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！
I was the clerk in charge of the messages。〃
〃And you stayed at your post up to the last moment？〃
〃Why； it's at that moment one ought to be there！〃
〃It was the day when an Englishman and a Frenchman were disputing；
roubles in hand； for the place at your wicket； and the Englishman
telegraphed some poetry。〃
〃That is possible； but I do not remember it。〃
〃What！ you do not remember it？〃
〃I never read the dispatches I send。 My duty being to forget them；
the shortest way is not to know them。〃
This reply showed Nicholas Pigassof's character。
In the meanwhile the kibitka pursued its way； at a pace which Michael
longed to render more rapid。 But Nicholas and his horse were
accustomed to a pace which neither of them would like to alter。
The horse went for two hours and rested oneso on； day and night。
During the halts the horse grazed； the travelers ate in company
with the faithful Serko。 The kibitka was provisioned for at
least twenty persons； and Nicholas generously placed his
supplies at the disposal of his two guests； whom he believed
to be brother and sister。
After a day's rest； Nadia recovered some strength。
Nicholas took the best possible care of her。
The journey was being made under tolerable circumstances；
slowly certainly； but surely。 It sometimes happened that during
the night； Nicholas； although driving； fell asleep； and snored
with a clearness which showed the calmness of his conscience。
Perhaps then； by looking close； Michael's hand might have been seen
feeling for the reins； and giving the horse a more rapid pace；
to the great astonishment of Serko； who； however； said nothing。
The trot was exchanged for the amble as soon as Nicholas awoke；
but the kibitka had not the less gained some versts。
Thus they passed the river Ichirnsk； the villages
of Ichisnokoe； Berikylokoe； Kuskoe； the river Marunsk； the village
of the same name； Bogostowskoe； and； lastly； the Ichoula； a little
stream which divides Western from Eastern Siberia。 The road
now lay sometimes across wide moors； which extended as far
as the eye could reach； sometimes through thick forests of firs；
of which they thought they should never get to the end。
Everywhere was a desert； the villages were almost entirely abandoned。
The peasants had fled beyond the Yenisei； hoping that this wide
river would perhaps stop the Tartars。
On the 22d of August； the kibitka entered the town of Atchinsk；
two hundred and fifty miles from Tomsk。 Eighty miles still lay
between them and Krasnoiarsk。
No incident had marked the journey。 For the six days during which they
had been together； Nicholas； Michael； and Nadia had remained the same；
the one in his unchange…able calm； the other two； uneasy； and thinking
of the time when their companion would leave them。
Michael saw the country through which they traveled with the eyes
of Nicholas and the young girl。 In turns； they each described to him
the scenes they passed。 He knew whether he was in a forest or on a plain；
whether a hut was on the steppe； or whether any Siberian was in sight。
Nicholas was never silent； he loved to talk； and； from his peculiar
way of viewing things； his friends were amused by his conversation。
One day； Michael asked him what sort of weather it was。
〃Fine enough； little father；〃 he answered； 〃but soon we shall feel
the first winter frosts。 Perhaps the Tartars will go into winter
quarters during the bad season。〃
Michael Strogoff shook his head with a doubtful air。
〃You do not think so； little father？〃 resumed Nicholas。 〃You think
that they will march on to Irkutsk？〃
〃I fear so；〃 replied Michael。
〃Yes 。 。 。 you are right； they have with them a bad man；
who will not let them loiter on the way。 You have heard speak
of Ivan Ogareff？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You know that it is not right to betray one's country！〃
〃No 。 。 。 it is not right 。 。 。〃 answered Michael； who wished
to remain unmoved。
〃Little father；〃 continued Nicholas； 〃it seems to me that you
are not half indignant enough when Ivan Ogareff is spoken of。
Your Russian heart ought to leap when his name is uttered。〃
〃Believe me； my friend； I hate him more than you can ever
hate him；〃 said Michael。
〃It is not possible；〃 replied Nicholas； 〃no； it is not possible！
When I think of Ivan Ogareff； of the harm which he is doing
to our sacred Russia； I get into such a rage that if I could
get hold of him〃
〃If you could get hold of him； friend？〃
〃I think I should kill him。〃
〃And I； I am sure of it；〃 returned Michael quietly。
CHAPTER VII THE PASSAGE OF THE YENISEI
AT nightfall； on the 25th of August； the kibitka came in sight
of Krasnoiarsk。 The journey from Tomsk had taken eight days。
If it had not been accomplished as rapidly as it might；
it was because Nicholas had slept little。 Consequently； it was
impossible to increase his horse's pace； though in other hands；
the journey would not have taken sixty hours。
Happily； there was no longer any fear of Tartars。 Not a scout
had appeared on the road over which the kibitka had just traveled。
This was strange enough； and evidently some serious cause
had prevented the Emir's troops from marching without delay
upon Irkutsk。 Something had occurred。 A new Russian corps；
hastily raised in the government of Yeniseisk； had marched to Tomsk
to endeavor to retake the town。 But； being too weak to withstand
the Emir's troops； now concentrated there； they had been forced
to effect a retreat。 Feofar…Khan； including his own soldiers；
and those of the Khanats of Khokhand and Koun…douze； had now
under his command two hundred and fifty thousand men； to which
the Russian government could not as yet oppose a sufficient force。
The invasion could not； therefore； be immediately stopped；
and the whole Tartar army might at once march upon Irkutsk。 The battle
of Tomsk was on the 22nd of August； though this Michael did not know；
but it explained why the vanguard of the Emir's army had not
appeared at Krasnoiarsk by the 25th。
However； though Michael Strogoff could not know the events
which had occurred since his departure； he at least knew that
he was several days in advance of the Tartars； and that he need
not despair of reaching before them the town of Irkutsk；
still six hundred miles distant。
Besides； at Krasnoiarsk； of which the population is about twelve
thousand souls； he depended upon obtaining some means of transport。
Since Nicholas Pigassof was to stop in that town； it would be
necessary to replace him by a guide； and to change the kibitka
for another more rapid vehicle。 Michael； after having addressed
himself to the governor of the town； and established his identity
and quality as Courier of the Czarwhich would be easy
doubted not that he would be enabled to get to Irkutsk in the shortest
possible time。 He would thank the good Nicholas Pigassof；
and set out immediately with Nadia； for he did not wish
to leave her until he had placed her in her father's arms。
Though Nicholas had resolved to stop at Krasnoiarsk； it was
only as he said； 〃on condition of finding employment there。〃
In fact； this model clerk； after having stayed to the last
minute at his post in Kolyvan； was