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the eastern frontier of Siberia； the dispatch service was performed
by couriers； those who traveled the most rapidly taking eighteen
days to get from Moscow to Irkutsk。 But this was the exception；
and the journey through Asiatic Russia usually occupied from four
to five weeks； even though every available means of transport
was placed at the disposal of the Czar's messengers。
Michael Strogoff was a man who feared neither frost nor snow。
He would have preferred traveling during the severe winter season；
in order that he might perform the whole distance by sleighs。
At that period of the year the difficulties which all other means
of locomotion present are greatly diminished； the wide steppes
being leveled by snow； while there are no rivers to cross；
but simply sheets of glass； over which the sleigh glides
rapidly and easily。
Perhaps certain natural phenomena are most to be feared at that time；
such as long…continuing and dense fogs； excessive cold； fearfully heavy
snow…storms； which sometimes envelop whole caravans and cause
their destruction。 Hungry wolves also roam over the plain in thousands。
But it would have been better for Michael Strogoff to face these risks；
for during the winter the Tartar invaders would have been stationed
in the towns； any movement of their troops would have been impracticable；
and he could consequently have more easily performed his journey。
But it was not in his power to choose either weather or time。
Whatever the circumstances； he must accept them and set out。
Such were the difficulties which Michael Strogoff boldly confronted
and prepared to encounter。
In the first place； he must not travel as a courier of the Czar
usually would。 No one must even suspect what he really was。
Spies swarm in a rebellious country； let him be recognized；
and his mission would be in danger。 Also； while supplying him
with a large sum of money； which was sufficient for his journey；
and would facilitate it in some measure； General Kissoff
had not given him any document notifying that he was on
the Emperor's service； which is the Sesame par excellence。
He contented himself with furnishing him with a 〃podorojna。〃
This podorojna was made out in the name of Nicholas Korpanoff； merchant；
living at Irkutsk。 It authorized Nicholas Korpanoff to be accompanied
by one or more persons； and； moreover； it was； by special notification；
made available in the event of the Muscovite government forbidding
natives of any other countries to leave Russia。
The podorojna is simply a permission to take post…horses；
but Michael Strogoff was not to use it unless he was sure that
by so doing he would not excite suspicion as to his mission；
that is to say； whilst he was on European territory。
The consequence was that in Siberia； whilst traversing
the insurgent provinces； he would have no power over the relays；
either in the choice of horses in preference to others；
or in demanding conveyances for his personal use； neither was
Michael Strogoff to forget that he was no longer a courier；
but a plain merchant； Nicholas Korpanoff； traveling from Moscow
to Irkutsk； and； as such exposed to all the impediments
of an ordinary journey。
To pass unknown； more or less rapidly； but to pass somehow；
such were the directions he had received。
Thirty years previously； the escort of a traveler of rank consisted
of not less than two hundred mounted Cossacks； two hundred foot…soldiers；
twenty…five Baskir horsemen； three hundred camels； four hundred horses；
twenty…five wagons； two portable boats； and two pieces of cannon。
All this was requisite for a journey in Siberia。
Michael Strogoff； however； had neither cannon； nor horsemen；
nor foot…soldiers； nor beasts of burden。 He would travel
in a carriage or on horseback； when he could； on foot；
when he could not。
There would be no difficulty in getting over the first thousand miles；
the distance between Moscow and the Russian frontier。
Railroads； post…carriages； steamboats； relays of horses；
were at everyone's disposal； and consequently at the disposal
of the courier of the Czar。
Accordingly； on the morning of the 16th of July； having doffed
his uniform； with a knapsack on his back； dressed in the simple
Russian costumetightly…fitting tunic； the traditional belt of
the Moujik； wide trousers； gartered at the knees； and high boots
Michael Strogoff arrived at the station in time for the first train。
He carried no arms； openly at least； but under his belt was
hidden a revolver and in his pocket； one of those large knives；
resembling both a cutlass and a yataghan； with which a Siberian
hunter can so neatly disembowel a bear； without injuring
its precious fur。
A crowd of travelers had collected at the Moscow station。
The stations on the Russian railroads are much used as places
for meeting； not only by those who are about to proceed
by the train； but by friends who come to see them off。
The station resembles； from the variety of characters assembled；
a small news exchange。
The train in which Michael took his place was to set him down at
Nijni…Novgorod。 There terminated at that time； the iron road which；
uniting Moscow and St。 Petersburg； has since been continued
to the Russian frontier。 It was a journey of under three
hundred miles； and the train would accomplish it in ten hours。
Once arrived at Nijni…Novgorod； Strogoff would either take
the land route or the steamer on the Volga； so as to reach
the Ural Mountains as soon as possible。
Michael Strogoff ensconced himself in his corner； like a worthy
citizen whose affairs go well with him； and who endeavors to kill
time by sleep。 Nevertheless； as he was not alone in his compartment；
he slept with one eye open； and listened with both his ears。
In fact； rumor of the rising of the Kirghiz hordes； and of the Tartar
invasion had transpired in some degree。 The occupants of the carriage；
whom chance had made his traveling companions； discussed the subject；
though with that caution which has become habitual among Russians；
who know that spies are ever on the watch for any treasonable expressions
which may be uttered。
These travelers； as well as the large number of persons
in the train； were merchants on their way to the celebrated
fair of Nijni…Novgorod；a very mixed assembly； composed of
Jews； Turks； Cossacks； Russians； Georgians； Kalmucks； and others；
but nearly all speaking the national tongue。
They discussed the pros and cons of the serious events which
were taking place beyond the Ural； and those merchants seemed
to fear lest the government should be led to take certain
restrictive measures； especially in the provinces bordering on
the frontiermeasures from which trade would certainly suffer。
They apparently thought only of the struggle from the single
point of view of their threatened interests。 The presence
of a private soldier； clad in his uniformand the importance
of a uniform in Russia is greatwould have certainly been enough
to restrain the merchants' tongues。 But in the compartment occupied
by Michael Strogoff； there was no one who seemed a military man；
and the Czar's courier was not the person to betray himself。
He listened； then。
〃They say that caravan teas are up；〃 remarked a Persian；
known by his cap of Astrakhan fur； and his ample brown robe；
worn threadbare by use。
〃Oh； there's no fear of teas falling；〃 answered an old Jew
of sullen aspect。 〃Those in the market at Nijni…Novgorod will
be easily cleared off by the West； but； unfortunately； it won't
be the same with Bokhara carpets。〃
〃What！ are you expecting goods from Bokhara？〃 asked the Persian。
〃No； but from Samarcand； and that is even more exposed。
The idea of reckoning on the exports of a country in which the khans
are in a state of revolt from Khiva to the Chinese frontier！〃
〃Well；〃 replied the Persian； 〃if the carpets do not arrive；
the drafts will not arrive either； I suppose。〃
〃And the profits； Father Abraham！〃 exclaimed the little Jew；
〃do you reckon them as nothing？〃
〃You are right；〃 said another； 〃goods from Central Asia run a great
risk in the market； and it will be the same with the tallow and shawls
from the East。〃
〃Why； look