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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
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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
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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
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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 talking about。 Every year it is worse and
worse； and in a little while there will be no fish at all。 And take the rivers
now 。 。 。 the rivers are drying up； for sure。〃
〃It is true； they are drying up。〃
〃To be sure； that's what I say。 Every year they are shallower and
shallower； and there are not the deep holes there used to be。 And do you
see the bushes yonder？〃 the old man asked； pointing to one sid