TO NICHOLAEF. 
329 
the tent ; and the courier, desiring the postillion 
to remain quiet with the vehicle, walked boldly ' — y — 
towards it. As soon as he entered, he asked 
some men whom he saw there if he might be 
allowed a glass of brandy. Being answered in 
the affirmative, he added, “ Stay a little : I will 
just step to the pavoslcy, and bring something 
for us to eat : you shall find the drink.” It was 
now quite dark ; and the courier, who had well 
observed the number and disposition of the 
men within the tent, returned to the pavosky ; 
when, having armed the postillion and himself, 
by means of a blunderbuss, two pistols, and a 
sabre, he took the bleeding carcase upon his 
shoulders, and advanced once more towards 
the tent. The unsuspecting robbers had now 
seated themselves around a fire, smoking 
tobacco ; their weapons being suspended above 
their heads. The courier, in the very instant 
that he entered, cast the dead body into the 
midst of them ; exclaiming, “ There s the sort 
of food for your palates ! and, before a moment 
was allowed them to recover from the surprise 
into which this had thrown them, a discharge 
from the blunderbuss killed two of the four; 
a third received a pistol shot, with a cut from a 
sabre, but survived his wounds, and was taken, 
bound, to Kremenchuk, where he suffered the 
knout. The fourth made his escape. Of such 
