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that respect we are artists； and one can always succeed in the
second with a little practice。 In a crowd of four hundred healthy
soldiers and sailors half a dozen sick ones are not conspicuous；
well； they drove you all on to the steamer； mixed you with the
healthy ones； hurriedly counted you over； and in the confusion
nothing amiss was noticed； and when the steamer had started they
saw that there were paralytics and consumptives in the last stage
lying about on the deck。 。 。 。〃
Gusev did not understand Pavel Ivanitch； but supposing he was
being blamed； he said in self…defence：
〃I lay on the deck because I had not the strength to stand； when
we were unloaded from the barge on to the ship I caught a fearful
chill。〃
〃It's revolting；〃 Pavel Ivanitch went on。 〃The worst of it is
they know perfectly well that you can't last out the long
journey； and yet they put you here。 Supposing you get as far as
the Indian Ocean； what then？ It's horrible to think of it。 。 。 。
And that's their gratitude for your faithful； irreproachable
service！〃
Pavel Ivanitch's eyes looked angry； he frowned contemptuously and
said； gasping：
〃Those are the people who ought to be plucked in the newspapers
till the feathers fly in all directions。〃
The two sick soldiers and the sailor were awake and already
playing cards。 The sailor was half reclining in his hammock； the
soldiers were sitting near him on the floor in the most
uncomfortable attitudes。 One of the soldiers had his right arm in
a sling； and the hand was swathed up in a regular bundle so that
he held his cards under his right arm or in the crook of his
elbow while he played with the left。 The ship was rolling
heavily。 They could not stand up； nor drink tea； nor take their
medicines。
〃Were you an officer's servant？〃 Pavel Ivanitch asked Gusev。
〃Yes； an officer's servant。〃
〃My God； my God！〃 said Pavel Ivanitch； and he shook his head
mournfully。 〃To tear a man out of his home； drag him twelve
thousand miles away； then to drive him into consumption and。 。 。
and what is it all for； one wonders？ To turn him into a servant
for some Captain Kopeikin or midshipman Dirka！ How logical！〃
〃It's not hard work； Pavel Ivanitch。 You get up in the morning
and clean the boots； get the samovar； sweep the rooms； and then
you have nothing more to do。 The lieutenant is all the day
drawing plans； and if you like you can say your prayers； if you
like you can read a book or go out into the street。 God grant
everyone such a life。〃
〃Yes； very nice； the lieutenant draws plans all the day and you
sit in the kitchen and pine for home。 。 。 。 Plans indeed！ 。 。 。
It is not plans that matter； but a human life。 Life is not given
twice； it must be treated mercifully。〃
〃Of course； Pavel Ivanitch； a bad man gets no mercy anywhere；
neither at home nor in the army； but if you live as you ought and
obey orders； who has any need to insult you？ The officers are
educated gentlemen； they understand。 。 。 。 In five years I was
never once in prison； and I was never struck a blow； so help me
God； but once。〃
〃What for？〃
〃For fighting。 I have a heavy hand； Pavel Ivanitch。 Four Chinamen
came into our yard； they were bringing firewood or something； I
don't remember。 Well； I was bored and I knocked them about a bit；
one's nose began bleeding； damn the fellow。 。 。 。 The lieutenant
saw it through the little window； he was angry and gave me a box
on the ear。〃
〃Foolish； pitiful man 。 。 。〃 whispered Pavel Ivanitch。 〃You don't
understand anything。〃
He was utterly exhausted by the tossing of the ship and closed
his eyes； his head alternately fell back and dropped forward on
his breast。 Several times he tried to lie down but nothing came
of it； his difficulty in breathing prevented it。
〃And what did you hit the four Chinamen for？〃 he asked a little
while afterwards。
〃Oh； nothing。 They came into the yard and I hit them。〃
And a stillness followed。 。 。 。 The card…players had been playing
for two hours with enthusiasm and loud abuse of one another； but
the motion of the ship overcame them； too； they threw aside the
cards and lay down。 Again Gusev saw the big pond； the brick
building； the village。 。 。 。 Again the sledge was coming along；
again Vanka was laughing and Akulka； silly little thing； threw
open her fur coat and stuck her feet out； as much as to say：
〃Look； good people； my snowboots are not like Vanka's； they are
new ones。〃
〃Five years old； and she has no sense yet；〃 Gusev muttered in
delirium。 〃Instead of kicking your legs you had better come and
get your soldier uncle a drink。 I will give you something nice。〃
Then Andron with a flintlock gun on his sh oulder was carrying a
hare he had killed； and he was followed by the decrepit old Jew
Isaitchik； who offers to barter the hare for a piece of soap；
then the black calf in the shed； then Domna sewing at a shirt and
crying about something； and then again the bull's head without
eyes； black smoke。 。 。 。
Overhead someone gave a loud shout； several sailors ran by； they
seemed to be dragging something bulky over the deck； something
fell with a crash。 Again they ran by。 。 。 。 Had something gone
wrong？ Gusev raised his head； listened； and saw that the two
soldiers and the sailor were playing cards again； Pavel Ivanitch
was sitting up moving his lips。 It was stifling； one hadn't
strength to breathe； one was thirsty； the water was warm；
disgusting。 The ship heaved as much as ever。
Suddenly something strange happened to one of the soldiers
playing cards。 。 。 。 He called hearts diamonds； got muddled in
his score； and dropped his cards； then with a frightened； foolish
smile looked round at all of them。
〃I shan't be a minute； mates； I'll 。 。 。〃 he said； and lay down
on the floor。
Everybody was amazed。 They called to him； he did not answer。
〃Stephan； maybe you are feeling bad； eh？〃 the soldier with his
arm in a sling asked him。 〃Perhaps we had better bring the
priest； eh？〃
〃Have a drink of water； Stepan 。 。 。〃 said the sailor。 〃Here；
lad； drink。〃
〃Why are you knocking the jug against his teeth？〃 said Gusev
angrily。 〃 Don't you see； turnip head？'
〃What？〃
〃What？〃 Gusev repeated； mimicking him。 〃There is no breath in
him； he is dead！ That's what！ What nonsensical people； Lord have
mercy on us。 。 。 ！〃
III
The ship was not rocking and Pavel Ivanitch was more cheerful。 He
was no longer ill…humoured。 His face had a boastful； defiant；
mocking expression。 He looked as though he wanted to say： 〃Yes；
in a minute I will tell you something that will make you split
your sides with laughing。〃 The little round window was open and a
soft breeze was blowing on Pavel Ivanitch。 There was a sound of
voices； of the plash of oars in the water。 。 。 。 Just under the
little window someone began droning in a high； unpleasant voice：
no doubt it was a Chinaman singing。
〃Here we are in the harbour；〃 said Pavel Ivanitch； smiling
ironically。 〃Only another month and we shall be in Russia。 Well；
worthy gentlemen and warriors！ I shall arrive at Odessa and from
there go straight to Harkov。 In Harkov I have a friend； a
literary man。 I shall go to him and say； 'Come； old man