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with you when we separated at Ichim。〃
〃No； you had reason to think me a coward！〃
〃At any rate；〃 added the Frenchman； 〃you knouted the face of that
villain finely； and he will carry the mark of it for a long time！〃
〃No； not a long time！〃 replied Michael quietly。
Half an hour after leaving Livenitchnaia； Blount and his companion
were acquainted with the cruel trials through which Michael and his
companion had successively passed。 They could not but heartily admire
his energy； which was only equaled by the young girl's devotion。
Their opinion of Michael was exactly what the Czar had expressed
at Moscow： 〃Indeed； this is a Man！〃
The raft swiftly threaded its way among the blocks of ice
which were carried along in the current of the Angara。 A moving
panorama was displayed on both sides of the river； and； by an
optical illusion； it appeared as if it was the raft which
was motionless before a succession of picturesque scenes。
Here were high granite cliffs； there wild gorges；
down which rushed a torrent； sometimes appeared a clearing
with a still smoking village； then thick pine forests blazing。
But though the Tartars had left their traces on all sides；
they themselves were not to be seen as yet； for they were more
especially massed at the approaches to Irkutsk。
All this time the pilgrims were repeating their prayers aloud；
and the old boatman； shoving away the blocks of ice which pressed
too near them； imperturbably steered the raft in the middle
of the rapid current of the Angara。
CHAPTER XI BETWEEN TWO BANKS
BY eight in the evening； the country； as the state of the sky
had foretold； was enveloped in complete darkness。 The moon being new had
not yet risen。 From the middle of the river the banks were invisible。
The cliffs were confounded with the heavy； low…hanging clouds。
At intervals a puff of wind came from the east； but it soon died away
in the narrow valley of the Angara。
The darkness could not fail to favor in a considerable degree
the plans of the fugitives。 Indeed； although the Tartar outposts
must have been drawn up on both banks； the raft had a good chance
of passing unperceived。 It was not likely either that the besiegers
would have barred the river above Irkutsk； since they knew that the
Russians could not expect any help from the south of the province。
Besides this； before long Nature would herself establish a barrier；
by cementing with frost the blocks of ice accumulated between
the two banks。
Perfect silence now reigned on board the raft。 The voices
of the pilgrims were no longer heard。 They still prayed；
but their prayer was but a murmur； which could not reach as far
as either bank。 The fugitives lay flat on the platform；
so that the raft was scarcely above the level of the water。
The old boatman crouched down forward among his men；
solely occupied in keeping off the ice blocks； a maneuver
which was performed without noise。
The drifting of the ice was a favorable circumstance so long as it
did not offer an insurmountable obstacle to the passage of the raft。
If that object had been alone on the water； it would have run
a risk of being seen； even in the darkness； but； as it was；
it was confounded with these moving masses； of all shapes and sizes；
and the tumult caused by the crashing of the blocks against each
other concealed likewise any suspicious noises。
There was a sharp frost。 The fugitives suffered cruelly；
having no other shelter than a few branches of birch。
They cowered down together； endeavoring to keep each other warm；
the temperature being now ten degrees below freezing point。
The wind； though slight； having passed over the snow…clad
mountains of the east； pierced them through and through。
Michael and Nadia； lying in the afterpart of the raft；
bore this increase of suffering without complaint。
Jolivet and Blount； placed near them； stood these first assaults
of the Siberian winter as well as they could。 No one now spoke；
even in a low voice。 Their situation entirely absorbed them。
At any moment an incident might occur； which they could
not escape unscathed。
For a man who hoped soon to accomplish his mission；
Michael was singularly calm。 Even in the gravest conjunctures；
his energy had never abandoned him。 He already saw the moment
when he would be at last allowed to think of his mother； of Nadia；
of himself！ He now only dreaded one final unhappy chance；
this was； that the raft might be completely barred by ice before
reaching Irkutsk。 He thought but of this； determined beforehand；
if necessary； to attempt some bold stroke。
Restored by a few hours' rest； Nadia had regained the physical energy
which misery had sometimes overcome； although without ever having
shaken her moral energy。 She thought； too； that if Michael had to make
any fresh effort to attain his end； she must be there to guide him。
But in proportion as she drew nearer to Irkutsk； the image of her
father rose more and more clearly before her mind。 She saw him in
the invested town； far from those he loved； but； as she never doubted；
struggling against the invaders with all the spirit of his patriotism。
In a few hours； if Heaven favored them； she would be in his arms； giving
him her mother's last words； and nothing should ever separate them again。
If the term of Wassili Fedor's exile should never come to an end；
his daughter would remain exiled with him。 Then； by a natural transition；
she came back to him who would have enabled her to see her father
once more； to that generous companion； that 〃brother；〃 who； the Tartars
driven back； would retake the road to Moscow； whom she would perhaps
never meet again！
As to Alcide Jolivet and Harry Blount； they had one and the same thought；
which was； that the situation was extremely dramatic； and that；
well worked up； it would furnish a most deeply interesting article。
The Englishman thought of the readers of the Daily Telegraph；
and the Frenchman of those of his Cousin Madeleine。 At heart；
both were not without feeling some emotion。
〃Well； so much the better！〃 thought Alcide Jolivet； 〃to move others；
one must be moved one's self！ I believe there is some celebrated
verse on the subject； but hang me if I can recollect it！〃
And with his well…practiced eyes he endeavored to pierce the gloom
of the river。
Every now and then a burst of light dispelling the darkness
for a time； exhibited the banks under some fantastic aspect
either a forest on fire； or a still burning village。
The Angara was occasionally illuminated from one bank to the other。
The blocks of ice formed so many mirrors； which； reflecting the
flames on every point and in every color； were whirled along
by the caprice of the current。 The raft passed unperceived
in the midst of these floating masses。
The danger was not at these points。
But a peril of another nature menaced the fugitives。 One that they
could not foresee； and； above all； one that they could not avoid。
Chance discovered it to Alcide Jolivet in this way：Lying at
the right side of the raft； he let his hand hang over into the water。
Suddenly he was surprised by the impression made on it by the current。
It seemed to be of a slimy consistency； as if it had been made
of mineral oil。 Alcide； aiding his touch by his sense of smell；
could not be mistaken。 It was really a layer of liquid naphtha；
floating on the surface of the river！
Was the raft really floating on this substance； which is in the
highest degree combustible？ Where had this naphtha come from？
Was it a natural phenomenon taking place on the surface of the Angara；
or was it to serve as an engine of destruction； put in motion by
the Tartars？ Did they intend to carry conflagration into Irkutsk？
Such were the questions which Alcide asked himself； but he thought
it best to make this incident known only to Harry Blount； and they
both agreed in not alarming their companions by revealing to them
this new danger。
It is known that the soil of Central Asia is like a sponge
impregnated with liquid hydrogen。 At the port of Bakou；
on the Persian frontier； on the Caspian Sea； in Asia Minor；
in China； on the Yuen…Kiang； in the Burman Empire； springs of
mineral oil rise in thousands to the surface of the ground。
It is an 〃oil country；〃 similar to the one which bears this
name in North America。
During certain religious festivals； principally at the port
of Bakou； the natives； who are fire…worshipers； throw liquid
naphtha on the surface of the sea； which buoys it up；
its density being inferior to that of water。 Then at nightfall；
when a layer of mineral oil is thus spread over the Caspian；
they light it； and exhibit the matchless spectacle of an ocean
of fire undulating and breaking into waves under the breeze。
But what is only a sign of rejoicing at Bakou； might prove
a fearful disaster on the waters of the Angara。 Whether it
was set on fire by malevolence or imprudence； in the twinkling
of an eye a conflagration might spread beyond Irkutsk。 On board
the raft no imprudence was to be feared； but everything was to be
dreaded from the conflagrations on both banks of the Angara；
for should a lighted straw or even a spark blow into the water；