As Nadia helped the old Siberian, so in the same way did Michael
render to his more feeble companions in misfortune such services
as his situation allowed. He encouraged some, supported others,
going to and fro, until a prick from a soldier's lance obliged him
to r‚sum‚ the place which had been assigned him in the ranks.
Why did he not endeavor to escape?
The reason was that he had now quite determined not to venture until
the steppe was safe for him. He was resolved in his idea of going
as far as Tomsk "at the Emir's expense," and indeed he was right.
As he observed the numerous detachments which scoured the plain
on the convoy's flanks, now to the south, now to the north,
it was evident that before he could have gone two versts
he must have been recaptured. The Tartar horsemen swarmed--
it actually appeared as if they sprang from the earth--like insects
which a thunderstorm brings to the surface of the ground.
Flight under these conditions would have been extremely difficult,
if not impossible. The soldiers of the escort displayed
excessive vigilance, for they would have paid for the slightest
carelessness with their heads.
At nightfall of the 15th of August, the convoy reached the little
village of Zabediero, thirty versts from Tomsk.
The prisoners' first movement would have been to rush into the river,
but they were not allowed to leave the ranks until the halt
had been organized. Although the current of the Tom was just
now like a torrent, it might have favored the flight of some
bold or desperate man, and the strictest measures of vigilance
were taken.
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