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from the back of his own horse, and handing me the bridle of the other-- "Your lordship," said he, "our father makes you a present of a horse, and a pelisse from his own shoulder." On the saddle was slung a plain sheepskin "_touloup_." "And, besides," added he, hesitatingly, "he gives you a half-rouble, but I have lost it by the way; kindly excuse it." Saveliitch looked askance at him. "You have lost it by the way," said he, "and pray what is that which jingles in your pocket, barefaced liar that you are?" "Jingling in my pocket?" replied the "_ouriadnik_," not a whit disconcerted; "God forgive you, old man, 'tis a bridlebit, and never a half rouble." "Well! well!" said I, putting an end to the dispute. "Thank from me he who sent you: and you may as well try as you go back to find the lost half rouble and keep it for yourself." "Many thanks, your lordship," said he, turning his horse round; "I will pray God for ever for you." With these words, he started off at a gallop, keeping one hand on his pocket, and was soon out of sight. I put on the "_touloup_" and mounted the horse, taking up Saveliitch behind me. "Don't you see, your lordship," said the old man, "that it was not in vain that I presented my petition to the robber? The robber was ashamed of himself, although this long and lean Bashkir hoss and this peasant's '_touloup_' be not worth half what those rascals stole from us, nor what you deigned to give him as a present, still they may be useful to us. 'From an evil dog be glad of a handful of hairs.'" CHAPTER X. THE SIEGE. As we approached Orenburg we saw a crowd of convicts with cropped heads, and faces disfigured by the pincers of the executioner.[61] They were working on the fortifications of the place under the pensioners of the garrison. Some were taking away in wheelbarrows the rubbish which filled the ditch; others were hollowing out the earth with spades. Masons were bringing bricks and repairing the walls. The sentries stopped us at the gates to demand our passports. When the Sergeant learnt that we came from Fort Belogorsk he took us direct to the General. I found him in his garden. He was examining the apple-trees which the breath of autumn had already deprived of their leaves, and, with the help of an old gardener, he was enveloping them in straw. His face expressed calm, good-humour and health. He seemed very pleased to see me, and began to question me on t
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