We must keep north of that river, for to the south the country is thinly populated, and we should have difficulty in maintaining ourselves." Charlie made no comment, but he was glad to hear that the band intended to keep to the north of the Dnieper, for that river would have formed a serious obstacle to his making his way to rejoin the Swedes.

The next day, they reached the bank of the Bug, and, following the river down, came after an hour's walking upon a great fire, round which fifteen men were stretched.

These, as the captain's party approached, rose to their feet with a shout of welcome.
"That is better than I expected," Ladislas said, as they came up to them.

"Five and twenty is quite enough for work here.

In the forests one can do with more, but, moving steadily on, as we mean to do, till we get pretty near the eastern frontier, five and twenty is ample.