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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 this moment；〃 said the man； and left the room。
The postmaster followed him； after shrugging his shoulders and bestowing
on Michael a glance of anything but approbation。
The effect produced on the reporters by this incident was not
to Michael's advantage。 Their discomfiture was visible。
How could this strong young man allow himself to be struck
like that and not demand satisfaction for such an insult？
They contented themselves with bowing to him and retired；
Jolivet remarking to Harry Blount
〃I could not have believed that of a man who is so skillful
in finishing up Ural Mountain bears。 Is it the case that a
man can be courageous at one time and a coward at another？
It is quite incomprehensible。〃
A moment afterwards the noise of wheels and whip showed that
the berlin； drawn by the tarantass' horses； was driving rapidly
away from the post…house。
Nadia； unmoved； and Michael； still quivering； remained alone in the room。
The courier of the Czar； his arms crossed over his chest was seated
motionless as a statue。 A color； which could not have been the blush
of shame； had replaced the paleness on his countenance。
Nadia did not doubt that powerful reasons alone could have allowed him
to suffer so great a humiliation from such a man。 Going up to him
as he had come to her in the police…station at Nijni…Novgorod：
〃Your hand； brother；〃 said she。
And at the same time her hand； with an almost maternal gesture；
wiped away a tear which sprang to her companion's eye。
CHAPTER XIII DUTY BEFORE EVERYTHING
NADIA； with the clear perception of a right…minded woman；
guessed that some secret motive directed all Michael Strogoff's actions；
that he； for a reason unknown to her； did not belong to himself；
and that in this instance especially he had heroically sacrificed
to duty even his resentment at the gross injury he had received。
Nadia； therefore； asked no explanation from Michael。 Had not the hand
which she had extended to him already replied to all that he might have
been