Under the yoke, p.27
Under the Yoke, page 27
booty as well as the punishment.
Kill-the-Bear finished off the one-eyed zapti6 with his axe.
The two Turks were quickly concealed in the thicket.
Meanwhile Tsanko's horse returned quietly to the village,
but the other, which had scented the wolves, crossed the
Strema and fled, tail in the air, across the plain. " An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," Ognianoff
muttered, mechanically.
As the avengers departed, the wolves approached.
Nature and the wild beasts united to blot out all traces of
the terrible deed.
The snow still continued to fall.
It was now broad daylight : but the neighbourhood was
quite deserted. Nothing stirred as yet, either on the road,
or in the fields, which were shrouded in white. No one
was likely to be abroad at that hour and in such weather :
thus the early departure of the Turks had been witnessed
by no one. But the confederates did not wish to be noticed
on returning to the village. Moreover, the road by which
154 UNDER THE YOKE
they had come would now no longer be deserted, as there
were many mills along it. They held a council of war, and
decided to climb the northern side of the Bogdan, which
was thickly overgrown with brushwood, and reach the
village from the other side of the mountain. The road was
a hard and precipitous one, but not much frequented, and
they would find shelter there. Daniel they sent back
straight to the village.
CHAPTER XXVI : THE STORM
Deep snow covered the path up the wooded mountain-side
along which the party now cUmbed the valley of the
Beleshtitsa. Kill-the-Bear, who knew the country well, led
the way with his gun on his shoulder. Their progress was
difficult, for there was no sign of a road. After half an
hour's chmbing the perspiration streamed from these hardy
and weather-beaten youths as if they had been walking for
hours. When they at last reached the first summit the
snow had ceased, and soon after from the grey frozen sky
the sun shone out and poured its vivifying rays on mountain
and valley, the white surface of which became still more
dazzling ; it flashed in the sunlight with a thousand quivering
sparks ; it seemed to be powdered over with diamond
dust, like the garment of a Bagdad sultana. Down in the
valley, now awakened, rose thin streams of smoke over the
villages, and peasants could be seen here and there making
the first tracks in the slumbering roads and paths. The
village of Altinovo was clearly discernible below the spurs
of the mountain, and some movement was noticeable. The
lads remarked a black mass — probably villagers — moving
toward the outskirts of the village, where the cemetery was
situated : they concluded that this was old Stoiko's funeral;
they could even hear the dull sounds of the church soundingboard.
But the mountain-side and the summits remained
unapproached, save by themselves, and slept royally beneath
their unsulhed winding-sheet. The majestic Ribaritsa,
to the west of the valley, lifted its lofty towering
summit to heaven, surrounded by a circle of lower peaks ; a
veil of fleecy cloud, like smoke, hung as if suspended over it.
Along the northern horizon stretched the straight line of
the Stara Planina, white with snow and bathed by the
golden sunlight. Its usually frowning aspect was softened
THE STORM 155
down into a peaceful loveliness. Only the gaunt greyrocks,
whence flow the crashing waterfalls, remained bare
and gave a note of harshness to the view. The unbioken
ridge stretched like a wall as far as the Ambaritsa ; there
the chain of the Balkans began.
The confederates stopped from time to time to rest,
involuntarily admiring the beauty of the wintry scene, but
in silence. Petr's bereavement, and the vengeance which
had followed it, weighed heavily on their minds. Only
a few words were interchanged now and again, and then
merely with reference to their road. Occasionally one
of the wayfarers would slip on the steep ascent and be
helped up by the others with great difficulty. It was then
that Kill-the-Bear's great strength was most useful. Though
they stopped frequently to rest, they were much wearied ;
they were exhausted by hunger and a sharp icy wind, which
lashed their faces and froze their noses, ears, and hands.
Meanwhile the brushwood became thicker and more impenetrable.
For some time they went on, but at last they
came to a standstill. There was no longer any sign of a
path. Before them stretched only the thick tangled undergrowth,
cleft here and there by yawning chasms, and the
wind became fiercer every minute.
They looked at each other in dismay. " What do you say ? Shall we turn back to the valley
and take the path that leads to the village ?
"
said
Spi"rdonoff.
No," declared Ostenoff ; "we must go the opposite
way : no turning back." And the others agreed with him.
After a short deliberation they decided to retrace their
steps a little and then to strike to the right and force
their way as best they could through the thicket so as to
reach the ridge which led to the summit, from whence they
could get down to the valley on the other side.
"
That's where Dicho's hut is," said Ostenoff ;
" we can
warm ourselves there and get something to eat."
" I'm of Ostenoff's opinion," said Ognianoff, turning his
back to the wind ;
'*
let's make for the hut, first to restore
ourselves a little, and secondly, we may hear what's been
going on at Altinovo. It won't do to go back bhndly."
Ognianoff might have added a third reason : the sharp
pain in his foot, which had been renewed by the hard
exercise and the cold.
156 UNDER THE YOKE
"
That's true," assented Spirdonoff,
"
Tsanko's horse
must have got back by this time and the whole story must
be known."
" Oh ! that's all right," said Ostenoff,
"
by this time the
wolves will have cleared off even the bones of the zapties.
If the Turks go to look for them they'll find only a few
rags. The good old snow will have covered all traces of
blood on the road, and I noticed there wasn't a drop on
Tsanko's horse."
They now emerged on the bare hill-side, and again
deliberated as to the direction to be taken.
Ivan Kill-the-Bear was attentively scanning the sky.
His comrades waited for him to give his " opinion. Come on, let's make for the hut at once, I don't Uke
the look of the Ribaritsa, God bless its soul," he said
seriously.
The band then turned to the north-east and began the
ascent. The wind was blowing fiercely, raising the skirts of
the wayfarer's cloaks, and penetrating under their clothes to
the very skin. At every step the violence of the tempest
increased. Ognianoff was gradually falling behind. He
felt that his strength was deserting him : there was a buzzing
in his ears, his head swam ; he was quite exhausted,
but he would not call out for assistance : indeed, the wind
would have prevented his voice from reaching the others.
He was endowed with unusual strength of will, and to it he
trusted to pull him through, even though his bodily strength
should fail him. But a man, however strong he may be
morally, must sooner or later give way to the laws of
physics. The greatest effort of will, the most powerful
strength of mind, cannot raise his powers beyond a certain
Hmit. The mind may, indeed, stimulate the action of the
body, but it cannot create a strength which does not already
exist. All the mountain valleys echoed with the roaring of
the wind, which was now a fierce hurricane : its icy breath
numbed their limbs and froze the blood in their veins. The
air seemed to encompass the wayfarers like a sea of ice :
the sun's rays instead of warming them stung their flesh like
thorns. Soon the storm broke right upon them, with thick
bhnding eddies of snow : it raised the snow in high whirHng
columns which seemed to reach to the skies. Sun and
light disappeared : heavens and earth were blended in
darkness and complete chaos followed, while the blinding
THE STORM 157
snow lashed them in fury ; the hurricane whistled and
roared : it seemed like the end of the world.
This lasted for two minutes. Then the Balkan storm
passed to another peak and wrapped it in its thick veil.
The sun again poured forth its pale rays from the colourless
sky.
The little band had been protected by a high straight
ledge of rock, like a wall, which sheltered them a little from
the fury of the elements ; this had saved them, as if by a
miracle, from being carried off by the storm-blast. One by
one they rose, as if awaking from a sleep which would have
ended in death. They were completely benumbed — there
was no feeling in their hands or feet. They were indeed
in great danger. The first to come to his senses was Ivan
Kill-the-Bear — ^he cried :
"
Get up, boys — we must climb the rock, or we're done
for !
"
They made an effort, rose, took their guns under their
arms, and began to move on. Suddenly Kall-the-Bear
sto"pped.
Why, Where's the teacher ?
"
They all looked round in dismay. Ognianoff was
nowhere to be seen.
" The storm must have carried him off !
"
"
He's buried in the snow."
All hastened to search for him. The precipice yawning
under their feet filled them with terror. They hardly
dared to look down.
" Here he is," cried Ostenoff.
At the very brink of the abyss, under the snow, two feet,
clothed in sandals, were seen projecting. They scraped
away the snow and dragged Ognianoff out. He was
lifeless, his face was pale as death, his flesh benumbed.
" God bless his soul !
"
ejaculated Kill-the-Bear sympat"
hetically. Rub him, boys, rub him !
"
cried Ostenoff, as he began
himself to rub his face, hands and breast with snow.
"
He's still warm, we must bring him round."
Every one forgot his own sufferings in the desire to save
their perishing comrade. The energetic friction soon
restored Ognianoff's circulation, and warmed them as
well.
"
Let's make for the hut at once," cried Ostenoff. And
158 UNDER THE YOKE
the three took Ognianoff by his hands and feet and carried
him to the snow-covered slopes of the Bogdan. Here
again Kill-the-Bear's powerful muscles were of the greatest
assistance. At last, after superhuman efforts, they reached
the hut.
CHAPTER XXVII : IN THE HUT
DiCHo's hut stood on a level part of the plain, in a hoUow,
surrounded by lofty peaks which protected it from the wind.
Towards the north side of the courtyard was stored the provision
of hay and leaves for the sheeps' fodder during the
winter months : this was covered over with a broad, low
roof. From the hut — where the shepherds who tended the
flocks remained during winter — smoke was rising cheerfully. A watch-dog flew at the wayfarers, but at once recognised
Ivan Ostenoff, and withdrew satisfied. They carried
Ognianoff into the warm hut, and continued to rub him
energetically The shepherd-boy also assisted to save
Ognianoff's life by taking off his sandals and rubbing his
feet with snow. When Ognianoff and his comrades saw
themselves rescued from the danger of being frozen to
death, they crossed themselves devoutly and thanked
Heaven for their escape. The shepherd lad heaped more
wood on the fire. The four sat round it, but were careful
not to attempt to warm their hands and feet as yet. The
dog, true to his instinct, stretched himself out by the door
to watch.
"
Obreiko, where's your uncle Kalcho ?
" asked Ostenoff.
Kalcho was Dicho's brother, and was in charge of the hut.
*' He went to the village last night ; I'm expecting him
back now."
"
Give us what you've got in the bag, my lad, we're
hungry."
The boy turned out all the provisions they had ; these
consisted of a few scraps of hard rye-bread, some green
pepper pods, and a little salt.
"
Isn't there any raki, Obreiko ?
"
" No."
*' WeU, we must make the best of it. But it's a pity
there's no raki, the teacher ought to have some to pull him
round," said Ostenoff, looking at Ognianoff who had
clenched his hands and was writhing with pain.
IN THE HUT 159
"
It's all right now, teacher, never fear. What did you
think of our Sredna Gora ? she's a beauty, isn't she ?
"
'* Thank God nothing happened to any of you," said
Ogn"ianoff. Oh ! she never hurts old friends like us."
*'
It's my belief," said Ostenoff,
"
that it was the Stara
Planina that sent us the storm. Edll-the-Bear was right."
'' Kill-the-Bear knows what he's about, he doesn't eat
chaff," roared Ivan himself in his deep tones ; the dog
barked furiously, the noise having startled him.
Ognianoff looked with curiosity at Ivan. He could not
help thinking that the nickname suited him admirably. No
more appropriate designation could have been found for this
big-headed, coarse, half-savage giant, who looked as if he
had been suckled by a bear rather than a woman. He
gazed at his lofty figure, thin and bony, but powerful : his
long, angular, shaggy head, with its narrow forehead, small
grey eyes, and immense nose, very wide at the nostrils, like
a beast's : his huge mouth, capacious enough to swallow a
hare whole (Ivan was said to eat raw meat) ; and those long
hairy, muscular arms, which were fit to wrestle with a lion.
He seemed to have been intended by Nature to fight with
savage animals — to which he seemed so closely akin — rather
than for the idyllic calling of a goatherd. In contrast to all
this, his face bore an expression of good tempered and
sheepish simplicity which made him ridiculous. No one
would have supposed that this coarse, rough, apparently
undeveloped nature could know feelings of devotion, or the
most humane and tender of emotions. Yet it was so. His
very appearance that morning to join the avengers, almost
comic though it was, bore witness to his kindly and valiant
disposition. He was ready to sacrifice himself. Under
the influence of these thoughts it seemed to Ognianoff that
his face became more sympathetic, and even intelligent.
