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from the Russian camp of Eastern Siberia。 They proceeded
by forced marches towards Irkutsk。 They hoped to distance
Feofar…Khan； and would certainly have done so； had it not been
for the unexpected apparition of the third column； come from
the South； up the valley of the Yenisei。 They had been cut off；
as had been Michael； before being able even to reach the Dinka；
and had been obliged to go back to Lake Baikal。
They had been in the place for three days in much perplexity；
when the raft arrived。 The fugitives' plan was explained to them。
There was certainly a chance that they might be able to pass under
cover of the night； and penetrate into Irkutsk。 They resolved
to make the attempt。
Alcide directly communicated with the old boatman； and asked a passage
for himself and his companion； offering to pay anything he demanded；
whatever it might be。
〃No one pays here；〃 replied the old man gravely； 〃every one risks
his life； that is all！〃
The two correspondents came on board； and Nadia saw them take
their places in the forepart of the raft。 Harry Blount was still
the reserved Englishman； who had scarcely addressed a word to her
during the whole passage over the Ural Mountains。 Alcide Jolivet
seemed to be rather more grave than usual； and it may be acknowledged
that his gravity was justified by the circumstances。
Jolivet had； as has been said； taken his seat on the raft；
when he felt a hand laid on his arm。 Turning； he recognized Nadia；
the sister of the man who was no longer Nicholas Korpanoff；
but Michael Strogoff； Courier of the Czar。 He was about to make
an exclamation of surprise when he saw the young girl lay her
finger on her lips。
〃Come；〃 said Nadia。 And with a careless air； Alcide rose
and followed her； making a sign to Blount to accompany him。
But if the surprise of the correspondents had been great at meeting
Nadia on the raft it was boundless when they perceived Michael Strogoff；
whom they had believed to be no longer living。
Michael had not moved at their approach。 Jolivet turned towards
the girl。 〃He does not see you； gentlemen；〃 said Nadia。 〃The Tartars
have burnt out his eyes！ My poor brother is blind！〃
A feeling of lively compassion exhibited itself on the faces of Blount
and his companion。 In a moment they were seated beside Michael；
pressing his hand and waiting until he spoke to them。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said Michael； in a low voice； 〃you ought not to know who
I am； nor what I am come to do in Siberia。 I ask you to keep my secret。
Will you promise me to do so？〃
〃On my honor；〃 answered Jolivet。
〃On my word as a gentleman；〃 added Blount。
〃Good； gentlemen。〃
〃Can we be of any use to you？〃 asked Harry Blount。 〃Could we
not help you to accomplish your task？〃
〃I prefer to act alone；〃 replied Michael。
〃But those blackguards have destroyed your sight；〃 said Alcide。
〃I have Nadia； and her eyes are enough for me！〃
In half an hour the raft left the little port of Livenitchnaia；
and entered the river。 It was five in the evening and getting dusk。
The night promised to be dark and very cold also； for the temperature
was already below zero。
Alcide and Blount； though they had promised to keep Michael's secret；
did not leave him。 They talked in a low voice； and the
blind man； adding what they told him to what he already knew；
was able to form an exact idea of the state of things。
It was certain that the Tartars had actually invested Irkutsk；
and that the three columns had effected a junction。
There was no doubt that the Emir and Ivan Ogareff were
before the capital。
But why did the Czar's courier exhibit such haste to get there；
now that the Imperial letter could no longer be given by him to
the Grand Duke； and when he did not even know the contents of it？
Alcide Jolivet and Blount could not understand it any more than
Nadia had done。
No one spoke of the past； except when Jolivet thought it his duty
to say to Michael； 〃We owe you some apology for not shaking hands
with you when we separated at Ichim。〃
〃No； you had reason to think me a coward！〃
〃At any rate；〃 added the Frenchman； 〃you knouted the face of that
villain finely； and he will carry the mark of it for a long time！〃
〃No； not a long time！〃 replied Michael quietly。
Half an hour after leaving Livenitchnaia； Blount and his companion
were acquainted with the cruel trials through which Michael and his
companion had successively passed。 They could not but heartily admire
his energy； which was only equaled by the young girl's devotion。
Their opinion of Michael was exactly what the Czar had expressed
at Moscow： 〃Indeed； this is a Man！〃
The raft swiftly threaded its way among the blocks of ice
which were carried along in the current of the Angara。 A moving
panorama was displayed on both sides of the river； and； by an
optical illusion； it appeared as if it was the raft which
was motionless before a succession of picturesque scenes。
Here were high granite cliffs； there wild gorges；
down which rushed a torrent； sometimes appeared a clearing
with a still smoking village； then thick pine forests blazing。
But though the Tartars had left their traces on all sides；
they themselves were not to be seen as yet； for they were more
especially massed at the approaches to Irkutsk。
All this time the pilgrims were repeating their prayers aloud；
and the old boatman； shoving away the blocks of ice which pressed
too near them； imperturbably steered the raft in the middle
of the rapid current of the Angara。
CHAPTER XI BETWEEN TWO BANKS
BY eight in the evening； the country； as the state of the sky
had foretold； was enveloped in complete darkness。 The moon being new had
not yet risen。 From the middle of the river the banks were invisible。
The cliffs were confounded with the heavy； low…hanging clouds。
At intervals a puff of wind came from the east； but it soon died away
in the narrow valley of the Angara。
The darkness could not fail to favor in a considerable degree
the plans of the fugitives。 Indeed； although the Tartar outposts
must have been drawn up on both banks； the raft had a good chance
of passing unperceived。 It was not likely either that the besiegers
would have barred the river above Irkutsk； since they knew that the
Russians could not expect any help from the south of the province。
Besides this； before long Nature would herself establish a barrier；
by cementing with frost the blocks of ice accumulated between
the two banks。
Perfect silence now reigned on board the raft。 The voices
of the pilgrims were no longer heard。 They still prayed；
but their prayer was but a murmur； which could not reach as far
as either bank。 The fugitives lay flat on the platform；
so that the raft was scarcely above the level of the water。
The old boatman crouched down forward among his men；
solely occupied in keeping off the ice blocks； a maneuver
which was performed without noise。
The drifting of the ice was a favorable circumstance so long as it
did not offer an insurmountable obstacle to the passage of the raft。
If that object had been alone on the water； it would have run
a risk of being seen； even in the darkness；