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〃I'm barefoot； so here's Semyonitch watching that I shouldn't
graze my foot on anything；〃 answered Chelkash。
They reached the gates。 Two soldiers felt Chelkash all over；
and gave him a slight shove into the streets。
〃Don't let him go！〃 wailed Semyonitch； who had stayed behind
in the dockyard。
Chelkash crossed the road and sat down on a stone post opposite
the door of the inn。 From the dock gates rolled rumbling an
endless string of laden carts。 To meet them； rattled empty
carts； with their drivers jolting up and down in them。 The
dock vomited howling din and biting dust； and set the earth
quaking。
Chelkash； accustomed to this frenzied uproar； and roused by
his scene with Semyonitch； felt in excellent spirits。 Before
him lay the attractive prospect of a substantial haul； which
would call for some little exertion and a great deal of
dexterity； Chelkash was confident that he had plenty of the
latter； and； half…closing his eyes； dreamed of how he would
indulge to~morrow morning when the business would be over and
the notes would be rustling in his pocket。
133 CHELKASH
Then he thought of his comrade； Mishka； who would have been
very useful that night； if he had not hurt his foot； Chelkash
swore to himself； thinking that； all alone； without Mishka；
maybe he'd hardly manage it all。 What sort of night would it
be？ Chelkash looked at the sky； and along the street。
Half…a…dozen paces from him； on the flagged pavement； there
sat； leaning against a stone post； a young fellow in a coarse
blue linen shirt； and breeches of the same； in plaited bark
shoes； and a torn； reddish cap。 Near him lay a little bag；
and a scythe without a handle； with a wisp of hay twisted
round it and carefully tied with string。 The youth was
broad…shouldered； squarely built； flaxen headed； with a
sunburnt and weather…beaten face； and big blue eyes that
stared with confident simplicity at Chelkash。
Chelkash grinned at him； put out his tongue； and making a
fearful face； stared persistently at him with wide…open eyes。
The young fellow at first blinked in bewilderment； but then；
suddenly bursting into a guffaw； shouted through his laughter：
〃Oh！ you funny chap！〃 and half getting up from the ground；
rolled clumsily from his post to Chelkash's； upsetting his
bag into the dust； and knocking the heel of his scythe on the
stone。
〃Eh； mate； you've been on the spree； one can see！〃 he said to
Chelkash； pulling at his trousers。
〃That's so； suckling； that's so indeed！〃 Chelkash admitted
frankly； he took at once to this healthy； simple…hearted
youth； with his childish clear eyes。 〃Been off mowing； eh？〃
134 CHELKASH
〃To be sure！ You've to mow a verst to earn ten kopecks！ It's
a poor business！ Folksin masses！ Men had come tramping from
the famine parts。 They've knocked down the prices； go where
you will。 Sixty kopecks they paid in Kuban。 And in years gone
by； they do say； it was three； and four； and five roubles。〃
〃In years gone by！ Why； in years gone by； for the mere sight
of a Russian they paid three roubles out that way。 Ten years
ago I used to make a regular trade of it。 One would go to a
settlement'I'm a Russian；' one saidand they'd come and
gaze at you at once； touch you； wonder at you； andyou'd get
three roubles。 And they'd give you food and drinkstay as
long as you like！〃
As the youth listened to Chelkash； at first his mouth dropped
open； his round face expressing bewildered rapture； then；
grasping the fact that this tattered fellow was romancing； he
closed his lips with a smack and guffawed。 Chelkash kept a
serious face； hiding a smile in his mustache。
〃You funny chap； you chaff away as though it were the truth；
and I listen as if it were a bit of news！ No； upon my soul；
in years gone by〃
〃Why； and didn't I say so？ To be sure； I'm telling
you how in years gone by〃
〃Go on！〃 the lad waved his hand。 〃A cobbler； eh？ or a tailor？
or what are you？〃
〃I？〃 Chelkash queried； and after a moment's thought he said：
〃I'm a fisherman。〃
135 CHELKASH
〃A fisherman！ Really？ You catch fish？〃
〃Why fish？ Fishermen about here don't catch fish only。 They
fish more for drowned men； old anchors； sunk shipseverything！
There are hooks on purpose for all that。〃
〃Go on！ That sort of fishermen； maybe； that sing of themselves：
〃We cast our nets
Over banks that are dry；
Over storerooms and pantries！〃
〃Why； have you seen any of that sort？〃 inquired Chelkash；
looking scoffingly at him and thinking that this nice youth
was very stupid。
〃No； seen them I haven't！ I've heard tell。〃
〃Do you like them？〃
〃Like them？ May be。 They're all right； fine bold chapsfree。〃
〃And what's freedom to you？ Do you care for freedom？〃
〃Well； I should think so！ Be your own master； go where you
please； do as you like。 To be sure！ If you know how to behave
yourself； and you've nothing weighing upon youit's first rate。
Enjoy yourself all you can； only be mindful of God。〃
Chelkash spat contemptuously； and turning away from the youth；
dropped the conversation。
〃Here's my case now；〃 the latter began； with sudden animation。
〃As my father's dead； my bit of land's small； my mother's old；
all the land's sucked dry； what am I to do？ I must live。 And
how？ There's no telling。
136 CHELKASH
〃Am I to marry into some well…to…do house？ I'd be glad to； if
only they'd let their daughter have her share apart。
〃Not a bit of it； the devil of a father…in…law won't consent
to that。 And so I shall have to slave for himfor ever so
longfor years。 A nice state of things； you know！
〃But if I could earn a hundred or a hundred and fifty roubles；
I could stand on my own feet； and look askance at old Antip；
and tell him straight out！ Will you give Marfa her share
apart？ No？ all right； then！ Thank God； she's not the only
girl in the village。 And I should be； I mean； quite free and
independent。
〃Ah； yes！〃 the young man sighed。 〃But as 'tis； there's
nothing for it； but to marry and live at my father…in…law's。
I was thinking I'd go； d'ye see； to Kuban； and make some two
hundred roubles…straight off！ Be a gentleman！ But there；
it was no go！ It didn't come off。 Well； I suppose I'll have
to work for my father…in…law！ Be a day…laborer。 For I'll
never manage on my own bitnot anyhow。 Heigh…ho！〃
The lad extremely disliked the idea of bondage to his future
father…in…law。 His face positively darkened and looked gloomy。
He shifted clumsily on the ground and drew Chelkash out of the
reverie into which he had sunk during his speech。
Chelkash felt that he had no inclination now to talk to him；
yet he asked him another question： 〃Where are you going now？〃
137 CHELKA