And Michael, having presented five and twenty roubles to the unfortunate woman, who had not even strength to thank him, put spurs to his horse once more.
One thing he knew; he must not pass through Tomsk.
To go to Kolyvan, which the Tartars had not yet reached, was possible.
Yes, that is what he must do; there he must prepare himself for another long stage.
There was nothing for it but, having crossed the Obi, to take the Irkutsk road and avoid Tomsk.
This new route decided on, Michael must not delay an instant.
Nor did he, but, putting his horse into a steady gallop, he took the road towards the left bank of the Obi, which was still forty versts distant.
Would there be a ferry boat there, or should he, finding that the Tartars had destroyed all the boats, be obliged to swim across?
As to his horse, it was by this time pretty well worn out, and Michael intended to make it perform this stage only, and then to exchange it for a fresh one at Kolyvan.
Kolyvan would be like a fresh starting point, for on leaving that town his journey would take a new form.
So long as he traversed a devastated country the difficulties must be very great; but if, having avoided Tomsk, he could resume the road to Irkutsk across the province of Yeniseisk, which was not yet laid waste, he would finish his journey in a few days.
Night came on, bringing with it refreshing coolness after the heat of the day.
At midnight the steppe was profoundly dark.
The sound of the horses’s hoofs alone was heard on the road, except when, every now and then, its master spoke a few encouraging words.
In such darkness as this great care was necessary lest he should leave the road, bordered by pools and streams, tributaries of the Obi.
Michael therefore advanced as quickly as was consistent with safety.
He trusted no less to the excellence of his eyes, which penetrated the gloom, than to the well-proved sagacity of his horse.
Just as Michael dismounted to discover the exact direction of the road, he heard a confused murmuring sound from the west.
It was like the noise of horses’ hoofs at some distance on the parched ground.
Michael listened attentively, putting his ear to the ground.
“It is a detachment of cavalry coming by the road from Omsk,” he said to himself.
“They are marching very quickly, for the noise is increasing.
Are they Russians or Tartars?”
Michael again listened.
“Yes,” said he, “they are at a sharp trot.
My horse cannot outstrip them.
If they are Russians I will join them; if Tartars I must avoid them.
But how?
Where can I hide in this steppe?”
He gave a look around, and, through the darkness, discovered a confused mass at a hundred paces before him on the left of the road.
“There is a copse!” he exclaimed.
“To take refuge there is to run the risk of being caught, if they are in search of me; but I have no choice.”
In a few moments Michael, dragging his horse by the bridle, reached a little larch wood, through which the road lay.
Beyond this it was destitute of trees, and wound among bogs and pools, separated by dwarfed bushes, whins, and heather.
The ground on either side was quite impracticable, and the detachment must necessarily pass through the wood. They were pursuing the high road to Irkutsk. Plunging in about forty feet, he was stopped by a stream running under the brushwood.
But the shadow was so deep that Michael ran no risk of being seen, unless the wood should be carefully searched.
He therefore led his horse to the stream and fastened him to a tree, returning to the edge of the road to listen and ascertain with what sort of people he had to do.
Michael had scarcely taken up his position behind a group of larches when a confused light appeared, above which glared brighter lights waving about in the shadow.
“Torches!” said he to himself.
And he drew quickly back, gliding like a savage into the thickest underwood.
As they approached the wood the horses’ pace was slackened.
The horsemen were probably lighting up the road with the intention of examining every turn.
Michael feared this, and instinctively drew near to the bank of the stream, ready to plunge in if necessary.
Arrived at the top of the wood, the detachment halted.
The horsemen dismounted.
There were about fifty.
A dozen of them carried torches, lighting up the road.
By watching their preparations Michael found to his joy that the detachment were not thinking of visiting the copse, but only bivouacking near, to rest their horses and allow the men to take some refreshment.
The horses were soon unsaddled, and began to graze on the thick grass which carpeted the ground.
The men meantime stretched themselves by the side of the road, and partook of the provisions they produced from their knapsacks.