One pale bluish shadow spread over land and sky.

Above the darkened gardens stars just discernible were kindling, and the sounds were gradually hushed in the village.

The cattle having been attended to and left for the night, the women came out and gathered at the corners of the streets and, cracking sunflower seeds with their teeth, settled down on the earthen embankments of the houses.

Later on Maryanka, having finished milking the buffalo and the other two cows, also joined one of these groups.
The group consisted of several women and girls and one old Cossack man.
They were talking about the abrek who had been killed.
The Cossack was narrating and the women questioning him.
'I expect he'll get a handsome reward,' said one of the women.
'Of course.

It's said that they'll send him a cross.' 'Mosev did try to wrong him.