.' He approached the edge of the floe,
which was now driven close to another large mass, and then whirled round
again, a wide gulf being left between them. The poor dog whined, and
drew back with dismay as he watched the eddying waters close before him.

"`Courage, courage, friend!' shouted the people on the shore, as the
floe on which the old man stood approached another sheet of ice at that
moment attached to the shore. `Leap, leap, friend!' His tall sinewy
figure showed me that he might justly in his youth have trusted to his
athletic powers to save him from a similar predicament, but age, alas!
Had unstrung his nerves and weakened his muscles. He hesitated. Again
the people shouted, `Courage, courage!--leap, leap!' He looked up to
Heaven for a moment, and then sprang forward. His dog followed. There
was a shriek of horror; the treacherous ice, worn at the edges by the
constant abrasion of the other pieces, was rotten and unable to bear the
weight suddenly placed on it. It gave way ere he could take a second
leap, and sank beneath him. One cry escaped him, and the wild foaming
waters closed over his head. His dog, lighter of foot, reached the
shore in safety, and was till his death in my possession."

The guests gave a shudder at the recital.

"We have had enough of tales of horror for one day," said the Count.
"Have you ever tried our Russian bath, Fairman?"

"No; I must confess to having neglected that duty of a traveller, who
ought to taste every dish, go through every operation, and see every
ceremony characteristic of the country," answered Cousin Giles,
laughing. "I cannot fancy a roll in the snow after a hot bath."

"Whether it is injurious or not depends on the effect which the hot bath
produces on the frame," answered the Count. "Every country mansion has
a bath, placed near a stream, if possible. It is a very simple affair.
The bath-house is divided into two portions. In the inner half is a
large oven, and high up round the walls are rows of seats. In the oven
are placed large stones which are completely heated through. In the
room stand ready some buckets of water. The people who are to bathe
then come in and take their seats on the benches, having left their
clothes in the outer room; the door is closed, and the water is thrown
over the hot stones. This fills the whole room with hot vapour, which
thoroughly penetrates the pores of the skin. The bathers are then
rubbed over with to