CHAPTER XXXV
ETCETERA
he next morning the two adventurers were approaching Cheboksar. Bender was dozing at the rudder and Hippolyte was rowing sleepily. Both of them were shivering with cold. The sun was slowly rising in the east and birds were singing loudly on the river-banks. Bender opened his eyes and stretched himself. ‘ Good morning, Pussy,’ he said, suppressing a yawn. ‘ There’s a landing-stage ahead of us,’ said Hip polyte. Bender pulled the guide-book out of his pocket and consulted it. ‘ Judging from what it says here it must be Cheboksar. “ We must now draw the reader’s attention to the beautiful situation of the town of Cheboksar.” Well, Pussy, do you think it is beautifully situated ? “At the present time there are 7,702 inhabitants. ” Oh ! Pussy, let us give up chasing diamonds and raise the population of Cheboksar to 7,704. What do you say to that ? I think it is a very good plan. Well, well, let us see what else it says. “ Founded in a.d. 1555, there are several very interesting churches in the town. Apart from the administrative offices of the Chuvash Republic, there are a workers’ faculty, a party school, a pedagogical institute, two schools, a museum, a scientific society and a library. The Chuvash and Cheremiss peoples are to be seen on the landing-stage and in the market-place.” ’ But before the two friends arrived at the landing stage their attention was drawn to an object that was floating down the river a short distance away from their boat.
T
231
