This is no doubt owing to the swiftness of its current.
If therefore the Tartars have no other means of crossing the river, I can assure your Highness that they will not enter Irkutsk in that way."The governor-general confirmed this assertion.
"It is a fortunate circumstance," responded the Grand Duke.
"Nevertheless, we must hold ourselves ready for any emergency."He then, turning towards the head of the police, asked, "Have you nothing to say to me, sir?""I have your Highness," answered the head of police, "a petition which is addressed to you through me.""Addressed by whom?"
"By the Siberian exiles, whom, as your Highness knows, are in the town to the number of five hundred."The political exiles, distributed over the province, had been collected in Irkutsk, from the beginning of the invasion.
They had obeyed the order to rally in the town, and leave the villages where they exercised their different professions, some doctors, some professors, either at the Gymnasium, or at the Japanese School, or at the School of Navigation. The Grand Duke, trusting like the Czar in their patriotism, had armed them, and they had thoroughly proved their bravery.
"What do the exiles ask?" said the Grand Duke.
"They ask the consent of your Highness," answered the head of police, "to their forming a special corps and being placed in the front of the first sortie.""Yes," replied the Grand Duke with an emotion which he did not seek to hide, "these exiles are Russians, and it is their right to fight for their country!""I believe I may assure your Highness," said the governor-general, "you will have no better soldiers.""But they must have a chief," said the Grand Duke, "who will he be?""They wish to recommend to your Highness," said the head of police, "one of their number, who has distinguished himself on several occasions.""Is he a Russian?"
"Yes, a Russian from the Baltic provinces.""His name?"
"Is Wassili Fedor."
This exile was Nadia's father. Wassili Fedor, as we have already said, followed his profession of a medical man in Irkutsk. He was clever and charitable, and also possessed the greatest courage and most sincere patriotism. All the time which he did not devote to the sick he employed in organizing the defense.
It was he who had united his companions in exile in the common cause.
The exiles, till then mingled with the population, had behaved in such a way as to draw on themselves the attention of the Grand Duke. In several sorties, they had paid with their blood their debt to holy Russia--holy as they believe, and adored by her children!
Wassili Fedor had behaved heroically; his name had been mentioned several times, but he never asked either thanks or favors, and when the exiles of Irkutsk thought of forming themselves into a special corps, he was ignorant of their intention of choosing him for their captain.
When the head of police mentioned this name, the Grand Duke answered that it was not unknown to him.