The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
Page 39
hesitation, seconded his petition, whenIvan, at length, consented to his accompanying them.
"Oh, trust me, Sirs," he said, "that you will not find me wanting inaught that becomes a servant. You know not how my heart is lightened byyour kindness."
The pleasure which beamed in the speaker's eyes attested the truth ofhis words; yet, it had before occurred to Ivan, and now did so again,that the boy had seen through their disguise from the very first; and hewas not without a suspicion, that the boy followed them thuspertinaciously, as a spy sent to betray them at the end of theirjourney, and in the very moment when they might have congratulatedthemselves on having effected their escape. Ivan knew how varied andconstant are the devices made use of in Russia to entrap the unwary, andto shew that the power of that vast engine of despotism, the secretpolice, can extend to the very confines of the Empire.
At length, however, he dismissed the thought as contradicting the stampwhich nature sets on the countenances of her children; and while lookingat the boy's face, he felt convinced he was incapable of such treachery.
That Conrin was not deceived by the disguise the fugitives had assumed,Ivan felt convinced, as he at all times addressed him in a tone andmanner of respect that he would scarcely have paid to a poor peasantpilgrim, although children are early taught in Russia to treat age withrespect and attention. He never, also, attempted to intrude into theirpresence, keeping aloof till called to approach nearer, though, severaltimes, Ivan had discovered, as he thought, the boy's eyes fixed on himwith an earnest and inquiring gaze, as if he wished to read his verythoughts. But again, he fancied that in that idea he must have beenmistaken. He saw clearly, that at all events, there was something whichthe boy wished to conceal, and whatever was the cause of his attachment,he felt gratified in the knowledge that there was one more human beingwho could care for him, in the world.
We will not accompany the travellers each day in their long and tediousjourney, in company with the returning pilgrims, of whom, in a shorttime, they became very weary, so much so, that Javis was of opinion theymight now venture to travel on at a faster speed, by themselves. Forthis purpose, he left the party, as they encamped, in search of some ofthe numerous wandering bands of his people, whom he had heard were inthe neighbourhood.
He returned the next morning before break of day, with the intelligencethat he had procured a telga, which was in waiting a short distance inadvance, to which he led Ivan and their young companion, before thepilgrims had begun their march. These were, accordingly, soon left along way behind. Our travellers were fortunate in procuring a constantchange of horses and vehicles, from the friendly tribes of Zingani, orfrom peasants with whom they had communication, so that they rapidlyapproached the confines of the Empire, to cross which would proveanother difficulty, and demand a change of disguise.
Since leaving the band of pilgrims, Ivan and his companions had kept asouth-westerly course, as much as possible, by cross-roads andbye-paths, both to avoid observation, and because, in the moreunfrequented parts of the country, Javis had a greater chance ofencountering some of the wandering tribes of his people. Indeed, frominformation he had received, he expected to find a party of themencamped in the neighbourhood of the Pruth. The travellers were nowapproaching that river, where it divides the principality of Moldaviafrom the Russian province of Bessarabia, in which they now were; theirgreatest hazard being in passing the Russian posts on the frontier,though they had yet other dangers to encounter, from the numerous spiessent out by the Imperial government, who exercise complete influence inthe principality, to the very borders of the Turkish provinces.
As they journeyed on, they observed a figure before them, jumping andsinging as he went, now and then stopping to look around him, and thenagain pursuing his extraordinary antics. When he saw the partyapproaching, instead of endeavouring to escape, by increasing his speed,he turned round to meet them. In this ragged, half-witted creature,fantastically dressed in coloured rags and tatters, Javis recognised oneof his own race. A few words from Javis, in the Rommany language,brought the poor being directly to their side. He gave them tounderstand that an encampment of his people was not far off, adding thathe would lead them to the spot.
As they came in sight of the encampment, several fierce-looking men ofthe Zingani, on seeing strangers approach, rushed out with threateninggestures; but when Javis called to them in their own language, they gavehim a hearty, though a rude welcome, and forthwith ushered the strangerswithin the circle of their camp.
Here all the people of the tribe gathered round the travellers, tellingthem that they had been already informed of their approach, and wereprepared to offer them assistance. Javis, in return, explained thewishes of his friend and himself, and the necessity of proceedingwithout delay. Several men at once volunteered to assist them incrossing the river at an unguarded spot, and to be answerable for theirsafety, on condition of their assuming the dress and character of theirown people, as they were in the custom of communicating with others oftheir tribe in Moldavia. They also advised them to continue the samedisguise till they had arrived in the Turkish provinces, as numeroustribes of their people were in the country, who would assist them. Sucha dress would, moreover, exempt them from the attack of the numerousrobbers who infested the land, but who would not deem such poor-lookingwayfarers worth pillaging.
To this proposition Ivan gladly assented; and, after a plentiful supplyof provisions had been placed before them, Javis set about arranging thenecessary dresses; the Zingani treating Ivan and his youthful companionwith the greatest respect.
While engaged in this employment, the brow of Javis grew more cloudedand uneasy than before. As he passed Ivan, he would turn a quickuncertain glance towards him, his countenance assuming an expression asif a sudden pang had tormented him, and then he would endeavour to lookcalm and composed as before.
Ivan, overcome with the fatigue of his journey, gladly accepted theoffer made by the chief of the tribe to rest in his tent, where throwinghimself on a heap of skins, he was soon wrapt in deep sleep, it yetwanting some time before it would be safe to venture across the Pruth.
The dark shades of evening were fast coming on, and the sky gavethreatening warnings of a rough tempestuous night, when Javis,unperceived, as he thought, by any of the people, stole from the camp.He looked tremblingly behind him, but saw no one following, and againpursued his way. He hastened onwards at a fast rate, then stopped andhesitated; fear and doubt were working in his breast. At last hemustered all his courage, and again ran quickly on. His purpose hescarce dared utter to himself. Could he, the hitherto brave, the true,the most loved of all his tribe, be guilty of treachery?
The long-threatened storm now broke with sudden fury; the lightningflashed brightly, and the wind loudly howled. Javis kept up his speed.The Russian guard-house was in sight, when a flash brighter and moredazzling than before darted from the clouds. For a moment his eyes wereblinded. He looked up, and fancied that a tall and majestic form rosebefore him. The attitude of this phantom of his brain was threatening;the countenance fierce and angry.
He beheld before him, as he believed, the spirit of his tribe, such asit had been described to him. He thought a voice, as if borne on theblast of the tempest, uttered these awful words:
"Cursed is he who shall hinder the friend of our tribe on his way;doubly cursed the betrayer of the confiding one, and thrice cursed theperjurer."
The youth's eyes rolled wildly; his heart throbbed with violentpulsation; his limbs trembled. He could not move. He fell prostrate tothe earth, where he lay for some time--he knew not how long. A gentletouch on his shoulder recalled him to consciousness.
"Rise!" said a gentle voice, yet trembling as if with alarm; "rise! youcould not do the vile deed. Thank the great spirit that you have beensaved so cursed an act--an act so contrary to your nature. Think youthus to have won a maiden's love? She would have doubly hated you.Rise, and return to the camp, and henceforward atone by fidelity, foryour thoughts of treach
ery. Guard with your own life his you would havetaken, and in time the curse, which hangs over you for your oath brokenin thought, may be averted."
The speaker turned, and flew towards the camp, when Javis arose, andthrew himself on his knees on the ground.
"Great spirit," he cried, "I will obey you! Take but this heavy cursefrom off me, and I will follow this stranger wheresoever he listeth togo. Never will I quit him until I see him in safety in his native land.Though my heart consume with hopeless love, yet will I endure all forhis sake. Let this heavy trial gain me pardon."
Javis arose, and fled back to the camp.
Ivan, unconscious of the danger and treachery he had escaped, awoke andcame forth from his tent; soon after which Javis, having thrown asideall marks of age, appeared in his proper character, and Ivan gladlyfollowed his example. Returning again to the tent, he equipped himselfas a young Gipsy, Conrin having also assumed the same