90 NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



One by one the miserable fellows were got from the 

 rigging, and Auke and his prize were safely on board his 

 ship again. 



But now the chance of the market was gone. They 

 had missed their tide, got themselves into the teeth of 

 the wind, and were bound to put for shelter into the 

 Neva, a Russian river on which the Czar was then build- 

 ing his new town. 



Karl was, therefore, still more angry with his helms- 

 man, and said to him, " The cargo will be robbed, and we 

 shall be made into serfs, and compelled to work on the 

 walls of the town." 



" Well, well," said Auke, " we've done our duty, what- 

 ever comes. I could not leave that ship." 



Karl said no more. The ship was now flying before the 

 storm at a terrific speed, Auke keeping her head to the 

 river's mouth. 



Now, on* month before this, Peter the Great had laid 

 the first stone of St. Petersburg. There was no town 

 yet, and Peter the Great had not yet earned the name of 

 Great. He was very little known, and the town he was to 

 build was less known. 



For the new town, however, these disappointed, storni- 

 d riven seamen were unconsciously making as fast as their 

 canvas would carry them. This canvas was no sooner 

 seen at the little town of St. Petersburg than a great 

 stir arose. 



" Please your Majesty," said one of the excited courtiers 

 of the Czar, " there is a large ship standing in the Neva.'* 



