" I swear to you by the light of the Holy Spirit, my son has concealed him, and he has done it for your sake, at the peril of his own life; for all the traitors will perish this night."
" Fedor has saved my father! What generous conduct! "
" I am not generous, mademoiselle," said the young
THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.115
man, approaching to support Xcnie, who seemed about to faint.
Fedor had accompanied his mother to the castle gate, which he had not ventured to enter: on the two women coming forth, he had followed them at a little distance in order to protect the flight of Xenie. The weakness that came over his sister obliged him to show himself. But she soon recovered the energy which danger arouses in strong minds.
" Fedor, explain to me all this mystery. What iö going to be done ? "
" The Russians are free, and they are going to avenge themselves; but make haste, and follow me," he continued, leading her on.
" Going to avenge themselves ! But on whom ? I have never done evil to any one ! "
"'Tis true, you are an angel; yet,I fear that in the first moment there will be no mercy for anybody. The madmen ! they see only enemies, not alone in our former masters but in all their kindred. The hour of carnage is arrived : let us make haste. If you do not hear the tocsin, it is because they avoid sounding the bells for fear of forewarning our enemies; besides, they could not be heard far enough : it was agreed that the last glimmer of the evening sun should be the signal for the burnino` of the castles, and the massacre of all their inhabitants."
" Oh ! you make me shudder ! "
Fedor continued, still urging her forwards, " I was
appointed to march with the youngest and bravest of
our people on the town of, where we are to sur
prise the gai`rison, which consists only of a few
veterans. We are the strongest, and I therefore
116THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.
thought they might dispense with me in the first expedition; thus I have wittingly failed in my duty, I have betrayed the sacred cause, and deserted my battalion to repair to the spot where I knew that I should find your father ; he has been timely warned, and is concealed in a cabin dependent on the domains of the crown, lìnt now I tremble lest it should be too late to save you," he continued, still hurrying her forward towards the retreat he had chosen for her. " The desire of protecting your father has lost time precious to yourself; but I thought to fulfil your wishes, and believed that you would not reproach me for the delay, when you knew the cause ; besides, you are less exposed than Thelenef: we shall, I trust, yet save you."
" Yes; but you — you are lost," said the mother in a tone of anguish, which her endeavour to keep silent rendered the more impressive,
" Lost! " interrupted Xenie, " my brother lost for my sake ! "
" Has he not deserted his ranks in the hour *of danger ? " replied the old woman, " he is guilty, and they will kill him."
" I have deserved death ! "
" And I shall be the cause," cried Xenie; " no, no, you must fly —Ave will fly together.-"
« Never ! "
During the precipitate retreat of the fugitives, the light of the conflagration silently spread in the horizon : not one cry, no sound of fire-arms, no ringing of bells, betrayed the insurrection. It was dumb massacre. The calm accord of nature, the beauty of the night smiling on so many murders, filled the soul
THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.117
with horror. It seemed as though Providence, in order to punish men, had removed even her frown, and was suffering them to act as they pleased.
" You will not abandon your sister ? " Xenie ejac-culated, trembling with terror.
"No, mademoiselle: but once assured of your safety, I will go and surrender myself."
"I will go with you," replied the young girl, pressing his arm convulsively: "I will not leave you! You think, then, that I would sacrifice anything for life ! "
At this moment the fugitives saw, by the light of the stars, defiling before them, at the distance of about a hundred paces, a line of silent shadows. Fedor stopped.
" Who are they ? " asked Xenie, in a low voice.
"Hush!" said l·Yd··r, gently retreating beneath the shadow cast by some palings; then, when the last phantom had crossed the route, he continued —
"It is a detachment of our people marching in
silence to surprise the castle of Count . We
are in danger here ; let us hasten."
" Whither then will you conduct me ? "
" In the first place, to my mother's brother, four versts* from Vologda. My old uncle is in hie second childhood, he will not betray us. There you must change your dress, for that which you wear would cause you to be recognised; here is another. My mother will remain with her brother, and I hope before the close of the night to bring you to the re-
* A verst is about a quarter of a French league.
*`
118ТПЕ HISTORY OF THELENEF.
treat where I left Thelenef. No place is safe in our unfortunate district, but that is, at least, the safest."
" You will restore me to my father! Thank you, Fedor: but what will yon yourself do then? "
" I will bid you adieu."
" Never! "
" Nay, nay, Xenie is right: you must remain with them," cried the poor mother.
" Thelenef would not suffer me," replied the young man, bitterly.
Xenie felt that it was not the moment to answer. The three fugitives pursuing their way in silence, and without accident, at length reached the door of the aged peasant.
It was fastened only with a latch. The old man slept, wrapped in a black sheepskin, and stretched on one of the rustic benches, which were ranged, like a divan, around the room. Over his head burnt a little lamp, suspended before a Greek Madonna, almost entirely concealed by the silver ornaments of her head and garments. A kettle full of hot water, a tea pot, and several cups, remained on the table. A short time before the arrival of the party, the wife of Fedor had quitted the cottage, to seek, with her child, shelter at her father's. Fedor appeared neither surprised nor vexed at her departure ; for he had not told her to wait for him, and he wished the retreat of Xenie to be unknown to the whole world.
After lighting a lamp at that of the Virgin's, he led his mother and foster-sister to a small dark closet, which formed a loft over the room before mentioned. All the houses of the iïussian peasants are similar in construction.
THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.119
Left alone, Fedor seated himself on the first step of the frail staircase which his sister had ascended, resting his head upon his hands, in pensive thought.
Scarcely had Xenie, whom he had urged to use all haste, opened the packet that contained her new habiliments, than the young man, rising with an expression of intense anxiety, whistled softly to summon his mother.
" What is the matter ? " she asked in a low voice.
c¢ Extinguish your lamp — I hear steps; and the light will be seen through the chinks. Above all, avoid making the least noise."
The light was put out, and everything remained in silence.
A few moments past in an agonising suspense; at length the door opened (Xenie scarcely breathed for terror), and a man entered covered with sweat and blood. " Is it you, brother Basil ? " said Fedor, advancing towards the stranger: " are you alone ? "
" No; a detachment of our men wait for me before the door. No light ? "
" I will get you one," replied Fedor, mounting the steps of the loft, whence he descended in an instant to re-kindle the lamp, which he had taken from the hands of the trembling women, at that which glimmered before the Madonna. " Would you like some tea, brother ? "
" Yes."
" Here is some."
The new comer began to empty, by small draughts, the cup which Fedor presented. This man bore a token of command upon his breast. He was dressed as the other peasants, and armed with a naked and
&
nbsp; THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.121
" Very likely! And what then is to become of the justice of God, and the will of the emperor? Coward! do you not see that the time for hesitation has passed ? After what has been already done, we must conquer or die. Listen to me then, instead of turning away your head. We have spread everywhere fire and blood: do you understand me ? After such a carnage, pardon is impossible. The whole town is dead. When we set to work, we do our business thoroughly. You seem to be displeased with our triumph ? "
" I do not like the murder of the women."
" It is necessary to destroy an evil race, root and branch."
Fedor was silent. Basil tranquilly continued his discourse, which he only interrupted to swallow his tea. " You appear sad and melancholy, my son ? "
Fedor continued silent.
" It is your foolish love for the daughter of The-lenef our mortal enemy, which has been your ruin."
" I! — a love for my foster-sister ! I have a friend
ship for her, if you like : but"
"Pshaw! pshaw!—a curious kind of friendship yours ! "
The young man rose, and tried to place his hand on the other's mouth,
i( What do you mean, boy ? One would suppose you feared being overheard," continued Basil, without changing his manner.
Fedor remained motionless: the peasant continued —
" It is not I who will be your dupe ; her father Thelenef was not so either, when he maltreated you."
VOL. II.G
122THE HISTOEY OF THELENEF.
Fedor again strove to interrupt him.
" What! you will not allow me to speak ! You have not forgotten any more than I, that he once beat you. It was to punish you, not for the trifling fault invented by himself, but for your secret love of his daughter. He wanted to drive you from the country before the evil was past remedy."
Fedor, in the most violent agitation, walked up and down the room, unable to utter any reply. He bit his hands in impotent rage, till he at length found words to say :
" You remind me of a hateful day, comrade ; let us talk of something else."
" I always talk of what I please: if you do not choose to answer me, I can talk alone ; but, once for all, I will not be interrupted. I am your senior, and the godfather of your new-born babe ; your captain also. Do you see this sign on my breast ? It is that of my rank in our army. I have therefore a right to speak before you ; and if you pretend to object, I have my men bivouacking outside; with a single whistle I could bring them around me, and in a few momenta the house would be in a blaze. Patience, then, and we shall understand each other better."
The young man re-seated himself, affecting the most indifferent air that he could assume.
" What was I talking about ? " continued Basil, grumbling between his teeth. " Oh, I was reminding you of an unpleasant recollection. Is it not true? But you have sadly forgotten it, my son, and I must bring back to your mind your own history. You will see at least that I know how to read your thoughts,
THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.123
and to discover whether there beats within you the heart of a traitor."
Here Basil again interrupted himself, opened a casement, and spoke in the ear of a man who presented himself at the aperture, through which were seen five other armed peasants in the back-ground.
Fedor had seized his poniard, but he replaced it in his girdle ; the life of Xenie was at stake, and the least imprudence might cause the hut to be set on fire, and all that was in it to perish ! He therefore restrained himself; he wished once more to see ú¿ sister. Who can analyse all the mysteries of love ? The secret of his life was being revealed to Xenie, without any contrivance or concurrence on his part. At this moment, terrible as it was, he experienced only exeess of joy ! What signifies the short duration of supreme felicity, — is it not eternal while it is felt ? But these powerful illusions of the heart can never be known to men who are incapable of love. True love is not dependent upon time — its measure is supernatural — its movements are not to be calculated by cold human reason.
After a brief silence, the loud voice of Basil put an end to the sweet yet painful ecstasy of Fedor.
£¢ But since you did not love your wife, why did you marry her? You acted there very foolishly."
This question again frenzied the mind of the young man.
To say that he loved his wife, was to lose all that he was about to gain. " I thought I loved her," he replied : " they told me it was necessary for me to marry. Could I know what was in my heart ? I wished to please the daughter of Thelenef. I obeyed G 2
124THE HISTORY OF TIIELENEF.
without reflection. Is it not our habit as peasants to act in this manner ? "
" It is. You pretend you were ignorant of what you wished. I will tell yon : you wished simply to reconcile yourself with Thelcnef."
¢¢ You little know me ! "
" I know you better than you know yourself. You thought our tyrants were still needful to us; and you therefore yielded, to obtain the pardon of Thelcnef. In truth, we should all have done as much in your place ; but what I reproach you with, is your wish to deceive me, who see through all. There was no other way of regaining the favour of the father, than by setting him at rest as to the consequences of your love for the daughter ; and with tins view you married, without thinking of the grief of your poor wife, whom you have condemned to eternal misery, and whom you did not scruple to abandon at the moment when she was hoping to give yon a son."
" I was ignorant of that when I quitted her : she concealed from me her situation. Once for all, I have acted without design or premeditation. I have been ever accustomed to the guidance of my foster-sister, who has so much wisdom."
¢¢ More's the pity."
"How?"
" I say it is a pity: she will be the greater loss to the country."
" Are you capable"
" We are capable of destroying her as we have done the others. ... Do yon suppose we shall be so foolish as not to shed the last drop of the blood of Thelenef, — the blood of our most hateful enemy ?"
126THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.
of the aged man was at its height, and his strength was still very great. The unfortunate Fedor knew not how toict. Heaven did not aid him.
The troops of Basil, who were lying in wait, heard the cries. Before Fedor could disengage himself from the powerful grasp of the poor senseless being, for whom he felt a respect which induced him to spare his life, though at the risk of his own, six men, furnished with cords and armed with pitch-forks, stakes, and scythes, rushed into the cabin. To lay hold of Fedor, to disarm, and to bind him. was the work of a moment.
" Where are you going to take me ? "
" To the castle of Vologda, to burn you there with Thelenef. You will see that your treason has not saved him."
These words were spoken by the oldest man of the troop. Fedor not replying, the man quietly continued : — " You did not think that our victory would be so complete and prompt: our army has sprung up on all sides; it is an inundation of divine justice. No one escapes us; our enemies are taken in their own snares; God is with us. We suspected you, and watched you narrowly. Thelenef was followed to the hiding-place where you conducted him, and has been there seized; you shall die together; the castle is already on fire."
Fedor, without uttering a word, cast down his head, and followed his executioners. He trusted that their rapid flight from the fatal cabin might yet be the means of saving Xenie.
Six .men carried before him the body of Basil, six others escorted them with torches; the rest followed
THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.127
without uttering a word. The funeral cortege traversed in silence the country, lit up with conflagrations in every direction. The horizon appeared each moment to lessen in circumference. A circle of fire bounded the plain. Vologda was burning; the town
ofwas on fire, together with all the castles and
farms of the prince, and several of the surr
ounding villages. The woods themselves did not escape. The carnage was universal. The conflagration illuminated the secret depths of the forest. Solitude existed no longer. "Who can conceal himself on a plain when the forests are on fire ? There can be no safe asylum against a flood of light pouring on all sides equally. Terror was at its height; night had fled, and yet the sun had not risen.
The escort of Fedor was increased by the marauders who were everywhere scouring the country. The crowd had become great by the time they reached the castle.
What a spectacle there awaited the prisoners !
The castle of Vologda, built entirely of wood, appeared like an immense funeral pyre, the flames of which reached to the heavens! The peasants, who had plundered this ancient mansion before setting it on fire, imagined they had burned Xenie in the habitation of her father.
A line of boats on the water, placed closely together, completed the blockade that had been established. In the midst of the semicircle formed by the army of the insurgents before the castle, the unfortunate Thclenef, torn from his retreat, and brought by force to the place destined for his execution, stood chained to a post; while the crowd of conquerors, g 4
128THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.
eager to behold the spectacle, flocked from all parts to this place of rendezvous.
The troop who guarded him formed a circle around their prey, and displayed in the light of the conflagration their loathsome banners. Great God! what colours ! They were the mangled remains of the first victims, earned upon pikes and sabres. Heads of women with flowing hair, pieces of human bodies stuck upon pitch-forks, mutilated infants, gory bones. The scene seemed peopled with hideous phantoms, winch it might have been supposed had escaped from hell, to assist in the orgies of the last inhabitants of earth.
This pretended triumph of liberty was like the aspect of some great convulsion of nature. The flames and crash of the timbers of the castle resembled the eruption of a volcano. The revengeful passions of the people were like the lava, which, long boiling silently in the womb of the earth, had at length found vent, and spread in torrents on every side. Confused murmurs might be heard among the crowd, but no voice could be distinguished, unless it wras that of the victim whose curses and imprecations rejoiced the hearts of the executioners. These monsters were, for the most part, men of remarkable beauty; all had a manner and bearing that was naturally noble and gentle; they seemed more like evil angels, whose faces yet retained their pristine glory, than human beings. Fedor himself much resembled his persecutors. All the Russians of pure Slavonian race show by their faces that they are of the same family; even when engaged in exterminating each other it can be
Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia Page 41
