He looked up. The stars were shining high in the sky, and just above the pit Dina’s eyes gleamed in the dark like a cat’s. She stooped with her face close to the edge of the pit, and whispered, “Iván! Iván!” waving her hand in front of her face to show that he should speak low.

“What?” said Zhílin.

“All but two have gone away.”

Then Zhílin said, “Well, Kostílin, come; let us have one last try; I’ll help you up.”

But Kostílin would not hear of it.

“No,” said he. “It’s clear I can’t get away from here. How can I go, when I have hardly strength to turn round?”