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to inure themselves。
Michael Strogoff's horse； stung by these venomous insects； sprang forward
as if the rowels of a thousand spurs had pierced his flanks。
Mad with rage； he tore along over verst after verst with the speed
of an express train； lashing his sides with his tail； seeking by
the rapidity of his pace an alleviation of his torture。
It required as good a horseman as Michael Strogoff not to be thrown
by the plungings of his horse； and the sudden stops and bounds
which he made to escape from the stings of his persecutors。
Having become insensible； so to speak； to physical suffering；
possessed only with the one desire to arrive at his destination
at whatever cost； he saw during this mad race only one thing
that the road flew rapidly behind him。
Who would have thought that this district of the Baraba； so unhealthy
during the summer； could have afforded an asylum for human beings？
Yet it did so。 Several Siberian hamlets appeared from time
to time among the giant canes。 Men； women； children； and old men；
clad in the skins of beasts； their faces covered with hardened
blisters of skin； pastured their poor herds of sheep。
In order to preserve the animals from the attack of the insects；
they drove them to the leeward of fires of green wood； which were
kept burning night and day； and the pungent smoke of which floated
over the vast swamp。
When Michael Strogoff perceived that his horse； tired out； was on
the point of succumbing； he halted at one of these wretched hamlets；
and there； forgetting his own fatigue； he himself rubbed the wounds
of the poor animal with hot grease according to the Siberian custom；
then he gave him a good feed； and it was only after he had well groomed
and provided for him that he thought of himself； and recruited his
strength by a hasty meal of bread and meat and a glass of kwass。
One hour afterwards； or at the most two； he resumed with all speed
the interminable road to Irkutsk。
On the 30th of July； at four o'clock in the afternoon； Michael Strogoff；
insensible of every fatigue； arrived at Elamsk。 There it
became necessary to give a night's rest to his horse。
The brave animal could no longer have continued the journey。
At Elamsk； as indeed elsewhere； there existed no means of transport；
for the same reasons as at the previous villages； neither carriages
nor horses were to be had。
Michael Strogoff resigned himself therefore to pass the night at Elamsk；
to give his horse twelve hours' rest。 He recalled the instructions which
had been given to him at Moscowto cross Siberia incognito； to arrive
at Irkutsk； but not to sacrifice success to the rapidity of the journey；
and consequently it was necessary that he should husband the sole means
of transport which remained to him。
On the morrow； Michael Strogoff left Elamsk at the moment when
the first Tartar scouts were signaled ten versts behind upon the road
to the Baraba； and he plunged again into the swampy region。
The road was level； which made it easy； but very tortuous；
and therefore long。 It was impossible； moreover； to leave it；
and to strike a straight line across that impassable network
of pools and bogs。
On the next day； the 1st of August； eighty miles farther；
Michael Strogoff arrived at midday at the town of Spaskoe；
and at two o'clock he halted at Pokrowskoe。 His horse；
jaded since his departure from Elamsk； could not have taken
a single step more。
There Michael Strogoff was again compelled to lose； for necessary rest；
the end of that day and the entire night； but starting again on
the following morning； and still traversing the semi…inundated soil；
on the 2nd of August； at four o'clock in the afternoon； after a stage
of fifty miles he reached Kamsk。
The country had changed。 This little village of Kamsk lies；
like an island； habitable and healthy； in the midst of the
uninhabitable district。 It is situated in the very center
of the Baraba。 The emigration caused by the Tartar invasion had
not yet depopulated this little town of Kamsk。 Its inhabitants
probably fancied themselves safe in the center of the Baraba；
whence at least they thought they would have time to flee
if they were directly menaced。
Michael Strogoff； although exceedingly anxious for news；
could ascertain nothing at this place。 It would have been
rather to him that the Governor would have addressed himself
had he known who the pretended merchant of Irkutsk really was。
Kamsk； in fact； by its very situation seemed to be outside
the Siberian world and the grave events which troubled it。
Besides； Michael Strogoff showed himself little； if at all。
To be unperceived was not now enough for him： he would have
wished to be invisible。 The experience of the past made him
more and more circumspect in the present and the future。
Therefore he secluded himself； and not caring to traverse
the streets of the village； he would not even leave the inn
at which he had halted。
As for his horse； he did not even think of exchanging him for
another animal。 He had become accustomed to this brave creature。
He knew to what extent he could rely upon him。 In buying him at Omsk
he had been lucky； and in taking him to the postmaster the generous
mujik had rendered him a great service。 Besides； if Michael Strogoff
had already become attached to his horse； the horse himself seemed
to become inured； by degrees； to the fatigue of such a journey；
and provided that he got several hours of repose daily； his rider
might hope that he would carry him beyond the invaded provinces。
So； during the evening and night of the 2nd of August； Michael Strogoff
remained confined to his inn； at the entrance of the town； which was
little frequented and out of the way of the importunate and curious。
Exhausted with fatigue； he went to bed after having seen that his horse
lacked nothing； but his sleep was broken。 What he had seen since his
departure from Moscow showed him the importance of his mission。
The rising was an extremely serious one； and the treachery
of Ogareff made it still more formidable。 And when his eyes fell
upon the letter bearing upon it the authority of the imperial seal
the letter which； no doubt； contained the remedy for so many evils；
the safety of all this war…ravaged countryMichael Strogoff felt within
himself a fierce desire to dash on across the steppe； to accomplish
the distance which separated him from Irkutsk as the crow would fly it；
to be an eagle that he might overtop all obstacles； to be a hurricane
that he might sweep through the air at a hundred versts an hour；
and to be at last face to face with the Grand Duke； and to exclaim：
〃Your highness； from his Majesty the Czar！〃
On the next morning at six o'clock； Michael Strogoff started off again。
Thanks to his extreme prudence this part of the journey was signalized
by no incident whatever。 At Oubinsk he gave his horse a whole
night's rest； for he wished on the next day to accomplish the hundred
versts which lie between Oubinsk and Ikoulskoe without halting。
He started therefore at dawn； but unfortunately the Baraba proved
more detestable than ever。
In fact； between Oubinsk and Kamakore the very heavy rains
of some previous weeks were retained by this shallow depression
as in a water…tight bowl。 There was； for a long distance； no break
in the succession of swamps； pools； and lakes。 One of these lakes
large enough to warrant its geographical nomenclatureTchang； Chinese
in name； had to be coasted for more than twenty versts； and this
with the greatest difficulty。 Hence certain delays occurred；
which all the impatience of Michael Strogoff could not avoid。
He had been well advised in not taking a carriage at Kamsk；
for his horse passed places which would have been impracticable
for a conveyance on wheels。
In the evening； at nine o'clock； Michael Strogoff arrived
at Ikoulskoe； and halted there over night。 In this remote
village of the Baraba news of the war was utterly wanting。
From its situation； this part of the province； lying in the fork
formed by the two Tartar columns which had bifurcated；
one upon Omsk and the other upon Tomsk； had hitherto escaped
the horrors of the invasion。
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