Page 65 (1/1)

In two hours we reached the neighboring fortress, which also belonged to Pougatcheff We there changed horses By the celerity hich they served us, and the eager zeal of the bearded Cossack, whoatcheff had made Commandant, I perceived that, thanks to the talk of our postilion, I was supposed to be a favorite with their ain, it was dusk; ere drawing near a tohere, according to the bearded Coatcheff's forces The sentinels stopped us and to the deoes there?" our postilion answered in a loud voice: "A friend of the Czar, traveling with his wife"

We were at once surrounded by a detachhtfully

"Coive you a bath!"

I requested to be taken before the authorities Perceiving that I was an officer, the soldiers ceased swearing, and the officer tookout: "We fall from the fire into the flame!"

The kibitka came slowly after us In five hted up The officer left uard, and entered to announcethat I was ordered to prison, and her ladyship to the presence of the Major

"Is he mad?" I cried

"I can not tell, your lordship"

I jumped up the steps--the sentinels had not time to stop me--and burst into the roo faro The Major kept the bank I instantly recognized the Major as Ivan Zourine, who had so thoroughly emptied my purse at Simbirsk "Is it possible? is this you Ivan Zourine?"

"Halloo! Peter; what luck? where are you from? will you take a chance?"

"Thanks; I would rather have soned me"

"No need of apart your comrade with you"

"I am not with a comrade; I am with--a lady"

"A lady! where did you fish her out?" and he whistled in so rollicking a

"Well," said Zourine, "then youin Pougatcheff's friend?"

"What are you about," said I "It is Captain Mironoff's daughter I have just obtained her liberty, and I a her to my father's, where I shall leave her"

"In the naatcheff's chuo and see this poor girl, whohtened"