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CHAPTER XX.

HELENA was wakened by the barking of dogs. Opening
her eyes, she saw in the distance before her a great shady
oak, an enclosure, and a well-sweep. She roused her com-
panion at once: "Oh, wake up!"

Zagloba opened his eyes. "What is this? Where are
we?"

"I don't know."

"Wait a moment! This is a Cossack wintering-place."
"So it appears to me."

"Herdsmen live here, no doubt. Not too pleasant com-
pany! And these dogs howl as if wolves had bitten them.
There are horses and men at the enclosure. No help for
it; we must ride up to them, lest they pursue us if we pass.
You must have been asleep."

"I was."

"One, two, three, four horses saddled,----four men there
at the enclosure. Well, that is no great force. True, they
are herdsmen. They are doing something in a hurry. Hallo
there, men, come this way!"

The four Cossacks approached immediately. They were,
in fact, herders who watched horses in the steppe during
the summer. Zagloba noticed at once that only one of
them had a sabre and a gun. The other three were armed
with horse-jaws fastened to staves, but he knew that such
herdsmen were often dangerous to travellers.
When all four approached they gazed from under their
brows at the new-comers; in their bronzed faces could not
be found the least trace of welcome. "What do you
want?" asked they, without removing their caps.

"Glory to God!" said Zagloba.

"For the ages of ages! What do you want?"

"Is it far to Syrovati?"

"We don't know of any Syrovati."

"And what is this place called?"

"Gusia."

"Give our horses water."

"We have no water; it is dried up. But where do you
ride from?"

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