beasts, men and gods-第2章

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ey　of　blackcock　broke　and　came　over　me。　　At　the　top　of　a　high　pine　a　jay　cried　out。　　I　listened　for　a　long　time　to　see　if　anyone　was　approaching　my　hut　but　everything　was　still。

On　the　lower　Yenisei　it　grows　dark　very　early。　　I　built　a　fire　in　my　stove　and　began　to　cook　my　soup；　constantly　listening　for　every　noise　that　came　from　beyond　the　cabin　walls。　　Certainly　I　understood　at　all　times　very　clearly　that　death　was　ever　beside　me　and　might　claim　me　by　means　of　either　man；　beast；　cold；　accident　or　disease。　　I　knew　that　nobody　was　near　me　to　assist　and　that　all　my　help　was　in　the　hands　of　God；　in　the　power　of　my　hands　and　feet；　in　the　accuracy　of　my　aim　and　in　my　presence　of　mind。　　However；　I　listened　in　vain。　　I　did　not　notice　the　return　of　my　stranger。　Like　yesterday　he　appeared　all　at　once　on　the　threshold。　　Through　the　steam　I　made　out　his　laughing　eyes　and　his　fine　face。　　He　stepped　into　the　hut　and　dropped　with　a　good　deal　of　noise　three　rifles　into　the　corner。

〃Two　horses；　two　rifles；　two　saddles；　two　boxes　of　dry　bread；　half　a　brick　of　tea；　a　small　bag　of　salt；　fifty　cartridges；　two　overcoats；　two　pairs　of　boots；〃　laughingly　he　counted　out。　　〃In　truth　today　I　had　a　very　successful　hunt。〃

In　astonishment　I　looked　at　him。

〃What　are　you　surprised　at？〃　he　laughed。　　〃Komu　nujny　eti　tovarischi？　　Who's　got　any　use　for　these　fellows？　　Let　us　have　tea　and　go　to　sleep。　　Tomorrow　I　will　guide　you　to　another　safer　place　and　then　go　on。〃


CHAPTER　II

THE　SECRET　OF　MY　FELLOW　TRAVELER


At　the　dawn　of　day　we　started　forth；　leaving　my　first　place　of　refuge。　　Into　the　bags　we　packed　our　personal　estate　and　fastened　them　on　one　of　the　saddles。

〃We　must　go　four　or　five　hundred　versts；〃　very　calmly　announced　my　fellow　traveler；　who　called　himself　〃Ivan；〃　a　name　that　meant　nothing　to　my　mind　or　heart　in　this　land　where　every　second　man　bore　the　same。

〃We　shall　travel　then　for　a　very　long　time；〃　I　remarked　regretfully。

〃Not　more　than　one　week；　perhaps　even　less；〃　he　answered。

That　night　we　spent　in　the　woods　under　the　wide　spreading　branches　of　the　fir　trees。　　It　was　my　first　night　in　the　forest　under　the　open　sky。　　How　many　like　this　I　was　destined　to　spend　in　the　year　and　a　half　of　my　wanderings！　　During　the　day　there　was　very　sharp　cold。　　Under　the　hoofs　of　the　horses　the　frozen　snow　crunched　and　the　balls　that　formed　and　broke　from　their　hoofs　rolled　away　over　the　crust　with　a　sound　like　crackling　glass。　　The　heathcock　flew　from　the　trees　very　idly；　hares　loped　slowly　down　the　beds　of　summer　streams。　　At　night　the　wind　began　to　sigh　and　whistle　as　it　bent　the　tops　of　the　trees　over　our　heads；　while　below　it　was　still　and　calm。　　We　stopped　in　a　deep　ravine　bordered　by　heavy　trees；　where　we　found　fallen　firs；　cut　them　into　logs　for　the　fire　and；　after　having　boiled　our　tea；　dined。

Ivan　dragged　in　two　tree　trunks；　squared　them　on　one　side　with　his　ax；　laid　one　on　the　other　with　the　squared　faces　together　and　then　drove　in　a　big　wedge　at　the　butt　ends　which　separated　them　three　or　four　inches。　　Then　we　placed　live　coals　in　this　opening　and　watched　the　fire　run　rapidly　the　whole　length　of　the　squared　faces　vis…a…　vis。

〃Now　there　will　be　a　fire　in　the　morning；〃　he　announced。　　〃This　is　the　'naida'　of　the　gold　prospectors。　　We　prospectors　wandering　in　the　woods　summer　and　winter　always　sleep　beside　this　'naida。'　Fine！　　You　shall　see　for　yourself；〃　he　continued。

He　cut　fir　branches　and　made　a　sloping　roof　out　of　them；　resting　it　on　two　uprights　toward　the　naida。　　Above　our　roof　of　boughs　and　our　naida　spread　the　branches　of　protecting　fir。　　More　branches　were　brought　and　spread　on　the　snow　under　the　roof；　on　these　were　placed　the　saddle　cloths　and　together　they　made　a　seat　for　Ivan　to　rest　on　and　to　take　off　his　outer　garments　down　to　his　blouse。　　Soon　I　noticed　his　forehead　was　wet　with　perspiration　and　that　he　was　wiping　it　and　his　neck　on　his　sleeves。

〃Now　it　is　good　and　warm！〃　he　exclaimed。

In　a　short　time　I　was　also　forced　to　take　off　my　overcoat　and　soon　lay　down　to　sleep　without　any　covering　at　all；　while　through　the　branches　of　the　fir　trees　and　our　roof　glimmered　the　cold　bright　stars　and　just　beyond　the　naida　raged　a　stinging　cold；　from　which　we　were　cosily　defended。　　After　this　night　I　was　no　longer　frightened　by　the　cold。　　Frozen　during　the　days　on　horseback；　I　was　thoroughly　warmed　through　by　the　genial　naida　at　night　and　rested　from　my　heavy　overcoat；　sitting　only　in　my　blouse　under　the　roofs　of　pine　and　fir　and　sipping　the　ever　welcome　tea。

During　our　daily　treks　Ivan　related　to　me　the　stories　of　his　wanderings　through　the　mountains　and　woods　of　Transbaikalia　in　the　search　for　gold。　　These　stories　were　very　lively；　full　of　attractive　adventure；　danger　and　struggle。　　Ivan　was　a　type　of　these　prospectors　who　have　discovered　in　Russia；　and　perhaps　in　other　countries；　the　richest　gold　mines；　while　they　themselves　remain　beggars。　　He　evaded　telling　me　why　he　left　Transbaikalia　to　come　to　the　Yenisei。　　I　understood　from　his　manner　that　he　wished　to　keep　his　own　counsel　and　so　did　not　press　him。　　However；　the　blanket　of　secrecy　covering　this　part　of　his　mysterious　life　was　one　day　quite　fortuitously　lifted　a　bit。　　We　were　already　at　the　objective　point　of　our　trip。　　The　whole　day　we　had　traveled　with　difficulty　through　a　thick　growth　of　willow；　approaching　the　shore　of　the　big　right　branch　of　the　Yenisei；　the　Mana。　　Everywhere　we　saw　runways　packed　hard　by　the　feet　of　the　hares　living　in　this　bush。　　These　small　white　denizens　of　the　wood　ran　to　and　fro　in　front　of　us。　　Another　time　we　saw　the　red　tail　of　a　fox　hiding　behind　a　rock；　watching　us　and　the　unsuspecting　hares　at　the　same　time。

Ivan　had　been　silent　for　a　long　while。　　Then　he　spoke　up　and　told　me　that　not　far　from　there　was　a　small　branch　of　the　Mana；　at　the　mouth　of　which　was　a　hut。

〃What　do　you　say？　　Shall　we　push　on　there　or　spend　the　night　by　the　naida？〃

I　suggested　going　to　the　hut；　because　I　wanted　to　wash　and　because　it　would　be　agreeable　to　spend　the　night　under　a　genuine　roof　again。　　Ivan　knitted　his　brows　but　acceded。

It　was　growing　dark　when　we　approached　a　hut　surrounded　by　the　dense　wood　and　wild　raspberry　bushes。　　It　contained　one　small　room　with　two　microscopic　windows　and　a　gigantic　Russian　stove。　　Against　the　building　were　the　remains　of　a　shed　and　a　cellar。　　We　fired　the　stove　and　prepared　our　modest　dinner。　　Ivan　drank　from　the　bottle　inherited　from　the　soldiers　and　in　a　short　time　was　very　eloquent；　with　brilliant　eyes　and　with　hands　that　coursed　frequently　and　rapidly　through　his　long　locks。　　He　began　relating　to　me　the　story　of　one　of　his　adventures；　but　suddenly　stopped　and；　with　fear　in　his　eyes；　squinted　into　a　dark　corner。

〃Is　it　a　rat？〃　he　asked。

〃I　did　not　see　anything；〃　I　replied。

He　again　became　silent　and　reflected　with　knitted　brow。　　Often　we　were　silent　through　long　hours　and　consequently　I　was　not　astonished。　　Ivan　leaned　over　near　to　me　and　began　to　whisper。

〃I　want　to　tell　you　an　old　story。　　I　had　a　friend　in　Transbaikalia。　He　was　a　banished　convict。　　His　name　was　Gavronsky。　　Through　many　woods　and　over　many　mountains　we　traveled　in　search　of　gold　and　we　had　an　agreement　to　divide　all　we　got　into　even　shares。　　But　Gavronsky　suddenly　went　out　to　the　'Taiga'　on　the　Yenisei　and　disappeared。　　After　five　years　we　heard　that　he　had　found　a　very　rich　gold　mine　and　had　become　a　rich　man；　then　later　that　he　and　his　wife　with　him　had　been　murdered。　。　。　。〃　　Ivan　was　still　for　a　moment　and　then　continued：

〃This　is　their　old　hut。　　Here　he　lived　with　his　wife　and　somewhere　on　this　river　he　took　out　his　gold。　　But　he　told　nobody　where。　　All　the　peasants　around　here　know　that　he　had　a　lot　of　money　in　the　bank　and　that　he　had　been　selling　gold　to　the　Government。　　Here　they　were　murdered。〃

Ivan　stepped　to　the　stove；　took　out　a　flaming　stick　and；　bending　over；　lighted　a　spot　on　the　floor。

〃Do　you　see　these　spots　on　the　floor　and　on　the　wall？　　It　is　their　blood；　the　blood　of　Gavronsky。　　They　died　but　they　did　not　disclose　the　whereabouts　of　the　gold。　　It　was　taken　out　of　a　deep　hole　which　they　had　drifted　into　the　bank　of　the　river　and　was　hidden　in　the　cellar　under　the　shed。　　But　Gavronsky　gave　nothing　away。　。　。　。　　AND　LORD　HOW　I　TORTURED　THEM！　　I　burned　them　with　fire；　I　bent　back　their　fingers；　I　gouged　out　their　eyes；　but　Gavronsky　died　in　silence。〃

He　thought　for　a　moment；　then　quickly　said　to　me：

〃I　have　heard　all　this　from　the　peasants。〃　　He　threw　the　log　into　the　stove　and　flopped　down　on　the　bench。　　〃It's　time　to　sleep；〃　he　snapped　out；　and　was　still。

I　listened　for　a　long　time　to　his　breathing　and　his　whispering　to　himself；　as　he　turned　from　one　side　to　the　other　and　smoked　his　pipe。

In　the　morning　we　left　this　scene　of　so　much　suffering　and　crime　and　on　the　seventh　day　of　our　journey　we　came　to　the　dense　cedar　wood　growing　on　the　foothills　of　a　long　chain　of　mountains。

〃From　here；〃　Ivan　explained　to　me；　〃it　is　eighty　versts　to　the　next　peasant　settlement。　　The　people　come　to　these　woods　to　gather　cedar　nuts　but　only　in　the　autumn。　　Before　then　you　will　not　meet　anyone。　Also　you　will　find　many　birds　and　beasts　and　a　plentiful　supply　of　nuts；　so　that　it　will　be　possible　for　you　to　live　here。　　Do　you　see　this　river？　　When　you　want　to　find　the　peasants；　follow　along　this　stream　and　it　will　guide　you　to　them。〃

Ivan　helped　me　build　my　mud　hut。　　But　it　was　not　the　genuine　mud　hut。　　It　was　one　formed　by　the　tearing　out　of　the　roots　of　a　great　cedar；　that　had　probably　fallen　in　some　wild　storm；　which　made　for　me　the　deep　hole　as　the　room　for　my　house　and　flanked　this　on　one　side　with　a　wall　of　mud　held　fast　among　the　upturned　roots。　Overhanging　ones　formed　also　the　framework　into　which　we　interlaced　the　poles　and　branches　to　make　a　roof；　finished　off　with　stones　for　stability　and　snow　for　warmth。　　The　front　of　the　hut　was　ever　open　but　was　constantly　protected　by　the　guardian　naida。　　In　that　snow…　covered　den　I　spent　two　months　like　summer　without　seeing　any　other　human　being　and　without　touch　with　the　outer　world　where　such　important　events　were　transpiring。　　In　that　grave　under　the　roots　of　the　fallen　tree　I　lived　before　the　face　of　nature　with　my　trials　and　my　anxiety　about　my　family　as　my　constant　companions；　and　in　the　hard　struggle　for　my　life。　　Ivan　went　off　the　second　day；　leaving　for　me　a　bag　of　dry　bread　and　a　little　sugar。　　I　never　saw　him　again。


CHAPTER　III

THE　STRUGGLE　FOR　LIFE


Then　I　was　alone。　　Around　me　only　the　wood　of　eternally　green　cedars　covered　with　snow；　the　bare　bushes；　the　frozen　river　and；　as　far　as　I　could　see　out　through　the　branches　and　the　trunks　of　the　trees；　only　the　great　ocean　of　cedars　and　snow。　　Siberian　taiga！　How　long　shall　I　be　forced　to　live　here？　　Will　the　Bolsheviki　find　me　here　or　not？　　Will　my　friends　know　where　I　am？　　What　is　happening　to　my　family？　　These　questions　were　constantly　as　burning　fires　in　my　brain。　　Soon　I　understood　why　Ivan　guided　me　so　long。　We　passed　many　secluded　places　on　the　journey；　far　away　from　all　people；　where　Ivan　could　have　safely　left　me　but　he　always　said　that　he　would　take　me　to　a　place　where　it　would　be　easier　to　live。　And　it　was　so。　　The　charm　of　my　lone　refuge　was　in　the　cedar　wood　and　in　th