On the rafts
On the rafts ( Russian На плотах ) is a story of Russian - Soviet writer Alexander Serafimovich that in June 1890 in the Moscow newspaper Russkiye Vedomosti published. The author wrote the short story during his exile in Pinega .
In winter on a tributary of the Dvina in the Arkhangelsk region : by the beginning of spring, Kuzma Tolokonnikov has to fell trees and assemble a raft from the trunks. Over the winter months, Kusma only left the site around his wooden hut twice and collected food in the nearest village. Kusma's horse helps his master with the heavy forest work in snow and ice. Once, Kusma's leg was hit by the branch of an uncontrollably falling tree. The injured man lay in his blood for two days and was finally able to free himself on his own. The horse was now half starved.
When the ice began to drift in the spring, Kuzma maneuvered his raft towards Arkhangelsk for a good eight days . Along the way, raftsmen who are stuck want to dictate a detour Kuzma that he does not want to risk. Without a doubt, he rowed past the stuck strange vehicle with great difficulty and touched it violently. The tree trunks of the strange raft separate from each other and swim around. Kusma can escape the cursing raftsmen, but is pursued by a boat from the raft association. In a duel on the river, Kuzma damages the strange boat. Again he manages to escape from the angry raftsmen. Off Arkhangelsk, Kuzma was lucky for the third time in the last incident. A steamer rams his raft sideways. For a moment the raftsman loses consciousness. The raft survives the misfortune. Kuzma receives good money for his tree trunks in Arkhangelsk. Shortly before his home village, however, Kusma cannot pass the inn.
German-language editions
- Used edition
- On the rafts. P. 5–17 in: Alexander Serafimowitsch: On the rafts. Stories. Transferred by Friedrich Schwarz. 160 pages. Insel-Verlag, Leipzig 1969 (1st edition, Insel-Bücherei No. 911, licensor: Aufbau Verlag Berlin)