Those prisoners who had minor punishments to undergo, and who had least on their conscience, were for the most part timid, submissive, even broken-spirited. Among them were the unfortunate wretches whom I have described as gambling away their food-money for whole weeks together. They then literally starved, or sold themselves into the hands of the “swop” organisation for a beggarly sum. They were treated with utter contempt by the other criminals, and among them went by the name of “biscuits,” a rather descriptive title for these pale, dried-up, emaciated creatures. These “biscuits” were the pariahs of their society, and all the dirtiest and most disagreeable work—cleaning out of privies, etc.—fell to their share as a matter of course. They seemed to have lost all power of will; and gambling—the source of all their sufferings—was the only thing they cared for. They were always ready to steal anything that came in their way, except from the “Ivans,” which would have had dire results for themselves if discovered, probably a murderous thrashing. I only knew one case of that kind, when a poor young fellow stole a piece of bread from one of the “Ivans,” and the _artèl_ at once decided that he should be punished exemplarily, “because he had stolen from his own people.” I have spoken before of this _artèl_, an extremely interesting institution which has existed among criminals from time immemorial. It is based on stringent and unalterable rules, the chief of which is that each individual must yield implicit obedience to the will of the whole _artèl_. All members are supposed to have, _de jure_, equal rights in the organisation; but, _de facto_, the confirmed criminals, the old experienced rogues and vagabonds, are the preponderating element, and it is the “Ivans” that govern the rest ruthlessly in their own proper interest. It is _their_ will that passes for the will of the whole body. Without the sanction of the _artèl_ no agreement between individuals has any force; only with its consent can any “swop” be carried out, and thus a portion of the price always goes into the common exchequer. Once the sanction of the _artèl_ is given there is no holding back; a criminal who refused to fulfil his “swop” when he had agreed to it and received his pay would have the whole combined _artèl_ against him. But such a case never occurs; and fear of the _artèl’s_ vengeance is too great for any treachery by its members. The lawful authorities would have no power to shield such a traitor, and could not get him out of the clutches of the organisation; for if he were moved to another prison the _artèl_ there would take on the feud and mete out vengeance to him, the leaders invariably finding means to communicate with each other. In one respect the solidarity of the _artèl_ is especially strong: it is represented in all dealings with the authorities by its _stàrosta_ or head-man, elected by the prisoners themselves from among their own ranks. This is a post