the witch and other stories(女巫)-第49章
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could not make up his mind to mount the horse； stood still again；
hesitating。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃your elbow is near； but you can't bite it。 There is
fortune； but there is not the wit to find it。〃
And he turned facing the shepherds。 His stern face looked sad and
mocking； as though he were a disappointed man。
〃Yes； so one dies without knowing what happiness is like 。 。 。〃 he said
emphatically； lifting his left leg into the stirrup。 〃A younger man may live
to see it； but it is time for us to lay aside all thought of it。〃
Stroking his long moustaches covered with dew； he seated himself
heavily on the horse and screwed up his eyes； looking into the distance； as
though he had forgotten something or left something unsaid。 In the bluish
distance where the furthest visible hillock melted into the mist nothing
was stirring； the ancient barrows； once watch…mounds and tombs； which
rose here and there above the horizon and the boundless steppe had a
sullen and death…like look； there was a feeling of endless time and utter
indifference to man in their immobility and silence； another thousand
years would pass； myriads of men would die； while they would still stand
as they had stood； wit h no regret for the dead nor interest in the living；
and no soul would ever know why they stood there； and what secret of the
steppes was hidden under them。
The rooks awakening； flew one after another in silence over the earth。
No meaning was to be seen in the languid flight of those long…lived birds；
nor in the morning which is repeated punctually every twenty…four hours；
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nor in the boundless expanse of the steppe。
The overseer smiled and said：
〃What space； Lord have mercy upon us！ You would have a hunt to find
treasure in it！ Here；〃 he went on； dropping his voice and 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
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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
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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
pond
