I do not know if fate will cease to go against us; but the day +on which you thank me for having placed you in your father's hands, +I in my turn will thank you for having led me to Irkutsk." + +"Poor Michael!" answered Nadia, with emotion. "Do not speak so. +That does not answer me. Michael, why, now, are you in such haste +to reach Irkutsk?" + +"Because I must be there before Ivan Ogareff," exclaimed Michael. + +"Even now?" + +"Even now, and I will be there, too!" + +In uttering these words, Michael did not speak solely through hatred +to the traitor. Nadia understood that her companion had not told, +or could not tell, her all. + +On the 15th of September, three days later, the two reached +the village of Kouitounskoe. The young girl suffered dreadfully. +Her aching feet could scarcely support her; but she fought, +she struggled, against her weariness, and her only thought was this: +"Since he cannot see me, I will go on till I drop." + +There were no obstacles on this part of the journey, no danger +either since the departure of the Tartars, only much fatigue. +For three days it continued thus. It was plain that the +third invading column was advancing rapidly in the East; +that could be seen by the ruins which they left after them-- +the cold cinders and the already decomposing corpses. + +There was nothing to be seen in the West; the Emir's +advance-guard had not yet appeared. Michael began to consider +the various reasons which might have caused this delay. +Was a sufficient force of Russians directly menacing Tomsk +or Krasnoiarsk? Did the third column, isolated from the others, +run a risk of being cut off? If this was the case, it would +be easy for the Grand Duke to defend Irkutsk, and any time +gained against an invasion was a step towards repulsing it. +Michael sometimes let his thoughts run on these hopes, +but he soon saw their improbability, and felt that the preservation +of the Grand Duke depended alone on him. + +Nadia dragged herself along. Whatever might be her +moral energy, her physical strength would soon fail her. +Michael knew it only too well. If he had not been blind, +Nadia would have said to him, "Go, Michael, leave me in some hut! +Reach Irkutsk! Accomplish your mission! See my father! +Tell him where I am! Tell him that I wait for him, and you +both will know where to find me! Start! I am not afraid! +I will hide myself from the Tartars! I will take care of myself +for him, for you! Go, Michael! I can go no farther!" + +Many times Nadia was obliged to stop. Michael then took her +in his strong arms and, having no longer to think of her fatigue, +walked more rapidly and with his indefatigable step. + +On the 18th of September, at ten in the evening, Kimilteiskoe was +at last entered. From the top of a hill, Nadia saw in the horizon +a long light line. It was the Dinka River. A few lightning flashes +were reflected in the water; summer lightning, without thunder. +Nadia led her companion through the ruined village. +The cinders were quite cold. The last of the Tartars had passed +through at least five or six days before. + +Beyond the village, Nadia sank down on a stone bench. +"Shall we make a halt?" asked Michael. + +"It is night, Michael," answered Nadia. "Do you not want to rest +a few hours?" + +"I would rather have crossed the Dinka," replied Michael, "I should +like to put that between us and the Emir's advance-guard. But you +can scarcely drag yourself along, my poor Nadia!" + +"Come, Michael," returned Nadia, seizing her companion's hand +and drawing him forward. + +Two or three versts further the Dinka flowed across the Irkutsk road. +The young girl wished to attempt this last effort asked by her companion. +She found her way by the light from the flashes. They were then crossing +a boundless desert, in the midst of which was lost the little river. +Not a tree nor a hillock broke the flatness. Not a breath disturbed +the atmosphere, whose calmness would allow the slightest sound to travel +an immense distance. + +Suddenly, Michael and Nadia stopped, as if their feet had been +fast to the ground. The barking of a dog came across the steppe. +"Do you hear?" said Nadia. + +Then a mournful cry succeeded it--a despairing cry, like the last appeal +of a human being about to die. + +"Nicholas! Nicholas!" cried the girl, with a foreboding of evil. +Michael, who was listening, shook his head. + +"Come, Michael, come," said Nadia. And she who just now was +dragging herself with difficulty along, suddenly recovered strength, +under violent excitement. + +"We have left the road," said Michael, feeling that he was treading +no longer on powdery soil but on short grass. + +"Yes, we must!" returned Nadia. "It was there, on the right, +from which the cry came!" + +In a few minutes they were not more than half a verst from the river. +A second bark was heard, but, although more feeble, it was +certainly nearer. Nadia stopped. + +"Yes!" said Michael. "It is Serko barking! . . . He has +followed his master!" + +"Nicholas!" called the girl. Her cry was unanswered. + +Michael listened. Nadia gazed over the plain illumined +now and again with electric light, but she saw nothing. +And yet a voice was again raised, this time murmuring in a +plaintive tone, "Michael!" + +Then a dog, all bloody, bounded up to Nadia. + +It was Serko! Nicholas could not be far off! He alone +could have murmured the name of Michael! Where was he? +Nadia had no strength to call again. Michael, crawling on +the ground, felt about with his hands. + +Suddenly Serko uttered a fresh bark and darted towards a gigantic bird +which had swooped down. It was a vulture. When Serko ran towards it, +it rose, but returning struck at the dog. The latter leapt up at it. +A blow from the formidable beak alighted on his head, and this time +Serko fell back lifeless on the ground. + +At the same moment a cry of horror escaped Nadia. "There . . . there!" +she exclaimed. + +A head issued from the ground! She had stumbled against it +in the darkness. + +Nadia fell on her knees beside it. Nicholas buried up to his neck, +according to the atrocious Tartar custom, had been left in the steppe +to die of thirst, and perhaps by the teeth of wolves or the beaks +of birds of prey! + +Frightful torture for the victim imprisoned in the ground-- +the earth pressed down so that he cannot move, his arms +bound to his body like those of a corpse in its coffin! +The miserable wretch, living in the mold of clay from which he is +powerless to break out, can only long for the death which is +so slow in coming! + +There the Tartars had buried their prisoner three days before! +For three days, Nicholas waited for the help which now came too late! +The vultures had caught sight of the head on a level with the ground, +and for some hours the dog had been defending his master against +these ferocious birds! + +Michael dug at the ground with his knife to release his friend! +The eyes of Nicholas, which till then had been closed, opened. + +He recognized Michael and Nadia. "Farewell, my friends!" he murmured. +"I am glad to have seen you again! Pray for me!" + +Michael continued to dig, though the ground, having been tightly +rammed down, was as hard as stone, and he managed at last to get +out the body of the unhappy man. He listened if his heart was still +beating. . . . It was still! + +He wished to bury him, that he might not be left exposed; +and the hole into which Nicholas had been placed when living, +was enlarged, so that he might be laid in it--dead! The faithful +Serko was laid by his master. + +At that moment, a noise was heard on the road, about half +a verst distant. Michael Strogoff listened. It was evidently +a detachment of horse advancing towards the Dinka. "Nadia, Nadia!" +he said in a low voice. + +Nadia, who was kneeling in prayer, arose. "Look, look!" said he. + +"The Tartars!" she whispered. + +It was indeed the Emir's advance-guard, passing rapidly along +the road to Irkutsk. + +"They shall not prevent me from burying him!" said Michael. And he +continued his work. + +Soon, the body of Nicholas, the hands crossed on the breast, +was laid in the grave. Michael and Nadia, kneeling, prayed a last +time for the poor fellow, inoffensive and good, who had paid +for his devotion towards them with his life. + +"And now," said Michael, as he threw in the earth, "the wolves +of the steppe will not devour him." + +Then he shook his fist at the troop of horsemen who were passing. +"Forward, Nadia!" he said. + +Michael could not follow the road, now occupied by the Tartars. He must +cross the steppe and turn to Irkutsk. He had not now to trouble himself +about crossing the Dinka. Nadia could not move, but she could see +for him. He took her in his arms and went on towards the southwest +of the province. + +A hundred and forty miles still remained to be traversed. +How was the distance to be performed? Should they not succumb +to such fatigue? On what were they to live on the way? +By what superhuman energy were they to pass the slopes of +the Sayansk Mountains? Neither he nor Nadia could answer this! + +And yet, twelve days after, on the 2d of October, at six o'clock +in the evening, a wide sheet of water lay at Michael Strogoff's feet. +It was Lake Baikal. + + +CHAPTER X BAIKAL AND ANGARA + +LAKE BAIKAL is situated seventeen hundred feet above the level of +the sea. Its length is about six hundred miles, its breadth seventy. +Its depth is not known. Madame de Bourboulon states that, +according to the boatmen, it likes to be spoken of as "Madam Sea." If it +is called "Sir Lake," it immediately lashes itself into fury. +However, it is reported and believed by the Siberians that a Russian +is never drowned in it. + +This immense basin of fresh water, fed by more than three +hundred rivers, is surrounded by magnificent volcanic mountains. +It has no other outlet than the Angara, which after passing +Irkutsk throws itself into the Yenisei, a little above the town +of Yeniseisk. As to the mountains which encase it, they form +a branch of the Toungouzes, and are derived from the vast system +of the Altai. + +In this territory, subject to peculiar climatical conditions, +the autumn appears to be absorbed in the precocious winter. +It was now the beginning of October. The sun set at five o'clock in +the evening, and during the long nights the temperature fell to zero. +The first snows, which would last till summer, already whitened +the summits of the neighboring hills. During the Siberian winter +this inland sea is frozen over to a thickness of several feet, +and is crossed by the sleighs of caravans. + +Either because there are people who are so wanting in politeness +as to call it "Sir Lake," or for some more meteorological reason, +Lake Baikal is subject to violent tempests. Its waves, short like those +of all inland seas, are much feared by the rafts, prahms, and steamboats, +which furrow it during the summer. + +It was the southwest point of the lake which Michael had +now reached, carrying Nadia, whose whole life, so to speak, +was concentrated in her eyes. But what could these two expect, +in this wild region, if it was not to die of exhaustion and famine? +And yet, what remained of the long journey of four thousand miles +for the Czar's courier to reach his end? Nothing but forty +miles on the shore of the lake up to the mouth of the Angara, +and sixty miles from the mouth of the Angara to Irkutsk; +in all, a hundred miles, or three days' journey for a strong man, +even on foot. + +Could Michael Strogoff still be that man? + +Heaven, no doubt, did not wish to put him to this trial. +The fatality which had hitherto pursued his steps seemed for a time +to spare him. This end of the Baikal, this part of the steppe, +which he believed to be a desert, which it usually is, was not so now. +About fifty people were collected at the angle formed by the end +of the lake. + +Nadia immediately caught sight of this group, when Michael, +carrying her in his arms, issued from the mountain pass. +The girl feared for a moment that it was a Tartar detachment, +sent to beat the shores of the Baikal, in which case flight would +have been impossible to them both. But Nadia was soon reassured. + +"Russians!" she exclaimed. And with this last effort, her eyes +closed and her head fell on Michael's breast. + +But they had been seen, and some of these Russians, running to them, +led the blind man and the girl to a little point at which was +moored a raft. + +The raft was just going to start. These Russians were fugitives +of different conditions, whom the same interest had united +at Lake Baikal. Driven back by the Tartar scouts, they hoped +to obtain a refuge at Irkutsk, but not being able to get there +by land, the invaders having occupied both banks of the Angara, +they hoped to reach it by descending the river which flows +through the town. + +Their plan made Michael's heart leap; a last chance was before him, +but he had strength to conceal this, wishing to keep his incognito +more strictly than ever. + +The fugitives' plan was very simple. A current in the lake runs +along by the upper bank to the mouth of the Angara; this current +they hoped to utilize, and with its assistance to reach the outlet +of Lake Baikal. From this point to Irkutsk, the rapid waters of +the river would bear them along at a rate of eight miles an hour. +In a day and a half they might hope to be in sight of the town. + +No kind of boat was to be found; they had been obliged to make one; +a raft, or rather a float of wood, similar to those which usually +are drifted down Siberian rivers, was constructed. A forest of firs, +growing on the bank, had supplied the necessary materials; the trunks, +fastened together with osiers, made a platform on which a hundred +people could have easily found room. + +On board this raft Michael and Nadia were taken. The girl had returned +to herself; some food was given to her as well as to her companion. +Then, lying on a bed of leaves, she soon fell into a deep sleep. + +To those who questioned him, Michael Strogoff said nothing +of what had taken place at Tomsk. He gave himself out as an +inhabitant of Krasnoiarsk, who had not been able to get to Irkutsk +before the Emir's troops arrived on the left bank of the Dinka, +and he added that, very probably, the bulk of the Tartar forces +had taken up a position before the Siberian capital. + +There was not a moment to be lost; besides, the cold was becoming more +and more severe. During the night the temperature fell below zero; +ice was already forming on the surface of the Baikal. Although the raft +managed to pass easily over the lake, it might not be so easy between +the banks of the Angara, should pieces of ice be found to block +up its course. + +At eight in the evening the moorings were cast off, and the raft +drifted in the current along the shore. It was steered by means +of long poles, under the management of several muscular moujiks. +An old Baikal boatman took command of the raft. +He was a man of sixty-five, browned by the sun, and lake breezes. +A thick white beard flowed over his chest; a fur cap covered +his head; his aspect was grave and austere. His large +great-coat, fastened in at the waist, reached down to his heels. +This taciturn old fellow was seated in the stern, and issued +his commands by gestures. Besides, the chief work consisted +in keeping the raft in the current, which ran along the shore, +without drifting out into the open. + +It has been already said that Russians of all conditions had found +a place on the raft. Indeed, to the poor moujiks, the women, +old men, and children, were joined two or three pilgrims, +surprised on their journey by the invasion; a few monks, and a priest. +The pilgrims carried a staff, a gourd hung at the belt, and they +chanted psalms in a plaintive voice: one came from the Ukraine, +another from the Yellow sea, and a third from the Finland provinces. +This last, who was an aged man, carried at his waist a little +padlocked collecting-box, as if it had been hung at a church door. +Of all that he collected during his long and fatiguing pilgrimage, +nothing was for himself; he did not even possess the key of the box, +which would only be opened on his return. + +The monks came from the North of the Empire. Three months before +they had left the town of Archangel. They had visited the sacred +islands near the coast of Carelia, the convent of Solovetsk, +the convent of Troitsa, those of Saint Antony and Saint Theodosia, +at Kiev, that of Kazan, as well as the church of the Old Believers, +and they were now on their way to Irkutsk, wearing the robe, +the cowl, and the clothes of serge. + +As to the papa, or priest, he was a plain village pastor, one of the six +hundred thousand popular pastors which the Russian Empire contains. +He was clothed as miserably as the moujiks, not being above +them in social position; in fact, laboring like a peasant +on his plot of ground; baptis-ing, marrying, burying. He had +been able to protect his wife and children from the brutality +of the Tartars by sending them away into the Northern provinces. +He himself had stayed in his parish up to the last moment; +then he was obliged to fly, and, the Irkutsk road being stopped, +had come to Lake Baikal. + +These priests, grouped in the forward part of the raft, +prayed at regular intervals, raising their voices in the +silent night, and at the end of each sentence of their prayer, +the "Slava Bogu," Glory to God! issued from their lips. + +No incident took place during the night. Nadia remained in a sort +of stupor, and Michael watched beside her; sleep only overtook +him at long intervals, and even then his brain did not rest. +At break of day, the raft, delayed by a strong breeze, +which counteracted the course of the current, was still forty versts +from the mouth of the Angara. It seemed probable that the fugitives +could not reach it before three or four o'clock in the evening. +This did not trouble them; on the contrary, for they would then +descend the river during the night, and the darkness would +also favor their entrance into Irkutsk. + +The only anxiety exhibited at times by the old boatman was +concerning the formation of ice on the surface of the water. +The night had been excessively cold; pieces of ice could be seen +drifting towards the West. Nothing was to be dreaded from these, +since they could not drift into the Angara, having already +passed the mouth; but pieces from the Eastern end of the lake +might be drawn by the current between the banks of the river; +this would cause difficulty, possibly delay, and perhaps even +an insurmountable obstacle which would stop the raft. + +Michael therefore took immense interest in ascertaining what was the state +of the lake, and whether any large number of ice blocks appeared. +Nadia being now awake, he questioned her often, and she gave him +an account of all that was going on. + +Whilst the blocks were thus drifting, curious phenomena were +taking place on the surface of the Baikal. Magnificent jets, +from springs of boiling water, shot up from some of those artesian +wells which Nature has bored in the very bed of the lake. +These jets rose to a great height and spread out in vapor, +which was illuminated by the solar rays, and almost immediately +condensed by the cold. This curious sight would have assuredly +amazed a tourist traveling in peaceful times on this Siberian sea. + +At four in the evening, the mouth of the Angara was signaled +by the old boatman, between the high granite rocks of the shore. +On the right bank could be seen the little port of Livenitchnaia, +its church, and its few houses built on the bank. But the serious +thing was that the ice blocks from the East were already drifting +between the banks of the Angara, and consequently were descending +towards Irkutsk. However, their number was not yet great enough +to obstruct the course of the raft, nor the cold great enough +to increase their number. + +The raft arrived at the little port and there stopped. The old boatman +wished to put into harbor for an hour, in order to make some repairs. +The trunks threatened to separate, and it was important to fasten them +more securely together to resist the rapid current of the Angara. + +The old boatman did not expect to receive any fresh fugitives +at Livenitchnaia, and yet, the moment the raft touched, +two passengers, issuing from a deserted house, ran as fast +as they could towards the beach. + +Nadia seated on the raft, was abstractedly gazing at the shore. +A cry was about to escape her. She seized Michael's hand, +who at that moment raised his head. + +"What is the matter, Nadia?" he asked. + +"Our two traveling companions, Michael." + +"The Frenchman and the Englishman whom we met in the defiles +of the Ural?" + +"Yes." + +Michael started, for the strict incognito which he wished +to keep ran a risk of being betrayed. Indeed, it was no longer +as Nicholas Korpanoff that Jolivet and Blount would now see him, +but as the true Michael Strogoff, Courier of the Czar. The two +correspondents had already met him twice since their separation +at the Ichim post-house--the first time at the Zabediero camp, +when he laid open Ivan Ogareff's face with the knout; the second +time at Tomsk, when he was condemned by the Emir. They therefore +knew who he was and what depended on him. + +Michael Strogoff rapidly made up his mind. "Nadia," said he, +"when they step on board, ask them to come to me!" + +It was, in fact, Blount and Jolivet, whom the course of events +had brought to the port of Livenitchnaia, as it had brought +Michael Strogoff. As we know, after having been present +at the entry of the Tartars into Tomsk, they had departed +before the savage execution which terminated the fete. +They had therefore never suspected that their former traveling +companion had not been put to death, but blinded by order +of the Emir. + +Having procured horses they had left Tomsk the same evening, +with the fixed determination of henceforward dating their letters +from the Russian camp of Eastern Siberia. They proceeded +by forced marches towards Irkutsk. They hoped to distance +Feofar-Khan, and would certainly have done so, had it not been +for the unexpected apparition of the third column, come from +the South, up the valley of the Yenisei. They had been cut off, +as had been Michael, before being able even to reach the Dinka, +and had been obliged to go back to Lake Baikal. + +They had been in the place for three days in much perplexity, +when the raft arrived. The fugitives' plan was explained to them. +There was certainly a chance that they might be able to pass under +cover of the night, and penetrate into Irkutsk. They resolved +to make the attempt. + +Alcide directly communicated with the old boatman, and asked a passage +for himself and his companion, offering to pay anything he demanded, +whatever it might be. + +"No one pays here," replied the old man gravely; "every one risks +his life, that is all!" + +The two correspondents came on board, and Nadia saw them take +their places in the forepart of the raft. Harry Blount was still +the reserved Englishman, who had scarcely addressed a word to her +during the whole passage over the Ural Mountains. Alcide Jolivet +seemed to be rather more grave than usual, and it may be acknowledged +that his gravity was justified by the circumstances. + +Jolivet had, as has been said, taken his seat on the raft, +when he felt a hand laid on his arm. Turning, he recognized Nadia, +the sister of the man who was no longer Nicholas Korpanoff, +but Michael Strogoff, Courier of the Czar. He was about to make +an exclamation of surprise when he saw the young girl lay her +finger on her lips. + +"Come," said Nadia. And with a careless air, Alcide rose +and followed her, making a sign to Blount to accompany him. + +But if the surprise of the correspondents had been great at meeting +Nadia on the raft it was boundless when they perceived Michael Strogoff, +whom they had believed to be no longer living. + +Michael had not moved at their approach. Jolivet turned towards +the girl. "He does not see you, gentlemen," said Nadia. "The Tartars +have burnt out his eyes! My poor brother is blind!" + +A feeling of lively compassion exhibited itself on the faces of Blount +and his companion. In a moment they were seated beside Michael, +pressing his hand and waiting until he spoke to them. + +"Gentlemen," said Michael, in a low voice, "you ought not to know who +I am, nor what I am come to do in Siberia. I ask you to keep my secret. +Will you promise me to do so?" + +"On my honor," answered Jolivet. + +"On my word as a gentleman," added Blount. + +"Good, gentlemen." + +"Can we be of any use to you?" asked Harry Blount. "Could we +not help you to accomplish your task?" + +"I prefer to act alone," replied Michael. + +"But those blackguards have destroyed your sight," said Alcide. + +"I have Nadia, and her eyes are enough for me!" + +In half an hour the raft left the little port of Livenitchnaia, +and entered the river. It was five in the evening and getting dusk. +The night promised to be dark and very cold also, for the temperature +was already below zero. + +Alcide and Blount, though they had promised to keep Michael's secret, +did not leave him. They talked in a low voice, and the +blind man, adding what they told him to what he already knew, +was able to form an exact idea of the state of things. +It was certain that the Tartars had actually invested Irkutsk, +and that the three columns had effected a junction. +There was no doubt that the Emir and Ivan Ogareff were +before the capital. + +But why did the Czar's courier exhibit such haste to get there, +now that the Imperial letter could no longer be given by him to +the Grand Duke, and when he did not even know the contents of it? +Alcide Jolivet and Blount could not understand it any more than +Nadia had done. + +No one spoke of the past, except when Jolivet thought it his duty +to say to Michael, "We owe you some apology for not shaking hands +with you when we separated at Ichim." + +"No, you had reason to think me a coward!" + +"At any rate," added the Frenchman, "you knouted the face of that +villain finely, and he will carry the mark of it for a long time!" + +"No, not a long time!" replied Michael quietly. + +Half an hour after leaving Livenitchnaia, Blount and his companion +were acquainted with the cruel trials through which Michael and his +companion had successively passed. They could not but heartily admire +his energy, which was only equaled by the young girl's devotion. +Their opinion of Michael was exactly what the Czar had expressed +at Moscow: "Indeed, this is a Man!" + +The raft swiftly threaded its way among the blocks of ice +which were carried along in the current of the Angara. A moving +panorama was displayed on both sides of the river, and, by an +optical illusion, it appeared as if it was the raft which +was motionless before a succession of picturesque scenes. +Here were high granite cliffs, there wild gorges, +down which rushed a torrent; sometimes appeared a clearing +with a still smoking village, then thick pine forests blazing. +But though the Tartars had left their traces on all sides, +they themselves were not to be seen as yet, for they were more +especially massed at the approaches to Irkutsk. + +All this time the pilgrims were repeating their prayers aloud, +and the old boatman, shoving away the blocks of ice which pressed +too near them, imperturbably steered the raft in the middle +of the rapid current of the Angara. + + +CHAPTER XI BETWEEN TWO BANKS + +BY eight in the evening, the country, as the state of the sky +had foretold, was enveloped in complete darkness. The moon being new had +not yet risen. From the middle of the river the banks were invisible. +The cliffs were confounded with the heavy, low-hanging clouds. +At intervals a puff of wind came from the east, but it soon died away +in the narrow valley of the Angara. + +The darkness could not fail to favor in a considerable degree +the plans of the fugitives. Indeed, although the Tartar outposts +must have been drawn up on both banks, the raft had a good chance +of passing unperceived. It was not likely either that the besiegers +would have barred the river above Irkutsk, since they knew that the +Russians could not expect any help from the south of the province. +Besides this, before long Nature would herself establish a barrier, +by cementing with frost the blocks of ice accumulated between +the two banks. + +Perfect silence now reigned on board the raft. The voices +of the pilgrims were no longer heard. They still prayed, +but their prayer was but a murmur, which could not reach as far +as either bank. The fugitives lay flat on the platform, +so that the raft was scarcely above the level of the water. +The old boatman crouched down forward among his men, +solely occupied in keeping off the ice blocks, a maneuver +which was performed without noise. + +The drifting of the ice was a favorable circumstance so long as it +did not offer an insurmountable obstacle to the passage of the raft. +If that object had been alone on the water, it would have run +a risk of being seen, even in the darkness, but, as it was, +it was confounded with these moving masses, of all shapes and sizes, +and the tumult caused by the crashing of the blocks against each +other concealed likewise any suspicious noises. + +There was a sharp frost. The fugitives suffered cruelly, +having no other shelter than a few branches of birch. +They cowered down together, endeavoring to keep each other warm, +the temperature being now ten degrees below freezing point. +The wind, though slight, having passed over the snow-clad +mountains of the east, pierced them through and through. + +Michael and Nadia, lying in the afterpart of the raft, +bore this increase of suffering without complaint. +Jolivet and Blount, placed near them, stood these first assaults +of the Siberian winter as well as they could. No one now spoke, +even in a low voice. Their situation entirely absorbed them. +At any moment an incident might occur, which they could +not escape unscathed. + +For a man who hoped soon to accomplish his mission, +Michael was singularly calm. Even in the gravest conjunctures, +his energy had never abandoned him. He already saw the moment +when he would be at last allowed to think of his mother, of Nadia, +of himself! He now only dreaded one final unhappy chance; +this was, that the raft might be completely barred by ice before +reaching Irkutsk. He thought but of this, determined beforehand, +if necessary, to attempt some bold stroke. + +Restored by a few hours' rest, Nadia had regained the physical energy +which misery had sometimes overcome, although without ever having +shaken her moral energy. She thought, too, that if Michael had to make +any fresh effort to attain his end, she must be there to guide him. +But in proportion as she drew nearer to Irkutsk, the image of her +father rose more and more clearly before her mind. She saw him in +the invested town, far from those he loved, but, as she never doubted, +struggling against the invaders with all the spirit of his patriotism. +In a few hours, if Heaven favored them, she would be in his arms, giving +him her mother's last words, and nothing should ever separate them again. +If the term of Wassili Fedor's exile should never come to an end, +his daughter would remain exiled with him. Then, by a natural transition, +she came back to him who would have enabled her to see her father +once more, to that generous companion, that "brother," who, the Tartars +driven back, would retake the road to Moscow, whom she would perhaps +never meet again! + +As to Alcide Jolivet and Harry Blount, they had one and the same thought, +which was, that the situation was extremely dramatic, and that, +well worked up, it would furnish a most deeply interesting article. +The Englishman thought of the readers of the Daily Telegraph, +and the Frenchman of those of his Cousin Madeleine. At heart, +both were not without feeling some emotion. + +"Well, so much the better!" thought Alcide Jolivet, "to move others, +one must be moved one's self! I believe there is some celebrated +verse on the subject, but hang me if I can recollect it!" +And with his well-practiced eyes he endeavored to pierce the gloom +of the river. + +Every now and then a burst of light dispelling the darkness +for a time, exhibited the banks under some fantastic aspect-- +either a forest on fire, or a still burning village. +The Angara was occasionally illuminated from one bank to the other. +The blocks of ice formed so many mirrors, which, reflecting the +flames on every point and in every color, were whirled along +by the caprice of the current. The raft passed unperceived +in the midst of these floating masses. + +The danger was not at these points. + +But a peril of another nature menaced the fugitives. One that they +could not foresee, and, above all, one that they could not avoid. +Chance discovered it to Alcide Jolivet in this way:--Lying at +the right side of the raft, he let his hand hang over into the water. +Suddenly he was surprised by the impression made on it by the current. +It seemed to be of a slimy consistency, as if it had been made +of mineral oil. Alcide, aiding his touch by his sense of smell, +could not be mistaken. It was really a layer of liquid naphtha, +floating on the surface of the river! + +Was the raft really floating on this substance, which is in the +highest degree combustible? Where had this naphtha come from? +Was it a natural phenomenon taking place on the surface of the Angara, +or was it to serve as an engine of destruction, put in motion by +the Tartars? Did they intend to carry conflagration into Irkutsk? + +Such were the questions which Alcide asked himself, but he thought +it best to make this incident known only to Harry Blount, and they +both agreed in not alarming their companions by revealing to them +this new danger. + +It is known that the soil of Central Asia is like a sponge +impregnated with liquid hydrogen. At the port of Bakou, +on the Persian frontier, on the Caspian Sea, in Asia Minor, +in China, on the Yuen-Kiang, in the Burman Empire, springs of +mineral oil rise in thousands to the surface of the ground. +It is an "oil country," similar to the one which bears this +name in North America. + +During certain religious festivals, principally at the port +of Bakou, the natives, who are fire-worshipers, throw liquid +naphtha on the surface of the sea, which buoys it up, +its density being inferior to that of water. Then at nightfall, +when a layer of mineral oil is thus spread over the Caspian, +they light it, and exhibit the matchless spectacle of an ocean +of fire undulating and breaking into waves under the breeze. + +But what is only a sign of rejoicing at Bakou, might prove +a fearful disaster on the waters of the Angara. Whether it +was set on fire by malevolence or imprudence, in the twinkling +of an eye a conflagration might spread beyond Irkutsk. On board +the raft no imprudence was to be feared; but everything was to be +dreaded from the conflagrations on both banks of the Angara, +for should a lighted straw or even a spark blow into the water, +it would inevitably set the whole current of naphtha in a blaze. + +The apprehensions of Jolivet and Blount may be better understood +than described. Would it not be prudent, in face of this +new danger, to land on one of the banks and wait there? +"At any rate," said Alcide, "whatever the danger may be, +I know some one who will not land!" + +He alluded to Michael Strogoff. + +In the meantime, on glided the raft among the masses of ice +which were gradually getting closer and closer together. +Up till then, no Tartar detachment had been seen, +which showed that the raft was not abreast of the outposts. +At about ten o'clock, however, Harry Blount caught sight +of a number of black objects moving on the ice blocks. +Springing from one to the other, they rapidly approached. + +"Tartars!" he thought. And creeping up to the old boatman, +he pointed out to him the suspicious objects. + +The old man looked attentively. "They are only wolves!" said he. +"I like them better than Tartars. But we must defend ourselves, +and without noise!" + +The fugitives would indeed have to defend themselves against these +ferocious beasts, whom hunger and cold had sent roaming through +the province. They had smelt out the raft, and would soon attack it. +The fugitives must struggle without using firearms, for they could +not now be far from the Tartar posts. The women and children were +collected in the middle of the raft, and the men, some armed with poles, +others with their knives, stood prepared to repulse their assailants. +They did not make a sound, but the howls of the wolves filled the air. + +Michael did not wish to remain inactive. He lay down at +the side attacked by the savage pack. He drew his knife, +and every time that a wolf passed within his reach, his hand +found out the way to plunge his weapon into its throat. +Neither were Jolivet and Blount idle, but fought bravely +with the brutes. Their companions gallantly seconded them. +The battle was carried on in silence, although many of the fugitives +received severe bites. + +The struggle did not appear as if it would soon terminate. +The pack was being continually reinforced from the right bank +of the Angara. "This will never be finished!" said Alcide, +brandishing his dagger, red with blood. + +In fact, half an hour after the commencement of the attack, +the wolves were still coming in hundreds across the ice. The exhausted +fugitives were getting weaker. The fight was going against them. +At that moment, a group of ten huge wolves, raging with hunger, +their eyes glowing in the darkness like red coals, sprang onto the raft. +Jolivet and his companion threw themselves into the midst of +the fierce beasts, and Michael was finding his way towards them, +when a sudden change took place. + +In a few moments the wolves had deserted not only the raft, +but also the ice on the river. All the black bodies dispersed, +and it was soon certain that they had in all haste regained the shore. +Wolves, like other beasts of prey, require darkness for their proceedings, +and at that moment a bright light illuminated the entire river. + +It was the blaze of an immense fire. The whole of the small +town of Poshkavsk was burning. The Tartars were indeed there, +finishing their work. From this point, they occupied both +banks beyond Irkutsk. The fugitives had by this time reached +the dangerous part of their voyage, and they were still twenty +miles from the capital. + +It was now half past eleven. The raft continued to glide on amongst +the ice, with which it was quite mingled, but gleams of light sometimes +fell upon it. The fugitives stretched on the platform did not permit +themselves to make a movement by which they might be betrayed. + +The conflagration was going on with frightful rapidity. +The houses, built of fir-wood, blazed like torches--a hundred +and fifty flaming at once. With the crackling of the fire was +mingled the yells of the Tartars. The old boatman, getting a +foothold on a near piece of ice, managed to shove the raft towards +the right bank, by doing which a distance of from three to four +hundred feet divided it from the flames of Poshkavsk. + +Nevertheless, the fugitives, lighted every now and then by the glare, +would have been undoubtedly perceived had not the incendiaries been +too much occupied in their work of destruction. + +It may be imagined what were the apprehensions of Jolivet and Blount, +when they thought of the combustible liquid on which the raft floated. +Sparks flew in millions from the houses, which resembled so many +glowing furnaces. They rose among the volumes of smoke to a height of +five or six hundred feet. On the right bank, the trees and cliffs exposed +to the fire looked as if they likewise were burning. A spark falling +on the surface of the Angara would be sufficient to spread the flames +along the current, and to carry disaster from one bank to the other. +The result of this would be in a short time the destruction of the raft +and of all those which it carried. + +But, happily, the breeze did not blow from that side. +It came from the east, and drove the flames towards the left. +It was just possible that the fugitives would escape this danger. +The blazing town was at last passed. Little by little the glare +grew dimmer, the crackling became fainter, and the flames at +last disappeared behind the high cliffs which arose at an abrupt +turn of the river. + +By this time it was nearly midnight. The deep gloom again threw its +protecting shadows over the raft. The Tartars were there, going to and +fro near the river. They could not be seen, but they could be heard. +The fires of the outposts burned brightly. + +In the meantime it had become necessary to steer more +carefully among the blocks of ice. The old boatman stood up, +and the moujiks resumed their poles. They had plenty of work, +the management of the raft becoming more and more difficult +as the river was further obstructed. + +Michael had crept forward; Jolivet followed; both listened +to what the old boatman and his men were saying. + +"Look out on the right!" + +"There are blocks drifting on to us on the left!" + +"Fend! fend off with your boat-hook!" + +"Before an hour is past we shall be stopped!" + +"If it is God's will!" answered the old man. "Against His will there +is nothing to be done." + +"You hear them," said Alcide. + +"Yes," replied Michael, "but God is with us!" + +The situation became more and more serious. Should the raft +be stopped, not only would the fugitives not reach Irkutsk, +but they would be obliged to leave their floating platform, +for it would be very soon smashed to pieces in the ice. +The osier ropes would break, the fir trunks torn asunder would +drift under the hard crust, and the unhappy people would have +no refuge but the ice blocks themselves. Then, when day came, +they would be seen by the Tartars, and massacred without mercy! + +Michael returned to the spot where Nadia was waiting for him. +He approached the girl, took her hand, and put to her +the invariable question: "Nadia, are you ready?" to which she +replied as usual, "I am ready!" + +For a few versts more the raft continued to drift amongst +the floating ice. Should the river narrow, it would soon form +an impassable barrier. Already they seemed to drift slower. +Every moment they encountered severe shocks or were compelled +to make detours; now, to avoid running foul of a block, there to +enter a channel, of which it was necessary to take advantage. +At length the stoppages became still more alarming. +There were only a few more hours of night. Could the fugitives +not reach Irkutsk by five o'clock in the morning, they must +lose all hope of ever getting there at all. + +At half-past one, notwithstanding all efforts, the raft +came up against a thick barrier and stuck fast. The ice, +which was drifting down behind it, pressed it still closer, +and kept it motionless, as though it had been stranded. + +At this spot the Angara narrowed, it being half its usual breadth. +This was the cause of the accumulation of ice, which became gradually +soldered together, under the double influence of the increased pressure +and of the cold. Five hundred feet beyond, the river widened again, +and the blocks, gradually detaching themselves from the floe, +continued to drift towards Irkutsk. It was probable that had +the banks not narrowed, the barrier would not have formed. +But the misfortune was irreparable, and the fugitives must give up +all hope of attaining their object. + +Had they possessed the tools usually employed by whalers to cut +channels through the ice-fields--had they been able to get +through to where the river widened--they might have been saved. +But they had nothing which could make the least incision +in the ice, hard as granite in the excessive frost. +What were they to do? + +At that moment several shots on the right bank startled +the unhappy fugitives. A shower of balls fell on the raft. +The devoted passengers had been seen. Immediately afterwards +shots were heard fired from the left bank. The fugitives, +taken between two fires, became the mark of the Tartar sharpshooters. +Several were wounded, although in the darkness it was only +by chance that they were hit. + +"Come, Nadia," whispered Michael in the girl's ear. + +Without making a single remark, "ready for anything," +Nadia took Michael's hand. + +"We must cross the barrier," he said in a low tone. +"Guide me, but let no one see us leave the raft." + +Nadia obeyed. Michael and she glided rapidly over the floe +in the obscurity, only broken now and again by the flashes from +the muskets. Nadia crept along in front of Michael. The shot +fell around them like a tempest of hail, and pattered on the ice. +Their hands were soon covered with blood from the sharp and rugged +ice over which they clambered, but still on they went. + +In ten minutes, the other side of the barrier was reached. +There the waters of the Angara again flowed freely. +Several pieces of ice, detached gradually from the floe, +were swept along in the current down towards the town. +Nadia guessed what Michael wished to attempt. One of the blocks +was only held on by a narrow strip. + +"Come," said Nadia. And the two crouched on the piece of ice, +which their weight detached from the floe. + +It began to drift. The river widened, the way was open. +Michael and Nadia heard the shots, the cries of distress, +the yells of the Tartars. Then, little by little, the sounds +of agony and of ferocious joy grew faint in the distance. + +"Our poor companions!" murmured Nadia. + +For half an hour the current hurried along the block of ice which +bore Michael and Nadia. They feared every moment that it would +give way beneath them. Swept along in the middle of the current, +it was unnecessary to give it an oblique direction until they drew +near the quays of Irkutsk. Michael, his teeth tight set, his ear on +the strain, did not utter a word. Never had he been so near his object. +He felt that he was about to attain it! + +Towards two in the morning a double row of lights glittered +on the dark horizon in which were confounded the two banks +of the Angara. On the right hand were the lights of Irkutsk; +on the left, the fires of the Tartar camp. + +Michael Strogoff was not more than half a verst from the town. +"At last!" he murmured. + +But suddenly Nadia uttered a cry. + +At the cry Michael stood up on the ice, which was wavering. +His hand was extended up the Angara. His face, on which a bluish +light cast a peculiar hue, became almost fearful to look at, +and then, as if his eyes had been opened to the bright blaze +spreading across the river, "Ah!" he exclaimed, "then Heaven +itself is against us!" + + +CHAPTER XII IRKUTSK + +IRKUTSK, the capital of Eastern Siberia, is a populous town, +containing, in ordinary times, thirty thousand inhabitants. +On the right side of the Angara rises a hill, on which are built +numerous churches, a lofty cathedral, and dwellings disposed +in picturesque disorder. + +Seen at a distance, from the top of the mountain which rises +at about twenty versts off along the Siberian highroad, +this town, with its cupolas, its bell-towers, its steeples +slender as minarets, its domes like pot-bellied Chinese jars, +presents something of an oriental aspect. But this similarity +vanishes as the traveler enters. + +The town, half Byzantine, half Chinese, becomes European as soon +as he sees its macadamized roads, bordered with pavements, +traversed by canals, planted with gigantic birches, its houses +of brick and wood, some of which have several stories, +the numerous equipages which drive along, not only tarantasses +but broughams and coaches; lastly, its numerous inhabitants far +advanced in civilization, to whom the latest Paris fashions +are not unknown. + +Being the refuge for all the Siberians of the province, Irkutsk was +at this time very full. Stores of every kind had been collected +in abundance. Irkutsk is the emporium of the innumerable kinds +of merchandise which are exchanged between China, Central Asia, +and Europe. The authorities had therefore no fear with regard +to admitting the peasants of the valley of the Angara, and leaving +a desert between the invaders and the town. + +Irkutsk is the residence of the governor-general of +Eastern Siberia. Below him acts a civil governor, in whose hands +is the administration of the province; a head of police, who has +much to do in a town where exiles abound; and, lastly, a mayor, +chief of the merchants, and a person of some importance, +from his immense fortune and the influence which he exercises +over the people. + +The garrison of Irkutsk was at that time composed of an infantry +regiment of Cossacks, consisting of two thousand men, and a body +of police wearing helmets and blue uniforms laced with silver. +Besides, as has been said, in consequence of the events which +had occurred, the brother of the Czar had been shut up in the town +since the beginning of the invasion. + +A journey of political importance had taken the Grand Duke +to these distant provinces of Central Asia. After passing +through the principal Siberian cities, the Grand Duke, +who traveled en militaire rather than en prince, without any parade, +accompanied by his officers, and escorted by a regiment +of Cossacks, arrived in the Trans-Baikalcine provinces. +Nikolaevsk, the last Russian town situated on the shore +of the Sea of Okhotsk, had been honored by a visit from him. +Arrived on the confines of the immense Muscovite Empire, +the Grand Duke was returning towards Irkutsk, from which place +he intended to retake the road to Moscow, when, sudden as a +thunder clap, came the news of the invasion. + +He hastened to the capital, but only reached it just before +communication with Russia had been interrupted. There was time +to receive only a few telegrams from St. Petersburg and Moscow, +and with difficulty to answer them before the wire was cut. +Irkutsk was isolated from the rest of the world. + +The Grand Duke had now only to prepare for resistance, +and this he did with that determination and coolness of which, +under other circumstances, he had given incontestable proofs. +The news of the taking of Ichim, Omsk, and Tomsk, +successively reached Irkutsk. It was necessary at any price +to save the capital of Siberia. Reinforcements could not +be expected for some time. The few troops scattered about +in the provinces of Siberia could not arrive in sufficiently +large numbers to arrest the progress of the Tartar columns. +Since therefore it was impossible for Irkutsk to escape attack, +the most important thing to be done was to put the town in a state +to sustain a siege of some duration. + +The preparations were begun on the day Tomsk fell into the hands +of the Tartars. At the same time with this last news, +the Grand Duke heard that the Emir of Bokhara and the allied Khans +were directing the invasion in person, but what he did not know was, +that the lieutenant of these barbarous chiefs was Ivan Ogareff, +a Russian officer whom he had himself reduced to the ranks, +but with whose person he was not acquainted. + +First of all, as we have seen, the inhabitants of the province of Irkutsk +were compelled to abandon the towns and villages. Those who did +not take refuge in the capital had to retire beyond Lake Baikal, +a district to which the invasion would probably not extend its ravages. +The harvests of corn and fodder were collected and stored up in the town, +and Irkutsk, the last bulwark of the Muscovite power in the Far East, +was put in a condition to resist the enemy for a lengthened period. + +Irkutsk, founded in 1611, is situated at the confluence of +the Irkut and the Angara, on the right bank of the latter river. +Two wooden draw-bridges, built on piles, connected the town with +its suburbs on the left bank. On this side, defence was easy. +The suburbs were abandoned, the bridges destroyed. +The Angara being here very wide, it would not be possible +to pass it under the fire of the besieged. + +But the river might be crossed both above and below the town, +and consequently, Irkutsk ran a risk of being attacked on its +east side, on which there was no wall to protect it. + +The whole population were immediately set to work on the fortifications. +They labored day and night. The Grand Duke observed with satisfaction +the zeal exhibited by the people in the work, whom ere long he would +find equally courageous in the defense. Soldiers, merchants, exiles, +peasants, all devoted themselves to the common safety. A week before +the Tartars appeared on the Angara, earth-works had been raised. +A fosse, flooded by the waters of the Angara, was dug between the scarp +and counterscarp. The town could not now be taken by a coup de main. +It must be invested and besieged. + +The third Tartar column--the one which came up the valley of the Yenisei +on the 24th of September--appeared in sight of Irkutsk. It immediately +occupied the deserted suburbs, every building in which had been +destroyed so as not to impede the fire of the Grand Duke's guns, +unfortunately but few in number and of small caliber. +The Tartar troops as they arrived organized a camp on the bank +of the Angara, whilst waiting the arrival of the two other columns, +commanded by the Emir and his allies. + +The junction of these different bodies was effected on the 25th +of September, in the Angara camp, and the whole of the invading army, +except the garrisons left in the principal conquered towns, +was concentrated under the command of Feofar-Khan. + +The passage of the Angara in front of Irkutsk having been regarded +by Ogareff as impracticable, a strong body of troops crossed, +several versts up the river, by means of bridges formed with boats. +The Grand Duke did not attempt to oppose the enemy in their passage. +He could only impede, not prevent it, having no field-artillery +at his disposal, and he therefore remained in Irkutsk. + +The Tartars now occupied the right bank of the river; +then, advancing towards the town, they burnt, in passing, +the summer-house of the governor-general, and at last having +entirely invested Irkutsk, took up their positions for the siege. + +Ivan Ogareff, who was a clever engineer, was perfectly competent +to direct a regular siege; but he did not possess the materials +for operating rapidly. He was disappointed too in the chief +object of all his efforts--the surprise of Irkutsk. Things had +not turned out as he hoped. First, the march of the Tartar +army was delayed by the battle of Tomsk; and secondly, +the preparations for the defense were made far more rapidly than +he had supposed possible; these two things had balked his plans. +He was now under the necessity of instituting a regular siege +of the town. + +However, by his suggestion, the Emir twice attempted the capture +of the place, at the cost of a large sacrifice of men. +He threw soldiers on the earth-works which presented any weak point; +but these two assaults were repulsed with the greatest courage. +The Grand Duke and his officers did not spare themselves on +this occasion. They appeared in person; they led the civil population +to the ramparts. Citizens and peasants both did their duty. + +At the second attack, the Tartars managed to force one of the gates. +A fight took place at the head of Bolchaia Street, two versts long, +on the banks of the Angara. But the Cossacks, the police, the citizens, +united in so fierce a resistance that the Tartars were driven out. + +Ivan Ogareff then thought of obtaining by stratagem what he could +not gain by force. We have said that his plan was to penetrate into +the town, make his way to the Grand Duke, gain his confidence, and, +when the time came, give up the gates to the besiegers; and, that done, +wreak his vengeance on the brother of the Czar. The Tsigane Sangarre, +who had accompanied him to the Angara, urged him to put this +plan in execution. + +Indeed, it was necessary to act without delay. +The Russian troops from the government of Yakutsk were +advancing towards Irkutsk. They had concentrated along +the upper course of the Lena. In six days they would arrive. +Therefore, before six days had passed, Irkutsk must be betrayed. +Ogareff hesitated no longer. + +One evening, the 2d of October, a council of war was held in the +grand saloon of the palace of the governor-general. This palace, +standing at the end of Bolchaia Street, overlooked the river. +From its windows could be seen the camp of the Tartars, +and had the invaders possessed guns of wider range, they would +have rendered the palace uninhabitable. + +The Grand Duke, General Voranzoff, the governor of the town, +and the chief of the merchants, with several officers, +had collected to determine upon various proposals. + +"Gentlemen," said the Grand Duke, "you know our situation exactly. +I have the firm hope that we shall be able to hold out until +the arrival of the Yakutsk troops. We shall then be able to drive +off these barbarian hordes, and it will not be my fault if they +do not pay dearly for this invasion of the Muscovite territory." + +"Your Highness knows that all the population of Irkutsk may be relied on," +said General Voranzoff. + +"Yes, general," replied the Grand Duke, "and I do justice +to their patriotism. Thanks to God, they have not yet +been subjected to the horrors of epidemic and famine, +and I have reason to hope that they will escape them; +but I cannot admire their courage on the ramparts enough. +You hear my words, Sir Merchant, and I beg you to repeat +such to them." + +"I thank your Highness in the name of the town," answered the +merchant chief. "May I ask you what is the most distant date +when we may expect the relieving army?" + +"Six days at most, sir," replied the Grand Duke. "A brave and clever +messenger managed this morning to get into the town, and he told me +that fifty thousand Russians under General Kisselef, are advancing +by forced marches. Two days ago, they were on the banks of the Lena, +at Kirensk, and now, neither frost nor snow will keep them back. +Fifty thousand good men, taking the Tartars on the flank, will soon +set us free." + +"I will add," said the chief of the merchants, "that we shall +be ready to execute your orders, any day that your Highness +may command a sortie." + +"Good, sir," replied the Grand Duke. "Wait till the heads +of the relieving columns appear on the heights, and we will +speedily crush these invaders." + +Then turning to General Voranzoff, "To-morrow," said he, "we will +visit the works on the right bank. Ice is drifting down the Angara, +which will not be long in freezing, and in that case the Tartars +might perhaps cross." + +"Will your Highness allow me to make an observation?" +said the chief of the merchants. + +"Do so, sir." + +"I have more than once seen the temperature fall to thirty +and forty degrees below zero, and the Angara has still +carried down drifting ice without entirely freezing. +This is no doubt owing to the swiftness of its current. +If therefore the Tartars have no other means of crossing the river, +I can assure your Highness that they will not enter Irkutsk +in that way." + +The governor-general confirmed this assertion. + +"It is a fortunate circumstance," responded the Grand Duke. +"Nevertheless, we must hold ourselves ready for any emergency." + +He then, turning towards the head of the police, asked, "Have you +nothing to say to me, sir?" + +"I have your Highness," answered the head of police, "a petition +which is addressed to you through me." + +"Addressed by whom?" + +"By the Siberian exiles, whom, as your Highness knows, are in the town +to the number of five hundred." + +The political exiles, distributed over the province, had been +collected in Irkutsk, from the beginning of the invasion. +They had obeyed the order to rally in the town, and leave +the villages where they exercised their different professions, +some doctors, some professors, either at the Gymnasium, or at +the Japanese School, or at the School of Navigation. The Grand Duke, +trusting like the Czar in their patriotism, had armed them, +and they had thoroughly proved their bravery. + +"What do the exiles ask?" said the Grand Duke. + +"They ask the consent of your Highness," answered the head of police, +"to their forming a special corps and being placed in the front +of the first sortie." + +"Yes," replied the Grand Duke with an emotion which he did not seek +to hide, "these exiles are Russians, and it is their right to fight +for their country!" + +"I believe I may assure your Highness," said the governor-general, +"you will have no better soldiers." + +"But they must have a chief," said the Grand Duke, "who will he be?" + +"They wish to recommend to your Highness," said the head of police, +"one of their number, who has distinguished himself on several occasions." + +"Is he a Russian?" + +"Yes, a Russian from the Baltic provinces." + +"His name?" + +"Is Wassili Fedor." + +This exile was Nadia's father. Wassili Fedor, as we have already said, +followed his profession of a medical man in Irkutsk. He was +clever and charitable, and also possessed the greatest courage +and most sincere patriotism. All the time which he did not +devote to the sick he employed in organizing the defense. +It was he who had united his companions in exile in the common cause. +The exiles, till then mingled with the population, had behaved +in such a way as to draw on themselves the attention of the +Grand Duke. In several sorties, they had paid with their blood their +debt to holy Russia--holy as they believe, and adored by her children! +Wassili Fedor had behaved heroically; his name had been mentioned +several times, but he never asked either thanks or favors, +and when the exiles of Irkutsk thought of forming themselves into +a special corps, he was ignorant of their intention of choosing +him for their captain. + +When the head of police mentioned this name, the Grand Duke answered +that it was not unknown to him. + +"Indeed," remarked General Voranzoff, "Wassili Fedor is a man +of worth and courage. His influence over his companions has +always been very great." + +"How long has he been at Irkutsk?" asked the Duke. + +"For two years." + +"And his conduct?" + +"His conduct," answered the head of police, "is that of a man +obedient to the special laws which govern him." + +"General," said the Grand Duke, "General, be good enough to present +him to me immediately." + +The orders of the Grand Duke were obeyed, and before half +an hour had passed, Fedor was introduced into his presence. +He was a man over forty, tall, of a stern and sad countenance. +One felt that his whole life was summed up in a single word-- +strife--he had striven and suffered. His features bore a marked +resemblance to those of his daughter, Nadia Fedor. + +This Tartar invasion had severely wounded him in his tenderest affections, +and ruined the hope of the father, exiled eight thousand versts from +his native town. A letter had apprised him of the death of his wife, +and at the same time of the departure of his daughter, who had obtained +from the government an authorization to join him at Irkutsk. Nadia must +have left Riga on the 10th of July. The invasion had begun on +the 15th of July; if at that time Nadia had passed the frontier, +what could have become of her in the midst of the invaders? +The anxiety of the unhappy father may be supposed when, from that time, +he had no further news of his daughter. + +Wassili Fedor entered the presence of the Grand Duke, bowed, and waited +to be questioned. + +"Wassili Fedor," said the Grand Duke, "your companions +in exile have asked to be allowed to form a select corps. +They are not ignorant that in this corps they must make up +their minds to be killed to the last man?" + +"They are not ignorant of it," replied Fedor. + +"They wish to have you for their captain." + +"I, your Highness?" + +"Do you consent to be placed at their head?" + +"Yes, if it is for the good of Russia." + +"Captain Fedor," said the Grand Duke, "you are no longer an exile." + +"Thanks, your Highness, but can I command those who are so still?" + +"They are so no longer!" The brother of the Czar had granted a pardon +to all Fedor's companions in exile, now his companions in arms! + +Wassili Fedor wrung, with emotion, the hand which the Grand Duke held +out to him, and retired. + +The latter, turned to his officers, "The Czar will not refuse to ratify +that pardon," said he, smiling; "we need heroes to defend the capital +of Siberia, and I have just made some." + +This pardon, so generously accorded to the exiles of Irkutsk, +was indeed an act of real justice and sound policy. + +It was now night. Through the windows of the palace burned the fires +of the Tartar camp, flickering beyond the Angara. Down the river +drifted numerous blocks of ice, some of which stuck on the piles +of the old bridges; others were swept along by the current with +great rapidity. It was evident, as the merchant had observed, +that it would be very difficult for the Angara to freeze all over. +The defenders of Irkutsk had not to dread being attacked on that side. +Ten o'clock had just struck. The Grand Duke was about to dismiss +his officers and retire to his apartments, when a tumult was heard +outside the palace. + +Almost immediately the door was thrown open, an aide-de-camp appeared, +and advanced rapidly towards the Grand Duke. + +"Your Highness," said he, "a courier from the Czar!" + + +CHAPTER XIII THE CZAR'S COURIER + +ALL the members of the council simultaneously started forward. +A courier from the Czar arrived in Irkutsk! Had these officers +for a moment considered the improbability of this fact, +they would certainly not have credited what they heard. + +The Grand Duke advanced quickly to his aide-de-camp. "This courier!" +he exclaimed. + +A man entered. He appeared exhausted with fatigue. +He wore the dress of a Siberian peasant, worn into tatters, +and exhibiting several shot-holes. A Muscovite cap was on his head. +His face was disfigured by a recently-healed scar. +The man had evidently had a long and painful journey; +his shoes being in a state which showed that he had been obliged +to make part of it on foot. + +"His Highness the Grand Duke?" he asked. + +The Grand Duke went up to him. "You are a courier from +the Czar?" he asked. + +"Yes, your Highness." + +"You come?" + +"From Moscow." + +"You left Moscow?" + +"On the 15th of July." + +"Your name?" + +"Michael Strogoff." + +It was Ivan Ogareff. He had taken the designation of the man whom +he believed that he had rendered powerless. Neither the Grand Duke nor +anyone knew him in Irkutsk, and he had not even to disguise his features. +As he was in a position to prove his pretended identity, no one could +have any reason for doubting him. He came, therefore, sustained by his +iron will, to hasten by treason and assassination the great object +of the invasion. + +After Ogareff had replied, the Grand Duke signed to all his officers +to withdraw. He and the false Michael Strogoff remained alone +in the saloon. + +The Grand Duke looked at Ivan Ogareff for some moments with +extreme attention. Then he said, "On the 15th of July you +were at Moscow?" + +"Yes, your Highness; and on the night of the 14th I saw His Majesty +the Czar at the New Palace." + +"Have you a letter from the Czar?" + +"Here it is." + +And Ivan Ogareff handed to the Grand Duke the Imperial letter, +crumpled to almost microscopic size. + +"Was the letter given you in this state?" + +"No, your Highness, but I was obliged to tear the envelope, +the better to hide it from the Emir's soldiers." + +"Were you taken prisoner by the Tartars?" + +"Yes, your Highness, I was their prisoner for several days," +answered Ogareff. "That is the reason that, having left Moscow on +the 15th of July, as the date of that letter shows, I only reached +Irkutsk on the 2d of October, after traveling seventy-nine days." + +The Grand Duke took the letter. He unfolded it and recognized +the Czar's signature, preceded by the decisive formula, +written by his brother's hand. There was no possible doubt +of the authenticity of this letter, nor of the identity of +the courier. Though Ogareff's countenance had at first inspired +the Grand Duke with some distrust, he let nothing of it appear, +and it soon vanished. + +The Grand Duke remained for a few minutes without speaking. +He read the letter slowly, so as to take in its meaning fully. +"Michael Strogoff, do you know the contents of this letter?" he asked. + +"Yes, your Highness. I might have been obliged to destroy it, +to prevent its falling into the hands of the Tartars, and should +such have been the case, I wished to be able to bring the contents +of it to your Highness." + +"You know that this letter enjoins us all to die, rather than give +up the town?" + +"I know it." + +"You know also that it informs me of the movements of the troops +which have combined to stop the invasion?" + +"Yes, your Highness, but the movements have failed." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that Ichim, Omsk, Tomsk, to speak only of the more +important towns of the two Siberias, have been successively +occupied by the soldiers of Feofar-Khan." + +"But there has been fighting? Have not our Cossacks met the Tartars?" + +"Several times, your Highness." + +"And they were repulsed?" + +"They were not in sufficient force to oppose the enemy." + +"Where did the encounters take place?" + +"At Kolyvan, at Tomsk." Until now, Ogareff had only spoken the truth, +but, in the hope of troubling the defenders of Irkutsk by exaggerating +the defeats, he added, "And a third time before Krasnoiarsk." + +"And what of this last engagement?" asked the Grand Duke, +through whose compressed lips the words could scarcely pass. + +"It was more than an engagement, your Highness," answered Ogareff; +"it was a battle." + +"A battle?" + +"Twenty thousand Russians, from the frontier provinces and the government +of Tobolsk, engaged with a hundred and fifty thousand Tartars, and, +notwithstanding their courage, were overwhelmed." + +"You lie!" exclaimed the Grand Duke, endeavoring in vain +to curb his passion. + +"I speak the truth, your Highness," replied Ivan Ogareff coldly. +"I was present at the battle of Krasnoiarsk, and it was there I +was made prisoner!" + +The Grand Duke grew calmer, and by a significant gesture he gave +Ogareff to understand that he did not doubt his veracity. +"What day did this battle of Krasnoiarsk take place?" he asked. + +"On the 2d of September." + +"And now all the Tartar troops are concentrated here?" + +"All." + +"And you estimate them?" + +"At about four hundred thousand men." + +Another exaggeration of Ogareff's in the estimate of the Tartar army, +with the same object as before. + +"And I must not expect any help from the West provinces?" +asked the Grand Duke. + +"None, your Highness, at any rate before the end of the winter." + +"Well, hear this, Michael Strogoff. Though I must expect no help +either from the East or from the West, even were these barbarians +six hundred thousand strong, I will never give up Irkutsk!" + +Ogareff's evil eye slightly contracted. The traitor thought to himself +that the brother of the Czar did not reckon the result of treason. + +The Grand Duke, who was of a nervous temperament, had great +difficulty in keeping calm whilst hearing this disastrous news. +He walked to and fro in the room, under the gaze of Ogareff, +who eyed him as a victim reserved for vengeance. He stopped +at the windows, he looked forth at the fires in the Tartar camp, +he listened to the noise of the ice-blocks drifting down the Angara. + +A quarter of an hour passed without his putting any more questions. +Then taking up the letter, he re-read a passage and said, "You know +that in this letter I am warned of a traitor, of whom I must beware?" + +"Yes, your Highness." + +"He will try to enter Irkutsk in disguise; gain my confidence, +and betray the town to the Tartars." + +"I know all that, your Highness, and I know also that Ivan Ogareff +has sworn to revenge himself personally on the Czar's brother." + +"Why?" + +"It is said that the officer in question was condemned by the Grand Duke +to a humiliating degradation." + +"Yes, I remember. But it is a proof that the villain, who could +afterwards serve against his country and head an invasion +of barbarians, deserved it." + +"His Majesty the Czar," said Ogareff, "was particularly anxious +that you should be warned of the criminal projects of Ivan Ogareff +against your person." + +"Yes; of that the letter informs me." + +"And His Majesty himself spoke to me of it, telling me I was above +all things to beware of the traitor." + +"Did you meet with him?" + +"Yes, your Highness, after the battle of Krasnoiarsk. If he had only +guessed that I was the bearer of a letter addressed to your Highness, +in which his plans were revealed, I should not have got off so easily." + +"No; you would have been lost!" replied the Grand Duke. "And how did +you manage to escape?" + +"By throwing myself into the Irtych." + +"And how did you enter Irkutsk?" + +"Under cover of a sortie, which was made this evening to repulse +a Tartar detachment. I mingled with the defenders of the town, +made myself known, and was immediately conducted before your Highness." + +"Good, Michael Strogoff," answered the Grand Duke. "You have shown +courage and zeal in your difficult mission. I will not forget you. +Have you any favor to ask?" + +"None; unless it is to be allowed to fight at the side of +your Highness," replied Ogareff. + +"So be it, Strogoff. I attach you from to-day to my person, +and you shall be lodged in the palace." + +"And if according to his intention, Ivan Ogareff should present +himself to your Highness under a false name?" + +"We will unmask him, thanks to you, who know him, and I will make +him die under the knout. Go!" + +Ogareff gave a military salute, not forgetting that he was a captain +of the couriers of the Czar, and retired. + +Ogareff had so far played his unworthy part with success. +The Grand Duke's entire confidence had been accorded him. +He could now betray it whenever it suited him. +He would inhabit the very palace. He would be in the secret +of all the operations for the defense of the town. +He thus held the situation in his hand, as it were. +No one in Irkutsk knew him, no one could snatch off his mask. +He resolved therefore to set to work without delay. + +Indeed, time pressed. The town must be captured before +the arrival of the Russians from the North and East, and that +was only a question of a few days. The Tartars once masters +of Irkutsk, it would not be easy to take it again from them. +At any rate, even if they were obliged to abandon it later, +they would not do so before they had utterly destroyed it, +and before the head of the Grand Duke had rolled at the +feet of Feofar-Khan. + +Ivan Ogareff, having every facility for seeing, observing, and acting, +occupied himself the next day with visiting the ramparts. +He was everywhere received with cordial congratulations +from officers, soldiers, and citizens. To them this courier +from the Czar was a link which connected them with the empire. + +Ogareff recounted, with an assurance which never failed, +numerous fictitious events of his journey. Then, with the cunning +for which he was noted, without dwelling too much on it at first, +he spoke of the gravity of the situation, exaggerating the success +of the Tartars and the numbers of the barbarian forces, +as he had when speaking to the Grand Duke. According to him, +the expected succors would be insufficient, if ever they +arrived at all, and it was to be feared that a battle fought +under the walls of Irkutsk would be as fatal as the battles +of Kolyvan, Tomsk, and Krasnoiarsk. + +Ogareff was not too free in these insinuations. +He wished to allow them to sink gradually into the minds +of the defenders of Irkutsk. He pretended only to answer +with reluctance when much pressed with questions. +He always added that they must fight to the last man, and blow +up the town rather than yield! + +These false statements would have done more harm had it been possible; +but the garrison and the population of Irkutsk were too patriotic +to let themselves be moved. Of all the soldiers and citizens shut +up in this town, isolated at the extremity of the Asiatic world, +not one dreamed of even speaking of a capitulation. The contempt +of the Russians for these barbarians was boundless. + +No one suspected the odious part played by Ivan Ogareff; +no one guessed that the pretended courier of the Czar was a traitor. +It occurred very naturally that on his arrival in Irkutsk, +a frequent intercourse was established between Ogareff and one +of the bravest defenders of the town, Wassili Fedor. We know +what anxiety this unhappy father suffered. If his daughter, +Nadia Fedor, had left Russia on the date fixed by the last +letter he had received from Riga, what had become of her? +Was she still trying to cross the invaded provinces, +or had she long since been taken prisoner? The only +alleviation to Wassili Fedor's anxiety was when he could +obtain an opportunity of engaging in battle with the Tartars-- +opportunities which came too seldom for his taste. +The very evening the pretended courier arrived, Wassili Fedor +went to the governor-general's palace and, acquainting Ogareff +with the circumstances under which his daughter must have left +European Russia, told him all his uneasiness about her. +Ogareff did not know Nadia, although he had met her at Ichim +on the day she was there with Michael Strogoff; but then, +he had not paid more attention to her than to the two reporters, +who at the same time were in the post-house; he therefore could +give Wassili Fedor no news of his daughter. + +"But at what time," asked Ogareff, "must your daughter have left +the Russian territory?" + +"About the same time that you did," replied Fedor. + +"I left Moscow on the 15th of July." + +"Nadia must also have quitted Moscow at that time. +Her letter told me so expressly." + +"She was in Moscow on the 15th of July?" + +"Yes, certainly, by that date." + +"Then it was impossible for her--But no, I am mistaken-- +I was confusing dates. Unfortunately, it is too probable +that your daughter must have passed the frontier, and you can +only have one hope, that she stopped on learning the news +of the Tartar invasion!" + +The father's head fell! He knew Nadia, and he knew too well +that nothing would have prevented her from setting out. +Ivan Ogareff had just committed gratuitously an act of real cruelty. +With a word he might have reassured Fedor. Although Nadia had passed +the frontier under circumstances with which we are acquainted, +Fedor, by comparing the date on which his daughter would have +been at Nijni-Novgorod, and the date of the proclamation which +forbade anyone to leave it, would no doubt have concluded thus: +that Nadia had not been exposed to the dangers of the invasion, +and that she was still, in spite of herself, in the European +territory of the Empire. + +Ogareff obedient to his nature, a man who was never touched +by the sufferings of others, might have said that word. +He did not say it. Fedor retired with his heart broken. +In that interview his last hope was crushed. + +During the two following days, the 3rd and 4th of October, +the Grand Duke often spoke to the pretended Michael Strogoff, +and made him repeat all that he had heard in the Imperial Cabinet +of the New Palace. Ogareff, prepared for all these questions, +replied without the least hesitation. He intentionally did not +conceal that the Czar's government had been utterly surprised +by the invasion, that the insurrection had been prepared +in the greatest possible secrecy, that the Tartars were already +masters of the line of the Obi when the news reached Moscow, +and lastly, that none of the necessary preparations were completed +in the Russian provinces for sending into Siberia the troops +requisite for repulsing the invaders. + +Ivan Ogareff, being entirely free in his movements, began to +study Irkutsk, the state of its fortifications, their weak points, +so as to profit subsequently by his observations, in the event +of being prevented from consummating his act of treason. +He examined particularly the Bolchaia Gate, the one he wished +to deliver up. + +Twice in the evening he came upon the glacis of this gate. +He walked up and down, without fear of being discovered by the besiegers, +whose nearest posts were at least a mile from the ramparts. +He fancied that he was recognized by no one, till he caught +sight of a shadow gliding along outside the earthworks. +Sangarre had come at the risk of her life for the purpose of putting +herself in communication with Ivan Ogareff. + +For two days the besieged had enjoyed a tranquillity to which the Tartars +had not accustomed them since the commencement of the investment. +This was by Ogareff's orders. Feofar-Khan's lieutenant wished +that all attempts to take the town by force should be suspended. +He hoped the watchfulness of the besieged would relax. At any rate, +several thousand Tartars were kept in readiness at the outposts, +to attack the gate, deserted, as Ogareff anticipated that it would be, +by its defenders, whenever he should summon the besiegers to the assault. + +This he could not now delay in doing. All must be over +by the time that the Russian troops should come in sight +of Irkutsk. Ogareff's arrangements were made, and on this evening +a note fell from the top of the earthworks into Sangarre's hands. + +On the next day, that is to say during the hours of darkness +from the 5th to the 6th of October, at two o'clock in the morning, +Ivan Ogareff had resolved to deliver up Irkutsk. + + +CHAPTER XIV THE NIGHT OF THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER + +IVAN OGAREFF'S plan had been contrived with the greatest care, +and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed. +It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded +or only feebly held when he gave it up. The attention of the +besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town. +A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir. + +This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river, +on the Irkutsk bank. The attack on these two points was to be +conducted in earnest, and at the same time a feigned attempt +at crossing the Angara from the left bank was to be made. +The Bolchaia Gate, would be probably deserted, so much the more +because on this side the Tartar outposts having drawn back, +would appear to have broken up. + +It was the 5th of October. In four and twenty hours, +the capital of Eastern Siberia would be in the hands of the Emir, +and the Grand Duke in the power of Ivan Ogareff. + +During the day, an unusual stir was going on in the Angara camp. +From the windows of the palace important preparations +on the opposite shore could be distinctly seen. +Numerous Tartar detachments were converging towards the camp, +and from hour to hour reinforced the Emir's troops. +These movements, intended to deceive the besieged, were conducted +in the most open manner possible before their eyes. + +Ogareff had warned the Grand Duke that an attack was to be feared. +He knew, he said, that an assault was to be made, both above and below +the town, and he counselled the Duke to reinforce the two directly +threatened points. Accordingly, after a council of war had been held +in the palace, orders were issued to concentrate the defense on the bank +of the Angara and at the two ends of the town, where the earthworks +protected the river. + +This was exactly what Ogareff wished. He did not expect that +the Bolchaia Gate would be left entirely without defenders, +but that there would only be a small number. Besides, Ogareff meant +to give such importance to the diversion, that the Grand Duke +would be obliged to oppose it with all his available forces. +The traitor planned also to produce so frightful a catastrophe +that terror must inevitably overwhelm the hearts of the besieged. + +All day the garrison and population of Irkutsk were on the alert. +The measures to repel an attack on the points hitherto unassailed had +been taken. The Grand Duke and General Voranzoff visited the posts, +strengthened by their orders. Wassili Fedor's corps occupied the North +of the town, but with orders to throw themselves where the danger +was greatest. The right bank of the Angara had been protected +with the few guns possessed by the defenders. With these measures, +taken in time, thanks to the advice so opportunely given by Ivan Ogareff, +there was good reason to hope that the expected attack would be repulsed. +In that case the Tartars, momentarily discouraged, would no doubt +not make another attempt against the town for several days. +Now the troops expected by the Grand Duke might arrive at any hour. +The safety or the loss of Irkutsk hung only by a thread. + +On this day, the sun which had risen at twenty minutes to six, +set at forty minutes past five, having traced its diurnal +arc for eleven hours above the horizon. The twilight would +struggle with the night for another two hours. Then it would be +intensely dark, for the sky was cloudy, and there would be no moon. +This gloom would favor the plans of Ivan Ogareff. + +For a few days already a sharp frost had given warning of +the approaching rigor of the Siberian winter, and this evening +it was especially severe. The Russians posted by the bank of +the Angara, obliged to conceal their position, lighted no fires. +They suffered cruelly from the low temperature. A few feet +below them, the ice in large masses drifted down the current. +All day these masses had been seen passing rapidly between +the two banks. + +This had been considered by the Grand Duke and his officers as fortunate. +Should the channel of the Angara continue to be thus obstructed, +the passage must be impracticable. The Tartars could use neither +rafts nor boats. As to their crossing the river on the ice, +that was not possible. The newly-frozen plain could not bear +the weight of an assaulting column. + +This circumstance, as it appeared favorable to the defenders +of Irkutsk, Ogareff might have regretted. He did not do so, however. +The traitor knew well that the Tartars would not try to pass the Angara, +and that, on its side at least, their attempt was only a feint. + +About ten in the evening, the state of the river sensibly improved, to the +great surprise of the besieged and still more to their disadvantage. +The passage till then impracticable, became all at once possible. +The bed of the Angara was clear. The blocks of ice, which had for some +days drifted past in large numbers, disappeared down the current, +and five or six only now occupied the space between the banks. +The Russian officers reported this change in the river to +the Grand Duke. They suggested that it was probably caused +by the circumstance that in some narrower part of the Angara, +the blocks had accumulated so as to form a barrier. + +We know this was the case. The passage of the Angara was thus +open to the besiegers. There was great reason for the Russians +to be on their guard. + +Up to midnight nothing had occurred. On the Eastern side, +beyond the Bolchaia Gate, all was quiet. Not a glimmer was seen +in the dense forest, which appeared confounded on the horizon +with the masses of clouds hanging low down in the sky. +Lights flitting to and fro in the Angara camp, showed that a +considerable movement was taking place. From a verst above and below +the point where the scarp met the river's bank, came a dull murmur, +proving that the Tartars were on foot, expecting some signal. +An hour passed. Nothing new. + +The bell of the Irkutsk cathedral was about to strike two o'clock +in the morning, and not a movement amongst the besiegers had yet +shown that they were about to commence the assault. The Grand Duke +and his officers began to suspect that they had been mistaken. +Had it really been the Tartars' plan to surprise the town? +The preceding nights had not been nearly so quiet--musketry rattling +from the outposts, shells whistling through the air; and this +time, nothing. The officers waited, ready to give their orders, +according to circumstances. + +We have said that Ogareff occupied a room in the palace. +It was a large chamber on the ground floor, its windows opening +on a side terrace. By taking a few steps along this terrace, +a view of the river could be obtained. + +Profound darkness reigned in the room. Ogareff stood by a window, +awaiting the hour to act. The signal, of course, could come +from him, alone. This signal once given, when the greater part +of the defenders of Irkutsk would be summoned to the points +openly attacked, his plan was to leave the palace and hurry +to the Bolchaia Gate. If it was unguarded, he would open it; +or at least he would direct the overwhelming mass of its assailants +against the few defenders. + +He now crouched in the shadow, like a wild beast ready to spring +on its prey. A few minutes before two o'clock, the Grand Duke +desired that Michael Strogoff--which was the only name they +could give to Ivan Ogareff--should be brought to him. +An aide-de-camp came to the room, the door of which was closed. +He called. + +Ogareff, motionless near the window, and invisible in the shade did +not answer. The Grand Duke was therefore informed that the Czar's +courier was not at that moment in the palace. + +Two o'clock struck. Now was the time to cause the diversion +agreed upon with the Tartars, waiting for the assault. +Ivan Ogareff opened the window and stationed himself at the North +angle of the side terrace. + +Below him flowed the roaring waters of the Angara. Ogareff took +a match from his pocket, struck it and lighted a small bunch of tow, +impregnated with priming powder, which he threw into the river. + +It was by the orders of Ivan Ogareff that the torrents of mineral oil +had been thrown on the surface of the Angara! There are numerous +naphtha springs above Irkutsk, on the right bank, between the suburb +of Poshkavsk and the town. Ogareff had resolved to employ this terrible +means to carry fire into Irkutsk. He therefore took possession +of the immense reservoirs which contained the combustible liquid. +It was only necessary to demolish a piece of wall in order to allow +it to flow out in a vast stream. + +This had been done that night, a few hours previously, and this +was the reason that the raft which carried the true Courier of +the Czar, Nadia, and the fugitives, floated on a current of mineral oil. +Through the breaches in these reservoirs of enormous dimensions rushed +the naphtha in torrents, and, following the inclination of the ground, +it spread over the surface of the river, where its density allowed +it to float. This was the way Ivan Ogareff carried on warfare! +Allied with Tartars, he acted like a Tartar, and against +his own countrymen! + +The tow had been thrown on the waters of the Angara. In an instant, +with electrical rapidity, as if the current had been of alcohol, +the whole river was in a blaze above and below the town. +Columns of blue flames ran between the two banks. Volumes of vapor +curled up above. The few pieces of ice which still drifted were seized +by the burning liquid, and melted like wax on the top of a furnace, +the evaporated water escaping in shrill hisses. + +At the same moment, firing broke out on the North and South of the town. +The enemy's batteries discharged their guns at random. +Several thousand Tartars rushed to the assault of the earth-works. +The houses on the bank, built of wood, took fire in every direction. +A bright light dissipated the darkness of the night. + +"At last!" said Ivan Ogareff. + +He had good reason for congratulating himself. The diversion which +he had planned was terrible. The defenders of Irkutsk found themselves +between the attack of the Tartars and the fearful effects of fire. +The bells rang, and all the able-bodied of the population ran, +some towards the points attacked, and others towards the houses +in the grasp of the flames, which it seemed too probable would ere +long envelop the whole town. + +The Gate of Bolchaia was nearly free. Only a very small +guard had been left there. And by the traitor's suggestion, +and in order that the event might be explained apart from him, +as if by political hate, this small guard had been chosen +from the little band of exiles. + +Ogareff re-entered his room, now brilliantly lighted by +the flames from the Angara; then he made ready to go out. +But scarcely had he opened the door, when a woman rushed into +the room, her clothes drenched, her hair in disorder. + +"Sangarre!" exclaimed Ogareff, in the first moment of surprise, +and not supposing that it could be any other woman than the gypsy. + +It was not Sangarre; it was Nadia! + +At the moment when, floating on the ice, the girl had uttered +a cry on seeing the fire spreading along the current, +Michael had seized her in his arms, and plunged with her into +the river itself to seek a refuge in its depths from the flames. +The block which bore them was not thirty fathoms from the first +quay of Irkutsk. + +Swimming beneath the water, Michael managed to get a footing with +Nadia on the quay. Michael Strogoff had reached his journey's end! +He was in Irkutsk! + +"To the governor's palace!" said he to Nadia. + +In less than ten minutes, they arrived at the entrance to the palace. +Long tongues of flame from the Angara licked its walls, but were powerless +to set it on fire. Beyond the houses on the bank were in a blaze. + +The palace being open to all, Michael and Nadia entered +without difficulty. In the confusion, no one remarked them, +although their garments were dripping. A crowd of officers +coming for orders, and of soldiers running to execute them, +filled the great hall on the ground floor. There, in a sudden +eddy of the confused multitude, Michael and the young girl +were separated from each other. + +Nadia ran distracted through the passages, calling her companion, +and asking to be taken to the Grand Duke. A door into a room flooded +with light opened before her. She entered, and found herself +suddenly face to face with the man whom she had met at Ichim, +whom she had seen at Tomsk; face to face with the one whose +villainous hand would an instant later betray the town! + +"Ivan Ogareff!" she cried. + +On hearing his name pronounced, the wretch started. His real name known, +all his plans would be balked. There was but one thing to be done: +to kill the person who had just uttered it. Ogareff darted at Nadia; +but the girl, a knife in her hand, retreated against the wall, +determined to defend herself. + +"Ivan Ogareff!" again cried Nadia, knowing well that so detested +a name would soon bring her help. + +"Ah! Be silent!" hissed out the traitor between his clenched teeth. + +"Ivan Ogareff!" exclaimed a third time the brave young girl, +in a voice to which hate had added ten-fold strength. + +Mad with fury, Ogareff, drawing a dagger from his belt, again rushed +at Nadia and compelled her to retreat into a corner of the room. +Her last hope appeared gone, when the villain, suddenly lifted +by an irresistible force, was dashed to the ground. + +"Michael!" cried Nadia. + +It was Michael Strogoff. Michael had heard Nadia's call. +Guided by her voice, he had just in time reached Ivan Ogareff's room, +and entered by the open door. + +"Fear nothing, Nadia," said he, placing himself between her and Ogareff. + +"Ah!" cried the girl, "take care, brother! The traitor is armed! +He can see!" + +Ogareff rose, and, thinking he had an immeasurable advantage +over the blind man leaped upon him. But with one hand, +the blind man grasped the arm of his enemy, seized his weapon, +and hurled him again to the ground. + +Pale with rage and shame, Ogareff remembered that he wore a sword. +He drew it and returned a second time to the charge. +A blind man! Ogareff had only to deal with a blind man! +He was more than a match for him! + +Nadia, terrified at the danger which threatened her companion +ran to the door calling for help! + +"Close the door, Nadia!" said Michael. "Call no one, and leave me alone! +The Czar's courier has nothing to fear to-day from this villain! +Let him come on, if he dares! I am ready for him." + +In the mean time, Ogareff, gathering himself together like a tiger +about to spring, uttered not a word. The noise of his footsteps, his +very breathing, he endeavored to conceal from the ear of the blind man. +His object was to strike before his opponent was aware of his approach, +to strike him with a deadly blow. + +Nadia, terrified and at the same time confident, watched this terrible +scene with involuntary admiration. Michael's calm bearing seemed +to have inspired her. Michael's sole weapon was his Siberian knife. +He did not see his adversary armed with a sword, it is true; but Heaven's +support seemed to be afforded him. How, almost without stirring, +did he always face the point of the sword? + +Ivan Ogareff watched his strange adversary with visible anxiety. +His superhuman calm had an effect upon him. In vain, appealing to +his reason, did he tell himself that in so unequal a combat all the +advantages were on his side. The immobility of the blind man froze him. +He had settled on the place where he would strike his victim. +He had fixed upon it! What, then, hindered him from putting an end +to his blind antagonist? + +At last, with a spring he drove his sword full at Michael's breast. +An imperceptible movement of the blind man's knife turned aside the blow. +Michael had not been touched, and coolly he awaited a second attack. + +Cold drops stood on Ogareff's brow. He drew back a step, then again +leaped forward. But as had the first, this second attempt failed. +The knife had simply parried the blow from the traitor's useless sword. + +Mad with rage and terror before this living statue, +he gazed into the wide-open eyes of the blind man. +Those eyes which seemed to pierce to the bottom of his soul, +and yet which did not, could not, see--exercised a sort +of dreadful fascination over him. + +All at once, Ogareff uttered a cry. A sudden light flashed +across his brain. "He sees!" he exclaimed, "he sees!" +And like a wild beast trying to retreat into its den, +step by step, terrified, he drew back to the end of the room. + +Then the statue became animated, the blind man walked straight up +to Ivan Ogareff, and placing himself right before him, "Yes, I see!" +said he. "I see the mark of the knout which I gave you, +traitor and coward! I see the place where I am about to strike you! +Defend your life! It is a duel I deign to offer you! +My knife against your sword!" + +"He sees!" said Nadia. "Gracious Heaven, is it possible!" + +Ogareff felt that he was lost. But mustering all his courage, he sprang +forward on his impassible adversary. The two blades crossed, but at +a touch from Michael's knife, wielded in the hand of the Siberian hunter, +the sword flew in splinters, and the wretch, stabbed to the heart, +fell lifeless on the ground. + +At the same moment, the door was thrown open. The Grand Duke, +accompanied by some of his officers, appeared on the threshold. +The Grand Duke advanced. In the body lying on the ground, +he recognized the man whom he believed to be the Czar's courier. + +Then, in a threatening voice, "Who killed that man?" he asked. + +"I," replied Michael. + +One of the officers put a pistol to his temple, ready to fire. + +"Your name?" asked the Grand Duke, before giving the order +for his brains to be blown out. + +"Your Highness," answered Michael, "ask me rather the name of the man +who lies at your feet!" + +"That man, I know him! He is a servant of my brother! +He is the Czar's courier!" + +"That man, your Highness, is not a courier of the Czar! He is +Ivan Ogareff!" + +"Ivan Ogareff!" exclaimed the Grand Duke. + +"Yes, Ivan the Traitor!" + +"But who are you, then?" + +"Michael Strogoff!" + + +CHAPTER XV CONCLUSION + +MICHAEL STROGOFF was not, had never been, blind. A purely +human phenomenon, at the same time moral and physical, +had neutralized the action of the incandescent blade which Feofar's +executioner had passed before his eyes. + +It may be remembered, that at the moment of the execution, +Marfa Strogoff was present, stretching out her hands towards her son. +Michael gazed at her as a son would gaze at his mother, +when it is for the last time. The tears, which his pride in vain +endeavored to subdue, welling up from his heart, gathered under +his eyelids, and volatiliz-ing on the cornea, had saved his sight. +The vapor formed by his tears interposing between the glowing saber +and his eyeballs, had been sufficient to annihilate the action +of the heat. A similar effect is produced, when a workman smelter, +after dipping his hand in vapor, can with impunity hold it over +a stream of melted iron. + +Michael had immediately understood the danger in which he would +be placed should he make known his secret to anyone. +He at once saw, on the other hand, that he might make use of +his supposed blindness for the accomplishment of his designs. +Because it was believed that he was blind, he would be allowed +to go free. He must therefore be blind, blind to all, +even to Nadia, blind everywhere, and not a gesture at any moment +must let the truth be suspected. His resolution was taken. +He must risk his life even to afford to all he might meet +the proof of his want of sight. We know how perfectly he acted +the part he had determined on. + +His mother alone knew the truth, and he had whispered it to her +in Tomsk itself, when bending over her in the dark he covered +her with kisses. + +When Ogareff had in his cruel irony held the Imperial letter before +the eyes which he believed were destroyed, Michael had been able to read, +and had read the letter which disclosed the odious plans of the traitor. +This was the reason of the wonderful resolution he exhibited during +the second part of his journey. This was the reason of his unalterable +longing to reach Irkutsk, so as to perform his mission by word of mouth. +He knew that the town would be betrayed! He knew that the life +of the Grand Duke was threatened! The safety of the Czar's brother +and of Siberia was in his hands. + +This story was told in a few words to the Grand Duke, and Michael +repeated also--and with what emotion!--the part Nadia had taken +in these events. + +"Who is this girl?" asked the Grand Duke. + +"The daughter of the exile, Wassili Fedor," replied Michael. + +"The daughter of Captain Fedor," said the Grand Duke, "has ceased to be +the daughter of an exile. There are no longer exiles in Irkutsk." + +Nadia, less strong in joy than she had been in grief, fell on +her knees before the Grand Duke, who raised her with one hand, +while he extended the other to Michael. + +An hour after, Nadia was in her father's arms. +Michael Strogoff, Nadia, and Wassili Fedor were united. +This was the height of happiness to them all. + +The Tartars had been repulsed in their double attack on the town. +Wassili Fedor, with his little band, had driven back the first +assailants who presented themselves at the Bolchaia Gate, +expecting to find it open and which, by an instinctive feeling, +often arising from sound judgment, he had determined to remain +at and defend. + +At the same time as the Tartars were driven back the besieged +had mastered the fire. The liquid naphtha having rapidly burnt +to the surface of the water, the flames did not go beyond the houses +on the shore, and left the other quarters of the town uninjured. +Before daybreak the troops of Feofar-Khan had retreated into their camp, +leaving a large number of dead on and below the ramparts. + +Among the dead was the gypsy Sangarre, who had vainly endeavored +to join Ivan Ogareff. + +For two days the besiegers attempted no fresh assault. +They were discouraged by the death of Ogareff. This man was +the mainspring of the invasion, and he alone, by his plots long +since contrived, had had sufficient influence over the khans +and their hordes to bring them to the conquest of Asiatic Russia. + +However, the defenders of Irkutsk kept on their guard, and the investment +still continued; but on the 7th of October, at daybreak, cannon boomed +out from the heights around Irkutsk. It was the succoring army under +the command of General Kisselef, and it was thus that he made known +his welcome arrival to the Grand Duke. + +The Tartars did not wait to be attacked. Not daring to run the risk +of a battle under the walls of Irkutsk, they immediately broke up +the Angara camp. Irkutsk was at last relieved. + +With the first Russian soldiers, two of Michael's friends entered +the city. They were the inseparable Blount and Jolivet. On gaining the +right bank of the Angara by means of the icy barrier, they had escaped, +as had the other fugitives, before the flames had reached their raft. +This had been noted by Alcide Jolivet in his book in this way: +"Ran a narrow chance of being finished up like a lemon in a +bowl of punch!" + +Their joy was great on finding Nadia and Michael safe and sound; +above all, when they learnt that their brave companion was not blind. +Harry Blount inscribed this observation: "Red-hot iron is insufficient +in some cases to destroy the sensibility of the optic nerve." + +Then the two correspondents, settled for a time in Irkutsk, +busied themselves in putting the notes and impressions of their journey +in order. Thence were sent to London and Paris two interesting +articles relative to the Tartar invasion, and which--a rare thing-- +did not contradict each other even on the least important points. + +The remainder of the campaign was unfortunate to the Emir and his allies. +This invasion, futile as all which attack the Russian Colossus must be, +was very fatal to them. They soon found themselves cut off by +the Czar's troops, who retook in succession all the conquered towns. +Besides this, the winter was terrible, and, decimated by the cold, +only a small part of these hordes returned to the steppes of Tartary. + +The Irkutsk road, by way of the Ural Mountains, was now open. +The Grand Duke was anxious to return to Moscow, but he delayed +his journey to be present at a touching ceremony, which took +place a few days after the entry of the Russian troops. + +Michael Strogoff sought Nadia, and in her father's presence said to her, +"Nadia, my sister still, when you left Riga to come to Irkutsk, +did you leave it with any other regret than that for your mother?" + +"No," replied Nadia, "none of any sort whatever." + +"Then, nothing of your heart remains there?" + +"Nothing, brother." + +"Then, Nadia," said Michael, "I think that God, in allowing +us to meet, and to go through so many severe trials together, +must have meant us to be united forever." + +"Ah!" said Nadia, falling into Michael's arms. Then turning +towards Wassili Fedor, "My father," said she, blushing. + +"Nadia," said Captain Fedor, "it will be my joy to call you +both my children!" + +The marriage ceremony took place in Irkutsk cathedral. + +Jolivet and Blount very naturally assisted at this marriage, +of which they wished to give an account to their readers. + +"And doesn't it make you wish to imitate them?" asked Alcide +of his friend. + +"Pooh!" said Blount. "Now if I had a cousin like you--" + +"My cousin isn't to be married!" answered Alcide, laughing. + +"So much the better," returned Blount, "for they speak of difficulties +arising between London and Pekin. Have you no wish to go and see +what is going on there?" + +"By Jove, my dear Blount!" exclaimed Alcide Jolivet, "I was just going +to make the same proposal to you." + +And that was how the two inseparables set off for China. + +A few days after the ceremony, Michael and Nadia Strogoff, +accompanied by Wassili Fedor, took the route to Europe. The road +so full of suffering when going, was a road of joy in returning. +They traveled swiftly, in one of those sleighs which glide +like an express train across the frozen steppes of Siberia. + +However, when they reached the banks of the Dinka, just before Birskoe, +they stopped for a while. Michael found the place where he had buried +poor Nicholas. A cross was erected there, and Nadia prayed a last time +on the grave of the humble and heroic friend, whom neither of them +would ever forget. + +At Omsk, old Marfa awaited them in the little house of +the Strogoffs. She clasped passionately in her arms the girl whom +in her heart she had already a hundred times called "daughter." +The brave old Siberian, on that day, had the right to recognize +her son and say she was proud of him. + +After a few days passed at Omsk, Michael and Nadia entered +Europe, and, Wassili Fedor settling down in St. Petersburg, +neither his son nor his daughter had any occasion to leave him, +except to go and see their old mother. + +The young courier was received by the Czar, who attached him specially +to his own person, and gave him the Cross of St. George. In the course +of time, Michael Strogoff reached a high station in the Empire. But it +is not the history of his success, but the history of his trials, +which deserves to be related. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Michael Strogoff, by Jules Verne + |