I went outside the hut and discovered him saddling a fine bay stallion.
"Are you going away ?" I asked.
"Yes, but I want to go together with these -- -- comrades,'" he whispered, "and afterwards I shall come back." I did not ask him anything further and told him only that I would wait for him.

He took off the bags that had been hanging on his saddle, put them away out of sight in the burned corner of the cabin, looked over the stirrups and bridle and, as he finished saddling, smiled and said: "I am ready.

I'm going to awake my 'comrades.'" Half an hour after the morning drink of tea, my three guests took their leave.

I remained out of doors and was engaged in splitting wood for my stove.

Suddenly, from a distance, rifle shots rang through the woods, first one, then a second.