Chapter 23 The Captain's Daughter (5)

Chapter Fourteen Trial rumors of the world, Waves of the sea. russian proverb I am convinced that my crime was, at best, to leave Orenburg without permission.It is not difficult for me to argue, because single-handed guerrilla warfare is not only never prohibited, but encouraged in many ways.I could be charged with rashness, not disobedience.However, my friendship with Pugachev may be confirmed by many eyewitnesses, at least with serious suspicion.Along the way, I concentrated on thinking about my upcoming trial, carefully deliberated on how I should answer, and finally decided to tell the truth to the judge. I decided that this method was the simplest and the most reliable.

When I arrived in Kazan, I saw a piece of rubble, and my eyes were full of desolation.The houses in the street had collapsed, and there were only piles of charred logs, between which stood bare walls, sooty with smoke, without roofs, doors or windows.This is what remains of Pugachev!I was taken into the surviving fortress of the city after the fire.The hussars handed me over to an officer of the watch.He ordered a blacksmith to be called, and he fastened my fetters very tightly.Then I was put in a cell, a small, dark cell with four bare walls and a small window with an iron grille. This treatment did not bode well at first.However, I did not lose my courage and my hope.I adopted the method of all grieving people to forgive themselves, and for the first time in my life, I tasted the prayer that came out of my pure and broken heart, and I fell asleep peacefully, not caring what happened .

The next day, the cell guard woke me up and announced to me that I would be interrogated today.Two soldiers escorted me down a long corridor to the commandant's office, stopped in the vestibule, and let me in alone. I walked into a rather spacious hall.There were two persons seated at the table, piled with papers: an elderly general, with a stern face, and a young captain of the Guards, about twenty-eight years old, with a pleasant appearance and a breezy demeanor.A secretary was sitting at another table by the window, with a quill pen clipped to his ear, and was bending over a piece of paper, preparing to record my statement.The interrogation begins.Asked for my name and rank.The general asked me if I was the son of Andrey Petrovich.I replied, and he sternly reprimanded: "What a pity! Such a respectable man should have such an unworthy son!" I replied calmly, confident of my innocence, no matter how many accusations were laid upon me, Believe that you will find out the truth and wash yourself.My composure displeased him. "Young man, you have an eloquent tongue!" he said to me, frowning. "But we've seen it before."

Then the young man asked me: When and by what opportunity did I serve Pugachev? What order do you accept from him?What did you do? I replied indignantly: I am an officer and aristocrat, and I will never serve Pugachev, nor will I accept any orders from him. "Then," replied my judge, "why was it that you, a noble officer, were pardoned by the bandit leader, while at the same time, all your colleagues were murdered? How could such a strange friendship have arisen? If you hadn't been a traitor, or, at least, because you were a disgraceful soft bones, so how to explain it?"

The words of the Guards officer deeply insulted me, and I defended myself furiously.I described how I met Pugachev on the snowy steppe; how he recognized me after the fall of the White Mountain Fortress and pardoned me.Fur coats and horses from the false Emperor, I said, yes, I accepted without guilt.However, I defended the Baishan Fort until the last moment.Finally, I propose my general, who can attest to my loyalty during the siege of Orenburg. The stern old man took an open letter from the table, and read aloud: "Your Excellency inquired about the behavior of Warrant Officer Griniyov. It is said that this person participated in the rebellion and colluded with the bandit leader. This is really forbidden by military law and violated the oath. Now I will give the following factual answer: Check the Warrant Officer Griniyov Niyov served in Orenburg from October 1773 to February 14 this year, and he has not returned since he left the city on February 14. According to the rumors of defectors, the warrant officer once served in Orenburg I stayed in Pugachev's village, and drove with the bandit leader to the Baishan Fort where he had served. As for his actions, I can..." After reading this, he stopped reading and said sternly to me: "Now what is your defense?"

I would have continued to defend myself as I had just done, explaining my relationship with Marya Ivanovna as frankly and frankly as anything else.But I suddenly feel nauseous.A thought flashed in my mind: If I say her name, then the review committee will definitely summon her.The thought of tying her name to the dirty slurs of scoundrels, of having to confront them herself--the dreadful thought woke me up, and I was bewildered and incoherent. The two judges, who listened carefully to my defense at first, seemed to have a somewhat favorable impression of me, but when they saw my flustered expression, they set up their preconceived prejudices against me again.The Guards officer told me to confront the main informant.The general immediately ordered to bring yesterday's criminal.I turned quickly and looked at the door, waiting for my informant to come in.A few minutes later, there was the clink of fetters, the door opened, and a man walked in. It turned out to be Shvabrin.I was astonished at how much his appearance had changed.Skinny, with a pale face, all the black hair turned white, and a long beard that was fluffy and messy.He spoke in a low but firm tone, and repeated his accusation against me.He said that I was a traitor who was driven into Orenburg by Pugachev; he said that I went out of the city every day to make raids alone in order to pass on the intelligence about the movement in the city; finally, he said that I openly surrendered to the pretended emperor and followed him to inspect the forts. Do everything possible to frame former colleagues who have turned traitor, so that they can steal their positions and claim credit for the false emperor.I listened to him in silence, satisfied with one thing: Marya Ivanovna's name was not mentioned in this bastard, perhaps because the girl had once rejected him contemptuously, and it hurt his pride to speak of it; Perhaps it was because he still had a remnant of the same feeling that had silenced me—at any rate, the name of the commander of the White Mountain Battery was not mentioned in the interrogation.My mind was strengthened, so that when the judge asked me if I could refute Shvabrin's charges, I replied that I stood by my original statement and had nothing else to defend.The general ordered us to be taken down.I came out with Shvabrin.I looked at him calmly and didn't say a word to him.He grinned grimly, lifted his shackles, overtook me, and quickened his pace.I was sent to the cell again and was never interrogated again.

What I am going to tell the readers below is not something that I witnessed, but I have heard those stories so many times that the details are deeply etched in my mind, so that I feel as if I was also there invisibly. Marya Ivanovna was received by my parents with the kindness and cordiality that is typical of the older generation.They considered it a gift from God to have the opportunity to adopt and love a poor orphan girl.They soon fell in love with her sincerely, because it was impossible not to love her after getting to know the girl.My love had ceased to be idle nonsense in my father's eyes, and my mother wished only that her Petrusha should marry the lovely captain's daughter.The news of my arrest shocked my whole family.Marya Ivanovna told my parents the strange story of my association with Pugachev, and she told it so innocently that my parents, instead of worrying them, amused them from time to time. laughed.My father would not believe that I would take part in a vile insurrection aimed at overthrowing the Hajj and exterminating the nobility.He questioned Saverich seriously.My chaperone did not conceal that the young master had been a guest at Emilyan Pugachev's, and that the robber always entertained him; the old man swore he had never heard of a mutiny.The parents were relieved and anxiously awaited the good news.Marya Ivanovna was deeply disturbed, but she did not speak of it, because she was endowed with the utmost modesty and prudence.

A few weeks later... Suddenly, my father received a letter from my relative, Duke E., from Petersburg.The duke told my father about me.After writing the usual polite words, he wrote that my suspicion of participating in the conspiracy of the rebels, unfortunately, has been well established. In lieu of the ignominious death penalty, he decided to take a lenient sentence and send his guilty son to a lifelong exile in remote Siberia. The sudden blow almost killed him.Father lost his usual stoicism, and his pain (often kept inside) sometimes vented in harsh whining. "Why?" he couldn't hold back, he continued, "my son has participated in Pugachev's conspiracy! Just God! I have survived to this day! The empress has given me the grace to not sentence the death penalty! Could it be that I would Easy? The death penalty is not terrible. My great-grandfather died on the guillotine in Red Square, but he left a holy conscience to his descendants. My late father died with Vronsky and Khrushchev. However, a nobleman actually Betrayed his oath, colluded with murderers, robbers, and fugitive slaves!... This is a great shame for the whole family!..." Seeing his father's angry and desperate look, the mother was frightened, and did not dare to cry in front of him , tried every means to cheer him up, saying that the rumors were not credible, and that the criticisms of the world were not grounded.But my father couldn't be comforted.

① Argely Petrovich Vronsky (1689-1740), a Russian aristocratic politician, worked in diplomacy and administration in the era of Peter the Great, and attempted to carry out some reforms in the national system in the era of Empress Anna, because he planned to overthrow the Germanic He was arrested and executed by the Bilun Group.Khrushchev was his comrade. Maria Ivanovna suffered more than anyone else.She firmly believed that I could be washed clean if I wanted to, and she guessed the truth and thought that she herself was the source of my misfortune.She kept it from others, secretly shed tears, secretly sad, but at the same time she kept thinking about ways to save me.

Sitting on the sofa one evening, his father was flipping through the Almanac of the Hajj, but his mind was far away, so the reading did not have the usual effect on him this time.He was blowing an old-fashioned march.My mother knitted the sweater silently, tears falling on the sweater from time to time.Marya Ivanovna, who was sitting next to her as a womanizer, suddenly said that circumstances compelled her to go to Petersburg, and asked for her travel expenses.My mother was very sad to hear that. "Why are you going to Petersburg?" she said. "Maria Ivanovna! Don't you want to leave us too?" This trip is over, and she will rely on her status as the daughter of a martyr to seek assistance and protection from the powerful.

My father hung his head.Anything that reminded him of his son's suspicious crimes was like a thorn in his flesh. "Go, little girl!" he said, with a sigh, "God bless you to find a good husband, not a shameless traitor." He got up, and went out. Maria Ivanovna met my mother face to face, and told her part of her plan.My mother, weeping, hugged her and prayed to God that the plot would come to a successful conclusion.A bag was prepared for Maria Ivanovna.In a few days she was on her way, with Balasa and the faithful Saverich by her side.After the old man reluctantly parted from me, he took some comfort in thinking that he could serve my fiancée. Marya Ivanovna reached Sofia without incident, and having learned from the post hotel that the palace was in Tsarskoye at that time, she decided to stay there.She rented a small room behind a partition.The station master's wife spoke to her at once, and told her that she was the niece of the stoker at the palace, and told her all the secrets of court life.The lady also told her what time the Empress usually gets up in the morning, when she drinks coffee, when she takes a walk, which ministers are accompanying her at this time, what the Empress said during the day yesterday, and who she received at night—— In a word, this statement of Anna Vlasyevna would fill many pages of history and be of great value to posterity.Marya Ivanovna listened attentively.They went into the garden together.Anna Vlasyevna told her the history of every avenue and bridge.When the walk was over, they returned to the post, and they were as happy as each other. Early the next morning Marya Ivanovna got up, dressed, and went quietly into the garden.The morning is beautiful.The sun shines through the top of the Bodhi tree, revealing a golden yellow, and the autumn morning breeze is refreshing.The vast lake is calm, reflecting the brilliant morning sun.A group of swans who just woke up slowly swim out from the bushes on the shore, with a dignified posture.Marya Ivanovna walked slowly along the edge of a lush meadow where a monument had only recently been erected in honor of Count Pyotr Alexandrovich Rumentsev's latest victories.Suddenly, a pure white pug dog of the British breed came running towards him, barking.Marya Ivanovna was startled and stopped.At this moment, a woman's clear and sweet voice came: "Don't be afraid, it doesn't bite." Maria Ivanovna saw a lady sitting on a bench opposite the monument.Maria Ivanovna sat down at the other end of the bench.The lady watched her intently, and Marya Ivanovna glanced at her from the other side, and looked her up and down.She wore a nightcap, a white gown, and a waistcoat.She looked to be about forty years old.Her plump face was radiant, showing a dignified and peaceful expression, her blue eyes and the faintly discernible smile on the corner of her mouth had an indescribable beauty.The lady was the first to break the silence. ① Sofia is a town on the outskirts of Petersburg. ② Peter Ya Lumantsev (1725-1796), Marshal of Russia.The "recent victory" here refers to his defeat of the Turkish army in 1770 and occupation of the lower Rhine River, and the conclusion of a peace treaty between Russia and Turkey in 1774. "You're not from here, are you?" she said. "No, ma'am! I'm from the provinces. I just arrived yesterday." "Are you here with your family?" "No, ma'am! I came alone." "Alone, and you're still young!" "I have neither father nor mother." "You came here, there must be something wrong?" "Exactly, madam! I have come to deliver a petition to Her Majesty the Queen." "You are an orphan, and it seems that you have come to accuse someone of wronging and insulting you?" "No, ma'am! I'm here to beg Her Majesty the Queen for mercy, not to accuse anyone." "Excuse me, who are you?" "I am the daughter of Captain Mironov." "Captain Mironov! Isn't he the commander of a battery in the Orenburg province?" "Exactly, ma'am!" The lady was evidently moved: "Forgive me for interfering in your affairs," she said, her voice more cordial, "but I am from the palace. Please tell me what you want, and maybe I can help you." help you." Marya Ivanovna got up and thanked Madame respectfully.Everything about this strange lady can't help but make people willing to confide in her and trust her completely.Marya Ivanovna took a folded petition from her pocket and handed it to the unknown patroness.She took it and read it silently. At first she read very carefully and looked sympathetic, but suddenly her expression changed—Maria Ivanovna, whose eyes followed her every move, saw her a minute ago. The calm and peaceful face suddenly became serious, and he was startled. "You're here to intercede for Grignyov, aren't you?" said the lady, in a cold voice. "The Empress can't forgive him. It's not because he's ignorant and imprudent that he's in league with the prime minister, but because he's a shameless man." Desperate bastard." "Oh! wronged!" cried Marya Ivanovna. "How can you be wronged?!" Madam asked back, her face flushed. "Injustice! Injustice! I know it all, I tell you. Grignyov alone took the blame for all the crimes for me. He didn't defend himself in court, it was all because of him. I'm afraid that I will be involved." So she excitedly told all the readers already knew. The lady listened attentively to her finish. "Where do you live?" asked Madame.When she heard that she was staying at Anna Vlasyevna's house, Madame smiled and said: "Oh! I know. Well, good-bye! Please don't tell anyone about our meeting. I hope you will soon A reply to your letter will be received." While saying this she got up and went into a lush avenue, and Marya Ivanovna returned to Anna Vlasyevna, full of joy and hope. The postmaster's wife scolded her for going for a walk on an autumn morning, which, it was said, was injurious to the health of a young girl.The lady brought the samovar, was about to pick up the cup to drink tea, and was about to talk about her court anecdotes, when suddenly, a palace carriage drove up to the steps, and a palace guard came in to announce: Her Majesty the Empress ordered Myrono It's not wrong for Miss Wa to enter the palace immediately. Anna Vlasyevna was quite taken aback, and immediately made arrangements in a hurry. "Wonderful! God!" she cried, "Her Majesty has summoned you to the palace! How can the Majesty of Long Live know you? My little girl! How can you go to see the Queen? I see, after you enter the palace! You don't even know how to walk!...Do you want me to escort you? But I can at least give you pointers! How can you go to the palace in a traveling dress? Do you want to send someone to find the midwife to borrow from her? A yellow tunic for women?" The palace guard announced that the empress only invited Maria Ivanovna into the palace, and she should wear casual clothes, such as this set of dresses on her body.There was nothing to be done: Marya Ivanovna immediately got into a carriage and went to the palace.When getting into the car, Anna Vlasyevna asked and bestowed her blessings repeatedly. Marya Ivanovna had a presentiment that her fate and mine were about to be decided from now on, and she was almost suffocated, her heart fluttered.In less than a few minutes, the carriage drove to the gate of the palace.Trembling all over, Marya Ivanovna mounted the royal steps.The two palace doors suddenly opened.She walked through a series of resplendent halls, one after another.The palace guards lead the way.Finally, he came to two closed doors.The man explained that he was going in to report and left her alone at the door. Thinking that she was about to pay a visit to Her Majesty the Empress face to face, she was terrified and took great pains to stand still.After a while, the door opened, and she walked into the queen's dressing room. The queen sits at the dresser.Several servants surrounded her, and moved respectfully out of the way to let Marya Ivanovna approach.The Queen greeted her kindly.Marya Ivanovna recognized the Empress at once as the lady with whom she had spoken frankly a few minutes before.The Empress called her to her side, and said kindly: "I am very glad to fulfill my promise and to satisfy your request. Your matter has been settled. I believe that your fiancé is innocent. Here is a letter, please For your future father-in-law." Marya Ivanovna took the letter with trembling hands, wept, and knelt at the empress' feet.The Queen helped her up and kissed her.The queen talked to her again. "I know you have no property," she said, "but I am obliged in front of Captain Mironov's daughter. I am worried about your future, and I have the responsibility to build a family for you." After kindly comforting the poor orphan girl, the queen let her go.Marya Ivanovna went back again in the same court carriage.Anna Vlasyevna waited anxiously for her return, and asked her many questions.Marya Ivanovna gave some good answers.Anna Vlasyevna blamed her for forgetfulness, privately attributed it to the ignorance of the provincials, and forgave her magnanimously.That day Marya Ivanovna did not even bother to visit Petersburg, but went back to the country. . . . ※ ※※ At this point Pyotr Andreevich Grinyov's notebooks were interrupted.It is known from his family lore that he was released at the end of 1774 by order of the Empress.He was there when Pugachev was executed.At that time, Pugachev recognized him in the crowd and nodded to him. After a while, his head was beheaded, and the bloody head was displayed to the public.Soon afterward Pyotr Andreitch married Marya Ivanovna.Their children and grandchildren prospered in Simbirsk province.Thirty versts from XX, there is a farm belonging to ten landowners.In one of the master's rooms, the imperial letter of Catherine II still hangs, embedded in a glass frame.The letter was written by the empress to Peter Andreich's father, in which she granted her son's permission to rehabilitate her son and praised the intelligence of Captain Mironov's daughter.We have the manuscript of Pyotr Andreich Grinyov from one of his grandsons.He knew we were writing about the time his grandfather was writing about.After obtaining the permission of his relatives, we decided to publish this manuscript separately, added corresponding inscriptions before each chapter, and changed the names of several characters without authorization. An abridged chapter of the appendix① ① This chapter is not included in the main text of "The Captain's Daughter" and remains in Pushkin's manuscript.The names in this chapter are different from those in the main text, Grinyov is called Branin, and Zorin is also called Grinyov (original note in the Russian edition). We approached the banks of the Volga River, and our regiment entered the village of XX and camped here.The village chief told me that all the villages across the river had rebelled, and that the Pugachev gang was rampant everywhere.This news makes me very uneasy.We won't cross the river until tomorrow morning.I was very anxious.My father's village is only thirty versts across the river.I asked if I could find the ferryman.All the farmers here are fishermen.There are also many boats.I went to Grignyov and told him my intentions. "You must be careful," he said to me, "it's dangerous for you to go alone. Wait till tomorrow morning! We're going to be the first to cross the river, and I'll send fifty hussars to your parents' house just in case. ." I stand by my claim.The boat is ready.I got into the boat with two boatmen. They propped the boat and paddled. The sky is clear.There is the moon.There is no wind.The Volga flows smoothly and slowly.The boat rocked once and for all, and swam quickly among the black waves.I thought about it, and after about half an hour, the boat arrived in the middle of the river.Suddenly, the two boatmen whispered to each other. "What?" I asked, startled. "I don't know. God knows!" replied the boatman, staring at one side.My eyes looked in that direction too, but I saw something floating down the Volga in the gloom.That unknown thing floated over.I told the boatman to stop the oars and wait for it.The moon got into the clouds, and the floating things could not be seen clearly.It drifted so close to us that I still couldn't see it clearly. "What is this?" said the boatman, the sails are not sails, and the garden poles are not like garden poles... "Suddenly, the moon came out of the clouds again, and there was a terrible sight. A gallows floated towards us, It was fastened to a raft.Three dead bodies hung from the beams of the gallows.My morbid curiosity arose to see what the faces of the hanged men looked like. According to my order, the boatman stretched out his pole to hook the raft, and the boat collided with the raft.I jumped over and stood between two terrifying pillars.The bright moon illuminated the disfigured face of the unfortunate dead.One was an old man from Chuvash, and the other was a Russian peasant, a strong man in his twenties.When I glanced at the third one, I couldn't help crying out in pain: It's Vanka!My poor Vanka!He was ignorant and defected to Pugachev.A black sign was nailed above the three dead men, and on it was written in large white characters: "The fate of the robbers and rebels." The boatman watched indifferently, grabbed the pole and hooked the raft, and waited for me.I go back to the boat.The raft went down the river.For a long time the gallows loomed in the darkness.Finally it disappeared.My boat approaches the steep and high bank... I paid generously for the boat, and a boatman led me to the head of the village.The village is located by the ferry.I went into a hut with him.When the headman heard that I wanted a horse, his attitude was very bad, but my guide whispered a few words to him, and his attitude changed, and he hurried to show his courtesy.In a minute, the three sets of carriages were ready to stop.I sat up and ordered to drive to my family's village. I drove along the road, past sleepy villages.I was only worried about one thing: I was afraid of being detained on the road.The gallows I encountered on the Volga was proof enough that there were rebels, and that the government was vigorously suppressing them.In my pocket I had both the pass issued by Pugachev and the warrant issued by Colonel Grignyov, both of which were good enough to be prepared in case of emergency.But I didn't meet a single person along the way, and at dawn I saw the creek and the pine forest.My farm is looming in sight.The coachman whipped him a few times, and half an hour later I entered the village of XX. The owner's house is at the other end of the village.The horses galloped at full speed.The coachman reined in his horse abruptly in the middle of the street. "What's wrong?" I asked hastily. "There is a sentry post, sir!" replied the coachman, trying to rein in his galloping horse.Sure enough, I saw Luzhai and a sentinel holding a wooden stick.The farmer came up, took off his hat, and asked me for a pass. "What does this mean?" I asked him, "Why do you want this deer village? Who are you guarding?" "Boy! We rebelled," he replied, scratching his scalp with his hands. "Where is your employer?" I asked fearfully. "Master, where is it?" the man interjected, "My master is in the barn." "Why in the barn?" "Because the head of the village, Andreusha, ordered them to be shackled and escorted to see the emperor!" "My God! Move the deer, fool! Why don't you do it?" The guard hesitated.I jumped out of the carriage, gave him a slap in the face (forgive me!) and pushed the deer village away by myself.The farmer stared at me blankly, confused.I got in the car again and ordered to drive to the master's house.The barn is just off the yard.At the door of the locked barn stood two farmers with sticks.The carriage drove straight up in front of them and stopped.I jumped out of the car and headed straight for them. "Open the door!" I ordered them.Probably, I looked so frightening that they dropped their sticks and fled.I tried to pick the lock and smash the door, but the door was made of oak and a big lock couldn't be picked. At that moment, a well-proportioned young peasant came out from the servant's side room, looking very arrogant, Ask me how dare I mess around here. "Where is the chief Andryusha?" I called to him. "Call him here!" "I am Andrey Alfonasyevich myself, not some Andryusha," he answered, with his arms akimbo proudly. "What do you want?" I didn't answer, grabbed him by the collar, dragged him to the barn door, and ordered him to open the door.The headman tried to resist, but the fatherly punishment worked.He took out his key and opened the barn door.I stepped over the threshold and rushed in.It was dark inside, except for a gleam of light through the narrow skylight on the roof of the warehouse.In the dark, I saw my mother and father.Their hands were bound and their feet were shackled.The two elders looked at me in amazement—three years in the army had changed my appearance so much that they couldn't recognize me anymore.The mother sighed and burst into tears. Suddenly, I heard a familiar sweet voice. "Pyotr Andreitch! Is that you?" I was stunned... Looking back, Maria Ivanovna was in another corner, also bound. My father looked at me silently, unable to believe his eyes.There was a look of joy on his face.I hastily drew my saber and cut the ropes that bound them. "Hello, Petrusha!" said my father, embracing me tightly. "God bless you, I've been waiting for you!" "Petrusha! My dear child!" said the mother, "God has indeed sent you! How are you?" I have to get them out quickly.But, going to the door, I found it locked again. "Andryusha!" I yelled, "open the door!" "What's the matter?" the headman answered from outside, "you sit down yourself! Let's see if you still dare to mess around and grab the emperor's officials collar, I will come back to deal with you later!" I started looking around the barn, trying to find a way out. "Don't try in vain," my father said to me. "I'm in charge of the house, but I won't let thieves dig a hole to get in and out." My mother was happy for a while because of my appearance, but now she fell into despair again, because she saw that I was going to die with the whole family.But I was more composed when I was with the elders and Marya Ivanovna.I had a saber and two pistols with me, and I was able to hold out through the siege.Grignyov was supposed to come to our rescue before dark.I told my parents all this, which reassured my mother.They are completely immersed in the joy of family reunion. "Well, Peter!" said the father, "you've been naughty enough, and I'm right to be mad at you. But let's not talk about the past. I hope you've changed your mind by now. I know , you served in the army and became a good officer. Thank you. You comforted me old man. If I depend on you to save me this time, then the rest of my life will be twice as happy." I kissed his hand with tears, and looked at Marya Ivanovna, who was very happy in my presence, and seemed very happy and peaceful. Near noon we heard an unusual noise and shouting. "What's this for?" said my father. "Could it be that your colonel has come?" "Impossible," I replied. "He won't come before dark." The uproar grew louder.Alarm bells sounded.Riders rushed into the yard.At this moment a white head peeped out of the little skylight at the top of the wall, it was Savlych, and he said pitifully: "Andrey Petrovich! Avdotia Vasilyevna! My master, Pyotr Andreitch! My lady, Maria Ivanovna! Terrible, robbers have entered the village! Do you know, Pyotr Andreitch! They brought them? Shvabrin, Alexey Ivanitch, what a shame!" Marya Ivanovna raised her hands, clapped her hands, and fell into a daze at the sound of the disgusting name. up. "Listen!" I said to Saverich, "send someone on horseback to the ---- Ferry to meet the hussars and tell the colonel we're in danger." "Who can I send, sir? The boys are all rebellious, and the horses are all gone. Why! They're in the yard--coming towards the barn." At this time, several voices came from outside the door.I silently signaled to my mother and Marya Ivanovna to hide in a corner of the room.I drew out my saber and stood close to the door against the base of the wall.My father stood next to me with two pistols in his hands and pulled the triggers.Hearing the sound of unlocking, the door opened, and the headman poked his head to look inside.I cut it down with a knife, and he fell, blocking the door.At this time, the father also fired a shot outside the door.The besieging gang cursed and backed away.I dragged the wounded headman over the threshold, closed the door, and bolted it from the inside.The courtyard was full of people, all armed.I recognized Shvabrin among them. "Don't be afraid!" I said to the two women. "There is hope. And you, Papa! Please stop shooting.We're saving the last of these bullets. " Mother silently prayed to God.Marya Ivanovna stood beside her, with the serenity of an angel, waiting for the decisive moment of fate.Outside the door, they were yelling, swearing and threatening.I stood where I was, and whoever dares to break in first, I will cut off his head.Suddenly, the robbers fell silent.I heard Shvabrin's voice calling my name. "I'm here, what are you doing?" "Surrender, Branin! Resistance is useless. Pity the two old men!" Stubbornness won't save you in the end.I can rush in! " "Try it! You traitor!" "I will not charge in vain, nor will I waste my men in vain. I will only order this barn to be set on fire, and at that time, what will you do? Don Quixote of the White Mountain Battery! Now I shall Go to dinner. You are free for the time being, just sit down and think about it! Good-bye, Maria Ivanovna! I will not ask for forgiveness in front of you. Probably, secretly with your knight , you won't feel lonely!" Shvabrin left and sent guards over the barn.We don't say a word.Each of us has our own thoughts, and we dare not exchange ideas.My thoughts were concentrated on one point: what kind of misdeeds this murderous Shivabrin could do.About myself, I'm almost out of touch.Can I not confess it?The fate of my parents did not frighten me so much as that of Marya Ivanovna.我知道，母亲一向得到农民和家奴的好感，而父亲虽则严厉，但他为人正直，也深知手下人衣食维艰，因而也同样得到他们的爱戴。这一回暴动，是误入歧途，只不过一时头脑发热罢了，决不是要发泄他们的仇恨，大概会宽容了事。可是，玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜又将如何呢？那个荒淫无耻、丧尽天良的坏蛋会给她安排怎样的命运呢？不堪设想。我不敢多碰这个可怕的念头，并且下了狠心，与其让她再次落入凶残的敌人之手，倒不如我把她杀了。上帝饶恕我吧！ 一小时又快过去了。村里醉鬼唱起歌来。看守我们的几个人喉咙发痒了，便找我们出气，破口大骂，威胁要拷打和杀死我们。我们等着希瓦卜林下毒手。终于，院子里骚动起来，我们听到了希瓦卜林的声音。 "怎么样？想好了吗？甘愿向我投降吗？" 谁也不回答。等了片刻，希瓦卜林命令搬来干草。过了几分钟，起火了，照亮了昏暗的谷仓，浓烟从门缝里钻进来。这时，玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜走到我跟前，抓住我的手，低声说道： "够了，彼德·安德列伊奇！别为了我一个人而毁了你和你父母。放我出去！希瓦卜林会听从我的。" "不行！"我气冲冲地说，"你要知道，你会有什么下场？" "我决不受污辱，"她从容地回答，"但是，可能我会救出我的恩人和他一家。他们待我这么宽厚，收容了我这个可怜的孤女。别了，安德列·彼得洛维奇！别了，阿芙多吉娅·华西里耶夫娜！你们待我胜过恩人，真是恩重如山！给我祝福吧！也请你原谅我，彼德·安德列伊奇！你要相信，我……我……"说到这儿她哭了……两手捧住面孔……我简直要疯了。母亲也在哭。 "别胡说八道，玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜！"我父亲说，"谁会放你一个人到强盗那儿去！你坐下，别说了。要死就一同去死。听！外头在叫什么？" "投降不投降？"希瓦卜林大叫，"看见吗？再过五分钟，你们就要烧死了。" "决不投降！你这下流坯！"父亲斩钉截铁地回答。 他那布满皱纹的老脸因大难临头而精神抖擞，显得虎虎有生气，两道白眉毛下面，一双眼睛威风凛凛地发亮。他一转身，说道： "现在，冲！" 他捅开门。火焰钻进来，沿着长满干藓苔的木头盘旋而上。父亲放了一枪，一个箭步，跨过着了火的门槛，大叫："随我来！"我一手拉着母亲，一手拉着玛利亚，一下子拖到门外。门槛边躺着希瓦卜林，被我父亲衰朽的手一枪打中。一群暴徒，看到我们猛然突围，吓得倒退，旋即镇定，又围拢来。我挥刀砍了几个，但一块砖头扔将过来，正中我胸膛。我倒下，一时失去知觉。等到我清醒过来，我看见希瓦卜林坐在染了血的草上，我全家都在他的面前。他们挟持着我的两膀。一群农民、哥萨克和巴什基尔人把我们团团围住。希瓦卜林脸色白得可怕。他一只手按住受伤的腰部，脸上流露出痛苦和仇恨。他慢吞吞地抬起头，看我一眼，声音虚弱，断续含糊地说： "绞死他……还有他一家……除开她……" 那群暴徒当即围拢来，喊喊叫叫把我们往大门口直拖过去。但他们突然扔下我们，四散奔逃。格里尼约夫骑马冲进大门，后面跟随整整一连骠骑兵，个个抽刀出鞘。 ※ ※ ※ 叛匪四散逃命。骠骑兵跟踪追击，砍死一些，活捉一些。格里尼约夫从马上跳下来，向我父亲母亲敬礼，紧紧跟我握手。"幸好我及时赶到了，"他对我们说，"啊！这可就是你的未婚妻呀！"玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜羞得满脸通红。父亲走到他跟前，向他道谢，"请到寒舍休息。"父亲对他说，带领他走进屋里。 态度赤诚，却很庄重。我母亲拥抱他，叫他做"救命的天使"。 经过希瓦卜林身边，格里尼约夫站住了。"这是谁？"他问，瞅着那受伤的人。"他就是坏头头，那伙匪帮的首领。"我父亲回答，表现出一个老军人理当自豪的气概，"上帝保佑，我这只衰朽的手惩罚了这个年轻的恶棍，为我儿子所流的血向他报了仇。" "他是希瓦卜林。"我告诉格里尼约夫。 "希瓦卜林！我非常高兴。弟兄们，抬他去！告诉军医，给他包扎伤口，得象保护眼珠一样保护他。得赶快把他送到喀山军机处去。他是主犯中间的一个，他的口供很重要。" 希瓦卜林睁开困倦的眼睛。他脸上除了表现肉体的痛楚之外，别无其他。几个骠骑兵用斗篷把他兜着抬走了。 我们走进屋里。我心儿战栗地环顾四周，勾起童年时代的回忆。什么也没有变，一切都保持原样。希瓦卜林不允许抢劫，虽则他为人卑劣，但还是不由得厌恶可耻的贪赃肥己的勾当。家奴们涌进前厅。他们没有参加暴动，真心高兴我们得救。沙威里奇兴高采烈。要知道，在暴徒们围攻的紧要关头，他溜进马厩，那儿拴了希瓦卜林的一匹马，他套上马鞍，偷偷地把它牵出去，趁骚乱之机神不知鬼不觉骑上马就直奔渡口。他碰到了正在伏尔加河岸这边休息的骠骑兵团。格里尼约夫听到他说我们处境危险，立刻下令上马，快马加鞭，全速赴敌——结果是，谢天谢地，及时赶到了。 格里尼约夫坚持要把头人的脑袋于小酒店前杵着示众几小时。 骠骑兵们追捕已毕，纷纷回来，活捉了几名叛匪。当即将他们关进谷仓，即是我们在那值得纪念的被围攻时困守苦斗之处。 我们各自回到自己的房间。两位老人需要休息，我通晚没睡，这时往床上一倒便睡着了。格里尼约夫去处理军务。 到了晚上，我们在客厅里团聚，在茶炊旁坐下，快快活活谈论已经过去了的危险。玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜给大家筛茶，我坐在她身边，一意跟她厮混。我父母似乎愉快地从一旁观赏着我们之间的似水柔情。时至今日，这一晚的情景还历历在目。我真幸福，幸福到了顶！贫乏的人生，能有几回如许的时刻？ ! 第二天，父亲听到禀报，一群农民到了主人的大院里来请罪。父亲走到台阶上。他一出现，农民都一个个跪下。 "怎么啦，傻瓜蛋？"他向他们说，"要造反，想得倒好！" "我们有罪，老爷！"他们异口同声地回答。 "不错，是有罪。胡闹够了，你们自己也没有好处吧！我饶了你们，因为我心里高兴，上帝保佑，我跟我儿子彼得·安德列伊奇又见面了。好，得了！宝剑不斩悔过之人。" "我们有罪呀！当然有罪。" "上帝开恩，现在天气晴和，该是割草的时候了。可你们这帮懒鬼，整整三天干了什么？村长！安排他们一个个都去割草。你得仔细，赤发鬼！圣伊利亚节以前，干草一概都要堆成垛。好，去干活！" 农民一个个鞠躬，然后去替老爷做工，好象根本没发生过什么事情似的。 希瓦卜林的伤原来并无致命的危险。把他解押去喀山。我从窗口看见押着他上车。我们的目光相遇了，他低下头，我急忙离开窗口。我不想对于仇人的不幸和屈辱表示幸灾乐祸。 格里尼约夫要继续前进。我虽然还想在家多呆几天，但还是决定跟他一道走。出发前一天，我走到父母跟前，遵照当时的规矩，我跪倒在他们膝下，请求准允我和玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜成亲，父母把我扶起来，快活得老泪纵横，宣布同意。我再把一脸苍白、浑身发抖的玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜领到他们面前。二老为我们祝福了……当时我有何感受，不必细说。有谁处在我的境地，不说他也明白。谁如果还没有此番经历，那么，我只好表示惋惜，并且奉劝此公趁为时还不太晚，赶快去恋爱，并恳求父母的祝福。 第二天，全团集合了。格里尼约夫跟我全家道别。我们全都深信，战争快要结束。我希望再过一个月就做新郎。玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜跟我告别，当众跟我接吻。我骑上马，沙威里奇又跟在我后头。一团人便出发了。 渐行渐远，我久久回顾那栋乡村屋宇，我又离开它了。一种阴暗的预感在我心头浮动。冥冥中似乎有人向我耳语：厄运还没有完哩！心坎里预感到了又将有新的风暴。 我不来描述我们的行军和普加乔夫战争的结束了。我们一路经过不少村庄，村村惨遭普加乔夫的洗劫，而我们又不得已从可怜的居民那里夺走强盗留给他们的仅有的一点点财物。 他们搞不清应该服从谁。各地行政机构已经瘫痪。地主躲进森林。一股股匪帮到处横行。追击其时已逃往阿斯特拉罕的普加乔夫的各部官军首长，随心所欲地惩罚有罪和无辜……这遍地烽火的辽阔边区的景象，实在可怕。但求上帝开恩，别让世人看到这毫无意义而又残酷无情的俄罗斯式的暴动吧！那些一心想要在我国发动必然失败的变革的人们，要么就是年幼无知，不了解我国人民，要么就是铁石心肠之辈，拿别人的脑袋开玩笑，把自己的脖子不当一文钱。 普加乔夫逃窜了，后面有伊·伊·米赫里逊紧紧追逼。不久，我们就听说他已经被彻底打垮。格里尼约夫终于从将军处收到了已经活捉普加乔夫的通报，同时接到就地驻防的命令。我终于可以回家了。我欣喜欲狂，但是，一种古怪的感情使我的欢乐蒙上了一层阴影。