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window and breathed the hot； moist air it was not that； he tried to think
of home； of the frost it was not that。 。 。 。 At last it seemed to him one
minute longer in the ward and he would certainly expire。
〃It's stifling； mates 。 。 。〃 he said。 〃I'll go on deck。 Help me up； for
Christ's sake。〃
〃All right；〃 assented the soldier with the sling。 〃I'll carry you； you can't
walk； hold on to my neck。〃
Gusev put his arm round the soldier's neck； the latter put his unhurt
arm round him and carried him up。 On the deck sailors and time…expired
soldiers were lying asleep side by side； there were so many of them it was
difficult to pass。
〃Stand down；〃 the soldier with the sling said softly。 〃Follow me
quietly； hold on to my shirt。 。 。 。〃
It was dark。 There was no light on deck； nor on the masts； nor
anywhere on the sea around。 At the furthest end of the ship the man on
watch was standing perfectly still like a statue； and it looked as though he
were asleep。 It seemed as though the steamer were abandoned to itself and
were going at its own will。
〃Now they will throw Pavel Ivanitch into the sea；〃 said the soldier
with the sling。 〃In a sack and then into the water。〃
〃Yes； that's the rule。〃
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〃But it's better to lie at home in the earth。 Anyway； your mother comes
to the grave and weeps。〃
〃Of course。〃
There was a smell of hay and of dung。 There were oxen standing with
drooping heads by the ship's rail。 One； two； three； eight of them！ And there
was a little horse。 Gusev put out his hand to stroke it； but it shook its head；
showed its teeth； and tried to bite his sleeve。
〃Damned brute 。 。 。〃 said Gusev angrily。
The two of them； he and the soldier； threaded their way to the head of
the ship； then stood at the rail and looked up and down。 Overhead deep
sky； bright stars； peace and stillness； exactly as at home in the village；
below darkness and disorder。 The tall waves were resounding； no one
could tell why。 Whichever wave you looked at each one was trying to rise
higher than all the rest and to chase and crush the next one； after it a third
as fierce and hideous flew noisily； with a glint of light on its white crest。
The sea has no sense and no pity。 If the steamer had been smaller and
not made of thick iron； the waves would have crushed it to pieces without
the slightest compunction； and would have devoured all the people in it
with no distinction of saints or sinners。 The steamer had the same cruel
and meaningless expression。 This monster with its huge beak was dashing
onwards； cutting millions of waves in its path； it had no fear of the
darkness nor the wind； nor of space； nor of solitude； caring for nothing；
and if the ocean had its people； this monster would have crushed them； too；
without distinction of saints or sinners。
〃Where are we now？〃 asked Gusev。
〃I don't know。 We must be in the ocean。〃
〃There is no sight of land。 。 。〃
〃No indeed！ They say we shan't see it for seven days。〃
The two soldiers watched the white foam with the phosphorus light on
it and were silent； thinking。 Gusev was the first to break the silence。
〃There is nothing to be afraid of；〃 he said； 〃only one is full of dread as
though one were sitting in a dark forest； but if； for instance； they let a boat
down on to the water this minute and an officer ordered me to go a
hundred miles over the sea to catch fish； I'd go。 Or； let's say； if a Christian
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
were to fall into the water this minute； I'd go in after him。 A German or a
Chinaman I wouldn't save； but I'd go in after a Christian。〃
〃And are you afraid to die？〃
〃Yes。 I am sorry for the folks at home。 My brother at home； you know；
isn't steady； he drinks； he beats his wife for nothing； he does not honour
his parents。 Everything will go to ruin without me； and father and my old
mother will be begging their bread； I shouldn't wonder。 But my legs won't
bear me； brother； and it's hot here。 Let's go to sleep。〃
V
Gusev went back to the ward and got into his hammock。 He was again
tormented by a vague craving； and he could not make out what he wanted。
There was an oppression on his chest； a throbbing in his head； his mouth
was so dry that it was difficult for him to move his tongue。 He dozed； and
murmured in his sleep； and； worn out with nightmares； his cough； and the
stifling heat； towards morning he fell into a sound sleep。 He dreamed that
they were just taking the bread out of the oven in the barracks and he
climbed into the stove and had a steam bath in it； lashing himself with a
bunch of birch twigs。 He slept for two days； and at midday on the third
two sailors came down and carried him out。
He was sewn up in sailcloth and to make him heavier they put with
him two iron weights。 Sewn up in the sailcloth he looked like a carrot or a
radish： broad at the head and narrow at the feet。 。 。 。 Before sunset they
brought him up to the deck and put him on a plank； one end of the plank
lay on the side of the ship； the other on a box； placed on a stool。 Round
him stood the soldiers and the officers with their caps off。
〃Blessed be the Name of the Lord 。 。 。〃 the priest began。 〃As it was in
the beginning； is now； and ever shall be。〃
〃Amen；〃 chanted three sailors。
The soldiers and the officers crossed themselves and looked away at
the waves。 It was strange that a man should be sewn up in sailcloth and
should soon be flying into the sea。 Was it possible that such a thing might
happen to anyone？
The priest strewed earth upon Gusev and bowed down。 They sang
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〃Eternal Memory。〃 The man on watch duty tilted up the end of the plank；
Gusev slid off and flew head foremost； turned a somersault in the air and
splashed into the sea。 He was covered with foam and for a moment looked
as though he were wrapped in lace； but the minute passed and he
disappeared in the waves。
He went rapidly towards the bottom。 Did he reach it？ It was said to be
three miles to the bottom。 After sinking sixty or seventy feet； he began
moving