The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia

momentary silence ensued; and then a trampingof feet, as of men engaged in desperate strife. Even he, from whom thefear of death had passed away, felt his heart beat quick, and his breathalmost stopped. The cries passed close to him; the bullets rattledagainst his prison walls; and the flashes of the guns lighted up thegloom of the chamber. The strange unearthly noises grew more confused;the reports of the firing ceased, except a few straggling shots, and theshouts of the combatants passed on.

  Knowing little of the localities of the fort, Thaddeus could notdiscover in what direction the combatants had gone, when he again heardthe sound of the rapid steps of a body of men passing close to hisprison. Presently, loud and quick reports of musketry were heard, andhe concluded that a body of Russians, cut off from their retreat to theshore, had thrown themselves into some strong building, and were makinga last desperate defence. They seemed to be successful, as the firingincreased, when an awful pause ensued, a tremendous deafening explosiontook place, as if an earthquake had rent the earth; the prison wallswere shaken to their foundation; the door flew open, and the roof fellin, overwhelming the prisoner in its ruins.

  Volume 2, Chapter XVI.

  We must now relate several circumstances, which had occurred whileThaddeus was being transported from Ghelendjik to the fort in which weleft him. The words addressed to his servant by Javis, when he visitedthe fort in disguise, had sunk deep into the man's mind. Hisimagination had been excited by the picture placed before him of ruralhappiness, contrasted so greatly with the wretched life he led in thecamp. Like his master, he too was a Pole; though not like him, impededby any scruples from deserting. Having heard that his former friend wasamong the Circassians, he determined to fly to him for protection, andto urge him to find some means of rescuing the prisoner; for it waswell-known in the fort whither Thaddeus was to be conveyed.

  That night, being on the outer guard, he threw aside his musket andcloak, and hastily sought his way to the mountains, among which he wassoon seized by some of the many watchful guards placed there.

  The Hadji was seated in the guest-house with Ivan, earnestly discussingvarious plans for driving their foes from their shores, when their hostarrived with a prisoner. No sooner did the captive soldier hear Ivanspeak to him, than he shouted with joy, and ran to throw himself at hisfeet.

  "Oh, Sir," he cried, "it was to find you that I escaped from thefortress. My poor master, Lieutenant Stanisloff, has been seized, bythe Governor's orders, because it is said he went out to meet you, andhe is now going to be shot; but every body loved him so much in thecamp, that the Governor is afraid to have him executed there, lest thereshould be a mutiny, for which many are fully ready; and he hasconsequently sent him to a fort a short distance to the north. It issaid not to be a very strong place, so you may probably rescue him, ifyou take it in time. I thought this would be the only chance of savingmy poor master's life; and being very wretched at the fort myself, I ranoff to tell you all about it."

  "My friend, I am deeply indebted to you," answered Ivan; and he thenexplained the man's story to the assembled chiefs.

  "Bismillah!" exclaimed the Hadji, jumping up. "The very thing for us!We will set forth without delay; and, by the blessing of Allah, we willtake that cursed fort before the sun has risen in the heavens."

  "Thanks, my noble father, for your promptitude," cried Ivan. "No otherleader would I rather follow in rescuing my friend. I doubt not ofsuccess."

  "Stay!" said the Hadji's more cautious brother, Achmet Beg. "We mustconsider the subject. We have scarce men enough for the enterprise, andlook at the sky. The light wind that blows comes direct from the place:the vessel will take some time to reach it, and if we arrive before it,our object would be lost."

  "True," answered Ivan; "you speak well. In my eagerness to rescue myfriend, I overlooked that point."

  "And I too!" added the Hadji. "Mashallah! when there's fighting in thecase, I am as forgetful of every thing else as the wildest Dehli Khanamong them."

  "Then," said Achmet Beg, "I propose that we send forward some trustyscouts to watch the vessel along the coast, and give notice when shearrives in the harbour. In the mean time, we will collect as manywarriors as possible for the enterprise. What say you, Uzdens?"

  "The advice is good," said Arslan Gherrei. "And I will gladly lead myfew remaining followers to the assault."

  "Well, then, that point is settled," cried the eager Hadji; and turningto their host: "Now, Uzden, will you send out some of your trustyfollowers to fasten along the coast to watch the vessel? And you, mybrother, despatch some of yours to summon all the warriors they cancollect in the neighbourhood. There is no time to be lost on anoccasion of this sort."

  The host hastened to fulfil his part of the arrangement, as did AchmetBeg also.

  Far and near the messengers hastened, in every direction, on their fleetsteeds, giving the word at every hamlet and mountain cot. The news flewlike lightning, that Hadji Guz Beg had returned from abroad, and hadlost no time in keeping up his old reputation by leading an expeditionagainst the enemy. Wherever the messengers passed, the young men seizedtheir weapons, either rifles or bows, from the walls, girding theirswords to their sides, filling their wallets with meal for theirprovision, and throwing their cloaks over their backs. Thus, fullyequipped at a moment's notice, they hastened to the appointedrendezvous. None knew for what exact object the expedition wasintended; but it was enough to know, that it was against the detestedUrus, and that the renowned Guz Beg was to be the leader.

  Those nearest to the spot repaired to one of the points of rendezvousfixed on in a deep valley, about two miles distant from the fort to beattacked.

  Before the sun had attained its greatest height in the heavens, on thefollowing morning, the Hadji found full six hundred fighting menassembled under his standard. Many were chiefs themselves of note,attracted by the prospect of renown to be gained under the well-knownguidance of so brave a leader. They came clothed in mail, and attendedby a retinue of horsemen. Others were sturdy yeomen of good repute inarms, also on horseback, (with their serfs on foot) anxious to vie withthe knights themselves in gallant deeds. Some were independent freemen,coming from their solitary mountain homes, acknowledging no specificleader, each man fighting for himself, as his inclinations prompted him:these were armed with rifle, sword and dagger. Whatever was their rankor calling, they were all animated with one feeling--the deepest hatredof the common foe.

  While they were preparing to march, a loud shout among the multitudeproclaimed a new arrival; and dashing among the trees, a noble youngcavalier appeared, attended by a band of horsemen of his own age. Theyouth rode forward, as room was made for him; and leaping from hishorse, he threw himself at the Hadji's feet.

  "My son! my son! joy of my heart!" exclaimed the Hadji, folding theslight form of the youth in his gauntleted arms. "Welcome, thricewelcome, are you to me at this moment! Alp, my son, you have notdisappointed my hopes; and may you prove yourself as gallant a warrioras your appearance would promise!"

  Then, as if ashamed of giving vent to his feelings before the assembledwarriors, though still holding the young man's hand, and gazing fondlyat him, he added--

  "Alp, you have now become a warrior, and these are no times for rest.Prove, then, to your countrymen, that you are equal to the bravest."

  "I have but to follow your steps, my father, and I fear not that I shallgain renown."

  "Now, my friends," cried the Hadji, tearing himself from his son's side;"let all men on foot advance, under the guidance of the Uzden AchmetBeg. The cavaliers will quickly follow."

  Under shelter of the trees, the maidens of the hamlet had assembled towitness the departure of the warriors, and to encourage them with theirprayers. Among them was the lovely Ina; her bright eyes regarding notthe youthful cavaliers who careered before her, to win her smiles, butfollowing her father's lofty crest as he moved about the field.

  As he caught sight of his daughter among the women, Arslan Gherreisought Ivan's
side.

  "Young warrior stranger," he said, "I have myself endeavoured to thankyou for your timely rescue, when so hard set by our foes: but mydaughter would do so likewise."

  Saying which, he conducted Ivan to the side of Ina; and while they werespeaking, he himself stood for some time entranced, gazing on themearnestly.

  "I would thank you, noble stranger," said Ina, in a faltering voice,"for the inestimable blessing you afforded me in saving my noble fatherfrom the hands of his foes. To your bravery, I owe also my own safety,when I was near falling into the power of our invaders. I can onlyrepay you with prayers to heaven for your safety; these shall be offeredup to Allah."

  "Lady," answered Ivan, "prayers from those sweet lips will add