"Indeed, I think that your best plan, when you start, will be to work due north, and join the Swedish forces near Narva.
It will be shorter as well as less dangerous.

Still, we can talk of that later on." The next morning they started early, and arrived in the afternoon at the chateau of the count.

It was not a fortified building, for the Poles differed from the western nations, abstaining from fortifying their towns and residences, upon the ground that they were a free people, capable of defending their country from foreign invasion, and therefore requiring no fortified towns, and that such places added to the risks of civil war, and enabled factions to set the will of the nation at defiance.
The building was a large one, but it struck Charlie as being singularly plain and barn-like in comparison with the residences of country gentlemen in England.

A number of retainers ran out as they drove up into the courtyard, and exclamations of surprise and dismay rose, as the wounds on the horses' flanks and legs were visible; and when, in a few words, the count told them that they had been attacked by wolves, and had been saved principally by the English gentleman and his follower, the men crowded round Charlie, kissed his hands, and in other ways tried to show their gratitude for his rescue of their master and mistress.
"Come along," the count said, taking his arm and leading him into the house.

"The poor fellows mean well, and you must not be vexed with them." The countess's first question had been for her child, and with an exclamation of thankfulness, when she heard that it was better, she had at once hurried into the house.