"Just then he happened to look down into the plain (for the village stood on the slope of a hill), and behold! there were ever so many lights twinkling all over it, as if a regiment were encamped there; and Stepka thought that this must be a gang of charcoal-burners halting for the night, as they often did in passing to and fro. So, then the thought struck him, "Why shouldn't I go and beg a light from _them_; they can't well be harder upon me than my own neighbors have been. I'll try, at any rate!" "And off he set, down the hill, right toward the encampment. "The nearer he came to it, the brighter the fires seemed to burn; and the sight of the cheery light, and all the people coming and going around it, all so busy and happy, made him feel comforted without knowing why. He went right up to the nearest fire, and took off his cap. "'Christ is risen!' said he. "'He is risen indeed!' answered one of the black men, in such a clear, sweet voice, that it sounded to Stepka just like his mother singing him to sleep when he was a child. "'Give me a light for my Easter candles, good people, I pray you.' "'You are heartily welcome,' said the other, pointing to the glowing fire; 'but how are you going to carry it home?' [Illustration: STEPKA CARRIES THE FIRE IN HIS CLOAK.] "'Oh, dear me!' cried poor Stepka, striking his forehead, 'I never thought about that!' "'Well, that shows that you were very much in earnest, my friend,' said the other, laughing; 'but never mind; I think we can manage it for you. Lay down your coat.' Stepka pulled off his old patched coat and laid it on the ground, wondering what was to come next; but what was his amazement when the man coolly threw two great shovelfuls of blazing wood into the coat, as coolly as if it were a charcoal bucket! "'Hallo! hallo!' cried Stepka, seizing his arm, 'what on earth are you about, burning my coat that way?' "'Your coat will be none the worse, brother,' said the charcoal-burner, with a curious smile. 'Look and see!' "And, sure enough, the fire lay quietly in the hollow of the coat, and never singed a thread of it! Stepka was so startled, that for a moment he thought he had to do, not with charcoal-burners, but with something worse; but, remembering how they had greeted him in the Holy Name, he became easy again. "'Good luck to you, my lad,' said the strange man, as the Cossack took up his load. 'You'll get it home all right, never fear.' "Away went Stepka like one in a dream, and never stopped till he got to his own house. He lighted all his candles, and then awoke his children (who had cried themselves to sleep) that they might enjoy the bonny light; and, when they saw it they clapped their hands and shouted for joy.