By some means he procured a padaroshnia, not in his own name, and announced his intention to visit his friends a few miles away.  As he did not return promptly search was made, and it was found that a person answering his description had started toward Lake Baikal.  Pursuit naturally turned in that direction, exactly opposite to his real course of flight.  He traveled by post with his padaroshnia and reached the vicinity of Omsk without difficulty.  Very injudiciously he quarreled with the drivers at a post station about the payment of ten copecks, which he alleged was an overcharge.  The padaroshnia was examined in consequence of the quarrel and found applicable to a Russian merchant of the third class, and not for a nobleman, which he claimed to be.

The station-master arrested the traveler and sent him to Omsk, when his real character was ascertained.  On the third day of captivity he bribed his guards and escaped during the night.  He remained free more than a month, but was finally recaptured and sent to Irkutsk.

At Nerchinsk I resumed my efforts to purchase a tarantass, but my investigations showed the Nerchinsk market ‘out’ of everything in the tarantass line and no promise of a new crop.  Fortune and Kaporaki favored me, and found a suitable vehicle that I could borrow for the journey to Irkutsk.  I was to answer for its safety and deliver it to a designated party on my arrival there.

The regulations did not permit, or at least encourage, Borasdine to invest in vehicles.  A courier is expected, unless in winter, to travel by the post carriages.  All breakages in that case are at the expense of government, with the possible exception of the courier’s bones and head.  If a carriage breaks down he takes another and leaves the wreck for the station men to pick up.  If he should buy a tarantass and it gave out he would be forced to leave it till he came again, or sell it at any price offered.  Nothing that relates to his personal comfort is allowed to detain a courier.  He can stop only for change of team, hasty meals, and when leaving or taking despatches on his route.  Sometimes a river gets high and refuses to respect his padaroshnia, or a severe and blinding storm stops all travel.  A courier’s pass is supposed to command everything short of the elements, and I have a suspicion that some Russians believe it powerful with the elements.

A courier ought to travel with only his baggage and servant, the former not exceeding 200 pounds.  Borasdine had Cossack and baggage in proper quantity; adding me and my impedimenta, he was hardly in light moving order.  I suggested that he drop me and I would trust to luck and my padaroshnia.  I had confidence in the good nature of the Russians and my limited knowledge of the language.  I could exhibit my papers, ask for horses, say I was hungry, and was perfectly confident I could pay out money as long as it lasted.  But my companion replied that an extra day on the route would make no difference in his catching the boat to cross Lake Baikal, and we would remain together until new difficulties arose.