CHAPTER XVIII.
Kmita, however, did not start that day, nor the following, forthreatening news began to arrive at Kyedani from every side. Towardevening a courier rushed in with tidings that Mirski's squadron andStankyevich's also were marching to the hetman's residence, prepared todemand with armed hand their colonels; that there was terribleagitation among them, and that the officers had sent deputations to allthe squadrons posted near Kyedani, and farther on to Podlyasye andZabludovo, with news of the hetman's treason, and with a summons tounite in defence of the country. From this it was easy to see thatmultitudes of nobles would fly to the insurgent squadrons and form animportant force, which it would be difficult to resist in unfortifiedKyedani, especially since not every regiment which Radzivill had athand could be relied on with certainty.
This changed all the calculations and plans of the hetman; but insteadof weakening, it seemed to rouse his courage still more. He determinedto move at the head of his faithful Scottish regiments, cavalry andartillery, against the insurgents, and stamp out the fire at its birth.He knew that the soldiers without colonels were simply an unorganizedthrong, that would scatter from terror at the mere name of the hetman.He determined also not to spare blood, and to terrify with examples thewhole army, all the nobles, nay, all Lithuania, so that it should notdare even to tremble beneath his iron hand. Everything that he hadplanned must be accomplished, and accomplished with his own forces.
That very day a number of foreign officers went to Prussia to make newenlistments, and Kyedani was swarming with armed men. The Scottishregiments, the foreign cavalry, the dragoons of Myeleshko and Kharlamp,with the "fire people" of Pan Korf, were preparing for the campaign.The prince's haiduks, his servants, and the citizens of Kyedani wereobliged to increase the military forces; and it was determined tohasten the transfer of the prisoners to Birji, where it would be saferto keep them than in exposed Kyedani. The prince hoped with reason thatto transport the colonels to a remote fortress, in which, according totreaty, there must be a Swedish garrison already, would destroy in theminds of the rebellious soldiers all hope of rescuing them, and deprivethe rebellion itself of every basis. Pan Zagloba, the Skshetuskis, andVolodyovski were to share the lot of the others.
It was already evening when an officer with lantern in hand entered thecellar in which they were, and said,--
"Prepare, gentlemen, to follow me."
"Whither?" asked Zagloba, with a voice of alarm.
"That will be seen. Hurry, hurry!"
"We come."
They went out. In the corridor Scottish soldiers armed with musketssurrounded them. Zagloba grew more and more alarmed.
"Still they would not lead us to death without a priest, withoutconfession," whispered he in the ear of Volodyovski. Then he turned tothe officer; "What is your rank, I pray?"
"What is my rank to you?"
"I have many relatives in Lithuania, and it is pleasant to know withwhom one has to do."
"No time for inquiries, but he is a fool who is ashamed of his name. Iam Roh Kovalski, if you wish to know."
"That is an honorable stock! The men are good soldiers, the women arevirtuous. My grandmother was a Kovalski, but she made an orphan of mebefore I came to the world. Are you from the Vyerush, or the KorabKovalskis?"
"Do you want to examine me as a witness, in the night?"
"Oh, I do this because you are surely a relative of mine, for we havethe same build. You have large bones and shoulders, just like mine, andI got my form from my grandmother."
"Well, we can talk about that on the road. We shall have time!"
"On the road?" said Zagloba; and a great weight fell from his breast.He breathed like a bellows, and gained courage at once.
"Pan Michael," whispered he, "did I not say that they would not cut ourheads off?"
Meanwhile they had reached the courtyard. Night had fallen completely.In places red torches were burning or lanterns gleaming, throwing anuncertain light on groups of soldiers, horse and foot, of various arms.The whole court was crowded with troops. Clearly they were ready tomarch, for a great movement was manifest on all sides. Here andthere in the darkness gleamed lances and gun-barrels; horses' hoofsclattered on the pavement; single horsemen hurried between thesquadrons,--undoubtedly officers giving commands.
Kovalski stopped the convoy and the prisoners before an enormous wagondrawn by four horses, and having a box made as it were of ladders.
"Take your places, gentlemen," said he.
"Some one is sitting there already," said Zagloba, clambering up. "Butour packs?"
"They are under the straw," said Kovalski; "hurry, hurry!"
"But who are sitting here?" asked Zagloba, looking at dark figuresstretched on the straw.
"Mirski, Stankyevich, Oskyerko," answered voices.
"Volodyovski, Yan and Stanislav Skshetuski, and Zagloba," answered ourknights.
"With the forehead, with the forehead!"
"With the forehead! We are travelling in honorable company. And whitherare they taking us, do you know, gentlemen?"
"You are going to Birji," said Kovalski.
When he said this, he gave the command. A convoy of fifty dragoonssurrounded the wagon and moved on. The prisoners began to converse in alow voice.
"They will give us to the Swedes," said Mirski; "I expected that."
"I would rather sit among enemies than traitors," answered Stankyevich.
"And I would rather have a bullet in my forehead," said Volodyovski,"than sit with folded arms during such an unfortunate war."
"Do not blaspheme, Michael," answered Zagloba, "for from the wagon,should a convenient moment come, you may give a plunge, and from Birjialso; but it is hard to escape with a bullet in the forehead. I foresawthat that traitor would not dare to put bullets in our heads."
"Is there a thing which Radzivill does not dare to do?" asked Mirski."It is clear that you have come from afar and know him not. Onwhomsoever he has sworn vengeance, that man is as good as in the grave;and I remember no instance of his forgiving any one the slightestoffence."
"But still he did not dare to raise hands on me!" answered Zagloba."Who knows if you have not to thank me for your lives?"
"And how?"
"Because the Khan loves me wonderfully, for I discovered a conspiracyagainst his life when I was a captive in the Crimea. And our graciousking, Yan Kazimir, loves me too. Radzivill, the son of a such a one,did not wish to break with two such potentates; for they might reachhim, even in Lithuania."
"Ah! what are you saying? He hates the king as the devil does holywater, and would be still more envenomed against you did he know you tobe a confidant of the king," observed Stankyevich.
"I think this," said Oskyerko. "To avoid odium the hetman would notstain himself with our blood, but I could swear that this officer isbearing an order to the Swedes in Birji to shoot us on the spot."
"Oi!" exclaimed Zagloba.
They were silent for a moment; meanwhile the wagon had rolled into thesquare of Kyedani. The town was sleeping, there were no lights in thewindows, only the dogs before the houses snapped angrily at the passingparty.
"Well," said Zagloba, "we have gained time anyhow, and perhaps a chancewill serve us, and some stratagem may come to my head." Here he turnedto the old colonels: "Gentlemen, you know me little, but ask mycomrades about the hot places in which I have been, and from which Ihave always escaped. Tell me, what kind of officer is this who commandsthe convoy? Could he be persuaded not to adhere to a traitor, but takethe side of his country and join us?"
"That is Roh Kovalski of the Korab Kovalskis," answered Oskyerko.
"I know him. You might as well persuade his horse as him; for as God isbountiful I know not which is more stupid."
"But why did they make him officer?"
"He carried the banner with Myeleshko's dragoons; for this no wit isneeded. But he was made officer because his fist pleased the prince;for he breaks horseshoes, wrestles with tame
bears, and the man has notyet been discovered whom he cannot bring to the earth."
"Has he such strength?"
"That he has such strength is true; but were his superior to order himto batter down a wall with his head he would fall to battering itwithout a moment's delay. He is ordered to take us to Birji, and hewill take us, even if the earth had to sink."
"'Pon my word," said Zagloba, who listened to this conversation withgreat attention, "he is a resolute fellow."
"Yes, but with him resolution consists in stupidity alone. When he hastime, and is not eating, he is sleeping. It is an astonishing thing,which you will not believe; but once he slept forty-eight hours in thebarracks, and yawned when they dragged him from the plank bed."
"This officer pleases me greatly," said Zagloba, "for I always like toknow with whom I have to do."
When he had said this he turned to Kovalski. "But come this way,please!" cried he, in a patronizing tone.
"What is it?" asked Kovalski, turning his horse.
"Have you gorailka?"
"I have."
"Give it!"
"How give it?"
"You know, gracious Kovalski, if it were not permitted you would havehad an order not to give it; but since you have not an order, give it."
"Ah," said Kovalski, astonished, "as I live! but that is like forcing."
"Forcing or not forcing, it is permitted you; and it is proper toassist a blood relative and an older man, who, if he had married yourmother, might have been your father as easily as wink."
"What relative are you of mine?"
"I am, for there are two stocks of Kovalskis,--they who use the seal ofVyerush and have a goat painted on their shield, with upraised hindleg; and they who have on their shield the ship in which their ancestorKovalski sailed from England across the sea to Poland; and these are myrelatives, through my grandmother, and this is why I, too, have theship on my shield."
"As God lives! you are my relative."
"Are you a Korab (ship)?"
"A Korab."
"My own blood, as God is dear to me!" cried Zagloba. "It is lucky thatwe have met, for in very truth I have come here to Lithuania to see theKovalskis; and though I am in bonds while you are on horseback and infreedom I would gladly embrace you, for what is one's own is one'sown."
"How can I help you? They commanded me to take you to Birji; I willtake you. Blood is blood, but service is service."
"Call me Uncle," said Zagloba.
"Here is gorailka for you, Uncle," said Kovalski; "I can do that much."
Zagloba took the flask gladly, and drank to his liking. Soon a pleasantwarmth spread through his members. It began to grow clear in his brain,and his mind became bright.
"Come down from the horse," said he to Kovalski, "and sit here a shorttime in the wagon; let us talk, for I should like to have you saysomething about our family. I respect service, but this too ispermitted."
Kovalski did not answer for a while.
"This was not forbidden," said he, at last.
Soon after he was sitting at the side of Zagloba, and stretched himselfgladly on the straw with which the wagon was filled.
Zagloba embraced him heartily.
"How is the health of thy old father?--God help me,--I've forgotten hisname."
"Roh, also."
"That's right, that's right. Roh begat Roh,--that is according tocommand. You must call your son Roh as well, so that every hoopoo mayhave his topknot. But are you married?"
"Of course! I am Kovalski, and here is Pani Kovalski; I don't want anyother."
So saying, the young officer raised to the eyes of Zagloba the hilt ofa heavy dragoon sabre, and repeated, "I don't want any other."
"Proper!" said Zagloba. "Roh, son of Roh, you are greatly pleasing tome. A soldier is best accommodated when he has no wife save such a one,and I will say more,--she will be a widow before you will be a widower.The only pity is that you cannot have young Rohs by her, for I see thatyou are a keen cavalier, and it would be a sin were such a stock to dieout."
"Oh, no fear of that!" said Kovalski; "there are six brothers of us."
"And all Kohs?"
"Does Uncle know that if not the first, then the second, has to beRoh?--for Roh is our special patron."
"Let us drink again."
"Very well."
Zagloba raised the bottle; he did not drink all, however, but gave itto the officer and said, "To the bottom, to the bottom! It is a pitythat I cannot see you," continued he. "The night is so dark that youmight hit a man in the face, you would not know your own fingers bysight. But hear me, Roh, where was that army going from Kyedani when wedrove out?"
"Against the insurgents."
"The Most High God knows who is insurgent,--you or they."
"I an insurgent? How could that be? I do what my hetman commands."
"But the hetman does not do what the king commands, for surely the kingdid not command him to join the Swedes. Would you not rather slay theSwedes than give me, your relative, into their hands?"
"I might; but for every command there is obedience."
"And Pani Kovalski would rather slay Swedes; I know her. Speakingbetween us, the hetman has rebelled against the king and the country.Don't say this to any one, but it is so; and those who serve him arerebels too."
"It is not proper for me to hear this. The hetman has his superior, andI have mine; what is his own belongs to the hetman, and God wouldpunish me if I were to oppose him. That is an unheard of thing."
"You speak honestly; but think, Roh, if you were to happen into thehands of those insurgents, I should be free, and it would be no faultof yours, for _nec Hercules contra plures!_--I do not know where thosesquadrons are, but you must know, and you see we might turn toward thema little."
"How is that?"
"As if we went by chance to them? It would not be your fault if theyrescued us. You would not have me on your conscience,--and to have arelative on a man's conscience, believe me, is a terrible burden."
"Oh Uncle, what are you saying! As God lives, I will leave the wagonand sit on my horse. It is not I who will have uncle on my conscience,but the hetman. While I live, nothing will come of this talk."
"Nothing is nothing!" said Zagloba; "I prefer that you speak sincerely,though I was your uncle before Radzivill was your hetman. And do youknow, Roh, what an uncle is?"
"An uncle is an uncle."
"You have calculated very adroitly; but when a man has no father, theScriptures say that he must obey his uncle. The power of an uncle is asthat of a father, which it is a sin to resist. For consider even this,that whoever marries may easily become a father; but in your uncleflows the same blood as in your mother. I am not in truth the brotherof your mother, but my grandmother must have been your grandmother'saunt. Know then that the authority of several generations rests in me;for like everything else in the world we are mortal, thereforeauthority passes from one of us to another, and neither the hetman northe king can ignore it, nor force any one to oppose it. It is sacred!Has the full hetman or even the grand hetman the right to command notmerely a noble or an officer, but any kind of camp-follower, to rise upagainst his father, his mother, his grandfather, or his blind oldgrandmother? Answer me that, Roh. Has he the right?"
"What?" asked Kovalski, with a sleepy voice.
"Against his blind old grandmother!" repeated Zagloba. "Who in thatcase would be willing to marry and beget children, or wait forgrandchildren? Answer me that, Roh."
"I am Kovalski, and this is Pani Kovalski," said the still sleepierofficer.
"If it is your wish, let it be so," answered Zagloba. "Better indeedthat you have no children, there will be fewer fools to storm around inthe world. Is it not true, Roh?"
Zagloba held down his ear, but heard nothing,--no answer now.
"Roh! Roh!" called he, in a low voice.
Kovalski was sleeping like a dead man.
"Are you sleeping?" muttered Zagloba. "Wait a bit--I will take thisiron pot off your he
ad, for it is of no use to you. This cloak is tootight at the throat; it might cause apoplexy. What sort of relativewere I, did I not save you?"
Here Zagloba's hands began to move lightly about the head and neck ofKovalski. In the wagon all were in a deep sleep; the soldiers toonodded in the saddles; some in front were singing in a low voice, whilelooking out the road carefully,--for the night, though not rainy, wasexceedingly dark.
After a time, however, the soldier leading Kovalski's horse behind thewagon saw in the darkness the cloak and bright helmet of his officer.Kovalski, without stopping the wagon, slipped out and nodded to givehim the horse. In a moment he mounted.
"Pan Commandant, where shall we stop to feed?" asked the sergeant,approaching him.
Pan Roh gave no word in reply, but moving forward passed slowly thoseriding in front and vanished in the darkness. Soon there came to theears of the dragoons the quick tramp of a horse.
"The commandant has gone at a gallop!" said they to one another."Surely he wants to look around to see if there is some public housenear by. It is time to feed the horses,--time."
A half-hour passed, an hour, two hours, and Pan Kovalski seemed to beahead all the time, for somehow he was not visible. The horses grewvery tired, especially those drawing the wagon, and began to drag onslowly. The stars were leaving the sky.
"Gallop to the commandant," said the sergeant; "tell him the horses arebarely able to drag along, and the wagon horses are tired."
One of the soldiers moved ahead, but after an hour returned alone.
"There is neither trace nor ashes of the commandant," said the soldier;"he must have ridden five miles ahead."
The soldiers began to grumble.
"It is well for him he slept through the day, and just now on thewagon; but do thou, soldier, pound through the night with the lastbreath of thy horse and thyself!"
"There is an inn eighty rods distant," said the soldier who had riddenahead. "I thought to find him there, but no! I listened, trying to hearthe horse--Nothing to be heard. The devil knows where he is!"
"We will stop at the inn anyhow," said the sergeant. "We must let thehorses rest."
In fact they halted before the inn. The soldiers dismounted. Some wentto knock at the door; others untied bundles of hay, hanging at thesaddles, to feed the horses even from their hands.
The prisoners woke when the movement of the wagon ceased.
"But where are we going?" asked old Stankyevich.
"I cannot tell in the night," answered Volodyovski, "especially as weare not going to Upita."
"But does not the load from Kyedani to Birji lie through Upita?" askedPan Yan.
"It does. But in Upita is my squadron, which clearly the prince fearsmay resist, therefore he ordered Kovalski to take another road. Justoutside Kyedani we turned to Dalnovo and Kroki; from the second placewe shall go surely through Beysagoli and Shavli. It is a little out ofthe way, but Upita and Ponyevyej will remain at the right. On this roadthere are no squadrons, for all that were there were brought toKyedani, so as to have them at hand."
"But Pan Zagloba," said Stankyevich, "instead of thinking ofstratagems, as he promised, is sleeping sweetly, and snoring."
"Let him sleep. It is clear that he was wearied from talk with thatstupid commandant, relationship with whom he confessed. It is evidentthat he wanted to capture him, but with no result. Whoso would notleave Radzivill for his country, will surely not leave him for adistant relative."
"Are they really relatives?" asked Oskyerko.
"They? They are as much relatives as you and I," answered Volodyovski."When Zagloba spoke of their common escutcheon, I knew it was not true,for I know well that his is called wczele (in the forehead)."
"And where is Pan Kovalski?"
"He must be with the soldiers or in the inn."
"I should like to ask him to let me sit on some soldier's horse," saidMirski, "for my bones are benumbed."
"He will not grant that," said Stankyevich; "for the night is dark, youcould easily put spurs to the horse, and be off. Who could overtake?"
"I will give him my word of honor not to attempt escape; besides, dawnwill begin directly."
"Soldier, where is the commandant?" asked Volodyovski of a dragoonstanding near.
"Who knows?"
"How, who knows? When I ask thee to call him, call him."
"We know not ourselves, Colonel, where he is," said the dragoon. "Sincehe crawled out of the wagon and rode ahead, he has not come back."
"Tell him when he comes that we would speak with him."
"As the Colonel wishes," answered the soldier.
The prisoners were silent. From time to time only loud yawning washeard on the wagon; the horses were chewing hay at one side. Thesoldiers around the wagon, resting on the saddles, were dozing; otherstalked in a low voice, or refreshed themselves each with what he had,for it turned out that the inn was deserted and tenantless.
The night had begun to grow pale. On its eastern side the darkbackground of the sky was becoming slightly gray; the stars, going outgradually, twinkled with an uncertain, failing light. Then the roof ofthe inn became hoary; the trees growing near it were edged with silver.The horses and men seemed to rise out of the shade. After a while itwas possible to distinguish faces, and the yellow color of the cloaks.The helmets began to reflect the morning gleam.
Volodyovski opened his arms and stretched himself, yawning from ear toear; then he looked at the sleeping Zagloba. All at once he threw backhis arms and shouted,--
"May the bullets strike him! In God's name! Gracious gentlemen, lookhere!"
"What has happened?" asked the colonels, opening their eyes.
"Look here, look here!" said Volodyovski, pointing at the sleepingform.
The prisoners turned their glances in the direction indicated, andamazement was reflected on every face. Under the burka, and in the capof Zagloba, slept, with the sleep of the just, Pan Roh Kovalski; butZagloba was not in the wagon.
"He has escaped, as God is dear to me!" said the astonished Mirski,looking around on every side, as if he did not yet believe his owneyes.
"Oh, he is a finished rogue! May the hangman--" cried Stankyevich.
"He took the helmet and yellow cloak of that fool, and escaped on hishorse."
"Vanished as if he had dropped into water."
"He said he would get away by stratagem."
"They will never see him again!"
"Gentlemen," said Volodyovski, with delight, "you know not that man;and I swear to you to-day that he will rescue us yet,--I know not how,when, with what means,--but I swear that he will."
"God grant it! One cannot believe his eyesight," said Pan Stanislav.
The soldiers now saw what had happened. An uproar rose among them. Onecrowded ahead of the other to the wagon, stared at their commandant,dressed in a camel's hair burka and lynx-skin cap, and sleepingsoundly.
The sergeant began to shake him without ceremony. "Commandant!commandant!"
"I am Kovalski, and this is Pani Kovalski," muttered Roh.
"Commandant, a prisoner has fled."
Kovalski sat up in the wagon and opened his eyes. "What?"
"A prisoner has fled,--that bulky noble who was talking with thecommandant."
The officer came to his senses. "Impossible!" cried he, with terrifiedvoice. "How was it? What happened? How did he escape?"
"In the helmet and cloak of the commandant; the soldiers did not knowhim, the night was dark."
"Where is my horse?" cried Kovalski.
"The horse is gone. The noble fled on him."
"On my horse?"
"Yes."
Kovalski seized himself by the head. "Jesus of Nazareth! King of theJews!"
After a while he shouted, "Give here that dog-faith, that son of a sucha one who gave him the horse!"
"Pan Commandant, the soldier is not to blame. The night was dark, youmight have struck a man in the face, and he took your helmet and cloak;rode near me, and I did not know
him. If your grace had not sat in thewagon, he could not have done it."
"Kill me, kill me!" cried the unfortunate officer.
"What is to be done?"
"Kill him, catch him!"
"That cannot be done in any way. He is on your horse,--the best horse;ours are terribly road-weary. He fled at the first cock-crow; we cannotovertake him."
"Hunt for a wind in the field!" said Stankyevich.
Kovalski, in a rage, turned to the prisoners. "You helped him toescape! I will--"
Here he balled his gigantic fist, and began to approach them. ThenMirski said threateningly, "Shout not, and remember that you arespeaking to superiors."
Kovalski quivered, and straightened himself involuntarily; for reallyhis dignity in presence of such a Mirski was nothing, and all hisprisoners were a head above him in rank and significance.
Stankyevich added: "If you have been commanded to take us, take us; butraise no voice, for to-morrow you may be under the command of any oneof us."
Kovalski stared and was silent.
"There is no doubt you have fooled away your head, Pan Roh," saidOskyerko. "To say, as you do, that we helped him is nonsense; for, tobegin with, we were sleeping, just as you were, and secondly, each onewould have helped himself rather than another. But you have fooled awayyour head. There is no one to blame here but you. I would be the firstto order you shot, since being an officer you fell asleep like abadger, and allowed a prisoner to escape in your own helmet and cloak,nay, on your own horse,--an unheard of thing, such as has not happenedsince the beginning of the world."
"An old fox has fooled the young man!" said Mirski."Jesus, Mary! I have not even the sabre!" cried Kovalski.
"Will not the sabre be of use to him?" asked Stankyevich, laughing."Pan Oskyerko has said well,--you have fooled away your head. You musthave had pistols in the holsters too?"
"I had!" said Kovalski, as if out of his mind.
Suddenly he seized his head with both hands: "And the letter of theprince to the commandant of Birji! What shall I, unfortunate man, donow? I am lost for the ages! God give me a bullet in the head!"
"That will not miss you," said Mirski, seriously. "How will you take usto Birji now? What will happen if you say that you have brought us asprisoners, and we, superior in rank, say that you are to be thrown intothe dungeon? Whom will they believe? Do you think that the Swedishcommandant will detain us for the reason simply that Pan Kovalski willbeg him to do so? He will rather believe us, and confine you underground."
"I am lost!" groaned Kovalski.
"Nonsense!" said Volodyovski.
"What is to be done, Pan Commandant?" asked the sergeant.
"Go to all the devils!" roared Kovalski. "Do I know what to do, whereto go? God give thunderbolts to slay thee!"
"Go on, go on to Birji; you will see!" said Mirski.
"Turn back to Kyedani," cried Kovalski.
"If they will not plant you at the wall there and shoot you, maybristles cover me!" said Oskyerko. "How will you appear beforethe hetman's face? Tfu! Infamy awaits you, and a bullet in thehead,--nothing more."
"For I deserve nothing more!" cried the unfortunate man.
"Nonsense, Pan Roh! We alone can save you," said Oskyerko. "You knowthat we were ready to go to the end of the world with the hetman, andperish. We have shed our blood more than once for the country, andalways shed it willingly; but the hetman betrayed the country,--he gavethis land to the enemy; he joined with them against our gracious lord,to whom we swore allegiance. Do you think that it came easy to soldierslike us to refuse obedience to a superior, to act against discipline,to resist our own hetman? But whoso to-day is with the hetman isagainst the king. Whoso to-day is with the hetman is a traitor to theking and the Commonwealth. Therefore we cast down our batons at thefeet of the hetman; for virtue, duty, faith, and honor so commanded.And who did it? Was it I alone? No! Pan Mirski, Pan Stankyevich, thebest soldiers, the worthiest men. Who remained with the hetman?Disturbers. But why do you not follow men better, wiser, and older thanyourself? Do you wish to bring infamy on your name, and be trumpetedforth as a traitor? Enter into yourself; ask your conscience what youshould do,--remain a traitor with Radzivill, the traitor, or go withus, who wish to give our last breath for the country, shed the lastdrop of our blood for it. Would the ground had swallowed us before werefused obedience to the hetman; but would that our souls never escapedhell, if we were to betray the king and the country for the profit ofRadzivill!"
This discourse seemed to make a great impression on Kovalski. Hestared, opened his mouth, and after a while said, "What do you wish ofme, gentlemen?"
"To go with us to the voevoda of Vityebsk, who will fight for thecountry."
"But when I have an order to take you to Birji?"
"Talk with him," said Mirski.
"We want you to disobey the command,--to leave the hetman, and go withus; do you understand?" said Oskyerko, impatiently.
"Say what you like, but nothing will come of that. I am a soldier; whatwould I deserve if I left the hetman? It is not my mind, but his; notmy will, but his. When he sins he will answer for himself and for me,and it is my dog-duty to obey him. I am a simple man; what I do noteffect with my hand, I cannot with my head. But I know this,--it is myduty to obey, and that is the end of it."
"Do what you like!" cried Mirski.
"It is my fault," continued Roh, "that I commanded to return toKyedani, for I was ordered to go to Birji; but I became a fool throughthat noble, who, though a relative, did to me what a stranger would nothave done. I wish he were not a relative, but he is. He had not God inhis heart to take my horse, deprive me of the favor of the prince, andbring punishment on my shoulders. That is the kind of relative he is!But, gentlemen, you will go to Birji, let come what may afterward."
"A pity to lose time, Pan Oskyerko," said Volodyovski.
"Turn again toward Birji!" cried Kovalski to the dragoons.
They turned toward Birji a second time. Pan Roh ordered one of thedragoons to sit in the wagon; then he mounted that man's horse, androde by the side of the prisoners, repeating for a time, "A relative,and to do such a thing!"
The prisoners, hearing this, though not certain of their fate andseriously troubled, could not refrain from laughter; at lastVolodyovski said, "Comfort yourself, Pan Kovalski, for that man hashung on a hook persons not such as you. He surpassed Hmelnitski himselfin cunning, and in stratagems no one can equal him."
Kovalski said nothing, but fell away a little from the wagon, fearingridicule. He was shamefaced in presence of the prisoners and of his ownsoldiers, and was so troubled that he was pitiful to look at.
Meanwhile the colonels were talking of Zagloba, and of his marvellousescape.
"In truth, 'tis astonishing," said Volodyovski, "that there are not inthe world straits, out of which that man could not save himself. Whenstrength and bravery are of no avail, he escapes through stratagem.Other men lose courage when death is hanging over their heads, or theycommit themselves to God, waiting for what will happen; but he beginsstraightway to work with his head, and always thinks out something. Heis as brave in need as Achilles, but he prefers to follow Ulysses."
"I would not be his guard, though he were bound with chains," saidStankyevich; "for it is nothing that he will escape, but besides, hewill expose a man to ridicule."
"Of course!" said Pan Michael. "Now he will laugh at Kovalski to theend of his life; and God guard a man from coming under his tongue, forthere is not a sharper in the Commonwealth. And when he begins, as ishis custom, to color his speech, then people are bursting fromlaughter."
"But you say that in need he can use his sabre?" asked Stankyevich.
"Of course! He slew Burlei at Zbaraj, in view of the whole army."
"Well, God save us!" cried Stankyevich, "I have never seen such a man."
"He has rendered us a great service by his escape," said Oskyerko, "forhe took the letters of the hetman, and who knows what was written inthem against us? I do not thin
k that the Swedish commandant at Birjiwill give ear to us, and not to Kovalski. That will not be, for we comeas prisoners, and he as commanding the convoy. But certainly they willnot know what to do with us. In every case they will not cut off ourheads, and that is the main thing."
"I spoke as I did merely to confuse Kovalski completely," said Mirski;"but that they will not cut off our heads, as you say, is no greatconsolation, God knows. Everything so combines that it would be betternot to live; now another war, a civil war, will break out, that will befinal ruin. What reason have I, old man, to look on these things?"
"Or I, who remember other times?" said Stankyevich.
"You should not say that, gentlemen; for the mercy of God is greaterthan the rage of men, and his almighty hand may snatch us from thewhirlpool precisely when we least expect."
"Holy are these words," said Pan Yan. "And to us, men from under thestandard of the late Prince Yeremi, it is grievous to live now, for wewere accustomed to victory; and still one likes to serve the country,if the Lord God would give at last a leader who is not a traitor, butone whom a man might trust with his whole heart and soul."
"Oi! true, true!" said Pan Michael. "A man would fight night and day."
"But I tell you, gentlemen, that this is the greatest despair," saidMirski; "for every one wanders as in darkness, and asks himself what todo, and uncertainty stifles him, like a nightmare. I know not how it iswith you, but mental disquiet is rending me. And when I think that Icast my baton at the feet of the hetman, that I was the cause ofresistance and mutiny, the remnants of my gray hair stand on my headfrom terror. So it is! But what is to be done in presence of opentreason? Happy are they who do not need to give themselves suchquestions, and seek for answers in their souls."
"A leader, a leader; may the merciful Lord give a leader!" saidStankyevich, raising his eyes toward heaven.
"Do not men say that the voevoda of Vityebsk is a wonderfully honestman?" asked Pan Stanislav.
"They do," replied Mirski; "but he has not the baton of grand or fullhetman, and before the king clothes him with the office of hetman, hecan act only on his own account. He will not go to the Swedes, oranywhere else; that is certain."
"Pan Gosyevski, full hetman, is a captive in Kyedani."
"Yes, for he is an honest man," said Oskyerko. "When news of that cameto me, I was distressed, and had an immediate foreboding of evil."
Pan Michael fell to thinking, and said after a while: "I was in Warsawonce, and went to the king's palace. Our gracious lord, since he lovessoldiers and had praised me for the Berestechko affair, knew me at onceand commanded me to come to dinner. At this dinner I saw PanCharnyetski, as the dinner was specially for him. The king grew alittle merry from wine, pressed Charnyetski's head, and said at last:'Even should the time come in which all will desert me, you will befaithful.' With my own ears I heard that said, as it were withprophetic spirit. Pan Charnyetski, from emotion, was hardly able tospeak. He only repeated: 'To the last breath! to the last breath!' Andthen the king shed tears--"
"Who knows if those were not prophetic words, for the time of disasterhad already come," said Mirski.
"Charnyetski is a great soldier," replied Stankyevich. "There are nolips in the Commonwealth which do not repeat his name."
"They say," said Pan Yan, "that the Tartars, who are aiding ReveraPototski against Hmelnitski, are so much in love with Charnyetski thatthey will not go where he is not with them."
"That is real truth," answered Oskyerko. "I heard that told in Kyedanibefore the hetman. We were all praising at that time Charnyetskiwonderfully, but it was not to the taste of Radzivill, for hefrowned and said, 'He is quartermaster of the king, but he might beunder-starosta with me at Tykotsin.'"
"Envy, it is clear, was gnawing him."
"It is a well-known fact that an apostate cannot endure the lustre ofvirtue."
Thus did the captive colonels converse; then their speech was turnedagain to Zagloba. Volodyovski assured them that aid might be looked forfrom him, for he was not the man to leave his friends in misfortune.
"I am certain," said he, "that he has fled to Upita, where he will findmy men, if they are not yet defeated, or taken by force to Kyedani.With them he will come to rescue us, unless they refuse to come, whichI do not expect; for in the squadron are Lauda men chiefly, and theyare fond of me."
"But they are old clients of Radzivill," remarked Mirski
"True; but when they hear of the surrender of Lithuania to the Swedes,the imprisonment of the full hetman and Pan Yudytski, of you and me, itwill turn their hearts away greatly from Radzivill. Those are honestnobles; Pan Zagloba will neglect nothing to paint the hetman with soot,and he can do that better than any of us."
"True," said Pan Stanislav; "but meanwhile we shall be in Birji."
"That cannot be, for we are making a circle to avoid Upita, and fromUpita the road is direct as if cut with a sickle. Even were they tostart a day later, or two days, they could still be in Birji before us,and block our way. We are only going to Shavli now, and from there weshall go to Birji directly; but you must know that it is nearer fromUpita to Birji than to Shavli."
"As I live, it is nearer, and the road is better," said Mirski, "for itis a high-road."
"There it is! And we are not yet in Shavli."
Only in the evening did they see the hill called Saltuves-Kalnas, atthe foot of which Shavli stands. On the road they saw that disquiet wasreigning in all the villages and towns through which they passed.Evidently news of the hetman's desertion to the Swedes had run throughall Jmud. Here and there the people asked the soldiers if it were truethat the country was to be occupied by Swedes; here and there crowds ofpeasants were leaving the villages with their wives, children, cattle,and effects, and going to the depths of the forest, with which thewhole region was thickly covered. In places the aspect of the peasantswas almost threatening, for evidently the dragoons were taken forSwedes. In villages inhabited by nobles they were asked directly whothey were and where they were going; and when Kovalski, instead ofanswering, commanded them to leave the road, it came to shouts andthreats to such a degree that muskets levelled for firing were barelysufficient to open a passage.
The highway leading from Kovno through Shavli to Mitava was coveredwith wagons and carriages, in which were the wives and children ofnobles wishing to take refuge from war in estates in Courland. InShavli itself, which was an appanage of the king, there were no privatesquadrons of the hetman, or men of the quota; but here the captivecolonels saw for the first time a Swedish detachment, composed oftwenty-five knights, who had come on a reconnoissance from Birji.Crowds of Jews and citizens were staring at the strangers. The colonelstoo gazed at them with curiosity, especially Volodyovski, who had neverbefore seen Swedes; hence he examined them eagerly with the desiringeyes with which a wolf looks at a flock of sheep.
Pan Kovalski entered into communication with the officer, declared whohe was, where he was going, whom he was conveying, and requested him tojoin his men to the dragoons, for greater safety on the road. But theofficer answered that he had an order to push as far as possible intothe depth of the country, so as to be convinced of its condition,therefore he could not return to Birji; but he gave assurance that theroad was safe everywhere, for small detachments, sent out from Birji,were moving in all directions,--some were sent even as far as Kyedani.After he had rested till midnight, and fed the horses, which were verytired, Pan Roh moved on his way, turning from Shavli to the eastthrough Yohavishkyele and Posvut toward Birji, so as to reach thedirect highway from Upita and Ponyevyej.
"If Zagloba comes to our rescue," said Volodyovski, about daylight, "itwill be easiest to take this road, for he could start right at Upita."
"Maybe he is lurking here somewhere," said Pan Stanislav.
"I had hope till I saw the Swedes," said Stankyevich, "but now itstrikes me that there is no help for us."
"Zagloba has a head to avoid them or to fool them; and he will be ableto do so."
"But h
e does not know the country."
"The Lauda people know it; for some of them take hemp, wainscots, andpitch to Riga, and there is no lack of such men in my squadron."
"The Swedes must have occupied all the places about Birji."
"Fine soldiers, those whom we saw in Shavli, I must confess," said thelittle knight, "man for man splendid! Did you notice what well-fedhorses they had?"
"Those are Livland horses, very powerful," said Mirski. "Our hussar andarmored officers send to Livland for horses, since our beasts aresmall."
"Tell me of the Swedish infantry!" put in Stankyevich. "Though thecavalry makes a splendid appearance, it is inferior. Whenever one ofour squadrons, and especially of the important divisions, rushed ontheir cavalry, the Swedes did not hold out while you could say 'OurFather' twice."
"You have tried them in old times," said the little knight, "but I haveno chance of testing them. I tell you, gentlemen, when I saw them nowin Shavli, with their beards yellow as flax, ants began to crawl overmy fingers. Ei, the soul would to paradise; but sit thou here in thewagon, and sigh."
The colonels were silent; but evidently not Pan Michael alone wasburning with such friendly feeling toward the Swedes, for soon thefollowing conversation of the dragoons surrounding the wagon came tothe ears of the prisoners.
"Did you see those pagan dog-faiths?" said one soldier; "we were tofight with them, but now we must clean their horses."
"May the bright thunderbolts crush them!" muttered another dragoon.
"He quiet, the Swede will teach thee manners with a broom over thyhead!"
"Or I him."
"Thou art a fool! Not such as thou wish to rush at them; thou seestwhat has happened."
"We are taking the greatest knights to them, as if into the dog'smouth. They, the sons of Jew mothers, will abuse these knights."
"Without a Jew you cannot talk with such trash. The commandant inShavli had to send for a Jew right away."
"May the plague kill them!"
Here the first soldier lowered his voice somewhat and said, "They saythe best soldiers do not wish to fight against their own king."
"Of course not! Did you not see the Hungarians, or how the hetman usedtroops against those resisting. It is unknown yet what will happen.Some of our dragoons too took part with the Hungarians; these men verylikely are shot by this time."
"That is a reward for faithful service!"
"To the devil with such work! A Jew's service!"
"Halt!" cried, on a sudden, Kovalski riding in front.
"May a bullet halt in thy snout!" muttered a voice near the wagon.
"Who is there?" asked the soldiers of one another.
"Halt!" came a second command.
The wagon stopped. The soldiers held in their horses. The day waspleasant, clear. The sun had risen, and by its rays was to be seen, onthe highway ahead, clusters of dust rising as if herds or troops werecoming.
Soon the dust began to shine, as if some one were scattering sparks inthe bunches of it; and lights glittered each moment more clearly, likeburning candles surrounded with smoke.
"Those are spears gleaming!" cried Pan Michael.
"Troops are coming."
"Surely some Swedish detachment!"
"With them only infantry have spears; but there the dust is movingquickly. That is cavalry,--our men!"
"Ours, ours!" repeated the dragoons.
"Form!" thundered Pan Roh.
The dragoons surrounded the wagon in a circle. Pan Volodyovski hadflame in his eyes.
"Those are my Lauda men with Zagloba! It cannot be otherwise!"
Now only forty rods divided those approaching from the wagon, and thedistance decreased every instant, for the coming detachment was movingat a trot. Finally, from out the dust pushed a strong body of troopsmoving in good order, as if to attack. In a moment they were nearer. Inthe first rank, a little from the right side, moved, under a bunchuk,some powerful man with a baton in his hand. Scarcely had Volodyovskiput eye on him when he cried,--
"Pan Zagloba! As I love God, Pan Zagloba!"
A smile brightened the face of Pan Yan. "It is he, and no one else, andunder a bunchuk! He has already created himself hetman. I should haveknown him by that whim anywhere. That man will die as he was born."
"May the Lord God give him health!" said Oskyerko.
Then he put his hands around his mouth and began to call, "GraciousKovalski! your relative is coming to visit you!"
But Pan Roh did not hear, for he was just forming his dragoons. And itis only justice to declare that though he had a handful of men, and onthe other side a whole squadron was rolling against him, he was notconfused, nor did he lose courage. He placed the dragoons in two ranksin front of the wagon; but the others stretched out and approached in ahalf-circle, Tartar fashion, from both sides of the field. Butevidently they wished to parley, for they began to wave a flag andcry,--
"Stop! stop!"
"Forward!" cried Kovalski.
"Yield!" was cried from the road.
"Fire!" commanded in answer Kovalski.
Dull silence followed,--not a single dragoon fired. Pan Roh was dumbfor a moment; then he rushed as if wild on his own dragoons.
"Fire, dog-faiths!" roared he, with a terrible voice; and with one blowof his fist he knocked from his horse the nearest soldier.
Others began to draw back before the rage of the man, but no one obeyedthe command. All at once they scattered, like a flock of frightenedpartridges, in the twinkle of an eye.
"Still I would have those soldiers shot!" muttered Mirski.
Meanwhile Kovalski, seeing that his own men had left him, turned hishorse to the attacking ranks.
"For me death is there!" cried he, with a terrible voice.
And he sprang at them, like a thunderbolt. But before he had passedhalf the distance a shot rattled from Zagloba's ranks.
Pan Roh's horse thrust his nose into the dust and fell, throwing hisrider. At the same moment a soldier of Volodyovski's squadron pushedforward like lightning, and caught by the shoulder the officer risingfrom the ground.
"That is Yuzva Butrym," cried Volodyovski, "Yuzva Footless!"
Pan Roh in his turn seized Yuzva by the skirt, and the skirt remainedin his hand; then they struggled like two enraged falcons, for both hadgigantic strength. Butrym's stirrup broke; he fell to the ground andturned over, but he did not let Pan Roh go, and both formed as it wereone ball, which rolled along the road.
Others ran up. About twenty hands seized Kovalski, who tore and draggedlike a bear in a net; he hurled men around, as a wild boar hurls dogs;he raised himself again and did not give up the battle. He wanted todie, but he heard tens of voices repeating the words, "Take him alive!take him alive!" At last his strength forsook him, and he fainted.
Meanwhile Zagloba was at the wagon, or rather on the wagon, and hadseized in his embraces Pan Yan, the little knight, Mirski, Stankyevich,and Oskyerko, calling with panting voice,--
"Ha! Zagloba was good for something! Now we will give it to thatRadzivill. We are free gentlemen, and we have men. We'll go straightwayto ravage his property. Well! did the stratagem succeed? I should havegot you out,--if not in one way, in another. I am so blown that I canbarely draw breath. Now for Radzivill's property, gracious gentlemen,now for Radzivill's property! You do not know yet as much of Radzivillas I do!"
Further outbursts were interrupted by the Lauda men, who ran one afteranother to greet their colonel. The Butryms, the Smoky Gostsyeviches,the Domasheviches, the Stakyans, the Gashtovts, crowded around thewagon, and powerful throats bellowed continually,--
"Vivat! vivat!"
"Gracious gentlemen," said the little knight when it grew somewhatquieter, "most beloved comrades, I thank you for your love. It is aterrible thing that we must refuse obedience to the hetman, and raisehands against him; but since his treason is clear, we cannot dootherwise. We will not desert our country and our gracious king--VivatJohannes Casimirus Rex!"
"Vivat Johannes Ca
simirus Rex!" repeated three hundred voices.
"Attack the property of Radzivill!" shouted Zagloba, "empty his lardersand cellars!"
"Horses for us!" cried the little knight.
They galloped for horses.
Then Zagloba said, "Pan Michael, I was hetman over these people inplace of you, and I acknowledge willingly that they acted withmanfulness; but as you are now free, I yield the command into yourhands."
"Let your grace take command, as superior in rank," said Pan Michael,turning to Mirski.
"I do not think of it, and why should I?" said the old colonel.
"Then perhaps Pan Stankyevich?"
"I have my own squadron, and I will not take his from a stranger.Remain in command; ceremony is chopped straw, satisfaction is oats! Youknow the men, they know you, and they will fight better under you."
"Do so, Michael, do so, for otherwise it would not be well," said PanYan.
"I will do so."
So saying, Pan Michael took the baton from Zagloba's hands, drew up thesquadron for marching, and moved with his comrades to the head of it.
"And where shall we go?" asked Zagloba.
"To tell the truth, I don't know myself, for I have not thought ofthat," answered Pan Michael.
"It is worth while to deliberate on what we should do," said Mirski,"and we must begin at once. But may I be permitted first to give thanksto Pan Zagloba in the name of all, that he did not forget us in straitsand rescued us so effectually?"
"Well," said Zagloba, with pride, raising his head and twisting hismustache. "Without me you would be in Birji! Justice commands toacknowledge that what no man can think out, Zagloba thinks out. PanMichael, we were in straits not like these. Remember how I saved youwhen we were fleeing before the Tartars with Helena?"
Pan Michael might have answered that in that juncture not Zagloba savedhim, but he Zagloba; still he was silent, and his mustache began toquiver. The old noble spoke on,--
"Thanks are not necessary, since what I did for you today you certainlywould not fail to do for me to-morrow in case of need. I am as glad tosee you free as if I had gained the greatest battle. It seems thatneither my hand nor my head has grown very old yet."
"Then you went straightway to Upita?" asked Volodyovski.
"But where should I go,--to Kyedani?--crawl into the wolf's throat? Ofcourse to Upita; and it is certain that I did not spare the horse, anda good beast he was. Yesterday early I was in Upita, and at midday westarted for Birji, in the direction in which I expected to meet you."
"And how did my men believe you at once? For, with the exception of twoor three who saw you at my quarters, they did not know you."
"To tell the truth, I had not the least difficulty; for first of all, Ihad your ring, Pan Michael, and secondly, the men had just learned ofyour arrest and the treason of the hetman. I found a deputation to themfrom Pan Mirski's squadron and that of Pan Stankyevich, asking to jointhem against the hetman, the traitor. When I informed them that youwere being taken to Birji, it was as if a man had thrust a stick intoan ant-hill. Their horses were at pasture; boys were sent at once tobring them in, and at midday we started. I took the command openly, forit belonged to me."
"But, father, where did you get the bunchuk?" asked Pan Yan. "Wethought from a distance that you were the hetman."
"Of course, I did not look worse than he? Where did I get the bunchuk?Well, at the same time with the deputations from the resistingsquadrons, came also Pan Shchyt with a command to the Lauda men tomarch to Kyedani, and he brought a bunchuk to give greater weight tothe command. I ordered his arrest on the spot, and had the bunchukborne above me to deceive the Swedes if I met them."
"As God lives, he thought all out wisely!" cried Oskyerko.
"As Solomon!" added Stankyevich.
Zagloba swelled up as if he were yeast.
"Let us take counsel at once as to what should be done," said he atlast. "If it is agreeable to the company to listen to me with patience,I will tell what I have thought over on the road. I do not advise youto commence war with Radzivill now, and this for two reasons: first,because he is a pike and we are perches. It is better for perches neverto turn head to a pike, for he can swallow them easily, but tail, forthen the sharp scales protect them. May the devil fix him on a spit inall haste, and baste him with pitch lest he burn overmuch."
"Secondly?" asked Mirski.
"Secondly," answered Zagloba, "if at any time, by any fortune, weshould fall into his hands, he would give us such a flaying that allthe magpies in Lithuania would have something to scream about. See whatwas in that letter which Kovalski was taking to the Swedish commandantat Birji, and know the voevoda of Vilna, in case he was unknown to youhitherto."
So saying, he unbuttoned his vest, and taking from his bosom a letter,gave it to Mirski.
"Pshaw! it is in German or Swedish," said the old colonel. "Who canread this letter?"
It appeared that Pan Stanislav alone knew a little German, for he hadgone frequently to Torun (Thorn), but he could not read writing.
"I will tell you the substance of it," said Zagloba. "When in Upita thesoldiers sent to the pasture for their horses, there was a little time.I gave command to bring to me by the locks a Jew whom every one saidwas dreadfully wise, and he, with a sabre at his throat, read quicklyall that was in the letter and shelled it out to me. Behold the hetmanenjoined on the commandant at Birji, and for the good of the King ofSweden directed him, after the convoy had been sent back, to shootevery one of us, without sparing a man, but so to do it that no reportmight go abroad."
All the colonels began to clap their hands, except Mirski, who, shakinghis head, said,--
"It was for me who knew him marvellous, and not find a place in myhead, that he would let us out of Kyedani. There must surely be reasonsto us unknown, for which he could not put us to death himself."
"Doubtless for him it was a question of public opinion."
"Maybe."
"It is wonderful how venomous he is," said the little knight; "forwithout mentioning services, I and Ganhof saved his life not so longago."
"And I," said Stankyevich, "served under his father and under himthirty-five years."
"He is a terrible man!" added Pan Stanislav.
"It is better not to crawl into the hands of such a one," said Zagloba."Let the devils take him! We will avoid fighting with him, but we willpluck bare these estates of his that lie on our way."
"Let us go to the voevoda of Vityebsk, so as to have some defence, someleader; and on the road we will take what can be had from the larders,stables, granaries, and cellars. My soul laughs at the thought, and itis sure that I will let no one surpass me in this work. What money wecan take from land-bailiffs we will take. The more noisily and openlywe go to the voevoda of Vityebsk, the more gladly will he receive us."
"He will receive us gladly as we are," said Oskyerko. "But it is goodadvice to go to him, and better can no one think out at present."
"Will all agree to that?" asked Stankyevich.
"As true as life!" said Pan Mirski. "So then to the voevoda ofVityebsk! Let him be that leader for whom we prayed to God."
"Amen!" said the others.
They rode some time in silence, till at last Pan Michael began to beuneasy in the saddle. "But could we not pluck the Swedes somewhere onthe road?" asked he at last, turning his eyes to his comrades.
"My advice is: if a chance comes, why not?" answered Stankyevich."Doubtless Radzivill assured the Swedes that he had all Lithuania inhis hands, and that all were deserting Yan Kazimir willingly; let it beshown that this is not true."
"And properly!" said Mirski. "If some detachment crawls into our way,we will ride over it. I will say also: Attack not the prince himself,for we could not stand before him, he is a great warrior! But, avoidingbattles, it is worth while to move about Kyedani a couple of days."
"To plunder Radzivill's property?" asked Zagloba.
"No, but to assemble more men. My squadron and that of Pan Stankyevichw
ill join us. If they are already defeated,--and they may be,--the menwill come to us singly. It will not pass either without a rally ofnobles to us. We will bring Pan Sapyeha fresh forces with which he caneasily undertake something."
In fact, that reckoning was good; and the dragoons of the convoy servedas the first example, though Kovalski himself resisted--all his menwent over without hesitation to Pan Michael. There might be found moresuch men in Radzivill's ranks. It might also be supposed that the firstattack on the Swedes would call forth a general uprising in thecountry.
Pan Michael determined therefore to move that night toward Ponyevyej,assemble whom he could of the Lauda nobles in the vicinity of Upita,and thence plunge into the wilderness of Rogovsk, in which, as heexpected, the remnants of the defeated resisting squadrons would be inhiding. Meanwhile he halted for rest at the river Lavecha, to refreshhorses and men.
They halted there till night, looking from the density of the forest tothe high-road, along which were passing continually new crowds ofpeasants, fleeing to the woods before the expected Swedish invasion.
The soldiers sent out on the road brought in from time to time singlepeasants as informants concerning the Swedes; but it was impossible tolearn much from them. The peasants were frightened, and each repeatedseparately that the Swedes were here and there, but no one could giveaccurate information.
When it had become completely dark, Pan Volodyovski commanded the mento mount their horses; but before they started a rather distinct soundof bells came to their ears.
"What is that?" asked Zagloba, "it is too late for the Angelus."
Volodyovski listened carefully, for a while. "That is an alarm!" saidhe.
Then he went along the line. "And does any one here know what villageor town there is in that direction?"
"Klavany, Colonel," answered one of the Gostsyeviches; "we go that waywith potash."
"Do you hear bells?"
"We hear! That is something unusual."
Volodyovski nodded to the trumpeter, and in a low note the trumpetsounded in the dark forest. The squadron pushed forward.
The eyes of all were fixed in the direction from which the ringing cameeach moment more powerful; indeed they were not looking in vain, forsoon a red light gleamed on the horizon and increased every moment.
"A fire!" muttered the men in the ranks.
Pan Michael bent toward Skshetuski. "The Swedes!" said he.
"We will try them!" answered Pan Yan.
"It is a wonder to me that they are setting fire."
"The nobles must have resisted, or the peasants risen if they attackedthe church."
"Well, we shall see!" said Pan Michael. And he was panting withsatisfaction.
Then Zagloba clattered up to him. "Pan Michael?"
"What?"
"I see that the odor of Swedish flesh has come to you. There willsurely be a battle, will there not?"
"As God gives, as God gives!"
"But who will guard the prisoner?"
"What prisoner?"
"Of course, not me, but Kovalski. Pan Michael, it is a terriblyimportant thing that he should not escape. Remember that the hetmanknows nothing of what has happened, and will learn from no one, ifKovalski does not report to him. It is requisite to order some trustymen to guard him; for in time of battle he might escape easily,especially if he takes up some stratagem."
"He is as capable of stratagems as the wagon on which he is sitting.But you are right; it is necessary to station some one near. Will youhave him under your eye during this time?"
"H'm! I am sorry to be away from the battle! It is true that in thenight near fire I am as good as blind. If it were in the daytime youwould never have persuaded me; but since the public good requires it,let this be so."
"Very well, I will leave you with five soldiers to assist; and if hetries to escape, fire at his head."
"I'll squeeze him like wax in my fingers, never fear!--But the fire isincreasing every moment. Where shall I stay with Kovalski?"
"Wherever you like. I've no time now!" answered Pan Michael, and herode on.
The flames were spreading rapidly. The wind was blowing from the fireand toward the squadron, and with the sound of bells brought the reportof firearms.
"On a trot!" commanded Volodyovski.