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Large drops of rain fell； pattering on the grass； with a sound
like the clang of metal。 There was no place where we could
take shelter。 It had grown dark。 The patter of the rain on
the grass was louder still； but it lad a frightened； timid
sound。 There was a clap of thunder； and the clouds shuddered
in a blue flash of lightning。 Again it was dark and the
silvery chain of distant mountains was lost in the gloom。 The
rain now was falling in torrents； and one after another peals
of thunder rumbled menacingly and incessantly over the vast
steppe。 The grass； beaten down by the wind and rain； lay flat
on the ground； rustling faintly。 Everything seemed quivering
and troubled。 Flashes of blinding lightning tore the storm
clouds asunder。
221 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
The silvery； cold chain of the distant
mountains sprang up in the blue flash and gleamed with blue
light。 When the lightning died away； the mountains vanished；
as though flung back into an abyss of darkness。 The air was
filled with rumblings and vibrations； with sounds and echoes。
The lowering； angry sky seemed purifying itself by fire； from
the dust and the foulness which had risen toward it from the
earth； and the earth； it seemed； was quaking in terror at its
wrath。 Shakro was shaking and whimpering like a scared dog。
But I felt elated and lifted above commonplace life as I
watched the mighty； gloomy spectacle of the storm on the
steppe。 This unearthly chaos enchanted me and exalted me to
an heroic mood； filling my soul with its wild； fierce harmony。
And I longed to take part in it； and to express； in some way
or other； the rapture that filled my heart to overflowing； in
the presence of the mysterious force which scatters gloom；
and gathering clouds。 The blue light which lit up the sky
seemed to gleam in my soul too； and how was I to express my
passion and my ecstasy at the grandeur of nature？ I sang
aloud； at the top of my voice。 The thunder roared； the
lightning flashed； the grass whispered； while I sang and felt
myself in close kinship with nature's music。 I was delirious；
and it was pardonable； for it harmed no one but myself。 I was
filled with the desire to absorb； as much as possible； the
mighty； living beauty and force that was raging on the steppe；
and to get closer to it。 A tempest at sea； and a thunderstorm
on the steppes！ I know nothing grander in nature。 And so I
shouted to my heart's content； in the absolute belief that I
troubled no one； nor placed any one in a position to criticize
my action。 But suddenly； I felt my legs seized； and I fell
helpless into a pool of water。
222 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
Shakro was looking into my face with serious and wrathful eyes。
〃Are you mad？ Aren't you？ No？ Well； then； be quiet！ Don't
shout！ I'll cut your throat！ Do you understand？〃
I was amazed； and I asked him first what harm I was doing him？
〃Why； you're frightening me！ It's thundering； God is speaking；
and you bawl。 What are you thinking about？〃
I replied that I had a right to sing whenever I chose。 Just as
he had。
〃But I don't want to！〃 he said。
〃Well； don't sing then！〃 I assented。
〃And don't you sing！〃 insisted Shakro。
〃Yes； I mean to sing！〃
〃Stop！ What are you thinking about？〃 he went on angrily。 〃Who
are you？ You have neither home nor father； nor mother； you
have no relations； no land！ Who are you？ Are you anybody； do
you suppose？ It's I am somebody in the world！ I have
everything！〃
He slapped his chest vehemently。
〃I'm a prince； and youyou're nobodynothing！ You say
you're this and that！ Who else says so？ All Koutais and
Tiflies know me！ You shall not contradict me！ Do you hear？
Are you not my servant？ I'll pay ten times over for all you
have done for me。 You shall obey me！ You said yourself that
God taught us to serve each other without seeking for a reward；
but I'll reward you。
223 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
〃Why will you annoy me； preaching to me； and frightening me？
Do you want me to be like you？ That's too bad！ You can't
make me like yourself！ Foo！ Foo！〃
He talked； smacked his lips； snuffled； and sighed。 I stood
staring at him； open…mouthed with astonishment。 He was
evidently pouring out now all the discontent； displeasure and
disgust； which had been gathering up during the whole of our
journey。 To convince me more thoroughly； he poked me in the
chest from time to time with his forefinger； and shook me by
the shoulder。 During the most impressive parts of his speech
he pushed up against me with his whole massive body。 The rain
was pouring down on us； the thunder never ceased its muttering；
and to make me hear； Shakro shouted at the top of his voice。
The tragic comedy of my position struck me more vividly than
ever； and I burst into a wild fit of laughter。 Shakro turned
away and spat。
CHAPTER X
The nearer we draw to Tiflis； the gloomier and the surlier grew
Shakro。 His thinner； but still stolid face wore a new
expression。 Just before we reached Vladikavkas we passed
through a Circassian village； where we obtained work in some
maize fields。
The Circassians spoke very little Russian； and as they
constantly laughed at us； and scolded us in their own language；
we resolved to leave the village two days after our arrival；
their increasing enmity had begun to alarm us。
224 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
We had left the village about ten miles behind； when Shakro
produced from his shirt a roll of home…spun muslin； and handing
it to me； exclaimed triumphantly：
〃You need not work any more now。 We can sell this； and buy all
we want till we get to Tiflis！ Do you see？〃
I was moved to fury； and tearing the bundle from his hands； I
flung it away； glancing back。
The Circassians are not to be trifled with！ Only a short time
before； the Cossacks had told us the following story：
A tramp； who had been working for some time in a Circassian
village； stole an iron spoon； and carried it away with him。 The
Circassians followed him； searched him； and found the iron
spoon。 They ripped open his body with a dagger； and after
pushing the iron spoon into the wound； went off quietly；
leaving him to his fate on the steppes。 He was found by some
Cossacks at the point of death。 He told them this story； and
died on the way to their village。 The Cossacks had more than
once warned us against the Circassians； relating many other
edifying tales of the same sort。 I had no reason to doubt the
accuracy of these stories。 I reminded Shakro of these facts。
For some time he listened in silence to what I was saying；
then； suddenly； showing his teeth and screwing up his eyes；
he flew at me like a wild cat。 We struggled for five minutes
or so； till Shakro exclaimed angrily： 〃Eno