I left the General and made haste to return home.
Saveliitch greeted me with his usual remonstrances-"What pleasure can you find, sir, in fighting with these drunken
robbers? Is it the business of a 'boyar?' The stars are not always
propitious, and you will only get killed for naught. Now if you were
making war with Turks or Swedes! But I'm ashamed even to talk of these
fellows with whom you are fighting."
I interrupted his speech.
"How much money have I in all?"
"Quite enough," replied he, with a complacent and satisfied air. "It was
all very well for the rascals to hunt everywhere, but I over-reached
them."
Thus saying he drew from his pocket a long knitted purse, all full of
silver pieces.
"Very well, Saveliitch," said I. "Give me half what you have there, and
keep the rest for yourself. I am about to start for Fort Belogorsk."
"Oh! my father, Petr' Andrejitch," cried my good follower, in a
tremulous voice; "do you not fear God? How do you mean to travel now
that all the roads be blocked by the robbers? At least, take pity on
your parents if you have none on yourself. Where do you wish to go?
Wherefore? Wait a bit, the troops will come and take all the robbers.
Then you can go to the four winds."
My resolution was fixed.
"It is too late to reflect," I said to the old man. "I must go; it is
impossible for me not to go. Do not make yourself wretched, Saveliitch.
God is good; we shall perhaps meet again. Mind you be not ashamed to
spend my money; do not be a miser. Buy all you have need of, even if you
pay three times the value of things. I make you a present of the money
if in three days' time I be not back."
"What's that you're saying, sir?" broke in Saveliitch; "that I shall
consent to let you go alone? Why, don't dream of asking me to do so. If
you have resolved to go I will e'en go along with you, were it on foot;
but I will not forsake you. That I should stay snugly behind a stone
wall! Why, I should be mad! Do as you please, sir, but I do not leave
you."
I well knew it was not possible to contradict Saveliitch, and I allowed
him to make ready for our departure.
In half-an-hour I was in the saddle on my horse, and Saveliitch on a
thin and lame "garron," which a townsman had given him for nothing,
having no longer anything wherewith to feed it. We gained the town
gates; the sentries let us pass, and at last we were out of Orenburg.