CHAPTER XV CONCLUSION
MICHAEL STROGOFF was not, had never been, blind. A purely humanphenomenon, at the same time moral and physical, had neutralized theaction of the incandescent blade which Feofar's executioner had passedbefore his eyes.
It may be remembered, that at the moment of the execution, MarfaStrogoff was present, stretching out her hands towards her son. Michaelgazed at her as a son would gaze at his mother, when it is for the lasttime. The tears, which his pride in vain endeavored to subdue, wellingup from his heart, gathered under his eyelids, and volatiliz-ing on thecornea, had saved his sight. The vapor formed by his tears interposingbetween the glowing saber and his eyeballs, had been sufficient toannihilate the action of the heat. A similar effect is produced, when aworkman smelter, after dipping his hand in vapor, can with impunity holdit over a stream of melted iron.
Michael had immediately understood the danger in which he would beplaced should he make known his secret to anyone. He at once saw, onthe other hand, that he might make use of his supposed blindness forthe accomplishment of his designs. Because it was believed that he wasblind, he would be allowed to go free. He must therefore be blind, blindto all, even to Nadia, blind everywhere, and not a gesture at any momentmust let the truth be suspected. His resolution was taken. He must riskhis life even to afford to all he might meet the proof of his want ofsight. We know how perfectly he acted the part he had determined on.
His mother alone knew the truth, and he had whispered it to her in Tomskitself, when bending over her in the dark he covered her with kisses.
When Ogareff had in his cruel irony held the Imperial letter before theeyes which he believed were destroyed, Michael had been able to read,and had read the letter which disclosed the odious plans of the traitor.This was the reason of the wonderful resolution he exhibited duringthe second part of his journey. This was the reason of his unalterablelonging to reach Irkutsk, so as to perform his mission by word of mouth.He knew that the town would be betrayed! He knew that the life of theGrand Duke was threatened! The safety of the Czar's brother and ofSiberia was in his hands.
This story was told in a few words to the Grand Duke, and Michaelrepeated also--and with what emotion!--the part Nadia had taken in theseevents.
"Who is this girl?" asked the Grand Duke.
"The daughter of the exile, Wassili Fedor," replied Michael.
"The daughter of Captain Fedor," said the Grand Duke, "has ceased to bethe daughter of an exile. There are no longer exiles in Irkutsk."
Nadia, less strong in joy than she had been in grief, fell on her kneesbefore the Grand Duke, who raised her with one hand, while he extendedthe other to Michael.
An hour after, Nadia was in her father's arms. Michael Strogoff, Nadia,and Wassili Fedor were united. This was the height of happiness to themall.
The Tartars had been repulsed in their double attack on the town.Wassili Fedor, with his little band, had driven back the firstassailants who presented themselves at the Bolchaia Gate, expecting tofind it open and which, by an instinctive feeling, often arising fromsound judgment, he had determined to remain at and defend.
At the same time as the Tartars were driven back the besieged hadmastered the fire. The liquid naphtha having rapidly burnt to thesurface of the water, the flames did not go beyond the houses onthe shore, and left the other quarters of the town uninjured. Beforedaybreak the troops of Feofar-Khan had retreated into their camp,leaving a large number of dead on and below the ramparts.
Among the dead was the gypsy Sangarre, who had vainly endeavored to joinIvan Ogareff.
For two days the besiegers attempted no fresh assault. They werediscouraged by the death of Ogareff. This man was the mainspring ofthe invasion, and he alone, by his plots long since contrived, had hadsufficient influence over the khans and their hordes to bring them tothe conquest of Asiatic Russia.
However, the defenders of Irkutsk kept on their guard, and theinvestment still continued; but on the 7th of October, at daybreak,cannon boomed out from the heights around Irkutsk. It was the succoringarmy under the command of General Kisselef, and it was thus that he madeknown his welcome arrival to the Grand Duke.
The Tartars did not wait to be attacked. Not daring to run the risk of abattle under the walls of Irkutsk, they immediately broke up the Angaracamp. Irkutsk was at last relieved.
With the first Russian soldiers, two of Michael's friends entered thecity. They were the inseparable Blount and Jolivet. On gaining the rightbank of the Angara by means of the icy barrier, they had escaped, as hadthe other fugitives, before the flames had reached their raft. Thishad been noted by Alcide Jolivet in his book in this way: "Ran a narrowchance of being finished up like a lemon in a bowl of punch!"
Their joy was great on finding Nadia and Michael safe and sound; aboveall, when they learnt that their brave companion was not blind. HarryBlount inscribed this observation: "Red-hot iron is insufficient in somecases to destroy the sensibility of the optic nerve."
Then the two correspondents, settled for a time in Irkutsk, busiedthemselves in putting the notes and impressions of their journey inorder. Thence were sent to London and Paris two interesting articlesrelative to the Tartar invasion, and which--a rare thing--did notcontradict each other even on the least important points.
The remainder of the campaign was unfortunate to the Emir and hisallies. This invasion, futile as all which attack the Russian Colossusmust be, was very fatal to them. They soon found themselves cut off bythe Czar's troops, who retook in succession all the conquered towns.Besides this, the winter was terrible, and, decimated by the cold, onlya small part of these hordes returned to the steppes of Tartary.
The Irkutsk road, by way of the Ural Mountains, was now open. The GrandDuke was anxious to return to Moscow, but he delayed his journey to bepresent at a touching ceremony, which took place a few days after theentry of the Russian troops.
Michael Strogoff sought Nadia, and in her father's presence said to her,"Nadia, my sister still, when you left Riga to come to Irkutsk, did youleave it with any other regret than that for your mother?"
"No," replied Nadia, "none of any sort whatever."
"Then, nothing of your heart remains there?"
"Nothing, brother."
"Then, Nadia," said Michael, "I think that God, in allowing us to meet,and to go through so many severe trials together, must have meant us tobe united forever."
"Ah!" said Nadia, falling into Michael's arms. Then turning towardsWassili Fedor, "My father," said she, blushing.
"Nadia," said Captain Fedor, "it will be my joy to call you both mychildren!"
The marriage ceremony took place in Irkutsk cathedral.
Jolivet and Blount very naturally assisted at this marriage, of whichthey wished to give an account to their readers.
"And doesn't it make you wish to imitate them?" asked Alcide of hisfriend.
"Pooh!" said Blount. "Now if I had a cousin like you--"
"My cousin isn't to be married!" answered Alcide, laughing.
"So much the better," returned Blount, "for they speak of difficultiesarising between London and Pekin. Have you no wish to go and see what isgoing on there?"
"By Jove, my dear Blount!" exclaimed Alcide Jolivet, "I was just goingto make the same proposal to you."
And that was how the two inseparables set off for China.
A few days after the ceremony, Michael and Nadia Strogoff, accompaniedby Wassili Fedor, took the route to Europe. The road so full ofsuffering when going, was a road of joy in returning. They traveledswiftly, in one of those sleighs which glide like an express trainacross the frozen steppes of Siberia.
However, when they reached the banks of the Dinka, just before Birskoe,they stopped for a while. Michael found the place where he had buriedpoor Nicholas. A cross was erected there, and Nadia prayed a last timeon the grave of the humble and heroic friend, whom neither of them wouldever forget.
At Omsk, old Marfa awaited them in the little house of the Strogoffs.She clas
ped passionately in her arms the girl whom in her heart she hadalready a hundred times called "daughter." The brave old Siberian, onthat day, had the right to recognize her son and say she was proud ofhim.
After a few days passed at Omsk, Michael and Nadia entered Europe, and,Wassili Fedor settling down in St. Petersburg, neither his son nor hisdaughter had any occasion to leave him, except to go and see their oldmother.
The young courier was received by the Czar, who attached him speciallyto his own person, and gave him the Cross of St. George. In the courseof time, Michael Strogoff reached a high station in the Empire. But itis not the history of his success, but the history of his trials, whichdeserves to be related.
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