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loved to feel himself better out here in the midst of the water
and the air； where the cares of life； and life itself； always
lose； the former their keenness； the latter its value。
146 CHELKASH
〃But where's the tackle？ Eh？〃 Gavrilo asked suspiciously all
at once； peering into the boat。
Chelkash started。
〃Tackle？ I've got it in the stern。〃
〃Why； what sort of tackle is it？〃 Gavrilo inquired again with
surprised suspicion in his tone。
〃What sort？ lines and〃 But Chelkash felt ashamed to lie to
this boy； to conceal his real plans； and he was sorry to lose
what this peasant…lad had destroyed in his heart by this
question。 He flew into a rage。 That scalding bitterness he
knew so well rose in his breast and his throat； and
impressively； cruelly； and malignantly he said to Gavrilo：
〃You're sitting hereand I tell you； you'd better sit quiet。
And not poke your nose into what's not your business。 You've
been hired to row； and you'd better row。 But if you can't
keep your tongue from wagging； it will be a bad lookout for
you。 D'ye see？〃
For a minute the boat quivered and stopped。 The oars rested
in the water； setting it foaming； and Gavrilo moved uneasily
on his seat。
〃Row！〃
A sharp oath rang out in the air。 Gavrilo swung the oars。
The boat moved with rapid； irregular jerks； noisily cutting
the water。
〃Steady！〃
Chelkash got up from the stern； still holding the oars in his
hands； and peering with his cold eyes into the pale and
twitching face of Gavrilo。 Crouching forward Chelkash was
like a cat on the point of springing。 There was the sound of
angry gnashing of teeth。
147 CHELKASH
〃Who's calling？〃 rang out a surly shout from the sea。
〃Now； you devil； row！ quietly with the oars！ I'll kill you；
you cur。 Come； row！ One； two！ There！ you only make a sound！
I'll cut your throat！〃 hissed Chelkash。
〃Mother of GodHoly Virgin〃 muttered Gavrilo； shaking and
numb with terror and exertion。
The boat turned smoothly and went back toward the harbor； where
the lights gathered more closely into a group of many colors
and the straight stems of masts could be seen。
〃Hi！ Who's shouting？〃 floated across again。 The voice was
farther off this time。 Chelkash grew calm again。
〃It's yourself； friend； that's shouting！〃 he said in the
direction of the shouts； and then he turned to Gavrilo； who
was muttering a prayer。
〃Well； mate； you're in luck！ If those devils had overtaken us；
it would have been all over with you。 D'you see？ I'd have you
over in a triceto the fishes！〃
Now； when Chelkash was speaking quietly and even good…humoredly；
Gavrilo； still shaking with terror； besought him！
〃Listen； forgive me！ For Christ's sake； I beg you； let me go！
Put me on shore somewhere！ Aie…aie…aie！ I'm done for
entirely！ Come； think of God； let me go！ What am I to you？
I can't do it！ I've never been used to such things。 It's the
first time。 Lord！ Why； I shall be lost！ How did you get
round me； mate？ eh？ It's a shame of you！ Why； you're ruining
a man's life！ Such doings。〃
148 CHELKASH
〃What doings？〃 Chelkash asked grimly。 〃Eh？ Well； what doings？〃
He was amused by the youth's terror； and he enjoyed it and the
sense that he； Chelkash； was a terrible person。
〃Shady doings； mate。 Let me go； for God's sake！ What am I to
you？ eh？ Gooddear！〃
〃Hold your tongue； do！ If you weren't wanted； I shouldn't have
taken you。 Do you understand？ So； shut up！〃
〃Lord！〃 Gavrilo sighed； sobbing。
〃Come； come！ you'd better mind！〃 Chelkash cut him short。
But Gavrilo by now could not restrain himself； and quietly
sobbing； he wept； sniffed； and writhed in his seat； yet rowed
vigorously； desperately。 The boat shot on like an arrow。
Again dark hulks of ships rose up on their way and the boat
was again lost among them； winding like a wolf in the narrow
lanes of water between them。
〃Here； you listen！ If anyone asks you anything； hold your
tongue； if you want to get off alive！ Do you see？〃
〃Ohoh！〃 Gavrilo sighed hopelessly in answer to the grim
advice； and bitterly he added： 〃I'm a lost man！〃
〃Don't howl！〃 Chelkash whispered impressively。
This whisper deprived Gavrilo of all power of grasping
anything and transformed him into a senseless automaton；
wholly absorbed in a chill presentiment of calamity。
149 CHELKASH
Mechanically he lowered the oars into the water； threw himself
back； drew them out and dropped them in again； all the while
staring blankly at his plaited shoes。 The waves splashed
against the vessels with a sort of menace； a sort of warning
in their drowsy sound that terrified him。 The dock was reached。
From its granite wall came the sound of men's voices； the splash
of water； singing； and shrill whistles。
〃Stop！〃 whispered Chelkash。 〃Give over rowing！ Push along with
your hands on the wall！ Quietly； you devil！〃
Gavrilo； clutching at the slippery stone； pushed the boat
alongside the wall。 The boat moved without a sound； sliding
alongside the green； shiny stone。
〃Stop！ Give me the oars！ Give them here。 Where's your
passport？ In the bag？ Give me the bag！ Come； give it here
quickly！ That； my dear fellow； is so you shouldn't run off。
You won't run away now。 Without oars you might have got off
somehow； but without a passport you'll be afraid to。 Wait
here！ But mindif you squeakto the bottom of the sea you
go！〃
And； all at once； clinging on to something with his hands；
Chelkash rose in the air and vanished onto the wall。
Gavrilo shuddered。 It had all happened so quickly。 He felt
as though the cursed weight and horror that had crushed him
in the presence of this thin thief with his mustaches was
loosened and rolling off him。 Now to run！ And breathing
freely； he looked round him。 On his left rose a black hulk；
without masts； a sort of huge coffin； mute； untenanted； and
desolate。
150 CHELKASH
Every splash of the water on its sides awakened a hollow；
resonant echo within it； like a heavy sigh。
On the right the damp stone wall of the quay trailed its
length； winding like a heavy； chill serpent。 Behind him； too；
could be seen black blurs of some sort； while in front； in the
opening between the wall and the side of that coffin； he could
see the sea； a silent waste； with the storm…clouds crawling
above it。 Everything was cold； black； malignant。 Gavrilo
felt panic…stricken。 This terror was worse than the terror
inspired in him by Chelkash； it penetrated into Gavrilo's bosom
with icy keenness； huddled him into a cowering mass； and kept
him nailed to his seat in the boat。
All around was silent。 Not a sound but the sighs of the sea；
and it seemed as though this silence would ins