the witch and other stories(女巫)-第43节
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horse's back； and vanished in its mane near its ears。
〃There are lots of hidden treasures in these parts；〃 he said。
And slowly stretching； he looked round him； resting his eyes on the
whitening east and added：
〃There must be treasures。〃
〃To be sure；〃 sighed the old man； 〃one can see from every sign there
are treasures； only there is no one to dig them； brother。 No one knows the
real places； besides； nowadays； you must remember； all the treasures are
under a charm。 To find them and see them you must have a talisman； and
without a talisman you can do nothing； lad。 Yefim had talismans； but there
was no getting anything out of him； the bald devil。 He kept them； so that
no one could get them。〃
The young shepherd crept two paces nearer to he old man and；
propping his head on his fists； fastened his fixed stare upon him。 A
childish expression of terror and curiosity gleamed in his dark eyes； and
seemed in the twilight to stretch and flatten out the large features of his
coarse young face。 He was listening intently。
〃It is even written in the Scriptures that there are lots of treasures
hidden here；〃 the old man went on； 〃it is so for sure。 。 。 and no mistake
about it。 An old soldier of Novopavlovka was shown at Ivanovka a writing；
and in this writing it was printed about the place of the treasure and even
how many pounds of gold was in it and the sort of vessel it was in； they
would have found the treasures long ago by that writing； only the treasure
is under a spell； you can't get at it。〃
〃Why can't you get at it； grandfather？〃 asked the young man。
I suppose there is some reason； the soldier didn't say。 It is under a
spell 。 。 。 you need a talisman。〃
The old man spoke with warmth； as though he were pouring out his
soul before the overseer。 He talked through his nose and； being
unaccustomed to talk much and rapidly； stuttered； and； conscious of his
defects； he tried to adorn his speech with gesticulations of the hands and
head and thin shoulders； and at every movement his hempen shirt
crumpled into folds； slipped upwards and displayed his back； black with
age and sunburn。 He kept pulling it down； but it slipped up again at once。
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At last； as though driven out of all patience by the rebellious shirt； the old
man leaped up and said bitterly：
〃There is fortune； but what is the good of it if it is buried in the earth？
It is just riches wasted with no profit to anyone； like chaff or sheep's dung；
and yet there are riches there； lad； fortune enough for all the country round；
but not a soul sees it！ It will come to this； that the gentry will dig it up or
the government will take it away。 The gentry have begun digging the
barrows。 。 。 。 They scented something！ They are envious of the peasants'
luck！ The government； too； is looking after itself。 It is written in the law
that if any peasant finds the treasure he is to take it to the authorities！ I
dare say； wait till you get it！ There is a brew but not for you！〃
The old man laughed contemptuously and sat down on the ground。 The
overseer listened with attention and agreed； but from his silence and the
expression of his figure it was evident that what the old man told him was
not new to him； that he had thought it all over long ago； and knew much
more than was known to the old shepherd。
〃In my day； I must own； I did seek for fortune a dozen times；〃 said the
old man； scratching himself nervously。 〃I looked in the right places； but I
must have come on treasures under a charm。 My father looked for it； too；
and my brother； too but not a thing did they find； so they died without
luck。 A monk revealed to my brother Ilya the Kingdom of Heaven be his
that in one place in the fortress of Taganrog there was a treasure under
three stones； and that that treasure was under a charm； and in those days
it was； I remember； in the year '38 an Armenian used to live at Matvyeev
Barrow who sold talismans。 Ilya bought a talisman； took two other fellows
with him； and went to Taganrog。 Only when he got to the place in the
fortress； brother； there was a soldier with a gun； standing at the very
spot。 。 。 。〃
A sound suddenly broke on the still air； and floated in all directions
over the steppe。 Something in the distance gave a menacing bang； crashed
against stone； and raced over the steppe； uttering； 〃Tah！ tah！ tah！ tah！〃
When the sound had died away the old man looked inquiringly at Panteley；
who stood motionless and unconcerned。
〃It's a bucket broken away at the pits；〃 said the young shepherd after a
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moment's thought。
It was by now getting light。 The Milky Way had turned pale and
gradually melted like snow； losing its outlines； the sky was becoming dull
and dingy so that you could not make out whether it was clear or covered
thickly with clouds； and only from the bright leaden streak in the east and
from the stars that lingered here and there could one tell what was coming。
The first noiseless breeze of morning； cautiously stirring the spurges
and the brown stalks of last year's grass； fluttered along the road。
The overseer roused himself from his thoughts and tossed his head。
With both hands he shook the saddle； touched the girth and； as though he
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
