The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia

nochild's work on hand now. There will be no drawing back this time."

  "What do you propose doing, then?" asked Selem.

  "No less than an attack on the town of Kislavosk," rubbing his handswith the glee of a youth at the thought of a foray. "These Russians, wehear, have collected whole herds of cattle in the neighbourhood, forprovisioning their fortresses along the Valdi Caucasse, and think thatthey have them secure enough; but we will deprive them of their dinners,if I mistake not."

  "I would rather have some more noble work than merely carrying off a fewhead of cattle," said our hero.

  "Ah, when you have lived longer among us, you will not despise suchwork," cried the Hadji. "What do armies in general fight for? To getgold and silver! Are not cattle, to hungry people, of much more value,and more difficult to carry off? Men are too fond of making absurddistinctions where none exist. The Russians call us robbers, because wetake a gallop into the country they have usurped, and carry off all wecan meet; and they affirm that they themselves are engaged in lawfulwarfare when they burn and destroy our villages and fields, because theypossess a regular army, with cannon and ammunition, while we have onlyour good steeds and sharp swords. Such ideas are absurd. The Giaourswill some day become more enlightened and civilised. We shall, however,have fighting enough to please you, my young friend, for think not thatthese Urus will lose their food quietly. No, no, they will fight hardenough for that; but we will be too quick for them. And, my friends, wehave no time to expend in talking."

  "I will soon be ready to attend you," answered Selem, taking his armsfrom the walls, and ordering Karl to prepare his horse for theexpedition. Thaddeus followed his example, though much loath to leavehis mistress; but he had so completely leagued himself with hisCircassian friends, that he had no further excuse for holding back. Hehimself was also excited by the prospect of gaining the further applauseand confidence of those, in the success of whose cause he had become sodeeply interested.

  Alp was in the most extravagant spirits, notwithstanding his regret atleaving Zara at the thoughts of a foray, on a more extended scale thanany in which he had hitherto been engaged. The prospect of the renownhe should acquire under his father, and also the hope of gaining wealthfor his fair bride, were further incitements.

  "Mashallah!" cried the Hadji; "we shall carry off cattle enough tosupply the whole of Abasia for a year to come."

  Ina trembled with alarm when she heard that her brother and her loverwere to leave her, on so hazardous an expedition; having cherished thefond hope that they would remain in safety all the winter. But sheremembered that she was a Circassian maiden; and, recommending them tothe care of Heaven, she parted from them with a tearful smile, and aprayer for their speedy and victorious return. They repaired, beforethey set out, to pay their adieus to their old host, who had, for sometime, been confined to his couch through age and infirmities.

  "Farewell, my son," he said, addressing Selem. "Before you return, Imay be gathered to my fathers; for I feel that I have not long to remainamong my people, though I had hoped to have seen my country restored topeace ere I died. But I commend to your guidance a body of my choicestyouths, whom I have ordered to be ready to attend you. I am now alonethe last chief of my race; my sons have offered up their spirits asmartyrs to their country's cause. I, too, would have thanked Allah forthe glorious privilege of dying on the field of battle as becomes awarrior-chieftain; but that blessing I can now never hope for. When Iam gone, you, my son Alp, will be chosen by the elders of my people, asthe husband of my only child, to succeed me as their leader; that is,when you have gained sufficient age and experience. Till then, thenoble chief, Arslan Gherrei, will lead them to battle; and you, Selem,as a son of our race, I charge to watch over and guard their interests;for on you, next to Alp, would have devolved my possessions. Rule themjustly and firmly, and they will faithfully obey you."

  The young men promised religiously to obey the old chief's injunctions.

  "Farewell, my sons," he said; "I feel that you will not betray thetrust. And now my only hope is, that I may live long enough to see youreturn victorious from this expedition; and may Allah guard you in it!"

  As the chief had promised, our hero found, on leaving the house, agallant troop of fifty young and hardy horsemen, fully equipped, readyto obey his commands. Every man carried provisions at his saddle-bow,sufficient for several days, considering their abstemious habits whenengaged in warfare. They were clothed in coats and caps of skin,wearing over their shoulders thick large cloaks, impenetrable to wet orcold. Their rifles and pistols were well protected from the rain attheir back, and they had daggers and long sabres at the waist. Both theHadji and Alp were clothed much in the same manner over their chainarmour, and with Selem and Thaddeus, who were also arrayed in theirwinter gear, they set forward at the head of the troop.

  The appointed place of meeting was in a valley within the last ridge ofmountains before the Caucasian range descends into the plains, nearwhere the Kara River, rushing through a narrow and rocky defile, findsits way into the Kouban. In that direction they turned their horses'heads, proceeding steadily and slowly forward, so as not to fatiguetheir steeds, and to keep them in the finest possible condition for theexploit. At the end of each day's journey, they received a warm andcordial welcome at the house of some chief. Through every village andhamlet they passed, their band was increased by numerous volunteers, alleager to share the promised spoils of the foe.

  On reaching the heights, commanding the valley appointed for their placeof rendezvous, a warlike spectacle broke on their sight. From everyquarter, bands of warriors were seen emerging from the forests, troopafter troop following each other in gallant array, winding in longlines, amid the rocks and trees, down the steep sides of the mountain,and uniting in the valley in a close body. Their banners gailyfluttered in the breeze; their weapons shone brilliantly in the rays ofthe sun, and increased in lustre as they were reflected in the snow;their loud and joyous shouts resounded through the air.

  As the Hadji and his party rode to the ground, he was received with loudacclamations of welcome, and his standard was planted as one of thechief leaders. Other bands, during the remainder of the day, continuedto pour in on all sides; and soon after, Arslan Gherrei, at the head ofa fine and warlike troop, arrived in the valley, and Selem hastened togreet his father. As the champion rode up, mounted on a superb andpowerful black charger, he was welcomed on all sides by enthusiasticacclamations, most of the independent bands arraying themselves underhis especial banner.

  The Hadji seldom aspired to the entire command of an army; preferringhis own desultory and impetuous style of fighting to the responsible andarduous duties of a general. He prided himself most as a leader ofbands engaged in a kind of guerilla warfare.

  The Seraskier, or Commander-in-Chief, who had been chosen as the leaderof this republican army, was a chieftain far advanced in years, thoughstill retaining all the vigour and activity of youth. Of renownedcourage and sagacious conduct, and trained to arms in Egypt from hisboyhood, he had, since the commencement of hostilities, been engaged inconstant warfare with the enemy, by whom he was much dreaded. He was ofcommanding height and sinewy frame nerved by violent and unremittingexercise; his features were bronzed by exposure on the burning sands ofAfrica, his white locks escaped from beneath his plumed helm. He rodein the midst of a group of chieftains, who eagerly gathered round himfor instruction and advice. It was with a glance of proud satisfaction,that the veteran leader looked round on the bands of warriors drawn upin the valley, who had so promptly obeyed his summons, issued only a fewdays previously, and thus so nobly answered. It was, in truth, a finesight, as the aged hero reined up his steed, waving his hand to requestsilence. Surrounded by all the chiefs and leaders of this little army,he thus addressed them--

  "My noble friends, chieftains of the Atteghei, we have this day againassembled in arms, roused by the reiterated, and unprovoked attacks ofthe Urus. Seeking alone to enjoy peace and the und
isturbed possessionof our country and of our liberties, we have refrained from acting asthe aggressors on those territories claimed by our foes, though unjustlywrenched from our hands. Who, among us here, has not sufferedinnumerable wrongs and unbearable injuries at their hands, since theirdark eagles first hovered over the confines of our lands? They haveburned our hamlets--they have cut down our corn--they have trampled overour rich pastures--they have carried off our cattle; and yet those areinjuries which may be replaced. But how many of our bravest warriorshave fallen in defence of our country and our liberty! Who, among ushere assembled, but has lost a father, a brother, or a son? Still dothe cries of our women ring in our ears for their loss. Where can wereplace them? Can our enemies restore the lost ones? How often havethose among us, whose homes are in the neighbouring lands, been arousedin the darkness of night