s possessed guns of
wider range, they would have rendered the palace uninhabitable.

The Grand Duke, General Voranzoff, the governor of the town, and
the chief of the merchants, with several officers, had collected to
determine upon various proposals.

"Gentlemen," said the Grand Duke, "you know our situation exactly. I
have the firm hope that we shall be able to hold out until the arrival
of the Yakutsk troops. We shall then be able to drive off these
barbarian hordes, and it will not be my fault if they do not pay dearly
for this invasion of the Muscovite territory."

"Your Highness knows that all the population of Irkutsk may be relied
on," said General Voranzoff.

"Yes, general," replied the Grand Duke, "and I do justice to their
patriotism. Thanks to God, they have not yet been subjected to the
horrors of epidemic and famine, and I have reason to hope that they will
escape them; but I cannot admire their courage on the ramparts enough.
You hear my words, Sir Merchant, and I beg you to repeat such to them."

"I thank your Highness in the name of the town," answered the merchant
chief. "May I ask you what is the most distant date when we may expect
the relieving army?"

"Six days at most, sir," replied the Grand Duke. "A brave and clever
messenger managed this morning to get into the town, and he told me that
fifty thousand Russians under General Kisselef, are advancing by forced
marches. Two days ago, they were on the banks of the Lena, at Kirensk,
and now, neither frost nor snow will keep them back. Fifty thousand good
men, taking the Tartars on the flank, will soon set us free."

"I will add," said the chief of the merchants, "that we shall be
ready to execute your orders, any day that your Highness may command a
sortie."

"Good, sir," replied the Grand Duke. "Wait till the heads of the
relieving columns appear on the heights, and we will speedily crush
these invaders."

Then turning to General Voranzoff, "To-morrow," said he, "we will visit
the works on the right bank. Ice is drifting down the Angara, which
will not be long in freezing, and in that case the Tartars might perhaps
cross."

"Will your Highness allow me to make an observation?" said the chief of
the merchants.

"Do so, sir."

"I have more than once seen the temperature fall to thirty and forty
degrees below zero, and the Angara has still carried down drifting ice
without entirely freezing. This is no doubt owing to the swiftness of
i