Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: KOSTIA STOOPED, AND WITH STRONG ARMS LIFTED THE INSENSIBLE BURDEN.] ON THE FACE OF THE FLOOD By MARY E. ROPES _Author of_ _"Karl Jansen's Find," "Caroline Street," etc._ LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E.C. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE RING THAT ROLLED AWAY II. MATVEY'S PLAN III. A DREAD AWAKENING—KIDNAPPED IV. AN ORDEAL V. EYES SHINING IN THE DARK VI. OUT OF EVIL GOOD VII. THE RESCUE VIII. SERGEY MEETS HIS AUNT IX. A MEETING AND A WARNING X. TRAPPED XI. LOOSING THE BONDS XII. HOMEWARD BOUND ON THE FACE OF THE FLOOD CHAPTER I The Ring that Rolled Away "MY little son, Sergey, what means this? Thou hast a face on thee as long as my axe-handle! Is there any fresh trouble, child?" "Ach, yes, Matvey Philipitch, and a very strange trouble it is, God knows! And with a secret to it, too, worse luck; for methinks there is danger for me, whether I find it out or no." "A secret, my boy? A new trouble? And surely thou hadst enough before. But tell it out to me, so shalt thou rid thy poor little heart of a part, at least, of its burden." "Have you time, little father, to listen now? I would fain tell my story at once, for I think I cannot bear it any longer alone." "Yes, I have time," replied Matvey. "But here in the wood is no place for confidences, where thine Uncle Abram might be hiding, and spying, and listening, as his wont is, behind the pines. Come back with me to my home, and my good wife and I will consult with thee how best to help thee in thy trouble." Sergey followed Matvey farther into the forest, and came, after five minutes' walk, to a solidly built house. It was made of whole pine-tree trunks, the cracks being filled up with tarred tow. The hut was one of a number scattered about among the trees, for this was a village of wood cutters and raftsmen. But Matvey was the foreman and paymaster, and in virtue of this, his cottage contained two rooms instead of only the solitary apartment which was kitchen, bedroom, and sitting-room, all in one, in the other dwellings. Matvey was a man in the prime of life, and far better educated, and more intelligent, than the ordinary peasants. Sensible, honest, and reliable, he had the full confidence of his employer, and managed the wood-cutting in the winter, and the raft-making and launching in the spring, when the rivers opened their icy eyelids, and the snows, melting, swelled the flow and quickened the sluggish currents.