s afternoon."

"They would not mind being on fatigue duty every day through the winter
on those terms," the colonel said. "It is better for them than
soldiering. We must mind that we don't shoot any of them, gentlemen. The
lives of the Czar's soldiers are not to be lightly sacrificed, and next
time, you know, the whole of the bullets may not hit the mark as they
did this morning."

"There really is some danger in it," Mr. Robson said to Godfrey, who was
sitting next to him; "in fact, I should say there was a good deal of
danger. However, I fancy the beaters all throw themselves down flat when
they hear the crack of the first rifle."

"I see most of them have got a gun as well as a rifle."

"Yes, there is no saying what may come along, and, indeed, they are more
likely to get birds than fur. I was told there are a good many elk in
the forest, and the peasants have been bringing an unusual number in
lately. A friend of mine shot two last week; but as our party did not
get one in their first drive they are not likely to get any afterwards.
Occasionally in these big drives a good many animals are inclosed, but
as a rule the noise the soldiers make as they move along to take up
their places is enough to frighten every creature within a couple of
miles. I told you you were not likely to have to draw a trigger.
Expeditions like this are rather an excuse for a couple of days' fun
than anything else. The real hunting is more quiet. Men who are fond of
it have peasants in their pay all over the country, and if one of these
hears of a bear or an elk anywhere in his neighbourhood he brings in the
news at once, and then one or two men drive out to the village, where
beaters will be in readiness for them, and have the hunt to themselves.

"I used to do a good deal of it the first few years I came out, but it
is bitter cold work waiting for hours till a beast comes past, or trying
to crawl up to him. After all, there is no great fun in putting a bullet
into a creature as big as a horse at a distance of thirty or forty
yards. But there, they are making a move. They are going to drink the
coffee and vodka standing, which is wise, for after standing in the snow
for four hours, as they have been doing, they are apt to get so sleepy
after a warm meal that if we were to stop here much longer you would
find half the number would not make a start at all."

The sledges were brought up, and there was a three miles drive through
the forest