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！
〃How many copies does your cousin work off of her dispatches？〃
asked Blount； for the first time putting his question direct
to his companion。
〃Well；〃 answered Alcide； laughing； 〃my cousin is a very discreet person；
who does not like to be talked about； and who would be in despair if she
troubled the sleep of which you are in need。〃
〃I don't wish to sleep；〃 replied the Englishman。 〃What will your cousin
think of the affairs of Russia？〃
〃That they seem for the time in a bad way。 But； bah！ the
Muscovite government is powerful； it cannot be really uneasy
at an invasion of barbarians。〃
〃Too much ambition has lost the greatest empires；〃 answered Blount；
who was not exempt from a certain English jealousy with regard
to Russian pretensions in Central Asia。
〃Oh； do not let us talk politics；〃 cried Jolivet。 〃It is forbidden
by the faculty。 Nothing can be worse for wounds in the shoulder
unless it was to put you to sleep。〃
〃Let us； then； talk of what we ought to do；〃 replied Blount。
〃M。 Jolivet； I have no intention at all of remaining a prisoner
to these Tartars for an indefinite time。〃
〃Nor I； either； by Jove！〃
〃We will escape on the first opportunity？〃
〃Yes； if there is no other way of regaining our liberty。〃
〃Do you know of any other？〃 asked Blount； looking at his companion。
〃Certainly。 We are not belligerents； we are neutral； and we
will claim our freedom。〃
〃From that brute of a Feofar…Khan？〃
〃No； he would not understand；〃 answered Jolivet； 〃but from
his lieutenant； Ivan Ogareff。〃
〃He is a villain。〃
〃 No doubt； but the villain is a Russian。 He knows that it does not do
to trifle with the rights of men； and he has no interest to retain us；
on the contrary。 But to ask a favor of that gentleman does not quite
suit my taste。〃
〃But that gentleman is not in the camp； or at least I have not seen
him here；〃 observed Blount。
〃He will come。 He will not fail to do that。 He must join
the Emir。 Siberia is cut in two now； and very certainly Feofar's
army is only waiting for him to advance on Irkutsk。〃
〃And once free； what shall we do？〃
〃Once free； we will continue our campaign； and follow the Tartars；
until the time comes when we can make our way into the Russian camp。
We must not give up the game。 No； indeed； we have only just begun。
You； friend； have already had the honor of being wounded in the service
of the Daily Telegraph； whilst II have as yet suffered nothing
in my cousin's service。 Well； well！ Good；〃 murmured Alcide Jolivet；
〃there he is asleep。 A few hours' sleep and a few cold water compresses
are all that are required to set an Englishman on his legs again。
These fellows are made of cast iron。〃
And whilst Harry Blount rested； Alcide watched near him；
after having drawn out his note book； which he loaded with notes；
determined besides to share them with his companion； for the greater
satisfaction of the readers of the Daily Telegraph。 Events had
united them one with the other。 They were no longer jealous of
each other。 So； then； the thing that Michael Strogoff dreaded above
everything was the most lively desire of the two correspondents。
Ivan Ogareff's arrival would evidently be of use to them。
Blount and Jolivet's interest was； therefore； contrary to
that of Michael。 The latter well understood the situation；
and it was one reason； added to many others； which prevented
him from approaching his former traveling companions。
He therefore managed so as not to be seen by them。
Four days passed thus without the state of things being in
anywise altered。 The prisoners heard no talk of the breaking
up of the Tartar camp。 They were strictly guarded。
It would have been impossible for them to pass the cordon
of foot and horse soldiers； which watched them night and day。
As to the food which was given them it was barely sufficient。
Twice in the twenty…four hours they were thrown a piece
of the intestines of goats grilled on the coals； or a few
bits of that cheese called 〃kroute；〃 made of sour ewe's milk；
and which； soaked in mare's milk； forms the Kirghiz dish；
commonly called 〃koumyss。〃 And this was all。
It may be added that the weather had become detestable。
There were considerable atmospheric commotions； bringing squalls
mingled with rain。 The unfortunate prisoners； destitute
of shelter； had to bear all the inclemencies of the weather；
nor was there the slightest alleviation to their misery。
Several wounded women and children died； and the prisoners were
themselves compelled to dig graves for the bodies of those whom
their jailers would not even take the trouble to bury。
During this trying period Alcide Jolivet and Michael Strogoff worked hard；
each in the portions of the enclosure in which they found themselves。
Healthy and vigorous； they suffered less than so many others；
and could better endure the hardships to which they were exposed。
By their advice； and the assistance they rendered； they were of the
greatest possible use to their suffering and despairing fellow…captives。
Was this state of things to last？ Would Feofar…Khan； satisfied
with his first success； wait some time before marching
on Irkutsk？ Such； it was to be feared； would be the case。
But it was not so。 The event so much wished for by Jolivet
and Blount； so much dreaded by Michael； occurred on the morning
of the 12th of August。
On that day the trumpets sounded； the drums beat； the cannon roared。
A huge cloud of dust swept along the road from Kolyvan。 Ivan Ogareff；
followed by several thousand men； made his entry into the Tartar camp。
CHAPTER II CORRESPONDENTS IN TROUBLE
IVAN OGAREFF was bringing up the main body of the army of
the Emir。 The cavalry and infantry now under him had formed part
of the column which had taken Omsk。 Ogareff； not having been
able to reduce the high town； in which； it must be remembered；
the governor and garrison had sought refuge； had decided to pass on；
not wishing to delay operations which ought to lead to the conquest
of Eastern Siberia。 He therefore left a garrison in Omsk； and；
reinforcing himself en route with the conquerors of Kolyvan；
joined Feofar's army。
Ivan Ogareff's soldiers halted at the outposts of the camp。
They received no orders to bivouac。 Their chief's plan；
doubtless； was not to halt there； but to press on and reach
Tomsk in the shortest possible time； it being an important town；
naturally intended to become the center of future operations。
Besides his soldiers； Ogareff was bringing a convoy
of Russian and Siberian prisoners； captured either at Omsk
or Kolyvan。 These unhappy creatures were not led to
the enclosurealready too crowdedbut were forced to remain
at the outposts without shelter； almost without nourishment。
What fate was Feofar…Khan reserving for these unfortunates？
Would he imprison them in Tomsk； or would some bloody execution；
familiar to the Tartar chiefs； remove them when they were found
too inconvenient？ This was the secret of the capricious Emir。
This army had not come from Omsk and Kolyvan without bringing in its
train the usual crowd of beggars； freebooters； pedlars； and gypsies；
which compose the rear…guard o