beasts, men and gods-第3章

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would　be　easier　to　live。　And　it　was　so。　　The　charm　of　my　lone　refuge　was　in　the　cedar　wood　and　in　the　mountains　covered　with　these　forests　which　stretched　to　every　horizon。　　The　cedar　is　a　splendid；　powerful　tree　with　wide…　spreading　branches；　an　eternally　green　tent；　attracting　to　its　shelter　every　living　being。　　Among　the　cedars　was　always　effervescent　life。　　There　the　squirrels　were　continually　kicking　up　a　row；　jumping　from　tree　to　tree；　the　nut…jobbers　cried　shrilly；　a　flock　of　bullfinches　with　carmine　breasts　swept　through　the　trees　like　a　flame；　or　a　small　army　of　goldfinches　broke　in　and　filled　the　amphitheatre　of　trees　with　their　whistling；　a　hare　scooted　from　one　tree　trunk　to　another　and　behind　him　stole　up　the　hardly　visible　shadow　of　a　white　ermine；　crawling　on　the　snow；　and　I　watched　for　a　long　time　the　black　spot　which　I　knew　to　be　the　tip　of　his　tail；　carefully　treading　the　hard　crusted　snow　approached　a　noble　deer；　at　last　there　visited　me　from　the　top　of　the　mountain　the　king　of　the　Siberian　forest；　the　brown　bear。　　All　this　distracted　me　and　carried　away　the　black　thoughts　from　my　brain；　encouraging　me　to　persevere。　　It　was　good　for　me　also；　though　difficult；　to　climb　to　the　top　of　my　mountain；　which　reached　up　out　of　the　forest　and　from　which　I　could　look　away　to　the　range　of　red　on　the　horizon。　　It　was　the　red　cliff　on　the　farther　bank　of　the　Yenisei。　　There　lay　the　country；　the　towns；　the　enemies　and　the　friends；　and　there　was　even　the　point　which　I　located　as　the　place　of　my　family。　　It　was　the　reason　why　Ivan　had　guided　me　here。　　And　as　the　days　in　this　solitude　slipped　by　I　began　to　miss　sorely　this　companion　who；　though　the　murderer　of　Gavronsky；　had　taken　care　of　me　like　a　father；　always　saddling　my　horse　for　me；　cutting　the　wood　and　doing　everything　to　make　me　comfortable。　　He　had　spent　many　winters　alone　with　nothing　except　his　thoughts；　face　to　face　with　natureI　should　say；　before　the　face　of　God。　　He　had　tried　the　horrors　of　solitude　and　had　acquired　facility　in　bearing　them。　　I　thought　sometimes；　if　I　had　to　meet　my　end　in　this　place；　that　I　would　spend　my　last　strength　to　drag　myself　to　the　top　of　the　mountain　to　die　there；　looking　away　over　the　infinite　sea　of　mountains　and　forest　toward　the　point　where　my　loved　ones　were。

However；　the　same　life　gave　me　much　matter　for　reflection　and　yet　more　occupation　for　the　physical　side。　　It　was　a　continuous　struggle　for　existence；　hard　and　severe。　　The　hardest　work　was　the　preparation　of　the　big　logs　for　the　naida。　　The　fallen　trunks　of　the　trees　were　covered　with　snow　and　frozen　to　the　ground。　　I　was　forced　to　dig　them　out　and　afterwards；　with　the　help　of　a　long　stick　as　a　lever；　to　move　them　from　their　place。　　For　facilitating　this　work　I　chose　the　mountain　for　my　supplies；　where；　although　difficult　to　climb；　it　was　easy　to　roll　the　logs　down。　　Soon　I　made　a　splendid　discovery。　　I　found　near　my　den　a　great　quantity　of　larch；　this　beautiful　yet　sad　forest　giant；　fallen　during　a　big　storm。　　The　trunks　were　covered　with　snow　but　remained　attached　to　their　stumps；　where　they　had　broken　off。　　When　I　cut　into　these　stumps　with　the　ax；　the　head　buried　itself　and　could　with　difficulty　be　drawn　and；　investigating　the　reason；　I　found　them　filled　with　pitch。　　Chips　of　this　wood　needed　only　a　spark　to　set　them　aflame　and　ever　afterward　I　always　had　a　stock　of　them　to　light　up　quickly　for　warming　my　hands　on　returning　from　the　hunt　or　for　boiling　my　tea。

The　greater　part　of　my　days　was　occupied　with　the　hunt。　　I　came　to　understand　that　I　must　distribute　my　work　over　every　day；　for　it　distracted　me　from　my　sad　and　depressing　thoughts。　　Generally；　after　my　morning　tea；　I　went　into　the　forest　to　seek　heathcock　or　blackcock。　　After　killing　one　or　two　I　began　to　prepare　my　dinner；　which　never　had　an　extensive　menu。　　It　was　constantly　game　soup　with　a　handful　of　dried　bread　and　afterwards　endless　cups　of　tea；　this　essential　beverage　of　the　woods。　　Once；　during　my　search　for　birds；　I　heard　a　rustle　in　the　dense　shrubs　and；　carefully　peering　about；　I　discovered　the　points　of　a　deer's　horns。　　I　crawled　along　toward　the　spot　but　the　watchful　animal　heard　my　approach。　　With　a　great　noise　he　rushed　from　the　bush　and　I　saw　him　very　clearly；　after　he　had　run　about　three　hundred　steps；　stop　on　the　slope　of　the　mountain。　　It　was　a　splendid　animal　with　dark　grey　coat；　with　almost　a　black　spine　and　as　large　as　a　small　cow。　　I　laid　my　rifle　across　a　branch　and　fired。　　The　animal　made　a　great　leap；　ran　several　steps　and　fell。　　With　all　my　strength　I　ran　to　him　but　he　got　up　again　and　half　jumped；　half　dragged　himself　up　the　mountain。　The　second　shot　stopped　him。　　I　had　won　a　warm　carpet　for　my　den　and　a　large　stock　of　meat。　　The　horns　I　fastened　up　among　the　branches　of　my　wall；　where　they　made　a　fine　hat　rack。

I　cannot　forget　one　very　interesting　but　wild　picture；　which　was　staged　for　me　several　kilometres　from　my　den。　　There　was　a　small　swamp　covered　with　grass　and　cranberries　scattered　through　it；　where　the　blackcock　and　sand　partridges　usually　came　to　feed　on　the　berries。　　I　approached　noiselessly　behind　the　bushes　and　saw　a　whole　flock　of　blackcock　scratching　in　the　snow　and　picking　out　the　berries。　　While　I　was　surveying　this　scene；　suddenly　one　of　the　blackcock　jumped　up　and　the　rest　of　the　frightened　flock　immediately　flew　away。　　To　my　astonishment　the　first　bird　began　going　straight　up　in　a　spiral　flight　and　afterwards　dropped　directly　down　dead。　　When　I　approached　there　sprang　from　the　body　of　the　slain　cock　a　rapacious　ermine　that　hid　under　the　trunk　of　a　fallen　tree。　　The　bird's　neck　was　badly　torn。　　I　then　understood　that　the　ermine　had　charged　the　cock；　fastened　itself　on　his　neck　and　had　been　carried　by　the　bird　into　the　air；　as　he　sucked　the　blood　from　its　throat；　and　had　been　the　cause　of　the　heavy　fall　back　to　the　earth。　　Thanks　to　his　aeronautic　ability　I　saved　one　cartridge。

So　I　lived　fighting　for　the　morrow　and　more　and　more　poisoned　by　hard　and　bitter　thoughts。　　The　days　and　weeks　passed　and　soon　I　felt　the　breath　of　warmer　winds。　　On　the　open　places　the　snow　began　to　thaw。　　In　spots　the　little　rivulets　of　water　appeared。　　Another　day　I　saw　a　fly　or　a　spider　awakened　after　the　hard　winter。　　The　spring　was　coming。　　I　realized　that　in　spring　it　was　impossible　to　go　out　from　the　forest。　　Every　river　overflowed　its　banks；　the　swamps　became　impassable；　all　the　runways　of　the　animals　turned　into　beds　for　streams　of　running　water。　　I　understood　that　until　summer　I　was　condemned　to　a　continuation　of　my　solitude。　　Spring　very　quickly　came　into　her　rights　and　soon　my　mountain　was　free　from　snow　and　was　covered　only　with　stones；　the　trunks　of　birch　and　aspen　trees　and　the　high　cones　of　ant　hills；　the　river　in　places　broke　its　covering　of　ice　and　was　coursing　full　with　foam　and　bubbles。


CHAPTER　IV

A　FISHERMAN


One　day　during　the　hunt；　I　approached　the　bank　of　the　river　and　noticed　many　very　large　fish　with　red　backs；　as　though　filled　with　blood。　　They　were　swimming　on　the　surface　enjoying　the　rays　of　the　sun。　　When　the　river　was　entirely　free　from　ice；　these　fish　appeared　in　enormous　quantities。　　Soon　I　realized　that　they　were　working　up…stream　for　the　spawning　season　in　the　smaller　rivers。　　I　thought　to　use　a　plundering　method　of　catching；　forbidden　by　the　law　of　all　countries；　but　all　the　lawyers　and　legislators　should　be　lenient　to　one　who　lives　in　a　den　under　the　roots　of　a　fallen　tree　and　dares　to　break　their　rational　laws。

Gathering　many　thin　birch　and　aspen　trees　I　built　in　the　bed　of　the　stream　a　weir　which　the　fish　could　not　pass　and　soon　I　found　them　trying　to　jump　over　it。　　Near　the　bank　I　left　a　hole　in　my　barrier　about　eighteen　inches　below　the　surface　and　fastened　on　the　up…　stream　side　a　high　basket　plaited　from　soft　willow　twigs；　into　which　the　fish　came　as　they　passed　the　hole。　　Then　I　stood　cruelly　by　and　hit　them　on　the　head　with　a　strong　stick。　　All　my　catch　were　over　thirty　pounds；　some　more　than　eighty。　　This　variety　of　fish　is　called　the　taimen；　is　of　the　trout　family　and　is　the　best　in　the　Yenisei。

After　two　weeks　the　fish　had　passed　and　my　basket　gave　me　no　more　treasure；　so　I　began　anew　the　hunt。


CHAPTER　V

A　DANGEROUS　NEIGHBOR


The　hunt　became　more　and　more　profitable　and　enjoyable；　as　spring　animated　everything。　　In　the　morning　at　the　break　of　day　the　forest　was　full　of　voices；　strange　and　undiscernible　to　the　inhabitant　of　the　town。　　There　the　heathcock　clucked　and　sang　his　song　of　love；　as　he　sat　on　the　top　branches　of　the　cedar　and　admired　the　grey　hen　scratching　in　the　fallen　leaves　below。　　It　was　very　easy　to　approach　this　full…feathered　Caruso　and　with　a　shot　to　bring　him　down　from　his　more　poetic　to　his　more　utilitarian　duties。　　His　going　out　was　an　euthanasia；　for　he　was　in　love　and　heard　nothing。　Out　in　the　clearing　the　blackcocks　with　their　wide…spread　spotted　tails　were　fighting；　while　the　hens　strutting　near；　craning　and　chattering；　probably　some　gossip　about　their　fighting　swains；　watched　and　were　delighted　with　them。　　From　the　distance　flowed　in　a　stern　and　deep　roar；　yet　full　of　tenderness　and　love；　the　mating　call　of　the　deer；　while　from　the　crags　above　came　down　the　short　and　broken　voice　of　the　mountain　buck。　　Among　the　bushes　frolicked　the　hares　and　often　near　them　a　red　fox　lay　flattened　to　the　ground　watching　his　chance。　　I　never　heard　any　wolves　and　they　are　usually　not　found　in　the　Siberian　regions　covered　with　mountains　and　forest。

But　there　was　another　beast；　who　was　my　neighbor；　and　one　of　us　had　to　go　away。　　One　day；　coming　back　from　the　hunt　with　a　big　heathcock；　I　suddenly　noticed　among　the　trees　a　black；　moving　mass。　　I　stopped　and；　looking　very　attentively；　saw　a　bear；　digging　away　at　an　ant…　hill。　　Smelling　me；　he　snorted　violently；　and　very　quickly　shuffled　away；　astonishing　me　with　the　speed　of　his　clumsy　gait。　　The　following　morning；　while　still　lying　under　my　overcoat；　I　was　attracted　by　a　noise　behind　my　den。　　I　peered　out　very　carefully　and　discovered　the　bear。　　He　stood　on　his　hind　legs　and　was　noisily　sniffing；　investigating　the　question　as　to　what　living　creature　had　adopted　the　custom　of　the　bears　of　housing　during　the　winter　under　the　trunks　of　fallen　trees。　　I　shouted　and　struck　my　kettle　with　the　ax。　　My　early　visitor　made　off　with　all　his　energy；　but　his　visit　did　not　please　me。　　It　was　very　early　in　the　spring　that　this　occurred　and　the　bear　should　not　yet　have　left　his　hibernating　place。　　He　was　the　so…called　〃ant…eater；〃　an　abnormal　type　of　bear　lacking　in　all　the　etiquette　of　the　first　families　of　the　bear　clan。

I　knew　that　the　〃ant…eaters〃　were　very　irritable　and　audacious　and　quickly　I　prepared　myself　for　both　the　defence　and　the　charge。　　My　preparations　were　short。　　I　rubbed　off　the　ends　of　five　of　my　cartridges；　thus　making　dum…dums　out　of　them；　a　sufficiently　intelligible　argument　for　so　unwelcome　a　guest。　　Putting　on　my　coat　I　went　to　the　place　where　I　had　first　met　the　bear　and　where　there　were　many　ant…hills。　　I　made　a　detour　of　the　whole　mountain；　looked　in　all　the　ravines　but　nowhere　found　my　caller。　　Disappointed　and　tired；　I　was　approaching　my　shelter　quite　off　my　guard　when　I　suddenly　discovered　the　king　of　the　forest　himself　just　coming　out　of　my　lowly　dwel