Year: 1866

ed to frighten them. 1t now lay quiet on
the snow, and had just time to turn and
shoot the foremost as he was making a
spring


Mount" shouted the driver and I
sprang on to the step managing to shoot
an immense wolf who was rushing at one
of the horses.


awe are free now," I said to Ivan; "the
wolves will surely remain with the lame
horse" ~


eyes, think we are," he answered !;
"but load your pistols if we do not reach
| the post-house before they overtake us we
shall find them more savage than ever !;
that poor brute will not be mouthful for
each of them" @
| But at the edge Of the wood we saw the
walls of the post-house, just as the pack
rushed into tie brighter light. They. felt
they were foiled, and shrank away ,howling
dismally. AS to the ladies they were re-
ally more dead than alive when we helped
them out of the carriage, and we all agreed
that we must take an hours rest before we
started.


As we reached the frontier another doubt
arose Our passports were en- route, but
had them only for my wife, myself, and one
of my daughters they had been made out
when we talked of joining my eldest daugh-
ter and her husband in Paris, and they
were likely to be of service but how was
l to manage about Emma and Garry? Af-
ter some deliberation decided to consult
our driver, who had behaved so well in our
escape from the wolves So telling the la
dies that they might have short rest at a
comfortable little posthouse, which we had
reached, joined Ivan, offering him share
of my brandy-bottle, and asked him if he
had not been long in the service of Count
Vladimer


II was serf, born on his land, )" was his
reply "and my father was before me-"


"Is he not good ma. ter ?" l inquired.


"He is, indeed, my lord )" for so he per-
sisted in calling me. "Ah if all vassels
were as fortunate as have been, Russia
would be a different country from what it
isl


said l believed his master trusted him,
and | would do the same wanted to
know what l had best do as [ had not pass
ports for two of my daughters. and dared
not apply to the officers of the frontier
towns.


II fear you would not be allowed to pass
he said "but could you not get them across
the river Memel, and then pick them up at.
ter going through the nearest town"


Glow do you men p | inquired.


"When we get to Meretch, Ivan answer
ed, II could turn aside, for know the part
quite well. The river must be frozen hard
at this time, and | or my lord might take
the young ladies over, leave them in cot
tage close to the banks of the Memel, and
then return to the carriage and drive to
Meretch, where you can show your pa
pers."


"This plan | adopted, although the idea
d leaving two young ladies at the mercy
of strangers was repugnant to my feelings.
But when | told my daughters about it they
both declared that they had no fear, and
that they would much rather cross the ice.
than be detained perhaps for weeks at Mer.
etch.


On the banks of the river another diff
ty arose. There was no passport for Ivan,
and yet we were most unwilling to part from
him.


"My lord must condescend to act as dri-
ver," said Ivan, "and | can see the young
ladies across the river, and protect them
from danger if necessary. Or l can stay
with the carriage, and on arriving at Mer-
etch pretend to return to St Petersburg and
seize the first opportunity of crossing the
rivern


The last plan would have taken too much
time, so | told him we had full confidence
in him, and promised him handsome re-
ward if we reached Paris in safety and SO
we parted.


We had not much trouble in Meretch
When | produced my passports said my
business was of Importance an hour
saved was sometimes worth a fortune to
merchant like me, and if the official would
kindly assist me by paying any dues that
we're required, should feel everlastingly
indebted to him. So saying, slipped a
bag of money into his willing fingers. He
gave look of intelligence, glanced at my
passports, and begged me not to dismount
there should not be q hindrance if he had
the power to prevent it. sa .E .g II


When out of the town my heart bound
ed. We were once. more free trusted to
Join the girls in an hour or SO, and lost no
time on the road but the path was wind
ing one, and there were numerous cross
roads however, / took the river as my
guide, and in course of time we reached a
cottage, but could hear nothing of our
Ittle party Furtner on we HeJ an olQ
woman, who made us understand that she
had seen two girls whom a Russian was
taking before the authorities, as he feared
they were spies. 'But they looked both
good and modest, and my heart ached for
| them," she added with sigh After Civ
ing her tride, we FASTENED on, and soon
| overlook my weary children. Ivan had
seen some military resting in the cottage
when he peeped through the narrow win
dow, and feared that unpleasant inquiries
| might be made, so he concocted this story,
which he was sure would win the heart of
any peasant. 1853 SOD 8... a.


The girls told me that the poor woman
had been very kind she had brought them
black bread and cheese in her apron, and
milk from her little dairy, though Ivan had
pretended that he could not allow them to
stop and rest. My daughters said they
wonld never forget his kindness and
thoughtfulness and, indeed, he has proved
a most faithful servant He is now my
| gamekeeper at His master thought
it would be scarcely prudent for him to re-
| turn to Vladimir. .sr s....


A day later l could not have left the
capital, for should have been in prison
n ~