"Swear fidelity," Pugatchef said to him, "to the Emperor, Petr'
Fedorovitch!"[55]
"You are not our Emperor!" replied the lieutenant, repeating his
Commandant's words; "you are a robber, my uncle, and a usurper."
Pugatchef again gave the handkerchief signal, and good Iwan Ignatiitch
swung beside his old chief. It was my turn. Boldly I looked on Pugatchef
and made ready to echo the answer of my outspoken comrades.
Then, to my inexpressible surprise, I saw among the rebels Chvabrine,
who had found time to cut his hair short and to put on a Cossack caftan.
He approached Pugatchef, and whispered a few words in his ear.
"Hang him!" said Pugatchef, without deigning to throw me a look. The
rope was passed about my neck. I began saying a prayer in a low voice,
offering up to God a sincere repentance for all my sins, imploring Him
to save all those who were dear to my heart. I was already at the foot
of the gallows.
"Fear nothing! Fear nothing!" the assassins said to me, perhaps to give
me courage, when all at once a shout was heard--
"Stop, accursed ones!"
The executioners stayed their hand. I looked up. Saveliitch lay
prostrate at the feet of Pugatchef.
"Oh! my own father!" my poor follower was saying.
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