michael strogoff-第66章
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proving that the Tartars were on foot； expecting some signal。
An hour passed。 Nothing new。
The bell of the Irkutsk cathedral was about to strike two o'clock
in the morning； and not a movement amongst the besiegers had yet
shown that they were about to commence the assault。 The Grand Duke
and his officers began to suspect that they had been mistaken。
Had it really been the Tartars' plan to surprise the town？
The preceding nights had not been nearly so quietmusketry rattling
from the outposts； shells whistling through the air； and this
time； nothing。 The officers waited； ready to give their orders；
according to circumstances。
We have said that Ogareff occupied a room in the palace。
It was a large chamber on the ground floor； its windows opening
on a side terrace。 By taking a few steps along this terrace；
a view of the river could be obtained。
Profound darkness reigned in the room。 Ogareff stood by a window；
awaiting the hour to act。 The signal； of course； could come
from him； alone。 This signal once given； when the greater part
of the defenders of Irkutsk would be summoned to the points
openly attacked； his plan was to leave the palace and hurry
to the Bolchaia Gate。 If it was unguarded； he would open it；
or at least he would direct the overwhelming mass of its assailants
against the few defenders。
He now crouched in the shadow； like a wild beast ready to spring
on its prey。 A few minutes before two o'clock； the Grand Duke
desired that Michael Strogoffwhich was the only name they
could give to Ivan Ogareffshould be brought to him。
An aide…de…camp came to the room； the door of which was closed。
He called。
Ogareff； motionless near the window； and invisible in the shade did
not answer。 The Grand Duke was therefore informed that the Czar's
courier was not at that moment in the palace。
Two o'clock struck。 Now was the time to cause the diversion
agreed upon with the Tartars； waiting for the assault。
Ivan Ogareff opened the window and stationed himself at the North
angle of the side terrace。
Below him flowed the roaring waters of the Angara。 Ogareff took
a match from his pocket； struck it and lighted a small bunch of tow；
impregnated with priming powder； which he threw into the river。
It was by the orders of Ivan Ogareff that the torrents of mineral oil
had been thrown on the surface of the Angara！ There are numerous
naphtha springs above Irkutsk； on the right bank； between the suburb
of Poshkavsk and the town。 Ogareff had resolved to employ this terrible
means to carry fire into Irkutsk。 He therefore took possession
of the immense reservoirs which contained the combustible liquid。
It was only necessary to demolish a piece of wall in order to allow
it to flow out in a vast stream。
This had been done that night； a few hours previously； and this
was the reason that the raft which carried the true Courier of
the Czar； Nadia； and the fugitives； floated on a current of mineral oil。
Through the breaches in these reservoirs of enormous dimensions rushed
the naphtha in torrents； and； following the inclination of the ground；
it spread over the surface of the river； where its density allowed
it to float。 This was the way Ivan Ogareff carried on warfare！
Allied with Tartars； he acted like a Tartar； and against
his own countrymen！
The tow had been thrown on the waters of the Angara。 In an instant；
with electrical rapidity； as if the current had been of alcohol；
the whole river was in a blaze above and below the town。
Columns of blue flames ran between the two banks。 Volumes of vapor
curled up above。 The few pieces of ice which still drifted were seized
by the burning liquid； and melted like wax on the top of a furnace；
the evaporated water escaping in shrill hisses。
At the same moment； firing broke out on the North and South of the town。
The enemy's batteries discharged their guns at random。
Several thousand Tartars rushed to the assault of the earth…works。
The houses on the bank； built of wood； took fire in every direction。
A bright light dissipated the darkness of the night。
〃At last！〃 said Ivan Ogareff。
He had good reason for congratulating himself。 The diversion which
he had planned was terrible。 The defenders of Irkutsk found themselves
between the attack of the Tartars and the fearful effects of fire。
The bells rang； and all the able…bodied of the population ran；
some towards the points attacked； and others towards the houses
in the grasp of the flames； which it seemed too probable would ere
long envelop the whole town。
The Gate of Bolchaia was nearly free。 Only a very small
guard had been left there。 And by the traitor's suggestion；
and in order that the event might be explained apart from him；
as if by political hate； this small guard had been chosen
from the little band of exiles。
Ogareff re…entered his room； now brilliantly lighted by
the flames from the Angara； then he made ready to go out。
But scarcely had he opened the door； when a woman rushed into
the room； her clothes drenched； her hair in disorder。
〃Sangarre！〃 exclaimed Ogareff； in the first moment of surprise；
and not supposing that it could be any other woman than the gypsy。
It was not Sangarre； it was Nadia！
At the moment when； floating on the ice； the girl had uttered
a cry on seeing the fire spreading along the current；
Michael had seized her in his arms； and plunged with her into
the river itself to seek a refuge in its depths from the flames。
The block which bore them was not thirty fathoms from the first
quay of Irkutsk。
Swimming beneath the water； Michael managed to get a footing with
Nadia on the quay。 Michael Strogoff had reached his journey's end！
He was in Irkutsk！
〃To the governor's palace！〃 said he to Nadia。
In less than ten minutes； they arrived at the entrance to the palace。
Long tongues of flame from the Angara licked its walls； but were powerless
to set it on fire。 Beyond the houses on the bank were in a blaze。
The palace being open to all； Michael and Nadia entered
without difficulty。 In the confusion； no one remarked them；
although their garments were dripping。 A crowd of officers
coming for orders； and of soldiers running to execute them；
filled the great hall on the ground floor。 There； in a sudden
eddy of the confused multitude； Michael and the young girl
were separated from each other。
Nadia ran distracted through the passages； calling her companion；
and asking to be taken to the Grand Duke。 A door into a room flooded
with light opened before her。 She entered； and found herself
suddenly face to face with the man whom she had met at Ichim；
whom she had seen at Tomsk； face to face with the one whose
villainous hand would an instant later betray the town！
〃Ivan Ogareff！〃 she cried。
On hearing his name pronounced； the wretch started。 His real name known；
all his plans would be balked。 There was but one thing to be done：
to kill the person who had just uttered it。 Ogareff darted at Nadia；
but the girl； a knife in her hand； retreated against the wall；
determined to defend herself。
〃Ivan Ogareff！〃 again cried Nadia； knowing well that so detested
a name would soon bring her help。
〃Ah！ Be silent！〃 hissed out the traitor between his clenched teeth。
〃Ivan Ogareff！〃 exclaimed a third time the brave young girl；
in a voice to which hate had added ten…fold strength。
Mad with fury； Ogareff； drawing a dagger from his belt； again rushed
at Nadia and compelled her to retreat into a corner of the room。
Her last hope appeared gone； when the villain； suddenly lifted
by an irresistible force； was dashed to the ground。
〃Michael！〃 cried Nadia。
It was Michael Strogoff。 Michael had heard Nadia's call。
Guided by her voice； he had just in time reached Ivan Ogareff's room；
and entered by the open door。
〃Fear nothing； Nadia；〃 said he； placing himself between her and Ogareff。
〃Ah！〃 cried the girl； 〃take care； brother！ The traitor is armed！
He can see！〃
Ogareff rose； and； thinking he had an immeasurable advantage
over the blind man leaped upon him。 But with one hand；
the blind man grasped the arm of his enemy； seized his weapon；
and hurled him again to the
