26 CRASNOI LAIS. 



engaged that we first heard of the existence of a 

 large royal forest of some twenty-nine square 

 versts in extent, which lay only some fifteen versts 

 out of our course on the return journey. To 

 make up our minds to visit it, having secured 

 letters of introduction to the royal forester (Col. 

 R.), was the work of five minutes, and next 

 morning saw us with a friend in our sledge, who 

 knew the colonel, dashing with buoyant spirits 

 over the glittering snow. When the long line of 

 darkly-wooded country first caught our eyes clean 

 cut against the frosty blue sky, the stars were 

 already in the heavens, and an occasional bark 

 told us the foxes were all abroad, busy in their 

 nocturnal forays. 



After a drive of half-an-hour through dim 

 forest rides, a fire glimmered ruddily through the 

 trees, and the deep baying of hounds told us we 

 had almost arrived. The forester's house was a 

 small four-roomed cottage, with a wattle enclosure 

 round it, while outside the enclosure a few huts 

 and a huge bonfire betokened the presence of the 

 score of Cossacks who formed his staff. Throwing 

 open his door, our host rushed out to meet us, a 

 little wiry man, with a ruddy complexion, bright 

 merry eye, huge grizzled moustache, and the most 

 cordial manners possible. Once inside the cottage, 

 the samovar was soon steaming comfortably, and a 

 supper of caviare and roebuck broth, witli the meat to 



