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below them； the ice in large masses drifted down the current。
All day these masses had been seen passing rapidly between
the two banks。
This had been considered by the Grand Duke and his officers as fortunate。
Should the channel of the Angara continue to be thus obstructed；
the passage must be impracticable。 The Tartars could use neither
rafts nor boats。 As to their crossing the river on the ice；
that was not possible。 The newly…frozen plain could not bear
the weight of an assaulting column。
This circumstance； as it appeared favorable to the defenders
of Irkutsk； Ogareff might have regretted。 He did not do so； however。
The traitor knew well that the Tartars would not try to pass the Angara；
and that； on its side at least； their attempt was only a feint。
About ten in the evening； the state of the river sensibly improved； to the
great surprise of the besieged and still more to their disadvantage。
The passage till then impracticable； became all at once possible。
The bed of the Angara was clear。 The blocks of ice； which had for some
days drifted past in large numbers； disappeared down the current；
and five or six only now occupied the space between the banks。
The Russian officers reported this change in the river to
the Grand Duke。 They suggested that it was probably caused
by the circumstance that in some narrower part of the Angara；
the blocks had accumulated so as to form a barrier。
We know this was the case。 The passage of the Angara was thus
open to the besiegers。 There was great reason for the Russians
to be on their guard。
Up to midnight nothing had occurred。 On the Eastern side；
beyond the Bolchaia Gate； all was quiet。 Not a glimmer was seen
in the dense forest； which appeared confounded on the horizon
with the masses of clouds hanging low down in the sky。
Lights flitting to and fro in the Angara camp； showed that a
considerable movement was taking place。 From a verst above and below
the point where the scarp met the river's bank； came a dull murmur；
proving that the Tartars were on foot； expecting some signal。
An hour passed。 Nothing new。
The bell of the Irkutsk cathedral was about to strike two o'clock
in the morning； and not a movement amongst the besiegers had yet
shown that they were about to commence the assault。 The Grand Duke
and his officers began to suspect that they had been mistaken。
Had it really been the Tartars' plan to surprise the town？
The preceding nights had not been nearly so quietmusketry rattling
from the outposts； shells whistling through the air； and this
time； nothing。 The officers waited； ready to give their orders；
according to circumstances。
We have said that Ogareff occupied a room in the palace。
It was a large chamber on the ground floor； its windows opening
on a side terrace。 By taking a few steps along this terrace；
a view of the river could be obtained。
Profound darkness reigned in the room。 Ogareff stood by a window；
awaiting the hour to act。 The signal； of course； could come
from him； alone。 This signal once given； when the greater part
of the defenders of Irkutsk would be summoned to the points
openly attacked； his plan was to leave the palace and hurry
to the Bolchaia Gate。 If it was unguarded； he would open it；
or at least he would direct the overwhelming mass of its assailants
against the few defenders。
He now crouched in the shadow； like a wild beast ready to spring
on its prey。 A few minutes before two o'clock； the Grand Duke
desired that Michael Strogoffwhich was the only name they
could give to Ivan Ogareffshould be brought to him。
An aide…de…camp came to the room； the door of which was closed。
He called。
Ogareff； motionless near the window； and invisible in the shade did
not answer。 The Grand Duke was therefore informed that the Czar's
courier was not at that moment in the palace。
Two o'clock struck。 Now was the time to cause the diversion
agreed upon with the Tartars； waiting for the assault。
Ivan Ogareff opened the window and stationed himself at the North
angle of the side terrace。
Below him flowed the roaring waters of the Angara。 Ogareff took
a match from his pocket； struck it and lighted a small bunch of tow；
impregnated with priming powder； which he threw into the river。
It was by the orders of Ivan Ogareff that the torrents of mineral oil
had been thrown on the surface of the Angara！ There are numerous
naphtha springs above Irkutsk； on the right bank； between the suburb
of Poshkavsk and the town。 Ogareff had resolved to employ this terrible
means to carry fire into Irkutsk。 He therefore took possession
of the immense reservoirs which contained the combustible liquid。
It was only necessary to demolish a piece of wall in order to allow
it to flow out in a vast stream。
This had been done that night； a few hours previously； and this
was the reason that the raft which carried the true Courier of
the Czar； Nadia； and the fugitives； floated on a current of mineral oil。
Through the breaches in these reservoirs of enormous dimensions rushed
the naphtha in torrents； and； following the inclination of the ground；
it spread over the surface of the river； where its density allowed
it to float。 This was the way Ivan Ogareff carried on warfare！
Allied with Tartars； he acted like a Tartar； and against
his own countrymen！
The tow had been thrown on the waters of the Angara。 In an instant；
with electrical rapidity； as if the current had been of alcohol；
the whole river was in a blaze above and below the town。
Columns of blue flames ran between the two banks。 Volumes of vapor
curled up above。 The few pieces of ice which still drifted were seized
by the burning liquid； and melted like wax on the top of a furnace；
the evaporated water escaping in shrill hisses。
At the same moment； firing broke out on the North and South of the town。
The enemy's batteries discharged their guns at random。
Several thousand Tartars rushed to the assault of the earth…works。
The houses on the bank； built of wood； took fire in every direction。
A bright light dissipated the darkness of the night。
〃At last！〃 said Ivan Ogareff。
He had good reason for congratulating himself。 The diversion which
he had planned was terrible。 The defenders of Irkutsk found themselves
between the attack of the Tartars and the fearful effects of fire。
The bells rang； and all the able…bodied of the population ran；
some towards the points attacked； and others towards the houses
in the grasp of the flames； which it seemed too probable would ere
long envelop the whole town。
The Gate of Bolchaia was nearly free。 Only a very small
guard had been left there。 And by the traitor's suggestion；
and in order that the event might be explained apart from him；
as if by political hate； this small guard had been chosen
from the little band of exiles。
Ogareff re…entered his room； now brilliantly lighted by
the flames from the Angara； then he made ready to go out。
But scarcely had he opened the door； when a woman rushed into
the room； her clothes drenched； her hair in disorder。
〃Sangarre！〃 exclaimed Ogareff； in the first moment of surprise；
and not supposing that it could