Olenin knew that danger lurked in the forest, that abreks always hid in such places.

But he knew too that in the forest, for a man on foot, a gun is a great protection.

Not that he was afraid, but he felt that another in his place might be; and looking into the damp misty forest and listening to the rare and faint sounds with strained attention, he changed his hold on his gun and experienced a pleasant feeling that was new to him.

Daddy Eroshka went in front, stopping and carefully scanning every puddle where an animal had left a double track, and pointing it out to Olenin.

He hardly spoke at all and only occasionally made remarks in a whisper.