This had been noted by Alcide Jolivet in his book in this way:
"Ran a narrow chance of being finished up like a lemon in a
bowl of punch!"
Their joy was great on finding Nadia and Michael safe and sound;
above all, when they learnt that their brave companion was not blind.
Harry Blount inscribed this observation: "Red-hot iron is insufficient
in some cases to destroy the sensibility of the optic nerve."
Then the two correspondents, settled for a time in Irkutsk,
busied themselves in putting the notes and impressions of their journey
in order. Thence were sent to London and Paris two interesting
articles relative to the Tartar invasion, and which--a rare thing--
did not contradict each other even on the least important points.
The remainder of the campaign was unfortunate to the Emir and his allies.
This invasion, futile as all which attack the Russian Colossus must be,
was very fatal to them. They soon found themselves cut off by
the Czar's troops, who retook in succession all the conquered towns.
Besides this, the winter was terrible, and, decimated by the cold,
only a small part of these hordes returned to the steppes of Tartary.
The Irkutsk road, by way of the Ural Mountains, was now open.
The Grand Duke was anxious to return to Moscow, but he delayed
his journey to be present at a touching ceremony, which took
place a few days after the entry of the Russian troops.
Michael Strogoff sought Nadia, and in her father's presence said to her,
"Nadia, my sister still, when you left Riga to come to Irkutsk,
did you leave it with any other regret than that for your mother?"
"No," replied Nadia, "none of any sort whatever.
Pages:
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361