The Circassian Chief Part 36

"I would thank you, n.o.ble stranger," said Ina, in a faltering voice, "for the inestimable blessing you afforded me in saving my n.o.ble father from the hands of his foes. To your bravery, I owe also my own safety, when I was near falling into the power of our invaders. I can only repay you with prayers to heaven for your safety; these shall be offered up to Allah."

"Lady," answered Ivan, "prayers from those sweet lips will add courage to my heart; but I pray you, do not think any grat.i.tude is due to me. I was but fulfilling a vow I have made to heaven, to strike our foes wherever I can meet them; and I am yet unworthy to be ranked among the warriors of Atteghei."

"O yes, surely you are well worthy to be called one of the bravest,"

answered Ina; "for who could have fought more n.o.bly than you did?"

"No, lady, I cannot yet claim that honour; but your prayers will nerve my arm to gain it," answered our hero. "I must now away; for, see, the knights are mounting their steeds. Lady, farewell!"

"Farewell!" answered Ina. "And may heaven prosper you and s.h.i.+eld you from danger."

"And may Allah, too, protect my child," added her father, rousing himself from his trance. "I was thinking, my Ina, how great a blessing would be such a son as yonder gallant youth; but Allah's will be done!

I, too, must hasten to lead my followers. Farewell, my child."

Leaping on his charger, the chieftain galloped to join the cavalcade, while his daughter gazed on him with a fond and anxious glance.

As Ivan hastened to mount his steed, Conrin, who had been watching him anxiously at a distance while conversing with Ina, came forward. A blush was on the boy's brow, as if he had been discovered in a fault; and there was an uneasy look in his eye.

"Ah, my faithful Conrin," said Ivan, "I must leave you here for a time; you are too young to go on so hazardous an expedition. I must not again expose your life to the dangers of such fierce warfare."

"Oh! do not despise my services, Sir," said the boy, with an imploring look. "Have I been backward at any time in obeying you? Have I done anything to displease you, that you would now leave me among strangers while you are exposed to peril? Did I show fear when you attacked the Cossack cavalry?"

"No, boy, you did not indeed," answered Ivan, with energy. "That day I owed my life to you; and I should be ungrateful did I not endeavour to protect your's; for that reason, I would leave you in safety here."

"But I care not for my life when your's is perilled," answered Conrin.

"Think you, Sir, that I would survive if you were slain?"

"You speak thus almost foolishly, boy," answered Ivan. "I am grateful for your attachment; but you would find all kind to you, and many to love and follow. I know that Javis loves you, and would protect you with his own life, till you grow strong enough to protect yourself."

"Javis loves me!" said the boy, gloomily; "but what is his love to yours? Let me implore you to allow me to accompany you."

"It cannot be," returned Ivan, soothingly. "I doubt not your courage, and that you will some day become a gallant warrior; but your arm has not yet gained sufficient strength to compete with men. If I am wounded, Javis will attend me; and if I fall, Heaven will find you some other protector."

"If you fall, I shall not need Heaven's protection in this world,"

returned the page, with a despairing look.

"You speak strangely, boy," said Ivan. "I have thought of your welfare."

As he spoke, Arslan Gherrei rode up.

"Uzden," said Ivan, addressing him, (for, as it is customary to address a person by his t.i.tle alone, Ivan had not yet learned the name of the chieftain), "I have a faithful page who has followed me from far lands, and I would not lead him to the dangers of warfare, though he is urgent in his prayers to be allowed to accompany me. I would bestow him in safety; and if I fall, will you grant me a boon, and be his protector?"

"I would do all you ask me, my n.o.ble friend," answered the chief. "I will, if it is your pleasure, place him with my daughter."

"He could not have a fairer or kinder mistress," answered Ivan, who, desiring Conrin to follow, returned with the chieftain to the spot were the women were still standing.

"I have returned, lady," said Ivan, addressing Ina, "to bring you an attendant, who would fain be employed in more warlike services. He is a brave youth, and I owe him much. I leave him, therefore, by your father's permission, to your gentle care, and he will serve you as faithfully as he has done me."

"Gladly will I follow your wishes, n.o.ble stranger," replied Ina; "for he is a gallant boy, and I will treat him rather as a brother than as a servant."

"Thanks, lady, for your kindness," answered Ivan. "Here, Conrin," he added, calling to the boy, "I leave you, during my absence, to serve this lady; and you will find it a more pleasing task than following me to the field. Farewell! may you be as happy under her kind care as you deserve."

Two pages missing from the scan

"Lynx. We will here leave our horses and our guns; and let us see if Circa.s.sian steel is not better than Russian lead."

Another shout proclaimed the approbation of the band to this proposal.

The most renowned and most active were then divided into four parties, of about one hundred and fifty men each, who, throwing aside all inc.u.mbrances, retained only their swords and long broad daggers. The Hadji put himself at the head of one band, and his son Alp led the most daring and active of the Dehli Khans, who willingly followed him in consideration of his father's renown. Arslan Gherrei led a third party of the bravest warriors, with whom Ivan was about to volunteer, when he was unanimously elected to lead the fourth band. A few were destined for the less glorious, but necessary, service of guarding the horses and such arms as had been laid aside; and the remainder, under Achmet Beg, were to form a cordon round the fort, to cut off any stragglers of the enemy who should attempt to escape.

The scouts, who had been sent to watch the vessel, brought word that she had just arrived in the bay, and that troops had been landing from her; but this did not damp the ardour of the mountaineers, though Ivan remained in a state of alarm, lest his friend might be ordered out for execution before they could attack the fort.

The night had been far spent before all the arrangements were made; and, at a signal given by their leader, the army advanced cautiously and in deep silence towards the fort. A storm with terrific fury now broke over their heads, when the Hadji proposed to delay no longer; but (their footsteps being unheard amid the tempest) to rush on at once to the a.s.sault. The plan was, however, over-ruled by the advice of Achmet Beg.

"Stay, my brother," he said; "though the foe hear not the sound of our footsteps, the flashes of lightning would betray our approach." And as they arrived at the skirts of the forest nearest the sea, with the fort below them, he added: "See the lightning plays round the bayonets of the sentinels at their posts. Wait, till they grow weary of the storm, and then perchance they may endeavour to seek shelter beneath their walls, and their eyes may not be turned this way."

"Your advice is good," answered the Hadji. "Let it be so."

Attentive to their chief leader, all the bands therefore halted; watching, in eager expectation, for the order to advance again.

While our hero was waiting for the command to proceed, he fancied that he observed a small light figure, which now advanced, moving among the dark ma.s.ses of human beings surrounding him. He looked earnestly through the obscurity to catch a glimpse of the object as the lightning flashed brightest. All was again obscure, when he heard a low sigh near him. He turned: his page Conrin stood by his side.

He spoke rather angrily. "How is this, boy? I left you under the Lady Ina's care. Do you thus so soon disobey my orders?"

A low sob was the answer. At length the boy found words to speak. "And do you thus so soon forget your promise, Sir? Did you not say that I might follow you through all dangers and hards.h.i.+ps? and am I to be left at home in safety, while you are thus exposed to peril? Let me now accompany you, and no harm can happen to me. My life is charmed when near you."

Before Ivan had time to answer, the rain poured down in torrents from the dark clouds, and the lightning ceased.

"Now is our time to advance," cried the Hadji to the leaders a.s.sembled around him. "To you, my son Alp, with your fiery Dehli Khans, shall be given in charge to scale the steep rocks which form the side of the fort to the right. Do you, Uzden Arslan Gherrei, form your band on my left, and we will rush up the smooth ground in front. We have often fought side by side, and can best face danger together, while our armour will protect us in the most exposed situation. You, stranger, with your light-clad followers, must storm on the left, and as far round towards the sea as they can reach over the rough and rocky ground; while do you, my brother, be ready to strengthen any of us who may require aid. And now, chiefs, in the name of Allah! lead on your followers."

The leaders hastened to the head of their bands, and, amidst the loud roaring of the tempest, and the das.h.i.+ng of the rain, they stole in deep darkness close beneath the walls of the doomed fort.

The sentinels at their posts, with their heads m.u.f.fled in their cloaks, did not suspect the danger that surrounded them; or, when they looked beyond the walls, were blinded by the rain, and saw nothing besides the dark veil which shrouded them.

Our hero, with a guide, whom he kept close to him, reached the very trench of the fort, on the south-western angle, at the very moment that the other bands gained their destined posts. Then crouching down, they could scarcely have been distinguished from the rocks and coa.r.s.e herbage which covered the ground, even had the clouds cleared off, and allowed the stars to give their light.

There the hardy mountaineers waited, scarcely daring to breathe, for the Hadji's preconcerted signal to commence the attack. Silent, as tenants of the grave, they watched, while not a human being within the fort perceived the thick cl.u.s.tering foe, or dreamed that danger was nigh.

The rain had ceased, and the tempest had pa.s.sed away, when the pale cold light of dawn began, by imperceptible degrees, to appear; yet, before it had thrown a gleam of brightness on the scene, the deep sonorous voice of the Hadji, uttering the cry of "Allah! Allah!" broke the stillness of the air, and was taken up on all sides by the eager warriors, as they rushed impetuously to the a.s.sault. They had gained the summit of the ramparts, before the sentinels could recover from their panic. Vain was the slight resistance they could offer, as they sunk beneath the powerful arms of their a.s.sailants.

Wherever the Russian soldiers turned, as they rushed in disordered affright from their huts, they found themselves surrounded by foes.

Even on the side they considered impracticable, Alp Beg, with his youthful and active followers, a.s.saulted them; while on the sea-side, Ivan and his band had sprung over the entrenchments, and had driven those who attempted to withstand him from the walls. A few of the most determined of the garrison made a desperate rush towards the guns, which vomited forth a shower of grape; but in a few minutes, the men who fired them were cut down by the mountaineers.

On every side arose those tremendous cries which quailed the stoutest hearts. Innumerable foes seemed to be hurled from out of the obscurity of the sky among the Russians, as the Circa.s.sians leaped over the trenches. Arslan Gherrei and the Hadji had met with the greatest opposition in front; but the latter, fighting his way, had joined his son Alp, on the right, while the brave commander of the fortress, rallying a strong body of troops, met the former chieftain in his victorious course. The Russians opened a tremendous fire, beneath which many of their a.s.sailants fell, as encouraged by their officer's example, they advanced to meet them, the Circa.s.sians rus.h.i.+ng to their very bayonets' points.

So bravely did the former fight, that many of the Circa.s.sians were for a time driven back; and Arslan Gherrei found himself surrounded by Russians. Many of the most daring advanced to seize him, but his sword kept them at bay; yet they seemed determined to overwhelm him: when our hero, on seeing so large a body of defenders still keeping together, led on some of his men, and fought his way towards the spot. There was just sufficient daylight to distinguish objects at no great distance; when, catching sight of the heroic Arslan Gherrei, hard pressed, and defending himself singly against a host of foes, he shouted loudly his name, and strained every nerve to reach him. He almost shrieked with eagerness, as he fell, like a tiger, on the intervening combatants, till he hewed a way to the rescue of the n.o.ble chieftain. And, once again, those two brave warriors fought side by side, their foes giving way before them: none could withstand their arms. Then as their followers united, the enemy retreated to a building in their rear, into which some found entrance, and opened a heavy fire on the a.s.sailants, while the rest remained without, fighting with their backs to the walls.

The firing lasted but a few minutes; when a terrific explosion took place. The earth shook with violence; and the combatants, interrupted in their deadly strife, were covered with the falling ruins, and obscured by smoke and dust.

Ivan looked around. Arslan Gherrei stood unharmed near him. Around them, and amid the fallen building, lay strewed the bodies of their late opponents, and of many of their own party, killed by the descending ruins.