e thrown under the wheel."

"Shove him yourself then."

The boat-hooks glided over the side of the steamer, and, scratching
against it, produced a noise like the grinding of teeth. Foma could
not close his eyes for watching them. The noise of feet stamping on the
deck, over his head, was gradually moving toward the stern. And then
again that moaning cry for the dead was heard:

"A gue-e-est!"

"Papa!" cried Foma in a ringing voice. "Papa!" His father jumped to his
feet and rushed toward him.

"What is that? What are they doing there?" cried Foma.

Wildly roaring, Ignat jumped out of the cabin with huge bounds. He soon
returned, sooner than Foma, staggering and looking around him, had time
to reach his father's bed.

"They frightened you? It's nothing!" said Ignat, taking him up in his
arms. "Lie down with me."

"What is it?" asked Foma, quietly.

"It was nothing, my son. Only a drowned man. A man was drowned and he is
floating. That's nothing! Don't be afraid, he has already floated clear
of us."

"Why did they push him?" interrogated the boy, firmly pressing close to
his father, and shutting his eyes for fright.

"It was necessary to do so. The water might have thrown him under the
wheel. Under ours, for instance. Tomorrow the police would notice
it, there would be trouble, inquests, and we would be held here for
examination. That's why we shoved him along. What difference does it
make to him? He is dead; it doesn't pain him; it doesn't offend him. And
the living would be troubled on his account. Sleep, my son.

"So he will float on that way?"

"He will float. They'll take him out somewhere and bury him."

"And will a fish devour him?"

"Fish do not eat human bodies. Crabs eat them. They like them."

Foma's fright was melting, from the heat of his father's body, but
before his eyes the terrible sneering face was still rocking in the
black water.

"And who is he?"

"God knows! Say to God about him: 'Oh Lord, rest his soul! '"

"Lord, rest his soul!" repeated Foma, in a whisper.

"That's right. Sleep now, don't fear. He is far away now! Floating on.
See here, be careful as you go up to the side of the ship. You may fall
overboard. God forbid! And--"

"Did he fall overboard?"

"Of course. Perhaps he was drunk, and that's his end! And maybe he threw
himself into the water. There are people who do that. They go and throw
themselves into the water and are drowned. Life, my dear, is so arranged
t