Next day was a Prazhnik, or feast day, and the great square was crowded
with peasantry in their beautiful hand-woven clothes. There were
soldiers straight back from the lines chaffing and flirting with the
pretty girls, and presently a group began to dance the "Kola" about a
man who played a pipe. It is not difficult to dance the Kola. You join
hands till a ring is formed, and then shuffle round and round. If you
have aspirations to style you fling your legs about as much as space
will allow, and we noticed how much better the men danced than the
girls, who were almost all very clumsy.

We were to be called at six, so went to bed early, and in spite of the
odours from the yard slept soundly.

[Illustration]




CHAPTER IV

ACROSS THE FRONTIER


We got up in good time, breakfasted, but there was no sign of horses.
After waiting two hours a square man was brought up to us by the waiter
and introduced as our guide. The professor, who had promised to see us
off, was apparently clinging to his bed, for he did not come. Our guide
was a taciturn, loose-limbed fellow, but had nice eyes and a charming
manner; he helped us on to our horses, and off we went. Jan was rather