looked out of the window, cautiously
keeping concealed behind the curtains, they saw a party of Cossacks on
the landing-place, and some foot-soldiers under shelter of a wall. The
two boats, a hundred yards off or more, were pulling away out towards
the middle of the river.

"Herr Groben has had time to warn them," said Higson; "and as far as I
can judge, by the way the men are rowing, no one has been hit. We are
deeply indebted to him, ladies, and to you also; and I have no doubt
that when Green supposes that the Cossacks have retired, he will come
back and relieve you of our company."

"Oh, do not say that," observed Ivanowna, "we shall be sorry to lose
you; and I am sure we shall have done what our papa would wish by
treating you with hospitality."

Higson and Tom watched the progress of the boats with interest; they
somewhat expected that Green would lie on his oars and wait till the
Cossacks had gone away. Perhaps he might have thought that they were
already made prisoners and that there would be no use in doing this; at
all events, he continued his course down the river, till the boats were
lost to sight in the distance. The Cossacks, disappointed in their hope
of surprising the English, turned their horses' heads round, followed by
the foot-soldiers, and marched back the way they had come, without even
visiting the house.

The young ladies seemed highly pleased. "We are perfectly safe now,"
observed Ivanowna; "but to prevent surprise, we will send our young
brothers to keep watch, and bring us notice should any of the officers
take it into their heads to pay us a visit. They can be thoroughly
trusted."

Soon afterwards they heard Herr Groben's cheery voice in the passage.
"All right," he exclaimed; "I had time to warn Green, though I was
nearly caught, I must confess; but the horsemen did not get as fast over
the rough ground as I did. I fear, however, that Green did not
understand that you were in safe keeping, and may possibly conceive that
you have been made prisoners; though he will know that you are not
likely to be ill-treated."

"I am sure that he must have thought that, or he would not have pulled
away," said Higson. "However, we have no cause to complain; my only
fear is that we shall be trespassing on the hospitality of this kind
family."

"On that point I can answer with confidence that you are welcome," said
Herr Groben; "they are all, as I am, devoted admirers of the English; I
have