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Updated: June 12, 2025
The rhythmical rapid thud of galloping was heard for a moment and then changed into a hollow rumble which resounded farther and farther off, re-echoing in wider and wider circles through the forest. Olenin felt as though something had snapped in his heart. He peered carefully but vainly into the green thicket and then turned to the old man.
It was already late in the night when Olenin came out of Beletski's hut following Maryanka and Ustenka. He saw in the dark street before him the gleam of the girl's white kerchief. The golden moon was descending towards the steppe. A silvery mist hung over the village. All was still; there were no lights anywhere and one heard only the receding footsteps of the young women.
Eroshka evidently did not wish to express his thought clearly. He was silent for a while. 'And what did you think? Drink! he shouted suddenly, smiling and handing Olenin some wine. 'Well, what was I saying? he continued, trying to remember. 'Yes, that's the sort of man I am. I am a hunter. There is no hunter to equal me in the whole army.
Olenin felt keenly, that night especially, that here in this village was his home, his family, all his happiness, and that he never had and never would live so happily anywhere as he did in this Cossack village. He was so fond of everybody and especially of Lukashka that night.
Olenin noticed Maryanka among the group of girls, who without exception were all handsome, and he felt vexed and hurt that he met her in such vulgar and awkward circumstances. He felt stupid and awkward, and made up his mind to do what Beletski did.
They always aim at a crowd. Now I used to keep farther away from the others and went alone, and I've never been wounded. Yet what things haven't I seen in my day? 'But you've got a bullet in your back, remarked Vanyusha, who was clearing up the room. 'That was the Cossacks fooling about, answered Eroshka. 'Cossacks? How was that? asked Olenin. 'Oh, just so. We were drinking.
Ah, dear! Man is foolish, foolish, foolish! The old man repeated this several times and then, letting his head drop, he sat thinking. Olenin also became thoughtful, and descending from the porch with his hands behind his back began pacing up and down the yard.
'Did you hear him asking about you? Lukashka raised his head. 'My godson? said Lukashka, meaning by that word the dead Chechen. 'Your godson won't rise, but the red one is the godson's brother! 'Let him thank God that he got off whole himself, replied Lukashka. 'What are you glad about? asked Olenin. 'Supposing your brother had been killed; would you be glad?
On reaching home, to Lukashka's great surprise, Olenin with his own hands led out of the shed a horse he had bought in Groznoe it was not the one he usually rode but another not a bad horse though no longer young, and gave it to Lukashka. 'Why should you give me a present? said Lukashka, 'I have not yet done anything for you. 'Really it is nothing, answered Olenin.
Olenin and Beletski were discussing how to snatch Ustenka and Maryanka out of the ring. Beletski thought that Olenin wished only to amuse himself, but Olenin was expecting his fate to be decided. He wanted at any cost to see Maryanka alone that very day and to tell her everything, and ask her whether she could and would be his wife.
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