Among them was heard something like the weeping of a child, and the words,—
"Eh! don't cut—hold on—you will be seen—here's a knife—give him the knife."
"They are up to some mischief, the brutes," said the captain indifferently.
But at this very instant, suddenly from around the corner came the handsome ensign with burning, horror-stricken face, and waving his hands rushed among the Cossacks.
"Don't you move! don't kill him!" he cried in his boyish treble.
When the Cossacks saw the officer they started back, and allowed a little white goat to escape from their hands. The young ensign was wholly taken aback, began to mutter something, and stood before them full of confusion. When he caught sight of the captain and me on the roof, he grew still redder in the face, and springing up the steps joined us.
"I thought they were going to kill a child," he said with a timid smile.
X.