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〃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 Ekaterenburg 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 moment'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 fellow…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 Englishman。
〃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 accompanied 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 Mich