Allthe remainder of that day, did they continue their headlong course. Thenight stopped them not; for a few minutes, they sought repose for theirhorses; but the sound of their pursuer's feet struck their ears: Againthey urged on their almost falling steeds; blood streamed from theirflanks; foam covered their mouths; their eye balls started wildly; butstill on they went. It was death to tarry.
Their pursuers caught sight of them--it was a race for life and death,captivity, perhaps death; or freedom for the poor page. They gained theforest which clothed the mountain, looking down upon the Russian fort;they dashed through it, they flew along the plain; and, as Selem and hisfriends gained the brow of the hill, they saw the traitor and his bandenter the gates, at which they were received as friends.
"Alas, my poor page and faithful follower," exclaimed Selem; "captivityor death, will be your lot, if we cannot rescue you; but that we willdo, or perish in the attempt. What say you, Thaddeus? Will yonderRussians attempt to inflict any injury on my two followers? They cannotbe such barbarians."
"I fear they will," answered Thaddeus. "Remember the fate I so narrowlyescaped; I know well the Baron seeks to make some terrible example ofall whom he can claim as deserters."
"But he cannot surely call those youths, deserters, who have never bornarms for Russia," answered Selem.
"He will call them whatever he pleases, now that they are in his power,"said Thaddeus.
"We must, at all hazards, endeavour to recover them," exclaimed Selem."I know not scarcely how, but that young boy has so entwined himselfround my heart, that I would not lose him for worlds. He is a trulynoble youth, full of warm and ardent feelings. Should his strength ofbody prove equal to his spirit, he will one day shew himself capable ofgreat deeds; but one will wear out the other, I fear. The subtleessence will overcome the grosser matter."
Anxiously did the small band of warriors look down upon the Russianfort, but it would have been worse than madness to attack it with theirfatigued party. Keeping, therefore, within shelter of the trees, theywatched until the lights twinkled in the camp, and the watch-firesblazed around. Some proposed making an attack, endeavouring to take theenemy by surprise, and so to carry off the prisoners in the confusion;but, though Alp was eager to lead it, even Selem opposed the plan as toorash. The only feasible scheme seemed to be to hasten to the camp onthe Ubin, and there raise a sufficient force to attack the fort withsome chance of success.
Without waiting to consult further, the young warriors turned the headsof their weary horses towards the Ubin, where, on their arrival, theyexcited the indignation of the assembled chiefs at the atrocious outragecommitted by the Khan. The Hadji, on seeing his son, embraced him.
"What, my brave Alp, have you left your pretty Zara, ere you made heryour bride to assist your friends, and for the chance of a littlefighting? Mashallah! you are well worthy of her, and she will love youall the better for it. I am proud of you, my boy."
The old warrior was himself delighted at an excuse for attacking theenemy, as he had begun to fear that there would be no more fighting thatyear; and he eagerly exerted himself in gaining volunteers for theenterprise. Arslan Gherrei, for his son's sake, persuaded many knightsto join him, besides his own immediate followers. Nor was Alp idle incollecting his friends among the wild sons of the chiefs, always readyfor any daring exploit; so that, in a few hours, more than two thousandhorsemen were ready to depart. Selem strongly urged that no delayshould take place, for fear of the cruelty which the Russian generalmight inflict on his prisoners.
Procuring fresh horses, therefore, the band of gallant cavaliers set outfor their exploit; one that it would have been madness to attempt,except for the known incomplete state of the fortifications, which gavethem hope, by a sudden onset, of leaping the unfinished trenches, andtaking the garrison by surprise.
Volume 3, Chapter IX.
Three days had passed since the Baron Galetzoff had received the visitfrom the treacherous Khan Khoros Kaloret; and he was now eagerlyexpecting his return, with his clansmen and prisoners, when he began tosuspect that the chief had played him falsely. As each successive hourpassed by without his coming, his anger proportionably arose. He wasalso under constant dread of an attack from the mountaineers, though, asyet, he had seen few signs of them.
The troops were busily employed in digging trenches, throwing upembankments, and finishing the fortifications. Oxen were dragging incartloads of provisions, or fodder for their horses. Officers wereriding about, and superintending the men. A strong detachment were sentout, flanked with cannon, and a body of Cossacks to cut down timber forthe palisadoes. Others also were employed in cutting grass, andbringing in wood for fuel. Sentinels were posted in every direction,advanced guards were sent out, and the soldiers worked at all times withtheir arms by their sides, for they knew not at what moment the dreadedmountaineers might break through the covert of the wooded height, and,with a cloud of cavalry, might come sweeping by them like a whirlwind,ere they had time to form their ranks. Their heavy artillery, loaded tothe muzzles with grape shot, were pointed in every direction; and manyan anxious eye was cast towards the mountains, in expectation of seeingthe glittering arms of the foes about to rush down upon them.
Towards the close of the day, as the sun was sinking low on the marshesof the Kouban, throwing a bright warm gleam of light on the richbrown-tinted foliage of the trees, the outer guards rushed in with theintelligence, that the enemy were upon them. The drums beat, the buglessounded, and the whole force flew to arms, as the sun-beams glittered onthe armour and swords of a band of mountaineers, who were seen issuingfrom the woods, and galloping at full speed towards them. They wereabout to receive the new comers with a shower of grape, when CountErintoff stopped them, as the band seemed to consist of but a smallnumber.
"They are friends," he cried; "harm them not." And as he saw the Khan,he galloped out to meet him. Before him on his horse, the Khan bore alight form, wrapped in a cloak; when the Count, eagerly expecting tobehold the beautiful features of the Circassian maid, was muchdisappointed, and enraged to find only the young page, Conrin.
"How comes this, Khan?" he exclaimed; "why, you have left your chiefprize behind! Where are the other prisoners you promised to bring withyou? The General will have but little cause to thank you for yourzeal."
"I could bring only these," answered the Khan fiercely. "I have beenbaffled and defeated in all my attempts, but I will yet have my revenge.Take these two prisoners; they are Giaours, by their looks. Kill themif you will, but ask me no questions."
"We must be content then with the prize you bring us; and may soon findmore occupation for you," replied the Count. "But how did you notsucceed in bringing off the lady?"
"I have before said, ask me no questions," replied the Khan, angrily."Take these prisoners, and kill them if you will."
"We are not likely to disappoint you, Khan, for if we do not get theirmaster by their means into our power, they will be shot to-morrow;" saidthe Count.
"I care not. Their friends have given me trouble enough; and had notyour General insisted on having them, I should have killed them myself,as I did many others," replied the Khan.
The Baron being informed of the Khan's arrival, was expecting him in histent. The barbarian was therefore at once conducted thither by theCount.
"Where are the prisoners you promised to bring?" said the Baron, lookingsternly at him.
"I have brought but two, who are in the hands of my followers;" answeredthe Khan.
"Who are they?" asked the Baron, eagerly.
"The page, and a Frank follower of Selem Gherrei," answered the Khan.
"Ah, I must see them immediately," exclaimed the General. "Khan, youhave not fulfilled my expectations; but you shall be welcome. You andyour followers shall be cared for here at present, until I can assignyou lands in whatever part of the neighbouring country you may choose."
With a haughty salutation, and a discontented look, the Khan left thetent.
"Le
t that proud chief be well watched," continued the Baron, as hedeparted. "See, that none of his followers quit the camp. I do nottrust him, even now. Had he brought off the chieftain's daughter, weshould have had a hold upon him; but he may now again escape us.Colonel Erintoff, you have lost your mistress."
"I owe the barbarian a grudge for the disappointment," answered theCount.
"You may soon have an opportunity of revenging yourself on him," saidthe Baron. "But, now to business. Let the prisoners be brought in, andI will see what I can make of them. Stay, and assist me."
In a few minutes, a file of soldiers conducted Javis and the youngConrin to the door of the tent, with their arms bound. The Baronordered them to be brought in, when the soldiers retired. Javis lookedround him
The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia Page 88
