of soldiers appeared to conduct him before theCourt Martial assembled to try him.
"I fear that it will go hard with you, Stanisloff," said the officer incharge of the men, casting a look of pity on the prisoner. "You must beprepared for the worst."
"Fear not for me, my friend," answered Thaddeus; "but I trust thatneither you nor my brother officers will judge me harshly, though I amfully convinced of the result of my trial."
"Think not that your character will suffer," answered the other. "Weall feel a warm interest in your fate."
"That is already settled," said the prisoner. "I am ready to accompanyyou."
When placed before the principal officers of the garrison, his trialproceeded as was to be expected, when the Governor had determined on hiscondemnation. He was clearly convicted of having left the post he hadbeen placed to guard, by his own colonel as witness; but when there wassome demur as to his having communicated with the enemy, two servants ofCount Erintoff's stepped forward, and swore positively to having seenhim speaking to one of the chiefs of the Circassians, and havingoverheard him promise to give them timely notice of any movement amongthe Russians.
Though great doubt was thrown on the credibility of the men, who wereknown to be bad characters, yet as their own Colonel swore to theirhonesty, they were received as witnesses. Notwithstanding thepreponderance of the influence against him there was a strong feeling infavour of the prisoner, both in the court and throughout the garrison.So great indeed had the ferment become, when it was reported that he wascondemned to die, (most people being convinced that his sentence wasunjust), that the Count expressed his fears to the Governor that ageneral outbreak would be the consequence, if measures were carried toextremities with the prisoner.
"We shall see," cried the Baron, furiously, "if my authority is not ofmore avail; however, I will disappoint their hopes, if they think tosave the prisoner."
After sentence of death had been passed on Thaddeus, he was led back toprison, there to await his execution, while the Governor summoned theCount to his private councils.
A fort had been lately erected between Anapa and Ghelendjik, during atime when the greater part of the patriot forces were engaged in anotherpart of the country, some occupied in attending a religious festival,and others in agricultural pursuits, so that the few who remained toguard the coast, were unable to defeat the object of the Russians whenfirst landing; and in a day or so, by the time others arrived to theirassistance, the entrenchments had become too strong to attack. Thegarrison left in it had lately been much reduced by disease, and hadalso lost many men in a party foraging for wood and water, so that theBaron determined on sending reinforcements thither, and also to despatchthe Count there with the culprit, under the plea of inspecting thefortifications.
"He is there, a stranger," he added, with a hideous smile. "And whilethose here are left in doubt of his fate, you Count, can take the orderfor his execution."
"I shall obey your orders, General, and hope to return in a few days,with an account of their having been fulfilled," replied the Count, ashe left the quarters of the Governor, to make arrangements for hisvoyage.
Thaddeus was fully prepared for his coming fate, expecting every momentto be dragged forth to execution; and was much astonished, therefore, tofind himself at the close of the day, placed on board a brig of war,without any notice having been given him of his destination. For amoment, as he was being conducted down to the shore, his faithfulservant found an opportunity of approaching him, for the purpose ofuttering his farewell.
"Do not be down-hearted, Sir," he whispered. "You may be saved ere youexpect it. I have discovered where you are going, and I will aid you,or die for it."
Thaddeus was then hurried on board with four companies of soldiers,under the orders of the Count, when the brig instantly made sail to thenorthward; but as the winds were light, she made no progress during thenight. As she was standing close in shore the next morning, severalshot from rifles pierced her sails, and a party of horsemen were seengalloping along the edge of the cliffs. The brig's guns were instantlydischarged, but the balls struck the hard rocks alone, the deep soundechoing along the shore. The horsemen had disappeared; but severalother shot from various directions, hit the vessel; and the commanderseeing how useless it would be to contend with his scattered andconcealed foes, giving a parting salute, stood further out to sea.
Thaddeus all the time was kept below, in a state of the greatestsuspense; no one being allowed to hold any communication with him. Verylight and variable winds detained them on their voyage; so that it wasnot till the end of the day, that they reached their destination, thoughthe distance was but short.
The fort, to which Thaddeus was conveyed, was built further from thesea, than that of Ghelendjik, nor could it be so well protected by theguns of a fleet, as that fortress; but, from the nature of its position,it was almost equally strong. There was, however, a securely fortifiedway from it to the sea, with which a communication could always be keptup, without fear of interruption from the Circassians.
The scenery round it was barren and savage; huge dark rocks rising onall sides from the sandy shore, broken into fantastic forms, appearinglike castles towering above the plain. The fortress was built of darkstones quarried, from the neighbouring rocks, on a ledge risinggradually from the shore, and running far inland. It stood on theeastern, or furthest inland point of this ledge; a steep and almostperpendicular cliff protecting it on one side, while in front, therebeing a smooth green surface, and gradual descent on the plain, itsdefences depended on its guns, being so placed as to sweep the groundwith showers of grape.
A sandy and barren ground extended for some way in front, and on oneside, a succession of low rugged rocks formed a considerable protection.The site had been chosen on account of the shelter afforded to theships of war by a bay in the neighbourhood.
On reaching the shore, the Count ordered Thaddeus to be conducted to astrong prison in the fort; while he himself went round to inspect thefortifications. The reinforcement he had brought with him was gladlywelcomed by the commanding officer, who complained much of the smallgarrison, which was left to protect the fort.
The Count then informed him, that the prisoner he had brought with himwas to be shot the next morning at day-break, by command of the Governorof Ghelendjik; producing the Baron's written order, desiring him toacquaint Lieutenant Stanisloff of the fate which awaited him.
The Governor looked with pity on Thaddeus, as he gave the Count'smessage; but he himself received it unmoved, and thus addressed theofficer:
"I ask you to defend my fame whenever you hear my name blackened; saythen, that I died true to my colours, and to my oath. That is my onlyrequest."
"I will do my utmost to defend your character," said the officer.
"Farewell!" exclaimed Thaddeus, "till to-morrow's dawn. Delay theexecution, if possible, till the sun rises. I would look once more onthat glorious luminary: his beams will aid my strength."
"It shall be as you wish, if I can possibly so arrange it," returned theofficer, as he hastened from the prison, and left Thaddeus again tomeditate in solitude on his impending fate.
The night had at first been serene and beautiful, but towards morning,sudden gusts of wind howled through the rocks and buildings of the fort.The thunder broke in loud peals over head, and flashes of lightningilluminated the gloom of his small and dark prison, through the bars ofthe only aperture to give light and air. The tumult of the tempestawoke Thaddeus from a slumber into which he had fallen. It seemed tohim to rage with greater fury than at first, as he sat up, watching eachbright flash. The wind had increased to a hurricane.
The tempest, however, quickly passed over, and all was again silent,except the low sullen roar of the ocean, as its waves dashed on therocky and caverned shore, or the distant murmur of the passing blastamong the trees of the neighbouring mountain.
The dawn was about to break. Thaddeus, whose spirits were exhausted byhis mental sufferings, had thr
own himself on the rough log, which formedthe only seat and couch of his prison, and was falling into a quietslumber, when he was startled by a fearful shriek, piercing to theinmost recesses of the fort. Again and again it arose from all sides,far louder than the howling of the late tempest, drowning the shouts ofthe soldiers, as they rushed to their posts at the walls. Soon the roarof artillery, and the rattle of musketry seemed endeavouring tooverpower the sound of that war-cry; but it triumphed over all, andsounded nearer and nearer. Thaddeus felt that he could not be mistaken;he had heard that tremendous shout but a few days before, when attackedby the mountain cavalry.
The cannon had ceased its roar, when next arose the shouts of theRussian soldiery; succeeded by thrilling cries for mercy and agonisedgroans of despair, answered by the loud, overwhelming huzzas of "Allah!Allah!" from all sides. A