up. Dina dragged away at his shirt with her little hands with all her might, laughing all the time, but it was no good.
Then Zhilin laid hold of the pole with both hands.
"Pull it, Dina!" he cried, "seize hold of it well, and you'll see it will almost come to you of its own accord."
She pulled away at the pole accordingly, and presently Zhilin found himself up at the mountain's-side. He crept down the steep declivity, seized a sharp stone, and tried hard to force the lock of the kolodka. But the lock was a strong one, by no means could he break it, and yet he was not unskilful. Then he heard somone running down the mountain-side and leaping lightly along. "That must be Dina again," thought Zhilin. And Dina it was. Up she came running, took up a large stone, and said:
"Give it me!"
She squatted down on her little knees, and began to try her hand at it. But her little arms, as thin as twigs, had no strength in them, and she threw away the stone and burst into tears. Then Zhilin himself had another try at the lock while Dina sat down beside him, leaning against his shoulder. Zhilin glanced round and saw on the left side of the mountain a burning red reflection—the moon was rising. "Well," thought he, "before the moon rises I must make my way through the gully and get to the wood." He rose and threw away the stone. Kolodka or no—go he must.
"Good-bye, little Dina," said he; "I shall always remember thee."
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