The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
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on opposing sides. Still let us bejoined in heart, and endeavour to mitigate the horrors of this war."
"That I will do as far as lies in my power," said Thaddeus. "But now,my friend, I must hasten back to my post, or I may be missed. I havemany enemies who would make the utmost of any departure from duty. TheCount Erintoff, who has lately arrived here, and who knows I am yourfriend, is my colonel, and would gladly find an excuse for ruining me."
"Ah!" exclaimed Ivan, "I long to meet that man in the field, to punishhim for his atrocities."
"He well deserves punishment; but I must not speak of him; and now,farewell. I know not when we may meet again; but believe me, myfriendship will ever remain unchanged."
Saying which, Thaddeus warmly clasped his friend's hand, and hastenedback to resume the post he had quitted.
Javis and the guide, who had retired to a short distance during theconference, now approached; and on their way back to the village, Javisrelated to his master his adventures in the fort. As Ivan entered theguest-house, the Hadji started up from his couch, eager to hear anaccount of his adventures, laughing heartily at the success of Javis'sdisguise, and of the defeat of the plan to entrap him.
"So the General of the Urus thinks we are prepared to attack him, doeshe?" he exclaimed. "Bismillah! we will make his fears come true. Ishall not sleep all night for thinking of some plan to surprise him."
Volume 2, Chapter XV.
How often in our lives have we been obliged to quit some delightfulabode, or some enchanting scene of pleasure, to visit places and personswe dislike, or to mix in the coarse bustle of the vulgar world! and thusmust we once again lead our readers from the beautiful and romanticscenery of Circassia, and from its gallant inhabitants, to the detestedcastle of Ghelendjik, and into the presence of its fierce governor.
The Baron Galetzoff had just returned from riding round thefortifications, and was about to throw himself on his couch for thenight, when his servant entered the room to announce Count Erintoff.Throwing his cloak around him, he angrily arose to receive his guest.
"You come at an unseasonable hour, Count," he said, with a harsh tone."Am I to have no rest either from friends or foes? What brings youhere?"
"I come with news which may interest you; but for your private ear,General," returned the Count, looking at the servant who remained.
"Why stay you here? Begone, sirrah," exclaimed the Baron to the man,who hastily disappeared. "Now, Count, your news," he continued, turningto his guest, and relaxing his features a little. "It is late, and Iwould try to seek some rest; so pray no delay."
"My news is not of much general importance," returned the Count; "but toyou, Baron, it may afford some satisfaction. At length I have foundthat immaculate officer, Lieutenant Stanisloff, tripping, if indeed I donot succeed in proving him a traitor. As he was to mount one of theouter guards to-night, it occurred to me that he might perhapscommunicate with that arch-traitor, your once adopted son, whom, as Itold you, I recognised among the horde of the mountain barbarians wewere engaged with yesterday. I, therefore, having gone my rounds,waited for some time, and returned to his post; but when summoned, hedid not answer: he was nowhere to be found. I, therefore, left myorderly to watch him, enjoining secrecy, and called others to witnessthat he was absent from his post, in the face of the enemy. My orderlyhas just come in to say, that after a long absence, he returned from thedirection of the mountains. He is, therefore, entirely in your power;but I would not seize him without first consulting your wishes."
"Then haste, seize him, and bring him here at once," said the Baron."To-morrow he shall die."
The Count hurried off to obey, and during his absence, which lasted sometime, the Baron strode up and down the room in an angry mood.
At length the Count returned with Thaddeus Stanisloff, his prisoner,strongly guarded.
"So, Lieutenant Stanisloff," said the Baron, glaring fiercely at him,"you have been absent from your post when before the enemy. You haveheld conversation with an arch-traitor to the Emperor, and you aresuspected of an intention to desert your colours."
"Whoever accuses me," exclaimed Thaddeus, returning the Baron's lookfirmly, "speaks a foul and slanderous falsehood, if he says that I am,or ever have been wanting, in my allegiance to the Emperor."
"I accuse you," cried the Count stepping forward. "I myself discoveredthat you were absent from your post."
"I grant it," replied Thaddeus firmly; "and I await my punishment; but,beyond that, whoever was your informer is a vile slanderer."
"Know you not that even for what you acknowledge to have done, yourpunishment is death?" said the Baron. "Confess therefore where youwent, or expect no mercy."
"I expect no mercy at your hands," answered Thaddeus. "If I deservedeath, I am prepared to meet it."
"Hear me, obstinate youth," cried the Baron, "you have held somecommunication with my once reputed son. You may do so again, but in thecompany of some trusty guards; and if I can see him safe within thewalls of this fort, not only shall you go free, and your crime beoverlooked, but your rise shall be rapid in the army, and honours anddistinctions shall await you."
At these words the prisoner seemed to gasp for breath. "BaronGaletzoff, I am in your power," he exclaimed, "or you should pay dearfor such an insult as you have now offered me. Think you that a son ofmy unhappy and enslaved country can be sunk so low as to hear calmlysuch vile propositions? No! you have torn us from our homes, you havetaken from us our lands, you have ravaged our fields, you haveoverthrown our kingdom, and ruined our once proud families; but youcannot take from us our honour. I have ever been faithful to yourEmperor, our conqueror. I defy your malice. I will speak no more."
The Baron's own stern eye sunk before the noble indignation of theprisoner, as standing before him without trembling, he folded his armson his breast. "Madman," cried the Baron furiously, "you bring yourdoom on your own head. No power in heaven or earth shall save you."
Thaddeus spoke not, but looking towards heaven seemed to implore itsaid.
"Colonel Erintoff," continued the governor, "I commit this prisoner toyour charge, and you will take measures that he does not escape."
"I will strictly obey your orders, General," said the Count with asignificant and sinister look.
Closely guarded, Thaddeus was led out and placed in a miserable hut,built to serve the purpose of a prison for the fort.
He passed a wretched night, heavily ironed. Indignation at the Baron'sbase propositions at first smothered all thoughts of his own impendingfate. He rejoiced that Ivan had escaped; but he longed to warn him ofthe danger he ran; and the impossibility of doing so added to thepoignancy of his feelings. By degrees the conviction of his ownmiserable destiny crept on him.
"How dark! How wretched is all around me," he cried in the agony of hisspirit. "Do thus end all my hopes of military glory? Must I die withmy once proud name blackened and disgraced; my character as an officermaligned? My father's last few and sad days hastened by the foulhistory of his son's disgrace and untimely death? I cannot bear suchthoughts! Oh that Ivan's unkind sword had rather cut me down on thefield of battle, than saved me for this end! Little does he think thatmy anxiety to see him has been the cause of this misery. No! there isno hope, no glimpse of light left me in the world. Let me prepare thento meet my inevitable fate like a man, and then my comrades in arms mayat least say, that I died with courage and firmness. And, oh heaven!give me strength to bear my lot."
He prayed, and ere the morning broke he slept calmly, even on the hardground, in sweet forgetfulness of his doom.
He was awakened by the entrance of a soldier with an open letter, sentby his brutal gaoler, in hopes of adding to his misery. It was from hisfather's kind friend announcing the death of his parent, his last wordsbeing blessings on his son.
"Heaven be praised," he cried, falling on his knees, "that misery hasbeen spared me. The rest will be easy to bear." And with a serenecountenance he prepared to meet whatever migh
t follow.
Count Erintoff soon after made his appearance; he was received byThaddeus with the most haughty coldness. "I come to learn," said theCount, "whether you have thought better of the Governor's propositions,and are prepared to accede to them, or meet the fate you deserve."
"Were I tied to the stake, I would spurn the vile offer, as I do now,"replied the prisoner. "I have no more to say."
"If such is your answer, expect no mercy," replied the Count fiercely,and he quitted the prison, greatly to the occupant's relief.
Thaddeus was left for some hours to his meditations, when, his prisondoors opening, a file