TCHUDOVO AND THE PRISTAV. 29 



As we neared Tchudovo, the whole population of the 

 commune was assembled at the entrance to the broad, 

 long street. A beggar rushed up to the Cossack's 

 horse and flung himself on the ground before it, as if 

 begging its rider to trample him under its hoofs. 

 Paishkoff tossed him a coin without halting, and the 

 pony swerved meekly to avoid stepping on the man. 



The women crossed themselves and the men and 

 boys removed their hats. The old moujiks gave the 

 cue and three hearty cheers went up for the bold 

 " Kazak " as he rode past. He acknowledged the 

 honor by holding his hand to his forehead. The eyes 

 of the Cossack escort from the Czarevitch's regiment 

 roamed wolfishly over the picturesque gathering of 

 village damsels, turning in their saddles to prolong 

 their scrutiny as the crowd followed behind. The 

 school-master and his brigade of small urchins tramped 

 solidly in ranks, four deep, singing noisily. 



The starosta, true to his idea of remaining at his 

 post and extending the hospitality of his samovar, in- 

 vited Paishkoff and his escort to dismount at his house. 

 They refused to halt, however, and the officer of the 

 Cossacks paid him scant courtesy, as though rebuking 

 him for not coming out to welcome them as the others 

 had done. 



The reporters sent word to their newspapers that 

 an American had met Paishkoff and offered him 30,000 

 rubles for his pony, for the purpose of taking it to 

 America to exhibit ! That truthful item went all over 

 Russia. 



Before leaving Tchudovo, we made the acquaintance 

 of the pristav, or chief of police, of the district. The 



