However, there are not likely to be any troops here, and we needn't mind the Tartars." They found, as they expected, that the village was wholly deserted, and, riding through it, they dismounted at the chateau.

The doors were fastened, but, walking round it, they perceived no signs of life, and, breaking a window, they soon effected an entrance.
They found that the house, which was of great size and evidently belonged to a Russian magnate, was splendidly furnished, and that it had so far not been visited by any parties from the ships.

Some fine pictures hung on the walls, choice pieces of statuary were scattered here and there, tables of malachite and other rare stones stood about, and Eastern carpets covered the floors.
"We are in clover now, sir," Jack said, "and if we could but charter a ship, we should be able to make a rich prize.

But as our ponies can only carry us, I'm afraid that all these valuables are worthless to us." "I'd give the whole lot of them," the lieutenant said, "for a good meal.

At any rate, we are sure to find something for the ponies." In the stables behind the house were great quantities of forage and the ponies soon had their fill.
The officers, taking some corn, of which also there was an abundance, hammered a quantity between two flat stones, and moistening the rough flour so obtained, with water, made two flat cakes, with which, baked over a wood fire, they satisfied their hunger.