Fortwodaysthebesiegersattemptednofreshassault。
TheywerediscouragedbythedeathofOgareff。Thismanwasthemainspringoftheinvasion，andhealone，byhisplotslongsincecontrived，hadhadsufficientinfluenceoverthekhansandtheirhordestobringthemtotheconquestofAsiaticRussia。
However，thedefendersofIrkutskkeptontheirguard，andtheinvestmentstillcontinued；butonthe7thofOctober，atdaybreak，cannonboomedoutfromtheheightsaroundIrkutsk。ItwasthesuccoringarmyunderthecommandofGeneralKisselef，anditwasthusthathemadeknownhiswelcomearrivaltotheGrandDuke。
TheTartarsdidnotwaittobeattacked。NotdaringtoruntheriskofabattleunderthewallsofIrkutsk，theyimmediatelybrokeuptheAngaracamp。Irkutskwasatlastrelieved。
WiththefirstRussiansoldiers，twoofMichael’sfriendsenteredthecity。TheyweretheinseparableBlountandJolivet。OngainingtherightbankoftheAngarabymeansoftheicybarrier，theyhadescaped，ashadtheotherfugitives，beforetheflameshadreachedtheirraft。
ThishadbeennotedbyAlcideJolivetinhisbookinthisway:
“Rananarrowchanceofbeingfinisheduplikealemoninabowlofpunch！“
TheirjoywasgreatonfindingNadiaandMichaelsafeandsound；
aboveall，whentheylearntthattheirbravecompanionwasnotblind。
HarryBlountinscribedthisobservation:“Red-hotironisinsufficientinsomecasestodestroythesensibilityoftheopticnerve。“
Thenthetwocorrespondents，settledforatimeinIrkutsk，busiedthemselvesinputtingthenotesandimpressionsoftheirjourneyinorder。ThenceweresenttoLondonandParistwointerestingarticlesrelativetotheTartarinvasion，andwhich——ararething——
didnotcontradicteachotherevenontheleastimportantpoints。
TheremainderofthecampaignwasunfortunatetotheEmirandhisallies。
Thisinvasion，futileasallwhichattacktheRussianColossusmustbe，wasveryfataltothem。TheysoonfoundthemselvescutoffbytheCzar’stroops，whoretookinsuccessionalltheconqueredtowns。
Besidesthis，thewinterwasterrible，and，decimatedbythecold，onlyasmallpartofthesehordesreturnedtothesteppesofTartary。
TheIrkutskroad，bywayoftheUralMountains，wasnowopen。
TheGrandDukewasanxioustoreturntoMoscow，buthedelayedhisjourneytobepresentatatouchingceremony，whichtookplaceafewdaysaftertheentryoftheRussiantroops。
MichaelStrogoffsoughtNadia，andinherfather’spresencesaidtoher，“Nadia，mysisterstill，whenyouleftRigatocometoIrkutsk，didyouleaveitwithanyotherregretthanthatforyourmother？“
“No，“repliedNadia，“noneofanysortwhatever。“
“Then，nothingofyourheartremainsthere？“
“Nothing，brother。“
“Then，Nadia，“saidMichael，“IthinkthatGod，inallowingustomeet，andtogothroughsomanyseveretrialstogether，musthavemeantustobeunitedforever。“
“Ah！“saidNadia，fallingintoMichael’sarms。ThenturningtowardsWassiliFedor，“Myfather，“saidshe，blushing。
“Nadia，“saidCaptainFedor，“itwillbemyjoytocallyoubothmychildren！“
ThemarriageceremonytookplaceinIrkutskcathedral。
JolivetandBlountverynaturallyassistedatthismarriage，ofwhichtheywishedtogiveanaccounttotheirreaders。
“Anddoesn’titmakeyouwishtoimitatethem？“askedAlcideofhisfriend。
“Pooh！“saidBlount。“NowifIhadacousinlikeyou——“
“Mycousinisn’ttobemarried！“answeredAlcide，laughing。
“Somuchthebetter，“returnedBlount，“fortheyspeakofdifficultiesarisingbetweenLondonandPekin。Haveyounowishtogoandseewhatisgoingonthere？“
“ByJove，mydearBlount！“exclaimedAlcideJolivet，“Iwasjustgoingtomakethesameproposaltoyou。“
AndthatwashowthetwoinseparablessetoffforChina。
Afewdaysaftertheceremony，MichaelandNadiaStrogoff，accompaniedbyWassiliFedor，tooktheroutetoEurope。Theroadsofullofsufferingwhengoing，wasaroadofjoyinreturning。
Theytraveledswiftly，inoneofthosesleighswhichglidelikeanexpresstrainacrossthefrozensteppesofSiberia。
However，whentheyreachedthebanksoftheDinka，justbeforeBirskoe，theystoppedforawhile。MichaelfoundtheplacewherehehadburiedpoorNicholas。Acrosswaserectedthere，andNadiaprayedalasttimeonthegraveofthehumbleandheroicfriend，whomneitherofthemwouldeverforget。
AtOmsk，oldMarfaawaitedtheminthelittlehouseoftheStrogoffs。Sheclaspedpassionatelyinherarmsthegirlwhominherheartshehadalreadyahundredtimescalled“daughter。“
ThebraveoldSiberian，onthatday，hadtherighttorecognizehersonandsayshewasproudofhim。
AfterafewdayspassedatOmsk，MichaelandNadiaenteredEurope，and，WassiliFedorsettlingdowninSt。Petersburg，neitherhissonnorhisdaughterhadanyoccasiontoleavehim，excepttogoandseetheiroldmother。
TheyoungcourierwasreceivedbytheCzar，whoattachedhimspeciallytohisownperson，andgavehimtheCrossofSt。George。Inthecourseoftime，MichaelStrogoffreachedahighstationintheEmpire。Butitisnotthehistoryofhissuccess，butthehistoryofhistrials，whichdeservestoberelated。
End
