At last he caught her and pulled her under the water, and the waves passed over both their heads.  Then they came to the surface again both panting with the exertion.  Thus they played like two big fish until, finally, tired out and full of salt water, they climbed up the beach and sat down in the sun to dry.

Malva laughed and twisted her hair to get the water out.

The day was growing.  The fishermen, after their night of heavy slumber, were emerging from their huts, one by one.  From the distance all looked alike.  One began to strike blows on an empty barrel at regular intervals.  Two women were heard quarrelling.  Dogs barked.

“They are getting up,” said Iakov.  “And I wanted to start to town early.  I’ve lost time with you.”

“One does nothing good in my company,” she said, half in jest, half seriously.

“What a habit you have of scaring people,” replied Iakov.

“You’ll see when your father—.”

This allusion to his father angered him.

“What about my father?  I’m not a boy.  And I’m not blind, either.  He’s not a saint, either; he deprives himself of nothing.  If you don’t mind I’ll steal you from my father.”

“You?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t dare?”

“Really?”

“Now, look you,” he began furiously, “don’t defy me.  I—.”

“What now?” she asked with indifference.

“Nothing.”

He turned away with a determined look on his face.

“How brave you are,” she said, tauntingly.  “You remind me of the inspector’s little dog.  At a distance he barks and threatens to bite, but when you get near him he puts his tail between his legs and runs away.”

“All right,” cried Iakov, angrily.  “Wait! you’ll see what I am.”

Advancing towards them came a sunburnt, tattered and muscular-looking individual.  He wore a ragged red shirt, his trousers were full of holes, and his feet were bare.  His face was covered with freckles and he had big saucy blue eyes and an impertinent turned-up nose.  When he came up he stopped and made a grimace.

“Serejka drank yesterday, and today Serejka’s pocket is empty.  Lend me twenty kopeks.  I’ll not return them.”

Iakov burst out laughing; Malva smiled.

“Give me the money,” went on the tramp.  “I’ll marry you for twenty kopeks if you like.”

“You’re an odd fellow,” said Iakov, “are you a priest?”

“Imbecile question,” replied Serejka.  “Wasn’t I servant to a priest at Ouglitch?”

“I don’t want to get married,” said Iakov.

“Give the money all the same, and I won’t tell your father you’re paying court to his queen,” replied Serejka, passing his tongue over his dry and cracked lips.

Iakov did not want to give twenty kopeks, but they had warned him to be on his guard when dealing with Serejka, and to put up with his whims.  The tramp never demanded much, but if he was refused he spread evil tales about you or else he would beat you.  So Iakov, sighing, put his hand in his pocket.