Part 32 (1/2)
”Do you speak, barbarian, of your master?” said the governor. ”Your traitorous master now is a rotting corpse among the bodies of my brave fellows whom he betrayed! Expect not help from him.”
The traitor started at these words, and his courage seemed to give way.
”Russian, speak you the words of truth? Has my master indeed fallen?”
demanded the prisoner.
”I tell you the truth,” replied the general. ”Your master has received the reward of his treachery; and you shall soon follow his fate. I give you ten minutes to prepare; after that you die. Lead him away!” he cried to the guards who held the prisoner.
”Since my master has fallen, what have I more to do with life? I spit at you--I laugh at your threats. Do with me as you will, but I will yet be revenged.” And with herculean strength, throwing aside the soldiers who held him, he had nearly reached the throat of the governor when he was felled to the ground. He was again manacled and led off, using every epithet of abuse, to shew his scorn of his executioners.
At the lapse of the specified time, he was led outside the ramparts of the fort, where he was again chained to a stake to prevent any chance of his escape. His shallow grave was dug beneath his feet. His courage was indeed worthy of a better fate and better cause, for he quailed not during the preparations.
A company of soldiers advanced; and as they presented their muskets he shook his manacled and clenched hands at them in an att.i.tude of defiance, and uttering, with a dreadful shriek, the war-cry of his tribe, his body was pierced with innumerable wounds. Ere the yet warm clay had ceased to vibrate with the pulse of life, the corpse was thrown into the shallow hole prepared for it, and instantly covered up; so that in a few minutes from the time a human being had stood there with all the energy and strength of life, he was for ever hidden from the sight of men, and a little new turned up earth alone marked the spot of the tragedy.
None can pity the fate of Kim, which he so richly deserved, though not at the hands of his executioners. But it would be fortunate for the Russian name if it were not stained with atrocities of a much darker hue. The garrison of the fort remained all the rest of the day in a state of watchfulness and alarm, in expectation of an attack from the mountaineers, whom they thought their weakened state might tempt to come down upon them, if a sufficient force could be a.s.sembled in the neighbourhood; their fears however were groundless, for the day pa.s.sed away without any further appearance of the enemy.
Some hours after dark, a figure was perceived by the outer picket stealing cautiously from beneath the shadow of the cliffs towards his post. The person, on being challenged, gave the sign and countersign, and was allowed to pa.s.s to the gate of the fort, where, the like caution being employed, he was admitted, and conducted to the quarters of the governor. The Baron looked up on seeing him enter, with an expression of satisfaction.
”Ah! my faithful Armenian,” he exclaimed, ”I rejoice to see you return here in safety. What news do you bring me from the enemy's country? Do the barbarians think of attacking us?”
”I bring you some news which may please you, n.o.ble General, though not much of general importance,” replied the seeming Armenian, in very good Russian.
”Let me hear it quickly then; for I require some good news to put me in spirits after the disaster of the morning:” said the governor. ”And how came you not to give me warning that so large a body of Circa.s.sians were on the move?”
”I knew not of it myself till the moment I saw the troops engaged,”
answered the spy.
”Well, well, I believe you: but your news now,” said the General.
”In the first place the barbarians are meditating some exploit--though I yet know not what, but will discover to-morrow--under the guidance of that old rebel Guz Beg, who has just returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca, and has lost no time in inciting his countrymen to fresh outrages against you, their rightful masters. He nearly cut my throat when he heard me trying to persuade old Mahmood, the Prince of Pchad, to send in his allegiance to the Emperor. I was obliged to hold my tongue to save my neck. The Hadji, as he is now called, touched at some place in the north of Turkey, Varna I believe, and there picked up a young Russian, as he seems, though he speaks the Circa.s.sian language, and two followers, who act as his squire and page. They at all events are Russian, for I heard them conversing together, and I have my strong suspicions that their master is an officer of the Emperor who has deserted, for I heard him speaking to one of the prisoners, whom he took to-day, as an old acquaintance, calling the man Karl.”
”It is he!” almost shouted the General. ”I guessed it from the moment you spoke of him. May curses rest on the traitor's head! One whom I had adopted as my son! But I will punish him for his vile ingrat.i.tude.
That knave, who was taken prisoner, or rather deserted, was once in attendance on him, and a slave of mine. Now mark me. I will give a handsome reward to any who delivers them into my power. Are you ready to gain it?”
”I would do any thing to please you, General, much more to gain a reward,” answered the spy. ”But I know not how to manage it.”
”It must be done,” said the Baron. ”Entice him near the fort, when he may be taken prisoner, or watch his movements, and perchance he may be found sleeping in the neighbourhood, when I will send a strong body to capture him. But mark me, I must have him brought before me a prisoner, and my orders are not to be disobeyed. Follow what plan you will; I would rather have his head than that of a thousand Circa.s.sians.”
”Your orders shall be obeyed, General,” answered the spy. ”And I will set my wits to work for the purpose.”
”Remember your reward shall be great if you succeed. You may now return, or you may be missed by the barbarians, and fail not to come to-morrow night with the report of your proceedings.”
”I will obey your orders, Baron, without fail,” replied the spy, as, bowing, he retired out of the fort, and returned to the village he had left, without the slightest suspicion that his movements had been observed.
We must now follow the steps of our hero's faithful squire, Javis, who was keeping a strict watch on the house in which the Armenian merchant had taken up his abode, in company with an active, clever youth, whom the Hadji had sent to act as his guide. They had not long to wait before they saw the Armenian issue from the house, telling his host that he must, before night was over, pay a visit to the chief of the village, to settle about some goods he had sold him, as he might be obliged to start early on his way. To deceive his host he first took the path to the chiefs house of whom he had spoken; then, turning abruptly, he hastened in the direction of the fort of Ghelendjik. Following him at the same speed, over hill and dale, through brake and stream, Javis and his guide traced him till he arrived in the neighbourhood of the fort.
Fortunately for their design, the moon was now obscured by some dark clouds; and, leaving the lad under shelter of some rocks, the Gipsy crept cautiously forward, till he arrived close to the picquet, where he heard the pa.s.sword given, and the Armenian, who addressed a few words to the guard in Russian, was instantly allowed to proceed. Remaining cautiously concealed, Javis waited till he again saw the spy pa.s.s from the fort, and heard the officer on guard give him the pa.s.sword for the following night--”The Eagle of Russia”--when the man set off rapidly towards the interior. Dodging his steps, Javis traced him to the house he had left.
Outside the house of the chief, Javis found the Hadji and Ivan anxiously waiting his return, to whom he related what he had seen.
”Let the knave rest to-night,” said the former, ”to-morrow we will give him a surprise he little dreams of. He can do us but little harm now.”