The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
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over the fallen brave, by thearrival of a band of horsemen, who had been sent back by your father;they proposed to delay making any attack on the foe till their numberscould be increased from the neighbouring villages; but I thought of you,my boy--you a prisoner in the hands of our enemies, and I dreaded lestthey should set sail, and bear you far away without a hope of recoveringyou. With lamentations and entreaties, with tears and commands, I urgedon our men to the attack. I shewed them the ignominy, the disgrace,which would cover them, should they allow an enemy, who had devastatedtheir lands, slain their kinsmen, and carried away captive their wivesand children, to escape, without attempting to revenge their loss. Ipointed out to them that the son of their beloved chieftain was in thepower of their enemies, and that should they discover the value of theirprize, they would endeavour to bring us to terms, disgraceful andinjurious to our country, for the sake of recovering him. I excitedtheir valour--I fired their souls with my eloquence, wrought to thehighest pitch by a mother's anxiety--I offered to lead them, puttingmyself at their head, and swore never to return unsuccessful.
"We sent out messengers in all directions around, summoning all whocould be collected to join our forces. None hesitated to obey oursummons, for the same detestation of our invaders animated the breastsof all. Before the morning broke, we had assembled from all quarters anirregular, but heroic band, eager to be led against the common foe.From the thick wooded heights, which overhung the coast, we rushed downupon the unprepared camp, like some mountain torrent, suddenly swelledby the thunder cloud, sweeping over the plain, bearing all before it. Ifelt not like a weak, timid woman, but as the enraged lioness, whoseyoung has been torn from her by the hands of the huntsmen. I sprung torescue you; by word and action, I encouraged our men to the assault, andheeded not the overwhelming numbers opposed to us.
"The Russians roused from their sleep, ere the out-posts could give thealarm, rushed to their arms; many, owing to the confusion and darkness,missed their weapons. In an instant we were upon them; and as cornbefore the sickle we hewed them down, none crying for mercy; they knewthey deserved it not, we shewed none. But ere our work was done, themorning broke, and exhibited our scanty force to the enemy, who ralliedat the sight, and retreated fighting in order. But I had not recoveredmy child, and it was for that object alone that I fought. Suddenly, Icaught sight of you at a distance, with other prisoners amid the ranksof the foe. I strained every nerve to reach you--I saw not the blowsaimed at me--I encouraged my followers, and on--on, we rushed, fearlessof the danger, and ignorant of the vast power of the mighty engines ofdestruction which their huge ships bore. Fighting step by step, werepelled the Russians, till they gained the very margin of the sea, andthen, just as we thought victory secure--their ships opened upon ussuddenly the hot shower of their artillery, which no valour couldwithstand; my brave companions fell fast around me while fighting, andstill hotly pursuing the foe, till death arrested their course.
"Scarcely any remained by my side, when it seemed that a sickness cameover me, and I fell to the ground, and knew not what further happened.
"When I awoke to consciousness, I found myself on board of one of theRussian ships, borne far from my native land. I endeavoured to recallmy scattered senses: a fever raged through my brain, as I was conductedinto the presence of the chief who had led the attack on our territory--he was the Baron Galetzoff!"
Ivan's brow grew dark, and an exclamation of anger rose to his lips; buthe restrained his passion.
"He eyed me with a glance which pierced me through my soul, as I stoodwith my head bowed before him, nor could words find utterance through myparched lips. He spoke, but I was deaf to the sound. Strange peoplewere around me; an uncouth language was spoken, whose meaning I couldnot understand: entreaty, resistance, complaint, were alike unavailing.I had none to appeal to from whom I could hope for assistance. I knewmyself to be utterly helpless; none around me could understand my words.I was led back, unresistingly, to my solitary cabin. I yielded to myfate, for all thoughts of escape were hopeless. I thought of death as arefuge for my wretchedness; but one idea, one hope still sustained me,and bade me cling to life. I might, should you have escapeddestruction, still have a chance, though a remote one, of meeting withyou. The very thought restored me. I determined to live to devote myenergies to find you; for I knew not of the difficulties in my way. Theship in which I was borne captive from Circassia, reached the shores ofRussia; and I was transported to this mansion in some strangeconveyance, which I had never before seen. I was here treated withevery care and attention, having female attendants to wait on me, and tosupply all my wants. From them I learned gradually the strange languagethey spoke, being inspired with the hope that it might be of service tome in my search after you; and sustained by this deep feeling, I becamepartially reconciled to my fate. I had not seen or heard of my captorsince I left the ship, except that, as far as I could understand, he wasstill absent from his domain.
"My sole delight and employment was in wandering through the woods,while thinking of you, and in forming many different projects todiscover to what part of the country you had been conveyed. On one ofthese excursions I had gone further than usual from home, and had for aninstant lost sight of my attendant, when a child's cry caught my ear. Irushed forward eagerly at the sound, for the notes vibrated through myheart like some beloved and well-known voice. I was not to be deceived.Oh! joy of joys! blessing unspeakable! it was you, my own loved boy--far off, I knew you. I sprang forward--I pressed you to my bosom--Icovered you with kisses--I placed you on the ground: again and again Isnatched you in my arms. I wept--I felt mad with joy; all my sorrows,all my miseries were, for the moment, forgotten; all the happiness I hadlost, in an instant, appeared restored tenfold. I know not if yourecognised me; but I thought you did; for you returned my embrace,looking up smilingly in my face.
"A rough, but honest-faced looking man, broke through the woods insearch of you, and looked surprised and alarmed on finding you in myarms. He made signs that he must take you from me; and though I soughtto prevent it, you returned willingly to him. With my spirit broken, Icould not dare to oppose him; and I guessed, too, from his manners andcountenance, that he might prove a friend. This honest serf was thefather of Karl; and from him I learned that you had been carried off byhis brother, who had saved your life from the hands of some of hiscomrades; that the Baron had seen you, and for some unknown reason, hadtaken a fancy to you, and ordered you to be committed to his charge; andalso, that you had been conveyed to the estate at the very time that Iwas, while I had been pining in despair for your loss. Every day Ifrequented the same spot, which was near the serf's hut, in hopes ofseeing you and clasping you to my bosom; when the honest fellow atlength, taking compassion on me, used to bring you forth to meet me.Oh! the happiness, the bliss of those moments, almost repaid me themisery I had suffered. I was not acquainted with the Baron'sdisposition; but an idea occurred to me, though I scarcely know how itoriginated, that, should he discover you to be my son, he might, bythreatening to tear you from my sight, endeavour to gain more controlover me. Every time that this thought recurred to me, it gave freshstrength to my opinion, and I resolved, at all hazard, to profess uttercarelessness on your account; and thankful I have ever since been, thatI adopted that course; for no sooner did the Baron arrive, than mytrials commenced. I, at first, with the most abject entreaties, prayedto be restored to my own country, hoping to take you with me; but helaughed at my petition; and when I pressed my demand, with somehaughtiness of manner, he sternly refused.
"All hopes of escape were as vain as the prayers addressed to my captorhad been unsuccessful, for I knew not even to what part of the country Ihad been conveyed. I thought of the beloved husband to whom I waslost--of my sweet daughter--of friends and home; and I felt that I couldnot survive their loss: but your voice, though at a distance, struck onmy ear, and for your sake I resolved to live on.
"When you were brought to the chateau, your playful manners, and lightpr
attle, seemed to win on the affections of the Baron, as much as hisrough and savage nature would permit; but I kept to my prudentresolution, and pretended not to recognise you. At first you wouldoftentimes throw your arms round my neck, and call me by the endearingname of mother, in your native tongue; but I taught you not to utterthat name, though it almost broke my heart to do so; and my artificesucceeded; for you were constantly allowed to be with me, and the Baronseemed to have no idea of our relationship.
"The Baron's conduct towards you was always inexplicable, for itappeared entirely contrary to his fierce and cruel disposition, to treatyou as he has done. I have lately suspected that he has some secretmotive for thus acting, for to me he has always been harsh andtyrannical.
"There was one person in the Baron's establishment who soon becameentirely devoted to me--it was the dwarf Ladislau. I pitied hisweakness and