after the hare； the harriers； who were not on leash； rushed from all sides towards the hounds or after the hare。 The whippers…in； who had been moving so deliberately； galloped over the country getting the dogs together； with shouts of “stop！” while the huntsmen directed their course with shouts of “o … o … ahoy！” Nikolay； Natasha； and the uncle and Ilagin； who had been hitherto so composed； flew ahead； reckless of how or where they went； seeing nothing but the dogs and the hare； and afraid of nothing but losing sight for an instant of the course。 The hare turned out to be a fleet and strong one。 When he jumped up he did not at once race off； but cocked up his ears； listening to the shouts and tramp of hoofs； that came from all sides at once。 He took a dozen bounds not very swiftly； letting the dogs gain on him； but at last choosing his direction； and grasping his danger； he put his ears back； and dashed off at full speed。 He had been crouching in the stubble； but the green field was in front of him； and there it was marshy ground。 The two dogs of the groom who had started him were the nearest and the first to be on the scent after him。 But they had not got near him； when Ilagin’s black and tan Yerza flew ahead of them； got within a yard； pounced on him with fearful swiftness； aiming at the hare’s tail； and rolled over； thinking she had hold of him。 The hare arched his back； and bounded off more nimbly than ever。 The broad…backed； black and tan Milka flew ahead of Yerza； and began rapidly gaining on the hare。
“Milashka！ little mother！” Nikolay shouted triumphantly。 Milka seemed on the point of pouncing on the hare； but she overtook him and flew beyond。 The hare doubled back。 Again the graceful Yerza dashed at him； and kept close to the hare’s tail； as though measuring the distance； so as not to miss getting hold of the hare； by the haunch this time。
“Yerzinka； little sister！” wailed Ilagin； in a voice unlike his own。 Yerza did not heed his appeals。 At the very moment when she seemed about to seize the hare； he doubled and darted away to the ditch between the stubble and the green field。 Again Yerza and Milka； running side by side； like a pair of horses； flew after the hare； the hare was better off in the ditch； the dogs could not gain on him so quickly。
“Rugay！ Rugayushka！ Forward—quick march；” another voice shouted this time。 And Rugay； the uncle’s red； broad…shouldered dog； stretching out and curving his back； caught up the two foremost dogs； pushed ahead of them； flung himself with complete self…abandonment right on the hare； turned him out of the ditch into the green field； flung himself still more viciously on him once more； sinking up to his knees in the swampy ground； and all that could be seen was the dog rolling over with the hare； covering his back with mud。 The dogs formed a star…shaped figure round him。 A moment later all the party pulled their horses up round the crowding dogs。 The uncle alone dismounted in a rapture of delight； and cutting off the feet； shaking the hare for the blood to drip off； he looked about him； his eyes restless with excitement； and his hands and legs moving nervously。 He went on talking； regardless of what or to whom he spoke。 “That’s something like； quick march … there’s a dog for you … he outstripped them all … if they cost a thousand or they cost a rouble … forward； quick march； and no mistake！” he kept saying； panting and looking wrathfully about him； as though he were abusing some one； as though they had all been his enemies； had insulted him； and he had only now at last succeeded in paying them out。 “So much for your thousand rouble dogs—forward； quick march！ Rugay； here’s the foot；” he said； dropping the dog the hare’s muddy foot； which he had just cut off； “you’ve deserved it—forward； quick march！”
“She wore herself out—ran it down three times all alone；” Nikolay was saying； listening to no one； and heedless whether he were heard or not。
“To be sure； cutting in sideways like that！” Ilagin’s groom was saying。
“Why； when it had been missed like that； and once down； any yard…dog could catch it of course；” said Ilagin； at the same moment； red and breathless from the gallop and the excitement。 At the same time Natasha； without taking breath； gave vent to her delight and excitement in a shriek so shrill that it set every one’s ears tingling。 In that shriek she expressed just what the others were expressing by talking all at once。 And her shriek was so strange that she must have been ashamed of that wild scream； and the others must have been surprised at it at any other time。 The uncle himself twisted up the hare； flung him neatly and smartly across his horse’s back； seeming to reproach them all by this gesture； and with an air of not caring to speak to any one； he mounted his bay and rode away。 All but he； dispirited and disappointed； rode on； and it was some time before they could recover their previous affectation of indifference。 For a long time after they stared at the red dog； Rugay； who with his round back spattered with mud； and clinking the rings of his leash； walked with the serene air of a conqueror behind the uncle’s horse。
“I’m like all the rest till it’s a question of coursing a hare； but then you had better look out！” was what Nikolay fancied the dog’s air expressed。
When the uncle rode up to Nikolay a good deal later； and addressed a remark to him； he felt flattered at the uncle’s deigning to speak to him after what had happened。
Chapter 7
WHEN ILAGIN TOOK LEAVE of them in the evening； Nikolay found himself so great a distance from home that he accepted the uncle’s invitation to stop hunting and to stay the night at the uncle’s little place； Mihailovka。
“And if you all come to me—forward； quick march！” said the uncle； “it would be even better； you see； the weather’s damp； you could rest； and the little countess could be driven back in a trap。” The invitation was accepted； a huntsman was sent to Otradnoe for a trap； and Nikolay； Natasha； and Petya rode to the uncle’s house。
Five men servants—little and big—ran out on to the front steps to meet their master。 Dozens of women； old and big and little； popped out at the back entrance to have a look at the huntsmen as they arrived。 The presence of Natasha—a woman； a lady； on horseback—excited the curiosity of the uncle’s house…serfs to such a pitch that many of them went up to her； stared her in the face； and； unrestrained by her presence； made remarks about her； as though she were some prodigy on show； not a human being； and not capable of hearing and understanding what was said about her。
“Arinka； look…ée； she sits sideways！ Sits on so； while her skirt flies about。… And look at the little horn！”
“Sakes alive！ and the knife too。…”
“A regular Tatar woman！”
“How do you manage not to tumble off？” said the forwardest of them； addressing Natasha boldly。
The uncle got off his horse at the steps of his little wooden house； which was shut in by an overgrown garden。 Looking from one to another of his household； he shouted peremptorily to those who were not wanted to retire； and for the others to do all that was needed for the reception of his guests。
They all ran off in different directions。 The uncle helped Natasha to dismount； and gave her his arm up the shaky； plank steps。
Inside； the house； with boarded； unplastered walls； was not very clean； there was nothing to show that the chief aim of the persons living in it was the removal of every spot； yet there were not signs of neglect。 There was a smell of fresh apples in the entry； and the walls were hung with foxskins and wolfskins。
The uncle led his guests through the vestibule into a little hall with a folding…table and red chairs； then into a drawing…room with a round birchwood table and a sofa； and then into his study； with a ragged sofa； a threadbare carpet； and portraits of Suvorov； of his father and mother； and of himself in military uniform。 The study smelt strongly of tobacco and dogs。 In the study the uncle asked his guests to sit down and make themselves at home； and he left them。 Rugay came in； his back still covered with mud； and lay on the sofa； cleaning himself with his tongue and his teeth。 There was a corridor leading from the study； and in it they could see a screen with ragged curtains。 Behind the screen they heard feminine laughter and whispering。 Natasha； Nikolay； and Petya took off their wraps and sat down on the sofa。 Petya leaned on his arm and fell asleep at once； Natasha and Nikolay sat without speaking。 Their faces were burning； they were very hungry and very cheerful。 They looked at one another—now that the hunt was over and they were indoors； Nikolay did not feel called upon to show his masculine superiority over his sister。 Natasha winked at her brother； and they could neither of them restrain themselves long； and broke into a ringing laugh before they had time to invent a pretext for their mirth。
After a brief interval； the uncle came in wearing a Cossack coat； blue breeches； and little top…boots。 And this very costume； at which Natasha had looked with surprise and amusement when the uncle wore it at Otradnoe； seemed to her now the right costume here； and in no way inferior to frock coats or ordinary jackets。 The uncle； too； was in good spirits； far from feeling mortified at the laughter of the brother and sister （he was incapable of imagining that they could be laughing at his mode of life）； he joined in their causeless mirth himself。
“Well； this young countess here—forward； quick march！—I have never seen her like！” he said； giving a long pipe to Rostov； while with a practised motion of three fingers he filled another—a short broken one—for himself。
“She’s been in the saddle all day—something for a man to boast of—and she’s just as fresh as if nothing had happened！”
Soon the door was opened obviously； from the sound； by a barefoot servant…girl； and a stout； red…cheeked； handsome woman of about forty； with a double chin and full red lips； walked in； with a big tray in her hands。 With hospitable dignity and cordiality in her eyes and in every gesture； she looked round at the guests； and with a genial smile bowed to them respectfully。
In spite of her excepti