54
The Way of the Cross
They all reply
—Nitchevo. Nothing that matters.
In Smolensk province they already begin to add,
—At first they did. But now they have gendarmes in charge of them.
The fugitives are now met in large parties. Ahead of them goes a gendarme on horseback.
—And that's all right? In charge of the gendarmes they do no damage?—I ask.
—Eh, master!—answers the old peasant whom I am questioning—there's no animal that does so much harm when he strays to feed, as man! But they are quiet when the gendarme leads.
It is quite evening now.
Near the station to which we have come are already about sixty carts.
I want to see how food is distributed to the people.
