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change horses； and must travel day and night。〃
〃That is exactly what we intend doing；〃 replied Blount。
〃Good；〃 replied Michael； 〃but do not lose an instant。
Buy or hire a carriage whose〃
〃Whose hind wheels；〃 added Alcide； 〃are warranted to arrive
at the same time as its front wheels。〃
Half an hour afterwards the energetic Frenchman had found a
tarantass in which he and his companion at once seated themselves。
Michael and Nadia once more entered their own carriage； and at twelve
o'clock the two vehicles left the town of Ekaterenburg together。
Nadia was at last in Siberia； on that long road which led
to Irkutsk。 What must then have been the thoughts of the young girl？
Three strong swift horses were taking her across that land
of exile where her parent was condemned to live； for how long
she knew not； and so far from his native land。 But she scarcely
noticed those long steppes over which the tarantass was rolling；
and which at one time she had despaired of ever seeing；
for her eyes were gazing at the horizon； beyond which she knew
her banished father was。 She saw nothing of the country across
which she was traveling at the rate of fifteen versts an hour；
nothing of these regions of Western Siberia； so different from
those of the east。 Here； indeed； were few cultivated fields；
the soil was poor； at least at the surface； but in its bowels
lay hid quantities of iron； copper； platina； and gold。
How can hands be found to cultivate the land； when it pays better
to burrow beneath the earth？ The pickaxe is everywhere at work；
the spade nowhere。
However； Nadia's thoughts sometimes left the provinces
of Lake Baikal； and returned to her present situation。
Her father's image faded away； and was replaced by that of her
generous companion as he first appeared on the Vladimir railroad。
She recalled his attentions during that journey； his arrival at
the police…station； the hearty simplicity with which he had called
her sister； his kindness to her in the descent of the Volga；
and then all that he did for her on that terrible night
of the storm in the Urals； when he saved her life at the peril
of his own。
Thus Nadia thought of Michael。 She thanked God for having given
her such a gallant protector； a friend so generous and wise。
She knew that she was safe with him； under his protection。
No brother could have done more than he。 All obstacles
seemed cleared away； the performance of her journey was but a
matter of time。
Michael remained buried in thought。 He also thanked God
for having brought about this meeting with Nadia； which at
the same time enabled him to do a good action； and afforded
him additional means for concealing his true character。
He delighted in the young girl's calm intrepidity。
Was she not indeed his sister？ His feeling towards his beautiful
and brave companion was rather respect than affection。
He felt that hers was one of those pure and rare hearts which
are held by all in high esteem。
However； Michael's dangers were now beginning； since he had
reached Siberian ground。 If the reporters were not mistaken；
if Ivan Ogareff had really passed the frontier； all his actions
must be made with extreme caution。 Things were now altered；
Tartar spies swarmed in the Siberian provinces。 His incognito
once discovered； his character as courier of the Czar known；
there was an end of his journey； and probably of his life。
Michael felt now more than ever the weight of his responsibility。
While such were the thoughts of those occupying the first carriage；
what was happening in the second？ Nothing out of the way。
Alcide spoke in sentences； Blount replied by monosyllables。
Each looked at everything in his own light； and made notes of such
incidents as occurred on the journeyfew and but slightly varied
while they crossed the provinces of Western Siberia。
At each relay the reporters descended from their carriage
and found themselves with Michael。 Except when meals were to be
taken at the post…houses； Nadia did not leave the tarantass。
When obliged to breakfast or dine； she sat at table； but was
always very reserved； and seldom joined in conversation。
Alcide； without going beyond the limits of strict propriety；
showed that he was greatly struck by the young girl。
He admired the silent energy which she showed in bearing all
the fatigues of so difficult a journey。
The forced stoppages were anything but agreeable to Michael；
so he hastened the departure at each relay； roused the innkeepers；
urged on the iemschiks； and expedited the harnessing of the tarantass。
Then the hurried meal overalways much too hurried to agree with Blount；
who was a methodical eaterthey started； and were driven as eagles；
for they paid like princes。
It need scarcely be said that Blount did not trouble himself
about the girl at table。 That gentleman was not in the habit
of doing two things at once。 She was also one of the few
subjects of conversation which he did not care to discuss
with his companion。
Alcide having asked him； on one occasion； how old he thought the girl；
〃What girl？〃 he replied； quite seriously。
〃Why； Nicholas Korpanoff's sister。〃
〃Is she his sister？〃
〃No； his grandmother！〃 replied Alcide； angry at his indifference。
〃What age should you consider her？〃
〃Had I been present at her birth I might have known。〃
Very few of the Siberian peasants were to be seen in the fields。
These peasants are remarkable for their pale； grave faces；
which a celebrated traveler has compared to those of the Castilians；
without the haughtiness of the latter。 Here and there some villages
already deserted indicated the approach of the Tartar hordes。
The inhabitants； having driven off their flocks of sheep； their camels；
and their horses； were taking refuge in the plains of the north。
Some tribes of the wandering Kirghiz； who remained faithful；
had transported their tents beyond the Irtych； to escape the depredations
of the invaders。
Happily； post traveling was as yet uninterrupted； and telegraphic
communication could still be effected between places connected with
the wire。 At each relay horses were to be had on the usual conditions。
At each telegraphic station the clerks transmitted messages delivered
to them； delaying for State dispatches alone。
Thus far； then； Michael's journey had been accomplished satisfactorily。
The courier of the Czar had in no way been impeded； and； if he could
only get on to Krasnoiarsk； which seemed the farthest point attained
by Feofar…Khan's Tartars； he knew that he could arrive at Irkutsk；
before them。 The day after the two carriages had left Ekaterenburg they
reached the small town of Toulouguisk at seven o'clock in the morning；
having covered two hundred and twenty versts； no event worthy
of mention having occurred。 The same evening； the 22d of July；
they arrived at Tioumen。
Tioumen； whose population is usually ten thousand inhabitants；
then contained double that number。 This； the first industrial
town established by the Russians in Siberia； in which may
be seen a fine metal…refining factory and a bell foundry；
had never before presented such an animated appearance。
The corresponden