"But what would you have done in my position?"
Stanislav wished to answer "the same that you did," but the question was put to him sharply, so he answered,--
"Why break my head over that, since I was not in it?"
Anger flashed for an instant on the face of Pan Yatsek, but to restrain himself he began to blow on the sabre and rub the blade with still greater industry. At last he returned it to the scabbard, and added,--
"God sends adventures and accidents."
And his eyes, which one moment earlier had been gleaming, were covered again with the usual sadness, for just then he remembered his one friend, the horse, which those wolves had torn to pieces.
Meanwhile the door opened and the four Bukoyemskis walked into the chamber.
"The frost has weakened, and the snow sends up steam," said Mateush.
"There will be fog," added Yan.
And then they took note of Yatsek, whom they had not seen the first moment.