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第17章

a hero of our time-第17章

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eartily。

〃You have seen much; but know little; and what you do know; see that you keep it under lock and key。〃

〃But supposing; now; I was to take it into my head to inform the Commandant?〃 and here I assumed a very serious; not to say stern; de… meanour。

She gave a sudden spring; began to sing; and hid herself like a bird frightened out of a thicket。 My last words were altogether out of place。 I had no suspicion then how momentous they were; but afterwards I had occasion to rue them。

As soon as the dusk of evening fell; I ordered the Cossack to heat the teapot; campaign fashion。 I lighted a candle and sat down by the table; smoking my travelling…pipe。 I was just about to finish my second tumbler of tea when suddenly the door creaked and I heard behind me the sound of footsteps and the light rustle of a dress。 I started and turned round。

It was she  my Undine。 Softly and without saying a word she sat down opposite to me and fixed her eyes upon me。 Her glance seemed wondrously tender; I know not why; it re… minded me of one of those glances which; in years gone by; so despotically played with my life。 She seemed to be waiting for a question; but I kept silence; filled with an inexplicable sense of embarrassment。 Mental agitation was evinced by the dull pallor which overspread her countenance; her hand; which I noticed was trembling slightly; moved aimlessly about the table。 At one time her breast heaved; and at another she seemed to be holding her breath。 This little comedy was beginning to pall upon me; and I was about to break the silence in a most prosaic manner; that is; by offering her a glass of tea; when suddenly; springing up; she threw her arms around my neck; and I felt her moist; fiery lips pressed upon mine。 Darkness came before my eyes; my head began to swim。 I embraced her with the whole strength of youthful passion。 But; like a snake; she glided from between my arms; whispering in my ear as she did so:

〃To…night; when everyone is asleep; go out to the shore。〃

Like an arrow she sprang from the room。

In the hall she upset the teapot and a candle which was standing on the floor。

〃Little devil!〃 cried the Cossack; who had taken up his position on the straw and had contemplated warming himself with the remains of the tea。

It was only then that I recovered my senses。

In about two hours' time; when all had grown silent in the harbour; I awakened my Cossack。

〃If I fire a pistol;〃 I said; 〃run to the shore。〃

He stared open…eyed and answered mechanic… ally:

〃Very well; sir。〃

I stuffed a pistol in my belt and went out。 She was waiting for me at the edge of the cliff。 Her attire was more than light; and a small kerchief girded her supple waist。

〃Follow me!〃 she said; taking me by the hand; and we began to descend。

I cannot understand how it was that I did not break my neck。 Down below we turned to the right and proceeded to take the path along which I had followed the blind boy the evening before。 The moon had not yet risen; and only two little stars; like two guardian lighthouses; were twink… ling in the dark…blue vault of heaven。 The heavy waves; with measured and even motion; rolled one after the other; scarcely lifting the solitary boat which was moored to the shore。

〃Let us get into the boat;〃 said my com… panion。

I hesitated。 I am no lover of sentimental trips on the sea; but this was not the time to draw back。 She leaped into the boat; and I after her; and I had not time to recover my wits before I observed that we were adrift。

〃What is the meaning of this?〃 I said angrily。

〃It means;〃 she answered; seating me on the bench and throwing her arms around my waist; 〃it means that I love you!〃 。 。 。

Her cheek was pressed close to mine。 and I felt her burning breath upon my face。 Suddenly something fell noisily into the water。 I clutched at my belt  my pistol was gone! Ah; now a terrible suspicion crept into my soul; and the blood rushed to my head! I looked round。 We were about fifty fathoms from the shore; and I could not swim a stroke! I tried to thrust her away from me; but she clung like a cat to my clothes; and suddenly a violent wrench all but threw me into the sea。 The boat rocked; but I righted myself; and a desperate struggle began。

Fury lent me strength; but I soon found that I was no match for my opponent in point of agility。 。 。

〃What do you want?〃 I cried; firmly squeezing her little hands。

Her fingers crunched; but her serpent…like nature bore up against the torture; and she did not utter a cry。

〃You saw us;〃 she answered。 〃You will tell on us。〃

And; with a supernatural effort; she flung me on to the side of the boat; we both hung half overboard; her hair touched the water。 The decisive moment had come。 I planted my knee against the bottom of the boat; caught her by the tresses with one hand and by the throat with the other; she let go my clothes; and; in an instant; I had thrown her into the waves。

It was now rather dark; once or twice her head appeared for an instant amidst the sea foam; and I saw no more of her。

I found the half of an old oar at the bottom of the boat; and somehow or other; after lengthy efforts; I made fast to the harbour。 Making my way along the shore towards my hut; I involun… tarily gazed in the direction of the spot where; on the previous night; the blind boy had awaited the nocturnal mariner。 The moon was already rolling through the sky; and it seemed to me that somebody in white was sitting on the shore。 Spurred by curiosity; I crept up and crouched down in the grass on the top of the cliff。 By thrusting my head out a little way I was able to get a good view of everything that was happen… ing down below; and I was not very much aston… ished; but almost rejoiced; when I recognised my water…nymph。 She was wringing the sea… foam from her long hair。 Her wet garment out… lined her supple figure and her high bosom。

Soon a boat appeared in the distance; it drew near rapidly; and; as on the night before; a man in a Tartar cap stepped out of it; but he now had his hair cropped round in the Cossack fashion; and a large knife was sticking out behind his leather belt。

〃Yanko;〃 the girl said; 〃all is lost!〃

Then their conversation continued; but so softly that I could not catch a word of it。

〃But where is the blind boy?〃 said Yanko at last; raising his voice。

〃I have told him to come;〃 was the reply。

After a few minutes the blind boy appeared; dragging on his back a sack; which they placed in the boat。

〃Listen!〃 said Yanko to the blind boy。 〃Guard that place! You know where I mean? There are valuable goods there。 Tell〃  I could not catch the name  〃that I am no longer his servant。 Things have gone badly。 He will see me no more。 It is dangerous now。 I will go seek work in another place; and he will never be able to find another dare…devil like me。 Tell him also that if he had paid me a little better for my labours; I would not have forsaken him。 For me there is a way anywhere; if only the wind blows and the sea roars。〃

After a short silence Yanko continued。

〃She is coming with me。 It is impossible for her to remain here。 Tell the old woman that it is time for her to die; she has been here a long time; and the line must be drawn somewhere。 As for us; she will never see us any more。〃

〃And I?〃 said the blind boy in a plaintive voice。

〃What use have I for you?〃 was the answer。

In the meantime my Undine had sprung into the boat。 She beckoned to her companion with her hand。 He placed something in the blind boy's hand and added:

〃There; buy yourself some gingerbreads。〃

〃Is this all?〃 said the blind boy。

〃Well; here is some more。〃

The money fell and jingled as it struck the rock。

The blind boy did not pick it up。 Yanko took his seat in the boat; the wind was blowing from the shore; they hoisted the little sail and sped rapidly away。 For a long time the white sail gleamed in the moonlight amid the dark waves。 Still the blind boy remained seated upon the shore; and then I heard something which sounded like sobbing。 The blind boy was; in fact; weeping; and for a long; long time his tears flowed。 。 。 I grew heavy…hearted。 For what reason should fate have thrown me into the peaceful

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