°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
His¡¡determination¡¡taken£»¡¡Michael¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡execute¡¡it¡£
Indeed£»¡¡the¡¡halt¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡prolonged£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pendja¡baschi¡¡did
not¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡give¡¡his¡¡men¡¡more¡¡than¡¡an¡¡hour's¡¡rest£»¡¡although¡¡their
horses¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡changed¡¡for¡¡fresh¡¡ones¡¡since¡¡Omsk£»
and¡¡must¡¡be¡¡as¡¡much¡¡fatigued¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Michael¡¡Strogoff¡£
There¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡to¡¡lose¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡within¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡morning¡£
It¡¡was¡¡needful¡¡to¡¡profit¡¡by¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡little¡¡wood
and¡¡dash¡¡along¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡but¡¡although¡¡night¡¡favored¡¡it¡¡the¡¡success
of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡flight¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡almost¡¡impossible¡£
Not¡¡wishing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡at¡¡random£»¡¡Michael¡¡took¡¡time¡¡for¡¡reflection£»
carefully¡¡weighing¡¡the¡¡chances¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡best¡£
From¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡¡the¡¡result¡¡was¡¡this
that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡escape¡¡through¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood£»¡¡the¡¡stream
which¡¡bordered¡¡it¡¡being¡¡not¡¡only¡¡deep£»¡¡but¡¡very¡¡wide¡¡and¡¡muddy¡£
Beneath¡¡this¡¡thick¡¡water¡¡was¡¡a¡¡slimy¡¡bog£»¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡foot
could¡¡not¡¡rest¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡only¡¡one¡¡way¡¡open£»¡¡the¡¡high¡road¡£¡¡To
endeavor¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡it¡¡by¡¡creeping¡¡round¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood£»
without¡¡attracting¡¡attention£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡gallop¡¡at¡¡headlong¡¡speed£»
required¡¡all¡¡the¡¡remaining¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡energy¡¡of¡¡his¡¡noble¡¡steed¡£
Too¡¡probably¡¡it¡¡would¡¡fall¡¡dead¡¡on¡¡reaching¡¡the¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Obi£»¡¡when£»
either¡¡by¡¡boat¡¡or¡¡by¡¡swimming£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡cross¡¡this¡¡important¡¡river¡£
This¡¡was¡¡what¡¡Michael¡¡had¡¡before¡¡him¡£
His¡¡energy¡¡and¡¡courage¡¡increased¡¡in¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡danger¡£
His¡¡life£»¡¡his¡¡mission£»¡¡his¡¡country£»¡¡perhaps¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mother£»
were¡¡at¡¡stake¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡hesitate¡£
There¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡to¡¡be¡¡lost¡£¡¡¡¡Already¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡slight
movement¡¡among¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡detachment¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡horsemen
were¡¡strolling¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡road¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡£
The¡¡rest¡¡were¡¡still¡¡lying¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡but¡¡their
horses¡¡were¡¡gradually¡¡penetrating¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡£
Michael¡¡had¡¡at¡¡first¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡seizing¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡horses£»
but¡¡he¡¡recollected¡¡that£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡as¡¡fatigued
as¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡better¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡brave¡¡steed£»
which¡¡had¡¡already¡¡rendered¡¡him¡¡such¡¡important¡¡service¡£
The¡¡good¡¡animal£»¡¡hidden¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡thicket£»¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡the¡¡sight
of¡¡the¡¡Usbecks¡£¡¡¡¡They£»¡¡besides£»¡¡had¡¡not¡¡penetrated¡¡so¡¡far
into¡¡the¡¡wood¡£
Michael¡¡crawled¡¡up¡¡to¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡through¡¡the¡¡grass£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡him
lying¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡patted¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡gently¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡raise
him¡¡without¡¡noise¡£¡¡¡¡Fortunately£»¡¡the¡¡torches¡¡were¡¡entirely¡¡consumed£»
and¡¡now¡¡went¡¡out£»¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡being¡¡still¡¡profound¡¡under¡¡shelter
of¡¡the¡¡larches¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡replacing¡¡the¡¡bit£»¡¡Michael¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡his
girths¡¡and¡¡stirrups£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡quietly¡¡away¡£
The¡¡intelligent¡¡animal¡¡followed¡¡his¡¡master¡¡without¡¡even¡¡making
the¡¡least¡¡neigh¡£
A¡¡few¡¡Usbeck¡¡horses¡¡raised¡¡their¡¡heads£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡wander¡¡towards
the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡£¡¡¡¡Michael¡¡held¡¡his¡¡revolver¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand£»
ready¡¡to¡¡blow¡¡out¡¡the¡¡brains¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡Tartar¡¡who¡¡should¡¡approach¡¡him¡£
But¡¡happily¡¡the¡¡alarm¡¡was¡¡not¡¡given£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡the¡¡angle
made¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡where¡¡it¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡road¡£
To¡¡avoid¡¡being¡¡seen£»¡¡Michael's¡¡intention¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡mount¡¡until
after¡¡turning¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡some¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡feet¡¡from¡¡the¡¡wood¡£
Unfortunately£»¡¡just¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡issuing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡wood£»
an¡¡Usbeck's¡¡horse£»¡¡scenting¡¡him£»¡¡neighed¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡trot¡¡along
the¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡master¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡seeing¡¡a¡¡shadowy¡¡form
moving¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡light£»¡¡¡¨Look¡¡out£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡shouted¡£
At¡¡the¡¡cry£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bivouac¡¡jumped¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡seize
their¡¡horses¡£¡¡¡¡Michael¡¡leaped¡¡on¡¡his¡¡steed£»¡¡and¡¡galloped¡¡away¡£
The¡¡two¡¡officers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡detachment¡¡urged¡¡on¡¡their¡¡men¡¡to¡¡follow¡£
Michael¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡report£»¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡ball¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡his¡¡tunic¡£
Without¡¡turning¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡without¡¡replying£»¡¡he¡¡spurred¡¡on£»¡¡and£»
clearing¡¡the¡¡brushwood¡¡with¡¡a¡¡tremendous¡¡bound£»¡¡he¡¡galloped¡¡at¡¡full
speed¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡Obi¡£
The¡¡Usbecks'¡¡horses¡¡being¡¡unsaddled¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡small¡¡start£»
but¡¡in¡¡less¡¡than¡¡two¡¡minutes¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡tramp¡¡of¡¡several
horses¡¡gradually¡¡gaining¡¡on¡¡him¡£
Day¡¡was¡¡now¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡break£»¡¡and¡¡objects¡¡at¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡were
becoming¡¡visible¡£¡¡¡¡Michael¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡perceived¡¡a¡¡horseman
rapidly¡¡approaching¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡deh¡baschi¡£¡¡Being¡¡better¡¡mounted£»
this¡¡officer¡¡had¡¡distanced¡¡his¡¡detachment¡£
Without¡¡drawing¡¡rein£»¡¡Michael¡¡extended¡¡his¡¡revolver£»¡¡and¡¡took
a¡¡moment's¡¡aim¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Usbeck¡¡officer£»¡¡hit¡¡in¡¡the¡¡breast£»
rolled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡£
But¡¡the¡¡other¡¡horsemen¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡closely£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡waiting
to¡¡assist¡¡the¡¡deh¡baschi£»¡¡exciting¡¡each¡¡other¡¡by¡¡their¡¡shouts£»
digging¡¡their¡¡spurs¡¡into¡¡their¡¡horses'¡¡sides£»¡¡they¡¡gradually
diminished¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡between¡¡themselves¡¡and¡¡Michael¡£
For¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡only¡¡was¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡able¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡out¡¡of¡¡range
of¡¡the¡¡Tartars£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡well¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡becoming¡¡weaker£»
and¡¡dreaded¡¡every¡¡instant¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡stumble¡¡never¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡again¡£
It¡¡was¡¡now¡¡light£»¡¡although¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡risen¡¡above¡¡the¡¡horizon¡£
Two¡¡versts¡¡distant¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡pale¡¡line¡¡bordered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡few¡¡trees¡£
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Obi£»¡¡which¡¡flows¡¡from¡¡the¡¡southwest¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northeast£»
the¡¡surface¡¡almost¡¡level¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡its¡¡bed¡¡being¡¡but
the¡¡steppe¡¡itself¡£
Several¡¡times¡¡shots¡¡were¡¡fired¡¡at¡¡Michael£»¡¡but¡¡without¡¡hitting¡¡him£»
and¡¡several¡¡times¡¡too¡¡he¡¡discharged¡¡his¡¡revolver¡¡on¡¡those¡¡of
the¡¡soldiers¡¡who¡¡pressed¡¡him¡¡too¡¡closely¡£¡¡¡¡Each¡¡time¡¡an¡¡Usbeck
rolled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡midst¡¡cries¡¡of¡¡rage¡¡from¡¡his¡¡companions¡£
But¡¡this¡¡pursuit¡¡could¡¡only¡¡terminate¡¡to¡¡Michael's¡¡disadvantage¡£
His¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡exhausted¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡bank
of¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Usbeck¡¡detachment¡¡was¡¡now¡¡not¡¡more¡¡than¡¡fifty
paces¡¡behind¡¡him¡£
The¡¡Obi¡¡was¡¡desertednot¡¡a¡¡boat¡¡of¡¡any¡¡description¡¡which¡¡could
take¡¡him¡¡over¡¡the¡¡water£¡
¡¨Courage£»¡¡my¡¡brave¡¡horse£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Michael¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Come£¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡last¡¡effort£¡¡¨
And¡¡he¡¡plunged¡¡into¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡which¡¡here¡¡was¡¡half¡¡a¡¡verst¡¡in¡¡width¡£
It¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡against¡¡the¡¡current
indeed£»¡¡Michael's¡¡horse¡¡could¡¡get¡¡no¡¡footing¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡must¡¡therefore
swim¡¡across¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡although¡¡it¡¡was¡¡rapid¡¡as¡¡a¡¡torrent¡£
Even¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡it¡¡showed¡¡Michael's¡¡marvelous¡¡courage¡£
The¡¡soldiers¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡bank£»¡¡but¡¡hesitated¡¡to¡¡plunge¡¡in¡£
The¡¡pendja¡baschi¡¡seized¡¡his¡¡musket¡¡and¡¡took¡¡aim¡¡at¡¡Michael£»
whom¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream¡£
The¡¡shot¡¡was¡¡fired£»¡¡and¡¡Michael's¡¡horse£»¡¡struck¡¡in¡¡the¡¡side£»
was¡¡borne¡¡away¡¡by¡¡the¡¡current¡£
His¡¡master£»¡¡speedily¡¡disentangling¡¡himself¡¡from¡¡his¡¡stirrups£»
struck¡¡out¡¡boldly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡shore¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hailstorm
of¡¡balls¡¡he¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡disappeared
in¡¡the¡¡rushes¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XVII¡¡THE¡¡RIVALS
MICHAEL¡¡was¡¡in¡¡comparative¡¡safety£»¡¡though¡¡his¡¡situation¡¡was
still¡¡terrible¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡that¡¡the¡¡faithful¡¡animal¡¡who¡¡had¡¡so¡¡bravely
borne¡¡him¡¡had¡¡met¡¡his¡¡death¡¡in¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river£»
how¡¡was¡¡he¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡his¡¡journey£¿
He¡¡was¡¡on¡¡foot£»¡¡without¡¡provisions£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡country¡¡devastated
by¡¡the¡¡invasion£»¡¡overrun¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Emir's¡¡scouts£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡at¡¡a
considerable¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡place¡¡he¡¡was¡¡striving¡¡to¡¡reach¡£
¡¨By¡¡Heaven£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡get¡¡there£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡in¡¡reply¡¡to¡¡all
the¡¡reasons¡¡for¡¡faltering¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨God¡¡will¡¡protect¡¡our¡¡sacred¡¡Russia¡£¡¨
Michael¡¡was¡¡out¡¡of¡¡reach¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Usbeck¡¡horsemen¡£
They¡¡had¡¡not¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡pursue¡¡him¡¡through¡¡the¡¡river¡£
Once¡¡more¡¡on¡¡solid¡¡ground¡¡Michael¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡what
he¡¡should¡¡do¡¡next¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡Tomsk£»¡¡now¡¡occupied
by¡¡the¡¡Tartar¡¡troops¡£¡¡¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡reach¡¡some¡¡town£»
or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡a¡¡post¡house£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡could¡¡procure¡¡a¡¡horse¡£
A¡¡horse¡¡once¡¡found£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡throw¡¡himself¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beaten¡¡track£»
and¡¡not¡¡again¡¡take¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Irkutsk¡¡road¡¡until¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighborhood
of¡¡Krasnoiarsk¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡that¡¡place£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡quick£»¡¡he¡¡hoped
to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡way¡¡still¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡go¡¡through
the¡¡Lake¡¡Baikal¡¡provinces¡¡in¡¡a¡¡southeasterly¡¡direction¡£
Michael¡¡began¡¡by¡¡going¡¡eastward¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡following¡¡the¡¡course
of¡¡the¡¡Obi¡¡two¡¡versts¡¡further£»¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡a¡¡picturesque¡¡little
town¡¡lying¡¡on¡¡a¡¡small¡¡hill¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡churches£»¡¡with¡¡Byzantine
cupolas¡¡colored¡¡green¡¡and¡¡gold£»¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡against¡¡the¡¡gray¡¡sky¡£
This¡¡is¡¡Kolyvan£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡and¡¡people¡¡employed¡¡at¡¡Kamsk
and¡¡other¡¡towns¡¡take¡¡refuge¡¡during¡¡the¡¡summer¡¡from¡¡the¡¡unhealthy
climate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Baraba¡£¡¡¡¡According¡¡to¡¡the¡¡latest¡¡news¡¡obtained
by¡¡the¡¡Czar's¡¡courier£»¡¡Kolyvan¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡yet¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands
of¡¡the¡¡invaders¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Tartar¡¡troops£»¡¡divided¡¡into¡¡two¡¡columns£»
had¡¡marched¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡on¡¡Omsk£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡on¡¡Tomsk£»
neglecting¡¡the¡¡intermediate¡¡country¡£
Michael¡¡Strogoff's¡¡plan¡¡was¡¡simply¡¡thisto¡¡reach¡¡Kolyvan¡¡before
the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Usbeck¡¡horsemen£»¡¡who¡¡would¡¡ascend¡¡the¡¡other¡¡bank
of¡¡the¡¡Obi¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ferry¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡he¡¡would¡¡procure¡¡clothes¡¡and¡¡a¡¡horse£»
and¡¡r‚sum£¿the¡¡road¡¡to¡¡Irkutsk¡¡across¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡steppe¡£
It¡¡was¡¡now¡¡three¡¡o'clock¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡neighborhood¡¡of¡¡Kolyvan
was¡¡very¡¡still£»¡¡and¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡totally¡¡abandoned¡£
The¡¡country¡¡population¡¡had¡¡evidently¡¡fled¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northwards£»
to¡¡the¡¡province¡¡of¡¡Yeniseisk£»¡¡dreading¡¡the¡¡invasion£»¡¡which¡¡they
could¡¡not¡¡resist¡£
Michael¡¡was¡¡walking¡¡at¡¡a¡¡rapid¡¡pace¡¡towards¡¡Kolyvan¡¡when¡¡distant¡¡firing
struck¡¡his¡¡ear¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡stopped£»¡¡and¡¡clearly¡¡distinguished¡¡the¡¡dull¡¡roar
of¡¡artillery£»¡¡and¡¡above¡¡it¡¡a¡¡crisp¡¡rattle¡¡which¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡mistaken¡£
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡cannon¡¡and¡¡musketry£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡h