按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the black water of the sea a huge fiery blue sword； it rose
up； cleaving the darkness of night； its blade glided through
the clouds in the sky； and lay； a broad blue streak on the
bosom of the sea。 It lay there； and in the streak of its light
there sprang up out of the darkness ships unseen till then；
black and mute； shrouded in the thick night mist。
155 CHELKASH
It seemed as though they had lain long at the bottom of the
sea； dragged down by the mighty hands of the tempest； and now
behold they had been drawn up by the power and at the will of
this blue fiery sword； born of the seahad been drawn up to
gaze upon the sky and all that was above the water。 Their
rigging wrapped about the masts and looked like clinging
seaweeds； that had risen from the depths with these black
giants caught in their snares。 And it rose upward again from
the sea； this strange blue sword；rose； cleft the night again；
and again fell down in another direction。 And again； where it
lay； there rose up out of the dark the outlines of vessels；
unseen before。
Chelkash's boat stopped and rocked on the water； as though in
uncertainty。 Gavrilo lay at the bottom； his face hidden in
his hands； until Chelkash poked him with an oar and whispered
furiously； but softly：
〃Fool； it's the customs cruiser。 That's the electric light！
Get up； blockhead！ Why； they'll turn the light on us in a
minute！ You'll be the ruin of yourself and me！ Come！〃
And at last； when a blow from the sharp end of the oar struck
Gavrilo's head more violently； he jumped up； still afraid to
open his eyes； sat down on the seat； and； fumbling for the
oars； rowed the boat on。
〃Quietly！ I'll kill you！ Didn't I tell you？ There； quietly！
Ah； you fool； damn you！ What are you frightened of？ Eh； pig
face？ A lantern and a reflector； that's all it is。 Softly
with the oars！ Mawkish devil！ They turn the reflector this
way and that way； and light up the sea； so as to see if there
are folks like you and me afloat。
156 CHELKASH
To catch smugglers； they do it。They won't get us； they've
sailed too far off。 Don't be frightened； lad； they won't catch
us。 Now we〃 Chelkash looked triumphantly round。 〃It's over；
we've rowed out of reach！ Fooo！ Come； you're in luck。〃
Gavrilo sat mute； he rowed； and breathing hard； looked askance
where that fiery sword still rose and sank。 He was utterly
unable to believe Chelkash that it was only a lantern and a
reflector。 The cold； blue brilliance； that cut through the
darkness and made the sea gleam with silver light； had
something about it inexplicable； portentous； and Gavrilo now
sank into a sort of hypnotized； miserable terror。 Some vague
presentiment weighed aching on his breast。 He rowed
automatically； with pale face； huddled up as though expecting
a blow from above； and there was no thought； no desire in him
now； he was empty and soulless。 The emotions of that night
had swallowed up at last all that was human in him。
But Chelkash was triumphant again； complete success！ all
anxiety at an end！ His nerves； accustomed to strain； relaxed；
returned to the normal。 His mustaches twitched voluptuously；
and there was an eager light in his eyes。 He felt splendid；
whistled through his teeth； drew in deep breaths of the damp
sea air； looked about him in the darkness； and laughed good…
naturedly when his eyes rested on Gavrilo。
The wind blew up and waked the sea into a sudden play of fine
ripples。 The clouds had become； as it were； finer and more
transparent； but the sky was still covered with them。
157 CHELKASH
The wind； though still light； blew freely over the sea； yet
the clouds were motionless and seemed plunged in some gray；
dreary dream。
〃Come； mate； pull yourself together！ it's high time！ Why；
what a fellow you are； as though all the breath had been
knocked out of your skin； and only a bag of bones was left！
My dear fellow！ It's all over now！ Hey！〃
It was pleasant to Gavrilo to hear a human voice； even though
Chelkash it was that spoke。
〃I hear；〃 he said softly。
〃Come； then； milksop。 Come； you sit at the rudder and I'll
take the oars； you must be tired！〃
Mechanically Gavrilo changed places。 When Chelkash； as he
changed places with him； glanced into his face； and noticed
that he was staggering on his shaking legs； he felt still
sorrier for the lad。 He clapped him on the shoulder。
〃Come； come； don't be scared！ You've earned a good sum for
it。 I'll pay you richly； mate。 Would you like twenty…five
roubles； eh？〃
〃Idon't want anything。 Only to be on shore。〃
Chelkash waved his hand； spat； and fell to rowing； flinging
the oars far back with his long arms。
The sea had waked up。 It frolicked in little waves； bringing
them forth； decking them with a fringe of foam； flinging them
on one another； and breaking them up into tiny eddies。 The
foam； melting； hissed and sighed； and everything was filled
with the musical plash and cadence。 The darkness seemed more
alive。
158 CHELKASH
〃Come； tell me；〃 began Chelkash； 〃you'll go home to the village；
and you'll marry and begin digging the earth and sowing corn；
your wife will bear you children； food won't be too plentiful；
and so you'll grind away all your life。 Well？ Is there such
sweetness in that？〃
〃Sweetness！〃 Gavrilo answered； timid and trembling； 〃what；
indeed？〃
The wind tore a rent in the clouds and through the gap peeped
blue bits of sky； with one or two stars。 Reflected in the
frolicking sea； these stars danced on the waves； vanishing and
shining out again。
〃More to the right！〃 said Chelkash。 〃Soon we shall be there。
Well； well！ It's over。 A haul that's worth it！ See here。
One night； and I've made five hundred roubles！ Eh？ What do
you say to that？〃
〃Five hundred？〃 Gavrilo； drawled； incredulously； but he was
seared at once； and quickly asked； prodding the bundle in the
boat with his foot。 〃Why； what sort of thing may this be？〃
〃That's silk。 A costly thing。 All that； if one sold it for
its value； would fetch a thousand。 But I sell cheap。 Is that
smart business？〃
〃I saay？〃 Gavrilo drawled dubiously。 〃If only I'd all that！〃
be sighed； recalling all at once the village； his poor little
bit of land； his poverty； his mother； and all that was so far
away and so near his heart； for the sake of which he bad gone
to seek work； for the sake of which he had suffered such
agonies that night。 A flood of memories came back to him of
his village； running down the steep slope to the river and
losing itself in a whole forest of birch trees； willows； and
mountain…ashes。 These memories breathed something warm into
him and cheered him up。 〃Ah； it would be grand！〃 he sighed
mournfully。