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room, proceeded to repair the horse-collar. He could not forget Gavryl,
however--the threatening words he had used in the court-room and those
which Ivan had just heard.
Presently Taraska came in, and after having his supper, put on his
sheepskin coat, and, taking some bread with him, returned to watch over
his horses for the night. His eldest brother wished to accompany him,
but Ivan himself arose and went with him as far as the porch. The night
was dark and cloudy and a strong wind was blowing, which produced a
peculiar whistling sound that was most unpleasant to the ear. Ivan
helped his son to mount his horse, which, followed by a colt, started
off on a gallop.
Ivan stood for a few moments looking around him and listening to the
clatter of the horse's hoofs as Taraska rode down the village street.
He heard him meet other boys on horseback, who rode quite as well as
Taraska, and soon all were lost in the darkness.
Ivan remained standing by the gate in a gloomy mood, as he was unable
to banish from his mind the harassing thoughts of Gavryl, which the
latter's menacing words had inspired: "Something will burn with greater
fierceness in Ivan's household before long."
"He is so desperate," thought Ivan, "that he may set fire to my house
regardless of the danger to his own. At present everything is dry, and
as the wind is so high he may sneak from the back of his own building,
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