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boy； long； thin； obviously consumptive。 The sixth was small and dark；
with nervous； convulsive movements。 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
looking。 He watched their faces and their gait with keen interest。 Having
examined them closely； he presently became aware of a number of other
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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；
apparently 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
condition 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
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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； enforcing 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 consciousness。 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
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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 eyeballs； 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 without blinking。
From a door near them an official； an officer； a doctor； and a clerk with
documents； entered。 After them came a soldier； the one who had shot the
man。 He stepped briskly along behind his superiors； but the instant he
saw the corps