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007 - 07 Chapter 7 The Assault · Daughter of the Commandant

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  Speaker 1: Chapter seven of the Daughter of the Commandant by Alexander Pushkin,
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  Speaker 1: translated by Missus Milner Home. This LibriVox recording is in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain recording by Kevin Davidson thea Sault. All
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  Speaker 1: the night I could not sleep, and I did not
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  Speaker 1: even take off my clothes. I had meant in the
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  Speaker 1: early morning to gain the gait of the fort by
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  Speaker 1: which Marya Ivanovna was to leave, to bid her a
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  Speaker 1: last good bye. I felt that a complete change had
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  Speaker 1: come over me. The agitation of my mind seemed less
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  Speaker 1: hard to bear than the dark melancholy in which I
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  Speaker 1: had been previously plunged. Blended with the sorrow of parting.
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  Speaker 1: I felt within me vague but sweet hopes, an eager
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  Speaker 1: expectation of coming dangers, and a feeling of noble ambition.
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  Speaker 1: The night passed quickly. I was going out when my
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  Speaker 1: door opened, and the corporal came in to tell me
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  Speaker 1: that our Cossacks had left the fort during the night,
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  Speaker 1: taking away with them by four horse you lie, and
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  Speaker 1: that around our ramparts unknown people were gathering. The thought
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  Speaker 1: that Marty Ivanovna had not been able to get away
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  Speaker 1: terrified me to death. I hastily gave some orders to
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  Speaker 1: the corporal, and I ran to the commandant's house. Day
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  Speaker 1: was breaking. I was hurrying down the street when I
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  Speaker 1: heard myself called by some one. I stopped. Where are
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  Speaker 1: you going? If I may presume to ask you, said
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  Speaker 1: ivan Ignatitch, catching me up. Ivan Kuzmitch is on the
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  Speaker 1: ramparts and has sent me to seek you. The pogyatch
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  Speaker 1: has come. Is Mary Ivanovna gone? I asked, with an
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  Speaker 1: inward trembling. She hasn't had time, rejoined ivan Ignatchitch. The
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  Speaker 1: road to Orenburg is blocked, the fort surrounded, and it
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  Speaker 1: is a bad look out, Pyertarendrovitch. We went to the ramparts,
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  Speaker 1: a little natural height and fortified by a palisade. We
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  Speaker 1: found the garrison here under arms. The cannon had been
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  Speaker 1: dragged hither the preceding evening the commando was walking up
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  Speaker 1: and down before his little party. The approach of danger
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  Speaker 1: had given the old warrior wonderful activity. Out on the step,
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  Speaker 1: and not very far from the fort, could be seen
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  Speaker 1: about twenty horsemen who appeared to be Cossacks, But amongst
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  Speaker 1: them were some Bashkirs, easily distinguished by their high caps
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  Speaker 1: and their quivers. The commandant passed down the ranks of
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  Speaker 1: the little army, saying to the soldiers, now, children, let
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  Speaker 1: us do well to day for our mother, the Empress,
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  Speaker 1: and let us show all the world that we are
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  Speaker 1: brave men and true to our oaths. The soldiers, by
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  Speaker 1: loud shouts, expressed their good will and assent. Schrabrin remained
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  Speaker 1: near me, attentively watching the enemy. The people whom we
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  Speaker 1: could see on the step noticed doubtless some stir in
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  Speaker 1: the fort, gathered into parties and consulted together. The commandant
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  Speaker 1: ordered Ivan Ignatyitch to point the cannon at them, and
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  Speaker 1: himself applied the match. The ball passed whistling over their
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  Speaker 1: heads without doing them any harm. The horsemen at once
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  Speaker 1: once dispersed at a gallop, and the step was deserted.
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  Speaker 1: At this moment, Vasilisi Igorovna appeared on the ramparts, followed
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  Speaker 1: by Marya, who had not wished to leave her well,
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  Speaker 1: said the commandant's wife, How goes the battle? Where is
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  Speaker 1: the enemy? The enemy is not far, replied Ivan Kuzmitch.
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  Speaker 1: But if God wills, all will be well. And you, Marsha,
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  Speaker 1: are you afraid? No, Papa, replied Marya. I am more frightened.
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  Speaker 1: Alone in the house, she glanced at me, trying to smile.
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  Speaker 1: I squeezed the hilt of my sword, remembering that I
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  Speaker 1: had received it on the eve from her hand, as
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  Speaker 1: if for her defense. My heart burnt within my breast.
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  Speaker 1: I felt as if I were her knight. I thirsted
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  Speaker 1: to prove to her that I was worthy of her trust,
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  Speaker 1: and I impatiently expected the decisive moment. All at once,
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  Speaker 1: coming from a height about eight yerst from the fort,
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  Speaker 1: appeared fresh parties of horsemen, and soon the whole step
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  Speaker 1: became covered with people armed with arrows and lances. A
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  Speaker 1: mon ung them, dressed in a red kaftan, sword in hand,
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  Speaker 1: might be seen a man mounted on a white horse,
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  Speaker 1: a conspicuous figure. This was Pugachov himself. He stopped and
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  Speaker 1: they closed round him. And soon afterwards, probably by his orders,
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  Speaker 1: four men came out of the crowd and approached our
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  Speaker 1: ramparts at full gallop. We recognized in them some of
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  Speaker 1: our traitors. One of them waved a sheet of paper
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  Speaker 1: above his head. Another bore on the point of his
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  Speaker 1: spike the head of Yulai, which he cast to us
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  Speaker 1: over the palisade. The head of the poor Kalmuk rolled
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  Speaker 1: to the feet of the commandant. The traders shouted to us,
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  Speaker 1: don't fire, come out to receive the tsar. The Tsar
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  Speaker 1: is here, children, fire, cried the commandant. For all answer,
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  Speaker 1: the soldiers fired Avli. The Cossack who had the letter
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  Speaker 1: quivered and fell from his horse. The others fled at
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  Speaker 1: full speed. I glanced at Mary Ivanovna, spell bound with
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  Speaker 1: horror at the sight of Eulai's head. Stunned by the
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  Speaker 1: noise of the the volley, she seemed unconscious. The commandant
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  Speaker 1: called the corporal and bid him go and take the
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  Speaker 1: paper from the fallen cossack. The corporal went out into
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  Speaker 1: the open and came back, leading by its bridle the
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  Speaker 1: dead man's horse. He gave the letter to the commandant.
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  Speaker 1: Ivan Kuzmitch read it in a low voice, and tore
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  Speaker 1: it to bits. We now saw that the rebels were
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  Speaker 1: making ready to attack. Soon the bullets whistled about our ears,
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  Speaker 1: and some arrows came quivering around us in the earth
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  Speaker 1: and in the posts of the palisade. Vasilisikorovna said the commandant.
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  Speaker 1: This is not a place for women. Take away, Masha,
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  Speaker 1: you see very well that the girl is more dead
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  Speaker 1: than alive. Vasilisi Igorovna, whom the sound of the bullets
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  Speaker 1: had somewhat subdued, glanced toward the step, where a great
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  Speaker 1: stir was visible in the crowd, and said to her husband,
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  Speaker 1: Ivan Kuzmitch, wife and death are in God's hand. Bless Masha, Masha,
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  Speaker 1: go to your father. Pale and trembling, Mary approached Ivan
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  Speaker 1: Kuzmitch and dropped on her knees, bending before him with reverence.
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  Speaker 1: The old commandant made the sign of the cross three
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  Speaker 1: times over her and raised her up, kissed her, and
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  Speaker 1: said to her, in a voice husky with emotion. Well, Masha,
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  Speaker 1: may you be happy. Pray to God and he will
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  Speaker 1: not forsake you. If an honest man come forward. May
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  Speaker 1: God grant you both love and wisdom, live together as
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  Speaker 1: we have lived, my wife and I. And how farewell Masha.
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  Speaker 1: As Alicia Goorovna take her away quickly, Marya threw herself
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  Speaker 1: upon his neck and began sobbing. Kiss me too, said
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  Speaker 1: the commandant's wife, weeping. Goodbye, my bun Kuzmitch. Forgive me
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  Speaker 1: if I have ever vexed you. Good Bye, Goodbye, little mother,
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  Speaker 1: said the commandant, embracing his old companion. There now enough,
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  Speaker 1: go away home, and if you have time, put Masha
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  Speaker 1: on a saraphan. The commandant's wife went away with her daughter.
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  Speaker 1: I followed Marya with my eyes eyes. She turned round
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  Speaker 1: and made me a last sign. Ivan Kuzmitch came back
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  Speaker 1: to us and turned his whole attention to the enemy.
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  Speaker 1: The rebels gathered round their leader and all at once
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  Speaker 1: dismounted hastily. Be ready, the commandant said to us, the
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  Speaker 1: assault is about to begin. At the same moment resounded
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  Speaker 1: wild war cries. The rebels were racing down on the fort.
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  Speaker 1: Our cannon was loaded with grape. The commandant allowed them
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  Speaker 1: to approach within a very short distance, and then applied
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  Speaker 1: a match to the touch hole. The grape struck in
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  Speaker 1: the midst of the crowd and dispersed it in every direction.
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  Speaker 1: The leader alone remained to the foe, brandishing his sword.
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  Speaker 1: He appeared to be exhorting them hotly. The yells, which
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  Speaker 1: had ceased for a moment, were redoubled. Now now children cried.
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  Speaker 1: The commandant opened the door, beat the drum, and forward,
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  Speaker 1: follow me for a sally. The commandant, ivan Ignatchitch and
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  Speaker 1: I found ourselves in a moment beyond the parapet, but
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  Speaker 1: the garrison, afraid, had not stirred. What do you do
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  Speaker 1: lling my children, shouted Ivan kuzmitch. If we must die,
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  Speaker 1: let us die as our duty. At this moment, the
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  Speaker 1: rebels fell upon us and forced the entrance of the citadel.
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  Speaker 1: The drums ceased, the garrison threw down its arms. I
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  Speaker 1: had been thrown down, but I got up and passed
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  Speaker 1: helter skelter with the crowd into the fort. I saw
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  Speaker 1: the commandant wounded in the head and hard pressed by
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  Speaker 1: a little band of robbers, clamoring for the keys. I
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  Speaker 1: was running to help him when several strong Cossacks seized
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  Speaker 1: me and bound me with their kuchaks, shouting, wait a bit,
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  Speaker 1: you will see what will become of you, traitors to
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  Speaker 1: the Tsar. We were dragged along the streets. The inhabitants
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  Speaker 1: came out of their houses, offering bread and salt. The
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  Speaker 1: bells were rung all at once. Shouts announced that the
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  Speaker 1: Tsar was in the square, waiting to receive the oaths
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  Speaker 1: of the prisoners. All the crowd diverged in that direction,
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  Speaker 1: and our keepers dragged us thither. Pougachov was seated in
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  Speaker 1: an arm chair on the threshold of the commandant's house.
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  Speaker 1: He wore an l and Cossack kaftan embroidered down the seams.
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  Speaker 1: A high cap of Martin's sable, ornamented with gold tassels,
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  Speaker 1: came closely down over his flashing eyes. His face did
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  Speaker 1: not seem unknown to me. The Kassack chief surrounded him.
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  Speaker 1: Father Gherasim, pale and trembling, was standing cross in hand
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  Speaker 1: at the foot of the steps, and seemed to be
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  Speaker 1: silently praying for the victims brought before him. In the square,
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  Speaker 1: a gallows was being hastily erected. When we came near,
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  Speaker 1: some Bashkirs drove back the crowd, and we were presented
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  Speaker 1: to Pugachov. The bell ceased clanging, and the deepest silence
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  Speaker 1: reigned again. Where is the Kammandant asked the usurper. Our
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  Speaker 1: Uryadnik came forward and pointed out Ivan Kuzmitch. Pugatchov looked
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  Speaker 1: fiercely upon the old man and said to him, how
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  Speaker 1: was it you dared to oppose me, your rightful Emperor.
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  Speaker 1: The commandant, enfeebled by his wound, collected his remaining strength
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  Speaker 1: and replied in a resolute tone. You are not my emperor.
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  Speaker 1: You are a usurper and a robber. Pugachov frowned and
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  Speaker 1: waved his white handkerchief. Several Cossacks immediately seized the old
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  Speaker 1: commandant and dragged him away to the gallows astride. On
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  Speaker 1: the cross beam sat the disfigured Baskir, who had been
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  Speaker 1: cross examined on the preceding evening. He held a rope
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  Speaker 1: in his hand, and I saw the next moment, poor
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  Speaker 1: ivan Kuzmitch swinging in the air, and ivan Ignatych was
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  Speaker 1: brought before Pogachov. Swear fidelity. Pugachev said to him, to
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  Speaker 1: the Emperor, Pyotr Fyodorovitch, you are not our emperor, replied
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  Speaker 1: the lieutenant, repeating his commandant's words, you are a robber,
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  Speaker 1: my uncle and a usurper. Pugachov again gave the handkerchief symbol,
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  Speaker 1: and good ivan Ignatitch swung beside his old chief. It
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  Speaker 1: was my turn. Boldly, I looked on Pugachov and made
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  Speaker 1: ready to echo the answer of my outspoken comrades. Then,
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  Speaker 1: to my inexpressible surprise, I saw among the rebels Schabrin,
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  Speaker 1: who had found time to cut his hair short and
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  Speaker 1: put on a Cossack kaftan. He approached Pugachrov and whispered
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  Speaker 1: a few words in his ear. Hang him, said Pugachrov,
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  Speaker 1: without deigning to throw me a look. The rope was
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  Speaker 1: passed about my neck. I began saying a prayer in
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  Speaker 1: a low voice, offering up to God a sincere repentance
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  Speaker 1: for all my sins, imploring him to save all those
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  Speaker 1: who were dear to my heart. I was already at
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  Speaker 1: the foot of the gallows. Fear nothing, fear nothing, the
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  Speaker 1: assassin said to me, perhaps to give me courage, When
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  Speaker 1: all at once a shot was heard, Stop, accursed ones.
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  Speaker 1: The executioners stayed their hand and looked up. Seviyelitch lay
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  Speaker 1: prostrate at the feet of Pugatchov. Oh, my own father,
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  Speaker 1: My poor follower, was saying, what need have you of
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  Speaker 1: the death of this noble child. Let him go free,
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  Speaker 1: and you will get a good ransom. But for an
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  Speaker 1: example and to frighten the rest, let them hang me
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  Speaker 1: and all man. Bogachrov gave a signal. I was immediately unbound.
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  Speaker 1: Our father, shows you mercy, they said to me. At
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  Speaker 1: this moment, I cannot say that I was much overjoyed
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  Speaker 1: at my deliverance, but I cannot say either that I
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  Speaker 1: regretted it, for my feelings were too upset. I was
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  Speaker 1: again brought before the Usurper and forced to kneel at
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  Speaker 1: his feet. Bogachov held out to me his muscular hand.
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  Speaker 1: Kiss his hand. Kiss his hand. Was shouted around me.
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  Speaker 1: But rather would I prefer the most cruel torture to
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  Speaker 1: such an abasement my father, giordr Andretch, whispered savallyerhe to
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  Speaker 1: me and nudge me with his elbow. Don't be obstinate,
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  Speaker 1: what does it matter? Spit and kiss the hand of
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  Speaker 1: the rock, kiss his hand. I did not stir. Pugatchov
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  Speaker 1: withdrew his hand and said, smiling, apparently his lordship is
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  Speaker 1: quite idiotic. With joy, I raise him. I was helped
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  Speaker 1: up and left free. The infamous drama drew to a close.
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  Speaker 1: The villagers began to swear for day. One after another.
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  Speaker 1: They came near, kissed the cross, and saluted the Usurper.
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  Speaker 1: Then it came the turn of the soldiers of the garrison.
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  Speaker 1: The tailor of the company, armed with his big blunt scissors,
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  Speaker 1: cut off their cues. They shook their heads and touched
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  Speaker 1: their lips to Pugatchov's hand. The latter told them they
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  Speaker 1: were pardoned and enrolled among his troops. All this lasted
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  Speaker 1: about three hours. At last, Pugachrov rose from his arm
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  Speaker 1: chair and went down the steps, followed by his chiefs.
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  Speaker 1: There was brought for him a white horse, richly caparisoned.
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  Speaker 1: Two cossacks held his arms and helped him into the saddle.
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  Speaker 1: He announced the father Gharisim, that he would dine at
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  Speaker 1: his house. At this moment arose a woman's heart rending shrieks.
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  Speaker 1: Some robbers were dragging to the steps Vassilisi Igorovna, with
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  Speaker 1: sheveled hair and half dressed. One of them had already
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  Speaker 1: appropriated her cloak. The others were carrying off the mattresses, boxes, linen,
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  Speaker 1: tea sets and all manner of things. Oh my father's,
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  Speaker 1: cried the poor old woman. Be alone. I pray you
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  Speaker 1: my fathers, my fathers, bring me to a von kusmitch.
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  Speaker 1: All of a sudden, she perceived the gallows and recognized
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  Speaker 1: her husband's feelins. She exclaimed, beside herself, what have you done? O?
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  Speaker 1: My light, my von kusmitch both solved your heart. Neither
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  Speaker 1: Prussian bayonets nor Turkish bullets ever harmed you, and you
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  Speaker 1: have died before a vile runaway felon silence, the old witch,
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  Speaker 1: said Pugachov. A young Cossack struck her with his sword
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  Speaker 1: on the head, and she fell dead at the foot
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  Speaker 1: of the steps. Pugatchov went away, all the people crowding
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  Speaker 1: in his train. End of chapter seven. Recording by Kevin
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  Speaker 1: Davidson w w W dot Blog or die dot com.