"Is that the pay for our blood, for our wounds, for our service to the country?"
"O my brothers, ye orphans of God! many an injustice has met you, but one more grievous than this no man has ever yet put on us."
"That is true, that is true!" exclaimed Lukash and Marek and Yan in sad accents.
And tears of grief flowed down their faces afresh and abundantly, but when they had wept out their fill they fell to storming, for it seemed to them that such an offence to men of birth should not be forgotten.
Lukash, the most impulsive of all the four brothers, was the first to make mention of this matter.
"It is difficult to challenge him to sabres," said he, "for he has lost an arm and is old, but if he has contemned us, we must have satisfaction. What are we to do? Think of this!"
"My feet have been frozen to-night," said Lukash, "and are burning tremendously. But for this, I could think out a remedy."
"My feet are not burning, but my head is on fire," added Marek.
"From that which is empty thou wilt never pour anything."
"Gland is blamed always by Katchan!" said Mateush.