第13章 BELA(12)

"This was in September,and indeed it was a wonderful day,bright and not too hot.The mountains could be seen as clearly as though they were but a hand's-breadth away.We went,and walked in silence to and fro along the rampart of the fortress.At length she sat down on the sward,and I sat beside her.In truth,now,it is funny to think of it all!I used to run after her just like a kind of children's nurse!

"Our fortress was situated in a lofty position,and the view from the rampart was superb.On one side,the wide clearing,seamed by a few clefts,was bounded by the forest which stretched out to the very ridge of the mountains.Here and there,on the clearing,villages were to be seen sending forth their smoke,and there were droves of horses roaming about.On the other side flowed a tiny stream,and close to its banks came the dense undergrowth which covered the flinty heights joining the principal chain of the Caucasus.We sat in a corner of the bastion,so that we could see everything on both sides.

Suddenly I perceived someone on a grey horse riding out of the forest;nearer and nearer he approached until finally he stopped on the far side of the river,about a hundred fathoms from us,and began to wheel his horse round and round like one possessed.'Strange!'I thought.

"'Look,look,Bela,'I said,'you've got young eyes --what sort of a horseman is that?Who is it he has come to amuse?'...

"'It is Kazbich!'she exclaimed after a glance.

"'Ah,the robber!Come to laugh at us,has he?'

"I looked closely,and sure enough it was Kazbich,with his swarthy face,and as ragged and dirty as ever.

"'It is my father's horse!'said Bela,seizing my arm.

"She was trembling like a leaf and her eyes were sparkling.

"'Aha!'I said to myself.'There is robber's blood in your veins still,my dear!'

"'Come here,'I said to the sentry.'Look to your gun and unhorse that gallant for me --and you shall have a silver ruble.'

"'Very well,your honour,only he won't keep still.'

"'Tell him to!'I said,with a laugh.

"'Hey,friend!'cried the sentry,waving his hand.'Wait a bit.What are you spinning round like a humming-top for?'

"Kazbich halted and gave ear to the sentry --probably thinking that we were going to parley with him.Quite the contrary!...My grena-dier took aim...Bang!...Missed!...

Just as the powder flashed in the pan Kazbich jogged his horse,which gave a bound to one side.

He stood up in his stirrups,shouted something in his own language,made a threatening gesture with his whip --and was off.

"'Aren't you ashamed of yourself?'I said to the sentry.

"'He has gone away to die,your honour,'he answered.'There's no killing a man of that cursed race at one stroke.'

"A quarter of an hour later Pechorin returned from hunting.Bela threw herself on his neck without a single complaint,without a single reproach for his lengthy absence!...Even Iwas angry with him by this time!

"'Good heavens!'I said;'why,I tell you,Kazbich was here on the other side of the river just a moment ago,and we shot at him.How easily you might have run up against him,you know!These mountaineers are a vindictive race!Do you suppose he does not guess that you gave Azamat some help?And I wager that he recognised Bela to-day!I know he was desper-ately fond of her a year ago --he told me so himself --and,if he had had any hope of getting together a proper bridegroom's gift,he would certainly have sought her in marriage.'

"At this Pechorin became thoughtful.

"'Yes,'he answered.'We must be more cautious --Bela,from this day forth you mustn't walk on the rampart any more.'

"In the evening I had a lengthy explanation with him.I was vexed that his feelings towards the poor girl had changed;to say nothing of his spending half the day hunting,his manner towards her had become cold.He rarely caressed her,and she was beginning perceptibly to pine away;her little face was becoming drawn,her large eyes growing dim.

"'What are you sighing for,Bela?'I would ask her.'Are you sad?'

"'No!'

"'Do you want anything?'

"'No!'

"'You are pining for your kinsfolk?'

"'I have none!'

"Sometimes for whole days not a word could be drawn from her but 'Yes'and 'No.'

"So I straightway proceeded to talk to Pechorin about her."CHAPTER IX

"'LISTEN,Maksim Maksimych,'said Pech-orin.'Mine is an unfortunate dis-position;whether it is the result of my up-bringing or whether it is innate --I know not.

I only know this,that if I am the cause of un-happiness in others I myself am no less unhappy.

Of course,that is a poor consolation to them --only the fact remains that such is the case.

In my early youth,from the moment I ceased to be under the guardianship of my relations,Ibegan madly to enjoy all the pleasures which money could buy --and,of course,such pleasures became irksome to me.Then I launched out into the world of fashion --and that,too,soon palled upon me.I fell in love with fashionable beauties and was loved by them,but my imagina-tion and egoism alone were aroused;my heart remained empty...I began to read,to study --but sciences also became utterly wearisome to me.