The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Chekhov, Anton. “The Steppe: The Story of a Journey.” Vintage Books, 2005.

When the story begins, nine-year-old Egorushka rides in a britzka alongside his uncle, the merchant Ivan Ivanych Kuzimichov, and a priest called Father Khristofor Siriysky. The adults are on their way to sell wool. They are to drop Egorushka off at school along the way. Kuzimichov seems annoyed by Egorushka’s company, but the kind Father Khristofor is glad to have him there. Egorushka feels depressed to leave home. They stop for the night and make Egorushka keep watch over the horses. He meets a small peasant boy named Titus. They play together.

The britzka stops sat the house of a man called Moisei Moiseich. He often welcomes merchants into his home. Moisei’s brother, Solomon, seems judgmental. Egorushka is introduced to a Jewish woman who gives him some gingerbread. The Countess Dranitsky stops by to inquire after the merchant Varlamov.

After riding in the britzka for several hours, they come across a wagon train. Kuzmichov decides to drop Egorushka off with the wagon leader, an old man called Pantelei, while he and Father Khristofor go off to find Varlamov on their own. Of the wagoners, three men stick out: Dymov, the prankster; Vasya, with his keen eyesight; and Emelyan, the former singer. One evening, they stop by a riverbank. Egorushka has a great time swimming but gets angry when Dymov grabs his leg. He wanders into town and sees Emelyan in church. By the time he comes back, they are having a fire. Egorushka listens to the wagoners tell stories of their past and concludes that each of them has been cheated by fate somehow.

The next night, Pantelei tells scary stories by the fire. They are obviously made up. Egorushka wonders why a man with such an interesting life would feel the need to make up stories. In the morning, Egorushka sees Varlamov talking on a horse to a man. Varlamov screams at him for not completing a task properly. Egorushka is underwhelmed by his first impression of this man who is talked about so much among merchants.

The following evening, Dymov teases Emelyan out of boredom. This enrages Egorushka, who stands up to the bully. Dymov only laughs. A storm comes. Egorushka spends the stormy night hiding in a wagon, terrified. When the storm finally stops, Pantelei sends him to a nearby cottage. A hunchbacked old woman feeds him and prepares a bed for him. When he cannot sleep, Egorushka heads out to the shed. He finds the gingerbread in his pocket. He looks down at his coat, which he brought from home, and bursts into tears.

The wagoners stop at a trading inn. Egorushka is reunited with Father Khristofor and Kuzmichov. The priest takes care of him while he is sick that night. The next morning, the men drop Egorushka off at the house of his mother’s childhood friend. She is a kind old woman named Natasya. She agrees to take care of Egorushka. She lives with a granddaughter of her own, Katya. Once Father Khristofor and Kuzmichov say goodbye, Egorushka weeps. He wonders what will become of him.