spare shirts over the one you
wear, and take your three spare pairs of stockings. Of course you will
wind the rope round your waist. I suppose you will buy bread from the
others, there are always plenty ready to sell; you had better take
enough for two or three days. Cut it in slices, put them inside your
upper shirt with the other things you take, your belt will keep them
safe. Don't try to slip away unless you see a really good opportunity;
it is no use being shot at. Besides, with those irons on your legs, they
would soon overtake you. Better put it off for another time than to run
any risk."

Godfrey at once informed Luka that they were to try to escape on the
following evening, told him to put on his spare shirts at night, gave
him the matches, and told him to stow away in the morning as much bread
as he could carry. The young Tartar made no reply beyond a pleasant nod;
his confidence in his companion was unbounded. The next morning, while
eating their breakfasts by the dim light of a candle, Mikail passed
close to Godfrey and slipped two long knives into his hand; these he hid
instantly inside his shirt.

"I have got the bread," Mikail said; "it was better for me to buy it
than you. I have put it under your bag."

As it was quite dark in the corner of the room Godfrey had no difficulty
in cutting up the hunks of bread, and concealing them without
observation. Mikail strolled up while he was so engaged. Godfrey had
already given him money for the various purchases, and he now pressed a
hundred-rouble note into his hand, and said:

"Now, Mikail, you must take this from me; it is not a present to you,
but to your brave wife. When you get out you will want to do your share
towards making the house she has got for you comfortable. Till you get
your free ticket you will still be working in the mines like the others;
and though you will get the same pay as free labourers then, it will be
some time before you can lay much by. When your term is over you will
want to take up a piece of land and farm, and you must have money for
this until your crops grow."

"I will not take it," the man said huskily; "it is a hundred roubles. I
would not rob you; you will want every kopeck you have. The money would
be a curse to me."

"I have five hundred still left, Mikail, which will be ample for me. You
will grieve me if you refuse to take it. It will be pleasant to me,
whether I am taken again or whether I escape, to think that I