him on,' said the old woman. 'It seems you have been
spreeing at Yamka's all the time. I went out in the night to see the
cattle, and I think it was your voice I heard singing songs.'

Lukashka did not reply, but went out into the passage, threw the bags
over his shoulder, tucked up the skirts of his coat, took his musket,
and then stopped for a moment on the threshold.

'Good-bye, mother!' he said as he closed the gate behind him. 'Send me
a small barrel with Nazarka. I promised it to the lads, and he'll call
for it.'

'May Christ keep you, Lukashka. God be with you! I'll send you some,
some from the new barrel,' said the old woman, going to the fence: 'But
listen,' she added, leaning over the fence.

The Cossack stopped.

'You've been making merry here; well, that's all right. Why should not
a young man amuse himself? God has sent you luck and that's good. But
now look out and mind, my son. Don't you go and get into mischief.
Above all, satisfy your superiors: one has to! And I will sell the wine
and find money for a horse and will arrange a match with the girl for
you.'

'All right, all right!' answered her son, frowning.

His deaf sister shouted to attract his attention. She pointed to her
head and the palm of her hand, to indicate the shaved head of a
Chechen. Then she frowned, and pretending to aim with a gun, she
shrieked and began rapidly humming and shaking her head. This meant
that Lukashka should kill another Chechen.

Lukashka understood. He smiled, and shifting the gun at his back under
his cloak stepped lightly and rapidly, and soon disappeared in the
thick mist.

The old woman, having stood a little while at the gate, returned
silently to the hut and immediately began working.

Chapter XVIII

Lukasha returned to the cordon and at the same time Daddy Eroshka
whistled to his dogs and, climbing over his wattle fence, went to
Olenin's lodging, passing by the back of the houses (he disliked
meeting women before going out hunting or shooting). He found Olenin
still asleep, and even Vanyusha, though awake, was still in bed and
looking round the room considering whether it was not time to get up,
when Daddy Eroshka, gun on shoulder and in full hunter's trappings,
opened the door.

'A cudgel!' he shouted in his deep voice. 'An alarm! The Chechens are
upon us! Ivan! get the samovar ready for your master, and get up
yourself--quick,' cried the old man. 'That's our way, my good man! Why
even