Chapter 9

           “Well,nowwhat’sourplanofcampaign?Tellusallaboutit,”saidStepanArkadyevitch.

           “Ourplanisthis.Nowwe’redrivingtoGvozdyov.InGvozdyovthere’sagrousemarshonthisside,andbeyondGvozdyovcomesomemagnificentsnipemarsheswheretherearegrousetoo.It’shotnow,andwe’llgetthere—it’sfifteenmilesorso—towardseveningandhavesomeeveningshooting;we’llspendthenightthereandgoontomorrowtothebiggermoors.”

           “Andistherenothingontheway?”

           “Yes;butwe’llreserveourselves;besidesit’shot.Therearetwonicelittleplaces,butIdoubttherebeinganythingtoshoot.”

           Levinwouldhimselfhavelikedtogointotheselittleplaces,buttheywerenearhome;hecouldshootthemoveranytime,andtheywereonlylittleplaces—therewouldhardlyberoomforthreetoshoot.Andso,withsomeinsincerity,hesaidthathedoubtedtherebeinganythingtoshoot.WhentheyreachedalittlemarshLevinwouldhavedrivenby,butStepanArkadyevitch,withtheexperiencedeyeofasportsman,atoncedetectedreedsvisiblefromtheroad.

           “Shan’twetrythat?”hesaid,pointingtothelittlemarsh.

           “Levin,do,please!howdelightful!”VassenkaVeslovskybeganbegging,andLevincouldbutconsent.

           Beforetheyhadtimetostop,thedogshadflownonebeforetheotherintothemarsh.

           “Krak!Laska!...”

           Thedogscameback.

           “Therewon’tberoomforthree.I’llstayhere,”saidLevin,hopingtheywouldfindnothingbutpeewits,whohadbeenstartledbythedogs,andturningoverintheirflight,wereplaintivelywailingoverthemarsh.