RED DON OK WHITE 67

" What ? " Gregor let the cigarette drop from his hand.

" It appears he was taken prisoner, and not killed after all.
He's come back with clothes and possessions to him, believe
it or not! He brought it on two wagons ! " the old man lied,
bragging as though Stepan were a relative. " He fetched
Aksinia back from Yagodnoe, and then went off to the army.
They've given him a good job ; he's a storekeeper at
Kazanska or somewhere."

" How are your grandchildren ? " Gregor turned the
conversation in another direction.

" Oho, they're fine, son! You should send them a
present."

" Send them presents from the front t " Gregor sighed
mournfully, but his thoughts were with Aksinia and Stepan.

" You haven't a spare rifle, have you ? "

" What do you want it for ? "

" For home. To keep away the animals and strangers.
Just in case. I've got a whole box of cartridges. I took it
when I was carting ammunition."

" Take a rifle out of the wagon. We've got plenty of that
kind of present," Gregor smiled gloomily. " Well, now go
to sleep. I've got to make a round of the pickets."

§4
Next morning part of the regiment, Gregorys squadron
among them, was shifted from the village. Gregor departed
confident that he had upset his father, and that the old man
would go back with empty hands. But, after seeing the
cossacks off, Pantaleimon went as though he were the master
into the granary, took horse-collars and harness down from
the pegs, and carried them to his wagon. The mistress of
the hut followed him, weeping and shouting and clinging to
his shoulder:
" My father ! My dear ! Aren't you afraid of a sin ? What
are you hurting orphans for ? Give me back the collars.
Give me them for the love of God ! "
" Now, now; you leave God out of it! " Pantaleimon
pushed her off. "I expect your husband would take things
from us. I know your commissars 1 Wbat's yours is mine*
so shut up ! "