He was used to all that.

His companion ran a risk of being hurt by the violent jolts of the tarantass, but she would not complain.
For a little while Nadia did not speak.

Then possessed with the one thought, that of reaching her journey's end, "I have calculated that there are three hundred versts between Perm and Ekaterenburg, brother," said she.

"Am I right ?" "You are quite right, Nadia," answered Michael; "and when we have reached Ekaterenburg, we shall be at the foot of the Ural Mountains on the opposite side." "How long will it take to get across the mountains ?" "Forty-eight hours, for we shall travel day and night.

I say day and night, Nadia," added he, "for I cannot stop even for a moment; I go on without rest to Irkutsk." "I shall not delay you, brother; no, not even for an hour, and we will travel day and night." "Well then, Nadia, if the Tartar invasion has only left the road open, we shall arrive in twenty days." "You have made this journey before ?" asked Nadia.
"Many times." "During winter we should have gone more rapidly and surely, should we not ?" "Yes, especially with more rapidity, but you would have suffered much from the frost and snow." "What matter! Winter is the friend of Russia." "Yes, Nadia, but what a constitution anyone must have to endure such friendship! I have often seen the temperature in the Siberian steppes fall to more than forty degrees below freezing point! I have felt, notwithstanding my reindeer coat, my heart growing chill, my limbs stiffening, my feet freezing in triple woolen socks; I have seen my sleigh horses covered with a coating of ice, their breath congealed at their nostrils.