michael strogoff-第40章

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〃When　you　can　no　longer　walk；　I　will　carry　you。〃

〃Yes；　Michael。〃

During　this　day　they　came　to　the　little　river　Oka；　but　it　was　fordable；
and　they　had　no　difficulty　in　crossing。　　The　sky　was　cloudy
and　the　temperature　moderate。　　There　was　some　fear　that　the　rain
might　come　on；　which　would　much　have　increased　their　misery。
A　few　showers　fell；　but　they　did　not　last。

They　went　on　as　before；　hand　in　hand；　speaking　little；
Nadia　looking　about　on　every　side；　twice　a　day　they　halted。
Six　hours　of　the　night　were　given　to　sleep。　　In　a　few　huts　Nadia
again　found　a　little　mutton；　but；　contrary　to　Michael's　hopes；
there　was　not　a　single　beast　of　burden　in　the　country；
horses；　camelsall　had　been　either　killed　or　carried　off。
They　must　still　continue　to　plod　on　across　this　weary
steppe　on　foot。

The　third　Tartar　column；　on　its　way　to　Irkutsk；　had　left　plain　traces：
here　a　dead　horse；　there　an　abandoned　cart。　　The　bodies　of　unfortunate
Siberians　lay　along　the　road；　principally　at　the　entrances　to　villages。
Nadia；　overcoming　her　repugnance；　looked　at　all　these　corpses！

The　chief　danger　lay；　not　before；　but　behind。
The　advance　guard　of　the　Emir's　army；　commanded　by　Ivan　Ogareff；
might　at　any　moment　appear。　　The　boats　sent　down　the　lower
Yenisei　must　by　this　time　have　reached　Krasnoiarsk　and　been
made　use　of。　　The　road　was　therefore　open　to　the　invaders。
No　Russian　force　could　be　opposed　to　them　between　Krasnoiarsk
and　Lake　Baikal；　Michael　therefore　expected　before　long
the　appearance　of　the　Tartar　scouts。

At　each　halt；　Nadia　climbed　some　hill　and　looked　anxiously
to　the　Westward；　but　as　yet　no　cloud　of　dust　had　signaled
the　approach　of　a　troop　of　horse。

Then　the　march　was　resumed；　and　when　Michael　felt　that　he　was
dragging　poor　Nadia　forward　too　rapidly；　he　went　at　a　slower　pace。
They　spoke　little；　and　only　of　Nicholas。　　The　young　girl　recalled
all　that　this　companion　of　a　few　days　had　done　for　them。

In　answering；　Michael　tried　to　give　Nadia　some　hope　of　which　he　did
not　feel　a　spark　himself；　for　he　well　knew　that　the　unfortunate　fellow
would　not　escape　death。

One　day　Michael　said　to　the　girl；　〃You　never　speak　to　me
of　my　mother；　Nadia。〃

His　mother！　　Nadia　had　never　wished　to　do　so。　　Why　renew　his　grief？
Was　not　the　old　Siberian　dead？　　Had　not　her　son　given　the　last　kiss
to　her　corpse　stretched　on　the　plain　of　Tomsk？

〃Speak　to　me　of　her；　Nadia；〃　said　Michael。　　〃Speakyou　will　please　me。〃

And　then　Nadia　did　what　she　had　not　done　before。　　She　told　all
that　had　passed　between　Marfa　and　herself　since　their　meeting
at　Omsk；　where　they　had　seen　each　other　for　the　first　time。
She　said　how　an　inexplicable　instinct　had　led　her　towards　the　old
prisoner　without　knowing　who　she　was；　and　what　encouragement　she
had　received　in　return。　　At　that　time　Michael　Strogoff　had　been
to　her　but　Nicholas　Korpanoff。

〃Whom　I　ought　always　to　have　been；〃　replied　Michael；　his　brow　darkening。

Then　later　he　added；　〃I　have　broken　my　oath；　Nadia。　　I　had　sworn
not　to　see　my　mother！〃

〃But　you　did　not　try　to　see　her；　Michael；〃　replied　Nadia。　　〃Chance　alone
brought　you　into　her　presence。〃

〃I　had　sworn；　whatever　might　happen；　not　to　betray　myself。〃

〃Michael；　Michael！　at　sight　of　the　lash　raised　upon　Marfa；
could　you　refrain？　　No！　　No　oath　could　prevent　a　son　from
succoring　his　mother！〃

〃I　have　broken　my　oath；　Nadia；〃　returned　Michael。　　〃May　God
and　the　Father　pardon　me！〃

〃Michael；〃　resumed　the　girl；　〃I　have　a　question　to　ask　you。
Do　not　answer　it　if　you　think　you　ought　not。　　Nothing　from　you
would　vex　me！〃

〃Speak；　Nadia。〃

〃Why；　now　that　the　Czar's　letter　has　been　taken　from　you；
are　you　so　anxious　to　reach　Irkutsk？〃

Michael　tightly　pressed　his　companion's　hand；　but　he　did　not　answer。

〃Did　you　know　the　contents　of　that　letter　before　you　left　Moscow？〃

〃No；　I　did　not　know。〃

〃Must　I　think；　Michael；　that　the　wish　alone　to　place　me　in　my　father's
hands　draws　you　toward　Irkutsk？〃

〃No；　Nadia；〃　replied　Michael；　gravely。　　〃I　should　deceive　you　if　I　allowed
you　to　believe　that　it　was　so。　　I　go　where　duty　orders　me　to　go。　　As　to
taking　you　to　Irkutsk；　is　it　not　you；　Nadia；　who　are　now　taking　me　there？
Do　I　not　see　with　your　eyes；　and　is　it　not　your　hand　that　guides　me？
Have　you　not　repaid　a　hundred…fold　the　help　which　I　was　able　to　give　you
at　first？　　I　do　not　know　if　fate　will　cease　to　go　against　us；　but　the　day
on　which　you　thank　me　for　having　placed　you　in　your　father's　hands；
I　in　my　turn　will　thank　you　for　having　led　me　to　Irkutsk。〃

〃Poor　Michael！〃　answered　Nadia；　with　emotion。　　〃Do　not　speak　so。
That　does　not　answer　me。　　Michael；　why；　now；　are　you　in　such　haste
to　reach　Irkutsk？〃

〃Because　I　must　be　there　before　Ivan　Ogareff；〃　exclaimed　Michael。

〃Even　now？〃

〃Even　now；　and　I　will　be　there；　too！〃

In　uttering　these　words；　Michael　did　not　speak　solely　through　hatred
to　the　traitor。　　Nadia　understood　that　her　companion　had　not　told；
or　could　not　tell；　her　all。

On　the　15th　of　September；　three　days　later；　the　two　reached
the　village　of　Kouitounskoe。　　The　young　girl　suffered　dreadfully。
Her　aching　feet　could　scarcely　support　her；　but　she　fought；
she　struggled；　against　her　weariness；　and　her　only　thought　was　this：
〃Since　he　cannot　see　me；　I　will　go　on　till　I　drop。〃

There　were　no　obstacles　on　this　part　of　the　journey；　no　danger
either　since　the　departure　of　the　Tartars；　only　much　fatigue。
For　three　days　it　continued　thus。　　It　was　plain　that　the
third　invading　column　was　advancing　rapidly　in　the　East；
that　could　be　seen　by　the　ruins　which　they　left　after　them
the　cold　cinders　and　the　already　decomposing　corpses。

There　was　nothing　to　be　seen　in　the　West；　the　Emir's
advance…guard　had　not　yet　appeared。　　Michael　began　to　consider
the　various　reasons　which　might　have　caused　this　delay。
Was　a　sufficient　force　of　Russians　directly　menacing　Tomsk
or　Krasnoiarsk？　　Did　the　third　column；　isolated　from　the　others；
run　a　risk　of　being　cut　off？　　If　this　was　the　case；　it　would
be　easy　for　the　Grand　Duke　to　defend　Irkutsk；　and　any　time
gained　against　an　invasion　was　a　step　towards　repulsing　it。
Michael　sometimes　let　his　thoughts　run　on　these　hopes；
but　he　soon　saw　their　improbability；　and　felt　that　the　preservation
of　the　Grand　Duke　depended　alone　on　him。

Nadia　dragged　herself　along。　　Whatever　might　be　her
moral　energy；　her　physical　strength　would　soon　fail　her。
Michael　knew　it　only　too　well。　　If　he　had　not　been　blind；
Nadia　would　have　said　to　him；　〃Go；　Michael；　leave　me　in　some　hut！
Reach　Irkutsk！　　Accomplish　your　mission！　　See　my　father！
Tell　him　where　I　am！　　Tell　him　that　I　wait　for　him；　and　you
both　will　know　where　to　find　me！　　Start！　　I　am　not　afraid！
I　will　hide　myself　from　the　Tartars！　　I　will　take　care　of　myself
for　him；　for　you！　　Go；　Michael！　　I　can　go　no　farther！〃

Many　times　Nadia　was　obliged　to　stop。　　Michael　then　took　her
in　his　strong　arms　and；　having　no　longer　to　think　of　her　fatigue；
walked　more　rapidly　and　with　his　indefatigable　step。

On　the　18th　of　September；　at　ten　in　the　evening；　Kimilteiskoe　was
at　last　entered。　　From　the　top　of　a　hill；　Nadia　saw　in　the　horizon
a　long　light　line。　　It　was　the　Dinka　River。　　A　few　lightning　flashes
were　reflected　in　the　water；　summer　lightning；　without　thunder。
Nadia　led　her　companion　through　the　ruined　village。
The　cinders　were　quite　cold。　　The　last　of　the　Tartars　had　passed
through　at　least　five　or　six　days　before。

Beyond　the　village；　Nadia　sank　down　on　a　stone　bench。
〃Shall　we　make　a　halt？〃　asked　Michael。

〃It　is　night；　Michael；〃　answered　Nadia。　　〃Do　you　not　want　to　rest
a　few　hours？〃

〃I　would　rather　have　crossed　the　Dinka；〃　replied　Michael；　〃I　should
like　to　put　that　between　us　and　the　Emir's　advance…guard。　But　you
can　scarcely　drag　yourself　along；　my　poor　Nadia！〃

〃Come；　Michael；〃　returned　Nadia；　seizing　her　companion's　hand
and　drawing　him　forward。

Two　or　three　versts　further　the　Dinka　flowed　across　the　Irkutsk　road。
The　young　girl　wished　to　attempt　this　last　effort　asked　by　her　companion。
She　found　her　way　by　the　light　from　the　flashes。　　They　were　then　crossing
a　boundless　desert；　in　the　midst　of　which　was　lost　the　little　river。
Not　a　tree　nor　a　hillock　broke　the　flatness。　　Not　a　breath　disturbed
the　atmosphere；　whose　calmness　would　allow　the　slightest　sound　to　travel
an　immense　distance。

Suddenly；　Michael　and　Nadia　stopped；　as　if　their　feet　had　been
fast　to　the　ground。　　The　barking　of　a　dog　came　across　the　steppe。
〃Do　you　hear？〃　said　Nadia。

Then　a　mournful　cry　succeeded　ita　despairing　cry；　like　the　last　appeal
of　a　human　being　about　to　die。

〃Nicholas！　　Nicholas！〃　cried　the　girl；　with　a　foreboding　of　evil。
Michael；　who　was　listening；　shook　his　head。

〃Come；　Michael；　come；〃　said　Nadia。　　And　she　who　just　now　was
dragging　herself　with　difficulty　along；　suddenly　recovered　strength；
under　violent　excitement。

〃We　have　left　the　road；〃　said　Michael；　feeling　that　he　was　treading
no　longer　on　powdery　soil　but　on　short　grass。

〃Yes；　we　must！〃　returned　Nadia。　　〃It　was　there；　on　the　right；
from　which　the　cry　came！〃

In　a　few　minutes　they　were　not　more　than　half　a　verst　from　the　river。
A　second　bark　was　heard；　but；　although　more　feeble；　it　was
certainly　nearer。　　Nadia　stopped。

〃Yes！〃　said　Michael。　　〃It　is　Serko　barking！　。　。　。　He　has
followed　his　master！〃

〃Nicholas！〃　called　the　girl。　　Her　cry　was　unanswered。

Michael　listened。　　Nadia　gazed　over　the　plain　illumined
now　and　again　with　electric　light；　but　she　saw　nothing。
And　yet　a　voice　was　again　raised；　this　time　murmuring　in　a
plaintive　tone；　〃Michael！〃

Then　a　dog；　all　bloody；　bounded　up　to　Nadia。

It　was　Serko！　　Nicholas　could　not　be　far　off！　　He　alone
could　have　murmured　the　name　of　Michael！　　Where　was　he？
Nadia　had　no　strength　to　call　again。　　Michael；　crawling　on
the　ground；　felt　about　with　his　hands。

Suddenly　Serko　uttered　a　fresh　bark　and　darted　towards　a　gigantic　bird
which　had　swooped　down。　　It　was　a　vulture。　　When　Serko　ran　towards　it；
it　rose；　but　returning　struck　at　the　dog。　　The　latter　leapt　up　at　it。
A　blow　from　the　formidable　beak　alighted　on　his　head；　and　this　time
Serko　fell　back　lifeless　on　the　ground。

At　the　same　moment　a　cry　of　horror　escaped　Nadia。　　〃There　。　。　。　there！〃
she　exclaimed。

A　head　issued　from　the　ground！　　She　had　stumbled　against　it
in　the　darkness。

Nadia　fell　on　her　knees　beside　it。　　Nicholas　buried　up　to　his　neck；
according　to　the　atrocious　Tartar　custom；　had　been　left　in　the　steppe
to　die　of　thirst；　and　perhaps　by　the　teeth　of　wolves　or　the　beaks
of　birds　of　prey！

Frightful　torture　for　the　victim　imprisoned　in　the　ground
the　earth　pressed　down　so　that　he　cannot　move；　his　arms
bound　to　his　body　like　those　of　a　corpse　in　its　coffin！
The　miserable　wretch；　living　in　the　mold　of　clay　from　which　he　is
powerless　to　break　out；　can　only　long　for　the　death　which　is
so　slow　in　coming！

There　the　Tartars　had　buried　their　prisoner　three　days　before！
For　three　days；　Nicholas　waited　for　the　help　which　now　came　too　late！
The　vultures　had　caught　sight　of　the　head　on　a　level　with　the　ground；
and　for　some　hours　the　dog　had　been　defending　his　master　against
these　ferocious　birds！

Michael　dug　at　the　ground　with　his　knife　to