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dawn。 It was regular carnival weatherfoggy；
and the road full of water…soaked snow just melt…
ing； and water dripping from the eaves。 Varin…
ka's family lived on the edge of town near a large
field； one end of which was a parade ground： at
the other end was a boarding…school for young
ladies。 I passed through our empty little street
and came to the main thoroughfare； where I met
pedestrians and sledges laden with wood； the run…
ners grating the road。 The horses swung with
regular paces beneath their shining yokes； their
backs covered with straw mats and their heads wet
with rain； while the drivers； in enormous boots；
splashed through the mud beside the sledges。 All
this； the very horses themselves； seemed to me
stimulating and fascinating； full of suggestion。
〃When I approached the field near their house；
I saw at one end of it； in the direction of the pa…
rade ground； something very huge and black； and
I heard sounds of fife and drum proceeding from
it。 My heart had been full of song； and I had
heard in imagination the tune of the mazurka；
but this was very harsh music。 It was not pleas…
ant。
〃'What can that be？' I thought； and went
towards the sound by a slippery path through the
centre of the field。 Walking about a hundred
paces； I began to distinguish many black objects
through the mist。 They were evidently soldiers。
'It is probably a drill；' I thought。
〃So I went along in that direction in company
with a blacksmith； who wore a dirty coat and an
apron； and was carrying something。 He walked
ahead of me as we approached the place。 The
soldiers in black uniforms stood in two rows； fac…
ing each other motionless； their guns at rest。 Be…
hind them stood the fifes and drums； incessantly
repeating the same unpleasant tune。
〃'What are they doing？' I asked the black…
smith； who halted at my side。
〃'A Tartar is being beaten through the ranks
for his attempt to desert；' said the blacksmith in
an angry tone； as he looked intently at the far end
of the line。
〃I looked in the same direction； and saw be…
tween the files something horrid approaching me。
The thing that approached was a man； stripped
to the waist； fastened with cords to the guns of two
soldiers who were leading him。 At his side an
officer in overcoat and cap was walking； whose
figure had a familiar look。 The victim advanced
under the blows that rained upon him from both
sides； his whole body plunging； his feet dragging
through the snow。 Now he threw himself back…
ward； and the subalterns who led him thrust him
forward。 Now he fell forward； and they pulled
him up short； while ever at his side marched the
tall officer； with firm and nervous pace。 It was
Varinka's father； with his rosy face and white
moustache。
〃At each stroke the man； as if amazed； turned
his face； grimacing with pain； towards the side
whence the blow came； and showing his white teeth
repeated the same words over and over。 But I
could only hear what the words were when he came
quite near。 He did not speak them； he sobbed
them out；
〃'Brothers； have mercy on me！ Brothers； have
mercy on me！' But the brothers had； no mercy；
and when the procession came close to me； I saw
how a soldier who stood opposite me took a firm
step forward and lifting his stick with a whirr；
brought it down upon the man's back。 The man
plunged forward； but the subalterns pulled him
back； and another blow came down from the other
side； then from this side and then from the other。
The colonel marched beside him； and looking now
at his feet and now at the man； inhaled the air；
puffed out his cheeks； and breathed it out between
his protruded lips。 When they passed the place
where I stood； I caught a glimpse between the two
files of the back of the man that was being pun…
ished。 It was something so many…coloured； wet；
red； unnatural； that I could hardly believe it was a
human body。
〃'My God！' muttered the blacksmith。
The procession moved farther away。 The
blows continued to rain upon the writhing； falling
creature； the fifes shrilled and the drums beat； and
the tall imposing figure of the colonel moved along…
side the man； just as before。 Then； suddenly； the
colonel stopped； and rapidly approached a man in
the ranks。
〃'I'll teach you to hit him gently；' I heard his
furious voice say。 'Will you pat him like that？
Will you？' and I saw how his strong hand in the
suede glove struck the weak； bloodless； terrified
soldier for not bringing down his stick with suffi…
cient strength on the red neck of the Tartar。
〃'Bring new sticks！' he cried； and looking
round； he saw me。 Assuming an air of not know…
ing me； and with a ferocious； angry frown； he
hastily turned away。 I felt so utterly ashamed
that I didn't know where to look。 It was as if I
had been detected in a disgraceful act。 I dropped
my eyes； and quickly hurried home。 All the way
I had the drums beating and the fifes whistling in
my ears。 And I heard the words； 'Brothers； have
mercy on me！' or 'Will you pat him？ Will
you？' My heart was full of physical disgust that
was almost sickness。 So much so that I halted sev…
eral times on my way； for I had the feeling that I
was going to be really sick from all the horrors
that possessed me at that sight。 I do not remem…
ber how I got home and got to bed。 But the mo…
ment I was about to fall asleep I heard and saw
again all that had happened； and I sprang up。
〃'Evidently he knows something I do not
know；' I thought about the colonel。 'If I knew
what he knows I should certainly graspunder…
standwhat I have just seen； and it would not
cause me such suffering。'
〃But however much I thought about it； I could
not understand the thing that the colonel knew。
It was evening before I could get to sleep； and then
only after calling on a friend and drinking till I；
was quite drunk。
〃Do you think I had come to the conclusion that
the deed I had witnessed was wicked？ Oh； no。
Since it was done with such assurance； and was rec…
ognised by every one as indispensable； they doubt…
less knew something which I did not know。 So I
thought； and tried to understand。 But no matter；
I could never understand it； then or afterwards。
And not being able to grasp it； I could not enter
the service as I had intended。 I don't mean only
the military service： I did not enter the Civil Serv…
ice either。 And so I have been of no use whatever；
as you can see。〃
〃Yes； we know how useless you've been；〃 said
one of us。 〃Tell us； rather； how many people
would be of any use at all if it hadn't been for
you。〃
〃Oh； that's utter nonsense；〃 said Ivan Vasilie…
vich； with genuine annoyance。
〃Well； and what about the love affair？
〃My love？ It decreased from that day。
When； as often happened； she looked dreamy and
meditative； I instantly recollected the colonel on
the parade ground； and I felt so awkward and
uncomfortable that I began to see her less fre…
quently。 So my love came to naught。 Yes； such
chances arise； and they alter and direct a man's
whole life；〃 he said in summing up。 〃And you
say 。 。 。〃