The Daughter of the Commandant
e, 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 be
ng the night, taking away with them by force Joula?, and that around our ramparts unknown people were galloping. The thought that Marya Ivá
down the street when I heard my
Ignatiitch, catching me up. "Iván Kouzmitch is on the rampar
one?" I asked, with
"The road to Orenburg is blocked, the fort surrou
ng 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
other, the Empress, and let us show all the wor
, noticing doubtless some stir in the fort, gathered into parties, and consulted together. The Commandant ordered Iwán Ignatiitch to point the cannon at them, and hims
a Igorofna appeared on t
d not wished
t's wife, "how goes the ba
ouzmitch; "but if God wills all will b
ya, "I am more frighten
eve from her hand, as if for her defence. My heart burnt within my breast; I felt as if I were her knight;
the whole steppe became covered with people, armed with arrows and lances. Amongst them, dressed in a red cafta
arts 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 poi
ors shout
t to receive the Tza
cried the Commanda
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 th
rebels were making ready to attack. Soon the bullets whistled about our ears, and
is not a place for women. Take away Masha; you see
omewhat subdued, glanced towards the steppe, where a gre
h are in God's hands; bless Ma
Iván Kouzmitch and dropped on her kne
ee times over her, then raised her up, kissed her
man come forward, may God grant you both love and wisdom. Live together as we have live
lf upon his neck
e Commandant's wife, we
ve me if I have
embracing his old companion. "There, now, enough; go awa
daughter. I followed Marya with my eyes;
le attention to the enemy. The rebels gathered rou
ant said to us, "the as
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. Th
nt, "open the door, beat the drum,
d ourselves in a moment beyond the parapet.
shouted Iván Kouzmitch. "If we mu
wn, 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 o
e what will become of yo
The bells were rung. All at once shouts announced that the Tzar was in the square waiting to receive t
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
ging, and the deepest
and pointed out Iván Kouzmitch. Pugatchéf looked fiercely upon the old man
und, collected his remaining streng
eror; you are a usu
he gallows. Astride on the crossbeam, sat the disfigured Bashkir who had been cross-examined on the preceding evening; he held a rop
atchéf said to him, "
ovitc
ror!" replied the lie
you are a robber, my
tch swung beside his old chief. It was my turn. Boldly I looked on
, who had found time to cut his hair short and to put on a Cossack c
I began saying a prayer in a low voice, offering up to God a sincere repentance for all my sins, i
sins said to me, perhaps to give me cou
accurse
d. I looked up. Savéliitch lay pr
death of this noble child? Let him go free, and you will get a good ransom;
signal; I was imm
I regretted it, for my feelings were too upset. I was again brought before the usurper and forced to kneel at his feet. Pugatchéf held out to me hi
nd nudged me with his elbow, "don't be obstinate. What does
tchéf withdrew his h
hip is quite idiotic
ft free. The infamous
the turn of the soldiers of the garrison. The tailor of the company, armed with his big blunt scissors, cut off their queues. They s
ent down the steps, followed by his chiefs. There was brought for him a white hor
e robbers were dragging to the steps Vassilissa Igorofna, with dishevelled hair and half-dressed. One of them had alread
she perceived the gallows and recognized her husband. "Villains!" she exclaimed, beside herself; "what have you done? Oh, my light, my Iván
old witch," s
d, and she fell dead at the foot of the steps. Pugat