michael strogoff-第35章

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in　wagons。　　However；　Nadia　was　obliged　to　make　a　halt　of　a　few　hours。
They　both　required　food　and　rest。

The　young　girl　led　her　companion　to　the　extremity　of　the　town。
There　they　found　an　empty　house；　the　door　wide　open。
An　old　rickety　wooden　bench　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；
near　the　high　stove　which　is　to　be　found　in　all　Siberian　houses。
They　silently　seated　themselves。

Nadia　gazed　in　her　companion's　face　as　she　had　never　before　gazed。
There　was　more　than　gratitude；　more　than　pity；　in　that　look。
Could　Michael　have　seen　her；　he　would　have　read　in　that　sweet
desolate　gaze　a　world　of　devotion　and　tenderness。

The　eyelids　of　the　blind　man；　made　red　by　the　heated　blade；
fell　half　over　his　eyes。　　The　pupils　seemed　to　be　singularly　enlarged。
The　rich　blue　of　the　iris　was　darker　than　formerly。　　The　eyelashes
and　eyebrows　were　partly　burnt；　but　in　appearance；　at　least；
the　old　penetrating　look　appeared　to　have　undergone　no　change。
If　he　could　no　longer　see；　if　his　blindness　was　complete；
it　was　because　the　sensibility　of　the　retina　and　optic　nerve
was　radically　destroyed　by　the　fierce　heat　of　the　steel。

Then　Michael　stretched　out　his　hands。

〃Are　you　there；　Nadia？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　young　girl；　〃I　am　close　to　you；　and　I　will　not　go
away　from　you；　Michael。〃

At　his　name；　pronounced　by　Nadia　for　the　first　time；　a　thrill　passed
through　Michael's　frame。　　He　perceived　that　his　companion　knew　all；
who　he　was。

〃Nadia；〃　replied　he；　〃we　must　separate！〃

〃We　separate？　　How　so；　Michael？〃

〃I　must　not　be　an　obstacle　to　your　journey！　　Your　father　is　waiting
for　you　at　Irkutsk！　　You　must　rejoin　your　father！〃

〃My　father　would　curse　me；　Michael；　were　I　to　abandon　you　now；
after　all　you　have　done　for　me！〃

〃Nadia；　Nadia；〃　replied　Michael；　〃you　should　think　only　of　your　father！〃

〃Michael；〃　replied　Nadia；　〃you　have　more　need　of　me　than　my　father。
Do　you　mean　to　give　up　going　to　Irkutsk？〃

〃Never！〃　cried　Michael；　in　a　tone　which　plainly　showed　that　none
of　his　energy　was　gone。

〃But　you　have　not　the　letter！〃

〃That　letter　of　which　Ivan　Ogareff　robbed　me！　　Well！　　I　shall
manage　without　it；　Nadia！　　They　have　treated　me　as　a　spy！
I　will　act　as　a　spy！　　I　will　go　and　repeat　at　Irkutsk　all　I
have　seen；　all　I　have　heard；　I　swear　it　by　Heaven　above！
The　traitor　shall　meet　me　one　day　face　to　face！　　But　I　must
arrive　at　Irkutsk　before　him。〃

〃And　yet　you　speak　of　our　separating；　Michael？〃

〃Nadia；　they　have　taken　everything　from　me！〃

〃I　have　some　roubles　still；　and　my　eyes！　　I　can　see　for　you；　Michael；
and　I　will　lead　you　thither；　where　you　could　not　go　alone！〃

〃And　how　shall　we　go？〃

〃On　foot。〃

〃And　how　shall　we　live？〃

〃By　begging。〃

〃Let　us　start；　Nadia。〃

〃Come；　Michael。〃

The　two　young　people　no　longer　kept　the　names　〃brother〃　and　〃sister。〃
In　their　common　misfortune；　they　felt　still　closer　united。
They　left　the　house　after　an　hour's　repose。　　Nadia　had　procured
in　the　town　some　morsels　of　〃tchornekhleb；〃　a　sort　of　barley　bread；
and　a　little　mead；　called　〃meod〃　in　Russia。　　This　had　cost
her　nothing；　for　she　had　already　begun　her　plan　of　begging。
The　bread　and　mead　had　in　some　degree　appeased　Michael's　hunger
and　thirst。　　Nadia　gave　him　the　lion's　share　of　this　scanty　meal。
He　ate　the　pieces　of　bread　his　companion　gave　him；　drank　from
the　gourd　she　held　to　his　lips。

〃Are　you　eating；　Nadia？〃　he　asked　several　times。

〃Yes；　Michael；〃　invariably　replied　the　young　girl；　who　contented
herself　with　what　her　companion　left。

Michael　and　Nadia　quitted　Semilowskoe；　and　once　more　set
out　on　the　laborious　road　to　Irkutsk。　　The　girl　bore　up
in　a　marvelous　way　against　fatigue。　　Had　Michael　seen　her；
perhaps　he　would　not　have　had　the　courage　to　go　on。
But　Nadia　never　complained；　and　Michael；　hearing　no　sigh；
walked　at　a　speed　he　was　unable　to　repress。　　And　why？
Did　he　still　expect　to　keep　before　the　Tartars？　　He　was　on　foot；
without　money；　he　was　blind；　and　if　Nadia；　his　only　guide；
were　to　be　separated　from　him；　he　could　only　lie　down
by　the　side　of　the　road　and　there　perish　miserably。
But　if；　on　the　other　hand；　by　energetic　perseverance　he　could
reach　Krasnoiarsk；　all　was　perhaps　not　lost；　since　the　governor；
to　whom　he　would　make　himself　known；　would　not　hesitate　to　give
him　the　means　of　reaching　Irkutsk。

Michael　walked　on；　speaking　little；　absorbed　in　his　own　thoughts。
He　held　Nadia's　hand。　　The　two　were　in　incessant　communication。　　It　seemed
to　them　that　they　had　no　need　of　words　to　exchange　their　thoughts。
From　time　to　time　Michael　said；　〃Speak　to　me；　Nadia。〃

〃Why　should　I；　Michael？　　We　are　thinking　together！〃　the　young
girl　would　reply；　and　contrived　that　her　voice　should　not　betray
her　extreme　fatigue。

But　sometimes；　as　if　her　heart　had　ceased　to　beat　for　an　instant；
her　limbs　tottered；　her　steps　flagged；　her　arms　fell　to　her　sides；
she　dropped　behind。　　Michael　then　stopped；　he　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　poor
girl；　as　though　he　would　try　to　pierce　the　gloom　which　surrounded　him；
his　breast　heaved；　then；　supporting　his　companion　more　than　before；
he　started　on　afresh。

However；　amidst　these　continual　miseries；　a　fortunate　circumstance
on　that　day　occurred　which　it　appeared　likely　would　considerably　ease
their　fatigue。　　They　had　been　walking　from　Semilowskoe　for　two　hours
when　Michael　stopped。

〃Is　there　no　one　on　the　road？〃

〃Not　a　single　soul；〃　replied　Nadia。

〃Do　you　not　hear　some　noise　behind　us？　　If　they　are　Tartars　we　must　hide。
Keep　a　good　look…out！〃

〃Wait；　Michael！〃　replied　Nadia；　going　back　a　few　steps　to　where　the　road
turned　to　the　right。

Michael　Strogoff　waited　alone　for　a　minute；　listening　attentively。

Nadia　returned　almost　immediately　and　said；　〃It　is　a　cart。
A　young　man　is　leading　it。〃

〃Is　he　alone？〃

〃Alone。〃

Michael　hesitated　an　instant。　　Should　he　hide？　or　should　he；
on　the　contrary；　try　to　find　a　place　in　the　vehicle；　if　not
for　himself；　at　least　for　her？　　For　himself；　he　would　be　quite
content　to　lay　one　hand　on　the　cart；　to　push　it　if　necessary；
for　his　legs　showed　no　sign　of　failing　him；　but　he　felt　sure
that　Nadia；　compelled　to　walk　ever　since　they　crossed　the　Obi；
that　is；　for　eight　days；　must　be　almost　exhausted。　　He　waited。

The　cart　was　soon　at　the　corner　of　the　road。　　It　was　a　very
dilapidated　vehicle；　known　in　the　country　as　a　kibitka；　just　capable
of　holding　three　persons。　　Usually　the　kibitka　is　drawn　by　three　horses；
but　this　had　but　one；　a　beast　with　long　hair　and　a　very　long　tail。
It　was　of　the　Mongol　breed；　known　for　strength　and　courage。

A　young　man　was　leading　it；　with　a　dog　beside　him。
Nadia　saw　at　once　that　the　young　man　was　Russian；　his　face
was　phlegmatic；　but　pleasant；　and　at　once　inspired　confidence。
He　did　not　appear　to　be　in　the　slightest　hurry；　he　was　not
walking　fast　that　he　might　spare　his　horse；　and；　to　look　at　him；
it　would　not　have　been　believed　that　he　was　following　a　road
which　might　at　any　instant　be　swarming　with　Tartars。

Nadia；　holding　Michael　by　the　hand；　made　way　for　the　vehicle。
The　kibitka　stopped；　and　the　driver　smilingly　looked　at　the　young　girl。

〃And　where　are　you　going　to　in　this　fashion？〃　he　asked；
opening　wide　his　great　honest　eyes。

At　the　sound　of　his　voice；　Michael　said　to　himself　that　he　had　heard
it　before。　　And　it　was　satisfactory　to　him　to　recognize　the　man
for　his　brow　at　once　cleared。

〃Well；　where　are　you　going？〃　repeated　the　young　man；　addressing　himself
more　directly　to　Michael。

〃We　are　going　to　Irkutsk；〃　he　replied。

〃Oh！　little　father；　you　do　not　know　that　there　are　still　versts
and　versts　between　you　and　Irkutsk？〃

〃I　know　it。〃

〃And　you　are　going　on　foot？〃

〃On　foot。〃

〃You；　well！　but　the　young　lady？〃

〃She　is　my　sister；〃　said　Michael；　who　judged　it　prudent　to　give
again　this　name　to　Nadia。

〃Yes；　your　sister；　little　father！　　But；　believe　me；　she　will　never　be
able　to　get　to　Irkutsk！〃

〃Friend；〃　returned　Michael；　approaching　him；　〃the　Tartars　have
robbed　us　of　everything；　and　I　have　not　a　copeck　to　offer　you；
but　if　you　will　take　my　sister　with　you；　I　will　follow　your　cart　on　foot；
I　will　run　when　necessary；　I　will　not　delay　you　an　hour！〃

〃Brother；〃　exclaimed　Nadia；　〃I　will　not！　　I　will　not！
Sir；　my　brother　is　blind！〃

〃Blind！〃　repeated　the　young　man；　much　moved。

〃The　Tartars　have　burnt　out　his　eyes！〃　replied　Nadia；　extending　her　hands；
as　if　imploring　pity。

〃Burnt　out　his　eyes！　　Oh！　poor　little　father！　　I　am　going
to　Krasnoiarsk。　　Well；　why　should　not　you　and　your　sister　mount
in　the　kibitka？　　By　sitting　a　little　close；　it　will　hold　us
all　three。　　Besides；　my　dog　will　not　refuse　to　go　on　foot；
only　I　don't　go　fast；　I　spare　my　horse。〃

〃Friend；　what　is　your　name？〃　asked　Michael。

〃My　name　is　Nicholas　Pigassof。〃

〃It　is　a　name　that　I　will　never　forget；〃　said　Michael。

〃Well；　jump　up；　little　blind　father。　　Your　sister　will　be
beside　you；　in　the　bottom　of　the　cart；　I　sit　in　front　to　drive。
There　is　plenty　of　good　birch　bark　and　straw　in　the　bottom；
it's　like　a　nest。　　Serko；　make　room！〃

The　dog　jumped　down　without　more　telling。　　He　was　an　animal　of　the
Siberian　race；　gray　hair；　of　medium　size；　with　an　honest　big　head；
just　made　to　pat；　and　he；　moreover；　appeared　to　be　much　attached
to　his　master。

In　a　moment　more；　Michael　and　Nadia　were　seated　in　the　kibitka。
Michael　held　out　his　hands　as　if　to　feel　for　those　of　Pigassof。　　〃You　wish
to　shake　my　hands！〃　said　Nicholas。　　〃There　they　are；　little　father！
shake　them　as　long　as　it　will　give　you　any　pleasure。〃

The　kibitka　moved　on；　the　horse；　which　Nicholas　never　touched　with
the　whip；　ambled　along。　　Though　Michael　did　not　gain　any　in　speed；
at　least　some　fatigue　was　spared　to　Nadia。

Such　was　the　exhaustion　of　the　young　girl；　that；　rocked　by
the　monotonous　movement　of　the　kibitka；　she　soon　fell　into
a　sleep；　its　soundness　proving　her　complete　prostration。
Michael　and　Nicholas　laid　her　on　the　straw　as　comfortably　as　possible。
The　compassionate　young　man　was　greatly　moved；　and　if　a　tear
did　not　escape　from　Michael's　eyes；　it　was　because　the　red…hot
iron　had　dried　up　the　last！

〃She　is　very　pretty；〃　said　Nicholas。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Michael。

〃They　try　to　be　strong；　little　father；　they　are　brave；
but　they　are　weak　after　all；　these　dear　little　things！
Have　you　come　from　far。〃

〃Very　far。〃

〃Poor　young　people！　　It　must　have　hurt　you　very　much　when　they
burnt　your　eyes！〃

〃Very　much；〃　answered　Michael；　turning　towards　Nicholas　as　if
he　could　see　him。

〃Did　you　not　weep？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　should　have　wept　too。　　To　think　that　one　could　never
again　see　those　one　loves。　　But　they　can　see　you；　however；
that's　perhaps　some　consolation！〃

〃Yes；　perhaps。　　Tell　me；　my　friend；〃　continued　Michael；
〃have　you　never　seen　me　anywhere　before？〃

〃You；　little　father？　　No；　never。〃

〃The　sound　of　your　voice　is　not　unknown　to　me。〃

〃Why！〃　returned　Nicholas；　smiling；　〃he　knows　the　sound　of　my　voice！
Perhaps　you　ask　me　that　to　find　out　where　I　come　from。
I　come　from　Kolyvan。〃

〃From　Kolyvan？〃　repeated　Michael。　　〃Then　it　was　there　I　met　you；
you　were　in　the　telegraph　office？〃

〃That　may　be；〃　replied　Nicholas。　　〃I　was　stationed　there。
I　was　the　clerk　in　charge　of　the　messages。〃