and Kirghis cap. His guests of the previous night surrounded
him, and wore a look of submission which contrasted strongly with what
I had seen on the preceding evening. Pougatcheff bade me good-morning
gaily, and ordered me to sit beside him in the kibitka. We took our
places.

"To the fortress of Belogorsk," said Pougatcheff to the robust Tartar,
who, standing, drove his horses. My heart beat violently. The Tartar
horses shot off, the bells tinkled, the kibitka flew over the snow.

"Stop! stop!" cried a voice I knew too well. "O Peter! do not abandon me
in my old age, in the midst of the rob--"

"Ah, you old owl!" said Pougatcheff, "sit up there in front."

"Thanks, Czar, may God give you a long life."

The horses set off again. The people in the streets stopped and bowed
low, as the usurper passed. Pougatcheff saluted right and left. In an
instant we were out of the town, taking our way over a well-defined
road. I was silent. Pougatcheff broke in upon my reverie. "Why so
silent, my lord?" said he.

"I can not help thinking," said I, "of the chain of events. I am an
officer, noble, yesterday at war with you; today I ride in the same
carriage with you, and all the happiness of my life depends on you."

"Are you afraid?"

"You have already given me my life!"

"You say truly. You know how my fellows looked upon you; only today they
wanted to try you as a spy. The old one wanted to torture and then hang
you; but I would not, because I remembered your glass of wine and your
touloup. I am not bloodthirsty, as your friends say." I remembered the
taking of our fortress, but I did not contradict him.

"What do they say of me at Orenbourg?"

"It is said there, that you will not be easily vanquished. It must be
confessed that you have given us some work."

"Yes; I am a great warrior. Do you think the King Prussia is as strong
as I?"

"What do you think yourself? Can you beat Frederick?"

"Frederick the Great? Why not? Wait till I march to Moscow!"

"You really intend to march on Moscow?"

"God knows," said he, reflecting; "my road is narrow--my boys do not
obey--they are thieves--I must listen--keep my ears open; at the first
reverse they would save their own necks by my head."

"Would it not be better," I said, "to abandon them now, before it is too
late, and have recourse to the clemency of the Empress?"

He smiled bitterly. "No; the time is passed. I shall end as I began. Who
knows?"

Our Tartar was hum