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Updated: May 15, 2025
Gavrilo was soaked through with sweat at once, but he still rowed on with all his might. After living through such terror twice that night, he dreaded now having to go through it a third time, and longed for one thing only to make an end quickly of this accursed task, to get on to land, and to run away from this man, before he really did kill him, or get him into prison.
The voice was farther off this time. Chelkash grew calm again. "It's yourself, friend, that's shouting!" he said in the direction of the shouts, and then he turned to Gavrilo, who was muttering a prayer. "Well, mate, you're in luck! If those devils had overtaken us, it would have been all over with you. D'you see? I'd have you over in a trice to the fishes!"
These clouds were slowly advancing, their enormous, heavy masses, terrifying in the darkness, ready to crush man with their weight. All was cold, black and of evil omen. Gavrilo was afraid. This fear was greater than that imposed on him by Tchelkache; it clasped Gavrilo's breast in a tight embrace, squeezed him to a helpless mass and riveted him to the boat's bench. Perfect silence reigned.
Why, what a fellow you are; as though all the breath had been knocked out of your skin, and only a bag of bones was left! My dear fellow! It's all over now! Hey!" It was pleasant to Gavrilo to hear a human voice, even though Chelkash it was that spoke. "I hear," he said softly. "Come, then, milksop. Come, you sit at the rudder and I'll take the oars, you must be tired!"
Gavrilo felt something intoxicating and oppressive creeping over him, over all his limbs, making his head reel, and his eyes grow dim, as they moved inquisitively about the eating-house. Chelkash came in, and they began eating and drinking and talking. At the third glass Gavrilo was drunk.
Then across the wall stretched Chelkash's long figure, the oars appeared from somewhere, Gavrilo's bag dropped at his feet, and Chelkash, breathing heavily, settled himself in the stern. Gavrilo gazed at him with a glad and timid smile. "Tired?" "Bound to be that, calf! Come now, row your best! Put your back into it! You've earned good wages, mate. Half the job's done.
In a moment they were on the deck, where three dark and bearded individuals were looking over the side at Tchelkache's boat and talking animatedly in a strange and harsh language. A fourth, clad in a long gown, advanced toward Tchelkache, shook his hand in silence and cast a suspicious glance at Gavrilo. "Get the money ready for to-morrow morning," briefly said Tchelkache.
His lips trembled and his eyes shone with an eager light. He felt strong and well, whistled softly, inhaled long breaths of the salt sea air, glanced about from right to left and smiled good-naturedly when his eyes fell upon Gavrilo. A light breeze set a thousand little waves to dancing. The clouds became thinner and more transparent although still covering the sky.
If you weren't wanted, I shouldn't have taken you. Do you understand? So, shut up!" "Lord!" Gavrilo sighed, sobbing. "Come, come! you'd better mind!" Chelkash cut him short. But Gavrilo by now could not restrain himself, and quietly sobbing, he wept, sniffed, and writhed in his seat, yet rowed vigorously, desperately. The boat shot on like an arrow.
Gavrilo looked at him with curiosity, and was also aroused to enthusiasm.
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