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“Whatisthematter，Nadia？“heasked。
“Ourtwotravelingcompanions，Michael。“
“TheFrenchmanandtheEnglishmanwhomwemetinthedefilesoftheUral？“
“Yes。“
Michaelstarted，forthestrictincognitowhichhewishedtokeepranariskofbeingbetrayed。Indeed，itwasnolongerasNicholasKorpanoffthatJolivetandBlountwouldnowseehim，butasthetrueMichaelStrogoff，CourieroftheCzar。ThetwocorrespondentshadalreadymethimtwicesincetheirseparationattheIchimpost-house——thefirsttimeattheZabedierocamp，whenhelaidopenIvanOgareff’sfacewiththeknout；thesecondtimeatTomsk，whenhewascondemnedbytheEmir。Theythereforeknewwhohewasandwhatdependedonhim。
MichaelStrogoffrapidlymadeuphismind。“Nadia，“saidhe，“whentheysteponboard，askthemtocometome！“
Itwas，infact，BlountandJolivet，whomthecourseofeventshadbroughttotheportofLivenitchnaia，asithadbroughtMichaelStrogoff。Asweknow，afterhavingbeenpresentattheentryoftheTartarsintoTomsk，theyhaddepartedbeforethesavageexecutionwhichterminatedthefete。
Theyhadthereforeneversuspectedthattheirformertravelingcompanionhadnotbeenputtodeath，butblindedbyorderoftheEmir。
HavingprocuredhorsestheyhadleftTomskthesameevening，withthefixeddeterminationofhenceforwarddatingtheirlettersfromtheRussiancampofEasternSiberia。TheyproceededbyforcedmarchestowardsIrkutsk。TheyhopedtodistanceFeofar-Khan，andwouldcertainlyhavedoneso，haditnotbeenfortheunexpectedapparitionofthethirdcolumn，comefromtheSouth，upthevalleyoftheYenisei。Theyhadbeencutoff，ashadbeenMichael，beforebeingableeventoreachtheDinka，andhadbeenobligedtogobacktoLakeBaikal。
Theyhadbeenintheplaceforthreedaysinmuchperplexity，whentheraftarrived。Thefugitives’planwasexplainedtothem。
Therewascertainlyachancethattheymightbeabletopassundercoverofthenight，andpenetrateintoIrkutsk。Theyresolvedtomaketheattempt。
Alcidedirectlycommunicatedwiththeoldboatman，andaskedapassageforhimselfandhiscompanion，offeringtopayanythinghedemanded，whateveritmightbe。
“Noonepayshere，“repliedtheoldmangravely；“everyoneriskshislife，thatisall！“
Thetwocorrespondentscameonboard，andNadiasawthemtaketheirplacesintheforepartoftheraft。HarryBlountwasstillthereservedEnglishman，whohadscarcelyaddressedawordtoherduringthewholepassageovertheUralMountains。AlcideJolivetseemedtoberathermoregravethanusual，anditmaybeacknowledgedthathisgravitywasjustifiedbythecircumstances。
Jolivethad，ashasbeensaid，takenhisseatontheraft，whenhefeltahandlaidonhisarm。Turning，herecognizedNadia，thesisterofthemanwhowasnolongerNicholasKorpanoff，butMichaelStrogoff，CourieroftheCzar。Hewasabouttomakeanexclamationofsurprisewhenhesawtheyounggirllayherfingeronherlips。
“Come，“saidNadia。Andwithacarelessair，Alcideroseandfollowedher，makingasigntoBlounttoaccompanyhim。
ButifthesurpriseofthecorrespondentshadbeengreatatmeetingNadiaontheraftitwasboundlesswhentheyperceivedMichaelStrogoff，whomtheyhadbelievedtobenolongerliving。
Michaelhadnotmovedattheirapproach。Jolivetturnedtowardsthegirl。“Hedoesnotseeyou，gentlemen，“saidNadia。“TheTartarshaveburntouthiseyes！Mypoorbrotherisblind！“
AfeelingoflivelycompassionexhibiteditselfonthefacesofBlountandhiscompanion。InamomenttheywereseatedbesideMichael，pressinghishandandwaitinguntilhespoketothem。
“Gentlemen，“saidMichael，inalowvoice，“yououghtnottoknowwhoIam，norwhatIamcometodoinSiberia。Iaskyoutokeepmysecret。
Willyoupromisemetodoso？“
“Onmyhonor，“answeredJolivet。
“Onmywordasagentleman，“addedBlount。
“Good，gentlemen。“
“Canwebeofanyusetoyou？“askedHarryBlount。“Couldwenothelpyoutoaccomplishyourtask？“
“Iprefertoa
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