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they were trying to dig themselves out； she jumped out of the
sledge and went to look for the road herself。 All this happened
in '51； not ten miles from the house in which we are sitting now。
The road was soon found； but snow had begun to fall thickly
again； and they were four more hours getting home。 Both the men
took off their sheepskin…lined great…coats and used all their own
rugs to wrap her up against the cold； notwithstanding her
protests； positive orders and even struggles； as Valery
afterwards related to me。 'How could I；' he remonstrated with
her； 'go to meet the blessed soul of my late master if I let any
harm come to you while there's a spark of life left in my body？'
When they reached home at last the poor old man was stiff and
speechless from exposure； and the coachman was in not much better
plight； though he had the strength to drive round to the stables
himself。 To my reproaches for venturing out at all in such
weather； she answered characteristically that she could not bear
the thought of abandoning me to my cheerless solitude。 It is
incomprehensible how it was that she was allowed to start。 I
suppose it had to be！ She made light of the cough which came on
next day； but shortly afterwards inflammation of the lungs set
in； and in three weeks she was no more！ She was the first to be
taken away of the young generation under my care。 Behold the
vanity of all hopes and fears！ I was the most frail at birth of
all the children。 For years I remained so delicate that my
parents had but little hope of bringing me up； and yet I have
survived five brothers and two sisters； and many of my
contemporaries； I have outlived my wife and daughter tooand
from all those who have had some knowledge at least of these old
times you alone are left。 It has been my lot to lay in an early
grave many honest hearts； many brilliant promises； many hopes
full of life。〃
He got up brusquely； sighed； and left me； saying： 〃We will dine
in half an hour。〃 Without moving I listened to his quick steps
resounding on the waxed floor of the next room； traversing the
ante…room lined with bookshelves； where he paused to put his
chibouk in the pipe…stand before passing into the drawing…room
（these were all en suite）； where he became inaudible on the thick
carpet。 But I heard the door of his study…bedroom close。 He was
then sixty…two years old and had been for a quarter of a century
the wisest； the firmest； the most indulgent of guardians；
extending over me a paternal care and affection； a moral support
which I seemed to feel always near me in the most distant parts
of the earth。
As to Mr。 Nicholas B。； sub…lieutenant of 1808； lieutenant of 1813
in the French Army； and for a short time Officier d'Ordonnance of
Marshal Marmont； afterwards Captain in the 2nd Regiment of
Mounted Rifles in the Polish Armysuch as it existed up to 1830
in the reduced kingdom established by the Congress of ViennaI
must say that from all that more distant past； known to me
traditionally and a little de visu； and called out by the words
of the man just gone away； he remains the most incomplete figure。
It is obvious that I must have seen him in '64； for it is certain
that he would not have missed the opportunity of seeing my mother
for what he must have known would be the last time。 From my
early boyhood to this day； if I try to call up his image； a sort
of mist rises before my eyes； a mist in which I perceive vaguely
only a neatly brushed head of white hair （which is exceptional in
the case of the B。 family； where it is the rule for men to go
bald in a becoming manner； before thirty） and a thin； curved；
dignified nose； a feature in strict accordance with the physical
tradition of the B。 family。 But it is not by these fragmentary
remains of perishable mortality that he lives in my memory。 I
knew； at a very early age； that my grand…uncle Nicholas B。 was a
Knight of the Legion of Honour and that he had also the Polish
Cross for valour Virtuti Militari。 The knowledge of these
glorious facts inspired in me an admiring veneration； yet it is
not that sentiment； strong as it was； which resumes for me the
force and the significance of his personality。 It is overborne
by another and complex impression of awe； compassion and horror。
Mr。 Nicholas B。 remains for me the unfortunate and miserable （but
heroic） being who once upon a time had eaten a dog。
It is a good forty years since I heard the tale； and the effect
has not worn off yet。 I believe this is the very first； say；
realistic； story I heard in my life； but all the same I don't
know why I should have been so frightfully impressed。 Of course
I know what our village dogs look likebut still。 。 。No！ At
this very day； recalling the horror and compassion of my
childhood； I ask myself whether I am right in disclosing to a
cold and fastidious world that awful episode in the family
history。 I ask myselfis it right？especially as the B。 family
had always been honourably known in a wide country…side for the
delicacy of their tastes in the matter of eating and drinking。
But upon the whole； and considering that this gastronomical
degradation overtaking a gallant young officer lies really at the
door of the Great Napoleon； I think that to cover it up by
silence would be an exaggeration of literary restraint。 Let the
truth stand here。 The responsibility rests with the Man of St。
Helena in view of his deplorable levity in the conduct of the
Russian campaign。 It was during the memorable retreat from
Moscow that Mr。 Nicholas B。； in company of two brother officers
as to whose morality and natural refinement I know nothing
bagged a dog on the outskirts of a village and subsequently
devoured him。 As far as I can remember the weapon used was a
cavalry sabre； and the issue of the sporting episode was rather
more of a matter of life and death than if it had been an
encounter with a tiger。 A picket of Cossacks was sleeping in
that village lost in the depths of the great Lithuanian forest。
The three sportsmen had observed them from a hiding…place making
themselves very much at home amongst the huts just before the
early winter darkness set in at four o'clock。 They had observed
them with disgust and perhaps with despair。 Late in the night
the rash counsels of hunger overcame the dictates of prudence。
Crawling through the snow they crept up to the fence of dry
branches which generally encloses a village in that part of
Lithuania。 What they expected to get and in what manner； and
whether this expectation was worth the risk； goodness only knows。
However； these Cossack parties； in most cases wandering without
an officer； were known to guard themselves badly and often not at
all。 In addition； the village lying at a great distance from the
line of French retreat； they could not suspect the presence of
stragglers from the Grand Army。 The three officers had strayed
away in a blizzard from the main column and had been lost for
days in the woods； which explains sufficiently the terrible
straits to which they were reduced。 Their plan was to try and
attract the attention of the peasants in that one of the huts
which was nearest to the enclosure； but as they were preparing to
venture into the very jaws of the lion； so to speak； a dog （it is
mighty strange that there was but one）； a creature quite as
formidable under the circumstances as a lion； began to bark on
the other side of the fence。 。 。
At this stage of the narrative； which I heard many times （by
request） from the lips of Captain Nicholas B。's sister…in…law； my
grandmother； I used to tremble with excitement。
The dog barked。 And if he had done no more than bark three
officers of the Great Napoleon's army would have perished
honourably on the points of Cossack's lances； or perchance
escaping the chase would have died decently of starvation。 But
before they had time to think of running away； that fatal and
revolting dog； being carried away by the excess of his zeal；
dashed out through a gap in the fence。 He dashed out and died。
His head； I understand； was severed at one blow from his body。 I
understand also that later on； within the gloomy solitudes of the
snow…laden woods； when； in a sheltering hollow； a fire had been
lit by the party； the condition of the quarry was discovered to
be distinctly unsatisfactory。 It was not thinon the c