"
The thing that Michael dreaded more than everything else was
the presence of Ivan Ogareff in the Tartar camp. Besides the danger
of being recognized, he felt, by a sort of instinct, that this
was the traitor whom it was especially necessary to precede.
He understood, too, that the union of Ogareff's troops with those
of Feofar would complete the invading army, and that the junction
once effected, the army would march en masse on the capital
of Eastern Siberia. All his apprehensions came from this quarter,
and he dreaded every instant to hear some flourish of trumpets,
announcing the arrival of the lieutenant of the Emir.
To this was added the thought of his mother, of Nadia,--
the one a prisoner at Omsk; the other dragged on board
the Irtych boats, and no doubt a captive, as Marfa Strogoff was.
He could do nothing for them. Should he ever see them again?
At this question, to which he dared not reply, his heart
sank very low.
At the same time with Michael Strogoff and so many other prisoners
Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet had also been taken to the Tartar camp.
Their former traveling companion, captured like them at the telegraph
office, knew that they were penned up with him in the enclosure,
guarded by numerous sentinels, but he did not wish to accost them.
It mattered little to him, at this time especially, what they might think
of him since the affair at Ichim. Besides, he desired to be alone,
that he might act alone, if necessary.
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