Page:The Kiss and Other Stories by Anton Tchekhoff, 1908.pdf/276

 little, big-bearded, capless, gnome-like stranger of eighty, evidently partial to fires, wandered around, carrying a white bundle ; his bald head reflected the glare. The starosta, Antip Siedelnikoff, swarthy and black-haired as a gipsy, went up to the hut with his axe, and for no apparent reason beat in all the windows and began to hack at the steps.

“Women, water!” he roared. “Bring the engine! Look sharp!”

TTie peasants, fresh from merry-making in the inn, dragged up the fire-engine. All were drunk; they staggered and fell; their expressions were helpless, and tears stood in their eyes.

“Bring water, girls!” cried the starosta, also drunk. “Look sharp!”

The young women and girls ran down the slope to the well, returned with pails and pitchers of water, and, having emptied them into the engine, ran back for more. Olga, and Marya, and Sasha, and Motka, all helped. The water was pumped up by women and small boys; the hose-nozzle hissed; and the starosta, aiming it now at the door, now at the windows, held his finger on the stream of water, so that it hissed still more fiercely.

“Good man, Antip!” came approving cries. “Keep it up!”

And Antip went into the hall and cried thence —