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it occupied the center of a wide clearing； sheltered by a grove
of magnificent birch and pine trees。 Before this tent； on a japanned
table inlaid with precious stones； was placed the sacred book of
the Koran； its pages being of thin gold…leaf delicately engraved。
Above floated the Tartar flag； quartered with the Emir's arms。
In a semicircle round the clearing stood the tents of the great
functionaries of Bokhara。 There resided the chief of the stables；
who has the right to follow the Emir on horseback even into the court
of his palace； the grand falconer； the 〃housch…begui；〃 bearer of
the royal seal； the 〃toptschi…baschi；〃 grand master of the artillery；
the 〃khodja；〃 chief of the council； who receives the prince's kiss；
and may present himself before him with his girdle untied；
the 〃scheikh…oul…islam；〃 chief of the Ulemas； representing the priests；
the 〃cazi…askev；〃 who； in the Emir's absence settles all disputes
raised among the soldiers； and lastly； the chief of the astrologers；
whose great business is to consult the stars every time the Khan
thinks of changing his quarters。
When the prisoners were brought into the camp； the Emir was in his tent。
He did not show himself。 This was fortunate； no doubt。 A sign；
a word from him might have been the signal for some bloody execution。
But he intrenched himself in that isolation which constitutes
in part the majesty of Eastern kings。 He who does not show himself
is admired； and； above all； feared。
As to the prisoners； they were to be penned up in some enclosure；
where； ill…treated； poorly fed； and exposed to all the inclemencies
of the weather； they would await Feofar's pleasure。
The most docile and patient of them all was undoubtedly
Michael Strogoff。 He allowed himself to be led； for they were
leading him where he wished to go； and under conditions of safety
which free he could not have found on the road from Kolyvan
to Tomsk。 To escape before reaching that town was to risk
again falling into the hands of the scouts； who were scouring
the steppe。 The most eastern line occupied by the Tartar
columns was not situated beyond the eighty…fifth meridian；
which passes through Tomsk。 This meridian once passed；
Michael considered that he should be beyond the hostile zones；
that he could traverse Genisci without danger； and gain
Krasnoiarsk before Feofar…Khan had invaded the province。
〃Once at Tomsk；〃 he repeated to himself； to repress some feelings
of impatience which he could not entirely master； 〃in a few minutes
I should be beyond the outposts； and twelve hours gained on Feofar；
twelve hours on Ogareff； that surely would be enough to give me
a start of them to Irkutsk。〃
The thing that Michael dreaded more than everything else was
the presence of Ivan Ogareff in the Tartar camp。 Besides the danger
of being recognized； he felt； by a sort of instinct； that this
was the traitor whom it was especially necessary to precede。
He understood； too； that the union of Ogareff's troops with those
of Feofar would complete the invading army； and that the junction
once effected； the army would march en masse on the capital
of Eastern Siberia。 All his apprehensions came from this quarter；
and he dreaded every instant to hear some flourish of trumpets；
announcing the arrival of the lieutenant of the Emir。
To this was added the thought of his mother； of Nadia；
the one a prisoner at Omsk； the other dragged on board
the Irtych boats； and no doubt a captive； as Marfa Strogoff was。
He could do nothing for them。 Should he ever see them again？
At this question； to which he dared not reply； his heart
sank very low。
At the same time with Michael Strogoff and so many other prisoners
Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet had also been taken to the Tartar camp。
Their former traveling companion； captured like them at the telegraph
office； knew that they were penned up with him in the enclosure；
guarded by numerous sentinels； but he did not wish to accost them。
It mattered little to him； at this time especially； what they might think
of him since the affair at Ichim。 Besides； he desired to be alone；
that he might act alone； if necessary。 He therefore held himself aloof
from his former acquaintances。
From the moment that Harry Blount had fallen by his side； Jolivet had
not ceased his attentions to him。 During the journey from Kolyvan
to the campthat is to say； for several hoursBlount； by leaning on his
companion's arm； had been enabled to follow the rest of the prisoners。
He tried to make known that he was a British subject； but it had no effect
on the barbarians； who only replied by prods with a lance or sword。
The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph was； therefore； obliged to submit
to the common lot； resolving to protest later； and obtain satisfaction
for such treatment。 But the journey was not the less disagreeable to him；
for his wound caused him much pain； and without Alcide Jolivet's
assistance he might never have reached the camp。
Jolivet； whose practical philosophy never abandoned him； had physically
and morally strengthened his companion by every means in his power。
His first care； when they found themselves definitely established
in the enclosure； was to examine Blount's wound。 Having managed
carefully to draw off his coat； he found that the shoulder had been
only grazed by the shot。
〃This is nothing；〃 he said。 〃A mere scratch！ After two or three
dressings you will be all to rights。〃
〃But these dressings？〃 asked Blount。
〃I will make them for you myself。〃
〃Then you are something of a doctor？〃
〃All Frenchmen are something of doctors。〃
And on this affirmation Alcide； tearing his handkerchief；
made lint of one piece； bandages of the other； took some water
from a well dug in the middle of the enclosure； bathed the wound；
and skillfully placed the wet rag on Harry Blount's shoulder。
〃I treat you with water；〃 he said。 〃This liquid is the most efficacious
sedative known for the treatment of wounds； and is the most employed now。
Doctors have taken six thousand years to discover that！ Yes； six thousand
years in round numbers！〃
〃I thank you； M。 Jolivet；〃 answered Harry； stretching himself on a bed
of dry leaves； which his companion had arranged for him in the shade
of a birch tree。
〃Bah！ it's nothing！ You would do as much for me。〃
〃I am not quite so sure；〃 said Blount candidly。
〃Nonsense； stupid！ All English are generous。〃
〃Doubtless； but the French？〃
〃Well； the Frenchthey are brutes； if you like！
But what redeems them is that they are French。 Say nothing
more about that； or rather； say nothing more at all。
Rest is absolutely necessary for you。〃
But Harry Blount had no wish to be silent。 If the wound； in prudence；
required rest； the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph was not a man
to indulge himself。
〃M。 Jolivet；〃 he asked； 〃do you think that our last dispatches
have been able to pass the Russian frontier？〃
〃Why not？〃 answered Alcide。 〃By this time you may be sure
that my beloved cousin knows all about the affair at Kolyvan。〃
〃How many copies does your cousin work off of her dispatches？〃
asked Blount； for the first time putting his q