not far from the fortress,
there were some twenty horsemen, who looked like Cossacks; but amongst
them were a few Bashkirs, easily recognized by their caps and quivers.
The Commandant passed before the ranks of his small army and said to the
soldiers: "Come, boys, let us fight today for our mother the Empress,
and show the world that we are brave men and faithful to our oath."

The soldiers, with loud shouts, testified their good will. Alexis was
standing by me examining the enemy. The people on the steppe, seeing, no
doubt, some movement in our fort, collected in groups and spoke amongst
themselves. The Commandant ordered Ignatius to point the cannon upon
them, he himself applying the light. The ball whistled over their heads
without doing them any harm. The horsemen dispersed at once, setting
off on a gallop, and the steppe became deserted. At this moment Basilia
appeared on the rampart, followed by Marie, who would not leave her.

"Well," said the Captain's wife, "how is the battle going? Where is the
enemy?"

"The enemy is not far off," replied Ivan, "but if God wills it, all will
be well; and thou, Marie, art thou afraid?"

"No, papa," said Marie, "I am more afraid by myself in the house." She
glanced at me, and tried to smile. I pressed my sword, remembering that
I had received it from her on the preceding eve, as if for her defense.
My heart was on fire. I fancied myself her knight, and longed to prove
myself worthy of her trust. I awaited the decisive moment impatiently.

Suddenly coming from behind a hill, eight versts from the fortress,
appeared new groups of horsemen, and soon the whole steppe was covered
by men armed with lances and arrows. Amongst them, wearing a scarlet
cafetan, sword in hand, could be distinguished a man mounted on a white
horse. This was Pougatcheff himself. He halted, was surrounded by his
followers, and very soon, probably by his orders, four men left the
crowd and galloped to our ramparts. We recognized among them our
traitors. One of them raised a sheet of paper above his cap and another
carried on the point of his lance Zoulac's head, which he threw to us
over the palisade. The poor Kalmouk's head rolled at the feet of the
Commandant.

The traitors shouted to us: "Do not fire, come out and receive the Czar.
The Czar is here."

"Fire!" shouted the Captain as sole reply.

The soldiers discharged their pieces. The Cossack who held the letter,
tottered and fell from his horse;