But soon he set the ferrymen at rest, and began to inquire about the Demiánovka peasants.
“Oh yes; they passed. We took them to the other side,” said a ferryman.
“And there was a minstrel with them?”
“Yes, there was.”
“And a dumb boy with the old man,--a lad?”
“Yes; there was.”
“What did the minstrel look like?”
“He was not old, heavy, had eyes like a fish, and on one of them a cataract.”
“Oh, that is he!” muttered Anton, and inquired further: “And the boy?”
“Oh, father ataman,” said the ferryman, “an angel, out and out! We have never seen such a boy.”
In the mean while they were coming to the shore.
“Ah, we will bring her to the ataman!” muttered Anton to himself. Then he turned to the Cossacks: “To horse!”
They shot on like a flock of frightened bustards, though the road was
