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My mother would weep； my father would weep； all my friends
would weep！ Just think of all the tears that would be shed！〃
I listened to such speeches； but was not angered by them。 A
strange thought began to stir in my mind； a thought that made
me bear with him patiently。 Many a time as be lay asleep by
my side I would watch his calm； quiet face； and think to myself；
as though groping after some idea：
〃He is my fellow…travellermy fellow…traveller。〃
At times； a dim thought would strike me； that after all Shakro
was only right in claiming so freely； and with so much
assurance； my help and my care。 It proved that he possessed
a strong will。
191 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
He was enslaving me； and I submitted； and studied his
character； following each quivering movement of the muscles
of his face； trying to foresee when and at what point he
would stop in this process of exploiting another person's
individuality。
Shakro was in excellent spirits； he sang； and slept； and
jeered at me； when he felt so disposed。 Sometimes we
separated for two or three days。 I would leave him some bread
and some money （if we had any）； and would tell him where to
meet me again。 At parting； he would follow me with a
suspicious； angry look in his eyes。 But when we met again he
welcomed me with gleeful triumph。 He always said； laughing：
〃I thought you had run off alone； and left me！ ha！ ha！ ha！〃
I brought him food； and told him of the beautiful places I had
seen； and once even； speaking of Bakhtchesarai； I told him
about our Russian poet Pushkin； and recited some of his verses。
But this produced no effect on him。
〃Oh； indeed； that is poetry； is it？ Well； songs are better
than poetry； I knew a Georgian once！ He was the man to sing！
He sang so loudso loudhe would have thought his throat
was being cut？ He finished by murdering an inn…keeper； and
was banished to Siberia。〃
Every time I returned； I sank lower and lower in the opinion
of Shakro； until he could not conceal his contempt for me。
Our position was anything but pleasant。 I was seldom lucky
enough to earn more than a rouble or a rouble and a…half a
week； and I need not say that was not nearly sufficient to
feed us both。
192 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
The few bits of money that Shakro gained by begging made but
little difference in the state of our affairs； for his belly
was a bottomless pit； which swallowed everything that fell
in its way； grapes； melons； salt fish； bread； or dried fruit；
and as time went on he seemed to need ever more and more food。
Shakro began to urge me to hasten our departure from the
Crimea； not unreasonably pointing out that autumn would soon
be here and we had a long way still to go。 I agreed with this
view； and； besides； I had by then seen all that part of the
Crimea。 So we pushed on again toward Feodosia； hoping to earn
something there。 Once more our diet was reduced to fruit； and
to hopes for the future。
Poor future！ Such a load of hopes is cast on it by men； that
it loses almost all its charms by the time it becomes the
present！
When within some twenty versts of Aloushta we stopped； as
usual； for our night's rest。 I had persuaded Shakro to keep
to the sea coast； it was a longer way round； but I longed to
breathe the fresh sea breezes。 We made a fire； and lay down
beside it。 The night was a glorious one。 The dark green sea
splashed against the rocks below； above us spread the majestic
calm of the blue heavens； and around us sweet…scented trees
and bushes rustled softly。 The moon was rising； and the
delicate tracery of the shadows； thrown by the tall； green
plane trees； crept over the stones。 Somewhere near a bird
sang； its note was clear and bold。 Its silvery trill seemed
to melt into the air that was full of the soft； caressing
splash of the waves。 The silence that followed was broken by
the nervous chirp of a cricket
193 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
The fire burned bright； and its flames looked like a large
bunch of red and yellow flowers。 Flickering shadows danced
gaily around us； as if exulting in their power of movement；
in contrast with the creeping advance of the moon shadows。
From time to time strange sounds floated through the air。
The broad expanse of sea horizon seemed lost in immensity。 In
the sky overhead not a cloud was visible。 I felt as if I were
lying on the earth's extreme edge； gazing into infinite space；
that riddle that haunts the soul。 The majestic beauty of the
night intoxicated me； while my whole being seemed absorbed in
the harmony of its colors； its sounds； and its scents。
A feeling of awe filled my soul； a feeling as if something
great were very near to me。 My heart throbbed with the joy
of life。
Suddenly； Shakro burst into loud laughter； 〃Ha！ ha！ ha！ How
stupid your face does look！ You've a regular sheep's head！
Ha！ ha！ ha！〃
I started as though it were a sudden clap of thunder。 But it
was worse。 It was laughable； yes； but oh； how mortifying it
was！
He； Shakro； laughed till the tears came。 I was ready to cry；
too； but from quite a different reason。 A lump rose in my
throat； and I could not speak。 I gazed at him with wild eyes；
and this only increased his mirth。 He rolled on the ground；
holding his sides。 As for me； I could not get over the insult
for a bitter insult it was。 Thosefew； I hopewho will
understand it； from having had a similar experience in their
lives； will recall all the bitterness it left in their souls。
194 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
〃Leave off！〃 I shouted； furiously。
He was startled and frightened； but he could not at once
restrain his laughter。 His eyes rolled； and his cheeks swelled
as if about to burst。 All at once he went off into a guffaw
again。 Then I rose and left him。
For some time I wandered about； heedless and almost unconscious
of all that surrounded me； my whole soul consumed with the
bitter pang of loneliness and of humiliation。 Mentally； I had
been embracing all nature。 Silently； with the passionate love
any man must feel if he has a little of the poet in him； I was
loving and adoring her。 And now it was nature that； under the
form of Shakro； was mocking me for my passion。 I might have
gone still further in my accusations against nature； against
Shakro； and against the whole of life； had I not been stopped
by approaching footsteps。
〃Do not be angry；〃 said Shakro in a contrite voice； touching my
shoulder lightly。 〃Were you praying？' I didn't know it； for
I never pray myself。〃
He spoke timidly； like a naughty child。 In spite of my
excitement； I could not help noticing his pitiful face
ludicrously distorted by embarrassment and alarm。
〃I will never interfere with you again。 Truly！ Never！〃 He
shook his head emphatically