THE Ural Mountains extend in a length of over two thousand miles between Europe and Asia.

Whether they are called the Urals, which is the Tartar, or the Poyas, which is the Russian name, they are correctly so termed; for these names signify "belt" in both languages.

Rising on the shores of the Arctic Sea, they reach the borders of the Caspian.

This was the barrier to be crossed by Michael Strogoff before he could enter Siberian Russia.

The mountains could be crossed in one night, if no accident happened.