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clearly。 The dinner…hour had come。
128 CHELKASH
CHAPTER I
When the dock laborers； knocking off work； had scattered about
the dock in noisy groups； buying various edibles from the women
hawking food； and were settling themselves to dinner in shady
corners on the pavement； there walked into their midst Grishka
Chelkash； an old hunted wolf； well known to all the dock
population as a hardened drunkard and a bold and dexterous thief。
He was barefoot and bareheaded； clad in old； threadbare； shoddy
breeches； in a dirty print shirt； with a torn collar that
displayed his mobile； dry； angular bones tightly covered with
brown skin。 From the ruffled state of his black； slightly
grizzled hair and the dazed look on his keen； predatory face；
it was evident that he had only just waked up。 There was a
straw sticking in one brown mustache； another straw clung to
the scrubby bristles of his shaved left cheek； and behind his
ear he had stuck a little； freshly…picked twig of lime。 Long；
bony； rather stooping； he paced slowly over the flags； and
turning his hooked； rapacious…looking nose from side to side；
he cast sharp glances about him； his cold； gray eyes shining；
as he scanned one after another among the dock laborers。 His
thick and long brown mustaches were continually twitching like
a cat's whiskers； while he rubbed his hands behind his back；
nervously clenching the long； crooked； clutching fingers。
Even here； among hundreds of striking…looking； tattered
vagabonds like himself； he attracted attention at once from
his resemblance to a vulture of the steppes； from his hungry…
looking thinness； and from that peculiar gait of his； as though
pouncing down on his prey； so smooth and easy in appearance；
but inwardly intent and alert； like the flight of the keen；
nervous bird he resembled。
129 CHELKASH
As he reached one of the groups of ragged dockers； reclining
in the shade of a stack of coal baskets； there rose to meet
him a thick…set young man； with purple blotches on his dull
face and scratches on his neck； unmistakable traces of a
recent thrashing。 He got up and walked beside Chelkash；
saying； in an undertone：
〃The dock officers have got wind of the two cases of goods。
They're on the look…out。 D'ye hear； Grishka？〃
〃What then？〃 queried Chelkash； cooly measuring him with his
eyes。
〃How 'what then？' They're on the look…out； I say。 That's all。〃
〃Did they ask for me to help them look？〃
And with an acrid smile Chelkash looked toward the storehouse
of the Volunteer Fleet。
〃You go to the devil！〃
His companion turned away。
〃Ha； wait a bit！ Who's been decorating you like that？ Why；
what a sight they have made of your signboard！ Have you seen
Mishka here？〃
〃I've not seen him this long while！〃 the other shouted； and
hastily went back to his companions。
Chelkash went on farther； greeted by everyone as a familiar
figure。 But he； usually so lively and sarcastic； was
unmistakably out of humor to…day； and made short and abrupt
replies to all inquiries。
130 CHELKASH
From behind a pile of goods emerged a customs…house officer；
a dark green； dusty figure； of military erectness。 He barred
the way for Chelkash； standing before him in a challenging
attitude； his left hand clutching the hilt of his dirk； while
with his right he tried to seize Chelkash by the collar。
〃Stop！ Where are you going？〃
Chelkash drew back a step； raised his eyes； looked at the
official； and smiled dryly。
The red； good…humoredly crafty face of the official； in its
attempt to assume a menacing air； puffed and grew round and
purple； while the brows scowled； the eyes rolled； and the
effect was very comic。
〃You've been tolddon't you dare come into the dock； or I'll
break your ribs！ And you're here again！〃 the man roared
threateningly。
〃How d'ye do； Semyonitch！ It's a long while since we've seen
each other；〃 Chelkash greeted him calmly； holding out his hand。
〃Thankful never to see you again！ Get along； get along！〃
But yet Semyonitch took the outstretched hand。
〃You tell me this；〃 Chelkash went on； his gripping fingers
still keeping their hold of Semyonitch's hand； and shaking
it with friendly familiarity； 〃haven't you seen Mishka？〃
〃Mishka； indeed； who's Mishka？ I don't know any Mishka。 Get
along； mate！ or the inspector'll see you； he'll〃
〃The red…haired fellow that I worked with last time on the
'Kostroma'？〃 Chelkash persisted。
〃That you steal with； you'd better say。 He's been taken to
the hospital； your Mishka； his foot was crushed by an iron
bar。 Go away； mate； while you're asked to civilly； go away；
or I'll chuck you out by the scruff of your neck。〃
131 CHELKASH
〃A…ha； that's like you！ And you say…you don't know Mishka！
But I say； why are you so cross； Semyonitch？〃
〃I tell you； Grishka； don't give me any of your jaw。 Go…o！〃
The official began to get angry and； looking from side to side；
tried to pull his hand away from Chelkash's firm grip。
Chelkash looked calmly at him from under his thick eyebrows；
smiled behind his mustache and not letting go of his hand；
went on talking。
〃Don't hurry me。 I'll just have my chat out with you； and
then I'll go。 Come； tell us how you're getting on； wife
and children quite well？〃 And with a spiteful gleam in his
eyes； he added； showing his teeth in a mocking grin：
〃I've been meaning to pay you a call for ever so long； but
I've not had the time； I'm always drinking； you see。〃
〃Nownow then…you drop that！ Younone of your jokes； you
bony devil。 I'm in earnest； my man。 So you mean you're coming
stealing in the houses and the streets？〃
〃What for？ Why there's goods enough here to last our timefor
you and me。 By God； there's enough； Semyonitch！ So you've
been filching two cases of goods； eh？ Mind； Semyonitch； you'd
better look out？ You'll get caught one day！〃
Enraged by Chelkash's insolence； Semyonitch turned blue； and
struggled； spluttering and trying to say something。
132 CHELKASH
Chelkash let go of his hand； and with complete composure
strode back to the dock gates。 The customs…house officer
followed him； swearing furiously。 Chelkash grew more
cheerful； he whistled shrilly through his teeth； and
thrusting his hands in his breeches pockets； walked with the
deliberate gait of a man of leisure； firing off to right and
to left biting jeers and jests。 He was followed by retorts
in the same vein。
〃I say； Grishka； what good care they do take of you！ Made
your inspection； eh？〃 shouted one out of a group of dockers；
who had finished dinner and were lying on the ground； resting。
〃I'm barefoot； so here's Semyonitch watching that I shouldn't
graze my foot on anything；〃 answered Che