sian
look with the same interest as on that poor boat. Peter the Great helped
to fashion it himself! He found his country without a navy, and he gave
her one; he laboured himself as a common ship-wright: and now, as a
mighty oak springs from a single acorn, in that one boat his people view
with reverence "The father of the Russian fleet."

"And where is the grandmother of the houses?" inquired I.

"That is hard by," replied Wisky. "It is nothing but a small wooden
cottage which Peter built for himself by the Neva, before a single
street stretched across the dreary bog upon which he founded this city
of palaces!"

And so we rambled on, light-hearted rats that we were, picking up scraps
here and there, and exchanging observations, till a faint blush in the
eastern sky warned us that it was time to go home. Before we reached the
house already criers were abroad in the streets, screaming, "Boots from
Casan!"-- "Pictures from Moscow!"-- "Flowers, fine flowers!" as they
wandered on, carrying their wares on their heads. Fierce-looking
fellows, with long shaggy hair and beards, wrapped up in skins were
passing about, exchanging good-natured greetings, strangely in contrast
with their appearance. "Good-day, brother! how goes it? what is your
pleasure? how can I serve you?" Smiling, bowing, baring their rough
heads to each other, these poor Russians appeared the very pictures of
politeness shrouded in sheepskin. But remembering that even amongst the
most civilized nations of the world, rats are considered as quite beyond
the pale of courtesy, and that the most good-natured Musjik in this city
would have thought nothing of hitting one of us over with his shoe, we
thought it better to retreat while our skins were whole, and regain our
comfortable quarters in the kitchen.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HOW WE WERE TRANSPORTED.

It was my intention, as well as that of Whiskerandos, after hearing of
the cheerfulness of a Russian winter, and the comfort preserved in the
houses, to remain to witness the ice-mountains, the frozen Neva, and,
above all, the wonderful market which Wisky had described to us on that
night.

Our intentions, however, were frustrated, and our projects of amusement
defeated by an incident which suddenly altered the whole course of our
affairs.

Whiskerandos, who was of a very bold and independent disposition, cared
not to place himself constantly under the guidance of his Russian
companion. He made forays by