“Hold on,” said Shamarin. “I will tell the _starosta_ that we have lost something in the straw, and will borrow a lighted lantern from him.” He went off in haste, and meanwhile Sandoff put his captive back among the rugs and covered him up completely. Shamarin returned in a moment, bringing the lantern, and handed it to Sandoff. The latter drew the side and rear curtains of the sledge tightly down and placed the lantern on one of the trunks, while Vera dragged the iron chest from its place of concealment in the straw. The key fitted the lock, and with a trembling hand Sandoff raised the lid. A simultaneous cry of amazement issued from his and Vera’s lips. The chest was more than half full of bank notes and stacks of gold coin. On the top of them lay a folded paper. Sandoff was as pale as ashes as he lifted this and glanced at its contents. “That scoundrel Zamosc has deceived us,” he cried hoarsely. “But for you, Vera, we should be lost. This paper explains it all. The government took advantage of Serge Zamosc’s journey of prison inspection to appoint him paymaster and send him on to Vladivostok with the annual salaries of the East Siberian officials. Here is the list of names. It commences with Colonel Nord, at Riga, 5,000 rubles, and, with the exception of two points along the way, the others are in Vladivostok. No wonder that the colonel is anxious to see me. He must have been apprised of Zamosc’s visit beforehand. When he arrives I will pay him the money, make suitable apologies, and then we will resume our journey. Help me to carry this money into the post room. That will be the proper place for the interview with the colonel.” The two men conveyed the chest into the house between them, groaning not a little under its ponderous weight, and then, leaving Vera to take charge of it, Shamarin returned to the sledge, while Sandoff hunted up the _starosta_ and ordered glasses and a bottle of wine to be taken into the post room. “I expect a visitor in a short time,” he said, “and as I may be delayed with him longer than I expect I want you to put fresh horses into my sledge at once. What do I owe you for your services?” The _starosta_ named an exorbitant figure, but Sandoff paid it without demur, and then waited in the courtyard until the three spirited horses were harnessed. He now went back into the post room, and sent Vera out to the sledge, with instructions to draw the covering tightly and remain inside. Then he paced up and down the room for probably half an hour, glancing through the window from time to time into the courtyard. All at once a ringing clatter of hoofs was heard that came nearer with every second, and a moment later the sound of voices and a loud call for the _starosta_ apprised Sandoff that the horsemen had entered the yard. He glanced cautiously through the window, and could dimly make out five mounted figures—Colonel Nord and his escort, beyond a doubt.