11. They See Each Other Again

They began to descend this narrow little stairway, which shook and trembled beneath them.

Maroussia paid no attention to the way in which the floor had opened. She did not know that it was closed until she found herself in darkness; the farther they descended the colder the air became. The sun had never penetrated this deep cellar.

The little girl felt a firm strong hand supporting her in the difficult places. Finally, they reached the last step.

Knich then took her by the hand, and they began to walk, following a corridor which was dark for a hundred steps. At a turn, daylight penetrated from above and lighted this underground passage, which was here enlarged into a circular place. The Envoy was walking there with slow steps. His eyes were at once turned toward the visitors.

Warned by the sound of their steps, he awaited them.

“Maroussia, my kind adviser!” he said, stooping toward the child, “how happy I am to see you again, and to be able to thank you!”

Maroussia, much excited, rushed into his arms. “Ah!” she said, “how you must have suffered in the hay, at the noise of the battle, when the soldiers came, and on the way when Ivan was going around the wagon, and again just now when he missed falling headlong very near this cave.”

“I remembered the story of the brigand’s wife,” answered the Envoy, “but I feared for my guide.”

Old Knich turned around to wipe away the tears from his eyes. This embrace of the strong man and the feeble child, showed him that the delicate little girl had already become a dear and sacred person to the brave warrior.

“If Tarass were a little taller,” he said to himself, “would he be worth as much to me as this little girl is to the Envoy?”

“Let us go a little farther,” said Knich, “we shall be safer.”

They went on several hundred steps in the underground passage, which sometimes was exceedingly narrow, sometimes became quite wide. They passed through alternations of light and darkness. Wherever the light penetrated could be seen little stairways, leading to well-concealed outlets, which allowed the occupants of this underground retreat to keep themselves well informed of what was taking place in the court and garden.

“We are not rich in time,” said Knich to him whom he called Tchetchevik.

“We must not then be poor in expedients,” Tchetchevik answered.