,*APT] #d 

#ahfcahfc 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,! NEXT DAY ,OL59 AWOKE E>LI] ?AN USUAL1 & IMM$IATELY REMEMB]$ :AT LAY BE=E HIM1 & HE JOYFULLY RECALL$ H] KISSES1 ! PRESSURE ( H] H>D H&S1 & H] WORDS1 ',:AT :ITE H&S Y\ HAVE6' ,HE JUMP$ UP & WI%$ TO GO AT ONCE TO HIS HO/S' HUT TO ASK = !IR CONS5T TO HIS M>RIAGE ) ,M>YANKA4 ,! SUN HAD NOT YET RIS51 BUT IT SEEM$ ?AT !RE WAS AN UNUSUAL BU/LE 9 ! /REET & SIDE-/REET3 PEOPLE W]E MOV+ AB\T ON FOOT & ON HORSEBACK1 & TALK+4 ,HE ?REW ON HIS ,CIRCASSIAN COAT & HA/5$ \T 9TO ! POR*4 ,HIS HO/S W]E NOT YET UP4 ,FIVE ,COSSACKS W]E RID+ PA/ & TALK+ L\DLY TOGE!R4 ,9 FRONT RODE ,LUKA%KA ON HIS BROAD-BACK$ ,KAB>DA HORSE4 

,! ,COSSACKS W]E ALL SPEAK+ & %\T+ SO ?AT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE \T EXACTLY :AT !Y W]E SAY+4 

',RIDE TO ! ,UPP] ,PO/1' %\T$ ONE4 

',SADDLE & CAT* US UP1 BE QUICK1' SAID ANO!R4 

',IT'S NE>] ?R\< ! O!R GATE6' 

',:AT >E Y\ TALK+ AB\T8' CRI$ ,LUKA%KA4 ',WE MU/ GO ?R\< ! MIDDLE GATES1 ( C\RSE4' 

',SO WE MU/1 IT'S NE>] ?AT WAY1' SAID ONE ( ! ,COSSACKS :O WAS COV]$ ) DU/ & RODE A P]SPIR+ HORSE4 ,LUKA%KA'S FACE WAS R$ & SWOLL5 AFT] ! DR9K+ ( ! PREVI\S NI<T & HIS CAP WAS PU%$ TO ! BACK ( HIS HEAD4 ,HE WAS CALL+ \T ) AU?ORITY AS ?\< HE W]E AN (FIC]4 

',:AT IS ! MATT]8 ,:]E >E Y\ GO+8' ASK$ ,OL591 ) DIFFICULTY ATTRACT+ ! ,COSSACKS' ATT5TION4 

',WE >E (F TO CAT* ABREKS4 ,!Y'RE HID+ AMONG ! S&-DRIFTS4 ,WE >E JU/ (F1 BUT !RE >E NOT 5\< ( US YET4' 

,& ! ,COSSACKS CONT9U$ TO %\T1 MORE & MORE ( !M JO9+ AS !Y RODE D[N ! /REET4 ,IT OCCURR$ TO ,OL59 ?AT IT W\LD NOT LOOK WELL = HIM TO /AY BEH9D2 BESIDES HE ?\<T HE C\LD SOON COME BACK4 ,HE DRESS$1 LOAD$ HIS GUN ) BULLETS1 JUMP$ ONTO HIS HORSE :I* ,VANYU%A HAD SADDL$ MORE OR LESS WELL1 & OV]TOOK ! ,COSSACKS AT ! VILLAGE GATES4 ,! ,COSSACKS HAD DISM\NT$1 & FILL+ A WOOD5 B[L ) *IKHIR FROM A LITTLE CASK :I* !Y HAD BR\<T ) !M1 !Y PASS$ ! B[L R\ND TO ONE ANO!R & DRANK TO ! SUCCESS ( !IR EXP$ITION4 ,AMONG !M WAS A SM>TLY DRESS$ Y\NG CORNET1 :O HAPP5$ TO BE 9 ! VILLAGE & :O TOOK COMM& ( ! GR\P ( N9E ,COSSACKS :O HAD JO9$ = ! EXP$ITION4 ,ALL !SE ,COSSACKS W]E PRIVATES1 & AL?\< ! CORNET ASSUM$ ! AIRS ( A COMM&+ (FIC]1 !Y ONLY OBEY$ ,LUKA%KA4 ,( ,OL59 !Y TOOK NO NOTICE AT ALL1 & :5 !Y HAD ALL M\NT$ & />T$1 & ,OL59 RODE UP TO ! CORNET & BEGAN ASK+ HIM :AT WAS TAK+ PLACE1 ! CORNET1 :O WAS USUALLY QUITE FRI5DLY1 TREAT$ HIM ) M>K$ CONDESC5SION4 ,IT WAS ) GREAT DIFFICULTY ?AT ,OL59 MANAG$ TO F9D \T FROM HIM :AT WAS HAPP5+4 ,SC\TS :O HAD BE5 S5T \T TO SE>* = ABREKS HAD COME UPON SEV]AL HILLSM5 SOME SIX MILES FROM ! VILLAGE4 ,!SE ABREKS HAD TAK5 %ELT] 9 PITS & HAD FIR$ AT ! SC\TS1 DECL>+ !Y W\LD NOT SURR5D]4 ,A CORPORAL :O HAD BE5 SC\T+ ) TWO ,COSSACKS HAD REMA9$ TO WAT* ! ABREKS1 & HAD S5T ONE ,COSSACK BACK TO GET HELP4 

,! SUN WAS JU/ RIS+4 ,?REE MILES BEYOND ! VILLAGE ! /EPPE SPREAD \T & NO?+ WAS VISIBLE EXCEPT ! DRY1 MONOTON\S1 S&Y1 DISMAL PLA9 COV]$ ) ! FOOTM>KS ( CATTLE1 & H]E & !RE ) TUFTS ( WI!R$ GRASS1 ) L[ RE$S 9 ! FLATS1 & R>E1 LITTLE-TRODD5 FOOTPA?S1 & ! CAMPS ( ! NOMAD ,NOGAY TRIBE JU/ VISIBLE F> AWAY4 ,! ABS5CE ( %ADE & ! AU/]E ASPECT ( ! PLACE W]E /RIK+4 ,! SUN ALWAYS RISES & SETS R$ 9 ! /EPPE4 ,:5 IT IS W9DY :OLE HILLS ( S& >E C>RI$ BY ! W9D FROM PLACE TO PLACE4 

,:5 IT IS CALM1 AS IT WAS ?AT MORN+1 ! SIL5CE1 UN9T]RUPT$ BY ANY MOVEM5T OR S\ND1 IS PECULI>LY /RIK+4 ,?AT MORN+ 9 ! /EPPE IT WAS QUIET & DULL1 ?\< ! SUN HAD ALREADY RIS54 ,IT ALL SEEM$ SPECIALLY S(T & DESOLATE4 ,! AIR WAS HU%$1 ! FOOTFALLS & ! SNORT+ ( ! HORSES W]E ! ONLY S\NDS TO BE HE>D1 & EV5 !Y QUICKLY DI$ AWAY4 

,! M5 RODE ALMO/ SIL5TLY4 ,A ,COSSACK ALWAYS C>RIES HIS WEAPONS SO ?AT !Y NEI!R J+LE NOR RATTLE4 ,J+L+ WEAPONS >E A T]RIBLE DISGRACE TO A ,COSSACK4 ,TWO O!R ,COSSACKS FROM ! VILLAGE CAU<T ! P>TY UP & EX*ANG$ A FEW WORDS4 ,LUKA%KA'S HORSE EI!R /UMBL$ OR CAU<T ITS FOOT 9 SOME GRASS1 & BECAME RE/IVE--:I* IS A SIGN ( BAD LUCK AMONG ! ,COSSACKS1 & AT SU* A TIME WAS ( SPECIAL IMPORTANCE4 ,! O!RS EX*ANG$ GLANCES & TURN$ AWAY1 TRY+ NOT TO NOTICE :AT HAD HAPP5$4 ,LUKASKHA PULL$ AT ! RE9S1 FR[N$ /]NLY1 SET HIS TEE?1 & FL\RI%$ HIS :IP ABOVE HIS HEAD4 ,HIS GOOD ,KAB>DA HORSE1 PRANC+ FROM ONE FOOT TO ANO!R NOT KN[+ ) :I* TO />T1 SEEM$ TO WI% TO FLY UPW>DS ON W+S4 ,BUT ,LUKA%KA HIT ITS WELL-F$ SIDES ) HIS :IP ONCE1 !N AGA91 & A ?IRD TIME1 & ! HORSE1 %[+ ITS TEE? & SPREAD+ \T ITS TAIL1 SNORT$ & RE>$ & /EPP$ ON ITS H9D LEGS A FEW PACES AWAY FROM ! O!RS4 

',AH1 A GOOD /E$ ?AT6' SAID ! CORNET4 

,?AT HE SAID /E$ 9/EAD ( ,H,O,R,S,E 9DICAT$ SPECIAL PRAISE4 

',A LION ( A HORSE1' ASS5T$ ONE ( ! O!RS1 AN OLD ,COSSACK4 

,! ,COSSACKS RODE =W>D SIL5TLY1 N[ AT A FOOTPACE1 !N AT A TROT1 & !SE *ANGES W]E ! ONLY 9CID5TS ?AT 9T]RUPT$ = A MOM5T ! /ILLNESS & SOLEMNITY ( !IR MOVEM5TS4 

,RID+ ?R\< ! /EPPE = AB\T SIX MILES1 !Y PASS$ NO?+ BUT ONE ,NOGAY T5T1 PLAC$ ON A C>T & MOV+ SL[LY ALONG AT A DI/ANCE ( AB\T A MILE FROM !M4 ,A ,NOGAY FAMILY WAS MOV+ FROM ONE P>T ( ! /EPPE TO ANO!R4 ,AFT]W>DS !Y MET TWO TATT]$ ,NOGAY WOM5 ) HI< *EEKBONES1 :O ) BASKETS ON !IR BACKS W]E GA!R+ DUNG LEFT BY ! CATTLE ?AT W&]$ OV] ! /EPPE4 ,! CORNET1 :O DID NOT KN[ !IR LANGUAGE WELL1 TRI$ TO QUE/ION !M1 BUT !Y DID NOT UND]/& HIM &1 OBVI\SLY FRI<T5$1 LOOK$ AT ONE ANO!R4 

,LUKA%KA RODE UP TO !M BO?1 /OPP$ HIS HORSE1 & PROMPTLY UTT]$ ! USUAL GREET+4 ,! ,NOGAY WOM5 W]E EVID5TLY RELIEV$1 & BEGAN SPEAK+ TO HIM QUITE FREELY AS TO A BRO!R4 

',AYE--AYE1 KOP ABREK6' !Y SAID PLA9TIVELY1 PO9T+ 9 ! DIRECTION 9 :I* ! ,COSSACKS W]E GO+4 ,OL59 UND]/OOD ?AT !Y W]E SAY+1 ',MANY ABREKS4' 

,NEV] HAV+ SE5 AN 5GAGEM5T ( ?AT K9D1 & HAV+ =M$ AN IDEA ( !M ONLY FROM ,DADDY ,]O%KA'S TALES1 ,OL59 WI%$ NOT TO BE LEFT BEH9D BY ! ,COSSACKS1 BUT WANT$ TO SEE IT ALL4 ,HE ADMIR$ ! ,COSSACKS1 & WAS ON ! WAT*1 LOOK+ & LI/5+ & MAK+ HIS [N OBS]VATIONS4 ,?\< HE HAD BR\<T HIS SWORD & A LOAD$ GUN ) HIM1 :5 HE NOTIC$ ?AT ! ,COSSACKS AVOID$ HIM HE DECID$ TO TAKE NO P>T 9 ! ACTION1 AS 9 HIS OP9ION HIS C\RAGE HAD ALREADY BE5 SUFFICI5TLY PROV$ :5 HE WAS ) HIS DETA*M5T1 & ALSO BECAUSE HE WAS V]Y HAPPY4 

,SUDD5LY A %OT WAS HE>D 9 ! DI/ANCE4 

,! CORNET BECAME EXCIT$1 & BEGAN GIV+ ORD]S TO ! ,COSSACKS AS TO H[ !Y %\LD DIVIDE & FROM :I* SIDE !Y %\LD APPROA*4 ,BUT ! ,COSSACKS DID NOT APPE> TO PAY ANY ATT5TION TO !SE ORD]S1 LI/5+ ONLY TO :AT ,LUKA%KA SAID & LOOK+ TO HIM ALONE4 ,LUKA%KA'S FACE & FIGURE W]E EXPRESSIVE ( CALM SOLEMNITY4 ,HE PUT HIS HORSE TO A TROT ) :I* ! O!RS W]E UNABLE TO KEEP PACE1 & SCREW+ UP HIS EYES KEPT LOOK+ AHEAD4 

',!RE'S A MAN ON HORSEBACK1' HE SAID1 RE9+ 9 HIS HORSE & KEEP+ 9 L9E ) ! O!RS4 

,OL59 LOOK$ 9T5TLY1 BUT C\LD NOT SEE ANY?+4 ,! ,COSSACKS SOON DI/+UI%$ TWO RID]S & QUIETLY RODE /RAI<T T[>DS !M4 

',>E ?OSE ! ,A,B,R,E,K,S8' ASK$ ,OL594 

,! ,COSSACKS DID NOT ANSW] HIS QUE/ION1 :I* APPE>$ QUITE MEAN+LESS TO !M4 ,! ,A,B,R,E,K,S W\LD HAVE BE5 FOOLS TO V5TURE ACROSS ! RIV] ON HORSEBACK4 

',?AT'S FRI5D ,RODKA WAV+ TO US1 ,I DO BELIEVE1' SAID ,LUKA%KA1 PO9T+ TO ! TWO M\NT$ M5 :O W]E N[ CLE>LY VISIBLE4 ',LOOK1 HE'S COM+ TO US4' 

,A FEW M9UTES LAT] IT BECAME PLA9 ?AT ! TWO HORSEM5 W]E ! 

 ,COSSACK SC\TS4 ,! CORPORAL RODE UP TO ,LUKA%KA4 

7,S\RCE3 ,! ,COSSACKS3 ,A ,TALE ( #a#h#e#b1 BY ,LEO ,TOL/OY1 TRANSLAT$ BY ,L\ISE & ,AYLM] ,MAUDE1 PUBLI%$ #a#h#f#c47 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfb 3 ,*APT] #d -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,MAY #a#c1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #d -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/