Marie:a story of Russian love

out, and bid her a last adieu. I was completely changed. Excitement was less painful than my former melancholy, for with the gri

the night, forcing with them Zoulac, the Christian Kalmouk, and that all around our ramparts, unknown people were riding. The idea that Ma

own the street swiftly when I h

, catching up with me; "the Captain is on the ra

ne?" I said,

n with Orenbourg is cut off; the fortres

p - the approach of danger had restored to the old warrior extraordinary vigor. On the steppe, not far from the fortress, there were some twenty horsemen, who looked like Cossacks; but amongst them were a few Bashkirs, easily recognized

n groups and spoke amongst themselves. The Commandant ordered Ignatius to point the cannon upon them, he himself applying the light. The ball whistled over their heads without doing them a

wife, "how is the battle

an, "but if God wills it, all will be

sword, remembering that I had received it from her on the preceding eve, as if for her defense. My heart was on fire.

ld be distinguished a man mounted on a white horse. This was Pougatcheff himself. He halted, was surrounded by his followers, and very soon, probably by his orders, four men left the crowd and galloped to our ramparts. We recognized am

o not fire, come out and recei

d the Captain

noise of the discharge, she seemed lifeless. The Commandant ordered the Corporal to take the letter from the hand of the dead Cossack. Ignatius sallied out and returned, leading by the bridle the man's horse. He

than alive." Basilia, whom the sound of the balls had rendered more yielding, glanced at the steppe where muc

raising, kissed her, and said in a broken voice: "Oh! my dear Marie! pray to God, he will never abandon thee. If an honest man seek thee, m

Captain's wife, in tears, said: "Embrace us also; a

ome! enough! go to the house, and if you have time dress Marie in her best;

proaching the fortress with their accustomed fleetness. Our cannon was charged with grape and canister. The Commandant let them come within short range, and again put a light to his piece. The shot struck in the midst of the force, which scattered in every direction.

ened garrison had not moved from the square. "What are you doing, my children?" s

d entered, pell-mell, with the crowds into the fortress. I saw the Commandant wounded on the head, and closed upon by a small troop of bandits, who demanded the keys. I was ru

offering bread and salt. The bells were rung. Suddenly, shouts announced tha

f martin-skin, ornamented with gold tassels, covered his brow almost to his flashing eyes. His face seemed to me not unknown. Cossack chiefs surrounded him. Fat

gatcheff. The bells ceased; the deepest silence prevailed. "Which is the Commandant?" asked the usurper. Our Corporal came out of the crowd and

his energy, and said, in a firm but faint voice: "You

he gibbet. Astride the cross-beam of the gallows, sat the mutilated Bashkirs who we had questioned; he held a rope in his

o the emperor, P

Lieutenant, repeating his Captain's w

for a Cossack cafetan. He approached Pougatcheff and whispered to him. "Let him be hung," said Pougatcheff, not deigning to look at me. A rope was put around my neck. I uttered a prayer to God in a low voice, expressing sincere repentance for my sins, and imploring him to save all those dear to my heart. I was led beneath the gibbet. A shout

. I was taken again before the usurper and made to kneel at his feet. Pougatcheff offered me his muscular hand. "Kiss his hand! Kiss his hand!" cried out all around me. But I would have preferred

is stupefied with joy; raise him up," said he. I was at libe

Pougatcheff rose from his arm-chair and went down the steps, followed by his chiefs. A white horse richly caparisoned was led to him; tow Cossacks helped him into the saddle. He signified to Father Garasim that he would dine with him. At this moment wild heart-rending shrieks from a woman filled the air. Basilia, without her mantle, her hair in disorder, was dragged out on the steps; on

ld sorceress,"

e head. She fell dead at the foot of the steps.