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in this desert！〃
〃Friend；〃 said Nadia； 〃you must go on with us。〃
〃I must indeed！〃 replied Nicholas。 〃The wire is no doubt
still working between Oudinsk and Irkutsk； and there
Shall we start； little father？〃
〃Let us wait till to…morrow；〃 answered Michael。
〃You are right；〃 said Nicholas。 〃We have the Yenisei to cross；
and need light to see our way there！〃
〃To see！〃 murmured Nadia； thinking of her blind companion。
Nicholas heard her； and turning to Michael； 〃Forgive me； little father；〃
said he。 〃Alas！ night and day； it is true； are all the same to you！〃
〃Do not reproach yourself； friend；〃 replied Michael； pressing his
hand over his eyes。 〃With you for a guide I can still act。
Take a few hours' repose。 Nadia must rest too。 To…morrow we
will recommence our journey！〃
Michael and his friends had not to search long for a place of rest。
The first house； the door of which they pushed open； was empty；
as well as all the others。 Nothing could be found within but a
few heaps of leaves。 For want of better fodder the horse had
to content himself with this scanty nourishment。 The provisions
of the kibitka were not yet exhausted； so each had a share。
Then； after having knelt before a small picture of the Panaghia；
hung on the wall； and still lighted up by a flickering lamp；
Nicholas and the young girl slept； whilst Michael； over whom
sleep had no influence； watched。
Before daybreak the next morning； the 26th of August； the horse
was drawing the kibitka through the forests of birch trees
towards the banks of the Yenisei。 Michael was in much anxiety。
How was he to cross the river； if； as was probable； all boats
had been destroyed to retard the Tartars' march？ He knew
the Yenisei； its width was considerable； its currents strong。
Ordinarily by means of boats specially built for the conveyance
of travelers； carriages； and horses； the passage of the Yenisei
takes about three hours； and then it is with extreme difficulty
that the boats reach the opposite bank。 Now； in the absence
of any ferry； how was the kibitka to get from one bank
to the other？
Day was breaking when the kibitka reached the left bank；
where one of the wide alleys of the park ended。
They were about a hundred feet above the Yenisei； and could
therefore survey the whole of its wide course。
〃Do you see a boat？〃 asked Michael； casting his eyes eagerly
about from one side to the other； mechanically； no doubt；
as if he could really see。
〃It is scarcely light yet； brother；〃 replied Nadia。 〃The fog
is still thick； and we cannot see the water。〃
〃But I hear it roaring；〃 said Michael。
Indeed； from the fog issued a dull roaring sound。
The waters being high rushed down with tumultuous violence。
All three waited until the misty curtain should rise。
The sun would not be long in dispersing the vapors。
〃Well？〃 asked Michael。
〃The fog is beginning to roll away； brother；〃 replied Nadia；
〃and it will soon be clear。〃
〃Then you do not see the surface of the water yet？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃Have patience； little father；〃 said Nicholas。 〃All this
will soon disappear。 Look！ here comes the breeze！
It is driving away the fog。 The trees on the opposite
hills are already appearing。 It is sweeping； flying away。
The kindly rays of the sun have condensed all that mass of mist。
Ah！ how beautiful it is； my poor fellow； and how unfortunate
that you cannot see such a lovely sight！〃
〃Do you see a boat？〃 asked Michael。
〃I see nothing of the sort；〃 answered Nicholas。
〃Look well； friend； on this and the opposite bank； as far as your eye
can reach。 A raft； even a canoe？〃
Nicholas and Nadia； grasping the bushes on the edge of the cliff；
bent over the water。 The view they thus obtained was extensive。
At this place the Yenisei is not less than a mile in width； and forms
two arms； of unequal size； through which the waters flow swiftly。
Between these arms lie several islands； covered with alders；
willows； and poplars； looking like verdant ships； anchored in
the river。 Beyond rise the high hills of the Eastern shore；
crowned with forests； whose tops were then empurpled with light。
The Yenisei stretched on either side as far as the eye could reach。
The beautiful panorama lay before them for a distance of fifty versts。
But not a boat was to be seen。 All had been taken away or destroyed；
according to order。 Unless the Tartars should bring with them materials
for building a bridge of boats； their march towards Irkutsk would
certainly be stopped for some time by this barrier； the Yenisei。
〃I remember；〃 said Michael； 〃that higher up； on the outskirts
of Krasnoiarsk； there is a little quay。 There the boats touch。
Friend； let us go up the river； and see if some boat has not been
forgotten on the bank。〃
Nadia seized Michael's hand and started off at a rapid pace in
the direction indicated。 If only a boat or a barge large enough
to hold the kibitka could be found； or even one that would carry
just themselves； Michael would not hesitate to attempt the passage！
Twenty minutes after； all three had reached the little quay；
with houses on each side quite down to the water's edge。
It was like a village standing beyond the town of Krasnoiarsk。
But not a boat was on the shore； not a barge at the little wharf；
nothing even of which a raft could be made large enough to carry
three people。 Michael questioned Nicholas； who made the discouraging
reply that the crossing appeared to him absolutely impracticable。
〃We shall cross！〃 answered Michael。
The search was continued。 They examined the houses on the shore；
abandoned like all the rest of Krasnoiarsk。 They had merely to push open
the doors and enter。 The cottages were evidently those of poor people；
and quite empty。 Nicholas visited one； Nadia entered another；
and even Michael went here and there and felt about； hoping to light
upon some article that might be useful。
Nicholas and the girl had each fruitlessly rummaged these cottages
and were about to give up the search； when they heard themselves called。
Both ran to the bank and saw Michael standing on the threshold of a door。
〃Come！〃 he exclaimed。 Nicholas and Nadia went towards him and followed
him into the cottage。
〃What are these？〃 asked Michael； touching several objects piled
up in a corner。
〃They are leathern bottles；〃 answered Nicholas。
〃Are they full？〃
〃Yes； full of koumyss。 We have found them very opportunely
to renew our provisions！〃
〃Koumyss〃 is a drink made of mare's or camel's milk； and is
very sustaining； and even intoxicating； so that Nicholas and his
companions could not but congratulate themselves on the discovery。
〃Save one；〃 said Michael； 〃but empty the others。〃
〃Directly； little father。〃
〃These will help us to cross the Yenisei。〃
〃And the raft？〃
〃Will be the kibitka itself； which is light enough to float。
Besides； we will sustain it； as well as the horse； with these bottles。〃
〃Well thought of； little father；〃 exclaimed Nicholas； 〃and by God's help
we will get safely over 。 。 。 though perhaps not in a straight line；
for the current is very rapid！〃
〃What does that matter？〃 replied Michael。 〃Let us get across first；
and we shall soon find out the road to Irkutsk on the other side
of the river。〃
〃To work； then；〃 said Nicholas； beginning to empty the bottles。
One full of koumyss was reserved； and the rest； with the air carefully
fastened in； were used to form a floating apparatus。 Two bottles
were fastened to the horse's sides to support it in the water。
Two others were attached to the shafts to keep them on a level
with the body of the machine； thus transformed into a raft。
This work was soon finished。
〃You will not be afraid； Nadia？〃 asked Michael。
〃No； brother；〃 answered the girl。
〃And you； friend？〃
〃I？〃 cried Nicholas。 〃I am now going to have one of my dreams realized
that of sailing in a cart。〃
At the spot where they were now standing； the bank sloped；
and was suitable for the launching of the kibitka。
The horse drew it into the water； and they were soon both floating。
As to Serko； he was swimming bravely。
The three passengers； seated in the vehicle； had with due
precaution taken off their shoes and stockings； but； thanks to
the bottles； the water did not even come over their ankles。
Michael held the reins； and； according to Nicholas's directions；
guided the animal obliquely； but cautiously； so as not to exhaust
him by struggling against the current。 So long as the kibitka
went with the current all was easy； and in a few minutes it
had passed the quays of Krasnoiarsk。 It drifted northwards；
and it was soon evident that it would only reach the opposite
bank far below the town。 But that mattered little。
The crossing would have been made without great difficulty；
even on this imperfect apparatus； had the current been regular；
but； unfortunately； there were whirlpools in numbers；
and soon the kibitka； notwithstanding all Michael's efforts；
was irresistibly drawn into one of these。
There the danger was great。 The kibitka no longer drifted；
but spun rapidly round； inclining towards the center of the eddy；
like a rider in a circus。 The horse could scarcely ke