Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/151

 made an effort to demolish the back of my head, which I took out of his way as speedily as possible. Tom and Sacha were out of the sleigh in an instant, and at the horse's head; but Mr. Thurber sat calmly in his place and gave directions to the others.

"Don't jump!" he cried, seizing my hands.

"I have no more idea of it than you have," I responded calmly. "Don't you think you would be more useful if you held the horse instead of my hands?"

"Not the slightest need of it"; and nothing would induce him to get out.

We were soon flying through the air again, with nothing but the bells and the gay voices to break the stillness, snow-fields stretching away on either side, and the stars shining brightly above us. When we reached the Neva, and the long row of lights on the border of the river became visible, Tom said, in a disgusted tone,—

"Is this all that is going to happen to us?"

"What more do you wish?" asked the Russian lady, who by the way is very beautiful.

"I supposed we should have a runaway, at least. I had no idea a troika ride was such an ordinary affair."

But we had no accident. The streets were still and empty, and a distant clock struck five when we drew up at our own door. Rousing the sleepy Suisse, we got into the house, and, finding the samovar hot, we indulged in some tea, and then went to bed.