d told them that, having met two
young friends belonging to a ship at Cronstadt, he had got leave for
them to accompany him to see Saint Petersburg.

"But I say, Tom, can you tell us where we are?" said Fred.

"That's just what we were going to ask you," replied old Tom. "We've
got out of our reckoning somehow, and we know no more where we are than
if we had got into the Pacific without a chart or compass."

"What is to be done?" exclaimed Fred; "this stupid fellow does not
understand a word we say, and though we have told him to drive back to
our hotel he won't go."

For a long time all hands consulted together. One proposed one thing,
one the other. By this time two or three other ishvoshtsticks had
stopped with their vehicles near the strangers, but could no more than
the first comprehend where they wanted to go.

"If we could but get back to the large square with the big statue in it
of Peter on horseback on a rock, we could find our way to the inn easily
enough," said Fred.

Old Tom thought a moment. "What, the chap who is holding out his hand?"
he asked.

"The same," answered Fred.

"Then I have it!" he exclaimed with exultation. "Jem, just do you go
down on all fours, and serve me for a horse for a minute, and we'll soon
see what will happen."

"What! Do you want me to carry you there, Tom?" asked Jem. "I'd do it
willingly if I knew the way, but I think we should get there faster if
we all walked on our two legs."

"No, no!" answered Tom; "I want you to act the big horse, and I'll do
the rider."

"Oh, ay, I see it all now, mate," said Jem, going down on all fours,
while old Tom, who, though serious-minded, was very much of a wag at
proper seasons, leaped on his back, and stuck out one arm as Peter's
statue is doing.

"Now, Jem, rear up on your fore legs as the big horse is doing, and we
shall come the statue to an affigraphy," he cried.

The representation of the statue of Peter was unmistakeable. In an
instant the ishvoshtsticks comprehended what was required, and, clapping
their hands with delight, while they burst into loud laughter, made
signals to the seamen to jump into a drosky, and away they drove as fast
as their horses could go, in the very direction from whence Fred and
Harry had just come. In about a quarter of an hour they saw the tall
golden spire of the Admiralty directly ahead of them, and shortly
afterwards they rattled into the vast open space in which it stands,
when