The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
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raised in all directions, therecruits as soon as collected being marched off to the depots in thesouth, to join an army with which the Emperor had determined tooverwhelm and crush his mountain opponents of Circassia; and no oneexulted more in the prospect of carrying fire and sword into the countryof his detested enemies, than the Baron Galetzoff, as he reviewed hiswell-equipped though mostly newly raised troops.
Under his standard were collected the short hardy natives of the north,Cossacks from the banks of the Don, and Volga; regiments of enslavedPoles, now fighting by the side of their conquerors; some few cavalry,whom the Russians called Circassians, but who were, in truth, mencollected from the confines of the Caucasus; Georgians, Immeritians,Mingrelians; but not one who could boast of true Circassian descent.
With these troops was also the regiment to which Thaddeus Stanisloff wasattached, he being obliged to leave Moscow ignorant of the fate of hisfriend; and many a long day passed, without his receiving any tidings ofhim. Absence did not however diminish his friendship, or his regret attheir separation. Though under the orders of the Baron Galetzoff, itwas long before he came in contact with him; he heard it reported, thatthere was no one so bitter against the defection of his supposed son, ormore eager in endeavouring to apprehend him, vowing that he should bepunished as a traitor and renegade, if he fell into his power.
Volume 1, Chapter XIX.
It was now the beautiful, balmy, and genial month of a Russian June, allnature rejoicing, clothed in one entire bright livery of green, freshfrom the new bursting buds, yet unseared by the burning heats of summer,like the beauteous maiden just ripened into perfect womanhood,surrounded with a halo of freshness and purity, ere the blasts andscorching atmosphere of the cruel world have had time to obscure the oneor sully the other.
A few days had been passed by Ivan in the Gipsy camp, with but slowprogress; each day, however, contributing to his strength. At length hedeclared himself sufficiently recovered to undertake the more difficultand dangerous part of his journey on foot; so eagerly burning was hewith the desire of reaching the place of his destination, to fulfil thevow he had taken at the death-bed of his mother.
Azila had been his constant attendant, enlivening him with herconversation, and soothing him with her attentions; but so completelywere his thoughts occupied with the events which had occurred, andespecially with those to which he was looking forward, that no othersentiment entered his heart. That lovely being, day by day, sat by hisside, watching anxiously each look, listening eagerly to each word heuttered, yet he loved not. He felt sincere gratitude to her as thepreserver of his life, he would have again risked his own to aid her;but no other feeling excited his bosom. And she--so proud, soindifferent as she had shewn herself to be, towards the Count Erintoff,could she give her love to one from whom she could scarce hope for areturn. The hearts of women are uncertain, incomprehensible,inscrutable, and we will not venture to pronounce by what special agencyAzila's was influenced.
Ivan was much indebted to old Hagar for his rapid recovery, though itwas some time before she would give her consent to his eager wish toquit her care.
On the last day's journey, as he was riding among the Gipsies, dressedin the costume of the rest of the party, the chief unfolded the plan hehad formed to enable him to make his further escape from the empire.
"At this time of the year," said the Zingani chief, "thousands ofpilgrims flock from all parts of the empire, to what theysuperstitiously call their holy city of Chioff, and I propose that youshould first repair thither with Javis, who is intimately acquaintedwith every part of the country, as your guide, both of you disguised aspeasants performing the pilgrimage, for which I have provided everything necessary. Should you, by any chance, be again followed, amongthe vast crowds who are now assembling at Chioff, you will find morefacilities for preventing all clue of your route being discovered.After you have passed through the city, you and your guide may assumethe character of pilgrims, returning from thence, towards theirhabitations on the confines of the country. I have sent forward amessenger to some friends of our people, who are now near the placewhere you will find the least danger in crossing the frontiers intoMoldavia, to which Javis will lead you; and our people there, willafford you assistance should you require it. I must now ride forward toselect a spot for our encampment; I wish to keep as much as possibleconcealed from all passers by, for we know not who may prove an enemyamong them." Saying which, the Gipsy chief rode on.
We must observe that the Zingani party had been travelling as much aspracticable across the country, keeping all the bye roads and lanes, andavoiding all communications with the villages, near which they were attimes obliged to pass.
As they journeyed on, Ivan rode up to the side of Azila, for the maidenseemed sad and dispirited. After some other conversation--
"You go, Sir," said she, "amid scenes of excitement and of wild strife,where all your thoughts and hopes are centered, and where you will soonforget those you leave behind, those who would have died to serve you;but believe me, there is one who will never forget your aid, nor yourbravery in her defence; who--"
"Neither can I ever forget one to whom I owe my life and liberty," heexclaimed; "nay, much more: who will have enabled me to fulfil, I hope,a deep sworn vow, the accomplishment of which I have so rashlyhazarded."
Their conversation was here interrupted by the return of the Zinganichief, who rode to Ivan's side.
Early the following day, Ivan and his guide sallied from a tent, socompletely changed in appearance, that no one could possibly haverecognised in the two old peasants, they now seemed to be, the darkfeatured, handsome young men they really were. Their very skin had beentinged of a reddish hue, with wrinkles on their brows and cheeks; whilered shaggy locks sprinkled with white, covered their own dark hair, andlong full beards of the same colour fell over their breasts to thewaist, large low hats still more concealing their countenances. Theywore long dark coloured gowns, and sheep-skin coats: rough boots ofuntanned leather protected their feet, and by their side hung wallets tocontain their food. In their hands they bore thick sticks, ostensiblyto support their tottering steps, but really to serve as a means ofdefence, in case of necessity.
Thus equipped, when ready to depart, the Zingani chief embraced themboth, bestowing on them the peculiar blessings of his people, andcharging Javis with many injunctions for the guidance of his conduct ontheir journey. The whole tribe assembled to bid them farewell, the oldcrone Hagar calling down curses on all who should impede them in theirprogress, and blessings on the heads of all who favoured them.
Azila alone was no where to be seen; and feelings which Ivan couldscarcely acknowledge, even to himself, prevented him from asking forher, till the last moment. The chief, on missing Azila, sent in alldirections to discover her, his alarm becoming considerable when she wasnot to be found. The travellers delayed their departure, in the hopesof gaining intelligence of her before they went; for fears began to beentertained, that by some means or other she had been entrapped eitherby the Count Erintoff or by the police, who might have feared to seizeher by open force, among so large a band of defenders.
While the whole camp was thus thrown into a state of alarm, one of thescouts, who were at all times kept on the watch, to give timely noticein case they might be pursued, came running hastily among them, to saythat he had descried, at a distance, a party whom he took to be police,riding rapidly towards the camp. Without a moment's delay, Javis seizedIvan's hand, hurrying him away at perhaps a faster rate, than theirapparent age would have warranted; but they were only just in time toescape, for before they lost sight of the encampment, they perceived thepolice ride into it. The delay which there occurred, as we have alreadyseen, enabled them to make good their distance, though they were inmomentary expectation of being pursued: no signs, however, of theirenemies appearing, they continued their journey at a more moderatespeed.
On the second day, as they were about to repose by the road-side, theheat of the sun becoming oppressive
, they heard the clattering ofhorses' hoofs behind them, and perceived, on turning their heads, aparty of the police galloping along the road, before they had time toattempt concealing themselves. Javis, however, with perfect presence ofmind, begged Ivan to imitate his style of walking, when the policecoming up, merely cast a glance at them, and rode on; but the travellerssaw them stop at a short distance ahead, to interrogate a young peasantlad, whom they had just before observed. The lad appeared in no waydisconcerted, pointing in answer to their questions, to a road acrossthe country, which they followed at the same rapid speed.
Quickening their own pace, they soon overtook the boy, who saluted themas they passed, in respect for their seeming age. They did not think itprudent to rest, until the evening was far advanced, when Javis led Ivanto a hut, with the inhabitants of which he exchanged a few words, andwas instantly admitted.
It is not necessary to give here a detail of