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During the Siberian winter； the rivers being all frozen
to a thickness of several feet； they are easily practicable；
and the traveler even crosses them without being aware of the fact；
for their beds have disappeared under the snowy sheet spread
uniformly over the steppe； but in summer the difficulties
of crossing are sometimes great。
In fact； two hours were taken up in making the passage
of the Ichim； which much exasperated Michael； especially as
the boatmen gave them alarming news of the Tartar invasion。
Some of Feofar…Khan's scouts had already appeared on both banks
of the lower Ichim； in the southern parts of the government
of Tobolsk。 Omsk was threatened。 They spoke of an engagement
which had taken place between the Siberian and Tartar troops
on the frontier of the great Kirghese hordean engagement not
to the advantage of the Russians； who were weak in numbers。
The troops had retreated thence； and in consequence there had
been a general emigration of all the peasants of the province。
The boatmen spoke of horrible atrocities committed by the invaders
pillage； theft； incendiarism； murder。 Such was the system
of Tartar warfare。
The people all fled before Feofar…Khan。 Michael Strogoff's
great fear was lest； in the depopulation of the towns；
he should be unable to obtain the means of transport。
He was therefore extremely anxious to reach Omsk。 Perhaps there
they would get the start of the Tartar scouts； who were coming
down the valley of the Irtych； and would find the road
open to Irkutsk。
Just at the place where the tarantass crossed the river ended
what is called； in military language； the 〃Ichim chain〃a chain
of towers； or little wooden forts； extending from the southern
frontier of Siberia for a distance of nearly four hundred versts。
Formerly these forts were occupied by detachments of Cossacks；
and they protected the country against the Kirghese； as well as
against the Tartars。 But since the Muscovite Government had believed
these hordes reduced to absolute submission； they had been abandoned；
and now could not be used； just at the time when they were needed。
Many of these forts had been reduced to ashes； and the boatmen even
pointed out the smoke to Michael； rising in the southern horizon；
and showing the approach of the Tartar advance…guard。
As soon as the ferryboat landed the tarantass on the right bank of
the Ichim； the journey across the steppe was resumed with all speed。
Michael Strogoff remained very silent。 He was； however； always
attentive to Nadia； helping her to bear the fatigue of this long
journey without break or rest； but the girl never complained。
She longed to give wings to the horses。 Something told her that
her companion was even more anxious than herself to reach Irkutsk；
and how many versts were still between！
It also occurred to her that if Omsk was entered by
the Tartars； Michael's mother； who lived there； would be in danger；
and that this was sufficient to explain her son's impatience
to get to her。
Nadia at last spoke to him of old Marfa； and of how unprotected
she would be in the midst of all these events。
〃Have you received any news of your mother since the beginning
of the invasion？〃 she asked。
〃None； Nadia。 The last letter my mother wrote to me contained
good news。 Marfa is a brave and energetic Siberian woman。
Notwithstanding her age； she has preserved all her moral strength。
She knows how to suffer。〃
〃I shall see her； brother；〃 said Nadia quickly。 〃Since you give me
the name of sister； I am Marfa's daughter。〃
And as Michael did not answer she added：
〃Perhaps your mother has been able to leave Omsk？〃
〃It is possible； Nadia；〃 replied Michael； 〃and I hope she may have
reached Tobolsk。 Marfa hates the Tartars。 She knows the steppe；
and would have no fear in just taking her staff and going down the banks
of the Irtych。 There is not a spot in all the province unknown to her。
Many times has she traveled all over the country with my father；
and many times I myself； when a mere child； have accompanied them
across the Siberian desert。 Yes； Nadia； I trust that my mother
has left Omsk。〃
〃And when shall you see her？〃
〃I shall see heron my return。〃
〃If； however； your mother is still at Omsk； you will be able to spare
an hour to go to her？〃
〃I shall not go and see her。〃
〃You will not see her？〃
〃No； Nadia；〃 said Michael； his chest heaving as he felt he could
not go on replying to the girl's questions。
〃You say no！ Why； brother； if your mother is still at Omsk；
for what reason could you refuse to see her？〃
〃For what reason； Nadia？ You ask me for what reason；〃 exclaimed Michael；
in so changed a voice that the young girl started。 〃For the same reason
as that which made me patient even to cowardice with the villain who〃
He could not finish his sentence。
〃Calm yourself； brother；〃 said Nadia in a gentle voice。
〃I only know one thing； or rather I do not know it； I feel it。
It is that all your conduct is now directed by the sentiment
of a duty more sacredif there can be onethan that which unites
the son to the mother。〃
Nadia was silent； and from that moment avoided every subject
which in any way touched on Michael's peculiar situation。
He had a secret motive which she must respect。 She respected it。
The next day； July 25th； at three o'clock in the morning； the tarantass
arrived at Tioukalmsk； having accomplished a distance of eighty
miles since it had crossed the Ichim。 They rapidly changed horses。
Here； however； for the first time； the iemschik made difficulties
about starting； declaring that detachments of Tartars were roving
across the steppe； and that travelers； horses； and carriages would
be a fine prize for them。
Only by dint of a large bribe could Michael get over
the unwillingness of the iemschik； for in this instance；
as in many others； he did not wish to show his podorojna。
The last ukase； having been transmitted by telegraph； was known
in the Siberian provinces； and a Russian specially exempted from
obeying these words would certainly have drawn public attention
to himselfa thing above all to be avoided by the Czar's courier。
As to the iemschik's hesitation； either the rascal traded on
the traveler's impatience or he really had good reason to fear。
However； at last the tarantass started； and made such good way
that by three in the afternoon it had reached Koulatsinskoe；
fifty miles farther on。 An hour after this it was on the banks
of the Irtych。 Omsk was now only fourteen miles distant。
The Irtych is a large river； and one of the principal of those which flow
towards the north of Asia。 Rising in the Altai Mountains； it flows
from the southeast to the northwest and empties itself into the Obi；
after a course of four thousand miles。
At this time of year； when all the rivers of the Siberian basin
are much swollen； the waters of the Irtych were very high。
In consequence the current was changed to a regular torrent；
rendering the passage difficult enough。 A swimmer could not
have crossed； however powerful； and even in a ferryboat there
would be some danger。
But Michael and Nadia； determined to brave all perils wh