character.
When all was prepared, the fugitives set forward with their Gipsy guidestowards the banks of the river. The weather was still dark and stormy,and the wind whistled among the few straggling trees which grew on theshore. Here and there a star glimmered forth, as the dark masses ofclouds were rapidly driven across the sky. The water rushed by inturbid eddies; and for a moment the wild scene was lit up by flashes oflightning, to be again left in total darkness.
Descending a steep bank, the guides launched a small boat which had beenconcealed among some thick underwood, and the travellers, taking theirseats, pushed off into the stream. The Gipsies, however, well knewtheir course, and, as they believed that none of the Russian guards werelikely, on such a night, to venture away from their posts, seemed freefrom apprehension.
It was thus, amid storm and tempest, that Ivan bade farewell for ever tothe inhospitable territories of Russia, leaving behind him few regrets,and looking forward to his future path with enthusiastic ardour andconfidence.
The Gipsies pulled their slight bark boldly and safely across theboiling stream. While Ivan landed on the opposite shore, a vivid flashfollowed by a long continued roar of thunder, gave him the last glimpseof Russia, as he and his two companions stopped for an instant to gazeat it without speaking.
The guides now took a direction across the wild and uncultivated ground,which extends for a considerable distance along the shores of the Pruth.No rain had fallen to impede their progress, and with rapid stridesthey pursued their way, Javis assisting young Conrin, who could scarcelykeep pace with the party. They hastened on thus, in hope of reachingsome shelter, before the expected rain should fall, and having travelledsome miles, the barking of dogs gave notice that they were approaching ahuman habitation. A loud whistle in return was given by the guides,when the fierce bark was changed into a cry of welcome, and thefugitives found themselves at the entrance of another Gipsy encampment.The chief came forward to meet them, and as soon as he had heard theirstory from Javis, he received them with a courteous welcome.
When the guides were about to return, Ivan offered them someremuneration for their trouble. "No," said they, refusing it, "we takenothing from the friends of our people, and from one who is so highlyesteemed by our brother near Moscow. It is from our enemies and fromthose who oppress us, that we exact tribute; and when they do not givewe take. May a prosperous journey be your lot."
Saying which, they hastened away on their return across the river.
Contrary to the expectations of the travellers, they had no soonerreached the encampment than the sky grew clear, the stars shone outbrightly, the wind subsided, and the summer storm had passed away. Theywere glad to find rest and shelter in the friendly tents of these wildpeople, whom, however dishonest they might be towards others, Ivan hadfound faithful and true to him. One of their small skin-covered tentswere prepared for Ivan's accommodation, into which he was invited toenter, and repose himself. Young Conrin, seating himself at theentrance, prepared to watch his master while he slept; the boy, however,over-rated his own powers, for while he fancied that he kept guard, adeep slumber stole on his weariness.
Ivan slept soundly for some hours, fatigued as he was with the exertionsof the last few days and the anxiety of his escape. As he was firstreturning to consciousness, the curtains of his small tent being closed,and a gentle light streaming through them, he fancied, or it might havebeen a waking dream, that a strain of music fell on his ear. As helistened, he was lulled into that half-dreaming, half-waking state, sodelightful after the heavy slumber induced by fatigue; yet the syllablessounded distinctly, and he feared to stir, lest the sweet tones shouldprove but a dreamy illusion of the ear.
The words were to the following effect, sung in a clear rich voice,which Ivan fancied that he could recognise as that of young Conrin.
Far as the waves can bear O'er the deep sea; Far as the breezes blow O'er vale and lea; In whate'er lands you roam, Leaving my father's home, I'll follow thee.
O'er the blue mountain's brow, Joyous and free; E'en where the desert plain Bears not a tree, And the dark simoon's breath, Comes bearing sudden death, I'll follow thee.
Where, in the forest, waves Many a tree, To those cold regions which Day cannot see; Over the arid sand Of Afric's scorching land, I'll follow thee.
To the proud battle-field Bounding with glee, Bearing thy banner high, As the foes flee; Or mid the raging strife, Where fierce men seek thy life, I'll follow thee.
In the dark prison hold Near thee I'll be; For thy lov'd service gives Freedom to me: Should grief or sickness come, And when death is thy doom, I'll follow thee.
[See Note]
No sooner had the strain ceased, than Ivan awoke to perfectconsciousness, and springing from his couch, went forth from the tent,where he found Javis and Conrin waiting his presence, and a blush stoleon the boy's cheeks at having been detected in his musical performance.
"Ah, my young page!" said Ivan, "were you the good spirit which firstaroused me from slumber with your sweet strains? I knew not of yourvocal skill; but now that I have discovered it, I may often call uponyou to soothe my spirit when oppressed."
"Ah! gladly would I sing to you the live long day, if I thought it wouldplease you, Sir," answered the boy.
"Indeed, it does please me; but how came you possessed of this art, themost prized in the sendee of a page?" asked Ivan.
"I lived with those who gained their livelihood by it; but I could neversing for pay; my voice is dumb if my words flow not from the heart."
"Well, boy, I hope often to hear you; and now you see that I am not thedecrepit old man I first seemed, still do you wish to follow myfortunes, knowing that they may be perilous ones? But I would notcommand you to leave me."
"Say you so, Sir? and I would not quit you for worlds," answered Conrin.
"Then, my good page, I hope we may not part for a long time; and Itrust, moreover, that in my country you may find a home you will lovemore than the one you have left. But we must away on our road towardsthat loved land."
The hospitable chief of the tribe, as they are here called, Tzygani,undertook to pass the travellers on from camp to camp of the numerousgangs of his people, (who wander through Moldavia), till they couldreach the Danube, where it passes the Turkish provinces.
Ivan and his two companions, much refreshed by their night's rest, afterbidding farewell to the hospitable chief, set forward on the horses hehad provided for them. They were accompanied by a guide, to shew themthe way across the country, until they should again fall in with anothercamp of their people. In this way, they quickly travelled through theprincipality.
Moldavia, which formed part of the ancient kingdom of Dacia, for a longtime groaned under the iron rule of the Turks, until freed by thevictorious arms of Russia, when the people began to rejoice at theprospect of the amelioration of the country, placed under the benignprotection of a Christian power. Alas! they found to their cost, thatthey had only changed masters, and that their new protectors weredetermined to rivet still more firmly the chains which enslaved them,being yet more determinately opposed to liberal institutions, and allgeneral improvement. The wretched peasants had no sooner been relievedfrom their Turkish masters, by whom they had been pillaged andexhausted, than they were reduced to a state of absolute starvation bythe Russian army of occupation, which took up its position in thecountry. Already scarcely able to find food for themselves, their cornand meat were forcibly torn from their grasp to feed their rapaciousguests, and to supply provisions for the army engaged in the war againstthe Turks. Even a supply of corn, sent them by the benevolentinhabitants of the neighbouring Austrian provinces, was seized by theRussian soldiers, after crossing the frontier, thus depriving thefamishing peasants of their last resource. On no side could they turnfor assistance or sympathy, while, sinking under their misfortune,thousands died from famine and disease, the rest of Europe being kept inutter ignorance of the foul and unwarranted ty
ranny exercised over them.
So brutalised, indeed, have the lower orders become by a long state ofvassalage, and utter insecurity of property, as to be almost insensibleto the hardships of their condition, while the upper classes are mostlamentably demoralised.
In consequence of this state of things, the travellers found great partsof the country an almost entire wilderness, only slight patches ofcultivation appearing here and there, though the soil seemed rich andproductive. They passed but few miserable villages, and those fardistant from each other.
The peasants have a wild and savage appearance, increased by their blackhair streaming loosely over their countenances, and by their sheepskinhabits and caps, with sandals of goat skin fastened round the leg by arope. The women are still more wretched and squalid. At each quiet andsolitary farm house, at which our fugitives stopped, the poor peoplereceived them
The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia Page 40
