to go and live
at our house, where I am cruelly treated by Alexis. He will force me to
become his wife. He says he saved my life by not betraying the trick of
passing for the niece of Accoulina. I could rather die than be his wife.
I have three days to accept his offer; after that I need expect no
mercy from him. O, Peter! entreat your General to send us help, and if
possible, come yourself. MARIE MIRONOFF."

This letter nearly crazed me. I rushed back to the city, not sparing the
spur to my poor horse. A thousand projects flashed through my mind to
rescue her. Arrived in the city, I hurried to the General's and ran into
his room. He was walking up and down smoking his meerschaum. Seeing me
he stopped, alarmed at my abrupt entrance.

"Your Excellency, I come to you, as to my own father; do not refuse me;
the happiness of my life depends upon it."

"But what is it?" said the General; "what can I do for you?"

"Your Excellency, permit me to take a battalion of soldiers and half a
hundred Cossacks, to go and storm the fortress of Belogorsk."

"Storm the fortress?" said the General.

"I answer for the success of the attack, only let me go."

"No, young man," said he; "at so great a distance the enemy would easily
cut off all communication with the principal strategic point."

I was frightened by his military wisdom, and hastened to interrupt him:
"Captain Mironoff's daughter has written me, begging for relief. Alexis
threatens to compel her to be his wife!"

"Ah! Alexis, traitor! If he fall into my hands I shall try him in
twenty-four hours, and he shall be shot on the glacis of the fortress!
meantime patience."

"Patience!" I cried; "in the interval Marie will be compelled to obey
him."

"Oh," said the General, "that would not be a misfortune--it is better
that she should become the wife of Alexis, who can protect her. When we
shall have shot the traitor, then she will find a better husband."

"I would rather die," I said with fury, "than yield her to Alexis."

"I understand it all now," said the old man. "You are, no doubt, in love
yourself with Marie Mironoff. That's another thing. Poor boy! Still,
I can not give you a battalion and fifty Cossacks. The thing is
unreasonable." I hung my head in despair. But I had a plan of my own.

XI. THE REBEL CAMP.

I left the General and hastened to my quarters. Saveliitch received
me with his usual remonstrance: "What pleasure, my lord, is there in
fighting