Of his shooting he had no further thought; but he felt tired to death and peered round at every bush and tree with particular attention and almost with terror, expecting every moment to be called to account for his life.

After having wandered about for a considerable time he came upon a ditch down which was flowing cold sandy water from the Terek, and, not to go astray any longer, he decided to follow it.
He went on without knowing where the ditch would lead him.

Suddenly the reeds behind him crackled.

He shuddered and seized his gun, and then felt ashamed of himself: the over-excited dog, panting hard, had thrown itself into the cold water of the ditch and was lapping it! He too had a drink, and then followed the dog in the direction it wished to go, thinking it would lead him to the village.

But despite the dog's company everything around him seemed still more dreary.