Alexander Pushkin

“ Savelitch uttered an exclamation. His face beamed with joy.
"He has come to!—he has come to!" he repeated. "Glory to Thee, O Lord! Well, my little father, Piotr Andrevitch! thou hast frightened me! It is no joke; this is the fifth day!. . . ."
Maria Ivanovna interrupted him.
"Do not talk to him much, Savelitch," said she; "he is still weak!"
She left, and closed the door gently after her. My thoughts were disturbed. I was at the commandant's house. Maria Ivanovna had really come to me. I wished to ask Savelitch some questions; but the old man shook his head and stopped his ears. ”

“ Paláshka returned to us our swords. We left the commandant apparently at peace with each other. Ivan Ignatitch accompanied us. "How is it you are not ashamed," said I, angrily, "of having denounced us to the commandant, after having promised me that you would not do so?" "As God lives, I did not tell it to Ivan Kouzmitch," answered he. "Vassilissa Yegorovna drew it all out of me. She it was who made all arrangements without the commandant's knowledge. However, thank God that all has ended so well." With these words, he returned homewards, and Shvabrine and I remained alone. ”

“ Pougatcheff had fled, and was pursued by Ivan Ivanovitch Mihelson. We soon heard of his complete annihilation. At length Zourine received intelligence of the capture of the pretender, and at the same time orders to halt. The war was at an end. I should now be able to go to my parents. The prospect before me, that I should embrace them, that I should see Maria Ivanovna, of whom I had had no news, filled me with delight. I danced about like a child. Zourine laughed and said, shrugging his shoulders:
"No, no; no good will come of it! Thou shalt marry—and thou shalt be lost!" ”

“ Maria Ivanovna answered that her future depended upon the journey; that she was going to seek the protection and assistance of people of influence, as the daughter of a man who had suffered for his loyalty.
My father drooped his head; he was pained at every word that reminded him of his son's imputed crime, and felt it as a poignant reproach to himself.
"Go," said he, with a sigh. "We do not wish to stand in the way of thy happiness. May God grant thee a good man for thy husband, in the place of a sullied traitor!" ”

“ Savelitch was listening with an air of great displeasure. He looked with suspicion from the host to the guide. The inn, or as it is there called, the oumet, was situated in the steppe, at a distance from any village, and much resembled a robber's retreat. But there was no help for it. To think of continuing the journey was useless. Savelitch's agitation amused me much. I made myself comfortable for the night, stretching myself on a bench. Savelitch made up his mind to sleep on the stove, and our host lay on the floor. Everybody was soon snoring, and I fell into a deep sleep. ”

“ The shot had taken effect in the midst of the crowd. The rebels divided, and fell back a little. Their leader alone remained in the front. He was waving his sword, and appeared to be encouraging his men with energy. The shouts and shrieks which had ceased for but a moment, were renewed.
"Now then, boys," said the commandant, "open the gates, beat the drum. Advance! follow me!"
The commandant, Ivan Ignatitch, and I were in an instant without the palisade; but the terrified garrison did not stir.
"Why do you stand there, boys?" shouted Ivan Kouzmitch. "If we are to die, let us die. ”

“ Masha, pale and trembling, approached Ivan Kouzmitch, knelt down before him, and bowed herself to the earth. The old commandant made the sign of the cross over her three times; he then raised and kissed her, saying, in an altered voice:
"Be happy, Masha. Pray to God. He will not abandon thee. If thou should'st find a good man, may God bless your attachment. Live together as thy mother and I have lived. ”

“ Ivan Kouzmitch fully agreed with his spouse, and kept repeating: "Yes, yes, Vassilissa Yegorovna is right. Duelling is especially forbidden by the articles of war." Paláshka carried our swords to the lumber-room. I could not help laughing; Shvabrine preserved his equanimity. "With all due respect to you," said he coolly, "I cannot but remark, that you have given yourself unnecessary trouble in subjecting us to your judgment. Leave that to Ivan Kouzmitch; it is his business." "Dear me, my little father!" replied the commandant's wife, "are not husband and wife one spirit and one flesh? ”

“ I remembered the taking of the fortress of Byĕlogorsk, but did not think it necessary to contradict him, and did not answer a word. "What do they say of me at Orenburg?" asked Pougatcheff, after a short pause.
"Why, they say that thou art difficult to manage; and in truth, thou hast given us work to do."
The pretender's face expressed that his vanity was satisfied.
"Yes!" said he with a pleased look; "I am a good one to fight. Have they heard at Orenburg of the battle of Youzeiff? Forty generals killed, four armies made captive. What thinkest thou? ”

“ The commandant was pacing in front of his small force. The approach of danger seemed to inspire the old warrior with extraordinary bravery. About twenty horsemen were scattered over the steppe within a short distance of the fortress. They appeared to be Cossacks, but there were also some Bashkirs among them, who were easily distinguished by their fur caps and quivers. The commandant walked round the lines exhorting the soldiers: "Come, boys, let us stand up for our mother empress to-day, and let us prove to the world that we are a brave and loyal people!" ”

“ And now I do not even stir when I am told that those wretches are groping about the fortress."
"Vassilissa Yegorovna is a wonderfully brave lady," observed Shvabrine, seriously, with a consequential air. "Ivan Kouzmitch can bear witness to the fact."
"Yes, certainly," said Ivan Kouzmitch, "she is not one of the timid ones."
"And Maria Ivanovna," asked I, "is she as brave as you are?"
"Masha brave?" answered her mother. "No, Masha is a coward. She cannot even hear a gun fired without trembling all over. ”

“ Pougatcheff looked at Shvabrine, and said with a bitter sneer:
"Thy hospital is not bad!" He then approached Maria Ivanovna. "Tell me, my little dove, why does thy husband punish thee? How hast thou wronged him?"
"Husband!" she repeated. "He is not my husband. I shall never be his wife! I prefer to die, and I shall die, if I am not rescued."
Pougatcheff looked at Shvabrine menacingly. ”

“ How! what! a premeditated murder in our fortress! Ivan Kouzmitch, they must immediately be placed under arrest. Piotr Andrevitch! Aleksey Ivanovitch! give me your swords; give them up, give them up. Paláshka, take these swords into the lumber-room. Piotr Andrevitch, I did not expect this of thee. Art thou not ashamed of thyself? Aleksey Ivanovitch is different; was he not transferred from the Guards for having caused a soul to perish? he does not even believe in our Lord ”

“ Oh, the son of a dog! He does not know that we have served for forty years, and that, thank God, we have seen something during that time! Is it possible that there are commandants who have yielded to the rascals?"
"It should not be possible," answered Ivan Kouzmitch; "and yet I understand that the wretch has taken possession of many fortresses."
"He must indeed be strong," remarked Shvabrine.
"We shall soon know his real strength," said the commandant. "Vassilissa Yegorovna, give me the key of the store-room. Ivan Ignatitch, send the Bashkir here, and order Youlaï to bring the lash." ”

“ How art thou to travel now, when all the roads are blocked up by these robbers? Have pity upon thy parents, if thou hast none for thyself. Where dost thou want to go to? What for? Wait a short time; the troops will soon be here and capture the rascals, then thou mayest go wherever thou pleasest."
But my resolution was not to be shaken.
"It is too late now for reflection," said I to the old man. "I must go. I cannot help going. Do not grieve, Savelitch: God is merciful, we may meet again. Do not scruple to make use of the money, and do not stint thyself. ”

“ What, Masha, art thou afraid?"
"No, papa," replied Maria Ivanovna; "I feel more frightened sitting at home."
She looked at me and made an effort to smile. I involuntarily grasped the hilt of my sword, remembering that I had received it from her own hands the night before, as if for the protection of the one I loved best. My heart burned within me; I fancied myself her chosen knight. I longed to prove that I was worthy of her trust, and impatiently awaited the decisive moment. ”

“ She brought in the samovar, and, sipping a cup of tea, was just about to recommence her endless relations about the court, when a court carriage stopped at the door, and a chamber-groom entered with the announcement that the empress was pleased to invite Maria Ivanovna Mironoff to the palace. Anna Vlassievna became terribly fidgety in her astonishment.
"Dear me!" she exclaimed: "the empress requires you at court. How has she ever heard of you? And how are you, my dear, to appear before her majesty? Me thinks you do not even know how to walk in court fashion. ”

“ Shvabrine's presence was unbearable. I took an early leave of the commandant and his family; on my return home, I examined my sword, tried its point, and went to bed, having left orders with Savelitch to call me at six o'clock.
The next morning, at the appointed hour, I was already standing behind the haystacks, waiting for my adversary. He soon appeared. "We might be caught out," he said, "we must be quick." We laid aside our uniform, keeping on our waistcoats, and drew our swords. At that instant Ivan Ignatitch, at the head of five invalids, rushed from behind the stacks. ”

“ Why is not Byĕlogorsk safe? God be thanked, this is the twenty-second year that we are in it. We have seen Bashkirs and Khirghis; we may overcome Pougatcheff as well!"
"Well, my little mother," reiterated Ivan Kouzmitch, "thou mayest stay on, if thou puttest so much trust in our fortress. But what are we to do with Masha? It is well if we are victorious, or if we obtain relief in time; but if the wretches capture the fortress?"
"Well, in that case——"
Here Vassilissa Yegorovna became confused and stopped short, greatly agitated. ”

“ Pougatcheff was struck by my sincerity.
"Be it so," he said, slapping me on the shoulder; "one must either execute or fully pardon. Go—the four quarters are open to thee, and do as seemeth thee best. Come and bid me good-bye to-morrow, and now get thee to bed, for sleep also oppresses me."
I left Pougatcheff and emerged into the street. The night was still and frosty. The moon and stars shone brightly, illuminating the square and the gallows. All was quiet and dark within the fortress. In the public-house only were there lights, whence issued the shouts of lingering idlers. ”

“ I put on the touloup, and mounted the horse, Savelitch getting up behind.
"There, sir," said the old man, "dost thou not see that I have not uselessly bowed down before the rascal? Thief though he be, he has felt somewhat ashamed, although this huge Bashkir nag and the sheepskin touloup are not worth one half of what the vagabonds have stolen, and what thou thyself hadst given him; and yet they may prove of service, even a few hairs off a vicious dog!" ”

“ We reached the town gates; the sentries allowed us to pass, and we rode out of Orenburg. It was getting dark. My road lay past the village of Berd, Pougatcheff's retreat. The high road was snowed over, but the tracks of horses' hoofs, daily renewed, were visible over the whole steppe. I rode at a quick trot, Savelitch could hardly follow me, and was continually shouting—
"Slower! for God's sake slower! My cursed little nag cannot keep up with thy long-legged imp. Where is the hurry? Well enough if we were going to a feast! As it is, we are making for the edge of the axe. ”

“ Pougatcheff threw a quick glance at me.
"Then thou dost not believe," said he, "that I am the Emperor Piotr Feodorovitch? Very well! But is there no success for the daring? Did not Grishka Otrepieff [4] reign in days gone by? Think what thou pleasest of me, but do not leave me. What does it matter to thee? Who is not a priest is a father. Serve me 'in faith and in truth' and I shall make thee a field-marshal and prince. ”

“ Vassilissa Yegorovna was not silent for an instant, and kept putting all manner of questions to me: who were my parents? were they alive? where did they live? what was their income? Upon learning that my father possessed three hundred peasants, "Is it possible!" she said; "well, there are rich people in the world! we possess only one soul, [10] the girl Paláshka, but, thank God, we manage to exist. We are beset but by one trouble: Masha is a marriageable girl, and what is her dower to be? ”

“ If thou wilt hang Shvabrine, thou mayest as well hang this fellow on the same gallows, to prevent either of them from feeling envious."
The cursed old man's words seemed to shake Pougatcheff. Fortunately Hlopousha began to cavil with his companion.
"Be quiet, Naoumitch," said he; "thou only thinkest of strangling and stabbing. What sort of a hero art thou? One has but to look at thee to wonder what holds thy soul and body together! Thou art with a foot in the grave thyself, and wouldst cause others to perish. Hast thou not enough blood on thy conscience yet?" ”