CONQUEST OF SIBERIA BY THE RUSSIANS. 



193 



pursuers far behind, he at length arrived on the estates of Strogonoff. Here he 

 was well received — better, no doubt, than if he had come single-handed and de- 

 fenseless ; and Strogonoff having made him acquainted with Siberian affairs, 

 he at once resolved to try his fortunes on this new scene of action. As the tyr- 

 anny of Kutchum Khan had rendered him odious to his subjects, he hoped it 

 would be an easy task to overthrow his power ; the prospect of a rich booty of 

 sable skins was also extremely attractive ; and, finally, there could be no doubt 

 that the greatest dangers were in his rear, and that any choice was better than 

 to fall into the hands of Ivan the Terrible. Strogonoff, on his part, had excel- 

 lent reasons for encouraging the adventure. If it succeeded, a considerable 

 part of the profits was likely to fall to his share ; if not, he at least was rid of 

 his unbidden guest. 



Thus Yermak, in the summer of 1578, advanced with his Cossacks along the 

 banks of the Tschinsova into Siberia. But, either from a want of knowledge 

 of the country, or from not having taken the necessary precautions, he was 

 overtaken by winter before he could make any progress ; and when spring ap- 

 peared, famine compelled him to return to his old quarters, where, as may easi- 

 ly be imagined, his reception was none of the most cordial. But, far from losing 

 courage from this first disappointment, Yermak was firmly resolved to perse- 

 vere. He had gained experience — ^his self-confidence was steeled by adversity; 

 and when Strogonoff attempted to refuse him further assistance, he pointed to 

 his Cossacks with the air of a man who has the means of enforcing obedience 

 to his orders. This time Yermak took better measures for insuring success; 

 he compelled Strogonoff to furnish him with an ample supply of provisions and 

 ammunition, and in the June of the following year we again find him, with 

 his faithful Cossacks, on the march to Siberia. But such were the impediments 

 which the pathless swamps and forests, the severity of the climate, and the hos- 

 tility of the natives opposed to his progress, that towards the end of 1580 his 

 force (now reduced to 1500 men) had reached no farther than the banks of the 

 Tara. The subsequent advance of this little band was a constant succession 

 of hardships and skirmishes, which caused it to melt away hke snow in the 

 sunshine; so that scarcely 500 remained when, at the confluence of the Tobol 

 and the Irtysch, they at length reached the camp of Kutchum Khan, whose over- 

 whelming numbers seemed to mock their audacity. 



But Yermak felt as little fear at sight of the innumerable tents of the Tar- 

 tar host, as the wolf when meeting a herd of sheep. He knew that his Cossacks, 

 armed with their matchlocks, had long since disdained to count their enemies, 

 and, fully determined to conquer or to die, he gave the order to attack. A 

 dreadful battle ensued, for though the Tartars only fought with their bows and 

 arrows, yet they were no less brave than their adversaries, and their vast supe- 

 riority of numbers made up for the inferior quality of their weapons. The 

 struggle was long doubtful — the Tartars repeating attack upon attack like the 

 waves of a storm-tide, and the Cossacks receiving their assaults as firmly and 

 immovably as rocks ; until, finally, the hordes of Kutchum Khan gave way to 

 their stubborn obstinacy, and his camp and all its treasures fell into the hands 

 of the conquerors. 



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