282 ''

"Why should you hit him?" came a supporting voice.
"Let's go," said the blue-eyed muzhik with a nod to
his companion. They both sauntered away, and the moth-
er followed them with a kindly glance. She gave a
sigh of relief as she saw the police sergeant run clumsily
up the.steps of the veranda.

"Bring him here! I'll show him!" he screamed, shak-
ing his fist.

"Don't do it!" came a strong voice from the crowd. The
mother saw that it was the muzhik with the blue eyes
who was speaking. "Don't let them, fellows! If they take
him there they'll beat him to death. Then they'll say we
did it Don't let them!"

"Peasants!" boomed Mikhailo. "Can't you see what
your lives are like? Can't you see how they rob you and
cheat you and suck your blood? Everything comes from
you—you're the greatest force on this earth—and what
rights have you? Only the right to die of starvation!"

Suddenly the peasants started shouting, interrupting
e^ch other:

"He's telling the truth!"

"Call the chief of police! Where's the chief of po-
lice?"

"The police sergeant's gone for him."
"Who, that drunk?"

"It's not our business to call the authorities."
The noise increased.

"Speak up! We won't let them touch you!"
"Untie his hands!"
"See you don't get caught!"

"The ropes are hurting my hands," said Rybin, drown-
ing out all other voices with his deep, sonorous tones. "I
won't run away, muzhiks! I can't hide from the truth-
it lives inside me!"

A few of the men separated from the crowd and stood
off to one side, passing remarks and shaking their heads.
But more and more ragged people came running up in a
state of great excitement. They seethed about Rybin, who