Part 32 (2/2)
”I have thought of a plan,” said Javis, ”by which you can communicate with Lieutenant Stanisloff, without danger either to him or to yourself.
I heard the pa.s.sword given for to-morrow night, and I propose to personate the treacherous Armenian, and gain admittance to the fort, where I will trust to my own wits to find out your friend, and give him your message, and to escape without seeing the governor, who would probably discover me. What say you, Sir, to my plan? Shall I attempt it?”
”Though I long to see my friend, I would not that you should run so great a risk; for were you discovered, your death would be certain,”
said Ivan.
”O fear not for me, Sir,” replied Javis, ”my life is of but little value to any one, and the danger is not so great as it appears; for those thick-headed Russians are not likely to distinguish me at night from the Armenian. I shall also, I have no doubt, be able to gain some further information from the man to-morrow.”
The next morning the Armenian appeared with his packs on his horses'
backs, as if prepared for a journey. He smilingly saluted the chiefs who were a.s.sembled in front of the guest-house; but alarm took the place of his smiles, when he observed the stern looks which met him on every side; and more so when he found himself surrounded by a number of their armed followers.
”Whither go you so fast, Armenian?” said the Hadji, sternly. ”Are you hastening to visit your friends the Urus? What, do you turn pale? Drag the treacherous spy from his horse,” he added, turning to his attendants, ”and bring him along. We will judge his case; and if he prove guilty, he knows the punishment of spies.”
The unfortunate pedlar trembled violently as he was dragged along to an open glade surrounded by trees, at a short distance from the village.
Here the chiefs soon a.s.sembled, as well as several rich Tocavs or yeomen, and other influential men in the neighbourhood, who were summoned to give the criminal the fairest trial.
The judges seated themselves, with due formality and gravity, in a semi-circle, on a gra.s.sy bank, when the terror-stricken Armenian was brought before them. The witnesses against him, Javis and his guide, were also summoned into their presence. Javis first gave his evidence, which Ivan interpreted, as also did his guide.
”Said you not, Armenian, that you were a man of peace, and a friend to the Atteghei?” demanded the chief of the village, who acted as president. ”See that you have not spoken lies, and proved that you are a friend of our enemies. Answer this one question: where went you last night?”
”Where went I?” tremblingly echoed the Armenian. ”I went forth from the house of my good konag, to cool my brow after the heat of the day.
Surely I went no where beyond the hamlet.”
”Oh thou son of the evil one! Think you to elude our vigilance? Answer truly, or you die on the spot. Why went you to the camp of our enemies?”
”Oh! spare my life, n.o.ble chiefs!” cried the Armenian, falling on his knees. ”I am but a poor trader, and I went but to sell my goods. Oh slay me not, valiant n.o.bles!”
”Do you not know that it is prohibited to have any dealings with the enemy?” said the president. ”And of what use are such goods as you carry to the Urus? But you are full of lies. You went without your goods, secretly, and by night. You know the enemy's pa.s.sword. You were seen to enter their fort, and shortly after to return. Your own words condemn you. What say you, Uzdens?” turning to the other judges, ”has the Armenian proved himself to be innocent, or is he guilty?”
The chiefs, all standing up, p.r.o.nounced the solemn words of the wretch's doom--
”He is guilty: let him die the death of a spy.”
The miserable being had not a word to plead in his own defence; but loudly crying for mercy, he lifted up his hands in an imploring att.i.tude; for well he knew the dreadful fate prepared for him. The stern warriors relaxed not their features as they motioned to the attendants to lead him away. His crime was of the greatest magnitude, and no mercy could be granted him; not a voice spoke in his favour; not an eye turned with pity towards him.
At some distance from the hamlet was a lofty and perpendicular cliff, at whose base, over a rough rocky bed, roared a foaming and rapid torrent.
The wretched Armenian, without any further delay, was dragged up a steep pathway to the summit of the cliff, where, by order of the Hadji, he was stripped of his high Astracan fur cap, his dark robe, and the appurtenances of his trade, and then led, shrieking, forward, to the edge of the precipice. As he thus saw his dreadful fate approaching, he screamed loudly for mercy and pardon; but his cries fell on the ears of those whom a fierce exterminating war had rendered deaf to pity for their cruel foes.
As he stood, s.h.i.+vering with terror, on the very edge of the frightful chasm, in a last fit of desperation, he seized hold of those who stood near, endeavouring to drag them down with him; but his hands were torn from their hold; and two powerful slaves, appointed as his executioners, lifting him from the ground, hurled him, with tremendous exertion, far over the edge of the cliff. A last shriek of despairing agony alone escaped him, as he fell headlong into the dark abyss, grasping at the empty air, and seeking to find some hold to prolong life, even for a few moments. So deep was the chasm, that not a sound was heard, as he struck the shallow and rocky bed of the stream; and its waters whirled the mangled frame far out of sight.
”Thus, let all spies and traitors die!” exclaimed the mult.i.tude, as they retired from the scene of execution.
Volume 2, Chapter XIV.
Reports were abroad in the neighbourhood of Ghelendjik, that the Russians intended to make some movement from their fortifications; so that, in the hopes of finding occupation for their swords, the Hadji and Achmet Beg determined to remain on the spot to a.s.sist their friends; and Ivan gladly availed himself of the opportunity of endeavouring to communicate with Thaddeus. Arslan Gherrei was also persuaded by the Hadji to remain, to lend his powerful aid in repelling their foes, and to give his daughter Ina a longer period to recover from her fatigue.
Ivan anxiously looked forward to the evening, when Javis was to make his attempt to enter the fort, and he determined to accompany him near the walls, in the hope of meeting Thaddeus.
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