michael strogoff-第49章

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the　blind　man　grasped　the　arm　of　his　enemy；　seized　his　weapon；
and　hurled　him　again　to　the　ground。

Pale　with　rage　and　shame；　Ogareff　remembered　that　he　wore　a　sword。
He　drew　it　and　returned　a　second　time　to　the　charge。
A　blind　man！　　Ogareff　had　only　to　deal　with　a　blind　man！
He　was　more　than　a　match　for　him！

Nadia；　terrified　at　the　danger　which　threatened　her　companion
ran　to　the　door　calling　for　help！

〃Close　the　door；　Nadia！〃　said　Michael。　　〃Call　no　one；　and　leave　me　alone！
The　Czar's　courier　has　nothing　to　fear　to…day　from　this　villain！
Let　him　come　on；　if　he　dares！　　I　am　ready　for　him。〃

In　the　mean　time；　Ogareff；　gathering　himself　together　like　a　tiger
about　to　spring；　uttered　not　a　word。　　The　noise　of　his　footsteps；　his
very　breathing；　he　endeavored　to　conceal　from　the　ear　of　the　blind　man。
His　object　was　to　strike　before　his　opponent　was　aware　of　his　approach；
to　strike　him　with　a　deadly　blow。

Nadia；　terrified　and　at　the　same　time　confident；　watched　this　terrible
scene　with　involuntary　admiration。　　Michael's　calm　bearing　seemed
to　have　inspired　her。　　Michael's　sole　weapon　was　his　Siberian　knife。
He　did　not　see　his　adversary　armed　with　a　sword；　it　is　true；　but　Heaven's
support　seemed　to　be　afforded　him。　　How；　almost　without　stirring；
did　he　always　face　the　point　of　the　sword？

Ivan　Ogareff　watched　his　strange　adversary　with　visible　anxiety。
His　superhuman　calm　had　an　effect　upon　him。　　In　vain；　appealing　to
his　reason；　did　he　tell　himself　that　in　so　unequal　a　combat　all　the
advantages　were　on　his　side。　　The　immobility　of　the　blind　man　froze　him。
He　had　settled　on　the　place　where　he　would　strike　his　victim。
He　had　fixed　upon　it！　　What；　then；　hindered　him　from　putting　an　end
to　his　blind　antagonist？

At　last；　with　a　spring　he　drove　his　sword　full　at　Michael's　breast。
An　imperceptible　movement　of　the　blind　man's　knife　turned　aside　the　blow。
Michael　had　not　been　touched；　and　coolly　he　awaited　a　second　attack。

Cold　drops　stood　on　Ogareff's　brow。　　He　drew　back　a　step；　then　again
leaped　forward。　　But　as　had　the　first；　this　second　attempt　failed。
The　knife　had　simply　parried　the　blow　from　the　traitor's　useless　sword。

Mad　with　rage　and　terror　before　this　living　statue；
he　gazed　into　the　wide…open　eyes　of　the　blind　man。
Those　eyes　which　seemed　to　pierce　to　the　bottom　of　his　soul；
and　yet　which　did　not；　could　not；　seeexercised　a　sort
of　dreadful　fascination　over　him。

All　at　once；　Ogareff　uttered　a　cry。　　A　sudden　light　flashed
across　his　brain。　　〃He　sees！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃he　sees！〃
And　like　a　wild　beast　trying　to　retreat　into　its　den；
step　by　step；　terrified；　he　drew　back　to　the　end　of　the　room。

Then　the　statue　became　animated；　the　blind　man　walked　straight　up
to　Ivan　Ogareff；　and　placing　himself　right　before　him；　〃Yes；　I　see！〃
said　he。　　〃I　see　the　mark　of　the　knout　which　I　gave　you；
traitor　and　coward！　　I　see　the　place　where　I　am　about　to　strike　you！
Defend　your　life！　　It　is　a　duel　I　deign　to　offer　you！
My　knife　against　your　sword！〃

〃He　sees！〃　said　Nadia。　　〃Gracious　Heaven；　is　it　possible！〃

Ogareff　felt　that　he　was　lost。　　But　mustering　all　his　courage；　he　sprang
forward　on　his　impassible　adversary。　　The　two　blades　crossed；　but　at
a　touch　from　Michael's　knife；　wielded　in　the　hand　of　the　Siberian　hunter；
the　sword　flew　in　splinters；　and　the　wretch；　stabbed　to　the　heart；
fell　lifeless　on　the　ground。

At　the　same　moment；　the　door　was　thrown　open。　　The　Grand　Duke；
accompanied　by　some　of　his　officers；　appeared　on　the　threshold。
The　Grand　Duke　advanced。　　In　the　body　lying　on　the　ground；
he　recognized　the　man　whom　he　believed　to　be　the　Czar's　courier。

Then；　in　a　threatening　voice；　〃Who　killed　that　man？〃　he　asked。

〃I；〃　replied　Michael。

One　of　the　officers　put　a　pistol　to　his　temple；　ready　to　fire。

〃Your　name？〃　asked　the　Grand　Duke；　before　giving　the　order
for　his　brains　to　be　blown　out。

〃Your　Highness；〃　answered　Michael；　〃ask　me　rather　the　name　of　the　man
who　lies　at　your　feet！〃

〃That　man；　I　know　him！　　He　is　a　servant　of　my　brother！
He　is　the　Czar's　courier！〃

〃That　man；　your　Highness；　is　not　a　courier　of　the　Czar！　　He　is
Ivan　Ogareff！〃

〃Ivan　Ogareff！〃　exclaimed　the　Grand　Duke。

〃Yes；　Ivan　the　Traitor！〃

〃But　who　are　you；　then？〃

〃Michael　Strogoff！〃


CHAPTER　XV　CONCLUSION

MICHAEL　STROGOFF　was　not；　had　never　been；　blind。　　A　purely
human　phenomenon；　at　the　same　time　moral　and　physical；
had　neutralized　the　action　of　the　incandescent　blade　which　Feofar's
executioner　had　passed　before　his　eyes。

It　may　be　remembered；　that　at　the　moment　of　the　execution；
Marfa　Strogoff　was　present；　stretching　out　her　hands　towards　her　son。
Michael　gazed　at　her　as　a　son　would　gaze　at　his　mother；
when　it　is　for　the　last　time。　　The　tears；　which　his　pride　in　vain
endeavored　to　subdue；　welling　up　from　his　heart；　gathered　under
his　eyelids；　and　volatiliz…ing　on　the　cornea；　had　saved　his　sight。
The　vapor　formed　by　his　tears　interposing　between　the　glowing　saber
and　his　eyeballs；　had　been　sufficient　to　annihilate　the　action
of　the　heat。　　A　similar　effect　is　produced；　when　a　workman　smelter；
after　dipping　his　hand　in　vapor；　can　with　impunity　hold　it　over
a　stream　of　melted　iron。

Michael　had　immediately　understood　the　danger　in　which　he　would
be　placed　should　he　make　known　his　secret　to　anyone。
He　at　once　saw；　on　the　other　hand；　that　he　might　make　use　of
his　supposed　blindness　for　the　accomplishment　of　his　designs。
Because　it　was　believed　that　he　was　blind；　he　would　be　allowed
to　go　free。　　He　must　therefore　be　blind；　blind　to　all；
even　to　Nadia；　blind　everywhere；　and　not　a　gesture　at　any　moment
must　let　the　truth　be　suspected。　　His　resolution　was　taken。
He　must　risk　his　life　even　to　afford　to　all　he　might　meet
the　proof　of　his　want　of　sight。　　We　know　how　perfectly　he　acted
the　part　he　had　determined　on。

His　mother　alone　knew　the　truth；　and　he　had　whispered　it　to　her
in　Tomsk　itself；　when　bending　over　her　in　the　dark　he　covered
her　with　kisses。

When　Ogareff　had　in　his　cruel　irony　held　the　Imperial　letter　before
the　eyes　which　he　believed　were　destroyed；　Michael　had　been　able　to　read；
and　had　read　the　letter　which　disclosed　the　odious　plans　of　the　traitor。
This　was　the　reason　of　the　wonderful　resolution　he　exhibited　during
the　second　part　of　his　journey。　　This　was　the　reason　of　his　unalterable
longing　to　reach　Irkutsk；　so　as　to　perform　his　mission　by　word　of　mouth。
He　knew　that　the　town　would　be　betrayed！　　He　knew　that　the　life
of　the　Grand　Duke　was　threatened！　　The　safety　of　the　Czar's　brother
and　of　Siberia　was　in　his　hands。

This　story　was　told　in　a　few　words　to　the　Grand　Duke；　and　Michael
repeated　alsoand　with　what　emotion！the　part　Nadia　had　taken
in　these　events。

〃Who　is　this　girl？〃　asked　the　Grand　Duke。

〃The　daughter　of　the　exile；　Wassili　Fedor；〃　replied　Michael。

〃The　daughter　of　Captain　Fedor；〃　said　the　Grand　Duke；　〃has　ceased　to　be
the　daughter　of　an　exile。　　There　are　no　longer　exiles　in　Irkutsk。〃

Nadia；　less　strong　in　joy　than　she　had　been　in　grief；　fell　on
her　knees　before　the　Grand　Duke；　who　raised　her　with　one　hand；
while　he　extended　the　other　to　Michael。

An　hour　after；　Nadia　was　in　her　father's　arms。
Michael　Strogoff；　Nadia；　and　Wassili　Fedor　were　united。
This　was　the　height　of　happiness　to　them　all。

The　Tartars　had　been　repulsed　in　their　double　attack　on　the　town。
Wassili　Fedor；　with　his　little　band；　had　driven　back　the　first
assailants　who　presented　themselves　at　the　Bolchaia　Gate；
expecting　to　find　it　open　and　which；　by　an　instinctive　feeling；
often　arising　from　sound　judgment；　he　had　determined　to　remain
at　and　defend。

At　the　same　time　as　the　Tartars　were　driven　back　the　besieged
had　mastered　the　fire。　　The　liquid　naphtha　having　rapidly　burnt
to　the　surface　of　the　water；　the　flames　did　not　go　beyond　the　houses
on　the　shore；　and　left　the　other　quarters　of　the　town　uninjured。
Before　daybreak　the　troops　of　Feofar…Khan　had　retreated　into　their　camp；
leaving　a　large　number　of　dead　on　and　below　the　ramparts。

Among　the　dead　was　the　gypsy　Sangarre；　who　had　vainly　endeavored
to　join　Ivan　Ogareff。

For　two　days　the　besiegers　attempted　no　fresh　assault。
They　were　discouraged　by　the　death　of　Ogareff。　　This　man　was
the　mainspring　of　the　invasion；　and　he　alone；　by　his　plots　long
since　contrived；　had　had　sufficient　influence　over　the　khans
and　their　hordes　to　bring　them　to　the　conquest　of　Asiatic　Russia。

However；　the　defenders　of　Irkutsk　kept　on　their　guard；　and　the　investment
still　continued；　but　on　the　7th　of　October；　at　daybreak；　cannon　boomed
out　from　the　heights　around　Irkutsk。　　It　was　the　succoring　army　under
the　command　of　General　Kisselef；　and　it　was　thus　that　he　made　known
his　welcome　arrival　to　the　Grand　Duke。

The　Tartars　did　not　wait　to　be　attacked。　　Not　daring　to　run　the　risk
of　a　battle　under　the　walls　of　Irkutsk；　they　immediately　broke　up
the　Angara　camp。　　Irkutsk　was　at　last　relieved。

With　the　first　Russian　soldiers；　two　of　Michael's　friends　entered
the　city。　　They　were　the　inseparable　Blount　and　Jolivet。　　On　gaining　the
right　bank　of　the　Angara　by　means　of　the　icy　barrier；　they　had　escaped；
as　had　the　other　fugitives；　before　the　flames　had　reached　their　raft。
This　had　been　noted　by　Alcide　Jolivet　in　his　book　in　this　way：
〃Ran　a　narrow　chance　of　being　finished　up　like　a　lemon　in　a
bowl　of　punch！〃

Their　joy　was　great　on　finding　Nadia　and　Michael　safe　and　sound；
above　all；　when　they　learnt　that　their　brave　companion　was　not　blind。
Harry　Blount　inscribed　this　observation：　　〃Red…hot　iron　is　insufficient
in　some　cases　to　destroy　the　sensibility　of　the　optic　nerve。〃

Then　the　two　correspondents；　settled　for　a　time　in　Irkutsk；
busied　themselves　in　putting　the　notes　and　impressions　of　their　journey
in　order。　　Thence　were　sent　to　London　and　Paris　two　interesting
articles　relative　to　the　Tartar　invasion；　and　whicha　rare　thing
did　not　contradict　each　other　even　on　the　least　important　points。

The　remainder　of　the　campaign　was　unfortunate　to　the　Emir　and　his　allies。
This　invasion；　futile　as　all　which　attack　the　Russian　Colossus　must　be；
was　very　fatal　to　them。　　They　soon　found　themselves　cut　off　by
the　Czar's　troops；　who　retook　in　succession　all　the　conquered　towns。
Besides　this；　the　winter　was　terrible；　and；　decimated　by　the　cold；
only　a　small　part　of　these　hordes　returned　to　the　steppes　of　Tartary。

The　Irkutsk　road；　by　way　of　the　Ural　Mountains；　was　now　open。
The　Grand　Duke　was　anxious　to　return　to　Moscow；　but　he　delayed
his　journey　to　be　present　at　a　touching　ceremony；　which　took
place　a　few　days　after　the　entry　of　the　Russian　troops。

Michael　Strogoff　sought　Nadia；　and　in　her　father's　presence　said　to　her；
〃Nadia；　my　sister　still；　when　you　left　Riga　to　come　to　Irkutsk；
did　you　leave　it　with　any　other　regret　than　that　for　your　mother？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Nadia；　〃none　of　any　sort　whatever。〃

〃Then；　nothing　of　your　heart　remains　there？〃

〃Nothing；　brother。〃

〃Then；　Nadia；〃　said　Michael；　〃I　think　that　God；　in　allowing
us　to　meet；　and　to　go　through　so　many　severe　trials　together；
must　have　meant　us　to　be　united　forever。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Nadia；　falling　into　Michael's　arms。　　Then　turning
towards　Wassili　Fedor；　〃My　father；〃　said