The Daughter of the Commandant

Ch. 7 - The Assault

All the night I could not sleep, and I did not even take off my clothes.

I had meant in the early morning to gain the gate of the fort, by which

Marya Ivnofna was to leave, to bid her a last good-bye. I felt that a

complete change had come over me. The agitation of my mind seemed less

hard to bear than the dark melancholy in which I had been previously

plunged. Blended with the sorrow of parting, I felt within me vague, but

sweet, hopes, an eager expectation of coming dangers, and a feeling of

noble ambition.

The night passed quickly. I was going out, when my door opened and the

corporal came in to tell me that our Cossacks had left the fort during

the night, taking away with them by force Joula, and that around our

ramparts unknown people were galloping. The thought that Marya Ivnofna

had not been able to get away terrified me to death. I hastily gave some

orders to the corporal, and I ran to the Commandant's house.

Day was breaking. I was hurrying down the street when I heard myself

called by someone. I stopped.

"Where are you going, if I may presume to ask you?" said Iwn

Ignatiitch, catching me up. "Ivn Kouzmitch is on the ramparts, and has

sent me to seek you. The '_pugatch_'[52] has come."

"Is Marya Ivnofna gone?" I asked, with an inward trembling.

"She hasn't had time," rejoined Iwn Ignatiitch. "The road to Orenburg

is blocked, the fort surrounded, and it's a bad look-out, Petr'

Andrjtch."

We went to the ramparts, a little natural height, and fortified by a

palisade. We found the garrison here under arms. The cannon had been

dragged hither the preceding evening. The Commandant was walking up and

down before his little party; the approach of danger had given the old

warrior wonderful activity. Out on the steppe, and not very far from the

fort, could be seen about twenty horsemen, who appeared to be Cossacks;

but amongst them were some Bashkirs, easily distinguished by their high

caps and their quivers. The Commandant passed down the ranks of the

little army, saying to the soldiers--

"Now, children, let us do well to-day for our mother, the Empress, and

let us show all the world that we are brave men, and true to our

oaths."

The soldiers by loud shouts expressed their goodwill and assent.

Chvabrine remained near me, attentively watching the enemy. The people

whom we could see on the steppe, noticing doubtless some stir in the

fort, gathered into parties, and consulted together. The Commandant

ordered Iwn Ignatiitch to point the cannon at them, and himself applied

the match. The ball passed whistling over their heads without doing them

any harm. The horsemen at once dispersed at a gallop, and the steppe was

deserted.

At this moment Vassilissa Igorofna appeared on the ramparts, followed by

Marya, who had not wished to leave her.

"Well," said the Commandant's wife, "how goes the battle? Where is the

enemy?"

"The enemy is not far," replied Ivn Kouzmitch; "but if God wills all

will be well. And you, Masha, are you afraid?"

"No, papa," replied Marya, "I am more frightened alone in the house."

She glanced at me, trying to smile. I squeezed the hilt of my sword,

remembering that I had received it the eve from her hand, as if for her

defence. My heart burnt within my breast; I felt as if I were her

knight; I thirsted to prove to her that I was worthy of her trust, and I

impatiently expected the decisive moment.

All at once, coming from a height about eight versts from the fort,

appeared fresh parties of horsemen, and soon the whole steppe became

covered with people, armed with arrows and lances. Amongst them, dressed

in a red caftan, sword in hand, might be seen a man mounted on a white

horse, a conspicuous figure. This was Pugatchf himself.

He stopped, and they closed round him, and soon afterwards, probably by

his orders, four men came out of the crowd, and approached our ramparts

at full gallop. We recognized in them some of our traitors. One of them

waved a sheet of paper above his head; another bore on the point of his

pike the head of Joula, which he cast to us over the palisade. The head

of the poor Kalmuck rolled to the feet of the Commandant.

The traitors shouted to us--

"Don't fire. Come out to receive the Tzar; the Tzar is here."

"Children, fire!" cried the Commandant for all answer.

The soldiers fired a volley. The Cossack who had the letter quivered and

fell from his horse; the others fled at full speed. I glanced at Marya

Ivnofna. Spellbound with horror at the sight of Joula's head, stunned

by the noise of the volley, she seemed unconscious. The Commandant

called the corporal, and bid him go and take the paper from the fallen

Cossack. The corporal went out into the open, and came back leading by

its bridle the dead man's horse. He gave the letter to the Commandant.

Ivn Kouzmitch read it in a low voice, and tore it into bits. We now saw

that the rebels were making ready to attack. Soon the bullets whistled

about our ears, and some arrows came quivering around us in the earth

and in the posts of the palisade.

"Vassilissa Igorofna," said the Commandant, "this is not a place for

women. Take away Masha; you see very well that the girl is more dead

than alive."

Vassilissa Igorofna, whom the sound of the bullets had somewhat subdued,

glanced towards the steppe, where a great stir was visible in the crowd,

and said to her husband--

"Ivn Kouzmitch, life and death are in God's hands; bless Masha. Masha,

go to your father."

Pale and trembling, Marya approached Ivn Kouzmitch and dropped on her

knees, bending before him with reverence.

The old Commandant made the sign of the cross three times over her, then

raised her up, kissed her, and said to her, in a voice husky with

emotion--

"Well, Masha, may you be happy. Pray to God, and He will not forsake

you. If an honest man come forward, may God grant you both love and

wisdom. Live together as we have lived, my wife and I. And now farewell,

Masha. Vassilissa Igorofna, take her away quickly."

Marya threw herself upon his neck and began sobbing.

"Kiss me, too," said the Commandant's wife, weeping. "Good-bye, my Ivn

Kouzmitch. Forgive me if I have ever vexed you."

"Good-bye, good-bye, little mother," said the Commandant, embracing his

old companion. "There, now, enough; go away home, and if you have time

put Masha on a '_sarafan_.'"[53]

The Commandant's wife went away with her daughter. I followed Marya with

my eyes; she turned round and made me a last sign.

Ivn Kouzmitch came back to us, and turned his whole attention to the

enemy. The rebels gathered round their leader, and all at once

dismounted hastily.

"Be ready," the Commandant said to us, "the assault is about to begin."

At the same moment resounded wild war cries. The rebels were racing down

on the fort. Our cannon was loaded with grape. The Commandant allowed

them to approach within a very short distance, and again applied a

match to the touch-hole. The grape struck in the midst of the crowd, and

dispersed it in every direction. The leader alone remained to the fore,

brandishing his sword; he appeared to be exhorting them hotly. The yells

which had ceased for a moment were redoubled anew.

"Now, children," cried the Commandant, "open the door, beat the drum,

and forward! Follow me for a sally!"

The Commandant, Iwn Ignatiitch, and I found ourselves in a moment

beyond the parapet. But the garrison, afraid, had not stirred.

"What are you doing, my children?" shouted Ivn Kouzmitch. "If we must

die, let us die; it is our duty."

At this moment the rebels fell upon us and forced the entrance of the

citadel. The drum ceased, the garrison threw down its arms. I had been

thrown down, but I got up and passed helter-skelter with the crowd into

the fort. I saw the Commandant wounded in the head, and hard pressed by

a little band of robbers clamouring for the keys. I was running to help

him, when several strong Cossacks seized me, and bound me with their

"_kchaks_,"[54] shouting--

"Wait a bit, you will see what will become of you traitors to the Tzar!"

We were dragged along the streets. The inhabitants came out of their

houses, offering bread and salt. The bells were rung. All at once shouts

announced that the Tzar was in the square waiting to receive the oaths

of the prisoners. All the crowd diverged in that direction, and our

keepers dragged us thither.

Pugatchf was seated in an armchair on the threshold of the Commandant's

house. He wore an elegant Cossack caftan, embroidered down the seams. A

high cap of marten sable, ornamented with gold tassels, came closely

down over his flashing eyes. His face did not seem unknown to me. The

Cossack chiefs surrounded him. Father Garasim, pale and trembling, was

standing, cross in hand, at the foot of the steps, and seemed to be

silently praying for the victims brought before him. In the square a

gallows was being hastily erected. When we came near, some Bashkirs

drove back the crowd, and we were presented to Pugatchf.

The bells ceased clanging, and the deepest silence reigned again.

"Where is the Commandant?" asked the usurper. Our "_ouriadnik_" came

forward and pointed out Ivn Kouzmitch. Pugatchf looked fiercely upon

the old man and said to him, "How was it you dared to oppose me, your

rightful Emperor?"

The Commandant, enfeebled by his wound, collected his remaining

strength, and replied, in a resolute tone--

"You are not my Emperor; you are a usurper and a robber!"

Pugatchf frowned and waved his white handkerchief. Several Cossacks

immediately seized the old Commandant and dragged him away to the

gallows. Astride on the crossbeam, sat the disfigured Bashkir who had

been cross-examined on the preceding evening; he held a rope in his

hand, and I saw the next moment poor Ivn Kouzmitch swinging in the air.

Then Iwn Ignatiitch was brought before Pugatchf.

"Swear fidelity," Pugatchf said to him, "to the Emperor, Petr'

Fdorovitch!"[55]

"You are not our Emperor!" replied the lieutenant, repeating his

Commandant's words; "you are a robber, my uncle, and a usurper."

Pugatchf again gave the handkerchief signal, and good Iwn Ignatiitch

swung beside his old chief. It was my turn. Boldly I looked on Pugatchf

and made ready to echo the answer of my outspoken comrades.

Then, to my inexpressible surprise, I saw among the rebels Chvabrine,

who had found time to cut his hair short and to put on a Cossack caftan.

He approached Pugatchf, and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Hang him!" said Pugatchf, without deigning to throw me a look. The

rope was passed about my neck. I began saying a prayer in a low voice,

offering up to God a sincere repentance for all my sins, imploring Him

to save all those who were dear to my heart. I was already at the foot

of the gallows.

"Fear nothing! Fear nothing!" the assassins said to me, perhaps to give

me courage, when all at once a shout was heard--

"Stop, accursed ones!"

The executioners stayed their hand. I looked up. Savliitch lay

prostrate at the feet of Pugatchf.

"Oh! my own father!" my poor follower was saying. "What need have you of

the death of this noble child? Let him go free, and you will get a good

ransom; but for an example and to frighten the rest, let them hang me,

an old man!"

Pugatchf gave a signal; I was immediately unbound.

"Our father shows you mercy," they said to me. At this moment I cannot

say that I was much overjoyed at my deliverance, but I cannot say either

that I regretted it, for my feelings were too upset. I was again brought

before the usurper and forced to kneel at his feet. Pugatchf held out

to me his muscular hand. "Kiss his hand! kiss his hand!" was shouted

around me. But rather would I have preferred the most cruel torture to

such an abasement.

"My father, Petr' Andrjtch," whispered Savliitch to me, and nudged me

with his elbow, "don't be obstinate. What does it matter? Spit and kiss

the hand of the rob--, kiss his hand!"

I did not stir. Pugatchf withdrew his hand and said, smiling--

"Apparently his lordship is quite idiotic with joy; raise him."

I was helped up and left free. The infamous drama drew to a close.

The villagers began to swear fidelity. One after another they came near,

kissed the cross, and saluted the usurper. Then it came to the turn of

the soldiers of the garrison. The tailor of the company, armed with his

big blunt scissors, cut off their queues. They shook their heads and

touched their lips to Pugatchf's hand; the latter told them they were

pardoned and enrolled amongst his troops.

All this lasted about three hours. At last Pugatchf rose from his

armchair and went down the steps, followed by his chiefs. There was

brought for him a white horse, richly caparisoned. Two Cossacks held his

arms and helped him into the saddle.

He announced to Father Garasim that he would dine at his house. At this

moment arose a woman's heartrending shrieks. Some robbers were dragging

to the steps Vassilissa Igorofna, with dishevelled hair and

half-dressed. One of them had already appropriated her cloak; the others

were carrying off the mattresses, boxes, linen, tea sets, and all manner

of things.

"Oh, my fathers!" cried the poor old woman. "Let me alone, I pray you;

my fathers, my fathers, bring me to Ivn Kouzmitch." All of a sudden

she perceived the gallows and recognized her husband. "Villains!" she

exclaimed, beside herself; "what have you done? Oh, my light, my Ivn

Kouzmitch! Bold soldier heart, neither Prussian bayonets nor Turkish

bullets ever harmed you; and you have died before a vile runaway felon."

"Silence the old witch," said Pugatchf.

A young Cossack struck her with his sword on the head, and she fell dead

at the foot of the steps. Pugatchf went away, all the people crowding

in his train.