MILITARY SERVICE 285
formances with our hands and feet, and it's splendid ! At home I never had so much as an idea of such fun.
At first I was very much afraid of jumping across the ditch, but I resolved once and for all I've got to jump it. If the worst comes to the worst, I shall fall and bruise myself. Suppose I do? What then? Why do all the others jump it and don't care? One needn't be so very strong to jump !
And one day, before the gymnastics had begun, I left my comrades, took heart and a long run, and when I came to the ditch, I made a great bound, and, lo and behold, I was over on the other side! I couldn't be- lieve my own eyes that I had done it so easily.
Ever since then I have jumped across ditches, and over mounds, and down from mounds, as well as any of them.
Only when it comes to climbing a ladder or swing- ing myself over a high bar, I know it spells misfortune for me.
I spring forward, and seize the first rung with my right hand, but I cannot reach the second with my left.
I stretch myself, and kick out with my feet, but I cannot reach any higher, not by so much as a vershok, and so there I hang and kick with my feet, till my right arm begins to tremble and hurt me. My head goes round, and I fall onto the grass. The corporal abuses me as usual, and the soldiers laugh.
I would give ten years of my life to be able to get higher, if only three or four rungs, but what can I do, if my arms won't serve me? 19
