Ivan Moshkin, ataman Katorzhnoy. Under the auspices of the Roman Pope

— Vona as… Beware of an honest boy, I’ll marry you… No matter how something happens.

“So I don’t want to marry. We will come together, and you will get married, all honor by honor. Don’t you feel sorry for our souls?

— And I’m sorry for mine especially, Ivan.

“Yes, I brought the money,” the petitioner added quietly.

The priest turned and beckoned to Ivan. Both quickly entered the church gatehouse. Barsanuphius put a bench for the archer, sat down on the other himself.

— I would say right away… The matter is not easy, and in the church book you need to make an entry, and straighten your letter. Paper, yes ink, they are worth the money. This is altyn, child. In the evening, light candles — these are four altyn. I held out. will you donate half a million for church vestments? — and pop made a blissful face, looking at Ivan, — give half a day ahead. The rest is after the wedding.

“What are we talking about, Father Barsanuphius!

The young man quickly laid out small silver coins in front of the priest, he wiped his eyes tearing with affection, carefully counted and shook the silver to himself.

— For three days, the child, — said the pop already just in an unctuous voice, — warn, and I will wait for you after Vespers. Do not worry, the Lord will not leave you, and I will please.

Ivan bowed to his bottom, kissed his hand, who in response twisted the young man. Sagittarius went, just ran home. Like a stone fell from my heart. I did not remember how I returned, ran into myself, and began to display letters on a small sheet of paper:

Everything is agreed with the priest, you just need to warn three days in advance. Perhaps the matter is only after evening prayer.

The ink dried, and the older brother set off in search of the younger ones. I didn’t have to look for a long time, the young man heard sniffing and slapping. The brothers mutused each other, trying to plunge into the opponent’s snowdrift.

“Mother will know everything! ‘he threatened the boys.

“Why?” You can’t tell! — answered the smart Ustyan, — need to run away on business?

“Exactly.

“Now,” replied the elder.

And Ustyan began to dust off Vasily from the snow, then threw off the snow flakes from his felt boots and hats, and quickly followed his older brother.

“Give me a note, and wait for me at the gate,” he said patronizingly.

The young messenger slipped over the fence, and was like that, and Ivan wrapped himself warmer, and began to expect a messenger.

***

Ustyan ran out into the street, and let him through the snow to the Kanyushkin estate. I wanted to scream to a famous place near the fence, but I heard the ringing of bells and hid in time. The dog barked, sensing strangers. Two troika arrived at the gate, the clerks Anfim and Emelya hastily opened the gate.

— Good afternoon, Kondrat Stepanovich! We are glad that you came to us! Anfim said loudly and bowed to the merchant.

— And good afternoon to you, — the merchant answered loudly, — Is Fedor Romanovich at home?

— Waiting.

— Spend, Anfim.

The coachman remained in the sleigh, wrapped himself in a sheepskin coat. And the boy saw a stately merchant, in a rich sand coat covered with Dutch blue cloth, coming off the wagon. His servant hastened after him, with a small chest.

The gates closed, Ustyan pulled his hat over his ears, and raised the collar of the felt armour. It’s good that there were felt boots on their feet, they didn’t freeze. Finally, he made some noise at the wicket, three times. Only then, finally, the long-awaited Lukerya looked out.

“What are you doing?” You see, we have a guest, — grandmother started grumpily.

— Yes, I am with a letter, — the boy immediately justified himself.

“Don’t wait. Tomorrow you will take the answer. Here, the hotel.

Ustyan nodded, hid the gingerbread in his bosom, and ran home.

Unexpected rival

Elena sat in her room and embroidered. Three candles were burning on the set, it was seen well. Bed, of course, early. What to do? Is it then to read the Holy Gospel. Father is in the house, he conducts business. Lukerya looks after the cook, and when she helps her herself. Cowgirl with cows and chickens is controlled, how is living creatures without a look? Anthim and Gavrila da Emelya cope with everything else — when sweep up, stab firewood, feed the cattle. The father himself sits in the shop, well, if he is not there, then Gavrila works as a clerk. When her father was gone, she delved into everything. And so that cows are milked, and the bread was baked, and the grain from the barn did not disappear. And she looked after the goods.

Therefore, now there was a beauty only when sewing. I looked at the pattern — really beautiful, I hoped that Ivan would like such a pillowcase. After all, everything turned out in foreign colors, she always imagined such fairy tales. And so, while she was working with needles, there was a knock on the door, and Father came in.

— Good day, daughter. With the joy of you, a dear guest came to us — Kondrat Stepanovich himself honored us. Asks for your hand.

“So I don’t want to,” the daughter answered her father sharply.

— A worthy person, has long been in great honor in Tula, in the living room is a hundred. It can’t be better.

— I will not go for him, — and Elena did not even postpone sewing, only turned her head to her father, — I will go to the monastery, but I will not become the wife of this Kondrat.

— I promised for you, daughter, — said the merchant heartfelt, almost affectionate.

— It was free to promise me, as if I were a thing, — and she jumped up from the chair, — I will not go… Elena said quietly.

— And I promised! — and, grinning, hit my fist on the table, — my word is firm!

— And I, like God holy, drown myself! Nothing, and you will live alone! Elena broke down in tears.

The girl did not just cry, she just began to shake in convulsions, her father just got scared, and ran out of the room. A frightened Gavrila, who heard screams in the house, walked towards him.

— Send out Kondrat Stepanovich. Apologize for me, bow down, but send me out. Don’t explain anything.

— Understood, Fedor Romanovich, — and the sensible clerk disappeared.

The merchant ran to the kitchen, where Lukerya helped prepare a dinner party. The old woman knew how to check the pots in the oven, whether the stewed meat was ready, the cereals were finished.

— Grandma, come with me, — Fedor asked, — everything is completely bad.

“Now, my dear. I’ll finish it… Shchi will be late??? — and continued to quickly chop cabbage.

— Praskovya will finish… It’s up to you, hurry, grandmother… — the merchant stood nearby, not knowing where to hide his hands.

They left the basement, began to rise, but Fedor did not just walk, but as if clinging to the railing of the stairs. His legs became as if cotton, and did not obey him. The owner of the house carefully opened Elena’s chambers, and looked inside from behind the door. Everything was also bad with the girl, she was on the carpet. Lukerya slipped in, and whispered reproachfully:

— Eh, father… As if you have a dozen daughters…

— Calm her down, you see, things are bad, — the frightened father whispered, — do what you can do there, old witch, — the merchant began to get angry, — all sorts of herbs for you, what… Do what you want, just to recover!

— Go, I’ll stay with Alyonushka, don’t worry, — the witch answered without raising her voice.

Fedor wilted again, and carefully, trying not to make noise, left the maiden’s, and closed the door behind him.

Broken wedding

Christmas, baptism passed, Lent began. Ivan and Elena could only see each other in the church itself or spread the word after serving in the church, not before their fathers could say something. These dates were rather not happiness, but a test, in front of others to spread a few words, so that the suspicious merchant would not have guessed about the secret correspondence of his daughter and the young archer.

But now, March has come, and on the last luge, the merchant Kanyushkin was getting ready for the road. The cargo on the sleigh was dismantled, loaded and tied in order, everything was ready. With a merchant, except for the carriers. faithful Gavrila rode on the road, and Anfim and Emelyan remained at the estate and shop.

— What do you bring, my berry? — the father of his beloved daughter spoke affectionately, looking at her pale face, — did she really scream again? Do not write at all, pale such.

— No, no, father, — the girl answered in an intentionally even voice, — everything is fine. Only buy more silk threads for sewing.

— Oh, you are my clever, — Fyodor Romanovich said happily, and now completely calmed down, he left the girl’s.

Elena ran to the mirror on the set and looked at her reflection with concern. And for sure, she was so pale, as if smeared with chalk.

“Indeed,” she said, “and how will you fall asleep, if the wedding is scheduled for today.”

The beauty looked at the letter again, and for the hundredth time she probably read:

Be ready for today, afternoon. Father Barsanuphius crowns us.

Ivan.

Treacherous tears fell on the letter, and she could not restrain herself and kissed such cute and kind lines several times. But, it was necessary to quickly gather. The certificate lay on the supplier.

She took a sum, left her clothes for the first time, and a koshel with father’s hotels was laid on top. I also prepared clothes for the wedding — not to be dirty on such a day, a fur coat on top, but after thinking, I also found a raincoat — gray and invisible. It was necessary to run to Lukerye, to say goodbye.

Anfim, went around the estate, checked and examined everything. The bird is fed, the cows are drunk and in the hay, everything is in order. The man only wrapped himself more tightly in an armyak, and adjusted his hat — it was still cold today, although spring was beginning. It was necessary to find out the orders of Elena Fedorovna for today, and what kind of lunch should be prepared. No, the merchant’s daughter did not demand anything like that, she was spreading overseas, but order is in order, and Fedor Romanovich ordered to ask what the heiress would delve into everything.

So the clerk went into the manor house, shook off the boots with a broom from the snow in the basement. It was cool here, the whole house was not heated, otherwise the firewood would not be enough. Slowly, taking his time, he climbed up the seedling and knocked on the upper room. No one answered, and the door was ajar.

— Elena Fyodorovna? said the clerk loudly, I am it. Anthim! Will I come in?

There was still no answer, and the man was very scared. The yard people knew about the unsuccessful matchmaking of the merchant Kondrat, about the screams in the girl’s, but did not say anything about it, and certainly, God forbid, they did not discuss it. But Anfim knew this, and therefore decided to enter. You never know what with the heiress, otherwise he will answer.

The upper room was empty, there was a bag, a fur coat was lying on the bed, and a certificate… He looked around again, maybe he did not notice the young mistress, and finally, he read, frightened himself to death. It was impossible to take the letter, because Elena immediately knows! But I remembered by heart, since I learned to count bags of rye. As soon as possible, Anfim left the house and ran to Emelyan. I found violence, he cursed a pipe for himself, whistled something under his breath, rejoiced in life, a simple soul.

— Do what, Emelya! ‘the clerk almost shouted to his comrade, talking about the letter.

— Skachi for Fedor Romanovich about two-horse, and here I will look after Elena Fedorovna. Everything is formed, the main thing is that there would be no cries, otherwise the owner will not have mercy on us. He does not tolerate swar.

Anfim darted to the stable, saddled two horses. Emelyan, putting his pipe, ran to the gate, and waited for a comrade. As soon as Anfim drove up, he immediately opened the heavy gates, without bothering to release the messenger. First with a step, and then with a trot, a burly horse galloped, knocking out caking wet snow with savvy hooves. The clerk knew what road Fyodor Romanovich always walks, and he could not miss him.

***

Ivan at this time, at a distance from the eyes of his father-mother, washed in a barrel of cold water, all flushed, only wiped himself quickly, so as not to freeze. Dressed in everything new. There was no strength to wait, and began to repair the locks of the squeakers with his father. The owner of the house only hid a grin in his beard, looking at his son. He only worked cheerfully with a file and did not raise his eyes to the priest

“You’re doing well today, son. Apparently attentive and assiduous today.

— Yes, there is no snow. Well, — Ivan answered out of place.

— It is of course, — Semyon Petrovich did not argue, — and the day is not sunny. Spring is coming.

But the young man made the castle, checked, everything worked well. Once again he pulled the trigger, lowered, no, everything turned out as it should. Here in the church they called for dinner, he started up like the Golden Scallop cockerel, jumped up and went to the gate. Father only sighed after, but muttered:

“It’s a young thing…

— I will soon, father, — the young man turned around, as if remembering, shouted, — we must go. Not far here.

— Don’t forget about lunch! — only Semyon Petrovich managed to answer.

Ivan quickly walked to the Kanyushkin estate, checking the treasury in his bosom along the way. For father Barsanuphius, and so, for himself. just in case. The young man remembered the letter by heart, and hoped that the girl was waiting for him, ready to go down the aisle with him.

Be ready for today, afternoon. Father Barsanuphius crowns us.

Ivan

A cabman from the posad people was waiting for them at the church. Luka, a good friend of Ivan, was hired for a whole altyn. And his sleigh is kind, with a canopy, the horse is good, not old. I thought and decided — it’s not good at all, that after the wedding, but on foot to get home, and agreed with Luka.

The long-awaited wicket of Lukerya was not, Ivan just sighed hard, but it was impossible to retreat. The young man climbed over the fence, fortunately, the dog slept in the booth. He looked around, but there was no one, then quickly ran to the door of the house, and quietly knocked. No one answered. He listened for a long time, hoping that the door would open now. He was disgustingly sucked under the spoon, and his heart beat very hard. Ivan, to be honest, did not understand what was the matter, what was here, Navya started, or what? Where is Elena? He opened the constipation with a false knife, and went inside. The young man went into the basement, listening for the slightest rustle. The heart beat often — often, and how not to worry? Someone else’s house, and you can’t see the narrowed one. But then, I heard a rustle from behind and sat down in time, immediately a hefty baton fell on the kitchen table, and without thinking at all, the Sagittarius managed to hit the stranger under the breath. But the dark caftan seemed so familiar! He suffocated and began to settle on the floor. There was nothing to do, and Ivan pulled off the belt from the enemy, and tied their hands. I thought I tied my legs with a rope too.

— Sorry. I’m not a robber, — the young man explained, and put him tied up on a bench.

There was neither Elena nor Lukerya anywhere. In desperation, he checked the rooms of the house one by one, and finally, in one light, he found his bride and grandmother locked there.

— Let’s go, we have to go! -he said.

— Run faster until Fedorushka returns! said the nurse quietly.

The girl thought only for a couple of seconds, looked at her grandmother, at the beloved youth, and firmly said:

— Let’s go, — Elena nodded, and she herself began to quickly get ready.

And now, they are already walking quickly, almost running to the church. Step by step, let their legs slide through the melted snow, the girl almost fell in a hurry, but Ivan managed to catch her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

At the church fence, Father Barsanuphius strolled, pretending to be busy with something very important. Actually, he counted crows on the fence.

And then, as if warning the lovers, seven huge birds croaked loudly at once. Ivan turned around and saw a horse racing with a gallop, and the rider on it was a simple-haired Fedor Romanovich. Behind him, far behind, two of his clerks galloped.

There were only five steps to the church… The merchant dismounted, and ran to his daughter, simply snatched her hand from the palm of the young man. Ivan did not even think to resist. The enraged father raised his whip, thinking of hitting Ivan, but he only took off his hat and lowered his hands.

— Kill if you want. I will not fight with you, — he said loudly, — with the father of my bride.

— Leave the sacred place! — Father Barsanuphius raised his voice, — do not darken the Temple of the Lord with your squabbles!

— So you, pop, stuck with them! — the furious merchant shouted at him, — all the silver is not enough! You probably take a lot!

Barsanuphius first swung his staff at ignoramus. and then. as if remembering, touched a huge pectoral silver cross. Actually, it was Fedor Romanovich who gave it two years ago.

“Damn how holy God is! cried the priest, raising his hands in the air, as if trying to appear much taller.

— I’ll damn you, forget what you were called! — Fedor was not afraid, — let’s go home Elena! Marry Kondrat!

— No, I’d better go to the monastery, drown myself! she shouted, looking only at her beloved Ivan.

He tried to rush to the bride, but he was already held by the elbows of the clerks and the church elder who ran up to the screams. The young man only looked at Elena rushing from her father’s bear hands to him. She was banging and screaming, banging and screaming. Her cry turned into a heart-rending terrible howl, she turned white and lost her feelings. Fedor Romanovich himself was now seriously scared. He held his daughter’s body firmly in his arms, and could not say a word. The clerks realized everything quickly.

The cart drove up, and the father carefully put his daughter on wolf furs, sat down on the seat himself, and Emelyan quietly moved from his place, and the sleigh was quietly scraped with runners on the blackening snow. Ivan remained standing at the church gate, and powerlessly looked at Elena leaving. The black raven swirled over him, and sat on a thick branch. The young man looked at his feet, at the black tracks from the runners of the sled.

— Do not be sad, lad, — the churchwarden quietly spoke, shaking off the snow fence from the broom, — and the ice on the river melts, and watch the sun shine. Everything is formed.

Ivan looked at the roof of the church. The hanging icicle began to drop the first tears. It was hot in the sheepskin coat. The snow on the road melted, leaving blackening glades.

And for sure, spring was coming.

Case on the night

So he sent his head, Tikhon Ilyich Trubchev, to a notch, to a small prison.

— Not for long Ivan, don’t think. Our Fyodor Romanovich will calm down a little, change anger to mercy, as he learns that you will be away from his daughter. It’s easy there — with a dozen Alexei Chelobanov to serve. He’s a warrior fair, but skillful, will teach you a lot. You also squeaked there, and you will examine two guns, that it would be okay if suddenly the Crimean Tatars attacked. I will not reproach and reproach — in fact, we are still not generous slaves, but service people, no worse than others. But after all, Kanyushkin already reached the clerk that they say you wanted to take the girl away from the yard.

“That’s not true,” Moshkin said, without raising his head, “honor by honor conspired, and everything happened near the church. We went to the wedding, everyone saw. And pop expected us.

— What blundered, sagittarius, — and his head straightened his mustache, — did not do?

— How could I, Tikhon Ilyich? After all, Elena’s beloved father is Fedorovna’s light, and I am his fist? That’s not a peremog.

— Okay, — said the head in a changed voice, — you look, everything will work out. In the evening, with a wagon train, you will go to the outpost, and a letter to you for Zinovy Dmitrievich, and put a message rolled up with a pipe in front of the shooter, fastened with a rope and a simple seal.

Ivan hid the paper in his bag, bowed, and left. Pischal held the butt, and the weapon habitually pressed on the shoulder, the palm burned in a bronze case on the chest. Sagittarius with wick food is simply impossible without fire, otherwise the enemies will attack, and he:

“Guys, I’m going to fire the flame now, you wait here, don’t leave. Without fire, I won’t shoot you from squeaking”

It would be fun… He hung a bag of provisions on his left shoulder, and, sighing, left the chief’s chambers. Slowly went down the stairs, and sat down on the bench. Caravan supply took an important cargo. The men — the carters put five — six heavy bags on the scrap carts, but still, the carts simply cracked under the load. Six Cossacks arrived, on nimble, small horses. Dressed, contrary to conversations, quite in Russian, in gray caftans and wide pants. Boots, however, were in heels, familiar to equestrian warriors. Each was beeping, saber, and a peak dangled on the belt behind the right shoulder. Ivan saw that at the end of the pole of the peak there was a belt in which the sock of the boot of the dashing rider stuck out

— And, Tikhon Ilyich, is everything ready? — shouted the eldest of them, but also a Cossack without a beard, and with an indispensable drooping mustache, and a straw forelock hanging from under his hat. That is, their foreman was also a real Cossack. The seasoned warrior looks no more than thirty years old.

— Yes. Only Stepan Ivanovich, capture this rowdy to the outpost. It’s a long walk to get there, and it’s not a matter for one to go through these places.

— So we will not do without him with the Tatars, head! the rider laughed, I don’t even know what they would do! Thank you, of course, for your help.

— He is not only a sagittarius, but also a noble craftsman. Gunsmith, works on locks. His head praised him greatly.

— Depressed, Tikhon Ilyich, — the Cossack thanked without a laugh, — Rodion, my second clockwork horse to the archer!

— So bring Murza?

— Vedi Murza. Sagittarius, ride a horse?

“I’m going,” Ivan replied.

— Rodion, help secure his weapon to the saddle. And, on the road!

The young Cossack helped link the weapon, and Ivan rather deftly sat in the saddle. The young man stretched his legs into stirrups, rested his heels, and confidently took up the occasion. The horse obeyed the saddle perfectly.

— Good Cossack! Stepan praised, let’s go!

The caravan set off, the carriers slapped their belts, urging the horses. The road snaked between the trees, but it’s good that there was little dust after the recent rain. So they walked quickly, wanting to get to darkness. Places here were restless, and Tatar trips appeared on the Zasechnaya line often.