Summary

Chapter 7 resumes the following night. The wagoners are eating kasha. Everyone is tired. Out of boredom, Dymov starts teasing Emelyan about his past as a singer. When Emelyan ignores him, Dymov grabs Emelyan’s spoon and flings it into the forest. Emelyan cries. Egorushka stands up to Dymov, calling him “the worst of all” (87). Dymov only laughs and threatens to box his ears. Egorushka runs to the wagons, crying out for his mother.

A threatening storm sends the wagoners hurrying to leave. Dymov apologizes to Emelyan, explaining that he was only bored. He tells Egorushka that the boy may hit him. Thunder rumbles and lightning strikes. Egorushka hides in a wagon under a bast mat, terrified. He sees three giants holding spears and cries out for help.

When the storm stops, Egorushka realizes that the giants are only ordinary muzhiks carrying pitchforks. Pantelei...