michael strogoff-第24章

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of　the　day。　　At　midnight　the　steppe　was　profoundly　dark。
The　sound　of　the　horses's　hoofs　alone　was　heard　on　the　road；　except　when；
every　now　and　then；　its　master　spoke　a　few　encouraging　words。
In　such　darkness　as　this　great　care　was　necessary　lest　he　should
leave　the　road；　bordered　by　pools　and　streams；　tributaries　of
the　Obi。　　Michael　therefore　advanced　as　quickly　as　was　consistent
with　safety。　　He　trusted　no　less　to　the　excellence　of　his　eyes；
which　penetrated　the　gloom；　than　to　the　well…proved　sagacity
of　his　horse。

Just　as　Michael　dismounted　to　discover　the　exact　direction　of　the　road；
he　heard　a　confused　murmuring　sound　from　the　west。　　It　was　like
the　noise　of　horses'　hoofs　at　some　distance　on　the　parched　ground。
Michael　listened　attentively；　putting　his　ear　to　the　ground。

〃It　is　a　detachment　of　cavalry　coming　by　the　road　from　Omsk；〃
he　said　to　himself。　　〃They　are　marching　very　quickly；
for　the　noise　is　increasing。　　Are　they　Russians　or　Tartars？〃

Michael　again　listened。　　〃Yes；〃　said　he；　〃they　are　at　a　sharp　trot。
My　horse　cannot　outstrip　them。　　If　they　are　Russians　I　will　join　them；
if　Tartars　I　must　avoid　them。　　But　how？　　Where　can　I　hide　in　this　steppe？〃

He　gave　a　look　around；　and；　through　the　darkness；　discovered　a
confused　mass　at　a　hundred　paces　before　him　on　the　left　of　the　road。
〃There　is　a　copse！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃To　take　refuge　there　is
to　run　the　risk　of　being　caught；　if　they　are　in　search　of　me；
but　I　have　no　choice。〃

In　a　few　moments　Michael；　dragging　his　horse　by　the　bridle；
reached　a　little　larch　wood；　through　which　the　road　lay。
Beyond　this　it　was　destitute　of　trees；　and　wound　among　bogs
and　pools；　separated　by　dwarfed　bushes；　whins；　and　heather。
The　ground　on　either　side　was　quite　impracticable；
and　the　detachment　must　necessarily　pass　through　the　wood。
They　were　pursuing　the　high　road　to　Irkutsk。　　Plunging　in　about
forty　feet；　he　was　stopped　by　a　stream　running　under　the　brushwood。
But　the　shadow　was　so　deep　that　Michael　ran　no　risk　of
being　seen；　unless　the　wood　should　be　carefully　searched。
He　therefore　led　his　horse　to　the　stream　and　fastened　him　to　a　tree；
returning　to　the　edge　of　the　road　to　listen　and　ascertain
with　what　sort　of　people　he　had　to　do。

Michael　had　scarcely　taken　up　his　position　behind　a　group　of　larches
when　a　confused　light　appeared；　above　which　glared　brighter　lights
waving　about　in　the　shadow。

〃Torches！〃　said　he　to　himself。　　And　he　drew　quickly　back；
gliding　like　a　savage　into　the　thickest　underwood。

As　they　approached　the　wood　the　horses'　pace　was　slackened。
The　horsemen　were　probably　lighting　up　the　road　with　the　intention
of　examining　every　turn。

Michael　feared　this；　and　instinctively　drew　near　to　the　bank
of　the　stream；　ready　to　plunge　in　if　necessary。

Arrived　at　the　top　of　the　wood；　the　detachment　halted。
The　horsemen　dismounted。　　There　were　about　fifty。
A　dozen　of　them　carried　torches；　lighting　up　the　road。

By　watching　their　preparations　Michael　found　to　his　joy
that　the　detachment　were　not　thinking　of　visiting　the　copse；
but　only　bivouacking　near；　to　rest　their　horses　and　allow　the　men
to　take　some　refreshment。　　The　horses　were　soon　unsaddled；
and　began　to　graze　on　the　thick　grass　which　carpeted　the　ground。
The　men　meantime　stretched　themselves　by　the　side　of　the　road；
and　partook　of　the　provisions　they　produced　from　their　knapsacks。

Michael's　self…possession　had　never　deserted　him；　and　creeping　amongst
the　high　grass　he　endeavored　not　only　to　examine　the　new…comers；
but　to　hear　what　they　said。　　It　was　a　detachment　from　Omsk；
composed　of　Usbeck　horsemen；　a　race　of　the　Mongolian　type。
These　men；　well　built；　above　the　medium　height；　rough；　and　wild…featured；
wore　on　their　heads　the　〃talpak；〃　or　black　sheep…skin　cap；
and　on　their　feet　yellow　high…heeled　boots　with　turned…up　toes；
like　the　shoes　of　the　Middle　Ages。　　Their　tunics　were　close…fitting；
and　confined　at　the　waist　by　a　leathern　belt　braided　with　red。
They　were　armed　defensively　with　a　shield；　and　offensively　with　a
curved　sword；　and　a　flintlock　musket　slung　at　the　saddle…bow。　From
their　shoulders　hung　gay…colored　cloaks。

The　horses；　which　were　feeding　at　liberty　at　the　edge
of　the　wood；　were；　like　their　masters；　of　the　Usbeck　race。
These　animals　are　rather　smaller　than　the　Turcomanian　horses；
but　are　possessed　of　remarkable　strength；　and　know　no　other　pace
than　the　gallop。

This　detachment　was　commanded　by　a　〃pendja…baschi〃；　that　is　to　say；
a　commander　of　fifty　men；　having　under　him　a　〃deh…baschi；〃
or　simple　commander　of　ten　men。　　These　two　officers　wore　helmets
and　half　coats…of…mail；　little　trumpets　fastened　to　their　saddle…bows
were　the　distinctive　signs　of　their　rank。

The　pendja…baschi　had　been　obliged　to　let　his　men　rest；
fatigued　with　a　long　stage。　　He　and　the　second　officer；
smoking　〃beng；〃　the　leaf　which　forms　the　base　of　the　〃has…chisch；〃
strolled　up　and　down　the　wood；　so　that　Michael　Strogoff　without
being　seen；　could　catch　and　understand　their　conversation；
which　was　spoken　in　the　Tartar　language。

Michael's　attention　was　singularly　excited　by　their　very　first　words。
It　was　of　him　they　were　speaking。

〃This　courier　cannot　be　much　in　advance　of　us；〃　said　the　pendja…baschi；
〃and；　on　the　other　hand；　it　is　absolutely　impossible　that　he　can　have
followed　any　other　route　than　that　of　the　Baraba。〃

〃Who　knows　if　he　has　left　Omsk？〃　replied　the　deh…baschi。　〃Perhaps
he　is　still　hidden　in　the　town。〃

〃That　is　to　be　wished；　certainly。　　Colonel　Ogareff　would　have　no　fear
then　that　the　dispatches　he　bears　should　ever　reach　their　destination。〃

〃They　say　that　he　is　a　native；　a　Siberian；〃　resumed　the　deh…baschi。
〃If　so；　he　must　be　well　acquainted　with　the　country；　and　it　is　possible
that　he　has　left　the　Irkutsk　road；　depending　on　rejoining　it　later。〃

〃But　then　we　should　be　in　advance　of　him；〃　answered　the　pendja…baschi；
〃for　we　left　Omsk　within　an　hour　after　his　departure；　and　have
since　followed　the　shortest　road　with　all　the　speed　of　our　horses。
He　has　either　remained　in　Omsk；　or　we　shall　arrive　at　Tomsk　before　him；
so　as　to　cut　him　off；　in　either　case　he　will　not　reach　Irkutsk。〃

〃A　rugged　woman；　that　old　Siberian；　who　is　evidently　his　mother；〃
said　the　deh…baschi。

At　this　remark　Michael's　heart　beat　violently。

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　pendja…baschi。　〃She　stuck　to　it　well　that
the　pretended　merchant　was　not　her　son；　but　it　was　too　late。
Colonel　Ogareff　was　not　to　be　taken　in；　and；　as　he　said；
he　will　know　how　to　make　the　old　witch　speak　when　the　time　comes。〃

These　words　were　so　many　dagger…thrusts　for　Michael。　　He　was
known　to　be　a　courier　of　the　Czar！　　A　detachment　of　horsemen
on　his　track　could　not　fail　to　cut　him　off。　　And；　worst　of　all；
his　mother　was　in　the　hands　of　the　Tartars；　and　the　cruel
Ogareff　had　undertaken　to　make　her　speak　when　he　wished！

Michael　well　knew　that　the　brave　Siberian　would　sacrifice　her　life
for　him。　　He　had　fancied　that　he　could　not　hate　Ivan　Ogareff　more；
yet　a　fresh　tide　of　hate　now　rose　in　his　heart。　　The　wretch　who　had
betrayed　his　country　now　threatened　to　torture　his　mother。

The　conversation　between　the　two　officers　continued；　and　Michael
understood　that　an　engagement　was　imminent　in　the　neighborhood
of　Kolyvan；　between　the　Muscovite　troops　coming　from　the　north
and　the　Tartars。　　A　small　Russian　force　of　two　thousand　men；
reported　to　have　reached　the　lower　course　of　the　Obi；　were　advancing
by　forced　marches　towards　Tomsk。　　If　such　was　the　case；
this　force；　which　would　soon　find　itself　engaged　with　the　main
body　of　Feofar…Khan's　army；　would　be　inevitably　overwhelmed；
and　the　Irkutsk　road　would　be　in　the　entire　possession
of　the　invaders。

As　to　himself；　Michael　learnt；　by　some　words　from　the　pendja…baschi；
that　a　price　was　set　on　his　head；　and　that　orders　had　been　given
to　take　him；　dead　or　alive。

It　was　necessary；　therefore；　to　get　the　start　of　the　Usbeck　horsemen
on　the　Irkutsk　road；　and　put　the　Obi　between　himself　and　them。
But　to　do　that；　he　must　escape　before　the　camp　was　broken　up。

His　determination　taken；　Michael　prepared　to　execute　it。

Indeed；　the　halt　would　not　be　prolonged；　and　the　pendja…baschi　did
not　intend　to　give　his　men　more　than　an　hour's　rest；　although　their
horses　could　not　have　been　changed　for　fresh　ones　since　Omsk；
and　must　be　as　much　fatigued　as　that　of　Michael　Strogoff。

There　was　not　a　moment　to　lose。　　It　was　within　an　hour　of　morning。
It　was　needful　to　profit　by　the　darkness　to　leave　the　little　wood
and　dash　along　the　road；　but　although　night　favored　it　the　success
of　such　a　flight　appeared　to　be　almost　impossible。

Not　wishing　to　do　anything　at　random；　Michael　took　time　for　reflection；
carefully　weighing　the　chances　so　as　to　take　the　best。
From　the　situation　of　the　place　the　result　was　this
that　he　could　not　escape　through　the　back　of　the　wood；　the　stream
which　bordered　it　being　not　only　deep；　but　very　wide　and　muddy。
Beneath　this　thick　water　was　a　slimy　bog；　on　which　the　foot
could　not　rest。　　There　was　only　one　way　open；　the　high…road。　To
endeavor　to　reach　it　by　creeping　round　the　edge　of　the　wood；
without　attracting　attention；　and　then　to　gallop　at　headlong　speed；
required　all　the　remaining　strength　and　energy　of　his　noble　steed。
Too　probably　it　would　fall　dead　on　reaching　the　banks　of　the　Obi；　when；
either　by　boat　or　by　swimming；　he　must　cross　this　important　river。
This　was　what　Michael　had　before　him。

His　energy　and　courage　increased　in　sight　of　danger。

His　life；　his　mission；　his　country；　perhaps　the　safety　of　his　mother；
were　at　stake。　　He　could　not　hesitate。

There　was　not　a　moment　to　be　lost。　　Already　there　was　a　slight
movement　among　the　men　of　the　detachment。　　A　few　horsemen
were　strolling　up　and　down　the　road　in　front　of　the　wood。
The　rest　were　still　lying　at　the　foot　of　the　trees；　but　their
horses　were　gradually　penetrating　towards　the　center　of　the　wood。

Michael　had　at　first　thought　of　seizing　one　of　these　horses；
but　he　recollected　that；　of　course；　they　would　be　as　fatigued
as　his　own。　　It　was　better　to　trust　to　his　own　brave　steed；
which　had　already　rendered　him　such　important　service。
The　good　animal；　hidden　behind　a　thicket；　had　escaped　the　sight
of　the　Usbecks。　　They；　besides；　had　not　penetrated　so　far
into　the　wood。

Michael　crawled　up　to　his　horse　through　the　grass；　and　found　him
lying　down。　　He　patted　and　spoke　gently　to　him；　and　managed　to　raise
him　without　noise。　　Fortunately；　the　torches　were　entirely　consumed；
and　now　went　out；　the　darkness　being　still　profound　under　shelter
of　the　larches。　　After　replacing　the　bit；　Michael　looked　to　his
girths　and　stirrups；　and　began　to　lead　his　horse　quietly　away。
The　intelligent　animal　followed　his　master　without　even　making
the　least　neigh。

A　few　Usbeck　horses　raised　their　heads；　and　began　to　wander　towards
the　edge　of　the　wood。　　Michael　held　his　revolver　in　his　hand；
ready　to　blow　out　the　brains　of　the　first　Tartar　who　should　approach　him。
But　happily　the　alarm　was　not　given；　and　he　was　able　to　gain　the　angle
made　by　the　wood　where　it　joined　the　road。

To　avoid　being　seen；　Michael's　intention　was　not　to　mount　until
after　turning　a　corner　some　two　hundred　feet　from　the　wood。
Unf