mportant chief town of the government, and a Greek archbishopric, as
well as the seat of a university. The varied population preserves an
Asiatic character. Although the town was so far from the landing-place,
a large crowd was collected on the quay. They had come for news. The
governor of the province had published an order identical with that of
Nijni-Novgorod. Police officers and a few Cossacks kept order among the
crowd, and cleared the way both for the passengers who were disembarking
and also for those who were embarking on board the Caucasus, minutely
examining both classes of travelers. The one were the Asiatics who were
being expelled; the other, mujiks stopping at Kasan.

Michael Strogoff unconcernedly watched the bustle which occurs at all
quays on the arrival of a steam vessel. The Caucasus would stay for an
hour to renew her fuel. Michael did not even think of landing. He was
unwilling to leave the young Livonian girl alone on board, as she had
not yet reappeared on deck.

The two journalists had risen at dawn, as all good huntsmen should do.
They went on shore and mingled with the crowd, each keeping to his own
peculiar mode of proceeding; Harry Blount, sketching different types, or
noting some observation; Alcide Jolivet contenting himself with asking
questions, confiding in his memory, which never failed him.

There was a report along all the frontier that the insurrection and
invasion had reached considerable proportions. Communication between
Siberia and the empire was already extremely difficult. All this Michael
Strogoff heard from the new arrivals. This information could not but
cause him great uneasiness, and increase his wish of being beyond the
Ural Mountains, so as to judge for himself of the truth of these
rumors, and enable him to guard against any possible contingency. He was
thinking of seeking more direct intelligence from some native of Kasan,
when his attention was suddenly diverted.

Among the passengers who were leaving the Caucasus, Michael recognized
the troop of Tsiganes who, the day before, had appeared in the
Nijni-Novgorod fair. There, on the deck of the steamboat were the old
Bohemian and the woman. With them, and no doubt under their direction,
landed about twenty dancers and singers, from fifteen to twenty years of
age, wrapped in old cloaks, which covered their spangled dresses. These
dresses, just then glancing in the first rays of the sun, reminded
Michael of the curious