Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

at his post, as he must ac- cording to his thinking. But his staying raised him in the estimation of his friends. The evening before the Whites withdrew, Kratz had been persuaded to start very early the next morning for Crimea, by the safest way. Everything for this trip was well thought through and prepared, but unfortunately it was too late. Overnight there was a change in govern- ment: the Whites withdrew and the Reds came in. This time for an indefinite time. Perhaps forever. The next morning, very early, as Brother Kratz and his host, P—, went out, to look over the situation, and to speak with their traveling companions, they were both arrested by the advance guard of the Reds. They were handled roughly. Mr. P— stepped up at once to defend Brother Kratz. He succeeded fully. The Red soldiers seemed to fear the American, but took out their revenge on P—. ‘Then they emptied the pockets of both men and ordered P— to take them to his home. He did not want to do so. That made the soldiers angry again. Both P— PERSONAL REMINISCENCES 349 and Kratz were arrested. In the meantime the Reds had occupied Halbstadt and the vicinity. The prisoners were taken to the officer in charge. He seemed to be a man with whom one could speak. He agreed to free the two men, on condition that the Mennonite group furnish host- ages, to be held in their stead. I was also sent for. After some negotiation we were permitted to go home with P— and Kratz, but only after we had made ourselves answer- able for them. Before we left, Kratz was given his papers and most of his money, all of which had been taken from him when the arrest was made. Some things, such as his pocket-knife, his flash-light, and some of his money, had disappeared in the handling. We were glad that it had gone as well as it had, and comforted ourselves somewhat. But everything possible was done to safeguard Brother Kratz from attacks, and at first we were successful. Kratz went about as he always had. But we had to give up all our plans for relief, and wait. Bro. Kratz was of the opinion that since we had for so long suffered so much, he could also suffer with us for a while. Then he would learn to appre- ciate our situation better. A few days after the Reds came in, there came a new Pharaoh, who knew nothing of Joseph, and did not want to know anything. We knew the man in former days, and expected nothing good—neither for the group nor for individuals. Very soon after he assumed com- mand in Halbstadt, we went to him to talk Kratz’s affairs over with him. He seemed to be reasonable. But if ever words had a false ring to them, they were the words of a Soviet commissary in Russia. One day, about sundown, a messenger burst into my room and announced breathlessly, that Kratz had again been arrested, and was to be taken away. That was bad news. I hurried over to help get Kratz free again. But 350 FEEDING THE HUNGRY I failed to find him anyw