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another animal。 He had become accustomed to this brave creature。
He knew to what extent he could rely upon him。 In buying him at Omsk
he had been lucky； and in taking him to the postmaster the generous
mujik had rendered him a great service。 Besides； if Michael Strogoff
had already become attached to his horse； the horse himself seemed
to become inured； by degrees； to the fatigue of such a journey；
and provided that he got several hours of repose daily； his rider
might hope that he would carry him beyond the invaded provinces。
So； during the evening and night of the 2nd of August； Michael Strogoff
remained confined to his inn； at the entrance of the town； which was
little frequented and out of the way of the importunate and curious。
Exhausted with fatigue； he went to bed after having seen that his horse
lacked nothing； but his sleep was broken。 What he had seen since his
departure from Moscow showed him the importance of his mission。
The rising was an extremely serious one； and the treachery
of Ogareff made it still more formidable。 And when his eyes fell
upon the letter bearing upon it the authority of the imperial seal
the letter which； no doubt； contained the remedy for so many evils；
the safety of all this war…ravaged countryMichael Strogoff felt within
himself a fierce desire to dash on across the steppe； to accomplish
the distance which separated him from Irkutsk as the crow would fly it；
to be an eagle that he might overtop all obstacles； to be a hurricane
that he might sweep through the air at a hundred versts an hour；
and to be at last face to face with the Grand Duke； and to exclaim：
〃Your highness； from his Majesty the Czar！〃
On the next morning at six o'clock； Michael Strogoff started off again。
Thanks to his extreme prudence this part of the journey was signalized
by no incident whatever。 At Oubinsk he gave his horse a whole
night's rest； for he wished on the next day to accomplish the hundred
versts which lie between Oubinsk and Ikoulskoe without halting。
He started therefore at dawn； but unfortunately the Baraba proved
more detestable than ever。
In fact； between Oubinsk and Kamakore the very heavy rains
of some previous weeks were retained by this shallow depression
as in a water…tight bowl。 There was； for a long distance； no break
in the succession of swamps； pools； and lakes。 One of these lakes
large enough to warrant its geographical nomenclatureTchang； Chinese
in name； had to be coasted for more than twenty versts； and this
with the greatest difficulty。 Hence certain delays occurred；
which all the impatience of Michael Strogoff could not avoid。
He had been well advised in not taking a carriage at Kamsk；
for his horse passed places which would have been impracticable
for a conveyance on wheels。
In the evening； at nine o'clock； Michael Strogoff arrived
at Ikoulskoe； and halted there over night。 In this remote
village of the Baraba news of the war was utterly wanting。
From its situation； this part of the province； lying in the fork
formed by the two Tartar columns which had bifurcated；
one upon Omsk and the other upon Tomsk； had hitherto escaped
the horrors of the invasion。
But the natural obstacles were now about to disappear； for； if he
experienced no delay； Michael Strogoff should on the morrow be free
of the Baraba and arrive at Kolyvan。 There he would be within
eighty miles of Tomsk。 He would then be guided by circumstances；
and very probably he would decide to go around Tomsk； which； if the news
were true； was occupied by Feofar…Khan。
But if the small towns of Ikoulskoe and Karguinsk； which he
passed on the next day； were comparatively quiet； owing to
their position in the Baraba； was it not to be dreaded that；
upon the right banks of the Obi； Michael Strogoff would have much
more to fear from man？ It was probable。 However； should it
become necessary； he would not hesitate to abandon the beaten
path to Irkutsk。 To journey then across the steppe he would；
no doubt； run the risk of finding himself without supplies。
There would be； in fact； no longer a well…marked road。
Still； there must be no hesitation。
Finally； towards half past three in the afternoon； Michael Strogoff
left the last depressions of the Baraba； and the dry and hard soil
of Siberia rang out once more beneath his horse's hoofs。
He had left Moscow on the 15th of July。 Therefore on this day；
the 5th of August； including more than seventy hours lost on the banks
of the Irtych； twenty days had gone by since his departure。
One thousand miles still separated him from Irkutsk。
CHAPTER XVI A FINAL EFFORT
MICHAEL'S fear of meeting the Tartars in the plains beyond
the Baraba was by no means ungrounded。 The fields； trodden down
by horses' hoofs； afforded but too clear evidence that their
hordes had passed that way； the same； indeed； might be said
of these barbarians as of the Turks： 〃Where the Turk goes；
no grass grows。〃
Michael saw at once that in traversing this country the greatest
caution was necessary。 Wreaths of smoke curling upwards on
the horizon showed that huts and hamlets were still burning。
Had these been fired by the advance guard； or had the Emir's
army already advanced beyond the boundaries of the province？
Was Feofar…Khan himself in the government of Yeniseisk？ Michael could
settle on no line of action until these questions were answered。
Was the country so deserted that he could not discover a single
Siberian to enlighten him？
Michael rode on for two versts without meeting a human being。
He looked carefully for some house which had not been deserted。
Every one was tenantless。
One hut； however； which he could just see between the trees；
was still smoking。 As he approached he perceived； at some yards from
the ruins of the building； an old man surrounded by weeping children。
A woman still young； evidently his daughter and the mother of
the poor children； kneeling on the ground； was gazing on the scene
of desolation。 She had at her breast a baby but a few months old；
shortly she would have not even that nourishment to give it。
Ruin and desolation were all around！
Michael approached the old man。
〃Will you answer me a few questions？〃 he asked。
〃Speak；〃 replied the old man。
〃Have the Tartars passed this way？〃
〃Yes； for my house is in flames。〃
〃Was it an army or a detachment？〃
〃An army； for； as far as eye can reach； our fields are laid waste。〃
〃Commanded by the Emir？〃
〃By the Emir； for the Obi's waters are red。〃
〃Has Feofar…Khan entered Tomsk？〃
〃He has。〃
〃Do you know if his men have entered Kolyvan？〃
〃No； for Kolyvan does not yet burn。〃
〃Thanks； friend。 Can I aid you and yours？〃
〃No。〃
〃Good…by。〃
〃Farewell。〃
And Michael； having presented five and twenty roubles to
the unfortunate woman； who had not even strength to thank him；
put spurs to his horse once more。
One thing he knew； he must not pass through Tomsk。 To go to Kolyvan；
which the Tartars had not yet reached； was possible。 Yes； that is
what he must do； there he must prepare himself for another long stage。
There was nothing for it but； having crossed the Obi； to take the Irkutsk