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The very first day, a quarter of his money was gone, and the only thing by which he hoped to evade suspicion, his passport. He dare not appeal to the police, and was obliged to submit. Regret and hesitation were not to be thought of. He soon found himself on the high-road to Irbit, crowded with an innumerable mass of sledges, going or returning to the fair.
A large fair was shortly to be held at Irbit, at the foot of the Urals, and he hoped to hide himself in the vast crowd of people that frequented it. Soon after he had crossed the river a sledge was heard behind him. He trembled for his safety his pursuers were perhaps coming. "Where are you going?" shouted the peasant who drove it. "To Tara." "Give me ten sous, and I will take you."
He then entered into details of the road and the fair at Irbit, ending by showing his permission to pass, which, as it bore a stamp, satisfied these ignorant men. "Forgive us," said they. "We thought you were an escaped convict; some of them pass this way." Henceforward, he dared not seek the shelter of a house.
"No; it is too much. I will give eight." "Well, so let it be. Jump in quickly." He was set down in the street; and knocking at a house, inquired in the Russian fashion "Have you horses to hire?" "Yes a pair. Where to?" "To Irbit. I am a commercial traveler, and going to meet my master. I am behind my time, and wish to go as quickly as possible."
The commodities from Siberia are chiefly furs and tea, those from Europe comprise a great many articles. Irbit is on the Asiatic side of the Ural mountains, about two hundred versts northeast of Ekaterineburg. It is a place of little consequence except during the time of the fair.
A railway is in process of construction from the Black Sea to the Caspian, and when this is completed, a line into Central Asia is only a question of time. The Russians have an extensive trade with Central Asia. Goods are transported on camels, the caravans coming in season for the fairs of Irbit and Nijne Novgorod.
We met many sledges laden with goods en route to the fair which takes place every February at Irbit. This fair is of great importance to Siberia, and attracts merchants from all the region west of Tomsk. From forty to fifty million roubles worth of goods are exchanged there during the four weeks devoted to traffic.
It is the season of gain and good humor, and the people show it by unbounded gaiety. Piotrowski took courage, returned the salutations of the passers-by for how could he be distinguished in such a crowd? The gates of Irbit were reached on the third day. "Halt, and shew your passport," cried an official; but added in a whisper "Give me twenty copecks, and pass quickly."
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