下载辰思小说免费APP
“Well，friend，“saidhetoNicholas，“whyarewenotgoingon？“
“BecauseIamafraidofwakinguptheinhabitantsofthetownwiththenoiseofmycarriage！“Andwithalightfleckofthewhip，Nicholasputhishorseinmotion。
TenminutesaftertheyenteredtheHighStreet。Krasnoiarskwasdeserted；
therewasnolongeranAthenianinthis“NorthernAthens，“
asMadamedeBourboulonhascalledit。Notoneoftheirdashingequipagessweptthroughthewide，cleanstreets。
Notapedestrianenlivenedthefootpathsraisedatthebasesofthemagnificentwoodenhouses，ofmonumentalaspect！
NotaSiberianbelle，dressedinthelastFrenchfashion，promenadedthebeautifulpark，clearedinaforestofbirchtrees，whichstretchesawaytothebanksoftheYenisei！Thegreatbellofthecathedralwasdumb；thechimesofthechurchesweresilent。
Herewascompletedesolation。Therewasnolongeralivingbeinginthistown，latelysolively！
ThelasttelegramsentfromtheCzar’scabinet，beforetheruptureofthewire，hadorderedthegovernor，thegarrison，theinhabitants，whoevertheymightbe，toleaveKrasnoiarsk，tocarrywiththemanyarticlesofvalue，orwhichmightbeofusetotheTartars，andtotakerefugeatIrkutsk。Thesameinjunctionwasgiventoallthevillagesoftheprovince。ItwastheintentionoftheMuscovitegovernmenttolaythecountrydesertbeforetheinvaders。
Noonethoughtforaninstantofdisputingtheseorders。
Theywereexecuted，andthiswasthereasonwhynotasinglehumanbeingremainedinKrasnoiarsk。
MichaelStrogoff，Nadia，andNicholaspassedsilentlythroughthestreetsofthetown。Theyfelthalf-stupefied。Theythemselvesmadetheonlysoundtobeheardinthisdeadcity。
Michaelallowednothingofwhathefelttoappear，butheinwardlyragedagainstthebadluckwhichpursuedhim，hishopesbeingagaindisappointed。
“Alack，alack！“criedNicholas，“Ishallnevergetanyemploymentinthisdesert！“
“Friend，“saidNadia，“youmustgoonwithus。“
“Imustindeed！“repliedNicholas。“ThewireisnodoubtstillworkingbetweenOudinskandIrkutsk，andthere——
Shallwestart，littlefather？“
“Letuswaittillto-morrow，“answeredMichael。
“Youareright，“saidNicholas。“WehavetheYeniseitocross，andneedlighttoseeourwaythere！“
“Tosee！“murmuredNadia，thinkingofherblindcompanion。
Nicholasheardher，andturningtoMichael，“Forgiveme，littlefather，“
saidhe。“Alas！nightandday，itistrue，areallthesametoyou！“
“Donotreproachyourself，friend，“repliedMichael，pressinghishandoverhiseyes。“WithyouforaguideIcanstillact。
Takeafewhours’repose。Nadiamustresttoo。To-morrowwewillrecommenceourjourney！“
Michaelandhisfriendshadnottosearchlongforaplaceofrest。
Thefirsthouse，thedoorofwhichtheypushedopen，wasempty，aswellasalltheothers。Nothingcouldbefoundwithinbutafewheapsofleaves。Forwantofbetterfodderthehorsehadtocontenthimselfwiththisscantynourishment。Theprovisionsofthekibitkawerenotyetexhausted，soeachhadashare。
Then，afterhavingkneltbeforeasmallpictureofthePanaghia，hungonthewall，andstilllightedupbyaflickeringlamp，Nicholasandtheyounggirlslept，whilstMichael，overwhomsleephadnoinfluence，watched。
Beforedaybreakthenextmorning，the26thofAugust，thehorsewasdrawingthekibitkathroughtheforestsofbirchtreestowardsthebanksoftheYenisei。Michaelwasinmuchanxiety。
Howwashetocrosstheriver，if，aswasprobable，allboatshadbeendestroyedtoretardtheTartars’march？HeknewtheYenisei，itswidthwasconsiderable，itscurren
后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节
