“Idonotknowforcertain，since，thoughmenwhotookanactualpartintheexpedition’sengagementshavesaidthattheyweresotheChechintzeisaviciousbrute，andnevergivesin，Imyselfknowbutlittleoftheaffair，sinceIspentmywholetimeinthereserve，andneveroncedidmycompanyadvancetotheassault。
　　No，itmerelylayaboutonthesand，andfiredatlongrange。Infact，nothingbutsandwastobeseenthereabouts；nordidweeversucceedinfindingoutwhatthefightingwasfor。True，ifapieceofcountrybegood，itisinourinteresttotakeit；butinthepresentcasethecountrywaspoorandbare，withneverariverinsight，andaclimatesohotthatallonethoughtofwasone’smortalneedofadrink。Infact，someofourfellowsdiedofthirstoutright。Moreover，inthosepartstheregrowsasortofmilletcalleddzhugar——milletwhichnotonlyhasahorribletaste，butprovesabsolutelydelusive，sincethemoreoneeatsofit，thelessonefeelsfilled。“
　　Astheex-soldiertoldmethetalecolourlesslyandreluctantly，withfrequentpausesbetweenthesentencesasthougheitherhefounditdifficulttorecalltheexperienceorhewerethinkingofsomethingelse，heneveroncelookedmestraightintheface，butkepthiseyesshamefacedlyfixedupontheground。
　　Unwieldilyandunhealthilystout，healwaysconveyedtometheimpressionofbeingchargedwithavaguediscontent，asortofcaptiousinertia。
　　“Absolutelyunfitforsettlementisthiscountry“hecontinuedasheglancedaroundhim。“Itisfitonlytodonothingin。Forthatmatter，onedoesn’tWANTtodoanythinginit，savetolivewithone’seyesbulginglikeadrunkard’s——fortheclimateistoohot，andtheplacesmellslikeachemist’sshoporahospital。“
　　Nevertheless，forthepasteightyearshadhebeenroamingthis“toohot“country，asthoughfascinated！
　　“WhynotreturntoRiazan？“Isuggested。
　　“Nothingwouldtherebethereformetodo，“herepliedthroughhisteeth，andwithanodddivisionofhiswords。
　　MyfirstencounterwithhimhadbeenattherailwaystationatArmavir，where，purpleinthefacewithexcitement，hehadbeenstampinglikeahorse，and，withdistendedeyes，hissing，or，rather，snarling，atacoupleofGreeks:
　　“I’lltearthefleshfromyourbones！“
　　Meanwhilethetwolean，withered，ragged，identicallysimilardenizensofHellashadbeenbaringtheirsharpwhiteteethatintervals，andsayingapologetically:
　　“Whathasangeredyou，sir？“
　　Finally，regardlessoftheGreeks’words，theex-soldierhadbeathisbreastlikeadrum，andshoutedinaccentsofincreasedvenom:
　　“Now，whereareyouliving？InRussia，doyousay？Thenwhoissupportingyouthere？Aha-a-a！Russia，itissaid，isagoodfoster-mother。Iexpectyousaythesame。“
　　And，lastly，hehadapproachedafat，grey-headed，bemedalledgendarme，andcomplainedtohim:
　　“EveryonecursesusbornRussians，yeteveryonecomestolivewithus——Greeks，Germans，Songs，andthelot。Andwhiletheygettheirlivelihoodhere，andcatanddrinktheirfill，theycontinuetocurseus。Ascandal，isitnot？“
　　ThethirdmemberofourpartywasamanofaboutthirtywhoworeaCossackcapoverhisleftear，andhadaCossackforelock，roundedfeatures，alargenose，adarkmoustache，andaretrousselip。Whenthevolatileyoungengineeringstudentfirstbroughthimtousandsaid，“Hereisanothermanforyou，“thenewcomerglancedatmethroughthelashesofhiselusiveeyes——thenplungedhishandsintothepocketsofhisTurkishoveralls。Justasweweredeparting，however，hewithdrewonehandfromthelefttrouserpocket，passeditslowlyoverthedarkbristlesofhisunshavenchin，andaskedinmusicaltones:
　　“DoyoucomefromRussia？“
　　“Whenceelse，Ishouldliketoknow？“snappedtheex-soldiergruffly。
　　Uponthisthenewcomertwistedhisright-handmoustachethenreplacedhishandinhispocket。Broad-shouldered，sturdy，andwell-builtthroughout，hewalkedwiththestrideofamanwhoisaccustomedtocoverlongdistances。Yetwithhimhehadbroughtneitherwalletnorgripsack，andsomehowhissupercilious，retrousseupperlipandthicklyfringedeyesirritatedme，andinclinedmetobesuspiciousof，andevenactivelytodislike，theman。
　　Suddenly，whilewewereproceedingalongthecausewaybythesideoftherivulet，heturnedtous，andsaid，ashenoddedtowardsthesportivelycoursingwater:
　　“Lookatthematchmaker！“
　　Theex-soldierhoistedhisbleachedeyebrows，andgazedaroundhimforamomentinbewilderment。Thenhewhispered:
　　“Thefool！“
　　But，formyownpart，Iconsideredthatwhatthemanhadsaidwasapposite；thattherugged，boisterouslittleriverdidindeedresemblesomefussy，light-heartedoldladywholovedtoarrangeaffairesducoeurbothforherownprivateamusementandforthepurposeofenablingotherfolktorealisethejoysofaffectionamidwhichshewasliving，andofwhichshewouldnevergrowweary，andtowhichshedesiredtointroducetherestoftheworldasspeedilyaspossible。
　　Similarly，whenwearrivedatthebarraquethismanwiththeCossackfaceglancedattherivulet，andthenatthemountainsandthesky，and，finally，appraisedthesceneinonepregnant，comprehensiveexclamationof“Slavno！“[Howsplendid！]
　　Theex-soldier，whowasengagedinriddinghimselfofhisknapsack，straightenedhimself，andaskedwithhisarmssetakimbo:
　　“WHATisitthatissosplendid？“
　　Foramomentortwothenewcomermerelyeyedthesquatfigureofhisquestioner——afigureuponwhichhungdrabshredsaslichenhangsuponastone。Thenhesaidwithasmile:
　　“Cannotyouseeforyourself？Takethatmountainthere，andthatcleftinthemountain——aretheynotgoodtolookat？“
　　Andashemovedaway，theex-soldiergapedafterhimwitharepeatedwhisperof:
　　“Thefool！“
　　Towhichpresentlyheaddedinalouder，aswellasamysterious，tone:
　　“Ihaveheardthatoccasionallytheysendfeverpatientshitherfortheirhealth。“
　　Thesameeveningsawtwosturdywomenarrivewithsupperforthecarpenters；whereupontheclatteroflabourceased，andthereforetherustlingoftheforestandthemurmuringoftherivuletbecamethemoredistinct。
　　Next，deliberately，andwithmanycoughs，theex-soldiersettoworktocollectsometwigsandchipsforthepurposeoflightingafire。Afterwhich，havingarrangedakettleovertheflames，hesaidtomesuggestively:
　　“Youtooshouldcollectsomefirewood，forinthesepartsthenightsaredarkandchilly。“
　　Isetforthinsearchofchipsamongthestoneswhichlayaroundthebarraque，and，insodoing，stumbledacrossthenewcomer，whowaslyingwithhisbodyrestingonanelbow，andhisheadonhishand，asheconnedamanuscriptspreadoutbeforehim。Asheraisedhiseyestogazevaguely，inquiringlyintomyface，Isawthatoneofhiseyeswaslargerthantheother。
　　Evidentlyhedivinedthatheinterestedme，forhesmiled。YetsotakenabackbythiswasI，thatIpassedonmywaywithoutspeaking。
　　Meanwhilethecarpenters，disposedintwocirclesaroundthebarraqueacircletoeachwoman，partookofasilentsupper。
　　Deeperanddeepergrewtheshadowofnightoverthedefile。
　　Warmerandwarmer，denseranddenser，grewtheair，untilthetwilightcausedtheslopesofthemountainstosofteninoutline，andtherockstoseemtoswellandmergewiththebluish-
　　blacknesswhichoverhungthebedofthedefile，andthesuperimposedheightstoformasingleapparentwhole，andthesceneingeneraltoresolveitselfinto，becomeunitedinto，onecompactbulk。
　　Quietlythendidtintshithertoredextinguishtheirtremulousglow——softlythereflaredup，dustedpurpleinthesunset’ssheen，thepeakofKaraDagh。Viceversa，thefoamoftherivuletnowblushedtored，and，seemingly，assuageditsvehemence——flowedwithadeeper，amorepensive，note；whilesimilarlytheforesthusheditsvoice，andappearedtostooptowardsthewaterwhileemittingevermorepowerful，intoxicatingodourstominglewiththeresinous，cloyinglysweetperfumeofourwoodfire。
　　Theex-soldiersquatteddownbeforethelittleblaze，andrearrangedsomefuelunderthekettle。
　　“Whereistheotherman？“saidhe。“Goandfetchhim。“
　　Idepartedforthepurpose，and，onmyway，heardoneofthecarpentersintheneighbourhoodofthebarraquesayinathick，unctuous，sing-songvoice。
　　“Agreatworkisitindeed！“
　　WhereafterIheardthetwowomenfalltodrawlinginlow，hungryaccents:
　　“WiththefleshI’llconquerpain；
　　Thespiritshallmylustrestrain；
　　All-supremethesoulshallreign；
　　Andcarnalviceslureinvain。“
　　True，thewomenpronouncedtheirwordsdistinctlyenough；yetalwaystheyprolongedthefinal“u“soundofthestanza’sfirstandthirdlinesuntil，asthemelodyfloatedawayintothedarkness，and，asitwere，sanktoearth，itcametoresemblethelong-drawnhowlofawolf。
　　Inanswertomyinvitationtocometosupper，thenewcomersprangtohisfeet，foldeduphismanuscript，stuffeditintooneofthepocketsofhisraggedcoat，andsaidwithasmile: