nearer, but the road was badly kept, and there were no sign-posts, or very sorry ones.
Nikita thought for a moment.
"By the Karamnishevo road," said he at last; "it is longer, but easier going."
"But if you go straight, you have only to pass the hollow — you can't miss it, and then you're all right again," said Vasily Andreich, who wanted to go straight on.
"As you please," said Nikita, and again he put up his collar.
Vasily Andreich did as he wished, and driving for half a mile past a small wood of tall oaks well swept by the wind, but still having a few dry leaves upon them here and there, he turned off to the left. On turning the comer the wind blew almost straight in their faces. Light snowflakes were falling from above. Vasily Andreich straightened himself up, puffed out his cheeks, and blew hard down into his moustaches. Nikita fell a-nodding. They drove along in silence for about ten minutes. All at once Vasily Andreich said something.
"What is it?" asked Nikita, opening his eyes.
Vasily Andreich answered nothing, but looked scared, peering backwards and forwards over the horse's head. The horse, beaded with sweat on the flanks and neck, was going at a foot-pace.
"What's amiss, I say?" repeated Nikita.
"Amiss! amiss!" mocked Vasily Andreich angrily. "I don't see the posts, we must have missed our way."
"Stop, then; I'll look along the road," cried Nikita, and lightly leaping from his perch, and snatching
15
