Serkohadbeenobligedtotakerefugeinthecarriage。
Michaelknewwhatwashappening。Hefelthimselfdrawnroundinagraduallynarrowingline，fromwhichtheycouldnotgetfree。
Howhelongedtosee，tobebetterabletoavoidthisperil，butthatwasnolongerpossible。Nadiawassilent，herhandsclingingtothesidesofthecart，whichwasincliningmoreandmoretowardsthecenterofdepression。
AndNicholas，didhenotunderstandthegravityofthesituation？
Wasitwithhimphlegmorcontemptofdanger，courageorindifference？
Washislifevaluelessinhiseyes，and，accordingtotheEasternexpression，“anhotelforfivedays，“which，whetheroneiswillingornot，mustbeleftthesixth？Atanyrate，thesmileonhisrosyfaceneverfadedforaninstant。
Thekibitkawasthusinthewhirlpool，andthehorsewasnearlyexhausted，when，allatonce，Michael，throwingoffsuchofhisgarmentsasmightimpedehim，jumpedintothewater；
then，seizingwithastronghandthebridleoftheterrifiedhorse，hegavehimsuchanimpulsethathemanagedtostruggleoutofthecircle，andgettingagainintothecurrent，thekibitkadriftedalonganew。
“Hurrah！“exclaimedNicholas。
Twohoursafterleavingthewharf，thekibitkahadcrossedthewidestarmoftheriver，andhadlandedonanislandmorethansixverstsbelowthestartingpoint。
Therethehorsedrewthecartontothebank，andanhour’srestwasgiventothecourageousanimal；thentheislandhavingbeencrossedundertheshadeofitsmagnificentbirches，thekibitkafounditselfontheshoreofthesmallerarmoftheYenisei。
Thispassagewasmucheasier；nowhirlpoolsbrokethecourseoftheriverinthissecondbed；butthecurrentwassorapidthatthekibitkaonlyreachedtheoppositesidefiveverstsbelow。
Theyhaddriftedelevenverstsinall。
ThesegreatSiberianriversacrosswhichnobridgeshaveasyetbeenthrown，areseriousobstaclestothefacilityofcommunication。AllhadbeenmoreorlessunfortunatetoMichaelStrogoff。OntheIrtych，theboatwhichcarriedhimandNadiahadbeenattackedbyTartars。OntheObi，afterhishorsehadbeenstruckbyabullet，hehadonlybyamiracleescapedfromthehorsemenwhowerepursuinghim。
Infact，thispassageoftheYeniseihadbeenperformedtheleastdisastrously。
“Thatwouldnothavebeensoamusing，“exclaimedNicholas，rubbinghishands，astheydisembarkedontherightbankoftheriver，“ifithadnotbeensodifficult。“
“Thatwhichhasonlybeendifficulttous，friend，“
answeredMichaelStrogoff，“will，perhaps，beimpossibletotheTartars。“
CHAPTERVIIIAHARECROSSESTHEROAD
MICHAELSTROGOFFmightatlasthopethattheroadtoIrkutskwasclear。HehaddistancedtheTartars，nowdetainedatTomsk，andwhentheEmir’ssoldiersshouldarriveatKrasnoiarsktheywouldfindonlyadesertedtown。TherebeingnocommunicationbetweenthetwobanksoftheYenisei，adelayofsomedayswouldbecauseduntilabridgeofboatscouldbeestablished，andtoaccomplishthiswouldbeadifficultundertaking。
ForthefirsttimesincetheencounterwithIvanOgareffatOmsk，thecourieroftheCzarfeltlessuneasy，andbegantohopethatnofreshobstaclewoulddelayhisprogress。
Theroadwasgood，forthatpartofitwhichextendsbetweenKrasnoiarskandIrkutskisconsideredthebestinthewholejourney；fewerjoltsfortravelers，largetreestoshadethemfromtheheatofthesun，sometimesforestsofpinesorcedarscoveringanextentofahundredversts。
Itwasnolongerthewidesteppewithlimitlesshorizon；
buttherichcountrywasempty。Everywheretheycameupondesertedvillages。TheSiberianpeasantryhadvanished。
Itwasadesert，butadesertbyorderoftheCzar。
Theweatherwasfine，buttheair，whichcooledduringthenight，tooksometimetogetwarmagain。IndeeditwasnownearSeptember，andinthishighregionthedaysweresensiblyshortening。
Autumnherelastsbutaverylittlewhile，althoughthispartofSiberianterritoryisnotsituatedabovethefifty-fifthparallel，thatofEdinburghandCopenhagen。However，wintersucceedssummeralmostunexpectedly。ThesewintersofAsiaticRussiamaybesaidtobeprecocious，consideringthatduringthemthethermometerfallsuntilthemercuryisfrozennearly42degreesbelowzero，andthat20
degreesbelowzeroisconsideredanunsupportabletemperature。
Theweatherfavoredourtravelers。Itwasneitherstormynorrainy。
ThehealthofNadiaandMichaelwasgood，andsinceleavingTomsktheyhadgraduallyrecoveredfromtheirpastfatigues。
AstoNicholasPigassof，hehadneverbeenbetterinhislife。
Tohimthisjourneywasatrip，anagreeableexcursioninwhichheemployedhisenforcedholiday。
“Decidedly，“saidhe，“thisispleasanterthansittingtwelvehoursaday，perchedonastool，workingthemanip-ulator！“
MichaelhadmanagedtogetNicholastomakehishorsequickenhispace。
Toobtainthisresult，hehadconfidedtoNicholasthatNadiaandhewereontheirwaytojointheirfather，exiledatIrkutsk，andthattheywereveryanxioustogetthere。Certainly，itwouldnotdotooverworkthehorse，forveryprobablytheywouldnotbeabletoexchangehimforanother；butbygivinghimfrequentrests——
everytenmiles，forinstance——fortymilesintwenty-fourhourscouldeasilybeaccomplished。Besides，theanimalwasstrong，andofaracecalculatedtoenduregreatfatigue。Hewasinnowantofrichpasturagealongtheroad，thegrassbeingthickandabundant。
Therefore，itwaspossibletodemandanincreaseofworkfromhim。
Nicholasgaveintoallthesereasons。Hewasmuchmovedatthesituationofthesetwoyoungpeople，goingtosharetheirfather’sexile。
Nothinghadeverappearedsotouchingtohim。WithwhatasmilehesaidtoNadia:“Divinegoodness！whatjoywillMr。Korpanofffeel，whenhiseyesbeholdyou，whenhisarmsopentoreceiveyou！IfIgotoIrkutsk——
andthatappearsveryprobablenow——willyoupermitmetobepresentatthatinterview！Youwill，willyounot？“Then，strikinghisforehead:
“But，Iforgot，whatgrieftoowhenheseesthathispoorsonisblind！
Ah！everythingismingledinthisworld！“
However，theresultofallthiswasthekibitkawentfaster，and，accordingtoMichael’scalculations，nowmadealmosteightmilesanhour。
AftercrossingthelittleriverBiriousa，thekibitkareachedBiriousenskonthemorningofthe4thofSeptember。There，veryfortunately，forNicholassawthathisprovisionswerebecomingexhausted，hefoundinanovenadozen“pogatchas，“akindofcakepreparedwithsheep’sfatandalargesupplyofplainboiledrice。
Thisincreasewasveryopportune，forsomethingwouldsoonhavebeenneededtoreplacethekoumysswithwhichthekibitkahadbeenstoredatKrasnoiarsk。
Afterahalt，thejourneywascontinuedintheafternoon。
ThedistancetoIrkutskwasnotnowmuchoverthreehundredmiles。
TherewasnotasignoftheTartarvanguard。MichaelStrogoffhadsomegroundsforhopingthathisjourneywouldnotbeagaindelayed，andthatineightdays，oratmostten，hewouldbeinthepresenceoftheGrandDuke。
OnleavingBiriousinsk，ahareranacrosstheroad，infrontofthekibitka。“Ah！“exclaimedNicholas。
“Whatisthematter，friend？“askedMichaelquickly，likeablindmanwhomtheleastsoundarouses。
“Didyounotsee？“saidNicholas，whosebrightfacehadbecomesuddenlyclouded。Thenheadded，“Ah！no！youcouldnotsee，andit’sluckyforyou，littlefather！“
“ButIsawnothing，“saidNadia。
“Somuchthebetter！Somuchthebetter！ButI——Isaw！“
“Whatwasitthen？“askedMichael。
“Aharecrossingourroad！“answeredNicholas。
InRussia，whenaharecrossesthepath，thepopularbeliefisthatitisthesignofapproachingevil。Nicholas，superstitiouslikethegreaternumberofRussians，stoppedthekibitka。
Michaelunderstoodhiscompanion’shesitation，withoutsharinghiscredulity，andendeavoredtoreassurehim，“Thereisnothingtofear，friend，“saidhe。
“Nothingforyou，norforher，Iknow，littlefather，“answeredNicholas，“butforme！“
“Itismyfate，“hecontinued。Andheputhishorseinmotionagain。However，inspiteoftheseforebodingsthedaypassedwithoutanyaccident。
Attwelveo’clockthenextday，the6thofSeptember，thekibitkahaltedinthevillageofAlsalevok，whichwasasdesertedasthesurroundingcountry。There，onadoorstep，Nadiafoundtwoofthosestrong-bladedknivesusedbySiberianhunters。
ShegaveonetoMichael，whoconcealeditamonghisclothes，andkepttheotherherself。
Nicholashadnotrecoveredhisusualspirits。Theill-omenhadaffectedhimmorethancouldhavebeenbelieved，andhewhoformerlywasneverhalfanhourwithoutspeaking，nowfellintolongreveriesfromwhichNadiafounditdifficulttoarousehim。
Thekibitkarolledswiftlyalongtheroad。Yes，swiftly！
Nicholasnolongerthoughtofbeingsocarefulofhishorse，andwasasanxioustoarriveathisjourney’sendasMichaelhimself。
Notwithstandinghisfatalism，andthoughresigned，hewouldnotbelievehimselfinsafetyuntilwithinthewallsofIrkutsk。ManyRussianswouldhavethoughtashedid，andmorethanonewouldhaveturnedhishorseandgonebackagain，afteraharehadcrossedhispath。
Someobservationsmadebyhim，thejusticeofwhichwasprovedbyNadiatransmittingthemtoMichael，madethemfearthattheirtrialswerenotyetover。ThoughthelandfromKrasnoiarskhadbeenrespectedinitsnaturalproductions，itsforestsnowboretraceoffireandsteel；
anditwasevidentthatsomelargebodyofmenhadpassedthatway。
TwentymilesbeforeNijni-Oudinsk，theindicationsofrecentdevastationcouldnotbemistaken，anditwasimpossibletoattributethemtoothersthantheTartars。Itwasnotonlythatthefieldsweretrampledbyhorse’sfeet，andthattreeswerecutdown。
Thefewhousesscatteredalongtheroadwerenotonlyempty，somehadbeenpartlydemolished，othershalfburntdown。
Themarksofbulletscouldbeseenontheirwalls。
Michael’sanxietymaybeimagined。HecouldnolongerdoubtthatapartyofTartarshadrecentlypassedthatway，andyetitwasimpossiblethattheycouldbetheEmir’ssoldiers，fortheycouldnothavepassedwithoutbeingseen。
Butthen，whowerethesenewinvaders，andbywhatout-of-the-waypathacrossthesteppehadtheybeenabletojointhehighroadtoIrkutsk？WithwhatnewenemieswastheCzar’scouriernowtomeet？
HedidnotcommunicatehisapprehensionseithertoNicholasorNadia，notwishingtomakethemuneasy。Besides，hehadresolvedtocontinuehisway，aslongasnoinsurmountableobstaclestoppedhim。Later，hewouldseewhatitwasbesttodo。
Duringtheensuingday，therecentpassageofalargebodyoffootandhorsebecamemoreandmoreapparent。
Smokewasseenabovethehorizon。Thekibitkaadvancedcautiously。
Severalhousesindesertedvillagesstillburned，andcouldnothavebeensetonfiremorethanfourandtwentyhoursbefore。
Atlast，duringtheday，onthe8thofSeptember，thekibitkastoppedsuddenly。Thehorserefusedtoadvance。
Serkobarkedfuriously。
“Whatisthematter？“askedMichael。
“Acorpse！“repliedNicholas，whohadleaptoutofthekibitka。
Thebodywasthatofamoujik，horriblymutilated，andalreadycold。
Nicholascrossedhimself。Then，aidedbyMichael，hecarriedthebodytothesideoftheroad。Hewouldhavelikedtogiveitdecentburial，thatthewildbeastsofthesteppemightnotfeastonthemiserableremains，butMichaelcouldnotallowhimthetime。
“Come，friend，come！“heexclaimed，“wemustnotdelay，evenforanhour！“Andthekibitkawasdrivenon。
Besides，ifNicholashadwishedtorenderthelastdutiestoallthedeadbodiestheywerenowtomeetwithontheSiberianhighroad，hewouldhavehadenoughtodo！
AstheyapproachedNijni-Oudinsk，theywerefoundbytwenties，stretchedontheground。