Дети железной дороги
Prisoners and captives.
Well,thentheytookhimoutandsenthimtoSiberia,aconvictchainedtootherconvicts—wickedmenwho’ddoneallsortsofcrimes—alongchainofthem,andtheywalked,andwalked,andwalked,fordaysandweeks,tillhethoughtthey’dneverstopwalking.Andoverseerswentbehindthemwithwhips—yes,whips—tobeatthemiftheygottired.Andsomeofthemwentlame,andsomefelldown,andwhentheycouldn’tgetupandgoon,theybeatthem,andthenleftthemtodie.Oh,it’salltooterrible!Andatlasthegottothemines,andhewascondemnedtostaythereforlife—forlife,justforwritingagood,noble,splendidbook."
"Howdidhegetaway?"
"Whenthewarcame,someoftheRussianprisonerswereallowedtovolunteerassoldiers.Andhevolunteered.Buthedesertedatthefirstchancehegotand—"
"Butthat’sverycowardly,isn’tit"—saidPeter—"todesert?Especiallywhenit’swar."
"DoyouthinkheowedanythingtoacountrythathaddoneTHATtohim?Ifhedid,heowedmoretohiswifeandchildren.Hedidn’tknowwhathadbecomeofthem."
"Oh,"criedBobbie,"hehadTHEMtothinkaboutandbemiserableaboutTOO,then,allthetimehewasinprison?"
"Yes,hehadthemtothinkaboutandbemiserableaboutallthetimehewasinprison.Foranythingheknewtheymighthavebeensenttoprison,too.TheydidthosethingsinRussia
