The old hunter Manuylo knew Prishvin without a watch. Mikhail Mikhailovich Prishvin Eyes of the Earth


Our focus is on the text of Mikhail Mikhailovich Prishvin, a Russian writer and publicist, which describes the problem of a kind and compassionate attitude towards nature.

Reflecting on this problem, the author tells readers a story that happened early spring. Manuilo and his children go hunting for wood grouse. Walking through the forest, people enjoy nature and realize that it is beautiful. But when they came out to the ice floe, the heroes were stunned. Before their eyes lay an area completely covered with stumps and small bushes. The songs of wood grouse were heard in the distance, and the hunters hurried there. Sitting on the ashes of their home, the birds sang a sad song. But, despite the easy prey, Manuilo did not shoot. He understood all the pain of the animals and took pity on them.

M.M. Prishvin believes that people are capable of feeling compassion for our smaller brothers. The hunters were unable to shoot the wood grouse left without a home.

Indeed, compassion is a character trait of a person who has a kind heart. Manuilo loved surrounding nature and understood its components. He could not kill the birds, because he understood that nature had already lost a lot.

This is how V. Astafiev’s work “The Fish Tsar” describes the struggle between man and nature. The poacher caught a huge fish on a hook, but, unable to pull it out of the water, let it go. The man realized that nature is alive and cannot be killed.

And in A.P. Chekhov’s work “The Steppe,” Yegorushka, a nine-year-old boy, loved nature and considered it alive. He compared her to people and said that she also needed love, care and attention.

Thus, only those who truly love nature can show a sense of compassion towards it.

Updated: 2016-12-19

Attention!
If you notice an error or typo, highlight the text and click Ctrl+Enter.
By doing so, you will provide invaluable benefits to the project and other readers.

Thank you for your attention.

.

Useful material on topic

Our focus is on the text of Mikhail Mikhailovich Prishvin, a Russian writer and publicist, which describes the problem of a kind and compassionate attitude towards nature.

Reflecting on this problem, the author tells readers a story that happened in early spring. Manuilo and his children go hunting for wood grouse. Walking through the forest, people enjoy nature and realize that it is beautiful. But when they came out to the ice floe, the heroes were stunned. Before their eyes lay an area completely covered with stumps and small bushes. Songs were heard in the distance

wood grouse, and the hunters hurried there.

Sitting on the ashes of their home, the birds sang a sad song. But, despite the easy prey, Manuilo did not shoot. He understood all the pain of the animals and took pity on them.

M. M. Prishvin believes that people are capable of feeling compassion for our smaller brothers. The hunters were unable to shoot the wood grouse left without a home.

I completely agree with the author's opinion. Indeed, compassion is a character trait of a person who has a kind heart. Manuilo loved the surrounding nature and understood its components. He could not kill the birds, because he understood that nature had already lost a lot.

V. Astafiev’s work “The Fish Tsar” describes the struggle between man and nature. The poacher caught a huge fish on a hook, but, unable to pull it out of the water, let it go. The man realized that nature is alive and cannot be killed.

And in A.P. Chekhov’s work “The Steppe,” Yegorushka, a nine-year-old boy, loved nature and considered it alive. He compared her to people and said that she also needed love, care and attention.

Thus, only those who truly love nature can show a sense of compassion towards it.


Other works on this topic:

  1. Our focus is on the text of Vladislav Khodasevich, a Russian poet and critic, which describes the problem of a kind and caring attitude towards people. Thinking about this problem...
  2. Introduction The famous poet, Vasily Fedorov, in one of his poems called for the introduction of an infallible cult of “nature”. For what? The fact is that the connection between a person and the environment...
  3. Why is it important to take care of nature? Is the immorality of society main reason environmental problems? The text by V. Rasputin makes us think about these questions. Here the author raises...
  4. In his works, the scientist, thinker and writer of Russian origin, Dmitry Sergeevich Likhachev, touches on topics related to questions moral character young citizens of our country, their morality...
  5. What does a cruel, consumerist attitude towards nature lead to? Has humanity reached a point beyond which it faces self-destruction, or is there still hope to awaken in the hearts...
  6. Writer-publicist V.M. Peskov raises in his text the problem of ecology and human indifference to it. Technological progress gives us certain benefits, but every year...
  7. Are there people who do not respect the work and efforts of other people? The outstanding Russian writer Viktor Petrovich Astafiev reveals the problem of disrespectful attitude towards people. In the proposed...
  8. IntroductionHow painful it is when a person is abandoned by the people closest to his heart. People for whom I am ready to give my life. The problem raised by the author of the text In this text...
  9. Our focus is on the work of V. M. Peskov, a writer, journalist and traveler, which describes the problem of a barbaric, consumer attitude towards nature. In the text the author discusses...
  10. Subject prophetic dreams has worried humanity since time immemorial. Many books contain descriptions of the dreams of the characters in the plot and their interpretation. G. Rogov also discusses the issue of dreams...

.
The problem of a kind and compassionate attitude towards nature according to the text by M. M. Prishvin (“The old hunter Manuylo knew without a watch...”) (Unified State Examination in Russian)

Essay on the topic: The old hunter Manuilo knew the time like a rooster without a watch

Sample and example of essay No. 1

Nature is our home, rich, hospitable and generous. Its doors are always wide open for people. Here you can find not only a permanent shelter, but also relax your soul, “recharge” with vigor and creative inspiration. This house should always remain a reliable home for all inhabitants: people, animals, birds and fish. It should be decorated with dense forests, rivers and lakes with clear, clean water.

Writer and publicist M. M. Prishvin, who set out with a notebook and pencil, a gun and a camera along many forest roads and paths, left readers with works that teach them to love nature and treat it with care. Touching upon the problem of the relationship between man and nature in this text, the author wants to say that people should be kind, reasonable masters of their enormous common house.

In the vast expanses of this house you can always find places that generations of people treat with special respect and love. In the text M.M. Prishvin talks about one of these places, bearing unusual name- Red Manes. The high ship thicket just recently rustled in the wind with thick foliage, captivated the eye with its lush beauty, attracted hunters, and served as a haven for animals and birds.

“Say goodbye, children, to the Red Manes!” - the old hunter Manuilo sadly says to Mitrash and Nastya, who already realized on the powder-filled road that trouble had happened to the ship’s thicket. “In a large visible space, only wide stumps from huge trees were visible” - this is how the Red Manes appeared before the hunters. The wood grouse, out of habit, gathered in the spring at their native land to “celebrate” weddings, looked defenseless and homeless.

We find a similar sad picture in the story of E.I. Nosov "Doll". “And don’t even unwind the fishing rods! Don't poison your soul! There’s no more business... there’s no more!” - complains bitterly main character works - Akimych. Over the course of several years, due to the fault of people, a river with rapids and whirlpools, where there was real freedom for fishermen, turned into “a river barely oozing with subdued water.”

Traces of people's indifferent attitude towards nature can be seen everywhere today. In pursuit of profit, irresponsible “owners” mercilessly cut down forests, without thinking about how many years a tree needs to grow to achieve real strength and beauty. Ruthlessly exterminating animals, people every year add to the list of fauna representatives listed in the Red Book.

I would like the story told by the writer M.M. Prishvin, the story of the Red Manes helped many to think about the fate of our common home - nature. It should always remain beautiful and cozy, giving the opportunity to enjoy life to everyone living in it.

Sample and Example short essay No. 2 on the topic: The old hunter Manuylo knew the time like a rooster without a watch. How to write a mini essay with a plan

Nature. Why do we treat it so destructively? Why do we pollute the air and water, cut down forests, and exterminate animals? When will we understand that we ourselves are part of nature? These and other questions arose in my mind after reading M.M. Prishvin’s text. The writer in his text raises the problem of the destructive influence of man on nature.

He talks about the old hunter Manuilo, who, returning from Moscow, heard “as if the forest on Krasnye Griva had gone under the ax this winter.” He decided to make sure of this. It turned out that “Red Manes with capercaillie current were cut down this winter.” They decided to go and see how the wood grouse were doing. What they saw amazed them.

“In a large visible space there were only wide stumps from huge trees, and on the stumps, on the very stumps, wood grouse sat and sang!” Defenseless and homeless are now wood grouse. The surprised hunters did not shoot. The problem that the author raises made me think deeply about the impact of man on nature. The author’s position is clear: man, through his activities, causes irreparable damage to nature. By cutting down forests, people deprive familiar environment habitats of their inhabitants. A person should not destroy thoughtlessly. Nature must be protected. I agree with the author's point of view.

We are destroying nature, treating it in a consumerist and often barbaric manner. We pollute the air and water, cut down forests, the lungs of the planet, feed the earth with nitrates... Scientists warn that we are cutting off the branch on which we are sitting. We ourselves are part of nature. By destroying nature, we are bringing disaster closer to all humanity. Already today we see that nature is beginning to take revenge. Writers often address this issue, reminding us that nature must be protected. I'll try to prove this.

In V.P. Astafiev’s story “The Fish Tsar,” the main character Utrobin fishes all his life, just as his father and grandfather did. The entire village is engaged in poaching and illegal fishing. Utrobin does this with passion. He wants to be the first fisherman, to catch the most, to catch valuable and big fish. And indeed, he succeeded in this. For this, men respect him. And only after meeting the king fish, after a duel with her for life, Utrobin realizes that he has been doing the wrong thing all his life. Caught, destroyed, destroyed.

Without giving anything in return, without creating. Why did he need so many fish? He didn't know. He suddenly realized that fish are part of the same nature, of which man himself is a part. Who gave him the right to destroy her so barbarously? In Leo Tolstoy's epic novel "War and Peace" we see a hunting scene where landowners hunt an old seasoned wolf, chasing him with dogs.

They have fun and competition, but the wolf has death. For what? Thus, man, through his activities, causes irreparable damage to nature, without thinking about it. We constantly take from nature, but give back negligibly little. What could this lead to? To disaster! Everyone must understand that nature must be treated with care. And you need to start with yourself. Don't destroy nature!

Sample and example of short essay No. 3 on the topic: The old hunter Manuylo knew the time like a rooster without a watch. Arguments from literature. Text problem

Development of civilization and relief human life often carries not only good, but also a detrimental effect on nature.

Factories, sawmills, chemical industry, mining and much more have a negative impact on the environment and can lead to devastating consequences for nature.

Animals and birds become victims of human activity, they are deprived of food and the place where they lived: “And among wood grouse this happens in its own way, but it is also very, very similar to humans: on the stump of the same tree where he used to sing, hidden in thick foliage high up, now he sits on this stump defenseless and sings.”

How animals suffer from deforestation can be understood from the sentence: “In the same place where the Red Manes used to be, in a large visible space there were only wide stumps from huge trees, and on the stumps, on the very stumps, wood grouse sat and sang !

I support the author: we are obliged to protect nature. A.P. Chekhov in the play “Uncle Vanya” clearly shows his position in relation to human activity: “You can heat stoves with peat, and build sheds from stone. Well, I admit, cut down forests out of necessity, but why destroy them? Russian forests are cracking under the ax, billions of trees are dying, the homes of animals and birds are being devastated, rivers are shallowing and drying up, wonderful landscapes are disappearing irrevocably, and all because a lazy person does not have enough sense to bend down and pick up fuel from the ground.”

Nature takes revenge for such a careless attitude, because today we breathe polluted air, it is impossible to swim in rivers, acid rain destroy monuments. We must come to our senses, otherwise a very dark future awaits us.

Sample and example of short essay No. 4 on the topic: The old hunter Manuylo knew the time like a rooster without a watch. Examples from life and works of literature with arguments

Have you ever wondered why the topic of the relationship between man and nature remains relevant at all times? Does this mean that the urgency of the problem is determined by our inactivity and selfishness? Or maybe mindless consumption of free resources is not a problem? About the destructive influence human activity M.M. discusses nature in the text given to me. Prishvin. The author is truly concerned about this problem, because we're talking about about the world in which he lives and subsequent generations of people will live. Watching the characters in the text with us, the writer demonstrates the tragedy of the current situation. The old hunter, having learned that the forest on Krasnye Griva had “gone under the ax,” decided to see this with his own eyes.

Unfortunately, the deplorable state of the forest was not just idle rumors: Red Manes with capercaillie current were chopped down and floated to the shores. The author draws the reader's attention to the fact that the inhabitants of this forest now had to sing on bare stumps, like a fire victim on the ruins of his own house. And now there was no way to protect themselves even from the rain: along with the beauty of the forest, people took away the safety and comfort of its inhabitants, and, therefore, the opportunity in the future to enjoy the singing of wood grouse and the beauty of the place where extraordinary birds once flocked, “like the souls of the northern forests."

MM. Prishvin believes that man, through his activities, is capable of causing irreparable damage to nature: by cutting down forests, we deprive its inhabitants of their homes, and deprive ourselves of the opportunity to enjoy the beauties and sounds of the world around us. It is impossible not to agree with the author's opinion. Indeed, human consumerism towards the environment, deforestation and poaching, pollution environment and the construction of obviously destructive plants and factories - all this destroys our nature. At the same time, we doom ourselves and our children to a future without incredible beauty and clean air, without necessary for a person unity with the outside world. But it is worth noting that this element also has its own character and leaves revenge behind itself. So, for example, in the story of V.P. Astafiev’s “Tsar Fish”, the main character and, probably, the most important poacher, Utrobin, is engaged in massive, reckless fishing.

He destroys and ruins nature until it gives the hero the opportunity to feel his vulnerability. At one point, a very large “Tsar Fish” drags Utrobin to the bottom, leaving him a few seconds to say goodbye to life. At that moment, the unfortunate poacher realized all his sins and all his mistakes, while, naturally, realizing the full power of nature. The mass catching was over. Having miraculously survived, Utrobin also reconsidered his views on his own life.

The problem of the destructive influence of human activity on nature was also raised by B. Vasiliev in the novel “Don’t Shoot White Swans.” The author draws our attention to the fact that after vacation, tourists and poachers leave the lake in a terrible, lifeless state. The writer sincerely does not understand people who burn anthills and exterminate swans. Logically, a person, enjoying the beauties given to him, should, on the contrary, do so that as much as possible more people saw it. But most people, unfortunately, do not follow the laws of reason, although there are those who are ready to preserve and protect nature.

This is the hero of the novel, Polushkin, he strives to preserve the world around us and teaches this to his son. And as long as there are such people in the world, perhaps all is not lost. Thus, we can conclude that our future depends on each of us. If we all love and respect nature, take care of ourselves and our loved ones and enjoy the beauty of the world around us without harming it, then in this case humanity still has a chance to be saved. After all, man is completely dependent on nature, and you have to be a very stupid creature to cut the branch on which you are sitting.

Source text in full version for writing the exam

(1) The old hunter Manuilo, without a watch, knew the time like a rooster. (2) Touching Mitrasha, he whispered to him:

- Get up yourself, and don’t wake the girl, let her sleep.

“(3) This is not that kind of girl,” answered Mitrasha, “you can’t hold her.” (4) Nastya, go up to the wood grouse!

- (5) Let's go! - Nastya answered, standing up.

(6) And all three left the hut.

(7) The swamp smells good with the first spring water, but the last snow smells no worse on it. (8)Yes great power joy in the aroma of such snow, and this joy in the darkness carried the children to unknown lands, where extraordinary birds flock, like the souls of the northern forests.

(9) But Manuila had his own special concern on this night trip. (10) Having recently returned from Moscow, he heard from someone that the forest on Krasnye Griva fell under the ax this winter.

(11) Feeling your way with your feet in different sides, Manuylo soon realized that under his foot there was a piece of ice covered with powder - an icy road built in winter time for transporting round timber to the river bank.

- (12) Our business is bad! - he said.

(13) Mitrasha asked why things were bad. (14) Manuilo showed Mitrash the ice cube and, after a pause, said sadly:

- (15) Let's say goodbye, children, to the Red Manes!

(16) Mitrasha realized that the Red Manes with capercaillie currents had been cut down this winter and floated to the shores.

- (17) Back? he asked.

- (18) Why go back? - Manuilo answered, “it’s not far from here, let’s go and see what the wood grouse are thinking about now.”

(19) We walked through the darkness. (20) And suddenly the wood grouse clearly began to play to the hunter’s ears.

- (21) Singing! - said Manuilo.

(22) The capercaillie sings and does not hear the hunters running up to him. (23) He will stop, and the hunters will freeze at the same moment.

(24) It was still completely dark and indistinguishable when the people suddenly stopped, as if amazed... (25) The hunters froze not because the capercaillie stopped singing and they had to wait until he started singing again and went deaf. short time, some five or six human leaps forward.

(26) The hunters froze from something unprecedented with them: not one wood grouse sang, but many, and it was impossible to understand in this multitude of sounds which wood grouse sang his song and now perfectly hears the steps of the hunters, and, alarmed, only occasionally “flows”, and which one just starts his own song and then stalls for a while. (27) It turned out that there was no forest around at all, only the undergrowth remained after cutting down - various bushes and frail trees. (28) In the same place where the Red Manes used to be, in a large visible space there were only wide stumps from huge trees, and on the stumps, on the very stumps, wood grouse sat and sang!

(29) Some birds were close, but what kind of hunter would raise his hand against such a capercaillie! (30) Each hunter now understood the bird well, imagining that his own lived-in and dear house had burned down, and that he, arriving at the wedding, saw only charred logs. (31) And for wood grouse it comes out in its own way, but it is also very, very similar to a human one: on the stump of the same tree where he used to sing, hidden high up in the thick foliage, now he sits on this stump defenseless and sings. (32) The surprised hunters did not dare to shoot at the now homeless wood grouse singing on the stumps.

(33) The hunters didn’t have to think long: the spring rain poured in, leaving those well-known spring tears of joy on people’s windows, gray, but so beautiful to us all! (34) The wood grouse immediately all fell silent: some jumped from the stumps and ran somewhere wet, some took to their wings and all flew away to no one knows where.

(According to M. M. Prishvin*)

* Mikhail Mikhailovich Prishvin (1873-1954) - Russian Soviet writer, publicist.

(1) The old hunter Manuilo, without a watch, knew the time like a rooster. (2) Touching Mitrasha, he whispered to him:
- Get up yourself, and don’t wake the girl, let her sleep.
“(3) This is not that kind of girl,” answered Mitrasha, “you can’t hold her back.”


Composition

Have you ever wondered why the topic of the relationship between man and nature remains relevant at all times? Does this mean that the urgency of the problem is determined by our inactivity and selfishness? Or maybe mindless consumption of free resources is not a problem? M.M. discusses the destructive influence of human activity on nature in the text given to me. Prishvin.

The author is truly concerned about this problem, because we are talking about the world in which he lives, and subsequent generations of people will live. Watching the characters in the text with us, the writer demonstrates the tragedy of the current situation. The old hunter, having learned that the forest on Krasnye Griva had “gone under the ax,” decided to see this with his own eyes. Unfortunately, the deplorable state of the forest was not just idle rumors: Red Manes with capercaillie current were chopped down and floated to the shores. The author draws the reader's attention to the fact that the inhabitants of this forest now had to sing on bare stumps, like a fire victim on the ruins of his own house. And now there was no way to protect themselves even from the rain: along with the beauty of the forest, people took away the safety and comfort of its inhabitants, and, therefore, the opportunity in the future to enjoy the singing of wood grouse and the beauty of the place where extraordinary birds once flocked, “like the souls of the northern forests."

MM. Prishvin believes that man, through his activities, is capable of causing irreparable damage to nature: by cutting down forests, we deprive its inhabitants of their homes, and deprive ourselves of the opportunity to enjoy the beauties and sounds of the world around us.

It is impossible not to agree with the author's opinion. Indeed, human consumerism towards the environment, deforestation and poaching, environmental pollution and the construction of obviously destructive plants and factories - all this destroys our nature. At the same time, we doom ourselves and our children to a future without incredible beauty and clean air, without the unity that a person needs with the outside world. But it is worth noting that this element also has its own character and leaves revenge behind itself.

So, for example, in the story of V.P. Astafiev’s “Tsar Fish”, the main character and, probably, the most important poacher, Utrobin, is engaged in massive, reckless fishing. He destroys and ruins nature until it gives the hero the opportunity to feel his vulnerability. At one point, a very large “Tsar Fish” drags Utrobin to the bottom, leaving him a few seconds to say goodbye to life. At that moment, the unfortunate poacher realized all his sins and all his mistakes, while, naturally, realizing the full power of nature. The mass catching was over. Having miraculously survived, Utrobin also reconsidered his views on his own life.

The problem of the destructive influence of human activity on nature was also raised by B. Vasiliev in the novel “Don’t Shoot White Swans.” The author draws our attention to the fact that after vacation, tourists and poachers leave the lake in a terrible, lifeless state. The writer sincerely does not understand people who burn anthills and exterminate swans. Logically, a person, enjoying the beauties given to him, should, on the contrary, make sure that as many people as possible see it. But most people, unfortunately, do not follow the laws of reason, although there are those who are ready to preserve and protect nature. This is the hero of the novel, Polushkin, he strives to preserve the world around him and teaches his son this. And as long as there are such people in the world, perhaps all is not lost.

Thus, we can conclude that our future depends on each of us. If we all love and respect nature, take care of ourselves and our loved ones and enjoy the beauty of the world around us without harming it, then in this case humanity still has a chance to be saved. After all, man is completely dependent on nature, and you have to be a very stupid creature to cut the branch on which you are sitting.

And so they waited, one with their ears, the other with their eyes.

This happens, and most likely it was an elk crossing the floodplain, and thin pieces of ice rang under his feet, scattering to the sides. Then, when the elk, having overcome the catch, moved into the forest and became quiet there, Pavel said:

Let's go, I don't hear anything else.

Here again the blind man firmly grabbed the deaf man’s belt. - And so they walked.

Perhaps in the whole north there is no better hunter than Manuyla, but this time the weather deceived him too, like a little one: he believed the same thing: the frost would hold, and it would be possible to walk through the frost into the forest and return to his hut on Vygora.

No matter how much such an experienced hunter might think that the water is at his nose, the entire forest power can break off at some hour and by morning the entire floodplain will become the sea!

Understanding this, you need to understand that such a daredevil follows the law until the last hour and believes in the law, and if some random lawlessness comes out not of his own accord, then why be afraid of chance: we have all seen, Russian people, where ours is not disappeared!

Without a watch, Manuilo knew the clock like a rooster. Touching Mitrasha, he whispered to him:

Get up yourself, and don’t wake the girl, let her sleep.

“This is not that kind of girl,” answered Mitrasha, “you can’t hold her back, Nastya, rise up to the wood grouse!”

Let's go! - Nastya answered, getting up.

And all three left the hut.

The swamp smells good of the first spring water, but the last snow smells just as good. There is a great power of joy in the aroma of such snow, and this joy in the darkness carried the children to unknown lands, where extraordinary birds flock, like the souls of the northern forests.

But Manuila had his own special concern on this night trip. Having recently returned from Moscow, while walking he heard from someone that the Red Manes had gone under the ax this winter. Who said it, where was it said? Now Manuilo remembered and could not remember, and began to think whether he had been deceived, whether he had imagined it in a dream.

So the children walked in the dark, trusting their feet, listening to their feet, just as you listen to your eyes during the day. And they began to feel the ground differently: there was still deep snow here, now bound by crust. They walked on the crust as if on a tablecloth, and even better: the crust did not sink, but seemed to spring a little, and that made walking more fun.

Remembering on such a road about the cutting down of the capercaillie current Krasnye Griv, Manuylo said decisively:

We made a mistake!

As soon as he said this, his leg told him about something completely different than the springy crust.

Having felt his way with his feet in different directions, Manuilo soon realized that under his foot there was an ice block covered with powder: an icy road, built in winter for the removal of round timber to the river bank.

Our business is bad! - he said.

Mitrasha asked why things were bad.

Manuilo showed Mitrash an ice cube.

After a pause, he said sadly:

Say goodbye, children, to the Red Manes!

Mitrasha realized that the Red Manes with capercaillie currents had been cut down this winter and floated to the shores.

Back? - he asked.

Why back? - answered Manuilo, “it’s not far from here, let’s go and see what the wood grouse are thinking about now.”

Silich walked sideways towards the current and did not go out onto the ice. He knew such a direct path to the current that every year he went straight to the song and now gropingly walked and walked, and finally, as if he had imagined something, he stopped.

It was very dark in the forest.

And he knew that it is darkest before dawn.

There was no one around tall tree There were bushes and undergrowth all around, but there was no forest at all.

But you never know what happens in the forest at night. Understanding by instinct that this was the darkest time, Silych began to listen and wait...

So the brothers, too, in the dark, having guessed the location of the current, hid.

At this very time, the hour was creeping up on people when a friendly spring begins and, as it were, rushes with all its water onto a person’s cause.

At this very time, that hour passionately awaited by hunters is approaching, that winged hour in nature, when the sleeping beauty awakens and says: “Oh, how long I slept!”

It started somewhere on some tree, on some very thin branch, bare in winter. Two drops had accumulated there due to dampness - one higher, the other lower.

Increasing the dampness on itself, one drop became heavier and rolled towards the other.

So, one drop caught up with another on the branch, and, connected and heavy, the two drops fell.

This is where the spring of water began.

As it fell, the heavy drop quietly hit something, and this produced a special sound in the forest, similar to: “Tek!”

And this was exactly the same sound when the capercaillie, starting his song, “teaks” in his own way in exactly the same way.

No hunter at the distance as it was could have heard this sound of the first drop of spring.

But blind Pavel heard it clearly and mistook it for the first click of a wood grouse in the dark.

He tugged at Peter's belt.

And Peter now in the darkness was as blind as Paul.

Can't see anything! - he whispered.

Singing! - Pavel answered, pointing with his fingers to the place where the sound came from.

Peter, his vision growing stronger, even opened his mouth a little.

“I don’t see,” he repeated.

In response to this, Pavel came forward, extended his hand to Peter and quietly moved forward. You really couldn’t move when you heard this capercaillie dripping, but Pavel was so used to trusting his hearing that he always allowed himself to move a little if he heard it.

So the brothers moved forward.

No,” Peter whispered, “I don’t see.”

No,” Pavel answered, “it’s not a capercaillie, it’s drops dripping from the branches, do you see that?”

And he showed it again.

Now the hunter’s soul was given over to the anticipation of the wood grouse singing, and he was completely unaware that it was water that was coming, that now they would have no way out of the forest. He was interested in only one thing now: among the flowing drops, to hear and understand the capercaillie.

Suddenly, some unknown bird, half asleep, can’t say directly that it started singing, but as happens with a person: it wants to stretch, but it seems to say something. And his friend will ask:

What are you saying?

No,” answers the awakened one, “I mean it like that...

Probably this unknown bird also squeaked something sleepily and fell silent.

But it was still not easy. At that very moment the sky became, as the hunters say, mooning.

And then the wood grouse clearly began to play to Pavel’s ear.

Singing! - said Pavel.

And the brothers, as everyone does, began to jump: the capercaillie sings and does not hear the hunters running up to him while jumping. He will stop, and the hunters will immediately freeze.

The brothers galloped to the song of the wood grouse, not quite like we all gallop alone. Thanks to the slightly brightening sky, something was still visible, and that’s why you couldn’t hit your forehead on a tree. We can also jump around a visible bright puddle, but we will still end up in an invisible one with full sight and hearing. It’s the same thing if you get deep into the swamp dough, and at that moment the capercaillie stops singing, it doesn’t matter whether he’s blind, deaf or healthy person with all your happiness, since you’ve already got it, then stand in the mud waiting for the capercaillie to play again.

The brothers jump side by side, holding hands, until the sighted eyes see the singer himself. It was always so that Paul would hear earlier than everyone else, and Peter would see earlier. And this little “before anyone else” decided the entire success of two people combined into one person: they always killed more wood grouse than individual hunters.

It was still completely dark and indistinguishable when the brothers suddenly stopped jumping and stopped as if amazed...

The same thing happened with Manuila, and Silych also started and suddenly froze.

All the hunters froze not because the capercaillie stopped singing, and they had to wait for him to start singing again and go deaf for a short time, for some five or six human leaps forward.

The hunters froze from something unprecedented with them: not just one capercaillie sang, but many, and it was impossible to understand in this multitude of sounds which capercaillie sang his song and now perfectly hears the steps of the hunters, and the alarmed one only occasionally “teaks”, and which one is now just his song It starts and stalls on its own.