“While we were in the cellar, they say she ran away–––”
“Yes, Captain, while we were about that business in the crypt, Kaledines’ horsemen rode up outside–––”
“Who saw them?” demanded the officer hoarsely. “God curse you, who saw them?”
Some peasants had now come up. One of them began:
“Your honour, I saw Prince Kaledines’ riders–––”
“Whose!”
“The Hetman’s–––”
“Your honour! Prince Kaledines! The Hetman! xxxi Damnation! Who do you think you are! Who do you think I am!” burst out the Red officer in a fury. “Get out of my way!–––” He pushed the peasants right and left and strode away toward the convent. His soldiers began to straggle after him. One of them winked at the wood-cutters with his tongue in his cheek, and slung the rifle he carried over his right shoulder en bandoulière, muzzle downward.
“The Tavarish is in a temper,” he said with a jerk of his thumb toward the officer. “We arrested that Swedish girl in the uniform of the woman’s battalion. One shoots that breed on sight, you know. But we were in such a hurry to finish with the Romanoffs–––” He shrugged: “You see, comrades, we should have taken her into the crypt and shot her along with the Romanoffs. That’s how one loses these birds––they’re off if you turn your back to light a cigarette in the wind.”
One of the wood-cutters said: “Among Kaledines’ horsemen were two women. One was crop-headed like a boy, and half naked.”