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The fortress of Belogorsk is situated forty versts froh banks of the river Iaik The stream was not yet frozen, and its lead-colored waters took a black tint between banks whitened by the snow Before ht, for to arrison life offered few attractions I tried to picture ined a severe,outside of the service, ready to arrestrapidly

"How far is it from here to the fortress?" said I to the coachman

"You can see it now," he answered

I looked on all sides, expecting to see high bastions, a wall, and a ditch I saw nothing but a little village surrounded by a wooden palisade On one side stood some hay-stacks half covered with snow; on the other a wind-s of theidle

"Where is the fortress?" I asked, astonished

"There it is," said the coache which we had just entered I saw near the gate an old iron cannon The streets were narrow and winding, and nearly all the huts were thatched with straw I ordered the coachman to drive to the Commandant's, and almost immediately my kibitka stopped before a wooden house built on an eminence near the church, which was also of wood Fro-roo a blue piece on the elbow of a green uniforood sir," said he, "our people are at home"

I entered a very neat room, furnished in the fashion of other days On one side stood a cabinet containing the silver Against the wall hung the diploed around its fra of Kurstrin," and the "Burial of the Cat by the Mice" Near thesat an old woman in aa skein of thread held on the separated hands of a little old man, blind of one eye, as dressed like an officer

"What do you desire,her occupation I told her that I had co to rule, I hastened to presentthis, I turned to the one-eyed old ood lady interrupted the speech which I had prepared in advance: "Ivan Mironoff is not at hoone to visit Father Garasin to love us and have us in favor! Take a seat, my dear sir" She ordered a servant to send her the Corporal The little old azed at me curiously, with his only eye