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contented, and said to one another, "Why not win our freedom?—we are slaves."

So when the Diet met in the great hall at Warsaw, it dared to say that Nicholas was wrong. Then Nicholas in wrath sent and said that the Diet should sit no longer publicly. And the next year he came to see it himself.

Then, in a lofty voice and manner, he spoke in French to the deputies sitting round, not treating it as a Russian nation. Before he left the city that night, the minds of the Poles were bent to rebel.

Then, on a November evening, the boys of the military school marched to the fortress of the town. "We will fight for Poland," they cried; "give us cartridges." "Take them from the Russians," cried their leaders. At that they marched upon the Russian barracks. The few soldiers fled in terror, and the Poles took their guns and ammunition. Then they marched to the palace of Constantine.

But Constantine was gone; he had fled for fear. Then the Poles were triumphant, and gathered a council together in the city.

There was fierce quarrelling and disputing. For some cried out, "Let us fight against Russia, and win back our freedom;" and others, "That is no use; we are not strong enough. Let us ask Russia humbly to give us free laws and reform."

So they sent, and asked Nicholas. But the Iron

Emperor's answer came back, stern and firm"Poland shall gain nothing by rebellion."

Then those who wished for war rejoiced, and they chose their leader, but he was a weak man, who knew little of war. Then they declared boldly that "the Czars of Russia had no right to rule in Poland."

Now came a time of fierce war and terrible bloodshed, the Russians fighting against the Poles, and the Poles quarrelling among themselves. The Poles fought bravely, and at first gained glorious victories. But who can save a nation that is divided in itself? As Russia had fallen before the Tartars, so Poland fell before the Russians.

For in the streets of Warsaw there were quarrels between the Poles, and fights and bloody scenes. One leader after another was set up and deposed. One party after another gained the upper hand, and ruled as it willed.

So the day came when the Russians climbed up the walls of Warsaw, and the hope of the Poles was over. They prayed for peace. And Nicholas gave them a hard peace. He took away the freedom of Poland for ever. There were to be no more Diets,

no more Polish troops.

So the Poles were servants to Russia. And when Nicholas heard that all was quiet, he thought that things were safe and he could rule as he willed.

But he did not know that his deed had only killed for him a weak enemy, and had roused up mighty enemies in Europe.

For the French people had felt great pity for the Poles. They had tried in vain to make their Government help them. Now that troubles had come upon them they helped them nobly. They built schools for their children, and gave homes to the Polish exiles. When Nicholas saw this he was angry.

And another nation was gradually becoming a foe to Russia. That was England. For in China and through Asia the English and Russians were each fighting to win the Asian tribes. And when one gained the other could not gain. So they watched one another with jealous eyes, like dogs that have each their own food, and would steal the other's if they did not fear to lose their own.

But Nicholas could not yet afford to make war on England, for troubles were growing everywhere.

Turkey, that great old enemy of the Russians, was the trouble nearest home. Nicholas had had a short war with the Turks about two points. First, he wished to help the Greeks, who were trying to win independence; and secondly, he wanted to gain freedom for the Christians in Bulgaria, which belonged, as you know, to Turkey.

Now the Turks were afraid that they would lose their power over Bulgaria. So they constantly

agreed to treaties when they could not help themselves, and then broke them as soon as they got the chance.

Try to think of these nations of Europe as of different children living together. They have quarrels, and some join together against the others. Some are like strong elder children, some are smaller and weaker.

Just now, you see, France, one child, is angry with Russia, because she thinks that Russia has been very cruel to poor little Poland, who is like a much younger, weaker child. And Turkey and Russia are quarrelling about the same sort of thing. For Turkey has been ill-treating the province of Bulgaria, which is weak and small, and Russia is angry about that. Also, quite secretly, she wishes to take Bulgaria for herself; and she would like to drive. Turkey out of Europe altogether.

Because France and Turkey both were angry with Russia, they began to agree to join together against her-not openly, but they sent friendly messages to each other.

Russia saw that, and was afraid that if Turkey and France joined together they would be stronger than she was. So she thought she would make friends with England. But very foolishly she sent this message: "If England will join me, I do not care much about what the others think or do. I

want to take Bulgaria for myself, and perhaps Constantinople too."

When England heard that, she was afraid that Russia would get too strong if she drove the Turks away and took their land. So, instead of joining Russia, she began to make friends with France and Turkey.

Just at this moment Turkey broke her word about Bulgaria. So Russia sent a large army into Turkey. That was as if one child struck the other a blow in the face.

Turkey did not strike back at once. There was a meeting of all the Powers-to talk about it, like a meeting of children to settle a quarrel. But it was of no use; Turkey demanded that Russia should take her army away at once. But Russia answered that she would not. England too told France what Russia had said about those "others," and told Austria and Prussia too. That made them all so angry that Austria and Prussia agreed that they would certainly not help Russia, while France joined England and Turkey to fight Russia.

Now you see how matters stood.

A terrible war began. For a time they fought near Turkey, but France and England did not mean to stop in Turkey. The great English and French fleets, joined together, came sailing grandly into the Black Sea. When the Russian sailors saw them,

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