comrade. When the hour comes, everything must be ready. Take out the
plank and lower it. Do you see the sentry. Spring on his shoulder and
throttle him so that he does not stir ... it serves him right. Don't
sentence me, kind sirs; I have not killed Anjuta. Ask her herself."

At last he fell into a light slumber, and when he awoke he was calmer.
"Have I frightened you, my dovelet? Ah, I am very ill, Anjuta; you have
much trouble. But wait; when I am well again we will have a jolly life."

But weeks passed, and Ivan did not get up. He was quite emaciated, and
his dark eyes were sunken still more deeply in their sockets, under his
bushy white eye-brows. Fortunately the winter was mild, and there was
not much snow.

"Anjuta, have we still bread and meal?"

"There is only a hard crust left for you to-morrow, and the meal too is
nearly finished."

"I will go to-morrow to the village," said the old man. "I will send
Andryushka Lasaref for the skins which are lying ready; the sledge can
go all the way."

The next day he took a tender adieu of the child and started; but half
an hour afterwards he knocked at the door and threw himself on the bed
in a state of complete exhaustion.

"I can't do it, Anjuta, really I can't," he said as though in apology.
"There is no more marrow in my bones. If I can't stand up to-morrow, you
must go. You are not afraid?"

"No, Grandfather ... only a little of the bears."

"The bears are now asleep in their holes, you little stupid, and suck
their paws. And there are no wolves to be heard just now. There is
nothing more for them here; therefore they are gone near the villages;
otherwise we would hear them howling every night."

The old man had tears in his eyes when Anjuta got herself ready next
morning for the journey.

"Such a tiny thing, quite alone in the deep forest!" he murmured to
himself.

"Tell Lasaref to bring a sack of meal, two large loaves of bread, and
some barley, and say that Grandfather has all kinds of fine things ready
for him. But mind you don't try to come home by night, Anjuta. Stay with
Andryushka for the night, and he will bring you in the sledge in the
morning. Tell him I am ill--the bear has badly mauled Ivan the Runaway.
Do you understand?"

"Yes; but why do you cry, Grandfather?"

"It is only foolishness.... I have grown quite weak. Now go, and God
preserve you! And listen, Anjuta; whenever you feel frightened, you must
sing."

The child started and th