"
"Has Feofar-Khan entered Tomsk?"
"He has."
"Do you know if his men have entered Kolyvan?"
"No; for Kolyvan does not yet burn."
"Thanks, friend. Can I aid you and yours?"
"No."
"Good-by."
"Farewell."
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 r‚sum‚ the road
to Irkutsk across the province of Yeniseisk, which was not yet laid waste,
he would finish his journey in a few days.
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