ks were going. Olenin understood that they were
saying, 'Many abreks.'

Never having seen an engagement of that kind, and having formed an idea
of them only from Daddy Eroshka's tales, Olenin wished not to be left
behind by the Cossacks, but wanted to see it all. He admired the
Cossacks, and was on the watch, looking and listening and making his
own observations. Though he had brought his sword and a loaded gun with
him, when he noticed that the Cossacks avoided him he decided to take
no part in the action, as in his opinion his courage had already been
sufficiently proved when he was with his detachment, and also because
he was very happy.

Suddenly a shot was heard in the distance.

The cornet became excited, and began giving orders to the Cossacks as
to how they should divide and from which side they should approach. But
the Cossacks did not appear to pay any attention to these orders,
listening only to what Lukashka said and looking to him alone.
Lukashka's face and figure were expressive of calm solemnity. He put
his horse to a trot with which the others were unable to keep pace, and
screwing up his eyes kept looking ahead.

'There's a man on horseback,' he said, reining in his horse and keeping
in line with the others.

Olenin looked intently, but could not see anything. The Cossacks soon
distinguished two riders and quietly rode straight towards them.

'Are those the ABREKS?' asked Olenin.

The Cossacks did not answer his question, which appeared quite
meaningless to them. The ABREKS would have been fools to venture across
the river on horseback.

'That's friend Rodka waving to us, I do believe,' said Lukashka,
pointing to the two mounted men who were now clearly visible. 'Look,
he's coming to us.'

A few minutes later it became plain that the two horsemen were the
Cossack scouts. The corporal rode up to Lukashka.

Chapter XLI

'Are they far?' was all Lukashka said.

Just then they heard a sharp shot some thirty paces off. The corporal
smiled slightly.

'Our Gurka is having shots at them,' he said, nodding in the direction
of the shot.

Having gone a few paces farther they saw Gurka sitting behind a
sand-hillock and loading his gun. To while away the time he was
exchanging shots with the ABREKS, who were behind another sand-heap. A
bullet came whistling from their side.

The cornet was pale and grew confused. Lukashka dismounted from his
horse, threw the reins to one of the other Coss