They shook hands and ran to fetch the major, whom they brought back half dead with cold and hunger.
Instead of going to Mozdok, Ivan, learning that he was nearer to Tchervelianskaya-Stanitsa, where there was a large body of Cossacks, went thither immediately. He had no difficulty in collecting the sum he needed. The good Cossacks, some of whom had been engaged in the unfortunate affair which had cost Kaskambo his liberty, clubbed together with alacrity to complete the ransom. On the day fixed, Ivan set out to go at last and set his master free, but the colonel who commanded the outpost, fearing some fresh treachery, did not allow him to return alone, and in spite of the agreement made with the Tchetchen he had him accompanied by some Cossacks.
This precaution again was nearly fatal to Kaskambo. From his first distant sight of the Cossack lances, his host thought himself betrayed, and, displaying at once the savage courage of his nation, he led the major, who was still ill, on to the roof of the house, bound him to a post, and placed himself opposite him, carbine in hand: “If you advance,” he shouted, when Ivan was within hearing, at the same time aiming at his prisoner, “if you make another step, I will blow out the major’s brains, and I have fifty cartridges for my enemies and the traitor who brings them.”
“You are not betrayed,” cried the denshchik, trembling for his master’s life; “they forced me to come back accompanied, but I have brought the two hundred roubles, and have kept my word.”
“Let the Cossacks withdraw,” added the Tchetchen, “or I will fire.”
Kaskambo himself begged the officer to retire. Ivan followed the detachment for some time and returned alone; but the suspicious brigand did not allow him to approach. He made him count out the roubles a hundred paces from the house, on the path, and ordered him to go away.
As soon as he had taken possession of them, he went back to the roof and threw himself down at the major’s feet, begging his pardon and imploring him to forget the ill treatment which, he said, he had been forced to make him suffer for his own safety. “I will only remember,” Kaskambo answered, “that I have been your guest and that you have kept your word to me; but, before asking my pardon, please begin by unfastening my bonds.” Instead of answering him, the Tchetchen, seeing Ivan returning, jumped from the roof and disappeared like lightning.
On the same day, honest Ivan had the pleasure and glory of restoring his master to the bosom of his friends, who had despaired of seeing him again.
The gleaner of this tale, a few months afterwards, at Yegorievski, passing, during the night, before a little house, handsome and very much lighted up, got out of his “kibitka,”[17] and approached a window to enjoy the sight of a very lively ball which was being given on the ground-floor. A young non-commissioned officer was also looking very attentively at what was going on inside the room.
“Who is giving the ball?” the traveller asked him.