The Daughter of the Commandant: Ch. 11 - The Rebel Camp

Ch. 11 - The Rebel Camp

I left the General and made haste to return home.

Sav�liitch greeted me with his usual remonstrances--

"What pleasure can you find, sir, in fighting with these drunken
robbers? Is it the business of a _'boy�r_?' The stars are not always
propitious, and you will only get killed for naught. Now if you were
making war with Turks or Swedes! But I'm ashamed even to talk of these
fellows with whom you are fighting."

I interrupted his speech.

"How much money have I in all?"

"Quite enough," replied he, with a complacent and satisfied air. "It was
all very well for the rascals to hunt everywhere, but I over-reached
them."

Thus saying he drew from his pocket a long knitted purse, all full of
silver pieces.

"Very well, Sav�liitch," said I. "Give me half what you have there, and
keep the rest for yourself. I am about to start for Fort B�logorsk."

"Oh! my father, Petr' Andr�j�tch," cried my good follower, in a
tremulous voice; "do you not fear God? How do you mean to travel now
that all the roads be blocked by the robbers? At least, take pity on
your parents if you have none on yourself. Where do you wish to go?
Wherefore? Wait a bit, the troops will come and take all the robbers.
Then you can go to the four winds."

My resolution was fixed.

"It is too late to reflect," I said to the old man. "I must go; it is
impossible for me not to go. Do not make yourself wretched, Sav�liitch.
God is good; we shall perhaps meet again. Mind you be not ashamed to
spend my money; do not be a miser. Buy all you have need of, even if you
pay three times the value of things. I make you a present of the money
if in three days' time I be not back."

"What's that you're saying, sir?" broke in Sav�liitch; "that I shall
consent to let you go alone? Why, don't dream of asking me to do so. If
you have resolved to go I will e'en go along with you, were it on foot;
but I will not forsake you. That I should stay snugly behind a stone
wall! Why, I should be mad! Do as you please, sir, but I do not leave
you."

I well knew it was not possible to contradict Sav�liitch, and I allowed
him to make ready for our departure.

In half-an-hour I was in the saddle on my horse, and Sav�liitch on a
thin and lame "_garron_," which a townsman had given him for nothing,
having no longer anything wherewith to feed it. We gained the town
gates; the sentries let us pass, and at last we were out of Orenburg.

Night was beginning to fall. The road I had to follow passed before the
little village of Berd, held by Pugatch�f. This road was deep in snow,
and nearly hidden; but across the steppe were to be seen tracks of
horses each day renewed.

I was trotting. Sav�liitch could hardly keep up with me, and cried to me
every minute--

"Not so fast, sir, in heaven's name not so fast! My confounded
'_garron_' cannot catch up your long-legged devil. Why are you in such a
hurry? Are we bound to a feast? Rather have we our necks under the axe.
Petr' Andr�j�tch! Oh! my father, Petr' Andr�j�tch! Oh, Lord! this
'_boy�r's_' child will die, and all for nothing!"

We soon saw twinkling the fires of Berd. We were approaching the deep
ravines which served as natural fortifications to the little settlement.
Sav�liitch, though keeping up to me tolerably well, did not give over
his lamentable supplications. I was hoping to pass safely by this
unfriendly place, when all at once I made out in the dark five peasants,
armed with big sticks.

It was an advance guard of Pugatch�f's camp. They shouted to us--

"Who goes there?"

Not knowing the pass-word, I wanted to pass them without reply, but in
the same moment they surrounded me, and one of them seized my horse by
the bridle. I drew my sword, and struck the peasant on the head. His
high cap saved his life; still, he staggered, and let go the bridle. The
others were frightened, and jumped aside. Taking advantage of their
scare, I put spurs to my horse, and dashed off at full gallop.

The fast increasing darkness of the night might have saved me from any
more difficulties, when, looking back, I discovered that Sav�liitch was
no longer with me. The poor old man with his lame horse had not been
able to shake off the robbers. What was I to do?

After waiting a few minutes and becoming certain he had been stopped, I
turned my horse's head to go to his help. As I approached the ravine I
heard from afar confused shouts, and the voice of my Sav�liitch.
Quickening my pace, I soon came up with the peasants of the advance
guard who had stopped me a few minutes previously. They had surrounded
Sav�liitch, and had obliged the poor old man to get off his horse, and
were making ready to bind him.

The sight of me filled them with joy. They rushed upon me with shouts,
and in a moment I was off my horse. One of them, who appeared to be the
leader, told me they were going to take me before the Tzar.

"And our father," added he, "will decide whether you are to be hung at
once or if we are to wait for God's sunshine!"

I offered no resistance. Sav�liitch followed my example, and the
sentries led us away in triumph.

We crossed the ravine to enter the settlement. All the peasants' houses
were lit up. All around arose shouts and noise. I met a crowd of people
in the street, but no one paid any attention to us, or recognized in me
an officer of Orenburg. We were taken to a "_izb�_," built in the angle
of two streets. Near the door were several barrels of wine and two
cannons.

"Here is the palace!" said one of the peasants; "we will go and announce
you."

He entered the "_izb�_." I glanced at Sav�liitch; the old man was making
the sign of the cross, and muttering prayers. We waited a long time. At
last the peasant reappeared, and said to me--

"Come, our father has given orders that the officer be brought in."

I entered the "_izb�_," or the palace, as the peasant called it. It was
lighted by two tallow candles, and the walls were hung with gold paper.
All the rest of the furniture, the benches, the table, the little
washstand jug hung to a cord, the towel on a nail, the oven fork
standing up in a corner, the wooden shelf laden with earthen pots, all
was just as in any other "_izb�_. Pugatch�f sat beneath the holy
pictures in a red caftan and high cap, his hand on his thigh. Around
him stood several of his principal chiefs, with a forced expression of
submission and respect. It was easy to see that the news of the arrival
of an officer from Orenburg had aroused a great curiosity among the
rebels, and that they were prepared to receive me in pomp. Pugatch�f
recognized me at the first glance. His feigned gravity disappeared at
once.

"Ah! it is your lordship," said he, with liveliness. "How are you? What
in heaven's name brings you here?"

I replied that I had started on a journey on my own business, and that
his people had stopped me.

"And on what business?" asked he.

I knew not what to say. Pugatch�f, thinking I did not want to explain
myself before witnesses, made a sign to his comrades to go away. All
obeyed except two, who did not offer to stir.

"Speak boldly before these," said Pugatch�f; "hide nothing from them."

I threw a side glance upon these two confederates of the usurper. One of
them, a little old man, meagre and bent, with a scanty grey beard, had
nothing remarkable about him, except a broad blue ribbon worn cross-ways
over his caftan of thick grey cloth. But I shall never forget his
companion. He was tall, powerfully built, and appeared to be about
forty-five. A thick red beard, piercing grey eyes, a nose without
nostrils, and marks of the hot iron on his forehead and on his cheeks,
gave to his broad face, seamed with small-pox, a strange and indefinable
expression. He wore a red shirt, a Kirghiz dress, and wide Cossack
trousers. The first, as I afterwards learnt, was the deserter, Corporal
B�loborodoff. The other, Athanasius Sokoloff, nicknamed Khlop�sha,[63]
was a criminal condemned to the mines of Siberia, whence he had escaped
three times. In spite of the feelings which then agitated me, this
company wherein I was thus unexpectedly thrown greatly impressed me. But
Pugatch�f soon recalled me to myself by his question.

"Speak! On what business did you leave Orenburg?"

A strange idea occurred to me. It seemed to me that Providence, in
bringing me a second time before Pugatch�f, opened to me a way of
executing my project. I resolved to seize the opportunity, and, without
considering any longer what course I should pursue, I replied to
Pugatch�f--

"I was going to Fort B�logorsk, to deliver there an orphan who is being
oppressed."

Pugatch�f's eyes flashed.

"Who among my people would dare to harm an orphan?" cried he. "Were he
ever so brazen-faced, he should never escape my vengeance! Speak, who
is the guilty one?"

"Chvabrine," replied I; "he keeps in durance the same young girl whom
you saw with the priest's wife, and he wants to force her to become his
wife."

"I'll give him a lesson, Master Chvabrine!" cried Pugatch�f, with a
fierce air. "He shall learn what it is to do as he pleases under me, and
to oppress my people. I'll hang him."

"Bid me speak a word," broke in Khlop�sha, in a hoarse voice. "You were
too hasty in giving Chvabrine command of the fort, and now you are too
hasty in hanging him. You have already offended the Cossacks by giving
them a gentleman as leader--do not, therefore, now affront the gentlemen
by executing them on the first accusation."

"They need neither be overwhelmed with favours nor be pitied," the
little old man with the blue ribbon now said, in his turn. "There would
be no harm in hanging Chvabrine, neither would there be any harm in
cross-examining this officer. Why has he deigned to pay us a visit? If
he do not recognize you as Tzar, he needs not to ask justice of you; if,
on the other hand, he do recognize you, wherefore, then, has he stayed
in Orenburg until now, in the midst of your enemies. Will you order that
he be tried by fire?[64] It would appear that his lordship is sent to us
by the Generals in Orenburg."

The logic of the old rascal appeared plausible even to me. An
involuntary shudder thrilled through me as I remembered in whose hands I
was.

Pugatch�f saw my disquiet.

"Eh, eh! your lordship," said he, winking, "it appears to me my
field-marshal is right. What do you think of it?"

The banter of Pugatch�f in some measure restored me to myself.

I quietly replied that I was in his power, and that he could do with me
as he listed.

"Very well," said Pugatch�f; "now tell me in what state is your town?"

"Thank God," replied I, "all is in good order."

"In good order!" repeated Pugatch�f, "and the people are dying of hunger
there."

The usurper spoke truth; but, according to the duty imposed on me by my
oath, I assured him it was a false report, and that Orenburg was amply
victualled.

"You see," cried the little old man, "that he is deceiving you. All the
deserters are unanimous in declaring famine and plague are in Orenburg,
that they are eating carrion there as a dish of honour. And his lordship
assures us there is abundance of all. If you wish to hang Chvabrine,
hang on the same gallows this lad, so that they need have naught
wherewith to reproach each other."

The words of the confounded old man seemed to have shaken Pugatch�f.

Happily, Khlop�sha began to contradict his companion.

"Hold your tongue, Na�mitch," said he; "you only think of hanging and
strangling. It certainly suits you well to play the hero. Already you
have one foot in the grave, and you want to kill others. Have you not
enough blood on your conscience?"

"But are you a saint yourself?" retorted B�loborodoff. "Wherefore, then,
this pity?"

"Without doubt," replied Khlop�sha, "I am also a sinner, and this hand"
(he closed his bony fist, and turning back his sleeve displayed his
hairy arm), "and this hand is guilty of having shed Christian blood. But
_I_ killed my enemy, and not my host, on the free highway and in the
dark wood, but not in the house, and behind the stove with axe and club,
neither with old women's gossip."

The old man averted his head, and muttered between his teeth--

"Branded!"

"What are you muttering there, old owl?" rejoined Khlop�sha. "I'll brand
you! Wait a bit, your turn will come. By heaven, I hope some day you may
smell the hot pincers, and till then have a care that I do not tear out
your ugly beard."

"Gentlemen," said Pugatch�f, with dignity, "stop quarrelling. It would
not be a great misfortune if all the mangy curs of Orenburg dangled
their legs beneath the same cross-bar, but it would be a pity if our
good dogs took to biting each other."

Khlop�sha and B�loborodoff said nothing, and exchanged black looks.

I felt it was necessary to change the subject of the interview, which
might end in a very disagreeable manner for me. Turning toward
Pugatch�f, I said to him, smiling--

"Ah! I had forgotten to thank you for your horse and '_touloup_.' Had it
not been for you, I should never have reached the town, for I should
have died of cold on the journey."

My stratagem succeeded. Pugatch�f became good-humoured.

"The beauty of a debt is the payment!" said he, with his usual wink.
"Now, tell me the whole story. What have you to do with this young girl
whom Chvabrine is persecuting? Has she not hooked your young
affections, eh?"

"She is my betrothed," I replied, as I observed the favourable change
taking place in Pugatch�f, and seeing no risk in telling him the truth.

"Your betrothed!" cried Pugatch�f. "Why didn't you tell me before? We
will marry you, and have a fine junket at your wedding." Then, turning
to B�loborodoff, "Listen, field-marshal," said he, "we are old friends,
his lordship and me; let us sit down to supper. To-morrow we will see
what is to be done with him; one's brains are clearer in the morning
than by night."

I should willingly have refused the proposed honour, but I could not get
out of it. Two young Cossack girls, children of the master of the
"_izb�_," laid the table with a white cloth, brought bread, fish, soup,
and big jugs of wine and beer.

Thus for the second time I found myself at the table of Pugatch�f and
his terrible companions. The orgy of which I became the involuntary
witness went on till far into the night.

At last drunkenness overcame the guests; Pugatch�f fell asleep in his
place, and his companions rose, making me a sign to leave him.

I went out with them. By the order of Khlop�sha the sentry took me to
the lockup, where I found Sav�liitch, and I was left alone with him
under lock and key.

My retainer was so astounded by the turn affairs had taken that he did
not address a single question to me. He lay down in the dark, and for a
long while I heard him moan and lament. At last, however, he began to
snore, and as for me, I gave myself up to thoughts which did not allow
me to close my eyes for a moment all night.

On the morrow morning Pugatch�f sent someone to call me.

I went to his house. Before his door stood a "_kibitka_" with three
Tartar horses. The crowd filled the street. Pugatch�f, whom I met in the
ante-room, was dressed in a travelling suit, a pelisse and Kirghiz cap.
His guests of yesterday evening surrounded him, and wore a submissive
air, which contrasted strongly with what I had witnessed the previous
evening.

Pugatch�f gaily bid me "good morning," and ordered me to seat myself
beside him in the "_kibitka_." We took our places.

"To Fort B�logorsk!" said Pugatch�f to the robust Tartar driver, who
standing guided the team. My heart beat violently.

The horses dashed forward, the little bell tinkled, the "_kibitka_,"
bounded across the snow.

"Stop! stop!" cried a voice which I knew but too well; and I saw
Sav�liitch running towards us. Pugatch�f bid the man stop.

"Oh! my father, Petr' Andr�j�tch," cried my follower, "don't forsake me
in my old age among the rob--"

"Aha! old owl!" said Pugatch�f, "so God again brings us together. Here,
seat yourself in front."

"Thanks, Tzar, thanks my own father," replied Sav�liitch, taking his
seat. "May God give you a hundred years of life for having reassured a
poor old man. I shall pray God all my life for you, and I'll never talk
about the hareskin '_touloup_.'"

This hareskin "_touloup_" might end at last by making Pugatch�f
seriously angry. But the usurper either did not hear or pretended not to
hear this ill-judged remark. The horses again galloped.

The people stopped in the street, and each one saluted us, bowing low.
Pugatch�f bent his head right and left.

In a moment we were out of the village and were taking our course over
a well-marked road. What I felt may be easily imagined. In a few hours I
should see again her whom I had thought lost to me for ever. I imagined
to myself the moment of our reunion, but I also thought of the man in
whose hands lay my destiny, and whom a strange concourse of events bound
to me by a mysterious link.

I recalled the rough cruelty and bloody habits of him who was disposed
to prove the defender of my love. Pugatch�f did not know she was the
daughter of Captain Mironoff; Chvabrine, driven to bay, was capable of
telling him all, and Pugatch�f might learn the truth in other ways.
Then, what would become of Marya? At this thought a shudder ran through
my body, and my hair seemed to stand on end.

All at once Pugatch�f broke upon my reflections.

"What does your lordship," said he, "deign to think about?"

"How can you expect me to be thinking?" replied I. "I am an officer and
a gentleman; but yesterday I was waging war with you, and now I am
travelling with you in the same carriage, and the whole happiness of my
life depends on you."

"What," said Pugatch�f, "are you afraid?"

I made reply that having already received my life at his hands, I
trusted not merely in his good nature but in his help.

"And you are right--'fore God, you are right," resumed the usurper; "you
saw that my merry men looked askance at you. Even to-day the little old
man wanted to prove indubitably to me that you were a spy, and should be
put to the torture and hung. But I would not agree," added he, lowering
his voice, lest Sav�liitch and the Tartar should hear him, "because I
bore in mind your glass of wine and your '_touloup_.' You see clearly
that I am not bloodthirsty, as your comrades would make out."

Remembering the taking of Fort B�logorsk, I did not think wise to
contradict him, and I said nothing.

"What do they say of me in Orenburg?" asked Pugatch�f, after a short
silence.

"Well, it is said that you are not easy to get the better of. You will
agree we have had our hands full with you."

The face of the usurper expressed the satisfaction of self-love.

"Yes," said he, with a glorious air, "I am a great warrior. Do they know
in Orenburg of the battle of Jouze�ff?[65] Forty Generals were killed,
four armies made prisoners. Do you think the King of Prussia is about my
strength?"

This boasting of the robber rather amused me.

"What do you think yourself?" I said to him. "Could you beat Frederick?"

"F�dor F�dorovitch,[66] eh! why not? I can beat your Generals, and your
Generals have beaten him. Until now my arms have been victorious. Wait a
bit--only wait a bit--you'll see something when I shall march on
Moscow?"

"And you are thinking of marching on Moscow?"

The usurper appeared to reflect. Then he said, half-aloud--

"God knows my way is straight. I have little freedom of action. My
fellows don't obey me--they are marauders. I have to keep a sharp look
out--at the first reverse they would save their necks with my head."

"Well," I said to Pugatch�f, "would it not be better to forsake them
yourself, ere it be too late, and throw yourself on the mercy of the
Tzarina?"

Pugatch�f smiled bitterly.

"No," said he, "the day of repentance is past and gone; they will not
give me grace. I must go on as I have begun. Who knows? It may be.
Grischka Otr�pieff certainly became Tzar at Moscow."

"But do you know his end? He was cast out of a window, he was massacred,
burnt, and his ashes blown abroad at the cannon's mouth, to the four
winds of heaven."

The Tartar began to hum a plaintive song; Sav�liitch, fast asleep,
oscillated from one side to the other. Our "_kibitka_" was passing
quickly over the wintry road. All at once I saw a little village I knew
well, with a palisade and a belfry, on the rugged bank of the Ya�k. A
quarter of an hour afterwards we were entering Fort B�logorsk.

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