278 A JACOBITE EXILE

“As soon as you have eaten your breakfast. The order
says ‘send at once,’ and field-marshals expect their orders
to be attended to promptly.”

On descending to the courtyard after breakfast, Charlie
was surprised to see that instead of a horse as he had
expected, a well-appointed carriage with an ample supply
of rugs was standing there. The governor was there to see
him off.

“Well, sir,” Charlie said, “if this is the way in which
you convey prisoners from one place to another in Russia,
I shall certainly be able when I meet King Charles to report
to him most favourably as to the treatment of his officers
who have fallen into the czar’s hands. This will make the
journey a very much more pleasant one than I had
expected.”

“Tam 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 gal-
loped 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.