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master with her wet tail between her legs； doing all she could to
avoid pricking her nose。 It was a dull； overcast morning。 Big
drops dripped from the bracken and from the trees that were
wrapped in a light mist； there was a pungent smell of decay from
the dampness of the wood。
There were birch…trees ahead of him where the wood ended； and
between their stems and branches he could see the misty distance。
Beyond the birch…trees someone was playing on a shepherd's rustic
pipe。 The player produced no more than five or six notes； dragged
them out languidly with no attempt at forming a tune； and yet
there was something harsh and extremely dreary in the sound of
the piping。
As the copse became sparser； and the pines were interspersed with
young birch…trees； Meliton saw a herd。 Hobbled horses； cows； and
sheep were wandering among the bushes and； snapping the dry
branches； sniffed at the herbage of the copse。 A lean old
shepherd； bareheaded； in a torn grey smock； stood leaning against
the wet trunk of a birch…tree。 He stared at the ground； pondering
something； and played his pipe； it seemed； mechanically。
〃Good…day； grandfather！ God help you！〃 Meliton greeted him in a
thin； husky voice which seemed incongruous with his huge stature
and big； fleshy face。 〃How cleverly you are playing your pipe！
Whose herd are you minding？〃
〃The Artamonovs'；〃 the shepherd answered reluctantly； and he
thrust the pipe into his bosom。
〃So I suppose the wood is the Artamonovs' too？〃 Meliton inquired；
looking about him。 〃Yes； it is the Artamonovs'； only fancy 。 。 。
I had completely lost myself。 I got my face scratched all over in
the thicket。〃
He sat down on the wet earth and began rolling up a bit of
newspaper into a cigarette。
Like his voice； everything about the man was small and out of
keeping with his height； his breadth； and his fleshy face： his
smiles； his eyes； his buttons； his tiny cap； which would hardly
keep on his big； closely…cropped head。 When he talked and smiled
there was something womanish； timid； and meek about his puffy；
shaven face and his whole figure。
〃What weather！ God help us！〃 he said； and he turned his head from
side to side。 〃Folk have not carried the oats yet； and the rain
seems as though it had been taken on for good； God bless it。〃
The shepherd looked at the sky； from which a drizzling rain was
falling； at the wood； at the bailif's wet clothes； pondered； and
said nothing。
〃The whole summer has been the same；〃 sighed Meliton。 〃A bad
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 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 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 talki