The Guide: "...still lost on the snow-covered steppe."

While traveling by sleigh to a remote military outpost Petrusha, one of the main characters in this passage from Pushkin’s, “The Captain's Daughter”, and his servant, Savelich, become lost in a severe blizzard. The rocking of the sleigh slowly ploughing through the snow drifts, the singing of the wind, and the warmth provided by his fur coat combine to lull Petrusha into a deep sleep which is described in today’s passage.

“I was in that mental and emotional state when reality, yielding to reverie, merges with it in the unclear visions the beginning of sleep. I dreamed that the storm was still raging and that we were still lost on the snow-covered steppe. All of a sudden I saw a gateway, and I drove into the courtyard of our manor house. My first thought was that my father might be angered by my involuntary return and regard it as deliberate disobedience. Jumping down anxiously from the sleigh, I see my mother. She is coming out to meet me, a look of deep grief on her face. “Hush,” she says, “your father is mortally ill and wishes to say farewell to you.” I follow her fearfully into the bedroom. The room is dimly lit; around the bed are people with sad faces. I tiptoe up to the bed. Mother lifts a corner of the curtain and says, “Andrey Petrovich, Petrusha has come. He heard of your illness and turned back. Give him your blessing.” I kneel down and look at the sick man. But….instead of my father, I see a peasant with a black beard lying on the bed, looking up at me cheerfully. I turn to Mother in bewilderment and say, “What’s going on? This isn't Father. Why should I ask a peasant for his blessing?” “Never mind Petrusha,” says Mother. '“He's taking Father's place at your wedding. Kiss his hand and let him give you his blessing.” I refuse. Then the peasant jumps out of the bed, draws the ax that was tucked into his belt behind him and begins swinging it about in all directions. I want to run and I can't; the room fills with dead bodies; I stumble against the bodies and slip in pools of blood. The terrible peasant calls out to me gently, “Don't be frightened. Come and receive my blessings.” Horror and bewilderment overwhelm me. At that moment I awoke.”

                                                    Apparel For The Enlightened Reader