. We must let her know, in the meantime, that she has still
friends in the world, and that she must keep up her spirits. She must
also endeavour to make herself of little value in the sight of the
Barin, her owner. She must feign sickness or foolishness, and disfigure
her countenance, or refuse to work; a woman's wit will advise her best,
though, what to do.'

"`Oh, my father, my father, you overwhelm me!' I exclaimed. `I will go
and see her; I will carry your advice to her. It cannot be far out of
the way; I will travel day and night not to cause any delay.'

"`You may pass by the estate on your way,' answered my old friend, `but
the danger is very great. Any one seeking to speak to her is certain to
be watched, and if you are captured, your punishment will be of the
severest kind. They will knout you till you are nearly dead, and you
will then be sent off to work for the rest of your miserable life in the
mines of Siberia.' `I know all that, but I will run every risk for
Aneouta's sake,' I answered; and so it was settled. In spite of the
almost desperate state of my prospects, I felt my spirits rise with the
hope of overcoming the difficulties which lay before me. Soukhoroukof
amply stocked my wallet with provisions, and before the end of another
hour I had left my native village three versts behind my back. Five
days' hard walking would, I calculated, bring me to where I expected to
find Aneouta. My strength, I felt, would sustain me till I had seen
her, and to see her I was determined at every risk. I would entrust to
no one our friend Soukhoroukof's message and advice. The idea occurred
to me that if I could but get a horse I might push on more rapidly than
I possibly could on foot, but how to secure one was the difficulty. To
purchase one would require more money than I could spare, and it would
be impossible to get one at the postmaster's without a pass. I should
instantly have been questioned, and imprisoned till I could give an
account of myself. Indeed, the greater portion of my route lay along
byroads, or no roads at all, across the country. Morning was
approaching, and I was getting very weary, for it must be remembered
that I had taken but little rest the previous day, when I saw in the
distance, reflected in the sky, a red gleam of light. It was a wild
district, and I knew of no village in that direction, but it appeared to
me to proceed from the burning of some cottage. `Some woodman'