Wreaths of smoke curling upwards on
the horizon showed that huts and hamlets were still burning.
Had these been fired by the advance guard, or had the Emir's
army already advanced beyond the boundaries of the province?
Was Feofar-Khan himself in the government of Yeniseisk? Michael could
settle on no line of action until these questions were answered.
Was the country so deserted that he could not discover a single
Siberian to enlighten him?
Michael rode on for two versts without meeting a human being.
He looked carefully for some house which had not been deserted.
Every one was tenantless.
One hut, however, which he could just see between the trees,
was still smoking. As he approached he perceived, at some yards from
the ruins of the building, an old man surrounded by weeping children.
A woman still young, evidently his daughter and the mother of
the poor children, kneeling on the ground, was gazing on the scene
of desolation. She had at her breast a baby but a few months old;
shortly she would have not even that nourishment to give it.
Ruin and desolation were all around!
Michael approached the old man.
"Will you answer me a few questions?" he asked.
"Speak," replied the old man.
"Have the Tartars passed this way?"
"Yes, for my house is in flames."
"Was it an army or a detachment?"
"An army, for, as far as eye can reach, our fields are laid waste."
"Commanded by the Emir?"
"By the Emir; for the Obi's waters are red.
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