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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 fourth in
the row was a young； lovely woman who was walking along briskly；
dressed in a short cloak； her kerchief tied in peasant fashion。
This was Theodosia。
Nekhludoff got down and approached the women； meaning to ask
Maslova if she had got the things he had sent her； and how she
was feeling； but the convoy sergeant； who was walking on that
side； noticed him at once； and ran towards him。
〃You must not do that； sir。 It is against the regulations to
approach the gang；〃 shouted the sergeant as he came up。
But when he recognised Nekhludoff （every one in the prison knew
Nekhludoff） the sergeant raised his fingers to his cap； and；
stopping in front of Nekhludoff； said： 〃Not now； wait till we get
to the railway station； here it is not allowed。 Don't lag behind；
march！〃 he shouted to the convicts； and putting on a brisk air；
he ran back to his place at a trot； in spite of the heat and the
elegant new boots on his feet。
Nekhludoff went on to the pavement and told the isvostchik to
follow him； himself walking； so as to keep the convicts in sight。
Wherever the gang passed it attracted attention mixed with horror
and compassion。 Those who drove past leaned out of the vehicles
and followed the prisoners with their eyes。 Those on foot stopped
and looked with fear and surprise at the terrible sight。 Some
came up and gave alms to the prisoners。 The alms were received by
the convoy。 Some； as if they were hypnotised； followed the gang；
but then stopped； shook their heads； and followed the prisoners
only with their eyes。 Everywhere the people came out of the gates
and doors； and called others to come out； too； or leaned out of
the windows looking； silent and immovable； at the frightful
procession。 At a cross…road a fine carriage was stopped by the
gang。 A fat coachman； with a shiny face and two rows of buttons
on his back； sat on the box； a married couple sat facing the
horses； the wife； a pale； thin woman； with a light…coloured
bonnet on her head and a bright sunshade in her hand； the husband
with a top…hat and a well…cut light…coloured overcoat。 On the
seat in front sat their childrena well…dressed little girl；
with loose； fair hair； and as fresh as a flower； who also held a
bright parasol； and an eight…year…old boy； with a long； thin neck
and sharp collarbones； a sailor hat with long ribbons on his
head。
The father was angrily scolding the coachman because he had not
passed in front of the gang when he had a chance； and the mother
frowned and half closed her eyes with a look of disgust；
shielding herself from the dust and the sun with her silk
sunshade； which she held close to her face。
The fat coachman frowned angrily at the unjust rebukes of his
masterwho had himself given the order to drive along that
streetand with difficulty held in the glossy； black horses；
foaming under their harness and impatient to go on。
The policeman wished with all his soul to please the owner of the
fine equipage by stopping the gang； yet felt that the dismal
solemnity of the processi