and fell into the midst of the burning mass. Fortunately, his eldest son saw him fall, and rushing into the fire succeeded in getting hold of him and carrying him out of it. Ivan's hair, beard, and clothing were burned entirely off. His hands were also frightfully injured, but he seemed indifferent to pain.
"Grief drove him crazy," the people said.
The fire was growing less, but Ivan still stood where he could see it, and kept repeating to himself, "I should have taken," etc.
The morning after the fire the starosta (village elder) sent his son to Ivan to tell him that the old man, his father, was dying, and wanted to see him to bid him good-bye.
In his grief Ivan had forgotten all about his father, and could not understand what was being said to him. In a dazed way he asked: "What father? Whom does he want?"
The elder's son again repeated his father's message to Ivan. "Your aged parent is at our house dying, and he wants to see you and bid
