showed the dim outlines of huts
not many rods away.

"God be thanked!" cried Mendel, fervently. "See, Jacob, there are
houses. The village is near. There we can get food and shelter. Come,
lean on me and we will be there in a few minutes."

"No, go alone; I am too weak."

"I will carry you," cried Mendel. "Oh, I can do it; I am strong enough."

He attempted to lift the child from the ground, but he had overrated his
strength and gave up his task in despair. What was he to do? He could
not leave him in the road to perish. If he could but reach the village
and summon help. They would not refuse assistance to a dying child, even
if he were a Jew.

"Jacob," he said, encouragingly, "I am going for help. Don't be afraid;
keep up your courage and strength until I come back. The rain will soon
stop. Good-by. I shall not be long."

Kissing his scarcely conscious brother, the heroic boy bounded in the
direction of the village.

Though the thunder still rolled and the lightning still flashed, the
rain soon ceased and the clouds began to show cheerful patches of blue.
Mendel was gone some five minutes when a covered _droshka_ drove up the
road as rapidly as the muddy ground would allow. The driver, amply
protected by furs, seemed proof against both wind and water, yet he
cursed in good round Russian at the inclemency of the weather. Suddenly,
a brilliant flash lighted up the road, and he saw a lad near the wheels.
With an oath, the driver reined in the frightened horses and jumped to
the ground.

"What is it, Ivan? Has anything happened?" asked a lady, from the
carriage window.

"Please your excellency, a little boy lying in the road, half-dead."

"Bring him here," commanded the lady, and the child was lifted into the
carriage and placed on the seat before them.

"What a pretty lad," said the lady, who was no less important a person
than the Countess Drentell, of Lubny, to her companion. "The poor child
must be badly hurt."

"Perhaps a little brandy would strengthen him," suggested the practical
coachman, who knew the value of the remedy.

The cordial revived him, and, opening his eyes, he murmured: "Wait for
me, Mendel; I will go along."

"Drive on, Ivan, as quickly as possible; we must get the little fellow
some dry clothes," said the Countess.

Yielding to the luxury of shelter and to the effect of the brandy, Jacob
sank into a sweet sleep.

Mendel had in the meantime reached the village and knocked at the