This detachment was commanded by a "pendja-baschi"; that is to say,
a commander of fifty men, having under him a "deh-baschi,"
or simple commander of ten men. These two officers wore helmets
and half coats-of-mail; little trumpets fastened to their saddle-bows
were the distinctive signs of their rank.
The pendja-baschi had been obliged to let his men rest,
fatigued with a long stage. He and the second officer,
smoking "beng," the leaf which forms the base of the "has-chisch,"
strolled up and down the wood, so that Michael Strogoff without
being seen, could catch and understand their conversation,
which was spoken in the Tartar language.
Michael's attention was singularly excited by their very first words.
It was of him they were speaking.
"This courier cannot be much in advance of us," said the pendja-baschi;
"and, on the other hand, it is absolutely impossible that he can have
followed any other route than that of the Baraba."
"Who knows if he has left Omsk?" replied the deh-baschi. "Perhaps
he is still hidden in the town."
"That is to be wished, certainly. Colonel Ogareff would have no fear
then that the dispatches he bears should ever reach their destination."
"They say that he is a native, a Siberian," resumed the deh-baschi.
"If so, he must be well acquainted with the country, and it is possible
that he has left the Irkutsk road, depending on rejoining it later."
"But then we should be in advance of him," answered the pendja-baschi;
"for we left Omsk within an hour after his departure, and have
since followed the shortest road with all the speed of our horses.
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