michael strogoff-第14章

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I　am　taking　him　my　mother's　last　words。　　That　is　as　much
as　to　tell　you；　brother；　that　nothing　would　have　prevented　me
from　setting　out。〃

〃You　are　a　brave　girl；　Nadia；〃　replied　Michael。　　〃God　Himself
would　have　led　you。〃

All　day　the　tarantass　was　driven　rapidly　by　the　iemschiks；
who　succeeded　each　other　at　every　stage。　　The　eagles　of　the　mountain
would　not　have　found　their　name　dishonored　by　these　〃eagles〃
of　the　highway。　　The　high　price　paid　for　each　horse；　and　the　tips
dealt　out　so　freely；　recommended　the　travelers　in　a　special　way。
Perhaps　the　postmasters　thought　it　singular　that；　after　the　publication
of　the　order；　a　young　man　and　his　sister；　evidently　both　Russians；
could　travel　freely　across　Siberia；　which　was　closed　to　everyone　else；
but　their　papers　were　all　en　regle　and　they　had　the　right　to　pass。

However；　Michael　Strogoff　and　Nadia　were　not　the　only　travelers　on
their　way　from　Perm　to　Ekaterenburg。　　At　the　first　stages；　the　courier
of　the　Czar　had　learnt　that　a　carriage　preceded　them；　but；　as　there
was　no　want　of　horses；　he　did　not　trouble　himself　about　that。

During　the　day；　halts　were　made　for　food　alone。
At　the　post…houses　could　be　found　lodging　and　provision。
Besides；　if　there　was　not　an　inn；　the　house　of　the　Russian　peasant
would　have　been　no　less　hospitable。　　In　the　villages；　which　are
almost　all　alike；　with　their　white…walled；　green…roofed　chapels；
the　traveler　might　knock　at　any　door；　and　it　would　be　opened　to　him。
The　moujik　would　come　out；　smiling　and　extending　his　hand　to　his　guest。
He　would　offer　him　bread　and　salt；　the　burning　charcoal　would
be　put　into　the　〃samovar；〃　and　he　would　be　made　quite　at　home。
The　family　would　turn　out　themselves　rather　than　that　he　should
not　have　room。　　The　stranger　is　the　relation　of　all。
He　is　〃one　sent　by　God。〃

On　arriving　that　evening　Michael　instinctively　asked　the　postmaster　how
many　hours　ago　the　carriage　which　preceded　them　had　passed　that　stage。

〃Two　hours　ago；　little　father；〃　replied　the　postmaster。

〃Is　it　a　berlin？〃

〃No；　a　telga。〃

〃How　many　travelers？〃

〃Two。〃

〃And　they　are　going　fast？〃

〃Eagles！〃

〃Let　them　put　the　horses　to　as　soon　as　possible。〃

Michael　and　Nadia；　resolved　not　to　stop　even　for　an　hour；
traveled　all　night。　　The　weather　continued　fine；　though　the
atmosphere　was　heavy　and　becoming　charged　with　electricity。
It　was　to　be　hoped　that　a　storm　would　not　burst　whilst　they
were　among　the　mountains；　for　there　it　would　be　terrible。
Being　accustomed　to　read　atmospheric　signs；　Michael　Strogoff
knew　that　a　struggle　of　the　elements　was　approaching。

The　night　passed　without　incident。　　Notwithstanding　the　jolting
of　the　tarantass；　Nadia　was　able　to　sleep　for　some　hours。
The　hood　was　partly　raised　so　as　to　give　as　much　air　as　there
was　in　the　stifling　atmosphere。

Michael　kept　awake　all　night；　mistrusting　the　iemschiks；　who　are
apt　to　sleep　at　their　posts。　　Not　an　hour　was　lost　at　the　relays；
not　an　hour　on　the　road。

The　next　day；　the　20th　of　July；　at　about　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning；
they　caught　the　first　glimpse　of　the　Ural　Mountains　in　the　east。
This　important　chain　which　separates　Russia　from　Siberia　was　still
at　a　great　distance；　and　they　could　not　hope　to　reach　it　until
the　end　of　the　day。　　The　passage　of　the　mountains　must　necessarily
be　performed　during　the　next　night。　　The　sky　was　cloudy　all　day；
and　the　temperature　was　therefore　more　bearable；　but　the　weather
was　very　threatening。

It　would　perhaps　have　been　more　prudent　not　to　have　ascended
the　mountains　during　the　night；　and　Michael　would　not　have　done　so；
had　he　been　permitted　to　wait；　but　when；　at　the　last　stage；
the　iemschik　drew　his　attention　to　a　peal　of　thunder　reverberating
among　the　rocks；　he　merely　said：

〃Is　a　telga　still　before　us？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃How　long　is　it　in　advance？〃

〃Nearly　an　hour。〃

〃Forward；　and　a　triple　tip　if　we　are　at　Ekaterenburg　to…morrow　morning。〃


CHAPTER　X　A　STORM　IN　THE　URAL　MOUNTAINS

THE　Ural　Mountains　extend　in　a　length　of　over　two　thousand　miles
between　Europe　and　Asia。　　Whether　they　are　called　the　Urals；
which　is　the　Tartar；　or　the　Poyas；　which　is　the　Russian　name；
they　are　correctly　so　termed；　for　these　names　signify　〃belt〃
in　both　languages。　　Rising　on　the　shores　of　the　Arctic　Sea；
they　reach　the　borders　of　the　Caspian。　　This　was　the　barrier
to　be　crossed　by　Michael　Strogoff　before　he　could　enter
Siberian　Russia。　　The　mountains　could　be　crossed　in　one　night；
if　no　accident　happened。　　Unfortunately；　thunder　muttering
in　the　distance　announced　that　a　storm　was　at　hand。
The　electric　tension　was　such　that　it　could　not　be　dispersed
without　a　tremendous　explosion；　which　in　the　peculiar　state
of　the　atmosphere　would　be　very　terrible。

Michael　took　care　that　his　young　companion　should　be　as　well　protected
as　possible。　　The　hood；　which　might　have　been　easily　blown　away；
was　fastened　more　securely　with　ropes；　crossed　above　and　at　the　back。
The　traces　were　doubled；　and；　as　an　additional　precaution；
the　nave…boxes　were　stuffed　with　straw；　as　much　to　increase　the　strength
of　the　wheels　as　to　lessen　the　jolting；　unavoidable　on　a　dark　night。
Lastly；　the　fore　and　hinder　parts；　connected　simply　by　the　axles　to
the　body　of　the　tarantass；　were　joined　one　to　the　other　by　a　crossbar；
fixed　by　means　of　pins　and　screws。

Nadia　resumed　her　place　in　the　cart；　and　Michael　took　his　seat
beside　her。　　Before　the　lowered　hood　hung　two　leathern　curtains；
which　would　in　some　degree　protect　the　travelers　against　the　wind
and　rain。　　Two　great　lanterns；　suspended　from　the　iemschik's　seat；
threw　a　pale　glimmer　scarcely　sufficient　to　light　the　way；
but　serving　as　warning　lights　to　prevent　any　other　carriage
from　running　into　them。

It　was　well　that　all　these　precautions　were　taken；　in　expectation
of　a　rough　night。　　The　road　led　them　up　towards　dense　masses　of　clouds；
and　should　the　clouds　not　soon　resolve　into　rain；　the　fog　would
be　such　that　the　tarantass　would　be　unable　to　advance　without　danger
of　falling　over　some　precipice。

The　Ural　chain　does　not　attain　any　very　great　height；
the　highest　summit　not　being　more　than　five　thousand　feet。
Eternal　snow　is　there　unknown；　and　what　is　piled　up
by　the　Siberian　winter　is　soon　melted　by　the　summer　sun。
Shrubs　and　trees　grow　to　a　considerable　height。
The　iron　and　copper　mines；　as　well　as　those　of　precious　stones；
draw　a　considerable　number　of　workmen　to　that　region。
Also；　those　villages　termed　〃gavody〃　are　there　met　with
pretty　frequently；　and　the　road　through　the　great　passes　is
easily　practicable　for　post…carriages。

But　what　is　easy　enough　in　fine　weather　and　broad　daylight；
offers　difficulties　and　perils　when　the　elements　are　engaged
in　fierce　warfare；　and　the　traveler　is　in　the　midst　of　it。
Michael　Strogoff　knew　from　former　experience　what　a　storm
in　the　mountains　was；　and　perhaps　this　would　be　as　terrible
as　the　snowstorms　which　burst　forth　with　such　vehemence
in　the　winter。

Rain　was　not　yet　falling；　so　Michael　raised　the　leathern　curtains
which　protected　the　interior　of　the　tarantass　and　looked　out；
watching　the　sides　of　the　road；　peopled　with　fantastic　shadows；
caused　by　the　wavering　light　of　the　lanterns。　　Nadia；　motionless；
her　arms　folded；　gazed　forth　also；　though　without　leaning　forward；
whilst　her　companion；　his　body　half　out　of　the　carriage；
examined　both　sky　and　earth。

The　calmness　of　the　atmosphere　was　very　threatening；　the　air　being
perfectly　still。　　It　was　just　as　if　Nature　were　half　stifled；
and　could　no　longer　breathe；　her　lungs；　that　is　to　say　those　gloomy；
dense　clouds；　not　being　able　to　perform　their　functions。
The　silence　would　have　been　complete　but　for　the　grindings　of　the
wheels　of　the　tarantass　over　the　road；　the　creaking　of　the　axles；
the　snorting　of　the　horses；　and　the　clattering　of　their　iron
hoofs　among　the　pebbles；　sparks　flying　out　on　every　side。

The　road　was　perfectly　deserted。　　The　tarantass　encountered　neither
pedestrians　nor　horsemen；　nor　a　vehicle　of　any　description；
in　the　narrow　defiles　of　the　Ural；　on　this　threatening　night。
Not　even　the　fire　of　a　charcoal…burner　was　visible　in　the　woods；
not　an　encampment　of　miners　near　the　mines；　not　a　hut
among　the　brushwood。

Under　these　peculiar　circumstances　it　might　have　been
allowable　to　postpone　the　journey　till　the　morning。
Michael　Strogoff；　however；　had　not　hesitated；　he　had　no　right
to　stop；　but　thenand　it　began　to　cause　him　some　anxiety
what　possible　reason　could　those　travelers　in　the　telga　ahead
have　for　being　so　imprudent？

Michael　remained　thus　on　the　look…out　for　some　time。
About　eleven　o'clock　lightning　began　to　blaze　continuously　in　the　sky。
The　shadows　of　huge　pines　appeared　and　disappeared　in　the　rapid　light。
Sometimes　when　the　tarantass　neared　the　side　of　the　road；　deep　gulfs；
lit　up　by　the　flashes；　could　be　seen　yawning　beneath　them。
From　time　to　time；　on　their　vehicle　giving　a　worse　lurch　than　usual；
they　knew　that　they　were　crossing　a　bridge　of　roughly…hewn　planks
thrown　over　some　chasm；　thunder　appearing　actually　to　be　rumbling
below　them。　　Besides　this；　a　booming　sound　filled　the　air；
which　increased　as　they　mounted　higher。　　With　these　different
noises　rose　the　shouts　of　the　iemschik；　sometimes　scolding；
sometimes　coaxing　his　poor　beasts；　who　were　suffering　more　from
the　oppression　of　the　air　than　the　roughness　of　the　roads。
Even　the　bells　on　the　shafts　could　no　longer　rouse　them；
and　they　stumbled　every　instant。

〃At　what　time　shall　we　reach　the　top　of　the　ridge？〃　asked　Michael
of　the　iemschik。

〃At　one　o'clock　in　the　morning　if　we　ever　get　there　at　all；〃
replied　he；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。

〃Why；　my　friend；　this　will　not　be　your　first　storm　in
the　mountains；　will　it？〃

〃No；　and　pray　God　it　may　not　be　my　last！〃

〃Are　you　afraid？〃

〃No；　I'm　not　afraid；　but　I　repeat　that　I　think　you　were
wrong　in　starting。〃

〃I　should　have　been　still　more　wrong　had　I　stayed。〃

〃Hold　up；　my　pigeons！〃　cried　the　iemschik；　it　was　his　business　to　obey；
not　to　question。

Just　then　a　distant　noise　was　heard；　shrill　whistling
through　the　atmosphere；　so　calm　a　minute　before。
By　the　light　of　a　dazzling　flash；　almost　immediately　followed
by　a　tremendous　clap　of　thunder；　Michael　could　see　huge　pines
on　a　high　peak；　bending　before　the　blast。　　The　wind　was　unchained；
but　as　yet　it　was　the　upper　air　alone　which　was　disturbed。
Successive　crashes　showed　that　many　of　the　trees　had　been　unable
to　resist　the　burst　of　the　hurricane。　　An　avalanche　of　shattered
trunks　swept　across　the　road　and　dashed　over　the　precipice
on　the　left；　two　hundred　feet　in　front　of　the　tarantass。

The　horses　stopped　short。

〃Get　up；　my　pretty　doves！〃　cried　the　iemschik；　adding　the　cracking
of　his　whip　to　the　rumbling　of　the　thunder。

Michael　took　Nadia's　hand。　　〃Are　you　asleep；　sister？〃

〃No；　brother。〃

〃Be　ready　for　anything；　here　comes　the　storm！〃

〃I　am　ready。〃

Michael　Strogoff　had　only　just　time　to　draw　the　leathern　curtains；
when　the　storm　was　upon　them。

The　iemschik　leapt　from　his　seat　and　seized　the　horses'
heads；　for　terrible　danger　threatened　the　whole　party。

The　tarantass　was　at　a　standstill　at　a　turning　of　the　road；
down　which　swept　the　hurricane；　it　was　abs