按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃The Tartars！〃 she whispered。
It was indeed the Emir's advance…guard； passing rapidly along
the road to Irkutsk。
〃They shall not prevent me from burying him！〃 said Michael。 And he
continued his work。
Soon； the body of Nicholas； the hands crossed on the breast；
was laid in the grave。 Michael and Nadia； kneeling； prayed a last
time for the poor fellow； inoffensive and good； who had paid
for his devotion towards them with his life。
〃And now；〃 said Michael； as he threw in the earth； 〃the wolves
of the steppe will not devour him。〃
Then he shook his fist at the troop of horsemen who were passing。
〃Forward； Nadia！〃 he said。
Michael could not follow the road； now occupied by the Tartars。 He must
cross the steppe and turn to Irkutsk。 He had not now to trouble himself
about crossing the Dinka。 Nadia could not move； but she could see
for him。 He took her in his arms and went on towards the southwest
of the province。
A hundred and forty miles still remained to be traversed。
How was the distance to be performed？ Should they not succumb
to such fatigue？ On what were they to live on the way？
By what superhuman energy were they to pass the slopes of
the Sayansk Mountains？ Neither he nor Nadia could answer this！
And yet； twelve days after； on the 2d of October； at six o'clock
in the evening； a wide sheet of water lay at Michael Strogoff's feet。
It was Lake Baikal。
CHAPTER X BAIKAL AND ANGARA
LAKE BAIKAL is situated seventeen hundred feet above the level of
the sea。 Its length is about six hundred miles； its breadth seventy。
Its depth is not known。 Madame de Bourboulon states that；
according to the boatmen； it likes to be spoken of as 〃Madam Sea。〃 If it
is called 〃Sir Lake；〃 it immediately lashes itself into fury。
However； it is reported and believed by the Siberians that a Russian
is never drowned in it。
This immense basin of fresh water； fed by more than three
hundred rivers； is surrounded by magnificent volcanic mountains。
It has no other outlet than the Angara； which after passing
Irkutsk throws itself into the Yenisei； a little above the town
of Yeniseisk。 As to the mountains which encase it； they form
a branch of the Toungouzes； and are derived from the vast system
of the Altai。
In this territory； subject to peculiar climatical conditions；
the autumn appears to be absorbed in the precocious winter。
It was now the beginning of October。 The sun set at five o'clock in
the evening； and during the long nights the temperature fell to zero。
The first snows； which would last till summer； already whitened
the summits of the neighboring hills。 During the Siberian winter
this inland sea is frozen over to a thickness of several feet；
and is crossed by the sleighs of caravans。
Either because there are people who are so wanting in politeness
as to call it 〃Sir Lake；〃 or for some more meteorological reason；
Lake Baikal is subject to violent tempests。 Its waves； short like those
of all inland seas； are much feared by the rafts； prahms； and steamboats；
which furrow it during the summer。
It was the southwest point of the lake which Michael had
now reached； carrying Nadia； whose whole life； so to speak；
was concentrated in her eyes。 But what could these two expect；
in this wild region； if it was not to die of exhaustion and famine？
And yet； what remained of the long journey of four thousand miles
for the Czar's courier to reach his end？ Nothing but forty
miles on the shore of the lake up to the mouth of the Angara；
and sixty miles from the mouth of the Angara to Irkutsk；
in all； a hundred miles； or three days' journey for a strong man；
even on foot。
Could Michael Strogoff still be that man？
Heaven； no doubt； did not wish to put him to this trial。
The fatality which had hitherto pursued his steps seemed for a time
to spare him。 This end of the Baikal； this part of the steppe；
which he believed to be a desert； which it usually is； was not so now。
About fifty people were collected at the angle formed by the end
of the lake。
Nadia immediately caught sight of this group； when Michael；
carrying her in his arms； issued from the mountain pass。
The girl feared for a moment that it was a Tartar detachment；
sent to beat the shores of the Baikal； in which case flight would
have been impossible to them both。 But Nadia was soon reassured。
〃Russians！〃 she exclaimed。 And with this last effort； her eyes
closed and her head fell on Michael's breast。
But they had been seen； and some of these Russians； running to them；
led the blind man and the girl to a little point at which was
moored a raft。
The raft was just going to start。 These Russians were fugitives
of different conditions； whom the same interest had united
at Lake Baikal。 Driven back by the Tartar scouts； they hoped
to obtain a refuge at Irkutsk； but not being able to get there
by land； the invaders having occupied both banks of the Angara；
they hoped to reach it by descending the river which flows
through the town。
Their plan made Michael's heart leap； a last chance was before him；
but he had strength to conceal this； wishing to keep his incognito
more strictly than ever。
The fugitives' plan was very simple。 A current in the lake runs
along by the upper bank to the mouth of the Angara； this current
they hoped to utilize； and with its assistance to reach the outlet
of Lake Baikal。 From this point to Irkutsk； the rapid waters of
the river would bear them along at a rate of eight miles an hour。
In a day and a half they might hope to be in sight of the town。
No kind of boat was to be found； they had been obliged to make one；
a raft； or rather a float of wood； similar to those which usually
are drifted down Siberian rivers； was constructed。 A forest of firs；
growing on the bank； had supplied the necessary materials； the trunks；
fastened together with osiers； made a platform on which a hundred
people could have easily found room。
On board this raft Michael and Nadia were taken。 The girl had returned
to herself； some food was given to her as well as to her companion。
Then； lying on a bed of leaves； she soon fell into a deep sleep。
To those who questioned him； Michael Strogoff said nothing
of what had taken place at Tomsk。 He gave himself out as an
inhabitant of Krasnoiarsk； who had not been able to get to Irkutsk
before the Emir's troops arrived on the left bank of the Dinka；
and he added that； very probably； the bulk of the Tartar forces
had taken up a position before the Siberian capital。
There was not a moment to be lost； besides； the cold was becoming more
and more severe。 During the night the temperature fell below zero；
ice was already forming on the surface of the Baikal。 Although the raft
managed to pass easily over the lake； it might not be so easy between
the banks of the Angara； should pieces of ice be found to block
up its course。
At eight in the evening the moorings were cast off； and the raft
drifted in the current along the shore。 It was steered by means
of long poles； under the management of several muscular moujiks。
An old Baikal boatman took command of the raft。
He was a man of sixty…five； browned by the sun； and lake breezes。
A thick white beard flowed over his chest； a fur cap covered
his head； his aspect was grave and austere。 His large
great…coat； fastened in at the waist； reached down to his heels。
This taciturn old fellow was seated in the stern； and issued
his commands by gestures。 Besides； the chief work consisted
in keeping the raft in the current； which ran along the shore；
without drifting out into the open。
It has been already said that Russians of all conditions had found
a place on the raft。 Indeed； to the poor moujiks； the women；
old men； and children； were joined two or three pilgrims；
surprised on their journey by the invasion； a few monks； and a priest。
The pilgrims carried a staff； a gourd hung at the belt； and they
chanted psalms in a plaintive voice： one came from the Ukraine；
another from the Yellow sea； and a third from the Finland provinces。
This last； who was an aged man； carried at his waist a little
padlocked collecting…box； as if it had been hung at a church door。
Of all that he collected during his long and fatiguing pilgrimage；
nothing was for himself； he did not even possess the key of the box；
which would only be opened on his return。
The monks came from the North of the Empire。 Three months before
they had left the town of Archangel。 They had visited the sacred
islands near the coast of Carelia； the convent of Solovetsk；
the convent of Troitsa； those of Saint Antony and Saint Theodosia；
at Kiev； that of Kazan； as well as the church of the Old Believers；
and they were now on their way to Irkutsk； wearing the robe；
the cowl； and the clothes of serge。
As to the papa； or priest； he was a plain village pastor； one of the six
hundred thousand popular pastors which the Russian Empire contains。
He was clothed as miserably as the moujiks； not being above
them in social position； in fact； laboring like a peasant
on his plot of ground； baptis…ing； marrying； burying。 He had
been able to protect his wife and children from the brutality
of the Tar