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！
replied without the least hesitation。 He intentionally did not
conceal that the Czar's government had been utterly surprised
by the invasion； that the insurrection had been prepared
in the greatest possible secrecy； that the Tartars were already
masters of the line of the Obi when the news reached Moscow；
and lastly； that none of the necessary preparations were completed
in the Russian provinces for sending into Siberia the troops
requisite for repulsing the invaders。
Ivan Ogareff； being entirely free in his movements； began to
study Irkutsk； the state of its fortifications； their weak points；
so as to profit subsequently by his observations； in the event
of being prevented from consummating his act of treason。
He examined particularly the Bolchaia Gate； the one he wished
to deliver up。
Twice in the evening he came upon the glacis of this gate。
He walked up and down； without fear of being discovered by the besiegers；
whose nearest posts were at least a mile from the ramparts。
He fancied that he was recognized by no one； till he caught
sight of a shadow gliding along outside the earthworks。
Sangarre had come at the risk of her life for the purpose of putting
herself in communication with Ivan Ogareff。
For two days the besieged had enjoyed a tranquillity to which the Tartars
had not accustomed them since the commencement of the investment。
This was by Ogareff's orders。 Feofar…Khan's lieutenant wished
that all attempts to take the town by force should be suspended。
He hoped the watchfulness of the besieged would relax。 At any rate；
several thousand Tartars were kept in readiness at the outposts；
to attack the gate； deserted； as Ogareff anticipated that it would be；
by its defenders； whenever he should summon the besiegers to the assault。
This he could not now delay in doing。 All must be over
by the time that the Russian troops should come in sight
of Irkutsk。 Ogareff's arrangements were made； and on this evening
a note fell from the top of the earthworks into Sangarre's hands。
On the next day； that is to say during the hours of darkness
from the 5th to the 6th of October； at two o'clock in the morning；
Ivan Ogareff had resolved to deliver up Irkutsk。
CHAPTER XIV THE NIGHT OF THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER
IVAN OGAREFF'S plan had been contrived with the greatest care；
and except for some unforeseen accident he believed that it must succeed。
It was of importance that the Bolchaia Gate should be unguarded
or only feebly held when he gave it up。 The attention of the
besieged was therefore to be drawn to another part of the town。
A diversion was agreed upon with the Emir。
This diversion was to be effected both up and down the river；
on the Irkutsk bank。 The attack on these two points was to be
conducted in earnest； and at the same time a feigned attempt
at crossing the Angara from the left bank was to be made。
The Bolchaia Gate； would be probably deserted； so much the more
because on this side the Tartar outposts having drawn back；
would appear to have broken up。
It was the 5th of October。 In four and twenty hours；
the capital of Eastern Siberia would be in the hands of the Emir；
and the Grand Duke in the power of Ivan Ogareff。
During the day； an unusual stir was going on in the Angara camp。
From the windows of the palace important preparations
on the opposite shore could be distinctly seen。
Numerous Tartar detachments were converging towards the camp；
and from hour to hour reinforced the Emir's troops。
These movements； intended to deceive the besieged； were conducted
in the most open manner possible before their eyes。
Ogareff had warned the Grand Duke that an attack was to be feared。
He knew； he said； that an assault was to be made； both above and below
the town； and he counselled the Duke to reinforce the two directly
threatened points。 Accordingly； after a council of war had been held
in the palace； orders were issued to concentrate the defense on the bank
of the Angara and at the two ends of the town； where the earthworks
protected the river。
This was exactly what Ogareff wished。 He did not expect that
the Bolchaia Gate would be left entirely without defenders；
but that there would only be a small number。 Besides； Ogareff meant
to give such importance to the diversion； that the Grand Duke
would be obliged to oppose it with all his available forces。
The traitor planned also to produce so frightful a catastrophe
that terror must inevitably overwhelm the hearts of the besieged。
All day the garrison and population of Irkutsk were on the alert。
The measures to repel an attack on the points hitherto unassailed had
been taken。 The Grand Duke and General Voranzoff visited the posts；
strengthened by their orders。 Wassili Fedor's corps occupied the North
of the town； but with orders to throw themselves where the danger
was greatest。 The right bank of the Angara had been protected
with the few guns possessed by the defenders。 With these measures；
taken in time； thanks to the advice so opportunely given by Ivan Ogareff；
there was good reason to hope that the expected attack would be repulsed。
In that case the Tartars； momentarily discouraged； would no doubt
not make another attempt against the town for several days。
Now the troops expected by the Grand Duke might arrive at any hour。
The safety or the loss of Irkutsk hung only by a thread。
On this day； the sun which had risen at twenty minutes to six；
set at forty minutes past five； having traced its diurnal
arc for eleven hours above the horizon。 The twilight would
struggle with the night for another two hours。 Then it would be
intensely dark； for the sky was cloudy； and there would be no moon。
This gloom would favor the plans of Ivan Ogareff。
For a few days already a sharp frost had given warning of
the approaching rigor of the Siberian winter； and this evening
it was especially severe。 The Russians posted by the bank of
the Angara； obliged to conceal their position； lighted no fires。
They suffered cruelly from the low temperature。 A few feet
below them； the ice in large masses drifted down the current。
All day these masses had been seen passing rapidly between
the two banks。
This had been considered by the Grand Duke and his officers as fortunate。
Should the channel of the Angara continue to be thus obstructed；
the passage must be impracticable。 The Tartars could use neither
rafts nor boats。 As to their crossing the river on the ice；
that was not possible。 The newly…frozen plain could not bear
the weight of an assaulting column。
This circumstance； as it appeared favorable to the defenders
of Irkutsk； Ogareff might have regretted。 He did not do so； however。
The traitor knew well that the Tartars would not try to pass the Angara；
and that； on its side at least； their attempt was only a feint。
About ten in the evening； the state of the river sensibly improved； to the
great surprise of the besieged and still more to their disadvantage。
The passage till then impracticable； became all at once possible。
The bed of the Angara was clear。 The blocks of ice； which had for some
days drifted past in large numbers； disappeared down the current；
and five or six only now occupied the space between the banks。
The Russian officers reported this change in the river to
the Grand Duke。 They suggested that it was probably caused
by the circumstance that in some narrower part of the Angara；
the blocks had accumulated so as to form a barrier。
We know this was the case。 The passage of the Angara was thus
open to the besiegers。 There was great reason for the Russians
to be on their guard。
Up to midnight nothing had occurred。 On the Eastern side；
beyond the Bolchaia Gate； all was quiet。 Not a glimmer was seen
in the dense forest； which appeared confounded on the horizon
with the masses of clouds hanging low down in the sky。
Lights flitting to and fro in the Angara camp； showed that a
considerable movement was taking place。 From a verst above and below
the point where the scarp met the river's bank； came a dull murmur；
proving that the Tartars were on foot； expecting some signal。
An hour passed。 Nothing new。
The bell of the Irkutsk