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To him it was a question of life and death； and still more； a question
of duty and honor。〃
〃Duty； indeed； imperious duty；〃 said the old Siberian；
〃of those who sacrifice everything； even the joy of giving
a kiss； perhaps the last； to his old mother。 All that you do
not know； Nadiaall that I did not know myselfI now know。
You have made me understand everything。 But the light which you
have thrown on the mysteries of my heart； I cannot return on yours。
Since my son has not told you his secret； I must keep it。
Forgive me； Nadia； I can never repay what you have done for me。〃
〃Mother； I ask you nothing；〃 replied Nadia。
All was thus explained to the old Siberian； all； even the conduct
of her son with regard to herself in the inn at Omsk。 There was
no doubt that the young girl's companion was Michael Strogoff；
and that a secret mission in the invaded country obliged him
to conceal his quality of the Czar's courier。
〃Ah； my brave boy！〃 thought Marfa。 〃No； I will not betray you；
and tortures shall not wrest from me the avowal that it was you
whom I saw at Omsk。〃
Marfa could with a word have paid Nadia for all her devotion to her。
She could have told her that her companion； Nicholas Korpanoff；
or rather Michael Strogoff； had not perished in the waters of the Irtych；
since it was some days after that incident that she had met him；
that she had spoken to him。
But she restrained herself； she was silent； and contented herself
with saying； 〃Hope； my child！ Misfortune will not overwhelm you。
You will see your father again； I feel it； and perhaps he who gave
you the name of sister is not dead。 God cannot have allowed your
brave companion to perish。 Hope； my child； hope！ Do as I do。
The mourning which I wear is not yet for my son。〃
CHAPTER III BLOW FOR BLOW
SUCH were now the relative situations of Marfa Strogoff
and Nadia。 All was understood by the old Siberian； and though the young
girl was ignorant that her much…regretted companion still lived；
she at least knew his relationship to her whom she had made her mother；
and she thanked God for having given her the joy of taking the place
of the son whom the prisoner had lost。
But what neither of them could know was that Michael； having been
captured at Kolyvan； was in the same convoy and was on his way
to Tomsk with them。
The prisoners brought by Ivan Ogareff had been added to those already kept
by the Emir in the Tartar camp。 These unfortunate people； consisting
of Russians； Siberians； soldiers and civilians； numbered some thousands；
and formed a column which extended over several versts。 Some among them
being considered dangerous were handcuffed and fastened to a long chain。
There were； too； women and children； many of the latter suspended
to the pommels of the saddles； while the former were dragged mercilessly
along the road on foot； or driven forward as if they were animals。
The horsemen compelled them to maintain a certain order； and there were
no laggards with the exception of those who fell never to rise again。
In consequence of this arrangement； Michael Strogoff；
marching in the first ranks of those who had left the Tartar camp
that is to say； among the Kolyvan prisonerswas unable to mingle
with the prisoners who had arrived after him from Omsk。 He had
therefore no suspicion that his mother and Nadia were present in
the convoy； nor did they suppose that he was among those in front。
This journey from the camp to Tomsk； performed under the lashes and
spear…points of the soldiers； proved fatal to many； and terrible to all。
The prisoners traveled across the steppe； over a road made
still more dusty by the passage of the Emir and his vanguard。
Orders had been given to march rapidly。 The short halts were rare。
The hundred miles under a burning sky seemed interminable；
though they were performed as rapidly as possible。
The country； which extends from the right of the Obi to
the base of the spur detached from the Sayanok Mountains；
is very sterile。 Only a few stunted and burnt…up shrubs
here and there break the monotony of the immense plain。
There was no cultivation； for there was no water； and it was water
that the prisoners； parched by their painful march； most needed。
To find a stream they must have diverged fifty versts eastward；
to the very foot of the mountains。
There flows the Tom； a little affluent of the Obi； which passes near
Tomsk before losing itself in one of the great northern arteries。
There water would have been abundant； the steppe less arid；
the heat less severe。 But the strictest orders had been given
to the commanders of the convoy to reach Tomsk by the shortest way；
for the Emir was much afraid of being taken in the flank and cut
off by some Russian column descending from the northern provinces。
It is useless to dwell upon the sufferings of the unhappy prisoners。
Many hundreds fell on the steppe； where their bodies would lie
until winter； when the wolves would devour the remnants of their bones。
As Nadia helped the old Siberian； so in the same way did Michael
render to his more feeble companions in misfortune such services
as his situation allowed。 He encouraged some； supported others；
going to and fro； until a prick from a soldier's lance obliged him
to r俿um？the place which had been assigned him in the ranks。
Why did he not endeavor to escape？
The reason was that he had now quite determined not to venture until
the steppe was safe for him。 He was resolved in his idea of going
as far as Tomsk 〃at the Emir's expense；〃 and indeed he was right。
As he observed the numerous detachments which scoured the plain
on the convoy's flanks； now to the south； now to the north；
it was evident that before he could have gone two versts
he must have been recaptured。 The Tartar horsemen swarmed
it actually appeared as if they sprang from the earthlike insects
which a thunderstorm brings to the surface of the ground。
Flight under these conditions would have been extremely difficult；
if not impossible。 The soldiers of the escort displayed
excessive vigilance； for they would have paid for the slightest
carelessness with their heads。
At nightfall of the 15th of August； the convoy reached the little
village of Zabediero； thirty versts from Tomsk。
The prisoners' first movement would have been to rush into the river；
but they were not allowed to leave the ranks until the halt
had been organized。 Although the current of the Tom was just
now like a torrent； it might have favored the flight of some
bold or desperate man； and the strictest measures of vigilance
were taken。 Boats； requisitioned at Zabediero； were brought up
to the Tom and formed a line of obstacles impossible to pass。
As to the encampment on the outskirts of the village； it was
guarded by a cordon of sentinels。
Michael Strogoff； who now naturally thought of escape； saw；
after carefully surveying the situation； that under these
conditions it was perfectly impossible； so； not wishing
to compromise himself； he waited。
The prisoners were to encamp for the whole night on the banks
of the Tom； for the Emir had put off the entrance of his troops
into Tomsk。 It had been decided that a military fete should mark
the inauguration of the Tartar headquarters in this important city。
Feofar…Khan already occupied the fortress； but the bulk of his army
bivouacked under its walls； waiting until the time came for them
to make a solemn entry。
Ivan Ogareff left the Emir at Tomsk； where both had arrived
the evening before； and returned to the camp at Zabediero。 From here
he was to start the next day with the rear…guard of the Tartar army。
A house had been arranged for him in which to pass the night。
At sunrise horse and foot soldiers were to proceed to Tomsk；
where the Emir wished to receive them with the pomp usual
to Asiatic sovereigns。 As soon as the halt was organized；
the prisoners； worn out with their three days' journey； and suffering
from burning thirst； could drink and take a little rest。
The sun had already set； when Nadia； supporting Marfa Strogoff；
reached the banks of the Tom。 They had not till then been able
to get through those who crowded the banks； but at last they came
to drink in their turn。
The old woman bent over the clear stream； and Nadia； plunging in
her hand； carried it to Marfa's lips。 Then she refreshed herself。
They found new life in these welcome waters。 Suddenly Nadia started up；
an involuntary cry escaped her。
Michael Strogoff was there； a few steps from her。 It was he。
The dying rays of the sun fell upon him。
At Nadia's cry Michael started。 But he had sufficient command over
himself not to utter a word by which he might have been compromised。
And yet； when he saw Nadia； he also recognized his mother。
Feeling he could not long keep master of himself at this
unexpected meeting； he covered his eyes with his hands and
walked quickly away。
Nadia's impulse was to run after him； but the old Siberian murmured
in her ear； 〃Stay； my daughter！〃
〃It is he！〃 replied Nadia； choking with emotion。 〃He lives； mother！
It is he！〃
〃It is my son；〃 answered Marfa； 〃it is Michael Strogoff；
and you see that I do not make a step