XII.
My supposition was soon confirmed. Captain Kraft asked for some brandy, calling it by its popular name, and clearing his throat terribly, and throwing back his head, drained the wine-glass.
"Well, gentlemen, we have crisscrossed to-day over the plains of the Chechnya," he began, but, upon noticing the officer of the day, he grew silent, so as to give the major a chance to give his orders.
"Well, have you inspected the cordon?"
"I have, sir."
"Have the ambushes been sent out?"
"They have been, sir."
"Then communicate the order to the commanders of the companies to be as cautious as possible!"
"Yes, sir."
The major closed his eyes and became thoughtful.
"Tell the people that they may now cook their grits."
"They are cooking them now."
"Very well. You may go."
"Well, we were figuring out what an officer needed," continued the major, with a condescending smile, addressing us. "Let us figure out!"
"You need one uniform and a pair of trousers. Is it not so?"
"Yes, sir."
"Let us call it fifty roubles for two years; consequently, this makes twenty-five roubles a year for clothes; then for board forty kopeks a day. Is that right?"
518
