Page 271 - A Jacobite Exile

officers who have fallen into the czar's hands. This will make the journey a
very much more pleasant one than I had expected."

"I am glad you are pleased," the governor said, "and that you have no

unpleasant recollection of your stay here."

A minute later, the carriage dashed out through the gate of the prison. An

officer was seated by Charlie's side, two Cossacks galloping in front, while
two others rode behind.

"It was worth making the change, if only for this drive," Charlie thought
cheerfully, as the dust flew up in a cloud before the horses' hoofs, and he

felt a sense of exhilaration from the keen air that blew in his face.

The journey was performed with great rapidity. One of the Cossacks
galloped ahead, as soon as they arrived at the station where they changed
horses, and had fresh ones in readiness at the next post house. The

Cossacks themselves were changed at every other station, fresh relays from
the men stationed there taking their place. Excellent meals were served

three times a day, and each night a comfortable bed was provided, at the
last post house where they stopped.

The officer was a pleasant fellow, but he spoke nothing except Russian,
and, although Charlie fancied he understood him to some extent when he

spoke to him in Polish, he shook his head and gave no answers in that
language.

Late in the evening of the third day, they arrived at Notteburg. The building
at which the carriage stopped was of considerable size. It stood in the heart

of the town, and had no outward appearance of a prison. It was apparently
at a side entrance at which they stopped. On the officer knocking at the
door, it was opened by two Cossacks, who, after exchanging a few words in

Russian with the officer, led Charlie along a passage and up a narrow
staircase, which led into a somewhat spacious corridor. They opened a

door, and he found himself in a comfortable room. A table laid for dinner
with handsome silver and appointments stood in the middle of the room,