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fingers into my mouth； and whistled as loud as I could。 They
rushed back； and at the same time we heard the sound of
approaching steps and voices。
A few minutes later； and we were comfortably seated around a
fire in the company of four shepherds； dressed in 〃touloups〃
or long sheepskin overcoats。
They scrutinized us keenly and rather suspiciously； and
remained silent all the time I was telling them our story。
Two of the shepherds were seated on the ground； smoking； and
puffing from their mouths clouds of smoke。 The third was a
tall man with a thick black beard； wearing a high fur cap。
He stood behind us； leaning on a huge knotted stick。 The
fourth man was younger； and fair haired； he was helping the
sobbing Shakro to get off his wet clothes。 An enormous stick；
the size of which alone inspired fear； lay beside each of the
seated shepherds。
Ten yards away from us all the steppe seemed covered with
something gray and undulating； which had the appearance of
snow in spring time； just when it is beginning to thaw。
208 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
It was only after a close inspection that one could discern
that this gray waving mass was composed of many thousands of
sheep； huddled closely together； asleep； forming in the dark
night one compact mass。 Sometimes they bleated piteously and
timidly。
I dried the overcoat by the fire； and told the shepherds all
our story truthfully； even describing the way in which we
became possessed of the boat。
〃Where is that boat now？〃 inquired the severe…looking elder
man； who kept his eyes fixed on me。
I told him。
〃Go； Michael； and look for it。〃
Michael； the shepherd with the black beard； went off with his
stick over his shoulder； toward the sea…shore。
The overcoat was dry。 Shakro was about to put it on his naked
body； when the old man said： 〃Go and have a run first to warm
yourself。 Run quickly around the fire。 Come！〃
At first； Shakro did not understand。 Then suddenly he rose
from his place； and began dancing some wild dance of his own；
first flying like a ball across the fire； then whirling round
and round in one place； then stamping his feet on the ground；
while he swung his arms； and shouted at the top of his voice。
It was a ludicrous spectacle。 Two of the shepherds were
rolling on the ground； convulsed with laughter； while the older
man； with a serious； immovable face； tried to clap his hands in
time to the dancing； but could not succeed in doing so。 He
watched attentively every movement of the dancing Shakro； while
he nodded his head； and exclaimed in a deep bass voice：
209 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
〃He！ He'！ That's right！ He'！ He'！〃
The light fell full on Shakro； showing the variety of his
movements； as at one moment he would coil himself up like a
snake； and the next would dance round on one leg； then would
plunge into a succession of rapid steps； difficult to follow
with the eye。 His naked body shone in the fire light； while
the large beads of sweat； as they rolled off it； looked； in
the red light of the fire； like drops of blood。。
By now； all three of the shepherds were clapping their hands；
while I； shivering with cold； dried myself by the fire； and
thought that our adventures would gratify the taste of admirers
of Cooper or of Jules Vernes； there was shipwreck； then came
hospitable aborigines； and a savage dance round the fire。 And
while I reflected thus； I felt very uneasy as to the chief point
in every adventurethe end of it。
When Shakro had finished dancing； he also sat down by the fire；
wrapped up in the overcoat。 He was already eating； while he
stared at me with his black eyes； which had a gleam in them of
something I did not like。 His clothes； stretched on sticks；
driven into the ground； were drying before the fire。 The
shepherds had given me； also； some bread and bacon。
Michael returned； and sat down without a word beside the old
man； who remarked in an inquiring voice： 〃Well？〃
〃I have found the boat；〃 was the brief reply。
〃It won't be washed away？〃
〃No。〃
210 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
The shepherds were silent； once more scrutinizing us。
〃Well；〃 said Michael； at last； addressing no one in particular。
〃Shall we take them to the ataman； or straight to the custom
house officers？〃
〃So that's to be the end！〃 I thought to myself。
Nobody replied to Michael's question。 Shakro went on quietly
with his eating； and said nothing。
〃We could take them to the atamanor we could take them to the
custom house。 One plan's as good as the other；〃 remarked the
old man； after a short silence。
〃They have stolen the custom house boat； so they ought to be
taught a lesson for the future。〃
〃Wait a bit； old man；〃 I began。
〃Certainly； they ought not to have stolen the boat。 If they
are not punished now； they will probably do something worse
next time。〃 The old man interrupted me； without paying any
heed to my protestations。
The old man spoke with revolting indifference。 When he had
finished speaking； his comrades nodded their heads in token
of assent。
〃Yes； if a man steals； he has to bear the consequences； when
he's caught Michael！ what about the boat？ Is it there？〃
〃Oh； it's there all right！〃
〃Are you sure the waves won't wash it away？〃
〃Quite sure。〃
〃Well； that's all right。 Then let it stay there。 Tomorrow
the boatmen will be going over to Kertch； and they can take
it with them。 They will not mind taking an empty boat along
with them； will they？ Wellso you mean to say you were not
frightened； you vagabonds？ Weren't you indeed？ La！ la！ la！
211 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
Half a mile farther out； and you would have been by this time
at the bottom of the sea！ What would you have done if the
waves had cast you back into the sea？ Ay； sure enough； you
would have sunk to the bottom like a couple of axes。 And that
would have been the end of you both！〃
As the old man finished speaking； he looked at me with an
ironical smile on his lips。
〃Well； why don't you speak； lad？〃 he inquired。
I was vexed by his reflections； which I misinterpreted as
sneering at us。 So I only answered rather sharply：
〃I was listening to you。〃
〃Well…and what do you say？〃 inquired the old man。
〃Nothing。〃
〃Why are you rude to me？ Is it the right thing to be rude to
a man older than yourself？〃
I was silent； acknowledging in my heart that it really was
not the right thing。
〃Won't you have something more to eat？〃 continued the old
shepherd。
〃No； I can't eat any more。〃
〃Well； don't have any； if you don't want it。 Perhaps you'll
take a bit of bread with you to eat on the road？〃
I trembled with joy； but would not betray my feelings。
〃Oh； yes。 I shou