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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
each¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡So£»¡¡then£»¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡Michael¡¡Strogoff¡¡dreaded¡¡above
everything¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡lively¡¡desire¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡correspondents¡£
Ivan¡¡Ogareff's¡¡arrival¡¡would¡¡evidently¡¡be¡¡of¡¡use¡¡to¡¡them¡£
Blount¡¡and¡¡Jolivet's¡¡interest¡¡was£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡contrary¡¡to
that¡¡of¡¡Michael¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡well¡¡understood¡¡the¡¡situation£»
and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡one¡¡reason£»¡¡added¡¡to¡¡many¡¡others£»¡¡which¡¡prevented
him¡¡from¡¡approaching¡¡his¡¡former¡¡traveling¡¡companions¡£
He¡¡therefore¡¡managed¡¡so¡¡as¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡by¡¡them¡£
Four¡¡days¡¡passed¡¡thus¡¡without¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡things¡¡being¡¡in
anywise¡¡altered¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡prisoners¡¡heard¡¡no¡¡talk¡¡of¡¡the¡¡breaking
up¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tartar¡¡camp¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡strictly¡¡guarded¡£
It¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡the¡¡cordon
of¡¡foot¡¡and¡¡horse¡¡soldiers£»¡¡which¡¡watched¡¡them¡¡night¡¡and¡¡day¡£
As¡¡to¡¡the¡¡food¡¡which¡¡was¡¡given¡¡them¡¡it¡¡was¡¡barely¡¡sufficient¡£
Twice¡¡in¡¡the¡¡twenty¡four¡¡hours¡¡they¡¡were¡¡thrown¡¡a¡¡piece
of¡¡the¡¡intestines¡¡of¡¡goats¡¡grilled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡coals£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡few
bits¡¡of¡¡that¡¡cheese¡¡called¡¡¡¨kroute£»¡¨¡¡made¡¡of¡¡sour¡¡ewe's¡¡milk£»
and¡¡which£»¡¡soaked¡¡in¡¡mare's¡¡milk£»¡¡forms¡¡the¡¡Kirghiz¡¡dish£»
commonly¡¡called¡¡¡¨koumyss¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡And¡¡this¡¡was¡¡all¡£
It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡added¡¡that¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡had¡¡become¡¡detestable¡£
There¡¡were¡¡considerable¡¡atmospheric¡¡commotions£»¡¡bringing¡¡squalls
mingled¡¡with¡¡rain¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡unfortunate¡¡prisoners£»¡¡destitute
of¡¡shelter£»¡¡had¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡all¡¡the¡¡inclemencies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡weather£»
nor¡¡was¡¡there¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡alleviation¡¡to¡¡their¡¡misery¡£
Several¡¡wounded¡¡women¡¡and¡¡children¡¡died£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prisoners¡¡were
themselves¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡dig¡¡graves¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡those¡¡whom
their¡¡jailers¡¡would¡¡not¡¡even¡¡take¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡to¡¡bury¡£
During¡¡this¡¡trying¡¡period¡¡Alcide¡¡Jolivet¡¡and¡¡Michael¡¡Strogoff¡¡worked¡¡hard£»
each¡¡in¡¡the¡¡portions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡enclosure¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡found¡¡themselves¡£
Healthy¡¡and¡¡vigorous£»¡¡they¡¡suffered¡¡less¡¡than¡¡so¡¡many¡¡others£»
and¡¡could¡¡better¡¡endure¡¡the¡¡hardships¡¡to¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡exposed¡£
By¡¡their¡¡advice£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡assistance¡¡they¡¡rendered£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡of¡¡the
greatest¡¡possible¡¡use¡¡to¡¡their¡¡suffering¡¡and¡¡despairing¡¡fellow¡captives¡£
Was¡¡this¡¡state¡¡of¡¡things¡¡to¡¡last£¿¡¡¡¡Would¡¡Feofar¡Khan£»¡¡satisfied
with¡¡his¡¡first¡¡success£»¡¡wait¡¡some¡¡time¡¡before¡¡marching
on¡¡Irkutsk£¿¡¡¡¡Such£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡feared£»¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡case¡£
But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡event¡¡so¡¡much¡¡wished¡¡for¡¡by¡¡Jolivet
and¡¡Blount£»¡¡so¡¡much¡¡dreaded¡¡by¡¡Michael£»¡¡occurred¡¡on¡¡the¡¡morning
of¡¡the¡¡12th¡¡of¡¡August¡£
On¡¡that¡¡day¡¡the¡¡trumpets¡¡sounded£»¡¡the¡¡drums¡¡beat£»¡¡the¡¡cannon¡¡roared¡£
A¡¡huge¡¡cloud¡¡of¡¡dust¡¡swept¡¡along¡¡the¡¡road¡¡from¡¡Kolyvan¡£¡¡¡¡Ivan¡¡Ogareff£»
followed¡¡by¡¡several¡¡thousand¡¡men£»¡¡made¡¡his¡¡entry¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Tartar¡¡camp¡£
CHAPTER¡¡II¡¡CORRESPONDENTS¡¡IN¡¡TROUBLE
IVAN¡¡OGAREFF¡¡was¡¡bringing¡¡up¡¡the¡¡main¡¡body¡¡of¡¡the¡¡army¡¡of
the¡¡Emir¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡cavalry¡¡and¡¡infantry¡¡now¡¡under¡¡him¡¡had¡¡formed¡¡part
of¡¡the¡¡column¡¡which¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡Omsk¡£¡¡¡¡Ogareff£»¡¡not¡¡having¡¡been
able¡¡to¡¡reduce¡¡the¡¡high¡¡town£»¡¡in¡¡which£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡remembered£»
the¡¡governor¡¡and¡¡garrison¡¡had¡¡sought¡¡refuge£»¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡on£»
not¡¡wishing¡¡to¡¡delay¡¡operations¡¡which¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡to¡¡the¡¡conquest
of¡¡Eastern¡¡Siberia¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡therefore¡¡left¡¡a¡¡garrison¡¡in¡¡Omsk£»¡¡and£»
reinforcing¡¡himself¡¡en¡¡route¡¡with¡¡the¡¡conquerors¡¡of¡¡Kolyvan£»
joined¡¡Feofar's¡¡army¡£
Ivan¡¡Ogareff's¡¡soldiers¡¡halted¡¡at¡¡the¡¡outposts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡camp¡£
They¡¡received¡¡no¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡bivouac¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡chief's¡¡plan£»
doubtless£»¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡halt¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡press¡¡on¡¡and¡¡reach
Tomsk¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shortest¡¡possible¡¡time£»¡¡it¡¡being¡¡an¡¡important¡¡town£»
naturally¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡become¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡future¡¡operations¡£
Besides¡¡his¡¡soldiers£»¡¡Ogareff¡¡was¡¡bringing¡¡a¡¡convoy
of¡¡Russian¡¡and¡¡Siberian¡¡prisoners£»¡¡captured¡¡either¡¡at¡¡Omsk
or¡¡Kolyvan¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡unhappy¡¡creatures¡¡were¡¡not¡¡led¡¡to
the¡¡enclosurealready¡¡too¡¡crowdedbut¡¡were¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡remain
at¡¡the¡¡outposts¡¡without¡¡shelter£»¡¡almost¡¡without¡¡nourishment¡£
What¡¡fate¡¡was¡¡Feofar¡Khan¡¡reserving¡¡for¡¡these¡¡unfortunates£¿
Would¡¡he¡¡imprison¡¡them¡¡in¡¡Tomsk£»¡¡or¡¡would¡¡some¡¡bloody¡¡execution£»
familiar¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Tartar¡¡chiefs£»¡¡remove¡¡them¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡found
too¡¡inconvenient£¿¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡of¡¡the¡¡capricious¡¡Emir¡£
This¡¡army¡¡had¡¡not¡¡come¡¡from¡¡Omsk¡¡and¡¡Kolyvan¡¡without¡¡bringing¡¡in¡¡its
train¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡beggars£»¡¡freebooters£»¡¡pedlars£»¡¡and¡¡gypsies£»
which¡¡compose¡¡the¡¡rear¡guard¡¡of¡¡an¡¡army¡¡on¡¡the¡¡march¡£
All¡¡these¡¡people¡¡lived¡¡on¡¡the¡¡country¡¡traversed£»¡¡and¡¡left
little¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡behind¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was£»¡¡therefore£»
a¡¡necessity¡¡for¡¡pushing¡¡forward£»¡¡if¡¡only¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡provisions
for¡¡the¡¡troops¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡region¡¡between¡¡Ichim¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Obi£»
now¡¡completely¡¡devastated£»¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡offered¡¡any¡¡resources¡£
The¡¡Tartars¡¡left¡¡a¡¡desert¡¡behind¡¡them¡£
Conspicuous¡¡among¡¡the¡¡gypsies¡¡who¡¡had¡¡hastened¡¡from¡¡the¡¡western¡¡provinces
was¡¡the¡¡Tsigane¡¡troop£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡accompanied¡¡Michael¡¡Strogoff¡¡as¡¡far
as¡¡Perm¡£¡¡¡¡Sangarre¡¡was¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡fierce¡¡spy£»¡¡the¡¡tool¡¡of¡¡Ivan¡¡Ogareff£»
had¡¡not¡¡deserted¡¡her¡¡master¡£¡¡¡¡Ogareff¡¡had¡¡traveled¡¡rapidly¡¡to¡¡Ichim£»
whilst¡¡Sangarre¡¡and¡¡her¡¡band¡¡had¡¡proceeded¡¡to¡¡Omsk¡¡by¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡part
of¡¡the¡¡province¡£
It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡easily¡¡understood¡¡how¡¡useful¡¡this¡¡woman¡¡was
to¡¡Ogareff¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡her¡¡gypsy¡band¡¡she¡¡could¡¡penetrate¡¡anywhere¡£
Ivan¡¡Ogareff¡¡was¡¡kept¡¡acquainted¡¡with¡¡all¡¡that¡¡was¡¡going¡¡on¡¡in
the¡¡very¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡invaded¡¡provinces¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡eyes£»
a¡¡hundred¡¡ears£»¡¡open¡¡in¡¡his¡¡service¡£¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡he¡¡paid¡¡liberally
for¡¡this¡¡espionage£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡derived¡¡so¡¡much¡¡advantage¡£
Once¡¡Sangarre£»¡¡being¡¡implicated¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very¡¡serious¡¡affair£»¡¡had¡¡been
saved¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡officer¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡never¡¡forgot¡¡what¡¡she¡¡owed¡¡him£»
and¡¡had¡¡devoted¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡his¡¡service¡¡body¡¡and¡¡soul¡£
When¡¡Ivan¡¡Ogareff¡¡entered¡¡on¡¡the¡¡path¡¡of¡¡treason£»
he¡¡saw¡¡at¡¡once¡¡how¡¡he¡¡might¡¡turn¡¡this¡¡woman¡¡to¡¡account¡£
Whatever¡¡order¡¡he¡¡might¡¡give¡¡her£»¡¡Sangarre¡¡would¡¡execute¡¡it¡£
An¡¡inexplicable¡¡instinct£»¡¡more¡¡powerful¡¡still¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡gratitude£»
had¡¡urged¡¡her¡¡to¡¡make¡¡herself¡¡the¡¡slave¡¡of¡¡the¡¡traitor
to¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡attached¡¡since¡¡the¡¡very¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡his
exile¡¡in¡¡Siberia¡£
Confidante¡¡and¡¡accomplice£»¡¡Sangarre£»¡¡without¡¡country£»¡¡without¡¡family£»
had¡¡been¡¡delighted¡¡to¡¡put¡¡her¡¡vagabond¡¡life¡¡to¡¡the¡¡service¡¡of¡¡the¡¡invaders
thrown¡¡by¡¡Ogareff¡¡on¡¡Siberia¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡the¡¡wonderful¡¡cunning¡¡natural¡¡to¡¡her
race¡¡she¡¡added¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡energy£»¡¡which¡¡knew¡¡neither¡¡forgiveness¡¡nor¡¡pity¡£
She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡savage¡¡worthy¡¡to¡¡share¡¡the¡¡wigwam¡¡of¡¡an¡¡Apache¡¡or¡¡the¡¡hut
of¡¡an¡¡Andaman¡£
Since¡¡her¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡Omsk£»¡¡where¡¡she¡¡had¡¡rejoined¡¡him¡¡with
her¡¡Tsiganes£»¡¡Sangarre¡¡had¡¡not¡¡again¡¡left¡¡Ogareff¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡circumstance
that¡¡Michael¡¡and¡¡Marfa¡¡Strogoff¡¡had¡¡met¡¡was¡¡known¡¡to¡¡her¡£
She¡¡knew¡¡and¡¡shared¡¡Ogareff's¡¡fears¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡journey
of¡¡a¡¡courier¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Czar¡£¡¡¡¡Having¡¡Marfa¡¡Strogoff¡¡in¡¡her¡¡power£»
she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡to¡¡torture¡¡her¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡refinement
of¡¡a¡¡RedSkin¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡wrest¡¡her¡¡secret¡¡from¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡hour
had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡come¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Ogareff¡¡wished¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Siberian¡¡to¡¡speak¡£
Sangarre¡¡had¡¡to¡¡wait£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡waited£»¡¡without¡¡losing¡¡sight
of¡¡her¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡was¡¡watching£»¡¡observing¡¡her¡¡slightest¡¡gestures£»
her¡¡slightest¡¡words£»¡¡endeavoring¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡the¡¡word¡¡¡¨son¡¨¡¡escaping
from¡¡her¡¡lips£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡always¡¡baffled¡¡by¡¡Marfa's¡¡taciturnity¡£
At¡¡the¡¡first¡¡flourish¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trumpets¡¡several¡¡officers¡¡of¡¡high¡¡rank£»
followed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡brilliant¡¡escort¡¡of¡¡Usbeck¡¡horsemen£»¡¡moved¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front
of¡¡the¡¡camp¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡Ivan¡¡Ogareff¡£¡¡¡¡Arrived¡¡in¡¡his¡¡presence£»
they¡¡paid¡¡him¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡respect£»¡¡and¡¡invited¡¡him¡¡to¡¡accompany¡¡them
to¡¡Feofar¡Khan's¡¡tent¡£
Imperturbable¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡Ogareff¡¡replied¡¡coldly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡deference¡¡paid
to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡plainly¡¡dressed£»¡¡but£»¡¡from¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡impudent¡¡bravado£»
he¡¡still¡¡wore¡¡the¡¡uniform¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Russian¡¡officer¡£
As¡¡he¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡camp£»¡¡Sangarre£»¡¡passing¡¡among
the¡¡officers¡¡approached¡¡and¡¡remained¡¡motionless¡¡before¡¡him¡£
¡¨Nothing£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Ogareff¡£
¡¨Nothing¡£¡¨
¡¨Have¡¡patience¡£¡¨
¡¨Is¡¡the¡¡time¡¡approaching¡¡when¡¡you¡¡will¡¡force¡¡the¡¡old¡¡woman¡¡to¡¡speak£¿¡¨
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡approaching£»¡¡Sangarre¡£¡¨
¡¨When¡¡will¡¡the¡¡old¡¡woman¡¡speak£¿¡¨
¡¨When¡¡we¡¡reach¡¡Tomsk¡£¡¨
¡¨And¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡there¡¨
¡¨In¡¡three¡¡days¡£¡¨
A¡¡strange¡¡gleam¡¡shot¡¡from¡¡Sangarre's¡¡great¡¡black¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡she
retired¡¡with¡¡a¡¡calm¡¡step¡£¡¡¡¡Ogareff¡¡pressed¡¡his¡¡spurs¡¡into¡¡his
horse's¡¡flanks£»¡¡and£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡his¡¡staff¡¡of¡¡Tartar¡¡officers£»
rode¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡Emir's¡¡tent¡£
Feofar¡Khan¡¡was¡¡expecting¡¡his¡¡lieutenant¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡council£»
composed¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bearer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡seal£»¡¡the¡¡khodja£»
and¡¡some¡¡high¡¡officers£»¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡their¡¡places¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tent¡£
Ivan¡¡Ogareff¡¡dismounted¡¡and¡¡entered¡£
Feofar¡Khan¡¡was¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡forty£»¡¡tall£»¡¡rather¡¡pale£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fierce
countenance£»¡¡and¡¡evil¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡curly¡¡black¡¡beard¡¡flowed¡¡over¡¡his¡¡chest¡£
With¡¡his¡¡war¡¡costume£»¡¡coat¡¡of¡¡mail¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡silver£»¡¡cross¡belt¡¡and
scabbard¡¡glistening¡¡with¡¡precious¡¡stones£»¡¡boots¡¡with¡¡golden¡¡spurs£»
helmet¡¡ornamented¡¡with¡¡an¡¡aigrette¡¡of¡¡brilliant¡¡diamonds£»¡¡Feofar¡¡presented
an¡¡aspect¡¡rather¡¡strange¡¡than¡¡imposing¡¡for¡¡a¡¡Tartar¡¡Sardana¡palus£»
an¡¡undisputed¡¡sovereign£»¡¡who¡¡directs¡¡at¡¡his¡¡pleasure¡¡the¡¡life¡¡and¡¡fortune
of¡¡his¡¡subjects¡£
When¡¡Ivan¡¡Ogareff¡¡appeared£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡dignitaries¡¡remained¡¡seated
on¡¡their¡¡gold¡embroidered¡¡cushions£»¡¡but¡¡Feofar¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡a¡¡rich
divan¡¡which¡¡occupied¡¡the¡¡back¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tent£»¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡being
hidden¡¡under¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡velvet¡pile¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Bokharian¡¡carpet¡£
The¡¡Emir¡¡approached¡¡Ogareff¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡kiss£»¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡which
he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡mistake¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡kiss¡¡made¡¡the¡¡lieutenant¡¡chief¡¡of¡¡the¡¡council£»
and¡¡placed¡¡him¡¡temporarily¡¡above¡¡the¡¡khodja¡£
Then¡¡Feofar¡¡spoke¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡need¡¡to¡¡question¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»
¡¨speak£»¡¡Ivan¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡find¡¡here¡¡ears¡¡very¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¨Takhsir£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡Ogareff£»¡¡¡¨this¡¡is¡¡what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡make
known¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Tartar¡¡language£»¡¡giving¡¡to¡¡his
phrases¡¡the¡¡emphatic¡¡turn¡¡which¡¡distinguishes¡¡the¡¡languages¡¡of
the¡¡Orientals¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Takhsir£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡not¡¡the¡¡time¡¡for¡¡unnecessary¡¡words¡£
What¡¡I¡¡have¡¡done¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡your¡¡troops£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£
The¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ichim¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Irtych¡¡are¡¡now¡¡in¡¡our¡¡power£»¡¡and¡¡the
Turcoman¡¡horsemen¡¡can¡¡bathe¡¡their¡¡horses¡¡in¡¡the¡¡now¡¡Tartar¡¡waters¡£
The¡¡Kirghiz¡¡hordes¡¡rose¡¡at¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡Feofar¡Khan¡£¡¡You¡¡can
now¡¡push¡¡your¡¡troops¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡east£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡rises£»
or¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡sets¡£¡¨
¡¨And¡¡if¡¡I¡¡march¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sun£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡Emir£»¡¡without¡¡his¡¡countenance
betraying¡¡any¡¡of¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡£
¡¨To¡¡march¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sun£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡Ogareff£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡yourself
towards¡¡Europe£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡conquer¡¡rapidly¡¡the¡¡Siberian¡¡provinces
of¡¡Tobolsk¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Ural¡¡Mountains¡£¡¨
¡¨And¡¡if¡¡I¡¡go¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡this¡¡luminary¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavens£¿¡¨
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡to¡¡subdue¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Tartar¡¡dominion£»¡¡with¡¡Irkutsk£»¡¡the¡¡richest
countries¡¡of¡¡Central¡¡Asia¡£¡¨
¡¨But¡¡the¡¡armies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sultan¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Petersburg£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Feofar¡Khan£»
designating¡¡the¡¡Emperor¡¡of¡¡Russia¡¡by¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡title¡£
¡¨You¡¡have¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡fear¡¡from¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Ivan¡¡Ogareff¡£
¡¨The¡¡invasion¡¡has¡¡been¡¡sudden£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡army¡¡can
succor¡¡them£»¡¡Irkutsk¡¡or¡¡Tobolsk¡¡will¡¡have¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡your¡¡power¡£
The¡¡Czar's¡¡troops¡¡have¡¡been¡¡overwhelmed¡¡at¡¡Kolyvan£»¡¡as¡¡they
will¡¡be¡¡everywhere¡¡where¡¡yours¡¡meet¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¨And¡¡what¡¡advice¡¡does¡¡your¡¡devotion¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Tartar¡¡cause¡¡suggest£¿¡¨
asked¡¡the¡¡Emir£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments'¡¡silence¡£
¡¨My¡¡advice£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡Ivan¡¡Ogareff¡¡quickly£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡to¡¡march¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡sun¡£
It¡¡is¡¡to¡¡give¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡steppes¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Turcoman¡¡horses
to¡¡consume¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡to¡¡take¡¡Irkutsk£»¡¡the¡¡capital¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡provinces£»
and¡¡with¡¡it¡¡a¡¡hostage£»¡¡the¡¡possessio