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with a frightened expression in his eyes； the left one of
which had a squint。 He was silent and timid； and had been
imprisoned three times for theft by the High Court of Justice
and the Magisterial Courts。 His family name was Kiselnikoff；
but they called him Paltara Taras； because he was a head and
shoulders taller than his friend； Deacon Taras； who had been
degraded from his office for drunkenness and immorality。 The
Deacon was a short； thick…set person； with the chest of an
athlete and a round； strong head。 He danced skilfully； and
was still more skilful at swearing。 He and Paltara Taras
worked in the wood on the banks of the river； and in free
hours he told his friend or any one who would listen； 〃Tales
of my own composition；〃 as he used to say。 On hearing these
stories； the heroes of which always seemed to be saints； kings；
priests； or generals； even the inmates of the dosshouse spat
and rubbed their eyes in astonishment at the imagination of the
Deacon； who told them shameless tales of lewd； fantastic
adventures； with blinking eyes and a passionless expression of
countenance。
27 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
The imagination of this man was powerful and inexhaustible； he
could go on relating and composing all day； from morning to
night； without once repeating what he had said before。 In his
expression you sometimes saw the poet gone astray； sometimes
the romancer； and he always succeeded in making his tales
realistic by the effective and powerful words in which he told
them。
There was also a foolish young man called Kuvalda Meteor。 One
night he came to sleep in the dosshouse； and had remained ever
since among these men； much to their astonishment。 At first
they did not take much notice of him。 In the daytime； like all
the others； he went away to find something to eat； but at
nights he always loitered around this friendly company till at
last the Captain took notice of him。
〃Boy！ What business have you here on this earth？〃
The boy answered boldly and stoutly：
〃I am a barefooted tramp。 。 。 。〃
The Captain looked critically at him。 This youngster had long
hair and a weak face； with prominent cheekbones and a turned…up
nose。 He was dressed in a blue blouse without a waistband； and
on his head he wore the remains of a straw hat； while his feet
were bare。
〃You are a fool！〃 decided Aristid Kuvalda。 〃what are you
knocking about here for？ You are of absolutely no use to us 。 。 。
Do you drink vodki？ 。 。 。 No？ 。 。 。 Well； then； can you steal？〃
Again； 〃No。〃 〃Go away； learn； and come back again when you know
something； and are a man。 。 。 。〃
28 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
The youngster smiled。 〃No。 I shall live with you。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Just because。 。 。 。〃
〃Oh； you 。 。 。 Meteor！〃 said the Captain。
〃I will break his teeth for him；〃 said Martyanoff。
〃And why？〃 asked the youngster。
〃Just because。 。 。 。〃
〃And I will take a stone and hit you on the head；〃 the young
man answered respectfully。
Martyanoff would have broken his bones； had not Kuvalda
interrupted with： 〃Leave him alone。 。 。Is this a home to
you or even to us？ You have no sufficient reason to break his
teeth for him。 You have no better reason than he for living
with us。〃
〃Well； then； Devil take him！ 。 。 。 We all live in the world
without sufficient reason 。 。 。 We live； and why？ Because！
He also because 。 。 。 let him alone。 。 。 。〃
〃But it is better for you； young man； to go away from us；〃
the teacher advised him； looking him up and down with his sad
eyes。 He made no answer； but remained。 And they soon became
accustomed to his presence； and ceased to take any notice of
him。 But he lived among them； and observed everything。
The above were the chief members of the Captain's company； and
he called them with kind…hearted sarcasm 〃Creatures that once
were Men。〃 For though there were men who had experienced as
much of the bitter irony of fate as these men； yet they were
not fallen so low。
29 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
Not infrequently； respectable men belonging to the cultured
classes are inferior to those belonging to the peasantry； and
it is always a fact that the depraved man from the city is
immeasurably worse than the depraved man from the village。
This fact was strikingly illustrated by the contrast between
the formerly well…educated men and the mujiks who were living
in Kuvalda's shelter。
The representative of the latter class was an old mujik
called Tyapa。 Tall and angular； he kept his head in such a
position that his chin touched his breast。 He was the
Captain's first lodger； and it was said of him that he had a
great deal of money hidden somewhere； and for its sake had
nearly had his throat cut some two years ago： ever since then
he carried his head thus。 Over his eyes hung grayish eyebrows；
and； looked at in profile； only his crooked nose was to be
seen。 His shadow reminded one of a poker。 He denied that he
had money； and said that they 〃only tried to cut his throat
out of malice；〃 and from that day he took to collecting rags；
and that is why his head was always bent as if incessantly
looking on the ground。 When he went about shaking his head；
and minus a walking…stick in his hand； and a bag on his
backthe signs of his professionhe seemed to be thinking
almost to madness； and； at such times； Kuvalda spoke thus；
pointing to him with his finger：
〃Look； there is the conscience of Merchant Judas Petunikoff。
See how disorderly； dirty； and low is the escaped conscience。〃
30 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
Tyapa； as a rule； spoke in a hoarse and hardly audible voice；
and that is why he spoke very little； and loved to be alone。
But whenever a stranger； compelled to leave the village；
appeared in the dosshouse； Tyapa seemed sadder and angrier；
and followed the unfortunate about with biting jeers and a
wicked chuckling in his throat。 He either put some beggar
against him； or himself threatened to rob and beat him； till
the frightened mujik would disappear from the dosshouse and
never more be seen。 Then Tyapa was quiet again； and would
sit in some corner mending his rags； or else reading his Bible；
which was as dirty； worn； and old as himself。 Only when the
teacher brought a newspaper and began reading did he come from
his corner once more。 As a rule； Tyapa listened to what was
read silently and sighed often； without asking anything of
anyone。 But once when the teacher； having read the paper；
wanted to put it away； Tyapa stretched out his bony hand； and
said； 〃Give it to me。 。 。 。〃
〃What do you want it for？〃
〃Give it to me 。 。 。 Perhaps there is something in it about
us。 。 。 。〃
〃About whom？〃
〃About the village。〃
They laughed at him； and thr