“Eh, you fool, always lying!” exclaimed Lukáshka from the tower to Nazárka.
Nazárka was immediately silenced.
“It must be watched. I’ll watch,” answered the old man to the great delight of all the Cossacks. “But have you seen any boars?”
“Watching for boars, are you?” said the corporal, bending forward and scratching his back with both hands, very pleased at the chance of some distraction. “It’s abreks one has to hunt here and not boars! You’ve not heard anything, Uncle, have you?” he added, needlessly screwing up his eyes and showing his close-set white teeth.
“Abreks,” said the old man. “No, I haven’t. I say, have you any chikhir? Let me have a drink, there’s a good man. I’m really quite done up. When the time comes I’ll bring you some fresh meat, I really will. Give me a drink!” he added.
“Well, and are you going to watch?” inquired the corporal, as though he had not heard what the other said.
“I did mean to watch tonight,” replied Uncle Eróshka. “Maybe, with God’s help, I shall kill something for the holiday. Then you shall have a share, you shall indeed!”
“Uncle! Hallo, Uncle!” called out Lukáshka sharply from above, attracting everybody’s attention. All the Cossacks looked up at him. “Just go to the upper water-course, there’s a fine herd of boars there. I’m not inventing, really! The other day one of our Cossacks shot one there. I’m telling you the truth,” added he, readjusting the musket at his back and in a tone that showed he was not joking.
“Ah! Lukáshka the Snatcher is here!” said the old man, looking up. “Where has he been shooting?”
“Haven’t you seen? I suppose you’re too young!” said Lukáshka. “Close by the ditch,” he went on seriously with a shake of the head. “We were just going along the ditch when all at once we heard something crackling, but my gun was in its case. Elias fired suddenly ... But I’ll show you the place, it’s not far. You just wait a bit. I know every one of their footpaths ... Daddy Mósev,” said he, turning resolutely and almost commandingly to the corporal, “it’s time to relieve guard!” and holding aloft his gun he began to descend from the watch-tower without waiting for the order.