e horse, could not escape from the rascals. I waited a minute; then,
sure that they must have seized him, I turned my horse's head to go and
aid him. Approaching the ravine I heard voices, and recognized that of
Saveliitch. Hastening my steps, was soon within sight of the peasants.
They had dismounted the old man, and were about to garrote him. They
rushed upon me; in an instant I was on foot. Their chief said I should
be conducted to the Czar. I made no resistance. We crossed the ravine
to enter the town, which was illuminated. The streets were crowded and
noisy. We were taken to a hut on the corner of two streets. There were
some barrels of wine and a cannon near the door. One of the peasants
said: "Here is the palace; we will announce you." I glanced at
Saveliitch; he was making signs of the cross, and praying. We waited a
long time. At last the peasant re-appeared and said: "The Czar orders
the officers to his presence."

The palace, as the peasant called it, was lighted by two tallow candles.
The walls were hung with gold paper. But every thing else, the benches,
the table, the basin hung up by a cord, the towel on a nail in the wall,
the shelf laden with earthen vessels, were exactly the same as in any
other cabin. Pougatcheff, wearing his scarlet cafetan and high Cossack
cap, with his hand on his hip, sat beneath the sacred pictures common to
every Russian abode. Around him stood several of his chiefs. I could
see that the arrival of an officer from Orenbourg had awakened
some curiosity, and that they had prepared to receive me with pomp.
Pougatcheff recognized me at once, and his assumed gravity disappeared.

"Ah! it is your lordship! how are you? What brings you here?"

I replied that I was traveling about my private business, when his
people arrested me.

"What business?" asked he. I did not know what to answer. Pougatcheff
thinking that I would not speak before witnesses gave a sign to his
comrades to leave. All obeyed except two. "Speak before these," said he;
"conceal nothing from them."

I glanced at these intimates of the usurper. One was an old man frail
and bent, remarkable for nothing but a blue riband crossed over his
coarse gray cloth cafetan; but I shall never forget his companion. He
was tall, of powerful build, and seemed about forty-five. A thick red
beard, piercing gray eyes, a nose without nostrils, marks of the searing
irons on his forehead and cheeks, gave to his broad face, pitted by
sm