michael strogoff-第36章

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I　was　the　clerk　in　charge　of　the　messages。〃

〃And　you　stayed　at　your　post　up　to　the　last　moment？〃

〃Why；　it's　at　that　moment　one　ought　to　be　there！〃

〃It　was　the　day　when　an　Englishman　and　a　Frenchman　were　disputing；
roubles　in　hand；　for　the　place　at　your　wicket；　and　the　Englishman
telegraphed　some　poetry。〃

〃That　is　possible；　but　I　do　not　remember　it。〃

〃What！　you　do　not　remember　it？〃

〃I　never　read　the　dispatches　I　send。　　My　duty　being　to　forget　them；
the　shortest　way　is　not　to　know　them。〃

This　reply　showed　Nicholas　Pigassof's　character。
In　the　meanwhile　the　kibitka　pursued　its　way；　at　a　pace　which　Michael
longed　to　render　more　rapid。　　But　Nicholas　and　his　horse　were
accustomed　to　a　pace　which　neither　of　them　would　like　to　alter。
The　horse　went　for　two　hours　and　rested　oneso　on；　day　and　night。
During　the　halts　the　horse　grazed；　the　travelers　ate　in　company
with　the　faithful　Serko。　　The　kibitka　was　provisioned　for　at
least　twenty　persons；　and　Nicholas　generously　placed　his
supplies　at　the　disposal　of　his　two　guests；　whom　he　believed
to　be　brother　and　sister。

After　a　day's　rest；　Nadia　recovered　some　strength。
Nicholas　took　the　best　possible　care　of　her。
The　journey　was　being　made　under　tolerable　circumstances；
slowly　certainly；　but　surely。　　It　sometimes　happened　that　during
the　night；　Nicholas；　although　driving；　fell　asleep；　and　snored
with　a　clearness　which　showed　the　calmness　of　his　conscience。
Perhaps　then；　by　looking　close；　Michael's　hand　might　have　been　seen
feeling　for　the　reins；　and　giving　the　horse　a　more　rapid　pace；
to　the　great　astonishment　of　Serko；　who；　however；　said　nothing。
The　trot　was　exchanged　for　the　amble　as　soon　as　Nicholas　awoke；
but　the　kibitka　had　not　the　less　gained　some　versts。

Thus　they　passed　the　river　Ichirnsk；　the　villages
of　Ichisnokoe；　Berikylokoe；　Kuskoe；　the　river　Marunsk；　the　village
of　the　same　name；　Bogostowskoe；　and；　lastly；　the　Ichoula；　a　little
stream　which　divides　Western　from　Eastern　Siberia。　　The　road
now　lay　sometimes　across　wide　moors；　which　extended　as　far
as　the　eye　could　reach；　sometimes　through　thick　forests　of　firs；
of　which　they　thought　they　should　never　get　to　the　end。
Everywhere　was　a　desert；　the　villages　were　almost　entirely　abandoned。
The　peasants　had　fled　beyond　the　Yenisei；　hoping　that　this　wide
river　would　perhaps　stop　the　Tartars。

On　the　22d　of　August；　the　kibitka　entered　the　town　of　Atchinsk；
two　hundred　and　fifty　miles　from　Tomsk。　　Eighty　miles　still　lay
between　them　and　Krasnoiarsk。

No　incident　had　marked　the　journey。　　For　the　six　days　during　which　they
had　been　together；　Nicholas；　Michael；　and　Nadia　had　remained　the　same；
the　one　in　his　unchange…able　calm；　the　other　two；　uneasy；　and　thinking
of　the　time　when　their　companion　would　leave　them。

Michael　saw　the　country　through　which　they　traveled　with　the　eyes
of　Nicholas　and　the　young　girl。　　In　turns；　they　each　described　to　him
the　scenes　they　passed。　　He　knew　whether　he　was　in　a　forest　or　on　a　plain；
whether　a　hut　was　on　the　steppe；　or　whether　any　Siberian　was　in　sight。
Nicholas　was　never　silent；　he　loved　to　talk；　and；　from　his　peculiar
way　of　viewing　things；　his　friends　were　amused　by　his　conversation。
One　day；　Michael　asked　him　what　sort　of　weather　it　was。

〃Fine　enough；　little　father；〃　he　answered；　〃but　soon　we　shall　feel
the　first　winter　frosts。　　Perhaps　the　Tartars　will　go　into　winter
quarters　during　the　bad　season。〃

Michael　Strogoff　shook　his　head　with　a　doubtful　air。

〃You　do　not　think　so；　little　father？〃　resumed　Nicholas。　　〃You　think
that　they　will　march　on　to　Irkutsk？〃

〃I　fear　so；〃　replied　Michael。

〃Yes　。　。　。　you　are　right；　they　have　with　them　a　bad　man；
who　will　not　let　them　loiter　on　the　way。　　You　have　heard　speak
of　Ivan　Ogareff？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　know　that　it　is　not　right　to　betray　one's　country！〃

〃No　。　。　。　it　is　not　right　。　。　。〃　answered　Michael；　who　wished
to　remain　unmoved。

〃Little　father；〃　continued　Nicholas；　〃it　seems　to　me　that　you
are　not　half　indignant　enough　when　Ivan　Ogareff　is　spoken　of。
Your　Russian　heart　ought　to　leap　when　his　name　is　uttered。〃

〃Believe　me；　my　friend；　I　hate　him　more　than　you　can　ever
hate　him；〃　said　Michael。

〃It　is　not　possible；〃　replied　Nicholas；　〃no；　it　is　not　possible！
When　I　think　of　Ivan　Ogareff；　of　the　harm　which　he　is　doing
to　our　sacred　Russia；　I　get　into　such　a　rage　that　if　I　could
get　hold　of　him〃

〃If　you　could　get　hold　of　him；　friend？〃

〃I　think　I　should　kill　him。〃

〃And　I；　I　am　sure　of　it；〃　returned　Michael　quietly。


CHAPTER　VII　THE　PASSAGE　OF　THE　YENISEI

AT　nightfall；　on　the　25th　of　August；　the　kibitka　came　in　sight
of　Krasnoiarsk。　　The　journey　from　Tomsk　had　taken　eight　days。
If　it　had　not　been　accomplished　as　rapidly　as　it　might；
it　was　because　Nicholas　had　slept　little。　　Consequently；　it　was
impossible　to　increase　his　horse's　pace；　though　in　other　hands；
the　journey　would　not　have　taken　sixty　hours。

Happily；　there　was　no　longer　any　fear　of　Tartars。　　Not　a　scout
had　appeared　on　the　road　over　which　the　kibitka　had　just　traveled。
This　was　strange　enough；　and　evidently　some　serious　cause
had　prevented　the　Emir's　troops　from　marching　without　delay
upon　Irkutsk。　　Something　had　occurred。　　A　new　Russian　corps；
hastily　raised　in　the　government　of　Yeniseisk；　had　marched　to　Tomsk
to　endeavor　to　retake　the　town。　　But；　being　too　weak　to　withstand
the　Emir's　troops；　now　concentrated　there；　they　had　been　forced
to　effect　a　retreat。　　Feofar…Khan；　including　his　own　soldiers；
and　those　of　the　Khanats　of　Khokhand　and　Koun…douze；　had　now
under　his　command　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　men；　to　which
the　Russian　government　could　not　as　yet　oppose　a　sufficient　force。
The　invasion　could　not；　therefore；　be　immediately　stopped；
and　the　whole　Tartar　army　might　at　once　march　upon　Irkutsk。　　The　battle
of　Tomsk　was　on　the　22nd　of　August；　though　this　Michael　did　not　know；
but　it　explained　why　the　vanguard　of　the　Emir's　army　had　not
appeared　at　Krasnoiarsk　by　the　25th。

However；　though　Michael　Strogoff　could　not　know　the　events
which　had　occurred　since　his　departure；　he　at　least　knew　that
he　was　several　days　in　advance　of　the　Tartars；　and　that　he　need
not　despair　of　reaching　before　them　the　town　of　Irkutsk；
still　six　hundred　miles　distant。

Besides；　at　Krasnoiarsk；　of　which　the　population　is　about　twelve
thousand　souls；　he　depended　upon　obtaining　some　means　of　transport。
Since　Nicholas　Pigassof　was　to　stop　in　that　town；　it　would　be
necessary　to　replace　him　by　a　guide；　and　to　change　the　kibitka
for　another　more　rapid　vehicle。　　Michael；　after　having　addressed
himself　to　the　governor　of　the　town；　and　established　his　identity
and　quality　as　Courier　of　the　Czarwhich　would　be　easy
doubted　not　that　he　would　be　enabled　to　get　to　Irkutsk　in　the　shortest
possible　time。　　He　would　thank　the　good　Nicholas　Pigassof；
and　set　out　immediately　with　Nadia；　for　he　did　not　wish
to　leave　her　until　he　had　placed　her　in　her　father's　arms。
Though　Nicholas　had　resolved　to　stop　at　Krasnoiarsk；　it　was
only　as　he　said；　〃on　condition　of　finding　employment　there。〃
In　fact；　this　model　clerk；　after　having　stayed　to　the　last
minute　at　his　post　in　Kolyvan；　was　endeavoring　to　place
himself　again　at　the　disposal　of　the　government。
〃Why　should　I　receive　a　salary　which　I　have　not　earned？〃
he　would　say。

In　the　event　of　his　services　not　being　required　at　Krasnoiarsk；
which　it　was　expected　would　be　still　in　telegraphic　communication
with　Irkutsk；　he　proposed　to　go　to　Oudinsk；　or　even　to　the　capital
of　Siberia　itself。　　In　the　latter　case；　he　would　continue　to　travel
with　the　brother　and　sister；　and　where　would　they　find　a　surer　guide；
or　a　more　devoted　friend？

The　kibitka　was　now　only　half　a　verst　from　Krasnoiarsk。　　The　numerous
wooden　crosses　which　are　erected　at　the　approaches　to　the　town；　could　be
seen　to　the　right　and　left　of　the　road。　　It　was　seven　in　the　evening；
the　outline　of　the　churches　and　of　the　houses　built　on　the　high
bank　of　the　Yenisei　were　clearly　defined　against　the　evening　sky；
and　the　waters　of　the　river　reflected　them　in　the　twilight。

〃Where　are　we；　sister？〃　asked　Michael。

〃Half　a　verst　from　the　first　houses；〃　replied　Nadia。

〃Can　the　town　be　asleep？〃　observed　Michael。　　〃Not　a　sound
strikes　my　ear。〃

〃And　I　cannot　see　the　slightest　light；　nor　even　smoke　mounting
into　the　air；〃　added　Nadia。

〃What　a　queer　town！〃　said　Nicholas。　　〃They　make　no　noise　in　it；
and　go　to　bed　uncommonly　early！〃

A　presentiment　of　impending　misfortune　passed　across　Michael's　heart。
He　had　not　said　to　Nadia　that　he　had　placed　all　his　hopes　on　Krasnoiarsk；
where　he　expected　to　find　the　means　of　safely　finishing　his　journey。
He　much　feared　that　his　anticipations　would　again　be　disappointed。

But　Nadia　had　guessed　his　thoughts；　although　she　could　not　understand　why
her　companion　should　be　so　anxious　to　reach　Irkutsk；　now　that　the　Imperial
letter　was　gone。　　She　one　day　said　something　of　the　sort　to　him。
〃I　have　sworn　to　go　to　Irkutsk；〃　he　replied。

But　to　accomplish　his　mission；　it　was　necessary　that　at
Krasnoiarsk　he　should　find　some　more　rapid　mode　of　locomotion。
〃Well；　friend；〃　said　he　to　Nicholas；　〃why　are　we　not　going　on？〃

〃Because　I　am　afraid　of　waking　up　the　inhabitants　of　the　town
with　the　noise　of　my　carriage！〃　　And　with　a　light　fleck　of　the　whip；
Nicholas　put　his　horse　in　motion。

Ten　minutes　after　they　entered　the　High　Street。　　Krasnoiarsk　was　deserted；
there　was　no　longer　an　Athenian　in　this　〃Northern　Athens；〃
as　Madame　de　Bourboulon　has　called　it。　　Not　one　of　their
dashing　equipages　swept　through　the　wide；　clean　streets。
Not　a　pedestrian　enlivened　the　footpaths　raised　at　the　bases
of　the　magnificent　wooden　houses；　of　monumental　aspect！
Not　a　Siberian　belle；　dressed　in　the　last　French　fashion；
promenaded　the　beautiful　park；　cleared　in　a　forest　of　birch　trees；
which　stretches　away　to　the　banks　of　the　Yenisei！　　The　great　bell
of　the　cathedral　was　dumb；　the　chimes　of　the　churches　were　silent。
Here　was　complete　desolation。　　There　was　no　longer　a　living　being
in　this　town；　lately　so　lively！

The　last　telegram　sent　from　the　Czar's　cabinet；　before　the　rupture
of　the　wire；　had　ordered　the　governor；　the　garrison；　the　inhabitants；
whoever　they　might　be；　to　leave　Krasnoiarsk；　to　carry　with　them
any　articles　of　value；　or　which　might　be　of　use　to　the　Tartars；
and　to　take　refuge　at　Irkutsk。　　The　same　injunction　was　given　to　all
the　villages　of　the　province。　　It　was　the　intention　of　the　Muscovite
government　to　lay　the　country　desert　before　the　invaders。
No　one　thought　for　an　instant　of　disputing　these　orders。
They　were　executed；　and　this　was　the　reason　why　not　a　single　human
being　remained　in　Krasnoiarsk。

Michael　Strogoff；　Nadia；　and　Nicholas　passed　silently　through
the　streets　of　the　town。　　They　felt　half…stupefied。　They
themselves　made　the　only　sound　to　be　heard　in　this　dead　city。
Michael　allowed　nothing　of　what　he　felt　to　appear；
but　he　inwardly　raged　against　the　bad　luck　which　pursued　him；
his　hopes　being　again　disappointed。

〃Alack；　alack！〃　cried　Nicholas；　〃I　shall　never　get　any　employment
in　this　desert！〃

〃Friend；〃　said　Nadia；　〃you　must　go　on　with　us。〃

〃I　must　indeed！〃　replied　Nicholas。　　〃The　wire　is