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to be found, and without doubt news also."
"To the invaded provinces?" asked Michael with some earnestness.
"Exactly so, Mr. Korpanoff; and we may possibly meet there."
"Indeed, sir," replied Michael, "I have little love for cannon-balls
or lance points, and am by nature too great a lover of peace to venture
where fighting is going on."
"I am sorry, sir, extremely sorry; we must only regret that we shall
separate so soon! But on leaving Ekaterenburg it may be our fortunate
fate to travel together, if only for a few days?"
"Do you go on to Omsk?" asked Michael, after a moment's reflection.
"We know nothing as yet," replied Alcide; "but we shall
certainly go as far as Ishim, and once there, our movements
must depend on circumstances."
"Well then, gentlemen," said Michael, "we will be fellow-travelers
as far as Ishim."
Michael would certainly have preferred to travel alone, but he could not,
without appearing at least singular, seek to separate himself
from the two reporters, who were taking the same road that he was.
Besides, since Alcide and his companion intended to make some stay
at Ishim, he thought it rather convenient than otherwise to make
that part of the journey in their company.
Then in an indifferent tone he asked, "Do you know, with any certainty,
where this Tartar invasion is?"
"Indeed, sir," replied Alcide, "we only know what they said
at Perm. Feofar-Khan's Tartars have invaded the whole province
of Semipolatinsk, and for some days, by forced marches,
have been descending the Irtish. You must hurry if you wish
to get to Omsk before them."
"Indeed I must," replied Michael.
"It is reported also that Colonel Ogareff has succeeded in passing
the frontier in disguise, and that he will not be slow in joining
the Tartar chief in the revolted country."
"But how do they know it?" asked Michael, whom this news,
more or less true, so directly concerned.
"Oh! as these things are always known," replied Alcide;
"it is in the air."
"Then have you really reason to think that Colonel Ogareff
is in Siberia?"
"I myself have heard it said that he was to take the road
from Kasan to Ekaterenburg."
"Ah! you know that, Mr. Jolivet?" said Harry Blount,
roused from his silence.
"I knew it," replied Alcide.
"And do you know that he went disguised as a gypsy!" asked Blount.
"As a gypsy!" exclaimed Michael, almost involuntarily, and he suddenly
remembered the look of the old Bohemian at Nijni-Novgorod, his voyage
on board the Caucasus, and his disembarking at Kasan.
"Just well enough to make a few remarks on the subject in a letter
to my cousin," replied Alcide, smiling.
"You lost no time at Kasan," dryly observed the Englishman.
"No, my dear fellow! and while the Caucasus was laying in her supply
of fuel, I was employed in obtaining a store of information."
Michael no longer listened to the repartee which Harry Blount
and Alcide exchanged. He was thinking of the gypsy troupe,
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