i cannot tell precisely where the first germ of the legend concerning the steel flea had its birth—that is to say, whether it originated in tula, the izhma, or sestroryetzk; but, evidently, it came from one of these places.

in any case, the tale of the steel flea is a legend which distinctly belongs to the armorers' guild and expresses the pride of russian gunsmiths. it depicts a contest between our workmen and english workmen, from which our artisans emerged the victors, having utterly routed and humiliated the englishmen.

herein, also, is explained a certain secret cause of military disasters in the crimea.

[pg vi]

i jotted down this legend in sestroryetzk from the lips of an aged gunsmith, an emigrant from tula, who had removed to the sestra river during the reign of alexander the first. the narrator was still hale and hearty two years ago, and of sound memory; he was fond of recalling the days of yore, cherished great respect for the emperor nikolai pavlovitch, lived "according to the ancient faith," read devout books, and bred canary-birds. people treated him with much consideration.