nine o’clock
One of these lakes -- large enough to warrant its geographical nomenclature -- Tchang , Chinese in name , had to be coasted for more than twenty versts , and this with the greatest difficulty . Hence certain delays occurred , which all the impatience of Michael Strogoff could not avoid . He had been well advised in not taking a carriage at Kamsk , for his horse passed places which would have been impracticable for a conveyance on wheels . In the evening , at nine o'clock , Michael Strogoff arrived at Ikoulskoe , and halted there over night . In this remote village of the Baraba news of the war was utterly wanting . From its situation , this part of the province , lying in the fork formed by the two Tartar columns which had bifurcated , one upon Omsk and the other upon Tomsk , had hitherto escaped the horrors of the invasion . But the natural obstacles were now about to disappear , for , if he experienced no delay , Michael Strogoff should on the morrow be free of the Baraba and arrive at Kolyvan .