the witch and other stories-第30章

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making　a　serious　face；　〃here　there　are　two　treasures　buried　for　a
certainty。　The　gentry　don't　know　of　them；　but　the　old　peasants；
particularly　the　soldiers；　know　all　about　them。　Here；　somewhere
on　that　ridge　＇the　overseer　pointed　with　his　whip＇　robbers　one
time　attacked　a　caravan　of　gold；　the　gold　was　being　taken　from
Petersburg　to　the　Emperor　Peter　who　was　building　a　fleet　at　the
time　at　Voronezh。　The　robbers　killed　the　men　with　the　caravan　and
buried　the　gold；　but　did　not　find　it　again　afterwards。　Another
treasure　was　buried　by　our　Cossacks　of　the　Don。　In　the　year　'12
they　carried　off　lots　of　plunder　of　all　sorts　from　the　French；
goods　and　gold　and　silver。　When　they　were　going　homewards　they
heard　on　the　way　that　the　government　wanted　to　take　away　all　the
gold　and　silver　from　them。　Rather　than　give　up　their　plunder　like
that　to　the　government　for　nothing；　the　brave　fellows　took　and
buried　it；　so　that　their　children；　anyway；　might　get　it；　but
where　they　buried　it　no　one　knows。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　those　treasures；〃　the　old　man　muttered　grimly。

〃Yes　。　。　。〃　Panteley　pondered　again。　〃So　it　is。　。　。　。〃

A　silence　followed。　The　overseer　looked　dreamily　into　the
distance；　gave　a　laugh　and　pulled　the　rein；　still　with　the　same
expression　as　though　he　had　forgotten　something　or　left　something
unsaid。　The　horse　reluctantly　started　at　a　walking　pace。　After
riding　a　hundred　paces　Panteley　shook　his　head　resolutely；　roused
himself　from　his　thoughts　and；　lashing　his　horse；　set　off　at　a
trot。

The　shepherds　were　left　alone。

〃That　was　Panteley　from　Makarov's　estate；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃He
gets　a　hundred　and　fifty　a　year　and　provisions　found；　too。　He　is
a　man　of　education。　。　。　。〃

The　sheep；　waking　up　　there　were　about　three　thousand　of　them
　began　without　zest　to　while　away　the　time；　nipping　at　the　low；
half…trampled　grass。　The　sun　had　not　yet　risen；　but　by　now　all
the　barrows　could　be　seen　and；　like　a　cloud　in　the　distance；
Saur's　Grave　with　its　peaked　top。　If　one　clambered　up　on　that
tomb　one　could　see　the　plain　from　it；　level　and　boundless　as　the
sky；　one　could　see　villages；　manor…houses；　the　settlements　of　the
Germans　and　of　the　Molokani；　and　a　long…sighted　Kalmuck　could
even　see　the　town　and　the　railway…station。　Only　from　there　could
one　see　that　there　was　something　else　in　the　world　besides　the
silent　steppe　and　the　ancient　barrows；　that　there　was　another
life　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　buried　treasure　and　the　thoughts
of　sheep。

The　old　man　felt　beside　him　for　his　crook　　a　long　stick　with　a
hook　at　the　upper　end　　and　got　up。　He　was　silent　and
thoughtful。　The　young　shepherd's　face　had　not　lost　the　look　of
childish　terror　and　curiosity。　He　was　still　under　the　influence
of　what　he　had　heard　in　the　night；　and　impatiently　awaiting　fresh
stories。

〃Grandfather；〃　he　asked；　getting　up　and　taking　his　crook；　〃what
did　your　brother　Ilya　do　with　the　soldier？〃

The　old　man　did　not　hear　the　question。　He　looked　absent…mindedly
at　the　young　man；　and　answered；　mumbling　with　his　lips：

〃I　keep　thinking；　Sanka；　about　that　writing　that　was　shown　to
that　soldier　at　Ivanovka。　I　didn't　tell　Panteley　　God　be　with
him　　but　you　know　in　that　writing　the　place　was　marked　out　so
that　even　a　woman　could　find　it。　Do　you　know　where　it　is？　At
Bogata　Bylotchka　at　the　spot；　you　know；　where　the　ravine　parts
like　a　goose's　foot　into　three　little　ravines；　it　is　the　middle
one。〃

〃Well；　will　you　dig？〃

〃I　will　try　my　luck。　。　。〃

〃And；　grandfather；　what　will　you　do　with　the　treasure　when　you
find　it？〃

〃Do　with　it？〃　laughed　the　old　man。　〃H'm！　。　。　。　If　only　I　could
find　it　then。　。　。　。　I　would　show　them　all。　。　。　。　H'm！　。　。　。　I
should　know　what　to　do。　。　。　。〃

And　the　old　man　could　not　answer　what　he　would　do　with　the
treasure　if　he　found　it。　That　question　had　presented　itself　to
him　that　morning　probably　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　and
judging　from　the　expression　of　his　face；　indifferent　and
uncritical；　it　did　not　seem　to　him　important　and　deserving　of
consideration。　In　Sanka's　brain　another　puzzled　question　was
stirring：　why　was　it　only　old　men　searched　for　hidden　treasure；
and　what　was　the　use　of　earthly　happiness　to　people　who　might　die
any　day　of　old　age？　But　Sanka　could　not　put　this　perplexity　into
words；　and　the　old　man　could　scarcely　have　found　an　answer　to　it。

An　immense　crimson　sun　came　into　view　surrounded　by　a　faint　haze。
Broad　streaks　of　light；　still　cold；　bathing　in　the　dewy　grass；
lengthening　out　with　a　joyous　air　as　though　to　prove　they　were
not　weary　of　their　task；　began　spreading　over　the　earth。　The
silvery　wormwood；　the　blue　flowers　of　the　pig's　onion；　the　yellow
mustard；　the　corn…flowers　　all　burst　into　gay　colours；　taking
the　sunlight　for　their　own　smile。

The　old　shepherd　and　Sanka　parted　and　stood　at　the　further　sides
of　the　flock。　Both　stood　like　posts；　without　moving；　staring　at
the　ground　and　thinking。　The　former　was　haunted　by　thoughts　of
fortune；　the　latter　was　pondering　on　what　had　been　said　in　the
night；　what　interested　him　was　not　the　fortune　itself；　which　he
did　not　want　and　could　not　imagine；　but　the　fantastic；　fairy…tale
character　of　human　happiness。

A　hundred　sheep　started　and；　in　some　inexplicable　panic　as　at　a
signal；　dashed　away　from　the　flock；　and　as　though　the　thoughts　of
the　sheep　　tedious　and　oppressive　　had　for　a　moment　infected
Sanka　also；　he；　too；　dashed　aside　in　the　same　inexplicable　animal
panic；　but　at　once　he　recovered　himself　and　shouted：

〃You　crazy　creatures！　You've　gone　mad；　plague　take　you！〃

When　the　sun；　promising　long　hours　of　overwhelming　heat；　began　to
bake　the　earth；　all　living　things　that　in　the　night　had　moved　and
uttered　sounds　were　sunk　in　drowsiness。　The　old　shepherd　and
Sanka　stood　with　their　crooks　on　opposite　sides　of　the　flock；
stood　without　stirring；　like　fakirs　at　their　prayers；　absorbed　in
thought。　They　did　not　heed　each　other；　each　of　them　was　living　in
his　own　life。　The　sheep　were　pondering；　too。


A　MALEFACTOR

AN　exceedingly　lean　little　peasant；　in　a　striped　hempen　shirt　and
patched　drawers；　stands　facing　the　investigating　magistrate。　His
face　overgrown　with　hair　and　pitted　with　smallpox；　and　his　eyes
scarcely　visible　under　thick；　overhanging　eyebrows　have　an
expression　of　sullen　moroseness。　On　his　head　there　is　a　perfect
mop　of　tangled；　unkempt　hair；　which　gives　him　an　even　more
spider…like　air　of　moroseness。　He　is　barefooted。

〃Denis　Grigoryev！〃　the　magistrate　begins。　〃Come　nearer；　and
answer　my　questions。　On　the　seventh　of　this　July　the　railway
watchman；　Ivan　Semyonovitch　Akinfov；　going　along　the　line　in　the
morning；　found　you　at　the　hundred…and…forty…first　mile　engaged　in
unscrewing　a　nut　by　which　the　rails　are　made　fast　to　the
sleepers。　Here　it　is；　the　nut！　。　。　。　With　the　aforesaid　nut　he
detained　you。　Was　that　so？〃

〃Wha…at？〃

〃Was　this　all　as　Akinfov　states？〃

〃To　be　sure；　it　was。〃

〃Very　good；　well；　what　were　you　unscrewing　the　nut　for？〃

〃Wha…at？〃

〃Drop　that　'wha…at'　and　answer　the　question；　what　were　you
unscrewing　the　nut　for？〃

〃If　I　hadn't　wanted　it　I　shouldn't　have　unscrewed　it；〃　croaks
Denis；　looking　at　the　ceiling。

〃What　did　you　want　that　nut　for？〃

〃The　nut？　We　make　weights　out　of　those　nuts　for　our　lines。〃

〃Who　is　'we'？〃

〃We；　people。　。　。　。　The　Klimovo　peasants；　that　is。〃

〃Listen；　my　man；　don't　play　the　idiot　to　me；　but　speak　sensibly。
It's　no　use　telling　lies　here　about　weights！〃

〃I've　never　been　a　liar　from　a　child；　and　now　I'm　telling　lies　。
。　。〃　mutters　Denis；　blinking。　〃But　can　you　do　without　a　weight；
your　honour？　If　you　put　live　bait　or　maggots　on　a　hook；　would　it
go　to　the　bottom　without　a　w　eight？　。　。　。　I　am　telling　lies；〃
grins　Denis。　。　。　。　〃What　the　devil　is　the　use　of　the　worm　if　it
swims　on　the　surface！　The　perch　and　the　pike　and　the　eel…pout
always　go　to　the　bottom；　and　a　bait　on　the　surface　is　only　taken
by　a　shillisper；　not　very　often　then；　and　there　are　no
shillispers　in　our　river。　。　。　。　That　fish　likes　plenty　of　room。〃

〃Why　are　you　telling　me　about　shillispers？〃

〃Wha…at？　Why；　you　asked　me　yourself！　The　gentry　catch　fish　that
way　too　in　our　parts。　The　silliest　little　boy　would　not　try　to
catch　a　fish　without　a　weight。　Of　course　anyone　who　did　not
understand　might　go　to　fish　without　a　weight。　There　is　no　rule
for　a　fool。〃

〃So　you　say　you　unscrewed　this　nut　to　make　a　weight　for　your
fishing　line　out　of　it？〃

〃What　else　for？　It　wasn't　to　play　knuckle…bones　with！〃

〃But　you　might　have　taken　lead；　a　bullet　。　。　。　a　nail　of　some
sort。　。　。　。〃

〃You　don't　pick　up　lead　in　the　road；　you　have　to　buy　it；　and　a
nail's　no　good。　You　can't　find　anything　better　than　a　nut。　。　。　。
It's　heavy；　and　there's　a　hole　in　it。〃

〃He　keeps　pretending　to　be　a　fool！　as　though　he'd　been　born
yesterday　or　dropped　from　heaven！　Don't　you　understand；　you
blockhead；　what　unscrewing　these　nuts　leads　to？　If　the　watchman
had　not　noticed　it　the　train　might　have　run　off　the　rails；　people
would　have　been　killed　　you　would　have　killed　people。〃

〃God　forbid；　your　honour！　What　should　I　kill　them　for？　Are　we
heathens　or　wicked　people？　Thank　God；　good　gentlemen；　we　have
lived　all　our　lives　without　ever　dreaming　of　such　a　thing。　。　。　。
Save；　and　have　mercy　on　us；　Queen　of　Heaven！　。　。　。　What　are　you
saying？〃

〃And　what　do　you　suppose　railway　accidents　do　come　from？　Unscrew
two　or　three　nuts　and　you　have　an　accident。〃

Denis　grins；　and　screws　up　his　eye　at　the　magistrate
incredulously。

〃Why！　how　many　years　have　we　all　in　the　village　been　unscrewing
nuts；　and　the　Lord　has　been　merciful；　and　you　talk　of　accidents；
killing　people。　If　I　had　carried　away　a　rail　or　put　a　log　across
the　line；　say；　then　maybe　it　might　have　upset　the　train；　but。　。　。
pouf！　a　nut！〃

〃But　you　must　understand　that　the　nut　holds　the　rail　fast　to　the
sleepers！〃

〃We　understand　that。　。　。　。　We　don't　unscrew　them　all　。　。　。　we
leave　some。　。　。　。　We　don't　do　it　thoughtlessly　。　。　。　we
understand。　。　。　。〃

Denis　yawns　and　makes　the　sign　of　the　cross　over　his　mouth。

〃Last　year　the　train　went　off　the　rails　here；〃　says　the
magistrate。　〃Now　I　see　why！〃

〃What　do　you　say；　your　honour？〃

〃I　am　telling　you　that　now　I　see　why　the　train　went　off　the　rails
last　year。　。　。　。　I　understand！〃

〃That's　what　you　are　educated　people　for；　to　understand；　you　kind
gentlemen。　The　Lord　knows　to　whom　to　give　understanding。　。　。　。
Here　you　have　reasoned　how　and　what；　but　the　watchman；　a　peasant
like　ourselves；　with　no　understanding　at　all；　catches　one　by　the
collar　and　hauls　one　along。　。　。　。　You　should　reason　first　and
then　haul　me　off。　It's　a　saying　that　a　peasant　has　a　peasant's
wit。　。　。　。　Write　down；　too；　your　honour；　that　he　hit　me　twice　
in　the　jaw　and　in　the　chest。〃

〃When　your　hut　was　searched　they　found　another　nut。　。　。　。　At　what
spot　did　you　unscrew　that；　and　when？〃

〃You　mean　the　nut　which　lay　under　the　red　box？〃

〃I　don't　know　where　it　was　lying；　only　it　was　found。　When　did　you
unscrew　it？〃

〃I　didn't　unscrew　it；　Ignashka；　the　son　of　one…eyed　Semyon；　gave
it　me。　I　mean　the　one　which　was　under　the　box；　but　the　one　which
was　in　the　sledge　in　the　yard　Mitrofan　and　I　unscrewed　together。〃

〃What　Mitrofan？〃

〃Mitrofan　Petrov。