"Sovereign Andrey Petrovich,
our gracious father!
Your gracious scripture I received, in which you are pleased to be angry with me, your slave, that I am ashamed not to obey the master's orders;- and I, not an old dog, and your faithful servant, I obey the master's orders and have always served you diligently and lived to see gray hair. I didn't write anything to you about Pyotr Andreevich's wound., so as not to frighten in vain, and, heard, everything, Our mother, Avdotya Vasilievna, fell ill with fright, and I will pray to God for her health. And Pyotr Andreevich was wounded under the right shoulder, in the chest to the very bone, one and a half inches deep, and he lay in the house of the commandant, where did we bring it from the shore, and he was treated by the local barber Stepan Paramonov; and now Petr Andreevich, Heavy, health, and there is nothing but good to write about him. Commanders, heard, happy with them; and for Vasilisa Yegorovna he is like his own son. What happened to him?, then there is no reproach to the young man: horse and four legs, yes stumbles. And if you please write, that you will send me to feed the pigs, and that's why your boyar will. I bow slavishly for this.
Your faithful servant Arkhip Savelyev ".
I couldn't help but smile a few times, reading the letter of a good old man. I was not able to answer the priest; but to calm mother down, Savelich's letter seemed to me sufficient.
Since then my position has changed. Marya Ivanovna hardly spoke to me and tried in every possible way to avoid me.. The commandant's house became hateful for me. Little by little I learned to sit alone at home. Vasilisa Yegorovna at first blamed me for that; but, seeing my stubbornness, left me alone. I only saw Ivan Kuzmich, when required by the service. I met Shvabrin rarely and reluctantly, especially, that I noticed in him a hidden dislike for himself, which confirmed me in my suspicions. My life has become unbearable to me. I fell into a gloomy reverie, fueled by loneliness and inaction. My love flared up in solitude and from hour to hour it became more painful for me. I lost my desire for reading and literature. My spirit has fallen. I was scared or out of my mind, or fall into debauchery. Unexpected incidents, had an important impact on my whole life, suddenly gave my soul a strong and good shock.
Chapter VI Pugachevshchina
You, young guys, look here,
What we, old old people, we will tell you. *
Song.
Before I start describing strange incidents, which I was a witness, I must say a few words about the situation, in which the Orenburg province was located at the end 1773 of the year.
This vast and rich province was inhabited by many semi-wild peoples., who recently recognized the dominion of the Russian sovereigns. Their minute-by-minute indignations, unaccustomed to laws and civil life, frivolity and brutality demanded unremitting supervision from the government to keep them in obedience. Fortresses were built in places, found convenient, and inhabited for the most part by Cossacks, long-standing owners of the Yaik coast. But the Yaik Cossacks, who were supposed to keep the peace and safety of this land, for some time they were themselves troubled and dangerous subjects for the government. AT 1772 year, there was an outrage in their main town. The reason for this was the strict measures, undertaken by Major General Traubenberg, in order to lead the army to due obedience. The result was the barbaric assassination of Traubenberg, willful change in management and finally suppression of the riot with grapeshot and cruel punishments.
It happened a few time before my arrival at the Belogorsk fortress.. Everything was already quiet or seemed so; the authorities too easily believed the alleged remorse of the crafty rebels, who were malicious in secret and were waiting for an opportunity for the resumption of riots.
Turning to my story.
Once in the evening (it was in early October 1773 of the year) I was sitting at home alone, listening to the howl of the autumn wind and looking out the window at the clouds, running past the moon. Send me to call on behalf of the commandant. I set off at once. I found Shvabrin at the commandant's, Ivan Ignatyich and the Cossack sergeant. There was not even Vasilisa Yegorovna in the room., nor Marya Ivanovna. The commandant greeted me with an air of concern. He locked the doors, seated everyone, except for the police officer, who stood at the door, took a paper out of his pocket and told us: "Gentlemen officers, important news! Listen, what the general writes ". Then he put on his glasses and read the following:
"To the lord commandant of the Belogorsk fortress
captain Mironov.
In secret.
I am informing you, that the Don Cossack and schismatic Emelyan Pugachev who escaped from the guard, perpetrating the unforgivable audacity of assuming the name of the late Emperor Peter III, gathered a villainous gang, caused indignation in Yaik villages and has already taken and destroyed several fortresses, making robberies and murders everywhere. That's why, with receiving this, have you, Mr. Captain, immediately take appropriate action to repel the mentioned villain and impostor, but if you can, and to the complete destruction thereof, if he turns to the fortress, entrusted to your care ".
- Take appropriate action! - said the commandant, taking off glasses and folding paper. - Listen to me, easy to say. The villain is apparently strong; and we have only one hundred and thirty people, not counting the Cossacks, on which hope is bad, do not reproach, wake you up, Maksimych. (The police officer chuckled.) However, there is nothing to do, gentlemen officers! Be good, set up guards and night patrols; in case of an attack, lock the gates and bring the soldiers out. You, Maksimych, look closely behind your Cossacks. Inspect the cannon and clean it thoroughly. And above all, keep it all a secret., so that no one in the fortress could learn about it prematurely.
Having given out these commands, Ivan Kuzmich dismissed us. I went out with Shvabrin, reasoning about, what have we heard. "What do you think, how will it end?"- I asked him,. "God knows, - he answered;- we'll see. I still don't see anything important. If ... "Then he pondered and in the scattering began to whistle a French aria.
Despite all our precautions, the news of the appearance of Pugachev spread throughout the fortress. Ivan Kuzmich, although he respected his wife very much, but would never tell her a secret, entrusted to him in service. Received a letter from the general, he quite skillfully escorted Vasilisa Egorovna, telling her, as if Father Gerasim received some wonderful news from Orenburg, which contains a great secret. Vasilisa Yegorovna immediately wanted to go to visit the priest and, on the advice of Ivan Kuzmich, took Masha with her, so that she is not bored alone.
Ivan Kuzmich, remaining a complete master, immediately sent for us, and I locked the Palashka in the closet, so she can't overhear us.
Vasilisa Yegorovna returned home, without having time to find out anything from the priest, and found out, that during her absence Ivan Kuzmich had a meeting and that Palashka was under lock and key. She guessed, that she was deceived by her husband, and proceeded to interrogate him. But Ivan Kuzmich prepared to attack. He was not at all embarrassed and cheerfully answered his curious partner: “Do you hear, mother, our women decided to heat the stoves with straw; but how can misfortune come from that, then I gave a strict order not to heat the stoves with straw women in the future, and drown with brushwood and dead wood ". - "And why did you have to lock the Palashka? - asked the commandant. - Why did the poor girl sit in the closet, until we got back?»Ivan Kuzmich was not prepared for such a question; he got confused and mumbled something very awkward. Vasilisa Yegorovna saw the treachery of her husband; but, knowing, that he won't get anything from him, stopped her questions and started talking about pickles, which Akulina Pamfilovna prepared in a very special way. Throughout the night Vasilisa Yegorovna could not fall asleep and could not guess in any way, what would be in her husband's head, what she shouldn't know about.
Next day, returning from mass, she saw Ivan Ignatyich, who pulled the rags out of the cannon, pebbles, chips, grandmothers and rubbish of all kinds, stuffed into it by kids. “What would these military preparations mean?? - thought the commandant, - are they expecting attacks from the Kyrgyz? But really Ivan Kuzmich would conceal such trifles from me?"She clicked Ivan Ignatich, with the firm intention of finding out a secret from him, which tormented her ladies' curiosity.
Vasilisa Yegorovna made him a few comments about the farm, as a judge, beginning the investigation with questions from outsiders, to lull the defendant's caution first. Then, after a few minutes of silence, she took a deep breath and said, shake their heads: "Oh my God! See what news! What will come of it?»
- And, mother! - answered Ivan Ignatyevich. - God be merciful: we have enough soldiers, a lot of gunpowder, I cleaned the gun. Maybe we will rebuff Pugachev. The Lord will not give out, the pig will not eat!
- And what kind of man is this Pugachev? - asked the commandant.
Then Ivan Ignatyevich noticed, what let slip, and bit his tongue. But it was already too late. Vasilisa Yegorovna forced him to confess everything, giving him his word not to tell anyone about it.
Vasilisa Yegorovna kept her promise and did not say a single word to anyone, except for the beggar, and that's only because, that her cow was still walking in the steppe and could be captured by villains.
Soon everyone started talking about Pugachev. The rumors were different. The commandant sent a sergeant with an assignment to scout out everything in the neighboring villages and fortresses.. The police officer returned two days later and announced, that in the steppe sixty miles from the fortress he saw many lights and heard from the Bashkirians, that an unknown force is coming. However, he could not say anything positive, because I was afraid to go further.
In the fortress, an extraordinary excitement became noticeable between the Cossacks; in all the streets they crowded in heaps, talked quietly to each other and dispersed, seeing a dragoon or garrison soldier. Scouts were sent to them. Yulay, baptized remnant, made an important report to the commandant. Testimony of the sergeant, according to Yulai, were false: upon his return, the crafty Cossack announced to his comrades, that he was with the rioters, introduced himself to their leader, who allowed him to his hand and talked to him for a long time. The commandant immediately put the sergeant under guard, and Yulai appointed in his place. This news was accepted by the Cossacks with obvious displeasure.. They murmured loudly, and Ivan Ignatyevich, executor of a curfew, heard with my ears, as they said: "Now you will, garrison rat!"The commandant thought to interrogate his prisoner on the same day; but the sergeant fled from under the guard, probably with the help of your like-minded people.
The new circumstance increased the commandant's anxiety.. A Bashkir with outrageous sheets was captured. On this occasion, the commandant thought to gather his officers again and for this he wanted to remove Vasilisa Yegorovna again under a plausible pretext. But how Ivan Kuzmich was the most straightforward and truthful man, I didn't find another way, except once already used by him.
"Listen to me, Vasilisa Egorovna, - he told her, clearing his throat. - Father Gerasim received, say, from the city ... "-" Completely lie, Ivan Kuzmich, The commandant interrupted;- you, know, you want to hold a meeting and talk about Emelyan Pugachev without me; yes you will not spend disasters!"Ivan Kuzmich goggled his eyes. "Well, mother, - he said, - if you already know everything, So, perhaps, stay; we will talk in front of you too ". "To-to.", my father, - she replied;- you shouldn't be cunning; send for the officers ".
We got together again. Ivan Kuzmich, in the presence of his wife, read us Pugachev's appeal, written by some semi-literate Cossack. The robber announced his intention to immediately go to our fortress; invited Cossacks and soldiers to his gang, and he admonished the commanders not to resist, threatening execution otherwise. The proclamation was written in rough, but strong expressions and should have made a dangerous impression on the minds of ordinary people.
- What is a scammer! - exclaimed the commandant. - What else dares to offer us! Go out to meet him and put his banners at his feet! Oh he's a dog's son! Doesn't he know, that we have been in the service for forty years and everything, Heavy, seen enough? Really there were such commanders, who obeyed the robber?
- It seems, shouldn't, - answered Ivan Kuzmich. - Can you hear, the villain has taken possession of many fortresses.
- It is seen, he is really strong, - said Shvabrin.
- But now we will find out his real strength, - said the commandant. - Vasilisa Egorovna, give me the key to anbar. Ivan Ignatyich, bring a Bashkir and order Yulai to bring whips here.
- Wait, Ivan Kuzmich, - said the commandant, getting up. - Let me take Masha somewhere out of the house; otherwise he will hear a scream, scared. Yes and I, tell the truth, not a hunter before the search. Happy to stay.
Torture in the old days was so rooted in the customs of legal proceedings, what a beneficent decree, who destroyed it, remained without any action for a long time. thought, that the criminal's own confession was necessary for his complete denunciation, - the thought is not only flimsy, but even completely contrary to common legal sense: for, if the defendant's denial is not acceptable as proof of his innocence, then his confession and even less should be proof of his guilt. Even now it happens to me to hear the old judges, regretting the destruction of the barbaric custom. In our time, no one doubted the need for torture., no judge, neither the defendants. so, the commandant's order did not surprise or alarm any of us. Ivan Ignatyich went after the Bashkir, who was sitting in the anbar under the key at the commandant's, and a few minutes later the slave was brought to the front. The commandant told him to introduce himself.
The Bashkir with difficulty stepped through the threshold (he was in the stock) and, taking off his high hat, stopped at the door. I looked at him and shuddered. I will never forget this man. He seemed to be over seventy years old. He didn't have a nose, no ears. His head was shaved; instead of a beard, there were several gray hairs; he was small, lean and hunched over; but his narrow eyes still sparkled with fire. 'resurrection! - said the commandant, having learned, by its terrible signs, one of the rioters, punished in 1741 year. - Yes you, it is seen, old wolf, visited our traps. You, know, not the first time you rebel, if your head is so smoothly planed. Come a little closer; speaks, who sent you?»
The old Bashkir was silent and looked at the commandant with an air of complete nonsense. "Why are you silent? - continued Ivan Kuzmich, - Ali belmes you don't understand Russian? Yulay, ask him your way, who sent him to our fortress?»
Yulai repeated Ivan Kuzmich's question in Tatar. But the Bashkir looked at him with the same expression and did not answer a word.
- Yakshi, - said the commandant;- will you speak to me. Guys! take off his stupid striped robe and sew his back. Look w, Yulay: good it!
Two disabled people began to undress the Bashkir. The face of the unfortunate man showed concern. He looked back in all directions, like a beast, caught by children. When one of the disabled took his hands and, putting them around your neck, lifted the old man onto his shoulders, and Yulai took the whip and swung, - then the Bashkir moaned weak, in a pleading voice and, nodding his head, opened his mouth, in which, instead of a tongue, a short stump moved.
When I remember, that this happened in my lifetime and that I have now lived to the meek reign of Emperor Alexander, I can not help but marvel at the rapid success of education and the spread of the rules of philanthropy. Young man! if my notes fall into your hands, remember, that the best and most lasting changes are, which come from the improvement of morals, without any violent shocks.
Everyone was amazed. "Well, - said the commandant, - apparently we can't get any sense out of him. Yulay, take the Bashkir to anbar. And we, gentlemen, what else we'll talk about ".
We began to talk about our situation, when suddenly Vasilisa Yegorovna entered the room, gasping and looking extremely anxious.
- What happened to you? - asked the astonished commandant.
- Fathers, trouble! - answered Vasilisa Yegorovna. - Nizhneozernaya taken this morning. Father Gerasim's employee has just returned from there. he saw, how they took her. The commandant and all officers are hanged. All the soldiers are taken in full. That and look, villains will be here.
The unexpected news hit me hard. Commandant of the Lower Lake Fortress, quiet and modest young man, was familiar to me: about two months before that, he drove from Orenburg with his young wife and stayed with Ivan Kuzmich. Nizhneozernaya was about twenty-five versts from our fortress. From hour to hour we should have expected an attack by Pugachev. The fate of Marya Ivanovna vividly presented itself to me, and my heart sank.
- Listen, Ivan Kuzmich! - I said to the commandant. - It is our duty to defend the fortress until our last breath; there is nothing to say about it. But you need to think about the safety of women. Send them to Orenburg, if the road is still free, or to a distant, more reliable fortress, where villains would not have time to reach.
Ivan Kuzmich turned to his wife and told her: “Do you hear, mother, really, do not send you filed, until we deal with the rioters?»
- And, null! - said the commandant. - Where is such a fortress, wherever the bullets fly? Why is Belogorskaya unreliable? God bless, we have been living in it for the twenty-second year. We saw both Bashkir and Kyrgyz: maybe we'll sit out from Pugachev too!
- Well, mother, - objected Ivan Kuzmich, - stay, perhaps, if you hope for our fortress. Yes, with Masha, what should we do?? Good, if we sit out or wait for the sicurs; Well, and if the villains take the fortress?
- Well, then ... - Here Vasilisa Yegorovna stuttered and fell silent with an air of extreme excitement.
- Not, Vasilisa Egorovna, - continued the commandant, oblivious, that his words had an effect, may be, for the first time in his life. - Masha is not fit to stay here. We will send her to Orenburg to her godmother: there are both troops and guns, and the wall is stone. Yes, and I would advise you to go there with her; even though you're an old woman, but look what will happen to you, if they take the fortress by storm.
- Good, - said the commandant, - so be it, send Masha. Don't ask me even in a dream: I will not go. There is no need for me to part with you in old age and look for a lonely grave on a strange side. Live together, together and die.
- And that's the point, - said the commandant. - Well, there is nothing to hesitate. Go prepare Masha for the road. Tomorrow than light it and send it, yes, we will give her a convoy too, even though we don't have superfluous people. Where is Masha?
- At Akulina Pamfilovna, - answered the commandant. - She felt ill, when I heard about the capture of Nizhneozernaya; afraid, so as not to get sick. Lord lord, to what we have lived!
Vasilisa Yegorovna left to bother about the departure of her daughter. The commandant's conversation continued; but I no longer interfered with it and did not listen to anything. Marya Ivanovna came to supper pale and tear-stained. We dined in silence and got up from the table rather than usual.; saying goodbye to the whole family, we went home. But I purposely forgot my sword and went back for it: I had a presentiment, that I will find Marya Ivanovna alone. Indeed, she met me at the door and handed me the sword. "Farewell, Petr ANDREIĆ! - she said to me with tears. - I am sent to Orenburg. Be alive and happy; may be, lord will lead us to see each other; if not ... "Then she sobbed. I hugged her. "Goodbye, my angel, - I said, - goodbye, my darling, my desired! Whatever happens to me, trust, that my last thought and last prayer will be about you!»Masha sobbed, clinging to my chest. I kissed her passionately and hurriedly left the room..
Chapter VII The Attack
My head, head,
Head serving!
My head served
Exactly thirty years and three years.
Brother, the little head did not serve
No self-interest, no joy,
No matter how good a word to yourself
And no rank high;
Only the little head has served
Two tall posts,
Maple crossbar,
Another silk loop. *
folk song.
This night I did not sleep or undress. I intended to go at dawn to the fortress gate, from where Marya Ivanovna had to leave, and there to say goodbye to her for the last time. I felt a great change in myself: the excitement of my soul was much less painful to me, rather than that despondency, in which until recently I was immersed. With sadness of parting merged in me and obscure, but sweet hopes, and an impatient anticipation of dangers, and feelings of noble ambition. The night passed unnoticed. I wanted to leave the house already, how my door opened and a corporal came to me with a report, that our Cossacks left the fortress at night, taking Yula forcibly with him, and that unknown people are driving around the fortress. Think, that Marya Ivanovna will not have time to leave, horrified me; I hastily gave the corporal some instructions and immediately rushed to the commandant.
Already dawn. I was flying down the street, as I heard, what is my name. I stopped. "Where are you going? - said Ivan
Ignatyich, catching up with me. - Ivan Kuzmich is on the shaft and sent me for you. The bogeyman came ". - "Did Marya Ivanovna leave?"- I asked with heartfelt trepidation.. "Did not make it, - answered Ivan Ignatyich - the road to Orenburg is cut off; the fortress is surrounded. poorly, Petr ANDREIĆ!».
We went to the shaft, elevation, formed by nature and fortified by a palisade. All the inhabitants of the fortress were already crowded there. The garrison stood in the gun. The cannon was dragged there the day before. The commandant walked in front of his small formation. The proximity of danger inspired the old warrior with extraordinary vigor.. Across the steppe, not far from the fortress, twenty people rode on horseback. They are, sound, Cossacks, but among them there were also Bashkirs, which were easily recognizable by their lynx caps and quivers. The commandant bypassed his army, speaking to the soldiers: "Well, kids, today we will stand for Mother Empress and prove to the whole world, that we are brave people and a jury!»The soldiers loudly expressed zeal. Shvabrin stood beside me and stared at the enemy. People, driving in the steppe, noticing movement in the fortress, gathered in a bunch and began to interpret among themselves. The commandant ordered Ivan Ignatyevich to aim a cannon at their crowd, and put the wick myself. The core hummed and flew over them, without doing any harm. riders, scattering, immediately galloped out of sight, and the steppe was deserted.
