The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-16
The Rough
Road
lContinued From Las issue

Continued From Last lssue).
The telegraphist Smirnov entered
the room, accompanied by several
sailors. They were all armed with
revolvers taken from the officers.
He took in all the prisoners with a
quick glance and said in a command
ing tone:
"Calm yourselves, sirs. Tt is all
over You will not be touched"
IN answer came a joyous sigh, full
Of gratitude.
"You are to allow no outrages on
the part Of the crew. If this order
is disobeyed you win face the revolu-
tionary court martial"
AYE, aye" boldly answered the
watchmen.
"The corpses must be removed.
Throw the electrician overheard and
carry the sailor out on the upper
deck"
Smirnov then left the room with
his suite.
AS l had supposed, he was the
leader of the mutiny. This was just
as it should be: quick, intelligent and
firm in a crisis.
Stewards appeared, removed the
corpses, then washed up the blood
with cloths and mops and brought the
mess-room back to order.
To our surprise, the turbulent mood
Of the crew soon claimed down. Even
our guards seemed bewildered. Evil
IDENTIFY everyone was wondering what
was happening on the other ships. 1t
was not difficult to guess that there
the rebellion was delayed. This re-
joiced us little for if the sailors even
suspected that they were threatened
with danger, we could expect little
consideration. The twelve watchmen,
armed with rifles, would leave us dead
men in an instant. Moreover, I, and
the other officers who were in my
confidence, remembered the admiral's
words: the ship taken by mutineers
would Immediately be sunk by the
other ships. From that quarter de-
struction was all we could expect.
Our "Thunderbolt" stood in the
middle of the squadron. They could
not miss us at that distance and one
volley was sufficient to destroy us
completely. We had just seen death,
horrid and disgusting and it was with
a shudder that we waited for the mo-
ment when tens of large-calibre guns
would spit steel and fire at US from
their wide maws. do not know
what my assistants thought of it, but
/ hoped that the sailors would rather
twist off the stupid old head of the
admiral A dark shadow of I'M
certainty hung over our lives.
The captain of the guard was the
gunner, Gasihin. The other men stood
but he sat heavily on a chair near the
door His head, covered by a peakless
forage cap, was slightly bowed in
thought. His face, wide in the
temples and tapering toward the
chin, was gloomy and immobile as
a mask and his grey eyes receded I'M
der the beetling brows. Occasionally
without turning his head, he flicked
us with side glance. Sailors began
to appear in the mess-room. APP
parently they came from the upper
deck with good news which they com
municated in whispers to the watch.
Gasihin himself and his men became
more cheerful, whispered to each
other, smiled. 1t was not difficult to
conclude from this that the other
ships had gone over to the revolution.
| addressed our watch:
MAY l smoke, comrades ?"
Gasihin turned to me and said
kindly:
eff you please. 1t will not harm
the revolution"
l took silver cigarette case from
my pocket, took a cigarette from it,
then offered it to the watchmen.
They did not refuse.
We puffed away.
felt more at ease, as though a
cold hand which had been clutching
my heart had loosed its hold.
Only now / noticed that my former
subordinates, the officers, electricians
and junior officers, gazed at me with
envy like a dog at the master who is
consuming savory meal. I was ir-
ritated by this servility. What did
they hope for now?
"Why do you not smoker" l in
quired.
The answer was accompanied by a
polite bow.
eve will, with pleasure, if you dc
not object"
81 am prisoner as we'll as you,'
! exploded. "There is no difference
between us. Here is where you must
address yourselves"
waved in the direction of the
watch. They wilted.
IL think all were given permission
to smoke"
There was a clicking Of cigarette