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