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diff --git a/old/strgf10.txt b/old/strgf10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b785c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/strgf10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13342 @@ +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 mid- +night, 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 cessa- +tion polkas, mazurkas, schottisches, and waltzes from among +the choicest of their repertoires. Innumerable couples of +dancers whirled through the magnificent saloons of the pal- +ace, 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 person- +ages and splendidly dressed women a frame worthy of the +magnificence they displayed. The rich ceiling, with its gild- +ing already softened by the touch of time, appeared as if +glittering with stars. The embroidered drapery of the cur- +tains 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 count- +less towers, domes, and spires which adorn the ancient city. +Below the sculptured balconies were visible numerous sen- +tries, pacing silently up and down, their rifles carried hori- +zontally 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 beat- +ing 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 glit- +tering 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 vir- +tue of their profession -- failed not to detect on the counte- +nance of their host symptoms of disquietude, the source of +which eluded their penetration; but none ventured to inter- +rogate 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 Gen- +eral Kissoff aside towards a window, "since yesterday with- +out 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, Semipola- +tinsk, 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 fron- +tier." + +"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 mo- +ments, 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 occa- +sioned 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 of- +ficially, 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 ap- +parently 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 supple- +mentary sense, which enabled them to see beyond that lim- +ited horizon which bounds all human gaze? Had they ob- +tained 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 operat- +ing 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 sin- +gularly 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 de- +gree 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 affirm- +ing 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 voca- +tion, 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 cor- +responded 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 succeed- +ing -- 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 inter- +ests were at stake. In a word, they made what has been +for some years called "the great political and military re- +ports." + +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 advan- +tageously 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 ex- +pressing 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 sur- +prise, 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 not- +withstanding 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 know- +ing 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-en- +tered, 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 tak- +ing 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 dis- +tricts, Okhotsk and Kamtschatka; and possesses two coun- +tries, 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 sum- +mer 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 be- +tween 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 nine- +teen 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 fort- +night. + +It was this wire, extending from Ekaterenburg to Niko- +laevsk, 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 im- +possible 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 Rus- +sian 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 sus- +picious 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 suc- +cess, 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 thunder- +clap, 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 ter- +rible ukases, warranted the belief that he was not mis- +taken. 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 larg- +est, 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 coun- +tries 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 rebel- +lion 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 cara- +vans 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, per- +haps 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 West- +ern Siberia which is intended to overawe the Kirghiz popu- +lation. Here are the bounds, more than once infringed by +the half-subdued nomads, and there was every reason to be- +lieve 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 en- +deavored, 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 com- +prises the Mongols, Manchoux, and Thibetans. + +The Tartars who now threatened the Russian Empire, be- +longed to the Caucasian race, and occupied Turkestan. +This immense country is divided into different states, gov- +erned 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 in- +terests, 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 thou- +sand men, trebled in time of war, and thirty thousand horse- +men. It is a rich country, with varied animal, vegetable, +and mineral products, and has been increased by the acces- +sion 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 Bok- +hara 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 move- +ment 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 sub- +mitted, 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 be- +fore 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 trav- +ersing the steppes, and it was no longer possible to warn +the Grand Duke, shut up in Irkutsk, of the danger threaten- +ing 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-shoul- +dered, 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 Mus- +covite 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 defini- +tion 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 service- +able qualities in Russia -- one which, as the celebrated novel- +ist 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 be- +fore, 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, accord- +ing 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, ex- +hibiting 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 promis- +ing 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. Hav- +ing 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 ex- +pected 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 deci- +sive 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 trav- +eled 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 trans- +port 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 diffi- +culties 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, exces- +sive 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 cir- +cumstances, 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 furnish- +ing 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 per- +sons, and, moreover, it was, by special notification, made +available in the event of the Muscovite government forbid- +ding 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 some- +how, 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 horse- +men, 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 Rus- +sian frontier. Railroads, post-carriages, steamboats, re- +lays 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 tradi- +tional belt of the Moujik, wide trousers, gartered at the +knees, and high boots -- Michael Strogoff arrived at the sta- +tion 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 pro- +ceed by the train, but by friends who come to see them off. +The station resembles, from the variety of characters as- +sembled, 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-Nov- +gorod, 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 trav- +eling 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 mer- +chants 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 uni- +form -- and the importance of a uniform in Russia is great +-- would have certainly been enough to restrain the mer- +chants' 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 Per- +sian, 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, un- +fortunately, 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 ex- +posed. 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," ob- +served 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, interrupt- +ing 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 prov- +inces 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, yester- +day 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 ven- +ture out of the region of facts, they never went so far as to +attempt to divine the intentions of the Muscovite govern- +ment, 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 ob- +servation 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 listen- +ing much, had not inspired his companions with the sus- +picions which Alcide Jolivet had aroused. He was not +taken for a spy, and therefore his neighbors, without con- +straint, 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 Tele- +graph had thus an opportunity of observing how much re- +cent 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 ob- +servation, "My fellow-travelers extremely anxious. Noth- +ing 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 him- +self the trouble of looking at the right side, which was com- +posed 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 coun- +try 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 ele- +ments. Perhaps among the Persians, Armenians, or Kal- +mucks, 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 Rus- +sians, 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, be- +lieved it to be certain that the traitor had not yet been able +to quit European Russia. If there appeared cause to sus- +pect 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 moun- +tains, 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, Astrak- +han, 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 correspon- +dent 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 oc- +cupied by Michael Strogoff. A vacant place was found op- +posite 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 seven- +teen 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 some- +what thin cheeks by delicately mobile nostrils. The lips +were finely cut, but it seemed as if they had long since for- +gotten 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 per- +sistent, and her calmness unalterable, even under circum- +stances 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 tempera- +ment, was naturally struck by the character of her physiog- +nomy, 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-Nov- +gorod, 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 incom- +mode 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 un- +derstand 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 re- +lieved 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 acci- +dent had happened. Consequently, even before the train had +stopped, the doors were opened, and the panic-stricken pas- +sengers thought only of getting out of the carriages. + +Michael Strogoff thought instantly of the young girl; +but, while the passengers in her compartment were pre- +cipitating 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 break- +age of the coupling of the luggage-van had first caused the +shock to, and then the stoppage of, the train, which in an- +other 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 in- +spectors 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 per- +mit 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 to- +wards 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 junc- +tion of the Volga and the Oka, is the chief town in the dis- +trict 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 com- +pose 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 steam- +boat 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. Seven- +teen 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 bet- +ter, 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-Nov- +gorod. 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 al- +ready 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 noth- +ing 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 deter- +mined 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 mer- +chant 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 neces- +sary," 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 travel- +ing 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 differ- +ent, 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 be- +fore 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 un- +der 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 break- +fast, 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 im- +perial 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 Con- +stantinople, 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 re- +side 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 com- +posed 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 quar- +ter, 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 car- +pets, 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, mala- +chite, lapis-lazuli, spices, perfumes, medicinal herbs, wood, +tar, rope, horn, pumpkins, water-melons, etc -- all the pro- +ducts 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 na- +tives 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 merchan- +dise 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 de- +scription; gypsies from the mountains, telling fortunes to +the credulous fools who are ever to be found in such as- +semblies; 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 ac- +companied 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 con- +course 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 hold- +ing 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-de- +camp, leaving the governor's palace, galloped in every direc- +tion. 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-gen- +eral. 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 sub- +sided 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 announce- +ments: "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 pro- +vince;" 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 formid- +able 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 evas- +ion 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 sup- +pressed 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 be- +fore 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 aggra- +vation 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 coin- +cidence," 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 un- +der ordinary circumstances, how could she manage to ac- +complish 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 an- +other idea flashed into his brain; the question presented it- +self 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-Nov- +gorod. 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 morn- +ing. 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 quar- +ters on the other side, where the crowd was much less con- +siderable. 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 meas- +ures 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 al- +most 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 fore- +seen 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 not- +withstanding to go through certain forms before they could +depart. + +Without this precaution, some Russian more or less im- +plicated in the Tartar movement would have been able, in +a disguise, to pass the frontier -- just those whom the or- +der 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 wait- +ing-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 in- +stantly 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 travel- +ing 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 neces- +sary. She had been anxious to leave that town, in which, +but for the providential intervention of this unexpected pro- +tector, 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-Nov- +gorod 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. Power- +ful 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 compan- +ion might retire into hers whenever she liked. + +The Caucasus was loaded with passengers of every de- +scription. 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, Tar- +tars, 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 bag- +gage 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 intermin- +ably long, and barges loaded to the gunwale, and nearly +sinking under water. A bootless voyage they were mak- +ing, 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 au- +thorized 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 them- +selves 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 pos- +sible 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 in- +formation. + +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-Nov- +gorod?" + +"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 per- +mission 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 to- +gether, 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 proc- +lamation 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 fol- +low the same route to the Siberian steppes. Traveling com- +panions, 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 de- +light 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 ves- +sels 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 in- +tervals. 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 any- +one. 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 fore- +castle, 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-Nov- +gorod. 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 dis- +tinctly 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 ar- +rive 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, tak- +ing 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 appre- +hension: "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 uni- +versity. The varied population preserves an Asiatic char- +acter. 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 pub- +lished 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 ex- +pelled; 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 hunts- +men should do. They went on shore and mingled with the +crowd, each keeping to his own peculiar mode of proceed- +ing; Harry Blount, sketching different types, or noting some +observation; Alcide Jolivet contenting himself with ask- +ing questions, confiding in his memory, which never failed +him. + +There was a report along all the frontier that the insur- +rection and invasion had reached considerable proportions. +Communication between Siberia and the empire was al- +ready 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 direc- +tion, landed about twenty dancers and singers, from fifteen +to twenty years of age, wrapped in old cloaks, which cov- +ered their spangled dresses. These dresses, just then glanc- +ing 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 at- +tracted 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 ac- +cording 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 wrin- +kled 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, San- +garre, 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 Stro- +goff 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 him- +self. "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 consid- +ered as the center of Siberian and Bokharian commerce; +for two roads begin here and lead across the Ural Moun- +tains. 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 govern- +ment, 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 ab- +sence 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 sec- +ond 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 horse- +back. 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 descend- +ing 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 him- +self 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 fol- +lowed 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 sat- +isfied 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 spe- +cial podorojna for Siberia, and that the Russian authori- +ties 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 penni- +less. 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 sup- +plied 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 pro- +gramme. 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 trav- +elers had already left Perm, and therefore conveyances +were extremely rare. Michael was obliged to content him- +self 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 de- +pend 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 noth- +ing but an open four-wheeled cart, made entirely of wood, +the pieces fastened together by means of strong rope. Noth- +ing could be more primitive, nothing could be less comfort- +able; 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 taran- +tass. 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 cer- +tain 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 tas- +sels and bells; the two others were simply fastened by ropes +to the steps of the tarantass. This was the complete har- +ness, 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 cir- +cumstances, 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 appear- +ance too. He looked contemptuous. + +"Crows," said he, without caring whether he was over- +heard 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 per- +formed 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 con- +scientious 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 trav- +eling. 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 tempera- +ture in the Siberian steppes fall to more than forty de- +grees below freezing point! I have felt, notwithstanding +my reindeer coat, my heart growing chill, my limbs stiffen- +ing, 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 win- +ter?" 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 pre- +vented 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. Be- +sides, 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 pre- +ceded 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 sep- +arates 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 thou- +sand 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 Cas- +pian. This was the barrier to be crossed by Michael +Strogoff before he could enter Siberian Russia. The moun- +tains 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 explo- +sion, 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 ex- +pectation 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 day- +light, offers difficulties and perils when the elements are en- +gaged 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 com- +plete 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 en- +countered 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 dis- +appeared 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, some- +times 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 insult- +ing 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 with- +out 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 be- +ing blown down. The carriage, notwithstanding their ef- +forts 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 ham- +pered 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 thunder- +claps 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, di- +rected 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 bear- +ing 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 con- +tinue the journey at present was utterly impossible. Be- +sides, 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 fol- +lowed. 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 start- +ing 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 re- +doubled 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 ac- +count of the darkness, Michael could not see them, yet he +heard distinctly their words. + +This is what he heard, and what caused him some sur- +prise: "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 rec- +ognized them as the two reporters who had been his com- +panions 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 con- +founded 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 gen- +erous 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 Ekateren- +burg 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 mo- +ment'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 fel- +low-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 English- +man. + +"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 accom- +panied 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 mer- +chant, 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 in- +creased his usual stiffness. + +At that moment the iemschik, who had succeeded in re- +capturing 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 im- +bedded 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 pre- +ceding 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 coun- +tenance, 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 note- +book, 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 ex- +perience the slightest difficulty in obtaining means of con- +tinuing 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 prin- +cipally 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 leav- +ing it; for under present circumstances few travelers cared +to venture on the Siberian roads. + +So it happened that Blount and Alcide had not the slight- +est 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 Eka- +terenburg. There they intended to be guided by circum- +stances as to their route across the invaded country, either +together or separately, according as their news-hunting in- +stinct 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 in- +vaders, 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 con- +demned 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 gen- +erous 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 perform- +ance 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 intre- +pidity. 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 pro- +priety, 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 him- +self 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 dis- +cuss 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 in- +difference. "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 ap- +proach 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 dep- +redations 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 sta- +tion the clerks transmitted messages delivered to them, de- +laying 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 Tar- +tars, 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 in- +habitants, 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 ap- +pearance. 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 gov- +ernment 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 them- +selves in a desert. + +Michael and his companions again pressed rapidly for- +ward. 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 over- +taking 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 ber- +lin -- 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 ex- +cited 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 car- +riages 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, look- +ing only a speck on the horizon of the steppe. + +It was eight o'clock in the evening when the two car- +riages 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 accus- +tomed to command. + +"I have no more disposable horses," answered the post- +master, 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, re- +straining 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 ex- +claimed 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 vis- +ible. 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 skill- +ful in finishing up Ural Mountain bears. Is it the case that +a man can be courageous at one time and a coward at an- +other? 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 compan- +ion'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 re- +sentment 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 postmas- +ter 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 forget- +ting them. + +Michael Strogoff at last asked for the postmaster. The +latter, a Siberian of the old type, came directly, and look- +ing 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 be- +hind. + +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 diffi- +culties 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 in- +vasion. Some of Feofar-Khan's scouts had already ap- +peared 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 be- +tween 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. Per- +haps 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 re- +duced 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, help- +ing 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 im- +patience to get to her. + +Nadia at last spoke to him of old Marfa, and of how un- +protected 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 pre- +served 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 tak- +ing 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 rea- +son," 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 senti- +ment 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 pub- +lic 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 swim- +mer 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 to- +wards the right bank. + +They calculated on reaching it some five or six versts +below the landing place; but, after all, that would not mat- +ter so long as men and beasts could disembark without ac- +cident. 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 man- +fully 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 dis- +tant. 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 over- +board. + +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 com- +posed of two distinct towns: one which is exclusively in- +habited by the authorities and officials; the other more +especially devoted to the Siberian merchants, although, in- +deed, 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, re- +sisted 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 de- +ceptive 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 neces- +sarily 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 every- +thing that has passed." + +And the mujik related to Michael Strogoff the different +incidents of the struggle which he had witnessed -- the at- +tack 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, anticipat- +ing the anxiety which he read in the eyes of his guest. +"They have carried her off in their boat, and have con- +tinued 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, notwith- +standing 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, re- +covering 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 suc- +cumb 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 mer- +cantile quarter of the lower town. The surrounding earth- +work 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 accus- +tomed. 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 East- +ern Siberia, where the towns were more wealthy, and, con- +sequently, 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 com- +panion 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 precipi- +tous 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-Nov- +gorod. + +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 au- +thority. + +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 con- +trive 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 fortifica- +tions, 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 Musco- +vite 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! Com- +pletely 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 or- +der 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 has- +tened to assist her, the aged woman raised herself. Sud- +denly 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 cer- +tainly 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 ap- +peared 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 be- +tween 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 post- +ing-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 sit- +uated 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 de- +tachments 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 refresh- +ment 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 re- +place 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 de- +void of doubt or hesitation, and in spite of the melancholy +thoughts which possessed him he had preserved his clear- +ness 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. Noth- +ing 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 nat- +ural 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 diffi- +cult 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 ex- +halations, 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 how- +ever 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 in- +sects, 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 be- +hind 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 Siber- +ian 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 con- +tinued 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 in- +vasion 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 him- +self 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 en- +trance 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 ex- +tremely 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 sep- +arated 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 bifur- +cated, 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 hesi- +tate 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 be- +yond the Baraba was by no means ungrounded. The fields, +trodden down by horses' hoofs, afforded but too clear evi- +dence that their hordes had passed that way; the same, in- +deed, 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 boun- +daries 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 Si- +berian 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 desola- +tion. 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 noth- +ing 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 leav- +ing 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 pro- +foundly 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 direc- +tion 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 at- +tentively, 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, dis- +covered 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 imprac- +ticable, 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 slack- +ened. 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 them- +selves 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 horse- +men, 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 trum- +pets 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, smok- +ing "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 lan- +guage. + +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 detach- +ment 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 Feo- +far-Khan's army, would be inevitably overwhelmed, and the +Irkutsk road would be in the entire possession of the in- +vaders. + +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 attract- +ing 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 be- +fore 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 with- +out 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 termin- +ate to Michael's disadvantage. His horse was almost ex- +hausted. He managed to reach the bank of the river. The +Usbeck detachment was now not more than fifty paces be- +hind 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 stir- +rups, 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 situa- +tion 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 devas- +tated by the invasion, overrun by the Emir's scouts, and +still at a considerable distance from the place he was striv- +ing to reach. "By Heaven, I will get there!" he ex- +claimed, 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 him- +self 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 pictur- +esque 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 Koly- +van 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 neighbor- +hood 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, dread- +ing 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 Rus- +sian 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 Rus- +sians 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 bet- +ter 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, phleg- +matic, 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 en- +tered 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 depar- +ture 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 Tele- +graph 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 win- +dow, 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 de- +feated. Fiercely pursued by the Tartar cavalry." + +And as Harry Blount returned he heard Jolivet complet- +ing 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 re- +frain 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 fir- +ing was incessant. + +At that moment the telegraph office shook to its founda- +tions. 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 of- +fice. 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 ap- +pearance. + +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 pris- +oners 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 en- +gaged with the two columns of the enemy, the bases of +which rested on Tomsk and Omsk, only a few hundred re- +mained. 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 re- +volted 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 con- +sider 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 prin- +cipal 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 pur- +sued 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 hun- +dreds 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 Tar- +tar army. + +Nothing could be more romantic than this picture, in +delineating which the most skillful artist would have ex- +hausted 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 tas- +sels, 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 horse- +back 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 pre- +sent 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 dis- +putes 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 con- +ditions 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 be- +yond 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 be- +fore 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 Si- +beria. 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 ac- +quaintances. + +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 disagree- +able to him, for his wound caused him much pain, and +without Alcide Jolivet's assistance he might never have +reached the camp. + +Jolivet, whose practical philosophy never abandoned him, +had physically and morally strengthened his 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 thou- +sand 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," an- +swered 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 remain- +ing 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 cer- +tainly 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," mur- +mured Alcide Jolivet; "there he is asleep. A few hours' +sleep and a few cold water compresses are all that are re- +quired to set an Englishman on his legs again. These fel- +lows 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 com- +panion, 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 every- +thing 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 pre- +vented him from approaching his former traveling compan- +ions. 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 commo- +tions, bringing squalls mingled with rain. The unfor- +tunate prisoners, destitute of shelter, had to bear all the in- +clemencies 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 march- +ing 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 im- +portant 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 re- +main at the outposts without shelter, almost without nourish- +ment. 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 with- +out bringing in its train the usual crowd of beggars, free- +booters, 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 re- +sources. 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 any- +where. 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 exe- +cute 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 Red- +Skin 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 horse- +men, moved to the front of the camp to receive Ivan Ogareff. +Arrived in his presence, they paid him the greatest re- +spect, 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 be- +fore 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 re- +mained 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 tempo- +rarily 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, with- +out 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 Moun- +tains." + +"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 over- +whelmed 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 re- +tired 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 sup- +pressed. + +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 al- +ready 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 Rus- +sian 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 news- +papers," 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, "authoriza- +tion 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 cool- +ness, "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 com- +panion, 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 re- +join 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 con- +trary, 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 favor- +able result of his arrival, however, was the order which was +given to raise the camp that very day, and remove the head- +quarters 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 pris- +oners; 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 ar- +rival of Ivan Ogareff, he questioned whether it would not +be better to give up his first plan and attempt to escape dur- +ing 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 prison- +ers, 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 any- +one else, and, without her appearing to notice, was con- +stantly 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 coura- +geous, kind-hearted being to comfort and assist her. +Amongst her companions in misfortune a young girl, re- +markable 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 to- +gether 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 af- +forded by the age of the old prisoner. + +On the crowd of unhappy people, embittered by suffer- +ings, 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 suc- +cumbed to this double blow. The interruption to her jour- +ney, the death of Michael, made her both desperate and ex- +cited. 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 ob- +ject 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 him- +self?" 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 her- +self, 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. How- +ever, one day her heart overflowed, and she told all the +events which had occurred from her departure from Wladi- +mir 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 com- +panion 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 com- +panion, 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 mourn- +ing 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 fast- +ened to a long chain. There were, too, women and chil- +dren, 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 ani- +mals. 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 ter- +rible 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 per- +formed as rapidly as possible. + +The country, which extends from the right of the Obi +to the base of the spur detached from the Sayanok Moun- +tains, 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 moun- +tains. + +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 Rus- +sian 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 mis- +fortune such services as his situation allowed. He encour- +aged 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 re- +solved 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 con- +voy'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 fav- +ored the flight of some bold or desperate man, and the strict- +est 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 encamp- +ment 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 en- +trance 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 ar- +ranged 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 sov- +ereigns. 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! Imi- +tate 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 mis- +fortune. 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 com- +panion. 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 hap- +piness 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 appre- +hension 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 posses- +sion 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 say- +ing, 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, al- +though 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 pru- +dence 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 en- +campment. The Tartar soldiers were almost immediately +under arms. + +Ivan Ogareff arrived, surrounded by a large staff of Tar- +tar officers. His face was more clouded than usual, and +his knitted brow gave signs of latent wrath which was wait- +ing for an occasion to break forth. + +Michael Strogoff, hidden in a group of prisoners, saw +this man pass. He had a presentiment that some catas- +trophe 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 them- +selves 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 invol- +untary 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 him- +self. + +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 him- +self; "the knout for this wretched old woman -- the knout +to the death!" + +A Tartar soldier bearing this terrible instrument of tor- +ture approached Marfa. The knout is composed of a cer- +tain number of leathern thongs, at the end of which are at- +tached 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 an- +other 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 re- +paid!" 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 con- +tents 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 Feo- +far-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. Con- +trary 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 shoul- +ders, 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 dig- +nitaries 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 be- +fore 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 even- +ing they both intended to take the road to Irkutsk, and be- +ing 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 com- +panions 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 ex- +pected 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 in- +flicted on Michael. Ogareff had protected him against the +soldiers because he well knew what would happen by reserv- +ing him for the justice of the Emir. + +The mother and son had not been able to speak to- +gether 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 unin- +tentionally 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 her- +self, 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 interfer- +ence 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 fea- +tures being half hidden by her hair -- passed in her turn be- +fore 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 re- +mained 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 in- +famous 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, stretch- +ing 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 bar- +barians give it before the drama." + +Michael had been commanded to look at everything. He +looked. A troop of dancers poured into the open space be- +fore 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 instru- +ments, 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 else- +where. 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 pros- +trated 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 com- +bination 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 coup- +let, 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 com- +panion. 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 detona- +tions 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 re- +strain a slight movement of the head, which at home, be- +tween 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 to- +wards 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 return- +ing the Emir's haughty glance, while his countenance as- +sumed 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 in- +stant 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 un- +happy 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, be- +fore 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 be- +fore 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 incan- +descent blade passed before Michael's eyes. + +A despairing cry was heard. His aged mother fell sense- +less 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 re- +peat 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 move- +ment. 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 de- +grees 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 re- +strain 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 noth- +ing was to be feared, was alone. She saw him draw him- +self 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 de- +scended 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 pos- +sible 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, bleed- +ing 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 in- +habitants 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 re- +quired 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 them- +selves. + +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 mor- +sels of "tchornekhleb," a sort of barley bread, and a little +mead, called "meod" in Russia. This had cost her noth- +ing, 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 gover- +nor, 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 in- +cessant 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 cir- +cumstance 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 neces- +sary, 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 ex- +hausted. 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 con- +fidence. 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 Tar- +tars 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 bot- +tom; 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, more- +over, 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 prostra- +tion. Michael and Nicholas laid her on the straw as com- +fortably 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 cer- +tainly, 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 con- +science. 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 pos- +sible! 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. Con- +sequently, 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 oc- +curred. A new Russian corps, hastily raised in the govern- +ment 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 sol- +diers, 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 qual- +ity as Courier of the Czar -- which would be easy -- doubted +not that he would be enabled to get to Irkutsk in the short- +est 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 Kras- +noiarsk, 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 en- +deavoring to place himself again at the disposal of the gov- +ernment. "Why should I receive a salary which I have +not earned?" he would say. + +In the event of his services not being required at Kras- +noiarsk, 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 ap- +proaches 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 loco- +motion. "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. Kras- +noiarsk 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 beauti- +ful 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 liv- +ing 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 gov- +ernment 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 ap- +pear, 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 com- +panion. + +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 con- +siderable, its currents strong. Ordinarily by means of +boats specially built for the conveyance of travelers, car- +riages, 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 unfor- +tunate 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 sev- +eral islands, covered with alders, willows, and poplars, look- +ing 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 out- +skirts 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 stand- +ing 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 ob- +jects piled up in a corner. + +"They are leathern bottles," answered Nicholas. + +"Are they full?" + +"Yes, full of koumyss. We have found them very op- +portunely 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 Ir- +kutsk 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 float- +ing 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 direc- +tions, 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 with- +out great difficulty, even on this imperfect apparatus, had +the current been regular; but, unfortunately, there were +whirlpools in numbers, and soon the kibitka, notwithstand- +ing 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 bet- +ter 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 dan- +ger, 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 cur- +rent, 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 mag- +nificent 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," an- +swered 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 de- +tained 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 al- +most 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 con- +sidered 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 excur- +sion 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 over- +work 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 ani- +mal 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 for- +got, 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 hun- +dred 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, super- +stitious 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," an- +swered 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 door- +step, Nadia found two of those strong-bladed knives used +by Siberian hunters. She gave one to Michael, who con- +cealed 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 speak- +ing, 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 him- +self in safety until within the walls of Irkutsk. Many Rus- +sians 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 produc- +tions, 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 im- +possible 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. Be- +sides, he had resolved to continue his way, as long as no in- +surmountable 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 re- +mains, but Michael could not allow him the time. + +"Come, friend, come!" he exclaimed, "we must not de- +lay, 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 follow- +ing 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 ad- +vance!" + +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 pres- +ence 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 con- +sequences would have been his death and that of his com- +panions. 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 in- +vading army. + +In short, what Michael learnt from the talk at the present +moment, as well as from the scraps of conversation he over- +heard 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 com- +posed of Tartars from the khanats of Khokland and Koon- +dooz, 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 be- +fore 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 com- +paratively 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 indiffer- +ent, 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 travel- +ing 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 lan- +guage, and their assistance was mercilessly refused. Soon +it occurred to these men, in a refinement of cruelty, to ex- +change the horse Michael was riding for one which was +blind. The motive of the change was explained by a re- +mark 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, in- +deed, 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 in- +cident 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 unfor- +tunate Nicholas to pieces, but at a sign from their officer, he +was bound instead, placed across a horse, and the detach- +ment 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 trav- +eled 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 with- +out 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 dis- +tance. 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, what- +ever 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 ad- +vance 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 there- +fore open to the invaders. No Russian force could be op- +posed 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 anx- +iously 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. Noth- +ing 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 de- +ceive 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," ex- +claimed 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 suf- +fered 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 mena- +cing 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 indefat- +igable 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 com- +panion'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 bound- +less 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, crawl- +ing 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 liv- +ing, 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 evi- +dently 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 re- +ported 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 tem- +perature 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 ex- +haustion 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 col- +lected 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 descend- +ing 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 as- +sistance 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 to- +gether 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 him- +self 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 prob- +ably, 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 ges- +tures. 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, noth- +ing 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 him- +self 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 re- +mained 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 num- +ber 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. Magnifi- +cent 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 travel- +ing 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 dat- +ing 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 per- +plexity, 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 recog- +nized 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 accom- +pany 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 Livenitch- +naia, 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 pic- +turesque 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 accumu- +lated 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 mov- +ing 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 ab- +sorbed 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 con- +junctures, his energy had never abandoned him. He al- +ready 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 neces- +sary, to attempt some bold stroke. + +Restored by a few hours' rest, Nadia had regained the +physical energy which misery had sometimes overcome, al- +though 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 sep- +arate 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 ex- +tremely dramatic, and that, well worked up, it would fur- +nish 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 en- +deavored to pierce the gloom of the river. + +Every now and then a burst of light dispelling the dark- +ness 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 compan- +ions 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 night- +fall, 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 be- +yond Irkutsk. On board the raft no imprudence was to be +feared; but everything was to be dreaded from the con- +flagrations on both banks of the Angara, for should a lighted +straw or even a spark blow into the water, it would in- +evitably 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 to- +gether. 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 boat- +man, 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 re- +pulse 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, al- +though many of the fugitives received severe bites. + +The struggle did not appear as if it would soon termi- +nate. 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 dis- +persed, and it was soon certain that they had in all haste +regained the shore. Wolves, like other beasts of prey, re- +quire 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 hun- +dred 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 fur- +naces. 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 re- +sult 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 lis- +tened 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 be- +came 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, con- +tinued 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 after- +wards 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. Sev- +eral 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 waver- +ing. His hand was extended up the Angara. His face, on +which a bluish light cast a peculiar hue, became almost fear- +ful to look at, and then, as if his eyes had been opened to +the bright blaze spreading across the river, "Ah!" he ex- +claimed, "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 inhabi- +tants. 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 van- +ishes as the traveler enters. + +The town, half Byzantine, half Chinese, becomes Euro- +pean 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 ex- +changed 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 East- +ern 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 in- +fluence 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 in- +vasion. + +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, with- +out 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 incontest- +able 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 scat- +tered about in the provinces of Siberia could not arrive in +sufficiently large numbers to arrest the progress of the Tar- +tar 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 prov- +ince 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, unfor- +tunately but few in number and of small caliber. The Tar- +tar 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 prin- +cipal 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 at- +tempt to oppose the enemy in their passage. He could only +impede, not prevent it, having no field-artillery at his dis- +posal, 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 hav- +ing 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 pre- +sented 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 San- +garre, who had accompanied him to the Angara, urged him +to put this plan in execution. + +Indeed, it was necessary to act without delay. The Rus- +sian troops from the government of Yakutsk were advanc- +ing 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 be- +trayed. 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-gen- +eral. 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 un- +inhabitable. + +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," an- +swered 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 drift- +ing 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 inva- +sion. They had obeyed the order to rally in the town, and +leave the villages where they exercised their different profes- +sions, some doctors, some professors, either at the Gymna- +sium, or at the Japanese School, or at the School of Naviga- +tion. 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 gover- +nor-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 pos- +sessed 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 com- +panions 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 com- +panions 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 un- +happy 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 com- +panions 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 re- +fuse 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 jour- +ney; 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 assassi- +nation 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 mo- +ments 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 en- +velope, 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 pos- +sible 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 con- +tents 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 suc- +cessively 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," an- +swered Ogareff; "it was a battle." + +"A battle?" + +"Twenty thousand Russians, from the frontier prov- +inces and the government of Tobolsk, engaged with a hun- +dred 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 ges- +ture 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 prov- +inces?" asked the Grand Duke. + +"None, your Highness, at any rate before the end of the +winter." + +"Well, hear this, Michael Strogoff. Though I must ex- +pect 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 con- +fidence, 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 re- +vealed, 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 de- +fenders of the town, made myself known, and was imme- +diately 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 suc- +cess. The Grand Duke's entire confidence had been ac- +corded 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 de- +stroyed 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 con- +gratulations 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, ex- +aggerating 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 Kras- +noiarsk. + +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 engag- +ing 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-gen- +eral's palace and, acquainting Ogareff with the circum- +stances 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 cir- +cumstances with which we are acquainted, Fedor, by com- +paring 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 Octo- +ber, 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 neces- +sary 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, be- +gan 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 communica- +tion with Ivan Ogareff. + +For two days the besieged had enjoyed a tranquillity to +which the Tartars had not accustomed them since the com- +mencement of the investment. This was by Ogareff's or- +ders. 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 out- +posts, to attack the gate, deserted, as Ogareff anticipated +that it would be, by its defenders, whenever he should sum- +mon 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 dark- +ness 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 great- +est 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. Ac- +cordingly, 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 ex- +pect 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 diver- +sion, that the Grand Duke would be obliged to oppose it with +all his available forces. The traitor planned also to pro- +duce 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 pro- +tected with the few guns possessed by the defenders. With +these measures, taken in time, thanks to the advice so op- +portunely 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 tem- +perature. 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 im- +practicable. The Tartars could use neither rafts nor boats. +As to their crossing the river on the ice, that was not pos- +sible. The newly-frozen plain could not bear the weight of +an assaulting column. + +This circumstance, as it appeared favorable to the de- +fenders of Irkutsk, Ogareff might have regretted. He did +not do so, however. The traitor knew well that the Tar- +tars 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 imprac- +ticable, 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 cur- +rent, 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 con- +founded 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 de- +fenders. + +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 im- +mense 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 dis- +sipated 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 Tar- +tars 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. Be- +yond 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 ex- +ecute 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 ad- +vantage 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 com- +panion 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 con- +ceal 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 adver- +sary 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 dread- +ful 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 pos- +sible!" + +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 life- +less 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 ex- +ecution, 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 any- +one. 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 sus- +pected. 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 un- +alterable longing to reach Irkutsk, so as to perform his mis- +sion 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, leav- +ing 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 Octo- +ber, at daybreak, cannon boomed out from the heights +around Irkutsk. It was the succoring army under the com- +mand 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 ob- +servation: "Red-hot iron is insufficient in some cases to de- +stroy the sensibility of the optic nerve." + +Then the two correspondents, settled for a time in +Irkutsk, busied themselves in putting the notes and impres- +sions of their journey in order. Thence were sent to Lon- +don 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 at- +tack 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 pres- +ence 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 al- +lowing 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 mar- +riage, 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, laugh- +ing. + +"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 occa- +sion to leave him, except to go and see their old mother. + +The young courier was received by the Czar, who at- +tached 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 + |