The servants had
formed a close circle around the unhappy beings who were receiving their
punishment in the court below. The air was filled with the shrieks of
the tortured men, blood flowed in streams over their flayed backs, and
at every new stroke of the knout they howled and shrieked for mercy;
while at every new shriek Munnich cried out to his executioners:
"No, no mercy, no pity! Scourge the culprits! I would, I must see blood!
Scourge them to death!"
Trembling, the band of servants looked on with folded hands; with a
savage smile upon his face, stood Count Munnich at his window above.
Weaker and weaker grew the cries of the unhappy sufferers--they no
longer prayed for mercy. The knout continued to flay their bodies, but
their blood no longer flowed--they were dead!
The surrounding servants folded their hands in prayer for the souls
of the deceased, and then loudly commended the mild justice of their
master!
Retiring from the window, Count Munnich ordered his breakfast to be
served!(*)
(*) Such horribly cruel punishments of the serfs were at
that time no uncommon occurrence in Russia. Unhappy serfs
were daily scourged to death at the command of their
masters.
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