hissed Tchelkache.

"Oh, Holy Virgin," murmured Gavrilo, trembling and exhausted.

The boat turned, obedient to his touch; he pulled toward the harbor
where the many-colored lanterns were grouped together and the tall
masts were outlined against the sky.

"Hey! Who calls?" was again asked. This time the voice was further
away; Tchelkache felt relieved.

"It's you, yourself, friend, who calls!" said he, in the direction of
the voice. Then, he turned to Gavrilo, who continued to murmur a
prayer. "Yes, brother, you're in luck. If those devils had pursued
us, it would have been the end of you. Do you hear? I'd have soon
sent you to the fishes."

Now that Tchelkache again spoke quietly and even good-naturedly,
Gavrilo, still trembling with fear, begged him:

"Listen, let me go! In the name of Christ, let me go. Set me down
somewhere. Oh dear! oh, dear! I'm lost! For God's sake, let me go.
What do you want of me? I can't do this, I've never done anything like
it. It's the first time, Lord! I'm lost! How did you manage,
comrade, to get around me like this? Say? It's a sin, you make me
lose my soul! . . . Ah! what a piece of business!"

"What business?" sternly questioned Tchelkache. "Speak, what business
do you mean?"