'I won't wake them,' he thought.

But his heart began beating so fast that he remained motionless, listening.
Suddenly the trunk gave a plunge and again began to float across the stream towards our bank.

'Only not to miss ...' thought he, and now by the faint light of the moon he caught a glimpse of a Tartar's head in front of the floating wood.

He aimed straight at the head which appeared to be quite near--just at the end of his rifle's barrel.

He glanced cross.