“No! Be on the watch. What you find on Kuklinovski will be yours.”
“If he returns alone,” said the old man, “I fear nothing. I shall stand behind the door; and even if some one from the quarters should come, I shall say that the colonel gave orders not to admit.”
“That will do. Watch!”
The tramp of a horse was heard behind the barn. Kmita sprang up and stood in the shadow at the wall. Kosma and Damian took their places near the door, like two cats waiting for a mouse.
“He is alone,” said the old man.
“Alone,” repeated Kosma and Damian.
The tramp approached, was right there and halted suddenly.
“Come out here, some one,—hold the horse!”
The old man jumped out quickly. A moment of silence followed, then to those waiting in the barn came the following conversation,—
“Is that you, Kyemlich? What the thunder! art mad, or an idiot? It is night, Miller is asleep. The guard will not give admission; they say that no officer went away. How is that?”