"I have come from my government to join my regiment," replied the soldier, turning his eyes away from the watermelon, and readjusting the sack on his back. "There we were, two weeks ago, at work on the hay, a whole troop of us; but now they have drafted all of us, and we don't know where our regiment is at the present time. They say that our men went on the Korabelnaya last week. Have you heard anything, gentlemen
'* It's stationed in the town, brother," said the second, an old soldier of the reserves, digging away with his clasp-knife at the white, unripe melon. "We have- just come from there, this afternoon. It's terrible, my brother! "
** How so, gentlemen t "
** Don't you hear how they are firing all around to-day, so that there is not a whole spot anywhere } It is impossible to say how many of our brethren have been killed." And the speaker waved his hand and adjusted his cap.
The passing soldier shook his head thoughtfully, gave a clack with his tongue, then pulled his pipe from his boot-leg, and, without filling it, stirred up the half-burned tobacco, lit a bit of tinder from the soldier who was smoking, and raised his cap.
"There is no one like God, gentlemen! Goodbye," said he, and, with a shake of the sack on his back, he went his way.
" Hey, there! you'd better wait," said the man who was digging out the watermelon, with an air of conviction.
" It makes no difference! " muttered the traveller, threading his way among the wheels of the assembled transports.
III.
The posting-station was full of people when Kozeltzoff drove up to it. The first person whom he encountered, on the porch itself, was a thin and very young man, the superintendant, who continued his altercation with two officers, who had followed him out.
** It's not three days only, but ten that you will have to wait. Even generals wait, my good sirs! " said the superintendent, with a desire to administer a prick to the travellers; " and I am not going to harness up for you."
" Then don't give anybody horses, if there are none! But why furnish them to some lackey or other with baggage } " shouted the elder of the two officers, with a glass of tea in his hand, and plainly avoiding the use of pronouns,* but giving it to be understood that he might very easily address the superintendent as ^^ thoii^