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but spun rapidly round； inclining towards the center of the eddy；
like a rider in a circus。 The horse could scarcely keep his
head above water； and ran a great risk of being suffocated。
Serko had been obliged to take refuge in the carriage。
Michael knew what was happening。 He felt himself drawn round
in a gradually narrowing line； from which they could not get free。
How he longed to see； to be better able to avoid this peril；
but that was no longer possible。 Nadia was silent； her hands
clinging to the sides of the cart； which was inclining more
and more towards the center of depression。
And Nicholas； did he not understand the gravity of the situation？
Was it with him phlegm or contempt of danger； courage or indifference？
Was his life valueless in his eyes； and； according to the Eastern
expression； 〃an hotel for five days；〃 which； whether one is willing
or not； must be left the sixth？ At any rate； the smile on his rosy
face never faded for an instant。
The kibitka was thus in the whirlpool； and the horse was
nearly exhausted； when； all at once； Michael； throwing off
such of his garments as might impede him； jumped into the water；
then； seizing with a strong hand the bridle of the terrified horse；
he gave him such an impulse that he managed to struggle out
of the circle； and getting again into the current； the kibitka
drifted along anew。
〃Hurrah！〃 exclaimed Nicholas。
Two hours after leaving the wharf； the kibitka had crossed the widest
arm of the river； and had landed on an island more than six versts
below the starting point。
There the horse drew the cart onto the bank； and an hour's rest
was given to the courageous animal； then the island having been
crossed under the shade of its magnificent birches； the kibitka
found itself on the shore of the smaller arm of the Yenisei。
This passage was much easier； no whirlpools broke the course
of the river in this second bed； but the current was so rapid
that the kibitka only reached the opposite side five versts below。
They had drifted eleven versts in all。
These great Siberian rivers across which no bridges have
as yet been thrown； are serious obstacles to the facility
of communication。 All had been more or less unfortunate
to Michael Strogoff。 On the Irtych； the boat which carried
him and Nadia had been attacked by Tartars。 On the Obi；
after his horse had been struck by a bullet； he had only by
a miracle escaped from the horsemen who were pursuing him。
In fact； this passage of the Yenisei had been performed
the least disastrously。
〃That would not have been so amusing；〃 exclaimed Nicholas；
rubbing his hands； as they disembarked on the right bank of the river；
〃if it had not been so difficult。〃
〃That which has only been difficult to us； friend；〃
answered Michael Strogoff； 〃will； perhaps； be impossible
to the Tartars。〃
CHAPTER VIII A HARE CROSSES THE ROAD
MICHAEL STROGOFF might at last hope that the road to Irkutsk
was clear。 He had distanced the Tartars； now detained at Tomsk；
and when the Emir's soldiers should arrive at Krasnoiarsk they
would find only a deserted town。 There being no communication
between the two banks of the Yenisei； a delay of some days
would be caused until a bridge of boats could be established；
and to accomplish this would be a difficult undertaking。
For the first time since the encounter with Ivan Ogareff at Omsk；
the courier of the Czar felt less uneasy； and began to hope
that no fresh obstacle would delay his progress。
The road was good； for that part of it which extends
between Krasnoiarsk and Irkutsk is considered the best
in the whole journey； fewer jolts for travelers； large trees
to shade them from the heat of the sun； sometimes forests
of pines or cedars covering an extent of a hundred versts。
It was no longer the wide steppe with limitless horizon；
but the rich country was empty。 Everywhere they came upon
deserted villages。 The Siberian peasantry had vanished。
It was a desert； but a desert by order of the Czar。
The weather was fine； but the air； which cooled during the night；
took some time to get warm again。 Indeed it was now near September；
and in this high region the days were sensibly shortening。
Autumn here lasts but a very little while； although this part of
Siberian territory is not situated above the fifty…fifth parallel；
that of Edinburgh and Copenhagen。 However； winter succeeds summer
almost unexpectedly。 These winters of Asiatic Russia may be said
to be precocious； considering that during them the thermometer falls
until the mercury is frozen nearly 42 degrees below zero； and that 20
degrees below zero is considered an unsupportable temperature。
The weather favored our travelers。 It was neither stormy nor rainy。
The health of Nadia and Michael was good； and since leaving Tomsk they
had gradually recovered from their past fatigues。
As to Nicholas Pigassof； he had never been better in his life。
To him this journey was a trip； an agreeable excursion in which
he employed his enforced holiday。
〃Decidedly；〃 said he； 〃this is pleasanter than sitting twelve hours a day；
perched on a stool； working the manip…ulator！〃
Michael had managed to get Nicholas to make his horse quicken his pace。
To obtain this result； he had confided to Nicholas that Nadia
and he were on their way to join their father； exiled at Irkutsk；
and that they were very anxious to get there。 Certainly； it would
not do to overwork the horse； for very probably they would not be
able to exchange him for another； but by giving him frequent rests
every ten miles； for instanceforty miles in twenty…four hours
could easily be accomplished。 Besides； the animal was strong；
and of a race calculated to endure great fatigue。 He was in no want
of rich pasturage along the road； the grass being thick and abundant。
Therefore； it was possible to demand an increase of work from him。
Nicholas gave in to all these reasons。 He was much moved at the situation
of these two young people； going to share their father's exile。
Nothing had ever appeared so touching to him。 With what a smile he said
to Nadia： 〃Divine goodness！ what joy will Mr。 Korpanoff feel； when his
eyes behold you； when his arms open to receive you！ If I go to Irkutsk
and that appears very probable nowwill you permit me to be present at
that interview！ You will； will you not？〃 Then； striking his forehead：
〃But； I forgot； what grief too when he sees that his poor son is blind！
Ah！ everything is mingled in this world！〃
However； the result of all this was the kibitka went faster；
and； according to Michael's calculations； now made almost eight
miles an hour。
After crossing the little river Biriousa； the kibitka reached Biriousensk
on the morning of the 4th of September。 There； very fortunately；
for Nicholas saw that his provisions were becoming exhausted；
he found in an oven a dozen 〃pogatchas；〃 a kind of cake prepared
with sheep's fat and a large supply of plain boiled rice。
This increase was very opportune； for something would soon have
been needed to replace the koumyss with which the kibitka had been
stored at Krasnoiarsk。
After a halt； the journey was continued in the afternoon。
The distance to Irkutsk was not now much over three hundred miles。
There was not a sign of the Tartar vanguard。 Michael Strogoff had
some grounds for hoping that his journey would not be again delayed；
and that in eight days； or at most ten； he would be in the presence
of the Grand Duke。
On leaving Biriousinsk； a hare ran across the road； in front
of the kibitka。 〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Nicholas。
〃What is the matter； friend？〃 asked Michael quickly； like a blind
man whom the least sound arouses。
〃Did you not see？〃 said Nicholas； whose bright face had become
suddenly clouded。 Then he added； 〃Ah！ no！ you could not see；
and it's lucky for you； little father！〃
〃But I saw nothing；〃 said Nadia。
〃So much the better！ So much the better！ But II saw！〃
〃What was it then？〃 asked Michael。
〃A hare crossing our road！〃 answered Nicholas。
In Russia； when a hare crosses the path； the popular belief is that it
is the sign of approaching evil。 Nicholas； superstitious like the greater
number of Russians； stopped the kibitka。
Michael understood his companion's hesitation； without sharing
his credulity； and endeavored to reassure him； 〃There is nothing
to fear； friend；〃 said he。
〃Nothing for you； nor for her； I know； little father；〃 answered Nicholas；
〃but for me！〃
〃It is my fate；〃 he continued。 And he put his horse in
motion again。 However； in spite of these forebodings the day
passed without any accident。
At twelve o'clock the next day； the 6th of September； the kibitka
halted in the village of Alsalevok； which was as deserted
as the surrounding country。 There； on a doorstep； Nadia found
two of those strong…bladed knives used by Siberian hunters。
She gave one to Michael； who concealed it among his clothes；
and kept the other herself。
Nicholas had not recovered his usual spirits。 The ill…omen had
affected him more than could have been believed； and he who formerly
was never half an hour without speaking； now fell into long
reveries from which Nadia fo