michael strogoff-第12章

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and　enable　him　to　guard　against　any　possible　contingency。
He　was　thinking　of　seeking　more　direct　intelligence　from　some
native　of　Kasan；　when　his　attention　was　suddenly　diverted。

Among　the　passengers　who　were　leaving　the　Caucasus；　Michael
recognized　the　troop　of　Tsiganes　who；　the　day　before；
had　appeared　in　the　Nijni…Novgorod　fair。　　There；　on　the　deck
of　the　steamboat　were　the　old　Bohemian　and　the　woman。
With　them；　and　no　doubt　under　their　direction；　landed　about
twenty　dancers　and　singers；　from　fifteen　to　twenty　years　of　age；
wrapped　in　old　cloaks；　which　covered　their　spangled　dresses。
These　dresses；　just　then　glancing　in　the　first　rays　of　the　sun；
reminded　Michael　of　the　curious　appearance　which　he　had　observed
during　the　night。　　It　must　have　been　the　glitter　of　those　spangles
in　the　bright　flames　issuing　from　the　steamboat's　funnel
which　had　attracted　his　attention。

〃Evidently；〃　said　Michael　to　himself；　〃this　troop　of　Tsiganes；　after
remaining　below　all　day；　crouched　under　the　forecastle　during　the　night。
Were　these　gipsies　trying　to　show　themselves　as　little　as　possible？
Such　is　not　according　to　the　usual　custom　of　their　race。〃

Michael　Strogoff　no　longer　doubted　that　the　expressions　he　had　heard；
had　proceeded　from　this　tawny　group；　and　had　been　exchanged　between
the　old　gypsy　and　the　woman　to　whom　he　gave　the　Mongolian　name
of　Sangarre。　　Michael　involuntarily　moved　towards　the　gangway；
as　the　Bohemian　troop　was　leaving　the　steamboat。

The　old　Bohemian　was　there；　in　a　humble　attitude；
little　conformable　with　the　effrontery　natural　to　his　race。
One　would　have　said　that　he　was　endeavoring　rather　to　avoid
attention　than　to　attract　it。　　His　battered　hat；　browned　by　the　suns
of　every　clime；　was　pulled　forward　over　his　wrinkled　face。
His　arched　back　was　bent　under　an　old　cloak；　wrapped　closely
round　him；　notwithstanding　the　heat。　　It　would　have　been　difficult；
in　this　miserable　dress；　to　judge　of　either　his　size　or　face。
Near　him　was　the　Tsigane；　Sangarre；　a　woman　about　thirty　years　old。
She　was　tall　and　well　made；　with　olive　complexion；　magnificent　eyes；
and　golden　hair。

Many　of　the　young　dancers　were　remarkably　pretty；　all　possessing
the　clear…cut　features　of　their　race。　　These　Tsiganes　are　generally
very　attractive；　and　more　than　one　of　the　great　Russian　nobles；
who　try　to　vie　with　the　English　in　eccentricity；　has　not
hesitated　to　choose　his　wife　from　among　these　gypsy　girls。
One　of　them　was　humming　a　song　of　strange　rhythm；　which　might
be　thus　rendered：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Glitters　brightly　the　gold
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　In　my　raven　locks　streaming
　　　　　　　　　　　Rich　coral　around
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　My　graceful　neck　gleaming；
　　　　　　　　　　　Like　a　bird　of　the　air；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Through　the　wide　world　I　roam。〃

The　laughing　girl　continued　her　song；　but　Michael　Strogoff　ceased
to　listen。　　It　struck　him　just　then　that　the　Tsigane；　Sangarre；
was　regarding　him　with　a　peculiar　gaze；　as　if　to　fix　his　features
indelibly　in　her　memory。

It　was　but　for　a　few　moments；　when　Sangarre　herself　followed
the　old　man　and　his　troop；　who　had　already　left　the　vessel。
〃That's　a　bold　gypsy；〃　said　Michael　to　himself。
〃Could　she　have　recognized　me　as　the　man　whom　she　saw　at
Nijni…Novgorod？　These　confounded　Tsiganes　have　the　eyes　of　a　cat！
They　can　see　in　the　dark；　and　that　woman　there　might　well　know〃

Michael　Strogoff　was　on　the　point　of　following　Sangarre
and　the　gypsy　band；　but　he　stopped。　　〃No；〃　thought　he；
〃no　unguarded　proceedings。　　If　I　were　to　stop　that　old
fortune　teller　and　his　companions　my　incognito　would　run
a　risk　of　being　discovered。　　Besides；　now　they　have　landed；
before　they　can　pass　the　frontier　I　shall　be　far　beyond　it。
They　may　take　the　route　from　Kasan　to　Ishim；　but　that　affords
no　resources　to　travelers。　　Besides　a　tarantass；　drawn　by　good
Siberian　horses；　will　always　go　faster　than　a　gypsy　cart！
Come；　friend　Korpanoff；　be　easy。〃

By　this　time　the　man　and　Sangarre　had　disappeared。

Kasan　is　justly　called　the　〃Gate　of　Asia〃　and　considered　as　the　center
of　Siberian　and　Bokharian　commerce；　for　two　roads　begin　here　and　lead
across　the　Ural　Mountains。　　Michael　Strogoff　had　very　judiciously
chosen　the　one　by　Perm　and　Ekaterenburg。　　It　is　the　great　stage　road；
well　supplied　with　relays　kept　at　the　expense　of　the　government；
and　is　prolonged　from　Ishim　to　Irkutsk。

It　is　true　that　a　second　routethe　one　of　which　Michael　had　just　spoken
avoiding　the　slight　detour　by　Perm；　also　connects　Kasan　with　Ishim。　　It　is
perhaps　shorter　than　the　other；　but　this　advantage　is　much　diminished
by　the　absence　of　post…houses；　the　bad　roads；　and　lack　of　villages。
Michael　Strogoff　was　right　in　the　choice　he　had　made；　and　if；
as　appeared　probable；　the　gipsies　should　follow　the　second　route　from
Kasan　to　Ishim；　he　had　every　chance　of　arriving　before　them。

An　hour　afterwards　the　bell　rang　on　board　the　Caucasus；
calling　the　new　passengers；　and　recalling　the　former　ones。
It　was　now　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　The　requisite　fuel
had　been　received　on　board。　　The　whole　vessel　began　to　vibrate
from　the　effects　of　the　steam。　　She　was　ready　to　start。
Passengers　going　from　Kasan　to　Perm　were　crowding　on　the　deck。

Michael　noticed　that　of　the　two　reporters　Blount　alone　had　rejoined
the　steamer。　　Was　Alcide　Jolivet　about　to　miss　his　passage？

But　just　as　the　ropes　were　being　cast　off；　Jolivet　appeared；
tearing　along。　　The　steamer　was　already　sheering　off；　the　gangway
had　been　drawn　onto　the　quay；　but　Alcide　Jolivet　would　not　stick
at　such　a　little　thing　as　that；　so；　with　a　bound　like　a　harlequin；
he　alighted　on　the　deck　of　the　Caucasus　almost　in　his　rival's　arms。

〃I　thought　the　Caucasus　was　going　without　you；〃　said　the　latter。

〃Bah！〃　answered　Jolivet；　〃I　should　soon　have　caught　you　up　again；
by　chartering　a　boat　at　my　cousin's　expense；　or　by　traveling　post
at　twenty　copecks　a　verst；　and　on　horseback。　　What　could　I　do？
It　was　so　long　a　way　from　the　quay　to　the　telegraph　office。〃

〃Have　you　been　to　the　telegraph　office？〃　asked　Harry　Blount；
biting　his　lips。

〃That's　exactly　where　I　have　been！〃　answered　Jolivet；　with　his
most　amiable　smile。

〃And　is　it　still　working　to　Kolyvan？〃

〃That　I　don't　know；　but　I　can　assure　you；　for　instance；
that　it　is　working　from　Kasan　to　Paris。〃

〃You　sent　a　dispatch　to　your　cousin？〃

〃With　enthusiasm。〃

〃You　had　learnt　then？〃

〃Look　here；　little　father；　as　the　Russians　say；〃　replied　Alcide　Jolivet；
〃I'm　a　good　fellow；　and　I　don't　wish　to　keep　anything　from　you。
The　Tartars；　and　Feofar…Khan　at　their　head；　have　passed　Semipolatinsk；
and　are　descending　the　Irtish。　　Do　what　you　like　with　that！〃

What！　such　important　news；　and　Harry　Blount　had　not　known　it；
and　his　rival；　who　had　probably　learned　it　from　some　inhabitant　of　Kasan；
had　already　transmitted　it　to　Paris。　　The　English　paper　was　distanced！
Harry　Blount；　crossing　his　hands　behind　him；　walked　off　and　seated
himself　in　the　stern　without　uttering　a　word。

About　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning；　the　young　Livonian；　leaving　her　cabin；
appeared　on　deck。　　Michael　Strogoff　went　forward　and　took　her　hand。
〃Look；　sister！〃　said　he；　leading　her　to　the　bows　of　the　Caucasus。

The　view　was　indeed　well　worth　seeing。　　The　Caucasus　had　reached
the　confluence　of　the　Volga　and　the　Kama。　　There　she　would　leave
the　former　river；　after　having　descended　it　for　nearly　three
hundred　miles；　to　ascend　the　latter　for　a　full　three　hundred。

The　Kama　was　here　very　wide；　and　its　wooded　banks　lovely。
A　few　white　sails　enlivened　the　sparkling　water。
The　horizon　was　closed　by　a　line　of　hills　covered　with　aspens；
alders；　and　sometimes　large　oaks。

But　these　beauties　of　nature　could　not　distract　the　thoughts
of　the　young　Livonian　even　for　an　instant。　　She　had　left　her　hand
in　that　of　her　companion；　and　turning　to　him；　〃At　what　distance
are　we　from　Moscow？〃　she　asked。

〃Nine　hundred　versts；〃　answered　Michael。

〃Nine　hundred；　out　of　seven　thousand！〃　murmured　the　girl。

The　bell　now　announced　the　breakfast　hour。　　Nadia　followed
Michael　Strogoff　to　the　restaurant。　　She　ate　little；　and　as　a　poor
girl　whose　means　are　small　would　do。　　Michael　thought　it　best
to　content　himself　with　the　fare　which　satisfied　his　companion；
and　in　less　than　twenty　minutes　he　and　Nadia　returned　on　deck。
There　they　seated　themselves　in　the　stern；　and　without　preamble；
Nadia；　lowering　her　voice　to　be　heard　by　him　alone；　began：

〃Brother；　I　am　the　daughter　of　an　exile。　　My　name　is
Nadia　Fedor。　　My　mother　died　at　Riga　scarcely　a　month　ago；　and　I
am　going　to　Irkutsk　to　rejoin　my　father　and　share　his　exile。〃

〃I；　too；　am　going　to　Irkutsk；〃　answered　Michael；　〃and　I　shall
thank　Heaven　if　it　enables　me　to　give　Nadia　Fedor　safe　and　sound
into　her　father's　hands。〃

〃Thank　you；　brother；〃　replied　Nadia。

Michael　Strogoff　then　added　that　he　had　obtained　a　special
podorojna　for　Siberia；　and　that　the　Russian　authorities　could
in　no　way　hinder　his　progress。

Nadia　asked　nothing　more。　　She　saw　in　this　fortunate　meeting　with　Michael
a　means　only　of　accelerating　her　journey　to　her　father。

〃I　had；〃　said　she；　〃a　permit　which　authorized　me　to　go　to　Irkutsk；
but　the　new　order　annulled　that；　and　but　for　you；　brother；　I　should
have　been　unable　to　leave　the　town；　in　which；　without　doubt；
I　should　have　perished。〃

〃And　dared　you；　alone；　Nadia；〃　said　Michael；　〃attempt　to　cross
the　steppes　of　Siberia？〃

〃The　Tartar　invasion　was　not　known　when　I　left　Riga。　　It　was　only
at　Moscow　that　I　learnt　the　news。〃

〃And　despite　it；　you　continued　your　journey？〃

〃It　was　my　duty。〃

The　words　showed　the　character　of　the　brave　girl。

She　then　spoke　of　her　father；　Wassili　Fedor。　　He　was　a　much…esteemed
physician　at　Riga。　　But　his　connection　with　some　secret　society　having
been　asserted；　he　received　orders　to　start　for　Irkutsk。　　The　police
who　brought　the　order　conducted　him　without　delay　beyond　the　frontier。

Wassili　Fedor　had　but　time　to　embrace　his　sick　wife　and　his　daughter；
so　soon　to　be　left　alone；　when；　shedding　bitter　tears；　he　was　led　away。
A　year　and　a　half　after　her　husband's　departure；　Madame　Fedor　died　in
the　arms　of　her　daughter；　who　was　thus　left　alone　and　almost　penniless。
Nadia　Fedor　then　asked；　and　easily　obtained　from　the　Russian　government；
an　authorization　to　join　her　father　at　Irkutsk。　　She　wrote　and　told　him
she　was　starting。　　She　had　barely　enough　money　for　this　long　journey；　and
yet　she　did　not　hesitate　to　undertake　it。　　She　would　do　what　she　could。
God　would　do　the　rest。


CHAPTER　IX　DAY　AND　NIGHT　IN　A　TARANTASS

THE　next　day；　the　19th　of　July；　the　Caucasus　reached　Perm；
the　last　place　at　which　she　touched　on　the　Kama。

The　government　of　which　Perm　is　the　capital　is　one　of　the　largest
in　the　Russian　Empire；　and；　extending　over　the　Ural　Mountains；
encroaches　on　Siberian　territory。　　Marble　quarries；　mines　of　salt；
platina；　gold；　and　coal　are　worked　here　on　a　large　scale。
Although　Perm；　by　its　situation；　has　become　an　important　town；　it　is
by　no　means　attractive；　being　extremely　dirty；　and　without　resources。
This　want　of　comfort　is　of　no　consequence　to　those　going　to　Siberia；
for　they　come　from　the　more　civilized　districts；　and　are　supplied
with　all　necessaries。

At　Perm　travelers　f