At last we reached Palmyra, about midnight,
having taken five hours to do forty versts. We
drew up far beyond the platform of the tiny station,
and I looked out. It was a fine moonlight night,
but near the car the snow seemed knee-deep or
more; and, though I had on rather heavy boots,
to jump into that appeared a discouraging pros-
pect. I drew back into the car. **Will some of
you go down and take our bags? Then I can
jump to them," I said.
I made it a general suggestion, and I was im-
mediately answered by my special brakeman, who
was fastening on his heavy coat. ** One moment,
and I will arrange everything," he said. *'You
soldiers take those bags and carry them to the sta-
tion platform," he continued; and the military ele-
ment at once let themselves down to the ground,
took our things, which the brakeman handed out,
and marched off to the station, tramping a path for
us, while our bags were not even touched by the
snow.
/ I



PROPRIETORS AND PEASANTS 41

Then the brakeman himself went down and his
comrade followed him. The train-master also came
out to see. Turning toward me, my friend said:
** Please jimip now, Barina, and I will catch you."

I jtmiped, blindly obedient, and he caught me
easily, never allowing, my feet to get wet; and he
carried me like a small child all the way to the
station.
