3. Little Maroussia

The woman recoiled in horror, as if she had suddenly found herself face to face with a wild beast. But, after an effort to overcome her terror, she answered:

“They are my neighbors, my lords; they came to buy some oxen and fell asleep waiting for my husband.”

“Yes, my lord, we came to buy three oxen from Danilo,” said Andry Krouk, who at last awoke from his sleep. “Yes, for three oxen which we had promised to deliver tomorrow, and we didn’t find Danilo at home; think what a disappointment! ‘Very well!’ I said to my companion”; he pointed to Vorochilo, who, awake also, scarcely seemed able to open his eyes,—“‘very well! ’ I said to my companion, ‘Danilo isn’t here; it’s a pity!’ ‘Yes,’ answered my companion, ‘it’s a pity! Nothing can be done.’ ‘What bad luck!’ said I, ‘but what can we do? He isn’t here.’ ‘Yes,’ answered my companion, ‘he isn’t here!’ ‘Here is a day lost.’ ‘Yes, lost,’ said he, ‘but what can we do? We can’t foresee everything.’ ‘Yes,’ continued he, ‘we can’t foresee everything. Besides all this, the market for tomorrow?’”

“Will you stop, rascal?” cried the red-faced man. “O traitors! I know you, and see through your innocence. Soldiers, bind these knaves, and strongly too.”

It was quickly done. Andry Krouk and Semène Vorochilo were securely bound in an instant.

At this moment the master of the house entered the room.

“Who are you?” roared the red-faced man.

“This is decidedly the chief of the band. How did they let you enter here?”

“I am the owner of this cottage, my lord,” answered Danilo, bowing respectfully. “You are in my house, and I return home.”

“Hello! you men there, put sentinels at the door and allow no one to go in or out. Do you understand me?” said the officer to his men. Then, addressing Danilo:

“If you wish to live, answer me without waiting to be urged. Where is the bandit whom we seek? Let your answer be plain, Judas! If you answer me with nonsense, I will blow you into atoms. Now bear this in mind. Where is Zaparogie?”

“Zaparogie!” answered Danilo with calmness and surprise, “this is the first time in my life that his name has ever been mentioned before me. I do not know Zaparogie.” “That won’t do!” growled the officer. “Do you want to make me believe that you don’t know the bandits who lead you? It is the same as if you told me that my men don’t know their chiefs. This Zaparogie is in this district; he came in here, where is he? Tell me quickly, or I will burn your house and roast you, your wife, and little ones in it.”

“My lord,” answered Danilo, “I affirm that I have never heard of the man whom you have just named.”