the dead brave) this one was sitting on the
opposite bank among the reeds. He saw it all. Saw him laid in the skiff
and brought to the bank. He sat there till the night and wished to kill
the old man, but the others would not let him.'

Lukashka went up to the speaker, and sat down. 'Of what village?' asked
he.

'From there in the hills,' replied the scout, pointing to the misty
bluish gorge beyond the Terek. 'Do you know Suuk-su? It is about eight
miles beyond that.'

'Do you know Girey Khan in Suuk-su?' asked Lukashka, evidently proud of
the acquaintance. 'He is my kunak.'

'He is my neighbour,' answered the scout.

'He's a trump!' and Lukashka, evidently much interested, began talking
to the scout in Tartar.

Presently a Cossack captain, with the head of the village, arrived on
horseback with a suite of two Cossacks. The captain--one of the new
type of Cossack officers--wished the Cossacks 'Good health,' but no one
shouted in reply, 'Hail! Good health to your honour,' as is customary
in the Russian Army, and only a few replied with a bow. Some, and among
them Lukashka, rose and stood erect. The corporal replied that all was
well at the outposts. All this seemed ridiculous: it was as if these
Cossacks were playing at being soldiers. But these formalities soon
gave place to ordinary ways of behaviour, and the captain, who was a
smart Cossack just like the others, began speaking fluently in Tartar
to the interpreter. They filled in some document, gave it to the scout,
and received from him some money. Then they approached the body.

'Which of you is Luke Gavrilov?' asked the captain.

Lukishka took off his cap and came forward.

'I have reported your exploit to the Commander. I don't know what will
come of it. I have recommended you for a cross; you're too young to be
made a sergeant. Can you read?'

'I can't.'

'But what a fine fellow to look at!' said the captain, again playing
the commander. 'Put on your cap. Which of the Gavrilovs does he come
of? ... the Broad, eh?'

'His nephew,' replied the corporal.

'I know, I know. Well, lend a hand, help them,' he said, turning to the
Cossacks.

Lukashka's face shone with joy and seemed handsomer than usual. He
moved away from the corporal, and having put on his cap sat down beside
Olenin.

When the body had been carried to the skiff the brother Chechen
descended to the bank. The Cossacks involuntarily stepped aside to let
him pass. He jumped into the boa