Michael Strogoff

Down t

lled to go contrary to their wishes. The boilers of the Caucasus were under full pressure; a slight smoke issued from its funnel, whilst the end of the escape-pipe and the lids of the valves were crowned wit

ffer the slightest resistance to their orders. Exactly at the hour the last clang of the bell sounded, the powerful wheels of t

hey appeared, therefore, to be a brother and sister traveling under the protection of the imperial police. Both, seated together at the stern, gazed at the receding town, so disturbed by the governor's order. Michael had as yet said nothing to the girl, he had not even questio

a, a rapid affluent, issuing from the central provinces of Russia. The system of Russian canals and rivers has been justly compared to a gigantic tree whose branches spread over every part of the empire. The Vo

iles of current per hour to their own speed; but on arriving at the confluence of the Kama, a little below Kasan, they are obliged to quit the Volga for the smaller river, up which they ascend to Perm. Powerful as were her machines, t

urces, occupied three distinct classes on board. Michael Strogoff had taken care to engage t

aps; rich Chinese in their traditional costume, a very wide blue, violet, or black robe; Turks, wearing the national turban; Hindoos, with square caps, and a simple string for a girdle, some of whom, hold in their hands all the traffic of Central Asia; and, lastly, Tartars, wearing boots, ornamented with ma

sers stuffed into their boots, rose-colored cotton shirts, drawn in by a cord, felt caps; a few women, habited in flowery-patterned cotton dresses, gay-colored aprons, and bright handkerchiefs on their heads. These were principally third-class passengers, who were, happily, not troubled by the prospect of a long return vo

rdered with willows, and aspens, were scattered a few cows, sheep, and herds of pigs. Fields, sown with thin buckwheat and rye, stretched away to a background of half-c

urs, when the young Livonian, addressing herself to

an. "We are going the same way. Con

why I left the shores of the Balti

u nothing

mile. "A sister should hide nothing from her brother.

t in your cabin?" as

s; and to

e th

he had wished to end it by the name of hi

she, holding

u like of your brother Nicholas Korpanoff." And he led

taking any part in the conversation. Should he by any chance be questioned, and obliged to reply, he would announce himself as the merchant Nich

nd if they did not give loud vent to their anger and despair, it was because they dared not. Fear, mingled with respect, restrained them. It was possible that inspectors of police, charged with watching the passengers, had secretly embarked on board the Ca

hut at his approach - for they did not know him - his ears were soon struc

red him more reservedly. "What," said the first, "are you on board this boat, too, my dear fello

" answered th

expect to be so

ing you sir; I a

e two soldiers on parade, and for the time, at least, let

rary, I shal

t till then, why, let us be traveling companions. Late

emi

ords, my dear fellow, particularly agreeable to me. O

is the

I will ask your permission to s

te a

ing to Perm

ke

erenburg, since that is the best and safest

oba

ll be in Siberia, that is to sa

all be

will be the time to say, Eac

r m

l days before us, and since it is very certain that news will not shower

emi

together, and not try and ruin each other. All the same

ll that I

hat a

s agr

r ha

hat is to say, five wide-open fingers, vigorously

morning to telegraph the very words of the or

Daily Telegraph at thi

, Mr.

od, M. J

ry and ma

l be di

try, ho

ing urged by the same instinct, they had left Nijni-Novgorod together. It was natural that they should take the same means of transport, and that they should follow the same route to the Siberian steppes. Traveling companions, whethe

g genuine Cliquot, at six roubles the bottle, made from the fresh sap of the birch-trees of the country. On hearing them chatting away together, Michael Strogoff

gerly enjoyed by the passengers after the stifling heat of the day. As the evening advanced, the greater number never even thought of going into the saloon. Stretched on the benches, they inhaled with delight the slight breeze caused by

bed only by the noise of the paddles striking the water at regular intervals. Anxiety kept Michael Strogoff awake. He walked up and down, but always in the

not to tread on the sleepers, who were lying about everywhere. They were chiefly mujiks, accustomed to hard couches, and quite satisfied wit

s already climbing the forecastle ladder, when he heard someone speaking near him. He stopped. The voices appeared to come from a group of passengers enveloped in cloaks and wraps. It was impossible to recognize them

during the night at the fair. Instinctively he stopped to listen. Protected by the shadow of the forecastle, he could not b

es of the man and woman whom he had heard at Nijni-Novgorod. This, of course, made him redouble his attention.

heard this question and answer made in the Tartar idiom: "It

er this courier will arrive too la

d him so directly. He tried to see if the man and woman who had just

without having been perceived, and, taking a seat by himself, he buried

reflecting, not without a lively apprehension: "Who is it knows of my d