Then he told us why they had come.
"We perceived the smoke from below, and knew, therefore, that there were visitors on the Precipice Stone. We thought it our duty to come up. Wolves are about in the forest. We wished to tell you so."
"I thank you for your great kindness; but, from what I am told, wolves will not attack a man."
"But they've become very aggressive since they discovered that the Government has confiscated all muskets, leaving only a pair or two with us. They avoid men in the day time, I know; but at dark or in a snowstorm they are very impudent."
"We do not intend to remain here till evening. I only wanted to finish the drawing, for the sake of which I scrambled up hither."
"But I would call your attention, sir, to the fact that we shall have a fall of snow here before night. I know the signs of the weather. When such a vast mist lies over the country in the morning, and then rises suddenly, and is quickly followed by darkness, then we may expect a snowstorm the same day. That is an old experience of mine."
"We will hasten home."
"Do you live at Tordona, or at Malyinka?"
"I live at Tordona."
"God bless you, sir. I know every one there."