in it, if possible. I took leave of Father Garasim and Accoulina,
recommending to them Marie, who I already looked upon as my wife. I
kissed the young girl's hand, and left the room.

"Adieu, Peter Grineff," said Accoulina. "Do not forget us. Except
you, Marie has no support or consolation." Choked by emotion, I did
not reply. Out on the square, I stopped an instant before the gibbet.
With bare head I reverently saluted the loyal dead, and took the road
to Orenbourg, accompanied by Saveliitch, who would not abandon me.
Thus plunged in thought, I walked on. Hearing horses galloping behind
me, I turned my head and saw a Cossack from the fortress leading a
horse, and making signs to me that I should wait. I recognized our
Corporal. Having caught up with us, he dismounted from his own horse,
and giving me the bridle of the other, said: "Our Czar makes you a
gift of a horse, and a pelisse from his own shoulder." To the saddle
was tied a sheep-skin touloup. I put it on, mounted the horse, taking
Saveliitch up behind me. "You see, my lord," said my serf, "that my
petition to the bandit was not useless! And although this old hack and
this peasant's touloup are not worth half what the rascals stole, yet
they are better than nothing. 'A worthless dog yields even a handful
of hair.'"




X. THE SIEGE.


Approaching Orenbourg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaved heads
and faces disfigured by the pincers of the public executioner. At