[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
appears very probable nowwill you permit me to be present at that interview!
You will, will you not?" Then, striking his forehead: "But, I forgot, what
grief too when he sees that his poor son is blind! Ah! everything is mingled
in this world!"
However, the result of all this was the kibitka went faster, and, according to
Michael's calculations, now made almost eight miles an hour.
After crossing the little river Biriousa, the kibitka reached Biriousensk on
the morning of the 4th of
September. There, very fortunately, for Nicholas saw that his provisions were
becoming exhausted, he found in an oven a dozen "pogatchas," a kind of cake
prepared with sheep's fat and a large supply of plain boiled rice. This
increase was very opportune, for something would soon have been needed to
replace the koumyss with which the kibitka had been stored at Krasnoiarsk.
After a halt, the journey was continued in the afternoon. The distance to
Irkutsk was not now much over three hundred miles. There was not a sign of the
Tartar vanguard. Michael Strogoff had some grounds for hoping that his journey
would not be again delayed, and that in eight days, or at most ten, he would
be in the presence of the Grand Duke.
Page 123
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On leaving Biriousinsk, a hare ran across the road, in front of the kibitka.
"Ah!" exclaimed Nicholas.
"What is the matter, friend?" asked Michael quickly, like a blind man whom the
least sound arouses.
Michael Strogoff
CHAPTER VIII A HARE CROSSES THE ROAD
131
"Did you not see?" said Nicholas, whose bright face had become suddenly
clouded. Then he added, "Ah! no!
you could not see, and it's lucky for you, little father!"
"But I saw nothing," said Nadia.
"So much the better! So much the better! But II saw!"
"What was it then?" asked Michael.
"A hare crossing our road!" answered Nicholas.
In Russia, when a hare crosses the path, the popular belief is that it is the
sign of approaching evil. Nicholas, superstitious like the greater number of
Russians, stopped the kibitka.
Michael understood his companion's hesitation, without sharing his credulity,
and endeavored to reassure him, "There is nothing to fear, friend," said he.
"Nothing for you, nor for her, I know, little father," answered Nicholas, "but
for me!"
"It is my fate," he continued. And he put his horse in motion again. However,
in spite of these forebodings the day passed without any accident.
At twelve o'clock the next day, the 6th of September, the kibitka halted in
the village of Alsalevok, which was as deserted as the surrounding country.
There, on a doorstep, Nadia found two of those strongbladed knives used by
Siberian hunters. She gave one to Michael, who concealed it among his clothes,
and kept the other herself.
Nicholas had not recovered his usual spirits. The illomen had affected him
more than could have been believed, and he who formerly was never half an hour
without speaking, now fell into long reveries from which Nadia found it
difficult to arouse him. The kibitka rolled swiftly along the road. Yes,
swiftly! Nicholas no longer thought of being so careful of his horse, and was
as anxious to arrive at his journey's end as
Michael himself. Notwithstanding his fatalism, and though resigned, he would
not believe himself in safety until within the walls of Irkutsk. Many Russians
would have thought as he did, and more than one would have turned his horse
and gone back again, after a hare had crossed his path.
Some observations made by him, the justice of which was proved by Nadia
transmitting them to Michael, made them fear that their trials were not yet
over. Though the land from Krasnoiarsk had been respected in its natural
productions, its forests now bore trace of fire and steel; and it was evident
that some large body of men had passed that way.
Twenty miles before NijniOudinsk, the indications of recent devastation could
not be mistaken, and it was impossible to attribute them to others than the
Tartars. It was not only that the fields were trampled by horse's feet, and
that trees were cut down. The few houses scattered along the road were not
only empty, some had been partly demolished, others half burnt down. The marks
of bullets could be seen on their walls.
Michael's anxiety may be imagined. He could no longer doubt that a party of
Tartars had recently passed that way, and yet it was impossible that they
could be the Emir's soldiers, for they could not have passed without being
seen. But then, who were these new invaders, and by what outoftheway path
across the steppe had they been able to join the highroad to Irkutsk? With
what new enemies was the Czar's courier now to meet?
Michael Strogoff
CHAPTER VIII A HARE CROSSES THE ROAD
132
Page 124
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
He did not communicate his apprehensions either to Nicholas or Nadia, not
wishing to make them uneasy.
Besides, he had resolved to continue his way, as long as no insurmountable
obstacle stopped him. Later, he would see what it was best to do. During the
ensuing day, the recent passage of a large body of foot and horse became more
and more apparent. Smoke was seen above the horizon. The kibitka advanced
cautiously.
Several houses in deserted villages still burned, and could not have been set
on fire more than four and twenty hours before.
At last, during the day, on the 8th of September, the kibitka stopped
suddenly. The horse refused to advance.
Serko barked furiously.
"What is the matter?" asked Michael.
"A corpse!" replied Nicholas, who had leapt out of the kibitka. The body was
that of a moujik, horribly mutilated, and already cold. Nicholas crossed
himself. Then, aided by Michael, he carried the body to the side of the road.
He would have liked to give it decent burial, that the wild beasts of the
steppe might not feast on the miserable remains, but Michael could not allow
him the time.
"Come, friend, come!" he exclaimed, "we must not delay, even for an hour!" And
the kibitka was driven on.
Besides, if Nicholas had wished to render the last duties to all the dead
bodies they were now to meet with on the Siberian highroad, he would have had
enough to do! As they approached NijniOudinsk, they were found by twenties,
stretched on the ground.
It was, however, necessary to follow this road until it was manifestly
impossible to do so longer without falling into the hands of the invaders. The
road they were following could not be abandoned, and yet the signs of
devastation and ruin increased at every village they passed through. The blood
of the victims was not yet dry. As to gaining information about what had
occurred, that was impossible. There was not a living being left to tell the
tale.
About four o'clock in the afternoon of this day, Nicholas caught sight of the
tall steeples of the churches of
NijniOudinsk. Thick vapors, which could not have been clouds, were floating
around them.
Nicholas and Nadia looked, and communicated the result of their observations
to Michael. They must make up their minds what to do. If the town was
abandoned, they could pass through without risk, but if, by some inexplicable
maneuver, the Tartars occupied it, they must at every cost avoid the place.
"Advance cautiously," said Michael Strogoff, "but advance!"
A verst was soon traversed.
"Those are not clouds, that is smoke!" exclaimed Nadia. "Brother, they are
burning the town!"
It was, indeed, only too plain. Flashes of light appeared in the midst of the
vapor. It became thicker and thicker as it mounted upwards. But were they
Tartars who had done this? They might be Russians, obeying the orders of the
Grand Duke. Had the government of the Czar determined that from Krasnoiarsk,
from the
Yenisei, not a town, not a village should offer a refuge to the Emir's
soldiers? What was Michael to do? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl chiara76.opx.pl
appears very probable nowwill you permit me to be present at that interview!
You will, will you not?" Then, striking his forehead: "But, I forgot, what
grief too when he sees that his poor son is blind! Ah! everything is mingled
in this world!"
However, the result of all this was the kibitka went faster, and, according to
Michael's calculations, now made almost eight miles an hour.
After crossing the little river Biriousa, the kibitka reached Biriousensk on
the morning of the 4th of
September. There, very fortunately, for Nicholas saw that his provisions were
becoming exhausted, he found in an oven a dozen "pogatchas," a kind of cake
prepared with sheep's fat and a large supply of plain boiled rice. This
increase was very opportune, for something would soon have been needed to
replace the koumyss with which the kibitka had been stored at Krasnoiarsk.
After a halt, the journey was continued in the afternoon. The distance to
Irkutsk was not now much over three hundred miles. There was not a sign of the
Tartar vanguard. Michael Strogoff had some grounds for hoping that his journey
would not be again delayed, and that in eight days, or at most ten, he would
be in the presence of the Grand Duke.
Page 123
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
On leaving Biriousinsk, a hare ran across the road, in front of the kibitka.
"Ah!" exclaimed Nicholas.
"What is the matter, friend?" asked Michael quickly, like a blind man whom the
least sound arouses.
Michael Strogoff
CHAPTER VIII A HARE CROSSES THE ROAD
131
"Did you not see?" said Nicholas, whose bright face had become suddenly
clouded. Then he added, "Ah! no!
you could not see, and it's lucky for you, little father!"
"But I saw nothing," said Nadia.
"So much the better! So much the better! But II saw!"
"What was it then?" asked Michael.
"A hare crossing our road!" answered Nicholas.
In Russia, when a hare crosses the path, the popular belief is that it is the
sign of approaching evil. Nicholas, superstitious like the greater number of
Russians, stopped the kibitka.
Michael understood his companion's hesitation, without sharing his credulity,
and endeavored to reassure him, "There is nothing to fear, friend," said he.
"Nothing for you, nor for her, I know, little father," answered Nicholas, "but
for me!"
"It is my fate," he continued. And he put his horse in motion again. However,
in spite of these forebodings the day passed without any accident.
At twelve o'clock the next day, the 6th of September, the kibitka halted in
the village of Alsalevok, which was as deserted as the surrounding country.
There, on a doorstep, Nadia found two of those strongbladed knives used by
Siberian hunters. She gave one to Michael, who concealed it among his clothes,
and kept the other herself.
Nicholas had not recovered his usual spirits. The illomen had affected him
more than could have been believed, and he who formerly was never half an hour
without speaking, now fell into long reveries from which Nadia found it
difficult to arouse him. The kibitka rolled swiftly along the road. Yes,
swiftly! Nicholas no longer thought of being so careful of his horse, and was
as anxious to arrive at his journey's end as
Michael himself. Notwithstanding his fatalism, and though resigned, he would
not believe himself in safety until within the walls of Irkutsk. Many Russians
would have thought as he did, and more than one would have turned his horse
and gone back again, after a hare had crossed his path.
Some observations made by him, the justice of which was proved by Nadia
transmitting them to Michael, made them fear that their trials were not yet
over. Though the land from Krasnoiarsk had been respected in its natural
productions, its forests now bore trace of fire and steel; and it was evident
that some large body of men had passed that way.
Twenty miles before NijniOudinsk, the indications of recent devastation could
not be mistaken, and it was impossible to attribute them to others than the
Tartars. It was not only that the fields were trampled by horse's feet, and
that trees were cut down. The few houses scattered along the road were not
only empty, some had been partly demolished, others half burnt down. The marks
of bullets could be seen on their walls.
Michael's anxiety may be imagined. He could no longer doubt that a party of
Tartars had recently passed that way, and yet it was impossible that they
could be the Emir's soldiers, for they could not have passed without being
seen. But then, who were these new invaders, and by what outoftheway path
across the steppe had they been able to join the highroad to Irkutsk? With
what new enemies was the Czar's courier now to meet?
Michael Strogoff
CHAPTER VIII A HARE CROSSES THE ROAD
132
Page 124
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
He did not communicate his apprehensions either to Nicholas or Nadia, not
wishing to make them uneasy.
Besides, he had resolved to continue his way, as long as no insurmountable
obstacle stopped him. Later, he would see what it was best to do. During the
ensuing day, the recent passage of a large body of foot and horse became more
and more apparent. Smoke was seen above the horizon. The kibitka advanced
cautiously.
Several houses in deserted villages still burned, and could not have been set
on fire more than four and twenty hours before.
At last, during the day, on the 8th of September, the kibitka stopped
suddenly. The horse refused to advance.
Serko barked furiously.
"What is the matter?" asked Michael.
"A corpse!" replied Nicholas, who had leapt out of the kibitka. The body was
that of a moujik, horribly mutilated, and already cold. Nicholas crossed
himself. Then, aided by Michael, he carried the body to the side of the road.
He would have liked to give it decent burial, that the wild beasts of the
steppe might not feast on the miserable remains, but Michael could not allow
him the time.
"Come, friend, come!" he exclaimed, "we must not delay, even for an hour!" And
the kibitka was driven on.
Besides, if Nicholas had wished to render the last duties to all the dead
bodies they were now to meet with on the Siberian highroad, he would have had
enough to do! As they approached NijniOudinsk, they were found by twenties,
stretched on the ground.
It was, however, necessary to follow this road until it was manifestly
impossible to do so longer without falling into the hands of the invaders. The
road they were following could not be abandoned, and yet the signs of
devastation and ruin increased at every village they passed through. The blood
of the victims was not yet dry. As to gaining information about what had
occurred, that was impossible. There was not a living being left to tell the
tale.
About four o'clock in the afternoon of this day, Nicholas caught sight of the
tall steeples of the churches of
NijniOudinsk. Thick vapors, which could not have been clouds, were floating
around them.
Nicholas and Nadia looked, and communicated the result of their observations
to Michael. They must make up their minds what to do. If the town was
abandoned, they could pass through without risk, but if, by some inexplicable
maneuver, the Tartars occupied it, they must at every cost avoid the place.
"Advance cautiously," said Michael Strogoff, "but advance!"
A verst was soon traversed.
"Those are not clouds, that is smoke!" exclaimed Nadia. "Brother, they are
burning the town!"
It was, indeed, only too plain. Flashes of light appeared in the midst of the
vapor. It became thicker and thicker as it mounted upwards. But were they
Tartars who had done this? They might be Russians, obeying the orders of the
Grand Duke. Had the government of the Czar determined that from Krasnoiarsk,
from the
Yenisei, not a town, not a village should offer a refuge to the Emir's
soldiers? What was Michael to do? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]