michael strogoff-第27章
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of a duty more sacredif there can be onethan that which unites
the son to the mother。〃
Nadia was silent； and from that moment avoided every subject
which in any way touched on Michael's peculiar situation。
He had a secret motive which she must respect。 She respected it。
The next day； July 25th； at three o'clock in the morning； the tarantass
arrived at Tioukalmsk； having accomplished a distance of eighty
miles since it had crossed the Ichim。 They rapidly changed horses。
Here； however； for the first time； the iemschik made difficulties
about starting； declaring that detachments of Tartars were roving
across the steppe； and that travelers； horses； and carriages would
be a fine prize for them。
Only by dint of a large bribe could Michael get over
the unwillingness of the iemschik； for in this instance；
as in many others； he did not wish to show his podorojna。
The last ukase； having been transmitted by telegraph； was known
in the Siberian provinces； and a Russian specially exempted from
obeying these words would certainly have drawn public attention
to himselfa thing above all to be avoided by the Czar's courier。
As to the iemschik's hesitation； either the rascal traded on
the traveler's impatience or he really had good reason to fear。
However； at last the tarantass started； and made such good way
that by three in the afternoon it had reached Koulatsinskoe；
fifty miles farther on。 An hour after this it was on the banks
of the Irtych。 Omsk was now only fourteen miles distant。
The Irtych is a large river； and one of the principal of those which flow
towards the north of Asia。 Rising in the Altai Mountains； it flows
from the southeast to the northwest and empties itself into the Obi；
after a course of four thousand miles。
At this time of year； when all the rivers of the Siberian basin
are much swollen； the waters of the Irtych were very high。
In consequence the current was changed to a regular torrent；
rendering the passage difficult enough。 A swimmer could not
have crossed； however powerful； and even in a ferryboat there
would be some danger。
But Michael and Nadia； determined to brave all perils whatever
they might be； did not dream of shrinking from this one。
Michael proposed to his young companion that he should cross first；
embarking in the ferryboat with the tarantass and horses；
as he feared that the weight of this load would render it less safe。
After landing the carriage he would return and fetch Nadia。
The girl refused。 It would be the delay of an hour； and she would not；
for her safety alone； be the cause of it。
The embarkation was made not without difficulty； for the banks
were partly flooded and the boat could not get in near enough。
However； after half an hour's exertion； the boatmen got the tarantass
and the three horses on board。 The passengers embarked also；
and they shoved off。
For a few minutes all went well。 A little way up the river
the current was broken by a long point projecting from the bank；
and forming an eddy easily crossed by the boat。 The two boatmen
propelled their barge with long poles； which they handled cleverly；
but as they gained the middle of the stream it grew deeper
and deeper； until at last they could only just reach the bottom。
The ends of the poles were only a foot above the water；
which rendered their use difficult。 Michael and Nadia；
seated in the stern of the boat； and always in dread of a delay；
watched the boatmen with some uneasiness。
〃Look out！〃 cried one of them to his comrade。
The shout was occasioned by the new direction the boat was
rapidly taking。 It had got into the direct current and was
being swept down the river。 By diligent use of the poles；
putting the ends in a series of notches cut below the gunwale；
the boatmen managed to keep the craft against the stream；
and slowly urged it in a slanting direction towards the right bank。
They calculated on reaching it some five or six versts below
the landing place； but； after all； that would not matter
so long as men and beasts could disembark without accident。
The two stout boatmen； stimulated moreover by the promise
of double fare； did not doubt of succeeding in this difficult
passage of the Irtych。
But they reckoned without an accident which they were powerless
to prevent； and neither their zeal nor their skill…fulness could；
under the circumstances； have done more。
The boat was in the middle of the current； at nearly equal
distances from either shore； and being carried down at the rate
of two versts an hour； when Michael； springing to his feet；
bent his gaze up the river。
Several boats； aided by oars as well as by the current；
were coming swiftly down upon them。
Michael's brow contracted； and a cry escaped him。
〃What is the matter？〃 asked the girl。
But before Michael had time to reply one of the boatmen exclaimed
in an accent of terror：
〃The Tartars！ the Tartars！〃
There were indeed boats full of soldiers； and in a few minutes they must
reach the ferryboat； it being too heavily laden to escape from them。
The terrified boatmen uttered exclamations of despair and
dropped their poles。
〃Courage； my friends！〃 cried Michael； 〃courage！ Fifty roubles for you
if we reach the right bank before the boats overtake us。〃
Incited by these words； the boatmen again worked manfully but it soon
become evident that they could not escape the Tartars。
It was scarcely probable that they would pass without attacking them。
On the contrary； there was everything to be feared from robbers
such as these。
〃Do not be afraid； Nadia；〃 said Michael； 〃but be ready for anything。〃
〃I am ready；〃 replied Nadia。
〃Even to leap into the water when I tell you？〃
〃Whenever you tell me。〃
〃Have confidence in me； Nadia。〃
〃I have； indeed！〃
The Tartar boats were now only a hundred feet distant。
They carried a detachment of Bokharian soldiers； on their way
to reconnoiter around Omsk。
The ferryboat was still two lengths from the shore。
The boatmen redoubled their efforts。 Michael himself
seized a pole and wielded it with superhuman strength。
If he could land the tarantass and horses； and dash off
with them； there was some chance of escaping the Tartars；
who were not mounted。
But all their efforts were in vain。 〃Saryn na kitchou！〃
shouted the soldiers from the first boat。
Michael recognized the Tartar war…cry； which is usually answered
by lying flat on the ground。 As neither he nor the boatmen obeyed
a volley was let fly； and two of the horses were mortally wounded。
At the next moment a violent blow was felt。 The boats had run
into the ferryboat。
〃Come； Nadia！〃 cried Michael； ready to jump overboard。
The girl was about to follow him； when a blow from a lance struck him；
and he was thrown into the water。 The current swept him away； his hand
raised for an instant above the waves； and then he disappeared。
Nadia uttered a cry； but before she had time to throw herself
after him she was seized and dragged into one of the boats。
The boatmen were killed； the ferryboat left to drift away；
and the Tartars continued to descend the Irtych。
CHAPTER XIV MOTHER AND SON
OMSK is the official capital of Western Siberia。 It is not
the most important city of the government of that name； for Tomsk
has more inhabitants and is larger。 But it is at Omsk that the
Governor…General of this the first half of Asiatic Russia resides。
Omsk； properly so called； is composed of two distinct towns：
one which is exclusively inhabited by the authorities and officials；
the other more especially devoted to the Siberian merchants；
although； indeed； the trade of the town is of small importance。
This city has about 12；000 to 13；000 inhabitants。
It is defended by walls； but these are merely of earth；
and could afford only insufficient protection。 The Tartars；
who were well aware of this fact； consequently tried at this
period to carry it by main force； and in this they succeeded；
after an investment of a few days。
The garrison of Omsk； reduced to two thousand men； resisted valiantly。
But driven back； little by little； from the mercantile portion
of the place； they were compelled to take re
