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foothold on a near piece of ice； managed to shove the raft towards
the right bank； by doing which a distance of from three to four
hundred feet divided it from the flames of Poshkavsk。
Nevertheless； the fugitives； lighted every now and then by the glare；
would have been undoubtedly perceived had not the incendiaries been
too much occupied in their work of destruction。
It may be imagined what were the apprehensions of Jolivet and Blount；
when they thought of the combustible liquid on which the raft floated。
Sparks flew in millions from the houses； which resembled so many
glowing furnaces。 They rose among the volumes of smoke to a height of
five or six hundred feet。 On the right bank； the trees and cliffs exposed
to the fire looked as if they likewise were burning。 A spark falling
on the surface of the Angara would be sufficient to spread the flames
along the current； and to carry disaster from one bank to the other。
The result of this would be in a short time the destruction of the raft
and of all those which it carried。
But； happily； the breeze did not blow from that side。
It came from the east； and drove the flames towards the left。
It was just possible that the fugitives would escape this danger。
The blazing town was at last passed。 Little by little the glare
grew dimmer； the crackling became fainter； and the flames at
last disappeared behind the high cliffs which arose at an abrupt
turn of the river。
By this time it was nearly midnight。 The deep gloom again threw its
protecting shadows over the raft。 The Tartars were there； going to and
fro near the river。 They could not be seen； but they could be heard。
The fires of the outposts burned brightly。
In the meantime it had become necessary to steer more
carefully among the blocks of ice。 The old boatman stood up；
and the moujiks resumed their poles。 They had plenty of work；
the management of the raft becoming more and more difficult
as the river was further obstructed。
Michael had crept forward； Jolivet followed； both listened
to what the old boatman and his men were saying。
〃Look out on the right！〃
〃There are blocks drifting on to us on the left！〃
〃Fend！ fend off with your boat…hook！〃
〃Before an hour is past we shall be stopped！〃
〃If it is God's will！〃 answered the old man。 〃Against His will there
is nothing to be done。〃
〃You hear them；〃 said Alcide。
〃Yes；〃 replied Michael； 〃but God is with us！〃
The situation became more and more serious。 Should the raft
be stopped； not only would the fugitives not reach Irkutsk；
but they would be obliged to leave their floating platform；
for it would be very soon smashed to pieces in the ice。
The osier ropes would break； the fir trunks torn asunder would
drift under the hard crust； and the unhappy people would have
no refuge but the ice blocks themselves。 Then； when day came；
they would be seen by the Tartars； and massacred without mercy！
Michael returned to the spot where Nadia was waiting for him。
He approached the girl； took her hand； and put to her
the invariable question： 〃Nadia； are you ready？〃 to which she
replied as usual； 〃I am ready！〃
For a few versts more the raft continued to drift amongst
the floating ice。 Should the river narrow； it would soon form
an impassable barrier。 Already they seemed to drift slower。
Every moment they encountered severe shocks or were compelled
to make detours； now； to avoid running foul of a block； there to
enter a channel； of which it was necessary to take advantage。
At length the stoppages became still more alarming。
There were only a few more hours of night。 Could the fugitives
not reach Irkutsk by five o'clock in the morning； they must
lose all hope of ever getting there at all。
At half…past one； notwithstanding all efforts； the raft
came up against a thick barrier and stuck fast。 The ice；
which was drifting down behind it； pressed it still closer；
and kept it motionless； as though it had been stranded。
At this spot the Angara narrowed； it being half its usual breadth。
This was the cause of the accumulation of ice； which became gradually
soldered together； under the double influence of the increased pressure
and of the cold。 Five hundred feet beyond； the river widened again；
and the blocks； gradually detaching themselves from the floe；
continued to drift towards Irkutsk。 It was probable that had
the banks not narrowed； the barrier would not have formed。
But the misfortune was irreparable； and the fugitives must give up
all hope of attaining their object。
Had they possessed the tools usually employed by whalers to cut
channels through the ice…fieldshad they been able to get
through to where the river widenedthey might have been saved。
But they had nothing which could make the least incision
in the ice； hard as granite in the excessive frost。
What were they to do？
At that moment several shots on the right bank startled
the unhappy fugitives。 A shower of balls fell on the raft。
The devoted passengers had been seen。 Immediately afterwards
shots were heard fired from the left bank。 The fugitives；
taken between two fires； became the mark of the Tartar sharpshooters。
Several were wounded； although in the darkness it was only
by chance that they were hit。
〃Come； Nadia；〃 whispered Michael in the girl's ear。
Without making a single remark； 〃ready for anything；〃
Nadia took Michael's hand。
〃We must cross the barrier；〃 he said in a low tone。
〃Guide me； but let no one see us leave the raft。〃
Nadia obeyed。 Michael and she glided rapidly over the floe
in the obscurity； only broken now and again by the flashes from
the muskets。 Nadia crept along in front of Michael。 The shot
fell around them like a tempest of hail； and pattered on the ice。
Their hands were soon covered with blood from the sharp and rugged
ice over which they clambered； but still on they went。
In ten minutes； the other side of the barrier was reached。
There the waters of the Angara again flowed freely。
Several pieces of ice； detached gradually from the floe；
were swept along in the current down towards the town。
Nadia guessed what Michael wished to attempt。 One of the blocks
was only held on by a narrow strip。
〃Come；〃 said Nadia。 And the two crouched on the piece of ice；
which their weight detached from the floe。
It began to drift。 The river widened； the way was open。
Michael and Nadia heard the shots； the cries of distress；
the yells of the Tartars。 Then； little by little； the sounds
of agony and of ferocious joy grew faint in the distance。
〃Our poor companions！〃 murmured Nadia。
For half an hour the current hurried along the block of ice which
bore Michael and Nadia。 They feared every moment that it would
give way beneath them。 Swept along in the middle of the current；
it was unnecessary to give it an oblique direction until they drew
near the quays of Irkutsk。 Michael； his teeth tight set； his ear on
the strain； did not utter a word。 Never had he been so near his object。
He felt that he was about to attain it！
Towards two in the morning a double row of lights glittered
on the dark horizon in which were confounded the two banks
of the Angara。 On the right hand were the lights of Irkutsk；
on the left； the fires of the Tartar camp。
Michael Strogoff was not more than half a verst from the town。
〃At last！〃 he murmured。
But suddenly Nadia uttered a cry。
At the cry Michael stood up on the ice； which was wavering。
His hand was extended up the Angara。 His face； on which a bluish
light cast a peculiar hue； became almost fearful to look at；
and then； as if his eyes had been opened to the bright blaze
spreading across the river； 〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed； 〃then Heaven
itself is against us！〃
CHAPTER XII IRKUTSK
IRKUTSK； the capital of Eastern Siberia； is a populous town；
containing； in ordinary times； thirty thousand inhabitants。
On the right side of the Angara rises a hill； on which are built
numerous churches； a lofty cathedral； and dwellings disposed
in picturesque disorder。
Seen at a distance； from the top of the mountain which rises
at about twenty versts off along the Siberian highroad；
this town； with its cupolas； its bell…