Zend closed his eyes and cawed, cawed. Suddenly he stopped, and in a moment those present heard the cry of a hare choked by a dog; the hare cried in the last agony, weaker and lower, then screamed in despair, and was silent for the ages; in place of it was heard the deep bellow of a furious stag as loud as in spring-time. The Butryms were astonished. Though Zend had stopped, they expected to hear something again; but they heard only the piping voice of Rekuts,-- "Those are titmice sitting near the chimney!" "That is true!" replied Kokosinski, shading his eyes with his hand. "As true as I live!" added Uhlik, "but it is so dark in the room that I could not see them." "I am curious. What are they doing?" "Maybe they have come to dance." "But wait; I will ask," said Kokosinski. And raising his voice, he asked, "My dear women, what are you doing there at the chimney?" "We are warming our feet," answered thin voices. Then the cavaliers rose and approached the hearth. There were sitting at it, on a long bench, about ten women, old and young, holding their bare feet on a log lying by the fire. On the other side of the log their shoes wet from the snow were drying. "So you are warming your feet?" asked Kokosinski. "Yes, for they are cold." "Very pretty feet," piped Rekuts, inclining toward the log. "But keep at a distance," said one of the women. "I prefer to come near. I have a sure method, better than fire, for cold feet; which is,--only dance with a will, and the cold flies away." "If to dance, then dance," said Uhlik. "We want neither fiddles nor bass-viols. I will play for you on the flageolet." Taking from its leather case which hung near his sabre the ever-present flageolet, he began to play; and the cavaliers, pushing forward with dancing movement to the maidens, sought to draw them from the benches. The maidens appeared to defend themselves, but more with their voices than their hands, for in truth they were not greatly opposed. Maybe the men, too, would have been willing in their turn; for against dancing on Sunday after Mass and during the carnival no one would protest greatly. But the reputation of the "company" was already too well known in Volmontovichi; therefore first the gigantic Yuzva Butrym, he who had but one foot, rose from the bench, and approaching Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus, caught him by the breast, held him, and said with sullen voice,-- "If your grace wants dancing, then dance with me." Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus blinked, and began to move his mustaches convulsively. "I prefer a girl," said he; "I can attend to you afterward." Meanwhile Ranitski ran up with face already spotted, for he sniffed a quarrel. "Who are you, road-blocker?" asked he, grasping his sabre. Uhlik stopped playing, and Kokosinski shouted, "Hei, comrades! together, together!" But the Butryms were already behind Yuzva; sturdy old men and great youths began to assemble, growling like bears.