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A crowd of peasants had by this time gathered, but they found it
impossible to save their homes, so they carried everything which they
could to a place of safety. The cattle they drove into neighboring
pastures and left some one to care for them.
The wind carried the sparks from Ivan's house to Gavryl's, and it, too,
took fire and was consumed. The wind continued to increase with great
fury, and the flames spread to both sides of the street, until in a very
short time more than half the village was burned.
The members of Ivan's household had great difficulty in getting out of
the burning building, but the neighbors rescued the old man and
carried him to a place of safety, while the women escaped in only their
night-clothes. Everything was burned, including the cattle and all the
farm implements. The women lost their trunks, which were filled with
quantities of clothing, the accumulation of years. The storehouse and
all the provisions perished in the flames, not even the chickens being
saved.
Gavryl, however, more fortunate than Ivan, saved his cattle and a few
other things.
The village was burning all night.
Ivan stood near his home, gazing sadly at the burning building, and
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