nd closed them
with another beam. The two logs, nailed together at the ends, fastened
upon the legs like the jaws of a bulldog; with cords they tied the arms of
the gentry still more tightly behind their backs. The Major for their
further torment had already had their caps pulled from their heads, and
from their backs their cloaks, their kontuszes, and even their
jackets--even their tunics. Thus the gentry, fastened in the stocks, sat in
a row, chattering their teeth in the cold and the rain, for the drizzle
kept increasing. In vain Sprinkler fumed and struggled.

Vainly the Judge interceded for the gentry, and vainly Telimena joined her
entreaties to the tears of Zosia, that they should have more regard for
the captives. Captain Nikita Rykov, to be sure--a Muscovite but a good
fellow--allowed himself to be mollified; but this was of no avail, since he
himself had to obey Major Plut.160

This Major, by birth a Pole from the little town of Dzierowicze, according
to report, had been named Plutowicz in Polish, but had changed his name;
he was a great rascal, as is usually the case with Poles that turn
Muscovites in the Tsar's service. Plut, with his pipe in his mouth and his
hands on his hips, stood in front of the ranks of soldiers; when people
bowed to him, he turned up his nose, and in answer, as a sign of his
wrathful humour, he puffed out a cloud of smoke and walked towards the
house.

But meanwhile the Judge had been appeasing Rykov, and likewise taking
aside the Assessor. They were consulting how to end the affair out of
court, and, what was still more important, without interference from the
government. So Captain Rykov said to Major Plut:--

"Major, what do we want of all these captives? If we send them up for
trial, there will be great trouble for the gentry of the district, and no
one will give you any reward for it, sir. I tell you, Major, it will be
better to settle the matter quietly; the Judge will have to reward you for
your pains, and we will say that we came here on a visit: thus the goats
will be whole and the wolf will be full. There is a Russian proverb: 'All
can be done--with caution!' and another proverb, 'Roast your own meat on
the Tsar's spit,' and a third proverb, 'Harmony is better than discord.'
Tie the knot tight and put the ends in the water. We will not make a
report, so that nobody will find out. 'God gave hands to take with'--that
is a Russian proverb."

When he heard this the Major ro