The National tribune., 1892-08-11

that no one was at home; but had neverthe-
less concluded to STOP on the chance OF Binding
some one to show us about Neither DOC
tor nor myself speak word of Russian lad our
adventures show how well man can fravei oy
the aid of the sign language.
We found on the train a Timetable, which
We showed last nj ht to the conductor, and by
pointing out the station, Pokr0tfsko and then
max ing as though we would start out OF the
train, we made him understand that he must
wake us up and let us of at that point The
conductor pulled out bis watch and showed us
that we would get thore at 5 in the morning,
and said "Da, da" l"yes, yes") in response to
our inquiry as to whether he wonld see that
we got of.
We had hoped to find some one who could
speak some language thai We knew, at the
station, but there was not soul here but
the policeman and the station agent The es-
tate we wanted to visit was that Of the Count
Sabourof. We wrote out the Counts name.
and be at once made signs showing that be was
not at home. He then brought the Russian
telegram he had sent and said Count Sabou-
rolf MET. We had the names of the Counts
wife, of his daughter. and of his sister, and we
went over these one by one; but to each OF them
he replied "niet" as we mentioned them aud
pointed in Z he dircctien'of she Sabourof estate,
which lay nine yersts away on the plain.
Here was the way ii went:
Count Andrew Sabouroff? T" and we point
to the south we say it aud raise our eyes.
"Niet," is the reply, with shake of the
head
Madame Sabouroffe Again We point.
"Nieti" again the station agent replies.
as the Counties sallahub theref" we ask in
the same way, ard again comes that emphatic
monosyllable "niet!"
as the Baroness Friedrehs there?" we go
on. and tse ages q HoS @thef tired of us. ex-
claims more emfha7eahy than ever Met!
nieti" and by pointing to the Russian map
shows us that all have gone off TO a town about
500 miles away. He tells us in the same way
that he himself had sent the telegram to us, and
finally says that he is not positive that the
brother OF the Count is not at home and as our
sign talk goes on, asks us if we want to 60 to
the estate. In the hope that he may be mis-
taken, aud that we may find some one there
who can talk, we decide to do so.
There is feur hours to wait before there is
another train, and the loneliness of the station
is almost suicidal. The agent by holding up
nine fingers tells Us il is nine yersts of and
then by starting off TO walk and holding his
hands as though driving be asks US if we want
q carriage, and at the same time be puts up two
fingers, and follows this by putting up three.
He wants to know whether We want droscfky
with two horses or three. We tell him two are
plenty, and a moment later he has callfd
peasant and the man has run OF into the c pun-
try after tine rig.
We then want some coffee The word or it
lie the same in Russian as in English, d he
understands Us but tells US ii is too ear and
the cook is asleep. He does this by laying bis
head on his hand and shutting his eyes. He
brings a big brass samovar. however, and tells
De be will make us some tea, and in a few mo-
nents we sitting down to a table in the
depot drinking hot tea and eating bread with
out butter.