第51章

Untilnow，aboutadozenmenhadbeenstandingonthebanktoobservewhatwastoward，butassoonasthelittlemuzhik’swordsrangoutthesemenrecoiled，and，withjostlings，begantovent，insubdued，uneasytones，criesof:

“Whowasitfirststruckhim？“

“Thiswillloseusourjobs。“

“Itwasthesoldierthatfirststartedtheracket。“

“Yes，thatistrue。“

“Letusgoanddenouncehim。“

Asfortheyoungfellowintheredshirt，hecried:

“Iswearonmyhonour，mates，thattheaffairwasonlyaquarrel。“

“Tohitamanwithabludgeonismorethanaquarrel。“

“Itwasastonethatwasused，notabludgeon。“

“Thesoldieroughtto——“

Awoman’shigh-pitchedvoicebrokeinwithaplaintivecryof:

“GoodLord！Alwayssomethinghappenstous！“

Asformyself，IfeltstunnedandhurtasIseatedmyselfuponthestepping-stones；andthougheverythingwasplaintomysight，nothingwasplaintomyunderstanding，whileinmybreastastrangeemptinesswaspresent，savethattheclamourofthebystandersarousedmetoacertainlongingtooutshoutthemall，tosendforthmyvoiceintothenightlikethevoiceofabrazentrumpet。

Presentlytwoothermenapproachedus。Inthehandofthefirstwasatorchwhichhekeptwavingtoandfrotopreventitsbeingextinguished，andwhence，therefore，hekeptstrewingshowersofgoldensparks。Afair-headedlittlefellow，hehadabodyasthinasapikewhenstandingonitstail，agrey，stonelikecountenancethatwasdeeplysunkenbetweentheshoulders，amouthperpetuallyhalf-agape，andround，owlish-lookingeyes。

AsheapproachedthecorpsehebentforwardwithonehanduponhiskneetothrowthemorelightuponSilantiev’sbruisedheadandbody。Thatheadwasrestingturnedupontheshoulder，andnolongercouldIrecognisetheoncehandsomeCossackface，soburiedwasthejauntyforelockunderaclotofblack-redmud，andconcealedbyaswellingwhichhadmadeitsappearanceabovetheleftear。Also，sincethemouthandmoustachehadbeenbashedasidetheteethlaybaredinatwisted，trulyhorriblesmile，while，asthemosthorriblepointofall，thelefteyewashangingfromitssocket，and，becomehideouslylarge，gazing，seemingly，attheinnerpocketoftheflapofSilantiev’spea-

jacket，whencetherewasprotrudingawhiteedgingofpaper。

Slowlythetorchholderdescribedacircleoffireintheair，andtherebysprinkledafurthershowerofsparksoverthepoormutilatedface，withitsstreaksofshiningblood。Thenhemutteredwithasmackofthelips:

“Youcanseeforyourselveswhothemanis。“

AshespokeafewmoresparksdescendeduponSilantiev’sscalp

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