michael strogoff-第29章

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to　consume。　　It　is　to　take　Irkutsk；　the　capital　of　the　eastern　provinces；
and　with　it　a　hostage；　the　possession　of　whom　is　worth　a　whole　country。
In　the　place　of　the　Czar；　the　Grand　Duke　his　brother　must　fall
into　your　hands。〃

This　was　the　great　result　aimed　at　by　Ivan　Ogareff。　　To　listen
to　him；　one　would　have　taken　him　for　one　of　the　cruel
descendants　of　Stephan　Razine；　the　celebrated　pirate
who　ravaged　Southern　Russia　in　the　eighteenth　century。
To　seize　the　Grand　Duke；　murder　him　pitilessly；　would　fully
satisfy　his　hatred。　　Besides；　with　the　capture　of　Irkutsk；
all　Eastern　Siberia　would　pass　to　the　Tartars。

〃It　shall　be　thus；　Ivan；〃　replied　Feofar。

〃What　are　your　orders；　Takhsir？〃

〃To…day　our　headquarters　shall　be　removed　to　Tomsk。〃

Ogareff　bowed；　and；　followed　by　the　housch…begui；　he　retired
to　execute　the　Emir's　orders。

As　he　was　about　to　mount　his　horse；　to　return　to　the　outposts；
a　tumult　broke　out　at　some　distance；　in　the　part　of　the　camp　reserved
for　the　prisoners。　　Shouts　were　heard；　and　two　or　three　shots　fired。
Perhaps　it　was　an　attempt　at　revolt　or　escape；　which　must
be　summarily　suppressed。

Ivan　Ogareff　and　the　housch…begui　walked　forward　and　almost
immediately　two　men；　whom　the　soldiers　had　not　been　able　to　keep
back　appeared　before　them。

The　housch…begui；　without　more　information；　made　a　sign　which
was　an　order　for　death；　and　the　heads　of　the　two　prisoners
would　have　rolled　on　the　ground　had　not　Ogareff　uttered
a　few　words　which　arrested　the　sword　already　raised　aloft。
The　Russian　had　perceived　that　these　prisoners　were　strangers；
and　he　ordered　them　to　be　brought　to　him。

They　were　Harry　Blount　and　Alcide　jolivet。

On　Ogareff's　arrival　in　the　camp；　they　had　demanded　to　be
conducted　to　his　presence。　　The　soldiers　had　refused。
In　consequence；　a　struggle；　an　attempt　at　flight；　shots　fired
which　happily　missed　the　two　correspondents；　but　their　execution
would　not　have　been　long　delayed；　if　it　had　not　been　for
the　intervention　of　the　Emir's　lieutenant。

The　latter　observed　the　prisoners　for　some　moments；　they　being　absolutely
unknown　to　him。　　They　had　been　present　at　that　scene　in　the　post…house
at　Ichim；　in　which　Michael　Strogoff　had　been　struck　by　Ogareff；
but　the　brutal　traveler　had　paid　no　attention　to　the　persons　then
collected　in　the　common　room。

Blount　and　Jolivet；　on　the　contrary；　recognized　him　at　once；
and　the　latter　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃Hullo！　　It　seems　that　Colonel　Ogareff
and　the　rude　personage　of　Ichim　are　one！〃　　Then　he　added　in　his
companion's　ear；　〃Explain　our　affair；　Blount。　　You　will　do　me　a　service。
This　Russian　colonel　in　the　midst　of　a　Tartar　camp　disgusts　me；
and　although；　thanks　to　him；　my　head　is　still　on　my　shoulders；
my　eyes　would　exhibit　my　feelings　were　I　to　attempt　to　look　him
in　the　face。〃

So　saying；　Alcide　Jolivet　assumed　a　look　of　complete
and　haughty　indifference。

Whether　or　not　Ivan　Ogareff　perceived　that　the　prisoner's
attitude　was　insulting　towards　him；　he　did　not　let　it　appear。
〃Who　are　you；　gentlemen？〃　he　asked　in　Russian；　in　a　cold　tone；
but　free　from　its　usual　rudeness。

〃Two　correspondents　of　English　and　French　newspapers；〃
replied　Blount　laconically。

〃You　have；　doubtless；　papers　which　will　establish　your　identity？〃

〃Here　are　letters　which　accredit　us　in　Russia；　from　the　English
and　French　chancellor's　office。〃

Ivan　Ogareff　took　the　letters　which　Blount　held　out；　and　read
them　attentively。　　〃You　ask；〃　said　he；　〃authorization　to　follow
our　military　operations　in　Siberia？〃

〃We　ask　to　be　free；　that　is　all；〃　answered　the　English
correspondent　dryly。

〃You　are　so；　gentlemen；〃　answered　Ogareff；　〃I　am　curious　to　read
your　articles　in　the　Daily　Telegraph。〃

〃Sir；〃　replied　Blount；　with　the　most　imperturbable　coolness；
〃it　is　sixpence　a　number；　including　postage。〃　　And　thereupon
he　returned　to　his　companion；　who　appeared　to　approve　completely
of　his　replies。

Ivan　Ogareff；　without　frowning；　mounted　his　horse；　and　going　to　the　head
of　his　escort；　soon　disappeared　in　a　cloud　of　dust。

〃Well；　Jolivet；　what　do　you　think　of　Colonel　Ivan　Ogareff；
general…in…chief　of　the　Tartar　troops？〃　asked　Blount。

〃I　think；　my　dear　friend；〃　replied　Alcide；　smiling；　〃that　the　housch…begui
made　a　very　graceful　gesture　when　he　gave　the　order　for　our　heads
to　be　cut　off。〃

Whatever　was　the　motive　which　led　Ogareff　to　act　thus　in　regard
to　the　two　correspondents；　they　were　free　and　could　rove　at　their
pleasure　over　the　scene　of　war。　　Their　intention　was　not　to　leave　it。
The　sort　of　antipathy　which　formerly　they　had　entertained　for　each
other　had　given　place　to　a　sincere　friendship。　　Circumstances　having
brought　them　together；　they　no　longer　thought　of　separating。
The　petty　questions　of　rivalry　were　forever　extinguished。
Harry　Blount　could　never　forget　what　he　owed　his　companion；
who；　on　the　other　hand；　never　tried　to　remind　him　of　it。
This　friendship　too　assisted　the　reporting　operations；　and　was
thus　to　the　advantage　of　their　readers。

〃And　now；〃　asked　Blount；　〃what　shall　we　do　with　our　liberty？〃

〃Take　advantage　of　it；　of　course；〃　replied　Alcide；　〃and　go　quietly
to　Tomsk　to　see　what　is　going　on　there。〃

〃Until　the　timevery　near；　I　hopewhen　we　may　rejoin
some　Russian　regiment？〃

〃As　you　say；　my　dear　Blount；　it　won't　do　to　Tartarise　ourselves
too　much。　　The　best　side　is　that　of　the　most　civilized　army；
and　it　is　evident　that　the　people　of　Central　Asia　will　have
everything　to　lose　and　absolutely　nothing　to　gain　from
this　invasion；　while　the　Russians　will　soon　repulse　them。
It　is　only　a　matter　of　time。〃

The　arrival　of　Ivan　Ogareff；　which　had　given　Jolivet　and　Blount　their
liberty；　was　to　Michael　Strogoff；　on　the　contrary；　a　serious　danger。
Should　chance　bring　the　Czar's　courier　into　Ogareff's　presence；　the　latter
could　not　fail　to　recognize　in　him　the　traveler　whom　he　had　so　brutally
treated　at　the　Ichim　post…house；　and　although　Michael　had　not　replied
to　the　insult　as　he　would　have　done　under　any　other　circumstances；
attention　would　be　drawn　to　him；　and　at　once　the　accomplishment　of　his
plans　would　be　rendered　more　difficult。

This　was　the　unpleasant　side　of　the　business。　　A　favorable
result　of　his　arrival；　however；　was　the　order　which　was　given
to　raise　the　camp　that　very　day；　and　remove　the　headquarters
to　Tomsk。　　This　was　the　accomplishment　of　Michael's　most
fervent　desire。　　His　intention；　as　has　been　said；　was　to　reach
Tomsk　concealed　amongst　the　other　prisoners；　that　is　to　say；
without　any　risk　of　falling　into　the　hands　of　the　scouts
who　swarmed　about　the　approaches　to　this　important　town。
However；　in　consequence　of　the　arrival　of　Ivan　Ogareff；
he　questioned　whether　it　would　not　be　better　to　give　up　his
first　plan　and　attempt　to　escape　during　the　journey。

Michael　would；　no　doubt；　have　kept　to　the　latter　plan　had　he　not　learnt
that　Feofar…Khan　and　Ogareff　had　already　set　out　for　the　town　with
some　thousands　of　horsemen。　　〃I　will　wait；　then；〃　said　he　to　himself；
〃at　least；　unless　some　exceptional　opportunity　for　escape　occurs。
The　adverse　chances　are　numerous　on　this　side　of　Tomsk；　while　beyond
I　shall　in　a　few　hours　have　passed　the　most　advanced　Tartar　posts
to　the　east。　　Still　three　days　of　patience；　and　may　God　aid　me！〃

It　was　indeed　a　journey　of　three　days　which　the　prisoners；　under　the　guard
of　a　numerous　detachment　of　Tartars；　were　to　make　across　the　steppe。
A　hundred　and　fifty　versts　lay　between　the　camp　and　the　town
an　easy　march　for　the　Emir's　soldiers；　who　wanted　for　nothing；
but　a　wretched　journey　for　these　people；　enfeebled　by　privations。
More　than　one　corpse　would　show　the　road　they　had　traversed。

It　was　two　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　on　the　12th　of　August；
under　a　hot　sun　and　cloudless　sky；　that　the　toptschi…baschi
gave　the　order　to　start。

Alcide　and　Blount；　having　bought　horses；　had　already　taken　the　road
to　Tomsk；　where　events　were　to　reunite　the　principal　personages
of　this　story。

Amongst　the　prisoners　brought　by　Ivan　Ogareff　to　the　Tartar　camp
was　an　old　woman；　whose　taciturnity　seemed　to　keep　her　apart　from
all　those　who　shared　her　fate。　　Not　a　murmur　issued　from　her　lips。
She　was　like　a　statue　of　grief。　　This　woman　was　more　strictly
guarded　than　anyone　else；　and；　without　her　appearing　to　notice；
was　constantly　watched　by　the　Tsigane　Sangarre。　　Notwithstanding　her
age　she　was　compelled　to　follow　the　convoy　of　prisoners　on　foot；
without　any　alleviation　of　her　suffering。

However；　a　kind　Providence　had　placed　near　her　a　courageous；
kind…hearted　being　to　comfort　and　assist　her。　　Amongst　her　companions
in　misfortune　a　young　girl；　remarkable　for　beauty　and　taciturnity；
seemed　to　have　given　herself　the　task　of　watching　over　her。
No　words　had　been　exchanged　between　the　two　captives；　but　the　girl
was　always　at　the　old　woman's　side　when　help　was　useful。
At　first　the　mute　assistance　of　the　stranger　was　accepted　with
some　mistrust。　　Gradually；　however；　the　young　girl's　clear　glance；
her　reserve；　and　the　mysterious　sympathy　which　draws　together
those　who　are　in　misfortune；　thawed　Marfa　Strogoff's　coldness。

Nadiafor　it　was　shewas　thus　able；　without　knowing　it；　to　render
to　the　mother　those　attentions　which　she　had　herself　received
from　the　son。　　Her　instinctive　kindness　had　doubly　inspired　her。
In　devoting　herself　to　her　service；　Nadia　secured　to　her　youth
and　beauty　the　protection　afforded　by　the　age　of　the　old　prisoner。

On　the　crowd　of　unhappy　people；　embittered　by　sufferings；
this　silent　pairone　seeming　to　be　the　grandmother；　the　other
the　grand…daughterimposed　a　sort　of　respect。

After　being　carried　off　by　the　Tartar　scouts　on　the　Irtych；　Nadia　had　been
taken　to　Omsk。　　Kept　prisoner　in　the　town；　she　shared　the　fate　of　all
those　captured　by　Ivan　Ogareff；　and　consequently　that　of　Marfa　Strogoff。

If　Nadia　had　been　less　energetic；　she　would　have　succumbed　to　this
double　blow。　　The　interruption　to　her　journey；　the　death　of　Michael；
made　her　both　desperate　and　excited。　　Divided；　perhaps　forever；
from　her　father；　after　so　many　happy　efforts　had　brought　her
near　him；　and；　to　crown　her　grief；　separated　from　the　intrepid
companion　whom　God　seemed　to　have　placed　in　her　way　to　lead　her。
The　image　of　Michael　Strogoff；　struck　before　her　eyes　with
a　lance　and　disappearing　beneath　the　waters　of　the　Irtych；
never　left　her　thoughts。

Could　such　a　man　have　died　thus？　　For　whom　was　God　reserving　His
miracles　if　this　good　man；　whom　a　noble　object　was　urging　onwards；
had　been　allowed　to　perish　so　miserably？　　Then　anger　would
prevail　over　grief。　　The　scene　of　the　affront　so　strangely　borne
by　her　companion　at　the　Ichim　relay　returned　to　her　memory。
Her　blood　boiled　at　the　recollection。

〃Who　will　avenge　him　who　can　no　longer　avenge　himself？〃　she　said。

And　in　her　heart；　she　cried；　〃May　it　be　I！〃　　If　before　his　death
Michael　had　confided　his　secret　to　her；　woman；　aye　girl　though
she　was；　she　might　have　been　able　to　carry　to　a　successful
conclusion　the　interrupted　task　of　that　brother　whom　God　had
so　soon　taken　from　her。

Absorbed　in　these　thoughts；　it　can　be　understood　how　Nadia
could　remain　insensible　to　the　miseries　even　of　her　captivity。
Thus　chance　had　united　her　to　Marfa　Strogoff