The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
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onfleet horses with embroidered housings. Their arms were highlyornamented; and, as they galloped to the spot, they flourished alofttheir long spears whose points glittered brightly. On either side thetroops were drawn up in long and close lines; the bayonets seeming toform a sharp, pointed wall of bright steel tipped with burnished silver.In different parts of the fort blazed the camp fires of the soldiers;and, in attendance on the governor, came a party of men with torches,throwing a red glare of light on all around. The miserable buildings,and dark irregular fortifications were thrown into shade, leaving onlythe gaudy and glittering panoply of war exposed to view, mocking thecalm splendour of the moon, as she glided in her course through the deepblue sky, amid myriads of bright and shining stars.
As the Russian governor reached the gate of the fort, he perceived thecommanding figure of the young Khan Besin Kaloret, and his squirestanding close behind him with a cocked pistol in his hand. Themountain warrior stood fearless and unabashed amid the gorgeous andimposing array of the Russian troops forming round him.
"Who are you," began the Baron, "who have so audaciously ventured toapproach my camp? Know you not, that I have the right and power toorder you to be instantly shot for the many atrocities committed by you,and your barbarous countrymen? Speak, what brings you here?"
"I fear not your power," calmly answered the Khan; "nor should I dieunrevenged; but I come to you with thoughts of peace, I come to craveyour assistance in an affair of import, but I cannot speak when so manyare, near who may overhear my words."
The Russian General, conscious of his own evil intentions, looked at thepistol held by the attendant Kiru. The Khan saw his glance. "Put upyour pistol, Kiru. We have nothing here to fear," he said; and, as hissquire obeyed, the Baron ordered the soldiers to fall further back.
"Now tell me your errand," said the General, "and say who you are."
"It matters not who I am," replied the Khan, "but my errand is this; Iwould possess myself of a fair girl, the daughter of a chieftain, who,with a small band of followers travels this way to-morrow. Though theyare brave, they may be easily overpowered if you will follow mysuggestions. Now hear me, General of the Moscov. If you will send onehundred of your foot soldiers with me, I will lead them to a spot wherethey may remain in ambush, till the chief and his band pass that way.They may then rush out and take them prisoners if you will, and as myreward I claim the chieftain's daughter."
"The plan might succeed," answered the Baron, doubtingly. "But how canI know that you mean no treachery? I cannot trust your countrymen."
"You might know that I would not play you false, by coming here amongyour troops in your camp. If you doubt me, slay me. I am in yourpower."
The unembarrassed manner in which the Khan spoke contributed to allaythe Baron's suspicions, though he still hesitated to trust the stranger.
"Suppose I follow your advice," said the General, "how can it succeed?for, overlooked as we are by the enemy's scouts, none can leave the fortwithout being perceived."
"I have arranged that also," answered the Khan. "My squire, whom I cantrust as myself, will go forth to lead the scouts astray with falsereports, and none shall interrupt our proceedings. The spot too onwhich I have fixed is near at hand, so that you may send assistance ifrequired. Will you do therefore as I wish?"
"How can I be assured of your fidelity?" again inquired the Baron. "Imust have some hostage to prove that you are not deceiving me, youyourself must stay while you send some one to point out the spot; andwhen the girl you speak of is captured, you shall have your reward."
"That cannot be," replied the Khan, equally distrustful; "I must myselflead your fighting men to the place of ambush; and must also be near athand to carry off the daughter of the chief, that none may know I hadaught to do with the surprise. The rest treat as you will; but youstill distrust me. It is well. I will send out my squire beforeday-break to clear the country round of scouts, and when he returns heshall remain as a hostage to prove my truth. Is it not well?"
The Baron at length agreed to the proposed plan, congratulating himselfin the hope, that, by the capture of a chieftain, with all his familyand women, by retaining them as hostages, he should bring intosubjection all his landsmen and followers; and finally, by detaining theyoung Khan as a prisoner for the same purpose, a justly severeretaliation would be inflicted on the treachery of his countrymen. TheBaron therefore ordered double the number of infantry asked for, withsome light field-pieces, and a troop of Cossacks to attend, the Khan andto watch the proceedings with orders to kill him should he attempt toescape.
The conference being over, the young traitor was conducted to a hutprepared for him, where refreshments were offered, and every inducementheld out, with promises of valuable presents should he quit theCircassian cause, and with his followers join the Russians. But hiscupidity could not be excited. Revenge for the insult he considered hisfamily to have received alone ruled his actions. He turned a deaf earto their most tempting offers, though, to disarm suspicion, he pretendedto be influenced by these propositions.
Not so, however, his squire, who hoped to partake of the rich presentsand advantages which his master would acquire, if he accepted theRussian's offers; and he determined to use his utmost persuasions withthe Khan for the purpose.
The next morning before the sun had risen, Kiru stealthily sallied forthfrom the fort, and fully succeeded in misleading the scouts of theCircassians, who dreamed not of such treachery. But on his return, tohis great surprise, he found himself detained a prisoner. What was theKhan's dismay, also, when he found how different were the arrangementsmade from what he had himself proposed, and that he was completely inthe power of his enemies? But he had now advanced too far to retracehis steps, so that at all hazards he determined to attempt the seizureof Ina, hoping at all events to escape with her in the melee.
It was clear, however, that he did not at first intend to prove acomplete traitor to his countrymen, nor, till driven to desperation byfinding himself out-witted, would he have drawn his sword against them.If his countrymen saw him rescue Ina, she would become his fair prize,and he thought that most of her friends would escape by the fleetness oftheir horses.
Volume 2, Chapter XI.
The household of Arslan Gherrei were early astir on the followingmorning, to be in readiness to commence their journey, whenever theirchief should give the order. Several household slaves, Calmucks, andeven Russians, who had been taken prisoners, and one or two Poles,deserters from the enemy, but who had not yet proved their fidelity tothe Circassians, by wielding their swords against their late masters,were employed in loading the sturdy ponies with the articles which thewomen had prepared. Lighter steeds were in readiness to carry thefemales; and one of fine proportions, with sleek skin, and long-flowingmane and tail, as docile as a dog, was destined to bear the graceful andslender form of the chieftain's daughter. The beautiful animal wasdecked with rich housings of scarlet cloth trimmed with gold; slenderreins of leather entwined with a golden thread, and bunches of wildflowers in his head. And truly he seemed conscious of the care bestowedon him, and proud of the charge he was accustomed to carry.
After the frugal morning meal had been dispatched, the fair Ina,blooming in the fresh morning air, came forth from her dwelling, and thechieftain himself appeared, to conduct her to her steed. In addition toher other dress, she now wore a scarlet mantle worked with gold, and ahat, the rim turned up on one side, in which was placed a white plumefastened by a jewel of price; while a thicker veil hung in ample foldsfrom her head to shroud her features, if she pleased, from the rays ofthe sun, or the too admiring gaze of strangers.
As soon as their young mistress had mounted, the women and the rest ofthe party followed her example, her father riding by her side, to guideher palfrey through the more difficult part of the road. The womenservants and slaves followed next; the household attendants bringing upthe rear with the baggage horses. As the cavalcade proceeded along theplateau or terrace before described
, and wound down the steep sides ofthe mountain, and along the valley towards the sea, it was joined bybands of horsemen, of ten to twenty at a time, arriving from differentdirections; so that, by the time they had reached the defile whichopened on the sea-coast, the party amounted to nearly a hundredwarriors.
Some of them were nobles of little consequence or wealth, who were gladto attach themselves to the standard of so gallant a leader as the braveUzden Arslan Gherrei; and others were yeomen and freemen, who had beenfollowers of his family for ages. Some wore entire suits of armour;others, only breast-plates and helmets; others, were without anydefensive armour; but all were completely supplied with weapons: lightguns slung at the back, scimitars attached to their sides, pistols intheir belts behind, and the cama or dagger at their waists. The restwore the tight-fitting