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DuringthisdaytheycametothelittleriverOka，butitwasfordable，andtheyhadnodifficultyincrossing。Theskywascloudyandthetemperaturemoderate。Therewassomefearthattherainmightcomeon，whichwouldmuchhaveincreasedtheirmisery。
Afewshowersfell，buttheydidnotlast。
Theywentonasbefore，handinhand，speakinglittle，Nadialookingaboutoneveryside；twiceadaytheyhalted。
Sixhoursofthenightweregiventosleep。InafewhutsNadiaagainfoundalittlemutton；but，contrarytoMichael’shopes，therewasnotasinglebeastofburdeninthecountry；
horses，camels——allhadbeeneitherkilledorcarriedoff。
Theymuststillcontinuetoplodonacrossthiswearysteppeonfoot。
ThethirdTartarcolumn，onitswaytoIrkutsk，hadleftplaintraces:
hereadeadhorse，thereanabandonedcart。ThebodiesofunfortunateSiberianslayalongtheroad，principallyattheentrancestovillages。
Nadia，overcomingherrepugnance，lookedatallthesecorpses！
Thechiefdangerlay，notbefore，butbehind。
TheadvanceguardoftheEmir’sarmy，commandedbyIvanOgareff，mightatanymomentappear。TheboatssentdownthelowerYeniseimustbythistimehavereachedKrasnoiarskandbeenmadeuseof。Theroadwasthereforeopentotheinvaders。
NoRussianforcecouldbeopposedtothembetweenKrasnoiarskandLakeBaikal，MichaelthereforeexpectedbeforelongtheappearanceoftheTartarscouts。
Ateachhalt，NadiaclimbedsomehillandlookedanxiouslytotheWestward，butasyetnocloudofdusthadsignaledtheapproachofatroopofhorse。
Thenthemarchwasresumed；andwhenMichaelfeltthathewasdraggingpoorNadiaforwardtoorapidly，hewentataslowerpace。
Theyspokelittle，andonlyofNicholas。Theyounggirlrecalledallthatthiscompanionofafewdayshaddoneforthem。
Inanswering，MichaeltriedtogiveNadiasomehopeofwhichhedidnotfeelasparkhimself，forhewellknewthattheunfortunatefellowwouldnotescapedeath。
OnedayMichaelsaidtothegirl，“Youneverspeaktomeofmymother，Nadia。“
Hismother！Nadiahadneverwishedtodoso。Whyrenewhisgrief？
WasnottheoldSiberiandead？HadnothersongiventhelastkisstohercorpsestretchedontheplainofTomsk？
“Speaktomeofher，Nadia，“saidMichael。“Speak——youwillpleaseme。“
AndthenNadiadidwhatshehadnotdonebefore。ShetoldallthathadpassedbetweenMarfaandherselfsincetheirmeetingatOmsk，wheretheyhadseeneachotherforthefirsttime。
Shesaidhowaninexplicableinstincthadledhertowardstheoldprisonerwithoutknowingwhoshewas，andwhatencouragementshehadreceivedinreturn。AtthattimeMichaelStrogoffhadbeentoherbutNicholasKorpanoff。
“WhomIoughtalwaystohavebeen，“repliedMichael，hisbrowdarkening。
Thenlaterheadded，“Ihavebrokenmyoath，Nadia。Ihadswornnottoseemymother！“
“Butyoudidnottrytoseeher，Michael，“repliedNadia。“Chancealonebroughtyouintoherpresence。“
“Ihadsworn，whatevermighthappen，nottobetraymyself。“
“Michael，Michael！atsightofthelashraiseduponMarfa，couldyourefrain？No！Nooathcouldpreventasonfromsuccoringhismother！“
“Ihavebrokenmyoath，Nadia，“returnedMichael。“MayGodandtheFatherpardonme！“
“Michael，“resumedthegirl，“Ihaveaquestiontoaskyou。
Donotansweritifyouthinkyououghtnot。Nothingfromyouwouldvexme！“
“Speak，Nadia。“
“Why，nowthattheCzar’sletterhasbeentakenfromyou，areyousoanxioustoreachIrkutsk？“
Michaeltightlypressedhiscompanion’shand，buthedidnotanswer。
“DidyouknowthecontentsofthatletterbeforeyouleftMoscow？“
“No，Ididnotknow。“
“MustIthink，Michael，thatthewishalonetoplacemeinmyfather’shandsdrawsyoutowardIrkutsk？“
“No，Nadia，“repliedMichael，gravely。“IshoulddeceiveyouifIallowedyoutobelievethatitwasso。Igowh
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