Demid lived on his own plot of ground, which, like the village, stood on a hill above the river. But here the hill was higher and steeper, the edge of the horizon. The wood was nearer, and its grey- trunked and pines rose from their beds of golden to shake their to the stars and stretch their dark-green forest hands right up to the house. The view was wide and sweeping from here: the dark, turbulent river, the beyond, the deep-blue billowing woods fringing the horizon, the heavy lowering sky—all were clearly visible.  
The house, made of huge pines, with timbered walls, plain white- washed ceilings and floors, was bestrewn with of bears, , wolves, foxes, and ermines. and grape-shot lay on the tables. In the corners was a of lassoes, , and wolftraps. Some rifles hung round the walls. There was a strong odour, as though all the perfumes of the woods were collected here. The house contained two rooms and a kitchen.
 
In the centre of one of the rooms stood a large, rough-hewn table; round it were some low wooden stools covered with bear-skin. This was Demid's own room; in the other was the y............