cloaked horseman losing patience atthe delay, seized me round the waist, placed me on the saddle beforehim, and bidding one of his followers mount the led horse, bore me offat fall speed. Catching a glimpse of my captor's countenance, to myhorror I discovered that I was in the power of the Count Erintoff. Thedreadful recollection now flashed across my mind, that we were in theneighbourhood of one of his estates; and I exerted my utmost strength toescape from his grasp, careless of falling to the ground in the attempt;but he held me firmly, protesting, that he loved me to distraction, andthat nothing mortal should deliver me from him; while he threateneddeadly vengeance against any who should dare to make the attempt.
"I could only vent my anger and terror in loud cries for assistance,having succeeded in withdrawing the bandage from my mouth, nor could hereplace it, though the advantage offered me but slender hopes of mycries being heard.
"Thus was I forced away for a considerable distance, in utter despair ofbeing liberated, when I was gallantly rescued by these noble gentlemenat the hazard of their lives. Oh, believe me, Sirs," she added, "thatthe Zingani maiden can never, while life endure, be unmindful of thegreat benefit you have bestowed on her."
At this recital, the eye of the Gipsy chief flashed with indignation;"The audacious barbarian," he exclaimed, "shall rue his vile attempt,though happily rendered abortive; nor shall his high rank protect him!Can he not be content to tyrannise over the hapless slaves already inhis power, but that he must seek for fresh victims among our tribe?Does he mistake us for the wretched serfs who till his lands? He hasyet to learn that the Zingani are not of their base caste. But, Azila,my child! what causes thy sudden agitation?"
"See, see, my father," she cried, pointing to Ivan, who overcome byfatigue and the pain of his wound, was falling to the ground, when theGipsy sprang forward and caught him in his arms. "Alas," cried Azila,with an agitated voice, "how ungrateful indeed I have been, andneglectful of him who risked his life to save me, that I should forgethe had been wounded! but I will haste and conduct Hagar hither, who willtend him with greater skill than I can, though not with more care."Azila had scarcely left the tent when Ivan returned to consciousness, ashe reclined in his friend's arms, Thaddeus having relieved the Gipsy ofhis charge.
"He will soon be restored by the care of our venerable mother, Hagar,"said the chief; "for there are few in this country so well acquainted asshe is with the healing art." As he spoke, the person mentioned enteredthe tent, accompanied by Azila.
Her locks were blanched, and her form bowed down by the weight of manyyears; yet though her skin was wrinkled and tawny, the fire of her darkexpressive eye seemed unquenched. "Mother," said Azila, "as you loveyour child, exercise your utmost skill in the healing art, by recoveringthis stranger, who has been wounded in my defence; by your help I knowthat he may be speedily restored to health."
"Child," replied the sybil, "the power of healing belongs alone to thegreat spirit who guards our tribe, and I am but his poor servant, readyto use the means he places in my hands; these will I gladly employ tocure this stranger, though by his looks, I judge that quiet and reposeare the remedies most needful for him."
Such indeed was the case, and in compliance with the old woman'srequest, the Gipsy's wife busied herself in preparing the tent for thenight. The curtain alluded to, as intended to separate it into twochambers, was lowered, while, a bundle of skins and blankets beingunrolled, a couch was quickly spread on the planks and chests, which hadpreviously composed the table. Thither Ivan was soon conveyed in thearms of his friend and their host, the rest of the family having quittedthe tent, with the exception of Hagar, who proceeded to examine thewound; the Gipsy meanwhile preparing a second couch, which he beggedThaddeus would occupy. The old woman, having completed her inspectionof the hurt, and desiring the sufferer to remain perfectly quiet untilher return, left the tent to procure the curative simples necessary todress it.
Placing a lamp on the ground in the centre of the tent, the Gipsy chief,ere he parted from his guests, thus addressed them:
"Rest in perfect security, noble Sirs. I am about to perform the roundsof the encampment, to place trusty men on the watch, in case theruffians, who have this day attempted so vile an outrage on my daughter,should be excited by revenge at her liberation to attack us under coverof the night. I scarcely deem them possessed of sufficient courage toventure on so bold a project; but their leader is capable of anyatrocity; and in this land, where the rich and powerful are above thelaw, he relies on escaping with impunity, however flagrant the injurycommitted against the poor and humble. The wandering life we leadteaches us caution; but on my well-trained dogs I can place mostreliance in case of a sudden assault, for they never slumber on theirposts." With a respectful salutation, he then quitted the tent.
Left alone with his friend, Thaddeus endeavoured to enter intoconversation on the occurrences of the day; but Ivan, overcome by thepain of his wound, replied in so faint and languid a voice, as plainlyshewed that he was in no state to answer his observations. Heaccordingly stepped noiselessly to the entrance of the tent, and gazedon the wild and unusual scene which lay before him. The storm had nowpassed away, leaving the dark blue sky in unobscured splendour, spangledwith millions of glittering stars, which appeared to have derived abrighter lustre, as if burnished by the rolling of the dark clouds, orsparkling in triumph at the rapid flights of their sable adversaries.
A crescent moon threw a silvery light on the topmost boughs of theforest trees, whose giant shadows lay stretched in calm repose acrossthe verdant glade.
At times he could perceive dark figures emerging from the shade, andflitting through the moon-light, again to be lost in the gloom, likeuneasy spirits wandering in search of rest; but which he concluded wereeither parties returning to their tents, or the patrols on duty in thecamp.
Thus he stood for some time wrapt in meditation, when suddenly hestarted at the apparition of a figure which, issuing noiselessly fromthe obscurity, was within a few paces of him ere it was observed. Heinstantly recognised Hagar, as she advanced, leaning on her staff, andbearing in her hand a small basket. Her white locks, hanging indisorder over her wrinkled and care-worn brow, caused her to resembleone of the weird sisters bent on midnight evil, rather than a ministerof good, hastening to relieve a human being.
The young Pole might be excused if a tinge of superstitious distrustcrossed his mind, and he hesitated to commit his wounded friend to thecare of so strange a leech; but quickly banishing his doubts, he led theway into the tent. Kneeling by Ivan's couch the aged Hagar gentlywithdrew the scarf, which Azila had applied as a bandage, and washingthe wound with a decoction of herbs contained in her basket, againswathed it in linen. During the operation, she had continued mutteringto herself, regardless whether her patient or his friend were listening,in the following strain:
"Aye, aye, too clearly do I see how it will be, and thus it has everbeen! Slight wounds oft pierce far deeper than mortal eyes can see; andyoung hearts fear not the weapon that destroys them, but bare theirbosoms to the stroke! Aye, my child, my loved one! bound nearer to myheart than my own offspring, may thy generous and noble heart have nocause to rue the wound this stranger youth has this day received in thycause! Would that I could so read thy fate, as to guard thee from evil!Yet when I gaze on the star of thy destiny, my eyes grow dim, mythoughts become confused, and it vanishes from my sight. Thisstranger--he will be led by a far different path to any that thou canstfollow, my child; for in this world justice will never be done thee. Hewill pursue his course among the high and mighty, and forget the Gipsymaiden. Or if perchance she should recur to his memory, it will be butas a phantom of a waking dream. Alas! far different will it be for her!And thus much can I foresee, that his coming will work danger to mychild. Alas! alas! though I see it impending, I know not how to preventit. Full well I marked the earnest gaze she unthinkingly cast on thisgallant youth. In that one look lay concentrated, feelings, deep,subtle, unknown even to herself, for her thoughts were a
lone ofgratitude to her preservers. Though the fate of her I love, the prideof my bosom, and child of my tribe, is hid from my sight, no sooner didthe bright stars illumine the Heavens, than I discovered and traced thedestined course of this stranger. Like the brilliant meteor whichdarted across the firmament, unseen by any mortal eye but mine, as Igazed but now above, I read that his course will be rapid and brilliant,but boisterous and marked with blood, yet pure and unsullied by crime,and leading to a high destiny. As I contemplate these features, calm,and composed, I mark that he is incapable of those crimes which debasehuman nature. Yes, he is worthy of her love. May the mighty spirit whoguards our tribe, watch over and protect the preserver of my child."
When the aged sybil had concluded these obscure predictions, uttered ina low tone of voice, as she performed her task, she
The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia Page 5
