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The adverse chances are numerous on this side of Tomsk； while beyond
I shall in a few hours have passed the most advanced Tartar posts
to the east。 Still three days of patience； and may God aid me！〃
It was indeed a journey of three days which the prisoners； under the guard
of a numerous detachment of Tartars； were to make across the steppe。
A hundred and fifty versts lay between the camp and the town
an easy march for the Emir's soldiers； who wanted for nothing；
but a wretched journey for these people； enfeebled by privations。
More than one corpse would show the road they had traversed。
It was two o'clock in the afternoon； on the 12th of August；
under a hot sun and cloudless sky； that the toptschi…baschi
gave the order to start。
Alcide and Blount； having bought horses； had already taken the road
to Tomsk； where events were to reunite the principal personages
of this story。
Amongst the prisoners brought by Ivan Ogareff to the Tartar camp
was an old woman； whose taciturnity seemed to keep her apart from
all those who shared her fate。 Not a murmur issued from her lips。
She was like a statue of grief。 This woman was more strictly
guarded than anyone else； and； without her appearing to notice；
was constantly watched by the Tsigane Sangarre。 Notwithstanding her
age she was compelled to follow the convoy of prisoners on foot；
without any alleviation of her suffering。
However； a kind Providence had placed near her a courageous；
kind…hearted being to comfort and assist her。 Amongst her companions
in misfortune a young girl； remarkable for beauty and taciturnity；
seemed to have given herself the task of watching over her。
No words had been exchanged between the two captives； but the girl
was always at the old woman's side when help was useful。
At first the mute assistance of the stranger was accepted with
some mistrust。 Gradually； however； the young girl's clear glance；
her reserve； and the mysterious sympathy which draws together
those who are in misfortune； thawed Marfa Strogoff's coldness。
Nadiafor it was shewas thus able； without knowing it； to render
to the mother those attentions which she had herself received
from the son。 Her instinctive kindness had doubly inspired her。
In devoting herself to her service； Nadia secured to her youth
and beauty the protection afforded by the age of the old prisoner。
On the crowd of unhappy people； embittered by sufferings；
this silent pairone seeming to be the grandmother； the other
the grand…daughterimposed a sort of respect。
After being carried off by the Tartar scouts on the Irtych； Nadia had been
taken to Omsk。 Kept prisoner in the town； she shared the fate of all
those captured by Ivan Ogareff； and consequently that of Marfa Strogoff。
If Nadia had been less energetic； she would have succumbed to this
double blow。 The interruption to her journey； the death of Michael；
made her both desperate and excited。 Divided； perhaps forever；
from her father； after so many happy efforts had brought her
near him； and； to crown her grief； separated from the intrepid
companion whom God seemed to have placed in her way to lead her。
The image of Michael Strogoff； struck before her eyes with
a lance and disappearing beneath the waters of the Irtych；
never left her thoughts。
Could such a man have died thus？ For whom was God reserving His
miracles if this good man； whom a noble object was urging onwards；
had been allowed to perish so miserably？ Then anger would
prevail over grief。 The scene of the affront so strangely borne
by her companion at the Ichim relay returned to her memory。
Her blood boiled at the recollection。
〃Who will avenge him who can no longer avenge himself？〃 she said。
And in her heart； she cried； 〃May it be I！〃 If before his death
Michael had confided his secret to her； woman； aye girl though
she was； she might have been able to carry to a successful
conclusion the interrupted task of that brother whom God had
so soon taken from her。
Absorbed in these thoughts； it can be understood how Nadia
could remain insensible to the miseries even of her captivity。
Thus chance had united her to Marfa Strogoff without her having
the least suspicion of who she was。 How could she imagine that
this old woman； a prisoner like herself； was the mother of him；
whom she only knew as the merchant Nicholas Korpanoff？ And on
the other hand； how could Marfa guess that a bond of gratitude
connected this young stranger with her son？
The thing that first struck Nadia in Marfa Strogoff was
the similarity in the way in which each bore her hard fate。
This stoicism of the old woman under the daily hardships；
this contempt of bodily suffering； could only be caused by a moral
grief equal to her own。 So Nadia thought； and she was not mistaken。
It was an instinctive sympathy for that part of her misery
which Marfa did not show which first drew Nadia towards her。
This way of bearing her sorrow went to the proud heart of
the young girl。 She did not offer her services； she gave them。
Marfa had neither to refuse nor accept them。 In the difficult
parts of the journey； the girl was there to support her。
When the provisions were given out； the old woman would not
have moved； but Nadia shared her small portion with her； and thus
this painful journey was performed。 Thanks to her companion；
Marfa was able to follow the soldiers who guarded the prisoners
without being fastened to a saddle…bow； as were many other
unfortunate wretches； and thus dragged along this road of sorrow。
〃May God reward you； my daughter； for what you have done for my old age！〃
said Marfa Strogoff once； and for some time these were the only words
exchanged between the two unfortunate beings。
During these few days； which to them appeared like centuries；
it would seem that the old woman and the girl would have been led
to speak of their situation。 But Marfa Strogoff； from a caution
which may be easily understood； never spoke about herself except
with the greatest brevity。 She never made the smallest allusion
to her son； nor to the unfortunate meeting。
Nadia also； if not completely silent； spoke little。 However； one day
her heart overflowed； and she told all the events which had occurred
from her departure from Wladimir to the death of Nicholas Korpanoff。
All that her young companion told intensely interested
the old Siberian。 〃Nicholas Korpanoff！〃 said she。
〃Tell me again about this Nicholas。 I know only one man；
one alone； in whom such conduct would not have astonished me。
Nicholas Korpanoff！ Was that really his name？ Are you sure
of it； my daughter？〃
〃Why should he have deceived me in this；〃 replied Nadia；
〃when he deceived me in no other way？〃
Moved； however； by a kind of presentiment； Marfa Strogoff put
questions upon questions to Nadia。
〃You told me he was fearless； my daughter。 You have proved
that he has been so？〃 asked she。
〃Yes； fearless indeed！〃 replied Nadia。
〃It was just what my son would have done；〃 said Marfa to herself。
Then she resumed； 〃Did you not say that nothing stopped him；
nor astonished him； that he was so gentle in his strength that you
had a sister as well as a brother in him； and he watched over you
like a mother？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Nadia。 〃Brother； sister； motherhe has been
all to me！〃
〃And defended you like a lion？〃
〃A lion indeed！〃 replied Nadia。 〃A lion； a hero！〃
〃My son； my son！〃 thought the old Siberian。 〃But you said； however；
that he bore a terrible insult at that post…house in Ichim？〃
〃He did bear it；〃 answered Nadia； looking down。
〃He bore it！〃 murmured Marfa； shuddering。
〃Mother； mother；〃 cried Nadia； 〃do not blame him！ He had a secret。
A secret of which God alone is as yet the judge！〃
〃And；〃 said Marfa； raising her head and looking at Nadia as though
she would read the depths of her heart； 〃in that hour of humiliation
did you not despise this Nicholas Korpanoff？〃
〃I admired without understanding him；〃 replied the girl。
〃I never felt him more worthy of respect。〃
The old woman was silent for a minute。
〃Was he tall？〃 she asked。
〃Very tall。〃
〃And very handsome？ Come； speak； my daughter。〃
〃He was very handsome；〃 replied Nadia； blushing。
〃It was my son！ I tell you it was my son！〃 exclaimed the
old woman； embracing Nadia。
〃Your son！〃 said Nadia amazed； 〃your son！〃
〃Come；〃 said Marfa； 〃let us get to the bottom of this； my child。
Your companion； your friend； your protector had a mother。
Did he never speak to you of his mother？〃
〃Of his mother？〃 said Nadia。 〃He spoke to me of his mother as I
spoke to him of my fatheroften； always。 He adored her。〃
〃Nadia； Nadia； you have just told me about my own son；〃
said the old woman。
And she added impetuously； 〃Was he not going to see this mother；
whom you say he loved； in Omsk？〃
〃No；〃 answered Nadia； 〃no； he was not。〃
〃Not！〃 cried Marfa。 〃You dare to tell me not！〃
〃I say so： but it remains to me to tell you that from motives which
outweighed everything else； motives which I do not know； I understand
that Nicholas Korpanoff had to traverse the country completely in secret。
To him it was a question of life and death； and still more； a que