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During the ensuing day； the recent passage of a large
body of foot and horse became more and more apparent。
Smoke was seen above the horizon。 The kibitka advanced cautiously。
Several houses in deserted villages still burned； and could not
have been set on fire more than four and twenty hours before。
At last； during the day； on the 8th of September；
the kibitka stopped suddenly。 The horse refused to advance。
Serko barked furiously。
〃What is the matter？〃 asked Michael。
〃A corpse！〃 replied Nicholas； who had leapt out of the kibitka。
The body was that of a moujik； horribly mutilated； and already cold。
Nicholas crossed himself。 Then； aided by Michael； he carried
the body to the side of the road。 He would have liked to give it
decent burial； that the wild beasts of the steppe might not feast
on the miserable remains； but Michael could not allow him the time。
〃Come； friend； come！〃 he exclaimed； 〃we must not delay；
even for an hour！〃 And the kibitka was driven on。
Besides； if Nicholas had wished to render the last duties
to all the dead bodies they were now to meet with on
the Siberian highroad； he would have had enough to do！
As they approached Nijni…Oudinsk； they were found by twenties；
stretched on the ground。
It was； however； necessary to follow this road until it was manifestly
impossible to do so longer without falling into the hands of
the invaders。 The road they were following could not be abandoned；
and yet the signs of devastation and ruin increased at every village
they passed through。 The blood of the victims was not yet dry。
As to gaining information about what had occurred； that was impossible。
There was not a living being left to tell the tale。
About four o'clock in the afternoon of this day； Nicholas caught sight
of the tall steeples of the churches of Nijni…Oudinsk。 Thick vapors；
which could not have been clouds； were floating around them。
Nicholas and Nadia looked； and communicated the result of their
observations to Michael。 They must make up their minds what to do。
If the town was abandoned； they could pass through without risk；
but if； by some inexplicable maneuver； the Tartars occupied it；
they must at every cost avoid the place。
〃Advance cautiously；〃 said Michael Strogoff； 〃but advance！〃
A verst was soon traversed。
〃Those are not clouds； that is smoke！〃 exclaimed Nadia。 〃Brother； they
are burning the town！〃
It was； indeed； only too plain。 Flashes of light appeared in the midst
of the vapor。 It became thicker and thicker as it mounted upwards。
But were they Tartars who had done this？ They might be Russians；
obeying the orders of the Grand Duke。 Had the government of the Czar
determined that from Krasnoiarsk； from the Yenisei； not a town；
not a village should offer a refuge to the Emir's soldiers？
What was Michael to do？
He was undecided。 However； having weighed the pros and cons；
he thought that whatever might be the difficulties of a journey
across the steppe without a beaten path； he ought not to risk
capture a second time by the Tartars。 He was just proposing to
Nicholas to leave the road； when a shot was heard on their right。
A ball whistled； and the horse of the kibitka fell dead；
shot through the head。
A dozen horsemen dashed forward； and the kibitka was surrounded。
Before they knew where they were； Michael； Nadia； and Nicholas
were prisoners； and were being dragged rapidly towards Nijni…Oudinsk。
Michael； in this second attack； had lost none of his presence of mind。
Being unable to see his enemies； he had not thought of defending himself。
Even had he possessed the use of his eyes； he would not have
attempted it。 The consequences would have been his death and that
of his companions。 But； though he could not see； he could listen
and understand what was said。
From their language he found that these soldiers were Tartars；
and from their words； that they preceded the invading army。
In short； what Michael learnt from the talk at the present moment；
as well as from the scraps of conversation he overheard later；
was this。 These men were not under the direct orders of the Emir；
who was now detained beyond the Yenisei。 They made part of a third
column chiefly composed of Tartars from the khanats of Khokland
and Koondooz； with which Feofar's army was to affect a junction
in the neighborhood of Irkutsk。
By Ogareff's advice； in order to assure the success of the invasion
in the Eastern provinces； this column had skirted the base
of the Altai Mountains。 Pillaging and ravaging； it had reached
the upper course of the Yenisei。 There； guessing what had been
done at Krasnoiarsk by order of the Czar； and to facilitate
the passage of the river to the Emir's troops； this column
had launched a flotilla of boats； which would enable Feofar
to cross and r俿um？the road to Irkutsk。 Having done this；
it had descended the valley of the Yenisei and struck the road on
a level with Alsalevsk。 From this little town began the frightful
course of ruin which forms the chief part of Tartar warfare。
Nijni…Oudinsk had shared the common fate； and the Tartars；
to the number of fifty thousand； had now quitted it to take up
a position before Irkutsk。 Before long； they would be reinforced
by the Emir's troops。
Such was the state of affairs at this date； most serious for this
isolated part of Eastern Siberia； and for the comparatively few
defenders of its capital。
It can be imagined with what thoughts Michael's mind was now occupied！
Who could have been astonished had he； in his present situation；
lost all hope and all courage？ Nothing of the sort； however； his lips
muttered no other words than these： 〃I will get there！〃
Half an hour after the attack of the Tartar horsemen；
Michael Strogoff； Nadia； and Nicholas entered Nijni…Oudinsk。 The
faithful dog followed them； though at a distance。
They could not stay in the town； as it was in flames；
and about to be left by the last of the marauders。
The prisoners were therefore thrown on horses and hurried away；
Nicholas resigned as usual； Nadia； her faith in Michael unshaken；
and Michael himself； apparently indifferent； but ready to seize
any opportunity of escaping。
The Tartars were not long in perceiving that one of their
prisoners was blind； and their natural barbarity led them to make
game of their unfortunate victim。 They were traveling fast。
Michael's horse； having no one to guide him； often started aside；
and so made confusion among the ranks。 This drew on his rider
such abuse and brutality as wrung Nadia's heart； and filled Nicholas
with indignation。 But what could they do？ They could not speak
the Tartar language； and their assistance was mercilessly refused。
Soon it occurred to these men； in a refinement of cruelty；
to exchange the horse Michael was riding for one which was blind。
The motive of the change was explained by a remark which
Michael overheard； 〃Perhaps that Russian can see； after all！〃
Michael was placed on this horse； and the reins ironically put
into his hand。 Then； by dint of lashing； throwing stones；
and shouting； the animal was urged into a gallop。
The horse； not being guided by his rider； blind as himself；
sometimes ran into a tree； sometimes went quite off the road
in consequence； collisions and falls； which might have
been extremely dangerous。
Michael did not complain。 Not a murmur escaped him。
When his horse fell； he waited until it got up。
It was； indeed； soon assisted up； and the cruel fun continued。
At sight of this wicked treatment； Nicholas could not
contain himself； he endeavored to go to his friend's aid。
He was prevented； and treated brutally。
This game would have been prolonged； to the Tartars'
great amusement； had not a serious accident put an end to it。
On the 10th of September the blind horse ran away； and made
straight for a pit； some thirty or forty feet deep； at the side
of the road。
Nicholas tried to go after him。 He was held back。
The horse； having no guide； fell with his rider to the bottom。
Nicholas and Nadia uttered a piercing cry！ They believed
that their unfortunate companion had been killed。
However； when they went to his assistance； it was fou