Well, I liked Nikitin, I liked Andrey Vassilievitch.

I listened to the battery, now some way behind us, then said: "Of course, I am his friend if he wishes." Nikitin repeated solemnly: "Andrey Vassilievitch is a splendid fellow." Then we arrived.

Here, beside the broad path of the forest there was a clearing and above the clearing a thick pattern of shining stars curved like the top of a shell.

Here, in the open, the doctors had made a temporary hospital, fastening candles on the trees, arranging two tables on trestles, all very white and clean under a brilliant full moon.

There were here two Sisters whom I did not know, several doctors, one of them a fat little army doctor who had often been a visitor to our Otriad.