The recruit was now entirely quiet and dumb, and kept dropping his head lower and lower, as though he were going to sleep then and there. "I'm going for you, I'm going to destruction for you," he repeated. "And so I make you a present." "I s'pose he's really got a mother," cried some one in the crowd. "Fine young fellow! Too bad!" The recruit lifted his head. "I've got a mother," he said. "I've got a father[46] too. They've all given me up, though. Listen, old woman!" he added, seizing Ilyushkin's mother by the hand. "I made you a present. Listen to me, for Christ's sake. Go to my village of Vodnoe, ask there for Nikonof's old woman,--she's my own mother, you understand,--and tell this same old woman, Nikonof's old woman--third hut at the end--new pump--tell her that Alyókha--your son--you know--Come! musician, strike up!" he screamed. And once more he began to dance, talking all the time, and spilling the vodka that was left in the jug all over the ground. Ignat climbed into his wagon, and started to drive on. "Good-by, good luck to you," cried the old woman, as she wrapped herself up in her sheepskin. The recruit suddenly stopped. "Go to the devil!" he shouted, threatening the teams with his doubled fist. "Oh, good Lord!"[47] ejaculated Ilyushkin's mother, crossing herself. Ignat started up the mare, and the teams drove away. Alekséi the recruit still stood in the middle of the road, and doubling up his fists, with an expression of wrath on his face, berated the mushíks to the best of his ability. "What are you standing here for? She's gone. The devil, cannibals!" he screamed. "You won't escape from me! You devils! You dotards!" With these words his voice failed him; he fell at full length, just where he stood in the middle of the road. Swiftly the Dutlofs drove across the country, and as they looked around, the crowd of recruits were already lost from sight. When they had gone five versts, and were slowing up a little, Ignat got out of his father's wagon, when the old man was drowsing, and got in with his cousin. The two young men drank up the jug of vodka which they had brought from the city. Then after a little, Ilya struck up a song; the women joined in with him; Ignat gayly shouted in harmony. A jolly party, in a post-wagon, dashed swiftly by. The driver shouted to the horses harnessed to the two jolly telyégas. The postilion glanced at the handsome faces of the muzhíks and the women in the telyéga as they dashed by, singing their merry songs, and waved his hand. [Footnote 32: _izbá._] [Footnote 33: _Ilyushkin's baba._] [Footnote 34: _Ilyushkina baba._] [Footnote 35: _stárosta._] [Footnote 36: _dvor_.] [Footnote 37: _khozyáïn_.] [Footnote 38: _molodáïka_.] [Footnote 39: _khozhyáïn._] [Footnote 40: a _meshchánin._] [Footnote 41: Mispronunciation of _quittance._] [Footnote 42: _starik-khozhyáïn._] [Footnote 43: _izbá_.] [Footnote 44: _khozyáïka_.] [Footnote 45: _kalátch._] [Footnote 46: _bátiushka._]