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the lads was not his fashion； he would rather sit alone or be
whispering with old women。 When he was still young he took jobs
to look after the bees and the market gardens。 Good folks would
come to his market garden sometimes and his melons were
whistling。 One day he caught a pike； when folks were looking on；
and it laughed aloud； 'Ho…ho…ho…ho！' 〃
〃It does happen；〃 said Panteley。
The young shepherd turned on his side and； lifting his black
eyebrows； stared intently at the old man。
〃Did you hear the melons whistling？〃 he asked。
〃Hear them I didn't； the Lord spared me；〃 sighed the old man；
〃but folks told me so。 It is no great wonder 。 。 。 the Evil One
will begin whistling in a stone if he wants to。 Before the Day of
Freedom a rock was humming for three days and three nights in our
parts。 I heard it myself。 The pike laughed because Yefim caught a
devil instead of a pike。〃
The old man remembered something。 He got up quickly on to his
knees and； shrinking as though from the cold； nervously thrusting
his hands into his sleeves； he muttered in a rapid womanish
gabble：
〃Lord save us and have mercy upon us！ I was walking along the
river bank one day to Novopavlovka。 A storm was gathering； such a
tempest it was； preserve us Holy Mother； Queen of Heaven。 。 。 。 I
was hurrying on as best I could； I looked； and beside the path
between the thorn bushes the thorn was in flower at the time
there was a white bullock coming along。 I wondered whose
bullock it was； and what the devil had sent it there for。 It was
coming along and swinging its tail and moo…oo…oo！ but would you
believe it； friends； I overtake it； I come up close and it's
not a bullock； but Yefim holy； holy； holy！ I make the sign of
the cross while he stares at me and mutters； showing the whites
of his eyes； wasn't I frightened！ We came alongside； I was afraid
to say a word to him the thunder was crashing； the sky was
streaked with lightning； the willows were bent right down to the
water all at once； my friends； God strike me dead that I die
impenitent； a hare ran across the path 。 。 。 it ran and stopped；
and said like a man： 'Good…evening； peasants。' Lie down； you
brute！ 〃 the old man cried to the shaggy dog； who was moving
round the horse again。 〃Plague take you！〃
〃It does happen；〃 said the overseer； still leaning on the saddle
and not stirring； he said this in the hollow； toneless voice in
which men speak when they are plunged in thought。
〃It does happen；〃 he repeated； in a tone of profundity and
conviction。
〃Ugh； he was a nasty old fellow；〃 the old shepherd went on with
somewhat less fervour。 〃Five years after the Freedom he was
flogged by the commune at the office； so to show his spite he
took and sent the throat illness upon all Kovyli。 Folks died out
of number； lots and lots of them； just as in cholera。 。 。 。〃
〃How did he send the illness？〃 asked the young shepherd after a
brief silence。
〃We all know how； there is no great cleverness needed where there
is a will to it。 Yefim murdered people with viper's fat。 That is
such a poison that folks will die from the mere smell of it； let
alone the fat。〃
〃That's true；〃 Panteley agreed。
〃The lads wanted to kill him at the time； but the old people
would not let them。 It would never have done to kill him； he knew
the place where the treasure is hidden； and not another soul did
know。 The treasures about here are charmed so that you may find
them and not see them； but he did see them。 At times he would
walk along the river bank or in the forest； and under the bushes
and under the rocks there would be little flames； little flames。
。 。 little flames as though from brimstone。 I have seen them
myself。 Everyone expected that Yefim would show people the places
or dig the treasure up himself； but he as the saying is； like
a dog in the manger so he died without digging it up himself
or showing other people。〃
The overseer lit a pipe； and for an instant lighted up his big
moustaches and his sharp； stern…looking； and dignified nose。
Little circles of light danced from his hands to his cap； raced
over the saddle along the 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。 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