Michael Strogoff

n the Ura

oth languages. Rising on the shores of the Arctic Sea, they reach the borders of the Caspian. This was the barrier to be crossed by Michael Strogoff before he could enter Siberian Russia. The mountains could be crossed in one night, if no accident happ

t the back. The traces were doubled, and, as an additional precaution, the nave-boxes were stuffed with straw, as much to increase the strength of the wheels as to lessen the jolting, unavoidab

would in some degree protect the travelers against the wind and rain. Two great lanterns, suspended from the iemschik's seat, threw a

m up towards dense masses of clouds, and should the clouds not soon resolve into rain, the fog would

winter is soon melted by the summer sun. Shrubs and trees grow to a considerable height. The iron and copper mines, as well as those of precious stones, draw a considerable number

n fierce warfare, and the traveler is in the midst of it. Michael Strogoff knew from former experience what a storm in the

the sides of the road, peopled with fantastic shadows, caused by the wavering light of the lanterns. Nadia, motionless, her arms folded

that is to say those gloomy, dense clouds, not being able to perform their functions. The silence would have been complete but for the grindings of the wheels of the ta

any description, in the narrow defiles of the Ural, on this threatening night. Not even the fire of a charco

Michael Strogoff, however, had not hesitated, he had no right to stop, but then - and it began to cause hi

ning beneath them. From time to time, on their vehicle giving a worse lurch than usual, they knew that they were crossing a bridge of roughly-hewn planks thrown over some chasm, thunder appearing actually to be rumbling below them. Besides this, a booming sound filled the air, which increased as they mou

h the top of the ridge?" as

f we ever get there at all," rep

not be your first storm i

God it may n

you a

I repeat that I think you

en still more wro

the iemschik; it was his busi

Michael could see huge pines on a high peak, bending before the blast. The wind was unchained, but as yet it was the upper air alone which was disturbed. Successive crashes showed that many of the t

es stopp

iemschik, adding the cracking of hi

a's hand. "Are yo

bro

nything; here c

m re

ime to draw the leathern curtain

seized the horses' heads, for terri

bly capsize and be dashed over the precipice. The frightened horses reared, and their driver could not manage to quiet them. His friendly expressions had been succeeded by the most insulting epithets. Nothing was of

nd rushed to his assistance. Endowed with more than common strengt

perfect avalanche of stones and trunks of t

top here," s

gies apparently overcome by terror. "The storm will soon send

ard," returned Michael, "

d being blown down. The carriage, notwithstanding their efforts and those of the horses, was gradually blown

d, Nadia!" cried

young Livonian, her voice not

for an instant, the terrible blast

back?" said

t this turning, we shall hav

horses wo

o, and dra

m will co

mean t

u orde

chael, for the first time invoking

iemschik, seizing one horse, while

ok in advance, they lost one, and even two, by being forced backwards. They slipped, they fell, they got up again. The vehicle ran a great risk of being smashed. If the hood had not been securely fastened, it would have been blown away long before. Michael Strogoff and the iemschik took more t

masses was seen crashing and rolling down the mounta

ought his whip down on the

m! Michael saw the tarantass struck, his companion crushe

trength, he threw himself behind it, and planting his f

s breath as though it had been a cannon-ball, then crushing to

a, who had seen it all by

ied Michael,

my own account

with us,

ce He has sent thee in my wa

wards a narrow pass, lying north and south, where they would be protected from the direct sweep of the tempest. At one end a huge rock jutted out, round the summit of which

swept across them. The storm was now at its height. The lightning filled the defile, and the thunderclaps had become one

he counter-currents, directed towards it by the slope, could not be so well avoided, and

he lanterns, discovered an excavation bearing the marks of a miner's pick,

ruly frightful. To continue the journey at present was utterly impossible. Besides, having reached this pass, they had only to descend the slopes of

ce of the storm makes me hope that it will not last long. About three o'clock the day will begin to break, and the descent,

dia; "but if you delay, let it not

both of us, I risk more than my life, more than yours, I am not fulfil

" murmur

with sulphurous suffocating vapor, and a clump of huge pines, struck by the electr

by a counter-shock, but, regaining h

the mountain, Michael felt Nadia's hand pressing his, and he heard her