Chapter 10

           Vassenkadrovethehorsessosmartlythattheyreachedthemarshtooearly,whileitwasstillhot.

           Astheydrewnearthismoreimportantmarsh,thechiefaimoftheirexpedition,LevincouldnothelpconsideringhowhecouldgetridofVassenkaandbefreeinhismovements.StepanArkadyevitchevidentlyhadthesamedesire,andonhisfaceLevinsawthelookofanxietyalwayspresentinatruesportsmanwhenbeginningshooting,togetherwithacertaingood-humoredslynesspeculiartohim.

           “Howshallwego?It’sasplendidmarsh,Isee,andtherearehawks,”saidStepanArkadyevitch,pointingtotwogreatbirdshoveringoverthereeds.“Wheretherearehawks,thereissuretobegame.”

           “Now,gentlemen,”saidLevin,pullinguphisbootsandexaminingthelockofhisgunwithratheragloomyexpression,“doyouseethosereeds?”Hepointedtoanoasisofblackishgreeninthehugehalf-mownwetmeadowthatstretchedalongtherightbankoftheriver.“Themarshbeginshere,straightinfrontofus,doyousee—whereitisgreener?Fromhereitrunstotherightwherethehorsesare;therearebreedingplacesthere,andgrouse,andallroundthosereedsasfarasthatalder,andrightuptothemill.Overthere,doyousee,wherethepoolsare?That’sthebestplace.ThereIonceshotseventeensnipe.We’llseparatewiththedogsandgoindifferentdirections,andthenmeetoverthereatthemill.”

           “Well,whichshallgotoleftandwhichtoright?”askedStepanArkadyevitch.“It’swidertotheright;youtwogothatwayandI’lltaketheleft,”hesaidwithapparentcarelessness.