What brings you here ?" The warden, speaking as gruffly as before, asked him whether he would act as executioner.

Tsiganok burst out laughing, showing his teeth.
"You can't find any one else?
That's good! Go ahead, hang! Ha! ha! ha! The necks are there, the rope is there, but there is nobody to string it up.

By God! that's good!" "You'll save your neck if you do it." "Of course--I couldn't hang them if I were dead.

Well said, you fool!" "Well, what do you say?
Is it all the same to you ?" "And how do you hang them here?
I suppose they're choked on the sly." "No, with music," snarled the warden.
"Well, what a fool! Of course it can be done with music.

This way!" and he began to sing, with a bold and daring swing.
"You have lost your wits, my friend," said the warden.