“You were speaking of the mines,” said Alexis. “Do they produce great quantities of the precious metals?” “Yes,” said the old hunter, in reply. “The mines produce the value of more than ten millions of dollars a year. Not only do they yield gold, and silver, and platina, but a great deal of copper. Beside these, many precious stones are found, such as the topaz, beryl, onyx, garnets, diamonds, and green crystals as beautiful as emeralds. All these mines and all the minerals belong to the Czar, and they are wrought by his serfs and slaves, and by such exiles as are very bad and troublesome!” “Those who talk about liberty and patriotism, I suppose,” said Alexis. “Yes,” said Linsk, snappishly. “Well,” said Alexis, “I should like to go to that country, where there are such rich minerals and precious stones. I think I could pick up enough to make myself rich.” “And get your head taken off besides,” said Linsk. “Let me tell you, my young master, the metals and minerals belong to the emperor, and it’s stealing for anybody to take them, and whoever does so is sure to get punished. I know a story about that--” “Tell it, I beg you,” said Alexis. So the hunter proceeded. “There was once a young nobleman of Russia exiled to Siberia for some offence to the Czar. This happened in the time of Paul, near forty years ago. Well, when he came to Tobolsk, he was very poor, so he thought how he might get money and become rich. At last he heard of the mines of the mountains, and thither he went. He was careful, however, not to let anybody know his plan. He proceeded first to the Kolyvan mountains, but, as there were a great many people at work there, he was afraid of being detected in his scheme; so he proceeded farther east, until he came to a tall mountain called the Schlangenberg, which is the loftiest of the Altai range. “When he had got up to the very top of the mountain, being weary, he laid himself down to get some rest, and here he fell asleep. While in this state, a man, in the dress of a Tartar, seemed to stand before him, and, making a low bow in the Eastern fashion, said, ‘What would’st thou, son of a noble house?’ To this the young Russian replied--‘Wealth--give me wealth: with this I can purchase my liberty and return to Moscow, and live again in happiness. Give me riches: with these I could buy the very soul of the emperor, for all he desires is money.’