Thiswastheunpleasantsideofthebusiness。Afavorableresultofhisarrival，however，wastheorderwhichwasgiventoraisethecampthatveryday，andremovetheheadquarterstoTomsk。ThiswastheaccomplishmentofMichael’smostferventdesire。Hisintention，ashasbeensaid，wastoreachTomskconcealedamongsttheotherprisoners；thatistosay，withoutanyriskoffallingintothehandsofthescoutswhoswarmedabouttheapproachestothisimportanttown。
However，inconsequenceofthearrivalofIvanOgareff，hequestionedwhetheritwouldnotbebettertogiveuphisfirstplanandattempttoescapeduringthejourney。
Michaelwould，nodoubt，havekepttothelatterplanhadhenotlearntthatFeofar-KhanandOgareffhadalreadysetoutforthetownwithsomethousandsofhorsemen。“Iwillwait，then，“saidhetohimself；
“atleast，unlesssomeexceptionalopportunityforescapeoccurs。
TheadversechancesarenumerousonthissideofTomsk，whilebeyondIshallinafewhourshavepassedthemostadvancedTartarpoststotheeast。Stillthreedaysofpatience，andmayGodaidme！“