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the river。 Beyond rise the high hills of the Eastern shore；
crowned with forests； whose tops were then empurpled with light。
The Yenisei stretched on either side as far as the eye could reach。
The beautiful panorama lay before them for a distance of fifty versts。
But not a boat was to be seen。 All had been taken away or destroyed；
according to order。 Unless the Tartars should bring with them materials
for building a bridge of boats； their march towards Irkutsk would
certainly be stopped for some time by this barrier； the Yenisei。
〃I remember；〃 said Michael； 〃that higher up； on the outskirts
of Krasnoiarsk； there is a little quay。 There the boats touch。
Friend； let us go up the river； and see if some boat has not been
forgotten on the bank。〃
Nadia seized Michael's hand and started off at a rapid pace in
the direction indicated。 If only a boat or a barge large enough
to hold the kibitka could be found； or even one that would carry
just themselves； Michael would not hesitate to attempt the passage！
Twenty minutes after； all three had reached the little quay；
with houses on each side quite down to the water's edge。
It was like a village standing beyond the town of Krasnoiarsk。
But not a boat was on the shore； not a barge at the little wharf；
nothing even of which a raft could be made large enough to carry
three people。 Michael questioned Nicholas； who made the discouraging
reply that the crossing appeared to him absolutely impracticable。
〃We shall cross！〃 answered Michael。
The search was continued。 They examined the houses on the shore；
abandoned like all the rest of Krasnoiarsk。 They had merely to push open
the doors and enter。 The cottages were evidently those of poor people；
and quite empty。 Nicholas visited one； Nadia entered another；
and even Michael went here and there and felt about； hoping to light
upon some article that might be useful。
Nicholas and the girl had each fruitlessly rummaged these cottages
and were about to give up the search； when they heard themselves called。
Both ran to the bank and saw Michael standing on the threshold of a door。
〃Come！〃 he exclaimed。 Nicholas and Nadia went towards him and followed
him into the cottage。
〃What are these？〃 asked Michael； touching several objects piled
up in a corner。
〃They are leathern bottles；〃 answered Nicholas。
〃Are they full？〃
〃Yes； full of koumyss。 We have found them very opportunely
to renew our provisions！〃
〃Koumyss〃 is a drink made of mare's or camel's milk； and is
very sustaining； and even intoxicating； so that Nicholas and his
companions could not but congratulate themselves on the discovery。
〃Save one；〃 said Michael； 〃but empty the others。〃
〃Directly； little father。〃
〃These will help us to cross the Yenisei。〃
〃And the raft？〃
〃Will be the kibitka itself； which is light enough to float。
Besides； we will sustain it； as well as the horse； with these bottles。〃
〃Well thought of； little father；〃 exclaimed Nicholas； 〃and by God's help
we will get safely over 。 。 。 though perhaps not in a straight line；
for the current is very rapid！〃
〃What does that matter？〃 replied Michael。 〃Let us get across first；
and we shall soon find out the road to Irkutsk on the other side
of the river。〃
〃To work； then；〃 said Nicholas； beginning to empty the bottles。
One full of koumyss was reserved； and the rest； with the air carefully
fastened in； were used to form a floating apparatus。 Two bottles
were fastened to the horse's sides to support it in the water。
Two others were attached to the shafts to keep them on a level
with the body of the machine； thus transformed into a raft。
This work was soon finished。
〃You will not be afraid； Nadia？〃 asked Michael。
〃No； brother；〃 answered the girl。
〃And you； friend？〃
〃I？〃 cried Nicholas。 〃I am now going to have one of my dreams realized
that of sailing in a cart。〃
At the spot where they were now standing； the bank sloped；
and was suitable for the launching of the kibitka。
The horse drew it into the water； and they were soon both floating。
As to Serko； he was swimming bravely。
The three passengers； seated in the vehicle； had with due
precaution taken off their shoes and stockings； but； thanks to
the bottles； the water did not even come over their ankles。
Michael held the reins； and； according to Nicholas's directions；
guided the animal obliquely； but cautiously； so as not to exhaust
him by struggling against the current。 So long as the kibitka
went with the current all was easy； and in a few minutes it
had passed the quays of Krasnoiarsk。 It drifted northwards；
and it was soon evident that it would only reach the opposite
bank far below the town。 But that mattered little。
The crossing would have been made without great difficulty；
even on this imperfect apparatus； had the current been regular；
but； unfortunately； there were whirlpools in numbers；
and soon the kibitka； notwithstanding all Michael's efforts；
was irresistibly drawn into one of these。
There the danger was great。 The kibitka no longer drifted；
but spun rapidly round； inclining towards the center of the eddy；
like a rider in a circus。 The horse could scarcely keep his
head above water； and ran a great risk of being suffocated。
Serko had been obliged to take refuge in the carriage。
Michael knew what was happening。 He felt himself drawn round
in a gradually narrowing line； from which they could not get free。
How he longed to see； to be better able to avoid this peril；
but that was no longer possible。 Nadia was silent； her hands
clinging to the sides of the cart； which was inclining more
and more towards the center of depression。
And Nicholas； did he not understand the gravity of the situation？
Was it with him phlegm or contempt of danger； courage or indifference？
Was his life valueless in his eyes； and； according to the Eastern
expression； 〃an hotel for five days；〃 which； whether one is willing
or not； must be left the sixth？ At any rate； the smile on his rosy
face never faded for an instant。
The kibitka was thus in the whirlpool； and the horse was
nearly exhausted； when； all at once； Michael； throwing off
such of his garments as might impede him； jumped into the water；
then； seizing with a strong hand the bridle of the terrified horse；
he gave him such an impulse that he managed to struggle out
of the circle； and getting again into the current； the kibitka
drifted along anew。
〃Hurrah！〃 exclaimed Nicholas。
Two hours after leaving the wharf； the kibitka had crossed the widest
arm of the river； and had landed on an island more than six versts
below the starting point。
There the horse drew the cart onto the bank； and an hour's rest
was given to the courageous animal； then the island having been
crossed under the shade of its magnificent birches； the kibitka
found itself on the shore of the smaller arm of the Yenisei。
This passage was much easier； no whirlpools broke the course
of the river in this second bed； but the current was so rapid
that the kibitka only reached the opposite side five versts below。
They had drifted eleven versts in all。
These great Siberian rivers across which no bridges have
as yet been thrown； are serious obstacles to the facility
of communication。 All had been more or less unfortunate
to Michael Strogoff。 On the Irtych； the boat which carried
him and Nadia had been attacked by Tartars。 On the Obi；
after his horse had been struck by a bullet； he had only by
a miracle escaped from the horsemen who were pursuing him。
In fact； this passage of the Yenisei had been performed
the least disastrously。
〃That would not have been so amusing；〃 exclaimed Nicholas；
rubbing his hands； as they disembarked on the right bank of the river；
〃if it had not been so difficult。〃
〃That which has only been difficult to us； friend；〃
answered Michael Strogoff； 〃will； perhaps； be impossible
to the Tartars。〃
CHAPTER VIII A HARE CROSSES THE ROAD
MICHAEL STROGOFF might at last hope that the road to Irkutsk
was clear。 He had distanced the Tartars； now detained at Tomsk；
and when the Emir's soldiers should arrive at Krasnoiarsk they
would find only a deserted town。