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