silence reigned on the calmscene, when, in a moment, it was broken by the loud crash of artillery,followed by the continued reports of musketry, far above which rose theloud war shriek of the Atteghei.
"Allah be praised, here is work for us, my friends, without delay!"exclaimed the gallant Hadji, in a joyous tone, "Bismillah! we will beupon them when they little expect us, and aid our friends, whoever theyare. Follow me, brave warriors."
So saying, he spurred on his charger, with his brother and Ivan by hisside, followed by the rest of the band, and galloped, by an almostprecipitous path, down the wooded sides of the hill. They passed many arocky ravine, and dry bed of winter torrents, tearing their way witheager haste through the boughs and thick underwood. Nothing could stoptheir course.
Volume 2, Chapter VII.
We have, in a previous chapter, attempted to describe the romantic andpastoral beauty of the coast of Circassia, as viewed from the sea. Wemust now transport our readers to a scene of even loftier grandeur, andmore surpassing loveliness.
On the southern side of a high mountain, thickly clothed with the variedfoliage of magnificent trees, some two or three hundred feet from thebase, was a broad and extended plateau or terrace, terminating on oneside by a steep precipice, while on the other the mountain rose inmajestic grandeur, from the side of which, amid the trees, projectedrocky crags of fantastic shapes, partly covered with the slendertendrils of creeping plants. Down the mountain's slope sparkled abright cascade, leaping from rock to rock, here hidden from sight bysome overhanging trees or jutting cliff, and there appearing more clearand joyous than before, till it fell in a spray-wreathed column into abason, from which it meandered through the small plain of the plateau,fertilising in its course several highly-cultivated fields, till itagain fell in a shower of foam over the sides of the precipice, into abeautifully green and broad valley below; there joining the pure watersof a rapid rivulet, which brawled over its rocky bed in its coursetowards the sea, through the winding gorge of the valley.
Towards the east, as far as the eye could reach, appeared hills andmountains of every form; some swelling in gentle undulations, andcovered with fields of corn or green pastures, where grazed numerousflocks and herds; some clothed to their lofty summits with magnificentforests, and others again rising in steep, rugged, and barrenabruptness. Above all were seen blue ridges of mountains, rising onebeyond the other; first clear and defined, and then growing moreindistinct and faint, till lost in the azure tint of the sky. In thesame direction, the terrace extended for some way, gradually narrowingtill it merged in the steep sides of the mountain. Some well cultivatedhigh ground of no great elevation, rose on the opposite side of thevalley, which, in the direction of the sea, narrowed into a deep ravine,taking an abrupt turn, with precipitous and insurmountable sides. Thesea face of the mountains which formed it, could be trodden by none butthe light-footed goat, or the almost equally active and daringmountain-hunters.
It was, in truth, a situation well calculated to secure a retreat, andto form a fortification against any hostile invader, if protected by afew brave and resolute men; and on that account, it had been selected asa location by the gallant chief of a once numerous tribe, who had beendriven by the Russians from his former hereditary possessions.
His residence stood just within sound of the refreshing cascade, whosepure waters flowed before his door. The house was surrounded by farmyards, well-stocked with every species of domestic animal, and everykind of poultry. Well-planted orchards formed part of the homestead;and the trees in them were now loaded with fruit.
The dwelling consisted of several separate buildings, of the usual styleof Circassian architecture; but one was arranged with more care andattention than the others. This was the anderoon, or house appropriatedto the women; it was separated from the others by a paling, which,however, was not sufficiently high to obscure the prospect. The frontlooked down the lovely valley, over many a rocky hill and cliff, beyondwhich, in the distance, was the bright blue sea. Before it extended averandah, round whose trellised supports many creeping plants had beentrained; their slender tendrils bearing sweet-smelling flowers, whichhung in graceful festoons from the top.
But it was in the interior that the brightest gem of the casket was tobe found. On a cushion of rich silk, was seated, gazing through theopen door, a young girl, lovely as one of Eve's fairest daughters. Hereyes, of the deepest blue and of dazzling lustre, shaded with long darksilky eyelashes, were gazing upon the picturesque view before her; herdelicate carnation lips were slightly parted, disclosing her pearlyteeth. Her features were perfectly regular; and the fair complexion ofher gently rounded cheeks was almost imperceptibly tinged with a roseatehue. Her raven hair fastened by a silken band over her forehead, fellin a long plait behind, and from her head a veil of white gauze scarcelyshrouded her graceful and slender figure. The robe she wore was of bluesilk, trimmed with silver; her full white muslin trousers were confinedwith a richly worked girdle, which encircled her waist; and smallslippers of coloured leather, beautifully worked in arabesque patternswith silver, completed her attire.
By her side lay an embroidered belt, at which she apparently had beenworking, as the golden thread still hung, unconsciously, in her slenderfingers.
At a short distance from this lovely creature, sat a little girl, busilyoccupied in spinning; whose small, quick, piercing eyes, and darkirregular features, shewed her to be not of Circassian race; a slavetaken, probably in some predatory excursion, from the Calmuck Tartars.As she pursued her occupation, she turned at times her quick glancetowards her young mistress, as if with an endeavour to catch her eye,but without avail; and she seemed fearful of arousing her from hermeditations, whatever might be their nature.
A tame kid of snowy whiteness was gambolling before the door; till,grown bold by impunity, it bounded into the room. But even the prettyanimal's playful antics did not rouse her; and the little maidendiligently plied her work, despairing of recalling the thoughts of herlady, to the affairs of the present moment.
At length the sound of a distant footstep approaching the dwelling,caught her ear, she started from the reverie. "Run, Buda, run!" shecried, in tones of silvery sweetness, "haste, maiden! and see whoapproaches; but whoever they may be, stop them from coming here. Say Ican see no one to-day; I am ill at ease; I should weep to see strangers.Shew them to the guest room, but not here. Say I would see friendsanother day, but I cannot now. Go, child."
The little girl was flying to obey these mandates, when the young beautystooped for a moment, in the attitude of listening. "Stay, Buda, stay;it is useless. My fears have made me fanciful. Those are my father'sfootsteps. Haste, Buda, to usher him to my apartment."
While she spoke, the subject of her meditations appeared at the entranceof the apartment, ushered in, according to etiquette, by the youthfulslave. As he entered, he bowed low, his lofty plumed helmet touchingthe door-sill, and as his graceful daughter rose from her silkencushions to receive and welcome him, he folded her in a tender embrace.
He was a warrior of commanding and majestic stature, clothed in completearmour. His coat of mail richly inlaid with gold, shone brightly withsteel of the highest polish. His curling dark moustache and beard wereyet untinged by any of the hues which betoken the approach of age,though his stern and fine features were marked with many furrows,indicating deep thought and numerous cares. He raised from his head hisglittering helm, which his daughter respectfully took and placed by herside, as he seated himself on the ottoman and beckoned her to sit nearhim.
"It is long, my father," said the fair girl, "since I have rejoiced inthe light of your presence; and oh, what pleasure do you bring to mewhen you come! I was before sad and thoughtful, and now I feel lightand happy. Say, what has kept you so long away?"
"My own sweet Ina," answered the chieftain, "in these times of war andof constant peril, I have many things to attend to; and it does notbecome a warrior to spare many moments from his duties, even though hespend them in soft
intercourse with one so loved as you, my child. Ihave even but now returned from mustering the small remnant of thefaithful followers whom his foes have left to Arslan Gherrei; to seethat they are well supplied with arms, horses and food, for a campaign.But why, Ina, were you just now, so sad and thoughtful?"
"Oh do not ask me, my father! now that I am again happy," replied thedaughter. "I did but for a moment feel somewhat ill, and feared thatguests were coming whom I did not wish to receive. I am well again, myfather, now that you are with me."
"I have matter of importance to communicate to you," said the chief,"you know Ina, that I so love you, that for all the riches of the mightyPadishah of the Osmanlis, I would not part from you; but yet, sweet one,the stern necessity of war compels me to leave you, and I must haste tojoin the hosts of my countrymen to repel our invaders. I may perchancefall, and leave you
The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia Page 52