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His determination taken； Michael prepared to execute it。
Indeed； the halt would not be prolonged； and the pendja…baschi did
not intend to give his men more than an hour's rest； although their
horses could not have been changed for fresh ones since Omsk；
and must be as much fatigued as that of Michael Strogoff。
There was not a moment to lose。 It was within an hour of morning。
It was needful to profit by the darkness to leave the little wood
and dash along the road； but although night favored it the success
of such a flight appeared to be almost impossible。
Not wishing to do anything at random； Michael took time for reflection；
carefully weighing the chances so as to take the best。
From the situation of the place the result was this
that he could not escape through the back of the wood； the stream
which bordered it being not only deep； but very wide and muddy。
Beneath this thick water was a slimy bog； on which the foot
could not rest。 There was only one way open； the high…road。 To
endeavor to reach it by creeping round the edge of the wood；
without attracting attention； and then to gallop at headlong speed；
required all the remaining strength and energy of his noble steed。
Too probably it would fall dead on reaching the banks of the Obi； when；
either by boat or by swimming； he must cross this important river。
This was what Michael had before him。
His energy and courage increased in sight of danger。
His life； his mission； his country； perhaps the safety of his mother；
were at stake。 He could not hesitate。
There was not a moment to be lost。 Already there was a slight
movement among the men of the detachment。 A few horsemen
were strolling up and down the road in front of the wood。
The rest were still lying at the foot of the trees； but their
horses were gradually penetrating towards the center of the wood。
Michael had at first thought of seizing one of these horses；
but he recollected that； of course； they would be as fatigued
as his own。 It was better to trust to his own brave steed；
which had already rendered him such important service。
The good animal； hidden behind a thicket； had escaped the sight
of the Usbecks。 They； besides； had not penetrated so far
into the wood。
Michael crawled up to his horse through the grass； and found him
lying down。 He patted and spoke gently to him； and managed to raise
him without noise。 Fortunately； the torches were entirely consumed；
and now went out； the darkness being still profound under shelter
of the larches。 After replacing the bit； Michael looked to his
girths and stirrups； and began to lead his horse quietly away。
The intelligent animal followed his master without even making
the least neigh。
A few Usbeck horses raised their heads； and began to wander towards
the edge of the wood。 Michael held his revolver in his hand；
ready to blow out the brains of the first Tartar who should approach him。
But happily the alarm was not given； and he was able to gain the angle
made by the wood where it joined the road。
To avoid being seen； Michael's intention was not to mount until
after turning a corner some two hundred feet from the wood。
Unfortunately； just at the moment that he was issuing from the wood；
an Usbeck's horse； scenting him； neighed and began to trot along
the road。 His master ran to catch him； and seeing a shadowy form
moving in the dim light； 〃Look out！〃 he shouted。
At the cry； all the men of the bivouac jumped up； and ran to seize
their horses。 Michael leaped on his steed； and galloped away。
The two officers of the detachment urged on their men to follow。
Michael heard a report； and felt a ball pass through his tunic。
Without turning his head； without replying； he spurred on； and；
clearing the brushwood with a tremendous bound； he galloped at full
speed toward the Obi。
The Usbecks' horses being unsaddled gave him a small start；
but in less than two minutes he heard the tramp of several
horses gradually gaining on him。
Day was now beginning to break； and objects at some distance were
becoming visible。 Michael turned his head； and perceived a horseman
rapidly approaching him。 It was the deh…baschi。 Being better mounted；
this officer had distanced his detachment。
Without drawing rein； Michael extended his revolver； and took
a moment's aim。 The Usbeck officer； hit in the breast；
rolled on the ground。
But the other horsemen followed him closely； and without waiting
to assist the deh…baschi； exciting each other by their shouts；
digging their spurs into their horses' sides； they gradually
diminished the distance between themselves and Michael。
For half an hour only was the latter able to keep out of range
of the Tartars； but he well knew that his horse was becoming weaker；
and dreaded every instant that he would stumble never to rise again。
It was now light； although the sun had not yet risen above the horizon。
Two versts distant could be seen a pale line bordered by a few trees。
This was the Obi； which flows from the southwest to the northeast；
the surface almost level with the ground； its bed being but
the steppe itself。
Several times shots were fired at Michael； but without hitting him；
and several times too he discharged his revolver on those of
the soldiers who pressed him too closely。 Each time an Usbeck
rolled on the ground； midst cries of rage from his companions。
But this pursuit could only terminate to Michael's disadvantage。
His horse was almost exhausted。 He managed to reach the bank
of the river。 The Usbeck detachment was now not more than fifty
paces behind him。
The Obi was desertednot a boat of any description which could
take him over the water！
〃Courage； my brave horse！〃 cried Michael。 〃Come！ A last effort！〃
And he plunged into the river； which here was half a verst in width。
It would have been difficult to stand against the current
indeed； Michael's horse could get no footing。 He must therefore
swim across the river； although it was rapid as a torrent。
Even to attempt it showed Michael's marvelous courage。
The soldiers reached the bank； but hesitated to plunge in。
The pendja…baschi seized his musket and took aim at Michael；
whom he could see in the middle of the stream。
The shot was fired； and Michael's horse； struck in the side；
was borne away by the current。
His master； speedily disentangling himself from his stirrups；
struck out boldly for the shore。 In the midst of a hailstorm
of balls he managed to reach the opposite side； and disappeared
in the rushes。
CHAPTER XVII THE RIVALS
MICHAEL was in comparative safety； though his situation was
still terrible。 Now that the faithful animal who had so bravely
borne him had met his death in the waters of the river；
how was he to continue his journey？
He was on foot； without provisions； in a country devastated
by the invasion； overrun by the Emir's scouts； and still at a
considerable distance from the place he was striving to reach。
〃By Heaven； I will get there！〃 he exclaimed； in reply to all
the reasons for faltering。 〃God will protect our sacred Russia。〃
Michael was out of reach of the Usbeck horsemen。
They had not dared to pursue him through the river。
Once more on solid ground Michael stopped to consider what
he should do next。 He wished to avoid Tomsk； now occupied
by the Tartar troops。 Nevertheless； he must reach some town；
or at least a post…house； where he could procure a horse。
A horse once found； he would throw himself out of the beaten track；
and not again take to the Irkutsk road until in the neighborhood
of Krasnoiarsk。 From that place； if he were quick； he hoped
to find the way still open； and he intended to go through
the Lake Baikal provinces in a southeasterly direction。
Michael began by going eastward。 By following the course
of the Obi two versts further； he reached a picturesque little
town lying on a small hill。 A few churches； with Byzantine
cupolas colored green and gold； stood up against the gray sky。
This is Kolyvan； where the officers and people employed at Kamsk
and other towns take refuge during the summer from the unhealthy
climate of the Baraba。 According to the latest news obtained
by the Czar's courier； Kolyvan could not be yet in the hands
of the invaders。 The Tartar troops； divided into two columns；
had marched to the left on Omsk； to the right on Tomsk；
neglecting the intermediate country。
Michael Strogoff's plan was simply thisto reach Kolyvan before
the arrival of the Usbeck horsemen； who would ascend the other bank
of the Obi to the ferry。 There he would procure clothes and a horse；
and r俿um？the road to Irkutsk across the southern steppe。
It was now three o'clock in the morning。 The neighborhood of Kolyvan
was very still； and appeared to have been totally abandoned。
The country population had evidently fled to the northwards；
to the province of Yeniseisk； dreading the invasion； which they
could not resist。
Michael was walking at a rapid pace towards Kolyvan when distant firing
struck his ear。 He stopped； and clearly distinguished the dull roar
of artillery； and above it a crisp rattle which could not be mistaken。
〃It is cannon and musketry！〃 said h