Then, recovering himself with a sudden effort, "Friend," said he, "how long have I been in thy hut ?" "Three days." "Three days lost!" "Three days hast thou lain unconscious." "Hast thou a horse to sell me ?" "Thou wishest to go ?" "At once." "I have neither horse nor carriage, little father.

Where the Tartar has passed there remains nothing!" "Well, I will go on foot to Omsk to find a horse." "A few more hours of rest, and thou wilt be in a better condition to pursue thy journey." "Not an hour!" "Come now," replied the mujik, recognizing the fact that it was useless to struggle against the will of his guest, "I will guide thee myself.
Besides," he added, "the Russians are still in great force at Omsk, and thou couldst, perhaps, pass unperceived." "Friend," replied Michael Strogoff, "Heaven reward thee for all thou hast done for me!" "Only fools expect reward on earth," replied the mujik.
Michael Strogoff went out of the hut.

When he tried to walk he was seized with such faintness that, without the assistance of the mujik, he would have fallen; but the fresh air quickly revived him.

He then felt the wound in his head, the violence of which his fur cap had lessened.
With the energy which he possessed, he was not a man to succumb under such a trifle.

Before his eyes lay a single goal--far-distant Irkutsk.
He must reach it! But he must pass through Omsk without stopping there.
"God protect my mother and Nadia!" he murmured.