The Daughter of the Commandant
ng to gather round the gallows where the victims of the preceding evening still hung. The Cossacks
lace, awaiting the usurper. Before the door of the Commandant's house a Cossack held by the bridle a magnificent white horse of Kir
aid good-morning to everybody. One of the chiefs handed him a bag filled with small pieces of copper, whi
et; he could read contempt in mine, and he looked away with an expression of deep hatred and
enerals from me that they may expect me in a week. Advise them to receive me with submission and
he people, he poi
ew Commandant; obey him in all things;
r! Good God! what would become of her? Pugatchéf came down the steps, his horse was brought round,
crowd, approach Pugatchéf, and present him with a s
asked Pugatché
and you will see,"
ked at it a long time with an ai
ly; our lucid[60] eyes
ur Chief S
oral's uniform ra
usurper said to him,
iner had thought of writing to Pugatchéf. The Chief Sec
e cotton, the other str
an?" interrupted P
ther," rejoined Savél
cretary cont
white cloth, five roubles; twelve shirts of Holland shirting, with c
ugatchéf. "What do these tea-boxes a
oat with a cough, and set
at that is the bill of my master's goods w
Pugatchéf, in a fier
rascals; but still your fellows have well harried and well robbed, you must agree. Do
see, read on,"
etary co
th red ratteen, forty roubles; and lastly, a small hareskin 'touloup,' which was lef
Pugatchéf, whose ey
ower. He was about to embark on new expl
olish old man, you have been despoiled; well, what does it signify. But, old owl, you should eternally pray God for me and my lads that you and your m
liitch. "But I am not a free man, an
is head, and went off without another word. Chvabrine and the chiefs fo
th an air of deep regret. Seeing my friendly understanding with Pugatchéf, he had thought to turn it to some account. Bu
you are obliged to fit up your household anew, w
r girl was now delirious. Akoulina Pamphilovna brought me to her room. I gently approached the bed. I was struck by the frightful change in her face. The sick
Chvabrine above all, filled me with alarm. Invested with all power by the usurper, and left master in the fort, with the unhappy girl, the object of his hatred, he was capable of anything. What shoul
g warmly to them her whom I already regarded as my wife. I seized
dréj?tch; perhaps we may meet again in happier times. Don't forget us, and writ
hich I respectfully saluted, and I then took the road to O
turned round, and saw a Cossack coming up from the fort, leading a Bashkir horse, and ma
ed from the back of his own horse, an
own shoulder." On the saddle was slung a plain sheepskin "touloup." "And, besides," added he,
looked aska
"and pray what is that which jingles in
" not a whit disconcerted; "God forgive you, old
from me he who sent you: and you may as well try as you go
d he, turning his horse round; "I
nd on his pocket, and was soon out of sight. I put on the "t
shamed of himself, although this long and lean Bashkir hoss and this peasant's 'touloup' be not worth half what those rascals stole fro