THE INVADERS.
THE WOOD-CUTTING EXPEDITION.
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
LOST ON THE STEPPE; OR, THE SNOWSTORM.
POLIKUSHKA.
KHOLSTOMÍR.
I.
On the 24th of July, Captain Khlopof in epaulets and cap—a styleof dress in which I had not seen him since my arrival in theCaucasus—entered the low door of my earth-hut.
"I'm just from the colonel's," he said in reply to my questioning look;"to-morrow our battalion is to move."
"Where?" I asked.
"To N——. The troops have been ordered to muster at that place."
"And probably some expedition will be made from there?"
"Of course."
"In what direction, think you?"
"I don't think. I tell you all I know. Last night a Tatar from thegeneral came galloping up,—brought orders for the battalion to march,taking two days' rations. But whither, why, how long, isn't for them toask. Orders are to go—that's enough."
"Still, if they are going to take only two days' rations, it's likelythe army will not stay longer."
"That's no argument at all."
"And how is that?" I asked with astonishment.
"This is the way of it: When they went against Dargi they took a week'srations, but they spent almost a month."
"And can I go with you?" I asked, after a short silence.
"Yes, you can go; but my advice is—better not. Why run the risk?"
"No, allow me to disregard your advice. I have been spending awhole month here for this very purpose,—of having a chance to seeaction,—and you want me to let it have the go-by!"
"All right, come with us; only isn't it true that it would be betterfor you to stay behind? You could wait for us here, you could gohunting. But as to us,—God knows what will become of us!... Andthat would be first-rate," he said in such a convincing tone that itseemed to me at the first moment that it would actually be first-rate.Nevertheless, I said resolutely that I wouldn't stay behind for anything.
"And what have you to see there?" said the captain, still tryingto dissuade me. "If you want to learn how battles are fought, readMikhaïlovski Danilevski's 'Description of War,' a charming book; thereit's all admirably described,—where every corps stands, and howbattles are fought."
"On the contrary, that does not interest me," I replied.
"Well, now, how is this? It simply means that you want to see how menkill each other, doesn't it?... Here in 1832 there was a man likeyourself, not in the regular service,—a Spaniard, I think he was. He[Pg 3]went on two expeditions with us,... in a blue mantle or something ofthe sort, and so the young fellow was killed. Here, bátiu