"If so, he must be well acquainted with the country, and it is possible that he has left the Irkutsk road, depending on rejoining it later." "But then we should be in advance of him," answered the pendja-baschi; "for we left Omsk within an hour after his departure, and have since followed the shortest road with all the speed of our horses.

He has either remained in Omsk, or we shall arrive at Tomsk before him, so as to cut him off; in either case he will not reach Irkutsk." "A rugged woman, that old Siberian, who is evidently his mother," said the deh-baschi.
At this remark Michael's heart beat violently.
"Yes," answered the pendja-baschi.

"She stuck to it well that the pretended merchant was not her son, but it was too late.

Colonel Ogareff was not to be taken in; and, as he said, he will know how to make the old witch speak when the time comes." These words were so many dagger-thrusts for Michael.

He was known to be a courier of the Czar! A detachment of horsemen on his track could not fail to cut him off.