He cursed while he ate, and for that reason his cursing lost all its expression and force.
"Wait till we have eaten our fill and then we'll settle accounts with you," remarked "the student" viciously.
And then through the silence of the night resounded a wailing cry which frightened us.
"My brothers ... how could I tell? I fired because I was frightened. I am going from New Athos ... to the Government of Smolensk ... Oh, Lord! The fever has caught me ... it burns me up like the sun ... woe is me! Even when I left Athos the fever was upon me ... I was doing some carpenter's work ... I am a carpenter by trade ... At home is my wife and two little girls ... for three or four years I have not seen them ... my brothers ... you know all!"
"We are eating, don't bother," said "the student."
"Lord God! if only I had known that you were quiet peaceable folks ... do you think I would have fired? And here in the steppe too, at night, my brothers, you cannot say I am guilty, surely?"
He spoke and he wept, or to speak more accurately, he uttered a sort of tremulous terrified howl.
"He's a miser!" said the soldier contemptuously.
"He must have money about him," observed "the student."
The soldier winked, looked at him, and smiled.