The weather had cleared up, and near the next hut two officers and a cadet were playing svayka, laughing as they threw their missiles which buried themselves in the soft mud.

Rostov joined them.

In the middle of the game, the officers saw some wagons approaching with fifteen hussars on their skinny horses behind them.

The wagons escorted by the hussars drew up to the picket ropes and a crowd of hussars surrounded them.

"There now, Denisov has been worrying," said Rostov, "and here are the provisions.