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sieve in the pond and caught a reptile see； as long as a
finger； with gills and a tail。 The first minute I thought it was
a fish； then I looked and； blow it！ if it hadn't paws。 It was
not a fish； it was a viper； and the deuce only knows what it was。
。 。 。 So that's like you。 。 。 。 What's your calling？〃
〃I am a peasant and of peasant family；〃 sighed the tramp。 〃My
mamma was a house serf。 I don't look like a peasant； that's true；
for such has been my lot； good man。 My mamma was a nurse with the
gentry； and had every comfort； and as I was of her flesh and
blood； I lived with her in the master's house。 She petted and
spoiled me； and did her best to take me out of my humble class
and make a gentleman of me。 I slept in a bed； every day I ate a
real dinner； I wore breeches and shoes like a gentleman's child。
What my mamma ate I was fed on； too； they gave her stuffs as a
present； and she dressed me up in them。 。 。 。 We lived well！ I
ate so many sweets and cakes in my childish years that if they
could be sold now it would be enough to buy a goo d horse。 Mamma
taught me to read and write； she instilled the fear of God in me
from my earliest years； and she so trained me that now I can't
bring myself to utter an unrefined peasant word。 And I don't
drink vodka； my lad； and am neat in my dress； and know how to
behave with decorum in good society。 If she is still living； God
give her health； and if she is dead； then； O Lord； give her soul
peace in Thy Kingdom； wherein the just are at rest。〃
The tramp bared his head with the scanty hair standing up like a
brush on it； turned his eyes upward and crossed himself twice。
〃Grant her； O Lord； a verdant and peaceful resting…place；〃 he
said in a drawling voice； more like an old woman's than a man's。
〃Teach Thy servant Xenia Thy justifications； O Lord！ If it had
not been for my beloved mamma I should have been a peasant with
no sort of understanding！ Now； young man； ask me about anything
and I understand it all： the holy Scriptures and profane
writings； and every prayer and catechism。 I live according to the
Scriptures。 。 。 。 I don't injure anyone； I keep my flesh in
purity and continence； I observe the fasts； I eat at fitting
times。 Another man will take no pleasure in anything but vodka
and lewd talk； but when I have time I sit in a corner and read a
book。 I read and I weep and weep。〃
〃What do you weep for？〃
〃They write so patheticallyl For some books one gives but a
five…kopeck piece； and yet one weeps and sighs exceedingly over
it。〃
〃Is your father dead？〃 asked Ptaha。
〃I don't know； good man。 I don't know my parent； it is no use
concealing it。 I judge that I was mamma's illegitimate son。 My
mamma lived all her life with the gentry； and did not want to
marry a simple peasant。 。 。 。〃
〃And so she fell into the master's hands；〃 laughed Ptaha。
〃She did transgress； that's true。 She was pious； God…fearing； but
she did not keep her maiden purity。 It is a sin； of course； a
great sin； there's no doubt about it； but to make up for it there
is； maybe； noble blood in me。 Maybe I am only a peasant by class；
but in nature a noble gentleman。〃
The 〃noble gentleman〃 uttered all this in a soft； sugary tenor；
wrinkling up his narrow forehead and emitting creaking sounds
from his red； frozen little nose。 Ptaha listened and looked
askance at him in wonder； continually shrugging his shoulders。
After going nearly five miles the constables and the tramp sat
down on a mound to rest。
〃Even a dog knows his name；〃 Ptaha muttered。 〃My name is
Andryushka； his is Nikandr； every man has his holy name； and it
can't be forgotten。 Nohow。〃
〃Who has any need to know my name？〃 sighed the tramp； leaning his
cheek on his fist。 〃And what advantage would it be to me if they
did know it？ If I were allowed to go where I would but it
would only make things worse。 I know the law； Christian brothers。
Now I am a tramp who doesn't remember his name； and it's the very
most if they send me to Eastern Siberia and give me thirty or
forty lashes； but if I were to tell them my real name and
description they would send me back to hard labour； I know！〃
〃Why； have you been a convict？〃
〃I have； dear friend。 For four years I went about with my head
shaved and fetters on my legs。〃
〃What for？〃
〃For murder； my good man！ When I was still a boy of eighteen or
so； my mamma accidentally poured arsenic instead of soda and acid
into my master's glass。 There were boxes of all sorts in the
storeroom； numbers of them； it was easy to make a mistake over
them。〃
The tramp sighed； shook his head； and said：
〃She was a pious woman； but； who knows？ another man's soul is a
slumbering forest！ It may have been an accident； or maybe she
could not endure the affront of seeing the master prefer another
servant。 。 。 。 Perhaps she put it in on purpose； God knows！ I was
young then； and did not understand it all 。 。 。 now I remember
that our master had taken another mistress and mamma was greatly
disturbed。 Our trial lasted nearly two years。 。 。 。 Mamma was
condemned to penal servitude for twenty years； and I； on account
of my youth； only to seven。〃
〃And why were you sentenced？〃
〃As an accomplice。 I handed the glass to the master。 That was
always the custom。 Mamma prepared the soda and I handed it to
him。 Only I tell you all this as a Christian； brothers； as I
would say it before God。 Don't you tell anybody。 。 。 。〃
〃Oh； nobody's going to ask us；〃 said Ptaha。 〃So you've run away
from prison； have you？〃
〃I have； dear friend。 Fourteen of us ran away。 Some folks； God
bless them！ ran away and took me with them。 Now you tell me； on
your conscience； good man； what reason have I to disclose my
name？ They will send me back to penal servitude； you know！ And I
am not fit for penal servitude！ I am a refined man in delicate
health。 I like to sleep and eat in cleanliness。 When I pray to
God I like to light a little lamp or a candle； and not to have a
noise around me。 When I bow down to the ground I like the floor
not to be dirty or spat upon。 And I bow down forty times every
morning and evening； praying for mamma。〃
The tramp took off his cap and crossed himself。
〃And let them send me to Eastern Siberia；〃 he said； 〃I am not
afraid of that。〃
〃Surely that's no better？〃
〃It is quite a different thing。 In penal servitude you are like a
crab in a basket： crowding； crushing； jostling； there's no room
to breathe； it's downright hell such hell； may the Queen of
Heaven keep us from it！ You are a robber and treated like a
robber worse than any dog。 You can't sleep； you can't eat or
even say your prayers。 But it's not like that in a settlement。 In
a settlement I shall be a member of a commune like other people。
The authorities are bound by law to give me my share 。 。 。 ye…es！
They say the land costs nothing； no more than snow； you can take
what you like！ They will give me corn land and building land and
garden。 。 。 。 I shall plough my fields like other people； sow
seed。 I shall have cattle and stock of all sorts； bees； sheep；
and dogs。 。 。 。 A Siberian cat； that rats and mice may not devour
my goods。 。 。 。 I will put up a house； I shal