按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
But the natural obstacles were now about to disappear； for； if he
experienced no delay； Michael Strogoff should on the morrow be free
of the Baraba and arrive at Kolyvan。 There he would be within
eighty miles of Tomsk。 He would then be guided by circumstances；
and very probably he would decide to go around Tomsk； which； if the news
were true； was occupied by Feofar…Khan。
But if the small towns of Ikoulskoe and Karguinsk； which he
passed on the next day； were comparatively quiet； owing to
their position in the Baraba； was it not to be dreaded that；
upon the right banks of the Obi； Michael Strogoff would have much
more to fear from man？ It was probable。 However； should it
become necessary； he would not hesitate to abandon the beaten
path to Irkutsk。 To journey then across the steppe he would；
no doubt； run the risk of finding himself without supplies。
There would be； in fact； no longer a well…marked road。
Still； there must be no hesitation。
Finally； towards half past three in the afternoon； Michael Strogoff
left the last depressions of the Baraba； and the dry and hard soil
of Siberia rang out once more beneath his horse's hoofs。
He had left Moscow on the 15th of July。 Therefore on this day；
the 5th of August； including more than seventy hours lost on the banks
of the Irtych； twenty days had gone by since his departure。
One thousand miles still separated him from Irkutsk。
CHAPTER XVI A FINAL EFFORT
MICHAEL'S fear of meeting the Tartars in the plains beyond
the Baraba was by no means ungrounded。 The fields； trodden down
by horses' hoofs； afforded but too clear evidence that their
hordes had passed that way； the same； indeed； might be said
of these barbarians as of the Turks： 〃Where the Turk goes；
no grass grows。〃
Michael saw at once that in traversing this country the greatest
caution was necessary。 Wreaths of smoke curling upwards on
the horizon showed that huts and hamlets were still burning。
Had these been fired by the advance guard； or had the Emir's
army already advanced beyond the boundaries of the province？
Was Feofar…Khan himself in the government of Yeniseisk？ Michael could
settle on no line of action until these questions were answered。
Was the country so deserted that he could not discover a single
Siberian to enlighten him？
Michael rode on for two versts without meeting a human being。
He looked carefully for some house which had not been deserted。
Every one was tenantless。
One hut； however； which he could just see between the trees；
was still smoking。 As he approached he perceived； at some yards from
the ruins of the building； an old man surrounded by weeping children。
A woman still young； evidently his daughter and the mother of
the poor children； kneeling on the ground； was gazing on the scene
of desolation。 She had at her breast a baby but a few months old；
shortly she would have not even that nourishment to give it。
Ruin and desolation were all around！
Michael approached the old man。
〃Will you answer me a few questions？〃 he asked。
〃Speak；〃 replied the old man。
〃Have the Tartars passed this way？〃
〃Yes； for my house is in flames。〃
〃Was it an army or a detachment？〃
〃An army； for； as far as eye can reach； our fields are laid waste。〃
〃Commanded by the Emir？〃
〃By the Emir； for the Obi's waters are red。〃
〃Has Feofar…Khan entered Tomsk？〃
〃He has。〃
〃Do you know if his men have entered Kolyvan？〃
〃No； for Kolyvan does not yet burn。〃
〃Thanks； friend。 Can I aid you and yours？〃
〃No。〃
〃Good…by。〃
〃Farewell。〃
And Michael； having presented five and twenty roubles to
the unfortunate woman； who had not even strength to thank him；
put spurs to his horse once more。
One thing he knew； he must not pass through Tomsk。 To go to Kolyvan；
which the Tartars had not yet reached； was possible。 Yes； that is
what he must do； there he must prepare himself for another long stage。
There was nothing for it but； having crossed the Obi； to take the Irkutsk
road and avoid Tomsk。
This new route decided on； Michael must not delay an instant。
Nor did he； but； putting his horse into a steady gallop； he took the road
towards the left bank of the Obi； which was still forty versts distant。
Would there be a ferry boat there； or should he； finding that the Tartars
had destroyed all the boats； be obliged to swim across？
As to his horse； it was by this time pretty well worn out； and Michael
intended to make it perform this stage only； and then to exchange it
for a fresh one at Kolyvan。 Kolyvan would be like a fresh starting point；
for on leaving that town his journey would take a new form。
So long as he traversed a devastated country the difficulties must
be very great； but if； having avoided Tomsk； he could r俿um？the road
to Irkutsk across the province of Yeniseisk； which was not yet laid waste；
he would finish his journey in a few days。
Night came on； bringing with it refreshing coolness after the heat
of the day。 At midnight the steppe was profoundly dark。
The sound of the horses's hoofs alone was heard on the road； except when；
every now and then； its master spoke a few encouraging words。
In such darkness as this great care was necessary lest he should
leave the road； bordered by pools and streams； tributaries of
the Obi。 Michael therefore advanced as quickly as was consistent
with safety。 He trusted no less to the excellence of his eyes；
which penetrated the gloom； than to the well…proved sagacity
of his horse。
Just as Michael dismounted to discover the exact direction of the road；
he heard a confused murmuring sound from the west。 It was like
the noise of horses' hoofs at some distance on the parched ground。
Michael listened attentively； putting his ear to the ground。
〃It is a detachment of cavalry coming by the road from Omsk；〃
he said to himself。 〃They are marching very quickly；
for the noise is increasing。 Are they Russians or Tartars？〃
Michael again listened。 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃they are at a sharp trot。
My horse cannot outstrip them。 If they are Russians I will join them；
if Tartars I must avoid them。 But how？ Where can I hide in this steppe？〃
He gave a look around； and； through the darkness； discovered a
confused mass at a hundred paces before him on the left of the road。
〃There is a copse！〃 he exclaimed。 〃To take refuge there is
to run the risk of being caught； if they are in search of me；
but I have no choice。〃
In a few moments Michael； dragging his horse by the bridle；
reached a little larch wood； through which the road lay。
Beyond this it was destitute of trees； and wound among bogs
and pools； separated by dwarfed bushes； whins； and heather。
The ground on either side was quite impracticable；
and the detachment must necessarily pass through the wood。
They were pursuing the high road to Irkutsk。 Plunging in about
forty feet； he was stopped by a stream running under the brushwood。
But the shadow was so deep that Michael ran no risk of
being seen； unless the wood should be carefully searched。
He therefore led his horse to the stream and fastened him to a tree；
returning to the edge of the road to listen and ascertain
with what sort of people he had to do。
Michael had scarcely taken up his position behind a group of larches
when a confused light appeared； above which glared brighter lights
waving about in the shadow。
〃Torches！〃 said he to himself。 And he drew quickly back；
gliding like a savage into the thickest underwood。
As they approached the wood the horses' pace was slackened。
The horsemen were probably lighting up the road with the intention
of examining every turn。
Michael feared this； and instinctively drew near to the bank
of the stream； ready to plunge in if necessary。
Arrived at the top of the wood； the detachment halted。
The horsemen dismounted。 There were about fifty。
A dozen of them carried torches； lighting up the road。
By watching their preparations Michael found to his joy
that the detachment were not thinking of visiting the copse；
but only bivouac