The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
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the land of the Atteghei, I will protect you from all dangerswhich may beset you, to the utmost of my power."
The speaker was dressed in the Circassian costume. He bore on his heada white turban. His long beard descended to his breast. He wore aflowing caftan of silk; and at his girdle, a cama or dagger, with abroad two-edged blade, and an ivory handle. His features were handsome,and his eyes sparkled with the fire and animation of youth as he spoke.
Ivan's heart bounded with joy and gratitude at his words; for one of thelast, the greatest difficulties in the accomplishment of hisundertaking, was overcome.
"Willingly do I embrace your valued offer," he said; "and I trust to beable to prove to you and all my countrymen that I go to Circassia forthe purpose alone of aiding her cause. As yet, I am a man without aname, and without friends: but the time may come when I shall find both,and be able to show my gratitude for your generosity. Till then youmust be content to remain in ignorance of my previous history. My firstendeavour shall be, to gain a noble name by gallant deeds, and thusprove myself worthy of the race from whence I sprung. I will then seeka brave and honoured sire, who may not blush to own his son. Till Ihave accomplished my purpose, I have sworn to conceal my name from all.Know me, then, alone as `The Stranger.' I bring with me but my ownwilling arm, and two faithful followers."
"It is enough," replied the old man who had before spoken. "Nor hasHadji Guz Beg lived so few years in the world that he cannot read thecountenances of men. To your's, young stranger, I can fully trust. Init I can read truth and courage. Say no more. I seek not to pry intoyour motives or private history. I have confidence in the one, and sureI am there is no disgrace in the other. You shall join us."
"I confidently put myself into your power," said Ivan. "You will thusbe able to test my truth. For that of my followers I will beanswerable."
Javis and young Conrin were now invited to join the party, with whom theformer, in his usual manner, soon made himself acquainted.
It was arranged that, at dawn of the next morning, the Turkish ReisMustapha should return to the cafeneh, to conduct Ivan and his followersaboard his vessel, when, if the wind proved favourable, they were to setsail immediately. Ivan was surprised at his good fortune in finding avessel at Varna, bound for the Circassian coast, as he fully expected tobe obliged to touch at several Turkish ports before he was successful inhis search; but it proved that she had been driven, on her passage fromthe Bosphorus, by a violent gale of wind, thus far to the north, whenshe had been obliged to anchor to save herself from going ashore. Acalm had succeeded the gale, which, most fortunately for Ivan, haddetained her there for several days.
The principal person among the passengers was the Hadji Guz Beg, acelebrated Circassian leader, now returning from a pilgrimage which hehad undertaken to Mecca, during a short interval of peace, which theRussians had, for their own sakes, afforded his country. He spoke muchof the lands he had visited, and the adventures he had encountered,particularly of a visit he had paid to Mahomet Ali in Egypt, when hisbrother hero received him with affection and respect, urging him toremain some time with him. But news of the war in the Caucasus havingbeen renewed had caused him to hurry back to partake in its dangers andexcitement. None could look at the old warrior Hadji, without believingthat he was possessed of the most indomitable spirit and heroic bravery.As we pursue our history, we shall have much more to say of him.
The party soon separated, to make the final preparations for theirvoyage. The indefatigable Javis set out to purchase dresses and othernecessaries, nearly exhausting the remainder of their money. Ivan haddetermined to make his appearance on the Circassian shores in his nativecostume, throwing aside for ever all marks and remembrances of Russianthraldom. Conrin wished, also, to adopt the same style of dress, towhich his master willingly needed: while Javis, who claimed no nation ashis own, preferred the Turkish habit, as being suited to the language hespoke.
Javis returned late in the evening, bringing with him a sword of highlytempered Damascus steel, which he had obtained with great difficulty; arifle and dagger for Ivan, and a brace of pistols for himself. He hadprocured, moreover, a handsome Circassian coat of dark cloth trimmedwith silver, and a red cap, trimmed with fur, with other parts of thedress for his master, and a light-coloured tunic and vest, with a cloakfor the page, for whom he also brought a sharp silver-mounted dagger andpistols.
It would be difficult to describe the feelings of satisfaction withwhich Ivan assumed the garb of his ancestors. In imagination, hefancied himself at the head of a faithful band of his tribe--if inreality he could claim the rank of leader--ready to rush down on theinvaders of his paternal shores; he grasped his sword, gazing on it witha stern and determined eye, and internally vowing never to sheathe it,until they had been driven from the land, or to perish with it bravelyin his hand. As he drew himself up to his full height, with eyedilated, thoughts abstracted from all present scenes, he looked in truthalready the gallant and brave warrior he fancied himself.
So regardless was he of all around him, that he did not observe theglance with which his youthful follower, who had silently and unobservedentered the apartment, regarded him. The boy stood rivetted to theground as he first caught sight of his master in his new costume; andhad Ivan wished to know what effect he was likely to produce on others,he might have looked into the countenance of his page, when his vanitywould have been fully satisfied.
Neither spoke for some time; but when Ivan at last perceived the youth,"Ah! Conrin," he cried, "are you come to welcome your master in thefree garb of the mountains? Rejoice with me, that I no longer feelmyself a slave and an alien in a land of tyranny; henceforward you willfollow the fortunes of one determined to rise above the frowns of fate.Are you still resolved, boy, to share all the dangers and hardships Imust encounter, to receive alone the slender reward I may be able tooffer? Will you now quit me?"
"Oh, speak not thus, Sir," replied the boy; "where you go I willwillingly follow, through all dangers, all hardships, even to death:that I may be only near you, to warn you of any threatened harm I maydiscover, is the utmost reward I seek for my poor services. To nurseyou when wounded, to cheer your couch when you might be left to theheartless care of strangers, will be my anxious task. To accompany youon your excursions--to follow you to the field--to fight by your side--to shield your life, will be my greatest happiness."
Carried away by his feelings, the boy clasped his hands with energy ashe spoke; but in a moment he stopped in confusion, as if he hadexpressed more than he had intended.
Ivan looked at him with astonishment. "You are indeed a noble, gallantyouth," said he, "though you claim not high birth or descent; I am happyin finding so faithful and true a friend. I could not, if I wished itnow, send you back to your country, and much it would grieve my heart topart from you; but I will protect you while I live and have an arm towield my sword. Wherever I go, you shall accompany me; but I fear thatyou will be exposed to many perils in my sendee; for, believe me, theenemies of my country will not be driven from their attempt, without afierce and desperate struggle; and it may yet be many years before theyare free."
"Oh, Sir, you know not the happiness your words cause in my breast,"answered Conrin. "With you I shall laugh at all dangers anddifficulties, and fear nothing that can happen to me."
"I know your regard, my good boy. Now, leave me to myself. I would bealone, to meditate on my undertaking. A few days more will carry us tothose shores whence I wish never to return."
As the page withdrew, he cast a glance of affection at his master, andIvan sunk again into the train of thought from which he had beenaroused.
At length he rose, and wandered forth by himself, not feeling inclinedfor the company even of his faithful attendants. He climbed to thesummit of the half ruined citadel of the town, and looked forthanxiously on the broad expanse of ocean which lay calm and unruffled athis feet, longing eagerly for a breeze, to fill the sails of the barkwhich was to carry him and his fortunes
to death or victory. But not abreath fanned his cheeks as he waited, long watching, till he saw thesun descend over the land of his destination, in a broad flame of glory,tinging the whole sea with a yellow glow.
On every side, the fortifications were in a state of ruin anddilapidation, owing to the severe and protracted siege the town hadsustained from the Russians, till it was traitorously delivered intotheir hands by that execrable monster, Usef Pacha. [Vide Spenser.]
Rousing himself, he returned to the cafeneh, where he found young Conrinanxiously awaiting his arrival. The boy looked sad and melancholy, tillhe saw his master's countenance wearing a more serene expression thanbefore, when his features were lit up with pleasure, and he followed himinto the house, where they found the Hadji, the captain of the zebeque,and the rest of his passengers.
The Hadji, on first glancing towards