Chapter 36

Just then two men rode out of the side street into the square. One
of them was Nazarka. The other, Lukashka, sat slightly sideways on
his well-fed bay Kabarda horse which stepped lightly over the hard
road jerking its beautiful head with its fine glossy mane. The
well-adjusted gun in its cover, the pistol at his back, and the
cloak rolled up behind his saddle showed that Lukashka had not
come from a peaceful place or from one near by. The smart way in
which he sat a little sideways on his horse, the careless motion
with which he touched the horse under its belly with his whip, and
especially his half-closed black eyes, glistening as he looked
proudly around him, all expressed the conscious strength and self-
confidence of youth. 'Ever seen as fine a lad?' his eyes, looking
from side to side, seemed to say. The elegant horse with its
silver ornaments and trappings, the weapons, and the handsome
Cossack himself attracted the attention of everyone in the square.
Nazarka, lean and short, was much less well dressed. As he rode
past the old men, Lukashka paused and raised his curly white
sheepskin cap above his closely cropped black head.

'Well, have you carried off many Nogay horses?' asked a lean old
man with a frowning, lowering look.

'Have you counted them, Grandad, that you ask?' replied Lukashka,
turning away.

'That's all very well, but you need not take my lad along with
you,' the old man muttered with a still darker frown.

'Just see the old devil, he knows everything,' muttered Lukashka
to himself, and a worried expression came over his face; but then,
noticing a corner where a number of Cossack girls were standing,
he turned his horse towards them.

'Good evening, girls!' he shouted in his powerful, resonant voice,
suddenly checking his horse. 'You've grown old without me, you
witches!' and he laughed.

'Good evening, Lukashka! Good evening, laddie!' the merry voices
answered. 'Have you brought much money? Buy some sweets for the
girls! ... Have you come for long? True enough, it's long since we
saw you....'

'Nazarka and I have just flown across to make a night of it,'
replied Lukashka, raising his whip and riding straight at the
girls.

'Why, Maryanka has quite forgotten you,' said Ustenka, nudging
Maryanka with her elbow and breaking into a shrill laugh.

Maryanka moved away from the horse and throwing back her head
calmly looked at the Cossack with her large sparkling eyes.

'True enough, you have not been home for a long time! Why are you
trampling us under your horse?' she remarked dryly, and turned
away.

Lukashka had appeared particularly merry. His face shone with
audacity and joy. Obviously staggered by Maryanka's