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in all Europe； is almost three thousand miles in length。
Its waters； rather unwholesome in its upper part； are improved
at Nijni…Novgorod by those of the Oka； a rapid affluent；
issuing from the central provinces of Russia。 The system of
Russian canals and rivers has been justly compared to a gigantic
tree whose branches spread over every part of the empire。
The Volga forms the trunk of this tree； and it has for roots
seventy mouths opening into the Caspian Sea。 It is navigable
as far as Rjef； a town in the government of Tver； that is；
along the greater part of its course。
The steamboats plying between Perm and Nijni…Novgorod rapidly perform
the two hundred and fifty miles which separate this town from the town
of Kasan。 It is true that these boats have only to descend the Volga；
which adds nearly two miles of current per hour to their own speed；
but on arriving at the confluence of the Kama； a little below Kasan；
they are obliged to quit the Volga for the smaller river； up which
they ascend to Perm。 Powerful as were her machines； the Caucasus
could not thus； after entering the Kama； make against the current
more than ten miles an hour。 Including an hour's stoppage at Kasan；
the voyage from Nijni…Novgorod to Perm would take from between sixty
to sixty…two hours。
The steamer was very well arranged； and the passengers； according to
their condition or resources； occupied three distinct classes on board。
Michael Strogoff had taken care to engage two first…class cabins；
so that his young companion might retire into hers whenever she liked。
The Caucasus was loaded with passengers of every description。
A number of Asiatic traders had thought it best to leave
Nijni…Novgorod immediately。 In that part of the steamer reserved
for the first…class might be seen Armenians in long robes and a sort
of miter on their heads； Jews； known by their conical caps； rich Chinese
in their traditional costume； a very wide blue； violet； or black robe；
Turks； wearing the national turban； Hindoos； with square caps；
and a simple string for a girdle； some of whom； hold in their hands
all the traffic of Central Asia； and； lastly； Tartars； wearing boots；
ornamented with many…colored braid； and the breast a mass of embroidery。
All these merchants had been obliged to pile up their numerous bales
and chests in the hold and on the deck； and the transport of their
baggage would cost them dear； for； according to the regulations；
each person had only a right to twenty pounds' weight。
In the bows of the Caucasus were more numerous groups of passengers；
not only foreigners； but also Russians； who were not forbidden
by the order to go back to their towns in the province。
There were mujiks with caps on their heads； and wearing
checked shirts under their wide pelisses； peasants of
the Volga； with blue trousers stuffed into their boots；
rose…colored cotton shirts； drawn in by a cord； felt caps；
a few women； habited in flowery…patterned cotton dresses；
gay…colored aprons； and bright handkerchiefs on their heads。
These were principally third…class passengers； who were；
happily； not troubled by the prospect of a long return voyage。
The Caucasus passed numerous boats being towed up the stream；
carrying all sorts of merchandise to Nijni…Novgorod。 Then passed
rafts of wood interminably long； and barges loaded to the gunwale；
and nearly sinking under water。 A bootless voyage they were making；
since the fair had been abruptly broken up at its outset。
The waves caused by the steamer splashed on the banks； covered with
flocks of wild duck； who flew away uttering deafening cries。
A little farther； on the dry fields； bordered with willows；
and aspens； were scattered a few cows； sheep； and herds of pigs。
Fields； sown with thin buckwheat and rye； stretched away to a
background of half…cultivated hills； offering no remarkable prospect。
The pencil of an artist in quest of the picturesque would have found
nothing to reproduce in this monotonous landscape。
The Caucasus had been steaming on for almost two hours；
when the young Livonian； addressing herself to Michael； said；
〃Are you going to Irkutsk； brother？〃
〃Yes； sister；〃 answered the young man。 〃We are going the same way。
Consequently； where I go； you shall go。〃
〃To…morrow； brother； you shall know why I left the shores of the Baltic
to go beyond the Ural Mountains。〃
〃I ask you nothing； sister。〃
〃You shall know all；〃 replied the girl； with a faint smile。
〃A sister should hide nothing from her brother。 But I cannot
to…day。 Fatigue and sorrow have broken me。〃
〃Will you go and rest in your cabin？〃 asked Michael Strogoff。
〃Yesyes； and to…morrow〃
〃Come then〃
He hesitated to finish his sentence； as if he had wished to end it
by the name of his companion； of which he was still ignorant。
〃Nadia；〃 said she； holding out her hand。
〃Come； Nadia；〃 answered Michael； 〃and make what use you like of your
brother Nicholas Korpanoff。〃 And he led the girl to the cabin engaged
for her off the saloon。
Michael Strogoff returned on deck； and eager for any news
which might bear on his journey； he mingled in the groups
of passengers； though without taking any part in the conversation。
Should he by any chance be questioned； and obliged to reply；
he would announce himself as the merchant Nicholas Korpanoff；
going back to the frontier； for he did not wish it to be suspected
that a special permission authorized him to travel to Siberia。
The foreigners in the steamer could evidently speak of nothing
but the occurrences of the day； of the order and its consequences。
These poor people； scarcely recovered from the fatigue of a journey
across Central Asia； found themselves obliged to return； and if they
did not give loud vent to their anger and despair； it was because
they dared not。 Fear； mingled with respect； restrained them。
It was possible that inspectors of police； charged with watching
the passengers； had secretly embarked on board the Caucasus；
and it was just as well to keep silence； expulsion； after all；
was a good deal preferable to imprisonment in a fortress。
Therefore the men were either silent； or spoke with so much caution
that it was scarcely possible to get any useful information。
Michael Strogoff thus could learn nothing here； but if mouths
were often shut at his approachfor they did not know him
his ears were soon struck by the sound of one voice； which cared
little whether it was heard or not。
The man with the hearty voice spoke Russian； but with a French accent；
and another speaker answered him more reservedly。 〃What；〃 said
the first； 〃are you on board this boat； too； my dear fellow；
you whom I met at the imperial fete in Moscow； and just caught
a glimpse of at Nijni…Novgorod？〃
〃Yes； it's I；〃 answered the second drily。
〃Really； I didn't expect to be so closely followed。〃
〃I am not following you sir； I am preceding you。〃
〃Precede！ precede！ Let us march abreast； keeping step；
like two soldiers on parade； and for the time； at least；
let us agree； if you will； that one shall not pass the other。〃
〃On the contrary； I shall pass you。〃
〃We shall see that； when we are at the seat of war；