at a glance--was, that he was "a fulfiller of orders."
He therefore possessed one of the most serviceable qualities
in Russia--one which, as the celebrated novelist Tourgueneff says,
"will lead to the highest positions in the Muscovite empire."

In short, if anyone could accomplish this journey from Moscow
to Irkutsk, across a rebellious country, surmount obstacles,
and brave perils of all sorts, Michael Strogoff was the man.

A circumstance especially favorable to the success of his plan was,
that he was thoroughly acquainted with the country which he was
about to traverse, and understood its different dialects--
not only from having traveled there before, but because he was
of Siberian origin.

His father--old Peter Strogoff, dead ten years since--
inhabited the town of Omsk, situated in the government of the
same name; and his mother, Marfa Strogoff, lived there still.
There, amid the wild steppes of the provinces of Omsk and Tobolsk,
had the famous huntsman brought up his son Michael to endure hardship.
Peter Strogoff was a huntsman by profession. Summer and winter--
in the burning heat, as well as when the cold was sometimes fifty
degrees below zero--he scoured the frozen plains, the thickets of
birch and larch, the pine forests; setting traps; watching for small
game with his gun, and for large game with the spear or knife.
The large game was nothing less than the Siberian bear, a formidable
and ferocious animal, in size equaling its fellow of the frozen seas.
Peter Strogoff had killed more than thirty-nine bears--that is
to say, the fortieth had fallen under his blows; and, according to
Russian legends, most huntsmen who have been lucky enough up