The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
Page 72
too wise, too good," said Ina, blushingas she spoke.
Another messenger now approached to summon the hero of the day, theyoung Circassian Chief, and his Polish friend, to the feast, where theother chieftains were waiting their arrival. Great however was thedisappointment of both, when they found that the chief ornaments wouldbe wanting; for though the most chivalrous devotion is paid to the fairsex, such is the custom of the country, that no woman may be present atthe festive board, except on private occasions when in attendance ontheir lords.
Most unwillingly, therefore, Selem was obliged to part from hisnewly-found beautiful sister, and many an enraptured glance did theyoung Pole cast towards her as she retired with her women and thedaughters of the host; while the two friends followed the gallant chief,Arslan Gherrei (his heart beating with happiness at the restoration ofhis son), as he led the way to the scene of festivity.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF VOLUME TWO.
Volume 3, Chapter I.
A romantic and chivalrous scene was presented to the eye, as a cavalcadeof warriors wound their way along the richly clad mountains ofGhelendjik.
The fresh dews of the night still moistened the green herbage; thecrystal drops sprinkling the grass, shone in the early sun-beams likethe precious diamonds of Golconda; while the air which played roundtheir heads, came laden with the fragrance of the mountain herbs andsweet scented flowers. The pure and elastic atmosphere seemed tosparkle with life and light: all nature, rejoicing in the brightnew-born day, breathed an air of contentment and happiness; how sadlybelied by the scenes of devastation and misery the country was doomed tosuffer!
The chiefs were clad in rich and polished armour; their spear-points andswords glittering in the sun-beams, and their gay banners fluttering inthe breeze. At their head, on his noble black charger, rode ArslanGherrei and the gallant Hadji Guz Beg, followed by many chiefs of noteand consequence. In the centre came Ina, more fresh and lovely than thebright morn itself, followed by her damsels, and tended with the utmostcare; on one side, by her brother Selem, who guided her palfrey over theuneven ground, while Thaddeus guarded her on the other, as she listenedearnestly to the description of his own loved land, comparing it to theone in which he now was destined to live. Every now and then she wouldturn her eyes from her brother, stealing a glance at him, which was asquickly withdrawn.
Young Alp Beg, and other gallant youths, dressed in their gayest attire,on high mettled steeds, curvetted in every direction, in hopes ofcatching a glance from her bright eyes, or of hearing the sweet tones ofher voice. Close to them followed the young page Conrin, and, thoughrejoicing in his master's happiness, every now and then a deep shade ofmelancholy would steal across his features; nor would he, on theseoccasions, listen to the words of consolation which Javis vainlyendeavoured to offer. The squires of the knights, their pages, andother attendants followed, bringing up the cortege.
As they rode on, they were shrouded by the thick autumnal-tinted foliageof the lofty trees; and the mountain's side, covered with floweringheaths, when trampled on by their horses' hoofs, gave out a sweet odour.In the vale below, flowed a blue sparkling stream, between richpastures, bounded by sloping banks; while on the opposite side, rosejagged and fantastic cliffs, and in the extreme distance, a sea ofazure-tinted and swelling hills.
Messengers had arrived on the previous evening from the warriors alreadyencamped on the banks of the Ubin, a rapid stream falling into theKouban; summoning the chiefs from all parts of Circassia to meet themthere without delay. Some grand object was in contemplation, either toattack the Russians before they should retire into their winterquarters, or to prevent them in their turn from making any inroad amongtheir own mountain-homes. The Hadji was all fire and eagerness to setforward, in the hopes of some engagement taking place; in which, underhis guidance, his darling son might gain victorious laurels, he lookedon the storming of the fort as an action of no note to try his mettle.Arslan Gherrei had also determined to proceed onward to the samedestination, leaving Ina--who was now fully able to undertake thejourney--with the family of a noble kinsman, the Chief of the Demorghoi,the venerable Prince Aitek Tcherei.
Their host, Shamiz Bey, with most of the warlike inhabitants of theneighbourhood, was compelled to remain to guard that part of the countrythreatened by the garrison of Ghelendjik, it being considered a point ofhonour for every district to protect itself against the foe, except froman overwhelming force.
A large body of horsemen were, however, collected, many chiefs havingcome to greet the renowned Hadji on his return from his pilgrimage, tocongratulate Arslan Gherrei on the recovery of his long lost son, and towelcome Selem to his native land.
Their journey was like a triumphant procession. From every hamletthrough which they passed, the inhabitants rushed out to congratulatethe warriors on their victory; the fame of their exploit having alreadypreceded them. The villagers made their admiring comments, not less onthe dignified and noble Arslan Gherrei and his son, than on his lovelydaughter; and the stranger Pole was hailed as another champion added totheir country's cause. The minstrels struck their harps to strains oftriumph, joined by the voices of the maidens. The wild youths,galloping on before, fired off salvos from their rifles, which wereanswered by others from the hamlets discharging theirs in return, asthey threw themselves on their ready-saddled steeds, and flew to jointhe festive cortege. The green banks, sloping down from the villages,were covered with old men, women, and children, joining their voices tothe general shout which welcomed the party, wherever they appeared. TheHadji's name sounding above all.
Sometimes the cavalcade would halt to salute some aged chieftain, unablelonger to join in the hardships of war, who had caused himself to becarried out to meet them, and to hear from their own mouths, an accountof their late exploit. The eye of the now decrepit warrior wouldkindle, and his cheek burn with enthusiasm, as he listened to the tale;or his voice would tremble, and a tear of regret roll down his furrowedcheek, that he was no longer capable of participating in the glories anddangers of war. So often had they to stop, and so many questions hadthey to answer, that it was late in the day before they could reachtheir resting-place for the night; and happy was the chief, whom theyhad chosen as their Tocav, to receive such distinguished guests.
Their route on the next day's journey, lay along the base of thefar-extended line of the black mountains; when towering high above hisbrethren, appeared the lofty Elborous, dark, rugged, and precipitous.The cavalcade traversed a savage glen, overhung by beetling cliffs,seeming ready to fall on their heads. The light was subdued and gloomy;and the air was moist and heavy from the water which trickled down overthe moss-covered rocks. An oppressive feeling overcame all the party--aforeboding of coming evil. Dangers in unknown shapes seemed to threatenthem. Even the Hadji's joyful tone was quelled; a chill fell on hisspirits. He cast a fond and anxious glance at his son Alp, as, for amoment, the dangers to which he was about to expose him, crossed hismind.
"Why are you so silent, my sister?" said Selem, as he rode by Ina'sside; "why does that shade of sadness steal over a face, but now sobright with smiles?"
"I scarce know, Selem, why I am sad," returned the fair girl; "but Ithought of the dangers our noble father is constantly exposed to; thatyou, my newly found brother, may again be torn from me; that you mustlive a life of constant hardship and warfare. I thought of the miseriesof our country--our homes and fields burned, our fathers and brothersslain, and that Allah should have created men wicked enough to do thesethings. Tell me, my brother, why do the Urus attack our country? why dothey try to possess themselves of our humble cots and rocky mountains,when they have abundance of land covered with mighty cities?"
"The lust of power, of conquest, such as you can have no conception of,"replied Selem. "They care little to possess our mountain-homes, andnothing for the noble hearts, whose blood they spill. What, to theirdeaf ears, are the cries of the orphan, the moans of the b
ereaved widow?There are rich and fair lands beyond our's, in which they would settheir grasp, could they reach them, to add to their already vastterritories, peopled by slaves. But they fear to advance, leavingbehind them one spot of unconquered ground, such as our own land, lestwe might impede them on their return home, laden with booty. We arelike a castle in a plain, overrun with marauders, which, as long asprovisions last, may withstand a host of such foes; so shall we, as longas true and brave hearts beat in Circassia. But now, Ina, banish suchsad thoughts; see, we have gained a bright and joyous scene."
As Selem spoke, they emerged from the dark ravine, into a broad andextensive valley; so broad, indeed, as almost to be called a plain. Itwas surrounded by mountains, rising gradually in slopes or bosomyswells, to form the sides of the vast amphitheatre. Green pastures andcorn fields, interspersed with clumps of fine trees, enriched itssurface, which was further