care of one of my officers. He will accompany you, in my
carriage, to the spot where the vessel is lying, near the mouth of
the river, and will there see you on board. Should the fortune of
war again throw you into our hands, do not lose an hour in sending
a message to Peter Michaeloff."

So saying, the czar shook hands with Charlie, beckoned an officer
to him and gave him instructions, and then moved away among the
workmen, while Charlie, with his conductor, took their places in
the vehicle and drove rapidly off.

An hour later, he was on board the Swedish vessel, whose master and
crew were delighted at their sudden and unlooked for release. The
former was overjoyed, for the vessel was his own property.

"You will find your things in your cabin, sir," he said. "They were
sent on board this morning, together with food and wine sufficient
for a month's voyage, whereas, with this wind, we ought not to be
more than four days. At which port will you land?"

"I would rather go to Gottenburg, captain, though it is farther for
you than Stockholm."

"It shall be Gottenburg, sir. It is thanks to you that I have got
my liberty and my ship, and a day or two can make no difference to
me."

Charlie, indeed, had thought the matter over as he drove along. He
would not be able to rejoin the army until it had gone into winter
quarters, and therefore decided that he would go to Gottenburg,
apply for six months' leave, and spend the winter with his father.
Somewhat puzzled at the mention of his things having gone on board,
he went into the cabin, and found there a handsome pelisse trimmed
with costly furs, two robes composed of valuable skins, and a
change of clothes.

The wind held fair, blowing strongly, and four days later he
arrived at Gottenburg.

Chapter 16: In England Again.

Charlie was received with delight by his father, whom he had not
seen since the spring of the previous year.

"Then you got my letter, Charlie?" Sir Marmaduke asked, when the
first greetings were over. "And yet, I do not see how you could
have done so. It is little over a fortnight since I wrote, and I
had not looked for you for another month yet."

"I have certainly received no letter, father. A fortnight ago I was
in a Russian prison, and my arrival here, in so short a time, seems
to me almost miraculous;" and he then briefly related his singular
experiences.

"Now about the letter, father," he said, as he concluded. "I
suppose you mu