ea is not the
Cossack's drink."

I willingly granted the request. The host took from the shelf of a
closet a bottle and a glass, and going up to him, looking him full in
the face, said:

"Ah! ah! here you are again in our district. Whence has God brought
you?"

My guide winked in the most significant fashion and replied by the
well-know proverb: "'The sparrow was in the orchard eating flax-seed;
the grandmother threw a stone at it, and missed.' And you? how are all
yours?"

"How are we?" said the host, and continuing in proverbs: "'They began to
ring the bell for Vespers, but the priest's wife forbade it. The priest
went visiting, and the devils are in the graveyard.'"

"Be silent, uncle," said the vagabond.

"'When there shall be rain, there will be mushrooms, and when there
shall be mushrooms, there will be a basket to put them in. Put thy
hatchet behind thy back, the forest guard is out walking.'"

"To your lordship's health." Taking the glass, he made the sign of the
cross, and at one gulp swallowed his brandy. He then saluted me and
remounted to his loft. I did not understand a word of this thief's
slang. It was only in the sequel that I learned that they spoke of
the affairs of the army of the Iaik, which had just been reduced to
obedience after the revolt of 1772. Saveliitch listened and glanced
suspiciously from host to guide.

The species of inn where we were sheltered was in the very heart of the
steppes, far from the road and every inhabited spot, and looked very
much like a rendezvous of robbers. But to set off again on our journey
was impossible. The disgust of Saveliitch amused not a little; however,
he finally decided to mount upon the roof of the stove, the ordinary bed
of the Russian peasant. The warm bricks of the hot-air chamber of the
stove diffused a grateful heat, and soon the old man and the host, who
had laid himself on the floor, were snoring. I stretched myself upon
a bench, and slept like a dead. Awaking next morning quite late, I saw
that the hurricane was over. The sun shone out, the snow extended in the
distance like a sheet of dazzling white damask. The horses were already
at the door, harnessed. I paid our host, who asked so small a pittance
that even Saveliitch did not, as usual, haggle over the price. His
suspicions of the evening before had entirely disappeared. I called the
guide to thank him for the service he had done us, and told Saveliitch
to give him half a rouble. Sav