The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
Page 97
by the roar of their cannon, and, with scarcelytime to save their lives, and those still dearer to them, have beendriven to the mountain fastnesses, whence they have seen theirhabitations and their goods committed to the flames! What redress havewe but deep, deep revenge? Are we slaves, are we Armenian Kaffirs, tosubmit to these insults? No, my countrymen, we are gallant warriors,descended from a long line of Princes, and of nobles; who have neverbowed their necks to the yoke of slavery, who were chiefs and conquerorslong ere the wolf-like flocks of the Urus broke through the regions ofthe north, to seize the rich and smiling lands which surround us. Shallwe then allow them for a moment to suppose, that weary with ourprotracted struggle, we also are prepared to swell their list ofconquests? Shall we act like the weak and effeminate Georgians, andtamely submit to be dragged in chains to the foot-stool of their Czar?Shall we consent to see our children led to slaughter, among the slavishranks of their army? Shall we see our wives and daughters carried offas worse than slaves? Shall castles and towers be built on everymountain's brow, throughout the country, to awe the people intosubjection; for thus only could they hold the lands of the Atteghei? Wehave set them lately an example of moderation, but they would not profitby it. Let us now give them a lesson, that may not easily escape theirmemory. Let us remind them that we have not forgotten how to offer asevere retaliation for injuries; and let us shew them that we are anation of warriors, who fear not their force, mighty as it might be, andthat we despise their innumerable hosts of slaves. Then onward, mycountrymen, onward men of Atteghei, and may Allah prosper our arms!"
This oration of their veteran leader was received with sincereexpressions of approbation by the chiefs, and with acclamations ofapplause by the dense mass of their followers who formed an outer circleround the orator.
"Remember, my countrymen," he resumed; "that the Urus call usuncivilised barbarians and robbers. Let us shew them that we have morehumanity than they; that we know `the native rights man claims fromman;' and that never will we defile our arms with cruelty. Let us treattheir women, as hitherto, with courtesy and kindness, to shew them thatwe war not against them. Let us not stop to plunder the defencelessinhabitants of their stores except their cattle which we will drive awayto deprive them of the means of remaining in our neighbourhood. Let usconfine our further efforts to capturing their cannon, their arms, andammunition; for it is those we alone require to make our countryimpregnable to their attacks. Follow these rules, strictly obey yourcommanders, and victory will be ours. I have done. By to-morrow'sdawn, we will begin our march; and before the Russians awake from theirslumbers, we will be beyond their forts."
Again repeated shouts arose, and all promised to obey his injunctions.
The Seraskier then explained to the chiefs his proposed plan ofoperations. First, that the infantry who were composed chiefly of thepeasants of the hamlets, nearest the Kouban--sturdy fellows inured toborder warfare--should be left on the further bank of that river tocover their retreat, if hard-pressed, and to secure the herds of cattlethey might capture. That they should advance as far as the town ofKislavosk, take it by surprise, with the greater number of the cavalry;or, at all events, endeavour to give full occupation to the Russiantroops, while the rest might drive off the cattle from the neighbouringcountry; and then, if victorious, and not pursued on their return, makea wide extended sweep, clearing everything before them.
The sagacious General himself, as well as Arslan Gherrei, and a fewothers, would have preferred confining their efforts entirely to takingthe Russian forts, and endeavouring to carry off their cannon andpowder; but they knew too well, that many of their followers would notexert themselves to the utmost without their holding out some prospectof a rich booty; and we must remember, that every man in the host foughtwithout pay of any sort, finding his own arms, ammunition, and food; sothat it was but natural they should wish for some recompense for leavingtheir occupations and farms at that inclement season of the year,besides the mere satisfaction of annoying the enemy. They allunderstood the necessity of defending their own territories whenattacked; but to make a forage into the enemy's country without carryingoff booty was in their ideas a folly: with the prospect of booty, allwere ready to fight.
Upwards of six thousand horsemen were now collected, chiefly from oneprovince alone; but among that vast concourse of wild warriors, at thisexciting moment, the utmost order and decorum prevailed, owing to thecourtesy of the chiefs, and the habitual sedateness of the men; thoughthere was an entire absence of discipline and subordination throughoutthe whole host.
Having; received the directions and advice of the Seraskier, the chiefsseparated to put themselves at the head of their respective followers;to advance towards the Kouban; and, bivouacking close to its banks, togive time to other fresh reinforcements of cavalry from the furtherpoints to assemble; while the infantry were to advance at once to thestation they were to occupy, and be in readiness to assist the cavalryin the morning.
At a given signal, the whole body then advanced a few miles towards theplace they had agreed on for a bivouac; entirely dispensing with tentsor covering of any sort, except their thick cloaks. As each trooparrived, they piquetted their horses to the low shrubs which grew aboutthe plain, lighting their watch-fires, which blazed up in the darknessof night. For a long time fresh bands continued to arrive everyinstant, increasing the widely extended circle of flames, until theplain seemed dotted with fires as from some volcanic ground. The hardywarriors, wrapt in their cloaks, assembled round them listening to thesongs of their minstrels, who never on such occasions failed to jointheir bands, and cheer their spirits.
Round one fire, wrapped in thick horse-cloaks, sat the champion, ArslanGherrei, with Selem, Thaddeus, the Hadji, and several other chiefs.
"Now, my son," said the old warrior, Hadji, "to-morrow you will have afield worthy of your bravery, and honour your father by your deeds.Where the thickest of the fight is, there let your sword be waving amidthe ranks of the foe. By example alone, can we expect our followers tobe brave; and those nations quickly become slaves to their neighbours,whose chiefs hang back in the combat. It is only by being ready tosacrifice our own lives, that we can secure the liberty of our country;and how much better is it to be sent to the realms of paradise, than toeke out a few more years of existence, with the galling chains of theslave! But I fear not for you, my son."
Alp rose and took his father's hand. The act was unpremeditated, andscarce consciously performed; he knelt by his side. "Father your sonshall not disgrace you."
The words were simple, but there was a deep tone of feeling, whichshowed that he would keep his word. He took no oath, nor called thegods to witness his words; and his father was satisfied.
At length, one by one, the party sought a few hours' repose, wrapped intheir cloaks with their feet towards the fire, and their heads pillowedon their saddles. The clear sky was densely spangled with myriads ofbrilliant stars. Ere Selem slept he looked round on the scene. Far asthe eye could reach, the wide heath was covered with the recumbentfigures of the warriors; yet a moment would call them all into fierceactivity, should the Russians draw nigh. Yet though they seemed so calmto the eye, who could know the fiery thoughts and passions working inthe brain of the sleeping thousands? Even now, many in imagination wereengaging in the onslaught of the morrow.
Oft did the image of Ina return to Thaddeus, as he slept. His thoughtsthen flew to his far distant home, the abode of his childhood, the proudcastle of his fathers, now laid low by the hands of his country'soppressors. He saw the Eagle of Russia hovering over the slaughteredbodies of his countrymen, while captives knelt in chains, bound to thestaff of her standard. In the midst of them appeared a warrior ofmajestic front and noble bearing, one who had never bent the knee todespotism. As he waved his sword, the chains fell from the captives'necks, the dead arose, and the Eagles fled shrieking from the landbefore the resuscitated band. Again the scene changed. He stood oncemore before his paternal castle, with Ina by his si
de. His faithfuldependants welcomed him with shouts of joy. He brought them gloriousnews. Russia had been stopped in her headlong career of victory. Shehad retreated before the gallantry of a mountain nation. Poland mightagain be free!
Volume 3, Chapter XIII.
"To horse! to horse!" was shouted about two hours before dawn, and, inthe course of a few minutes, all the warriors of that little army werein their saddles, formed in close array under their respective leaders,and advancing steadily forward. The ground over which they rode wasbroken and rough, offering many impediments to their progress; as indarkness and silence they crossed the Kouban.
"Onward, men of Atteghei," cried the Seraskier, waving his sword; and atthe signal the whole band dashed down the steep, passing a broad belt oflofty reeds ere they emerged on the now smooth and hard surface of thestream. The infantry, who were already posted on the