Michael Strogoff

ow to Nij

e eastern frontier of Siberia, the dispatch service was performed by couriers, those who traveled the most rapidly taking eighteen days to get from Moscow to Irkutsk. But this was the exc

perform the whole distance by sleighs. At that period of the year the difficulties which all other means of locomotion present are greatly diminished,

gry wolves also roam over the plain in thousands. But it would have been better for Michael Strogoff to face these risks; for during the winter the Tartar invaders would have been stationed in the towns, any movement of their

h Michael Strogoff boldly confr

d, and his mission would be in danger. Also, while supplying him with a large sum of money, which was sufficient for his journey, and would facilitate it in some measure, General Ki

holas Korpanoff to be accompanied by one or more persons, and, moreover, it was, by special notification, mad

erritory. The consequence was that in Siberia, whilst traversing the insurgent provinces, he would have no power over the relays, either in the choice of horses in preference to others, or in demanding conveyances for his per

idly, but to pass somehow, such w

acks, two hundred foot-soldiers, twenty-five Baskir horsemen, three hundred camels, four hundred horses, twen

r foot-soldiers, nor beasts of burden. He would travel in a car

n Moscow and the Russian frontier. Railroads, post-carriages, steamboats, relays of horses

Moujik, wide trousers, gartered at the knees, and high boots - Michael Strogoff arrived at the station in time for the first train. He carried no arms, openly at least, but under his belt was hidd

sed as places for meeting, not only by those who are about to proceed by the train, but by friends who com

Petersburg, has since been continued to the Russian frontier. It was a journey of under three hundred miles, and the train would accomplish it in ten hours.

go well with him, and who endeavors to kill time by sleep. Nevertheless, as he was not

of the carriage, whom chance had made his traveling companions, discussed the subject, though with that caution which has be

ay to the celebrated fair of Nijni-Novgorod; - a very mixed assembly, composed of Jews, Turks,

- measures from which trade would certainly suffer. They apparently thought only of the struggle from the single point of view of their threatened interests. The presence of a private soldier, clad in his uniform - and the importance of a uniform in Russi

Persian, known by his cap of Astrakhan fur, an

ct. "Those in the market at Nijni-Novgorod will be easily cleared off by

ing goods from Bokhar

ea of reckoning on the exports of a country in which the khans

e carpets do not arrive, the drafts

m!" exclaimed the little Jew, "

Asia run a great risk in the market, and it will be

veler, in a bantering tone; "you'll grease your sh

ered the merchant, who had litt

r head," replied the traveler, "will that change the cours

you are not a merchant,

, nor honey, nor wax, nor hemp-seed, nor salt meat, nor caviare, nor w

ked the Persian, interrup

for my own private use," ans

said the Jew t

care, and not speak more than necessary. The police are not over-partic

peaking less of mercantile affairs, and more of

d a traveler, "and communication between the different

, "that the Kirghiz of the middl

voice; "but who can flatter themselves that they know

ier. The Don Cossacks have already gathered along the course

bor. "Besides, yesterday I wanted to send a telegram to Krasnoiarsk, and it could not be forwa

about their trade and transactions. After requisitioning the horses, they will take the boats, carriages,

it has begun," responded the other, shaking his head. "But the safety and

in all it might have been observed that the talkers used much circumspection. When they did happen to venture out of the region

only evasive answers. Every minute leaning out of the window, which he would keep down, to the great disgust of his fellow-travelers, he lost nothing of the views to the right. He inquired the names of the

hat amongst the many answers he received, he hoped to find some interesting fact "for his cousin." But, natural

Tartar invasion, he wrote in his book, "Travelers of

other had set out to visit the scene of the war. Harry Blount, speaking little, but listening much, had not inspired his companions with the suspicions which Alcide Jolivet had aroused. He was not taken for a spy, and therefore his neighbors, without constraint, gossiped in his presence, allowing themselves e

ers extremely anxious. Nothing is talked of but war, and they speak of it, with a fr

at the left of the train, only saw one part of the country, which was hilly, without giving himself the trouble of looking at the

s eventualities even in the interior of the empire. The rebel lion had not crossed the Siberian fronti

to provoke a rising in the interior. All this was possible, especially in such a country as Russia. In fact, this vast empire, 4,000,000 square miles in extent, does not possess the homogeneousness of the states of Western Europe. The Russian territory in Europe and Asia contains more than seventy millions of inhabitants. In it thirty different languages are spoken. The Sclavonian race predominates, no doubt, but there are besides Russians, Pol

d subjected them all to a minute examination, as by order of the superintendent of police, these officials were seeking Ivan Ogareff. The government, in fact, believed it to be certain that the traitor had not yet been able to quit Eur

the Tauric Chersonese, Seignior of Pskov, Prince of Smolensk, Lithuania, Volkynia, Podolia, and Finland, Prince of Esthonia, Livonia, Courland, and of Semigallia, of Bialystok, Karelia, Sougria, Perm, Viatka, Bulgaria, and many other countries; Lord and Sovereign Prince of the territory of Nijni-Novgorod, Tchemigoff, Riazan, Polotsk, Rostov, Jaroslavl, Bielozersk, Oudoria, Obdoria, Kondinia, Vitepsk, and of Mstislaf, Governor of the Hyperborean Regions, Lord of the countries of Iveria, Kartalini

ere in order, and he was, consequent

ficient to enable the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph to take a twofold view, p

opposite the courier. The young girl took it, after placing by her side a modest traveling-bag of red leather, which seemed to constitute all her luggage. Then seat

she was so placed as to travel with her back to the engine, he even offered her his seat, w

y rather than mere prettiness. From beneath a sort of kerchief which she wore on her head escaped in profusion light golden hair. Her eyes were brown, soft, and expressive of much sweetness of temp

early-cut features gave the idea that she was the possessor of great moral energy - a point which did not escape Michael Strogoff. Evidently this young girl had already suffered in the past, and the future doubtless did not present itself to her in glowing

re not to cause her annoyance by a too persistent gaze, he observed his neighbor with no small interest. The costume of the young traveler was both extremely simple and appropriate. She was not rich

isse, a short skirt, also dark, fell over a robe which reached the ankles. Half-boots of lea

n details, the fashion of the costume of Livonia, and

ady long journey, from the provinces of Western Russia? Was she merely going to Nijni-Novgorod, or was the end of her travels beyond the eastern frontiers of the empire? Would some relation, so

she entered the carriage and prepared herself for the journey, the slight disturbance she caused among those around her, the care

merchant who had jumbled together so imprudently in his remarks tallow and shawls - being asleep, and threatening her with his great head, which w

what does not concern them," but Michael Strogoff cast on him a glance so stern that the sle

an for an instant, and mute and

Twelve versts before arriving at Nijni-Novgorod, at a sharp curve of the iron way, the train

first produced. It was to be feared that some serious accident had happened. Consequently, even before the train h

her compartment were precipitating themselves outside, screaming and struggling,

ichael Strogof

emaine

ture!" thought M

toppage of, the train, which in another instant would have been thrown from the top of the embankment into a bog. There was an hour's de

, the inspectors of police presented themsel

had consequently no difficulty. As to the other travelers in the compartment, all bo

but a permit indorsed with a private seal, and which seemed to be of a special character. The inspector r

from Riga

lied the y

going to

es

hat r

Pe

care to have your permit vised, at

ent her head in

this young girl, alone, journeying to that far-off Siberia, and at a time when, to its ordinary dangers, were added all

ogoff could move towards her, the young Livonian, who had been the first to descend, had d