was little trouble in sustaining life in
the forests during summer, for that even if they could not obtain food
from the peasants they had only to carry off a sheep at night from the
folds.

"That is why the peasants are so ready to give," one said. "I don't say
that they are not sorry for us, but the real reason is they know that if
they did not give we should take, and instead of being harmless
wanderers, as they call us, we should be driven to become bandits."

Still Godfrey had anticipated much greater difficulties than they had
met with; in fact up to the present time it had been simply a
delightful tramp through the woods. The next part of the journey would,
he expected, be no less pleasant. They had a large and comfortable boat,
well adapted for the navigation of the river. There would be no
difficulty as to food, for fish could be obtained in any quantities, and
grain was, he had heard from some of the Tartar prisoners who knew that
portion of the Yenesei, abundant and extraordinarily cheap.

He seated himself in the stern of the boat with a paddle. There was no
occasion to steer, for it mattered in no way whether the boat drove down
the river bow or stern first; but at present it was an amusement to keep
her straight with an occasional stroke with the paddle. Luka sat on the
floorboards at the bottom of the boat, and set himself to work to
manufacture from the squirrels' skins two fur caps of the same pattern
as those worn by the Ostjaks. Godfrey had asked him to do so in order
that they might be taken for members of that tribe by anyone looking at
them from the villages on the banks. As to the dress it did not signify,
as many of the more settled Ostjaks had adopted the Russian costume.
Godfrey intended to fish as they drifted along, but they had at present
at least as much fish on board as they could consume while it was good.
Luka, as he worked, sang a lugubrious native ditty, while with his knife
he trimmed the skins into shape. Having done this he proceeded to sew
them together with great skill.

"Why, you are quite a tailor, Luka," Godfrey remarked.

"Every one sews with us," Luka replied. "The women do most, but in
winter the boys help, and sometimes the men, to make rugs and robes of
the skins of the beasts we have taken in the summer. What do you say,
shall I leave these tails hanging down all round, except just in front?
They often wear them so in winter."

"But it is not winter now, Luka."

"