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Still, they will get her for Lukashka, because he is the best Cossack in the village, a brave, who has killed an abrek and will be rewarded with a cross. 'But how about this? When I was walking up and down the yard last night, I saw my landlord's daughter and some Cossack kissing, said Olenin. 'You're pretending! cried the old man, stopping. 'On my word, said Olenin.
The dead man's brother, tall and well shaped with a short cropped beard which was dyed red, despite his very tattered coat and cap was calm and majestic as a king. His face was very like that of the dead abrek.
A royal welcome was accorded them. His lavish hospitality embraced everybody; not only the travellers but their attendants. The abrek, the drink of the country, was freely circulated among the people, and distributed even to the porters. Biselli, it was soon discovered, owned almost everything in the village, and lorded it over the entire neighbourhood.
He called to his dog who had run away to follow some animal, and his voice came back as in a desert. And suddenly he was seized with a terrible sense of weirdness. He grew frightened. He remembered the abreks and the murders he had been told about, and he expected every moment that an abrek would spring from behind every bush and he would have to defend his life and die, or be a coward.
A little way off it stopped on a sand-bank, and from behind it something large that rocked in the water came into view. 'What did you shoot? Why don't you speak? insisted the Cossacks. 'Abreks, I tell you! said Lukashka. 'Don't humbug! Did the gun go off? ... 'I've killed an abrek, that's what I fired at, muttered Lukashka in a voice choked by emotion, as he jumped to his feet.
The group consisted of several women and girls and one old Cossack man. They were talking about the abrek who had been killed. The Cossack was narrating and the women questioning him. 'I expect he'll get a handsome reward, said one of the women. 'Of course. It's said that they'll send him a cross. 'Mosev did try to wrong him.
I don't like that! Oh, how I dislike it! Why injure a beast? You fool, you fool! Or one thinks, "Maybe an abrek has killed some silly little Cossack." All this passes through one's mind. And once as I sat watching by the river I saw a cradle floating down. It was sound except for one corner which was broken off. Thoughts did come that time!
'Supposing I killed an abrek all by myself! he thought, and seized his gun with a swift, unhurried movement, putting up his gun-rest, placing the gun upon it, and holding it noiselessly in position. Cocking the trigger, with bated breath he took aim, still peering out intently. 'I won't wake them, he thought. But his heart began beating so fast that he remained motionless, listening.
"Mind, Lukashka, don't you get into mischief. Well, of course, a young fellow naturally wants to cut a dash. But there's a time for everything. Well, you've captured or stolen something and killed an abrek! Well, you're a fine fellow! But now you should live quietly for a bit, or else there'll be trouble." 'Yes, I saw him a time or two in the division, he was always merry-making.
Lukashka rode up to them both, stopped his horse, and promptly uttered the usual greeting. The Nogay women were evidently relieved, and began speaking to him quite freely as to a brother. 'Ay ay, kop abrek! they said plaintively, pointing in the direction in which the Cossacks were going. Olenin understood that they were saying, 'Many abreks.
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