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four occasions given him letters and asked him to send them to the country；
but some important business had always prevented him； he had not sent
them； and the letters somehow got lost。
〃And little hares run about in the fields；〃 Yefimya went on chanting；
kissing her boy and shedding tears。 〃Grandfather is kind and gentle；
granny is good； too kind…hearted。 They are warm…hearted in the country；
they are God…fearing 。 。 。 and there is a little church in the village； the
peasants sing in the choir。 Queen of Heaven； Holy Mother and Defender；
take us away from here！〃
Andrey Hrisanfitch returned to his room to smoke a little till there was
another ring at the door； and Yefimya ceased speaking； subsided； and
wiped her eyes； though her lips were still quivering。 She was very much
frightened of him oh； how frightened of him！ She trembled and was
reduced to terror by the sound of his steps； by the look in his eyes； and
dared not utter a word in his presence。
Andrey Hrisanfitch lighted a cigarette； but at that very moment there
was a ring from upstairs。 He put out his cigarette； and； assuming a very
grave face； hastened to his front door。
The general was coming downstairs； fresh and rosy from his bath。
〃And what is there in that room？〃 he asked； pointing to a door。
Andrey Hrisanfitch put his hands down swiftly to the seams of his
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
trousers； and pronounced loudly：
〃Charcot douche； your Excellency！〃
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GUSEV
I
IT was getting dark； it would soon be night。
Gusev； a discharged soldier； sat up in his hammock and said in an
undertone：
〃I say； Pavel Ivanitch。 A soldier at Sutchan told me： while they were
sailing a big fish came into collision with their ship and stove a hole in it。〃
The nondescript individual whom he was addressing； and whom
everyone in the ship's hospital called Pavel Ivanitch； was silent； as though
he had not heard。
And again a stillness followed。 。 。 The wind frolicked with the rigging；
the screw throbbed； the waves lashed； the hammocks creaked； but the ear
had long ago become accustomed to these sounds； and it seemed that
everything around was asleep and silent。 It was dreary。 The three invalids …
… two soldiers and a sailor who had been playing cards all the day were
asleep and talking in their dreams。
It seemed as though the ship were beginning to rock。 The hammock
slowly rose and fell under Gusev； as though it were heaving a sigh； and
this was repeated once； twice； three times。 。 。 。 Something crashed on to the
floor with a clang： it must have been a jug falling down。
〃The wind has broken loose from its chain。 。 。〃 said Gusev； listening。
This time Pavel Ivanitch cleared his throat and answered irritably：
〃One minute a vessel's running into a fish； the next； the wind's
breaking loose from its chain。 Is the wind a beast that it can break loose
from its chain？〃
〃That's how christened folk talk。〃
〃They are as ignorant as you are then。 They say all sorts of things。 One
must keep a head on one's shoulders and use one's reason。 You are a
senseless creature。〃
Pavel Ivanitch was subject to sea…sickness。 When the sea was rough he
was usually ill…humoured； and the merest trifle would make him irritable。
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
And in Gusev's opinion there was absolutely nothing to be vexed about。
What was there strange or wonderful； for instance； in the fish or in the
wind's breaking loose from its chain？ Suppose the fish were as big as a
mountain and its back were as hard as a sturgeon： and in the same way；
supposing that away yonder at the end of the world there stood great stone
walls and the fierce winds were chained up to the walls 。 。 。 if they had not
broken loose； why did they tear about all over the sea like maniacs； and
struggle to escape like dogs？ If they were not chained up； what did
become of them when it was calm？
Gusev pondered for a long time about fishes as big as a mountain and
stout； rusty chains； then he began to feel dull and thought of his native
place to which he was returning after five years' service in the East。 He
pictured an immense pond covered with snow。 。 。 。 On one side of the pond
the red…brick building of the potteries with a tall chimney and clouds of
black smoke； on the other side a village。 。 。 。 His brother Alexey comes
out in a sledge from the fifth yard from the end； behind him sits his little
son Vanka in big felt over…boots； and his little girl Akulka； also in big felt
boots。 Alexey has been drinking； Vanka is laughing； Akulka's face he
could not see； she had muffled herself up。
〃You never know； he'll get the children frozen 。 。 。〃 thought Gusev。
〃Lord send them sense and judgment that they may honour their father and
mother and not be wiser than their parents。〃
〃They want re…soleing；〃 a delirious sailor says in a bass voice。 〃Yes；
yes！〃
Gusev's thoughts break off； and instead of a pond there suddenly
appears apropos of nothing a huge bull's head without eyes； and the horse
and sledge are not driving along； but are whirling round and round in a
cloud of smoke。 But still he was glad he had seen his own folks。 He held
his breath from delight； shudders ran all over him； and his fingers
twitched。
〃The Lord let us meet again；〃 he muttered feverishly； but he at once
opened his eyes and sought in the darkness for water。
He drank and lay back； and again the sledge was moving； then again
the bull's head without eyes； smoke； clouds。 。 。 。 And so on till daybreak。
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II
The first outline visible in the darkness was a blue circle the little
round window； then little by little Gusev could distinguish his neighbour
in the next hammock； Pavel Ivanitch。 The man slept sitting up； as he could
not breathe lyin