“Pete, where do the Tsiganes lie to-night?” “They said in the forest, beyond Boryna’s cross.” “This night ye must watch, lest they make off with aught of our things.” “So near their camp, they would scarcely steal from us.” “That’s as it may be. Two years since, they lay in that very place, and went off with a sow of Soha’s,” said Hanka, as a warning. At bedtime, she saw to it that the byre and stable were well locked; and, returning, she looked in at her father-in-law’s door. “Yuzka! run and fetch Yagna: tell her to come at once: this night I’ll not leave the door unlocked for her!” Yuzka was soon back. No lights were in Dominikova’s window, and almost all Lipka was asleep. “The gadabout!—Well, I’ll not let her in. She may spend the night out of doors,” Hanka said, as she shot the bolts. It must have been very late when, awaked by someone pushing at the door, and going to open it, she shrank back with disgust: it was Yagna, positively reeking of vodka. Her state was clear by her fumbling at the door-latch; and then she was heard stumbling over the furniture and falling like a log on to her bed. “Had it been a fair-day, she could not have quaffed deeper!—Ah, well!” The night was fated to bring trouble. Just before daybreak, such a lamentable cry thrilled through Lipka that all those who still were sleeping donned their clothes and ran out, thinking the village was on fire. Balcerkova and her daughters were running about, with shrieks and screams. They had just found their horse stolen! The whole population was instantly outside her cabin, where, in the utmost disorder of attire, and with many a sob and wailing ejaculation, they were telling how Mary had gone out before dawn to put provender in the rack ... to find the door open and the stable empty! “O Lord, have mercy!—Good people, help me, do something!” the old woman shrieked, clutching at her own hair, and dashing herself against the fence. The Soltys came and sent for the Voyt, who arrived directly, but so drunk that he scarcely could stand. Utterly incapable, he only stammered unintelligibly, and ordered the people away, till at last the Soltys was obliged to remove him. The calamity, however, was so grievous that few paid any attention to his state. Everyone was in consternation, going from the road to the stable and back again, talking one to another, hesitating as to what course to pursue, and completely dismayed. But suddenly someone shouted: “This is the Tsiganes’ work!” “So it is: they are still in the forest, and came round to us but yesterday.” “Let us,” cried Gulbasova, “go to them quickly, take the horse back, and thrash them soundly!” When the wild uproar that arose at her words broke out, it was just sunrise. They set to pulling stakes out of fences, and running about with clenched fists to excite each other, and were ready to set out, when a fresh development took place.