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descend now； with the road torn up by a thousand mountain torrents；
in these eddies of wind and rain； was utter madness。
〃To wait is indeed serious；〃 said Michael； 〃but it must certainly
be done； to avoid still longer detentions。 The very violence
of the storm makes me hope that it will not last long。
About three o'clock the day will begin to break； and the descent；
which we cannot risk in the dark； we shall be able； if not with ease；
at least without such danger； to attempt after sunrise。〃
〃Let us wait； brother；〃 replied Nadia； 〃but if you delay；
let it not be to spare me fatigue or danger。〃
〃Nadia； I know that you are ready to brave everything； but；
in exposing both of us； I risk more than my life； more than yours；
I am not fulfilling my task； that duty which before everything
else I must accomplish。〃
〃A duty！〃 murmured Nadia。
Just then a bright flash lit up the sky； a loud clap followed。
The air was filled with sulphurous suffocating vapor； and a clump
of huge pines； struck by the electric fluid； scarcely twenty feet
from the tarantass； flared up like a gigantic torch。
The iemschik was struck to the ground by a counter…shock； but；
regaining his feet； found himself happily unhurt。
Just as the last growlings of the thunder were lost
in the recesses of the mountain； Michael felt Nadia's hand
pressing his； and he heard her whisper these words in his ear：
〃Cries； brother！ Listen！〃
CHAPTER XI TRAVELERS IN DISTRESS
DURING the momentary lull which followed； shouts could be distinctly
heard from farther on； at no great distance from the tarantass。
It was an earnest appeal； evidently from some traveler in distress。
Michael listened attentively。 The iemschik also listened；
but shook his head； as though it was impossible to help。
〃They are travelers calling for aid；〃 cried Nadia。
〃They can expect nothing；〃 replied the iemschik。
〃Why not？〃 cried Michael。 〃Ought not we do for them what they
would for us under similar circumstances？〃
〃Surely you will not risk the carriage and horses！〃
〃I will go on foot；〃 replied Michael； interrupting the iemschik。
〃I will go； too； brother；〃 said the young girl。
〃No； remain here； Nadia。 The iemschik will stay with you。
I do not wish to leave him alone。〃
〃I will stay；〃 replied Nadia。
〃Whatever happens； do not leave this spot。〃
〃You will find me where I now am。〃
Michael pressed her hand； and； turning the corner of the slope；
disappeared in the darkness。
〃Your brother is wrong；〃 said the iemschik。
〃He is right；〃 replied Nadia simply。
Meanwhile Strogoff strode rapidly on。 If he was in a great hurry
to aid the travelers； he was also very anxious to know who it
was that had not been hindered from starting by the storm；
for he had no doubt that the cries came from the telga；
which had so long preceded him。
The rain had stopped； but the storm was raging with redoubled fury。
The shouts； borne on the air； became more distinct。
Nothing was to be seen of the pass in which Nadia remained。
The road wound along； and the squalls； checked by the corners；
formed eddies highly dangerous； to pass which； without being
taken off his legs； Michael had to use his utmost strength。
He soon perceived that the travelers whose shouts he had heard
were at no great distance。 Even then； on account of the darkness；
Michael could not see them； yet he heard distinctly their words。
This is what he heard； and what caused him some surprise：
〃Are you coming back； blockhead？〃
〃You shall have a taste of the knout at the next stage。〃
〃Do you hear； you devil's postillion！ Hullo！ Below！〃
〃This is how a carriage takes you in this country！〃
〃Yes； this is what you call a telga！〃
〃Oh； that abominable driver！ He goes on and does not appear
to have discovered that he has left us behind！〃
〃To deceive me； too！ Me； an honorable Englishman！ I will make
a complaint at the chancellor's office and have the fellow hanged。〃
This was said in a very angry tone； but was suddenly interrupted
by a burst of laughter from his companion； who exclaimed；
〃Well！ this is a good joke； I must say。〃
〃You venture to laugh！〃 said the Briton angrily。
〃Certainly； my dear confrere； and that most heartily。
'Pon my word I never saw anything to come up to it。〃
Just then a crashing clap of thunder re…echoed through the defile；
and then died away among the distant peaks。 When the sound
of the last growl had ceased； the merry voice went on：
〃Yes； it undoubtedly is a good joke。 This machine certainly
never came from France。〃
〃Nor from England；〃 replied the other。
On the road； by the light of the flashes； Michael saw； twenty yards
from him； two travelers； seated side by side in a most peculiar vehicle；
the wheels of which were deeply imbedded in the ruts formed in the road。
He approached them； the one grinning from ear to ear； and the other
gloomily contemplating his situation； and recognized them as the two
reporters who had been his companions on board the Caucasus。
〃Good…morning to you； sir；〃 cried the Frenchman。 〃Delighted to see
you here。 Let me introduce you to my intimate enemy； Mr。 Blount。〃
The English reporter bowed； and was about to introduce in his turn
his companion； Alcide Jolivet； in accordance with the rules of society；
when Michael interrupted him。
〃Perfectly unnecessary； sir； we already know each other；
for we traveled together on the Volga。〃
〃Ah； yes！ exactly so！ Mr。〃
〃Nicholas Korpanoff； merchant； of Irkutsk。 But may I know
what has happened which； though a misfortune to your companion；
amuses you so much？〃
〃Certainly； Mr。 Korpanoff；〃 replied Alcide。 〃Fancy！ our driver
has gone off with the front part of this confounded carriage；
and left us quietly seated in the back part！ So here we
are in the worse half of a telga； no driver； no horses。
Is it not a joke？〃
〃No joke at all；〃 said the Englishman。
〃Indeed it is； my dear fellow。 You do not know how to look
at the bright side of things。〃
〃How； pray； are we to go on？〃 asked Blount。
〃That is the easiest thing in the world；〃 replied Alcide。 〃Go and
harness yourself to what remains of our cart； I will take the reins；
and call you my little pigeon； like a true iemschik； and you will trot
off like a real post…horse。〃
〃Mr。 Jolivet；〃 replied the Englishman； 〃this joking is going too far；
it passes all limits and〃
〃Now do be quiet； my dear sir。 When you are done up； I will take
your place； and call me a broken…winded snail and faint…hearted
tortoise if I don't take you over the ground at a rattling pace。〃
Alcide said all this with such perfect good…humor that Michael could
not help smiling。 〃Gentlemen；〃 said he； 〃here is a better plan。
We have now reached the highest ridge of the Ural chain；
and thus have merely to descend the slopes of the mountain。
My carriage is close by； only two hundred yards behind。
I will lend you one of my horses； harness it to the remains
of the telga； and to…mor…how； if no accident befalls us；
we will arrive together at Ekaterenburg。〃
〃That； Mr。 Korpanoff；〃 said Alcide； 〃is indeed a generous proposal。〃
〃Indeed； sir；〃 replied Michael； 〃I would willingly offer you places
in my tarantass； but it will only hold two； and my sister and I
already fill it。〃
〃Really； sir；〃 answered Alcide； 〃with your horse and our demi…telga
we will go to the world's end。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Harry Blount； 〃we most willingly accept your kind offer。
And； as to that iemschik〃
〃Oh！ I assure you that you are not the first travelers who have met
with a similar misfortune；〃 replied Michael。
〃But why should not our driver come back？ He knows perfectly
well that he has left us behind； wretch that he is！〃
〃He！ He never suspected such a thing。〃
〃What！ the fellow not know that he was leaving the better half
of his telga behind？〃
〃Not a bit； and in all good faith is driving the fore
part into Ekaterenburg。〃
〃Did I not tell you that it was a good joke； confrere？〃 cried Alcide。
〃Then； gentlemen； if you will follow me；〃 said Michael；
〃we will return to my carriage； and〃
〃But the telga；〃 observed the Englishman。
〃There is not the slightest fear that it will fly