Part 12 (1/2)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A Russian Village--Danger of being discovered--Providential Warning-- Flight--Approach to his Native Village--Horror on discovering his Home deserted--Encounter with old Soukhoroukof--Taken to his House--Account of his Parents--Aneouta carried away--His Agony--Encouraged to rouse hiain-- Encounter with Zingari--Old Friends--A bold Exploit--They offer to assist hier account of entleer ”I trust that I have done so already What I have further to tell you will, I hope, excite your sympathy and commiseration, and induce you to accede to the request I have tofroe, now bathed in the cal I knew the spot well I had often been there I recognised the little church with its gilt dome and blue and pink walls, the pride of all the inhabitants--the ashed houses of the richer villagers, and the rough log-huts, thatched with straw, of the poorer serfs A sparkling streareen fields and orchards surrounded the place It was altogether a flourishi+ng little village The stream ran fro I stopped by its brink, and having enjoyed a draught of the clear, pure, cold water, I took off ns of travel from my countenance
Much refreshed, I proceeded I had hopes of finding soive me information about my parents I walked on with as unconcerned an air as possible First I went to a baker's shop, where I bought bread, but he scarcely knew the nae I procured also so heart I ht these articles, but not a particle of inforan to look at me suspiciously, and that it would beco to the right hand nor to the left, and endeavouring to appear as unconcerned as possible I had gone a little hen a person passedto reach some object before me He did not look at ht--you are suspected, andbe pursued'
”'Thanks, thanks; may our brother be rewarded by Heaven,' I replied, without looking at hi my pace To this day I know not the countenance of the one on soan to walk quicker than before; and darkness having now concealed e, I hastened on as fast asVacia's horse would have been truly welcome, still I dared not rest Never had I travelled on so rapidly I had, indeed, terfuldesire to see er Suffice it to say that, after another night passed on foot, I stood within half a verst of e by daylight I had hoped to reach it before dawn, but ain no information of those I loved All my friends whom I could trust had been removed Many new inhabitants had been sent to the place, and I was as a stranger on the spot where my childhood and youth had been passed I lay concealed all day in a sheltered nook on the hill-side, which commanded a wide view in every direction, and would enable me to retreat should any one approach How can I paint the anxiety of those hours, as I looked down on e, and every spot I kneell? I tried to discover any inhabitantsabout the door, but none ca drew on; the cows ca home to be milked, the horses were driven forth to their pastures, and the field labourers loitered in weary froe sent up its tiny wreath of s frorew upon er to curb er No one observed arden, railed off fro, and looked in at aat the back of the dwelling All was silent; no one was there Perhaps they ht My sudden appearance will alar again, and with beating, anxious heart went round to the front The porch was ees My heart sank within --an old man--I remembered his face well He used to be kind to me as a boy, but he liked not our new tenets
”'What has becohter,voice
”'Do you belong to this place, as your voice informs me, and ask what has become of them?' exclaimed old Soukhoroukof 'I always toldwould happen to him which has happened to his son, if he would persist in adopting the newfangled doctrines which have been so rife of late years What has becoenerally that he is dead He was a good youth, but fanciful and unsteady Not content with the old-established, well-approved religion of this country, but he et hi you about friend Saveleff He had long been suspected of harbouring those doctrines, when lately it was discovered that he had given shelter to three or four convicted heretics escaping froainst hiht the ed to look into it He carried the matter, as in duty bound, to the steward, who, unfortunately for old Saveleff, owed hi The steward, Morgatch (I will not say what I think of hiht the affair up to our Barin, the Count Now the Count is a staunch religionist, and wonderful orthodox; though between you and me, if his heart was looked into, he cares as little for priests and the good of the Church as he does for the Grand Sultan of the Turks However, whatever that--huht forward plenty of witnesses to prove that the heretics had been seen in Saveleff's house, and that he and his wife and daughter had served them with food; and what is more, read out of the Bible, and prayed with theo unpunished; Morgatch, to ht forward evidence to prove that, not content with holding those pernicious doctrines themselves, they had endeavoured to instil them into others This, too, was clearly proved Saveleff had not a word to say in his defence, nor had his wife, but rather they boldly confessed and gloried in their criht have claimed them; but they were free, and the old couple, without the power of appeal, were condemned to be transported to Siberia No rey hairs and their excellent character They were sent off with felons, murderers, thieves, and traitors, to Moscow One consolation is, that ere this they have probably sunk down, overcoe, and been released froroaned as I heard these words; I had no questions to ask concerning my parents--the worst was revealed to asped out 'Ah, poor girl, her fate was a hard one She would have been transported also, but that--huatch proved that she was a serf, the property of a brother of our Barin's, the Count; that her father and mother were serfs, and that she had never been manumitted, as old Saveleff, who had adopted her, supposed
Instead, therefore, of being sent to Siberia, she was packed off without ceree, to work in the fields, I suppose, or-- But what is the ood-natured Soukhoroukof, extending a hand to round
”'Oh, nothing, nothing,' I answered, trying to conceal,' he replied 'Colass of kvass will do you good Co , to his own cottage
”Had I had tioodave me food, and the kvass he promised I ate and drank mechanically
”'When did all this happen?' I asked, with a treo only,' he answered, looking very hard at me
'You seem very interested in the people; did you know theitated; 'but oh, father, do not ask ood'
”'ISteffanos Saveleff,my head 'And oh, father, I would not have entered your house had you given ht place you in; and you, I am sure, will not betray me'
”'Speak not of it, my son You have eaten of my loaf and my salt, and drunk of my cup, and you are safe No one saw you enter, and no one need see you depart Rest a little while, and then go on your way I er than a few hours Before daylight you should be far from this'
”'Thanks, thanks, father!' I exclaimed 'And now you knoho I am, will you advisemy parents, should they be still alive? You know that I am betrothed to Aneouta Can I save her from the fate to which she is dooht for soth 'The Ereat Czar, is about to be crowned shortly On such an occasion he will surely grant the requests of his loving subjects Get a petition drawn up: go to Moscow: present it Tell the Czar your whole story He will be interested If he grants your petition, as heyou to marry Aneouta Say no irl who loves you, and that difficulties which the Czar alone can overcome lie in the way of your nuptials'
”'Oh, ive is excellent,' I answered; 'but thousands will be offering similar petitions, and what chance shall I have?'
”'You will have as good a chance as others,' he replied 'Try and be one of the first But I doubt if many will venture to present petitions The difficulty of reaching the city is great, and few, even if they wish it, will be allowed to go, while those ell there are not likely to have any petitions to present Try your chance, at all events'
”'I will, I will,' I exclai h I had little hope of its success
'But how shall I reach Moscow?' I asked 'It is a long, long way, I fear, froa; you will there find steaet on board one of them, and your ill then be easy'
”I warmly thanked the kind Soukhoroukof for his advice, and rose to takeahis hand 'Oh, my father, if you would but study that book on which we place our faith, how happy, hoise it would make you!'
”'Well, well, my son, speak not of it Perhaps I do: I think not as I used to do The times are evil It is necessary to be cautious I will say no more on that point But I have another o You ant money to prosecute your plans
I am a er; I have no children left to me alive The bones ofbirth to those ill be dragged off to the same fate;--slaves, slaves all I have no one to provide for; I a else I can well spare what I give Take this purse; it contains two hundred roubles It will help you on your way