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Michael made no response。
〃Michael；〃 continued Nadia； 〃do you not know that he defended you
when you were the Tartars' sport； that he risked his life for me？〃
Michael was still silent。 Motionless； his face buried in his hands；
of what was he thinking？ Perhaps； although he did not answer；
he heard Nadia speak。
Yes！ he heard her； for when the young girl added； 〃Where shall
I lead you； Michael？〃
〃To Irkutsk！〃 he replied。
〃By the highroad？〃
〃Yes； Nadia。〃
Michael was still the same man who had sworn； whatever happened；
to accomplish his object。 To follow the highroad； was certainly to go
the shortest way。 If the vanguard of Feofar…Khan's troops appeared；
it would then be time to strike across the country。
Nadia took Michael's hand； and they started。
The next morning； the 13th of September； twenty versts further；
they made a short halt in the village of Joulounov…skoe。 It was
burnt and deserted。 All night Nadia had tried to see if the body
of Nicholas had not been left on the road； but it was in vain
that she looked among the ruins； and searched among the dead。
Was he reserved for some cruel torture at Irkutsk？
Nadia； exhausted with hunger； was fortunate enough to find in one
of the houses a quantity of dried meat and 〃soukharis；〃 pieces
of bread； which； dried by evaporation； preserve their nutritive
qualities for an indefinite time。
Michael and the girl loaded themselves with as much as they could carry。
They had thus a supply of food for several days； and as to water；
there would be no want of that in a district rendered fertile
by the numerous little affluents of the Angara。
They continued their journey。 Michael walked with a firm step；
and only slackened his pace for his companion's sake。
Nadia； not wishing to retard him； obliged herself to walk。
Happily； he could not see to what a miserable state fatigue
had reduced her。
However； Michael guessed it。 〃You are quite done up； poor child；〃
he said sometimes。
〃No；〃 she would reply。
〃When you can no longer walk； I will carry you。〃
〃Yes； Michael。〃
During this day they came to the little river Oka； but it was fordable；
and they had no difficulty in crossing。 The sky was cloudy
and the temperature moderate。 There was some fear that the rain
might come on； which would much have increased their misery。
A few showers fell； but they did not last。
They went on as before； hand in hand； speaking little；
Nadia looking about on every side； twice a day they halted。
Six hours of the night were given to sleep。 In a few huts Nadia
again found a little mutton； but； contrary to Michael's hopes；
there was not a single beast of burden in the country；
horses； camelsall had been either killed or carried off。
They must still continue to plod on across this weary
steppe on foot。
The third Tartar column； on its way to Irkutsk； had left plain traces：
here a dead horse； there an abandoned cart。 The bodies of unfortunate
Siberians lay along the road； principally at the entrances to villages。
Nadia； overcoming her repugnance； looked at all these corpses！
The chief danger lay； not before； but behind。
The advance guard of the Emir's army； commanded by Ivan Ogareff；
might at any moment appear。 The boats sent down the lower
Yenisei must by this time have reached Krasnoiarsk and been
made use of。 The road was therefore open to the invaders。
No Russian force could be opposed to them between Krasnoiarsk
and Lake Baikal； Michael therefore expected before long
the appearance of the Tartar scouts。
At each halt； Nadia climbed some hill and looked anxiously
to the Westward； but as yet no cloud of dust had signaled
the approach of a troop of horse。
Then the march was resumed； and when Michael felt that he was
dragging poor Nadia forward too rapidly； he went at a slower pace。
They spoke little； and only of Nicholas。 The young girl recalled
all that this companion of a few days had done for them。
In answering； Michael tried to give Nadia some hope of which he did
not feel a spark himself； for he well knew that the unfortunate fellow
would not escape death。
One day Michael said to the girl； 〃You never speak to me
of my mother； Nadia。〃
His mother！ Nadia had never wished to do so。 Why renew his grief？
Was not the old Siberian dead？ Had not her son given the last kiss
to her corpse stretched on the plain of Tomsk？
〃Speak to me of her； Nadia；〃 said Michael。 〃Speakyou will please me。〃
And then Nadia did what she had not done before。 She told all
that had passed between Marfa and herself since their meeting
at Omsk； where they had seen each other for the first time。
She said how an inexplicable instinct had led her towards the old
prisoner without knowing who she was； and what encouragement she
had received in return。 At that time Michael Strogoff had been
to her but Nicholas Korpanoff。
〃Whom I ought always to have been；〃 replied Michael； his brow darkening。
Then later he added； 〃I have broken my oath； Nadia。 I had sworn
not to see my mother！〃
〃But you did not try to see her； Michael；〃 replied Nadia。 〃Chance alone
brought you into her presence。〃
〃I had sworn； whatever might happen； not to betray myself。〃
〃Michael； Michael！ at sight of the lash raised upon Marfa；
could you refrain？ No！ No oath could prevent a son from
succoring his mother！〃
〃I have broken my oath； Nadia；〃 returned Michael。 〃May God
and the Father pardon me！〃
〃Michael；〃 resumed the girl； 〃I have a question to ask you。
Do not answer it if you think you ought not。 Nothing from you
would vex me！〃
〃Speak； Nadia。〃
〃Why； now that the Czar's letter has been taken from you；
are you so anxious to reach Irkutsk？〃
Michael tightly pressed his companion's hand； but he did not answer。
〃Did you know the contents of that letter before you left Moscow？〃
〃No； I did not know。〃
〃Must I think； Michael； that the wish alone to place me in my father's
hands draws you toward Irkutsk？〃
〃No； Nadia；〃 replied Michael； gravely。 〃I should deceive you if I allowed
you to believe that it was so。 I go where duty orders me to go。 As to
taking you to Irkutsk； is it not you； Nadia； who are now taking me there？
Do I not see with your eyes； and is it not your hand that guides me？
Have you not repaid a hundred…fold the help which I was able to give you
at first？ I do not know if fate will cease to go against us； but the day
on which you thank me for having placed you in your father's hands；
I in my turn will thank you for having led me to Irkutsk。〃
〃Poor Michael！〃 answered Nadia； with emotion。 〃Do not speak so。
That does not answer me。 Michael； why； now； are you in such haste
to reach Irkutsk？〃
〃Because I must be there before Ivan Ogareff；〃 exclaimed Michael。
〃Even now？〃
〃Even now； and I will be there； too！〃
In uttering these words； Michael did not speak solely through hatred
to the traitor。 Nadia understood that her companion had not told；
or could not tell； her all。
On the 15th of September； three days later； the two reached
the village of Kouitounskoe。 The young girl suffered dreadfully。
Her aching feet could scarcely support her； but she fought；
she strug