278 THE DON FLOWS HOME
offensive the next morning. Gregor himself took command
of the third cavalry regiment, sent mounted patrols ahead,
and led the regiment swiftly towards the south, where'
according to reports, two Red Army regiments were con-
centrated in readiness for an attack on the cossacks.
Some two miles outside Kargin he was overtaken by a
courier bringing a letter from Kudynov. The letter read:
" The second Serdobsky regiment has surrendered to us.
All the soldiers have been disarmed ; twenty of them, who
resisted, have been killed. Four field-guns were surrendered
(the accursed gunners fled with the locks), more than 200
shells and nine machine-guns. We shall distribute the Red
sobers among the companies and make them fight their own
people. One thing I'd almost forgotten. Two of your com-
munist fellow-villagers, Ivan Kotliarov and Mishka
Koshevoi, as well as many Yelanska communists were
captured. They're being driven along the road to Vieshenska.
How are things going with you ? If you are in need of
cartridges send word by the courier and we'll send 500.—
Kudynov/'
Gregor read the letter hastily, but when he came to the
report of Ivan's and Mishka's capture he shouted" for his
orderly. Prokhor Zykov galloped up at once but, noticing
the expression on Gregor's face, in his alarm he even saluted :
" Ryabchikov ! Where's Ryabchikov ? " Gregor shouted
at him.
" At the end of the column/'
" Ride and fetch him here at once." "
Zykov galloped off, and a minute or two later Ryabchikov
trotted up to Gregor.
" A letter from Vieshenska ? " he asked, as he noticed the
courier at Gregor's side.
" Yes," Gregor replied. " Take over command of the
regiment and the division. I'm off/'
"Well, all right. But what's the hurry? What does
the letter say ? Who wrote ? Kudynov ? "
" The Serdobsky regiment has surrendered at Ust-
Khopersk."
" Fine ! So we still live I Going at once ? "
" At once/'