een thrown there by chance. Draw them aside, and
there will be found a cavity; enter without hesitation, drawing the
brambles over your head. You will find there provisions for several
days, and a couch on which to rest your yet unpractised limbs. Many a
fugitive brother has there found shelter for weeks together. Farewell,
my son; Heaven guard you; you have not a moment to lose.'

"These words he uttered as rapidly as possible, yet it was necessary to
be precise, to enable me to find the spot capable of concealing me.
Again embracing him, I darted from the hut in the direction he indicated
as fast as my legs, long unaccustomed to rapid movement, would carry me.
Once I looked back on hearing a shout; I could just distinguish between
the trees several men, some on horseback, approaching the hut. For an
instant I gave myself up for lost, yet I continued my flight. I found
soon that I was not followed, then I trembled for the fate of my old
friend. If he is accused of having harboured a fugitive like me, and
cannot give an account of me, the knout and Siberia will be his fate. I
felt inclined to turn back, but then I remembered that I should only the
more certainly bring ruin on him, by proving him guilty of the crime.

"`Alas! Alas!' I cried, `is it my fate to injure those who benefit
me?' I had little time for thought, though. I must hurry on; my
pursuers might soon be on my track. I began to fear that my destination
was suspected at the settlement, and that notice of my flight had been
sent along the road before me. Perhaps even at the very end of my
journey I might be seized, and sent a prisoner to Siberia.

"Still, as long as I could, I resolved to struggle on, and trust to
God's mercy. This thought gave strength to my feet. On I went in a
direct line towards the scathed pine of which Sidor had told me. I was
too long accustomed to the marks on the trees, imperceptible to ordinary
eyes, to be led to diverge from my course. There was an open glade, and
the tree stood before me on the other side. I hurried across the glade,
and had nearly reached the farther side, when I heard a shout, and saw
several horsemen emerging from the shade of the trees. The thicket was
before me. I darted round it, and at once saw the bramble which marked
the entrance to the narrow passage. To creep under the brambles and to
run along the passage was the work of a moment. The shouts of the
horsemen grew louder and loud