522 ANNUAL REGISTEK, 1818. 



The moment they discovered us 

 they raised a friglitful cry. Ma- 

 karofF and I fled to a part covered 

 with bushes, and soon succeeded 

 in getting out of sight ; but we 

 could not venture to move farther 

 off, and lay down to wait for our 

 companions, and observe the 

 number of our enemies, and how 

 they were armed. Our first sup- 

 position was, that they were 

 country people; but, to our asto- 

 nishment, we found that they were 

 soldiers, headed by an officer on 

 horseback. They were armed 

 with muskets, and bows and 

 arrows, in addition to their sabres 

 and daggers. Our companions 

 were immediately surrounded, 

 and compelled to surrender. 

 From between the bushes we 

 saw the Japanese bind their hands 

 behind their backs, and, after 

 enquiring respecting MakarofF 

 and me, led them towards the 

 shore. 



Meanwhile more Japanese had 

 assembled, and a search for us 

 was commenced. MakarofF now 

 asked how we siiould pro- 

 ceed. Perhaps, said I, the Japa- 

 nese may not discover us to-day ; 

 and, when it is daik, we may find 

 our way to the shore, get into a 

 boat, row to the uninhabited 

 island, and from thence to the 

 coast of Tartar3% But where were 

 our sails, our tea-kettle, our 

 tinder-box, and the knife! Those 

 things were with our companions, 

 and all had now fallen into the 

 liands of the Japanese. We had 

 only two pikes ; mine mounted 

 with the chisel, and MakarofF's 

 with a small knife. Nevertheless, 

 I proposed to my companion, 

 that in case we succeeded in 

 eluding the search of the Japa- 



nese, we should look out for a 

 fishing-boat on the coast, and 

 supply ourselves, by force, with 

 whatever was necessary for our 

 expedition. This was resolved 

 upon. 



From the thicket in which we 

 sat, we saw soldiers and peasants 

 searching about for us on both 

 sides of the hollow. At length 

 four soldiers advanced into the 

 centre, two armed with sabres, 

 and two with pikes. The rest 

 ranged themselves in rows on 

 each side of the hollow, and held 

 their muskets and bows and ar- 

 rows in readiness. Those who 

 approached us thrust their pikes 

 into every bush capable of hiding 

 a dog ; and, at last, came direct 

 upon the one in which we were 

 concealed. When they had ad- 

 vanced pretty near us, MakarofF, 

 who observed me seizing my pike, 

 entreated, with tears, that I would 

 not attempt to defend myself, or 

 kill any of the Japanese, as such 

 a proceeding might prove highly 

 injurious to the rest of our com- 

 panions. Ke further observed, 

 that I might, perhaps, be the 

 means of saving all their lives if 

 I delivered myself up to the 

 Japanese, and declared that as I, 

 who was their commander, had 

 ordered them to attempt their 

 escape, they were bound to do 

 so ; lest, they should ever chance 

 to return to Russia, where they 

 would be severely punished for 

 disobedience. These words made 

 so deep an impression on me, 

 that I immediately struck my 

 pike in the ground, rose and 

 stepped out of the bush. Maka- 

 rofF followed me. The Japanese 

 were filled with amazement at our 

 unexpected appearance. They 



started 



