6. An Encounter

She became hot and cold, she thought everything was lost. But she said to herself: “I must be—like him!” And she regained her courage.

The two officers rode in front. One was laughing, the other scolding. The soldiers became silent, and, from the slackening of their gait, appeared to sleep.

But why were the eyes of this soldier always fixed upon her?

“I will also look at him,” said Maroussia to herself.

And hiding her emotion, she turned her eyes toward him.

The eyes in question belonged to a noncommissioned officer, old, robust, with a very stern but at the same time intelligent face.

Suddenly, he brought his horse forward and placed himself very near Maroussia as if to examine her more closely. He did not speak to her at first, but his keen eyes seemed to say:

“It is very strange, a little girl driving such a large wagon! Who could have chosen this frail toy for a driver? Who could have let her start thus, all alone, in the night, when there is fighting everywhere, and the roads are so unsafe? She wouldn’t be a mouthful for a soldier, this little strawberry!”

“Are your father and mother living, little girl? ” at last he asked her.

Thinking that Maroussia did not understand Russian, he translated his question as well as he could into Ukrainian.

“Hast thou still thy father? Hast thou still thy mother?”

“Yes, thanks be to God!” answered Maroussia.

“Both of them?”

“Both of them.”

He was thoughtful a moment, then his face brightened as if he had suddenly comprehended an enigma.

Maroussia’s heart trembled fearfully; she became dizzy. But it was necessary to be— like him.

She endeavored to appear calm, and in her turn asked, in a voice it is true trembling a little, but with a smile on her lips:

“And you, have you a father and mother? Have you many relations? Perhaps you have children; have you sons or daughters?”