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under other circumstances； he had given incontestable proofs。
The news of the taking of Ichim； Omsk； and Tomsk；
successively reached Irkutsk。 It was necessary at any price
to save the capital of Siberia。 Reinforcements could not
be expected for some time。 The few troops scattered about
in the provinces of Siberia could not arrive in sufficiently
large numbers to arrest the progress of the Tartar columns。
Since therefore it was impossible for Irkutsk to escape attack；
the most important thing to be done was to put the town in a state
to sustain a siege of some duration。
The preparations were begun on the day Tomsk fell into the hands
of the Tartars。 At the same time with this last news；
the Grand Duke heard that the Emir of Bokhara and the allied Khans
were directing the invasion in person； but what he did not know was；
that the lieutenant of these barbarous chiefs was Ivan Ogareff；
a Russian officer whom he had himself reduced to the ranks；
but with whose person he was not acquainted。
First of all； as we have seen； the inhabitants of the province of Irkutsk
were compelled to abandon the towns and villages。 Those who did
not take refuge in the capital had to retire beyond Lake Baikal；
a district to which the invasion would probably not extend its ravages。
The harvests of corn and fodder were collected and stored up in the town；
and Irkutsk； the last bulwark of the Muscovite power in the Far East；
was put in a condition to resist the enemy for a lengthened period。
Irkutsk； founded in 1611； is situated at the confluence of
the Irkut and the Angara； on the right bank of the latter river。
Two wooden draw…bridges； built on piles； connected the town with
its suburbs on the left bank。 On this side； defence was easy。
The suburbs were abandoned； the bridges destroyed。
The Angara being here very wide； it would not be possible
to pass it under the fire of the besieged。
But the river might be crossed both above and below the town；
and consequently； Irkutsk ran a risk of being attacked on its
east side； on which there was no wall to protect it。
The whole population were immediately set to work on the fortifications。
They labored day and night。 The Grand Duke observed with satisfaction
the zeal exhibited by the people in the work； whom ere long he would
find equally courageous in the defense。 Soldiers； merchants； exiles；
peasants； all devoted themselves to the common safety。 A week before
the Tartars appeared on the Angara； earth…works had been raised。
A fosse； flooded by the waters of the Angara； was dug between the scarp
and counterscarp。 The town could not now be taken by a coup de main。
It must be invested and besieged。
The third Tartar columnthe one which came up the valley of the Yenisei
on the 24th of Septemberappeared in sight of Irkutsk。 It immediately
occupied the deserted suburbs； every building in which had been
destroyed so as not to impede the fire of the Grand Duke's guns；
unfortunately but few in number and of small caliber。
The Tartar troops as they arrived organized a camp on the bank
of the Angara； whilst waiting the arrival of the two other columns；
commanded by the Emir and his allies。
The junction of these different bodies was effected on the 25th
of September； in the Angara camp； and the whole of the invading army；
except the garrisons left in the principal conquered towns；
was concentrated under the command of Feofar…Khan。
The passage of the Angara in front of Irkutsk having been regarded
by Ogareff as impracticable； a strong body of troops crossed；
several versts up the river； by means of bridges formed with boats。
The Grand Duke did not attempt to oppose the enemy in their passage。
He could only impede； not prevent it； having no field…artillery
at his disposal； and he therefore remained in Irkutsk。
The Tartars now occupied the right bank of the river；
then； advancing towards the town； they burnt； in passing；
the summer…house of the governor…general； and at last having
entirely invested Irkutsk； took up their positions for the siege。
Ivan Ogareff； who was a clever engineer； was perfectly competent
to direct a regular siege； but he did not possess the materials
for operating rapidly。 He was disappointed too in the chief
object of all his effortsthe surprise of Irkutsk。 Things had
not turned out as he hoped。 First； the march of the Tartar
army was delayed by the battle of Tomsk； and secondly；
the preparations for the defense were made far more rapidly than
he had supposed possible； these two things had balked his plans。
He was now under the necessity of instituting a regular siege
of the town。
However； by his suggestion； the Emir twice attempted the capture
of the place； at the cost of a large sacrifice of men。
He threw soldiers on the earth…works which presented any weak point；
but these two assaults were repulsed with the greatest courage。
The Grand Duke and his officers did not spare themselves on
this occasion。 They appeared in person； they led the civil population
to the ramparts。 Citizens and peasants both did their duty。
At the second attack； the Tartars managed to force one of the gates。
A fight took place at the head of Bolchaia Street； two versts long；
on the banks of the Angara。 But the Cossacks； the police； the citizens；
united in so fierce a resistance that the Tartars were driven out。
Ivan Ogareff then thought of obtaining by stratagem what he could
not gain by force。 We have said that his plan was to penetrate into
the town； make his way to the Grand Duke； gain his confidence； and；
when the time came； give up the gates to the besiegers； and； that done；
wreak his vengeance on the brother of the Czar。 The Tsigane Sangarre；
who had accompanied him to the Angara； urged him to put this
plan in execution。
Indeed； it was necessary to act without delay。
The Russian troops from the government of Yakutsk were
advancing towards Irkutsk。 They had concentrated along
the upper course of the Lena。 In six days they would arrive。
Therefore； before six days had passed； Irkutsk must be betrayed。
Ogareff hesitated no longer。
One evening； the 2d of October； a council of war was held in the
grand saloon of the palace of the governor…general。 This palace；
standing at the end of Bolchaia Street； overlooked the river。
From its windows could be seen the camp of the Tartars；
and had the invaders possessed guns of wider range； they would
have rendered the palace uninhabitable。
The Grand Duke； General Voranzoff； the governor of the town；
and the chief of the merchants； with several officers；
had collected to determine upon various proposals。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the Grand Duke； 〃you know our situation exactly。
I have the firm hope that we shall be able to hold out until
the arrival of the Yakutsk troops。 We shall then be able to drive
off these barbarian hordes； and it will not be my fault if they
do not pay dearly for this invasion of the Muscovite territory。〃
〃Your Highness knows that all the population of Irkutsk may be relied on；〃
said General Voranzoff。
〃Yes； general；〃 replied the Grand Duke； 〃and I do justice
to their patriotism。 Thanks to God； they have not y