1. Ukraine

In the beginning everything was pleasant. Equality, fraternity, liberty, the Russians respected all; but, little by little, things changed.

In less than a year the people had a thousand reasons for asking their Chief Bogdan: “What have we done?”

The old chief, on hearing this, wept inconsolably.

“Let us try to remedy it,” he said, but he did not succeed, and died of grief.

After his death Ukraine had to undergo many trials. She was divided into two parties; one was for Russia, the other for Poland.

A third party was formed; this one was for the complete independence of Ukraine. Unfortunately, it was not very large. It is just at this time that our story begins.

The Cossack, Danilo Tchabane, with his family, lived in the country. The most difficult person to please would have been satisfied with his home.

Danilo had inherited his little house; his father, who had inherited it from his father, who also had inherited it from his father, had given it to him when dying. I do not know how many generations of Tchabanes had lived there.