Page:More Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/138

More Tales from Tolstoi grow drowsy. "Plainly, the girl is afraid," he thought.

Suddenly a piece of clay plumped down on his head. He looked up—a long pole was thrust into a corner of the hole. It waggled about, descended gradually, and began to work its way into the hole. Zhilin was delighted. He caught hold of it and drew it in—it was a good strong pole. He had noticed this pole some time before on the roof of his master's home.

He looked up again. The stars were shining high in the heavens, and right above the hole the eyes of Dina shone as brightly as the eyes of a cat in the darkness. She leaned forward over the mouth of the hole and whispered:

"Ivan! Ivan!" and she kept on making signs and drawing her hands repeatedly over her face by way of saying: "Hush! be quiet!"

"What is it? " asked Zhilin.

"They have all gone, there are only two at home."

"Well, Kostuilin, let us go," said Zhilin, "we will try for the last time. I'll help you to get out of it."

But Kostuilin wouldn't even hear of it.

"No," said he, "it's quite plain that I can't manage it I have not the strength to go quickly, whichever way we go."

"Farewell then! and think no ill of me for leaving you!" And he embraced Kostuilin.

Then he seized the pole, bade Dina hold it firm, and began to creep up it. Once or twice he fell down—the kolodka hampered him. Kostuilin then supported him, and he worked his way some distance