Query from a student

[Daniel Rancour-Laferriere]

Colleagues -
Here is a query from a student.  Does the plot ring a bell with anyone?

>Years ago I read a short story that was in a World Literature text and I
>have been trying to find it again.  I hope you can help me as I do not
>have the title or author.  All I know is that it was an example of Russian
>literature. The other professors guess was either Chekhov or Tolstoy.
>Here is the basic plot.
>
>    One winter's morning in Russia two enemies went out to have a duel.
>They were neighbors and had disputes for years about property
>boundaries, etc.
>    While they are getting ready to pace off to shoot at each other the
>weight of the snow on the tree branch above them causes the huge
>branch to snap and fall on the two of them.
>    The two men are pinned and not able to free themselves.  As the hours
>pass and they lay there trapped they manage to work out their
>differences and come to terms.  They make guesses as to whose people
>will come out to find them first.
>    As the sun is about to set one of the men sees shadows of a group on
>the horizon.  They shout and wave and call for help.
>    One man asks they other "Did they see us?  Are they coming this way".
>The man slowly answers, "Yes".  The other man continues, "Are they
>from your house or mine?"  The man does not respond for a long time
>and then says, "Neither".  The other man again asks "Who is it that is
>coming for us then?"  Finally another long silence the man replies
>slowly and softly, "Wolves."
>

Thanks,

Daniel Rancour-Laferriere

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