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All around was silent。 Not a sound but the sighs of the sea；
and it seemed as though this silence would instantly be rent
by something fearful； furiously loud； something that would
shake the sea to its depths； tear apart these heavy flocks of
clouds on the sky； and scatter all these black ships。 The
clouds were crawling over the sky as dismally as before； more
of them still rose up out of the sea； and； gazing at the sky；
one might believe that it； too； was a sea； but a sea in
agitation； and grown petrified in its agitation； laid over
that other sea beneath； that was so drowsy； serene； and smooth。
The clouds were like waves； flinging themselves with curly gray
crests down upon the earth and into the abysses of space； from
which they were torn again by the wind； and tossed back upon
the rising billows of cloud； that were not yet hidden under the
greenish foam of their furious agitation。
151 CHELKASH
Gavrilo felt crushed by this gloomy stillness and beauty； and
felt that he longed to see his master come back quickly。 And
how was it that he lingered there so long？ The time passed
slowly； more slowly than those clouds crawled over the sky。
And the stillness grew more malignant as time went on。 From
the wall of the quay came the sound of splashing； rustling；
and something like whispering。 It seemed to Gavrilo that he
would die that moment。
〃Hi！ Asleep？ Hold it！ Carefully！〃 sounded the hollow voice
of Chelkash。
From the wall something cubical and heavy was let down。
Gavrilo took it into the boat。 Something else like it
followed。 Then across the wall stretched Chelkash's long
figure； the oars appeared from somewhere； Gavrilo's bag
dropped at his feet； and Chelkash； breathing heavily； settled
himself in the stern。
Gavrilo gazed at him with a glad and timid smile。
〃Tired？〃
〃Bound to be that； calf！ Come now； row your best！ Put your
back into it！ You've earned good wages； mate。 Half the job's
done。 Now we've only to slip under the devils' noses； and
then you can take your money and go off to your Mashka。
You've got a Mashka； I suppose； eh； kiddy？〃
〃Nno！〃 Gavrilo strained himself to the utmost； working his
chest like a pair of bellows； and his arms like steel springs。
The water gurgled under the boat； and the blue streak behind
the stern was broader now。 Gavrilo was soaked through with
sweat at once； but he still rowed on with all his might。
152 CHELKASH
After living through such terror twice that night； he dreaded
now having to go through it a third time； and longed for one
thing onlyto make an end quickly of this accursed task； to
get on to land； and to run away from this man； before he
really did kill him； or get him into prison。 He resolved not
to speak to him about anything； not to contradict him； to do
all he told him； and； if he should succeed in getting
successfully quit of him； to pay for a thanksgiving service
to be said to…morrow to Nikolai the Wonder…worker。 A passionate
prayer was ready to burst out from his bosom。 But he restrained
himself； puffed like a steamer； and was silent； glancing from
under his brows at Chelkash。
The latter； with his lean； long figure bent forward like a bird
about to take flight； stared into the darkness ahead of the
boat with his hawk eyes； and turning his rapacious； hooked nose
from side to side； gripped with one hand the rudder handle；
while with the other he twirled his mustache； that was
continually quivering with smiles。 Chelkash was pleased with
his success； with himself； and with this youth； who had been so
frightened of him and had been turned into his slave。 He had a
vision of unstinted dissipation to…morrow； while now he enjoyed
the sense of his strength； which had enslaved this young； fresh
lad。 He watched how he was toiling； and felt sorry for him；
wanted to encourage him。
'Eh！〃 he said softly； with a grin。 〃Were you awfully scared？
eh？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 sighed Gavrilo； and he cleared his throat。
153 CHELKASH
〃But now you needn't work so at the oars。 Ease off！ There's
only one place now to pass。 Rest a bit。〃
Gavrilo obediently paused； rubbed the sweat off his face with
the sleeve of his shirt； and dropped the oars again into the
water。
〃Now； row more slowly； so that the water shouldn't bubble。
We've only the gates to pass。 Softly； softly。 For they're
serious people here； mate。 They might take a pop at one in a
minute。 They'd give you such a bump on your forehead； you
wouldn't have time to call out。〃
The boat now crept along over the water almost without a sound。
Only from the oars dripped blue drops of water； and when they
trickled into the sea； a blue patch of light was kindled for a
minute where they fell。 The night had become still warmer and
more silent。 The sky was no longer like a sea in turmoil； the
clouds were spread out and covered it with a smooth； heavy
canopy that hung low over the water and did not stir。 And the
sea was still more calm and black； and stronger than ever was
the warm salt smell from it。
〃Ah； if only it would rain！〃 whispered Chelkash。 〃We could get
through then； behind a curtain as it were。〃
On the right and the left of the boat； like houses rising out
of the black water； stood barges； black； motionless； and
gloomy。 On one of them moved a light； some one was walking up
and down with a lantern。 The sea stroked their sides with a
hollow sound of supplication； and they responded with an echo；
cold and resonant； as though unwilling to yield anything。
154 CHELKASH
〃The coastguards！〃 Chelkash whispered hardly above a breath。
From the moment when he had bidden him row more slowly； Gavrilo
had again been overcome by that intense agony of expectation。
He craned forward into the darkness； and he felt as though he
were growing bigger； his bones and sinews were strained with
a dull ache； his head； filled with a single idea； ached； the
skin on his back twitched； and his legs seemed pricked with
sharp； chill little pins and needles。 His eyes ached from the
strain of gazing into the darkness； whence he expected every
instant something would spring up and shout to them： 〃Stop；
thieves！〃
Now when Chelkash whispered： 〃The coastguards！〃 Gavrilo
shuddered； and one intense； burning idea passed through him；
and thrilled his overstrained nerves； he longed to cry out； to
call men to his aid。 He opened his mouth； and half rose from
his seat； squared his chest； drew in a full draught of breath
and opened his mouthbut suddenly； struck down by a terror
that smote him like a whip； he shut his eyes and rolled forward
off his seat。
Far away on the horizon； ahead of the boat； there rose up out
of the black water of the sea a huge fiery blue sword； it rose
up； cleavin