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"Eh! I am a Mazeppa? Yes? Take that, then; go and look for it." Dymov snatched the spoon out of Emelyan's hand and flung it far away. Kiruha, Vassya, and Styopka ran to look for it, while Emelyan fixed an imploring and questioning look on Panteley. His face suddenly became small and wrinkled; it began twitching, and the ex-singer began to cry like a child.
Styopka was the only one who said nothing, but from his beardless face it was evident that his life had been a much better one in the past. Thinking of his father, Dymov frowned and left off eating. Sullenly from under his brows he looked round at his companions and his eye rested upon Yegorushka. "You heathen, take off your cap," he said rudely.
The little stallion shifted from one leg to another impatiently. "Semyon Alexandritch!" cried Panteley, taking off his hat. "Allow us to send Styopka! Emelyan, call out that Styopka should be sent." But now at last a man on horseback could be seen coming from the settlement.
A crowd collects on the top of the bank. At the sight of the spectators Seryozhka becomes even more excited. "I declare I am not going to do it . . ." he says, lighting a stinking cigarette and spitting on the ground. "I should like to see how you get on without me. Last year at Kostyukovo, Styopka Gulkov undertook to make a Jordan as I do. And what did it amount to it was a laughing-stock.
Of course I'm going home. My wife, I suppose, is pretty well starved by now. 'You should then, Styopushka said suddenly. He grew confused, was silent, and began to rummage in the worm-pot. 'And shall you go to the bailiff? continued Tuman, looking with some amazement at Styopka. 'What should I go to him for? I'm in arrears as it is.
"Styopka was carting dung at night, and tied the horse to an apple-tree! He twisted the reins round it, the rascal, as tightly as he could, so that the bark is rubbed off in three places. What do you think of that! I spoke to him and he stands like a post and only blinks his eyes. Hanging is too good for him." Growing calmer, he embraced Kovrin and kissed him on the cheek.
"What a business, only think!" sighed Panteley, looking towards the settlement, too, and shuddering at the morning freshness. "He has sent a man to the settlement for some papers, and he doesn't come . . . . He should have sent Styopka." "Who is that, Grandfather?" asked Yegorushka. "Varlamov." My goodness! Yegorushka jumped up quickly, getting upon his knees, and looked at the white cap.
He took something out of the pail, put it to his mouth and began chewing it. "Mates," said Styopka in amazement, "Vassya is eating a live gudgeon! Phoo!" "It's not a gudgeon, but a minnow," Vassya answered calmly, still munching. He took a fish's tail out of his mouth, looked at it caressingly, and put it back again.
'There, you see; and it's the least bit of land; all there is is the master's forest. 'And that, they say, they have sold, observed the peasant. 'There, you see. Styopka, give me a worm. Why, Styopka, are you asleep eh? Styopushka started. The peasant sat down by us. We sank into silence again. On the other bank someone was singing a song but such a mournful one.
Styopka made some answer, but it was hard to make out his words. Then he climbed out of the water and, holding the pail in both hands, forgetting to let his shirt drop, ran to the waggons. "It's full!" he shouted, breathing hard. "Give us another!" Yegorushka looked into the pail: it was full.
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