He was silent, his teeth clenched, and because of his excitement the osier-twigs snapped under his fingers.

“The women are bleaching their linen at this time.”

The horse sighed audibly and grew restive. Wrapped in the darkness, it looked uglier and more pitiable than ever. Jig-Leg looked at it and spat into the fire.

“And the poultry is at large now…there are geese in the puddles.…”

“How long will it take you to dry up, you devil!” Jig-Leg asked savagely.

“It’s God’s truth.…Don’t be angry at me, Stepan. To the devil with her. Really!”

“Did you have any grub today?” cried Jig-Leg.

“No,” answered Hopeful, abashed and frightened by his comrade’s shout.

“Then, deuce take you, you may starve here, for all I care.”

Hopeful looked at him silently, while he, collecting the osier-twigs into a heap, tied them up into a sheaf, and snorted angrily. The fire threw a reflection on his whiskered face, and it looked red and angry.

Hopeful turned away and heaved a deep sigh.

“Look here, I don’t care, do as you please,” said Jig-Leg angrily, in a hoarse voice. “But let me tell you this,” he went on, “if you go on that way, I’m no company for you! All right, it’s enough. I know you, that’s what…”

“You’re a queer fellow.…”

“Not another word.”

Hopeful shrank together and coughed; then when his fit of coughing was over, he said, breathing heavily:

“Why do I insist? Because it’s dangerous.”

“All right!” Jig-Leg shouted angrily.

He picked up the twigs, threw them on his shoulder, took the unfinished basket under his arm, and rose to his feet.

Hopeful also rose, looked at his comrade, and quietly went over to the horse.

“Whoa! Whoa! Christ be with you! Don’t be afraid!” his hollow voice resounded through the ravine.

“Whoa! Whoa! Stop! Well—go now—go along. There you are, you fool!”

Jig-Leg watched his comrade fussing over the horse, unwinding the rag from its muzzle, and the thief’s mustache twitched.

“Let’s go,” he said, moving forwards.

“Let’s,” Hopeful agreed.

And, forcing their way through the bushes, they went silently along the ravine in the darkness which filled it to the brim.