The Captain's Daughter by Alexander Pushkin

Author:Alexander Pushkin [Pushkin, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781590177440
Publisher: New York Review Books
Published: 2014-09-01T16:00:00+00:00

11. THE REBEL CAMP

The savage lion was sated then.

“What means this visit to my den?”

He asked with gentle courtesy.

—A. SUMAROKOV [1]

I left the general and hurried back to my quarters. Savelich met me with his usual admonitions: “Sir, why cross swords with drunken brigands? Is that a fit occupation for you? No man’s luck lasts forever and if you die, you’ll have died for nothing. It would be one thing if it were the Turks or the Swedes, but for a nobleman to be fighting rabble like this . . .”

I cut his speech short with a question: how much money did we have, all told? “Enough for all your needs,” he replied with a look of satisfaction. “The rogues ransacked and rummaged, but I still managed to hide this from them.” And he drew from his pocket a long knitted purse full of silver. “Very well, Savelich,” I said. “Give me half, and keep the rest for yourself. I’m going to Fort Belogorsk.”

“Pyotr Andreich! Dear master!” my kind old tutor exclaimed, his voice trembling. “Have you no fear of God? How can you set off at a time like this, with the roads all swarming with brigands? If you have no pity on yourself, then at least have pity on your poor parents! Who do you need to see? And why? Just wait a little. Reinforcements will be coming soon. They’ll round up these rascals—then you can ride to all four corners of the earth.”

But I had made up my mind.

“I’ve got no time to argue,” I said to the old man. “I must go; I can’t not go. Don’t grieve, Savelich. God willing, we shall meet again. Now then: don’t be stingy while I’m away, don’t stint yourself. Buy what you need, even if it costs three times what it should. The money’s yours now; it’s a gift. If I’m not back here in three days—”

“What do you mean, sir?” Savelich interrupted. “Do you think I’m going to let you go on your own? Not for one moment! If you’re set on going, then I’m coming too. Even if I have to walk all the way, I shan’t desert you. How could I sit here on my own, sheltering behind a stone wall? I haven’t taken leave of my senses yet! Say what you will, master, but I stay by your side.”

I could see there was no dissuading Savelich, and so I gave him time to prepare himself for the journey. Half an hour later I mounted my good horse; Savelich got onto a lame, skinny old nag he had been given for nothing by a townsman who could no longer afford to feed it. We rode to the city gates; the sentries let us through; we left Orenburg.

Darkness was falling. Our way led past the village of Berdy, which was now Pugachov’s stronghold. The road was deep in snow, but all over the steppe lay fresh tracks; horsemen were evidently going by every day. I was riding at a quick trot.

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