layed at soldier. He pressed the palace servants into the
ranks and had them drilled in European tactics. Peter took lessons in
geometry and fortification; he constructed small forts which were
besieged and defended by the young players. Sometimes the game became
earnest; blows were given and received, when Peter took his share
without a murmur, even when he was wounded as sometimes happened.

At first Peter did not like the water; no Russian does; but he
mastered his dislike. Once, when he saw a stranded English boat, he
sent for a boatbuilder to make him a sailboat and to teach him how to
manage it. He took a great fancy to sailing, and often took his (p. 149)
boat on the Yaousa, and afterwards on Lake Pereiaslaf, to the terror
of his mother. Thus Peter grew up, healthy in body and strong of mind,
until his ambitious half-sister Sophia began to think what would
become of her when the boy should be czar. She had styled herself
Autocrat of all the Russias and did not like the idea of surrendering
the title. For some time she was appeased when her courtiers told her
that the boy cared for nothing except to amuse himself.

When he was sixteen years old, Peter asserted himself. Sophia had
ordered a triumphal entry for Prince Galitsyne and the army of the
Crimea, when Peter forbade her to leave the palace. She paid no
attention to his orders, but headed the procession of the returned
army. Peter saw that this meant war to the knife, and left for
Preobajenskoe.

As soon as she heard of this, Sophia determined to seize the throne.
She intended to attack the palace, kill Peter's friends and arrest his
mother, and after that to deal with the young czar as circumstances
demanded. She sent for the commandant of the streltsi who agreed to
sound the men. He told them that Sophia's life was in danger, and that
she had fled to a convent. The latter part of the story was true, as
she had in fact retreated to such a place, from which she sent letters
to the streltsi to come to her rescue. The commandant failed to secure
more than 500 men; the other streltsi told him that there should be an
investigation.

Two of the streltsi went to Peter and reported to him what was going
on, whereupon he moved to the famous Troitsa monastery. The (p. 150)
Patriarch, foreign officers serving in the army, his playmates, and
even a regiment of streltsi came to him to offer their services. Peter
issued orders for the arrest of Sophia's favo