few words tothe guard in Russian, was instantly allowed to proceed. Remainingcautiously concealed, Javis waited till he again saw the spy pass fromthe fort, and heard the officer on guard give him the password for thefollowing night--"The Eagle of Russia"--when the man set off rapidlytowards the interior. Dodging his steps, Javis traced him to the househe had left.
Outside the house of the chief, Javis found the Hadji and Ivan anxiouslywaiting his return, to whom he related what he had seen.
"Let the knave rest to-night," said the former, "to-morrow we will givehim a surprise he little dreams of. He can do us but little harm now."
"I have thought of a plan," said Javis, "by which you can communicatewith Lieutenant Stanisloff, without danger either to him or to yourself.I heard the password given for to-morrow night, and I propose topersonate the treacherous Armenian, and gain admittance to the fort,where I will trust to my own wits to find out your friend, and give himyour message, and to escape without seeing the governor, who wouldprobably discover me. What say you, Sir, to my plan? Shall I attemptit?"
"Though I long to see my friend, I would not that you should run sogreat a risk; for were you discovered, your death would be certain,"said Ivan.
"O fear not for me, Sir," replied Javis, "my life is of but little valueto any one, and the danger is not so great as it appears; for thosethick-headed Russians are not likely to distinguish me at night from theArmenian. I shall also, I have no doubt, be able to gain some furtherinformation from the man to-morrow."
The next morning the Armenian appeared with his packs on his horses'backs, as if prepared for a journey. He smilingly saluted the chiefswho were assembled in front of the guest-house; but alarm took the placeof his smiles, when he observed the stern looks which met him on everyside; and more so when he found himself surrounded by a number of theirarmed followers.
"Whither go you so fast, Armenian?" said the Hadji, sternly. "Are youhastening to visit your friends the Urus? What, do you turn pale? Dragthe treacherous spy from his horse," he added, turning to hisattendants, "and bring him along. We will judge his case; and if heprove guilty, he knows the punishment of spies."
The unfortunate pedlar trembled violently as he was dragged along to anopen glade surrounded by trees, at a short distance from the village.Here the chiefs soon assembled, as well as several rich Tocavs oryeomen, and other influential men in the neighbourhood, who weresummoned to give the criminal the fairest trial.
The judges seated themselves, with due formality and gravity, in asemi-circle, on a grassy bank, when the terror-stricken Armenian wasbrought before them. The witnesses against him, Javis and his guide,were also summoned into their presence. Javis first gave his evidence,which Ivan interpreted, as also did his guide.
"Said you not, Armenian, that you were a man of peace, and a friend tothe Atteghei?" demanded the chief of the village, who acted aspresident. "See that you have not spoken lies, and proved that you area friend of our enemies. Answer this one question: where went you lastnight?"
"Where went I?" tremblingly echoed the Armenian. "I went forth from thehouse of my good konag, to cool my brow after the heat of the day.Surely I went no where beyond the hamlet."
"Oh thou son of the evil one! Think you to elude our vigilance? Answertruly, or you die on the spot. Why went you to the camp of ourenemies?"
"Oh! spare my life, noble chiefs!" cried the Armenian, falling on hisknees. "I am but a poor trader, and I went but to sell my goods. Ohslay me not, valiant nobles!"
"Do you not know that it is prohibited to have any dealings with theenemy?" said the president. "And of what use are such goods as youcarry to the Urus? But you are full of lies. You went without yourgoods, secretly, and by night. You know the enemy's password. You wereseen to enter their fort, and shortly after to return. Your own wordscondemn you. What say you, Uzdens?" turning to the other judges, "hasthe Armenian proved himself to be innocent, or is he guilty?"
The chiefs, all standing up, pronounced the solemn words of the wretch'sdoom--
"He is guilty: let him die the death of a spy."
The miserable being had not a word to plead in his own defence; butloudly crying for mercy, he lifted up his hands in an imploringattitude; for well he knew the dreadful fate prepared for him. Thestern warriors relaxed not their features as they motioned to theattendants to lead him away. His crime was of the greatest magnitude,and no mercy could be granted him; not a voice spoke in his favour; notan eye turned with pity towards him.
At some distance from the hamlet was a lofty and perpendicular cliff, atwhose base, over a rough rocky bed, roared a foaming and rapid torrent.The wretched Armenian, without any further delay, was dragged up a steeppathway to the summit of the cliff, where, by order of the Hadji, he wasstripped of his high Astracan fur cap, his dark robe, and theappurtenances of his trade, and then led, shrieking, forward, to theedge of the precipice. As he thus saw his dreadful fate approaching, hescreamed loudly for mercy and pardon; but his cries fell on the ears ofthose whom a fierce exterminating war had rendered deaf to pity fortheir cruel foes.
As he stood, shivering with terror, on the very edge of the frightfulchasm, in a last fit of desperation, he seized hold of those who stoodnear, endeavouring to drag them down with him; but his hands were tornfrom their hold; and two powerful slaves, appointed as his executioners,lifting him from the ground, hurled him, with tremendous exertion, farover the edge of the cliff. A last shriek of despairing agony aloneescaped him, as he fell headlong into the dark abyss, grasping at theempty air, and seeking to find some hold to prolong life, even for a fewmoments. So deep was the chasm, that not a sound was heard, as hestruck the shallow and rocky bed of the stream; and its waters whirledthe mangled frame far out of sight.
"Thus, let all spies and traitors die!" exclaimed the multitude, as theyretired from the scene of execution.
Volume 2, Chapter XIV.
Reports were abroad in the neighbourhood of Ghelendjik, that theRussians intended to make some movement from their fortifications; sothat, in the hopes of finding occupation for their swords, the Hadji andAchmet Beg determined to remain on the spot to assist their friends; andIvan gladly availed himself of the opportunity of endeavouring tocommunicate with Thaddeus. Arslan Gherrei was also persuaded by theHadji to remain, to lend his powerful aid in repelling their foes, andto give his daughter Ina a longer period to recover from her fatigue.
Ivan anxiously looked forward to the evening, when Javis was to make hisattempt to enter the fort, and he determined to accompany him near thewalls, in the hope of meeting Thaddeus.
Every body was eager for information respecting the movements of theRussians, some spending the day in anxiously watching the fort, whileothers were occupied in deep deliberation as to their futureproceedings. The Dehli Khans, or young men, employed themselves inthose warlike exercises which inure their bodies to fatigue, and makethem hardy warriors.
By the Hadji's direction, the dress of the Armenian was given up toJavis. When the evening drew on, and he appeared habited in it, thebystanders started with amazement, thinking that the pedlar had arisenfrom the dead, so completely had he disguised himself. As soon as itwas dark, he set forward, led by his former guide, and accompanied byIvan, whose anxiety for the safety of his follower, and desire to seehis friend, made him wish to remain as near as possible until theadventure should be terminated.
As Javis arrived at the outer picquet, he gave the right answer to thesentry's challenge, and was allowed to pass on, while Ivan remainedconcealed among the rocks.
"Who goes there?" cried the sentinel, at the gates of the fort.
"A friend to Russia," he answered. "The word, `The Eagle of Russia.'"
The drawbridge was lowered. The pretended Armenian entered the fort.The officer of the guard, unsuspicious of any deceit, ordered a soldierto conduct the spy to the quarters of the governor.
As the adventurer and his guard got beyond hearing of the people at thegates--
"
My friend," said the former, addressing the soldier in Russian, andslipping some coin into his hand, "I know my way to the governor'squarters well enough by this time; here, take this to carouse with. Youhave a hard life of it here, I suspect. Ah! you thought I could notspeak in your own language. Why, man, I come from your part of thecountry, and would ask a favour of you. I am in no hurry to see thegovernor, so we will not hasten, as I am before the time appointed, andhe loves not irregularity. Now say, how do you like the life you leadhere?"
"Why, I do not like it at all," answered the man; "for we have nothingbut hard blows, and get no rest from those infernal mountaineers, as wecannot tell from one moment to another when they may be upon us. If wewander but a few yards beyond the fort, some of our men are certain tobe