Andevermoreandmoreswiftlywasthewaterrising，andwashingawaysoilfromthebank，andspreadingathicksedimentoverthedarkbluesurfaceoftheriver。Andasitdidso，thereresoundedintheairastrangenoiseasofchewingandchamping，anoiseasthoughsomehugewildanimalweremasticating，andlickingitselfwithitsgreatlongtongue。
Andstilltherecontinuedtocomefromthetownthemelancholy，distance-softened，sweet-tonedsongofthebells。
Presently，thebrothersDiatlovappeareddescendingfromthehillwithbottlesintheirhands，andsportinglikeacoupleofjoyouspuppies，whiletointerceptthemtherecouldbeseenadvancingalongthebankoftheriveragrey-coatedpolicesergeantandtwoblack-coatedconstables。
“0hLord！“groanedOssipasherubbedhisknee。
Asforthetownsfolk，theyhadnoloveforthepolice，sohastenedtowithdrawtoalittledistance，wheretheysilentlyawaitedtheofficers’approach。Beforelongthesergeant，alittle，witheredsortofafellowwithdiminutivefeaturesandasandy，stubbymoustache，calledoutingruff，stern，hoarse，labouredaccents: