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love to them all。 And you； Ignatyev； mind you don't forget to give the
parcel to Bystretsov。 。 。 。 Off！〃 The driver took the reins in one hand； blew
his nose； and； arranging the seat under himself； clicked to the horses。
〃Give them my love；〃 the postmaster repeated。
The big bell clanged something to the little bells； the little bells gave it
a friendly answer。 The cart squeaked； moved。 The big bell lamented； the
little bells laughed。 Standing up in his seat the driver lashed the restless
tracehorse twice； and the cart rumbled with a hollow sound along the
dusty road。 The little town was asleep。 Houses and trees stood black on
each side of the broad street； and not a light was to be seen。 Narrow clouds
stretched here and there over the star…spangled sky； and where the dawn
would soon be coming there was a narrow crescent moon； but neither the
stars； of which there were many； nor the half…moon； which looked white；
lighted up the night air。 It was cold and damp； and there was a smell of
autumn。
The student； who thought that politeness required him to talk affably to
a man who had not refused to let him accompany him； began：
〃In summer it would be light at this time； but now there is not even a
sign of the dawn。 Summer is over！〃
The student looked at the sky and went on：
〃Even from the sky one can see that it is autumn。 Look to the right。 Do
you see three stars side by side in a straight line？ That is the constellation
of Orion； which； in our hemisphere； only becomes visible in September。〃
The postman； thrusting his hands into his sleeves and retreating up to
his ears into his coat collar； did not stir and did not glance at the sky。
Apparently the constellation of Orion did not interest him。 He was
accustomed to see the stars； and probably he had long grown weary of
them。 The student paused for a while and then said：
〃It's cold！ It's time for the dawn to begin。 Do you know what time the
sun rises？〃
〃What？〃
〃What time does the sun rise now？〃
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
〃Between five and six；〃 said the driver。
The mail cart drove out of the town。 Now nothing could be seen on
either side of the road but the fences of kitchen gardens and here and there
a solitary willow…tree； everything in front of them was shrouded in
darkness。 Here in the open country the half…moon looked bigger and the
stars shone more brightly。 Then came a scent of dampness； the postman
shrank further into his collar； the student felt an unpleasant chill first
creeping about his feet； then over the mail bags； over his hands and his
face。 The horses moved more slowly； the bell was mute as though it were
frozen。 There was the sound of the splash of water； and stars reflected in
the water danced under the horses' feet and round the wheels。
But ten minutes later it became so dark that neither the stars nor the
moon could be seen。 The mail cart had entered the forest。 Prickly pine
branches were continually hitting the student on his cap and a spider's web
settled on his face。 Wheels and hoofs knocked against huge roots； and the
mail cart swayed from side to side as though it were drunk。
〃Keep to the road；〃 said the postman angrily。 〃Why do you run up the
edge？ My face is scratched all over by the twigs！ Keep more to the right！〃
But at that point there was nearly an accident。 The cart suddenly
bounded as though in the throes of a convulsion； began trembling； and；
with a creak； lurched heavily first to the right and then to the left； and at a
fearful pace dashed along the forest track。 The horses had taken fright at
something and bolted。
〃Wo！ wo！〃 the driver cried in alarm。 〃Wo 。 。 。 you devils！
The student； violently shaken； bent forward and tried to find
something to catch hold of so as to keep his balance and save himself from
being thrown out； but the leather mail bags were slippery； and the driver；
whose belt the student tried to catch at； was himself tossed up and down
and seemed every moment on the point of flying out。 Through the rattle of
the wheels and the creaking of the cart they heard the sword fall with a
clank on the ground； then a little later something fell with two heavy thuds
behind the mail cart。
〃Wo！〃 the driver cried in a piercing voice； bending backwards。 〃Stop！〃
The student fell on his face and bruised his forehead against the
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
driver's seat； but was at once tossed back again and knocked his spine
violently against the back of the cart。
〃I am falling！〃 was the thought that flashed through his mind； but at
that instant the horses dashed out of the forest into the open； turned
sharply to the right； and rumbling over a bridge of logs； suddenly stopped
dead； and the suddenness of this halt flung the student forward again。
The driver and the student were both breathless。 The postman was not
in the cart。 He had been thrown out； together with his sword； the student's
portmanteau； and one of the mail bags。 〃Stop； you rascal！ Sto…op！〃 they
heard him shout from the forest。 〃You damned blackguard！〃 he shouted；
running up to the cart； and there was a note of pain and fury in his tearful
voice。 〃You anathema； plague take you！〃 he roared； dashing up to the
driver and shaking his fist at him。
〃What a to…do！ Lord have mercy on us！〃 muttered the driver in a
conscience…stricken voice； setting right something in the harness at the
horses' heads。 〃It's all that devil of a tracehorse。 Cursed filly； it is only a
week since she has run in harness。 She goes all right； but as soon as we go
down hill there is trouble！ She wants a touch or two on the nose； then she
wouldn't play about like this。 。 。 Stea…eady！ Damn！〃
While the driver was setting the horses to rights and looking for the
portmanteau； the mail bag； and the sword on the road； the postman in a
plaintive voice shrill with anger ejaculated oaths。 After replacing the
luggage the driver for no reason whatever led the horses for a hundred
paces； grumbled at the restless tracehorse； and jumped up on the box。
When his fright was over the student felt amused and good…humoured。
It was the f