按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
As to horses； as long as the Czar's courier was not in Siberia；
he could exhibit his podorojna； and the postmasters would give him
the preference。 But； once out of Europe； he had to depend alone
on the power of his roubles。
But to what sort of a vehicle should he harness his horses？
To a telga or to a tarantass？ The telga is nothing
but an open four…wheeled cart； made entirely of wood；
the pieces fastened together by means of strong rope。
Nothing could be more primitive； nothing could be less comfortable；
but； on the other hand； should any accident happen on the way；
nothing could be more easily repaired。 There is no want of firs
on the Russian frontier； and axle…trees grow naturally in forests。
The post extraordinary； known by the name of 〃perck…ladnoi；〃
is carried by the telga； as any road is good enough for it。
It must be confessed that sometimes the ropes which fasten
the concern together break； and whilst the hinder part remains stuck
in some bog； the fore…part arrives at the post…house on two wheels；
but this result is considered quite satisfactory。
Michael Strogoff would have been obliged to employ a telga；
if he had not been lucky enough to discover a tarantass。
It is to be hoped that the invention of Russian coach…builders
will devise some improvement in this last…named vehicle。
Springs are wanting in it as well as in the telga；
in the absence of iron； wood is not spared； but its four wheels；
with eight or nine feet between them； assure a certain
equilibrium over the jolting rough roads。 A splash…board
protects the travelers from the mud； and a strong leathern hood；
which may be pulled quite over the occupiers； shelters them
from the great heat and violent storms of the summer。
The tarantass is as solid and as easy to repair as the telga；
and is； moreover； less addicted to leaving its hinder part
in the middle of the road。
It was not without careful search that Michael managed to
discover this tarantass； and there was probably not a second
to be found in all Perm。 He haggled long about the price；
for form's sake； to act up to his part as Nicholas Korpanoff；
a plain merchant of Irkutsk。
Nadia had followed her companion in his search after a suitable vehicle。
Although the object of each was different； both were equally
anxious to arrive at their goal。 One would have said the same will
animated them both。
〃Sister；〃 said Michael； 〃I wish I could have found a more comfortable
conveyance for you。〃
〃Do you say that to me； brother； when I would have gone on foot；
if need were； to rejoin my father？〃
〃I do not doubt your courage； Nadia； but there are physical fatigues
a woman may be unable to endure。〃
〃I shall endure them； whatever they be；〃 replied the girl。
〃If you ever hear a complaint from me you may leave me in the road；
and continue your journey alone。〃
Half an hour later； the podorojna being presented by Michael；
three post…horses were harnessed to the tarantass。 These animals；
covered with long hair； were very like long…legged bears。
They were small but spirited； being of Siberian breed。
The way in which the iemschik harnessed them was thus：
one； the largest； was secured between two long shafts； on whose
farther end was a hoop carrying tassels and bells； the two others
were simply fastened by ropes to the steps of the tarantass。
This was the complete harness； with mere strings for reins。
Neither Michael Strogoff nor the young Livonian girl had any baggage。
The rapidity with which one wished to make the journey； and the more than
modest resources of the other； prevented them from embarrassing themselves
with packages。 It was a fortunate thing； under the circumstances；
for the tarantass could not have carried both baggage and travelers。
It was only made for two persons； without counting the iemschik；
who kept his equilibrium on his narrow seat in a marvelous manner。
The iemschik is changed at every relay。 The man who drove
the tarantass during the first stage was； like his horses；
a Siberian； and no less shaggy than they； long hair； cut square
on the forehead； hat with a turned…up brim； red belt； coat with
crossed facings and buttons stamped with the imperial cipher。
The iemschik； on coming up with his team； threw an inquisitive
glance at the passengers of the tarantass。 No luggage！
and had there been； where in the world could he have stowed it？
Rather shabby in appearance too。 He looked contemptuous。
〃Crows；〃 said he； without caring whether he was overheard or not；
〃crows； at six copecks a verst！〃
〃No； eagles！〃 said Michael； who understood the iemschik's slang perfectly；
〃eagles； do you hear； at nine copecks a verst； and a tip besides。〃
He was answered by a merry crack of the whip。
In the language of the Russian postillions the 〃crow〃 is the stingy
or poor traveler； who at the post…houses only pays two or three
copecks a verst for the horses。 The 〃eagle〃 is the traveler
who does not mind expense； to say nothing of liberal tips。
Therefore the crow could not claim to fly as rapidly as
the imperial bird。
Nadia and Michael immediately took their places in the tarantass。
A small store of provisions was put in the box； in case at any time they
were delayed in reaching the post…houses； which are very comfortably
provided under direction of the State。 The hood was pulled up；
as it was insupport…ably hot； and at twelve o'clock the tarantass
left Perm in a cloud of dust。
The way in which the iemschik kept up the pace of his team would
have certainly astonished travelers who； being neither Russians
nor Siberians； were not accustomed to this sort of thing。
The leader； rather larger than the others； kept to a steady
long trot； perfectly regular； whether up or down hill。
The two other horses seemed to know no other pace than the gallop；
though they performed many an eccentric curvette as they went along。
The iemschik； however； never touched them； only urging them on
by startling cracks of his whip。 But what epithets he lavished
on them； including the names of all the saints in the calendar；
when they behaved like docile and conscientious animals！
The string which served as reins would have had no influence
on the spirited beasts； but the words 〃na pravo；〃 to the right；
〃na levo；〃 to the left； pronounced in a guttural tone；
were more effectual than either bridle or snaffle。
And what amiable expressions！ 〃Go on； my doves！〃 the iemschik
would say。 〃Go on； pretty swallows！ Fly； my little pigeons！
Hold up； my cousin on the left！ Gee up； my little father
on the right！〃
But when the pace slackened； what insulting expressions；
instantly understood by the sensitive animals！
〃Go on； you wretched snail！ Confound you； you slug！
I'll roast you alive； you tortoise； you！〃
Whether or not it was from this way of driving； which requires
the iemschiks to possess strong throats more than muscular arms；
the tarantass flew along at a rate of from twelve to fourteen
miles an hour。 Michael Strogoff was accustomed both to the sort
of vehicle and the mode of traveling。 Neither jerks nor jolts
incommoded him。 He knew that a Russian driver never even tries
to avoid either stones； ruts；