With her soft voice saying to the on-pressing crowd, "Dear cousin, please make way! Heaven be with you!" she effected more than any amount of violence would have done. The people made way for her, and she succeeded in guiding the carriage into a side street, clear as yet from the flying ma.s.ses.
But there was a reason which made advance impracticable. The flood was already ahead of them; and the farther they proceeded the more imminent grew their danger. The waves were already washing into the carriage; the d.u.c.h.ess had to take refuge on the coachman"s box to keep her feet dry.
There she was so far secure, but Bethsaba was soaked to the skin from the spray dashed up by the horses" feet, while the water covered her knees.
"If only we could get to Nevski Prospect," gasped the d.u.c.h.ess.
"Hurry--hurry on! There is our castle."
At length they reached it. But what a sight met their eyes! It was as though they were in the very midst of the Neva, with its fields of ice.
Not water alone was round them, but ice--great icebergs floating on the black expanse of water. Through the Moika Ca.n.a.l the flood was coming down upon them.
"Holy Archangel Michael!" screamed the coachman at the sight, "save us on this your day!"
"Don"t pray now, but push on the horses," commanded the d.u.c.h.ess, peremptorily.
"From this only St. Michael or the devil can save us!"
"Hold your tongue!" cried the d.u.c.h.ess, giving him a smart blow on the head. "I trust neither in St. Michael nor the devil, but in my good horses, which will take me home in safety. Drive on!"
And the d.u.c.h.ess struck the coachman, the coachman the horses, and the horses" feet the raging element. All three were furious. The king"s daughter alone prayed:
"My G.o.d!--oh, dear G.o.d, send some one to help us!"
She felt that she could not hold out much longer, that her limbs were growing numb with cold.
CHAPTER XXII
THE DEVIL
Suddenly a glow of light illumined the dark waves; a red gleam, reflected on the street of houses, was seen advancing towards them. From a side street a boat was approaching, with a torch stuck in its bow.
Two men were pulling; a third, boat-hook in hand, was staving off the floating ma.s.ses of ice; a fourth was at the rudder. In the middle of the boat stood a woman, her head and face entirely enveloped in a bashlik, engaged in covering up a group of children of all ages, distributing biscuit among them, and soothing their cries for papa and baba (little Russian children say "baba" instead of mamma). Papa and baba do not take the children to the fair, but lock up the poor little mites in the houses before they go out. If any sudden calamity occurs papa and baba escape. But what becomes of the little ones? Does a fire break out they are burned to death; a flood, then let Providence send some good-natured gentry-folk, such as take pleasure in rescuing children through roof or windows. It is as good sport as wild-duck shooting. So this boat was filled to overflowing.
The boatmen were the first to see the desperate position of the carriage and its occupants, and they rowed towards it. The torch showered sparks in the high wind, illuminating the face of the youth who, as he stood in the prow of the boat gliding over the dark waters, looked like some hero of antiquity. Ma.s.ses of ice grated under the keel. The young man, steering dexterously through the ice, reached the carriage. It was but just in time, for Bethsaba could scarce maintain her seat upon the horse. Without a second"s hesitation he had seized the half-frozen girl, who clutched with both hands at his arm, and the next instant she was in the boat.
Bethsaba looked into the youth"s eyes, and in that moment she knew the exquisite joy of losing one"s self in a look. Once before she had met the fire of those eyes--then they had singed her wings; now her heart was the victim.
"Wrap her in this fur cloak," said the lady standing in the middle of the boat to the young man, and threw her own cloak to the girl, who was shivering with cold; then going alongside the carriage, held out her hand to help the lady sitting in it into the boat. As she did so the bashlik fell back, and Bethsaba recognized the face. It was that of Zeneida Ilmarinen--the devil! The d.u.c.h.ess also recognized her.
Like a fury she struck back her enemy"s helping hand, crying, in a voice hoa.r.s.e with pa.s.sionate excitement:
"Away, away! I will not have your help! Rather perish in the flood than in h.e.l.l with you!" And, s.n.a.t.c.hing the whip from her coachman"s hand, she administered some smart lashes to the horses, who, madly rearing, plunged deeper into the foaming waves, already up to their chests. She would have none of Zeneida"s help.
Bethsaba remained in the boat, trembling, not with cold, but at the thought that she had fallen into the devil"s clutches, who already was making off with her as his prey. Of course he had given her his own fur wrap in order to get more sure hold of her. How warm it was! It must come direct from the lower regions.
"You will take cold," said the man with the boat-hook to Zeneida.
"I will row to keep myself warm," she answered; and, taking an oar in her firm grasp, began rowing vigorously, her chest heaving with the exertion, as does the devil when hastening off with his prey. Of course he takes all the little children he can get hold of to h.e.l.l. The boat flew like the wind down the dark lanes.
At length they came to a large garden, the high walls of which kept back the seething waters. Bethsaba recognized the gilded railings that surmounted them. It was here the stag had been shot that they were hunting last spring. The evil spirit was bringing her to his lair.
The boat pulled up to the very threshold of the castle, for the water covered the marble steps. But the castle itself was built on such high ground that it was secure from all inundation.
The hall was brilliantly lighted, and an army of liveried footmen with lighted lamps hastened out to receive the party. From one end of the long ballroom to the other were rows of beds; in the centre of the room a table spread with food and steaming samovars. A number of beds were already occupied by children; another group was in the act of being fed with tea and soup. Bethsaba recognized many well-known faces among the helpers. They were those of members of the Society of the Green Book, who had been utilizing the Feast of St. Michael to hold a sitting, for that is one of the days when the attention of the police is otherwise engaged. Scarce had the sitting begun when Pushkin had burst in among them with the alarming news that the Neva had overflowed its banks.
The common danger at once put politics, new const.i.tutions, and conspiracy out of their heads. Their one thought was to save those imperilled.
In Zeneida"s grounds was an immense fish-pond, on which her guests were wont to hold regattas in the spring. In winter boats and punts were laid up in the boat-houses. These were got out in all haste, the conspirators told off to them with oars and boat-hooks, and they were quickly rowed off in all directions to carry help to the inundated city. Their first work was to rescue the children out of endangered houses, and those women who had stayed at home with them. Zeneida placed her castle, staff of servants, and wardrobe at the disposal of the rescuing party; but the lion"s share of the work fell to her, and she gave herself heart and soul to it. She herself carried the young Circa.s.sian Princess in her arms into a well-warmed apartment hung with rich tapestries. Bethsaba had not strength to resist; she suffered herself to be carried like a baby. Besides, what is the use of resistance to the Prince of Darkness?
First Zeneida cut away and removed the frozen clothing from Bethsaba"s numbed body--so does the Evil One with his prey! Here the king"s daughter experienced a sensation of surprise, for she was accustomed to bathe very often with Korynthia, who never failed to admire her form, and to say to her G.o.d-daughter, "How lovely are you!" But Zeneida instead, with frowning brow, as if angry with her, clothed her rapidly in a woollen garment, then commenced rubbing her limbs vigorously until the numbness yielded and a pleasant sense of warmth was infused into her frame. Then, wrapping her in well-warmed blankets, she laid Bethsaba in a delicious soft bed and covered her up. Yes, so the Evil One treats his poor victims before he takes them to the nether regions!
Then Zeneida brought a steaming drink in a delicate porcelain cup, from which Bethsaba, taking one sip, felt warmed through as though with fire.
This must certainly be the devil"s potion! And having once tasted it she wanted more, and did not stop until she had emptied the cup. Then her eyes closed, and, fiercely as she resisted it, sleep overpowered her. In her dreams the Prince of Darkness led her through fairy-like places which, narrow at first, widened out farther and farther until they changed into one great Paradise, where people flew about instead of walking. Once in her dreams she saw the Evil One gently attending to her wants and removing her saturated garments. And next morning, when she awoke, true enough, her coverings had been changed. If that was no dream, were the other dreams equally true?
Bethsaba, sitting up in bed, looked about her. Yes; it must be the Evil One"s room. No image of a saint to be seen; only Chinese and j.a.panese idols of every form and shape. Most likely images of Beelzebub and Asmodeus!
But what most astonished her was to find her own clothes folded on a low chair by her bedside. How could that be? Last night the Spirit of Darkness had certainly cut and torn them to shreds; and now here they were, whole and dry. Certainly he has numberless agents who can work like magic? Timorously she put on the mysterious clothing, not failing to e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.e a "Kyrie eleison!" at each garment, in order to dispel the power of the Evil One.
And when thus dressed she tried to find her way out of the room she was in. Two or three of the rooms she pa.s.sed through were very unlike those of her G.o.dmother, rich princess as she was. One of these was full of living birds; another of stuffed animals. Suddenly she heard a whimpering of children. This must be the place where the Evil Spirit tortures the little ones he has stolen. Curiosity made her follow the voices, and advancing she came to a half-open door, where, looking in, she saw Zeneida occupied in washing, combing, and dressing a group of tiny children. Some, who were being washed, were whimpering; but others, already dressed, were chattering, and admiring their pretty, new frocks.
Surely an odd occupation for the Evil One. They were in Zeneida"s bath-room. Bethsaba boldly entered. Curiosity begets courage.
"Ah, dressed already, little Princess?" said Zeneida.
"What are you doing to the children?" asked Bethsaba, with desire for knowledge.
"As you see, washing and dressing them; one cannot tell where their mother may be, poor little mites. The flood is rising higher and higher; the whole city is under water. As long as the danger lasts we must look after these little ones. Those who dress quickly," continued she, turning to the children, "may run into the dining-hall, and the housekeeper will give them some nice soup for breakfast."
Bethsaba thought she would put the Evil One to the proof.
"But who hears them say their prayers before their breakfast?"
"n.o.body, dear child; for they are more hungry than devout."
"But prayer is good," returned the king"s daughter.
"For what?"
"In order to avert further misfortune from the city."
"My dear little Princess!" exclaimed Zeneida, "the wind which sends the Neva over St. Petersburg is called _Auster_, and were the whole twelve hundred millions of people who inhabit the earth to blow together it would not avail to blow back the _Auster_!"
This was a speech worthy of its maker. To liken the efficacy of prayer to a blowing of breath! Bethsaba now plunged into the extreme of audacity. She would name the Deity, and surely then the devil, amid sulphur and brimstone, would strip himself of his seductive exterior and appear in his conventional form of horns and goat"s feet.
"So you do not believe that G.o.d has sent this awful calamity upon mankind?"
"No, dear child. For were it G.o.d who had sent this visitation upon the earth the flood would have destroyed the houses of the wicked and not those of the honest, hard-working people."