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,