Sixteen years in Siberia

OF RéGIME-THE HUNGER-STRI

, however, never left me, and once at least circumstances seemed favourable. It was night; we were already nearing Odessa. I had been dozing, and when I awoke I saw that all three gendarmes were fast asleep. My heart began to thump wildly, and my plan was made in an instant: to get my scissors out of their hiding-place, cut o

ical offenders, under the rule of the gendarmerie. While my belongings were being searched, the s

!" he exclaimed. He 74imagined I had brought them openly in my luggage, and of co

es, and the same all-pervading silence. In order at once to draw attention to the stipulations of the extradition treaty, I expressed my astonishment at being again put into a pris

n to accustom themselves to the dimness I set to work to take stock of my quarters. The cell was circular, and contained no bed, chair, nor table; only the customary wooden tub, a water-bucket, also of wood, and some straw on the floor-nothing else. I was much surp

the bedstead and mattress?" I asked, sti

said the gen

ll the g

after a while the dep

is means?" I said, indica

mply followed instructions. You must apply to the De

in the straw! I paced up and down the tiny cell, feeling how stifling the atmosphere was. The tub stank vilely; the space outside where the four watchers were was small, and only used-up air penetrated thence into the cell. I wished I could effect some ventilation, but the window

ied to the gendarme, who s

ers to do so,"

ed. I explained to him the horrible conditions to

t assured me he could

inders you from giv

up to the window

s the fifth floor, and a sentry goes backwards and forwards below the window; if I could pass him I should next have to climb over a wall as high as a house, on

You have often

ice," I

said he. "I can't do anythi

On no account would I put up with this treat

ood in a wooden vessel an

shall not eat a

again and with

ks, could not even sleep for the mice. I did not feel any great craving for food, but drank water continually. In mind I suffered frigh

staff, "to poison life for me after I am once s

(I had purposely abstained from washing ever since my arrival), my clothes covered with dust and bits of straw, I appeared before the Public Prosecutor of Odessa and the examining magistrate. They informed me they w

od? Well, then, we shall have to

ay to bring on sickness and diarrh?a, and it will simply hasten my end." Of course, I did not know anyth

ate, as if to say, "The devil only knows what this fellow mayn't b

my words had taken effect, and began to dilate

o end of a fuss before the eyes of all Europe; and when, after setting all this machinery of the State to work, you have at last got hold of me, you can't bring the accused to justice, b

w they have provided for you," said

controls the police, and the commandant of the military garrison. 78Before your transference to this prison they all three came here, settled all the arrangements, gave their orders, and sent subordinates from their own departments to keep guard over you. U

t I might get a little fresh air the governor arranged for me to take exercise in an outer courtyard where the other prisoners could not see me. Upon these conditions I consented not to prolong my "hunger-strike," and that evening I partook of some food. It was only when I began to eat that I realised how fearfully hungry I was. I could have devoured an ox; but knowing that in

ur walks lasted longer and longer. I attempted on these occasions to get into more friendly relations with the gendarme, who, besides being stiffened by severe discipline, was naturally of a gloomy, morose turn of mind. When we were walking up and down, especially if the policeman were temporarily absent, I tried to engage him in conversation, and asked him questions on indifferent subjects. This man had been selected from among many others as the most trusty, zealous, and incorruptible. I must explain that as he had no substi

could never get away to visit his home. He at last contrived to move the governor to stand by him, and let him off for an hour now and then, without his superiors knowing of it. These secret visits of the gendarme to his wife and children led to a tacit understanding between him and me, and brought us more t

y she was, and must have been well brought up, and associated generally with the officers' families. Well, I dressed up in private clothes and followed her secretly wherever she went. If she took a carriage, I got into a droschky and went after her. If she went into a house, I took down the address, and asked the concierg

when my fate was finally decided. From him I learned the details about the watch that was being kept over me. He confided to me, among other things, that the governor of the town, the commandant of the garrison, and t

force who took turns in this watch over me, I soon got to know them all. It was from them that the gendarme and I-almost equally prisoners-heard all the news, the gossip of the town, and so forth. Occasionally one of them would smuggle in a newspaper, which would then be read aloud in the select little club we formed. I would stick my hand with the paper in it through the peephole, so as to get some light, press my face against the opening,

to himself. It is our rule never to speak fully about noble deeds done on behalf of revolutionists or the revolutionary movement unless the doers are either dead or in exile. I can only say that through this friend I was 82able to send letters to my comrades, and that he kept me informed of all that might interest me in external events. I learned, among other things, that the well-known revolutionists then living in exile in Paris-Peter Lavrov, Lopàtin, and Tihomìrov-had held a council upon the conduct of Degàiev[36]-then also in Paris-and had come to the conclusion that though certainly, in assi