"Heaven only knows, excellency," replied he, resuming his seat.
"It is not a sledge, it is not a tree, and it seems to me that it moves. It must be a wolf or a man."
I ordered him to move towards the unknown object, which came also to meet us. In two minutes I saw it was a man, and we met.
"Hey, there, good man," the driver hailed him, "tell us, do you happen to know the road?"
"This is the road," replied the traveller. "I am on firm ground; but what the devil good does that do you?"
"Listen, my little peasant," said I to him, "do you know this part of the country? Can you guide us to some place where we may pass the night?"
"Do I know this country? Thank heaven," rejoined the stranger, "I have travelled here, on horse and afoot, far and wide. But just look at this weather! One cannot keep the road. Better stay here and wait; perhaps the hurricane will cease and the sky will clear, and we shall find the road by starlight."
His coolness gave me courage, and I resigned myself to pass the night on the steppe, commending myself to the care of Providence, when suddenly the stranger, seating himself on the driver's seat, said—
"Grace be to God, there is a house not far off. Turn to the right, and go on."
"Why should I go to the right?" retorted my driver, ill-humouredly.