It’s being poor, it is! Some of us eat their own food, and some never sit down but to prison fare.”
“Ah, the sharp-eyed, envious fellow! His eyes smart to see others well off.”
“Don’t covet another man’s pelf, but up and earn it for yourself!”
“I’ll dispute that with you till my hair is grey. So you are a rich man, since you want to sit with your arms folded?”
“Eroshka is fat with a dog and a cat!”
“But truly, lads, why sit still? We’ve had enough of putting up with their fooling. They are skinning us. Why not go to them?”
“Why not? You want your food chewed, and put into your mouth, that’s what you are used to. Because it’s prison, that’s why!”
“When simple folk fall out, the governor grows fat.”
“Just so. Eight-eyes has grown fat. He’s bought a pair of greys.”
“Yes, and he is not fond of drinking, eh?”
“He was fighting the other day with the veterinary over cards. They were at it all night. Our friend was two hours at fisticuffs with him. Fedka said so.”
“That’s why we have stewed heart.”
“Ah, you fools! It’s not for us to put ourselves forward.”
“But if we all go, then we shall see what defence he will make. We must insist on that.”
“Defence! He’ll give you a punch in the face and that will be all.”
“And then court-martial us afterwards.”
In short every one was excited. At that time our food really was poor. And besides, all sorts of things came at once—above all, the general mood of depression, the continual hidden misery. The convict is from his very nature fault-finding, mutinous; but the mutiny of all or even of a large number is rare, owing to the continual dissensions among them. Every one of them is aware of it; that’s why they are much more given to violent language than to deeds. But this time the excitement did not pass off without action. They began collecting in groups about the prison wards, arguing; they recalled with oaths the whole of the major’s term of office, ferreted out every detail. Some were particularly excited. Agitators and ringleaders always turn up at such times. The ringleaders on these occasions—that is on the occasion of a complaint being made—
