The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
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under like treatment. Somemore vodka, Kruntz, that's the stuff; now for our pipes. Drown carefirst, and then smoke him dry, and he won't trouble you; that's the wayfor honest men like us to live."
These two worthies, after enjoying their tobacco, left the room. Theywill be easily recognised as the myrmidons of the Count Erintoff, sentforward in great haste by their master, to trace the horsemen, who hadarrested him in his flight with the Gipsy maid--a circumstance the moreembittering to his pride, after his success in securing her person. Hehad also dispatched others in an opposite direction, with the sameorders.
Karl at length awoke to find that the shades of evening had alreadyenveloped the town in obscurity; and he rushed out in great dismay, athaving overslept himself, to endeavour to gain some tidings of his youngmaster and his friend; but in vain--he could hear nothing of them. Thehonest fellow now became greatly alarmed, making inquiries of every bodyhe met, till finding that his master had certainly not yet arrived inTver, he lay down, to await his coming, on one of the wooden benches inthe eating-room, when he very soon again fell into a sleep--not the lesssound from his deep potations of quass--and did not awake till longafter the morning had dawned, and the inmates of the hotel were astir.He started up, rubbing his eyes, and looking around to convince himselfwhere he was; when recollecting the events of the previous day, heinstantly set off to gain intelligence of his master. With eageragitation, he questioned all who came in his way, high and low; but mostpeople pushed the lowly unshorn serf aside, without deigning to answerhim; some ridiculed him, and bade him seek a new master, if he had losthis old one, for he would never find him again. Among those whom he hadcasually addressed, was one of the two individuals, whose conversationhe had partly overheard when sitting by his side on the previousevening.
"You are inquiring for your master and his friend," asked Groff; "twoyoung men, you say, whom you parted from about twenty versts off; asthey rode by themselves through the forest." By thus interrogating thehonest, but simple Karl, he learned every particular he sought to knowrespecting Ivan Galetzoff and his companion.
Poor Karl spent the long day in great tribulation, walking to and fro infront of the inn, inquiring of everybody who arrived from the directionof St. Petersburg, if they had overtaken his master and fellowtraveller; but obtaining no intelligence, he proceeded along the roadfor some miles in the hope of meeting them; again unsuccessful, hereturned in case they should have passed by some other way. Towardsevening, when he perceived the lost cavaliers approaching, his joy knewno bounds.
Running to meet them, and ere they had time to dismount, he seized theirhands and covered them with kisses. He gave their horses in charge tothe ostler, and conducted them to their room, where they were glad torest, after the excitement and fatigues of the preceding day.
Their arrival had been observed by others with equal satisfaction tothat felt by honest Karl, though arising from very dissimilar motives.Groff and his companion concealed within a doorway, watched them as theydismounted, and being fully satisfied of their identity, both fromKarl's description, and their own recollection of the wild horsemen, bywhom they had been felled in the forest, they immediately mounted theirhorses to convey their information to the Count.
Ivan felt but little inconvenience from his wound; the aged Hagar havingtreated it so efficaciously. He was, therefore, enabled to continue onthe journey to Moscow, early the next morning; notwithstanding thenumerous eloquent reasons urged by their considerate landlord, topersuade them to delay it.
They crossed the magnificent Volga, by a bridge of boats. This mightycurrent rushing onward in its course, divides Europe from Asia; it isnavigable well nigh to its very source--a distance of four thousandmiles; and after bathing the walls of Astracan, finishes its career inthe far distant Caspian. Its banks are peopled by the warlike tribes ofCossacks, who so unrelentingly harassed the skirts of the French army,during their disastrous retreat from Russia. On its noble waters werebeing transported rich cargoes of grain, the produce of its fertilebanks, in boats of various sizes, rigged with a single but lofty mast,supporting an immense sail, and a long rudder, projecting far beyond thestern, which is admirably adapted to guide them, when passing therapids.
The villages through which the travellers' route lay, were forlorn andmiserable; being generally the property of the Seigneurs, and occupiedby their serfs. They consisted of a single long street, lined on eitherside with cottages built of rough logs: those of the more affluent beingformed of the same materials, hewn and squared into more regular shape.Their gable ends projecting far into the street, discovered occasionallypatches of rude carving; small holes perforated in the walls serving aswindows.
In many spots along the road, were small chapels with pictures of thePanagia (the Russian appellation of the Virgin Mary,) or of some of themultitudinous saints in their calendar; these were the especial objectsof Karl's devotion, as he bowed his head to them, and crossed himselfall over with the greatest reverence. They overtook many teams of smallcarts, sometimes forty together; carrying tallow, hides, and hemp to thecities, to be exchanged for merchandise, with which they return to theinterior: their drivers were generally lying asleep on their goods, onealone at the head of the train, conducting the team. As evening closedin, they halted, forming bivouacs by the way-side, and their cheeringfires served as beacons for the wayfarer.
Although but a few years have glided by, since the period to which weallude, great changes have taken place on the highway between St.Petersburg and Moscow. Not only has the road been macadamised, andbecome one of the best in Europe, but elegant bridges have been thrownacross the rivers and streams; handsome, well-conducted post-houses havebeen established on the road, and public conveyances traverse itregularly.
It was towards the evening of the second day of their departure fromTver, that they approached the Phoenix-like, the resuscitated, holy, andancient city of Moscow.
The rays of the setting sun shed a glittering lustre on the innumerablegilded domes, steeples and spires, of its churches, shooting upwardsfrom amid the dark masses of habitations, like trees of gold in a forestof enchantment. Each tower being surmounted by the emblem of Christianfaith, resplendent with gold, and connected by golden chains, whichshone more brightly as they waved in the breeze.
This gorgeous scene breaking suddenly on their sight, arrested theirprogress; the stately city, extending over a wide space of undulatingground, encompassed by woody and cultivated heights--the hundred-crestedKremlin rising majestically above all--the magnificent palaces,churches, and convents, with their cupolas and domes of blue, and white,and gold, giving it an aspect of oriental magnificence.
Karl, animated by a spirit of devotion, threw himself from the cart, andprostrated himself on the soil, in adoration, as he beheld the Jerusalemof Russia--the city sanctified in their hearts, and so beloved by everytrue Muscovite. Having completed the ceremony, with innumerablegenuflexions and crossings, much to his own satisfaction, he drove on toregain his master and Thaddeus, who not being imbued with the samefeeling of respect for the City of the Czars, and having often viewedthe spectacle, had, after a slight pause at the grandeur of the scene,proceeded on their road.
After traversing many of the irregular, winding streets of the city, themoment arrived when they were to part, to hasten to their respectivehomes. Exchanging pledges to meet again as soon as circumstances wouldpermit, they then started off in opposite directions.
Volume 1, Chapter VI.
Missing the society of his lively companion, a shade of gloom overspreadthe handsome features of Ivan; his mind being thus thrown back uponitself, the sombre scenery through which he passed, as he drew nigh tothe end of his journey, on the day after he quitted his friend,contributed to augment the melancholy bias of his thoughts.
On either side of his path arose a thick and dark wood, without a singleopening vista, or a green glade; every part seemed impenetrable to joyand gladness. The habitations of the miserable and oppressed serfs wereclosed; the
ir inmates having early retired to rest, after theill-requited toils of the day.
Occasionally, however, he fell in with labourers returning to theirhomes, who, as they recognised the son of their seigneur, saluted himwith respect and a look of affection. In an instant, the cloud on hisbrow would be dissipated as he returned their greetings, and offered akind word to each, either in inquiries after their families, or othergood-natured remarks, by which the unsophisticated peasant's heart is soeasily gained.
On approaching the chateau, even such signs of life as had previouslyappeared ceased to exist, and all around wore, if possible, a still moregloomy and dreary aspect.
He unconsciously shortened his rein; that action sufficed to betray thathe could not regard the Baron in the light of a father. So far fromhaving an anxious desire to hasten to receive his welcome, his languidpace proved his reluctance to enter sooner than necessary into thepresence of the fierce lord of that dark domain. His heart