CHAPTER II
Whether by chance or a trick of the young lady is unknown to us; itsuffices, however, that the four Bukoyemskis received a large chamberin an outbuilding, and Pan Stanislav with Yatsek a smaller one near it.This confused the two men no little, and then, so as not to speak toeach other, they began straightway the litany and continued it longerthan was usual. But when they had finished there followed a silencewhich annoyed both of them, for though their feelings toward each otherwere unfriendly, they felt that they might not betray them, and thatthey should for a time, and especially at the house of Pan Gideon, showpoliteness.
Yatsek ungirded his sabre, drew it out of the scabbard, looked at theedge by the light of the chimney, and fell to rubbing the blade withhis handkerchief.
"After frost," said he half to himself, half to Stanislav, "a sabresweats in a warm chamber, and rust appears on it straightway."
"And last night it must have frozen solidly," said Stanislav.
He spoke without evil intention, and only because it occurred to himthat Tachevski had been in a splitting frost all the night previous;but Yatsek placed the point of his blade on the floor, and lookedquickly into the eyes of the other man.
"Are you referring to this,--that I sat on a pine tree?"
"Yes," replied Stanislav, with simplicity; "of course there was nostove there."
"But what would you have done in my position?"
Stanislav wished to answer "the same that you did," but the questionwas put to him sharply, so he answered,--
"Why break my head over that, since I was not in it?"
Anger flashed for an instant on the face of Pan Yatsek, but to restrainhimself he began to blow on the sabre and rub the blade with stillgreater industry. At last he returned it to the scabbard, and added,--
"God sends adventures and accidents."
And his eyes, which one moment earlier had been gleaming, were coveredagain with the usual sadness, for just then he remembered his onefriend, the horse, which those wolves had torn to pieces.
Meanwhile the door opened and the four Bukoyemskis walked into thechamber.
"The frost has weakened, and the snow sends up steam," said Mateush.
"There will be fog," added Yan.
And then they took note of Yatsek, whom they had not seen the firstmoment.
"Oh art thou in such company?" asked Lukash, as he turned to Stanislav.
All four brothers put their hands on their hips and cast challengingglances at Yatsek.
Yatsek seized a chair and, pushing it to the middle of the chamber,turned to the Bukoyemskis with a sudden movement; then he sat astrideof the chair, as on horseback, rested his elbows on the back of it,raised his head, and answered with equally challenging glances. Thuswere they opposed then; he, with feet stretching widely apart in hisSwedish boots, they, shoulder to shoulder, quarrelsome, threatening,enormous.
Stanislav saw that it was coming to a quarrel, but he wished to laughat the same time. Thinking that he could hinder a collision at anyinstant he let them gaze at one another.
"Eh, what a bold fellow," thought he of Yatsek, "nothing confuses him."
The silence continued, at once unendurable and ridiculous. Yatsekhimself felt this, also, for he was the first man to break it.
"Sit down, young sirs," said he, "not only do I invite, but I beg you."
The Bukoyemskis looked at one another with astonishment, this new turnconfused them.
"How is this? What is it? Of what is he thinking?"
"I beg you, I beg you," repeated Yatsek, and he pointed to benches.
"We stay as we are, for it pleases us, dost understand?"
"Too much ceremony."
"What ceremony?" cried Lukash. "Dost thou claim to be a senator, or abishop, thou--thou Pompeius!"
Yatsek did not move from the chair, but his back began to quiver as iffrom sudden laughter.
"But why call me Pompeius?" inquired he.
"Because the name fits thee."
"But it may be because thou art a fool," replied Yatsek.
"Strike, whoso believes in God!" shouted Yan.
Evidently Yatsek had had talk enough also, for something seemed tosnatch him from the chair on a sudden, and he sprang like a cat towardthe brothers.
"Listen, ye road-blockers," said he with a voice cold as steel, "whatdo ye want of me?"
"Blood!" cried Mateush.
"Thou wilt not squirm away from us this time!" shouted Marek. "Come outat once," said he, grasping toward his side for a sabre.
But Stanislav pushed in quickly between them.
"I will not permit," cried he. "This is another man's dwelling."
"True," added Yatsek, "this is another man's dwelling, and I will notinjure Pan Gideon. I will not cut you up under his roof, but I willfind you to-morrow."
"We will find thee to-morrow!" roared Mateush.
"Ye have sought conflicts and raised pretexts all day, why, I cannottell, for I have not known you, nor have ye known me, but ye mustanswer for this, and because ye have insulted me I would meet not fourmen but ten like you."
"Oho! oho! One will suffice thee. It is clear," cried out Yan, "thatthou hast not heard of the Bukoyemskis."
"I have spoken of four," said Yatsek, turning on a sudden to Stanislav,"but perhaps you will join with these cavaliers?"
Stanislav bowed politely.
"Since you make the inquiry--"
"But we first, and according to seniority," said the Bukoyemskis. "Wewill not withdraw from that. We have settled it, and will cut down anyman who interferes with us."
Yatsek looked quickly at the brothers, and in one moment divined, as hethought, the arrangement, and he paled somewhat.
"So that is it!" said he again to Stanislav; "thou hast hirelings, andart standing behind them. By my faith the method seems certain, andvery safe, but whether it is noble and knightly is another point. Inwhat a company do I find myself?"
On hearing this opinion which disgraced him, Stanislav, though he had amild spirit by nature, felt the blood rush to his visage. The veinsswelled on his forehead, lightning flashed from his eyes, his teethwere gritting terribly, and he grasped the hilt of his sabre.
"Come out! Come out this instant!" cried he in a voice choked withanger.
Sabres flashed; it was bright in the chamber, for light fell on thesteel blades from a torch in the chimney. But three of the Bukoyemskissprang between the opponents and stood in a line there, the fourthcaught Stanislav by the shoulders.
"By the dear God, restrain thyself, Stashko! We are ahead of thee!"
"We are ahead of thee!" cried the three others.
"Unhand me!" screamed Stanislav, hoarsely.
"We are ahead!"
"Unhand me!"
"Hold Stashko, ye, and I will settle with this man while ye are holdinghim," shouted Mateush; and seizing Yatsek he dragged him aside to beginat him straightway, but Yatsek with presence of mind pulled himselffree of Mateush, and sheathed his sword, saying,--
"I choose the man who is to fight first and the time. So I tell youto-morrow, and in Vyrambki, not here."
"Oh thou wilt not sneak away from us! Now! now!"
But Yatsek crossed his arms on his breast. "Ha, if ye wish withoutfighting to kill me under the roof of our host, let me know it."
At this rage seized the brothers; they stamped the floor with theirboot-heels, pulled their mustaches, and panted like wild bears. Butsince they feared infamy no man of them had the daring to rush atTachevski.
"To-morrow, I tell you! Say to Pan Gideon that ye are going to visitme, and inquire for the road to Vyrambki. Beyond the brook stands acrucifix since the time of the pestilence. There I will wait for you atmidday to-morrow, and there, with God's help I will finish you!"
He uttered the last words as if with sorrow, then he opened the doorand walked out of the chamber. In the yard the dogs ran around Yatsek,and knowing him well, fondled up to him. He turned without thinkingtoward the
posts near the windows, as if looking for his horse there;then, remembering that that horse was no longer alive, he sighed, and,feeling the cool breath of air, repeated in spirit,--
"The wind is blowing always in the eyes of the poor man. I will walkhome."
Meanwhile, Stanislav was wringing his hands from fierce pain and anger,while saying to the Bukoyemskis, with terrible bitterness,--
"Who asked you to do this? My worst enemy could not have hurt me morethan have you with your service."
They pitied him immensely, and fell to embracing him, one after theother.
"Stashko," said Mateush. "They sent us a decanter for the night; givethyself comfort for God's sake."