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train the usual crowd of beggars； freebooters； pedlars； and gypsies；
which compose the rear…guard of an army on the march。
All these people lived on the country traversed； and left
little of anything behind them。 There was； therefore；
a necessity for pushing forward； if only to secure provisions
for the troops。 The whole region between Ichim and the Obi；
now completely devastated； no longer offered any resources。
The Tartars left a desert behind them。
Conspicuous among the gypsies who had hastened from the western provinces
was the Tsigane troop； which had accompanied Michael Strogoff as far
as Perm。 Sangarre was there。 This fierce spy； the tool of Ivan Ogareff；
had not deserted her master。 Ogareff had traveled rapidly to Ichim；
whilst Sangarre and her band had proceeded to Omsk by the southern part
of the province。
It may be easily understood how useful this woman was
to Ogareff。 With her gypsy…band she could penetrate anywhere。
Ivan Ogareff was kept acquainted with all that was going on in
the very heart of the invaded provinces。 There were a hundred eyes；
a hundred ears； open in his service。 Besides； he paid liberally
for this espionage； from which he derived so much advantage。
Once Sangarre； being implicated in a very serious affair； had been
saved by the Russian officer。 She never forgot what she owed him；
and had devoted herself to his service body and soul。
When Ivan Ogareff entered on the path of treason；
he saw at once how he might turn this woman to account。
Whatever order he might give her； Sangarre would execute it。
An inexplicable instinct； more powerful still than that of gratitude；
had urged her to make herself the slave of the traitor
to whom she had been attached since the very beginning of his
exile in Siberia。
Confidante and accomplice； Sangarre； without country； without family；
had been delighted to put her vagabond life to the service of the invaders
thrown by Ogareff on Siberia。 To the wonderful cunning natural to her
race she added a wild energy； which knew neither forgiveness nor pity。
She was a savage worthy to share the wigwam of an Apache or the hut
of an Andaman。
Since her arrival at Omsk； where she had rejoined him with
her Tsiganes； Sangarre had not again left Ogareff。 The circumstance
that Michael and Marfa Strogoff had met was known to her。
She knew and shared Ogareff's fears concerning the journey
of a courier of the Czar。 Having Marfa Strogoff in her power；
she would have been the woman to torture her with all the refinement
of a RedSkin in order to wrest her secret from her。 But the hour
had not yet come in which Ogareff wished the old Siberian to speak。
Sangarre had to wait； and she waited； without losing sight
of her whom she was watching； observing her slightest gestures；
her slightest words； endeavoring to catch the word 〃son〃 escaping
from her lips； but as yet always baffled by Marfa's taciturnity。
At the first flourish of the trumpets several officers of high rank；
followed by a brilliant escort of Usbeck horsemen； moved to the front
of the camp to receive Ivan Ogareff。 Arrived in his presence；
they paid him the greatest respect； and invited him to accompany them
to Feofar…Khan's tent。
Imperturbable as usual； Ogareff replied coldly to the deference paid
to him。 He was plainly dressed； but； from a sort of impudent bravado；
he still wore the uniform of a Russian officer。
As he was about to enter the camp； Sangarre； passing among
the officers approached and remained motionless before him。
〃Nothing？〃 asked Ogareff。
〃Nothing。〃
〃Have patience。〃
〃Is the time approaching when you will force the old woman to speak？〃
〃It is approaching； Sangarre。〃
〃When will the old woman speak？〃
〃When we reach Tomsk。〃
〃And we shall be there〃
〃In three days。〃
A strange gleam shot from Sangarre's great black eyes； and she
retired with a calm step。 Ogareff pressed his spurs into his
horse's flanks； and； followed by his staff of Tartar officers；
rode towards the Emir's tent。
Feofar…Khan was expecting his lieutenant。 The council；
composed of the bearer of the royal seal； the khodja；
and some high officers； had taken their places in the tent。
Ivan Ogareff dismounted and entered。
Feofar…Khan was a man of forty； tall； rather pale； of a fierce
countenance； and evil eyes。 A curly black beard flowed over his chest。
With his war costume； coat of mail of gold and silver； cross…belt and
scabbard glistening with precious stones； boots with golden spurs；
helmet ornamented with an aigrette of brilliant diamonds； Feofar presented
an aspect rather strange than imposing for a Tartar Sardana…palus；
an undisputed sovereign； who directs at his pleasure the life and fortune
of his subjects。
When Ivan Ogareff appeared； the great dignitaries remained seated
on their gold…embroidered cushions； but Feofar rose from a rich
divan which occupied the back part of the tent； the ground being
hidden under the thick velvet…pile of a Bokharian carpet。
The Emir approached Ogareff and gave him a kiss； the meaning of which
he could not mistake。 This kiss made the lieutenant chief of the council；
and placed him temporarily above the khodja。
Then Feofar spoke。 〃I have no need to question you；〃 said he；
〃speak； Ivan。 You will find here ears very ready to listen to you。〃
〃Takhsir；〃 answered Ogareff； 〃this is what I have to make
known to you。〃 He spoke in the Tartar language； giving to his
phrases the emphatic turn which distinguishes the languages of
the Orientals。 〃Takhsir； this is not the time for unnecessary words。
What I have done at the head of your troops； you know。
The lines of the Ichim and the Irtych are now in our power； and the
Turcoman horsemen can bathe their horses in the now Tartar waters。
The Kirghiz hordes rose at the voice of Feofar…Khan。 You can
now push your troops towards the east； and where the sun rises；
or towards the west； where he sets。〃
〃And if I march with the sun？〃 asked the Emir； without his countenance
betraying any of his thoughts。
〃To march with the sun；〃 answered Ogareff； 〃is to throw yourself
towards Europe； it is to conquer rapidly the Siberian provinces
of Tobolsk as far as the Ural Mountains。〃
〃And if I go to meet this luminary of the heavens？〃
〃It is to subdue to the Tartar dominion； with Irkutsk； the richest
countries of Central Asia。〃
〃But the armies of the Sultan of St。 Petersburg？〃 said Feofar…Khan；
designating the Emperor of Russia by this strange title。
〃You have nothing to fear from them；〃 replied Ivan Ogareff。
〃The invasion has been sudden； and before the Russian army can
succor them； Irkutsk or Tobolsk will have fallen into your power。
The Czar's troops have been overwhelmed at Kolyvan； as they
will be everywhere where yours meet them。〃
〃And what advice does your devotion to the Tartar cause suggest？〃
asked the Emir； after a few moments' silence。
〃My advice；〃 answered Ivan Ogareff quickly； 〃is to march to meet the sun。
It is to give the grass of the eastern steppes to the Turcoman horses
to consume。 It is to take Irkutsk； the capital of the eastern provinces；
and with it a hostage； the possession of whom