r to Tsiganok quickly, and,
throwing her arms about his neck, kissed him firmly upon his lips. He
took her by the shoulders with his fingers, held her away from himself,
then shook her, and, with loud smacks, kissed her on the lips, on the
nose, on the eyes.

"Come!"

Suddenly the soldier standing nearest them staggered forward, and
opening his hands, let his gun drop. He did not stoop down to regain it,
but stood for an instant motionless, turned abruptly and, like a blind
man, walked toward the forest over the untouched snow.

"Where are you going?" called out another soldier in fright. "Halt!"

But the man continued walking through the deep snow silently and with
difficulty. Then he must have stumbled over something, for he waved his
arms and fell face downward. And there he remained lying on the snow.

"Pick up the gun, you sour-faced gray-coat, or I'll pick it up," said
Tsiganok sternly to the other soldier. "You don't know your business!"

The little lanterns began to move about busily again. Now it was the
turn of Werner and Yanson.

"Good-by, master!" called Tsiganok loudly. "We'll meet each other in the
other world, you'll see! Don't turn away from me. When you see me, bring
me some water to drink--it will be hot there for me!"

"Good-by!"

"I don't want to be hanged!" said Yanson drowsily.

Werner took him by the hand, and then the Esthonian walked a few steps
alone. But later they saw him stop and fall down in the snow. Soldiers
bent over him, lifted him up and carried him on, and he struggled
faintly in their arms. Why did he not cry? He must have forgotten even
that he had a voice.

And again the little yellow lanterns became motionless.

"And I, Musechka," said Tanya Kovalchuk mournfully, "must I go alone? We
lived together, and now--"

"Tanechka, dearest--"

But Tsiganok took her part heatedly.

Holding her by the hand, as though fearing that some one would take her
away from him, he said quickly, in a business-like manner, to Tanya:

"Ah, young lady, you can go alone! You are a pure soul--you can go alone
wherever you please! But I--I can't! A murderer!... Understand? I can't
go alone! Where are you going, you murderer? they will ask me. Why, I
even stole horses, by God! But with her it is just as if--just as if I
were with an infant, understand? Do you understand me?"

"I do. Go. Come, let me kiss you once more, Musechka."

"Kiss! Kiss each other!" urged Tsiganok. "That's a woman's