Page:Ossendowski - From President to Prison.djvu/237

Rh. These recommendations would probably have been followed promptly, had General Horvat not used his influence to justify and secure the continuance of our institution with its more bearable conditions. However, we felt convinced that we should not be fortunate enough to remain there until the end of our terms.

Meanwhile our building became fuller than ever, largely through the prisoners that were transferred from other towns. One day there came in a group, among whom was an unusual personality, a man named Feklin. He had been a sergeant in one of the Siberian regiments, and had taken part in the Boxer Uprising in China in 1900, during which he was in the relief of Peking; and afterwards, throughout the whole of the Russo-Japanese War, was at the front, where he showed great courage, was wounded several times and won for himself all the degrees of the Cross of St. George. He belonged to the splendid tribe of the Chuvash, living between the River Kama and the Ural Mountains.

On his return from the front he fell in love with the daughter of a rich merchant, and, as the girl was also pleased with this daring, much-decorated hero, they were soon betrothed. One day, during a political manifestation, Feklin rose and made a strong speech, in which he severely criticized the handling of matters in the army. As a result of this he was arrested and, for some incomprehensible reason, was transferred about from one prison to another until he finally turned up at our hospitable door in Harbin.

Though he was not very intelligent, he talked a great deal and was evidently straightforward, so that the whole prison, even to the keepers and soldiers, soon knew that he was madly in love with his betrothed, that he was jealous and not certain that she would wait for him, even