"Never mind. What has to be, has to be."

"But, as likely as not, we may remain stuck here for two days!"

"Never mind even if we DO remain stuck here."

"But what of the festival?"

"It will have, for this year at least, to be kept without you."

Seating himself on the sand, the old soldier lit his pipe and
growled:

"What cowards you all are! The bank was only fifteen sazheni
from us, yet you ran as though possessed!"

"With you yourself as leader," put in Mokei.

The old soldier took no notice, but added:

"What were you all afraid of? Once upon a time Christ Himself,
Our Little Father, died."

"And rose again," muttered the Morduine with a tinge of
resentment. Which led Boev to exclaim:

"Puppy, hold your tongue! What right have you to air your
opinions?"