“Ah, Prokofief! Jolkin too; and you, Almazof! Here, come here, all the lump of you!” cried the Major to us, with a gasp; but he was somewhat softened, his tone was even obliging. “M--tski, you’re here too?... Take down the names. Diatloff, take down all the names, the grumblers in one list and the contented ones in another--all, without exception; you’ll give me the list. I’ll have you all before the Committee of Superintendence.... I’ll ... brigands!” This word “_list_” told. “We’ve nothing to complain of!” cried one of the malcontents, in a half-strangled sort of voice. “Ah, you’ve nothing to complain of! _Who’s_ that? Let all those who have nothing to complain of step out of the ranks.” “All of us, all of us!” came from some others. “Ah, the food is all right, then? You’ve been put up to it. Ringleaders, mutineers, eh? So much the worse for them.” “But, what do you mean by that?” came from a voice in the crowd. “Where is the fellow that said that?” roared the Major, throwing himself to where the voice came from. “It was you, Rastorgouïef, you; to the guard-house with you.” Rastorgouïef, a young, chubby fellow of high stature, left the ranks and went with slow steps to the guard-house. It was not he who had said it, but, as he was called out, he did not venture to contradict. “You fellows are too fat, that’s what makes you unruly!” shouted the Major. “You wait, you hulking rascal, in three days you’d---- Wait! I’ll have it out with you all. Let all those who have nothing to complain of come out of the ranks, I say----” “We’re not complaining of anything, your worship,” said some of the convicts with a sombre air; the rest preserved an obstinate silence. But the Major wanted nothing further; it was his interest to stop the thing with as little friction as might be. “Ah, _now_ I see! _Nobody_ has anything to complain of,” said he. “I knew it, I saw it all. It’s ringleaders, there are ringleaders, by God,” he went on, speaking to Diatloff. “We must lay our hands on them, every man of them. And now--now--it’s time to go to your work. Drummer, there; drummer, a roll!”