CHAPTER 27

________________________________________________
Just before the vintage Lukashka came on horseback to see Olenin.

He looked more dashing than ever. 'Well? Are you getting married?'

asked Olenin, greeting him merrily.

Lukashka gave no direct reply.

'There, I've exchanged your horse across the river. This is a

horse! A Kabarda horse from the Lov stud. I know horses.'

They examined the new horse and made him caracole about the yard.

The horse really was an exceptionally fine one, a broad and long

gelding, with glossy coat, thick silky tail, and the soft fine

mane and crest of a thoroughbred. He was so well fed that 'you

might go to sleep on his back' as Lukashka expressed it. His

hoofs, eyes, teeth, were exquisitely shaped and sharply outlined,

as one only finds them in very pure-bred horses. Olenin could not

help admiring the horse, he had not yet met with such a beauty in

the Caucasus.

'And how it goes!' said Lukashka, patting its neck. 'What a step!

And so clever--he simply runs after his master.'

'Did you have to add much to make the exchange?' asked Olenin.

'I did not count it,' answered Lukashka with a smile. 'I got him

from a kunak.'

'A wonderfully beautiful horse! What would you take for it?' asked

Olenin.

'I have been offered a hundred and fifty rubles for it, but I'll

give it you for nothing,' said Lukashka, merrily. 'Only say the

word and it's yours. I'll unsaddle it and you may take it. Only

give me some sort of a horse for my duties.'

'No, on no account.'

'Well then, here is a dagger I've brought you,' said Lukashka,

unfastening his girdle and taking out one of the two daggers which

hung from it. 'I got it from across the river.'

'Oh, thank you!'

'And mother has promised to bring you some grapes herself.'

'That's quite unnecessary. We'll balance up some day. You see I

don't offer you any money for the dagger!'

'How could you? We are kunaks. It's just the same as when Girey

Khan across the river took me into his home and said,

"Choose what you like!" So I took this sword. It's our custom.'

They went into the hut and had a drink.

'Are you staying here awhile?' asked Olenin.

'No, I have come to say good-bye. They are sending me from the

cordon to a company beyond the Terek. I am going to-night with my

comrade Nazarka.'

'And when is the wedding to be?'

'I shall be coming back for the betrothal, and then I shall return

to the company again,' Lukashka replied reluctantly.

'What, and see nothing of your betrothed?'

'Just so--what is the good of looking at her? When you go on

campaign ask in our company for Lukashka the Broad. But what a lot

of boars there are in our parts! I've killed two. I'll take you.'

'Well, good-bye! Christ save you.'

Lukashka mounted his horse, and without calling on Maryanka, rode

caracoling down the street, where Nazarka was already awaiting

him.

'I say, shan't we call round?' asked Nazarka, winking in the

direction of Yamka's house.

'That's a good one!' said Lukashka. 'Here, take my horse to her

and if I don't come soon give him some hay. I shall reach the

company by the morning anyway.'

'Hasn't the cadet given you anything more?'

'I am thankful to have paid him back with a dagger--he was going

to ask for the horse,' said Lukashka, dismounting and handing over

the horse to Nazarka.

He darted into the yard past Olenin's very window, and came up to

the window of the cornet's hut. It was already quite dark.

Maryanka, wearing only her smock, was combing her hair preparing

for bed.

'It's I--' whispered the Cossack.

Maryanka's look was severely indifferent, but her face suddenly

brightened up when she heard her name. She opened the window and

leant out, frightened and joyous.

'What--what do you want?' she said.

'Open!' uttered Lukashka. 'Let me in for a minute. I am so sick of

waiting! It's awful!'

He took hold of her head through the window and kissed her.

'Really, do open!'

'Why do you talk nonsense? I've told you I won't! Have you come

for long?'

He did not answer but went on kissing her, and she did not ask

again.

'There, through the window one can't even hug you properly,' said

Lukashka.

'Maryanka dear!' came the voice of her mother, 'who is that with

you?'

Lukashka took off his cap, which might have been seen, and

crouched down by the window.

'Go, be quick!' whispered Maryanka.

'Lukashka called round,' she answered; 'he was asking for Daddy.'

'Well then send him here!'

'He's gone; said he was in a hurry.'

In fact, Lukashka, stooping, as with big strides he passed under

the windows, ran out through the yard and towards Yamka's house

unseen by anyone but Olenin. After drinking two bowls of chikhir

he and Nazarka rode away to the outpost. The night was warm, dark,

and calm. They rode in silence, only the footfall of their horses

was heard. Lukashka started a song about the Cossack, Mingal, but

stopped before he had finished the first verse, and after a pause,

turning to Nazarka, said:

'I say, she wouldn't let me in!'

'Oh?' rejoined Nazarka. 'I knew she wouldn't. D'you know what

Yamka told me? The cadet has begun going to their house. Daddy

Eroshka brags that he got a gun from the cadet for getting him

Maryanka.'

'He lies, the old devil!' said Lukashka, angrily. 'She's not such

a girl. If he does not look out I'll wallop that old devil's

sides,' and he began his favourite song:

'From the village of Izmaylov,

From the master's favourite garden,

Once escaped a keen-eyed falcon.

Soon after him a huntsman came a-riding,

And he beckoned to the falcon that had strayed,

But the bright-eyed bird thus answered:

"In gold cage you could not keep me,

On your hand you could not hold me,

So now I fly to blue seas far away.

There a white swan I will kill,

Of sweet swan-flesh have my fill."'

Read next: CHAPTER 28

Read previous: CHAPTER 26

Table of content of Cossacks


GO TO TOP OF SCREEN

Post your review
Your review will be placed after the table of content of this book