hed them, only
urging them on by startling cracks of his whip. But what epithets he
lavished on them, including the names of all the saints in the calendar,
when they behaved like docile and conscientious animals! The string
which served as reins would have had no influence on the spirited
beasts, but the words "na pravo," to the right, "na levo," to the left,
pronounced in a guttural tone, were more effectual than either bridle or
snaffle.

And what amiable expressions! "Go on, my doves!" the iemschik would say.
"Go on, pretty swallows! Fly, my little pigeons! Hold up, my cousin on
the left! Gee up, my little father on the right!"

But when the pace slackened, what insulting expressions, instantly
understood by the sensitive animals! "Go on, you wretched snail!
Confound you, you slug! I'll roast you alive, you tortoise, you!"

Whether or not it was from this way of driving, which requires the
iemschiks to possess strong throats more than muscular arms, the
tarantass flew along at a rate of from twelve to fourteen miles an hour.
Michael Strogoff was accustomed both to the sort of vehicle and the mode
of traveling. Neither jerks nor jolts incommoded him. He knew that a
Russian driver never even tries to avoid either stones, ruts, bogs,
fallen trees, or trenches, which may happen to be in the road. He was
used to all that. His companion ran a risk of being hurt by the violent
jolts of the tarantass, but she would not complain.

For a little while Nadia did not speak. Then possessed with the one
thought, that of reaching her journey's end, "I have calculated that
there are three hundred versts between Perm and Ekaterenburg, brother,"
said she. "Am I right?"

"You are quite right, Nadia," answered Michael; "and when we have
reached Ekaterenburg, we shall be at the foot of the Ural Mountains on
the opposite side."

"How long will it take to get across the mountains?"

"Forty-eight hours, for we shall travel day and night. I say day and
night, Nadia," added he, "for I cannot stop even for a moment; I go on
without rest to Irkutsk."

"I shall not delay you, brother; no, not even for an hour, and we will
travel day and night."

"Well then, Nadia, if the Tartar invasion has only left the road open,
we shall arrive in twenty days."

"You have made this journey before?" asked Nadia.

"Many times."

"During winter we should have gone more rapidly and surely, should we
not?"

"Yes, especially with more rapidity, bu