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 of 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

122

RUSSIA

[CHAP.

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

PETER AND THE STRELTZI.

and worn-out they look. For they have been forced to come to war, and to leave their children behind with no one to look after them. And they will bring no money back to them when they go home, for they are never paid, and there are no rewards for them, however bravely they fight. And they suffer terribly often from cold and hunger. And so they think war a cruel, dreadful thing, and think nothing of the glory they gain for Russia. They die patiently, dumb and stolid, and never ask for mercy.

Before they are quite gone, I want you to notice two different bodies of men. Do you see those swarthy, dark-skinned men, with small eyes set far apart? These are a Turkish tribe which Ivan has conquered. He pays them to fight for him; he was the first to do that. The second is that troop of Russians marching rather better than the rest of the army. They are called the Streltsi, and are what we should call the standing army. That is, they are soldiers all the year round; they are not peasants called up when they are wanted. Ivan has just formed them into a regiment, and they mostly live at Moscow near the palace. Do not forget them.

So the whole army passes by. It is an army that has done glorious deeds. But it is a sad sight too.

Now we will come on quickly. Wrap yourself up well in the furs, and mind your nose particularly. Fletcher gives a pitiful account of how some people