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The pungent odor of the fresh tar blended with the stifling smell of decaying leaves dizzied the newcomers. "This fellow is Yakob," said Rybin, pointing to the tall man, "and that one Ignaty. Well, how's your son?" "He's in prison," the mother sighed. "In prison again? He likes it, I suppose."
This again confused and vexed Ignaty. "Don't be uneasy!" Nikolay soothed him. "You won't have to bind peasants. You trust us." "Well, well," said Ignaty, set at ease, smiling at Nikolay with confidence and merriness in his eyes. "If you could get me to the factory. There, they say, the fellows are mighty smart."
Ignaty stopped humming; Yakob took the staff from the mother's hand, and said: "Sit down, little mother." "Yes, why don't you sit down?" Rybin extended the invitation to Sofya. She sat down on the stump of a tree, scrutinizing Rybin seriously and attentively. "When did they take him?" asked Rybin, sitting down opposite the mother, and shaking his head. "You've bad luck, Nilovna." "Oh, well!"
I'm a human being," Sofya retorted with a quiet laugh. "That may be. It's hard for me to believe it; but they say it happens. They say that a dog was once a wolf. Now I'll hide these books." Ignaty and Yakob walked up to him, and both stretched out their hands. "Give us some." "Are they all the same?" Rybin asked of Sofya. "No, they're different. There's a newspaper here, too." "Oh!"
He who loves does not insult, no matter what he says." Ignaty drew a deep breath, raised his head, smiled satirically, and closing his eyes said with a scowl: "Here it says: 'The peasant has ceased to be a human being. Of course he has." Over his simple, open face glided a shadow of offense.
'Look out, boys, says he, 'they're coming on you." He laughed softly, wiped his face with the flap of his coat, and continued: "Well, they can't stun Uncle Mikhail even with a hammer. At once he says to me, 'Ignaty, run away to the city, quick! You remember the elderly woman. And he himself writes a note. 'There, go! Good-by, brother. He pushed me in the back. I flung out of the hut.
"I remember." But Ignaty was still distrustful of Nikolay's memory, and reiterated all the instructions, words, and signs, and finally extended his hand to him, saying: "That's all now. Good-by, comrade. Give my regards to them. I'm alive and strong. The people there are good you'll see." He cast a satisfied glance down at himself, stroked the overcoat, and asked the mother, "Shall I go?"
He drew a wry face, his lips trembled, and his eyes reddened. After a pause, during which he regarded the basin of black water, he whispered softly: "I don't even know how to thank you!" Then they sat down to the table to drink tea. And Ignaty soberly began: "I was the distributor of literature, a very strong fellow at walking. Uncle Mikhail gave me the job.
"Ignaty," he said, "let's have our tea. We do housekeeping here by turns. To-day Ignaty provides us with food and drink." "To-day I'd be glad to yield my turn," remarked Ignaty, gathering up pieces of wood and branches for an open-air fire. "We're all interested in our guests," said Yefim, sitting down by Sofya's side. "I'll help you," said Yakob softly.
The wood pile blazed up; everything round about trembled and shook; the scorched shadows flung themselves into the woods in fright. The round face of Ignaty with its inflated cheeks shone over the fire. The flames died down, and the air began to smell of smoke.
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