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This was the cause of the accumulation of ice； which became gradually
soldered together； under the double influence of the increased pressure
and of the cold。 Five hundred feet beyond； the river widened again；
and the blocks； gradually detaching themselves from the floe；
continued to drift towards Irkutsk。 It was probable that had
the banks not narrowed； the barrier would not have formed。
But the misfortune was irreparable； and the fugitives must give up
all hope of attaining their object。
Had they possessed the tools usually employed by whalers to cut
channels through the ice…fieldshad they been able to get
through to where the river widenedthey might have been saved。
But they had nothing which could make the least incision
in the ice； hard as granite in the excessive frost。
What were they to do？
At that moment several shots on the right bank startled
the unhappy fugitives。 A shower of balls fell on the raft。
The devoted passengers had been seen。 Immediately afterwards
shots were heard fired from the left bank。 The fugitives；
taken between two fires； became the mark of the Tartar sharpshooters。
Several were wounded； although in the darkness it was only
by chance that they were hit。
〃Come； Nadia；〃 whispered Michael in the girl's ear。
Without making a single remark； 〃ready for anything；〃
Nadia took Michael's hand。
〃We must cross the barrier；〃 he said in a low tone。
〃Guide me； but let no one see us leave the raft。〃
Nadia obeyed。 Michael and she glided rapidly over the floe
in the obscurity； only broken now and again by the flashes from
the muskets。 Nadia crept along in front of Michael。 The shot
fell around them like a tempest of hail； and pattered on the ice。
Their hands were soon covered with blood from the sharp and rugged
ice over which they clambered； but still on they went。
In ten minutes； the other side of the barrier was reached。
There the waters of the Angara again flowed freely。
Several pieces of ice； detached gradually from the floe；
were swept along in the current down towards the town。
Nadia guessed what Michael wished to attempt。 One of the blocks
was only held on by a narrow strip。
〃Come；〃 said Nadia。 And the two crouched on the piece of ice；
which their weight detached from the floe。
It began to drift。 The river widened； the way was open。
Michael and Nadia heard the shots； the cries of distress；
the yells of the Tartars。 Then； little by little； the sounds
of agony and of ferocious joy grew faint in the distance。
〃Our poor companions！〃 murmured Nadia。
For half an hour the current hurried along the block of ice which
bore Michael and Nadia。 They feared every moment that it would
give way beneath them。 Swept along in the middle of the current；
it was unnecessary to give it an oblique direction until they drew
near the quays of Irkutsk。 Michael； his teeth tight set； his ear on
the strain； did not utter a word。 Never had he been so near his object。
He felt that he was about to attain it！
Towards two in the morning a double row of lights glittered
on the dark horizon in which were confounded the two banks
of the Angara。 On the right hand were the lights of Irkutsk；
on the left； the fires of the Tartar camp。
Michael Strogoff was not more than half a verst from the town。
〃At last！〃 he murmured。
But suddenly Nadia uttered a cry。
At the cry Michael stood up on the ice； which was wavering。
His hand was extended up the Angara。 His face； on which a bluish
light cast a peculiar hue； became almost fearful to look at；
and then； as if his eyes had been opened to the bright blaze
spreading across the river； 〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed； 〃then Heaven
itself is against us！〃
CHAPTER XII IRKUTSK
IRKUTSK； the capital of Eastern Siberia； is a populous town；
containing； in ordinary times； thirty thousand inhabitants。
On the right side of the Angara rises a hill； on which are built
numerous churches； a lofty cathedral； and dwellings disposed
in picturesque disorder。
Seen at a distance； from the top of the mountain which rises
at about twenty versts off along the Siberian highroad；
this town； with its cupolas； its bell…towers； its steeples
slender as minarets； its domes like pot…bellied Chinese jars；
presents something of an oriental aspect。 But this similarity
vanishes as the traveler enters。
The town； half Byzantine； half Chinese； becomes European as soon
as he sees its macadamized roads； bordered with pavements；
traversed by canals； planted with gigantic birches； its houses
of brick and wood； some of which have several stories；
the numerous equipages which drive along； not only tarantasses
but broughams and coaches； lastly； its numerous inhabitants far
advanced in civilization； to whom the latest Paris fashions
are not unknown。
Being the refuge for all the Siberians of the province； Irkutsk was
at this time very full。 Stores of every kind had been collected
in abundance。 Irkutsk is the emporium of the innumerable kinds
of merchandise which are exchanged between China； Central Asia；
and Europe。 The authorities had therefore no fear with regard
to admitting the peasants of the valley of the Angara； and leaving
a desert between the invaders and the town。
Irkutsk is the residence of the governor…general of
Eastern Siberia。 Below him acts a civil governor； in whose hands
is the administration of the province； a head of police； who has
much to do in a town where exiles abound； and； lastly； a mayor；
chief of the merchants； and a person of some importance；
from his immense fortune and the influence which he exercises
over the people。
The garrison of Irkutsk was at that time composed of an infantry
regiment of Cossacks； consisting of two thousand men； and a body
of police wearing helmets and blue uniforms laced with silver。
Besides； as has been said； in consequence of the events which
had occurred； the brother of the Czar had been shut up in the town
since the beginning of the invasion。
A journey of political importance had taken the Grand Duke
to these distant provinces of Central Asia。 After passing
through the principal Siberian cities； the Grand Duke；
who traveled en militaire rather than en prince； without any parade；
accompanied by his officers； and escorted by a regiment
of Cossacks； arrived in the Trans…Baikalcine provinces。
Nikolaevsk； the last Russian town situated on the shore
of the Sea of Okhotsk； had been honored by a visit from him。
Arrived on the confines of the immense Muscovite Empire；
the Grand Duke was returning towards Irkutsk； from which place
he intended to retake the road to Moscow； when； sudden as a
thunder clap； came the news of the invasion。
He hastened to the capital； but only reached it just before
communication with Russia had been interrupted。 There was time
to receive only a few telegrams from St。 Petersburg and Moscow；
and with difficulty to answer them before the wire was cut。
Irkutsk was isolated from the rest of the world。
The Grand Duke had now only to prepare for resistance；
and this he did with that determination and coolness of which；
under other circumstances； he had given incontestable proofs。
The news of the taking of