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creatures that once were men-第42章

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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 should like to take some with me for the road;〃 

I answered; quietly。



〃I say; lads! give these fellows some bread and a piece of 

bacon each。  If you can find something else; give it to them 

too。〃



〃Are we to let them go; then?〃 asked Michael。





212  MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER





The other two shepherds looked up at the old man。



〃What can they do here?〃



〃Did we not intend to take them either to the ataman or to the 

custom house?〃 asked Michael; in a disappointed tone。



Shakro stirred uneasily in his seat near the fire; and poked 

out his head inquiringly from beneath the overcoat。  He was 

quite serene。



〃What would they do at the ataman's?  I should think there is 

nothing to do there just now。  Perhaps later on they might 

like to go there?〃



〃But how about the boat?〃 insisted Michael。



〃What about the boat?〃 inquired the old man again。  〃Did you 

not say the boat was all right where it was?〃



〃Yes; it's all right there;〃 Michael replied。



〃Well; let it stay there。  In the morning John can row it round 

into the harbor。  From there; someone will get it over to Kertch。 

That's all we can do with the boat。〃



I watched attentively the old man's countenance; but failed to 

discover any emotion on his phlegmatic; sun…burned; weather…

beaten face; over the features of which the flicker from the 

flames played merrily。



'If only we don't get into trouble。〃 Michael began to give way。



〃There will be no trouble if you don't let your tongue wag。  

If the ataman should hear of it; we might get into a scrape; 

and they also。  We have our work to do; and they have to be 

getting on。  Is it far you have to go?〃 asked the old man 

again; though I had told him once before I was bound for Tiflis。





213  MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER





〃That's a long way yet。  The ataman might detain them; then; 

when would they get to Tiflis?   So let them be getting on 

their way。 Eh?〃



〃Yes; let them go;〃 all the shepherds agreed; as the old man; 

when he had finished speaking; closed his lips tightly; and 

cast an inquiring glance around him; as he fingered his gray 

beard。



〃Well; my good fellows; be off; and God bless you!〃 he 

exclaimed with a gesture of dismissal。 〃We will see that the 

boat goes back; so don't trouble about that!〃



〃Many; many thanks; grandfather!〃 I said taking off my cap。



〃What are you thanking me for?〃



〃Thank you; thank you!〃 I repeated fervently。



〃What are you thanking me for?  That's queer!  I say; God 

bless you; and he thanks me!  Were you afraid I'd send you to 

the devil; eh?〃



〃I'd done wrong and I was afraid;〃 I answered。



〃Oh!〃 and the old man lifted his eyebrows。  〃Why should I 

drive a man farther along the wrong path?  I'd do better by 

helping one along the way I'm going myself。  Maybe; we shall 

meet again; and then we'll meet as friends。  We ought to help 

one another where we can。  Good…bye!〃



He took off his large shaggy sheepskin cap; and bowed low to 

us。  His comrades bowed too。



We inquired our way to Anapa; and started off。  Shakro was 

laughing at something or other。













CHAPTER VIII。













214  MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER





〃Why are you laughing?〃 I asked。



The old shepherd and his ethics of life had charmed and 

delighted me。  I felt refreshed by the pure air of early 

morning; blowing straight into my face。  I rejoiced; as I 

watched the sky gradually clearing; and felt that daylight 

was not far off。  Before long the morning sun would rise in 

a clear sky; and we could look forward to a brilliantly fine 

day。



Shakro winked slyly at me; and burst out into a fresh fit of 

laughter。  The hearty; buoyant ring in his laugh made me 

smile also。  The few hours rest we had taken by the side of 

the shepherd's fire; and their excellent bread and bacon; had 

helped us to forget our exhausting voyage。  Our bones still 

ached a little; but that would pass off with walking。



〃Well; what are you laughing at?  Are you glad that you are 

alive?  Alive and not even hungry?〃



Shakro shook his head; nudged me in the ribs; made a grimace; 

burst out laughing again; and at last said in his broken 

Russian:  〃You don't see what it is that makes me laugh? Well; 

I'll tell you in a minute。  Do you know what I should have 

done if we had been taken before the ataman?  You don't know? 

I'd have told him that you had tried to drown me; and I should

have begun to cry。  Then they would have been sorry for me; 

and wouldn't have put me in prison!  Do you see?〃



At first I tried to make myself believe that it was a joke; 

but; alas! he succeeded in convincing me he meant it seriously。 

So clearly and completely did he convince me of it; that; 

instead of being furious with him for such naive cynicism; I 

was filled with deep pity for him and incidentally for myself 

as well。 





215  MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER





What else but pity can one feel for a man who tells one in all 

sincerity; with the brightest of smiles; of his intention to

murder one?  What is to be done with him if he looks upon such 

an action as a clever and delightful joke?



I began to argue warmly with him; trying to show him all the 

immorality of his scheme。  He retorted very candidly that I 

did not see where his interests lay; and had forgotten he had 

a false passport and might get into trouble in consequence。  

Suddenly a cruel thought flashed through my mind。



〃Stay;〃 said I; 〃do you really believe that I wanted to drown 

you?〃



〃No!  When you were pushing me into the water I did think so; 

but when you got in as well; then I didn't!〃



〃Thank God!〃 I exclaimed。  〃Well; thanks for that; anyway!〃



〃Oh! no; you needn't say thank you。  I am the one to say thank 

you。  Were we not both cold when we were sitting round the 

fire?  The overcoat was yours; but you didn't take it yourself。 

You dried it; and gave it to me。  And took nothing for yourself。 

Thank you for that!  You are a good fellow; I can see that。  When

we get to Tiflis; I will reward you。  I shall take you to my 

father。  I shall say to him: 'Here is a man whom you must feed 

and care for; while I deserve only to be kept in the stable with 

the mules。'  You shall live with us; and be our gardener; and we 

will give you wine in plenty; and anything you like to eat。  Ah! 

you will have a capital time!  You will share my wine and food!〃





216 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER





He continued for some time; describing in detail the attractions 

of the new life he was going to arrange for me in his home in 

Tiflis。



And as he talked; I mused on the great unhappiness of men 

equipped with new morality and new aspirationsthey tread the 

paths of life lonely and astray; and the fellow…travelers they 

meet on the way are aliens to them; unable to understand t

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