The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia

wherever my tent is pitched, there shall my friends bewelcome."

  Saying which, he arrived at the entrance of the principal tent, whilehis daughter, making a sign of respect to his guests, withdrew to aneighbouring one.

  Volume 1, Chapter II.

  The travellers had full reason to congratulate themselves on escapingthe torrents of rain now rushing down from the thick-gathered clouds, asthey followed the Gipsy chief into his tent, the interior of whichseemed to afford better accommodation than its outward appearance hadpromised. About midway, a curtain stretching the whole width of thetent, now drawn up, exposed the whole of the interior at one view; buton being unfolded, formed two distinct apartments. The furniture was ofthe most simple description, consisting merely of several large chests,on which were piled various rolls of skins and blankets, and a fewstools and benches. At one end, suspended against the sides of thetent, hung a variety of kitchen utensils in the highest state of polish;at the other, fire-arms of different sizes and workmanship,powder-flasks, and shot-belts, and hunting-knives, picturesquely mingledwith the produce of the chase. There were also several planks intendedfor tables, beds, or for seats. The ground was hidden from view by awarm and soft carpet of skins; the selection of the spot was judicious,for, being raised slightly above the surrounding land, it remainedperfectly dry, notwithstanding the flood of rain outside.

  The only inmate of the tent, when the party entered, was a handsomewoman, whom the Gipsy introduced to the strangers as his wife. She wasbusily employed in some housewifery occupation, which she quitted toreceive the visitors, assuming an air which would not have disgraced ahigh-born lady, and then proceeded to prepare the evening repast.

  A couple of chests were brought forward, upon which they laid a platformof boards, forming an excellent table: this was quickly covered with anabundance of cold provisions, fowls and game of various kinds, coarsebut sweet bread, and a bottle of Quass, the common beverage of thecountry, manufactured from malt; nor were more potent spirits wanting tocheer the guests.

  Their host requested the young men to be seated at the table, while heand his wife attended to their wants, nor would he be prevailed upon tojoin them in their repast. "It behoves us," he replied, "to wait onyou, while our tent is honoured by your presence; and I pray you, Sirs,to excuse my daughter Azila's absence, she has retired among the othermaidens of the tribe, to rest awhile after the fatigue her looks tooclearly betray she has suffered. I confess I am still ignorant of thedetails of her adventure; it was sufficient at first for me to know thatyou had conferred a benefit on one so dear to me.

  "Her protracted absence had, indeed, given me anxiety, as she had nottold me of her intention to quit the camp; but at the same time I do notinterfere with her movements, which are often unknown to any of thetribe, and she is accustomed to go and return unquestioned. Azila isindeed a strange girl, and few can match her in understanding, orresolution; I well know that she has always just reasons for herfrequent excursions from the camp, and that her exertions are in thecause of justice and humanity, so I do not seek to inquire into morethan what she herself thinks right to tell me; I know well that I cantrust her."

  Although their host's features and manner evidently exhibited hisanxiety to learn all that had occurred, his hospitality would not permithis guests to speak of their adventure until the repast was finished;when they recounted the events which led to their liberation of hisdaughter. While they were speaking, the object of their conversationentered the tent, and approaching her father, reverently kissed hishand, then bowing to his guests, with arms crossed on her bosom shestood with downcast eyes by his side. The father gazed on her withlooks of affection, while the young men could scarcely conceal theiradmiration.

  "Can this retiring, modest creature," thought Ivan, "be the same who, soshort a time since, proved herself endowed with so much courage andresolution?"

  Neither of the two friends could, for some time, find words to addressher, for they felt that terms of flattery and compliment would bedespised by one so superior; her father, however, relieved them fromtheir embarrassment.

  "Now that our guests have tasted of our food, and drunk from our cup, Imay ask of you, my child, an explanation of the circumstances thatpreceded your rescue. I burn to know who has dared to commit such anoutrage on one of the children of the Zingani; whoever he be, he shallnot escape the punishment due to his villainy."

  A blush mantled on the cheek of the Gipsy girl as she answered, "Alas!my father, I fear that my enemy is too powerful and cautious, for you tobe able to punish him, and there are circumstances which have latelyoccurred to me, I would fain have hidden even from you, had not he ofwhom I am about to speak, carried his persecution to so flagrant anextent. My story is a long one; but at your desire I will relate it,entreating my brave defenders will pardon a poor maiden for herhesitation in recounting events which have caused her much pain.

  "During one of my last visits to Moscow, when our encampment was formedin its vicinity, I one day joined a party of the daughters of anothertribe of our people, to one of whom I had matters to communicate. Theywere dancing and singing in the public gardens to crowds of admiringcitizens, who were enjoying their evening's recreation after the toilsof the day. As we moved from place to place, I observed a personintently observing me, who I fancied had, during the day, been watchingand following me; and him I now distinguished from the crowd by hishandsome dress, and the disdain with which he regarded all around him.As I moved on with my companions he still followed us, till at lengthweary, doubtless, of viewing the same dances, and hearing the samesongs, he disappeared from the gardens, and I then concluded that I hadbeen mistaken in my suspicions. The evening was far advanced when,having parted from my companions, I set out alone to return to theencampment, and in seeking to reach it by a shorter path, I found myselfin a secluded walk. Hastening along, I was suddenly confronted by astranger whom I immediately recognised as the same, who had previouslywatched my movements in the gardens. As I endeavoured to pass himunnoticed, he seized my arm with a rude grasp, and exclaimed:

  "`Ah! have I at last found you, my fair damsel, for whom I have beensearching so many long days? Often have I seen you, but until now nevergained an opportunity of declaring my sentiments. I am the CountErintoff! My carriage is waiting near, and will soon transport youbeyond the reach of those who have interested motives in detaining youamong them.'

  "I cannot repeat all the arguments he used to persuade me to accompanyhim, or the terms of flattery and base offers he made. I treated themall with the disdain they deserved. When he pronounced his name, Irecollected that I had heard he was notorious for many vices, even amongthose of his own rank, with whom virtue is too seldom practised, orprized.

  "`Unhand me, Sir,' I exclaimed; `I will no longer listen to you, butwould pursue my way to my friends.'

  "`Ah, my scornful beauty,' he answered with a laugh, `not so fast I prayyou; if prayers avail not, I must e'en use gentle force to compel you toaccept advantages you would so foolishly reject; though not for theuniverse would I injure you. Here, knaves!' summoning to the spot bytheir various names, some of the vile assistants in his crimes.

  "Seeing his servants hastily advancing, I struggled in his grasp, andmanaged by a sudden effort to break from his hold; when darting alongthe road, without once looking back, I reached the camp, panting andbreathless. This outrage remained concealed within my own bosom, for Iwell knew that the least hint would cause many to take more than amplerevenge for the insult I had received. Having sustained no actualinjury, and trusting that he would desist from any further persecutionof me, I was unwilling to bring any of my tribe into danger, byinterfering with so powerful an adversary.

  "Alas! I was doomed to be too soon again exposed to his vile projects!This morning, I had gone forth from the camp with Aza, Lina, and otherof our maidens, accompanied by many of the children, to enjoy ourpastime in the woods, when in the midst of our sport, after chasing eachother among the trees, I became separat
ed from the rest. I heard thelaughter of my companions as they retreated, but owing to the closenessof the trees, I could not distinguish their figures; at that moment, acry was raised by the children, that they had seen a stranger in thewood. I hurried away as rapidly as possible to rejoin the party, whenon a sudden, I was seized by two men, who had sprung from a neighbouringthicket. In an instant, before I could recover from the alarm of theirassault, they threw a handkerchief over my head, to prevent me fromcrying for assistance. Notwithstanding my utmost resistance, they boreme roughly forward, until they reached another thicket; when thehandkerchief being partly withdrawn from my eyes, I beheld a man onhorseback, whose features were shrouded in his large cloak, attended byanother holding the rein of a led horse. They endeavoured to persuademe to mount it, but I resolutely refused to stir from the spot; nothingthey said could induce me, when the