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breath knocked out of me。 As soon as I could； I crawled out。 It was
very dark。 I felt heavy and sore； and for some time went stumbling
in and out amongst trees。 Presently I came to a clear space； on one
side I could see the town's shape drawn in lighted lamps； and on the
other a dark mass； which I think was forest； in the distance too was
a thin chain of lights。 I thought： 'They must be the lights of a
bridge。' Just then the moon came out； and I could see the river
shining below。 It was cold and damp； and I walked quickly。 At last
I came out on a road； past houses and barking dogs； down to the river
bank； there I sat against a shed and went to sleep。 I woke very
stiff。 It was darker than before； the moon was gone。 I could just
see the river。 I stumbled on； to get through the town before dawn。
It was all black shapes…houses and sheds； and the smell of the river；
the smell of rotting hay； apples； tar； mud； fish； and here and there
on a wharf a lantern。 I stumbled over casks and ropes and boxes； I
saw I should never get clearthe dawn had begun already on the other
side。 Some men came from a house behind me。 I bent； and crept
behind some barrels。 They passed along the wharf； they seemed to
drop into the river。 I heard one of them say： 'Passau before night。'
I stood up and saw they had walked on board a steamer which was lying
head up…stream； with some barges in tow。 There was a plank laid to
the steamer； and a lantern at the other end。 I could hear the
fellows moving below deck； getting up steam。 I ran across the plank
and crept to the end of the steamer。 I meant to go with them to
Passau！ The rope which towed the barges was nearly taut； and I knew
if I could get on to the barges I should be safe。 I climbed down on
this rope and crawled along。 I was desperate； I knew they'd soon be
coming up； and it was getting light。 I thought I should fall into
the water several times； but I got to the barge at last。 It was
laden with straw。 There was nobody on board。 I was hungry and
thirstyI looked for something to eat； there was nothing but the
ashes of a fire and a man's coat。 I crept into the straw。 Soon a
boat brought men； one for each barge； and there were sounds of steam。
As soon as we began moving through the water； I fell asleep。 When I
woke we were creeping through a heavy mist。 I made a little hole in
the straw and saw the bargeman。 He was sitting by a fire at the
barge's edge； so that the sparks and smoke blew away over the water。
He ate and drank with both hands； and funny enough he looked in the
mist； like a big bird flapping its wings； there was a good smell of
coffee； and I sneezed。 How the fellow started！ But presently he
took a pitchfork and prodded the straw。 Then I stood up。 I couldn't
help laughing； he was so surpriseda huge； dark man； with a great
black beard。 I pointed to the fire and said 'Give me some； brother！'
He pulled me out of the straw； I was so stiff； I couldn't move。 I
sat by the fire； and ate black bread and turnips； and drank coffee；
while he stood by； watching me and muttering。 I couldn't understand
him wellhe spoke a dialect from Hungary。 He asked me： How I got
therewho I waswhere I was from？ I looked up in his face； and he
looked down at me； sucking his pipe。 He was a big man； he lived
alone on the river； and I was tired of telling lies； so I told him
the whole thing。 When I had done he just grunted。 I can see him now
standing over me； with the mist hanging in his beard； and his great
naked arms。 He drew me some water； and I washed and showed him my
wig and moustache； and threw them overboard。 All that day we lay out
on the barge in the mist； with our feet to the fire； smoking； now and
then he would spit into the ashes and mutter into his beard。 I shall
never forget that day。 The steamer was like a monster with fiery
nostrils； and the other barges were dumb creatures with eyes； where
the fires were； we couldn't see the bank； but now and then a bluff
and high trees； or a castle； showed in the mist。 If I had only had
paint and canvas that day！〃 He sighed。
〃It was early Spring； and the river was in flood； they were going to
Regensburg to unload there； take fresh cargo； and back to Linz。 As
soon as the mist began to clear； the bargeman hid me in the straw。
At Passau was the frontier； they lay there for the night； but nothing
happened； and I slept in the straw。 The next day I lay out on the
barge deck； there was no mist； but I was freethe sun shone gold on
the straw and the green sacking； the water seemed to dance； and I
laughedI laughed all the time； and the barge man laughed with me。
A fine fellow he was！ At Regensburg I helped them to unload； for
more than a week we worked； they nicknamed me baldhead； and when it
was all over I gave the money I earned for the unloading to the big
bargeman。 We kissed each other at parting。 I had still three of the
gulden that Luigi gave me； and I went to a house…painter and got work
with him。 For six months I stayed there to save money； then I wrote
to my mother's cousin in Vienna； and told him I was going to London。
He gave me an introduction to some friends there。 I went to Hamburg；
and from there to London in a cargo steamer； and I've never been back
till now。〃
XI
After a minute's silence Christian said in a startled voice： 〃They
could arrest you then！〃
Harz laughed。
〃If they knew； but it's seven years ago。〃
〃Why did you come here； when it's so dangerous？〃
〃I had been working too hard； I wanted to see my countryafter seven
years； and when it's forbidden！ But I'm ready to go back now。〃 He
looked down at her； frowning。
〃Had you a hard time in London； too？〃
〃Harder； at firstI couldn't speak the language。 In my profession
it's hard work to get recognised； it's hard work to make a living。
There are too many whose interest it is to keep you downI shan't
forget them。〃
〃But every one is not like that？〃
〃No； there are fine fellows； too。 I shan't forget them either。 I
can sell my pictures now； I'm no longer weak； and I promise you I
shan't forget。 If in the future I have power； and I shall have
powerI shan't forget。〃
A shower of fine gravel came rattling on the wall。 Dawney was
standing below them with an amused expression on his upturned face。
〃Are you going to stay there all night？〃 he asked。 〃Greta and I have
bored each other。〃
〃We're coming；〃 called Christian hastily。
On the way back neither spoke a word； but when they reached the
Villa； Harz took her hand； and said： 〃Fraulein Christian； I can't do
any more with your picture。 I shan't touch it again after this。〃
She made no answer； but they looked at each other； and both seemed to
ask； to entreat； something more； then her eyes fell。 He dropped her
hand； and saying； 〃Good…night；〃 ran after Dawney。
In the corridor； Dominique； carrying a dish of fruit； met the
siste