“Fools!” said Daddy Eróshka. “There now, we too used to lose our way in the steppe. (Who the devil can follow it?) But I used to ride up a hillock and start howling like the wolves, like this!” He placed his hands before his mouth, and howled like a pack of wolves, all on one note. “The dogs would answer at once ... Well, go on—so you found them?” “We soon led them away! Nazárka was nearly caught by some Nogáy women, he was!” “Caught indeed,” Nazárka, who had just come back, said in an injured tone. “We rode off again, and again Giréy lost his way and almost landed us among the sand-drifts. We thought we were just getting to the Térek but we were riding away from it all the time!” “You should have steered by the stars,” said Daddy Eróshka. “That’s what I say,” interjected Ergushóv. “Yes, steer when all is black; I tried and tried all about... and at last I put the bridle on one of the mares and let my own horse go free—thinking he’ll lead us out, and what do you think! he just gave a snort or two with his nose to the ground, galloped ahead, and led us straight to our village. Thank goodness! It was getting quite light. We barely had time to hide them in the forest. Nagím came across the river and took them away.” Ergushóv shook his head. “It’s just what I said. Smart. Did you get much for them?” “It’s all here,” said Lukáshka, slapping his pocket. Just then his mother came into the room, and Lukáshka did not finish what he was saying. “Drink!” he shouted. “We too, Gírich and I, rode out late one night...” began Eróshka. “Oh bother, we’ll never hear the end of you!” said Lukáshka. “I am going.” And having emptied his cup and tightened the strap of his belt he went out. Chapter XXXVIII It was already dark when Lukáshka went out into the street. The autumn night was fresh and calm. The full golden moon floated up behind the tall dark poplars that grew on one side of the square. From the chimneys of the outhouses smoke rose and spread above the village, mingling with the mist. Here and there lights shone through the windows, and the air was laden with the smell of _kisyak_, grape-pulp, and mist. The sounds of voices, laughter, songs, and the cracking of seeds mingled just as they had done in the daytime, but were now more distinct. Clusters of white kerchiefs and caps gleamed through the darkness near the houses and by the fences. In the square, before the shop door which was lit up and open, the black and white figures of Cossack men and maids showed through the darkness, and one heard from afar their loud songs and laughter and talk. The girls, hand in hand, went round and round in a circle stepping lightly in the dusty square. A skinny girl, the plainest of them all, set the tune: