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There was nothing for it but； having crossed the Obi； to take the Irkutsk
road and avoid Tomsk。
This new route decided on； Michael must not delay an instant。
Nor did he； but； putting his horse into a steady gallop； he took the road
towards the left bank of the Obi； which was still forty versts distant。
Would there be a ferry boat there； or should he； finding that the Tartars
had destroyed all the boats； be obliged to swim across？
As to his horse； it was by this time pretty well worn out； and Michael
intended to make it perform this stage only； and then to exchange it
for a fresh one at Kolyvan。 Kolyvan would be like a fresh starting point；
for on leaving that town his journey would take a new form。
So long as he traversed a devastated country the difficulties must
be very great； but if； having avoided Tomsk； he could r俿um？the road
to Irkutsk across the province of Yeniseisk； which was not yet laid waste；
he would finish his journey in a few days。
Night came on； bringing with it refreshing coolness after the heat
of the day。 At midnight the steppe was profoundly dark。
The sound of the horses's hoofs alone was heard on the road； except when；
every now and then； its master spoke a few encouraging words。
In such darkness as this great care was necessary lest he should
leave the road； bordered by pools and streams； tributaries of
the Obi。 Michael therefore advanced as quickly as was consistent
with safety。 He trusted no less to the excellence of his eyes；
which penetrated the gloom； than to the well…proved sagacity
of his horse。
Just as Michael dismounted to discover the exact direction of the road；
he heard a confused murmuring sound from the west。 It was like
the noise of horses' hoofs at some distance on the parched ground。
Michael listened attentively； putting his ear to the ground。
〃It is a detachment of cavalry coming by the road from Omsk；〃
he said to himself。 〃They are marching very quickly；
for the noise is increasing。 Are they Russians or Tartars？〃
Michael again listened。 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃they are at a sharp trot。
My horse cannot outstrip them。 If they are Russians I will join them；
if Tartars I must avoid them。 But how？ Where can I hide in this steppe？〃
He gave a look around； and； through the darkness； discovered a
confused mass at a hundred paces before him on the left of the road。
〃There is a copse！〃 he exclaimed。 〃To take refuge there is
to run the risk of being caught； if they are in search of me；
but I have no choice。〃
In a few moments Michael； dragging his horse by the bridle；
reached a little larch wood； through which the road lay。
Beyond this it was destitute of trees； and wound among bogs
and pools； separated by dwarfed bushes； whins； and heather。
The ground on either side was quite impracticable；
and the detachment must necessarily pass through the wood。
They were pursuing the high road to Irkutsk。 Plunging in about
forty feet； he was stopped by a stream running under the brushwood。
But the shadow was so deep that Michael ran no risk of
being seen； unless the wood should be carefully searched。
He therefore led his horse to the stream and fastened him to a tree；
returning to the edge of the road to listen and ascertain
with what sort of people he had to do。
Michael had scarcely taken up his position behind a group of larches
when a confused light appeared； above which glared brighter lights
waving about in the shadow。
〃Torches！〃 said he to himself。 And he drew quickly back；
gliding like a savage into the thickest underwood。
As they approached the wood the horses' pace was slackened。
The horsemen were probably lighting up the road with the intention
of examining every turn。
Michael feared this； and instinctively drew near to the bank
of the stream； ready to plunge in if necessary。
Arrived at the top of the wood； the detachment halted。
The horsemen dismounted。 There were about fifty。
A dozen of them carried torches； lighting up the road。
By watching their preparations Michael found to his joy
that the detachment were not thinking of visiting the copse；
but only bivouacking near； to rest their horses and allow the men
to take some refreshment。 The horses were soon unsaddled；
and began to graze on the thick grass which carpeted the ground。
The men meantime stretched themselves by the side of the road；
and partook of the provisions they produced from their knapsacks。
Michael's self…possession had never deserted him； and creeping amongst
the high grass he endeavored not only to examine the new…comers；
but to hear what they said。 It was a detachment from Omsk；
composed of Usbeck horsemen； a race of the Mongolian type。
These men； well built； above the medium height； rough； and wild…featured；
wore on their heads the 〃talpak；〃 or black sheep…skin cap；
and on their feet yellow high…heeled boots with turned…up toes；
like the shoes of the Middle Ages。 Their tunics were close…fitting；
and confined at the waist by a leathern belt braided with red。
They were armed defensively with a shield； and offensively with a
curved sword； and a flintlock musket slung at the saddle…bow。 From
their shoulders hung gay…colored cloaks。
The horses； which were feeding at liberty at the edge
of the wood； were； like their masters； of the Usbeck race。
These animals are rather smaller than the Turcomanian horses；
but are possessed of remarkable strength； and know no other pace
than the gallop。
This detachment was commanded by a 〃pendja…baschi〃； that is to say；
a commander of fifty men； having under him a 〃deh…baschi；〃
or simple commander of ten men。 These two officers wore helmets
and half coats…of…mail； little trumpets fastened to their saddle…bows
were the distinctive signs of their rank。
The pendja…baschi had been obliged to let his men rest；
fatigued with a long stage。 He and the second officer；
smoking 〃beng；〃 the leaf which forms the base of the 〃has…chisch；〃
strolled up and down the wood； so that Michael Strogoff without
being seen； could catch and understand their conversation；
which was spoken in the Tartar language。
Michael's attention was singularly excited by their very first words。
It was of him they were speaking。
〃This courier cannot be much in advance of us；〃 said the pendja…baschi；
〃and； on the other hand； it is absolutely impossible that he can have
followed any other route than that of the Baraba。〃
〃Who knows if he has left Omsk？〃 replied the deh…baschi。 〃Perhaps
he is still hidden in the town。〃
〃That is to be wished； certainly。 Colonel Ogareff would have no fear
then that the dispatches he bears should ever reach their destination。〃
〃They say that he is a native； a Siberian；〃 resumed the deh…baschi。
〃If so； he must be well acquainted with the country； and it is possible
that he has left the Irkutsk road； depending on rejoining it later。〃
〃But then we should be in advance of him；〃 answered the pendja…baschi；
〃for we left Omsk within an hour after his departure； and have
since followed the shortest road with all the speed of our horses。
He has either remained in Omsk； or we shall arrive at Tomsk before him；
so as to cut him off； in either case he will not reach Irkutsk。〃
〃A rugged woman； that old Siberian； who is evidently his mother；〃
said the deh…baschi。
At this remark Michael's heart beat violently。
〃Yes；〃 answered the pendja…baschi。 〃She stuck to it well that
the pretended merchant was not her son； but it was too late。
Colonel Ogareff was not to be taken in； and； as he said；
he will know how to make the old witch speak when the time comes。〃
These words were so many dagger…thrusts for Michael。 He was
known to be a courier of the Czar！ A detachment of horsemen
on his track could not fail to cut him off。 And； worst of all；
his mother was in the hands of the Tartars； and the cruel
Ogareff had undertaken to make her speak when he wished！
Michael well knew that the brave Siberian would sacrifice her life
for him。 He had fancied that he could not hate Ivan Ogareff more；
yet a fresh tide of hate now rose in his heart。 The wretch who had
betrayed his country now threatened to torture his mother。
The conversation between the two officers continued； and Michael
understood that an engagement was imminent in the neighborhood
of Kolyvan； between the Muscovite troops coming from the north
and the Tartars。 A small Russian force of two thousand men；
reported to have reached the lower course of the Obi； were advancing
by forced marches towards Tomsk。 If such was the case；
this force； which would soon find itself engaged with the main
body of Feofar…Khan's army； would be inevitably overwhelmed；
and the Irkutsk road would be in the entire possession
of the invaders。
As to himself； Michael learnt； by some words from the pendja…baschi；
that a price was set on his head； and that orders had been given
to take him； dead or alive。
It was necessary； therefore； to get the start of the Usbeck horsemen
on the Irkutsk road； and put the Obi between himself and them。
But to do that； he must escape before the camp was broken up。
His determination taken； Michael prepared to execute it。
Indeed； the halt would not be prolonged； and t