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thud…thud of the engines。
〃Look ahead！〃 is heard from the raft。 The voice is that of a
deep…chested man。
* The river is the volga； and the passage of strings of rafts
down its stream in early spring is being described by the
author。 The allusion later on to the Brotherhood living in
the Caucasus； refers to the persecuted Doukhobori； who have
since been driven from their homes by the Russian authorities
and have taken refuge in Canada。
In order to enter into the sociology of this story of Gorkv's
it must be explained that among ancient Russian folk…customs；
as the young peasants were married at a very early age； the
father of the bridegroom considered he had rights over his
daughter…in…law。 In later times； this custom although
occasionally continued； was held in disrepute among the
peasantry； but that it has not entirely died out is proved
by the little drama sketched in by the hand of a genius in
〃On a Raft。〃
231 ON A RAFT
Two men are standing aft； grasping each a long pole； which
propel the raft and act as rudders； Mitia； the son of the
owner； a fair； weak； melancholy…looking lad of twenty…two；
and Sergei； a peasant； hired to help in the work on board the
raft； a bluff； healthy； red…bearded fellow； whose upper lip；
raised with a mocking sneer； discloses a mouth filled with
large； strong teeth。
〃Starboard！〃 A second cry vibrates through the darkness ahead
of the rafts。
〃What are you shouting for； we know our business ！〃 Sergei
growls raspingly； pressing his expanded chest against the pole。
〃Ouch！ Pull harder； Mitia！〃 Mitia pushes with his feet against
the damp planks that form the raft； and with his thin hands
draws toward him the heavy steering pole； coughing hoarsely the
while。
〃Harder； to starboard！ You cursed loafers！〃 The master cries
again； anger and anxiety in his voice。
〃Shout away！〃 mutters Sergei。 〃Here's your miserable devil of
a son； who couldn't break a straw across his knee； and you put
him to steer a raft； and then you yell so that all the river
hears you。 You were mean enough not to take a second
steersman； so now you may tear your throat to pieces shouting！〃
These last words were growled out loud enough to be heard
forward； and as if Sergei wished they should be heard。
The steamer passed rapidly alongside the raft sweeping the
frothing water from under her paddle wheels。 The planks tossed
up and down in the wash； and the osier branches fastening them
together； groaned and scraped with a moist； plaintive sound。
The lit…up portholes of the steamer seem for a moment to rake
the raft and the river with fiery eyes； reflected in the
seething water； like luminous trembling spots。 Then all
disappears。
232 ON A RAFT
The wash of the steamer sweeps backward and forward； over the
raft； the planks dance up and down。 Mitia； swaying with the
movements of the water； clutches convulsively the steering
pole to save himself from falling。
〃Well； well；〃 says Sergei； laughing。 〃So you're beginning to
dance！ Your father will start yelling again。 Or he'll
perhaps come and give you one or two in the ribs； then you'll
dance to another tune！ Port side now！ Ouch！〃
And with his muscles strung like steel springs； Sergei gives
a powerful push to his pole； forcing it deep down into the
water。 Energetic； tall； mocking and rather malicious； he
stands bare…footed； rigid； as if a part of the planks； looking
straight ahead； ready at any moment to change the direction of
the raft。
〃Just look there at your father kissing Marka！ Aren't they a
pair of devils？ No shame； and no conscience。 Why don't you
get away from them； Mitiaaway from these Pagan pigs？ Why？
Do you hear？〃
〃I hear；〃 answered Mitia in a stifled voice； without looking
toward the spot which Sergei pointed to through the darkness；
where the form of Mitia's father could be seen。
〃I hear；〃 mocked Sergei； laughing ironically。
〃You poor half…baked creature！ A pleasant state of things
indeed！〃 he continued； encouraged by the apathy of Mitia。
〃And what a devil that old man is！ He finds a wife for his
son； he takes the son's wife away from him； and all's well！
The old brute！〃
233 ON A RAFT
Mitia is silent； and looks astern up the river； where another
wall of mist is formed。 Now the clouds close in all round；
and the raft hardly appears to move； but to be standing still
in the thick； dark water； crushed down by the heavy gray…black
vaporous masses； which drift across the heavens； and bar the
way。
The whole river seems like a fathomless； hidden whirlpool；
surrounded by immense mountains； rising toward heaven； and
capped with shrouding mists。
The stillness suffocates； and the water seems spellbound with
expectation； as it beats softly against the raft。 A great
sadness； and a timid questioning is heard in that faint sound
the only voice of the nightaccentuating still more the
silence。 〃We want a little wind now；〃 says Sergei。 〃No it's
not exactly wind we want that would bring rain；〃 he replies to
himself； as he begins to fill his pipe。 A match strikes； and
the bubbling sound of a pipe being lighted is heard。 A red
gleam appears； throwing a glow over the big face of Sergei；
and then； as the light dies down he is lost in the darkness。
〃Mitia！〃 he cries。 His voice is now less brutal and more
mocking。
〃What is it？〃 replies Mitia； without moving his gaze from the
distance； where be seems with his big sad eyes to be searching
for something。
〃How did it happen； mate？ How did it happen？〃
〃What？〃 answers Mitia； displeased。
〃How did you come to marry？ What a queer set out！ How was
it？ You brought your wife home！and then？ Ha！ ha！ ha！〃
234 ON A RAFT
〃What are you cackling about？ Look out there！〃 came
threateningly across the river。
〃Damned beast！〃 ejaculates with delight Sergei； and returns
to the theme that interests him。 〃Come； Mitia； tell me； tell
me at oncewhy not？〃
〃Leave me alone； Sergei；〃 Mitia murmurs entreatingly； 〃I told
you once。〃
But knowing by experience that Sergei will not leave him in
peace； he begins hurriedly： 〃Well； I brought her homeand I
told her： 'I can't be your husband； Marka； you are a strong
girl； and I am a feeble； sick man。 I didn't wish at all to
marry you； but my father would force me to marry。' He was
always saying to me； 'Get married！ Get married！' I don't
like women； I said： and you especially； you are too bold。
Yesand I can't have anything to dowith it。 Do you
understand？ For me； it disgusts me； and it is a sin。 And
childrenone is answerable to God for one's children。〃
〃Disgusts；〃 yells Sergei and laughs。 〃Well！ and what did Marka
reply？ What？〃
〃She said； 'What shall I do now？' and then she began