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between Europe and Asia。 Whether they are called the Urals；
which is the Tartar； or the Poyas； which is the Russian name；
they are correctly so termed； for these names signify 〃belt〃
in both languages。 Rising on the shores of the Arctic Sea；
they reach the borders of the Caspian。 This was the barrier
to be crossed by Michael Strogoff before he could enter
Siberian Russia。 The mountains could be crossed in one night；
if no accident happened。 Unfortunately； thunder muttering
in the distance announced that a storm was at hand。
The electric tension was such that it could not be dispersed
without a tremendous explosion； which in the peculiar state
of the atmosphere would be very terrible。
Michael took care that his young companion should be as well protected
as possible。 The hood； which might have been easily blown away；
was fastened more securely with ropes； crossed above and at the back。
The traces were doubled； and； as an additional precaution；
the nave…boxes were stuffed with straw； as much to increase the strength
of the wheels as to lessen the jolting； unavoidable on a dark night。
Lastly； the fore and hinder parts； connected simply by the axles to
the body of the tarantass； were joined one to the other by a crossbar；
fixed by means of pins and screws。
Nadia resumed her place in the cart； and Michael took his seat
beside her。 Before the lowered hood hung two leathern curtains；
which would in some degree protect the travelers against the wind
and rain。 Two great lanterns； suspended from the iemschik's seat；
threw a pale glimmer scarcely sufficient to light the way；
but serving as warning lights to prevent any other carriage
from running into them。
It was well that all these precautions were taken； in expectation
of a rough night。 The road led them up towards dense masses of clouds；
and should the clouds not soon resolve into rain； the fog would
be such that the tarantass would be unable to advance without danger
of falling over some precipice。
The Ural chain does not attain any very great height；
the highest summit not being more than five thousand feet。
Eternal snow is there unknown； and what is piled up
by the Siberian winter is soon melted by the summer sun。
Shrubs and trees grow to a considerable height。
The iron and copper mines； as well as those of precious stones；
draw a considerable number of workmen to that region。
Also； those villages termed 〃gavody〃 are there met with
pretty frequently； and the road through the great passes is
easily practicable for post…carriages。
But what is easy enough in fine weather and broad daylight；
offers difficulties and perils when the elements are engaged
in fierce warfare； and the traveler is in the midst of it。
Michael Strogoff knew from former experience what a storm
in the mountains was； and perhaps this would be as terrible
as the snowstorms which burst forth with such vehemence
in the winter。
Rain was not yet falling； so Michael raised the leathern curtains
which protected the interior of the tarantass and looked out；
watching the sides of the road； peopled with fantastic shadows；
caused by the wavering light of the lanterns。 Nadia； motionless；
her arms folded； gazed forth also； though without leaning forward；
whilst her companion； his body half out of the carriage；
examined both sky and earth。
The calmness of the atmosphere was very threatening； the air being
perfectly still。 It was just as if Nature were half stifled；
and could no longer breathe； her lungs； that is to say those gloomy；
dense clouds； not being able to perform their functions。
The silence would have been complete but for the grindings of the
wheels of the tarantass over the road； the creaking of the axles；
the snorting of the horses； and the clattering of their iron
hoofs among the pebbles； sparks flying out on every side。
The road was perfectly deserted。 The tarantass encountered neither
pedestrians nor horsemen； nor a vehicle of any description；
in the narrow defiles of the Ural； on this threatening night。
Not even the fire of a charcoal…burner was visible in the woods；
not an encampment of miners near the mines； not a hut
among the brushwood。
Under these peculiar circumstances it might have been
allowable to postpone the journey till the morning。
Michael Strogoff； however； had not hesitated； he had no right
to stop； but thenand it began to cause him some anxiety
what possible reason could those travelers in the telga ahead
have for being so imprudent？
Michael remained thus on the look…out for some time。
About eleven o'clock lightning began to blaze continuously in the sky。
The shadows of huge pines appeared and disappeared in the rapid light。
Sometimes when the tarantass neared the side of the road； deep gulfs；
lit up by the flashes； could be seen yawning beneath them。
From time to time； on their vehicle giving a worse lurch than usual；
they knew that they were crossing a bridge of roughly…hewn planks
thrown over some chasm； thunder appearing actually to be rumbling
below them。 Besides this； a booming sound filled the air；
which increased as they mounted higher。 With these different
noises rose the shouts of the iemschik； sometimes scolding；
sometimes coaxing his poor beasts； who were suffering more from
the oppression of the air than the roughness of the roads。
Even the bells on the shafts could no longer rouse them；
and they stumbled every instant。
〃At what time shall we reach the top of the ridge？〃 asked Michael
of the iemschik。
〃At one o'clock in the morning if we ever get there at all；〃
replied he； with a shake of his head。
〃Why； my friend； this will not be your first storm in
the mountains； will it？〃
〃No； and pray God it may not be my last！〃
〃Are you afraid？〃
〃No； I'm not afraid； but I repeat that I think you were
wrong in starting。〃
〃I should have been still more wrong had I stayed。〃
〃Hold up； my pigeons！〃 cried the iemschik； it was his business to obey；
not to question。
Just then a distant noise was heard； shrill whistling
through the atmosphere； so calm a minute before。
By the light of a dazzling flash； almost immediately followed
by a tremendous clap of thunder； Michael could see huge pines
on a high peak； bending before the blast。 The wind was unchained；
but as yet it was the upper air alone which was disturbed。
Successive crashes showed that many of the trees had been unable
to resist the burst of the hurricane。 An avalanche of shattered
trunks swept across the road and dashed over the precipice
on the left； two hundred feet in front of the tarantass。
The horses stopped short。
〃Get up； my pretty doves！〃 cried the iemschik； adding the cracking
of his whip to the rumbling of the thunder。
Michael took Nadia's hand。 〃Are you asleep； sister？〃
〃No； brother。〃
〃Be ready for anything； here comes the storm！〃
〃I am ready。〃
Michael Strogoff had only just time to draw the leathern curtains；
when the storm was upon them。
The iemschik leapt from his seat and seized the horses'
heads； for terrible danger threatened the whole party。
The tarantass was at a standstill at a turning of the road；
down which swept the hurricane； it