It was only made for two persons, without counting the iemschik, who kept his equilibrium on his narrow seat in a marvelous manner.
The iemschik is changed at every relay.

The man who drove the tarantass during the first stage was, like his horses, a Siberian, and no less shaggy than they; long hair, cut square on the forehead, hat with a turned-up brim, red belt, coat with crossed facings and buttons stamped with the imperial cipher.

The iemschik, on coming up with his team, threw an inquisitive glance at the passengers of the tarantass.

No luggage!--and had there been, where in the world could he have stowed it?
Rather shabby in appearance too.

He looked contemptuous.
"Crows," said he, without caring whether he was overheard or not; "crows, at six copecks a verst!" "No, eagles!" said Michael, who understood the iemschik's slang perfectly; "eagles, do you hear, at nine copecks a verst, and a tip besides." He was answered by a merry crack of the whip.
In the language of the Russian postillions the "crow" is the stingy or poor traveler, who at the post-houses only pays two or three copecks a verst for the horses.