The Cossacks: A Tale of 1852

hing, and having learnt that the cadet would pay for the lodg

d having lit a cigarette sat down by the window that looked onto the street. It was cooler. The slanting shadow of the hut with its ornamental gables fell across the dusty road and even bent upwards at the base of the wall of the house opposite. The steep reed-

t fresh and clear. He thought of the campaign and of past dangers. He remembered that he had faced them no worse than other men, and that he was accepted as a comrade among valiant Caucasians. His Moscow recollections were left behind Heaven knows how far! The old life was wiped out and a quite new life had begun in which there were as yet no mistakes. Here as a new man among new men he could gain a new and good reputation. He was conscious of a youthful and unreasoning joy of life. Looking now out of the window

Cossacks who had been spinning their tops under the window shouted, looking towards the side street.

his gun on his shoulder and some pheasants hanging at

looking up at the windows on both sides of the street. 'I have drunk the bi

r, but was still more struck by the expressive, intelligent face

Cossack!' he cal

ked into the wi

he said, lifting his littl

ied Olenin. 'What is it the yo

like it. Let them joke about their old daddy,' he said with those firm musical intona

t where did you kill

en

ants which were hanging with their heads tucked into his belt and staining his coat with blood. 'Haven't you seen any?' he asked. 'T

e campaign I kil

man sarcastically. 'And are you

? I like

ump! We shall be KUNAKS

os

enin. 'We'll have

showed that he liked the cadet. He had seen at once that he could get free drinks

s, and shoulders were quite exceptionally large and prominent. There were deep scars on his head under the short-cropped hair. His thick sinewy neck was covered with deep intersecting folds like a bull's. His horny hands were bruised and scratched. He stepped lightly and easily over the threshold, unslung his gun and placed it i

aching Olenin held out his thick brown hand. 'Koshkildy,' said he; That

w,' answered Olen

say "Allah rasi bo sun," that is, "God save you." That's the way, my dear fellow, and not "Koshkildy." But I'll teach you all about it. We had a fellow here

ed Olenin, who was becoming more

and teach you to fish

, if you like-even that

ld man laughed. 'I'll

e added i

"Karga" mean?

ord. Karga, Karga. I say it just so; in fun I mean. Well, lad, won't you order the chikhir? You've got

. Here Vanyusha! Please get some chikhi

ld be only too glad.... Our people are anathema people; stupid people,' Daddy Eroshka continued in a confidential tone after Vanyusha had gone out. 'They do not look upon you as on men, you are worse than a Tartar in their eyes. "Worldly Russians" they say. But as for me, though you are a soldi

ed the young man affecti