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 like them better than Tartars。 But we must defend ourselves；
and without noise！〃
The fugitives would indeed have to defend themselves against these
ferocious beasts； whom hunger and cold had sent roaming through
the province。 They had smelt out the raft； and would soon attack it。
The fugitives must struggle without using firearms； for they could
not now be far from the Tartar posts。 The women and children were
collected in the middle of the raft； and the men； some armed with poles；
others with their knives； stood prepared to repulse their assailants。
They did not make a sound； but the howls of the wolves filled the air。
Michael did not wish to remain inactive。 He lay down at
the side attacked by the savage pack。 He drew his knife；
and every time that a wolf passed within his reach； his hand
found out the way to plunge his weapon into its throat。
Neither were Jolivet and Blount idle； but fought bravely
with the brutes。 Their companions gallantly seconded them。
The battle was carried on in silence； although many of the fugitives
received severe bites。
The struggle did not appear as if it would soon terminate。
The pack was being continually reinforced from the right bank
of the Angara。 〃This will never be finished！〃 said Alcide；
brandishing his dagger； red with blood。
In fact； half an hour after the commencement of the attack；
the wolves were still coming in hundreds across the ice。 The exhausted
fugitives were getting weaker。 The fight was going against them。
At that moment； a group of ten huge wolves； raging with hunger；
their eyes glowing in the darkness like red coals； sprang onto the raft。
Jolivet and his companion threw themselves into the midst of
the fierce beasts； and Michael was finding his way towards them；
when a sudden change took place。
In a few moments the wolves had deserted not only the raft；
but also the ice on the river。 All the black bodies dispersed；
and it was soon certain that they had in all haste regained the shore。
Wolves； like other beasts of prey； require darkness for their proceedings；
and at that moment a bright light illuminated the entire river。
It was the blaze of an immense fire。 The whole of the small
town of Poshkavsk was burning。 The Tartars were indeed there；
finishing their work。 From this point； they occupied both
banks beyond Irkutsk。 The fugitives had by this time reached
the dangerous part of their voyage； and they were still twenty
miles from the capital。
It was now half past eleven。 The raft continued to glide on amongst
the ice； with which it was quite mingled； but gleams of light sometimes
fell upon it。 The fugitives stretched on the platform did not permit
themselves to make a movement by which they might be betrayed。
The conflagration was going on with frightful rapidity。
The houses； built of fir…wood； blazed like torchesa hundred
and fifty flaming at once。 With the crackling of the fire was
mingled the yells of the Tartars。 The old boatman； getting a
foothold on a near piece of ice； managed to shove the raft towards
the right bank； by doing which a distance of from three to four
hundred feet divided it from the flames of Poshkavsk。
Nevertheless； the fugitives； lighted every now and then by the glare；
would have been undoubtedly perceived had not the incendiaries been
too much occupied in their work of destruction。
It may be imagined what were the apprehensions of Jolivet and Blount；
when they thought of the combustible liquid on which the raft floated。
Sparks flew in millions from the houses； which resembled so many
glowing furnaces。 They rose among the volumes of smoke to a height of
five or six hundred feet。 On the right bank； the trees and cliffs exposed
to the fire looked as if they likewise were burning。 A spark falling
on the surface of the Angara would be sufficient to spread the flames
along the current； and to carry disaster from one bank to the other。
The result of this would be in a short time the destruction of the raft
and of all those which it carried。
But； happily； the breeze did not blow from that side。
It came from the east； and drove the flames towards the left。
It was just possible that the fugitives would escape this danger。
The blazing town was at last passed。 Little by little the glare
grew dimmer； the crackling became fainter； and the flames at
last disappeared behind the high cliffs which arose at an abrupt
turn of the river。
By this time it was nearly midnight。 The deep gloom again threw its
protecting shadows over the raft。 The Tartars were there； going to and
fro near the river。 They could not be seen； but they could be heard。
The fires of the outposts burned brightly。
In the meantime it had become necessary to steer more
carefully among the blocks of ice。 The old boatman stood up；
and the moujiks resumed their poles。 They had plenty of work；
the management of the raft becoming more and more difficult
as the river was further obstructed。
Michael had crept forward； Jolivet followed； both listened
to what the old boatman and his men were saying。
〃Look out on the right！〃
〃There are blocks drifting on to us on the left！〃
〃Fend！ fend off with your boat…hook！〃
〃Before an hour is past we shall be stopped！〃
〃If it is God's will！〃 answered the old man。 〃Against His will there
is nothing to be done。〃
〃You hear them；〃 said Alcide。
〃Yes；〃 replied Michael； 〃but God is with us！〃
The situation became more and more serious。 Should the raft
be stopped； not only would the fugitives not reach Irkutsk；
but they would be obliged to leave their floating platform；
for it would be very soon smashed to pieces in the ice。
The osier ropes would break； the fir trunks torn asunder would
drift under the hard crust； and the unhappy people would have
no refuge but the ice blocks themselves。 Then； when day came；
they would be seen by the Tartars； and massacred without mercy！
Michael returned to the spot where Nadia was waiting for him。
He approached the girl； took her hand； and put to her
the invariable question： 〃Nadia； are you ready？〃 to which she
replied as usual； 〃I am ready！〃
For a few versts more the raft continued to drift amongst
the floating ice。 Should the river narrow； it would soon form
an impassable barrier。 Already they seemed to drift slower。
Every moment they encountered severe shocks or were compelled
to make detours； now； to avoid running foul of a block； there to
enter a channel； of which it was necessary to take advantage。
At length the stoppages became still more alarming。
There were only a few more hours of night。 Could the fugitives
not reach Irkutsk by five o'clock in the morning； they must
lose all hope of ever getting there at all。
At half…past one； notwithstanding all efforts； the raft
came up against a thick barrier and stuck fast。 The ice；
which was drifting down behind it； pressed it still closer；
and kept it motionless； as though it had been stranded。
At this spot the Angara narrowed； it being half its usual breadth。
This was the cause of the accumulation of ice； which became gradually
soldered together； under the double influence of the increased pressur