river Biriousa, the kibitka reached Biriousensk on the morning of the 4th of September. There, very fortunately, for Nicholas saw that his provisions were becoming exhausted, he found in an oven a dozen “pogatchas,” a kind of cake prepared with sheep’s fat and a large supply of plain boiled rice. This increase was very opportune, for something would soon have been needed to replace the koumyss with which the kibitka had been stored at Krasnoiarsk.
After a halt, the journey was continued in the afternoon. The distance to Irkutsk was not now much over three hundred miles. There was not a sign of the Tartar vanguard. Michael Strogoff had some grounds for hoping that his journey would not be again delayed, and that in eight days, or at most ten, he would be in the presence of the Grand Duke.
On leaving Biriousinsk, Menn Christophe Jallet Fotballdrakter a hare ran across the road, in Philippe Coutinho Trikot front of the kibitka. “Ah!” exclaimed Nicholas.
“What is the matter, friend?” asked Menn Marwin Hitz Fotballdrakter Michael quickly, like a blind man whom the least sound arouses.
“Did you not see?” said Nicholas, whose bright face had become suddenly clouded. Then he added, “Ah! no! you could not see, and it’s lucky for you, little father!”
“But I saw nothing,” said Nadia.
“So much the better! So much the better! But Menn Mario Lemina Fotballdrakter I— I saw!”
“What was it then?” asked Michael.
“A hare crossing our road!” answered Nicholas.
In Menn Henrikh Mkhitaryan Fotballdrakter Russia, when a hare crosses the path, the popular belief is that it is the sign of approaching evil. Nicholas, superstitious like the greater number of Russians, stopped the kibitka.
Michael understood his companion’s hesitation, without sharing his credulity, and endeavored to reassure him, Menn Philippe Coutinho Fotballdrakter “There is nothing to fear, friend,” said he.
“Nothing Menn Cesc Fabregas Fotballdrakter for you, nor for her, I know, little father,” answered Nicholas, “but for me!”
“It is my fate,” he continued. And he put his horse in motion again. However, in spite of these forebodings the day passed without any accident.
At twelve o’clock the next day, the 6th of September, the kibitka halted in the village of Alsalevok, which was as deserted as the surrounding country. There, on a doorstep, Nadia found two of those strong-bladed knives used by Siberian hunters. She gave one to Michael, who concealed it among his clothes, and kept the other herself.
Nicholas had not recovered his usual spirits. The ill-omen had affected him more than could have been believed, and he who formerly was never half an hour without speaking, now fell into long reveries from which Nadia found it difficult to arouse him. The kibitka rolled swiftly along the road. Yes, swiftly! Nicholas no longer thought of being so careful of his horse, and was as anxious to arrive at his journey’s end as Michael himself. Notwithstanding his fatalism, and though resigned, he would not believe himself in safety until within the walls of Irkutsk. Many Russians would have thought as he did, and more than one would have turned his horse and gone back again, after a hare had crossed his path.
Some observations made by him, the |
