creatures that once were men-第37节
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At first； Shakro did not understand。 Then suddenly he rose
from his place； and began dancing some wild dance of his own；
first flying like a ball across the fire； then whirling round
and round in one place； then stamping his feet on the ground；
while he swung his arms； and shouted at the top of his voice。
It was a ludicrous spectacle。 Two of the shepherds were
rolling on the ground； convulsed with laughter； while the older
man； with a serious； immovable face； tried to clap his hands in
time to the dancing； but could not succeed in doing so。 He
watched attentively every movement of the dancing Shakro； while
he nodded his head； and exclaimed in a deep bass voice：
209 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
〃He！ He'！ That's right！ He'！ He'！〃
The light fell full on Shakro； showing the variety of his
movements； as at one moment he would coil himself up like a
snake； and the next would dance round on one leg； then would
plunge into a succession of rapid steps； difficult to follow
with the eye。 His naked body shone in the fire light； while
the large beads of sweat； as they rolled off it； looked； in
the red light of the fire； like drops of blood。。
By now； all three of the shepherds were clapping their hands；
while I； shivering with cold； dried myself by the fire； and
thought that our adventures would gratify the taste of admirers
of Cooper or of Jules Vernes； there was shipwreck； then came
hospitable aborigines； and a savage dance round the fire。 And
while I reflected thus； I felt very uneasy as to the chief point
in every adventurethe end of it。
When Shakro had finished dancing； he also sat down by the fire；
wrapped up in the overcoat。 He was already eating； while he
stared at me with his black eyes； which had a gleam in them of
something I did not like。 His clothes； stretched on sticks；
driven into the ground； were drying before the fire。 The
shepherds had given me； also； some bread and bacon。
Michael returned； and sat down without a word beside the old
man； who remarked in an inquiring voice： 〃Well？〃
〃I have found the boat；〃 was the brief reply。
〃It won't be washed away？〃
〃No。〃
210 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
The shepherds were silent； once more scrutinizing us。
〃Well；〃 said Michael； at last； addressing no one in particular。
〃Shall we take them to the ataman； or straight to the custom
house officers？〃
〃So that's to be the end！〃 I thought to myself。
Nobody replied to Michael's question。 Shakro went on quietly
with his eating； and said nothing。
〃We could take them to the atamanor we could take them to the
custom house。 One plan's as good as the other；〃 remarked the
old man； after a short silence。
〃They have stolen the custom house boat； so they ought to be
taught a lesson for the future。〃
〃Wait a bit； old man；〃 I began。
〃Certainly； they ought not to have stolen the boat。 If they
are not punished now； they will probably do something worse
next time。〃 The old man interrupted me； without paying any
heed to my protestations。
The old man spoke with revolting indifference。 When he had
finished speaking； his comrades nodded their heads in token
of assent。
〃Yes； if a man steals； he has to bear the consequences； when
he's caught Michael！ what about the boat？ Is it there？〃
〃Oh； it's there all right！〃
〃Are you sure the waves won't wash it away？〃
〃Quite sure。〃
〃Well； that's all right。 Then let it stay there。 Tomorrow
the boatmen will be going over to Kertch； and they can take
it with them。 They will not mind taking an empty boat along
with them； will they？ Wellso you mean to say you were not
frightened； you vagabonds？ Weren't you indeed？ La！ la！ la！
211 MY FELLOW…TRAVELLER
Half a mile farther out； and you would have been by this time
at the bottom of the sea！ What would you have done if the
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 exhaus
