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follow； feeling that his bridle is off； man will then rush up higher than his ears； and like a feather will fly hither and thither。 He'll believe himself to be a miracle worker； and then he'll start to show his spirit。〃
The old man paused awhile and； lowering his voice； went on； with a malicious smile：
〃But there is very little of that creative spirit in him！ He'll bristle up for a day or two； stretch himself on all sidesand the poor fellow will soon grow weak。 For his heart is rottenhe； he； he！ Here； he； he； he！ The dear fellow will be caught by the real； worthy people； by those real people who are competent to be the actual civil masters； who will manage life not with a rod nor with a pen； but with a finger and with brains。
〃What； they will say。 Have you grown tired； gentlemen？ What； they will say； your spleens cannot stand a real fire； can they？ So 〃and； raising his voice； the old man concluded his speech in an authoritative tone：
〃Well； then； now； you rabble； hold your tongues； and don't squeak！ Or we'll shake you off the earth； like worms from a tree！ Silence； dear fellows！ Ha； ha； ha！ That's how it's going to happen； Lubavka！ He； he； he！〃
The old man was in a merry mood。 His wrinkles quivered； and carried away by his words； he trembled； closed his eyes now and then； and smacked his lips as though tasting his own wisdom。
〃And then those who will take the upper hand in the confusion will arrange life wisely； after their own fashion。 Then things won't go at random； but as if by rote。 It's a pity that we shall not live to see it！〃
The old man's words fell one after another upon Lubov like meshes of a big strong netthey fell and enmeshed her； and the girl； unable to free herself from them； maintained silence； dizzied by her father's words。 Staring into his face with an intense look； she sought support for herself in his words and heard in them something similar to what she had read in books； and which seemed to her the real truth。 But the malignant； triumphant laughter of her father stung her heart； and the wrinkles； which seemed to creep about on his face like so many dark little snakes； inspired her with a certain fear for herself in his presence。 She felt that he was turning her aside from what had seemed so simple and so easy in her dreams。
〃Papa！〃 she suddenly asked the old man； in obedience to a thought and a desire that unexpectedly flashed through her mind。 〃Papa！ and what sort of a manwhat in your opinion is Taras？〃
Mayakin shuddered。 His eyebrows began to move angrily； he fixed his keen； small eyes on his daughter's face and asked her drily：
〃What sort of talk is this？〃
〃Must he not even be mentioned？〃 said Lubov； softly and confusedly。
I don't want to speak of himand I also advise you not to speak of him！ 〃the old man threatened her with his finger and lowered his head with a gloomy frown。 But when he said that he did not want to speak of his son； he evidently did not understand himself correctly； for after a minute's silence he said sternly and angrily：
〃Taraska； too； is a sore。 Life is breathing upon you； milksops； and you cannot discriminate its genuine scents； and you swallow all sorts of filth； wherefore there is trouble in your heads。 That's why you are not competent to do anything； and you are unhappy because of this incompetence。 Taraska。 Yes。 He must be about forty now。 He is lost to me！ A galley…slaveis that my son？ A blunt…snouted young pig。 He would not speak to his father； andhe stumbled。〃
〃What did he do？〃 asked Lubov； eagerly listening to the old man's words。
〃Who knows？ It may be that now he cannot understand himself； if he became sensible； and he must have become a sensible man； he's the son of a father who's not stupid； and then he must have suffered not a little。 They coddle them； the nihilists！ They should have turned them over to me。 I'd show them what to do。 Into the desert！ Into the isolated placesmarch！ Come； now； my wise fellows； arrange life there according to your own will！ Go ahead！ And as authorities over them I'd station the robust peasants。 Well； now； honourable gentlemen； you were given to eat and to drink； you were given an educationwhat have you learned？ Pay your debts； pray。 Yes； I would not spend a broken grosh on them。 I would squeeze all the price out of themgive it up！ You must not set a man at naught。 It is not enough to imprison him！ You transgressed the law； and are a gentleman？ Never mind； you must work。 Out of a single seed comes an ear of corn； and a man ought not be permitted to perish without being of use！ An economical carpenter finds a place for each and every chip of woodjust so must every man be profitably used up； and used up entire； to the very last vein。 All sorts of trash have a place in life； and man is never trash。 Eh！ it is bad when power lives without reason； nor is it good when reason lives without power。 Take Foma now。 Who is coming theregive a look。〃
Turning around； Lubov noticed the captain of the 〃Yermak；〃 Yefim； coming along the garden path。 He had respectfully removed his cap and bowed to her。 There was a hopelessly guilty expression on his face and he seemed abashed。 Yakov Tarasovich recognized him and； instantly grown alarmed； he cried：
〃Where are you coming from？ What has happened？〃
〃II have come to you！〃 said Yefim； stopping short at the table； with a low bow。
〃Well； I see； you've come to me。 What's the matter？ Where's the steamer？〃
〃The steamer is there！〃 Yefim thrust his hand somewhere into the air and heavily shifted from one foot to the other。
〃Where is it； devil？ Speak coherentlywhat has happened？〃 cried the old man； enraged。
〃Soa misfortune； Yakov。〃
〃Have you been wrecked？〃
〃No； God saved us。〃
〃Burned up？ Well； speak more quickly。〃
Yefim drew air into his chest and said slowly：
〃Barge No。 9 was sunksmashed up。 One man's back was broken； and one is altogether missing； so that he must have drowned。 About five more were injured； but not so very badly； though some were disabled。〃
〃So…o！〃 drawled out Mayakin； measuring the captain with an ill… omened look。
〃Well； Yefimushka； I'll strip your skin off〃
〃It wasn't I who did it！〃 said Yefim； quickly。
〃Not you？〃 cried the old man； shaking with rage。 〃Who then？〃
〃The master himself。〃
〃Foma？ And you。 Where were you？〃
〃I was lying in the hatchway。〃
〃Ah！ You were lying。〃
〃I was bound there。〃
〃Wha…at？〃 screamed the old man in a shrill voice。
〃Allow me to tell you everything as it happened。 He was drunk and he shouted： 〃'Get away！ I'll take command myself！' I said 'I can't！ I am the captain。' 'Bind him！' said he。 And when they had bound me； they lowered me into the hatchway； with the sailors。 And as the master was drunk； he wanted to have some fun。 A fleet of boats was coming toward us。 Six empty barges towed by 'Cheruigorez。' So Foma Ignatyich blocked their way。 They whistled。 More than once。 I must tell the truththey whistled！〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； and they couldn't manage itthe two barges in front crashed into us。 And as they struck the side of our ninth； we were smashed to pieces。 And the two barges were also smashed。 But we fared much worse。〃
Mayakin rose from the chair and burst into jarring； angry laughter。 And Yefim sighed； and； outstretching his hands； said：xxx〃He has a very violent character。 When he is sober he is silent most of the time； and walks around thoughtfully； but when he wets his springs with winethen he breaks loose。 Then he is not master of himself and of his businessbut their wild enemy you must excuse me！ And I want to leave； Yakov Tarasovich！ I am not used to being without a master； I cannot live without a master！〃
〃Keep quiet！〃 said Mayakin； sternly。 〃Where's Foma？〃
〃There； at the same place。 Immediately after the accident； he came to himself and at once sent for workmen。 They'll lift the barge。 They may have started by this time。〃
〃Is he there alone？〃 asked Mayakin； lowering his head。
〃Not quite；〃 replied Yefim； softly； glancing stealthily at Lubov。
〃Really？〃
〃There's a lady with him。 A dark one。〃
〃So。〃
〃It looks as though the woman is out of her wits；〃 said Yefim； with a sigh。 〃She's forever singing。 She sings very well。 It's very captivating。〃
〃I am not asking you about her！〃 cried Mayakin； angrily。 The wrinkles of his face were painfully quivering； and it seemed to Lubov that her father was about to weep。
〃Calm yourself； papa！〃 she entreated caressingly。 〃Maybe the loss isn't so great。〃
〃Not great？〃 cried Yakov Tarasovich in a ringing voice。 〃What do you understand； you fool？ Is it only that the barge was smashed？ Eh； you！ A man is lost！ That's what it is！ And he is essential to me！ I need him； dull devils that you are！〃 The old man shook his head angrily and with brisk steps walked off along the garden path leading toward the house。
And Foma was at this time about four hundred versts away from his godfather； in a village hut； on the shore of the Volga。 He had just awakened from sleep； and lying on the floor； on a bed of fresh hay； in the middle of the hut； he gazed gloomily out of the window at the sky； which was covered with gray； scattered clouds。
The wind was tearing them asunder and driving them somewhere； heavy and weary； one ov