The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
Page 17
join them with heart and hand, I willintroduce you to them."
"Lead--and I will follow," replied Ivan, with enthusiasm; "my heartyearns to join any who advocate so noble a cause, and I trust I may notprove unworthy of it."
"No time must then be lost; e'en now they are assembled," rejoined hiscompanion, "their place of council is at some distance, and speak not,till I give the word, for we shall be obliged to pass the policepatrols, ever watchful and vigilant."
"Forward then," said Ivan, "and rely on my prudence."
The conspirator stealthily led the way down a path to the margin of theriver, where they found a small skiff, capable of containing threepersons--a rower resting on his oars being already seated, who, on asignal from the former, pulled rapidly down the stream. Continuingtheir course in silence for some time, the oarsman abruptly ceasedrowing, and the little bark glided swiftly into a dark and narrow creekon the opposite bank of the river. Ivan followed his guide on shore,while the boat held her course again down the narrow stream.
As they advanced, lights were visible in the apartments of many handsomebuildings, and Ivan found himself in a respectable part of the city,though one in which many vestiges still remained of the devastatingconflagration which had reduced Moscow to ashes. His guide threaded inhis way many lanes, and traversed wide streets, till suddenly retreatingto the back of a handsome mansion, that had lately been raised from theruins which surrounded it, he gave a low and peculiar knock at a wicketgate, opening apparently into a garden. The signal on being twicerepeated, was answered by a decrepit old man, with a long beard andtattered dress, who unclosed the gate, but instantly relocked it, as thetwo visitors entered.
"Who is it," said he, "seeking to disturb the old serf Kersoff at thislate hour?--If any wish to buy his garden produce, let them come bydaylight, and not rouse him from his bed."
The guide whispered a word in the old man's ear, and he retired to hishut by the side of the gate.
The light afforded by the starry heavens enabled Ivan to distinguish theappearance of the place where he stood, which seemed to have been alarge garden, now filled with ruins; apparently the remains of buildingsof considerable extent.
Passing over heaps of rubbish, his guide stopped at what appeared to bea small summer house--also in a ruinous state; the same signal as beforewas given, and the door opening, admitted them into an apartment intotal darkness.
Ivan for a moment hesitated to follow; the idea of some diabolicaltreachery--such as he had heard of too often--again rushing on his mind;yet, quickly determining to brave the worst, he prepared to go on. Hisguide spoke a few words to the person who had admitted them, and who yetremained concealed, and then offered his hand to Ivan to conduct himonwards.
"The neophyte must pass through darkness before he can reach the light,"he whispered; "but fear not, it will soon burn brightly on you. Ah! Ifeel your pulse beats calm and regular, such are the nerves we require;do not speak now."
They descended a flight of steps, narrow and winding, till they wereagain stopped by another door, which was opened, on the like signal asbefore being given, without the porter being visible, and they foundthemselves in a small chamber, lighted by a single dim lamp suspendedfrom the ceiling. The walls were hung with black; a chair, and a table,on which were placed a skull and cross bones, an hour glass, and writingmaterials, were the only furniture.
His guide again spoke. "This," said he, "is the chamber of meditation;if you doubt, you may draw back. Stir not from hence till I return,when I will lead you to undergo your ordeal, should you still nobly keepto your determination of engaging in our cause. I need not tell you notto fear, or to shrink from an ordeal which you will pass through withease, though it may fright nerveless fools. I now go to prepare thefriends of freedom for your coming; adieu!" Saying which, theconspirator disappeared through a door opposite to the one by which theyhad entered, and which closed with a loud noise behind him.
Ivan looked round, not a door was visible; he was a prisoner, he knewnot where. Left to his own reflections, he half repented the step hehad taken.
"I like not this mummery," thought he. "How weak I have been to putsuch implicit trust in a man of whom I know so little. He may, afterall, have deceived me; but it is now too late to retract, and ifdeceived, I must suffer for my folly, and will boldly carry through theadventure." He threw himself on the chair. "Emblem of mortality!" heexclaimed, looking at the skull, "to this must we all come, and to abrave man, what terrors canst thou bring? Death, what have we to fearin thee? Why, then, should I hesitate, when thou, happen what may, mustbe the victor at last! Thou art, at the same time, the mighty despot ofall, and the only true dispenser of liberty! Thou canst conquer theproudest potentates, and make all men equal--and yet I fear not thee;then, why should I fear aught else? Time flies quickly; I learn thislesson, that one must not delay when work is to be done!" His eyecaught sight of a sheet of paper, on which were inscribed severalquestions. He seized the pen, and wrote appropriate answers. Heremained lost in thought. "Yes," he exclaimed, "the die is cast; I willplunge boldly in, nor dream of retracting."
He had just come to this conclusion, when suddenly, three dark figuresstood before him enveloped in cloaks, and their features concealed bymasks.
"You must consent to be for a time deprived of sight," said one, "erethe true light can shine on you. Are you ready to undergo your ordeal?"
"I am prepared for every ceremony necessary," answered Ivan; "do as youwill!"
One of the dark figures advanced, a handkerchief was tightly bound overhis eyes, and he felt his hand grasped by some one.
"Follow me," said a voice, "we have a long and toilsome road to take,full of difficulties and perils, such as you dream not of finding here;but true courage and perseverance will carry you through all dangers."
"Lead on then," said Ivan, "I am eager to undertake the journey."
Ivan felt that he was led from the chamber, when a sudden rush of coldair met him, almost stopping his breath. He then seemed to be climbingover rough rocks, from which he had to spring to others, following theguide's directions; then a torrent seemed to be rushing at his feet,into which he appeared every instant to be ready to fall, so slipperywas the broken ground. He felt himself next led up a steep mountain,the ashes on its sides giving way under his feet as he climbed, till atlength, he reached some harder ground, when, no sooner did he appear tohave attained the summit, than he was as quickly obliged to descend, andto pass through some low and damp cavern. On a sudden, his guidebidding him spring forward, and dragging him at the same time, enabledhim to evade an icy torrent, which broke overhead. On, on he went; buthe neither hesitated nor trembled. A loud din now assailed his ears, ofa strange variety of confused sounds, and in a moment he found himselfnear some immense furnace, into which he appeared to be about to plunge,when his guide drew him aside, as the fierce and forked flames rushedafter him. Again he heard a loud noise, and this time it wasintelligible. He could distinguish the clashing of swords, the shrieksof the wounded, the cries of the victors. He was in the midst of somefierce combat. On every side was heard the jarring sound of weapons; hefelt them whirling round his head, as his guide protected him; theirsharp edges seemed to pass close to his ears, the struggling combatantsswept by him in their desperate strife, but he remained unharmed. On asudden, the silence of death reigned around. He stood alone: some onepresently approached, and a deep and solemn voice thus spoke--
"Ivan Galetzoff! you have shewn that you can go through the lesserdangers and difficulties of life without shrinking; but have you courageto face the worst, for what you have just undergone is as nothing towhat you must suffer, before we can confide in you."
"I am prepared for the most terrific dangers, and fear nothing."
"Stay then," said the voice; "answer our questions. Wherefore did youcome hither?"
"To meet those who are lovers of true freedom," answered Ivan.
"You speak well," said the voice; "are you rea
dy to devote your talents,your fortune, and your life, to their sacred cause?"
"Most willingly would I do my utmost to win true Liberty for Russia," heanswered.
"Are you willing to take the oaths which bind all the members of thisassociation?"
"I would be equally bound to support others, as they are to support me,but I cannot pledge myself to measures of which I know not the aim."
"You speak sensibly," said the voice, "that we do not demand.Inviolable secrecy and fidelity are all that is required of you, butoaths must not be taken in the dark: from henceforth, may the light ofliberty shine as bright and purely as this flame."
At that moment, the bandage fell from Ivan's eyes, and he