After each company had in turn been reviewed, the General commanded the officers, both commissioned and non-commissioned, to go out of ear-shot, after which he questioned the soldiers with regard to their wishes and grounds of complaint; but everywhere he met with the same good-humoured reply: "Satisfied with everything, your Excellency." When that question was put to No. 1 Company, Romashov heard an ensign in it remark in a threatening voice-- "Just let me hear any one daring to complain; I'll give him 'complaints'!" For the 5th Company only was the whole review a complete triumph. The brave, young, lusty soldiers executed all their movements with life and energy, and with such facility, mobility, and absence of all pedantry that the whole of the review seemed to officers and men, not a severe, painful examination, but like a jolly and amusing game. The General smiled his satisfaction, and soon could not refrain from a "Well done, my lads"--the first words of approval he uttered during the whole time. When, however, the ominous pretended charge was to be met, Stelikovski literally took the old General by storm. The General himself started the exercise by suddenly shouting to the commander of the company: "Cavalry from the right, eight hundred paces." Stelikovski formed, without a second's hesitation and with the greatest calm and precision, his company to meet the supposed enemy, which seemed to approach at a furious gallop. With compactly closed ranks--the fore-rank in a kneeling position--the troops fired two or three rounds, immediately after which was heard the fateful command: "Quick fire!" "Thanks, my children," cried the old General joyously--"that's the way it should be done. Thanks, thanks." After the oral examination the company was drawn up in open file; but the General delayed his final dismissal. It was as if it seemed hard to him to say good-bye to this company. Passing as slowly as possible along the front, he observed every soldier with particular and deep interest, and a very delighted smile gleamed through the _pince-nez_ from the clever eyes beneath the heavy, prominent eyebrows. Suddenly he stopped his charger, turned round on his saddle to the head of his staff, and exclaimed-- "No; come here and look, Colonel, what muzzles the rascals have. What do you feed them on, Captain? Pies? Hi, you thick nose" (he pointed to a young soldier in the ranks), "your name's Kovál?" "Mikhail Borichuk, your Excellency," boldly replied the young recruit with a frank, happy smile. "Oh, you scamp, I thought you were called Kovál. Well, this time I was out of my reckoning," said the General in fun, "but there's no harm done; better luck next time," he added, with the same good-humour. At these words the soldier's countenance puckered in a broad grin. "No, your Excellency, you are not wrong at all," shouted the soldier in a raised voice. "At home, in the village, I am employed as a farrier, and, therefore, they call me Kovál."