hat nothing could be done; indeed, had it not been for your youth, and
the fact that you were a British subject, you would certainly have been
executed. I tried everything, but I found it absolutely useless. The
embassy recommended me to let the matter drop for the present, and in
time, perhaps, when the Nihilist scare passed off, it might be possible
to interest some minister or other in your favour and obtain a reversion
of your sentence. Then a few months later came the assassination of the
Czar, and, of course, that rendered it more hopeless than ever, and all
we could hope for was, that in the course of years we might again move
in the matter. Of course it has been a terrible business for us all. But
we won't talk about that now. Thank God it is over, and that you have
returned to us. But what madness, Godfrey, to mix yourself up with these
people!"

"Indeed, father, I was perfectly innocent, though I cannot blame the
court-martial for finding me guilty." And he then gave his father the
details of his connection with the two Nihilists Akim Soushiloff and
Petroff Stepanoff, and of the circumstances of his arrest in their room.

"I am very glad to hear that, Godfrey. Not that it makes any actual
matter now, but because, after the warning I had given you to avoid the
society of any people holding extreme opinions, it seemed to me you must
have showed an incredible amount of wilfulness and folly in getting
yourself mixed up with these desperate conspirators. I am heartily glad
to find that I was mistaken, and that, except as regards that foolish
business at the theatre, you have really not been to blame in the
matter, and have been altogether a victim of circumstances. Now, tell me
how you got away. And first, who is that queer-looking little fellow
with your canoe?"

"He is my comrade and friend, father. He escaped from prison with me,
and is devoted to me; but for him I should have had no chance whatever
of making my way through all the difficulties of the journey." And he
then gave his father an outline of their adventures from the time of
their leaving Kara.

When he had finished, Mr. Bullen went down-stairs and saw Luka, and
shook hands with him heartily, telling him in Russian that he had heard
from Godfrey how much he owed to him, and assuring him that he need have
no fear for the future.

Two days later the party arrived at home. There is no occasion to say
anything as to the joy of that meeting. The three