michael strogoff-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


insensible　of　every　fatigue；　arrived　at　Elamsk。　　There　it
became　necessary　to　give　a　night's　rest　to　his　horse。
The　brave　animal　could　no　longer　have　continued　the　journey。
At　Elamsk；　as　indeed　elsewhere；　there　existed　no　means　of　transport；
for　the　same　reasons　as　at　the　previous　villages；　neither　carriages
nor　horses　were　to　be　had。

Michael　Strogoff　resigned　himself　therefore　to　pass　the　night　at　Elamsk；
to　give　his　horse　twelve　hours'　rest。　　He　recalled　the　instructions　which
had　been　given　to　him　at　Moscowto　cross　Siberia　incognito；　to　arrive
at　Irkutsk；　but　not　to　sacrifice　success　to　the　rapidity　of　the　journey；
and　consequently　it　was　necessary　that　he　should　husband　the　sole　means
of　transport　which　remained　to　him。

On　the　morrow；　Michael　Strogoff　left　Elamsk　at　the　moment　when
the　first　Tartar　scouts　were　signaled　ten　versts　behind　upon　the　road
to　the　Baraba；　and　he　plunged　again　into　the　swampy　region。
The　road　was　level；　which　made　it　easy；　but　very　tortuous；
and　therefore　long。　　It　was　impossible；　moreover；　to　leave　it；
and　to　strike　a　straight　line　across　that　impassable　network
of　pools　and　bogs。

On　the　next　day；　the　1st　of　August；　eighty　miles　farther；
Michael　Strogoff　arrived　at　midday　at　the　town　of　Spaskoe；
and　at　two　o'clock　he　halted　at　Pokrowskoe。　　His　horse；
jaded　since　his　departure　from　Elamsk；　could　not　have　taken
a　single　step　more。

There　Michael　Strogoff　was　again　compelled　to　lose；　for　necessary　rest；
the　end　of　that　day　and　the　entire　night；　but　starting　again　on
the　following　morning；　and　still　traversing　the　semi…inundated　soil；
on　the　2nd　of　August；　at　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　after　a　stage
of　fifty　miles　he　reached　Kamsk。

The　country　had　changed。　　This　little　village　of　Kamsk　lies；
like　an　island；　habitable　and　healthy；　in　the　midst　of　the
uninhabitable　district。　　It　is　situated　in　the　very　center
of　the　Baraba。　　The　emigration　caused　by　the　Tartar　invasion　had
not　yet　depopulated　this　little　town　of　Kamsk。　　Its　inhabitants
probably　fancied　themselves　safe　in　the　center　of　the　Baraba；
whence　at　least　they　thought　they　would　have　time　to　flee
if　they　were　directly　menaced。

Michael　Strogoff；　although　exceedingly　anxious　for　news；
could　ascertain　nothing　at　this　place。　　It　would　have　been
rather　to　him　that　the　Governor　would　have　addressed　himself
had　he　known　who　the　pretended　merchant　of　Irkutsk　really　was。
Kamsk；　in　fact；　by　its　very　situation　seemed　to　be　outside
the　Siberian　world　and　the　grave　events　which　troubled　it。

Besides；　Michael　Strogoff　showed　himself　little；　if　at　all。
To　be　unperceived　was　not　now　enough　for　him：　　he　would　have
wished　to　be　invisible。　　The　experience　of　the　past　made　him
more　and　more　circumspect　in　the　present　and　the　future。
Therefore　he　secluded　himself；　and　not　caring　to　traverse
the　streets　of　the　village；　he　would　not　even　leave　the　inn
at　which　he　had　halted。

As　for　his　horse；　he　did　not　even　think　of　exchanging　him　for
another　animal。　　He　had　become　accustomed　to　this　brave　creature。
He　knew　to　what　extent　he　could　rely　upon　him。　　In　buying　him　at　Omsk
he　had　been　lucky；　and　in　taking　him　to　the　postmaster　the　generous
mujik　had　rendered　him　a　great　service。　　Besides；　if　Michael　Strogoff
had　already　become　attached　to　his　horse；　the　horse　himself　seemed
to　become　inured；　by　degrees；　to　the　fatigue　of　such　a　journey；
and　provided　that　he　got　several　hours　of　repose　daily；　his　rider
might　hope　that　he　would　carry　him　beyond　the　invaded　provinces。

So；　during　the　evening　and　night　of　the　2nd　of　August；　Michael　Strogoff
remained　confined　to　his　inn；　at　the　entrance　of　the　town；　which　was
little　frequented　and　out　of　the　way　of　the　importunate　and　curious。

Exhausted　with　fatigue；　he　went　to　bed　after　having　seen　that　his　horse
lacked　nothing；　but　his　sleep　was　broken。　　What　he　had　seen　since　his
departure　from　Moscow　showed　him　the　importance　of　his　mission。
The　rising　was　an　extremely　serious　one；　and　the　treachery
of　Ogareff　made　it　still　more　formidable。　　And　when　his　eyes　fell
upon　the　letter　bearing　upon　it　the　authority　of　the　imperial　seal
the　letter　which；　no　doubt；　contained　the　remedy　for　so　many　evils；
the　safety　of　all　this　war…ravaged　countryMichael　Strogoff　felt　within
himself　a　fierce　desire　to　dash　on　across　the　steppe；　to　accomplish
the　distance　which　separated　him　from　Irkutsk　as　the　crow　would　fly　it；
to　be　an　eagle　that　he　might　overtop　all　obstacles；　to　be　a　hurricane
that　he　might　sweep　through　the　air　at　a　hundred　versts　an　hour；
and　to　be　at　last　face　to　face　with　the　Grand　Duke；　and　to　exclaim：
〃Your　highness；　from　his　Majesty　the　Czar！〃

On　the　next　morning　at　six　o'clock；　Michael　Strogoff　started　off　again。
Thanks　to　his　extreme　prudence　this　part　of　the　journey　was　signalized
by　no　incident　whatever。　　At　Oubinsk　he　gave　his　horse　a　whole
night's　rest；　for　he　wished　on　the　next　day　to　accomplish　the　hundred
versts　which　lie　between　Oubinsk　and　Ikoulskoe　without　halting。
He　started　therefore　at　dawn；　but　unfortunately　the　Baraba　proved
more　detestable　than　ever。

In　fact；　between　Oubinsk　and　Kamakore　the　very　heavy　rains
of　some　previous　weeks　were　retained　by　this　shallow　depression
as　in　a　water…tight　bowl。　　There　was；　for　a　long　distance；　no　break
in　the　succession　of　swamps；　pools；　and　lakes。　　One　of　these　lakes
large　enough　to　warrant　its　geographical　nomenclatureTchang；　Chinese
in　name；　had　to　be　coasted　for　more　than　twenty　versts；　and　this
with　the　greatest　difficulty。　　Hence　certain　delays　occurred；
which　all　the　impatience　of　Michael　Strogoff　could　not　avoid。
He　had　been　well　advised　in　not　taking　a　carriage　at　Kamsk；
for　his　horse　passed　places　which　would　have　been　impracticable
for　a　conveyance　on　wheels。

In　the　evening；　at　nine　o'clock；　Michael　Strogoff　arrived
at　Ikoulskoe；　and　halted　there　over　night。　　In　this　remote
village　of　the　Baraba　news　of　the　war　was　utterly　wanting。
From　its　situation；　this　part　of　the　province；　lying　in　the　fork
formed　by　the　two　Tartar　columns　which　had　bifurcated；
one　upon　Omsk　and　the　other　upon　Tomsk；　had　hitherto　escaped
the　horrors　of　the　invasion。

But　the　natural　obstacles　were　now　about　to　disappear；　for；　if　he
experienced　no　delay；　Michael　Strogoff　should　on　the　morrow　be　free
of　the　Baraba　and　arrive　at　Kolyvan。　　There　he　would　be　within
eighty　miles　of　Tomsk。　　He　would　then　be　guided　by　circumstances；
and　very　probably　he　would　decide　to　go　around　Tomsk；　which；　if　the　news
were　true；　was　occupied　by　Feofar…Khan。

But　if　the　small　towns　of　Ikoulskoe　and　Karguinsk；　which　he
passed　on　the　next　day；　were　comparatively　quiet；　owing　to
their　position　in　the　Baraba；　was　it　not　to　be　dreaded　that；
upon　the　right　banks　of　the　Obi；　Michael　Strogoff　would　have　much
more　to　fear　from　man？　　It　was　probable。　　However；　should　it
become　necessary；　he　would　not　hesitate　to　abandon　the　beaten
path　to　Irkutsk。　　To　journey　then　across　the　steppe　he　would；
no　doubt；　run　the　risk　of　finding　himself　without　supplies。
There　would　be；　in　fact；　no　longer　a　well…marked　road。
Still；　there　must　be　no　hesitation。

Finally；　towards　half　past　three　in　the　afternoon；　Michael　Strogoff
left　the　last　depressions　of　the　Baraba；　and　the　dry　and　hard　soil
of　Siberia　rang　out　once　more　beneath　his　horse's　hoofs。

He　had　left　Moscow　on　the　15th　of　July。　　Therefore　on　this　day；
the　5th　of　August；　including　more　than　seventy　hours　lost　on　the　banks
of　the　Irtych；　twenty　days　had　gone　by　since　his　departure。

One　thousand　miles　still　separated　him　from　Irkutsk。


CHAPTER　XVI　A　FINAL　EFFORT

MICHAEL'S　fear　of　meeting　the　Tartars　in　the　plains　beyond
the　Baraba　was　by　no　means　ungrounded。　　The　fields；　trodden　down
by　horses'　hoofs；　afforded　but　too　clear　evidence　that　their
hordes　had　passed　that　way；　the　same；　indeed；　might　be　said
of　these　barbarians　as　of　the　Turks：　　〃Where　the　Turk　goes；
no　grass　grows。〃

Michael　saw　at　once　that　in　traversing　this　country　the　greatest
caution　was　necessary。　　Wreaths　of　smoke　curling　upwards　on
the　horizon　showed　that　huts　and　hamlets　were　still　burning。
Had　these　been　fired　by　the　advance　guard；　or　had　the　Emir's
army　already　advanced　beyond　the　boundaries　of　the　province？
Was　Feofar…Khan　himself　in　the　government　of　Yeniseisk？　　Michael　could
settle　on　no　line　of　action　until　these　questions　were　answered。
Was　the　country　so　deserted　that　he　could　not　discover　a　single
Siberian　to　enlighten　him？

Michael　rode　on　for　two　versts　without　meeting　a　human　being。
He　looked　carefully　for　some　house　which　had　not　been　deserted。
Every　one　was　tenantless。

One　hut；　however；　which　he　could　just　see　between　the　trees；
was　still　smoking。　　As　he　approached　he　perceived；　at　some　yards　from
the　ruins　of　the　building；　an　old　man　surrounded　by　weeping　children。
A　woman　still　young；　evidently　his　daughter　and　the　mother　of
the　poor　children；　kneeling　on　the　ground；　was　gazing　on　the　scene
of　desolation。　　She　had　at　her　breast　a　baby　but　a　few　months　old；
shortly　she　would　have　not　even　that　nourishment　to　give　it。
Ruin　and　desolation　were　all　around！

Michael　approached　the　old　man。

〃Will　you　answer　me　a　few　questions？〃　he　asked。

〃Speak；〃　replied　the　old　man。

〃Have　the　Tartars　passed　this　way？〃

〃Yes；　for　my　house　is　in　flames。〃

〃Was　it　an　army　or　a　detachment？〃

〃An　army；　for；　as　far　as　eye　can　reach；　our　fields　are　laid　waste。〃

〃Commanded　by　the　Emir？〃

〃By　the　Emir；　for　the　Obi's　waters　are　red。〃

〃Has　Feofar…Khan　entered　Tomsk？〃

〃He　has。〃

〃Do　you　know　if　his　men　have　entered　Kolyvan？〃

〃No；　for　Kolyvan　does　not　yet　burn。〃

〃Thanks；　friend。　　Can　I　aid　you　and　yours？〃

〃No。〃

〃Good…by。〃

〃Farewell。〃

And　Michael；　having　presented　five　and　twenty　roubles　to
the　unfortunate　woman；　who　had　not　even　strength　to　thank　him；
put　spurs　to　his　horse　once　more。

One　thing　he　knew；　he　must　not　pass　through　Tomsk。　　To　go　to　Kolyvan；
which　the　Tartars　had　not　yet　reached；　was　possible。　　Yes；　that　is
what　he　must　do；　there　he　must　prepare　himself　for　another　long　stage。
There　was　nothing　for　it　but；　having　crossed　the　Obi；　to　take　the　Irkutsk
road　and　avoid　Tomsk。

This　new　route　decided　on；　Michael　must　not　delay　an　instant。
Nor　did　he；　but；　putting　his　horse　into　a　steady　gallop；　he　took　the　road
towards　the　left　bank　of　the　Obi；　which　was　still　forty　versts　distant。
Would　there　be　a　ferry　boat　there；　or　should　he；　finding　that　the　Tartars
had　destroyed　all　the　boats；　be　obliged　to　swim　across？

As　to　his　horse；　it　was　by　this　time　pretty　well　worn　out；　and　Michael
intended　to　make　it　perform　this　stage　only；　and　then　to　exchange　it
for　a　fresh　one　at　Kolyvan。　　Kolyvan　would　be　like　a　fresh　starting　point；
for　on　leaving　that　town　his　journey　would　take　a　new　form。
So　long　as　he　traversed　a　devastated　country　the　difficulties　must
be　very　great；　but　if；　having　avoided　Tomsk；　he　could　r俿um？the　road
to　Irkutsk　across　the　province　of　Yeniseisk；　which　was　not　yet　laid　waste；
he　would　finish　his　journey　in　a　few　days。

Night　came　on；　bringing　with　it　refreshing　coolness　after　the　heat
of　the　day。　　At　midnight　the　steppe　was　profoundly　dark。
The　sound　of　the　horses's　hoofs　alone　was　he