Boats, requisitioned at Zabediero, were brought up
to the Tom and formed a line of obstacles impossible to pass.
As to the encampment on the outskirts of the village, it was
guarded by a cordon of sentinels.
Michael Strogoff, who now naturally thought of escape, saw,
after carefully surveying the situation, that under these
conditions it was perfectly impossible; so, not wishing
to compromise himself, he waited.
The prisoners were to encamp for the whole night on the banks
of the Tom, for the Emir had put off the entrance of his troops
into Tomsk. It had been decided that a military fete should mark
the inauguration of the Tartar headquarters in this important city.
Feofar-Khan already occupied the fortress, but the bulk of his army
bivouacked under its walls, waiting until the time came for them
to make a solemn entry.
Ivan Ogareff left the Emir at Tomsk, where both had arrived
the evening before, and returned to the camp at Zabediero. From here
he was to start the next day with the rear-guard of the Tartar army.
A house had been arranged for him in which to pass the night.
At sunrise horse and foot soldiers were to proceed to Tomsk,
where the Emir wished to receive them with the pomp usual
to Asiatic sovereigns. As soon as the halt was organized,
the prisoners, worn out with their three days' journey, and suffering
from burning thirst, could drink and take a little rest.
The sun had already set, when Nadia, supporting Marfa Strogoff,
reached the banks of the Tom.
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