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！
protected him against the soldiers because he well knew what would
happen by reserving him for the justice of the Emir。
The mother and son had not been able to speak together since
the terrible scene in the camp at Zabediero。 They had been
pitilessly kept aparta bitter aggravation of their misery；
for it would have been some consolation to have been together
during these days of captivity。 Marfa longed to ask her son's
pardon for the harm she had unintentionally done him； for she
reproached herself with not having commanded her maternal feelings。
If she had restrained herself in that post…house at Omsk；
when she found herself face to face with him； Michael would
have passed unrecognized； and all these misfortunes would
have been avoided。
Michael； on his side； thought that if his mother was there；
if Ogareff had brought her with him； it was to make her suffer
with the sight of his own punishment； or perhaps some frightful
death was reserved for her also。
As to Nadia； she only asked herself how she could save
them both； how come to the aid of son and mother。
As yet she could only wonder； but she felt instinctively that she
must above everything avoid drawing attention upon herself；
that she must conceal herself； make herself insignificant。
Perhaps she might at least gnaw through the meshes which
imprisoned the lion。 At any rate if any opportunity was given
her she would seize upon it； and sacrifice herself； if need be；
for the son of Marfa Strogoff。
In the meantime the greater part of the prisoners were passing before
the Emir； and as they passed each was obliged to prostrate himself；
with his forehead in the dust； in token of servitude。 Slavery begins
by humiliation。 When the unfortunate people were too slow in bending；
the rough guards threw them violently to the ground。
Alcide Jolivet and his companion could not witness such a sight
without feeling indignant。
〃It is cowardlylet us go；〃 said Alcide。
〃No；〃 answered Blount； 〃we must see it all。〃
〃See it all！ah！〃 cried Alcide； suddenly； grasping his companion's arm。
〃What is the matter with you？〃 asked the latter。
〃Look； Blount； it is she！〃
〃What she？〃
〃The sister of our traveling companionalone； and a prisoner！
We must save her。〃
〃Calm yourself；〃 replied Blount coolly。 〃Any interference on our part
in behalf of the young girl would be worse than useless。〃
Alcide Jolivet； who had been about to rush forward； stopped； and Nadia
who had not perceived them； her features being half hidden by her hair
passed in her turn before the Emir without attracting his attention。
However； after Nadia came Marfa Strogoff； and as she did not throw
herself quickly in the dust； the guards brutally pushed her。
She fell。
Her son struggled so violently that the soldiers who were guarding
him could scarcely hold him back。 But the old woman rose；
and they were about to drag her on； when Ogareff interposed；
saying； 〃Let that woman stay！〃
As to Nadia； she happily regained the crowd of prisoners。
Ivan Ogareff had taken no notice of her。
Michael was then led before the Emir； and there he remained standing；
without casting down his eyes。
〃Your forehead to the ground！〃 cried Ogareff。
〃No！〃 answered Michael。
Two soldiers endeavored to make him bend； but they were themselves
laid on the ground by a buffet from the young man's fist。
Ogareff approached Michael。 〃You shall die！〃 he said。
〃I can die；〃 answered Michael fiercely； 〃but your traitor's face； Ivan；
will not the less carry forever the infamous brand of the knout。〃
At this reply Ivan Ogareff became perfectly livid。
〃Who is this prisoner？〃 asked the Emir； in a tone of voice terrible
from its very calmness。
〃A Russian spy；〃 answered Ogareff。 In asserting that Michael was a spy
he knew that the sentence pronounced against him would be terrible。
The Emir made a sign at which all the crowd bent low their heads。
Then he pointed with his hand to the Koran； which was brought him。
He opened the sacred book and placed his finger on one of its pages。
It was chance； or rather； according to the ideas of
these Orientals； God Himself who was about to decide the fate
of Michael Strogoff。 The people of Central Asia give the name
of 〃fal〃 to this practice。 After having interpreted the sense
of the verse touched by the judge's finger； they apply the sentence
whatever it may be。
The Emir had let his finger rest on the page of the Koran。 The chief
of the Ulemas then approached； and read in a loud voice a verse
which ended with these words； 〃And he will no more see the things
of this earth。〃
〃Russian spy！〃 exclaimed Feofar…Kahn in a voice trembling with fury；
〃you have come to see what is going on in the Tartar camp。
Then look while you may。〃
CHAPTER V 〃LOOK WHILE YOU MAY！〃
MICHAEL was held before the Emir's throne； at the foot
of the terrace； his hands bound behind his back。
His mother overcome at last by mental and physical torture；
had sunk to the ground； daring neither to look nor listen。
〃Look while you may；〃 exclaimed Feofar…Kahn； stretching his arm
towards Michael in a threatening manner。 Doubtless Ivan Ogareff；
being well acquainted with Tartar customs； had taken in the full meaning
of these words； for his lips curled for an instant in a cruel smile；
he then took his place by Feofar…Khan。
A trumpet call was heard。 This was the signal for the amusements
to begin。 〃Here comes the ballet；〃 said Alcide to Blount；
〃but； contrary to our customs； these barbarians give it
before the drama。〃
Michael had been commanded to look at everything。 He looked。
A troop of dancers poured into the open space before the Emir's tent。
Different Tartar instruments； the 〃doutare；〃 a long…handled guitar；
the 〃kobize；〃 a kind of violoncello； the 〃tschibyzga；〃 a long
reed flute； wind instruments； tom…toms； tambourines； united with
the deep voices of the singers； formed a strange harmony。
Added to this were the strains of an aerial orchestra； composed of
a dozen kites； which； fastened by strings to their centers；
resounded in the breeze like AEolian harps。
Then the dancers began。 The performers were all of Persian origin；
they were no longer slaves； but exercised their profession at liberty。
Formerly they figured officially in the ceremonies at the court
of Teheran； but since the accession of the reigning family；
banished or treated with contempt； they had been compelled to seek
their fortune elsewhere。 They wore the national costume； and were
adorned with a profusion of jewels。 Little triangles of gold；
studded with jewels； glittered in their ears。 Circles of silver；
marked with black； surrounded their necks and legs。
These performers gracefully executed various dances； sometimes alone；
sometimes in groups。 Their faces were uncovered； but from time
to time they threw a light veil over their heads； and a gauze
cloud passed over their bright eyes as smoke over a starry sky。
Some of these Persians wore leathern belts embroidered
with pearls； from which hung little triangular bags。
From these bags； embroidered with golden filigree； they drew
long narrow bands of scarlet silk； on which were braided verses
of the Koran。 These bands； which they held between them；
formed a belt under which the other dancers darted； and； as they
passed each verse； following the precept it contained； they either
prostrated themselves on the earth or lightly bounded upwards；
as though to take a place among the houris of Mohammed's heaven。
But what was remarkable； and what struck Alcide；
was that the Persians appeared rather indolent than fiery。
Their passion had deserted them； and； by the kind of dances
as well as by their execution； they recalled rather the calm
and self…possessed nauch girls of India than the impassioned
dancers of Egypt。
When this was over； a stern voice was heard saying：
〃Look while you may！〃
The man who repeated the Emir's wordsa tall spare Tartar
was he who carried out the sentences of Feofar…Khan against offenders。
He had taken his place behind Michael； holding in his hand a broad
curved saber； one of those Damascene blades which are forged
by the celebrated armorers o