The village of Ivankovo in the Province of Kostroma was small, smaller than its sometimes crowded street would make it appear; for if the truth were known, the inhabitants, numbering perhaps 50, lived in but 14 houses.
But the village was not too small to hold a great and terrible hate. There lived one Grachev, a moujik (peasant), consumed with bitterness. He alleged that, when the land had been distributed several years ago, his fellow peasants had "played him a trick." He, irate, was prompt to swear vengeance.
Last week his chance came. He had sold all his property and belongings. He had also sent his spouse to relatives for a vacation. Came a day when all the village was busy harvesting; Moujik Grachev felt in his trousers pocket, extracted a box of matches, toyed with it nervously, then flitted about the village setting fire to the houses. Back scampered the village population. Grachev welcomed them by firing a shotgun at them. Seventeen people dropped dead, many others groaned from their wounds, 13 of the village's 14 houses were burned to the ground. Grachev fled. To him revenge was very sweet.