g. Still weak from the terrible blow
which Gavryl had given him, he was overcome by the heat, and fell into
the midst of the burning mass. Fortunately, his eldest son saw him fall,
and rushing into the fire succeeded in getting hold of him and carrying
him out of it. Ivan's hair, beard, and clothing were burned entirely
off. His hands were also frightfully injured, but he seemed indifferent
to pain.

"Grief drove him crazy," the people said.

The fire was growing less, but Ivan still stood where he could see it,
and kept repeating to himself, "I should have taken," etc.

The morning after the fire the starosta (village elder) sent his son to
Ivan to tell him that the old man, his father, was dying, and wanted to
see him to bid him good-bye.

In his grief Ivan had forgotten all about his father, and could not
understand what was being said to him. In a dazed way he asked: "What
father? Whom does he want?"

The elder's son again repeated his father's message to Ivan. "Your
aged parent is at our house dying, and he wants to see you and bid you
good-bye. Won't you go now, uncle Ivan?" the boy said.

Finally Ivan understood, and followed the elder's son.

When Ivan's father was carried from the oven, he was slightly injured
by a big bunch of burning straw falling on him just as he reached the
street. To insure his safety he was removed to the elder's house, which
stood a considerable distance from his late home, and where it was not
likely that the fire would reach it.

When Ivan arrived at the elder's home he found only the latter's wife
and children, who were all seated on the brick oven. The old man was
lying on a bench holding a lighted candle in his hand (a Russian custom
when a person is dying). Hearing a noise, he turned his face toward the
door, and when he saw it was his son he tried to move. He motioned for
Ivan to come nearer, and when he did so he whispered in a trembling
voice: "Well, Ivanushka, did I not tell you before what would be the
result of this sad affair? Who set the village on fire?"

"He, he, batiushka [little father]; he did it. I caught him. He placed
the bunch of burning straw to the barn in my presence. Instead of
running after him, I should have snatched the bunch of burning straw
and throwing it on the ground have stamped it out with my feet; and then
there would have been no fire."

"Ivan," said the old man, "death is fast approaching me, and remember
that you also will have to die