This important chain which separates Russia from Siberia was still at a great distance, and they could not hope to reach it until the end of the day.
The passage of the mountains must necessarily be performed during the next night.

The sky was cloudy all day, and the temperature was therefore more bearable, but the weather was very threatening.
It would perhaps have been more prudent not to have ascended the mountains during the night, and Michael would not have done so, had he been permitted to wait; but when, at the last stage, the iemschik drew his attention to a peal of thunder reverberating among the rocks, he merely said: "Is a telga still before us ?" "Yes." "How long is it in advance ?" "Nearly an hour." "Forward, and a triple tip if we are at Ekaterenburg to-morrow morning.".