en went to the shops, they would be sent to the front the following
day. Groups of people were talking excitedly and from them I learned
that the Volynski regiment had revolted and had killed its officers,
because the day before they had commanded the soldiers to shoot on the
people. It seems that the soldiers returned home much excited over
their deed and full of remorse. In the course of the night some of
the revolutionary soldiers from the city upbraided them and they were
greatly incensed with their officers and the Government. They, as well
as other regiments, were particularly worked up over the report that
hirelings of the secret police dressed in soldiers' uniforms went about
firing on the crowd and that the new recruits, under penalty of death,
were commanded to shoot on the people in the streets. When in the
morning the officers congratulated the men on their deed of yesterday,
they jumped on them and murdered them. I heard that other regiments had
also revolted; but there were so many rumors afloat that it was not easy
to know what to believe. About four in the afternoon, I started for home
and found the Nevski full of frightened and nervous people, and hardly
any soldiers. No one seemed to know what to expect. Sounds of shooting
were heard and they were explained as the battle between the regiments
that had revolted and those that had remained loyal. In the distance
columns of smoke were seen and report had it that palaces were burning.
Again it was difficult to know the truth. As I proceeded on my way, I
was joined by the little minister of the British American Church, where
I had attended services the day before, where he had prayed fervently
for the Tsar and his family and asked God to put down the anarchists,
and other lawless men. We were discussing the situation, not knowing
exactly what to make of it. Perhaps the word revolution passed our lips
but neither of us nor those about us took it seriously. Near the Liteiny
a gate opened and about two dozen armed soldiers led by a petty officer
stepped out and marched towards the center of the street. Immediately
the crowd, excited and scared, scattered and ran for their lives but
the soldiers motioned for them to stop and told them that they would
not shoot. We left them, and proceeded on our way, trying as before
to interpret what we saw. While in the midst of our discussion we were
struck by a new and unfamiliar sound--tra-ta-ta, tra-ta-ta, and we
instinctiv