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followed by a brilliant escort of Usbeck horsemen； moved to the front
of the camp to receive Ivan Ogareff。 Arrived in his presence；
they paid him the greatest respect； and invited him to accompany them
to Feofar…Khan's tent。
Imperturbable as usual； Ogareff replied coldly to the deference paid
to him。 He was plainly dressed； but； from a sort of impudent bravado；
he still wore the uniform of a Russian officer。
As he was about to enter the camp； Sangarre； passing among
the officers approached and remained motionless before him。
〃Nothing？〃 asked Ogareff。
〃Nothing。〃
〃Have patience。〃
〃Is the time approaching when you will force the old woman to speak？〃
〃It is approaching； Sangarre。〃
〃When will the old woman speak？〃
〃When we reach Tomsk。〃
〃And we shall be there〃
〃In three days。〃
A strange gleam shot from Sangarre's great black eyes； and she
retired with a calm step。 Ogareff pressed his spurs into his
horse's flanks； and； followed by his staff of Tartar officers；
rode towards the Emir's tent。
Feofar…Khan was expecting his lieutenant。 The council；
composed of the bearer of the royal seal； the khodja；
and some high officers； had taken their places in the tent。
Ivan Ogareff dismounted and entered。
Feofar…Khan was a man of forty； tall； rather pale； of a fierce
countenance； and evil eyes。 A curly black beard flowed over his chest。
With his war costume； coat of mail of gold and silver； cross…belt and
scabbard glistening with precious stones； boots with golden spurs；
helmet ornamented with an aigrette of brilliant diamonds； Feofar presented
an aspect rather strange than imposing for a Tartar Sardana…palus；
an undisputed sovereign； who directs at his pleasure the life and fortune
of his subjects。
When Ivan Ogareff appeared； the great dignitaries remained seated
on their gold…embroidered cushions； but Feofar rose from a rich
divan which occupied the back part of the tent； the ground being
hidden under the thick velvet…pile of a Bokharian carpet。
The Emir approached Ogareff and gave him a kiss； the meaning of which
he could not mistake。 This kiss made the lieutenant chief of the council；
and placed him temporarily above the khodja。
Then Feofar spoke。 〃I have no need to question you；〃 said he；
〃speak； Ivan。 You will find here ears very ready to listen to you。〃
〃Takhsir；〃 answered Ogareff； 〃this is what I have to make
known to you。〃 He spoke in the Tartar language； giving to his
phrases the emphatic turn which distinguishes the languages of
the Orientals。 〃Takhsir； this is not the time for unnecessary words。
What I have done at the head of your troops； you know。
The lines of the Ichim and the Irtych are now in our power； and the
Turcoman horsemen can bathe their horses in the now Tartar waters。
The Kirghiz hordes rose at the voice of Feofar…Khan。 You can
now push your troops towards the east； and where the sun rises；
or towards the west； where he sets。〃
〃And if I march with the sun？〃 asked the Emir； without his countenance
betraying any of his thoughts。
〃To march with the sun；〃 answered Ogareff； 〃is to throw yourself
towards Europe； it is to conquer rapidly the Siberian provinces
of Tobolsk as far as the Ural Mountains。〃
〃And if I go to meet this luminary of the heavens？〃
〃It is to subdue to the Tartar dominion； with Irkutsk； the richest
countries of Central Asia。〃
〃But the armies of the Sultan of St。 Petersburg？〃 said Feofar…Khan；
designating the Emperor of Russia by this strange title。
〃You have nothing to fear from them；〃 replied Ivan Ogareff。
〃The invasion has been sudden； and before the Russian army can
succor them； Irkutsk or Tobolsk will have fallen into your power。
The Czar's troops have been overwhelmed at Kolyvan； as they
will be everywhere where yours meet them。〃
〃And what advice does your devotion to the Tartar cause suggest？〃
asked the Emir； after a few moments' silence。
〃My advice；〃 answered Ivan Ogareff quickly； 〃is to march to meet the sun。
It is to give the grass of the eastern steppes to the Turcoman horses
to consume。 It is to take Irkutsk； the capital of the eastern provinces；
and with it a hostage； the possession of whom is worth a whole country。
In the place of the Czar； the Grand Duke his brother must fall
into your hands。〃
This was the great result aimed at by Ivan Ogareff。 To listen
to him； one would have taken him for one of the cruel
descendants of Stephan Razine； the celebrated pirate
who ravaged Southern Russia in the eighteenth century。
To seize the Grand Duke； murder him pitilessly； would fully
satisfy his hatred。 Besides； with the capture of Irkutsk；
all Eastern Siberia would pass to the Tartars。
〃It shall be thus； Ivan；〃 replied Feofar。
〃What are your orders； Takhsir？〃
〃To…day our headquarters shall be removed to Tomsk。〃
Ogareff bowed； and； followed by the housch…begui； he retired
to execute the Emir's orders。
As he was about to mount his horse； to return to the outposts；
a tumult broke out at some distance； in the part of the camp reserved
for the prisoners。 Shouts were heard； and two or three shots fired。
Perhaps it was an attempt at revolt or escape； which must
be summarily suppressed。
Ivan Ogareff and the housch…begui walked forward and almost
immediately two men； whom the soldiers had not been able to keep
back appeared before them。
The housch…begui； without more information； made a sign which
was an order for death； and the heads of the two prisoners
would have rolled on the ground had not Ogareff uttered
a few words which arrested the sword already raised aloft。
The Russian had perceived that these prisoners were strangers；
and he ordered them to be brought to him。
They were Harry Blount and Alcide jolivet。
On Ogareff's arrival in the camp； they had demanded to be
conducted to his presence。 The soldiers had refused。
In consequence； a struggle； an attempt at flight； shots fired
which happily missed the two correspondents； but their execution
would not have been long delayed； if it had not been for
the intervention of the Emir's lieutenant。
The latter observed the prisoners for some moments； they being absolutely
unknown to him。 They had been present at that scene in the post…house
at Ichim； in which Michael Strogoff had been struck by Ogareff；
but the brutal traveler had paid no attention to the persons then
collected in the common room。
Blount and Jolivet； on the contrary； recognized him at once；
and the latter said in a low voice； 〃Hullo！ It seems that Colonel Ogareff
and the rude personage of Ichim are one！〃 Then he added in his
companion's ear； 〃Explain our affair； Blount。 You will do me a service。
This Russian colonel in the midst of a Tartar camp disgusts me；
and although； thanks to him； my head is still on my shoulders；
my eyes would exhibit my feelings were I to attempt to look him
in the face。〃
So saying； Alcide Jolivet assumed a look of complete
and haughty indifference。
Whether or not Ivan Ogareff perceived that the prisoner's
attitude was insulting towards him； he did not let it appear。
〃Who are you； gentlemen？〃 he asked in Russian； in a cold tone；
but free from its usual rudeness。
〃Two correspondents of English and French newspapers；〃
replied Blount laconically。
〃You have； doubtless； papers which will establish your identity？〃
〃Here are letters which accredit us in Russia； from the English
and French chancellor's office。〃
Ivan Ogareff took the letters which Blount held out； and read
them attentively。 〃You ask；〃 said he； 〃authorization to follow
our military operations in Siberia？〃
〃We ask to be free； that is all；〃 answered the English
correspondent dryly。
〃You are so； gentlemen；〃 answered Ogareff； 〃I am curious to read
your articles in the Daily Telegraph。〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Blount； with the most imperturbable coolness；
〃it is sixpence a number； including postage。〃 And thereupon
he returned to his companion； who appeared to approve completely
of his replies。
Ivan Ogareff； without frowning； mounted his horse； and going to the head
of his escort； soon disappeared in a cloud of dust。
〃Well； Jolivet； what do you think of Colonel Ivan Ogareff；
general…