the　characteristic　and　original　way　she　had　of　inclining　her　head；　her　long；　light…brown　hair；　the　golden　sheen　of　her　slightly　sunburnt　neck　and　shoulders；　and　especially　her　straight　nose　　all　these　held　me　fascinated。　Although　in　her　sidelong　glances　I　could　read　a　certain　wildness　and　disdain；　although　in　her　smile　there　was　a　certain　vagueness；　yet　　such　is　the　force　of　predilections　　that　straight　nose　of　hers　drove　me　crazy。　I　fancied　that　I　had　found　Goethe's　Mignon　　that　queer　creature　of　his　German　imagination。　And；　indeed；　there　was　a　good　deal　of　similarity　between　them；　the　same　rapid　transitions　from　the　utmost　restlessness　to　complete　immobility；　the　same　enigmatical　speeches；　the　same　gambols；　the　same　strange　songs。
  Towards　evening　I　stopped　her　at　the　door　and　entered　into　the　following　conversation　with　her。
  〃Tell　me；　my　beauty；〃　I　asked；　〃what　were　you　doing　on　the　roof　to…day？〃
  〃I　was　looking　to　see　from　what　direction　the　wind　was　blowing。〃
  〃What　did　you　want　to　know　for？〃
  〃Whence　the　wind　blows　comes　happiness。〃
  〃Well？　Were　you　invoking　happiness　with　your　song？〃
  〃Where　there　is　singing　there　is　also　happi…　ness。〃
  〃But　what　if　your　song　were　to　bring　you　sorrow？〃
  〃Well；　what　then？　Where　things　won't　be　better；　they　will　be　worse；　and　from　bad　to　good　again　is　not　far。〃
  〃And　who　taught　you　that　song？〃
  〃Nobody　taught　me；　it　comes　into　my　head　and　I　sing；　whoever　is　to　hear　it；　he　will　hear　it；　and　whoever　ought　not　to　hear　it；　he　will　not　understand　it。〃
  〃What　is　your　name；　my　songstress？〃
  〃He　who　baptized　me　knows。〃
  〃And　who　baptized　you？〃
  〃How　should　I　know？〃
  〃What　a　secretive　girl　you　are！　But　look　here；　I　have　learned　something　about　you〃　　she　neither　changed　countenance　nor　moved　her　lips；　as　though　my　discovery　was　of　no　concern　to　her　　〃I　have　learned　that　you　went　to　the　shore　last　night。〃
  And；　thereupon；　I　very　gravely　retailed　to　her　all　that　I　had　seen；　thinking　that　I　should　embarrass　her。　Not　a　bit　of　it！　She　burst　out　laughing　heartily。
  〃You　have　seen　much；　but　know　little；　and　what　you　do　know；　see　that　you　keep　it　under　lock　and　key。〃
  〃But　supposing；　now；　I　was　to　take　it　into　my　head　to　inform　the　Commandant？〃　and　here　I　assumed　a　very　serious；　not　to　say　stern；　de…　meanour。
  She　gave　a　sudden　spring；　began　to　sing；　and　hid　herself　like　a　bird　frightened　out　of　a　thicket。　My　last　words　were　altogether　out　of　place。　I　had　no　suspicion　then　how　momentous　they　were；　but　afterwards　I　had　occasion　to　rue　them。
  As　soon　as　the　dusk　of　evening　fell；　I　ordered　the　Cossack　to　heat　the　teapot；　campaign　fashion。　I　lighted　a　candle　and　sat　down　by　the　table；　smoking　my　travelling…pipe。　I　was　just　about　to　finish　my　second　tumbler　of　tea　when　suddenly　the　door　creaked　and　I　heard　behind　me　the　sound　of　footsteps　and　the　light　rustle　of　a　dress。　I　started　and　turned　round。
  It　was　she　　my　Undine。　Softly　and　without　saying　a　word　she　sat　down　opposite　to　me　and　fixed　her　eyes　upon　me。　Her　glance　seemed　wondrously　tender；　I　know　not　why；　it　re…　minded　me　of　one　of　those　glances　which；　in　years　gone　by；　so　despotically　played　with　my　life。　She　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　a　question；　but　I　kept　silence；　filled　with　an　inexplicable　sense　of　embarrassment。　Mental　agitation　was　evinced　by　the　dull　pallor　which　overspread　her　countenance；　her　hand；　which　I　noticed　was　trembling　slightly；　moved　aimlessly　about　the　table。　At　one　time　her　breast　heaved；　and　at　another　she　seemed　to　be　holding　her　breath。　This　little　comedy　was　beginning　to　pall　upon　me；　and　I　was　about　to　break　the　silence　in　a　most　prosaic　manner；　that　is；　by　offering　her　a　glass　of　tea；　when　suddenly；　springing　up；　she　threw　her　arms　around　my　neck；　and　I　felt　her　moist；　fiery　lips　pressed　upon　mine。　Darkness　came　before　my　eyes；　my　head　began　to　swim。　I　embraced　her　with　the　whole　strength　of　youthful　passion。　But；　like　a　snake；　she　glided　from　between　my　arms；　whispering　in　my　ear　as　she　did　so：
  〃To…night；　when　everyone　is　asleep；　go　out　to　the　shore。〃
  Like　an　arrow　she　sprang　from　the　room。
  In　the　hall　she　upset　the　teapot　and　a　candle　which　was　standing　on　the　floor。
  〃Little　devil！〃　cried　the　Cossack；　who　had　taken　up　his　position　on　the　straw　and　had　contemplated　warming　himself　with　the　remains　of　the　tea。
  It　was　only　then　that　I　recovered　my　senses。
  In　about　two　hours'　time；　when　all　had　grown　silent　in　the　harbour；　I　awakened　my　Cossack。
  〃If　I　fire　a　pistol；〃　I　said；　〃run　to　the　shore。〃
  He　stared　open…eyed　and　answered　mechanic…　ally：
  〃Very　well；　sir。〃
  I　stuffed　a　pistol　in　my　belt　and　went　out。　She　was　waiting　for　me　at　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　Her　attire　was　more　than　light；　and　a　small　kerchief　girded　her　supple　waist。
  〃Follow　me！〃　she　said；　taking　me　by　the　hand；　and　we　began　to　descend。
  I　cannot　understand　how　it　was　that　I　did　not　break　my　neck。　Down　below　we　turned　to　the　right　and　proceeded　to　take　the　path　along　which　I　had　followed　the　blind　boy　the　evening　before。　The　moon　had　not　yet　risen；　and　only　two　little　stars；　like　two　guardian　lighthouses；　were　twink…　ling　in　the　dark…blue　vault　of　heaven。　The　heavy　waves；　with　measured　and　even　motion；　rolled　one　after　the　other；　scarcely　lifting　the　solitary　boat　which　was　moored　to　the　shore。
  〃Let　us　get　into　the　boat；〃　said　my　com…　panion。
  I　hesitated。　I　am　no　lover　of　sentimental　trips　on　the　sea；　but　this　was　not　the　time　to　draw　back。　She　leaped　into　the　boat；　and　I　after　her；　and　I　had　not　time　to　recover　my　wits　before　I　observed　that　we　were　adrift。
  〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　I　said　angrily。
  〃It　means；〃　she　answered；　seating　me　on　the　bench　and　throwing　her　arms　around　my　waist；　〃it　means　that　I　love　you！〃　。　。　。
  Her　cheek　was　pressed　close　to　mine。　and　I　felt　her　burning　breath　upon　my　face。　Suddenly　something　fell　noisily　into　the　water。　I　clutched　at　my　belt　　my　pistol　was　gone！　Ah；　now　a　terrible　suspicion　crept　into　my　soul；　and　the　blood　rushed　to　my　head！　I　looked　round。　We　were　about　fifty　fathoms　from　the　shore；　and　I　could　not　swim　a　stroke！　I　tried　to　thrust　her　away　from　me；　but　she　clung　like　a　cat　to　my　clothes；　and　suddenly　a　violent　wrench　all　but　threw　me　into　the　sea。　The　boat　rocked；　but　I　righted　myself；　and　a　desperate　struggle　began。
  Fury　lent　me　strength；　but　I　soon　found　that　I　was　no　match　for　my　opponent　in　point　of　agility。　。　。
  〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　cried；　firmly　squeezing　her　little　hands。
  Her　fingers　crunched；　but　her　serpent…like　nature　bore　up　against　the　torture；　and　she　did　not　utter　a　cry。
  〃You　saw　us；〃　she　answered。　〃You　will　tell　on　us。〃
  And；　with　a　supernatural　effort；　she　flung　me　on　to　the　side　of　the　boat；　we　both　hung　half　overboard；　her　hair　touched　the　water。　The　decisive　moment　had　come。　I　planted　my　knee　against　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　caught　her　by　the　tresses　with　one　hand　and　by　the　throat　with　the　other；　she　let　go　my　clothes；　and；　in　an　instant；　I　had　thrown　her　into　the　waves。
  It　was　now　rather　dark；　once　or　twice　her　head　appeared　for　an　instant　amidst　the　sea　foam；　and　I　saw　no　more　of　her。
  I　found　the　half　of　an　old　oar　at　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　and　somehow　or　other；　after　lengthy　efforts；　I　made　fast　to　the　harbour。　Making　my　way　along　the　shore　towards　my　hut；　I　involun…　tarily　gazed　in　the　direction　of　the　spot　where；　on　the　previous　night；　the　blind　boy　had　awaited　the　nocturnal　mariner。　The　moon　was　already　rolling　through　the　sky；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　somebody　in　white　was　sitting　on　the　shore。　Spurred　by　curiosity；　I　crept　up　and　crouched　down　in　the　grass　on　the　top　of　the　cliff。　By　thrusting　my　head　out　a　little　way　I　was　able　to　get　a　good　view　of　everything　that　was　happen…　ing　down　below；　and　I　was　not　very　much　aston…　ished；　but　almost　rejoiced；　when　I　recognised　my　water…nymph。　She　was　wringing　the　sea…　foam　from　her　long　hair。　Her　wet　garment　out…　lined　her　supple　figure　and　her　high　bosom。
  Soon　a　boat　appeared　in　the　distance；　it　drew　near　rapidly；　and；　as　on　the　night　before；　a　man　in　a　Tartar　cap　stepped　out　of　it；　but　he　now　had　his　hair　cropped　round　in　the　Cossack　fashion；　and　a　large　knife　was　sticking　out　behind　his　leather　belt。
  〃Yanko；〃　the　girl　said；　〃all　is　lost！〃
  Then　their　conversation　continued；　but　so　softly　that　I　could　not　catch　a　word　of　it。
  〃But　where　is　the　blind　boy？〃　said　Yanko　at　last；　raising　his　voice。
  〃I　have　told　him　to　come；〃　was　the　reply。
  After　a　few　minutes　the　blind　boy　appeared；　dragging　on　his　back　a　sack；　which　they　placed　in　the　boat。
  〃Listen！〃　said　Yanko　to　the　blind　boy。　〃Guard　that　place！　You　know　where　I　mean？　There　are　valuable　goods　there。　Tell〃　　I　could　not　catch　the　name　　〃that　I　am　no　longer　his　servant。　Things　have　gone　badly。　He　will　see　me　no　more。　It　is　dangerous　now。　I　will　go　seek　work　in　another　place；　and　he　will　never　be　able　to　find　another　dare…devil　like　me。　Tell　him　also　that　if　he　had　paid　me　a　little　better　for　my　labours；　I　would　not　have　forsaken　him。　For　me　there　is　a　way　anywhere；　if　only　the　wind　blows　and　the　sea　roars。〃
  After　a　short　silence　Yanko　continued。
  〃She　is　coming　with　me。　It　is　impossible　for　her　to　remain　here。　Tell　the　old　woman　that　it　is　time　for　her　to　die；　she　has　been　here