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But if； on the other hand； by energetic perseverance he could
reach Krasnoiarsk； all was perhaps not lost； since the governor；
to whom he would make himself known； would not hesitate to give
him the means of reaching Irkutsk。
Michael walked on； speaking little； absorbed in his own thoughts。
He held Nadia's hand。 The two were in incessant communication。 It seemed
to them that they had no need of words to exchange their thoughts。
From time to time Michael said； 〃Speak to me； Nadia。〃
〃Why should I； Michael？ We are thinking together！〃 the young
girl would reply； and contrived that her voice should not betray
her extreme fatigue。
But sometimes； as if her heart had ceased to beat for an instant；
her limbs tottered； her steps flagged； her arms fell to her sides；
she dropped behind。 Michael then stopped； he fixed his eyes on the poor
girl； as though he would try to pierce the gloom which surrounded him；
his breast heaved； then； supporting his companion more than before；
he started on afresh。
However； amidst these continual miseries； a fortunate circumstance
on that day occurred which it appeared likely would considerably ease
their fatigue。 They had been walking from Semilowskoe for two hours
when Michael stopped。
〃Is there no one on the road？〃
〃Not a single soul；〃 replied Nadia。
〃Do you not hear some noise behind us？ If they are Tartars we must hide。
Keep a good look…out！〃
〃Wait； Michael！〃 replied Nadia； going back a few steps to where the road
turned to the right。
Michael Strogoff waited alone for a minute； listening attentively。
Nadia returned almost immediately and said； 〃It is a cart。
A young man is leading it。〃
〃Is he alone？〃
〃Alone。〃
Michael hesitated an instant。 Should he hide？ or should he；
on the contrary； try to find a place in the vehicle； if not
for himself； at least for her？ For himself； he would be quite
content to lay one hand on the cart； to push it if necessary；
for his legs showed no sign of failing him； but he felt sure
that Nadia； compelled to walk ever since they crossed the Obi；
that is； for eight days； must be almost exhausted。 He waited。
The cart was soon at the corner of the road。 It was a very
dilapidated vehicle； known in the country as a kibitka； just capable
of holding three persons。 Usually the kibitka is drawn by three horses；
but this had but one； a beast with long hair and a very long tail。
It was of the Mongol breed； known for strength and courage。
A young man was leading it； with a dog beside him。
Nadia saw at once that the young man was Russian； his face
was phlegmatic； but pleasant； and at once inspired confidence。
He did not appear to be in the slightest hurry； he was not
walking fast that he might spare his horse； and； to look at him；
it would not have been believed that he was following a road
which might at any instant be swarming with Tartars。
Nadia； holding Michael by the hand； made way for the vehicle。
The kibitka stopped； and the driver smilingly looked at the young girl。
〃And where are you going to in this fashion？〃 he asked；
opening wide his great honest eyes。
At the sound of his voice； Michael said to himself that he had heard
it before。 And it was satisfactory to him to recognize the man
for his brow at once cleared。
〃Well； where are you going？〃 repeated the young man； addressing himself
more directly to Michael。
〃We are going to Irkutsk；〃 he replied。
〃Oh！ little father； you do not know that there are still versts
and versts between you and Irkutsk？〃
〃I know it。〃
〃And you are going on foot？〃
〃On foot。〃
〃You； well！ but the young lady？〃
〃She is my sister；〃 said Michael； who judged it prudent to give
again this name to Nadia。
〃Yes； your sister； little father！ But； believe me； she will never be
able to get to Irkutsk！〃
〃Friend；〃 returned Michael； approaching him； 〃the Tartars have
robbed us of everything； and I have not a copeck to offer you；
but if you will take my sister with you； I will follow your cart on foot；
I will run when necessary； I will not delay you an hour！〃
〃Brother；〃 exclaimed Nadia； 〃I will not！ I will not！
Sir； my brother is blind！〃
〃Blind！〃 repeated the young man； much moved。
〃The Tartars have burnt out his eyes！〃 replied Nadia； extending her hands；
as if imploring pity。
〃Burnt out his eyes！ Oh！ poor little father！ I am going
to Krasnoiarsk。 Well； why should not you and your sister mount
in the kibitka？ By sitting a little close； it will hold us
all three。 Besides； my dog will not refuse to go on foot；
only I don't go fast； I spare my horse。〃
〃Friend； what is your name？〃 asked Michael。
〃My name is Nicholas Pigassof。〃
〃It is a name that I will never forget；〃 said Michael。
〃Well； jump up； little blind father。 Your sister will be
beside you； in the bottom of the cart； I sit in front to drive。
There is plenty of good birch bark and straw in the bottom；
it's like a nest。 Serko； make room！〃
The dog jumped down without more telling。 He was an animal of the
Siberian race； gray hair； of medium size； with an honest big head；
just made to pat； and he； moreover； appeared to be much attached
to his master。
In a moment more； Michael and Nadia were seated in the kibitka。
Michael held out his hands as if to feel for those of Pigassof。 〃You wish
to shake my hands！〃 said Nicholas。 〃There they are； little father！
shake them as long as it will give you any pleasure。〃
The kibitka moved on； the horse； which Nicholas never touched with
the whip； ambled along。 Though Michael did not gain any in speed；
at least some fatigue was spared to Nadia。
Such was the exhaustion of the young girl； that； rocked by
the monotonous movement of the kibitka； she soon fell into
a sleep； its soundness proving her complete prostration。
Michael and Nicholas laid her on the straw as comfortably as possible。
The compassionate young man was greatly moved； and if a tear
did not escape from Michael's eyes； it was because the red…hot
iron had dried up the last！
〃She is very pretty；〃 said Nicholas。
〃Yes；〃 replied Michael。
〃They try to be strong； little father； they are brave；
but they are weak after all； these dear little things！
Have you come from far。〃
〃Very far。〃
〃Poor young people！ It must have hurt you very much when they
burnt your eyes！〃
〃Very much；〃 answered Michael； turning towards Nicholas as if
he could see him。
〃Did you not weep？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I should have wept too。 To think that one could never
again see those one loves。 But they can see you； however；
that's perhaps some consolation！〃
〃Yes； perhaps。 Tell me； my friend；〃 continued Michael；
〃have you never seen me anywhere before？〃
〃You； little father？ No； never。〃
〃The sound of your voice is not unknown to me。〃
〃Why！〃 returned Nicholas； smiling； 〃he knows the sound of my voice！
Perhaps you ask me that to find out where I come from。
I come from Kolyvan。〃
〃From Kolyvan？〃 repeated Michael。 〃Then it was there I met you；
you were in the telegraph office？〃
〃That may be；〃 replied Nicholas。 〃I was stationed there。
I was the clerk in charge of the messages。〃
〃And you stayed at your post up to the last moment？〃
〃Why； it's at that moment one ought to be there！〃
〃It was the day when an Englishman and a Frenchman were disputing；
roubles in hand； for the place at your wicket； and the Englishman
telegraphed some poetry。〃
〃That is possible； but I do not remember it。〃
〃What！ you do not remember it？〃
〃I never read the dispatches I send。 My duty being to forget them；
the shortest way is not to know them。〃
This reply showed Nicholas Pigassof's character。
In the meanwhile the kibitka pursued its way； at a pace which Michael
longed to render more rapid。 But Nicholas and his horse were
accustomed to a pace which neither of them would like to alter。
The horse went for two hours and rested oneso on； day and night。
During the halts the horse grazed； the travelers ate in company
with the faithful Serko。 The kibitka was provisioned for at
least twenty persons； and Nicholas generously placed his
supplies at the disposal of his two guests； whom he believed
to be brother and sister。
After a day's rest； Nadia recovered some strength。
Nicholas took the best possible care of her。
The journey was being made under tolerable circumstances；
slowly certainly； but surely。 It sometimes happened that during
the night； Nicholas； although driving； fell asleep； and snored
with a clearness which showed the calmness of his conscience。
Perhaps then； by looking close； Michael's hand might have been seen
feeling for the reins； and giving the horse a more rapid pace；
to the great astonishment of Serko； who； however； said nothing。
The trot was exchanged for the amble as soon as Nicholas awoke；
but the kibitka had not the less gained some versts。
Thus they passed the river Ichirnsk； the villages
of Ichisnokoe； Berikylokoe； Kuskoe； the river Marunsk； the village
of the same name； Bogostowskoe； and； lastly； the Ichoula； a little
stream which divides Western from Eastern Siberia。 The road
now lay sometimes across wide moors； which extended as far
as the eye could reach； sometimes through thick forests o