92 NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



him, and implored mercy, and blamed poor Auke. 

 " We've missed our market at Revel," said he, " and 

 have put in only for shelter. Pray let us shelter, your 

 Majesty ! " 



" No fear, brave fellows. Welcome, welcome to my 

 new port. Your ship is the first bark that ever sailed to 

 my new town. Henceforth she is duty free, whatever 

 she brings for a cargo. Come to my town, and we'll 

 toast to your health." 



Karl and Auke landed, the rescued crew landed too. 



Karl's cargo was bought at a price which more than 

 satisfied him, and the trade which then began made him 

 one of the wealthiest merchants of Europe, and the town 

 one of its wealthiest ports. 



We may in passing add that Auke's words, when full 

 of fear he sailed up the Neva, often came to Karl, " Well, 

 well, we've done our duty, whatever comes ; " and no man 

 more frequently in public and in private gave the advice 

 to the young, " Well, well, do your duty, whatever comes." 



Peter ordered every strange ship to bring thirty 

 paving stones as a part of her cargo, and every boat ten, 

 and every land carriage three, and the stones accumu- 

 lated, and the city was built. All his plans succeeded. 

 When he beat Charles xn. at Pultowa in 1709, he 

 exclaimed that " the foundations of St. Petersburg at 

 length stood firm." 



He fought many enemies, but the Neva was his greatest, 

 and may yet prove one of the most invincible if provoked 

 by any opposition of the Baltic. Twenty-five feet of rise, 



