Michael Strogoff; Or, The Courier of the Czar

  CHAPTER IX DAY AND NIGHT IN A TARANTASS

  THE next day, the 19th of July, the Caucasus reached Perm, the lastplace at which she touched on the Kama.

  The government of which Perm is the capital is one of the largest in theRussian Empire, and, extending over the Ural Mountains, encroaches onSiberian territory. Marble quarries, mines of salt, platina, gold, andcoal are worked here on a large scale. Although Perm, by its situation,has become an important town, it is by no means attractive, beingextremely dirty, and without resources. This want of comfort is ofno consequence to those going to Siberia, for they come from the morecivilized districts, and are supplied with all necessaries.

  At Perm travelers from Siberia resell their vehicles, more or lessdamaged by the long journey across the plains. There, too, those passingfrom Europe to Asia purchase carriages, or sleighs in the winter season.

  Michael Strogoff had already sketched out his programme. A vehiclecarrying the mail usually runs across the Ural Mountains, but this, ofcourse, was discontinued. Even if it had not been so, he would not havetaken it, as he wished to travel as fast as possible, without dependingon anyone. He wisely preferred to buy a carriage, and journey by stages,stimulating the zeal of the postillions by well-applied "na vodkou," ortips.

  Unfortunately, in consequence of the measures taken against foreignersof Asiatic origin, a large number of travelers had already left Perm,and therefore conveyances were extremely rare. Michael was obliged tocontent himself with what had been rejected by others. As to horses,as long as the Czar's courier was not in Siberia, he could exhibit hispodorojna, and the postmasters would give him the preference. But, onceout of Europe, he had to depend alone on the power of his roubles.

  But to what sort of a vehicle should he harness his horses? To a telgaor to a tarantass? The telga is nothing but an open four-wheeled cart,made entirely of wood, the pieces fastened together by means ofstrong rope. Nothing could be more primitive, nothing could be lesscomfortable; but, on the other hand, should any accident happen on theway, nothing could be more easily repaired. There is no want of firs onthe Russian frontier, and axle-trees grow naturally in forests. The postextraordinary, known by the name of "perck-ladnoi," is carried by thetelga, as any road is good enough for it. It must be confessed thatsometimes the ropes which fasten the concern together break, and whilstthe hinder part remains stuck in some bog, the fore-part arrives atthe post-house on two wheels; but this result is considered quitesatisfactory.

  Michael Strogoff would have been obliged to employ a telga, if he hadnot been lucky enough to discover a tarantass. It is to be hoped thatthe invention of Russian coach-builders will devise some improvementin this last-named vehicle. Springs are wanting in it as well as in thetelga; in the absence of iron, wood is not spared; but its four wheels,with eight or nine feet between them, assure a certain equilibrium overthe jolting rough roads. A splash-board protects the travelers fromthe mud, and a strong leathern hood, which may be pulled quite over theoccupiers, shelters them from the great heat and violent storms of thesummer. The tarantass is as solid and as easy to repair as the telga,and is, moreover, less addicted to leaving its hinder part in the middleof the road.

  It was not without careful search that Michael managed to discover thistarantass, and there was probably not a second to be found in all Perm.He haggled long about the price, for form's sake, to act up to his partas Nicholas Korpanoff, a plain merchant of Irkutsk.

  Nadia had followed her companion in his search after a suitable vehicle.Although the object of each was different, both were equally anxious toarrive at their goal. One would have said the same will animated themboth.

  "Sister," said Michael, "I wish I could have found a more comfortableconveyance for you."

  "Do you say that to me, brother, when I would have gone on foot, if needwere, to rejoin my father?"

  "I do not doubt your courage, Nadia, but there are physical fatigues awoman may be unable to endure."

  "I shall endure them, whatever they be," replied the girl. "If you everhear a complaint from me you may leave me in the road, and continue yourjourney alone."

  Half an hour later, the podorojna being presented by Michael, threepost-horses were harnessed to the tarantass. These animals, coveredwith long hair, were very like long-legged bears. They were smallbut spirited, being of Siberian breed. The way in which the iemschikharnessed them was thus: one, the largest, was secured between two longshafts, on whose farther end was a hoop carrying tassels and bells; thetwo others were simply fastened by ropes to the steps of the tarantass.This was the complete harness, with mere strings for reins.

  Neither Michael Strogoff nor the young Livonian girl had any baggage.The rapidity with which one wished to make the journey, and the morethan modest resources of the other, prevented them from embarrassingthemselves with packages. It was a fortunate thing, under thecircumstances, for the tarantass could not have carried both baggageand travelers. It was only made for two persons, without counting theiemschik, who kept his equilibrium on his narrow seat in a marvelousmanner.

  The iemschik is changed at every relay. The man who drove the tarantassduring the first stage was, like his horses, a Siberian, and no lessshaggy than they; long hair, cut square on the forehead, hat with aturned-up brim, red belt, coat with crossed facings and buttons stampedwith the imperial cipher. The iemschik, on coming up with his team,threw an inquisitive glance at the passengers of the tarantass. Noluggage!--and had there been, where in the world could he have stowedit? Rather shabby in appearance too. He looked contemptuous.

  "Crows," said he, without caring whether he was overheard or not;"crows, at six copecks a verst!"

  "No, eagles!" said Michael, who understood the iemschik's slangperfectly; "eagles, do you hear, at nine copecks a verst, and a tipbesides."

  He was answered by a merry crack of the whip.

  In the language of the Russian postillions the "crow" is the stingy orpoor traveler, who at the post-houses only pays two or three copecksa verst for the horses. The "eagle" is the traveler who does not mindexpense, to say nothing of liberal tips. Therefore the crow could notclaim to fly as rapidly as the imperial bird.

  Nadia and Michael immediately took their places in the tarantass. Asmall store of provisions was put in the box, in case at any time theywere delayed in reaching the post-houses, which are very comfortablyprovided under direction of the State. The hood was pulled up, as it wasinsupport-ably hot, and at twelve o'clock the tarantass left Perm in acloud of dust.

  The way in which the iemschik kept up the pace of his team wouldhave certainly astonished travelers who, being neither Russians norSiberians, were not accustomed to this sort of thing. The leader, ratherlarger than the others, kept to a steady long trot, perfectly regular,whether up or down hill. The two other horses seemed to know no otherpace than the gallop, though they performed many an eccentric curvetteas they went along. The iemschik, however, never touched them, onlyurging them on by startling cracks of his whip. But what epithets helavished on them, including the names of all the saints in the calendar,when they behaved like docile and conscientious animals! The stringwhich served as reins would have had no influence on the spiritedbeasts, but the words "na pravo," to the right, "na levo," to the left,pronounced in a guttural tone, were more effectual than either bridle orsnaffle.

  And what amiable expressions! "Go on, my doves!" the iemschik would say."Go on, pretty swallows! Fly, my little pigeons! Hold up, my cousin onthe left! Gee up, my little father on the right!"

  But when the pace slackened, what insulting expressions, instantlyunderstood by the sensitive animals! "Go on, you wretched snail!Confound you, you slug! I'll roast you alive, you tortoise, you!"

  Whether or not it was from this way of driving, which requires theiemschiks to possess strong throats more than muscular arms, thetarantass flew along at a rate of from twelve to fourteen miles an hour.Michael Strogoff was accustomed both to the sort of vehicle and the modeof traveling. Neither jerks nor jolts incommoded hi
m. He knew that aRussian driver never even tries to avoid either stones, ruts, bogs,fallen trees, or trenches, which may happen to be in the road. He wasused to all that. His companion ran a risk of being hurt by the violentjolts of the tarantass, but she would not complain.

  For a little while Nadia did not speak. Then possessed with the onethought, that of reaching her journey's end, "I have calculated thatthere are three hundred versts between Perm and Ekaterenburg, brother,"said she. "Am I right?"

  "You are quite right, Nadia," answered Michael; "and when we havereached Ekaterenburg, we shall be at the foot of the Ural Mountains onthe opposite side."

  "How long will it take to get across the mountains?"

  "Forty-eight hours, for we shall travel day and night. I say day andnight, Nadia," added he, "for I cannot stop even for a moment; I go onwithout rest to Irkutsk."

  "I shall not delay you, brother; no, not even for an hour, and we willtravel day and night."

  "Well then, Nadia, if the Tartar invasion has only left the road open,we shall arrive in twenty days."

  "You have made this journey before?" asked Nadia.

  "Many times."

  "During winter we should have gone more rapidly and surely, should wenot?"

  "Yes, especially with more rapidity, but you would have suffered muchfrom the frost and snow."

  "What matter! Winter is the friend of Russia."

  "Yes, Nadia, but what a constitution anyone must have to endure suchfriendship! I have often seen the temperature in the Siberian steppesfall to more than forty degrees below freezing point! I have felt,notwithstanding my reindeer coat, my heart growing chill, my limbsstiffening, my feet freezing in triple woolen socks; I have seen mysleigh horses covered with a coating of ice, their breath congealedat their nostrils. I have seen the brandy in my flask change into hardstone, on which not even my knife could make an impression. But mysleigh flew like the wind. Not an obstacle on the plain, white andlevel farther than the eye could reach! No rivers to stop one! Hardice everywhere, the route open, the road sure! But at the price of whatsuffering, Nadia, those alone could say, who have never returned, butwhose bodies have been covered up by the snow storm."

  "However, you have returned, brother," said Nadia.

  "Yes, but I am a Siberian, and, when quite a child, I used to follow myfather to the chase, and so became inured to these hardships. But whenyou said to me, Nadia, that winter would not have stopped you, that youwould have gone alone, ready to struggle against the frightful Siberianclimate, I seemed to see you lost in the snow and falling, never to riseagain."

  "How many times have you crossed the steppe in winter?" asked the youngLivonian.

  "Three times, Nadia, when I was going to Omsk."

  "And what were you going to do at Omsk?"

  "See my mother, who was expecting me."

  "And I am going to Irkutsk, where my father expects me. I am taking himmy mother's last words. That is as much as to tell you, brother, thatnothing would have prevented me from setting out."

  "You are a brave girl, Nadia," replied Michael. "God Himself would haveled you."

  All day the tarantass was driven rapidly by the iemschiks, who succeededeach other at every stage. The eagles of the mountain would not havefound their name dishonored by these "eagles" of the highway. The highprice paid for each horse, and the tips dealt out so freely, recommendedthe travelers in a special way. Perhaps the postmasters thought itsingular that, after the publication of the order, a young man and hissister, evidently both Russians, could travel freely across Siberia,which was closed to everyone else, but their papers were all en regleand they had the right to pass.

  However, Michael Strogoff and Nadia were not the only travelers on theirway from Perm to Ekaterenburg. At the first stages, the courier of theCzar had learnt that a carriage preceded them, but, as there was no wantof horses, he did not trouble himself about that.

  During the day, halts were made for food alone. At the post-houses couldbe found lodging and provision. Besides, if there was not an inn, thehouse of the Russian peasant would have been no less hospitable. Inthe villages, which are almost all alike, with their white-walled,green-roofed chapels, the traveler might knock at any door, and it wouldbe opened to him. The moujik would come out, smiling and extendinghis hand to his guest. He would offer him bread and salt, the burningcharcoal would be put into the "samovar," and he would be made quite athome. The family would turn out themselves rather than that he shouldnot have room. The stranger is the relation of all. He is "one sent byGod."

  On arriving that evening Michael instinctively asked the postmaster howmany hours ago the carriage which preceded them had passed that stage.

  "Two hours ago, little father," replied the postmaster.

  "Is it a berlin?"

  "No, a telga."

  "How many travelers?"

  "Two."

  "And they are going fast?"

  "Eagles!"

  "Let them put the horses to as soon as possible."

  Michael and Nadia, resolved not to stop even for an hour, traveled allnight. The weather continued fine, though the atmosphere was heavy andbecoming charged with electricity. It was to be hoped that a storm wouldnot burst whilst they were among the mountains, for there it would beterrible. Being accustomed to read atmospheric signs, Michael Strogoffknew that a struggle of the elements was approaching.

  The night passed without incident. Notwithstanding the jolting of thetarantass, Nadia was able to sleep for some hours. The hood waspartly raised so as to give as much air as there was in the stiflingatmosphere.

  Michael kept awake all night, mistrusting the iemschiks, who are apt tosleep at their posts. Not an hour was lost at the relays, not an hour onthe road.

  The next day, the 20th of July, at about eight o'clock in the morning,they caught the first glimpse of the Ural Mountains in the east. Thisimportant chain which separates Russia from Siberia was still at a greatdistance, and they could not hope to reach it until the end of the day.The passage of the mountains must necessarily be performed duringthe next night. The sky was cloudy all day, and the temperature wastherefore more bearable, but the weather was very threatening.

  It would perhaps have been more prudent not to have ascended themountains during the night, and Michael would not have done so, had hebeen permitted to wait; but when, at the last stage, the iemschik drewhis attention to a peal of thunder reverberating among the rocks, hemerely said:

  "Is a telga still before us?"

  "Yes."

  "How long is it in advance?"

  "Nearly an hour."

  "Forward, and a triple tip if we are at Ekaterenburg to-morrow morning."