"We are now prepared to sketch very briefly the history of Russia. It contains a great many exciting incidents; but the time does not permit me to give many of them. The Scythians and Sarmatians of the Greek and Roman historians inhabited Russia in classic times. The Slavonians are believed to be the same people, and they founded the towns of Novgorod and Kief, which were the capitals of separate empires. These people were savage and warlike races, and were at war with similar tribes around them. The Varangians of the north attacked them, and were nearly overwhelmed, when they invited the Russian prince Rurik to Novgorod; and he came with his two brothers. From that time the different tribes were united, and called Russians, but the Slavic language and customs were retained. This was the foundation of the Russian empire. Rurik died in 879, and left the regency of the empire to his cousin, Oleg, his son Igor being only four years old. He conquered Kief, and annexed it to his realm. He then got up an expedition against Constantinople, and secured an advantageous treaty. He also subdued all the tribes within reach of his armies. He had a favorite horse, which the soothsayers declared would be the death of him; whereupon he sent the animal away, and heard no more of him for years. Recalling the prediction, he asked what had become of the horse, and was told he had long been dead. Exulting over the defeat of the seers, he wished to see the bones, and was conducted to the place where the skeleton lay. 'So this is the creature that was destined to be my death,' said he, putting his foot on the skull. At that moment, a serpent, coiled up within the skull, darted out and gave Oleg a bite, from the effects of which he died. This is the story.