michael strogoff-第22节

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had　never　before　presented　such　an　animated　appearance。
The　correspondents　immediately　went　off　after　news。
That　brought　by　Siberian　fugitives　from　the　seat　of　war
was　far　from　reassuring。　　They　said；　amongst　other　things；
that　Feofar…Khan's　army　was　rapidly　approaching　the　valley
of　the　Ichim；　and　they　confirmed　the　report　that　the　Tartar
chief　was　soon　to　be　joined　by　Colonel　Ogareff；　if　he　had　not
been　so　already。　　Hence　the　conclusion　was　that　operations
would　be　pushed　in　Eastern　Siberia　with　the　greatest　activity。
However；　the　loyal　Cossacks　of　the　government　of　Tobolsk
were　advancing　by　forced　marches　towards　Tomsk；　in　the　hope
of　cutting　off　the　Tartar　columns。

At　midnight　the　town　of　Novo…Saimsk　was　reached；　and　the　travelers
now　left　behind　them　the　country　broken　by　tree…covered　hills；
the　last　remains　of　the　Urals。

Here　began　the　regular　Siberian　steppe　which　extends　to　the　neighborhood
of　Krasnoiarsk。　　It　is　a　boundless　plain；　a　vast　grassy　desert；
earth　and　sky　here　form　a　circle　as　distinct　as　that　traced
by　a　sweep　of　the　compasses。　　The　steppe　presents　nothing
to　attract　notice　but　the　long　line　of　the　telegraph　posts；
their　wires　vibrating　in　the　breeze　like　the　strings　of　a　harp。
The　road　could　be　distinguished　from　the　rest　of　the　plain　only　by
the　clouds　of　fine　dust　which　rose　under　the　wheels　of　the　tarantass。
Had　it　not　been　for　this　white　riband；　which　stretched　away　as　far
as　the　eye　could　reach；　the　travelers　might　have　thought　themselves
in　a　desert。

Michael　and　his　companions　again　pressed　rapidly　forward。
The　horses；　urged　on　by　the　iemschik；　seemed　to　fly　over　the　ground；
for　there　was　not　the　slightest　obstacle　to　impede　them。
The　tarantass　was　going　straight　for　Ichim；　where　the　two
correspondents　intended　to　stop；　if　nothing　happened　to　make
them　alter　their　plans。

A　hundred　and　twenty　miles　separated　Novo…Saimsk　from　the　town
of　Ichim；　and　before　eight　o'clock　the　next　evening　the　distance
could　and　should　be　accomplished　if　no　time　was　lost。
In　the　opinion　of　the　iemschiks；　should　the　travelers　not　be
great　lords　or　high　functionaries；　they　were　worthy　of　being　so；
if　it　was　only　for　their　generosity　in　the　matter　of　〃na　vodkou。〃

On　the　afternoon　of　the　next　day；　the　23rd　of　July；　the　two　carriages
were　not　more　than　thirty　versts　from　Ichim。　　Suddenly　Michael　caught
sight　of　a　carriagescarcely　visible　among　the　clouds　of　dust
preceding　them　along　the　road。　　As　his　horses　were　evidently　less
fatigued　than　those　of　the　other　traveler；　he　would　not　be　long
in　overtaking　it。　　This　was　neither　a　tarantass　nor　a　telga；
but　a　post…berlin；　which　looked　as　if　it　had　made　a　long　journey。
The　postillion　was　thrashing　his　horses　with　all　his　might；
and　only　kept　them　at　a　gallop　by　dint　of　abuse　and　blows。
The　berlin　had　certainly　not　passed　through　Novo…Saimsk；　and　could
only　have　struck　the　Irkutsk　road　by　some　less　frequented　route
across　the　steppe。

Our　travelers'　first　thought；　on　seeing　this　berlin；　was　to　get　in　front
of　it；　and　arrive　first　at　the　relay；　so　as　to　make　sure　of　fresh　horses。
They　said　a　word　to　their　iemschiks；　who　soon　brought　them　up
with　the　berlin。

Michael　Strogoff　came　up　first。　　As　he　passed；　a　head　was　thrust
out　of　the　window　of　the　berlin。

He　had　not　time　to　see　what　it　was　like；　but　as　he　dashed　by　he　distinctly
heard　this　word；　uttered　in　an　imperious　tone：　　〃Stop！〃

But　they　did　not　stop；　on　the　contrary；　the　berlin　was　soon　distanced
by　the　two　tarantasses。

It　now　became　a　regular　race；　for　the　horses　of　the　berlin
no　doubt　excited　by　the　sight　and　pace　of　the　others
recovered　their　strength　and　kept　up　for　some　minutes。
The　three　carriages　were　hidden　in　a　cloud　of　dust。
From　this　cloud　issued　the　cracking　of　whips　mingled　with　excited
shouts　and　exclamations　of　anger。

Nevertheless；　the　advantage　remained　with　Michael　and　his　companions；
which　might　be　very　important　to　them　if　the　relay　was　poorly　provided
with　horses。　　Two　carriages　were　perhaps　more　than　the　postmaster　could
provide　for；　at　least　in　a　short　space　of　time。

Half　an　hour　after　the　berlin　was　left　far　behind；　looking　only　a　speck
on　the　horizon　of　the　steppe。

It　was　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening　when　the　two　carriages
reached　Ichim。　　The　news　was　worse　and　worse　with　regard　to
the　invasion。　　The　town　itself　was　menaced　by　the　Tartar　vanguard；
and　two　days　before　the　authorities　had　been　obliged　to　retreat
to　Tobolsk。　　There　was　not　an　officer　nor　a　soldier　left　in　Ichim。

On　arriving　at　the　relay；　Michael　Strogoff　immediately　asked
for　horses。　　He　had　been　fortunate　in　distancing　the　berlin。
Only　three　horses　were　fit　to　be　harnessed。　　The　others　had
just　come　in　worn　out　from　a　long　stage。

As　the　two　correspondents　intended　to　stop　at　Ichim；　they　had　not　to
trouble　themselves　to　find　transport；　and　had　their　carriage　put　away。
In　ten　minutes　Michael　was　told　that　his　tarantass　was　ready　to　start。

〃Good；〃　said　he。

Then　turning　to　the　two　reporters：　　〃Well；　gentlemen；　the　time
is　come　for　us　to　separate。〃

〃What；　Mr。　Korpanoff；〃　said　Alcide　Jolivet；　〃shall　you　not　stop
even　for　an　hour　at　Ichim？〃

〃No；　sir；　and　I　also　wish　to　leave　the　post…house　before　the　arrival
of　the　berlin　which　we　distanced。〃

〃Are　you　afraid　that　the　traveler　will　dispute　the　horses　with　you？〃

〃I　particularly　wish　to　avoid　any　difficulty。〃

〃Then；　Mr。　Korpanoff；〃　said　Jolivet；　〃it　only　remains　for　us
to　thank　you　once　more　for　the　service　you　rendered　us；
and　the　pleasure　we　have　had　in　traveling　with　you。〃

〃It　is　possible　that　we　shall　meet　you　again　in　a　few　days
at　Omsk；〃　added　Blount。

〃It　is　possible；〃　answered　Michael；　〃since　I　am　going　straight　there。〃

〃Well；　I　wish　you　a　safe　journey；　Mr。　Korpanoff；〃　said　Alcide；
〃and　Heaven　preserve　you　from　telgas。〃

The　two　reporters　held　out　their　hands　to　Michael　with　the　intention
of　cordially　shaking　his；　when　the　sound　of　a　carriage　was　heard　outside。
Almost　immediately　the　door　was　flung　open　and　a　man　appeared。

It　was　the　traveler　of　the　berlin；　a　military…looking　man；
apparently　about　forty　years　of　age；　tall；　robust　in　figure；
broad…shouldered；　with　a　strongly…set　head；　and　thick
mus…taches　meeting　red　whiskers。　　He　wore　a　plain　uniform。
A　cavalry　saber　hung　at　his　side；　and　in　his　hand　he　held
a　short…handled　whip。

〃Horses；〃　he　demanded；　with　the　air　of　a　man　accustomed　to　command。

〃I　have　no　more　disposable　horses；〃　answered　the　postmaster；　bowing。

〃I　must　have　some　this　moment。〃

〃It　is　impossible。〃

〃What　are　those　horses　which　have　just　been　harnessed　to　the　tarantass
I　saw　at　the　door？〃

〃They　belong　to　this　traveler；〃　answered　the　postmaster；
pointing　to　Michael　Strogoff。

〃Take　them　out！〃　said　the　traveler　in　a　tone　which　admitted
of　no　reply。

Michael　then　advanced。

〃These　horses　are　engaged　by　me；〃　he　said。

〃What　does　that　matter？　　I　must　have　them。　　Come；　be　quick；
I　have　no　time　to　lose。〃

〃I　have　no　time　to　lose　either；〃　replied　Michael；　restraining
himself　with　difficulty。

Nadia　was　near　him；　calm　also；　but　secretly　uneasy　at　a　scene
which　it　would　have　been　better　to　avoid。

〃Enough！〃　said　the　traveler。　　Then；　going　up　to　the　postmaster；
〃Let　the　horses　be　put　into　my　berlin；〃　he　exclaimed　with
a　threatening　gesture。

The　postmaster；　much　embarrassed；　did　not　know　whom　to　obey；
and　looked　at　Michael；　who　evidently　had　the　right　to　resist
the　unjust　demands　of　the　traveler。

Michael　hesitated　an　instant。　　He　did　not　wish　to　make　use
of　his　podorojna；　which　would　have　drawn　attention　to　him；
and　he　was　most　unwilling　also；　by　giving　up　his　horses；
to　delay　his　journey；　and　yet　he　must　not　engage　in　a　struggle
which　might　compromise　his　mission。

The　two　reporters　looked　at　him　ready　to　support　him　should
he　appeal　to　them。

〃My　horses　will　remain　in　my　carriage；〃　said　Michael；　but　without　raising
his　tone　more　than　would　be　suitable　for　a　plain　Irkutsk　merchant。

The　traveler　advanced　towards　Michael　and　laid　his　hand
heavily　on　his　shoulder。　　〃Is　it　so？〃　he　said　roughly。
〃You　will　not　give　up　your　horses　to　me？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Michael。

〃Very　well；　they　shall　belong　to　whichever　of　us　is　able　to　start。
Defend　yourself；　I　shall　not　spare　you！〃

So　saying；　the　traveler　drew　his　saber　from　its　sheath；
and　Nadia　threw　herself　before　Michael。

Blount　and　Alcide　Jolivet　advanced　towards　him。

〃I　shall　not　fight；〃　said　Michael　quietly；　folding　his　arms
across　his　chest。

〃You　will　not　fight？〃

〃No。〃

〃Not　even　after　this？〃　exclaimed　the　traveler。　　And　before　anyone
could　prevent　him；　he　struck　Michael's　shoulder　with　the　handle
of　the　whip。　　At　this　insult　Michael　turned　deadly　pale。
His　hands　moved　convulsively　as　if　he　would　have　knocked　the　brute　down。
But　by　a　tremendous　effort　he　mastered　himself。　　A　duel！　it　was
more　than　a　delay；　it　was　perhaps　the　failure　of　his　mission。
It　would　be　better　to　lose　some　hours。　　Yes；　but　to　swallow　this　affront！

〃Will　you　fight　now；　coward？〃　repeated　the　traveler；
adding　coarseness　to　brutality。

〃No；〃　answered　Michael；　without　moving；　but　looking　the　other　straight
in　the　face。

〃The　horses　thi