michael strogoff-第25章

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To　avoid　being　seen；　Michael's　intention　was　not　to　mount　until
after　turning　a　corner　some　two　hundred　feet　from　the　wood。
Unfortunately；　just　at　the　moment　that　he　was　issuing　from　the　wood；
an　Usbeck's　horse；　scenting　him；　neighed　and　began　to　trot　along
the　road。　　His　master　ran　to　catch　him；　and　seeing　a　shadowy　form
moving　in　the　dim　light；　〃Look　out！〃　he　shouted。

At　the　cry；　all　the　men　of　the　bivouac　jumped　up；　and　ran　to　seize
their　horses。　　Michael　leaped　on　his　steed；　and　galloped　away。
The　two　officers　of　the　detachment　urged　on　their　men　to　follow。

Michael　heard　a　report；　and　felt　a　ball　pass　through　his　tunic。
Without　turning　his　head；　without　replying；　he　spurred　on；　and；
clearing　the　brushwood　with　a　tremendous　bound；　he　galloped　at　full
speed　toward　the　Obi。

The　Usbecks'　horses　being　unsaddled　gave　him　a　small　start；
but　in　less　than　two　minutes　he　heard　the　tramp　of　several
horses　gradually　gaining　on　him。

Day　was　now　beginning　to　break；　and　objects　at　some　distance　were
becoming　visible。　　Michael　turned　his　head；　and　perceived　a　horseman
rapidly　approaching　him。　　It　was　the　deh…baschi。　Being　better　mounted；
this　officer　had　distanced　his　detachment。

Without　drawing　rein；　Michael　extended　his　revolver；　and　took
a　moment's　aim。　　The　Usbeck　officer；　hit　in　the　breast；
rolled　on　the　ground。

But　the　other　horsemen　followed　him　closely；　and　without　waiting
to　assist　the　deh…baschi；　exciting　each　other　by　their　shouts；
digging　their　spurs　into　their　horses'　sides；　they　gradually
diminished　the　distance　between　themselves　and　Michael。

For　half　an　hour　only　was　the　latter　able　to　keep　out　of　range
of　the　Tartars；　but　he　well　knew　that　his　horse　was　becoming　weaker；
and　dreaded　every　instant　that　he　would　stumble　never　to　rise　again。

It　was　now　light；　although　the　sun　had　not　yet　risen　above　the　horizon。
Two　versts　distant　could　be　seen　a　pale　line　bordered　by　a　few　trees。

This　was　the　Obi；　which　flows　from　the　southwest　to　the　northeast；
the　surface　almost　level　with　the　ground；　its　bed　being　but
the　steppe　itself。

Several　times　shots　were　fired　at　Michael；　but　without　hitting　him；
and　several　times　too　he　discharged　his　revolver　on　those　of
the　soldiers　who　pressed　him　too　closely。　　Each　time　an　Usbeck
rolled　on　the　ground；　midst　cries　of　rage　from　his　companions。
But　this　pursuit　could　only　terminate　to　Michael's　disadvantage。
His　horse　was　almost　exhausted。　　He　managed　to　reach　the　bank
of　the　river。　　The　Usbeck　detachment　was　now　not　more　than　fifty
paces　behind　him。

The　Obi　was　desertednot　a　boat　of　any　description　which　could
take　him　over　the　water！

〃Courage；　my　brave　horse！〃　cried　Michael。　　〃Come！　　A　last　effort！〃
And　he　plunged　into　the　river；　which　here　was　half　a　verst　in　width。

It　would　have　been　difficult　to　stand　against　the　current
indeed；　Michael's　horse　could　get　no　footing。　　He　must　therefore
swim　across　the　river；　although　it　was　rapid　as　a　torrent。
Even　to　attempt　it　showed　Michael's　marvelous　courage。
The　soldiers　reached　the　bank；　but　hesitated　to　plunge　in。

The　pendja…baschi　seized　his　musket　and　took　aim　at　Michael；
whom　he　could　see　in　the　middle　of　the　stream。
The　shot　was　fired；　and　Michael's　horse；　struck　in　the　side；
was　borne　away　by　the　current。

His　master；　speedily　disentangling　himself　from　his　stirrups；
struck　out　boldly　for　the　shore。　　In　the　midst　of　a　hailstorm
of　balls　he　managed　to　reach　the　opposite　side；　and　disappeared
in　the　rushes。


CHAPTER　XVII　THE　RIVALS

MICHAEL　was　in　comparative　safety；　though　his　situation　was
still　terrible。　　Now　that　the　faithful　animal　who　had　so　bravely
borne　him　had　met　his　death　in　the　waters　of　the　river；
how　was　he　to　continue　his　journey？

He　was　on　foot；　without　provisions；　in　a　country　devastated
by　the　invasion；　overrun　by　the　Emir's　scouts；　and　still　at　a
considerable　distance　from　the　place　he　was　striving　to　reach。
〃By　Heaven；　I　will　get　there！〃　he　exclaimed；　in　reply　to　all
the　reasons　for　faltering。　　〃God　will　protect　our　sacred　Russia。〃

Michael　was　out　of　reach　of　the　Usbeck　horsemen。
They　had　not　dared　to　pursue　him　through　the　river。

Once　more　on　solid　ground　Michael　stopped　to　consider　what
he　should　do　next。　　He　wished　to　avoid　Tomsk；　now　occupied
by　the　Tartar　troops。　　Nevertheless；　he　must　reach　some　town；
or　at　least　a　post…house；　where　he　could　procure　a　horse。
A　horse　once　found；　he　would　throw　himself　out　of　the　beaten　track；
and　not　again　take　to　the　Irkutsk　road　until　in　the　neighborhood
of　Krasnoiarsk。　　From　that　place；　if　he　were　quick；　he　hoped
to　find　the　way　still　open；　and　he　intended　to　go　through
the　Lake　Baikal　provinces　in　a　southeasterly　direction。

Michael　began　by　going　eastward。　　By　following　the　course
of　the　Obi　two　versts　further；　he　reached　a　picturesque　little
town　lying　on　a　small　hill。　　A　few　churches；　with　Byzantine
cupolas　colored　green　and　gold；　stood　up　against　the　gray　sky。
This　is　Kolyvan；　where　the　officers　and　people　employed　at　Kamsk
and　other　towns　take　refuge　during　the　summer　from　the　unhealthy
climate　of　the　Baraba。　　According　to　the　latest　news　obtained
by　the　Czar's　courier；　Kolyvan　could　not　be　yet　in　the　hands
of　the　invaders。　　The　Tartar　troops；　divided　into　two　columns；
had　marched　to　the　left　on　Omsk；　to　the　right　on　Tomsk；
neglecting　the　intermediate　country。

Michael　Strogoff's　plan　was　simply　thisto　reach　Kolyvan　before
the　arrival　of　the　Usbeck　horsemen；　who　would　ascend　the　other　bank
of　the　Obi　to　the　ferry。　　There　he　would　procure　clothes　and　a　horse；
and　r俿um？the　road　to　Irkutsk　across　the　southern　steppe。

It　was　now　three　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　The　neighborhood　of　Kolyvan
was　very　still；　and　appeared　to　have　been　totally　abandoned。
The　country　population　had　evidently　fled　to　the　northwards；
to　the　province　of　Yeniseisk；　dreading　the　invasion；　which　they
could　not　resist。

Michael　was　walking　at　a　rapid　pace　towards　Kolyvan　when　distant　firing
struck　his　ear。　　He　stopped；　and　clearly　distinguished　the　dull　roar
of　artillery；　and　above　it　a　crisp　rattle　which　could　not　be　mistaken。

〃It　is　cannon　and　musketry！〃　said　he。　　〃The　little　Russian　body
is　engaged　with　the　Tartar　army！　　Pray　Heaven　that　I　may　arrive
at　Kolyvan　before　them！〃

The　firing　became　gradually　louder；　and　soon　to　the　left　of　Kolyvan
a　mist　collectednot　smoke；　but　those　great　white　clouds　produced
by　discharges　of　artillery。

The　Usbeck　horsemen　stopped　on　the　left　of　the　Obi；　to　await　the　result
of　the　battle。　　From　them　Michael　had　nothing　to　fear　as　he　hastened
towards　the　town。

In　the　meanwhile　the　firing　increased；　and　became　sensibly　nearer。
It　was　no　longer　a　confused　roar；　but　distinct　reports。
At　the　same　time　the　smoke　partially　cleared；　and　it　became
evident　that　the　combatants　were　rapidly　moving　southwards。
It　appeared　that　Kolyvan　was　to　be　attacked　on　the　north　side。
But　were　the　Russians　defending　it　or　the　Tartars？　　It　being
impossible　to　decide　this；　Michael　became　greatly　perplexed。

He　was　not　more　than　half　a　verst　from　Kolyvan　when　he　observed
flames　shooting　up　among　the　houses　of　the　town；　and　the　steeple
of　a　church　fell　in　the　midst　of　clouds　of　smoke　and　fire。
Was　the　struggle；　then；　in　Kolyvan？　　Michael　was　compelled　to　think　so。
It　was　evident　that　Russians　and　Tartars　were　fighting　in
the　streets　of　the　town。　　Was　this　a　time　to　seek　refuge　there？
Would　he　not　run　a　risk　of　being　taken　prisoner？　　Should　he　succeed
in　escaping　from　Kolyvan；　as　he　had　escaped　from　Omsk？　　He　hesitated
and　stopped　a　moment。　　Would　it　not　be　better　to　try；　even　on　foot；
to　reach　some　small　town；　and　there　procure　a　horse　at　any　price？
This　was　the　only　thing　to　be　done；　and　Michael；　leaving　the　Obi；
went　forward　to　the　right　of　Kolyvan。

The　firing　had　now　increased　in　violence。　　Flames　soon　sprang
up　on　the　left　of　the　town。　　Fire　was　devouring　one　entire
quarter　of　Kolyvan。

Michael　was　running　across　the　steppe　endeavoring　to　gain　the　covert
of　some　trees　when　a　detachment　of　Tartar　cavalry　appeared　on　the　right。
He　dared　not　continue　in　that　direction。　　The　horsemen　advanced　rapidly；
and　it　would　have　been　difficult　to　escape　them。

Suddenly；　in　a　thick　clump　of　trees；　he　saw　an　isolated　house；
which　it　would　be　possible　to　reach　before　he　was　perceived。
Michael　had　no　choice　but　to　run　there；　hide　himself　and　ask
or　take　something　to　recruit　his　strength；　for　he　was　exhausted
with　hunger　and　fatigue。

He　accordingly　ran　on　towards　this　house；　still　about　half
a　verst　distant。　　As　he　approached；　he　could　see　that　it
was　a　telegraph　office。　　Two　wires　left　it　in　westerly　and
easterly　directions；　and　a　third　went　towards　Kolyvan。

It　was　to　be　supposed　that　under　the　circumstances　this　station
was　abandoned；　but　even　if　it　was；　Michael　could　take　refuge　there；
and　wait　till　nightfall；　if　necessary；　to　again　set　out　across
the　steppe　covered　with　Tartar　scouts。

He　ran　up　to　the　door　and　pushed　it　open。

A　single　person　was　in　the　room　whence　the　telegraphic　messages
were　dispatched。　　This　was　a　clerk；　calm；　phlegmatic；　indifferent　to
all　that　was　passing　outside。　　Faithful　to　his　post；　he　waited　behind
his　little　wicket　until　the　public　claimed　his　services。

Michael　ran　up　to　him；　and　in　a　voice　broken　by　fatigue；
〃What　do　you　know？〃　he　asked。

〃Nothing；〃　answered　the　clerk；　smiling。

〃Are　the　Russians　and　Tartars　engaged？〃

〃They　say　so。〃

〃But　who　are　the　victors？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

Such　calmness；　such　indifference；　in　the　midst　of　these　terrible　events；
was　scarcely　credible。

〃And　is　not　the　wire　cut？〃　said　Michael。

〃It　is　cut　between　Kolyvan　and　Krasnoiarsk；　but　it　is　still　working
between　Kolyvan　and　the　Russian　frontier。〃

〃For　the　government？〃

〃For　the　government；　when　it　thinks　proper。　　For　the　public；
when　they　pay。　　Ten　copecks　a　word；　whenever　you　like；　sir！〃

Michael　was　about　to　reply　to　this　strange　clerk　that　he　had　no
message　to　send；　that　he　only　implored　a　little　bread　and　water；
when　the　door　of　the　house　was　again　thrown　open。

Thinking　that　it　was　invaded　by　Tartars；　Michael　made　ready　to　leap
out　of　the　window；　when　two　men　only　entered　the　room　who　had　nothing
of　the　Tartar　soldier　about　them。　　One　of　them　held　a　dispatch；
written　in　pencil；　in　his　hand；　and；　passing　the　other；　he　hurried
up　to　the　wicket　of　the　imperturbable　clerk。

In　these　two　men　Michael　recognized　with　astonishment；
which　everyone　will　understand；　two　personages　of　whom　he　was　not
thinking　at　all；　and　whom　he　had　never　expected　to　see　again。
They　were　the　two　reporters；　Harry　Blount　and　Alcide　Jolivet；
no　longer　traveling　companions；　but　rivals；　enemies；　now　that　they
were　working　on　the　field　of　battle。

They　had　left　Ichim　only　a　few　hours　after　the　departure　of
Michael　Strogoff；　and　they　had　arrived　at　Kolyvan　before　him；
by　following　the　same　road；　in　consequence　of　his　losing　three　days
on　the　banks　of　the　Irtych。　　And　now；　after　being　both　present
at　the　engagement　between　the　Russians　and　Tartars　before　the　town；
they　had　left　just　as　the　struggle　broke　out　in　the　streets；　and　ran
to　the　telegraph　office；　so　as　to　send　off　their　rival　dispatches
t