202 THROUGH RUSSIA ON A MUSTANG. 



was once a cowboy and has now become famous? ' (A 

 confused idea of Stanley, and Carver's " Wild Amer- 

 ica " — that had been performing in Moscow — cropped 

 out here.) 



"I don't know." 



" Is he writing good things or bad about Russia ? ' 



" I don't know. I don't think he is writing bad 

 things, however." 



" How do you know he isn't ? ' 



" I don't know." 



" Where's his writing ? Where does he keep it ? ' 



" He has sent it away, I have said." 



" Sent all of it away? " 



" He makes notes in a book every day — short 

 notes." 



"What about?" 



" About the things we see along the road." 



"What do you mean ? What things has he seen ?' 



" He writes about the moujiks, the traktirs, the 

 uriadniks, and the country." 



u What does he say about the moujiks ? " 



" He tells about the way they live, what they eat, 

 and how they cultivate the land." 



" Does he have anything to say to them ? " 



" No ; he doesn't speak Russian." 



" Are you sure that he doesn't speak Russian ? ' 



" I have never heard him speak Russian." 



" Perhaps he only pretends that he doesn't. How 

 do you know ? " 



" I don't believe he speaks any Russian. He asks 

 me about everything." 



" What things does he ask you ? " 



