The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia

villain has shewn himself to be, can make us hurry our departure.If he be even one of the most powerful of the land, we fear him not."

  "He is wicked and powerful enough to commit his crimes with impunity,"answered the Gipsy girl; "let me pray you earnestly, therefore, tocomplete the benefit you have rendered me, and to follow my advice byhastening from hence; for I feel confident, that he will endeavour torevenge himself on you, for your interference in my favour, and willreturn shortly with a greater number of men than you could possiblyresist."

  "You speak truly, I believe," said Ivan, "and we shall do well to followyour advice."

  "You are always in the right, Ivan," answered Thaddeus, "so I suppose wemay beat a retreat after our victory, without dishonour, when anoverpowering force threatens us."

  "Oh! yes!--yes!" exclaimed the liberated girl, "hasten from hence; andbelieve me, there is not a moment to be lost. Yet, grant me but the onefavour more, of allowing my kindred and friends to return you thosethanks which my words cannot fully convey."

  "We will, at all events, see you in safety," answered Ivan, "and, atyour desire, we will avoid the chance of meeting your enemies, howeverlittle we have reason to fear them."

  They accordingly prepared to quit the scene of their encounter, and Ivanwas about to offer to raise the fairy-like form of the Gipsy girl on hishorse, when the slight exertion he made, caused the blood to flow morefreely from his side, and she caught sight of the red stream tricklingdown, which he himself had not observed, for the pain was but slight,and the excitement of action had diverted his attention from it. Thecolour for an instant deserted her cheek, as taking a light scarf fromunder her cloak, she petitioned him to allow her to bind his wound."You are hurt, Sir," she exclaimed, "and I am the unhappy cause of theinjury. My tribe have some skill in surgery: even I myself havereceived instruction in the art from an aged woman learned in simples,and thus think me not bold in making the offer, but as the slightestmark of my gratitude, let me be allowed to heal the wound I have beenthe cause of your receiving."

  Ivan thankfully accepted her aid, as with gentleness she quickly boundhis side with the scarf, for the pain had now considerably increased.While thus engaged, they perceived the two villains whom they had leftsenseless on the earth, cautiously endeavouring to steal upon them,crouching as they advanced among the low thickets; and at the same timethe man who had been felled from his horse, shewed signs of returninganimation. Thaddeus humanely placed the body of the latter recliningagainst a tree, having wrested from him his weapons, which he cast,together with such as lay on the ground, to a distance, amongst theunderwood. The Gipsy girl had just completed her task, when the horsebelonging to their prostrate enemy, after ranging the glade in a widecircle, without however going out of sight, now approached the spot hehad first left, as if in search of his master: with the rapidity ofthought she sprung forward, and catching the animal's bridle, lightlyvaulted on his back without any apparent effort, merely touching thesaddle to steady herself in her perilous feat.

  "Now, for the love of the God you worship," she exclaimed, "ride on,noble Sirs, nor care for me. We children of the Desert are earlyaccustomed to far more difficult feats than this, and without danger, Ican retain my seat on a more spirited steed than the one which now bearsme."

  The young men, following her example, had mounted their horses, and onher pointing out with her hand the road they were to take, the party setoff at full speed, though the former were compelled to apply their spursclosely in order to keep pace with the less fatigued steed of theirbeautiful and extraordinary guide. She, avoiding the thick tangled partof the forest, which had before impeded them, conducted them by a morecircuitous way, but over smooth open ground, and at a much greater speedthan they had been able to attain when hurrying to her rescue, untilthey regained the high road, which they crossed, and plunged into theadjoining forest. Suddenly checking her horse, she then addressedthem--

  "Fear gave me the fleetness of the timid hare; but truly ungrateful mustI appear, through my own weakness, in forgetting that one of my generouspreservers is suffering severe pain. Oh, pardon me, for my fault,caused by the dread of a danger which you are now unable to understand."

  Ivan assured her that his wound inconvenienced him so little, that hewas able to continue at the same swift pace, if she thought itadvisable; she again resumed the lead, though not quite so rapidly asbefore.

  "Your horses are fatigued," she said, as they rode onwards, "and the dayis so far spent, that it will be after nightfall ere you can reach anyshelter, and I fear that, before long, a storm will burst over ourheads: yon black cloud is but the forerunner of others."

  As she spoke, she pointed to an opening among the trees, through whichwere seen dense masses of clouds fast gathering on the sky. "If youdespise not the humble shelter of a gipsy tent, you will there betreated to the best of our means, for the people of my tribe, thoughrough and fierce in aspect, will vie with each other in shewing theirattention and devotion to those who have rescued one of their daughtersfrom peril."

  A determination not to leave the young Gipsy, until they had escortedher to a place of safety, added to a natural feeling of curiosity tolearn something of the beautiful creature whom chance had introduced tothem under such exciting circumstances, prompted both Ivan and Thaddeusto accept her offer of hospitality without hesitation.

  Although but a few minutes previously, the sky over head had been brightand clear, the storm which their guide had predicted, now threatened toovertake them, as the heavens became overcast with a dark canopy ofclouds.

  Once more pressing their jaded horses, they galloped on for severalmiles, scarcely noticing the nature of the country through which theypassed, until they arrived at a spot so thickly wooded as to render apassage impracticable. Their conductress, however, advancing a littleto the right, led them along a path formed apparently by the hand ofnature, through a narrow entrance, winding in various directions, andwidening as they proceeded, till they suddenly emerged into a sylvanamphitheatre carpeted with soft green turf. In one part of thewood-encircled glade, arose a group of tents, surrounded by waggons;whilst horses and other cattle tethered hard by, were browsing on theluxuriant pasture.

  The approach of the party was immediately announced by the loud barkingof several large shaggy dogs, who rushed forward with open jaws,prepared to attack all intruders; but no sooner did the savage animalshear the silvery tone of the guide's voice, than their angry growl waschanged into a cry of joy, as leaping up they fawned on her, andendeavoured to gain her caresses. They were quickly recalled by a manwho issued from the shelter of the waggons, armed with a long gun; he,on recognising the Gipsy maiden advanced without any parley, to hold herhorse's rein, as she dismounted, springing lightly on the turf. Ashrill whistle from him brought out two rough looking little urchins,who, at his sign, ran quickly forward to perform the same office for thestrangers.

  After exchanging a few words with the attendant, in a languageunintelligible to Ivan and Thaddeus, their guide led the way towards atent, which, from its size appeared to be the principal in theencampment: like the rest it was formed of skins neatly sewn together,affording a secure shelter from the weather.

  In front stood a tall well-built man, whose dark elf locks escaping frombeneath a sheep-skin cap, gave him somewhat of a ferocious appearance,which, however, his full and sparkling black eye, and the laughing curlof his lips fully belied. His dress consisted of a cloth jacketconfined at the waist by a leathern belt, and full trousers withleggings of untanned leather. He gazed with a look of astonishment atthe intruders, then at their conductress, from whom he seemed to ask foran explanation, as she hastened to meet him with an air of affection.Folding her in his arms with a fond and gentle embrace, after exchanginga few words in a hurried and low tone of voice, he stepped up to wherethe strangers stood, and grasping their hands, pressed them to hisheart.

  "The preservers of my daughter," he said, addressing them in Russian,"are thrice welcome to my humble tent, and
it will be my aim, and thatof all the tribe, of which I am the head, to show to the utmost ourgratitude for the benefit conferred upon us. Think not, noble Sirs,that, though the world accuses us of many vices, ingratitude is one withwhich we can be justly charged. But see! while I thus detain you thestorm is about to burst, and my tent will at least afford you shelterfrom its fury, though it be destitute of the luxuries to which you areaccustomed."

  Heavy drops of rain had now commenced falling; the wind whistledmournfully through the boughs of the trees, which became wildly agitatedby the sudden blast, while vivid flashes of lightning darted from theheavens, and played around their heads.

  "Will you deign, noble Sirs, to enter the only abode I can call my own,"said the Gipsy chief, leading the way to his tent; "a very changeableone in truth; but