The receiver turned pale. "I beg pardon,' he stammered out; I do not comprehend.'

Lerfosbourg with his giant fist seized Michael's arm, and drawing him near, so as to fix him, sternly said in a thundering voice: You have robbed me of three thousand skins! What is more, you have cheated the exiles. I will endure this no longer. Wretch! to steal from me. I will have you hung. That I shall. The judge is sent for. He will be here immediately.'

Kitzoff trembled, being sensible how much he had to fear from such a man. He felt all the danger of his situation, and the necessity of preventing the threatened inquiry. It being impossible to dissuade or soften Lerfosbourg, whom anger and inebriety rendered incapable of listening to expostulation, he determined at once what steps to take to accomplish by fright and alarm what he could not effect by persuasion. Raising his head with audacious effrontery, with his usual familiar and sarcastic laugh, he exclaimed: Very well, Commandant Lerfosbourg; you will have me condemned; but the same blow will strike us both, for you cannot hold the government of Berezov without me.'

How? What do you say?' asked the governor.

'I say,' replied Kitzoff with confidence, that I alone am acquainted with what is passing here. I know something of a certain exile. He whom Count Passig sent here to be out of the way. That person whom you were to watch has succeeded in transmitting a petition to the empress.'

This intelligence produced a wonderful effect on the commandant. He altered his tone towards Kitzoff, and declared there would be no more said about the theft, provided the petition could be intercepted and brought back. Kitzoff immediately undertook that such should be done, and hurried away in pursuit with a party of Cossacks. On receiving the dreaded petition Lerfosbourg broke into a rage against Rosow, whom he threatened to punish severely for his audacity. But he was calmed on examining the writing, which was more than usually

beautiful. It was the work of Godureau. The old man was sent for, and in requital for pardoning his young friend, consented to act as secretary to the brutal and ignorant commandant.

For three months Godureau fulfilled the irksome duties of secretary to the governor of Berezov; and to his care entirely the latter had committed the whole of his correspondence. He expedited all orders, opened the dispatches as well as answered them. The governor each morning merely affixed his signature, and most frequently without taking the trouble of reading the documents presented him; and as each day passed, the miserly German congratulated himself on his having met with a secretary who took all the trouble off his hands, and cost him nothing.

Winter had disappeared. Siberia, stripped of its snow mantle, now appeared clad in all the charms and luxury of summer. Already were to be observed on the most elevated steppes the graceful waving of the barley and maize-fields; while in the low grounds, on both sides of the Oby, rich meadows appeared covered with flowers; the hills, ornamented at their base by camaringa and ledum, were crowned above in stages by beautiful cherrytrees in blossom, maple, birch, and fir trees. A light and balmy breeze issuing from the larch-woods, bore to the town itself the delightful perfume of the northern raspberry, black-currant, and rose bushes. The joyous

Ostiaks were dispersed over the fields, caroling gaily as they worked, clad in nettle - cloth; and the roads were filled with merchants wending their way to the most distant habitations. The very houses, so lately closed, seemed to feel the influence of brighter days; the calked windows were open, and the thresholds filled with merry groups: on every side nothing was heard but sounds of joy and delight.

Government House, as well as every other, was now thrown open; and at the moment we resume our narration the most of the government officials were assembled in the reception - room, having been summoned by

Lerfosbourg to attend for the communication of several dispatches received the evening before.

Godureau, whose business it was to read them, was seated by a table covered with papers. The old professor's countenance, usually so calm, seemed greatly agitated-it bore evident marks of repressed joy, mingled with anxiety. He could not remain in the same place, but went from the table to the window, muttering at the same time unintelligible sentences, observing a clock placed in one corner of the room, and unable to restrain an appearance of impatience, as if awaiting the arrival of some person.

At length the governor gave him notice that all summoned were present, and ordered him to proceed in reading the dispatches. The order was again repeated; but Godureau still looked at the clock in consternation. 'He has not received the letter,' he said to himself; 'and such a moment as this is not likely to occur in a hurry.'

At length, on another order from the governor, he took one of the dispatches and began reading it slowly. It announced additional restrictions imposed by the empress on the brandy-trade carried on by the Ostiaks. Godureau, who had been reading on mechanically, stopped at once, seeming to listen.

'Well, what is it?' asked the governor.

"Tis Vulcan's bark!' cried the good man. 'What does it signify?' said the governor.

'Has he recognised him?' repeated Godureau, trembling with anxious uncertainty.

'Recognised whom?' repeated Lerfosbourg.

Godureau had risen from his seat, his eyes fixed on the door at once it opened, and Nicholas Rosow appeared. The old professor uttered an exclamation of joy. "What does that fellow want here?' cried the governor : who called him?'

'I, sir!' said Godureau.

And by what right?'

'By the empress's orders.'

The empress'

VOL. II.

All the officers rose.

G

"Yes,' cried the old man with an air of exultation. 'Let all attend!' and drawing a paper from his breast, he read as follows:-"I, Catherine II., Empress of all the Russias, on the remonstrance addressed to me by the Frenchman Pierre Godureau in favour of Nicholas Rosow".

'How?' cried the governor: 'you have dared'

'Under your cover, sir,' replied the old man: 'but pray listen to what follows.' And he proceeded: ““In favour of Nicholas Rosow, sent to Siberia in consequence of Count Passig's criminal designs: moreover, having learned that the said Pierre Godureau and Nicholas Rosow, notwithstanding their being political exiles, have been sent as common offenders to the wilds of Siberia, and deprived of the assistance granted by me, I further command that they both recover their rights as free men; and that the present dispatch be given to the said Nicholas Rosow, to be by him opened in presence of all the officers and functionaries of Berezov."

'And you have concealed this order from me, wretch ?' exclaimed the governor, pale with fright and anger.

'I feared, sir, that you might forget to put it into execution,' said the writing-master. As to the dispatch before mentioned, here it is.' He then presented a sealed packet to Rosow, who opened it hastily. All the officers surrounded him in mute astonishment. When he had concluded, he advanced with a noble air towards the governor.

'We have changed places, sir!' said he: the empress grants to the heretofore exile, Nicholas Rosow, the government of Berezov.'

'Is it possible? And I?'

'You will replace me in my iourta of exile: here is the order. And he handed over the dispatch.

Exclamations of surprise were heard on all sides, accompanied by one of joy from Godureau. Lerfosbourg endeavoured to speak, but his tongue refused utterance, his legs tottered, and he was forced to sit down. Some of the officers drew near and endeavoured to console

him, while the greater number surrounded Rosow to congratulate him; but he quitted them hastily, being anxious to testify his gratitude to the old writing-master, who had remained by the table, wiping his spectacles, still wet with tears of joy: he threw himself in his

arms.

'And now, are you happy?' asked the worthy man after a long embrace.

'Oh, how can I ever repay what you have done for me?' cried the young man, completely overcome.

"You can-indeed you can!' said the old man.

'Yes,' replied Rosow, 'by sending you back to your own country rich and free.'

'No,' answered Godureau, it is too late now; I might die by the way-I am sixty-seven. I am, besides, accustomed to Siberia, and to you.'

'But how, then, acquit myself?'

'By retaining me as your friend and secretary?

The moderate request was of course gladly acceded to. Rosow entered on the duties of an office which his experience taught him to qualify with kindness and mercy. He remained a number of years at the head of affairs in Siberia, until called to a higher post in the imperial court; and his administration was long remembered for its uprightness and clemency.

THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.

THESE have been a thousand times described, and they may be described a thousand times more. The truth is, it is not easy to give a correct idea of these magnificent cascades, for the impression they make on the mind of the spectator cannot be conveyed in mere words. Yet as everybody cannot see the Falls of Niagara, let us try what can be done to communicate a notion of their appearance.