michael strogoff-第67章
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the blind man grasped the arm of his enemy； seized his weapon；
and hurled him again to the ground。
Pale with rage and shame； Ogareff remembered that he wore a sword。
He drew it and returned a second time to the charge。
A blind man！ Ogareff had only to deal with a blind man！
He was more than a match for him！
Nadia； terrified at the danger which threatened her companion
ran to the door calling for help！
〃Close the door； Nadia！〃 said Michael。 〃Call no one； and leave me alone！
The Czar's courier has nothing to fear to…day from this villain！
Let him come on； if he dares！ I am ready for him。〃
In the mean time； Ogareff； gathering himself together like a tiger
about to spring； uttered not a word。 The noise of his footsteps； his
very breathing； he endeavored to conceal from the ear of the blind man。
His object was to strike before his opponent was aware of his approach；
to strike him with a deadly blow。
Nadia； terrified and at the same time confident； watched this terrible
scene with involuntary admiration。 Michael's calm bearing seemed
to have inspired her。 Michael's sole weapon was his Siberian knife。
He did not see his adversary armed with a sword； it is true； but Heaven's
support seemed to be afforded him。 How； almost without stirring；
did he always face the point of the sword？
Ivan Ogareff watched his strange adversary with visible anxiety。
His superhuman calm had an effect upon him。 In vain； appealing to
his reason； did he tell himself that in so unequal a combat all the
advantages were on his side。 The immobility of the blind man froze him。
He had settled on the place where he would strike his victim。
He had fixed upon it！ What； then； hindered him from putting an end
to his blind antagonist？
At last； with a spring he drove his sword full at Michael's breast。
An imperceptible movement of the blind man's knife turned aside the blow。
Michael had not been touched； and coolly he awaited a second attack。
Cold drops stood on Ogareff's brow。 He drew back a step； then again
leaped forward。 But as had the first； this second attempt failed。
The knife had simply parried the blow from the traitor's useless sword。
Mad with rage and terror before this living statue；
he gazed into the wide…open eyes of the blind man。
Those eyes which seemed to pierce to the bottom of his soul；
and yet which did not； could not； seeexercised a sort
of dreadful fascination over him。
All at once； Ogareff uttered a cry。 A sudden light flashed
across his brain。 〃He sees！〃 he exclaimed； 〃he sees！〃
And like a wild beast trying to retreat into its den；
step by step； terrified； he drew back to the end of the room。
Then the statue became animated； the blind man walked straight up
to Ivan Ogareff； and placing himself right before him； 〃Yes； I see！〃
said he。 〃I see the mark of the knout which I gave you；
traitor and coward！ I see the place where I am about to strike you！
Defend your life！ It is a duel I deign to offer you！
My knife against your sword！〃
〃He sees！〃 said Nadia。 〃Gracious Heaven； is it possible！〃
Ogareff felt that he was lost。 But mustering all his courage； he sprang
forward on his impassible adversary。 The two blades crossed； but at
a touch from Michael's knife； wielded in the hand of the Siberian hunter；
the sword flew in splinters； and the wretch； stabbed to the heart；
fell lifeless on the ground。
At the same moment； the door was thrown open。 The Grand Duke；
accompanied by some of his officers； appeared on the threshold。
The Grand Duke advanced。 In the body lying on the ground；
he recognized the man whom he believed to be the Czar's courier。
Then； in a threatening voice； 〃Who killed that man？〃 he asked。
〃I；〃 replied Michael。
One of the officers put a pistol to his temple； ready to fire。
〃Your name？〃 asked the Grand Duke； before giving the order
for his brains to be blown out。
〃Your Highness；〃 answered Michael； 〃ask me rather the name of the man
who lies at your feet！〃
〃That man； I know him！ He is a servant of my brother！
He is the Czar's courier！〃
〃That man； your Highness； is not a courier of the Czar！ He is
Ivan Ogareff！〃
〃Ivan Ogareff！〃 exclaimed the Grand Duke。
〃Yes； Ivan the Traitor！〃
〃But who are you； then？〃
〃Michael Strogoff！〃
CHAPTER XV CONCLUSION
MICHAEL STROGOFF was not； had never been； blind。 A purely
human phenomenon； at the same time moral and physical；
had neutralized the action of the incandescent blade which Feofar's
executioner had passed before his eyes。
It may be remembered； that at the moment of the execution；
Marfa Strogoff was present； stretching out her hands towards her son。
Michael gazed at her as a son would gaze at his mother；
when it is for the last time。 The tears； which his pride in vain
endeavored to subdue； welling up from his heart； gathered under
his eyelids； and volatiliz…ing on the cornea； had saved his sight。
The vapor formed by his tears interposing between the glowing saber
and his eyeballs； had been sufficient to annihilate the action
of the heat。 A similar effect is produced； when a workman smelter；
after dipping his hand in vapor； can with impunity hold it over
a stream of melted iron。
Michael had immediately understood the danger in which he would
be placed should he make known his secret to anyone。
He at once saw； on the other hand； that he might make use of
his supposed blindness for the accomplishment of his designs。
Because it was believed that he was blind； he would be allowed
to go free。 He must therefore be blind； blind to all；
even to Nadia； blind everywhere； and not a gesture at any moment
must let the truth be suspected。 His resolution was taken。
He must risk his life even to afford to all he might meet
the proof of his want of sight。 We know how perfectly he acted
the part he had determined on。
His mother alone knew the truth； and he had whispered it to her
in Tomsk itself； when bending over her in the dark he covered
her with kisses。
When Ogareff had in his cruel irony held the Imperial letter before
the eyes which he believed were destroyed； Michael had been able to read；
and had read the letter which disclosed the odious plans of the traitor。
This was the reason of the wonderful resolution he exhibited during
the second part of his journey。 This was the reason of his unalterable
longing to reach Irkutsk； so as to perform his mission by word of mouth。
He knew that the town would be betrayed！ He knew that the life
of the Grand Duke was threatened！ The safety of the Czar's brother
and of Siberia was in his hands。
This story was told in a few words to the Grand Duke； and Michael
repeated alsoand with what emotion！the part Nadia had taken
in these events。
〃Who is this girl？〃 asked the Grand Duke。
〃The daughter of the exile； Wassili Fedor；〃 replied Michael。
〃The daughter of Captain Fedor；〃 said the Grand Duke； 〃has ceased to be
the daughter of an exile。 There are no longer exiles in Irkutsk。〃
Nadia； less strong in joy than she had been in grief； fell on
her knees before the Grand Duke； who raised her with one hand；
while he extended the other to Michael。
An hour after； Nadia was in her father's arms。
Michael Strogoff； Nadia； and Wassili Fedor were united。
This was the height of happiness to them all。
The Tartars had been repulsed in their double attack on the town。
Wassili Fedor； with his little band； had driven back the first
assailants who presented themselves at the Bolchaia Gate；
expecting to find it open and which； by an instinctive feeling；
often arising from sound judgment； he had determined to remain
at and defend。
At the same time as the Tartars were driven back the besieged
had mastered the fire。 The liquid naphtha having rapidly burnt
to the surface of the water； the flames did not go beyond the houses
on the shore； and left the other quarters of the town uninjured。
Before daybreak the troops of Feofar…Khan had retreated into their camp；
leaving a large number of dead on and below the ramparts。
Among the dead was the gypsy Sangarre； who had vainly endeavored
to join Ivan Ogareff。
For two days the besiegers attempted no fresh assault。
They were discou
