And so the wagon slowly progressed toward the frontier; and Anton already heard from a distance the laughing greetings of the soldiers.
Meanwhile the merchant remained in animated conversation with the peasant band, and at length parted on the best possible terms with the insurgents' leader, who, with true Slavonic politeness, acted the part of landlord on the public road, and, cap in hand, accompanied the travelers till within gunshot of the military on the bridge.

The principal got into the wagon, underwent the warlike ceremonial of "Halt!" &c., on the part of the sentinels, and received the smiling congratulations of the captain, while the lieutenant said satirically to Anton, "You have had no cause to lament the want of your pocket pistols." "All the better," answered Anton; "it was a tame affair indeed.

The poor devils had stolen nothing but a small cask of rum." An hour later, the travelers were sitting with the officers of both regiments, in the little tavern parlor, over a bottle of old Tokay, which the host had disinterred from the lowest depths of his cellar.

Not the least happy of the party was Anton.

For the first time in his life he had experienced one of the small perils of war, and was, on the whole, pleased with the part he had played; and now he was sitting by a young soldier, whom he was prepared to admire to the utmost, and had the privilege of offering him his cigars, and discussing with him the day's adventures.
"The boors pointed their guns at you at first," said the young nobleman, carelessly curling his mustache; "you must have found that a bore." "Not much of one," replied Anton, as coolly as he could.