michael strogoff-第17章
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〃Look； sister！〃 said he； leading her to the bows of the Caucasus。
The view was indeed well worth seeing。 The Caucasus had reached
the confluence of the Volga and the Kama。 There she would leave
the former river； after having descended it for nearly three
hundred miles； to ascend the latter for a full three hundred。
The Kama was here very wide； and its wooded banks lovely。
A few white sails enlivened the sparkling water。
The horizon was closed by a line of hills covered with aspens；
alders； and sometimes large oaks。
But these beauties of nature could not distract the thoughts
of the young Livonian even for an instant。 She had left her hand
in that of her companion； and turning to him； 〃At what distance
are we from Moscow？〃 she asked。
〃Nine hundred versts；〃 answered Michael。
〃Nine hundred； out of seven thousand！〃 murmured the girl。
The bell now announced the breakfast hour。 Nadia followed
Michael Strogoff to the restaurant。 She ate little； and as a poor
girl whose means are small would do。 Michael thought it best
to content himself with the fare which satisfied his companion；
and in less than twenty minutes he and Nadia returned on deck。
There they seated themselves in the stern； and without preamble；
Nadia； lowering her voice to be heard by him alone； began：
〃Brother； I am the daughter of an exile。 My name is
Nadia Fedor。 My mother died at Riga scarcely a month ago； and I
am going to Irkutsk to rejoin my father and share his exile。〃
〃I； too； am going to Irkutsk；〃 answered Michael； 〃and I shall
thank Heaven if it enables me to give Nadia Fedor safe and sound
into her father's hands。〃
〃Thank you； brother；〃 replied Nadia。
Michael Strogoff then added that he had obtained a special
podorojna for Siberia； and that the Russian authorities could
in no way hinder his progress。
Nadia asked nothing more。 She saw in this fortunate meeting with Michael
a means only of accelerating her journey to her father。
〃I had；〃 said she； 〃a permit which authorized me to go to Irkutsk；
but the new order annulled that； and but for you； brother； I should
have been unable to leave the town； in which； without doubt；
I should have perished。〃
〃And dared you； alone； Nadia；〃 said Michael； 〃attempt to cross
the steppes of Siberia？〃
〃The Tartar invasion was not known when I left Riga。 It was only
at Moscow that I learnt the news。〃
〃And despite it； you continued your journey？〃
〃It was my duty。〃
The words showed the character of the brave girl。
She then spoke of her father； Wassili Fedor。 He was a much…esteemed
physician at Riga。 But his connection with some secret society having
been asserted； he received orders to start for Irkutsk。 The police
who brought the order conducted him without delay beyond the frontier。
Wassili Fedor had but time to embrace his sick wife and his daughter；
so soon to be left alone； when； shedding bitter tears； he was led away。
A year and a half after her husband's departure； Madame Fedor died in
the arms of her daughter； who was thus left alone and almost penniless。
Nadia Fedor then asked； and easily obtained from the Russian government；
an authorization to join her father at Irkutsk。 She wrote and told him
she was starting。 She had barely enough money for this long journey； and
yet she did not hesitate to undertake it。 She would do what she could。
God would do the rest。
CHAPTER IX DAY AND NIGHT IN A TARANTASS
THE next day； the 19th of July； the Caucasus reached Perm；
the last place at which she touched on the Kama。
The government of which Perm is the capital is one of the largest
in the Russian Empire； and； extending over the Ural Mountains；
encroaches on Siberian territory。 Marble quarries； mines of salt；
platina； gold； and coal are worked here on a large scale。
Although Perm； by its situation； has become an important town； it is
by no means attractive； being extremely dirty； and without resources。
This want of comfort is of no consequence to those going to Siberia；
for they come from the more civilized districts； and are supplied
with all necessaries。
At Perm travelers from Siberia resell their vehicles；
more or less damaged by the long journey across the plains。
There； too； those passing from Europe to Asia purchase carriages；
or sleighs in the winter season。
Michael Strogoff had already sketched out his programme。
A vehicle carrying the mail usually runs across the Ural Mountains；
but this； of course； was discontinued。 Even if it had not been so；
he would not have taken it； as he wished to travel as fast as possible；
without depending on anyone。 He wisely preferred to buy a carriage；
and journey by stages； stimulating the zeal of the postillions
by well…applied 〃na vodkou；〃 or tips。
Unfortunately； in consequence of the measures taken against foreigners
of Asiatic origin； a large number of travelers had already left Perm；
and therefore conveyances were extremely rare。 Michael was
obliged to content himself with what had been rejected by others。
As to horses； as long as the Czar's courier was not in Siberia；
he could exhibit his podorojna； and the postmasters would give him
the preference。 But； once out of Europe； he had to depend alone
on the power of his roubles。
But to what sort of a vehicle should he harness his horses？
To a telga or to a tarantass？ The telga is nothing
but an open four…wheeled cart； made entirely of wood；
the pieces fastened together by means of strong rope。
Nothing could be more primitive； nothing could be less comfortable；
but； on the other hand； should any accident happen on the way；
nothing could be more easily repaired。 There is no want of firs
on the Russian frontier； and axle…trees grow naturally in forests。
The post extraordinary； known by the name of 〃perck…ladnoi；〃
is carried by the telga； as any road is good enough for it。
It must be confessed that sometimes the ropes which fasten
the concern together break； and whilst the hinder part remains stuck
in some bog； the fore…part arrives at the post…house on two wheels；
but this result is considered quite satisfactory。
Michael Strogoff would have been obliged to employ a telga；
if he had not been lucky enough to discover a tarantass。
It is to be hoped that the invention of Russian coach…builders
will devise some improvement in this last…named vehicle。
Springs are wanting in it as well as in the telga；
in the absence of iron； wood is not spared； but its four wheels；
with eight or nine feet between them； assure a certain
equilibrium over the jolting rough roads。 A splash…board
protects the travelers from the mud； and a strong leathern hood；
which may be pulled quite over the occupiers； shelters them
from the great heat and violent storms of the summer。
The tarantass is as solid and as easy to repair as the telga；
and is； moreover； less addicted to leaving its hinder part
in the middle of the road。
It was not without careful search that Michael managed to
discover this tarantass； and there was probably not a second
to be found in all Perm。 He haggled long about the price；
for form's sake； to act up to his part as Nicholas Korpanoff；
a plain merchant of Irkutsk。
Nadia had followed her companion in his search after a suitable vehicle。
Although the object of each was different； both were equally
anxious to arrive at their goal。 One would have said the same will
animated them both。
〃Sister；〃 said Michael； 〃I wish I could have found a more comfortable
conveyance for you。〃
〃Do you say that to me； brother； when I would have gone on foot；
if need were； to rejoin my father？〃
〃I do not doubt your courage； Nadia； but there are physical fatigues
a woman may be unable to endure。〃
〃I shall endure them； whatever they be；〃 replied the girl。
〃If you ever hear a complaint from me you may leave me in the road；
and continue your journey alone。〃
Half an hour later； the podorojna being presented by Michael；
three post…horses were harnessed to the tarantass。 These animals；
covered with long hair； were very like long…legged bears。
They were small but spirited； being of Siberian breed。
The way in which the iemschik harnessed them was thus：
one； the largest； wa
