The hunters will arrive at the hunting grounds towards evening and do a little shooting; tomorrow they will continue on to better hunting grounds. They may be able to stop and do some shooting along the way, but it is hot and there may be nothing to shoot. It is a bit of a lie, for Levin can shoot anytime in these smaller spots, and he is hoping to pass them by without notice. Unfortunately, Stepan Arkadyevitch has a trained eye, and he spies some reeds. Before they can even stop, the dogs have already flown one bird. Levin hopes they find nothing but little birds so they can move on, and that is what happens. Nevertheless, the two visitors enjoy it immensely.

The horses take off with a start, and Levin bumps his head against the stock of Veslovsky’s gun. The gun fires. The man had carelessly left one hammer cocked and ready to fire. No one is hurt, but Veslovsky is distressed. Finally he laughs and the other two join him. When they reach the second marsh, Levin tries to dissuade them from hunting but is unsuccessful. He stays with the horses and carriage while the two men hunt.

Veslovsky misses a grouse but follows up and is able to shoot it. He can see that Levin wishes he could join the hunt, so he generously offers to stay with the carriage. Laska is used to this place and quickly scents a bird. Levin’s heart begins to beat with excitement and he calls Stepan Arkadyevitch. All of a sudden, the sights and sounds around Levin become confusing. He hears the snap of twigs and footsteps, but he also hears the splashing of water. It is a snipe, and as Levin takes aim at it he hears more splashing and the sound of Veslovsky’s voice shouting with a strange loudness.

Levin sees that the man has his gun aimed behind the bird, but he still fires. Levin looks around and sees that Veslovsky was so eager to see the shooting that he had driven into the marsh and gotten the horses stuck in the mud. As Levin begins to pull the horses out, he is vexed not only at missing his opportunity to shoot the snipe but even more at his guests who do not even offer to help him.

Veslovsky tries to claim it was quite dry where he drove the carriage, but Levin does not respond. When he does finally try to help by pulling the wagon from behind, Veslovsky breaks the mud guard off the carriage. Levin decides the man is good-hearted and vows to be even more genial to atone for his “chilliness” the night before; when everything has been put right, Levin serves lunch.

To make up for the trouble he caused (and after eating his second chicken), Veslovsky insists on driving the carriage and sitting on the more uncomfortable box. Levin begs him to let the coachman drive, but Veslovsky will not be dissuaded. Levin is a bit afraid the man will exhaust the horses, for he clearly does not know how to rein in. Soon, however, Levin falls under the spell of Veslovsky’s good spirits until they arrive at the next marsh.