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"Such a thing should not be possible," rejoined Iván Kouzmitch; "nevertheless, they say the scoundrel has already got possession of several forts." "It appears that he is in strength, indeed," observed Chvabrine. "We shall know directly the amount of his strength," resumed the Commandant. "Vassilissa Igorofna, give me the key of the barn.
I was sorry for her, and I hastened to change the conversation. "Who told you that, my little father?" replied Iván Kouzmitch. "I heard it said at Orenburg," replied I. "That's all rubbish," said the Commandant. "We have not heard a word of it for ever so long. The Bashkir people have been thoroughly awed, and the Kirghiz, too, have had some good lessons.
Day was breaking. I was hurrying down the street when I heard myself called by someone. I stopped. "Where are you going, if I may presume to ask you?" said Iwán Ignatiitch, catching me up. "Iván Kouzmitch is on the ramparts, and has sent me to seek you. The 'pugatch' has come." "Is Marya Ivánofna gone?" I asked, with an inward trembling. "She hasn't had time," rejoined Iwán Ignatiitch.
The probable fate of Marya Ivánofna rose vividly before my imagination, and my heart failed me as I thought of it. "Listen, Iván Kouzmitch," I said to the Commandant, "it is our duty to defend the fort to the last gasp, that is understood. But we must think of the women's safety.
Vassilissa Igorofna, take her away quickly." Marya threw herself upon his neck and began sobbing. "Kiss me, too," said the Commandant's wife, weeping. "Good-bye, my Iván Kouzmitch. Forgive me if I have ever vexed you." "Good-bye, good-bye, little mother," said the Commandant, embracing his old companion. "There, now, enough; go away home, and if you have time put Masha on a 'sarafan."
At this moment Vassilissa Igorofna appeared on the ramparts, followed by Marya, who had not wished to leave her. "Well," said the Commandant's wife, "how goes the battle? Where is the enemy?" "The enemy is not far," replied Iván Kouzmitch; "but if God wills all will be well. And you, Masha, are you afraid?" "No, papa," replied Marya, "I am more frightened alone in the house."
It is two years ago now since Iván Kouzmitch took it into his head to fire his cannon on my birthday; she was so frightened, the poor little dove, she nearly ran away into the other world. Since that day we have never fired that confounded cannon any more."
My heart failed me when we entered the little room I knew so well, where could still be seen on the wall the commission of the late deceased Commandant, as a sad memorial. Pugatchéf sat down on the same sofa where ofttimes Iván Kouzmitch had dozed to the sound of his wife's scolding. Chvabrine himself brought brandy to his chief. Pugatchéf drank a glass of it, and said to him, pointing to me
Iván Kouzmitch read it in a low voice, and tore it into bits. We now saw that the rebels were making ready to attack. Soon the bullets whistled about our ears, and some arrows came quivering around us in the earth and in the posts of the palisade. "Vassilissa Igorofna," said the Commandant, "this is not a place for women. Take away Masha; you see very well that the girl is more dead than alive."
"Iván Kouzmitch knows something of that." "Oh! yes, indeed," said Iván Kouzmitch, "she's no coward." "And Marya Ivánofna," I asked her mother, "is she as bold as you?" "Masha!" replied the lady; "no, Masha is a coward. Till now she has never been able to hear a gun fired without trembling all over.
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