have to get used to it."

CHAPTER VII

The next day they knew that Bukin, Samoylov, Somov, and five more had
been arrested. In the evening Fedya Mazin came running in upon them. A
search had been made in his house also. He felt himself a hero.

"Were you afraid, Fedya?" asked the mother.

He turned pale, his face sharpened, and his nostrils quivered.

"I was afraid the officer might strike me. He has a black beard, he's
stout, his fingers are hairy, and he wears dark glasses, so that he
looks as if he were without eyes. He shouted and stamped his feet. He
said I'd rot in prison. And I've never been beaten either by my father
or mother; they love me because I'm their only son. Everyone gets
beaten everywhere, but I never!"

He closed his eyes for a moment, compressed his lips, tossed his hair
back with a quick gesture of both hands, and looking at Pavel with
reddening eyes, said:

"If anybody ever strikes me, I will thrust my whole body into him like
a knife--I will bite my teeth into him--I'd rather he'd kill me at once
and be done!"

"To defend yourself is your right," said Pavel. "But take care not to
attack!"

"You are delicate and thin," observed the mother. "What do you want
with fighting?"

"I WILL fight!" answered Fedya in a low voice.

When he left, the mother said to Pavel:

"This young man will go down sooner than all the rest."

Pavel was silent.

A few minutes later the kitchen door opened slowly and Rybin entered.

"Good evening!" he said, smiling. "Here I am again. Yesterday they
brought me here; to-day I come of my own accord. Yes, yes!" He gave
Pavel a vigorous handshake, then put his hand on the mother's shoulder,
and asked: "Will you give me tea?"

Pavel silently regarded his swarthy, broad countenance, his thick,
black beard, and dark, intelligent eyes. A certain gravity spoke out
of their calm gaze; his stalwart figure inspired confidence.

The mother went into the kitchen to prepare the samovar. Rybin sat
down, stroked his beard, and placing his elbows on the table, scanned
Pavel with his dark look.

"That's the way it is," he said, as if continuing an interrupted
conversation. "I must have a frank talk with you. I observed you long
before I came. We live almost next door to each other. I see many
people come to you, and no drunkenness, no carrying on. That's the
main thing. If people don't raise the devil, they immediately attract
attention. Wha