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sunny road with ringing bells。
When Nekhludoff drove up to the prison the gang had not left the
yard。 The work of delivering and receiving the prisoners that had
commenced at 4 A。M。 was still going on。 The gang was to consist
of 623 men and 64 women； they had all to be received according to
the registry lists。 The sick and the weak to be sorted out； and
all to be delivered to the convoy。 The new inspector； with two
assistants； the doctor and medical assistant； the officer of the
convoy； and the clerk； were sitting in the prison yard at a table
covered with writing materials and papers； which was placed in
the shade of a wall。 They called the prisoners one by one；
examined and questioned them； and took notes。 The rays of the sun
had gradually reached the table； and it was growing very hot and
oppressive for want of air and because of the breathing crowd of
prisoners that stood close by。
〃Good gracious； will this never come to an end！〃 the convoy
officer； a tall； fat； red…faced man with high shoulders； who kept
puffing the smoke； of his cigarette into his thick moustache；
asked； as he drew in a long puff。 〃You are killing me。 From where
have you got them all？ Are there many more？〃 the clerk inquired。
〃Twenty…four men and the women。〃
〃What are you standing there for？ Come on；〃 shouted the convoy
officer to the prisoners who had not yet passed the revision； and
who stood crowded one behind the other。 The prisoners had been
standing there more than three hours； packed in rows in the full
sunlight； waiting their turns。
While this was going on in the prison yard； outside the gate；
besides the sentinel who stood there as usual with a gun； were
drawn up about 20 carts； to carry the luggage of the prisoners
and such prisoners as were too weak to walk； and a group of
relatives and friends waiting to see the prisoners as they came
out and to exchange a few words if a chance presented itself and
to give them a few things。 Nekhludoff took his place among the
group。 He had stood there about an hour when the clanking of
chains； the noise of footsteps； authoritative voices； the sound
of coughing； and the low murmur of a large crowd became audible。
This continued for about five minutes； during which several
jailers went in and out of the gateway。 At last the word of
command was given。 The gate opened with a thundering noise； the
clattering of the chains became louder； and the convoy soldiers；
dressed in white blouses and carrying guns； came out into the
street and took their places in a large； exact circle in front of
the gate； this was evidently a usual； often…practised manoeuvre。
Then another command was given； and the prisoners began coming
out in couples； with flat； pancake…shaped caps on their shaved
heads and sacks over their shoulders； dragging their chained legs
and swinging one arm； while the other held up a sack。
First came the men condemned to hard labour； all dressed alike in
grey trousers and cloaks with marks on the back。 All of
themyoung and old； thin and fat； pale and red； dark and bearded
and beardless； Russians； Tartars； and Jewscame out； clattering
with their chains and briskly swinging their arms as if prepared
to go a long distance； but stopped after having taken ten steps；
and obediently took their places behind each other； four abreast。
Then without interval streamed out more shaved men； dressed in
the same manner but with chains only on their legs。 These were
condemned to exile。 They came out as briskly and stopped as
suddenly； taking their places four in a row。 Then came those
exiled by their Communes。 Then the women in the same order； first
those condemned to hard labour； with grey cloaks and kerchiefs；
then the exiled women； and those following their husbands of
their own free will； dressed in their own town or village
clothing。 Some of the women were carrying babies wrapped in the
fronts of their grey cloaks。
With the women came the children； boys and girls； who； like colts
in a herd of horses； pressed in among the prisoners。
The men took their places silently； only coughing now and then；
or making short remarks。
The women talked without intermission。 Nekhludoff thought he saw
Maslova as they were coming out； but she was at once lost in the
large crowd； and he could only see grey creatures； seemingly
devoid of all that was human； or at any rate of all that was
womanly； with sacks on their backs and children round them；
taking their places behind the men。
Though all the prisoners had been counted inside the prison
walls； the convoy counted them again； comparing the numbers with
the list。 This took very long； especially as some of the
prisoners moved and changed places； which confused the convoy。
The convoy soldiers shouted and pushed the prisoners （who
complied obediently； but angrily） and counted them over again。
When all had been counted； the convoy officer gave a command； and
the crowd became agitated。 The weak men and women and children
rushed； racing each other； towards the carts； and began placing
their bags on the carts and climbing up themselves。 Women with
crying babies； merry children quarrelling for places； and dull；
careworn prisoners got into the carts。
Several of the prisoners took off their caps and came up to the
convoy officer with some request。 Nekhludoff found out later that
they were asking for places on the carts。 Nekhludoff saw how the
officer； without looking at the prisoners； drew in a whiff from
his cigarette； and then suddenly waved his short arm in front of
one of the prisoners； who quickly drew his shaved head back
between his shoulders as if afraid of a blow； and sprang back。
〃I will give you a lift such that you'll remember。 You'll get
there on foot right enough；〃 shouted the officer。 Only one of the
men was granted his requestan old man with chains on his legs；
and Nekhludoff saw the old man take off his pancake…shaped cap；
and go up to the cart crossing himself。 He could not manage to
get up on the cart because of the chains that prevented his
lifting his old legs； and a woman who was sitting in the cart at
last pulled him in by the arm。
When all the sacks were in the carts； and those who were allowed
to get in were seated； the officer took off his cap； wiped his
forehead； his bald head and fat； red neck； and crossed himself。
〃March；〃 commanded the officer。 The soldiers' guns gave a click；
the prisoners took off their caps and crossed themselves； those
who were seeing them off shouted something； the prisoners shouted
in answer； a row arose among the women； and the gang； surrounded
by the soldiers in their white blouses； moved forward； raising
the dust with their chained feet。 The soldiers went in front；
then came the convicts condemned to hard labour； clattering with
their chains； then the exiled and those exiled by the Communes；
chained in couples by their wrists； then the women。 After them；
on the carts loaded with sacks； came the weak。 High up on one of
the carts sat a woman closely wrapped up； and she kept shrieking
and sobbing。
CHAPTER XXXV。
NOT MEN BUT STRANGE AND TERRIBLE CREATURES？
The procession was such a long one that the carts with the
luggage and the weak started only when those in front were
already out of sight。 When the last of the carts moved；
Nekhludoff got into the trap that stood waiting for him and told
the isvostchik to catch up the prisoners in front； so that he
could see if he knew any of the men in the gang； and then try and
find out Maslova among the women and ask her if she had received
the things he sent。
It was very hot； and a cloud of dust that was raised by a
thousand tramping feet stood all the time over the gang that was
moving down。 the middle of the street。 The prisoners were walking
quickly； and the slow…going isvostchik's horse was some time in
catching them up。 Row upon row they passed； those strange and
terrible…looking creatures； none of whom Nekhludoff knew。
On they went； all dressed alike； moving a thousand feet all shod
alike； swinging their free arms as if to keep up their spirits。
There were so many of them； they all looked so much alike； and
they were all placed in such unusual； peculiar circumstances；
that they seemed to Nekhludoff to be not men but some sort of
strange and terrible creatures。 This impression passed when he
recognised in the crowd of convicts the murderer Federoff； and
among the exiles Okhotin the wit； and another tramp who had
appealed to him for assistance。 Almost all the prisoners turned
and looked at the trap that was passing them and at the gentleman
inside。 Federoff tossed his head backwards as a sign that he had
recognised Nekhludoff； Okhotin winked； but neither of them bowed；
considering it not the thing。
As soon as Nekhludoff came up to the women he saw Maslova； she
was in the second row。 The first in the row was a short…legged；
black…eyed； hideous woman； who had her cloak tucked up in her
girdle。 This was Koroshavka。 The next was a pregnant woman； who
dragged herself along with difficulty。 The third was Maslova； she
was carrying her sack on her shoulder； and looking straight
before her。 Her face looked calm and determined。 The four