“Yes⁠ ⁠…” the surveyor went on. “God forbid anyone should tackle me. The robber would have his bones broken, and, what’s more, he would have to answer for it in the police court too.⁠ ⁠… I know all the judges and the police captains, I am a man in the government, a man of importance. Here I am travelling and the authorities know⁠ ⁠… they keep a regular watch over me to see no one does me a mischief. There are policemen and village constables stuck behind bushes all along the road.⁠ ⁠… Sto⁠ ⁠… sto⁠ ⁠… stop!” the surveyor bawled suddenly. “Where have you got to? Where are you taking me to?”

“Why, don’t you see? It’s a forest!”

“It certainly is a forest,” thought the surveyor. “I was frightened! But it won’t do to betray my feelings.⁠ ⁠… He has noticed already that I am in a funk. Why is it he has taken to looking round at me so often? He is plotting something for certain.⁠ ⁠… At first he drove like a snail and now how he is dashing along!”

“I say, Klim, why are you making the horse go like that?”

“I am not making her go. She is racing along of herself.⁠ ⁠… Once she gets into a run there is no means of stopping her. It’s no pleasure to her that her legs are like that.”

“You are lying, my man, I see that you are lying. Only I advise you not to drive so fast. Hold your horse in a bit.⁠ ⁠… Do you hear? Hold her in!”

“What for?”

“Why⁠ ⁠… why, because four comrades were to drive after me from the station. We must let them catch us up.⁠ ⁠… They promised to overtake us in this forest. It will be more cheerful in their company.⁠ ⁠… They are a strong, sturdy set of fellows.⁠ ⁠… And each of them has got a pistol. Why do you keep looking round and fidgeting as though you were sitting on thorns? eh? I, my good fellow, er⁠ ⁠… my good fellow⁠ ⁠… there is no need to look around at me⁠ ⁠… there is nothing interesting about me.⁠ ⁠… Except perhaps the revolvers. Well, if you like I will take them out and show you.⁠ ⁠…”