ARRIVAL AT ARCHANGEL, 627

but to attempt it. He answered, if his lord gave him such an order,
he would lose his life if he did not perform it. We soon brought
his lord to give that order, though privately ; and we immediately
prepared for the putting it in practice.

And, first, as soon as it began to be dark, we kindled a fire in
our little camp, which we kept burning, and prepared so as to
make it burn all night, that the Tartars might conclude we were
still there. But as soon as it was dark, that is to say, 80 as we
could see the stars, for our guide would not stir before, having
all our horses and camels ready loaded, we followed our new guide,
who, I soon found, steered himself by the pole, or north star, all
the country being level for a long way.

After we had travelled two hours very hard, it began to be
lighter still; not that it was quite dark all night, but the moon
began to rise, so that, in a word, it was rather lighter than we
wished it to be. By six o’clock the next morning, we were gotten
near forty miles, though the truth is, we almost spoiled our horses.
Here we found a Russian village named Kermazinskoy, where we
rested, and heard nothing of the Kalmuck Tartars that day.
About two hours before night, we set out again, and travelled till
eight the next morning, though not quite so quiet as before; and,
about seven o’clock, we passed a little river called Kirtza, and
came to a good large town inhabited by Russians, and very popu-
lous, called Ozomoys. There we heard that several troops or
hordes of Kalmucks had been abroad upon the desert, but that we
were now completely out of danger of them, which was to our
great satisfaction, you may be sure. Here we were obliged to get
some fresh horses, and having need enough of rest, we stayed five
days ; and my partner and I agreed to give the honest Siberian
who brought us thither, the value of ten pistoles for his conducting us.

In five days more we came to Veussima, upon the river
Witzogda, and running into the Dwina. We were there, very
happily, near the end of our travels by land, that river being
navigable in seven days’ passage to Archangel. From hence we
came to Lawrenskoy, the 3rd of July; and, providing ourselves
with two luggage-boats, and a barge for our own convenience, we
embarked the 7th, and arrived all safe at Archangel the 18th,