“If I am an ox and Uncle is my uncle, then what is Uncle?”
“But, you fool, do you think that Althea gave birth to a firebrand because she sat by the stove?”
“How does that touch me?”
“In this way. If you are an ox, then ask about your father first, not about your uncle: for a bull carried off Europa, but her brother, who was uncle to her children, was a man for all that. Do you understand?”
“To tell the truth, I do not; but as to eating I could eat something myself.”
“Eat the devil and let me sleep! What is it, Pan Michael? Why have we halted?”
“Varka is in sight,” answered Volodyovski. “See, the church tower is gleaming in the moonlight.”
“But have we passed Magnushev?”
“Magnushev is behind on the right. It is a wonder to me that there is no Swedish party on this side of the river. Let us go to those thickets and stop; perhaps God may send us some informant.”
Pan Michael led his detachment to the thicket, and disposed it about a hundred yards from the road on each side, ordering the men to remain silent, and hold the bridles closely so the horses might not neigh.