“Ah!” thought Zhílin, “tonight is the time to escape.” And he told Kostílin; but Kostílin’s heart failed him.

“How can we escape?” he said. “We don’t even know the way.”

“I know the way,” said Zhílin.

“Even if you do,” said Kostílin, “we can’t reach the fort in one night.”

“If we can’t,” said Zhílin, “we’ll sleep in the forest. See here, I have saved some cheeses. What’s the good of sitting and moping here? If they send your ransom⁠—well and good; but suppose they don’t manage to collect it? The Tartars are angry now, because the Russians have killed one of their men. They are talking of killing us.”

Kostílin thought it over.

“Well, let’s go,” said he.