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had never before presented such an animated appearance。
The correspondents immediately went off after news。
That brought by Siberian fugitives from the seat of war
was far from reassuring。 They said； amongst other things；
that Feofar…Khan's army was rapidly approaching the valley
of the Ichim； and they confirmed the report that the Tartar
chief was soon to be joined by Colonel Ogareff； if he had not
been so already。 Hence the conclusion was that operations
would be pushed in Eastern Siberia with the greatest activity。
However； the loyal Cossacks of the government of Tobolsk
were advancing by forced marches towards Tomsk； in the hope
of cutting off the Tartar columns。
At midnight the town of Novo…Saimsk was reached； and the travelers
now left behind them the country broken by tree…covered hills；
the last remains of the Urals。
Here began the regular Siberian steppe which extends to the neighborhood
of Krasnoiarsk。 It is a boundless plain； a vast grassy desert；
earth and sky here form a circle as distinct as that traced
by a sweep of the compasses。 The steppe presents nothing
to attract notice but the long line of the telegraph posts；
their wires vibrating in the breeze like the strings of a harp。
The road could be distinguished from the rest of the plain only by
the clouds of fine dust which rose under the wheels of the tarantass。
Had it not been for this white riband； which stretched away as far
as the eye could reach； the travelers might have thought themselves
in a desert。
Michael and his companions again pressed rapidly forward。
The horses； urged on by the iemschik； seemed to fly over the ground；
for there was not the slightest obstacle to impede them。
The tarantass was going straight for Ichim； where the two
correspondents intended to stop； if nothing happened to make
them alter their plans。
A hundred and twenty miles separated Novo…Saimsk from the town
of Ichim； and before eight o'clock the next evening the distance
could and should be accomplished if no time was lost。
In the opinion of the iemschiks； should the travelers not be
great lords or high functionaries； they were worthy of being so；
if it was only for their generosity in the matter of 〃na vodkou。〃
On the afternoon of the next day； the 23rd of July； the two carriages
were not more than thirty versts from Ichim。 Suddenly Michael caught
sight of a carriagescarcely visible among the clouds of dust
preceding them along the road。 As his horses were evidently less
fatigued than those of the other traveler； he would not be long
in overtaking it。 This was neither a tarantass nor a telga；
but a post…berlin； which looked as if it had made a long journey。
The postillion was thrashing his horses with all his might；
and only kept them at a gallop by dint of abuse and blows。
The berlin had certainly not passed through Novo…Saimsk； and could
only have struck the Irkutsk road by some less frequented route
across the steppe。
Our travelers' first thought； on seeing this berlin； was to get in front
of it； and arrive first at the relay； so as to make sure of fresh horses。
They said a word to their iemschiks； who soon brought them up
with the berlin。
Michael Strogoff came up first。 As he passed； a head was thrust
out of the window of the berlin。
He had not time to see what it was like； but as he dashed by he distinctly
heard this word； uttered in an imperious tone： 〃Stop！〃
But they did not stop； on the contrary； the berlin was soon distanced
by the two tarantasses。
It now became a regular race； for the horses of the berlin
no doubt excited by the sight and pace of the others
recovered their strength and kept up for some minutes。
The three carriages were hidden in a cloud of dust。
From this cloud issued the cracking of whips mingled with excited
shouts and exclamations of anger。
Nevertheless； the advantage remained with Michael and his companions；
which might be very important to them if the relay was poorly provided
with horses。 Two carriages were perhaps more than the postmaster could
provide for； at least in a short space of time。
Half an hour after the berlin was left far behind； looking only a speck
on the horizon of the steppe。
It was eight o'clock in the evening when the two carriages
reached Ichim。 The news was worse and worse with regard to
the invasion。 The town itself was menaced by the Tartar vanguard；
and two days before the authorities had been obliged to retreat
to Tobolsk。 There was not an officer nor a soldier left in Ichim。
On arriving at the relay； Michael Strogoff immediately asked
for horses。 He had been fortunate in distancing the berlin。
Only three horses were fit to be harnessed。 The others had
just come in worn out from a long stage。
As the two correspondents intended to stop at Ichim； they had not to
trouble themselves to find transport； and had their carriage put away。
In ten minutes Michael was told that his tarantass was ready to start。
〃Good；〃 said he。
Then turning to the two reporters： 〃Well； gentlemen； the time
is come for us to separate。〃
〃What； Mr。 Korpanoff；〃 said Alcide Jolivet； 〃shall you not stop
even for an hour at Ichim？〃
〃No； sir； and I also wish to leave the post…house before the arrival
of the berlin which we distanced。〃
〃Are you afraid that the traveler will dispute the horses with you？〃
〃I particularly wish to avoid any difficulty。〃
〃Then； Mr。 Korpanoff；〃 said Jolivet； 〃it only remains for us
to thank you once more for the service you rendered us；
and the pleasure we have had in traveling with you。〃
〃It is possible that we shall meet you again in a few days
at Omsk；〃 added Blount。
〃It is possible；〃 answered Michael； 〃since I am going straight there。〃
〃Well； I wish you a safe journey； Mr。 Korpanoff；〃 said Alcide；
〃and Heaven preserve you from telgas。〃
The two reporters held out their hands to Michael with the intention
of cordially shaking his； when the sound of a carriage was heard outside。
Almost immediately the door was flung open and a man appeared。
It was the traveler of the berlin； a military…looking man；
apparently about forty years of age； tall； robust in figure；
broad…shouldered； with a strongly…set head； and thick
mus…taches meeting red whiskers。 He wore a plain uniform。
A cavalry saber hung at his side； and in his hand he held
a short…handled whip。
〃Horses；〃 he demanded； with the air of a man accustomed to command。
〃I have no more disposable horses；〃 answered the postmaster； bowing。
〃I must have some this moment。〃
〃It is impossible。〃
〃What are those horses which have just been harnessed to the tarantass
I saw at the door？〃
〃They belong to this traveler；〃 answered the postmaster；
pointing to Michael Strogoff。
〃Take them out！〃 said the traveler in a tone which admitted
of no reply。
Michael then advanced。
〃These horses are engaged by me；〃 he said。
〃What does that matter？ I must have them。 Come； be quick；
I have no time to lose。〃
〃I have no time to lose either；〃 replied Michael； restraining
himself with difficulty。
Nadia was near him； calm also； but secretly uneasy at a scene
which it would have been better to avoid。
〃Enough！〃 said the traveler。 Then； going up to the postmaster；
〃Let the horses be put into my berlin；〃 he exclaimed with
a threatening gesture。
The postmaster； much embarrassed； did not know whom to obey；
and looked at Michael； who evidently had the right to resist
the unjust demands of the traveler。
Michael hesitated an instant。 He did not wish to make use
of his podorojna； which would have drawn attention to him；
and he was most unwilling also； by giving up his horses；
to delay his journey； and yet he must not engage in a struggle
which might compromise his mission。
The two reporters looked at him ready to support him should
he appeal to them。
〃My horses will remain in my carriage；〃 said Michael； but without raising
his tone more than would be suitable for a plain Irkutsk merchant。
The traveler advanced towards Michael and laid his hand
heavily on his shoulder。 〃Is it so？〃 he said roughly。
〃You will not give up your horses to me？〃
〃No；〃 answered Michael。
〃Very well； they shall belong to whichever of us is able to start。
Defend yourself； I shall not spare you！〃
So saying； the traveler drew his saber from its sheath；
and Nadia threw herself before Michael。
Blount and Alcide Jolivet advanced towards him。
〃I shall not fight；〃 said Michael quietly； folding his arms
across his chest。
〃You will not fight？〃
〃No。〃
〃Not even after this？〃 exclaimed the traveler。 And before anyone
could prevent him； he struck Michael's shoulder with the handle
of the whip。 At this insult Michael turned deadly pale。
His hands moved convulsively as if he would have knocked the brute down。
But by a tremendous effort he mastered himself。 A duel！ it was
more than a delay； it was perhaps the failure of his mission。
It would be better to lose some hours。 Yes； but to swallow this affront！
〃Will you fight now； coward？〃 repeated the traveler；
adding coarseness to brutality。
〃No；〃 answered Michael； without moving； but looking the other straight
in the face。
〃The horses thi