'Decoy white bears!' exclaimed poor Godureau terrified; and to what purpose, sir?'

'In order to kill and feed on them, my dear sir―eli! eh! eh! The white bear is the Samoyede game. Their sole food is bear, raw salmon, and lichens--with some little of fish-oil, to assist, in digesting the whole.' The writing-master uttered a cry of horror. Besides which,' continued Kitzoff, 'yon would not be so badly off either: wherever the colonists are they may work when they please. But you may be sent to the mines of Bolchoïzavod, where in six months the work of twelve must be accomplished-eh! eh! eh! The strongest man cannot stand it for more than three years.'

'But our death is then resolved upon!' exclaimed Godureau, struck as he was by the receiver's extraordinary account with stupid consternation. ""Tis an abuse, sir-a monstrous abuse! We are not condemned to die either in the depths of the mines or surrounded by white bears! We surely cannot be sent to any of the places you have named, sir? Vulcan as well as myself have not strength sufficient to bear such trials. I am fifty-five. Cannot a petition be presented: will no one exert himself in our behalf?"

'I might speak to the governor,' said Kitzoff with a significant look. And he forthwith let them know that a bribe of twelve rubles would be acceptable. The proposition was treated with scorn. Kitzoff departed with threats. These were soon accomplished. Rosow and Godureau were sent off the next day to the northern regions as free colonists.

Before their departure each was obliged to relinquish his usual garb, to be replaced by that of the Ostiaks. The first thing put on was a pair of leathern knee-breeches, and attached to these by a strap a pair of spatterdashes; boots made with reindeer-paws sewed in strips; then a malitza, or shirt, with the skin of the same animal, the fur being turned inwards, and a glove sewed to each sleeve. Over this the parka, or fur frock, and above this again the cloak called gous, the hood of which was ornamented

by deers' ears, and edged by a trimming of shaggy dog-skin. The dress was completed by a belt studded with buttons, to which hung a knife with a wooden handle, enclosed in a leathern sheath. Thus equipped, the two exiles resembled bears so perfectly that Vulcan retreated from them, barking loudly.

Each was presented with a bow six feet long-composed one-half of birch, the other of pine-wood--and a quiver full of arrows-some with tin-points; the others, for catching zibellinas and squirrels, having no darts.

After the most affectionate farewell, which Rosow endeavoured to render as cheerful as he could, each of them took separately the road to the quarter assigned

him.

From what we have already related, the reader must be sensible of the energy as well as amiability of Nicholas Rosow's disposition; insomuch that, instead of allowing himself to be cast down in this sad and forlorn situation, he nobly endeavoured, on the contrary, to make the best of it.

He

On arriving at his destination, some tools were presented him, and the right of felling pines in the nearest forest was also accorded in order to build himself a cabin. then obtained a few seeds, some reindeer, as well as sheep. To these articles was the emperor's generosity and indulgence confined; but it proved enough for Nicholas: his ability and perseverance supplied the rest.

He began by driving away the bears, foxes, squirrels, and elks; the skins of which he sold to the merchants of Berezov. Then having learned how to manufacture lines and nets with nettle-fibres, he employed himself in catching salmon along the river. But the most lucrative of all his occupations was the capture of swans on the banks of the Oby. Towards the end of autumn he placed large nets perpendicularly in the glades of the wood, bordering on the river; then taking advantage of a thick fog, he got into a boat and drove before him the flights of swans, which in darting off to seek for shelter in the wood met the nets, and remained caught in the sliding

meshes. Rosow also carefully collected in the woods black-currants, the northern raspberry, and aromatic berries, with which naliki is made. The most of these commodities he took to Berezov when going there to pay his tax to the receiver, Michael Kitzoff.

The latter, not having forgotten the contemptuous manner in which the young man had rejected his proposition, vainly tried to annoy him; but Nicholas set at nought his malice, by a strict obedience to the laws, and the most scrupulous attention to fulfil all the conditions imposed on the colonists. At last the receiver seemed to have set aside his former malice, save a few jeers when he happened to meet the young man. One morning the latter quitted his hut with several valuable furs, intending to sell them to Daniel Oldork, and took the road to Berezov, which he had not travelled for a long time.

It was the end of September. The birch-leaves, driven by a furious north-east gale, were whirled in every direction over the country; flocks of wild geese were migrat ing towards the south; all meetings in the open air had ceased, and were replaced by in-door wakes: everything announced the approach of winter. Indeed such is the sudden change in Siberia, that a few hours only suffice to change the whole face of nature; from the most beautiful autumnal days you are at once precipitated into severest frost. To-day the barley is cut, and in two more probably the whole country lies buried in deep snow. Rosow followed the road, which he was enabled to keep by stakes of pine-branches fixed here and there as marks. He frequently passed villages, in the centre of which were fixed masts decorated with placards, upon which might still be deciphered some vestiges of ukases, or imperial ordinances; then birch-woods interspersed with small huts, half underground; or iourtas which were entered by a pine staircase. Frequently on passing these one of the little windows, formed of the bladder of the eelpout, would open gently, and a woman would peep through with an inquiring look; but oftener none but men were to be seen, gathering the spongy excrescences off the birch

trees to mix with their tobacco; the dogs, too, would get up to look at the traveller.

On approaching Berezov he observed the preparations in which all were busied. At each door were carts, full of corn and vegetables, drawn by reindeer, which were anxiously waiting the moment of return to their pasturage of lichens. The streets were filled with Russian peasants, bringing in loads of fermented cabbage; Samoyedes and Ostiaks with fish and carcasses of reindeer for the gentry, who preserve them all winter without further preparation in their ice-houses; and, last of all, the colonists from the banks of the Oby with their wild-duck eggs and salted

swans.

After having passed through many streets, Nicholas at last reached Daniel Oldork's dwelling. This was lofty and spacious, strongly built, though of wood. At the side were lower buildings, some containing baths, others being large storehouses: at the back was a long row of wooden huts, joined to the principal mansion, so as to form a vast court. These in winter were opened by the merchant, to shelter the destitute poor, who, in return for the shelter and food he gave them, owed him their time and labour.

.

Daniel Oldork's house, like all those of the rich Siberian merchants, was divided into several apartments, each having its fixed, invariable purpose. Nicholas first entered Daniel's own room, in which was placed the abras; that is, the spot consecrated to contain the saints' images, surrounded by tapers of artificial flowers. In this room persons of distinction were received. He then passed the door of that in which European wines and other most valuable commodities were deposited; then traversing those where reindeer-skins and more common articles were placed, he next reached the large one, in which Daniel was seated-a spacious apartment filled with articles of every kind, from which it might be justly denominated a cabinet of curiosities: among them skins of wild beasts, to be sent to Russia, piled up with shirts made of nettle-fibres, and blouses of fish-bladders; fruits also confusedly mixed with bags of castor; bales of

tea with mammoth's teeth; tobacco with brass kettles; rusty sabres and strings of buttons. And with all these were mixed women's dresses and kitchen-utensils of every kind, dispersed here, there, and everywhere.

In the midst of this confused mass Rosow advanced towards the table at which Daniel Oldork was seated, and shewed him a small box of zibellina furs. The merchant was taking a skin to examine it, when Michael Kitzoff entered on some private business. While Nicholas waited to have his business attended to, a loud noise was heard at the door, in which the receiver's name was frequently uttered. Michael Kitzoff got up to meet those who sought him. They were Cossacks of the garrison, leading in a colonist they had been ordered to arrest; and who was walking between his guards, accompanied by a dog, which Nicholas at once recognised to be Vulcan.

At the young man's exclamation of surprise, the writingmaster-for it was he-turned round with astonishment. 'My friend Rosow!'

'Father Godureau !'

These two names were uttered at the same moment. The young Russian advanced towards his old acquaintance with his arms extended, while the latter, still preserving his French custom notwithstanding his change of dress, was putting up his hand to the hood of his gous, placing his feet in the third position, to salute as usual. Rosow embraced him. You here! Father Godureau?' he cried.

'And I very little expected to meet you,' said the old man quite overjoyed; and I am not come voluntarily, as you can perceive,' turning towards the Cossacks with a look of intelligence. In short, it appeared that the aged Frenchman had been seized as a rebel in consequence of failing to produce a certain assigned quantity of furs.

'There is no alternative,' said the receiver; the stipu lated dues or the prison.'

The old man tried to remonstrate; but Kitzoff made a sign to the guards, and they were going to lead