," one of the men said, as he
joined the other party. "We have been here six days."

"We travelled but slowly, at first, and it is only the last two
days we have really made fair journeys; but there was no reason for
any great haste. The world is all our own, and, at any rate, as
long as we were in the forest, there was no fear of wanting food.

"So I see some of our comrades have left us."

"We can do very well without them, captain. There were thirty of us
here two days ago. Essos and Polinski quarrelled, and Essos was
killed. Then Polinski wanted us to elect him captain, and to move
away at once. Four or five, who have always been grumblers, joined
him at once, and persuaded some of the others, till we were about
equally divided. It came pretty nearly to a fight; but neither
liked to begin, and they moved away."

"There are quite enough of us left," Ladislas said. "As to Essos
and Polinski, I am heartily glad that they have gone. I know they
have both been scheming for the leadership for some time. Most of
the others can be very well spared, too. There are plenty of us
here for travel. There is no doubt, as we agreed before starting,
that there is not much more to be done in this part of the country.
What with the civil wars, and the bands of soldiers without a
leader, and others like ourselves who do not mean to starve, the
peasants have been wrought up into a state of desperation. They
have little left to lose, but what they have got they are ready to
fight to the death for, and, lately, at the first alarm they have
sounded the bells and assembled for miles round, and, equipped with
scythes and flails, routed those who meddled with them. We had more
than one hot fight, and lost many good men. Besides, many of the
nobles who have suffered have turned out, with their followers, and
struck heavy blows at some of the bands; so that the sooner we get
out of this country, which is becoming a nest of hornets, the
better, for there is little booty and plenty of hard blows to be
got.

"We will go on, as we agreed, till near the eastern frontier. The
country is well covered with forest there, and we can sally out on
which side we like, for, if there is not much gold to be had in the
Russian villages, there is plenty of vodka, and sometimes things
worth taking in their churches. The priests and headmen, too, have
generally got a little store, which can be got at with the aid of a
few hot coals, or a string twisted tigh