At an early hour they were awaked by the advent of a number of passengers coming into the cabin. Several of them were Tartars of the highest class, and Scott called them "Cream Tartars," for they were very richly dressed. The boat started, and the students in the cabin continued to gaze at their singular companions. They called for tea, and produced their own provisions, consisting of bread and _caviar_, upon which they made their breakfast. It would be considered rather shabby for first-class passengers in America to carry their own provisions, but it is all right on the Volga. At noon these Tartars attended to their devotions on the bridge without any regard to the bystanders. They spread a robe on the top of the paddle-box, and taking off their overshoes, knelt upon it. Then they put their hands behind their ears, and over their eyes, bowing their heads to the floor, and repeating their prayers.
In the afternoon the steamer passed a large boat going down the river, towed by a steamer. It had a cabin, extending nearly the whole length of it, with small, grated windows. The captain said this was a convict boat, in which prisoners were conveyed down the Volga, and up the Kama to Perm, from which they have to march to Siberia. When they reach their destination, they are compelled to work in the mines. The captain said that many of them returned, and made good citizens. At three o'clock on the afternoon of the next day, the Stafet arrived at Nijni Novgorod.
While the voyagers were taking leave of Captain Ekovetz, who had been so attentive to them, an officer spoke to him in Russian.
"The police have your runaways," added the captain.
"Indeed! Where are they?" asked the doctor.
"At the police office. They came down in the boat from Tver, and were about to take the steamer for Kazan," said the captain, after some further conversation with the officer. "This man will conduct you to the police office."
The party followed him, and in a short time came to the place where De Forrest and Beckwith were held, not exactly "in durance vile," but in the office of the police. The runaways looked decidedly crestfallen.
"This is rather unexpected. I thought you were going only to Moscow; but it appears that you have not even been there at all," said Dr. Winstock.