offence he would be sent to the governor of the province, who would sentence him to death. He will tell you that he has often in the village town seen the cart going along to the place of execution, with prisoners seated in it, their hands tied together, and a lighted wax taper stuck between them. Sometimes they are hanged, sometimes beheaded, sometimes put under the ice, and so drowned. All the peasants, you know, have not masters for whom they work, but all suffer under the same law. Some own their own land. The peasants are not as a rule very good men, though they are patient. They drink a great deal, and are cruel and brutal to each other. And they do not keep their word, and often tell lies. But we must get into our sledge and drive on again. In the spring all the great white stretches of snow and the frozen streams are quite gay and bright. Then all the village people come out and hold their festival, and make flower wreaths and dance and sing. Look at that little crowd of peasants on the road before us. What are they doing? They are waiting, they tell us, to see the Russian army, which is going to cross that road to-day. We will watch too, for it is a sight worth seeing. Don't you hear that noise of tramping and drums in the distance? Here they come. But they do not look like a regular army-more like a crowd of soldiers off duty, for they are not marching in line and in step, but just walking along anyhow. The whole army, I must tell you, is divided into four great companies, or legions, and each legion has its standard. The only order the soldiers keep in marching is that they keep near their own standard. When they meet the enemy then they form into bodies of horse and foot, and charge as they are ordered. Here come some of the common horsemen. They are dressed in the long caftan, as usual. They have high saddles, and carry only a bow under their right arm, and a quiver and sword at the left side. One or two have daggers and javelins. Just think, many of these very men were at the great siege of Kazan. That man there is a captain, as you may tell by his coat of mail and the little brass drum at his saddlebow. He beats on that when the charge is sounded. The man with a gorgeous saddle of cloth of gold is the general. His bridle is set with all manner of pearls and precious stones, and the brightness or his shining steel armour makes one's eyes ache. The edging of it is of ermine fur, and he has a helmet his head. Look at those four horses fastened together with chains and with a large board laid on their backs. On the board, as you see, lies a huge drum which it takes eight men to beat properly. Round the big drum march the rest of the band with brass trumpets. Here come the foot-soldiers, walking along anyhow; some so footsore and weary that they can only limp. Each has a rough sort of gun in his hand, very large and clumsy, though it only shoots small bullets. Look at their backs as they pass, and you will see a hatchet slung across their shoulders, and they have swords by their side. They do not often charge, but they are put in ambush, or else they go in the "castle that walks." There is the "castle that walks," though you would not think it, particularly as it is riding now. Do you see those three loaded carts coming along, loaded with such long pieces of timber, sticking out so far that you can only see the horses' legs below? When the enemy is seen far off, or when the army is besieging a city, those pieces of timber are fitted together till they form two long walls which are placed about three yards apart. There are loopholes in the wall, and the foot-soldiers stand between them and fire through them. I hardly dare tell you how long Fletcher says they are, for I do not think you will believe it. He says they are three miles long. All the soldiers, both foot and horse, are carrying their own food with them. The common soldiers have bacon and dried fish or meat, and flour which they make into cakes. Look how badly fed and sad |