The Daughter of the Commandant

ar 1773. This rich and large province was peopled by a crowd of half-savage tribes, who had lately acknowledged the sovereignty of the Russian Tzars. Their perpetual revolts

the peace and quiet of the country, had for some time shown a dangerous and unruly spirit towards the Imperial Government. In 1772 a riot took place in the principal settlement. This riot was occasioned by the severe measures taken by Gene

e authorities had too lightly lent faith to the pretended repentance of the rebels, who were silen

the Commandant that he wished to see me at once at his house. I found there Chvabrine, Iwán Ignatiitch, and the "ouriadnik" of the Cossacks. Neither the wife nor daughter of the Commandant was

news. Listen to what

pectacles and r

mandant of F

onoff, these

led a gang of robbers, excited risings in villages on the Ya?k, and taken and oven destroyed several forts, while committing everywhere robberies and murders. In consequence, when you shall receive this,

Cossacks, on whom we must not count too much, be it said, without any reproach to you, Maximitch." The "ouriadnik" smiled. "Nevertheless, let us do our duty, gentlemen. Be ready, place sentries, let there be night patrols in case of attack, s

ch dismissed us. I went out with Chvabrine

f it? How will it al

see. As yet there is evidently

wn study while whistlin

the fort. Whatever was the respect in which Iván Kouzmitch held his wife, he would

assilissa Igorofna by telling her that Father Garasim had heard most ext

d see the Pope's wife, and, by the advice of Iván Kouzm

etch us at once, and took care to shut up Polashka

ouzmitch had held a council of war, and that Palashka had been locked up. She suspected that her husband had deceived her, and she immediately began ove

straw, and as that might be the cause of a misfortune, I assembled my officers, and I ordered

his wife asked him. "Why was the poor girl obl

ed for such a question; he st

she forebore questioning him, and spoke of some pickled cucumbers which Akoulina Pamphilovna knew how to prepare in a superlative manner.

aring the cannon of the rags, small stones, bits of wood, knuckle-bon

ife. "Can it be that they are afraid of an attack by the Kirghiz; but

d to have out of him the secret which

oss-examination by questions irrelevant to the subject in hand, in order to reassure and lull the watchful

hink what news! What w

replied Iwán Ignatiitc

, and much, powder; I h

to defeat this Pugatché

will eat none

s this Pugatchéf?" questi

is tongue; but it was too late. Vassilissa Igorofna obliged him

nly to the Pope's wife, and that for the very good reason that the good l

g village and little forts. The "ouriadnik" came back after an absence of two days, and reported that he had seen in the steppe, about sixty versts from the fort, many fires, and

the Commandant something very serious. According to him the "ouriadnik" had made a false report. On his return the perfidious Cossack had told his comrades that he had advanced upon the rebels, and that he had been presented to their chief, and that this chief gave him his hand to kiss and had had a long

bit, you ga

isoner that same day, but the "ouriadnik" had escap

d upon assembling his officers anew, and in order to do that he wished again to get rid of his wife under some plausible pretext. But as Iván Kouzmi

while clearing his throat once or twice, "it is sa

n to call a council of war, and talk without me about Em

ch opened hi

u know all, stay; there is nothing mor

" rejoined she; "it is of no use your trying

k. The robber proclaimed his intention of marching directly upon our fort, inviting the Cossacks and the soldiers to j

mphatic terms, and was likely to produce a g

s at his feet! Oh! the son of a dog! He doesn't then know that we have been forty years in the service, and that, thank heaven, w

ván Kouzmitch; "nevertheless, they say the scound

s in strength, indeed

ly the amount of his

a Igorofna, give me th

Bashkir and tell Joula?

the house. Without I do so she would hear the cries, and they would frighten her. And as for

ed was indispensable to condemnation, an idea not merely unreasonable, but contrary to the dictates of the simplest good sense in legal matters, for, if the denial of the accused be not accept

ndant's order did not arouse any surprise or emotion among us. Iwán Ignatiitch went off to seek the Bashkir, who was under lock and key

owing to the wooden shackles he had on his fee

least seventy years old, and he had neither nose nor ears. His head was shaven, and his beard consi

1741, "you are an old wolf, by what I see. You have already been caught in our traps. 'Tis not the f

, and looked at the Commandant

zmitch. "Don't you understand Russ? Joula?, ask

Tartar language. But the Bashkir looked at him

. Here, Joula?, strip him of his striped dressing-gown, his idiot's dre

s of children. But when one of the pensioners seized his hands in order to twine them round his neck, and, stooping, upraised the old man on his shoulders, when Joula? took the r

all ho

out of him. Joula?, take the Bashkir back to the barn;

n, when Vassilissa Igorofna burst into the

o you?" asked the Co

ather Garasim's boy has just come back. He saw how it was taken. The Commandant and all t

rn, a gentle and quiet young man, was known to me. Two months previously he had passe

ur we might expect to be attacked by Pugatchéf. The probable fate of Marya Ivánof

sp, that is understood. But we must think of the women's safety. Send them to Orenburg, if the road b

tch turned

better send you away to some more dis

nse!" repli

not safe? Thank heaven, we have now lived here more than twenty-one years. We h

reckon so much on our fort. But what are we to do with Masha? It is all right

l, t

could only stammer and beco

r life; "it is not proper for Masha to stay here. Let us send her to Orenburg to her godmother. There are enough soldiers and cannons there, and the wal

to persuade me, for I will do no such thing. It will not suit me either in my old age to part from

sha ready for her journey; to-morrow we will start her off at daybreak, and we will even give

en she heard of the taking of Nijnéosern; I dread lest she should f

away to make ready for

We supped in silence, and we rose from table earlier than usual. Each of us returned to his quarters after bidding good-bye to the whole family.

hey are sending me to Orenburg. Keep well and happy. May

ob. I pressed

ng, my loved one, whatever befall me, rest assured th

my breast. I kissed her passi