d of folk
parting. And invariably the one person in the case grieves the other.
Why should that be?"

Emitting a cloud of grey smoke, the ex-soldier replied thoughtfully:

"Yes, I know I did right; but that right was done only at a great cost."

"And always that too is the case," Vasili agreed. Then he added:

"Generally such fortune falls to the lot of people who have tender
consciences. He who values himself also values his fellows; but,
unfortunately a man all too seldom values even himself."

"To whom are you referring? To you and myself?"

"To our Russian folk in general."

"Then you cannot have very much respect for Russia." The ex-soldier's
tone had taken on a curious note. He seemed to be feeling both
astonished at and grieved for his companion.

The other, however, did not reply; and after a few moments the
ex-soldier softly concluded:

"So now you have heard my story."

By this time the carpenters had ceased singing around the barraque, and
let their fire die down until quivering on the wall of the edifice
there was only a fiery-red patch, a patch barely sufficient to render
visible the shadows of the rocks; while beside the fire there was
seated only a tall figure with a black beard which had, grasped in its
hands, a heavy cudgel, and, lying near its right foot, an axe. The
figure was that of a watchman set by the carpenters to keep an eye upon
ourselves, the appointed watchmen; though the fact in no way offended
us.

Over the defile, in a ragged strip of sky, there were gleaming stars,
while the rivulet was bubbling and purling, and from the obscurity of
the forest there kept coming to our ears, now the cautious, rustling
tread of some night animal, and now the mournful cry of an owl, until
all nature seemed to be instinct with a secret vitality the sweet
breath of which kept moving the heart to hunger insatiably for the
beautiful.

Also, as I lay listening to the voice of the ex-soldier, a voice
reminiscent of a distant tambourine, and to Vasili's pensive questions,
I conceived a liking for the men, and began to detect that in their
relations there was dawning something good and human. At the same time,
the effect of some of Vasili's dicta on Russia was to arouse in me
mingled feelings which impelled me at once to argue with him and to
induce him to speak at greater length, with more clarity, on the
subject of our mutual fatherland. Hence always I have loved that night
for the visions which