It is only a matter of time."
The arrival of Ivan Ogareff, which had given Jolivet and Blount their
liberty, was to Michael Strogoff, on the contrary, a serious danger.
Should chance bring the Czar's courier into Ogareff's presence, the latter
could not fail to recognize in him the traveler whom he had so brutally
treated at the Ichim post-house, and although Michael had not replied
to the insult as he would have done under any other circumstances,
attention would be drawn to him, and at once the accomplishment of his
plans would be rendered more difficult.
This was the unpleasant side of the business. A favorable
result of his arrival, however, was the order which was given
to raise the camp that very day, and remove the headquarters
to Tomsk. This was the accomplishment of Michael's most
fervent desire. His intention, as has been said, was to reach
Tomsk concealed amongst the other prisoners; that is to say,
without any risk of falling into the hands of the scouts
who swarmed about the approaches to this important town.
However, in consequence of the arrival of Ivan Ogareff,
he questioned whether it would not be better to give up his
first plan and attempt to escape during the journey.
Michael would, no doubt, have kept to the latter plan had he not learnt
that Feofar-Khan and Ogareff had already set out for the town with
some thousands of horsemen. "I will wait, then," said he to himself;
"at least, unless some exceptional opportunity for escape occurs.
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