RETURN TO TIFLIS. 335 



of tobacco we had with us a box of brimstone 

 matches ; grovelling about by the light of which 

 we retrieved all that was not utterly destroyed of 

 our luggage, and by means of old ropes, pocket- 

 handkerchiefs, and what not, so tied and spliced 

 together the broken harness, that after two hours' 

 work in that bitter winter night we managed to 

 extricate our cart and make yet another start for 

 Tiflis. 



Beyond Akstapha, snow had evidently been 

 falling for some time past, and still continued to 

 fall until we reached Tiflis. Every verst showed 

 us deeper drifts, and at the last station from Tiflis 

 the drivers, in defiance of their master's orders, re- 

 fused to get out of their warm corners to drive us 

 through the wintry night to the end of our journey. 

 After many threats and much persuasion one was 

 prevailed on to mount the box, and though we only 

 proceeded at a snail's pace, we console I ourselves 

 with the thought that every minute brought us 

 nearer our bourne. At last, when we had got 

 some three versts on the way, the horses were 

 brought to a standstill by their driver, who calmly 

 announced his intention of returning. 



CJ 



We were already half-frozen and irritable from 

 constant mishaps, so that his announcement was 

 not very cheerfully received, and every effort was 

 made to urge him on. Everything else failing, in 

 an evil moment Ivan persuaded me to use the 



