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man plunged forward； but the subalterns pulled him back； and another
blow came down from the other side； then from this side and then from the
other。 The colonel marched beside him； and looking now at his feet and
now at the man； inhaled the air； puffed out his cheeks； and breathed it out
between his protruded lips。 When they passed the place where I stood； I
caught a glimpse between the two files of the back of the man that was
being punished。 It was something so many…coloured； wet； red； unnatural；
that I could hardly believe it was a human body。
〃'My God！〃' muttered the blacksmith。
The procession moved farther away。 The blows continued to rain
upon the writhing； falling creature； the fifes shrilled and the drums beat；
and the tall imposing figure of the colonel moved along…side the man； just
as before。 Then； suddenly； the colonel stopped； and rapidly approached a
man in the ranks。
〃'I'll teach you to hit him gently；' I heard his furious voice say。 'Will
you pat him like that？ Will you？' and I saw how his strong hand in the
suede glove struck the weak； bloodless； terrified soldier for not bringing
down his stick with sufficient strength on the red neck of the Tartar。
〃'Bring new sticks！' he cried； and looking round； he saw me。 Assuming
an air of not knowing me； and with a ferocious； angry frown； he hastily
turned away。 I felt so utterly ashamed that I didn't know where to look。
It was as if I had been detected in a disgraceful act。 I dropped my eyes；
and quickly hurried home。 All the way I had the drums beating and the
fifes whistling in my ears。 And I heard the words； 'Brothers； have mercy
on me！' or 'Will you pat him？ Will you？' My heart was full of physical
disgust that was almost sickness。 So much so that I halted several times on
my way； for I had the feeling that I was going to be really sick from all the
horrors that possessed me at that sight。 I do not remember how I got
home and got to bed。 But the moment I was about to fall asleep I heard
and saw again all that had happened； and I sprang up。
〃'Evidently he knows something I do not know；' I thought about the
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colonel。 'If I knew what he knows I should certainly graspunderstand
what I have just seen； and it would not cause me such suffering。'
〃But however much I thought about it； I could not understand the thing
that the colonel knew。 It was evening before I could get to sleep； and
then only after calling on a friend and drinking till I； was quite drunk。
〃Do you think I had come to the conclusion that the deed I had
witnessed was wicked？ Oh； no。 Since it was done with such assurance；
and was recognised by every one as indispensable； they doubtless knew
something which I did not know。 So I thought； and tried to understand。
But no matter； I could never understand it； then or afterwards。 And not
being able to grasp it； I could not enter the service as I had intended。 I
don't mean only the military service： I did not enter the Civil Service
either。 And so I have been of no use whatever； as you can see。〃
〃Yes； we know how useless you've been；〃 said one of us。 〃Tell us；
rather； how many people would be of any use at all if it hadn't been for
you。〃
〃Oh； that's utter nonsense；〃 said Ivan Vasilievich； with genuine
annoyance。
〃Well； and what about the love affair？
〃My love？ It decreased from that day。 When； as often happened；
she looked dreamy and meditative； I instantly recollected the colonel on
the parade ground； and I felt so awkward and uncomfortable that I began
to see her less frequently。 So my love came to naught。 Yes； such chances
arise； and they alter and direct a man's whole life；〃 he said in summing up。
〃And you say 。 。 。〃
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ALYOSHA THE POT
ALYOSHA was the younger brother。 He was called the Pot； because
his mother had once sent him with a pot of milk to the deacon's wife； and
he had stumbled against something and broken it。 His mother had beaten
him； and the children had teased him。 Since then he was nicknamed the
Pot。 Alyosha was a tiny； thin little fellow； with ears like wings； and a
huge nose。 〃Alyosha has a nose that looks like a dog on a hill！〃 the
children used to call after him。 Alyosha went to the village school； but
was not good at lessons； besides； there was so little time to learn。 His
elder brother was in town； working for a merchant； so Alyosha had to help
his father from a very early age。 When he was no more than six he used to
go out with the girls to watch the cows and sheep in the pasture； and a
little later he looked after the horses by day and by night。 And at twelve
years of age he had already begun to plough and to drive the cart。 The
skill was there though the strength was not。 He was always cheerful。
Whenever the children made fun of him； he would either laugh or be silent。
When his father scolded him he would stand mute and listen attentively；
and as soon as the scolding was over would smile and go on with his work。
Alyosha was nineteen when his brother was taken as a soldier。 So his
father placed him with the merchant as a yard…porter。 He was given his
brother's old boots； his father's old coat and cap； and was taken to town。
Alyosha was delighted with his clothes； but the merchant was not
impressed by his appearance。
〃I thought you would bring me a man in Simeon's place；〃 he said；
scanning Alyosha； 〃and you've brought me THIS！ What's the good of
him？〃
〃He can do everything； look after horses and drive。 He's a good one
to work。 He looks rather thin； but he's tough enough。 And he's very
willing。〃
〃He looks it。 All right； we'll see what we can do with him。〃
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So Alyosha remained at the merchant's。
The family was not a large one。 It consisted of the merchant's wife：