234 SIBERIA 



While waiting for him to take the horses out we 

 heard a woodpecker attending to business in the wood 

 and several other birds in full song. The scenery 

 was wild and rugged, but most picturesque, and, 

 for a time at least, we forgot our difficulties in our 

 admiration of the landscape. 



We had not been seated very long when we 

 became aware of the approach of two men on horse- 

 back. Thinking that they might be induced to lend 

 us their horses, we waited until they came nearer, 

 when I recognised in one of them the boy who had 

 driven us from Koksa to Ouemon. We explained 

 our plight to him and persuaded him to let the im- 

 mediate author of our misfortunes, the stupid driver 

 from Abbi, return there with his horses, while he 

 harnessed his own to the drosky. The other peasant, 

 who was riding to Abbi, helped him with the horses. 

 We decided to pay nothing until we should arrive at 

 the next station. 



Our young friend informed us, that his late master 

 having most unjustifiably refused to pay him any 

 wages, he had determined to run away and seek fresh 

 woods and pastures new at the identical village for 

 which we were bound. He told us that he would be 

 able to get fresh horses when we arrived there, and 

 that he would be our guide, philosopher, and friend 

 for the next stage. This was good news, for we had 

 begun to feel afraid that our chance of making pro- 

 gress was likely to become somewhat precarious. 



It was hard work climbing up the pass, and the 

 downward journey on the opposite side was not much 

 easier, on account of the snow not having melted 

 away. The drosky insisted on sliding down sideways, 

 and we were compelled to hang on to one side of it 

 to prevent its turning a somersault. 



When we reached the farm at Kirlick, where the 

 youth was employed, there was trouble because the 



