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night； I stopped a few moments to draw breath near the reed…covered point
yonder； about two hundred metres from the railway bridge。
It was a magnificent night； the moon shone brightly； the river gleamed；
the air was calm and soft。 This peacefulness tempted me。 I thought to
myself that it would be pleasant to smoke a pipe in this spot。 I took up
my anchor and cast it into the river。
The boat floated downstream with the current； to the end of the chain；
and then stopped； and I seated myself in the stern on my sheepskin and
made myself as comfortable as possible。 There was not a sound to be
heard； except that I occasionally thought I could perceive an almost
imperceptible lapping of the water against the bank； and I noticed taller
groups of reeds which assumed strange shapes and seemed； at times； to
move。
The river was perfectly calm； but I felt myself affected by the unusual
silence that surrounded me。 All the creatures； frogs and toads； those
nocturnal singers of the marsh； were silent。
Suddenly a frog croaked to my right； and close beside me。 I shuddered。
It ceased； and I heard nothing more； and resolved to smoke； to soothe my
mind。 But； although I was a noted colorer of pipes； I could not smoke；
at the second draw I was nauseated； and gave up trying。 I began to sing。
The sound of my voice was distressing to me。 So I lay still； but
presently the slight motion of the boat disturbed me。 It seemed to me as
if she were making huge lurches； from bank to bank of the river； touching
each bank alternately。 Then I felt as though an invisible force； or
being； were drawing her to the surface of the water and lifting her out；
to let her fall again。 I was tossed about as in a tempest。 I heard
noises around me。 I sprang to my feet with a single bound。 The water
was glistening； all was calm。
I saw that my nerves were somewhat shaky； and I resolved to leave the
spot。 I pulled the anchor chain； the boat began to move； then I felt a
resistance。 I pulled harder； the anchor did not come up； it had caught
on something at the bottom of the river and I could not raise it。 I
began pulling again； but all in vain。 Then； with my oars； I turned the
boat with its head up stream to change the position of the anchor。 It
was no use； it was still caught。 I flew into a rage and shook the chain
furiously。 Nothing budged。 I sat down； disheartened； and began to
reflect on my situation。 I could not dream of breaking this chain； or
detaching it from the boat； for it was massive and was riveted at the
bows to a piece of wood as thick as my arm。 However； as the weather was
so fine I thought that it probably would not be long before some
fisherman came to my aid。 My ill…luck had quieted me。 I sat down and
was able； at length； to smoke my pipe。 I had a bottle of rum； I drank
two or three glasses； and was able to laugh at the situation。 It was
very warm； so that； if need be； I could sleep out under the stars without
any great harm。
All at once there was a little knock at the side of the boat。 I gave a
start； and a cold sweat broke out all over me。 The noise was； doubtless；
caused by some piece of wood borne along by the current； but that was
enough； and I again became a prey to a strange nervous agitation。 I
seized the chain and tensed my muscles in a desperate effort。 The anchor
held firm。 I sat down again； exhausted。
The river had slowly become enveloped in a thick white fog which lay
close to the water； so that when I stood up I could see neither the
river； nor my feet； nor my boat； but could perceive only the tops of the
reeds； and farther off in the distance the plain； lying white in the
moonlight； with big black patches rising up from it towards the sky；
which were formed by groups of Italian poplars。 I was as if buried to
the waist in a cloud of cotton of singular whiteness； and all sorts of
strange fancies came into my mind。 I thought that someone was trying to
climb into my boat which I could no longer distinguish； and that the
river； hidden by the thick fog； was full of strange creatures which were
swimming all around me。 I felt horribly uncomfortable； my forehead felt
as if it had a tight band round it； my heart beat so that it almost
suffocated me； and； almost beside myself； I thought of swimming away from
the place。 But then； again； the very idea made me tremble with fear。 I
saw myself； lost； going by guesswork in this heavy fog； struggling about
amid the grasses and reeds which I could not escape； my breath rattling
with fear； neither seeing the bank； nor finding my boat； and it seemed as
if I would feel myself dragged down by the feet to the bottom of these
black waters。
In fact； as I should have had to ascend the stream at least five hundred
metres before finding a spot free from grasses and rushes where I could
land； there were nine chances to one that I could not find my way in the
fog and that I should drown； no matter how well I could swim。
I tried to reason with myself。 My will made me resolve not to be afraid；
but there was something in me besides my will； and that other thing was
afraid。 I asked myself what there was to be afraid of。 My brave 〃ego〃
ridiculed my coward 〃ego；〃 and never did I realize； as on that day； the
existence in us of two rival personalities； one desiring a thing； the
other resisting； and each winning the day in turn。
This stupid； inexplicable fear increased； and became terror。 I remained
motionless； my eyes staring； my ears on the stretch with expectation。 Of
what？ I did not know； but it must be something terrible。 I believe if
it had occurred to a fish to jump out of the water； as often happens；
nothing more would have been required to make me fall over； stiff and
unconscious。
However； by a violent effort I succeeded in becoming almost rational
again。 I took up my bottle of rum and took several pulls。 Then an idea
came to me； and I began to shout with all my might towards all the points
of the compass in succession。 When my throat was absolutely paralyzed I
listened。 A dog was howling； at a great distance。
I drank some more rum and stretched myself out at the bottom of the boat。
I remained there about an hour； perhaps two； not sleeping； my eyes wide
open； with nightmares all about me。 I did not dare to rise； and yet I
intensely longed to do so。 I delayed it from moment to moment。 I said
to myself： 〃Come； get up！〃 and I was afraid to move。 At last I raised
myself with infinite caution as though my life depended on the slightest
sound that I might make； and looked over the edge of the boat。
I was dazzled by the most marvellous； the most astonishing sight that it
is possible to see。 It was one of those phantasmagoria of fairyland； one
of those sights described by travellers on their return from distant
lands； whom we listen to without believing。
The fog which； two hours before； had floated on the water； had gradually
cleared off and massed on the banks； leaving the river absolutely clear；
while it formed on either bank an uninterrupted wall six or seven metres
high； which shone in the moonlight with the dazzling brilliance of snow。
One saw nothing b