The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-06-14
RUSSIAN BLUFF.
The Little Difference Between Muscovite
and Other Hackmen.


The Little Difference Between Muscovite
and Other Hackmen.
had arrived at the outskirts of the
town and we stopped before a dirty
looking wooden cottage.
A tall man dressed in a long coat
reaching to his heels, bright yellow
trousers which were stuffed into a pair
of red leather boots, while an enormous
black sheepskin cap covered his head,
came out and asked.my business. l said
that I wanted three horses to 60 to the
next stage and asked him what he would
drive there for, the regular postage
tariff being about six roubles.
Gone of noble BIRTH, !" replied the fell
low. "the roads are bad; but my horses
will gallop the whole way. They are
excellent horses; all the people in the
town look at them and envy me. They
say how fat they are ! look, how round
The governor has not got any horses Like
mine in his stable. I spoil them /
cherish them; and they gallop like the
wind. The people look, wonder and ad-
mire. Come and see the dear little ami
mails"
"I have no doubt about it. They are
excellent horses" replied; "but what
will you take me for p
"Let us say four roubles, your excel
lency, and give me one on account. One
little whole silver rouble; for the sake of
God let me put it in my pocket and we
will bless you"
Gail right" was my answer, "send
the horses to the Tzarskoe Selo inn i'm
mediately."
Presently the fellow rushed into my
room, and, bowling to the ground, took
off his cap with a grandlose air, then
drawing out the money I had given him
from some hidden recess in the neigh
borhood of his skin, he thrust the rouble
into my hand and exclaimed:
"Little father, my uncle owns one OF
the horses; he is very angry. He says
he was not consulted in the matter, and
that he loves the animal like a brother.
NV uncle will not let his horse leave the
stable for less than five roubles. What
is to be done2 I told him that I had
agreed to take you and even showed him
the money; but he is hard hearted and
stern"
every we'll" I said; bring around
the horses"
In few minutes the fellow returned,
and exclaimed: "One of noble birth; l
am ashamed p
"Quite right" I said; "you have
every reason to be so; but go on, is your
uncle,s horse dead9"
"No, one of noble birth, not SO bad
as that; but my brother is ve1ed. He
has a share in one of the animals; he
will not let me drive him to the next sta
ton for less than six roubles, and the
man putting on an expression in which
cunning, avarice and pretended sorrow
were blended, ribbed his forehead, and
added "What shall we do ?"
1 said: "Haye you grandmothe er 2
eyes" he replied, much surprised.
Chow did you know thatG 1 have; a
very old grandmother
"Well," replied, ego and tell her
that, fearing lest she should be annoyed
If any accident were to happen during
our journey, for you know misfortune
occurs sometimes; God sends them" l
added, piously. eyes; he does" inter
rupted the man. We are simple peo-
pie, your excellency:" "And, not
wishing to hurt the old lady's feelings,
should the fore leg of your uncle's horse
or the hind leg of your brothers suffer
on the road, have changed my mind
and shall not 60 with you to-day, but
take post horses tomorrow.
The man now became alarmed, think
ing he was about to lose his fare. He
rubbed his forehead violently, and then
exclaimed: 81 will take your excellency
for five roubles."
"But your brother ?"
"Never mind /; he is an animal; letus
CO."
NO" answered, "I shall wait; the
post horses are beautiful horses; | am
told they gallop like the wind. All the
people in the town look at them, and the
Inspector loves them"
"Let us say four roubles, youl excel
lency."
"But your uncle might beat you. 1
should not like you to be hurt.
"No," was the answer; "we will co.;
and the knotty point being thus settled,
we drove off.