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！
was no longer visible from the swamps which bordered the road。
The tall grass rose above him； and his track was indicated only
by the flight of innumerable aquatic birds； which rose from the side
of the road and dispersed into the air in screaming flocks。
The way； however； was clearly traceable。 Now it would lie
straight between the dense thicket of marsh…plants； again it
would follow the winding shores of vast pools； some of which；
several versts in length and breadth； deserve the name of lakes。
In other localities the stagnant waters through which the road
lay had been avoided； not by bridges； but by tottering
platforms ballasted with thick layers of clay； whose joists
shook like a too weak plank thrown across an abyss。
Some of these platforms extended over three hundred feet；
and travelers by tarantass； when crossing them have experienced
a nausea like sea…sickness。
Michael Strogoff； whether the soil beneath his feet was solid
or whether it sank under him； galloped on without halt；
leaping the space between the rotten joists； but however
fast they traveled the horse and the horseman were unable
to escape from the sting of the two…winged insects which infest
this marshy country。
Travelers who are obliged to cross the Baraba during the summer
take care to provide themselves with masks of horse…hair；
to which is attached a coat of mail of very fine wire；
which covers their shoulders。 Notwithstanding these precautions；
there are few who come out of these marshes without having
their faces； necks； and hands covered with red spots。
The atmosphere there seems to bristle with fine needles；
and one would almost say that a knight's armor would not protect
him against the darts of these dipterals。 It is a dreary region；
which man dearly disputes with tipulae； gnats； mosquitos；
horse…flies； and millions of microscopic insects which are not
visible to the naked eye； but； although they are not seen；
they make themselves felt by their intolerable stinging；
to which the most callous Siberian hunters have never been able
to inure themselves。
Michael Strogoff's horse； stung by these venomous insects； sprang forward
as if the rowels of a thousand spurs had pierced his flanks。
Mad with rage； he tore along over verst after verst with the speed
of an express train； lashing his sides with his tail； seeking by
the rapidity of his pace an alleviation of his torture。
It required as good a horseman as Michael Strogoff not to be thrown
by the plungings of his horse； and the sudden stops and bounds
which he made to escape from the stings of his persecutors。
Having become insensible； so to speak； to physical suffering；
possessed only with the one desire to arrive at his destination
at whatever cost； he saw during this mad race only one thing
that the road flew rapidly behind him。
Who would have thought that this district of the Baraba； so unhealthy
during the summer； could have afforded an asylum for human beings？
Yet it did so。 Several Siberian hamlets appeared from time
to time among the giant canes。 Men； women； children； and old men；
clad in the skins of beasts； their faces covered with hardened
blisters of skin； pastured their poor herds of sheep。
In order to preserve the animals from the attack of the insects；
they drove them to the leeward of fires of green wood； which were
kept burning night and day； and the pungent smoke of which floated
over the vast swamp。
When Michael Strogoff perceived that his horse； tired out； was on
the point of succumbing； he halted at one of these wretched hamlets；
and there； forgetting his own fatigue； he himself rubbed the wounds
of the poor animal with hot grease according to the Siberian custom；
then he gave him a good feed； and it was only after he had well groomed
and provided for him that he thought of himself； and recruited his
strength by a hasty meal of bread and meat and a glass of kwass。
One hour afterwards； or at the most two； he resumed with all speed
the interminable road to Irkutsk。
On the 30th of July； at four o'clock in the afternoon； Michael Strogoff；
insensible of every fatigue； arrived at Elamsk。 There it
became necessary to give a night's rest to his horse。
The brave animal could no longer have continued the journey。
At Elamsk； as indeed elsewhere； there existed no means of transport；
for the same reasons as at the previous villages； neither carriages
nor horses were to be had。
Michael Strogoff resigned himself therefore to pass the night at Elamsk；
to give his horse twelve hours' rest。 He recalled the instructions which
had been given to him at Moscowto cross Siberia incognito； to arrive
at Irkutsk； but not to sacrifice success to the rapidity of the journey；
and consequently it was necessary that he should husband the sole means
of transport which remained to him。
On the morrow； Michael Strogoff left Elamsk at the moment when
the first Tartar scouts were signaled ten versts behind upon the road
to the Baraba； and he plunged again into the swampy region。
The road was level； which made it easy； but very tortuous；
and therefore long。 It was impossible； moreover； to leave it；
and to strike a straight line across that impassable network
of pools and bogs。
On the next day； the 1st of August； eighty miles farther；
Michael Strogoff arrived at midday at the town of Spaskoe；
and at two o'clock he halted at Pokrowskoe。 His horse；
jaded since his departure from Elamsk； could not have taken
a single step more。
There Michael Strogoff was again compelled to lose； for necessary rest；
the end of that day and the entire night； but starting again on
the following morning； and still traversing the semi…inundated soil；
on the 2nd of August； at four o'clock in the afternoon； after a stage
of fifty miles he reached Kamsk。
The country had changed。 This little village of Kamsk lies；
like an island； habitable and healthy； in the midst of the
uninhabitable district。 It is situated in the very center
of the Baraba。 The emigration caused by the Tartar invasion had
not yet depopulated this little town of Kamsk。 Its inhabitants
probably fancied themselves safe in the center of the Baraba；
whence at least they thought they would have time to flee
if they were directly menaced。
Michael Strogoff； although exceedingly anxious for news；
could ascertain nothing at this place。 It would have been
rather to him that the Governor would have addressed himself
had he known who the pretended merchant of Irkutsk really was。
Kamsk； in fact； by its very situation seemed to be outside
the Siberian world and the grave events which troubled it。
Besides； Michael Strogoff showed himself little； if at all。
To be unperceived was not now enough for him： he would have
wished to be invisible。 The experience of the past made him
more and more circumspect in the present and the future。
Therefore he secluded himself； and not caring to traverse
the streets of the village； he would not even leave the inn
at which he had halted。
As for his horse； he did not even think of exchanging him for
another animal。 He had become accustomed to this brave creature。
He knew to what extent he could rely upon h