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Page 33
Guskof, not hearing him, apologized to us, and glanced toward me with a
smile of almost noticeable melancholy, as though saying that I alone
could understand him. He was pitiable to see; but the adjutant, his
protector, seemed, on that very account, to be severe on his messmate,
and did not try to put him at his ease.
"Well, you're a graceful lad! Where did you think you were going?"
"Well, who can help tripping over these pins, Pavel Dmitrievitch?" said
Guskof. "You tripped over them yourself the other day."
"I, old man, [Footnote: batiushka]--I am not of the rank and file, and
such gracefulness is not expected of me."
"He can be lazy," said Captain S., keeping the ball rolling, "but low-
rank men have to make their legs fly."
"Ill-timed jest," said Guskof, almost in a whisper, and casting down his
eyes. The adjutant was evidently vexed with his messmate; he listened
with inquisitive attention to every word that he said.
"He'll have to be sent out into ambuscade again," said he, addressing
S., and pointing to the cashiered officer.
"Well, there'll be some more tears," said S., laughing. Guskof no longer
looked at me, but acted as though he were going to take some tobacco
from his pouch, though there had been none there for some time.
"Get ready for the ambuscade, old man," said S., addressing him with
shouts of laughter. "To-day the scouts have brought the news, there'll
be an attack on the camp to-night, so it's necessary to designate the
trusty lads." Guskof's face showed a fleeting smile as though he were
preparing to make some reply, but several times he cast a supplicating
look at S.
"Well, you know I have been, and I'm ready to go again if I am sent," he
said hastily.
"Then you'll be sent."
"Well, I'll go. Isn't that all right?"
"Yes, as at Arguna, you deserted the ambuscade and threw away your gun,"
said the adjutant; and turning from him he began to tell us the orders
for the next day.
As a matter of fact, we expected from the enemy a cannonade of the camp
that night, and the next day some sort of diversion. While we were still
chatting about various subjects of general interest, the adjutant, as
though from a sudden and unexpected impulse, proposed to Lieutenant O.
to have a little game. The lieutenant most unexpectedly consented; and,
together with S. and the ensign, they went off to the adjutant's tent,
where there was a folding green table with cards on it. The captain, the
commander of our division, went to our tent to sleep; the other
gentlemen also separated, and Guskof and I were left alone. I was not
mistaken, it was really very uncomfortable for me to have a tete-a-tete
with him; I arose involuntarily, and began to promenade up and down on
the battery. Guskof walked in silence by my side, hastily and awkwardly
wheeling around so as not to delay or incommode me.
"I do not annoy you?" he asked in a soft, mournful voice. So far as I
could see his face in the dim light, it seemed to me deeply thoughtful
and melancholy.
"Not at all," I replied; but as he did not immediately begin to speak,
and as I did not know what to say to him, we walked in silence a
considerably long time.
The twilight had now absolutely changed into dark night; over the black
profile of the mountains gleamed the bright evening heat-lightning; over
our heads in the light-blue frosty sky twinkled the little stars; on all
sides gleamed the ruddy flames of the smoking watch-fires; near us, the
white tents stood out in contrast to the frowning blackness of our
earth-works. The light from the nearest watch-fire, around which our
servants, engaged in quiet conversation, were warming themselves,
occasionally flashed on the brass of our heavy guns, and fell on the
form of the sentry, who, wrapped in his cloak, paced with measured tread
along the battery.
"You cannot imagine what a delight it is for me to talk with such a man
as you are," said Guskof, although as yet he had not spoken a word to
me. "Only one who had been in my position could appreciate it."
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