A Prisoner in the Caucasus and How Much Land Does a Man Need?: Много ли человеку земли нужно

Много ли человеку земли нужно

How Much Land Does a Man Need?

Приехала из города старшая сестра к меньшей в деревню.

The elder sister came from the city to visit her younger sister in the village.

Старшая за купцом была в городе, а меньшая за мужиком в деревне.

The elder sister was married to a merchant in the city, while the younger was married to a peasant in the village.

Пьют чай сестры, разговаривают.

The sisters were drinking tea and talking.

Стала старшая сестра чваниться — свою жизнь в городе выхвалять: как она в городе просторно и чисто живет и ходит, как она детей наряжает, как она сладко ест и пьет и как на катанья, гулянья и в театры ездит.

The elder sister began to boast, singing the praises of her life in the city: how spaciously and comfortably she lived there, how well she dressed and presented herself, how she dressed up her children, how she ate and drank so well, and how she went riding, to social gatherings, and to the theater.

Обидно стало меньшей сестре, и стала она купеческую жизнь унижать, а свою крестьянскую возвышать.

The younger sister felt slighted, and began to belittle the merchant's way of life while praising her own peasant existence.

— Не променяю я,— говорит,— своего житья на твое.

"I wouldn't trade my way of life," she said, "for yours.

Даром что серо живем, да страху не знаем.

Though we live simply, we know no fear.

Вы и почище живете, да либо много наторгуете, либо вовсе проторгуетесь.

You may live in greater comfort, but either you make a fortune in business or you lose everything.

И пословица живет: барышу наклад — большой брат.

And there's a saying: great profit and great loss go hand in hand.

Бывает и то: нынче богат, а завтра под окнами находишься.

It happens that a man is rich today and begging beneath people's windows tomorrow.

А наше мужицкое дело вернее: у мужика живот тонок, да долог, богаты не будем, да сыты будем.

Our peasant way of life is more secure: a peasant may have a lean purse, but he has a long life ahead of him. We may never be rich, but we'll always have enough to eat.

Стала старшая сестра говорить:

The elder sister replied:

— Сытость-то какая — со свиньями да с телятами!

"What sort of comfortable life is that, living among pigs and calves?

Ни убранства, ни обращенья!

You have neither fine furnishings nor decent manners!

Как ни трудись твой хозяин, как живете в навозе, так и помрете, и детям то же будет.

No matter how hard your husband works, you'll live in filth and die in filth, and the same fate awaits your children.

— А что ж,— говорит меньшая, — наше дело такое.

"Well, what can you do?" the younger sister replied. "That's the way things are for us.

Зато твердо живем, никому не кланяемся, никого не боимся.

But we live on solid ground, bow to no one, and fear no one.

А вы в городу все в соблазнах живете; нынче хорошо, а завтра подвернется нечистый — глядь, и соблазнит хозяина твоего либо на карты, либо на вино, либо на кралю какую.

But you city folk live surrounded by temptations. Things may be going well today, but tomorrow the devil may come along and tempt your husband into gambling, drinking, or chasing some pretty woman.

И пойдет все прахом.

And then everything will go to ruin.

Разве не бывает?

Doesn't that happen?

Слушал Пахом — хозяин — на печи, что бабы балакают.

Pakhom, the husband, was lying on the stove bench, listening to the women talking.

— Правда это,— говорит,— истинная.

"That's true," he said. "Every word of it.

Как наш брат сызмальства ее, землю-матушку, переворачивает, так дурь-то в голову и не пойдет.

When a man like me has been turning Mother Earth over with his plow since childhood, foolish notions never enter his head.

Одно горе — земли мало!

There's just one trouble: there's not enough land!

А будь земли вволю, так я никого, и самого черта, не боюсь!

But if I had plenty of land, I wouldn't be afraid of anyone, not even the devil himself!

Отпили бабы чай, побалакали еще об нарядах, убрали посуду, полегли спать.

The women finished their tea, chatted a little longer about clothes, cleared away the dishes, and went to bed.

А черт за печкой сидел, все слышал.

But the devil was sitting behind the stove and had heard everything.

Обрадовался он, что крестьянская жена на похвальбу мужа навела: похваляется, что, была б у него земля, его и черт не возьмет.

He was delighted that the peasant's wife had prompted her husband to boast that if only he had land, not even the devil could get the better of him.

«Ладно, думает, поспорим мы с тобой; я тебе земли много дам. Землей тебя и возьму».

"Very well," he thought, "we shall see about that. I'll give you plenty of land, and with that very land I'll bring you down."

Жила рядом с мужиками барынька небольшая.

There lived nearby a small landowning lady.

Было у ней сто двадцать десятин земли.

She owned a hundred and twenty dessiatins of land.

И жила прежде с мужиками смирно — не обижала.

She had always lived peacefully with the peasants and never mistreated them.

Да нанялся к ней солдат отставной в приказчики и стал донимать мужиков штрафами.

But then she hired a retired soldier as her steward, and he began harassing the peasants with fines.

Как ни бережется Пахом, а либо лошадь в овсы забежит, либо корова в сад забредет, либо телята в луга уйдут — за всё штраф.

No matter how careful Pakhom was, his horse would sometimes wander into the oats, or his cow stray into the garden, or his calves wander into the meadows—and he was fined for everything.

Расплачивается Пахом и домашних ругает и бьет.

Pakhom had to pay up, then he would curse and beat his own family.

И много греха от этого приказчика принял за лето Пахом.

That summer, Pakhom suffered much injustice at the hands of the steward.

Уж и рад был, что скотина на двор стала,— хоть и жалко корму, да страху нет.

He was even glad when the livestock stayed in the yard. Though it meant spending more on fodder, at least he had nothing to fear.

Прошел зимой слух, что продает барыня землю и что ладит купить ее дворник с большой дороги.

One winter, word spread that the lady was selling her land and that the innkeeper from the main road was preparing to buy it.

Услыхали мужики, ахнули.

When the peasants heard, they were alarmed.

«Ну, думают, достанется земля дворнику, замучает штрафами хуже барыни. Нам без этой земли жить нельзя, мы все у ней в кругу».

"Well," they thought, "if the innkeeper gets the land, he'll torment us with fines even worse than the lady did. We cannot live without this land; we're completely surrounded by her property."

Пришли мужики к барыне миром, стали просить, чтоб не продавала дворнику, а им отдала.

The peasants went together to see the lady and begged her not to sell the land to the innkeeper, but to sell it to them instead.

Обещали дороже заплатить.

They promised to pay a higher price.

Согласилась барыня.

The lady agreed.

Стали мужики ладить миром всю землю купить; сбирались и раз и два на сходки — не сошлось дело.

The peasants tried to arrange to buy all the land together. They gathered once, then again, to discuss it, but could not reach an agreement.

Разбивает их нечистый, никак не могут согласиться.

The devil was setting them against one another, and they simply could not agree.

И порешили мужики порознь покупать, сколько кто осилит.

So the peasants decided to buy separately, each purchasing as much as he could afford.

Согласилась и на это барыня.

The lady agreed to this arrangement too.

Услыхал Пахом, что купил у барыни двадцать десятин сосед и она ему половину денег на года рассрочила.

Pakhom heard that one of his neighbours had bought twenty dessiatins from the lady, and that she had allowed him to pay half the price in instalments over several years.

Завидно стало Пахому:

Pakhom grew envious:

«Раскупят, думает, всю землю, останусь я ни при чем».

"They'll buy up all the land," he thought, "and I'll be left with nothing."

Стал с женой советовать.

He began discussing it with his wife.

— Люди покупают, надо,— говорит,— и нам купить десятин десяток.

"Everyone else is buying land, so we must too," he said. "We should buy ten dessiatins or so.

А то жить нельзя: одолел приказчик штрафами.

Otherwise, we won't be able to live here. The steward is driving us to despair with his fines."

Обдумали, как купить.

They considered how they could afford to buy it.

Было у них отложено сто рублей, да жеребенка продали, да пчел половину, да сына заложили в работники, да еще у свояка занял, и набралась половина денег.

They had a hundred rubles saved, sold a young horse and half their bees, hired out their son as a labourer, and Pakhom borrowed some more from his brother-in-law. In this way, they raised half the money.

Собрал Пахом деньги, облюбовал землю, пятнадцать десятин с лесочком, и пошел к барыне торговаться.

Pakhom gathered the money, picked out a plot he liked—fifteen dessiatins, including a small patch of woodland—and went to bargain with the lady.

Выторговал пятнадцать десятин, ударил по рукам и задаток дал.

He negotiated the purchase of fifteen dessiatins, shook hands on the deal, and paid a deposit.

Поехали в город, купчую закрепили, деньги половину отдал, остальные в два года обязался выплатить.

They went to town, had the deed legally registered, and he paid half the price, undertaking to pay the rest within two years.

И стал Пахом с землей.

And so Pakhom became a landowner.

Занял Пахом семян, посеял покупную землю; родилось хорошо.

Pakhom borrowed some seed and sowed his newly purchased land. The crop turned out well.

В один год выплатил долг и барыне и свояку.

Within a year, he had repaid both the lady and his brother-in-law.

И стал Пахом помещиком: свою землю пахал и сеял, на своей земле сено косил, со своей земли колья рубил и на своей земле скотину кормил.

And Pakhom became a landowner: he ploughed and sowed his own land, cut hay on his own meadows, chopped stakes from his own woodland, and grazed his livestock on his own property.

Выедет Пахом на свою вечную землю пахать или придет всходы и луга посмотреть — не нарадуется.

Whenever Pakhom went out to plough his own land, or came to inspect the young crops and meadows, he could hardly contain his delight.

И трава-то, ему кажется, растет, и цветы-то цветут на ней совсем иные.

It seemed to him that even the grass grew differently there, and the flowers bloomed unlike any others.

Бывало, проезжал по этой земле — земля как земля, а теперь совсем земля особенная стала.

He used to ride across that land and think it was just like any other, but now it seemed quite extraordinary.

Живет так Пахом, радуется.

And so Pakhom lived happily, enjoying his good fortune.

Все бы хорошо, только стали мужики у Пахома хлеб и луга травить.

Everything would have been fine, except that the peasants began letting their livestock damage Pakhom's crops and meadows.

Честью просил, все не унимаются: то пастухи упустят коров в луга, то лошади из ночного на хлеба зайдут.

He politely asked them to stop, but they paid no heed. Sometimes the herdsmen let the cows wander into his meadows; at other times, horses strayed from their overnight pasture into his fields.

И сгонял Пахом и прощал, все не судился, потом наскучило, стал в волостное жаловаться.

Pakhom would drive the animals away and forgive the offenders, never taking anyone to court. But eventually he grew tired of it and began making complaints to the local authorities.

И знает, что от тесноты, а не с умыслом делают мужики, а думает:

He knew that the peasants did it because they had too little land, not out of malice, but he thought to himself:

«Нельзя же и спускать, этак они все вытравят. Надо поучить».

"I can't keep letting them get away with it. At this rate, they'll ruin everything. They need to be taught a lesson."

Поучил так судом раз, поучил другой, оштрафовали одного, другого.

So he taught them a lesson by taking them to court once, then again, and one peasant after another was fined.

Стали мужики-соседи на Пахома сердце держать; стали другой раз и нарочно травить.

His peasant neighbours began to bear a grudge against Pakhom, and sometimes they deliberately let their livestock damage his land.

Забрался какой-то ночью в лесок, десяток липок на лыки срезал.

One night, someone crept into his little woodland and cut down a dozen young lime trees for their bark.

Проехал по лесу Пахом — глядь, белеется.

Pakhom rode through the woodland and suddenly noticed something white.

Подъехал — лутошки брошены лежат, и пенушки торчат.

He rode closer and saw the stripped branches lying on the ground, with the stumps sticking up.

Хоть бы из куста крайние срезал, одну оставил, а то подряд, злодей, все счистил.

If only the rascal had cut the outermost trees from the thicket and left at least one! But no, the villain had stripped them all, one after another.

Обозлился Пахом:

Pakhom grew furious:

«Ах, думает, вызнать бы, кто это сделал; уж я бы ему выместил».

"Ah," he thought, "if only I could find out who did this! I'd make him pay for it."

Думал, думал, кто:

He pondered and pondered over who could have done it.

«Больше некому, думает, как Семке».

"It can only have been Semka," he thought.

Пошел к Семке на двор искать, ничего не нашел, только поругались.

He went to Semka's yard to look for evidence, but found nothing. All they did was quarrel.

И еще больше уверился Пахом, что Семен сделал.

This only made Pakhom more convinced that Semyon was the culprit.

Подал прошение.

He filed a complaint.

Вызвали на суд.

The case was brought to court.

Судили, судили — оправдали мужика: улик нет.

They held the trial, but in the end the peasant was acquitted: there was no evidence.

Еще пуще обиделся Пахом; с старшиной и с судьями разругался.

Pakhom was even more incensed and quarrelled with the village elder and the judges.

— Вы,— говорит,— воров руку тянете.

"You," he said, "are taking the side of thieves.

Кабы сами по правде жили, не оправляли бы воров.

If you lived honestly yourselves, you wouldn't let thieves go free."

Поссорился Пахом и с судьями и с соседями.

Pakhom fell out with both the judges and his neighbours.

Стали ему и красным петухом грозиться.

They even began threatening to send the red rooster his way—to burn his house down.

Стало Пахому в земле жить просторней, а в миру теснее.

Pakhom had more land to his name, but less room to live in peace with his neighbours.

И прошел в то время слух, что идет народ на новые места.

Around that time, word spread that people were moving away to settle in new lands.

И думает Пахом:

And Pakhom thought to himself:

«Самому мне от своей земли идти незачем, а вот кабы из наших кто пошли, у нас бы просторнее стало. Я бы их землю на себя взял, себе в круг пригнал; житье бы лучше стало. А то все теснота».

"There's no reason for me to leave my own land. But if some of our people were to move away, there'd be more room for the rest of us. I could take over their land and add it to my own holding; then life would be better. As it is, everything is too cramped."

Сидит раз Пахом дома, заходит мужик прохожий.

One day, while Pakhom was sitting at home, a traveller came in.

Пустили ночевать мужика, покормили, разговорились — откуда, мол, бог несет?

They invited the man to spend the night, gave him some food, and began chatting, asking where he had come from.

Говорит мужик, что идет снизу, из-за Волги, там в работе был.

The man said he had come from down south, from beyond the Volga, where he had been working.

Слово за слово, рассказывает мужик, как туда народ селиться идет.

As they talked, the traveller began telling them how people were going there to settle.

Рассказывает, поселились там ихние, приписались в общество, и нарезали им по десять десятин на душу.

He told them that some of their own people had settled there, joined the local community, and been allotted ten dessiatins of land per person.

— А земля такая,— говорит,— что посеяли ржи, так солома — лошади не видать, а густая, что горстей пять — и сноп.

"And the land is so fertile," he said, "that when they sow rye, the stalks grow so tall you can hardly see a horse through them, and so thick that five handfuls make a whole sheaf.

Один мужик,— говорит,— совсем бедный, с одними руками пришел, а теперь шесть лошадей, две коровы.

One peasant," he said, "arrived completely penniless, with nothing but his two hands, and now he has six horses and two cows."

Разгорелось у Пахома сердце.

Pakhom's heart was stirred with longing.

Думает: «Что ж тут в тесноте бедствовать, коли можно хорошо жить. Продам здесь и землю и двор; там я на эти деньги выстроюсь и заведенье все заведу. А здесь в этой тесноте — грех один. Только самому все путем вызнать надо».

He thought: "Why should I struggle in these cramped conditions when I could live well elsewhere? I'll sell my land and homestead here. With the money, I'll build a new home over there and get everything established. There's nothing here but hardship and misery. But first I must go and find out everything for myself."

Собрался на лето, пошел.

He made his preparations and set off for the summer.

До Самары плыл по Волге вниз на пароходе, потом пеший верст четыреста прошел.

He travelled down the Volga by steamboat as far as Samara, then walked another four hundred versts.

Дошел до места.

At last, he reached the place.

Все так точно.

Everything was exactly as he had been told.

Живут мужики просторно, по десять десятин земли на душу нарезано, и принимают в общество с охотой.

The peasants lived comfortably, with ten dessiatins of land allotted to each person, and they readily welcomed newcomers into their community.

А коли кто с денежками, покупай, кроме надельной, в вечную, сколько хочешь, по три рубля самой первой земли; сколько хочешь, купить можно!

And if you had money, you could buy as much additional land as you wanted, beyond your allotted share, outright and in perpetuity, for just three rubles a dessiatin of the very best land. You could buy as much as you liked!

Разузнал все Пахом, вернулся к осени домой, стал все распродавать.

Pakhom found out everything he needed to know, returned home by autumn, and began selling off all his possessions.

Продал землю с барышом, продал двор свой, продал скотину всю, выписался из общества, дождался весны и поехал с семьей на новые места.

He sold his land at a profit, sold his homestead and all his livestock, withdrew from the village community, waited for spring, and then set off with his family for the new settlement.

Приехал Пахом на новые места с семейством, приписался в большое село в общество.

Pakhom arrived at the new settlement with his family and joined the community of a large village.

Попоил стариков, бумаги все выправил.

He treated the village elders to drink and got all the necessary papers in order.

Приняли Пахома, нарезали ему на пять душ надельной земли пятьдесят десятин в разных полях, кроме выгона.

They accepted Pakhom into the community and allotted him fifty dessiatins of land for his family of five, spread across several fields, not counting the common pasture.

Построился Пахом, скотину завел.

Pakhom built himself a house and acquired livestock.

Земли у него одной душевой против прежнего втрое стало.

He now had three times as much land per person as he had owned before.

И земля хлебородная.

And the land was wonderfully fertile.

Житье против того, что на старине было, вдесятеро лучше.

His life was ten times better than it had been in his old home.

И пахотной земли и кормов вволю.

He had plenty of arable land and fodder.

Скотины сколько хочешь держи.

He could keep as much livestock as he pleased.

Сначала, покуда строился да заводился, хорошо показалось Пахому, да обжился — и на этой земле тесно показалось.

At first, while he was building his home and getting established, Pakhom was delighted. But once he had settled in, even this land began to seem too cramped.

Посеял первый год Пахом пшеницу на душевой — хороша уродилась.

In his first year, Pakhom sowed wheat on his allotted land, and it yielded a fine harvest.

Разохотился он пшеницу сеять, а душевой земли мало.

He grew eager to sow even more wheat, but his allotted land was not enough.

И какая есть — не годится.

And the land he already has is no good for it.

Пшеницу там на ковыльной или залежной земле сеют.

Wheat is sown there on feather-grass land or fallow ground.

Посеют год, два и запускают, пока опять ковылем прорастет.

They sow it for a year or two, then leave it uncultivated until feather grass grows over it again.

А на такую землю охотников много, на всех и не хватает.

But many people want this kind of land, and there isn't enough to go around.

Тоже из-за нее споры; побогаче кто — хотят сами сеять, а бедняки отдают купцам за подати.

There are disputes over it too. Those who are better off want to sow it themselves, while the poorer peasants lease their plots to merchants to pay their taxes.

Захотел Пахом побольше посеять.

Pakhom wanted to sow more wheat.

Поехал на другой год к купцу, купил земли на год.

The following year, he went to a merchant and rented some land for a year.

Посеял побольше — родилось хорошо; да далеко от села — верст за пятнадцать возить надо.

He sowed a larger area, and the crop was good. But the land was far from the village, fifteen versts away, so he had to haul everything a long distance.

Видит — в округе купцы-мужики хуторами живут, богатеют.

He saw that in the surrounding area, peasant merchants were living on separate farmsteads and growing wealthy.

«То ли дело,— думает Пахом,— коли бы тоже в вечность землицы купить да построить хутор. Все бы в кругу было».

"Now that's the life," thought Pakhom. "If only I could buy some land outright and build a farmstead of my own. Then everything would be close at hand."

И стал подумывать Пахом, как бы земли в вечность купить.

And Pakhom began thinking about how he might buy land outright.

Прожил так Пахом три года.

Pakhom lived this way for three years.

Снимал землю, пшеницу сеял.

He rented land and sowed wheat.

Года вышли хорошие, и пшеница хороша рожалась, и деньги залежные завелись.

The years were good, the wheat harvests were plentiful, and he began to accumulate savings.

Жить бы да жить, да скучно показалось Пахому каждый год в людях землю покупать, из-за земли воловодиться: где хорошенькая землица есть, сейчас налетят мужики, всю разберут; не поспел укупить, и не на чем сеять.

He could have lived happily enough, but Pakhom grew tired of having to rent land from others every year and struggle over it. Whenever a good plot became available, the peasants would swoop in and snap it all up. If he wasn't quick enough to secure a plot, he had nowhere to sow his crops.

А то купил на третий год с купцом пополам выгон у мужиков; и вспахали уж, да засудились мужики, так и пропала работа.

In the third year, he and a merchant bought a piece of common pasture from the peasants, splitting the cost between them. They had already ploughed it when the peasants took them to court, and all their work went to waste.

«Кабы своя земля была, думает, никому бы не кланялся, и греха бы не было».

"If only I had land of my own," he thought, "I wouldn't have to bow to anyone, and there would be no trouble."

И стал Пахом разузнавать, где купить земли в вечность.

So Pakhom began making inquiries about where he could buy land outright.

И попал на мужика.

Eventually, he heard about a peasant who was selling some.

Были куплены у мужика пятьсот десятин, да разорился он и продает задешево.

The peasant had bought five hundred dessiatins of land, but had fallen into financial ruin and was now selling it cheaply.

Стал Пахом ладить с ним.

Pakhom began negotiating with him.

Толковал, толковал — сладился за тысячу пятьсот рублей, половину денег обождать.

After much discussion, they agreed on a price of fifteen hundred rubles, with the seller willing to wait for half the payment.

Совсем уж было поладили, да заезжает раз к Пахому купец проезжий на двор покормить.

They had almost reached a final agreement when, one day, a travelling merchant stopped at Pakhom's homestead to feed his horse.

Попили чайку, поговорили.

They drank some tea and chatted.

Рассказывает купец, что едет он из дальних башкир.

The merchant told him that he had just come from the distant lands of the Bashkirs.

Там, рассказывает, купил у башкирцев земли тысяч пять десятин.

There, he said, he had bought five thousand dessiatins of land from the Bashkirs.

И стало всего тысяча рублей.

The whole thing cost him just one thousand rubles.

Стал расспрашивать Пахом.

Pakhom began asking questions.

Рассказал купец.

The merchant explained:

— Только,— говорит,— стариков ублаготворил.

"All I had to do," he said, "was win over the elders.

Халатов, ковров раздарил рублей на сто, да цибик чаю, да попоил винцом, кто пьет.

I gave away about a hundred rubles' worth of robes and carpets, brought a chest of tea, and treated those who drink to some wine.

И по двадцать копеек за десятину взял. — Показывает купчую. — Земля,— говорит,— по речке, и степь вся ковыльная.

And I paid twenty kopecks per dessiatin." He showed him the deed. "The land," he said, "lies along a river, and the whole steppe is covered with feather grass.

Стал расспрашивать Пахом, как и что.

Pakhom began asking him for more details.

— Земли,— говорит купец,— там не обойдешь и в год: все башкирская.

"There's so much land there," the merchant said, "you couldn't cover it all even in a year. It's all Bashkir territory.

А народ несмышленый, как бараны.

And the people are simple-minded, like sheep.

Можно почти даром взять.

You can get land there for practically nothing."

«Ну,— думает Пахом,— что ж мне за мои тысячу рублей пятьсот десятин купить да еще долг на шею забрать. А тут я за тысячу рублей чем завладаю!»

"Well," thought Pakhom, "why should I spend my thousand rubles buying five hundred dessiatins and saddle myself with debt? Just think how much land I could get here for a thousand rubles!"

Расспросил Пахом, как проехать, и только проводил купца, собрался сам ехать.

Pakhom asked how to get there, and as soon as he had seen the merchant off, he began preparing to go himself.

Оставил дом на жену, сам собрался с работником, поехал.

He left his wife in charge of the household, took a hired man with him, and set off.

Заехали в город, купили чаю цибик, подарков, вина — все, как купец сказал.

They stopped in town and bought a chest of tea, gifts, and wine, just as the merchant had advised.

Ехали, ехали, верст пятьсот отъехали.

They travelled on and on, covering five hundred versts.

На седьмые сутки приехали на башкирскую кочевку.

On the seventh day, they arrived at a Bashkir encampment.

Все так, как купец говорил.

Everything was just as the merchant had described.

Живут все в степи, над речкой, в кибитках войлочных.

The people lived out on the steppe, beside a river, in felt-covered yurts.

Сами не пашут и хлеба не едят.

They neither ploughed the land nor ate bread.

А в степи скотина ходит и лошади косяками.

Their livestock roamed freely across the steppe, and herds of horses grazed there.

За кибитками жеребята привязаны, и к ним два раза в день маток пригоняют; кобылье молоко доят и из него кумыс делают.

Behind the yurts, foals were tethered, and twice a day their mothers were brought to them. The women milked the mares and made kumis from the milk.

Бабы кумыс болтают и сыр делают, а мужики только и знают — кумыс и чай пьют, баранину едят да на дудках играют.

The women churned kumis and made cheese, while the men did little but drink kumis and tea, eat mutton, and play their pipes.

Гладкие все, веселые, все лето празднуют.

They were all plump and cheerful, celebrating throughout the summer.

Народ совсем темный, и по-русски не знают, а ласковый.

They were very unsophisticated and knew no Russian, but they were friendly and hospitable.

Только увидали Пахома, повышли из кибиток башкирцы, обступили гостя.

As soon as they caught sight of Pakhom, the Bashkirs came out of their yurts and gathered around their guest.

Нашелся переводчик.

Someone was found who could interpret.

Сказал ему Пахом, что он об земле приехал.

Pakhom told him that he had come about buying land.

Обрадовались башкирцы, подхватили Пахома, свели его в кибитку хорошую, посадили на ковры, подложили под него подушек пуховых, сели кругом, стали угощать чаем, кумысом.

The Bashkirs were delighted. They took Pakhom by the arm, led him into a fine yurt, seated him on carpets, placed soft down pillows beneath him, then sat around him and offered him tea and kumis.

Барана зарезали и бараниной накормили.

They slaughtered a sheep and served him mutton.

Достал Пахом из тарантаса подарки, стал башкирцам раздавать.

Pakhom took the gifts out of his carriage and began handing them around to the Bashkirs.

Одарил Пахом башкирцев подарками и чай разделил.

Pakhom distributed the gifts among the Bashkirs and shared out the tea.

Обрадовались башкирцы.

The Bashkirs were delighted.

Лопотали, лопотали промеж себя, потом велели переводчику говорить.

They chattered among themselves for a while, then told the interpreter to speak.

— Велят тебе сказать,— говорит переводчик,— что они полюбили тебя и что у нас обычай такой — гостю всякое удовольствие делать и за подарки отдаривать.

"They want me to tell you," said the interpreter, "that they have taken a liking to you, and that it is our custom to make our guests welcome in every way and to repay them for their gifts.

Ты нас одарил; теперь скажи, что тебе из нашего полюбится, чтоб тебя отдарить?

You have given us presents; now tell us what you would like from among our possessions, so that we may return your kindness."

— Полюбилась мне,— говорит Пахом,— больше всего у вас земля.

"What I like most," said Pakhom, "is your land.

У нас,— говорит,— в земле теснота, да и земля выпаханная, а у вас земли много и земля хороша.

Where I come from," he said, "there is too little land, and what land there is has been exhausted by constant cultivation. But you have plenty of land, and it is good land.

Я такой и не видывал.

I've never seen anything like it."

Передал переводчик.

The interpreter translated his words.

Поговорили, поговорили башкирцы.

The Bashkirs talked among themselves for a while.

Не понимает Пахом, что они говорят, а видит, что веселы, кричат что-то, смеются.

Pakhom could not understand what they were saying, but he could see that they were cheerful, shouting and laughing.

Затихли потом, смотрят на Пахома, а переводчик говорит:

At last they fell silent and looked at Pakhom. Then the interpreter said:

— Велят,— говорит,— они тебе сказать, что за твое добро рады тебе сколько хочешь земли отдать.

"They want me to tell you that, in return for your generosity, they will gladly give you as much land as you wish.

Только рукой покажи какую — твоя будет.

Just point out the land you want, and it will be yours."

Поговорили они еще и что-то спорить стали.

They talked some more and began arguing about something.

И спросил Пахом, о чем спорят.

Pakhom asked what they were arguing about.

И сказал переводчик:

The interpreter replied:

— Говорят одни, что надо об земле старшину спросить, а без него нельзя.

"Some say that they must ask the village elder about the land, and that nothing can be done without him.

А другие говорят, и без него можно.

Others say they can settle the matter without him."

Спорят башкирцы, вдруг идет человек в шапке лисьей.

The Bashkirs are arguing when suddenly a man wearing a fox-fur hat approaches.

Замолчали все и встали.

Everyone fell silent and stood up.

И говорит переводчик:

The interpreter said:

— Это старшина самый.

“That is the village elder himself.”

Сейчас достал Пахом лучший халат и поднес старшине и еще чаю пять фунтов.

Pakhom at once took out his finest robe and presented it to the village elder, along with another five pounds of tea.

Принял старшина и сел на первое место.

The elder accepted the gifts and took the place of honor.

И сейчас стали говорить ему что-то башкирцы.

The Bashkirs immediately began telling him something.

Слушал, слушал старшина, кивнул головой, чтоб они замолчали, и стал говорить Пахому по-русски.

The elder listened and listened, then nodded to silence them and began speaking to Pakhom in Russian.

— Что ж,— говорит,— можно.

“Well,” he said, “that can be done.

Бери, где полюбится.

Take whichever land you like.

Земли много.

There is plenty of land.”

«Как же я возьму, сколько хочу,— думает Пахом.— Надо же как ни есть закрепить. А то скажут твоя, а потом отнимут».

“How can I take as much as I want?” Pakhom thought. “I must have it secured somehow. Otherwise, they'll say it's mine now, then take it away later.”

— Благодарим вас,— говорит,— на добром слове.

“Thank you,” he said. “We are grateful for your kind offer.

Земли ведь у вас много, а мне немножко надо.

You have plenty of land, and I only need a little.

Только бы мне знать, какая моя будет.

I just want to know which part will be mine.

Уж как-нибудь все-таки отмерять да закрепить за мной надо.

It must somehow be measured out and legally secured for me.

А то в смерти-животе бог волен.

After all, life and death are in God's hands.

Вы, добрые люди, даете, а придется — дети ваши отнимут.

You good people may give it to me, but your children might take it away when the time comes.”

— Правда твоя,— говорит старшина,— закрепить можно.

“You're right,” said the elder. “We can make it official.”

Стал Пахом говорить:

Pakhom continued:

— Я вот слышал, у вас купец был.

“I heard that a merchant once came to your village.

Вы ему тоже землицы подарили и купчую сделали; так и мне бы тоже.

You gave him some land too and drew up a deed of sale. I would like the same arrangement.”

Все понял старшина.

The elder understood everything.

— Это все можно,— говорит. — У нас и писарь есть, и в город поедем, и все печати приложим.

“All of that can be arranged,” he said. “We have a clerk, and we can go to the town and have all the necessary seals affixed.”

— А цена какая будет? — говорит Пахом.

“And what will the price be?” asked Pakhom.

— Цена у нас одна: тысяча рублей за день.

“We have just one price: a thousand rubles for a day's walk.”

Не понял Пахом.

Pakhom did not understand.

— Какая же это мера — день?

“What kind of measure is a day?”

Сколько в ней десятин будет?

“How many dessiatins would that be?”

— Мы этого,— говорит,— не умеем считать.

“We don't know how to reckon that,” he said.

А мы за день продаем; сколько обойдешь в день, то и твое, а цена дню тысяча рублей.

“We sell by the day. Whatever land you can walk around in a day will be yours, and the price for the day is a thousand rubles.”

Удивился Пахом.

Pakhom was astonished.

— Да ведь это,— говорит,— в день обойти, земли много будет.

“But if I walk around it in a day,” he said, “that will be a great deal of land.”

Засмеялся старшина.

The elder laughed.

— Вся твоя!— говорит. — Только один уговор: если назад не придешь в день к тому месту, с какого возьмешься, пропали твои деньги.

“It's all yours!” he said. “There's just one condition: if you don't return within the day to the place where you started, your money is lost.”

— А как же,— говорит Пахом,— отметить, где я пройду?

“But how,” asked Pakhom, “shall I mark out the land where I go?”

— А мы станем на место, где ты облюбуешь, мы стоять будем, а ты иди, делай круг; а с собой скребку возьми и, где надобно, замечай, на углах ямки рой, дернички клади, потом с ямки на ямку плугом проедем.

“We'll stay at the place you choose, and you go off and make your circuit. Take a spade with you, and mark the boundary wherever necessary. Dig little holes at the corners and put pieces of turf in them. Later, we'll plow a furrow from one hole to the next.”

Какой хочешь круг забирай, только до захода солнца приходи к тому месту, с какого взялся.

“Take as large a circuit as you like, but be back at the place where you started before sunset.

Что обойдешь, все твое.

Whatever you walk around will be yours.”

Обрадовался Пахом.

Pakhom was delighted.

Порешили наране выезжать.

They agreed to set out early the next morning.

Потолковали, попили еще кумысу, баранины поели, еще чаю напились; стало дело к ночи.

They talked things over, drank some more kumis, ate mutton, and drank more tea. By then it was getting late.

Уложили Пахома спать на пуховике, и разошлись башкирцы.

They made up a feather bed for Pakhom, and the Bashkirs went their separate ways.

Обещались завтра на зорьке собраться, до солнца на место выехать.

They promised to gather at dawn the next day and reach the spot before sunrise.

Лег Пахом на пуховики, и не спится ему, все про землю думает.

Pakhom lay down on the feather bed, but could not sleep. All he could think about was the land.

«Отхвачу, думает, палестину большую. Верст пятьдесят обойду в день-то. День-то нынче что год; в пятидесяти верстах земли-то что будет. Какую похуже — продам или мужиков пущу, а любенькую отберу, сам на ней сяду. Плуга два быков заведу, человека два работников принайму; десятинок полсотни пахать буду, а на остальной скотину нагуливать стану».

“I'll grab myself a huge piece of land,” he thought. “I can walk around fifty versts in a day. A day is as good as a year nowadays; just think how much land there is in fifty versts! I'll sell the poorer parts or rent them out to peasants, and keep the best land for myself. I'll get two teams of oxen for plowing and hire a couple of laborers. I'll cultivate fifty dessiatins and raise livestock on the rest.”

Не заснул всю ночь Пахом.

Pakhom did not sleep all night.

Перед зарей только забылся.

Only just before dawn did he finally doze off.

Только забылся — и видит он сон.

As soon as he dozed off, he had a dream.

Видит он, что лежит будто он в этой самой кибитке и слышит — наружу гогочет кто-то.

He dreamed that he was lying in that very same felt-covered wagon and heard someone outside laughing loudly.

И будто захотелось ему посмотреть, кто такой смеется, и встал он, вышел из кибитки и видит — сидит тот самый старшина башкирский перед кибиткой, за живот ухватился обеими руками, закатывается, гогочет на что-то.

He suddenly felt like seeing who was laughing, so he got up, went out of the wagon, and saw the very same Bashkir elder sitting in front of it, clutching his belly with both hands and roaring with laughter at something.

Подошел он и спросил:

He went up to him and asked:

«Чему смеешься?»

“What are you laughing at?”

И видит он, будто это не старшина башкирский, а купец намеднишний, что к ним заезжал, об земле рассказывал.

Then he saw that it was not the Bashkir elder at all, but the merchant who had visited them the other day and told them about the land.

И только спросил у купца:

And just as he was about to ask the merchant:

«Ты давно ли тут?»

“How long have you been here?”

— а это уж и не купец, а тот самый мужик, что на старине снизу заходил.

— the man was no longer the merchant, but the very same peasant who had come in from below on the previous evening.

И видит Пахом, что будто и не мужик это, а сам дьявол, с рогами и с копытами, сидит, хохочет, а перед ним лежит человек босиком, в рубахе и портках.

Then Pakhom saw that it was not the peasant either, but the devil himself, with horns and hooves, sitting there laughing, while in front of him lay a man barefoot, wearing only a shirt and trousers.

И будто поглядел Пахом пристальней, что за человек такой?

Pakhom looked more closely, wondering who the man was.

И видит, что человек мертвый и что это — он сам.

He saw that the man was dead, and that it was himself.

Ужаснулся Пахом и проснулся.

Pakhom was horrified and woke up.

Проснулся.

He was awake.

«Чего не приснится», — думает.

“What strange things one can dream!” he thought.

Огляделся; видит в открытую дверь — уж бело становится, светать начинает.

He looked around. Through the open door he could see that the sky was growing pale and dawn was breaking.

«Надо, думает, будить народ, пора ехать».

“I'd better wake everyone,” he thought. “It's time to set off.”

Поднялся Пахом, разбудил работника в тарантасе, велел запрягать и пошел башкирцев будить.

Pakhom got up, woke the hired man sleeping in the carriage, told him to harness the horses, and went to wake the Bashkirs.

— Пора,— говорит,— на степь ехать, отмерять.

“It's time,” he said, “to go out onto the steppe and measure the land.”

Повставали башкирцы, собрались все, и старшина пришел.

The Bashkirs got up, gathered together, and the elder arrived.

Зачали башкирцы опять кумыс пить, хотели Пахома угостить чаем, да не стал он дожидаться.

The Bashkirs began drinking kumis again and wanted to offer Pakhom some tea, but he would not wait.

— Коли ехать, так ехать,— говорит,— пора.

“If we're going, then let's go,” he said. “It's time.”

Собрались башкирцы, сели — кто верхами, кто в тарантасы, поехали.

The Bashkirs got ready and set off, some on horseback and others in carriages.

А Пахом с работником на своем тарантасике поехали и с собой скребку взяли.

Pakhom and his hired man set off in their own little carriage, taking a spade with them.

Приехали в степь, заря занимается.

They reached the steppe as dawn was breaking.

Въехали на бугорок, по-башкирски — на шихан.

They rode up onto a small hill, called a *shikhan* in the Bashkir language.

Вылезли из тарантасов, послезали с лошадей, сошлись в кучку.

They climbed out of their carriages, dismounted from their horses, and gathered in a group.

Подошел старшина к Пахому, показал рукой.

The elder came over to Pakhom and pointed with his hand.

— Вот,— говорит,— вся наша, что глазом окинешь.

“There,” he said. “All the land you can see is ours.

Выбирай любую.

Choose whichever part you like.”

Разгорелись глаза у Пахома: земля вся ковыльная, ровная как ладонь, черная как мак, а где лощинка — так разнотравье, трава по груди.

Pakhom's eyes lit up. The whole plain was covered with feather grass, as level as the palm of a hand and black as poppy seeds. In the hollows, all kinds of grasses grew, reaching up to a man's chest.

Снял старшина шапку лисью, поставил на землю.

The elder took off his fox-fur hat and placed it on the ground.

— Вот,— говорит,— метка будет.

“There,” he said. “This will be the marker.

Отсюда пойди, сюда приходи.

Start from here and come back here.

Что обойдешь, все твое будет.

Whatever land you walk around will be yours.”

Вынул Пахом деньги, положил на шапку, снял кафтан, в одной поддевке остался, перепоясался потуже под брюхо кушаком, подтянулся; сумочку с хлебом за пазуху положил, баклажку с водой к кушаку привязал, подтянул голенища, взял скребку у работника, собрался идти.

Pakhom took out the money and placed it on the hat. He took off his coat, leaving himself in his short undercoat, tightened his sash firmly around his waist, and straightened himself up. He tucked a little bag of bread inside his shirt, tied a flask of water to his sash, pulled up his boot tops, took the spade from his hired man, and got ready to set off.

Думал, думал, в какую сторону взять,— везде хорошо.

He thought and thought about which direction to take, but the land looked good everywhere.

Думает: «Все одно: пойду на восход солнца».

Then he thought, “It makes no difference. I'll head towards the sunrise.”

Стал лицом к солнцу, размялся, ждет, чтобы показалось оно из-за края.

He turned to face the sun, stretched his limbs, and waited for it to appear over the horizon.

Думает: «Ничего времени пропускать не стану. Холодком и идти легче».

He thought, “I won't waste any time. It's easier to walk while it's still cool.”

Только брызнуло из-за края солнце, вскинул Пахом скребку на плечо и пошел в степь.

As soon as the sun's first rays appeared over the horizon, Pakhom slung the spade over his shoulder and set off across the steppe.

Пошел Пахом ни тихо, ни скоро.

Pakhom walked at a steady pace, neither slowly nor quickly.

Отошел с версту; остановился, вырыл ямку и дернички друг на дружку положил, чтоб приметней было.

After walking about a verst, he stopped, dug a small hole, and piled pieces of turf on top of one another to make it easier to see.

Пошел дальше.

Then he went on.

Стал разминаться, стал и шагу прибавлять.

As he warmed up, he began to lengthen his stride.

Отошел еще, вырыл еще другую ямку.

After going a little farther, he dug another small hole.

Оглянулся Пахом.

Pakhom looked back.

На солнце хорошо видно шихан, и народ стоит, и у тарантасов на колесах шины блестят.

In the sunlight, he could clearly see the hill, the people standing there, and the metal rims of the carriage wheels shining.

Угадывает Пахом, что верст пять прошел.

Pakhom reckoned that he had walked about five versts.

Согреваться стал, снял поддевку, вскинул на плечо, пошел дальше.

He was beginning to get warm, so he took off his undercoat, slung it over his shoulder, and went on.

Отошел еще верст пять.

He walked another five versts.

Тепло стало.

It was getting warm.

Взглянул на солнышко — уж время об завтраке.

He glanced at the sun. It was already time for breakfast.

«Одна упряжка прошла,— думает Пахом. — А их четыре в дню, рано еще заворачивать. Дай только разуюсь».

“I've covered one stretch,” Pakhom thought. “There are four stretches in a day, so it's too early to turn back. Let me just take off my boots.”

Присел, разулся, сапоги за пояс, пошел дальше.

He sat down, took off his boots, tucked them behind his sash, and went on.

Легко идти стало.

It was easier to walk now.

Думает: «Дай пройду еще верст пяток, тогда влево загибать стану. Место-то хорошо очень, кидать жалко. Что дальше, то лучше».

He thought, “Let me walk another five versts, then I'll turn left. This land is so good; it would be a shame to leave it behind. The farther I go, the better it gets.”

Пошел еще напрямик.

He continued straight ahead.

Оглянулся — шихан уж чуть видно, и народ, как мураши, на нем чернеется, и чуть блестит что-то.

He looked back. The hill was barely visible now, and the people on it looked like little black ants. Something there glinted faintly.

«Ну,— думает Пахом,— в эту сторону довольно забрал; надо загибать. Да и разопрел — пить хочется».

“Well,” Pakhom thought, “I've gone far enough in this direction; time to turn. Besides, I'm getting hot and thirsty.”

Остановился, вырыл ямку побольше, положил дернички, отвязал баклажку, напился и загнул круто влево.

He stopped, dug a larger hole, piled pieces of turf beside it, untied his water flask, took a drink, and made a sharp turn to the left.

Шел он, шел, трава пришла высокая, и жарко стало.

He walked on and on. The grass grew tall, and the heat became intense.

Стал Пахом уставать; поглядел он на солнышко, видит — самый обед.

Pakhom began to tire. He looked at the sun and saw that it was midday.

«Ну, думает, отдохнуть надо».

“Well,” he thought, “I need to rest.”

Остановился Пахом, присел.

Pakhom stopped and sat down.

Поел хлебца с водой, а ложиться не стал: думает — ляжешь, да и заснешь.

He ate some bread and drank some water, but did not lie down, thinking, “If I lie down, I'll fall asleep.”

Посидел немного, пошел дальше.

He sat for a little while, then went on.

Сначала легко пошел.

At first, he walked easily.

От еды силы прибавилось.

The food had restored his strength.

Да уж жарко очень стало, да и сон клонить стал; однако все идет, думает — час терпеть, а век жить.

But it had grown terribly hot, and he was getting sleepy. Still, he kept going, thinking, “Bear it for an hour, and you'll live a lifetime.”

Прошел еще и по этой стороне много, хотел уж загибать влево, да глядь — лощинка подошла сырая; жаль бросать.

He covered quite a distance along this side too and was about to turn left when he noticed a damp hollow. It seemed a shame to leave it out.

Думает: «Лен тут хорош уродится».

He thought, “Flax would grow well here.”

Опять пошел прямо.

So he went straight on again.

Захватил лощинку, выкопал ямку за лощиной, загнул второй угол.

He included the hollow, dug a hole beyond it, and marked the second corner.

Оглянулся Пахом на шихан: от тепла затуманилось, качается что-то в воздухе и сквозь мару чуть виднеются люди на шихане — верст пятнадцать до них будет.

Pakhom looked back towards the hill. The heat had made the air shimmer, and something seemed to waver in it. Through the haze, he could just make out the people on the hill, about fifteen versts away.

«Ну,— думает Пахом,— длинны стороны взял, надо эту покороче взять».

“Well,” Pakhom thought, “I've made the sides too long. I must make this one shorter.”

Пошел третью сторону, стал шагу прибавлять.

He set off along the third side, lengthening his stride.

Посмотрел на солнце — уж оно к полднику подходит, а по третьей стороне всего версты две прошел.

He looked at the sun. It was already nearing mid-afternoon, yet he had covered only two versts along the third side.

И до места все те же верст пятнадцать.

And the starting point was still a good fifteen versts away.

«Нет, думает, хоть кривая дача будет, а надо прямиком поспевать. Не забрать бы лишнего. А земли и так уж много».

“No,” he thought, “even if the plot turns out crooked, I must make it back in time. I mustn't take too much. I've got plenty of land already.”

Вырыл Пахом поскорее ямку и повернул прямиком к шихану.

Pakhom quickly dug a hole and turned straight towards the hill.

Идет Пахом прямо на шихан, и тяжело уж ему стало.

Pakhom headed straight for the hill, and it was becoming very hard for him.

Разопрел и ноги босиком изрезал и отбил, да и подкашиваться стали.

He was drenched in sweat, and his bare feet were cut and bruised. His legs were beginning to give way.

Отдохнуть хочется, а нельзя,— не поспеешь дойти до заката.

He longed to rest, but he couldn't: he would never make it back before sunset.

Солнце не ждет, все спускается да спускается.

The sun would not wait; it kept sinking lower and lower.

«Ах, думает, не ошибся ли, не много ли забрал? Что, как не поспеешь?»

“Oh,” he thought, “have I miscalculated? Have I taken on too much? What if I don't make it in time?”

Взглянет вперед на шихан, взглянет на солнце: до места далеко, а солнце уж недалеко от края.

He looked ahead towards the hill, then at the sun. The starting point was still far away, and the sun was already close to the horizon.

Идет так Пахом, трудно ему, а все прибавляет да прибавляет шагу.

Pakhom kept going, struggling with every step, but continually quickening his pace.

Шел, шел — все еще далеко; побежал рысью.

He walked and walked, but the distance was still great, so he broke into a jog.

Бросил поддевку, сапоги, баклажку, шапку бросил, только скребку держит, ей попирается.

He threw away his undercoat, his boots, his water flask, and his hat. He kept only the spade, using it as a walking stick.

«Ах, думает, позарился я, все дело погубил, не добегу до заката».

“Oh,” he thought, “I was too greedy and have ruined everything. I won't make it back before sunset.”

И еще хуже ему от страха дух захватывает.

His fear made it even harder for him to breathe.

Бежит Пахом, рубаха и портки от пота к телу липнут, во рту пересохло.

Pakhom ran on, his shirt and trousers sticking to his body with sweat, his mouth parched.

В груди как мехи кузнечные раздуваются, а в сердце молотком бьет, и ноги как не свои — подламываются.

His chest heaved like a blacksmith's bellows, his heart pounded as if struck with a hammer, and his legs felt as though they were no longer his own, buckling beneath him.

Жутко стало Пахому, думает:

Pakhom was terrified and thought:

«Как бы не помереть с натуги».

“I might die from overexertion.”

Помереть боится, а остановиться не может.

He was afraid of dying, but he could not stop.

«Столько, думает, пробежал, а теперь остановиться — дураком назовут».

“I've come so far,” he thought. “If I stop now, they'll call me a fool.”

Бежал, бежал, подбегает уж близко и слышит: визжат, гайкают на него башкирцы, и от крика ихнего у него еще пуще сердце разгорается.

He ran and ran. At last he was close, and he could hear the Bashkirs shouting and cheering him on. Their cries made his heart pound even harder.

Бежит Пахом из последних сил, а солнце уж к краю подходит, в туман зашло: большое, красное, кровяное стало.