A Tale of the Volga Boatmen
The River
By August W. Derleth
Paviloff, Russia,
Algernon E. Downes, Esq.,
21 St. Janies Row,
London, England;
My dear Mr. Downes:—
I am writing to let you know that I am resigning my position as foreman of the men working on the dam here at Paviloff. My reason for so doing is a. most unusual one indeed, and no doubt you will feel obliged to discredit it—nor can I blame you for doing so, for even I am tempted to disregard the indubitable evidence of my own senses—so bizarre are the events that have led up to this culmination of my efforts here. Let me assure you, had I known of what I was facing at the outset of this project, I should never have entered upon any contract with you.
On the twenty-fourth of February last your representative, Mr. Solar Hamilton of Oxford, arrived to confer with Mr. Randeur and myself on the building of the dam across the Volga at this point. Present at this meeting was a Professor Sergei Boursky-Maminoff, late of the University of Moscow, and a former pupil of Metchnikoff. He was here to represent the peasants of Paviloff and the surrounding country. Professor Boursky-Maminoff related the story of peculiar superstitions strongly believed by the peasants, and he admitted that he also believed in them, owing, he said, to certain curious happenings bordering directly on these superstitions. Mr. Randeur scoffed at him, Mr. Hamilton enjoyed himself immensely throughout the professor's entire relation, but these tales of his had an odd effect upon me from the beginning.
It seems that the peasants believe the Volga River is guarded by spirits, who will rise up against us if we attempt to stay the course of the river in any manner. You will say, as did Randeur, that the idea is utterly preposterous. I admit that it does sound preposterous. Professor Boursky-Maminoff warned us repeatedly to go and leave the river, but Randeur could not consider the idea. Finally the professor departed in anger. I endeavored to argue with Randeur and Hamilton, but both of them ridiculed me. At length Mr. Hamilton left, saying as he went that if I did not wish to stay he would see that another man would be sent to fill the vacancy. Please notify Mr. Hamilton to supply that other man.
God knows what prompted Randeur to do so rash a thing, but he built his cottage on a little knoll almost directly in the course of the river. Everyone feared that if the dam should suddenly go out, Randeur's cottage would go out with it.
One day not long ago, the twentyseventh of April to be exact, as Professor Boursky-Maminoff stood on this knoll rebuking Randeur for his rash act, and again warning him to watch for the river spirits, a most repulsive hunchback approached the two men, screaming at the top of his
voice, "The boatmen sing tonight.
