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as well as from the scraps of conversation he overheard later；
was this。 These men were not under the direct orders of the Emir；
who was now detained beyond the Yenisei。 They made part of a third
column chiefly composed of Tartars from the khanats of Khokland
and Koondooz； with which Feofar's army was to affect a junction
in the neighborhood of Irkutsk。
By Ogareff's advice； in order to assure the success of the invasion
in the Eastern provinces； this column had skirted the base
of the Altai Mountains。 Pillaging and ravaging； it had reached
the upper course of the Yenisei。 There； guessing what had been
done at Krasnoiarsk by order of the Czar； and to facilitate
the passage of the river to the Emir's troops； this column
had launched a flotilla of boats； which would enable Feofar
to cross and r俿um？the road to Irkutsk。 Having done this；
it had descended the valley of the Yenisei and struck the road on
a level with Alsalevsk。 From this little town began the frightful
course of ruin which forms the chief part of Tartar warfare。
Nijni…Oudinsk had shared the common fate； and the Tartars；
to the number of fifty thousand； had now quitted it to take up
a position before Irkutsk。 Before long； they would be reinforced
by the Emir's troops。
Such was the state of affairs at this date； most serious for this
isolated part of Eastern Siberia； and for the comparatively few
defenders of its capital。
It can be imagined with what thoughts Michael's mind was now occupied！
Who could have been astonished had he； in his present situation；
lost all hope and all courage？ Nothing of the sort； however； his lips
muttered no other words than these： 〃I will get there！〃
Half an hour after the attack of the Tartar horsemen；
Michael Strogoff； Nadia； and Nicholas entered Nijni…Oudinsk。 The
faithful dog followed them； though at a distance。
They could not stay in the town； as it was in flames；
and about to be left by the last of the marauders。
The prisoners were therefore thrown on horses and hurried away；
Nicholas resigned as usual； Nadia； her faith in Michael unshaken；
and Michael himself； apparently indifferent； but ready to seize
any opportunity of escaping。
The Tartars were not long in perceiving that one of their
prisoners was blind； and their natural barbarity led them to make
game of their unfortunate victim。 They were traveling fast。
Michael's horse； having no one to guide him； often started aside；
and so made confusion among the ranks。 This drew on his rider
such abuse and brutality as wrung Nadia's heart； and filled Nicholas
with indignation。 But what could they do？ They could not speak
the Tartar language； and their assistance was mercilessly refused。
Soon it occurred to these men； in a refinement of cruelty；
to exchange the horse Michael was riding for one which was blind。
The motive of the change was explained by a remark which
Michael overheard； 〃Perhaps that Russian can see； after all！〃
Michael was placed on this horse； and the reins ironically put
into his hand。 Then； by dint of lashing； throwing stones；
and shouting； the animal was urged into a gallop。
The horse； not being guided by his rider； blind as himself；
sometimes ran into a tree； sometimes went quite off the road
in consequence； collisions and falls； which might have
been extremely dangerous。
Michael did not complain。 Not a murmur escaped him。
When his horse fell； he waited until it got up。
It was； indeed； soon assisted up； and the cruel fun continued。
At sight of this wicked treatment； Nicholas could not
contain himself； he endeavored to go to his friend's aid。
He was prevented； and treated brutally。
This game would have been prolonged； to the Tartars'
great amusement； had not a serious accident put an end to it。
On the 10th of September the blind horse ran away； and made
straight for a pit； some thirty or forty feet deep； at the side
of the road。
Nicholas tried to go after him。 He was held back。
The horse； having no guide； fell with his rider to the bottom。
Nicholas and Nadia uttered a piercing cry！ They believed
that their unfortunate companion had been killed。
However； when they went to his assistance； it was found that Michael；
having been able to throw himself out of the saddle； was unhurt；
but the miserable horse had two legs broken； and was quite useless。
He was left there to die without being put out of his suffering；
and Michael； fastened to a Tartar's saddle； was obliged to follow
the detachment on foot。
Even now； not a protest； not a complaint！ He marched with
a rapid step； scarcely drawn by the cord which tied him。
He was still 〃the Man of Iron；〃 of whom General Kissoff had
spoken to the Czar！
The next day； the 11th of September； the detachment passed
through the village of Chibarlinskoe。 Here an incident
occurred which had serious consequences。 It was nightfall。
The Tartar horsemen； having halted； were more or less intoxicated。
They were about to start。 Nadia； who till then； by a miracle；
had been respectfully treated by the soldiers； was insulted
by one of them。
Michael could not see the insult； nor the insulter； but Nicholas
saw for him。 Then； quietly； without thinking； without perhaps
knowing what he was doing； Nicholas walked straight up to the man；
and； before the latter could make the least movement to stop him；
had seized a pistol from his holster and discharged it full
at his breast。
The officer in command of the detachment hastened up on hearing
the report。 The soldiers would have cut the unfortunate Nicholas
to pieces； but at a sign from their officer； he was bound instead；
placed across a horse； and the detachment galloped off。
The rope which fastened Michael； gnawed through by him；
broke by the sudden start of the horse； and the half…tipsy rider
galloped on without perceiving that his prisoner had escaped。
Michael and Nadia found themselves alone on the road。
CHAPTER IX IN THE STEPPE
MICHAEL STROGOFF and Nadia were once more as free as they had been
in the journey from Perm to the banks of the Irtych。 But how
the conditions under which they traveled were altered！
Then； a comfortable tarantass； fresh horses； well…kept post…horses
assured the rapidity of their journey。 Now they were on foot；
it was utterly impossible to procure any other means of locomotion；
they were without resources； not knowing how to obtain even food；
and they had still nearly three hundred miles to go！
Moreover； Michael could now only see with Nadia's eyes。
As to the friend whom chance had given them； they had just
lost him； and fearful might be his fate。 Michael had thrown
himself down under the brushwood at the side of the road。
Nadia stood beside him； waiting for the word from him to
continue the march。
It was ten o'clock。 The sun had more than three hours before
disappeared below the horizon。 There was not a house in sight。
The last of the Tartars was lost in the distance。
Michael and Nadia were quite alone。
〃What will they do with our friend？〃 exclaimed the girl。
〃Poor Nicholas！ Our meeting will have been fatal to him！〃
Michael made no response。
〃Michael；〃 continued Nadia； 〃do you not know that he