Martin had procured money. He carried some large round loaves of gray
bread under his arm. The neck of a bottle protruded from the pocket of
his coat. Among the lower streets near the river these burdens were more
likely to allay than to arouse suspicion.
Between the Bednarska and the bridge which towers above the low-roofed
houses fifty yards farther down the river are the landing-stages for the
steamers that ply in summer. There is a public bath, and at one end of
this floating erection a landing-stage for smaller boats, where as often
as not Kosmaroff found work. It was to this landing-stage that Martin
directed his steps. In summer there were usually workers and watchers
here night and day; for the traffic of a great river never ceases, and
those whose daily bread is wrested from wind, water, and tide must get
their sleep when they can.
To-night there were a few men standing at the foot of the street where
the steps are--river-workers who had property afloat and imprisoned by
the ice, dwellers, perhaps, in those cheap houses beneath the bridge
which are now gradually falling under the builder's hammer, who took a
sleepless interest in the prospects of a flood.
Martin went out onto the landing-stage, and looked about him as if he
also had a stake in this, one of nature's great lotteries.
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