Michael Strogoff

ight in a

Caucasus reached Perm, the last pl

nes of salt, platina, gold, and coal are worked here on a large scale. Although Perm, by its situation, has become an important town, it is by no means attractive, being extremely di

aged by the long journey across the plains. There, too, those passing

, was discontinued. Even if it had not been so, he would not have taken it, as he wished to travel as fast as possible, without depending on any

ces were extremely rare. Michael was obliged to content himself with what had been rejected by others. As to horses, as long as the Czar's courier was not in Siber

ble; but, on the other hand, should any accident happen on the way, nothing could be more easily repaired. There is no want of firs on the Russian frontier, and axle-trees grow naturally in forests. The post extraordinary, known by the name of "perck-ladnoi," is carried by the telg

as well as in the telga; in the absence of iron, wood is not spared; but its four wheels, with eight or nine feet between them, assure a certain equilibrium over the jolting rough roads. A splash-board protects the travelers from the mud, and a strong leathern ho

ere was probably not a second to be found in all Perm. He haggled long about the price, f

Although the object of each was different, both were equally anxious to a

h I could have found a more co

when I would have gone on foot, i

a, but there are physical fatigues

girl. "If you ever hear a complaint from me you may l

rs. They were small but spirited, being of Siberian breed. The way in which the iemschik harnessed them was thus: one, the largest, was secured between two long shafts, on whose fart

of the other, prevented them from embarrassing themselves with packages. It was a fortunate thing, under the circumstances, for the tarantass could not have carr

n the forehead, hat with a turned-up brim, red belt, coat with crossed facings and buttons stamped with the imperial cipher. The iemschik, on coming up with his team, threw an inquis

whether he was overheard or not

iemschik's slang perfectly; "eagles, do you hea

by a merry cra

only pays two or three copecks a verst for the horses. The "eagle" is the traveler who does not mind expens

at any time they were delayed in reaching the post-houses, which are very comfortably provided under direction of the Stat

two other horses seemed to know no other pace than the gallop, though they performed many an eccentric curvette as they went along. The iemschik, however, never touched them, only urging them on by startling cracks of his whip. But what epithets he lavished on them, including the names of all the saints

uld say. "Go on, pretty swallows! Fly, my little pigeons! Hold u

y understood by the sensitive animals! "Go on, you wretched snail

r. Michael Strogoff was accustomed both to the sort of vehicle and the mode of traveling. Neither jerks nor jolts incommoded him. He knew that a Russian driver never even tries to avoid either stones, r

that of reaching her journey's end, "I have calculated that there are three h

when we have reached Ekaterenburg, we shall be at t

take to get acro

I say day and night, Nadia," added he, "for I cannot st

; no, not even for an hour, and

nvasion has only left the road ope

his journey befo

y ti

have gone more rapidly an

dity, but you would have suffer

inter is the fr

freezing in triple woolen socks; I have seen my sleigh horses covered with a coating of ice, their breath congealed at their nostrils. I have seen the brandy in my flask change into hard stone, on which not even my knife could make an impression. But my sleigh flew like the wind. Not an obs

ve returned, bro

hardships. But when you said to me, Nadia, that winter would not have stopped you, that you would have gone alone, ready

ossed the steppe in winter?

adia, when I wa

e you going t

er, who was

ing him my mother's last words. That is as much as to tell you,

a," replied Michael. "God H

hway. The high price paid for each horse, and the tips dealt out so freely, recommended the travelers in a special way. Perhaps the postmasters thought it singular that, after the publication of the

o Ekaterenburg. At the first stages, the courier of the Czar had learnt that a carriage

almost all alike, with their white-walled, green-roofed chapels, the traveler might knock at any door, and it would be opened to him. The moujik would come out, smiling and extending his hand to his guest. He would offer him bread and

asked the postmaster how many hours ago the car

ttle father," repl

t a b

a t

ny trav

wo

y are go

gle

e horses to as s

y and becoming charged with electricity. It was to be hoped that a storm would not burst whilst they were among the mountains, for there

arantass, Nadia was able to sleep for some hours. The hood was partly r

hiks, who are apt to sleep at their posts. Not an h

ch separates Russia from Siberia was still at a great distance, and they could not hope to reach it until the end of the day. The passage of the mountains must

Michael would not have done so, had he been permitted to wait; but when, at the last stage, the

ga still

es

is it in

ly an

we are at Ekaterenburg to-mo