The Cossacks

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cossacks, by Leo TolstoyThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The CossacksAuthor: Leo TolstoyTranslator: Louise and Aylmer MaudeRelease Date: January 18, 2009 [EBook #4761]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COSSACKS ***Produced by Steve Harris, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.[Updater's note: pages appear to be missing from two locations in this book. Each location has been indicated with anupdater's note. (January 17, 2009)]THE COSSACKSA Tale of 1852ByLeo Tolstoy (1863)Translated by Louise and Aylmer MaudeChapter IAll is quiet in Moscow. The squeak of wheels is seldom heard in the snow-covered street. There are no lights left in thewindows and the street lamps have been extinguished. Only the sound of bells, borne over the city from the churchtowers, suggests the approach of morning. The streets are deserted. At rare intervals a night-cabman's sledge kneadsup the snow and sand in the street as the driver makes his way to another corner where he falls asleep while waiting for afare. An old woman passes by on her way to church, where a few wax candles burn with a red light reflected on the giltmountings of the icons. Workmen are already getting up ...