The same council-chamber of the military district court which had condemned Yanson had also condemned to death a peasant of the Government of Oryol, of the District of Yeletzk, Mikhail Golubets, nicknamed Tsiganok, also Tatarin.

His latest crime, proven beyond question, had been the murder of three people and armed robbery.

Behind that, his dark past disappeared in a depth of mystery.

There were vague rumors that he had participated in a series of other murders and robberies, and in his path there was felt to be a dark trail of blood, fire, and drunken debauchery.

He called himself murderer with utter frankness and sincerity, and scornfully regarded those who, according to the latest fashion, styled themselves "expropriators." Of his last crime, since it was useless for him to deny anything, he spoke freely and in detail, but in answer to questions about his past, he merely gritted his teeth, whistled, and said: "Search for the wind of the fields!" When he was annoyed in cross-examination, Tsiganok assumed a serious and dignified air: "All of us from Oryol are thoroughbreds," he would say gravely and deliberately.