arin put his head out of the window, and they
shot him, and he fell down into the road; and when his wife looked out
to see what had become of her lord, they shot her too. When they were
certain that they were both dead they went off to the house of Gavrillo,
intending to shoot him also. He, however, hearing the shots, guessed
that something wrong was happening, and, mounting his horse, galloped
away as hard as he could go. The mujicks saw him, and followed. They
thirsted for his blood; and as they well knew that no mercy would be
shown them, they were determined to have it. They followed him across
fields, and there they kept up with him. Then he reached a plain, a
wild heath, and he distanced them, but at the other side of the heath
was a wood--he must either skirt it or go through it. Fear drove him
through it, and they rapidly gained on him again. They now were almost
sure that they should catch him, but as they got to the farther edge of
the wood they saw him tearing along, his horse all foam, and his clothes
in shreds, and his hat knocked off, a quarter of a verst or less before
them. Shots were fired at him, but the bullets missed. A broad and
rapid river was before him. They thought that they should now certainly
overtake him, and already they fancied their revenge secure, when he
reached the bank. He hesitated not a moment. He heard the infuriated
mujicks behind him--their cries of rage and fierce threats--and saw the
broad rapid stream before him. Death from behind was certain. The
water might float him--he urged in his horse--the animal was strong and
fearless. Bravely it swam on, encouraged by its master's voice. Shot
after shot was fired at him--still he held on. He was mounting the one
bank when his pursuers reached the other, uttering cries of disappointed
hate. He shook his clenched fist at them, and galloped on. He did not
stop nor think himself safe till he had reached the nearest town. He
there gave notice of what had occurred, and the governor sent off for
troops to punish the rebels. The mujicks, meantime, with shouts of
vengeance, went back to his house. His wife and children were within,
and a hoard of his ill-gotten gold. They could not fly. He had had no
time to secure his gold. The mujicks surrounded the dwelling, and
closed the doors that no one might escape. There was a shout for
faggots, dried branches, logs of wood. They were brought, they were
piled up round the h