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〃Well； Jolivet； what do you think of Colonel Ivan Ogareff；
general…in…chief of the Tartar troops？〃 asked Blount。
〃I think； my dear friend；〃 replied Alcide； smiling； 〃that the housch…begui
made a very graceful gesture when he gave the order for our heads
to be cut off。〃
Whatever was the motive which led Ogareff to act thus in regard
to the two correspondents； they were free and could rove at their
pleasure over the scene of war。 Their intention was not to leave it。
The sort of antipathy which formerly they had entertained for each
other had given place to a sincere friendship。 Circumstances having
brought them together； they no longer thought of separating。
The petty questions of rivalry were forever extinguished。
Harry Blount could never forget what he owed his companion；
who； on the other hand； never tried to remind him of it。
This friendship too assisted the reporting operations； and was
thus to the advantage of their readers。
〃And now；〃 asked Blount； 〃what shall we do with our liberty？〃
〃Take advantage of it； of course；〃 replied Alcide； 〃and go quietly
to Tomsk to see what is going on there。〃
〃Until the timevery near； I hopewhen we may rejoin
some Russian regiment？〃
〃As you say； my dear Blount； it won't do to Tartarise ourselves
too much。 The best side is that of the most civilized army；
and it is evident that the people of Central Asia will have
everything to lose and absolutely nothing to gain from
this invasion； while the Russians will soon repulse them。
It is only a matter of time。〃
The arrival of Ivan Ogareff； which had given Jolivet and Blount their
liberty； was to Michael Strogoff； on the contrary； a serious danger。
Should chance bring the Czar's courier into Ogareff's presence； the latter
could not fail to recognize in him the traveler whom he had so brutally
treated at the Ichim post…house； and although Michael had not replied
to the insult as he would have done under any other circumstances；
attention would be drawn to him； and at once the accomplishment of his
plans would be rendered more difficult。
This was the unpleasant side of the business。 A favorable
result of his arrival； however； was the order which was given
to raise the camp that very day； and remove the headquarters
to Tomsk。 This was the accomplishment of Michael's most
fervent desire。 His intention； as has been said； was to reach
Tomsk concealed amongst the other prisoners； that is to say；
without any risk of falling into the hands of the scouts
who swarmed about the approaches to this important town。
However； in consequence of the arrival of Ivan Ogareff；
he questioned whether it would not be better to give up his
first plan and attempt to escape during the journey。
Michael would； no doubt； have kept to the latter plan had he not learnt
that Feofar…Khan and Ogareff had already set out for the town with
some thousands of horsemen。 〃I will wait； then；〃 said he to himself；
〃at least； unless some exceptional opportunity for escape occurs。
The adverse chances are numerous on this side of Tomsk； while beyond
I shall in a few hours have passed the most advanced Tartar posts
to the east。 Still three days of patience； and may God aid me！〃
It was indeed a journey of three days which the prisoners； under the guard
of a numerous detachment of Tartars； were to make across the steppe。
A hundred and fifty versts lay between the camp and the town
an easy march for the Emir's soldiers； who wanted for nothing；
but a wretched journey for these people； enfeebled by privations。
More than one corpse would show the road they had traversed。
It was two o'clock in the afternoon； on the 12th of August；
under a hot sun and cloudless sky； that the toptschi…baschi
gave the order to start。
Alcide and Blount； having bought horses； had already taken the road
to Tomsk； where events were to reunite the principal personages
of this story。
Amongst the prisoners brought by Ivan Ogareff to the Tartar camp
was an old woman； whose taciturnity seemed to keep her apart from
all those who shared her fate。 Not a murmur issued from her lips。
She was like a statue of grief。 This woman was more strictly
guarded than anyone else； and； without her appearing to notice；
was constantly watched by the Tsigane Sangarre。 Notwithstanding her
age she was compelled to follow the convoy of prisoners on foot；
without any alleviation of her suffering。
However； a kind Providence had placed near her a courageous；
kind…hearted being to comfort and assist her。 Amongst her companions
in misfortune a young girl； remarkable for beauty and taciturnity；
seemed to have given herself the task of watching over her。
No words had been exchanged between the two captives； but the girl
was always at the old woman's side when help was useful。
At first the mute assistance of the stranger was accepted with
some mistrust。 Gradually； however； the young girl's clear glance；
her reserve； and the mysterious sympathy which draws together
those who are in misfortune； thawed Marfa Strogoff's coldness。
Nadiafor it was shewas thus able； without knowing it； to render
to the mother those attentions which she had herself received
from the son。 Her instinctive kindness had doubly inspired her。
In devoting herself to her service； Nadia secured to her youth
and beauty the protection afforded by the age of the old prisoner。
On the crowd of unhappy people； embittered by sufferings；
this silent pairone seeming to be the grandmother； the other
the grand…daughterimposed a sort of respect。
After being carried off by the Tartar scouts on the Irtych； Nadia had been
taken to Omsk。 Kept prisoner in the town； she shared the fate of all
those captured by Ivan Ogareff； and consequently that of Marfa Strogoff。
If Nadia had been less energetic； she would have succumbed to this
double blow。 The interruption to her journey； the death of Michael；
made her both desperate and excited。 Divided； perhaps forever；
from her father； after so many happy efforts had brought her
near him； and； to crown her grief； separated from the intrepid
companion whom God seemed to have placed in her way to lead her。
The image of Michael Strogoff； struck before her eyes with
a lance and disappearing beneath the waters of the Irtych；
never left her thoughts。
Could such a man have died thus？ For whom was God reserving His
miracles if this good man； whom a noble object was urging onwards；
had been allowed to perish so miserably？ Then anger would
prevail over grief。 The scene of the affront so strangely borne
by her companion at the Ichim relay returned to her memory。
Her blood boiled at the recollection。
〃Who will avenge him who can no longer avenge himself？〃 she said。
And in her heart； she cried； 〃May it be I！〃 If before his death
Michael had confided his secret to her； woman； aye girl though
she was； she might have been able to carry to a successful
conclusion the interrupted task of that brother whom God had
so soon taken from her。
Absorbed in these thoughts； it can be understood how Nadia
could remain insensible to the miseries even of her captivity。
Thus chance had united her to Marfa Strogoff without her having
the least suspicion of who she was。 How could she imagine that
this old woman； a prisoner like herself； was the mother of him；
whom she only knew as the merchant Nicholas Korpanoff？ And on
the other hand； how could Marfa guess that a bond of gratitude
connected this young stranger with her son？
The thing that first struck Nadia in Marfa Strogoff was
the similarity in the way in which each bore her hard fate。
This stoicism of the old woman under the daily hardships；
this contempt of bodily suffering； could only be caused by a moral
grief equal to her own。 So Nadia thought； and she was not mistaken。
It was an instinctive sympathy for that part of her misery
which Marfa did not show which first drew Nadia towards her。
This way of bearing her sorrow went to the proud heart of
the young girl。 She did not offer her services； she gave them。
Marfa had neither to refuse nor accept them。 In the difficult
parts of the journey； the girl was there to support her。
When the provisions were given