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Ivan Ogareff was no longer ignorant of the fact that a courier of the Czar
had just passed Omsk； taking the direction of Irkutsk。 The dispatches
which this courier bore must have been of immense importance。
Michael Strogoff knew； therefore； that every effort would be made
to capture him。
But what he did not know； and could not know； was that Marfa Strogoff
was in the hands of Ivan Ogareff； and that she was about to atone；
perhaps with her life； for that natural exhibition of her feelings which
she had been unable to restrain when she suddenly found herself in the
presence of her son。 And it was fortunate that he was ignorant of it。
Could he have withstood this fresh trial？
Michael Strogoff urged on his horse； imbuing him with all his own
feverish impatience； requiring of him one thing only； namely； to bear
him rapidly to the next posting…house； where he could be exchanged
for a quicker conveyance。
At midnight he had cleared fifty miles； and halted at the station
of Koulikovo。 But there； as he had feared； he found neither
horses nor carriages。 Several Tartar detachments had passed
along the highway of the steppe。 Everything had been stolen
or requisitioned both in the villages and in the posting…houses。
It was with difficulty that Michael Strogoff was even able
to obtain some refreshment for his horse and himself。
It was of great importance； therefore； to spare his horse； for he could
not tell when or how he might be able to replace it。 Desiring； however；
to put the greatest possible distance between himself and the horsemen
who had no doubt been dispatched in pursuit； he resolved to push on。
After one hour's rest he resumed his course across the steppe。
Hitherto the weather had been propitious for his journey。
The temperature was endurable。 The nights at this time of the year
are very short； and as they are lighted by the moon； the route
over the steppe is practicable。 Michael Strogoff； moreover；
was a man certain of his road and devoid of doubt or hesitation；
and in spite of the melancholy thoughts which possessed him
he had preserved his clearness of mind； and made for his
destined point as though it were visible upon the horizon。
When he did halt for a moment at some turn in the road it was
to breathe his horse。 Now he would dismount to ease his steed
for a moment； and again he would place his ear to the ground
to listen for the sound of galloping horses upon the steppe。
Nothing arousing his suspicions； he resumed his way。
On the 30th of July； at nine o'clock in the morning； Michael Strogoff
passed through the station of Touroumoff and entered the swampy district
of the Baraba。
There； for a distance of three hundred versts； the natural obstacles
would be extremely great。 He knew this； but he also knew that he would
certainly surmount them。
These vast marshes of the Baraba； form the reservoir to all
the rain…water which finds no outlet either towards the Obi
or towards the Irtych。 The soil of this vast depression is
entirely argillaceous； and therefore impermeable； so that the waters
remain there and make of it a region very difficult to cross
during the hot season。 There； however； lies the way to Irkutsk；
and it is in the midst of ponds； pools； lakes； and swamps；
from which the sun draws poisonous exhalations； that the road winds；
and entails upon the traveler the greatest fatigue and danger。
Michael Strogoff spurred his horse into the midst of a grassy prairie；
differing greatly from the close…cropped sod of the steppe； where feed the
immense Siberian herds。 The grass here was five or six feet in height；
and had made room for swamp…plants； to which the dampness of the place；
assisted by the heat of summer； had given giant proportions。
These were principally canes and rushes； which formed a tangled network；
an impenetrable undergrowth； sprinkled everywhere with a thousand
flowers remarkable for the brightness of their color。
Michael Strogoff； galloping amongst this undergrowth of cane；
was no longer visible from the swamps which bordered the road。
The tall grass rose above him； and his track was indicated only
by the flight of innumerable aquatic birds； which rose from the side
of the road and dispersed into the air in screaming flocks。
The way； however； was clearly traceable。 Now it would lie
straight between the dense thicket of marsh…plants； again it
would follow the winding shores of vast pools； some of which；
several versts in length and breadth； deserve the name of lakes。
In other localities the stagnant waters through which the road
lay had been avoided； not by bridges； but by tottering
platforms ballasted with thick layers of clay； whose joists
shook like a too weak plank thrown across an abyss。
Some of these platforms extended over three hundred feet；
and travelers by tarantass； when crossing them have experienced
a nausea like sea…sickness。
Michael Strogoff； whether the soil beneath his feet was solid
or whether it sank under him； galloped on without halt；
leaping the space between the rotten joists； but however
fast they traveled the horse and the horseman were unable
to escape from the sting of the two…winged insects which infest
this marshy country。
Travelers who are obliged to cross the Baraba during the summer
take care to provide themselves with masks of horse…hair；
to which is attached a coat of mail of very fine wire；
which covers their shoulders。 Notwithstanding these precautions；
there are few who come out of these marshes without having
their faces； necks； and hands covered with red spots。
The atmosphere there seems to bristle with fine needles；
and one would almost say that a knight's armor would not protect
him against the darts of these dipterals。 It is a dreary region；
which man dearly disputes with tipulae； gnats； mosquitos；
horse…flies； and millions of microscopic insects which are not
visible to the naked eye； but； although they are not seen；
they make themselves felt by their intolerable stinging；
to which the most callous Siberian hunters have never been able
to inure themselves。
Michael Strogoff's horse； stung by these venomous insects； sprang forward
as if the rowels of a thousand spurs had pierced his flanks。
Mad with rage； he tore along over verst after verst with the speed
of an express train； lashing his sides with his tail； seeking by
the rapidity of his pace an alleviation of his torture。
It required as good a horseman as Michael Strogoff not to be thrown
by the plungings of his horse； and the sudden stops and bounds
which he made to escape from the stings of his persecutors。
Having become insensible； so to speak； to physical suffering；
possessed only with the one desire to arrive at his destination
at whatever cost； he saw during this mad race only one thing
that the road flew rapidly behind him。
Who would have thought that this district of the Baraba； so unhealthy
during the summer； could have afforded an asylum for human beings？
Yet it did so。 Several Siberian hamlets appeared from time
to time among the giant canes。 Men； women； children； and old men；
clad in the skins of beasts； their faces covered with hardened
blisters of skin； pastured their poor herds of sheep。
In order to preserve the animals from the attack of the insects；
they drove them to the leeward of fires of green wood； which were
kept burning night and day； and the pungent smoke of which floated
over the vast swamp。
When Michael Strogoff perceived that his horse； tired out； was on
the point of succumbing； he halted at one of these wretched hamlets；
and there； forgetting his own fatigue； he himself rubbed the wounds
of the poor animal with hot grease according to the Siberian custom；
then he gave him a good feed； and it was only after he had well groomed
and provided for him that he thought of himself； and recruited his
strength by a hasty meal of bread and meat and a glass of kwass。
One hour afterwards； or at the most two； he resumed with all speed
the interminable road to Irkutsk。
On the 30th of July； at four o'clock in the afternoon； Michael Strogoff；
insensible of every fatigue； arrived at Elamsk。 There it
became necessary to give a night's rest to his horse。
The brave animal could no longer have continued the journey。
At Elamsk； as indeed elsewhere； there existed no means of transport；
for the same reasons as at the previous villages； neither carriages
nor horses were to be had。
Michael Strogoff resigned himself therefore to pass the night at Elamsk；
to give his horse twelve hours' rest。 He recalled the instructions which
had been given to him at Moscowto cross Siberia incognito； to arrive
at Irkutsk； but not to sacrifice success to the rapidity of the journey；
and consequently it was necessary that he should husband the sole means
of transport which remained to him。
On the morrow； Michael Strogoff left Elamsk at the moment when
the first Tartar scouts were signaled ten versts behind upon the road
to the Baraba； and he plunged again into the swampy region。
The road was level； which made it easy； but very tortuous；
and therefore long。 It was impossible； moreover； to leave it；
and to strike a straight line across that impa