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〃On the contrary； I shall pass you。〃
〃We shall see that； when we are at the seat of war；
but till then； why； let us be traveling companions。
Later； we shall have both time and occasion to be rivals。〃
〃Enemies。〃
〃Enemies； if you like。 There is a precision in your words；
my dear fellow； particularly agreeable to me。 One may always
know what one has to look for； with you。〃
〃What is the harm？〃
〃No harm at all。 So； in my turn； I will ask your permission to state
our respective situations。〃
〃State away。〃
〃You are going to Permlike me？〃
〃Like you。〃
〃And probably you will go from Perm to Ekaterenburg； since that is
the best and safest route by which to cross the Ural Mountains？〃
〃Probably。〃
〃Once past the frontier； we shall be in Siberia； that is to say
in the midst of the invasion。〃
〃We shall be there。〃
〃Well！ then； and only then； will be the time to say； Each for himself；
and God for〃
〃For me。〃
〃For you； all by yourself！ Very well！ But since we have a week
of neutral days before us； and since it is very certain that news
will not shower down upon us on the way； let us be friends until
we become rivals again。〃
〃Enemies。〃
〃Yes； that's right； enemies。 But till then； let us act together；
and not try and ruin each other。 All the same； I promise you
to keep to myself all that I can see〃
〃And I； all that I can hear。〃
〃Is that agreed？〃
〃It is agreed。〃
〃Your hand？〃
〃Here it is。〃 And the hand of the first speaker； that is to say；
five wide…open fingers； vigorously shook the two fingers coolly
extended by the other。
〃By the bye；〃 said the first； 〃I was able this morning to telegraph
the very words of the order to my cousin at seventeen minutes past ten。〃
〃And I sent it to the Daily Telegraph at thirteen minutes past ten。〃
〃Bravo； Mr。 Blount！〃
〃Very good； M。 Jolivet。〃
〃I will try and match that！〃
〃It will be difficult。〃
〃I can try； however。〃
So saying； the French correspondent familiarly saluted
the Englishman； who bowed stiffly。 The governor's proclamation
did not concern these two news…hunters； as they were neither
Russians nor foreigners of Asiatic origin。 However； being urged
by the same instinct； they had left Nijni…Novgorod together。
It was natural that they should take the same means of transport；
and that they should follow the same route to the Siberian steppes。
Traveling companions； whether enemies or friends； they had
a week to pass together before 〃the hunt would be open。〃
And then success to the most expert！ Alcide Jolivet had made
the first advances； and Harry Blount had accepted them though
he had done so coldly。
That very day at dinner the Frenchman open as ever and even
too loquacious； the Englishman still silent and grave； were seen
hobnobbing at the same table； drinking genuine Cliquot； at six roubles
the bottle； made from the fresh sap of the birch…trees of the country。
On hearing them chatting away together； Michael Strogoff said to himself：
〃Those are inquisitive and indiscreet fellows whom I shall probably
meet again on the way。 It will be prudent for me to keep them
at a distance。〃
The young Livonian did not come to dinner。 She was asleep in her cabin；
and Michael did not like to awaken her。 It was evening before she
reappeared on the deck of the Caucasus。 The long twilight imparted
a coolness to the atmosphere eagerly enjoyed by the passengers
after the stifling heat of the day。 As the evening advanced；
the greater number never even thought of going into the saloon。
Stretched on the benches； they inhaled with delight the slight
breeze caused by the speed of the steamer。 At this time of year；
and under this latitude； the sky scarcely darkened between sunset
and dawn； and left the steersman light enough to guide his steamer
among the numerous vessels going up or down the Volga。
Between eleven and two； however； the moon being new； it was almost dark。
Nearly all the passengers were then asleep on the deck； and the silence
was disturbed only by the noise of the paddles striking the water
at regular intervals。 Anxiety kept Michael Strogoff awake。
He walked up and down； but always in the stern of the steamer。
Once； however； he happened to pass the engine…room。 He then found
himself in the part reserved for second and third…class passengers。
There； everyone was lying asleep； not only on the benches；
but also on the bales； packages； and even the deck itself。
Some care was necessary not to tread on the sleepers； who were
lying about everywhere。 They were chiefly mujiks； accustomed to
hard couches； and quite satisfied with the planks of the deck。
But no doubt they would； all the same； have soundly abused
the clumsy fellow who roused them with an accidental kick。
Michael Strogoff took care； therefore； not to disturb anyone。
By going thus to the end of the boat； he had no other idea
but that of striving against sleep by a rather longer walk。
He reached the forward deck； and was already climbing
the forecastle ladder； when he heard someone speaking near him。
He stopped。 The voices appeared to come from a group of
passengers enveloped in cloaks and wraps。 It was impossible
to recognize them in the dark； though it sometimes happened that；
when the steamer's chimney sent forth a plume of ruddy flames；
the sparks seemed to fall amongst the group as though thousands
of spangles had been suddenly illuminated。
Michael was about to step up the ladder； when a few words reached his ear；
uttered in that strange tongue which he had heard during the night
at the fair。 Instinctively he stopped to listen。 Protected by
the shadow of the forecastle； he could not be perceived himself。
As to seeing the passengers who were talking； that was impossible。
He must confine himself to listening。
The first words exchanged were of no importanceto him at leastbut they
allowed him to recognize the voices of the man and woman whom he had heard
at Nijni…Novgorod。 This； of course； made him redouble his attention。
It was； indeed； not at all impossible that these same Tsiganes；
now banished； should be on board the Caucasus。
And it was well for him that he listened； for he distinctly
heard this question and answer made in the Tartar idiom：
〃It is said that a courier has set out from Moscow for Irkutsk。〃
〃It is so said； Sangarre； but either this courier will arrive too late；
or he will not arrive at all。〃
Michael Strogoff started involuntarily at this reply；
which concerned him so directly。 He tried to see if the man
and woman who had just spoken were really those whom he suspected；
but he could not succeed。
In a few moments Michael Strogoff had regained the stern of the vessel
without having been perceived； and； taking a seat by himself；
he buried his face in his hands。 It might have been supposed
that he was asleep。
He was not asleep； however； and did not even think of sleeping。
He was reflecting； not without a lively apprehension：
〃Who is it knows of my departure； and who can have any interest
in knowing it？〃
CHAPTER VIII GOING UP THE KAMA
THE next day； the 18th of July； at twenty minutes to seven in the morning；
the Caucasus