University of Virginia Library

16. XVI.

FOR a moment there was no change, as it had been before the Roman ruin, but suddenly a boisterous burlakisches [note] laughter pealed close beside me, and something fell with a splash and began to gasp. I started, there was nothing to be seen, yet the sound was echoed loudly from the bank, and in another instant a deafening tumult had arisen on every side. What sound was that mingled in this chaos? Shriek and moan, curses and laughter, laughter dominating all, stroke of oar and hatchet, crashing sounds as of doors and chests broken in, the creak of cordage and pulleys, the stamping of horses, clanking of chains, whistling of the wind, hollow roar and crackling of a conflagration, drunken songs, confused cries, passionate weeping, despairing entreaties, imperious commands, the death-rattle, shrill piping of orders, screeches, and the tramp of many feet. "Strike! To the yard-arm! Overboard with him! Off with his head! Good! Good! No quarter!" It was all perfectly distinct, even to the panting of the breathless, hurrying men; yet all around, as far as the eye could reach, everything remained the same, the waves rolled gloomily by the desolate, bare shore—that was all.

I turned to Ellis, but she laid her finger on her lips.

"Stepan Timopheitch! Stepan Timopheitch comes!" rose a shout, "our captain, our benefactor, our father!" And although there was nothing visible, I knew that a gigantic form was advancing toward me. "Frolka! Dog! Where art thou?" thundered a terrible voice. "So! Fire it on every side and out with your axes!"

I felt the heat of a fire close at hand, and a suffocating smell of tar and smoke reached me; at the same time something warm like blood sprinkled my hands and face. Wild laughter burst forth on every side.

Consciousness forsook me. When I came to myself, Ellis and I were floating quietly along the familiar edge of my own woodland, straight to the old oak tree.

"Do you see that path?" Ellis said to me. "The one yonder, dim in the moonlight, where two young birches let their branches hang? Will you enter it?"

I felt myself so shaken, so exhausted, that I could only sigh, "Home, home."

"You are at home," answered Ellis.

In fact I stood directly in front of my own door and alone. Ellis had vanished. The watch-dog approached me, snuffed at me distrustfully, and ran howling away.

I dragged myself heavily to my bed, threw myself upon it without undressing, and slept.