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diff --git a/37308-h/37308-h.htm b/37308-h/37308-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ef0c54 --- /dev/null +++ b/37308-h/37308-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,43980 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Deluge, Vol. II. (of 2), by Henryk Sienkiewicz</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: 90%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +.letter {font-size:90%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:100%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black;} + +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:0em;} + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Deluge, Vol. II. (of 2), by Henryk Sienkiewicz</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Deluge, Vol. II. (of 2)<br /> + An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia.</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Henryk Sienkiewicz</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: Jeremiah Curtin</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 3, 2011 [eBook #37308]<br /> +[Most recently updated: May 23, 2022]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Charles Bowen</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DELUGE, VOL. II. (OF 2) ***</div> + +<h2>THE DELUGE.</h2> + +<h4>Vol. II.</h4> + +<h1>THE DELUGE.</h1> + +<h4>An Historical Novel</h4> + +<h5>OF</h5> + +<h2>POLAND, SWEDEN, AND RUSSIA.</h2> + +<h5>A SEQUEL TO</h5> + +<h3>“WITH FIRE AND SWORD.”</h3> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ.</h3> + +<h4><i>AUTHORIZED AND UNABRIDGED TRANSLATION FROM<br/> +THE POLISH BY</i></h4> + +<h3>JEREMIAH CURTIN.</h3> + +<h4>IN TWO VOLUMES.</h4> + +<h4><span class="sc">Vol. II</span>.</h4> + +<h3>BOSTON:<br/> +LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY<br/> +1915.</h3> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Copyright, 1891</i>, by <span class="sc">Jeremiah Curtin</span>. +</p> + +<hr class="W20" /> + +<p class="center"> +Printers<br/> +<span class="sc2">S. J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U.S.A.</span> +</p> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>THE DELUGE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p> +The war with cannon was no bar to negotiations, which the fathers determined to +use at every opportunity. They wished to delude the enemy and procrastinate +till aid came, or at least severe winter. But Miller did not cease to believe +that the monks wished merely to extort the best terms. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening, therefore, after that cannonading, he sent Colonel Kuklinovski +again with a summons to surrender. The prior showed Kuklinovski the safeguard +of the king, which closed his mouth at once. But Miller had a later command of +the king to occupy Boleslav, Vyelunie, Kjepits, and Chenstohova. +</p> + +<p> +“Take this order to them,” said he to Kuklinovski; “for I +think that they will lack means of evasion when it is shown them.” But he +was deceived. +</p> + +<p> +The prior answered: “If the command includes Chenstohova, let the general +occupy the place with good fortune. He may be sure that the cloister will make +no opposition; but Chenstohova is not Yasna Gora, of which no mention is made +in the order.” +</p> + +<p> +When Miller heard this answer he saw that he had to deal with diplomats more +adroit than himself; reasons were just what he lacked,—and there remained +only cannon. +</p> + +<p> +A truce lasted through the night. The Swedes worked with vigor at making better +trenches; and on Yasna Gora they looked for the damages of the previous day, +and saw with astonishment that there were none. Here and there roofs and +rafters were broken, here and there plaster had dropped from the +walls,—that was all. Of the men, none had fallen, no one was even maimed. +The prior, going around on the walls, said with a smile to the soldiers,— +</p> + +<p> +“But see, this enemy with his bombarding is not so terrible as reported. +After a festival there is often more harm done. God’s care is guarding +you; God’s hand protects you; only let us endure, and we shall see +greater wonders.” +</p> + +<p> +Sunday came, the festival of the offering of the Holy Lady. There was no +hindrance to services, since Miller was waiting for the final answer, which the +monks had promised to send after midday. +</p> + +<p> +Mindful meanwhile of the words of Scripture, how Israel bore the ark of God +around the camp to terrify the Philistines, they went again in procession with +the monstrance. +</p> + +<p> +The letter was sent about one o’clock, not to surrender; but to repeat +the answer given Kuklinovski, that the church and the cloister are called Yasna +Gora, and that the town Chenstohova does not belong to the cloister at all. +“Therefore we implore earnestly his worthiness,” wrote the prior +Kordetski, “to be pleased to leave in peace our Congregation and the +church consecrated to God and His Most Holy Mother, so that God may be honored +therein during future times. In this church also we shall implore the Majesty +of God for the health and success of the Most Serene King of Sweden. Meanwhile +we, unworthy men, while preferring our request, commend ourselves most +earnestly to the kindly consideration of your worthiness, confiding in your +goodness, from which we promise much to ourselves in the future.” +</p> + +<p> +There were present at the reading of the letter, Sadovski; Count Veyhard; Horn, +governor of Kjepitsi; De Fossis, a famous engineer; and the Prince of Hesse, a +man young and very haughty, who though subordinate to Miller, was willing to +show his own importance. He laughed therefore maliciously, and repeated the +conclusion of the letter with emphasis,— +</p> + +<p> +“They promise much to themselves from your kindness; General, that is a +hint for a contribution. I put one question, gentlemen: Are the monks better +beggars or better gunners?” +</p> + +<p> +“True,” said Horn, “during these first days we have lost so +many men that a good battle would not have taken more.” +</p> + +<p> +“As for me,” continued the Prince of Hesse, “I do not want +money; I am not seeking for glory, and I shall freeze off my feet in these +huts. What a pity that we did not go to Prussia, a rich country, pleasant, one +town excelling another.” +</p> + +<p> +Miller, who acted quickly but thought slowly, now first understood the sense of +the letter; he grew purple and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“The monks are jeering at us, gracious gentlemen.” +</p> + +<p> +“They had not the intention of doing so, but it comes out all the +same,” answered Horn. +</p> + +<p> +“To the trenches, then! Yesterday the fire was weak, the balls +few.” +</p> + +<p> +The orders given flew swiftly from end to end of the Swedish line. The trenches +were covered with blue clouds; the cloister answered quickly with all its +energy. But this time the Swedish guns were better planted, and began to cause +greater damage. Bombs, loaded with powder, were scattered, each drawing behind +it a curl of flame. Lighted torches were hurled too, and rolls of hemp steeped +in rosin. +</p> + +<p> +As sometimes flocks of passing cranes, tired from long flying, besiege a high +cliff, so swarms of these fiery messengers fell on the summit of the church and +on the wooden roofs of the buildings. Whoso was not taking part in the +struggle, was near a cannon, was sitting on a roof. Some dipped water from +wells, others drew up the buckets with ropes, while third parties put out fire +with wet cloths. Balls crashing rafters and beams fell into garrets, and soon +smoke and the odor of burning filled all the interior of buildings. But in +garrets, too, defenders were watching with buckets of water. The heaviest bombs +burst even through ceilings. In spite of efforts more than human, in spite of +wakefulness, it seemed that, early or late, flames would embrace the whole +cloister. Torches and bundles of hemp pushed with hooks from the roofs formed +burning piles at the foot of the walls. Windows were bursting from heat, and +women and children confined in rooms were stifling from smoke and exhalations. +Hardly were some missiles extinguished, hardly was the water flowing in broken +places, when there came new flocks of burning balls, flaming cloths, sparks, +living fire. The whole cloister was seized with it. You would have said that +heaven had opened on the place, and that a shower of thunders was falling; +still it burned, but was not consumed; it was flaming, but did not fall into +fragments; what was more, the besieged began to sing like those youths in the +fiery furnace; for, as the day previous, a song was now heard from the tower, +accompanied by trumpets. To the men standing on the walls and working at the +guns, who at each moment might think that all was blazing and falling to ruins +behind their shoulders, that song was like healing balsam, announcing +continually that the church was standing, that the cloister was standing, that +so far flames had not vanquished the efforts of men. Hence it became a custom +to sweeten with such harmony the suffering of the siege, and to keep removed +from the ears of women the terrible shouts of raging soldiery. +</p> + +<p> +But in the Swedish camp that singing and music made no small impression. The +soldiers in the trenches heard it at first with wonder, then with superstitious +dread. +</p> + +<p> +“How is it,” said they to one another, “we have cast so much +fire and iron at that hen-house that more than one powerful fortress would have +flown away in smoke and ashes, but they are playing joyously? What does this +mean?” +</p> + +<p> +“Enchantment!” said others. +</p> + +<p> +“Balls do not harm those walls. Bombs roll down from the roofs as if they +were empty kegs! Enchantment, enchantment!” repeated they. “Nothing +good will meet us in this place.” +</p> + +<p> +The officers in fact were ready to ascribe some mysterious meaning to those +sounds. But others interpreted differently, and Sadovski said aloud, so that +Miller might hear: “They must feel well there, since they rejoice; or are +they glad because we have spent so much powder for nothing?” +</p> + +<p> +“Of which we have not too much,” added the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“But we have as leader Poliorcetes,” said Sadovski, in such a tone +that it could not be understood whether he was ridiculing or flattering Miller. +But the latter evidently took it as ridicule, for he bit his mustache. +</p> + +<p> +“We shall see whether they will be playing an hour later,” said he, +turning to his staff. +</p> + +<p> +Miller gave orders to double the fire, but these orders were carried out +over-zealously. In their hurry, the gunners pointed the cannons too high, and +the result was they carried too far. Some of the balls, soaring above the +church and the cloister, went to the Swedish trenches on the opposite side, +smashing timber works, scattering baskets, killing men. +</p> + +<p> +An hour passed; then a second. From the church tower came solemn music +unbroken. +</p> + +<p> +Miller stood with his glass turned on Chenstohova. He looked a long time. Those +present noticed that the hand with which he held the glass to his eyes trembled +more and more; at last he turned and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“The shots do not injure the church one whit!” And anger, +unrestrained, mad, seized the old warrior. He hurled the glass to the earth, +and it broke into pieces. “I shall go wild from this music!” roared +he. +</p> + +<p> +At that moment De Fossis, the engineer, galloped up. “General,” +said he, “it is impossible to make a mine. Under a layer of earth lies +rock. There miners are needed.” +</p> + +<p> +Miller used an oath. But he had not finished the imprecation when another +officer came with a rush from the Chenstohova entrenchment, and saluting, +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Our largest gun has burst. Shall we bring others from Lgota?” +</p> + +<p> +Fire had slackened somewhat; the music was heard with more and more solemnity. +Miller rode off to his quarters without saying a word. But he gave no orders to +slacken the struggle; he determined to worry the besieged. They had in the +fortress barely two hundred men as garrison; he had continual relays of fresh +soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +Night came, the guns thundered unceasingly; but the cloister guns answered +actively,—more actively indeed than during the day, for the Swedish +camp-fires showed them ready work. More than once it happened that soldiers had +barely sat around the fire and the kettle hanging over it, when a ball from the +cloister flew to them out of the darkness, like an angel of death. The fire was +scattered to splinters and sparks, the soldiers ran apart with unearthly cries, +and either sought refuge with other comrades, or wandered through the night, +chilled, hungry, and frightened. +</p> + +<p> +About midnight the fire from the cloister increased to such force that within +reach of a cannon not a stick could be kindled. The besieged seemed to speak in +the language of cannons the following words: “You wish to wear us +out,—try it! We challenge you!” +</p> + +<p> +One o’clock struck, and two. A fine rain began to fall in the form of +cold mist, but piercing, and in places thickened as if into pillars, columns +and bridges seeming red from the light of the fire. Through these fantastic +arcades and pillars were seen at times the threatening outlines of the +cloister, which changed before the eye; at one time it seemed higher than +usual, then again it fell away as if in an abyss. From the trenches to its +walls stretched as it were ill-omened arches and corridors formed of darkness +and mist, and through those corridors flew balls bearing death; at times all +the air above the cloister seemed clear as if illumined by a lightning flash; +the walls, the lofty works, and the towers were all outlined in brightness, +then again they were quenched. The soldiers looked before them with +superstitious and gloomy dread. Time after time one pushed another and +whispered,— +</p> + +<p> +“Hast seen it? This cloister appears and vanishes in turn. That is a +power not human.” +</p> + +<p> +“I saw something better than that,” answered the other. “We +were aiming with that gun that burst, when in a moment the whole fortress began +to jump and quiver, as if some one were raising and lowering it. Fire at such a +fortress; hit it!” +</p> + +<p> +The soldier then threw aside the cannon brush, and after a while added,— +</p> + +<p> +“We can win nothing here! We shall never smell their treasures. Brr, it +is cold! Have you the tar-bucket there? Set fire to it; we can even warm our +hands.” +</p> + +<p> +One of the soldiers started to light the tar by means of a sulphured thread. He +ignited the sulphur first, then began to let it down slowly. +</p> + +<p> +“Put out that light!” sounded the voice of an officer. But almost +the same instant was heard the noise of a ball; then a short cry, and the light +was put out. +</p> + +<p> +The night brought the Swedes heavy losses. A multitude of men perished at the +camp-fires; in places regiments fell into such disorder that they could not +form line before morning. The besieged, as if wishing to show that they needed +no sleep, fired with increasing rapidity. +</p> + +<p> +The dawn lighted tired faces on the walls, pale, sleepless, but enlivened by +feverishness. Kordetski had lain in the form of a cross in the church all +night; with daylight he appeared on the walls, and his pleasant voice was heard +at the cannon, in the curtains, and near the gates. +</p> + +<p> +“God is forming the day, my children,” said he. “Blessed be +His light. There is no damage in the church, none in the buildings. The fire is +put out, no one has lost his life. Pan Mosinski, a fiery ball fell under the +cradle of your little child, and was quenched, causing no harm. Give thanks to +the Most Holy Lady; repay her.” +</p> + +<p> +“May Her name be blessed,” said Mosinski; “I serve as I +can.” +</p> + +<p> +The prior went farther. +</p> + +<p> +It had become bright day when he stood near Charnyetski and Kmita. He did not +see Kmita; for he had crawled to the other side to examine the woodwork, which +a Swedish ball had harmed somewhat. The prior asked straightway,— +</p> + +<p> +“But where is Babinich? Is he not sleeping?” +</p> + +<p> +“I, sleep in such a night as this!” answered Pan Andrei, climbing +up on the wall. “I should have no conscience. Better watch as an orderly +of the Most Holy Lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“Better, better, faithful servant!” answered Kordetski. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei saw at that moment a faint Swedish light gleaming, and immediately +he cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Fire, there, fire! Aim! higher! at the dog-brothers!” +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski smiled, seeing such zeal, and returned to the cloister to send to the +wearied men a drink made of beer with pieces of cheese broken in it. +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour later appeared women, priests, and old men of the church, bringing +steaming pots and jugs. The soldiers seized these with alacrity, and soon was +heard along all the walls eager drinking. They praised the drink, +saying,— +</p> + +<p> +“We are not forgotten in the service of the Most Holy Lady. We have good +food.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is worse for the Swedes,” added others. “It was hard for +them to cook food the past night; it will be worse the night coming.” +</p> + +<p> +“They have enough, the dog-faiths. They will surely give themselves and +us rest during the day. Their poor guns must be hoarse by this time from +roaring continually.” +</p> + +<p> +But the soldiers were mistaken, for the day was not to bring rest. When, in the +morning, officers coming with the reports informed Miller that the result of +the night’s cannonading was nothing, that in fact the night had brought +the Swedes a considerable loss in men, the general was stubborn and gave +command to continue cannonading. “They will grow tired at last,” +said he to the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“This is an immense outlay of powder,” answered that officer. +</p> + +<p> +“But they burn powder too?” +</p> + +<p> +“They must have endless supplies of saltpetre and sulphur, and we shall +give them charcoal ourselves, if we are able to burn even one booth. In the +night I went near the walls, and in spite of the thunder, I heard a mill +clearly, that must be a powder-mill.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will give orders to cannonade as fiercely as yesterday, till sunset. +We will rest for the night. We shall see if an embassy does not come +out.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness knows that they have sent one to Wittemberg?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know; I will send too for the largest cannons. If it is impossible to +frighten the monks or to raise a fire inside the fortress, we must make a +breach.” +</p> + +<p> +“I hope, your worthiness, that the field-marshal will approve the +siege.” +</p> + +<p> +“The field-marshal knows of my intention, and he has said nothing,” +replied Miller, dryly. “If failure pursues me still farther, the +field-marshal will give censure instead of approval, and will not fail to lay +all the blame at my door. The king will say he is right,—I know that. I +have suffered not a little from the field-marshal’s sullen humor, just as +if ’tis my fault that he, as the Italians state, is consumed by <i>mal +francese</i>.” +</p> + +<p> +“That they will throw the blame on you I doubt not, especially when it +appears that Sadovich is right.” +</p> + +<p> +“How right? Sadovich speaks for those monks as if he were hired by them. +What does he say?” +</p> + +<p> +“He says that these shots will be heard through the whole country, from +the Carpathians to the Baltic.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let the king command in such case to tear the skin from Count Veyhard +and send it as an offering to the cloister; for he it is who instigated to this +siege.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Miller seized his head. +</p> + +<p> +“But it is necessary to finish at a blow. It seems to me, something tells +me, that in the night they will send some one to negotiate; meanwhile fire +after fire!” +</p> + +<p> +The day passed then as the day previous, full of thunder, smoke, and flames. +Many such were to pass yet over Yasna Gora. But the defenders quenched the +conflagrations and cannonaded no less bravely. One half the soldiers went to +rest, the other half were on the walls at the guns. +</p> + +<p> +The people began to grow accustomed to the unbroken roar, especially when +convinced that no great damage was done. Faith strengthened the less +experienced; but among them were old soldiers, acquainted with war, who +performed their service as a trade. These gave comfort to the villagers. +</p> + +<p> +Soroka acquired much consideration among them; for, having spent a great part +of his life in war, he was as indifferent to its uproar as an old innkeeper to +the shouts of carousers. In the evening when the guns had grown silent he told +his comrades of the siege of Zbaraj. He had not been there in person, but he +knew of it minutely from soldiers who had gone through that siege and had told +him. +</p> + +<p> +“There rolled on Cossacks, Tartars, and Turks, so many that there were +more under-cooks there than all the Swedes that are here. And still our people +did not yield to them. Besides, evil spirits have no power here; but there it +was only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that the devils did not help the +ruffians; the rest of the time they terrified our people whole nights. They +sent Death to the breastworks to appear to the soldiers and take from them +courage for battle. I know this from a man who saw Death himself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did he see her?” asked with curiosity peasants gathering around +the sergeant. +</p> + +<p> +“With his own eyes. He was going from digging a well; for water was +lacking, and what was in the ponds smelt badly. He was going, going, till he +saw walking in front of him some kind of figure in a black mantle.” +</p> + +<p> +“In a black, not in a white one?” +</p> + +<p> +“In black; in war Death dresses in black. It was growing dark, the +soldier came up. ‘Who is here?’ inquired he—no answer. Then +he pulled the mantle, looked, and saw a skeleton. ‘But what art thou here +for?’ asked the soldier. ‘I am Death,’ was the answer; +‘and I am coming for thee in a week.’ The soldier thought that was +bad. ‘Why,’ asked he, ‘in a week, and not sooner? Art thou +not free to come sooner?’ The other said: ‘I can do nothing before +a week, for such is the order.’” +</p> + +<p> +“The soldier thought to himself: ‘That is hard; but if she can do +nothing to me now, I’ll pay her what I owe.’ Winding Death up in +the mantle, he began to beat her bones on the pebbles; but she cried and +begged: ‘I’ll come in two weeks!’ ‘Impossible.’ +‘In three, four, ten, when the siege is over; a year, two, +fifteen—’ ‘Impossible.’ ‘I’ll come in fifty +years.’ The soldier was pleased, for he was then fifty, and thought: +‘A hundred years is enough; I’ll let her go.’ The man is +living this minute, and well; he goes to a battle as to a dance, for what does +he care?” +</p> + +<p> +“But if he had been frightened, it would have been all over with +him?” +</p> + +<p> +“The worst is to fear Death,” said Soroka, with importance. +“This soldier did good to others too; for after he had beaten Death, he +hurt her so that she was fainting for three days, and during that time no one +fell in camp, though sorties were made.” +</p> + +<p> +“But we never go out at night against the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +“We haven’t the head for it,” answered Soroka. +</p> + +<p> +The last question and answer were heard by Kmita, who was standing not far +away, and he struck his head. Then he looked at the Swedish trenches. It was +already night. At the trenches for an hour past deep silence had reigned. The +wearied soldiers were seemingly sleeping at the guns. +</p> + +<p> +At two cannon-shots’ distance gleamed a number of fires; but at the +trenches themselves was thick darkness. +</p> + +<p> +“That will not enter their heads, nor the suspicion of it, and they +cannot suppose it,” whispered Kmita to himself. +</p> + +<p> +He went straight to Charnyetski, who, sitting at the gun-carriage, was reading +his rosary, and striking one foot against the other, for both feet were cold. +</p> + +<p> +“Cold,” said he, seeing Kmita; “and my head is heavy from the +thunder of two days and one night. In my ears there is continual +ringing.” +</p> + +<p> +“In whose head would it not ring from such uproars? But to-day we shall +rest. They have gone to sleep for good. It would be possible to surprise them +like a bear in a den; I know not whether guns would rouse them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh,” said Charnyetski, raising his head, “of what are you +thinking?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am thinking of Zbaraj, how the besieged inflicted with sorties more +than one great defeat on the ruffians.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are thinking of blood, like a wolf in the night.” +</p> + +<p> +“By the living God and his wounds, let us make a sortie! We will cut down +men, spike guns! They expect no attack.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski sprang to his feet. +</p> + +<p> +“And in the morning they will go wild. They imagine, perhaps, that they +have frightened us enough and we are thinking of surrender; they will get their +answer. As I love God, ’tis a splendid idea, a real knightly deed! That +should have come to my head too. But it is needful to tell all to Kordetski, +for he is commander.” +</p> + +<p> +They went. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski was taking counsel in the chamber with Zamoyski. When he heard steps, +he raised his voice and pushing a candle to one side, inquired,— +</p> + +<p> +“Who is coming? Is there anything new?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is I, Charnyetski,” replied Pan Pyotr, “with me is +Babinich; neither of us can sleep. We have a terrible odor of the Swedes. This +Babinich, father, has a restless head and cannot stay in one place. He is +boring me, boring; for he wants terribly to go to the Swedes beyond the walls +to ask them if they will fire to-morrow also, or give us and themselves time to +breathe.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” inquired the prior, not concealing his astonishment +“Babinich wants to make a sortie from the fortress?” +</p> + +<p> +“In company, in company,” answered Charnyetski, hurriedly, +“with me and some others. They, it seems, are sleeping like dead men at +the trenches; there is no fire visible, no sentries to be seen. They trust over +much in our weakness.” +</p> + +<p> +“We will spike the guns,” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Give that Babinich this way!” exclaimed Zamoyski; “let me +embrace him! The sting is itching, O hornet! thou wouldst gladly sting even at +night. This is a great undertaking, which may have the finest results. God gave +us only one Lithuanian, but that one an enraged and biting beast. I applaud the +design; no one here will find fault with it. I am ready to go myself.” +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski at first was alarmed, for he feared bloodshed, especially when his +own life was not exposed; after he had examined the idea more closely, he +recognized it as worthy of the defenders. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me pray,” said he. And kneeling before the image of the Mother +of God, he prayed a while, with outspread arms, and then rose with serene face. +</p> + +<p> +“Pray you as well,” said he; “and then go.” +</p> + +<p> +A quarter of an hour later the four went out and repaired to the walls. The +trenches in the distance were sleeping. The night was very dark. +</p> + +<p> +“How many men will you take?” asked Kordetski of Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“I?” answered Pan Andrei, in surprise. “I am not leader, and +I do not know the place so well as Pan Charnyetski. I will go with my sabre, +but let Charnyetski lead the men, and me with the others; I only wish to have +my Soroka go, for he can hew terribly.” +</p> + +<p> +This answer pleased both Charnyetski and the prior, for they saw in it clear +proof of submission. They set about the affair briskly. Men were selected, the +greatest silence was enjoined, and they began to remove the beams, stones, and +brick from the passage in the wall. +</p> + +<p> +This labor lasted about an hour. At length the opening was ready, and the men +began to dive into the narrow jaws. They had sabres, pistols, guns, and some, +namely peasants, had scythes with points downward,—a weapon with which +they were best acquainted. +</p> + +<p> +When outside the wall they organized; Charnyetski stood at the head of the +party, Kmita at the flank; and they moved along the ditch silently, restraining +the breath in their breasts, like wolves stealing up to a sheepfold. +</p> + +<p> +Still, at times a scythe struck a scythe, at times a stone gritted under a +foot, and by those noises it was possible to know that they were pushing +forward unceasingly. When they had come down to the plain, Charnyetski halted, +and, not far from the enemy’s trenches, left some of his men, under +command of Yanich, a Hungarian, an old, experienced soldier; these men he +commanded to lie on the ground. Charnyetski himself advanced somewhat to the +right, and having now under foot soft earth which gave out no echo, began to +lead forward his party more swiftly. His plan was to pass around the +intrenchment, strike on the sleeping Swedes from the rear, and push them toward +the cloister against Yanich’s men. This idea was suggested by Kmita, who +now marching near him with sabre in hand, whispered,— +</p> + +<p> +“The intrenchment is extended in such fashion that between it and the +main camp there is open ground. Sentries, if there are any, are before the +trenches and not on this side of it, so that we can go behind freely, and +attack them on the side from which they least expect attack.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well,” said Charnyetski; “not a foot of those men +should escape.” +</p> + +<p> +“If any one speaks when we enter,” continued Pan Andrei, “let +me answer; I can speak German as well as Polish; they will think that some one +is coming from Miller, from the camp.” +</p> + +<p> +“If only there are no sentries behind the intrenchments.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even if there are, we shall spring on in a moment; before they can +understand who and what, we shall have them down.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is time to turn, the end of the trench can be seen,” said +Charnyetski; and turning he called softly, “To the right, to the +right!” +</p> + +<p> +The silent line began to bend. That moment the moon lighted a bank of clouds +somewhat, and it grew clearer. The advancing men saw an empty space in the rear +of the trench. +</p> + +<p> +As Kmita had foreseen, there were no sentries whatever on that space; for why +should the Swedes station sentries between their trenches and their own army, +stationed in the rear of the trenches. The most sharp-sighted leader could not +suspect danger from that side. +</p> + +<p> +At that moment Charnyetski said in the lowest whisper; “Tents are now +visible. And in two of them are lights. People are still awake +there,—surely officers. Entrance from the rear must be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“Evidently,” answered Kmita. “Over that road they draw +cannon, and by it troops enter. The bank is already at hand. Have a care now +that arms do not clatter.” +</p> + +<p> +They had reached the elevation raised carefully with earth dug from so many +trenches. A whole line of wagons was standing there, in which powder and balls +had been brought. +</p> + +<p> +But at the wagons, no man was watching; passing them, therefore, they began to +climb the embankment without trouble, as they had justly foreseen, for it was +gradual and well raised. +</p> + +<p> +In this manner they went right to the tents, and with drawn weapons stood +straight in front of them. In two of the tents lights were actually burning; +therefore Kmita said to Charnyetski,— +</p> + +<p> +“I will go in advance to those who are not sleeping. Wait for my pistol, +and then on the enemy!” When he had said this, he went forward. +</p> + +<p> +The success of the sortie was already assured; therefore he did not try to go +in very great silence. He passed a few tents buried in darkness; no one woke, +no one inquired, “Who is there?” +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers of Yasna Gora heard the squeak of his daring steps and the beating +of their own hearts. He reached the lighted tent, raised the curtain and +entered, halted at the entrance with pistol in hand and sabre down on its +strap. +</p> + +<p> +He halted because the light dazzled him somewhat, for on the camp table stood a +candlestick with six arms, in which bright lights were burning. +</p> + +<p> +At the table were sitting three officers, bent over plans. One of them, sitting +in the middle, was poring over these plans so intently that his long hair lay +on the white paper. Seeing some one enter, he raised his head, and asked in a +calm voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“Who is there?” +</p> + +<p> +“A soldier,” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +That moment the two other officers turned their eyes toward the entrance. +</p> + +<p> +“What soldier, where from?” asked the first, who was De Fossis, the +officer who chiefly directed the siege. +</p> + +<p> +“From the cloister,” answered Kmita. But there was something +terrible in his voice. +</p> + +<p> +De Fossis rose quickly and shaded his eyes with his hand. Kmita was standing +erect and motionless as an apparition; only the threatening face, like the head +of a predatory bird, announced sudden danger. +</p> + +<p> +Still the thought, quick as lightning, rushed through the head of De Fossis, +that he might be a deserter from Yasna Gora; therefore he asked again, but +excitedly,— +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want?” +</p> + +<p> +“I want this!” cried Kmita; and he fired from a pistol into the +very breast of De Fossis. +</p> + +<p> +With that a terrible shout and a salvo of shots was heard on the trench. De +Fossis fell as falls a pine-tree struck by lightning; another officer rushed at +Kmita with his sword, but the latter slashed him between the eyes with his +sabre, which gritted on the bone; the third officer threw himself on the +ground, wishing to slip out under the side of the tent, but Kmita sprang at +him, put his foot on his shoulder, and nailed him to the earth with a thrust. +</p> + +<p> +By this time the silence of night had turned into the day of judgment. Wild +shouts: “Slay, kill!” were mingled with howls and shrill calls of +Swedish soldiers for aid. Men bewildered from terror rushed out of the tents, +not knowing whither to turn, in what direction to flee. Some, without noting at +once whence the attack came, ran straight to the enemy, and perished under +sabres, scythes, and axes, before they had time to cry “Quarter!” +Some in the darkness stabbed their own comrades; others unarmed, half-dressed, +without caps, with hands raised upward, stood motionless on one spot; some at +last dropped on the earth among the overturned tents. A small handful wished to +defend themselves; but a blinded throng bore them away, threw them down, and +trampled them. +</p> + +<p> +Groans of the dying and heart-rending prayers for quarter increased the +confusion. +</p> + +<p> +When at last it grew clear from the cries that the attack had come, not from +the side of the cloister, but from the rear, just from the direction of the +Swedish army, then real desperation seized the attacked. They judged evidently +that some squadrons, allies of the cloister, had struck on them suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +Crowds of infantry began to spring out of the intrenchment and run toward the +cloister, as if they wished to find refuge within its walls. But soon new +shouts showed that they had come upon the party of the Hungarian, Yanich, who +finished them under the very fortress. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the cloister-men, slashing, thrusting, trampling, advanced toward the +cannons. Men with spikes ready, rushed at them immediately; but others +continued the work of death. Peasants, who would not have stood before trained +soldiers in the open field, rushed now a handful at a crowd. +</p> + +<p> +Valiant Colonel Horn, governor of Kjepitsi, endeavored to rally the fleeing +soldiers; springing into a corner of the trench, he shouted in the darkness and +waved his sword. The Swedes recognized him and began at once to assemble; but +in their tracks and with them rushed the attackers, whom it was difficult to +distinguish in the darkness. +</p> + +<p> +At once was heard a terrible whistle of scythes, and the voice of Horn ceased +in a moment. The crowd of soldiers scattered as if driven apart by a bomb. +Kmita and Charnyetski rushed after them with a few people, and cut them to +pieces. +</p> + +<p> +The trench was taken. +</p> + +<p> +In the main camp of the Swedes trumpets sounded the alarm. Straightway the guns +of Yasna Gora gave answer, and fiery balls began to fly from the cloister to +light up the way for the home-coming men. They came panting, bloody, like +wolves who had made a slaughter in a sheepfold; they were retreating before the +approaching sound of musketeers. Charnyetski led the van, Kmita brought up the +rear. +</p> + +<p> +In half an hour they reached the party left with Yanich; but he did not answer +their call; he alone had paid for the sortie with his life, for when he rushed +after some officer, his own soldiers shot him. +</p> + +<p> +The party entered the cloister amid the thunder of cannon and the gleam of +flames. At the entrance the prior was waiting, and he counted them in order as +the heads were pushed in through the opening. No one was missing save Yanich. +</p> + +<p> +Two men went out for him at once, and half an hour later they brought his body; +for Kordetski wished to honor him with a fitting burial. +</p> + +<p> +But the quiet of night, once broken, did not return till white day. From the +walls cannon were playing; in the Swedish positions the greatest confusion +continued. The enemy not knowing well their own losses, not knowing whence the +aggressor might come, fled from the trenches nearest the cloister. Whole +regiments wandered in despairing disorder till morning, mistaking frequently +their own for the enemy, and firing at one another. Even in the main camp were +soldiers and officers who abandoned their tents and remained under the open +sky, awaiting the end of that ghastly night. Alarming news flew from mouth to +mouth. Some said that succor had come to the fortress, others asserted that all +the nearer intrenchments were captured. +</p> + +<p> +Miller, Sadovski, the Prince of Hesse, Count Veyhard, and other superior +officers, made superhuman exertions to bring the terrified regiments to order. +At the same time the cannonade of the cloister was answered by balls of fire, +to scatter the darkness and enable fugitives to assemble. One of the balls +struck the roof of the chapel, but striking only the edge of it, returned with +rattling and crackling toward the camp, casting a flood of flame through the +air. +</p> + +<p> +At last the night of tumult was ended. The cloister and the Swedish camp became +still. Morning had begun to whiten the summits of the church, the roofs took on +gradually a ruddy light, and day came. +</p> + +<p> +In that hour Miller, at the head of his staff, rode to the captured trench. +They could, it is true, see him from the cloister and open fire; but the old +general cared not for that. He wished to see with his own eyes all the injury, +and count the slain. The staff followed him; all were disturbed,—they had +sorrow and seriousness in their faces. When they reached the intrenchment, they +dismounted and began to ascend. Traces of the struggle were visible everywhere; +lower down than the guns were the overthrown tents; some were still open, +empty, silent. There were piles of bodies, especially among the tents; +half-naked corpses, mangled, with staring eyes, and with terror stiffened in +their dead eyeballs, presented a dreadful sight. Evidently all these men had +been surprised in deep sleep; some of them were barefoot; it was a rare one who +grasped his rapier in his dead hand; almost no one wore a helmet or a cap. Some +were lying in tents, especially at the side of the entrance; these, it was +apparent, had barely succeeded in waking; others, at the sides of tents, were +caught by death at the moment when they were seeking safety in flight. +Everywhere there were many bodies, and in places such piles that it might be +thought some cataclysm of nature had killed those soldiers; but the deep wounds +in their faces and breasts, some faces blackened by shots, so near that all the +powder had not been burned, testified but too plainly that the hand of man had +caused the destruction. +</p> + +<p> +Miller went higher, to the guns; they were standing dumb, spiked, no more +terrible now than logs of wood; across one of them lay hanging on both sides +the body of a gunner, almost cut in two by the terrible sweep of a scythe. +Blood had flowed over the carriage and formed a broad pool beneath it. Miller +observed everything minutely, in silence and with frowning brow. No officer +dared break that silence. For how could they bring consolation to that aged +general, who had been beaten like a novice through his own want of care? That +was not only defeat, but shame; for the general himself had called that +fortress a hen-house, and promised to crush it between his fingers, for he had +nine thousand soldiers, and there were two hundred men in the garrison; +finally, that general was a soldier, blood and bone, and against him were +monks. +</p> + +<p> +That day had a grievous beginning for Miller. +</p> + +<p> +Now the infantry came up and began to carry out bodies. Four of them, bearing +on a stretcher a corpse, stopped before the general without being ordered. +</p> + +<p> +Miller looked at the stretcher and closed his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“De Fossis,” said he, in a hollow voice. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had they gone aside when others came, this time Sadovski moved toward +them and called from a distance, turning to the staff,— +</p> + +<p> +“They are carrying Horn!” +</p> + +<p> +But Horn was alive yet, and had before him long days of atrocious suffering. A +peasant had cut him with the very point of a scythe; but the blow was so +fearful that it opened the whole framework of his breast. Still the wounded man +retained his presence of mind. Seeing Miller and the staff, he smiled, wished +to say something, but instead of a sound there came through his lips merely +rose-colored froth; then he began to blink, and fainted. +</p> + +<p> +“Carry him to my tent,” said Miller, “and let my doctor +attend to him immediately.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the officers heard him say to himself,— +</p> + +<p> +“Horn, Horn,—I saw him last night in a dream,—just in the +evening. A terrible thing, beyond comprehension!” +</p> + +<p> +And fixing his eyes on the ground, he dropped into deep thought; all at once he +was roused from his revery by the voice of Sadovski, who cried: “General! +look there, there—the cloister!” +</p> + +<p> +Miller looked and was astonished. It was broad day and clear, only fogs were +hanging over the earth; but the sky was clear and blushing from the light of +the morning. A white fog hid the summit itself of Yasna Gora, and according to +the usual order of things ought to hide the church, but by a peculiar +phenomenon the church, with the tower, was raised, not only above the cliff, +but above the fog, high, high,—precisely as if it had separated from its +foundations and was hanging in the blue under the dome of the sky. The cries of +the soldiers announced that they too saw the phenomenon. +</p> + +<p> +“That fog deceives the eye!” said Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“The fog is lying under the church,” answered Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +“It is a wonderful thing; but that church is ten times higher than it was +yesterday, and hangs in the air,” said the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“It is going yet! higher, higher!” cried the soldiers. “It +will vanish from the eye!” +</p> + +<p> +In fact the fog hanging on the cliff began to rise toward the sky in the form +of an immense pillar of smoke; the church planted, as it were, on the summit of +that pillar, seemed to rise higher each instant; at the same time when it was +far up, as high as the clouds themselves, it was veiled more and more with +vapor; you would have said that it was melting, liquefying; it became more +indistinct, and at last vanished altogether. +</p> + +<p> +Miller turned to the officers, and in his eyes were depicted astonishment and a +superstitious dread. +</p> + +<p> +“I acknowledge, gentlemen,” said he, “that I have never seen +such a thing in my life, altogether opposed to nature: it must be the +enchantment of papists.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard,” said Sadovski, “soldiers crying out, +‘How can you fire at such a fortress?’ In truth I know not +how.” +</p> + +<p> +“But what is there now?” cried the Prince of Hesse. “Is that +church in the fog, or is it gone?” +</p> + +<p> +“Though this were an ordinary phenomenon of nature, in any event it +forebodes us no good. See, gentlemen, from the time that we came here we have +not advanced one step.” +</p> + +<p> +“If,” answered Sadovski, “we had only not advanced; but to +tell the truth, we have suffered defeat after defeat, and last night was the +worst. The soldiers losing willingness lose courage, and will begin to be +negligent. You have no idea of what they say in the regiments. Besides, +wonderful things take place; for instance, for a certain time no man can go +alone, or even two men, out of the camp; whoever does so is as if he had fallen +through the earth, as if wolves were prowling around Chenstohova. I sent +myself, not long since, a banneret and three men to Vyelunie for warm clothing, +and from that day, no tidings of them.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be worse when winter comes; even now the nights are +unendurable,” added the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“The mist is growing thinner!” said Miller, on a sudden. +</p> + +<p> +In fact a breeze rose and began to blow away the vapors. In the bundles of fog +something began to quiver; finally the sun rose and the air grew transparent. +The walls of the cloister were outlined faintly, then out came the church and +the cloister. Everything was in its old place. The fortress was quiet and +still, as if people were not living in it. +</p> + +<p> +“General,” said the Prince of Hesse, with energy, “try +negotiations again, it is needful to finish at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“But if negotiations lead to nothing, do you, gentlemen, advise to give +up the siege?” asked Miller, gloomily. +</p> + +<p> +The officers were silent. After a while Sadovski said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness knows best that it will come to that.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know,” answered Miller, haughtily, “and I say this only to +you, that I curse the day and the hour in which I came hither, as well as the +counsellor who persuaded me to this siege [here he pierced Count Veyhard with +his glance]. You know, however, after what has happened, that I shall not +withdraw until I turn this cursed fortress into a heap of ruins, or fall +myself.” +</p> + +<p> +Displeasure was reflected in the face of the Prince of Hesse. He had never +respected Miller over-much; hence he considered this mere military braggadocio +ill-timed, in view of the captured trenches, the corpses, and the spiked +cannon. He turned to him then and answered with evident sarcasm,— +</p> + +<p> +“General, you are not able to promise that; for you would withdraw in +view of the first command of the king, or of Marshal Wittemberg. Sometimes also +circumstances are able to command not worse than kings and marshals.” +</p> + +<p> +Miller wrinkled his heavy brows, seeing which Count Veyhard said +hurriedly,— +</p> + +<p> +“Meanwhile we will try negotiations. They will yield; it cannot be +otherwise.” +</p> + +<p> +The rest of his words were drowned by the rejoicing sound of bells, summoning +to early Mass in the church of Yasna Gora. The general with his staff rode away +slowly toward Chenstohova; but had not reached headquarters when an officer +rushed up on a foaming horse. +</p> + +<p> +“He is from Marshal Wittemberg!” said Miller. +</p> + +<p> +The officer handed him a letter. The general broke the seal hurriedly, and +running over the letter quickly with his eyes, said with confusion in his +countenance,— +</p> + +<p> +“No! This is from Poznan. Evil tidings. In Great Poland the nobles are +rising, the people are joining them. At the head of the movement is Krishtof +Jegotski, who wants to march to the aid of Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +“I foretold that these shots would be heard from the Carpathians to the +Baltic,” muttered Sadovski. “With this people change is sudden. You +do not know the Poles yet; you will discover them later.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well! we shall know them,” answered Miller. “I prefer an +open enemy to a false ally. They yielded of their own accord, and now they are +taking arms. Well! they will know our weapons.” +</p> + +<p> +“And we theirs,” blurted out Sadovski. “General, let us +finish negotiations with Chenstohova; let us agree to any capitulation. It is +not a question of the fortress, but of the rule of his Royal Grace in this +country.” +</p> + +<p> +“The monks will capitulate,” said Count Veyhard. “Today or +to-morrow they will yield.” +</p> + +<p> +So they conversed with one another; but in the cloister after early Mass the +joy was unbounded. Those who had not gone out in the sortie asked those who had +how everything had happened. Those who had taken part boasted greatly, +glorifying their own bravery and the defeat they had given the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Among the priests and women curiosity became paramount. White habits and +women’s robes covered the wall. It was a beautiful and gladsome day. The +women gathered around Charnyetski, crying “Our deliverer! our +guardian!” He defended himself particularly when they wanted to kiss his +hands, and pointing to Kmita, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Thank him too. He is Babinich,<a name="div2Ref_01" +href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> but no old woman. He will not let his hands +be kissed, for there is blood on them yet; but if any of the younger would like +to kiss him on the lips, I think that he would not flinch.” +</p> + +<p> +The younger women did in fact cast modest and at the same time enticing glances +at Pan Andrei, admiring his splendid beauty; but he did not answer with his +eyes to those dumb questions, for the sight of these maidens reminded him of +Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my poor girl!” thought he, “if you only knew that in the +service of the Most Holy Lady I am opposing those enemies whom formerly I +served to my sorrow!” +</p> + +<p> +And he promised himself that the moment the siege was over he would write to +her in Kyedani, and hurry off Soroka with the letter. “And I shall send +her not empty words and promises; for now deeds are behind me, which without +empty boasting, but accurately, I shall describe in the letter. Let her know +that she has done this, let her be comforted.” +</p> + +<p> +And he consoled himself with this thought so much that he did not even notice +how the maidens said to one another, in departing,— +</p> + +<p> +“He is a good warrior; but it is clear that he looks only to battle, and +is an unsocial grumbler.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p> +According to the wish of his officers, Miller began negotiations again. There +came to the cloister from the Swedish camp a well-known Polish noble, respected +for his age and his eloquence. They received him graciously on Yasna Gora, +judging that only in seeming and through constraint would he argue for +surrender, but in reality would add to their courage and confirm the news, +which had broken through the besieged wall, of the rising in Great Poland; of +the dislike of the quarter troops to Sweden; of the negotiations of Yan Kazimir +with the Cossacks, who, as it were, seemed willing to return to obedience; +finally, of the tremendous declaration of the Khan of the Tartars, that he was +marching with aid to the vanquished king, all of whose enemies he would pursue +with fire and sword. +</p> + +<p> +But how the monks were mistaken! The personage brought indeed a large bundle of +news,—but news that was appalling, news to cool the most fervent zeal, to +crush the most invincible resolution, stagger the most ardent faith. +</p> + +<p> +The priests and the nobles gathered around him in the council chamber, in the +midst of silence and attention; from his lips sincerity itself seemed to flow, +and pain for the fate of the country. He placed his hand frequently on his +white head as if wishing to restrain an outburst of despair; he gazed on the +crucifix; he had tears in his eyes, and in slow, broken accents, he uttered the +following words:— +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, what times the suffering country has lived to! All help is past: it +is incumbent to yield to the King of the Swedes. For whom in reality have you, +revered fathers, and you lords brothers, the nobles, seized your swords? For +whom are you sparing neither watching nor toil, nor suffering nor blood? For +whom, through resistance,—unfortunately vain,—are you exposing +yourselves and holy places to the terrible vengeance of the invincible legions +of Sweden? Is it for Yan Kazimir? But he has already disregarded our kingdom. +Do you not know that he has already made his choice, and preferring wealth, +joyous feasts; and peaceful delights to a troublesome throne, has abdicated in +favor of Karl Gustav? You are not willing to leave him, but he has left you, +you are unwilling to break your oath, he has broken it; you are ready to die +for him, but he cares not for you nor for any of us. Our lawful king now is +Karl Gustav! Be careful, then, lest you draw on your heads, not merely anger, +vengeance, and ruin, but sin before heaven, the cross, and the Most Holy Lady; +for you are raising insolent hands, not against invaders, but against your own +king.” +</p> + +<p> +These words were received in silence, as though death were flying through that +chamber. What could be more terrible than news of the abdication of Yan +Kazimir? It was in truth news monstrously improbable; but that old noble gave +it there in presence of the cross, in presence of the image of Mary, and with +tears in his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +But if it were true, further resistance was in fact madness. The nobles covered +their eyes with their hands, the monks pulled their cowls over their heads, and +silence, as of the grave, continued unbroken; but Kordetski, the prior, began +to whisper earnest prayer with his pallid lips, and his eyes, calm, deep, +clear, and piercing, were fixed on the speaker immovably. +</p> + +<p> +The noble felt that inquiring glance, was ill at ease and oppressed by it; he +wished to preserve the marks of importance, benignity, compassionate virtue, +good wishes, but could not; he began to cast restless glances on the other +fathers, and after a while he spoke further:— +</p> + +<p> +“It is the worst thing to inflame stubbornness by a long abuse of +patience. The result of your resistance will be the destruction of this holy +church, and the infliction on you—God avert it!—of a terrible and +cruel rule, which you will be forced to obey. Aversion to the world and +avoidance of its questions are the weapons of monks. What have you to do with +the uproar of war,—you, whom the precepts of your order call to +retirement and silence? My brothers, revered and most beloved fathers! do not +take on your hearts, do not take on your consciences, such a terrible +responsibility. It was not you who built this sacred retreat, not for you alone +must it serve! Permit that it flourish, and that it bless this land for long +ages, so that our sons and grandsons may rejoice in it.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the traitor opened his arms and fell into tears. The nobles were silent, +the fathers were silent; doubt had seized all. Their hearts were tortured, and +despair was at hand; the memory of baffled and useless endeavors weighed on +their minds like lead. +</p> + +<p> +“I am waiting for your answer, fathers,” said the venerable +traitor, dropping his head on his breast. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski now rose, and with a voice in which there was not the least +hesitation or doubt, spoke as if with the vision of a prophet,— +</p> + +<p> +“Your statement that Yan Kazimir has abandoned us, has abdicated and +transferred his rights to Karl Gustav, is a calumny. Hope has entered the heart +of our banished king, and never has he toiled more zealously than he is toiling +at this moment to secure the salvation of the country, to secure his throne, +and bring us aid in oppression.” +</p> + +<p> +The mask fell in an instant from the face of the traitor; malignity and deceit +were reflected in it as clearly as if dragons had crept out at once from the +dens of his soul, in which till that moment they had held themselves hidden. +</p> + +<p> +“Whence this intelligence, whence this certainty?” inquired he. +</p> + +<p> +“Whence?” answered the prior, pointing to a great crucifix hanging +on the wall. “Go! place your finger on the pierced feet of Christ, and +repeat what you have told us.” +</p> + +<p> +The traitor began to bend as if under the crushing of an iron hand, and a new +dragon, terror, crawled forth to his face. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski, the prior, stood lordly, terrible as Moses; rays seemed to shoot +from his temples. +</p> + +<p> +“Go, repeat!” said he, without lowering his hand, in a voice so +powerful that the shaken arches of the council chamber trembled and echoed as +if in fear,—“Go, repeat!” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed; at last the stifled voice of the visitor was +heard,— +</p> + +<p> +“I wash my hands—” +</p> + +<p> +“Like Pilate!” finished Kordetski. +</p> + +<p> +The traitor rose and walked out of the room. He hurried through the yard of the +cloister, and when he found himself outside the gate, he began to run, almost +as if something were hunting him from the cloister to the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski went to Charnyetski and Kmita, who had not been in the hall, to tell +them what had happened. +</p> + +<p> +“Did that envoy bring any good?” asked Charnyetski; “he had +an honest face.” +</p> + +<p> +“God guard us from such honest men!” answered Zamoyski; “he +brought doubt and temptation.” +</p> + +<p> +“What did he say?” asked Kmita, raising a little the lighted match +which he was holding in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“He spoke like a hired traitor.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is why he hastens so now, I suppose,” said Charnyetski. +“See! he is running with almost full speed to the Swedish camp. Oh, I +would send a ball after him!” +</p> + +<p> +“A good thing!” said Kmita, and he put the match to the cannon. +</p> + +<p> +The thunder of the gun was heard before Zamoyski and Charnyetski could see what +had happened. Zamoyski caught his head. +</p> + +<p> +“In God’s name!” cried he, “what have you +done?—he was an envoy.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have done ill!” answered Kmita; “for I missed. He is on +his feet again and hastens farther. Oh! why did it go over him?” Here he +turned to Zamoyski. “Though I had hit him in the loins, they could not +have proved that we fired at him purposely, and God knows I could not hold the +match in my fingers; it came down of itself. Never should I have fired at an +envoy who was a Swede, but at sight of Polish traitors my entrails +revolt.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, curb yourself; for there would be trouble, and they would be ready +to injure our envoys.” +</p> + +<p> +But Charnyetski was content in his soul; for Kmita heard him mutter, “At +least that traitor will be sure not to come on an embassy again.” +</p> + +<p> +This did not escape the ear of Zamoyski, for he answered: “If not this +one, others will be found; and do you, gentlemen, make no opposition to their +negotiations, do not interrupt them of your own will; for the more they drag +on, the more it results to our profit. Succor, if God sends it, will have time +to assemble, and a hard winter is coming, making the siege more and more +difficult. Delay is loss for the enemy, but brings profit to us.” +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski then went to the chamber, where, after the envoy’s departure, +consultation was still going on. The words of the traitor had startled men; +minds and souls were excited. They did not believe, it is true, in the +abdication of Yan Kazimir; but the envoy had held up to their vision the power +of the Swedes, which previous days of success had permitted them to forget. Now +it confronted their minds with all that terror before which towns and +fortresses not such as theirs had been frightened,—Poznan, Warsaw, +Cracow, not counting the multitude of castles which had opened their gates to +the conqueror; how could Yasna Gora defend itself in a general deluge of +defeats? +</p> + +<p> +“We shall defend ourselves a week longer, two, three,” thought to +themselves some of the nobles and some of the monks; “but what farther, +what end will there be to these efforts?” +</p> + +<p> +The whole country was like a ship already deep in the abyss, and that cloister +was peering up like the top of a mast through the waves. Could those wrecked +ones, clinging to the mast, think not merely of saving themselves, but of +raising that vessel from under the ocean? +</p> + +<p> +According to man’s calculations they could not, and still, at the moment +when Zamoyski re-entered the hall, Kordetski was saying,— +</p> + +<p> +“My brothers! if you sleep not, neither do I sleep. When you are +imploring our Patroness for rescue, I too am praying. Weariness, toil, +weakness, cling to my bones as well as to yours; responsibility in like manner +weighs upon me—nay, more perhaps, than upon you. Why have I faith while +you seem in doubt? Enter into yourselves; or is it that your eyes, blinded by +earthly power, see not a power greater than the Swedes? Or think you that no +defence will suffice, that no hand can overcome that preponderance? If that is +the case your thoughts are sinful, and you blaspheme against the mercy of God, +against the all-might of our Lord, against the power of that Patroness whose +servants you call yourselves. Who of you will dare to say that that Most Holy +Queen cannot shield us and send victory? Therefore let us beseech her, let us +implore night and day, till by our endurance, our humility, our tears, our +sacrifice of body and health, we soften her heart, and pray away our previous +sins.” +</p> + +<p> +“Father,” said one of the nobles, “it is not a question for +us of our lives or of our wives and children; but we tremble at the thought of +the insults which may be put on the image, should the enemy capture the +fortress by storm.” +</p> + +<p> +“And we do not wish to take on ourselves the responsibility,” added +another. +</p> + +<p> +“For no one has a right to take it, not even the prior,” added a +third. +</p> + +<p> +And the opposition increased, and gained boldness, all the more since many +monks maintained silence. The prior, instead of answering directly, began to +pray. +</p> + +<p> +“O Mother of Thy only Son!” said he, raising his hands and his eyes +toward heaven, “if Thou hast visited us so that in Thy capital we should +give an example to others of endurance, of bravery, of faithfulness to Thee, to +the country, to the king,—if Thou hast chosen this place in order to +rouse by it the consciences of men and save the whole country, have mercy on +those who desire to restrain, to stop the fountain of Thy grace, to hinder Thy +miracles, and resist Thy holy will.” Here he remained a moment in +ecstasy, and then turned to the monks and nobles: “What man will take on +his shoulders this responsibility,—the responsibility of stopping the +miracles of Mary Her grace. Her salvation for this kingdom and the Catholic +faith?” +</p> + +<p> +“In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” answered a number +of voices, “God preserve us from that!” +</p> + +<p> +“Such a man will not be found!” cried Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p> +And those of the monks in whose hearts doubt had been plunging began to beat +their breasts, for no small fear had now seized them; and none of the +councillors thought of surrender that evening. +</p> + +<p> +But though the hearts of the older men were strengthened, the destructive +planting of that hireling had given forth fruits of poison. +</p> + +<p> +News of the abdication of Yan Kazimir and the improbability of succor went from +the nobles to the women, from the women to the servants; the servants spread it +among the soldiers, on whom it made the very worst impression. The peasants +were astonished least of all; but experienced soldiers, accustomed to calculate +the turns of war in soldier fashion only, began to assemble and explain to one +another the impossibility of further defence, complaining of the stubbornness +of monks, who did not understand the position; and, finally, to conspire and +talk in secret. +</p> + +<p> +A certain gunner, a German of suspected fidelity, proposed that the soldiers +themselves take the matter in hand, and come to an understanding with the +Swedes touching the surrender of the fortress. Others caught at this idea; but +there were those who not only opposed the treason resolutely, but informed +Kordetski of it without delay. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski, who knew how to join with the firmest trust in the powers of heaven +the greatest earthly adroitness and caution, destroyed the secretly spreading +treason in its inception. +</p> + +<p> +First of all he expelled from the fortress the leaders of the treason, and at +the head of them that gunner, having no fear whatever of what they could inform +the Swedes regarding the state of the fortress and its weak sides; then, +doubling the monthly wages of the garrison, he took from them an oath to defend +the cloister to the last drop of their blood. +</p> + +<p> +But he redoubled also his watchfulness, resolving to look with more care to the +paid soldiers, as well as the nobles, and even his own monks. The older fathers +were detailed to the night choirs; the younger, besides the service of God, +were obliged to render service on the walls. +</p> + +<p> +Next day a review of the infantry was held. To each bastion one noble with his +servants, ten monks and two reliable gunners were detailed. All these were +bound to watch, night and day, the places confided to them. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Mosinski took his place at the northeastern bastion; he was a good soldier, +the man whose little child had survived in a miraculous manner, though a bomb +fell near its cradle. With him Father Hilary Slavoshevski kept guard. On the +western bastion was Father Myeletski, of the nobles Pan Mikolai Kryshtoporski, +a man surly and abrupt in speech, but of unterrified valor. The southeastern +bastion was occupied by Charnyetski and Kmita, and with them was Father Adam +Stypulski, who had formerly been a hussar. He, when the need came, tucked up +his habit, aimed cannon, and took no more heed of the balls flying over his +head than did the old sergeant Soroka. Finally, to the southwestern bastion +were appointed Pan Skorjevski and Father Daniel Ryhtalski, who were +distinguished by this, that both could abstain from sleep two and three nights +in succession without harm to their health or their strength. +</p> + +<p> +Fathers Dobrosh and Malahovski were appointed over the sentries. Persons +unfitted for fighting were appointed to the roofs. The armory and all military +implements Father Lyassota took under his care; after Father Dobrosh, he took +also the office of master of the fires. In the night he had to illuminate the +walls so that infantry of the enemy might not approach them. He arranged +sockets and iron-holders on the towers, on which flamed at night torches and +lights. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, the whole tower looked every night like one gigantic torch. It is true +that this lightened cannonading for the Swedes; but it might serve as a sign +that the fortress was holding out yet, if, perchance, some army should march to +relieve the besieged. +</p> + +<p> +So then not only had designs of surrender crept apart into nothing, but the +besieged turned with still greater zeal to defence. Next morning the prior +walked along the walls, like a shepherd through a sheepfold, saw that +everything was right, smiled kindly, praised the chiefs and the soldiers, and +coming to Charnyetski, said with radiant face,— +</p> + +<p> +“Our beloved leader, Pan Zamoyski, rejoices equally with me, for he says +that we are now twice as strong as at first. A new spirit has entered +men’s hearts, the grace of the Most Holy Lady will do the rest; but +meanwhile I will take to negotiations again. We will delay and put off, for by +such means the blood of people will be spared.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, revered father!” said Kmita, “what good are +negotiations? Loss of time! Better another sortie to-night, and we will cut up +those dogs.” +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski (for he was in good humor) smiled as a mother smiles at a wayward +child; then he raised a band of straw lying near the gun, and pretended to +strike Pan Andrei with it on the shoulders: “And you will interfere here, +you Lithuanian plague; you will lap blood as a wolf, and give an example of +disobedience; here it is for you, here it is for you!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, delighted as a schoolboy, dodged to the right and to the left, and as if +teasing purposely, repeated: “Kill the Swedes! kill, kill, kill!” +</p> + +<p> +And so they gave comfort to one another, having ardent souls devoted to the +country. But Kordetski did not omit negotiations, seeing that Miller desired +them earnestly and caught after every pretext. This desire pleased Kordetski, +for he divined, without trouble, that it could not be going well with the enemy +if he was so anxious to finish. +</p> + +<p> +Days passed then, one after another, in which guns and muskets were not indeed +silent, but pens were working mainly. In this way the siege was prolonged, and +winter was coming harsher and harsher. On the Carpathian summits clouds hatched +in their precipitous nests storms, frost, and snows, and then came forth on the +country, leading their icy descendants. At night the Swedes cowered around +fires, choosing to die from the balls of the cloister rather than freeze. +</p> + +<p> +A hard winter had rendered difficult the digging of trenches and the making of +mines. There was no progress in the siege. In the mouths not merely of +officers, but of the whole army, there was only one +word,—“negociations.” +</p> + +<p> +The priests feigned at first a desire to surrender. Father Dobrosh and the +learned priest Sebastyan Stavitski came to Miller as envoys. They gave him some +hope of agreement. He had barely heard this when he opened his arms and was +ready to seize them with joy to his embraces. It was no longer a question of +Chenstohova, but of the whole country. The surrender of Yasna Gora would have +removed the last hope of the patriots, and pushed the Commonwealth finally into +the arms of the King of Sweden; while, on the contrary, resistance, and that a +victorious resistance, might change hearts and call out a terrible new war. +Signs were not wanting. Miller knew this, felt what he had undertaken, what a +terrible responsibility was weighing on him; he knew that either the favor of +the king, with the baton of a marshal, honors, a title, were waiting for him, +or final fall. Since he had begun to convince himself that he could not crack +this “nut,” he received the priests with unheard-of honor, as if +they were embassadors from the Emperor of Germany or the Sultan. He invited +them to a feast, he drank to their honor, and also to the health of the prior +and Pan Zamoyski; he gave them fish for the cloister; finally, he offered +conditions of surrender so gracious that he did not doubt for a moment that +they would be accepted in haste. +</p> + +<p> +The fathers thanked him humbly, as beseemed monks; they took the paper and went +their way. Miller promised the opening of the gates at eight of the following +morning. Joy indescribable reigned in the camp of the Swedes. The soldiers left +the trenches, approached the walls, and began to address the besieged. +</p> + +<p> +But it was announced from the cloister that in an affair of such weight the +prior must consult the whole Congregation; the monks therefore begged for one +day’s delay. Miller consented without hesitation. Meanwhile they were +counselling in the chamber till late at night. +</p> + +<p> +Though Miller was an old and trained warrior, though there was not, perhaps, in +the whole Swedish army a general who had conducted more negotiations with +various places than that Poliorcetes, still his heart beat unquietly when next +morning he saw two white habits approaching his quarters. +</p> + +<p> +They were not the same fathers. First walked Father Bleshynski, a reader of +philosophy, bearing a sealed letter; after him came Father Malahovski, with +hands crossed on his breast, with drooping head and a face slightly pale. +</p> + +<p> +The general received them surrounded by his staff and all his noted colonels; +and when he had answered politely the submissive bow of Father Bleshynski, he +took the letter from his hand hastily and began to read. +</p> + +<p> +But all at once his face changed terribly: a wave of blood flew to his head; +his eyes were bursting forth, his neck grew thick, and terrible anger raised +the hair under his wig. For a while speech was taken from him; he only +indicated with his hand the letter to the Prince of Hesse, who ran over it with +his eyes, and turning to the colonels, said calmly,— +</p> + +<p> +“The monks declare only this much, that they cannot renounce Yan Kazimir +before the primate proclaims a new king; or speaking in other words, they will +not recognize Karl Gustav.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the Prince of Hesse laughed. Sadovski fixed a jeering glance on Miller, +and Count Veyhard began to pluck his own beard from rage. A terrible murmur of +excitement rose among those present. +</p> + +<p> +Then Miller struck his palms on his knees and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Guards, guards!” +</p> + +<p> +The mustached faces of four musketeers showed themselves quickly in the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Take those shaven sticks,” cried the general, “and confine +them! And Pan Sadovski, do you trumpet for me under the cloister, that if they +open fire from one cannon on the walls, I will hang these two monks the next +moment.” +</p> + +<p> +The two priests were led out amid ridicule and the scoffing of soldiers. The +musketeers put their own caps on the priests’ heads, or rather on their +faces to cover their eyes, and led them of purpose to various obstacles. When +either of the priests stumbled or fell, an outburst of laughter was heard in +the crowds; but the fallen man they raised with the butts of muskets, and +pretending to support, they pushed him by the loins and the shoulders. Some +threw horse-dung at the priests; others took snow and rubbed it on their shaven +crowns, or let it roll down on their habits. The soldiers tore strings from +trumpets, and tying one end to the neck of each priest, held the other, and +imitating men taking cattle to a fair, called out the prices. +</p> + +<p> +Both fathers walked on in silence, with hands crossed on their breasts and +prayers on their lips. Finally, trembling from cold and insulted, they were +enclosed in a barn; around the place guards armed with muskets were stationed. +</p> + +<p> +Miller’s command, or rather his threat, was trumpeted under the cloister +walls. +</p> + +<p> +The fathers were frightened, and the troops were benumbed from the threat. The +cannon were silent; a council was assembled, they knew not what to do. To leave +the fathers in cruel hands was impossible; and if they sent others, Miller +would detain them as well. A few hours later he himself sent a messenger, +asking what the monks thought of doing. +</p> + +<p> +They answered that until the fathers were freed no negotiations could take +place; for how could the monks believe that the general would observe +conditions with them if, despite the chief law of nations, he imprisoned envoys +whose sacredness even barbarians respect? +</p> + +<p> +To this declaration there was no ready answer; hence terrible uncertainty +weighed on the cloister and froze the zeal of its defenders. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedish army dug new trenches in haste, filled baskets with earth, planted +cannon; insolent soldiers pushed forward to within half a musket-shot of the +walls. They threatened the church, the defenders; half-drunken soldiers +shouted, raising their hands toward the walls, “Surrender the cloister, +or you will see your monks hanging!” +</p> + +<p> +Others blasphemed terribly against the Mother of God and the Catholic faith. +The besieged, out of respect to the life of the fathers, had to listen with +patience. Rage stopped the breath in Kmita’s breast. He tore the hair on +his head, the clothing on his breast, and wringing his hands, said to +Charnyetski,— +</p> + +<p> +“I asked, ‘Of what use is negotiation with criminals?’ Now +stand and suffer, while they are crawling into our eyes and blaspheming! Mother +of God, have mercy on me, and give me patience! By the living God, they will +begin soon to climb the walls! Hold me, chain me like a murderer, for I shall +not contain myself.” +</p> + +<p> +But the Swedes came ever nearer, blaspheming more boldly. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile a fresh event brought the besieged to despair. Stefan Charnyetski in +surrendering Cracow had obtained the condition of going out with all his +troops, and remaining with them in Silesia till the end of the war. Seven +hundred infantry of those troops of the royal guard, under command of Colonel +Wolf, were near the boundary, and trusting in stipulations, were not on their +guard. Count Veyhard persuaded Miller to capture those men. +</p> + +<p> +Miller sent Count Veyhard himself, with two thousand cavalry, who crossing the +boundary at night attacked those troops during sleep, and captured them to the +last man. When they were brought to the Swedish camp, Miller commanded to lead +them around the wall, so as to show the priests that that army from which they +had hoped succor would serve specially for the capture of Chenstohova. +</p> + +<p> +The sight of that brilliant guard of the king dragged along the walls was +crushing to the besieged, for no one doubted that Miller would force them first +to the storm. +</p> + +<p> +Panic spread again among the troops of the cloister; some of the soldiers began +to break their weapons and exclaim that there was help no longer, that it was +necessary to surrender at the earliest. Even the hearts of the nobles had +fallen; some of them appeared before Kordetski again with entreaties to take +pity on their children, on the sacred place, on the image, and on the +Congregation of monks. The courage of the prior and Pan Zamoyski was barely +enough to put down this movement. +</p> + +<p> +But Kordetski had the liberation of the imprisoned fathers on his mind first of +all, and he took the best method; for he wrote to Miller that he would +sacrifice those brothers willingly for the good of the church. Let the general +condemn them to death; all would know in future what to expect from him, and +what faith to give his promises. +</p> + +<p> +Miller was joyful, for he thought the affair was approaching its end. But he +did not trust the words of Kordetski at once, nor his readiness to sacrifice +the monks. He sent therefore one of them, Father Bleshynski, to the cloister, +binding him first with an oath to explain the power of the Swedes and the +impossibility of resistance. The monk repeated everything faithfully, but his +eyes spoke something else, and concluding he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“But prizing life less than the good of the Congregation, I am waiting +for the will of the council; and whatsoever you decide I will lay before the +enemy most faithfully.” +</p> + +<p> +They directed him to say: “The monks are anxious to treat, but cannot +believe a general who imprisons envoys.” Next day the other envoy of the +fathers came to the cloister, and returned with a similar answer. +</p> + +<p> +After this both heard the sentence of death. The sentence was read at +Miller’s quarters in presence of the staff and distinguished officers. +All observed carefully the faces of the monks, curious to learn what impression +the sentence would make; and with the greatest amazement they saw in both a joy +as great, as unearthly, as if the highest fortune had been announced to them. +The pale faces of the monks flushed suddenly, their eyes were filled with +light, and Father Malahovski said with a voice trembling from emotion,— +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! why should we not die to-day, since we are predestined to fall a +sacrifice for our Lord and the king?” +</p> + +<p> +Miller commanded to lead them forth straightway. The officers looked at one +another. At last one remarked; “A struggle with such fanaticism is +difficult.” +</p> + +<p> +The Prince of Hesse added: “Only the first Christians had such faith. Is +that what you wish to say?” Then he turned to Count Veyhard. “Pan +Veyhard,” said he, “I should be glad to know what you think of +these monks?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have no need to trouble my head over them,” answered he, +insolently; “the general has already taken care of them.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Sadovski stepped forward to the middle of the room, stood before Miller, +and said with decision: “Your worthiness, do not command to execute these +monks.” +</p> + +<p> +“But why not?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because there will be no talk of negotiations after that; for the +garrison of the fortress will be flaming with vengeance, and those men will +rather fall one upon the other than surrender.” +</p> + +<p> +“Wittemberg will send me heavy guns.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, do not do this deed,” continued Sadovski, with +force; “they are envoys who have come here with confidence.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall not have them hanged on confidence, but on gibbets.” +</p> + +<p> +“The echo of this deed will spread through the whole country, will enrage +all hearts, and turn them away from us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Give me peace with your echoes; I have heard of them already a hundred +times.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness will not do this without the knowledge of his Royal +Grace?” +</p> + +<p> +“You have no right to remind me of my duties to the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I have the right to ask for permission to resign from service, and +to present my reasons to his Royal Grace. I wish to be a soldier, not an +executioner.” +</p> + +<p> +The Prince of Hesse issued from the circle in the middle of the room, and said +ostentatiously,— +</p> + +<p> +“Give me your hand. Pan Sadovski; you are a gentleman, a noble, and an +honest man.” +</p> + +<p> +“What does this mean?” roared Miller, springing from his seat. +</p> + +<p> +“General,” answered the Prince of Hesse, “I permit myself to +remark that Pan Sadovski is an honorable man, and I judge that there is nothing +in this against discipline.” +</p> + +<p> +Miller did not like the Prince of Hesse; but that cool, polite, and also +contemptuous manner of speaking, special to men of high rank, imposed on him, +as it does on many persons of low birth. Miller made great efforts to acquire +this manner, but had no success. He restrained his outburst, however, and said +calmly,— +</p> + +<p> +“The monks will be hanged to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is not my affair,” answered the Prince of Hesse; “but +in that event let your worthiness order an attack on those two thousand Poles +who are in our camp, for if you do not they will attack us. Even now it is less +dangerous for a Swedish soldier to go among a pack of wolves than among their +tents. This is all I have to say, and now I permit myself to wish you +success.” When he had said this he left the quarters. +</p> + +<p> +Miller saw that he had gone too far. But he did not withdraw his orders, and +that same day gibbets wore erected in view of the whole cloister. At the same +time the soldiers, taking advantage of the truce, pushed still nearer the +walls, not ceasing to jeer, insult, blaspheme, and challenge. Whole throngs of +them climbed the mountain, stood as closely together as if they intended to +make an assault. +</p> + +<p> +That time Kmita, whom they had not chained as he had requested, did not in fact +restrain himself, and thundered from a cannon into the thickest group, with +such effect that he laid down in a row all those who stood in front of the +shot. That was like a watchword; for at once, without orders, and even in spite +of orders, all the cannons began to play, muskets and guns thundered. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes, exposed to fire from every side, fled from the fortress with +howling and screaming, many falling dead on the road. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski sprang to Kmita: “Do you know that for that the reward is a +bullet in the head?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know, all one to me. Let me be—” +</p> + +<p> +“In that case aim surely.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita aimed surely; soon, however, he missed. A great movement rose meanwhile +in the Swedish camp, but it was so evident that the Swedes were the first to +violate the truce, that Miller himself recognized in his soul that the besieged +were in the right. +</p> + +<p> +What is more, Kmita did not even suspect that with his shots he had perhaps +saved the lives of the fathers; but Miller, because of these shots, became +convinced that the monks in the last extremity were really ready to sacrifice +their two brethren for the good of the church and the cloister. +</p> + +<p> +The shots beat into his head this idea also, that if a hair were to fall from +the heads of the envoys, he would not hear from the cloister anything save +similar thunders; so next day he invited the two imprisoned monks to dinner, +and the day after he sent them to the cloister. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski wept when he saw them, all took them in their arms and were +astonished at hearing from their mouths that it was specially owing to those +shots that they were saved. The prior, who had been angry at Kmita, called him +at once and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I was angry because I thought that you had destroyed the two fathers; +but the Most Holy Lady evidently inspired you. This is a sign of Her favor, be +rejoiced.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dearest, beloved father, there will be no more negotiations, will +there?” asked Kmita, kissing Kordetski’s hands. +</p> + +<p> +But barely had he finished speaking, when a trumpet was heard at the gates, and +an envoy from Miller entered the cloister. +</p> + +<p> +This was Pan Kuklinovski, colonel of the volunteer squadron attached to the +Swedes. The greatest ruffians without honor or faith served in that squadron, +in part dissidents such as Lutherans, Arians, Calvinists,—whereby was +explained their friendship for Sweden; but a thirst for robbery and plunder +attracted them mainly to Miller’s army. That band, made up of nobles, +outlaws, fugitives from prison and from the hands of a master, of attendants, +and of gallows-birds snatched from the rope, was somewhat like Kmita’s +old party, save in this, that Kmita’s men fought as do lions, and those +preferred to plunder, offer violence to noble women, break open stables and +treasure chests. But Kuklinovski himself had less resemblance to Kmita. Age had +mixed gray with his hair. He had a face dried, insolent, and shameless. His +eyes, which were unusually prominent and greedy, indicated violence of +character. He was one of those soldiers in whom, because of a turbulent life +and continuous wars, conscience had been burned out to the bottom. A multitude +of such men strolled about in that time, after the Thirty Years’ War, +through all Germany and Poland. They were ready to serve any man, and more than +once a mere simple incident determined the side on which they were to stand. +</p> + +<p> +Country and faith, in a word all things sacred, were thoroughly indifferent to +them. They recognized nothing but war, and sought in it pleasure, dissipation, +profit, and oblivion of life. But still when they had chosen some side they +served it loyally enough, and that through a certain soldier-robber honor, so +as not to close the career to themselves and to others. Such a man was +Kuklinovski. Stern daring and immeasurable stubbornness had won for him +consideration among the disorderly. It was easy for him to find men. He had +served in various arms and services. He had been ataman in the Saitch; he had +led regiments in Wallachia; in Germany he had enlisted volunteers in the Thirty +Years’ War, and had won a certain fame as a leader of cavalry. His +crooked legs, bent in bow fashion, showed that he had spent the greater part of +his life on horseback. He was as thin as a splinter, and somewhat bent from +profligacy. Much blood, shed not in war only, weighed upon him. And still he +was not a man wholly wicked by nature; he felt at times nobler influences. But +he was spoiled to the marrow of his bones, and insolent to the last degree. +Frequently had he said in intimate company, in drink; “More than one deed +was done for which the thunderbolt should have fallen, but it fell not.” +</p> + +<p> +The effect of this impunity was that he did not believe in the justice of God, +and punishment, not only during life, but after death. In other words, he did +not believe in God; still, he believed in the devil, in witches, in +astrologers, and in alchemy. He wore the Polish dress, for he thought it most +fitting for cavalry; but his mustache, still black, he trimmed in Swedish +fashion, and spread at the ends turned upward. In speaking he made every word +diminutive, like a child; this produced a strange impression when heard from +the mouth of such a devil incarnate and such a cruel ruffian, who was ever +gulping human blood. He talked much and boastingly; clearly he thought himself +a celebrated personage, and one of the first cavalry colonels on earth. +</p> + +<p> +Miller, who, though on a broader pattern, belonged himself to a similar class, +valued him greatly, and loved specially to seat him at his own table. At that +juncture Kuklinovski forced himself on the general as an assistant, +guaranteeing that he would with his eloquence bring the priests to their senses +at once. +</p> + +<p> +Earlier, when, after the arrest of the priests, Pan Zamoyski was preparing to +visit Miller’s camp and asked for a hostage, Miller sent Kuklinovski; but +Zamoyski and the prior would not accept him, as not being of requisite rank. +</p> + +<p> +From that moment, touched in his self-love, Kuklinovski conceived a mortal +hatred for the defenders of Yasna Gora, and determined to injure them with all +his power. Therefore he chose himself as an embassy,—first for the +embassy itself, and second so as to survey everything and cast evil seed here +and there. Since he was long known to Charnyetski he approached the gate +guarded by him; but Charnyetski was sleeping at the time,—Kmita, taking +his place, conducted the guest to the council hall. +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski looked at Pan Andrei with the eye of a specialist, and at once he +was pleased not only with the form but the bearing of the young hero, which +might serve as a model. +</p> + +<p> +“A soldier,” said he, raising his hand to his cap, “knows at +once a real soldier. I did not think that the priests had such men in their +service. What is your rank, I pray?” +</p> + +<p> +In Kmita, who had the zeal of a new convert, the soul revolted at sight of +Poles who served Swedes; still, he remembered the recent anger of Kordetski at +his disregard of negotiations; therefore he answered coldly, but calmly,— +</p> + +<p> +“I am Babinich, former colonel in the Lithuanian army, but now a +volunteer in the service of the Most Holy Lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I am Kuklinovski, also colonel, of whom you must have heard; for +during more than one little war men mentioned frequently that name and this +sabre [here he struck at his side], not only here in the Commonwealth, but in +foreign countries.” +</p> + +<p> +“With the forehead,” said Kmita, “I have heard.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, so you are from Lithuania, and in that land are famous soldiers. +We know of each other, for the trumpet of fame is to be heard from one end of +the world to the other. Do you know there, worthy sir, a certain Kmita?” +</p> + +<p> +The question fell so suddenly that Pan Andrei was as if fixed to the spot. +“But why do you ask of him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because I love him, though I know him not, for we are alike as two boots +of one pair; and I always repeat this, with your permission, ‘There are +two genuine soldiers in the Commonwealth,—I in the kingdom, and Kmita in +Lithuania,’—a pair of dear doves, is not that true? Did you know +him personally?” +</p> + +<p> +“Would to God that you were killed!” thought Kmita; but, +remembering Kuklinovski’s character of envoy, he answered aloud: “I +did not know him personally. But now come in, for the council is +waiting.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, he indicated the door through which a priest came out to +receive the guest. Kuklinovski entered the chamber with him at once, but first +he turned to Kmita: “It would please me,” said he, “if at my +return you and none other were to conduct me out.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will wait here,” answered Kmita. And he was left alone. After a +while he began to walk back and forth with quick steps; his whole soul was +roused within him, and his heart was filled with blood, black from anger. +</p> + +<p> +“Pitch does not stick to a garment like evil fame to a man,” +muttered he. “This scoundrel, this wretch, this traitor calls me boldly +his brother, and thinks he has me as a comrade. See to what I have come! All +gallows-birds proclaim me their own, and no decent man calls me to mind without +horror. I have done little yet, little! If I could only give a lesson to this +rascal! It cannot be but that I shall put my score on him.” +</p> + +<p> +The council lasted long in the chamber. It had grown dark. Kmita was waiting +yet. +</p> + +<p> +At last Kuklinovski appeared. Pan Andrei could not see the colonel’s +face, but he inferred from his quick panting, that the mission had failed, and +had been also displeasing, for the envoy had lost desire for talk. They walked +on then for some time in silence. Kmita determined meanwhile to get at the +truth, and said with feigned sympathy,— +</p> + +<p> +“Surely, you are coming with nothing.—Our priests are stubborn; +and, between you and me, they act ill, for we cannot defend ourselves +forever.” +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski halted and pulled him by the sleeve. “And do you think that +they act ill? You have your senses; these priests will be ground into +bran,—I guarantee that! They are unwilling to obey Kuklinovski; they will +obey his sword.” +</p> + +<p> +“You see, it is not a question of the priests with me,” said Kmita, +“but of this place, which is holy, that is not to be denied, but which +the later it is surrendered the more severe must the conditions be. Is what men +say true, that through the country tumults are rising, that here and there they +are slashing the Swedes, and that the Khan is marching with aid? If that is +true, Miller must retreat.” +</p> + +<p> +“I tell you in confidence, a wish for Swedish broth is rising in the +country, and likely in the army as well; that is true. They are talking of the +Khan also. But Miller will not retreat; in a couple of days heavy artillery +will come. We’ll dig these foxes out of their hole, and then what will be +will be!—But you have sense.” +</p> + +<p> +“Here is the gate!” said Kmita; “here I must leave you, +unless you wish me to attend you down the slope?” +</p> + +<p> +“Attend me, attend me! A couple of days ago you fired after an +envoy.” +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed! What do you mean?” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe unwillingly. But better attend me; I have a few words to say to +you.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well.” +</p> + +<p> +They went outside the gate and sank in the darkness. Here Kuklinovski stopped, +and taking Kmita again by the sleeve, began to speak,— +</p> + +<p> +“You, Sir Cavalier, seem to me adroit and foreseeing, and besides I feel +in you a soldier, blood and bone. What the devil do you stick to priests for, +and not to soldiers? Why be a serving lad for priests? There is a better and a +pleasanter company with us,—with cups, dice, and women. Do you +understand?” +</p> + +<p> +Here he pressed Kmita’s arm with his fingers. “This house,” +continued he, pointing with his finger to the fortress, “is on fire, and +a fool is he who flees not from a house when ’tis burning. Maybe you fear +the name of traitor? Spit on those who would call you that! Come to our +company; I, Kuklinovski, propose this. Obey, if you like; if you don’t +like, obey not—there will be no offence. General Miller will receive you +well, I guarantee that; you have touched my heart, and I speak thus from good +wishes. Ours is a joyous company, joyous! A soldier’s freedom is in +this,—to serve whom he likes. Monks are nothing to you! If a bit of +virtue hinders you, then cough it out. Remember this also, that honest men +serve with us. How many nobles, magnates, hetmans! What can be better? Who +takes the part of our little Kazimir? No man save Sapyeha alone, who is bending +Radzivill.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita grew curious; “Did you say that Sapyeha is bending +Radzivill?” +</p> + +<p> +“I did. He is troubling him terribly there in Podlyasye, and is besieging +him now in Tykotsin. But we do not disturb him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why is that?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because the King of Sweden wants them to devour one another. Radzivill +was never reliable; he was thinking of himself. Besides, he is barely +breathing. Whoever lets himself be besieged is in a fix, he is finished.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will not the Swedes go to succor him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Who is to go? The king himself is in Prussia, for there lies the great +question. The elector has wriggled out hitherto; he will not wriggle out this +time. In Great Poland is war, Wittemberg is needed in Cracow, Douglas has work +with the hill-men; so they have left Radzivill to himself. Let Sapyeha devour +him. Sapyeha has grown, that is true, but his turn will come also. Our Karl, +when he finishes with Prussia, will twist the horns of Sapyeha. Now there is no +power against him, for all Lithuania stands at his side.” +</p> + +<p> +“But Jmud?” +</p> + +<p> +“Pontus de la Gardie holds that in his paws, and heavy are the paws, I +know him.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is it that Radzivill has fallen, he whose power was equal to that of +kings?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is quenching already, quenching—” +</p> + +<p> +“Wonderful are the ordinances of God!” +</p> + +<p> +“The wheel of war changes. But no more of this. Well, what? Do you make +up your mind to my proposition? You’ll not be sorry! Come to us. If it is +too hurried to-day, think till to-morrow, till the day after, before the heavy +artillery comes. These people here trust you evidently, since you pass through +the gate as you do now. Or come with letters and go back no more.” +</p> + +<p> +“You attract others to the Swedish side, for you are an envoy of +Sweden,” said Kmita; “it does not beseem you to act otherwise, +though in your soul who knows what you think? There are those who serve the +Swedes, but wish them ill in their hearts.” +</p> + +<p> +“Word of a cavalier!” answered Kuklinovski, “that I speak +sincerely, and not because I am filling the function of an envoy. Outside the +gate I am no longer an envoy; and if you wish I will remove the office of envoy +of my own will, and speak to you as a private man. Throw that vile fortress to +the devil!” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you say this as a private man?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> + +<p> +“And may I give answer to you as to a private man?” +</p> + +<p> +“As true as life I propose it myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then listen, Pan Kuklinovski,” Here Kmita inclined and looked into +the very eyes of the ruffian. “You are a rascal, a traitor, a scoundrel, +a crab-monger, an arch-cur! Have you enough, or shall I spit in your eyes +yet?” +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski was astounded to such a degree that for a time there was silence. +</p> + +<p> +“What is this? How is this? Do I hear correctly?” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you enough, you cur? or do you wish me to spit in your eyes?” +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski drew his sabre; but Kmita caught him with his iron hand by the +wrist, twisted his arm, wrested the sabre from him, then slapped him on the +cheek so that the sound went out in the darkness; seized him by the other side, +turned him in his hand like a top, and kicking him with all his strength, +cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“To a private man, not to an envoy!” +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski rolled down like a stone thrown from a ballista. Pan Andrei went +quietly to the gate. +</p> + +<p> +The two men parted on the slope of the eminence; hence it was difficult to see +them from the walls. But Kmita found waiting for him at the gate Kordetski, who +took him aside at once, and asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“What were you doing so long with Kuklinovski.” +</p> + +<p> +“I was entering into confidence with him,” answered Pan Andrei. +</p> + +<p> +“What did he say?” +</p> + +<p> +“He said that it was true concerning the Khan.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God, who can change the hearts of pagans and make friends +out of enemies.” +</p> + +<p> +“He told me that Great Poland is moving.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God!” +</p> + +<p> +“That the quarter soldiers are more and more unwilling to remain with the +Swedes; that in Podlyasye, the voevoda of Vityebsk, Sapyeha, has beaten the +traitor Radzivill, and that he has all honest people with him. As all Lithuania +stands by him, except Jmud, which De la Gardie has taken.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God! Have you had no other talk with each other?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes; Kuklinovski tried afterward to persuade me to go over to the +Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +“I expected that,” said the prior; “he is a bad man. And what +did you answer?” +</p> + +<p> +“You see he told me, revered father, as follows: ‘I put aside my +office of envoy, which without that is finished beyond the gates, and I +persuade you as a private man.’ And I to make sure asked, ‘May I +answer as to a private man?’ He said, +‘Yes’—then—” +</p> + +<p> +“What then?” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I gave it to him in the snout, and he rolled down hill.” +</p> + +<p> +“In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” +</p> + +<p> +“Be not angry, father; I acted very carefully, and that he will not say a +word about the matter to any man is certain.” +</p> + +<p> +The priest was silent for a time, then said; “That you acted honestly, I +know. I am only troubled at this, that you have gained a new enemy. He is a +terrible man.” +</p> + +<p> +“One more, one less!” said Kmita. Then he bent to the ear of the +priest. “But Prince Boguslav, he at least is an enemy! What is such a +Kuklinovski? I don’t even look back at him.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p> +Now the terrible Arwid Wittemberg made himself heard. A famous officer brought +his stern letter to the cloister, commanding the fathers to surrender the +fortress to Miller. “In the opposite event,” wrote Wittemberg, +“if you do not abandon resistance, and do not yield to the said general, +you may be sure that a punishment awaits you which will serve others as an +example. The blame for your suffering lay to yourselves.” +</p> + +<p> +The fathers after receiving this letter determined in old fashion to +procrastinate, and present new difficulties daily. Again days passed during +which the thunder of artillery interrupted negotiations, and the contrary. +</p> + +<p> +Miller declared that he wished to introduce his garrison only to insure the +cloister against bands of freebooters. The fathers answered that since their +garrison appeared sufficient against such a powerful leader as the general +himself, all the more would it suffice against bands of freebooters. They +implored Miller, therefore, by all that was sacred, by the respect which the +people had for the place, by God and by Mary, to go to Vyelunie, or wherever it +might please him. But the patience of the Swedes was exhausted. That humility +of the besieged, who implored for mercy while they were firing more and more +quickly from cannons, brought the chief and the army to desperation. +</p> + +<p> +At first Miller could not get it into his head why, when the whole country had +surrendered, that one place was defending itself; what power was upholding +them; in the name of what hopes did these monks refuse to yield, for what were +they striving, for what were they hoping? +</p> + +<p> +But flowing time brought more clearly the answer to that question. The +resistance which had begun there was spreading like a conflagration. In spite +of a rather dull brain, the general saw at last what the question with +Kordetski was; and besides, Sadovski had explained incontrovertibly that it was +not a question of that rocky nest, nor of Yasna Gora, nor of the treasures +gathered in the cloister, nor of the safety of the Congregation, but of the +fate of the whole Commonwealth. Miller discovered that that silent priest knew +what he was doing, that he had knowledge of his mission, that he had risen as a +prophet to enlighten the land by example,—to call with a mighty voice to +the east and the west, to the north and the south, <i>Sursum corda!</i> (Raise +your hearts) in order to rouse, either by his victory or his death and +sacrifice, the sleeping from their slumber, to purify the sinful, to bring +light into darkness. +</p> + +<p> +When he had discovered this, that old warrior was simply terrified at that +defender and at his own task. All at once that “hen-house” of +Chenstohova seemed to him a giant mountain defended by a Titan, and the general +seemed small to himself; and on his own army he looked, for the first time in +his life, as on a handful of wretched worms. Was it for them to raise hands +against that mysterious and heaven-touching power? Therefore Miller was +terrified, and doubt began to steal into his heart. Seeing that the fault would +be placed upon him, he began himself to seek the guilty, and his anger fell +first on Count Veyhard. Disputes rose in the camp, and dissensions began to +inflame hearts against one another; the works of the siege had to suffer +therefrom. +</p> + +<p> +Miller had been too long accustomed to estimate men and events by the common +measure of a soldier, not to console himself still at times with the thought +that at last the fortress would surrender. And taking things in human fashion, +it could not be otherwise. Besides, Wittemberg was sending him six siege guns +of the heaviest calibre, which had shown their force at Cracow. +</p> + +<p> +“Devil take it!” thought Miller; “such walls will not stand +against guns like these, and if that nest of terrors, of superstitions, of +enchantment, winds up in smoke, then things will take another turn, and the +whole country will be pacified.” +</p> + +<p> +While waiting for the heavier guns, he commanded to fire from the smaller. The +days of conflict returned. But in vain did balls of fire fall on the roofs, in +vain did the best gunners exert superhuman power. As often as the wind blew +away the sea of smoke, the cloister appeared untouched, imposing as ever, +lofty, with towers piercing calmly the blue of the sky. At the same time things +happened which spread superstitious terror among the besiegers. Now balls flew +over the whole mountain and struck soldiers on the other side; now a gunner, +occupied in aiming a gun, fell on a sudden; now smoke disposed itself in +terrible and strange forms; now powder in the boxes exploded all at once, as if +fired by some invisible hand. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, soldiers were perishing continually who alone, in twos or in threes, +went out of the camp. Suspicion fell on the Polish auxiliary squadrons, which, +with the exception of Kuklinovski’s regiment, refused out and out every +cooperation in the siege, and showed daily more menacing looks. Miller +threatened Colonel Zbrojek with a court-martial, but he answered in presence of +all the officers: “Try it, General.” +</p> + +<p> +Officers from the Polish squadrons strolled purposely through the Swedish camp, +exhibiting contempt and disregard for the soldiers, and raising quarrels with +the officers. Thence it came to duels, in which the Swedes, as less trained in +fencing, fell victims more frequently. Miller issued a severe order against +duels, and finally forbade the Poles entrance to the camp. From this it came +that at last both armies were side by side like enemies, merely awaiting an +opportunity for battle. +</p> + +<p> +But the cloister defended itself ever better. It turned out that the guns sent +by Pan Myaskovski were in no wise inferior to those which Miller had, and the +gunners through constant practice arrived at such accuracy that each shot threw +down an enemy. The Swedes attributed this to enchantment. The gunners answered +the officers that with that power which defended the cloister it was no +business of theirs to do battle. +</p> + +<p> +A certain morning a panic began in the southwestern trench, for the soldiers +had seen distinctly a woman in a blue robe shielding the church and the +cloister. At sight of this they threw themselves down on their faces. In vain +did Miller ride up, in vain did he explain that mist and smoke had disposed +themselves in that form, in vain besides was his threat of court-martial and +punishment. At the first moment no one would hear him, especially as the +general himself was unable to hide his amazement. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this the opinion was spread through the whole army that no one +taking part in the siege would die his own death. Many officers shared this +belief, and Miller was not free from fears; for he brought in Lutheran +ministers and enjoined on them to undo the enchantment. They walked through the +camp whispering, and singing psalms; fear, however, had so spread that more +than once they heard from the mouths of the soldiers: “Beyond your power, +beyond your strength!” +</p> + +<p> +In the midst of discharges of cannon a new envoy from Miller entered the +cloister, and stood before the face of Kordetski and the council. +</p> + +<p> +This was Pan Sladkovski, chamberlain of Rava, whom Swedish parties had seized +as he was returning from Prussia. They received him coldly and harshly, though +he had an honest face and his look was as mild as the sky; but the monks had +grown accustomed to see honest faces on traitors. He was not confused a whit by +such a reception; combing briskly his yellow forelock with his fingers, he +began:— +</p> + +<p> +“Praised be Jesus Christ!” +</p> + +<p> +“For the ages of ages!” answered the Congregation, in a chorus. +</p> + +<p> +And Kordetski added at once; “Blessed be those who serve him.” +</p> + +<p> +“I serve him,” answered Sladkovski, “and that I serve him +more sincerely than I do Miller will be shown soon. H’m! permit me, +worthy and beloved fathers, to cough, for I must first spit out foulness. +Miller then—tfu! sent me, my good lords, to you to persuade +you—tfu!—to surrender. But I accepted the office so as to say to +you: Defend yourselves, think not of surrender, for the Swedes are spinning +thin, and the Devil is taking them by the eye.” +</p> + +<p> +The monks and the laity were astonished at sight of such an envoy. Pan Zamoyski +exclaimed at once: “As God is dear to me, this is an honest man!” +and springing to him began to shake his hand; but Sladkovski, gathering his +forelock into one bunch, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“That I am no knave will be shown straightway. I have become +Miller’s envoy so as to tell you news so favorable that I could wish, my +good lords, to tell it all in one breath. Give thanks to God and His Most Holy +Mother who chose you as instruments for changing men’s hearts. The +country, taught by your example and by your defence, is beginning to throw off +the yoke of the Swedes. What’s the use in talking? In Great Poland and +Mazovia the people are beating the Swedes, destroying smaller parties, blocking +roads and passages. In some places they have given the enemy terrible +punishment already. The nobles are mounting their horses, the peasants are +gathering in crowds, and when they seize a Swede they tear straps out of him. +Chips are flying, tow is flying! This is what it has come to. And whose work is +this?—yours.” +</p> + +<p> +“An angel, an angel is speaking!” cried monks and nobles, raising +their hands toward heaven. +</p> + +<p> +“Not an angel, but Sladkovski, at your service. This is +nothing!—Listen on. The Khan, remembering the kindness of the brother of +our rightful king, Yan Kazimir, to whom may God give many years! is marching +with aid, and has already passed the boundary of the Commonwealth. The Cossacks +who were opposed he has cut to pieces, and is moving on with a horde of a +hundred thousand toward Lvoff, and Hmelnitski <i>nolens volens</i> is coming +with him.” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake, for God’s sake!” repeated people, +overcome as it were by happiness. +</p> + +<p> +But Pan Sladkovski, sweating and waving his hand, with still more vigor +cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing yet! Pan Stefan Charnyetski, with whom the Swedes +violated faith, for they carried captive his infantry under Wolf, feels free of +his word and is mounting. Yan Kazimir is collecting troops, and may return any +day to the country and the hetmans. Listen further, the hetmans, Pototski and +Lantskoronski, and with them all the troops, are waiting only for the coming of +the king to desert the Swedes and raise sabres against them. Meanwhile they are +coming to an understanding with Sapyeha and the Khan. The Swedes are in terror; +there is fire in the whole country, war in the whole country—whosoever is +living is going to the field!” +</p> + +<p> +What took place in the hearts of the monks and the nobles is difficult of +description. Some wept, some fell on their knees, other repeated, “It +cannot be, it cannot be!” Hearing this, Sladkovski approached the great +crucifix hanging on the wall and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I place my hands on these feet of Christ pierced with a nail, and swear +that I declare the pure and clean truth. I repeat only: Defend yourselves, fail +not; trust not the Swedes; think not that by submission and surrender you could +insure any safety for yourselves. They keep no promises, no treaties. You who +are closed in here know not what is passing in the whole country, what +oppression has come, what deeds of violence are done,—murdering of +priests, profanation of sanctuaries, contempt of all law. They promise you +everything, they observe nothing. The whole kingdom is given up as plunder to a +dissolute soldiery. Even those who still adhere to the Swedes are unable to +escape injustice. Such is the punishment of God on traitors, on those who break +faith with the king. Delay!—I, as you see me here, if only I survive, if +I succeed in slipping away from Miller, will move straightway to Silesia, to +our king. I will fall at his feet and say: Gracious King, save Chenstohova and +your most faithful servants! But, most beloved fathers, stand firm, for the +salvation of the whole Commonwealth is depending upon you.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Sladkovski’s voice trembled, tears appeared on his eyelids, but he +spoke further. “You will have grievous times yet: siege guns are coming +from Cracow, which two hundred infantry are bringing. One is a particularly +dreadful cannon. Terrible assaults will follow. But these will be the last +efforts. Endure yet these, for salvation is coming already. By these red wounds +of God, the king, the hetmans, the army, the whole Commonwealth will come to +rescue its Patroness. This is what I tell you: rescue, salvation, glory is +right here—not distant.” +</p> + +<p> +The worthy noble now burst into tears, and sobbing became universal. +</p> + +<p> +Ah! still better news was due to that wearied handful of defenders, to that +handful of faithful servants, and a sure consolation from the country. +</p> + +<p> +The prior rose, approached Sladkovski, and opened wide his arms. Sladkovski +rushed into them, and they embraced each other long; others following their +example began to fall into one another’s arms, embrace, kiss, and +congratulate one another as if the Swedes had already retreated. At last the +prior said,— +</p> + +<p> +“To the chapel, my brethren, to the chapel!” +</p> + +<p> +He went in advance, and after him the others. All the candles were lighted, for +it was growing dark outside; and the curtains were drawn aside from the +wonder-working image, from which sweet abundant rays were scattered at once +round about. Kordetski knelt on the steps, farther away the monks, the nobles, +and common people; women with children were present also. Pale and wearied +faces and eyes which had wept were raised toward the image; but from behind the +tears was shining on each face a smile of happiness. Silence continued for a +time; at last Kordetski began,— +</p> + +<p> +“Under thy protection we take refuge, Holy Mother of God—” +</p> + +<p> +Further words stopped on his lips, weariness, long suffering, hidden alarms, +together with the gladsome hope of rescue, rose in him like a mighty wave; +therefore sobbing shook his breast, and that man, who bore on his shoulders the +fate of the whole country, bent like a weak child, fell on his face, and with +weeping immeasurable had strength only to cry: “O Mary, Mary, +Mary!” +</p> + +<p> +All wept with him, but the image from above cast brightest rays. +</p> + +<p> +It was late at night when the monks and the nobles went each his own way to the +walls; but Kordetski remained all night lying in the chapel in the form of a +cross. There were fears in the cloister that weariness might overpower him; but +next morning he appeared on the bastions, went among the soldiers and the +garrison, glad and refreshed, and here and there he repeated,— +</p> + +<p> +“Children, the Most Holy Lady will show again that she is mightier than +siege guns, and then will come the end of your sorrows and torments.” +</p> + +<p> +That morning Yatsek Bjuhanski, an inhabitant of Chenstohova, disguised as a +Swede, approached the walls to confirm the news that great guns were coming +from Cracow, but also that the Khan with the horde was approaching. He +delivered a letter from Father Anton Pashkovski, of the monastery at Cracow, +who, describing the terrible cruelty and robbery of the Swedes, incited and +implored the fathers of Yasna Gora to put no trust in the promises of the +enemy, but to defend the sacred place patiently against the insolence of the +godless. +</p> + +<p> +“There is no faith in the Swedes,” wrote Father Pashkovski, +“no religion. Nothing divine or human is sacred and inviolate for them. +It is not their custom to respect anything, though guarded by treaties or +public declarations.” +</p> + +<p> +That was the day of the Immaculate Conception. Some tens of officers and +soldiers of the allied Polish squadrons besought with most urgent requests +Miller’s permission to go to the fortress for divine service. Perhaps +Miller thought that they would become friendly with the garrison, carry news of +the siege guns and spread alarm; perhaps he did not wish by refusing to cast +sparks on inflammable elements, which without that made relations between the +Poles and the Swedes more and more dangerous: ’tis enough that he gave +the permission. +</p> + +<p> +With these quarter soldiers went a certain Tartar of the Polish Mohammedan +Tartars. He, amid universal astonishment, encouraged the monks not to yield +their holy place to vile enemies, considering with certainty that the Swedes +would soon go away with shame and defeat. The quarter soldiers repeated the +same, confirming completely the news brought by Sladkovski. All this taken +together raised the courage of the besieged to such a degree that they had no +fear of those gigantic cannons, and the soldiers made sport of them among +themselves. +</p> + +<p> +After services firing began on both sides. There was a certain Swedish soldier +who had come many times to the wall, and with a trumpet-like voice had +blasphemed against the Mother of God. Many a time had the besieged fired at +him, but always without result. Kmita aimed at him once, but his bow-string +broke; the soldier became more and more insolent, and roused others by his +daring. It was said that he had seven devils in his service who guarded and +shielded him. +</p> + +<p> +He came this day again to blaspheme; but the besieged, trusting that on the day +of the Immaculate Conception enchantments would have less effect, determined to +punish him without fail. They fired a good while in vain; at last a cannon +ball, rebounding from an ice wall, and tripping along the snow like a bird, +struck him straight in the breast and tore him in two. The defenders comforted +themselves with this and cried out: “Who will blaspheme against Her +another time?” Meanwhile the revilers had rushed down to the trenches, in +panic. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes fired at the walls and the roofs; but the balls brought no terror to +the besieged. +</p> + +<p> +The old beggarwoman, Konstantsia, who dwelt in a cranny of the cliff, used to +go, as if in ridicule of the Swedes, along the whole slope, gathering bullets +in her apron, and threatening from time to time the soldiers with her staff. +They, thinking her a witch, were afraid she would injure them, especially when +they saw that bullets did not touch her. +</p> + +<p> +Two whole days passed in vain firing. They hurled on the roof ship ropes very +thickly steeped in pitch; these flew like fiery serpents; but the guards, +trained in a masterly manner, met the danger in time. A night came with such +darkness that, in spite of the fires, tar barrels, and the fireworks of Father +Lyassota, the besieged could see nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile some uncommon movement reigned among the Swedes. The squeak of wheels +was heard, men’s voices, at times the neighing of horses, and various +other kinds of uproar. The soldiers on the walls guessed the cause easily. +</p> + +<p> +“The guns have come surely,” said some. +</p> + +<p> +The officers were deliberating on a sortie which Charnyetski advised; but +Zamoyski opposed, insisting, with reason, that at such important works the +enemy must have secured themselves sufficiently, and must surely hold infantry +in readiness. They resolved merely to fire toward the north and south, whence +the greatest noise came. It was impossible to see the result in the darkness. +</p> + +<p> +Day broke at last, and its first rays exposed the works of the Swedes. North +and south of the fortress were intrenchments, on which some thousands of men +were employed. These intrenchments stood so high that to the besieged the +summits of them seemed on a line with the walls of the fortress. In the +openings at the top were seen great jaws of guns, and the soldiers standing +behind them looked at a distance like swarms of yellow wasps. +</p> + +<p> +The morning Mass was not over in the church when unusual thunder shook the air; +the window-panes rattled; some of them dropped out of the frames from shaking +alone, and were broken with a sharp shiver on the stone floor; and the whole +church was filled with dust which rose from fallen plaster. +</p> + +<p> +The great siege guns had spoken. +</p> + +<p> +A terrible fire began, such as the besieged had not experienced. At the end of +Mass all rushed out on the walls and roofs. The preceding storms seemed +innocent play in comparison with this terrible letting loose of fire and iron. +</p> + +<p> +The smaller pieces thundered in support of the siege guns. Great bombs, pieces +of cloth steeped in pitch, torches, and fiery ropes were flying. Balls +twenty-six pounds in weight tore out battlements, struck the walls of +buildings; some settled in them, others made great holes, tearing off plaster +and bricks. The walls surrounding the cloister began to shake here and there +and lose pieces, and struck incessantly by new balls threatened to fall. The +buildings of the cloister were covered with fire. +</p> + +<p> +The trumpeters on the tower felt it totter under them. The church quaked from +continuous pounding, and candles fell out of the sockets at some of the altars. +</p> + +<p> +Water was poured in immense quantities on the fires that had begun, on the +blazing torches, on the walls, on the fire balls; and formed, together with the +smoke and the dust, rolls of steam so thick that light could not be seen +through them. Damage was done to the walls and buildings. The cry, “It is +burning, it is burning!” was heard oftener amid the thunder of cannon and +the whistle of bullets. At the northern bastion the two wheels of a cannon were +broken, and one injured cannon was silent. A ball had fallen into a stable, +killed three horses, and set fire to the building. Not only balls, but bits of +grenades, were falling as thickly as rain on the roofs, the bastions, and the +walls. +</p> + +<p> +In a short time the groans of the wounded were heard. By a strange chance three +young men fell, all named Yan. This amazed other defenders bearing the same +name; but in general the defence was worthy of the storm. Even women, children, +and old men came out on the walls. Soldiers stood there with unterrified heart, +in smoke and fire, amid a rain of missiles, and answered with determination to +the fire of the enemy. Some seized the wheels and rolled the cannon to the most +exposed places; others thrust into breaches in the walls stones, beams, dung, +and earth. +</p> + +<p> +Women with dishevelled hair and inflamed faces gave an example of daring, and +some were seen running with buckets of water after bombs which were still +springing and ready to burst right there, that moment. Ardor rose every +instant, as if that smell of powder, smoke, and steam, that thunder, those +streams of fire and iron, had the property of rousing it. All acted without +command, for words died amid the awful noise. Only the supplications which were +sung in the chapel rose above the voices of cannon. +</p> + +<p> +About noon firing ceased. All drew breath; but before the gate a drum was +sounded, and the drummer sent by Miller, approaching the gate, inquired if the +fathers had had enough, and if they wished to surrender at once. Kordetski +answered that they would deliberate over the question till morning. The answer +had barely reached Miller when the attack began anew, and the artillery fire +was redoubled. +</p> + +<p> +From time to time deep ranks of infantry pushed forward under fire toward the +mountain, as if wishing to try an assault; but decimated by cannon and muskets, +they returned each time quickly and in disorder under their own batteries. As a +wave of the sea covers the shore and when it retreats leaves on the sand weeds, +mussels, and various fragments broken in the deep, so each one of those Swedish +waves when it sank back left behind bodies thrown here and there on the slope. +</p> + +<p> +Miller did not give orders to fire at the bastions, but at the wall between +them, where resistance was least. Indeed, here and there considerable rents +were made, but not large enough for the infantry to rush through. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly a certain event checked the storm. +</p> + +<p> +It was well toward evening when a Swedish gunner about to apply a lighted match +to one of the largest guns was struck in the very breast by a ball from the +cloister. The ball came not with the first force, but after a third bound from +the ice piled up at the intrenchment; it merely hurled the gunner a number of +yards. He fell on an open box partly filled with powder. A terrible explosion +was heard that instant, and masses of smoke covered the trench. When the smoke +fell away it appeared that five gunners had lost their lives; the wheels of the +cannon were injured, and terror seized the soldiers. It was necessary to cease +fire for the time from that intrenchment, since a heavy fog had filled the +darkness; they also stopped firing in other places. +</p> + +<p> +The next day was Sunday. Lutheran ministers held services in the trenches, and +the guns were silent. Miller again inquired if the fathers had had enough. They +answered that they could endure more. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the damage in the cloister was examined and found to be considerable. +People were killed and the wall was shaken here and there. The most formidable +gun was a gigantic culverin standing on the north. It had broken the wall to +such a degree, torn out so many stones and bricks, that the besieged could +foresee that should the fire continue two days longer a considerable part of +the wall would give away. +</p> + +<p> +A breach such as the culverin would make could not be filled with beams or +earth. The prior foresaw with an eye full of sorrow the ruin which he could not +prevent. +</p> + +<p> +Monday the attack was begun anew, and the gigantic gun widened the breach. +Various mishaps met the Swedes, however. About dusk that day a Swedish gunner +killed on the spot Miller’s sister’s son, whom the general loved as +though he had been his own, and intended to leave him all that he +had,—beginning with his name and military reputation and ending with his +fortune. But the heart of the old warrior blazed up with hatred all the more +from this loss. +</p> + +<p> +The wall at the northern bastion was so broken that preparations were made in +the night for a hand-to-hand assault. That the infantry might approach the +fortress with less danger, Miller commanded to throw up in the darkness a whole +series of small redoubts, reaching the very slope. But the night was clear, and +white light from the snow betrayed the movements of the enemy. The cannons of +Yasna Gora scattered the men occupied in making those parapets formed of +fascines, fences, baskets, and timbers. +</p> + +<p> +At daybreak Charnyetski saw a siege machine which they had already rolled +toward the walls. But the besieged broke it with cannon fire without +difficulty; so many men were killed on that occasion that the day might have +been called a day of victory for the besieged, had it not been for that great +gun which shook the wall incessantly with irrestrainable power. +</p> + +<p> +A thaw came on the following days, and such dense mists settled down that the +fathers attributed them to the action of evil spirits. It was impossible to see +either the machines of war, the erection of parapets, or the work of the siege. +The Swedes came near the very walls of the cloister. In the evening +Charnyetski, when the prior was making his usual round of the walls, took him +by the side and said in a low voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“Bad, revered father! Our wall will not hold out beyond a day.” +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps these fogs will prevent them from firing,” answered +Kordetski; “and we meanwhile will repair the rents somehow.” +</p> + +<p> +“The fogs will not prevent the Swedes, for that gun once aimed may +continue even in darkness the work of destruction; but here the ruins are +falling and falling.” +</p> + +<p> +“In God and in the Most Holy Lady is our hope.” +</p> + +<p> +“True! But if we make a sortie? Even were we to lose men, if they could +only spike that dragon of hell.” +</p> + +<p> +Just then some form looked dark in the fog, and Babinich appeared near the +speakers. +</p> + +<p> +“I saw that some one was speaking; but faces cannot be distinguished +three yards away,” said he. “Good evening, revered father! But of +what is the conversation?” +</p> + +<p> +“We are talking of that gun. Pan Charnyetski advises a sortie. These fogs +are spread by Satan; I have commanded an exorcism.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dear father,” said Pan Andrei, “since that gun has begun to +shake the wall, I am thinking of it, and something keeps coming to my head. A +sortie is of no use. But let us go to some room; there I will tell you my +plans.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said the prior, “come to my cell.” +</p> + +<p> +Soon after they were sitting at a pine table in Kordetski’s modest cell. +Charnyetski and the priest were looking carefully into the youthful face of +Babinich, who said,— +</p> + +<p> +“A sortie is of no use in this case. They will see it and repulse it. +Here one man must do the work.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“One man must go and burst that cannon with powder; and he can do it +during such fogs. It is best that he go in disguise. There are jackets here +like those worn by the enemy. As it will not be possible to do otherwise, he +will slip in among the Swedes; but if at this side of the trench from which the +gun is projecting there are no soldiers, that will be better still.” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake! what will the man do?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is only necessary to put a box of powder into the mouth of the gun, +with a hanging fuse and a thread to be ignited. When the powder explodes, the +gun—devil I wanted to say—will burst.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my son! what do you say? Is it little powder that they thrust into +it every day, and it does not burst?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita laughed, and kissed the priest on the sleeve of his habit. “Beloved +father, there is a great heart in you, heroic and holy—” +</p> + +<p> +“Give peace now!” answered the prior. +</p> + +<p> +“And holy,” repeated Kmita; “but you do not understand +cannon. It is one thing when powder bursts in the butt of the cannon, for then +it casts forth the ball and the force flies out forward, but another if you +stop the mouth of a gun with powder and ignite it,—no cannon can stand +such a trial. Ask Pan Charnyetski. The same thing will take place if you fill +the mouth of a cannon with snow and fire it; the piece will burst. Such is the +villanous power of powder. What will it be when a whole box of it explodes at +the mouth? Ask Pan Charnyetski.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is true. These are no secrets for soldiers,” answered +Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“You see if this gun is burst,” continued Kmita, “all the +rest are a joke.” +</p> + +<p> +“This seems impossible to me,” said Kordetski; “for, first, +who will undertake to do it?” +</p> + +<p> +“A certain poor fellow,” said Kmita; “but he is resolute, his +name is Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +“You!” cried the priest and Charnyetski together. +</p> + +<p> +“Ai, father, benefactor! I was with you at confession, and acknowledged +all my deeds in sincerity; among them were deeds not worse than the one I am +now planning; how can you doubt that I will undertake it? Do you not know +me?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is a hero, a knight above knights,” cried Charnyetski. And +seizing Kmita by the neck, he continued: “Let me kiss you for the wish +alone; give me your mouth.” +</p> + +<p> +“Show me another remedy, and I will not go,” said Kmita; “but +it seems to me that I shall manage this matter somehow. Remember that I speak +German as if I had been dealing in staves, wainscots, and wall plank in +Dantzig. That means much, for if I am disguised they will not easily discover +that I am not of their camp. But I think that no one is standing before the +mouth of the cannon; for it is not safe there, and I think that I shall do the +work before they can see me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Charnyetski, what do you think of this?” asked the prior, +quickly. +</p> + +<p> +“Out of one hundred men one might return from such an undertaking; but +<i>audaces fortuna juvat</i> [fortune favors the bold].” +</p> + +<p> +“I have been in hotter places than this,” said Kmita: +“nothing will happen to me, for such is my fortune. Ai, beloved father, +and what a difference! Ere now to exhibit myself, and for vainglory, I crawled +into danger; but this undertaking is for the Most Holy Lady. Even should I have +to lay down my head, which I do not foresee, say yourself could a more +praiseworthy death be wished to any man than down there in this cause?” +</p> + +<p> +The priest was long silent, and then said at last,— +</p> + +<p> +“I should try to restrain you with persuasion, with prayers and +imploring, if you wished to go for mere glory; but you are right: this is a +question affecting the honor of the Most Holy Lady, this sacred place, the +whole country! And you, my son, whether you return safely or win the palm of +glory, you will gain the supreme happiness,—salvation. Against my heart +then I say, Go; I do not detain you. Our prayers, the protection of God, will +go with you.” +</p> + +<p> +“In such company I shall go boldly and perish with joy.” +</p> + +<p> +“But return, soldier of God, return safely; for you are loved with +sincerity here. May Saint Raphael attend you and bring you back, cherished son, +my dear child!” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will begin preparations at once,” said Pan Andrei, joyfully +pressing the priest. “I will dress in Swedish fashion with a jacket and +wide-legged boots. I will fill in the powder, and do you, father, stop the +exorcisms for this night; fog is needful to the Swedes, but also to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“And do you not wish to confess before starting?” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course, without that I should not go; for the devil would have +approach to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then begin with confession.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski went out of the cell, and Kmita knell down near the priest and +purged himself of his sins. Then, gladsome as a bird, he began to make +preparations. +</p> + +<p> +An hour or two later, in the deep night, he knocked again at the prior’s +cell, where Pan Charnyetski also was waiting. +</p> + +<p> +The two scarcely knew Pan Andrei, so good a Swede had he made himself. He had +twirled his mustaches to his eyes and brushed them out at the ends; he had put +his hat on one side of his head, and looked precisely like some cavalry officer +of noted family. +</p> + +<p> +“As God lives, one would draw a sabre at sight of him,” said +Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“Put the light at a distance,” said Kmita; “I will show you +something.” +</p> + +<p> +When Father Kordetski had put the light aside quickly, Pan Andrei placed on a +table a roll, a foot and a half long and as thick as the arm of a sturdy man, +sewn up in pitched linen and filled firmly with powder. From one end of it was +hanging a long string made of tow steeped in sulphur. +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said he, “when I put this flea-bane in the mouth of +the cannon and ignite the string, then its belly will burst.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lucifer would burst!” cried Pan Charnyetski. But he remembered +that it was better not to mention the name of the foul one, and he slapped his +own mouth. +</p> + +<p> +“But how will you set fire to the string?” asked Kordetski. +</p> + +<p> +“In that lies the whole danger, for I must strike fire. I have good +flint, dry tinder, and steel of the best; but there will be a noise, and they +may notice something. The string I hope will not quench, for it will hang at +the beard of the gun, and it will be hard to see it, especially as it will hide +itself quickly in burning; but they may pursue me, and I cannot flee straight +toward the cloister.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why not?” asked the priest. +</p> + +<p> +“For the explosion would kill me. The moment I see the spark on the +string I must jump aside with all the strength in my legs, and when I have run +about fifty yards, must fall to the ground under the intrenchment. After the +explosion I shall rush toward the cloister.” +</p> + +<p> +“My God, my God, how many dangers!” said the prior, raising his +eyes to heaven. +</p> + +<p> +“Beloved father, so sure am I of returning that even emotion does not +touch me, which on an occasion like this ought to seize me. This is nothing! +Farewell, and pray the Lord God to give me luck. Only conduct me to the +gate.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that? Do you want to go now?” asked Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“Am I to wait till daylight, or till the fog rises? Is not my head dear +to me?” +</p> + +<p> +But Pan Andrei did not go that night, for just as they came to the gate, +darkness, as if out of spite, began to grow light. Some movement too was heard +around the great siege gun. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the besieged were convinced that the gun was transferred to +another place. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes had received apparently some report of a great weakness in the wall +a little beyond the bend near the southern bastion, and they determined to +direct missiles to that spot. Maybe too the prior was not a stranger to the +affair, for the day before they had seen old Kostuha (Konstantsia) going out of +the cloister. She was employed chiefly when there was need of giving false +reports to the Swedes. Be that as it may, it was a mistake on their part; for +the besieged could now repair in the old place the wall so greatly shaken, and +to make a new breach a number of days would be needed. +</p> + +<p> +The nights were clear in succession, the days full of uproar. The Swedes fired +with terrible energy. The spirit of doubt began again to fly over the fortress. +Among the besieged were nobles who wished to surrender; some of the monks too +had lost heart. The opposition gained strength and importance. The prior made +head against it with unrestrained energy, but his health began to give way. +Meanwhile came reinforcements to the Swedes and supplies from Cracow, +especially terrible explosive missiles in the form of iron cylinders filled +with powder and lead. These caused more terror than damage to the besieged. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, from the time that he had conceived the plan of bursting the siege gun, +secreted himself in the fortress. He looked every day at the roll, with +heart-sickness. On reflection he made it still larger, so that it was almost an +ell long and as thick as a boot-leg. In the evening he cast greedy looks toward +the gun, then examined the sky like an astrologer. But the bright moon, shining +on the snow continually, baffled his plan. +</p> + +<p> +All at once a thaw came; clouds covered the horizon, and the night was +dark,—so dark that even strain your eyes you could see nothing. Pan +Andrei fell into such humor as if some one had given him the steed of the +Sultan; and midnight had barely sounded when he stood before Charnyetski in his +cavalry dress, the roll under his arm. +</p> + +<p> +“I am going!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Wait, I will speak to the prior.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well. Kiss me, Pan Pyotr, and go for the prior.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski kissed him with feeling, and turned away. He had hardly gone thirty +steps when Kordetski stood before him in white. He had guessed that Kmita was +going, and had come there to bless him. +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich is ready; he is only waiting for your reverence.” +</p> + +<p> +“I hurry, I hurry!” answered the priest. “O Mother of God, +save him and aid him!” +</p> + +<p> +After a while both were standing at the opening where Charnyetski left Kmita, +but there was no trace of him. +</p> + +<p> +“He has gone!” said the prior, in amazement. +</p> + +<p> +“He has gone!” repeated Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“But, the traitor!” said the prior, with emotion, “I intended +to put this little scapular on his neck.” +</p> + +<p> +Both ceased to speak; there was silence around, and as the darkness was dense +there was firing from neither side. On a sudden Charnyetski whispered +eagerly,— +</p> + +<p> +“As God is dear to me, he is not even trying to go in silence! Do you +hear steps crushing the snow?” +</p> + +<p> +“Most Holy Lady, guard thy servant!” said the prior. +</p> + +<p> +Both listened carefully for a time, till the brisk steps and the noise on the +snow had ceased. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you know, your reverence, at moments I think that he will succeed, +and I fear nothing for him. The strange man went as if he were going to an inn +to drink a glass of liquor. What courage he has in him! Either he will lay down +his head untimely, or he will be hetman. H’m! if I did not know him as a +servant of Mary, I should think that he has—God give him success, God +grant it to him! for such another cavalier there is not in the +Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is so dark, so dark!” said Kordetski; “but they are on +their guard since the night of your sortie. He might come upon a whole rank +before he could see it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not think so. The infantry are watching, that I know, and watch +carefully; but they are in the intrenchment, not before the muzzles of their +own cannon. If they do not hear the steps, he can easily push under the +intrenchment, and then the height of it alone will cover him—Uf!” +</p> + +<p> +Here Charnyetski puffed and ceased speaking; for his heart began to beat like a +hammer from expectation and alarm, and breath failed him. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski made the sign of the cross in the darkness. +</p> + +<p> +A third person stood near the two. This was Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich has gone to blow up the siege gun.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that? What is that?” +</p> + +<p> +“He took a roll of powder, cord, and flint, and went.” +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski pressed his head between his hands. +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus, Mary! Jesus, Mary! All alone?” +</p> + +<p> +“All alone.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who let him go? That’s an impossible deed!” +</p> + +<p> +“I. For the might of God all things are possible, even his safe +return,” said Kordetski. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski was silent. Charnyetski began to pant from emotion. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us pray,” said the prior. +</p> + +<p> +The three knelt down and began to pray. But anxiety raised the hair on the +heads of both knights. A quarter of an hour passed, half an hour, an hour as +long as a lifetime. +</p> + +<p> +“There will be nothing now!” said Charnyetski, sighing deeply. +</p> + +<p> +All at once in the distance a gigantic column of flame burst forth, and a roar +as if all the thunders of heaven had been hurled to the earth; it shook the +walls, the church, and the cloister. +</p> + +<p> +“He has burst it, he has burst it!” shouted Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +New explosions interrupted further speech of his. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski threw himself on his knees, and raising his hands, cried to heaven, +“Most Holy Mother, Guardian, Patroness, bring him back safely!” +</p> + +<p> +A noise was made on the walls. The garrison, not knowing what had happened, +seized their arms. The monks rushed from their cells. No one was sleeping. Even +women sprang forth. Questions and answers crossed one another like lightnings. +</p> + +<p> +“What has happened?” +</p> + +<p> +“An assault!” +</p> + +<p> +“The Swedish gun has burst!” cried one of the cannoneers. +</p> + +<p> +“A miracle, a miracle!” +</p> + +<p> +“The largest gun is burst!” +</p> + +<p> +“That great one!” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the prior?” +</p> + +<p> +“On the wall. He is praying; he did this.” +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich burst the gun!” cried Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich, Babinich! Praise to the Most Holy Lady! They will harm us no +longer.” +</p> + +<p> +At the same time sounds of confusion rose from the Swedish camp. In all the +trenches fires began to shine. An increasing uproar was heard. By the light of +the fires masses of soldiers were seen moving in various directions without +order, trumpets sounded, drums rolled continually; to the walls came shouts in +which alarm and amazement were heard. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski continued kneeling on the wall. +</p> + +<p> +At last the night began to grow pale, but Babinich came not to the fortress. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p> +What had happened to Pan Andrei, and in what way had he been able to carry out +his plan? +</p> + +<p> +After leaving the fortress he advanced some time with a sure and wary step. At +the very end of the slope he halted and listened. It was silent +around,—so silent in fact that his steps were heard clearly on the snow. +In proportion as he receded from the walls, he stepped more carefully. He +halted again, and again listened. He was somewhat afraid of slipping and +falling, and thus dampening his precious roll; he drew out his rapier therefore +and leaned on it. That helped him greatly. Thus feeling his way, after the +course of half an hour he heard a slight sound directly in front. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! they are watching. The sortie has taught them wariness,” +thought he. +</p> + +<p> +And he went farther now very slowly. He was glad that he had not gone astray, +for the darkness was such that he could not see the end of the rapier. +</p> + +<p> +“Those trenches are considerably farther: I am advancing well +then!” whispered he to himself. +</p> + +<p> +He hoped also not to find men before the intrenchment; for, properly speaking, +they had nothing to do there, especially at night. It might be that at +something like a hundred or fewer yards apart single sentries were stationed; +but he hoped to pass them in such darkness. It was joyous in his soul. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita was not only daring but audacious. The thought of bursting the gigantic +gun delighted him to the bottom of his soul,—not only as heroism, not +only as an immortal service to the besieged, but as a terrible damage to the +Swedes. He imagined how Miller would be astounded, how he would gnash his +teeth, how he would gaze in helplessness on those walls; and at moments pure +laughter seized him. +</p> + +<p> +And as he had himself said, he felt no emotion, no fear, no unquiet. It did not +even enter his head to what an awful danger he was exposing himself. He went on +as a school-boy goes to an orchard to make havoc among apples. He recalled +other times when he harried Hovanski, stole up at night to a camp of thirty +thousand with two hundred such fighters as himself. +</p> + +<p> +His comrades stood before his mind: Kokosinski, the gigantic +Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus, the spotted Ranitski, of senatorial stock, and others; +then for a moment he sighed after them. “If they were here now,” +thought he, “we might blow up six guns.” Then the feeling of +loneliness oppressed him somewhat, but only for a short while; soon memory +brought before his eyes Olenka. Love spoke in him with immeasurable power. He +was moved to tenderness. If she could see him, the heart would rejoice in her +this time. Perhaps she thinks yet that he is serving the Swedes. He is serving +them nicely! And soon he will oblige them! What will happen when she learns of +all these perils? What will she think? She will think surely, “He is a +whirlwind, but when it comes to a deed which no other can do, he will do it; +where another dares not go, he will go. Such a man is that Kmita!” +</p> + +<p> +“Another such deed I shall never accomplish,” said Pan Andrei; and +boastfulness seized him completely. Still, in spite of these thoughts he did +not forget where he was, whither he was going, what he intended to do; and he +began to advance like a wolf on a night pasture. He looked behind once and a +second time. No church, no cloister! All was covered with thick, impenetrable +gloom. He noted, however, by the time, that he must have advanced far already, +and that the trench might be right there. +</p> + +<p> +“I am curious to know if there are sentries,” thought he. +</p> + +<p> +But he had not advanced two steps after giving himself this question, when, in +front of him, was heard the tramp of measured steps and a number of voices +inquired at various distances,— +</p> + +<p> +“Who goes?” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei stood as if fixed to the earth. He felt hot. +</p> + +<p> +“Ours,” answered a number of voices. +</p> + +<p> +“The watchword!” +</p> + +<p> +“Upsala.” +</p> + +<p> +“The counter-sign!” +</p> + +<p> +“The crown.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita saw at this moment that there was a change of sentries. “I’ll +give you Upsala and a crown!” And he rejoiced. This was really for him a +very favorable circumstance, for he might pass the line of guards at the moment +of changing sentries, when the tramp of the soldiers drowned his own steps. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, he did so without the least difficulty, and went after the returning +soldiers rather boldly up to the trench itself. There they made a turn to go +around it; but he pushed quickly into the ditch and hid in it. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile objects had become somewhat more visible; Pan Andrei thanked Heaven, +for in the previous darkness he could not by feeling have found the gun sought +for. Now, by throwing back his head and straining his vision, he saw above him +a black line, indicating the edge of the trench, and also the black outlines of +the baskets between which stood the guns. +</p> + +<p> +He could indeed see their jaws thrust out a little above the trench. Advancing +slowly in the ditch, he discovered the great gun at last. He halted and began +to listen. From the intrenchment a noise came,—a murmur; evidently the +infantry were near the guns, in readiness. But the height of the intrenchment +concealed Kmita; they might hear him, they could not see him. Now he had only +to rise from below to the mouth of the gun, which was high above his head. +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately the sides of the ditch were not too steep; and besides the +embankment freshly made, or moist with water, had not frozen, since for some +time there had been a thaw. +</p> + +<p> +Taking note of all this, Kmita began to sink holes quietly in the slope of the +intrenchment and to climb slowly to the gun. After fifteen minutes’ work +he was able to seize the opening of the culverin. Soon he was hanging in the +air, but his uncommon strength permitted him to hold himself thus till he +pushed the roll into the jaws of the cannon. +</p> + +<p> +“Here’s dog sausage for thee!” muttered he, “only +don’t choke with it!” +</p> + +<p> +Then he slipped down and began to look for the string, which, fastened to the +inner side of the roll, was hanging to the ditch. After a while he felt it with +his hand. But then came the greatest difficulty, for he had to strike fire and +ignite the string. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita waited for a moment, thinking that the noise would increase somewhat +among the soldiers in the breastworks. At last he began to strike the flint +lightly with the steel. But that moment above his head was heard in German the +question,— +</p> + +<p> +“Who is there in the ditch?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is I, Hans!” answered Kmita, without hesitation; “the +devils have taken my ramrod into the ditch, and I am striking fire to find +it.” +</p> + +<p> +“All right, all right,” said the gunner. “It is your luck +there is no firing, for the wind would have taken your head off.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah!” thought Kmita, “the gun besides my charge has still its +own,—so much the better.” +</p> + +<p> +At that moment the sulphur-string caught, and delicate little sparks began to +run upward along its dry exterior. +</p> + +<p> +It was time to disappear. Kmita hurried along the ditch with all the strength +in his legs, not losing an instant, not thinking overmuch of the noise he was +making. But when he had run twenty yards, curiosity overcame in him the feeling +of his terrible danger. +</p> + +<p> +“The string has gone out, there is moisture in the air!” thought +he; and he stopped. Casting a look behind, he saw a little spark yet, but much +higher than he had left it. +</p> + +<p> +“Eh, am I not too near?” thought he; and fear hurried him forward. +</p> + +<p> +He pushed on at full speed; all at once he struck a stone and fell. At that +moment a terrible roar rent the air; the earth trembled, pieces of wood, iron, +stones, lumps of ice and earth, whistled about his ears, and here his +sensations ended. +</p> + +<p> +After that were heard new explosions in turn. These were powder-boxes standing +near the cannon which exploded from the shock. +</p> + +<p> +But Kmita did not hear these; he lay as if dead in the ditch. He did not hear +also how, after a time of deep silence, the groans of men were heard, cries and +shouts for help; how nearly half the army, Swedish and allied, assembled. +</p> + +<p> +The confusion and uproar lasted long, till from the chaos of testimony the +Swedish general reached the fact that the siege-gun had been blown up of +purpose by some one. Search was ordered immediately. In the morning the +searching soldiers found Kmita lying in the ditch. +</p> + +<p> +It appeared that he was merely stunned from the explosion. He had lost, to +begin with, control of his hands and feet. His powerlessness lasted the whole +ensuing day. They nursed him with the utmost care. In the evening he had +recovered his power almost completely. +</p> + +<p> +He was brought then by command before Miller, who occupied the middle place at +the table in his quarters; around him sat the Prince of Hesse, Count Veyhard, +Sadovski, all the noted officers of the Swedes, of the Poles, Zbrojek, +Kalinski, and Kuklinovski. The last at sight of Kmita became blue, his eyes +burned like two coals, and his mustaches began to quiver. Without awaiting the +question of the general, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I know this bird. He is from the Chenstohova garrison. His name is +Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita was silent; pallor and weariness were evident on his face, but his glance +was bold and his countenance calm. +</p> + +<p> +“Did you blow up the siege-gun?” asked Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“I did.” +</p> + +<p> +“How did you do it?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita stated all briefly, concealed nothing. The officers looked at one another +in amazement. +</p> + +<p> +“A hero!” whispered the Prince of Hesse to Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +But Sadovski inclined to Count Veyhard. “Count Veyhard,” asked he, +“how are we to take a fortress with such defenders? What do you think, +will they surrender?” +</p> + +<p> +“There are more of us in the fortress ready for such deeds,” said +Kmita. “You know not the day nor the hour.” +</p> + +<p> +“I too have more than one halter in the camp,” said Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“We know that. But you will not take Yasna Gora while there is one man +alive there.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed. Then Miller inquired,— +</p> + +<p> +“Is your name Babinich?” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei thought that after what he had done, and in presence of death, the +time had come in which he had no need to conceal his name. Let people forget +the faults and transgressions bound up with it; let glory and devotion shine +over them. +</p> + +<p> +“My name is not Babinich,” said he, with a certain pride, “my +name is Andrei Kmita; I was colonel of my own personal squadron in the +Lithuanian contingent.” +</p> + +<p> +Hardly had Kuklinovski heard this when he sprang up as if possessed, stuck out +his eyes, opened his mouth, and began to strike his sides with his hands. At +last he cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“General, I beg for a word without delay, without delay.” +</p> + +<p> +A murmur rose at the same time among the Polish officers, which the Swedes +heard with wonder, since for them the name Kmita meant nothing. They noted at +once that this must be no common soldier, for Zbrojek rose, and approaching the +prisoner said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy colonel, in the straits in which you are I cannot help you; but +give me your hand, I pray.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita raised his head and began to snort. +</p> + +<p> +“I will not give a hand to traitors who serve against their +country!” +</p> + +<p> +Zbrojek’s face flushed. Kalinski, who stood right behind him, withdrew. +The Swedish officers surrounded them at once, asking what man this Kmita was +whose name had made such an impression. During this time Kuklinovski had +squeezed Miller up to the window, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“For your worthiness the name Kmita is nothing; but he is the first +soldier, the first colonel, in the whole Commonwealth. All know of him, all +know that name; once he served Radzivill and the Swedes; now it is clear that +he has gone over to Yan Kazimir. There is not his equal among soldiers, save +me. He was the only man who could go alone and blow up that gun. From this one +deed you may know him. He fought Hovanski, so that a reward was put on his +head. He with two or three hundred men kept up the whole war after the defeat +at Shklov, until others were found who, imitating him, began to tear at the +enemy. He is the most dangerous man in all the country—” +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you sing his praises to me?” inquired Miller. “That +he is dangerous I know to my own irreparable loss.” +</p> + +<p> +“What does your worthiness think of doing with him?” +</p> + +<p> +“I should give orders to hang him; but being a soldier myself, I know how +to value daring and bravery. Besides, he is a noble of high birth,—I will +order him shot, and that to-day.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, it is not for me to instruct the most celebrated +soldier and statesman of modern times; but I permit myself to say that that man +is too famous. If you shoot him, Zbrojek’s squadron and Kalinski’s +will withdraw at the latest this very day, and go over to Yan Kazimir.” +</p> + +<p> +“If that is true, I’ll have them cut to pieces before they +go!” cried Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, a terrible responsibility! for if that becomes +known,—and the cutting down of two squadrons is hard to hide,—the +whole Polish army will leave Karl Gustav; at present their loyalty is +tottering, as you know. The hetmans are not reliable. Pan Konyetspolski with +six thousand of the best cavalry is at the side of our king. That force is no +trifle. God defend us if these too should turn against us, against the person +of his Royal Grace! Besides, this fortress defends itself; and to cut down the +squadrons of Zbrojek and Kalinski is no easy matter, for Wolf is here too with +his infantry. They might come to an agreement with the garrison of the +fortress.” +</p> + +<p> +“A hundred horned devils!” cried Miller; “what do you want, +Kuklinovski? do you want me to give Kmita his life? That cannot be.” +</p> + +<p> +“I want,” answered Kuklinovski, “you to give him to +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“What will you do with him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, I—will tear him alive from his skin.” +</p> + +<p> +“You did not know even his real name, you do not know him. What have you +against him?” +</p> + +<p> +“I made his acquaintance first in the fortress, where I have been twice +as an envoy to the monks.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you reasons for vengeance?” +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, I wished privately to bring him to our camp. He, taking +advantage of the fact that I laid aside my office of envoy, insulted me, +Kuklinovski, as no man in life has insulted me.” +</p> + +<p> +“What did he do to you?” +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski trembled and gnashed his teeth. “Better not speak of it. Only +give him to me. He is doomed to death anyhow, and I would like before his end +to have a little amusement with him,—all the more because he is the Kmita +whom formerly I venerated, and who repaid me in such fashion. Give him to me; +it will be better for you. If I rub him out, Zbrojek and Kalinski and with them +all the Polish knighthood will fall not upon you, but upon me, and I’ll +help myself. There will not be anger, wry faces, and mutiny. It will be my +private matter about Kmita’s skin, of which I shall have a drum +made.” +</p> + +<p> +Miller fell to thinking; a sudden suspicion flashed over his face. +</p> + +<p> +“Kuklinovski,” said he, “maybe you wish to save him?” +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski smiled quietly, but that smile was so terrible and sincere that +Miller ceased to doubt. +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps you give sound advice,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“For all my services I beg this reward only.” +</p> + +<p> +“Take him, then.” +</p> + +<p> +Now both returned to the room where the rest of the officers were assembled. +Miller turned to them and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“In view of the services of Pan Kuklinovski I place at his absolute +disposal this prisoner.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed; then Pan Zbrojek put his hands on his sides, and +asked with a certain accent of contempt,— +</p> + +<p> +“And what does Pan Kuklinovski think to do with the prisoner?” +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski bent, straightened himself quickly, his lips opened with an +ill-omened smile, and his eyes began to quiver. +</p> + +<p> +“Whoso is not pleased with what I do to the prisoner, knows where to find +me.” And he shook his sabre. +</p> + +<p> +“Your promise, Pan Kuklinovski,” said Zbrojek. +</p> + +<p> +“Promise, promise!” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this he approached Kmita. “Follow me, little worm; come +after me, famous soldier. Thou’rt a trifle weak; thou needst +swathing,—I’ll swathe thee.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ruffian!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Very good, very good, daring soul! Meanwhile step along.” +</p> + +<p> +The officers remained in the room; Kuklinovski mounted his horse before the +quarters. Having with him three soldiers, he commanded one of them to lead +Kmita by a lariat; and all went together toward Lgota, where +Kuklinovski’s regiment was quartered. +</p> + +<p> +On the way Kmita prayed ardently. He saw that death was approaching, and he +committed himself with his whole soul to God. He was so sunk in prayer and in +his own doom that he did not hear what Kuklinovski said to him; he did not know +even how long the road was. +</p> + +<p> +They stopped at last before an empty, half-ruined barn, standing in the open +field, at some distance from the quarters of Kuklinovski’s regiment. The +colonel ordered them to lead Kmita in, and turning himself to one of the +soldiers, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Hurry for me to the camp, bring ropes and a tar bucket!” +</p> + +<p> +The soldier galloped with all the breath in his horse, and in quarter of an +hour returned at the same pace, with a comrade. They had brought the requisite +articles. +</p> + +<p> +“Strip this spark naked!” ordered Kuklinovski; “tie his hands +and feet behind him with a rope, and then fasten him to a beam.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ruffian!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Good, good! we can talk yet, we have time!” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile one of the soldiers climbed up on the beam, and the others fell to +dragging the clothes from Kmita. When he was naked the three executioners +placed Pan Andrei with his face to the ground, bound his hands and feet with a +long rope, then passing it still around his waist they threw the other end to +the soldier sitting on the beam. +</p> + +<p> +“Now raise him, and let the man on the beam pull the rope and tie +it!” said Kuklinovski. +</p> + +<p> +In a moment the order was obeyed. +</p> + +<p> +“Let him go!” +</p> + +<p> +The rope squeaked. Pan Andrei was hanging parallel with the earth, a few ells +above the threshing-floor. Then Kuklinovski dipped tow in the burning +tar-bucket, walked up to him, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Pan Kmita, did not I say that there are two colonels in the +Commonwealth?—only two, I and thou! And thou didst not wish to join +company with Kuklinovski, and kicked him! Well, little worm, thou art right! +Not for thee is the company of Kuklinovski, for Kuklinovski is better. Hei! a +famous colonel is Pan Kmita, and Kuklinovski has him in his hand, and +Kuklinovski is roasting his sides!” +</p> + +<p> +“Ruffian!” repeated Kmita, for the third time. +</p> + +<p> +“This is how he will roast his sides!” finished Kuklinovski, and he +touched Kmita’s side with the burning tow; then he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Not too much at first; we have time.” +</p> + +<p> +Just then the tramp of horses was heard near the barn-door. +</p> + +<p> +“Whom are the devils bringing?” asked Kuklinovski. +</p> + +<p> +The door squeaked and a soldier entered. “General Miller wishes to see +your grace at once!” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! that is thou, old man?” asked Kuklinovski. “What +business? What devil?” +</p> + +<p> +“The general asks your grace to come to him straightway.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who came from the general?” +</p> + +<p> +“There was a Swedish officer; he has ridden off already. He had almost +driven the breath out of his horse.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll go,” said Kuklinovski. Then he turned to Kmita: +“It was hot for thee; cool off now, little worm. I’ll come again +soon, we’ll have another talk.” +</p> + +<p> +“What shall be done with the prisoner?” asked one of the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“Leave him as he is. I shall return directly. Let one go with me.” +</p> + +<p> +The colonel went out, and with him that soldier who had sat on the beam at +first. There remained only three, but soon three new ones entered the barn. +</p> + +<p> +“You may go to sleep,” said he who had reported Miller’s +order to Kuklinovski, “the colonel has left the guard to us.” +</p> + +<p> +“We prefer to remain,” replied one of the first three soldiers, +“to see the wonder; for such a—” +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly he stopped. A certain unearthly sound was wrested from his throat like +the call of a strangled cock. He threw out his arms and fell as if struck by +lightning. +</p> + +<p> +At the same moment the cry of “Pound” was heard through the barn, +and two of the newly arrived rushed like leopards on the two remaining +soldiers. A terrible, short struggle surged up, lighted by the gleams of the +burning tar-bucket. After a moment two bodies fell in the straw, for a moment +longer were heard the gasps of the dying, then that voice rose which at first +seemed familiar to Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace, it is I, Kyemlich, and my sons. We have been waiting since +morning for a chance, we have been watching since morning.” Then he +turned to his sons: “Now out, rogues, free the colonel in a +breath,—quickly!” +</p> + +<p> +And before Kmita was able to understand what was taking place there appeared +near him the two bushy forelocks of Kosma and Damian, like two gigantic +distaffs. The ropes were soon cut, and Kmita stood on his feet. He tottered at +first; his stiffened lips were barely able to say,— +</p> + +<p> +“That is you?—I am thankful.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is I!” answered the terrible old man. “Mother of God! +Oh—let his grace dress quickly. You rogues—” And he began to +give Kmita his clothes. +</p> + +<p> +“The horses are standing at the door,” said he. “From here +the way is open. There are guards; maybe they would let no one in, but as to +letting out, they will let out. We know the password. How does your grace +feel?” +</p> + +<p> +“He burned my side, but only a little. My feet are weak—” +</p> + +<p> +“Drink some gorailka.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita seized with eagerness the flask the old man gave him, and emptying half +of it said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I was stiff from the cold. I shall be better at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace will grow warm on the saddle. The horses are waiting.” +</p> + +<p> +“In a moment I shall be better,” repeated Kmita. “My side is +smarting a little—that’s nothing!—I am quite well.” And +he sat on the edge of a grain-bin. +</p> + +<p> +After a while he recovered his strength really, and looked with perfect +presence of mind on the ill-omened faces of the three Kyemliches, lighted by +the yellowish flame of the burning pitch. The old man stood before him. +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace, there is need of haste. The horses are waiting.” +</p> + +<p> +But in Pan Andrei the Kmita of old times was roused altogether. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, impossible!” cried he, suddenly; “now I am waiting for +that traitor.” +</p> + +<p> +The Kyemliches looked amazed, but uttered not a word,—so accustomed were +they from former times to listen blindly to this leader. +</p> + +<p> +The veins came out on his forehead; his eyes were burning in the dark, like two +stars, such was the hate and the desire of vengeance that gleamed in them. That +which he did then was madness, he might pay for it with his life; but his life +was made up of a series of such madnesses. His side pained him fiercely, so +that every moment he seized it unwittingly with his hand; but he was thinking +only of Kuklinovski, and he was ready to wait for him even till morning. +</p> + +<p> +“Listen!” said he; “did Miller really call him?” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” answered the old man. “I invented that to manage the +others here more easily. It would have been hard for us three against five, for +some one might have raised a cry.” +</p> + +<p> +“That was well. He will return alone or in company. If there are any +people with him, then strike at once on them. Leave him to me. Then to horse! +Has any one pistols?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have,” said Kosma. +</p> + +<p> +“Give them here! Are they loaded, is there powder in the pan?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well. If he comes back alone, when he enters spring on him and shut +his mouth. You can stuff his own cap into it.” +</p> + +<p> +“According to command,” said the old man. “Your grace permits +us now to search these? We are poor men.” +</p> + +<p> +He pointed to the corpses lying on the straw. +</p> + +<p> +“No! Be on the watch. What you find on Kuklinovski will be yours.” +</p> + +<p> +“If he returns alone,” said the old man, “I fear nothing. I +shall stand behind the door; and even if some one from the quarters should +come, I shall say that the colonel gave orders not to admit.” +</p> + +<p> +“That will do. Watch!” +</p> + +<p> +The tramp of a horse was heard behind the barn. Kmita sprang up and stood in +the shadow at the wall. Kosma and Damian took their places near the door, like +two cats waiting for a mouse. +</p> + +<p> +“He is alone,” said the old man. +</p> + +<p> +“Alone,” repeated Kosma and Damian. +</p> + +<p> +The tramp approached, was right there and halted suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +“Come out here, some one,—hold the horse!” +</p> + +<p> +The old man jumped out quickly. A moment of silence followed, then to those +waiting in the barn came the following conversation,— +</p> + +<p> +“Is that you, Kyemlich? What the thunder! art mad, or an idiot? It is +night, Miller is asleep. The guard will not give admission; they say that no +officer went away. How is that?” +</p> + +<p> +“The officer is waiting here in the barn for your grace. He came right +away after you rode off; he says that he missed your grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“What does all this mean? But the prisoner?” +</p> + +<p> +“Is hanging.” +</p> + +<p> +The door squeaked, and Kuklinovski pushed into the barn; but before he had gone +a step two iron hands caught him by the throat, and smothered his cry of +terror. Kosma and Damian, with the adroitness of genuine murderers, hurled him +to the ground, put their knees on his breast, pressed him so that his ribs +began to crack, and gagged him in the twinkle of an eye. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita came forward, and holding the pitch light to his eyes, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! this is Pan Kuklinovski! Now I have something to say to you!” +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski’s face was blue, the veins were so swollen that it seemed +they might burst any moment; but in his eyes, which were coming out of his head +and bloodshot, there was quite as much wonder as terror. +</p> + +<p> +“Strip him and put him on the beam!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Kosma and Damian fell to stripping him as zealously as if they wished to take +the skin from him together with his clothing. +</p> + +<p> +In a quarter of an hour Kuklinovski was hanging by his hands and feet, like a +half goose, on the beam. Then Kmita put his hands on his hips and began to brag +terribly. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Pan Kuklinovski,” said he, “who is better, Kmita or +Kuklinovski?” Then he seized the burning tow and took a step nearer. +“Thy camp is distant one shot from a bow, thy thousand ruffians are +within call, there is thy Swedish general a little beyond, and thou art hanging +here from this same beam from which ’twas thy thought to roast +me.—Learn to know Kmita! Thou hadst the thought to be equal to Kmita, to +belong to his company, to be compared with him? Thou cut-purse, thou low +ruffian, terror of old women, thou offscouring of man. Lord Scoundrel of +Scoundrelton! Wry-mouth, trash, slave! I might have thee cut up like a kid, +like a capon; but I choose to roast thee alive as thou didst think to roast +me.” +</p> + +<p> +Saying this, he raised the tow and applied it to the side of the hanging, +hapless man; but he held it longer, until the odor of the burned flesh began to +spread through the barn. +</p> + +<p> +Kuklinovski writhed till the rope was swinging with him. His eyes, fastened on +Kmita, expressed terrible pain and a dumb imploring for pity; from his gagged +lips came woful groans; but war had hardened the heart of Pan Andrei, and there +was no pity in him, above all, none for traitors. +</p> + +<p> +Removing at last the tow from Kuklinovski’s side, he put it for a while +under his nose, rubbed with it his mustaches, his eyelashes, and his brows; +then he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I give thee thy life to meditate on Kmita. Thou wilt hang here till +morning, and now pray to God that people find thee before thou art +frozen.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he turned to Kosma and Damian. “To horse!” cried he, and went +out of the barn. +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour later around the four riders were quiet hills, silent and empty +fields. The fresh breeze, not filled with smoke of powder, entered their lungs. +Kmita rode ahead, the Kyemliches after him. They spoke in low voices. Pan +Andrei was silent, or rather he was repeating in silence the morning “Our +Father,” for it was not long before dawn. +</p> + +<p> +From time to time a hiss or even a low groan was rent from his lips, when his +burned side pained him greatly. But at the same time he felt on horseback and +free; and the thought that he had blown up the greatest siege gun, and besides +that had torn himself from the hands of Kuklinovski and had wrought vengeance +on him, filled Pan Andrei with such consolation that in view of it the pain was +nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile a quiet dialogue between the father and the sons turned into a loud +dispute. +</p> + +<p> +“The money belt is good,” said the greedy old man; “but where +are the rings? He had rings on his fingers; in one was a stone worth twenty +ducats.” +</p> + +<p> +“I forgot to take it,” answered Kosma. +</p> + +<p> +“I wish you were killed! Let the old man think of everything, and these +rascals haven’t wit for a copper! You forgot the rings, you thieves? You +lie like dogs!” +</p> + +<p> +“Then turn back, father, and look,” muttered Damian. +</p> + +<p> +“You lie, you thieves! You hide things. You wrong your old +father,—such sons! I wish that I had not begotten you. You will die +without a blessing.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita reined in his horse somewhat. “Come this way!” called he. +</p> + +<p> +The dispute ceased, the Kyemliches hurried up, and they rode farther four +abreast. +</p> + +<p> +“And do you know the road to the Silesian boundary?” asked Pan +Andrei. +</p> + +<p> +“O Mother of God! we know, we know,” answered the old man. +</p> + +<p> +“There are no Swedish parties on the road?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, for all are at Chenstohova, unless we might meet a single man; but +God give us one!” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +“Then you served with Kuklinovski?” asked Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“We did, for we thought that being near we might serve the holy monks and +your grace, and so it has happened. We did not serve against the +fortress,—God save us from that! we took no pay unless we found something +on Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +“How on Swedes?” +</p> + +<p> +“For we wanted to serve the Most Holy Lady even outside the walls; +therefore we rode around the camp at night or in the daytime, as the Lord God +gave us; and when any of the Swedes happened alone, then we—that +is—O Refuge of sinners!—we—” +</p> + +<p> +“Pounded him!” finished Kosma and Damian. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita laughed. “Kuklinovski had good servants in you. But did he know +about this?” +</p> + +<p> +“He received a share, an income. He knew, and the scoundrel commanded us +to give a thaler a head. Otherwise he threatened to betray us. Such a +robber,—he wronged poor men! And we have kept faith with your grace, for +not such is service with you. Your grace adds besides of your own; but he, a +thaler a head, for our toil, for our labor. On him may God—” +</p> + +<p> +“I will reward you abundantly for what you have done,” said Kmita. +“I did not expect this of you.” +</p> + +<p> +The distant sound of guns interrupted further words. Evidently the Swedes had +begun to fire with the first dawn. After a while the roar increased. Kmita +stopped his horse; it seemed to him that he distinguished the sound of the +fortress cannon from the cannon of the Swedes, therefore he clinched his fist, +and threatening with it in the direction of the enemies’ camp +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Fire away, fire away! Where is your greatest gun now?” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p> +The bursting of the gigantic culverin had really a crushing effect upon Miller, +for all his hopes had rested hitherto on that gun. Infantry were ready for the +assault, ladders and piles of fascines were collected; but now it was necessary +to abandon all thought of a storm. +</p> + +<p> +The plan of blowing up the cloister by means of mines came also to nothing. +Miners brought in previously from Olkush split, it is true, the rock, and +approached on a diagonal to the cloister; but work progressed slowly. The +workmen, in spite of every precaution, fell frequently from the guns of the +church, and labored unwillingly. Many of them preferred to die rather than aid +in the destruction of a sacred place. +</p> + +<p> +Miller felt a daily increasing opposition. The frost took away the remnant of +courage from his unwilling troops, among whom terror was spreading from day to +day with a belief that the capture of the cloister did not lie within human +power. +</p> + +<p> +Finally Miller himself began to lose hope, and after the bursting of the gun he +was simply in despair; a feeling of helplessness and impotence took possession +of him. Next morning he called a council, but he called it with the secret wish +to hear from officers encouragement to abandon the fortress. +</p> + +<p> +They began to assemble, all wearied and gloomy. In silence they took their +places around a table in an enormous and cold room, in which the steam from +their breaths stood before their faces, and they looked from behind it as from +behind a cloud. Each one felt in his soul exhaustion and weariness; each one +said to himself: “There is no counsel to give save one, which it is +better for no man to be the first to give.” All waited for what Miller +would say. He ordered first of all to bring plenty of heated wine, hoping that +under the influence of warm drink it would be easier to obtain a real thought +from those silent figures, and encouragement to retreat from the fortress. +</p> + +<p> +At last, when he supposed that the wine had produced its effect, he spoke in +the following words— +</p> + +<p> +“Have you noticed, gentlemen, that none of the Polish colonels have come +to this council, though I summoned them all?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is known of course to your worthiness that servants of the Polish +squadron have, while fishing, found silver belonging to the cloister, and that +they fought for it with our soldiers. More than ten men have been cut +down.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know; I succeeded in snatching a part of that silver from their hands, +indeed the greater part. It is here now, and I am thinking what to do with +it.” +</p> + +<p> +“This is surely the cause of the anger of the Polish colonels. They say +that if the Poles found the silver, it belongs to the Poles.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s a reason!” cried Count Veyhard. +</p> + +<p> +“For my mind, it is a strong reason,” said Sadovski; “and I +think that if you had found the silver you would not feel bound to divide it, +not only with the Poles, but even with me, a Cheh.” +</p> + +<p> +“First of all, my dear sir, I do not share your good will for the enemies +of our king,” answered the count, with a frown. +</p> + +<p> +“But we, thanks to you, must share with you shame and disgrace, not being +able to succeed against a fortress to which you have brought us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then have you lost all hope?” +</p> + +<p> +“But have you any yourself to give away?” +</p> + +<p> +“Just as if you knew; and I think that these gentlemen share more +willingly with me in my hope, than with you in your fear.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you make me a coward, Count Veyhard?” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not ascribe to you more courage than you show.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I ascribe to you less.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I,” said Miller, who for some time had looked on the count +with dislike as the instigator of the ill-starred undertaking, “shall +have the silver sent to the cloister. Perhaps kindness and graciousness will do +more with these surly monks than balls and cannon. Let them understand that we +wish to possess the fortress, not their treasures.” +</p> + +<p> +The officers looked on Miller with wonder, so little accustomed were they to +magnanimity from him. At last Sadovski said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing better could be done, for it will close at once the mouths of +the Polish colonels who lay claim to the silver. In the fortress it will surely +make a good impression.” +</p> + +<p> +“The death of that Kmita will make the best impression,” answered +Count Veyhard. “I hope that Kuklinovski has already torn him out of his +skin.” +</p> + +<p> +“I think that he is no longer alive,” said Miller. “But that +name reminds me of our loss, which nothing can make good. That was the greatest +gun in the whole artillery of his grace. I do not hide from you, gentlemen, +that all my hopes were placed on it. The breach was already made, terror was +spreading in the fortress. A couple of days longer and we should have moved to +a storm. Now all our labor is useless, all our exertions vain. They will repair +the wall in one day. And the guns which we have now are no better than those of +the fortress, and can be easily dismounted. No larger ones can be had anywhere, +for even Marshal Wittemberg hasn’t them. The more I ponder over it, the +more the disaster seems dreadful. And to think that one man did this,—one +dog! one Satan! I shall go mad! To all the horned devils!” +</p> + +<p> +Here Miller struck the table with his fist, for unrestrained anger had seized +him, the more desperately because he was powerless. After a while he +cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“But what will the king say when he hears of this loss?” After a +while he added: “And what shall we do? We cannot gnaw away that cliff +with our teeth. Would that the plague might strike those who persuaded me to +come to this fortress!” +</p> + +<p> +Having said this, he took a crystal goblet, and in his excitement hurled it to +the floor so that the crystal was broken into small bits. +</p> + +<p> +This unbecoming frenzy, more befitting a peasant than a warrior holding such a +high office, turned all hearts from him, and soured good-humor completely. +</p> + +<p> +“Give counsel, gentlemen!” cried Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“It is possible to counsel, but only in calmness,” answered the +Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +Miller began to puff and blow out his anger through his nostrils. After a time +he grew calm, and passing his eyes over those present as if encouraging them +with a glance, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I ask your pardon, gentlemen, but my anger is not strange. I will not +mention those places which, when I had taken command after Torstenson, I +captured, for I do not wish, in view of the present disaster, to boast of past +fortune. All that is done at this fortress simply passes reason. But still it +is necessary to take counsel. For that purpose I have summoned you. Deliberate, +then, and what the majority of us determine at this council will be +done.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let your worthiness give us the subject for deliberation,” said +the Prince of Hesse. “Have we to deliberate only concerning the capture +of the fortress, or also concerning this, whether it is better to +withdraw?” +</p> + +<p> +Miller did not wish to put the question so clearly, or at least he did not wish +the “either—or,” to come first from his mouth; therefore he +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Let each speak clearly what he thinks. It should be a question for us of +the profit and praise of the king.” +</p> + +<p> +But none of the officers wished more than Miller to appear first with the +proposition to retreat, therefore there was silence again. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Sadovski,” said Miller after a while, in a voice which he +tried to make agreeable and kind, “you say what you think more sincerely +than others, for your reputation insures you against all suspicion.” +</p> + +<p> +“I think, General,” answered the colonel, “that Kmita was one +of the greatest soldiers of this age, and that our position is +desperate.” +</p> + +<p> +“But you were in favor of withdrawing from the fortress?” +</p> + +<p> +“With permission of your worthiness, I was only in favor of not beginning +the siege. That is a thing quite different.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then what do you advise now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Now I give the floor to Count Veyhard.” +</p> + +<p> +Miller swore like a pagan. +</p> + +<p> +“Count Veyhard will answer for this unfortunate affair,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“My counsels have not all been carried out,” answered the count, +insolently. “I can boldly cast responsibility from myself. There were men +who with a wonderful, in truth an inexplicable, good-will for the priests, +dissuaded his worthiness from all severe measures. My advice was to hang those +envoy priests, and I am convinced that if this had been done terror would have +opened to us before this time the gates of that hen-house.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the count looked at Sadovski; but before the latter had answered, the +Prince of Hesse interfered: “Count, do not call that fortress a +hen-house, for the more you decrease its importance the more you increase our +shame.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nevertheless I advised to hang the envoys. Terror and always terror, +that is what I repeated from morning till night; but Pan Sadovski threatened +resignation, and the priests went unharmed.” +</p> + +<p> +“Go, Count, to-day to the fortress,” answered Sadovski, “blow +up with powder their greatest gun as Kmita did ours, and I guarantee that, that +will spread more terror than a murderous execution of envoys.” +</p> + +<p> +The count turned directly to Miller: “Your worthiness I thought we had +come here for counsel and not for amusement.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you an answer to baseless reproaches?” asked Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“I have, in spite of the joyousness of these gentlemen, who might save +their humor for better times.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, son of Laertes, famous for stratagems!” exclaimed the Prince +of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“Gentlemen,” answered the count, “it is universally known +that not Minerva but Mars is your guardian deity; but since Mars has not +favored you, and you have renounced your right of speech, let me speak.” +</p> + +<p> +“The mountain is beginning to groan, and soon we shall see the small tail +of a mouse,” said Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +“I ask for silence!” said Miller, severely. “Speak, Count, +but keep in mind that up to this moment your counsels have given bitter +fruit.” +</p> + +<p> +“Which, though it is winter, we must eat like mouldy biscuits,” put +in the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“This explains why your princely highness drinks so much wine,” +said Count Veyhard; “and though it does not take the place of native wit, +it helps you to a happy digestion of even disgrace. But no matter! I know well +that there is a party in the fortress which is long desirous of surrender, and +that only our weakness on one side and the superhuman stubbornness of the prior +on the other keep it in check. New terror will give this party new power; for +this purpose we should show that we make no account of the loss of the gun, and +storm the more vigorously.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that all?” +</p> + +<p> +“Even if it were all, I think that such counsel is more in accordance +with the honor of Swedish soldiers than barren jests at cups, or than sleeping +after drinking-bouts. But that is not all. We should spread the report among +our soldiers, and especially among the Poles, that the men at work now making a +mine have discovered the old underground passage leading to the cloister and +the church.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is good counsel,” said Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“When this report is spread among the soldiers and the Poles, the Poles +themselves will persuade the monks to surrender, for it is a question with them +as with the monks, that that nest of superstitions should remain intact.” +</p> + +<p> +“For a Catholic that is not bad!” muttered Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +“If he served the Turks he would call Rome a nest of +superstitions,” said the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“Then, beyond doubt, the Poles will send envoys to the priests,” +continued Count Veyhard,—“that party in the cloister, which is long +anxious for surrender will renew its efforts under the influence of fear; and +who knows but its members will force the prior and the stubborn to open the +gates?” +</p> + +<p> +“The city of Priam will perish through the cunning of the divine son of +Laertes,” declaimed the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“As God lives, a real Trojan history, and he thinks he has invented +something new!” said Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +But the advice pleased Miller, for in very truth it was not bad. The party +which the count spoke of existed really in the cloister. Even some priests of +weaker soul belonged to it. Besides, fear might extend among the garrison, +including even those who so far were ready to defend it to the last drop of +blood. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us try, let us try!” said Miller, who like a drowning man +seized every plank, and from despair passed easily to hope. “But will +Kuklinovski or Zbrojek agree to go again as envoys to the cloister, or will +they believe in that passage, and will they inform the priests of it?” +</p> + +<p> +“In every case Kuklinovski will agree,” answered the count; +“but it is better that he should believe really in the existence of the +passage.” +</p> + +<p> +At that moment they heard the tramp of a horse in front of the quarters. +</p> + +<p> +“There, Pan Zbrojek has come!” said the Prince of Hesse, looking +through the window. +</p> + +<p> +A moment later spurs rattled, and Zbrojek entered, or rather rushed into the +room. His face was pale, excited, and before the officers could ask the cause +of his excitement the colonel cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Kuklinovski is no longer living!” +</p> + +<p> +“How? What do you say? What has happened?” exclaimed Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me catch breath,” said Zbrojek, “for what I have seen +passes imagination.” +</p> + +<p> +“Talk more quickly. Has he been murdered?” cried all. +</p> + +<p> +“By Kmita,” answered Zbrojek. +</p> + +<p> +The officers all sprang from their seats, and began to look at Zbrojek as at a +madman; and he, while blowing in quick succession bunches of steam from his +nostrils, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“If I had not seen I should not have believed, for that is not a human +power. Kuklinovski is not living, three soldiers are killed, and of Kmita not a +trace. I know that he was a terrible man. His reputation is known in the whole +country. But for him, a prisoner and bound, not only to free himself, but to +kill the soldiers and torture Kuklinovski to death,—that a man could not +do, only a devil!” +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing like that has ever happened; that’s impossible of +belief!” whispered Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +“That Kmita has shown what he can do,” said the Prince of Hesse. +“We did not believe the Poles yesterday when they told us what kind of +bird he was; we thought they were telling big stories, as is usual with +them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Enough to drive a man mad,” said the count. +</p> + +<p> +Miller seized his head with his hands, and said nothing. When at last he raised +his eyes, flashes of wrath were crossing in them with flashes of suspicion. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Zbrojek,” said he, “though he were Satan and not a man, +he could not do this without some treason, without assistance. Kmita had his +admirers here; Kuklinovski his enemies, and you belong to the number.” +</p> + +<p> +Zbrojek was in the full sense of the word an insolent soldier; therefore when +he heard an accusation directed against himself, he grew still paler, sprang +from his place, approached Miller, and halting in front of him looked him +straight in the eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Does your worthiness suspect me?” inquired he. +</p> + +<p> +A very oppressive moment followed. The officers present had not the slightest +doubt were Miller to give an affirmative answer something would follow terrible +and unparalled in the history of camps. All hands rested on their rapier hilts. +Sadovski even drew his weapon altogether. +</p> + +<p> +But at that moment the officers saw before the window a yard filled with Polish +horsemen. Probably they also had come with news of Kuklinovski, but in case of +collision they would stand beyond doubt on Zbrojek’s side. Miller too saw +them, and though the paleness of rage had come on his face, still he restrained +himself, and feigning to see no challenge in Zbrojek’s action, he +answered in a voice which he strove to make natural,— +</p> + +<p> +“Tell in detail how it happened.” +</p> + +<p> +Zbrojek stood for a time yet with nostrils distended, but he too remembered +himself; and then his thoughts turned in another direction, for his comrades, +who had just ridden up, entered the room. +</p> + +<p> +“Kuklinovski is murdered!” repeated they, one after another. +“Kuklinovski is killed! His regiment will scatter! His soldiers are going +wild!” +</p> + +<p> +“Gentlemen, permit Pan Zbrojek to speak; he brought the news +first,” cried Miller. +</p> + +<p> +After a while there was silence, and Zbrojek spoke as follows,— +</p> + +<p> +“It is known to you, gentlemen, that at the last council I challenged +Kuklinovski on the word of a cavalier. I was an admirer of Kmita, it is true; +but even you, though his enemies, must acknowledge that no common man could +have done such a deed as bursting that cannon. It behooves us to esteem daring +even in an enemy; therefore I offered him my hand, but he refused his, and +called me a traitor. Then I thought to myself, ‘Let Kuklinovski do what +he likes with him.’ My only other thought was this: ‘If Kuklinovski +acts against knightly honor in dealing with Kmita, the disgrace of his deed +must not fall on all Poles, and among others on me.’ For that very reason +I wished surely to fight with Kuklinovski, and this morning taking two +comrades, I set out for his camp. We come to his quarters; they say there, +‘He is not at home.’ I send to this place,—he is not here. At +his quarters they tell us, ‘He has not returned the whole night.’ +But they are not alarmed, for they think that he has remained with your +worthiness. At last one soldier says, ‘Last evening he went to that +little barn in the field with Kmita, whom he was going to burn there.’ I +ride to the barn; the doors are wide open. I enter; I see inside a naked body +hanging from a beam. ‘That is Kmita,’ thought I; but when my eyes +have grown used to the darkness, I see that the body is some thin and bony one, +and Kmita looked like a Hercules. It is a wonder to me that he could shrink so +much in one night. I draw near—Kuklinovski!” +</p> + +<p> +“Hanging from the beam?” asked Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“Exactly! I make the sign of the cross,—I think, ‘Is it +witchcraft, an omen, deception, or what?’ But when I saw three corpses of +soldiers, the truth stood as if living before me. That terrible man had killed +these, hung Kuklinovski, burned him like an executioner, and then +escaped.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is not far to the Silesian boundary,” said Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed. Every suspicion of Zbrojek’s participation +in the affair was extinguished in Miller’s soul. But the event itself +astonished and filled him with a certain undefined fear. He saw dangers rising +around, or rather their terrible shadows, against which he knew not how to +struggle; he felt that some kind of chain of failures surrounded him. The first +links were before his eyes, but farther the gloom of the future was lying. Just +such a feeling mastered him as if he were in a cracked house which might fall +on his head any moment. Uncertainty crushed him with an insupportable weight, +and he asked himself what he had to lay hands on. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Count Veyhard struck himself on the forehead. “As God +lives,” said he, “when I saw this Kmita yesterday it seemed as if I +had known him somewhere. Now again I see before me that face. I remember the +sound of his voice. I must have met him for a short time and in the dark, in +the evening; but he is going through my head,—going—” Here he +began to rub his forehead with his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that to us?” asked Miller; “you will not mend the +gun, even should you remember; you will not bring Kuklinovski to life.” +</p> + +<p> +Here he turned to the officers. “Gentlemen, come with me, whoso wishes, +to the scene of this deed.” +</p> + +<p> +All wished to go, for curiosity was exciting them. Horses were brought, and +they moved on at a trot, the general at the head. When they came to the little +barn they saw a number of tens of Polish horsemen scattered around that +building, on the road, and along the field. +</p> + +<p> +“What men are they?” asked Miller of Zbrojek. +</p> + +<p> +“They must be Kuklinovski’s; I tell your worthiness that those +ragamuffins have simply gone wild.” +</p> + +<p> +Zbrojek then beckoned to one of the horsemen,— +</p> + +<p> +“Come this way, come this way. Quickly!” +</p> + +<p> +The soldier rode up. +</p> + +<p> +“Are you Kuklinovski’s men?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the rest of the regiment?” +</p> + +<p> +“They have run away. They refused to serve longer against Yasna +Gora.” +</p> + +<p> +“What does he say?” asked Miller. +</p> + +<p> +Zbrojek interpreted the words. +</p> + +<p> +“Ask him where they went to.” +</p> + +<p> +Zbrojek repeated the question. +</p> + +<p> +“It is unknown,” said the soldier. “Some have gone to +Silesia. Others said that they would serve with Kmita, for there is not another +such colonel either among the Poles or the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +When Zbrojek interpreted these words to Miller, he grew serious. In truth, such +men as Kuklinovski had were ready to pass over to the command of Kmita without +hesitation. But then they might become terrible, if not for Miller’s +army, at least for his supplies and communication. A river of perils was rising +higher and higher around the enchanted fortress. +</p> + +<p> +Zbrojek, into whose head this idea must have come, said, as if in answer to +these thoughts of Miller: “It is certain that everything is in a storm +now in our Commonwealth. Let only such a Kmita shout, hundreds and thousands +will surround him, especially after what he has done.” +</p> + +<p> +“But what can he effect?” asked Miller. +</p> + +<p> +“Remember, your worthiness, that that man brought Hovanski to +desperation, and Hovanski had, counting the Cossacks, six times as many men as +we. Not a transport will come to us without his permission, the country houses +are destroyed, and we are beginning to feel hunger. Besides, this Kmita may +join with Jegotski and Kulesha; then he will have several thousand sabres at +his call. He is a grievous man, and may become most harmful.” +</p> + +<p> +“Are you sure of your soldiers?” +</p> + +<p> +“Surer than of myself,” answered Zbrojek, with brutal frankness. +</p> + +<p> +“How surer?” +</p> + +<p> +“For, to tell the truth, we have all of us enough of this siege.” +</p> + +<p> +“I trust that it will soon come to an end.” +</p> + +<p> +“Only the question is: How? But for that matter to capture this fortress +is at present as great a calamity as to retire from it.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile they had reached the little barn. Miller dismounted, after him the +officers, and all entered. The soldiers had removed Kuklinovski from the beam, +and covering him with a rug laid him on his back on remnants of straw. The +bodies of three soldiers lay at one side, placed evenly one by the other. +</p> + +<p> +“These were killed with knives.” +</p> + +<p> +“But Kuklinovski?” +</p> + +<p> +“There are no wounds on Kuklinovski, but his side is roasted and his +mustaches daubed with pitch. He must have perished of cold or suffocation, for +he holds his own cap in his teeth to this moment.” +</p> + +<p> +“Uncover him.” +</p> + +<p> +The soldier raised a corner of the rug, and a terrible face was uncovered, +swollen, with eyes bursting out. On the remnants of his pitched mustaches were +icicles formed from his frozen breath and mixed with soot, making as it were +tusks sticking out of his mouth. That face was so revolting that Miller, though +accustomed to all kinds of ghastliness, shuddered and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Cover it quickly. Terrible, terrible!” +</p> + +<p> +Silence reigned in the barn. +</p> + +<p> +“Why have we come here?” asked the Prince of Hesse, spitting. +“I shall not touch food for a whole day.” +</p> + +<p> +All at once some kind of uncommon exasperation closely bordering on frenzy took +possession of Miller. His face became blue, his eyes expanded, he began to +gnash his teeth, a wild thirst for the blood of some one had seized him; then +turning to Zbrojek, he screamed,— +</p> + +<p> +“Where is that soldier who saw that Kuklinovski was in the barn? He must +be a confederate!” +</p> + +<p> +“I know not whether that soldier is here yet,” answered Zbrojek. +“All Kuklinovski’s men have scattered like oxen let out from the +yoke.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then catch him!” bellowed Miller, in fury. +</p> + +<p> +“Catch him yourself!” cried Zbrojek, in similar fury. +</p> + +<p> +And again a terrible outburst hung as it were on a spider-web over the heads of +the Swedes and the Poles. The latter began to gather around Zbrojek, moving +their mustaches threateningly and rattling their sabres. +</p> + +<p> +During this noise the echoes of shots and the tramp of horses were heard, and +into the barn rushed a Swedish officer of cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +“General!” cried he. “A sortie from the cloister! The men +working at the mine have been cut to pieces! A party of infantry is +scattered!” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall go wild!” roared Miller, seizing the hair of his wig. +“To horse!” +</p> + +<p> +In a moment they were all rushing like a whirlwind toward the cloister, so that +lumps of snow fell like hail from the hoofs of their horses. A hundred of +Sadovski’s cavalry, under command of his brother, joined Miller and ran +to assist. On the way they saw parties of terrified infantry fleeing in +disorder and panic, so fallen were the hearts of the Swedish infantry, +elsewhere unrivalled. They had left even trenches which were not threatened by +any danger. The oncoming officers and cavalry trampled a few, and rode finally +to within a furlong of the fortress, but only to see on the height as clearly +as on the palm of the hand, the attacking party returning safely to the +cloister; songs, shouts of joy, and laughter came from them to Miller’s +ears. +</p> + +<p> +Single persons stood forth and threatened with bloody sabres in the direction +of the staff. The Poles present at the side of the Swedish general recognized +Zamoyski himself, who had led the sortie in person, and who, when he saw the +staff, stopped and saluted it solemnly with his cap. No wonder he felt safe +under cover of the fortress cannon. +</p> + +<p> +And, in fact, it began to smoke on the walls, and iron flocks of cannon balls +were flying with terrible whistling among the officers. Troopers tottered in +their saddles, and groans answered whistles. +</p> + +<p> +“We are under fire. Retreat!” commanded Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +Zbrojek seized the reins of Miller’s horse. “General, withdraw! It +is death here!” +</p> + +<p> +Miller, as if he had become torpid, said not a word, and let himself be led out +of range of the missiles. Returning to his quarters, he locked himself in, and +for a whole day would see no man. He was meditating surely over his fame of +Poliorcetes. +</p> + +<p> +Count Veyhard now took all power in hand, and began with immense energy to make +preparations for a storm. New breastworks were thrown up; the soldiers +succeeding the miners broke the cliff unweariedly to prepare a mine. A feverish +movement continued in the whole Swedish camp. It seemed that a new spirit had +entered the besiegers, or that reinforcements had come. A few days later the +news thundered through the Swedish and allied Polish camps that the miners had +found a passage going under the church and the cloister, and that it depended +now only on the good-will of the general to blow up the whole fortress. +</p> + +<p> +Delight seized the soldiers worn out with cold, hunger, and fruitless toil. +Shouts of: “We have Chenstohova! We’ll blow up that +hen-house!” ran from mouth to mouth. Feasting and drinking began. +</p> + +<p> +The count was present everywhere; he encouraged the soldiers, kept them in that +belief, repeated a hundred times daily the news of finding the passage, incited +to feasting and frolics. +</p> + +<p> +The echo of this gladness reached the cloister at last. News of the mines dug +and ready to explode ran with the speed of lightning from rampart to rampart. +Even the most daring were frightened. Weeping women began to besiege the +prior’s dwelling, to hold out to him their children when he appeared for +a while, and cry,— +</p> + +<p> +“Destroy not the innocent! Their blood will fall on thy head!” +</p> + +<p> +The greater coward a man had been, the greater his daring now in urging +Kordetski not to expose to destruction the sacred place, the capital of the +Most Holy Lady. +</p> + +<p> +Such grievous, painful times followed, for the unbending soul of our hero in a +habit, as had not been till that hour. It was fortunate that the Swedes ceased +their assaults, so as to prove more convincingly that they needed no longer +either balls or cannon, that it was enough for them to ignite one little powder +fuse. But for this very reason terror increased in the cloister. In the hour of +deep night it seemed to some, the most timid, that they heard under the earth +certain sounds, certain movements; that the Swedes were already under the +cloister. Finally, a considerable number of the monks fell in spirit. Those, +with Father Stradomski at the head of them, went to the prior and urged him to +begin negotiations at once for surrender. The greater part of the soldiers went +with them, and some of the nobles. +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski appeared in the courtyard, and when the throng gathered around him in +a close circle, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Have we not sworn to one another to defend this holy place to the last +drop of our blood? In truth, I tell you that if powder hurls us forth, only our +wretched bodies, only the temporary covering, will fall away and return to the +earth, but the souls will not return,—heaven will open above them, and +they will enter into rejoicing and happiness, as into a sea without bounds. +There Jesus Christ will receive them, and that Most Holy Mother will meet them, +and they like golden bees will sit on her robe, and will sink in light and gaze +on the face of the Lord.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the reflection of that brightness was gleaming on his face. He raised his +inspired eyes upward, and spoke on with a dignity and a calm not of +earth:— +</p> + +<p> +“O Lord, the Ruler of worlds, Thou art looking into my heart, and Thou +knowest that I am not deceiving this people when I say that if I desired only +my own happiness I would stretch out my hands to Thee and cry from the depth of +my soul: O Lord! let powder be there, let it explode, for in such a death is +redemption of sins and faults, for it is eternal rest, and Thy servant is weary +and toil worn over-much. And who would not wish a reward of such kind, for a +death without pain and as short as the twinkle of an eye, as a flash in the +heavens, after which is eternity unbroken, happiness inexhaustible, joy without +end. But Thou hast commanded me to guard Thy retreat, therefore it is not +permitted me to go. Thou hast placed me on guard, therefore Thou hast poured +into me Thy strength, and I know, O Lord, I see and feel that although the +malice of the enemy were to force itself under this church, though all the +powder and destructive saltpetre were placed there, it would be enough for me +to make the sign of the cross above them and they would never explode.” +</p> + +<p> +Here he turned to the assembly and continued: “God has given me this +power, but do you take fear out of your hearts. My spirit pierces the earth and +tells you; Your enemies lie, there are no powder dragons under the church. You, +people of timid hearts, you in whom fear has stifled faith, deserve not to +enter the kingdom of grace and repose to-day. There is no powder under your +feet then! God wishes to preserve this retreat, so that, like Noah’s ark, +it may be borne above the deluge of disasters and mishap; therefore, in the +name of God, for the third time I tell you, there is no powder under the +church. And when I speak in His name, who will make bold to oppose me, who will +dare still to doubt?” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this he was silent and looked at the throng of monks, nobles, +and soldiers. But such was the unshaken faith, the conviction and power in his +voice that they were silent also, and no man came forward. On the contrary, +solace began to enter their hearts, till at last one of the soldiers, a simple +peasant, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Praise to the name of the Lord! For three days they say they are able to +blow up the fortress; why do they not blow it up?” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise to the Most Holy Lady! Why do they not blow it up?” +repeated a number of voices. +</p> + +<p> +Then a wonderful sign was made manifest. Behold all about them on a sudden was +heard the sound of wings, and whole flocks of small winter birds appeared in +the court of the fortress, and every moment new ones flew in from the starved +country-places around. Birds such as gray larks, ortolans, buntings with yellow +breasts, poor sparrows, green titmice, red bulfinches, sat on the slopes of the +roofs, on the corners over the doors, on the church; others flew around in a +many-colored crown above the head of the prior, flapping their wings, chirping +sadly as if begging for alms, and having no fear whatever of man. People +present were amazed at the sight; and Kordetski, after he had prayed for a +while, said at last,— +</p> + +<p> +“See these little birds of the forest. They come to the protection of the +Mother of God, but you doubt Her power.” +</p> + +<p> +Consolation and hope had entered their hearts; the monks, beating their +breasts, went to the church, and the soldiers mounted the walls. +</p> + +<p> +Women scattered grain to the birds, which began to pick it up eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +All interpreted the visit of these tiny forest-dwellers as a sign of success to +themselves, and of evil to the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +“Fierce snows must be lying, when these little birds, caring neither for +shots nor the thunder of cannon, flock to our buildings,” said the +soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“But why do they fly from the Swedes to us?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because the meanest creature has the wit to distinguish an enemy from a +friend.” +</p> + +<p> +“That cannot be,” said another soldier, “for in the Swedish +camp are Poles too; but it means that there must be hunger there, and a lack of +oats for the horses.” +</p> + +<p> +“It means still better,” said a third, “that what they say of +the powder is downright falsehood.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked all, in one voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Old people say,” replied the soldier, “that if a house is to +fall, the sparrows and swallows having nests in spring under the roof, go away +two or three days in advance; every creature has sense to feel danger +beforehand. Now if powder were under the cloister, these little birds would not +fly to us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that true?” +</p> + +<p> +“As true as Amen to ‘Our Father!’” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise to the Most Holy Lady! it will be bad for the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +At this moment the sound of a trumpet was heard at the northwestern gate; all +ran to see who was coming. +</p> + +<p> +It was a Swedish trumpeter with a letter from the camp. The monks assembled at +once in the council hall. The letter was from Count Veyhard, and announced that +if the fortress were not surrendered before the following day it would be +hurled into the air. But those who before had fallen under the weight of fear +had no faith now in this threat. +</p> + +<p> +“Those are vain threats!” said the priests and the nobles together. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us write to them not to spare us; let them blow us up!” +</p> + +<p> +And in fact they answered in that sense. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the soldiers who had gathered around the trumpeter answered his +warnings with ridicule. +</p> + +<p> +“Good!” said they to him. “Why do you spare us? We will go +the sooner to heaven.” +</p> + +<p> +But the man who delivered the answering letter to the messenger said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Do not lose words and time for nothing. Want is gnawing you, but we lack +nothing, praise be to God! Even the birds fly away from you.” +</p> + +<p> +And in this way Count Veyhard’s last trick came to nothing. And when +another day had passed it was shown with perfect proof how vain were the fears +of the besieged, and peace returned to the cloister. +</p> + +<p> +The following day a worthy man from Chenstohova, Yatsek Bjuhanski, left a +letter again giving warning of a storm; also news of the return of Yan Kazimir +from Silesia, and the uprising of the whole Commonwealth against the Swedes. +But according to reports circulating outside the walls, this was to be the last +storm. +</p> + +<p> +Bjuhanski brought the letter with a bag of fish to the priests for Christmas +Eve, and approached the walls disguised as a Swedish soldier. Poor +man!—the Swedes saw him and seized him. Miller gave command to stretch +him on the rack; but the old man had heavenly visions in the time of his +torture, and smiled as sweetly as a child, and instead of pain unspeakable joy +was depicted on his face. The general was present at the torture, but he gained +no confession from the martyr; he merely acquired the despairing conviction +that nothing could bend those people, nothing could break them. +</p> + +<p> +Now came the old beggarwoman Kostuha, with a letter from Kordetski begging most +humbly that the storm be delayed during service on the day of Christ’s +birth. The guards and the officers received the beggarwoman with insults and +jeers at such an envoy, but she answered them straight in the face,— +</p> + +<p> +“No other would come, for to envoys you are as murderers, and I took the +office for bread,—a crust. I shall not be long in this world; I have no +fear of you: if you do not believe, you have me in your hands.” +</p> + +<p> +But no harm was done her. What is more, Miller, eager to try conciliation +again, agreed to the prior’s request, even accepted a ransom for +Bjuhanski, not yet tortured quite out of his life; he sent also that part of +the silver found with the Swedish soldiers. He did this last out of malice to +Count Veyhard, who after the failure of the mine had fallen into disfavor +again. +</p> + +<p> +At last Christmas Eve came. With the first star, lights great and small began +to shine all around in the fortress. The night was still, frosty, but clear. +The Swedish soldiers, stiffened with cold in the intrenchments, gazed from +below on the dark walls of the unapproachable fortress, and to their minds came +the warm Scandinavian cottages stuffed with moss, their wives and children, the +fir-tree gleaming with lights; and more than one iron breast swelled with a +sigh, with regret, with homesickness, with despair. But in the fortress, at +tables covered with hay, the besieged were breaking wafers. A quiet joy was +shining in all faces, for each one had the foreboding, almost the certainty, +that the hours of suffering would be soon at an end. +</p> + +<p> +“Another storm to-morrow, but that will be the last,” repeated the +priests and the soldiers. “Let him to whom God will send death give +thanks that the Lord lets him be present at Mass, and thus opens more surely +heaven’s gates, for whoso dies for the faith on the day of Christ’s +birth must be received into glory.” +</p> + +<p> +They wished one another success, long years, or a heavenly crown; and so relief +dropped into every heart, as if suffering were over already. +</p> + +<p> +But there stood one empty chair near the prior; before it a plate on which was +a package of white wafers bound with a blue ribbon. When all had sat down, no +one occupied that place. Zamoyski said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I see, revered father, that according to ancient custom there are places +for men outside the cloister.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not for men outside,” said Father Agustine, “but as a +remembrance of that young man whom we loved as a son, and whose soul is looking +with pleasure upon us because we keep him in eternal memory.” +</p> + +<p> +“As God lives,” replied Zamoyski, “he is happier now than we. +We owe him due thanks.” +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski had tears in his eyes, and Charnyetski said,— +</p> + +<p> +“They write of smaller men in the chronicles. If God gives me life, and +any one asks me hereafter, who was there among us the equal of ancient heroes, +I shall say Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich was not his name,” said Kordetski. +</p> + +<p> +“How not Babinich?” +</p> + +<p> +“I long knew his real name under the seal of confession; but when going +out against that cannon, he said to me: ‘If I perish, let men know who I +am, so that honorable repute may rest with my name, and destroy my former +misdeeds.’ He went, he perished; now I can tell you that he was +Kmita!” +</p> + +<p> +“That renowned Lithuanian Kmita?” cried Charnyetski, seizing his +forelock. +</p> + +<p> +“The same. How the grace of God changes hearts!” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake. Now I understand why he undertook that work; now I +understand where he got that daring, that boldness, in which he surpassed all +men. Kmita, Kmita, that terrible Kmita whom Lithuania celebrates.” +</p> + +<p> +“Henceforth not only Lithuania, but the whole Commonwealth will glorify +him in a different manner.” +</p> + +<p> +“He was the first to warn us against Count Veyhard.” +</p> + +<p> +“Through his advice we closed the gates in good season, and made +preparations.” +</p> + +<p> +“He killed the first Swede with a shot from a bow.” +</p> + +<p> +“And how many of their cannon did he spoil! Who brought down De +Fossis?” +</p> + +<p> +“And that siege gun! If we are not terrified at the storm of to-morrow, +who is the cause?” +</p> + +<p> +“Let each remember him with honor, and celebrate his name wherever +possible, so that justice be done,” said Kordetski; “and now may +God give him eternal rest.” +</p> + +<p> +“And may everlasting light shine on him,” answered one chorus of +voices. +</p> + +<p> +But Pan Charnyetski was unable for a long time to calm himself, and his +thoughts were continually turning to Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“I tell you, gentlemen, that there was something of such kind in that man +that though he served as a simple soldier, the command of itself crawled at +once to his hand, so that it was a wonder to me how people obeyed such a young +man unwittingly. In fact, he was commander on the bastion, and I obeyed him +myself. Oh, had I known him then to be Kmita!” +</p> + +<p> +“Still it is a wonder to me,” said Zamoyski, “that the Swedes +have not boasted of his death.” +</p> + +<p> +Kordetski sighed. “The powder must have killed him on the spot.” +</p> + +<p> +“I would let a hand be cut from me could he be alive again,” cried +Charnyetski. “But that such a Kmita let himself be blown up by +powder!” +</p> + +<p> +“He gave his life for ours,” said Kordetski. +</p> + +<p> +“It is true,” added Zamoyski, “that if that cannon were lying +in the intrenchment, I should not think so pleasantly of to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow God will give us a new victory,” said the prior, +“for the ark of Noah cannot be lost in the deluge.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus they conversed with one another on Christmas Eve, and then separated; the +monks going to the church, the soldiers, some to quiet rest, and others to keep +watch on the walls and at the gates. But great care was superfluous, for in the +Swedish camp there reigned unbroken calm. They had given themselves to rest and +meditation, for to them too was approaching a most serious day. +</p> + +<p> +The night was solemn. Legions of stars twinkled in the sky, changing into blue +and rosy colors. The light of the moon changed to green the shrouds of snow +stretching between the fortress and the hostile camp. The wind did not howl, +and it was calm, as from the beginning of the siege it had not been near the +cloister. +</p> + +<p> +At midnight the Swedish soldiers heard the flow of the mild and grand tones of +the organ; then the voices of men were joined with them; then the sounds of +bells, large and small. Joy, consolation, and great calm were in those sounds; +and the greater was the doubt, the greater the feeling of helplessness which +weighed down the hearts of the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +The Polish soldiers from the commands of Zbrojek and Kalinski, without seeking +permission, went up to the very walls. They were not permitted to enter through +fear of some snare; but they were permitted to stand near the walls. They also +collected together. Some knelt on the snow, others shook their heads pitifully, +sighing over their own lot, or beat their breasts, promising repentance; and +all heard with delight and with tears in their eyes the music and the hymns +sung according to ancient usage. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time the sentries on the walls who could not be in the church, +wishing to make up for their loss, began also to sing, and soon was heard +throughout the whole circuit of the walls the Christmas hymn:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“He is lying in the manger;<br/> +Who will run<br/> +To greet the little stranger?” +</p> + +<p> +In the afternoon of the following day the thunder of guns drowned again every +other sound. All the intrenchments began to smoke simultaneously, the earth +trembled in its foundations; as of old there flew on the roof of the church +heavy balls, bombs, grenades, and torches fixed in cylinders, pouring a rain of +melted lead, and naked torches, knots and ropes. Never had the thunder been so +unceasing, never till then had such a river of fire and iron fallen on the +cloister; but among the Swedish guns was not that great gun, which alone could +crush the wall and make a breach necessary for assault. +</p> + +<p> +But the besieged were so accustomed to fire that each man knew what he had to +do, and the defence went in its ordinary course without command. Fire was +answered with fire, missile with missile, but better aimed, for with more +calmness. +</p> + +<p> +Toward evening Miller went out to see by the last rays of the setting sun the +results; and his glance fell on the tower outlined calmly on the background of +the sky. +</p> + +<p> +“That cloister will stand for the ages of ages!” cried he, beside +himself. +</p> + +<p> +“Amen!” answered Zbrojek, quietly. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening a council was assembled again at headquarters, still more gloomy +than usual. Miller opened it himself. +</p> + +<p> +“The storm of to-day,” said he, “has brought no result. Our +powder is nearly consumed; half of our men are lost, the rest discouraged: they +look for disasters, not victory. We have no supplies; we cannot expect +reinforcements.” +</p> + +<p> +“But the cloister stands unmoved as on the first day of the siege,” +added Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +“What remains for us?” +</p> + +<p> +“Disgrace.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have received orders,” said the general, “to finish +quickly or retreat to Prussia.” +</p> + +<p> +“What remains to us?” repeated the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +All eyes were turned to Count Veyhard, who said: “To save our +honor!” +</p> + +<p> +A short broken laugh, more like the gnashing of teeth, came from Miller, who +was called Poliorcetes. “The Count wishes to teach us how to raise the +dead,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +Count Veyhard acted as though he had not heard this. +</p> + +<p> +“Only the slain have saved their honor,” said Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +Miller began to lose his cool blood. “And that cloister stands there yet, +that Yasna Gora, that hen-house! I have not taken it! And we withdraw. Is this +a dream, or am I speaking in my senses?” +</p> + +<p> +“That cloister stands there yet, that Yasna Gora!” repeated word +for word the Prince of Hesse, “and we shall +withdraw,—defeated!” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed; it seemed as though the leader and his +subordinates found a certain wild pleasure in bringing to mind their shame and +defeat. +</p> + +<p> +Now Count Veyhard said slowly and emphatically: “It has happened more +than once in every war that a besieged fortress has ransomed itself from the +besiegers, who then went away as victors; for whoso pays a ransom, by this same +recognizes himself as defeated.” +</p> + +<p> +The officers, who at first listened to the words of the speaker with scorn and +contempt, now began to listen more attentively. +</p> + +<p> +“Let that cloister pay us any kind of ransom,” continued the count; +“then no one will say that we could not take it, but that we did not wish +to take it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will they agree?” asked the Prince of Hesse. +</p> + +<p> +“I will lay down my head,” answered Count Veyhard, “and more +than that, my honor as a soldier.” +</p> + +<p> +“Can that be!” asked Sadovski. “We have enough of this siege, +but have they enough? What does your worthiness think of this?” +</p> + +<p> +Miller turned to Veyhard “Many grievous moments, the most grievous of my +life, have I passed because of your counsels, Sir Count; but for this last +advice I thank you, and will be grateful.” +</p> + +<p> +All breasts breathed more freely. There could be no real question but that of +retreating with honor. +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow, the day of Saint Stephen, the officers assembled to the last man +to hear Kordetski’s answer to Miller’s letter, which proposed a +ransom, and was sent in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +They had to wait long. Miller feigned joyousness, but constraint was evident on +his face. No one of the officers could keep his place. All hearts beat +unquietly. The Prince of Hesse and Sadovski stood under the window conversing +in a low voice. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you think?” asked the first; “will they +agree?” +</p> + +<p> +“Everything indicates that they will agree. Who would not wish to be rid +of such terrible danger come what may, at the price of a few tens of thousands +of thalers, especially since monks have not worldly ambition and military +honor, or at least should not have? I only fear that the general has asked too +much.” +</p> + +<p> +“How much has he asked?” +</p> + +<p> +“Forty thousand from the monks, and twenty thousand from the nobles, but +in the worst event they will try to reduce the sum.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let us yield, in God’s name, let us yield. If they have not the +money, I would prefer to lend them my own, if they will let us go away with +even the semblance of honor. But I tell your princely highness that though I +recognize the count’s advice this time as good, and I believe that they +will ransom themselves, such a fever is gnawing me that I would prefer ten +storms to this waiting.” +</p> + +<p> +“Uf! you are right. But still this Count Veyhard may go high.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even as high as the gibbet,” said the other. +</p> + +<p> +But the speakers did not foresee that a worse fate than even the gibbet was +awaiting Count Veyhard. +</p> + +<p> +That moment the thunder of cannon interrupted further conversation. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that? firing from the fortress!” cried Miller. And +springing up like a man possessed, he ran out of the room. +</p> + +<p> +All ran after him and listened. The sound of regular salvos came indeed from +the fortress. +</p> + +<p> +“Are they fighting inside, or what?” cried Miller; “I +don’t understand.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will explain to your worthiness,” said Zbrojek, “this is +Saint Stephen’s Day, and the name’s day of the Zamoyskis, father +and son; the firing is in their honor.” +</p> + +<p> +With that shouts of applause were heard from the fortress, and after them new +salvos. +</p> + +<p> +“They have powder enough,” said Miller, gloomily. “That is +for us a new indication.” +</p> + +<p> +But fate did not spare him another very painful lesson. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedish soldiers were so discouraged and fallen in spirit that at the sound +of firing from the fortress the detachments guarding the nearest intrenchments +deserted them in panic. +</p> + +<p> +Miller saw one whole regiment, the musketeers of Smaland, taking refuge in +disorder at his own quarters; he heard too how the officers repeated among +themselves at this sight,— +</p> + +<p> +“It is time, it is time, it is time to retreat!” +</p> + +<p> +But by degrees everything grew calm; one crushing impression remained. The +leader, and after him the subordinates, entered the room and waited, waited +impatiently; even the face of Count Veyhard, till then motionless, betrayed +disquiet. +</p> + +<p> +At last the clatter of spurs was heard in the antechamber, and the trumpeter +entered, all red from cold, his mustaches covered with his frozen breath. +</p> + +<p> +“An answer from the cloister!” said he, giving a large packet wound +up in a colored handkerchief bound with a string. +</p> + +<p> +Miller’s hands trembled somewhat, and he chose to cut the string with a +dagger rather than to open it slowly. A number of pairs of eyes were fixed on +the packet; the officers were breathless. The general unwound one roll of the +cloth, a second, and a third, unwound with increasing haste till at last a +package of wafers fell out on the table. Then he grew pale, and though no one +asked what was in the package, he said, “Wafers!” +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing more?” asked some one in the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing more!” answered the general, like an echo. +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed, broken only by panting; at times too was heard +the gritting of teeth, at times the rattling of rapiers. +</p> + +<p> +“Count Veyhard!” said Miller, at last, with a terrible and +ill-omened voice. +</p> + +<p> +“He is no longer here!” answered one of the officers. +</p> + +<p> +Again silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +That night movement reigned in the whole camp. Scarcely was the light of day +quenched when voices of command were heard, the hurrying of considerable +divisions of cavalry, the sound of measured steps of infantry, the neighing of +horses, the squeaking of wagons, the dull thump of cannon, with the biting of +iron, the rattle of chains, noise, bustle, and turmoil. +</p> + +<p> +“Will there be a new storm in the morning?” asked the guards at the +gates. +</p> + +<p> +But they were unable to see, for since twilight the sky was covered with +clouds, and abundant snow had begun to fall. Its frequent flakes excluded the +light. About five o’clock in the morning all sounds had ceased, but the +snow was falling still more densely. On the walls and battlements it had +created new walls and battlements. It covered the whole cloister and church, as +if wishing to hide them from the glance of the enemy, to shelter and cover them +from iron missiles. +</p> + +<p> +At last the air began to grow gray, and the bell commenced tolling for morning +service, when the soldiers standing guard at the southern gate heard the +snorting of a horse. +</p> + +<p> +Before the gate stood a peasant, all covered with snow; behind him was a low, +small wooden sleigh, drawn by a thin, shaggy horse. The peasant fell to +striking his body with his arms, to jumping from one foot to the other, and to +crying,— +</p> + +<p> +“People, but open here!” +</p> + +<p> +“Who is alive?” they asked from the walls. +</p> + +<p> +“Your own, from Dzbov. I have brought game for the benefactors.” +</p> + +<p> +“And how did the Swedes let you come?” +</p> + +<p> +“What Swedes?” +</p> + +<p> +“Those who are besieging the church.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oho, there are no Swedes now!” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise God, every soul! Have they gone?” +</p> + +<p> +“The tracks behind them are covered.” +</p> + +<p> +With that, crowds of villagers and peasants blackened the road, some riding, +others on foot, there were women too, and all began to cry from afar,— +</p> + +<p> +“There are no Swedes! there are none! They have gone to Vyelunie. Open +the gates! There is not a man in the camp!” +</p> + +<p> +“The Swedes have gone, the Swedes have gone!” cried men on the +walls; and the news ran around like lightning. +</p> + +<p> +Soldiers rushed to the bells, and rang them all as if for an alarm. Every +living soul rushed out of the cells, the dwellings, and the church. +</p> + +<p> +The news thundered all the time. The court was swarming with monks, nobles, +soldiers, women, and children. Joyful shouts were heard around. Some ran out on +the walls to examine the empty camp; others burst into laughter or into sobs. +Some would not believe yet, but new crowds came continually, peasants and +villagers. +</p> + +<p> +They came from Chenstohova, from the surrounding villages, and from the forests +near by, noisily, joyously, and with singing. New tidings crossed one another +each moment. All had seen the retreating Swedes, and told in what direction +they were going. +</p> + +<p> +A few hours later the slope and the plain below the mountain were filled with +people. The gates of the cloister were open wide, as they had been before the +siege; and all the bells were ringing, ringing, ringing,—and those voices +of triumph flew to the distance, and then the whole Commonwealth heard them. +</p> + +<p> +The snow was covering and covering the tracks of the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +About noon of that day the church was so filled with people that head was as +near head as on a paved street in a city one stone is near another. Father +Kordetski himself celebrated a thanksgiving Mass, and to the throng of people +it seemed that a white angel was celebrating it. And it seemed to them also +that he was singing out his soul in that Mass, or that it was borne heavenward +in the smoke of the incense, and was expanding in praise to the Lord. +</p> + +<p> +The thunder of cannon shook not the walls, nor the glass in the windows, nor +covered the people with dust, nor interrupted prayer, nor that thanksgiving +hymn which amid universal ecstasy and weeping, the holy prior was +intoning— +</p> + +<p> +“Te Deum laudamus.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p> +The horses bore Kmita and the Kyemliches swiftly toward the Silesian boundary. +They advanced with caution to avoid meeting Swedish scouts, for though the +cunning Kyemliches had “passes,” given by Kuklinovski and signed by +Miller, still soldiers, though furnished with such documents, were usually +subjected to examination, and examination might have an evil issue for Pan +Andrei and his comrades. They rode, therefore, swiftly, so as to pass the +boundary in all haste and push into the depth of the Emperor’s territory. +The boundaries themselves were not free from Swedish ravagers, and frequently +whole parties of horsemen rode into Silesia to seize those who were going to +Yan Kazimir. But the Kyemliches, during their stay at Chenstohova, occupied +continually with hunting individual Swedes, had learned through and through the +whole region, all the boundary roads, passages, and paths where the chase was +most abundant, and were as if in their own land. +</p> + +<p> +Along the road old Kyemlich told Pan Andrei what was to be heard in the +Commonwealth; and Pan Andrei, having been confined so long in the fortress, +forgetting his own pain, listened to the news eagerly, for it was very +unfavorable to the Swedes, and heralded a near end to their domination in +Poland. +</p> + +<p> +“The army is sick of Swedish fortune and Swedish company,” said old +Kyemlich; “and as some time ago the soldiers threatened the hetmans with +their lives if they would not join the Swedes, so now the same men entreat +Pototski and send deputations asking him to save the Commonwealth from +oppression, swearing to stand by him to the death. Some colonels also have +begun to attack the Swedes on their own responsibility.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who began first?” +</p> + +<p> +“Jegotski, the starosta of Babimost, and Pan Kulesha. These began in +Great Poland, and annoy the Swedes notably. There are many small divisions in +the whole country, but it is difficult to learn the names of the leaders, for +they conceal them to save their own families and property from Swedish +vengeance. Of the army that regiment rose first which is commanded by Pan +Voynillovich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gabryel? He is my relative, though I do not know him.” +</p> + +<p> +“A genuine soldier. He is the man who rubbed out Pratski’s party, +which was serving the Swedes, and shot Pratski himself; but now he has gone to +the rough mountains beyond Cracow; there he cut up a Swedish division, and +secured the mountaineers from oppression.” +</p> + +<p> +“Are the mountaineers fighting with the Swedes already?” +</p> + +<p> +“They were the first to rise; but as they are stupid peasants, they +wanted to rescue Cracow straightway with axes. General Douglas scattered them, +for they knew nothing of the level country; but of the parties sent to pursue +them in the mountains, not a man has returned. Pan Voynillovich has helped +those peasants, and now has gone himself to the marshal at Lyubovlya, and +joined his forces.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is Pan Lyubomirski, the marshal, opposed to the Swedes?” +</p> + +<p> +“Reports disagreed. They said that he favored this side and that; but +when men began to mount their horses throughout the whole country he went +against the Swedes. He is a powerful man, and can do them a great deal of harm. +He alone might war with the King of Sweden. People say too that before spring +there will not be one Swede in the Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant that!” +</p> + +<p> +“How can it be otherwise, your grace, since for the siege of Chenstohova +all are enraged against them? The army is rising, the nobles are fighting +already wherever they can, the peasants are collecting in crowds, and besides, +the Tartars are marching; the Khan, who defeated Hmelnitski and the Cossacks, +and promised to destroy them completely unless they would march against the +Swedes, is coming in person.” +</p> + +<p> +“But the Swedes have still much support among magnates and nobles?” +</p> + +<p> +“Only those take their part who must, and even they are merely waiting +for a chance. The prince voevoda of Vilna is the only man who has joined them +sincerely, and that act has turned out ill for him.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita stopped his horse, and at the same time caught his side, for terrible +pain had shot through him. +</p> + +<p> +“In God’s name!” cried he, suppressing a groan, “tell +me what is taking place with Radzivill. Is he all the time in Kyedani?” +</p> + +<p> +“O Ivory Gate!” said the old man; “I know as much as people +say, and God knows what they do not say. Some report that the prince voevoda is +living no longer; others that he is still defending himself against Pan +Sapyeha, but is barely breathing. It is likely that they are struggling with +each other in Podlyasye, and that Pan Sapyeha has the upper hand, for the +Swedes could not save the prince voevoda. Now they say that, besieged in +Tykotsin by Sapyeha, it is all over with him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God! The honest are conquering traitors! Praise be to God! +Praise be to God!” +</p> + +<p> +Kyemlich looked from under his brows at Kmita, and knew not himself what to +think, for it was known in the whole Commonwealth that if Radzivill had +triumphed in the beginning over his own troops and the nobles who did not wish +Swedish rule, it happened, mainly, thanks to Kmita and his men. But old +Kyemlich did not let that thought be known to his colonel, and rode farther in +silence. +</p> + +<p> +“But what has happened to Prince Boguslav?” asked Pan Andrei, at +last. +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard nothing of him, your grace,” answered Kyemlich. +“Maybe he is in Tykotsin, and maybe with the elector. War is there at +present, and the King of Sweden has gone to Prussia; but we meanwhile are +waiting for our own king. God give him! for let him only show himself, all to a +man will rise, and the troops will leave the Swedes straightway.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that certain?” +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace, I know only what those soldiers said who had to be with the +Swedes at Chenstohova. They are very fine cavalry, some thousands strong, under +Zbrojek, Kalinski, and other colonels. I may tell your grace that no man serves +there of his own will, except Kuklinovski’s ravagers; they wanted to get +the treasures of Yasna Gora. But all honorable soldiers did nothing but lament, +and one quicker than another complained: ‘We have enough of this +Jew’s service! Only let our king put a foot over the boundary, we will +turn our sabres at once on the Swedes; but while he is not here, how can we +begin, whither can we go?’ So they complain; and in the other regiments +which are under the hetmans it is still worse. This I know certainly, for +deputations came from them to Pan Zbrojek with arguments, and they had secret +talks there at night; this Miller did not know, though he felt that there was +evil about him.” +</p> + +<p> +“But is the prince voevoda of Vilna besieged in Tykotsin?” asked +Pan Andrei. +</p> + +<p> +Kyemlich looked again unquietly on Kmita, for he thought that surely a fever +was seizing him if he asked to have the same information repeated; still he +answered,— +</p> + +<p> +“Besieged by Pan Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +“Just are Thy judgments, God!” said Kmita. “He who might +compare in power with kings! Has no one remained with him?” +</p> + +<p> +“In Tykotsin there is a Swedish garrison. But with the prince only some +of his trustiest attendants have remained.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita’s breast was filled with delight. He had feared the vengeance of +the terrible magnate on Olenka, and though it seemed to him that he had +prevented that vengeance with his threats, still he was tormented by the +thought that it would be better and safer for Olenka and all the Billeviches to +live in a lion’s den than in Kyedani, under the hand of the prince, who +never forgave any man. But now when he had fallen his opponents must triumph by +the event; now when he was deprived of power and significance, when he was lord +of only one poor castle, in which he defended his own life and freedom, he +could not think of vengeance; his hand had ceased to weigh on his enemies. +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God! praise be to God!” repeated Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +He had his head so filled with the change in Radzivill’s fortunes, so +occupied with that which had happened during his stay in Chenstohova, and with +the question where was she whom his heart loved, and what had become of her, +that a third time he asked Kyemlich: “You say that the prince is +broken?” +</p> + +<p> +“Broken completely,” answered the old man. “But are you not +sick?” +</p> + +<p> +“My side is burned. That is nothing!” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Again they rode on in silence. The tired horses lessened their speed by +degrees, till at last they were going at a walk. That monotonous movement +lulled to sleep Pan Andrei, who was mortally wearied, and he slept long, +nodding in the saddle. He was roused only by the white light of day. He looked +around with amazement, for in the first moment it seemed to him that everything +through which he had passed in that night was merely a dream; at last he +inquired,— +</p> + +<p> +“Is that you, Kyemlich? Are we riding from Chenstohova?” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course, your grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“But where are we?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oho, in Silesia already. Here the Swedes will not get us.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well!” said Kmita, coming to his senses completely. +“But where is our gracious king living?” +</p> + +<p> +“At Glogov.” +</p> + +<p> +“We will go there then to bow down to our lord, and offer him service. +But listen, old man, to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am listening, your grace.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita fell to thinking, however, and did not speak at once. He was evidently +combining something in his head; he hesitated, considered, and at last said: +“It cannot be otherwise!” +</p> + +<p> +“I am listening, your grace,” repeated Kyemlich. +</p> + +<p> +“Neither to the king nor to any man at the court must you mutter who I +am. I call myself Babinich, I am faring from Chenstohova. Of the great gun and +of Kuklinovski you may talk, so that my intentions be not misconstrued, and I +be considered a traitor, for in my blindness I aided and served Prince +Radzivill; of this they may have heard at the court.” +</p> + +<p> +“I may speak of what your grace did at Chenstohova—” +</p> + +<p> +“But who will show that ’tis true till the siege is over?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will act at your command.” +</p> + +<p> +“The day will come for truth to appear at the top,” added Kmita, as +it were to himself, “but first our gracious lord must convince himself. +Later he also will give me his witness.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the conversation was broken. By this time it had become perfect day. Old +Kyemlich began to sing matins, and Kosma and Damian accompanied him with bass +voices. The road was difficult, for the frost was cutting, and besides, the +travellers were stopped continually and asked for news, especially if +Chenstohova was resisting yet. Kmita answered that it was resisting, and would +take care of itself; but there was no end to questions. The roads were swarming +with travellers, the inns everywhere filled. Some people were seeking refuge in +the depth of the country from the neighboring parts of the Commonwealth before +Swedish oppression; others were pushing toward the boundary for news. From time +to time appeared nobles, who, having had enough of the Swedes, were going, like +Kmita, to offer their services to the fugitive king. There were seen, also, +attendants of private persons; at times smaller or larger parties of soldiers, +from armies, which either voluntarily or in virtue of treaties with the Swedes +had passed the boundaries,—such, for instance, as the troops of Stefan +Charnyetski. News from the Commonwealth had roused the hope of those +“exiles,” and many of them were making ready to come home in arms. +In all Silesia, and particularly in the provinces of Ratibor and Opol, it was +boiling as in a pot; messengers were flying with letters to the king and from +the king; they were flying with letters to Charnyetski, to the primate, to Pan +Korytsinski, the chancellor; to Pan Varshytski, the castellan of Cracow, the +first senator of the Commonwealth, who had not deserted the cause of Yan +Kazimir for an instant. +</p> + +<p> +These lords, in agreement with the great queen, who was unshaken in misfortune, +were coming to an understanding with one another, with the country, and with +the foremost men in it, of whom it was known that they would gladly resume +allegiance to their legal lord. Messengers were sent independently by the +marshal of the kingdom, the hetmans, the army, and the nobles, who were making +ready to take up arms. +</p> + +<p> +It was the eve of a general war, which in some places had broken out already. +The Swedes put down these local outbursts either with arms or with the +executioner’s axe, but the fire quenched in one place flamed up at once +in another. An awful storm was hanging over the heads of the Scandinavian +invaders; the ground itself, though covered with snow, began to burn their +feet; threats and vengeance surrounded them on all sides; their own shadows +alarmed them. +</p> + +<p> +They went around like men astray. The recent songs of triumph died on their +lips, and they asked one another in the greatest amazement, “Are these +the same people who yesterday left their own king, and gave up without fighting +a battle?” Yes, lords, nobles, army,—an example unheard of in +history,—passed over to the conqueror; towns and castles threw open their +gates; the country was occupied. Never had a conquest cost fewer exertions, +less blood. The Swedes themselves, wondering at the ease with which they had +occupied a mighty Commonwealth, could not conceal their contempt for the +conquered, who at the first gleam of a Swedish sword rejected their own king, +their country, provided that they could enjoy life and goods in peace, or +acquire new goods in the confusion. What in his time Count Veyhard had told the +emperor’s envoy, Lisola, the king himself, and all the Swedish generals +repeated: “There is no manhood in this nation, there is no stability, +there is no order, no faith, no patriotism! It must perish.” +</p> + +<p> +They forgot that that nation had still one feeling, specially that one whose +earthly expression was Yasna Gora. And in that feeling was rebirth. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore the thunder of cannon which was heard under the sacred retreat found +an echo at once in the hearts of all magnates, nobles, town-dwellers, and +peasants. An outcry of awe was heard from the Carpathians to the Baltic, and +the giant was roused from his torpor. +</p> + +<p> +“That is another people!” said the amazed Swedish generals. +</p> + +<p> +And all, from Arwid Wittemberg to the commandants of single castles, sent to +Karl Gustav in Prussia tidings filled with terror. +</p> + +<p> +The earth was pushing from under their feet; instead of recent friends, they +met enemies on all sides; instead of submission, hostility; instead of fear, a +wild daring ready for everything; instead of mildness, ferocity; instead of +long-suffering, vengeance. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile from hand to hand were flying in thousands throughout the whole +Commonwealth the manifestoes of Yan Kazimir, which, issued at first in Silesia, +had found no immediate echo. Now, on the contrary, they were seen in castles +still free of the enemy. Wherever the Swedish hand was not weighing, the nobles +assembled in crowds large and small, and beat their breasts, listening to the +lofty words of the fugitive king, who, recounting faults and sins, urged them +not to lose hope, but hasten to the rescue of the fallen Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +“Though the enemy have already advanced far, it is not too late,” +wrote Yan Kazimir, “for us to recover the lost provinces and towns, give +due praise to God, satisfy the profaned churches with the blood of the enemy, +and restore the former liberties, laws, and ancient enactments of Poland to +their usual circuit; if only there is a return of that ancient Polish virtue, +and that devotion and love of God peculiar to your ancestors, virtues for which +our great-grandfather, Sigismund I., honored them before many nations. A return +to virtue has already diminished these recent transgressions. Let those of you +to whom God and His holy faith are dearer than aught else rise against the +Swedish enemy. Do not wait for leaders or voevodas, or for such an order of +things as is described in public law. At present the enemy have brought all +these things to confusion among you; but do you join, the first man to a +second, a third to these two, a fourth to the three, a fifth to the four, and +thus farther, so that each one with his own subjects may come, and when it is +possible try resistance. Afterward you will select a leader. Join yourselves +one party to another, and you will form an army. When the army is formed and +you have chosen a known chief over it, wait for our person, not neglecting an +occasion wherever it comes to defeat the enemy. If we hear of the occasion, and +your readiness and inclination, we will come at once and lay down our life +wherever the defence of the country requires it.” +</p> + +<p> +This manifesto was read even in the camp of Karl Gustav, in castles having +Swedish garrisons, in all places wherever Polish squadrons were found. The +nobles shed tears at every word of the king their kind lord, and took an oath +on crosses, on pictures of the Most Holy Lady, and on scapulars to please him. +To give a proof of their readiness, while ardor was in their hearts and their +tears were not dry, they mounted here and there without hesitation, and moved +on while hot against the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +In this way the smaller Swedish parties began to melt and to vanish. This was +done in Lithuania, Mazovia, Great and Little Poland. More than once nobles who +had assembled at a neighbor’s house for a christening, a name’s +day, a wedding or a dance, without any thought of war, finished the +entertainment with this, that after they had taken a good share of drink they +struck like a thunderbolt and cut to pieces the nearest Swedish command. Then, +amid songs and shouts, they assembled for the road. Those who wished to +“hunt” rode farther, changed into a crowd greedy for blood, from a +crowd into a “party” which began steady war. Subject peasants and +house-servants joined the amusement in throngs; others gave information about +single Swedes or small squads disposed incautiously through the villages. And +the number of “balls” and “masquerades” increased with +each day. Joyousness and daring personal to the people were bound up with these +bloody amusements. +</p> + +<p> +They disguised themselves gladly as Tartars, the very name of which filled the +Swedes with alarm; for among them were current marvellous accounts and fables +touching the ferocity, the terrible and savage bravery of those sons of the +Crimean steppes, with whom the Scandinavians had never met hitherto. Besides, +it was known universally that the Khan with about a hundred thousand of the +horde was marching to succor Yan Kazimir; and the nobles made a great uproar +while attacking Swedish commands, from which wonderful disorder resulted. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedish colonels and commandants in many places were really convinced that +Tartars were present, and retreated in haste to larger fortresses and camps, +spreading everywhere erroneous reports and alarm. Meanwhile the neighborhoods +which were freed in this manner from the enemy were able to defend themselves, +and change an unruly rabble into the most disciplined of armies. +</p> + +<p> +But more terrible for the Swedes than “masquerades” of nobles, or +than the Tartars themselves, were the movements of the peasants. Excitement +among the people began with the first day of the siege of Chenstohova; and +ploughmen hitherto silent and patient began here and there to offer resistance, +here and there to take scythes and flails and help nobles. The most brilliant +Swedish generals looked with the greatest alarm at these crowds, which might at +any moment turn into a genuine deluge and overwhelm beyond rescue the invaders. +</p> + +<p> +Terror seemed to them the most appropriate means by which to crush in the +beginning this dreadful danger. Karl Gustav cajoled still, and retained with +words of kindness those Polish squadrons which had followed him to Prussia. He +had not spared flattery on Konyetspolski, the celebrated commander from Zbaraj. +This commander stood at his side with six thousand cavalry, which at the first +hostile meeting with the elector spread such terror and destruction among the +Prussians that the elector abandoning the fight agreed as quickly as possible +to the conditions. +</p> + +<p> +The King of Sweden sent letters also to the hetmans, the magnates, and the +nobles, full of graciousness, promises, and encouragement to preserve loyalty +to him. But at the same time he issued commands to his generals and commandants +to destroy with fire and sword every opposition within the country, and +especially to cut to pieces peasant parties. Then began a period of iron +military rule. The Swedes cast aside the semblance of friendship. The sword, +fire, pillage, oppression, took the place of the former pretended good will. +From the castles they sent strong detachments of cavalry and infantry in +pursuit of the “masqueraders.” Whole villages, with churches and +priests’ dwellings, were levelled to the earth. Nobles taken prisoners, +were delivered to the executioner; the right hands were cut from captured +peasants, then they were sent home. +</p> + +<p> +These Swedish detachments were specially savage in Great Poland, which, as it +was the first to surrender, was also the first to rise against foreign +dominion. Commandant Stein gave orders on a certain occasion to cut the hands +from more than three hundred peasants. In towns they built permanent gibbets, +which every day were adorned with new victims. Pontus de la Gardie did the same +in Lithuania and Jmud, where the noble villages took up arms first, and after +them the peasants. Because in general it was difficult for the Swedes in the +disturbance to distinguish their friends from their enemies, no one was spared. +</p> + +<p> +But the fire put down in blood, instead of dying, grew without ceasing, and a +war began which was not on either side a question merely of victory, castles, +towns, or provinces, but of life or death. Cruelty increased hatred, and they +began not to struggle, but to exterminate each the other without mercy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p> +This war of extermination was just beginning when Kmita, with the three +Kyemliches, reached Glogov, after a journey which was difficult in view of Pan +Andrei’s shaken health. They arrived in the night. The town was crowded +with troops, lords, nobles, servants of the king and of magnates. The inns were +so occupied that old Kyemlich with the greatest trouble found lodgings for his +colonel outside the town at the house of a rope-maker. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei spent the whole first day in bed in pain and fever from the burn. At +times he thought that he should be seriously and grievously ill; but his iron +constitution gained the victory. The following night brought him ease, and at +daybreak he dressed and went to the parish church to thank God for his +miraculous escape. +</p> + +<p> +The gray and snowy winter morning had barely dissipated the darkness. The town +was still sleeping, but through the church door lights could be seen on the +altar, and the sounds of the organ came forth. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita went to the centre of the church. The priest was celebrating Mass before +the altar; there were few worshippers so far. At benches some persons were +kneeling with their faces hidden in their hands; but besides those Pan Andrei +saw, when his eyes had grown used to the darkness, a certain figure lying in +the form of a cross in front of the pews on a carpet. Behind him were kneeling +two youths with ruddy and almost angelic childish faces. +</p> + +<p> +This man was motionless, and only from his breast moving continually with deep +sighs could it be known that he was not sleeping, but praying earnestly and +with his whole soul. Kmita himself became absorbed in a thanksgiving prayer; +but when he had finished his eyes turned involuntarily to the man lying as a +cross, and could not leave him; something fastened them to him. Sighs deep as +groans, audible in the silence of the church, shook that figure continually. +The yellow rays of the candles burning before the altar, together with the +light of day, whitening in the windows, brought it out of the gloom, and made +it more and more visible. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei conjectured at once from the dress that he must be some noted +person, besides all present, not excepting the priest celebrating Mass, looked +on him with honor and respect. The unknown was dressed entirely in black velvet +bound with sable, but on his shoulders he had, turned down, a white lace +collar, from under which peeped the golden links of a chain; a black hat with +feathers of like color lay at his side; one of the pages kneeling beyond the +carpet held gloves and a sword enamelled in blue. Kmita could not see the face +of the unknown, for it was hidden by the folds of the carpet, and besides, the +locks of an unusually thick wig scattered around his head concealed it +completely. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei pressed up to the front pew to see the face of the unknown when he +rose. Mass was then drawing to an end. The priest was singing <i>Pater +noster</i>. The people who wished to be at the following Mass were coming in +through the main entrance. The church was filled gradually with figures with +heads shaven at the sides, dressed in cloaks with long sleeves, in military +burkas, in fur cloaks, and in brocade coats. It became somewhat crowded. Kmita +then pushed with his elbow a noble standing at his side, and whispered,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon, your grace, that I trouble you during service, but my curiosity +is most powerful. Who is that?” He indicated with his eyes the man lying +in the form of a cross. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you come from a distance, that you know not?” asked the +noble. +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly I come from a distance, and therefore I ask in hope that if I +find some polite man he will not begrudge an answer.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“As God lives!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +But at that moment the king rose, for the priest had begun to read the Gospel. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei saw an emaciated face, yellow and transparent, like church wax. The +eyes of the king were moist, and his lids red. You would have said that all the +fate of the country was reflected in that noble face, so much was there in it +of pain, suffering, care. Sleepless nights divided between prayer and grief, +terrible deceptions, wandering, desertion, the humiliated majesty of that son, +grandson, and great-grandson of powerful kings, the gall which his own subjects +had given him to drink so bountifully, the ingratitude of that country for +which he was ready to devote his blood and life,—all this could be read +in that face as in a book, and still it expressed not only resignation, +obtained through faith and prayer, not only the majesty of a king and an +anointed of God, but such great, inexhaustible kindness that evidently it would +be enough for the greatest renegade, the most guilty man, only to stretch out +his hands to that father, and that father would receive him, forgive him, and +forget his offences. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed to Kmita at sight of him that some one had squeezed his heart with an +iron hand. Compassion rose in the ardent soul of the young hero. Compunction, +sorrow, and homage straitened the breath in his throat, a feeling of +immeasurable guilt cut his knees under him so that he began to tremble through +his whole body, and at once a new feeling rose in his breast. In one moment he +had conceived such a love for that suffering king that to him there was nothing +dearer on earth than that father and lord, for whom he was ready to sacrifice +blood and life, bear torture and everything else in the world. He wished to +throw himself at those feet, to embrace those knees, and implore forgiveness +for his crimes. The noble, the insolent disturber, had died in him in one +moment, and the royalist was born, devoted with his whole soul to his king. +</p> + +<p> +“That is our lord, our unhappy king,” repeated he to himself, as if +he wished with his lips to give witness to what his eyes saw and what his heart +felt. +</p> + +<p> +After the Gospel, Yan Kazimir knelt again, stretched out his arms, raised his +eyes to heaven, and was sunk in prayer. The priest went out at last, there was +a movement in the church, the king remained kneeling. +</p> + +<p> +Then that noble whom Kmita had addressed pushed Pan Andrei in the side. +</p> + +<p> +“But who are you?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita did not understand the question at once, and did not answer it directly, +so greatly were his heart and mind occupied by the person of the king. +</p> + +<p> +“And who are you?” repeated that personage. +</p> + +<p> +“A noble like yourself,” answered Pan Andrei, waking as if from a +dream. +</p> + +<p> +“What is your name?” +</p> + +<p> +“What is my name? Babinich; I am from Lithuania, from near +Vityebsk.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I am Pan Lugovski, of the king’s household. Have you just come +from Lithuania, from Vityebsk?” +</p> + +<p> +“No; I come from Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Lugovski was dumb for a moment from wonder. +</p> + +<p> +“But if that is true, then come and tell us the news. The king is almost +dead from anxiety because he has had no certain tidings these three days. How +is it? You are perhaps from the squadron of Zbrojek, Kalinski, or Kuklinovski, +from near Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not from near Chenstohova, but directly from the cloister itself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Are you not jesting? What is going on there, what is to be heard? Does +Yasna Gora defend itself yet?” +</p> + +<p> +“It does, and will defend itself. The Swedes are about to retreat.” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake! The king will cover you with gold. From the very +cloister do you say that you have come? How did the Swedes let you pass?” +</p> + +<p> +“I did not ask their permission; but pardon me, I cannot give a more +extended account in the church.” +</p> + +<p> +“Right, right!” said Pan Lugovski. “God is merciful! You have +fallen from heaven to us! It is not proper in the church,—right! Wait a +moment. The king will rise directly; he will go to breakfast before high Mass. +To-day is Sunday. Come stand with me at the door, and when the king is going +out I will present you. Come, come, there is no time to spare.” +</p> + +<p> +He pushed ahead, and Kmita followed. They had barely taken their places at the +door when the two pages appeared, and after them came Yan Kazimir slowly. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious King!” cried Pan Lugovski, “there are tidings from +Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +The wax-like face of Yan Kazimir became animated in an instant. +</p> + +<p> +“What tidings? Where is the man?” inquired he. +</p> + +<p> +“This noble; he says that he has come from the very cloister.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is the cloister captured?” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +That moment Pan Andrei fell his whole length at the feet of the king. Yan +Kazimir inclined and began to raise him by the arms. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, ceremony another time, another time!” cried he. “Rise, +in God’s name, rise! Speak quickly! Is the cloister taken?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita sprang up with tears in his eyes, and cried with animation,— +</p> + +<p> +“It is not, and will not be taken, Gracious Lord. The Swedes are beaten. +The great gun is blown up. There is fear among them, hunger, misery. They are +thinking of retreat.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise, praise to Thee, Queen of the Angels and of us!” said the +king. Then he turned to the church door, removed his hat, and without entering +knelt on the snow at the door. He supported his head on a stone pillar, and +sank into silence. After a while sobbing began to shake him. Emotion seized +all, and Pan Andrei wept loudly. The king, after he had prayed and shed tears, +rose quieted, with a face much clearer. He inquired his name of Kmita, and when +the latter had told his assumed one, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Let Pan Lugovski conduct you at once to our quarters. We shall not take +our morning food without hearing of the defence.” +</p> + +<p> +A quarter of an hour later Kmita was standing in the king’s chamber +before a distinguished assembly. The king was only waiting for the queen, to +sit down to breakfast. Marya Ludvika appeared soon. Yan Kazimir barely saw her +when he exclaimed,— +</p> + +<p> +“Chenstohova has held out! The Swedes will retreat! Here is Pan Babinich, +who has just come, and he brings the news.” +</p> + +<p> +The black eyes of the queen rested inquiringly on the youthful face of the +hero, and seeing its sincerity, they grew bright with joy; and he, when he had +made a profound obeisance, looked also at her boldly, as truth and honesty know +how to look. +</p> + +<p> +“The power of God!” said the queen. “You have taken a +terrible weight from our hearts, and God grant this is the beginning of a +change of fortune. Do you come straight from near Chenstohova?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not from near Chenstohova, he says, but from the cloister +itself,—one of the defenders!” exclaimed the king. “A golden +guest! God grant such to come daily; but let him begin. Tell, brother, tell how +you defended yourselves, and how the hand of God guarded you.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is sure, Gracious King and Queen, that nothing saved us but the +guardianship of God and the miracles of the Most Holy Lady, which I saw every +day with my eyes.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kmita was preparing for his narrative, when new dignitaries appeared. +First came the nuncio of the Pope; then the primate, Leshchynski; after him +Vydjga, a golden-mouthed preacher, who was the queen’s chancellor, later +bishop of Varmia, and finally primate. With him came the chancellor of the +kingdom, Pan Korytsinski, and the Frenchman De Noyers, a relative of the queen, +and other dignitaries who had not deserted the king in misfortune, but chose to +share with him the bitter bread of exile rather than break plighted faith. +</p> + +<p> +The king was eager to hear; therefore he ceased eating, every moment, and +repeated, “Listen, gentlemen, listen; a guest from Chenstohova! Good +news; hear it! From Yasna Gora itself!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the dignitaries looked with curiosity on Kmita, who was standing as it +were before a court; but he, bold by nature and accustomed to intercourse with +great people, was not a whit alarmed at sight of so many celebrated persons; +and when all had taken their places, he began to describe the whole siege. +</p> + +<p> +Truth was evident in his words; for he spoke with clearness and strength, like +a soldier who had seen everything, touched everything, passed through +everything. He praised to the skies Pan Zamoyski and Pan Charnyetski; spoke of +Kordetski, the prior, as of a holy prophet; exalted other fathers; missed no +one save himself; but he ascribed the whole success of the defence, without +deviation, to the Most Holy Lady, to Her favor and miracles. +</p> + +<p> +The king and the dignitaries listened to him in amazement. The archbishop +raised his tearful eyes to heaven. Father Vydjga interpreted everything +hurriedly to the nuncio; other great personages caught their heads; some +prayed, or beat their breasts. +</p> + +<p> +At last, when Kmita came to the recent storms,—when he began to relate +how Miller had brought heavy guns from Cracow, and among them one against which +not only the walls of Chenstohova, but no walls in the world could +stand,—such silence began as though some one were sowing poppy seeds, and +all eyes rested on Pan Andrei’s lips. +</p> + +<p> +But he stopped suddenly, and began to breathe quickly; a clear flush came out +on his face; he frowned, raised his head, and spoke boldly: “Now I must +speak of myself, though I should prefer to be silent. And if I say aught which +seems praise, God is my witness that I do so not for rewards, for I do not need +them, since the greatest reward for me is to shed my blood for majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“Speak boldly, I believe you,” said the king. “But that great +gun?” +</p> + +<p> +“That great gun—I, stealing out in the night from the fortress, +blew into fragments with powder.” +</p> + +<p> +“O loving God!” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +But after this cry was silence, such astonishment had seized each person. All +looked as at a rainbow at the young hero, who stood with flashing eyes, with a +flush on his face, and with head proudly erect. And so much was there in him at +that moment of a certain terribleness and wild courage that the thought came to +each one unwittingly, such a man might dare such a deed. After silence of a +moment the primate said,— +</p> + +<p> +“This man looks like that!” +</p> + +<p> +“How did you do it?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita explained how he did it. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot believe my ears,” said Pan Korytsinski, the chancellor. +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy gentlemen,” answered the king, with dignity, “you do +not know whom we have before us. There is yet hope that the Commonwealth has +not perished while it gives such cavaliers and citizens.” +</p> + +<p> +“This man might say of himself, ‘<i>Si fractus illabatur orbis, +impavidum ferient ruinæ</i> (If the broken firmament should fall the ruins +would strike him unterrified)!’” said Father Vydjga, who loved to +quote authors at every opportunity. +</p> + +<p> +“These are almost impossible things,” said the chancellor again. +“Tell, Cavalier, how you brought away your life, and how you passed +through the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +“The explosion stunned me,” said Kmita, “and next day the +Swedes found me in the ditch lying as if lifeless. They judged me at once, and +Miller condemned me to death.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then did you escape?” +</p> + +<p> +“A certain Kuklinovski begged me of Miller, so that he might put me to +death, for he had a fierce animosity against me.” +</p> + +<p> +“He is a well-known disturber and murderer; we have heard of him,” +said the castellan of Kjyvinsk. “His regiment is with Miller at +Chenstohova. That is true!” +</p> + +<p> +“Previously Kuklinovski was an envoy from Miller to the cloister, and +once tried to persuade me in secret to treason when I was conducting him to the +gate. I struck him in the face and kicked him. For that insult he was enraged +against me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, this I see is a noble of fire and sulphur!” cried the king, +amused. “Do not go into such a man’s road. Did Miller then give you +to Kuklinovski?” +</p> + +<p> +“He did, Gracious Gentlemen. Kuklinovski shut me with himself and some +men in an empty little barn. There he had me tied to a beam with ropes, then he +began to torture me and to burn my sides with fire.” +</p> + +<p> +“By the living God!” +</p> + +<p> +“While doing this he was called away to Miller; when he was gone three +nobles came, certain Kyemliches, his soldiers, who had served with me +previously. They killed the guards, and unbound me from the beam—” +</p> + +<p> +“And you fled! Now I understand,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“No, your Royal Grace. We waited for the return of Kuklinovski. Then I +gave command to tie him to that same beam, and I burned him better with +fire.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, Kmita, roused by remembrance, became red again, and his +eyes gleamed like those of a wolf. But the king, who passed easily from grief +to joy, from seriousness to sport, began to strike the table with his hand, and +exclaim with laughter,— +</p> + +<p> +“That was good for him! that was good for him! Such a traitor deserved +nothing better!” +</p> + +<p> +“I left him alive,” continued Kmita, “but he must have +perished from cold before morning.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s a deed; he does not give away his own. We need more of +such!” cried the king, now completely delighted. “Did you come +hither with those soldiers? What are their names?” +</p> + +<p> +“They are Kyemlich, a father and two sons.” +</p> + +<p> +“My mother is from the house of Kyemlich,” said Father Vydjga. +</p> + +<p> +“It is evident that there are great and small Kyemliches,” answered +Kmita, smiling; “these are not only small persons, but robbers; they are +fierce soldiers, however, and faithful to me.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the chancellor, who had been whispering for a time in the ear of the +Archbishop of Gnyezno, said at last,— +</p> + +<p> +“Many come here who for their own praise or for an expected reward are +glad to raise dust. They bring false and disturbing news, and are frequently +sent by the enemy.” +</p> + +<p> +This remark chilled all present. Kmita’s face became purple. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know the office of your grace,” said he, “which, I +think, must be considerable, therefore I do not wish to offend you; but there +is no office, as I think, which would empower any one to give the lie to a +noble, without reason.” +</p> + +<p> +“Man! you are speaking to the grand chancellor of the kingdom,” +said Lugovski. +</p> + +<p> +“Whoso gives me the lie, even if he is chancellor, I answer him, it is +easier to give the lie than to give your life, it is easier to seal with wax +than with blood!” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Korytsinski was not angry; he only said: “I do not give you the lie, +Cavalier; but if what you say is true, you must have a burned side.” +</p> + +<p> +“Come to another place, your great mightiness, to another room, and I +will show it to you!” roared Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not needful,” said the king; “I believe you without +that.” +</p> + +<p> +“It cannot be, your Royal Grace,” exclaimed Pan Andrei; “I +wish it myself, I beg it as a favor, so that here no one, even though I know +not how worthy, should make me an exaggerator. My torment would be an ill +reward; I wish belief.” +</p> + +<p> +“I believe you,” answered the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Truth itself was in his words,” added Marya Ludvika. “I am +not deceived in men.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious King and Queen, permit. Let some man go aside with me, for it +would be grievous for me to live here in suspicion.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will go,” said Pan Tyzenhauz, a young attendant of the king. So +saying, he conducted Kmita to another room, and on the way said to him, +“I do not go because I do not believe you, for I believe; but to speak +with you. Have we met somewhere in Lithuania? I cannot remember your name, for +it may be that I saw you when a youth, and I myself was a youth then?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita turned away his face somewhat to hide his sudden confusion. +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps at some provincial diet. My late father took me with him +frequently to see public business.” +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps. Your face is surely not strange to me, though at that time it +had not those scars. Still see how <i>memoria fragilis est</i> (weak memory +is); also it seems to me you had a different name.” +</p> + +<p> +“Years dull the memory,” answered Pan Andrei. +</p> + +<p> +They went to another room. After a while Tyzenhauz returned to the royal pair. +</p> + +<p> +“He is roasted, Gracious King, as on a spit,” said he; “his +whole side is burned.” +</p> + +<p> +When Kmita in his turn came back, the king rose, pressed his head, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“We have never doubted that you speak the truth, and neither your pain +nor your services will pass unrewarded.” +</p> + +<p> +“We are your debtors,” added the queen, extending her hand to him. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei dropped on one knee and kissed with reverence the hand of the queen, +who stroked him on the head like a mother. +</p> + +<p> +“Be not angry with the chancellor,” said the king. “In this +place there are really not a few traitors, or, if not traitors, men who are +unwise, that wind three after three, and it belongs to the chancellor’s +office to discover truth touching public affairs.” +</p> + +<p> +“What does my poor anger mean for such a great man?” answered Pan +Andrei. “And I should not dare to murmur against a worthy senator, who +gives an example of loyalty and love of country to all.” +</p> + +<p> +The chancellor smiled kindly and extended his hand. “Well, let there be +peace! You spoke ill to me of wax; but know this, that the Korytsinskis have +sealed often with blood, not with wax only.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was rejoiced. “This Babinich has pleased us,” said he to +the senators, “has touched our heart as few have. We will not let you go +from our side, and God grant that we shall return together soon to our beloved +country.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Most Serene King,” cried Kmita, with ecstasy; “though +confined in the fortress of Yasna Gora, I know from the nobles, from the army, +and even from those who, serving under Zbrojek and Kalinski, besieged +Chenstohova, that all are waiting for the day and the hour of your return. Only +show yourself, Gracious Lord, and that day all Lithuania, Poland, and Russia +will stand by you as one man! The nobles will join; even insignificant peasants +will go with their lord to resist. The army under the hetmans is barely +breathing from eagerness to move against the Swedes. I know this, too, that at +Chenstohova deputies came from the hetmans’ troops to arouse Zbrojek, +Kalinski, and Kuklinovski, against the Swedes. Appear on the boundary to-day, +and in a week there will not be a Swede; only appear, only show yourself, for +we are there like sheep without a shepherd.” +</p> + +<p> +Sparks came from Kmita’s eyes while he was speaking, and such great ardor +seized him that he knelt in the middle of the hall. His enthusiasm was +communicated even to the queen herself, who, being of fearless courage, had +long been persuading the king to return. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore, turning to Yan Kazimir, she said with energy and determination: +“I hear the voice of the whole people through the mouth of this +noble.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is true, that is true, Gracious Lady, our Mother!” exclaimed +Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +But certain words in what Kmita had said struck the chancellor and the king. +</p> + +<p> +“We have always been ready,” said the king, “to sacrifice our +health and life, and hitherto we have been waiting for nothing else but a +change in our subjects.” +</p> + +<p> +“That change has taken place already,” said Marya Ludvika. +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Majestas infracta malis</i> (Majesty unbroken by misfortune)!” +said Father Vydjga, looking at her with homage. +</p> + +<p> +“It is important,” said the archbishop, “if, really, +deputations from the hetmans went to Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know this from my men, those Kyemliches,” answered Pan Andrei. +“In the squadrons of Zbrojek and Kalinski all spoke openly of this, +paying no attention to Miller and the Swedes. These Kyemliches were not +enclosed in the fortress; they had relations with the world, with soldiers and +nobles,—I can bring them before your Royal Grace and your worthinesses; +let them tell how it is seething in the whole country as in a pot. The hetmans +joined the Swedes from constraint only; the troops wish to return to duty. The +Swedes beat nobles and priests, plunder, violate ancient liberties; it is no +wonder then that each man balls his fist and looks anxiously at his +sabre.” +</p> + +<p> +“We, too, have had news from the troops,” said the king; +“there were here, also, secret envoys who told us of the general wish to +return to former loyalty and honor.” +</p> + +<p> +“And that agrees with what this cavalier tells,” said the +chancellor. “But if deputations are passing among the regiments it is +important, for it means that the fruit is already ripe, that our efforts were +not vain, that our work is accomplished, that the time is at hand.” +</p> + +<p> +“But Konyetspolski,” said the king, “and so many others who +are still at the side of the invader, who look into his eyes and give +assurances of their devotion?” +</p> + +<p> +Then all grew silent, the king became gloomy on a sudden, and as when the sun +goes behind a cloud a shadow covers at once the whole world, so did his face +grow dark. After a time he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“God sees in our heart that even to-day we are ready to move, and that +not the power of Sweden detains us, but the unhappy fickleness of our people, +who, like Proteus, take on a new form every moment. Can we believe that this +change is sincere, this desire not imagined, this readiness not deceitful? Can +we believe that people who so recently deserted us, and with such light hearts +joined the invader against their own king, against their own country, against +their own liberties? Pain straitens our heart, and we are ashamed of our own +subjects! Where does history show such examples? What king has met so many +treasons, so much ill-will? Who has been so deserted? Call to mind, your +kindnesses, that we in the midst of our army, in the midst of those who were +bound to shed their blood for us,—it is a danger and a terror to tell +it,—we were not sure of our life. And if we left the country and had to +seek an asylum, it is not from fear of the Swedish enemy, but of our own +subjects, to save our own children from the terrible crime of king murder and +parricide.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord!” exclaimed Kmita; “our people have sinned +grievously; they are guilty, and the hand of God is punishing them justly; but +still, by the wounds of Christ, there has not been found among that people, and +God grant that there will never be found, a man who would raise his hand on the +sacred person of the anointed of God.” +</p> + +<p> +“You do not believe, because you are honest,” said the king, +“but we have letters and proofs. The Radzivills have paid us badly for +the kindness with which we have covered them; but still Boguslav, though a +traitor, was moved by conscience, and not only did he not wish to lend a hand +to such a deed, but he was the first to warn us of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“What deed?” asked the astonished Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“He informed us,” said the king, “that there was a man who +offered for one hundred gold ducats to seize us and deliver us, living or dead, +to the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +A shiver passed through the whole assembly at these words of the king, and +Kmita was barely able to groan out the question, “Who was that +man?—who was he?” +</p> + +<p> +“A certain Kmita,” answered the king. +</p> + +<p> +A wave of blood suddenly struck Pan Andrei in the head, it grew dark in his +eyes, he seized his forelock, and with a terribly wandering voice said: +“That is a lie! Prince Boguslav lies like a dog! Gracious King, believe +not that traitor; he did that of purpose to bring infamy on an enemy, and to +frighten you, my king. He is a traitor! Kmita would not have done such a +deed.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Andrei turned suddenly where he was standing. His strength, exhausted +by the siege, undermined by the explosion of powder in the great gun, and +through the torture given by Kuklinovski, left him altogether, and he fell +without consciousness at the feet of the king. +</p> + +<p> +They bore him into the adjoining room, where the king’s physician +examined him. But in the assembly of dignitaries they knew not how to explain +why the words of the king had produced such a terrible impression on the young +man. +</p> + +<p> +“Either he is so honest that horror alone has thrown him off his feet, or +he is some relative of that Kmita,” said the castellan of Cracow. +</p> + +<p> +“We must ask him,” replied the chancellor. “In Lithuania +nobles are all related one to another, as in fact they are with us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” said Tyzenhauz, “God preserve me from +wishing to speak evil of this young man; but we should not trust him at present +too much. That he served in Chenstohova is certain,—his side is burned; +this the monks would not have done in any event, for they as servants of God +must have every clemency, even for prisoners and traitors; but one thing is +coming continually to my head and destroying trust in him, that is, I met him +somewhere in Lithuania,—still a youth, at a diet or a carnival,—I +don’t remember—” +</p> + +<p> +“And what of that?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“And it seems to me always that his name was not Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not tell every little thing,” said the king; “you are +young and inattentive, and a thing might easily enter your head. Whether he is +Babinich or not, why should I not trust him? Sincerity and truth are written on +his lips, and evidently he has a golden heart. I should not trust myself, if I +could not trust a soldier who has shed his blood for us and the country.” +</p> + +<p> +“He deserves more confidence than the letter of Prince Boguslav,” +said the queen, suddenly, “and I recommend this to the consideration of +your worthinesses, there may not be a word of truth in that letter. It might +have been very important for the Radzivills of Birji that we should lose +courage completely, and it is easy to admit that Prince Boguslav wished also to +ruin some enemy of his, and leave a door open to himself in case of changed +fortune.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I were not accustomed,” said the primate, “to hear wisdom +itself coming from the mouth of the gracious queen, I should be astonished at +the quickness of these words, worthy of the ablest statesman—” +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Comasque gerens, animosque viriles</i> (Though wearing tresses, she +has the courage of a man),” interrupted Father Vydjga, in a low voice. +</p> + +<p> +Encouraged by these words, the queen rose from her chair and began to speak: +“I care not for the Radzivills of Birji, for they, as heretics, listen +easily to the whispers of the enemy of the human race; nor of the letter of +Prince Boguslav, which may touch private affairs. But I am most pained by the +despairing words of my lord and husband, the king, spoken against this people. +For who will spare them if their own king condemns them? And still, when I look +through the world, I ask in vain, where is there another such people in which +the praise of God endures with the manner of ancient sincerity and increases +continually? In vain do I look for another people in which such open candor +exists. Where is there another State in which no one has heard of those hellish +blasphemies, subtle crimes, and never ending feuds with which foreign +chronicles are filled. Let people skilled in the history of the world show me +another kingdom where all the kings died their own quiet deaths. You have no +knives or poisons here; you have no protectors, as among the English. It is +true that this nation has grown grievously guilty, has sinned through frivolity +and license. But where is the nation that never errs, and where is the one +which, as soon as it has recognized its offence, begins penance and +reformation? Behold they have already taken thought, they are now coming, +beating their breasts to your majesty, ready to spill their blood, to yield +their lives, to sacrifice their fortune for you. And will you reject them; will +you not forgive the penitent; will you not trust those who have reformed, those +who are doing penance; will you not return the affection of a father to +children who have erred? Trust them, since they are yearning for their +Yagyellon blood, and for your government, which is of their fathers. Go among +them; I, a woman, fear no treason, for I see love, I see sorrow for sins and +restoration of this kingdom to which they called you after your father and your +brother. It does not seem to me likely that God will destroy such a great +commonwealth, in which the light of the true faith is burning. For a short +period God’s justice has stretched forth the rod to chastise, not to ruin +its children, and soon will the fatherly love of that heavenly Lord receive +them and cherish them. But do not contemn them, O king, and fear not to confide +in their sonly discretion, for in this way alone can you turn evil into good, +suffering into comfort, defeat into triumph.” +</p> + +<p> +When she had said this, the queen sat down, with fire still in her eyes, and +heaving breast; all looked at her with veneration, and her chancellor, Vydjga, +began to speak with a resonant voice,— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Nulla sors longa est, dolor et voluptas,<br/> +Invicens cedunt.<br/> +Ima permutat brevis hora summis.” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +(No fortune is long, pain and pleasure<br/> +Yield in turn.<br/> +A short hour changes the lowest with the highest.) +</p> + +<p> +But no one heard what he said, for the ardor of the heroic lady was +communicated to every heart. The king himself sprang up, with a flush on his +sallow face, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I have not lost the kingdom yet, since I have such a queen. Let her will +be done, for she spoke with prophetic inspiration. The sooner I move and appear +in my realms the better.” +</p> + +<p> +To this the primate answered with seriousness: “I do not wish to oppose +the will of my gracious king and queen, nor to turn them from an undertaking in +which there is hazard, but in which there may be also salvation. Still I should +consider it a wise thing to assemble in Opol, where a majority of the senators +are tarrying, and there listen to the ideas of all; these may develop and +explain the affair more clearly and broadly.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then to Opol!” exclaimed the king, “and afterward to the +road, and what God will give!” +</p> + +<p> +“God will give a happy return and victory!” said the queen. +</p> + +<p> +“Amen!” said the primate. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p> +Pan Andrei fretted in his lodgings like a wounded wildcat. The hellish revenge +of Boguslav Radzivill brought him almost to madness. Not enough that that +prince had sprung out of his hands, killed his men, almost deprived him of +life; he had put upon him besides shame such as no one, not merely of his name, +but no Pole from the beginning of the world, had ever groaned under. +</p> + +<p> +There were moments when Kmita wished to leave everything—the glory which +was opening before him, the service of the king—and fly away to avenge +himself on that magnate whom he wanted to eat up alive. +</p> + +<p> +But on the other hand, in spite of all his rage and the whirlwind in his head, +he remembered that while the prince lived revenge would not vanish; and the +best means, the only way to hurl back his calumny and lay bare all the infamy +of his accusation, was precisely the service of the king; for in it he could +show the world that not only had he not thought of raising his hand against the +sacred person of Yan Kazimir, but that among all the nobles of Lithuania and +Poland no person more loyal than Kmita could be found. +</p> + +<p> +But he gnashed his teeth and was boiling like a stew; he tore his clothing, and +long, long was it before he could calm himself. He gloated over the thought of +revenge. He saw this Radzivill again in his hands; he swore by the memory of +his father, that he must reach Boguslav even if death and torments were +awaiting him therefor. And though the prince was a mighty lord whom not only +the revenge of a common noble, but even the revenge of a king, could not easily +touch; still, whoso knew that unrestrained soul better, would not have slept +calmly, and more than once would have trembled before his vows. +</p> + +<p> +And still Pan Andrei did not know yet that the prince had not merely covered +him with shame and robbed him of repute. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the king, who from the first had conceived a great love for the young +hero, sent Pan Lugovski to him that same day, and on the morrow commanded Kmita +to accompany his majesty to Opol, where at a general assembly of the senators +it was intended to deliberate on the return of the king to the country. Indeed +there was something over which to deliberate. Lyubomirski, the marshal of the +kingdom, had sent a new letter, announcing that everything in the country was +ready for a general war, and urging earnestly the return. Besides this, news +was spread of a certain league of nobles and soldiers formed for the defence of +the king and the country, concerning which men had really been thinking for +some time, but which, as appeared afterward, was concluded a little later, +under the name of the Confederation of Tishovtsi. +</p> + +<p> +All minds were greatly occupied by the news, and immediately after a +thanksgiving Mass they assembled in a secret council, to which, at the instance +of the king, Kmita too was admitted, since he had brought news from +Chenstohova. +</p> + +<p> +They began then to discuss whether the return was to take place at once, or +whether it were better to defer it till the army, not only by wish, but by +deed, should abandon the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir put an end to these discussions by saying: “Do not discuss, +your worthinesses, the return, or whether it is better to defer it awhile, for +I have taken counsel already concerning that with God and the Most Holy Lady. +Therefore I communicate to you that whatever may happen we shall move in person +these days. Express your ideas therefore, your worthinesses, and be not sparing +of counsel as to how our return may be best and most safely +accomplished.” +</p> + +<p> +Opinions were various. Some advised not to trust too greatly to the marshal of +the kingdom, who had once shown hesitation and disobedience, when, instead of +giving the crown to the emperor for safe keeping, according to the order of the +king, he had carried it to Lyubovlya. “Great,” said they, “is +the pride and ambition of that lord, and if he should have the person of the +king in his castle, who knows what he might do, or what he would ask for his +services; who knows that he would not try, or wish to seize the whole +government in his own hands, and become the protector, not only of the entire +country, but of the king?” +</p> + +<p> +These advised the king therefore to wait for the retreat of the Swedes and +repair to Chenstohova, as to the place from which grace and rebirth had spread +over the Commonwealth. But others gave different opinions,— +</p> + +<p> +“The Swedes are yet at Chenstohova, and though by the grace of God they +will not capture the place, still there are no unoccupied roads. All the +districts about there are in Swedish hands. The enemy are at Kjepitsi, +Vyelunie, Cracow; along the boundary also considerable forces are disposed. In +the mountains near the Hungarian border, where Lyubovlya is situated, there are +no troops save those of the marshal; the Swedes have never gone to that +distance, not having men enough nor daring sufficient. From Lyubovlya it is +nearer to Russia, which is free of hostile occupation, and to Lvoff, which has +not ceased to be loyal, and to the Tartars, who, according to information, are +coming with succor; all these are waiting specially for the decision of the +king.” +</p> + +<p> +“As to Pan Lyubomirski,” said the Bishop of Cracow, “his +ambition will be satisfied with this, that he will receive the king first in +his starostaship of Spij, and will surround him with protection. The government +will remain with the king, but the hope itself of great services will satisfy +the marshal. If he wishes to tower above all others through his loyalty, then, +whether his loyalty flows from ambition or from love to the king and the +country, his majesty will always receive notable profit.” +</p> + +<p> +This opinion of a worthy and experienced bishop seemed the most proper; +therefore it was decided that the king should go through the mountains to +Lyubovlya, and thence to Lvoff, or whithersoever circumstances might indicate. +</p> + +<p> +They discussed also the day of returning; but the voevoda of Lenchytsk, who had +just come from his mission to the emperor for aid, said that it was better not +to fix the date, but to leave the decision to the king, so that the news might +not be spread and the enemy forewarned. They decided only this, that the king +would move on with three hundred dragoons, under command of Tyzenhauz, who, +though young, enjoyed already the reputation of a great soldier. +</p> + +<p> +But still more important was the second part of the deliberations, in which it +was voted unanimously that on his arrival in the country, government and the +direction of the war should pass into the hands of the king, whom nobles, +troops, and hetmans were to obey in all things. They spoke besides of the +future, and touched upon the causes of those sudden misfortunes which, as a +deluge, had covered the whole land in such a brief period. And the primate +himself gave no other cause for this than the disorder, want of obedience, and +excessive contempt for the office and majesty of the king. +</p> + +<p> +He was heard in silence, for each man understood that it was a question here of +the fate of the Commonwealth, and of great, hitherto unexampled changes in it, +which might bring back the ancient power of the State, and which was long +desired by the wise queen who loved her adopted country. +</p> + +<p> +From the mouth of the worthy prince of the church there came words like +thunderbolts, and the souls of the hearers opened to the truth, almost as +flowers open to the sun. +</p> + +<p> +“Not against ancient liberties do I rise,” said the primate, +“but against that license which with its own hands is murdering the +country. In very truth men have forgotten in this Commonwealth the distinction +between freedom and license; and as excessive pleasure ends in pain, so freedom +unchecked has ended in slavery. You have descended to such error, citizens of +this illustrious Commonwealth, that only he among you passes for a defender of +liberty who raises an uproar, who breaks diets and opposes the king, not when +it is needful, but when for the king it is a question of saving the country. In +our treasury the bottom of the chest can be seen; the soldier unpaid seeks pay +of the enemy; the diets, the only foundation of this Commonwealth, are +dissolved after having done nothing, for one disorderly man, one evil citizen, +for his own private purpose may prevent deliberation. What manner of liberty is +that which permits one man to stand against all? If that is freedom for one +man, then it is bondage for all others. And where have we gone with the use of +this freedom which seemed such sweet fruit? Behold one weak enemy, against whom +our ancestors gained so many splendid victories, now <i>sicut fulgur exit ab +occidente et poret usque ad orientem</i> (flashes like lightning from the west, +and goes as far as the east). No one opposes him, traitorous heretics aided +him, and he seized possession of all things; he persecutes the faith, he +desecrates churches, and when you speak of your liberties he shows you the +sword. Behold what your provincial diets have come to, what your veto has come +to, what your license has come to, your degradation of the king at every step. +Your king, the natural defender of the country, you have rendered, first of +all, powerless, and then you complain that he does not defend you. You did not +want your own government, and now the enemy is governing. And who, I ask, can +save us in this fall, who can bring back ancient glory to this Commonwealth, if +not he who has spent so much of his life and time for it; when the unhappy +domestic war with the Cossacks tore it, who exposed his consecrated person to +dangers such as no monarch in our time has passed through; who at Zborovo, at +Berestechko, and at Jvanyets fought like a common soldier, bearing toils and +hardships beyond his station of king? To him now we will confide ourselves; to +him, with the example of the ancient Romans, we will give the dictatorship, and +take counsel ourselves how to save in time coming this fatherland from domestic +enemies, from vice, license, disorder, disobedience, and restore due dignity to +the government and the king.” +</p> + +<p> +So spoke the primate; and misfortune with the experience of recent times had +changed his hearers in such a degree that no man protested, for all saw clearly +that either the power of the king must be strengthened, or the Commonwealth +must perish without fail. They began therefore to consider in various ways how +to bring the counsels of the primate into practice. The king and queen listened +to them eagerly and with joy, especially the queen, who had labored long and +earnestly at the introduction of order into the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +The king returned then to Glogov glad and satisfied, and summoning a number of +confidential officers, among whom was Kmita, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I am impatient, my stay in this country is burning me, I could wish to +start even to-morrow; therefore I have called you, as men of arms and +experience, to provide ready methods. It is a pity that we should lose time, +when our presence may hasten considerably a general war.” +</p> + +<p> +“In truth,” said Lugovski, “if such is the will of your Royal +Grace, why delay? The sooner the better.” +</p> + +<p> +“While the affair is not noised about and the enemy do not double their +watchfulness,” added Colonel Wolf. +</p> + +<p> +“The enemy are already on their guard, and have taken possession of the +roads so far as they are able,” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, your intended return is no news for the Swedes. Almost +every day a report travels over the whole Commonwealth, that your Royal Grace +is already on the road, or even now in your realms, <i>inter regna</i>. +Therefore it is necessary to observe the greatest care, and to hurry by through +narrow places stealthily, for Douglas’s scouts are waiting on the +roads.” +</p> + +<p> +“The best carefulness,” said Tyzenhauz, looking at Kmita, “is +three hundred faithful sabres; and if my gracious lord gives me command over +them, I will conduct him in safety, even over the breasts of Douglas’s +scouts.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will conduct if there are just three hundred, but suppose that you +meet six hundred or a thousand, or come upon a superior force waiting in +ambush, what then?” +</p> + +<p> +“I said three hundred,” answered Tyzenhauz, “for three +hundred were mentioned. If however that is too small a party, we can provide +five hundred and even more.” +</p> + +<p> +“God save us from that. The larger the party, the more noise will it +make,” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“I think that the marshal of the kingdom will come out to meet us with +his squadrons,” put in the king. +</p> + +<p> +“The marshal will not come out,” answered Kmita, “for he will +not know the day and the hour, and even if he did know some delay might happen +on the road, as is usual; it is difficult to foresee everything.” +</p> + +<p> +“A soldier says that, a genuine soldier!” said the king. “It +is clear that you are not a stranger to war.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita laughed, for he remembered his attacks on Hovanski. Who was more skilled +than he in such actions? To whom could the escort of the king be entrusted with +more judgment? +</p> + +<p> +But Tyzenhauz was evidently of a different opinion from the king, for he +frowned and said with sarcasm against Kmita, “We wait then for your +enlightened counsel.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita felt ill will in the words; therefore he fixed his glance on Tyzenhauz +and answered,— +</p> + +<p> +“My opinion is that the smaller the party the easier it will pass.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” +</p> + +<p> +“The will of your Royal Grace is unfettered,” said Kmita, +“and can do what it likes, but my reason teaches me this: Let Pan +Tyzenhauz go ahead with the dragoons, giving out purposely that he is +conducting the king; this he will do to attract the enemy to himself. His +affair is to wind out, to escape from the trap safely. And we with a small band +in a day or two will move after him with your Royal Grace; and when the +enemy’s attention is turned in another direction it will be easy for us +to reach Lyubovlya.” +</p> + +<p> +The king clapped his hands with delight. “God sent us this +soldier!” cried he. “Solomon could not judge better. I give my vote +for this plan, and there must not be another. They will hunt for the king among +the dragoons, and the king will pass by under their noses. It could not be +better!” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious King,” cried Tyzenhauz, “that is pastime.” +</p> + +<p> +“Soldier’s pastime!” said the king. “But no matter, I +will not recede from that plan.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita’s eyes shone from delight because his opinion had prevailed, but +Tyzenhauz sprang from his seat. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord!” said he, “I resign my command from the +dragoons. Let some one else lead them.” +</p> + +<p> +“And why is that?” +</p> + +<p> +“For if your Royal Grace will go without defence, exposed to the play of +fortune, to every destructive chance which may happen, I wish to be near your +person to expose my breast for you and to die should the need be.” +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you for your sincere intention,” answered Yan Kazimir; +“but calm yourself, for in just such a way as Babinich advises shall I be +least exposed.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let Pan Babinich, or whatever his name may be, take what he advises on +his own responsibility! It may concern him that your Royal Grace be lost in the +mountains. I take as witness God and my companions here present that I advised +against it from my soul.” +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had he finished speaking when Kmita sprang up, and standing face to +face with Tyzenhauz asked, “What do you mean by these words?” +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz measured him haughtily with his eyes from head to foot, and said, +“Do not strain your head, little man, toward mine, the place is too high +for you.” +</p> + +<p> +To which Kmita with lightning in his eyes replied, “It is not known for +whom it would be too high if—” +</p> + +<p> +“If what?” asked Tyzenhauz, looking at him quickly. +</p> + +<p> +“If I should reach higher people, than you.” +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz laughed. “But where would you seek them?” +</p> + +<p> +“Silence!” said the king suddenly, with a frown. “Do not +begin a quarrel in my presence.” +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir made an impression of such dignity on all surrounding him, that +both young men were silent and confused, remembering that in the presence of +the king unseemly words had escaped them. But the king added,— +</p> + +<p> +“No one has the right to exalt himself above that cavalier who burst the +siege gun and escaped from Swedish hands, even though his father lived in a +village, which, as I see, was not the case, for a bird from his feathers, and +blood from deeds are easily known. Drop your offences.” Here the king +turned to Tyzenhauz. “You wish it; then remain with our person. We may +not refuse that. Wolf or Denhoff will lead the dragoons. But Babinich too will +remain, and we will go according to his counsel, for he has pleased our +heart.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wash my hands!” said Tyzenhauz. +</p> + +<p> +“Only preserve the secret, gentlemen. Let the dragoons go to Ratibor +to-day, and spread as widely as possible the report that I am with them. And +then be on the watch, for you know not the day nor the hour—Go, +Tyzenhauz, give the order to the captain of the dragoons.” +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz went out wringing his hands from anger and sorrow; after him went +other officers. +</p> + +<p> +That same day the news thundered through all Glogov that the king had already +gone to the boundaries of the Commonwealth. Even many distinguished senators +thought that the departure had really taken place. Couriers, sent purposely, +took the report to Opol and to the roads on the boundary. +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz, though he had declared that he washed his hands, did not give up the +affair as lost; as attendant of the king, he had access to the person of the +monarch every moment made easy. That very day therefore, after the dragoons had +gone, he stood before the face of Yan Kazimir, or rather before both royal +persons, for Marya Ludvika was present. +</p> + +<p> +“I have come for the order,” said he; “when do we +start?” +</p> + +<p> +“The day after to-morrow, before dawn.” +</p> + +<p> +“Are many people to go?” +</p> + +<p> +“You will go; Lugovski with the soldiers. The castellan of Sandomir goes +also with me. I begged him to take as few men as possible; but we cannot +dispense with a few trusty and tried sabres. Besides, his holiness the nuncio +wishes to accompany me; his presence will add importance, and will touch all +who are faithful to the true church. He does not hesitate therefore to expose +his sacred person to hazard. Do you have a care that there are not more than +forty horses, for that is Babinich’s counsel.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord!” said Tyzenhauz. +</p> + +<p> +“And what do you wish yet?” +</p> + +<p> +“On my knees I implore one favor. The question is settled, the dragoons +have gone,—we shall travel without defence, and the first scouting party +of a few tens of horses may capture us. Listen, your Royal Grace, to the prayer +of your servant, on whose faithfulness God is looking, and do not trust in +everything to that noble. He is an adroit man, since he has been able in so +short a time to steal into your heart and favor; but—” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you envy him?” interrupted the king. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not envy him, Gracious Lord; I do not wish even to suspect him of +treason positively; but I would swear that his name is not Babinich. Why does +he hide his real name? Why is it somehow inconvenient to tell what he did +before the siege of Chenstohova? Why specially has he insisted upon dragoons +going out first, and that your Royal Grace should go without an escort?” +</p> + +<p> +The king thought awhile, and began, according to his custom, to pout his lips +repeatedly. +</p> + +<p> +“If it were a question of collusion with the Swedes,” said he at +last, “what could three hundred dragoons do? What power would they be, +and what protection? Babinich would need merely to notify the Swedes to dispose +a few hundred infantry along the roads, and they could take us as in a net. But +only think if there can be a question of treason here. He would have had to +know beforehand the date of our journey, and to inform the Swedes in Cracow; +and how could he do so, since we move the day after to-morrow? He could not +even guess that we would choose his plan; we might have gone according to your +suggestion or that of others. It was at first decided to go with the dragoons; +then if he wished to talk with the Swedes this special party would have +confused his arrangements, for he would have to send out new messengers and +give fresh notice. All these are irrefragable reasons. And besides he did not +insist at all on his opinion, as you say; he only offered, as did others, what +seemed to him best. No, no! Sincerity is looking forth from the eyes of that +noble, and his burned side bears witness that he is ready to disregard even +torture.” +</p> + +<p> +“His Royal Grace is right,” said the queen, on a sudden; +“these points are irrefragable, and the advice was and is good.” +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz knew from experience that when the queen gave her opinion it would be +vain for him to appeal to the king, Yan Kazimir had such confidence in her wit +and penetration. And it was a question now with the young man only that the +king should observe needful caution. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not my duty,” answered he, “to oppose my king and +queen. But if we are to go the day after to-morrow, let this Babinich not know +of it till the hour of departure.” +</p> + +<p> +“That may be,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“And on the road I will have an eye on him, and should anything happen he +will not go alive from my hands.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will not have to act,” said the queen. “Listen; not you +will preserve the king from evil happenings on the road, from treason, and +snares of the enemy; not you, not Babinich, not the dragoons, not the powers of +earth, but the Providence of God, whose eye is turned continually on the +shepherds of nations and the anointed of the Lord. It will guard him. It will +protect him and bring him safely; and in case of need, send him assistance, of +which you do not even think, you who believe in earthly power only.” +</p> + +<p> +“Most Serene Lady!” answered Tyzenhauz, “I believe, too, that +without the will of God not a hair will fall from the head of any man; but to +guard the king’s person through fear of traitors is no sin for me.” +</p> + +<p> +Marya Ludvika smiled graciously. “But you suspect too hastily, and thus +cast shame on a whole nation, in which, as this same Babinich has said, there +has not yet been found one to raise his hand against his own king. Let it not +astonish you that after such desertion, after such a breaking of oaths and +faith as the king and I have experienced, I say still that no one has dared +such a terrible crime, not even those who to-day serve the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Prince Boguslav’s letter, Gracious Lady?” +</p> + +<p> +“That letter utters untruth,” said the queen, with decision. +“If there is a man in the Commonwealth ready to betray even the king, +that man is Prince Boguslav, for he in name only belongs to this people.” +</p> + +<p> +“Speaking briefly, do not put suspicion on Babinich,” said the +king. “As to his name, it must be doubled in your head. Besides, we may +ask him; but how can we say to him here, how inquire, ‘If you are not +Babinich, then what is your name?’ Such a question might pain an honest +man terribly, and I’ll risk my head that he is an honest man.” +</p> + +<p> +“At such a price, Gracious Lord, I would not convince myself of his +honesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, well, we are thankful for your care. To-morrow for prayer and +penance, and the day after to the road, to the road!” +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz withdrew with a sigh, and in the greatest secrecy began preparations +that very day for the journey. Even dignitaries who were to accompany the king +were not all informed of the time. But the servants were ordered to have horses +in readiness, for they might start any day for Ratibor. +</p> + +<p> +The king did not show himself the entire following day, even in the church; but +he lay in the form of a cross in his own room till night, fasting and imploring +the King of kings for aid, not for himself, but for the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +Marya Ludvika, together with her ladies-in-waiting, was also in prayer. +</p> + +<p> +Then the following night freshened the strength of the wearied ones; and when +in darkness the Glogov church-bell sounded to matins, the hour had struck for +the journey. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p> +They rode through Ratibor, merely stopping to feed the horses. No one +recognized the king, no one paid much attention to the party, for all were +occupied with the recent passage of the dragoons, among whom, as all thought, +was the King of Poland. The retinue was about fifty in number, for several +dignitaries accompanied the king; five bishops alone, and among others the +nuncio, ventured to share with him the toils of a journey not without peril. +The road within the boundary of the empire, however, presented no danger. At +Oderberg, not far from the junction of the Olsha with the Odra, they entered +Moravia. +</p> + +<p> +The day was cloudy, and snow fell so thickly that it was not possible to see +the road a few steps ahead. But the king was joyous and full of courage, for a +sign had been manifested which all considered most favorable, and which +contemporary historians did not neglect to insert in their chronicles. Behold, +just as the king was departing from Glogov, a little bird, entirely white, +appeared before his horse and began to circle round, rising at times in the +air, at times coming down to the head of the king, chirping and twittering +joyously meanwhile. They remembered that a similar bird, but black, had circled +over the king when he was retreating from Warsaw before the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +But this was white, exactly of the size and form of a swallow; which fact +roused the greater wonder, because it was deep winter, and swallows were not +thinking yet of return. But all were rejoiced, and the king for the first few +days spoke of nothing else, and promised himself the most successful future. It +appeared from the beginning, too, how sound was Kmita’s advice to travel +apart. +</p> + +<p> +Everywhere in Moravia people were telling of the recent passage of the King of +Poland. Some stated that they had seen him with their own eyes, all in armor, +with a sword in his hand and a crown on his head. Various stories, also, were +current of the forces which he had with him, and in general the number of his +dragoons was exaggerated to the fabulous. There were some who had seen ten +thousand, and who could not wait till the last horses, men, gunners, and flags +had passed. +</p> + +<p> +“Surely,” said they, “the Swedes will spring before them, but +what they will do with such a force is unknown.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” asked the king of Tyzenhauz, “was not Babinich +right?” +</p> + +<p> +“We are not in Lyubovlya yet, Gracious Lord,” replied the young +magnate. +</p> + +<p> +Babinich was satisfied with himself and with the journey. Generally he went +ahead of the king’s party with the three Kyemliches, examining the road; +sometimes he rode with the rest, entertaining the king with narratives of +single incidents in the siege of Chenstohova, of which the king never had +enough. And almost every hour that young hero, cheerful, mettlesome, +eagle-like, drew nearer the heart of the king. Time passed for the monarch now +in prayer, now in pious meditation on eternal life, now in discussing the +coming war and the aid hoped from the emperor, and finally in looking at +knightly amusements with which the attendant soldiers endeavored to shorten the +time of the journey. For Yan Kazimir had this in his nature, that his mind +passed easily from seriousness almost to frivolity, from hard labor to +amusements, to which, when there was leisure, he gave himself with his whole +soul, as if no care, no grief had pressed him at any time. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers then exhibited themselves, each with what he could do; the +Kyemliches, Kosma, and Damian, immense and awkward figures, amused the king by +breaking horseshoes, which they broke like canes; he paid them a thaler apiece, +though his wallet was empty enough, for all his money, and even the diamonds +and “parafanaly” (paraphernalia) of the queen, had been spent on +the army. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei exhibited himself by throwing a heavy hatchet, which he hurled +upward with such force that it was barely visible, and then he sprang under the +instrument with his horse and caught it by the handle as it fell. At sight of +this the king clapped his hands. +</p> + +<p> +“I saw that done,” said he, “by Pan Slushka, brother of the +vice-chancellor’s wife, but he threw not so high by half.” +</p> + +<p> +“This is customary with us in Lithuania,” said Pan Andrei; +“and when a man practises it from childhood he becomes skilful.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whence have you those scars across the lip?” asked the king of him +once, pointing to Kmita’s scars. “Some one went through you well +with a sabre.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is not from a sabre, Gracious Lord, but from a bullet. I was fired +at by a man who put the pistol to my mouth.” +</p> + +<p> +“An enemy or one of ours?” +</p> + +<p> +“One of ours; but an enemy whom I shall yet call to account, and till +that happens it is not proper for me to speak of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you such animosity as that?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have no animosity, Gracious Lord, for on my head I bear a still deeper +scar from a sabre, through which cut my soul almost left me; but since an +honorable man did it I harbor no offence against him.” Kmita removed his +cap and showed the king a deep furrow, the white edges of which were perfectly +visible. “I am not ashamed of this wound,” said he, “for it +was given me by such a master that there is not another like him in the +Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who is such a master?” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Volodyovski.” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake! I know him. He did wonders at Zbaraj. And I was at +the wedding of his comrade, Skshetuski, who was the first to bring me news of +the besieged. Those are great cavaliers! And with them was a third, him the +whole army glorified as the greatest of all. A fat noble, and so amusing that +we almost burst our sides from laughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is Pan Zagloba, I think!” said Kmita; “he is a man not +only brave, but full of wonderful stratagems.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you know what they are doing now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Volodyovski used to lead dragoons with the voevoda of Vilna.” +</p> + +<p> +The king frowned. “And is he serving the Swedes now with the prince +voevoda?” +</p> + +<p> +“He! The Swedes? He is with Pan Sapyeha. I saw myself how, after the +treason of the prince, he threw his baton at his feet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, he is a worthy soldier!” answered the king. “From Pan +Sapyeha we have had news from Tykotsin, where he is besieging the voevoda. God +give him luck! If all were like him, the Swedish enemy would regret their +undertaking.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Tyzenhauz, who had been listening to the conversation, asked suddenly, +“Then were you with Radzivill at Kyedani?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita was somewhat confused, and began to throw up his hatchet. “I +was,” answered he. +</p> + +<p> +“Give peace to your hatchet,” said Tyzenhauz. “And what were +you doing at the prince’s house?” +</p> + +<p> +“I was a guest,” answered Kmita, impatiently, “and I ate his +bread, until I was disgusted with his treason.” +</p> + +<p> +“And why did you not go with other honorable soldiers to Pan +Sapyeha?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because I had made a vow to go to Chenstohova, which you will more +easily understand when I tell you that our Ostra Brama was occupied by the +Northerners.” +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz began to shake his head and smack his lips; this attracted the +attention of the king, so that he looked inquiringly at Kmita. The latter, made +impatient, turned to Tyzenhauz and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“My worthy sir! Why do I not inquire of you where you have been, and what +you have been doing?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ask me,” replied Tyzenhauz; “I have nothing to +conceal.” +</p> + +<p> +“Neither am I before a court; and if I shall ever be, you will not be my +judge. Leave me, then, that I lose not my patience.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, he hurled the hatchet so sharply that it grew small in +the height; the king raised his eyes after it, and at that moment he was +thinking of nothing save this, would Babinich catch it in its fall, or would he +not catch it? +</p> + +<p> +Babinich put spurs to his horse, sprang forward, and caught it. That same +evening Tyzenhauz said to the king,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, this noble pleases me less and less.” +</p> + +<p> +“But me more and more,” answered the king, pursing his lips. +</p> + +<p> +“I heard to-day one of his people call him colonel; he only looked +threateningly, and straightway confused the man. There is something in +that.” +</p> + +<p> +“And it seems to me sometimes that he does not wish to tell +everything,” added the king; “but that is his affair.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, Gracious Lord,” exclaimed Tyzenhauz, forcibly, “it is +not his affair, it is our affair, and that of the whole Commonwealth. For if he +is some traitor who is planning the death or captivity of your Royal Grace, +then with your person will perish all those who at this moment have taken arms; +the whole Commonwealth will perish, which you alone are competent to +save.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will ask him myself to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant that I be a false prophet, but nothing good looks out of his +eyes. He is too smart, too bold, too daring; and such people are ready for +anything.” +</p> + +<p> +The king looked troubled. Next morning, when they moved on their journey, he +beckoned Kmita to approach him. +</p> + +<p> +“Where were you, Colonel?” asked the king, suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita struggled with himself; the wish was burning him to spring from his +horse, fall at the feet of the king, and throw off the burden he was +bearing,—tell the whole truth at once. But he thought of the fearful +impression which the name Kmita would make, especially after the letter of +Prince Boguslav Radzivill. How could he, who had been the right hand of +Radzivill, who had maintained the preponderance of Prince Yanush, who had aided +him in scattering his disobedient squadrons, who supported him in treason; how +could he, accused and suspected of the most terrible crime,—an attack on +the person of the king,—succeed in convincing the king, the bishops, and +senators, that he had corrected himself, that he was transformed? With what +could he show the sincerity of his intentions? What proofs could he bring save +naked words? His former offences pursue him unceasingly, unsparingly, as +furious dogs a wild beast in the forest. He determined on silence. But he felt +also unspeakable disgust and hatred of subterfuge. Must he throw dust in the +eyes of the king, whom he loved with all the power of his soul, and deceive him +with fictitious tales? +</p> + +<p> +He felt that strength failed him for this; therefore he said, after a while: +“Gracious King, the time will come, perhaps soon, in which I shall open +my whole soul to your Royal Grace as in confession to a priest. But I wish +deeds to vouch for me, for my sincere intention, for my loyalty and my love of +majesty, not words simply. I have offended against you, my Gracious Lord, and +the country, and I have repented too little yet; therefore I am seeking service +in which I can find reparation more easily. Besides, who has not offended? Who +in the whole Commonwealth does not need to beat his breast? It may be that I +have offended more grievously than others, but I was the first also to bethink +myself. Do not inquire, Gracious Lord, about anything until the present service +will convince you concerning me; do not ask, for I cannot answer without +closing the road of salvation to myself, for God is the witness, and the Most +Holy Lady, our Queen, that I had no evil intent, that I am ready to give the +last drop of my blood for you.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Andrei’s eyes grew moist, and such sincerity and sorrow appeared +on his face that his countenance defended him with greater power than his +words. +</p> + +<p> +“God is looking at my intentions,” said he, “and will account +them to me at judgment, but, Gracious Lord, if you do not trust me, dismiss me, +remove me from your person. I will follow at a distance, so as to come in time +of difficulty, even without being called, and lay down my life for you. And +then, Gracious Lord, you will believe that I am not a traitor, but one of that +kind of servants of whom you have not many, even among those who cast suspicion +on others.” +</p> + +<p> +“I believe you to-day,” said the king. “Remain near our +person as before, for treason does not speak in such fashion.” +</p> + +<p> +“I thank your Royal Grace,” answered Kmita; and reining in his +horse somewhat, he pushed back among the last ranks of the party. +</p> + +<p> +But Tyzenhauz did not limit himself to conveying suspicions to the king. The +result was that all began to look askance at Kmita. Audible conversation ceased +at his approach, and whispers began. Every movement of his was followed, every +word considered. Kmita noticed this, and was ill at ease among these men. +</p> + +<p> +Even the king, though he did not remove confidence from him, had not for Pan +Andrei such a joyful countenance as before. Therefore the young hero lost his +daring, grew gloomy, sadness and bitterness took possession of his heart. +Formerly in front, among the first, he used to make his horse prance; now he +dragged on many yards behind the cavalcade, with hanging head and gloomy +thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +At last the Carpathians stood white before the travellers. Snow lay on their +slopes, clouds spread their unwieldy bodies on the summits; and when an evening +came clear at sunset, those mountains put on flaming garments from which +marvellously bright gleams went forth till quenched in the darkness embracing +the whole world. Kmita gazed on those wonders of nature which to that time he +had never seen; and though greatly grieved, he forgot his cares from admiration +and wonder. +</p> + +<p> +Each day those giants grew greater, more mighty, till at last the retinue of +the king came to them and entered a pass which opened on a sudden, like a gate. +</p> + +<p> +“The boundary must be near,” said the king, with emotion. +</p> + +<p> +Then they saw a small wagon, drawn by one horse, and in the wagon a peasant. +The king’s men stopped him at once. +</p> + +<p> +“Man,” said Tyzenhauz, “are we in Poland?” +</p> + +<p> +“Beyond that cliff and that little river is the emperor’s boundary, +but you are standing on the king’s land.” +</p> + +<p> +“Which way is it then to Jivyets?” +</p> + +<p> +“Go straight ahead; you will come to the road.” And the mountaineer +whipped his horse. +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz galloped to the retinue standing at a distance. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” cried he, with emotion, “you are now +<i>inter regna</i>, for at that little river your kingdom begins.” +</p> + +<p> +The king said nothing, only made a sign to hold his horse, dismounted, and +throwing himself on his knees, raised his eyes and his hands upward. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of this, all dismounted and followed his example. That king, then a +wanderer, fell after a moment in the form of a cross on the snow, and began to +kiss that land, so beloved and so thankless, which in time of disaster had +refused refuge to his head. +</p> + +<p> +Silence followed, and only sighs interrupted it. +</p> + +<p> +The evening was frosty, clear; the mountains and the summits of the neighboring +fir-trees were in purple, farther off in the shadow they had begun to put on +violet; but the road on which the king was lying turned as it were into a ruddy +and golden ribbon, and rays fell on the king, bishops, and dignitaries. +</p> + +<p> +Then a breeze began from the summits, and bearing on its wings sparks of snow, +flew to the valley. Therefore the nearer fir-trees began to bend their +snow-covered heads, bow to their lord, and to make a joyous and rustling sound, +as if they were singing that old song, “Be welcome to us, thou dear +master!” +</p> + +<p> +Darkness had already filled the air when the king’s retinue moved +forward. Beyond the defile was spread out a rather roomy plain, the other end +of which was lost in the distance. Light was dying all around; only in one +place the sky was still bright with red. The king began to repeat <i>Ave +Maria</i>; after him the others with concentration of spirit repeated the pious +words. +</p> + +<p> +Their native land, unvisited by them for a long time; the mountains which night +was now covering; the dying twilight, the prayer,—all these caused a +solemnity of heart and mind; hence after the prayer the king, the dignitaries, +and the knights rode on in silence. Night fell, but in the east the sky was +shining still more redly. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us go toward that twilight,” said the king, at last; “it +is a wonder that it is shining yet.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Kmita galloped up. “Gracious Lord, that is a fire!” cried he. +</p> + +<p> +All halted. +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked the king; “it seems to me that +’tis the twilight.” +</p> + +<p> +“A fire, a fire! I am not mistaken!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +And indeed, of all of the attendants of the king he knew most in that matter. +At last it was no longer possible to doubt, since above that supposed twilight +were rising as it were red clouds, rolling now brighter, now darker in turn. +</p> + +<p> +“It is as if Jivyets were burning!” cried the king; “maybe +the enemy is ravaging it.” +</p> + +<p> +He had not finished speaking when to their ears flew the noise of men, the +snorting of horses, and a number of dark figures appeared before the retinue. +</p> + +<p> +“Halt, halt!” cried Tyzenhauz. +</p> + +<p> +These figures halted, as if uncertain what to do farther. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you?” was asked from the retinue. +</p> + +<p> +“Ours!” said a number of voices. “Ours! We are escaping with +our lives from Jivyets. The Swedes are burning Jivyets, and murdering +people.” +</p> + +<p> +“Stop, in God’s name! What do you say? Whence have they +come?” +</p> + +<p> +“They were waiting for our king. There is a power of them, a power! May +the Mother of God have the king in Her keeping!” +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz lost his head for a moment. “See what it is to go with a small +party!” cried he to Kmita; “Would that you were killed for such +counsel!” +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir began to inquire himself of the fugitives. “But where is the +king?” +</p> + +<p> +“The king has gone to the mountains with a great army. Two days ago he +passed through Jivyets; they pursued him, and were fighting somewhere near +Suha. We have not heard whether they took him or not; but to-day they returned +to Jivyets, and are burning and murdering.” +</p> + +<p> +“Go with God!” said Yan Kazimir. +</p> + +<p> +The fugitives shot past quickly. +</p> + +<p> +“See what would have met us had we gone with the dragoons!” +exclaimed Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious King!” said Father Gembitski, “the enemy is before +us. What are we to do?” +</p> + +<p> +All surrounded the monarch, as if wishing to protect him with their persons +from sudden danger. The king gazed on that fire which was reflected in his +eyes, and he was silent; no one advanced an opinion, so difficult was it to +give good advice. +</p> + +<p> +“When I was going out of the country a fire lighted me,” said Yan +Kazimir, at last; “and when I enter, another gives light.” +</p> + +<p> +Again silence, only still longer than before. +</p> + +<p> +“Who has any advice?” inquired Father Gembitski, at last. +</p> + +<p> +Then the voice of Tyzenhauz was heard, full of bitterness, and insult: +“He who did not hesitate to expose the king’s person to danger, who +said that the king should go without a guard, let him now give advice.” +</p> + +<p> +At this moment a horseman pushed out of the circle. It was Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Very well!” said he. And rising in the stirrups he shouted, +turning to his attendants standing at some distance, “Kyemliches, after +me!” +</p> + +<p> +Then he urged his horse to a gallop, and after him shot the three horsemen with +all the breath that was in the breasts of their horses. +</p> + +<p> +A cry of despair came from Tyzenhauz: “That is a conspiracy!” said +he. “These traitors will give us up surely. Gracious King, save yourself +while there is time, for the enemy will soon close the pass! Gracious King, +save yourself! Back! back!” +</p> + +<p> +“Let us return, let us return!” cried the bishops and dignitaries, +in one voice. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir became impatient, lightnings flashed from his eyes; suddenly he +drew his sword from its sheath and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“May God not grant me to leave my country a second time. Come what may, I +have had enough of that!” And he put spurs to his horse to move forward; +but the nuncio himself seized the reins. +</p> + +<p> +“Your Royal Grace,” said he, seriously, “you bear on your +shoulders the fate of the Catholic Church and the country, therefore you are +not free to expose your person.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not free,” repeated the bishops. +</p> + +<p> +“I will not return to Silesia, so help me the Holy Cross!” answered +Yan Kazimir. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord! listen to the prayers of your subjects,” said the +castellan of Sandomir. “If you do not wish to return to the +emperor’s territory, let us go at least from this place and turn toward +the Hungarian boundary, or let us go back through this pass, so that our return +be not intercepted. There we will wait. In case of an attack by the enemy, +escape on horses will remain to us; but at least let them not enclose us as in +a trap.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let it be even so,” said the king. “I do not reject prudent +counsel, but I will not go wandering a second time. If we cannot appear by this +road, we will by another. But I think that you are alarmed in vain. Since the +Swedes looked for us among the dragoons, as the people from Jivyets said, it is +clear proof that they know nothing of us, and that there is no treason or +conspiracy. Just consider; you are men of experience. The Swedes would not have +attacked the dragoons, they would not have fired a gun at them if they know +that we were following them. Be calm, gentlemen! Babinich has gone with his men +for news, and he will return soon of a certainty.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this the king turned his horse toward the pass; after him his +attendants. They halted on the spot where the first mountaineer had shown them +the boundary. +</p> + +<p> +A quarter of an hour passed, then a half-hour and an hour. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you noticed, gentlemen,” asked the voevoda of Lenchytsk on a +sudden, “that the fire is decreasing?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is going out, going out; you can almost see it die,” said a +number of voices. +</p> + +<p> +“That is a good sign,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“I will go ahead with a few men,” said Tyzenhauz. “We will +halt about a furlong from here, and if the Swedes come we will detain them till +we die. In every case there will be time to think of the safety of the +king’s person.” +</p> + +<p> +“Remain with the party; I forbid you to go!” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +To which Tyzenhauz answered,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, give command later to shoot me for disobedience, but now +I will go, for now it is a question of you.” And calling upon a number of +soldiers in whom it was possible to trust in every emergency, he moved forward. +</p> + +<p> +They halted at the other end of the defile which opened into the valley, and +stood in silence, with muskets ready, holding their ears toward every sound. +The silence lasted long; finally the sound of snow trampled by horses’ +feet came to them. +</p> + +<p> +“They are coming!” whispered one of the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“That is no party; only a few horses are to be heard,” answered the +other. “Pan Babinich is returning.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile those approaching came in the darkness within a few tens of yards. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is there?” cried Tyzenhauz. +</p> + +<p> +“Ours! Do not fire there!” sounded the voice of Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +At that moment he appeared before Tyzenhauz, and not knowing him in the +darkness, inquired,— +</p> + +<p> +“But where is the king?” +</p> + +<p> +“At the end of the pass.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who is speaking, for I cannot see?” +</p> + +<p> +“Tyzenhauz. But what is that great bundle which you have before +you?” And he pointed to some dark form hanging before Kmita, on the front +of the saddle. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei made no answer, but rode on. When he had reached the king’s +escort, he recognized the person of the king, for it was much clearer beyond +the pass, and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, the road is open!” +</p> + +<p> +“Are there no Swedes in Jivyets?” +</p> + +<p> +“They have gone to Vadovitsi. That was a party of German mercenaries. But +here is one of them, Gracious Lord; ask him yourself.” And Pan Andrei +pushed to the ground that form which he held before him, so that a groan was +heard in the still night. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is that?” asked the astonished king. +</p> + +<p> +“A horseman!” +</p> + +<p> +“As God is dear to me! And you have brought an informant! How is that? +Tell me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord; when a wolf prowls in the night around a flock of sheep +it is easy for him to seize one; and besides, to tell the truth, this is not +the first time with me.” +</p> + +<p> +The king raised his hands. “But this Babinich is a soldier, may the +bullets strike him! I see that with such servants I can go even in the midst of +Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile all gathered around the horseman, who did not rise from the ground +however. +</p> + +<p> +“Ask him, Gracious Lord,” said Kmita, not without a certain +boastfulness in his voice; “though I do not know whether he will answer, +for he is throttled a little and there is nothing here to burn him with.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pour some gorailka into his throat,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +And indeed that medicine helped more than burning, for the horseman soon +recovered strength and voice. Then Kmita, putting a sword-point to his throat, +commanded him to tell the whole truth. +</p> + +<p> +The prisoner confessed that he belonged to the regiment of Colonel Irlehorn, +that they had intelligence of the passage of the king with dragoons, therefore +they fell upon them near Suha, but meeting firm resistance they had to withdraw +to Jivyets, whence they marched on to Vadovitsi and Cracow, for such were their +orders. +</p> + +<p> +“Are there other divisions of the Swedes in the mountains?” asked +Kmita in German, while squeezing the throat of the horseman somewhat more +vigorously. +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe there are some,” answered he in a broken voice. +“General Douglas sent scouting-parties around, but they are all +withdrawing, for the peasants are attacking them in passes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Were you the only ones in the neighborhood of Jivyets?” +</p> + +<p> +“The only ones.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you know that the King of Poland has passed?” +</p> + +<p> +“He passed with those dragoons who fought with us at Suha. Many saw +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why did you not pursue him?” +</p> + +<p> +“We were afraid of the mountaineers.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kmita began again in Polish: “Gracious Lord, the road is open and +you will find a night’s lodging in Jivyets, for only a part of the place +is burned.” +</p> + +<p> +But unconfiding Tyzenhauz was speaking at this time with the castellan of +Voinik, and said: “Either that is a great warrior and true as gold, or a +finished traitor. Consider, your worthiness, that all this may be simulated, +from the taking of this horseman to his confederates. And if this is a +trick,—if the Swedes are in ambush in Jivyets,—if the king goes and +falls as into a net?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is safer to convince one’s self,” answered the castellan +of Voinik. +</p> + +<p> +Then Tyzenhauz turned to the king and said aloud: “Gracious Lord, permit +me to go ahead to Jivyets and convince myself that what this cavalier says and +what this trooper declares is true.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let it be so! Permit them to go, Gracious Lord,” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Go,” said the king; “but we will move forward a little, for +it is cold.” +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz rushed on at all speed, and the escort of the king began to move +after him slowly. The king regained his good humor and cheerfulness, and after +a while said to Kmita,— +</p> + +<p> +“But with you it is possible to hunt Swedes as birds with a falcon, for +you strike from above.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is my fashion,” said Kmita. “Whenever your Royal Grace +wishes to hunt, the falcon will always be ready.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell how you caught him.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is not difficult. When a regiment marches there are always a few +men who lag in the rear, and I got this one about half a furlong behind. I rode +up to him; he thought that I was one of his own people, he was not on his +guard, and before he could think I had seized and gagged him so that he could +not shout.” +</p> + +<p> +“You said that this was not your first time. Have you then practised +somewhere before?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita laughed. “Oh, Gracious Lord, I have, and that of the best. Let your +Royal Grace but give the order and I will go again, overtake them, for their +horses are road-weary, take another man, and order my Kyemliches to take +also.” +</p> + +<p> +They advanced some time in silence; then the tramp of a horse was heard, and +Tyzenhauz flew up. “Gracious King,” said he, “the road is +free, and lodgings are ready.” +</p> + +<p> +“But did not I say so?” cried Yan Kazimir. “You, gentlemen, +had no need to be anxious. Let us ride on now, let us ride, for we have earned +our rest.” +</p> + +<p> +All advanced at a trot, briskly, joyously; and an hour later the wearied king +was sleeping a sleep without care on his own territory. +</p> + +<p> +That evening Tyzenhauz approached Kmita. “Forgive me,” said he; +“out of love for the king I brought you under suspicion.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita refused his hand and said: “Oh, that cannot be! You made me a +traitor and a betrayer.” +</p> + +<p> +“I would have done more, for I would have shot you in the head; but since +I have convinced myself that you are an honest man and love the king, I stretch +out my hand to you. If you wish, take it; if not, take it not. I would prefer +to have no rivalry with you save that of attachment to the king; but I am not +afraid of other rivalry.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that your thought? H’m! perhaps you are right, but I am angry +with you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, stop being angry. You are a strong soldier. But give us your lips, +so that we may not lie down to sleep in hatred.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let it be so!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +And they fell into each other’s arms. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p> +The king’s party arrived at Jivyets late in the evening, and paid almost +no attention to the place, which was terrified by the recent attack of the +Swedish detachment. The king did not go to the castle, which had been ravaged +by the enemy and burned in part, but stopped at the priest’s house. Kmita +spread the news that the party was escorting the ambassador of the emperor, who +was going from Silesia to Cracow. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning they held on toward Vadovitsi, and then turned considerably to one +side toward Suha. From this place they were to pass through Kjechoni to +Yordanovo, thence to Novy Targ, and if it appeared that there were no Swedish +parties near Chorshtyn to go to Chorshtyn; if there were, they were to turn +toward Hungary and advance on Hungarian soil to Lyubovlya. The king hoped, too, +that the marshal of the kingdom, who disposed of forces so considerable that no +reigning prince had so many, would make the road safe and hasten forth to meet +his sovereign. Only this could prevent, that the marshal knew not which road +the king would take; but among the mountaineers there was no lack of trusty men +ready to bear word to the marshal. There was no need even of confiding the +secret to them, for they went willingly when told that it was a question of +serving the king. These people, though poor and half wild, tilling little or +not at all an ungrateful soil, living by their herds, pious, and hating +heretics, were, in truth, given heart and soul to the sovereign. They were the +first to seize their axes and move from the mountains when news of the taking +of Cracow spread through the country, and especially when news came of the +siege of Chenstohova, to which pious women were accustomed to go on +pilgrimages. General Douglas, a well-known warrior, furnished with cannon and +muskets, scattered them, it is true, on the plains, to which they were not +accustomed; but the Swedes only with the greatest caution entered their special +districts, in which it was not easy to reach them, and easy to suffer +disaster,—so that some smaller divisions, having needlessly entered this +labyrinth of mountains, were lost. +</p> + +<p> +And now news of the king’s passage with an army had already done its own, +for all had sprung up as one man to defend him and accompany him with their +axes, even to the end of the world. Yan Kazimir might, if he had only disclosed +who he was, have surrounded himself in a short time with thousands of half-wild +“householders;” but he thought justly that in such an event the +news would be carried about everywhere by all the whirlwinds through the whole +region, and that the Swedes might send out numerous troops to meet him, +therefore he chose to travel unknown even to the mountaineers. +</p> + +<p> +But in all places trusty guides were found, to whom it was enough to say that +they were conducting bishops and lords who desired to preserve themselves from +Swedish hands. They were led, therefore, among snows, cliffs, and whirlwinds, +and over places so inaccessible that you would have said: “A bird cannot +fly through them.” +</p> + +<p> +More than once the king and the dignitaries had clouds below them, and when +there were not clouds their glances passed over a shoreless expanse, covered +with white snows, an expanse seemingly as wide as the whole country was wide; +more than once they entered mountain throats, almost dark, covered with snow, +in which perhaps only a wild beast might have its lair. But they avoided places +accessible to the enemy, shortening the road; and it happened that a +settlement, at which they expected to arrive in half a day, appeared suddenly +under their feet, and in it they awaited rest and hospitality, though in a +smoky hut and a sooty room. +</p> + +<p> +The king was in continual good humor; he gave courage to others to endure the +excessive toil, and he guaranteed that by such roads they would surely reach +Lyubovlya as safely as unexpectedly. +</p> + +<p> +“The marshal does not expect that we shall fall on his shoulders!” +repeated the king, frequently. +</p> + +<p> +“What was the return of Xenophon to our journey among the clouds?” +asked the nuncio. +</p> + +<p> +“The higher we rise, the lower will Swedish fortune fall,” answered +the king. +</p> + +<p> +They arrived at Novy Targ. It seemed that all danger was passed; still the +mountaineers declared that Swedish troops were moving about near Chorshtyn and +in the neighborhood. The king supposed that they might be the marshal’s +German cavalry, of which he had two regiments, or they might be his own +dragoons sent in advance and mistaken for the enemy’s scouts. Since in +Chorshtyn the bishop of Cracow had a garrison, opinions were divided in the +royal party. Some wished to go by the road to Chorshtyn, and then pass along +the boundary to Spij; others advised to turn straight to Hungary, which came up +in wedge-form to Novy Targ, and go over heights and through passes, taking +guides everywhere who knew the most dangerous places. +</p> + +<p> +This last opinion prevailed, for in that way meeting with the Swedes became +almost impossible; and besides this “eagle” road over the +precipices and through the clouds gave pleasure to the king. +</p> + +<p> +They passed then from Novy Targ somewhat to the south and west, on the right +hand of the Byaly Dunayets. The road at first lay through a region rather open +and spacious, but as they advanced the mountains began to run together and the +valleys to contract. They went along roads over which horses could barely +advance. At times the riders had to dismount and lead; and more than once the +beasts resisted, pointing their ears and stretching their distended and +steaming nostrils forward toward precipices, from the depths of which death +seemed to gaze upward. +</p> + +<p> +The mountaineers, accustomed to precipices, frequently considered roads good on +which the heads of unaccustomed men turned and their ears rang. At last they +entered a kind of rocky chasm long, straight, and so narrow that three men +could barely ride abreast in it. Two cliffs bounded it on the right side and +the left. At places however the edges inclined, forming slopes less steep, +covered with piles of snow bordered on the edges with dark pine-trees. Winds +blew away the snow immediately from the bottom of the pass, and the hoofs of +horses gritted everywhere on a stony road. But at that moment the wind was not +blowing, and such silence reigned that there was a ringing in the ears. Above +where between the woody edges a blue belt of sky was visible, black flocks of +birds flew past from time to time, shaking their wings and screaming. +</p> + +<p> +The king’s party halted for rest. Clouds of steam rose from the horses, +and the men too were tired. +</p> + +<p> +“Is this Poland or Hungary?” inquired, after a time, the king of a +guide. +</p> + +<p> +“This is Poland.” +</p> + +<p> +“But why do we not turn directly to Hungary?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because it is impossible. At some distance this pass turns, beyond the +turn is a cliff, beyond that we come out on the high-road, turn, then go +through one more pass, and there the Hungarian country begins.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I see it would have been better to go by the highway at +first,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Quiet!” cried the mountaineer, quickly. And springing to the cliff +he put his ear to it. +</p> + +<p> +All fixed their eyes on him; his face changed in a moment, and he said: +“Beyond the turn troops are coming from the water-fall! For God’s +sake! Are they not Swedes?” +</p> + +<p> +“Where? How? What?” men began to ask on every side. “We hear +nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, for snow is lying on the sides. By God’s wounds, they are +near! they will be here straightway!” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe they are the marshal’s troops,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +In one moment Kmita urged his horse forward. “I will go and see!” +said he. +</p> + +<p> +The Kyemliches moved that instant after him, like hunting-dogs in a chase; but +barely had they stirred from their places when the turn of the pass, about a +hundred yards distant, was made black by men and horses. Kmita looked at them, +and the soul quivered within him from terror. +</p> + +<p> +Swedes were advancing. +</p> + +<p> +They were so near that it was impossible to retreat, especially since the +king’s party had wearied horses. It only remained to break through, to +perish, or to go into captivity. The unterrified king understood this in a +flash; therefore he seized the hilt of his sword. +</p> + +<p> +“Cover the king and retreat!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz with twenty men pushed forward in the twinkle of an eye; but Kmita +instead of joining them moved on at a sharp trot against the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +He wore the Swedish dress, the same in which he disguised himself when going +out from the cloister. Seeing a horseman coming toward them in such a dress, +the Swedes thought perhaps this was some party of their own belonging to the +King of Sweden; they did not hasten their pace, but the captain commanding +pushed out beyond the first three. +</p> + +<p> +“What people are you?” asked he in Swedish, looking at the +threatening and pale face of the young man approaching. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita rode up to him so closely that their knees almost touched, and without +speaking a word fired from a pistol directly into his ear. +</p> + +<p> +A shout of terror was rent from the breasts of the Swedish cavalry; but still +louder thundered the voice of Pan Andrei, “Strike!” +</p> + +<p> +And like a rock torn from a cliff rolling down, crushing everything in its +course, so did he fall on the first rank, bearing death and destruction. The +two young Kyemliches, like two bears, sprang after him into the whirl. The +clatter of sabres on mail and helmets was heard, like the sound of hammers, and +was followed straightway by outcries and groans. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed at the first moment to the astonished Swedes that three giants had +fallen upon them in that wild mountain pass. The first three pushed back +confused in the presence of the terrible man, and when the succeeding ones had +extricated themselves from behind the bend of the pass, those in the rear were +thrown back and confused. The horses fell to biting and kicking. The soldiers +in the remoter ranks were not able to shoot, nor come to the assistance of +those in front, who perished without aid under the blows of the three giants. +In vain did they fall, in vain did they present their weapon points; here +sabres were breaking, there men and horses fell. Kmita urged his horse till his +hoofs were hanging above the heads of the steeds of his opponents, he was +raging himself, cutting and thrusting. The blood rushed to his face, and from +his eyes fire flashed. All thoughts were quenched in him save one,—he +might perish, but he must detain the Swedes. That thought turned in him to a +species of wild ecstasy; therefore his powers were trebled, his movements +became like those of a leopard, mad, and swift as lightning. With blows of his +sabre, which were blows beyond human, he crushed men as a thunderbolt crushes +young trees; the twin Kyemliches followed, and the old man, standing a trifle +in the rear, thrust his rapier out every moment between his sons, as a serpent +thrusts out its bloody tongue. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile around the king there rose confusion. The nuncio, as at Jivyets, +seized the reins of his horse, and on the other side the bishop of Cracow +pulled back the steed with all his force; but the king spurred him till he +stood on his hind legs. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me go!” cried the king. “As God lives! We shall pass +through the enemy!” +</p> + +<p> +“My Lord, think of the country!” cried the bishop of Cracow. +</p> + +<p> +The king was unable to tear himself from their hands, especially since young +Tyzenhauz with all his men closed the road. Tyzenhauz did not go to help Kmita; +he sacrificed him, he wanted only to save the king. +</p> + +<p> +“By the passion of our Lord!” cried he, in despair, “those +men will perish immediately! Gracious Lord, save yourself while there is time! +I will hold them here yet awhile!” +</p> + +<p> +But the stubbornness of the king when once roused reckoned with nothing and no +man. Yan Kazimir spurred his horse still more violently, and instead of +retreating pushed forward. +</p> + +<p> +But time passed, and each moment might bring with it final destruction. +</p> + +<p> +“I will die on my own soil! Let me go!” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately, against Kmita and the Kyemliches, by reason of the narrowness of +the pass, only a small number of men could act at once, consequently they were +able to hold out long. But gradually even their powers began to be exhausted. A +number of times the rapiers of the Swedes had struck Kmita’s body, and +his blood began to flow. His eyes were veiled as it were by a mist. The breath +halted in his breast. He felt the approach of death; therefore he wanted only +to sell his life dearly. “Even one more!” repeated he to himself, +and he sent down his steel blade on the head or the shoulder of the nearest +horseman, and again he turned to another; but evidently the Swedes felt +ashamed, after the first moment of confusion and fear, that four men were able +to detain them so long, and they crowded forward with fury; soon the very +weight of men and horses drove back the four men, and each moment more swiftly +and strongly. +</p> + +<p> +With that Kmita’s horse fell, and the torrent covered the rider. +</p> + +<p> +The Kyemliches struggled still for a time, like swimmers who seeing that they +are drowning make efforts to keep their heads above the whirl of the sea, but +soon they also fell. Then the Swedes moved on like a whirlwind toward the party +of the king. +</p> + +<p> +Tyzenhauz with his men sprang against them, and struck them in such fashion +that the sound was heard through the mountains. +</p> + +<p> +But what could that handful of men, led by Tyzenhauz, do against a detachment +of nearly three hundred strong? +</p> + +<p> +There was no doubt that for the king and his party the fatal hour of death or +captivity must come. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir, preferring evidently the first to the second, freed finally the +reins from the hands of the bishops, and pushed forward quickly toward +Tyzenhauz. In an instant he halted as if fixed to the earth. +</p> + +<p> +Something uncommon had happened. To spectators it seemed as though the +mountains themselves were coming to the aid of the rightful king. +</p> + +<p> +Behold on a sudden the edges of the pass quivered as if the earth were moving +from its foundations, as if the pines on the mountain desired to take part in +the battle; and logs of wood, blocks of snow and ice, stones, fragments of +cliff’s, began to roll down with a terrible crash and roar on the ranks +of the Swedes crowded in the pass. At the same time an unearthly howl was heard +on each side of the narrow place. +</p> + +<p> +Below in the ranks began seething which passed human belief. It seemed to the +Swedes that the mountains were falling and covering them. Shouts rose, the +lamentations of crushed men, despairing cries for assistance, the whining of +horses, the bite and terrible sound of fragments of cliffs on armor. +</p> + +<p> +At last men and horses formed one mass quivering convulsively, crushed, +groaning, despairing, and dreadful. But the stones and pieces of cliff’s +ground them continually, rolling without mercy on the now formless masses, the +bodies of horses and men. +</p> + +<p> +“The mountaineers! the mountaineers!” shouted men in the retinue of +the king. +</p> + +<p> +“With axes at the dog-brothers!” called voices from the mountain. +</p> + +<p> +And that very moment from both rocky edges appeared long-haired heads, covered +with round fur caps, and after them came out bodies, and several hundred +strange forms began to let themselves down on the slopes of the snow. +</p> + +<p> +Dark and white rags floating above their shoulders gave them the appearance of +some kind of awful birds of prey. They pushed down in the twinkle of an eye; +the sound of their axes emphasized their wild ominous shouting and the groans +of the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +The king himself tried to restrain the slaughter; some horsemen, still living, +threw themselves on their knees, and raising their defenceless hands, begged +for their lives. Nothing availed, nothing could stay the vengeful axes. A +quarter of an hour later there was not one man living among the Swedes in the +pass. +</p> + +<p> +After that the bloody mountaineers began to hurry toward the escort of the +king. +</p> + +<p> +The nuncio looked with astonishment on those people, strange to him, large, +sturdy, covered partly with sheepskin, sprinkled with blood, and shaking their +still steaming axes. +</p> + +<p> +But at sight of the bishops they uncovered their heads. Many of them fell on +their knees in the snow. +</p> + +<p> +The bishop of Cracow raising his tearful face toward heaven said, “Behold +the assistance of God, behold Providence, which watches over the majesty of the +king.” Then turning to the mountaineers, he asked, “Men, who are +you?” +</p> + +<p> +“We are of this place,” answered voices from the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you know whom you have come to assist? This is your king and your +lord, whom you have saved.” +</p> + +<p> +At these words a shout rose in the crowd. “The king! the king! Jesus, +Mary! the king!” And the joyful mountaineers began to throng and crowd +around Yan Kazimir. With weeping they fell to him from every side; with +weeping, they kissed his feet, his stirrups, even the hoofs of his horse. Such +excitement reigned, such shouting, such weeping that the bishops from fear for +the king’s person were forced to restrain the excessive enthusiasm. +</p> + +<p> +And the king was in the midst of a faithful people, like a shepherd among +sheep, and great tears were flowing down his face. Then his countenance became +bright, as if some sudden change had taken place in his soul, as if a new, +great thought from heaven by birth had flashed into his mind, and he indicated +with his hand that he wished to speak; and when there was silence he said with +a voice so loud that the whole multitude heard him,— +</p> + +<p> +“O God, Thou who hast saved me by the hands of simple people, I swear by +the suffering and death of Thy Son to be a father to them from this moment +forward.” +</p> + +<p> +“Amen!” responded the bishops. +</p> + +<p> +For a certain time a solemn silence reigned, then a new burst of joy. They +inquired of the mountaineers whence they had come into the passes, and in what +way they had appeared to rescue the king. It turned out that considerable +parties of Swedes had been wandering about Chorshtyn, and, not capturing the +castle itself, they seemed to seek some one and to wait. The mountaineers too +had heard of a battle which those parties had delivered against troops among +whom it was said that the king himself was advancing. Then they determined to +push the Swedes into an ambush, and sending to them deceitful guides, they +lured them into the pass. +</p> + +<p> +“We saw,” said the mountaineers, “how those four horsemen +attacked those dogs; we wanted to assist the four horsemen, but were afraid to +fall upon the dog-brothers too soon!” +</p> + +<p> +Here the king seized his head. “Mother of Thy only Son!” cried he, +“find Babinich for me! Let us give him at least a funeral! And he is the +man who was considered a traitor, the one who first shed his own blood for +us.” +</p> + +<p> +“It was I who accused him, Gracious Lord!” said Tyzenhauz. +</p> + +<p> +“Find him, find him!” cried the king. “I will not leave here +till I look upon his face and put my blessing on him.” +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers and the mountaineers sprang to the place of the first struggle, +and soon they removed from the pile of dead horses and men Pan Andrei. His face +was pale, all bespattered with blood, which was hanging in large stiffened +drops on his mustaches; his eyes were closed; his armor was bent from the blows +of swords and horses’ hoofs. But that armor had saved him from being +crushed, and to the soldier who raised him it seemed as though he heard a low +groan. +</p> + +<p> +“As God is true, he is alive!” cried he. +</p> + +<p> +“Remove his armor,” called others. +</p> + +<p> +They cut the straps quickly. Kmita breathed more deeply. +</p> + +<p> +“He is breathing, he is breathing! He is alive!” repeated a number +of voices. +</p> + +<p> +But he lay a certain time motionless; then he opened his eyes. At that time one +of the soldiers poured a little gorailka into his mouth; others raised him by +the armpits. +</p> + +<p> +Now the king, to whose hearing the cry repeated by several voices had come, +rode up in haste. The soldiers drew into his presence Pan Andrei, who was +hanging on them and slipping from their hands to the ground. Still, at sight of +the king consciousness returned to him for a moment, a smile almost childlike +lighted his face, and his pale lips whispered clearly,— +</p> + +<p> +“My lord, my king, is alive—is free.” And tears shone on his +eyelashes. +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich, Babinich! with what can I reward you?” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +“I am not Babinich; I am Kmita!” whispered the knight. +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this he hung like a corpse in the arms of the soldiers. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p> +Since the mountaineers gave sure information that on the road to Chorshtyn +there was nothing to be heard of other Swedish parties, the retinue of the king +turned toward the castle, and soon found themselves on the highway, along which +the journey was easiest and least tiresome. They rode on amid songs of the +mountaineers and shouts, “The king is coming! The king is coming!” +and along the road new crowds of men joined them, armed with flails, scythes, +forks, and guns, so that Yan Kazimir was soon at the head of a considerable +division of men, not trained, it is true, but ready at any moment to go with +him even to Cracow and spill their blood for their sovereign. Near Chorshtyn +more than a thousand “householders” and half-wild shepherds +surrounded the king. +</p> + +<p> +Then nobles from Novy Sanch and Stary Sanch began to come in. They said that a +Polish regiment, under command of Voynillovich, had defeated, that morning, +just before the town of Novy Sanch, a considerable detachment of Swedes, of +which almost all the men were either slain, or drowned in the Kamyenna or +Dunayets. +</p> + +<p> +This turned out to be really the fact, when soon after on the road banners +began to gleam, and Voynillovich himself came up with the regiment of the +voevoda of Bratslav. +</p> + +<p> +The king greeted with joy a celebrated and to him well-known knight, and amidst +the universal enthusiasm of the people and the army, he rode on toward Spij. +Meanwhile men on horseback rushed with all breath to forewarn the marshal that +the king was approaching, and to be ready to receive him. +</p> + +<p> +Joyous and noisy was the continuation of the journey. New crowds were added +continually. The nuncio, who had left Silesia filled with fear for the +king’s fate and his own, and for whom the beginning of the journey had +increased this fear, was beside himself now with delight, for he was certain +that the future would surely bring victory to the king, and besides to the +church over heretics. The bishops shared his joy; the lay dignitaries asserted +that the whole people, from the Carpathians to the Baltic, would grasp their +weapons as these crowds had done. Voynillovich stated that for the greater part +this had taken place already. And he told what was to be heard in the country, +what a terror had fallen upon the Swedes, how they dared go no longer outside +fortifications in small numbers, how they were leaving the smaller castles, +which they burned, and taking refuge in the strongest. +</p> + +<p> +“The Polish troops are beating their breasts with one hand, and are +beginning to beat the Swedes with the other,” said he. +“Vilchkovski, who commands the hussar regiment of your Royal Grace, has +already thanked the Swedes for their service, and that in such fashion that he +fell upon them at Zakjevo, under the command of Colonel Altenberg, and slew a +large number,—destroyed almost all. I, with the assistance of God, drove +them out of Novy Sanch, and God gave a noted victory. I do not know whether one +escaped alive. Pan Felitsyan Kohovski with the infantry of Navoi helped me +greatly, and so they received pay for those dragoons at least whom they +attacked two or three days ago.” +</p> + +<p> +“What dragoons?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Those whom your Royal Grace sent ahead from Silesia. The Swedes fell on +these suddenly, and though not able to disperse them, for they defended +themselves desperately, they inflicted considerable loss. And we were almost +dying of despair, for we thought that your Royal Grace was among those men in +your own person, and we feared lest some evil might happen to majesty. God +inspired your Royal Grace to send the dragoons ahead. The Swedes heard of it at +once, and occupied the roads everywhere.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you hear, Tyzenhauz?” asked the king. “An experienced +soldier is talking.” +</p> + +<p> +“I hear, Gracious Lord,” answered the young magnate. +</p> + +<p> +“And what further, what further? Tell on!” said the king, turning +to Voynillovich. +</p> + +<p> +“What I know I shall surely not hide. Jegotski and Kulesha are active in +Great Poland; Varshytski has driven Lindorm from the castle of Pilets; Dankoff +is defending itself; Lantskoron is in our hands; and in Podlyasye, Sapyeha is +gaining every day at Tykotsin. The Swedes are in greater straits in the castle, +and with them is failing the prince voevoda of Vilna. As to the hetmans, they +have moved already from Sandomir to Lyubelsk, showing clearly that they are +breaking with the enemy. The voevoda of Chernigov is with them, and from the +region about is marching to them every living man who can hold a sabre in his +hand. They say, too, that there is some kind of federation to be formed there +against the Swedes, in which is the hand of Sapyeha as well as that of Stefan +Charnyetski.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is Charnyetski now in Lyubelsk?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is, your Royal Grace. But he is here to-day and there to-morrow. I +have to join him, but where to find him I know not.” +</p> + +<p> +“There will be noise around him,” said the king; “you will +not need to inquire.” +</p> + +<p> +“So I think too,” answered Voynillovich. +</p> + +<p> +In such conversation was the road passed. Meanwhile the sky had grown perfectly +clear, so that the azure was unspotted by even a small cloud. The snow was +glittering in the sunlight. The mountains of Spij were extended gloriously and +joyously before the travellers, and Nature itself seemed to smile on the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Dear country!” said Yan Kazimir, “God grant me strength to +bring thee peace before my bones rest in thy earth.” +</p> + +<p> +They rode out on a lofty eminence, from which the view was open and wide, for +beyond, at the foot of it, was spread a broad plain. There they saw below, and +at a great distance as it were, the movement of a human ant-hill. +</p> + +<p> +“The troops of the marshal!” cried Voynillovich. +</p> + +<p> +“Unless they are Swedes,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“No, Gracious Lord! The Swedes could not march from Hungary, from the +south. I see now the hussar flag.” +</p> + +<p> +In fact a forest of spears soon pushed out in the blue distance, and colored +streamers were quivering like flowers moved by the wind; above these flags +spear-points were glittering like little flames. The sun played on the armor +and helmets. +</p> + +<p> +The throngs of people accompanying the king gave forth a joyous shout, which +was heard at a distance, for the mass of horses, riders, flags, horse-tail +standards, and ensigns began to move more quickly. Evidently they were moving +with all speed, for the regiments became each moment more definite, and +increased in the eye with incomprehensible rapidity. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us stay on this height. We will await the marshal here,” said +the king. +</p> + +<p> +The retinue halted; the men coming toward them moved still more rapidly. At +moments they were concealed from the eye by turns of the road, or small hills +and cliffs, scattered along the plain; but soon they appeared again, like a +serpent with a skin of splendid colors playing most beautifully. At last they +came within a quarter of a mile of the height, and slackened their speed. The +eye could take them in perfectly, and gain pleasure from them. First advanced +the hussar squadron of the marshal himself, well armored, and so imposing that +any king might be proud of such troops. Only nobles of the mountains served in +this squadron, chosen men of equal size; their armor was of bright squares +inlaid with bronze, gorgets with the image of the Most Holy Lady of +Chenstohova, round helmets with steel rims, crests on the top, and at the side +wings of eagles and vultures, on their shoulders tiger and leopard skins, but +on the officers wolf skins, according to custom. +</p> + +<p> +A forest of green and black streamers waved above them. In front rode +Lieutenant Victor; after him a janissary band with bells, trumpets, drums, and +pipes; then a wall of the breasts of horses and men clothed in iron. +</p> + +<p> +The king’s heart opened at that lordly sight. Next to the hussars came a +light regiment still more numerous, with drawn sabres in their hands and bows +at their shoulders; then three companies of Cossacks, in colors like blooming +poppies, armed with spears and muskets; next two hundred dragoons in red +jackets; then escorts belonging to different personages visiting at Lyubovlya, +attendants dressed as if for a wedding, guards, haiduks, grooms, Hungarians, +and janissaries, attached to the service of great lords. +</p> + +<p> +And all that changed in colors like a rainbow, and came on tumultuously, +noisily, amid the neighing of horses, the clatter of armor, the thunder of +kettle-drums, the roll of other drums, the blare of trumpets, and cries so loud +that it seemed as though the snows would rush down from the mountains because +of them. In the rear of the troops were to be seen closed and open carriages, +in which evidently were riding dignitaries of the church and the world. +</p> + +<p> +The troops took position in two lines along the road, and between them +appeared, on a horse white as milk, the marshal of the kingdom, Pan Yerzy +Lyubomirski. He flew on like a whirlwind over that road, and behind him raced +two equerries, glittering in gold. When he had ridden to the foot of the +eminence, he sprang from his horse, and throwing the reins to one of the +equerries, went on foot to the king standing above. +</p> + +<p> +He removed his cap, and placing it on the hilt of his sabre, advanced with +uncovered head, leaning on a staff all set with pearls. He was dressed in +Polish fashion, in military costume; on his breast was armor of silver plates +thickly inlaid at the edges with precious stones, and so polished that he +seemed to be bearing the sun on his bosom; over his left shoulder was hanging a +cloak of Venetian velvet of dark color, passing into violet purple; it was +fastened at the throat by a cord with a buckle of diamonds, and the whole cloak +was embroidered with diamonds; in like manner a diamond was trembling in his +cap, and these stones glittered like many-colored sparks around his whole +person, and dazzled the eyes, such was the brightness which came from them. +</p> + +<p> +He was a man in the vigor of life, of splendid form. His head was shaven around +the temples; his forelock was rather thin, growing gray, and lay on his +forehead in a shaggy tuft; his mustache, as black as the wing of a crow, +drooped in fine points at both sides. His lofty forehead and Roman nose added +to the beauty of his face, but the face was marred somewhat by cheeks that were +too plump, and small eyes encircled with red lids. Great dignity, but also +unparalleled pride and vanity were depicted on that face. You might easily +divine that that magnate wished to turn to himself eternally the eyes of the +whole Commonwealth, nay, of all Europe; and such was the case in reality. +</p> + +<p> +Where Yerzy Lyubomirski could not hold the first place, where he could only +share glory and merit with others, his wounded pride was ready to bar the way +and corrupt and crush every endeavor, even when it was a question of saving the +country. +</p> + +<p> +He was an adroit and fortunate leader, but even in this respect others +surpassed him immeasurably; and in general his abilities, though uncommon, were +not equal to his ambition and desire of distinction. Endless unrest therefore +was boiling in his soul, whence was born that suspiciousness, that envy, which +later on carried him so far that he became more destructive to the Commonwealth +than the terrible Yanush Radzivill. The black soul which dwelt in Prince Yanush +was great also; it stopped before no man and no thing. Yanush wanted a crown, +and he went toward it consciously over graves and the ruin of his country. +Lyubomirski would have taken a crown if the hands of the nobles had placed it +on his head; but having a smaller soul, he dared not desire the crown openly +and expressly. Radzivill was one of those men whom failure casts down to the +level of criminals, and success elevates to the greatness of demigods; +Lyubomirski was a mighty disturber who was always ready to ruin work for the +salvation of the country, in the name of his own offended pride, and to build +up nothing in place of it. He did not even dare to raise himself, he did not +know how. Radzivill died the more guilty, Lyubomirski the more harmful man. +</p> + +<p> +But at that hour, when in gold, velvet, and precious stones he stood in front +of the king, his pride was sufficiently satisfied. For he was the first magnate +to receive his own king on his own land; he first took him under a species of +guardianship, he had to conduct him to a throne which had been overturned, and +to drive out the enemy; from him the king and the country expected everything; +on him all eyes were turned. Therefore to show loyalty and service coincided +with his self-love, in fact flattered it, he was ready in truth for sacrifices +and devotion, he was ready to exceed the measure even with expressions of +respect and loyalty. When therefore he had ascended one half of that eminence +on which the king was standing, he took his cap from the sword-hilt and began, +while bowing, to sweep the snow with its diamond plume. +</p> + +<p> +The king urged his horse somewhat toward the descent, then halted to dismount, +for the greeting. Seeing this, the marshal sprang forward to hold the stirrup +with his worthy hands, and at that moment grasping after his cloak, he drew it +from his shoulders, and following the example of a certain English courtier, +threw it under the feet of the monarch. +</p> + +<p> +The king, touched to the heart, opened his arms to the marshal, and seized him +like a brother in his embrace. For a while neither was able to speak; but at +that exalted spectacle the army, the nobles, the people, roared in one voice, +and thousands of caps flew into the air, all the guns, muskets, and +blunderbusses sounded, cannon from Lyubovlya answered in a distant bass, till +the mountains trembled; all the echoes were roused and began to course around, +striking the dark walls of pine woods, the cliffs and rocks, and flew with the +news to remoter mountains and cliffs. +</p> + +<p> +“Lord Marshal,” said the king, “we will thank you for the +restoration of the kingdom!” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord!” answered Lyubomirski, “my fortune, my life, +my blood, all I have I place at the feet of your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat! vivat Yoannes Casimirus Rex!” thundered the shouts. +</p> + +<p> +“May the king live! our father!” cried the mountaineers. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the gentlemen who were riding with the king surrounded the marshal; +but he did not leave the royal person. After the first greetings the king +mounted his horse again; but the marshal, not wishing to recognize bounds to +his hospitality and honor to his guest, seized the bridle, and going himself on +foot, led the king through the lines of the army amid deafening shouts, till +they came to a gilded carriage drawn by eight dapple-gray horses; in this +carriage Yan Kazimir took his seat, together with Vidon, the nuncio of the +Pope. +</p> + +<p> +The bishops and dignitaries took seats in succeeding carriages, then they moved +on slowly to Lyubovlya. The marshal rode at the window of the king’s +carriage, splendid, self-satisfied, as if he were already proclaimed father of +the country. At both sides went a dense army, singing songs, thundering out in +the following words:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Cut the Swedes, cut,<br/> +With sharpened swords.<br/> +<br/> +“Beat the Swedes, beat,<br/> +With strong sticks.<br/> +<br/> +“Roll the Swedes, roll,<br/> +Empale them on stakes.<br/> +<br/> +“Torment the Swedes, torment,<br/> +And torture them as you can.<br/> +<br/> +“Pound the Swedes, pound,<br/> +Pull them out of their skins.<br/> +<br/> +“Cut the Swedes, cut,<br/> +Then there will be fewer.<br/> +<br/> +“Drown the Swedes, drown,<br/> +If you are a good man!” +</p> + +<p> +Unfortunately amidst the universal rejoicing and enthusiasm no one foresaw that +later the same troops of Lyubomirski, after they had rebelled against their +legal lord and king, would sing the same song, putting the French in place of +the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +But now it was far from such a state. In Lyubovlya the cannon were thundering +in greeting till the towers and battlements were covered with smoke, the bells +were tolling as at a fire. At the part of the courtyard in which the king +descended from the carriage, the porch and the steps were covered with scarlet +cloth. In vases brought from Italy were burning perfumes of the East. The +greater part of the treasures of the Lyubomirskis,—cabinets of gold and +silver, carpets, mats, gobelin tapestry, woven wonderfully by Flemish hands, +statues, clocks, cupboards, ornamented with precious stones, cabinets inlaid +with mother-of-pearl and amber brought previously to Lyubovlya to preserve them +from Swedish rapacity, were now arranged and hung up in display; they dazzled +the eye and changed that castle into a kind of fairy residence. And the marshal +had arranged all this luxury, worthy of a Sultan, in this fashion of purpose to +show the king that though he was returning as an exile, without money, without +troops, having scarcely a change of clothing, still he was a mighty lord, since +he had servants so powerful, and as faithful as powerful. The king understood +this intention, and his heart rose in gratitude; every moment therefore he took +the marshal by the shoulder, pressed his head and thanked him. The nuncio, +though accustomed to luxury, expressed his astonishment at what he beheld, and +they heard him say to Count Apotyngen that hitherto he had had no idea of the +power of the King of Poland, and now saw that the previous defeats were merely +a temporary reverse of fortune, which soon must be changed. +</p> + +<p> +At the feast, which followed a rest, the king sat on an elevation, and the +marshal himself served him, permitting no one to take his place. At the right +of the king sat the nuncio, at his left the prince primate, Leshchynski, +farther on both sides dignitaries, lay and clerical, such as the bishops of +Cracow, Poznan, Lvoff, Lutsk, Premysl, Helm; the archdeacon of Cracow; farther +on keepers of the royal seal and voevodas, of whom eight had assembled, and +castellans and referendaries; of officers, there were sitting at the feast +Voynillovich, Viktor, Stabkovski, and Baldwin Shurski. +</p> + +<p> +In another hall a table was set for inferior nobles, and there were large +barracks for peasants, for all had to be joyful on the day of the king’s +coming. +</p> + +<p> +At the tables there was no other conversation but touching the royal return, +and the terrible adventures which had met them on the road, in which the hand +of God had preserved the king. Yan Kazimir himself described the battle in the +pass, and praised the cavalier who had held back the first Swedish onset. +</p> + +<p> +“And how is he?” asked he of the marshal. +</p> + +<p> +“The physician does not leave him, and guarantees his life; and besides, +maidens and ladies in waiting have taken him in care, and surely they will not +let the soul go from the body, for the body is shapely and young!” +answered the marshal, joyously. +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God!” cried the king. “I heard from his lips +something which I shall not repeat to you, for it seems to me that I heard +incorrectly, or that he said it in delirium; but should it come true you will +be astonished.” +</p> + +<p> +“If he has said nothing which might make your Royal Grace gloomy.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing whatever of that nature,” said the king; “it has +comforted us beyond measure, for it seems that even those whom we had reason to +hold our greatest enemies are ready to spill their blood for us if need +be.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord!” cried the marshal, “the time of reform has +come; but under this roof your Royal Grace is among persons who have never +sinned even in thought against majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“True, true!” answered the king, “and you, Lord Marshal, are +in the first rank.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am a poor servant of your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +At table the noise grew greater. Gradually they began to speak of political +combinations; of aid from the emperor, hitherto looked for in vain; of Tartar +assistance, and of the coming war with the Swedes. Fresh rejoicing set in when +the marshal stated that the envoy sent by him to the Khan had returned just a +couple of days before, and reported that forty thousand of the horde were in +readiness, and perhaps even a hundred thousand, as soon as the king would reach +Lvoff and conclude a treaty with the Khan. The same envoy had reported that the +Cossacks through fear of the Tartars had returned to obedience. +</p> + +<p> +“You have thought of everything,” said the king, “in such +fashion that we could not have thought it out better ourselves.” Then he +seized his glass and said: “To the health of our host and friend, the +marshal of the kingdom!” +</p> + +<p> +“Impossible, Gracious Lord!” cried the marshal; “no +man’s health can be drunk here before the health of your Royal +Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +All restrained their half-raised goblets; but Lyubomirski, filled with delight, +perspiring, beckoned to his chief butler. +</p> + +<p> +At this sign the servants who were swarming through the hall rushed to pour out +Malvoisie again, taken with gilded dippers from kegs of pure silver. Pleasure +increased still more, and all were waiting for the toast of the marshal. +</p> + +<p> +The chief butler brought now two goblets of Venetian crystal of such marvellous +work that they might pass for the eighth wonder of the world. The crystal, +bored and polished to thinness during whole years, perhaps, cast real diamond +light. On the setting great artists of Italy had labored. The base of each +goblet was gold, carved in small figures representing the entrance of a +conqueror to the Capitol. The conqueror rode in a chariot of gold on a street +paved with pearls. Behind him followed captives with bound hands; with them a +king, in a turban formed of one emerald; farther followed legionaries with +eagles and ensigns. More than fifty small figures found room on each +base,—figures as high as a hazel-nut, but made so marvellously that the +features of the faces and the feelings of each one could be distinguished, the +pride of the victors, the grief of the vanquished. The base was bound to the +goblet with golden filigree, fine as hair bent with wondrous art into grape +leaves, clusters, and various flowers. Those filigree were wound around the +crystal, and joining at the top in one ring formed the edge of the goblet, +which was set with stones in seven colors. +</p> + +<p> +The head butler gave one such goblet to the king and the other to the marshal, +both filled with Malvoisie. All rose from their seats; the marshal raised the +goblet, and cried with all the voice in his breast,— +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Yoannes Casimirus Rex!” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat! vivat! vivat!” +</p> + +<p> +At that moment the guns thundered again so that the walls of the castle were +trembling. The nobles feasting in the second hall came with their goblets; the +marshal wished to make an oration, but could not, for his words were lost in +the endless shouts: “Vivat! vivat! vivat!” +</p> + +<p> +Such joy seized the marshal, such ecstasy, that wildness was gleaming in his +eyes, and emptying his goblet he shouted so, that he was heard even in the +universal tumult,— +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Ego ultimus</i> (I am the last)!” +</p> + +<p> +Then he struck the priceless goblet on his own head with such force that the +crystal sprang into a hundred fragments, which fell with a rattle on the floor, +and the head of the magnate was covered with blood. All were astonished, and +the king said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Lord Marshal, we regret not the goblet, but the head which we value so +greatly.” +</p> + +<p> +“Treasures and jewels are nothing to me,” cried the marshal, +“when I have the honor of receiving your Royal Grace in my house. Vivat +Yoannes Casimirus Rex!” +</p> + +<p> +Here the butler gave him another goblet. +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat! vivat!” shouted the guests without ceasing. The sound of +broken glass was mingled with the shout. Only the bishops did not follow the +example of the marshal, for their spiritual dignity forbade them. +</p> + +<p> +The nuncio, who did not know of that custom of breaking glasses on the head, +bent to the bishop of Poznan, sitting near him, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“As God lives, astonishment seizes me! Your treasury is empty, and for +one such goblet two good regiments of men might be equipped and +maintained.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is always so with us,” answered the bishop; “when desire +rises in the heart there is no measure in anything.” +</p> + +<p> +And in fact the desire grew greater each moment. Toward the end of the feast a +bright light struck the windows of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, I beg you to the spectacle,” answered the marshal. +And tottering slightly, he conducted the king to the window. There a wonderful +sight struck their eyes. It was as clear in the court as when there is +daylight. A number of tens of pitch-barrels cast a bright yellow gleam on the +pavement, cleared of snow and strewn with leaves of mountain-fern. Here and +there were burning tubs of brandy which cast blue light; salt was sprinkled +into some to make them burn red. +</p> + +<p> +The spectacle began. First knights cut off Turkish heads, tilted at a ring and +at one another; then the dogs of Liptovo fought with a bear; later, a man from +the hills, a kind of mountain Samson, threw a millstone and caught it in the +air. Midnight put an end to these amusements. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the marshal declare himself, though the Swedes were still in the land. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p> +In the midst of feasting and the throng of new dignitaries, nobles, and knights +who were coming continually, the kindly king forgot not his faithful servant +who in the mountain-pass had exposed his breast to the Swedish sword with such +daring; and on the day following his arrival in Lyubovlya he visited the +wounded Pan Andrei. He found him conscious and almost joyful, though pale as +death; by a lucky fortune the young hero had received no grievous wound, only +blood had left him in large quantities. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of the king, Kmita even rose in the bed to a sitting position, and +though the king insisted that he should lie down again, he was unwilling to do +so. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” said he, “in a couple of days I shall be on +horseback, and with your gracious permission will go farther, for I feel that +nothing is the matter with me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Still they must have cut you terribly. It is an unheard of thing for one +to withstand such a number.” +</p> + +<p> +“That has happened to me more than once, for I think that in an evil +juncture the sabre and courage are best. Ei, Gracious Lord, the number of cuts +that have healed on my skin you could not count on an ox-hide. Such is my +fortune.” +</p> + +<p> +“Complain not of fortune, for it is evident that you go headlong to +places where not only blows but deaths are distributed. But how long do you +practise such tactics? Where have you fought before now?” +</p> + +<p> +A passing blush covered the youthful face of Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, I attacked Hovanski when all dropped their hands, and a +price was set on my head.” +</p> + +<p> +“But listen,” said the king, suddenly; “you told me a +wonderful word in that pass. I thought that delirium had seized you and +unsettled your reason. Now you say that you attacked Hovanski. Who are you? Are +you not really Babinich? We know who attacked Hovanski!” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed; at last the young knight raised his pale face, +and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Not delirium spoke through me, but truth; it was I who battered +Hovanski, from which war my name was heard throughout the whole Commonwealth. I +am Andrei Kmita, the banneret of Orsha.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kmita closed his eyes and grew still paler; but when the astonished king +was silent, he began to speak farther,— +</p> + +<p> +“I am, Gracious Lord, that outlaw, condemned by God and the judgments of +men for killing and violence. I served Radzivill, and together with him I +betrayed you and the country; but now, thrust with rapiers and trampled with +horses’ hoofs, unable to rise, I beat my breast, repeating, <i>Mea culpa, +mea culpa!</i> (My fault, my fault!) and I implore your fatherly mercy. Forgive +me, for I have cursed my previous acts, and have long since turned from that +road which lies toward hell.” +</p> + +<p> +Tears dropped from the eyes of the knight, and with trembling he began to seek +the hand of the king. Yan Kazimir, it is true, did not withdraw his hand; but +he grew gloomy, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Whoso in this land wears a crown should be unceasingly ready to pardon; +therefore we are willing to forgive your offence, since on Yasna Gora and on +the road you have served us with faithfulness, exposing your breast.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then forgive them, Gracious Lord! Shorten my torment.” +</p> + +<p> +“But one thing we cannot forget,—that in spite of the virtue of +this people you offered Prince Boguslav to raise hands on majesty, hitherto +inviolable, and bear us away living or dead, and deliver us into Swedish +hands.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, though a moment before he had said himself that he was unable to rise, +sprang from the bed, seized the crucifix hanging above him, and with the cuts +on his face and fever in his flashing eyes, and breathing quickly, began to +speak thus,— +</p> + +<p> +“By the salvation of my father and mother, by the wounds of the +Crucified, it is untrue! If I am guilty of that sin, may God punish me at once +with sudden death and with eternal fires. If you do not believe me, I will tear +these bandages, let out the remnant of the blood which the Swedes did not shed. +I never made the offer. Never was such a thought in my head. For the kingdom of +this world, I would not have done such a deed. Amen! on this cross, amen, +amen!” And he trembled from feverish excitement. +</p> + +<p> +“Then did the prince invent it?” asked the astonished king. +“Why? for what reason?” +</p> + +<p> +“He did invent it. It was his hellish revenge on me for what I did to +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“What did you do to him?” +</p> + +<p> +“I carried him off from the middle of his court and of his whole army. I +wanted to cast him bound at the feet of your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“It’s a wonder, it’s a wonder! I believe you, but I do not +understand. How was it? You were serving Yanush, and carried off Boguslav, who +was less guilty, and you wanted to bring him bound to me?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita wished to answer; but the king saw at that moment his pallor and +suffering, therefore he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Rest, and later tell me all from the beginning. I believe you; here is +our hand.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita pressed the king’s hand to his lips, and for some time was silent, +for breath failed him; he merely looked at the king’s face with +immeasurable affection; at last he collected his strength, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell all from the beginning. I warred against Hovanski, but I was +hard with my own people. In part I was forced to wrong them, and to take what I +needed; I did this partly from violence, for the blood was storming within me. +I had companions, good nobles, but no better than I. Here and there a man was +cut down, here and there a house was burned, here and there some one was chased +over the snow with sticks. An outcry was raised. Where an enemy could not touch +me, complaint was made before a court. I lost cases by default. Sentences came +one after another, but I paid no heed; besides, the devil flattered me, and +whispered to surpass Pan Lashch, who had his cloak lined with judgments; and +still he was famous, and is famous till now.” +</p> + +<p> +“For he did penance, and died piously,” remarked the king. +</p> + +<p> +When he had rested somewhat, Kmita continued: “Meanwhile Colonel +Billevich—the Billeviches are a great family in Jmud—put off his +transitory form, and was taken to a better world; but he left me a village and +his granddaughter. I do not care for the village, for in continual attacks on +the enemy I have gathered no little property, and not only have made good the +fortune taken from me by the Northerners, but have increased it. I have still +in Chenstohova enough to buy two such villages, and I need ask no one for +bread. But when my party separated I went to winter quarters in the Lauda +region. There the maiden, Billevich’s granddaughter, came so near my +heart that I forgot God’s world. The virtue and honesty in this lady were +such that I grew shamefaced in presence of my former deeds. She too, having an +inborn hatred of transgression, pressed me to leave my previous manner of life, +put an end to disturbances, repair wrongs, and live honestly.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did you follow her advice?” +</p> + +<p> +“How could I, Gracious Lord! I wished to do so, it is true,—God +sees that I wished; but old sins follow a man. First, my soldiers were attacked +in Upita, for which I burned some of the place.” +</p> + +<p> +“In God’s name! that is a crime,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing yet. Later on, the nobles of Lauda slaughtered my +comrades, worthy cavaliers though violent. I was forced to avenge them. I fell +upon the village of the Butryms that very night, and took vengeance, with fire +and sword, for the murder. But they defeated me, for a crowd of homespuns live +in that neighborhood. I had to hide. The maiden would not look at me, for those +homespuns were made fathers and guardians to her by the will. But my heart was +so drawn to her that I could not help myself. Unable to live without her, I +collected a new party and seized her with armed hand.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why, the Tartars do not make love differently.” +</p> + +<p> +“I own that it was a deed of violence. But God punished me through the +hands of Pan Volodyovski, and he cut me so that I barely escaped with my life. +It would have been a hundred times better for me if I had not escaped, for I +should not have joined the Radzivills to the injury of the king and the +country. But how could it be otherwise? A new suit was begun against me for a +capital offence; it was a question of life. I knew not what to do, when +suddenly the voevoda of Vilna came to me with assistance.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did he protect you?” +</p> + +<p> +“He sent me a commission through this same Pan Volodyovski, and thereby I +went under the jurisdiction of the hetman, and was not afraid of the courts. I +clung to Radzivill as to a plank of salvation. Soon I put on foot a squadron of +men known as the greatest fighters in all Lithuania. There were none better in +the army. I led them to Kyedani. Radzivill received me as a son, referred to +our kinship through the Kishkis, and promised to protect me. He had his object. +He needed daring men ready for all things, and I, simpleton, crawled as it were +into bird-lime. Before his plans had come to the surface, he commanded me to +swear on a crucifix that I would not abandon him in any straits. Thinking it a +question of war with the Swedes or the Northerners, I took the oath willingly. +Then came that terrible feast at which the Kyedani treaty was read. The treason +was published. Other colonels threw their batons at the feet of the hetman, but +the oath held me as a chain holds a dog, and I could not leave him.” +</p> + +<p> +“But did not all those who deserted us later swear loyalty?” asked +the king, sadly. +</p> + +<p> +“I, too, though I did not throw down my baton, had no wish to steep my +hands in treason. What I suffered, Gracious Lord, God alone knows. I was +writhing from pain, as if men were burning me alive with fire; and my maiden, +though even after the seizure the agreement between us remained still unbroken, +now proclaimed me a traitor, and despised me as a vile reptile. But I had taken +oath not to abandon Radzivill. She, though a woman, would shame a man with her +wit, and lets no one surpass her in loyalty to your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“God bless her!” said the king. “I respect her for +that.” +</p> + +<p> +“She thought to reform me into a partisan of the king and the country; +and when that came to naught, she grew so steadfast against me that her hatred +became as great as her love had been once. At that juncture Radzivill called me +before him, and began to convince me. He explained, as two and two form four, +that in this way alone could he save the falling country. I cannot, indeed, +repeat his arguments, they were so great, and promised such happiness to the +land. He would have convinced a man a hundred times wiser, much less me, a +simple soldier, he such a statesman! Then, I say, your Royal Grace, that I held +to him with both hands and my heart, for I thought that all others were blind; +only he saw the truth, all others were sinning, only he was the just man. And I +would have sprung into fire for him, as now I would for your Royal Grace, for I +know not how to serve or to love with half a heart.” +</p> + +<p> +“I see that, this is true!” said Yan Kazimir. +</p> + +<p> +“I rendered him signal service,” continued Kmita, gloomily, +“and I can say that had it not been for me his treason could not have +yielded any poisonous fruits, for his own troops would have cut him to pieces +with sabres. They were all ready for that. The dragoons, the Hungarian infantry +and the light squadrons were already slaying his Scots, when I sprang in with +my men and rubbed them out in one twinkle. But there were other squadrons at +various quarters; these I dispersed. Pan Volodyovski alone, who had come out +from prison, led his Lauda men to Podlyasye by a wonder and by superhuman +resolve, so as to join with Sapyeha. Those who escaped me assembled in +Podlyasye in considerable numbers, but before they could do that many good +soldiers perished through me. God alone can count them. I acknowledge the truth +as if at confession. Pan Volodyovski, on his way to Podlyasye, seized me, and +did not wish to let me live; but I escaped because of letters which they found +on my person, and from which it transpired that when Volodyovski was in prison +and Radzivill was going to shoot him, I interceded persistently and saved him. +He let me go free then; I returned to Radzivill and served longer. But the +service was bitter for me, the soul began to revolt within me at certain deeds +of the prince, for there is not in him either faith, honesty, or conscience, +and from his own words it comes out that he works as much for himself as for +the King of Sweden. I began then to spring at his eyes. He grew enraged at my +boldness, and at last sent me off with letters.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is wonderful what important things you tell,” said the king. +“At least we know from an eyewitness who <i>pars magna fuit</i> (took a +great part) in affairs, how things happened there.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is true that <i>pars magna fui</i> (I took a great part),” +answered Kmita. “I set out with the letters willingly, for I could not +remain in that place. In Pilvishki I met Prince Boguslav. May God give him into +my hands, to which end I shall use all my power, so that my vengeance may not +miss him for that slander. Not only did I not promise him anything, Gracious +Lord, not only is that a shameless lie, but it was just there in Pilvishki that +I became converted when I saw all the naked deceit of those heretics.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell quickly how it was, for we were told that Boguslav aided his cousin +only through constraint.” +</p> + +<p> +“He? He is worse than Prince Yanush, and in his head was the treason +first hatched. Did he not tempt the hetman first, pointing out a crown to him? +God will decide at the judgment. Yanush at least simulated and shielded himself +with <i>bono publico</i> (public good); but Boguslav, taking me for an arch +scoundrel, revealed his whole soul to me. It is a terror to repeat what he +said. ‘The devils,’ said he, ‘must take your Commonwealth, it +is a piece of red cloth, and we not only will not raise a hand to save it, but +will pull besides, so that the largest piece may come to us. Lithuania,’ +said he, ‘must remain to us, and after Yanush I will put on the cap of +Grand Prince, and marry his daughter.’” +</p> + +<p> +The king covered his eyes with his hands. “O passion of our Lord!” +said he. “The Radzivills, Radzeyovski, Opalinski—how could that +which happened not happen!—they must have crowns, even through rending +what the Lord had united.” +</p> + +<p> +“I grew numb, Gracious Lord, I had water poured on my head so as not to +go mad. The soul changed in me in one moment, as if a thunderbolt had shaken +it. I was terrified at my own work. I knew not what to do, whether to thrust a +knife into Boguslav or into myself. I bellowed like a wild beast, they had +driven me into such a trap. I wanted service no longer with the Radzivills, but +vengeance. God gave me a sudden thought: I went with a few men to the quarters +of Prince Boguslav, I brought him out beyond the town, I carried him off and +wanted to bring him to the confederates so as to buy myself into their company +and into the service of your Royal Grace at the price of his head.” +</p> + +<p> +“I forgive you all!” cried the king, “for they led you +astray; but you have repaid them! Kmita alone could have done that, no man +besides. I overlook all and forgive you from my heart! But tell me quickly, for +curiosity is burning me, did he escape?” +</p> + +<p> +“At the first station he snatched the pistol from my belt and shot me in +the mouth,—here is the scar. He killed my men and escaped. He is a famous +knight, it would be hard to deny that; but we shall meet again, though that +were to be my last hour.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kmita began to tear at the blanket with which he was covered, but the king +interrupted him quickly,— +</p> + +<p> +“And through revenge he invented that letter against you?” +</p> + +<p> +“And through revenge he sent that letter. I recovered from the wound, in +the forest, but my soul was suffering more and more. To Volodyovski, to the +confederates I could not go, for the Lauda men would have cut me to pieces with +their sabres. Still, knowing that the hetman was about to march against them, I +forewarned them to collect in a body. And that was my first good deed, for +without that Radzivill would have crushed them out, squadron after squadron; +but now they have overcome him and, as I hear, are besieging him. May God aid +them and send punishment to Radzivill, amen!” +</p> + +<p> +“That may have happened already; and if not it will happen surely,” +said the king. “What did you do further?” +</p> + +<p> +“I made up my mind that, not being able to serve with the confederate +troops of your Royal Grace, I would go to your person and there atone for my +former offences with loyalty. But how was I to go? Who would receive Kmita, who +would believe him, who would not proclaim him a traitor? Therefore I assumed +the name Babinich, and passing through the whole Commonwealth, I reached +Chenstohova. Whether I have rendered any services there, let Father Kordetski +give witness. Day and night I was thinking only how to repair the injuries to +the country, how to spill my blood for it, how to restore myself to repute and +to honesty. The rest, Gracious Lord, you know already, for you have seen it. +And if a fatherly kind heart incline you, if this new service has outweighed my +old sins, or even equalled them, then receive me to your favor and your heart, +for all have deserted me, no one comforts me save you. You alone see my sorrow +and tears,—I am an outcast, a traitor, an oath-breaker, and still I love +this country and your Royal Grace. God sees that I wish to serve both.” +</p> + +<p> +Here hot tears dropped from the eyes of the young man till he was carried away +with weeping; but the king, like a loving father, seizing him by the head began +to kiss his forehead and comfort him. +</p> + +<p> +“Yendrek! you are as dear to me as if you were my own son. What have I +said to you? That you sinned through blindness; and how many sin from +calculation? From my heart I forgive you all, for you have wiped away your +faults. More than one would be glad to boast of such services as yours. I +forgive you and the country forgives; and besides, we are indebted to you. Put +an end to your grieving.” +</p> + +<p> +“God give your Royal Grace everything good for this sympathy,” said +the knight, with tears. “But as it is I must do penance yet in the world +for that oath to Radzivill; for though I knew not to what I was swearing, still +an oath is an oath.” +</p> + +<p> +“God will not condemn you for that,” said the king. “He would +have to send half this Commonwealth to hell; namely, all those who broke faith +with us.” +</p> + +<p> +“I think myself, Gracious King, that I shall not go to hell, for +Kordetski assured me of that, though he was not certain that purgatory would +miss me. It is a hard thing to roast for a hundred of years. But it is well +even to go there! A man can endure much when the hope of salvation is lighting +him; and besides prayers can help somewhat and shorten the torment.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not grieve,” said Yan Kazimir, “I will prevail on the +nuncio himself to say Mass for your intention. With such assistance you will +not suffer great harm. Trust in the mercy of God.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita smiled through his tears. “Besides,” said he, “God give +me to return to strength, then I will shell the soul out of more than one +Swede, and through that there will be not only merit in heaven, but it will +repair my earthly repute.” +</p> + +<p> +“Be of good cheer and do not be troubled about earthly glory. I guarantee +that what belongs to you will not miss you. More peaceful times will come; I +myself will declare your services, which are not small, and surely they will be +greater; and at the Diet, with God’s help, I will have this question +raised, and you will be restored soon to honor.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let that, Gracious Lord, give some comfort; but before then the courts +will attack me, from which even the influence of your Royal Grace cannot shield +me. But never mind! I will not yield while there is breath in my nostrils, and +a sabre in my hand. I am anxious concerning the maiden. Olenka is her name, +Gracious Lord; I have not seen her this long time, and I have suffered, oh, I +have suffered a world without her and because of her; and though at times I +might wish to drive her out of my heart and wrestle with love as with a bear, +it’s of no use, for such a fellow as he will not let a man go.” +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir smiled good-naturedly and kindly: “How can I help you here, +my poor man?” +</p> + +<p> +“Who can help me if not your grace? That maiden is an inveterate +royalist, and she will never forgive me my deeds at Kyedani, unless your Royal +Grace will make intercession, and give witness how I changed and returned to +the service of the king and my country, not from constraint, not for profit, +but through my own will and repentance.” +</p> + +<p> +“If that is the question I will make the intercession; and if she is such +a royalist as you say, the intercession should be effectual,—if the girl +is only free, and if some mishap has not met her such as are frequent in +war-time.” +</p> + +<p> +“May angels protect her!” +</p> + +<p> +“She deserves it. So that the courts may not trouble you, act thus wise: +Levies will be made now in haste. Since, as you say, outlawry weighs on you, I +cannot give you a commission as Kmita, but I will give you one as Babinich; you +will make a levy which will be for the good of the country, for you are clearly +a mettlesome soldier with experience. You will take the field under Stefan +Charnyetski; under him death is easiest, but the chances of glory are easiest. +And if need comes you will attack the Swedes of yourself as you did Hovanski. +Your conversion and good deeds commenced with the day when you called yourself +Babinich; call yourself Babinich still further, and the courts will leave you +at rest. When you will be as bright as the sun, when the report of your +services will be heard through the Commonwealth, let men discover who this +great cavalier is. This and that kind of man will be ashamed to summon such a +knight to a court. At that time some will have died, you will satisfy others. +Not a few decisions will be lost, and I promise to exalt your services to the +skies, and will present them to the Diet for reward, for in my eyes they +deserve it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord! how have I earned such favors?” +</p> + +<p> +“Better than many who think they have a right to them. Well, well! be not +grieved, dear royalist, for I trust that the royalist maiden will not be lost +to you, and God grant you to assemble for me more royalists soon.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, though sick, sprang quickly from the bed and fell his whole length at +the feet of the king. +</p> + +<p> +“In God’s name! what are you doing?” cried the king. +“The blood will leave you! Yendrek! Hither, some one!” +</p> + +<p> +In came the marshal himself, who had long been looking for the king through the +castle. +</p> + +<p> +“Holy Yerzy! my patron, what do I see?” cried he, when he saw the +king raising Kmita with his own hands. +</p> + +<p> +“This is Babinich, my most beloved soldier and most faithful servant, who +saved my life yesterday,” said the king. “Help, Lord Marshal, to +raise him to the couch.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p> +From Lyubovlya the king advanced to Dukla, Krosno, Lantsut, and Lvoff, having +at his side the marshal of the kingdom, many dignitaries and senators, with the +court squadrons and escorts. And as a great river flowing through a country +gathers to itself all the smaller waters, so did new legions gather to the +retinue of the king. Lords and armed nobles thronged forward, and soldiers, now +singly, now in groups, and crowds of armed peasants burning with special hatred +against the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +The movement was becoming universal, and the military order of things had begun +to lead to it. Threatening manifestoes had appeared dated from Sanch: one by +Constantine Lyubomirski, the marshal of the Circle of Knights; the other by Yan +Vyelopolski, the castellan of Voinik, both calling on the nobles in the +province of Cracow to join the general militia; those failing to appear were +threatened with the punishments of public law. The manifesto of the king +completed these, and brought the most slothful to their feet. +</p> + +<p> +But there was no need of threats, for an immense enthusiasm had seized all +ranks. Old men and children mounted their horses. Women gave up their jewels, +their dresses; some rushed off to the conflict themselves. +</p> + +<p> +In the forges gypsies were pounding whole nights and days with their hammers, +turning the innocent tools of the ploughman into weapons. Villages and towns +were empty, for the men had marched to the field. From the heaven-touching +mountains night and day crowds of wild people were pouring down. The forces of +the king increased with each moment. The clergy came forth with crosses and +banners to meet the king; Jewish societies came with their rabbis; his advance +was like a mighty triumph. From every side flew in the best tidings, as if +borne by the wind. +</p> + +<p> +Not only in that part of the country which the invasion of the enemy had not +included did people rush to arms. Everywhere in the remotest lands and +provinces, in towns, villages, settlements, and unapproachable wildernesses, +the awful war of revenge and retaliation raised its flaming head. The lower the +people had fallen before, the higher they raised their heads now; they had been +reborn, changed in spirit, and in their exaltation did not even hesitate to +tear open their own half-healed wounds, to free their blood of poisoned juices. +</p> + +<p> +They had begun already to speak, and with increasing loudness, of the powerful +union of the nobles and the army, at the head of which were to be the old grand +hetman Revera Pototski and the full hetman Lantskoronski, Stefan Charnyetski +and Sapyeha, Michael Radzivill, a powerful magnate anxious to remove the +ill-fame which Yanush had brought on the house, and Pan Kryshtof Tyshkyevich, +with many other senators, provincial and military officials and nobles. +</p> + +<p> +Letters were flying every day between these men and the marshal of the kingdom, +who did not wish that so noted a union should be formed without him. Tidings +more and more certain arrived, till at last it was announced with authority +that the hetmans and with them the army had abandoned the Swedes, and formed +for the defence of the king and the country the confederation of Tyshovtsi. +</p> + +<p> +The king knew of this first, for he and the queen, though far apart, had +labored no little through letters and messengers at the formation of it; still, +not being able to take personal part in the affair, he waited for the tenor of +it with impatience. But before he came to Lvoff, Pan Slujevski with Pan +Domashevski, judge of Lukoff, came to him bringing assurances of service and +loyalty from the confederates and the act of union for confirmation. +</p> + +<p> +The king then read that act at a general council of bishops and senators. The +hearts of all were filled with delight, their spirits rose in thankfulness to +God; for that memorable confederacy announced not merely that the people had +come to their senses, but that they had changed; that people of whom not long +before the foreign invader might say that they had no loyalty, no love of +country, no conscience, no order, no endurance, nor any of those virtues +through which nations and States do endure. +</p> + +<p> +The testimony of all these virtues lay now before the king in the act of a +confederation and its manifesto. In it was summed up the perfidy of Karl +Gustav, his violation of oaths and promises, the cruelty of his generals and +his soldiers, such as are not practised by even the wildest of people, +desecration of churches, oppression, rapacity, robbery, shedding of innocent +blood, and they declared against the Scandinavian invasion a war of life or +death. A manifesto terrible as the trumpet of the archangel, summoned not only +knights but all ranks and all people in the Commonwealth. Even <i>infames</i> +(the infamous), <i>banniti</i> (outlaws), and <i>proscripti</i> (the +proscribed) should go to this war, said the manifesto. The knights were to +mount their horses and expose their own breasts, and the land was to furnish +infantry,—wealthy holders more, the poorer less, according to their +wealth and means. +</p> + +<p> +“Since in this state good and evil belong equally to all, it is proper +that all should share danger. Whoso calls himself a noble, with hind or without +it, and if one noble has a number of sons, they should all go to the war +against the enemies of the Commonwealth. Since we all, whether of higher or +lower birth, being nobles, are eligible to all the prerogatives of office, +dignity, and profit in the country, so we are equal in this, that we should go +in like manner with our own persons to the defence of these liberties and +benefits.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus did that manifesto explain the equality of nobles. The king, the bishops, +and the senators, who for a long time had carried in their hearts the thought +of reforming the Commonwealth, convinced themselves with joyful wonder that the +people had become ripe for that reform, that they were ready to enter upon now +paths, rub the rust and mould from themselves, and begin a new, glorious life. +</p> + +<p> +“With this,” explained the manifesto, “we open to each +deserving man of plebeian condition a place, we indicate and offer by this our +confederation an opportunity to reach and acquire the honors, prerogatives, and +benefits which the noble estate enjoys—” +</p> + +<p> +When this introduction was read at the royal council, a deep silence followed. +Those who with the king desired most earnestly that access to rights of +nobility should be open to people of lower station thought that they would have +to overcome, endure, and break no small opposition; that whole years would pass +before it would be safe to give utterance to anything similar; meanwhile that +same nobility which hitherto had been so jealous of its prerogatives, so +stubborn in appearance, opened wide the gate to the gray crowds of peasants. +</p> + +<p> +The primate rose, encircled as it were by the spirit of prophecy, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Since you have inserted that <i>punctum</i> (paragraph), posterity will +glorify this confederation from age to age, and when any one shall wish to +consider these times as times of the fall of ancient Polish virtue, in +contradicting him men will point to you.” +</p> + +<p> +Father Gembitski was ill; therefore he could not speak, but with hand trembling +from emotion he blessed the act and the envoys. +</p> + +<p> +“I see the enemy already departing in shame from this land!” said +the king. +</p> + +<p> +“God grant it most quickly!” cried both envoys. +</p> + +<p> +“Gentlemen, you will go with us to Lvoff,” said the king, +“where we will confirm this confederation at once, and besides shall +conclude another which the powers of hell itself will not overcome.” +</p> + +<p> +The envoys and senators looked at one another as if asking what power was in +question; the king was silent, but his countenance grew brighter and brighter; +he took the act again in his hand and read it a second time, smiled, and +asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Were there many opponents?” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” answered Pan Domashevski, “this confederacy +arose with unanimity through the efforts of the hetmans, of Sapyeha, of Pan +Charnyetski; and among nobles not a voice was raised in opposition, so angry +are they all at the Swedes, and so have they flamed up with love for the +country and your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“We decided, moreover, in advance,” added Pan Slujevski, +“that this was not to be a diet, but that <i>pluralitas</i> (plurality) +alone was to decide; therefore no man’s <i>veto</i> could injure the +cause; we should have cut an opponent to pieces with our sabres. All said too +that it was necessary to finish with the <i>liberum veto</i>, since it is +freedom for one, but slavery for many.” +</p> + +<p> +“Golden words of yours!” said the primate. “Only let a reform +of the Commonwealth come, and no enemy will frighten us.” +</p> + +<p> +“But where is the voevoda of Vityebsk?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“He went in the night, after the signing of the manifesto, to his own +troops at Tykotsin, in which he holds the voevoda of Vilna, the traitor, +besieged. Before this time he must have taken him, living or dead.” +</p> + +<p> +“Was he so sure of capturing him?” +</p> + +<p> +“He was as sure as that night follows day. All, even his most faithful +servants, have deserted the traitor. Only a handful of Swedes are defending +themselves there, and reinforcements cannot come from any side. Pan Sapyeha +said in Tyshovtsi, ‘I wanted to wait one day, for I should have finished +with Radzivill before evening! but this is more important than Radzivill, for +they can take him without me; one squadron is enough.’” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God!” said the king. “But where is +Charnyetski?” +</p> + +<p> +“So many of the best cavaliers have hurried to him that in one day he was +at the head of an excellent squadron. He moved at once on the Swedes, and where +he is at this moment we know not.” +</p> + +<p> +“But the hetmans?” +</p> + +<p> +“They are waiting anxiously for the commands of your Royal Grace. They +are both laying plans for the coming war, and are in communication with Pan Yan +Zamoyski in Zamost; meanwhile regiments are rolling to them every day with the +snow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have all left the Swedes then?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Gracious King. There were deputies also to the hetmans from the +troops of Konyetspolski, who is with the person of Karl Gustav. And they too +would be glad to return to their lawful service, though Karl does not spare on +them promises or flattery. They said too that though they could not +<i>recedere</i> (withdraw) at once, they would do so as soon as a convenient +time came, for they have grown tired of his feasts and his flattery, his +eye-winking and clapping of hands. They can barely hold out.” +</p> + +<p> +“Everywhere people are coming to their senses, everywhere good +news,” said the king. “Praise to the Most Holy Lady! This is the +happiest day of my life, and a second such will come only when the last soldier +of the enemy leaves the boundary of the Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +At this Pan Domashevski struck his sword. “May God not grant that to +happen!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked the king, with astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +“That the last wide-breeches should leave the boundaries of the +Commonwealth on his own feet? Impossible, Gracious Lord! What have we sabres at +our sides for?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh!” said the king, made glad, “that is bravery.” +</p> + +<p> +But Pan Slujevski, not wishing to remain behind Domashevski, said: “As +true as life we will not agree to that, and first I will place a veto on it. We +shall not be content with their retreat; we will follow them!” +</p> + +<p> +The primate shook his head, and smiled kindly. “Oh, the nobles are on +horseback, and they will ride on and on! But not too fast, not too fast! The +enemy are still within the boundaries.” +</p> + +<p> +“Their time is short!” cried both confederates. +</p> + +<p> +“The spirit has changed, and fortune will change,” said Father +Gembitski, in a weak voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Wine!” cried the king. “Let me drink to the change, with the +confederates.” +</p> + +<p> +They brought wine; but with the servants who brought the wine entered an old +attendant of the king, who said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, Pan Kryshtoporski has come from Chenstohova, and wishes +to do homage to your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“Bring him here quickly!” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +In a moment a tall, thin noble entered, with a frowning look. He bowed before +the king to his feet, then rather haughtily to the dignitaries, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“May the Lord Jesus Christ be praised!” +</p> + +<p> +“For the ages of ages!” answered the king. “What is to be +heard from the monastery?” +</p> + +<p> +“Terrible frost, Gracious Lord, so that the eyelids are frozen to the +eyeballs.” +</p> + +<p> +“But for God’s sake! tell us of the Swedes and not of the +frost!” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +“But what can I say of them, Gracious Lord, when there are none at +Chenstohova?” asked he, humorously. +</p> + +<p> +“Those tidings have come to us,” replied the king, “but only +from the talk of people, and you have come from the cloister itself. Are you an +eyewitness?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am, Gracious Lord, a partner in the defence and an eyewitness of the +miracles of the Most Holy Lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“That was not the end of Her grace,” said the king, raising his +eyes to heaven, “but let us earn them further.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have seen much in my life,” continued the noble; “but such +evident miracles I have not seen, touching which the prior Kordetski writes in +detail in this letter.” +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir seized hastily the letter handed him by the noble, and began to +read. At times he interrupted the reading to pray, then again turned to the +letter. His face changed with joyful feelings; at last he raised his eyes to +the noble. +</p> + +<p> +“Father Kordetski writes me,” said he, “that you have lost a +great cavalier, a certain Babinich, who blew up the Swedish siege gun with +powder?” +</p> + +<p> +“He sacrificed himself for all. But some say he is alive, and God knows +what they have said; not being certain, we have not ceased to mourn him, for +without his gallant deed it would have been hard for us to defend +ourselves.” +</p> + +<p> +“If that is true, then cease to mourn him. Pan Babinich is alive, and +here with us. He was the first to inform us that the Swedes, not being able to +do anything against the power of God, were thinking of retreat. And later he +rendered such famous service that we know not ourselves how to pay him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, that will comfort the prior!” cried the noble, with gladness; +“but if Pan Babinich is alive, it is only because he has the special +favor of the Most Holy Lady. How that will comfort Father Kordetski! A father +could not love a son as he loved him. And your Royal Grace will permit me to +greet Pan Babinich, for there is not a second man of such daring in the +Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +But the king began again to read, and after a while cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“What do I hear? After retreating they tried once again to steal on the +cloister?” +</p> + +<p> +“When Miller went away, he did not show himself again; but Count Veyhard +appeared unexpectedly at the walls, trusting, it seems, to find the gates open. +He did, but the peasants fell on him with such rage that he retreated +shamefully. While the world is a world, simple peasants have never fought so in +the open field against cavalry. Then Pan Pyotr Charnyetski and Pan Kulesha came +up and cut him to pieces.” +</p> + +<p> +The king turned to the senators. +</p> + +<p> +“See how poor ploughmen stand up in defence of this country and the holy +faith.” +</p> + +<p> +“That they stand up, Gracious King, is true,” cried the noble. +“Whole villages near Chenstohova are empty, for the peasants are in the +field with their scythes. There is a fierce war everywhere; the Swedes are +forced to keep together in numbers, and if the peasants catch one of them they +treat him so that it would be better for him to go straight to hell. Who is not +taking up arms now in the Commonwealth? It was not for the dog-brothers to +attack Chenstohova. From that hour they could not remain in this +country.” +</p> + +<p> +“From this hour no man will suffer oppression in this land who resists +now with his blood,” said the king, with solemnity; “so help me God +and the holy cross!” +</p> + +<p> +“Amen!” added the primate. +</p> + +<p> +Now the noble struck his forehead with his hand. “The frost has disturbed +my mind, Gracious Lord, for I forgot to tell one thing, that such a son, the +voevoda of Poznan, is dead. He died, they say, suddenly.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the noble was somewhat ashamed, seeing that he had called a great senator +“that such a son” in presence of the king and dignitaries; +therefore he added, confused,— +</p> + +<p> +“I did not wish to belittle an honorable station, but a traitor.” +</p> + +<p> +But no one had noticed that clearly, for all looked at the king, who +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“We have long predestined Pan Yan Leshchynski to be voevoda of Poznan, +even during the life of Pan Opalinski. Let him fill that office more worthily. +The judgment of God, I see, has begun upon those who brought this country to +its decline, for at this moment, perhaps, the voevoda of Vilna is giving an +account of his deeds before the Supreme Judge.” Here he turned to the +bishops and senators,— +</p> + +<p> +“But it is time for us to think of a general war, and I wish to have the +opinion of all of you, gentlemen, on this question.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p> +At the moment when the king was saying that the voevoda of Vilna was standing, +perhaps, before the judgment of God, he spoke as it were with a prophetic +spirit, for at that hour the affair of Tykotsin was decided. +</p> + +<p> +On December 25 Sapyeha was so sure of capturing Tykotsin that he went himself +to Tyshovtsi, leaving the further conduct of the siege to Pan Oskyerko. He gave +command to wait for the final storm till his return, which was to follow +quickly; assembling, therefore, his more prominent officers, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Reports have come to me that among the officers there is a plan to bear +apart on sabres the voevoda of Vilna immediately after capturing the castle. +Now if the castle, as may happen, should surrender during my absence, I inform +you, gentlemen, that I prohibit most strictly an attack on Radzivill’s +life. I receive letters, it is true, from persons of whom you gentlemen do not +even dream, not to let him live when I take him. But I do not choose to obey +these commands; and this I do not from any compassion, for the traitor is not +worthy of that, but because I have no right over his life, and I prefer to +bring him before the Diet, so that posterity may have in this case an example +that no greatness of family, no office can cover such offence, nor protect him +from public punishment.” +</p> + +<p> +In this sense spoke the voevoda of Vityebsk, but more minutely, for his honesty +was equalled by this weakness: he esteemed himself an orator, and loved on +every occasion to speak copiously, and listened with delight to his own words, +adding to them the most beautiful sentences from the ancients. +</p> + +<p> +“Then I must steep my right hand well in water,” answered Zagloba, +“for it itches terribly. But I only say this, that if Radzivill had me in +his hands, surely he would not spare my head till sunset. He knows well who in +great part made his troops leave him; he knows well who embroiled him with the +Swedes. But even if he does, I know not why I should be more indulgent to +Radzivill than Radzivill to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Because the command is not in your hands and you must obey,” said +Sapyeha, with dignity. +</p> + +<p> +“That I must obey is true, but it is well at times also to obey Zagloba. +I say this boldly, because if Radzivill had listened to me when I urged him to +defend the country, he would not be in Tykotsin to-day, but in the field at the +head of all the troops of Lithuania.” +</p> + +<p> +“Does it seem to you that the baton is in bad hands?” +</p> + +<p> +“It would not become me to say that, for I placed it in those hands. Our +gracious lord, Yan Kazimir, has only to confirm my choice, nothing more.” +</p> + +<p> +The voevoda smiled at this, for he loved Zagloba and his jokes. +</p> + +<p> +“Lord brother,” said he, “you crushed Radzivill, you made me +hetman, and all this is your merit. Permit me now to go in peace to Tyshovtsi, +so that Sapyeha too may serve the country in something.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba put his hands on his hips, thought awhile as if he were considering +whether he ought to permit or not; at last his eye gleamed, he nodded, and said +with importance,— +</p> + +<p> +“Go, your grace, in peace.” +</p> + +<p> +“God reward you for the permission!” answered the voevoda, with a +laugh. +</p> + +<p> +Other officers seconded the voevoda’s laugh. He was preparing to start, +for the carriage was under the window; he took farewell of all, therefore, +giving each instructions what to do during his absence; then approaching +Volodyovski, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“If the castle surrenders you will answer to me for the life of the +voevoda.” +</p> + +<p> +“According to order! a hair will not fall from his head,” said the +little knight. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Michael,” said Zagloba to him, after the departure of the +voevoda, “I am curious to know what persons are urging our Sapyo<a +name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> not to let Radzivill live +when he captures him.” +</p> + +<p> +“How should I know?” answered the little knight. +</p> + +<p> +“If you say that what another mouth does not whisper to your ear your own +will not suggest, you tell the truth! But they must be some considerable +persons, since they are able to command the voevoda.” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe it is the king himself.” +</p> + +<p> +“The king? If a dog bit the king he would forgive him that minute, and +give him cheese in addition. Such is his heart.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will not dispute about that; but still, do they not say that he is +greatly incensed at Radzivill?” +</p> + +<p> +“First, any man will succeed in being angry,—for example, my anger +at Radzivill; secondly, how could he be incensed at Radzeyovski when he took +his sons in guardianship, because the father was not better? That is a golden +heart, and I think it is the queen who is making requests against the life of +Radzivill. She is a worthy lady, not a word against that, but she has a +woman’s mind; and know that if a woman is enraged at you, even should you +hide in a crack of the floor, she will pick you out with a pin.” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski sighed at this, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Why should any woman be angry with me, since I have never made trouble +for one in my life?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, but you would have been glad to do so. Therefore, though you serve +in the cavalry, you rush on so wildly against the walls of Tykotsin with +infantry, for you think not only is Radzivill there, but Panna Billevich. I +know you, you rogue! Is it not true? You have not driven her out of your head +yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“There was a time when I had put her thoroughly out of my head; and Kmita +himself, if now here, would be forced to confess that my action was knightly, +not wishing to act against people in love. I chose to forget my rebuff, but I +will not hide this: if Panna Billevich is now in Tykotsin, and if God permits +me a second time to save her from trouble, I shall see in that the expressed +will of Providence. I need take no thought of Kmita, I owe him nothing; and the +hope is alive in me that if he left her of his own will she must have forgotten +him, and such a thing will not happen now as happened to me the first +time.” +</p> + +<p> +Conversing in this way, they reached their quarters, where they found Pan Yan +and Pan Stanislav, Roh Kovalski and the lord tenant of Vansosh, Jendzian. +</p> + +<p> +The cause of Sapyeha’s trip to Tyshovtsi was no secret, hence all the +knights were pleased that so honorable a confederacy would rise in defence of +the faith and the country. +</p> + +<p> +“Another wind is blowing now in the whole Commonwealth,” said Pan +Stanislav, “and, thanks be to God, in the eyes of the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +“It began from Chenstohova,” answered Pan Yan. “There was +news yesterday that the cloister holds out yet, and repulses more and more +powerful assaults. Permit not, Most Holy Mother, the enemy to put Thy +dwelling-place to shame.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Jendzian sighed and said: “Besides the holy images how much precious +treasure would go into enemies’ hands; when a man thinks of that, food +refuses to pass his throat!” +</p> + +<p> +“The troops are just tearing away to the assault; we can hardly hold them +back,” said Pan Michael. “Yesterday Stankyevich’s squadron +moved without orders and without ladders, for they said, ‘When we finish +this traitor, we will go to relieve Chenstohova;’ and when any man +mentions Chenstohova all grit their teeth and shake their sabres.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why have we so many squadrons here when one half would be enough for +Tykotsin?” asked Zagloba. “It is the stubbornness of Sapyeha, +nothing more. He does not wish to obey me; he wants to show that without my +counsel he can do something. As you see yourselves, how are so many men to +invest one paltry castle? They merely hinder one another, for there is not room +for them all.” +</p> + +<p> +“Military experience speaks through you,—it is impossible!” +answered Pan Stanislav. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I have a head on my shoulders.” +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle has a head on his shoulders!” cried Pan Roh, suddenly; and +straightening his mustaches, he began to look around on all present as if +seeking some one to contradict him. +</p> + +<p> +“But the voevoda too has a head,” answered Pan Yan; “and if +so many squadrons are here, there is danger that Prince Boguslav might come to +the relief of his cousin.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then send a couple of light squadrons to ravage Electoral +Prussia,” said Zagloba; “and summon volunteers there from among +common people. I myself would be the first man to go to try Prussian +beer.” +</p> + +<p> +“Beer is not good in winter, unless warmed,” remarked Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“Then give us wine, or gorailka, or mead,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Others also exhibited a willingness to drink; therefore the lord tenant of +Vansosh occupied himself with that business, and soon a number of decanters +were on the table. Hearts were glad at this sight, and the knights began to +drink to one another, raising their goblets each time for a new health. +</p> + +<p> +“Destruction to the Swedes, may they not skin our bread very long!” +said Zagloba. “Let them devour their pine cones in Sweden.” +</p> + +<p> +“To the health of his Royal Grace and the Queen!” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“And to loyal men!” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“Then to our own healths!” +</p> + +<p> +“To the health of Uncle!” thundered Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +“God reward! Into your hands! and empty though your lips to the bottom. +Zagloba is not yet entirely old! Worthy gentlemen! may we smoke this badger out +of his hole with all haste, and move then to Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +“To Chenstohova!” shouted Kovalski. “To the rescue of the +Most Holy Lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“To Chenstohova!” cried all. +</p> + +<p> +“To defend the treasures of Yasna Gora from the Pagans!” added +Jendzian. +</p> + +<p> +“Who pretend that they believe in the Lord Jesus, wishing to hide their +wickedness; but in fact they only howl at the moon like dogs, and in this is +all their religion.” +</p> + +<p> +“And such as these raise their hands against the splendors of Yasna +Gora!” +</p> + +<p> +“You have touched the spot in speaking of their faith,” said +Volodyovski to Zagloba, “for I myself have heard how they howl at the +moon. They said afterward that they were singing Lutheran psalms; but it is +certain that the dogs sing such psalms.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked Kovalski. “Are there such people among +them?” +</p> + +<p> +“There is no other kind,” answered Zagloba, with deep conviction. +</p> + +<p> +“And is their king no better?” +</p> + +<p> +“Their king is the worst of all. He began this war of purpose to +blaspheme the true faith in the churches.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kovalski, who had drunk much, rose and said: “If that is true, then +as sure as you are looking at me, and as I am Kovalski, I’ll spring +straight at the Swedish king in the first battle, and though he stood in the +densest throng, that is nothing! My death or his! I’ll reach him with my +lance,—hold me a fool, gentlemen, if I do not!” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this he clinched his fist and was going to thunder on the +table. He would have smashed the glasses and decanters, and broken the table; +but Zagloba caught him hastily by the arm and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Sit down, Roh, and give us peace. We will not think you a fool if you do +not do this, but know that we will not stop thinking you a fool until you have +done it. I do not understand, though, how you can raise a lance on the King of +Sweden, when you are not in the hussars.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will join the escort and be enrolled in the squadron of Prince +Polubinski; and my father will help me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Father Roh?” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let him help you, but break not these glasses, or I’ll be the +first man to break your head. Of what was I speaking, gentlemen? Ah! of +Chenstohova. <i>Luctus</i> (grief) will devour me, if we do not come in time to +save the holy place. <i>Luctus</i> will devour me, I tell you all! And all +through that traitor Radzivill and the philosophical reasoning of +Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +“Say nothing against the voevoda. He is an honorable man,” said the +little knight. +</p> + +<p> +“Why cover Radzivill with two halves when one is sufficient? Nearly ten +thousand men are around this little booth of a castle, the best cavalry and +infantry. Soon they will lick the soot out of all the chimneys in this region, +for what was on the hearths they have eaten already.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is not for us to argue over the reasons of superiors, but to +obey!” +</p> + +<p> +“It is not for you to argue, Pan Michael, but for me; half of the troops +who abandoned Radzivill chose me as leader, and I would have driven Karl Gustav +beyond the tenth boundary ere now, but for that luckless modesty which +commanded me to place the baton in the hands of Sapyeha. Let him put an end to +his delay, lest I take back what I gave.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are only so daring after drink,” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you say that? Well, you will see! This very day I will go among the +squadrons and call out, ‘Gracious gentlemen, whoso chooses come with me +to Chenstohova; it is not for you to wear out your elbows and knifes against +the mortar of Tykotsin! I beg you to come with me! Whoso made me commander, +whoso gave me power, whoso had confidence that I would do what was useful for +the country and the faith, let him stand at my side. It is a beautiful thing to +punish traitors, but a hundred times more beautiful to save the Holy Lady, our +Mother and the Patroness of this kingdom from oppression and the yoke of the +heretic.’” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zagloba, from whose forelock the steam had for some time been rising, +started up from his place, sprang to a bench, and began to shout as if he were +before an assembly,— +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy gentlemen! whoso is a Catholic, whoso a Pole, whoso has pity on +the Most Holy Lady, let him follow me! To the relief of Chenstohova!” +</p> + +<p> +“I go!” shouted Roh Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba looked for a while on those present, and seeing astonishment and silent +faces, he came down from the bench and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll teach Sapyeha reason! I am a rascal if by tomorrow I do not +take half the army from Tykotsin and lead it to Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake, restrain yourself, father!” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m a rascal, I tell you!” repeated Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +They were frightened lest he should carry out his threat, for he was able to do +so. In many squadrons there was murmuring at the delay in Tykotsin; men really +gnashed their teeth thinking of Chenstohova. It was enough to cast a spark on +that powder; and what if a man so stubborn, of such immense knightly importance +as Zagloba, should cast it? To begin with, the greater part of Sapyeha’s +army was composed of new recruits, and therefore of men unused to discipline, +and ready for action on their own account, and they would have gone as one man +without doubt after Zagloba to Chenstohova. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore both Skshetuskis were frightened at this undertaking, and Volodyovski +cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Barely has a small army been formed by the greatest labor of the +voevoda, barely is there a little power for the defence of the Commonwealth, +and you wish with disorder to break up the squadrons, bring them to +disobedience. Radzivill would pay much for such counsel, for it is water to his +mill. Is it not a shame for you to speak of such a deed?” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m a scoundrel if I don’t do it!” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle will do it!” said Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +“Silence, you horseskull!” roared out Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Roh stared, shut his mouth, and straightened himself at once. +</p> + +<p> +Then Volodyovski turned to Zagloba: “And I am a scoundrel if one man of +my squadron goes with you; you wish to ruin the army, and I tell you that I +will fall first upon your volunteers.” +</p> + +<p> +“O Pagan, faithless Turk!” said Zagloba. “How is that? you +would attack knights of the Most Holy Lady? Are you ready? Well, I know you! Do +you think, gentlemen, that it is a question with him of an army or discipline? +No! he sniffs Panna Billevich behind the walls of Tykotsin. For a private +question, for your own wishes you would not hesitate to desert the best cause. +You would be glad to flutter around a maiden, to stand on one foot, then the +other, and display yourself. But nothing will come of this! My head for it, +that better than you are running after her, even that same Kmita, for even he +is no worse than you.” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski looked at those present, taking them to witness what injustice was +done him; then he frowned. They thought he would burst out in anger, but +because he had been drinking, he fell all at once into tenderness. +</p> + +<p> +“This is my reward,” said he. “From the years of a stripling +I have served the country; I have not put the sabre out of my hand! I have +neither cottage, wife, nor children; my head is as lone as a lance-point. The +most honorable think of themselves, but I have no rewards save wounds in the +flesh; nay, I am accused of selfishness, almost held a traitor.” +</p> + +<p> +Tears began to drop on his yellow mustaches. Zagloba softened in a moment, and +throwing open his arms, cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Michael, I have done you cruel injustice! I should be given to the +hangman for having belittled such a tried friend!” +</p> + +<p> +Then falling into mutual embraces, they began to kiss each other; they drank +more to good understanding, and when sorrow had gone considerably out of his +heart, Volodyovski said,— +</p> + +<p> +“But you will not ruin the army, bring disobedience, and give an evil +example?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will not, Pan Michael, I will not for your sake.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant us to take Tykotsin; whose affair is it what I seek behind the +walls of the fortress? Why should any man jeer at me?” +</p> + +<p> +Struck by that question, Zagloba began to put the ends of his mustaches in his +mouth and gnaw them; at last he said: “Pan Michael, I love you as the +apple of my eye, but drive that Panna Billevich out of your head.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why?” asked Pan Michael, with astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +“She is beautiful, <i>assentior</i> (I agree),” answered Zagloba, +“but she is distinguished in person, and there is no proportion whatever +between you. You might sit on her shoulder, like a canary-bird, and peck sugar +out of her mouth. She might carry you like a falcon on her glove, and let you +off against every enemy, for though you are little you are venomous like a +hornet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, have you begun?” asked Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“If I have begun, then let me finish. There is one woman as if created +for you, and she is precisely that kernel— What is her name? That one +whom Podbipienta was to marry?” +</p> + +<p> +“Anusia Borzobogati!” cried Pan Yan. “She is indeed an old +love of Michael’s.” +</p> + +<p> +“A regular grain of buckwheat, but a pretty little rogue; just like a +doll,” said Zagloba, smacking his lips. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski began to sigh, and to repeat time after time what he always +repeated when mention was made of Anusia: “What is happening to the poor +girl? Oh, if she could only be found!” +</p> + +<p> +“You would not let her out of your hands, for, God bless me, I have not +seen in my life any man so given to falling in love. You ought to have been +born a rooster, scratch the sweepings in a house-yard, and cry, ‘Co, co, +co,’ at the top-knots.” +</p> + +<p> +“Anusia! Anusia!” repeated Pan Michael. “If God would send +her to me—But perhaps she is not in the world, or perhaps she is +married—” +</p> + +<p> +“How could she be? She was a green turnip when I saw her, and afterward, +even if she ripened, she may still be in the maiden state. After such a man as +Podbipienta she could not take any common fellow. Besides, in these times of +war few are thinking of marriage.” +</p> + +<p> +“You did not know her well,” answered Pan Michael. “She was +wonderfully honest; but she had such a nature that she let no man pass without +piercing his heart. The Lord God created her thus. She did not miss even men of +lower station; for example, Princess Griselda’s physician, that Italian, +who was desperately in love with her. Maybe she has married him and he has +taken her beyond the sea.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t talk such nonsense, Michael!” cried Zagloba, with +indignation. “A doctor, a doctor,—that the daughter of a noble of +honorable blood should marry a man of such low estate! I have already said that +that is impossible.” +</p> + +<p> +“I was angry with her myself, for I thought, ‘This is without +limit; soon she will be turning the heads of attorneys.’” +</p> + +<p> +“I prophesy that you will see her yet,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Pan Tokarzevich, who +had served formerly with Radzivill, but after the treason of the hetman, left +him, in company with others, and was now standard-bearer in Oskyerko’s +regiment. +</p> + +<p> +“Colonel,” said he to Volodyovski, “we are to explode a +petard.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is Pan Oskyerko ready?” +</p> + +<p> +“He was ready at midday, and he is not willing to wait, for the night +promises to be dark.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well; we will go to see. I will order the men to be ready with +muskets, so that the besieged may not make a sortie. Will Pan Oskyerko himself +explode the petard?” +</p> + +<p> +“He will—in his own person. A crowd of volunteers go with +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I will go!” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“And we!” cried Pan Yan and Pan Stanislav. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, ’tis a pity that old eyes cannot see in the dark,” said +Zagloba, “for of a surety I should not let you go alone. But what is to +be done? When dusk comes I cannot draw my sword. In the daytime, in the +daytime, in the sunlight, then the old man likes to move to the field. Give me +the strongest of the Swedes, if at midday.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I will go,” said, after some thought, the tenant of Vansosh. +“When they blow up the gate the troops will spring to the storm in a +crowd, and in the castle there may be great wealth in plate and in +jewels.” +</p> + +<p> +All went out, for it was now growing dark; in the quarters Zagloba alone +remained. He listened for a while to the snow squeaking under the steps of the +departing men, then began to raise one after another the decanters, and look +through them at the light burning in the chimney to see if there was something +yet in any of them. +</p> + +<p> +The others marched toward the castle in darkness and wind, which rose from the +north and blew with increasing force, howling, storming, bringing with it +clouds of snow broken fine. +</p> + +<p> +“A good night to explode a petard!” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“But also for a sortie,” answered Pan Yan. “We must keep a +watchful eye and ready muskets.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant,” said Pan Tokarzevich, “that at Chenstohova there +is a still greater storm. It is always warmer for our men behind the walls. But +may the Swedes freeze there on guard, may they freeze!” +</p> + +<p> +“A terrible night!” said Pan Stanislav; “do you hear, +gentlemen, how it howls, as if Tartars were rushing through the air to +attack?” +</p> + +<p> +“Or as if devils were singing a requiem for Radzivill!” said +Volodyovski. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p> +But a few days subsequent the great traitor in the castle was looking at the +darkness coming down on the snowy shrouds and listening to the howling of the +wind. +</p> + +<p> +The lamp of his life was burning out slowly. At noon of that day he was still +walking around and looking through the battlements, at the tents and the wooden +huts of Sapyeha’s troops; but two hours later he grew so ill that they +had to carry him to his chambers. +</p> + +<p> +From those times at Kyedani in which he had striven for a crown, he had changed +beyond recognition. The hair on his head had grown white, around his eyes red +rings had formed, his face was swollen and flabby, therefore it seemed still +more enormous, but it was the face of a half corpse, marked with blue spots and +terrible through its expression of hellish suffering. +</p> + +<p> +And still, though his life could be measured by hours, he had lived too long, +for not only had he outlived faith in himself and his fortunate star, faith in +his own hopes and plans, but his fall was so deep that when he looked at the +bottom of that precipice to which he was rolling, he would not believe himself. +Everything had deceived him: events, calculations, allies. He, for whom it was +not enough to be the mightiest lord in Poland, a prince of the Roman Empire, +grand hetman, and voevoda of Vilna; he, for whom all Lithuania was less than +what he desired and was lusting after, was confined in one narrow, small castle +in which either Death or Captivity was waiting for him. And he watched the door +every day to see which of these two terrible goddesses would enter first to +take his soul or his more than half-ruined body. +</p> + +<p> +Of his lands, of his estates and starostaships, it was possible not long before +to mark out a vassal kingdom; now he is not master even of the walls of +Tykotsin. +</p> + +<p> +Barely a few months before he was treating with neighboring kings; to-day one +Swedish captain obeys his commands with impatience and contempt, and dares to +bend him to his will. +</p> + +<p> +When his troops left him, when from a lord and a magnate who made the whole +country tremble, he became a powerless pauper who needed rescue and assistance +himself, Karl Gustav despised him. He would have raised to the skies a mighty +ally, but he turned with haughtiness from the supplicant. +</p> + +<p> +Like Kostka Napyerski, the foot-pad, besieged on a time in Chorshtyn, is he, +Radzivill, besieged now in Tykotsin. And who is besieging him? Sapyeha, his +greatest personal enemy. When they capture him they will drag him to justice in +worse fashion than a robber, as a traitor. +</p> + +<p> +His kinsmen have deserted him, his friends, his connections. Armies have +plundered his property, his treasures and riches are blown into mist, and that +lord, that prince, who once upon a time astonished the court of France and +dazzled it with his luxury, he who at feasts received thousands of nobles, who +maintained tens of thousands of his own troops, whom he fed and supported, had +not now wherewith to nourish his own failing strength; and terrible to relate, +he, Radzivill, in the last moments of his life, almost at the hour of his +death, was hungry! +</p> + +<p> +In the castle there had long been a lack of provisions; from the scant +remaining supplies the Swedish commander dealt stingy rations, and the prince +would not beg of him. +</p> + +<p> +If only the fever which was devouring his strength had deprived him of +consciousness; but it had not. His breast rose with increasing heaviness, his +breath turned into a rattle, his swollen feet and hands were freezing, but his +mind, omitting moments of delirium, omitting the terrible visions and +nightmares which passed before his eyes, remained for the greater part of the +time clear. And that prince saw his whole fall, all his want, all his misery +and humiliation; that former warrior-victor saw all his defeat, and his +sufferings were so immense that they could be equalled only by his sins. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, as the Furies tormented Orestes, so was he tormented by reproaches of +conscience, and in no part of the world was there a sanctuary to which he could +flee from them. They tormented him in the day, they tormented him at night, in +the field, under the roof; pride could not withstand them nor repulse them. The +deeper his fall, the more fiercely they lashed him. And there were moments in +which he tore his own breast. When enemies came against his country from every +side, when foreign nations grieved over its hapless condition, its sufferings +and bloodshed, he, the grand hetman, instead of moving to the field, instead of +sacrificing the last drop of his blood, instead of astonishing the world like +Leonidas or Themistocles, instead of pawning his last coat like Sapyeha, made a +treaty with enemies against the mother, raised a sacrilegious hand against his +own king, and imbrued it in blood near and dear to him. He had done all this, +and now he is at the limit not only of infamy, but of life, close to his +reckoning, there beyond. What is awaiting him? +</p> + +<p> +The hair rose on his head when he thought of that. For he had raised his hand +against his country, he had appeared to himself great in relation to that +country, and now all had changed. Now he had become small, and the +Commonwealth, rising from dust and blood, appeared to him something great and +continually greater, invested with a mysterious terror, full of a sacred +majesty, awful. And she grew, increased continually in his eyes, and became +more and more gigantic. In presence of her he felt himself dust as prince and +as hetman, as Radzivill. He could not understand what that was. Some unknown +waves were rising around him, flowing toward him, with roaring, with thunder, +flowing ever nearer, rising more terribly, and he understood that he must be +drowned in that immensity, hundreds such as he would be drowned. But why had he +not seen this awfulness and this mysterious power at first; why had he, mad +man, rushed against it? When these ideas roared in his head, fear seized him in +presence of that mother, in presence of that Commonwealth; for he did not +recognize her features, which formerly were so kind and so mild. +</p> + +<p> +The spirit was breaking within him, and terror dwelt in his breast. At moments +he thought that another country altogether, another people, were around him. +Through the besieged walls came news of everything that men were doing in the +invaded Commonwealth, and marvellous and astonishing things were they doing. A +war of life or death against the Swedes and traitors had begun, all the more +terrible in that it had not been foreseen by any man. The Commonwealth had +begun to punish. There was something in this of the anger of God for the insult +to majesty. +</p> + +<p> +When through the walls of Tykotsin came news of the siege of Chenstohova, +Radzivill, a Calvinist, was frightened; and fright did not leave his soul from +that day, for then he perceived for the first time those mysterious waves +which, after they had risen, were to swallow the Swedes and him; then the +invasion of the Swedes seemed not an invasion, but a sacrilege, and the +punishment of it inevitable. Then for the first time the veil dropped from his +eyes, and he saw the changed face of the Commonwealth, no longer a mother, but +a punishing queen. +</p> + +<p> +All who had remained true to her and served with heart and soul, rose and grew +greater and greater; whoso sinned against her went down. “And therefore +it is not free to any one to think,” said the prince to himself, +“of his own elevation, or that of his family, but he must sacrifice life, +strength, and love to her.” +</p> + +<p> +But for him it was now too late; he had nothing to sacrifice; he had no future +before him save that beyond the grave, at sight of which he shuddered. +</p> + +<p> +From the time of besieging Chenstohova, when one terrible cry was torn from the +breast of an immense country, when as if by a miracle there was found in it a +certain wonderful, hitherto unknown and not understood power, when you would +have said that a mysterious hand from beyond this world rose in its defence, a +new doubt gnawed into the soul of the prince, and he could not free himself +from the terrible thought that God stood with that cause and that faith. +</p> + +<p> +And when such thoughts roared in his head he doubted his own faith, and then +his despair passed even the measure of his sins. Temporal fall, spiritual fall, +darkness, nothingness,—behold to what he had come, what he had gained by +serving self. +</p> + +<p> +And still at the beginning of the expedition from Kyedani against Podlyasye he +was full of hope. It is true that Sapyeha, a leader inferior to him beyond +comparison, had defeated him in the field, and the rest of the squadrons left +him, but he strengthened himself with the thought that any day Boguslav might +come with assistance. That young eagle of the Radzivills would fly to him at +the head of Prussian Lutheran legions, who would not pass over to the papists +like the Lithuanian squadrons; and at once he would bend Sapyeha in two, +scatter his forces, scatter the confederates, and putting themselves on the +corpse of Lithuania, like two lions on the carcass of a deer, with roaring +alone would terrify all who might wish to tear it away from them. +</p> + +<p> +But time passed; the forces of Prince Yanush melted; even the foreign regiments +went over to the terrible Sapyeha; days passed, weeks, months, but Boguslav +came not. +</p> + +<p> +At last the siege of Tykotsin began. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes, a handful of whom remained with Yanush, defended themselves +heroically; for, stained already with terrible cruelty, they saw that even +surrender would not guard them from the vengeful hands of the Lithuanians. The +prince in the beginning of the siege had still the hope that at the last +moment, perhaps, the King of Sweden himself would move to his aid, and perhaps +Pan Konyetspolski, who at the head of six thousand cavalry was with Karl +Gustav. But his hope was vain. No one gave him a thought, no one came with +assistance. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Boguslav! Boguslav!” repeated the prince, walking through the +chambers of Tykotsin; “if you will not save a cousin, save at least a +Radzivill!” +</p> + +<p> +At last in his final despair Prince Yanush resolved on taking a step at which +his pride revolted fearfully; that was to implore Prince Michael Radzivill of +Nyesvyej for rescue. This letter, however, was intercepted on the road by +Sapyeha’s men; but the voevoda of Vityebsk sent to Yanush in answer a +letter which he had himself received from Prince Michael a week before. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Yanush found in it the following passage:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“If news has come to you, gracious lord, that I intend to go with succor +to my relative, the voevoda of Vilna, believe it not, for I hold only with +those who endure in loyalty to the country and our king, and who desire to +restore the former liberties of this most illustrious Commonwealth. This course +will not, as I think, bring me to protect traitors from just and proper +punishment. Boguslav too will not come, for, as I hear, the elector prefers to +think of himself, and does not wish to divide his forces; and <i>quod +attinet</i> (as to) Konyetspolski, since he will pay court to Prince +Yanush’s widow, should she become one, it is to his profit that the +prince voevoda be destroyed with all speed.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +This letter, addressed to Sapyeha, stripped the unfortunate Yanush of the +remnant of his hope, and nothing was left him but to wait for the +accomplishment of his destiny. +</p> + +<p> +The siege was hastening to its close. +</p> + +<p> +News of the departure of Sapyeha passed through the wall almost that moment; +but the hope that in consequence of his departure hostile steps would be +abandoned were of short duration, for in the infantry regiments an unusual +movement was observable. Still some days passed quietly enough, since the plan +of blowing up the gate with a petard resulted in nothing; but December 31 came, +on which only the approaching night might incommode the besiegers, for +evidently they were preparing something against the castle, at least a new +attack of cannon on the weakened walls. +</p> + +<p> +The day was drawing to a close. The prince was lying in the so-called +“Corner” hall situated in the western part of the castle. In an +enormous fireplace were burning whole logs of pine wood which cast a lively +light on the white and rather empty walls. The prince was lying on his back on +a Turkish sofa, pushed out purposely into the middle of the room, so that the +warmth of the blaze might reach it. Nearer to the fireplace, a little in the +shade, slept a page, on a carpet; near the prince were sitting, slumbering in +arm-chairs, Pani Yakimovich, formerly chief lady-in-waiting at Kyedani, another +page, a physician, also the prince’s astrologer, and Kharlamp. +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp had not left the prince, though he was almost the only one of his +former officers who had remained. That was a bitter service, for the heart and +soul of the officer were outside the walls of Tykotsin, in the camp of Sapyeha; +still he remained faithful at the side of his old leader. From hunger and +watching the poor fellow had grown as thin as a skeleton. Of his face there +remained but the nose, which now seemed still greater, and mustaches like +bushes. He was clothed in complete armor, breastplate, shoulder-pieces, and +morion, with a wire cape which came down to his shoulders. His cuirass was +battered, for he had just returned from the walls, to which he had gone to make +observations a little while before, and on which he sought death every day. He +was slumbering at the moment from weariness, though there was a terrible +rattling in the prince’s breast as if he had begun to die, and though the +wind howled and whistled outside. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly short quivering began to shake the gigantic body of Radzivill, and the +rattling ceased. Those who were around him woke at once and looked quickly, +first at him and then at one another. But he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“It is as if something had gone out of my breast; I feel easier.” +</p> + +<p> +He turned his head a little, looked carefully toward the door, at last he said, +“Kharlamp!” +</p> + +<p> +“At the service of your highness!” +</p> + +<p> +“What does Stahovich want here?” +</p> + +<p> +The legs began to tremble under poor Kharlamp, for unterrified as he was in +battle he was superstitious in the same degree; therefore he looked around +quickly, and said in a stifled voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“Stahovich is not here; your highness gave orders to shoot him at +Kyedani.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince closed his eyes and answered not a word. +</p> + +<p> +For a time there was nothing to be heard save the doleful and continuous +howling of the wind. +</p> + +<p> +“The weeping of people is heard in that wind,” said the prince, +again opening his eyes in perfect consciousness. “But I did not bring in +the Swedes; it was Radzeyovski.” +</p> + +<p> +When no one gave answer, he said after a short time,— +</p> + +<p> +“He is most to blame, he is most to blame, he is most to blame.” +</p> + +<p> +And a species of consolation entered his breast, as if the remembrance rejoiced +him that there was some one more guilty than he. +</p> + +<p> +Soon, however, more grievous thoughts must have come to his head, for his face +grew dark, and he repeated a number of times,— +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” +</p> + +<p> +And again choking attacked him; a rattling began in his throat more terrible +than before. Meanwhile from without came the sound of musketry, at first +infrequent, then more frequent; but amidst the drifting of the snow and the +howling of the whirlwind they did not sound too loudly, and it might have been +thought that that was some continual knocking at the gate. +</p> + +<p> +“They are fighting!” said the prince’s physician. +</p> + +<p> +“As usual!” answered Kharlamp. “People are freezing in the +snow-drifts, and they wish to fight to grow warm.” +</p> + +<p> +“This is the sixth day of the whirlwind and the snow,” answered the +doctor. “Great changes will come in the kingdom, for this is an unheard +of thing.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant it!” said Kharlamp. “It cannot be worse.” +</p> + +<p> +Further conversation was interrupted by the prince, to whom a new relief had +come. +</p> + +<p> +“Kharlamp!” +</p> + +<p> +“At the service of your highness!” +</p> + +<p> +“Does it seem to me so from weakness, or did Oskyerko try to blow up the +gate with a petard two days since?” +</p> + +<p> +“He tried, your highness; but the Swedes seized the petards and wounded +him slightly, and Sapyeha’s men were repulsed.” +</p> + +<p> +“If wounded slightly, then he will try again. But what day is it?” +</p> + +<p> +“The last day of December, your highness.” +</p> + +<p> +“God be merciful to my soul! I shall not live to the New Year. Long ago +it was foretold me that every fifth year death is near me.” +</p> + +<p> +“God is kind, your highness.” +</p> + +<p> +“God is with Sapyeha,” said the prince, gloomily. +</p> + +<p> +All at once he looked around and said: “Cold comes to me from it. I do +not see it, but I feel that it is here.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is that, your highness?” +</p> + +<p> +“Death!” +</p> + +<p> +“In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed; nothing was heard but the whispered “Our +Father,” repeated by Pani Yakimovich. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me,” said the prince, with a broken voice, “do you +believe that outside of your faith no one can be saved?” +</p> + +<p> +“Even in the moment of death it is possible to renounce errors,” +said Kharlamp. +</p> + +<p> +The sound of shots had become at that moment more frequent. The thunder of +cannon began to shake the windowpanes, which answered each report with a +plaintive sound. +</p> + +<p> +The prince listened a certain time calmly, then rose slightly on the pillow; +his eyes began slowly to widen, his pupils to glitter. He sat up; for a moment +he held his head with his hand, then cried suddenly, as if in +bewilderment,— +</p> + +<p> +“Boguslav! Boguslav! Boguslav!” +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp ran out of the room like a madman. +</p> + +<p> +The whole castle trembled and quivered from the thunder of cannon. +</p> + +<p> +All at once there was heard the cry of several thousand voices; then something +was torn with a ghastly smashing of walls, so that brands and coals from the +chimney were scattered on the floor. At the same time Kharlamp rushed into the +chamber. +</p> + +<p> +“Sapyeha’s men have blown up the gate!” cried he. “The +Swedes have fled to the tower! The enemy is here! Your highness—” +</p> + +<p> +Further words died on his lips. Radzivill was sitting on the sofa with eyes +starting out; with open lips he was gulping the air, his teeth bared like those +of a dog when he snarls; he tore with his hands the sofa on which he was +sitting, and gazing with terror into the depth of the chamber, cried, or rather +gave out hoarse rattles between one breath and another,— +</p> + +<p> +“It was Radzeyovski—Not I—Save me!—What do you want? +Take the crown!—It was Radzeyovski—Save me, people! Jesus! Jesus! +Mary!” +</p> + +<p> +These were the last words of Radzivill. +</p> + +<p> +Then a terrible coughing seized him; his eyes came out in still more ghastly +fashion from their sockets; he stretched himself out, fell on his back, and +remained motionless. +</p> + +<p> +“He is dead!” said the doctor. +</p> + +<p> +“He cried Mary, though a Calvinist, you have heard!” said Pani +Yakimovich. +</p> + +<p> +“Throw wood on the fire!” said Kharlamp to the terrified pages. +</p> + +<p> +He drew near to the corpse, closed the eyelids; then he took from his own armor +a gilded image of the Mother of God which he wore on a chain, and placing the +hands of Radzivill together on his breast, he put the image between the dead +fingers. +</p> + +<p> +The light of the fire was reflected from the golden ground of the image, and +that reflection fell upon the face of the voevoda and made it cheerful so that +never had it seemed so calm. +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp sat at the side of the body, and resting his elbows on his knees, hid +his face in his hands. +</p> + +<p> +The silence was broken only by the sound of shots. +</p> + +<p> +All at once something terrible took place. First of all was a flash of awful +brightness; the whole world seemed turned into fire, and at the same time there +was given forth such a sound as if the earth had fallen from under the castle. +The walls tottered; the ceilings cracked with a terrible noise; all the windows +tumbled in on the floor, and the panes were broken into hundreds of fragments. +Through the empty openings of the windows that moment clouds of snow drifted +in, and the whirlwind began to howl gloomily in the corners of the chamber. +</p> + +<p> +All the people present fell to the floor on their faces, speechless from +terror. +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp rose first, and looked directly on the corpse of the voevoda; the +corpse was lying in calmness, but the gilded image had slipped a little in the +hands. +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp recovered his breath. At first he felt certain that that was an army +of Satans who had broken into the chamber for the body of the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“The word has become flesh!” said he. “The Swedes must have +blown up the tower and themselves.” +</p> + +<p> +But from without there came no sound. Evidently the troops of Sapyeha were +standing in dumb wonder, or perhaps in fear that the whole castle was mined, +and that there would be explosion after explosion. +</p> + +<p> +“Put wood on the fire!” said Kharlamp to the pages. +</p> + +<p> +Again the room was gleaming with a bright, quivering light. Round about a +deathlike stillness continued; but the fire hissed, the whirlwind howled, and +the snow rolled each moment more densely through the window openings. +</p> + +<p> +At last confused voices were heard, then the clatter of spurs and the tramp of +many feet; the door of the chamber was opened wide, and soldiers rushed in. +</p> + +<p> +It was bright from the naked sabres, and more and more figures of knights in +helmets, caps, and kolpaks crowded through the door. Many were bearing lanterns +in their hands, and they held them to the light, advancing carefully, though it +was light in the room from the fire as well. +</p> + +<p> +At last there sprang forth from the crowd a little knight all in enamelled +armor, and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the voevoda of Vilna?” +</p> + +<p> +“Here!” said Kharlamp, pointing to the body lying on the sofa. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski looked at him, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“He is not living!” +</p> + +<p> +“He is not living, he is not living!” went from mouth to mouth. +</p> + +<p> +“The traitor, the betrayer is not living!” +</p> + +<p> +“So it is,” said Kharlamp, gloomily. “But if you dishonor his +body and bear it apart with sabres, you will do ill, for before his end he +called on the Most Holy Lady, and he holds Her image in his hand.” +</p> + +<p> +These words made a deep impression. The shouts were hushed. Then the soldiers +began to approach, to go around the sofa, and look at the dead man. Those who +had lanterns turned the light of them on his eyes; and he lay there, gigantic, +gloomy, on his face the majesty of a hetman and the cold dignity of death. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers came one after another, and among them the officers; therefore +Stankyevich approached, the two Skshetuskis, Horotkyevich, Yakub Kmita, +Oskyerko, and Pan Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“It is true!” said Zagloba, in a low voice, as if he feared to +rouse the prince. “He holds in his hands the Most Holy Lady, and the +shining from Her falls on his face.” +</p> + +<p> +When he said this he removed his cap. That instant all the others bared their +heads. A moment of silence filled with reverence followed, which was broken at +last by Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah!” said he, “he is before the judgment of God, and people +have nothing to do with him.” Here he turned to Kharlamp: “But you, +unfortunate, why did you for his sake leave your country and king?” +</p> + +<p> +“Give him this way!” called a number of voices at once. +</p> + +<p> +Then Kharlamp rose, and taking off his sabre threw it with a clatter on the +floor, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Here I am, cut me to pieces! I did not leave him with you, when he was +powerful as a king, and afterward it was not proper to leave him when he was in +misery and no one stayed with him. I have not grown fat in his service; for +three days I have had nothing in my mouth, and the legs are bending under me. +But here I am, cut me to pieces! for I confess furthermore [here +Kharlamp’s voice trembled] that I loved him.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this he tottered and would have fallen; but Zagloba opened his +arms to him, caught him, supported him, and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“By the living God! Give the man food and drink!” +</p> + +<p> +That touched all to the heart; therefore they took Kharlamp by the arms and led +him out of the chamber at once. Then the soldiers began to leave it one after +another, making the sign of the cross with devotion. +</p> + +<p> +On the road to their quarters Zagloba was meditating over something. He +stopped, coughed, then pulled Volodyovski by the skirt. “Pan +Michael,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what?” +</p> + +<p> +“My anger against Radzivill is passed; a dead man is a dead man! I +forgive him from my heart for having made an attempt on my life.” +</p> + +<p> +“He is before the tribunal of heaven,” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s it, that’s it! H’m, if it would help him I +would even give for a Mass, since it seems to me that he has an awfully small +chance up there.” +</p> + +<p> +“God is merciful!” +</p> + +<p> +“As to being merciful, he is merciful; still the Lord cannot look without +abhorrence on heretics. And Radzivill was not only a heretic, but a traitor. +There is where the trouble is!” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zagloba shook his head and began to look upward. +</p> + +<p> +“I am afraid,” said he, after a while, “that some of those +Swedes who blew themselves up will fall on my head; that they will not be +received there in heaven is certain.” +</p> + +<p> +“They were good men,” said Pan Michael, with recognition; +“they preferred death to surrender, there are few such soldiers in the +world.” +</p> + +<p> +All at once Volodyovski halted: “Panna Billevich was not in the +castle,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“But how do you know?” +</p> + +<p> +“I asked those pages. Boguslav took her to Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ei!” said Zagloba, “that was as if to confide a kid to a +wolf. But it is not your affair; your predestined is that kernel!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p> +Lvoff from the moment of the king’s arrival was turned into a real +capital of the Commonwealth. Together with the king came the greater part of +the bishops from the whole country and all those lay senators who had not +served the enemy. The calls already issued summoned also to arms the nobles of +Rus and of the remoter adjoining provinces, they came in numbers and armed with +the greater ease because the Swedes had not been in those regions. Eyes were +opened and hearts rose at sight of this general militia, for it reminded one in +nothing of that of Great Poland, which at Uistsie offered such weak opposition +to the enemy. On the contrary, in this case marched a warlike and terrible +nobility, reared from childhood on horseback and in the field, amidst continual +attacks of wild Tartars, accustomed to bloodshed and burning, better masters of +the sabre than of Latin. These nobles were in fresh training yet from +Hmelnitski’s uprising, which lasted seven years without interval, so that +there was not a man among them who was not as many times in fire as he had +years of life. New swarms of these were arriving continually in Lvoff: some had +marched from the Byeshchadi full of precipices, others from the Pruth, the +Dniester, and the Seret; some lived on the steep banks of the Dniester, some on +the wide-spreading Bug; some on the Sinyuha had not been destroyed from the +face of the earth by peasant incursions; some had been left on the Tartar +boundaries;—all these hurried at the call of the king to the city of the +Lion,<a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a> some to march +thence against an enemy as yet unknown. The nobles came in from Volynia and +from more distant provinces, such hatred was kindled in all souls by the +terrible tidings that the enemy had raised sacrilegious hands on the Patroness +of the Commonwealth in Chenstohova. +</p> + +<p> +And the Cossacks dared not raise obstacles, for the hearts were moved in the +most hardened, and besides, they were forced by the Tartars to beat with the +forehead to the king, and to renew for the hundredth time their oath of +loyalty. A Tartar embassy, dangerous to the enemies of the king, was in Lvoff +under the leadership of Suba Gazi Bey, offering, in the name of the Khan, a +horde a hundred thousand strong to assist the Commonwealth; of these forty +thousand from near Kamenyets could take the field at once. +</p> + +<p> +Besides the Tartar embassy a legation had come from Transylvania to carry +through negotiations begun with Rakotsy concerning succession to the throne. +The ambassador of the emperor was present; so was the papal nuncio, who had +come with the king. Every day deputations arrived from the armies of the +kingdom and Lithuania, from provinces and lands, with declarations of loyalty, +and a wish to defend to the death the invaded country. +</p> + +<p> +The fortunes of the king increased; the Commonwealth, crushed altogether so +recently, was rising before the eyes of all to the wonder of ages and nations. +The souls of men were inflamed with thirst for war and retaliation, and at the +same time they grew strong. And as in spring-time a warm generous rain melts +the snow, so mighty hope melted doubt. Not only did they wish for victory, but +they believed in it. New and favorable tidings came in continually; though +often untrue, they passed from mouth to mouth. Time after time men told now of +castles recovered, now of battles in which unknown regiments under leaders +hitherto unknown had crushed the Swedes, now of terrible clouds of peasants +sweeping along, like locusts, against the enemy. The name of Stefan Charnyetski +was more and more frequent on every lip. +</p> + +<p> +The details in these tidings were often untrue, but taken together they +reflected as a mirror what was being done in the whole country. +</p> + +<p> +But in Lvoff reigned as it were a continual holiday. When the king came the +city greeted him solemnly, the clergy of the three rites, the councillors of +the city, the merchants, the guilds. On the squares and streets, wherever an +eye was cast, banners, white, sapphire, purple, and gilded, were waving. The +Lvoff people raised proudly their golden lion on a blue field, recalling with +self-praise the scarcely passed Cossack and Tartar attacks. +</p> + +<p> +At every appearance of the king a shout was raised among the crowds, and crowds +were never lacking. +</p> + +<p> +The population doubled in recent days. Besides senators and bishops, besides +nobles, flowed in throngs of peasants also, for the news had spread that the +king intended to improve their condition. Therefore rustic coats and +horse-blankets were mingled with the yellow coats of the townspeople. The +mercantile Armenians with their swarthy faces put up booths for merchandise and +arms which the assembled nobles bought willingly. +</p> + +<p> +There were many Tartars also with the embassy; there were Hungarians, +Wallachians, and Austrians,—a multitude of people, a multitude of troops, +a multitude of different kinds of faces, many strange garments in colors +brilliant and varied, troops of court servants, hence gigantic grooms, haiduks, +janissaries, red Cossacks, messengers in foreign costume. +</p> + +<p> +The streets were filled from morning till evening with the noise of men, now +passing squadrons of a quota, now divisions of mounted nobles, the cries of +command, the shining of armor and naked sabres, the neighing of horses, the +rumble of cannon, and songs full of threatening and curses for the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +The bells in the churches, Polish, Russian, and Armenian, were tolling +continually, announcing to all that the king was in the city, and that Lvoff, +to its eternal praise, was the first of the capitals that had received the +king, the exile. +</p> + +<p> +They beat to him with the forehead; wherever he appeared caps flew upward, and +shouts of “Vivat!” shook the air. They beat with the forehead also +before the carriages of bishops, who through the windows blessed the assembled +throngs; they bowed to and applauded senators, honoring in them loyalty to the +king and country. +</p> + +<p> +So the whole city was seething. At night they even burned on the square piles +of wood, at which in spite of cold and frost those men were encamped who could +not find lodgings because of the excessive multitude. +</p> + +<p> +The king spent whole days in consultation with senators. Audience was given to +foreign embassies, to deputations from provinces and troops; methods of filling +the empty treasury with money were considered; all means were used to rouse war +wherever it had not flamed up already. +</p> + +<p> +Couriers were flying to the most important towns in every part of the +Commonwealth, to distant Prussia, to sacred Jmud, to Tyshovtsi, to the hetmans, +to Sapyeha, who after the storming of Tykotsin took his army to the south with +forced marches; couriers went also to Konyetspolski, who was still with the +Swedes. Where it was needful money was sent; the slothful were roused with +manifestoes. +</p> + +<p> +The king recognized, consecrated, and confirmed the confederation of Tyshovtsi +and joined it himself; taking the direction of all affairs into his untiring +hands, he labored from morning till night, esteeming the Commonwealth more than +his own rest, his own health. +</p> + +<p> +But this was not the limit of his efforts; for he had determined to conclude in +his own name and the name of the estates a league such that no earthly power, +could overcome,—a league which in future might serve to reform the +Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +The moment for this had come at last. +</p> + +<p> +The secret must have escaped from the senators to the nobles, and from the +nobles to the peasants, for since morning it had been said that at the hour of +services something important would happen,—that the king would make some +solemn vow, concerning, as was said, the condition of the peasants and a +confederation with heaven. There were persons, however, who asserted that these +were incredible things, without an example in history; but curiosity was +excited, and everywhere something was looked for. +</p> + +<p> +The day was frosty, clear; tiny flakes of snow were flying through the air, +glittering like sparks. The land infantry of Lvoff and the district of Jidache, +in blue half shubas, hemmed with gold, and half a Hungarian regiment were drawn +out in a long line before the cathedral, holding their muskets at their feet in +front of them; officers passed up and down with staffs in their hands. Between +these two lines a many-colored throng flowed into the church, like a river. In +front nobles and knights, after them the senate of the city, with gilded chains +on their necks, and tapers in their hands. They were led by the mayor, a +physician noted throughout the whole province; he was dressed in a black velvet +toga, and wore a calotte. After the senate went merchants, and among them many +Armenians with green and gold skull-caps on their heads, and wearing roomy +Eastern gowns. These, though belonging to a special rite, went with the others +to represent the estate. After the merchants came, with their banners, the +guilds, such as butchers, bakers, tailors, goldsmiths, confectioners, +embroiderers, linen-drapers, tanners, mead-boilers, and a number of others yet; +from each company representatives went with their own banner, which was borne +by a man the most distinguished of all for beauty. Then came various +brotherhoods and the common throng in coats, in sheepskins, in horse-blankets, +in homespun; dwellers in the suburbs, peasants. Admittance was barred to no one +till the church was packed closely with people of all ranks and both sexes. +</p> + +<p> +At last carriages began to arrive; but they avoided the main door, for the +king, the bishops, and the dignitaries had a special entrance nearer the high +altar. Every moment the troops presented arms; at last the soldiers dropped +their muskets to their feet, and blew on their chilled hands, throwing out +clouds of steam from their breasts. +</p> + +<p> +The king came with the nuncio, Vidon; then arrived the archbishop of Gnyezno +and the bishop, Prince Chartoryski; next appeared the bishop of Cracow, the +archbishop of Lvoff, the grand chancellor of the kingdom, many voevodas and +castellans. All these vanished through the side door; and their carriages, +retinues, equerries, and attendants of every description formed as it were a +new army, standing at the side of the cathedral. +</p> + +<p> +Mass was celebrated by the apostolic nuncio, Vidon, arrayed in purple, in a +white chasuble embroidered with pearls and gold. +</p> + +<p> +For the king a kneeling-stool was placed between the great altar and the pews; +before the kneeling-stool was a Turkish sofa. The church arm-chairs were +occupied by bishops and lay senators. +</p> + +<p> +Many colored rays, passing through the windows, joined with the gleam of +candles, with which the altar seemed burning, and fell upon the faces of +senators in the church chairs, on the white beards, on the imposing forms, on +golden chains, on violet velvet. You would have said, “A Roman +senate!” such was the majesty and dignity of these old men. Here and +there among gray heads was to be seen the face of a warrior senator; here and +there gleamed the blond head of a youthful lord. All eyes were fixed on the +altar, all were praying; the flames of the candles were glittering and +quivering; the smoke from the censers was playing and curling in the bright +air. The body of the church was packed with heads, and over the heads a rainbow +of banners was playing, like a rainbow of flowers. +</p> + +<p> +The majesty of the king, Yan Kazimir, prostrated itself, according to his +custom, in the form of a cross, and humiliated itself before the majesty of +God. At last the nuncio brought from the tabernacle a chalice, and bearing it +before him approached the kneeling-stool, then the king raised himself with a +brighter face, the voice of the nuncio was heard: “<i>Ecce Agnus Dei</i> +(Behold the Lamb of God),” and the king received communion. +</p> + +<p> +For a time he remained kneeling, with inclined head; at last he rose, turned +his eyes toward heaven, and stretched out both hands. +</p> + +<p> +There was sudden silence in the church, so that breathing was not audible. All +divined that the moment had come, and that the king would make some vow; all +listened with collected spirit. But he stood with outstretched arms; at last, +with a voice filled with emotion, but as far reaching as a bell, he began to +speak,— +</p> + +<p> +“O Great Mother of Divine humanity, and Virgin! I, Yan Kazimir, king by +the favor of Thy Son, King of kings and my Lord, and by Thy favor approaching +Thy Most Holy feet, form this, the following pact. I to-day choose Thee my +Patroness and Queen of my dominions. I commit to Thy special guardianship and +protection myself, my Polish kingdom, the Grand Principality of Lithuania, +Russia, Prussia, Mazovia, Jmud, Livland, and Chernigov, the armies of both +nations and all common people. I beg obediently Thy aid and favor against +enemies in the present affliction of my kingdom.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the king fell on his knees and was silent for a time. In the church a +deathlike stillness continued unbroken; then rising he spoke on,— +</p> + +<p> +“And constrained by Thy great benefactions, I, with the Polish people, am +drawn to a new and ardent bond of service to Thee. I promise Thee in my own +name and in the names of my ministers, senators, nobles, and people, to extend +honor and glory to Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Our Saviour, through all regions of +the Polish kingdom; to make a promise that when, with the mercy of Thy Son, I +obtain victory over the Swedes, I will endeavor that an anniversary be +celebrated solemnly in my kingdom to the end of the world, in memory of the +favor of God, and of Thee, O Most Holy Virgin.” +</p> + +<p> +Here he ceased again and knelt. In the church there was a murmur; but the voice +of the king stopped it quickly, and though he trembled this time with penitence +and emotion, he continued still more distinctly,— +</p> + +<p> +“And since, with great sorrow of heart, I confess that I endure from God +just punishment, which is afflicting us all in my kingdom with various plagues +for seven years, because poor, simple tillers of the soil groan in suffering, +oppressed by the soldiery, I bind myself on the conclusion of peace to use +earnest efforts, together with the estates of the Commonwealth, to free +suffering peasants from every cruelty, in which, O Mother of Mercy, Queen, and +my Lady, since Thou hast inspired me to make this vow, obtain for me, by grace +of Thy mercy, aid from Thy Son to accomplish what I here promise.” +</p> + +<p> +These words of the king were heard by the clergy, the senators, the nobles, and +the common people. A great wail was raised in the church, which came first from +hearts of the peasants; it burst forth from them, and then became universal. +All raised their hands to heaven; weeping voices repeated, “Amen, amen, +amen!” in testimony that they had joined their feelings and vows with the +promise of the king. Enthusiasm seized their hearts, and at that moment made +them brothers in love for the Commonwealth and its Patroness. Indescribable joy +shone on their faces like a clear flame, and in all that church there was no +one who doubted that God would overwhelm the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +After that service the king, amid the thunder of musketry and cannon and mighty +shouts of “Victory! victory! may he live!” went to the castle, and +there he confirmed the heavenly confederation together with that of Tyshovtsi. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p> +After these solemnities various tidings flew into Lvoff like winged birds. +There were older and fresh tidings more or less favorable, but all increased +courage. First the confederation of Tyshovtsi grew like a conflagration; every +one living joined it, nobles as well as peasants. Towns furnished wagons, +firearms, and infantry; the Jews money. No one dared to oppose the manifestoes; +the most indolent mounted. There came also a terrible manifesto from +Wittemberg, turned against the confederation. Fire and sword were to punish +those who joined it. This manifesto produced the same effect as if a man tried +to quench flames with powder. The manifesto, with the knowledge assuredly of +the king, and to rouse hatred more thoroughly against the Swedes, was scattered +through Lvoff in great numbers, and it is not becoming to state what common +people did with the copies; it suffices to say that the wind bore them terribly +dishonored through the streets of the city, and the students showed, to the +delight of crowds, “Wittemberg’s Confusion,” singing at the +same time the song beginning with these words,— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“O Wittemberg, poor man, Race across over the sea,<br/> + Like a hare!<br/> +But when thy buttons are lost<br/> +Thou wilt drop down thy trousers,<br/> + While racing away!” +</p> + +<p> +And Wittemberg, as if making the words of the song true, gave up his command in +Cracow to the valiant Wirtz, and betook himself hurriedly to Elblang, where the +King of Sweden was sojourning with the queen, spending his time at feasts, and +rejoicing in his heart that he had become the lord of such an illustrious +kingdom. +</p> + +<p> +Accounts came also to Lvoff of the fall of Tykotsin, and minds were gladdened. +It was strange that men had begun to speak of that event before a courier had +come; only they did not say whether Radzivill had died or was in captivity. It +was asserted, however, that Sapyeha, at the head of a considerable force, had +gone from Podlyasye to Lyubelsk to join the hetmans; that on the road he was +beating the Swedes and growing in power every day. +</p> + +<p> +At last envoys came from Sapyeha himself in a considerable number, for the +voevoda had sent neither less nor more than one whole squadron to be at the +disposal of the king, desiring in this way to show honor to the sovereign, to +secure his person from every possible accident, and perhaps specially to +increase his significance. +</p> + +<p> +The squadron was brought by Volodyovski, well known to the king; so Yan Kazimir +gave command that he should stand at once in his presence, and taking Pan +Michael’s head between his hands, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I greet thee, famous soldier! Much water has flowed down since we lost +sight of thee. I think that we saw thee last at Berestechko, all covered with +blood.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael bent to the knees of the king, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“It was later, in Warsaw, Gracious Lord; also in the castle with the +present castellan of Kieff, Pan Charnyetski.” +</p> + +<p> +“But are you serving all the time? Had you no desire to enjoy leisure at +home?” +</p> + +<p> +“No; for the Commonwealth was in need, and besides, in these public +commotions my property has been lost. I have no place in which to put my head, +Gracious Lord; but I am not sorry for myself, thinking that the first duty of a +soldier is to the king and the country.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, would there were more such! The enemy would not be so rich. God +grant the time for rewards will come; but now tell me what you have done with +the voevoda of Vilna?” +</p> + +<p> +“The voevoda of Vilna is before the judgment of God. The soul went out of +him just as we were going to the final storm.” +</p> + +<p> +“How was that?” +</p> + +<p> +“Here is Pan Sapyeha’s report,” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +The king took Sapyeha’s letter and began to read; he had barely begun +when he stopped. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Sapyeha is mistaken,” said he, “when he writes that the +grand baton of Lithuania is unoccupied; it is not, for I give it to him.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is no one more worthy,” said Pan Michael, “and to your +Royal Grace the whole army will be grateful till death for this deed.” +</p> + +<p> +The king smiled at the simple soldierly confidence, and read on. After a while +he sighed, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Radzivill might have been the first pearl in this glorious kingdom, if +pride and the errors which he committed had not withered his soul. It is +accomplished! Inscrutable are the decisions of God! Radzivill and +Opalinski—almost in the same hour! Judge them, O Lord, not according to +their sins, but according to Thy mercy.” +</p> + +<p> +Silence followed; then the king again began to read. +</p> + +<p> +“We are thankful to the voevoda,” said he, when he had finished, +“for sending a whole squadron and under the greatest cavalier, as he +writes. But I am safe here; and cavaliers, especially such as you, are more +needed in the field. Rest a little, and then I will send you to assist +Charnyetski, for on him evidently the greatest pressure will be turned.” +</p> + +<p> +“We have rested enough already at Tykotsin, Gracious Lord,” said +the little knight, with enthusiasm; “if our horses were fed a little, we +might move to-day, for with Charnyetski there will be unspeakable delights. It +is a great happiness to look on the face of our gracious lord, but we are +anxious to see the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +The king grew radiant. A fatherly kindness appeared on his face, and he said, +looking with pleasure on the sulphurous figure of the little knight,— +</p> + +<p> +“You were the first little soldier to throw the baton of a colonel at the +feet of the late prince voevoda.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not the first, your Royal Grace; but it was the first, and God grant the +last, time for me to act against military discipline.” Pan Michael +stopped, and after a while added, “It was impossible to do +otherwise.” +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly,” said the king. “That was a grievous hour for +those who understood military duty; but obedience must have its limits, beyond +which guilt begins. Did many officers remain in with Radzivill?” +</p> + +<p> +“In Tykotsin we found only one officer, Pan Kharlamp, who did not leave +the prince at once, and who did not wish afterward to desert him in misery. +Compassion alone kept Kharlamp with Radzivill, for natural affection drew him +to us. We were barely able to restore him to health, such hunger had there been +in Tykotsin, and he took the food from his own mouth to nourish the prince. He +has come here to Lvoff to implore pardon of your Royal Grace, and I too fall at +your feet for him; he is a tried and good soldier.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let him come hither,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“He has also something important to tell, which he heard in Kyedani from +the mouth of Prince Boguslav, and which relates to the person of your Royal +Grace, which is sacred to us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is this about Kmita?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Gracious Lord.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did you know Kmita?” +</p> + +<p> +“I knew him and fought with him; but where he is now, I know not.” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you think of him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, since he undertook such a deed there are no torments of +which he is not worthy, for he is an abortion of hell.” +</p> + +<p> +“That story is untrue,” said the king; “it is all an +invention of Prince Boguslav. But putting that affair aside, what do you know +of Kmita in times previous?” +</p> + +<p> +“He was always a great soldier, and in military affairs incomparable. He +used to steal up to Hovanski so that with a few hundred people he brought the +whole force of the enemy to misery; no other man could have done that. It is a +miracle that the skin was not torn from him and stretched over a drum. If at +that time some one had placed Prince Radzivill himself in the hands of +Hovanski, he would not have given him so much pleasure as he would had he made +him a present of Kmita. Why! it went so far that Kmita ate out of +Hovanski’s camp-chests, slept on his rugs, rode in his sleighs and on his +horse. But he was an infliction on his own people too, terribly self-willed; +like Pan Lashch, he might have lined his cloak with sentences, and in Kyedani +he was lost altogether.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Volodyovski related in detail all that had happened in Kyedani. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir listened eagerly, and when at last Pan Michael told how Zagloba had +freed first himself and then all his comrades from Radzivill’s captivity, +the king held his sides from laughter. +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Vir incomparabilis! vir incomparabilis</i> (an incomparable +man)!” he repeated. “But is he here with you?” +</p> + +<p> +“At the command of your Royal Grace!” answered Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“That noble surpasses Ulysses! Bring him to me to dinner for a pleasant +hour, and also the Skshetuskis; and now toll me what you know more of +Kmita.” +</p> + +<p> +“From letters found on Roh Kovalski we learned that we were sent to Birji +to die. The prince pursued us afterward and tried to surround us, but he did +not take us. We escaped luckily. And that was not all, for not far from Kyedani +we caught Kmita, whom I sent at once to be shot.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh!” said the king, “I see that you had sharp work there in +Lithuania.” +</p> + +<p> +“But first Pan Zagloba had him searched to find letters on his person. In +fact, a letter from the hetman was found, in which we learned that had it not +been for Kmita we should not have been taken to Birji, but would have been shot +without delay in Kyedani.” +</p> + +<p> +“But you see!” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“In view of that we could not take his life. We let him go. What he did +further I know not, but he did not leave Radzivill at that time. God knows what +kind of man he is. It is easier to form an opinion of any one else than of such +a whirlwind. He remained with Radzivill and then went somewhere. Later he +warned us that the prince was marching from Kyedani. It is hard to belittle the +notable service he did us, for had it not been for that warning Radzivill would +have fallen on unprepared troops, and destroyed the squadrons one after the +other. I know not myself, Gracious Lord, what to think,—whether that was +a calumny which Prince Boguslav uttered.” +</p> + +<p> +“That will appear at once,” said the king; and he clapped his +hands. “Call hither Pan Babinich!” said he to a page who appeared +on the threshold. +</p> + +<p> +The page vanished, and soon the door of the king’s chamber opened, and in +it stood Pan Andrei. Volodyovski did not know him at once, for he had changed +greatly and grown pale, as he had not recovered from the struggle in the pass. +Pan Michael therefore looked at him without recognition. +</p> + +<p> +“It is a wonder,” said he at last; “were it not for the +thinness of lips and because your Royal Grace gives another name, I should say +this is Pan Kmita.” +</p> + +<p> +The king smiled and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“This little knight has just told me of a terrible disturber of that +name, but I explained as on my palm that he was deceived in his judgment, and I +am sure that Pan Babinich will confirm what I say.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” answered Babinich, quickly, “one word from +your grace will clear that disturber more than my greatest oath.” +</p> + +<p> +“And the voice is the same,” said Pan Michael, with growing +astonishment; “but that wound across the mouth was not there.” +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy sir,” answered Kmita, “the head of a noble is a +register on which sometimes a man’s hand writes with a sabre. And here is +your note; recognize it.” +</p> + +<p> +He bowed his head, shaven at the sides, and pointed at the long whitish scar. +</p> + +<p> +“My hand!” cried Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“But I say that you do not know Kmita,” put in the king. +</p> + +<p> +“How is that, Gracious Lord?” +</p> + +<p> +“For you know a great soldier, but a self-willed one, an associate in the +treason of Radzivill. But here stands the Hector of Chenstohova, to whom, next +to Kordetski, Yasna Gora owes most; here stands the defender of the country and +my faithful servant, who covered me with his own breast and saved my life when +in the pass I had fallen among the Swedes as among wolves. Such is this new +Kmita. Know him and love him, for he deserves it.” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski began to move his yellow mustaches, not knowing what to say; and +the king added,— +</p> + +<p> +“And know that not only did he promise Prince Boguslav nothing, but he +began on him the punishment for Radzivill intrigues, for he seized him and +intended to give him into your hands.” +</p> + +<p> +“And he warned us against Prince Yanush!” cried Volodyovski. +“What angel converted you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Embrace each other!” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“I loved you at once!” said Kmita to Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +Then they fell into each other’s embraces, and the king looked on them +and pursed out his lips with delight, time after time, as was his habit. But +Kmita embraced the little knight with such feeling that he raised him as he +would a cat, and not soon did he place him back on his feet. +</p> + +<p> +Then the king went to the daily council, for the two hetmans of the kingdom had +come to Lvoff, they were to form the army there, and lead it later to the aid +of Charnyetski, and the confederate divisions marching, under various leaders, +throughout the country. +</p> + +<p> +The knights were alone. +</p> + +<p> +“Come to my quarters,” said Volodyovski; “you will find there +Pan Yan, Pan Stanislav, and Zagloba, who will be glad to hear what the king has +told me. There too is Kharlamp.” +</p> + +<p> +But Kmita approached the little knight with great disquiet on his face. +“Did you find many people with Radzivill?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“Of officers, Kharlamp alone was there.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not ask about the military, but about women.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know what you mean,” answered Pan Michael, flushing somewhat. +“Prince Boguslav took Panna Billevich to Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita’s face changed at once; first it was pale as a parchment, then +purple, and again whiter than before. He did not find words at once; but his +nostrils quivered while he was catching breath, which apparently failed in his +breast. Then he seized his temples with both hands, and running through the +room like a madman, began to repeat,— +</p> + +<p> +“Woe to me, woe, woe!” +</p> + +<p> +“Come! Kharlamp will tell you better, for he was present,” said +Volodyovski. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p> +When they had left the king’s chamber the two knights walked on in +silence. Volodyovski did not wish to speak; Kmita was unable to utter a word, +for pain and rage were gnawing him. They broke through the crowds of people who +had collected in great numbers on the streets in consequence of tidings that +the first detachment of the Tartars promised by the Khan had arrived, and was +to enter the city to be presented to the king. The little knight led on; Kmita +hastened after him like one beside himself, with his cap pulled over his eyes +and stumbling against men on the way. +</p> + +<p> +When they had come to a more spacious place Pan Michael seized Kmita by the +wrist and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Control yourself! Despair will do nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am not in despair,” answered Kmita, “but I want his +blood.” +</p> + +<p> +“You may be sure to find him among the enemies of the country.” +</p> + +<p> +“So much the better,” answered Kmita, feverishly; “but even +should I find him in a church—” +</p> + +<p> +“In God’s name, do not commit sacrilege!” interrupted the +little colonel, quickly. +</p> + +<p> +“That traitor will bring me to sin.” +</p> + +<p> +They were silent for a time. Then Kmita asked, “Where is he now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe in Taurogi, and maybe not. Kharlamp will know better.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let us go.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is not far. The squadron is outside the town, but we are here; and +Kharlamp is with us.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Kmita began to breathe heavily like a man going up a steep mountain. +“I am fearfully weak yet,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“You need moderation all the more, since you will have to deal with such +a knight.” +</p> + +<p> +“I had him once, and here is what remained.” Kmita pointed to the +scar on his face. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me how it was, for the king barely mentioned it.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita began to tell; and though he gritted his teeth, and even threw his cap on +the ground, still his mind escaped from misfortune, and he calmed himself +somewhat. +</p> + +<p> +“I knew that you were daring,” said Volodyovski; “but to +carry off Radzivill from the middle of his own squadron, I did not expect that, +even of you.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile they arrived at the quarters. Pan Yan and Pan Stanislav, Zagloba, +Jendzian, and Kharlamp were looking at Crimean coats made of sheepskin, which a +trading Tartar had brought. Kharlamp, who knew Kmita better, recognized him at +one glance of the eye, and dropping the coat exclaimed,— +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus, Mary!” +</p> + +<p> +“May the name of the Lord be praised!” cried Jendzian. +</p> + +<p> +But before all had recovered breath after the wonder, Volodyovski said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I present to you, gentlemen, the Hector of Chenstohova, the faithful +servant of the king, who has shed his blood for the faith, the country, and the +sovereign.” +</p> + +<p> +When astonishment had grown still greater, the worthy Pan Michael began to +relate with enthusiasm what he had heard from the king of Kmita’s +services, and from Pan Andrei himself of the seizure of Prince Boguslav; at +last he finished thus,— +</p> + +<p> +“Not only is what Prince Boguslav told of this knight not true, but the +prince has no greater enemy than Pan Kmita, and therefore he has taken Panna +Billevich from Kyedani, so as to pour out on him in some way his +vengeance.” +</p> + +<p> +“And this cavalier has saved our lives and warned the confederates +against Prince Yanush,” cried Zagloba. “In view of such services, +previous offences are nothing. As God lives, it is well that he came to us with +you, Pan Michael, and not alone; it is well also that our squadron is outside +the city, for there is a terrible hatred against him among the Lauda men, and +before he could have uttered a syllable they would have cut him to +pieces.” +</p> + +<p> +“We greet you with full hearts as a brother and future comrade,” +said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp seized his head. +</p> + +<p> +“Such men never sink,” said he; “they swim out on every side, +and besides bring glory to the shore.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did I not tell you that?” cried Zagloba. “The minute I saw +him in Kyedani I thought at once, ‘That is a soldier, a man of +courage.’ And you remember that we fell to kissing each other +straightway. It is true that Radzivill was ruined through me, but also through +him. God inspired me in Billeviche not to let him be shot. Worthy gentlemen, it +is not becoming to give a dry reception to a cavalier like him; he may think +that we are hypocrites.” +</p> + +<p> +When he heard this Jendzian packed off the Tartar with his coats, and bustled +around with the servant to get drinks. +</p> + +<p> +But Kmita was thinking only how to hear most quickly from Kharlamp about the +removal of Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“Where were you then?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“I scarcely ever left Kyedani,” answered Great Nose. “Prince +Boguslav came to our prince voevoda. He so dressed himself for supper that +one’s eyes ached in looking at him; it was clear that Panna Billevich had +pleased him mightily, for he was almost purring from pleasure, like a cat +rubbed on the back. It is said that a cat repeats prayers, but if Boguslav +prayed he was praising the devil. Oh, but he was agreeable, and sweet and +pleasant spoken.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let that go!” said Pan Michael, “you cause too great pain to +the knight.” +</p> + +<p> +“On the contrary. Speak! speak!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“He said then at table,” continued Kharlamp, “that it was no +derogation even to a Radzivill to marry the daughter of a common noble, and +that he himself would prefer such a lady to one of those princesses whom the +King and Queen of France wished to give him, and whose names I cannot remember, +for they sounded as when a man is calling hounds in the forest.” +</p> + +<p> +“Less of that!” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“He said it evidently to captivate the lady; we, knowing that, began one +after another to look and mutter, thinking truly that he was setting traps for +the innocent.” +</p> + +<p> +“But she? but she?” asked Kmita, feverishly. +</p> + +<p> +“She, like a maiden of high blood and lofty bearing, showed no +satisfaction, did not look at him; but when Boguslav began to talk about you, +she fixed her eyes on him quickly. It is terrible what happened when he said +that you offered for so many ducats to seize the king and deliver him dead or +alive to the Swedes. We thought the soul would go out of her; but her anger +against you was so great that it overcame her woman’s weakness. When he +told with what disgust he had rejected your offer, she began to respect him, +and look at him thankfully; afterward she did not withdraw her hand from him +when he wished to escort her from the table.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita covered his eyes with his hands. “Strike, strike, whoso believes in +God!” said he. Suddenly he sprang from his place. “Farewell, +gentlemen!” +</p> + +<p> +“How is this? Whither?” asked Zagloba, stopping the way. +</p> + +<p> +“The king will give me permission; I will go and find him,” said +Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“By God’s wounds, wait! You have not yet learned all, and to find +him there is time. With whom will you go? Where will you find him?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita perhaps might not have obeyed, but strength failed him; he was exhausted +from wounds, therefore he dropped on the bench, and resting his shoulders +against the wall, closed his eyes. Zagloba gave him a glass of wine; he seized +it with trembling bands, and spilling some on his beard and breast, drained it +to the bottom. +</p> + +<p> +“There is nothing lost,” said Pan Yan; “but the greatest +prudence is needed, for you have an affair with a celebrated man. Through +hurried action and sudden impulse you may ruin Panna Billevich and +yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hear Kharlamp to the end,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita gritted his teeth. “I am listening with patience.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whether the lady went willingly I know not,” said Kharlamp, +“for I was not present at her departure. I know that the sword-bearer of +Rossyeni protested when they urged him previously; then they shut him up in the +barracks, and finally he was allowed to go to Billeviche without hindrance. The +lady is in evil hands; this cannot be concealed, for according to what they say +of the young prince no Mussulman has such greed of the fair sex. If any fair +head strikes his eye, though she be married, he is ready to disregard even +that.” +</p> + +<p> +“Woe! woe!” repeated Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“The scoundrel!” cried Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“But it is a wonder to me that the prince voevoda gave her to +Boguslav,” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“I am not a statesman, therefore I repeat only what the officers said, +and namely Ganhoff, who knew all the secrets of the prince; I heard with my own +ears how some one cried out in his presence, ‘Kmita will have nothing +after our young prince!’ and Ganhoff answered, ‘There is more of +politics in this removal than love. Prince Boguslav,’ said he, +‘lets no one off; but if the lady resists he will not be able to treat +her like others, in Taurogi, for a noise would be made. Yanush’s princess +is living there with her daughter; therefore Boguslav must be very careful, for +he seeks the hand of his cousin. It will be hard for him to simulate +virtue,’ said he, ‘but he must in Taurogi.’” +</p> + +<p> +“A stone has of course fallen from your heart,” cried Zagloba, +“for from this it is clear that nothing threatens the lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“But why did they take her away?” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“It is well that you turn to me,” said Zagloba, “for I reason +out quickly more than one thing over which another would break his head for a +whole year in vain. Why did he take her away? I do not deny that she must have +struck his eye; but he took her away to restrain through her all the +Billeviches, who are numerous and powerful, from rising against the +Radzivills.” +</p> + +<p> +“That may be!” said Kharlamp. “It is certain that in Taurogi +he must curb himself greatly; there he cannot go to extremes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is he now?” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince voevoda supposed in Tykotsin that he must be at Elblang with +the King of Sweden, to whom he had to go for reinforcements. It is certain that +he is not in Taurogi at present, for envoys did not find him there.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kharlamp turned to Kmita. “If you wish to listen to a simple soldier +I will tell you what I think. If any misadventure has happened to Panna +Billevich in Taurogi, or if the prince has been able to arouse in her +affection, you have no reason to go; but if not, if she is with Yanush’s +widow and will go with her to Courland, it will be safer there than elsewhere, +and a better place could not be found for her in this whole Commonwealth, +covered with the flame of war.” +</p> + +<p> +“If you are a man of such courage as they say, and as I myself +think,” added Pan Yan, “you have first to get Boguslav, and when +you have him in your hands, you have all.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is he now?” repeated Kmita, turning to Kharlamp. +</p> + +<p> +“I have told you already,” answered Great Nose, “but you are +forgetful from sorrow; I suppose that he is in Elblang, and certainly will take +the field with Karl Gustav against Charnyetski.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will do best if you go with us to Charnyetski, for in this way you +will soon meet Boguslav,” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you, gentlemen, for kindly advice,” cried Kmita. And he +began to take hasty farewell of all, and they did not detain him, knowing that +a suffering man is not good for the cup or for converse; but Pan Michael +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I will attend you to the archbishop’s palace, for you are so +reduced that you may fall somewhere on the street.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I!” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“Then we will all go!” put in Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +They girded on their sabres, put on warm burkas, and went out. On the streets +there were still more people than before. Every moment the knights met groups +of armed nobles, soldiers, servants of magnates and nobles, Armenians, Jews, +Wallachians, Russian peasants from the suburbs burned during the two attacks of +Hmelnitski. +</p> + +<p> +Merchants were standing before their shops; the windows of the houses were +filled with heads of curious people. All were repeating that the chambul had +come, and would soon march through the city to be presented to the king. Every +living person wished to see that chambul, for it was a great rarity to look on +Tartars marching in peace through the streets of a city. In other temper had +Lvoff seen these guests hitherto; the city had seen them only beyond the walls, +in the form of impenetrable clouds on the background of flaming suburbs and +neighboring villages. Now they were to march in as allies against Sweden. Our +knights were barely able to open a way for themselves through the throng. Every +moment there were cries; “They are coming, they are coming!” People +ran from street to street, and were packed in such masses that not a step +forward was possible. +</p> + +<p> +“Ha!” said Zagloba, “let us stop a little, Pan Michael. They +will remind us of the near past, for we did not look sidewise but straight into +the eyes of these bull-drivers. And I too have been in captivity among them. +They say that the future Khan is as much like me as one cup is like another. +But why talk of past follies?” +</p> + +<p> +“They are coming, they are coming!” cried the people again. +</p> + +<p> +“God has changed the hearts of the dog-brothers,” continued +Zagloba, “so that instead of ravaging the Russian borders they come to +aid us. This is a clear miracle! For I tell you that if for every pagan whom +this old hand has sent to hell, one of my sins had been forgiven, I should be +canonized now, and people would have to fast on the eve of my festival, or I +should have been swept up living to heaven in a chariot of fire.” +</p> + +<p> +“And do you remember,” asked Volodyovski, “how it was with +them when they were returning from the Valadynka from Rashkoff to +Zbaraj?” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course I do, Pan Michael; but somehow you fell into a hole, and I +chased through the thick wood to the high-road. And when we came back to find +you, the knights could not restrain their astonishment, for at each bush lay a +dead beast of a Tartar.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Volodyovski remembered that at the time in question it was just the +opposite; but he said nothing, for he was wonderfully astonished, and before he +could recover breath voices were shouting for the tenth time; “They are +coming, they are coming!” +</p> + +<p> +The shout became general; then there was silence, and all heads were turned in +the direction from which the chambul was to come. Now piercing music was heard +in the distance, the crowds began to open from the middle of the street toward +the walls of the houses, and from the end appeared the first Tartar horsemen. +</p> + +<p> +“See! they have a band even; that is uncommon with Tartars!” +</p> + +<p> +“They wish to make the best impression,” said Pan Yan; “but +still some chambuls after they have lived long in camp, have their own +musicians. That must be a choice body.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the horsemen had come up and begun to ride past. In front on a pied +horse sat a Tartar holding two pipes in his mouth, and as tawny as if he had +been dried and smoked. Bending his head backward and closing his eyes, he ran +his fingers over those pipes, obtaining from them notes squeaking, sharp, and +so quick that the ear could barely catch them. After him rode two others +holding staffs furnished at the ends with brass rattles, and they were shaking +these rattles as if in frenzy; farther back some were making shrill sounds with +brass plates, some were beating drums, while others were playing in Cossack +fashion on teorbans; and all, with the exception of the pipers were singing, or +rather howling, from moment to moment, a wild song, at the same time showing +their teeth and rolling their eyes. After that chaotic music, which went like a +brawl past the dwellers in Lvoff, clattered horses four abreast; the whole +party was made up of about four hundred men. +</p> + +<p> +This was in fact a chosen body, as a specimen, and to do honor to the King of +Poland, for his own use, and as an earnest sent by the Khan. They were led by +Akbah Ulan, of the Dobrudja, therefore of the sturdiest Tartars in battle, an +old and experienced warrior, greatly respected in the Uluses (Tartar villages), +because of his bravery and severity. He rode between the music and the rest of +the party, dressed in a shuba of rose-colored velvet, but greatly faded, and +too narrow for his powerful person; it was lined with tattered marten-skin, he +held in front of him a baton, like those used by Cossack colonels. His red face +had become blue from the cold wind, and he swayed somewhat on his lofty saddle; +from one moment to another he looked from side to side, or turned his face +around to his Tartars, as if not perfectly sure that they could restrain +themselves at sight of the crowds, the women, the children, the open shops, the +rich goods, and that they would not rush with a shout at those wonders. +</p> + +<p> +But they rode on quietly, like dogs led by chains and fearing the lash, and +only from their gloomy and greedy glances might it be inferred what was passing +in the souls of those barbarians. The crowds gazed on them with curiosity, +though almost with hostility, so great in those parts of the Commonwealth was +hatred of the Pagan. From time to time cries were heard: “Ahu! +ahu!” as if at wolves. Still there were some who expected much from them. +</p> + +<p> +“The Swedes have a terrible fear of the Tartars, and the soldiers tell +wonders of them, from which their fear increases,” said some, looking at +the Tartars. +</p> + +<p> +“And justly,” answered others. “It is not for the cavalry of +Karl to war with the Tartars, who, especially those of the Dobrudja, are equal +sometimes to our cavalry. Before a Swedish horseman can look around, the Tartar +will have him on a lariat.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a sin to call sons of Pagans to aid us,” said some voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Sin or no sin, they will serve us.” +</p> + +<p> +“A very decent chambul!” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Really the Tartars were well dressed in white, black, and party-colored +sheepskin coats, the wool on the outside; black bows, and quivers full of +arrows were shaking on their shoulders; each had besides a sabre, which was not +always the case in large chambuls, for the poorest were not able to obtain such +a luxury, using in hand-to-hand conflict a horse-skull fastened to a club. But +these were men, as was said, to be exhibited; therefore some of them had even +muskets in felt cases, and all were sitting on good horses, small, it is true, +rather lean and short, with long forelocks on their faces, but of incomparable +swiftness. +</p> + +<p> +In the centre of the party went also four camels: the crowd concluded that in +their packs were presents from the Khan to the king; but in that they were +mistaken, for the Khan chose to take gifts, not give them; he promised, it is +true, reinforcements, but not for nothing. +</p> + +<p> +When they had passed, Zagloba said: “That aid will cost dear. Though +allies, they will ruin the country. After the Swedes and them, there will not +be one sound roof in the Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is sure that they are terribly grievous allies,” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard on the road,” said Pan Michael, “that the king +has made a treaty, that to every five hundred of the horde is to be given one +of our officers, who is to have command and the right of punishment. Otherwise +these friends would leave only heaven and earth behind them.” +</p> + +<p> +“But this is a small chambul; what will the king do with it?” +</p> + +<p> +“The Khan sent them to be placed at the disposal of the king almost as a +gift; and though he will make account of them, still the king can do what he +likes with them, and undoubtedly he will send them with us to +Charnyetski.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Charnyetski will be able to keep them in bounds.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not unless he is among them, otherwise they will plunder. It cannot be, +but they will give them an officer at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“And will he lead them? But what will that big Agá do?” +</p> + +<p> +“If he does not meet a fool, he will carry out orders.” +</p> + +<p> +“Farewell, gentlemen!” cried Kmita, on a sudden. +</p> + +<p> +“Whither in such haste?” +</p> + +<p> +“To fall at the king’s feet, and ask him to give me command of +these people.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<p> +That same day Akbah Ulan beat with his forehead to the king, and delivered to +him letters of the Khan in which the latter repeated his promise of moving with +one hundred thousand of the horde against the Swedes, when forty thousand +thalers were paid him in advance, and when the first grass was on the fields, +without which, in a country so ruined by war, it would be difficult to maintain +such a great number of horses. As to that small chambul, the Khan had sent it +to his “dearest brother” as a proof of his favor, so that the +Cossacks, who were still thinking of disobedience, might have an evident sign +that this favor endures steadily, and let but the first sound of rebellion +reach the ears of the Khan, his vengeful anger will fall on all Cossacks. +</p> + +<p> +The king received Akbah Ulan affably, and presenting him with a beautiful +steed, said that he would send him soon to Pan Charnyetski in the field, for he +wished to convince the Swedes by facts, that the Khan was giving aid to the +Commonwealth. The eyes of the Tartar glittered when he heard of service under +Charnyetski; for knowing him from the time of former wars in the Ukraine, he, +in common with all the Agás, admired him. +</p> + +<p> +But he was less pleased with the part of the Khan’s letter which asked +the king to attach to the chambul an officer, who knew the country well, who +would lead the party and restrain the men, and also Akbah Ulan himself from +plunder and excesses. Akbah Ulan would have preferred certainly not to have +such a patron over him; but since the will of the Khan and the king were +explicit, he merely beat with his forehead once more, hiding carefully his +vexation, and perhaps promising in his soul that not he would bow down before +that patron, but the patron before him. +</p> + +<p> +Barely had the Tartar gone out, and the senators withdrawn, when Kmita, who had +an audience at once, fell at the feet of the king, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord! I am not worthy of the favor for which I ask, but I set +as much by it as by life itself. Permit me to take command over these Tartars +and move to the field with them at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not refuse,” answered the astonished Yan Kazimir, “for +a better leader it would be difficult to find. A cavalier of great daring and +resolve is needed to hold them in check, or they will begin straightway to burn +and murder our people. To this only am I firmly opposed, that you go tomorrow, +before your flesh has healed from the wounds made by Swedish rapiers.” +</p> + +<p> +“I feel that as soon as the wind blows around me in the field, my +weakness will pass, and strength will enter me again; as to the Tartars, I will +manage them and bend them into soft wax.” +</p> + +<p> +“But why in such haste? Whither are you going?” +</p> + +<p> +“Against the Swedes, Gracious Lord; I have nothing to wait for here, +since what I wanted I have, that is your favor and pardon for my former +offences. I will go to Charnyetski with Volodyovski, or I will attack the enemy +separately, as I did once Hovanski, and I trust in God that I shall have +success.” +</p> + +<p> +“It must be that something else is drawing you to the field.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will confess as to a father, and open my whole soul. Prince Boguslav, +not content with the calumny which he cast on me, has taken that maiden from +Kyedani and confined her in Taurogi, or worse, for he is attacking her honesty, +her virtue, her honor as a woman. Gracious Lord! the reason is confused in my +head, when I think in what hands the poor girl is at present. By the passion of +the Lord! these wounds pain less. That maiden thinks to this moment that I +offered that damned soul, that arch-cur to raise hands on your Royal +Grace—and she holds me the lowest of all the degenerate. I cannot endure, +I am not able to endure, till I find her, till I free her. Give me those +Tartars and I swear that I will not do my own work alone, but I will crush so +many Swedes that the court of this castle might be paved with their +skulls.” +</p> + +<p> +“Calm yourself,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“If I had to leave service and the defence of majesty and the +Commonwealth for my own cause, it would be a shame for me to ask, but here one +unites with the other. The time has come to beat the Swedes, I will do nothing +else. The time has come to hunt a traitor; I will hunt him to Livland, to +Courland, and even as far as the Northerners, or beyond the sea to Sweden, +should he hide there.” +</p> + +<p> +“We have information that Boguslav will move very soon with Karl, from +Elblang.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will go to meet them.” +</p> + +<p> +“With such a small chambul? They will cover you with a cap.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hovanski, with eighty thousand, was covering me, but he did not +succeed.” +</p> + +<p> +“All the loyal army is under Charnyetski. They will strike Charnyetski +first of all.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will go to Charnyetski. It is needful to give him aid the more +quickly.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will go to Charnyetski, but to Taurogi with such a small number you +cannot go. Radzivill delivered all the castles in Jmud to the enemy, and +Swedish garrisons are stationed everywhere; but Taurogi, it seems to me, is +somewhere on the boundary of Prussia?” +</p> + +<p> +“On the very boundary of Electoral Prussia, but on our side, and twenty +miles from Tyltsa. Wherever I have to go, I will go, and not only will I not +lose men, but crowds of daring soldiers will gather to me on the road. And +consider this, Gracious Lord, that wherever I show myself the whole +neighborhood will mount against the Swedes. First, I will rouse Jmud, if no one +else does it. What place may not be reached now, when the whole country is +boiling like water in a pot? I am accustomed to be in a boil.” +</p> + +<p> +“But you do not think of this,—perhaps the Tartars will not like to +go so far with you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Only let them not like! only let them try not to like,” said +Kmita, gritting his teeth at the very thought, “as there are four +hundred, or whatever number there is of them, I’ll have all four hundred +hanged—there will be no lack of trees! Just let them try to rebel against +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yandrek!” cried the king, falling into good humor and pursing his +lips, “as God is dear to me, I cannot find a better shepherd for those +lambs! Take them and lead them wherever it pleases thee most.” +</p> + +<p> +“I give thanks, Gracious Lord!” said the knight, pressing the knees +of the king. +</p> + +<p> +“When do you wish to start?” asked Yan Kazimir. +</p> + +<p> +“God willing, to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe Akbah Ulan will not be ready, because his horses are +road-weary.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will have him lashed to a saddle with a lariat, and he will go on +foot if he spares his horse.” +</p> + +<p> +“I see that you will get on with him. Still use mild measures while +possible. But now, Yendrek, it is late; to-morrow I wish to see you again. +Meanwhile take this ring, tell your royalist lady that you have it from the +king, and tell her that the king commands her to love firmly his faithful +servant and defender.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant me,” said the young hero, with tears in his eyes, +“not to die save in defence of your Royal Grace!” +</p> + +<p> +Here the king withdrew, for it was already late; and Kmita went to his own +quarters to prepare for the road, and think what to begin, and whither he ought +to go first. +</p> + +<p> +He remembered the words of Kharlamp, that should it appear that Boguslav was +not in Taurogi it would really be better to leave the maiden there, for from +Taurogi being near the boundary, it was easy to take refuge in Tyltsa, under +care of the elector. Moreover, though the Swedes had abandoned in his last need +the voevoda of Vilna, it was reasonable to expect that they would have regard +for his widow; hence, if Olenka was under her care, no evil could meet her. If +they had gone to Courland, that was still better. “And to Courland I +cannot go with my Tartars,” said Kmita to himself, “for that is +another State.” +</p> + +<p> +He walked then, and worked with his head. Hour followed hour, but he did not +think yet of rest; and the thought of his new expedition so cheered him, that +though that day he was weak in the morning, he felt now that his strength was +returning, and he was ready to mount in a moment. +</p> + +<p> +The servants at last had finished tying the saddle-straps and were preparing to +sleep, when all at once some one began to scratch at the door of the room. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is there?” asked Kmita. Then to his attendant, “Go and +see!” +</p> + +<p> +He went, and after he had spoken to some one outside the door, he returned. +</p> + +<p> +“Some soldier wants to see your grace greatly. He says that his name is +Soroka.” +</p> + +<p> +“By the dear God! let him in,” called Kmita. And without waiting +for the attendant to carry out the order, he sprang to the door. “Come +in, dear Soroka! come hither!” +</p> + +<p> +The soldier entered the room, and with his first movement wished to fall at the +feet of his colonel, for he was a friend and a servant as faithful as he was +attached; but soldierly subordination carried the day, therefore he stood erect +and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“At the orders of your grace!” +</p> + +<p> +“Be greeted, dear comrade, be greeted!” said Kmita, with emotion. +“I thought they had cut you to pieces in Chenstohova.” And he +pressed Soroka’s head, then began to shake him, which he could do without +lowering himself too much, for Soroka was descended from village nobility. +</p> + +<p> +Then the old sergeant fell to embracing Kmita’s knees. +</p> + +<p> +“Whence do you come?” asked Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“From Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +“And you were looking for me?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> + +<p> +“And from whom did you learn that I was alive?” +</p> + +<p> +“From Kuklinovski’s men. The prior, Kordetski, celebrated High Mass +from delight, in thanksgiving to God. Then there was a report that Pan Babinich +had conducted the king through the mountains; so I knew that that was your +grace, no one else.” +</p> + +<p> +“And Father Kordetski is well?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well; only it is unknown whether the angels will not take him alive to +heaven any day, for he is a saint.” +</p> + +<p> +“Surely he is nothing else. Where did you discover that I came with the +king to Lvoff?” +</p> + +<p> +“I thought, since you conducted the king you must be near him; but I was +afraid that your grace might move to the field and that I should be +late.” +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow I go with the Tartars.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then it has happened well, for I bring your grace two full belts, one +which I wore and the other you carried, and besides, those precious stones +which we took from the caps of boyars, and those which your grace took when we +seized the treasury of Hovanski.” +</p> + +<p> +“Those were good times when we gathered in wealth; but there cannot be +much of it now, for I left a good bit with Father Kordetski.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know how much, but the prior himself said that two good +villages might be bought with it.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Soroka drew near the table, and began to remove the belts from his body. +“And the stones are in this canteen,” added he, putting the canteen +near the belts. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita made no reply, but shook in his hand some gold ducats without counting +them, and said to the sergeant,— +</p> + +<p> +“Take these!” +</p> + +<p> +“I fall at the feet of your grace. Ei, if I had had on the road one such +ducat!” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because I am terribly weak. There are few places now where they will +give one morsel of bread to a man, for all are afraid; and at last I barely +dragged my feet forward from hunger.” +</p> + +<p> +“By the dear God! but you had all this with you!” +</p> + +<p> +“I dared not use it without leave.” +</p> + +<p> +“Take this!” said Kmita, giving him another handful. Then he cried +to the servants,— +</p> + +<p> +“Now, scoundrels, give him to eat in less time than a man might say +‘Our Father,’ or I’ll take your heads!” +</p> + +<p> +They sprang one in front of another, and in little while there was an enormous +dish of smoked sausage before Soroka, and a flask of vodka. The soldier +fastened his eyes greedily on the food, and his lips and mustaches were +quivering; but he dared not sit in presence of the colonel. +</p> + +<p> +“Sit down, eat!” commanded Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita had barely spoken when a dry sausage was crunching between the powerful +jaws of Soroka. The two attendants looked on him with protruding eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Be off!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +They sprang out with all breath through the door; out the knight walked with +hasty steps up and down the room, not wishing to interrupt his faithful +servant. But he, as often as he poured out a glass of vodka, looked sidewise at +the colonel, fearing to find a frown; then he emptied the glass and turned +toward the wall. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita walked, walked; at last he began to speak to himself. “It cannot be +otherwise!” muttered he; “it is needful to send him. I will give +orders to tell her—No use, she will not believe! She will not read a +letter, for she holds me a traitor and a dog. Let him not come in her way, but +let him see and tell me what is taking place there.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he said on a sudden: “Soroka!” +</p> + +<p> +The soldier sprang up so quickly that he came near overturning the table, and +straightened as straight as a string. +</p> + +<p> +“According to order!” +</p> + +<p> +“You are an honest man, and in need you are cunning. You will go on a +long road, but not on a hungry one.” +</p> + +<p> +“According to order!” +</p> + +<p> +“To Tyltsa, on the Prussian border. There Panna Billevich is living in +the castle of Boguslav Radzivill. You will learn if the prince is there, and +have an eye on everything. Do not try to see Panna Billevich, but should a +meeting happen of itself, tell her, and swear that I brought the king through +the mountains, and that I am near his person. She will surely not give you +credit; for the prince has defamed me, saying that I wished to attempt the life +of the king,—which is a lie befitting a dog.” +</p> + +<p> +“According to order!” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not try to see her, as I have said, for she will not believe you. But +if you meet by chance, tell her what you know. Look at every thing, and listen! +But take care of yourself, for if the prince is there and recognizes you, or if +any one from his court recognizes you, you will be impaled on a stake. I would +send old Kyemlich, but he is in the other world, slain in the pass, and his +sons are too dull. They will go with me. Have you been in Tyltsa?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have not, your grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will go to Shchuchyn, thence along the Prussian boundary to Tyltsa. +Taurogi is twenty miles distant from Tyltsa and opposite, on our side. Stay in +Taurogi till you have seen everything, then come to me. You will find me where +I shall be. Ask for the Tartars and Pan Babinich. And now go to sleep with the +Kyemliches. To-morrow for the road.” +</p> + +<p> +After these words, Soroka went out. Kmita did not lie down to sleep for a long +time, but at last weariness overcame him; then he threw himself on the bed, and +slept a stone sleep. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning he rose greatly refreshed and stronger than the day before. The +whole court was already on foot, and the usual activity had begun. Kmita went +first to the chancellery, for his commission and safe-conduct; he visited Suba +Gazi Bey, chief of the Khan’s embassy in Lvoff, and had a long +conversation with him. +</p> + +<p> +During that conversation Pan Andrei put his hand twice in his purse; so that +when he was going out Suba Gazi Bey changed caps with him, gave him a baton of +green feathers and some yards of an equally green cord of silk. +</p> + +<p> +Armed in this fashion, Pan Andrei returned to the king, who had just come from +Mass; then the young man fell once more at the knees of the sovereign; after +that he went, together with the Kyemliches and his attendants, directly to the +place where Akbah Ulan was quartered with his chambul. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of him the old Tartar put his hand to his forehead, his mouth, and his +breast; but learning who Kmita was and why he had come, he grew severe at once; +his face became gloomy, and was veiled with haughtiness. +</p> + +<p> +“And the king has sent you to me as a guide,” said he to Kmita, in +broken Russian; “you will show me the road, though I should be able to go +myself wherever it is needed, and you are young and inexperienced.” +</p> + +<p> +“He indicates in advance what I am to be,” thought Kmita, +“but I will be polite to him as long as I can.” Then he said aloud: +“Akbah Ulan, the king has sent me here as a chief, not as a guide. And I +tell you this, that you will do better not to oppose the will of his +grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“The Khan makes appointments over the Tartars, not the king,” +answered Akbah Ulan. +</p> + +<p> +“Akbah Ulan,” repeated Kmita, with emphasis, “the Khan has +made a present of thee to the king, as he would a dog or a falcon; therefore +show no disrespect to him, lest thou be tied like a dog with a rope.” +</p> + +<p> +“Allah!” cried the astonished Tartar. +</p> + +<p> +“Hei! have a care that thou anger me not!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Akbah Ulan’s eyes became bloodshot. For a time he could not utter a word; +the veins on his neck were swollen, his hands sought his dagger. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll bite, I’ll bite!” said he, with stifled voice. +</p> + +<p> +But Pan Andrei, though he had promised to be polite, had had enough, for by +nature he was very excitable. In one moment therefore something struck him as +if a serpent had stung; he seized the Tartar by the thin beard with his whole +hand, and pushing back his head as if he wished to show him something on the +ceiling, he began to talk through his set teeth. +</p> + +<p> +“Hear me, son of a goat! Thou wouldst like to have no one above thee, so +as to burn, rob, and slaughter! Thou wouldst have me as guide! Here is thy +guide! thou hast a guide!” And thrusting him to the wall, he began to +pound his head against a corner of it. +</p> + +<p> +He let him go at last, completely stunned, but not looking for his knife now. +Kmita, following the impulse of his hot blood, discovered the best method of +convincing Oriental people accustomed to slavery; for in the pounded head of +the Tartar, in spite of all the rage which was stifling him, the thought +gleamed at once how powerful and commanding must that knight be who could act +in this manner with him, Akbah Ulan; and with his bloody lips he repeated three +times,— +</p> + +<p> +“Bagadyr (hero), Bagadyr, Bagadyr!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita meanwhile placed on his own head the cap of Suba Grazi, drew forth the +green baton, which he had kept behind his belt of purpose till that moment, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Look at these, slave! and these!” +</p> + +<p> +“Allah!” exclaimed the astonished Ulan. +</p> + +<p> +“And here!” added Kmita, taking the cord from his pocket. +</p> + +<p> +But Akbah Ulan was already lying at his feet, and striking the floor with his +forehead. +</p> + +<p> +An hour later the Tartars were marching out in a long line over the road from +Lvoff to Vyelki Ochi; and Kmita, sitting on a valiant chestnut steed which the +king had given him, drove along the chambul as a shepherd dog drives sheep. +Akbah Ulan looked at the young hero with wonder and fear. +</p> + +<p> +The Tartars, who were judges of warriors, divined at the first glance that +under that leader there would be no lack of blood and plunder, and went +willingly with singing and music. +</p> + +<p> +And Kmita’s heart swelled within him when he looked at those forms, +resembling beasts of the wilderness; for they were dressed in sheepskin and +camel-skin coats with the wool outside. The wave of wild heads shook with the +movements of the horses; he counted them, and was thinking how much he could +undertake with that force. +</p> + +<p> +“It is a peculiar body,” thought he, “and it seems to me as +if I were leading a pack of wolves; and with such men precisely would it be +possible to run through the whole Commonwealth, and trample all Prussia. Wait +awhile, Prince Boguslav!” +</p> + +<p> +Here boastful thoughts began to flow into his head, for he was inclined greatly +to boastfulness. +</p> + +<p> +“God has given man adroitness,” said he to himself; +“yesterday I had only the two Kyemliches, but to-day four hundred horses +are clattering behind me. Only let the dance begin; I shall have a thousand or +two of such roisterers as my old comrades would not be ashamed of. Wait a +while, Boguslav!” +</p> + +<p> +But after a moment he added, to quiet his own conscience: “And I shall +serve also the king and the country.” +</p> + +<p> +He fell into excellent humor. This too pleased him greatly, that nobles, Jews, +peasants, even large crowds of general militia, could not guard themselves from +fear in the first moment at sight of his Tartars. And there was a fog, for the +thaw had filled the air with a vapor. It happened then every little while that +some one rode up near, and seeing all at once whom they had before them, cried +out,— +</p> + +<p> +“The word is made flesh!” +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus! Mary! Joseph!” +</p> + +<p> +“The Tartars! the horde!” +</p> + +<p> +But the Tartars passed peacefully the equipages, loaded wagons, herds of horses +and travellers. It would have been different had the leader permitted, but they +dared not undertake anything of their own will, for they had seen how at +starting Akbah Ulan had held the stirrup of that leader. +</p> + +<p> +Now Lvoff had vanished in the distance beyond the mist. The Tartars had ceased +to sing, and the chambul moved slowly amid the clouds of steam rising from the +horses. All at once the tramp of a horse was heard behind. In a moment two +horsemen appeared. One of them was Pan Michael, the other was the tenant of +Vansosh; both, passing the chambul, pushed straight to Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop! stop!” cried the little knight. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita held in his horse. “Is that you?” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael reined in his horse. “With the forehead!” said he, +“letters from the king: one to you, the other to the voevoda of +Vityebsk.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am going to Pan Charnyetski, not to Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +“But read the letter.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita broke the seal and read as follows:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +We learn through a courier just arrived from the voevoda of Vityebsk that he +cannot march hither to Little Poland, and is turning back again to Podlyasye, +because Prince Boguslav, who is not with the King of Sweden, has planned to +fall upon Tykotsin and Pan Sapyeha. And since he must leave a great part of his +troops in garrisons, we order you to go to his assistance with that Tartar +chambul. And since your own wish is thus gratified, we need not urge you to +hasten. The other letter you will give to the voevoda; in it we commend Pan +Babinich, our faithful servant, to the good will of the voevoda, and above all +to the protection of God. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="sc">Yan Kazimir</span>, <i>King</i>. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +“By the dear God! by the dear God! This is happy news for me!” +cried Kmita. “I know not how to thank the king and you for it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I offered myself to come,” said the little knight, “out of +compassion, for I saw your pain; I came so that the letters might reach you +surely.” +</p> + +<p> +“When did the courier arrive?” +</p> + +<p> +“We were with the king at dinner,—I, Pan Yan, Pan Stanislav, +Kharlamp, and Zagloba. You cannot imagine what Zagloba told there about the +carelessness of Sapyeha, and his own services. It is enough that the king cried +from continual laughter, and both hetmans were holding their sides all the +time. At last the chamber servant came with a letter; when the king burst out, +‘Go to the hangman, maybe evil news will spoil my fun!’ When he +learned that it was from Pan Sapyeha, he began to read it. Indeed he read evil +news, for that was confirmed which had long been discussed; the elector had +broken all his oaths, and against his own rightful sovereign had joined the +King of Sweden at last.” +</p> + +<p> +“Another enemy, as if there were few of them hitherto!” cried +Kmita; and he folded his hands. “Great God! only let Pan Sapyeha send me +for a week to Prussia, and God the Merciful grant that ten generations will +remember me and my Tartars.” +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps you will go there,” said Pan Michael; “but first you +must defeat Boguslav, for as a result of that treason of the elector is he +furnished with men and permitted to go to Podlyasye.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then we shall meet, as to-day is to-day; as God is in heaven, so shall +we meet,” cried Kmita, with flashing eyes. “If you had brought me +the appointment of voevoda of Vilna, it would not have given me more +pleasure.” +</p> + +<p> +“The king too cried at once: ‘There is an expedition ready for +Yendrek, from which the soul will rejoice in him.’ He wanted to send his +servant after you, but I said I will go myself, I will take farewell of him +once more.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita bent on his horse, and seized the little knight in his embrace. +</p> + +<p> +“A brother would not have done for me what you have done! God grant me to +thank you in some way.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tfu! Did not I want to shoot you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I deserved nothing better. Never mind! May I be slain in the first +battle if in all knighthood I love a man more than I love you.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they began to embrace again at parting, and Volodyovski said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Be careful with Boguslav, be careful, for it is no easy matter with +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“For one of us death is written. Ei! if you who are a genius at the sabre +could discover your secrets to me. But there is no time. As it is, may the +angels help me; and I will see his blood, or my eyes will close forever on the +light of day.” +</p> + +<p> +“God aid you! A lucky journey, and give angelica to those traitors of +Prussians!” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“Be sure on that point. The disgusting Lutherans!” +</p> + +<p> +Here Volodyovski nodded to Jendzian, who during this time was talking to Akbah +Ulan, explaining the former successes of Kmita over Hovanski. And both rode +back to Lvoff. +</p> + +<p> +Then Kmita turned his chambul on the spot, as a driver turns his wagon, and +went straight toward the north. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<p> +Though the Tartars, and especially those of the Dobrudja, knew how to stand +breast to breast against armed men in the field, their most cherished warfare +was the slaughter of defenceless people, the seizing of women and peasants +captive, and above all, plunder. The road was very bitter therefore to that +chambul which Kmita led, for under his iron hand these wild warriors had to +become lambs, keep their knives in the sheaths, and the quenched tinder and +coiled ropes in their saddle-bags. They murmured at first. +</p> + +<p> +Near Tarnogrod a few remained behind of purpose to let free the “red +birds” in Hmyelevsk and to frolic with the women. But Kmita, who had +pushed on toward Tomashov, returned at sight of the first gleam of fire, and +commanded the guilty to hang the guilty. And he had gained such control of +Akbah Ulan, that the old Tartar not only did not resist, but he urged the +condemned to hang quickly, or the “bogadyr” would be angry. +Thenceforth “the lambs” marched quietly, crowding more closely +together through the villages and towns, lest suspicion might fall on them. And +the execution, though Kmita carried it out so severely, did not rouse even ill +will or hatred against him; such fortune had that fighter that his subordinates +felt just as much love for him as they did fear. +</p> + +<p> +It is true that Pan Andrei permitted no one to wrong them. The country had been +terribly ravaged by the recent attack of Hmelnitski and Sheremetyeff; therefore +it was as difficult to find provisions and pasture as before harvest, and +besides, everything had to be in time and in plenty; in Krinitsi, where the +townspeople offered resistance and would not furnish supplies, Pan Andrei +ordered that some of them be beaten with sticks, and the under-starosta he +stretched out with the blow of a whirlbat. +</p> + +<p> +This delighted the horde immensely, and hearing with pleasure the uproar of the +beaten people, they said among themselves,— +</p> + +<p> +“Ei! our Babinich is a falcon; he lets no man offend his lambs.” +</p> + +<p> +It is enough that not only did they not grow thin, but the men and horses +improved in condition. Old Ulan, whose stomach had expanded, looked with +growing wonder on the young hero and clicked with his tongue. +</p> + +<p> +“If Allah were to give me a son, I should like such a one. I should not +die of hunger in my old age in the Ulus,” repeated he. +</p> + +<p> +But Kmita from time to time struck him on the stomach and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Here listen, wild boar! If the Swedes do not open your paunch, you will +hide the contents of all cupboards inside it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where are the Swedes? Our ropes will rot, our bows will be +mildewed,” answered Ulan, who was homesick for war. +</p> + +<p> +They were advancing indeed through a country to which a Swedish foot had not +been able to come, but farther they would pass through one in which there had +been garrisons afterward driven out by confederates. They met everywhere +smaller and larger bands of armed nobles, marching in various directions, and +not smaller bands of peasants, who more than once stopped the road to them +threateningly, and to whom it was often difficult to explain that they had to +do with friends and servants of the King of Poland. +</p> + +<p> +They came at last to Zamost. The Tartars were amazed at sight of this mighty +fortress; but what did they think when told that not long before it had stopped +the whole power of Hmelnitski? +</p> + +<p> +Pan Zamoyski, the owner by inheritance, permitted them as a mark of great +affection and favor to enter the town. They were admitted through a brick gate, +while the other two were stone. Kmita himself did not expect to see anything +similar, and he could not recover from astonishment at sight of the broad +streets, built in straight lines, Italian fashion; at sight of the splendid +college, and the academy, the castle, walls, the great cannon and every kind of +provision. As few among magnates could be compared with the grandson of the +great chancellor, so there were few fortresses that could be compared with +Zamost. +</p> + +<p> +But the greatest ecstasy seized the Tartars, when they saw the Armenian part of +the town. Their nostrils drew in greedily the odor of morocco, a great +manufacture of which was carried on by industrial immigrants from Kaffa; and +their eyes laughed at sight of the dried fruits and confectionery, Eastern +carpets, girdles, inlaid sabres, daggers, bows, Turkish lamps, and every kind +of costly article. +</p> + +<p> +The cup-bearer of the kingdom himself pleased Kmita’s heart greatly, he +was a genuine kinglet in that Zamost of his; a man in the strength of his +years, of fine presence though lacking somewhat robustness, for he had not +restrained sufficiently the ardors of nature in early years. He had always +loved the fair sex, but his health had not been shaken to that degree that +joyousness had vanished from his face. So far he had not married, and though +the most renowned houses in the Commonwealth had opened wide their doors, he +asserted that he could not find in them a sufficiently beautiful maiden. He +found her somewhat later, in the person of a young French lady, who though in +love with another gave him her hand without hesitation, not foreseeing that the +first one, disregarded, would adorn in the future his own and her head with a +kingly crown. +</p> + +<p> +The lord of Zamost was not distinguished for quick wit, though he had enough +for his own use. He did not strive for dignities and offices, though they came +to him of themselves; and when his friends reproached him with a lack of native +ambition, he answered,—“It is not true that I lack it, for I have +more than those who bow down. Why should I wear out the thresholds of the +court? In Zamost I am not only Yan Zamoyski, but Sobiepan Zamoyski,”<a +name="div2Ref_04" href="#div2_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a> with which name he was +very well pleased. He was glad to affect simple manners, though he had received +a refined education and had passed his youth in journeys through foreign lands. +He spoke of himself as a common noble, and spoke emphatically of the +moderateness of his station, perhaps so that others might contradict him, and +perhaps so that they might not notice his medium wit. On the whole he was an +honorable man, and a better son of the Commonwealth than many others. +</p> + +<p> +And as he came near Kmita’s heart, so did Kmita please him; therefore he +invited Pan Andrei to the chambers of the castle and entertained him, for he +loved this also, that men should exalt his hospitality. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei came to know in the castle many noted persons; above all, Princess +Griselda Vishnyevetski, sister of Pan Zamoyski and widow of the great +Yeremi,—a man who in his time was well-nigh the greatest in the +Commonwealth, who nevertheless had lost his whole immense fortune in the time +of the Cossack incursion, so that the princess was now living at Zamost, on the +bounty of her brother Yan. +</p> + +<p> +But that lady was so full of grandeur, of majesty and virtue, that her brother +was the first to blow away the dust from before her; and moreover he feared her +like fire. There was no case in which he did not gratify her wishes, nor an +affair the most important concerning which he did not advise with her. The +people of the castle said that the princess ruled Zamost, the army, the +treasury, and her brother; but she did not wish to take advantage of her +preponderance, being given with her whole soul to grief for her husband and to +the education of her son. +</p> + +<p> +That son had recently returned for a short time from the court of Vienna and +was living with her. He was a youth in the springtime of life; but in vain did +Kmita seek in him those marks which the son of the great Yeremi should bear in +his features. +</p> + +<p> +The figure of the young prince was graceful; but he had a large, full face, and +protruding eyes with a timid look; he had coarse lips, moist, as with people +inclined to pleasures of the table; an immense growth of hair, black as a +raven’s wing, fell to his shoulders. He inherited from his father only +that raven hair and dark complexion. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei was assured by those who were more intimate with the prince that he +had a noble soul, unusual understanding, and a remarkable memory, thanks to +which he was able to speak almost all languages; and that a certain heaviness +of body and temperament with a native greed for food were the only defects of +that otherwise remarkable young man. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, after he had entered into conversation with him Pan Andrei became +convinced that the prince not only had an understanding mind and a striking +judgment touching everything, but the gift of attracting people. Kmita loved +him after the first conversation with that feeling in which compassion is the +greatest element. He felt that he would give much to bring back to that orphan +the brilliant future which belonged to him by right of birth. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei convinced himself at the first dinner that what was said of the +gluttony of Michael Vishnyevetski was true. The young prince seemed to think of +nothing save eating. His prominent eyes followed each dish uneasily, and when +they brought him the platter he took an enormous quantity on his plate and ate +ravenously, smacking his lips as only gluttons do. The marble face of the +princess grew clouded with still greater sorrow at that sight. It became +awkward for Kmita, so that he turned away his eyes and looked at Sobiepan. +</p> + +<p> +But Zamoyski was not looking either at Prince Michael or his own guest. Kmita +followed his glance, and behind the shoulders of Princess Griselda he saw a +wonderful sight indeed, which he had not hitherto noticed. +</p> + +<p> +It was the small pretty head of a maiden, who was as fair as milk, as red as a +rose, and beautiful as an image. Short wavy locks ornamented her forehead; her +quick eyes were directed to the officers sitting near Zamoyski, not omitting +Sobiepan himself. At last those eyes rested on Kmita, and looked at him +fixedly, as full of coquetry as if they intended to gaze into the depth of his +heart. +</p> + +<p> +But Kmita was not easily confused; therefore he began to look at once into +those eyes with perfect insolence, and then he punched in the side Pan Shurski, +lieutenant of the armored castle squadron at Zamost, who was sitting near him, +and asked in an undertone,— +</p> + +<p> +“But who is that tailed farthing?” +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy sir,” answered Shurski, aloud, “do not speak +slightingly when you do not know of whom you are speaking. That is Panna Anusia +Borzobogati. And you will not call her otherwise unless you wish to regret your +rudeness.” +</p> + +<p> +“You do not know, sir, that a farthing is a kind of bird and very +beautiful, therefore there is no contempt in the name,” answered Kmita, +laughing; “but noticing your anger you must be terribly in love.” +</p> + +<p> +“But who is not in love?” muttered the testy Shurski. “Pan +Zamoyski himself has almost looked his eyes out, and is as if sitting on an +awl.” +</p> + +<p> +“I see that, I see that!” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you see? He, I, Grabovski, Stolangyevich, Konoyadzki, Rubetski +of the dragoons, Pyechynga,—she has sunk us all. And with you it will be +the same, if you stay here. With her twenty-four hours are sufficient.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lord brother! with me she could do nothing in twenty-four months.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked Shurski, with indignation; “are you made +of metal, or what?” +</p> + +<p> +“No! But if some one had stolen the last dollar from your pocket you +would not be afraid of a thief.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that it?” answered Shurski. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita grew gloomy at once, for his trouble came to his mind, and he noticed no +longer that the black eyes were looking still more stubbornly at him, as if +asking, “What is thy name, whence dost thou come, youthful knight?” +</p> + +<p> +But Shurski muttered: “Bore, bore away! She bored that way into me till +she bored to my heart. Now she does not even care.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita shook himself out of his seriousness. +</p> + +<p> +“Why the hangman does not some one of you marry her?” +</p> + +<p> +“Each one prevents every other.” +</p> + +<p> +“The girl will be left in the lurch,” said Kmita, “though in +truth there must be white seeds in that pear yet.” +</p> + +<p> +Shurski opened his eyes, and bending to Kmita’s ear said very +mysteriously,— +</p> + +<p> +“They say that she is twenty-five, as I love God. She was with Princess +Griselda before the incursion of the rabble?” +</p> + +<p> +“Wonder of wonders, I should not give her more than sixteen or eighteen +at the most.” +</p> + +<p> +This time the devil (the girl) guessed apparently that they were talking of +her, for she covered her gleaming eyes with the lids, and only shot sidelong +glances at Kmita, inquiring continually: “Who art thou, so handsome? +Whence dost thou come?” And he began involuntarily to twirl his mustache. +</p> + +<p> +After dinner Zamoyski, who from respect to the courtly manners of Kmita treated +him as an unusual guest, took him by the arm. “Pan Babinich,” said +he, “you have told me that you are from Lithuania?” +</p> + +<p> +“That is true, Pan Zamoyski.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me, did you know the Podbipientas?” +</p> + +<p> +“As to knowing I know them not, for they are no longer in the world, at +least those who had the arms Tear-Cowl. The last one fell at Zbaraj. He was the +greatest knight that Lithuania had. Who of us does not know of +Podbipienta?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard also of him; but I ask for this reason: There is in +attendance on my sister a lady of honorable family. She was the betrothed of +this Podbipienta who was killed at Zbaraj. She is an orphan, without father or +mother; and though my sister loves her greatly, still, being the natural +guardian of my sister, I have in this way the maiden in guardianship.” +</p> + +<p> +“A pleasant guardianship!” put in Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski smiled, winked, and smacked his tongue. “Sweetcakes! isn’t +she?” +</p> + +<p> +But suddenly he saw that he was betraying himself, and assumed a serious air. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, you traitor!” said he, half jestingly, half seriously, +“you want to hang me on a hook, and I almost let it out!” +</p> + +<p> +“What?” asked Kmita, looking him quickly in the eyes. +</p> + +<p> +Here Zamoyski saw clearly that in quickness of wit he was not the equal of his +guest, and turned the conversation at once. +</p> + +<p> +“That Podbipienta,” said he, “bequeathed her some estates +there in your region. I don’t remember the names of them, for they are +strange,—Baltupie, Syrutsiani, Myshykishki,—in a word, all that he +had. Would I could remember them! Five or six estates.” +</p> + +<p> +“They are adjoining estates, not separate. Podbipienta was a very wealthy +man, and if that lady should come to his fortune she might have her own +ladies-in-waiting, and seek for a husband among senators.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you tell me that? Do you know those places?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know only Lyubovich and Sheputy, for they are near my land. The forest +boundary alone is ten miles long, and the fields and meadows are as much +more.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where are they?” +</p> + +<p> +“In Vityebsk.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, far away! the affair is not worth the trouble, and the country is +under the enemy.” +</p> + +<p> +“When we drive out the enemy we shall come to the property. But the +Podbipientas have property in other places,—in Jmud very considerable, I +know, for I have a piece of land there myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“I see that your substance is not a bag of chopped straw.” +</p> + +<p> +“It brings in nothing now. But I need nothing from others.” +</p> + +<p> +“Advise me how to put that maiden on her feet.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita laughed. +</p> + +<p> +“I prefer to talk over this matter rather than others. It would be better +for her to go to Pan Sapyeha. If he would take the affair in hand, he could do +a great deal as voevoda of Vityebsk and the most noted man in Lithuania. He +could send notices to the tribunals that the will was made to Panna +Borzobogati, so that Podbipienta’s more distant relatives should not +seize the property.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is true; but now there are no tribunals, and Sapyeha has something +else in his head.” +</p> + +<p> +“The lady might be placed in his hands and under his guardianship. Having +her before his eyes, he would give aid more speedily.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita looked with astonishment at Zamoyski. “What object has he in +wishing to remove her from this place?” thought he. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski continued: “It would be difficult for her to live in camp, in +the tent of the voevoda of Vityebsk; but she might stay with his +daughters.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not understand this,” thought Kmita; “would he consent +to be only her guardian?” +</p> + +<p> +“But here is the difficulty: how can I send her to those parts in the +present time of disturbance? Several hundred men would be needed, and I cannot +strip Zamost. If I could only find some one to conduct her. Now, you might take +her; you are going to Sapyeha. I would give you letters, and you would give me +your word of honor to take her in safety.” +</p> + +<p> +“I conduct her to Sapyeha?” asked Kmita, in amazement. +</p> + +<p> +“Is the office unpleasant? Even if it should come to love on the +road—” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah,” said Kmita, “another one is managing my affections; and +though the tenant pays nothing, still I do not think of making a change.” +</p> + +<p> +“So much the better; with all the greater satisfaction can I confide her +to you.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, will you undertake it?” asked the starosta, +</p> + +<p> +“I am marching with Tartars.” +</p> + +<p> +“People tell me that the Tartars fear you worse than fire. Well, what? +Will you undertake it?” +</p> + +<p> +“H’m! why not, if thereby I can oblige your grace? +But—” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, you think that the princess must give permission; she will, as God +is dear to me! For she,—fancy to yourself,—she suspects me.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the starosta whispered in Kmita’s ear; at last he said aloud,— +</p> + +<p> +“She was very angry with me for that, and I put my ears aside; for to war +with women,—behold you! I would rather have the Swedes outside Zamost. +But she will have the best proof that I am planning no evil, when I wish to +send the girl away. She will be terribly amazed, it is true; but at the first +opportunity I’ll talk with her touching this matter.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, Zamoyski turned and went away. Kmita looked at him, and +muttered,— +</p> + +<p> +“You are setting some snare, Pan Sobiepan; and though I do not understand +the object, I see the snare quickly, for you are a terribly awkward +trapper.” +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski was pleased with himself, though he understood well that the work was +only half done; and another remained so difficult that at thought of it despair +seized him, and even terror. He had to get permission of Princess Griselda, +whose severity and penetrating mind Pan Sobiepan feared from his whole soul. +But having begun, he wished to bring the work to completion as early as +possible; therefore next morning, after Mass, and breakfast, and after he had +reviewed the hired German infantry, he went to the chambers of the princess. +</p> + +<p> +He found the lady embroidering a cope for the college. Behind her was Anusia +winding silk hung upon two armchairs; a second skein of rose color she had +placed around her neck, and moving her hands quickly, she ran around the chairs +in pursuit of the unwinding thread. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski’s eyes grew bright at sight of her; but he assumed quickly a +serious look, and greeting the princess, began as if unwillingly,— +</p> + +<p> +“That Pan Babinich who has come here with the Tartars is a +Lithuanian,—a man of importance, a very elegant fellow, a born knight in +appearance. Have you noticed him?” +</p> + +<p> +“You brought him to me yourself,” answered the princess, +indifferently, “he has an honest face.” +</p> + +<p> +“I asked him concerning that property left Panna Borzobogati. He says it +is a fortune almost equal to that of the Radzivills.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant it to Anusia; her orphanhood will be the lighter, and her old +age as well,” said the lady. +</p> + +<p> +“But there is a danger lest distant relatives tear it apart. Babinich +says that Sapyeha might occupy himself with it, if he wished. He is an honest +man, and very friendly to us: I would confide my own daughter to him. It would +be enough for him to send notices to the tribunals, and proclaim the +guardianship. But Babinich says it is needful that Panna Anusia should go to +those places in person.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where,—to Pan Sapyeha?” +</p> + +<p> +“Or to his daughters, so as to be there, that the formal installation +might take place.” +</p> + +<p> +The starosta invented at that moment “formal installation,” +thinking justly that the princess would accept this counterfeit money instead +of true coin. She thought a moment, and asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“How could she go now, when Swedes are on the road?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have news that the Swedes have left Lublin. All this side of the +Vistula is free.” +</p> + +<p> +“And who would take Anusia to Pan Sapyeha?” +</p> + +<p> +“Suppose this same Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +“With Tartars? Lord Brother, fear God; those are wild, chaotic +people!” +</p> + +<p> +“I am not afraid,” put in Anusia, curtesying. +</p> + +<p> +But Princess Griselda had noted already that her brother came with some plan +all prepared; therefore she sent Anusia out of the room, and began to look at +Pan Sobiepan with an inquiring gaze. But he said as if to himself,— +</p> + +<p> +“These Tartars are down in the dust before Babinich; he hangs them for +any insubordination.” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot permit this journey,” answered the princess. “The +girl is honest but giddy, and rouses enthusiasm quickly. You know that best +yourself. I would never confide her to a young, unknown man.” +</p> + +<p> +“Unknown here he is not, for who has not heard of the Babiniches as men +of high family and steady people? [Zamoyski had never heard of the Babiniches +in his life.] Besides,” continued he, “you might give her some +sedate woman as companion, and then decorum would be observed. Babinich I +guarantee. I tell you this, too, Lady Sister, that he has in those places a +betrothed with whom he is, as he tells me himself, in love; and whoso is in +love has something else in his head. The foundation of the matter is this, that +another such chance may not come for a long time,—the fortune may be lost +to the girl, and in ripe years she may be without a roof above her.” +</p> + +<p> +The princess ceased embroidering, raised her head, and fixing her penetrating +eyes on her brother, asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“What reason have you to send her from here?” +</p> + +<p> +“What reason have I?” repeated he, dropping his glance; “what +can I have?—none!” +</p> + +<p> +“Yan, you have conspired with Babinich against her virtue!” +</p> + +<p> +“There it is! As God is dear to me, only that was wanting! You will read +the letter which I shall send to Sapyeha, and give your own. I will merely say +this to you, that I shall not leave Zamost. Finally examine Babinich himself, +and ask him whether he will undertake the office. +</p> + +<p> +“The moment you suspect me I step aside.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you insist so that she shall leave Zamost?” +</p> + +<p> +“For I wish her good, and it is the question of an immense fortune. +Besides, I confess it concerns me much that she should leave Zamost. Your +suspicions have grown disagreeable; it is not to my taste that you should be +frowning at me forever and looking stern. I thought that in consenting to the +departure of the young lady I should find the best argument against suspicions. +God knows I have enough of this, for I am no student who steals under windows +at night. I tell you more: my officers are enraged one against the other, and +shaking their sabres at one another. There is neither harmony, nor order, nor +service as there should be. I have enough of this. But since you are boring me +with your eyes, then do as you wish; but look after Michael yourself, for that +is your affair, not mine.” +</p> + +<p> +“Michael!” exclaimed the astonished princess. +</p> + +<p> +“I say nothing against the girl. She does not disturb him more than +others; but if you do not see his arrowy glances and ardent affection, then I +tell you this, that Cupid has not such power to blind as a mother’s +love.” +</p> + +<p> +Princess Griselda’s brows contracted, and her face grew pale. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Sobiepan, seeing that he had struck home at last, slapped his knees with +his hands and continued,— +</p> + +<p> +“Lady Sister, thus it is, thus it is! What is the affair to me? Let +Michael give her silk to unwind, let his nostrils quiver when he looks at her, +let him blush, let him look at her through keyholes! What is that to me? Still, +I know—she has a good fortune—her family—well, she is of +nobles, and I do not raise myself above nobles. If you want it yourself, all +right. Their years are not the same, but again it is not my affair.” +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski rose, and bowing to his sister very politely, started to go out. +</p> + +<p> +The blood rushed to her face. The proud lady did not see in the whole +Commonwealth a match worthy of Vishnyevetski, and abroad, perhaps among the +archduchesses of Austria; therefore these words of her brother burned her like +iron red hot. +</p> + +<p> +“Yan!” said she, “wait!” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady Sister,” said Zamoyski, “I wished first to give you +proof that you suspect me unjustly; second, that you should watch some one +besides me. Now you will do as you please; I have nothing more to say.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Pan Zamoyski bowed and went out. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<p> +Pan Zamoyski had not uttered pure calumny to his sister when he spoke of +Michael’s love for Anusia, for the young prince had fallen in love with +her, as had all, not excepting the pages of the castle. But that love was not +over-violent, and by no means aggressive; it was rather an agreeable +intoxication of the head and mind, than an impulse of the heart, which, when it +loves, impels to permanent possession of the object beloved. For such action +Michael had not the energy. +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless, Princess Griselda, dreaming of a brilliant future for her son, +was greatly terrified at that feeling. In the first moment the sudden consent +of her brother to Anusia’s departure astonished her; now she ceased +thinking of that, so far had the threatening danger seized her whole soul. A +conversation with her son, who grew pale and trembled, and who before he had +confessed anything shed tears, confirmed her in the supposition that the danger +was terrible. +</p> + +<p> +Still she did not conquer her scruples of conscience at once, and it was only +when Anusia, who wanted to see a new world, new people, and perhaps also turn +the head of the handsome cavalier, fell at her feet with a request for +permission, that the princess did not find strength sufficient to refuse. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia, it is true, covered herself with tears at the thought of parting with +her mistress and mother; but for the clever girl it was perfectly evident that +by asking for the separation she had cleared herself from every suspicion of +having with preconceived purpose turned the head of Prince Michael, or even +Zamoyski himself. +</p> + +<p> +Princess Griselda, from desire to know surely if there was a conspiracy between +her brother and Kmita, directed the latter to come to her presence. Her +brother’s promise not to leave Zamost had calmed her considerably, it is +true; she wished, however, to know more intimately the man who was to conduct +the young lady. +</p> + +<p> +The conversation with Kmita set her at rest thoroughly. +</p> + +<p> +There looked from the blue eyes of the young noble such sincerity and truth +that it was impossible to doubt him. He confessed at once that he was in love +with another, and besides he had neither the wish nor the head for folly. +Finally he gave his word as a cavalier that he would guard the lady from every +misfortune, even if he had to lay down his head. +</p> + +<p> +“I will take her safely to Pan Sapyeha, for Pan Zamoyski says that the +enemy has left Lublin. But I can do no more; not because I hesitate in willing +service for your highness, since I am always willing to shed my blood for the +widow of the greatest warrior and the glory of the whole Commonwealth, but +because I have my own grievous troubles, out of which I know not whether I +shall bring my life.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a question of nothing more,” answered the princess, +“than that you give her into the hands of Pan Sapyeha, and he will not +refuse my request to be her guardian.” +</p> + +<p> +Here she gave Kmita her hand, which he kissed with the greatest reverence, and +she said in parting,— +</p> + +<p> +“Be watchful, Cavalier, be watchful, and do not place safety in this, +that the country is free of the enemy.” +</p> + +<p> +These last words arrested Kmita; but he had no time to think over them, for +Zamoyski soon caught him. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Knight,” said he, gayly, “you are taking the +greatest ornament of Zamost away from me.” +</p> + +<p> +“But at your wish,” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Take good care of her. She is a toothsome dainty. Some one may be ready +to take her from you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let him try! Oh, ho! I have given the word of a cavalier to the +princess, and with me my word is sacred.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I only say this as a jest. Fear not, neither take unusual +caution.” +</p> + +<p> +“Still I will ask of your serene great mightiness a carriage with +windows.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will give you two. But you are not going at once, are you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am in a hurry. As it is, I am here too long.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then send your Tartars in advance to Krasnystav. I will hurry off a +courier to have oats ready for them there, and will give you an escort of my +own to that place. No evil can happen to you here, for this is my country. I +will give you good men of the German dragoons, bold fellows and acquainted with +the road. Besides, to Krasnystav the road is as if cut out with a +sickle.” +</p> + +<p> +“But why am I to stay here?” +</p> + +<p> +“To remain longer with us; you are a dear guest. I should be glad to +detain you a year. Meanwhile I shall send to the herds at Perespa; perhaps some +horse will be found which will not fail you in need.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita looked quickly into the eyes of his host; then, as if making a sudden +decision, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you, I will remain, and will send on the Tartars.” +</p> + +<p> +He went straight to give them orders, and taking Akbah Ulan to one side he +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Akbah Ulan, you are to go to Krasnystav by the road, straight as if cut +with a sickle. I stay here, and a day later will move after you with +Zamoyski’s escort. Listen now to what I say! You will not go to +Krasnystav, but strike into the first forest, not far from Zamost, so that a +living soul may not know of you; and when you hear a shot on the highroad, +hurry to me, for they are preparing some trick against me in this place.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your will,” said Akbah Ulan, placing his hand on his forehead, his +mouth, and his breast. +</p> + +<p> +“I have seen through you, Pan Zamoyski,” said Kmita to himself. +“In Zamost you are afraid of your sister therefore you wish to seize the +young lady, and secret her somewhere in the neighborhood, and make of me the +instrument of your desires, and who knows if not to take my life. But wait! You +found a man keener than yourself; you will fall into your own trap!” +</p> + +<p> +In the evening Lieutenant Shurski knocked at Kmita’s door. This officer, +too, knew something, and had his suspicions; and because he loved Anusia he +preferred that she should depart, rather than fall into the power of Zamoyski. +Still he did not dare to speak openly, and perhaps because he was not sure; but +he wondered that Kmita had consented to send the Tartars on in advance; he +declared that the roads were not so safe as was said, that everywhere armed +bands were wandering,—hands swift to deeds of violence. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei decided to feign that he divined nothing. “What can happen to +me?” asked he; “besides, Zamoyski gives me his own escort.” +</p> + +<p> +“Bah! Germans!” +</p> + +<p> +“Are they not reliable men?” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it possible to depend upon those dog-brothers ever? It has happened +that after conspiring on the road they went over to the enemy.” +</p> + +<p> +“But there are no Swedes on this side of the Vistula.” +</p> + +<p> +“They are in Lublin, the dogs! It is not true that they have left. I +advise you honestly not to send the Tartars in advance, for it is always safer +in a large company.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a pity that you did not inform me before. I have one tongue in my +mouth, and an order given I never withdraw.” +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the Tartars moved on. Kmita was to follow toward evening, so as to +pass the first night at Krasnystav. Two letters to Pan Sapyeha were given +him,—one from the princess, the other from her brother. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita had a great desire to open the second, but he dared not; he looked at it, +however, before the light, and saw that inside was blank paper. This discovery +was proof to him that both the maiden and the letters were to be taken from him +on the road. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the horses came from Perespa, and Zamoyski presented the knight with +a steed beautiful beyond admiration; the steed he received with thankfulness, +thinking in his soul that he would ride farther on him than Zamoyski expected. +He thought also of his Tartars, who must now be in the forest, and wild +laughter seized him. At times again he was indignant in soul, and promised to +give the master of Zamost a lesson. +</p> + +<p> +Finally the hour of dinner came, which passed in great gloom. Anusia had red +eyes; the officers were in deep silence. Pan Zamoyski alone was cheerful, and +gave orders to fill the goblets; Kmita emptied his, one after another. But when +the hour of parting came, not many persons took leave of the travellers, for +Zamoyski had sent the officers to their service. Anusia fell at the feet of the +princess, and for a long time could not be removed from her; the princess +herself had evident disquiet in her face. Perhaps she reproached herself in +secret for permitting the departure of a faithful servant at a period when +mishap might come easily. But the loud weeping of Michael, who held his fists +to his eyes, crying like a school-boy, confirmed the proud lady in her +conviction that it was needful to stifle the further growth of this boyish +affection. Besides, she was quieted by the hope that in the family of Sapyeha +the young lady would find protection, safety, and also the great fortune which +was to settle her fate for the rest of her life. +</p> + +<p> +“I commit her to your virtue, bravery, and honor,” said the +princess once more to Kmita; “and remember that you have sworn to me to +conduct her to Pan Sapyeha without fail.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will take her as I would a glass, and in need will wind oakum around +her, because I have given my word; death alone will prevent me from keeping +it,” answered the knight. +</p> + +<p> +He gave his arm to Anusia, but she was angry and did not look at him; he had +treated her rather slightingly, therefore she gave him her hand very haughtily, +turning her face and head in another direction. +</p> + +<p> +She was sorry to depart, and fear seized her; but it was too late then to draw +back. +</p> + +<p> +The moment came; they took their seats,—she in the carriage with her old +servant, Panna Suvalski, he on his horse,—and they started. Twelve German +horsemen surrounded the carriage and the wagon with Anusia’s effects. +When at last the doors in the Warsaw gate squeaked and the rattle of wheels was +heard on the drop-bridge, Anusia burst into loud weeping. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita bent toward the carriage. “Fear not, my lady, I will not eat +you!” +</p> + +<p> +“Clown!” thought Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +They rode some time along the houses outside the walls, straight toward Old +Zamost; then they entered fields and a pine-wood, which in those days stretched +along a hilly country to the Bug on one side; on the other it extended, +interrupted by villages, to Zavihost. +</p> + +<p> +Night had fallen, but very calm and clear; the road was marked by a silver +line; only the rolling of the carriage and the tramp of the horses broke the +silence. +</p> + +<p> +“My Tartars must be lurking here like wolves in a thicket,” thought +Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Then he bent his ear. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that?” asked he of the officer who was leading the escort. +</p> + +<p> +“A tramp! Some horseman is galloping after us!” answered the +officer. +</p> + +<p> +He had barely finished speaking when a Cossack hurried up on a foaming horse, +crying,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Babinich! Pan Babinich! A letter from Pan Zamoyski.” +</p> + +<p> +The retinue halted. The Cossack gave the letter to Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita broke the seal, and by the light of a lantern read as follows:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Gracious and dearest Pan Babinich! Soon after the departure of Panna +Borzobogati tidings came to us that the Swedes not only have not left Lublin, +but that they intend to attack my Zamost. In view of this, further journeying +and peregrination become inconvenient. Considering therefore the dangers to +which a fair head might be exposed, we wish to have Panna Borzobogati in +Zamost. Those same knights will bring her back; but you, who must be in haste +to continue your journey, we do not wish to trouble uselessly. Announcing which +will of ours to your grace, we beg you to give orders to the horseman according +to our wishes.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +“Still he is honest enough not to attack my life; he only wishes to make +a fool of me,” thought Kmita. “But we shall soon see if there is a +trap here or not.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Anusia put her head out of the window. “What is the matter?” +asked she. +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing! Pan Zamoyski commends you once more to my bravery. Nothing +more.” +</p> + +<p> +Here he turned to the driver,— +</p> + +<p> +“Forward!” +</p> + +<p> +The officer leading the horsemen reined in his horse. “Stop!” cried +he to the driver. Then to Kmita, “Why move on?” +</p> + +<p> +“But why halt longer in the forest?” asked Kmita, with the face of +a stupid rogue. +</p> + +<p> +“For you have received some order.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what is that to you? I have received, and that is why I command to +move on.” +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” repeated the officer. +</p> + +<p> +“Move on!” repeated Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“What is this?” inquired Anusia again. +</p> + +<p> +“We will not go a step farther till I see the order!” said the +officer, with decision. +</p> + +<p> +“You will not see the order, for it is not sent to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Since you will not obey it, I will carry it out. You move on to +Krasnystav, and have a care lest we give you something for the road, but we +will go home with the lady.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita only wished the officer to acknowledge that he knew the contents of the +order; this proved with perfect certainty that the whole affair was a trick +arranged in advance. +</p> + +<p> +“Move on with God!” repeated the officer now, with a threat. +</p> + +<p> +At that moment the horsemen began one after another to take out their sabres. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, such sons! not to Zamost did you wish to take the maiden, but aside +somewhere, so that Pan Zamoyski might give free reign to his wishes; but you +have met with a more cunning man!” When Babinich had said this, he fired +upward from a pistol. +</p> + +<p> +At this sound there was such an uproar in the forest, as if the shot had roused +whole legions of wolves sleeping near by. The howl was heard in front, behind, +from the sides. At once the tramp of horses sounded with the cracking of limbs +breaking under their hoofs, and on the road were seen black groups of horsemen, +who approached with unearthly howling. +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus! Mary! Joseph!” cried the terrified women in the carriage. +</p> + +<p> +Now the Tartars rushed up like a cloud; but Kmita restrained them with a triple +cry, and turning to the astonished officer, began to boast,— +</p> + +<p> +“Know whom you have met! Pan Zamoyski wished to make a fool of me, a +blind instrument. To you he intrusted the functions of a pander, which you +undertook, Sir Officer, for the favor of a master. Bow down to Zamoyski from +Babinich, and tell him that the maiden will go safely to Pan Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer looked around with frightened glance, and saw the wild faces gazing +with terrible eagerness on him and his men. It was evident that they were +waiting only for a word to hurl themselves on the twelve horsemen and tear them +in pieces. +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace, you will do what you wish, for we cannot manage superior +power,” said he, with trembling voice; “but Pan Zamoyski is able to +avenge himself.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita laughed. “Let him avenge himself on you; for had it not come out +that you knew the contents of the order and had you not opposed the advance, I +should not have been sure of the trick, and should have given you the maiden +straightway. Tell the starosta to appoint a keener pander than you.” +</p> + +<p> +The calm tone with which Kmita said this assured the officer somewhat, at least +on this point,—that death did not threaten either him or his troopers; +therefore he breathed easily, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“And must we return with nothing to Zamost?” +</p> + +<p> +“You will return with my letter, which will be written on the skin of +each one of you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace—” +</p> + +<p> +“Take them!” cried Kmita; and he seized the officer himself by the +shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +An uproar and struggle began around the carriage. The shouts of the Tartars +deadened the cries for assistance and the screams of terror coming from the +breasts of the women. +</p> + +<p> +But the struggle did not last long, for a few minutes later the horsemen were +lying on the road tied, one at the side of the other. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita gave command to flog them with bullock-skin whips, but not beyond +measure, so that they might retain strength to walk back to Zamost. The common +soldiers received one hundred, and the officer a hundred and fifty lashes, in +spite of the prayers and entreaties of Anusia, who not knowing what was passing +around her, and thinking that she had fallen into terrible hands, began to +implore with joined palms and tearful eyes for her life. +</p> + +<p> +“Spare my life, knight! In what am I guilty before you? Spare me, spare +me!” +</p> + +<p> +“Be quiet, young lady!” roared Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“In what have I offended?” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe you are in the plot yourself?” +</p> + +<p> +“In what plot? O God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” +</p> + +<p> +“Then you did not know that Pan Zamoyski only permitted your departure +apparently, so as to separate you from the princess and carry you off on the +road, to make an attempt on your honor in some empty castle?” +</p> + +<p> +“O Jesus of Nazareth!” screamed Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +And there was so much truth and sincerity in that cry that Kmita said more +mildly,— +</p> + +<p> +“How is that? Then you were not in the plot? That may be!” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia covered her face with her hands, but she could say nothing; she merely +repeated, time after time,— +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus, Mary! Jesus, Mary!” +</p> + +<p> +“Calm yourself,” said Kmita, still more mildly. “You will go +in safety to Pan Sapyeha, for Pan Zamoyski did not know with whom he had to +deal. See, those men whom they are flogging were to carry you off. I give them +their lives, so that they may tell Pan Zamoyski how smoothly it went with +them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then have you defended me from shame?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have, though I did not know whether you would be glad.” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia, instead of making answer or contradiction, seized Pan Andrei’s +hand and pressed it to her pale lips; and sparks went from his feet to his +head. +</p> + +<p> +“Give peace, for God’s sake!” cried he. “Sit in the +carriage, for you will wet your feet—and be not afraid! You would not be +better cared for with your mother.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will go now with you even to the end of the world.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not say such things.” +</p> + +<p> +“God will reward you for defending honor.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is the first time that I have had the opportunity,” said Kmita. +And then he muttered in an undertone to himself: “So far I have defended +her as much as a cat sheds tears.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the Tartars had ceased to beat the horsemen and Pan Andrei gave +command to drive them naked and bloody along the road toward Zamost. They went, +weeping bitterly. Their horses, weapons, and clothing Kmita gave his Tartars; +and then moved on quickly, for it was unsafe to loiter. +</p> + +<p> +On the road the young knight could not restrain himself from looking into the +carriage to gaze at the flashing eyes and wonderful face of the maiden. He +asked each time if she did not need something, if the carriage was convenient, +or the quick travelling did not tire her too much. +</p> + +<p> +She answered, with thankfulness, that it was pleasant to her as it had never +been. She had recovered from her terror completely. Her heart rose in gratitude +to her defender, and she thought: “He is not so rude and surly as I held +at first.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ai, Olenka, what do I suffer for you!” said Kmita to himself; +“do you not feed me with ingratitude? Had this been in old times, +u-ha!” +</p> + +<p> +Then he remembered his comrades and the various deeds of violence which he had +committed in company with them; then he began to drive away temptation, began +to repeat for their unhappy souls, “Eternal rest.” +</p> + +<p> +When they had reached Krasnystav, Kmita considered it better not to wait for +news from Zamost, and went on farther. But at parting he wrote and sent to +Zamoyski the following letter:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +<span class="sc">Serene Great Mighty Lord Starosta</span>,<a name="div2Ref_05" +href="#div2_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a> and to me very Gracious Favorer and +Benefactor! Whomsoever God has made great in the world, to him He deals out wit +in more bountiful measure. I knew at once that you, Serene Great Mighty Lord, +only wished to put me on trial, when you sent the order to give up Panna +Borzobogati. I knew this all the better when the horsemen betrayed that they +knew the substance of the order, though I did not show them the letter, and +though you wrote to me that the idea came to you only after my departure. As on +the one hand I admire all the more your penetration, so on the other, to put +the careful guardian more completely at rest, I promise anew that nothing will +suffice to lead me away from fulfilling the function imposed on me. But since +those soldiers, evidently misunderstanding your intention, turned out to be +great ruffians, and even threatened my life, I think that I should have hit +upon your thought if I had commanded to hang them. Because I did not do so, I +beg your forgiveness; still I gave orders to flog them properly with +bullock-skin whips, which punishment, if your Great Mighty Lordship considers +it too small, you can increase according to your will. With this, hoping that I +have earned the increased confidence and gratitude of your Serene Great Mighty +Lordship, I subscribe myself the faithful and well-wishing servant of your +Serene Great Mighty Lordship. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="sc">Babinich</span>. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The dragoons, when they had dragged themselves to Zamost late at night, did not +dare to appear before the eyes of their master; therefore he learned of the +whole matter from this letter which the Krasnystav Cossack brought next day. +</p> + +<p> +After he had read Kmita’s letter, Zamoyski shut himself up in his rooms +for three days, admitting no attendant save the chamber servants, who brought +him his food. They heard, also, how he swore in French, which he did only when +he was in the greatest fury. +</p> + +<p> +By degrees, however, the storm was allayed. On the fourth day and fifth +Zamoyski was still very silent; he was ruminating over something and pulling at +his mustache; in a week, when he was very pleasant and had drunk a little at +table, he began to twirl his mustache, not to pull it, and said to Princess +Griselda,— +</p> + +<p> +“Lady Sister, you know that there is no lack of penetration in me; a +couple of days ago I tested of purpose that noble who took Anusia, and I can +assure you that he will take her faithfully to Pan Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +About a month later, as it seems, Pan Sobiepan turned his heart in another +direction; and besides he became altogether convinced that what had happened, +happened with his will and knowledge. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<p> +The province of Lyubelsk and the greater part of Podlyasye were almost +completely in the hands of Poles, that is, of the confederates and +Sapyeha’s men. Since the King of Sweden remained in Prussia, where he was +treating with the elector, the Swedes, not feeling very powerful in presence of +the general uprising, which increased every day, dared not come out of the +towns and castles, and still less to cross to the eastern side of the Vistula, +where the Polish forces were greatest. In those two provinces, therefore, the +Poles were laboring to form a considerable and well-ordered army, able to meet +the regular soldiers of Sweden. In the provincial towns they were training +infantry, and since the peasants in general had risen, there was no lack of +volunteers; it was only necessary to organize in bodies and regular commands +those chaotic masses of men frequently dangerous to their own country. +</p> + +<p> +The district captains betook themselves to this labor. Besides, the king had +issued a number of commissions to old and tried soldiers; troops were enrolled +in all provinces, and since there was no lack of military people in those +regions, squadrons of perfect cavalry were formed. Some went west of the +Vistula, others to Charnyetski, still others to Sapyeha. Such multitudes had +taken arms that Yan Kazimir’s forces were already more numerous than +those of the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +A country over whose weakness all Europe had recently wondered, gave now an +example of power unsuspected, not only by its enemies, but by its own king, and +even by those whose faithful hearts, a few months before, had been rent by pain +and despair. Money was found, as well as enthusiasm and bravery; the most +despairing souls were convinced that there is no position, no fall, no weakness +from which there may not be a deliverance, and that when children are born +consolation cannot die. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita went on without hindrance, gathering on his road unquiet spirits, who +joined the chambul with readiness, hoping to find most blood and plunder in +company with the Tartars. These he changed easily into good and prompt +soldiers, for he had the gift to make his subordinates fear and obey. He was +greeted joyously on the road, and that by reason of the Tartars; for the sight +of them convinced men that the Khan was indeed coming with succor to the +Commonwealth. It was declaimed openly that forty thousand chosen Tartar cavalry +were marching to strengthen Sapyeha. Wonders were told of the +“modesty” of these allies,—how they committed no violence or +murder on the road. They were shown as an example to the soldiers of the +country. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Sapyeha was quartered temporarily at Byala. His forces were composed of +about ten thousand regular troops, cavalry and infantry. They were the remnants +of the Lithuanian armies, increased by new men. The cavalry, especially some of +the squadrons, surpassed in valor and training the Swedish horsemen; but the +infantry were badly trained, and lacked firearms, powder, and cannon. Sapyeha +had thought to find these in Tykotsin; but the Swedes, by blowing themselves up +with the powder, destroyed at the same time all the cannons of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +Besides these forces there were in the neighborhood of Byala twelve thousand +general militia from all Lithuania, Mazovia, and Podlyasye; but from few of +these did the voevoda promise himself service, especially since having an +immense number of wagons they hindered movement and turned the army into a +clumsy, unwieldy multitude. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita thought of one thing in entering Byala. There were under Sapyeha so many +nobles from Lithuania and so many of Radzivill’s officers, his former +acquaintances, that he feared they would recognize him and cut him to pieces +before he could cry, “Jesus! Mary!” +</p> + +<p> +His name was detested in Sapyeha’s camp and in all Lithuania; for men +still preserved in vivid remembrance the fact that while serving Prince Yanush, +he had cut down those squadrons which, opposing the hetman, had declared for +the country. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei had changed much, and this gave him comfort. First, he had become +thin; second, he had the scar on his face from Boguslav’s bullet; +finally, he wore a beard, rather long, pointed in Swedish fashion, and his +mustache he combed upward, so that he was more like some Erickson than a Polish +noble. +</p> + +<p> +“If there is not a tumult against me at once, men will judge me +differently after the first battle,” thought Kmita, when entering Byala. +</p> + +<p> +He arrived in the evening, announced who he was, whence he had come, that he +was bearing letters from the king, and asked a special audience of the voevoda. +</p> + +<p> +The voevoda received him graciously because of the warm recommendation of the +king, who wrote,— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“We send to you our most faithful servant, who is called the Hector of +Chenstohova, from the time of the siege of that glorious place; and he has +saved our freedom and life at the risk of his own during our passage through +the mountains. Have him in special care, so that no injustice come to him from +the soldiers. We know his real name, and the reasons for which he serves under +an assumed one; no man is to hold him in suspicion because of this change, or +suspect him of intrigues.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +“But is it not possible to know why you bear an assumed name?” +asked the voevoda. +</p> + +<p> +“I am under sentence, and cannot make levies in my own name. The king +gave me a commission, and I can make levies as Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you want levies if you have Tartars?” +</p> + +<p> +“For a greater force would not be in the way.” +</p> + +<p> +“And why are you under sentence?” +</p> + +<p> +“Under the command and protection of whomsoever I go, him I ought to tell +all as to a father. My real name is Kmita.” +</p> + +<p> +The voevoda pushed back a couple of steps,— +</p> + +<p> +“He who promised Boguslav to carry off our king, living or dead?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita related with all his energy how and what had happened,—how, +befogged by Prince Yanush, he had served the Radzivills; how he had learned +their real purposes from the mouth of Boguslav, and then carried off the latter +and thus incurred his implacable vengeance. +</p> + +<p> +The voevoda believed, for he could not refuse belief, especially since the +king’s letter confirmed the truth of Kmita’s words. Besides, his +soul was so delighted in the voevoda that he would at that moment have pressed +his worst enemy to his heart and forgiven his greatest offence. This delight +was caused by the following passage in the king’s letter:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Though the grand baton of Lithuania, unused now after the death of the +voevoda of Vilna, can by usual procedure be given to a successor only at the +Diet, still in the present extraordinary circumstances, disregarding the usual +course, We give this baton to you, greatly cherished by us, for the good of the +Commonwealth and your memorable services, thinking justly that, God giving +peace, no voice at the coming Diet will be raised against this our choice, and +that our act will find general approval.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Pan Sapyeha, as was said then in the Commonwealth, “had pawned his coat +and sold his last silver spoon;” he had not served his country for +profit, nor for honors. But even the most disinterested man is glad to see that +his services are appreciated, that they are rewarded with gratitude, that his +virtue is recognized. Therefore Sapyeha’s serious face was uncommonly +radiant. +</p> + +<p> +This act of the king adorned the house of Sapyeha with new splendor; and to +this no “kinglet” of that time was indifferent,—it were well +had there been none to strive for elevation <i>per nefas</i> (through +injustice). Therefore Pan Sapyeha was ready to do for the king what was in his +power and what was out of his power. +</p> + +<p> +“Since I am hetman,” said he to Kmita, “you come under my +jurisdiction and are under my guardianship. There is a multitude here of the +general militia, hence tumult is near; therefore do not show yourself over-much +till I warn the soldiers, and remove that calumny which Boguslav cast on +you.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita thanked him from his heart, and then spoke of Anusia, whom he had brought +to Byala. In answer the hetman fell to scolding, but being in excellent humor +he scolded joyously. +</p> + +<p> +“You made a fool of Sobiepan, as God is dear to me! He sits there with +his sister inside the walls of Zamost, as with the Lord God, behind the stove, +and thinks that every one can do as he does,—raise the skirts of his +coat, turn to the fire, and warm his back. I know the Podbipientas, for they +are related to the Bjostovskis, and the Bjostovskis to me. The fortune is a +lordly one, that is not to be denied; but though war with the Northerners has +weakened it for a time, still people are alive yet in those regions. Where can +anything be found, where any courts, any officers? Who will take the property +and put the young lady in possession? They have gone stark mad! Boguslav is +sitting on my shoulders; I have my duties in the army, but they would have me +fill my head with women.” +</p> + +<p> +“She is not a woman, but a cherry,” said Kmita. “She is +nothing however to me. They asked me to bring her here; I have brought her. +They asked me to give her to you; I give her.” +</p> + +<p> +The hetman then took Kmita by the ear and said: “But who knows, +protector, in what form you have brought her? God preserve us, people may say +that from the guardianship of Sapyeha she has suffered; and I, old man, shall +have to keep my eyes open. What did you do at the stopping-places? Tell me +right away, Pagan, did you not learn from your Tartars some heathen +customs?” +</p> + +<p> +“At the stopping-places,” answered Kmita, jestingly, “I +commanded my attendants to plough my skin with discipline, so as to drive out +the less worthy motives, which have their seat under the skin, and which I +confess were plaguing me worse than horseflies.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, you see— Is she a worthy maiden?” +</p> + +<p> +“Really so; and terribly pretty.” +</p> + +<p> +“And the Turk was at hand?” +</p> + +<p> +“But she is as honest as a nun; that I must say for her. And as to +suffering I think that would come sooner from the Zamoyski guardianship than +from you.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kmita told what had taken place and how. Then the hetman fell to clapping +him on the shoulder and laughing,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, you are a crafty fellow! Not in vain do they tell so much of +Kmita. Have no fear! Pan Zamoyski is not a stubborn man, and he is my friend. +His first anger will pass, and he will even laugh at it himself and reward +you.” +</p> + +<p> +“I need no reward!” interrupted Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“It is well that you have ambition and are not looking for favor. Only +serve me against Boguslav, and you will not need to think of past +outlawry.” +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha was astonished when he looked at the soldier’s face, which a +moment before was so open and joyous. Kmita at mention of Boguslav grew pale in +an instant, and his face took on wrinkles like the face of a dog, when +preparing to bite. +</p> + +<p> +“Would that the traitor were poisoned with his own spittle, if he could +only fall into my hands before his death!” said he, gloomily. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not wonder at your venom. Have a care, though, that your anger does +not choke your adroitness, for you have to deal with no common man. It is well +that the king sent you hither. You will attack Boguslav for me, as you once did +Hovanski.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will attack him better!” said Kmita, with the same gloom. +</p> + +<p> +With this the conversation ended. Kmita went away to sleep in his quarters, for +he was wearied from the road. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the news spread through the army that the king had sent the baton to +their beloved chief. Joy burst out like a flame among thousands of men. The +officers of various squadrons hurried to the quarters of the hetman. The +sleeping town sprang up from its slumber. Bonfires were kindled. +Standard-bearers came with their standards. Trumpets sounded and kettle-drums +thundered; discharges from muskets and cannon roared. Pan Sapyeha ordered a +lordly feast, and they applauded the whole night through, drinking to the +health of the king, the hetman, and to the coming victory over Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei, as was agreed, was not present at the feast. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman at the table began a conversation about Boguslav, and not telling +who that officer was who had come with the Tartars and brought the baton, he +spoke in general of the perversity of Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +“Both Radzivills,” said he, “were fond of intrigues, but +Prince Boguslav goes beyond his dead cousin. You remember, gentlemen, Kmita, or +at least you have heard of him. Now imagine to yourselves, what Boguslav +reported—that Kmita offered to raise his hand on the king our +lord—was not true.” +</p> + +<p> +“Still Kmita helped Yanush to cut down good cavaliers.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is true that he helped Yanush; but at last he saw what he was doing, +and then not only did he leave the service, but as you know, being a man of +daring, he attacked Boguslav. It was close work there for the young prince, and +he barely escaped with his life from Kmita’s hands.” +</p> + +<p> +“Kmita was a great soldier!” answered many voices. +</p> + +<p> +“The prince through revenge invented against him a calumny at which the +soul shudders.” +</p> + +<p> +“The devil could not have invented a keener!” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you know that I have in my hands proofs in black and white that that +was revenge for the change in Kmita?” +</p> + +<p> +“To put infamy in such a way on any one’s name! Only Boguslav could +do that! To sink such a soldier!” +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard this,” continued the hetman: “Kmita, seeing +that nothing remained for him to do in this region, hurried off to Chenstohova, +rendered there famous services, and then defended the king with his own +breast.” +</p> + +<p> +Hearing this, the same soldiers who would have cut Kmita to pieces with their +sabres began to speak of him more and more kindly. +</p> + +<p> +“Kmita will not forgive the calumny, he is not such a man; he will fall +on Boguslav.” +</p> + +<p> +“Boguslav has insulted all soldiers, by casting such infamy on one of +them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Kmita was cruel and violent, but he was not a parricide.” +</p> + +<p> +“He will have vengeance!” +</p> + +<p> +“We will be first to take vengeance for him!” +</p> + +<p> +“If you, serene great mighty hetman, guarantee this with your office, it +must have been so.” +</p> + +<p> +“It was so!” said the hetman. +</p> + +<p> +And they lacked little of drinking Kmita’s health. But in truth there +were very violent voices against this, especially among the former officers of +Radzivill. Hearing these, the hetman said,— +</p> + +<p> +“And do you know, gentlemen, how this Kmita comes to my mind? Babinich, +the king’s courier, resembles him much. At the first moment I was +mistaken myself.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Sapyeha began to look around with more severity and to speak with greater +seriousness,— +</p> + +<p> +“Though Kmita were to come here himself, since he has changed, since he +has defended a holy place with immense bravery, I should defend him with my +office of hetman. I ask you therefore, gentlemen, to raise no disturbance here +by reason of this newly arrived. I ask you to remember that he has come here by +appointment of the king and the Khan. But especially do I recommend this to you +who are captains in the general militia, for with you it is harder to preserve +discipline.” +</p> + +<p> +Whenever Sapyeha spoke thus, Zagloba alone dared to murmur, all others would +sit in obedience, and so they sat now; but when the hetman’s face grew +gladsome again, all rejoiced. The goblets moving swiftly filled the measure of +rejoicing, and the whole town was thundering till morning, so that the walls of +houses were shaking on their foundation, and the smoke of salutes veiled them, +as in time of battle. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning Sapyeha sent Anusia to Grodno with Pan Kotchyts. In Grodno, from +which Hovanski had long since withdrawn, the voevoda’s family was living. +</p> + +<p> +Poor Anusia, whose head the handsome Babinich had turned somewhat, took +farewell of him very tenderly; but he was on his guard, and only at the very +parting did he say to her,— +</p> + +<p> +“Were it not for one devil which sits in my heart like a thorn, I should +surely have fallen in love with you to kill.” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia thought to herself that there is no splinter which may not be picked out +with patience and a needle; but she feared somewhat this Babinich, therefore +she said nothing, sighed quietly, and departed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<p> +A week after the departure of Anusia with Kotchyts, Sapyeha’s camp was +still at Byala. Kmita, with the Tartars, was ordered to the neighborhood of +Rokitno; he was resting too, for the horses needed food and rest after the long +road. Prince Michael Kazimir Radzivill, the owner of the place by inheritance, +came also to Byala; he was a powerful magnate of the Nyesvyej branch of +Radzivills, of whom it was said that they had inherited from the Kishkis alone +seventy towns and four hundred villages. This Radzivill resembled in nothing +his kinsmen of Birji. Not less ambitious perhaps than they, but differing in +faith, an ardent patriot, and an adherent of the lawful king, he joined with +his whole soul the confederacy of Tyshovtsi, and strengthened it as best he +could. His immense possessions were, it is true, greatly ravaged by the last +war, but still he stood at the head of considerable forces and brought the +hetman no small aid. +</p> + +<p> +Not so much, however, did the number of his soldiers weigh in the balance as +the fact that Radzivill stood against Radzivill; in this way the last seeming +of justice was taken from Boguslav, and his acts were covered with the open +character of invasion and treason. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore Sapyeha saw Prince Michael in his camp with delight. He was certain +now that he would overcome Boguslav, for he surpassed him much in power; but +according to his custom he weighed his plans slowly, stopped, considered, and +summoned councils of officers. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita also was at these councils. He so hated the name Radzivill that at first +sight of Prince Michael he trembled from anger and rage; but Michael knew how +to win people by his countenance alone, on which beauty was united with +kindness. The great qualities of this Radzivill, the grievous times which he +had recently passed while defending the country from Zolotarenko and +Serobryani, his genuine love for the king, made him one of the most honorable +cavaliers of his time. His very presence in the camp of Sapyeha, the rival of +the house of Radzivill, testified how far the young prince knew how to +sacrifice private to public affairs. Whoso knew him was forced to love him. +This feeling could not be resisted even by the passionate Kmita, despite his +first opposition. +</p> + +<p> +Finally the prince captivated the heart of Pan Andrei by his advice. +</p> + +<p> +This advice was not merely to move against Boguslav, but to move without +negotiations, to dash upon him at once: “Do not let him take castles; +give him neither rest nor chance to draw breath; make war upon him with his own +method.” In such decision the prince saw speedy and certain victory. +</p> + +<p> +“It cannot be that Karl Gustav has not moved also; we must have our hands +free, therefore, as soon as possible, and hasten to succor Charnyetski.” +</p> + +<p> +Of the same opinion was Kmita, who had been fighting three days with his old +evil habit of self-will so as to restrain himself from advancing without +orders. +</p> + +<p> +But Sapyeha liked to act with certainty, he feared every inconsiderate step; +therefore he determined to wait for surer intelligence. +</p> + +<p> +And the hetman had his reasons. The reported expedition of Boguslav against +Podlyasye might be only a snare, a trick of war. Perhaps it was a feigned +expedition with small forces, to prevent the junction of Sapyeha with the king. +That done, Boguslav would escape from before Sapyeha, receiving battle nowhere, +or delaying; but meanwhile Karl Gustav with the elector would strike +Charnyetski, crush him with superior forces, move against the king himself, and +smother the work in its inception,—the work of defence created by the +glorious example of Chenstohova. Sapyeha was not only a leader, but a +statesman. He explained his reasons with power at the councils, so that even +Kmita was forced in his soul to agree with him. First of all, it was incumbent +to know what course to take. If Boguslav’s invasion proved to be merely a +trick, it was sufficient to send a number of squadrons against him, and move +with all speed to Charnyetski against the chief power of the enemy. The hetman +might leave boldly a few or even more squadrons, for his forces were not all +around Byala. Young Pan Krishtof, or the so-called Kryshtofek Sapyeha, was +posted with two light squadrons and a regiment of infantry at Yavorov; +Horotkyevich was moving around Tykotsin, having under him half a dragoon +regiment very well trained, and five hundred volunteers, besides a light horse +squadron named for Sapyeha; and in Byalystok were land infantry. +</p> + +<p> +These forces would more than suffice to stand against Boguslav, if he had only +a few hundred horses. +</p> + +<p> +But the clear-sighted hetman sent couriers in every direction and waited for +tidings. +</p> + +<p> +At last tidings came; but like thunderbolts, and all the more so that by a +peculiar concurrence of circumstances all came in one evening. +</p> + +<p> +They were just at council in the castle of Byala when an officer of orderlies +entered and gave a letter to the hetman. Barely had the hetman cast eyes on it +when he changed in the face and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“My relative is cut to pieces at Yavorov by Boguslav himself; hardly has +he escaped with his life.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +“The letter is written in Bransk, in fright and confusion,” said +he; “therefore it contains not a word touching Boguslav’s power, +which must, I think, be considerable, since, as I read, two squadrons and a +regiment of infantry are cut to pieces. It must be, however, that Boguslav fell +on them unawares. The letter gives nothing positive.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am certain now,” said Prince Michael, “that Boguslav wants +to seize all Podlyasye, so as to make of it a separate or feudal possession in +the treaties. Therefore he has surely come with as much power as he could +possibly get. I have no other proofs save a knowledge of Boguslav. He cares +neither for the Swedes nor the Brandenburgers, only for himself. He is an +uncommon warrior, who trusts in his fortunate star. He wants to win a province, +to avenge Yanush, to cover himself with glory; and to do this he must have a +corresponding power, and has it, otherwise he would not march on us.” +</p> + +<p> +“For everything the blessing of God is indispensable,” said +Oskyerko; “and the blessing is with us!” +</p> + +<p> +“Serene great mighty hetman,” said Kmita, “information is +needed. Let me loose from the leash with my Tartars, and I will bring you +information.” +</p> + +<p> +Oskyerko, who had been admitted to the secret and knew who Babinich was, +supported the proposal at once and with vigor. +</p> + +<p> +“As God is good to me, that is the best idea in the world! Such a man is +needed there, and such troops. If only the horses are rested.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Oskyerko was stopped, for the officer of orderlies entered the room again. +</p> + +<p> +“Serene great mighty hetman!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha slapped his knees and exclaimed. “They have news! Admit +them.” +</p> + +<p> +After a while two light-horsemen entered, tattered and muddy. +</p> + +<p> +“From Horotkyevich?” asked Sapyeha. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is he now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Killed, or if not killed, we know not where he is.” +</p> + +<p> +The hetman rose, but sat down again and inquired calmly,— +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the squadron?” +</p> + +<p> +“Swept away by Prince Boguslav.” +</p> + +<p> +“Were many lost?” +</p> + +<p> +“We were cut to pieces; maybe a few were left who were taken captive like +us. Some say that the colonel escaped; but that he is wounded I saw myself. We +escaped from captivity.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where were you attacked?” +</p> + +<p> +“At Tykotsin.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why did you not go inside the walls, not being in force?” +</p> + +<p> +“Tykotsin is taken.” +</p> + +<p> +The hetman covered his eyes for a moment with his hand, then he began to pass +his hand over his forehead. +</p> + +<p> +“Is there a large force with Boguslav?” +</p> + +<p> +“Four thousand cavalry, besides infantry and cannon; the infantry very +well trained. The cavalry moved forward, taking us with them; but luckily we +escaped.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whence did you escape?” +</p> + +<p> +“From Drohichyn.” +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha opened wide his eyes. “You are drunk. How could Boguslav come to +Drohichyn? When did he defeat you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Two weeks ago.” +</p> + +<p> +“And is he in Drohichyn?” +</p> + +<p> +“His scouting-parties are. He remained in the rear himself, for some +convoy is captured which Pan Kotchyts was conducting.” +</p> + +<p> +“He was conducting Panna Borzobogati!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +A silence followed. Boguslav’s success, and so sudden, had confused the +officers beyond measure. All thought in their hearts that the hetman was to +blame for delay, but no one dared say so aloud. +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha, however, felt that he had done what was proper, and had acted wisely. +Therefore he recovered first from the surprise, sent out the men with a wave of +his hand, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“These are ordinary incidents of war, which should confuse no one. Do not +think, gentlemen, that we have suffered any defeat. Those regiments are a loss +surely; but the loss might have been a hundred times greater if Boguslav had +enticed us to a distant province. He is coming to us. We will go out to meet +him like hospitable hosts.” +</p> + +<p> +Here he turned to the colonels: “According to my orders all must be ready +to move?” +</p> + +<p> +“They are ready,” said Oskyerko. “Only saddle the horses and +sound the trumpet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sound it to-day. We move in the morning at dawn, without fail. Pan +Babinich will gallop ahead with his Tartars, and seize with all haste +informants.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita had barely heard this when he was outside the door, and a moment later +hurrying on as his horse could gallop to Rokitno. +</p> + +<p> +And Sapyeha also did not delay long. +</p> + +<p> +It was still night when the trumpets gave out their prolonged sounds; then +cavalry and infantry poured forth into the field; after them stretched a long +train of squeaking wagons. The first gleams of day were reflected on +musket-barrels and spear-points. +</p> + +<p> +And they marched, regiment after regiment, squadron after squadron, in great +regularity. The cavalry sang their matins, and the horses snorted sharply in +the morning coolness, from which the soldiers predicted sure victory for +themselves. +</p> + +<p> +Their hearts were full of consolation; for the knighthood knew from experience +that Sapyeha weighed everything, that he labored with his head, that he +considered every undertaking from both sides, that when he began a thing he +would finish it, and when he moved he would strike. +</p> + +<p> +At Rokitno the lairs of the Tartars were cold; they had gone the night before, +hence must have pushed far in advance. It surprised Sapyeha that along the road +it was difficult to learn anything of them, though the division, numbering, +with volunteers, several hundred, could not pass without being seen. +</p> + +<p> +The most experienced officers wondered greatly at this march, and at Pan +Babinich for being able to lead in such fashion. +</p> + +<p> +“Like a wolf he goes through the willows, and like a wolf he will +bite,” said they; “he is as if born for the work.” +</p> + +<p> +But Oskyerko, who, as has been said, knew who Babinich was, said to +Sapyeha,— +</p> + +<p> +“It was not for nothing that Hovanski put a price on his head. God will +give victory to whom he chooses; but this is sure, that war with us will soon +be bitter for Boguslav.” +</p> + +<p> +“But it is a pity that Babinich has vanished as if he had fallen into +water,” answered the hetman. +</p> + +<p> +Three days passed without tidings. Sapyeha’s main forces had reached +Drohichyn, had crossed the Bug, and found no enemy in front. The hetman began +to be disturbed. According to the statements of the light horse, +Boguslav’s scouts had reached Drohichyn; it was evident therefore that +Boguslav had determined to withdraw. But what was the meaning of this +withdrawal? Had Boguslav learned that Sapyeha’s forces were superior, and +was he afraid to measure strength with him, or did he wish to entice the hetman +far toward the north, to lighten for the King of Sweden his attack on +Charnyetski and the hetmans of the kingdom? Babinich was to find an informant +and let the hetman know. The reports of the light horse as to the number of +Boguslav’s troops might be erroneous; hence the need of precise +information at the earliest. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile five days more passed, and Babinich gave no account of himself. +Spring was coming; the days were growing warmer; the snow was melting. The +neighborhoods were being covered with water, under which were sleeping morasses +which hindered the march in an unheard of degree. The greater part of the +cannons and wagons the hetman had to leave in Drohichyn, and go farther on +horseback. Hence great inconvenience and murmuring, especially among the +general militia. In Bransk they came upon such mud that even the infantry could +not march farther. The hetman collected on the road horses from peasants and +small nobles, and seated musketeers on them. The light cavalry took others; but +they had gone too far already, and the hetman understood that only one thing +remained,—to advance with all speed. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav retreated unceasingly. Along the road they found continual traces of +him in villages burned here and there, in corpses of men hanging on trees. The +small local nobles came every little while with information to Sapyeha; but the +truth was lost, as is usual in contradictory statements. One saw a single +squadron, and swore that the prince had no more troops; another saw two; a +third three, a fourth an army five miles long. In a word they were fables such +as men tell who know nothing of armies or war. +</p> + +<p> +They had seen Tartars, too, here and there; but the stories concerning them +seemed most improbable, for it was said that they were seen not behind the +prince’s army, but in front, marching ahead. Sapyeha panted angrily when +any one mentioned Babinich in his presence, and he said to Oskyerko,— +</p> + +<p> +“You overrated him. In an evil hour I sent away Volodyovski, for if he +were here I should have had long ago as many informants as I need; but Babinich +is a whirlwind, or even worse. Who knows, he may in truth have joined Boguslav +and be marching in the vanguard.” +</p> + +<p> +Oskyerko himself did not know what to think. Meanwhile another week passed; the +army had come to Byalystok. +</p> + +<p> +It was midday. +</p> + +<p> +Two hours later the vanguard gave notice that some detachment was approaching. +</p> + +<p> +“It may be Babinich!” cried the hetman. “I’ll give him +<i>Pater Noster!</i>” +</p> + +<p> +It was not Babinich himself. But in the camp there rose such commotion over the +arrival of this detachment that Sapyeha went out to see what was taking place. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile officers from different squadrons flew in, crying,— +</p> + +<p> +“From Babinich! Prisoners! A whole band! He seized a crowd of men!” +</p> + +<p> +Indeed the hetman saw a number of tens of men on poor, ragged horses. +Babinich’s Tartars drove nearly three hundred men with bound hands, +beating them with bullock-skin whips. The prisoners presented a terrible sight. +They were rather shadows than men. With torn clothing, half naked, so poor that +the bones were pushing through their skin, bloody, they marched half alive, +indifferent to all things, even to the whistle of the whips which cut them, and +to the wild shouts of the Tartars. +</p> + +<p> +“What kind of men are they?” asked the hetman. +</p> + +<p> +“Boguslav’s troops!” answered one of Kmita’s volunteers +who had brought the prisoners together with the Tartars. +</p> + +<p> +“But where did you get so many?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nearly half as many more fell on the road, from exhaustion.” +</p> + +<p> +With this an old Tartar, a sergeant in the horde, approached, and beating with +the forehead, gave a letter from Kmita to Sapyeha. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman, without delay, broke the seal and began to read aloud:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Serene great mighty hetman! If I have sent neither news nor informants +with news hitherto, it is because I went in front, and not in the rear of +Prince Boguslav’s army, and I wished to learn the most possible.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The hetman stopped reading. +</p> + +<p> +“That is a devil!” said he. “Instead of following the prince, +he went ahead of him.” +</p> + +<p> +“May the bullets strike him!” added Oskyerko, in an undertone. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman read on. +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“It was dangerous work, as Boguslav’s scouts marched in a wide +front; but after I had cut down two parties and spared none. I worked to the +van of the army, from which movement great confusion came upon the prince, for +he fell to thinking at once that he was surrounded, and as it were was crawling +into a trap.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +“That is the reason of this unexpected withdrawal!” cried the +hetman. “A devil, a genuine devil!” He read on with still more +curiosity,— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“The prince, not understanding what had happened, began to lose his head, +and sent out party after party, which we cut up notably, so that none of them +returned in the same number. Marching in advance, we seized provisions, cut +dams, destroyed bridges, so that Boguslav’s men advanced with great +trouble, neither sleeping nor eating, having rest neither day nor night. They +could not stir from the camp, for the Tartars seized the unwary; and when the +camp was sleeping, the Tartars howled terribly in the willows; so the enemy, +thinking that a great army was moving on them, had to stand under arms all +night. The prince was brought to great despair, not knowing what to begin, +where to go, how to turn,—for this reason it is needful to march on him +quickly, before his fear passes. He had six thousand troops, but has lost +nearly a thousand. His horses are dying. His cavalry is good; his infantry is +passable; God, however, has granted that from day to day it decreases, and if +our army comes up it will fly apart. I seized in Byalystok the prince’s +carriages, some of his provision chests and things of value, with two cannons; +but I was forced to throw most of these into the river. The traitor from +continual rage has grown seriously ill, and is barely able to sit on his horse; +fever leaves him neither night nor day. Panna Borzobogati is taken, but being +ill the prince can make no attack on her honor. These reports, with the account +of Boguslav’s desperation, I got from the prisoners whom my Tartars +touched up with fire, and who if they are touched again will repeat the truth. +Now I commend my obedient services to you, serene great mighty hetman, begging +for forgiveness if I have erred, the Tartars are good fellows, and seeing a +world of plunder, serve marvellously.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +“Serene great mighty lord,” said Oskyerko, “now you surely +regret less that Volodyovski is away, for he could not equal this devil +incarnate. Oh, he is an ambitious piece; he even hurled the truth into the eyes +of Prince Yanush, not caring whether it was pleasant or unpleasant for that +hetman to hear it. This was his style with Hovanski, but Hovanski had fifteen +times more troops.” +</p> + +<p> +“If that is true, we need to advance at the greatest speed,” said +Sapyeha. +</p> + +<p> +“Before the prince can collect his wits.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let us move on, by the dear God! Babinich will cut the dams, and we will +overtake Boguslav!” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the prisoners, whom the Tartars had kept in a group in front of +Sapyeha, seeing the hetman, fell to groaning and weeping, showing their misery +and calling for mercy in various tongues; for there were among them Swedes, +Germans, and the Scottish guards of Prince Boguslav. Sapyeha took them from the +Tartars, and gave command to feed them and take their testimony without +torture. Their statements confirmed the truth of Kmita’s words; therefore +the rest of Sapyeha’s army advanced at great speed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<p> +Kmita’s next report came from Sokolka, and was brief: +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“The prince, to mislead our troops, has feigned a march toward Shchuchyn, +whither he has sent a party. He has gone himself with his main force to Yanov, +and has received there a reinforcement of infantry, led by Captain Kyritz, +eight hundred good men. From the place where we are the prince’s fires +are visible. In Yanov he intends to rest one week. The prisoners say that he is +ready for battle. The fever is shaking him continually.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +On receipt of this statement Sapyeha, leaving the remainder of his cannon and +wagons, moved on with cavalry to Sokolka; and at last the two armies stood eye +to eye. It was foreseen too that a battle was unavoidable; for on one side they +could flee no longer, the others pursuing. Meanwhile, like wrestlers who after +a long chase are to seize each other by the bodies, they lay opposite each +other, catching breath in their panting throats, and resting. +</p> + +<p> +When the hetman saw Kmita he seized him by the shoulders, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I was angry with you for not giving an account of yourself for so long, +but I see that you have accomplished more than I could hope for; and if God +gives victory, not mine but yours will be the merit. You went like an angel +guardian after Boguslav.” +</p> + +<p> +An ill-omened light gleamed in Kmita’s eyes. “If I am his angel +guardian, I must be present at his death.” +</p> + +<p> +“God will order that,” said the hetman, seriously; “but if +you wish the Lord to bless you, then pursue the enemy of the country, not your +own.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita bowed in silence; but it could not be learned whether the beautiful words +of the hetman made any impression on him. His face expressed implacable hatred, +and was the more threatening that the toil of pursuit after Boguslav had +emaciated it still more. Formerly in that countenance was depicted only daring +and insolent wildness; now it had become also stern and inexorable. You could +easily see that he against whom that man had recorded vengeance in his soul +ought to guard himself, even if he were Radzivill. +</p> + +<p> +He had, in truth, avenged himself terribly. The services he had rendered in +that campaign were immense. By pushing himself in front of Boguslav he had +beaten him from the road, had made his reckoning false, had fixed in him the +conviction that he was surrounded, and had forced him to retreat. Further he +went before him night and day. He destroyed scouting-parties; he was without +mercy for prisoners. In Syemyatiche, in Botski, in Orel and Byelsk he had +fallen in the dark night on the whole camp. +</p> + +<p> +In Voishki, not far from Zabludovo, in a purely Radzivill country, he had +fallen like a blind hurricane on the quarters of the prince himself, so that +Boguslav, who had just sat down to dinner, almost fell into his hands; and +thanks to Sakovich alone, did he take out his head alive. +</p> + +<p> +At Byalystok Kmita seized the carriages and camp-chests of Boguslav. He +wearied, weakened, and inflicted hunger on Boguslav’s troops. The choice +German infantry and Swedish cavalry which the prince had brought with him were +like walking skeletons, from wandering, from surprises, from sleeplessness. The +mad howling of the Tartars and Kmita’s volunteers was heard in front of +them, at the flanks, and in the rear. Scarcely had a wearied soldier closed his +eyes when he had to seize his weapons. The farther on, the worse the condition. +</p> + +<p> +The small nobility inhabiting those neighborhoods joined with the Tartars, +partly through hatred of the Radzivills of Birji, partly through fear of Kmita; +for he punished beyond measure those who resisted. His forces increased +therefore; those of Boguslav melted. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, Boguslav himself was really ill; and though in the heart of that man +care never had its nest long, and though the astrologers, whom he believed +blindly, had foretold him in Prussia that his person would meet no harm in that +expedition, his ambition suffered harshly more than once. He, whose name had +been repeated with admiration in the Netherlands, on the Rhine, and in France, +was beaten every day in those deep forests by an unseen enemy, and overcome +without a battle. +</p> + +<p> +There was, besides, in that pursuit such uncommon stubbornness and impetuosity +passing the usual measure of war, that Boguslav with his native quickness +divined after a few days that some inexorable personal enemy was following him. +He learned the name Babinich easily, for the whole neighborhood repeated it; +but that name was strange to him. Not less glad would he be to know the person; +and on the road in times of pursuit he arranged tens and hundreds of +ambushes,—always in vain. Babinich was able to avoid traps, and inflicted +defeats where they were least expected. +</p> + +<p> +At last both armies came to the neighborhood of Sokolka. Boguslav found there +the reinforcement under Kyritz, who, not knowing hitherto where the prince was, +went to Yanov, where the fate of Boguslav’s expedition was to be decided. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita closed hermetically all the roads leading from Yanov to Sokolka, +Korychyn, Kuznitsa, and Suhovola. The neighboring forests, willow woods, and +thickets were occupied by the Tartars. Not a letter could pass; no wagon with +provisions could be brought in. Boguslav himself was in a hurry for battle +before his last biscuit in Yanov should be eaten. +</p> + +<p> +But as a man of quick wit, trained in every intrigue, he determined to try +negotiations first. He did not know yet that Sapyeha in this kind of intrigue +surpassed him greatly in reasoning and quickness. From Sokolka then in +Boguslav’s name came Pan Sakovich, under-chamberlain and starosta of +Oshmiana, the attendant and personal friend of Prince Boguslav, with a letter +and authority to conclude peace. +</p> + +<p> +This Pan Sakovich was a wealthy man, who reached senatorial dignity later in +life, for he became voevoda of Smolensk and treasurer of the Grand +Principality; he was at that time one of the most noted cavaliers in Lithuania, +famed equally for bravery and beauty. Pan Sakovich was of medium stature; the +hair of his head and brows was black as a raven’s wing, but he had pale +blue eyes which gazed with marvellous and unspeakable insolence, so that +Boguslav said of him that he stunned with his eyes as with the back of an axe. +He wore foreign garments which he brought from journeys made with Boguslav; he +spoke nearly all languages; in battle he rushed into the greatest whirl so +madly that among his enemies he was called “the doomed man.” But, +thanks to his uncommon strength and presence of mind, he always came out +unharmed. It was said that he had strength to stop a carriage in its course by +seizing the hind wheel; he could drink beyond measure, could toss off a quart +of cream in vodka, and be as sober as if he had taken nothing in his mouth. +With men he was morose, haughty, offensive; in Boguslav’s hand he was as +soft as wax. His manners were polished, and though in the king’s chambers +he knew how to bear himself, he had a certain wildness in his spirit which +burst forth at times like a flame. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Sakovich was rather a companion than a servant of Boguslav. Boguslav, who +in truth had never loved any one in his life, had an unconquerable weakness for +this man. By nature exceedingly sordid, he was generous to Sakovich alone. By +his influence he raised him to be under-chamberlain, and had him endowed with +the starostaship of Oshmiana. After every battle Boguslav’s first +question was: “Where is Sakovich? has he met with no harm?” The +prince depended greatly on the starosta’s counsels, and employed him in +war and in negotiations in which the courage and impudence of Sakovich were +very effective. +</p> + +<p> +This time he sent him to Sapyeha. But the mission was difficult,—first, +because the suspicion might easily fall on the starosta that he had come only +to spy out and discover Sapyeha’s strength; second, because the envoy had +much to ask and nothing to offer. +</p> + +<p> +Happily, Pan Sakovich did not trouble himself with anything. He entered as a +victor who comes to dictate terms to the vanquished, and struck Sapyeha with +his pale eyes. +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha smiled when he saw that pride, but half of his smile was compassion. +Every man may impose much with daring and impudence, but on people of a certain +measure; the hetman was above the measure of Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“My master, prince in Birji and Dubinki, commander-in-chief of the armies +of his princely highness the elector,” said Sakovich, “has sent me +with a greeting, and to ask about the health of your worthiness.” +</p> + +<p> +“Thank the prince, and say that you saw me well.” +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha took the letter, opened it carelessly enough, read it, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Too bad to lose time. I cannot see what the prince wants. Do you +surrender, or do you wish to try your fortune?” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich feigned astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +“Whether we surrender? I think that the prince proposes specially in this +letter that you surrender; at least my instructions—” +</p> + +<p> +“Of your instructions we will speak later, my dear Pan Sakovich. We have +chased you nearly a hundred and fifty miles, as a hound does a hare. Have you +ever heard of a hare proposing to a hound to surrender?” +</p> + +<p> +“We have received reinforcements.” +</p> + +<p> +“Von Kyritz, with eight hundred men, and so tired that they will lay down +their arms before battle. I will give you Hmelnitski’s saying +‘There is no time to talk!’” +</p> + +<p> +“The elector with all his power is with us.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well,—I shall not have far to seek him; for I wish to ask +him by what right he sends troops into the Commonwealth, of which he is a +vassal, and to which he is bound in loyalty.” +</p> + +<p> +“The right of the strongest.” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe in Prussia such a right exists, but not with us. But if you are +the stronger, take the field.” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince would long since have attacked you, were it not for kindred +blood.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wonder if that is the only hindrance!” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince wonders at the animosity of the Sapyehas against the house of +Radzivill, and that your worthiness for private revenge hesitates not to spill +the blood of the country.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tfu!” cried Kmita, listening behind the hetman’s armchair to +the conversation. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Sakovich rose, went to Kmita, and struck him with his eyes. But he met his +own, or better; and in the eyes of Pan Andrei the starosta found such an answer +that he dropped his glance to the floor. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman frowned. “Take your seat, Pan Sakovich. And do you preserve +calm” (turning to Kmita). Then he said to Sakovich,— +</p> + +<p> +“Conscience speaks only the truth, but mouths chew it and spit it into +the world as calumny. He who with foreign troops attacks a country, inflicts +wrong on him who defends it. God hears this, and the heavenly chronicler will +inscribe.” +</p> + +<p> +“Through hatred of the Sapyehas to the Radzivills was the prince voevoda +of Vilna consumed.” +</p> + +<p> +“I hate traitors, not the Radzivills; and the best proof of this is that +Prince Michael Radzivill is in my camp now. Tell me what is your wish?” +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, I will tell what I have in my heart; he hates who sends +secret assassins.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Sapyeha was astonished in his turn. +</p> + +<p> +“I send assassins against Prince Boguslav?” +</p> + +<p> +“That is the case!” +</p> + +<p> +“You have gone mad!” +</p> + +<p> +“The other day they caught, beyond Yanov, a murderer who once made an +attack on the life of the prince. Tortures brought him to tell who sent +him.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed; but in that silence Pan Sapyeha heard how Kmita, +standing behind him, repeated twice through his set lips, “Woe, +woe!” +</p> + +<p> +“God is my judge,” answered the hetman, with real senatorial +dignity, “that neither to you nor your prince shall I ever justify +myself; for you were not made to be my judges. But do you, instead of +loitering, tell directly what you have come for, and what conditions your +prince offers.” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince, my lord, has destroyed Horotkyevich, has defeated Pan +Krishtof Sapyeha, taken Tykotsin; therefore he can justly call himself victor, +and ask for considerable advantages. But regretting the loss of Christian +blood, he desires to return in quiet to Prussia, requiring nothing more than +the freedom of leaving his garrisons in the castles. We have also taken +prisoners not a few, among whom are distinguished officers, not counting Panna +Anusia Borzobogati, who has been sent already to Taurogi. These may be +exchanged on equal terms.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not boast of your victories, for my advance guard, led by Pan +Babinich here present, pressed you for a hundred and fifty miles; you retreated +before it, lost twice as many prisoners as you took previously; you lost +wagons, cannon, camp-chests. Your army is fatigued, dropping from hunger, has +nothing to eat; you know not whither to turn. You have seen my army; I did not +ask to have your eyes bound purposely, that you might know whether you are able +to measure forces with us. As to that young lady, she is not under my +guardianship, but that of Pan Zamoyski and Princess Griselda Vishnyevetski. The +prince will reckon with them if he does her any injustice. But speak with +wisdom; otherwise I shall order Pan Babinich to march at once.” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich, instead of answering, turned to Kmita: “Then you are the man +who made such onsets on the road? You must have learned your murderous trade +under Kmita—” +</p> + +<p> +“Learn on your own skin whether I practised well!” +</p> + +<p> +The hetman again frowned. “You have nothing to do here,” said he to +Sakovich; “you may go.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, give me at least a letter.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let it be so. Wait at Pan Oskyerko’s quarters for a letter.” +</p> + +<p> +Hearing this, Pan Oskyerko conducted Sakovich at once to his quarters. The +hetman waved his hand as a parting; then he turned to Pan Andrei. “Why +did you say ‘Woe,’ when he spoke of that man whom they +seized?” asked he, looking quickly and severely into the eyes of the +knight. “Has hatred so deadened your conscience that you really sent a +murderer to the prince?” +</p> + +<p> +“By the Most Holy Lady whom I defended, no!” answered Kmita; +“not through strange hands did I wish to reach his throat.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why did you say ‘Woe’? Do you know that man?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know him,” answered Kmita, growing pale from emotion and rage. +“I sent him from Lvoff to Taurogi—Prince Boguslav took Panna +Billevich to Taurogi—I love that lady. We were to marry—I sent that +man to get me news of her. She was in such hands—” +</p> + +<p> +“Calm yourself!” said the hetman. “Have you given him any +letters?” +</p> + +<p> +“No; she would not read them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why?” +</p> + +<p> +“Boguslav told her that I offered to carry away the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“Great are your reasons for hating him.” +</p> + +<p> +“True, your worthiness, true.” +</p> + +<p> +“Does the prince know that man?” +</p> + +<p> +“He knows him. That is the sergeant Soroka. He helped me to carry off +Boguslav.” +</p> + +<p> +“I understand,” said the hetman; “the vengeance of the prince +is awaiting him.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +“The prince is in a trap,” said the hetman, after a while; +“maybe he will consent to give him up.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let your worthiness,” said Kmita, “detain Sakovich, and send +me to the prince. Perhaps I may rescue Soroka.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is his fate such a great question for you?” +</p> + +<p> +“An old soldier, an old servant; he carried me in his arms. A multitude +of times he has saved my life. God would punish me were I to abandon him in +such straits.” And Kmita began to tremble from pity and anxiety. +</p> + +<p> +But the hetman said: “It is no wonder to me that the soldiers love you, +for you love them. I will do what I can. I will write to the prince that I will +free for him whomsoever he wishes for that soldier, who besides at your command +has acted as an innocent agent.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita seized his head: “What does he care for prisoners? he will not let +him go for thirty of them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then he will not give him to you; he will even attempt your life.” +</p> + +<p> +“He would give him for one,—for Sakovich.” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot imprison Sakovich; he is an envoy.” +</p> + +<p> +“Detain him, and I will go with a letter to the prince. Perhaps I shall +succeed—God be with him! I will abandon my revenge, if he will give me +that soldier.” +</p> + +<p> +“Wait,” said the hetman; “I can detain Sakovich. Besides that +I will write to the prince to send me a safe-conduct without a name.” +</p> + +<p> +The hetman began to write at once. An hour later a Cossack was galloping with a +letter to Yanov, and toward evening he returned with Boguslav’s +answer:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“I send according to request the safe-conduct with which every envoy may +return unharmed, though it is a wonder to me that your worthiness should ask +for a conduct while you have such a hostage as my servant and friend Pan +Sakovich, for whom I have so much love that I would give all the officers in my +army for him. It is known also that envoys are not killed, but are usually +respected even by wild Tartars with whom your worthiness is making war against +my Christian army. Now, guaranteeing the safety of your envoy by my personal +princely word, I subscribe myself, etc.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +That same evening Kmita took the safe-conduct and went with the two Kyemliches. +Pan Sakovich remained in Sokolka as a hostage. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<p> +It was near midnight when Pan Andrei announced himself to the advanced pickets +of the prince, but no one was sleeping in the whole camp. The battle might +begin at any moment, therefore they had prepared for it carefully. +Boguslav’s troops had occupied Yanov itself; they commanded the road from +Sokolka, which was held by artillery, managed by the elector’s trained +men. There were only three cannons, but abundance of powder and balls. On both +sides of Yanov, among the birch groves, Boguslav gave orders to make +intrenchments and to occupy them with double-barrelled guns and infantry. The +cavalry occupied Yanov itself, the road behind the cannons, and the intervals +between the trenches. The position was defensible enough, and with fresh men +defence in it might be long and bloody; but of fresh soldiers there were only +eight hundred under Kyritz; the rest were so wearied that they could barely +stand on their feet. Besides, the howling of the Tartars was heard in Suhovola +at midnight, and later in the rear of Boguslav’s ranks; hence a certain +fear was spread among the soldiers. Boguslav was forced to send in that +direction all his light cavalry, which after it had gone three miles dared +neither return nor advance, for fear of ambushes in the forest. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav, though fever together with violent chills was tormenting him more +than ever, commanded everything in person; but since he rode with difficulty he +had himself carried by four soldiers in an open litter. In this way he had +examined the road as well as the birch groves, and was entering Yanov when he +was informed that an envoy from Sapyeha was approaching. +</p> + +<p> +They were already on the street. Boguslav was unable to recognize Kmita because +of the darkness, and because Pan Andrei, through excess of caution on the part +of officers in the advance guard, had his head covered with a bag in which +there was an opening only for his mouth. +</p> + +<p> +The prince noticed the bag when Kmita, after dismounting, stood near him; he +gave command to remove it at once. +</p> + +<p> +“This is Yanov,” said he, “and there is no reason for +secrecy.” Then he turned in the darkness to Pan Andrei: “Are you +from Pan Sapyeha?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what is Pan Sakovich doing there?” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Oskyerko is entertaining him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why did you ask for a safe conduct when you have Sakovich? Pan Sapyeha +is too careful, and let him see to it that he is not too clever.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is not my affair,” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“I see that the envoy is not over-given to speech.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have brought a letter, and in the quarters I will speak of my own +affair.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is there a private question?” +</p> + +<p> +“There will be a request to your highness.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall be glad not to refuse it. Now I beg you to follow. Mount your +horse; I should ask you to the litter, but it is too small.” +</p> + +<p> +They moved on. The prince in the litter and Kmita at one side on horseback. +They looked in the darkness without being able to distinguish the faces of each +other. After a while the prince, in spite of furs, began to shake so that his +teeth chattered. At last he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“It has come on me grievously; if it were—brr!—not for this, +I would give other conditions.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita said nothing, and only wished to pierce with his eyes the darkness, in +the middle of which the head and face of the prince were outlined in indefinite +gray and white features. At the sound of Boguslav’s voice and at sight of +his figure all the former insults, the old hatred, and the burning desire for +revenge so rose in Kmita’s heart that they turned almost to madness. His +hand of itself sought the sword, which had been taken from him; but at his +girdle he had the baton with an iron head, the ensign of his rank of colonel; +the devil then began to whirl in his brain at once, and to whisper: “Cry +in his ear who you are, and smash his head into bits. The night is dark, you +will escape. The Kyemliches are with you. You will rub out a traitor and pay +for injustice. You will rescue Olenka, Soroka— Strike! strike!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita came still nearer the litter, and with trembling hand began to draw forth +the baton. “Strike!” whispered the devil; “you will serve the +country.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita had now drawn out the baton, and he squeezed the handle as if wishing to +crush it in his hand. “One, two, three!” whispered the devil. +</p> + +<p> +But at that moment Kmita’s horse, whether because he had hit the helmet +of the soldier with his nose, or had shied, it is enough that he stumbled +violently. Kmita pulled the reins. During this time the litter had moved on +several steps. The hair stood on the head of the young man. +</p> + +<p> +“O Most Holy Mother, restrain my hand!” whispered he, through his +set teeth. “O Most Holy Mother, save me! I am here an envoy; I came from +the hetman, and I want to murder like a night assassin. I am a noble; I am a +servant of Thine. Lead me not into temptation!” +</p> + +<p> +“But why are you loitering?” asked Boguslav, in a voice broken by +fever. +</p> + +<p> +“I am here!” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you hear the cocks crowing beyond the fences? It is needful to hurry, +for I am sick and want rest.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita put the baton behind his belt and rode farther, near the litter. Still he +could not find peace. He understood that only with cool blood and self-command +could he free Soroka; therefore he stipulated with himself in advance what +words to use with the prince so as to incline and convince him. He vowed to +have only Soroka in view, to mention nothing else, and especially not Olenka. +And he felt how in the darkness a burning blush covered his face at the thought +that perhaps the prince himself would mention her, and maybe mention something +that Pan Andrei would not be able to endure or listen to. +</p> + +<p> +“Let him not mention her,” said he to himself; “let him not +allude to her, for in that is his death and mine. Let him have mercy upon +himself, if he lacks shame.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei suffered terribly; his breath failed him, and his throat was so +straitened that he feared lest he might not be able to bring forth the words +when he came to speak. In this stifling oppression he began the Litany. +</p> + +<p> +After a time relief came; he was quieted considerably, and that grasp as it +were of an iron hand squeezing his throat was relaxed. +</p> + +<p> +They had now arrived at the prince’s quarters. The soldiers put down the +litter; two attendants took the prince by the armpits; he turned to Kmita, and +with his teeth chattering continually, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I beg you to follow. The chill will soon pass; then we can speak.” +</p> + +<p> +After a while they found themselves in a separate apartment in which heaps of +coals were glowing in a fireplace, and in which was unendurable heat. His +servants placed Prince Boguslav on a long campaign arm-chair covered with furs, +and brought a light. Then the attendants withdrew. The prince threw his head +back, closed his eyes, and remained in that position motionless for a time; at +last he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Directly,—let me rest.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita looked at him. The prince had not changed much, but the fever had pinched +his face. He was painted as usual, and his cheeks touched with color; but just +for that reason, when he lay there with closed eyes and head thrown back, he +was somewhat like a corpse or a wax figure. Pan Andrei stood before him in the +bright light. The prince began to open his lids lazily; suddenly he opened them +completely, and a flame, as it were, flew over his face. But it remained only +an instant; then again he closed his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“If thou art a spirit, I fear thee not,” said he; “but +vanish.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have come with a letter from the hetman,” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav shuddered a little, as if he wished to shake off visions; then he +looked at Kmita and asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Have I been deceived in you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not at all,” answered Pan Andrei, pointing with his finger to the +scar. +</p> + +<p> +“That is the second!” muttered the prince to himself; and he added +aloud, “Where is the letter?” +</p> + +<p> +“Here it is,” said Kmita, giving the letter. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav began to read, and when he had finished a marvellous light flashed in +his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“It is well,” said he; “there is loitering enough! Tomorrow +the battle—and I am glad, for I shall not have a fever.” +</p> + +<p> +“And we, too, are glad,” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence followed, during which these two inexorable enemies +measured each other with a certain terrible curiosity. The prince first resumed +the conversation. +</p> + +<p> +“I divine that it was you who attacked me with the Tartars?” +</p> + +<p> +“It was I.” +</p> + +<p> +“And did you not fear to come here?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita did not answer. +</p> + +<p> +“Did you count on our relationship through the Kishkis? For you and I +have our reckonings. I can tear you out of your skin, Sir Cavalier.” +</p> + +<p> +“You can, your highness.” +</p> + +<p> +“You came with a safe-conduct, it is true. I understand now why Pan +Sapyeha asked for it. But you have attempted my life. Sakovich is detained +there; but Sapyeha has no right to Sakovich, while I have a right to you, +cousin.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have come with a prayer to your highness.” +</p> + +<p> +“I beg you to mention it. You can calculate that for you everything will +be done. What is the prayer?” +</p> + +<p> +“You have here a captive soldier, one of those men who aided me in +carrying you off. I gave orders, he acted as a blind instrument. Be pleased to +set that man at liberty.” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav thought awhile. +</p> + +<p> +“I am thinking,” said he, “which is greater,—your +daring as a soldier, or your insolence as a petitioner.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not ask this man from you for nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what will you give me for him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it possible that he is such a precious soldier? You pay bountifully, +but see that that is sufficient; for surely you would like to ransom something +else from me.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita came a step nearer to the prince, and grew so awfully pale that Boguslav, +in spite of himself, looked at the door, and notwithstanding all his daring he +changed the subject of conversation. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Sapyeha will not entertain such an agreement. I should be glad to +hold you; but I have guaranteed with my word of a prince your safety.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will write by that soldier to the hetman that I remain of my own +will.” +</p> + +<p> +“And he will declare that, in spite of your will, I must send you. You +have given him services too great. He will not set Sakovich free, and Sakovich +I prize higher than you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then, your highness, free that soldier, and I will go on my word where +you command.” +</p> + +<p> +“I may fall to-morrow; I care nothing for treaties touching the day +after.” +</p> + +<p> +“I implore your highness for that man. I—” +</p> + +<p> +“What will you do?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will drop my revenge.” +</p> + +<p> +“You see, Pan Kmita, many a time have I gone against a bear with a spear, +not because I had to do so, but from desire. I am glad when some danger +threatens, for life is less dull for me. In this case I reserve your revenge as +a pleasure; for you are, I must confess, of that breed of bears which seek the +hunter themselves.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness,” said Kmita, “for small mercies God often +forgives great sins. Neither of us knows when it will come to him to stand +before the judgment of Christ.” +</p> + +<p> +“Enough!” said the prince. “I compose psalms for myself in +spite of the fever, so as to have some merit before the Lord; should I need a +preacher I should summon my own. You do not know how to beg with sufficient +humility, and you go in round-about ways. I will show you the method myself: +strike to-morrow in the battle on Sapyeha, and after to-morrow I will let out +the soldier and forgive you your sins. You betrayed Radzivill; betray now +Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is this the last word of your highness? By all the saints, I implore +you!” +</p> + +<p> +“No! Devil take you! And you change in the face—But don’t +come too near, for, though I am ashamed to call attendants—look here! You +are too bold!” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav pointed at a pistol-barrel peeping from under the fur with which it +was covered, and looked with sparkling eyes into Kmita’s eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness!” cried Kmita, almost joining his hands in prayer, +but with a face changed by wrath. +</p> + +<p> +“You beg, but you threaten,” said Boguslav; “you bend your +neck, but the devil is gnashing his teeth at me from behind your collar. Pride +is gleaming in your eyes, and in your mouth it sounds as in a cloud. With your +forehead to the Radzivill feet when you beg, my little man! Beat with your +forehead on the floor, then I will answer.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei’s face was as pale as a piece of linen; he drew his hand over +his moist forehead, his eyes, his face; and he spoke with such a broken voice, +as if the fever from which the prince suffered had suddenly sprung upon him. +</p> + +<p> +“If your highness will free for me that old soldier, I am ready to fall +at your feet.” +</p> + +<p> +Satisfaction gleamed in Boguslav’s eyes. He had brought down his enemy, +bent his proud neck. Better food he could not give to his revenge and hatred. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita stood before him with hair erect in his forelock, trembling in his whole +body. His face, resembling even in rest the head of a hawk, recalled all the +more an enraged bird of prey. You could not tell whether at the next moment he +would throw himself at the feet, or hurl himself at the breast of the prince. +But Boguslav not taking his eyes from him, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Before witnesses! before people!” And he turned to the door. +“Hither!” +</p> + +<p> +A number of attendants, Poles and foreigners, came in; after them officers +entered. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious gentlemen!” said the prince, “behold Pan Kmita, the +banneret of Orsha and envoy of Pan Sapyeha, who has come to beg a favor of me, +and he wishes to have all you gentlemen as witnesses.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita tottered like a drunken man, groaned, and fell at Boguslav’s feet. +The prince stretched his feet purposely so that the end of his riding-boot +touched the forehead of the knight. +</p> + +<p> +All looked in silence, astonished at the famous name, as well as at +this,—that he who bore it was now an envoy from Pan Sapyeha. All +understood, too, that something uncommon was taking place. +</p> + +<p> +The prince rose, and without saying a word passed into the adjoining chamber, +beckoning to two attendants to follow him. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita rose. His face showed no longer either anger or rapacity, merely +indifference and insensibility. He appeared unconscious of what was happening +to him, and his energy seemed broken completely. +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour passed; an hour. Outside the windows was heard the tramp of +horses’ feet and the measured tread of soldiers; he sat continually as if +of stone. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly the door opened. An officer entered, an old acquaintance of +Kmita’s from Birji, and eight soldiers,—four with muskets, four +without firearms,—with sabres. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Colonel, rise!” said the officer, politely. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita looked on him wanderingly. “Glovbich!” said he, recognizing +the officer. +</p> + +<p> +“I have an order,” answered Glovbich, “to bind your hands and +conduct you beyond Yanov. The binding is for a time, then you will go free; +therefore I beg you not to resist.” +</p> + +<p> +“Bind!” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +And he permitted them to tie him. But they did not tie his feet. The officer +led him out of the room and on foot through Yanov. Then they advanced for about +an hour. On the road some horsemen joined them. Kmita heard them speaking in +Polish; the Poles, who served with Boguslav, all knew the name of Kmita, and +therefore were most curious to know what would happen to him. The party passed +the birch grove and came to an open field, on which Pan Andrei saw a detachment +of the light Polish squadron of Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers stood in rank, forming a square; in the middle was a space in +which were two foot-soldiers holding horses harnessed to draw, and some men +with torches. +</p> + +<p> +By the light of the torches Pan Andrei saw a freshly sharpened stake lying on +the ground with the large end fastened in a great log. +</p> + +<p> +A shiver passed through Kmita involuntarily. “That is for me,” +thought he; “Boguslav has ordered them to draw me on the stake with +horses. He sacrifices Sakovich to his vengeance.” +</p> + +<p> +But he was mistaken; the stake was intended first for Soroka. +</p> + +<p> +By the quivering flames Pan Andrei saw Soroka himself; the old soldier was +sitting there at the side of the log on a stool, without a cap and with bound +hands, guarded by four soldiers. A man dressed in a short shuba without sleeves +was at that moment giving him in a shallow cup gorailka, which Soroka drank +eagerly enough. When he had drunk, he spat; and since at that very moment Kmita +was placed between two horsemen in the first rank, Soroka saw him, sprang from +the stool and straightened himself as if on military parade. +</p> + +<p> +For a while they looked the one at the other. Soroka’s face was calm and +resigned; he only moved his jaws as if chewing. +</p> + +<p> +“Soroka!” groaned Kmita, at last. +</p> + +<p> +“At command!” answered the soldier. +</p> + +<p> +And again silence followed. What had they to say at such a moment? Then the +executioner, who had given Soroka the vodka, approached him. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, old man,” said he, “it is time for you!” +</p> + +<p> +“And you will draw me on straight?” +</p> + +<p> +“Never fear.” +</p> + +<p> +Soroka feared not; but when he felt on his shoulder the hand of the +executioner, he began to pant quickly and loudly. At last he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“More gorailka!” +</p> + +<p> +“There is none!” +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly one of the soldiers pushed out of the rank and gave a canteen,— +</p> + +<p> +“Here is some; give it to him.” +</p> + +<p> +“To the rank!” commanded Glovbich. +</p> + +<p> +Still the man in the short shuba held the canteen to Soroka’s mouth; he +drank abundantly, and after he had drunk breathed deeply. +</p> + +<p> +“See!” said he, “the lot of a soldier after thirty +years’ service. Well, if it is time, it is time!” +</p> + +<p> +Another executioner approached and they began to undress him. +</p> + +<p> +A moment of silence. The torches trembled in the hands of those holding them; +it became terrible for all. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile from the ranks surrounding the square was wrested a murmur of +dissatisfaction, which became louder each instant: “A soldier is not an +executioner; he gives death himself, but does not wish to see torture.” +</p> + +<p> +“Silence!” cried Glovbich. +</p> + +<p> +The murmur became a loud bustle, in which were heard single words: +“Devils!” “Thunders!” “Pagan service!” +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly Kmita shouted as if they had been drawing him on to the stake,— +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” +</p> + +<p> +The executioner halted involuntarily. All eyes were turned to Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Soldiers!” shouted Pan Andrei, “Prince Boguslav is a traitor +to the king and the Commonwealth! You are surrounded, and to-morrow you will be +cut to pieces. You are serving a traitor; you are serving against the country! +But whoso leaves this service leaves the traitor; to him forgiveness of the +king, forgiveness of the hetman! Choose! Death and disgrace, or a reward +to-morrow! I will pay wages, and a ducat a man,—two ducats a man! Choose! +It is not for you, worthy soldiers, to serve a traitor! Long life to the king! +Long life to the grand hetman of Lithuania!” +</p> + +<p> +The disturbance was turned into thunder; the ranks were broken. A number of +voices shouted,— +</p> + +<p> +“Long life to the king!” +</p> + +<p> +“We have had enough of this service!” +</p> + +<p> +“Destruction to traitors!” +</p> + +<p> +“Stop! stop!” shouted other voices. +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow you will die in disgrace!” bellowed Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“The Tartars are in Suhovola!” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince is a traitor!” +</p> + +<p> +“We are fighting against the king!” +</p> + +<p> +“Strike!” +</p> + +<p> +“To the prince!” +</p> + +<p> +“Halt!” +</p> + +<p> +In the disturbance some sabre had cut the ropes tying Kmita’s hands. He +sprang that moment on one of the horses which were to draw Soroka on the stake, +and cried from the horse,— +</p> + +<p> +“Follow me to the hetman!” +</p> + +<p> +“I go!” shouted Glovbich. “Long life to the king!” +</p> + +<p> +“May he live!” answered fifty voices, and fifty sabres glittered at +once. +</p> + +<p> +“To horse, Soroka!” commanded Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +There were some who wished to resist, but at sight of the naked sabres they +grew silent. One, however, turned his horse and vanished from the eye in a +moment. The torches went out. Darkness embraced all. +</p> + +<p> +“After me!” shouted Kmita. An orderless mass of men moved from the +place, and then stretched out in a long line. +</p> + +<p> +When they had gone two or three furlongs they met the infantry pickets who +occupied in large parties the birch grove on the left side. +</p> + +<p> +“Who goes?” +</p> + +<p> +“Glovbich with a party!” +</p> + +<p> +“The word?” +</p> + +<p> +“Trumpets!” +</p> + +<p> +“Pass!” +</p> + +<p> +They rode forward, not hurrying over-much; then they went on a trot. +</p> + +<p> +“Soroka!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“At command!” answered the voice of the sergeant at his side. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita said nothing more, but stretching out his hand, put his palm on +Soroka’s head, as if wishing to convince himself that he was riding +there. The soldier pressed Pan Andrei’s hand to his lips in silence. +</p> + +<p> +Then Glovbich called from the other side,— +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace! I wanted long to do what I have done to-day.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will not regret it!” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall be thankful all my life to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me, Glovbich, why did the prince send you, and not a foreign +regiment, to the execution?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because he wanted to disgrace you before the Poles. The foreign soldiers +do not know you.” +</p> + +<p> +“And was nothing to happen to me?” +</p> + +<p> +“I had the order to cut your bonds; but if you tried to defend Soroka we +were to bring you for punishment to the prince.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then he was willing to sacrifice Sakovich,” muttered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Prince Boguslav in Yanov, wearied with the fever and the toil of the +day, had gone to sleep. He was roused from slumber by an uproar in front of his +quarters and a knocking at the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness, your highness!” cried a number of voices. +</p> + +<p> +“He is asleep, do not rouse him!” answered the pages. +</p> + +<p> +But the prince sat up in bed and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“A light!” +</p> + +<p> +They brought in a light, and at the same time the officer on duty entered. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness,” said he, “Sapyeha’s envoy has brought +Glovbich’s squadron to mutiny and taken it to the hetman.” +</p> + +<p> +Silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +“Sound the kettle-drums and other drums!” said Boguslav at last; +“let the troops form in rank!” +</p> + +<p> +The officer went out; the prince remained alone. +</p> + +<p> +“That is a terrible man!” said he to himself; and he felt that a +new paroxysm of fever was seizing him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<p> +It is easy to imagine Sapyeha’s amazement when Kmita not only returned +safely himself, but brought with him a number of tens of horsemen and his old +servant. Kmita had to tell the hetman and Oskyerko twice what had happened, and +how it had happened; they listened with curiosity, clapping their hands +frequently and seizing their heads. +</p> + +<p> +“Learn from this,” said the hetman, “that whoso carries +vengeance too far, from him it often slips away like a bird through the +fingers. Prince Boguslav wanted to have Poles as witnesses of your shame and +suffering so as to disgrace you the more, and he carried the matter too far. +But do not boast of this, for it was the ordinance of God which gave you +victory, though, in my way, I will tell you one thing,—he is a devil; but +you too are a devil! The prince did ill to insult you.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will not leave him behind in vengeance, and God grant that I shall not +overdo it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Leave vengeance altogether, as Christ did; though with one word he might +have destroyed the Jews.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita said nothing, and there was no time for discussion; there was not even +time for rest. He was mortally wearied, and still he had determined to go that +night to his Tartars, who were posted in the forests and on the roads in the +rear of Boguslav’s army. But people of that period slept soundly on +horseback. Pan Andrei simply gave command then to saddle a fresh horse, +promising himself to slumber sweetly on the road. +</p> + +<p> +When he was mounting Soroka came to him and stood straight as in service. +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“What have you to say, old man?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have come to ask when I am to start?” +</p> + +<p> +“For what place?” +</p> + +<p> +“For Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita laughed: “You will not go to Taurogi, you will go with me.” +</p> + +<p> +“At command!” answered the sergeant, striving not to show his +delight. +</p> + +<p> +They rode on together. The road was long, for they had to go around by forests, +so as not to fall into Boguslav’s hands; but Kmita and Soroka slept a +hundred fold, and came to the Tartars without any accident. +</p> + +<p> +Akbah Ulan presented himself at once before Babinich, and gave him a report of +his activity. Pan Andrei was satisfied. Every bridge had been burned, the dams +were cut; that was not all, the water of springtime had overflowed, changing +the fields, meadows, and roads in the lower places into muddy quagmires. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav had no choice but to fight, to conquer or perish; it was impossible +for him to think of retreat. +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” said Kmita; “he has good cavalry, but heavy. He +will not have use for it in the mud of to-day.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he turned to Akbah Ulan. “You have grown poor,” said he, +striking him on the stomach with his fist; “but after the battle you will +fill your paunch with the prince’s ducats.” +</p> + +<p> +“God has created the enemy, so that men of battle might have some one to +plunder,” said the Tartar, with seriousness. +</p> + +<p> +“But Boguslav’s cavalry stands in front of you.” +</p> + +<p> +“There are some hundreds of good horses, and yesterday a regiment of +infantry came and intrenched itself.” +</p> + +<p> +“But could they not be enticed to the field?” +</p> + +<p> +“They will not come out.” +</p> + +<p> +“But turn them, leave them in the rear, and go to Yanov.” +</p> + +<p> +“They occupy the road.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then we must think of something!” Kmita began to stroke his +forelock with his hand: “Have you tried to steal up to them? How far will +they follow you out?” +</p> + +<p> +“A furlong, two,—not farther.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then we must think of something!” repeated Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +But that night they thought of nothing. Next morning, however, Kmita went with +the Tartars toward the camp lying between Suhovol and Yanov, and discovered +that Akbah Ulan had exaggerated, saying that the infantry was intrenched on +that side; for they had little ditches, nothing more. It was possible to make a +protracted defence from them, especially against Tartars, who did not go +readily to the attack of such places; but it was impossible for men in them to +think of enduring any kind of siege. +</p> + +<p> +“If I had infantry,” thought Kmita, “I would go into +fire.” +</p> + +<p> +But it was difficult even to dream of bringing infantry; for, first, Sapyeha +himself had not very many; second, there was no time to bring them. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita approached so closely that Boguslav’s infantry opened fire on him; +but he did not care. He rode among the bullets and examined, looked around; and +the Tartars, though less enduring of fire, had to keep pace with him. Then +cavalry rushed out and undertook to flank him. He retreated about three +thousand yards and turned again. But they had ridden back toward the trenches. +In vain did the Tartars let off a cloud of arrows after them. Only one man fell +from his horse, and that one his comrades saved, carried in. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita on returning, instead of riding straight to Suhovola, rushed toward the +west and came to the Kamyonka. +</p> + +<p> +This swampy river had overflowed widely, for that year the springtime was +wonderfully abundant in water. Kmita looked at the river, threw a number of +broken branches into it so as to measure the speed of the current, and said to +Ulan,— +</p> + +<p> +“We will go around their flank and strike them in the rear.” +</p> + +<p> +“Horses cannot swim against the current.” +</p> + +<p> +“It goes slowly. They will swim! The water is almost standing.” +</p> + +<p> +“The horses will be chilled, and the men cannot endure it. It is cold +yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, the men will swim holding to the horses’ tails! That is your +Tartar way.” +</p> + +<p> +“The men will grow stiff.” +</p> + +<p> +“They will get warm under fire.” +</p> + +<p> +“Kismet (fate)!” +</p> + +<p> +Before it had grown dark in the world, Kmita had ordered them to cut bunches of +willows, dry reeds, and rushes, and tie them to the sides of the horses. When +the first star appeared, he sent about eight hundred horses into the water, and +they began to swim. He swam himself at the head of them; but soon he saw that +they were advancing so slowly that in two days they would not swim past the +trenches. Then he ordered them to swim to the other bank. +</p> + +<p> +That was a dangerous undertaking. The other bank was steep and swampy. The +horses, though light, sank in it to their bellies. But Kmita’s men pushed +forward, though slowly and saving one another, while advancing a couple of +furlongs. +</p> + +<p> +The stars indicated midnight. Then from the south came to them echoes of +distant fighting. +</p> + +<p> +“The battle has begun!” shouted Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“We shall drown!” answered Akbah Ulan. +</p> + +<p> +“After me!” +</p> + +<p> +The Tartars knew not what to do, when on a sudden they saw that Kmita’s +horse issued from the mud, evidently finding firm footing. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, a bench of sand had begun. On the top of it there was water to the +horses’ breasts, but under foot was solid ground. They went therefore +more swiftly. On the left distant fires were gleaming. +</p> + +<p> +“Those are the trenches!” said Kmita, quietly. “Let us avoid +them, go around!” +</p> + +<p> +After a while they had really passed the trenches. Then they turned to the +left, and put their horses into the river again, so as to land beyond the +trenches. +</p> + +<p> +More than a hundred horses were swamped at the shore; but almost all the men +came out. Kmita ordered those who had lost their beasts to sit behind other +horsemen, and they moved toward the trenches. First he left volunteers with the +order not to disturb the trenches till he should have gone around them to the +rear. When he was approaching he heard shots, at first few, then more frequent. +</p> + +<p> +“It is well!” said he; “Sapyeha is attacking!” +</p> + +<p> +And he moved on. +</p> + +<p> +In the darkness was visible only a multitude of heads jumping with the movement +of the horses; sabres did not rattle, armor did not sound; the Tartars and +volunteers knew how to move in silence, like wolves. +</p> + +<p> +From the side of Yanov the firing became more and more vigorous; it was evident +that Sapyeha was moving along the whole line. +</p> + +<p> +But on the trenches toward which Kmita was advancing shouts were heard also. A +number of piles of wood were burning near them, casting around a strong light. +By this light Pan Andrei saw infantry firing rarely, more occupied in looking +in front at the field, where cavalry was fighting with volunteers. +</p> + +<p> +They saw him too from the trenches, but instead of firing they greeted the +advancing body with a loud shout. The soldiers thought that Boguslav had sent +them reinforcements. +</p> + +<p> +But when barely a hundred yards separated the approaching body from the +trenches, the infantry began to move about unquietly; an increasing number of +soldiers, shading their eyes with their hands, were looking to see what kind of +people were coming. +</p> + +<p> +When fifty yards distant a fearful howl tore the air, and Kmita’s force +rushed like a storm, took in the infantry, surrounded them like a ring, and +that whole mass of men began to move convulsively. You would have said that a +gigantic serpent was stifling a chosen victim. +</p> + +<p> +In this crowd piercing shouts were heard. “Allah!” “Herr +Jesus!” “Mein Gott!” +</p> + +<p> +Behind the trenches new shouts went up; for the volunteers, though in weaker +numbers, recognizing that Pan Babinich was in the trenches, pressed on the +cavalry with fury. Meanwhile the sky, which had been cloudy for some time, as +is common in spring, poured down a heavy, unexpected rain. The blazing fires +were put out, and the battle went on in the darkness. +</p> + +<p> +But the battle did not last long. Attacked on a sudden, Boguslav’s +infantry went under the knife. The cavalry, in which were many Poles, laid down +their arms. The foreigners, namely, one hundred dragoons, were cut to pieces. +</p> + +<p> +When the moon came out again from behind the clouds, it lighted only crowds of +Tartars finishing the wounded and taking plunder. +</p> + +<p> +But neither did that last long. The piercing sound of a pipe was heard; Tartars +and volunteers as one man sprang to their horses. +</p> + +<p> +“After me!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +And he led them like a whirlwind to Yanov. +</p> + +<p> +A quarter of an hour later the ill-fated place was set on fire at four corners, +and in an hour one sea of flame was spread as widely as Yanov extended. Above +the conflagration pillars of fiery sparks were flying toward the ruddy sky. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did Kmita let the hetman know that he had taken the rear of +Boguslav’s army. +</p> + +<p> +He himself like an executioner, red from the blood of men, marshalled his +Tartars amid the fire, so as to lead them on farther. +</p> + +<p> +They were already in line and extending into column, when suddenly, on a field +as bright as in day, from the fire, he saw before him a division of the +elector’s gigantic cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +A knight led them, distinguishable from afar, for he wore silver-plate armor, +and sat on a white horse. +</p> + +<p> +“Boguslav!” bellowed Kmita, with an unearthly voice, and rushed +forward with his whole Tartar column. +</p> + +<p> +They approached one another, like two waves driven by two winds. A considerable +space divided them; the horses on both sides reached their greatest speed, and +went with ears down like hounds, almost sweeping the earth with their bellies. +On one side large men with shining breastplates, and sabres held erect in their +right hands; on the other, a black swarm of Tartars. +</p> + +<p> +At last they struck in a long line on the clear field; but then something +terrible took place. The Tartar swarm fell as grain bent by a whirlwind; the +gigantic men rode over it and flew farther, as if the men and the horses had +the power of thunderbolts and the wings of a storm. +</p> + +<p> +Some of the Tartars sprang up and began to pursue. It was possible to ride over +the wild men, but impossible to kill them at once; so more and more of them +hastened after the fleeing cavalry. Lariats began to whistle in the air. +</p> + +<p> +But at the head of the retreating cavalry the rider on the white horse ran ever +in the first rank, and among the pursuers was not Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Only in the gray of dawn did the Tartars begin to return, and almost every man +had a horseman on his lariat. Soon they found Kmita, and carried him in +unconsciousness to Pan Sapyeha. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman himself took a seat at Kmita’s bedside. About midday Pan +Andrei opened his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Where is Boguslav?” were his first words. +</p> + +<p> +“Cut to pieces. God gave him fortune at first; then he came out of the +birch groves and in the open field fell on the infantry of Pan Oskyerko; there +he lost men and victory. I do not know whether he led away even five hundred +men, for your Tartars caught a good number of them.” +</p> + +<p> +“But he himself?” +</p> + +<p> +“Escaped!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita was silent awhile; then said;— +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot measure with him yet. He struck me with a double-handed sword +on the head, and knocked me down with my horse. My morion was of trusty steel, +and did not let the sword through; but I fainted.” +</p> + +<p> +“You should hang up that morion in a church.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will pursue him, even to the end of the world!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +To this the hetman answered: “See what news I have received to-day after +the battle!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita read aloud the following words,— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +The King of Sweden has moved from Elblang; he is marching on Zamost, thence to +Lvoff against Yan Kazimir. Come, your worthiness, with all your forces, to save +king and country, for I cannot hold out alone. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="sc">Charnyetski</span>. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +A moment of silence. +</p> + +<p> +“Will you go with us, or will you go with the Tartars to Taurogi?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita closed his eyes. He remembered the words of Father Kordetski, and what +Volodyovski had told him of Pan Yan, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Let private affairs wait! I will meet the enemy at the side of the +country!” +</p> + +<p> +The hetman pressed Pan Andrei’s head. “You are a brother to +me!” said he; “and because I am old, receive my blessing.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<p> +At a time when all living men in the Commonwealth were mounting their horses +Karl Gustav stayed continually in Prussia, busied in capturing the towns of +that province and in negotiating with the elector. +</p> + +<p> +After an easy and unexpected conquest, the quick soldier soon saw that the +Swedish lion had swallowed more than his stomach could carry. After the return +of Yan Kazimir he lost hope of retaining the Commonwealth; but while making a +mental abdication of the whole, he wished at least to retain the greater part +of his conquest, and above all Royal Prussia,—a province fruitful, dotted +with large towns, wealthy, and adjoining his own Pomerania. But as that +province was first to defend itself, so did it continue faithful to its lord +and the Commonwealth. The return of Yan Kazimir, and the war begun by the +confederation of Tyshovtsi might revive the courage of Prussia, confirm it in +loyalty, give it will for endurance; therefore Karl Gustav determined to crush +the uprising, and to wipe out Kazimir’s forces so as to take from +Prussians the hope of resistance. +</p> + +<p> +He had to do this for the sake of the elector, who was ever ready to side with +the stronger. The King of Sweden knew him thoroughly, and doubted not for a +moment that if the fortune of Yan Kazimir should preponderate, the elector +would be on his side again. +</p> + +<p> +When, therefore, the siege of Marienburg advanced slowly,—for the more it +was attacked the more stubbornly did Pan Weiher defend it,—Karl Gustav +marched to the Commonwealth, so as to reach Yan Kazimir again, even in the +remotest corner of the land. +</p> + +<p> +And since with him deed followed decision as swiftly as thunder follows +lightning, he raised his army disposed in towns; and before any one in the +Commonwealth had looked around, before the news of his march had spread, he had +passed Warsaw and had rushed into the greatest blaze of conflagration. +</p> + +<p> +Driven by anger, revenge, and bitterness, he moved on like a storm. Behind him +ten thousand horse trampled the fields, which were still covered with snow; and +taking the infantry from the garrisons, he went on, like a whirlwind, toward +the far south of the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +On the road he burned and pursued. He was not now that recent Karl Gustav, the +kindly, affable, and joyous lord, clapping his hands at Polish cavalry, winking +at feasts, and praising the soldiers. Now, wherever he showed himself the blood +of peasants and nobles flowed in a torrent. On the road he annihilated +“parties,” hanged prisoners, spared no man. +</p> + +<p> +But as when, in the thick of the pine-woods, a mighty bear rushes forward with +heavy body crushing branches and brush on the way, while wolves follow after, +and not daring to block his path, pursue, press nearer and nearer behind, so +did those “parties” pursuing the armies of Karl join in throngs +denser and denser, and follow the Swedes as a shadow a man, and still more +enduringly than a shadow, for they followed in the day and the night, in fair +and foul weather; before him too bridges were ruined, provisions destroyed, so +that he had to march as in a desert, without a place for his head or anything +with which to give strength to his body when hungry. +</p> + +<p> +Karl Gustav noted quickly how terrible his task was. The war spread around him +as widely as the sea spreads around a ship lost in the waters. Prussia was on +fire; on fire was Great Poland, which had first accepted his sovereignty, and +first wished to throw off the Swedish yoke; Little Poland was on fire, and so +were Russia, Lithuania, and Jmud. In the castles and large towns the Swedes +maintained themselves yet, as if on islands; but the villages, the forests, the +fields, the rivers, were already in Polish hands. Not merely a single man, or +small detachments, but a whole regiment might not leave the main Swedish army +for two hours; for if it did the regiment vanished without tidings, and +prisoners who fell into the hands of peasants died in terrible tortures. +</p> + +<p> +In vain had Karl Gustav given orders to proclaim in villages and towns that +whoso of peasants should bring an armed noble, living or dead, would receive +freedom forever and land as a reward; for peasants, as well as nobles and +townsmen, marched off to the woods. Men from the mountains, men from deep +forests, men from meadows and fields, hid in the woods, formed ambushes on the +roads against the Swedes, fell upon the smaller garrisons, and cut +scouting-parties to pieces. Flails, forks, and scythes, no less than the sabres +of nobles, were streaming with Swedish blood. +</p> + +<p> +All the more did wrath rise in the heart of Karl, that a few months before he +had gathered in that country so easily; hence he could hardly understand what +had happened, whence these forces, whence that resistance, whence that awful +war for life or death, the end of which he saw not and could not divine. +</p> + +<p> +Frequent councils were held in the Swedish camp. With the king marched his +brother Adolph, prince of Bipont, who had command over the army; Robert +Douglas; Henry Horn, relative of that Horn who had been slain by the scythe of +a peasant at Chenstohova; Waldemar, Prince of Denmark, and that Miller who had +left his military glory at the foot of Yasna Gora; Aschemberg, the ablest +cavalry leader among the Swedes; Hammerskiold, who commanded the artillery; and +the old robber Marshal Arwid Wittemberg, famed for rapacity, living on the last +of his health, for he was eaten by the Gallic disease; Forgell, and many +others, all leaders skilled in the capture of cities, and in the field yielding +in genius to the king only. +</p> + +<p> +These men were terrified in their hearts lest the whole army with the king +should perish through toil, lack of food, and the fury of the Poles. Old +Wittemberg advised the king directly against the campaign: “How will you +go, O King,” said he, “to the Russian regions after an enemy who +destroys everything on the way, but is unseen himself? What will you do if +horses lack not only hay, but even straw from the roofs of cottages, and men +fall from exhaustion? Where are the armies to come to our aid, where are the +castles in which to draw breath and rest our weary limbs? My fame is not equal +to yours; but were I Karl Gustav, I would not expose that glory acquired by so +many victories to the fickle fortune of war.” +</p> + +<p> +To which Karl Gustav answered: “And neither would I, were I +Wittemberg.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he mentioned Alexander of Macedon, with whom he liked to be compared, and +marched forward, pursuing Charnyetski. Charnyetski, not having forces so great +nor so well trained, retreated before him, but retreated like a wolf ever ready +to turn on his enemy. Sometimes he went in advance of the Swedes, sometimes at +their flanks, and sometimes in deep forests he let them go in advance; so that +while they thought themselves the pursuers, he, in fact, was the hunter. He cut +off the unwary; here and there he hunted down a whole party, destroyed +foot-regiments marching slowly, attacked provision-trains. The Swedes never +knew where he was. More than once in the darkness of night they began to fire +from muskets and cannons into thickets, thinking that they had an enemy before +them. They were mortally wearied; they marched in cold, in hunger, in +affliction, and that <i>vir molestissimus</i> (most harmful man) hung about +them continually, as a hail-cloud hangs over a grain-field. +</p> + +<p> +At last they attacked him at Golamb, not far from the junction of the Vyepr and +the Vistula. Some Polish squadrons being ready for battle charged the enemy, +spreading disorder and dismay. In front sprang Volodyovski with his Lauda +squadron, and bore down Waldemar, prince of Denmark; but the two Kavetskis, +Samuel and Yan, urged from the hill the armored squadron against English +mercenaries under Wilkinson, and devoured them in a moment, as a pike gulps a +whiting; and Pan Malavski engaged so closely with the Prince of Bipont that men +and horses were confounded like dust which two whirlwinds sweeping from +opposite quarters bring together and turn into one circling column. In the +twinkle of an eye the Swedes were pushed to the Vistula, seeing which Douglas +hastened to the rescue with chosen horsemen. But even these reinforcements +could not check the onset; the Swedes began to spring from the high bank to the +ice, falling dead so thickly that they lay black on the snow-field, like +letters on white paper. Waldemar, Prince of Denmark, fell; Wilkinson fell; and +the Prince of Bipont, thrown from his horse, broke his leg. But of Poles both +Kavetskis fell; killed also were Malavski, Rudavski, Rogovski, Tyminski, +Hoinski, and Porvanyetski. Volodyovski alone, though he dived among the Swedish +ranks like a seamew in water, came out without having suffered the slightest +wound. +</p> + +<p> +Now Karl Gustav himself came up with his main force and with artillery. +Straightway the form of the battle changed. Charnyetski’s other +regiments, undisciplined and untrained, could not take position in season; some +had not their horses in readiness, others had been in distant villages, and in +spite of orders to be always ready, were taking their leisure in cottages. When +the enemy pressed suddenly on these men, they scattered quickly and began to +retreat to the Vyepr. Therefore Charnyetski gave orders to sound the retreat so +as to spare those regiments that had opened the battle. Some of the fleeing +went beyond the Vistula; others to Konskovoli, leaving the field and the glory +of the victory to Karl; for specially those who had crossed the Vyepr were long +pursued by the squadrons of Zbrojek and Kalinski, who remained yet with the +Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +There was delight beyond measure in the Swedish camp. No great trophies fell to +the king, it is true,—sacks of oats, and a few empty wagons; but it was +not at that time a question of plunder for Karl. He comforted himself with +this,—that victory followed his steps as before; that barely had he shown +himself when he inflicted defeat on that very Charnyetski on whom the highest +hopes of Yan Kazimir and the Commonwealth were founded. He could trust that the +news would run through the whole country; that every mouth would repeat, +“Charnyetski is crushed;” that the timid would exaggerate the +proportions of the defeat, and thus weaken hearts and take courage from those +who had grasped their weapons at the call of the confederation of Tyshovtsi. +</p> + +<p> +So when they brought in and placed at his feet those bags of oats, and with +them the bodies of Wilkinson and Prince Waldemar, he turned to his fretful +generals and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Unwrinkle your foreheads, gentlemen, for this is the greatest victory +which I have had for a year, and may end the whole war.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your Royal Grace,” answered Wittemberg, who, weaker than usual, +saw things in a gloomier light, “let us thank God even for +this,—that we shall have a farther march in peace, though +Charnyetski’s troops scatter quickly and rally easily.” +</p> + +<p> +“Marshal,” answered the king, “I do not think you a worse +leader than Charnyetski; but if I had beaten you in this fashion, I think you +would not be able to assemble your troops in two months.” +</p> + +<p> +Wittemberg only bowed in silence, and Karl spoke on: “Yes, we shall have +a quiet march, for Charnyetski alone could really hamper it. If +Charnyetski’s troops are not before us, there is no hindrance.” +</p> + +<p> +The generals rejoiced at these words. Intoxicated with victory, the troops +marched past the king with shouts and with songs. Charnyetski ceased to +threaten them like a cloud. Charnyetski’s troops were scattered; he had +ceased to exist. In view of this thought their past sufferings were forgotten +and their future toils were sweet. The king’s words, heard by many +officers, were borne through the camp; and all believed that the victory had +uncommon significance, that the dragon of war was slain once more, and that +only days of revenge and dominion would come. +</p> + +<p> +The king gave the army some hours of repose; meanwhile from Kozyenitsi came +trains with provisions. The troops were disposed in Golamb, in Krovyeniki, and +in Jyrzynie. The cavalry burned some deserted houses, hanged a few peasants +seized with arms in their hands, and a few camp-servants mistaken for peasants; +then there was a feast in the Swedish camp, after which the soldiers slept a +sound sleep, since for a long time it was the first quiet one. +</p> + +<p> +Next day they woke in briskness, and the first words which came to the mouths +of all were: “There is no Charnyetski!” +</p> + +<p> +One repeated this to another, as if to give mutual assurance of the good news. +The march began joyously. The day was dry, cold, clear. The hair of the horses +and their nostrils were covered with frost. The cold wind froze soft places on +the Lyubelsk highroad, and made marching easy. The troops stretched out in a +line almost five miles long, which they had never done previously. Two dragoon +regiments, under command of Dubois, a Frenchman, went through Markushev and +Grabov, five miles from the main force. Had they marched thus three days before +they would have gone to sure death, but now fear and the glory of victory went +before them. +</p> + +<p> +“Charnyetski is gone,” repeated the officers and soldiers to one +another. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, the march was made in quiet. From the forest depths came no shouts; +from thickets fell no darts, hurled by invisible hands. +</p> + +<p> +Toward evening Karl Gustav arrived at Grabov, joyous and in good humor. He was +just preparing for sleep when Aschemberg announced through the officer of the +day that he wished greatly to see the king. +</p> + +<p> +After a while he entered the royal quarters, not alone, but with a captain of +dragoons. The king, who had a quick eye and a memory so enormous that he +remembered nearly every soldier’s name, recognized the captain at once. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the news, Freed?” asked he. “Has Dubois +returned?” +</p> + +<p> +“Dubois is killed.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was confused; only now did he notice that the captain looked as if he +had been taken from the grave; and his clothes were torn. +</p> + +<p> +“But the dragoons?” inquired he, “those two regiments?” +</p> + +<p> +“All cut to pieces. I alone was let off alive.” +</p> + +<p> +The dark face of the king became still darker; with his hands he placed his +locks behind his ears. +</p> + +<p> +“Who did this?” +</p> + +<p> +“Charnyetski.” +</p> + +<p> +Karl Gustav was silent, and looked with amazement at Aschemberg; but he only +nodded as if wishing to repeat: “Charnyetski, Charnyetski, +Charnyetski!” +</p> + +<p> +“All this is incredible,” said the king, after a while. “Have +you seen him with your own eyes?” +</p> + +<p> +“As I see your Royal Grace. He commanded me to bow to you, and to declare +that now he will recross the Vistula, but will soon be on our track again. I +know not whether he told the truth.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said the king, “had he many men with him?” +</p> + +<p> +“I could not estimate exactly, but I saw about four thousand, and beyond +the forest was cavalry of some kind. We were surrounded near Krasichyn, to +which Colonel Dubois went purposely from the highroad, for he was told that +there were some men there. Now, I think that Charnyetski sent an informant to +lead us into ambush, since no one save me came out alive. The peasants killed +the wounded. I escaped by a miracle.” +</p> + +<p> +“That man must have made a compact with hell,” said the king, +putting his hand to his forehead; “for to rally troops after such a +defeat, and be on our neck again, is not human power.” +</p> + +<p> +“It has happened as Marshal Wittemberg foresaw,” put in Aschemberg. +</p> + +<p> +“You all know how to foresee,” burst out the king, “but how +to advise you do not know.” +</p> + +<p> +Aschemberg grew pale and was silent. Karl Gustav, when joyous, seemed goodness +itself; but when once he frowned he roused indescribable fear in those nearest +him, and birds do not hide so before an eagle as the oldest and most +meritorious generals hid before him. But this time he moderated quickly, and +asked Captain Freed again,— +</p> + +<p> +“Has Charnyetski good troops?” +</p> + +<p> +“I saw some unrivalled squadrons, such cavalry as the Poles have.” +</p> + +<p> +“They are the same that attacked with such fury in Golamb; they must be +old regiments. But Charnyetski himself,—was he cheerful, +confident?” +</p> + +<p> +“He was as confident as if he had beaten us at Golamb. Now his heart must +rise the more, for they have forgotten Golembo and boast of Krasichyn. Your +Royal Grace, what Charnyetski told me to repeat I have repeated; but when I was +on the point of departing some one of the high officers approached me, an old +man, and told me that he was the person who had stretched out Gustavus Adolphus +in a hand-to-hand conflict, and he poured much abuse on your Royal Grace; +others supported him. So do they boast. I left amid insults and abuse.” +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind,” said Karl Gustav, “Charnyetski is not broken, +and has rallied his army; that is the main point. All the more speedily must we +march so as to reach the Polish Darius at the earliest. You are free to go, +gentlemen. Announce to the army that those regiments perished at the hands of +peasants in unfrozen morasses. We advance!” +</p> + +<p> +The officers went out; Karl Gustav remained alone. For something like an hour +he was in gloomy thought. Was the victory at Golamb to bring no fruit, no +change to the position, but to rouse still greater rage in that entire country? +</p> + +<p> +Karl, in presence of the army and of his generals, always showed confidence and +faith in himself; but when he was alone he began to think of that +war,—how easy it had been at first, and then increased always in +difficulty. More than once doubt embraced him. All the events seemed to him in +some fashion marvellous. Often he could see no outcome, could not divine the +end. At times it seemed to him that he was like a man who, going from the shore +of the sea into the water, feels at every step that he is going deeper and +deeper and soon will lose the ground under his feet. +</p> + +<p> +But he believed in his star. And now he went to the window to look at the +chosen star,—that one which in the Wain or Great Bear occupies the +highest place and shines brightest. The sky was clear, and therefore at that +moment the star shone brightly, twinkled blue and red; but from afar, lower +down on the dark blue of the sky, a lone cloud was blackening serpent-shaped, +from which extended as it were arms, as it were branches, as it were the +feelers of a monster of the sea, and it seemed to approach the king’s +star continually. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<p> +Next morning the king marched farther and reached Lublin. There he received +information that Sapyeha had repulsed Boguslav’s invasion, and was +advancing with a considerable army; he left Lublin the same day, merely +strengthening the garrison of that place. +</p> + +<p> +The next object of his expedition was Zamost; for if he could occupy that +strong fortress he would acquire a fixed base for further war, and such a +notable preponderance that he might look for a successful end with all hope. +There were various opinions touching Zamost. Those Poles still remaining with +Karl contended that it was the strongest fortress in the Commonwealth, and +brought as proof that it had withstood all the forces of Hmelnitski. +</p> + +<p> +But since Karl saw that the Poles were in no wise skilled in fortification, and +considered places strong which in other lands would scarcely be held in the +third rank; since he knew also that in Poland no fortress was properly +mounted,—that is, there were neither walls kept as they should be, not +earthworks, nor suitable arms,—he felt well touching Zamost. He counted +also on the spell of his name, on the fame of an invincible leader, and finally +on treaties. With treaties, which every magnate in the Commonwealth was +authorized to make, or at least permitted himself to make, Karl had so far +effected more than with arms. As an adroit man, and one wishing to know with +whom he had to deal, he collected carefully all information touching the owner +of Zamost. He inquired about his ways, his inclinations, his wit and fancy. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Sapyeha, who at that time by his treason still spotted the name, to the +great affliction of Sapyeha the hetman, gave the fullest explanations to the +king concerning Zamoyski. They spent whole hours in council. But Yan Sapyeha +did not consider that it would be easy for the king to captivate the master of +Zamost. +</p> + +<p> +“He cannot be tempted with money,” said Yan, “for he is +terribly rich. He cares not for dignities, and never wished them, even when +they sought him themselves. As to titles, I have heard him at the court +reprimand Des Noyers, the queen’s secretary, because in addressing him he +said, ‘Mon prince.’ ‘I am not a prince,’ answered he, +‘but I have had archdukes as prisoners in my Zamost.’ The truth is, +however, that not he had them, but his grandfather, who among our people is +surnamed the Great.” +</p> + +<p> +“If he will open the gates of Zamost, I will offer him something which no +Polish king could offer.” +</p> + +<p> +It did not become Yan Sapyeha to ask what that might be; he merely looked with +curiosity at Karl Gustav. But the king understood the look, and answered, +gathering, as was his wont, his hair behind his ears,— +</p> + +<p> +“I will offer him the province of Lyubelsk as an independent +principality; a crown will tempt him. No one of you could resist such a +temptation, not even the present voevoda of Vilna.” +</p> + +<p> +“Endless is the bounty of your Royal Grace,” replied Sapyeha, not +without a certain irony in his voice. +</p> + +<p> +But Karl answered with a cynicism peculiar to himself: “I give it, for it +is not mine.” +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha shook his head: “He is an unmarried man and has no sons. A crown +is dear to him who can leave it to his posterity.” +</p> + +<p> +“What means do you advise me to take?” +</p> + +<p> +“I think that flattery would effect most. The man is not too +quick-witted, and may be easily over-reached. It is necessary to represent that +on him alone depends the pacification of the Commonwealth; it is necessary to +tell him that he alone may save it from war, from all defeats and future +misfortunes; and that especially by opening the gates. If the fish will swallow +that little hook, we shall be in Zamost; otherwise not.” +</p> + +<p> +“Cannon remain as the ultimate argument.” +</p> + +<p> +“H’m! To that argument there is something in Zamost with which to +give answer. There is no lack of heavy guns there; we have none, and when thaws +come it will be impossible to bring them.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard that the infantry in the fortress is good; but there is a +lack of cavalry.” +</p> + +<p> +“Cavalry are needed only in the open field, and besides, since +Charnyetski’s army, as is shown, is not crushed, he can throw in one or +two squadrons for the use of the fortress.” +</p> + +<p> +“You see nothing save difficulties.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I trust ever in the lucky star of your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +Yan Sapyeha was right in foreseeing that Charnyetski would furnish Zamost with +cavalry needful for scouting and seizing informants. In fact, Zamoyski had +enough of his own, and needed no assistance whatever; but Charnyetski sent the +two squadrons which had suffered most at Golamb—that is, the Shemberk and +Lauda—to the fortress to rest, recruit themselves and change their +horses, which were fearfully cut up. Sobiepan received them hospitably, and +when he learned what famous soldiers were in them he exalted these men to the +skies, covered them with gifts, and seated them every day at his table. +</p> + +<p> +But who shall describe the joy and emotion of Princess Griselda at sight of Pan +Yan and Pan Michael, the most valiant colonels of her great husband? Both fell +at her feet shedding warm tears at sight of the beloved lady; and she could not +restrain her weeping. How many reminiscences of those old Lubni days were +connected with them; when her husband, the glory and love of the people, full +of the strength of life, ruled with power a wild region, rousing terror amid +barbarism with one frown of his brow, like Jove. Such were those times not long +past; but where are they now? To-day the lord is in his grave, barbarians have +taken the land, and she, the widow, sits on the ashes of happiness, of +greatness, living only with her sorrow and with prayer. +</p> + +<p> +Still in those reminiscences sweetness was so mingled with bitterness that the +thoughts of those three flew gladly to times that were gone. They spoke then of +their past lives, of those places which their eyes were never to see, of the +past wars, finally of the present times of defeat and God’s anger. +</p> + +<p> +“If our prince were alive,” said Pan Yan, “there would be +another career for the Commonwealth. The Cossacks would be rubbed out, the +Trans-Dnieper would be with the Commonwealth, and the Swede would find his +conqueror. God has ordained as He willed of purpose to punish us for +sins.” +</p> + +<p> +“Would that God might raise up a defender in Pan Charnyetski!” said +Princess Griselda. +</p> + +<p> +“He will!” cried Pan Michael. “As our prince was a head above +other lords, so Charnyetski is not at all like other leaders. I know the two +hetmans of the kingdom, and Sapyeha of Lithuania. They are great soldiers; but +there is something uncommon in Charnyetski; you would say, he is an eagle, not +a man. Though kindly, still all fear him; even Pan Zagloba in his presence +forgets his jokes frequently. And how he leads his troops and moves them, +passes imagination. It cannot be otherwise than that a great warrior will rise +in the Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +“My husband, who knew Charnyetski as a colonel, prophesied greatness for +him,” said the princess. +</p> + +<p> +“It was said indeed that he was to seek a wife in our court,” put +in Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not remember that there was talk about that,” answered the +princess. +</p> + +<p> +In truth she could not remember, for there had never been anything of the kind; +but Pan Michael, cunning at times, invented this, wishing to turn the +conversation to her ladies and learn something of Anusia; for to ask directly +he considered improper, and in view of the majesty of the princess, too +confidential. But the stratagem failed. The princess turned her mind again to +her husband and the Cossack wars; then the little knight thought: “Anusia +has not been here, perhaps, for God knows how many years.” And he asked +no more about her. He might have asked the officers, but his thoughts and +occupations were elsewhere. Every day scouts gave notice that the Swedes were +nearer; hence preparations were made for defence. Pan Yan and Pan Michael +received places on the walls, as officers knowing the Swedes and warfare +against them. Zagloba roused courage in the men, and told tales of the enemy to +those who had no knowledge of them yet; and among warriors in the fortress +there were many such, for so far the Swedes had not come to Zamost. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba saw through Pan Zamoyski at once; the latter conceived an immense love +for the bulky noble, and turned to him on all questions, especially since he +heard from Princess Griselda how Prince Yeremi had venerated Zagloba and called +him <i>vir incomparabilis</i> (the incomparable man). Every day then at table +all kept their ears open; and Zagloba discoursed of ancient and modern times, +told of the wars with the Cossacks, of the treason of Radzivill, and how he +himself had brought Pan Sapyeha into prominence among men. +</p> + +<p> +“I advised him,” said he, “to carry hempseed in his pocket, +and use a little now and then. He has grown so accustomed to this that he takes +a grain every little while, puts it in his mouth, bites it, breaks it, eats it, +spits out the husk. At night when he wakes he does the same. His wit is so +sharp now from hempseed that his greatest intimates do not recognize +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p> +“There is an oil in hempseed through which the man who eats it increases +in wit.” +</p> + +<p> +“God bless you,” said one of the colonels; “but oil goes to +the stomach, not to the head.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, there is a method in things!” answered Zagloba. “It is +needful in this case to drink as much wine as possible; oil, being the lighter, +is always on top; wine, which goes to the head of itself, carries with it every +noble substance. I have this secret from Lupul the Hospodar, after whom, as is +known to you, gentlemen, the Wallachians wished to create me hospodar; but the +Sultan, whose wish is that the hospodar should not have posterity, placed +before me conditions to which I could not agree.” +</p> + +<p> +“You must use a power of hempseed yourself,” said Sobiepan. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not need it at all, your worthiness; but from my whole heart I +advise you to take it.” +</p> + +<p> +Hearing these bold words, some were frightened lest the starosta might take +them to heart; but whether he failed to notice them or did not wish to do so, +it is enough that he merely laughed and asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“But would not sunflower seeds take the place of hemp?” +</p> + +<p> +“They might,” answered Zagloba; “but since sunflower oil is +heavier, it would be necessary to drink stronger wine than that which we are +drinking at present.” +</p> + +<p> +The starosta understood the hint, was amused, and gave immediate order to bring +the best wines. Then all rejoiced in their hearts, and the rejoicing became +universal. They drank and gave vivats to the health of the king, the host, and +Pan Charnyetski. Zagloba fell into good humor and let no one speak. He +described at great length the affair at Golamb, in which he had really fought +well, for, serving in the Lauda squadron, he could not do otherwise. But +because he had learned from Swedish prisoners taken from the regiments of +Dubois of the death of Prince Waldemar, Zagloba took responsibility for that +death on himself. +</p> + +<p> +“The battle,” said he, “would have gone altogether +differently were it not that the day before I went to Baranov to the canon of +that place, and Charnyetski, not knowing where I was, could not advise with me. +Maybe the Swedes too had heard of that canon, for he has splendid mead, and +they went at once to Golamb. When I returned it was too late; the king had +attacked, and it was necessary to strike at once. We went straight into the +fire; but what is to be done when the general militia choose to show their +contempt for the enemy by turning their backs? I don’t know how +Charnyetski will manage at present without me.” +</p> + +<p> +“He will manage, have no fear on that point,” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“I know why. The King of Sweden chooses to pursue me to Zamost rather +than seek Charnyetski beyond the Vistula. I do not deny that Charnyetski is a +good soldier; but when he begins to twist his beard and look with his wildcat +glance, it seems to an officer of the lightest squadron that he is a dragoon. +He pays no attention to a man’s office; and this you yourselves saw when +he gave orders to drag over the square with horses an honorable man, Pan +Jyrski, only because he did not reach with his detachment the place to which he +was ordered. With a noble, gracious gentlemen, it is necessary to act like a +father, not like a dragoon. Say to him, ‘Lord brother,’ be kind, +rouse his feelings,—he will call to mind the country and glory, will go +farther for you than a dragoon who serves for a salary.” +</p> + +<p> +“A noble is a noble, and war is war,” remarked Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p> +“You have brought that out in a very masterly manner,” answered +Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Charnyetski will turn the plans of Karl into folly,” said +Volodyovski. “I have been in more than one war, and I can speak on this +point.” +</p> + +<p> +“First, we will make a fool of him at Zamost,” said Sobiepan, +pouting his lips, puffing, and showing great spirit, staring, and putting his +hands on his hips. “Bah! Tfu! What do I care? When I invite a man I open +the door to him. Well!” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zamoyski began to puff still more mightily, to strike the table with his +knees, bend forward, shake his head, look stern, flash his eyes, and speak, as +was his habit, with a certain coarse carelessness. +</p> + +<p> +“What do I care? He is lord in Sweden; but Zamoyski is lord for himself +in Zamost. <i>Eques polonus sum</i> (I am a Polish nobleman), nothing more. But +I am in my own house; I am Zamoyski, and he is King of Sweden; but Maximilian +was Austrian, was he not? Is he coming? Let him come. We shall see! Sweden is +small for him, but Zamost is enough for me. I will not yield it.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a delight, gracious gentlemen, to hear not only such eloquence, +but such honest sentiments,” cried Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Zamoyski is Zamoyski!” continued Pan Sobiepan, delighted with the +praise. “We have not bowed down, and we will not. I will not give up +Zamost, and that is the end of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“To the health of the host!” thundered the officers. +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat! vivat!” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Zagloba,” cried Zamoyski, “I will not let the King of +Sweden into Zamost, and I will not let you out.” +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you for the favor; but, your worthiness, do not do that, for as +much as you torment Karl with the first decision, so much will you delight him +with the second.” +</p> + +<p> +“Give me your word that you will come to me after the war is over.” +</p> + +<p> +“I give it.” +</p> + +<p> +Long yet did they feast, then sleep began to overcome the knights; therefore +they went to rest, especially as sleepless nights were soon to begin for them, +since the Swedes were already near, and the advance guards were looked for at +any hour. +</p> + +<p> +“So in truth he will not give up Zamost,” said Zagloba, returning +to his quarters with Pan Yan and Volodyovski. “Have you seen how we have +fallen in love with each other? It will be pleasant here in Zamost for me and +you. The host and I have become so attached to each other that no cabinet-maker +could join inlaid work better. He is a good fellow—h’m! If he were +my knife and I carried him at my belt, I would whet him on a stone pretty +often, for he is a trifle dull. But he is a good man, and he will not betray +like those bull-drivers of Birji. Have you noticed how the magnates cling to +old Zagloba? I cannot keep them off. I’m scarcely away from Sapyeha when +there is another at hand. But I will tune this one as a bass-viol, and play +such an aria on him for the Swedes that they will dance to death at Zamost. I +will wind him up like a Dantzig clock with chimes.” +</p> + +<p> +Noise coming from the town interrupted further conversation. After a time an +officer whom they knew passed quickly near them. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” cried Volodyovski; “what is the matter?” +</p> + +<p> +“There is a fire to be seen from the walls. Shchebjeshyn is burning! The +Swedes are there!” +</p> + +<p> +“Let us go on the walls,” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“Go; but I will sleep, since I need my strength for to-morrow,” +answered Zagloba. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<p> +That night Volodyovski went on a scouting expedition, and about morning +returned with a number of informants. These men asserted that the King of +Sweden was at Shchebjeshyn in person, and would soon be at Zamost. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski was rejoiced at the news, for he hurried around greatly, and had a +genuine desire to try his walls and guns on the Swedes. He considered, and very +justly, that even if he had to yield in the end he would detain the power of +Sweden for whole months; and during that time Yan Kazimir would collect troops, +bring the entire Tartar force to his aid, and organize in the whole country a +powerful and victorious resistance. +</p> + +<p> +“Since the opportunity is given me,” said he, with great spirit, at +the military council, “to render the country and the king notable +service, I declare to you, gentlemen, that I will blow myself into the air +before a Swedish foot shall stand here. They want to take Zamoyski by force. +Let them take him! We shall see who is better. You, gentlemen, will, I trust, +aid me most heartily.” +</p> + +<p> +“We are ready to perish with your grace,” said the officers, in +chorus. +</p> + +<p> +“If they will only besiege us,” said Zagloba, “I will lead +the first sortie.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will follow, Uncle!” cried Roh Kovalski; “I will spring at +the king himself!” +</p> + +<p> +“Now to the walls!” commanded Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p> +All went out. The walls were ornamented with soldiers as with flowers. +Regiments of infantry, so splendid that they were unequalled in the whole +Commonwealth, stood in readiness, one at the side of the other, with musket in +hand, and eyes turned to the field. Not many foreigners served in these +regiments, merely a few Prussians and French; they were mainly peasants from +Zamoyski’s inherited lands. Sturdy, well-grown men, who, wearing colored +jackets and trained in foreign fashion, fought as well as the best Cromwellians +of England. They were specially powerful when after firing it came to rush on +the enemy in hand-to-hand conflict. And now, remembering their former triumphs +over Hmelnitski, they were looking for the Swedes with impatience. At the +cannons, which stretched out through the embrasures their long necks to the +fields as if in curiosity, served mainly Flemings, the first of gunners. +Outside the fortress, beyond the moat, were squadrons of light cavalry, safe +themselves, for they were under cover of cannon, certain of refuge, and able at +any moment to spring out whithersoever it might be needed. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski, wearing inlaid armor and carrying a gilded baton in his hand, rode +around the walls, and inquired every moment,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what—not in sight yet?” And he muttered oaths when he +received negative answers on all sides. After a while he went to another side, +and again he asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what—not in sight yet?” +</p> + +<p> +It was difficult to see the Swedes, for there was a mist in the air; and only +about ten o’clock in the forenoon did it begin to disappear. The heaven +shining blue above the horizon became clear, and immediately on the western +side of the walls they began to cry,— +</p> + +<p> +“They are coming, they are coming, they are coming!” +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski, with three adjutants and Zagloba, entered quickly an angle of the +walls from which there was a distant view, and the four men began to look +through field-glasses. The mist was lying a little on the ground yet, and the +Swedish hosts, marching from Vyelanchy, seemed to be wading to the knees in +that mist, as if they were coming out of wide waters. The nearer regiments had +become very distinct, so that the naked eye could distinguish the infantry; +they seemed like clouds of dark dust rolling on toward the town. Gradually more +regiments, artillery, and cavalry appeared. +</p> + +<p> +The sight was beautiful. From each quadrangle of infantry rose an admirably +regular quadrangle of spears; between them waved banners of various colors, but +mostly blue with white crosses, and blue with golden lions. They came very +near. On the walls there was silence; therefore the breath of the air brought +from the advancing army the squeaking of wheels, the clatter of armor, the +tramp of horses, and the dull sound of human voices. When they had come within +twice the distance of a shot from a culverin, they began to dispose themselves +before the fortress. Some quadrangles of infantry broke ranks; others prepared +to pitch tents and dig trenches. +</p> + +<p> +“They are here!” said Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p> +“They are the dog-brothers!” answered Zagloba. “They could be +counted, man for man, on the fingers. Persons of my long experience, however, +do not need to count, but simply to cast an eye on them. There are ten thousand +cavalry, and eight thousand infantry with artillery. If I am mistaken in one +common soldier or one horse, I am ready to redeem the mistake with my whole +fortune.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it possible to estimate in that way?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ten thousand cavalry and eight thousand infantry. I have hope in God +that they will go away in much smaller numbers; only let me lead one +sortie.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you hear? They are playing an aria.” +</p> + +<p> +In fact, trumpeters and drummers stepped out before the regiments, and military +music began. At the sound of it the more distant regiments approached, and +encompassed the town from a distance. At last from the dense throngs a few +horsemen rode forth. When half-way, they put white kerchiefs on their swords, +and began to wave them. +</p> + +<p> +“An embassy!” cried Zagloba; “I saw how the scoundrels came +to Kyedani with the same boldness, and it is known what came of that.” +</p> + +<p> +“Zamost is not Kyedani, and I am not the voevoda of Vilna,” +answered Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the horsemen were approaching the gate. After a short time an officer +of the day hurried to Zamoyski with a report that Pan Yan Sapyeha desired, in +the name of the King of Sweden, to see him and speak with him. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski put his hands on his hips at once, began to step from one foot to the +other, to puff, to pout, and said at last, with great animation,— +</p> + +<p> +“Tell Pan Sapyeha that Zamoyski does not speak with traitors. If the King +of Sweden wishes to speak with me, let him send me a Swede by race, not a +Pole,—for Poles who serve the Swedes may go as embassadors to my dogs; I +have the same regard for both.” +</p> + +<p> +“As God is dear to me, that is an answer!” cried Zagloba, with +unfeigned enthusiasm. +</p> + +<p> +“But devil take them!” said the starosta, roused by his own words +and by praise. “Well, shall I stand on ceremony with them?” +</p> + +<p> +“Permit me, your worthiness, to take him that answer,” said +Zagloba. And without waiting, he hastened away with the officer, went to Yan +Sapyeha, and, apparently, not only repeated the starosta’s words, but +added something very bad from himself; for Sapyeha turned from the town as if a +thunderbolt had burst in front of his horse, and rode away with his cap thrust +over his ears. +</p> + +<p> +From the walls and from the squadrons of the cavalry which were standing before +the gate they began to hoot at the men riding off,— +</p> + +<p> +“To the kennel with traitors, the betrayers! Jew servants! Huz, +huz!” +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha stood before the king, pale, with compressed lips. The king too was +confused, for Zamost had deceived his hopes. In spite of what had been said, he +expected to find a town of such power of resistance as Cracow, Poznan, and +other places, so many of which he had captured; meanwhile he found a fortress +powerful, calling to mind those of Denmark and the Netherlands, which he could +not even think of taking without guns of heavy calibre. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the result?” asked the king, when he saw Sapyeha. +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing! Zamoyski will not speak with Poles who serve your Royal Grace. +He sent out his jester, who reviled me and your Royal Grace so shamefully that +it is not proper to repeat what he said.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is all one to me with whom he wants to speak, if he will only speak. +In default of other arguments, I have iron arguments; but meanwhile I will send +Forgell.” +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour later Forgell, with a purely Swedish suite, announced himself at +the gate. The drawbridge was let down slowly over the moat, and the general +entered the fortress amid silence and seriousness. Neither the eyes of the +envoy nor those of any man in his suite were bound; evidently Zamoyski wished +him to see everything, and be able to report to the king touching everything. +The master of Zamost received Forgell with as much splendor as an independent +prince would have done, and arranged all, in truth, admirably, for Swedish +lords had not one twelfth as much wealth as the Poles had; and Zamoyski among +Poles was well-nigh the most powerful. The clever Swede began at once to treat +him as if the king had sent the embassy to a monarch equal to himself; to begin +with, he called him “Princeps,” and continued to address him thus, +though Pan Sobiepan interrupted him promptly in the beginning,— +</p> + +<p> +“Not princeps, <i>eques polonus</i> (a Polish nobleman), but for that +very reason the equal of princes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your princely grace,” said Forgell, not permitting himself to be +diverted, “the Most Serene King of Sweden and Lord,” here he +enumerated his titles, “has not come here as an enemy in any sense; but, +speaking simply, has come on a visit, and through me announces himself, having, +as I believe, a well-founded hope that your princely grace will desire to open +your gates to him and his army.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is not a custom with us,” answered Zamoyski, “to refuse +hospitality to any man, even should he come uninvited. There will always be a +place at my table for a guest; but for such a worthy person as the Swedish +monarch the first place. Inform then the Most Serene King of Sweden that I +invite him, and all the more gladly since the Most Serene Carolus Gustavus is +lord in Sweden, as I am in Zamost. But as your worthiness has seen, there is no +lack of servants in my house; therefore his Swedish Serenity need not bring his +servants with him. Should he bring them I might think that he counts me a poor +man, and wishes to show me contempt.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well done!” whispered Zagloba, standing behind the shoulders of +Pan Sobiepan. +</p> + +<p> +When Zamoyski had finished his speech he began to pout his lips, to puff and +repeat,— +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, here it is, this is the position!” +</p> + +<p> +Forgell bit his mustache, was silent awhile, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“It would be the greatest proof of distrust toward the king if your +princely grace were not pleased to admit his garrison to the fortress. I am the +king’s confidant. I know his innermost thoughts, and besides this I have +the order to announce to your worthiness, and to give assurance by word in the +name of the king, that he does not think of occupying the possessions of Zamost +or this fortress permanently. But since war has broken out anew in this unhappy +land, since rebellion has raised its head, and Yan Kazimir, unmindful of the +miseries which may fall on the Commonwealth, and seeking only his own fortune, +has returned within the boundaries, and, together with pagans, comes forth +against our Christian troops, the invincible king, my lord, has determined to +pursue him, even to the wild steppes of the Tartars and the Turks, with the +sole purpose of restoring peace to the country, the reign of justice, +prosperity, and freedom to the inhabitants of this illustrious +Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski struck his knee with his hand without saying a word; but Zagloba +whispered,— +</p> + +<p> +“The Devil has dressed himself in vestments, and is ringing for Mass with +his tail.” +</p> + +<p> +“Many benefits have accrued to this land already from the protection of +the king,” continued Forgell; “but thinking in his fatherly heart +that he has not done enough, he has left his Prussian province again to go once +more to the rescue of the Commonwealth, which depends on finishing Yan Kazimir. +But that this new war should have a speedy and victorious conclusion, it is +needful that the king occupy for a time this fortress. It is to be for his +troops a point from which pursuit may begin against rebels. But hearing that he +who is the lord of Zamost surpasses all, not only in wealth, antiquity of +stock, wit, high-mindedness, but also in love for the country, the king, my +master, said at once: ‘He will understand me, he will be able to +appreciate my intentions respecting this country, he will not deceive my +confidence, he will surpass my hopes, he will be the first to put his hand to +the prosperity and peace of this country.’ This is the truth! So on you +depends the future fate of this country. You may save it and become the father +of it; therefore I have no doubt of what you will do. Whoever inherits from his +ancestors such fame should not avoid an opportunity to increase that fame and +make it immortal. In truth, you will do more good by opening the gates of this +fortress than if you had added a whole province to the Commonwealth. The king +is confident that your uncommon wisdom, together with your heart, will incline +you to this; therefore he will not command, he prefers to request, he throws +aside threats, he offers friendship; not as a ruler with a subject, but as +powerful with powerful does he wish to deal.” +</p> + +<p> +Here General Forgell bowed before Zamoyski with as much respect as before an +independent monarch. In the hall it grew silent. All eyes were fixed on +Zamoyski. He began to twist, according to his custom, in his gilded armchair, +to pout his lips, and exhibit stern resolve; at last he thrust out his elbows, +placed his palms on his knees, and shaking his head like a restive horse, +began,— +</p> + +<p> +“This is what I have to say! I am greatly thankful to his Swedish +Serenity for the lofty opinion which he has of my wit and my love for the +Commonwealth. Nothing is dearer to me than the friendship of such a potentate. +But I think that we might love each other all the same if his Swedish Serenity +remained in Stockholm and I in Zamost; that is what it is. For Stockholm +belongs to his Swedish Serenity, and Zamost to me. As to love for the +Commonwealth, this is what I think. The Commonwealth will not improve by the +coming in of the Swedes, but by their departure. That is my argument! I believe +that Zamost might help his Swedish Serenity to victory over Yan Kazimir; but +your worthiness should know that I have not given oath to his Swedish Grace, +but to Yan Kazimir; therefore I wish victory to Yan Kazimir, and I will not +give Zamost to the King of Sweden. That is my position!” +</p> + +<p> +“That policy suits me!” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +A joyous murmur rose in the hall; but Zamoyski slapped his knees with his +hands, and the sounds were hushed. +</p> + +<p> +Forgell was confused, and was silent for a time; then he began to argue anew, +insisted a little, threatened, begged, flattered. Latin flowed from his mouth +like a stream, till drops of sweat were on his forehead; but all was in vain, +for after his best arguments, so strong that they might move walls, he heard +always one answer,— +</p> + +<p> +“But still I will not yield Zamost; that is my position!” +</p> + +<p> +The audience continued beyond measure; at last it became awkward and difficult +for Forgell, since mirth was seizing those present. More and more frequently +some word fell, some sneer,—now from Zagloba, now from +others,—after which smothered laughter was heard in the hall. Forgell saw +finally that it was necessary to use the last means; therefore he unrolled a +parchment with seals, which he held in his hand, and to which no one had turned +attention hitherto, and rising said with a solemn, emphatic voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“For opening the gates of the fortress his Royal Grace,” here again +he enumerated the titles, “gives your princely grace the province of +Lubelsk in perpetual possession.” +</p> + +<p> +All were astonished when they heard this, and Zamoyski himself was astonished +for a moment. Forgell had begun to turn a triumphant look on the people around +him, when suddenly and in deep silence Zagloba, standing behind Zamoyski, said +in Polish,— +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, offer the King of Sweden the Netherlands in +exchange.” +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski, without thinking long, put his hands on his hips and fired through +the whole hall in Latin,— +</p> + +<p> +“And I offer to his Swedish Serenity the Netherlands!” +</p> + +<p> +That moment the hall resounded with one immense burst of laughter. The breasts +of all were shaking, and the girdles on their bodies were shaking; some clapped +their hands, others tottered as drunken men, some leaned on their neighbors, +but the laughter sounded continuously. Forgell was pale; he frowned terribly, +but he waited with fire in his eyes and his head raised haughtily. At last, +when the paroxysm of laughter had passed, he asked in a short, broken +voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“Is that the final answer of your worthiness?” +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski twirled his mustache. “No!” said he, raising his head +still more proudly, “for I have cannon on the walls.” +</p> + +<p> +The embassy was at an end. +</p> + +<p> +Two hours later cannons were thundering from the trenches of the Swedes, but +Zamoyski’s guns answered them with equal power. All Zamost was covered +with smoke, as with an immense cloud; moment after moment there were flashes in +that cloud, and thunder roared unceasingly. But fire from the heavy fortress +guns was preponderant. The Swedish balls fell in the moat or bounded without +effect from the strong angles; toward evening the enemy were forced to draw +back from the nearer trenches, for the fortress was covering them with such a +rain of missiles that nothing living could endure it. The Swedish king, carried +away by anger, commanded to burn all the villages and hamlets, so that the +neighborhood seemed in the night one sea of fire; but Zamoyski cared not for +that. +</p> + +<p> +“All right!” said he, “let them burn. We have a roof over our +heads, but soon it will be pouring down their backs.” +</p> + +<p> +And he was so satisfied with himself and rejoiced that he made a great feast +that day and remained till late at the cups. A resounding orchestra played at +the feast so loudly that, in spite of the thunder of artillery, it could be +heard in the remotest trenches of the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +But the Swedes cannonaded continually, so constantly indeed that the firing +lasted the whole night. Next day a number of guns were brought to the king, +which as soon as they were placed in the trenches began to work against the +fortress. The king did not expect, it is true, to make a breach in the walls; +he merely wished to instil into Zamoyski the conviction that he had determined +to storm furiously and mercilessly. He wished to bring terror on them; but that +was bringing terror on Poles.<a name="div2Ref_06" +href="#div2_06"><sup>[6]</sup></a> Zamoyski paid no attention to it for a +moment, and often while on the walls he said, in time of the heaviest +cannonading,— +</p> + +<p> +“Why do they waste powder?” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski and the others offered to make a sortie, but Zamoyski would not +permit it; he did not wish to waste blood. He knew besides that it would be +necessary to deliver open battle; for such a careful warrior as the king and +such a trained army would not let themselves be surprised. Zagloba, seeing this +fixed determination, insisted all the more, and guaranteed that he would lead +the sortie. +</p> + +<p> +“You are too bloodthirsty!” answered Zamoyski. “It is +pleasant for us and unpleasant for the Swedes; why should we go to them? You +might fall, and I need you as a councillor; for it was by your wit that I +confounded Forgell so by mentioning the Netherlands.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba answered that he could not restrain himself within the walls, he wanted +so much to get at the Swedes; but he was forced to obey. In default of other +occupation he spent his time on the walls among the soldiers, dealing out to +them precautions and counsel with importance, which all heard with no little +respect, holding him a greatly experienced warrior, one of the foremost in the +Commonwealth; and he was rejoiced in soul, looking at the defence and the +spirit of the knighthood. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Michael,” said he to Volodyovski, “there is another +spirit in the Commonwealth and in the nobles. No one thinks now of treason or +surrender; and every one out of good-will for the Commonwealth and the king is +ready to give his life sooner than yield a step to the enemy. You remember how +a year ago from every side was heard, ‘This one has betrayed, that one +has betrayed, a third has accepted protection;’ and now the Swedes need +protection more than we. If the Devil does not protect them, he will soon take +them. We have our stomachs so full here that drummers might beat on them, but +their entrails are twisted into whips from hunger.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba was right. The Swedish army had no supplies; and for eighteen thousand +men, not to mention horses, there was no place from which to get supplies. +Zamoyski, before the arrival of the enemy, had brought in from all his estates +for many miles around food for man and horse. In the more remote neighborhoods +of the country swarmed parties of confederates and bands of armed peasants, so +that foraging detachments could not go out, since just beyond the camp certain +death was in waiting. +</p> + +<p> +In addition to this, Pan Charnyetski had not gone to the west bank of the +Vistula, but was circling about the Swedish army like a wild beast around a +sheepfold. Again nightly alarms had begun, and the loss of smaller parties +without tidings. Near Krasnik appeared certain Polish troops, which had cut +communication with the Vistula. Finally, news came that Pavel Sapyeha, the +hetman, was marching from the north with a powerful Lithuanian army; that in +passing he had destroyed the garrison at Lublin, had taken Lublin, and was +coming with cavalry to Zamost. +</p> + +<p> +Old Wittemberg, the most experienced of the Swedish leaders, saw the whole +ghastliness of the position, and laid it plainly before the king. +</p> + +<p> +“I know,” said he, “that the genius of your Royal Grace can +do wonders; but judging things in human fashion, hunger will overcome us, and +when the enemy fall upon our emaciated army not a living foot of us will +escape.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I had this fortress,” answered the king, “I could finish +the war in two months.” +</p> + +<p> +“For such a fortress a year’s siege is short.” +</p> + +<p> +The king in his soul recognized that the old warrior was right, but he did not +acknowledge that he saw no means himself, that his genius was strained. He +counted yet on some unexpected event; hence he gave orders to fire night and +day. +</p> + +<p> +“I will bend the spirit in them,” said he; “they will be more +inclined to treaties.” +</p> + +<p> +After some days of cannonading so furious that the light could not be seen +behind the smoke, the king sent Forgell again to the fortress. +</p> + +<p> +“The king, my master,” said Forgell, appearing before Zamoyski, +“considers that the damage which Zamost must have suffered from our +cannonading will soften the lofty mind of your princely grace and incline it to +negotiations.” +</p> + +<p> +To which Zamoyski said: “Of course there is damage! Why should there not +be? You killed on the market square a pig, which was struck in the belly by the +fragment of a bomb. If you cannonade another week, perhaps you’ll kill +another pig.” +</p> + +<p> +Forgell took that answer to the king. In the evening a new council was held in +the king’s quarters; next day the Swedes began to pack their tents in +wagons and draw their cannon out of the trenches, and in the night the whole +army moved onward. +</p> + +<p> +Zamost thundered after them from all its artillery, and when they had vanished +from the eye two squadrons, the Shemberk and the Lauda, passed out through the +southern gate and followed in their track. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes marched southward. Wittemberg advised, it is true, a return to +Warsaw, and with all his power he tried to convince the king that that was the +only road of salvation; but the Swedish Alexander had determined absolutely to +pursue the Polish Darius to the remotest boundaries of the kingdom. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<p> +The spring of that year approached with wonderful roads; for while in the north +of the Commonwealth snow was already thawing, the stiffened rivers were set +free, and the whole country was filled with March water, in the south the icy +breath of winter was still descending from the mountains to the fields, woods, +and forests. In the forests lay snow-drifts, in the open country frozen roads +sounded under the hoofs of horses; the days were dry, the sunsets red, the +nights starry and frosty. The people living on the rich clay, on the black +soil, and in the woods of Little Poland comforted themselves with the +continuance of the cold, stating that the field-mice and the Swedes would +perish from it. But inasmuch as the spring came late, it came as swiftly as an +armored squadron advancing to the attack of an enemy. The sun shot down living +fire from heaven, and at once the crust of winter burst; from the Hungarian +steppes flew a strong warm wind, and began to blow on the fields and wild +places. Straightway in the midst of shining ponds arable ground became dark, a +green fleece shot up on the low river-lands, and the forests began to shed +tears from bursting buds on their branches. +</p> + +<p> +In the heavens continually fair were seen, daily, rows of cranes, wild ducks, +teal, and geese. Storks flew to their places of the past year, and the roofs +were swarming with swallows; the twitter of birds was heard in the villages, +their noise in the woods and ponds, and in the evening the whole country was +ringing with the croaking and singing of frogs, which swam with delight in the +waters. +</p> + +<p> +Then came great rains, which were as if they had been warmed; they fell in the +daytime, they fell in the night, without interruption. +</p> + +<p> +The fields were turned into lakes, the rivers overflowed, the fords became +impassable; then followed the “stickiness and the impossible of muddy +roads.” Amid all this water, mud, and swamp the Swedish legions dragged +onward continually toward the south. +</p> + +<p> +But how little was that throng, advancing as it were to destruction, like that +brilliant army which in its time marched under Wittemberg to Great Poland! +Hunger had stamped itself on the faces of the old soldiers; they went on more +like spectres than men, in suffering, in toil, in sleeplessness, knowing that +at the end of the road not food was awaiting, but hunger; not sleep, but a +battle; and if rest, then the rest of the dead. +</p> + +<p> +Arrayed in iron these skeletons of horsemen sat on skeletons of horses. The +infantry hardly drew their legs along; barely could they hold spears and +muskets with trembling hands. Day followed day; they went onward continually. +Wagons were broken, cannons were fastened in sloughs; they went on so slowly +that sometimes they were able to advance hardly five miles in one day. Diseases +fell on the soldiers, like ravens on corpses; the teeth of some were chattering +from fever; others lay down on the ground simply from weakness, choosing rather +to die than advance. +</p> + +<p> +But the Swedish Alexander hastened toward the Polish Darius unceasingly. At the +same time he was pursued himself. As in the night-time jackals follow a sick +buffalo waiting to see if he will soon fall, and he knows that he will fall and +he hears the howl of the hungry pack, so after the Swedes went +“parties,” nobles and peasants, approaching ever nearer, attacking +ever more insolently, and snatching away. +</p> + +<p> +At last came Charnyetski, the most terrible of all the pursuers, and followed +closely. The rearguards of the Swedes as often as they looked behind saw +horsemen, at one time far off on the edge of the horizon, at another a furlong +away, at another twice the distance of a musket-shot, at another time, when +attacking, on their very shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy wanted battle; with despair did the Swedes pray to the Lord of Hosts +for battle. But Charnyetski did not receive battle, he bided his time; +meanwhile he preferred to punish the Swedes, or let go from his hand against +them single parties as one would falcons against water birds. +</p> + +<p> +And so they marched one after the other. There were times, however, when +Charnyetski passed the Swedes, pushed on, and blocked the road before them, +pretending to prepare for a general battle. Then the trumpet sounded joyously +from one end of the Swedish camp to the other, and, oh miracle! new strength, a +new spirit seemed to vivify on a sudden the wearied ranks of the Scandinavians. +Sick, wet, weak, like Lazaruses, they stood in rank promptly for battle, with +flaming faces, with fire in their eyes. Spears and muskets moved with as much +accuracy as if iron hands held them; the shouts of battle were heard as loudly +as if they came from the healthiest bosoms, and they marched forward to strike +breast against breast. +</p> + +<p> +Then Charnyetski struck once, twice; but when the artillery began to thunder he +withdrew his troops, leaving to the Swedes as profit, vain labor and the +greater disappointment and disgust. +</p> + +<p> +When, however, the artillery could not come up, and spears and sabres had to +decide in the open field, he struck like a thunderbolt, knowing that in a +hand-to-hand conflict the Swedish cavalry could not stand, even against +volunteers. +</p> + +<p> +And again Wittemberg implored the king to retreat and thus avoid ruin to +himself and the army; but Karl Gustav in answer compressed his lips, fire +flashed from his eyes, and he pointed to the south, where in the Russian +regions he hoped to find Yan Kazimir, and also fields open to conquest, rest, +provisions, pastures for horses, and rich plunder. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, to complete the misfortune, those Polish regiments which had served +him hitherto, and which in one way or another were now alone able to meet +Charnyetski, began to leave the Swedes. Pan Zbrojek resigned first; he had held +to Karl hitherto not from desire of gain, but from blind attachment to the +squadron, and soldierly faithfulness to Karl. He resigned in this fashion, that +he engaged in conflict with a regiment of Miller’s dragoons, cut down +half the men, and departed. After him resigned Pan Kalinski, who rode over the +Swedish infantry. Yan Sapyeha grew gloomier each day; he was meditating +something in his soul, plotting something. He had not gone hitherto himself, +but his men were deserting him daily. +</p> + +<p> +Karl Gustav was marching then through Narol, Tsyeshanov, and Oleshytse, to +reach the San. He was upheld by the hope that Yan Kazimir would bar his road +and give him battle. A victory might yet repair the fate of Sweden and bring a +change of fortune. In fact, rumors were current that Yan Kazimir had set out +from Lvoff with the quarter soldiers and the Tartars. But Karl’s +reckonings deceived him. Yan Kazimir preferred to await the junction of the +armies and the arrival of the Lithuanians under Sapyeha. Delay was his best +ally; for he was growing daily in strength, while Karl was becoming weaker. +</p> + +<p> +“That is not the march of troops nor of an army, but a funeral +procession!” said old warriors in Yan Kazimir’s suite. +</p> + +<p> +Many Swedish officers shared this opinion. Karl Gustav however repeated still +that he was going to Lvoff; but he was deceiving himself and his army. It was +not for him to go to Lvoff, but to think of his own safety. Besides, it was not +certain that he would find Yan Kazimir in Lvoff; in every event the +“Polish Darius” might withdraw far into Podolia, and draw after him +the enemy into distant steppes where the Swedes must perish without rescue. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas went to Premysl to try if that fortress would yield, and returned, not +merely with nothing, but plucked. The catastrophe was coming slowly, but +inevitably. All tidings brought to the Swedish camp were simply the +announcement of it. Each day fresh tidings and ever more terrible. +</p> + +<p> +“Sapyeha is marching; he is already in Tomashov!” was repeated one +day. “Lyubomirski is marching with troops and mountaineers!” was +announced the day following. And again: “The king is leading the quarter +soldiers and the horde one hundred thousand strong! He has joined +Sapyeha!” +</p> + +<p> +Among these tidings were “tidings of disaster and death,” untrue +and exaggerated, but they always spread fear. The courage of the army fell. +Formerly whenever Karl appeared in person before his regiments, they greeted +him with shouts in which rang the hope of victory; now the regiments stood +before him dull and dumb. And at the fires the soldiers, famished and wearied +to death, whispered more of Charnyetski than of their own king. They saw him +everywhere. And, a strange thing! when for a couple of days no party had +perished, when a few nights passed without alarms or cries of +“Allah!” and “Strike, kill!” their disquiet became +still greater. “Charnyetski has fled; God knows what he is +preparing!” repeated the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +Karl halted a few days in Yaroslav, pondering what to do. During that time the +Swedes placed on flat-bottomed boats sick soldiers, of whom there were many in +camp, and sent them by the river to Sandomir, the nearest fortified town still +in Swedish hands. After this work had been finished, and just when the news of +Yan Kazimir’s march from Lvoff had come in, the King of Sweden determined +to discover where Yan Kazimir was, and with that object Colonel Kanneberg with +one thousand cavalry passed the San and moved to the east. +</p> + +<p> +“It may be that you have in your hands the fate of the war and us +all,” said the king to him at parting. +</p> + +<p> +And in truth much depended on that party, for in the worst case Kanneberg was +to furnish the camp with provisions; and if he could learn certainly where Yan +Kazimir was, the Swedish King was to move at once with all his forces against +the “Polish Darius,” whose army he was to scatter and whose person +he was to seize if he could. +</p> + +<p> +The first soldiers and the best horses were assigned, therefore, to Kanneberg. +Choice was made the more carefully as the colonel could not take artillery or +infantry; hence he must have with him men who with sabres could stand against +Polish cavalry in the field. +</p> + +<p> +March 20, the party set out. A number of officers and soldiers took farewell of +them, saying: “God conduct you! God give victory! God give a fortunate +return!” They marched in a long line, being one thousand in number, and +went two abreast over the newly built bridge which had one square still +unfinished, but was in some fashion covered with planks so that they might +pass. +</p> + +<p> +Good hope shone in their faces, for they were exceptionally well fed. Food had +been taken from others and given to them; gorailka was poured into their +flasks. When they were riding away they shouted joyfully and said to their +comrades,— +</p> + +<p> +“We will bring you Charnyetski himself on a rope.” +</p> + +<p> +Fools! They knew not that they were going as go bullocks to slaughter at the +shambles! +</p> + +<p> +Everything combined for their ruin. Barely had they crossed the river when the +Swedish sappers removed the temporary covering of the bridge, so as to lay +stronger planks over which cannon might pass. The thousand turned toward Vyelki +Ochi, singing in low voices to themselves; their helmets glittered in the sun +on the turn once and a second time; then they began to sink in the dense +pine-wood. +</p> + +<p> +They rode forward two miles and a half,—emptiness, silence around them; +the forest depths seemed vacant altogether. They halted to give breath to the +horses; after that they moved slowly forward. At last they reached Vyelki Oehi, +in which they found not a living soul. That emptiness astonished Kanneberg. +</p> + +<p> +“Evidently they have been waiting for us here,” said he to Major +Sweno; “but Charnyetski must be in some other place, since he has not +prepared ambushes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Does your worthiness order a return?” asked Sweno. +</p> + +<p> +“We will go on even to Lvoff itself, which is not very far. I must find +an informant, and give the king sure information touching Yan Kazimir.” +</p> + +<p> +“But if we meet superior forces?” +</p> + +<p> +“Even if we meet several thousand of those brawlers whom the Poles call +general militia, we will not let ourselves be torn apart by such +soldiers.” +</p> + +<p> +“But we may meet regular troops. We have no artillery, and against them +cannons are the main thing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then we will draw back in season and inform the king of the enemy, and +those who try to cut off our retreat we will disperse.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am afraid of the night!” replied Sweno. +</p> + +<p> +“We will take every precaution. We have food for men and horses for two +days; we need not hurry.” +</p> + +<p> +When they entered the pine-wood beyond Vyelki Ochi, they acted with vastly more +caution. Fifty horsemen rode in advance musket in hand, each man with his +gunstock on his thigh. They looked carefully on every side; examined the +thickets, the undergrowth; frequently they halted, listened; sometimes they +went from the road to one side to examine the depths of the forest, but neither +on the roads nor at the sides was there a man. +</p> + +<p> +But one hour later, after they had passed a rather sudden turn, two troopers +riding in advance saw a man on horseback about four hundred yards ahead. +</p> + +<p> +The day was clear and the sun shone brightly; hence the man could be seen as +something on the hand. He was a soldier, not large, dressed very decently in +foreign fashion. He seemed especially small because he sat on a large +cream-colored steed, evidently of high breed. +</p> + +<p> +The horseman was riding at leisure, as if not seeing that troops were rolling +on after him. The spring floods had dug deep ditches in the road, in which +muddy water was sweeping along. The horseman spurred his steed in front of the +ditches, and the beast sprang across with the nimbleness of a deer, and again +went on at a trot, throwing his head and snorting vivaciously from time to +time. +</p> + +<p> +The two troopers reined in their horses and began to look around for the +sergeant. He clattered up in a moment, looked, and said: “That is some +hound from the Polish kennel.” +</p> + +<p> +“Shall I shout at him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Shout not; there may be more of them. Go to the colonel.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the rest of the advance guard rode up, and all halted; the small +horseman halted too, and turned the face of his steed to the Swedes as if +wishing to block the road to them. For a certain time they looked at him and he +at them. +</p> + +<p> +“There is another! a second! a third! a fourth! a whole party!” +were the sudden cries in the Swedish ranks. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, horsemen began to pour out from both sides of the road; at first +singly, then by twos, by threes. All took their places in line with him who had +appeared first. +</p> + +<p> +But the second Swedish guard with Sweno, and then the whole detachment with +Kanneberg, came up. Kanneberg and Sweno rode to the front at once. +</p> + +<p> +“I know those men!” cried Sweno, when he had barely seen them; +“their squadron was the first to strike on Prince Waldemar at Golamb; +those are Charnyetski’s men. He must be here himself!” +</p> + +<p> +These words produced an impression; deep silence followed in the ranks, only +the horses shook their bridle-bits. +</p> + +<p> +“I sniff some ambush,” continued Sweno. “There are too few of +them to meet us, but there must be others hidden in the woods.” +</p> + +<p> +He turned here to Kanneberg: “Your worthiness, let us return.” +</p> + +<p> +“You give good counsel,” answered the colonel, frowning. “It +was not worth while to set out if we must return at sight of a few ragged +fellows. Why did we not return at sight of one? Forward!” +</p> + +<p> +The first Swedish rank moved at that moment with the greatest regularity; after +it the second, the third, the fourth. The distance between the two detachments +was becoming less. +</p> + +<p> +“Cock your muskets!” commanded Kanneberg. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedish muskets moved like one; their iron necks were stretched toward the +Polish horsemen. +</p> + +<p> +But before the muskets thundered, the Polish horsemen turned their horses and +began to flee in a disorderly group. +</p> + +<p> +“Forward!” cried Kanneberg. +</p> + +<p> +The division moved forward on a gallop, so that the ground trembled under the +heavy hoofs of the horses. +</p> + +<p> +The forest was filled with the shouts of pursuers and pursued. After half an +hour of chasing, either because the Swedish horses were better, or those of the +Poles were wearied by some journey, the distance between the two bodies was +decreasing. +</p> + +<p> +But at once something wonderful happened. The Polish band, at first disorderly, +did not scatter more and more as the flight continued, but on the contrary, +they fled in ever better order, in ranks growing more even, as if the very +speed of the horses brought the riders into line. +</p> + +<p> +Sweno saw this, urged on his horse, reached Kanneberg, and called out,— +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, that is an uncommon party; those are regular soldiers, +fleeing designedly and leading us to an ambush.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will there be devils in the ambush, or men?” asked Kanneberg. +</p> + +<p> +The road rose somewhat and became ever wider, the forest thinner, and at the +end of the road was to be seen an unoccupied field, or rather a great open +space, surrounded on all sides by a dense, deep gray pine-wood. +</p> + +<p> +The Polish horsemen increased their pace in turn, and it transpired that +hitherto they had gone slowly of purpose; for now in a short time they pushed +forward so rapidly that the Swedish leader knew that he could never overtake +them. But when he had come to the middle of the open plain and saw that the +enemy were almost touching the other end of it, he began to restrain his men +and slacken speed. +</p> + +<p> +But, oh marvel! the Poles, instead of sinking in the opposite forest, wheeled +around at the very edge of the half-circle and returned on a gallop toward the +Swedes, putting themselves at once in such splendid battle order that they +roused wonder even in their opponents. +</p> + +<p> +“It is true!” cried Kanneberg, “those are regular soldiers. +They turned as if on parade. What do they want for the hundredth time?” +</p> + +<p> +“They are attacking us!” cried Sweno. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, the squadron was moving forward at a trot. The little knight on the +cream-colored steed shouted something to his men, pushed forward, again reined +in his horse, gave signs with his sabre; evidently he was the leader. +</p> + +<p> +“They are attacking really!” said Kanneberg, with astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +And now the horses, with ears dropped back, were coming at the greatest speed, +stretched out so that their bellies almost touched the ground. Their riders +bent forward to their shoulders, and were hidden behind the horse manes. The +Swedes standing in the first rank saw only hundreds of distended horse-nostrils +and burning eyes. A whirlwind does not move as that squadron tore on. +</p> + +<p> +“God with us! Sweden! Fire!” commanded Kanneberg, raising his +sword. +</p> + +<p> +All the muskets thundered; but at that very moment the Polish squadron fell +into the smoke with such impetus that it hurled to the right and the left the +first Swedish ranks, and drove itself into the density of men and horses, as a +wedge is driven into a cleft log. A terrible whirl was made, breastplate struck +breast-plate, sabre struck rapier; and the rattle, the whining of horses, the +groan of dying men roused every echo, so that the whole pine-wood began to give +back the sounds of the battle, as the steep cliffs of mountains give back the +thunder. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes were confused for a time, especially since a considerable number of +them fell from the first blow; but soon recovering, they went powerfully +against the enemy. Their flanks came together; and since the Polish squadron +was pushing ahead anyhow, for it wished to pass through with a thrust, it was +soon surrounded. The Swedish centre yielded before the squadron, but the flanks +pressed on it with the greater power, unable to break it; for it defended +itself with rage and with all that incomparable adroitness which made the +Polish cavalry so terrible in hand-to-hand conflict. Sabres toiled then against +rapiers, bodies fell thickly; but the victory was just turning to the Swedish +side when suddenly from under the dark wall of the pinewood rolled out another +squadron, and moved forward at once with a shout. +</p> + +<p> +The whole right wing of the Swedes, under the lead of Sweno, faced the new +enemy in which the trained Swedish soldiers recognized hussars. They were led +by a man on a valiant dapple gray; he wore a burka, and a wild-cat skin cap +with a heron feather. He was perfectly visible to the eye, for he was riding at +one side some yards from the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“Charnyetski! Charnyetski!” was the cry in the Swedish ranks. +</p> + +<p> +Sweno looked in despair at the sky, then pressed his horse with his knees and +rushed forward with his men. +</p> + +<p> +But Charnyetski led his hussars a few yards farther, and when they were moving +with the swiftest rush, he turned back alone. +</p> + +<p> +With that a third squadron issued from the forest, he galloped to that and led +it forward; a fourth came out, he led that on; pointing to each with his baton, +where it must strike. You would have said that he was a man leading harvesters +to his field and distributing work among them. +</p> + +<p> +At last, when the fifth squadron had come forth from the forest, he put himself +at the head of that, and with it rushed to the fight. +</p> + +<p> +But the hussars had already forced the right wing to the rear, and after a +while had broken it completely; the three other squadrons, racing around the +Swedes in Tartar fashion and raising an uproar, had thrown them into disorder; +then they fell to cutting them with steel, to thrusting them with lances, +scattering, trampling, and finally pursuing them amid shrieks and slaughter. +</p> + +<p> +Kanneberg saw that he had fallen into an ambush, and had led his detachment as +it were under the knife. For him there was no thought of victory now; but he +wished to save as many men as possible, hence he ordered to sound the retreat. +The Swedes, therefore, turned with all speed to that same road by which they +had come to Vyelki Ochi; but Charnyetski’s men so followed them that the +breaths of the Polish horses warmed the shoulders of the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +In these conditions and in view of the terror which had seized the Swedish +cavalry, that return could not take place in order; and soon Kanneberg’s +brilliant division was turned into a crowd fleeing in disorder and slaughtered +almost without resistance. +</p> + +<p> +The longer the pursuit lasted, the more irregular it became; for the Poles did +not pursue in order, each of them drove his horse according to the breath in +the beast’s nostrils, and attacked and slew whom he wished. +</p> + +<p> +Both sides were mingled and confused in one mass. Some Polish soldiers passed +the last Swedish ranks; and it happened that when a Pole stood in his stirrups +to strike with more power the man fleeing in front of him, he fell himself +thrust with a rapier from behind. The road to Vyelki Ochi was strewn with +Swedish corpses; but the end of the chase was not there. Both sides rushed with +the same force along the road through the next forest; there however the +Swedish horses, wearied first, began to go more slowly, and the slaughter +became still more bloody. +</p> + +<p> +Some of the Swedes sprang from their beasts and vanished in the forest; but +only a few did so, for the Swedes knew from experience that peasants were +watching in the forest, and they preferred to die from sabres rather than from +terrible tortures, of which the infuriated people were not sparing. Some asked +quarter, but for the most part in vain; for each Pole chose to slay an enemy, +and chase on rather than take him prisoner, guard him, and leave further +pursuit. +</p> + +<p> +They cut then without mercy, so that no one might return with news of the +defeat. Volodyovski was in the van of pursuit with the Lauda squadron. He was +that horseman who had appeared first to the Swedes as a decoy; he had struck +first, and now, sitting on a horse which was as if impelled by a whirlwind, he +enjoyed himself with his whole soul, wishing to be sated with blood, and avenge +the defeat of Golamb. Every little while he overtook a horseman, and when he +had overtaken him he quenched him as quickly as he would a candle; sometimes he +came on the shoulders of two, three, or four, but soon, only in a moment, that +same number of horses ran riderless before him. More than one hapless Swede +caught his own rapier by the point, and turning the hilt to the knight for +quarter implored with voice and with eyes. Volodyovski did not stop, but +thrusting his sabre into the man where the neck joins the breast, he gave him a +light, small push, and the man dropped his hands, gave forth one and a second +word with pale lips, then sank in the darkness of death. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski, not looking around, rushed on and pushed new victims to the earth. +</p> + +<p> +The valiant Sweno took note of this terrible harvester, and summoning a few of +the best horsemen he determined with the sacrifice of his own life to restrain +even a little of the pursuit in order to save others. They turned therefore +their horses, and pointing their rapiers waited with the points toward the +pursuers. Volodyovski, seeing this, hesitated not a moment, spurred on his +horse, and fell into the midst of them. +</p> + +<p> +And before any one could have winked, two helmets had fallen. More than ten +rapiers were directed at once to the single breast of Volodyovski; but at that +instant rushed in Pan Yan and Pan Stanislav, Yuzva Butrym, Zagloba and Roh +Kovalski, of whom Zagloba related, that even when going to the attack he had +his eyes closed in sleep, and woke only when his breast struck the breast of an +enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski put himself under the saddle so quickly that the rapiers passed +through empty air. He learned this method from the Tartars of Bailgorod; but +being small and at the same time adroit beyond human belief, he brought it to +such perfection that he vanished from the eye when he wished, either behind the +shoulder or under the belly of the horse. So he vanished this time, and before +the astonished Swedes could understand what had become of him he was erect on +the saddle again, terrible as a wild-cat which springs down from lofty branches +among frightened dogs. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile his comrades gave him aid, and bore around death and confusion. One +of the Swedes held a pistol to the very breast of Zagloba. Roh Kovalski, having +that enemy on his left side, was unable to strike him with a sabre; but he +balled his fist, struck the Swede’s head in passing, and that man dropped +under the horse as if a thunderbolt had met him, and Zagloba, giving forth a +shout of delight, slashed in the temple Sweno himself, who dropped his hands +and fell with his forehead to the horse’s shoulder. At sight of this the +other Swedes scattered. Volodyovski, Yuzva Footless, Pan Yan, and Pan Stanislav +followed and cut them down before they had gone a hundred yards. +</p> + +<p> +And the pursuit lasted longer. The Swedish horses had less and less breath in +their bodies, and ran more and more slowly. At last from a thousand of the best +horsemen, which had gone out under Kanneberg, there remained barely a hundred +and some tens; the rest had fallen in a long belt over the forest road. And +this last group was decreasing, for Polish hands ceased not to toil over them. +</p> + +<p> +At last they came out of the forest. The towers of Yaroslav were outlined +clearly in the azure sky. Now hope entered the hearts of the fleeing, for they +knew that in Yaroslav was the king with all his forces, and at any moment he +might come to their aid. They had forgotten that immediately after their +passage the top had been taken from the last square of the bridge, so as to put +stronger planks for the passage of cannon. +</p> + +<p> +Whether Charnyetski knew of this through his spies, or wished to show himself +of purpose to the Swedish king and cut down before his eyes the last of those +unfortunate men, it is enough that not only did he not restrain the pursuit, +but he sprang forward himself with the Shemberk squadron, slashed, cut with his +own hand, pursuing the crowd in such fashion as if he wished with that same +speed to strike Yaroslav. +</p> + +<p> +At last they ran to within a furlong of the bridge; shouts from the field came +to the Swedish camp. A multitude of soldiers and officers ran out from the town +to see what was taking place beyond the river; they had barely looked when they +saw and recognized the horsemen who had gone out of camp in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +“Kanneberg’s detachment! Kanneberg’s detachment!” cried +thousands of voices. +</p> + +<p> +“Almost cut to pieces! Scarcely a hundred men are running!” +</p> + +<p> +At that moment the king himself galloped up; with him Wittemberg, Forgell, +Miller, and other generals. +</p> + +<p> +The king grew pale. “Kanneberg!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“By Christ and his wounds! the bridge is not finished,” cried +Wittemberg; “the enemy will cut them down to the last man.” +</p> + +<p> +The king looked at the river, which had risen with spring waters, roaring with +its yellow waves; to give aid by swimming was not to be thought of. +</p> + +<p> +The few men still left were coming nearer. +</p> + +<p> +Now there was a new cry: “The king’s train and the guard are +coming! They too will perish!” +</p> + +<p> +In fact, it had happened that a part of the king’s provision-chests with +a hundred men of the infantry guard had come out at that moment by another road +from adjoining forests. When they saw what had happened, the men of the escort, +in the conviction that the bridge was ready, hastened with all speed toward the +town. +</p> + +<p> +But they were seen from the field by the Poles. Immediately about three hundred +horsemen rushed toward them at full speed; in front of all, with sabre above +his head and fire in his eyes, flew the tenant of Vansosh, Jendzian. Not many +proofs had he given hitherto of his bravery; but at sight of the wagons in +which there might be rich plunder, daring so rose in his heart that he went +some tens of yards in advance of the others. The infantry at the wagons, seeing +that they could not escape, formed themselves into a quadrangle, and a hundred +muskets were directed at once at the breast of Jendzian. A roar shook the air, +a line of smoke flew along the wall of the quadrangle; but before the smoke had +cleared away the rider had urged on his horse so that the forefeet of the beast +were above the heads of the men, and the lord tenant fell into the midst of +them like a thunderbolt. +</p> + +<p> +An avalanche of horsemen rushed after him. And as when wolves overcome a horse, +and he, lying yet on his back, defends himself desperately with his hoofs, and +they cover him completely and tear from him lumps of living flesh, so those +wagons and the infantry were covered completely with a whirling mass of horses +and riders. But terrible shouts rose from that whirl, and reached the ears of +the Swedes standing on the other bank. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile still nearer the bank the Poles were finishing the remnant of +Kanneberg’s cavalry. The whole Swedish army had come out like one man to +the lofty bank of the San. Infantry, cavalry, artillery were mingled together; +and all looked as if in an ancient circus in Rome at the spectacle; but they +looked with set lips, with despair in their hearts, with terror and a feeling +of helplessness. At moments from the breasts of those unwilling spectators was +wrested a terrible cry. At moments a general weeping was heard; then again +silence, and only the panting of the excited soldiers was audible. For that +thousand men whom Kanneberg had led out were the front and the pride of the +whole Swedish army; they were veterans, covered with glory in God knows how +many lands, and God knows how many battles. But now they are running, like a +lost flock of sheep, over the broad fields in front of the Swedish army, dying +like sheep under the knife of the butcher. For that was no longer a battle, but +a hunt. The terrible Polish horsemen circled about, like a storm, over the +field of struggle, crying in various voices and running ahead of the Swedes. +Sometimes a number less than ten, sometimes a group more than ten fell on one +man. Sometimes one met one, sometimes the hunted Swede bowed down on the saddle +as if to lighten the blow for the enemy, sometimes he withstood the brunt: but +oftener he perished, for with edged weapons the Swedish soldiers were not equal +to Polish nobles trained in all kinds of fencing. +</p> + +<p> +But among the Poles the little knight was the most terrible of all, sitting on +his cream-colored steed, which was as nimble and as swift as a falcon. The +whole army noted him; for whomsoever he pursued he killed, whoever met him +perished it was unknown how and when, with such small and insignificant +movements of his sword did he hurl the sturdiest horsemen to the earth. At last +he saw Kanneberg himself, whom more than ten men were chasing; the little +knight shouted at them, stopped the pursuit by command, and attacked the Swede +himself. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes on the other bank held the breath in their breasts. The king had +pushed to the edge of the river and looked with throbbing heart, moved at once +with alarm and hope; for Kanneberg, as a great lord and a relative of the king, +was trained from childhood in every species of sword exercise by Italian +masters; in fighting with edged weapons he had not his equal in the Swedish +army. All eyes therefore were fixed on him now, barely did they dare to +breathe; but he, seeing that the pursuit of the crowd had ceased, and wishing +after the loss of his troops to save his own glory in the eyes of the king, +said to his gloomy soul,— +</p> + +<p> +“Woe to me if having first lost my men, I do not seal with my own blood +the shame, or if I do not purchase my life by having overturned this terrible +man. In another event, though the hand of God might bear me to that bank, I +should not dare to look in the eyes of any Swede.” When he had said this +he turned his horse and rushed toward the yellow knight. +</p> + +<p> +Since those Poles who had cut him off from the river had withdrawn, Kanneberg +had the hope that if he should finish his opponent, he might spring into the +water, and then what would be would be; if he could not swim the stormy stream, +its current would bear him far with the horse, and his brothers would provide +him some rescue. +</p> + +<p> +He sprang therefore like a thunderbolt at the little knight, and the little +knight at him. The Swede wished during the rush to thrust the rapier up to the +hilt under the arm of his opponent; but he learned in an instant that though a +master himself he must meet a master as well, for his sword merely slipped +along the edge of the Polish sabre, only quivered somehow wonderfully in his +hand, as if his arm had suddenly grown numb; barely was he able to defend +himself from the blow which the knight then gave him; luckily at that moment +their horses bore them away in opposite directions. +</p> + +<p> +Both wheeled in a circle and returned simultaneously; but they rode now more +slowly against each other, wishing to have more time for the meeting and even +to cross weapons repeatedly. Kanneberg withdrew into himself so that he became +like a bird which presents to view only a powerful beak from the midst of +upraised feathers. He knew one infallible thrust in which a certain Florentine +had trained him,—infallible because deceitful and almost impossible to be +warded off,—consisting in this: that the point of the sword was directed +apparently at the breast, but by avoiding obstacles at the side it passed +through the throat till the hilt reached the back of the neck. This thrust he +determined to make now. +</p> + +<p> +And, sure of himself, he approached, restraining his horse more and more; but +Volodyovski rode toward him with short springs. For a moment he thought to +disappear suddenly under the horse like a Tartar, but since he had to meet with +only one man, and that before the eyes of both armies, though he understood +that some unexpected thrust was waiting for him, he was ashamed to defend +himself in Tartar and not in knightly fashion. +</p> + +<p> +“He wishes to take me as a heron does a falcon with a thrust,” +thought Pan Michael to himself; “but I will use that windmill which I +invented in Lubni.” +</p> + +<p> +And this idea seemed to him best for the moment; therefore it surrounded him +like a glittering shield of light, and he struck his steed with his spurs and +rushed on Kanneberg. +</p> + +<p> +Kanneberg drew himself in still more, and almost grew to the horse; in the +twinkle of an eye the rapier caught the sabre, and quickly he stuck out his +head like a snake and made a ghastly thrust. +</p> + +<p> +But in that instant a terrible whirling began to sound, the rapier turned in +the hands of the Swede; the point struck empty space, but the curved end of the +sabre fell with the speed of lightning; on the face of Kanneberg, cut through a +part of his nose, his mouth and beard, struck his shoulder-blade, shattered +that, and stopped only at the sword-belt which crossed his shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +The rapier dropped from the hands of the unfortunate man, and night embraced +his head; but before he fell from his horse, Volodyovski dropped his own weapon +and seized him by the shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes from the other bank roared with one out burst, but Zagloba sprang to +the little knight. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Michael, I knew it would be so, but I was ready to avenge +you!” +</p> + +<p> +“He was a master,” answered Volodyovski. “You take the horse, +for he is a good one.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha! if it were not for the river we could rush over and frolic with +those fellows. I would be the first—” +</p> + +<p> +The whistle of balls interrupted further words of Zagloba; therefore he did not +finish the expression of his thoughts, but cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Let us go, Pan Michael; those traitors are ready to fire.” +</p> + +<p> +“Their bullets have no force, for the range is too great.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile other Polish horsemen came up congratulating Volodyovski and looking +at him with admiration; but he only moved his mustaches, for he was a cause of +gladness to himself as well as to them. +</p> + +<p> +But on the other bank among the Swedes, it was seething as in a beehive. +Artillerists on that side drew out their cannons in haste; and in the nearer +Polish ranks trumpets were sounded for withdrawal. At this sound each man +sprang to his squadron, and in a moment all were in order. They withdrew then +to the forest, and halted again, as if offering a place to the enemy and +inviting them across the river. At last, in front of the ranks of men and +horses, rode out on his dapple gray the man wearing a burka and a cap with a +heron’s feather, and bearing a gilded baton in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +He was perfectly visible, for the reddish rays of the setting sun fell on him, +and besides he rode before the regiments as if reviewing them. All the Swedes +knew him at once, and began to shout,— +</p> + +<p> +“Charnyetski! Charnyetski!” +</p> + +<p> +He said something to the colonels. It was seen how he stopped longer with the +knight who had slain Kanneberg, and placed his hand on his shoulder; then he +raised his baton, and the squadrons began to turn slowly one after another to +the pine-woods. +</p> + +<p> +Just then the sun went down. In Yaroslav the bells sounded in the church; then +all the regiments began to sing in one voice as they were riding away, +“The Angel of the Lord announced to the Most Holy Virgin Mary;” and +with that song they vanished from the eyes of the Swedes. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<p> +That evening the Swedes lay down to sleep without putting food into their +mouths, and without hope that they would have anything to strengthen themselves +with on the morrow. They were not able to sleep from the torment of hunger. +Before the second cock-crow the suffering soldiers began to slip out of the +camp singly and in crowds to plunder villages adjoining Yaroslav. They went +like night-thieves to Radzymno, to Kanchuya, to Tychyno, where they hoped to +find food of some kind. Their confidence was increased by the fact that +Charnyetski was on the other side of the river; but even had he been able to +cross, they preferred death to hunger. There was evidently a great relaxation +in the camp, for despite the strictest orders of the king about fifteen hundred +men went out in this way. +</p> + +<p> +They fell to ravaging the neighborhood, burning, plundering, killing; but +scarcely a man of them was to return. Charnyetski was on the other side of the +San, it is true, but on the left bank were various “parties” of +nobles and peasants; of these the strongest, that of Stjalkovski, formed of +daring nobles of the mountains, had come that very night to Prohnik, as if led +by the evil fate of the Swedes. When he saw the fire and heard the shots, +Stjalkovski went straight to the uproar and fell upon the plunderers. They +defended themselves fiercely behind fences; but Stjalkovski broke them up, cut +them to pieces, spared no man. In other villages other parties did work of the +same kind. Fugitives were followed to the very camp, and the pursuers spread +alarm and confusion, shouting in Tartar, in Wallachian, in Hungarian, and in +Polish; so that the Swedes thought that some powerful auxiliary of the Poles +was attacking them, maybe the Khan with the whole horde. +</p> + +<p> +Confusion began, and—a thing without example hitherto—panic, which +the officers put down with the greatest effort. The king, who remained on +horseback till daylight, saw what was taking place; he understood what might +come of that, and called a council of war at once in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +That gloomy council did not last long, for there were not two roads to choose +from. Courage had fallen in the army, the soldiers had nothing to eat, the +enemy had grown in power. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedish Alexander, who had promised the whole world to pursue the Polish +Darius even to the steppes of the Tartars, was forced to think no longer of +pursuit, but of his own safety. +</p> + +<p> +“We can return by the San to Sandomir, thence by the Vistula to Warsaw +and to Prussia,” said Wittemberg; “in that way we shall escape +destruction.” +</p> + +<p> +Douglas seized his own head: “So many victories, so many toils, such a +great country conquered, and we must return.” +</p> + +<p> +To which Wittemberg said: “Has your worthiness any advice?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have not,” answered Douglas. +</p> + +<p> +The king, who had said nothing hitherto, rose, as a sign that the session was +ended, and said, +</p> + +<p> +“I command the retreat!” +</p> + +<p> +Not a word further was heard from his mouth that day. +</p> + +<p> +Drums began to rattle, and trumpets to sound. News that the retreat was ordered +ran in a moment from one end of the camp to the other. It was received with +shouts of delight. Fortresses and castles were still in the hands of the +Swedes; and in them rest, food, and safety were waiting. +</p> + +<p> +The generals and soldiers betook themselves so zealously to preparing for +retreat that that zeal, as Douglas remarked, bordered on disgrace. +</p> + +<p> +The king sent Douglas with the vanguard to repair the difficult crossings and +clear the forests. Soon after him moved the whole army in order of battle; the +front was covered by artillery, the rear by wagons, at the flanks marched +infantry. Military supplies and tents sailed down the river on boats. +</p> + +<p> +All these precautions were not superfluous; barely had the march begun, when +the rearguard of the Swedes saw Polish cavalry behind, and thenceforth they +lost it almost never from sight. Charnyetski assembled his own squadrons, +collected all the “parties” of that region, sent to Yan Kazimir for +reinforcements, and pursued. The first stopping-place, Pjevorsk, was at the +same time the first place of alarm. The Polish divisions pushed up so closely +that several thousand infantry with artillery had to turn against them. For a +time the king himself thought that Charnyetski was really attacking; but +according to his wont he only sent detachment after detachment. These attacked +with an uproar and retreated immediately. All the night passed in these +encounters,—a troublesome and sleepless night for the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +The whole march, all the following nights and days were to be like this one. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Yan Kazimir sent two squadrons of very well trained cavalry, and with +them a letter stating that the hetmans would soon march with cavalry, and that +he himself with the rest of the infantry and with the horde would hasten after +them. In fact, he was detained only by negotiations with the Khan, with +Rakotsy, and with the court of Vienna. Charnyetski was rejoiced beyond measure +by this news; and when the day after the Swedes advanced in the wedge between +the Vistula and the San, he said to Colonel Polyanovski,— +</p> + +<p> +“The net is spread, the fish are going in.” +</p> + +<p> +“And we will do like that fisherman,” said Zagloba, “who +played on the flute to the fish so that they might dance, and when they would +not, he pulled them on shore; then they began to jump around, and he fell to +striking them with a stick, crying: ‘Oh, such daughters! you ought to +have danced when I begged you to do so.’” +</p> + +<p> +“They will dance,” answered Charnyetski; “only let the +marshal, Pan Lyubomirski, come with his army, which numbers five +thousand.” +</p> + +<p> +“He may come any time,” remarked Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“Some nobles from the foot-hills arrived to-day,” said Zagloba; +“they say that he is marching in haste; but whether he will join us +instead of fighting on his own account is another thing.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked Charnyetski, glancing quickly at Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“He is a man of uncommon ambition and envious of glory. I have known him +many years; I was his confidant and made his acquaintance when he was still a +lad, at the court of Pan Krakovski. He was learning fencing at that time from +Frenchmen and Italians. He fell into terrible anger one day when I told him +that they were fools, not one of whom could stand before me. We had a duel, and +I laid out seven of them one following the other. After that Lyubomirski +learned from me, not only fencing, but the military art. By nature his wit is a +little dull; but whatever he knows he knows from me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Are you then such a master of the sword?” asked Polyanovski. +</p> + +<p> +“As a specimen of my teaching, take Pan Volodyovski; he is my second +pupil. From that man I have real comfort.” +</p> + +<p> +“True, it was you who killed Sweno.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sweno? If some one of you, gentlemen, had done that deed, he would have +had something to talk about all his life, and besides would invite his +neighbors often to dinner to repeat the story at wine; but I do not mind it, +for if I wished to take in all I have done, I could pave the road from this +place to Sandomir with such Swenos. Could I not? Tell me, any of you who know +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle could do it,” said Roh Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski did not hear the continuation of this dialogue, for he had fallen +to thinking deeply over Zagloba’s words. He too knew of +Lyubomirski’s ambition, and doubted not that the marshal would either +impose his own will on him, or would act on his own account, even though that +should bring harm to the Commonwealth. Therefore his stern face became gloomy, +and he began to twist his beard. +</p> + +<p> +“Oho!” whispered Zagloba to Pan Yan, “Charnyetski is chewing +something bitter, for his face is like the face of an eagle; he will snap up +somebody soon.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Charnyetski said: “Some one of you, gentlemen, should go with a +letter from me to Lyubomirski.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am known to him, and I will go,” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“That is well,” answered Charnyetski; “the more noted the +messenger, the better.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba turned to Volodyovski and whispered: “He is speaking now through +the nose; that is a sign of great change.” +</p> + +<p> +In fact, Charnyetski had a silver palate, for a musket-ball had carried away +his own years before at Busha. Therefore whenever he was roused, angry, and +unquiet, he always began to speak with a sharp and clinking voice. Suddenly he +turned to Zagloba: “And perhaps you would go with Pan Skshetuski?” +</p> + +<p> +“Willingly,” answered Zagloba. “If I cannot do anything, no +man can. Besides, to a man of such great birth it will be more proper to send +two.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski compressed his lips, twisted his beard, and repeated as if to +himself: “Great birth, great birth—” +</p> + +<p> +“No one can deprive Lyubomirski of that,” remarked Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski frowned. +</p> + +<p> +“The Commonwealth alone is great, and in comparison with it no family is +great, all of them are small; and I would the earth swallowed those who make +mention of their greatness.” +</p> + +<p> +All were silent, for he had spoken with much vehemence; and only after some +time did Zagloba say,— +</p> + +<p> +“In comparison with the whole Commonwealth, certainly.” +</p> + +<p> +“I did not grow up out of salt, nor out of the soil, but out of that +which pains me,” said Charnyetski; “and the Cossacks who shot this +lip through pained me, and now the Swedes pain me; and either I shall cut away +this sore with the sabre, or die of it myself, so help me God!” +</p> + +<p> +“And we will help you with our blood!” said Polyanovski. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski ruminated some time yet over the bitterness which rose in his +heart, over the thought that the marshal’s ambition might hinder him in +saving the country; at last he grew calm and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Now it is necessary to write a letter. I ask you, gentlemen, to come +with me.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Yan and Zagloba followed him, and half an hour later they were on horseback +and riding back toward Radymno; for there was news that the marshal had halted +there with his army. +</p> + +<p> +“Yan,” said Zagloba, feeling of the bag in which he carried +Charnyetski’s letter, “do me a favor; let me be the only one to +talk to the marshal.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, father, have you really known him, and taught him fencing?” +</p> + +<p> +“Hei! that came out of itself, so that the breath should not grow hot in +my mouth, and my tongue become soft, which might easily happen from too long +silence. I neither knew him nor taught him. Just as if I had nothing better to +do than be a bear-keeper, and teach the marshal how to walk on hind legs! But +that is all one; I have learned him through and through from what people tell +of him, and I shall be able to bend him as a cook bends pastry. Only one thing +I beg of you: do not say that we have a letter from Charnyetski, and make no +mention of it till I give the letter myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that? Should I not do the work for which I was sent? In my life +such a thing has not happened, and it will not happen! Even if Charnyetski +should forgive me, I would not do that for ready treasure.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will draw my sabre and hamstring your horse so that you cannot +follow me. Have you ever seen anything miscarry that I invented with my own +head? Tell me, have you ever come into evil plight yourself with +Zagloba’s stratagems? Did Pan Michael come out badly, or your Helena, or +any of you, when I freed you all from Radzivill’s hands? I tell you that +more harm than good may come of that letter; for Charnyetski wrote it in such +agitation that he broke three pens. Finally, you can speak of it when my plans +fail. I promise to give it then, but not before.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I can only deliver the letter, it is all one when.” +</p> + +<p> +“I ask for no more. Now on, for there is a terrible road before +us.” +</p> + +<p> +They urged the horses, and went at a gallop. But they did not need to ride +long, for the marshal’s vanguard had not only passed Radymno, but +Yaroslav; and Lyubomirski himself was at Yaroslav, and occupied the former +quarters of the King of Sweden. +</p> + +<p> +They found him at dinner, with the most important officers. But when the envoys +were announced, Lyubomirski gave orders to receive them at once; for he knew +the names, since they were mentioned at that time in the whole Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +All eyes were turned on the envoys as they entered; the officers looked with +especial admiration and curiosity at Pan Yan. When the marshal had greeted them +courteously, he asked at once,— +</p> + +<p> +“Have I that famous knight before me who brought the letters from +besieged Zbaraj to the king?” +</p> + +<p> +“I crept through,” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“God grant me as many such officers as possible! I envy Pan Charnyetski +nothing so much; as to the rest, I know that even my small services will not +perish from the memory of men.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I am Zagloba,” said the old knight, pushing himself forward. +</p> + +<p> +Here he passed his eye around the assembly; and the marshal, as he wished to +attract every one to himself, exclaimed,— +</p> + +<p> +“Who does not know of the man who slew Burlai, the leader of the +barbarians; of the man who raised Radzivill’s army in +rebellion—” +</p> + +<p> +“And I led Sapyeha’s army, who, if the truth is told, chose me, not +him for leader,” added Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“And why did you wish, being able to have such a high office, to leave it +and serve under Pan Charnyetski?” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zagloba’s eye gleamed at Skshetuski, and he said: “Serene +great mighty marshal, from your worthiness I as well as the whole country take +example how to resign ambition and self-interest for the good of the +Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +Lyubomirski blushed from satisfaction, and Zagloba, putting his hands on his +hips, continued,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Charnyetski has sent us to bow to your worthiness in his name and +that of the whole army, and at the same time to inform you of the considerable +victory which God has permitted us to gain over Kanneberg.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard of it already,” said the marshal, dryly enough, in +whom envy had now begun to move, “but gladly do I hear it again from an +eyewitness.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba began at once to relate, but with certain changes, for the forces of +Kanneberg grew in his mouth to two thousand men. He did not forget either to +mention Sweno or himself, and how before the eyes of the king the remnant of +the cavalry were cut to pieces near the river; how the wagons and three hundred +men of the guards fell into the hands of the fortunate conquerors; in a word, +the victory increased in his narrative to the dimensions of an unspeakable +misfortune for the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +All listened with attention, and so did the marshal; but he grew gloomier and +gloomier, his face was chilled as if by ice, and at last he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I do not deny that Charnyetski is a celebrated warrior, but still he +cannot devour all the Swedes himself; something will remain for others to +gulp.” +</p> + +<p> +“Serene great mighty lord,” answered Zagloba, “it is not Pan +Charnyetski who gained the victory.” +</p> + +<p> +“But who?” +</p> + +<p> +“But Lyubomirski!” +</p> + +<p> +A moment of universal astonishment followed. The marshal opened his mouth, +began to wink, and looked at Zagloba with such an astonished gaze, as if he +wished to ask: “Is there not a stave lacking in your barrel?” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba did not let himself be beaten from the track, but pouting his lips with +great importance (he borrowed this gesture from Zamoyski), said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I heard Charnyetski say before the whole army: ‘It is not our +sabres that slay them; ’tis the name of Lyubomirski that cuts them down. +Since they have heard that he is right here marching on, their courage has so +gone out of them that they see in every one of our soldiers the army of the +marshal, and they put their heads under the knife like sheep.’” +</p> + +<p> +If all the rays of the sun had fallen at once on the face of the marshal, that +face could not have been more radiant. +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked he; “did Charnyetski himself say +that?” +</p> + +<p> +“He did, and many other things; but I do not know that ’tis proper +for me to repeat them, for he told them only to intimates.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell! Every word of Pan Charnyetski deserves to be repeated a hundred +times. He is an uncommon man, and I said so long ago.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba looked at the marshal, half closing his one eye, and muttered: +“You have swallowed the hook; I’ll land you this minute.” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you say?” asked the marshal. +</p> + +<p> +“I say that the army cheered your worthiness in such fashion that they +could not have cheered the king better; and in Pjevorsk, where we fought all +night with the Swedes, wherever a squadron sprang out the men cried: +‘Lyubomirski! Lyubomirski!’ and that had a better effect than +‘Allah!’ and ‘Slay, kill!’ There is a witness here +too,—Pan Skshetuski, no common soldier, and a man who has never told a +lie in his life.” +</p> + +<p> +The marshal looked involuntarily at Pan Yan, who blushed to his ears, and +muttered something through his nose. Meanwhile the officers of the marshal +began to praise the envoys aloud,— +</p> + +<p> +“See, Pan Charnyetski has acted courteously, sending such polished +cavaliers; both are famous knights, and honey simply flows from the mouth of +one of them.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have always understood that Pan Charnyetski was a well-wisher of mine, +but now there is nothing that I would not do for him,” cried the marshal, +whose eyes were veiled with a mist from delight. +</p> + +<p> +At this Zagloba broke into enthusiasm: “Serene great mighty lord, who +would not render homage to you, who would not honor you, the model of all civic +virtues, who recall Aristides in justice, the Scipios in bravery! I have read +many books in my time, have seen much, have meditated much, and my soul has +been rent from pain; for what have I seen in this Commonwealth? The Opalinskis, +the Radzeyovskis, the Radzivills, who by their personal pride, setting their +own ambition above all things, were ready at every moment to desert the country +for their own private gain. I thought further, this Commonwealth is lost +through the viciousness of its own sons. But who has comforted me, who has +consoled me in my suffering? Pan Charnyetski, for he said: ‘The +Commonwealth has not perished, since Lyubomirski has risen up in it. These +others,’ said he, ‘think of themselves alone; he is only looking, +only seeking how to make an offering of his own interests on the common altar. +These are pushing themselves forward; he is pushing himself back, for he wants +to illustrate by his example. Now,’ said he, ‘he is marching with a +powerful conquering army, and I have heard,’ said he, ‘that he +wishes to give me the command over it, in order to teach others how they should +sacrifice their ambition, though even just, for the country. Go, then,’ +said he, ‘to Pan Lyubomirski, declare to him that I do not want the +sacrifice, I do not desire it, since he is a better leader than I am; since, +moreover, not only as leader, but—God grant our Kazimir a long +life!—as king are we ready to choose him, and—we will choose +him!’” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zagloba was somewhat frightened lest he had passed the measure, and really +after the exclamation, “We will choose him!” followed silence; but +before the magnate heaven opened; he grew somewhat pale at first, then red, +then pale again, and laboring heavily with his breast, said, after the silence +of a moment,— +</p> + +<p> +“The Commonwealth is and will ever remain in control of its own will, for +on that ancient foundation do our liberties rest. But I am only a servant of +its servants, and God is my witness that I do not raise my eyes to those +heights at which a citizen should not gaze. As to command over the army, Pan +Charnyetski must accept it. I demand it especially for this, to give an example +to those who, having continually the greatness of their family in mind, are +unwilling to recognize any authority whenever it is necessary to forget the +greatness of their family for the good of the country. Therefore, though +perhaps I am not such a bad leader, still I, Lyubomirski, enter willingly under +the command of Charnyetski, praying to God only to send us victory over the +enemy!” +</p> + +<p> +“Roman! Father of the country!” exclaimed Zagloba, seizing the +marshal’s hand and pressing it to his lips. +</p> + +<p> +But at the same moment the old rogue turned his eye on Pan Yan, and began to +wink time after time. +</p> + +<p> +Thundering shouts were heard from the officers. The throng in the quarters +increased with each moment. +</p> + +<p> +“Wine!” cried the marshal. +</p> + +<p> +And when they brought in goblets he raised at once a toast to the king, then to +Charnyetski, whom he called his leader, and finally to the envoys. Zagloba did +not remain behind with the toasts, and he so caught the hearts of all that the +marshal himself conducted them to the threshold, and the knights to the gates +of Yaroslav. +</p> + +<p> +At last Pan Yan and Zagloba were alone; then Zagloba stopped the road in front +of Pan Yan, reined in his horse, and putting his hands on his hips, +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Yan, what do you think?” +</p> + +<p> +“God knows,” answered Pan Yan, “that if I had not seen it +with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, I would not believe, even if an +angel had told me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha! do you know? I will swear to you that Charnyetski himself at the +most asked and begged Lyubomirski to go in company with him. And do you know +what he would have done? Lyubomirski would have gone alone; for if Charnyetski +has adjured in the letter by the love of country, or if he mentioned private +interests, and I am sure that he has, the marshal would have been offended at +once, and would have said: ‘Does he want to be my preceptor, and teach me +how to serve the country?’ I know those men! Happily old Zagloba took the +matter in hand, and hardly had he opened his mouth when Lyubomirski not only +wanted to go with Charnyetski, but to go under his command. Charnyetski is +killing himself with anxiety, but I will comfort him. Well, Yan, does Zagloba +know how to manage the magnates?” +</p> + +<p> +“I tell you that I am not able to let the breath go from my lips from +astonishment.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know them! Show one of them a crown and a corner of the ermine robe, +and you may rub him against the grain like a hound pup, and besides, he will +bend up to you and present his back himself. No cat will so lick his chops, +even if you hold before him a dinner of pure cheese. The eyes of the most +honest of them will be bursting out from desire; and if a scoundrel happens, +such as the voevoda of Vilna, he is ready to betray the country. Oh, the vanity +of man! Lord Jesus! if Thou hadst given me as many thousands of ducats as Thou +hast created candidates for this crown, I should be a candidate myself. For if +any of them imagines that I hold myself inferior to him, then may his stomach +burst from his own pride. Zagloba is as good as Lyubomirski; in fortune alone +is the difference. This is true, Yan. Do you think that I really kissed him on +the hand? I kissed my own thumb, and shoved his hand up to my nose. Certain it +is that since he is alive no one has so fooled him. I have spread him like +butter on toast for Charnyetski. God grant our king as long a life as possible; +but in case of election, I would rather give a vote to myself than to +Lyubomirski. Roh Kovalski would give me another, and Pan Michael would strike +down my opponents. As God lives! I would make you grand hetman of the kingdom +straightway, and Pan Michael, after Sapyeha, grand hetman of +Lithuania,—but Jendzian, treasurer. He would punish the Jews with taxes! +But enough; the main thing is that I have caught Lyubomirski on a hook and put +the line in Charnyetski’s hand. For whomsoever the flour, it will be +ground on the Swedes; and whose is the merit? What do you think? Should the +chroniclers inscribe it to some one else? But I have no luck. It will be well +even if Charnyetski does not break out on the old man for not having given the +letter. Such is human gratitude. This is not my first, not my +first—others are sitting in starostaships, and are grown around with fat, +like badgers; but do you, old man, shake your poor stomach on a horse as +before.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zagloba waved his hand. “Human gratitude may go to the hangman! And +whether in this or that position you must die, still it is pleasant to serve +the country. The best reward is good company. As soon as a man is on horseback, +then, with such comrades as you and Michael, he is ready to ride to the end of +the world,—such is our Polish nature. If a German, a Frenchman, an +Englishman, or a dark Spaniard is on horseback, he is ready at once to gallop +into your eyes; but a Pole, having inborn patience, will endure much, and will +permit even a Swedish fellow to pluck him; but when the limit is passed and the +Pole whacks him in the snout, such a Swede will cover himself three times with +his legs. For there is metal yet in the Poles, and while the metal lasts the +Commonwealth will last. Beat that into yourself, Yan.” +</p> + +<p> +And so spoke Zagloba for a long time, for he was very glad; and whenever he was +very glad he was talkative beyond usual measure, and full of wise sentences. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<p> +Charnyetski, in truth, did not even dare to think that the marshal of the +kingdom would put himself under his command. He wished merely joint action, and +he feared that even that would not be attained because of the great ambition of +Lyubomirski; for the proud magnate had mentioned more than once to his officers +that he wished to attack the Swedes independently, for thus he could effect +something; but if he and Charnyetski won a victory together, the whole glory +would flow to Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +Such was the case, in fact. Charnyetski understood the marshal’s reasons, +and was troubled. He was reading now, for the tenth time, the copy of the +letter which he had sent from Pjevorsk, wishing to see if he had written +anything to offend so irritable a man as Lyubomirski. +</p> + +<p> +He regretted certain phrases; finally he began to regret, on the whole, that he +had sent the letter. Therefore he was sitting gloomy in his quarters, and every +little while he approached the window and looked out on the road to see if the +envoys were not returning. The officers saw him through the window, and divined +what was passing in his mind, for evident trouble was on his forehead. +</p> + +<p> +“But look,” said Polyanovski to Pan Michael, “there will be +nothing pleasant, for the castellan’s face has become spotted, and that +is a bad sign.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski’s face bore numerous traces of small-pox, and in moments of +great emotion or disquiet it was covered with white and dark spots. As he had +sharp features, a very high forehead and cloudy, Jupiter brows, a bent nose, +and a glance cutting straight through, when in addition those spots appeared, +he became terrible. The Cossacks in their time called him the spotted dog; but +in truth, he was more like a spotted eagle, and when he led men to the attack +and his burka spread out like great wings, the likeness struck both his own men +and the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +He roused fear in these and those. During the Cossack wars leaders of powerful +bands lost their heads when forced to act against Charnyetski. Hmelnitski +himself feared him, but especially the counsels which he gave the king. They +brought upon the Cossacks the terrible defeat of Berestechko. But his fame +increased chiefly after Berestechko, when, together with the Tartars, he passed +over the steppes like a flame, crushed the uprisen crowds, took towns and +trenches by storm, rushing with the speed of a whirlwind from one end of the +Ukraine to the other. +</p> + +<p> +With this same raging endurance was he plucking the Swedes now. +“Charnyetski does not knock out my men, he steals them away,” said +Karl Gustav. But Charnyetski was tired of stealing away; he thought that the +time had come to strike. But he lacked artillery and infantry altogether, +without which nothing decisive could be done, nothing important effected; hence +his eagerness for a junction with Lyubomirski, who had a small number of +cannon, it is true, but brought with him infantry composed of mountaineers. +These, though not over-much trained as yet, had still been under fire more than +once, and might, for want of better, be used against the incomparable infantry +legions of Karl Gustav. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski, therefore, was as if in a fever. Not being able to endure in the +house, he went outside, and seeing Volodyovski and Polyanovski, he +asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Are the envoys not in sight?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is clear that they are glad to see them,” answered Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“They are glad to see them, but not glad to read my letter, or the +marshal would have sent his answer.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Castellan,” said Polyanovski, whom Charnyetski trusted +greatly, “why be careworn? If the marshal comes, well; if not, we will +attack as of old. As it is, blood is flowing from the Swedish pot; and we know +that when a pot once begins to leak, everything will run out of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is a leak in the Commonwealth too,” said Charnyetski. +“If the Swedes escape this time, they will be reinforced, succor will +come to them from Prussia, our chance will be lost.” Then he struck his +side with his hand in sign of impatience. Just then was heard the tread of +horses and the bass voice of Zagloba singing,— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Kaska to the bakehouse went her way,<br/> +And Stah said to her, ‘Take me in, let me in,<br/> + My love.<br/> +For the snow is falling, and the wind is blowing;<br/> +Where shall I, poor fellow, put my head<br/> + Till morning?’” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a good sign! They are returning joyously,” cried +Polyanovski. +</p> + +<p> +That moment the envoys, seeing Charnyetski, sprang from their saddles, gave +their horses to an attendant, and went quickly to the entrance. Zagloba threw +his cap suddenly into the air, and imitating the voice of the marshal so +excellently that whoever was not looking on might be deceived, cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Pan Charnyetski, our leader!” +</p> + +<p> +The castellan frowned, and asked quickly: “Is there a letter for +me?” +</p> + +<p> +“There is not,” answered Zagloba; “there is something better. +The marshal with his army passes voluntarily under command of your +worthiness.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski pierced him with a look, then turned to Pan Yan, as if wishing to +say: “Speak you, for this one has been drinking!” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba was in fact a little drunk; but Skshetuski confirmed his words, hence +astonishment was reflected on the face of the castellan. +</p> + +<p> +“Come with me,” said he to the two. “I beg you also,” +said he to Polyanovski and Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +All entered his room. They had not sat down yet when Charnyetski asked: +“What did he say to my letter?” +</p> + +<p> +“He said nothing,” answered Zagloba, “and why he did not will +appear at the end of my story; but now <i>incipiam</i> (I will begin).” +</p> + +<p> +Here he told all as it had happened,—how he had brought the marshal to +such a favorable decision. Charnyetski looked at him with growing astonishment, +Polyanovski seized his own head, Pan Michael’s mustaches were quivering. +</p> + +<p> +“I have not known you hitherto, as God is dear to me!” cried +Charnyetski, at last. “I cannot believe my own ears.” +</p> + +<p> +“They have long since called me Ulysses,” said Zagloba, modestly. +</p> + +<p> +“Where is my letter?” +</p> + +<p> +“Here it is.” +</p> + +<p> +“I must forgive you for not delivering it. He is a finished rogue! A +vice-chancellor might learn from him how to make treaties. As God lives, if I +were king, I would send you to Tsargrad.” +</p> + +<p> +“If he were there, a hundred thousand Turks would be here now!” +cried Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +To which Zagloba said: “Not one, but two hundred thousand, as true as I +live.” +</p> + +<p> +“And did the marshal hesitate at nothing?” asked Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“He? He swallowed all that I put to his lips, just as a fat gander gulps +pellets; his eyes were covered with mist. I thought that from delight he would +burst, as a Swedish bomb bursts. With flattery that man might be taken to +hell.” +</p> + +<p> +“If it can only be ground out on the Swedes, if it can only be ground +out, and I have hope that it will be,” said Charnyetski, delighted. +“You are a man adroit as a fox; but do not make too much sport of the +marshal, for another would not have done what he has to-day. Much depends on +him. We shall march to Sandomir itself over the estates of the Lyubomirskis, +and the marshal can raise with one word the whole region, command peasants to +injure crossings, burn bridges, hide provisions in the forests. You have +rendered a service which I shall not forget till death; but I must thank the +marshal, for as I believe he has not done this from mere vanity.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he clapped his hands and cried: “A horse for me at once! Let us +forge the iron while it is hot!” Then he turned to the colonels: +“Come, all of you gentlemen, with me, so that the suite may be the most +imposing.” +</p> + +<p> +“And must I go too?” asked Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“You have built the bridge between me and the marshal, it is proper that +you be the first to pass over. Besides, I think that they will see you gladly. +Come, come, lord brother, or I shall say that you wished to leave a +half-finished work.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hard to refuse. I must draw my belt tighter, however, lest I shake into +nothing. Not much strength is left me, unless I fortify it with +something.” +</p> + +<p> +“But with what?” +</p> + +<p> +“Much has been told me of the castellan’s mead which I have not +tasted as yet, and I should like to know if it is better than the +marshal’s.” +</p> + +<p> +“We will drink a stirrup cup now, but after our return we shall not limit +the cups in advance. You will find a couple of decanters of it in your own +quarters.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the castellan commanded to bring goblets; they drank enough for brightness +and good humor, mounted and rode away. +</p> + +<p> +The marshal received Charnyetski with open arms, entertained him with food and +drink, did not let him go till morning; but in the morning the two armies were +joined, and marched farther under command of Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +Near Syenyava the Poles attacked the Swedes again with such effect that they +cut the rearguard to pieces and brought disorder into the main army. Only at +daybreak did the artillery disperse them. At Lejaysk, Charnyetski attacked with +still greater vigor. Considerable detachments of the Swedes were mired in soft +places, caused by rains and inundations, and those fell into the hands of the +Poles. The roads became of the worst for the Swedes. Exhausted, hungry, and +tortured by desire of sleep, the regiments barely marched. More and more +soldiers stopped on the way. Some were found so terribly reduced that they no +longer wished to eat or drink, they only begged for death. Others lay down and +died on hillocks; some lost presence of mind, and looked with the greatest +indifference on the approaching pursuers. Foreigners, who were counted +frequently in the ranks of the Swedes, began to disappear from the camp and go +over to Charnyetski. Only the unbroken spirit of Karl Gustav held the remnant +of its dying strength in the whole army. +</p> + +<p> +For not only did an enemy follow the army; various “parties” under +unknown leaders and bands of peasants crossed its road continually. Those +bodies, unformed and not very numerous, could not, it is true, strike it with +offensive warfare, but they wearied it mortally. And wishing to instil into the +Swedes the conviction that Tartars had already come with assistance, all the +Polish troops gave forth the Tartar shout; therefore “Allah! +Allah!” was heard night and day without a moment’s cessation. The +Swedish soldiers could not draw breath, could not put aside their armor for an +instant. More than once a few men alarmed the whole camp. Horses fell by tens, +and were eaten immediately; for the transport of provisions had become +impossible. From time to time the Polish horsemen found Swedish corpses +terribly disfigured; here they recognized at once the hands of peasants. The +greater part of the villages in the triangle between the San and the Vistula +belonged to the marshal and his relatives; therefore all the peasants in those +parts rose up as one man, for the marshal, unsparing of his own fortune, had +announced that whoever took up arms would be freed from subjection. Scarcely +had this news gone the round of the region when the peasants put their scythes +on staffs and began to bring Swedish heads into camp: they brought them in +every day till Lyubomirski was forced to prohibit that custom as unchristian. +Then they brought in gloves and boots. The Swedes, driven to desperation, +flayed those who fell into their hands; and the war became more and more +dreadful. Some of the Polish troops adhered yet to the Swedes, but they adhered +only through fear. On the road to Lejaysk many of them deserted; those who +remained made such tumults in the camp daily that Karl Gustav gave orders to +shoot a number of officers. This was the signal for a general withdrawal, which +was effected sabre in hand. Few, if any, Poles remained; but Charnyetski, +gaining new strength, attacked with still greater vigor. +</p> + +<p> +The marshal gave most effectual assistance. During this period, which by the +way was short, the nobler sides of Lyubomirski’s nature gained, perhaps, +the upper hand over his pride and self-love; therefore he omitted no toil, he +spared neither his health nor his person, he led squadrons frequently, gave the +enemy no rest; and as he was a good soldier he rendered good services. These, +added to his later ones, would have secured him a glorious memory in the +nation, were it not for that shameless rebellion which toward the end of his +career he raised in order to hinder the reform of the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +But at this time he did everything to win glory, and he covered himself with it +as with a robe. Pan Vitovski, the castellan of Sandomir, an old and experienced +soldier, vied with him. Vitovski wished to equal Charnyetski himself; but he +could not, for God had denied him greatness. +</p> + +<p> +All three crushed the Swedes more and more, and with such effect that the +infantry and cavalry regiments, to whom it came to form the rearguard on the +retreat, marched with so much fear that a panic arose among them from the +slightest cause. Then Karl Gustav decided to march always with the rearguard, +so as to give courage by his presence. +</p> + +<p> +But in the very beginning he almost paid for this position with his life. It +happened that having with him a detachment of the life-guards,—the +largest of all the regiments, for the soldiers in it were selected from the +whole Scandinavian people,—the king stopped for refreshment at the +village of Rudnik. When he had dined with the parish priest he decided to sleep +a little, since he had not closed his eyes the night preceding. The life-guards +surrounded the house, to watch over the safety of the king. Meanwhile the +priest’s horse-boy stole away from the village, and coming up to a mare +in the field, sprang upon her colt and raced off to Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski was ten miles distant at this time; but his vanguard, composed of +the regiment of Prince Dymitri Vishnyevetski, was marching under Shandarovski, +the lieutenant, about two miles behind the Swedes. Shandarovski was just +talking to Roh Kovalski, who had ridden up that moment with orders from +Charnyetski, when suddenly both saw the lad flying toward them at all horse +speed. +</p> + +<p> +“What devil is that racing up so,” asked Shandarovski, “and +besides on a colt?” +</p> + +<p> +“Some village lad,” said Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the boy had ridden to the front of the rank, and only stopped when +the colt, frightened at horses and men, stood on his hind legs and dug his +hoofs into the earth. The youth sprang off, and holding the colt by the mane, +bowed to the knights. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what have you to say?” asked the lieutenant, approaching +him. +</p> + +<p> +“The Swedes are with us at the priest’s house; they say that the +king himself is among them!” said the youth, with sparkling eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Many of them?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not more than two hundred horses.” +</p> + +<p> +Shandarovski’s eyes now flashed in their turn; but he was afraid of an +ambush, therefore he looked threateningly at the boy and asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Who sent you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Who was to send me? I jumped myself on the colt, I came near falling, +and lost my cap. It is well that the Swedish carrion did not see me!” +</p> + +<p> +Truth was beating out of the sunburned face of the youth; he had evidently a +great animosity against the Swedes,—he was panting, his cheeks were +burning, he stood before the officers holding the mane of the colt with one +hand, his hair disordered, the shirt open on his bosom. +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the rest of the Swedish army?” asked the lieutenant. +</p> + +<p> +“At daybreak so many passed that we could not count them; those went +farther, only cavalry remained. But there is one sleeping at the +priest’s, and they say that he is the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“Boy,” answered Shandarovski, “if you are lying, your head +will fall; but if you speak the truth, ask what you please.” +</p> + +<p> +“As true as I live! I want nothing unless the great mighty lord officer +would command to give me a sabre.” +</p> + +<p> +“Give him some blade,” cried Shandarovski to his attendants, +completely convinced now. +</p> + +<p> +The other officers fell to inquiring of the boy where the house was, where the +village, what the Swedes were doing. +</p> + +<p> +“The dogs! they are watching. If you go straight they will see you; but I +will take you behind the alder grove.” +</p> + +<p> +Orders were given at once, and the squadron moved on, first at a trot and then +at a gallop. The youth rode before the first rank bareback on his colt without +a bridle. He urged the colt with his heels, and every little while looked with +sparkling eyes on the naked sabre. +</p> + +<p> +When the village was in sight, he turned out of the willows and led by a +somewhat muddy road to the alder grove, in which it was still muddier; +therefore they slackened the speed of the horses. +</p> + +<p> +“Watch!” said the boy; “they are about ten rods on the right +from the end of the alder grove.” +</p> + +<p> +They advanced now very slowly, for the road was difficult and heavy; the +cavalry horses sank frequently to their knees. At last the alder grove began to +grow thinner, and they came to the edge of the open space. +</p> + +<p> +Not more than three hundred yards distant, they saw a broad square rising +somewhat, and in it the priest’s house surrounded by poplars, among which +were to be seen the tops of straw beehives. On the square were two hundred +horsemen in rimmed helmets and breastplates. +</p> + +<p> +The great horsemen sat on enormous lean horses, and were in +readiness,—some with rapiers at their shoulders, others with muskets on +their thighs; but they were looking in another direction toward the main road, +from which alone they expected the enemy. A splendid blue standard with a +golden lion was waving above their heads. +</p> + +<p> +Farther on, around the house stood guards by twos. One was turned toward the +alder grove; but because the sun shone brightly and struck his eyes, and in the +alders, which were already covered with thick leaves, it was almost dark, he +could not see the Polish horsemen. +</p> + +<p> +In Shandarovski, a fiery horseman, the blood began to boil like water in a pot; +but he restrained himself and waited till the ranks should be in order. +Meanwhile Roh Kovalski put his heavy hand on the shoulder of the youth,— +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, horsefly!” said he; “have you seen the king?” +</p> + +<p> +“I saw him, great mighty lord!” whispered the lad. +</p> + +<p> +“How did he look? How can he be known?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is terribly black in the face, and wears red ribbons at his +side.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did you see his horse?” +</p> + +<p> +“The horse is black, with a white face.” +</p> + +<p> +“Look out, and show him to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will. But shall we go quickly?” +</p> + +<p> +“Shut your mouth!” +</p> + +<p> +Here they were silent; and Roh began to pray to the Most Holy Lady to permit +him to meet Karl, and to direct his hand at the meeting. +</p> + +<p> +The silence continued still a moment, then the horse under Shandarovski himself +snorted. At that the horseman on guard looked, quivered as if something had +been thrown at his saddle, and fired his pistol. +</p> + +<p> +“Allah! Allah! Kill, slay! Uha-u, slay!” was heard in the alder +grove; and the squadron, coming out of the shadow like lightning, rushed at the +Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +They struck into the smoke before all could turn front to them, and a terrible +hewing began; only sabres and rapiers were used, for no man had time to fire. +In the twinkle of an eye the Poles pushed the Swedes to the fence, which fell +with a rattle under the pressure of the horses’ rumps, and the Poles +began to slash them so madly that they were crowded and confused. Twice they +tried to close, and twice torn asunder they formed two separate bodies which in +a twinkle divided into smaller groups; at last they were scattered as peas +thrown by a peasant through the air with a shovel. +</p> + +<p> +All at once were heard despairing voices: “The king, the king! Save the +king!” +</p> + +<p> +But Karl Gustav, at the first moment of the encounter, with pistols in hand and +a sword in his teeth, rushed out. The trooper who held the horse at the door +gave him the beast that moment; the king sprang on, and turning the corner, +rushed between the poplars and the beehives to escape by the rear from the +circle of battle. +</p> + +<p> +Reaching the fence he spurred his horse, sprang over, and fell into the group +of his men who were defending themselves against the right wing of the Poles, +who had just surrounded the house and were fighting with the Swedes behind the +garden. +</p> + +<p> +“To the road!” cried Karl Gustav. And overturning with the hilt of +his sword the Polish horseman who was raising his sabre above him, with one +spring he came out of the whirl of the fight; the Swedes broke the Polish rank +and sprang after him with all their force, as a herd of deer hunted by dogs +rush whither they are led by their leader. +</p> + +<p> +The Polish horsemen turned their horses after them, and the chase began. Both +came out on the highroad from Rudnik to Boyanovka. They were seen from the +front yard where the main battle was raging, and just then it was that the +voices were heard crying,— +</p> + +<p> +“The king, the king! Save the king!” +</p> + +<p> +But the Swedes in the front yard were so pressed by Shandarovski that they +could not think even of saving themselves; the king raced on then with a party +of not more than twelve men, while after him were chasing nearly thirty, and at +the head of them all Roh Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +The lad who was to point out the king was involved somewhere in the general +battle, but Roh himself recognized Karl Gustav by the knot of red ribbons. Then +he thought that his opportunity had come; he bent in the saddle, pressed his +horse with the spurs, and rushed on like a whirlwind. +</p> + +<p> +The pursued, straining the last strength from their horses, stretched along +over the broad road. But the swifter and lighter Polish horses began soon to +gain on them. Roh came up very quickly with the hindmost Swede; he rose in his +stirrups for a better blow, and cut terribly; with one awful stroke he took off +the arm and the shoulder, and rushed on like the wind, fastening his eyes again +on the king. +</p> + +<p> +The next horseman was black before his eyes; he hurled him down. He split the +head and the helmet of the third, and tore farther, having the king, and the +king only, in his eye. Now the horses of the Swedes began to pant and fall; a +crowd of Polish horsemen overtook them and cut down the riders in a twinkle. +</p> + +<p> +Roh had already passed horses and men, so as not to lose time; the distance +between him and Karl Gustav began to decrease. There were only two men between +him and the king. +</p> + +<p> +Now an arrow, sent from a bow by some one of the Poles, sang near the ear of +Pan Roh, and sank in the loins of the rider rushing before him. The man +trembled to the right and the left; at last he bent backward, bellowed with an +unearthly voice, and fell from the saddle. +</p> + +<p> +Between Roh and the king there was now only one man. But that one, wishing +evidently to save the king, instead of helping turned his horse. Kovalski came +up, and a cannonball does not sweep a man from the saddle as he hurled him to +the ground; then, giving a fearful shout, he rushed forward like a furious +stag. +</p> + +<p> +The king might perhaps have met him, and would have perished inevitably; but +others were flying on behind Roh, and arrows began to whistle; any moment one +of them might wound his horse. The king, therefore, pressed his heels more +closely, bent his head to the mane, and shot through the space in front of him +like a sparrow pursued by a hawk. +</p> + +<p> +But Roh began not only to prick his own horse with the spurs, but to beat him +with the side of the sabre; and so they sped on one after the other. Trees, +stones, willows, flashed before their eyes; the wind whistled in their ears. +The king’s hat fell from his head; at last he threw down his purse, +thinking that the pitiless rider might be tempted by it and leave the pursuit; +but Kovalski did not look at the purse, and rolled his horse on with more and +more power till the beast was groaning from effort. +</p> + +<p> +Roh had evidently forgotten himself altogether; for racing onward he began to +shout in a voice in which besides threats there was also a prayer,— +</p> + +<p> +“Stop, for God’s mercy!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the king’s horse stumbled so violently that if the king had not held +the bridle with all his power the beast would have fallen. Roh bellowed like an +aurochs; the distance dividing him from Karl Gustav had decreased notably. +</p> + +<p> +After a while the steed stumbled a second time, and again before the king +brought him to his feet Roh had approached a number of yards. +</p> + +<p> +Then he straightened himself in the saddle as if for a blow. He was terrible; +his eyes were bursting out, his teeth were gleaming from under his reddish +mustaches. One more stumble of the horse, another moment, and the fate of the +Commonwealth, of all Sweden, of the entire war would have been decided. But the +king’s horse began to run again; and the king, turning, showed the +barrels of two pistols, and twice did he fire. +</p> + +<p> +One of the bullets shattered the knee of Kovalski’s horse; he reared, +then fell on his forefeet, and dug the earth with his nose. +</p> + +<p> +The king might have rushed that moment on his pursuer and thrust him through +with his rapier; but at the distance of two hundred yards other Polish horsemen +were flying forward; so he bent down again in his saddle, and shot on like an +arrow propelled from the bow of a Tartar. +</p> + +<p> +Kovalski freed himself from his horse. He looked for a while unconsciously at +the fleeing man, then staggered like one drunk, sat on the road, and began to +roar like a bear. +</p> + +<p> +But the king was each instant farther, farther, farther! He began to diminish, +to melt, and then vanished in the dark belt of pine scrub. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, with shouting and roaring, came on Kovalski’s companions. +There were fifteen of them whose horses held out. One brought the king’s +purse, another his hat, on which black ostrich feathers were fastened with +diamonds. These two began to cry out,— +</p> + +<p> +“These are yours, comrade! they belong to you of right.” +</p> + +<p> +Others asked: “Do you know whom you were chasing? That was Karl +himself.” +</p> + +<p> +“As God is true! In his life he has never fled before any man as before +you. You have covered yourself with immense glory!” +</p> + +<p> +“And how many men did you put down before you came up with the +king?” +</p> + +<p> +“You lacked only little of freeing the Commonwealth in one flash, with +your sabre.” +</p> + +<p> +“Take the purse!” +</p> + +<p> +“Take the hat!” +</p> + +<p> +“The horse was good, but you can buy ten such with these +treasures.” +</p> + +<p> +Roh gazed at his comrades with dazed eyes; at last he sprang up and +shouted,— +</p> + +<p> +“I am Kovalski, and this is Pani Kovalski! Go to all the devils!” +</p> + +<p> +“His mind is disturbed!” cried they. +</p> + +<p> +“Give me a horse! I’ll catch him yet,” shouted Roh. +</p> + +<p> +But they took him by the arms, and though he struggled they brought him back to +Rudnik, pacifying and comforting him along the road. +</p> + +<p> +“You gave him Peter!” cried they. “See what has come to this +victor, this conqueror of so many towns and villages!” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha, ha! He has found out Polish cavaliers!” +</p> + +<p> +“He will grow tired of the Commonwealth. He has come to close +quarters.” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat, Roh Kovalski!” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat, vivat, the most manful cavalier, the pride of the whole +army!” +</p> + +<p> +And they fell to drinking out of their canteens. They gave Roh one, and he +emptied the bottle at a draught. +</p> + +<p> +During the pursuit of the king along the Boyanovka road the Swedes defended +themselves in front of the priest’s house with bravery worthy of their +renowned regiment. Though attacked suddenly and scattered very quickly, they +rallied as quickly around their blue standard, for the reason that they were +surrounded by a dense crowd. Not one of them asked for quarter, but standing +horse to horse, shoulder to shoulder, they thrust so fiercely with their +rapiers that for a time victory seemed to incline to their side. It was +necessary either to break them again, which became impossible since a line of +Polish horsemen surrounded them completely, or to cut them to pieces. +Shandarovski recognized the second plan as the better; therefore encircling the +Swedes with a still closer ring, he sprang on them like a wounded falcon on a +flock of long-billed cranes. A savage slaughter and press began. Sabres rattled +against rapiers, rapiers were broken on the hilts of sabres. Sometimes a horse +rose, like a dolphin above the sea waves, and in a moment fell in the whirl of +men and horses. Shouts ceased; there were heard only the cry of horses, the +sharp clash of steel, gasping from the panting breasts of the knights; uncommon +fury had mastered the hearts of Poles and Swedes. They fought with fragments of +sabres and rapiers; they closed with one another like hawks, caught one another +by the hair, by mustaches, gnawed with their teeth; those who had fallen from +their horses and were yet able to stand stabbed with their knives horses in the +belly and men in the legs; in the smoke, in the steam from horses, in the +terrible frenzy of battle, men were turned into giants and gave the blows of +giants; arms became clubs, sabres lightning. Steel helmets were broken at a +blow, like earthen pots; heads were cleft; arms holding sabres were swept away. +They hewed without rest; they hewed without mercy, without pity. From under the +whirl of men and horses blood began to flow along the yard in streams. +</p> + +<p> +The great blue standard was waving yet above the Swedish circle, but the circle +diminished with each moment. As when harvesters attack grain from two sides, +and the sickles begin to glitter, the standing grain disappears and the men see +one another more nearly each moment, thus did the Polish ring become ever +narrower, and those fighting on one side could see the bent sabres fighting on +the opposite side. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Shandarovski was wild as a hurricane, and ate into the Swedes as a famished +wolf buries his jaws in the flesh of a freshly killed horse; but one horseman +surpassed him in fury, and that was the youth who had first let them know that +the Swedes were in Rudnik, and now had sprung in with the whole squadron on the +enemy. The priest’s colt, three years old, which till that time had +walked quietly over the land, shut in by the horses, could not break out of the +throng; you would have said he had gone mad, like his master. With ears thrown +back, with eyes bursting out of his bead, with erect mane, he pushed forward, +bit, and kicked; but the lad struck with his sabre as with a flail; he struck +at random, to the right, to the left, straight ahead; his yellow forelock was +covered with blood, the points of rapiers had been thrust into his shoulders +and legs, his face was cut; but these wounds only roused him. He fought with +madness, like a man who has despaired of life and wishes only to avenge his own +death. +</p> + +<p> +But now the Swedish body had decreased like a pile of snow on which men are +throwing hot water from every side. At last around the king’s standard +less than twenty men remained. The Polish swarm had covered them completely, +and they were dying gloomily, with set teeth; no hand was stretched forth, no +man asked for mercy. Now in the crowd were heard voices: “Seize the +standard! The standard!” +</p> + +<p> +When he heard this, the lad pricked his colt and rushed on like a flame. When +every Swede had two or three Polish horsemen against him, the lad slashed the +standard-bearer in the mouth; he opened his arms, and fell on the horse’s +mane. The blue standard fell with him. +</p> + +<p> +The nearest Swede, shouting terribly, grasped after the staff at once; but the +boy caught the standard itself, and pulling, tore it off in a twinkle, wound it +in a bundle, and holding it with both hands to his breast, began to shout to +the sky,— +</p> + +<p> +“I have it, I won’t give it! I have it, I won’t give +it!” +</p> + +<p> +The last remaining Swedes rushed at him with rage; one thrust the flag through, +and cut his shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +Then a number of men stretched their bloody hands to the lad, and cried: +“Give the standard, give the standard!” +</p> + +<p> +Shandarovski sprang to his aid, and commanded: “Let him alone! He took it +before my eyes; let him give it to Charnyetski himself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Charnyetski is coming!” cried a number of voices. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, from a distance trumpets were heard; and on the road from the side of +the field appeared a whole squadron, galloping to the priest’s house. It +was the Lauda squadron; and at the head of it rode Charnyetski himself. When +the men had ridden up, seeing that all was over, they halted; and +Shandarovski’s soldiers began to hurry toward them. +</p> + +<p> +Shandarovski himself hastened with a report to the castellan; but he was so +exhausted that at first he could not catch breath, for he trembled as in a +fever, and the voice broke in his throat every moment. +</p> + +<p> +“The king himself was here: I don’t know—whether he has +escaped!” +</p> + +<p> +“He has, he has!” answered those who had seen the pursuit. +</p> + +<p> +“The standard is taken! There are many killed!” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski, without saying a word, hurried to the scene of the struggle, where +a cruel and woful sight presented itself. More than two hundred bodies of +Swedes and Poles were lying like a pavement, one at the side of the other, and +often one above the other. Sometimes one held another by the hair; some had +died biting or tearing one another with their nails; and some again were closed +as in a brotherly embrace, or they lay one with his head on the breast of his +enemy. Many faces were so trampled that there remained nothing human in them; +those not crushed by hoofs had their eyes open full of terror, the fierceness +of battle, and rage. Blood spattered on the softened earth under the feet of +Charnyetski’s horse, which were soon red above the fetlocks; the odor of +blood and the sweat of horses irritated the nostrils and stopped breath in the +breast. +</p> + +<p> +The castellan looked on those corpses of men as the agriculturist looks on +bound sheaves of wheat which are to fill out his stacks. Satisfaction was +reflected on his face. He rode around the priest’s house in silence, +looked at the bodies lying on the other side, beyond the garden; then returned +slowly to the chief scene. +</p> + +<p> +“I see genuine work here, and I am satisfied with you, gentlemen.” +</p> + +<p> +They hurled up their caps with bloody hands. +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Charnyetski!” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant another speedy meeting. Vivat! vivat!” +</p> + +<p> +And the castellan said: “You will go to the rear for rest. But who took +the standard?” +</p> + +<p> +“Give the lad this way!” cried Shandarovski; “where is +he?” +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers sprang for him, and found him sitting at the wall of the stable +near the colt, which had fallen from wounds and was just breathing out his last +breath. At the first glance it did not seem that the lad would last long, but +he held the standard with both hands to his breast. +</p> + +<p> +They bore him away at once, and brought him before Charnyetski. The youth stood +there barefoot, with disordered hair, with naked breast, his shirt and his +jacket in shreds, smeared with Swedish blood and his own, tottering, +bewildered, but with unquenched fire in his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski was astounded at sight of him. “How is this?” asked he. +“Did he take the royal standard?” +</p> + +<p> +“With his own hand and his own blood,” answered Shandarovski. +“He was the first also to let us know of the Swedes; and afterward, in +the thickest of the whirl, he did so much that he surpassed me and us +all.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is truth, genuine truth, as if some one had written it!” cried +others. +</p> + +<p> +“What is thy name?” asked Charnyetski of the lad. +</p> + +<p> +“Mihalko.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whose art thou?” +</p> + +<p> +“The priest’s.” +</p> + +<p> +“Thou hast been the priest’s, but thou wilt be thy own!” said +Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +Mihalko heard not the last words, for from his wounds and the loss of blood he +tottered and fell, striking the castellan’s stirrup with his head. +</p> + +<p> +“Take him and give him every care. I am the guaranty that at the first +Diet he will be the equal of you all in rank, as to-day he is the equal in +spirit.” +</p> + +<p> +“He deserves it! he deserves it!” cried the nobles. +</p> + +<p> +Then they took Mihalko on a stretcher, and bore him to the priest’s +house. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski listened to the further report, which not Shandarovski gave, but +those who had seen the pursuit of the king by Roh Kovalski. He was wonderfully +delighted with that narrative, so that he caught his head, and struck his +thighs with his hands; for he understood that after such an adventure the +spirit must fall considerably in Karl Gustav. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba was not less delighted, and putting his hands on his hips, said proudly +to the knights,— +</p> + +<p> +“Ha! he is a robber, isn’t he? If he had reached Karl, the devil +himself could not have saved the king! He is my blood, as God is dear to me, my +blood!” +</p> + +<p> +In course of time Zagloba believed that he was Roh Kovalski’s uncle. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski gave orders to find the young knight; but they could not find him, +for Roh, from shame and mortification, had crept into a barn, and burying +himself in the straw, had fallen asleep so soundly that he came up with the +squadron only two days later. But he still suffered greatly, and dared not show +himself before the eyes of his uncle. His uncle, however, sought him out, and +began to comfort him,— +</p> + +<p> +“Be not troubled, Roh!” said he. “As it is, you have covered +yourself with great glory; I have myself heard the castellan praise you: +‘To the eye a fool,’ said he, ‘so that he looks as though he +could not count three, and I see that he is a fiery cavalier who has raised the +reputation of the whole army.’” +</p> + +<p> +“The Lord Jesus has not blessed me,” said Roh; “for I got +drunk the day before, and forgot my prayers.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t try to penetrate the judgments of God, lest you add +blasphemy to other deeds. Whatever you can take on your shoulders take, but +take nothing on your mind; if you do, you will fail.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I was so near that the sweat from his horse was flying to me. I +should have cut him to the saddle! Uncle thinks that I have no reason +whatever!” +</p> + +<p> +“Every creature,” said Zagloba, “has its reason. You are a +sprightly lad, Roh, and you will give me comfort yet more than once. God grant +your sons to have the same reason in their fists that you have!” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not want that! I am Kovalski, and this is Pani Kovalski.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<p> +After the affair at Rudnik the king advanced farther toward the point of the +wedge between the San and the Vistula, and did not cease as before to march +with the rearguard; for he was not only a famous leader, but a knight of +unrivalled daring. Charnyetski, Vitovski, and Lyubomirski followed, and urged +him on as a wild beast is urged to a trap. Detached parties made an uproar +night and day around the Swedes. The retreating troops had less and less +provisions; they were more and more wearied and drooping in courage, looking +forward to certain destruction. +</p> + +<p> +At last the Swedes enclosed themselves in the very corner where the two rivers +meet, and rested. On one side the Vistula defended them, on the other the San, +both overflowed, as usual in springtime; the third side of the triangle the +king fortified with strong intrenchments, in which cannons were mounted. +</p> + +<p> +That was a position not to be taken, but it was possible to die there from +hunger. But even in that regard the Swedes gained better courage, for they +hoped that the commandants would send them provisions by water from Cracow and +other river fortresses. For instance, right there at hand was Sandomir, in +which Colonel Schinkler had collected considerable supplies. He sent these in +at once; therefore the Swedes ate, drank, slept; and when they woke they sang +Lutheran psalms, praising God that he had saved them from such dire distress. +</p> + +<p> +But Charnyetski was preparing new blows for them. +</p> + +<p> +Sandomir in Swedish hands could always come to the aid of the main army. +Charnyetski planned, therefore, to take the town with the castle at a blow, and +cut off the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +“We will prepare a cruel spectacle for them,” said he, at a council +of war. “They will look on from the opposite bank when we strike the +town, and they will not be able to give aid across the Vistula; and when we +have Sandomir we will not let provisions come from Wirtz in Cracow.” +</p> + +<p> +Lyubomirski, Vitovski, and others tried to dissuade Charnyetski from that +undertaking. “It would be well,” said they, “to take such a +considerable town, and we might injure the Swedes greatly; but how are we to +take it? We have no infantry, siege guns we have not; it would be hard for +cavalry to attack walls.” +</p> + +<p> +“But do our peasants,” asked Charnyetski, “fight badly as +infantry? If I had two thousand such as Mihalko, I would take not only +Sandomir, but Warsaw.” +</p> + +<p> +And without listening to further counsel he crossed the Vistula. Barely had his +summons gone through the neighborhood when a couple of thousand men hurried to +him, one with a scythe, another with a musket, the third with carabine; and +they marched against Sandomir. +</p> + +<p> +They fell upon the place rather suddenly, and in the streets a fierce conflict +set in. The Swedes defended themselves furiously from the windows and the +roofs, but they could not withstand the onrush. They were crushed like worms in +the houses, and pushed entirely out of the town. Schinkler took refuge, with +the remnant of his forces, in the castle; but the Poles followed him with the +same impetuosity. A storm against the gates and the walls began, Schinkler saw +that he could not hold out, even in the castle; so he collected what he could +of men, articles and supplies of provisions, and putting them on boats, crossed +to the king, who looked from the other bank on the defeat of his men without +being able to succor them. +</p> + +<p> +The castle fell into the hands of the Poles; but the cunning Swede when +departing put under the walls in the cellars kegs of powder with lighted +matches. +</p> + +<p> +When he appeared before the king he told him of this at once, so as to rejoice +his heart. +</p> + +<p> +“The castle,” said he, “will fly into the air with all the +men. Charnyetski may perish.” +</p> + +<p> +“If that is true, I want myself to see how the pious Poles will fly to +heaven,” said the king; and he remained on the spot with all the +generals. +</p> + +<p> +In spite of the commands of Charnyetski, who foresaw deceit, the volunteers and +the peasants ran around through the whole castle to seek hidden Swedes and +treasure. The trumpets sounded an alarm for every man to take refuge in the +town; but the searchers in the castle did not hear the trumpets, or would not +heed them. +</p> + +<p> +All at once the ground trembled under their feet, an awful thunder and a roar +tore the air, a gigantic pillar of fire rose to the sky, hurling upward earth, +walls, roofs, the whole castle, and more than five hundred bodies of those who +had not been able to withdraw. +</p> + +<p> +Karl Gustav held his sides from delight, and his favor-seeking courtiers began +at once to repeat his words: “The Poles are going to heaven, to +heaven!” +</p> + +<p> +But that joy was premature; for none the less did Sandomir remain in Polish +hands, and could no longer furnish food for the main army enclosed between the +rivers. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski disposed his camp opposite the Swedes, on the other side of the +Vistula, and guarded the passage. +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha, grand hetman of Lithuania and voevoda of Vilna, came from the other +side and took his position on the San. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes were invested completely; they were caught as it were in a vise. +</p> + +<p> +“The trap is closed!” said the soldiers to one another in the +Polish camps. +</p> + +<p> +For every man, even the least acquainted with military art, understood that +inevitable destruction was hanging over the invaders, unless reinforcements +should come in time and rescue them from trouble. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes too understood this. Every morning officers and soldiers, coming to +the shore of the Vistula, looked with despair in their eyes and their hearts at +the legions of Charnyetski’s terrible cavalry standing black on the other +side. +</p> + +<p> +Then they went to the San; there again the troops of Sapyeha were watching day +and night, ready to receive them with sabre and musket. +</p> + +<p> +To cross either the San or the Vistula while both armies stood near was not to +be thought of. The Swedes might return to Yaroslav by the same road over which +they come, but they knew that in that case not one of them would ever see +Sweden. +</p> + +<p> +For the Swedes grievous days and still more grievous nights now began, for +these days and nights were uproarious and quarrelsome. Again provisions were at +an end. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Charnyetski, leaving command of the army to Lyubomirski and taking +the Lauda squadron as guard crossed the Vistula above the mouth of the San, to +visit Sapyeha and take counsel with him touching the future of the war. +</p> + +<p> +This time the mediation of Zagloba was not needed to make the two leaders +agree; for both loved the country more than each one himself, both were ready +to sacrifice to it private interests, self-love, and ambition. +</p> + +<p> +The Lithuanian hetman did not envy Charnyetski, nor did Charnyetski envy the +hetman, but each did homage to the other; so the meeting between them was of +such character that tears stood in the eyes of the oldest soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“The Commonwealth is growing, the dear country is rejoicing, when such +sons of heroes take one another by the shoulders,” said Zagloba to Pan +Michael and Pan Yan. “Charnyetski is a terrible soldier and a true soul, +but put Sapyeha to a wound and it will heal. Would there were more such men! +The skin would fly off the Swedes, could they see this love of the greatest +patriots. How did they conquer us, if not through the rancor and envy of +magnates? Have they overcome us with force? This is how I understand! The soul +jumps in a man’s body at sight of such a meeting. I will guarantee, too, +that it will not be dry; for Sapyeha loves a feast wonderfully, and with such a +friend he will willingly let himself out.” +</p> + +<p> +“God is merciful! the evil will pass,” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“Be careful that you do not blaspheme,” said Zagloba; “every +evil must pass, for should it last forever it would prove that the Devil +governs the world, and not the Lord Jesus, who has mercy inexhaustible.” +</p> + +<p> +Their further conversation was interrupted by the sight of Babinich, whose +lofty form they saw from a distance over the wave of other heads. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael and Zagloba began to beckon to him, but he was so much occupied in +looking at Charnyetski that he did not notice them at first. +</p> + +<p> +“See,” said Zagloba, “how thin the man has grown!” +</p> + +<p> +“It must be that he has not done much against Boguslav,” said +Volodyovski; “otherwise he would be more joyful.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is sure that he has not, for Boguslav is before Marienburg with +Steinbock, acting against the fortress.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is hope in God that he will do nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even if he should take Marienburg,” said Zagloba, “we will +capture Karl Gustav right away; we shall see if they will not give the fortress +for the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“See! Babinich is coming to us!” interrupted Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +He had indeed seen them, and was pushing the crowd to both sides; he motioned +with his cap, smiling at them from a distance. They greeted one another as good +friends and acquaintances. +</p> + +<p> +“What is to be heard? What have you done with the prince?” asked +Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Evil, evil! But there is no time to tell of it. We shall sit down to +table at once. You will remain here for the night; come to me after the feast +to pass the night among my Tartars. I have a comfortable cabin; we will talk at +the cups till morning.” +</p> + +<p> +“The moment a man says a wise thing it is not I who will oppose,” +said Zagloba. “But tell us why you have grown so thin?” +</p> + +<p> +“That hell-dweller overthrew me and my horse like an earthen pot, so that +from that time I am spitting fresh blood and cannot recover. There is hope in +the mercy of our Lord Christ that I shall let the blood out of him yet. But let +us go now, for Sapyeha and Charnyetski are beginning to make declarations and +to be ceremonious about precedence,—a sign that the tables are ready. We +wait for you here with great pleasure, for you have shed Swedish pig-blood in +plenty.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let others speak of what I have done,” said Zagloba; “it +does not become me.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile whole throngs moved on, and all went to the square between the tents +on which were placed tables. Sapyeha in honor of Charnyetski entertained like a +king. The table at which Charnyetski was seated was covert with Swedish flags. +Mead and wine flowed from vats, so that toward the end both leaders became +somewhat joyous. There was no lack of gladsomeness, of jests, of toasts, of +noise; though the weather was marvellous, and the sun warm beyond wonder. +Finally the cool of the evening separated the feasters. +</p> + +<p> +Then Kmita took his guests to the Tartars. They sat down in his tent on trunks +packed closely with every kind of booty, and began to speak of Kmita’s +expedition. +</p> + +<p> +“Boguslav is now before Marienburg,” said Pan Andrei, “though +some say that he is at the elector’s, with whom he is to march to the +relief of the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“So much the better; then we shall meet! You young fellows do not know +how to manage him; let us see what the old man will do. He has met with various +persons, but not yet with Zagloba. I say that we shall meet, though Prince +Yanush in his will advised him to keep far from Zagloba.” +</p> + +<p> +“The elector is a cunning man,” said Pan Yan; “and if he sees +that it is going ill with Karl, he will drop all his promises and his +oath.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I tell you that he will not,” said Zagloba. “No one is +so venomous against us as the Prussian. When your servant who had to work under +your feet and brush your clothes becomes your master by change of fortune, he +will be sterner to you, the kinder you were to him.” +</p> + +<p> +“But why is that?” asked Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“His previous condition of service will remain in his mind, and he will +avenge himself on you for it, though you have been to him kindness +itself.” +</p> + +<p> +“What of that?” asked Pan Michael. “It often happens that a +dog bites his master in the hand. Better let Babinich tell about his +expedition.” +</p> + +<p> +“We are listening,” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, after he had been silent awhile, drew breath and began to tell of the +last campaign of Sapyeha against Boguslav, and the defeat of the latter at +Yanov; finally how Prince Boguslav had broken the Tartars, overturned him with +his horse, and escaped alive. +</p> + +<p> +“But,” interrupted Volodyovski, “you said that you would +follow him with your Tartars, even to the Baltic.” +</p> + +<p> +“And you told me also in your time,” replied Kmita, “how Pan +Yan here present, when Bogun carried off his beloved maiden, forgot her and +revenge because the country was in need. A man becomes like those with whom he +keeps company; I have joined you, gentlemen, and I wish to follow your +example.” +</p> + +<p> +“May the Mother of God reward you, as she has Pan Yan!” said +Zagloba. “Still I would rather your maiden were in the wilderness than in +Boguslav’s hands.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing!” exclaimed Pan Michael; “you will find +her!” +</p> + +<p> +“I have to find not only her person, but her regard and love.” +</p> + +<p> +“One will come after the other,” said Pan Michael, “even if +you had to take her person by force, as at that time—you remember?” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall not do such a deed again.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Andrei sighed deeply, and after a while he said, “Not only have +I not found her, but Boguslav has taken another from me.” +</p> + +<p> +“A pure Turk! as God is dear to me!” cried Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +And Pan Yan inquired: “What other?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, it is a long story, a long story,” said Kmita. “There +was a maiden in Zamost, wonderfully fair, who pleased Pan Zamoyski. He, fearing +Princess Vishnyevetski, his sister, did not dare to be over-bold before her; he +planned, therefore, to send the maiden away with me, as if to Sapyeha, to find +an inheritance in Lithuania, but in reality to take her from me about two miles +from Zamost, and put her in some wilderness where no one could stand in his +way. But I sounded his intention. You want, thought I to myself, to make a +pander of me; wait! I flogged his men, and the lady in all maidenly honor I +brought to Sapyeha. Well, I say to you that the girl is as beautiful as a +goldfinch, but honest. I am now another man, and my comrades, the Lord light +their souls! are long ago dust in the earth.” +</p> + +<p> +“What sort of maiden was she?” asked Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“From a respectable house, a lady-in-waiting on Princess Griselda. She +was once engaged to a Lithuanian, Podbipienta, whom you, gentlemen, +knew.” +</p> + +<p> +“Anusia Borzobogati!” shouted Volodyovski, springing from his +place. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba jumped up too from a pile of felt. “Pan Michael, restrain +yourself!” +</p> + +<p> +But Volodyovski sprang like a cat toward Kmita. “Is it you, traitor, who +let Boguslav carry her off?” +</p> + +<p> +“Be not unjust to me,” said Kmita. “I took her safely to the +hetman, having as much care for her as for my own sister. Boguslav seized her, +not from me, but from another officer with whom Pan Sapyeha sent her to his own +family; his name was Glovbich or something, I do not remember well.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is he now?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is no longer living, he was slain; so at least Sapyeha’s +officers said. I was attacking Boguslav separately, with the Tartars; therefore +I know nothing accurately save what I have told you. But noticing your changed +face, I see that a similar thing has met us; the same man has wronged us, and +since that is the case let us join against him to avenge the wrong and take +vengeance in company. He is a great lord and a great knight, and still I think +it will be narrow for him in the whole Commonwealth, if he has two such +enemies.” +</p> + +<p> +“Here is my hand!” said Volodyovski. “Henceforth we are +friends for life and death. Whoever meets him first will pay him for both. God +grant me to meet him first, for that I will let his blood out is as sure as +that there is Amen in ‘Our Father.’” +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Michael began to move his mustaches terribly and to feel of his sabre. +Zagloba was frightened, for he knew that with Pan Michael there was no joking. +</p> + +<p> +“I should not care to be Prince Boguslav now,” said he, “even +if some one should add Livonia to my title. It is enough to have such a wildcat +as Kmita against one, but what will he do with Pan Michael? And that is not +all; I will conclude an alliance with you. My head, your sabres! I do not know +as there is a potentate in Christendom who could stand against such an +alliance. Besides, the Lord God will sooner or later take away his luck, for it +cannot be that for a traitor and a heretic there is no punishment; as it is, +Kmita has given it to him terribly.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not deny that more than one confusion has met him from me,” +said Pan Andrei. And giving orders to fill the goblets, he told how he had +freed Soroka from captivity. But he did not tell how he had cast himself first +at the feet of Radzivill, for at the very thought of that his blood boiled. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael was rejoiced while hearing the narrative, and said at the +end,— +</p> + +<p> +“May God aid you, Yendrek! With such a daring man one could go to hell. +The only trouble is that we shall not always campaign together, for service is +service. They may send me to one end of the Commonwealth and you to the other. +It is not known which will meet him first.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita was silent a moment. +</p> + +<p> +“In justice I should reach him—if only I do not come out again with +confusion, for I am ashamed to acknowledge that I cannot meet that hell-dweller +hand to hand.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will teach you all my secrets,” said Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“Or I!” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon me, your grace, I prefer to learn from Michael,” said +Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Though he is such a knight, still I and Pani Kovalski are not afraid of +him, if only I had a good sleep,” put in Roh. +</p> + +<p> +“Be quiet, Roh!” answered Zagloba; “may God not punish you +through his hand for boasting.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, tfu! nothing will happen to me from him.” +</p> + +<p> +Poor Kovalski was an unlucky prophet, but it was steaming terribly from his +forelock, and he was ready to challenge the whole world to single combat. +Others too drank heavily to one another, and to the destruction of Boguslav and +the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard,” said Kmita, “that as soon as we rub out the +Swedes here and take the king, we shall march straight to Warsaw. Then surely +there will be an end of the war. After that will come the elector’s +turn.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, that’s it! that’s it!” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“I heard Sapyeha say that once, and he, as a great man, calculates better +than others; he said: ‘There will be a truce with the Swedes; with the +Northerners there is one already, but with the elector we should not make any +conditions. Pan Charnyetski,’ he says, ‘will go with Lyubomirski to +Brandenburg, and I with the treasurer of Lithuania to Electoral Prussia; and if +after that we do not join Prussia to the Commonwealth, it is because in our +chancellery we have no such head as Pan Zagloba, who in autograph letters +threatened the elector.’” +</p> + +<p> +“Did Sapyeha say that?” asked Zagloba, flushing from pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +“All heard him. And I was terribly glad, for that same rod will flog +Boguslav; and if not earlier, we will surely reach him at that time.” +</p> + +<p> +“If we can finish with these Swedes first,” said Zagloba. +“Devil take them! Let them give up Livland and a million, I will let them +off alive.” +</p> + +<p> +“The Cossack caught the Tartar, and the Tartar is holding him by the +head!” said Pan Yan, laughing. “Karl is still in Poland; Cracow, +Warsaw, Poznan, and all the most noted towns are in his hands, and father wants +him to ransom himself. Hei, we shall have to work much at him yet before we can +think of the elector.” +</p> + +<p> +“And there is Steinbock’s army, and the garrisons, and +Wirtz,” put in Pan Stanislav. +</p> + +<p> +“But why do we sit here with folded hands?” asked Roh Kovalski, on +a sudden, with staring eyes; “cannot we beat the Swedes?” +</p> + +<p> +“You are foolish, Roh,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle always says one thing; but as I am alive, I saw a boat at the +shore. We might go and carry off even the sentry. It is so dark that you might +strike a man on the snout and he wouldn’t know who did it; before they +could see we should return and exhibit the courage of cavaliers to both +commanders. If you do not wish to go, I will go myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“The dead calf moved his tail, wonder of wonders!” said Zagloba, +angrily. +</p> + +<p> +But Kmita’s nostrils began to quiver at once. “Not a bad idea! not +a bad idea!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Good for camp-followers, but not for him who regards dignity. Have +respect for yourselves! You are colonels, but you wish to amuse yourselves with +wandering thieves!” +</p> + +<p> +“True, it is not very becoming,” added Volodyovski. “We would +better go to sleep.” +</p> + +<p> +All agreed with that idea; therefore they kneeled down to their prayers and +repeated them aloud; after that they stretched themselves on the felt cloth, +and were soon sleeping the sleep of the just. +</p> + +<p> +But an hour later all sprang to their feet, for beyond the river the roaring of +guns was heard; while shouts and tumult rose in Sapyeha’s whole camp. +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus! Mary!” exclaimed Zagloba. “The Swedes are +coming!” +</p> + +<p> +“What are you talking about?” asked Volodyovski, seizing his sabre. +</p> + +<p> +“Roh, come here!” cried Zagloba, for in cases of surprise he was +glad to have his sister’s son near him. +</p> + +<p> +But Roh was not in the tent. +</p> + +<p> +They ran out on the square. Crowds were already before the tents, and all were +making their way toward the river, for on the other side was to be seen +flashing of fire, and an increasing roar was heard. +</p> + +<p> +“What has happened, what has happened?” was asked of the numerous +guards disposed along the bank. +</p> + +<p> +But the guards had seen nothing. One of the soldiers said that he had heard as +it were the plash of a wave, but as fog was hanging over the water he could see +nothing; he did not wish therefore to raise the camp for a mere sound. +</p> + +<p> +When Zagloba heard this he caught himself by the head in desperation,— +</p> + +<p> +“Roh has gone to the Swedes! He said that he wished to carry off a +sentry.” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake, that may be!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“They will shoot the lad, as God is in heaven!” continued Zagloba, +in despair. “Worthy gentlemen, is there no help? Lord God, that boy was +of the purest gold; there is not another such in the two armies! What shot that +idea into his stupid head? Oh, Mother of God, save him in trouble!” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe he will return; the fog is dense. They will not see him.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will wait for him here even till morning. Mother of God, Mother of +God!” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile shots on the opposite bank lessened, lights went out gradually, and +after an hour dull silence set in. Zagloba walked along the bank of the river +like a hen with ducklings, and tore out the remnant of hair in his forelock; +but he waited in vain, he despaired in vain. The morning whitened the river, +the sun rose, but Roh came not. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<p> +Zagloba in unbroken despair betook himself to Charnyetski, with a request that +he would send to the Swedes to see what had happened to Kovalski. Is he alive +yet, is he groaning in captivity, or has he paid with his life for his daring? +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski agreed to this willingly, for he loved Zagloba. Then comforting him +in his suffering, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I think your sister’s son must be alive, otherwise the water would +have brought him ashore.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant that he is!” answered Zagloba; “still it would be +hard for the water to raise him, for not only had he a heavy hand, but his wit +was like lead, as is shown by his action.” +</p> + +<p> +“You speak justly,” answered Charnyetski. “If he is alive I +ought to give orders to drag him with a horse over the square, for disregard of +discipline. He might alarm the Swedish army, but he has alarmed both armies; +besides, he was not free to touch the Swedes without command and my order. Is +this a general militia or what the devil, that every man has a right to act on +his own account?” +</p> + +<p> +“He has offended, I agree; I will punish him myself, if only the Lord +will bring him back.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I forgive him in remembrance of the Rudnik affair. I have many +prisoners to exchange, and more distinguished officers than Kovalski. Do you go +to the Swedes and negotiate about exchange; I will give two or three for him if +need be, for I do not wish to make your heart bleed. Come to me for a letter to +the king, and go quickly.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba sprang with rejoicing to Kmita’s tent, and told his comrades what +had happened. Pan Andrei and Volodyovski exclaimed at once that they too would +go with him, for both were curious to see the Swedes; besides Kmita might be +very useful, since he spoke German almost as fluently as Polish. +</p> + +<p> +Preparations did not delay them long. Charnyetski, without waiting for the +return of Zagloba, sent the letter by a messenger; then they provided a piece +of white cloth fixed to a pole, took a trumpeter, sat in a boat, and moved on. +</p> + +<p> +At first they went in silence, nothing save the plash of oars was to be heard; +at last Zagloba was somewhat alarmed and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Lot the trumpeter announce us immediately, for those scoundrels are +ready to fire in spite of the white flag.” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you say?” answered Volodyovski; “even barbarians +respect envoys, and this is a civilized people.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let the trumpeter sound, I say. The first soldier who happens along will +fire, make a hole in the boat, and we shall get into the water; the water is +cold, and I have no wish to get wet through their courtesy.” +</p> + +<p> +“There, a sentry is visible!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +The trumpeter sounded. The boat shot forward quickly; on the other shore a +hurried movement began, and soon a mounted officer rode up, wearing a yellow +leather cap. When he had approached the edge of the water he shaded his eyes +with his hand and began to look against the light. A few yards from the shore +Kmita removed his cap in greeting; the officer bowed to him with equal +politeness. +</p> + +<p> +“A letter from Pan Charnyetski to the Most Serene King of Sweden!” +cried Pan Andrei, showing the letter. +</p> + +<p> +The guard standing on the shore presented arms. Pan Zagloba was completely +reassured; presently he fixed his countenance in dignity befitting his position +as an envoy, and said in Latin,— +</p> + +<p> +“The past night a certain cavalier was seized on this shore; I have come +to ask for him.” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot speak Latin,” answered the officer. +</p> + +<p> +“Ignoramus!” muttered Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +The officer turned then to Pan Andrei,— +</p> + +<p> +“The king is in the farther end of the camp. Be pleased, gentlemen, to +stay here; I will go and announce you.” And he turned his horse. +</p> + +<p> +The envoys looked around. The camp was very spacious, for it embraced the whole +triangle formed by the San and the Vistula. At the summit of the triangle lay +Panyev, at the base Tarnobjeg on one side, and Rozvadov on the other. +Apparently it was impossible to take in the whole extent at a glance; still, as +far as the eye could reach, were to be seen trenches, embankments, earthworks, +and fascines at which were cannons and men. In the very centre of the place, in +Gojytsi, were the quarters of the king; there also the main forces of the army. +</p> + +<p> +“If hunger does not drive them out of this place, we can do nothing with +them,” said Kmita. “The whole region is fortified. There is pasture +for horses.” +</p> + +<p> +“But there are not fish for so many mouths,” said Zagloba. +“Lutherans do not like fasting food. Not long since they had all Poland, +now they have this wedge; let them sit here in safety, or go back to +Yaroslav.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very skilful men made these trenches,” added Volodyovski, looking +with the eye of a specialist on the work. “We have more swordsmen, but +fewer learned officers; and in military art we are behind others.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why is that?” asked Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Why? It does not beseem me as a soldier who has served all his life in +the cavalry, to say this, but everywhere infantry and cannon are the main +thing; hence those campaigns and military manœuvres, marches, and +countermarches. A man in a foreign army must devour a multitude of books and +turn over a multitude of Roman authors before he becomes a distinguished +officer; but there is nothing of that with us. Cavalry rushes into the smoke in +a body, and shaves with its sabres; and if it does not shave off in a minute, +then they shave it off.” +</p> + +<p> +“You speak soundly, Pan Michael; but what nation has won so many famous +victories?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, because others in old times warred in the same way, and not having +the same impetus they were bound to lose; but now they have become wiser, and +see what they are doing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Wait for the end. Place for me now the wisest Swedish or German +engineer, and against him I will put Roh, who has never turned over books, and +let us see.” +</p> + +<p> +“If you could put him,” interrupted Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“True, true! I am terribly sorry for him. Pan Andrei, jabber a little in +that dog’s language of those breeches fellows, and ask what has happened +to Roh.” +</p> + +<p> +“You do not know regular soldiers. Here no man will open his lips to you +without an order; they are stingy of speech.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know that they are surly scoundrels. While if to our nobles, and +especially to the general militia, an envoy comes, immediately talk, talk, they +will drink gorailka with him, and will enter into political discussion with +him; and see how these fellows stand there like posts and bulge out their eyes +at us! I wish they would smother to the last man!” +</p> + +<p> +In fact, more and more foot-soldiers gathered around the envoys, looking at +them curiously. The envoys were dressed so carefully in elegant and even rich +garments, that they made an imposing appearance. Zagloba arrested most +attention, for he bore himself with almost senatorial dignity; Volodyovski was +less considered, by reason of his stature. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the officer who received them first on the bank returned with another +of higher rank, and with soldiers leading horses. The superior officer bowed to +the envoys and said in Polish,— +</p> + +<p> +“His Royal Grace asks you, gentlemen, to his quarters; and since they are +not very near we have brought horses.” +</p> + +<p> +“Are you a Pole?” asked Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“No, I am a Cheh,—Sadovski, in the Swedish service.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita approached him at once. “Do you know me?” +</p> + +<p> +Sadovski looked at him quickly. “Of course! At Chenstohova you blew up +the largest siege gun, and Miller gave you to Kuklinovski. I greet you, greet +you heartily as a famous knight.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what is going on with Kuklinovski?” asked Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“But do you not know?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know that I paid him with that with which he wanted to treat me, but I +left him alive.” +</p> + +<p> +“He died.” +</p> + +<p> +“I thought he would freeze to death,” said Pan Andrei, waving his +hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy Colonel,” put in Zagloba, “have you not a certain Roh +Kovalski?” +</p> + +<p> +Sadovski laughed: “Of course.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God and the Most Holy Lady! The lad is alive and I shall +get him. Praise be to God!” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know whether the king will be willing to yield him up,” +said Sadovski. +</p> + +<p> +“But why not?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because he has pleased him greatly. He recognized him at once as the +same man who had pushed after him with such vigor at Rudnik. We held our sides +listening to the narrative of the prisoner. The king asked: ‘Why did you +pick me out?’ and he answered, ‘I made a vow.’ Then the king +asked again, ‘But will you do so again?’ ‘Of course!’ +answered the prisoner. The king began to laugh. ‘Put away your +vow,’ said he, ‘and I will give you your life and freedom.’ +‘Impossible!’ ‘Why?’ ‘For my uncle would proclaim +me a fool.’ ‘And are you so sure that you could manage me in a +hand-to-hand fight?’ ‘Oh, I could manage five men like you,’ +said he. Then the king asked again: ‘And do you dare to raise your hand +against majesty?’ ‘Yes,’ said he, ‘for you have a vile +faith.’ They interpreted every word to the king, and he was more and more +pleased, and continued to repeat: ‘This man has pleased me.’ Then +wishing to see whether in truth he had such strength, he gave orders to choose +twelve of the strongest men in camp and bring them to wrestle in turn with the +prisoner. But he is a muscular fellow! When I came away he had stretched out +ten one after another, and not a man of them could rise again. We shall arrive +just at the end of the amusement.” +</p> + +<p> +“I recognize Roh, my blood!” said Zagloba. “We will give for +him even three famous officers!” +</p> + +<p> +“You will find the king in good humor,” said Sadovski, “which +is a rare thing nowadays.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I believe that!” answered the little knight. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Sadovski turned to Kmita, and asked how he had not only freed himself +from Kuklinovski, but put an end to him. Kmita told him in detail. Sadovski, +while listening, seized his own head with amazement; at last he pressed +Kmita’s hand again, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Believe me, I am sincerely glad; for though I serve the Swedes, every +true soldier’s heart rejoices when a real cavalier puts down a ruffian. I +must acknowledge to you that when a daring man is found among you, one must +look with a lantern through the universe to find his equal.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are a courteous officer,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“And a famous soldier, we know that,” added Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“I learned courtesy and the soldier’s art from you,” answered +Sadovski, touching his cap. +</p> + +<p> +Thus they conversed, vying with one another in courtesy, till they reached +Grojytsi, where the king’s quarters were. The whole village was occupied +by soldiers of various arms. Our envoys looked with curiosity at the groups +scattered among the fences. Some, wishing to sleep away their hunger, were +dozing around cottages, for the day was very clear and warm; some were playing +dice on drums, drinking beer; some were hanging their clothes on the fences; +others were sitting in front of the cottages singing Scandinavian songs, +rubbing with brick-dust their breastplates and helmets, from which bright +gleams went forth. In places they were cleaning horses, or leading them out; in +a word, camp life was moving and seething under the bright sky. There were men, +it is true, who bore signs of terrible toil and hunger, but the sun covered +their leanness with gold; besides, days of rest were beginning for those +incomparable warriors, therefore they took courage at once, and assumed a +military bearing. Volodyovski admired them in spirit, especially the infantry +regiments, famous through the whole world for endurance and bravery. Sadovski +gave explanations as they passed, saying,— +</p> + +<p> +“This is the Smaland regiment of the royal guard. This is the infantry of +Delekarlia, the very best.” +</p> + +<p> +“In God’s name, what little monsters are these?” cried +Zagloba on a sudden, pointing to a group of small men with olive complexions +and black hair hanging on both sides of their heads. +</p> + +<p> +“Those are Laplanders, who belong to the remotest Hyperboreans.” +</p> + +<p> +“Are they good in battle? It seems to me that I might take three in each +hand and strike with their heads till I was tired.” +</p> + +<p> +“You could surely do so. They are useless in battle. The Swedes bring +them for camp servants, and partly as a curiosity. But they are the most +skilful of wizards; each of them has at least one devil in his service, and +some have five.” +</p> + +<p> +“How do they get such friendship with evil spirits?” asked Kmita, +making the sign of the cross. +</p> + +<p> +“Because they wander in night, which with them lasts half a year or more; +and you know that it is easier to hold converse with the Devil at night.” +</p> + +<p> +“But have they souls?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is unknown; but I think that they are more in the nature of +animals.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita turned his horse, caught one of the Laplanders by the shoulders, raised +him up like a cat, and examined him curiously; then he put him on his feet, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“If the king would give me one such, I would give orders to have him +dried and hung up in the church in Orsha, where, among other curiosities, are +ostrich eggs.” +</p> + +<p> +“In Lubni, at the parish church, there were jaws of a whale or even of a +giant,” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us go on, for something evil will fall on us here,” said +Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us go,” repeated Sadovski. “To tell the truth, I ought +to have had bags put on your heads, as is the custom; but we have nothing here +to hide, and that you have looked on the trenches is all the better for +us.” +</p> + +<p> +They spurred on their horses, and after a while were before the castle at +Gojytsi. In front of the gate they sprang from their saddles, and advanced on +foot; for the King was before the house. +</p> + +<p> +They saw a large number of generals and very celebrated officers. Old +Wittemberg was there, Douglas, Löwenhaupt, Miller, Erickson, and many others. +All were sitting on the balcony, a little behind the king, whose chair was +pushed forward; and they looked on the amusement which Karl Gustav was giving +himself with the prisoner. Roh had just stretched out the twelfth cavalier, and +was in a coat torn by the wrestlers, panting and sweating greatly. When he saw +his uncle in company with Kmita and Volodyovski, he thought at once that they +too were prisoners. He stared at them, opened his mouth, and advanced a couple +of steps; but Zagloba gave him a sign with his hand to stand quietly, and the +envoy stood himself with his comrades before the face of the king. +</p> + +<p> +Sadovski presented the envoys; they bowed low, as custom and etiquette +demanded, then Zagloba delivered Charnyetski’s letter. +</p> + +<p> +The king took the letter, and began to read; meanwhile the Polish envoys looked +at him with curiosity, for they had never seen him before. He was a man in the +flower of his age, as dark in complexion as though born an Italian or a +Spaniard. His long hair, black as a raven’s wing, fell behind his ears to +his shoulders. In brightness and color his eyes brought to mind Yeremi +Vishnyevetski; his brows were greatly elevated, as if he were in continual +astonishment. In the place where the brows approached, his forehead was raised +in a large protuberance, which made him resemble a lion; a deep wrinkle above +his nose, which did not leave him even when he was laughing, gave his face a +threatening and wrathful expression. His lower lip protruded like that of Yan +Kazimir, but his face was heavier and his chin larger; he wore mustaches in the +form of cords, brushed out somewhat at the ends. In general, his face indicated +an uncommon man, one of those who when they walk over the earth press blood out +of it. There was in him grandeur, the pride of a monarch, the strength of a +lion, and the quickness of genius; but though a kindly smile never left his +mouth, there was lacking that kindness of heart which illuminates a face from +within with a mild light, as a lamp placed in the middle of an alabaster urn +lights it. He sat in the arm-chair, with crossed legs, the powerful calves of +which were indicated clearly from under the black stockings, and blinking as +was his wont, he read with a smile the letter from Charnyetski. Raising his +lids, he looked at Pan Michael, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I knew you at once; you slew Kanneberg.” +</p> + +<p> +All eyes were turned immediately on Volodyovski, who, moving his mustaches, +bowed and answered,— +</p> + +<p> +“At the service of your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is your office?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Colonel of the Lauda squadron.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where did you serve before?” +</p> + +<p> +“With the voevoda of Vilna.” +</p> + +<p> +“And did you leave him with the others? You betrayed him and me.” +</p> + +<p> +“I was bound to my own king, not to your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +The king said nothing; all foreheads were frowning, eyes began to bore into Pan +Michael; but he stood calmly, merely moving his mustaches time after time. +</p> + +<p> +All at once the king said,— +</p> + +<p> +“It is pleasant for me to know such a famous cavalier. Kanneberg passed +among us as incomparable in hand-to-hand conflict. You must be the first sabre +in the kingdom?” +</p> + +<p> +“<i>In universo</i> (In the universe)!” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Not the last,” answered Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“I greet you, gentlemen, heartily. For Pan Charnyetski I have a real +esteem as for a great soldier, though he broke his word to me, for he ought to +be sitting quietly till now in Syevej.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your Royal Grace,” said Kmita, “Pan Charnyetski was not the +first to break his word, but General Miller, who seized Wolf’s regiment +of royal infantry.” +</p> + +<p> +Miller advanced a step, looked in the face of Kmita, and began to whisper +something to the king, who, blinking all the time, listened attentively; +looking at Pan Andrei, he said at last,— +</p> + +<p> +“I see that Pan Charnyetski has sent me chosen cavaliers. I know from of +old that there is no lack of daring men among you; but there is a lack of faith +in keeping promises and oaths.” +</p> + +<p> +“Holy are the words of your Royal Grace,” answered Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“How do you understand that?” +</p> + +<p> +“If it were not for this vice of our people, your Royal Grace would not +be here.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was silent awhile; the generals again frowned at the boldness of the +envoys. +</p> + +<p> +“Yan Kazimir himself freed you from the oath,” said Karl, +“for he left you and took refuge abroad.” +</p> + +<p> +“From the oath we can be freed only by the Vicar of Christ, who resides +in Rome; and he has not freed us.” +</p> + +<p> +“A truce to that!” said the king. “I have acquired the +kingdom by this,” here he struck his sword, “and by this I will +hold it. I do not need your suffrages nor your oaths. You want war, you will +have it. I think that Pan Charnyetski remembers Golembo yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“He forgot it on the road from Yaroslav,” answered Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +The king, instead of being angry, smiled: “I’ll remind him of +it.” +</p> + +<p> +“God rules the world.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell him to visit me; I shall be glad to receive him. But he must hurry, +for as soon as my horses are in condition I shall march farther.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then we shall receive your Royal Grace,” said Zagloba, bowing and +placing his hand slightly on his sabre. +</p> + +<p> +“I see,” said the king, “that Pan Charnyetski has sent in the +embassy not only the best sabres, but the best mouth. In a moment you parry +every thrust. It is lucky that the war is not of words, for I should find an +opponent worthy of my power. But I will come to the question. Pan Charnyetski +asks me to liberate this prisoner, offering two officers of distinction in +return. I do not set such a low price on my soldiers as you think, and I have +no wish to redeem them too cheaply; that would be against my own and their +ambition, but since I can refuse Pan Charnyetski nothing, I will make him a +present of this cavalier.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” answered Zagloba, “Pan Charnyetski did not +wish to show contempt for Swedish officers, but compassion for me; for this is +my sister’s son, and I, at the service of your Royal Grace, am Pan +Charnyetski’s adviser.” +</p> + +<p> +“In truth,” said the king, “I ought not to let the prisoner +go, for he has made a vow against me, unless he will give up his vow in view of +this favor.” +</p> + +<p> +Here he turned to Roh, who was standing in front of the porch, and beckoned: +“But come nearer, you strong fellow!” +</p> + +<p> +Roh approached a couple of steps, and stood erect. +</p> + +<p> +“Sadovski,” said the king, “ask him if he will let me go in +case I free him.” +</p> + +<p> +Sadovski repeated the king’s question. +</p> + +<p> +“Impossible!” cried Roh. +</p> + +<p> +The king understood without an interpreter, and began to clap his hands and +blink. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, well! How can I set such a man free? He has twisted the necks of +twelve horsemen, and promises me as the thirteenth. Good, good! the cavalier +has pleased me. Is he Pan Charnyetski’s adviser too? If he is, I will let +him go all the more quickly.” +</p> + +<p> +“Keep your mouth shut!” muttered Zagloba to Roh. +</p> + +<p> +“A truce to amusement!” said the king, suddenly. “Take him, +and have still one more proof of my clemency. I can forgive, as the lord of +this kingdom, since such is my will and favor; but I will not enter into terms +with rebels.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the king frowned, and the smile left his face: “Whoso raises his +hand against me is a rebel, for I am his lawful king. Only from kindness to you +have I not punished hitherto as was proper. I have been waiting for you to come +to your minds; but the hour will strike when kindness will be exhausted and the +day of punishment will rise. Through your self-will and instability the country +is flaming with fire; through your disloyalty blood is flowing. But I tell you +the last days are passing; you do not wish to hear admonitions, you do not wish +to obey laws, you will obey the sword and the gallows!” +</p> + +<p> +Lightnings flashed in Karl’s eyes. Zagloba looked on him awhile with +amazement, unable to understand whence that storm had come after fair weather; +finally he too began to grow angry, therefore he bowed and said only,— +</p> + +<p> +“We thank your Royal Grace.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he went off, and after him Kmita, Volodyovski, and Roh Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious, gracious!” said Zagloba, “and before you can look +around he bellows in your ear like a bear. Beautiful end to an embassy! Others +give honor with a cup at parting, but he with the gallows! Let him hang dogs, +not nobles! O my God! how grievously we have sinned against our king, who was a +father, is a father, and will be a father, for there is a Yagyellon heart in +him. And such a king traitors deserted, and went to make friendship with +scarecrows from beyond the sea. We are served rightly, for we were not worthy +of anything better. Gibbets! gibbets! He is fenced in, and we have squeezed him +like curds in a bag, so that whey is coming out, and still he threatens with +sword and gibbet. Wait awhile! The Cossack caught a Tartar, and the Tartar has +him by the head. It will be closer for you yet.—Roh, I wanted to give you +a slap on the face or fifty blows on a carpet, but I forgive you now since you +acted so like a cavalier and promised to hunt him still farther. Let me kiss +you, for I am delighted with you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle is still glad!” said Roh. +</p> + +<p> +“The gibbet and the sword! And he told that to my eyes,” said +Zagloba again, after a while. “You have protection! The wolf protects in +the same fashion a sheep for his own eating. And when does he say that? Now, +when there is goose skin on his own back. Let him take his Laplanders for +counsellors, and with them seek Satan’s aid. But the Most Holy Lady will +help us, as she did Pan Bobola in Sandomir when powder threw him and his horse +across the Vistula, and he was not hurt. He looked around to see where he was, +and arrived in time to dine with the priest. With such help we will pull them +all by the necks like lobsters out of a wicker trap.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<p> +Almost twenty days passed. The king remained continually at the junction of the +rivers, and sent couriers to fortresses and commands in every direction toward +Cracow and Warsaw, with orders for all to hasten to him with assistance. They +sent him also provisions by the Vistula in as great quantities as possible, but +insufficient. After ten days the Swedes began to eat horse-flesh; despair +seized the king and the generals at thought of what would happen when the +cavalry should lose their horses, and when there would be no beasts to draw +cannon. From every side too there came unpleasant news. The whole country was +blazing with war, as if some one had poured pitch over it and set fire. +Inferior commands and garrisons could not hasten to give aid, for they were not +able to leave the towns and villages. Lithuania, held hitherto by the iron hand +of Pontus de la Gardie, rose as one man. Great Poland, which had yielded first +of all, was the first to throw off the yoke, and shone before the whole +Commonwealth as an example of endurance, resolve, and enthusiasm. Parties of +nobles and peasants rushed not only on the garrisons in villages, but even +attacked towns. In vain did the Swedes take terrible vengeance on the country, +in vain did they cut off the hands of prisoners, in vain did they send up +villages in smoke, cut settlements to pieces, raise gibbets, bring instruments +of torture from Germany to torture insurgents. Whoso had to suffer, suffered; +whoso had to die, died; but if he was a noble, he died with a sabre; if a +peasant, with a scythe in his hand. And Swedish blood was flowing throughout +all Great Poland; the peasants were living in the forests, even women rushed to +arms; punishments merely roused vengeance and increased rage. Kulesha, +Jegotski, and the voevoda of Podlyasye moved through the country like flames, +and besides their parties all the pine-woods were filled with other parties. +The fields lay untilled, fierce hunger increased in the land; but it twisted +most the entrails of the Swedes, for they were confined in towns behind closed +gates, and could not go to the open country. At last breath was failing in +their bosoms. +</p> + +<p> +In Mazovia the condition was the same. There the Barkshoe people dwelling in +forest gloom came out of their wildernesses, blocked the roads, seized +provisions and couriers. In Podlyasye a numerous small nobility marched in +thousands either to Sapyeha or to Lithuania. Lyubelsk was in the hands of the +confederates. From the distant Russias came Tartars, and with them the Cossacks +constrained to obedience. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore all were certain that if not in a week in a month, if not in a month +in two, that river fork in which Karl Gustav had halted with the main army of +the Swedes would be turned into one great tomb to the glory of the nation; a +great lesson for those who would attack the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +The end of the war was foreseen already; there were some who said that one way +of salvation alone remained to Karl,—to ransom himself and give Swedish +Livland to the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +But suddenly the fortune of Karl and the Swedes was bettered. Marienburg, +besieged hitherto in vain, surrendered, March 20, to Steinbock. His powerful +and valiant army had then no occupation, and could hasten to the rescue of the +king. +</p> + +<p> +From another direction the Markgraf of Baden, having finished levies, was +marching also to the river fork with ready forces, and soldiers yet unwearied. +</p> + +<p> +Both pushed forward, breaking up the smaller bands of insurgents, destroying, +burning, slaying. Along the road they gathered in Swedish garrisons, took the +smaller commands, and increased in power, as a river increases the more it +takes streams to its bosom. +</p> + +<p> +Tidings of the fall of Marienburg, of the army of Steinbock, and the march of +the Markgraf of Baden came very quickly to the fork of the river, and grieved +Polish hearts. Steinbock was still far away; but the markgraf, advancing by +forced marches, might soon come up and change the whole position at Sandomir. +</p> + +<p> +The Polish leaders then held a council in which Charnyetski, Sapyeha, Michael +Radzivill, Vitovski, and Lyubomirski, who had grown tired of being on the +Vistula, took part. At this council it was decided that Sapyeha with the +Lithuanian army was to remain to watch Karl, and prevent his escape, +Charnyetski was to move against the Markgraf of Baden and meet him as quickly +as possible; if God gave him victory, he would return to besiege Karl Gustav. +</p> + +<p> +Corresponding orders were given at once. Next morning the trumpets sounded to +horse so quietly that they were barely heard; Charnyetski wished to depart +unknown to the Swedes. At his recent camp-ground a number of unoccupied parties +of nobles and peasants took position at once. They kindled fires and made an +uproar, so that the enemy might think that no one had left the place; but +Charnyetski’s squadrons moved out one after another. First marched the +Lauda squadron, which by right should have remained with Sapyeha; but since +Charnyetski had fallen greatly in love with this squadron, the hetman was loath +to take it from him. After the Lauda went the Vansovich squadron, chosen men +led by an old soldier half of whose life had been passed in shedding blood; +then followed the squadron of Prince Dymitri Vishnyevetski, under the same +Shandarovski who at Rudnik had covered himself with immeasurable glory; then +two regiments of Vitovski’s dragoons, two regiments of the starosta of +Yavorov; the famed Stapkovski led one; then Charnyetski’s own regiment, +the king’s regiment under Polyanovski, and Lyubomirski’s whole +force. No infantry was taken, because of haste; nor wagons, for the army went +on horseback. +</p> + +<p> +All were drawn up together at Zavada in good strength and great willingness. +Then Charnyetski himself went out in front, and after he had arranged them for +the march, he withdrew his horse somewhat and let them pass so as to review +well the whole force. The horse under him sniffed, threw up his head and +nodded, as if wishing to greet the passing regiments; and the heart swelled in +the castellan himself. A beautiful view was before him. As far as the eye +reached a river of horses, a river of stern faces of soldiers, welling up and +down with the movement of the horses; above them still a third river of sabres +and lances, glittering and gleaming in the morning sun. A tremendous power went +forth from them, and Charnyetski felt the power in himself; for that was not +some kind of collection of volunteers, but men forged on the anvil of battle, +trained, exercised, and in conflict so “venomous” that no cavalry +on earth of equal numbers could withstand them. Therefore Charnyetski felt with +certainty, without doubt, that he would bear asunder with sabres and hoofs the +army of the Markgraf of Baden; and that victory, felt in advance, made his face +so radiant that it gleamed on the regiments. +</p> + +<p> +“With God to victory!” cried he at last. +</p> + +<p> +“With God! We will conquer!” answered mighty voices. +</p> + +<p> +And that shout flew through all the squadrons like deep thunder through clouds. +Charnyetski spurred his horse to come up with the Lauda squadron, marching in +the van. +</p> + +<p> +The army moved forward. +</p> + +<p> +They advanced not like men, but like a flock of ravening birds which having +wind of a battle from afar, fly to outstrip the tempest. Never, even among +Tartars in the steppes, had any man heard of such a march. The soldiers slept +in the saddles; they ate and drank without dismounting; they fed the horses +from their hands. Rivers, forests, villages, were left behind them. Scarcely +had peasants hurried out from their cottages to look at the army when the army +had vanished behind clouds of dust in the distance. They marched day and night, +resting only just enough to escape killing the horses. +</p> + +<p> +At Kozyenitsi they came upon eight Swedish squadrons under Torneskiold. The +Lauda men, marching in the van, first saw the enemy, and without even drawing +breath sprang at them straightway and into the fire. Next advanced +Shandarovski, then Vansovich, and then Stapkovski. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes, thinking that they had to deal with some mere common parties, met +them in the open field, and two hours later there was not a living man left to +go to the markgraf and tell him that Charnyetski was coming. Those eight +squadrons were simply swept asunder on sabres, without leaving a witness of +defeat. Then the Poles moved straight on to Magnushev, for spies informed them +that the markgraf was at Varka with his whole army. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski was sent in the night with a party to learn how the army was +disposed, and what its power was. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba complained greatly of that expedition, for even the famed Vishnyevetski +had never made such marches as this; therefore the old man complained, but he +chose to go with Pan Michael rather than remain with the army. +</p> + +<p> +“It was a golden time at Sandomir,” said he, stretching himself in +the saddle; “a man ate, drank, and looked at the besieged Swedes in the +distance; bat now there is not time even to put a canteen to your mouth. I know +the military arts of the ancients, of the great Pompey and Cæsar; but +Charnyetski has invented a new style. It is contrary to every rule to shake the +stomach so many days and nights. The imagination begins to rebel in me from +hunger, and it seems to me continually that the stars are buckwheat pudding and +the moon cheese. To the dogs with such warfare! As God is dear to me, I want to +gnaw my own horses’ ears off from hunger.” +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow, God grant, we shall rest after finishing the Swedes.” +</p> + +<p> +“I would rather have the Swedes than this tediousness! O Lord! O Lord! +when wilt Thou give peace to this Commonwealth, and to Zagloba a warm place at +the stove and heated beer, even without cream? Batter along, old man, on your +nag, batter along, till you batter your body to death. Has any one there snuff? +Maybe I could sneeze out this sleepiness through my nostrils. The moon is +shining through my mouth, looking into my stomach, but I cannot tell what the +moon is looking for there; it will find nothing. I repeat, to the dogs with +such warfare!” +</p> + +<p> +“If Uncle thinks that the moon is cheese, then eat it, Uncle,” said +Roh Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +“If I should eat you I might say that I had eaten beef; but I am afraid +that after such a roast I should lose the rest of my wit.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I am an ox and Uncle is my uncle, then what is Uncle?” +</p> + +<p> +“But, you fool, do you think that Althea gave birth to a firebrand +because she sat by the stove?” +</p> + +<p> +“How does that touch me?” +</p> + +<p> +“In this way. If you are an ox, then ask about your father first, not +about your uncle: for a bull carried off Europa, but her brother, who was uncle +to her children, was a man for all that. Do you understand?” +</p> + +<p> +“To tell the truth, I do not; but as to eating I could eat something +myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Eat the devil and let me sleep! What is it, Pan Michael? Why have we +halted?” +</p> + +<p> +“Varka is in sight,” answered Volodyovski. “See, the church +tower is gleaming in the moonlight.” +</p> + +<p> +“But have we passed Magnushev?” +</p> + +<p> +“Magnushev is behind on the right. It is a wonder to me that there is no +Swedish party on this side of the river. Let us go to those thickets and stop; +perhaps God may send us some informant.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael led his detachment to the thicket, and disposed it about a hundred +yards from the road on each side, ordering the men to remain silent, and hold +the bridles closely so the horses might not neigh. +</p> + +<p> +“Wait,” said he. “Let us hear what is being done on the other +side of the river, and perhaps we may see something.” +</p> + +<p> +They stood there waiting; but for a long time nothing was to be heard. The +wearied soldiers began to nod in the saddles. Zagloba dropped on the +horse’s neck and fell asleep; even the horses were slumbering. An hour +passed. The accurate ear of Volodyovski heard something like the tread of a +horse on a firm road. +</p> + +<p> +“Hold! silence!” said he to the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +He pushed out himself to the edge of the thicket, and looked along the road. +The road was gleaming in the moonlight like a silver ribbon; there was nothing +visible on it, still the sound of horses came nearer. +</p> + +<p> +“They are coming surely!” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +All held their horses more closely, each one restraining his breath. Meanwhile +on the road appeared a Swedish party of thirty horsemen. They rode slowly and +carelessly enough, not in line, but in a straggling row. Some of the soldiers +were talking, others were singing in a low voice; for the night, warm as in +May, acted on the ardent souls of the soldiers. Without suspicion they passed +near Pan Michael, who was standing so hard by the edge of the thicket that he +could catch the odor of horses and the smoke of pipes which the soldiers had +lighted. +</p> + +<p> +At last they vanished at the turn of the road. Volodyovski waited till the +tramp had died in the distance; then only did he go to his men and say to Pan +Yan and Pan Stanislav,— +</p> + +<p> +“Let us drive them now, like geese, to the camp of the castellan. Not a +man must escape, lest he give warning.” +</p> + +<p> +“If Charnyetski does not let us eat then and sleep,” said Zagloba, +“I will resign his service and return to Sapyo. With Sapyo, when there is +a battle, there is a battle; but when there is a respite, there is a feast. If +you had four lips, he would give each one of them enough to do. He is the +leader for me! And in truth tell me by what devil are we not serving with +Sapyo, since this regiment belongs to him by right?” +</p> + +<p> +“Father, do not blaspheme against the greatest warrior in the +Commonwealth,” said Pan Yan. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not I that blaspheme, but my entrails, on which hunger is playing, +as on a fiddle—” +</p> + +<p> +“The Swedes will dance to the music,” interrupted Volodyovski. +“Now, gentlemen, let us advance quickly! I should like to come up with +them exactly at that inn in the forest which we passed in coming hither.” +</p> + +<p> +And he led on the squadron quickly, but not too quickly. They rode into a dense +forest in which darkness enclosed them. The inn was less than two miles +distant. When Volodyovski had drawn near, he went again at a walk, so as not to +alarm the Swedes too soon. When not more than a cannon-shot away, the noise of +men was heard. +</p> + +<p> +“They are there and making an uproar!” said Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes had, in fact, stopped at the inn, looking for some living person to +give information. But the place was empty. Some of the soldiers were shaking up +the main building; others were looking in the cow-house, in the shed, or +raising the thatch on the roof. One half of the men remained on the square +holding the horses of those who were searching. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael’s division approached within a hundred yards, and began to +surround the inn with a Tartar crescent. Those of the Swedes standing in front +heard perfectly, and at last saw men and horses; since, however, it was dark in +the forest they could not see what kind of troops were coming; but they were +not alarmed in the least, not admitting that others than Swedes could come from +that point. At last the movement of the crescent astonished and disturbed them. +They called at once to those who were in the buildings. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly a shout of “Allah!” was heard, and the sound of shots, in +one moment dark crowds of soldiers appeared as if they had grown out of the +earth. Now came confusion, a flash of sabres, oaths, smothered shouts; but the +whole affair did not last longer than the time needed to say the Lord’s +Prayer twice. +</p> + +<p> +There remained on the ground before the inn five bodies of men and horses; +Volodyovski moved on, taking with him twenty-five prisoners. +</p> + +<p> +They advanced at a gallop, urging the Swedish horses with the sides of their +sabres, and arrived at Magnushev at daybreak. In Charnyetski’s camp no +one was sleeping; all were ready. The castellan himself came out leaning on his +staff, thin and pale from watching. +</p> + +<p> +“How is it?” asked he of Pan Michael. “Have you many +informants?” +</p> + +<p> +“Twenty-five prisoners.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did many escape?” +</p> + +<p> +“All are taken.” +</p> + +<p> +“Only send you, soldier, even to hell! Well done! Take them at once to +the torture, I will examine them.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the castellan turned, and when departing said,— +</p> + +<p> +“But be in readiness, for perhaps we may move on the enemy without +delay.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Be quiet!” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +The prisoners, without being burned, told in a moment what they knew of the +forces of the markgraf,—how many cannons he had, what infantry and +cavalry. Charnyetski grew somewhat thoughtful; for he learned that it was +really a newly levied army, but formed of the oldest soldiers, who had taken +part in God knows how many wars. There were also many Germans among them, and a +considerable division of French; the whole force exceeded that of the Poles by +several hundred. But it appeared from the statements of the prisoners that the +markgraf did not even admit that Charnyetski was near, and believed that the +Poles were besieging Karl Gustav with all their forces at Sandomir. +</p> + +<p> +The castellan had barely heard this when he sprang up and cried to his +attendant: “Vitovski, give command to sound the trumpet to horse!” +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour later the army moved and marched in the fresh spring morning +through forests and fields covered with dew. At last Varka—or rather its +ruins, for the place had been burned almost to the ground six years +before—appeared on the horizon. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski’s troops were marching over an open flat; therefore they +could not be concealed from the eyes of the Swedes. In fact they were seen; but +the markgraf thought that they were various “parties” which had +combined in a body with the intent of alarming the camp. +</p> + +<p> +Only when squadron after squadron, advancing at a trot, appeared from beyond +the forest, did a feverish activity rise in the Swedish camp. +Charnyetski’s men saw smaller divisions of horsemen and single officers +hurrying between the regiments. The bright-colored Swedish infantry began to +pour into the middle of the plain; the regiments formed one after another +before the eyes of the Poles and were numerous, resembling a flock of +many-colored birds. Over their heads were raised toward the sun quadrangles of +strong spears with which the infantry shielded themselves against attacks of +cavalry. Finally, were seen crowds of Swedish armored cavalry advancing at a +trot along the wings; the artillery was drawn up and brought to the front in +haste. All the preparations, all the movements were as visible as something on +the palm of the hand, for the sun had risen clearly, splendidly, and lighted up +the whole country. +</p> + +<p> +The Pilitsa separated the two armies. +</p> + +<p> +On the Swedish bank trumpets and kettle-drums were heard, and the shouts of +soldiers coming with all speed into line. Charnyetski ordered also to sound the +crooked trumpets, and advanced with his squadrons toward the river. +</p> + +<p> +Then he rushed with all the breath of his horse to the Vansovich squadron, +which was nearest the Pilitsa. +</p> + +<p> +“Old soldier!” cried he to Vansovich, “advance for me to the +bridge, there dismount and to muskets! Let all their force be turned on you! +Lead on!” +</p> + +<p> +Vansovich merely flushed a little from desire, and waved his baton. The men +shouted and shot after him like a cloud of dust driven by wind. +</p> + +<p> +When they came within three hundred yards of the bridge, they slackened the +speed of their horses; then two thirds of them sprang from the saddles and +advanced on a run to the bridge. +</p> + +<p> +But the Swedes came from the other side; and soon muskets began to play, at +first slowly, then every moment more briskly, as if a thousand flails were +beating irregularly on a barn-floor. Smoke stretched over the river. Shouts of +encouragement were thundering from one and the other command. The minds of both +armies were bent to the bridge, which was wooden, narrow, difficult to take, +but easy to defend. Still over this bridge alone was it possible to cross to +the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +A quarter of an hour later Charnyetski pushed forward Lyubomirski’s +dragoons to the aid of Vansovich. +</p> + +<p> +But the Swedes now attacked the opposite front with artillery. They drew up new +pieces one after another, and bombs began to fly with a howl over the heads of +Vansovich’s men and the dragoons, to fall in the meadow and dig into the +earth, scattering mud and turf on those fighting. +</p> + +<p> +The markgraf, standing near the forest in the rear of the army, watched the +battle through a field-glass. From time to time he removed the glass from his +eyes, looked at his staff, shrugged his shoulders and said with astonishment: +“They have gone mad; they want absolutely to force the bridge. A few guns +and two or three regiments might defend it against a whole army.” +</p> + +<p> +Vansovich advanced still more stubbornly with his men; hence the defence grew +still more resolute. The bridge became the central point of the battle, toward +which the whole Swedish line was approaching and concentrating. An hour later +the entire Swedish order of battle was changed, and they stood with flank to +their former position. The bridge was simply covered with a rain of fire and +iron. Vansovich’s men were falling thickly; meanwhile orders came more +and more urgent to advance absolutely. +</p> + +<p> +“Charnyetski is murdering those men!” cried Lyubomirski on a +sudden. +</p> + +<p> +Vitovski, as an experienced soldier, saw that evil was happening, and his whole +body quivered with impatience; at last he could endure no longer. Spurring his +horse till the beast groaned piteously, he rushed to Charnyetski, who during +all this time, it was unknown why, was pushing men toward the river. +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace,” cried Vitovski, “blood is flowing for nothing; +we cannot carry that bridge!” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not want to carry it!” answered Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“Then what does your grace want? What must we do?” +</p> + +<p> +“To the river with the squadrons! to the river! And you to your +place!” +</p> + +<p> +Here Charnyetski’s eyes flashed such lightnings that Vitovski withdrew +without saying a word. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the squadrons had come within twenty paces of the bank, and stood in +a long line parallel with the bed of the river. None of the officers or the +soldiers had the slightest suspicion of what they were doing. +</p> + +<p> +In a flash Charnyetski appeared like a thunderbolt before the front of the +squadrons. There was fire in his face, lightning in his eyes. A sharp wind had +raised the burka on his shoulders so that it was like strong wings: his horse +sprang and reared, casting fire from his nostrils. The castellan dropped his +sword on its pendant, took the cap from his head, and with hair erect shouted +to his division,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gentlemen! the enemy defends himself with this water, and jeers at us! +He has sailed through the sea to crush our fatherland, and he thinks that we in +defence of it cannot swim through this river!” +</p> + +<p> +Here he hurled his cap to the earth, and seizing his sabre pointed with it to +the swollen waters. Enthusiasm bore him away, for he stood in the saddle and +shouted more mightily still,— +</p> + +<p> +“To whom God, faith, fatherland, are all, follow me!” +</p> + +<p> +And pressing the horse with the spurs so that the steed sprang as it were into +space, he rushed into the river. The wave plashed around him; man and horse +were hidden under water, but they rose in the twinkle of an eye. +</p> + +<p> +“After my master!” cried Mihalko, the same who had covered himself +with glory at Rudnik; and he sprang into the water. +</p> + +<p> +“After me!” shouted Volodyovski, with a shrill but thin voice; and +he sprang in before he had finished shouting. +</p> + +<p> +“O Jesus! O Mary!” bellowed Zagloba, raising his horse for the +leap. +</p> + +<p> +With that an avalanche of men and horses dashed into the river, so that it +struck both banks with wild impetus. After the Lauda squadron went +Vishnyevetski’s, then Vitovski’s, then Stapkovski’s, after +that all the others. Such a frenzy seized the men that the squadrons crowded +one another in emulation; the shouts of command were mingled with the roar of +the soldiers; the river overflowed the banks and foamed itself into milk in a +moment. The current bore the regiments down somewhat; but the horses, pricked +with spurs, swam like a countless herd of dolphins, snorting and groaning. They +filled the river to such a degree that the mass of heads of horses and riders +formed as it were a bridge on which a man might have passed with dry foot to +the other bank. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski swam over first; but before the water had dropped from him the +Lauda squadron had followed him to land; then he waved his baton, and cried to +Volodyovski,— +</p> + +<p> +“On a gallop! Strike!” +</p> + +<p> +And to the Vishnyevetski squadron under Shandarovski,— +</p> + +<p> +“With them!” +</p> + +<p> +And so he sent the squadrons one after another, till he had sent all. He stood +at the head of the last himself, and shouting, “In the name of God! with +luck!” followed the others. +</p> + +<p> +Two regiments of Swedish cavalry posted in reserve saw what was happening; but +such amazement had seized the colonels that before they could move from their +tracks the Lauda men, urging their horses to the highest speed, and sweeping +with irresistible force, struck the first regiment, scattered that, as a +whirlwind scatters leaves, hurled it against the second, brought that to +disorder; then Shandarovski came up, and a terrible slaughter began, but of +short duration; after a while the Swedish ranks were broken, and a disordered +throng plunged forward toward the main army. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski’s squadron pursued them with a fearful outcry, slashing, +thrusting, strewing the field with corpses. +</p> + +<p> +At last it was clear why Charnyetski had commanded Vansovich to carry the +bridge, though he had no thought of crossing it. The chief attention of the +whole army had been concentrated on that point; therefore no one defended, or +had time to defend, the river itself. Besides nearly all the artillery and the +entire front of the Swedish army was turned toward the bridge; and now when +three thousand cavalry were rushing with all impetus against the flank of that +army, it was needful to change the order of battle, to form a new front, to +defend themselves even well or ill against the shock. Now rose a terrible haste +and confusion; infantry and cavalry regiments turned with all speed to face the +enemy, straining themselves in their hurry, knocking one against another, not +understanding commands in the uproar, acting independently. In vain did the +officers make superhuman efforts; in vain did the markgraf move straightway the +regiments of cavalry posted at the forest; before they came to any kind of +order, before the infantry could put the butt ends of their lances in the +ground to hold the points to the enemy, the Lauda squadron fell, like the +spirit of death, into the very midst of their ranks; after it a second, a +third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth squadron. Then began the day of judgment! +The smoke of musketry fire covered, as if with a cloud, the whole scene of +conflict; and in that cloud screams, seething, unearthly voices of despair, +shouts of triumph, the sharp clang of steel, as if in an infernal forge, the +rattling of muskets; at times a flag shone and fell in the smoke; then the +gilded point of a regimental banner, and again you saw nothing; but a roar was +heard more and more terrible, as if the earth had broken on a sudden under the +river, and its waters were tumbling down into fathomless abysses. +</p> + +<p> +Now on the flank other sounds were heard. This was Vansovich, who had crossed +the bridge and was marching on the new flank of the enemy. After this the +battle did not last long. +</p> + +<p> +From out that cloud large groups of men began to push, and run toward the +forest in disorder, wild, without caps, without helmets, without armor. Soon +after them burst out a whole flood of people in the most dreadful disorder. +Artillery, infantry, cavalry mingled together fled toward the forest at random, +in alarm and terror. Some soldiers cried in sky-piercing voices; others fled in +silence, covering their heads with their hands. Some in their haste threw away +their clothing; others stopped those running ahead, fell down themselves, +trampled one another; and right there behind them, on their shoulders and +heads, rushed a line of Polish cavaliers. Every moment you saw whole ranks of +them spurring their horses and rushing into the densest throngs of men. No one +defended himself longer; all went under the sword. Body fell upon body. The +Poles hewed without rest, without mercy, on the whole plain; along the bank of +the river toward the forest, as far as the eye could reach you saw merely +pursued and pursuing; only here and there scattered groups of infantry offered +an irregular, despairing resistance; the cannons were silent. The battle ceased +to be a battle; it had turned into a slaughter. +</p> + +<p> +All that part of the army which fled toward the forest was cut to pieces; only +a few squadrons of Swedish troopers entered it. After them the light squadrons +of Poles sprang in among the trees. +</p> + +<p> +But in the forest peasants were waiting for that unslain remnant,—the +peasants who at the sound of the battle had rushed together from all the +surrounding villages. +</p> + +<p> +The most terrible pursuit, however, continued on the road to Warsaw, along +which the main forces of the Swedes were fleeing. The young Markgraf Adolph +struggled twice to cover the retreat; but beaten twice, he fell into captivity +himself. His auxiliary division of French infantry, composed of four hundred +men, threw away their arms; three thousand chosen soldiers, musketeers and +cavalry, fled as far as Mnishev. The musketeers were cut down in Mnishev; the +cavalry were pursued toward Chersk, until they were scattered completely +through the forest, reeds, and brush; there the peasants hunted them out one by +one on the morrow. +</p> + +<p> +Before the sun had set, the army of Friederich, Markgraf of Baden, had ceased +to exist. +</p> + +<p> +On the first scene of battle there remained only the standard-bearers with +their standards, for all the troops had followed the enemy. And the sun was +well inclined to its setting when the first bodies of cavalry began to appear +from the side of the forest and Mnishev. They returned with singing and uproar, +hurling their caps in the air, firing from pistols. Almost all led with them +crowds of bound prisoners. These walked at the sides of the horses they were +without caps, without helmets, with heads drooping on their breasts, torn, +bloody, stumbling every moment against the bodies of fallen comrades. The field +of battle presented a terrible sight. In places, where the struggle had been +fiercest, there lay simply piles of bodies half a spear-length in height. Some +of the infantry still held in their stiffened hands long spears. The whole +ground was covered with spears. In places they were sticking still in the +earth; here and there pieces of them formed as it were fences and pickets. But +on all sides was presented mostly a dreadful and pitiful mingling of bodies, of +men mashed with hoofs, broken muskets, drums, trumpets, caps, belts, tin boxes +which the infantry carried; hands and feet sticking out in such disorder from +the piles of bodies that it was difficult to tell to what body they belonged. +In those places specially where the infantry defended itself whole breastworks +of corpses were lying. +</p> + +<p> +Somewhat farther on, near the river, stood the artillery, now cold, some pieces +overturned by the onrush of men, others as it were ready to be fired. At the +sides of them lay the cannoneers now held in eternal sleep. Many bodies were +hanging across the guns and embracing them with their arms, as if those +soldiers wished still to defend them after death. The brass, spotted with blood +and brains, glittered with ill omen in the beams of the setting sun. The golden +rays were reflected in stiffened blood, which here and there formed little +lakes. Its nauseating odor was mingled over the whole field with the smell of +powder, the exhalation from bodies, and the sweat of horses. +</p> + +<p> +Before the setting of the sun Charnyetski returned with the king’s +regiment, and stood in the middle of the field. The troops greeted him with a +thundering shout. Whenever a detachment came up it cheered without end. He +stood in the rays of the sun, wearied beyond measure, but all radiant, with +bare head, his sword hanging on his belt, and he answered to every +cheer,— +</p> + +<p> +“Not to me, gentlemen, not to me, but to the name of God!” +</p> + +<p> +At his side were Vitovski and Lyubomirski, the latter as bright as the sun +itself, for he was in gilded plate armor, his face splashed with blood; for he +had worked terribly and labored with his own hand as a simple soldier, but +discontented and gloomy, for even his own regiments shouted,— +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Charnyetski, <i>dux et victor</i> (commander and +conqueror)!” +</p> + +<p> +Envy began then to dive into the soul of the marshal. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile new divisions rolled in from every side of the field; each time an +officer came up and threw a banner, captured from the enemy, at +Charnyetski’s feet. At sight of this rose new shouts, new cheers, hurling +of caps into the air, and the firing of pistols. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was sinking lower and lower. +</p> + +<p> +Then in the one church that remained after the fire in Varka they sounded the +Angelus; that moment all uncovered their heads. Father Pyekarski, the company +priest, began to intone: “The Angel of the Lord announced unto the Most +Holy Virgin Mary!” and a thousand iron breasts answered at once, with +deep voices: “And she conceived of the Holy Ghost!” +</p> + +<p> +All eyes were raised to the heavens, which were red with the evening twilight; +and from that bloody battle-field began to rise a pious hymn to the light +playing in the sky before night. +</p> + +<p> +Just as they had ceased to sing, the Lauda squadron began to come up at a trot; +it had chased the enemy farthest. The soldiers throw more banners at +Charnyetski’s feet. He rejoiced in heart, and seeing Volodyovski, urged +his horse toward him and asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Have many of them escaped?” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael shook his head as a sign that not many had escaped, but he was so +near being breathless that he was unable to utter one word; he merely gasped +with open mouth, time after time, so that his breast was heaving. At last he +pointed to his lips, as a sign that he could not speak. Charnyetski understood +him and pressed his head. +</p> + +<p> +“He has toiled!” said he; “God grant us more such.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba hurried to catch his breath, and said, with chattering teeth and broken +voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake! The cold wind is blowing on me, and I am all in a +sweat. Paralysis will strike me. Pull the clothes off some fat Swede and give +them to me, for everything on me is wet,—wet, and it is wet in this +place. I know not what is water, what is my own sweat, and what is Swedish +blood. If I have ever expected in my life to cut down so many of those +scoundrels, I am not fit to be the crupper of a saddle. The greatest victory of +this war! But I will not spring into water a second time. Eat not, drink not, +sleep not, and then a bath! I have had enough in my old years. My hand is +benumbed; paralysis has struck me already; gorailka, for the dear God!” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski, hearing this, and seeing the old man really covered completely +with the blood of the enemy, took pity on his age and gave him his own canteen. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba raised it to his mouth, and after a while returned it empty; then he +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I have gulped so much water in the Pilitsa, that we shall soon see how +fish will hatch in my stomach; but that gorailka is better than water.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dress in other clothes, even Swedish,” said Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll find a big Swede for Uncle!” said Roh. +</p> + +<p> +“Why should I have bloody clothes from a corpse?” said Zagloba; +“take off everything to the shirt from that general whom I +captured.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you taken a general?” asked Charnyetski, with animation. +</p> + +<p> +“Whom have I not taken, whom have I not slain?” answered Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Now Volodyovski recovered speech: “We have taken the younger markgraf, +Adolph; Count Falckenstein, General Wegier, General Poter Benzij, not counting +inferior officers.” +</p> + +<p> +“But the Markgraf Friederich?” asked Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“If he has not fallen here, he has escaped to the forest; but if he has +escaped, the peasants will kill him.” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski was mistaken in his previsions. The Markgraf Friederich with Counts +Schlippenbach and Ehrenhain, wandering through the forest, made their way in +the night to Chersk; after sitting there in the ruined castle three days and +nights in hunger and cold, they wandered by night to Warsaw. That did not save +them from captivity afterward; this time, however, they escaped. +</p> + +<p> +It was night when Charnyetski came to Varka from the field. That was perhaps +the gladdest night of his life, for such a great disaster the Swedes had not +suffered since the beginning of the war. All the artillery, all the flags, all +the officers, except the chief, were captured. The army was cut to pieces, +driven to the four winds; the remnants of it were forced to fall victims to +bands of peasants. But besides, it was shown that those Swedes who held +themselves invincible could not stand before regular Polish squadrons in the +open field. Charnyetski understood at last what a mighty result this victory +would work in the whole Commonwealth,—how it would raise courage, how it +would rouse enthusiasm; he saw already the whole Commonwealth, in no distant +future, free from oppression, triumphant. Perhaps, too, he saw with the eyes of +his mind the gilded baton of the grand hetman on the sky. +</p> + +<p> +He was permitted to dream of this, for he had advanced toward it as a true +soldier, as a defender of his country, and he was of those who grow not from +salt nor from the soil, but from that which pains them. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile he could hardly embrace with his whole soul the joy which flowed in +upon him; therefore he turned to Lyubomirski, riding at his side, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Now to Sandomir! to Sandomir with all speed! Since the army knows now +how to swim rivers, neither the San nor the Vistula will frighten us!” +</p> + +<p> +Lyubomirski said not a word; but Zagloba, riding a little apart in Swedish +uniform, permitted himself to say aloud,— +</p> + +<p> +“Go where you like, but without me, for I am not a weathercock to turn +night and day without food or sleep.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski was so rejoiced that he was not only not angry, but he answered in +jest,— +</p> + +<p> +“You are more like the belfry than the weathercock, since, as I see, you +have sparrows in your head. But as to eating and rest it belongs to all.” +</p> + +<p> +To which Zagloba said, but in an undertone. “Whoso has a beak on his face +has a sparrow on his mind.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<p> +After that victory Charnyetski permitted at last the army to take breath and +feed the wearied horses; then he was to return to Sandomir by forced marches, +and bend the King of Sweden to his fall. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Kharlamp came to the camp one evening with news from Sapyeha. +Charnyetski was at Chersk, whither he had gone to review the general militia +assembled at that town. Kharlamp, not finding the chief, betook himself at once +to Pan Michael, so as to rest at his quarters after the long journey. +</p> + +<p> +His friends greeted him joyously; but he, at the very beginning, showed them a +gloomy face and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard of your victory. Fortune smiled here, but bore down on us +in Sandomir. Karl Gustav is no longer in the sack, for he got out, and, +besides, with great confusion to the Lithuanian troops.” +</p> + +<p> +“Can that be?” cried Pan Michael, seizing his head. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Yan, Pan Stanislav, and Zagloba were as if fixed to the earth. +</p> + +<p> +“How was it? Tell, by the living God, for I cannot stay in my +skin!” +</p> + +<p> +“Breath fails me yet,” said Kharlamp; “I have ridden day and +night, I am terribly tired. Charnyetski will come, then I will tell all from +the beginning. Let me now draw breath a little.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then Karl has gone out of the sack. I foresaw that, did I not? Do you +not remember that I prophesied it? Let Kovalski testify.” +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle foretold it,” said Roh. +</p> + +<p> +“And whither has Karl gone?” asked Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“The infantry sailed down in boats; but he, with cavalry, has gone along +the Vistula to Warsaw.” +</p> + +<p> +“Was there a battle?” +</p> + +<p> +“There was and there was not. In brief, give me peace, for I cannot +talk.” +</p> + +<p> +“But tell me one thing. Is Sapyeha crushed altogether?” +</p> + +<p> +“How crushed! He is pursuing the king; but of course Sapyeha will never +come up with anybody.” +</p> + +<p> +“He is as good at pursuit as a German at fasting,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God for even this, that the army is intact!” put in +Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“The Lithuanians have got into trouble!” said Zagloba. “Ah, +it is a bad case! Again we must watch a hole in the Commonwealth +together.” +</p> + +<p> +“Say nothing against the Lithuanian army,” said Kharlamp. +“Karl Gustav is a great warrior, and it is no wonder to lose against him. +And did not you, from Poland, lose at Uistsie, at Volbor, at Suleyov, and in +ten other places? Charnyetski himself lost at Golembo. Why should not Sapyeha +lose, especially when you left him alone like an orphan?” +</p> + +<p> +“But why did we go to a dance at Varka?” asked Zagloba, with +indignation. +</p> + +<p> +“I know that it was not a dance, but a battle, and God gave you the +victory. But who knows, perhaps it had been better not to go; for among us they +say that the troops of both nations (Lithuanian and Poland) may be beaten +separately, but together the cavalry of hell itself could not manage +them.” +</p> + +<p> +“That may be,” said Volodyovski; “but what the leaders have +decided is not for us to discuss. This did not happen, either, without your +fault.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sapyo must have blundered; I know him!” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot deny that,” muttered Kharlamp. +</p> + +<p> +They were silent awhile, but from time to time looked at one another gloomily, +for to them it seemed that the fortune of the Commonwealth was beginning to +sink, and yet such a short time before they were full of hope and confidence. +</p> + +<p> +“Charnyetski is coming!” said Volodyovski; and he went out of the +room. +</p> + +<p> +The castellan was really returning; Volodyovski went to meet him, and began to +call from a distance,— +</p> + +<p> +“The King of Sweden has broken through the Lithuanian army, and escaped +from the sack. There is an officer here with letters from the voevoda of +Vilna.” +</p> + +<p> +“Bring him here!” cried Charnyetski. “Where is he?” +</p> + +<p> +“With me; I will present him at once.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski took the news so much to heart that he would not wait, but sprang +at once from his saddle and entered Volodyovski’s quarters. +</p> + +<p> +All rose when they saw him enter; he barely nodded and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I ask for the letter!” +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp gave him a sealed letter. The castellan went to the window, for it was +dark in the cottage, and began to read with frowning brow and anxious face. +From instant to instant anger gleamed on his countenance. +</p> + +<p> +“The castellan has changed,” whispered Zagloba to Pan Yan; +“see how his beak has grown red. He will begin to lisp right away, he +always does when in anger.” +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski finished the letter. For a time he twisted his beard with his whole +hand; at last he called out with a jingling, indistinct voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“Come this way, officer!” +</p> + +<p> +“At command of your worthiness!” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me the truth,” said Charnyetski, with emphasis, “for +this narrative is so artfully put together that I am unable to get at the +affair. But—tell me the truth, do not color it—is the army +dispersed?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not dispersed at all, your grace.” +</p> + +<p> +“How many days are needed to assemble it?” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zagloba whispered to Pan Yan: “He wants to come at him from the left +hand as it were.” +</p> + +<p> +But Kharlamp answered without hesitation,— +</p> + +<p> +“Since the army is not dispersed, it does not need to be assembled. It is +true that when I was leaving, about five hundred horse of the general militia +could not be found, were not among the fallen; but that is a common thing, and +the army does not suffer from that; the hetman has even moved after the king in +good order.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have lost no cannon?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, we lost four, which the Swedes, not being able to take with them, +spiked.” +</p> + +<p> +“I see that you tell the truth; tell me then how everything +happened.” +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Incipiam</i> (I will begin),” said Kharlamp. “When we +were left alone, the enemy saw that there was no army on the Vistula, nothing +but parties and irregular detachments. We thought—or, properly speaking, +Pan Sapyeha thought—that the king would attack those, and he sent +reinforcements, but not considerable, so as not to weaken himself. Meanwhile +there was a movement and a noise among the Swedes, as in a beehive. Toward +evening they began to come out in crowds to the San. We were at the +voevoda’s quarters. Pan Kmita, who is called Babinich now, a soldier of +the first degree, came up and reported this. But Pan Sapyeha was just sitting +down to a feast, to which a multitude of noble women from Krasnik and Yanov had +assembled—for the voevoda is fond of the fair sex—” +</p> + +<p> +“And he loves feasting!” interrupted Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“I am not with him; there is no one to incline him to temperance,” +put in Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe you will be with him sooner than you think; then you can both +begin to be temperate,” retorted Charnyetski. Then he turned to Kharlamp: +“Speak on!” +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich reported, and the voevoda answered: ‘They are only +pretending to attack; they will undertake nothing! First,’ said he, +‘they will try to cross the Vistula; but I have an eye on them, and I +will attack myself. At present,’ said he, ‘we will not spoil our +pleasure, so that we may have a joyous time! We will eat and drink.’ The +music began to tear away, and the voevoda invited those present to the +dance.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll give him dancing!” interrupted Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Silence, if you please!” said Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“Again men rush in from the bank saying that there is a terrible uproar. +‘That’s nothing!’ the voevoda whispered to the page; +‘do not interrupt me!’ We danced till daylight, we slept till +midday. At midday we see that the intrenchments are bristling, forty-eight +pound guns on them; and the Swedes fire from time to time. When a ball falls it +is the size of a bucket; it is nothing for such a one to fill the eyes with +dust.” +</p> + +<p> +“Give no embellishments!” interrupted Charnyetski; “you are +not with the hetman.” +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp was greatly confused, and continued: “At midday the voevoda +himself went out. The Swedes under cover of these trenches began to build a +bridge. They worked till evening, to our great astonishment; for we thought +that as to building they would build, but as to crossing they would not be able +to do that. Next day they built on. The voevoda put the troops in order, for he +expected a battle.” +</p> + +<p> +“All this time the bridge was a pretext, and they crossed lower down over +another bridge, and turned your flank?” interrupted Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +Kharlamp stared and opened his mouth, he was silent in amazement; but at last +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Then your worthiness has had an account already?” +</p> + +<p> +“No need of that!” said Zagloba; “our grandfather guesses +everything concerning war on the wing, as if he had seen it in fact.” +</p> + +<p> +“Speak on!” said Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +“Evening came. The troops were in readiness, but with the first star +there was a feast again. This time the Swedes passed over the second bridge +lower down, and attacked us at once. The squadron of Pan Koshyts, a good +soldier, was at the edge. He rushed on them. The general militia which was next +to him sprang to his aid; but when the Swedes spat at them from the guns, they +took to their heels. Pan Koshyts was killed, and his men terribly cut up. Now +the general militia, rushing back in a crowd on the camp, put everything in +disorder. All the squadrons that were ready advanced; but we effected nothing, +lost cannon besides. If the king had had more cannon and infantry, our defeat +would have been severe; but fortunately the greater number of the infantry +regiments with the cannon had sailed away in boats during the night. Of this no +one of us knew.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sapyo has blundered! I knew it beforehand!” cried Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“We got the correspondence of the king,” added Kharlamp, +“which the Swedes dropped. The soldiers read in it that the king is to go +to Prussia to return with the elector’s forces, for, he writes, that with +Swedish troops alone he cannot succeed.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know of that,” said Charnyetski. “Pan Sapyeha sent me that +letter.” Then he muttered quietly, as if speaking to himself: “We +must follow him to Prussia.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is what I have been saying this long time,” put in Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski looked at him for a while in thoughtfulness. “It is +unfortunate,” said he, aloud; “for if I had returned to Sandomir +the hetman and I should not have let a foot of them out alive. Well! it has +passed and will not return. The war will be longer; but death is fated to this +invasion and to these invaders.” +</p> + +<p> +“It cannot be otherwise!” cried the knights in chorus; and great +consolation entered their hearts, though a short time before they had doubted. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Zagloba whispered something in Jendzian’s ear; he vanished +through the door, and soon returned with a decanter. Seeing this, Volodyovski +inclined to the knee of the castellan. +</p> + +<p> +“It would be an uncommon favor for a simple soldier,” he began. +</p> + +<p> +“I will drink with you willingly,” said Charnyetski; “and do +you know why?—because we must part.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” cried the astonished Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“Sapyeha writes that the Lauda squadron belongs to the Lithuanian army, +and that he sent it only to assist the forces of the kingdom; that now he will +need it himself, especially the officers, of whom he has a great lack. My +Volodyovski, you know how much I love you; it is hard for me to part with you, +but here is the order. It is true Pan Sapyeha as a courteous man leaves the +order in my power and discretion. I might not show it to you.—Well, it is +as pleasant to me as if the hetman had broken my best sabre. I give you the +order precisely because it is left to my discretion, and do your duty. To your +health, my dear soldier!” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski bowed again to the castellan’s knees; but he was so +distressed that he could not utter a word, and when Charnyetski embraced him +tears ran in a stream over his yellow mustaches. +</p> + +<p> +“I would rather die!” cried he, pitifully. “I have grown +accustomed to toil under you, revered leader, and there I know not how it will +be.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Michael, do not mind the order,” cried Zagloba, with emotion. +“I will write to Sapyo myself, and rub his ears for him fittingly.” +</p> + +<p> +But Pan Michael first of all was a soldier; therefore he flew into a +passion,— +</p> + +<p> +“But the old volunteer is ever sitting in you. You would better be silent +when you know not the question. Service!” +</p> + +<p> +“That is it,” said Charnyetski. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<p> +Zagloba when he stood before the hetman did not answer his joyous greeting, but +put his hands behind his back, pouted his lips, and looked on him like a just +but stern judge. Sapyeha was pleased when he saw that mien, for he expected +some pleasantry and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“How are you, old rogue? Why twist your nose as if you had found some +unvirtuous odor?” +</p> + +<p> +“In the whole camp of Sapyeha it smells of hashed meat and +cabbage.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why? Tell me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Because the Swedes have cut up a great many cabbage-heads!” +</p> + +<p> +“There you are! You are already criticising us. It is a pity they did not +cut you up too.” +</p> + +<p> +“I was with a leader under whom we are the cutters, not the cut.” +</p> + +<p> +“The hangman take you! if they had even clipped your tongue!” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I should have nothing to proclaim Sapyeha’s victory +with.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, lord brother, spare me! The majority already forget my service to +the country, and belittle me altogether. I know too that there are many who +make a great outcry against my person; still, had it not been for that rabble +of a general militia, affairs might have gone differently. They say that I have +neglected the enemy for night feasting; but the whole Commonwealth has not been +able to resist that enemy.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba was somewhat moved at the words of the hetman, and answered,— +</p> + +<p> +“Such is the custom with us, always to put the blame on the leader. I am +not the man to speak evil of feasting, for the longer the day, the more needful +the feast. Pan Charnyetski is a great warrior; still, according to my head, he +has this defect,—that he gives his troops for breakfast, for dinner, and +for supper nothing but Swedes’ flesh. He is a better leader than cook; +but he acts ill, for from such food war may soon become disgusting to the best +cavaliers.” +</p> + +<p> +“Was Charnyetski very much enraged at me?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, not very! In the beginning he showed a great change; but when he +discovered that the army was unbroken, he said at once: ‘The will of God, +not the might of men! That is nothing! any general may lose a battle. If we had +Sapyehas only in the land, we should have a country in which every man would be +an Aristides.’” +</p> + +<p> +“For Pan Charnyetski I would not spare my blood!” answered Sapyeha. +“Every other would have lowered me, so as to exalt himself and his own +glory, especially after a fresh victory; but he is not that kind of man.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will say nothing against him but this,—that I am too old for +such service as he expects of soldiers, and especially for those baths which he +gives the army.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then are you glad to return to me?” +</p> + +<p> +“Glad and not glad, for I hear of feasting for an hour, but somehow I +don’t see it.” +</p> + +<p> +“We will sit down to the table this minute. But what is Charnyetski +undertaking now?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is going to Great Poland to help those poor people; from there he +will march against Steinbock and to Prussia, hoping to get cannon and infantry +from Dantzig.” +</p> + +<p> +“The citizens of Dantzig are worthy people, and give a shining example to +the whole Commonwealth. We shall meet Charnyetski at Warsaw, for I shall march +there, but will stop a little first around Lublin.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then have the Swedes besieged Lublin again?” +</p> + +<p> +“Unhappy place! I know not how many times it has been in the hands of the +enemy. There is a deputation here now from Lubelsk, and they will appear with a +petition asking me to save them. But as I have letters to despatch to the king +and the hetmans, they must wait awhile.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will go gladly to Lublin, for there the fair heads are comely beyond +measure, and sprightly. When a woman of that place is cutting bread, and puts +the loaf against herself, the crust on the lifeless bread blushes from +delight.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Turk!” +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, as a man advanced in years, cannot understand this; but +I, like May, must let my blood out yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“But you are older than I.” +</p> + +<p> +“Only in experience, not in years. I have been able <i>conservare +juventutem meam</i> (to preserve my youth), and more than one man has envied me +that power. Permit me, your worthiness, to receive the Lubelsk deputation. I +will promise to aid them at once; let the poor men comfort themselves before we +comfort the poor women.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well,” said the hetman; “then I will write the +letters.” And he went out. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately after were admitted the deputies from Lubelsk, whom Zagloba +received with uncommon dignity and seriousness. He promised assistance on +condition that they would furnish the army with provisions, especially with +every kind of drink. When the conditions were settled, he invited them in the +name of the voevoda to supper. They were glad, for the army marched that night +toward Lublin. The hetman himself was active beyond measure, for it was a +question with him of effacing the memory of the Sandomir defeat by some +military success. +</p> + +<p> +The siege began, but advanced rather slowly. During this time Kmita was +learning from Volodyovski to work with the sabre, and made uncommon progress. +Pan Michael, knowing that his art was to be used against Boguslav’s neck, +held back no secret. Often too they had better practice; for, approaching the +castle, they challenged to single combat the Swedes, many of whom they slew. +Soon Kmita had made such advance that he could meet Pan Yan on equal terms; no +one in the whole army of Sapyeha could stand before him. Then such a desire to +try Boguslav seized his soul that he was barely able to remain at Lublin, +especially since the spring brought back to him strength and health. His wounds +had healed, he ceased to spit blood, life played in him as of old, and fire +gleamed in his eyes. At first the Lauda men looked at him frowningly; but they +dared in not attack, for Volodyovski held them with iron hand; and later, when +they considered his acts and his deeds, they were reconciled completely, and +his most inveterate enemy, Yuzva Butrym, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Kmita is dead; Babinich is living, let him live.” +</p> + +<p> +The Lubelsk garrison surrendered at last, to the great delight of the army; +then Sapyeha moved his squadrons toward Warsaw. On the road they received +tidings that Yan Kazimir himself, with the hetmans and a fresh army, was +advancing to aid them. News came too from Charnyetski, who was marching to the +capital from Great Poland. The war, scattered through the whole country, was +gathering at Warsaw, as a cloud scattered in the sky gathers and thickens to +give birth to a storm with thunders and lightnings. +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha marched through Jelehi, Garvolin, and Minsk to the Syedlets highway, to +join the general militia of Podlyasye. Pan Yan took command of this multitude; +for though living in Lubelsk, he was near the boundary of Podlyasye, and was +known to all the nobles, and greatly esteemed by them as one of the most famous +knights in the Commonwealth. In fact, he soon changed that nobility, gallant by +nature, into a squadron second in no way to regular troops. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile they moved from Minsk forward to Warsaw very hastily, so as to stop +at Praga one day. Fair weather favored the march. From time to time May showers +sped past, cooling the ground and settling the dust; but on the whole the +weather was marvellously fair,—not too hot, not too cold. The eye saw far +through the transparent air. From Minsk they went mounted; the wagons and +cannon were to follow next day. An immense eagerness reigned in the regiments; +the dense forests on both sides of the whole road were ringing with echoes of +military songs, the horses nodded as a good omen. The squadrons regularly and +in order flowed on, one after the other, like a river shining and mighty; for +Sapyeha led twelve thousand men, besides the general militia. The captains +leading the regiments were gleaming in their polished cuirasses; the red flags +waved like gigantic flowers above the heads of the knights. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was well toward its setting when the first squadron, that of Lauda, +marching in advance, beheld the towers of the capital. At sight of this, a +joyful shout tore from the breasts of the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“Warsaw! Warsaw!” +</p> + +<p> +That shout flew like thunder through all the squadrons, and for some time was +to be heard over two miles of road the word, “Warsaw! Warsaw!” +</p> + +<p> +Many of Sapyeha’s knights had never been in the capital; many of them had +never seen it; therefore the sight made an uncommon impression on them. +Involuntarily all reined in their horses; some removed their caps, others made +the sign of the cross; tears streamed from the eyes of others, and they stood +in silent emotion. All at once Sapyeha came out from the rear ranks on a white +horse, and began to fly along the squadrons. +</p> + +<p> +“Gentlemen!” cried he, in a piercing voice, “we are here +first! To us luck, to us honor! We will drive the Swedes out of the +capital!” +</p> + +<p> +“We’ll drive them! We’ll drive them! We’ll drive +them!” +</p> + +<p> +And there rose a sound and a thunder. Some shouted continually, +“We’ll drive them!” Others cried, “Strike, whoso has +manhood!” Others, “Against them, the dog-brothers!” The +rattle of sabres was mingled with the shouts of the knights. Eyes flashed +lightning, and from under fierce mustaches teeth were gleaming. Sapyeha himself +was sputtering like a pine torch. All at once he raised his baton, and +cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Follow me!” +</p> + +<p> +Near Praga the voevoda restrained the squadron and commanded a slow march. The +capital rose more and more clearly out of the bluish distance. Towers were +outlined in a long line on the azure of the sky. The red many-storied roofs of +the Old City were gleaming in the evening light. The Lithuanians had never seen +anything more imposing in their lives than those white lofty walls pierced with +multitudes of narrow windows; those walls standing like lofty swamp-reeds over +the water. The houses seemed to grow some out of others, high and still higher; +but above that dense and close mass of walls with windows and roofs, pointed +towers pierced the sky. Those of the soldiers who had been in the capital +previously, either at an election or on private affairs, explained to the +others what each pile meant and what name it bore. Zagloba especially, as a +person of experience, told all to the Lauda men, and they listened to him +eagerly, wondering at his words and the city itself. +</p> + +<p> +“Look at that tower in the very centre of Warsaw! That is the citadel of +the king. Oh that I could live as many years as I have eaten dinners at the +king’s table! I would twist Methuselah into a ram’s horn. The king +had no nearer confidant than me; I could choose among starostaships as among +nuts, and give them away as easily as hob-nails. I have given promotion to +multitudes of men, and when I came in senators used to bow to me to the girdle, +in Cossack fashion. I fought duels also in presence of the king, for he loved +to see me at work; the marshal of the palace had to close his eyes.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is a tremendous building!” said Roh Kovalski: “and to +think that these dogs have it all in hand!” +</p> + +<p> +“And they plunder terribly,” added Zagloba. “I hear that they +even take columns out of the walls and send them to Sweden; these columns are +of marble and other valuable stones. I shall not recognize the dear corners; +various writers justly describe this castle as the eighth wonder of the world. +The King of France has a respectable palace, but it is a fool in comparison +with this one.” +</p> + +<p> +“And that other tower over there near it, on the right?” +</p> + +<p> +“That is St. Yan. There is a gallery from the castle to it. I had a +vision in that church, for I remained behind once after vespers; I heard a +voice from the arches, crying, ‘Zagloba, there will be war with such a +son the Swedish king, and great calamities will follow.’ I was running +with all my breath to the king to tell him what I had heard, when the primate +caught me by the neck with his crosier. ‘Don’t tell follies,’ +said he; ‘you were drunk!’ That other church just at the side +belongs to the Jesuit college; the third tower at a distance is the law courts; +the fourth at the right is the marshals, and that green roof is the Dominicans. +I could not name them all, even if I could wield my tongue as well as I do my +sabre.” +</p> + +<p> +“It must be that there is not another such city in the world,” said +one of the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“That is why all nations envy us!” answered Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“And that wonderful pile on the left of the castle?” +</p> + +<p> +“Behind the Bernardines?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is the Radzeyovski Palace, formerly the Kazanovski. It is +considered the ninth wonder of the world; but there is a plague on it, for in +those walls began the misfortune of the Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked a number of voices. +</p> + +<p> +“When the vice-chancellor Radzeyovski began to dispute and quarrel with +his wife, the king took her part. You know, gentlemen, what people said of +this; and it is true that the vice-chancellor thought that his wife was in love +with the king, and the king with her; then afterward, through hatred, he fled +to the Swedes, and war began. To tell the truth, I was in the country at the +moment, and did not see the end of the affair, I got it from hearsay; but I +know this, that she made sweet eyes, not at the king, but at some one +else.” +</p> + +<p> +“At whom?” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba began to twirl his mustaches: “At him to whom all are hurrying +like ants to honey; but it does not beseem me to mention his name, for I have +always hated boastfulness. Besides, the man has grown old, and from sweeping +out the enemy of the country, I am worn as a broom; but once there was no +greater beauty and love maker than I. Let Roh Kovalski—” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zagloba saw that by no means could Roh remember those times; therefore he +waved his hand, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“But what does he know of this affair?” +</p> + +<p> +Then he pointed out the palaces of Ossolinski and Konyetspolski, palaces which +were in size almost equal to the Radzeyovski; finally the splendid villa Regia; +and then the sun went down, and the darkness of night began to fill the air. +</p> + +<p> +The thunder of guns was heard on the walls of Warsaw, and trumpets were sounded +a considerable time and prolonged, in sign that the enemy was approaching. +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha also announced his coming by firing from muskets, to give courage to +the inhabitants; and that night he began to transport his army across the +Vistula. First the Lauda squadron passed; second the squadron of Pan Kotvich; +then Kmita’s Tartars; then Vankovich’s squadron; after that, eight +thousand men. In this way the Swedes, with their accumulated plunder, were +surrounded and deprived of communication; but nothing remained to Sapyeha +except to wait till Charnyetski from one side, and from the other Yan Kazimir +with the hetmans of the kingdom, marched up, and meanwhile to see that no +reinforcements stole through to the city. +</p> + +<p> +The first news came from Charnyetski, but not overfavorable, for he reported +that his troops and horses were so exhausted that at that moment he could not +take part in the siege. From the time of the battle of Varka, they were under +fire day after day; and from the first months of the year they had fought +twenty-one great battles with the Swedes, not counting the engagements of +scouting-parties and the attacks on smaller detachments. He had not obtained +infantry in Pomerania, and had not been able to advance to Dantzig; he +promised, at most, to hold in check with the rest of his forces that Swedish +army which under the brother of the king, Radzivill, and Douglas, was stationed +at Narev, and apparently was preparing to come to the aid of the besieged. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes prepared for defence with the bravery and skill peculiar to them. +They burned Praga before the arrival of Sapyeha; they had begun already to +throw bombs into all the suburbs, such as the Cracow and the Novy-Sviat, and on +the other side against the church of St. Yerzy and the Virgin Mary. Then +houses, great buildings, and churches flamed up. In the daytime smoke rolled +over the city like clouds, thick and dark. At night those clouds became red, +and bundles of sparks burst forth from them toward the sky. Outside the walls, +crowds of people were wandering, without roofs over their heads, without bread; +women surrounded Sapyeha’s camp, and cried for charity; people were seen +as thin as pincers from hunger; children were dying for want of food, in the +arms of emaciated mothers; the suburbs were turned into a vale of tears and +misery. +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha, having neither infantry nor cannon, waited and waited for the coming +of the king. Meanwhile he aided the poor, sending them in groups to the less +injured neighborhoods, in which they might survive in some way. He was troubled +not a little when he foresaw the difficulties of the siege, for the skilled +engineers of Sweden had turned Warsaw into a strong fortress. Behind the walls +were three thousand trained soldiers, led by able and experienced generals; on +the whole, the Swedes passed as masters in besieging and defending great +fortresses. To solace this trouble, Sapyeha arranged daily feasts, during which +the goblets circled freely; for that worthy citizen and uncommon warrior had +this failing,—he loved company and the clatter of glasses above all +things, and therefore neglected frequently service for pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +His diligence in the daytime he balanced by negligence at night. Till sunset he +worked faithfully, sent out scouts, despatched letters, inspected pickets +himself, examined the informants brought in; but with the first star even +fiddles were heard in his quarters. And when once he felt joyous he permitted +everything, sent for officers even though on guard or appointed to scouting +expeditions, and was angry if any one failed to appear, since for him there was +no feast without a throng. In the morning Zagloba reproached him seriously, but +in the night the servants bore Zagloba himself without consciousness to +Volodyovski’s quarters. +</p> + +<p> +“Sapyeha would make a saint fall,” he explained next day to his +friends; “and what must happen to me, who have been always fond of sport? +Besides, he has some kind of special passion to force goblets on me, and I, not +wishing to seem rude, yield to his pressing; this I do to avoid offending the +host. But I have made a vow that at the coming Advent I shall have my back well +covered with discipline (stripes), for I understand myself that this yielding +cannot remain without penance; but now I have to keep on good terms with him, +out of fear that I might fall into worse company and indulge myself +altogether.” +</p> + +<p> +There were officers who without the eye of the hetman accomplished their +service; but some neglected it terribly in the evenings, as ordinary soldiers +do when they feel no iron hand above them. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy was not slow to take advantage of this. Two days before the coming of +the king and the hetmans, Sapyeha arranged his most splendid feast, for he was +rejoiced that all the troops were coming, and that the siege would begin in +earnest. All the best known officers were invited; the hetman, ever in search +of an opportunity, announced that that feast would be in honor of the king. To +Kmita, Zagloba, Pan Yan, Pan Stanislav, and Kharlamp were sent special orders +to come without fail, for the hetman wished to honor them particularly for +their great services. Pan Andrei had just mounted his horse to go with a party, +so that the orderly found the Tartars outside the gate. +</p> + +<p> +“You cannot show the hetman disrespect, and return rudeness for +kindness,” said the officer. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita dismounted and went to ask advice of his comrades. +</p> + +<p> +“This is dreadfully awkward for me,” said he. “I have heard +that a considerable body of cavalry has appeared near Babitsi. The hetman +himself commanded me to learn absolutely who they are, and now he asks me to +the feast. What must I do?” +</p> + +<p> +“The hetman has sent an order to let Akbah Ulan go with the +scouting-party,” answered the officer. +</p> + +<p> +“An order is an order!” said Zagloba, “and whoso is a soldier +must obey. Be careful not to give an evil example; and besides it would not be +well for you to incur the ill-will of the hetman.” +</p> + +<p> +“Say that I will come,” said Kmita to the orderly. +</p> + +<p> +The officer went out. The Tartars rode off under Akbah Ulan; and Kmita began to +dress a little, and while dressing said to his comrades,— +</p> + +<p> +“To-day there is a feast in honor of his Royal Grace; to-morrow there +will be one in honor of the hetmans of the kingdom, and so on to the end of the +siege.” +</p> + +<p> +“Only let the king come and this will be at an end,” answered +Volodyovski; “for though our gracious lord is fond of amusing himself in +every trouble, still service must go on more diligently, since every man, and +among others Pan Sapyeha, will endeavor to show his zeal.” +</p> + +<p> +“We have had too much of this, too much! There is no question on that +point,” said Pan Yan. “Is it not a wonder to you that such a +laborious leader, such a virtuous man, such a worthy citizen, has this +weakness?” +</p> + +<p> +“Just let night come and straightway he is another person, and from a +grand hetman turns into a reveller.” +</p> + +<p> +“But do you know why these banquets are not to my taste?” asked +Kmita. “It was the custom of Yanush Radzivill to have them almost every +evening. Imagine that, as if by some wonder, whenever there was a banquet, +either some misfortune happened, some evil tidings came, or some new treason of +the hetman was published. I do not know whether it was blind chance or an +ordinance of God; but it is enough that evil never came except in time of a +banquet. I tell you that at last it went so far that whenever they were setting +the table the skin began to creep on us.” +</p> + +<p> +“True, as God is dear to me!” added Kharlamp. “But it came +from this, that the prince hetman chose that time to announce his intrigues +with the enemy of the country.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said Zagloba, “at least we have nothing to fear from +the honest Sapyeha. If he will ever be a traitor, I am of as much value as my +boot-heel.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is nothing to be said on that point. He is as honest as bread +without a raw spot,” put in Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“And what he neglects in the evening he repairs in the day-time,” +added Kharlamp. +</p> + +<p> +“Then we will go,” said Zagloba, “for to tell the truth I +feel a void in my stomach.” +</p> + +<p> +They went out, mounted their horses, and rode off; for Sapyeha was on the other +side of the city and rather far away. When they arrived at the hetman’s +quarters they found in the yard a multitude of horses, and a crowd of grooms, +for whom a keg of beer had been set out, and who, as is usual, drinking without +measure, had begun to quarrel; they grew quiet, however, at sight of the +approaching knights, especially when Zagloba fell to striking with the side of +his sabre those who were in his way, and to crying with a stentorian voice: +“To your horses, rascals, to your horses! You are not the persons invited +to the banquet.” +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha received the officers as usual, with open arms; and since he had been +drinking a little with his guests, he began at once to tease Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“With the forehead, Lord Commander!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“With the forehead, Lord Kiper,” answered Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“If you call me that,” said Sapyeha, “I will give you wine +which is working yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very good, if it will make a tippler of a hetman!” +</p> + +<p> +Some of the guests, hearing this, were alarmed; but Zagloba, when he saw the +hetman in good humor, permitted himself everything, and Sapyeha had such a +weakness for Zagloba that he not only was not angry, but he held his sides, and +called those present to witness what he endured from that noble. +</p> + +<p> +Then began a noisy and joyous banquet. Sapyeha drank to each guest separately, +raised toasts to the king, the hetmans, the armies of both peoples (Poland and +Lithuania), Pan Charnyetski, the whole Commonwealth. Pleasure increased, and +with it noise and talk. From toasts it came to songs. The room was filled with +steam from the heads of the guests, and the odor of mead and wines. From +outside the windows came in no less of an uproar, and even the noise of steel. +The servants had begun to fight with sabres. Some nobles rushed out to restore +order, but they increased the confusion. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly there rose a shout so great that the banqueters in the hall became +silent. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that?” asked one of the colonels. “The grooms cannot +make such an uproar as that.” +</p> + +<p> +“Silence, gentlemen!” said the hetman, disturbed. +</p> + +<p> +“Those are not ordinary shouts!” +</p> + +<p> +All at once the windows shook from the thunder of cannon and discharges of +musketry. +</p> + +<p> +“A sortie!” cried Volodyovski; “the enemy is +advancing!” +</p> + +<p> +“To horse! To sabres!” +</p> + +<p> +All sprang to their feet. There was a throng at the door; then a crowd of +officers rushed to the yard, calling to their grooms for horses. +</p> + +<p> +But in the disturbance it was not easy for each one to find his own. Meanwhile +from beyond the yard alarmed voices began to shout in the darkness,— +</p> + +<p> +“The enemy is advancing! Pan Kotvich is under fire!” +</p> + +<p> +All rushed with what breath was in their horses to their squadrons, jumping +over fences and breaking their necks in the darkness. An alarm began in the +whole camp. Not all the squadrons had horses at hand, and those who had not +began the uproar first of all. Throngs of soldiers on foot and on horseback +struck against one another, not being able to come to order, not knowing who +was a friend and who an enemy, shouting and roaring in the middle of the dark +night. Some cried that the King of Sweden was advancing with his whole army. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedish sortie had really struck with a mighty impetus on Kotvich’s +men. Fortunately, being sick, he was not at the banquet, and therefore could +offer some kind of immediate resistance; still it was not a long one, for he +was attacked by superior numbers and covered with musketry fire, hence was +forced to retreat. Oskyerko came first to his assistance with his dragoons. +They answered musketry fire with musketry fire. But neither could +Oskyerko’s dragoons withstand the pressure, and in a moment they began to +withdraw more and more hastily, leaving the ground covered with corpses. Twice +did Oskyerko endeavor to bring them to order, and twice was he beaten back, so +that the soldiers could only cover their retreat by firing in groups. At last +they scattered completely; but the Swedes pressed on like an irrepressible +torrent toward the hetman’s quarters. More and more regiments issued from +the city to the field; after the infantry came cavalry; they brought out even +field-guns. It looked like a general battle, and it seemed as though the enemy +sought one. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski, rushing from the hetman’s quarters, met his own squadron, +which was always in readiness, half way, going toward the sound of the alarm +and the shots. It was led by Roh Kovalski, who, like Kotvich, was not at the +banquet; but Roh was not there because he had not been invited. Volodyovski +gave orders to set fire with all speed to a couple of sheds, so as to light up +the field, and he hurried to the battle. On the road he was joined by Kmita +with his terrible volunteers, and that half of the Tartars which had not gone +on the scouting expedition. Both came just in time to save Kotvich and Oskyerko +from utter disaster. +</p> + +<p> +The sheds had now blazed up so well that everything could be seen as at +noontide. In this light the Lauda men, aided by Kmita, struck the infantry +regiments, and passing through their fire took them on sabres. The Swedish +cavalry sprang to assist their own men, and closed mightily with the Lauda +squadron. For a certain time they struggled exactly like two wrestlers who +seizing each other by the bodies use their last strength,—now this one +bends the other, and now the other bends this; but men fell so frequently in +their ranks that at last the Swedes began to be confused. Kmita with his +fighters rushed into the thick of the struggle. Volodyovski as usual cleared an +opening; near him the two gigantic Skshetuskis fought, and Kharlamp with Roh +Kovalski; the Lauda men emulated Kmita’s fighters,—some shouting +terribly, others, as the Butryms, rolling on in a body and in silence. +</p> + +<p> +New regiments rushed forward to the aid of the broken Swedes; but Vankovich, +whose quarters were near Volodyovski’s and Kmita’s, was a little +later than they and supported them. At last the hetman led all the troops to +the engagement, and began to advance in order. A fierce battle sprang up along +the whole line from Mokotov to the Vistula. +</p> + +<p> +Then Akbah Ulan, who had gone with the scouts, appeared on a foaming horse +before the hetman. +</p> + +<p> +“Effendi!” cried he; “a chambul of cavalry is marching from +Babitsi to the city, and convoying wagons; they wish to enter the gates.” +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha understood in one moment what that sortie in the direction of Mokotov +meant. The enemy wished to draw away troops on the meadow road, so that that +auxiliary cavalry and a provision train might enter the gates. +</p> + +<p> +“Run to Volodyovski!” cried the hetman to Akbah Ulan; “let +the Lauda squadron, Kmita, and Vankovich stop the road. I will send them +reinforcements at once.” +</p> + +<p> +Akbah Ulan put spurs to his horse; after him flew one, and a second, and a +third orderly. All rushed to Volodyovski and repeated the order of the hetman. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski turned his squadron immediately; Kmita and the Tartars caught up +with him; going across the field, they shot on together, and Vankovich after +them. +</p> + +<p> +But they arrived too late. Nearly two hundred wagons had entered the gate; a +splendid detachment of cavalry following them was almost within radius of the +fortress. Only the rearguard, composed of about one hundred men, had not come +yet under cover of the artillery. But these too were going with all speed. The +officer, riding behind, urged them on. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, seeing them by the light of the burning shed, gave forth such a piercing +and terrible shout, that the horses at his side were frightened; he recognized +Boguslav’s cavalry, that same which had ridden over him and his Tartars +at Yanov. +</p> + +<p> +Mindful of nothing, he rushed like a madman toward them, passed his own men, +and fell first blindly among their ranks. Fortunately the two Kyemliches, Kosma +and Damian, sitting on the foremost horses, rode with him. At that moment +Volodyovski struck the flank like lightning, and with this one blow cut off the +rearguard from the main body. +</p> + +<p> +Cannon began to thunder from the walls; but the main division, sacrificing +their comrades, rushed in with all speed after the wagons. Then the Lauda men +and Kmita’s forces surrounded the rearguard as with a ring, and a +merciless slaughter began. +</p> + +<p> +But it was of short duration. Boguslav’s men, seeing that there was no +rescue on any side, sprang from their horses in a moment, threw down their +weapons, and shouted with sky-piercing voices, heard in the throng and the +uproar, that they surrendered. +</p> + +<p> +Neither the volunteers nor the Tartars regarded their shouts, but hewed on. At +this moment was heard the threatening and shrill voice of Volodyovski, who +wanted informants,— +</p> + +<p> +“Stop! stop! take them alive!” +</p> + +<p> +“Take them alive!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +The biting of steel ceased. The Tartars were commanded to bind the enemy, and +with the skill peculiar to them they did this in a twinkle; then the squadrons +pushed back hastily from the cannon-fire. The colonels marched toward the +sheds,—the Lauda men in advance, Vankovich in the rear, and Kmita, with +the prisoners, in the centre, all in perfect readiness to repulse attack should +it come. Some of the Tartars led prisoners on leashes; others of them led +captured horses. Kmita, when he came near the sheds, looked carefully into the +faces of the prisoners to see if Boguslav was among them; for though one of +them had sworn under a sword-point that the prince was not in the detachment, +still Kmita thought that perhaps they were hiding him purposely. Then some +voice from under the stirrup of a Tartar cried to him,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Kmita! Colonel! Rescue an acquaintance! Give command to free me from +the rope on parole.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hassling!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Hassling was a Scot, formerly an officer in the cavalry of the voevoda of +Vilna, whom Kmita knew in Kyedani, and in his time loved much. +</p> + +<p> +“Let the prisoner go free!” cried he to the Tartar, “and down +from the horse yourself!” +</p> + +<p> +The Tartar sprang from the saddle as if the wind had carried him off, for he +knew the danger of loitering when the “bagadyr” commanded. +</p> + +<p> +Hassling, groaning, climbed into the Tartar’s lofty saddle. Kmita then +caught him above the palm, and pressing his hand as if he wished to crush it, +began to ask insistently,— +</p> + +<p> +“Whence do you come? Tell me quickly, whence do you come? For God’s +sake, tell quickly!” +</p> + +<p> +“From Taurogi,” answered the officer. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita pressed him still more. +</p> + +<p> +“But—Panna Billevich—is she there?” +</p> + +<p> +“She is.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei spoke with still greater difficulty, for he pressed his teeth still +more closely. +</p> + +<p> +“And—what has the prince done with her?” +</p> + +<p> +“He has not succeeded in doing anything.” +</p> + +<p> +Silence followed; after a while Kmita removed his lynxskin cap, drew his hand +over his forehead and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I was struck in the battle; blood is leaving me, and I have grown +weak.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<p> +The sortie had attained its object only in part; though Boguslav’s +division had entered the city, the sortie itself had not done great things. It +is true that Pan Kotvich’s squadron and Oskyerko’s dragoons had +suffered seriously; but the Swedes too had strewn the field with many corpses, +and one regiment of infantry, which Volodyovski and Vankovich had struck, was +almost destroyed. The Lithuanians boasted that they had inflicted greater loss +on the enemy than they had endured themselves. Pan Sapyeha alone suffered +internally, because a new “confusion” had met him from which his +fame might be seriously affected. The colonels attached to the hetman comforted +him as well as they could; and to tell the truth this lesson was useful, for +henceforward he had no more such wild banquets, and if there was some pleasure +the greatest watchfulness was observed during the time of its continuance. The +Swedes were caught the day after. Supposing that the hetman would not expect a +repetition of the sortie so soon, they came outside the walls again; but driven +from their ground and leaving a number of dead, they returned. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile they were examining Hassling in the hetman’s quarters; this +made Pan Andrei so impatient that he almost sprang out of his skin, for he +wished to have the Scot to himself at the earliest, and talk with him touching +Taurogi. He prowled about the quarters all day, went in every little while, +listened to the statements, and sprang up whenever Boguslav’s name was +mentioned in the question. +</p> + +<p> +But in the evening he received an order to go on a scouting expedition. He said +nothing, only set his teeth; for he had changed greatly already, and had +learned to defer private affairs for public service. But he pushed the Tartars +terribly during the expedition, burst out in anger at the least cause, and +struck with his baton till the bones cracked. They said one to another that the +“bagadyr” was mad, and marched silently, as silently as cowards, +looking only to the eyes of the leader and guessing his thoughts on the wing. +</p> + +<p> +On returning he found Hassling in his quarters, but so ill that he could not +speak, for his capture had affected him so cruelly that after the additional +torture of a whole day’s inquisition he had a fever, and did not +understand what was said to him. Kmita therefore was forced to be satisfied +with what Zagloba told of Hassling’s statements; but they touched only +public, not private affairs. Of Boguslav the young officer said only +this,—that after his return from the expedition to Podlyasye and the +defeat at Yanov he had become terribly ill from rage and melancholy; he fell +into a fever, but as soon as he had recovered somewhat, he moved with his +troops to Pomerania, whither Steinbock and the elector invited him most +earnestly. +</p> + +<p> +“But where is he now?” asked Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“According to what Hassling tells me, and he has no reason to lie, he is +with the king’s brother, at the fortified camp on the Narev and the Bug, +where Boguslav is commanding a whole cavalry division,” answered Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Ha! and they think to come here with succor to the besieged. We shall +meet, as God is in heaven, even if I had to go to him in disguise.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not grow angry for nothing! To Warsaw they would be glad to come with +succor, but they cannot, for Charnyetski has placed himself in their way. +Having neither infantry nor cannon, he cannot attack their camp, and they are +afraid to go out against him, for they know that their soldiers could not +withstand his in the field, and they know too that if they went out, they could +not shield themselves with the river. If the king himself were there he would +give battle, for under his command the soldiers fight better, being confident +that he is a great warrior; but neither Douglas, nor the king’s brother, +nor Prince Boguslav, though all three are daring men, would venture against +Charnyetski.” +</p> + +<p> +“But where is the king?” +</p> + +<p> +“He has gone to Prussia. The king does not believe that we are before +Warsaw already, and that we shall capture Wittemberg. But whether he believes +or not, he had to go for two reasons,—first, because he must win over the +elector, even at the price of all Great Poland; second, because the army, which +he led out of the sack, is of no use until it has rested. Toil, watching, and +continual alarms have so gnawed it that the soldiers are not able to hold +muskets in their hands; and still they are the choicest regiments in the whole +army, which through all the German and Danish regions have won famous +victories.” +</p> + +<p> +Further conversation was interrupted by the coming of Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“How is Hassling?” asked he on the threshold. +</p> + +<p> +“He is sick and imagines every folly,” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“And you, my dear Michael, what do you want of Hassling?” asked +Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Just as if you do not know!” +</p> + +<p> +“I could not know that it is a question with you of that cherry-tree +which Prince Boguslav has planted in his garden. He is a diligent gardener; he +does not need to wait a year for fruit.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wish you were killed for such jokes!” cried the little knight. +</p> + +<p> +“Look at him, tell him the most innocent thing, and immediately his +mustaches are quivering like the horns of a mad grasshopper. In what am I to +blame? Seek vengeance on Boguslav, not on me.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant me to seek and to find!” +</p> + +<p> +“Just now Babinich has said the same! Before long I see that he will +raise the whole army against the prince; but Boguslav is taking good care of +himself, and without my stratagems you will not be able to succeed.” +</p> + +<p> +Here both young men sprang to their feet and asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Have you any stratagems?” +</p> + +<p> +“But do you think it is as easy to take a stratagem out of the head as a +sabre out of the sheath? If Boguslav were here, surely I should find more than +one; but at that distance, not only a stratagem, but a cannon will not strike. +Pan Andrei, give orders to bring me a goblet of mead, for it is hot here +to-day.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll give you a keg of it if you will invent something.” +</p> + +<p> +“First, why do you stand over this Hassling like an executioner? He is +not the only man captured; you can ask others.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have already tortured others, but they are common soldiers; they know +nothing, but he, as an officer, was at the court,” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“That is a reason!” answered Zagloba. “I must talk with him +too; from what he tells me of the person and ways of Prince Boguslav, +stratagems may be important. Now the main thing is to finish the siege soon, +for afterward we shall move surely against that army on the Narev. But somehow +our gracious lord and the hetmans are a long time invisible.” +</p> + +<p> +“How so?” asked Volodyovski. “I have returned this minute +from the hetman, who has just received news that the king will take up position +here this evening with the auxiliary divisions, and the hetmans with cavalry +will come to-morrow. They are advancing from Sokal itself, resting but little, +making forced marches. Besides, it has been known for two days that they are +almost in sight.” +</p> + +<p> +“Are they bringing many troops?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nearly five times as many as Sapyeha has, infantry Russian and +Hungarian, very excellent; six thousand Tartars under Suba Gazi, but probably +it is impossible to let them out for even a day, for they are very self-willed +and plunder all around.” +</p> + +<p> +“Better give them to Pan Andrei to lead,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” said Kmita, “I should lead them straightway from +Warsaw, for they are of no use in a siege; I should take them to the Bug and +the Narev.” +</p> + +<p> +“They are of use,” replied Volodyovski, “for none can see +better than they that provisions do not enter the fortress.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, it will be warm for Wittemberg. Wait, old criminal!” cried +Zagloba. “You have warred well, I will not deny that, but you have robbed +and plundered still better; you had two mouths,—one for false oaths, the +other for breaking promises,—but this time you will not beg off with both +of them. The Gallic disease will dry up your skin, and doctors will tear it +from you; but we will flay you better, Zagloba’s head for that!” +</p> + +<p> +“Nonsense! he will surrender on conditions to the king, who will not do +anything to him,” answered Pan Michael; “and we shall have to give +him military honors besides.” +</p> + +<p> +“He will yield on conditions, will he? Indeed!” cried Zagloba. +“We shall see!” +</p> + +<p> +Here he began to pound the table with such force that Roh Kovalski, who was +coming in at the moment, was frightened and stood as if fixed to the threshold. +</p> + +<p> +“May I serve as a waiting-lad to Jews,” shouted the old man, +“if I let free out of Warsaw that blasphemer of the faith, that robber of +churches, that oppressor of widows, that executioner of men and women, that +hangman’s assistant, that ruffian, that blood-spiller and money-grabber, +that purse-gnawer, that flayer! All right! The king will let him out on +conditions; but I, as I am a Catholic, as I am Zagloba, as I wish for happiness +during life and desire God at death, will make such a tumult against him as no +man has ever heard of in this Commonwealth before! Don’t wave your hand, +Pan Michael! I’ll make a tumult! I repeat it, I’ll make a +tumult!” +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle will make a tumult!” thundered Roh Kovalski. +</p> + +<p> +Just then Akbah Ulan thrust in his beast-like face at the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Effendi!” said he to Kmita, “the armies of the king are +visible beyond the Vistula.” +</p> + +<p> +All sprang to their feet and rushed forth. +</p> + +<p> +The king had come indeed. First arrived the Tartar squadrons, under Suba Gazi, +but not in such numbers as was expected; after them came the troops of the +kingdom, many and well armed, and above all full of ardor. Before evening the +whole army had passed the bridge freshly built by Oskyerko. Sapyeha was waiting +for the king with squadrons drawn out as if ready for battle, standing one by +the side of the other, like an immense wall, the end of which it was difficult +to reach with the eye. The captains stood before the regiments; near them the +standard-bearers, each with lowered ensign; the trumpets, kettle-drums, crooked +trumpets, and drums made a noise indescribable. The squadrons of the kingdom, +in proportion as they passed, stood just opposite the Lithuanians in line; +between one and the other army was an interval of a hundred paces. +</p> + +<p> +Sapyeha with baton in hand went on foot to that open space; after him the chief +civil and military dignitaries. On the other side, from the armies of the +kingdom approached the king on a splendid Frisian horse, given him by +Lyubomirski; he was arrayed as if for battle, in light armor of blue and gold, +from under which was to be seen a black velvet kaftan, with a lace collar +coming out on the breastplate, but instead of a helmet he wore the ordinary +Swedish hat, with black feathers; but he wore military gloves, and long yellow +boots coming far above his knees. +</p> + +<p> +After him rode the papal nuncio, the archbishop of Lvoff, the bishop of +Kamenyets, the priest Tsyetsishovski, the voevoda of Cracow, the voevoda of +Rus, Baron Lisola, Count Pöttingen, Pan Kamenyetski, the ambassador of Moscow, +Pan Grodzitski, general of artillery, Tyzenhauz, and many others. Sapyeha +advanced as marshal of the kingdom to hold the king’s stirrup; but the +king sprang lightly from the saddle, hurried to Sapyeha and without saying a +word, seized him in his embrace. +</p> + +<p> +And Yan Kazimir held him a long time, in view of both armies; silent all the +while, but tears flowed down his cheeks in a stream, for he pressed to his +bosom the truest servant of the king and the country,—a man who, though +he did not equal others in genius, though he even erred at times, still soared +in honesty above all the lords of that Commonwealth, never wavered in loyalty, +sacrificed without a moment’s thought his whole fortune, and from the +beginning of the war exposed his breast for his king and the country. +</p> + +<p> +The Lithuanians, who had whispered previously among themselves that perhaps +reprimands would meet Pan Sapyeha because he had let Karl Gustav escape from +near Sandomir and for the recent carelessness at Warsaw, or at least a cool +reception, seeing this heartiness of the king, raised in honor of the kindly +monarch a tremendous heaven-echoing shout. The armies of the kingdom answered +it immediately with one thunder-roll, and for some time above the noise of the +music, the rattle of drums, the roar of musketry, were heard only these +shouts,— +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Yoannes Casimirus!” +</p> + +<p> +“Long life to the armies of the crown!” +</p> + +<p> +“Long life to the Lithuanians!” +</p> + +<p> +So they greeted one another at Warsaw. The walls trembled, and behind the walls +the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall bellow, as God is dear to me!” cried Zagloba, with +emotion; “I cannot restrain myself. See our king, our +father!—gracious gentlemen, I am blubbering,—our father, our king! +the other day a wanderer deserted by all; now here—now here are a hundred +thousand sabres at call! merciful God! I cannot keep from tears; yesterday a +wanderer, to-day the Emperor of Germany has not such good +soldiers—” +</p> + +<p> +Here the sluices were opened in the eyes of Zagloba, and he began to sob time +after time; then he turned suddenly to Roh,— +</p> + +<p> +“Be silent! what are you whimpering about?” +</p> + +<p> +“And is Uncle not whimpering?” answered Roh. +</p> + +<p> +“True, as God is dear to me!—I was ashamed, gracious gentlemen, of +this Commonwealth. But now I would not change with any nation! A hundred +thousand sabres,—let others show the like. God has brought them to their +minds; God has given this, God has given it!” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba had not made a great mistake, for really there were nearly seventy +thousand men at Warsaw, not counting Charnyetski’s division, which had +not arrived yet, and not counting the armed camp attendants who rendered +service when necessary, and who straggled after every camp in countless +multitudes. +</p> + +<p> +After the greeting and a hurried review of the troops, the king thanked +Sapyeha’s men, amid universal enthusiasm, for their faithful services, +and went to Uyazdov. The troops occupied the positions assigned them. Some +squadrons remained in Praga; others disposed themselves around the city. A +gigantic train of wagons continued to cross the Vistula till the following +midday. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the suburbs of the city were as white with tents as if they had +been covered with snow. Countless herds of horses were neighing on the +adjoining meadows. After the army followed a crowd of Armenians, Jews, Tartars; +another city, more extensive and tumultuous than that which was besieged, grew +up on the plain. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes, amazed during the first days at the power of the King of Poland, +made no sorties, so that Pan Grodzitski, general of artillery, could ride +around the city quietly and form his plan of siege. +</p> + +<p> +On the following day the camp attendants began to raise intrenchments here and +there, according to Grodzitski’s plan; they placed on them at once the +smaller cannon, for the larger ones were to appear only a couple of weeks +later. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir sent a message to old Wittemberg summoning him to surrender the +city and lay down his arms, giving favorable conditions, which, when known, +roused discontent in the army. That discontent was spread mainly by Zagloba, +who had a special hatred of the Swedish commander. +</p> + +<p> +Wittemberg, as was easy to foresee, rejected the conditions and resolved on a +defence to continue till the last drop of blood was shed, and to bury himself +in the ruins of the city rather than yield it to the king. The size of the +besieging army did not frighten him a whit, for he knew that an excessive +number was rather a hindrance than help in a siege. He was informed also in +good season that in the camp of Yan Kazimir there was not one siege gun, while +the Swedes had more than enough of them, not taking into consideration their +inexhaustible supply of ammunition. +</p> + +<p> +It was in fact to be foreseen that they would defend themselves with frenzy, +for Warsaw had served them hitherto as a storehouse for booty. All the immense +treasures looted in castles, in churches, in cities, in the whole Commonwealth, +came to the capital, whence they were despatched in parties to Prussia, and +farther to Sweden. But at the present time, when the whole country had risen, +and castles defended by the smaller Swedish garrisons did not insure safety, +booty was brought to Warsaw all the more. The Swedish soldier was more ready to +sacrifice his life than his booty. A poor people who had seized the treasures +of a wealthy land had acquired the taste of them to such a degree that the +world had never seen more grasping robbers. The king himself had grown famous +for greed; the generals followed his example, and Wittemberg surpassed them +all. When it was a question of gain, neither the honor of a knight nor +consideration for the dignity of rank restrained officers. They seized, they +extorted, they skinned everything that could be taken. In Warsaw itself +colonels of high office and noble birth were not ashamed to sell spirits and +tobacco to their own soldiers, so as to cram their purses with the pay of the +army. +</p> + +<p> +This too might rouse the Swedes to fury in defence, that their foremost men +were at that time in Warsaw. First was Wittemberg himself, next in command to +Karl Gustav. He was the first who had entered the Commonwealth and brought it +to decline at Uistsie. In return for that service a triumph was prepared for +him in Sweden as for a conqueror. In the city was Oxenstiern, the chancellor, a +statesman renowned throughout the world, respected for honesty even by his +enemies. He was called the Minerva of the king. To his counsel Karl was +indebted for all his victories in negotiation. In the capital was also Wrangel, +the younger Horn, Erickson, the second Löwenhaupt, and many Swedish ladies of +high birth, who had followed their husbands to the country as to a new Swedish +colony. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes had something to defend. Yan Kazimir understood, therefore, that the +siege, especially through the lack of heavy guns on his side, would be long and +bloody. The hetmans understood this also, but the army would not think of it. +Barely had Grodzitski raised the intrenchments in some fashion, barely had he +pushed forward somewhat to the walls, when deputations went from all the +squadrons to ask the king to permit volunteers to storm the walls. The king had +to explain to them a long time that fortresses were not taken with sabres, +before he could restrain their ardor. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the works were pushed forward as rapidly as possible. The troops, not +being able to storm, took eager part with the camp servants in raising these +works; men from the foremost regiments, nay, even officers brought earth in +wheelbarrows, carried fascines, labored. More than once the Swedes tried to +hinder, and not a day passed without sorties; but barely were the Swedish +musketeers outside the gate, when the Poles, working at the intrenchments, +throwing aside wheelbarrows, bundles of twigs, spades and pickaxes, ran with +sabres into the smoke so furiously that the Swedes had to hide in the fortress +with all haste. In these engagements bodies fell thickly; the fosses and the +open space as far as the intrenchments were full of graves, in which were +placed sometimes small bundles of the weapons of the dead. At last even time +failed for burial, so that bodies lay on the ground spreading a terrible odor +around the city and the besiegers. +</p> + +<p> +In spite of the greatest difficulty citizens stole forth to the king’s +camp every day, reporting what happened in the city, and imploring on their +knees to hasten the storm. The Swedes, they said, had a plenty of provisions as +yet, but the people were dying of hunger on the streets; they lived in want, in +oppression under the terrible hand of the garrison. Every day echoes brought to +the Polish camp sounds of musket-shots in the city, and fugitives brought +intelligence that the Swedes were shooting citizens suspected of good-will to +Yan Kazimir. The hair stood on end at the stories of the fugitives. They said +that the whole population, sick women, newly born infants, old men, all lived +at night on the streets, for the Swedes had driven them from their houses, and +made passages from wall to wall, so that the garrison, in case Yan +Kazimir’s troops should enter, might withdraw and defend themselves. +Rains fell on the people in their camping-places; on clear days the sun burned +them, at night the cold pinched them. Citizens were not allowed to kindle +fires; they had no means of preparing warm food. Various diseases spread more +and more, and carried away hundreds of victims. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir’s heart was ready to burst when he heard these narratives. He +sent therefore courier after courier to hasten the coming of the heavy guns. +Days and weeks passed; but it was impossible to undertake anything more +important than the repulse of sorties. Still the besiegers were strengthened by +the thought that the garrison must fail of provisions at last, since the roads +were blocked in such fashion that a mouse could not reach the fortress. The +besieged lost hope of assistance; the troops under Douglas, which were posted +nearest, were not only unable to come to the rescue, but had to think of their +own skin; for Yan Kazimir, having even too many men, was able to harass them. +</p> + +<p> +At last the Poles, even before the coming of the heavy guns, opened on the +fortress with the smaller ones. Pan Grodzitski from the side of the Vistula, +raised in front of himself, like a mole, earth defences, pushed to within six +yards of the moat, and vomited a continual fire on the unfortunate city. The +magnificent Kazanovski Palace was ruined; and the Poles did not regret it, for +the building belonged to the traitor Radzeyovski. The shattered walls were +barely standing, shining with their empty windows; day and night balls were +dropping on the splendid terraces and in the gardens, smashing the beautiful +fountains, bridges, arbors, and marble statues, terrifying the peacocks which +with pitiful screams gave notice of their unhappy condition. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Grodzitski hurled fire on the Bernardine bell-tower, for he had decided to +begin the assault on that side. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the camp servants begged permission to attack the city, for they +wished greatly to reach the Swedish treasures earliest. The king refused at +first, but finally consented. A number of prominent officers undertook to lead +them, and among others Kmita, who was imbittered by delay, and not only that, +but in general he knew not what to do with himself; for Hassling, having fallen +into a grievous fever, lay without consciousness for some weeks and could speak +of nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Men therefore were summoned to the storm. Grodzitski opposed this to the last +moment, insisting that until a breach was made the city could not be taken, +even though the regular infantry were to go to the assault. But as the king had +given permission, Grodzitski was forced to yield. +</p> + +<p> +June 15, about six thousand camp servants assembled; ladders, bundles of brush, +and bags of sand were prepared. Toward evening a throng, barefoot and armed for +the greater part only with sabres, began to approach the city where the +trenches and earth defences came nearest the moat. When it had become perfectly +dark, the men rushed, at a given signal, toward the moat with a terrible +uproar, and began to fill it. The watchful Swedes received them with a +murderous fire from muskets and cannons, and a furious battle sprang up along +the whole eastern side of the city. Under cover of darkness the Poles filled +the moat in a twinkle and reached the walls in an orderless mass. Kmita, with +two thousand men, fell upon an earth fort, which the Poles called “the +mole-hill,” and which stood near the Cracow gate. In spite of a desperate +defence he captured this place at a blow; the garrison was cut to pieces with +sabres, not a man was spared. Pan Andrei gave command to turn the guns on the +gate and some of them to the farther walls, so as to aid and cover somewhat +those crowds who were striving to scale the walls. +</p> + +<p> +These men, however, were not so fortunate. They put the ladders in position, +and ascended them so furiously that the best trained infantry could not have +done better; but the Swedes, safe behind battlements, fired into their very +faces, and hurled stones and blocks prepared for the purpose; under the weight +of these the ladders were broken into pieces, and at last the infantry pushed +down the assaulters with long spears, against which sabres had no effect. +</p> + +<p> +More than five hundred of the best camp servants were lying at the foot of the +wall; the rest passed the moat under an incessant fire, and took refuge again +in the Polish intrenchments. +</p> + +<p> +The storm was repulsed, but the little fort remained in the hands of the Poles. +In vain did the Swedes roll at it all night from their heaviest guns; Kmita +answered them in like manner from those cannon which he had captured. Only in +the morning, when light came, were his guns dismounted to the last one. +Wittemberg, for whom that intrenchment was as his head, sent infantry at once +with the order not to dare return without retaking what had been lost; but +Grodzitski sent reinforcements to Kmita, by the aid of which he not only +repulsed the infantry, but fell upon and drove them to the Cracow gate. +</p> + +<p> +Grodzitski was so delighted that he ran in person to the king with the report. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” said he, “I was opposed to yesterday’s +work, but now I see that it was not lost. While that intrenchment was in the +enemy’s hands I could do nothing against the gate; but now only let the +heavy guns come, and in one night I will make a breach.” +</p> + +<p> +The king, who was grieved that so many good men had fallen, was rejoiced at +Grodzitski’s words, and asked at once,— +</p> + +<p> +“But who has command in that intrenchment?” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Babinich,” answered a number of voices. +</p> + +<p> +The king clapped his hands. “He must be first everywhere! Worthy General, +I know him. He is a terribly stubborn cavalier, and will not let himself be +smoked out.” +</p> + +<p> +“It would be a mistake beyond forgiveness, Gracious Lord, if we should +permit that. I have already sent him infantry and small cannon; for that they +will try to smoke him out is certain. It is a question of Warsaw! That cavalier +is worth his weight in gold.” +</p> + +<p> +“He is worth more; for this is not his first, and not his tenth +achievement,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +Then Yan Kazimir gave orders to bring quickly a horse and a field-glass, and he +rode out to look at the earthwork. But it was not to be seen from behind the +smoke, for a number of forty-eight-pounders were blowing on it with ceaseless +fire; they hurled long balls, bombs, and grape-shot. Still the intrenchment was +so near the gate that musket-balls almost reached it; the bomb-shells could be +seen perfectly when they flew up like cloudlets, and, describing a closely bent +bow, fell into that cloud of smoke, bursting with terrible explosion. Many fell +beyond the intrenchment, and they prevented the approach of reinforcements. +</p> + +<p> +“In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” said the king. +“Tyzenhauz, look! A pile of torn earth is all that remains. Tyzenhauz, do +you know who is there?” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious King, Babinich is there. If he comes out living, he will be +able to say that he was in hell during life.” +</p> + +<p> +“We must send him fresh men. Worthy General—” +</p> + +<p> +“The orders are already given, but it is difficult for them to go, since +bombs pass over and fall very thickly on this side of the fort.” +</p> + +<p> +“Turn all the guns on the walls so as to make a diversion,” said +the king. +</p> + +<p> +Grodzitski put spurs to his horse and galloped to the trenches. After a while +cannonading was heard on the whole line, and somewhat later it was seen that a +fresh division of Mazovian infantry went out of the nearest trenches, and on a +run to the mole-hill. +</p> + +<p> +The king stood there, looking continually. At last he cried: “Babinich +should be relieved in the command. And who, gentlemen, will volunteer to take +his place?” +</p> + +<p> +Neither Pan Yan, Pan Stanislav, nor Volodyovski was near the king, therefore a +moment of silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +“I!” said suddenly Pan Topor Grylevski, an officer of the light +squadron of the primate. +</p> + +<p> +“I!” said Tyzenhauz. +</p> + +<p> +“I! I! I!” called at once a number of voices. +</p> + +<p> +“Let the man go who offered himself first,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Topor Grylevski made the sign of the cross, raised the canteen to his +mouth, then galloped away. +</p> + +<p> +The king remained looking at the cloud of smoke with which the mole-hill was +covered, and the smoke rose above it like a bridge up to the very wall. Since +the fort was near the Vistula, the walls of the city towered above it, and +therefore the fire was terrible. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the thunder of cannon decreased somewhat, though the balls did not +cease to describe arcs, and a rattle of musketry was given out as if thousands +of men were beating threshing-floors with flails. +</p> + +<p> +“It is evident that they are going to the attack again,” said +Tyzenhauz. “If there were less smoke, we should see the infantry.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let us approach a little,” said the king, urging his horse. +</p> + +<p> +After him others moved on, and riding along the bank of the Vistula from +Uyazdov they approached almost to the Solets itself; and since the gardens of +the palaces and the cloisters coming down to the Vistula had been cleared by +the Swedes in the winter for fuel, trees did not cover the view, they could see +even without field-glasses that the Swedes were really moving again to the +storm. +</p> + +<p> +“I would rather lose that position,” said the king all at once, +“than that Babinich should die.” +</p> + +<p> +“God will defend him!” said the priest Tsyetsishovski. +</p> + +<p> +“And Pan Grodzitski will not fail to send him reinforcements,” +added Tyzenhauz. +</p> + +<p> +Further conversation was interrupted by some horseman who was approaching from +the direction of the city at all speed. Tyzenhauz, having such sight that he +saw better with the naked eye than others through field-glasses, caught his +head at sight of him, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Grylevski is returning! It must be that Kmita has fallen, and the fort +is captured.” +</p> + +<p> +The king shaded his eyes with his hands. Grylevski rushed up, reined in his +horse, and, panting for breath, exclaimed,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord!” +</p> + +<p> +“What has happened? Is he killed?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Babinich says that he is well, and does not wish any one to take his +place; he begs only to send him food, for he has had nothing to eat since +morning.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is he alive then?” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +“He says that he is comfortable there!” repeated Grylevski. +</p> + +<p> +But others, catching breath from wonder, began to cry: “That is courage! +He is a soldier!” +</p> + +<p> +“But it was necessary to stay there and relieve him absolutely,” +said the king to Grylevski. “Is it not a shame to come back? Were you +afraid, or what? It would have been better not to go.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” answered Grylevski, “whoso calls me a +coward, him I will correct on any field, but before majesty I must justify +myself. I was in the ant-hill itself, but Babinich flew into my face because of +my errand: ‘Go,’ said he, ‘to the hangman! I am at work here, +I am almost creeping out of my skin, and I have no time to talk, but I will not +share either my glory or command with any man. I am well here and I will stay +here, but I’ll give orders to take you outside the trench! I wish you +were killed!’ said he. ‘We want to eat, and they send us a +commandant instead of food!’ What had I to do, Gracious Lord? I do not +wonder at his temper, for their hands are dropping from toil.” +</p> + +<p> +“And how is it?” asked the king; “is he holding the +place?” +</p> + +<p> +“Desperately. What would he not hold? I forgot to tell besides that he +shouted to me when I was going: ‘I’ll stay here a week and will not +surrender, if I have something to eat!’” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it possible to hold out there?” +</p> + +<p> +“There, Gracious Lord, is the genuine day of judgment! Bomb is falling +after bomb; pieces of shells are whistling, like devils, around the ear; the +earth is dug out into ditches; it is impossible to speak from smoke. The balls +hurl around sand and earth, so that every moment a man must shake himself to +avoid being buried. Many have fallen, but those who are living lie in furrows +in the intrenchments, and have made defences before their heads of stakes +strengthened with earth. The Swedes constructed the place carefully, and now it +serves against them. While I was there, infantry came from Grodzitski, and now +there is fighting again.” +</p> + +<p> +“Since we cannot attack the walls until a breach is made,” said the +king, “we will strike the palace on the Cracow suburbs to-day; that will +be the best diversion.” +</p> + +<p> +“The palace is wonderfully strengthened, almost changed into a +fortress,” remarked Tyzenhauz. +</p> + +<p> +“But they will not hurry from the city to give aid, for all their fury +will be turned on Babinich,” said the king. “So will it be, as I am +here alive, so will it be! I will order the storm at once; but first I will +bless Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the king took from the priest a golden crucifix in which were splinters of +the true cross, and raising it on high he began to bless the distant mound, +covered with fire and smoke, saying,— +</p> + +<p> +“O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, have mercy on Thy people, and give +salvation to the dying! Amen! amen! amen!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<p> +A bloody storm followed from the side of the Novy Svyat against the Cracow +suburbs, not over-successful, but in so far effective that it turned the +attention of the Swedes from the intrenchment defended by Kmita, and permitted +the garrison enclosed in it to rest somewhat. The Poles pushed forward however, +to the Kazimirovski Palace, but they could not hold that point. +</p> + +<p> +On the other side they stormed up to the Danillovich Palace and to Dantzig +House, equally without result. A number of hundreds of people fell again. The +king, however, had this consolation: he saw that even the general militia +rushed to the walls with the greatest daring and devotion, and that after those +attempts, more or less unsuccessful, their courage not only had not fallen, but +on the contrary assurance of victory was growing strong in the army. +</p> + +<p> +The most fortunate event of the day was the arrival of Pan Yan Zamoyski and Pan +Charnyetski. The first brought very excellent infantry and guns from Zamost, so +heavy that the Swedes had nothing like them in Warsaw. The second, in agreement +with Sapyeha, having besieged Douglas, and with some Lithuanian troops and the +general militia of Podlyasye, under command of Pan Yan, had come to Warsaw to +take part in the general storm. It was hoped by Charnyetski as well as others +that this would be the last storm. +</p> + +<p> +Zamoyski’s heavy guns were placed in the position taken by Kmita; they +began work immediately against the walls and the gate, and forced the Swedish +howitzers to silence at once. General Grodzitski himself occupied the +“molehill,” and Kmita returned to his Tartars. +</p> + +<p> +But he had not reached his quarters when he was summoned to Uyazdov. The king +in presence of the whole staff applauded the young knight; neither Charnyetski, +Sapyeha, Lyubomirski, nor the hetmans spared praises on him. He stood there in +torn garments covered with earth, his face entirely discolored with powder +smoke; without sleep, soiled, but joyous because he had held the place, had won +so much praise, and gained immeasurable glory in both armies. Among other +cavaliers Pan Michael and Pan Yan congratulated him. +</p> + +<p> +“You do not know indeed, Pan Andrei,” said the little knight, +“what great weight you have with the king. I was at the council of war +yesterday, for Pan Charnyetski took me with him. They talked of the storm, and +then of the news which had just come in from Lithuania, the war there, and the +cruelties which Pontus de la Gardie and the Swedes permit. They were +considering at the council how to strengthen resistance. Sapyeha said it was +best to send thither a couple of squadrons and a man who could be there what +Charnyetski was at the beginning of the war in Poland. To which the king +answered: ‘There is only one such man, Babinich.’ The others +confirmed this at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“I would go most willingly to Lithuania, and especially to Jmud,” +answered Kmita. “I resolved to ask of the king myself permission to go, +but I am waiting till Warsaw is taken.” +</p> + +<p> +“There will be a general storm to-morrow,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“I know, but how is Kettling?” +</p> + +<p> +“Who is that? Hassling?” +</p> + +<p> +“All one, for he has two names, as is the custom among the English, the +Scots, and many other nations.” +</p> + +<p> +“True,” answered Zagloba, “and a Spaniard every day of the +week has a new name for himself. Your servant told me that Hassling, or +Kettling, is well; he has begun to talk, walks, the fever has left him, he +calls for food every hour.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you been with him?” asked Kmita of Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“I have not, for I have had no time. Who has a head for anything but the +storm?” +</p> + +<p> +“Then let us go now.” +</p> + +<p> +“Go to sleep first,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“True! true! I am barely standing on my feet.” +</p> + +<p> +So when he came to his own quarters Pan Andrei followed Zagloba’s advice, +especially as he found Hassling asleep. But Zagloba and Volodyovski came to see +him in the evening; they sat down in the broad summer-house which the Tartars +had made for their “bagadyr.” The Kyemliches poured out for them +mead a hundred years old, which the king had sent to Kmita; and they drank it +willingly, for the air was hot outside. Hassling, pale and emaciated, seemed to +draw life and strength from the precious liquid. Zagloba clicked with his +tongue, and wiped perspiration from his forehead. +</p> + +<p> +“Hei! how the great guns are thundering!” said the young Scot, +listening. “To-morrow you will go to the storm—it is +well!—for the healthy—God give you blessing! I am of foreign blood, +and serve him whom it was my duty to serve, but you have my best wishes. Ah, +what mead this is! Life enters me.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus speaking, he threw back his golden hair and raised his blue eyes toward +heaven; he had a wonderful face, half childlike as yet. Zagloba looked at him +with a certain emotion. +</p> + +<p> +“You speak Polish as well as any of us,” said he. “Become a +Pole, love this our country, and you will do an honorable deed, and mead will +not be lacking to you. It is not difficult for a soldier to receive +naturalization with us.” +</p> + +<p> +“All the more easy since I am a noble,” answered Hassling. +“My name is Hassling-Kettling of Elgin. My family come from England, +though settled in Scotland.” +</p> + +<p> +“Those countries beyond the sea are far away, and somehow it is more +decent for a man to live here,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“It is pleasant for me here.” +</p> + +<p> +“But unpleasant for us,” said Kmita, who from the beginning was +twisting impatiently on the bench, “for we are anxious to hear what is +going on in Taurogi; but you are talking genealogies.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ask me; I will answer.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you seen Panna Billevich often?” +</p> + +<p> +Over the pale face of Hassling blushes passed. “Every day!” said +he. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita looked at him quickly. “Were you such a confidant? Why do you +blush? Every day,—how every day?” +</p> + +<p> +“For she knew that I wished her well, and I rendered her some services. +That will appear from the further narrative, but now it is necessary to +commence at the beginning. You, gentlemen, know, perhaps, that I was not at +Kyedani when Prince Boguslav came and took that lady to Taurogi? Therefore I +will not repeat why that happened, for different people gave different +accounts. I will only say that they had scarcely arrived when all saw at once +that the prince was terribly in love—” +</p> + +<p> +“God punish him!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Amusements followed, such as had not been before,—tilting at the +ring and tournaments. Any one would have thought it a time of the greatest +peace; but letters were coming in every day, as well as envoys from the elector +and from Prince Yanush. We knew that Prince Yanush was pushed by Sapyeha and +the confederates; he implored for rescue by the mercy of God, for destruction +was threatening him. We did nothing. On the elector’s boundary troops +were standing ready, captains were coming with letters; but we did not go with +assistance, for the prince had no success with the lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that why Boguslav did not give aid to his cousin?” asked +Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“It is. Patterson said the same, and all the persons nearest the prince. +Some complained of this; others were glad that the Radzivills were falling. +Sakovich conducted all public business for the prince, answered letters, and +held council with the envoys; but the prince was laboring on one idea only, to +contrive some kind of amusement, either a cavalcade or hunt. He, a miser, +scattered money on every side. He gave orders to fell forests for whole miles, +so that the lady might have a better view from her windows; in a word, he +really scattered flowers under her feet, and received her in such fashion that +had she been Queen of Sweden he could have invented nothing better. Many pitied +her and said, ‘All this is for her ruin; as to marrying, the prince will +not marry, and if he can only catch her heart he will deceive her.’ But +it appeared that she was not a lady to be conducted whither virtue does not go. +Oh!” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what?” cried Kmita, springing up. “I know that better +than others!” +</p> + +<p> +“How did Panna Billevich receive these royal homages?” asked Pan +Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“At first with affable face, though it was evident that she was bearing +some sorrow in her heart. She was present at the hunts, at the masquerades, +cavalcades, and tournaments, thinking indeed that these were usual court +amusements with the prince. It happened on a time that the prince, straining +his imagination over various spectacles, wished to show the lady the +counterfeit of war; he had a settlement burned near Taurogi, infantry defended +it, the prince stormed the place. Evidently he gained a great victory, after +which, being sated with praise, he fell at the lady’s feet and begged for +a return of his love. It is not known what he proposed to her, but from that +time their friendship was at an end. She began to hold night and day to the +sleeve of her uncle, the sword-bearer of Rossyeni; but the prince—” +</p> + +<p> +“Began to threaten her, did he?” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“What, threaten! He dressed himself as a Greek shepherd, as Philemon; +special couriers were flying to Königsberg for patterns of shepherd’s +garments, for ribbons and wigs. He feigned despair, he walked under her +windows, and played on a lute. And here I tell you, gentlemen, what I really +think. He was a savage executioner of the virtue of ladies, and it may be +boldly said of him, as is said in our country of such people, his sighs filled +out the sails of more than one lady; but this time he fell in love in +earnest,—which is no wonder, for the lady reminds one more of a goddess +than a dweller in this earthly vale.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Hassling blushed again, but Pan Andrei did not see it; for seizing his +sides with satisfaction and pride, he looked with a triumphant glance at +Zagloba and Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“We know her, a perfect Diana; she needs only the moon in her +hair!” said the little knight. +</p> + +<p> +“What, Diana! Diana’s dogs would howl at Diana if they could see +Panna Billevich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Therefore I said it is ‘no wonder,’” answered +Hassling. +</p> + +<p> +“Well! But for that ‘no wonder’ I would burn him with a slow +fire; for that ‘no wonder’ I would have him shod with +hob-nails—” +</p> + +<p> +“Give us peace!” interrupted Zagloba. “Get him first, then +play pranks; but now let this cavalier speak.” +</p> + +<p> +“More than once I was on watch before the room in which he slept,” +continued Hassling. “I know how he turned on his bed, sighed, talked to +himself, and hissed, as if from pain; evidently desires were burning him. He +changed terribly, dried up. It may be, too, that the illness under which he +afterward fell was diving into him. Meanwhile news flew through the whole court +that the prince had become so distracted that he wanted to marry. This came to +Yanush’s princess, who with her daughter was living at Taurogi. Then +began anger and disputes; for, as you know, Boguslav, according to agreement, +is to marry Yanush’s daughter when she comes of age. But he forgot +everything, so pierced was his heart. Yanush’s princess, falling into a +rage, went with her daughter to Courland. That same evening he made a proposal +to Panna Billevich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did he make proposals?” cried Zagloba, Kmita, and Pan Michael, +with astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +“He did. First to the sword-bearer of Rossyeni, who was no less +astonished than you, and would not believe his own ears; but convinced at last +he was barely able to control himself from delight, for it was no small +splendor for the house of Billevich to be united with the Radzivills. It is +true, as Patterson said, that there is some connection already, but it is old +and forgotten.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell on!” said Kmita, trembling from impatience. +</p> + +<p> +“Both went to the lady with all ostentation, as is the custom on such +occasions. The whole court was trembling. Evil tidings came from Prince Yanush. +Sakovich alone read them, but no one paid attention to them, nor even to +Sakovich, for he had fallen out of favor because he had proposed the marriage. +But among us some said that it was no novelty for the Radzivills to marry +ordinary noble women; that in the Commonwealth all nobles were equal, and that +the house of Billevich went back to Roman times. And this was said by those who +wished to gain for themselves the favor of the coming princess. Others asserted +that this was a stratagem of the prince to come to great intimacy with the +lady, which happens not infrequently between persons betrothed.” +</p> + +<p> +“That was it! Nothing else,” said Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“And so I think,” said Hassling; “but listen further. When we +were deliberating in the court among ourselves in this fashion, the report went +out like a thunderbolt that the lady had cut all doubt as with a sabre, for she +refused him directly.” +</p> + +<p> +“God bless her!” cried Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“She refused him directly,” continued Hassling. “It was +enough to look at the prince to know that. He, to whom princesses yielded, +could not endure resistance, and almost went mad. It was dangerous to appear +before him. We all saw that it would not remain long thus, and that the prince +would use force sooner or later. In fact, the sword-bearer of Rossyeni was +carried off the next day to Tyltsa, beyond the elector’s boundary. That +day the lady implored the officer keeping guard before her door to give her a +loaded pistol. The officer did not refuse that, for being a noble and man of +honor he felt compassion for the lady and homage for her beauty and +resolution.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who was that officer?” asked Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“I,” answered Hassling, dryly. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei seized him by the shoulders, so that the young Scot, being weak, +called out from pain. +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing!” cried Kmita. “You are not a prisoner; you +are my brother, my friend! Tell me what you wish! In God’s name, tell me +what you wish!” +</p> + +<p> +“To rest awhile,” answered Hassling, breathing heavily; and he was +silent. He merely pressed the hands which Pan Michael and Zagloba gave him. At +last, seeing that all were burning with curiosity, he continued,— +</p> + +<p> +“I forewarned her too of what all knew, that the prince’s physician +was preparing some intoxicating drug. Meanwhile fears turned out to be +groundless, for God interfered in the affair. He touched the prince with his +finger, threw him on a bed of sickness, and kept him there a month. It is a +marvel, gentlemen, but it happened as if he had been cut from his feet, as with +a scythe, that same day, when he intended to attack the virtue of this lady. +The hand of God, I say, nothing else! He thought that himself, and was afraid; +may be too that during his sickness the desire left him, may be he was waiting +to regain his strength; it is enough, that when he came to himself he left her +in peace, and even permitted the sword-bearer to come from Tyltsa. It is true, +also, that the sickness which confined him to his bed left him, but not the +fever, which is, I believe, crushing him to this day. It is true, also, that +soon after he left the bed he had to go on the expedition to Tykotsin, where +defeat met him. He returned with a still greater fever; then the elector sent +for him. But meanwhile a change took place at Taurogi, of which it is wonderful +and laughable to tell; it is enough that the prince cannot count on the loyalty +of any officer or any attendant, unless on very old ones, who neither hear nor +see perfectly, and therefore guard nothing well.” +</p> + +<p> +“What happened?” asked Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“During the Tykotsin campaign, before the defeat at Tanov, they captured +a certain Panna Anusia Borzobogati, and sent her to Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +“There, Grandmother, you have cakes!” exclaimed Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael began to blink and move his mustaches; at last he said: “Say +nothing bad of her, or when you recover you will have to meet me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even if I wished I could say nothing bad of that lady. But if she is +your betrothed, I say that you take poor care of her; and if she is a relative, +you know her too well to deny what I say. It is enough that in one week she +made all in the company, old and young, in love with her, and only by using her +eyes with the addition of some tricks of witchcraft, of which I can give no +account.” +</p> + +<p> +“She! I should know her in hell by this,” muttered Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“It is a wonderful thing!” said Hassling. “Panna Billevich is +equal to her in beauty, but has such dignity and unapproachableness that a man +while admiring and doing homage to her does not dare to raise his eyes, much +less to conceive any hope. You know yourselves, gentlemen, that there are +different kinds of ladies: some are like ancient vestals; others, you have +barely seen them and you wish—” +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy sir!” said Pan Michael, threateningly. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t make a fool of yourself, Michael, for he tells the +truth,” said Zagloba. “You go around like a young cockerel and show +the whites of your eyes; but that she is a coquette we all know, and you have +said so more than a hundred times.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let us leave this matter,” said Hassling. “I wished simply +to explain to you, gentlemen, why only a few were in love with Panna Billevich, +those who could really appreciate her unrivalled perfection [here he blushed +again], and with Panna Borzobogati nearly all. As God is dear to me, I had to +laugh, for it was just as if some plague had come upon hearts. Disputes and +duels increased in the twinkle of an eye. And about what? For what? You must +know that there was no one who could boast of the love of the lady; each one +believed blindly in this alone, that earlier or later he would have some +success—” +</p> + +<p> +“He has painted her, as it were!” muttered Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“But these two young ladies became wonderfully fond of each other,” +continued Hassling; “one would not move a step without the other, and +Panna Borzobogati manages in Taurogi as it pleases her.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked the little knight. +</p> + +<p> +“For she rules everybody. Sakovich did not go on a campaign this time, +because he is in love; and Sakovich is absolute master in all the possessions +of Prince Boguslav. And Panna Anusia governs through him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is he so much in love with her?” asked Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“He is, and has the greatest confidence in himself, for he is a very rich +man.” +</p> + +<p> +“And his name is Sakovich?” +</p> + +<p> +“You wish, I see, to remember him well.” +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly!” answered Pan Michael, as it were, carelessly, but at +the same time he moved his mustaches so ominously that a shudder went through +Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“I only wish to add,” continued Hassling, “that if Panna +Borzobogati should command Sakovich to betray the prince and lighten her escape +and that of her friend, I think he would do it without hesitation; but so far +as I know she wishes to do that without his knowledge, maybe to spite him, who +knows? It is enough that an officer, a relative of mine, but not a Catholic, +assured me that the departure of the sword-bearer with the ladies is arranged; +officers are involved in the conspiracy, and it is to take place soon.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Hassling began to breathe heavily, for he was weary and was using the last +of his strength. +</p> + +<p> +“And this is the most important thing that I had to tell you,” +added he, hurriedly. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski and Kmita seized their heads. +</p> + +<p> +“Whither are they going to flee?” +</p> + +<p> +“To the forests and through the forests to Byalovyej.” +</p> + +<p> +Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Sapyeha’s +orderly, who delivered to Pan Michael and Kmita a quarter of a sheet of paper +folded in four. Volodyovski had barely unfolded his when he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“The order to occupy positions for to-morrow’s work.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you hear how the cannons are roaring?” asked Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, to-morrow! to-morrow!” +</p> + +<p> +“Uf! hot!” said Zagloba, “a bad day for a storm,—may +the devil take such heat! Mother of God! But more than one will grow cold in +spite of the heat; but not those—not those who commend themselves to +Thee, our Patroness— But the cannons are thundering! I am too old for +storms; the open field is something else.” +</p> + +<p> +Another officer appeared in the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Is his grace Pan Zagloba here?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“I am here.” +</p> + +<p> +“By the command of our Gracious King, you are to be near his person +to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha! he wishes to keep me from the storm, for he knows that the old man +will move first, only let the trumpets sound. He is a kind lord, mindful; I +should not like to annoy him; but whether I shall restrain myself I know not, +for when the desire presses me I think of nothing, and roll straight into the +smoke. Such is my nature! A kind lord! Do you hear how the trumpets are +sounding for every one to take his place? Well, to-morrow, to-morrow. Saint +Peter will have work; he must have his books ready. In hell too they have put +fresh pitch in the kettles, a bath for the Swedes. Uf! uf! to-morrow!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<p> +July 1, between Povanski and the settlement afterward called Marymont, was +celebrated a great field Mass, which ten thousand men of the quarter-soldiers +heard with attentive mind. The king made a vow that in case of victory he would +build a church to the Most Holy Lady. Dignitaries, the hetmans, the knights +made vows, and even simple soldiers, following the example, each according to +his means, for this was to be the day of the final storm. +</p> + +<p> +After the Mass each of the leaders moved to his own command. Sapyeha took his +position opposite the Church of the Holy Ghost, which at that time was outside +the walls; but because it was the key to the walls, it was greatly strengthened +by the Swedes, and occupied in fitting manner by the troops. Charnyetski was to +capture Dantzig House, for the rear wall of that building formed a part of the +city wall, and by passing through the building it was possible to reach the +city. Pyotr Opalinski, the voevoda of Podlyasye, with men from Great Poland and +Mazovia, was to attack from the Cracow suburbs and the Vistula. The +quarter-regiments were to attack the gates of New City. There were so many men +that they almost exceeded the approaches to the walls; the entire plain, all +the neighboring suburban villages and the meadows were overflowed with a sea of +soldiers. Beyond the men were white tents, after the tents wagons far away; the +eye was lost in the blue distance before it could reach the end of that swarm. +</p> + +<p> +Those legions were standing in perfect readiness, with weapons point forward, +and one foot in advance for the run; they were ready at any moment to rush to +the breaches made by the guns of heavy calibre, and especially by +Zamoyski’s great guns. The guns did not cease to play for a moment; the +storm was deferred only because they were waiting for the final answer of +Wittemberg to the letter which the grand chancellor Korytsinski had sent him. +When about midday the officer returned with a refusal, the ominous trumpets +rang out around the city, and the storm began. +</p> + +<p> +The armies of the kingdom under the hetmans, Charnyetski’s men, the +regiments of the king, the infantry regiments of Zamoyski, the Lithuanians of +Sapyeha, and the legions of the general militia rushed toward the walls like a +swollen river. But from behind the walls bloomed out against them rolls of +white smoke and darts of flame; heavy cannon, arquebuses, double-barrelled +guns, muskets thundered simultaneously; the earth was shaken in its +foundations. The balls broke into that throng of men, ploughed long furrows in +it; but the men ran on and tore up to the fortress, regarding neither fire nor +death. Clouds of powder smoke hid the sun. +</p> + +<p> +Each attacked furiously what was nearest him,—the hetmans the gates of +New City; Charnyetski, Dantzig House; Sapyeha with the Lithuanians, the Church +of the Holy Ghost; the Mazovians and men of Great Poland, the Cracow suburbs. +</p> + +<p> +The heaviest work fell to the last-mentioned men, for the palaces and houses +along the Cracow suburbs were turned into fortresses. But that day such fury of +battle had seized the Mazovians that nothing could stand before their onset. +They took by storm house after house, palace after palace; they fought in +windows, in doors, in passages. +</p> + +<p> +After the capture of one house, before the blood was dry on their hands and +faces, they rushed to another; again a hand-to-hand battle, and again they +rushed farther. The private regiments vied with the general militia, and the +general militia with the infantry. They had been commanded before advancing to +the storm to carry at their breasts bundles of unripe grain to ward off the +bullets, but in the ardor and frenzy of battle they hurled aside every defence, +and ran forward with bare bosoms. In the midst of a bloody struggle the chapel +of the Tsar Shuiski and the lordly palace of the Konyetspolskis were captured. +The Swedes were destroyed to the last man in the smaller buildings, in the +stables of the magnates, in the gardens descending to the Vistula. Near the +Kazanovski Palace the Swedish infantry tried to make a stand in the street, and +reinforced from the walls of the palace, from the church and the bell-tower of +the Bernardines, which was turned into a strong fortress, they received the +attack with a cutting fire. +</p> + +<p> +But the hail of bullets did not stop the attack for a moment; and the nobles, +with the cry of “Mazovians victorious!” rushed with sabres into the +centre of the quadrangle; after them came the land infantry, servants armed +with poles, pickaxes, and scythes. The quadrangle was broken in a twinkle, and +hewing began. Swedes and Poles were so mingled together that they formed one +gigantic mass, which squirmed, twisted, and rolled in its own blood between the +Kazanovski Palace, the house of Radzeyovski, and the Cracow gate. +</p> + +<p> +But new legions of warriors breathing blood came on continually, like a foaming +river, from the direction of the Cracow gate. The Swedish infantry was cut to +pieces at last, and then began that famous storm of the Kazanovski Palace and +the Bernardines’ Church which in great part decided the fate of the day. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba commanded, for he was mistaken the day before in thinking that the king +called him to his person only to be present; for, on the contrary, he confided +to him, as to a famous and experienced warrior, command over the camp servants, +who with the quarter-soldiers and the general militia were to go as volunteers +to storm from that side. Zagloba was willing, it is true, to go with these men +in the rear, and content himself with occupying the palaces already captured; +but when in the very beginning all vying with one another were mingled +completely, the human current bore him on with the others. So he went; for +although he had from nature great circumspection as a gift, and preferred, +where it was possible, not to expose his life to danger, he had for so many +years become accustomed to battles in spite of himself, had been present in so +many dreadful slaughters, that when the inevitable came he fought with others, +and even better than others, for he fought with desperation and rage in a +manful heart. +</p> + +<p> +So at this time he found himself at the gate of the Kazanovski Palace, or +rather in the hell which was raging dreadfully in front of that gate; that is, +amid a whirlpool, heat, crushing, a storm of bullets, fire, smoke, groans and +shouts of men. Thousands of scythes, picks, and axes were driven against the +gate; a thousand arms pressed and pushed it furiously. Some men fell as if +struck by lightning; others pushed themselves into their places, trampled their +bodies, and forced themselves forward, as if seeking death of purpose. No one +had seen or remembered a more stubborn defence, but also not a more resolute +attack. From the highest stories bullets were rained and pitch poured down on +the gate; but those who were under fire, even had they wished could not +withdraw, so powerfully were they pressed from behind. You saw single men, wet +from perspiration, black from smoke, with set teeth, with wild eyes, hurling at +the gate beams of such size that at an ordinary time three strong men would not +have been able to lift them. So their strength was trebled by frenzy. All the +windows were stormed simultaneously, ladders were placed at the upper stories, +lattices were hewn from the walls. But still from those lattices and windows, +from openings cut in the walls, were sticking out musket-barrels, which did not +cease to smoke for a moment. But at last such smoke ascended, such dust rose, +that on that bright sunny day the assailants could scarcely recognize one +another. In spite of that they did not desist from the struggle, but climbed +ladders the more fiercely, attacked the gate the more wildly, because the +sounds from the Church of the Bernardines announced that there other parties +were storming with similar energy. +</p> + +<p> +Now Zagloba cried with a voice so piercing that it was heard amid the uproar +and shots: “A box with powder under the gate!” +</p> + +<p> +It was brought to him in a twinkle; he gave command at once to cut just beneath +the bolt an opening of such size that the box alone would find place in it. +When the box was fitted in, Zagloba himself set fire to the sulphur thread, +then commanded,— +</p> + +<p> +“Aside! Close to the wall!” +</p> + +<p> +Those standing near rushed to both sides, toward those who had placed the +ladders at the farther windows. A moment of expectation followed. +</p> + +<p> +A mighty report shook the air, and new bundles of smoke rose toward the sky. +Zagloba sprang forward with his men; they saw that the explosion had not rent +the gate to small pieces, but had torn the hinges from the right side, wrested +away a couple of strong beams, already partly cut, turned the handle, and +pulled off one half of the lower part, so that a passage was open through which +large men might enter easily. +</p> + +<p> +Sharpened stakes, axes, and scythes began to beat violently on the weakened +door; a hundred arms pushed it with utmost effort, a sharp crash was heard, and +all one half fell, uncovering the depth of the dark antechamber. +</p> + +<p> +In that darkness gleamed discharges of musketry; but the human river rushed +forward with an irresistible torrent,—the palace was captured. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time they broke in through the windows, and a terrible battle with +cold weapons began in the interior of the palace. Chamber was taken after +chamber, corridor after corridor, story after story. The walls had been so +shattered and weakened beforehand that the ceiling in many rooms fell with a +crash, covering with their ruins Poles and Swedes. But the Mazovians advanced +like a conflagration; they penetrated every place, overturning with their long +knives, cutting and thrusting. No man of the Swedes asked for quarter, but +neither was it given. In some corridors and passages the piles of bodies so +blocked the way that the Swedes made barricades of them; the Poles pulled them +out by the feet, by the hair, and hurled them through the windows. Blood flowed +in streams through the passages. Groups of Swedes defended themselves yet here +and there, and repelled with weakening hands the furious blows of the stormers. +Blood had covered their faces, darkness was covering their eyes, more than one +sank on his knees, and still fought; pressed on every side, suffocated by the +throng of opponents, the Scandinavians died in silence, in accord with their +fame, as beseemed warriors. The statues of divinities and ancient heroes, +bespattered with blood, looked with lifeless eyes on that death. +</p> + +<p> +Roh Kovalski raged specially in the upper stories; but Zagloba rushed with his +men to the terraces, and when he had cut to pieces the infantry defending +themselves there, he hurried from the terraces to those wonderful gardens which +were famed throughout Europe. The trees were already cut down, the rare plants +destroyed by Polish balls, the fountains broken, the earth ploughed up by +bombshells,—in a word, everywhere a desert and destruction, though the +Swedes had not raised their robber hands against this place, out of regard for +the person of Radzeyovski. A savage struggle set in there, too; but it lasted +only a short time, for the Swedes gave but feeble resistance, and were cut to +pieces under the personal command of Zagloba. The soldiers dispersed now +through the garden, and the whole palace was plundered. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba betook himself to a corner of the garden, to a place where the walls +formed a strong “angle,” and where the sun did not come, for the +knight wished to rest somewhat; and he rubbed the sweat from his heated +forehead. All at once he espied some strange monsters, looking at him with +hostility through an iron grating. +</p> + +<p> +The cage was fixed in a corner of the wall, so that balls falling from the +outside could not reach it. The door of the cage was wide open; but those +meagre and ugly creatures did not think of taking advantage of this. Evidently +terrified by the uproar, the whistling of bullets, and the fierce slaughter at +which they had looked a moment before, they crowded into a corner of the cage, +and hidden in the straw, gave note of their terror only by muttering. +</p> + +<p> +“Are those monkeys or devils?” said Zagloba to himself. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly anger seized him, courage swelled in his breast, and raising his sabre +he fell upon the cage. +</p> + +<p> +A terrible panic was the answer to the first blow of his sabre. The monkeys, +which the Swedish soldiers had treated kindly and fed from their own slender +rations, fell into such a fright that madness simply seized them; and since +Zagloba stopped their exit, they began to rush through the cage with unnatural +springs, hanging to the sides, to the top, screaming and biting. At last one in +frenzy sprang on Zagloba’s shoulder, and seizing him by the head, +fastened to it with all his power; another hung to his right shoulder, a third +caught him in front by the neck, the fourth hung to his long split sleeves +which were tied together behind; and Zagloba, stifled, sweating, struggled in +vain, in vain struck blindly toward the rear. Breath soon failed him, his eyes +were standing out of his head, and he began to cry with despairing +voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious gentlemen! save me!” +</p> + +<p> +The cry brought a number of men, who, unable to understand what was happening, +rushed to his aid with blood-streaming sabres; but they halted at once in +astonishment, they looked at one another, and as if under the influence of some +spell they burst out in one great laugh. More soldiers ran up, a crowd was +formed; but laughter was communicated to all as an epidemic. They staggered as +if drunk, they held their sides; their faces, besmeared with the gore of men, +were twisting spasmodically, and the more Zagloba struggled the more did they +laugh. Now Roh Kovalski ran down from an upper story, scattered the crowd, and +freed his uncle from the Simian embraces. +</p> + +<p> +“You rascals!” cried the panting Zagloba, “I would you were +slain! You are laughing to see a Catholic in oppression from these African +monsters. I would you were slain! Were it not for me you would be butting your +heads to this moment against the gate, for you deserve nothing better. I wish +you were dead, because you are not worth these monkeys.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wish you were dead yourself, king of the monkeys!” cried the man +standing nearest. +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Simiarum destructor</i> (destroyer of monkeys)!” cried another. +</p> + +<p> +“Victor!” cried the third. +</p> + +<p> +“What, victor! he is <i>victus</i> (conquered)!” +</p> + +<p> +Here Roh Kovalski came again to the aid of his uncle, and struck the nearest +man in the breast with his fist; the man dropped to the earth that instant with +blood coming from his mouth. Others retreated before the anger of Kovalski, +some drew their sabres; but further disputes were interrupted by the uproar and +shots coming from the Bernardines’ Church. Evidently the storm continued +there yet in full force, and judging from the feverish musketry-fire, the +Swedes were not thinking of surrender. +</p> + +<p> +“With succor! to the church! to the church!” cried Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +He sprang himself to the top of the palace; there, from the right wing, was to +be seen the church, which seemed to be in flames. Crowds of stormers were +circling around it convulsively, not being able to enter and perishing for +nothing in a cross fire; for bullets were rained on them from the Cracow gate +as thickly as sand. +</p> + +<p> +“Cannon to the windows!” shouted Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +There were guns enough, large and small, in the Kazanovski Palace, therefore +they were drawn to the windows; from fragments of costly furniture and +pedestals of statues, platforms were constructed; and in the course of half an +hour a number of guns were looking out through the empty openings of the +windows toward the church. +</p> + +<p> +“Roh!” said Zagloba, with uncommon irritation, “I must do +something considerable, or my glory is lost through those monkeys,—would +that the plague had stifled them! The whole army will ridicule me; and though +there is no lack of words in my mouth, still I cannot meet the whole world. I +must wipe away this confusion, or wide as this Commonwealth is they will herald +me through it as king of the monkeys!” +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle must wipe away this confusion!” repeated Roh, with a +thundering voice. +</p> + +<p> +“And the first means will be that, as I have captured the Kazanovski +Palace,—for let any one say that it was not I who did it—” +</p> + +<p> +“Let any one say that it was not Uncle who did it!” repeated Roh. +</p> + +<p> +“I will capture that church, so help me the Lord God, amen!” +concluded Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +Then he turned to his attendants who were there at the guns,— +</p> + +<p> +“Fire!” +</p> + +<p> +Fear seized the Swedes, who were defending themselves with despair in the +church, when the whole side wall began on a sudden to tremble. Bricks, rubbish, +lime, fell on those who were sitting in the windows, at the port-holes, on the +fragments of the inside cornices, at the pigeon-holes, through which they were +firing at the besiegers. A terrible dust rose in the house of God, and mixed +with the smoke began to stifle the wearied men. One man could not see another +in the darkness. Cries of “I am suffocating, I am suffocating!” +still increased the terror. The noise of balls falling through the windows, of +leaden lattice falling to the floor, the heat, the exhalations from bodies, +turned the retreat of God into a hell upon earth. The frightened soldiers stood +aside from entrances, windows, and port-holes. The panic is changed into +frenzy. Again terrified voices call: “I am suffocating! Air! +Water!” Hundreds of voices begin to roar,— +</p> + +<p> +“A white flag! a white flag!” +</p> + +<p> +Erskine, who is commanding, seizes the flag with his own hand to display it +outside. At that moment the entrance bursts, a line of stormers rush in like an +avalanche of Satans, and a slaughter follows. There is sudden silence in the +church; there is heard only the beast-like panting of the strugglers, the bite +of steel on bones, and on the stone floor groans, the patter of blood; and at +times some voice in which there is nothing human cries, “Quarter! +Quarter!” After an hour’s fighting the bell on the tower begins to +thunder, and thunders, thunders,—to the victory of the Mazovians, to the +funeral of the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +The Kazanovski Palace, the cloister, and the bell-tower are captured. +</p> + +<p> +Pyotr Opalinski himself, the voevoda of Podlyasye, appeared in the +blood-stained throng before the palace on his horse. +</p> + +<p> +“Who came to our aid from the palace?” cried he, wishing to outcry +the sound and the roar of men. +</p> + +<p> +“He who captured the palace!” said a powerful man, appearing before +the voevoda,—“I!” +</p> + +<p> +“What is your name?” +</p> + +<p> +“Zagloba.” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Zagloba!” bellowed thousands of throats. +</p> + +<p> +But the terrible Zagloba pointed with his stained sabre toward the gate,— +</p> + +<p> +“We have not done enough yet. Turn the cannon toward the wall and against +the gate. Advance! follow me!” +</p> + +<p> +The mad throng rush in the direction of the gate. Meanwhile, oh wonder! the +fire of the Swedes instead of increasing is growing weak. At the same moment +some voice unexpected and piercing cries from the top of the bell-tower,— +</p> + +<p> +“Charnyetski is in the city! I see our squadrons!” +</p> + +<p> +The Swedish fire was weakening more and more. +</p> + +<p> +“Halt! halt!” commanded the voevoda. +</p> + +<p> +But the throng did not hear him and rushed at random. That moment a white flag +appeared on the Cracow gate. +</p> + +<p> +In truth, Charnyetski, having forced his way through Dantzig House, rushed like +a hurricane into the precincts of the fortress; when the Danillovich Palace was +taken, and when a moment later the Lithuanian colors glittered on the walls +near the Church of the Holy Ghost, Wittemberg saw that further resistance was +vain. The Swedes might defend themselves yet in the lofty houses of Old and New +City; but the inhabitants had already taken arms, and the defence would end in +a terrible slaughter of the Swedes without hope of victory. +</p> + +<p> +The trumpeters began then to sound on the walls and to wave white flags. Seeing +this, the Polish commanders withheld the storm. General Löwenhaupt, attended by +a number of colonels, went out through the gate of New City, and rushed with +all breath to the king. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir had the city in his hands now; but the kind king wished to stop the +flow of Christian blood, therefore he settled on the conditions offered to +Wittemberg at first. The city was to be surrendered, with all the booty +collected in it. Each Swede was permitted to take with him only what he had +brought from Sweden. The garrison with all the generals and with arms in hand +were to march out of the city, taking their sick and wounded and the Swedish +ladies, of whom a number of tens were in Warsaw. To the Poles who were serving +with the Swedes, amnesty was given, with the idea that surely none were serving +of their own will. Boguslav Radzivill alone was excepted. To this Wittemberg +agreed the more readily since the prince was at that moment with Douglas on the +Bug. +</p> + +<p> +The conditions were signed at once. All the bells in the churches announced to +the city and the world that the capital had passed again into the hands of its +rightful monarch. An hour later a multitude of the poorest people came out from +behind the walls, seeking charity and bread in the Polish camp; for all in the +city except the Swedes were in want of food. The king commanded to give what +was possible, and went himself to look at the departure of the Swedish +garrison. +</p> + +<p> +He was surrounded by church and lay dignitaries, by a suite so splendid that it +dazzled the people. Nearly all the troops—that is, the troops of the +kingdom under the hetmans, Charnyetski’s division, the Lithuanians under +Sapyeha, and an immense crowd of general militia, together with the camp +servants—assembled around his Majesty; or all were curious to see those +Swedes with whom a few hours before they had fought so terribly and bloodily. +Polish commissioners were posted at all the gates, from the moment of signing +the conditions; these commissioners were intrusted with the duty of seeing that +the Swedes bore off no booty. A special commission was occupied with receiving +the booty in the city itself. +</p> + +<p> +In the van came the cavalry, which was not numerous, especially since +Boguslav’s men were excluded from the right of departure; next came the +field artillery with light guns; the heavy pieces were given to the Poles. The +men marched at the sides of the guns with lighted matches. Before them waved +their unfurled flags, which as a mark of honor were lowered before the Polish +king, recently a wanderer. The artillerists marched proudly, looking straight +into the eyes of the Polish knights, as if they wished to say, “We shall +meet again!” And the Poles wondered at their haughty bearing and courage +unbent by misfortune. Then appeared the wagons with officers and wounded. In +the first one lay Benedikt Oxenstiern the chancellor, before whom Yan Kazimir +had commanded the infantry to present arms, wishing to show that he knew how to +respect virtue even in an enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Then to the sound of drums, and with waving flags, marched the quadrangle of +unrivalled Swedish infantry, resembling, according to the expression of Suba +Gazi, moving castles. After them advanced a brilliant party of cavalry, armored +from foot to head, and with a blue banner on which a golden lion was +embroidered. These surrounded the chief of staff. At sight of them a murmur +passed through the crowd,— +</p> + +<p> +“Wittemberg is coming! Wittemberg is coming!” +</p> + +<p> +In fact, the field-marshal himself was approaching; and with him the younger +Wrangel, Horn, Erskine, Löwenhaupt, Forgell. The eyes of the Polish knights +were turned with eagerness toward them, and especially toward the face of +Wittemberg. But his face did not indicate such a terrible warrior as he was in +reality. It was an aged face, pale, emaciated by disease. He had sharp +features, and above his mouth a thin, small mustache turned up at the ends. The +pressed lips and long, pointed nose gave him the appearance of an old and +grasping miser. Dressed in black velvet and with a black hat on his head, he +looked more like a learned astrologer or a physician; and only the gold chain +on his neck, the diamond star on his breast, and a field-marshal’s baton +in his hand showed his high office of leader. +</p> + +<p> +Advancing, he cast his eyes unquietly on the king, on the king’s staff, +on the squadrons standing in rank; then his eyes took in the immense throngs of +the general militia, and an ironical smile came out on his pale lips. +</p> + +<p> +But in those throngs a murmur was rising ever greater, and the word +“Wittemberg! Wittemberg!” was in every mouth. +</p> + +<p> +After a while the murmur changed into deep grumbling, but threatening, like the +grumbling of the sea before a storm. From instant to instant it was silent; and +then far away in the distance, in the last ranks, was heard some voice in +peroration. This voice was answered by others; greater numbers answered them; +they were heard ever louder and spread more widely, like ominous echoes. You +would swear that a storm was coming from a distance, and that it would burst +with all power. +</p> + +<p> +The officers were anxious and began to look at the king with disquiet. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that? What does that mean?” asked Yan Kazimir. +</p> + +<p> +Then the grumbling passed into a roar as terrible as if thunders had begun to +wrestle with one another in the sky. The immense throng of general militia +moved violently, precisely like standing grain when a hurricane is sweeping +around it with giant wing. All at once some tens of thousands of sabres were +glittering in the sun. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that? What does that mean?” asked the king, repeatedly. +</p> + +<p> +No one could answer him. Then Volodyovski, standing near Sapyeha, exclaimed: +“That is Pan Zagloba!” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski had guessed aright. The moment the conditions of surrender were +published and had come to the ears of Zagloba, the old noble fell into such a +terrible rage that speech was taken from him for a while. When he came to +himself his first act was to spring among the ranks of the general militia and +fire up the minds of the nobles. They heard him willingly; for it seemed to all +that for so much bravery, for such toil, for so much bloodshed under the walls +of Warsaw, they ought to have a better vengeance against the enemy. Therefore +great circles of chaotic and stormy men surrounded Zagloba, who threw live +coals by the handful on the powder, and with his speech fanned into greater +proportions the fire which all the more easily seized their heads, that they +were already smoking from the usual libations consequent on victory. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious gentlemen!” said he, “behold these old hands have +toiled fifty years for the country; fifty years have they been shedding the +blood of the enemy at every wall of the Commonwealth; and to-day—I have +witnesses—they captured the Kazanovski Palace and the Bernardines’ +Church! And when, gracious gentlemen, did the Swedes lose heart, when did they +agree to capitulate? It was when we turned our guns from the Bernardines to the +Old City. We have not spared our blood, brothers; it has been shed bountifully, +and no one has been spared but the enemy. But we, brothers, have left our lands +without masters, our servants without lords, our wives without husbands, our +children without fathers,—oh, my dear children, what is happening to you +now?—and we have come here with our naked breasts against cannon. And +what is our reward for so doing? This is it: Wittemberg goes forth free, and +besides, they give him honor for the road. The executioner of our country +departs, the blasphemer of religion departs; the raging enemy of the Most Holy +Lady, the burner of our houses, the thief of our last bit of clothing, the +murderer of our wives and children,—oh, my children, where are you +now?—the disgracer of the clergy and virgins consecrated to God! Woe to +thee, country! Shame to you, nobles! A new agony is awaiting you. Oh, our holy +faith! Woe to you, suffering churches! weeping to thee and complaint, O +Chenstohova! for Wittemberg is departing in freedom, and will return soon to +press out tears and blood, to finish killing those whom he has not yet killed, +to burn that which he has not yet burned, to put shame on that which he has not +yet put to shame! Weep, O Poland and Lithuania! Weep, ranks of people, as I +weep,—an old soldier who, descending to the grave, must look on your +agony! Woe to thee, Ilion, the city of aged Priam! Woe! woe! woe!” +</p> + +<p> +So spoke Zagloba; and thousands listened to him, and wrath raised the hair on +the heads of the nobles; but he moved on farther. Again he complained, tore his +clothing, and laid bare his breast. He entered also into the army, which gave a +willing ear to his complaints; for, in truth, there was a terrible animosity in +all hearts against Wittemberg. The tumult would have burst out at once; but +Zagloba himself restrained it, lest, if it burst too early, Wittemberg might +save himself somehow; but if it broke out when he was leaving the city and +would show himself to the general militia, they would bear him apart on their +sabres before any one could see what was done. +</p> + +<p> +And his reckoning was justified. At sight of the tyrant frenzy seized the +brains of the chaotic and half-drunken nobles, and a terrible storm burst forth +in the twinkle of an eye. Forty thousand sabres were flashing in the sun, forty +thousand throats began to bellow,— +</p> + +<p> +“Death to Wittemberg! Give him here! Make mince-meat of him! make +mince-meat of him!” +</p> + +<p> +To the throngs of nobles were joined throngs more chaotic still and made brutal +by the recent shedding of blood, the camp servants; even the more disciplined +regular squadrons began to murmur fiercely against the oppressor, and the storm +began to fly with rage against the Swedish staff. +</p> + +<p> +At the first moment all lost their heads, though all understood what the matter +was. “What is to be done?” cried voices near the king. “Oh, +merciful Jesus!” “Rescue! defend! It is a shame not to observe the +conditions!” +</p> + +<p> +Enraged crowds rush in among the squadrons, press upon them; the squadrons are +confused, cannot keep their places. Around them are sabres, sabres, and sabres; +under the sabres are inflamed faces, threatening eyes, howling mouths; uproar, +noise, wild cries grow with amazing rapidity. In front are rushing camp +servants, camp followers, and every kind of army rabble, more like beasts or +devils than men. +</p> + +<p> +Wittemberg understood what was happening. His face grew pale as a sheet; sweat, +abundant and cold, covered his forehead in a moment; and, oh wonder! that +field-marshal who hitherto was ready to threaten the whole world, that +conqueror of so many armies, that captor of so many cities, that old soldier +was then so terribly frightened at the howling mass that presence of mind left +him utterly. He trembled in his whole body, he dropped his hands and groaned, +spittle began to flow from his mouth to the golden chain, and the +field-marshal’s baton dropped from his hand. Meanwhile the terrible +throng was coming nearer and nearer; ghastly forms were surrounding already the +hapless generals; a moment more, they would bear them apart on sabres, so that +not a fragment of them would remain. +</p> + +<p> +Other Swedish generals drew their sabres, wishing to die weapon in hand, as +beseemed knights; but the aged oppressor grew weak altogether, and half closed +his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +At this moment Volodyovski, with his men, sprang to the rescue of the staff. +Going wedge-form on a gallop, he split the mob as a ship moving with all sails +bears apart the towering waves of the sea. The cry of the trampled rabble was +mingled with the shouts of the Lauda squadron; but the horsemen reached the +staff first, and surrounded it in the twinkle of an eye with a wall of horses, +a wall of their own breasts and sabres. +</p> + +<p> +“To the king!” cried the little knight. +</p> + +<p> +They moved on. The throng surrounded them from every side, ran along the flanks +and the rear, brandished sabres and clubs, howled more and more terribly; but +the Lauda men pushed forward, thrusting out their sabres from moment to moment +at the sides, as a strong stag thrusts with his antlers when surrounded by +wolves. +</p> + +<p> +Then Voynillovich sprang to the aid of Volodyovski; after him Vilchkovski with +a regiment of the king, then Prince Polubinski; and all together, defending +themselves unceasingly, conducted the staff to the presence of Yan Kazimir. +</p> + +<p> +The tumult increased instead of diminishing. It seemed, after a time, that the +excited rabble would try to seize the Swedish generals without regard to the +king. Wittemberg recovered; but fear did not leave him in the least. He sprang +from his horse then; and as a hare pressed by dogs or wolves takes refuge under +a wagon in motion, so did he, in spite of his gout, throw himself at the feet +of Yan Kazimir. +</p> + +<p> +Then he dropped on his knees, and seizing the king’s stirrup, began to +cry: “Save me, Gracious Lord, save me! I have your royal word; the +agreement is signed. Save me, save me! Have mercy on us! Do not let them murder +me!” +</p> + +<p> +The king, at sight of such abasement and such shame turned away his eyes with +aversion and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Field-marshal, pray be calm.” +</p> + +<p> +But he had a troubled face himself, for he knew not what to do. Around them +were gathering crowds ever greater, and approaching with more persistence. It +is true that the squadrons stood as if for battle, and Zamoyski’s +infantry had formed a terrible quadrangle round about; but what was to be the +end of it all? +</p> + +<p> +The king looked at Charnyetski; but Charnyetski only twisted his beard with +rage, his soul was storming with such anger against the disobedience of the +general militia. Then the chancellor, Korytsinski, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, we must keep the agreement.” +</p> + +<p> +“We must!” replied the king. +</p> + +<p> +Wittemberg, who was looking carefully into their eyes, breathed more freely. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord,” said he, “I believe in your words as in +God.” +</p> + +<p> +To which Pototski, the old hetman of the kingdom, cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“And why have you broken so many oaths, so many agreements, so many terms +of surrender? With what any man wars, from that will he perish. Why did you +seize, in spite of the terms of capitulation, the king’s regiment +commanded by Wolf?” +</p> + +<p> +“Miller did that, not I,” answered Wittemberg. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman looked at him with disdain; then turned to the king,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Lord, I do not say this to incite your Royal Grace to break +agreements also, for let perfidy be on their side alone.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is to be done?” asked the king. “If we send them to +Prussia, fifty thousand nobles will follow and cut them to pieces before they +reach Pultusk, unless we give them the whole regular army as a guard, and we +cannot do that. Hear, your Royal Grace, how the militia are howling! In truth, +there is a well-founded animosity against Wittemberg. It is needful first to +safeguard his person, and then to send all away when the fire has cooled +down.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is no other way!” said Korytsinski. +</p> + +<p> +“But where are they to be kept? We cannot keep them here; for here, devil +take it! civil war would break out,” said the voevoda of Rus. +</p> + +<p> +Now Sobiepan Zamoyski appeared, and pouting his lips greatly, said with his +customary spirit,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Gracious Lord, give them to me at Zamost; let them sit there till +calm comes. I will defend Wittemberg there from the nobles. Let them try to get +him from me!” +</p> + +<p> +“But on the road will your worthiness defend the field-marshal?” +asked the chancellor. +</p> + +<p> +“I can depend on my servants yet. Or have I not infantry and cannon? Let +any one take him from Zamoyski! We shall see.” +</p> + +<p> +Here he put his hands on his hips, struck his thighs, and bent from one side of +the saddle to the other. +</p> + +<p> +“There is no other way,” said the chancellor. +</p> + +<p> +“I see no other,” added Lantskoronski. +</p> + +<p> +“Then take them,” said the king to Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p> +But Wittemberg, seeing that his life was threatened no longer, considered it +proper to protest. +</p> + +<p> +“We did not expect this!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, we do not detain you; the road is open,” said Pototski, +pointing to the distance with his hand. +</p> + +<p> +Wittemberg was silent. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the chancellor sent a number of officers to declare to the nobles +that Wittemberg would not depart in freedom, but would be sent to Zamost. The +tumult, it is true, was not allayed at once; still the news had a soothing +effect. Before night fell attention was turned in another direction. The troops +began to enter the city, and the sight of the recovered capital filled all +minds with the delight of triumph. +</p> + +<p> +The king rejoiced; still the thought that he was unable to observe the +conditions of the agreement troubled him not a little, as well as the endless +disobedience of the general militia. +</p> + +<p> +Charnyetski was chewing his anger. “With such troops one can never be +sure of to-morrow,” said he to the king. “Sometimes they fight +badly, sometimes heroically, all from impulse; and at any outbreak rebellion is +ready. +</p> + +<p> +“God grant them not to disperse,” said the king, “for they +are needed yet, and they think that they have finished everything.” +</p> + +<p> +“The man who caused that outbreak should be torn asunder with horses, +without regard to the services which he has rendered,” continued +Charnyetski. +</p> + +<p> +The strictest orders were given to search for Zagloba, for it was a secret to +no man that he had raised the storm; but Zagloba had as it were dropped into +water. They searched for him in the tents, in the tabor, even among the +Tartars, all in vain. Tyzenhauz even said that the king, always kind and +gracious, wished from his whole soul that they might not find him, and even +undertook a nine days’ devotion to that effect. +</p> + +<p> +But a week later, after some dinner when the heart of the monarch was big with +joy, the following words were heard from the mouth of Yan Kazimir,— +</p> + +<p> +“Announce that Pan Zagloba is not to hide himself longer, for we are +longing for his jests.” +</p> + +<p> +When Charnyetski was horrified at this, the king said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Whoso in this Commonwealth should have justice without mercy in his +heart would be forced to carry an axe in his bosom, and not a heart. Faults +come easier here than anywhere, but in no land does repentance follow so +quickly.” +</p> + +<p> +Saying this, the king had Babinich more in mind than Zagloba; and he was +thinking of Babinich because the young man had bowed down to the king’s +feet the day before with a petition that he would not hinder him from going to +Lithuania. He said that he wished to freshen the war there, and attack the +Swedes, as he had once attacked Hovanski. And as the king intended to send +there a soldier experienced in partisan warfare, he permitted Babinich to go, +gave him the means, blessed him, and whispered some wish in his ear, after +which the young knight fell his whole length at his feet. +</p> + +<p> +Then, without loitering, Kmita moved briskly toward the east. Suba Gazi, +captured by a considerable present, permitted him to take five hundred fresh +Dobrudja Tartars; fifteen hundred other good men marched with him,—a +force with which it was possible to begin something. And the young man’s +head was fired with a desire for battle and warlike achievements. The hope of +glory smiled on him; he heard already how all Lithuania was repeating his name +with pride and wonder. He heard especially how one beloved mouth repeated it, +and his soul gave him wings. +</p> + +<p> +And there was another reason why he rode forward so briskly. Wherever he +appeared he was the first to announce the glad tidings: “The Swede is +defeated, and Warsaw is taken!” Wherever his horse’s hoofs sounded, +the whole neighborhood rang with these words; the people along the roads +greeted him with weeping; they rang bells in the church-towers and sang <i>Te +Deum Laudamus!</i> When he rode through the forest the dark pines, when through +the fields the golden grain, rocked by the wind, seemed to repeat and sound +joyously,— +</p> + +<p> +“The Swede is defeated! Warsaw is taken! Warsaw is taken!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<p> +Though Kettling was near the person of Prince Boguslav, he did not know all, +and could not tell of all that was done in Taurogi, for he was blinded himself +by love for Panna Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav had also another confidant, Pan Sakovich, the starosta of Oshmiana; +and he alone knew how deeply the prince was involved by love for his charming +captive, and what means he was using to gain her heart and her person. +</p> + +<p> +That love was merely a fierce desire, for Boguslav’s heart was not +capable of other feelings; but the desire was so violent that that experienced +cavalier lost his head. And often in the evening, when alone with the starosta, +he seized his own hair and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“I am burning, Sakovich, I am burning!” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich found means at once. +</p> + +<p> +“Whoso wishes to take honey must drug the bees,” said he. +“And has your physician few of such intoxicating herbs? Give him the word +to-day, and to-morrow the affair will be over.” +</p> + +<p> +But the prince did not like such a method, and that for various reasons. First, +on a time, old Heraclius Billevich, the grandfather of Olenka, appeared to him +in a dream, and standing at his pillow, looked with threatening eyes till the +first crowing of the cocks. Boguslav remembered the dream; for that knight, +without fear, was superstitious, dreaded charms, dream warnings, and +supernatural apparitions so much that a shiver passed through him at thought of +the terror and the shape in which that phantom might come a second time should +he follow Sakovich’s counsel. The starosta of Oshmiana himself, who did +not believe greatly in God, but who, like the prince, dreaded dreams and +enchantments, staggered somewhat in giving advice. +</p> + +<p> +The second reason of Boguslav’s delay was that the “Wallachian +woman” was living with her step-daughter in Taurogi. They called Princess +Radzivill, the wife of Yanush, “the Wallachian woman.” That lady, +coming from a country in which her sex have rather free manners, was not, in +truth, over-stern; nay, maybe she understood too well the amusements of +courtiers and ladies-in-waiting; still she could not endure that at her side a +man, the coming husband of her step-daughter, should do a deed calling to +heaven for vengeance. +</p> + +<p> +But even later, when through the persuasions of Sakovich, and with the consent +of the prince voevoda of Vilna, “the Wallachian woman” went with +Yanush’s daughter to Courland, Boguslav did not dare to do the deed. He +feared the terrible outcry which would rise throughout all Lithuania. The +Billeviches were wealthy people; they would not fail to crush him with a +prosecution. The law punished such deeds with loss of property, honor, and +life. +</p> + +<p> +The Radzivills, it is true, were powerful, and might trample on law; but when +victory in war was inclining to the side of Yan Kazimir, the young prince might +fall into serious difficulties, in which he would lack power, friends, and +henchmen. And just then it was hard to foresee how the war would end. Forces +were coming every day to Yan Kazimir; the power of Karl Gustav was decreasing +absolutely by the loss of men and the exhaustion of money. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Boguslav, an impulsive but calculating man, reckoned with the position. +His desires tormented him with fire, his reason advised restraint, +superstitious fear bridled the outbursts of his blood. At the same time disease +fell upon him; great and urgent questions rose, involving frequently the fate +of the whole war; and all these causes rent the soul of the prince till he was +mortally wearied. +</p> + +<p> +Still, it is unknown how the struggle might have ended had it not been for +Boguslav’s self-love. He was a man of immense self-esteem. He counted +himself an unequalled statesman, a great leader, a great knight, and an +invincible captor of the hearts of women. Was he to use force or intoxicating +drugs,—he who carried around with him a bound casket filled with +love-letters from various foreign ladies of celebrity? Were his wealth, his +titles, his power almost royal, his great name, his beauty and courtliness not +equal to the conquest of one timid noble woman? +</p> + +<p> +Besides, how much greater the triumph, how much greater the delight, when the +resistance of the maiden drops, when she herself willingly, and with a heart +beating like that of a seized bird, with burning face and eyes veiled with +mist, falls into those arms which are stretched toward her! +</p> + +<p> +A quiver passed through Boguslav at thought of that moment, and he desired it +as greatly as he did Olenka herself. He hoped always that that moment would +come. He writhed, he was impatient, he deceived himself. At one time it seemed +to him nearer, at another farther; and then he cried that he was burning. But +he did not cease to work. +</p> + +<p> +To begin with, he surrounded the maiden with minute care, so that she must be +thankful to him and think that he is kind; for he understood that the feeling +of gratitude and friendship is that mild and warm flame which only needs to be +fanned and it will turn into a great fire. Their frequent intercourse was to +bring this about the more surely; hence Boguslav showed no insistence, not +wishing to chill confidence or frighten it away. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time every look, every touch of the hand, every word was +calculated; nothing passed in vain, everything was the drop wearing the stone. +All that he did for Olenka might be interpreted as the hospitality of a host, +that innocent friendly attraction which one person feels for another; but still +it was done to create love. The boundary was purposely blurred and indefinite, +so that to pass it would become easy in time; and thus the maiden might the +more lightly wander into those labyrinths where each form might mean something +or nothing. That play did not agree, it is true, with the native impulsiveness +of Boguslav. Still he restrained himself, for he judged that that alone would +lead to the object; and at the same time he found in it such satisfaction as +the spider finds when weaving his web, the traitorous bird-catcher when +spreading his net, or the hunter tracking patiently and with endurance the wild +beast. His own penetration, subtlety, and quickness, developed by life at the +French court, amused the prince. +</p> + +<p> +He entertained Panna Aleksandra as if she were a sovereign princess; but in +such a way that again it was not easy for her to divine whether this was done +exclusively for her, or whether it flowed from his innate and acquired +politeness toward the fair sex in general. It is true that he made her the +chief person in all the entertainments, plays, cavalcades, and hunting +expeditious; but this came somewhat from the nature of things. After the +departure of Yanush’s princess to Courland, she was really first among +the ladies at Taurogi. A multitude of noble ladies from all Jmud had taken +refuge in Taurogi, as in a place lying near the boundary, so as to be protected +by the Swedes under the guardianship of the prince; but they recognized Panna +Billevich as first among all, since she was the daughter of the most noted +family. And while the whole Commonwealth was swimming in blood, there was no +end to entertainments. You would have said that the king’s court with all +the courtiers and ladies had gone to the country for leisure and entertainment. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav ruled as an absolute monarch in Taurogi and in all adjoining Electoral +Prussia, in which he was frequently a guest; therefore everything was at his +orders. Towns furnished money and troops on his notes; the Prussian nobles came +gladly, in carriages and on horseback, to his feasts, hunts, and tournaments. +Boguslav even renewed, in honor of his lady, the conflicts of knights within +barriers, which were already in disuse. +</p> + +<p> +On a certain occasion he took active part in them; dressed in silver armor, and +girded with a silver sash which Panna Billevich had to bind on him, he hurled +from their horses four of the first knights of Prussia, Kettling the fifth, and +Sakovich the sixth, though the last had such gigantic strength that he stopped +carriages in their course by seizing a hind wheel. And what enthusiasm rose in +the crowd of spectators when afterward the silver-clad knight, kneeling before +his lady, took from her hand the crown of victory! Shouts rang like the thunder +of cannon, handkerchiefs were waving, flags were lowered; but he raised his +visor and looked into her blushing face with his beautiful eyes, pressing at +the same time her hand to his lips. +</p> + +<p> +Another time when in the enclosure a raging bear was fighting with dogs and had +torn them all one after another, the prince, dressed only in light Spanish +costume, sprang in with his spear, and pierced not only the savage beast, but +also a soldier, who, seeing the moment of danger had sprung to his aid. +</p> + +<p> +Panna Aleksandra, the grand-daughter of an old soldier, reared in traditions of +blood, war, and reverence for knightly superiority, could not restrain at sight +of these deeds her wonder, and even homage; for she had been taught from +childhood to esteem bravery as almost the highest quality of man. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the prince gave daily proofs of daring almost beyond human, and +always in honor of her. The assembled guests in their praises and enthusiasm +for the prince, which were so great that even a deity might be satisfied with +them, were forced involuntarily to connect in their conversations the name of +Panna Billevich with the name of Boguslav. He was silent, but with his eyes he +told her what he did not dare to utter with his lips. The spell surrounded her +perfectly. +</p> + +<p> +Everything was so combined as to bring them together, to connect them, and at +the same time to separate them from the throng of other people. It was +difficult for any one to mention him without mentioning her. Into the thoughts +of Olenka herself Boguslav was thrust with an irresistible force. Every moment +of the day was so arranged as to lend power to the spell. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening, after amusements, the chambers were lighted by many colored +lamps casting mysterious rays, as if from the land of splendid dreams +transferred to reality; intoxicating eastern odors filled the air; the low +sounds of invisible harps, lutes, and other instruments fondled the hearing; +and in the midst of these odors, lights, sounds, he moved in the glory of +universal homage, like an enchanted king’s son in a myth-tale, beautiful, +knightly, sun-bright from jewels, and as deeply in love as a shepherd. +</p> + +<p> +What maiden could resist these spells, what virtue would not grow faint amid +such allurements? But to avoid the prince there was no possibility for one +living with him under the same roof and enjoying his hospitality, which, though +given perforce, was still dispensed with sincerity and in real lordly fashion. +Besides, Olenka had gone without unwillingness to Taurogi, for she wished to be +far from hideous Kyedani, as she preferred to Yanush, an open traitor, the +knightly Boguslav, who feigned love for the deserted king and the country. +Hence in the beginning of her visit at Taurogi she was full of friendly feeling +for the young prince; and seeing soon how far he was striving for her +friendship, she used her influence more than once to do good to people. +</p> + +<p> +During the third month of her stay a certain artillery officer, a friend of +Kettling, was condemned by the prince to be shot; Panna Billevich, hearing of +this from the young Scot, interceded for him. +</p> + +<p> +“A divinity may command, not implore,” said Boguslav to her; and +tearing the sentence of death he threw it at her feet. “Ordain, command! +I will burn Taurogi, if at that price I can call forth on your face even a +smile. I ask no other reward save this, that you be joyous and forget that +which once pained you.” +</p> + +<p> +She could not be joyous, having pain in her heart, pity and an unutterable +contempt for the man whom she had loved with first love, and who at that time +was in her eyes a worse criminal than a parricide. That Kmita, promising to +sell the king for gold, as Judas sold Christ, became fouler and more repulsive +in her eyes, till in the course of time he was turned into a human monster, a +grief and reproach to her. She could not forgive herself for having loved him, +and at the same time she could not forget him while she hated. +</p> + +<p> +In view of these feelings it was indeed difficult for her even to feign +gladness; but still she had to be thankful to the prince even for this, that he +would not put his hand to Kmita’s crime, and for all that he had done for +her. It was a wonder to her that the prince, such a knight and so full of noble +feeling, did not hasten to the rescue of the country, since he had not +consented to the intrigues of Yanush; but she judged that such a statesman knew +what he was doing, and was forced by a policy which she, with her simple +maiden’s mind, could not sound. Boguslav told her also, explaining his +frequent journeys to Prussian Tyltsa, which was near by, that his strength was +failing him from overwork; that he was conducting negotiations between Yan +Kazimir, Karl Gustav, and the elector, and that he hoped to bring the country +out of difficulty. +</p> + +<p> +“Not for rewards, not for offices, do I do this,” said he to her. +“I will sacrifice my cousin Yanush, who was to me a father, for I know +not whether I shall be able to implore his life for him from the animosity of +Queen Ludvika; but I will do what my conscience and love for the dear mother, +my country, demands.” +</p> + +<p> +When he spoke thus with sadness on his delicate face, with eyes turned to the +ceiling, he seemed to her as lofty as those heroes of antiquity of which +Heraclius Billevich had told her, and of whom he himself had read in Cornelius +Nepos. And the heart swelled within her with admiration and homage. By degrees +it went so far that when thoughts of the hated Andrei Kmita had tortured her +too much, she thought of Boguslav to cure and strengthen herself. Kmita became +for her a terrible and gloomy darkness; Boguslav, light in which every troubled +soul would gladly bathe itself. The sword-bearer and Panna Kulvyets, whom they +had brought also from Vodokty, pushed Olenka still more along that incline by +singing hymns of praise from morning till night in honor of Boguslav. The +sword-bearer and the aunt wearied the prince, it is true, so that he had been +thinking how to get rid of them politely; but he won them to himself, +especially the sword-bearer, who though at first displeased and even enraged, +still could not fight against the friendship and favors of Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +If Boguslav had been merely a noble of noted stock, but not Radzivill, nor a +prince, not a magnate invested with almost the majesty of a monarch, perhaps +Panna Billevich might have loved him for life and death, in spite of the will +of the old colonel, which left her a choice only between the cloister and +Kmita. But she was a stern lady for her own self, and a very just soul; +therefore she did not even admit to her head a dream of anything save gratitude +and admiration so far as the prince was concerned. +</p> + +<p> +Her family was not so great that she could become the wife of Radzivill, and +was too great for her to become his mistress; she looked on him, therefore, as +she would on the king, were she at the king’s court. In vain did Boguslav +endeavor to give her other thoughts; in vain did he, forgetting himself in +love, partly from calculation, partly from enthusiasm, repeat what he had said +the first evening in Kyedani,—that the Radzivills had married ordinary +noble women more than once; these thoughts did not cling to her, as water does +not cling to the breast of a swan; and she remained as she had been, thankful, +friendly, homage-giving, seeking consolation in the thought of a hero, but +undisturbed in heart. +</p> + +<p> +He could not catch her through her feelings, though often it seemed to him that +he was near his object. But he saw himself with shame and internal anger that +he was not so daring with her as he had been with the first ladies in Paris, +Brussels, and Amsterdam. Perhaps this was because he was really in love, and +perhaps because in that lady, in her face, in her dark brows and stern eyes, +there was that which enforced respect. Kmita was the one and only man who in +his time did not submit to that influence and paid no regard, prepared boldly +to kiss those proud eyes and stern lips; but Kmita was her betrothed. +</p> + +<p> +All other cavaliers, beginning with Pan Volodyovski and ending with the very +vulgar Prussian nobles in Taurogi and the prince himself, were less confident +with her than with other ladies in the same condition. Impulsiveness carried +away the prince; but when once in a carriage he pressed against her feet, +whispering at the same time, “Fear not!” she answered that she did +fear to regret the confidence reposed in him, Boguslav was confused, and +returned to his former method of conquering her heart by degrees. +</p> + +<p> +But his patience was becoming exhausted. Gradually he began to forget the +terrible dream, he began to think more frequently of what Sakovich had +counselled, and that the Billeviches would all perish in the war; his desires +tormented him more powerfully, when a certain event changed completely the +course of affairs in Taurogi. +</p> + +<p> +One day news came like a thunderbolt that Tykotsin was taken by Pan Sapyeha, +and that Prince Yanush had lost his life in the ruins of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +Everything began to seethe in Taurogi. Boguslav himself sprang up and went off +that same day to Königsberg, where he was to see the ministers of the King of +Sweden and the elector. +</p> + +<p> +His stay there exceeded his original plan. Meanwhile bodies of Prussian and +even of Swedish troops were assembling at Taurogi. Men began to speak of an +expedition against Sapyeha. The naked truth was coming to the surface more and +more clearly, that Boguslav was a partisan of the Swedes, as well as his cousin +Yanush. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that at the same time the sword-bearer of Rossyeni received news of +the burning of his native Billeviche by the troops of Löwenhaupt, who, after +defeating the insurgents in Jmud, at Shavli, ravaged the whole country with +fire and sword. +</p> + +<p> +The old noble sprang up and set out, wishing to see the damage with his own +eyes; and Prince Boguslav did not detain him, but sent him off willingly, +adding at parting,— +</p> + +<p> +“Now you will understand why I brought you to Taurogi; for, speaking +plainly, you owe your life to me.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka remained alone with Panna Kulvyets. They shut themselves up in their own +chambers at once, and received no one but a few women. When these women brought +tidings that the prince was preparing an expedition against the Poles, Olenka +would not believe them at first: but wishing to be certain, she gave orders to +summon Kettling, for she knew that from her the young Scot would hide nothing. +</p> + +<p> +He appeared before her at once, happy that he was called, that for a time he +could speak with her who had taken possession of his soul. +</p> + +<p> +“Cavalier,” said Panna Billevich, “so many reports are +circulating about Taurogi that we are wandering as in a forest. Some say that +the prince voevoda died a natural death; others that he was borne apart on +sabres. What was the cause of his death?” +</p> + +<p> +Kettling hesitated for a while. It was evident that he was struggling with +innate indecision. At last he blushed greatly, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“You are the cause of the fall and the death of Prince Yanush.” +</p> + +<p> +“I?” asked Panna Billevich, with amazement. +</p> + +<p> +“You; for our prince chose to remain in Taurogi rather than go to relieve +his cousin. He forgot everything near you, my lady.” +</p> + +<p> +Now she blushed in her turn like a purple rose, and a moment of silence +followed. +</p> + +<p> +The Scot stood, hat in hand, with downcast eyes, his head bent, in a posture +full of homage and respect. At last he raised his head, shook his bright curls, +and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“My lady, if these words have offended you, let me kneel down and beg +forgiveness.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not,” said she, quickly, seeing that the young knight was +bending his knees already. “I know that what you have said was said with +a clean heart; for I have long noticed that you wish me well.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer raised his blue eyes, and putting his hand on his heart, with a +voice as low as the whisper of a breeze and as sad as a sigh, replied,— +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my lady! my lady!” +</p> + +<p> +At this moment he was frightened lest he had said too much, and again he bent +his head toward his bosom, and took the posture of a courtier who is listening +to the commands of a queen. +</p> + +<p> +“I am here among strangers, without a guardian,” said Olenka; +“and though I shall be able to watch over myself alone, and God will +preserve me from harm, still I need the aid of men also. Do you wish to be my +brother? Do you wish to warn me in need, so that I may know what to do, and +avoid every snare?” +</p> + +<p> +As she said this, she extended her hand; but he kneeled, in spite of her +prohibition, and kissed the tips of her fingers. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me,” said she, “what is happening around me.” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince loves you,” said Kettling. “Have you not seen +that?” +</p> + +<p> +She covered her face with her hands. “I saw and I did not see. At times +it seemed to me that he was only very kind.” +</p> + +<p> +“Kind!” repeated Kettling, like an echo. +</p> + +<p> +“But when it came into my head that I, unfortunate woman, might rouse in +him unhappy wishes, I quieted myself with this, that no danger threatened me +from him. I was thankful to him for what he had done, though God sees that I +did not look for new kindnesses, since I feared those he had already shown +me.” +</p> + +<p> +Kettling breathed more freely. +</p> + +<p> +“May I speak boldly?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“Speak.” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince has only two confidants,—Pan Sakovich and Patterson; +but Patterson is very friendly to me, for we come from the same country, and he +carried me in his arms. What I know, I know from him. The prince loves you; +desires are burning in him as pitch in a pine torch. All things done +here—all these feasts, hunts, tournaments, through which, thanks to the +prince’s hand, blood is flowing from my mouth yet—were arranged for +you. The prince loves you, my lady, to distraction, but with an impure fire; +for he wishes to disgrace, not to marry you. For though he could not find a +worthier, even if he were king of the whole world, not merely a prince, still +he thinks of another,—the princess, Yanush’s daughter, and her +fortune are predestined to him. I learned this from Patterson; and the great +God, whose gospel I take here to witness, knows that I speak the pure truth. Do +not believe the prince, do not trust his kindness, do not feel safe in his +moderation. Watch, guard yourself; for they are plotting treason against you +here at every step. The breath is stopping in my breast from what Patterson has +told me. There is not a criminal in the world equal to Sakovich,—I cannot +speak of him, I cannot. Were it not for the oath which I have taken to guard +the prince, this hand and this sword would free you from continual danger. But +I would slay Sakovich first. This is true. Him first, before all +men,—even before those who in my own country shed my father’s +blood, took my fortune, made me a wanderer and a hireling.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kettling trembled from emotion. For a while he merely pressed the hilt of +his sword with his hand, not being able to utter a word; then he recovered, and +in one breath told what methods Sakovich had suggested to the prince. +</p> + +<p> +Panna Aleksandra, to his great surprise, bore herself calmly enough while +looking at the threatening precipice before her; only her face grew pale and +became still more serious. Unbending resolution was reflected in her stern +look. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall be able to save myself,” said she, “so help me God +and the holy cross!” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince has not consented hitherto to follow Sakovich’s +counsel,” added Kettling. “But when he sees that the road he has +chosen leads to nothing—” and he began to tell the reasons which +restrained Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +The lady listened with frowning brow, but not with superfluous attention, for +she had already begun to ponder on means to wrest herself free of this terrible +guardianship. But there was not a place in the whole country unsprinkled with +blood, and plans of flight did not seem to her clear; hence she preferred not +to speak of them. +</p> + +<p> +“Cavalier,” said she at last, “answer me one question. Is +Prince Boguslav on the side of the King of Sweden or the King of Poland?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a secret to none of us,” answered the young officer, +“that the prince wishes the division of this Commonwealth, so as to make +of Lithuania an independent principality for himself.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Kettling was silent, and you would have thought that his mind was +following involuntarily the thoughts of Olenka; for after a while he +added,— +</p> + +<p> +“The elector and the Swedes are at the service of the prince; and since +they will occupy the Commonwealth, there is no place in which to hide from +him.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka made no answer. +</p> + +<p> +The young man waited awhile longer, to learn if she would ask him other +questions; but when she was silent, occupied with her own thoughts, he felt +that it was not proper for him to interrupt her; therefore he bent double in a +parting bow, sweeping the floor with the feathers in his cap. +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you, cavalier,” said Olenka, extending her hand to him. +</p> + +<p> +The officer, without turning, withdrew toward the door. All at once there +appeared on her face a slight flush. She hesitated a moment, and then +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“One word, cavalier.” +</p> + +<p> +“Every word is for me a favor.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did you know Pan Andrei Kmita?” +</p> + +<p> +“I made his acquaintance, my lady, in Kyedani. I saw him the last time in +Pilvishki, when we were marching hither from Podlyasye.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is what the prince says true, that Pan Kmita offered to do violence to +the person of the King of Poland?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know not, my lady. It is known to me that they took counsel together +in Pilvishki; then the prince went with Pan Kmita to the forest, and it was so +long before he returned that Patterson was alarmed and sent troops to meet him. +I led those troops. We met the prince. I saw that he was greatly changed, as if +strong emotion had passed through his soul. He was talking to himself, which +never happens to him. I heard how he said: ‘The devil would have +undertaken that—’ I know nothing more. But later, when the prince +mentioned what Kmita offered, I thought, ‘If this was it, it must be +true.’” +</p> + +<p> +Panna Billevich pressed her lips together. +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you,” said she. And after a while she was alone. +</p> + +<p> +The thought of flight mastered her thoroughly. She determined at any price to +tear herself from those infamous places, and from the power of that treacherous +prince. But where was she to find refuge? The villages and towns were in +Swedish hands, the cloisters were ruined, the castles levelled with the earth; +the whole country was swarming with soldiers, and with worse than +soldiers,—with fugitives from the army, robbers, all kinds of ruffians. +What fate could be waiting for a maiden cast as a prey to that storm? Who would +go with her? Her aunt Kulvyets, her uncle, and a few of his servants. Whose +power would protect her? Kettling would go, perhaps; maybe a handful of +faithful soldiers and friends might even be found who would accompany him. But +as Kettling had fallen in love with her beyond question, then how was she to +incur a debt of gratitude to him, which she would have to pay afterward with a +great price? Finally, what right had she to close the career of that young man, +scarcely more than a youth, and expose it to pursuit, to persecution, to ruin, +if she could not offer him anything in return save friendship? Therefore, she +asked herself, what was she to do, whither was she to flee, since here and +there destruction threatened her, here and there disgrace? +</p> + +<p> +In such a struggle of soul she began to pray ardently; and more especially did +she repeat one prayer with earnestness to which the old colonel had constant +recourse in evil times, beginning with the words,— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“God saved Thee with Thy Infant<br/> + From the malice of Herod;<br/> +In Egypt he straightened the road<br/> + For Thy safe passage—” +</p> + +<p> +At this moment a great whirlwind rose, and the trees in the garden began to +make a tremendous noise. All at once the praying lady remembered the wilderness +on the borders of which she had grown up from infancy; and the thought that in +the wilderness she would find the only safe refuge flew through her head like +lightning. +</p> + +<p> +Then Olenka breathed deeply, for she had found at last what she had been +seeking. To Zyelonka, to Rogovsk! There the enemy would not go, the ruffian +would not seek booty. There a man of the place, if he forgot himself, might go +astray and wander till death; what must it be to a stranger not knowing the +road? There the Domasheviches, the Smoky Stakyans; and if they are gone, if +they have followed Pan Volodyovski, it is possible to go by those forests far +beyond and seek quiet in other wildernesses. +</p> + +<p> +The remembrance of Pan Volodyovski rejoiced Olenka. Oh, if she had such a +protector! He was a genuine soldier; his was a sabre under which she might take +refuge from Kmita and the Radzivills themselves. Now it occurred to her that he +was the man who had advised, when he caught Kmita in Billeviche, to seek safety +in the Byalovyej wilderness. +</p> + +<p> +And he spoke wisely! Rogovsk and Zyelonka are too near the Radzivills, and near +Byalovyej stands that Sapyeha who rubbed from the face of the earth the most +terrible Radzivill. +</p> + +<p> +To Byalovyej then, to Byalovyej, even to-day, to-morrow! Only let her uncle +come, she would not delay. +</p> + +<p> +The dark depths of Byalovyej will protect her, and afterward, when the storm +passes, the cloister. There only can be real peace and forgetfulness of all +men, of all pain, sorrow, and contempt. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<p> +The sword-bearer of Rossyeni returned a few days later. In spite of the +safe-conduct of Boguslav, he went only to Rossyeni; to Billeviche itself he had +no reason to go, for it was no longer in the world. The house, the buildings, +the village, everything was burned to the ground in the last battle, which +Father Strashevich, a Jesuit, had fought at the head of his own detachment +against the Swedish captain Rossa. The inhabitants were in the forests or in +armed parties. Instead of rich villages there remained only land and water. +</p> + +<p> +The roads were filled with “ravagers,”—that is, fugitives +from various armies, who, going in considerable groups, were busied with +robbery, so that even small parties of soldiers were not safe from them. The +sword-bearer then had not even been able to convince himself whether the +barrels filled with plate and money and buried in the garden were safe, and he +returned to Taurogi, very angry and peevish, with a terrible animosity in his +heart against the destroyers. +</p> + +<p> +He had barely put foot out of his carriage, when Olenka hurried him to her own +room, and recounted all that Hassling-Kettling had told her. +</p> + +<p> +The old soldier shivered at the recital, since, not having children of his own, +he loved the maiden as his daughter. For a while he did nothing but grasp his +sword-hilt, repeating, “Strike, who has courage!” At last he caught +himself by the head, and began to say,— +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa</i> (It is my fault, my greatest fault); +for at times it came into my head, and this and that man whispered that that +hell-dweller was melting from love of you, and I said nothing, was even proud, +thinking: ‘Well, he will marry! We are relatives of the Gosyevskis, of +the Tyzenhauzes; why should we not be relatives of the Radzivills?’ For +pride, God is punishing me. The traitor prepared a respectable relationship. +That’s the kind of relative he wanted to be. I would he were killed! But +wait! this hand and this sabre will moulder first.” +</p> + +<p> +“We must think of escape,” said Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, give your plans of escape.” +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer, having finished panting, listened carefully; at last he +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Better collect my subjects and form a party! I will attack the Swedes as +Kmita did Hovanski. You will be safer in the forest and in the field than in +the court of a traitor and a heretic.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well,” answered the lady. +</p> + +<p> +“Not only will I not oppose,” said the sword-bearer, “but I +will say the sooner the better. And I lack neither subjects nor scythes. They +burned my residence, never mind that! I will assemble peasants from other +villages. All the Billeviches in the field will join us. We will show you +relationship, young man,—we will show what it is to attack the Billevich +honor. You are a Radzivill! What of that? There are no hetmans in the Billevich +family, but there are also no traitors! We shall see whom all Jmud will follow! +We will put you in Byalovyej and return ourselves,” said he, turning to +Olenka. “It cannot be otherwise! He must give satisfaction for that +affair, for it is an injustice to the whole estate of nobles. Infamous is he +who does not declare for us! God will help us, our brethren will help us, +citizens will help us, and then fire and sword! The Billeviches will meet the +Radzivills! Infamous he who is not with us! infamous he who will not flash his +sword in the eyes of the traitor! The king is with us; so is the Diet, so is +the whole Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the sword-bearer, red as blood and with bristling forelock, fell to +pounding the table with his fist. +</p> + +<p> +“This war is more urgent than the Swedish, for in us the whole order of +knighthood, all laws, the whole Commonwealth is injured and shaken in its +deepest foundations. Infamous is he who does not understand this! The land will +perish unless we measure out vengeance and punishment on the traitor!” +</p> + +<p> +And the old blood played more and more violently, till Olenka was forced to +pacify her uncle. He sat calmly, then, though he thought that not only the +country, but the whole world was perishing when the Billeviches were touched; +in this he saw the most terrible precipice for the Commonwealth, and began to +roar like a lion. +</p> + +<p> +But the lady, who had great influence over him, was able at last to pacify her +uncle, explaining that for their safety and for the success of their flight it +was specially needful to preserve the profoundest secrecy, and not to show the +prince that they were thinking of anything. +</p> + +<p> +He promised sacredly to act according to her directions; then they took counsel +about the flight itself. The affair was not over-difficult, for it seemed that +they were not watched at all. The sword-bearer decided to send in advance a +youth, with letters to his overseers to assemble peasants at once from all the +villages belonging to him and the other Billeviches, and to arm them. +</p> + +<p> +Six confidential servants were to go to Billeviche, as it were, for the barrels +of money and silver, but really to halt in the Girlakol forests, and wait there +with horses, bags, and provisions. They decided to depart from Taurogi in +sleighs and accompanied by two servants, as if going merely to the neighboring +Gavna; afterward they would mount horses and hurry on with all speed. To Gavna +they used to go often to visit the Kuchuk-Olbrotovskis, where sometimes they +passed the night; they hoped therefore that their journey would not attract the +attention of any one, and that no pursuit would follow, unless two or three +days later, at which time they would be in the midst of armed bands and in the +depth of impenetrable forests. The absence of Prince Boguslav strengthened them +in this hope. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the sword-bearer was greatly busied with preparations. A messenger +with letters went out on the following morning. The day after that, Pan Tomash +talked in detail with Patterson of his buried money, which, as he said, +exceeded a hundred thousand, and of the need of bringing it to safe Taurogi. +Patterson believed easily; for Billevich was a noble and passed as a very rich +man, which he was in reality. +</p> + +<p> +“Let them bring it as soon as possible,” said the Scot; “if +you need them, I will give you soldiers.” +</p> + +<p> +“The fewer people who see what I am bringing the better. My servants are +faithful, and I will order them to cover the barrels with hemp, which is +brought often from our villages to Prussia, or with staves which no one will +covet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Better with staves,” said Patterson; “for people could feel +with a sabre or a spear through the hemp that there was something else in the +wagon. But you would better give the coin to the prince on his recognition. I +know, too, that he needs money, for his revenues do not come regularly.” +</p> + +<p> +“I should like so to serve the prince that he would never need +anything,” answered the old man. +</p> + +<p> +The conversation ended there, and all seemed to combine most favorably, for the +servants started at once, while the sword-bearer and Olenka were to go next +morning. But in the evening Boguslav returned most unexpectedly at the head of +two regiments of Prussian cavalry. His affairs seemed to advance not too +favorably, for he was angry and fretful. +</p> + +<p> +That evening he summoned a council of war, which was composed of the +representatives of the elector. Count Seydevitz, Patterson, Sakovich, and +Kyritz, a colonel of cavalry. They sat till three in the morning; and the +object of their deliberation was the campaign to Podlyasye against Sapyeha. +</p> + +<p> +“The elector and the King of Sweden have reinforced me in proportion to +their strength,” said the prince. “One of two things will +happen,—either I shall find Sapyeha in Podlyasye, and in that event I +must rub him out; or I shall not find him, and I shall occupy Podlyasye without +resistance. For all this, however, money is needed; and money neither the +elector nor the King of Sweden has given me, for they haven’t it +themselves.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is money to be found if not with your highness?” asked +Seydevitz. “Through the whole world men speak of the inexhaustible wealth +of the Radzivills.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Seydevitz,” answered Boguslav, “if I received all the +income from my inherited estates, I should surely have more money than five of +your German princes taken together. But there is war in the country; revenues +do not come in, or are intercepted by rebels. Ready money might be obtained for +notes from the Prussian towns; but you know best what is happening in them, and +that purses are opened only for Yan Kazimir.” +</p> + +<p> +“But Königsberg?” +</p> + +<p> +“I took what I could get, but that was little.” +</p> + +<p> +“I think myself fortunate to be able to serve you with good +counsel,” said Patterson. +</p> + +<p> +“I would rather you served me with ready money.” +</p> + +<p> +“My counsel means ready money. Not longer ago than yesterday Pan +Billevich told me that he had a good sum hidden in the garden of Billeviche, +and that he wishes to bring it here for safety, and give it to your highness +for a note.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, you have really fallen from heaven to me, and this noble as +well!” cried Boguslav. “But has he much money?” +</p> + +<p> +“More than a hundred thousand, besides silver and valuables, which are +worth perhaps an equal amount.” +</p> + +<p> +“The silver and valuables he will not wish to turn into money, but they +can be pawned. I am thankful to you, Patterson, for this comes to me in time. I +must talk to Billevich in the morning.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will forewarn him, for he is preparing to go to-morrow with the +lady to Gavna to the Kuchuk-Olbrotovskis.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell him not to go till he sees me.” +</p> + +<p> +“He has sent the servants already; I am only alarmed for their +safety.” +</p> + +<p> +“A whole regiment can be sent after them; but we will talk later. This is +timely for me, timely! And it will be amusing if I rend Podlyasye from the +Commonwealth with the money of this royalist and patriot.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the prince dismissed the council, for he had to put himself yet in the +hands of his chamber attendants, whose task it was every night before he went +to rest to preserve his uncommon beauty with baths, ointments, and various +inventions known only in foreign lands. This lasted usually an hour, and +sometimes two; besides, the prince was road-weary and the hour late. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning Patterson detained Billevich and Olenka with the +announcement that the prince wished to see them. It was necessary to defer +their journey; but this did not disturb them over-much, for Patterson told what +the question was. +</p> + +<p> +An hour later the prince appeared. In spite of the fact that Pan Tomash and +Olenka had promised each other most faithfully to receive him in former +fashion, they could not do so, though they tried with every effort. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka’s countenance changed, and blood came to the face of the +sword-bearer at sight of Prince Boguslav; for a time both stood confused, +excited, striving in vain to regain their usual calmness. +</p> + +<p> +The prince, on the contrary, was perfectly at ease. He had grown a little +meagre about the eyes, and his face was less colored than common; but that +paleness of his was set off wonderfully by the pearl-colored morning dress, +interwoven with silver. He saw in a moment that they received him somewhat +differently, and were less glad than usual to see him. But he thought at once +that those two royalists had learned of his relations with the Swedes; hence +the coolness of the reception. Therefore he began at once to throw sand in +their eyes, and, after the compliments of greeting, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Lord Sword-bearer, my benefactor, you have heard, without doubt, what +misfortunes have met me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Does your highness wish to speak of the death of Prince Yanush?” +asked the sword-bearer. +</p> + +<p> +“Not of his death alone. That was a cruel blow; still, I yielded to the +will of God, Who, as I hope, has rewarded my cousin for all the wrongs done +him; but He has sent a new burden to me, for I must be leader in a civil war; +and that for every citizen who loves his country is a bitter portion.” +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer said nothing; he merely looked a little askance at Olenka. But +the prince continued,— +</p> + +<p> +“By my labor and toil, and God alone knows at what outlay, I had brought +peace to the verge of realization. It was almost a question of merely signing +the treaties. The Swedes were to leave Poland, asking no remuneration save the +consent of the king and the estates that after the death of Yan Kazimir Karl +Gustav would be chosen to the throne of Poland. A warrior so great and mighty +would be the salvation of the Commonwealth. And what is more important, he was +to furnish at once reinforcements for the war in the Ukraine and against +Moscow. We should have extended our boundaries; but this was not convenient for +Pan Sapyeha, for then he could not crush the Radzivills. All agreed to this +treaty. He alone opposes it with armed hand. The country is nothing to him, if +he can only carry out his personal designs. It has come to this, that arms must +be used against him. This function has been confided to me, according to the +secret treaty between Yan Kazimir and Karl Gustav. This is the whole affair! I +have never shunned any service, therefore I must accept this; though many will +judge me unjustly, and think that I begin a brother-killing war from pure +revenge only.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whoso knows your highness,” said the sword-bearer, “as well +as we do will not be deceived by appearances, and will always be able to +understand the real intentions of your highness.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the sword-bearer was so delighted with his own cunning and courtesy, and +he muttered so expressively at Olenka, that she was alarmed lest the prince +should notice those signs. +</p> + +<p> +And he did notice them. “They do not believe me,” thought he. And +though he showed no wrath on his face, Billevich had pricked him to the soul. +He was convinced with perfect sincerity that it was an offence not to believe, +a Radzivill, even when he saw fit to lie. +</p> + +<p> +“Patterson has told me,” continued he, after a while, “that +you wish to give me ready money for my paper. I agree to this willingly; for I +acknowledge that ready money is useful to me at the moment. When peace comes, +you can do as you like,—either take a certain sum, or I will give you a +couple of villages as security, so that the transaction will be profitable for +you.—Pardon,” said the prince, turning to Olenka, “that in +view of such material questions we are not speaking of sighs or ideals. This +conversation is out of place; but the times are such that it is impossible to +give their proper course to homage and admiration.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka dropped her eyes, and seizing her robe with the tips of her fingers, +made a proper courtesy, not wishing to give an answer. Meanwhile the +sword-bearer formed in his mind a project of unheard-of unfitness, but which he +considered uncommonly clever. +</p> + +<p> +“I will flee with Olenka and will not give the money,” thought he. +</p> + +<p> +“It will be agreeable to me to accommodate your highness. Patterson has +not told of all, for there is about half a pot of gold ducats buried apart, so +as not to lose all the money in case of accident. Besides, there are barrels +belonging to other Billeviches; but these during my absence were buried under +the direction of this young lady, and she alone is able to calculate the place, +for the man who buried them is dead.” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav looked at him quickly. “How is that? Patterson said that you +have already sent men; and since they have gone, they must know where the money +is.” +</p> + +<p> +“But of the other money no one knows, except her.” +</p> + +<p> +“Still it must be buried in some definite place, which can be described +easily in words or indicated on paper.” +</p> + +<p> +“Words are wind; and as to pictures, the servants know nothing of them. +We will both go; that is the thing.” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake! you must know your own gardens. Therefore go +alone. Why should Panna Aleksandra go?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will not go alone!” said Billevich, with decision. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav looked at him inquiringly a second time; then he seated himself more +comfortably, and began to strike his boots with a cane which he held in his +hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Is that final?” asked he. “Well! In such an event I will +give a couple of regiments of cavalry to take you there and bring you +back.” +</p> + +<p> +“We need no regiments. We will go and return ourselves. This is our +country. Nothing threatens us here.” +</p> + +<p> +“As a host, sensitive to the good of his guests, I cannot permit that +Panna Aleksandra should go without armed force. Choose, then. Either go alone, +or let both go with an escort.” +</p> + +<p> +Billevich saw that he had fallen into his own trap; and that brought him to +such anger that, forgetting all precautions, he cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Then let your highness choose. Either we shall both go unattended, or I +will not give the money!” +</p> + +<p> +Panna Aleksandra looked on him imploringly; but he had already grown red and +begun to pant. Still, he was a man cautious by nature, even timid, loving to +settle every affair in good feeling; but when once the measure was exceeded in +dealing with him, when he was too much excited against any one, or when it was +a question of the Billevich honor, he hurled himself with a species of +desperate daring at the eyes of even the most powerful enemy. So that now he +put his hand to his left side, and shaking his sabre began to cry with all his +might,— +</p> + +<p> +“Is this captivity? Do they wish to oppress a free citizen, and trample +on cardinal rights?” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav, with shoulders leaning against the arms of the chair, looked at him +attentively; but his look became colder each moment, and he struck the cane +against his boots more and more quickly. Had the sword-bearer known the prince +better, he would have known that he was bringing down terrible danger on his +own head. +</p> + +<p> +Relations with Boguslav were simply dreadful. It was never known when the +courteous cavalier, the diplomat accustomed to self-control, would be overborne +by the wild and unrestrained magnate who trampled every resistance with the +cruelty of an Eastern despot. A brilliant education and refinement, acquired at +the first courts of Europe; reflection and studied elegance, which he had +gained in intercourse with men,—were like wonderful and strong flowers +under which was secreted a tiger. +</p> + +<p> +But the sword-bearer did not know this, and in his angry blindness shouted +on,— +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness, dissemble no further, for you are known! And have a care, +for neither the King of Sweden nor the elector, both of whom you are serving +against your own country, nor your princely position, will save you before the +law; and the sabres of nobles will teach you manners, young man!” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav rose; in one instant he crushed the cane in his iron hands, and +throwing the pieces at the feet of the sword-bearer, said with a terrible, +suppressed voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“That is what your rights are for me! That your tribunals! That your +privileges!” +</p> + +<p> +“Outrageous violence!” cried Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +“Silence, paltry noble!” cried the prince. “I will crush you +into dust!” And he advanced to seize the astonished man and hurl him +against the wall. +</p> + +<p> +Now Panna Aleksandra stood between them. “What do you think to do?” +inquired she. +</p> + +<p> +The prince restrained himself. But she stood with nostrils distended, with +flaming face, with fire in her eyes like an angry Minerva. Her breast heaved +under her bodice like a wave of the sea, and she was marvellous in that anger, +so that Boguslav was lost in gazing at her; all his desires crept into his +face, like serpents from the dens of his soul. +</p> + +<p> +After a time his anger passed, presence of mind returned; he looked awhile yet +at Olenka. At last his face grew mild; he bent his head toward his breast, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon, angelic lady! I have a soul full of gnawing and pain, therefore +I do not command myself.” Then he left the room. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka began to wring her hands; and Billevich, coming to himself, seized his +forelock, and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“I have spoiled everything; I am the cause of your ruin!” +</p> + +<p> +The prince did not show himself the whole day. He even dined in his own room +with Sakovich. Stirred to the bottom of his soul, he could not think so clearly +as usual. Some kind of ague was wasting him. It was the herald of a grievous +fever which was to seize him soon with such force that during its attacks he +was benumbed altogether, so that his attendants had to rub him most actively. +But at this time he ascribed his strange state to the power of love, and +thought that he must either satisfy it or die. When he had told Sakovich the +whole conversation with the sword-bearer, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“My hands and feet are burning, ants are walking along my back, in my +mouth are bitterness and fire; but, by all the horned devils, what is this? +Never has this attacked me before!” +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness is as full of scruples as a baked capon of buckwheat +grits. The prince is a capon, the prince is a capon. Ha, ha!” +</p> + +<p> +“You are a fool!” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t need your ideas.” +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy prince, take a lute and go under the windows of the maiden. +Billevich may show you his fist. Tfu! to the deuce! is that the kind of bold +man that Boguslav Radzivill is?” +</p> + +<p> +“You are an idiot!” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well. I see that your highness is beginning to speak with yourself +and tell the truth to your own face. Boldly, boldly! Pay no heed to +rank.” +</p> + +<p> +“You see, Sakovich, that my Castor is growing familiar with me; as it is, +I kick him often in the ribs, but a greater accident may meet you.” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich sprang up as if red with anger, like Billevich a little while before; +and since he had an uncommon gift of mimicry, he began to cry in a voice so +much like that of Billevich that any one not seeing who was talking, might have +been deceived. +</p> + +<p> +“What! is this captivity? Do they wish to oppress a free citizen, to +trample on cardinal rights?” +</p> + +<p> +“Give us peace! give us peace!” said the prince, fretfully. +“She defended that old fool with her person, but here there is one to +defend you.” +</p> + +<p> +“If she defended him, she should have been taken in pawn!” +</p> + +<p> +“There must be some witchcraft in this place! Either she must have given +me something, or the constellations are such that I am simply leaving my mind. +If you could have seen her when she was defending that mangy old uncle of hers! +But you are a fool! It is growing cloudy in my head. See how my hands are +burning! To love such a woman, to gain her—with such a woman +to—” +</p> + +<p> +“To have posterity!” added Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s so, that’s so!—as if you knew that must be; +otherwise I shall burst as a bomb. For God’s sake! what is happening to +me? Must I marry, or what, by all the devils of earth and hell?” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich grew serious. “Your princely highness, you must not think of +that!” +</p> + +<p> +“I am thinking of just that, precisely because I wish it. I will do that, +though a regiment of Sakoviches repeated a whole day to me, ‘Your +princely highness must not think of that!’” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I see this is no joke.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am sick, enchanted.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you not follow my advice at last?” +</p> + +<p> +“I must follow it,—may the plague take all the dreams, all the +Billeviches, all Lithuania with the tribunals, and Yan Kazimir to boot! I shall +not succeed otherwise; I see that I shall not! I have had enough of this, have +I not? A great question! And I, the fool, was considering both sides hitherto; +was afraid of dreams, of Billeviches, of lawsuits, of the rabble of nobles, the +fortune of Yan Kazimir. Tell me that I am a fool! Do you hear? I command you to +tell me that I am a fool!” +</p> + +<p> +“But I will not obey, for now you are really Radzivill, and not a +Calvinist minister. But in truth you must be ill, for I have never seen you so +changed.” +</p> + +<p> +“True! In the most difficult positions I merely waved my hand and +whistled, but now I feel as if some one were thrusting spurs into my +sides.” +</p> + +<p> +“This is strange, for if that maiden has given you something designedly, +she has not done so to run away afterward; but still, from what you say, it +seems that they wish to flee in secret.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ryff told me that this is the influence of Saturn, on which burning +exhalations rise during this particular month.” +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy prince, rather take Jove as a model, for he was happy without +marriage. All will be well; only do not think of marriage, unless of a +counterfeit one.” +</p> + +<p> +All at once the starosta of Oshmiana struck his forehead. +</p> + +<p> +“But wait, your highness! I have heard of such a case in Prussia.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is the Devil whispering something into your ear? Tell me!” +</p> + +<p> +But Sakovich was silent for a long time; at last his face brightened, and he +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Thank the fortune that gave you Sakovich as friend.” +</p> + +<p> +“What news, what news?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing. I will be your highness’s best man” (here Sakovich +bowed),—“no small honor for such a poor fellow!” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t play the jester; speak quickly!” +</p> + +<p> +“There is in Tyltsa one Plaska, or something like that, who in his time +was a priest in Nyevorani, but who falling away from the faith became a +Lutheran, got married, took refuge under the elector, and now is dealing in +dried fish with people of this region. Bishop Parchevski tried to lure him back +to Jmud, where in good certainty there was a fire waiting for him; but the +elector would not yield up a fellow-believer.” +</p> + +<p> +“How does that concern me? Do not loiter.” +</p> + +<p> +“How does that concern your highness? In this way it must concern you; +for he will sew you and her together with stitches on the outside, you +understand? And because he is a fool of a workman, and does not belong to the +guild, it will be easy to rip the work after him. Do you see? The guild does +not recognize this sewing as valid; but still there will be no violence, no +outcry; you can twist the neck of the workman afterward, and you will complain +that you were deceived, do you understand? But before that time <i>crescite et +multiplicamini</i>. I’ll be the first to give you my blessing.” +</p> + +<p> +“I understand, and I don’t understand,” said the prince. +“The devil I understand there perfectly. Sakovich, you must have been +born, like a witch, with teeth in your mouth. The hangman is waiting for you; +it cannot be otherwise, O Starosta! But while I live a hair will not fall from +your head; a fitting reward will not miss you. I then—” +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness will make a formal proposal to Panna Billevich, to her and +to her uncle. If they refuse, if they do not consent, then give command to tear +the skin from me, make sandal strings out of it, and go on a pilgrimage of +penance to—to Rome. It is possible to resist a Radzivill if he wishes +simply to be a lover; but if he wishes to marry, he need not try to please any +noble. You must only tell Billevich and the lady that out of regard for the +elector and the King of Sweden, who want you to marry the Princess of Bipont, +your marriage must remain secret till peace is declared. Besides, you will +write the marriage contract as you like. Both churches will be forced to +declare it invalid. Well, what do you think?” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav was silent for a while, but on his face red fever-spots appeared under +the paint; then he cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“There is no time in three days. I must move against Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is just the position! Were there more time, it would be impossible +to justify the pretext. Is not this true? Only through lack of time can you +explain that the first priest at hand officiates, as happens in sudden +emergencies, and marries on a bolting-cloth. They will think too, ‘It is +sudden, for it must be sudden!’ She is a knightly maiden; you can take +her with you to the field. Dear bridegroom, if Sapyeha conquers, even then you +will have half the victories of the campaign.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well, that is well!” said the prince. +</p> + +<p> +But at that moment the first paroxysm seized him so that his jaws closed and he +could not say another word. He grew rigid, and then began to quiver and +flounder like a fish out of water. But before the terrified Sakovich could +bring the physician, the paroxysm had passed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<p> +After his conversation with Sakovich, Prince Boguslav betook himself on the +afternoon of the morrow directly to Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +“My benefactor,” said he, to begin with, “I was grievously to +blame the last time we met, for I fell into anger in my own house. It is my +fault, and all the more so that I gave this affront to a man of a family +friendly to the Radzivills. But I come to implore forgiveness. Let a sincere +confession be satisfaction to you, and my atonement. You know the Radzivills of +old; you know that we are not in haste to beg pardon; still, since I was to +blame before age and dignity, I come without considering who I am, with a +penitent head. And you, old friend of our house, will not refuse me your hand, +I am certain.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he extended his hand; and Billevich, in whose soul the first outburst had +passed, did not dare to refuse his own, though he gave it with hesitation. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness, return to us our freedom; that will be the best +satisfaction.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are free, and may go, even to-day.” +</p> + +<p> +“I thank your highness,” said the astonished Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +“I interpose only one condition, which you, God grant, will not +reject.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is that?” asked Billevich, with fear. +</p> + +<p> +“That you listen patiently to what I am going to say.” +</p> + +<p> +“If that is all, I will listen even till evening.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not give me your answer at once, but think an hour or two.” +</p> + +<p> +“God sees that if I receive my freedom I wish peace.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will receive your freedom; but I do not know whether you will use +it, or whether you will be urgent to leave my threshold. I should be glad were +you to consider my house and all Taurogi as your own; but listen to me now. Do +you know, my benefactor, why I was opposed to the departure of Panna Billevich? +This is why,—because I divined that you wished to flee simply; and I have +fallen in love with your niece, so that to see her I should be ready to swim a +Hellespont each day, like Leander.” +</p> + +<p> +Billevich grew red again in a moment. “Does your highness dare to say +that to me?” +</p> + +<p> +“To you especially, my benefactor.” +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy prince, seek your fortune with court ladies, but touch not noble +maidens. You may imprison her, you may confine her in a vault, but you may not +disgrace her.” +</p> + +<p> +“I may not disgrace her,” said the prince; “but I may bow +down to the old man Billevich, and say to him, ‘Listen, father, give me +your niece as wife, for I cannot live without her.’” +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer was so amazed that he could not utter a word; for a time he +merely moved his mustaches, and his eyes were staring; then he began to rub his +hands and look, now on the prince, now around the room; at last he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Is this in a dream, or is it real?” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not hasten! To convince you still better, I will repeat with all the +titles: I, Boguslav, Prince Radzivill, Marshal of the Grand Principality of +Lithuania, ask you, Tomash Billevich, sword-bearer of Rossyeni, for the hand of +your niece, Panna Aleksandra, chief-hunter’s daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is this true? In God’s name! have you considered the +matter?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have considered; now do you consider, my benefactor, whether the +cavalier is worthy of the lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“My breath is stopped from wonder.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now see if I had any evil intentions.” +</p> + +<p> +“And would your highness not consider our small station?” +</p> + +<p> +“Are the Billeviches so cheap? Do you value your shield of nobility and +the antiquity of your family thus? Does a Billevich say this?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know, gracious prince, that the origin of our family is to be sought +in ancient Rome; but—” +</p> + +<p> +“But,” interrupted the prince, “you have neither hetmans nor +chancellors. That is nothing! You are soldiers, like my uncle in Brandenburg. +Since a noble in our Commonwealth may be elected king, there are no thresholds +too lofty for his feet. My sword-bearer and, God grant, my uncle, I was born of +a Brandenburg princess; my father’s mother was an Ostrogski; but my +grandfather of mighty memory, Kryshtof I., he whom they called Thunder, grand +hetman, chancellor, and voevoda of Vilna, was married the first time to Panna +Sobek; but for this reason the coronet did not fall from his head, for Panna +Sobek was a noble woman, as honorably born as others. When my late father +married the daughter of the elector, they wondered why he did not remember his +own dignity, though he allied himself with a reigning house. Such is the +devilish pride of you nobles! But acknowledge, my benefactor, you do not think +a Sobek better than a Billevich, do you?” +</p> + +<p> +Speaking thus, the prince began to tap the old man on the shoulder with great +familiarity. The noble melted like wax, and answered,— +</p> + +<p> +“God reward your highness for honorable intentions! A weight has fallen +from my heart! But now, if it were not for difference of faith!” +</p> + +<p> +“A Catholic priest will perform the ceremony. I do not want another +myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall be thankful for this all my life, since here it is a question of +the blessing of God, which certainly the Lord Jesus would withdraw if some +vile—” +</p> + +<p> +Here the old man bit his tongue, for he saw that he was saying something +disagreeable to the prince. But Boguslav did not notice it; he smiled +graciously and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“And as to posterity, I shall not be stubborn; for there is nothing that +I would not do for that beauty of yours.” +</p> + +<p> +Billevich’s face grew bright as if a ray of the sun had fallen on it; +“Indeed, God has not been sparing of beauty to her, it is true. Oh! there +will be a shout all over Jmud. And what will the Sitsinskis say when the +Billeviches increase so? They would not leave the old colonel at rest, though +he was a man of Roman mould, respected by the whole Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +“We will drive them out of Jmud, worthy Sword-bearer.” +</p> + +<p> +“O great God, merciful God! undiscoverable are Thy judgments; but if in +them it lies that the Sitsinskis are to burst from envy, then let Thy will be +done!” +</p> + +<p> +“Amen!” added Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness, do not take it ill that I do not clothe myself in +dignity, as befits a person of whom a man asks a maiden, and that I show too +evident rejoicing. But we have been here in vexation, not knowing what was +awaiting us and interpreting everything for the worst. It came to this that we +thought evil of your highness, until it turns out that our fears and judgments +were not just, and that we may return to our previous homage. I say this as if +some one had taken a burden from my shoulders.” +</p> + +<p> +“And did Panna Aleksandra judge me thus?” +</p> + +<p> +“She? Even Cicero could not have described properly her previous +admiration for your highness. I think that only virtue and a certain inborn +timidity stood in the way of love. But when she hears of the sincere intentions +of your highness, then I am sure she will at once give the reins to her +heart.” +</p> + +<p> +“Cicero could not have said that better!” said Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +“With happiness comes eloquence. But since your highness has been pleased +to listen to everything I have said, then I will be sincere to the last.” +</p> + +<p> +“Be sincere, Pan Billevich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Though this maiden is young, she is a woman with a man’s cast of +mind altogether; it is wonderful what a character she has. Where more than one +man of experience would hesitate, she hesitates not a moment. What is evil she +puts on the left, what is good on the right, and goes herself to the right as +if it were sweet. When she has once chosen the road, even though there were +cannon before her, that is nothing to her! She would not go aside for the +cannon. She is like her grandfather and me. Her father was a born soldier, but +mild; her mother, from the house of Voynillovich, was also +strong-willed.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am glad to hear this, Pan Billevich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness will not believe how incensed she is against the Swedes, +and all enemies of the Commonwealth. If she held any one guilty of treason, she +would feel an utter detestation of him, though he were an angel and not a human +being. Your highness,—forgive an old man who might be your father in +years, if not in dignity,—leave the Swedes; they are worse for the +country than Tartars! Move your troops against such sons, and not only I, but +she, will follow you to the field. Pardon me, your highness, pardon me. Now I +have said what I had on my mind.” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav mastered himself after a moment’s silence, and said: “My +benefactor, you might have supposed yesterday, but you may not suppose to-day +that I wish merely to throw sand in your eyes, when I say that I am on the side +of the king and the country. Here under oath to you as a relative I repeat that +what I stated touching peace and its conditions was the pure truth. I, too, +should prefer to march to the field, for my nature draws me thither; but +because I saw that salvation was not in the field, I was forced through simple +devotion to seize another method. And I can say that I have accomplished an +unheard of thing; for after a last war to conclude a peace of such kind that +the conquering power serves the conquered,—of this Mazarin, the most +cunning of men, need not be ashamed. Not Panna Aleksandra alone, but I equally +with her, bear hatred to the enemy. But what is to be done? How save this +country? Not even Hercules against many can conquer. Therefore I thought thus, +‘Instead of destroying, which would be easier and more amusing, it is +needful to save.’ And since I had practised in affairs of this kind with +great statesmen, since I am a relative of the elector, and since, by reason of +my cousin Yanush, I am well considered by the Swedes, I began negotiations; and +what their course was and what the benefit to the Commonwealth was, that you +know,—an end of the war, freedom from oppression for your Catholic faith, +for churches, for clergy, for the estate of nobles, and for the common people; +the assistance of the Swedes in the war against Moscow and the Cossacks; and, +God grant, an extension of boundary. And this all on one condition,—that +Karl Gustav be king after Yan Kazimir. Whoso has done more for his country in +these times, let him stand before my eyes.” +</p> + +<p> +“True, a blind man could see that; but it will be very sad for the nobles +that a free election will cease.” +</p> + +<p> +“And which is more important,—an election or the country?” +</p> + +<p> +“They are the same, your highness; for an election is the main basis of +the Commonwealth. And what is the country, if not a collection of laws, +privileges, and liberties serving the nobles? A king can be found even in a +foreign land.” +</p> + +<p> +Anger and disgust flew like lightning over Boguslav’s face. +</p> + +<p> +“Karl Gustav,” said he, “will sign the <i>pacta conventa</i>, +as his predecessors have signed it; and after his death we will elect whom we +choose, even that Radzivill who will be born of your niece.” +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer stood for a while as if dazzled by the thought; at last he +raised his hand and cried with great enthusiasm,— +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Consentior</i> (I agree)!” +</p> + +<p> +“I think, too, that you would agree, even if the throne should become +hereditary in our family. Such are you all! But that is a later question. Now +it is necessary that the stipulations come to reality. You understand, my +uncle?” +</p> + +<p> +“As true as life, it is necessary!” repeated Billevich, with deep +conviction. +</p> + +<p> +“They must for this reason,—that I am a mediator agreeable to his +Swedish Majesty, and do you know for what reasons? Karl Gustav has one sister +married to De la Gardie, and another, Princess Bipont, still unmarried; and he +wishes to give her to me, so as to be allied to our house and have a party in +Lithuania. Hence his favor toward me, to which my uncle, the elector, inclines +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” asked the disquieted sword-bearer. +</p> + +<p> +“I would give all the princesses of Bipont<a name="div2Ref_07" +href="#div2_07"><sup>[7]</sup></a> for your dove, together with the +principalities, not only of the two, but of all the bridges in the world. But I +may not anger the Swedish beast, therefore I give willing ear to their +discussions; but only let them sign the treaty, then we shall see.” +</p> + +<p> +“Would they be ready then not to sign if they should discover that you +were married?” +</p> + +<p> +“Worthy sword-bearer,” said the prince, with seriousness, +“you have condemned me of crookedness toward the country; but I, as a +true citizen, ask you, have I a right to sacrifice public affairs to my private +interests?” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Tomash listened. “What will happen then?” +</p> + +<p> +“Think to yourself what must happen.” +</p> + +<p> +“As God is true, I see already that the marriage must be deferred; and +the proverb says; ‘What is deferred, escapes.’” +</p> + +<p> +“I will not change my heart, for I have fallen in love for life. You must +know that for faithfulness I could put to shame the most enduring +Penelope.” +</p> + +<p> +Billevich was alarmed still more; for he had an entirely opposite opinion +touching the prince’s constancy, confirmed as it was by Boguslav’s +general reputation. But the prince added, as if for a finishing stroke,— +</p> + +<p> +“You are right, that no one is sure of his to-morrow. I may fall ill; +nay, some kind of sickness is coming on me even now, for yesterday I grew so +rigid that Sakovich barely saved me. I may fall in a campaign against Sapyeha; +and what delays, what troubles and vexations there will be, could not be +written on an ox-hide.” +</p> + +<p> +“By the wounds of God, give advice, your highness.” +</p> + +<p> +“What advice can I give?” asked the prince. “Though I should +be glad myself to have the latch fall as soon as possible.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, let it fall. Marry, and then what will be, will be.” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav sprang to his feet. +</p> + +<p> +“By the holy Gospel! With your wit you should be chancellor of Lithuania. +Another man would not have thought out in three days what has come to your mind +in a twinkle. That is it! marry, and remain quiet. There is sense in that! As +it is, I shall march in two days against Sapyeha, for I must. During that time +secret passages to the lady’s chamber can be made; and then to the road! +That is the head of a statesman! We will let two or three confidants into the +secret, and take them as witnesses, so that the marriage may be formal. I will +write a contract, secure the jointure, to which I will add a bequest; and let +there be silence for the time. My benefactor, I thank you; from my heart, I +thank you. Come to my arms, and then go to my beauty. I will wait for her +answer, as if on coals. Meanwhile I will send Sakovich for the priest. Be well, +father, and, God grant soon, the grandfather of a Radzivill.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, he let the astonished noble go from his embrace, and +rushed out of the room. +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake!” said the sword-bearer, recovering himself. +“I gave such wise advice that Solomon himself would not be ashamed of it, +and I should prefer to do without it. A secret is a secret; but break your +head, crush your forehead against a wall, it cannot be otherwise. A blind man +can see that! Would that the frost might oppress and kill those Swedes to the +last! If it were not for those negotiations, the marriage would take place with +ceremony, and all Jmud would come to the wedding. But here a husband must walk +to his wife on felt, so as not to make noise. Tfu, to the deuce! The Sitsinskis +will not burst so soon. Yet, praise be to God! that bursting will not miss +them.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, he went to Olenka. Meanwhile the prince was taking +further counsel with Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“The old man danced on two paws like a bear,” said the prince; +“but he tormented the life out of me. Uf! but I squeezed him so that I +thought that the boots and straw would fly off his feet. And when I called him +‘Uncle,’ his eyes stuck out, as if a keg of cabbage hash were +choking him. Tfu! tfu! wait! I will make you uncle; but I have scores upon +scores of such uncles throughout the whole world. Sakovich, I see how she is +waiting for me in her room; and she will receive me with her eyes closed and +her hands crossed. Wait, I will kiss those eyes for you—Sakovich, you +will receive for life the estate of Prudy, beyond Oshmiana. When can Plaska be +here?” +</p> + +<p> +“Before evening. I thank your highness for Prudy.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing! Before evening? That means any moment. If the ceremony +could be performed to-day, even before midnight! Have you the contract +ready?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have. I was liberal in the name of your highness. I assigned Birji as +the jointure of the lady. The sword-bearer will howl like a dog when it is +taken from him afterward.” +</p> + +<p> +“He will sit in a dungeon, then he will be quiet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even that will not be needed. As soon as the marriage is invalid, all +will be invalid. But did I not tell you that they would agree?” +</p> + +<p> +“He did not make the least difficulty. I am curious to know what she will +say. I care nothing about him!” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, they have fallen each into the arms of the other, are weeping from +emotion, are blessing your highness, and are carried away by your kindness and +beauty.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t know that they are by my beauty; for in some way I look +wretched. I am all the time out of health, and I am afraid that +yesterday’s numbness will come again.” +</p> + +<p> +“No; you will take something warm.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince was already before the mirror. +</p> + +<p> +“It is blue under my eyes. And that fool, Fouret, darkened my eyebrows +crooked. See if they are not crooked! I’ll give orders to thumbscrew him, +and make a monkey my body-servant. Why does the old man not come? I should like +to go to the lady now, for she will permit me to kiss her before the marriage. +How quickly it grows dark to-day! If Plaska flinches, we must put pincers into +the fire.” +</p> + +<p> +“Plaska will not flinch. He is a scoundrel from under a dark star.” +</p> + +<p> +“And he will perform the marriage in scoundrel fashion?” +</p> + +<p> +“A scoundrel will perform the marriage for a scoundrel in scoundrel +fashion.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince fell into good humor, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“When there is a pander for best man, there cannot be another kind of +marriage.” +</p> + +<p> +For a while they were silent; then both began to laugh. But their laughter +sounded with marvellous ill-omen through the dark room. Night fell deeper and +deeper. +</p> + +<p> +The prince began to walk through the room, striking audibly with his +hammer-staff, on which he leaned heavily, for his feet did not serve him well +after the last numbness. +</p> + +<p> +Now the servants brought in candelabra with candles, and went out; but the rush +of air bent the flames of the candles, so that for a long time they did not +burn straight upward, melting meanwhile much wax. +</p> + +<p> +“See how the caudles are burning!” said the prince. “What do +you prophesy from that?” +</p> + +<p> +“That one virtue will melt to-day like wax.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is wonderful how long that talk lasts.” +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe the spirit of old Billevich is flying over the flames.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are a fool!” answered Boguslav, abruptly. “You have +chosen a time to talk of spirits!” +</p> + +<p> +Silence followed. +</p> + +<p> +“They say in England,” said the prince, “that when there is a +spirit in the room every light burns blue; but see, now they are burning +yellow, as usual.” +</p> + +<p> +“Trash!” answered Sakovich. “There are people in +Moscow—” +</p> + +<p> +“But be still!” interrupted Boguslav. “The sword-bearer is +coming. No! that is the wind moving the shutters. The devils have brought that +old maid of an aunt, Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus! Has any one ever heard of the +like? And she looks like a chimera.” +</p> + +<p> +“If you wish, your highness, I’ll marry her; then she will not be +in the way, Plaska will solder us while you are waiting.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I will give her a maple spade as a marriage present, and you a +lantern, so as to have something to light her way.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will not be your uncle—Bogus.” +</p> + +<p> +“Remember Castor,” answered the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not stroke Castor, my Pollux, against the grain, for he can +bite.” +</p> + +<p> +Further conversation was interrupted by the sword-bearer and Panna Kulvyets. +The prince stepped up to him quickly, leaning on his hammer. Sakovich rose. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what? May I go to Olenka?” asked the prince. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer spread out his arms and dropped his head on his breast. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness, my niece says that Colonel Billevich’s will forbids +her to decide her own fate; and even if it did not forbid, she would not marry +your highness, not having the heart to do so.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sakovich, do you hear?” said Boguslav, with a terrible voice. +</p> + +<p> +“I too knew of that will,” continued the sword-bearer, “but +at the first moment I did not think it an invincible impediment.” +</p> + +<p> +“I jeer at the wills of you nobles,” said the prince; “I spit +on your wills! Do you understand?” +</p> + +<p> +“But we do not jeer at them,” said the aroused Pan Tomash; +“and according to the will the maiden is free to enter the cloister or +marry Kmita.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whom, you sorry fellow? Kmita? I’ll show you Kmita! I’ll +teach you!” +</p> + +<p> +“Whom do you call sorry fellow,—a Billevich?” +</p> + +<p> +And the sword-bearer caught at his side in the greatest fury; but Boguslav, in +one moment, struck him on the breast with his hammer, so that Billevich groaned +and fell to the floor. The prince then kicked him aside, to open a way to the +door, and rushed from the room without a hat. +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus! Mary! Joseph!” cried Panna Kulvyets. +</p> + +<p> +But Sakovich, seizing her by the shoulder, put a dagger to her breast, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Quiet, my little jewel, quiet, dearest dove, or I will cut thy sweet +throat, like that of a lame hen. Sit here quietly, and go not upstairs to thy +niece’s wedding.” +</p> + +<p> +But in Panna Kulvyets there was knightly blood too; therefore she had barely +heard the words of Sakovich, when straightway her terror passed into despair +and frenzy. +</p> + +<p> +“Ruffian! bandit! pagan!” cried she; “slay me, for I will +shout to the whole Commonwealth. The brother killed, the niece disgraced, I do +not wish to live! Strike, slay, robber! People, come see!” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich stifled further words by putting his powerful hand over her month. +</p> + +<p> +“Quiet, crooked distaff, dried rue!” said he; “I will not cut +thy throat, for why should I give the Devil that which is his anyhow? But lest +thou scream like a peacock before roosting, I will tie up thy pretty mouth with +thy kerchief, and take a lute and play to thee of ‘sighs.’ It +cannot be but thou wilt love me.” +</p> + +<p> +So saying, the starosta of Oshmiana, with the dexterity of a genuine +pickpocket, encircled the head of Panna Kulvyets with her handkerchief, tied +her hands in the twinkle of an eye, and threw her on the sofa; then he sat by +her, and stretching himself out comfortably, asked her as calmly as though he +had begun an ordinary conversation,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what do you think? I suppose Bogus will get on as easily as I +have.” +</p> + +<p> +With that he sprang to his feet, for the door opened, and in it appeared Panna +Aleksandra. Her face was as white as chalk, her hair was somewhat dishevelled, +her brows were frowning, and threat was in her eyes. Seeing her uncle on the +floor, she knelt near him and passed her hand over his head and breast. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer drew a deep breath, opened his eyes, half raised himself, and +began to look around in the room, as if roused from sleep; then resting his +hand on the floor, he tried to rise, which he did after a while with the help +of the lady; then he came with tottering step to a chair, into which he threw +himself. Only now did Olenka see Panna Kulvyets lying on the sofa. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you murdered her?” asked she of Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“God preserve me!” answered the starosta of Oshmiana. +</p> + +<p> +“I command you to unbind her!” +</p> + +<p> +There was such power in that voice that Sakovich said not a word, as if the +command had come from Princess Radzivill herself, and began to unbind the +unconscious Panna Kulvyets. +</p> + +<p> +“And now,” said the lady, “go to your master, who is lying up +there.” +</p> + +<p> +“What has happened?” cried Sakovich, coming to himself. “You +will answer for him!” +</p> + +<p> +“Not to thee, serving-man! Be off!” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich sprang out of the chamber as if possessed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<p> +Sakovich did not leave Boguslav’s bedside for two days, the second +paroxysm being worse than the first. The prince’s jaws closed so firmly +that attendants had to open them with a knife to pour medicine into his mouth. +He regained consciousness immediately after; but he trembled, quivered, +floundered in the bed, and stretched himself like a wild beast mortally +wounded. When that had passed, a wonderful weakness came; he gazed all night at +the ceiling without saying a word. Next day, after he had taken drugs, he fell +into a sound sleep, and about midday woke covered with abundant perspiration. +</p> + +<p> +“How does your highness feel?” asked Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“I am better. Have any letters come?” +</p> + +<p> +“Letters from the elector and Steinbock are lying on the table; but the +reading must be put off till later, for you have not strength enough +yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Give them at once!—do you hear?” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich brought the letters, and Boguslav read them twice; then he thought +awhile and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“We will move for Podlyasye to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will be in bed to-morrow, as you are to-day.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will be on horseback as well as you. Be silent, no +interference!” +</p> + +<p> +The starosta ceased, and for a while silence continued, broken only by the +tick-tick of the Dantzig clock. +</p> + +<p> +“The advice was stupid, the idea was stupid, and I too was stupid to +listen.” +</p> + +<p> +“I knew that if it did not succeed the blame would fall on me,” +answered Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“For you blundered.” +</p> + +<p> +“The counsel was clever; but if there is some devil at their service who +gives warning of everything, I am not to blame.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince rose in the bed. “Do you think that they employ a +devil?” asked he, looking quickly at Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“But does not your highness know the Papists?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know, I know! And it has often come into my head that there might be +enchantment. Since yesterday I am certain. You have struck my idea; therefore I +asked if you really think so. But which of them could enter into company with +unclean power? Not she, for she is too virtuous; not the sword-bearer, for he +is too stupid.” +</p> + +<p> +“But suppose the aunt?” +</p> + +<p> +“That may be.” +</p> + +<p> +“To make certain I bound her yesterday, and put a dagger to her throat; +and imagine,—I look to-day, the dagger is as if melted in fire.” +</p> + +<p> +“Show it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I threw it into the river, though there was a good turquoise in the +hilt. I preferred not to touch it again.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I’ll tell you what happened to me yesterday. I ran into her +room as if mad. What I said I do not remember; but I know this,—that she +cried, ‘I’ll throw myself into the fire first.’ You know what +an enormous chimney there is there; she sprang right into it, I after her. I +dragged her out on the floor. Her clothes were already on fire. I had to quench +the fire and hold her at the same time. Meanwhile dizziness seized me, my jaws +became fixed,—you would have said that some one had torn the veins in my +neck; then it seemed to me that the sparks flying near us were turned into +bees, were buzzing like bees. And this is as true as that you see me +here.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what came later?” +</p> + +<p> +“I remember nothing, but such terror as if I were flying into an immense +well, into some depth without bottom. What terror! I tell you what terror! Even +now the hair is standing on my head. And not terror alone, but—how can I +explain it?—an emptiness, a measureless weariness and torment beyond +understanding. Luckily the powers of heaven were with me, or I should not be +speaking with you this day.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness had a paroxysm. Sickness itself often brings visions +before the eye; but for safety’s sake we may have a hole cut in the river +ice, and let the old maid float down.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, devil take her! We will march to-morrow in any event, and afterward +spring will come; there will soon be other stars, and the nights will be short, +weakening every unclean power.” +</p> + +<p> +“If we must march to-morrow, then you would better let the girl +go.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even if I wished not, I must. All desire has fallen away from me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind them; let them go to the devil!” +</p> + +<p> +“Impossible!” +</p> + +<p> +“Why?” +</p> + +<p> +“The old man has confessed that he has a tremendous lot of money buried +in Billeviche. If I let them alone, they will dig up the money and go to the +forests. I prefer to keep them here, and take the money in requisition. There +is war now, and this is permissible. Besides, he offered it himself. We shall +give orders to dig up the whole garden, foot by foot; we must find the money. +While Billevich is sitting here, at least, he will not make a noise and shout +over all Lithuania that he is plundered. Rage seizes me when I think how much I +have spent on those amusements and tournaments,—and all for nothing, for +nothing!” +</p> + +<p> +“Rage against that maiden seized me long ago. And I tell your highness +that when she came yesterday and said to me, as to the last camp follower, +‘Be off, serving-man! go up, for thy master is lying there!’ I came +near twisting her head like a starling; for I thought that she had stabbed you +with a knife or shot you from a pistol.” +</p> + +<p> +“You know that I do not like to have any one manage in my house like a +gray goose. It is well that you did not do as you say, for I should have given +orders to nip you with those pincers which were heated for Plaska. Keep away +from her!” +</p> + +<p> +“I sent Plaska back. He was terribly astonished, not knowing why he was +brought nor why he was sent home. He wanted something for his fatigue, +‘because this,’ said he, ‘is loss in my trade;’ but I +told him, ‘You bear home a sound skin as reward.’ Do we really +march to-morrow for Podlyasye?” +</p> + +<p> +“As God is in heaven. Are the troops sent off according to my +orders?” +</p> + +<p> +“The cavalry has gone already to Kyedani, whence it is to march to Kovno +and wait there. Our Polish squadrons are here yet; I did not like to send them +in advance. The men seem reliable; still they might meet the confederates. +Glovbich will go with us; also the Cossacks under Vrotynski. Karlström marches +with the Swedes in the vanguard. He has orders to exterminate rebels, and +especially peasants on the way.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well.” +</p> + +<p> +“Kyritz with infantry is to march slowly, so that we may have some one to +fall back upon in difficulty. If we are to advance like a +thunderbolt,—and our entire calculation lies in swiftness,—I do not +know whether the Prussian and Swedish cavalry will be useful. It is a pity that +the Polish squadrons are not reliable; for between us, there is nothing +superior to Polish cavalry.” +</p> + +<p> +“Has the artillery gone?” +</p> + +<p> +“It has.” +</p> + +<p> +“And Patterson too?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, Patterson is here; he is nursing Kettling, of whom he is very fond, +and who wounded himself rather badly with his own sword. If I did not know +Kettling to be a daring officer, I should think that he had cut himself of +purpose to avoid the campaign.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be needful to leave about a hundred men here, also in Rossyeni +and in Kyedani. The Swedish garrisons are small, and De la Gardie, as it is, is +asking men every day from Löwenhaupt. Besides, when we march out, the rebels, +forgetting the defeat of Shavli, will raise their heads.” +</p> + +<p> +“They are growing strong as it is. I have heard again that the Swedes are +cut down in Telshi.” +</p> + +<p> +“By nobles or peasants?” +</p> + +<p> +“By peasants under the leadership of a priest; but there are parties of +nobles, particularly near Lauda.” +</p> + +<p> +“The Lauda men have gone out under Volodyovski.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is a multitude of youths and old men at home. These have taken +arms, for they are warriors by blood.” +</p> + +<p> +“The rebellion can do nothing without money.” +</p> + +<p> +“But we shall get a supply of that in Billeviche.” +</p> + +<p> +“A man must be a genius like your highness to find means in +everything.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is more esteem in this country,” said Boguslav, with a +bitter smile, “for the man who can please the queen and the nobles. +Neither genius nor virtue has value. It is lucky that I am also a prince of the +Empire, and therefore they will not tie me by the legs to a pine-tree. If I +could only have the revenues regularly from my estates, I should not care for +the Commonwealth.” +</p> + +<p> +“But will they not confiscate these estates?” +</p> + +<p> +“We will first confiscate Podlyasye, if not all Lithuania. Now summon +Patterson.” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich went out, and returned soon with Patterson. At Boguslav’s +bedside a council was held, at which it was determined to move before daylight +next morning and go to Podlyasye by forced marches. The prince felt so much +better in the evening that he feasted with the officers and amused himself with +jests till late, listening with pleasure to the neighing of horses and the +clatter of arms in the squadrons preparing to march. At times he breathed +deeply, and stretched himself in the chair. +</p> + +<p> +“I see that this campaign will bring back my health,” said he to +the officers, “for amid all these negotiations and amusements I have +neglected the field notably. But I hope in God that the confederates and our +ex-cardinal (the king) in Poland will feel my hand.” +</p> + +<p> +To this Patterson made bold to answer: “It is lucky that Delilah did not +clip Samson’s hair.” +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav looked at him for a while with a strange expression, from which the +Scot was growing confused; but after a time the countenance of the prince grew +bright with a threatening smile, and he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“If Sapyeha is my pillar, I will shake him so that the whole Commonwealth +will fall on his head.” +</p> + +<p> +The conversation was carried on in German; therefore all the foreign officers +understood it perfectly, and answered in chorus,— +</p> + +<p> +“Amen!” +</p> + +<p> +The column, with Boguslav at the head of it, marched before daybreak next +morning. The Prussian nobles whom the brilliant court attracted, began at the +same time to return to their homes. After them marched to Tyltsa those who in +Taurogi had sought refuge from the terrors of war, and to whom now Tyltsa +seemed safer. Only Billevich, Olenka, and Panna Kulvyets remained, not counting +Kettling and the old officer Braun, who held command over the slender garrison. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich, after that blow of the hammer, lay for some days bleeding from the +mouth at intervals; but since no bone was broken, he recovered by degrees and +began to think of flight. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile an official came from Billeviche with a letter from Boguslav himself. +The sword-bearer did not wish at first to read the letter, but soon changed his +mind, following in this the advice of Olenka, who thought it better to know all +the plans of the enemy. +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +<span class="sc">Very Gracious Pan Billevich</span>!—<i>Concordia res +parvæ crescunt; discordia maximæ dillabuntar</i> (By concord small things grow +great; by discord the greatest are ruined)! The fates brought it about that we +did not part in such harmony as my love for you and your charming niece +demands, in which God knows I am not to blame, for you know yourself that you +fed me with ingratitude in return for my sincere intentions. But for +friendship’s sake what in done in anger should not be remembered; I +think, therefore, that you will excuse my deeds of impulse, because of the +injustice which I experienced at your hands. I, too, forgive you from my heart, +as Christian charity enjoins, and I wish to return to a good understanding. To +give you a proof that no offence has remained in my heart, I have not thought +it proper to refuse the service which you have asked of me, and I accept your +money. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Here Billevich stopped reading, struck the table with his fist, and +cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“He will see me in dreams rather than receive one coin from my +caskets!” +</p> + +<p> +“Read on!” said Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich raised the letter again to his eyes. +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Not wishing to trouble you and expose your health to hazard in the +present stormy times while getting this money, we have ordered ourselves to get +it and count it.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +At this point Billevich’s voice failed, and the letter fell from his +hands to the floor. For a while it seemed that speech was taken from the noble, +for he only caught after his hair and pulled it with all his power. +</p> + +<p> +“Strike, whoso believes in God!” cried he at last. +</p> + +<p> +“One injustice the more, the punishment of God nearer; for the measure +will soon be filled,” said Olenka. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<p> +The despair of the sword-bearer was so great that Olenka had to comfort him, +and give assurance that the money was not to be looked on as lost, for the +letter itself would serve as a note; and Radzivill, the master of so many +estates in Lithuania and Russia, had something from which to recover. +</p> + +<p> +But since it was difficult to foresee what might still meet them, especially if +Boguslav returned to Taurogi victorious, they began to think of flight the more +eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka advised to defer everything till Kettling’s recovery; for Braun +was a gloomy and surly old soldier, carrying out commands blindly, and it was +impossible to influence him. +</p> + +<p> +As to Kettling, the lady knew well that he had wounded himself to remain in +Taurogi; hence her deep faith that he would do everything to aid her. It is +true that conscience disturbed her incessantly with the question whether for +self-safety she had the right to sacrifice the career, and perhaps the life, of +another; but the terrors hanging over her in Taurogi were so dreadful that they +surpassed a hundredfold the dangers to which Kettling could be exposed. +</p> + +<p> +Kettling, as an excellent officer, might find service, and a more noble +service, elsewhere, and with it powerful protectors, such as the king. Pan +Sapyeha, or Pan Charnyetski; and he would, besides, serve a just cause, and +would find a career grateful to that country which had received him as an +exile. Death threatened him only in case he fell into Boguslav’s hands; +but Boguslav did not command yet the whole Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka ceased to hesitate; and when the health of the young officer had +improved, she sent for him. +</p> + +<p> +Kettling stood before her, pale, emaciated, without a drop of blood in his +face, but always full of respect, homage, and submission. At sight of him tears +came to Olenka’s eyes; for he was the only friendly soul in Taurogi, and +at the same time so thin and suffering that when Olenka asked how his health +was, he answered,— +</p> + +<p> +“Alas, my lady, health is returning, and it would be so pleasant to +die.” +</p> + +<p> +“You should leave this service,” said she, looking at him with +sympathy; “for such an honorable man needs assurance that he is serving a +just cause and a worthy master.” +</p> + +<p> +“Alas!” repeated the officer. +</p> + +<p> +“When will your service end?” +</p> + +<p> +“In half a year.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka was silent awhile; then she raised her wonderful eyes, which at that +moment had ceased to be stern, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Listen to me. I will speak to you as to a brother, as to a sincere +confidant. You can, and you should resign.” +</p> + +<p> +When she had said this, she confessed to him everything,—both their plans +of escape, and that she relied on his assistance. She represented to him that +he could find service everywhere, and a service as good as was his spirit, and +honorable as knightly honor could obtain. At last she finished with the +following words:— +</p> + +<p> +“I shall be grateful to you till death. I wish to take refuge under the +guardianship of God, and to make a vow to the Lord in a cloister. But wherever +you may be, far or near, in war or in peace, I shall pray for you. I will +implore God to give peace and happiness to my brother and benefactor; for I can +give him nothing save gratitude and prayer.” +</p> + +<p> +Here her voice trembled; and the officer listened to her words, growing pale as +a kerchief. At last he knelt, put both hands to his forehead, and said, in a +voice like a groan,— +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot, my lady; I cannot!” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you refuse me?” asked Olenka, with amazement. +</p> + +<p> +“O great, merciful God!” said he. “From childhood no lie has +risen on my lips, no unjust deed has ever stained me. While still a youth, I +defended with this weak hand my king and country. Why, Lord, dost Thou punish +me so grievously, and send on me suffering for which, as Thou seest, strength +fails me?” Here he turned to Olenka: “My lady, you do not know what +an order is for a soldier. In obedience is not only his duty, but his honor and +reputation. An oath binds me, my lady,—and more than an oath, the word of +a knight,—that I shall not throw up my service before the time, and that +I will fulfil what belongs to it blindly. I am a soldier and a noble; and, so +help me God, never in my life will I follow the example of those who betray +honor and service. And I will not break my word, even at your command, at your +prayer, though I say this in suffering and pain. If, having an order not to let +any one out of Taurogi, I were on guard at the gate, and if you yourself wished +to pass against the order, you would pass only over my corpse. You did not know +me, my lady; and you were mistaken in me. But have pity on me; understand that +I cannot aid you to escape. I ought not to hear of such a thing. The order is +express, for Braun and the five remaining officers of us here have received it. +My God, my God! if I had foreseen such an order, I should have preferred to go +on the campaign. I shall not convince you; you will not believe me. And still +God sees—let God judge me after death whether it is true—that I +would give my life without hesitation. But my honor—I cannot, I +cannot!” +</p> + +<p> +Then Kettling wrung his hands, was silent from exhaustion, and began to breathe +quickly. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka had not recovered yet from her amazement. She had not time to pause, or +estimate properly that spirit, exceptional in its nobleness. She felt only that +the last plank of salvation was slipping from her hands, the only means of +escape from hated captivity was failing her. But still she tried to resist. +</p> + +<p> +“I am,” said she, after a while, “the granddaughter and the +daughter of a soldier. My grandfather and father also valued honor above life; +but, precisely for that reason, they would not let themselves be used blindly +for every service.” +</p> + +<p> +Kettling drew, with trembling hand, from his coat a letter, gave it to Olenka, +and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Judge, my lady, if this command does not concern service.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka cast her eyes over the letter, and read as follows:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Since it has come to our knowledge that Billevich, the sword-bearer of +Rossyeni, intends to leave our residence in secret, with plans hostile to +us,—namely, to excite his acquaintances, connections, relatives, and +clients to rebellion against his Swedish Majesty and us,—we recommend to +the officers remaining in garrison at Taurogi to guard Billevich and his niece +as hostages and prisoners of war, and not to permit their flight under pain of +loss of honor and court-martial,” etc. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +“The order came from the first stopping-place after the departure of the +prince,” said Kettling; “therefore it is in writing.” +</p> + +<p> +“The will of God be done!” said Olenka, after a while. “It is +accomplished!” +</p> + +<p> +Kettling felt that he ought to go; still he did not stir. His pale lips moved +from moment to moment, as if he wished to say something and could not get the +voice. +</p> + +<p> +He was oppressed by the desire to fall at her feet and implore forgiveness; but +on the other hand he felt that she had enough of her own misfortune, and he +found a certain wild delight in this,—that he was suffering and would +suffer without complaint. +</p> + +<p> +At last he bowed and went out in silence; but in the corridor he tore the +bandages from his fresh wound, and fell fainting to the floor. When an hour +later the palace guard found him lying near the staircase and took him to the +barracks, he became seriously ill and did not leave his bed for a fortnight. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka, after the departure of Kettling, remained some time as if dazed. Death +had seemed to her more likely to come than that refusal; and therefore, at +first, in spite of all her firm temper of spirit, strength, energy failed her; +she felt weak, like an ordinary woman, and though she repeated unconsciously, +“Let the will of God be done!” sorrow for the disappointment rose +above her resignation, copious and bitter tears flowed from her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +At that moment her uncle entered, and looking at his niece, divined at once +that she had evil news to impart; hence he asked quickly,— +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake, what is it?” +</p> + +<p> +“Kettling refuses!” +</p> + +<p> +“All here are ruffians, scoundrels, arch-curs! How is this? And he will +not help?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not only will he not help,” answered she, complaining like a +little child, “but he says that he will prevent, even should it come to +him to die.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why? by the Lord’s wounds, why?” +</p> + +<p> +“For such is our fate! Kettling is not a traitor; but such is our fate, +for we are the most unhappy of all people.” +</p> + +<p> +“May the thunderbolts crush all those heretics!” cried Billevich. +“They attack virtue, plunder, steal, imprison. Would that all might +perish! It is not for honest people to live in such times!” +</p> + +<p> +Here he began to walk with hurried step through the chamber, threatening with +his fists; at last he said, gritting his teeth,— +</p> + +<p> +“The voevoda of Vilna was better; I prefer a thousand times even Kmita to +these perfumed ruffians without honor and conscience.” +</p> + +<p> +When Olenka said nothing, but began to cry still more, Billevich grew mild, and +after a while said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Do not weep. Kmita came to my mind only because that he at least would +have been able to wrest us out of this Babylonian captivity. He would have +given it to all the Brauns, Kettlings, Pattersons, to Boguslav himself! But +they are all the same type of traitors. Weep not! You can do nothing with +weeping; here it is necessary to counsel. Kettling will not help,—may he +be twisted! We will do without him. You have as it were a man’s courage +in you, but in difficulty you are only able to sob. What does Kettling +say?” +</p> + +<p> +“He says that the prince has given orders to guard us as prisoners of +war, fearing, Uncle, that you would collect a party and go to the +confederates.” +</p> + +<p> +Billevich put his hands on his hips: “Ha, ha, ha! he is afraid, the +scoundrel! And he is right, for I will do so, as God is in heaven.” +</p> + +<p> +“Having a command relating to service, Kettling must carry it out on his +honor.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well! we shall get on without the assistance of heretics.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka wiped her eyes. “And does my uncle think it is possible?” +</p> + +<p> +“I think it is necessary; and if it is necessary it is possible, though +we had to let ourselves down by ropes from these windows.” +</p> + +<p> +“It was wrong for me to shed tears; let us make plans as quickly as we +can.” +</p> + +<p> +Her tears were dry, her brows contracted again from thought and her former +endurance and energy. +</p> + +<p> +It appeared, in fact, that Billevich could find no help, and that the +imagination of the lady was much richer in means. But it was difficult for her, +since it was clear that they were guarded carefully. +</p> + +<p> +They determined, therefore, not to try before the first news came from +Boguslav. In this they placed all their hope, trusting that the punishment of +God would come on the traitor and the dishonorable man. Besides, he might fall, +he might be confined to his bed, he might be killed by Sapyeha, and then +without fail there would rise in all Taurogi a panic, and the gate would not be +guarded so carefully. +</p> + +<p> +“I know Sapyeha,” said Billevich, comforting himself and Olenka; +“he is a slow warrior, but accurate and wonderfully stubborn. An example +of this, his loyalty to the king and country. He pledged and sold everything, +and thus has gained a power before which Boguslav is as nothing. One is a +dignified senator, the other a fop; one a true Catholic, the other a heretic; +one is cleverness itself, the other a water-burner. With whom may victory and +the blessing of God be? This Radzivill might well yield to Sapyeha’s day. +Just as if there are not punishment and justice in this world! We will wait for +news, and pray for Sapyeha’s success.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they began to wait; but a month passed—long, wearisome for afflicted +hearts—before the first courier came; and he was sent not to Taurogi, but +to Steinbock in Royal Prussia. +</p> + +<p> +Kettling, who from the time of the last conversation dared not appear before +Olenka’s eyes, sent her at once a card with the following +announcement:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Prince Boguslav has defeated Pan Kryshtof Sapyeha near Bransk; some +squadrons of cavalry and infantry are cut to pieces. He is marching on +Tykotsin, where Horotkyevich is stationed.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +For Olenka this was simply a thunderbolt. The greatness of a leader and the +bravery of a knight meant for her the same thing. Since she had seen Boguslav, +at Taurogi, overcoming the most valiant knights with ease, she imagined him to +herself, especially after that news, as an evil but invincible power, against +which no one could stand. +</p> + +<p> +The hope that Boguslav might be defeated died in her completely. In vain did +her uncle quiet her and comfort her with this,—that the prince had not +yet met Sapyeha; in vain did he guarantee to her that the very dignity of +hetman with which the king had invested him recently, must give positive +preponderance over Boguslav; she did not believe this, she dared not. +</p> + +<p> +“Who can conquer Boguslav; who can meet him?” asked she, +continually. +</p> + +<p> +Further news seemed to confirm her fears. +</p> + +<p> +A few days later Kettling sent another card with information touching the +defeat of Horotkyevich and the capture of Tykotsin. “All +Podlyasye,” writes he, “is in the hands of the prince, who, without +waiting for Sapyeha, is moving against him with forced marches.” +</p> + +<p> +“And Sapyeha will be routed!” thought the maiden. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile news from other directions flew to them, like a swallow heralding +spring-time. To that seashore of the Commonwealth this news came late; but +because of its lateness it was decked in all the rainbow gleams of wonderful +legend from the first ages of Christianity, when saints proclaiming truth and +justice still travelled over the earth. +</p> + +<p> +“Chenstohova! Chenstohova!” was repeated by every mouth. +</p> + +<p> +Ice thawed from hearts which bloomed like flowers in the earth warmed by the +sun of spring. “Chenstohova has defended itself. Men had seen the Queen +of Poland Herself (the Virgin Mary) shielding the walls with Her heavenly +mantle; the bombs of the robbers at Her holy feet, crouching like house-dogs; +the hands of the Swedes were withered, their muskets grew fast to their faces, +till they retreated in terror and shame.” +</p> + +<p> +Men, strangers to one another, when they heard these tidings fell the one into +the embraces of the other, weeping from delight. Others complained that the +tidings came too late. +</p> + +<p> +“But we were here in weeping,” said they, “we were in pain, +we lived in torment so long, when we should have been rejoicing.” +</p> + +<p> +Then it began to roar through the whole Commonwealth, and terrible thunders +were heard from the Euxine to the Baltic, so that the waves of both seas were +trembling; then faithful people, pious people rose up like a storm in defence +of their queen. Consolation entered all hearts, all eyes were flashing with +fire; what hitherto had seemed terrible and invincible grew small in their +eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Who will finish him?” said Billevich. “Who will be his +equal? Now do you know who? The Most Holy Lady.” +</p> + +<p> +The old man and his niece lay for whole days in the form of a cross, thanking +God for his mercy on the Commonwealth, and doubting their own rescue no longer. +</p> + +<p> +But for a long period there was silence concerning Boguslav, as if he with all +his forces had fallen into water. The officers remaining in Taurogi began to be +disquieted and to think of their uncertain future. They would have preferred +defeat to that deep silence. But no news could come, for just then the terrible +Babinich was rushing with his Tartars in front of the prince and stopping all +couriers. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<p> +But a certain day Panna Anusia Borzobogati arrived at Taurogi with a convoy of +some tens of soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +Braun received her very politely, for he had to do so, since he was thus +commanded by a letter from Sakovich, signed by Boguslav himself, enjoining him +to have every regard for this lady-in-waiting of Princess Griselda +Vishnyevetski. The young lady herself was full of vivacity; from the first +moment she began to pierce Braun with her eyes, so that the sullen German moved +about as if some one were touching him with fire; she began also to command +other officers,—in a word, to manage in Taurogi as in her own house. In +the evening of the same day she made the acquaintance of Olenka, who received +her with distrust, it is true, but politely, in the hope that she would get +news from her. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, Anusia had news in plenty. Her conversation began with Chenstohova, +since the prisoners in Taurogi were most eager for that news. The sword-bearer +listened with special diligence; he held his hands behind his ears so as to +lose no word, merely interrupting Anusia’s narrative from time to time +with the exclamation,— +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God on high!” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a wonder to me,” said Anusia, at last, “that news of +these miracles of the Most Holy Lady have only just reached you, for that is an +old story. I was still in Zamost, and Pan Babinich had not come for +me—ai! how many weeks was it before that? Then they began to beat the +Swedes everywhere, in Great Poland and with us; but most of all Pan +Charnyetski, before whose very name they fly.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Charnyetski!” cried the sword-bearer, rubbing his hands; +“he will give them pepper! I heard of him even from the Ukraine, as of a +great warrior.” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia merely shook her dress, and exclaimed to herself with aversion, as if it +were a question of the smallest matter: “Oh, it is all over with the +Swedes!” +</p> + +<p> +Old Pan Tomash could not restrain himself. Seizing her small hand, he buried +the little thing entirely in his enormous mustaches and kissed it eagerly; at +last he cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my beauty! honey flows from your mouth, as God is dear to me! It +cannot be but an angel has come to Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia began at once to twist the ends of her tresses, tied with rosy ribbons, +and cutting with her eyes from under her brows, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, it is far from me to the angels! But the hetmans of the kingdom have +begun to beat the Swedes, and all the quarter soldiers with them, and the +knights; and they have formed a confederation in Tyshovtsi. The king has joined +it, and they have given out manifestoes; even the peasants are beating the +Swedes, and the Most Holy Lady gives Her blessing.” +</p> + +<p> +She spoke as if a bird were warbling, but from that warbling Billevich’s +heart grew soft, though some of the news was already known to him. He bellowed +at last like an aurochs from delight; tears, too, began to flow over the face +of Olenka, silent and many. +</p> + +<p> +Seeing this, Anusia, having a good heart from nature, sprang to her at once, +and putting her arms around her neck, began to say quickly,— +</p> + +<p> +“Do not cry; I am sorry for you, and cannot see you shed tears. Why do +you weep?” +</p> + +<p> +There was so much sincerity in her voice that Olenka’s distrust vanished +at once; but the poor girl wept still more. +</p> + +<p> +“You are so beautiful,” said Anusia, comforting her. “Why do +you cry?” +</p> + +<p> +“From joy,” answered Olenka, “but also from suffering; for we +are here in grievous captivity, knowing neither the day nor the hour.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that? Are you not with Prince Boguslav?” +</p> + +<p> +“That traitor! that heretic!” roared Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +“The same has happened to me,” said Anusia; “but I do not cry +for that reason. I do not deny that the prince is a traitor and a heretic; but +he is a courteous cavalier, and respects our sex.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant that in hell they will respect him in the same fashion! Young +lady, you know him not, for he has not attacked you as he has this maiden. He +is an arch-ruffian, and that Sakovich is another. God give Sapyeha to defeat +them both!” +</p> + +<p> +“As to defeating, he will defeat them. Prince Boguslav is terribly sick, +and he has not a great force. It is true that he advanced quickly, scattered +some squadrons, and took Tykotsin and me; but it is not for him to measure with +the forces of Pan Sapyeha. You may trust me, for I saw both armies. With Pan +Sapyeha are the greatest cavaliers, who will be able to manage Prince +Boguslav.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, do you see! have I not told you?” asked the old man, turning +to Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“I know Prince Boguslav from of old,” continued Anusia, “for +he is a relative of the Vishnyevetskis and Zamoyski; he came once to us at +Lubni, when Prince Yeremi himself was campaigning against the Tartars in the +Wilderness. He remembered that I was at home there and nearest the princess. I +was such a little thing then, not as I am to-day. My God! who could think at +that time that he would be a traitor? But grieve not; for either he will fail +to return, or we shall escape from this place in some way.” +</p> + +<p> +“We have tried that already,” said Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“And you did not succeed?” +</p> + +<p> +“How could we?” asked Billevich. “We told the secret to an +officer whom we thought ready to aid us; but it turned out that he was ready to +hinder, not to help. Seniority over all here is with Braun,—the Devil +himself could not win that man.” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia dropped her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Maybe I can. If Pan Sapyeha would only come, so that we might have some +one with whom to take refuge.” +</p> + +<p> +“God give him at the earliest,” answered Pan Tomash, “for +among his men we have many relatives, acquaintances, and friends. Among them, +too, are former officers of the great Yeremi,—Volodyovski, Skshetuski, +Zagloba,—I know them.” +</p> + +<p> +“But they are not with Sapyeha. Oh, if they were, especially Volodyovski, +for Shshetuski is married, I should not be here, for Pan Volodyovski would not +let himself be picked up as Pan Kotchyts did.” +</p> + +<p> +“He is a great cavalier,” said Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +“The glory of the whole Commonwealth,” added Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“Have they not fallen, since you did not see them?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, no!” answered Anusia, “for the loss of such knights +would be spoken of; but nothing was said. You do not know them, they will never +yield; only a bullet will kill them, for no man can stand before Skshetuski, +Zagloba, or Pan Michael. Though Pan Michael is small, I remember what Prince +Yeremi said of him,—that if the fate of the whole Commonwealth depended +on a battle between one man and another, he would choose Pan Michael for the +battle. He was the man who conquered Bogun. Oh, no, Pan Michael will help +himself always.” +</p> + +<p> +Billevich, satisfied that he had some one with whom to talk, began to walk with +long strides through the room, asking,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, well! Then do you know Pan Volodyovski so intimately?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes; for we lived in the same place so many years.” +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed! Then certainly not without love!” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m not to blame for that,” answered Anusia, taking a timid +posture; “but before this time surely Pan Michael is married.” +</p> + +<p> +“And he is just not married.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even if he were, it is all one to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant you to meet! But I am troubled because you say that they are +not with the hetman, for with such soldiers victory would be easier.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is some one there who is worth them all.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who is he?” +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Babinich from Vityebsk. Have you heard of him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not a word; which is a wonder to me.” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia began to relate the history of her departure from Zamost, and everything +that happened on the road. Babinich grew in her narrative to such a mighty hero +that the sword-bearer was at a loss to know who he was. +</p> + +<p> +“I know all Lithuania,” said he. “There are houses, it is +true, with similar names, such as Babonaubek, Babill, Babinovski, Babinski, and +Babiski. Babinich I have not heard, and I think it must be an assumed name; for +many who are in parties take such names, so that their property and relatives +may not suffer from the enemy. Hm! Babinich! He is some fiery cavalier, since +he was able to settle Zamoyski in that fashion.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, how fiery!” cried Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +The old man fell into good humor. “How is that?” asked he, stopping +before Anusia and putting his hands on his hips. +</p> + +<p> +“If I tell you, you’ll suppose God knows what.” +</p> + +<p> +“God preserve me, I will suppose nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Barely had we come out of Zamost when Pan Babinich told me that some one +else had occupied his heart, and though he received no rent, still he did not +think of changing the tenant.” +</p> + +<p> +“And do you believe that?” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course I believe it,” answered Anusia, with great vivacity; +“he must be in love to his ears, since after so long a +time—since—since—” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, there is some ‘since he would not,’” said the old +man, laughing. +</p> + +<p> +“But I say that,” repeated Anusia, stamping her foot, +“since— Well, we shall soon hear of him.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant it!” +</p> + +<p> +“And I will tell you why. As often as Pan Babinich mentioned Prince +Boguslav, his face grew white, and his teeth squeaked like doors.” +</p> + +<p> +“He will be our friend!” said the sword-bearer, +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly! And we will flee to him, if he shows himself.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I could escape from this place, I would have my own party, and you +would see that war is no novelty to me either, and that this old hand is good +for something yet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Go under command of Pan Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have a great wish to go under his command.” +</p> + +<p> +They chatted yet for a long time in this fashion, and always more joyously; so +that Olenka, forgetting her grief, became notably more cheerful, and Anusia +began at last to laugh loudly at the sword-bearer. She was well rested; for at +the last halting-place in Rossyeni she had slept soundly; she left them then +only late in the evening. +</p> + +<p> +“She is gold, not a maiden!” said Billevich, after she had gone. +</p> + +<p> +“A sincere sort of heart, and I think we shall soon come to +confidence,” answered Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“But you looked at her frowningly at first.” +</p> + +<p> +“For I thought that she was some one sent here. Do I know anything +surely? I fear every one in Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +“She sent? Perhaps by good spirits! But she is as full of tricks as a +weasel. If I were younger I don’t know to what it might come; even as it +is a man is still desirous.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka was delighted, and placing her hands on her knees, she put her head on +one side, mimicking Anusia, and looking askance at her uncle. +</p> + +<p> +“So, dear uncle! you wish to bake an aunt for me out of that +flour?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, be quiet, be quiet!” said the sword-bearer. +</p> + +<p> +But he laughed and began to twist his mustache with his whole hand; after a +time he added,— +</p> + +<p> +“Still she roused such a staid woman as you; I am certain that great +friendship will spring up between you.” +</p> + +<p> +In truth, Pan Tomash was not deceived, for in no long time a very lively +friendship was formed between the maidens; and it grew more and more, perhaps +just for this reason,—that the two were complete opposites. One had +dignity in her spirit, depths of feeling, invincible will, and reason; the +other, with a good heart and purity of thought, was a tufted lark. One, with +her calm face, bright tresses, and an unspeakable repose and charm in her +slender form, was like an ancient Psyche; the other, a real brunette, reminded +one rather of an <i>ignis fatuus</i>, which in the night hours entices people +into pathless places and laughs at their vexation. The officers in Taurogi, who +looked at both every day, were seized with the desire to kiss Olenka’s +feet, but Anusia’s lips. +</p> + +<p> +Kettling, having the soul of a Scottish mountaineer, hence full of melancholy, +revered and adored Olenka; but from the first glance he could not endure +Anusia, who paid him in kind, making up for her losses on Braun and others, not +excepting the sword-bearer of Rossyeni himself. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka soon won great influence over her friend, who with perfect sincerity of +heart said to Pan Tomash,— +</p> + +<p> +“She can say more in two words than I in a whole day.” +</p> + +<p> +But the dignified lady could not cure her vain friend of one defect, coquetry; +for let Anusia only hear the rattle of spurs in the corridor, immediately she +would pretend that she had forgotten something, that she wanted to see if there +were tidings from Sapyeha; would rush into the corridor, fly like a whirlwind, +and coming up against an officer, cry out,— +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, how you frightened me!” +</p> + +<p> +Then a conversation would begin, intermingled with twisting of her skirts, +glancing from under her brows, and various artful looks, through the aid of +which the hardest heart may be conquered. +</p> + +<p> +This coquetry Olenka took ill of her, all the more that Anusia after a few days +confessed to a secret love for Babinich. They discussed this among themselves +more than once. +</p> + +<p> +“Others beg like minstrels,” said Anusia; “but this dragon +chose to look at his Tartars rather than at me, and he never spoke otherwise +than in command,—‘Come out, my lady! eat, my lady! drink, my +lady!’ And if he had been rude at the same time, but he was not; if he +had not been painstaking, but he was! In Krasnystav I said to myself, ‘Do +not look at me—wait!’ And in Lanchna I was so overcome that it was +terrible. I tell you that when I looked into his blue eyes, and when he +laughed, gladness seized me, such a prisoner was I.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka dropped her head, for blue eyes came to her memory too; and that one +spoke in the same way, and he had command ever on his lips, activity ever in +his face, but neither conscience nor the fear of God. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia, following her own thoughts, continued,— +</p> + +<p> +“When he flew over the field on his horse, with his baton, I thought, +That is an eagle or some hetman. The Tartars feared him more than fire. When he +came, there had to be obedience; and when there was a battle, fires were +striking him from desire of blood. I saw many worthy cavaliers in Lubni, but +one such that fear seized me in his presence I have never seen.” +</p> + +<p> +“If the Lord God has predestined him to you, you will get him; but that +he did not love you, I cannot believe.” +</p> + +<p> +“As to love, he loves me a little, but the other more. He told me himself +more than once, ‘It is lucky that I am not able to forget or cease +loving, for it would be better to confide a kid to a wolf than such a maiden as +you are to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“What did you say to that?” +</p> + +<p> +“I said, ‘How do you know that I would return your love?’ And +he answered, ‘I should not have asked you.’ Now, what are you to do +with such a man? That other woman is foolish not to love him, and she must have +callousness in her heart. I asked what her name is, but he would not tell me. +‘Better,’ said he, ‘not to touch that, for it is a sore; and +another sore,’ said he, ‘is the Radzivills,—the +traitors!’ And then he made such a terrible face that I would have hidden +in a mouse-hole. I simply feared him. But what is the use in talking? He is not +for me!” +</p> + +<p> +“Ask Saint Michael for him; I know from Aunt Kulvyets that he is the best +aid in such cases. Only be careful not to offend the saint by duping more +men.” +</p> + +<p> +“I never will, except so much,—the least little bit.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Anusia showed on her finger how much; and she indicated at most about half +the length of the nail, so as not to anger Saint Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not act so from waywardness,” explained she to Billevich, who +also had begun to take her frivolity to heart; “but I must, for if these +officers do not help us we shall never escape.” +</p> + +<p> +“Braun will not let us out.” +</p> + +<p> +“Braun is overcome!” replied Anusia, with a thin voice, dropping +her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“But Fitz-Gregory?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is overcome too!” with a voice still thinner. +</p> + +<p> +“And Ottenhagen?” +</p> + +<p> +“Overcome!” +</p> + +<p> +“And Von Irhen?” +</p> + +<p> +“Overcome!” +</p> + +<p> +“May the forest surround you! I see that Kettling is the only man whom +you could not manage.” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot endure him! But some one else will manage him. Besides, we can +go without his permission.” +</p> + +<p> +“And you think that when we wish to flee they will not hinder?” +</p> + +<p> +“They will go with us!” said Anusia, stretching her neck and +blinking. +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake! then why do we stay here? I should like to be far +away this day.” +</p> + +<p> +But from the consultation which followed at once, it appeared needful to await +the decision of Boguslav’s fate and Pan Sapyeha’s arrival in the +neighborhood of Jmud. Otherwise they would be threatened by terrible +destruction from even their own people. The society of foreign officers not +only would not be a defence, but would add to their danger; for the peasants +were so terribly envenomed against foreigners that they murdered without mercy +every one who did not wear a Polish dress. Even Polish dignitaries wearing +foreign costume, not to speak of Austrian and French diplomats, could not +travel save under the protection of powerful bodies of troops. +</p> + +<p> +“You will believe me, for I have passed through the whole country,” +said Anusia. “In the first village, in the first forest, ravagers would +kill us without asking who we are. It is impossible to flee except to an +army.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I shall have my own party.” +</p> + +<p> +“Before you could collect it, before you could reach a village where you +are known, you would lose your life. News from Prince Boguslav must come soon. +I have ordered Braun to inform me at once.” +</p> + +<p> +But Braun reported nothing for a long time. +</p> + +<p> +Kettling, however, began to visit Olenka; for she, meeting him on a certain +day, extended her hand to him. The young officer prophesied evil from this +profound silence. According to him the prince, out of regard for the elector +and the Swedes, would not hold silence touching the least victory, and would +rather exaggerate by description than weaken by silence the significance of +real successes. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not suppose that he is cut to pieces,” said the young +officer; “but he is surely in such a difficult position that it is hard +to find a way out.” +</p> + +<p> +“All tidings arrive here so late,” said Olenka, “and the best +proof is that we learned first from Panna Borzobogati, the particulars of the +miraculous defence of Chenstohova.” +</p> + +<p> +“I, my lady, knew of that long ago, but, as a foreigner, not knowing the +value which that place has for Poles, I did not mention it. That in a great war +some small castle defends itself for a time, and repulses a number of storms, +happens always, and importance is not attached to it usually.” +</p> + +<p> +“But still for me that would have been the most welcome news!” +</p> + +<p> +“I see in truth that I did ill; for from what has happened since the +defence, as I hear now, I know that to be an important event, which may +influence the whole war. Still, returning to the campaign of the prince in +Podlyasye, it is different. Chenstohova is far away, Podlyasye is nearer. And +when the prince succeeded at first, you remember how quickly news came. Believe +me, my lady, I am a young man, but from the fourteenth year of my life I am a +soldier, and experience tells me that this silence is prophetic of evil.” +</p> + +<p> +“Rather good,” said the lady, +</p> + +<p> +“Let it be good!” answered Kettling. “In half a year my +service will be ended. In half a year my oath will cease.” +</p> + +<p> +A few days after this conversation news came at last. It was brought by Pan +Byes of the shield Kornie; called, at Boguslav’s court, Cornutus.<a +name="div2Ref_08" href="#div2_08"><sup>[8]</sup></a> He was a Polish noble, but +altogether foreignized; for serving in foreign armies almost from years of +boyhood, he had wellnigh forgotten Polish, or at least spoke it like a German. +He had also a foreignized soul, hence was greatly attached to Prince Boguslav. +He was going on an important mission to Königsberg, and stopped in Taurogi +merely to rest. +</p> + +<p> +Braun and Kettling brought him at once to Olenka and Anusia, who at that time +lived and slept together. +</p> + +<p> +Braun stood like a soldier before Anusia; then turned to Byes and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“This lady is a relative of Pan Zamoyski, therefore of the prince our +lord, who has commanded to show her every attention; and she wishes to hear +news from the mouth of an eyewitness.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Byes in his turn stood erect, as if on service, and awaited the questions. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia did not deny relationship with Boguslav, for the homage of the military +pleased her; therefore she motioned to Pan Byes to sit down. When he had taken +his place she asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the prince at present?” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince is retreating on Sokolka, God grant successfully,” said +the officer. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell the pure truth: how is it with him?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell the pure truth and hide nothing, thinking that your +worthiness will find strength in your soul to hear news less favorable.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will!” said Anusia, striking one heel against the other under +her robe, with satisfaction that she was called “worthiness,” and +that the news was “less favorable.” +</p> + +<p> +“At first everything went well with us,” said Byes. “We +rubbed out on the road several bands of peasants; we scattered the forces of +the younger Sapyeha, and cut up two squadrons of cavalry with a regiment of +good infantry, sparing no one. Then we defeated Pan Horotkyevich, so that he +barely escaped, and some say that he was killed. After that we occupied the +ruins of Tykotsin.” +</p> + +<p> +“We know all this. Tell us quickly the unfavorable news,” +interrupted Anusia, on a sudden. +</p> + +<p> +“Be pleased, my lady, to listen calmly. We came to Drohichyn, and there +the map was unfolded. We had news that Sapyeha was still far away; meanwhile +two of our scouting parties were as if they had sunk through the earth. Not a +witness returned from the slaughter. Then it appeared that some troops were +marching in front of us. A great confusion rose out of that. The prince began +to think that all preceding information was false, and that Sapyeha had not +only advanced, but had cut off the road. Then we began to retreat, for in that +way it was possible to catch the enemy and force him to a general battle, which +the prince wished absolutely. But the enemy did not give the field; he attacked +and attacked without ceasing. From that everything began to melt in our hands; +we had rest neither day nor night. The roads were ruined before us, the dams +cut, provisions intercepted. Reports were soon circulated that Charnyetski +himself was crushing us. The soldiers did not eat, did not sleep; their courage +fell. Men perished in the camp itself, as if the ground were swallowing them. +In Byalystok the enemy seized a whole party again, camp-chests, the +prince’s carriages and guns. I have never seen anything like it. It was +not seen in former wars, either. The prince was changed. He wanted nothing but +a general battle, and he had to fight ten small ones every day, and lose them. +Order became relaxed. And how can our confusion and alarm be described when we +learned that Sapyeha himself had not come up yet, and that in front of us was +merely a strong party which had caused so many disasters? In this party were +Tartar troops.” +</p> + +<p> +Further words of the officer were interrupted by a scream from Anusia, who, +throwing herself suddenly on Olenka’s neck, cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Babinich!” +</p> + +<p> +The officer was surprised when he heard the name; but he judged that terror and +hatred had wrested this cry from the breast of the worthy lady; so only after a +while did he continue his narrative:— +</p> + +<p> +“To whomsover God has given greatness, he has given also strength to bear +grievous misfortunes; be pleased, therefore, my lady, to calm yourself. Such +indeed is the name of this hell-dweller who has undermined the success of the +whole expedition, and become the cause of other immense evils. His name, which +your worthiness has divined with such wonderful quickness, is repeated now with +fear and rage by every mouth in our camp.” +</p> + +<p> +“I saw that Babinich at Zamost,” said Anusia, hastily; “and +could I have guessed—” +</p> + +<p> +Here she was silent, and no one knew what would have happened in such an event. +The officer, after a moment’s silence, continued,— +</p> + +<p> +“Thaws and heat set in, despite, it may be said, the regular order of +nature; for we had news that in the south of the Commonwealth there was still +severe winter; but we were wading in spring mud, which fastened our heavy +cavalry to the earth. But he, having light troops, advanced with more ease. We +lost wagons and cannon at every step, and were forced at last to go on +horseback. The inhabitants round about, in their blind venom, favored the +attackers. What God gives will happen; but I left the whole camp in a desperate +condition, as well as the prince himself, whom a malignant fever does not +leave, and who loses his power for whole days. A general battle will come +quickly; but how it will end, God knows. If He favors, we may hope for +wonders.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where did you leave the prince?” +</p> + +<p> +“A day’s journey from Sokolka. The prince intends to intrench +himself at Suhovola or Yanov and receive battle. Sapyeha is two days distant. +When I came away, we had a little more freedom; for from a captured informant +we learned that Babinich himself had gone to the main camp; without him the +Tartars dare not attack, satisfying themselves with annoying scouting parties. +The prince, who is an incomparable leader, places all his hopes on a general +battle, but, of course, when he is well; if the fever seizes him, he must think +of something else, the best proof of which is that he has sent me to +Prussia.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you go?” +</p> + +<p> +“Either the prince will win the battle or lose it. If he loses it, all +Electoral Prussia will be defenceless, and it may happen easily that Sapyeha +will pass the boundaries, force the elector to a decision,—I say this, +for it is no secret, I go to forewarn them to have some defence prepared for +those provinces; for the unbidden guests may come in too great numbers. That is +the affair of the elector and the Swedes, with whom the prince is in alliance, +and from whom he has the right to expect rescue.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer finished. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia heaped a multitude of other questions on him, preserving with difficulty +dignity sufficient. When he went out, she gave way to herself completely. She +fell to striking her skirts with her hands, turning on her heels like a top, +kissing Olenka on the eyes, pulling Billevich by the sleeves, and +crying,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, now, what did I say? Who has crushed Prince Boguslav? Maybe Pan +Sapyeha? A fig for Sapyeha! Who will crush the Swedes in the same style? Who +will exterminate traitors? Who is the greatest cavalier, who is the greatest +knight? Pan Andrei, Pan Andrei!” +</p> + +<p> +“What Andrei?” asked Olenka, growing pale suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +“Have I not told you that his name is Andrei? He told me that himself. +Pan Babinich! Long life to Babinich! Volodyovski could not have done +better!—What is the matter, Olenka?” +</p> + +<p> +Panna Billevich shook herself as if wishing to throw off a burden of grievous +thoughts. “Nothing! I was thinking that traitors themselves bear that +name. For there was one who offered to sell the king, dead or alive, to the +Swedes or to Boguslav; and he had the same name,—Andrei.” +</p> + +<p> +“May God condemn him!” roared Billevich. “Why mention +traitors at night? Let us be glad when we have reason.” +</p> + +<p> +“Only let Pan Babinich come here!” added Anusia. +“That’s what is needed! I will fool Braun still more. I will, I +will, of purpose to raise the whole garrison, and go over with men and horses +to Pan Babinich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do that, do that!” cried Billevich, delighted. +</p> + +<p> +“And afterward—a fig for all those Germans! Maybe he will forget +that good-for-nothing woman, and give me his lo—” +</p> + +<p> +Then again her thin voice piped; she covered her face with her hands. All at +once an angry thought must have come to her, for she clapped her hands, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“If not, I will marry Volodyovski!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2> + +<p> +Two weeks later it was boiling in all Taurogi. On a certain evening disorderly +parties of Boguslav’s troops came in,—thirty or forty horsemen in a +body, reduced, torn, more like spectres than men,—and brought news of the +defeat of Boguslav at Yanov. Everything had been lost,—arms, horses, +cannon, the camp. Six thousand choice men went out on that expedition with the +prince; barely four hundred returned,—these the prince himself led out of +the ruin. +</p> + +<p> +Of the Poles no living soul came back save Sakovich; for all who had not fallen +in battle, all whom the terrible Babinich had not destroyed in his attacks, +went over to Sapyeha. Many foreign officers chose of their own will to stand at +the chariot of the conqueror. In one word, no Radzivill had ever yet returned +from an expedition more crushed, ruined, and beaten. +</p> + +<p> +And as formerly court adulation knew no bounds in exalting Boguslav as a +leader, so now all mouths sounded loudly an unceasing complaint against the +incompetent management of the war. Among the remaining soldiers there was +endless indignation, which in the last days of the retreat brought complete +disorder, and rose to that degree that the prince considered it wiser to remain +somewhat in the rear. +</p> + +<p> +The prince and Sakovich halted in Rossyeni. Kettling, hearing of this from +soldiers, went immediately with the news to Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“The main thing,” said she, when the news came, “is whether +Sapyeha and that Babinich are pursuing the prince, and whether they intend to +bring the war to this region.” +</p> + +<p> +“I could learn nothing from the statements of the soldiers,” +answered Kettling, “for fear exaggerates every danger. Some say even that +Babinich is here; but since the prince and Sakovich have remained behind, I +infer that the pursuit cannot be rapid.” +</p> + +<p> +“Still it must come, for it is difficult to think otherwise. Who after +victory would not pursue the defeated enemy?” +</p> + +<p> +“That will be shown. I wished to speak of something else. The prince by +reason of illness and defeat must be irritated, therefore inclined to deeds of +violence. Do not separate now from your aunt and Panna Borzobogati. Do not +consent to the journey of your uncle to Tyltsa, as the last time, before the +campaign.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka said nothing. Her uncle had, in fact, not been sent to Tyltsa; he had +merely been ill for some days after the hammer-stroke given by Prince Boguslav. +Sakovich, to hide the prince’s deed from the people, spread the report +that the old man had gone to Tyltsa. Olenka preferred to be silent on this +before Kettling, for the proud maiden was ashamed to confess that any man +living had struck a Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you for the warning,” said she, after a moment’s +silence. +</p> + +<p> +“I considered it my duty.” +</p> + +<p> +But her heart swelled with bitterness; for not long before Kettling might have +enabled her to avoid this new danger. If he had consented to the flight, she +would have been far away, free of Boguslav forever. +</p> + +<p> +“It is really fortunate for me,” said she, “that this warning +does not touch your honor, that the prince has not issued an order for you not +to warn me.” +</p> + +<p> +Kettling understood the reproach, and uttered a speech which Olenka did not +expect of him:— +</p> + +<p> +“As to what touches my military service, to guard which my honor +commands, I will accomplish that or forfeit my life. Other choice I have not, +and do not wish to have. Outside my service I am free to provide against +lawlessness. Therefore, as a private man, I leave with you this pistol, and I +say, Defend yourself, for danger is near; in case of need, kill! Then my oath +will be at an end, and I will hasten to save you.” +</p> + +<p> +He bowed and turned toward the door, but Olenka detained him. +</p> + +<p> +“Cavalier, free yourself from that service! Defend a good cause; defend +the injured, for you are worthy to do so; you are honorable. It is a pity that +you should be lost on a traitor!” +</p> + +<p> +“I should have freed myself long since, and resigned,” said +Kettling, “had I not thought that by remaining I might serve you. Now it +is too late. If the prince had returned victorious, I should not have hesitated +a moment; but when he is coming back conquered,—when, perhaps, the enemy +is pursuing him,—it would be cowardice to ask for dismissal before the +end of the term itself will free me. You will see sufficiently how people of +small heart desert in crowds a defeated man. This pistol will send a ball even +through armor with ease.” +</p> + +<p> +Kettling went out, leaving on the table the weapon, which Olenka secreted at +once. Fortunately the previsions of the young officer and her own fear proved +groundless. +</p> + +<p> +The prince arrived in the evening with Sakovich and Patterson, but so crushed +and ill that he was barely able to hold himself on his feet. Besides, he did +not know well whether Sapyeha was advancing or had sent Babinich in pursuit +with the light squadrons. Boguslav had overthrown, it is true, the latter in +his attack, together with his horse; but he dared not hope that he had killed +him, since it seemed to him that the double-handed sword had turned in the blow +on Babinich’s helmet. Besides, he had fired before from a pistol straight +into his face, and that had not taken effect. +</p> + +<p> +The prince’s heart was aching at the thought of what such a Babinich +would do with his estates should he reach them with his Tartars,—and he +had nothing with which to defend them; and not only his estates, but his own +person. Among his hirelings there were not many like Kettling, and it was just +to suppose that at the first news of the coming of Sapyeha’s troops they +would desert him to a man. +</p> + +<p> +The prince did not purpose to remain in Taurogi longer than two or three days, +for he had to hasten to Royal Prussia to the elector and Steinbock, who might +furnish him with new forces, and employ him either in capturing Prussian towns, +or send him to aid the king himself, who intended an expedition to the heart of +the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +In Taurogi he had to leave some one of the officers to bring order into the +remnant of the army, ward off patriot peasants and nobles, defend the property +of the two Radzivills, and continue the understanding with Löwenhaupt, +commander-in-chief of the Swedes in Jmud. +</p> + +<p> +With this object, after he had come to Taurogi, and after a night’s rest, +the prince summoned to council Sakovich, the only man whom he could trust, and +to whom alone he could open his heart. +</p> + +<p> +That first “good day” in Taurogi was wonderful, when the two +friends saw each other after the ill-starred campaign. For some time they gazed +on each other without a word. The prince broke the silence first,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, the devils! they carried the day.” +</p> + +<p> +“They carried the day!” repeated Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“It must have been so with such weather. If I had had more light +squadrons, or if some devil had not brought that Babinich,—twice the same +man! The gallow’s bird changed his name. Do not tell any one of him, so +as not to increase his glory.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will not tell. But will not the officers trumpet it, for you presented +him before your boots as Banneret of Orsha?” +</p> + +<p> +“The German officers know nothing of Polish names. It is all one to +them,—Kmita or Babinich. But by the horns of Lucifer, if I could get him! +I had him; and the scoundrel brought my men into rebellion, besides leading off +Glovbich’s troops. He must be some bastard of our blood; it cannot be +otherwise! I had him, and he escaped,—that gnaws me more than the whole +lost campaign.” +</p> + +<p> +“You had him, Prince, but at the price of my head.” +</p> + +<p> +“I tell you sincerely that I would let them flay you, if I might make a +drum out of Kmita’s skin!” +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you, Bogus; I could not expect less from your friendship.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince laughed: “But you would have squirmed on Sapyeha’s +gridiron. All your scoundrelism would have been fried out of you. I should have +been glad to see that!” +</p> + +<p> +“I should be glad to see you in the hands of Kmita, your dear relative. +You have a different face, but in form you are like each other, and you have +feet of the same size; you are sighing for the same maiden, only she without +experience divines that he is stronger, and that he is a better soldier.” +</p> + +<p> +“I could manage two such as you, and I rode over his breast. If I had had +two minutes’ time, I should be able to give you my word now that my +cousin is not living. You have always been rather dull, hence I took a fancy to +you; but in these recent days your wit has left you completely.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have always had your wit in your heels, and therefore you swept away +in such fashion before Sapyeha that I have lost all fancy for you, and am ready +myself to go to Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +“On a rope?” +</p> + +<p> +“On that with which they will bind Radzivill.” +</p> + +<p> +“Enough!” +</p> + +<p> +“At the service of your highness!” +</p> + +<p> +“It would be well to shoot some of the noisiest of those horsemen, and +introduce order.” +</p> + +<p> +“I commanded this morning to hang six of them. They are cold now, and are +dancing stubbornly on the ropes, for the wind is fierce.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have done well. But listen! Do you wish to remain in the garrison at +Taurogi, for I must leave some one here?” +</p> + +<p> +“I do, and I ask for that office. No one can manage better. The soldiers +fear me more than others, for they know that with me there is no trifling. With +respect to Löwenhaupt, it is necessary that some one be here more important +than Patterson.” +</p> + +<p> +“Can you manage the rebels?” +</p> + +<p> +“I assure your highness that the pine-trees of Jmud will bear weightier +fruit than the cones of last year. I will form about two regiments of infantry +out of the peasants, and train them in my fashion. I will have my eyes on the +estates; and if the rebels attack one of them, I will throw suspicion +immediately on some rich noble and squeeze him like cheese in a bag. At first I +shall need merely money to pay wages and equip the infantry.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will leave what I can.” +</p> + +<p> +“From the dowry money?” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that?” +</p> + +<p> +“That means from the Billevich money which you took out of the dowry for +yourself in advance.” +</p> + +<p> +“If you could only twist the neck of old Billevich in some polite way, it +would be well; for it could be done easily, and he has my letter.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will try. But the point is in this,—has he not sent the note +somewhere, or has the maiden not sewed it into her shift? Would you not like to +discover?” +</p> + +<p> +“It will come to that; but now I must go, and besides that cursed fever +has taken all my strength.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness, envy me for staying in Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have a strange kind of wish; but if you meanwhile— I should +have you torn apart with hooks. Why do you insist on this office?” +</p> + +<p> +“For I want to marry.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whom?” asked the prince, sitting up in bed. “Panna +Borzobogati.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is a good idea, an excellent idea!” said Boguslav. “I +have heard of some will.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is a will from Pan Longin Podbipienta. Your highness knows what a +powerful family that is, and the estates of Pan Longin are in a number of +districts. It is true that the Moscow troops have occupied some; there will be +lawsuits, fights, disputes, and attacks without number; but I will help myself, +and will not yield one point to any man. Besides, the girl has pleased me +greatly; she is pretty and enticing. I noticed in a moment when we captured her +that she feigned terror, and shot at me with her eyes at the same time. Only +let me stay here as commandant, and from idleness alone the love-making will +begin.” +</p> + +<p> +“One thing I tell you. I will not forbid you to marry; but listen +well,—no excesses, you understand? That maiden is from the +Vishnyevetskis; she is a confidant of Princess Griselda herself; and because of +my esteem for the princess, I do not wish to offend her, nor do I wish to +offend Pan Zamoyski.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is no need of warning,” answered Sakovich; “for since +I wish to marry regularly, I must make regular approaches.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wish you might get a refusal.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know a man who got a refusal, though he is a prince; but I think that +that will not come to me. That eye-cutting gives me great consolation.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t tell that man who got a refusal not to give you horns! I +will give an addition to your shield, or you will receive a surname, Sakovich +Rogaty.<a name="div2Ref_09" href="#div2_09"><sup>[9]</sup></a> She is +Borzobogaty, and he is Bardzorogaty. You will be a chosen pair. But marry, yes, +marry, and let me know of the wedding. I will be your best man.” +</p> + +<p> +Fierce anger appeared on Sakovich’s face, terrible without that. His eyes +were covered for a moment as if by smoke; but he soon recovered, and turning +the prince’s words into a jest, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Poor man! you are not able to go downstairs alone, and you make threats. +You have your Panna Billevich here; go your way, skeleton! go your way! +You’ll nurse Babinich’s children yet!” +</p> + +<p> +“God break your tongue, such a son! You are making sport of the sickness +which came within a hair of killing me. I would you were enchanted as I +was.” +</p> + +<p> +“What enchantments are there here? At times, when I see how everything +goes in the natural world, I think enchantment is stupid.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are stupid yourself! Be silent! do not summon the Devil. You disgust +me more and more.” +</p> + +<p> +“Would that I were not the last Pole who has remained faithful to your +highness! For my loyalty you feed me with ingratitude. I will return to my dens +at home, and sit quietly awaiting the end of the war.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, give us peace! You know that I love you.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is grievous for me to see that. The Devil thrust this love for your +highness on me. If there is enchantment in anything, it is in that.” +</p> + +<p> +The starosta told the truth; for he loved Boguslav really. The prince knew +this, and therefore paid him, if not with strong attachment, with gratitude, +which vain people ever have for those who do them homage. Therefore Boguslav +agreed willingly to Sakovich’s plans touching Anusia, and determined to +aid him in person. In view of this, about midday, when he felt better, he had +himself dressed and went to Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +“I have come because of old acquaintance,” said he, “to +inquire after your health and ask if the visit to Taurogi has pleased +you.” +</p> + +<p> +“In captivity one must be pleased with all things,” answered +Anusia, sighing. +</p> + +<p> +The prince laughed. “You are not in captivity. You were taken together +with Sapyeha’s soldiers, that is true; and I gave orders to send you +here, but only for safety. Not a hair will fall from your head. Be convinced +that there are few people whom I respect as I do Princess Griselda, to whose +heart you are near; and the Vishnyevetskis and Zamoyskis are connections of +mine. You will find here every freedom and every care. I come to you as a +well-wishing friend, and I say if you wish to go I will give you an escort, +though I have few soldiers myself. I advise you to stay. You, as I have heard, +were sent here to seek property willed to you. Be assured that this is not the +time to think of such business; and even in time of peace the aid of Sapyeha +would not avail in these regions, for he could act only in Vityebsk; here he +can do nothing. I shall not touch that affair personally, but through an agent. +You need a friendly man, and adroit, esteemed, and feared. If such a man were +to take up this matter, surely he would not let people thrust straw instead of +grain into his hand.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where shall I, an orphan, find such a protector?” asked Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +“Precisely in Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness would be pleased yourself—” +</p> + +<p> +Here Anusia put her hands together, and looked so prettily into +Boguslav’s eyes that if the prince had not been wearied and broken, he +would surely have begun to think less sincerely of Sakovich’s cause; but +since he had no gallantry in his head at that moment, he said quickly,— +</p> + +<p> +“Could I do it myself, I should not intrust such a pleasant office to any +man; but I am going away, for I must go. I leave in my place, as commandant of +Taurogi, the starosta of Oshmiana, Pan Sakovich, a great cavalier, a famous +soldier, and a man so adroit that there is not another such in all Lithuania. +So I repeat: Stay in Taurogi, for you have no place to go to, since every point +is full of ravagers and ruffians, while rebels infest all the roads. Sakovich +will protect you here; Sakovich will defend you. Sakovich will see what can be +done to obtain those estates; and once he undertakes the affair, I guarantee +that no man on earth could bring it to a favorable issue sooner. He is my +friend, therefore I know him, and I will say only this: if I had taken those +estates from you, and afterward learned that Sakovich was coming to oppose me, +I would give them up of my own will, for it is dangerous to struggle with +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“If Pan Sakovich would be ready to come to the aid of an +orphan—” +</p> + +<p> +“Only be not unjust to him, and he will do anything for you, for your +beauty has touched his heart deeply. He is going around sighing +now—” +</p> + +<p> +“How could I touch the heart of any man?” +</p> + +<p> +“She is a rascal, the maiden!” thought the prince. But he added +aloud: “Let Sakovich explain how that happened. Only do him no wrong; for +he is a worthy man and of a noted family, therefore I do not wish that disdain +should be shown such a person.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2> + +<p> +Next morning the prince received a summons from the elector to go with all +speed to Königsberg to take command of the newly levied troops which were to +march to Marienburg or Dantzig. The letter contained also news of the daring +campaign of Karl Gustav through the whole length of the Commonwealth to Russian +regions. The elector foresaw a disastrous end to the campaign; but just for +that reason he desired to be at the head of as many troops as possible, that he +might in case of need be indispensable to one side or the other, sell himself +dearly, and decide the fate of the war. For those reasons he enjoined on the +young prince all possible haste, so greatly was he concerned about avoiding +delay; but after the first courier he sent a second, who arrived twelve hours +later. +</p> + +<p> +The prince, therefore, had not a moment to lose, and not time enough to rest, +for the fever returned with its previous violence. Still he had to go. So when +he had delegated his authority to Sakovich, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps we shall have to transport Billevich and the maiden to +Königsberg. There it will be easier in quiet to handle a hostile man firmly; +but the girl I will take to the camp, for I have had enough of these +ceremonies.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is well, and the cavalry may be increased,” answered Sakovich +at parting. +</p> + +<p> +An hour later the prince was no longer in Taurogi. Sakovich remained, an +unlimited despot, recognizing no power above himself but that of Anusia. And he +began to blow away the dust from before her feet, as on a time the prince had +before the feet of Olenka. Restraining his wild nature, he was courteous, +anticipating her wishes, divining her thoughts, and at the same time he held +himself at a distance, with all the respect which a polished cavalier should +have toward a lady for whose hand and heart he is striving. +</p> + +<p> +It must be confessed that this reigning in Taurogi pleased Anusia; it was +grateful to her to think that when evening came, in the lower halls, in the +corridors, in the barracks, in the garden still covered with winter frost, the +sighs of old and young officers were heard; that the astrologer was sighing +while looking at the stars from his tower; that even old Billevich interrupted +his evening rosary with sighs. +</p> + +<p> +While the best of maidens, she was still glad that those swift affections went +not to Olenka, but to her. She was glad also with respect to Babinich; for she +felt her power, and it came to her head that if no man had resisted her +anywhere, she must have burned on his heart also permanent marks with her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“He will forget that woman, it cannot be otherwise, for she feeds him +with ingratitude; and when he forgets her he knows where to seek me,—and +he will seek me, the robber!” +</p> + +<p> +Then she threatened him in her soul: “Wait! I will pay you before I +console you.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, though not in real truth caring much for Sakovich, she saw him with +pleasure. It is true that he justified himself in her eyes from reproaches of +treason in the same way in which Boguslav had explained himself to the +sword-bearer. He said, therefore, that peace was already concluded with the +Swedes; that the Commonwealth might recover and flourish, had not Pan Sapyeha +ruined everything for his own private ends. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia, not knowing over-much of these matters, let the words pass her ears; +but she was struck by something else in Sakovich’s narrative. +</p> + +<p> +“The Billeviches,” said he, “scream in heaven-piercing voices +of injustice and captivity; but nothing has happened to them here, and nothing +will happen. The prince has not let them go from Taurogi, it is true; but that +is for their good, for three furlongs beyond the gate they would perish from +ravagers or forest bandits. He has not let them go also, because he loves Panna +Billevich, and that also is true. But who will not justify him? Who would act +otherwise, who had a feeling heart and a breast burdened with sighs? If he had +had less honorable intentions, being such a powerful man, he might have given +rein to himself; but he wanted to marry her, he wanted to elevate that stubborn +lady to his princely estate, to cover her with happiness, place the coronet of +the Radzivills on her head; and these thankless people are hurling invectives +at him, thus trying to diminish his honor and fame.” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia, not believing this greatly, asked Olenka that same day if the prince +wished to marry her. Olenka could not deny; and because they had become +intimate, she explained her reasons for refusal. They seemed just and +sufficient to Anusia; but still she thought to herself that it was not so +grievous for the Billeviches in Taurogi, and that the prince and Sakovich were +not such criminals as Pan Tomash had proclaimed. +</p> + +<p> +Then, also, came news that Sapyeha and Babinich were not only not approaching +Taurogi, but had gone with forced marches against the King of Sweden, faraway +toward Lvoff. Anusia fell into a rage at first, and then began to understand +that if the hetman and Babinich had gone, there was no reason to flee from +Taurogi, for they might lose their lives, or in the most favorable event change +a quiet existence into a captivity full of dangers. +</p> + +<p> +For this reason it came to disputes between her on one side, and Olenka and +Billevich on the other; but even they were forced to admit that the departure +of Sapyeha rendered their flight very difficult, if not quite impossible, +especially since the country was growing more and more excited, and no +inhabitant could be certain of the morrow. Finally, even should they not accept +Anusia’s reason, flight without her aid was impossible, in view of the +watchfulness of Sakovich and the other officers. Kettling alone was devoted to +them, but he would not let himself be involved in any plot against his service; +besides, he was absent often, for Sakovich was glad to employ him against armed +bands of confederates and ravagers, since he was an experienced soldier and a +good officer, therefore he sent him frequently from Taurogi. +</p> + +<p> +But it was pleasanter and pleasanter for Anusia. Sakovich made a declaration to +her a month after the departure of the prince; but, the deceiver! she answered +cunningly that she did not know him, that men spoke variously concerning him, +that she had not time yet to love, that without permission of Princess Griselda +she could not marry, and finally, that she wished to subject him to a +year’s trial. +</p> + +<p> +The starosta gnawed his anger, gave orders that day to give three thousand +stripes to a cavalry soldier for a trifling offence,—after this the poor +soldier was buried; but the starosta had to agree to Anusia’s conditions. +She told the lordling that if he would serve still more faithfully, diligently, +and obediently, in a year he would receive whatever love she had. +</p> + +<p> +In this way she played with the bear; and she so succeeded in mastering him +that he stifled even his growling. He merely said,— +</p> + +<p> +“With the exception of treason to the prince, ask anything of me, even +ask me to walk on my knees.” +</p> + +<p> +If Anusia had seen what terrible results of Sakovich’s impatience were +falling on the whole neighborhood, she would not have teased him so greatly. +Soldiers and residents in Taurogi trembled before him, for he punished +grievously and altogether without cause, punished beyond every measure. +Prisoners died in chains from hunger, or were burned with hot iron. +</p> + +<p> +More than once it seemed that the wild starosta wished to cool in the blood of +men his spirit, at once raging and burning with love, for he started up +suddenly and went on an expedition. Victory followed him nearly everywhere. He +cut to pieces parties of rebels, and ordered, as an example, that the right +hands be cut from captured peasants, who were then sent home free. +</p> + +<p> +The terror of his name girded Taurogi as with a wall; even the most +considerable bodies of patriots did not dare to go beyond Rossyeni. Peace was +established in all parts, and he formed new regiments of German vagrants and +the local peasants with the money extorted from neighboring citizens and +nobles, and increased in power so as to furnish men to the prince in case of +urgent necessity. +</p> + +<p> +A more loyal and terrible servant Boguslav could not have found. +</p> + +<p> +But Sakovich gazed more and more tenderly at Anusia with his terrible, +pale-blue eyes, and played to her on a lute. Life, therefore, in Taurogi passed +for Anusia joyously and with amusement; for Olenka it was sore and monotonous. +From one there went gleams of gladness, like that light which issues at night +from the firefly; the face of the other grew paler and paler, more serious, +sterner; her dark brows were contracted more resolutely on her white forehead, +so that finally they called her a nun. And she had something in her of the nun; +she began to accept the thought that she would become one,—that God +himself would through suffering and disappointment lead her to peace behind the +grating. She was no longer that maiden with beautiful bloom on her face and +happiness in her eyes; not that Olenka who on a time while riding in a sleigh +with her betrothed, Andrei Kmita, cried, “Hei! hei!” to the pine +woods and forests. +</p> + +<p> +Spring appeared in the world. A wind strong and warm shook the waters of the +Baltic, now liberated from ice; later on, trees bloomed, flowers shot out from +their harsh leafy enclosures; then the sun grew hot, and the poor girl was +waiting in vain for the end of Taurogi captivity,—for Anusia did not wish +to flee, and in the country it was ever more terrible. +</p> + +<p> +Fire and sword were raging as though the pity of God were never to be manifest. +Nay more, whoso had not seized the sabre or the lance in winter, seized it in +spring; snow did not betray his tracks, the pine wood gave better concealment, +and warmth made war the easier. +</p> + +<p> +News flew swallow-like to Taurogi,—sometimes terrible, sometimes +comforting; and to these and to those the maiden devoted her prayers, and shed +tears of sorrow or joy. +</p> + +<p> +Previous mention had been made of a terrible uprising of the whole people. As +many as the trees in the forests of the Commonwealth, as many as the ears of +grain waving on its fields, as many as the stars shining on it at night between +the Carpathians and the Baltic, were the warriors who rose up against the +Swedes. These men, being nobles, were born to the sword and to war by +God’s will and nature’s order; those who cut furrows with the +plough, sowed land with grain; those who were occupied with trade and +handicraft in towns; those who lived in the wilderness, from bee-keeping, from +pitch-making, who lived with the axe or by hunting; those who lived on the +rivers and labored at fishing; those who were nomads in the steppes with their +cattle,—all seized their weapons to drive out the invader. +</p> + +<p> +The Swede was now drowning in that multitude as in a swollen river. +</p> + +<p> +To the wonder of the whole world, the Commonwealth, powerless but a short time +before, found more sabres in its defence than the Emperor of Germany or the +King of France could have. +</p> + +<p> +Then came news of Karl Gustav,—how he was marching ever deeper into the +Commonwealth, his feet in blood, his head in smoke and flames, his lips +blaspheming. It was hoped any moment to hear of his death and the destruction +of all the Swedish armies. +</p> + +<p> +The name of Charnyetski was heard with increasing force from boundary to +boundary, transfixing the enemy with terror, pouring consolation into the +hearts of the Poles. +</p> + +<p> +“He routed them at Kozyenitsi!” was said one day. “He routed +them at Yaroslav!” was repeated a few weeks later; a distant echo +repeated: “He has beaten them at Sandomir!” The only wonder was +where so many Swedes could still come from after so many defeats. +</p> + +<p> +Finally a new flock of swallows flew in, and with them the report of the +imprisonment of the king and the whole Swedish army in the fork of the rivers. +It seemed that the end was right there. Sakovich stopped his expeditions; he +merely wrote letters at night and sent them in various directions. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich seemed bewildered. He rushed in every evening with news to Olenka. +Sometimes he gnawed his hands, when he remembered that he had to sit in +Taurogi. The old soldier soul was yearning for the field. At last he began to +shut himself up in his room, and to ponder over something for hours at a time. +Once he seized Olenka in his arms, burst out into great weeping, and +said,—“You are a dear girl, my only daughter, but the country is +dearer.” And next day he vanished, as if he had fallen through the earth. +Olenka found merely a letter, and in it the following words:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“God bless thee, beloved child! I understood well that they are guarding +thee and not me, and that it would be easier for me to escape alone. Let God +judge me, thou poor orphan, if I did this from hardness of heart and lack of +fatherly love for thee. But the torment surpassed my endurance. I swear, by +Christ’s wounds, that I could endure no longer. For when I thought that +the best Polish blood was flowing in a river <i>pro patria el libertate</i> +(for the country and liberty), and in that river there was not one drop of my +blood, it seemed to me that the angels of heaven were condemning me. If I had +not been born in our sacred Jmud, where love of country and bravery are +cherished, if I had not been born a noble, a Billevich, I should have remained +with thee and guarded thee. But thou, if a man, wouldst have done as I have; +therefore thou’lt forgive me for leaving thee alone, like Daniel in the +lions’ den, whom God in His mercy preserved; so I think that the +protection of our Most Holy Lady the Queen will be better over thee than +mine.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Olenka covered the letter with tears: but she loved her uncle still more +because of this act, for her heart rose with pride. Meanwhile no small uproar +was made in Taurogi. Sakovich himself rushed to the maiden in great fury, and +without removing his cap asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“Where is your uncle?” +</p> + +<p> +“Where all, except traitors, are,—in the field!” +</p> + +<p> +“Did you know of this?” cried he. +</p> + +<p> +But she, instead of being abashed, advanced some steps and measuring him with +her eyes, said with inexpressible contempt,— +</p> + +<p> +“I knew—and what?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, if it were not for the prince! You will answer to the prince!” +</p> + +<p> +“Neither to the prince nor to his serving-lad. And now I beg +you—” And she pointed to the door. +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich gnashed his teeth and went out. +</p> + +<p> +That same day news of the victory at Varka was ringing through Taurogi, and +such fear fell on all partisans of the Swedes that Sakovich himself dared not +punish the priests who sang publicly in the neighboring churches <i>Te +Deum</i>. +</p> + +<p> +A great burden fell from his heart, when a few weeks later a letter came from +Boguslav, who was before Marienburg, with information that the king had escaped +from the river sack. But the other news was very disagreeable. The prince asked +reinforcements, and directed to leave in Taurogi no more troops than were +absolutely needed for defence. +</p> + +<p> +All the cavalry ready marched the next day, and with it Kettling, Oettingen, +Fitz-Gregory,—in a word, all the best officers, except Braun, who was +indispensable to Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +Taurogi was still more deserted than after the prince’s departure. Anusia +grew weary, and annoyed Sakovich all the more. The starosta thought of removing +to Prussia; for parties, made bold by the departure of the troops, began again +to push beyond Rossyeni. The Billeviches themselves had collected about five +hundred horse, small nobles and peasants. They had inflicted a sensible defeat +on Bützov, who had marched against them, and they ravaged without mercy all +villages belonging to Radzivill. +</p> + +<p> +Men rallied to them willingly; for no family, not even the Hleboviches, enjoyed +such general honor and respect. Sakovich was sorry to leave Taurogi at the +mercy of the enemy; he knew that in Prussia it would be difficult for him to +get money and reinforcements, that he managed here as he liked, there his power +must decrease; still he lost hope more and more of being able to maintain +himself. +</p> + +<p> +Bützov, defeated, took refuge under him; and the tidings which he brought of +the power and growth of the rebellion made Sakovich decide at last on the +Prussian journey. +</p> + +<p> +As a positive man, and one loving to bring into speedy effect that which he had +planned, he finished his preparations in ten days, issued orders, and was ready +to march. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly he met with an unlooked for resistance, and from a side from which he +had least expected it,—from Anusia Borzobogati. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia did not think of going to Prussia. She was comfortable in Taurogi. The +advances of confederate “parties” did not alarm her in the least; +and if the Billeviches had attacked Taurogi itself, she would have been glad. +She understood also that in a strange place, among Germans, she would be at +Sakovich’s mercy completely, and that she might the more easily be +brought there to obligation, for which she had no desire; therefore she +resolved to insist on remaining. Olenka, to whom she explained her reasons, not +only confirmed the justness of them, but implored with all her power, with +tears in her eyes, to oppose the journey. +</p> + +<p> +“Here,” said she, “salvation may come,—if not to-day, +to-morrow; there we should both be lost utterly.” +</p> + +<p> +“But see, you almost abused me because I wanted to conquer the starosta, +though I knew of nothing; as I love Princess Griselda, it only came somehow of +itself. But now would he regard my resistance were he not in love? What do you +think?” +</p> + +<p> +“True, Anusia, true,” responded Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not trouble yourself, my most beautiful flower! We shall not stir a +foot out of Taurogi; besides, I shall annoy Sakovich terribly.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant you success!” +</p> + +<p> +“Why should I not have it? I shall succeed, first, because he cares for +me, and second, as I think he cares for my property. It is easy for him to get +angry with me; he can even wound me with his sabre; but then all would be +lost.” +</p> + +<p> +And it turned out that she was right. Sakovich came to her joyful and +confident; but she greeted him with disdainful mien. +</p> + +<p> +“Is it possible,” asked she, “that you wish to flee to +Prussia from dread of the Billeviches?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not before the Billeviches,” answered he, frowning; “not +from fear; but I go there from prudence, so as to act against those robbers +with fresh forces.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then a pleasant journey to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“How is that? Do you think that I will go without you, my dearest +hope?” +</p> + +<p> +“Whoso is a coward may find hope in flight, not in me.” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich was pale from anger. He would have punished her; but seeing before +whom he was standing, he restrained himself, softened his fierce face with a +smile, and said, as if jesting,— +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I shall not ask. I will seat you in a carriage and take you +along.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will you?” asked she. “Then I see that I am held here in +captivity against the will of the prince. Know then, sir, that if you do that, +I shall not speak another word to you all my life, so help me the Lord God! for +I was reared in Lubni, and I have the greatest contempt for cowards. Would that +I had not fallen into such hands! Would that Pan Babinich had carried me off +for good into Lithuania, for he was not afraid of any man!” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake!” cried Sakovich. “Tell me at least why +you are unwilling to go to Prussia.” +</p> + +<p> +But Anusia feigned weeping and despair. +</p> + +<p> +“Tartars as it were have taken me into captivity, though I was reared by +Princess Griselda, and no one had a right to me. They seize me, imprison me, +take me beyond the sea by force, will condemn me to exile. It is soon to be +seen how they will tear me with pincers! O my God! my God!” +</p> + +<p> +“Have the fear of that God on whom you are calling!” cried the +starosta. “Who will tear you with pincers?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, save me, all ye saints!” cried Anusia, sobbing. +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich knew not what to do; he was choking with rage. At times he thought +that he would go mad, or that Anusia had gone mad. At last he threw himself at +her feet and said that he would stay in Taurogi. Then she began to entreat him +to go away, if he was afraid; with which she brought him to final despair, so +that, springing up and going out, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well! we shall remain in Taurogi, and whether I fear the Billeviches +will soon be seen.” +</p> + +<p> +And collecting that very day the remnant of Bützov’s defeated troops and +his own, he marched, but not to Prussia, only to Rossyeni, against the +Billeviches, who were encamped in the forests of Girlakol. They did not expect +an attack, for news of the intended withdrawal of the troops from Taurogi had +been repeated in the neighborhood for several days. The starosta struck them +while off their guard, cut them to pieces, and trampled them. The sword-bearer +himself, under whose leadership the party was, escaped from the defeat; but two +Billeviches of another line fell, and with them a third part of the soldiers; +the rest fled to the four points of the world. The starosta brought a number of +tens of prisoners to Taurogi, and gave orders to slay every one, before Anusia +could intercede in their defence. +</p> + +<p> +There was no further talk of leaving Taurogi; and the starosta had no need of +doing so, for after this victory parties did not go beyond the Dubisha. +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich put on airs and boasted beyond measure, saying that if Löwenhaupt +would send him a thousand good horse he would rub out the rebellion in all +Jmud. But Löwenhaupt was not in those parts then. Anusia gave a poor reception +to this boasting. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, success against the sword-bearer was easy,” said she; +“but if he before whom both you and the prince fled had been there, of a +certainty you would have left me and fled to Prussia beyond the sea.” +</p> + +<p> +These words pricked the starosta to the quick. +</p> + +<p> +“First of all, do not imagine to yourself that Prussia is beyond the sea, +for beyond the sea is Sweden; and second, before whom did the prince and I +flee?” +</p> + +<p> +“Before Pan Babinich!” answered she, courtesying with great +ceremony. +</p> + +<p> +“Would that I might meet him at a sword’s length!” +</p> + +<p> +“Then you would surely lie a sword’s depth in the ground; but do +not call the wolf from the forest.” +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich, in fact, did not call that wolf with sincerity; for though he was a +man of incomparable daring, he felt a certain, almost superstitious, dread of +Babinich,—so ghastly were the memories that remained to him after the +recent campaign. He did not know, besides, how soon he would hear that terrible +name. +</p> + +<p> +But before that name rang through all Jmud, there came in time other +news,—for some the most joyful of joyful, but for Sakovich most +terrible,—which all mouths repeated in three words throughout the whole +Commonwealth,— +</p> + +<p> +“Warsaw is taken!” +</p> + +<p> +It seemed that the earth was opening under the feet of traitors; that the whole +Swedish heaven was falling on their heads, together with all the deities which +had shone in it hitherto like suns. Ears would not believe that the chancellor +Oxenstiern was in captivity; that in captivity were Erskine, Löwenhaupt, +Wrangel; in captivity the great Wittemberg himself, who had stained the whole +Commonwealth with blood, who had conquered one half of it before the coming of +Karl Gustav; that the king, Yan Kazimir, was triumphing, and after the victory +would pass judgment on the guilty. +</p> + +<p> +And this news flew as if on wings; roared like a bomb through the Commonwealth; +went through villages, for peasant repeated it to peasant; went through the +fields, for the wheat rustled it; went through the forest, for pine-tree told +it to pine-tree; the eagles screamed it in the air; and all living men still +the more seized their weapons. +</p> + +<p> +In a moment the defeat of Girlakol was forgotten around Taurogi. The recently +terrible Sakovich grew small in everything, even in his own eyes. Parties began +again to attack bodies of Swedes; the Billeviches, recovering after their last +defeat, passed the Dubisha again, at the head of their own men and the +remainder of the Lauda nobles. +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich knew not himself what to begin, whither to turn, from what side to +look for salvation. For a long time he had no news from Prince Boguslav, and he +racked his head in vain. Where was he, with what troops could he be? And at +times a mortal terror seized him: had not the prince too fallen into captivity? +He called to mind the prince’s saying that he would turn his tabor toward +Warsaw, and that if they would make him commandant over the garrison in the +capital, he would prefer to be there, for he could look more easily on every +side. +</p> + +<p> +There were not wanting also people who asserted that the prince must have +fallen into the hands of Yan Kazimir. +</p> + +<p> +“If the prince were not in Warsaw,” said they, “why should +our gracious lord the king exclude him alone from amnesty, which he extended in +advance to all Poles in the garrison? He must be already in the power of the +king; and since it is known that Prince Yanush’s head was destined for +the block, it is certain that Prince Boguslav’s will fall.” +</p> + +<p> +In consequence of these thoughts Sakovich came to the same conviction, and +wrestled with despair,—first, because he loved the prince; second, +because he saw that if this powerful protector were dead, the wildest beast +would more easily find a place to hide its head in the Commonwealth than he, +the right hand of the traitor. +</p> + +<p> +All that seemed left to him was to flee to Prussia without regard to +Anusia’s opposition, and seek there bread, service. +</p> + +<p> +“But what would happen?” asked the starosta of himself more than +once, “if the elector, fearing the anger of Yan Kazimir, should give up +all fugitives?” +</p> + +<p> +There was no issue but to seek safety beyond the sea, in Sweden itself. +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately, after a week of this torment and doubt, a courier came from Prince +Boguslav with a long autograph letter. +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Warsaw is taken from the Swedes,” wrote the prince. “My +tabor and effects are lost. It is too late for me to recede, for the +king’s advisers are so envenomed against me that I was excepted from +amnesty. Babinich harassed my troops at the very gates of Warsaw. Kettling is +in captivity. The King of Sweden, the elector, and I, with Steinbock and all +forces, are marching to the capital, where there will be a general battle soon. +Karl Gustav swears that he will win it, though the skill of Yan Kazimir in +leading armies confounds him not a little. Who could have foreseen in that +ex-Jesuit such a strategist? But I recognized him as early as Berestechko, for +there everything was done with his head and Vishnyevetski’s. We have hope +in this,—that the general militia, of which there are several tens of +thousands with Yan Kazimir, will disperse to their homes, or that their first +ardor will cool and they will not fight as at first. God grant some panic in +that rabble; then Karl Gustav can give them a general defeat, though what will +come later is unknown, and the generals themselves tell one another in secret +that the rebellion is a hydra on which new heads are growing every moment. +First of all, ‘Warsaw must be taken a second time.’ When I heard +this from the mouth of Karl, I asked, ‘What next?’ He said nothing. +Here our strength is crumbling, theirs is increasing. We have nothing with +which to begin a new war. And courage is not the same; no Poles will join the +Swedes as at first. My uncle the elector is silent as usual; but I see well +that if we lose a battle, he will begin to-morrow to beat the Swedes, so as to +buy himself into Yan Kazimir’s favor. It is bitter to bow down, but we +must. God grant that I be accepted, and come out whole without losing my +property. I trust only in God; but it is hard to escape fear, and we must +foresee evil. Therefore what property you can sell or mortgage for ready money, +sell and mortgage; even enter into relations with confederates in secret. Go +yourself with the whole tabor to Birji, as from there to Courland is nearer. I +should advise you to go to Prussia; but soon it will not be safe from fire and +sword in Prussia, for immediately after the taking of Warsaw Babinich was +ordered to march through Prussia to Lithuania, to excite the rebellion and burn +and slay on the road. And you know that he will carry out that order. We tried +to catch him at the Bug; and Steinbock himself sent a considerable force +against him, of which not one man returned to give news of the disaster. Do not +try to measure yourself with Babinich, for you will not be able, but hasten to +Birji. +</p> + +<p> +“The fever has left me entirely; here there are high and dry plains, not +such swamps as in Jmud. I commit you to God, etc.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The starosta was as much grieved at the news as he was rejoiced that the prince +was alive and in health; for if the prince foresaw that the winning of a +general battle could not much better the shattered fortune of Sweden, what +could be hoped for in future? Perhaps the prince might save himself from ruin +under the robe of the crafty elector, and he, Sakovich, under the prince; but +what could be done in the mean while? Go to Prussia? +</p> + +<p> +Pan Sakovich did not need the advice of the prince to restrain him from meeting +Babinich. Power and desire to do that were both lacking. Birji remained, but +too late for that also. On the road was a Billevich party; then a second +party,—nobles, peasants, people of the prince, and God knows what +others,—who at a mere report would assemble and sweep him away as a +whirlwind sweeps withered leaves; and even if they did not assemble, even if he +could anticipate them by a swift and bold march, it would be needful to fight +on the road with others; at every village, at every swamp, in every field and +forest, a new battle. What forces should he have to take even thirty horses to +Birji? Was he to remain in Taurogi? That was bad, for meanwhile the terrible +Babinich would come at the head of a powerful Tartar legion; all the parties +would fly to him; they would cover Taurogi as with a flood, and wreak a +vengeance such as man had not heard of till that day. +</p> + +<p> +For the first time in his life the hitherto insolent starosta felt that he +lacked counsel in his head, strength in undertaking, and decision in danger; +and the next day he summoned to counsel Bützov, Braun, and some of the most +important officers. +</p> + +<p> +It was decided to remain in Taurogi and await tidings from Warsaw. +</p> + +<p> +But Braun from that council went straight to another, to one with Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +Long, long did they deliberate together. At last Braun came out with face +greatly moved; but Anusia rushed like a storm to Olenka,— +</p> + +<p> +“Olenka, the time has come!” cried she, on the threshold. “We +must flee!” +</p> + +<p> +“When?” asked the valiant girl, growing a little pale, but rising +at once in sign of immediate readiness. +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow, to-morrow! Braun has the command, and Sakovich will sleep in +the town, for Pan Dzyeshuk has invited him to a banquet. Pan Dzyeshuk was long +ago prepared, and he will put something in Sakovich’s wine. Braun says +that he will go himself and take fifty horse. Oh, Olenka, how happy I am! how +happy!” +</p> + +<p> +Here Anusia threw herself on Panna Billevich’s neck, and began to press +her with such an outburst of joy that she asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter, Anusia? You might have brought Braun to this long +ago.” +</p> + +<p> +“I might, I might. I have told you nothing yet! O my God! my God! Have +you heard of nothing? Pan Babinich is marching hither! Sakovich and all of them +are dying of fear! Pan Babinich is marching, burning, and slaying. He has +destroyed one party, has beaten Steinbock himself, and is advancing with forced +marches, so as to hurry. And to whom can he hurry hither? Tell me, am I not a +fool?” +</p> + +<p> +Here tears glistened in Anusia’s eyes. Olenka placed her hands together +as if in prayer, and raising her eyes said,— +</p> + +<p> +“To whomsoever he is hastening, may God straighten his paths, bless him, +and guard him!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2> + +<p> +Kmita, wishing to pass from Warsaw to Royal Prussia and Lithuania, had really +no easy task in the very beginning, for not farther from Warsaw than Serotsk +was a great Swedish force. Karl Gustav in his time had commanded it to take +position there purposely to hinder the siege of the capital. But since Warsaw +was captured, that army had nothing better to do than stop the divisions which +Yan Kazimir might send to Lithuania or Prussia. At the head of the Swedish +force were two Polish traitors, Radzeyovski and Radzivill, with Douglas, a +skilful warrior, trained as no other of the Swedish generals in sudden warfare; +with them were two thousand chosen infantry and cavalry, with artillery of +equal number. When the leaders heard of Kmita’s expedition, since it was +necessary for them in every event to approach Lithuania to save Tykotsin, +besieged anew by Mazovians and men of Podlyasye, they spread widely their nets +for Pan Andrei in the triangle on the Bug, between Serotsk on one side and +Zlotorya on the other, and Ostrolenko at the point. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita had to pass through that triangle, for he was hurrying, and there lay his +nearest road. He noticed in good season that he was in a net, but because he +was accustomed to that method of warfare he was not disconcerted. He counted on +this,—that the net was too greatly extended, and therefore the meshes in +it were so widely stretched that he would be able to pass through them. What is +more, though they hunted him diligently, not only did he double back, not only +did he escape, but he hunted them. First, he passed the Bug behind Serotsk, +pushed along the bank of the river to Vyshkov in Branshchyk; he cut to pieces +three hundred horse sent on a reconnoissance, so that, as the prince had +written, not a man returned to give account of the disaster. Douglas himself +pushed him into Dlugosyodle; but Kmita, dispersing the cavalry, turned back, +and instead of fleeing with all his might, went straight to the eyes of the +enemy as far as the Narev, which he crossed by swimming. Douglas stood on the +bank waiting for boats; but before they were brought Kmita returned in the dark +through the river, and striking the vanguard of the Swedes brought panic and +disorder to Douglas’s whole division. +</p> + +<p> +The old general was amazed at this movement; but next day his amazement was +greater, when he learned that Kmita had gone around the whole army, and +doubling back to the spot from which they had started him like a wild beast, +had seized at Branshchyk Swedish wagons following the army, together with booty +and money, cutting down at the same time fifty men of the infantry convoy. +</p> + +<p> +Sometimes the Swedes saw Kmita’s Tartars for whole days with the naked +eye on the edge of the horizon, but could not reach them. Still Pan Andrei +carried off something every moment. The Swedish soldiers were wearied, and the +Polish squadrons which held yet with Radzeyovski, though formed of dissenters, +served unwillingly. But the population served Kmita with enthusiasm. He knew +every movement of the smallest scouting-party, of each wagon which went forward +or remained in the rear. Sometimes it seemed that he was playing with the +Swedes, but that was tiger-play. He spared no prisoners; he ordered the Tartars +to hang them, for the Swedes did the same. At times you would say that +irrepressible fury had come upon him, for he hurled himself with blind +insolence on superior forces. +</p> + +<p> +“An insane man leads that division!” said Douglas. +</p> + +<p> +“Or a mad dog!” said Radzeyovski. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav thought he was one and the other, but underneath both a consummate +soldier. The prince related boastingly to the generals that he had hurled that +cavalier twice to the earth, with his own hand. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, Babinich attacked Boguslav most furiously. He sought him evidently; +the pursued became himself the pursuer. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas divined that there must be some personal hatred in the matter. +</p> + +<p> +The prince did not deny this, though he gave no explanations. He paid Babinich +with the same coin; for following the example of Hovanski, he put a price on +his head; and when that availed nothing, he thought to take advantage of +Kmita’s hatred and through it bring him into a trap. +</p> + +<p> +“It is a shame for us to bother so long with this robber,” said he +to Douglas and Radzeyovski; “he is prowling around us like a wolf around +a sheepfold. I will go against him with a small division as a decoy; and when +he strikes me I will detain him till you come up; then we will not let the +craw-fish out of the net.” +</p> + +<p> +Douglas, whom this chase had long since annoyed, made only small opposition, +asserting that he could not and should not expose the life of such a great +dignitary and relative of kings to the chance of being seized by one marauder. +But when Boguslav insisted, he agreed. +</p> + +<p> +It was determined that the prince should go with a detachment of five hundred +troopers, that each man should have behind him a foot soldier with a musket. +This stratagem was to lead Babinich into error. +</p> + +<p> +“He will not restrain himself when he hears of only five hundred +horsemen, and he will attack undoubtedly,” said the prince. “When +the infantry spit in his eyes, his Tartars will scatter like sand; he will fall +himself, or we shall take him alive.” +</p> + +<p> +This plan was carried out quickly and with great accuracy. First, news was sent +out, two days in advance, that a party of five hundred horse was to march under +Prince Boguslav. The generals calculated with certainty that the local +inhabitants would inform Babinich of this. In fact, they did inform him. +</p> + +<p> +The prince marched in the deep and dark night toward Vansosh and Yelonka, +passed the river at Cherevino, and leaving his cavalry in the open field, +stationed his infantry in the neighboring groves, whence they might issue +unexpectedly. Meanwhile Douglas was to push along by the bank of the Narev, +feigning to march on Ostrolenko. Radzeyovski was in advance, with the lighter +cavalry from Ksyenjopole. +</p> + +<p> +Neither of the three leaders knew well where Babinich was at that moment, for +it was impossible to learn anything from the peasants, and the cavalry were not +able to seize Tartars. But Douglas supposed that Babinich’s main forces +were in Snyadovo, and he wished to surround them, so that if Babinich should +move on Boguslav, he would intercept him on the side of the Lithuanian boundary +and cut off his retreat. +</p> + +<p> +Everything seemed to favor the Swedish plans. Kmita was really in Snyadovo; and +barely had the news of Boguslav’s approach reached him, when he fell at +once into the forest, so as to come out unexpectedly near Cherevino. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas, turning aside from the Narev, struck in a few days upon the traces of +the Tartar march, and advanced by the same road, therefore from the rear after +Babinich. Heat tormented the horses greatly, as well as the men encased in iron +armor; but the general advanced without regard to those hindrances, absolutely +certain that he would come upon Babinich’s army unexpectedly and in time +of battle. +</p> + +<p> +Finally, after two days’ march he came so near Cherevino that the smoke +of the cottages was visible. Then he halted, and occupying all the passages and +narrow pathways, waited. +</p> + +<p> +Some officers wished to advance as a forlorn hope and strike at once; but +Douglas restrained them, saying,— +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich, after attacking the prince, when he sees that he has to do not +with cavalry alone, but also with infantry, will be obliged to retreat; and as +he can retreat only by the old road, he will fall as it were into our open +arms.” +</p> + +<p> +In fact, it seemed that all they had to do was to listen, and soon Tartar +howling would be heard, and the first discharges of musketry. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile one day passed, and in the forests of Cherevino it was as silent as +if a soldier’s foot had never been in it. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas grew impatient, and toward night sent forward a small party to the +field, enjoining on them the utmost caution. +</p> + +<p> +The party returned in the depth of the night, without having seen or done +anything. At daylight Douglas himself advanced with his whole force. After a +march of some hours he reached a place filled with traces of the presence of +soldiers. His men found remnants of biscuits, broken glass, bits of clothing, +and a belt with cartridges such as the Swedish infantry use; it became certain +that Boguslav’s infantry had stopped in that place, but they were not +visible anywhere. Farther on in the damp forest Douglas’s vanguard found +many tracks of heavy cavalry horses, but on the edge tracks of Tartar ponies; +still farther on lay the carcass of a horse, from which the wolves had recently +torn out the entrails. About a furlong beyond they found a Tartar arrow without +the point, but with the shaft entire. Evidently Boguslav was retreating, and +Babinich was following him. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas understood that something unusual must have happened. But what was it? +To this there was no answer. Douglas fell to pondering. Suddenly his meditation +was interrupted by an officer from the vanguard. +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness!” said the officer, “through the thicket +about a furlong away are some men in a crowd. They do not move, as if they were +on watch. I have brought the guard to a halt, so as to report to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Cavalry or infantry?” asked Douglas. +</p> + +<p> +“Infantry. There are four or five of them in a group; it was not possible +to count them accurately, for the branches hide them. But they seem yellow, +like our musketeers.” +</p> + +<p> +Douglas pressed his horse with his knees, pushed forward quickly to the +vanguard, and advanced with it. Through the thickets, now thinner, were to be +seen in the remoter deep forest a group of soldiers perfectly motionless, +standing under a tree. +</p> + +<p> +“They are ours, they are ours!” said Douglas. “The prince +must be in the neighborhood.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a wonder to me,” said the officer; “they are on watch, +and none of them calls, though we march noisily.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the thickets ended, and the forest was clean of undergrowth. The men +approached and saw four persons standing in a group, one at the side of the +other, as if they were looking at something on the ground. From the head of +each one rose a dark strip directly upward. +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness!” said the officer at once, “these men are +hanging.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is true!” answered Douglas. +</p> + +<p> +They sprang forward, and stood for a while near the corpses. Four foot-soldiers +were hanging together by ropes, like a bunch of thrushes, their feet barely an +inch above the ground, for they were on the lower branches. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas looked at them indifferently enough; then said as if to himself, +“Now we know that the prince and Babinich have passed this way.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he fell to thinking again, for he did not know well whether to continue on +by the forest path or go out on the Ostrolenko highway. +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour later they found two other corpses. Evidently they were marauders +or sick men whom Babinich’s Tartars had seized while pursuing the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“But why did the prince retreat?” +</p> + +<p> +Douglas knew him too well—that is, both his daring and his military +experience—to admit even for a moment that the prince had not sufficient +reasons. Therefore something must have intervened. +</p> + +<p> +Only next day was the affair explained. Pan Byes Kornie had come from Prince +Boguslav, with a party of thirty horse, to report that Yan Kazimir had sent +beyond the Bug against Douglas the full hetman Pan Gosyevski, with six thousand +Lithuanians and Tartar horse. +</p> + +<p> +“We learned this,” said Pan Byes, “before Babinich came up; +for he advanced very carefully and attacked frequently, therefore annoyingly. +Gosyevski is twenty or twenty-five miles distant. When the prince received the +tidings, he was forced to retreat in haste, so as to join Radzeyovski, who +might be cut to pieces easily. But by marching quickly we made the junction. +The prince sent out at once parties of a few tens of men in every direction, +with a report to your worthiness. Many of them will fall into Tartar or peasant +hands, but in such a war it cannot be otherwise.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where are the prince and Radzeyovski?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ten miles from here, at the river.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did the prince bring back all his forces?” +</p> + +<p> +“He was forced to leave the infantry, which is coming through the +thickest forest, so as to escape the Tartars.” +</p> + +<p> +“Such cavalry as the Tartar is made to go through the densest forests. I +do not expect to see that infantry again. But no one is to blame, and the +prince acted like an experienced leader.” +</p> + +<p> +“The prince threw out one party the most considerable to Ostrolenko, to +lead Gosyevski into error. He will go to Ostrolenko at once, thinking that our +whole force is there.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is well!” said Douglas, comforted. “We will manage +Gosyevski.” +</p> + +<p> +And he marched without delay to join Boguslav and Radzeyovski. They met that +same day, to the great delight, especially, of Radzeyovski, who feared +captivity more than death, for he knew that as a traitor and the originator of +all the misfortunes of the Commonwealth he would have to give a terrible +answer. But now, after the junction with Douglas, the Swedish army had more +than four thousand men; therefore it was able to offer an effective resistance +to the forces of the full hetman. He had, it is true, six thousand cavalry; but +Tartars—except those of Babinich, who were trained—could not be +used in offensive battle, and Pan Gosyevski himself, though a skilled and +learned warrior, was not able, like Charnyetski, to inspire men with an +enthusiasm which nothing could resist. +</p> + +<p> +But Douglas was at a loss to understand why Yan Kazimir should send the full +hetman beyond the Bug. The Swedish king with the elector was marching on +Warsaw; a general battle must therefore follow, sooner or later. And though Yan +Kazimir was at the head of a force superior in numbers to the Swedes and the +Brandenburgers, still six thousand men formed too great a force for the King of +Poland to set aside voluntarily. +</p> + +<p> +It is true that Gosyevski had saved Babinich from trouble, but still the king +did not need to send out a whole division to the rescue of Babinich. Hence +there was in this expedition some secret object, which the Swedish general, +despite all his penetration, could not divine. +</p> + +<p> +In the letter of the King of Sweden sent a week later great alarm was evident, +and as it were astonishment caused by that expedition, but a few words +explained the reasons of this. According to the opinion of Karl Gustav, the +hetman was not sent to attack Douglas’s army, nor to go to Lithuania to +aid the uprising there, for in Lithuania the Swedes, as it was, were not able +to do anything but to threaten Royal Prussia, namely, the eastern part of it, +which was completely stripped of troops. +</p> + +<p> +“The calculation is,” wrote the king, “to make the elector +waver in faithfulness to the treaty of Marienburg and to us; which may easily +happen, since the elector is ready to enter into alliance with Christ against +the Devil and at the same time with the Devil against Christ, so as to win +something from both.” +</p> + +<p> +The letter ended by enjoining on Douglas to strive with all his forces not to +let the hetman go to Prussia, “who if he cannot reach there in the course +of a few weeks, will be forced beyond doubt to return to Warsaw.” +</p> + +<p> +Douglas saw that the task given him did not surpass his powers at all. Not so +long before he had met with a certain success in opposing Charnyetski himself; +therefore Gosyevski was not terrible. The Swedish general did not hope, it is +true, to crush Gosyevski’s division, but he felt certain that he would be +able to stop him and curb all his movements. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, from that moment began very skilful approaches of the two armies, +which, avoiding on both sides a general battle, endeavored each to flank the +other. Both leaders emulated each other; but the experienced Douglas was in so +far superior that he did not let Gosyevski advance beyond Ostrolenko. But +Babinich, saved from Boguslav’s attack, did not hasten to join the +Lithuanian division, for he occupied himself with great zeal on that infantry +which Boguslav in his hurried march to Radzeyovski was forced to leave behind. +Babinich’s Tartars, guided by local woodmen, pursued night and day, +finishing every moment the incautious or those who dropped into the rear. Lack +of provisions forced the Swedes at last to separate into small detachments +which could find food more easily; this was all that Babinich was waiting for. +</p> + +<p> +He divided his forces into three commands, under lead of Akbah Ulan, Soroka, +and himself, and in a few days he destroyed the greater part of that infantry. +It was an untiring hunt after men in forest thickets, in willows, in +reeds,—a hunt full of noise, uproar, shouting, shooting, and death. +</p> + +<p> +Widely did it spread the glory of Babinich’s name among the Mazovians. +Bands collected and joined Gosyevski at Ostrolenko itself, when the full +hetman, whose march was only a demonstration, received a command from the king +to march back to Warsaw. For a short period only could Babinich rejoice with +his acquaintances; namely, with Zagloba and Volodyovski, who at the head of the +Lauda squadron attended the hetman. But they greeted one another very +cordially, for great friendship and intimacy existed already between them. The +young colonels were sharply annoyed that they could not act now against +Boguslav; but Zagloba consoled them by pouring frequently into their glasses, +and saying,— +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing! My head has been working since May over stratagems, and +I have never racked it over anything in vain. I have a number ready,—very +excellent stratagems; but there is no time to apply them, unless at Warsaw, +whither we are all marching.” +</p> + +<p> +“I must go to Prussia,” said Babinich, “and cannot be at +Warsaw.” +</p> + +<p> +“Can you reach Prussia?” asked Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“As God is in heaven, I shall spring through; and I promise you sacredly +to make not the worst cabbage-hash, for I shall say to my Tartars, ‘Riot, +my soul!’ They would be glad even here to draw the knife across +people’s throats; but I have told them that pay for every violence is the +rope. But in Prussia I will give way even to my own will. Why should I not +spring through? You were not able; but that is another thing, for it is easier +to stop a large force than such a party as mine, with which it is easy to hide. +More than once was I sitting in the rushes, and Douglas’s men passed +right there, knowing nothing of me. Douglas too will surely follow you, and +leave the field free to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, as we hear, you have wearied him out too,” said Pan Michael, +with satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, the scoundrel!” added Zagloba. “He had to change his +shirt every day, he sweated so. You never stole up to Hovanski better than to +him, and I must acknowledge that I could not have done better myself, though, +in his time, Konyetspolski said that Zagloba in partisan warfare was +unsurpassed.” +</p> + +<p> +“It seems to me,” said Pan Michael to Kmita, “that if Douglas +returns he will leave Boguslav here to attack you.” +</p> + +<p> +“God grant it! I have the same hope,” answered Kmita, quickly. +“Were I to seek him, and he me, we should find each other. He will not +pass through me a third time; and if he does, then I shall not rise again. I +remember your secrets well; and all the Lubni thrusts I have in memory like +‘Our Father.’ Every day, too, I try them with Soroka, so as to +train my hand.” +</p> + +<p> +“What are stratagems good for?” exclaimed Pan Michael; “the +sabre is the main thing.” +</p> + +<p> +This maxim touched Zagloba somewhat; therefore he said at once: “Every +windmill thinks that the main thing is to whirl its wings. Do you know why, +Michael? Because it has chaff under its roof; that is, in its head. Military +art rests on stratagems; if not, Roh Kovalski might be grand hetman and you +full hetman.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what is Pan Kovalski doing?” asked Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Kovalski has now an iron helmet on his head, and justly, for cabbage +is best out of a pot. He has grown rich on plunder in Warsaw, has come into +good repute, and gone to the hussars, to Prince Polubinski, and all so as to be +able to put a spear into Karl Gustav. He comes every day to our tent, and +stares to see if the neck of the decanter is sticking out of the straw. I +cannot break that lad of drinking. Good example goes for nothing; but I +prophesied to him that this desertion of the Lauda squadron would turn out +evil. The rogue! the thankless fellow! in return for all the benefits which I +have shown him, such a son for a lance!” +</p> + +<p> +“But did you rear him?” +</p> + +<p> +“My dear sir, do not make me a bear-trainer! To Sapyeha, who asked me the +same question. I answered that he and Roh had the same preceptor, but not me; +for I in youthful years was a cooper, and knew how to set staves very +well.”<a name="div2Ref_10" href="#div2_10"><sup>[10]</sup></a> +</p> + +<p> +“To begin with, you would not dare to tell that to Sapyeha,” said +Volodyovski; “and secondly, though you grumble at Kovalski, you love him +as the apple of your eye.” +</p> + +<p> +“I prefer him to you, Pan Michael; for I could never endure May-bugs, nor +soapy little fellows who at the sight of the first woman who comes along play +antics like German dogs.” +</p> + +<p> +“Or like those monkeys in the Kazanovski Palace, with which you were +carrying on war.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, laugh, laugh! You can take Warsaw without me next time.” +</p> + +<p> +“Was it you, then, who took Warsaw?” +</p> + +<p> +“But who captured the Cracow Gate? Who invented captivity for the +generals? They are sitting now on bread and water in Zamost; and when +Wittemberg looks at Wrangel, he says, ‘Zagloba put us here!’ and +both fall to weeping. If Sapyeha were not ill, and if he were present, he would +tell you who first drew the Swedish claw from the skin of Warsaw.” +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake!” said Kmita, “do this for +me,—send news of that battle for which they are preparing at Warsaw. I +shall be counting the days and nights on my fingers till I know something +certain.” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba put his finger to his forehead. “Listen to my forecast,” +said he, “for what I tell you will be accomplished as surely as that this +glass is standing before me— Is it not standing before me?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is, it is! Speak on.” +</p> + +<p> +“We shall either lose this general battle, or we shall win +it—” +</p> + +<p> +“Every man knows that!” put in Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“You might be silent, Michael, and learn something. Supposing that we +lose this battle, do you know what will happen? You see you do not know, for +you are moving those little awls under your nose like a rabbit. Well, I will +tell you that nothing will happen—” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, who was very quick, sprang up, struck his glass on the table, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“You are beating around the bush!” +</p> + +<p> +“I say nothing will happen!” repeated Zagloba. “You are +young, therefore you do not know. As affairs now stand, our king, our dear +country, our armies may lose fifty battles one after another, and the war will +go on in the old fashion,—the nobles will assemble, and with them the +lower ranks. But if they do not succeed one time, they will another, until the +enemy’s force has melted away. But when the Swedes lose one great battle, +the Devil will take them without salvation, and with them the elector to +boot.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Zagloba grew animated, emptied his glass, struck it on the table, and +continued,— +</p> + +<p> +“Listen,—for you will not hear this from every mouth, for not every +one knows how to take a general view of things. Many a man is thinking, +‘What is waiting for us now? how many battles, how many +defeats,’—which, in warring with Karl, are not +unlikely,—‘how many tears, how much bloodshed, how many grievous +paroxysms?’ And many a one will doubt and blaspheme against the mercy of +God and the Most Holy Mother. But I tell you this: do you know what is waiting +for those vandal enemies?—destruction; do you know what is waiting for +us?—victory! If they beat us one hundred times, very well; but we will +beat them the hundred and first time, and that will be the end.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, Zagloba closed his eyes for a moment, but soon opened +them. He looked ahead with gleaming vision, and suddenly shouted with the whole +force of his breast: “Victory! victory!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita was flushed from delight: “In God’s name, he is right, he +speaks justly. It cannot be otherwise! Such an end has to come!” +</p> + +<p> +“It must be acknowledged that you are not lacking here,” said +Volodyovski, putting his finger on his forehead. “The Commonwealth may be +occupied; but to stay in it is impossible, so at last the Swedes will have to +go out.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, is that it? I am not lacking!” said Zagloba, rejoiced at the +praise. “If that is true, then I will prophesy further. God is with the +just!” Here he turned to Kmita. “You will finish the traitor +Radzivill; you will go to Taurogi, recover the maiden, marry her, rear +posterity. May I have the pip on my tongue if this will not happen as I say! +But for God’s sake, don’t smother me!” +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba was rightfully cautious, for Kmita seized him in his arms, raised him, +and began to hug him so that the old man’s eyes were bursting out. He had +barely come to his feet and recovered breath, when Pan Michael, greatly +delighted, seized him by the hand,— +</p> + +<p> +“It is my turn! Tell what awaits me.” +</p> + +<p> +“God bless you, Michael! your pretty tufted lark will hatch out a whole +brood,—never fear. Uf!” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat!” cried Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“But first, we will make an end of the Swedes,” added Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“We will, we will!” cried the young colonels, shaking their sabres. +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat! victory!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER L.</h2> + +<p> +A week later Kmita crossed the boundaries of Electoral Prussia at Raygrod. It +came to him easily enough; for before the departure of the full hetman he +disappeared in the woods so secretly that Douglas felt sure that his party too +had marched with the whole Tartar-Lithuanian division to Warsaw, and he left +merely small garrisons in the castles for the defence of those parts. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas, with Radzeyovski and Radzivill, followed Gosyevski. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita heard of this before passing the boundary, and grieved greatly that he +could not meet his mortal enemy eye to eye, and lest punishment might come to +Boguslav from other hands,—namely, from Volodyovski, who also had made a +vow against him. +</p> + +<p> +Hence, not being able to wreak vengeance on the person of the traitor for the +wrongs done the Commonwealth and himself, he wreaked it in terrible fashion on +the lands of the elector. +</p> + +<p> +That very night in which the Tartars had passed the boundary pillar, the +heavens grew red from flames. An uproar was heard, with the weeping of people +trampled by the foot of war. Whoso was able to beg for mercy in the Polish +tongue was spared at command of the leader; but German settlements, colonies, +villages, and hamlets were turned into a river of fire, and the terrified +inhabitants went under the knife. +</p> + +<p> +And not so swiftly does oil spread over the sea when the sailor pours it to +pacify the waves, as that chambul of Tartars and volunteers spread over quiet +and hitherto safe regions. It seemed that every Tartar was able to double and +treble himself, to be at the same time in a number of places, to burn, to slay. +They spared not even grain in the field, nor trees in the gardens. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita had held his Tartars so long in the leash that at last, when he let them +free like a flock of birds of prey, they grew almost wild in the midst of +slaughter and destruction. One surpassed the other; and since they could not +take captives, they swam from morning till evening in blood. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita himself, having in his heart no little fierceness, gave it full freedom, +and though he did not steep his own hands in the blood of defenceless people, +he looked with pleasure on the flow of blood. In his soul he was at rest, and +conscience reproached him with nothing; for this was not Polish blood, and +besides it was the blood of heretics; therefore he judged that he was doing a +work pleasing to God, and especially to the saints of the Lord. +</p> + +<p> +The elector, a vassal, therefore a servant of the Commonwealth and living from +its bounties, was the first to raise his sacrilegious hand against it; +therefore punishment was his due, and Kmita was purely an instrument of +God’s vengeance. +</p> + +<p> +For this reason, when in the evening he was repeating his Litany in peace by +the blaze of burning German settlements, and when the screams of the murdered +interrupted the tally of his prayers, he began again from the beginning, so as +not to burden his soul with the sin of inattention to the service of God. +</p> + +<p> +But he did not cherish in his heart savage feelings alone; for, besides piety, +various other feelings moved it, connected by memory with distant years. +Therefore those times came frequently to his mind when he attacked Hovanski +with such glory, and his former comrades stood as if alive before his +eyes,—Kokosinski; the gigantic Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus; the spotted +Ranitski, with senatorial blood in his veins; Uhlik, playing on the flageolet; +Rekuts, on whom human blood was not weighing; and Zend, imitating birds and +every kind of beast. +</p> + +<p> +They all, save perhaps Rekuts alone, were burning in hell; and behold, if they +were living now, they might wallow in blood without bringing sin on their +souls, and with profit to the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Andrei sighed at the thought of how destructive a thing license is, +since in the morning of youth it stops the road for the ages of ages to +beautiful deeds. +</p> + +<p> +But he sighed more than all for Olenka. The deeper he entered the Prussian +country, the more fiercely did the wounds of his heart burn him, as if those +fires which he kindled roused at the same time his old love. Almost every day +then he said in his heart to the maiden,— +</p> + +<p> +“Dearest dove, you may have forgotten me, or if you remember, disgust +fills your heart; but I, at a distance or near, in the night or the day-time, +in labor for the country and toils, am thinking ever of you, and my soul flies +to you over pine-woods and waters, like a tired bird, to drop down at your +feet. Only to the country and to you would I give all my blood; but woe is me, +if in your heart you proclaim me an outlaw forever.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus meditating, he went ever farther to the north along the boundary belt. He +burned and slew, sparing no one. Sadness throttled him terribly. He would like +to be in Taurogi on the morrow; but the road was still long and difficult, for +at last they began to ring all the bells in the province of Prussia. +</p> + +<p> +Every one living seized arms to resist the dreadful destroyers; garrisons were +brought in from towns the remotest, regiments were formed of even village +youths, and soon they were able to place twenty men against every Tartar. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita rushed at these commands like a thunderbolt, beat them, hanged men, +escaped, hid, and again sailed out on a wave of fire; but still he could not +advance so swiftly as at first. More than once it was necessary to attack in +Tartar fashion, and hide for whole weeks in thickets or reeds at the banks of a +lake. The inhabitants rushed forth more and more numerously, as if against a +wolf; and he bit too like a wolf,—with one snap of his jaws he gave +death, and not only defended himself, but did not desist from attack. +</p> + +<p> +Loving genuine work, he did not leave a given district, in spite of pursuit, +until he had annihilated it for miles around with fire and sword. His name +reached, it is unknown by what means, the mouths of the people, and bearing +terror and fright, thundered on to the shores of the Baltic. +</p> + +<p> +Babinich might, it is true, return within the boundaries of the Commonwealth, +and in spite of Swedish detachments, move quickly to Taurogi; but he did not +wish to do so, for he desired to serve not only himself but the country. +</p> + +<p> +Now came news which gave courage for defence and revenge to the people in +Prussia, but pierced the heart of Babinich with savage sorrow. News came like a +thunderclap of a great battle at Warsaw, which the King of Poland had lost. +“Karl Gustav and the elector have beaten all the troops of Yan +Kazimir,” people repeated to one and another with delight throughout +Prussia. “Warsaw is recaptured!” “This is the greatest +victory of the war, and now comes the end of the Commonwealth!” All men +whom the Tartars seized and put on the coals to obtain information, repeated +the same; there was also exaggerated news, as is common in time of war and +uncertainty. According to this news the Poles were cut to pieces, the hetmans +had fallen, and Yan Kazimir was captured. +</p> + +<p> +Was all at an end, then? Was that rising and triumphing Commonwealth naught but +an empty illusion? So much power, so many troops, so many great men and famous +warriors; the hetmans, the king, Charnyetski with his invincible division, the +marshal of the kingdom, other lords with their attendants,—had all +perished, had all rolled away like smoke? And are there no other defenders of +this hapless country, save detached parties of insurgents who certainly at news +of the disaster will pass away like a fog? +</p> + +<p> +Kmita tore the hair from his head and wrung his hands; he seized the wet earth, +pressed palms-full of it to his burning head. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall fall too,” said he; “but first this land will swim +in blood.” +</p> + +<p> +And he began to fight like a man in despair. He did not hide longer, he did not +attack in the forest and reeds, he sought death; he rushed like a madman on +forces three times greater than his own, and cut them to pieces with sabres and +hoofs. In his Tartars all traces of human feeling died out, and they were +turned into a herd of wild beasts. A predatory people, but not over-much fitted +for fighting in the open field, without losing their genius for surprises and +ambush, they, by continual exercise, by continual conflict, had trained +themselves so that breast to breast they could hold the field against the first +cavalry, and scatter quadrangles even of the Swedish guard. In their struggles +with the armed mob of Prussia, a hundred of those Tartars scattered with ease +two and even three hundred sturdy men armed with spears and muskets. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita weaned them from weighting themselves with plunder; they took only money +and gold, which they sewed up in their saddles, so that when one of them fell +the survivors fought with rage for his horse and his saddle. Growing rich in +this manner, they lost none of their swiftness, well-nigh superhuman. +Recognizing that under no leader on earth could they find such rich harvests, +they grew attached to Babinich, as hounds to the hunter, and with real +Mohammedan honesty placed after battle in the hands of Soroka and the +Kyemliches the lion’s share of the plunder which belonged to the +“bagadyr.” +</p> + +<p> +“Allah!” said Akbah Ulan, “few of them will see Bagche-Serai, +but all who go back will be murzas.” +</p> + +<p> +Babinich, who from of old knew how to live upon war, collected great riches; +but death, which he sought more than gold, he found not. +</p> + +<p> +A month passed again in battles and labors surpassing belief. The Tartar +horses, though fed with barley and Prussian wheat, needed absolutely even a +couple of days’ rest; therefore the young colonel, wishing also to gain +news and fill the gaps in his ranks with fresh volunteers, withdrew, near +Dospada, to the Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +News soon came, and so joyful that Kmita almost lost his wits. It turned out to +be true that the equally valiant and unfortunate Yan Kazimir had lost a great +three-days’ battle at Warsaw, but for what reason? +</p> + +<p> +The general militia in an immense majority had gone home, and the part which +remained did not fight with such spirit as at the taking of Warsaw, and on the +third day of the battle a panic set in. But for the first two days the victory +was inclining to the side of Poland. The regular troops, not in sudden partisan +warfare, but in a great battle with the most highly trained soldiers of Europe, +exhibited such skill and endurance that amazement seized the Swedish and +Brandenburg generals themselves. +</p> + +<p> +Yan Kazimir had won immortal glory. It was said that he had shown himself a +leader equal to Karl Gustav, and that if all his commands had been carried out +the enemy would have lost the general battle, and the war would have been +ended. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita received these tidings from eye-witnesses, for he had stumbled upon +nobles who, serving in the general militia, had taken part in the battle. One +of them told him of the brilliant attack of the hussars, during which Karl +himself, who, despite the entreaties of his generals, would not withdraw, came +near perishing. All showed the falsehood of the report that the army had been +routed or the hetmans had fallen. On the contrary, the whole force, except the +general militia, remained intact, and withdrew in good order along the country. +</p> + +<p> +From the bridge of Warsaw which was giving way cannon had fallen; but they were +pulled through the Vistula in a breath. The army swore by everything that under +such a leader as Yan Kazimir they would, in the coming battle, conquer Karl +Gustav, the elector, and whomsoever it might be necessary to conquer. As to the +recent battle it was only a trial, though unfavorable, but full of solace for +the future. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita was at a loss to know how the first news could have been so terrible. +They explained to him that Karl Gustav had sent out exaggerated reports +purposely; in fact, he did not know well what to do. The Swedish officers whom +Pan Andrei seized a week later confirmed this opinion. +</p> + +<p> +He learned also from them that beyond others the elector lived in fear, and was +thinking more and more of his own safety; for a multitude of his men had fallen +at Warsaw, and disease had seized those remaining so terribly that it was +destroying them more quickly than battles. At the same time the men of Great +Poland, eager to make good Uistsie and all wrongs, had attacked the monarchy of +Brandenburg itself, burning and slaying, leaving nothing behind them but land +and water. According to the officers, the hour was near in which the elector +would abandon the Swedes, and join the more powerful. +</p> + +<p> +“It is needful to touch him with fire somewhat,” thought Kmita, +“so that he may do this the more quickly.” +</p> + +<p> +And since his horses were rested already, and he had made good the losses among +his men, he passed the boundary again at Dospada, and rushed on the German +settlements like a spirit of destruction. +</p> + +<p> +Various “parties” followed his example. He found a weaker defence; +hence he accomplished more. News came ever more joyful, more gladdening, so +that it was difficult to believe it. +</p> + +<p> +First of all, it was said that Karl Gustav, who, after the Warsaw battle, had +pushed on to Radom, was retreating at breakneck speed to Royal Prussia. What +had happened? Why was he retreating? There was no answer to this for a time, +till at last the name of Charnyetski thundered again through the Commonwealth. +He was victorious at Lipets, victorious at Stjemeshno; at Rava itself he had +cut to pieces the rearguard of the retreating Karl; then, learning that two +thousand cavalry were returning from Cracow, he attacked that body, and did not +let one man escape to announce the defeat. Colonel Forgell, brother of the +general, thirteen captains, and twenty-four lieutenants went into captivity. +Others gave the numbers as twice greater; some insisted in their enthusiasm +that Yan Kazimir had not suffered a defeat, but had won a victory at Warsaw, +and that his march along the country was only a stratagem for the destruction +of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita himself began to think the same; for being a soldier from youthful years, +he understood war, but had never heard of a victory after which the victor was +in a worse condition than before. The Swedes were evidently in a worse +condition, and just after the battle at Warsaw. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei called to mind at that moment the words of Zagloba, when at their +last meeting he said that victories would not improve the Swedish cause, but +that one defeat might destroy it. +</p> + +<p> +“That is a chancellor’s head,” pondered Kmita, “which +reads in the future as in a book.” +</p> + +<p> +Here he remembered the further predictions,—how he, Kmita or Babinich, +would go to Taurogi, find his Olenka, persuade her, marry her, and have +descendants to the glory of the Commonwealth. When he remembered this, fire +entered his veins; he wished not to lose a moment, but to leave Prussians and +slaughter for a time, and fly to Taurogi. +</p> + +<p> +On the eve of his starting there came to him a noble of Lauda, of +Volodyovski’s squadron, with a letter from the little knight. +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“We are going with Sapyeha and Prince Michael Radzivill against Boguslav +and Waldeck,” wrote Pan Michael. “Join us, since a field for just +vengeance will be found, and it is proper to pay the Prussians for harm done +the Commonwealth.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Pan Andrei could not believe his own eyes, and for some time he suspected the +noble of being sent by some Prussian or Swedish commandant of purpose to lead +him with the chambul into ambush. Had Gosyevski come a second time to Prussia? +It was impossible not to believe. The handwriting was Volodyovski’s, the +arms Volodyovski’s, and Pan Andrei remembered the noble too. Then he +inquired where Gosyevski was, and to what point he intended to go. +</p> + +<p> +The noble was rather dull. It was not for him to know whither the hetman was +marching; he knew only that he was two days distant, and that the Lauda +squadron was with him. Charnyetski had borrowed it for a while, but had sent it +back long ago, and now it was marching under lead of the hetman. “They +say,” concluded the noble, “that we must go to Prussia, and the +soldiers are greatly delighted. But our work is to obey and to strike.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, when he had heard the narrative, did not hesitate long. He turned his +chambul, went with forced marches to the hetman, and after two days fell late +at night into the arms of Volodyovski, who, pressing him, said at once,— +</p> + +<p> +“Count Waldeck and Prince Boguslav are in Prostki, making intrenchments +to secure themselves with a fortified camp. We shall march on them.” +</p> + +<p> +“To-day?” asked Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow before daybreak,—that is, in two or three hours.” +</p> + +<p> +Here they embraced each other again. “Something tells me that God will +give him into our hands!” exclaimed Kmita, with emotion. “And I +think so too.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have made a vow to fast till death on the day in which I meet +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“The protection of God will not fail you,” said Volodyovski. +“I shall not be envious, either, if this lot falls to you, for your wrong +is greater. Yendrek, let me look at you! You have grown perfectly black from +the weather; but you have acquitted yourself. The whole division looks with the +greatest esteem on your labor. Nothing behind you but ruins and corpses! You +are a born soldier; and it would go hard with Zagloba himself, were he here, to +invent in self-praise deeds better than those you have done.” +</p> + +<p> +“But where is Zagloba?” +</p> + +<p> +“He remained with Sapyeha; for he fell into weeping and despair after +Kovalski.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then has Kovalski fallen?” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski pressed his lips. “Do you know who killed him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Whence should I know? Tell me!” +</p> + +<p> +“Prince Boguslav!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita turned in his place, as if thrust with a point, and began to draw in air +with a hiss; at last he gritted his teeth, and casting himself on the bench, +rested his head on his palms in silence. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski clapped his hands, and ordered the attendant to bring drink; then +he sat near Kmita, filled a cup for him, and began,— +</p> + +<p> +“Ron Kovalski died such a cavalier’s death that God grant any man +of us to die no worse. It is enough to inform you that Karl Gustav himself +after the battle celebrated his funeral, and a whole regiment of the guards +fired a salute over his coffin.” +</p> + +<p> +“If only not at those hands, at those hellish hands!” exclaimed +Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, at the hands of Boguslav; we know that from hussars who with their +own eyes saw the sad end.” +</p> + +<p> +“Were you not there then?” +</p> + +<p> +“In battle places are not chosen, but a man stands where he is ordered. +If I had been there, either I should not be here now, or Boguslav would not be +making trenches at Prostki.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me how it all happened. It will only increase the anger.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael drank, wiped his yellow mustaches, and began:— +</p> + +<p> +“Of a certainty you are not lacking in narratives of the Warsaw battle, +for every one is speaking of it; therefore I shall not dwell on it too long. +Our gracious lord—God give him health and long years! for under another +king the country would have perished amid disasters—has shown himself a +famous leader. Had there been such obedience as there was command, had we been +worthy of the king, the chroniclers would have to describe a new Polish victory +at Warsaw equal to those at Grünwald and Berestechko. Speaking briefly, on the +first day we beat the Swedes; on the second, fortune inclined now to one, now +to the other, but still we were uppermost. At that time the Lithuanian hussars, +in which Kovalski served under Prince Polubinski, a great soldier, went to the +attack. When they were passing I saw them as I see you this moment, for I was +with the Lauda men on a height near the intrenchments. They were twelve hundred +strong,—men and horses such as the world had not seen. They passed twenty +rods distant from our flank; and I tell you that the earth trembled under them. +We saw the Brandenburg infantry planting their pikes in the ground in a hurry, +to meet the first onrush. Then began firing from muskets, till the smoke +covered them entirely. We looked. The hussars had given rein to their horses. O +God, what a sweep! They fell into the smoke,—disappeared! My soldiers +began to shout, ‘They will break them, they will break them!’ For a +while the hussars were invisible; then something thundered, and there was a +sound as if in a thousand forges men were beating anvils with hammers. We look. +Jesus! Mary! The elector’s men are lying like stones on a street, like +wheat through which a tempest has passed; and the hussars far away beyond, +their streamers glittering. They are bearing down on the Swedes! They struck +cavalry; the cavalry were down like a pavement! They struck a second regiment; +they left that like a pavement! There was a roar, cannon were thundering; we +saw them when the wind bore the smoke aside. They were smashing Swedish +infantry. Everything was fleeing, rolling, opening; they went on as if over a +highway. They had passed almost through the whole army, when they struck a +regiment of the horse-guard, in which was Karl Gustav himself; and like a +whirlwind they scattered the horse-guard.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Michael stopped, for Kmita had closed his eyes with his fists and was +exclaiming,— +</p> + +<p> +“O Mother of God! To see such a thing once and then die!” +</p> + +<p> +“Such an attack my eyes will never see again,” continued the little +knight. “We too were commanded to spring forward. I saw no more, but what +I tell I heard from the mouth of a Swedish officer who was at the side of Karl +and saw with his own eyes the end. That Forgell who fell into our hands +afterward at Rava, rushed up to Karl. ‘O King,’ cried he, +‘save Sweden! save yourself! Aside, aside! Nothing can stop them!’ +But Karl answered: ‘No use to yield; we must meet them or perish.’ +Other generals rush up, implore, entreat, in vain. The king moved forward; they +strike. The Swedes are broken more quickly than you can count ten. One fell, +another was trampled, others were scattered like peas. The king defended +himself single-handed. Kovalski rode up and knew Karl Gustav, for he had seen +him twice before. A horseman shielded the king; but those who were present said +that lightning does not kill more quickly than Kovalski cut him in two. Then +the king rushed at Pan Roh.” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski again interrupted his narrative and breathed deeply; but Kmita +cried at once,— +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, finish, or the soul will go out of me!” +</p> + +<p> +“They rushed at each other so that the breasts of the horses struck. They +raged. ‘I look,’ said the officer; ‘the king with his horse +is on the ground.’ He freed himself, touched the trigger of his pistol, +missed. The king’s hat had fallen. Roh then made for the head of Karl +Gustav,—had his sword raised; the Swedes were weak from terror, for there +was no time to save Karl, when Boguslav rose as if from under the earth, fired +into the very ear of Kovalski, broke his head and his helmet.” +</p> + +<p> +“O my God! he had not time to bring down the sword?” screamed Pan +Andrei, tearing his hair. +</p> + +<p> +“God did not grant him that grace,” said Pan Michael. +“Zagloba and I talked of what had happened. The man had served with the +Radzivills from years of youth; he considered them his masters, and at sight of +Radzivill it must be that he was confused. Perhaps the thought had never come +to his head to raise a hand on Radzivill. It happens that way! Well, he paid +with his life. Zagloba is a wonderful man, for he is not Roh’s uncle at +all, and not his relative; still another man would not have been in such +despair for a son. And, to tell the truth, there was no reason, for one might +envy Kovalski such a glorious death; a noble and a soldier is born to give his +life, if not on the present day then on the morrow; men will write of Kovalski, +and posterity will celebrate his name.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael was silent; after a while he made the sign of the cross and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Eternal rest give him, O Lord, and may light shine on him +forever!” +</p> + +<p> +“For the ages of ages!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +Both whispered prayers for a certain time, maybe asking for themselves a +similar death, if only not at the hands of Prince Boguslav. At last Pan Michael +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Father Pyekarski assured us that Roh went straight to heaven.” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course he did, and our prayers are not needed for him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Prayers are always needed; for they are inscribed to the credit of +others, and maybe to our own.” +</p> + +<p> +“My hope is in the mercy of God,” said Kmita, sighing. “I +trust that for what I have done in Prussia, even a couple of years will be +taken from me in purgatory.” +</p> + +<p> +“Everything there is reckoned. What a man works out here with his sabre, +the heavenly secretary records.” +</p> + +<p> +“I too served with Radzivill,” said Kmita, “but I shall not +be confused at sight of Boguslav. My God, my God! Prostki is not far away! +Remember, O Lord, that he is Thy enemy too, for he is a heretic who more than +once has blasphemed Thy true faith.” +</p> + +<p> +“And is an enemy of the country,” added Pan Michael. “We have +hope that his end is approaching. Zagloba, speaking in grief and in tears and +as if inspired, foretold the same after that attack of the hussars. He cursed +Boguslav so that the hair stood on the head of every man listening. Prince +Michael Radzivill, who is marching with us against him, saw also in a dream two +golden trumpets, which the Radzivills have on their shield, gnawed by a bear, +and he said at once next day, ‘Misfortune will meet me or some other +Radzivill.’” +</p> + +<p> +“By a bear?” asked Kmita, growing pale. +</p> + +<p> +“By a bear.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei’s face became clear as if a gleam of the morning dawn had +fallen on it; he raised his eyes, stretched his hands toward heaven and said +with a solemn voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“I have a bear on my shield. Praise to Thee, O Lord on high! Praise to +Thee, Most Holy Mother! O Lord, O Lord! I am not worthy of this grace.” +</p> + +<p> +When he heard this Pan Michael was greatly moved, for he recognized at once +that that was an omen from heaven. +</p> + +<p> +“Yendrek!” cried he, “to make sure, press the feet of Christ +before the battle; and I will implore him against Sakovich.” +</p> + +<p> +“Prostki! Prostki!” repeated Kmita, as in a fever. “When do +we move?” +</p> + +<p> +“Before day, and soon it will begin to dawn.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita approached the broken window of the cottage and cried: “The stars +are paling already. <i>Ave, Maria</i>.” +</p> + +<p> +Then came the distant crowing of a cock, and with it low trumpeting. A few +“Our Fathers” later, movement began in the whole village. The +clatter of steel was heard, and the snorting of horses. Dark masses of cavalry +assembled on the highway. +</p> + +<p> +The air began to be filled with light; a pale gleam was silvering the points of +the spears, twinkling on the naked sabres, bringing out of the shade mustached +threatening faces, helmets, kolpaks, Tartar sheepskin caps, fur cloaks, +quivers. At last the advance with Kmita in the vanguard was moving toward +Prostki; the troops stretched in a long line over the road, and marched +quickly. +</p> + +<p> +The horses in the first ranks fell to snorting greatly, after them others, as a +good portent for the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +White mists hid the meadows yet, and the fields. +</p> + +<p> +Round about was silence; only land-rails were playing in the grass, wet with +dew. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER LI.</h2> + +<p> +September 6, the Polish troops arrived at Vansosh and disposed themselves for +rest, so that before battle horses and men might gain strength. Pan Gosyevski, +the hetman, decided to halt there four or five days; but events interfered with +his reckoning. +</p> + +<p> +Babinich, as a man knowing the boundary well, was sent on a reconnoissance; he +was given two light Lithuanian squadrons and a fresh chambul of Tartars, for +his own Tartars were over-much wearied. +</p> + +<p> +Gosyevski enjoined on him earnestly, before starting, to obtain an informant +and not to return empty-handed. But Babinich merely laughed, thinking to +himself that he needed no urging, and that he would bring prisoners, even if he +had to find them in the intrenchments of Prostki. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, he returned in forty-eight hours, bringing a number of Prussians and +Swedes, and among them an officer of note, Von Rössel, captain in a Prussian +regiment under Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +The party was received in the camp with great applause. There was no need of +torturing the captain, for Babinich had already done that on the road by +putting the sword-point to his throat. From his statements it transpired that +not only the Prussian regiments of Count Waldeck were in Prostki, but also six +Swedish regiments under command of Major-General Israel; of these, four were of +cavalry under Peters, Frytjotson, Tauben, and Ammerstein, with two of infantry +under the brothers Engel. Of Prussian regiments, which were very well equipped, +besides that of Count Waldeck himself, there were four,—those of the +Prince of Wismar, Bruntsl, Konnaberg, General Wahlrat,—with four +squadrons of Boguslav’s command, two being of Prussian nobles, and two of +his own men. +</p> + +<p> +Supreme command was held by Count Waldeck; in reality, however, he obeyed in +everything Prince Boguslav, to whose influence the Swedish general Israel also +yielded. +</p> + +<p> +But the most important intelligence given by Rössel was this,—that two +thousand chosen infantry of Pomerania were hastening from Elko to reinforce +Prostki; but Count Waldeck, fearing lest these men might be taken by the horde, +wished to leave the fortified camp, join the Pomeranians, and then make +intrenchments a second time. Boguslav, according to Rössel, was so far rather +strongly opposed to leaving Prostki, and only during the last days began to +incline toward this action. Gosyevski on hearing this news was greatly +rejoiced, for he was certain that victory would not miss him. The enemy might +defend themselves for a long time in the intrenchments, but neither the Swedish +nor the Prussian cavalry could resist the Poles in the open field. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Boguslav seemed to understand this fact as well as Gosyevski, and for +this special reason he did not much approve Waldeck’s plans. But he was +too vain not to yield before even the reproach of excessive caution. Besides, +he was not distinguished for patience. It might be reckoned almost with +certainty that he would grow weary of waiting in trenches, and would seek fame +and victory in the open field. Gosyevski had simply to hasten his advance on +the enemy at the moment when they were leaving the intrenchments. +</p> + +<p> +So thought he; so thought other colonels, such as Hassan Bey, who led the +horde; Voynillovich, who led the king’s regiment; Korsak, a light-horse +colonel; Volodyovski, Kotvich, and Babinich. All agreed on one +point,—that it was necessary to give up further rest, and march in the +night; that is, in a few hours. Meanwhile Korsak sent his banneret, Byeganski, +to Prostki to inform the advancing army every hour of what was taking place in +the camp. Volodyovski and Babinich took Rössel to their quarters to learn +something more of Boguslav. The captain was greatly alarmed at first, for he +felt still at his throat Kmita’s sabre-point, but wine soon loosened his +tongue. Since he had served once in the Commonwealth in a foreign command, he +had learned Polish; therefore he was able to answer the questions of the little +knight, who did not know German. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you been long in the service of Prince Boguslav?” asked +Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not serve in his army,” answered Rössel, “but in the +elector’s regiment, which was put under his command.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then do you know Pan Sakovich?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have seen him in Königsberg.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is he with the prince?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is not; he remained in Taurogi.” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski sighed and moved his mustaches. “I have no luck, as +usual,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Be not grieved, Michael,” said Babinich. “You will find him; +if not, I shall.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he turned to Rössel: “You are an old soldier; you have seen both +armies, and you know our cavalry of old: what do you think,—on whose side +will be victory?” +</p> + +<p> +“If they meet you outside the trenches, on yours; but you cannot take the +trenches without infantry and cannon, especially since everything is done there +with Radzivill’s head.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then do you consider him such a great leader?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not only is that my opinion, but it is the general opinion in both +armies. They say that at Warsaw the Most Serene King of Sweden followed his +advice, and therefore won a great battle. The prince, as a Pole, has a better +knowledge of your method of warfare and can manage more quickly. I saw myself +that the King of Sweden after the third day of battle embraced him in front of +the army and kissed him. It is true that he owed his life to him; for had it +not been for the shot of the prince— But it is a terror to think of it! +He is besides an incomparable knight, whom no man can meet with any +weapon.” +</p> + +<p> +“H’m!” said Volodyovski, “maybe there is such a +man.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, his mustaches trembled threateningly. Rössel looked at +him, and grew suddenly red. For a time it seemed that either he would burst a +blood-vessel or break into laughter; but at last he remembered that he was in +captivity, and controlled himself quickly. But Kmita with his steel eyes looked +at him steadily and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“That will be shown to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“But is Boguslav in good health?” asked Volodyovski; “for the +fever shook him a long time, and must have weakened him.” +</p> + +<p> +“He is, and has been this long time, as healthy as a fish, and takes no +medicine. The doctor at first wanted to give him many preservatives, but +immediately after the first came a paroxysm. Prince Boguslav gave orders to +toss that doctor up from sheets; and that helped him, for the doctor himself +got a fever from fright.” +</p> + +<p> +“To toss him up from sheets?” asked Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +“I saw it myself,” answered Rössel. “Two sheets were placed +one above the other, and the doctor put in the centre of them. Four strong +soldiers took the sheets by the corners, and threw up the poor doctor. I tell +you, gentlemen, that he went nearly ten ells into the air, and he had hardly +come down when they hurled him up again. General Israel, Count Waldeck, and the +prince were holding their sides from laughter. Many of the officers too were +looking at the spectacle, till the doctor fainted. Then the prince was free of +his fever, as if some hand had removed it.” +</p> + +<p> +Though Pan Michael and Babinich hated Boguslav, still they could not restrain +themselves from laughter when they heard of this joke. Babinich struck his +knees and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, the scoundrel! how he helped himself!” +</p> + +<p> +“I must tell Zagloba of this medicine,” said Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“It cured him of the fever,” said Rössel; “but what is that, +when the prince does not restrain sufficiently the impulses of his blood, and +therefore will not live to ripe age?” +</p> + +<p> +“I think so too,” muttered Babinich. “Such as he do not live +long.” +</p> + +<p> +“Does he give way to himself in the camp?” asked Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“Of course,” answered Rössel. “Count Waldeck laughed, saying +that his princely grace takes with him waiting-maids. I saw myself two handsome +maidens; his attendants told me that they were there to iron his lace—but +God knows.” +</p> + +<p> +Babinich, when he heard this, grew red and pale; then he sprang up, and seizing +Rössel by the arm began to shake him violently. +</p> + +<p> +“Are they Poles or Germans?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not Poles,” said the terrified Rössel. “One is a Prussian +noblewoman; the other is a Swede, who formerly served the wife of General +Israel.” +</p> + +<p> +Babinich looked at Pan Michael and drew a deep breath; the little knight was +relieved too, and began to move his mustaches. +</p> + +<p> +“Gentlemen, permit me to rest,” said Rössel. “I am dreadfully +tired, for the Tartar led me ten miles with a lariat.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita clapped his hands for Soroka, and committed the prisoner to him; then he +turned with quick step to Pan Michael. +</p> + +<p> +“Enough of this!” said he. “I would rather perish a hundred +times than live in this ceaseless alarm and uncertainty. When Rössel mentioned +those women just now, I thought that some one was going at my temple with a +club.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is time to finish!” said Volodyovski, shaking his sabre. +</p> + +<p> +At that moment trumpets sounded at the hetman’s quarters; soon trumpets +answered in all the Lithuanian squadrons, and pipes in the chambuls. +</p> + +<p> +The troops began to assemble, and an hour later were on the march. +</p> + +<p> +Before they had gone five miles a messenger hurried up from Byeganski of +Korsak’s squadron, with intelligence for the hetman that a number of +troopers had been seized from a considerable body occupied in collecting on +that side of the river all the wagons and horses of the peasants. Interrogated +on the spot, they acknowledged that the tabor of the whole army was to leave +Prostki about eight o’clock in the morning, and that commands were issued +already. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us praise God and urge on our horses,” said Gosyevski. +“Before evening that army will be no longer in existence.” +</p> + +<p> +He sent the horde neck and head to push with utmost endeavor between +Waldeck’s troops and the Pomeranian infantry hastening to aid them. After +the horde went Lithuanians; being mainly of the light squadrons, they came +right after the horde. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita was in the front rank of the Tartars, and urged on his men till the +horses were steaming. On the road he bowed down on the saddle, struck his +forehead on the neck of his horse, and prayed with all the powers of his +soul,— +</p> + +<p> +“Grant me, O Christ, to take vengeance, not for my own wrongs, but for +the insults wrought on the country! I am a sinner; I am not worthy of Thy +grace; but have mercy on me! Permit me to shed the blood of heretics, and for +Thy praise I will fast and scourge myself every week on this day till the end +of my life.” +</p> + +<p> +Then to the Most Holy Lady of Chenstohova, whom he had served with his blood, +and to his own patron besides, did he commit himself; and strong with such +protection, he felt straightway that an immense hope was entering his soul, +that an uncommon power was penetrating his limbs,—a power before which +everything must fall in the dust. It seemed to him that wings were growing from +his shoulders; joy embraced him like a whirlwind, and he flew in front of his +Tartars, so that sparks were scattered from under the hoofs of his steed. +Thousands of wild warriors bent forward to the necks of their ponies, and shot +along after him. +</p> + +<p> +A river of pointed caps rose and fell with the rush of the horses; bows rattled +behind the men’s shoulders; in front went the sound from the tramp of +iron hoofs; from behind flew the roar of the oncoming squadrons, like the deep +roar of a great swollen river. +</p> + +<p> +And thus they flew on in the rich starry night which covered the roads and the +fields. They were like a mighty flock of ravening birds which had smelled blood +in the distance. Fields, oak-groves, meadows, sped past, till at last the +waning moon became pale and inclined in the west. Then they reined in their +beasts, and halted for final refreshment. It was not farther now than two miles +from Prostki. +</p> + +<p> +The Tartars fed their horses with barley from their hands, so that the beasts +might gain strength before battle; but Kmita sat on a fresh pony and rode +farther to look at the camp of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +After half an hour’s ride he found in the willows the light-horse party +which Korsak had sent to reconnoitre. +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” asked Kmita, “what is to be heard?” +</p> + +<p> +“They are not sleeping, they are bustling like bees in a hive,” +answered the banneret. “They would have started already, but have not +wagons sufficient.” +</p> + +<p> +“Can the camp be seen from some point near at hand?” +</p> + +<p> +“It can from that height which is covered with bushes. The camp lies over +there in the valley of the river. Does your grace wish to see it?” +</p> + +<p> +“Lead on.” +</p> + +<p> +The banneret put spurs to his horse, and they rode to the height. Day was +already in the sky, and the air was filled with a golden light; but along the +river on the opposite low bank there lay still a dense fog. Hidden in the +bushes, they looked at that fog growing thinner and thinner. +</p> + +<p> +At last about two furlongs distant a square earthwork was laid bare. +Kmita’s glance was fixed on it with eagerness; but at the first moment he +saw only the misty outlines of tents and wagons standing in the centre along +the intrenchments. The blaze of fires was not visible; he saw only smoke rising +in lofty curls to the sky in sign of fine weather. But as the fog vanished Pan +Andrei could distinguish through his field-glass blue Swedish and yellow +Prussian banners planted on the intrenchments; then masses of soldiers, cannon, +and horses. +</p> + +<p> +Around there was silence, broken only by the rustle of bushes moved by the +breeze, and the glad morning twitter of birds; but from the camp came a deep +sound. +</p> + +<p> +Evidently no one was sleeping, and they were preparing to march, for in the +centre of the intrenchment was an unusual stir. Whole regiments were moving +from place to place; some went out in front of the intrenchments; around the +wagons there was a tremendous bustle. Cannon also were drawn from the trenches. +</p> + +<p> +“It cannot be but they are preparing to march,” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“All the prisoners said: ‘They wish to make a junction with the +infantry; and besides they do not think that the hetman can come up before +evening; and even if he were to come up, they prefer a battle in the open field +to yielding that infantry to the knife.’” +</p> + +<p> +“About two hours will pass before they move, and at the end of two hours +the hetman will be here.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praise be to God!” said the banneret. +</p> + +<p> +“Send to tell our men not to feed too long.” +</p> + +<p> +“According to order.” +</p> + +<p> +“But have they not sent away parties to this side of the river?” +</p> + +<p> +“To this side they have not sent one. But they have sent some to their +infantry, marching from Elko.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is well!” said Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +And he descended the height, and commanding the party to hide longer in the +rushes, moved back himself with all the breath in his horse to the squadron. +</p> + +<p> +Gosyevski was just mounting when Babinich arrived. The young knight told +quickly what he had seen and what the position was; the hetman listened with +great satisfaction, and urged forward the squadrons without delay. +</p> + +<p> +Babinich’s party went in advance; after it the Lithuanian squadrons; then +that of Voynillovich, that of Lauda, the hetman’s own, and others. The +horde remained behind; for Hassan Bey begged for that with insistence, fearing +that his men might not withstand the first onset of the heavy cavalry. He had +also another reckoning. +</p> + +<p> +He wished, when the Lithuanians struck the enemy’s front, to seize the +camp with his Tartars; in the camp he expected to find very rich plunder. The +hetman permitted this, thinking justly that the Tartars would strike weakly on +the cavalry, but would fall like madmen on the tabor and might raise a panic, +especially since the Prussian horses were less accustomed to their terrible +howling. +</p> + +<p> +In two hours, as Kmita had predicted, they halted in front of that elevation +from which the scouting-party had looked into the intrenchments, and which now +concealed the march of all the troops. The banneret, seeing the troops +approaching, sprang forward like lightning with intelligence that the enemy, +having withdrawn the pickets from this side of the river, had already moved, +and that the rear of the tabor was just leaving the intrenchments. +</p> + +<p> +When he heard this, Gosyevski drew his baton from the holsters of the saddle, +and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“They cannot return now, for the wagons block the way. In the name of the +Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! There is no reason to hide longer!” +</p> + +<p> +He beckoned to the bunchuk-bearer; and he, raising the horse-tail standard +aloft, waved it on every side. At this sign all the horse-tail standards began +to wave, trumpets thundered, Tartar pipes squeaked, six thousand sabres were +gleaming in the air, and six thousand throats shouted,— +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus! Mary!” +</p> + +<p> +“Allah uh Allah!” +</p> + +<p> +Then squadron after squadron rose in a trot from behind the height. In +Waldeck’s camp they had not expected guests so soon, for a feverish +movement set in. The drums rattled uninterruptedly; the regiments turned with +front to the river. +</p> + +<p> +It was possible to see with the naked eye generals and colonels flying between +the regiments; they hurried to the centre with the cannon, so as to bring them +forward to the river. +</p> + +<p> +After a while both armies were not farther than a thousand yards from each +other. They were divided only by a broad meadow, in the centre of which a river +flowed. Another moment, and the first streak of white smoke bloomed out from +the Prussian side toward the Poles. +</p> + +<p> +The battle had begun. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman himself sprang toward Kmita’s troops,— +</p> + +<p> +“Advance, Babinich! advance in God’s name against that line!” +And he pointed with his baton to the gleaming regiment of cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +“Follow me!” commanded Pan Andrei. And pressing his horse with +spurs, he moved at a gallop toward the river. +</p> + +<p> +More swiftly than an arrow from a bow did they shoot forward. The horses had +gained their highest speed, and were running with ears dropped back, and bodies +stretched out like the bodies of hounds. The riders bent forward to the manes +of their horses, and howling, lashed onward the beasts, which now did not seem +to touch earth; they rushed with that impetus into the river. The water did not +restrain them, for they came upon a broad ford, level and sandy; they reached +the other bank, and sprang on in a body. +</p> + +<p> +Seeing this, the regiment of armored cavalry moved toward them, first at a +walk, then at a trot, and did not go faster; but when Kmita’s front had +come within twenty yards, the command “Fire!” was heard, and a +thousand arms with pistols were stretched forward. +</p> + +<p> +A line of smoke ran from one end of the rank to the other; then the two bodies +struck each other with a crash. The horses reared at the first blow; over the +heads of the combatants glittered sabres through the whole length of the line. +A serpent as it were of lightning flew from end to end. The ominous clang of +blades against helmets and breastplates was heard to the other side of the +river. It seemed as if hammers were ringing in forges on plates of steel. The +line bent in one moment into a crescent; for since the centre of the German +cavalry yielded, pushed back by the first onset, the wings, against which less +force was directed, kept their places. But the armored soldiers did not let the +centre be broken, and a terrible slaughter began. On one side enormous men +covered with armor resisted with the whole weight of horses; on the other the +gray host of Tartars pushed with the force of accumulated impetus, cutting and +thrusting with an inconceivable rapidity which only uncommon activity and +ceaseless practice can give. As when a host of woodcutters rush at a forest of +pine-trees there is heard only the sound of axes, and time after time some +lofty tree falls to the ground with a fearful crash, so every moment some one +of the cavalry bent his shining head and rolled under his horse. The sabres of +Kmita’s men glittered in their eyes, cut around their faces, eyes, hands. +In vain does a sturdy soldier raise his heavy sword; before he can bring it +down, he feels a cold point entering his body; then the sword drops from his +hand, and he falls with bloody face on the neck of his horse. When a swarm of +wasps attack in an orchard him who is shaking down fruit, vainly does the man +ward them off with his hands, try to free himself, dodge aside; they reach his +face skilfully, reach his neck, and each one drives into him a sharp sting. So +did Kmita’s raging men, trained in so many battles, rush forward, hew, +cut, thrust, spread terror and death more and more stubbornly, surpassing their +opponents as much as a skilful craftsman surpasses the sturdiest apprentice who +is wanting in practice. Therefore the German cavalry began to fall more +quickly; and the centre, against which Kmita himself was fighting, became so +thin that it might break at any moment. Commands of officers, summoning +soldiers to shattered places, were lost in the uproar and wild shouting; the +line did not come together quickly enough, and Kmita pressed with increasing +power. Wearing chain-mail, a gift from Sapyeha, he fought as a simple soldier, +having with him the young Kyemliches and Soroka. Their office was to guard +their master; and every moment some one of them turned to the right or the +left, giving a terrible blow; but Kmita rushed on his chestnut horse to the +thickest of the fight, and having all the secrets of Pan Michael, and gigantic +strength, he quenched men’s lives quickly. Sometimes he struck with his +whole sabre; sometimes he barely reached with the point; sometimes he described +a small circle merely, but quick as lightning, and a horseman flew head +downward under his beast, as if a thunderbolt had hurled him from the saddle. +Others withdrew before the terrible man. +</p> + +<p> +At last Pan Andrei slashed the standard-bearer in the temple; he gave forth a +sound like that which a cock gives if his throat is cut, and dropped the +standard from his hand. At that moment the centre broke, and the disordered +wings forming two chaotic bodies fled swiftly to the farther lines of the +Prussian army. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita looked through the broken centre into the depth of the field, and saw at +once a regiment of red dragoons flying like wind to the aid of the broken +cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing!” thought he; “Volodyovski will cross the +ford in a moment to aid me.” +</p> + +<p> +At that instant was heard the thunder of cannon so loud that the earth trembled +in its foundations; musketry rattled from the intrenchment to those ranks of +the Poles who had pushed forward most. The whole field was covered with smoke, +and in that smoke Kmita’s volunteers and Tartars closed with the +dragoons. +</p> + +<p> +But from the side of the river no one came with assistance. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy had let Kmita pass the ford purposely, and then covered the ford with +such a dreadful shower from cannons and muskets that no living foot could pass +through it. +</p> + +<p> +The troops of Pan Korsak tried first, and turned back in disorder; next the +squadron of Voynillovich went to the middle of the ford, and turned +back,—slowly, it is true, for that was the king’s regiment, one of +the most valiant in the army, but with a loss of twelve noted nobles and +nineteen soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +The water in the ford which was the only passage through the river was plashing +under the blows of balls as under a dense pouring rain. Cannon-balls flew to +the other bank, casting around clouds of sand. +</p> + +<p> +Gosyevski himself rode up on a gallop, and when he had seen this, he knew that +it was impossible for one living man to reach the opposite bank. +</p> + +<p> +And still that might decide the fate of the battle. Then the forehead of the +hetman frowned sternly. For a while he looked through his glass along the whole +line of the enemy’s troops, and cried to the orderly,— +</p> + +<p> +“Rush to Hassan Bey; let the horde pass the deep bank as it can, and +strike the tabor. What they find in the wagons will be theirs! There are no +cannon there; it will be only hand to hand.” +</p> + +<p> +The horseman sprang forward with what breath was in his horse; but the hetman +advanced to where under willows on the meadow stood the Lauda squadron, and +halted before it. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski was at the head of the squadron, gloomy and silent; but he looked +in the eyes of the hetman, and his mustaches quivered. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you think?” asked the hetman; “will the Tartars +cross?” +</p> + +<p> +“The Tartars will cross, but Kmita will perish!” answered the +little knight. +</p> + +<p> +“As God lives!” cried the hetman, suddenly; “this Kmita, if +he had a head on his shoulders, might win the battle, not perish!” +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski said nothing; still he thought: “It was necessary either not +to send any regiment across the river, or to send five.” +</p> + +<p> +The hetman looked awhile yet through his glass at the distant confusion which +Kmita was making beyond the river; but the little knight, not being able to +endure any longer, drew near him, and holding his sabre-point upward, +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Your worthiness, if there were an order, I would try the ford +again.” +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” said Gosyevski, rather sharply; “it is enough that +those will perish.” +</p> + +<p> +“They are perishing already,” replied Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +And in truth the uproar was becoming more definite and greater every moment. +Evidently Kmita was retreating to the river. +</p> + +<p> +“As God lives, I wanted that!” cried the hetman, suddenly; and he +sprang like a thunderbolt to Voynillovich’s squadron. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, Kmita was retreating. After they had met the red dragoons, his men +fought with their last strength; but the breath was already failing in their +breasts, their wearied hands were drooping, and bodies were falling faster and +faster; only hope that aid might come any moment from beyond the river kept +courage in them yet. +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour more passed, and the cry of “Strike!” was heard no +longer; but to the aid of the red dragoons sprang Boguslav’s regiment of +heavy cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +“Death is coming!” thought Kmita, seeing them approaching from the +flank. +</p> + +<p> +But he was a soldier who never had a doubt, for a moment, not only of his life, +but of victory. Long and hazardous practice had given him also great knowledge +of war; therefore lightning at dusk does not flash and then die out so quickly +as the following thought flashed to the head of Pan Andrei: Evidently the Poles +could not cross the ford to the enemy; and since they could not, he would lead +the enemy to them. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav’s regiment was coming on at full sweep, and not more than a +hundred yards distant; in a moment they could strike and scatter his Tartars. +Pan Andrei raised the pipe to his mouth, and whistled so shrilly that the +nearest dragoon horses rose on their haunches. +</p> + +<p> +That instant other pipes of the Tartar leaders repeated the whistle; and not so +swiftly does the whirlwind twist the sand as that chambul turned its horses in +flight. +</p> + +<p> +The remnant of the mailed cavalry, the red dragoons, and Boguslav’s +regiment sprang after them with all speed. +</p> + +<p> +The shouts of the officers—“Naprzod (Forward)!” and +“Gott mit uns (God with us)!”—rang like a storm, and a +marvellous sight was seen then. Over the broad meadow rushed the disordered and +confused chambul of Tartars, straight to the ford, which was rained on with +bullets and balls; and they tore onward, as if carried with wings. Every Tartar +lay on the horse, flattened himself, hid himself in the mane and the neck, in +such fashion that had it not been for the cloud of arrows flying back toward +the cavalry, it might be said that the horses were rushing on riderless; after +them, with roaring, shouting, and trampling, followed gigantic men, with +upraised swords gleaming in their right hands. +</p> + +<p> +The ford was nearer and nearer; there was half a furlong left yet, and +evidently the Tartar horses were using their last strength, for the distance +between them and the cavalry was quickly decreasing. +</p> + +<p> +A few moments later the front ranks of the pursuers began to cut with their +swords the Tartars closing the rear. The ford was right there; it seemed that +in a few springs the horses would be in it. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly something wonderful happened. +</p> + +<p> +Behold, when the chambul had run to the ford, a shrill whistle of pipes was +heard again on the wings, and the whole body, instead of rushing into the river +to seek safety on the other bank, opened in two, and with the speed of swallows +sprang to the right and left, with and against the flow of the river. +</p> + +<p> +But the heavy regiments, rushing right on their shoulders with the highest +horse-speed, raced into the ford with the same force, and only when in the +water did the horsemen begin to hold in their furious beasts. +</p> + +<p> +The cannon, which up to that moment had been showering a rain of iron on the +gravel, were silent in a second; the gunners had to spare their own army. +</p> + +<p> +But Gosyevski was waiting for precisely that instant as for salvation. +</p> + +<p> +The cavalry were hardly in the water when the terrible royal squadron of +Voynillovich rushed at it like a hurricane; then the Lauda, the Korsak, the two +squadrons of the hetman, and the volunteer squadron; after that, the armored +squadron of Prince Michael Radzivill. +</p> + +<p> +A terrible shout, “Kill, slay!” thundered in the air; and before +the Prussian regiments could halt, concentrate, use their swords, the +Voynillovich squadron had scattered them as a whirl of air scatters leaves; +they crushed the red dragoons, pushed back Boguslav’s regiment, cut it in +two, and drove it over the field toward the main army of Prussia. +</p> + +<p> +In one moment the river was red with blood. The cannon began to play again; but +too late, for eight squadrons of Lithuanian cavalry were sweeping with thunder +and roar over the meadow, and the whole battle was transferred to the other +side of the river. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman was flying with one of his own squadrons, his face radiant with joy, +and with fire in his eyes; for once he had the cavalry beyond the river, he was +certain of victory. +</p> + +<p> +The squadrons, emulating one another in slashing and thrusting, drove before +them the remnant of the dragoons and the cavalry, which fell in a dense body; +for the heavy horses were not able to flee swiftly, and merely covered the +pursuers against missiles from the front. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Waldeck, Boguslav, Radzivill, and Israel sent forward all their +cavalry to restrain the onset, and hastened themselves to put the infantry in +line. Regiment after regiment ran out of the tabor, and took their places on +the plain. They thrust the butts of their heavy spears into the earth, with the +heads pointing forward, inclined like a fence to the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +In the next rank musketeers stretched forward the barrels of their muskets. +Between the quadrangles of regiments they placed cannon in hot haste. Neither +Boguslav nor Waldeck nor Israel flattered themselves that their cavalry could +restrain that of the Poles very long, and their whole hope was in the artillery +and the infantry. Meanwhile in front of the infantry the mounted regiments +struck breast against breast. But that happened which the Prussian leaders +foresaw. +</p> + +<p> +The pressure of the Lithuanian cavalry was so terrible that their opponents +could not restrain them for one moment, and the first hussar regiments split +them as a wedge splits wood, and went without breaking a lance through the +dense mass, as a ship driven by strong wind goes through waves. The streamers +were visible nearer and nearer; at times the heads of the hussar horses rose +above the throng of the Prussians. +</p> + +<p> +“On your guard!” cried the officers, standing in the quadrangle of +infantry. +</p> + +<p> +At this word the Prussian soldiers braced themselves more firmly on their feet, +and strained their arms holding the spears; and all hearts were beating +violently, for the terrible hussars had come wholly in sight, and were bearing +down straightway against them. +</p> + +<p> +“Fire!” was the word of command. +</p> + +<p> +Muskets rattled in the second and third ranks of the quadrangle. Smoke covered +the men. A moment later the roar of the coming squadron was nearer. They are +right there! All at once, amid the smoke, the first rank of infantry see there +above them, almost over their heads, thousands of horses’ hoofs, wide +nostrils, inflamed eyes; a crash of broken spears is heard; a fearful shout +rends the air; Polish voices shouting, “Slay!” and German voices, +“Gott erbarme Dich meiner (God have mercy on me)!” +</p> + +<p> +That regiment is broken, crushed; but in the spaces between other regiments +cannon begin to play. Other squadrons come up. Each one strikes after a moment +on a forest of lances; but perhaps not every one will break the forest which it +strikes, for none has such terrible force as Voynillovich’s squadron. +Shouting increases on the whole field of battle. Nothing can be seen; but from +the mass of combatants groups of yellow infantry escape in disorder, fleeing +from some regiment which evidently was also beaten. +</p> + +<p> +Horsemen in gray colors pursue, cut, and trample these men, and shout,— +</p> + +<p> +“Lauda! Lauda!” +</p> + +<p> +That was Volodyovski, who with his squadron had fought against a second +quadrangle. +</p> + +<p> +But others were “sticking” yet; victory might still incline to the +Prussians, especially as at the tabor stood two regiments intact, which, since +the tabor was safe, might be summoned at any moment. +</p> + +<p> +Waldeck had in truth lost his head. Israel was not present, for he had been +sent with the cavalry; but Boguslav was watching and managing everything. He +led the whole battle, and seeing the increase of great peril, sent Pan Byes for +those regiments. +</p> + +<p> +Byes urged on his horse, and half an hour later returned bareheaded, with +terror and despair in his face. +</p> + +<p> +“The horde is in the tabor!” shouted he, hurrying up to Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +At that moment unearthly howling was heard on the right wing; this howling came +nearer and nearer. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly appeared crowds of Swedish horsemen approaching in terrible panic; +after them were fleeing weaponless, bareheaded infantry; after the infantry, in +confusion and disorder, came wagons drawn by wild and terrified horses. All +this mass was rushing at random from the tabor toward the infantry in the +meadow. In a moment they fell on the infantry, put them into disorder, +scattered them, especially when in front they were pressed by Lithuanian +cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +“Hassan Bey has reached the tabor!” cried Gosyevski, with ecstasy; +and he let out his last two squadrons like falcons from their rest. +</p> + +<p> +At the same moment that these two squadrons strike the infantry in front, their +own wagons rush against them on the flank. The last quadrangles burst as if +under the stroke of a hammer. Of the whole brilliant Swedish-Prussian army +there is formed one gigantic mass, in which the cavalry are mingled with the +infantry. Men are overturning, trampling, and suffocating one another; they +throw off their clothing, cast away their arms. The cavalry press them, cut +them, crush them, mash them. It is no longer a battle lost; it is a ruin, one +of the most ghastly of the war. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav, seeing that all was lost, resolved to save at least himself and some +of the cavalry. With superhuman exertion he collected a few hundred horsemen, +and was fleeing along the left wing in the direction of the river’s +course. +</p> + +<p> +He had already escaped from the main whirl, when Prince Michael Radzivill, +leading his own hussars, struck him on the flank and scattered his whole +detachment at a blow. After this Boguslav’s men fled singly or in small +groups. They could be saved only by the speed of their horses. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, the hussars did not pursue, but struck on the main body of infantry, +which all the other squadrons were cutting to pieces. The broken detachment +fled over the field like a scattered herd of deer. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav, on Kmita’s black steed, is rushing like the wind, striving in +vain by cries to gather around him even a few tens of men. No one obeys him; +each man flees on his own account, glad that he has escaped from the disaster, +and that he has no enemy in front of him. But rejoicing was vain. They had not +gone a thousand yards when howling was heard in front, and a gray host of +Tartars sprang forth from the river, near which they had been lurking till +then. +</p> + +<p> +This was Kmita with his men. Leaving the field, after he had brought the enemy +to the ford, he turned so as to cut off retreat to the fugitives. +</p> + +<p> +The Tartars, seeing the cavalry scattered, scattered themselves in a moment to +catch them more easily, and a murderous pursuit began. Two or three Tartars cut +off one trooper, and he rarely defended himself; more frequently he seized his +rapier by the point, and extended the hilt to the Tartars, calling for mercy. +But the Tartars, knowing that they could not lead these prisoners home, took +only officers who could give ransom; the common soldiers received a knife in +the throat, and died, unable to say even “God!” Those who fled to +the last were stabbed in the back and shoulders; those under whom the horses +did not fall were caught with lariats. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita rushed for a time over the field, hurling down horsemen and seeking +Boguslav with his eyes; at last he beheld him, and knew him at once by the +horse, by the blue ribbon, and the hat with black ostrich feathers. +</p> + +<p> +A cloud of white steam surrounded the prince; for just the moment before two +Nogais had attacked him. One he killed with a pistol-shot, and the other he +thrust through with a rapier; then seeing a larger party rushing from one side, +and Kmita from the other, he pressed his horse with spurs, and shot on like a +hunted deer followed by hounds. +</p> + +<p> +More than fifty men rushed in a body after him; but not all the horses ran +equally, so that soon the fifty formed a long serpent, the head of which was +Boguslav and the neck Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +The prince bent forward in his saddle; the black horse appeared not to touch +the earth with his feet, but was black over the green grass, like a swallow +sweeping close to the ground; the chestnut stretched his neck like a crane, put +back his ears, and seemed as if trying to spring from his skin. Single willows, +clumps of them, groups of alder, shot past; the Tartars were behind, a furlong, +two, three furlongs, but they ran and ran. Kmita threw his pistols from the +holsters to lighten the horse’s burden; with eyes fastened on Boguslav, +with fixed lips, he almost lay on the neck of the horse, pricked his foaming +sides with spurs, till soon the foam falling to the earth became rose-colored. +</p> + +<p> +But the distance between him and the prince not only did not decrease a single +inch, but began to increase. +</p> + +<p> +“Woe!” thought Pan Andrei, “no horse on earth can overtake +that one.” +</p> + +<p> +And when after a few springs the distance increased still more, he straightened +himself in the saddle, let the sword drop on its pendant, and putting his hands +around his mouth, shouted in a trumpet-like voice: “Flee, traitor, flee +before Kmita! I will get you, if not to-day, to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +These words had barely sounded in the air, when on a sudden the prince, who +heard them, looked around, and seeing that Kmita alone was pursuing, instead of +fleeing farther described a circle, and with rapier in hand rushed upon him. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei gave forth a terrible cry of joy, and without lessening speed raised +his sabre for a blow. +</p> + +<p> +“Corpse! corpse!” shouted the prince; and wishing to strike the +more surely, he restrained his horse. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, when he had come up, held in his own beast till his hoofs sank in the +earth, and rapier met sabre. +</p> + +<p> +They closed in such fashion that the two horses formed almost one body. A +terrible sound of steel was heard, quick as thought; no eye could catch the +lightning-like movement of rapier and sabre, nor distinguish the prince from +Kmita. At times Boguslav’s hat appeared black, at times Kmita’s +steel morion gleamed. The horses whirled around each other. The swords clinked +more and more terribly. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav, after a few strokes, ceased to despise his opponent. All the terrible +thrusts which he had learned from French masters were parried. Sweat was now +flowing freely from his face with the rouge and white; he felt weariness in his +right arm already. Wonder seized him, then impatience, then rage; therefore he +determined to finish, and he thrust so terribly that the hat fell from his +head. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita warded with such force that the prince’s rapier flew to the side of +the horse; and before Boguslav could defend himself again, Kmita cut him with +the very end of the sabre in the forehead. +</p> + +<p> +“Christ!” cried the prince in German, rolling to the earth. +</p> + +<p> +He fell on his back. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei was as if stunned for the moment, but recovered quickly. He dropped +his sabre on its pendant, made the sign of the cross, sprang from his horse, +and seizing the hilt, again approached the prince. +</p> + +<p> +He was terrible; for pale as a sheet from emotion, his lips were pressed, and +inexorable hatred was in his face. +</p> + +<p> +Behold his mortal enemy, and such a powerful one, lying now at his feet in +blood, still alive and conscious, but conquered, and not with foreign weapons +nor with foreign aid. +</p> + +<p> +Boguslav looked at him with widely opened eyes, watching carefully every move +of the victor; and when Kmita stood there above him, he cried quickly,— +</p> + +<p> +“Do not kill me! Ransom!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, instead of answering, stood with his foot on Boguslav’s breast, +and pressed with all his power; then he placed the point of his sabre on the +prince’s throat so that the skin yielded under the point,—he only +needed to move his hand, to press more firmly. But he did not kill him at once. +He wished to sate himself yet with the sight, and make the death of his enemy +more grievous. He transfixed Boguslav’s eyes with his own eyes, and stood +above him, as a lion stands above an overthrown buffalo. +</p> + +<p> +The prince, from whose forehead blood was flowing more and more copiously, so +that the whole upper part of his head was as if in a pool, spoke again, but now +with a greatly stifled voice, for the foot of Pan Andrei was crushing his +breast,— +</p> + +<p> +“The maiden—listen—” +</p> + +<p> +Barely had Pan Andrei heard these words when he took his foot from +Boguslav’s breast, and raised his sword. “Speak!” said he. +</p> + +<p> +But Boguslav only breathed deeply for a time; at last, with a voice now +stronger, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“The maiden will die, if you kill me. The orders are given.” +</p> + +<p> +“What have you done with her?” asked Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +“Spare me, and I will give her to you. I swear on the Gospel.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei struck his forehead with his fist. It was to be seen for a time that +he was struggling with himself and with his thoughts; then he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Hear me, traitor! I would give a hundred such degenerate ruffians for +one hair of hers. But I do not believe you, you oath-breaker!” +</p> + +<p> +“On the Gospel!” repeated the prince. “I will give you a +safe-conduct and an order in writing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let it be so. I will give you your life, but I will not let you out of +my hands. You will give me the letter; but meanwhile I will give you to the +Tartars, with whom you will be in captivity.” +</p> + +<p> +“Agreed,” answered Boguslav. +</p> + +<p> +“Remember,” said Pan Andrei, “your princely rank did not +preserve you from my hand, nor your army, nor your fencing. And be assured that +as many times as you cross my path, or do not keep word, nothing will save +you,—even though you were made Emperor of Germany. Recognize me! Once I +had you in my hands, now you are lying under my feet!” +</p> + +<p> +“Consciousness is leaving me,” said the prince. “Pan Kmita, +there must be water near by. Give me to drink, and wash my wound.” +</p> + +<p> +“Die, parricide!” answered Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +But the prince, secure of life, recovered all his self-command, and +said,— +</p> + +<p> +“You are foolish, Pan Kmita. If I die, she too—” Here his +lips grew pale. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita ran to see if there was not some ditch near at hand, or even some pool. +The prince fainted, but for a short time; he revived, happily for himself, when +the first Tartar, Selim, son of Gazi Aga, the banneret among Kmita’s +Tartars, was coming up, and seeing the enemy weltering in blood, determined to +pin him to the earth with the spear-point of the banner. The prince in that +terrible moment still had strength sufficient to seize the point, which, being +loosely fastened, fell from the staff. +</p> + +<p> +The sound of that short struggle brought back Pan Andrei. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop! son of a dog!” cried he, running from a distance. +</p> + +<p> +The Tartar, at the sound of the familiar voice, pushed up to his horse with +fear. Kmita commanded him to go for water, and remained himself with the +prince; for from afar were to be seen approaching at a gallop the Kyemliches, +Soroka, and the whole chambul, who, after they had caught all the horsemen, +came to seek their leader. +</p> + +<p> +Seeing Pan Andrei, the faithful Nogais threw up their caps with loud shouts. +</p> + +<p> +Akbah Ulan sprang from his horse and began to bow to him, touching with his +hand his forehead, his mouth, and his breast. Others smacking their lips, in +Tartar fashion, looked with greediness into the eyes of the conquered; some +rushed to seize the two horses, the chestnut and the black, which were running +at a distance each with flying mane. +</p> + +<p> +“Akbah Ulan,” said Kmita, “this is the leader of the army +which we conquered this morning, Prince Boguslav Radzivill. I give him to you; +and do you keep him, for dead or alive they will pay you for him liberally. Now +take care of him; put on him a lariat, and lead him to camp.” +</p> + +<p> +“Allah! Allah! We thank the leader! We thank the conqueror!” cried +all the Tartars in one voice; and again was heard the smacking of a thousand +lips. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita mounted and went with a part of the Tartars to the field of battle. From +a distance he saw the standard-bearers with their standards, but of the +squadrons there were only a few men present; the rest had gone in pursuit of +the enemy. Crowds of camp servants were busy on the battle-field, plundering +the corpses and fighting here and there with the Tartars, who were plundering +also. The latter looked specially terrible, with knives in their hands, and +with arms stained to the elbows. You would have said that a flock of crows had +dropped from the clouds to the battle-plain. Their wild laughter and shouts +were heard over the whole meadow. +</p> + +<p> +Some holding in their lips knives still steaming drew with both hands dead men +by the feet; others in sport threw at one another severed heads. Some were +filling bags; others, as in a bazaar, were holding up bloody garments, praising +their value, or examining the weapons which they had taken. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita passed over the field where he had first met the cavalry. Bodies of men +and horses, cut with swords, lay scattered there; but where squadrons had cut +infantry, there were whole piles of corpses, and pools of stiffened blood +plashed under foot like muddy water in a swamp. +</p> + +<p> +It was difficult to advance through the fragments of broken lances, muskets, +corpses, overturned wagons, and troops of Tartars pushing around. +</p> + +<p> +Gosyevski was still on the intrenchment of the fortified camp, and with him +were Prince Michael Radzivill, Voynillovich, Volodyovski, Korsak, and a number +of men. From this height they took in with their eyes the field far away to its +uttermost edges, and were able to estimate the whole extent of the victory and +the enemy’s defeat. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, on beholding these gentlemen, hastened his pace; and Gosyevski, since he +was not only a fortunate warrior but an honorable man without a shadow of envy +in his heart, had barely seen Pan Andrei, when he cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Here comes the real victor! He is the cause of winning the day. I first +declare this in public. Gracious gentlemen, thank Pan Babinich; for had it not +been for him we could not have crossed the river.” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Babinich!” cried a number of voices. “Vivat, +vivat!” +</p> + +<p> +“Where did you learn war, O soldier,” cried the hetman, with +enthusiasm, “that you know what to do in a moment?” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita did not answer, for he was too tired. He merely bowed on every side, and +passed his hand over his face, soiled with sweat and with powder-smoke. His +eyes gleamed with an uncommon light, and still the vivats sounded incessantly. +Division after division returned from the field on foaming horses; and those +who came joined their voices from full breasts in honor of Babinich. Caps flew +into the air; whoso had a pistol still loaded gave fire. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly Kmita stood in the saddle, and raising both hands high, +shouted,— +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Yan Kazimir, our lord and gracious father!” +</p> + +<p> +Here there was such a shout as if anew battle had begun. Unspeakable enthusiasm +seized all. Prince Michael ungirded his sabre, which had a hilt set with +diamonds, and gave it to Kmita. The hetman threw his own costly cloak on the +shoulders of the hero, who again raised his hands,— +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat our hetman, victorious leader!” +</p> + +<p> +“May he increase and flourish!” answered all, in a chorus. +</p> + +<p> +Then they brought together the captured banners, and thrust them into the +embankment at the feet of the leaders. The enemy had not taken one of theirs. +There were Prussian, Prussian of the general militia, nobles’, Swedish, +and Boguslav flags; the whole rainbow of them was waving at the embankment. +</p> + +<p> +“One of the greatest victories of this war!” cried the hetman. +“Israel and Waldeck are in captivity, the colonels have fallen or are in +captivity, the army is cut to pieces.” Here he turned to Kmita: +“Pan Babinich, you were on that side, you must have met Boguslav; what +has happened to him?” +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Michael looked diligently into Kmita’s eyes, but Kmita said +quickly,— +</p> + +<p> +“God has punished Boguslav with this hand.” Then he stretched forth +his right hand; but at that moment the little knight threw himself into his +arms. +</p> + +<p> +“Yendrek,” cried he, “I am not envious! May God bless +you!” +</p> + +<p> +“You formed my hand!” answered Pan Andrei, with effusion. +</p> + +<p> +But a further expression of brotherly feeling was stopped by Pan Michael +Radzivill. +</p> + +<p> +“Is my cousin killed?” asked he, quickly. +</p> + +<p> +“Not killed,” answered Kmita, “for I granted him life; but he +is wounded and captive, and over there my Nogais are bringing him.” +</p> + +<p> +At these words astonishment was depicted on Volodyovski’s face, and the +eyes of the knight were turned to the plain, on which appeared a party of some +tens of Tartars approaching slowly; at last, when they had passed a group of +broken wagons, they came within some tens of yards of the intrenchment. +</p> + +<p> +The hetman and the officers saw that the Tartar riding in advance was leading a +prisoner; all recognized Boguslav, but in what a change of fortune! +</p> + +<p> +He, one of the most powerful lords in the Commonwealth; he, who even yesterday +was dreaming of independent rule; he, a prince of the German Empire,—was +walking now with a lariat around his neck, at the side of a Tartar horse, +without a hat, with bloody head bound in a filthy rag! But such was the venom +in the hearts of the knights against this magnate that his terrible humiliation +did not excite the pity of any, and nearly all mouths shouted at the same +moment,— +</p> + +<p> +“Death to the traitor! Bear him apart on sabres! Death, death!” +</p> + +<p> +Prince Michael covered his eyes with his hand, for still that was a Radzivill +led with such humiliation. Suddenly he grew red and shouted,— +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious gentlemen! that is my cousin, that is my blood, and I have +spared neither life nor property for the country. He is my enemy who will raise +a hand against that ill-fated man.” +</p> + +<p> +The knights were silent at once. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Michael was universally beloved for his bravery, liberality, and +devotion to the country. Even when all Lithuania fell into the hands of the +Northerners, he alone defended himself in Nyesvyej, and in the time of the +Swedish wars he contemned the persuasions of Prince Yanush, and was one of the +first to join the confederacy of Tyshovtsi. His voice therefore found hearing +at once. Finally, it may be that no one wished to oppose so powerful a man; it +is enough that the sabres were placed at once in the scabbards, and even some +officers, clients of the Radzivills, exclaimed,— +</p> + +<p> +“Take him from the Tartars! Let the Commonwealth judge him, but let not +honorable blood be insulted by Pagans.” +</p> + +<p> +“Take him from the Tartars!” repeated the prince; “we will +find surety, and he will pay the ransom himself. Pan Voynillovich, move your +men and let them take him by force, if it is impossible otherwise.” +</p> + +<p> +“I offer myself as a surety to the Tartars,” said Pan Gnoinski. +</p> + +<p> +Then Volodyovski pushed up to Kmita and said: “Yendrek, what have you +done? He will go safely out of this trouble!” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita sprang forward like a wounded wild-cat. +</p> + +<p> +“With the permission of your highness,” cried he. “This is my +prisoner! I granted him life, but under conditions to which he swore by his +heretical gospel; and may I fall dead here if he will go out of the hands into +which I gave him before he fulfils everything!” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, he struck his horse, blocked the road, and his inborn +impulsiveness had almost carried him away; for his face began to writhe, he +distended his nostrils, and his eyes began to cast lightning. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Voynillovich pressed him with his horse. “Aside, Pan +Babinich!” cried he. +</p> + +<p> +“Aside, Pan Voynillovich!” roared Kmita, and struck with the hilt +of his sabre Voynillovich’s horse with such force that the steed tottered +on his legs as if struck by a ball and dug the ground with his nostrils. Then +there rose a fierce shout among the knights, so that Gosyevski pushed forward +and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Silence, gentlemen! Gracious prince, in virtue of my authority as +hetman, I declare that Pan Babinich has a right to the prisoner, and that whoso +wishes to free him from Tartar hands must give guarantee to his +conqueror.” +</p> + +<p> +Prince Michael mastered his indignation, calmed himself, and said, directing +his speech to Pan Andrei,— +</p> + +<p> +“Say what you wish.” +</p> + +<p> +“That he observe the conditions with me before he leaves +captivity.” +</p> + +<p> +“But he will keep them when he is free.” +</p> + +<p> +“Impossible! I do not believe him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I swear for him, by the Most Holy Mother, whom I recognize, and on +the word of a knight, that all will be observed to you. In the opposite case +you may make demand on my honor and property.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is sufficient for me!” said Kmita. “Let Pan Gnoinski go +as hostage, for otherwise the Tartars will make resistance. I will give way on +your word.” +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you, Cavalier!” answered Prince Michael. “Do not +fear, either, that he will receive his freedom at once, for I will give him to +the hetman by right, and he will remain a prisoner until the king pronounces +sentence.” +</p> + +<p> +“That will be so!” answered the hetman; and ordering Voynillovich +to sit on a fresh horse, for that one was hardly able to stand, he sent him +with Pan Gnoinski for the prince. +</p> + +<p> +But the affair did not pass easily yet; for Hassan Bey made a terrible +resistance, and only the sight of Pan Gnoinski and the promise of a ransom of a +hundred thousand thalers could pacify him. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening Prince Boguslav found himself in the tents of Gosyevski. He was +cared for with attention; two physicians did not leave him for a moment, and +both guaranteed his life, for the wound, since it had been given with the very +end of the sabre, was not too serious. +</p> + +<p> +Volodyovski could not forgive Kmita for having granted the prince his life, and +from sorrow avoided him all day. It was only in the evening that Pan Andrei +himself went to Pan Michael’s tent. +</p> + +<p> +“Fear the wounds of God!” cried the little knight, at sight of him; +“I should have expected this of any other than of you, to let that +traitor go alive!” +</p> + +<p> +“Listen to me, Michael, before you condemn me,” said Kmita, +gloomily. “I had him under my foot and held my sabre point at his throat, +and then do you know what the traitor said? That there were commands given to +kill Olenka in Taurogi if he should be slain. What had I, unfortunate man, to +do? I purchased her life with his life. What had I to do? By the cross of +Christ, what had I to do?” +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Andrei began to pull his hair, to stamp, from bewilderment; and +Volodyovski thought for awhile, then said,— +</p> + +<p> +“I understand your despair; but still—you see, you have let go a +traitor who may bring grievous suffering to the country. There is no denying, +Yendrek, that you have rendered wonderful service to-day; but at last you +sacrificed the public good to your own private ends.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what would you have done if you were told that there was a knife at +the throat of Panna Anusia?” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael’s mustaches quivered fiercely. “I do not offer myself +as an example. H’m! what would I have done? But Pan Yan, who has a Roman +soul, would not have let him live; and besides, I am certain that God would not +have let innocent blood flow for the reason he mentioned.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let me do penance. Punish me, O God, not according to my heavy sin, but +according to Thy mercy; for to sign a sentence against that dove—” +Here Kmita closed his eyes. “Angels forefend! Never, never!” +</p> + +<p> +“It is passed,” said Volodyovski. +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Andrei took a paper out of his bosom. “See, Michael, what I +obtained. This is a command to Sakovich, to all the officers of Radzivill, and +to the Swedish commandants. We forced him to write it, though he could barely +move his hand. Prince Michael himself saw to that. This is freedom for her, +safety for her. I will lie in the form of a cross every day for a year, I will +have myself scourged, I will build a church, but I will not sacrifice her life. +I have not a Roman soul. Well, I am not a Cato like Pan Yan, true! But I will +not sacrifice her; no, by a hundred thunders, I will not, even if at last I am +roasted in hell on a spit—” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita did not finish, for Pan Michael sprang up to him and stopped his mouth +with his hand, crying in a terrified voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“Do not blaspheme, for you will draw the vengeance of God on her. Beat +your breast, quickly, quickly!” +</p> + +<p> +And Pan Andrei began to beat his breast: “Mea culpa! mea culpa! mea +maxima culpa!” At last the poor soldier burst into loud weeping, for he +did not know himself what to do. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael let him have his cry out; then he pacified him, and asked,— +</p> + +<p> +“And what will you undertake now?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will go with my men whither I am sent, as far as Birji. Only let the +men and horses draw breath first. On the road I will shed as much heretical +blood as I can, to the glory of God.” +</p> + +<p> +“And you will have your merit. Do not lose heart, Yendrek. God is +merciful!” +</p> + +<p> +“I will go directly ahead. All Prussia is open at present; only here and +there shall I light upon small garrisons.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Michael sighed: “Oh, I would go with you as gladly as to paradise. +But I must keep my command. You are fortunate to lead volunteers. Yendrek, +listen, brother! and when you find both, take care of that one, so that no evil +befall her. God knows, she may be predestined to me.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had said this, the little knight cast himself into the arms of Pan +Andrei. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER LII.</h2> + +<p> +Olenka and Anusia, having freed themselves from Taurogi, under the protection +of Braun, came successfully to the sword-bearer’s party, which at that +time was near Olsha, therefore not very far from Taurogi. +</p> + +<p> +The old noble when he saw them both in good health would not believe his eyes +at first; then he fell to weeping from delight, and finally came to such +military enthusiasm that for him danger existed no longer. Let not only +Boguslav appear, but the King of Sweden himself with all his power, Pan +Billevich was ready to defend his maidens against every enemy. +</p> + +<p> +“I will fall,” said he, “before a hair shall drop from your +heads. I am no longer the man whom you knew in Taurogi, and I think that the +Swedes will long remember Girlakole, Yasvoynya, and those beatings which I gave +them at Rossyeni itself. It is true that the traitor Sakovich attacked us +unawares and routed us, but you see several hundred sabres on service.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Billevich did not exaggerate greatly, for in truth it was difficult to +recognize in him the former prisoner of Taurogi fallen in courage. He had +another mind now; his energy had revived in the field, on his horse; he found +himself in his element, and being a good soldier, he had really handled the +Swedes several times roughly. And since he had great authority in the +neighborhood, the nobles and common people flocked to him willingly, and even +from some remote districts a Billevich brought him now between ten and twenty +horsemen, now some tens of horsemen. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Tomash’s party was composed of three hundred peasant infantry and +about five hundred horsemen. It was rare that any man in the infantry had a +gun; the greater number were armed with scythes and forks. The cavalry was a +collection of the wealthier nobles, who betook themselves to the forest with +their attendants, and of the poorer nobles from villages. Their arms were +better than those of the infantry, but greatly varied. Hop-poles served as +lances for many; some carried rich family weapons, but frequently of a past +age; the horses, of various breeds and quality, were not fitted for one rank. +</p> + +<p> +With such troops the sword-bearer could block the road to Swedish patrols, he +might cut off even detachments of cavalry, he might clear forests and villages +of plunderers, whose numerous bands, composed of Swedish fugitives, Prussian +and local ruffians, were busied with robbery; but he could not attack any town. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes had grown wiser. Immediately after the outbreak of the rebellion +those who were scattered in quarters in the villages were cut down throughout +Jmud and Lithuania; but now those who had survived remained mostly in fortified +towns, which they left only for short expeditions. Therefore the fields, +forests, hamlets, and smaller towns were in Polish hands; but the larger towns +were held by Swedes, and there was no power to dislodge them. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer’s party was one of the best; others could effect still +less than he. On the boundary of Livonia the insurgents had grown so bold, it +is true, that they besieged Birji twice, and at the second attack it was forced +to surrender; but that temporary preponderance came from this,—that +Pontus de la Gardie had assembled to the defence of Riga against the forces of +the Tsar all the troops from the neighboring districts of Livonia. +</p> + +<p> +His brilliant victories, rarely equalled in history, caused the belief, +however, that war in that quarter would soon be at an end, and that he would +bring to Jmud new Swedish troops intoxicated with triumphs. Still there was +safety enough in the forests at that time; and numerous parties of insurgents +capable of undertaking little alone might still be certain that the enemy would +not seek them in deep wildernesses. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore Pan Billevich rejected the thought of hiding in Byalovyej; for the +road to it was very long, and on the way were many considerable places with +large garrisons. +</p> + +<p> +“The Lord God has given a dry autumn,” said he to the maidens, +“therefore it is easier to live <i>sub Jove</i> (in the open air). I will +have a regular tent made for you; I will find a woman to wait on you, and you +will stay in the camp. In these times there is no safer refuge than the forest. +My Billeviche is burned to the ground; country houses are infested by ravagers +and sometimes even by Swedish parties. Where could you incline your heads more +safely than with me, who have several hundred sabres at my command? Rains will +come later, then some cabin will be found for you in the forest.” +</p> + +<p> +This idea pleased Panna Anusia greatly; for in the party were many young +Billeviches, polite cavaliers, and besides it was said continually that Pan +Babinich was marching in that direction. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia hoped that when he came he would drive out the Swedes in a twinkle, and +then—then would be what God would give. Olenka judged also that it was +safest with the party; but she wished to retreat far from Taurogi, fearing the +pursuit of Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us go to Vodokty,” said she; “there we shall be among +our own people. Although it is burned, Mitruny and all the neighboring villages +are there. It is impossible that the whole country is turned into a desert. +Lauda will defend us in case of danger.” +</p> + +<p> +“But all the Lauda men have gone with Volodyovski,” said Yur +Billevich, in opposition. +</p> + +<p> +“The old men and the youths have remained, and even the women there are +able to defend in case of need. Besides, forests are greater there than here; +the Domasheviches, the hunters, or the Smoky Gostyeviches will take us to +Rogovsk, where no enemy will find us.” +</p> + +<p> +“And when I have secured the camp and you, I will attack the Swedes, and +cut to pieces those who dare to touch the rim of the wilderness,” said +Pan Billevich. “This is an excellent idea! We have nothing to do here; it +is possible to render greater service.” +</p> + +<p> +Who knows whether the sword-bearer did not seize that idea of Olenka so quickly +because he too in his soul was somewhat afraid of Sakovich, who brought to +despair, might be terrible? +</p> + +<p> +The advice, however, was wise in itself; therefore it pleased all immediately. +The sword-bearer sent out infantry that very day under command of Yur +Billevich, so as to push forward by the forest in the direction of Krakinov; +but he went forward himself with the cavalry two days later, obtaining in +advance reliable intelligence as to whether there had not gone out from Kyedani +or Rossyeni, between which he had to march, some considerable bodies of Swedish +troops. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Billevich marched slowly and carefully. The ladies travelled in +peasants’ wagons, and sometimes on ponies which the sword-bearer had +provided. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia, who had received as a gift from Yur Billevich a light sabre, hung it +bravely at her side, and in a cap, placed jauntily on her head, brought up the +squadron like some captain. The march amused her, the sabres glittering in the +sun, and the fires disposed around at night. Young officers and soldiers were +greatly pleased with the lady, and she shot her eyes around in every direction +on the march; she let her tresses fall so as to braid them three times daily +over the banks of bright brooks, which for her took the place of a mirror. She +said often that she wished to see a battle, so as to give an example of +bravery; but in very truth she did not want a battle at all. She wanted only to +subdue the hearts of all the young warriors; in fact, she did subdue an +unreckoned number of them. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka too revived again, as it were, after leaving Taurogi. There the +uncertainty of her future and continual fear were killing her; now in the +depths of the forest she felt safer. The wholesome air brought back her +strength. The sight of soldiers, of weapons, the movement and bustle of camp +life, acted like balsam on her wearied soul. And the march of troops acted +agreeably on her also; possible dangers did not alarm her in the least, for +knightly blood was in her veins. Appearing less frequently before the soldiers, +not permitting herself to gallop on a pony in front of the ranks, she attracted +fewer glances, but general respect surrounded her. The mustached faces of the +soldiers were laughing at sight of Anusia; heads were uncovered when Olenka +drew near the fires. That was changed later to homage. But it did not pass +without this,—that some heart beat for her in a youthful breast; but eyes +did not dare to gaze at her so directly as at that brunette of the Ukraine. +</p> + +<p> +They advanced through forests and thickets, often sending scouts ahead; and +only on the seventh day did they arrive late at night in Lyubich, which, lying +on the border of the Lauda region, formed as it were the entrance to it. The +horses were so tired that in spite of Olenka’s opposition it was +impossible to go farther; Billevich therefore forebade the lady to find fault, +and disposed his party for the halt. He himself with the young ladies occupied +the house, for the night was foggy and very cold. By a marvellous chance the +house had not been burned. The enemy had spared it probably through the command +of Prince Yanush Radzivill, because it was Kmita’s; and though the prince +learned later of Pan Andrei’s secession, he forgot or had not time to +give a new order. The insurgents considered the estate as belonging to the +Billeviches; the ravagers did not dare to plunder near Lauda. Therefore nothing +had changed in it. Olenka went under that roof with a terrible feeling of +bitterness and pain. She knew every corner there, but almost with each one was +bound up some memory of Kmita’s betrayal. Before her is the dining-hall +ornamented with the portraits of the Billeviches and with skulls of wild beasts +of the forest; the skulls cracked with bullets are still on the nails; the +portraits slashed with sabres are gazing from the walls, as if wishing to say, +“Behold, O maiden! behold, our granddaughter! it was he who slashed with +sacrilegious hand the pictures of our earthly forms, now resting long in their +graves.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka felt that she could not close an eye in that branded house. It seemed to +her that in the dark corners of the rooms were prowling around yet the ghosts +of those terrible comrades breathing fire from their nostrils. And how quickly +that man, so loved by her, had passed from violence to transgression, from +transgression to crimes, from the slashing of portraits to profligacy, to the +burning of Upita and Volmontovichi, to carrying her off from Vodokty; further +to the service of Radzivill, to treason, crowned with the promise of raising +his hand against the king, against the father of the whole Commonwealth! +</p> + +<p> +The night went on swiftly, but sleep did not seize the lids of unhappy Olenka. +All the wounds of her soul were reopened and began to burn painfully. Shame +again was scorching her cheeks; her eyes dropped no tears in that time, but +immeasurable grief surrounded her heart, because it could not find place within +that poor heart. Grief for what? For what might have been had he been +other,—if with his bad habits, wildness, and violence, he had even had an +honest heart; if finally he had even a measure in his crimes, if there existed +some boundary over which he was incapable of passing? And her heart would have +forgiven so much. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia saw the suffering of her companion, and understood the cause; for the +old sword-bearer had detailed the whole history to her previously. Since she +had a kind heart, she came up to Panna Billevich, and throwing her arms around +her neck, said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Olenka, you are writhing from pain in this house.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka at first did not wish to speak; then her whole body trembled like an +aspen leaf, and at last a terrible, despairing cry burst from her bosom. +Seizing Anusia’s hand convulsively, she rested her bright head on that +maiden’s shoulder; sobbing now tore her as a whirlwind tears a thicket. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia had to wait long before it passed; at last she whispered when Olenka was +pacified somewhat, “Let us pray for him.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka covered her eyes with both hands. “I—cannot,” said +she, with an effort. +</p> + +<p> +After a while, gathering back feverishly the hair which had fallen on her +forehead, she began to speak with a gasping voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“You see—I cannot— You are happy; your Babinich is honorable, +famous, before God and the country. You are happy; I am not free even to +pray— Here, everywhere, is the blood of people, and here are burned +ruins. If at least he had not betrayed the country, if he had not undertaken to +sell the king! I had forgiven everything before, in Kyedani; for I +thought—for I loved him with my whole heart. But now I cannot—O +merciful God! I cannot! I could wish not to live myself, and that he were not +living.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is permitted to pray for every soul,” said Anusia; “for +God is more merciful than men, and knows reasons which often men do not +know.” +</p> + +<p> +When she had said this, Anusia knelt down to pray, and Olenka threw herself on +the floor in the form of a cross, and lay thus till daybreak. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the news thundered through the neighborhood that Pan Billevich was +in Lauda. At that news all who were living came forth with greeting. Therefore +out of the neighboring forests issued decrepit old men, and women with small +children. For two years no one had sowed any seed, no one had ploughed any +land. The villages were partly burned and were deserted. The people lived in +the forests. Men in the vigor of life had gone with Volodyovski or to various +parties; only youths watched and guarded the remnant of cattle, and guarded +well, but under cover of the wilderness. +</p> + +<p> +They greeted the sword-bearer then as a savior, with a great cry of joy; for to +those simple people it seemed that if the sword-bearer had come and the +“lady” was returning to the ancient nest, then there must be an end +to war and disasters. In fact, they began at once to return to the villages, +and to drive out the half-wild cattle from the deepest forest inclosures. +</p> + +<p> +The Swedes, it is true, were not far away, defended by intrenchments in +Ponyevyej; but in presence of Billevich’s forces and other neighboring +parties which might be summoned in case of need, less attention was paid to +them. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Tomash even intended to attack Ponyevyej, so as to clear out the whole +district; but he was waiting for more men to rally to his banner, and waiting +especially till guns were brought to his infantry. These guns the Domasheviches +had secreted in considerable number in the forest; meanwhile he examined the +neighborhood, passing from village to village. +</p> + +<p> +But that was a gloomy review at Vodokty. The mansion was burned, and half the +village; Mitruny in like manner; Volmontovichi of the Butryms, which Kmita had +burned in his time, and which had been rebuilt after the fire, by a marvellous +chance was untouched; but Drojeykani and Mozgi of the Domasheviches was burned +to the ground; Patsuneli was half consumed, and Morezi altogether. Goshchuni +experienced the harshest fate; for half the people were cut to pieces, and all +the men to boys of a few years had their hands cut off by command of Colonel +Rossa. +</p> + +<p> +So terribly had war trampled those neighborhoods! such were the results of the +treason of Yanush Radzivill! +</p> + +<p> +But before Billevich had finished his review and stationed his infantry, fresh +tidings came, at once joyful and terrible, which rang with thousand-fold echo +from cottage to cottage. +</p> + +<p> +Yurek Billevich, who had gone with a few tens of horses on a reconnoissance to +Ponyevyej and had seized some Swedes, was the first to learn of the battle at +Prostki. Then every report brought more details, so wondrous that they +resembled a fable. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Gosyevski, it was said, had routed Count Waldeck, Israel, and Prince +Boguslav. The army was cut to pieces, the leaders in captivity. All Prussia was +blazing in one conflagration. +</p> + +<p> +A few weeks later the mouths of men began to repeat one terrible +name,—the name of Babinich. +</p> + +<p> +Babinich, said they, was the main cause of the victory at Prostki. Babinich cut +down with his own hand and captured Prince Boguslav. The next news was: +“Babinich is burning Electoral Prussia, is advancing like death toward +Jmud, slaying, leaving behind only earth and sky.” +</p> + +<p> +Then came the end: “Babinich has burned Taurogi. Sakovich has fled before +him, and is hiding in forests.” The last event had happened too near to +remain long in doubt. In fact, the news was verified perfectly. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia during the whole time that news was arriving lived as if dazed; she +laughed and wept in turn, stamped her feet when no one believed, and repeated +to every one, whether that one would listen or not,— +</p> + +<p> +“I know Pan Babinich. He brought me from Zamost to Pan Sapyeha. He is the +greatest warrior in the world. I do not know whether Pan Charnyetski is his +equal. He is the man who serving under Sapyeha crushed Boguslav utterly in the +first campaign. He—I am sure that it is no other—conquered him at +Prostki. Yes, he can finish Sakovich and ten like Sakovich; and he will sweep +out the Swedes in a month from all Jmud.” +</p> + +<p> +In fact, her assurances began to be justified speedily. There was not the least +doubt that the terrible warrior called Babinich had moved forward from Taurogi +toward the northern country. +</p> + +<p> +At Koltyni he defeated Colonel Baldon and cut his troops to pieces; at Varni he +scattered the Swedish infantry, which retreated before him at Telshi; at Telshi +he won a greater victory over two colonels, Norman and Hudenskiöld, in which +the latter fell, and Norman with the survivors did not halt till he reached +Zagori, on the very boundary of Jmud. +</p> + +<p> +From Telshi Babinich marched to Kurshani, driving before him smaller divisions +of Swedes, who took refuge in haste with the more important garrisons. +</p> + +<p> +From Taurogi and Polangi to Birji and Vilkomir the name of the victor was +ringing. They told of the cruelties which he permitted himself against the +Swedes. It was said that his forces, composed at first of a small chambul of +Tartars and little squads of volunteers, increased day after day; for all who +were living rushed to him, all parties joined him, but he bound them in bonds +of iron and led them against the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Minds were so far occupied by his victories that tidings of the defeat which +Pan Gosyevski had sustained from Steinbock at Filipovo passed almost without an +echo. Babinich was nearer, and with Babinich they were more occupied. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia implored Billevich daily to advance and join the great warrior. Olenka +supported her; all the officers and nobles urged, excited by curiosity alone. +</p> + +<p> +But to join the warrior was not easy. First, Babinich was in another district; +second, he often disappeared, and was not heard of for weeks, and then appeared +again with news of a new victory; third, all the Swedish soldiers and +garrisons, protecting themselves from him, had stopped the road with large +forces; finally, beyond Rossyeni a considerable body of troops had appeared +under Sakovich, of whom tidings were brought saying that he was destroying +everything before him, and torturing people terribly while questioning them +concerning Billevich’s party. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer not only could not march to Babinich, but he feared that it +would soon be too narrow for him near Lauda. Not knowing himself what to begin, +he confided to Yurek Billevich that he intended to withdraw to the forest of +Rogovsk on the east. Yurek immediately gave this information to Anusia, and she +went straight to the sword-bearer. +</p> + +<p> +“Dearest uncle,” said she, for she always called him uncle when she +wanted to gain something from him, “I hear that we have to flee. Is it +not a shame for so celebrated a warrior to flee at the mere report of an +enemy?” +</p> + +<p> +“Your ladyship must thrust your three coppers into everything,” +said the anxious sword-bearer. “This is not your affair.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, then, retreat, but I will stay here.” +</p> + +<p> +“So that Sakovich will catch you,—you’ll see!” +</p> + +<p> +“Sakovich will not catch me, for Pan Babinich will defend me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Especially when he knows where you are. I have said already that we are +unable to go to him.” +</p> + +<p> +“But he can come to us. I am his acquaintance; if I could only send a +letter to him, I am certain he would come here, after he had beaten Sakovich. +He loved me a little, and he would come to rescue me.” +</p> + +<p> +“But who will undertake to carry a letter?” +</p> + +<p> +“It can be sent through the first peasant that comes.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will do no harm, it will do no harm; in no case will it do harm. +Olenka has quick wit, but neither are you without it. Even if we had to retreat +to the woods this moment before superior force, it would still be well to have +Babinich come to these parts, for we can then join him more easily. Try! +Messengers will be found, and trusty men.” +</p> + +<p> +The delighted Anusia began to try so well that that same day she found two +messengers,—and not peasants; for one was Yurek Billevich, the other +Braun. Each was to take a letter of the same contents as that which the other +carried, so that if one failed the other might deliver the missive to Babinich. +With the letter itself Anusia had more trouble; but at last she wrote it in the +following words:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“In the last extremity I write to you. If you remember me, though I doubt +if you do, come to rescue me. By the kindness which you showed me on the road +from Zamost, I dare to hope that you will not leave me in misfortune. I am in +the party of Pan Billevich, the sword-bearer of Rossyeni, who gave me refuge +because I brought his relative, Panna Billevich, out of captivity in Taurogi. +And him and us both the enemy, namely, the Swedes, have surrounded on every +side, and a certain Pan Sakovich, before whose sinful importunities I had to +flee and seek safety in the camp. I know that you did not love me, though God +sees that I did you no harm. I wished you well, and I shall wish you well from +my whole heart. But though you do not love, rescue a poor orphan from the +savage hand of the enemy. God will reward you for it a hundred fold, and I will +pray for you, whom to-day I call only my good protector, but hereafter my +savior.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +When the messengers were leaving the camp, Anusia, considering to what dangers +they were exposed, was alarmed, and at last wished to stop them. Even with +tears in her eyes she began to implore the sword-bearer not to permit them to +go; for peasants might carry the letters, and it would be easier for the +peasants to deliver them. +</p> + +<p> +But Braun and Yurek Billevich were so stubborn that no remonstrance could +avail. One wished to surpass the other in readiness to serve, but neither +foresaw what was awaiting him. A week later Braun fell into the hands of +Sakovich, who gave command to flay him; but poor Yurek was shot beyond +Ponyevyej while fleeing before a Swedish party. +</p> + +<p> +Both letters fell into the hands of the enemy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER LIII.</h2> + +<p> +Sakovich, after he had seized and flayed Braun, arranged at once a joint attack +on the Billevich party with Hamilton, the commandant of Ponyevyej, an +Englishman in the Swedish service. +</p> + +<p> +Babinich had just disappeared somewhere in the forest, and for a number of days +no report of him had come. But Sakovich would not have regarded him, even had +he been in the neighborhood. He had, it is true, in spite of all his daring, a +certain instinctive dread of Babinich; but this time he was ready to perish +himself, if he could accomplish his vengeance. From the time of Anusia’s +flight rage had not ceased for a moment to tear his soul. Deceived +calculations, and wounded love especially, brought him to frenzy; and besides +the heart was suffering in him. At first he wished to marry Anusia only for the +property willed her by her first betrothed, Pan Podbipienta; but later he fell +in love with her blindly, and to the death, as only such a man can fall in +love. And it went so far that he who feared no one on earth save Boguslav, he +before whose glance alone people grew pale, gazed like a dog into the eyes of +that maiden, yielded to her, endured her caprices, carried out all her wishes, +strove to divine her thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +She used and abused her influence, deluding him with words, with a look; used +him as a slave, and finally betrayed him. +</p> + +<p> +Sakovich was of those men who consider that only as good and virtuous which is +good for them, and as evil and criminal that which brings them harm. In his +eyes, therefore, Anusia had committed the most terrible crime, and there was no +punishment sufficiently great for her. If the mishap had met another, the +starosta would have laughed and jeered at the man; but when it touched his own +person, he roared as a wounded wild beast, and thought only of vengeance. He +wished to get the guilty woman into his hands, dead or alive. He would have +preferred her alive, for then he could exercise a cavalier’s vengeance +before her death; but if the maiden had to fall in time of attack, he cared +little, if only she did not come into possession of another. +</p> + +<p> +Wishing to act with certainty, he sent a bribed man to the sword-bearer with a +letter as if from Babinich, in which he announced, in the name of the latter, +that he would be in Volmontovichi in the course of a week. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich believed easily, trusting therefore in the invincible power of +Babinich; and he made no secret of the arrangement. He not only took up his +headquarters for good in Volmontovichi, but by the announcement of the news he +attracted almost all the population of Lauda. What remained of it assembled +from the forests,—first, because the end of autumn had come, and there +were heavy frosts; and second, through pure curiosity alone to see the great +warrior. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, from the direction of Ponyevyej marched toward Volmontovichi +Hamilton’s Swedes, and from the direction of Kyedani was stealing forward +in wolf-fashion Sakovich. +</p> + +<p> +But Sakovich had no suspicion that on his tracks was advancing in wolf-fashion +also a third man, who without invitation had the habit of coming where people +expected him least. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita knew not that Olenka was with the Billevich party. In Taurogi, which he +ruined with fire and sword, he learned that she had gone with Anusia; but he +supposed that they had gone to Byalovyej, where Pan Yan’s wife was in +hiding as well as many other noble women. He might the more easily suppose +this, since he knew that Billevich had long intended to take his niece to those +impassable forests. +</p> + +<p> +It tortured Pan Andrei immensely that he had not found her in Taurogi, but at +the same time he was glad that she had escaped from the hands of Sakovich, and +would find safe refuge till the end of the war. Not being able to go for her at +once to the wilderness, he determined to attack and destroy the enemy in Jmud, +until he had crushed them completely. And fortune went with him. For a month +and a half victory followed victory; armed men rushed to him in such numbers +that soon his chambul was barely one fourth of his force. Finally, he drove the +enemy out of all western Jmud; but hearing of Sakovich, and having old scores +to settle with the starosta, he set out for his own former district, and +followed him. In this way both were now drawing near Volmontovichi. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich, who at first had taken a position not far from the village, had been +living there a week, and the thought did not even come to his head that he +would soon have such terrible guests. One evening the youthful Butryms, herding +horses beyond Volmontovichi, informed him that troops had issued from the +forest, and were advancing from the south. Billevich was too old and +experienced a soldier not to take precautions. Some of his infantry, partly +furnished with fire-arms by the Domasheviches, he placed in the houses recently +rebuilt, and some he stationed at the gate; with the cavalry he took possession +himself of a broad pasture somewhat in the rear, beyond the fences, and which +touched with one side the river. He did this mainly to gain the praise of +Babinich, who must understand skilful dispositions; the place he had chosen was +really a strong one. +</p> + +<p> +After Kmita had burned Volmontovichi, in vengeance for the slaughter of his +comrades, the village was rebuilt by degrees; but as later on the Swedish war +had stopped work on it, a multitude of beams, planks, and boards were lying on +the principal street. Whole piles of them rose up near the gate; and infantry, +even slightly trained, might make a protracted defence from behind them. +</p> + +<p> +In every case the infantry protected the cavalry from the first onset. +Billevich was so eager to exhibit his military skill to Babinich, that he sent +forward a small party to reconnoitre. +</p> + +<p> +What was his amazement, and at the first moment alarm, when from a distance and +beyond the grove there came to him the sound of musketry; then his party +appeared on the road, but coming at a gallop, with a crowd of enemies at its +shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer sprang at once to the infantry to give final orders; but from +the grove rushed forth dense groups of the enemy, and advanced locust-like +toward Volmontovichi, with arms glittering in the setting sun. +</p> + +<p> +The grove was near. When they had approached somewhat, the cavalry pushed +forward at once on a gallop, wishing to pass the gate at a blow; but the sudden +fire of the infantry stopped them on the spot. The first ranks fell back, and +even in considerable disorder; only a few brought their horses’ breasts +to the defences. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer recovered meanwhile, and galloping to the cavalry ordered all +who had pistols or guns to advance to the aid of the infantry. +</p> + +<p> +Evidently the enemy were equally provided with muskets; for after the first +onset they began a very violent, though irregular fire. +</p> + +<p> +From both sides it thundered now more quickly, now more slowly; the balls +whistling came up to the cavalry, struck on the houses, fence, piles of timber; +the smoke rose over Volmontovichi, the smell of powder filled the street. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia had what she wanted,—a battle. Both ladies mounted ponies at the +first moment, by command of Billevich, so that at a given signal they might +retreat with the party should the enemy’s forces turn out too great. They +were stationed therefore in the rear ranks of the cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +But though Anusia had a small sabre at her side and a lynx-skin cap on her +head, her soul fled at once into her arms. She who knew so well how to take +counsel in peace with officers, had not one pinch of energy when she had to +stand eye to eye with the sons of Bellona in the field. The whistle and +knocking of balls terrified her; the uproar, the racing of orderlies, the +rattle of muskets, and the groans of the wounded took away her presence of +mind, and the smell of powder stopped the breath in her breast. She grew faint +and weak, her face became pale as a kerchief, and she squirmed and whimpered +like a little child, till young Pan Olesha from Kyemnar had to hold her by the +arms. He held her firmly, more firmly than was needed; and he was ready to hold +her in that way to the end of the world. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers around her began to laugh. “A knight in petticoats!” +called voices. “Better set hens and pluck feathers!” Others cried: +“Pan Olesha, that shield has come to your arm; but Cupid will shoot you +all the more easily through it!” And good-humor seized the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +But others preferred to look at Olenka, who bore herself differently. At first, +when bullets flew past at some distance she grew pale too, not being able to +forbear inclining her head and closing her eyes; but later knightly blood began +to act in her, then with face flushed like a rose she reared her head and +looked forward with fearless eye. Her distended nostrils drew in as it were +with pleasure the smell of powder. Since the smoke grew thicker and thicker at +the gate and decreased the view greatly, the daring lady, seeing that the +officers were advancing, went with them, to follow more accurately the course +of battle, not even thinking of what she was doing. +</p> + +<p> +In the throng of cavalry there rose a murmur of praise. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, that is blood! that is the wife for a soldier; she is the right kind +of volunteer!” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Panna Billevich!” +</p> + +<p> +“Let us hasten, gracious gentlemen, for it is worth while before such +eyes.” +</p> + +<p> +“The Amazons did not meet muskets better!” cried one of the younger +men, forgetting in his enthusiasm that the Amazons lived before the invention +of powder. +</p> + +<p> +“It is time to finish. The infantry have borne themselves well, and the +enemy are seriously shattered!” +</p> + +<p> +In fact, the enemy could do nothing with their cavalry. Every moment they urged +on their horses, attacked the gate, but after a salvo drew back in disorder. +And as a wave which has fallen upon the flat shore leaves behind mussels, +stones, and dead fish, so after each attack a number of bodies of horses and +men were left on the road before the gate. +</p> + +<p> +At last the onsets ceased. Only volunteers came up, firing in the direction of +the village with pistols and guns rather thickly, so as to occupy the attention +of Billevich’s men. But the sword-bearer, coming out along the gutter of +the house, saw a movement in the rear ranks of the enemy toward the fields and +thickets extending along the left side of Volmontovichi. +</p> + +<p> +“They will try from that side!” cried he; and sent immediately a +part of the cavalry between the houses so as to give resistance to the enemy +from the gardens. +</p> + +<p> +In half an hour a new battle was begun on the left wing of the party and also +with fire-arms. The fenced gardens rendered difficult a hand-to-hand struggle, +and equally difficult for both sides. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy, however, being extended over a longer line, were less exposed to +bullets. +</p> + +<p> +The battle was becoming more stubborn and more active, and the enemy did not +cease to attack the gate. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich was growing uneasy. On the right flank he had a field behind him +still free, ending with a stream not very wide, but deep and swampy, through +which a passage, especially if in haste, might be difficult. In one place only +was there a trodden road to a flat shore along which villagers drove cattle to +the forest. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer began to look around oftener toward that side. All at once +among willows which could be seen through, for they had lost their leaves, he +saw in the evening light glittering weapons and a dark cloud of soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich is coming!” thought he. +</p> + +<p> +But at that moment Pan Hjanstovski, who led the cavalry, rushed up to him. +</p> + +<p> +“Swedish infantry are visible from the river!” cried he, in terror. +</p> + +<p> +“Some treason!” cried Pan Tomash. “By Christ’s wounds, +gallop with your cavalry against that infantry; otherwise it will attack us on +the flank.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is a great force!” answered Hjanstovski. +</p> + +<p> +“Oppose it even for an hour, and we will escape in the rear to the +forests.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer galloped away, and was soon rushing over the field at the head of +two hundred men; seeing which the enemy’s infantry began to form in the +willows to receive the Poles. The squadron urged the horses, and in the +willow-bushes a musketry fire was soon rattling. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich had doubts, not only of victory, but of saving his own infantry. He +might withdraw to the rear with a part of the cavalry with the ladies, and seek +safety in the forest; but such a withdrawal would be a great defeat, for it +meant leaving to the enemy’s sword most of the party and the remnant of +the population of Lauda, which had collected in Volmontovichi to see Billevich. +Volmontovichi itself would be levelled to the ground. There remained still the +lone hope that Hjanstovski would break the infantry. Meanwhile it was growing +dark in the sky; but in the village the light increased every moment, for the +chips, splinters, and shavings, lying in a heap at the first house near the +gate, had caught fire. The house itself caught fire from them, and a red +conflagration was rising. +</p> + +<p> +By the light of the burning Billevich saw Hjanstovski’s cavalry returning +in disorder and panic; after it the Swedish infantry were rushing from the +willows, advancing to the attack on a run. +</p> + +<p> +He understood then that he must retreat by the only road open. He rushed to the +rest of the cavalry, waved his sword and cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“To the rear, gentlemen, and in order, in order!” +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly shots were heard in the rear also, mingled with shouts of soldiery. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich saw then that he was surrounded, that he had fallen as it were into a +trap from which there was neither issue nor rescue. It remained for him only to +perish with honor; therefore he sprang out before the line of cavalry, and +cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Let us fall one upon the other! Let us not spare our blood for the faith +and the country!” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the fire of the infantry defending the gate and the left side of the +village had grown weak, and the increasing shout of the enemy announced their +near victory. +</p> + +<p> +But what mean those hoarse trumpet sounds in the ranks of Sakovich’s +party, and the rattle of drums in the ranks of the Swedes? +</p> + +<p> +Outcries shriller and shriller are heard, in some way wonderful, confused, as +if not triumph but terror rings through them. +</p> + +<p> +The fire at the gate stops in a moment, as if some one had cut it off with a +knife. Groups of Sakovich’s cavalry are flying at break-neck speed from +the left flank to the main road. On the right flank the infantry halt, and +then, instead of advancing, begin to withdraw to the willows. “What is +this?” cried Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the answer comes from that grove out of which Sakovich had issued; +and now emerge from it men, horses, squadrons, horsetail standards, sabres, and +march—no, they fly like a storm, and not like a storm,—like a +tempest! In the bloody gleams of the fire they are as visible as a thing on the +hand. They are hastening in thousands! The earth seems to flee from beneath +them, and they speed on in dense column; one would say that some monster had +issued from the oak-grove, and is sweeping across the fields to the village to +swallow it. The air flies before them, driven by the impetus; with them go +terror and ruin. They are almost there! Now the attack! Like a whirlwind they +scatter Sakovich’s men. +</p> + +<p> +“O God! O great God!” cries Billevich, in bewilderment; +“these are ours! That must be Babinich!” +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich!” roared every throat after him. +</p> + +<p> +“Babinich! Babinich!” called terrified voices in Sakovich’s +party. +</p> + +<p> +And all the enemy’s cavalry wheel to the right, to escape toward the +infantry. The fence is broken with a sharp crash, under the pressure of +horses’ breasts. The pasture is filled with the fleeing; but the +new-comers, on their shoulders already, cut, slash,—cut without resting, +cut without pity. The whistling of sabres, cries, groans, are heard. Pursuers +and pursued fall upon the infantry, overturn, break, and scatter them. At last +the whole mass rolls on toward the river, disappears in the brush, clambers out +on the opposite bank. Men are visible yet; the chasing continues, with cutting +and cutting. They recede. Their sabres flash once again; then they vanish in +bushes, in space, and in darkness. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich’s infantry began to withdraw from the gate and the houses, +which needed no further defence. The cavalry stood for a time in such wonder +that deep silence reigned in the ranks; and only when the flaming house had +fallen with a crash was some voice heard on a sudden,— +</p> + +<p> +“In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the storm has gone +by!” +</p> + +<p> +“Not a foot will come out alive from that hunt!” said another +voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious gentlemen!” cried the sword-bearer, suddenly, +“shall we not spring at those who came at us in the rear? They are +retreating, but we will come up.” +</p> + +<p> +“Kill, slay!” answered a chorus of voices. +</p> + +<p> +All the cavalry wheeled around and urged their horses after the last division +of the enemy. In Volmontovichi remained only old men, women, children, and +“the lady” with her friend. +</p> + +<p> +They quenched the fire in a twinkle; joy inconceivable seized all hearts. Women +with weeping and sobbing raised their hands heavenward, and turning to the +point where Babinich had rushed away, cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“God bless thee, invincible warrior! savior who rescued us, with our +children and houses, from ruin!” +</p> + +<p> +The ancient, decrepit Butryms repeated in chorus,— +</p> + +<p> +“God bless thee, God guide thee! Without thee this would have been the +end of Volmontovichi.” +</p> + +<p> +Ah, had they known in that crowd that the very same hand that had now saved the +village from fire and the people from steel had two years before brought fire +and the sword to that Volmontovichi! +</p> + +<p> +After the fire was quenched, all began to collect in Billevich’s wounded; +the youths in a rage ran through the battle-field, and killed, with poles from +wagon-racks, the wounded left by the Swedes and Sakovich’s ravagers. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka took command of the nursing. Ever keeping her presence of mind, full of +energy and power, she did not cease her labor till every wounded man was +resting in a cottage, with dressed wounds. Then all the people followed her +example in repeating at the cross a litany for the dead. Through the whole +night no one closed an eye in Volmontovichi; all were waiting for the return of +the sword-bearer and Babinich, hurrying around at the same time to prepare for +the victors a fitting reception. Oxen and sheep, herded in the forests, went +under the knife; and fires were roaring till morning. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia alone could take no part in anything; for at first fear deprived her of +power, and later her joy was so great that it had the seeming of madness. +Olenka had to care for her; she was laughing and weeping in turn, and again she +threw herself in the arms of her friend, repeating without system or +order,— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what? Who saved Billevich and the party and all Volmontovichi? +Before whom did Sakovich flee; who overwhelmed him, and the Swedes with him? +Pan Babinich! Well, now! I knew he would come, for I wrote to him. But he did +not forget! I knew, I knew he would come. It was I who brought him! Olenka, +Olenka! I am happy. Have I not told you that no one could conquer him? +Charnyetski is not his equal. O my God, my God! Is it true that he will return? +Will it be to-day? If he was not going to return, he would not have come, is it +not true? Do you hear, Olenka? Horses are neighing in the distance!” +</p> + +<p> +But in the distance nothing was neighing. Only toward morning a tramp was +heard, shouting, singing, and Billevich came back. The cavalry on foaming +horses filled the whole village. There was no end to the songs, to the shouts, +to the stories. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer, covered with blood, panting, but joyful, related till sunrise +how he had broken a body of the enemy’s cavalry, how he had followed them +ten miles, and cut them almost to pieces. +</p> + +<p> +Billevich, as well as the troops and all the Lauda people, were convinced that +Babinich might return at any moment. The forenoon came; then the sun went to +the other half of the sky, and was descending; but Babinich came not. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia toward evening had sunburned spots on her face. “If he cared only +for the Swedes, and not for me!” thought she, in her soul; “still, +he got the letter, for he came to the rescue!” +</p> + +<p> +Poor woman! she knew not that the souls of Yurek Billevich and Braun were long +since in the other world, and that Babinich had received no letter; for if he +had received the letter he would have returned like a lightning-flash to +Volmontovichi,—but not for thee, Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +Another day passed. Billevich did not lose hope yet, and did not leave the +village. Anusia held stubborn silence. +</p> + +<p> +“He has belittled me terribly! But it is good for me, for my giddiness +and my sins!” said she to herself. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day Billevich sent some men on a reconnoissance. They returned +four days later with information that Babinich had taken Ponyevyej, and spared +not a Swede. Then he marched on, it was unknown whither, for tidings of him had +ceased. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall not find him till he comes up again,” said Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +Anusia became a nettle; whoever of the nobles or younger officers touched her +drew back quickly. But the fifth day she said to Olenka,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Volodyovski is just as good a soldier, but less rude.” +</p> + +<p> +“And maybe,” answered Olenka, meditatively, “maybe Pan +Babinich has retained his constancy for that other woman, of whom he spoke to +you on the road from Zamost.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, all one to me!” said Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +But she told not the truth; for it was not all one to her yet, by any means. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER LIV.</h2> + +<p> +Sakovich’s forces were cut up to such a degree that he was barely able +himself to take refuge in the forests near Ponyevyej with four other men. Then +he wandered through the forests disguised as a peasant for a whole month, not +daring to put his head out into the open light. +</p> + +<p> +But Babinich rushed upon Ponyevyej, cut down the infantry posted there as a +garrison, and pursued Hamilton, who was unable to flee to Livonia because of +the considerable Polish forces assembled in Shavli, and farther on, near Birji, +turned toward the east in hope of being able to break through to Vilkomir. He +had doubts about saving his own regiment, but did not wish to fall into the +hands of Babinich; for the report was spread everywhere that that stern +warrior, not to burden himself, gave orders to slay every prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +The ill-fated Englishman therefore fled like a deer hunted by wolves, and +Babinich hunted him all the more venomously. Hence he did not return to +Volmontovichi, and he did not even inquire what party it was that he had saved. +</p> + +<p> +The first hoar-frosts had begun to cover the earth in the morning; escape +became more difficult thereby, for the tracks of hoofs remained on the earth. +In the forest there was no pasture, in the field the horses suffered stern +hunger. The foreign cavalry did not dare to remain longer in villages, lest the +stubborn enemy might reach them any moment. +</p> + +<p> +At last their misery surpassed all bounds; they lived only on leaves, bark, and +those of their own horses which fell from fatigue. After a week they began to +implore their colonel to turn, face Babinich, and give him battle, for they +chose to die by the sword rather than by hunger. Hamilton yielded, and drew up +for battle in Andronishki. The Swedish forces were inferior to that degree that +the Englishman could not even think of victory, especially against such an +opponent. But he was himself greatly wearied, and wanted to die. The battle, +begun at Andronishki, ended near Troüpi, where fell the last of the Swedes. +</p> + +<p> +Hamilton died the death of a hero, defending himself at a cross by the roadside +against a number of Tartars, who wished at first to take him alive, but +infuriated by his resistance bore him apart on their sabres at last. +</p> + +<p> +But Babinich’s squadrons were so wearied too that they had neither the +strength nor the wish to advance even to the neighboring Troüpi; but wherever +one of them stood during battle there it prepared at once for the night’s +rest, kindling fires in the midst of the enemy’s corpses. After they had +eaten, all fell asleep with the sleep of stones. Even the Tartars themselves +deferred till next morning the plunder of corpses. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, who was concerned mainly about the horses, did not oppose that rest. But +next morning he rose rather early, so as to count his own loss after the +stubborn conflict and divide the spoils justly. Immediately after eating he +stood on the eminence, at that same cross under which Hamilton had died; the +Polish and Tartar officers came to him in their turn, with the loss of their +men notched on staffs, and made reports. He listened as a country proprietor +listens in summer to his overseers, and rejoices in his heart at the plentiful +harvest. +</p> + +<p> +Then Akbah Ulan came up, more like a fright than a human being, for his nose +had been broken at Volmontovichi by the hilt of a sabre; he bowed, gave Kmita a +bloody paper, and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Effendi, some papers were found on the Swedish leader, which I give +according to order.” +</p> + +<p> +Kmita had indeed given a rigorous order that all papers discovered on corpses +should be brought to him straightway after battle, for often he was able to +learn from them the plans of the enemy, and act accordingly. +</p> + +<p> +But at this time he was not so urgent; therefore he nodded and put the paper in +his bosom. But Akbah Ulan he sent to the chambul with the order to move at once +to Troüpi, where they were to have a longer rest. +</p> + +<p> +The squadrons then passed before him, one after the other. In advance marched +the chambul, which now did not number five hundred completely; the rest had +been lost in continual battles; but each Tartar had so many Swedish riks +thalers, Prussian thalers and ducats sewed up in his saddle, in his coat, and +in his cap, that he was worth his own weight. They were in no wise like common +Tartars, for whoso of them was weaker had perished from hardship; there +remained only men beyond praise, broad-shouldered, of iron endurance, and +venomous as hornets. Continual practice had so trained them that in +hand-to-hand conflict they could meet even the regular cavalry of Poland; on +the heavy cavalry or dragoons of Prussia, when equal in number, they rushed +like wolves upon sheep. In battle they defended with terrible fierceness the +bodies of their comrades, so as to divide afterward their booty. They passed +now before Kmita with great animation, sounding their trumpets, blowing their +pipes, and shaking their horse-tail standard; they went in such order that +regular troops could not have marched better. +</p> + +<p> +Next came the dragoons, formed with great pains by Pan Andrei from volunteers +of every description, armed with rapiers and muskets. They were led by the old +sergeant, Soroka, now raised to the dignity of officer, and even to that of +captain. The regiment, dressed in one fashion in captured uniforms taken from +Prussian dragoons, was composed chiefly of men of low station; but Kmita loved +specially that kind of people, for they obeyed blindly and endured every toil +without uttering a murmur. +</p> + +<p> +In the two following squadrons of volunteers only smaller and higher nobles +served. They were stormy spirits and restive, who under another leader would +have been turned into a herd of robbers, but in Kmita’s iron hands they +had become like regular squadrons, and gladly called themselves “light +horsemen.” These were less steady under fire than the dragoons, but were +more terrible in their first fury, and were more skilful in hand-to-hand +conflict, for they knew every point of fencing. +</p> + +<p> +After these marched, finally, about a thousand fresh volunteers,—good +men, but over whom it was needful to work yet to make them like regular troops. +</p> + +<p> +Each of these squadrons in passing raised a shout, saluting meanwhile Pan +Andrei with their sabres. And he was more and more rejoiced. That was a +considerable and not a poor force. He had accomplished much with it, had shed +much of the enemy’s blood, and God knows how much he might do yet. His +former offences were great, but his recent services were not slight. He had +risen from his fall, from his sin; and had gone to repent, not in the church, +but in the field.—not in ashes, but in blood. He had defended the Most +Holy Lady, the country, and the king; and now he felt that it was easier in his +soul and more joyous. Nay, the heart of the young man swelled with pride, for +not every one would have been able to make head as he had. +</p> + +<p> +For how many fiery nobles are there, how many cavaliers in that Commonwealth! +and why does no one of them stand at the head of such forces,—not even +Volodyovski, nor Pan Yan? Besides, who defended Chenstohova, who defended the +king in the pass, who slashed down Boguslav, who first brought fire and sword +into Electoral Prussia? And behold even now in Jmud there is hardly an enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Here Pan Andrei felt what the falcon feels, when, stretching his wings, he +rises higher and higher. The passing squadrons greeted him with a thundering +shout, and he raised his head and asked himself, “Whither shall I +fly?” And his face flushed, for in that moment it seemed to him that +within himself he bore a hetman. But that baton, if it comes to him, will come +from the field, from wounds, from service, from praise. No traitor will flash +it before his eyes as in his time Prince Yanush had done, but a thankful +country will place it in his hand, with the will of the king. But it is not for +him to think when it will come, but to fight, and to fight to-morrow as he +fought yesterday! +</p> + +<p> +Here the excited imagination of the cavalier returned to reality. Whither +should he march from Troüpi, in what new place strike the Swedes? +</p> + +<p> +Then he remembered the letter given him by Akbah Ulan and found on the body of +Hamilton. He put his hand in his bosom, took it out and looked, and +astonishment at once was reflected on his face; for on the letter was written +plainly, in a woman’s hand: “To his Grace Pan Babinich, Colonel of +Tartar forces and volunteers.” +</p> + +<p> +“For me!” said Pan Andrei. +</p> + +<p> +The seal was broken; therefore he opened the letter quickly, struck the paper +with the back of his hand, and began to read. But he had not finished when his +hands began to quiver, his face changed, and he cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“Praised be the name of the Lord! O merciful God, the reward comes to me +from Thy hand!” +</p> + +<p> +Here he seized the foot of the cross with both hands, and began to beat his +yellow hair against the wood. In another manner he was not able to thank God at +that moment; he found no other words for prayer, because delight like a +whirlwind had seized him and borne him far, far away to the sky. +</p> + +<p> +That letter was from Anusia. The Swedes had found it on the body of Yurek +Billevich, and now it had come to Kmita’s hands through a second corpse. +Through Pan Andrei’s head thousands of thoughts were flying with the +speed of Tartar arrows. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore Olenka was not in the wilderness, but in Billevich’s party; and +he had just saved her, and with her that Volmontovichi which on a time he had +sent up in smoke in avenging his comrades. Evidently the hand of God had +directed his steps, so that with one blow he had made good all wrongs done +Olenka and Lauda. Behold, his offences are washed away! Can she refuse now to +forgive him, or can that grave brotherhood of Lauda? Can they refuse to bless +him? And what will she say, that beloved maiden who holds him a traitor, when +she learns that that Babinich who brought down Radzivill, who waded to his +girdle in German and Swedish blood, who crushed the enemy out of Jmud, +destroyed them, drove them to Prussia and Livonia, was he,—was Kmita; no +longer, however, the disorderly, the outlaw, the traitor, but the defender of +the faith, of the king, of the country? +</p> + +<p> +Immediately after he had crossed the boundary of Jmud, Pan Andrei wished to +proclaim to the four sides of the world who that far-famed Babinich was; and if +he did not do so, it was only because he feared that at the very sound of his +real name all would turn from him, all would suspect him, would refuse him aid +and confidence. Two years had barely passed, since bewildered by Radzivill he +had cut down those squadrons which were not willing to rise with Radzivill +against king and country. Barely two years before, he had been the right hand +of the traitor. +</p> + +<p> +Now all was changed. Now, after so many victories, in such glory, he had a +right to come to the maiden and say, “I am Kmita, but your savior.” +He had a right to shout to all Jmud, “I am Kmita, but thy savior!” +</p> + +<p> +Besides, Volmontovichi was not distant. Kmita had followed Hamilton a week; but +Kmita would be at the feet of Olenka in less time than a week. Here Pan Andrei +stood up, pale with emotion, with flaming eyes, with gleaming face, and cried +to his attendant,— +</p> + +<p> +“My horse quickly! Be alive, be alive!” The attendant brought the +black steed, and sprang down to hold the stirrup; but when he had reached the +ground he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Your grace, some strange men are approaching from Troüpi with Pan +Soroka, and they are coming at a trot.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not care for them!” answered Pan Andrei. +</p> + +<p> +Now both horsemen approached to within some yards; then one of them with Soroka +pushed forward on a gallop, arrived, and removing his panther-skin cap, +uncovered a head red as fire. +</p> + +<p> +“I see that I am standing before Pan Babinich!” said he; “I +am glad that I have found you.” +</p> + +<p> +“With whom have I the honor to speak?” asked Kmita, impatiently. +</p> + +<p> +“I am Vyershul, once captain of the Tartar squadron with Prince Yeremi +Vishnyevetski. I come to my native place to make levies for a new war; and +besides I bring you a letter from the grand hetman, Sapyeha.” +</p> + +<p> +“For a new war?” asked Kmita, frowning. “What do you +say?” +</p> + +<p> +“This letter will explain better than I,” replied Vyershul, giving +the letter of the hetman. Kmita opened the letter feverishly. It read as +follows:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +<span class="sc">My Very Dear Pan Babinich</span>,—A new deluge is on the +country. A league of Sweden with Rakotsy has been concluded, and a division of +the Commonwealth agreed upon. Eighty thousand Hungarians, Transylvanians, +Wallachians, and Cossacks may cross the southern boundary at any moment. And +since in these last straits it is necessary for us to exert all our forces so +as to leave even a glorious name after our people for coming ages, I send to +your grace this order, according to which you are to turn straight to the south +without losing a moment of time, and come to us by forced marches. You will +find us in Brest, whence we will send you farther without delay. This time +<i>periculum in mora</i> (there is danger in delay). Prince Boguslav is freed +from captivity; but Pan Gosyevski is to have an eye on Prussia and Jmud. +Enjoining haste on you once more, I trust that love for the perishing country +will be your best spur. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +When Kmita had finished reading, he dropped the letter to the earth, and began +to pass his hands over his moistened face; at last he looked wanderingly on +Vyershul, and inquired in a low, stifled voice,— +</p> + +<p> +“Why is Pan Gosyevski to remain in Jmud, and why must I go to the +south?” +</p> + +<p> +Vyershul shrugged his shoulders: “Ask the hetman in Brest for his reason; +I answer nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +All at once terrible anger seized Pan Andrei by the throat. His eyes flashed, +his face was blue, and he cried with a shrieking voice: “I will not go +from here! Do you understand?” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that true?” asked Vyershul. “My office was to deliver the +order; the rest is your affair. With the forehead, with the forehead! I wished +to beg your company for a couple of hours, but after what I have heard I prefer +to look for another.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he wheeled his horse and rode off. Pan Andrei sat again under the cross, +and began to look around on the sky, as if wishing to take note of the weather. +The attendant drew back some distance with the horses, and stillness set in all +around. +</p> + +<p> +The morning was clear, pale, half autumnal, half wintry. The wind was not +blowing, but from the birch bushes growing at the foot of the crucifix the last +leaves were dropping noiselessly, yellow and shrivelled from frost. Countless +flocks of crows and jackdaws were flying over the forest; some were letting +themselves down with mighty cawing right there near the crucifix, for the field +and the road were covered with corpses of Swedes still unburied. Pan Andrei +looked at those dark birds, blinking his eyes; you would say that he wanted to +count them. Then he closed his lids and sat long without motion; at last he +shuddered, frowned; presence of mind came back to his face, and he began to +speak thus to himself,— +</p> + +<p> +“It cannot be otherwise! I will go in two weeks, but not now. Let happen +what may. It was not I who brought Rakotsy. I cannot! What is too much is too +much! Have I hammered and pounded but little, passed sleepless nights in the +saddle, shed my own blood and that of other men? What reward for this? If I had +not received the first letter, I should have gone; but both have come in one +hour, as if for the greater pain, the greater sorrow. Let the world perish, I +will not go! The country will not be lost in two weeks; and besides the anger +of God is evidently on it, and it is not in the might of man to oppose that. O +God! the Hyperboreans [Northern Russians], the Swedes, the Prussians, the +Hungarians, the Transylvanians, the Wallachians, the Cossacks, and all of them +at once! Who can resist? O Lord, in what has this unfortunate land offended, in +what this pious king, that Thou hast turned from them Thy face, and givest +neither mercy nor rescue, and sendest new lashes? Is the bloodshed yet too +little, the tears too few? People here have forgotten to rejoice,—so the +wind does not blow here, it groans; so the rains do not fall, they +weep,—and Thou art lashing and lashing! Mercy, O Lord! Salvation, O +Father! We have sinned, but still repentance has come. We have yielded our +fortunes, we have mounted our horses, we are fighting and fighting. We have +abandoned violence, we have abjured private ends. Why not pardon us? Why not +comfort us?” +</p> + +<p> +Here conscience seized him by the hair suddenly, and shook him till he +screamed; for at the same time it seemed to him that he heard some strange +voice from the whole dome of heaven, saying,— +</p> + +<p> +“Have you abandoned private ends? But, unfortunate, what are you doing at +this moment? You are exalting your services; and when the first moment of trial +comes, you rise like a wild horse, and shout, ‘I will not go!’ The +mother is perishing; new swords are piercing her breast, and you turn away from +her. You do not wish to support her with your arm; you are running after your +own fortune, and crying, ‘I will not go!’ She is stretching forth +bleeding hands; she is just falling, just fainting, just dying, and with her +last voice cries, ‘Rescue me, children!’ But you answer, ‘I +will not go!’ Woe to you! Woe to such people, woe to the +Commonwealth!” +</p> + +<p> +Here terror raised the hair on Pan Andrei’s head, and his whole body +began to tremble as if fever had seized it; and that moment he fell with his +face to the earth, and began not to cry, but to scream in terror,— +</p> + +<p> +“O Jesus, do not punish! Jesus, have mercy! Thy will be done! I will go, +I will go!” +</p> + +<p> +Then he lay some time without speaking, and sobbed; and when he rose at last, +he had a face full of resignation and perfectly calm; and thus he prayed +further,— +</p> + +<p> +“Wonder not, O Lord, that I grieve, for I was on the eve of my happiness; +but let it be as Thou hast ordained. I understand now that Thou didst wish to +try me, and therefore didst place me as it were on the parting of the roads. +Let Thy will be done. Once more I will not look behind. To Thee, O Lord, I +offer this my terrible sorrow, this my yearning, this my grievous suffering. +Let it all be accounted to me in punishment because I spared Prince Boguslav, +at which the country wept. Thou seest now, O Lord, that that was my last work +for self-interest. There will be no other. O merciful Father! But now I will +kiss once more this beloved earth; yes, I will press Thy bleeding feet again, +and I go, O Christ! I go—” +</p> + +<p> +And he went. +</p> + +<p> +In the heavenly register in which are written the evil and good deeds of men, +his sins were at that moment all blotted out, for he was completely corrected. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER LV.</h2> + +<p> +It is written in no book how many battles the armies, the nobles, and the +people of the Commonwealth fought with the enemy. They fought in forests, in +fields, in villages, in hamlets, in towns; they fought in Prussia, in Mazovia, +in Great Poland, in Little Poland, in Russia, in Lithuania, in Jmud; they +fought without resting, in the day or the night. +</p> + +<p> +Every clod of earth was drenched in blood. The names of knights, their glorious +deeds, their great devotion, perished from the memory; for the chronicler did +not write them down, and the lute did not celebrate them. But under the force +of these exertions the power of the enemy bent at last. And as when a lordly +lion, pierced the moment before with missiles, rises suddenly, and shaking his +kingly mane, roars mightily, pale terror pierces straightway the hunters, and +their feet turn to flight; so that Commonwealth rose ever more terrible, filled +with anger of Jove, ready to meet the whole world. Into the bones of the +aggressors there entered weakness and fear; not of plunder were they thinking +then, but of this only,—to bear away home from the jaws of the lion sound +heads. +</p> + +<p> +New leagues, new legions of Hungarians, Transylvanians, Wallachians, and +Cossacks were of no avail. The storm passed once more, it is true, between +Brest, Warsaw, and Cracow; but it was broken against Polish breasts, and soon +was scattered like empty vapor. +</p> + +<p> +The King of Sweden, being the first to despair of his cause, went home to the +Danish war; the traitorous elector, humble before the strong, insolent to the +weak, beat with his forehead before the Commonwealth, and fell upon the Swedes; +the robber legions of Rakotsy’s “slaughterers” fled with all +power to their Transylvanian reed-fields, which Pan Lyubomirski ruined with +fire and sword. +</p> + +<p> +But it was easier for them to break into the Commonwealth than to escape +without punishment; therefore when they were attacked at the passage, the +Counts of Transylvania, kneeling before Pototski, Lyubomirski, and Charnyetski, +begged for mercy in the dust. +</p> + +<p> +“We will surrender our weapons, we will give millions!” cried they; +“only let us go!” +</p> + +<p> +And receiving the ransom, the hetmans took pity on that army of unfortunate +men; but the horde trampled them under hoofs at the very thresholds of their +homes. +</p> + +<p> +Peace began to return gradually to the plains of Poland. The king was still +taking Prussian fortresses; Charnyetski was to take the Polish sword to +Denmark, for the Commonwealth did not wish to limit itself to driving out the +enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Villages and towns were rebuilt on burned ruins; the people returned from the +forests; ploughs appeared in the fields. +</p> + +<p> +In the autumn of 1657, immediately after the Hungarian war, it was quiet in the +greater part of the provinces and districts; it was quiet especially in Jmud. +</p> + +<p> +Those of the Lauda men who in their time had gone with Volodyovski, were still +somewhere far off in the field; but their return was expected. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile in Morezi, in Volmontovichi, in Drojeykani, Mozgi, Goshchuni, and +Patsuneli, women, boys, and girls, with old men, were sowing the winter grain, +building with joint efforts houses in those “neighborhoods” through +which fire had passed, so that the warriors on their return might find at least +roofs over their heads, and not be forced to die of hunger. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka had been living for some time at Vodokty, with Anusia and the +sword-bearer. Pan Tomash did not hasten to his Billeviche,—first, because +it was burned, and second, because it was pleasanter for him with the maidens +than alone. Meanwhile, with the aid of Olenka, he managed Vodokty. +</p> + +<p> +The lady wished to manage Vodokty in the best manner, for it was to be with +Mitruny her dowry for the cloister; in other words, it was to become the +property of the Benedictine nuns, with whom on the very day of the coming New +Year poor Olenka intended to begin her novitiate. +</p> + +<p> +For after she had considered everything that had met her,—those changes +of fortune, disappointments, and sufferings,—she came to the conviction +that thus, and not otherwise, must be the will of God. It seemed to her that +some all-powerful hand was urging her to the cell, that some voice was saying +to her,— +</p> + +<p> +“In that place is the best pacification, and the end of all earthly +anxiety.” +</p> + +<p> +She had determined therefore to follow that voice. Feeling, however, in the +depth of her conscience that her soul had not been able yet to tear itself from +the earth with completeness, she desired first to prepare it with ardent piety, +with good works and labor. Frequently also in those efforts echoes from the +world hindered her. +</p> + +<p> +For example, people began to buzz around that that famous Babinich was Kmita. +Some contradicted excitedly; others repeated the statement with stubbornness. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka believed not. All Kmita’s deeds, Kmita and his service with Yanush +Radzivill, were too vividly present in her memory to let her suppose for one +instant that he was the crusher of Boguslav, and such a trusty worker for the +king, such an ardent patriot. Still her peace was disturbed, and sorrow with +pain rose up afresh in her bosom. +</p> + +<p> +This might be remedied by a hurried entrance to the cloister; but the cloisters +were scattered. The nuns who had not perished from the violence of soldiers +during wartime were only beginning to assemble. +</p> + +<p> +Universal misery reigned in the land, and whoso wished to take refuge behind +the walls of a convent had not only to bring bread for personal use, but also +to feed the whole convent. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka wished to come with bread to the cloister,—to become not merely a +sister, but a nourisher of nuns. +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer, knowing that his labor was to go to the glory of God, labored +earnestly. +</p> + +<p> +He went around the fields and the buildings, carrying out the labors of the +autumn which with the coming spring were to bear fruit. Sometimes he was +accompanied by Anusia, who, unable to endure the affront which Babinich had put +upon her, threatened also to enter the cloister, and said she was merely +waiting for Volodyovski to bring back the Lauda men, for she wished to bid +adieu to her old friend. But more frequently the sword-bearer went with Olenka +only on these circuits, for land management was irksome to Anusia. +</p> + +<p> +A certain time both rode out on ponies to Mitruny, where they were rebuilding +barns and cow-houses burned in time of war. +</p> + +<p> +On the road they were to visit the church; for that was the anniversary of the +battle of Volmontovichi, in which they were saved from the last straits by the +coming of Babinich. The whole day had passed for them in various occupations, +so that only toward evening could they start from Mitruny. In going there they +went by the church-road, but in returning they had to pass through Lyubich and +Volmontovichi. Panna Aleksandra had barely looked at the first smoke of Lyubich +when she turned aside her eyes and began to repeat prayers to drive away +painful thoughts; but the sword-bearer rode on in silence, and only looked +around. At last, when they had passed the gate, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“That is land for a senator! Lyubich is worth two like Mitruny.” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka continued to say her prayers. +</p> + +<p> +But in Pan Tomash was roused the old landlord by nature, and perhaps also he +was given somewhat to lawsuits; for after a while he said again, as if to +himself,— +</p> + +<p> +“And yet it is ours by right,—old Billevich property, our sweat, +our toil. That unfortunate man must have perished long since, for he has not +announced himself; and if he had, the right is with us.” Here he turned +to Olenka: “What do you think?” +</p> + +<p> +“That is a cursed place,” answered she. “Let happen with it +what may!” +</p> + +<p> +“But you see the right is with us. The place was cursed in bad hands, but +it will be blessed in good ones. The right is with us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Never! I do not wish to know anything of it. My grandfather willed it +without restriction; let Kmita’s relatives take it.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she urged on the pony. Billevich put spurs also to his beast, and they did +not slacken speed till they were in the open field. Meanwhile night had fallen; +but there was perfect light, for an enormous red moon had risen from behind the +forest of Volmontovichi and lighted up the whole region with a golden shining. +</p> + +<p> +“Well! God has given a beautiful night,” said the sword-bearer, +looking at the circle of the moon. +</p> + +<p> +“How Volmontovichi gleams from a distance!” said Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +“For the wood in the houses has not become black.” +</p> + +<p> +Their further conversation was interrupted by the squeaking of a wagon, which +they could not see at first, for the road was undulating; soon, however, they +saw a pair of horses, and following behind them a pair at a pole, and at the +end of the pole a wagon surrounded by a number of horsemen. +</p> + +<p> +“What kind of people can these be?” asked the sword-bearer; and he +held in his horse. Olenka stopped at his side. +</p> + +<p> +“Halt!” cried Billevich. “Whom are you carrying there?” +</p> + +<p> +One of the horsemen turned to them and said,— +</p> + +<p> +“We are bringing Pan Kmita, who was shot by the Hungarians at +Magyerovo.” +</p> + +<p> +“The word has become flesh!” said Billevich. +</p> + +<p> +The whole world went around suddenly in Olenka’s eyes; the heart died +within her, breath failed her breast. Certain voices were calling in her soul: +“Jesus! Mary! that is he!” Then consciousness of where she was or +what was happening left her entirely. +</p> + +<p> +But she did not drop from the horse to the ground, for she seized convulsively +with her hand the wagon-rack; and when she came to herself her eyes fell on the +motionless form of a man lying in the wagon. True, that was he,—Pan +Andrei Kmita, the banneret of Orsha; and he was lying on his back in the wagon. +His head was bound in a cloth, but by the ruddy light of the moon his pale and +calm face was perfectly visible. His eyes were deeply sunk and closed; life did +not discover itself by the least movement. +</p> + +<p> +“With God!” said Billevich, removing his cap. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” cried Olenka. And she asked with a low but quick voice, as +in a fever: “Is he alive or dead?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is alive, but death is over him.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the sword-bearer, looking at Kmita’s face, said: “You will not +take him to Lyubich?” +</p> + +<p> +“He gave orders to take him to Lyubich without fail, for he wants to die +there.” +</p> + +<p> +“With God! hasten forward.” +</p> + +<p> +“We beat with the forehead!” +</p> + +<p> +The wagon moved on; and Olenka with Billevich galloped in the opposite +direction with what breath was in their horses. They flew through Volmontovichi +like two night phantoms, and came to Vodokty without speaking a word on the +road; only when dismounting, Olenka turned to her uncle,— +</p> + +<p> +“It is necessary to send a priest to him,” said she, with a panting +voice; “let some one go this moment to Upita.” +</p> + +<p> +The sword-bearer went quickly to carry out her wish; she rushed into her room, +and threw herself on her knees before the image of the Most Holy Lady. +</p> + +<p> +A couple of hours after, in the late evening, a bell was heard beyond the gate +at Vodokty. That was the priest passing on his way with the Lord Jesus to +Lyubich. +</p> + +<p> +Panna Aleksandra was on her knees continually. Her lips were repeating the +litany for the dying. And when she had finished she struck the floor three +times with her head, repeating: “Reckon to him, O God, that he dies at +the hands of the enemy; forgive him, have mercy on him!” +</p> + +<p> +In this way the whole night passed for her. The priest remained in Lyubich till +morning, and on his way home called at Vodokty. Olenka ran out to meet him. +</p> + +<p> +“Is it all over?” asked she; and could say no more, for breath +failed her. +</p> + +<p> +“He is alive yet,” answered the priest. +</p> + +<p> +During each of the following days a number of messengers flew from Vodokty to +Lyubich, and each returned with the answer that the banneret was “alive +yet.” At last one brought the intelligence, which he had heard from the +barber brought from Kyedani, that he was not only alive, but would recover; for +the wounds were healing successfully, and strength was coming back to the +knight. +</p> + +<p> +Panna Aleksandra sent bountiful offerings to Upita for a thanksgiving Mass; but +from that day messengers ceased to visit Lyubich, and a wonderful thing took +place in the maiden’s heart. Together with peace, the former pity for +Kmita began to rise. His offences came to her mind again every moment, so +grievous that they were not to be forgiven. Death alone could cover them with +oblivion. If he returned to health, they weighed on him anew. But still +everything that could be brought to his defence Olenka repeated to herself +daily. +</p> + +<p> +So much had she suffered in these days, so many conflicts were there in her +soul, that she began to fail in health. This disturbed Pan Tomash greatly; +hence on a certain evening when they were alone, he said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Olenka, tell me sincerely, what do you think of the banneret of +Orsha?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is known to God that I do not wish to think of him.” +</p> + +<p> +“For see, you have grown thin— H’m! Maybe that you +still— I insist on nothing, but I should be glad to know what is going on +in your mind. Do you not think that the will of your grandfather should be +accomplished?” +</p> + +<p> +“Never!” answered Olenka. “My grandfather left me this door +open, and I will knock at it on the New Year. Thus will his will be +accomplished.” +</p> + +<p> +“Neither do I believe at all,” answered Billevich, “what some +buzz around here,—that Babinich and Kmita are one; but still at Magyerovo +he was with the country, fought against the enemy, and shed his blood. The +reform is late, but still it is a reform.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even Prince Boguslav is serving the king and the country now,” +answered the lady, with sorrow. “Let God forgive both, and especially him +who shed his blood; but people will always have the right to say that in the +moment of greatest misfortune, in the moment of disaster and fall, he rose +against the country, and returned to it only when the enemy’s foot was +tottering, and when his personal profit commanded him to hold to the victor. +That is their sin! Now there are no traitors, for there is no profit from +treason! But what is the merit? Is it not a new proof that such men are always +ready to serve the stronger? Would to God it were otherwise, but Magyerovo +cannot redeem such transgression.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is true! I cannot deny it,” answered Billevich. “It is a +bitter truth, but still true. All the former traitors have gone over in a +chambul to the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“On the banneret of Orsha,” continued the lady, “there rests +a still more grievous reproach than on Boguslav, for Pan Kmita offered to raise +his hand against the king, at which act the prince himself was terrified. Can a +chance shot remove that? I would let this hand be cut off had that not +happened; but it has, and it will never drop away. It seems clear that God has +left him life of purpose for penance. My uncle, my uncle! we should be tempting +our souls if we tried to beat into ourselves that he is innocent. And what good +would come of this? Will conscience let itself be tempted? Let the will of God +be done. What is broken cannot be bound again, and should not. I am happy that +the banneret is alive, I confess; for it is evident that God has not yet turned +from him His favor altogether. But that is sufficient for me. I shall be happy +when I hear that he has effaced his fault; but I wish for nothing more, I +desire nothing more, even if my soul had to suffer yet. May God assist +him!” +</p> + +<p> +Olenka was not able to speak longer, for a great and pitiful weeping +overpowered her; but that was her last weeping. She had told all that she +carried in her heart, and from that time forth peace began to return to her +anew. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CHAPTER LVI.</h2> + +<p> +The horned, daring soul in truth was unwilling to go out of its bodily +enclosure, and did not go out. In a month after his return to Lyubich Pan +Andrei’s wounds began to heal; but still earlier he regained +consciousness, and looking around the room, he saw at once where he was. Then +he called the faithful Soroka. +</p> + +<p> +“Soroka,” said he, “the mercy of God is upon me. I feel that +I shall not die.” +</p> + +<p> +“According to order!” answered the old soldier, brushing away a +tear with his fist. +</p> + +<p> +And Kmita continued as if to himself: “The penance is over,—I see +that clearly. The mercy of God is upon me!” +</p> + +<p> +Then he was silent for a moment; only his lips were moving in prayer. +</p> + +<p> +“Soroka!” said he again, after a time. +</p> + +<p> +“At the service of your grace!” +</p> + +<p> +“Who are in Vodokty?” +</p> + +<p> +“The lady and the sword-bearer of Rossyeni.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praised be the name of the Lord! Did any one come here to inquire about +me?” +</p> + +<p> +“They sent from Vodokty until we told them that you would be well.” +</p> + +<p> +“And did they stop then?” +</p> + +<p> +“Then they stopped.” +</p> + +<p> +“They know nothing yet, but they shall know from me,” said Kmita. +“Did you tell no one that I fought as Babinich?” +</p> + +<p> +“There was no order,” answered the soldier. +</p> + +<p> +“And the Lauda men with Pan Volodyovski have not come home yet?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not yet; but they may come any day.” +</p> + +<p> +With this the conversation of the first day was at an end. Two weeks later +Kmita had risen and was walking on crutches; the following week he insisted on +going to church. +</p> + +<p> +“We will go to Upita,” said he to Soroka; “for it is needful +to begin with God, and after Mass we will go to Vodokty.” +</p> + +<p> +Soroka did not dare to oppose; therefore he merely ordered straw to be placed +in the wagon. Pan Andrei arrayed himself in holiday costume, and they drove +away. +</p> + +<p> +They arrived at an hour when there were few people yet in the church. Pan +Andrei, leaning on Soroka’s arm, went to the high altar itself, and knelt +in the collator’s seat; his face was very thin, emaciated, and besides he +wore a long beard which had grown during the war and his sickness. Whoever +looked at him thought that he was some passing personage who had come in to +Mass; for there was movement everywhere, the country was full of passing nobles +who were going from the field to their own estates. +</p> + +<p> +The church filled slowly with people and with neighboring nobles; then owners +of inherited land from a distance began to arrive, for in many places churches +had been burned, and it was necessary to come to Mass as far as Upita. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita, sunk in prayer, saw no one. He was roused first from his pious +meditation by the squeaking of footstools under the tread of persons entering +the pew. Then he raised his head, looked, and saw right there above him the +sweet, sad face of Olenka. +</p> + +<p> +She also saw him, and recognized him that moment; for she drew back suddenly, +as if frightened. First a flush, and then a deathly pallor came out on her +face; but with the greatest exercise of will she overcame her emotion, and +knelt there near him; the third place was occupied by the sword-bearer. +</p> + +<p> +And Kmita and she bowed their heads, and rested their faces on their hands; +they knelt there in silence side by side, and their hearts beat so that both +heard them perfectly. At last Pan Andrei spoke,— +</p> + +<p> +“May Jesus Christ be praised!” +</p> + +<p> +“For the ages of ages,” answered Olenka, in an undertone. And they +said no more. Now the priest came out to preach. Kmita listened to him; but in +spite of his efforts he could not distinguish the words, he could not +understand the preacher. Here she is, the desired one, for whom he had yearned +during years, who had not left his mind nor his heart; she was here now at his +side. He felt her near; and he dared not turn his eyes to her, for he was in +the church, but closing his lids, he caught her breathing with his ear. +</p> + +<p> +“Olenka! Olenka is near me!” said he to himself, “see, God +has commanded us to meet in the church after absence.” Then his thoughts +and his heart repeated without ceasing: “Olenka, Olenka, Olenka!” +</p> + +<p> +And at moments a weeping joy caught him by the throat, and again he was carried +away by such an enthusiasm of thankful prayer that he lost consciousness of +what was happening to him. +</p> + +<p> +She knelt continually, with her face hidden in her hands. +</p> + +<p> +The priest had finished the sermon, and descended from the pulpit. +</p> + +<p> +All at once a clatter of arms was heard in front of the church, and a tramp of +horses’ hoofs. Some one cried before the threshold of the church, +“Lauda returning!” and suddenly in the sanctuary itself were heard +murmurs, then a bustle, then a still louder calling,— +</p> + +<p> +“Lauda! Lauda!” +</p> + +<p> +The crowd began to sway; all heads were turned at once toward the door. +</p> + +<p> +With that there was a throng in the door, and a body of armed men appeared in +the church. At the head of them marched with a clatter of spurs Volodyovski and +Zagloba. The crowd opened before them; they passed through the whole church, +knelt before the altar, prayed a short time, and then entered the vestry. +</p> + +<p> +The Lauda men halted half-way, not greeting any one, out of respect for the +place. +</p> + +<p> +Ah, what a sight! Grim faces, swarthy from winds, grown thin from toils of war, +cut with sabres of Swedes, Germans, Hungarians, and Wallachians! The whole +history of the war and the glory of God-fearing Lauda was written on them with +swords. There were the gloomy Butryms, the Stakyans, the Domasheviches, the +Gostsyeviches, a few of all; but hardly one fourth returned of those who on a +time had left Lauda. +</p> + +<p> +Many women are seeking in vain for their husbands, many old men are searching +in vain for their sons; therefore the weeping increases, for those too who find +their own are weeping from joy. The whole church is filled with sobbing. From +time to time some one cries out a beloved name, and is silent; and they stand +in glory, leaning on their sabres, but over their deep scars tears too are +falling on their mustaches. +</p> + +<p> +Now a bell, rung at the door of the vestry, quieted the weeping and the murmur. +All knelt; the priest came to finish Mass, and after him Volodyovski and +Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +But the priest was so moved that when he turned to the people, saying, +“<i>Dominus vobiscum!</i>” his voice trembled. When he came to the +Gospel, and all the sabres were drawn at once from the scabbards, as a sign +that Lauda was ever ready to defend the faith, and in the church it was bright +from steel, the priest had barely strength to finish the Gospel. +</p> + +<p> +Then amid universal emotion the concluding prayer was sung, and Mass was ended; +but the priest, when he had placed the sacrament in the tabernacle, turned, +after the last Gospel, to the people, in sign that he wished to say something. +</p> + +<p> +There was silence, therefore, and the priest with cordial words greeted first +the returning soldiers; then he gave notice that he would read a letter from +the king, brought by the colonel of the Lauda squadron. +</p> + +<p> +The silence grew deeper, and after a while the voice from the altar was heard +through the whole church,— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“We, Yan Kazimir, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Mazovia, +Prussia, etc., etc., etc. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen! +</p> + +<p> +“Since wicked people must receive punishment in this temporal life for +their crimes against king and country before they stand in presence of the +heavenly tribunal, it is equally just that virtue receive a reward, which +should add the lustre of glory to virtue itself, and give posterity the desire +to follow its examples. +</p> + +<p> +“Therefore we make it known to the whole order of knighthood, namely, to +men of arms and civilians having office, together with all the inhabitants of +the Grand Principality of Lithuania and our Starostaship of Jmud, that whatever +accusations have rested on Pan Andrei Kmita, the banneret of Orsha, who is +greatly beloved by us, are to vanish from the memory of men, in view of the +following services and merit, and are to detract in nowise from the honor and +glory of the said banneret of Orsha.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Here the priest ceased to read, and looked toward the bench on which Pan Andrei +was sitting. Kmita rose for a moment, and sitting down again, rested his +haggard head on the railing and closed his lids, as if in a faint. +</p> + +<p> +But all eyes were turned to him; all lips began to whisper,— +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Kmita! Kmita! There, near the Billeviches.” +</p> + +<p> +But the priest beckoned, and began to read on amid deep silence,— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Which banneret of Orsha, though in the beginning of this unfortunate +Swedish invasion he declared himself on the side of the prince voevoda, did it +not from any selfishness, but from the purest good-will to the country, brought +to this error by Prince Yanush Radzivill, who persuaded him that no road of +safety remained to the Commonwealth save that which the prince himself took. +</p> + +<p> +“But when he visited Prince Boguslav, who, thinking him a traitor, +discovered to him clearly all the hostile intrigues against the country, the +said banneret of Orsha not only did not promise to raise his hand against our +person, but with armed force carried away Prince Boguslav himself, so as to +avenge us and the suffering country.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +“O God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” cried the voice of a woman +right there near Pan Andrei; and in the church there broke out anew a murmur of +amazement. +</p> + +<p> +The priest read on,— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“He was shot by Boguslav, but had barely recovered when he went to +Chenstohova, and there defended with his own breast that most sacred Retreat, +giving an example of endurance and valor to all; there, in danger of his life +and health, he blew up with powder the greatest siege-gun. Seized after that +daring deed, he was condemned to death by cruel enemies, and tortured with +living fire.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +With this the weeping of women was heard here and there through the church. +Olenka was trembling as in a paroxysm of fever. +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“But rescued by the power of the Queen of the Angels from those terrible +straits, he came to us in Silesia, and on our return to this dear country, when +the treacherous enemy prepared an ambush for us, the said banneret of Orsha +rushed himself, with his three attendants, on the whole power of the enemy, to +save our person. There, cut down and thrust through with rapiers, swimming in +his own blood, he was borne from the field as if lifeless—” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Olenka placed both her hands on her temples, and raising her head, began to +catch the air into her parted lips. From her bosom came out the groan,— +</p> + +<p> +“O God! O God! O God!” +</p> + +<p> +And again the voice of the priest sounded, also more and more moved:— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“And when with our endeavors he returned to health, he did not rest, but +continued the war, standing forth with immeasurable praise in every necessity, +held up as a model to knighthood by the hetmans of both people, till the +fortunate capture of Warsaw, after which he was sent to Prussia under the +assumed name of Babinich—” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +When that name was heard in the church, the noise of the people changed as it +were into the roar of a river. +</p> + +<p> +“Then he is Babinich? Then he is that crusher of the Swedes, the savior +of Volmontovichi, the victor in so many battles,—that is Kmita?” +</p> + +<p> +The murmur increased still more; throngs began to push toward the altar to see +him more closely. +</p> + +<p> +“God bless him! God bless him!” said hundreds of voices. +</p> + +<p> +The priest turned to the seat and blessed Pan Andrei, who, leaning continually +against the railing, was more like a dead than a living man, for the soul had +gone out of him with happiness and had risen toward the sky. +</p> + +<p> +The priest read on,— +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“He visited the enemy’s country with fire and sword, was the main +cause of the victory at Prostki; with his own hand he overthrew and captured +Prince Boguslav. Called late to our starostaship of Jmud, what immense service +he rendered there, how many towns and villages he saved from the hands of the +enemy, must be known to the inhabitants of that starostaship better than to +others.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +“It is known, it is known, it is known!” was thundered through the +whole church. +</p> + +<p> +“Silence!” said the priest, raising the king’s letter. +</p> + +<div class="letter"> +<p> +“Therefore we, considering all his services to us and the country, so +many that a son could not have done more for his father and his mother, have +determined to publish them in this our letter, so that so great a cavalier, so +great a defender of the faith, of king and Commonwealth, should no longer be +pursued by the ill-will of men, but go clothed with the praise and universal +love proper to the virtuous. Before then the next Diet, confirming these our +wishes, shall remove from him every stain, and before we shall reward him with +the starostaship of Upita, which is vacant, we ask earnestly of the inhabitants +dear to us of our starostaship of Jmud to retain in their hearts and thoughts +these our words, which justice itself, the foundation of States, has commanded +us to put into their memory.” +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Here the priest concluded, and turning to the altar began to pray; but Pan +Andrei felt on a sudden that a soft hand was seizing his hand. He looked. It +was Olenka; and before he had time to come to himself, to withdraw his hand, +she had raised it and pressed it to her lips in presence of all, before the +altar and the people. +</p> + +<p> +“Olenka!” cried the astonished Kmita. +</p> + +<p> +But she had arisen, and covering her face with a veil, said to old +Billevich,— +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle, let us go, let us go from here quickly!” +</p> + +<p> +And they went out through the door of the vestry. +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei tried to rise to follow her, but he could not. His strength left him +entirely. +</p> + +<p> +But a quarter of an hour later he was in front of the church, supported on one +side by Pan Volodyovski, on the other by Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +The throng of people, small nobles and common men, crowded around. Women, some +barely able to tear away from the breast of a husband returned from the war, +led by curiosity special to the sex, ran to look at that Kmita, once terrible, +now the savior of Lauda and the coming starosta. The throng became greater +every instant, till the Lauda men had at last to surround him and protect him +from the crush. +</p> + +<p> +“Pan Andrei!” cried Zagloba, “see, we have brought you a +present. You did not expect such a one. Now to Vodokty, to Vodokty, to the +betrothal and the wedding!” +</p> + +<p> +Further words of Zagloba were lost in the thundering shout raised at once by +the Lauda men, under the leadership of Yuzva Footless,— +</p> + +<p> +“Long life to Pan Kmita!” +</p> + +<p> +“Long life!” repeated the crowd. “Long life to our starosta +of Upita! Long life!” +</p> + +<p> +“All to Vodokty!” roared Zagloba, again. +</p> + +<p> +“To Vodokty! to Vodokty!” shouted a thousand throats. “As +best men to Vodokty with Pan Kmita, with our savior! To the lady! to +Vodokty!” +</p> + +<p> +And an immense movement began. Lauda mounted its horses; every man living +rushed to wagons, carts, ponies. People on foot began to run across field and +forest. The shout “To Vodokty!” rang through the whole place. The +roads were thronged with many-colored crowds. +</p> + +<p> +Kmita rode in his little wagon between Volodyovski and Zagloba, and time after +time he embraced one or the other of them. He was not able to speak yet, he was +too much excited; but they pushed on as if Tartars were attacking Upita. All +the wagons and carts rushed in like manner around them. +</p> + +<p> +They were well outside the place, when Pan Michael suddenly bent to +Kmita’s ear. “Yendrek,” asked he, “but do you not know +where the other is?” +</p> + +<p> +“In Vodokty.” +</p> + +<p> +Then, whether it was the wind or excitement that began to move the mustaches of +Pan Michael, is unknown; it is enough that during the whole way they did not +cease to thrust forward like two awls, or like the feelers of a Maybug. +</p> + +<p> +Zagloba was singing with delight in such a terrible bass voice that he +frightened the horses,— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“There were two of us, Kasyenko, two in this world;<br/> +But methinks, somehow, that three are now riding.” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia was not at church that Sunday, for she had in her turn to stay with the +weakly Panna Kulvyets, with whom she and Olenka remained on alternate days. +</p> + +<p> +The whole morning she had been occupied with watching and taking care of the +sick woman, so that it was late when she could go to her prayers. Barely had +she said the last “Amen,” when there was a thundering before the +gate, and Olenka rushed into the room like a storm. +</p> + +<p> +“Jesus! Mary! What has happened?” screamed Anusia, looking at her. +</p> + +<p> +“Anusia, you do not know who Pan Babinich is? He is Pan Kmita!” +</p> + +<p> +Anusia sprang to her feet: “Who told you?” +</p> + +<p> +“The king’s letter was read—Pan Volodyovski brought +it—the Lauda men—” +</p> + +<p> +“Has Pan Volodyovski returned?” screamed Anusia; and she threw +herself into Olenka’s arms. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka took this outburst of feeling as a proof of Anusia’s love for her; +for she had become feverish, was almost unconscious. On her face were fiery +spots, and her breast rose and fell as if from great pain. +</p> + +<p> +Then Olenka began to tell without order and in a broken voice everything which +she had heard in the church, running at the same time through the room as if +demented, repeating every moment, “I am not worthy of him!” +reproaching herself terribly, saying that she had done him more injustice than +all others, that she had not even been willing to pray for him, when he was +swimming in his own blood in defence of the Holy Lady, the country, and the +king. +</p> + +<p> +In vain did Anusia, while running after her through the room, endeavor to +comfort her. She repeated continually one thing,—that she was not worthy +of him, that she would not dare to look in his eyes; then again she would begin +to speak of the deeds of Babinich, of the seizure of Boguslav, of his revenge, +of saving the king, of Prostki, Volmontovichi, and Chenstohova; and at last of +her own faults, of her stubbornness, for which she must do penance in the +cloister. +</p> + +<p> +Further reproaches were interrupted by Pan Tomash, who, falling into the room +like a bomb, cried,— +</p> + +<p> +“In God’s name, all Upita is rolling after us! They are already in +the village, and Babinich is surely with them!” +</p> + +<p> +Indeed, a distant shout at that moment announced the approach of the crowds. +The sword-bearer, seizing Olenka, conducted her to the porch; Anusia rushed +after them. +</p> + +<p> +At that moment the throng of men and horses looked black in the distance; and +as far as the eye could reach the whole road was packed with them. At last they +reached the yard. Those on foot were storming over ditches and fences; the +wagons rolled in through the gates, and all were shouting and throwing up their +caps. +</p> + +<p> +At last appeared the crowd of armed Lauda men, and the wagon, in which sat +three persons,—Kmita, Volodyovski, and Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +The wagon stopped at some distance, for so many people had crowded up before +the entrance that it was impossible to approach. Zagloba and Volodyovski sprang +out first, and helping Kmita to descend, took him at once by the arms. +</p> + +<p> +“Give room!” cried Zagloba. +</p> + +<p> +“Give room!” repeated the Lauda men. +</p> + +<p> +The people pushed back at once, so that in the middle of the crowd there was an +open road along which the two knights led Kmita to the porch. He was very pale, +but walked with head erect, at once confused and happy. +</p> + +<p> +Olenka leaned against the door-post, and dropped her arms without control at +her sides; but when he was near she looked into the face of the emaciated +man,—who after such a time of separation approached, like Lazarus, +without a drop of blood in his face,—then sobbing, rent her breast again. +He, from weeping, from happiness, and from confusion, did not know himself what +to say,— +</p> + +<p> +“What, Olenka, what?” +</p> + +<p> +But she dropped suddenly to his knees,— +</p> + +<p> +“Yendrek!” cried she, “I am not worthy to kiss thy +wounds!” +</p> + +<p> +At that moment strength came back to the knight; he seized her from the ground +like a feather, and pressed her to his bosom. +</p> + +<p> +One immense shout, from which the walls of the house trembled and the last of +the leaves fell from the trees, dinned every ear. The Lauda men began to fire +from pistols; caps flew into the air; around nothing was to be seen but faces +carried away by joy, gleaming eyes, and open mouths shouting,— +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat Kmita! vivat Panna Billevich! vivat the young couple!” +</p> + +<p> +“Vivat two couples!” roared Zagloba; but his voice was lost in the +general storm. +</p> + +<p> +Vodokty was turned as it were into a camp. All day they were slaughtering oxen +and sheep at command of the sword-bearer, and digging out of the ground barrels +of mead and beer. In the evening all sat down to a feast,—the oldest and +most noted in the rooms, the younger in the servants’ hall; the simple +people rejoiced equally at fires in the yard. +</p> + +<p> +At the chief table the cup went around in honor of two happy pairs; but when +good feeling had reached the highest degree, Zagloba raised the following +toast:— +</p> + +<p> +“To thee I return, worthy Pan Andrei, and to thee old friend, Pan +Michael! It was not enough to expose your breasts, to shed blood, to cut down +the enemy! Your work is not finished; for since a multitude of people have +fallen in time of this terrible war, you must now give new inhabitants, new +defenders to this Commonwealth. For this I think you will not lack either in +manhood or good will. Worthy gentlemen! to the honor of those coming +generations! May God bless them, and permit them to guard this legacy which we +leave them, restored by our toil, by our sweat, by our blood. When grievous +times come, let them remember us and never despair, considering that there are +no straits out of which it is impossible to rise, with united forces and the +help of God.” +</p> + +<p> +Pan Andrei not long after his marriage served in a new war which broke out on +the eastern side of the Commonwealth; but the thundering victory of Charnyetski +and Sapyeha over Hovanski and Dolgoruki, and the hetmans of the kingdom over +Sheremetyeff, soon brought it to an end. Then Kmita returned, covered with +fresh glory, and settled down permanently in Vodokty. After him his cousin +Yakub became banneret of Orsha,—Yakub, who afterward belonged to the +unfortunate confederation of the army; but Pan Andrei, standing soul and heart +with the king, rewarded with the starostaship of Upita, lived long in exemplary +harmony and love with Lauda, surrounded by universal respect. His +ill-wishers—for who has them not?—said, it is true, that he +listened over-much to his wife in everything. He was not ashamed of that, +however, but acknowledged himself that in every important affair he sought her +advice. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>FOOTNOTES:</h2> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: This name is derived from +<i>baba</i> an old woman. +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: Sapyeha. +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_03" href="#div2Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: Lvoff. +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_04" href="#div2Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: Self-lord Zamoyski. +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_05" href="#div2Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: Zamoyski was starosta of +Kaluj. +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_06" href="#div2Ref_06">Footnote 6</a>: “Strachy na +Lachy” (Terror on Poles) is a Polish saying, about equivalent to +“impossible.” +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_07" href="#div2Ref_07">Footnote 7</a>: “Two-bridged” +or “of two bridges,” from <i>bis</i> and <i>pons</i>. +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_08" href="#div2Ref_08">Footnote 8</a>: Byes means +“devil;” so Byes Cornutus is “horned devil.” +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_09" href="#div2Ref_09">Footnote 9</a>: Rogaty means +“horned.” Borzobogaty means “quickly rich.” +Bardzorogaty means “greatly horned.” +</p> + +<p class="hang1"> +<a name="div2_10" href="#div2Ref_10">Footnote 10</a>: This means that if +Zagloba had been preceptor to the hetman or Kovalski, they would have had +better wit. “Having a stave loose or lacking in his barrel,” means, +in Polish, that a man’s mind is not right. +</p> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + +<h2><i>THE ZAGLOBA ROMANCES</i></h2> + +<h3><i>by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from<br/> +the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin</i>.</h3> + +<h2>WITH FIRE AND SWORD</h2> + +<p class="hang1"> +An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. $1.50 +<i>net</i>. +</p> + +<p class="hang2"> +The first of the famous trilogy of historical romances of Poland, Russia, and +Sweden. Their publication has been received as an event in literature. Charles +Dudley Warner, in <i>Harper’s Magazine</i>, affirms that the Polish +author has in Zagloba <i>given a new creation to literature</i>. +</p> + +<p> +<i>A capital story</i>. The only modern romance with which it can be compared +for fire, sprightliness, rapidity of action, swift changes, and absorbing +interest is “The Three Musketeers” of Dumas.—<i>New York +Tribune</i>. +</p> + +<h2>THE DELUGE</h2> + +<p class="hang1"> +An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. A Sequel to “With Fire +and Sword.” With map. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. $3.00 <i>net</i> +</p> + +<p class="hang2"> +Marvellous in its grand descriptions.—<i>Chicago Inter-Ocean</i>. +</p> + +<p class="hang2"> +Has the humor of a Cervantes and the grim vigor of Defoe.—<i>Boston +Gazette</i>. +</p> + +<h2>PAN MICHAEL</h2> + +<p class="hang1"> +An Historical Novel of Poland, Russia, and the Ukraine. A Sequel to “With +Fire and Sword” and “The Deluge.” Crown 8vo. $1.50 +<i>net</i>. +</p> + +<p> +The interest of the trilogy, both historical and romantic, is splendidly +sustained.—<i>The Dial</i>, Chicago. +</p> + +<hr class="W90" /> + +<h3>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span><br/> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h3> + +<h2>QUO VADIS</h2> + +<p class="hang1"> +A Narrative of the Time of Nero. By <span class="sc">Henryk Sienkiewicz</span>. +Translated from the Polish by <span class="sc">Jeremiah Curtin</span>. +Illustrated. Crown 8vo. $1.50 <i>net</i>. +</p> + +<p> +One of the most remarkable books of the decade. It burns upon the brain the +struggles and triumphs of the early Church.—<i>Boston Daily +Advertiser</i>. +</p> + +<p> +It will become recognized by virtue of its own merits as the one heroic +monument built by the modern novelist above the ruins of decadent Rome, and in +honor of the blessed martyrs of the early Church.—<i>Brooklyn Eagle</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Our debt to Sienkiewicz is not less than our debt to his translator and friend, +Jeremiah Curtin. The diversity of the language, the rapid flow of thought, the +picturesque imagery of the descriptions are all his.—<i>Boston +Transcript</i>. +</p> + +<h4><i>By the same Author</i></h4> + +<h2>THE KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS</h2> + +<p class="hang1"> +An Historical Romance of Poland and Germany. Translated from the Polish by +<span class="sc">Jeremiah Curtin</span>. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. $1.75 +<i>net</i>. +</p> + +<p> +The construction of the story is beyond praise. It is difficult to conceive of +any one who will not pick the book up with eagerness.—<i>Chicago Evening +Post</i>. +</p> + +<p> +A book that holds your almost breathless attention as in a vise from the very +beginning, for in it love and strife, the most thrilling of all worldly +subjects, are described masterfully.—<i>The Boston Journal</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Another remarkable book. His descriptions are tremendously effective; one can +almost hear the sound of the carnage; to the mind’s eye the scene of +battle is unfolded by a master artist.—<i>The Hartford Courant</i>. +</p> + +<p> +Thrillingly dramatic, full of strange local color and very faithful to its +period, besides having that sense of the mysterious and weird that throbs in +the Polish blood and infects alike their music and literature.—<i>The St. +Paul Globe</i>. +</p> + +<hr class="W90" /> + +<h3>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span><br/> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h3> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DELUGE, VOL. II. 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