; wait till
they come from the cordon. You go, Nazarka. You're afraid! Don't be
afraid, I tell you.'

'Luke, I say, Lukashka! Tell us how you did it!' said Nazarka.

Lukashka changed his mind about going into the water just then. 'Go
quick to the cordon and I will watch. Tell the Cossacks to send out the
patrol. If the ABREKS are on this side they must be caught,' said he.

'That's what I say. They'll get off,' said Ergushov, rising. 'True,
they must be caught!'

Ergushov and Nazarka rose and, crossing themselves, started off for the
cordon--not along the riverbank but breaking their way through the
brambles to reach a path in the wood.

'Now mind, Lukashka--they may cut you down here, so you'd best keep a
sharp look-out, I tell you!'

'Go along; I know,' muttered Lukashka; and having examined his gun
again he sat down behind the log.

He remained alone and sat gazing at the shallows and listening for the
Cossacks; but it was some distance to the cordon and he was tormented
by impatience. He kept thinking that the other ABREKS who were with the
one he had killed would escape. He was vexed with the ABREKS who were
going to escape just as he had been with the boar that had escaped the
evening before. He glanced round and at the opposite bank, expecting
every moment to see a man, and having arranged his gun-rest he was
ready to fire. The idea that he might himself be killed never entered
his head.

Chapter IX

It was growing light. The Chechen's body which was gently rocking in
the shallow water was now clearly visible. Suddenly the reeds rustled
not far from Luke and he heard steps and saw the feathery tops of the
reeds moving. He set his gun at full cock and muttered: 'In the name of
the Father and of the Son,' but when the cock clicked the sound of
steps ceased.

'Hallo, Cossacks! Don't kill your Daddy!' said a deep bass voice
calmly; and moving the reeds apart Daddy Eroshka came up close to Luke.

'I very nearly killed you, by God I did!' said Lukashka.

'What have you shot?' asked the old man.

His sonorous voice resounded through the wood and downward along the
river, suddenly dispelling the mysterious quiet of night around the
Cossack. It was as if everything had suddenly become lighter and more
distinct.

'There now. Uncle, you have not seen anything, but I've killed a
beast,' said Lukashka, uncocking his gun and getting up with unnatural
calmness.

The old man was staring intently at t