low would come galloping
up, and they'd cudgel his horse and cudgel him too. But he'd break
through, seize the one he loved, and carry her off. And his sweetheart
would love him to his heart's content! Yes, the girls in those days,
they were regular queens!'

Chapter XXXVI

Just then two men rode out of the side street into the square. One of
them was Nazarka. The other, Lukashka, sat slightly sideways on his
well-fed bay Kabarda horse which stepped lightly over the hard road
jerking its beautiful head with its fine glossy mane. The well-adjusted
gun in its cover, the pistol at his back, and the cloak rolled up
behind his saddle showed that Lukashka had not come from a peaceful
place or from one near by. The smart way in which he sat a little
sideways on his horse, the careless motion with which he touched the
horse under its belly with his whip, and especially his half-closed
black eyes, glistening as he looked proudly around him, all expressed
the conscious strength and self-confidence of youth. 'Ever seen as fine
a lad?' his eyes, looking from side to side, seemed to say. The elegant
horse with its silver ornaments and trappings, the weapons, and the
handsome Cossack himself attracted the attention of everyone in the
square. Nazarka, lean and short, was much less well dressed. As he rode
past the old men, Lukashka paused and raised his curly white sheepskin
cap above his closely cropped black head.

'Well, have you carried off many Nogay horses?' asked a lean old man
with a frowning, lowering look.

'Have you counted them, Grandad, that you ask?' replied Lukashka,
turning away.

'That's all very well, but you need not take my lad along with you,'
the old man muttered with a still darker frown.

'Just see the old devil, he knows everything,' muttered Lukashka to
himself, and a worried expression came over his face; but then,
noticing a corner where a number of Cossack girls were standing, he
turned his horse towards them.

'Good evening, girls!' he shouted in his powerful, resonant voice,
suddenly checking his horse. 'You've grown old without me, you
witches!' and he laughed.

'Good evening, Lukashka! Good evening, laddie!' the merry voices
answered. 'Have you brought much money? Buy some sweets for the girls!
... Have you come for long? True enough, it's long since we saw you....'

'Nazarka and I have just flown across to make a night of it,' replied
Lukashka, raising his whip and riding straight