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who were only in small force there； had been obliged to retire
before him。 He had advanced farther than Lake Balkhash；
gaining over the Kirghiz population on his way。 Pillaging； ravaging；
enrolling those who submitted； taking prisoners those who resisted；
he marched from one town to another； followed by those impedimenta
of Oriental sovereignty which may be called his household；
his wives and his slavesall with the cool audacity of a modern
Ghengis…Khan。 It was impossible to ascertain where he now was；
how far his soldiers had marched before the news of the rebellion
reached Moscow； or to what part of Siberia the Russian troops
had been forced to retire。 All communication was interrupted。
Had the wire between Kolyvan and Tomsk been cut by Tartar scouts；
or had the Emir himself arrived at the Yeniseisk provinces？
Was all the lower part of Western Siberia in a ferment？
Had the rebellion already spread to the eastern regions？
No one could say。 The only agent which fears neither cold nor heat；
which can neither be stopped by the rigors of winter nor the heat
of summer； and which flies with the rapidity of lightning
the electric currentwas prevented from traversing the steppes；
and it was no longer possible to warn the Grand Duke； shut up
in Irkutsk； of the danger threatening him from the treason
of Ivan Ogareff。
A courier only could supply the place of the interrupted current。
It would take this man some time to traverse the five thousand two hundred
versts between Moscow and Irkutsk。 To pass the ranks of the rebels
and invaders he must display almost superhuman courage and intelligence。
But with a clear head and a firm heart much can be done。
〃Shall I be able to find this head and heart？〃 thought the Czar。
CHAPTER III MICHAEL STROGOFF MEETS THE CZAR
THE door of the imperial cabinet was again opened and
General Kissoff was announced。
〃The courier？〃 inquired the Czar eagerly。
〃He is here； sire；〃 replied General Kissoff。
〃Have you found a fitting man？〃
〃I will answer for him to your majesty。〃
〃Has he been in the service of the Palace？〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃You know him？〃
〃Personally； and at various times he has fulfilled difficult
missions with success。〃
〃Abroad？〃
〃In Siberia itself。〃
〃Where does he come from？〃
〃From Omsk。 He is a Siberian。〃
〃Has he coolness； intelligence； courage？〃
〃Yes； sire； he has all the qualities necessary to succeed；
even where others might possibly fail。〃
〃What is his age？〃
〃Thirty。〃
〃Is he strong and vigorous？〃
〃Sire； he can bear cold； hunger； thirst； fatigue； to the
very last extremities。〃
〃He must have a frame of iron。〃
〃Sire； he has。〃
〃And a heart？〃
〃A heart of gold。〃
〃His name？〃
〃Michael Strogoff。〃
〃Is he ready to set out？〃
〃He awaits your majesty's orders in the guard…room。〃
〃Let him come in；〃 said the Czar。
In a few moments Michael Strogoff； the courier； entered the imperial
library。 He was a tall； vigorous； broad…shouldered； deep…chested man。
His powerful head possessed the fine features of the Caucasian race。
His well…knit frame seemed built for the performance of feats
of strength。 It would have been a difficult task to move such a man
against his will； for when his feet were once planted on the ground；
it was as if they had taken root。 As he doffed his Muscovite cap；
locks of thick curly hair fell over his broad； massive forehead。
When his ordinarily pale face became at all flushed；
it arose solely from a more rapid action of the heart。
His eyes； of a deep blue； looked with clear； frank； firm gaze。
The slightly…contracted eyebrows indicated lofty heroism〃the hero's
cool courage；〃 according to the definition of the physiologist。
He possessed a fine nose； with large nostrils； and a well…shaped mouth；
with the slightly…projecting lips which denote a generous
and noble heart。
Michael Strogoff had the temperament of the man of action； who does
not bite his nails or scratch his head in doubt and indecision。
Sparing of gestures as of words； he always stood motionless like a soldier
before his superior； but when he moved； his step showed a firmness；
a freedom of movement； which proved the confidence and vivacity
of his mind。
Michael Strogoff wore a handsome military uniform something
resembling that of a light…cavalry officer in the field
boots； spurs； half tightly…fitting trousers； brown pelisse；
trimmed with fur and ornamented with yellow braid。
On his breast glittered a cross and several medals。
Michael Strogoff belonged to the special corps of the Czar's
couriers； ranking as an officer among those picked men。
His most discernible characteristicparticularly in his walk；
his face； in the whole man； and which the Czar perceived
at a glancewas； that he was 〃a fulfiller of orders。〃
He therefore possessed one of the most serviceable qualities
in Russiaone which； as the celebrated novelist Tourgueneff says；
〃will lead to the highest positions in the Muscovite empire。〃
In short； if anyone could accomplish this journey from Moscow
to Irkutsk； across a rebellious country； surmount obstacles；
and brave perils of all sorts； Michael Strogoff was the man。
A circumstance especially favorable to the success of his plan was；
that he was thoroughly acquainted with the country which he was
about to traverse； and understood its different dialects
not only from having traveled there before； but because he was
of Siberian origin。
His fatherold Peter Strogoff； dead ten years since
inhabited the town of Omsk； situated in the government of the
same name； and his mother； Marfa Strogoff； lived there still。
There； amid the wild steppes of the provinces of Omsk and Tobolsk；
had the famous huntsman brought up his son Michael to endure hardship。
Peter Strogoff was a huntsman by profession。 Summer and winter
in the burning heat； as well as when the cold was sometimes fifty
degrees below zerohe scoured the frozen plains； the thickets of
birch and larch； the pine forests； setting traps； watching for small
game with his gun； and for large game with the spear or knife。
The large game was nothing less than the Siberian bear； a formidable
and ferocious animal； in size equaling its fellow of the frozen seas。
Peter Strogoff had killed more than thirty…nine bearsthat is
to say； the fortieth had fallen under his blows； and； according to
Russian legends； most huntsmen who have been lucky enough up
to the thirty…ninth bear； have succumbed to the fortieth。
Peter Strogoff had； however； passed the fatal number without even
a scratch。 From that time； his son Michael； aged eleven years；
never failed to accompany him to the hunt； carrying the ragatina
or spear to aid his father； who was armed only with the knife。
When he was fourteen； Michael Strogoff had killed his first bear；
quite alonethat was nothing； but after stripping it he dragged
the gigantic animal's skin to his father's house； many versts distant；
exhibiting remarkable strength in a boy so young。
This style of life was of great benefit to him； and when he arrived
at manhood he could bear any amount of cold； heat； hunger； thirst；
or fatigue。 Like the Yakout of the northern countri