caught me, and put their Emperor's mark on my hand. Was I to carry that with me all my life, and after my life in the resurrection, before the judgment-seat of God? I had a good hand still, and a good axe in it, and with these I struck off what they had defiled. Now there is not an inch of me that does not belong to the Czar."
"Nobly done, brother!" cried Ivan, embracing him. "I am proud of my old Nicolofsky playfellow. Michael, will you cast in your lot with me, and let us serve the Czar together?"
"Ay, Barrinka; but there is the difficulty. No use in my offering myself for a recruit. No officer would take me, because I want my hand. That is why I pray you to ask the Czar to let me fight for him in spite of that loss. You could tell him I would serve him so faithfully."
"I can show you, even now, a way to render him signal and splendid service; but it is hazardous, very. It is scarce likely we shall live to go through with it; but, Michael, if we do, I think the Czar will have cause to thank us."
"And shall we kill plenty of Nyemtzi?" Michael asked eagerly.
"We shall deal their Emperor a blow he will never forget." Ivan sat down before him, looked at him in silence for some moments, and then, apparently changing the subject, he asked, "Are you not surprised at the condition in which you find the city?"
"What condition?—Oh yes; I saw crowds of people going away." Then, looking up—"But is it true, is it really true, Barrinka, that holy Moscow is to be given up to the infidel Nyemtzi?"
"Too true. A great battle was fought a few days ago at Borodino. The French say they won, and we say we won; but, however that may be, the result is for us as bad as a defeat. Marshal Kutusov says it is now hopeless to think of defending the city. All day our soldiers, with breaking hearts, have been marching through on their way to Vladimir."
