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business for the peasants and no pleasure for the gentry。〃
The shepherd looked at the sky again； thought a moment； and said
deliberately； as though chewing each word：
〃It's all going the same way。 。 。 。 There is nothing good to be looked
for。〃
〃How are things with you here？〃 Meliton inquired； lighting his
cigarette。 〃Haven't you seen any coveys of grouse in the Artamonovs'
clearing？〃
The shepherd did not answer at once。 He looked again at the sky and
to right and left； thought a little； blinked。 。 。 。 Apparently he attached no
little significance to his words； and to increase their value tried to
pronounce them with deliberation and a certain solemnity。 The expression
of his face had the sharpness and staidness of old age； and the fact that his
nose had a saddle…shaped depression across the middle and his nostrils
turned upwards gave him a sly and sarcastic look。
〃No； I believe I haven't；〃 he said。 〃Our huntsman Eryomka w as saying
that on Elijah's Day he started one covey near Pustoshye； but I dare say he
was lying。 There are very few birds。〃
〃Yes； brother； very few。 。 。 。 Very few everywhere！ The shooting here；
if one is to look at it with common sense； is good for nothing and not
worth having。 There is no game at all； and what there is is not worth
dirtying your hands over it is not full…grown。 It is such poor stuff that
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one is ashamed to look at it。〃
Meliton gave a laugh and waved his hands。
〃Things happen so queerly in this world that it is simply laughable and
nothing else。 Birds nowadays have become so unaccountable： they sit late
on their eggs； and there are some； I declare； that have not hatched them by
St。 Peter's Day！〃
〃It's all going the same；〃 said the shepherd； turning his face upwards。
〃There was little game last year； this year there are fewer birds still； and in
another five years； mark my words； there will be none at all。 As far as I
can see there will soon be not only no game； but no birds at all。〃
Yes；〃 Meliton assented； after a moment's thought。 〃That's true。〃
The shepherd gave a bitter smile and shook his head。
〃It's a wonder；〃 he said； 〃what has become of them all！ I remember
twenty years ago there used to be geese here； and cranes and ducks and
grouse clouds and clouds of them！ The gentry used to meet together for
shooting； and one heard nothing but pouf…pouf…pouf！ pouf…pouf…pouf！
There was no end to the woodcocks； the snipe； and the little teals； and the
water…snipe were as common as starlings； or let us say sparrows lots and
lots of them！ And what has become of them all？ We don't even see the
birds of prey。 The eagles； the hawks； and the owls have all gone。 。 。 。 There
are fewer of every sort of wild beast； too。 Nowadays； brother； even the
wolf and the fox have grown rare； let alone the bear or the otter。 And you
know in old days there were even elks！ For forty years I have been
observing the works of God from year to year； and it is my opinion that
everything is going the same way。〃
〃What way？〃
〃To the bad； young man。 To ruin； we must suppose。 。 。 The time has
come for God's world to perish。〃
The old man put on his cap and began gazing at the sky。
〃It's a pity；〃 he sighed； after a brief silence。 〃O God； what a pity！ Of
course it is God's will； the world was not created by us； but yet it is a pity；
brother。 If a single tree withers away； or let us say a single cow dies； it
makes one sorry； but what will it be； good man； if the whole world
crumbles into dust？ Such blessings； Lord Jesus！ The sun； and the sky； and
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the forest； and the rivers； and the creatures all these have been created；
adapted； and adjusted to one another。 Each has been put to its appointed
task and knows its place。 And all that must perish。〃
A mournful smile gleamed on the shepherd's face； and his eyelids
quivered。
〃You say the world is perishing；〃 said Meliton； pondering。 〃It may
be that the end of the world is near at hand； but you can't judge by the
birds。 I don't think the birds can be taken as a sign。〃
〃Not the birds only；〃 said the shepherd。 〃It's the wild beasts； too； and
the cattle； and the bees； and the fish。 。 。 。 If you don't believe me ask the
old people； every old man will tell you that the fish are not at all what they
used to be。 In the seas； in the lakes； and in the rivers； there are fewer fish
from year to year。 In our Pestchanka； I remember； pike used to be caught a
yard long； and there were eel…pouts； and roach； and bream； and every fish
had a presentable appearance； while nowadays； if you catch a wretched
little pikelet or perch six inches long you have to be thankful。 There are
not any gudgeon even worth talking about。 Every year it is worse and
worse； and in a little while there will be no fish at all。 And take the rivers
now 。 。 。 the rivers are drying up； for sure。〃
〃It is true； they are drying up。〃
〃To be sure； that's what I say。 Every year they are shallower and
shallower； and there are not the deep holes there used to be。 And do you
see the bushes yonder？〃 the old man asked； pointing to one side。 〃Beyond
them is an old river…bed； it's called a backwater。 In my father's time the
Pestchanka flowed there； but now look； where have the evil spirits taken it
to？ It changes its course； and； mind you； it will go on changing till such
time as it has dried up altogether。 There used to be marshes and ponds
beyond Kurgasovo； and where are they now？ And what has become of the
streams？ Here in this very wood we used to have a stream flowing； and
such a stream that the peasants used to set creels in it and caught pike；
wild ducks used to spend the winter by it； and nowadays there is no water
in it worth speaking of； even at the spring floods。 Yes； brother； look where
you will； things are bad everywhere。 Everywhere！〃
A silence followed。 Meliton sank into thought； with his eyes fixed on
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one spot。 He wanted to think of some one part of nature