TheyheardTartarvoices。TheTartarsstoppedattheveryspotwheretheyhadturnedoffthepath。TheTartarstalkedabit，andthenseemedtobesettingadogonthescent。Therewasasoundofcracklingtwigs，andastrangedogappearedfrombehindthebushes。Itstopped，andbegantobark。
　　ThentheTartars，alsostrangers，cameclimbingdown，seizedZhí；linandKostí；lin，boundthem，putthemonhorses，androdeawaywiththem。
　　Whentheyhadriddenabouttwomiles，theymetAbdul，theirowner，withtwootherTartarsfollowinghim。Aftertalkingwiththestrangers，heputZhí；linandKostí；linontwoofhisownhorsesandtookthembacktotheAoul。
　　Abduldidnotlaughnow，anddidnotsayawordtothem。
　　TheywerebackattheAoulbydaybreak，andweresetdowninthestreet。
　　Thechildrencamecrowdinground，throwingstones，shrieking，andbeatingthemwithwhips。
　　TheTartarsgatheredtogetherinacircle，andtheoldmanfromthefootofthehillwasalsothere。Theybegandiscussing，andZhí；linheardthemconsideringwhatshouldbedonewithhimandKostí；lin。Somesaidtheyoughttobesentfartherintothemountains；buttheoldmansaid:’Theymustbekilled！’
　　Abduldisputedwithhim，saying:’Igavemoneyforthem，andImustgetransomforthem。’Buttheoldmansaid:’Theywillpayyounothing，butwillonlybringmisfortune。ItisasintofeedRussians。
　　Killthem，andhavedonewithit！’
　　Theydispersed。Whentheyhadgone，themastercameuptoZhí；linandsaid:’Ifthemoneyforyourransomisnotsentwithinafortnight，Iwillflogyou；andifyoutrytorunawayagain，I’llkillyoulikeadog！Writealetter，andwriteproperly！’
　　Paperwasbroughttothem，andtheywrotetheletters。Shackleswereputontheirfeet，andtheyweretakenbehindtheMosquetoadeeppitabouttwelvefeetsquare，intowhichtheywereletdown。
　　Lifewasnowveryhardforthem。Theirshackleswerenevertakenoff，andtheywerenotletoutintothefreshair。Unbakeddoughwasthrowntothemasiftheyweredogs，andwaterwasletdowninacan。
　　Itwaswetandcloseinthepit，andtherewasahorriblestench。Kostí；lingrewquiteill，hisbodybecameswollenandheachedallover，andmoanedorsleptallthetime。Zhí；lin，too，grewdowncast；hesawitwasabadlook-out，andcouldthinkofnowayofescape。
　　Hetriedtomakeatunnel，buttherewasnowheretoputtheearth。Hismasternoticedit，andthreatenedtokillhim。
　　Hewassittingonthefloorofthepitoneday，thinkingoffreedomandfeelingverydownhearted，whensuddenlyacakefellintohislap，thenanother，andthenashowerofcherries。Helookedup，andtherewasDina。Shelookedathim，laughed，andranaway。AndZhí；linthought:’MightnotDinahelpme？’
　　Heclearedoutalittleplaceinthepit，scrapedupsomeclay，andbeganmodellingtoys。Hemademen，horses，anddogs，thinking，’WhenDinacomesI’llthrowthemuptoher。’
　　ButDinadidnotcomenextday。Zhí；linheardthetrampofhorses；
　　somemenrodepast，andtheTartarsgatheredincouncilneartheMosque。Theyshoutedandargued；theword’Russians’wasrepeatedseveraltimes。Hecouldhearthevoiceoftheoldman。Thoughhecouldnotdistinguishwhatwassaid，heguessedthatRussiantroopsweresomewherenear，andthattheTartars，afraidtheymightcomeintotheAoul，didnotknowwhattodowiththeirprisoners。
　　Aftertalkingawhile，theywentaway。Suddenlyheheardarustlingoverhead，andsawDinacrouchingattheedgeofthepit，herkneeshigherthanherhead，andbendingoversothatthecoinsofherplaitdangledabovethepit。Hereyesgleamedlikestars。
　　Shedrewtwocheesesoutofhersleeveandthrewthemtohim。Zhí；lintookthemandsaid，’Whydidyounotcomebefore？I
　　havemadesometoysforyou。Here，catch！’Andhebeganthrowingthetoysup，onebyone。
　　Butsheshookherheadandwouldnotlookatthem。
　　’Idon’twantany，’shesaid。Shesatsilentforawhile，andthenwenton，’Ivá；n，theywanttokillyou！’Andshepointedtoherownthroat。
　　’Whowantstokillme？’
　　’Father；theoldmensayhemust。ButIamsorryforyou！’
　　Zhí；linanswered:’Well，ifyouaresorryforme，bringmealongpole。’
　　Sheshookherhead，asmuchastosay，’Ican’t！’
　　Heclaspedhishandsandprayedher:’Dina，pleasedo！DearDina，I
　　begofyou！’
　　’Ican’t！’shesaid，’theywouldseemebringingit。They’reallathome。’Andshewentaway。
　　SowheneveningcameZhí；linstillsatlookingupnowandthen，andwonderingwhatwouldhappen。Thestarswerethere，butthemoonhadnotyetrisen。TheMullah’svoicewasheard；thenallwassilent。Zhí；linwasbeginningtodoze，thinking:’Thegirlwillbeafraidtodoit！’
　　Suddenlyhefeltclayfallingonhishead。Helookedup，andsawalongpolepokingintotheoppositewallofthepit。Itkeptpokingaboutforatime，andthenitcamedown，slidingintothepit。
　　Zhí；linwasgladindeed。Hetookholdofitandloweredit。Itwasastrongpole，onethathehadseenbeforeontheroofofhismaster’shut。
　　Helookedup。Thestarswereshininghighinthesky，andjustabovethepitDina’seyesgleamedinthedarklikeacat’s。Shestoopedwithherfaceclosetotheedgeofthepit，andwhispered，’Ivá；n！Ivá；n！’wavingherhandinfrontofherfacetoshowthatheshouldspeaklow。
　　’What？’saidZhí；lin。
　　’Allbuttwohavegoneaway。’
　　ThenZhí；linsaid，’Well，Kostí；lin，come；letushaveonelasttry；I’llhelpyouup。’
　　ButKostí；linwouldnothearofit。
　　’No，’saidhe，’It’sclearIcan’tgetawayfromhere。HowcanIgo，whenIhavehardlystrengthtoturnround？’
　　’Well，good-bye，then！Don’tthinkillofme！’andtheykissedeachother。Zhí；linseizedthepole，toldDinatoholdon，andbegantoclimb。Heslippedonceortwice；theshackleshinderedhim。Kostí；linhelpedhim，andhemanagedtogettothetop。Dinawithherlittlehands，pulledwithallhermightathisshirt，laughing。
　　Zhí；lindrewoutthepoleandsaid，’Putitbackinitsplace，Dina，orthey’llnotice，andyouwillbebeaten。’
　　Shedraggedthepoleaway，andZhí；linwentdownthehill。Whenhehadgonedownthesteepincline，hetookasharpstoneandtriedtowrenchthelockofftheshackles。Butitwasastronglockandhecouldnotmanagetobreakit，andbesides，itwasdifficulttogetat。Thenheheardsomeonerunningdownthehill，springinglightly。Hethought:’Surely，that’sDinaagain。’
　　Dinacame，tookastoneandsaid，’Letmetry。’
　　Shekneltdownandtriedtowrenchthelockoff，butherlittlehandswereasslenderaslittletwigs，andshehadnotthestrength。
　　Shethrewthestoneawayandbegantocry。ThenZhí；linsettoworkagainatthelock，andDinasquattedbesidehimwithherhandonhisshoulder。
　　Zhí；linlookedroundandsawaredlighttotheleftbehindthehill。Themoonwasjustrising。’Ah！’hethought，’beforethemoonhasrisenImusthavepassedthevalleyandbeintheforest。’Soheroseandthrewawaythestone。Shacklesorno，hemustgoon。
　　’Good-bye，Dinadear！’hesaid。’Ishallneverforgetyou！’
　　Dinaseizedholdofhimandfeltaboutwithherhandsforaplacetoputsomecheesesshehadbrought。Hetookthemfromher。
　　’Thankyou，mylittleone。WhowillmakedollsforyouwhenIamgone？’
　　Andhestrokedherhead。
　　Dinaburstintotearshidingherfaceinherhands。Thensheranupthehilllikeayounggoat，thecoinsinherplaitclinkingagainstherback。
　　Zhí；lincrossedhimselftookthelockofhisshacklesinhishandtopreventitsclattering，andwentalongtheroad，dragginghisshackledleg，andlookingtowardstheplacewherethemoonwasabouttorise。Henowknewtheway。Ifhewentstraighthewouldhavetowalknearlysixmiles。Ifonlyhecouldreachthewoodbeforethemoonhadquiterisen！Hecrossedtheriver；thelightbehindthehillwasgrowingwhiter。Stilllookingatit，hewentalongthevalley。Themoonwasnotyetvisible。Thelightbecamebrighter，andonesideofthevalleywasgrowinglighterandlighter，andshadowsweredrawingintowardsthefootofthehill，creepingnearerandnearertohim。
　　Zhí；linwenton，keepingintheshade。Hewashurrying，butthemoonwasmovingstillfaster；thetopsofthehillsontherightwerealreadylitup。Ashegotnearthewoodthewhitemoonappearedfrombehindthehills，anditbecamelightasday。Onecouldseealltheleavesonthetrees。Itwaslightonthehill，butsilent，asifnothingwerealive；nosoundcouldbeheardbutthegurglingoftheriverbelow。
　　Zhí；linreachedthewoodwithoutmeetinganyone，choseadarkspot，andsatdowntorest。
　　Herestedandateoneofthecheeses。Thenhefoundastoneandsettoworkagaintoknockofftheshackles。Heknockedhishandssore，butcouldnotbreakthelock。Heroseandwentalongtheroad。Afterwalkingthegreaterpartofamilehewasquitedoneup，andhisfeetwereaching。Hehadtostopeverytensteps。