His companion's easy manners only increased his usual stiffness.
At that moment the iemschik, who had succeeded in recapturing his
two horses, reappeared. He cast a regretful glance at the magnificent
animal lying on the ground, loth to leave it to the birds of prey,
and then proceeded once more to harness his team.
Michael acquainted him with the travelers' situation, and his intention
of loaning one of the horses.
"As you please," replied the iemschik. "Only, you know,
two carriages instead of one."
"All right, my friend," said Alcide, who understood the insinuation,
"we will pay double."
"Then gee up, my turtle-doves!" cried the iemschik.
Nadia again took her place in the tarantass. Michael and his
companions followed on foot. It was three o'clock. The storm still
swept with terrific violence across the defile. When the first
streaks of daybreak appeared the tarantass had reached the telga,
which was still conscientiously imbedded as far as the center
of the wheel. Such being the case, it can be easily understood
how a sudden jerk would separate the front from the hinder part.
One of the horses was now harnessed by means of cords
to the remains of the telga, the reporters took their place
on the singular equipage, and the two carriages started off.
They had now only to descend the Ural slopes, in doing which there
was not the slightest difficulty.
Six hours afterwards the two vehicles, the tarantass preceding
the telga, arrived at Ekaterenburg, nothing worthy of note having
happened in the descent.
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