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But driven back； little by little； from the mercantile portion
of the place； they were compelled to take refuge in the upper town。
It was there that the Governor…General； his officers； and soldiers
had entrenched themselves。 They had made the upper quarter of Omsk
a kind of citadel； and hitherto they held out well in this species
of improvised 〃kreml；〃 but without much hope of the promised succor。
The Tartar troops； who were descending the Irtych； received every
day fresh reinforcements； and； what was more serious；
they were led by an officer； a traitor to his country； but a man
of much note； and of an audacity equal to any emergency。
This man was Colonel Ivan Ogareff。
Ivan Ogareff； terrible as any of the most savage Tartar chieftains；
was an educated soldier。 Possessing on his mother's side some
Mongolian blood； he delighted in deceptive strategy and ambuscades；
stopping short of nothing when he desired to fathom some secret
or to set some trap。 Deceitful by nature； he willingly had recourse
to the vilest trickery； lying when occasion demanded； excelling in
the adoption of all disguises and in every species of deception。
Further； he was cruel； and had even acted as an executioner。
Feofar…Khan possessed in him a lieutenant well capable of seconding
his designs in this savage war。
When Michael Strogoff arrived on the banks of the Irtych； Ivan Ogareff
was already master of Omsk； and was pressing the siege of the upper
quarter of the town all the more eagerly because he must hasten to Tomsk；
where the main body of the Tartar army was concentrated。
Tomsk； in fact； had been taken by Feofar…Khan some days previously；
and it was thence that the invaders； masters of Central Siberia；
were to march upon Irkutsk。
Irkutsk was the real object of Ivan Ogareff。 The plan of the traitor
was to reach the Grand Duke under a false name； to gain his confidence；
and to deliver into Tartar hands the town and the Grand Duke himself。
With such a town； and such a hostage； all Asiatic Siberia must necessarily
fall into the hands of the invaders。 Now it was known that the Czar
was acquainted with this conspiracy； and that it was for the purpose of
baffling it that a courier had been intrusted with the important warning。
Hence； therefore； the very stringent instructions which had been given
to the young courier to pass incognito through the invaded district。
This mission he had so far faithfully performed； but now could
he carry it to a successful completion？
The blow which had struck Michael Strogoff was not mortal。
By swimming in a manner by which he had effectually concealed himself；
he had reached the right bank； where he fell exhausted among the bushes。
When he recovered his senses； he found himself in the cabin of a mujik；
who had picked him up and cared for him。 For how long a time had
he been the guest of this brave Siberian？ He could not guess。
But when he opened his eyes he saw the handsome bearded face
bending over him； and regarding him with pitying eyes。
〃Do not speak； little father；〃 said the mujik； 〃Do not speak！
Thou art still too weak。 I will tell thee where thou art
and everything that has passed。〃
And the mujik related to Michael Strogoff the different incidents
of the struggle which he had witnessedthe attack upon the ferry
by the Tartar boats； the pillage of the tarantass； and the massacre
of the boatmen。
But Michael Strogoff listened no longer； and slipping his hand under
his garment he felt the imperial letter still secured in his breast。
He breathed a sigh of relief。
But that was not all。 〃A young girl accompanied me；〃 said he。
〃They have not killed her；〃 replied the mujik； anticipating the anxiety
which he read in the eyes of his guest。 〃They have carried her off
in their boat； and have continued the descent of Irtych。 It is only
one prisoner more to join the many they are taking to Tomsk！〃
Michael Strogoff was unable to reply。 He pressed his hand upon
his heart to restrain its beating。 But； notwithstanding these
many trials； the sentiment of duty mastered his whole soul。
〃Where am I？〃 asked he。
〃Upon the right bank of the Irtych； only five versts from Omsk；〃
replied the mujik。
〃What wound can I have received which could have thus prostrated me？
It was not a gunshot wound？〃
〃No； a lance…thrust in the head； now healing；〃 replied the mujik。
〃After a few days' rest； little father； thou wilt be able to proceed。
Thou didst fall into the river； but the Tartars neither touched nor
searched thee； and thy purse is still in thy pocket。〃
Michael Strogoff gripped the mujik's hand。 Then； recovering himself
with a sudden effort； 〃Friend；〃 said he； 〃how long have I been
in thy hut？〃
〃Three days。〃
〃Three days lost！〃
〃Three days hast thou lain unconscious。〃
〃Hast thou a horse to sell me？〃
〃Thou wishest to go？〃
〃At once。〃
〃I have neither horse nor carriage； little father。
Where the Tartar has passed there remains nothing！〃
〃Well； I will go on foot to Omsk to find a horse。〃
〃A few more hours of rest； and thou wilt be in a better condition
to pursue thy journey。〃
〃Not an hour！〃
〃Come now；〃 replied the mujik； recognizing the fact that it was useless
to struggle against the will of his guest； 〃I will guide thee myself。
Besides；〃 he added； 〃the Russians are still in great force at Omsk；
and thou couldst； perhaps； pass unperceived。〃
〃Friend；〃 replied Michael Strogoff； 〃Heaven reward thee for all thou
hast done for me！〃
〃Only fools expect reward on earth；〃 replied the mujik。
Michael Strogoff went out of the hut。 When he tried to walk he was
seized with such faintness that； without the assistance of the mujik；
he would have fallen； but the fresh air quickly revived him。
He then felt the wound in his head； the violence of which his
fur cap had lessened。 With the energy which he possessed；
he was not a man to succumb under such a trifle。 Before his eyes
lay a single goalfar…distant Irkutsk。 He must reach it！
But he must pass through Omsk without stopping there。
〃God protect my mother and Nadia！〃 he murmured。 〃I have no longer
the right to think of them！〃
Michael Strogoff and the mujik soon arrived in the mercantile
quarter of the lower town。 The surrounding earthwork had been
destroyed in many places； and there were the breaches through which
the marauders who followed the armies of Feofar…Khan had penetrated。
Within Omsk； in its streets and squares； the Tartar soldiers swarmed
like ants； but it was easy to see that a hand of iron imposed
upon them a discipline to which they were little accustomed。
They walked nowhere alone； but in armed groups； to defend
themselves against surprise。
In the chief square； transformed into a camp； guarded by many sentries；
2；000 Tartars bivouacked。 The horses； picketed but still saddled；
were ready to start at the first order。 Omsk could only be a temporary
halting…place for this Tartar cavalry； which preferred the rich plains
of Eastern Siberia； where the towns were more wealthy； and； consequently；
pillage more profitable。
Above the mercantile town rose the upper quarter； which Ivan Ogareff；
notwithstanding several assaults vigorously made but bravely repelled；
had not yet been able to reduce。 Upon its embattled walls floated
the national colors of Russia。
It was not without a legitimate pride that Michael Strogoff and his guide；
vowing fidelity； saluted them。
Michael Strogoff was perfectly acquainted with the town of Omsk；
and he took care to avoid those streets which were much frequented。
This was not from any fear of being recognized。 In the town his old
mother only could have called him by name； but he had sworn not to
see her； and he did not。 Besidesand he wished it with his whole heart
she might have fled into some quiet portion of the steppe。
The mujik very fortunately knew a postmaster who； if well paid； would not
refuse at his request either to let or to sell a carriage or horses。
There remained the difficulty of leaving the town； but the breaches
in the fortifications would； of course； facilitate his departure。
The mujik was accordingly conducting his guest straight to
the posting…house； when； in a narrow street； Michael Strogoff；
coming to a sudden stop sprang behind a jutting wall。
〃What is the matter？〃 asked the astonished mujik。
〃Silence！〃 replied Michael； with his finger on his lips。
At this moment a detachment debouched from the principal square
into the street which Michael Strogoff and his companion had
just been following。
At the head of the detachment； composed of twenty horsemen；
was an officer dressed in a very simple uniform。
Although he glanced rapidly from one side to the other he could
not have seen Michael Strogoff； owing to his precipitous retreat。
The detachment went at full trot into the narrow street。 Neither the
officer nor his escort concerned themselves about the inhabitants。
Several unlucky ones had scarcely time to make way for their passage。
There were a few half…stifled cries； to which thrusts of the lance gave
an instant reply； and the street was immediately cleared。
When the escort had disappeared； 〃Who is that officer？〃
asked Michael