It seemed quite natural to the Cossacks that Zagloba should take the command in place of Bogun. It had happened already more than once, and they were glad of it because he always permitted them everything. The guards therefore drank with the others. Zagloba entered into conversation with the peasants of Rozlogi.
"Well, my man," asked he of an old "sub-neighbor," "is it far from here to Lubni?"
"Oh, very far, very far!"
"Could a man get there by morning?"
"Oh, no!"
"In the afternoon?"
"In the afternoon, perhaps."
"And how do you go there?"
"By the high-road."
"Is there a high-road?"