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serious were the dangers which he； an energetic and vigorous man；
would have personally to encounter； he could not conceal from himself
how infinitely greater they would prove to a young unprotected girl。
As she was going to Irkutsk； she would be obliged to follow the same
road as himself； she would have to pass through the bands of invaders；
as he was about to attempt doing himself。 If； moreover； she had
at her disposal only the money necessary for a journey taken under
ordinary circumstances； how could she manage to accomplish it under
conditions which made it not only perilous but expensive？
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃if she takes the route to Perm；
it is nearly impossible but that I shall fall in with her。
Then； I will watch over her without her suspecting it；
and as she appears to me as anxious as myself to reach Irkutsk；
she will cause me no delay。〃
But one thought leads to another。 Michael Strogoff had till now thought
only of doing a kind action； but now another idea flashed into his brain；
the question presented itself under quite a new aspect。
〃The fact is；〃 said he to himself； 〃that I have much more need of her
than she can have of me。 Her presence will be useful in drawing
off suspicion from me。 A man traveling alone across the steppe；
may be easily guessed to be a courier of the Czar。 If； on the contrary；
this young girl accompanies me； I shall appear； in the eyes of all；
the Nicholas Korpanoff of my podorojna。 Therefore； she must
accompany me。 Therefore； I must find her again at any cost。
It is not probable that since yesterday evening she has been able
to get a carriage and leave Nijni…Novgorod。 I must look for her。
And may God guide me！〃
Michael left the great square of Nijni…Novgorod； where the tumult
produced by the carrying out of the prescribed measures had now
reached its height。 Recriminations from the banished strangers；
shouts from the agents and Cossacks who were using them so brutally；
together made an indescribable uproar。 The girl for whom he searched
could not be there。 It was now nine o'clock in the morning。
The steamboat did not start till twelve。 Michael Strogoff had
therefore nearly two hours to employ in searching for her whom
he wished to make his traveling companion。
He crossed the Volga again and hunted through the quarters
on the other side； where the crowd was much less considerable。
He entered the churches； the natural refuge for all who weep；
for all who suffer。 Nowhere did he meet with the young Livonian。
〃And yet；〃 he repeated； 〃she could not have left Nijni…Novgorod yet。
We'll have another look。〃 He wandered about thus for two hours。
He went on without stopping； feeling no fatigue； obeying a potent
instinct which allowed no room for thought。 All was in vain。
It then occurred to him that perhaps the girl had not heard
of the orderthough this was improbable enough； for such a
thunder…clap could not have burst without being heard by all。
Evidently interested in knowing the smallest news from Siberia；
how could she be ignorant of the measures taken by the governor；
measures which concerned her so directly？
But； if she was ignorant of it； she would come in an hour to the quay；
and there some merciless agent would refuse her a passage！
At any cost； he must see her beforehand； and enable her to avoid
such a repulse。
But all his endeavors were in vain； and he at length almost despaired
of finding her again。 It was eleven o'clock； and Michael thought
of presenting his podorojna at the office of the head of police。
The proclamation evidently did not concern him； since the emergency
had been foreseen for him； but he wished to make sure that nothing
would hinder his departure from the town。
Michael then returned to the other side of the Volga；
to the quarter in which was the office of the head of police。
An immense crowd was collected there； for though all foreigners
were ordered to quit the province； they had notwithstanding
to go through certain forms before they could depart。
Without this precaution； some Russian more or less implicated
in the Tartar movement would have been able； in a disguise； to pass
the frontierjust those whom the order wished to prevent going。
The strangers were sent away； but still had to gain permission to go。
Mountebanks； gypsies； Tsiganes； Zingaris； mingled with merchants
from Persia； Turkey； India； Turkestan； China； filled the court
and offices of the police station。
Everyone was in a hurry； for the means of transport would be much
sought after among this crowd of banished people； and those who did
not set about it soon ran a great risk of not being able to leave
the town in the prescribed time； which would expose them to some
brutal treatment from the governor's agents。
Owing to the strength of his elbows Michael was able to cross the court。
But to get into the office and up to the clerk's little window was a much
more difficult business。 However； a word into an inspector's ear and a
few judiciously given roubles were powerful enough to gain him a passage。
The man； after taking him into the waiting…room； went to call an
upper clerk。 Michael Strogoff would not be long in making everything
right with the police and being free in his movements。
Whilst waiting； he looked about him； and what did he see？
There； fallen； rather than seated； on a bench； was a girl；
prey to a silent despair； although her face could scarcely
be seen； the profile alone being visible against the wall。
Michael Strogoff could not be mistaken。 He instantly recognized
the young Livonian。
Not knowing the governor's orders； she had come to the police office
to get her pass signed。 They had refused to sign it。 No doubt
she was authorized to go to Irkutsk； but the order was peremptory
it annulled all previous au…thorizations； and the routes to Siberia
were closed to her。 Michael； delighted at having found her again；
approached the girl。
She looked up for a moment and her face brightened on recognizing
her traveling companion。 She instinctively rose and； like a drowning
man who clutches at a spar； she was about to ask his help。
At that moment the agent touched Michael on the shoulder；
〃The head of police will see you；〃 he said。
〃Good；〃 returned Michael。 And without saying a word to her for whom
he had been searching all day； without reassuring her by even a gesture；
which might compromise either her or himself； he followed the man。
The young Livonian； seeing the only being to whom she could look
for help disappear； fell back again on her bench。
Three minutes had not passed before Michael Strogoff reappeared；
accompanied by the agent。 In his hand he held his podorojna；
which threw open the roads to Siberia for him。 He again
approached the young Livonian； and holding out his hand：
〃Sister；〃 said he。
She understood。 She rose as if some sudden inspiration prevented
her from hesitating a moment。
〃Sister；〃 repeated Michael Strogoff； 〃we are authorized to continue
our journey to Irkutsk。 Will you come with me？〃
〃I will follow you； brother；〃 replied the girl； putting her hand into
that of Michael Strogoff。 And together they left the police station。
CHAPTER VII GOING DOWN THE VOLGA
A LITTLE before midday； the steamboat's bell drew to the wharf
on the Volga an unusually large concourse of people；
for not only were those about to embark who had intended to go；
but the many who were compelled to go contrary to their wishes。
The boilers of the Caucasus were under full pressure； a slight
smoke issued from its funnel； whilst the end of the escape…pipe
and the lids of the valves were crowned with white vapor。
It is needless to say that the police kept a close watch over
the departure of the Caucasus； and showed themselves pitiless to
those travelers who did not satisfactorily answer their questions。
Numerous Cossacks came and went on the quay； ready to assist
the agents； but they had not to interfere； as no one
ventured to offer the slightest resistance to their orders。
Exactly at the hour the last clang of the bell sounded；
the powerful wheels of the steamboat began to beat the water；
and the Caucasus passed rapidly betwe