I was not
mistaken, it was really very uncomfortable for me to have a tete-a-tete
with him; I arose involuntarily, and began to promenade up and down on
the battery. Guskof walked in silence by my side, hastily and awkwardly
wheeling around so as not to delay or incommode me.
"I do not annoy you?" he asked in a soft, mournful voice. So far as I
could see his face in the dim light, it seemed to me deeply thoughtful
and melancholy.
"Not at all," I replied; but as he did not immediately begin to speak,
and as I did not know what to say to him, we walked in silence a
considerably long time.
The twilight had now absolutely changed into dark night; over the black
profile of the mountains gleamed the bright evening heat-lightning; over
our heads in the light-blue frosty sky twinkled the little stars; on all
sides gleamed the ruddy flames of the smoking watch-fires; near us, the
white tents stood out in contrast to the frowning blackness of our
earth-works. The light from the nearest watch-fire, around which our
servants, engaged in quiet conversation, were warming themselves,
occasionally flashed on the brass of our heavy guns, and fell on the
form of the sentry, who, wrapped in his cloak, paced with measured tread
along the battery.
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