Three armed men in Zmiihorod

These three men, dressed as members of the local watch, confronted Davajaav, Ivan and Lada in an alley while the latter were looking for a smith. They claimed that they knew the party had bribed their way in after the gates were closed - a crime they alleged carried a fine of 50 kopecks. After the trio said they couldn't and wouldn't pay, the three beat them, left them for dead, and took all their money, as well as the horse and sleigh they rode from Aleksandrovka to Zmiihorod.
It was later learned that one of their number, called Mitya, took the stolen horse to Yasnyi, his home village. Through the efforts of Sister Irina, the horse was recovered without the use of force. It is possible that the sled remains in his possession.