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Tsar hesitated to go nearer； but the hand pushed
him on。 He leaned forward； put his eye close
to the opening； and suddenly ceased to perceive
the odour。 The sight he saw deadened his sense
of smell。 In a large room； about ten yards long
and six yards wide； there walked unceasingly from
one end to the other； six men in long grey
coats； some in felt boots； some barefoot。 There
were over twenty men in all in the room； but
in that first moment the young Tsar only saw
those who were walking with quick； even； silent
steps。 It was a horrid sight to watch the con…
tinual； quick； aimless movements of the men who
passed and overtook each other； turning sharply
when they reached the wall； never looking at one
another； and evidently concentrated each on his
own thoughts。 The young Tsar had observed a
similar sight one day when he was watching a tiger
in a menagerie pacing rapidly with noiseless tread
from one end of his cage to the other； waving its
tail； silently turning when it reached the bars； and
looking at nobody。 Of these men one； appar…
ently a young peasant； with curly hair； would
have been handsome were it not for the unnatural
pallor of his face； and the concentrated； wicked；
scarcely human； look in his eyes。 Another was
a Jew； hairy and gloomy。 The third was a lean
old man； bald； with a beard that had been shaven
and had since grown like bristles。 The fourth was
extraordinarily heavily built； with well…developed
muscles； a low receding forehead and a flat nose。
The fifth was hardly more than a boy； long；
thin； obviously consumptive。 The sixth was
small and dark； with nervous； convulsive move…
ments。 He walked as if he were skipping； and
muttered continuously to himself。 They were
all walking rapidly backwards and forwards past
the hole through which the young Tsar was look…
ing。 He watched their faces and their gait with
keen interest。 Having examined them closely； he
presently became aware of a number of other men
at the back of the room； standing round； or lying
on the shelf that served as a bed。 Standing close
to the door he also saw the pail which caused
such an unbearable stench。 On the shelf about
ten men； entirely covered with their cloaks； were
sleeping。 A red…haired man with a huge beard
was sitting sideways on the shelf； with his shirt
off。 He was examining it； lifting it up to the
light； and evidently catching the vermin on it。
Another man； aged and white as snow； stood with
his profile turned towards the door。 He was
praying； crossing himself； and bowing low； ap…
parently so absorbed in his devotions as to be
oblivious of all around him。
〃I seethis is a prison；〃 thought the young
Tsar。 〃They certainly deserve pity。 It is a
dreadful life。 But it cannot be helped。 It is
their own fault。〃
But this thought had hardly come into his
head before HE； who was his guide； replied to
it。
〃They are all here under lock and key by your
order。 They have all been sentenced in your
name。 But far from meriting their present con…
dition which is due to your human judgment； the
greater part of them are far better than you or
those who were their judges and who keep them
here。 This one〃he pointed to the handsome；
curly…headed fellow〃is a murderer。 I do not
consider him more guilty than those who kill in
war or in duelling； and are rewarded for their
deeds。 He had neither education nor moral
guidance； and his life had been cast among thieves
and drunkards。 This lessens his guilt； but he has
done wrong； nevertheless； in being a murderer。
He killed a merchant； to rob him。 The other
man； the Jew； is a thief； one of a gang of thieves。
That uncommonly strong fellow is a horse…stealer；
and guilty also； but compared with others not as
culpable。 Look！〃and suddenly the young
Tsar found himself in an open field on a vast
frontier。 On the right were potato fields； the
plants had been rooted out； and were lying in
heaps； blackened by the frost； in alternate streaks
were rows of winter corn。 In the distance a little
village with its tiled roofs was visible； on the left
were fields of winter corn； and fields of stubble。
No one was to be seen on any side； save a black
human figure in front at the border…line； a gun
slung on his back； and at his feet a dog。 On the
spot where the young Tsar stood； sitting beside
him； almost at his feet； was a young Russian
soldier with a green band on his cap； and with his
rifle slung over his shoulders； who was rolling up
a paper to make a cigarette。 The soldier was
obviously unaware of the presence of the young
Tsar and his companion； and had not heard them。
He did now turn round when the Tsar； who was
standing directly over the soldier； asked； 〃Where
are we？〃 〃On the Prussian frontier；〃 his guide
answered。 Suddenly； far away in front of them；
a shot was fired。 The soldier jumped to his feet；
and seeing two men running； bent low to the
ground； hastily put his tobacco into his pocket；
and ran after one of them。 〃Stop； or I'll
shoot！〃 cried the soldier。 The fugitive； without
stopping； turned his head and called out something
evidently abusive or blasphemous。
〃Damn you！〃 shouted the soldier； who put one
foot a little forward and stopped； after which；
bending his head over his rifle； and raising his
right hand； he rapidly adjusted something； took
aim； and； pointing the gun in the direction of the
fugitive； probably fired； although no sound was
heard。 〃Smokeless powder； no doubt；〃 thought
the young Tsar； and looking after the fleeing man
saw him take a few hurried steps； and bending
lower and lower； fall to the ground and crawl on
his hands and knees。 At last he remained lying
and did not move。 The other fugitive； who was
ahead of him； turned round and ran back to
the man who was lying on the ground。 He
did something for him and then resumed his
flight。
〃What does all this mean？ 〃 asked the Tsar。
〃These are the guards on the frontier； enforc…
ing the revenue laws。 That man was killed to
protect the revenues of the State。〃
〃Has he actually been killed？ 〃
The guide again laid his hand upon the head of
the young Tsar； and again the Tsar lost conscious…
ness。 When he had recovered his senses he found
himself in a small roomthe customs office。
The dead body of a man； with a thin grizzled
beard； an aquiline nose； and big eyes with the
eyelids closed； was lying on the floor。 His arms
were thrown asunder； his feet bare； and his thick；
dirty toes were turned up at right angles and stuck
out straight。 He had a wound in his side； and
on his ragged cloth jacket； as well as on his blue
shirt； were stains of clotted blood； which had
turned black save for a few red spots here and
there。 A woman stood close to the wall； so
wrapped up in shawls that her face could scarcely
be seen。 Motionless she gazed at the aquiline
nose； the upturned feet； and the protruding eye…
balls； sobbing and sighing； and drying her tears at
long； regular intervals。 A pretty girl of thirteen
was standing at her mother's side； with her eyes
and mouth wide open。 A boy of eight clung to
his mother's skirt； and looked intensely at his dead
father w