One of them held a dispatch,
written in pencil, in his hand, and, passing the other, he hurried
up to the wicket of the imperturbable clerk.
In these two men Michael recognized with astonishment,
which everyone will understand, two personages of whom he was not
thinking at all, and whom he had never expected to see again.
They were the two reporters, Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet,
no longer traveling companions, but rivals, enemies, now that they
were working on the field of battle.
They had left Ichim only a few hours after the departure of
Michael Strogoff, and they had arrived at Kolyvan before him,
by following the same road, in consequence of his losing three days
on the banks of the Irtych. And now, after being both present
at the engagement between the Russians and Tartars before the town,
they had left just as the struggle broke out in the streets, and ran
to the telegraph office, so as to send off their rival dispatches
to Europe, and forestall each other in their report of events.
Michael stood aside in the shadow, and without being seen
himself he could see and hear all that was going on.
He would now hear interesting news, and would find out whether
or not he could enter Kolyvan.
Blount, having distanced his companion, took possession of
the wicket, whilst Alcide Jolivet, contrary to his usual habit,
stamped with impatience.
"Ten copecks a word," said the clerk.
Blount deposited a pile of roubles on the shelf, whilst his rival
looked on with a sort of stupefaction.
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