michael strogoff-第21章

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〃Where　am　I？〃　asked　he。

〃Upon　the　right　bank　of　the　Irtych；　only　five　versts　from　Omsk；〃
replied　the　mujik。

〃What　wound　can　I　have　received　which　could　have　thus　prostrated　me？
It　was　not　a　gunshot　wound？〃

〃No；　a　lance…thrust　in　the　head；　now　healing；〃　replied　the　mujik。
〃After　a　few　days'　rest；　little　father；　thou　wilt　be　able　to　proceed。
Thou　didst　fall　into　the　river；　but　the　Tartars　neither　touched　nor
searched　thee；　and　thy　purse　is　still　in　thy　pocket。〃

Michael　Strogoff　gripped　the　mujik's　hand。　　Then；　recovering　himself
with　a　sudden　effort；　〃Friend；〃　said　he；　〃how　long　have　I　been
in　thy　hut？〃

〃Three　days。〃

〃Three　days　lost！〃

〃Three　days　hast　thou　lain　unconscious。〃

〃Hast　thou　a　horse　to　sell　me？〃

〃Thou　wishest　to　go？〃

〃At　once。〃

〃I　have　neither　horse　nor　carriage；　little　father。
Where　the　Tartar　has　passed　there　remains　nothing！〃

〃Well；　I　will　go　on　foot　to　Omsk　to　find　a　horse。〃

〃A　few　more　hours　of　rest；　and　thou　wilt　be　in　a　better　condition
to　pursue　thy　journey。〃

〃Not　an　hour！〃

〃Come　now；〃　replied　the　mujik；　recognizing　the　fact　that　it　was　useless
to　struggle　against　the　will　of　his　guest；　〃I　will　guide　thee　myself。
Besides；〃　he　added；　〃the　Russians　are　still　in　great　force　at　Omsk；
and　thou　couldst；　perhaps；　pass　unperceived。〃

〃Friend；〃　replied　Michael　Strogoff；　〃Heaven　reward　thee　for　all　thou
hast　done　for　me！〃

〃Only　fools　expect　reward　on　earth；〃　replied　the　mujik。

Michael　Strogoff　went　out　of　the　hut。　　When　he　tried　to　walk　he　was
seized　with　such　faintness　that；　without　the　assistance　of　the　mujik；
he　would　have　fallen；　but　the　fresh　air　quickly　revived　him。
He　then　felt　the　wound　in　his　head；　the　violence　of　which　his
fur　cap　had　lessened。　　With　the　energy　which　he　possessed；
he　was　not　a　man　to　succumb　under　such　a　trifle。　　Before　his　eyes
lay　a　single　goalfar…distant　Irkutsk。　　He　must　reach　it！
But　he　must　pass　through　Omsk　without　stopping　there。

〃God　protect　my　mother　and　Nadia！〃　he　murmured。　　〃I　have　no　longer
the　right　to　think　of　them！〃

Michael　Strogoff　and　the　mujik　soon　arrived　in　the　mercantile
quarter　of　the　lower　town。　　The　surrounding　earthwork　had　been
destroyed　in　many　places；　and　there　were　the　breaches　through　which
the　marauders　who　followed　the　armies　of　Feofar…Khan　had　penetrated。
Within　Omsk；　in　its　streets　and　squares；　the　Tartar　soldiers　swarmed
like　ants；　but　it　was　easy　to　see　that　a　hand　of　iron　imposed
upon　them　a　discipline　to　which　they　were　little　accustomed。
They　walked　nowhere　alone；　but　in　armed　groups；　to　defend
themselves　against　surprise。

In　the　chief　square；　transformed　into　a　camp；　guarded　by　many　sentries；
2；000　Tartars　bivouacked。　　The　horses；　picketed　but　still　saddled；
were　ready　to　start　at　the　first　order。　　Omsk　could　only　be　a　temporary
halting…place　for　this　Tartar　cavalry；　which　preferred　the　rich　plains
of　Eastern　Siberia；　where　the　towns　were　more　wealthy；　and；　consequently；
pillage　more　profitable。

Above　the　mercantile　town　rose　the　upper　quarter；　which　Ivan　Ogareff；
notwithstanding　several　assaults　vigorously　made　but　bravely　repelled；
had　not　yet　been　able　to　reduce。　　Upon　its　embattled　walls　floated
the　national　colors　of　Russia。

It　was　not　without　a　legitimate　pride　that　Michael　Strogoff　and　his　guide；
vowing　fidelity；　saluted　them。

Michael　Strogoff　was　perfectly　acquainted　with　the　town　of　Omsk；
and　he　took　care　to　avoid　those　streets　which　were　much　frequented。
This　was　not　from　any　fear　of　being　recognized。　　In　the　town　his　old
mother　only　could　have　called　him　by　name；　but　he　had　sworn　not　to
see　her；　and　he　did　not。　　Besidesand　he　wished　it　with　his　whole　heart
she　might　have　fled　into　some　quiet　portion　of　the　steppe。

The　mujik　very　fortunately　knew　a　postmaster　who；　if　well　paid；　would　not
refuse　at　his　request　either　to　let　or　to　sell　a　carriage　or　horses。
There　remained　the　difficulty　of　leaving　the　town；　but　the　breaches
in　the　fortifications　would；　of　course；　facilitate　his　departure。

The　mujik　was　accordingly　conducting　his　guest　straight　to
the　posting…house；　when；　in　a　narrow　street；　Michael　Strogoff；
coming　to　a　sudden　stop　sprang　behind　a　jutting　wall。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　the　astonished　mujik。

〃Silence！〃　replied　Michael；　with　his　finger　on　his　lips。
At　this　moment　a　detachment　debouched　from　the　principal　square
into　the　street　which　Michael　Strogoff　and　his　companion　had
just　been　following。

At　the　head　of　the　detachment；　composed　of　twenty　horsemen；
was　an　officer　dressed　in　a　very　simple　uniform。
Although　he　glanced　rapidly　from　one　side　to　the　other　he　could
not　have　seen　Michael　Strogoff；　owing　to　his　precipitous　retreat。

The　detachment　went　at　full　trot　into　the　narrow　street。　　Neither　the
officer　nor　his　escort　concerned　themselves　about　the　inhabitants。
Several　unlucky　ones　had　scarcely　time　to　make　way　for　their　passage。
There　were　a　few　half…stifled　cries；　to　which　thrusts　of　the　lance　gave
an　instant　reply；　and　the　street　was　immediately　cleared。

When　the　escort　had　disappeared；　〃Who　is　that　officer？〃
asked　Michael　Strogoff。　　And　while　putting　the　question　his　face
was　pale　as　that　of　a　corpse。

〃It　is　Ivan　Ogareff；〃　replied　the　Siberian；　in　a　deep　voice
which　breathed　hatred。

〃He！〃　cried　Michael　Strogoff；　from　whom　the　word　escaped　with
a　fury　he　could　not　conquer。　　He　had　just　recognized　in　this
officer　the　traveler　who　had　struck　him　at　the　posting…house
of　Ichim。　　And；　although　he　had　only　caught　a　glimpse　of　him；
it　burst　upon　his　mind；　at　the　same　time；　that　this　traveler
was　the　old　Zingari　whose　words　he　had　overheard　in　the　market
place　of　Nijni…Novgorod。

Michael　Strogoff　was　not　mistaken。　　The　two　men　were　one　and　the　same。
It　was　under　the　garb　of　a　Zingari；　mingling　with　the　band　of　Sangarre；
that　Ivan　Ogareff　had　been　able　to　leave　the　town　of　Nijni…Novgorod；
where　he　had　gone　to　seek　his　confidants。　　Sangarre　and　her　Zingari；
well　paid　spies；　were　absolutely　devoted　to　him。　　It　was　he　who；
during　the　night；　on　the　fair…ground　had　uttered　that　singular　sentence；
which　Michael　Strogoff　could　not　understand；　it　was　he　who　was
voyaging　on　board　the　Caucasus；　with　the　whole　of　the　Bohemian　band；
it　was　he　who；　by　this　other　route；　from　Kasan　to　Ichim；　across　the　Urals；
had　reached　Omsk；　where　now　he　held　supreme　authority。

Ivan　Ogareff　had　been　barely　three　days　at　Omsk；　and　had　it　not　been
for　their　fatal　meeting　at　Ichim；　and　for　the　event　which　had　detained
him　three　days　on　the　banks　of　the　Irtych；　Michael　Strogoff　would
have　evidently　beaten　him　on　the　way　to　Irkutsk。

And　who　knows　how　many　misfortunes　would　have　been　avoided　in　the　future！
In　any　caseand　now　more　than　everMichael　Strogoff　must　avoid
Ivan　Ogareff；　and　contrive　not　to　be　seen。　　When　the　moment　of
encountering　him　face　to　face　should　arrive；　he　knew　how　to　meet　it；
even　should　the　traitor　be　master　of　the　whole　of　Siberia。

The　mujik　and　Michael　resumed　their　way　and　arrived　at
the　posting…house。　To　leave　Omsk　by　one　of　the　breaches
would　not　be　difficult　after　nightfall。　　As　for　purchasing
a　carriage　to　replace　the　tarantass；　that　was　impossible。
There　were　none　to　be　let　or　sold。　　But　what　want　had　Michael　Strogoff
now　for　a　carriage？　　Was　he　not　alone；　alas？　　A　horse　would
suffice　him；　and；　very　fortunately；　a　horse　could　be　had。
It　was　an　animal　of　strength　and　mettle；　and　Michael　Strogoff；
accomplished　horseman　as　he　was；　could　make　good　use　of　it。

It　was　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　　Michael　Strogoff；
compelled　to　wait　till　nightfall；　in　order　to　pass　the　fortifications；
but　not　desiring　to　show　himself；　remained　in　the　posting…house；
and　there　partook　of　food。

There　was　a　great　crowd　in　the　public　room。　　They　were　talking
of　the　expected　arrival　of　a　corps　of　Muscovite　troops；
not　at　Omsk；　but　at　Tomska　corps　intended　to　recapture
that　town　from　the　Tartars　of　Feofar…Khan。

Michael　Strogoff　lent　an　attentive　ear；　but　took　no　part
in　the　conversation。　　Suddenly　a　cry　made　him　tremble；　a　cry
which　penetrated　to　the　depths　of　his　soul；　and　these　two　words
rushed　into　his　ear：　　〃My　son！〃

His　mother；　the　old　woman　Marfa；　was　before　him！　　Trembling；　she　smiled
upon　him。　　She　stretched　forth　her　arms　to　him。　　Michael　Strogoff　arose。
He　was　about　to　throw　himself

The　thought　of　duty；　the　serious　danger　for　his　mother　and
himself　in　this　unfortunate　meeting；　suddenly　stopped　him；
and　such　was　his　command　over　himself　that　not　a　muscle　of　his
face　moved。　　There　were　twenty　people　in　the　public　room。
Among　them　were；　perhaps；　spies；　and　was　it　not　known　in
the　town　that　the　son　of　Marfa　Strogoff　belonged　to　the　corps
of　the　couriers　of　the　Czar？

Michael　Strogoff　did　not　move。

〃Michael！〃　cried　his　mother。

〃Who　are　you；　my　good　lady？〃　　Michael　Strogoff　stammered；
unable　to　speak　in　his　usual　firm　tone。

〃Who　am　I；　thou　askest！　　Dost　thou　no　longer　know　thy　mother？〃

〃You　are　mistaken；〃　coldly　replied　Michael　Strogoff。　　〃A　resemblance
deceives　you。〃

The　old　Marfa　went　up　to　him；　and；　looking　straight　into　his　eyes；
said；　〃Thou　art　not　the　son　of　Peter　and　Marfa　Strogoff？〃

Michael　Strogoff　would　have　given　his　life　to　have　locked
his　mother　in　his　arms；　but　if　he　yielded　it　was　all　over
with　him；　with　her；　with　his　mission；　with　his　oath！
Completely　master　of　himself；　he　closed　his　eyes；
in　order　not　to　see　the　inexpressible　anguish　which　agitated
the　revered　countenance　of　his　mother。　　He　drew　back　his　hands；
in　order　not　to　touch　those　trembling　hands　which　sought　him。
〃I　do　not　know　in　truth　what　it　is　you　say；　my　good　woman；〃
he　replied；　stepping　back。

〃Michael！〃　again　cried　his　aged　mother。

〃My　name　is　not　Michael。　　I　never　was　your　son！　　I　am　Nicholas　Korpanoff；
a　merchant　at　Irkutsk。〃

And　suddenly　he　left　the　public　room；　whilst　for　the　last　time
the　words　re…echoed；　〃My　son！　my　son！〃

Michael　Strogoff；　by　a　desperate　effort；　had　gone。　　He　did　not　see
his　old　mother；　who　had　fallen　back　almost　inanimate　upon　a　bench。
But　when　the　postmaster　hastened　to　assist　her；　the　aged
woman　raised　herself。　　Suddenly　a　thought　occurred　to　her。
She　denied　by　her　son！　　It　was　not　possible。　　As　for　being
herself　deceived；　and　taking　another　for　him；　equally　impossible。
It　was　certainly　her　son　whom　she　had　just　seen；　and　if　he　had　not
recognized　her　it　was　because　he　would　not；　it　was　because　he　ought　not；
it　was　because　he　had　some　cogent　reasons　for　acting　thus！
And　then；　her　mother's　feelings　arising　within　her；　she　had　only
one　thought〃Can　I；　unwittingly；　have　ruined　him？〃

〃I　am　mad；〃　she　said　to　her　interrogators。　　〃My　eyes　have　deceived　me！
This　young　man　is　not　my　child。　　He　had　not　his　voice。　　Let　us　think
no　more　of　it；　if　we　do　I　shall　end　by　finding　him　everywhere。〃

Less　than　ten　minutes　afterwards　a　Tartar　officer　appeared
in　the　posting…house。　〃Marfa　Strogoff？〃　he　asked。

〃It　is　I；〃　replied　the　old　woman；　in　a　tone　so　calm；　and　with　a　face
so　tranquil；　that　those　who　had　witnessed　the　meeting　with　her　son
would　not　have　known　her。

〃Come；〃　said　the　officer；

Marfa　Strogoff；　with　firm　step；　followed　the　Tartar。　　Some　moments
afterwards　she　found　herself　in　the　chief