CHAPTER XXXIII.
Pan Volodyovski's letters, announcing the expedition of Radzivill,found hearing with all the colonels, scattered throughout the wholeprovince of Podlyasye. Some had divided their squadrons already intosmaller detachments, so as to winter them more easily; others permittedofficers to lodge in private houses, so that there remained at eachflag merely a few officers and some tens of soldiers. The colonelspermitted this partly in view of hunger, and partly through thedifficulty of retaining in just discipline squadrons which after theyhad refused obedience to their own proper authority were inclined tooppose officers on the slightest pretext. If a chief of sufficientweight had been found, and had led them at once to battle againsteither of the two enemies, or even against Radzivill, discipline wouldhave remained surely intact; but it had become weakened by idleness inPodlyasye, where the time passed in shooting at Radzivill's castles, inplundering the goods of the voevoda, and in parleying with PrinceBoguslav. In these circumstances the soldier grew accustomed only toviolence and oppression of peaceful people in the province. Some of thesoldiers, especially attendants and camp-followers, deserted, andforming unruly bands, worked at robbery on the highway. And so thatarmy, which had not joined any enemy and was the one hope of the kingand the patriots, was dwindling day by day. The division of squadronsinto small detachments had dissolved them completely. It is true thatit was difficult to subsist in a body, but still it may be that thefear of want was exaggerated purposely. It was autumn, and the harvesthad been good; no enemy had up to that time ravaged the province withfire and sword. Just then the robberies of the confederate soldierswere destroying this province precisely as inactivity was destroyingthe soldiers themselves; for things had combined so wonderfully thatthe enemy left those squadrons in peace.
The Swedes, flooding the country from the west and extending to thesouth, had not yet come to that corner which between the province ofMazovia and Lithuania formed Podlyasye; from the other side the legionsof Hovanski, Trubetskoi, and Serebryani, stood in inactivity in thedistrict occupied by them, hesitating, or rather not knowing what tolay hold on. In the Russian provinces Buturlin and Hmelnitski sentparties out in old fashion, and just then they had defeated at Grodek ahandful of troops led by Pototski, grand hetman of the kingdom. ButLithuania was under Swedish protection. To ravage and to occupy itfurther meant, as was stated justly by Kmita in his letter, to declarewar against the Swedes, who were terrible and roused universal alarm inthe world. "There was therefore a moment of relief from theNortherners;" and some experienced men declared that they would soon beallies of Yan Kazimir and the Commonwealth against the King of Sweden,whose power, were he to become lord of the whole Commonwealth, wouldnot have an equal in Europe.
Hovanski therefore attacked neither Podlyasye nor the confederatesquadrons, while these squadrons, scattered and without a leader,attacked no one, and were unable to attack or to undertake anythingmore important than plundering the property of Radzivill; and withalthey were dwindling away. But Volodyovski's letters, touching theimpending attack by the hetman, roused the colonels from theirinactivity and slumber. They assembled the squadrons, called inscattered soldiers, threatening with penalties those who would notcome. Jyromski, the most important of the colonels, and whose squadronwas in the best condition, moved first, and without delay, toByalystok; after him came in one week Yakub Kmita,--true, with only onehundred and twenty men; then the soldiers of Kotovski and Lipnitskibegan to assemble, now singly, now in crowds; petty nobles from thesurrounding villages also came in as volunteers, such as theZyentsinkis, the Sviderskis, the Yavorskis, the Jendzians, theMazovyetskis; volunteers came even from the province of Lyubelsk, suchas the Karvovskis and the Turs; and from time to time appeared a morewealthy noble with a few servants, well armed. Deputies were sent fromthe squadrons to levy contributions, to collect money and provisionsfor receipts; in a word, activity reigned everywhere, and militarypreparations sprang up. When Volodyovski with his Lauda squadronarrived, there were already some thousands of people under arms, towhom only a leader was wanting.
These men were unorganized and unruly, though not so unorganized nor sounruly as those nobles of Great Poland, who a few months before had thetask of defending the passage of Uistsie against the Swedes; for thesemen from Podlyasye, Lublin, and Lithuania were accustomed to war, andthere were none among them, unless youths, who had not smelled powder,and who "had not used the snuff-box of Gradivus." Each in his time hadfought,--now against the Cossacks, now against the Turks, now againstTartars; there were some who still held in remembrance the Swedishwars. But above all towered in military experience and eloquence PanZagloba; and he was glad to be in that assemblage of soldiers, in whichthere were no deliberations with a dry throat.
Zagloba extinguished the importance of colonels the most important. TheLauda men declared that had it not been for him, Volodyovski, theSkshetuskis, Mirski, and Oskyerko would have died at the hands ofRadzivill, for they were being taken to Birji to execution. Zagloba didnot hide his own services, but rendered complete justice to himself, sothat all might know whom they had before them.
"I do not like to praise myself," said he, "nor to speak of what hasnot been; for with me truth is the basis, as my sister's son also cantestify."
Here he turned to Roh Kovalski, who straightway stepped forth frombehind Pan Zagloba, and said, with a ringing, stentorian voice,--
"Uncle never lies!"
And, puffing, Pan Roh rolled his eyes over the audience, as if seekingthe insolent man who would dare to gainsay him.
But no one ever gainsaid him. Then Zagloba began to tell of hisold-time victories,--how during the life of Konyetspolski he had causedvictory twice over Gustavus Adolphus, how in later times he staggeredHmelnitski, how he acted at Zbaraj, how Prince Yeremi relied on hiscounsels in everything, how he confided to him the leadership insorties.
"And after each sortie," said ho, "when we had spoiled five or tenthousand of the ruffians, Hmelnitski in despair used to butt his headagainst the wall, and repeat, 'No one has done this but that devil of aZagloba!' and when it came to the treaty of Zborovo, the Khan himselflooked at me as a wonder, and begged for my portrait, since he wishedto send it as a gift to the Sultan."
"Such men do we need now more than ever," said the hearers.
And since many had heard besides of the marvellous deeds of Zagloba,accounts of which were travelling over the whole Commonwealth, andsince recent events in Kyedani, such as the liberation of the colonels,and the battle with the Swedes at Klavany, confirmed the old opinionconcerning the man,--his glory increased still more; and Zagloba walkedin it, as in the sunlight, before the eyes of all men, bright andradiant beyond others.
"If there were a thousand such men in the Commonwealth, it would nothave come to what it has!" said the soldiers.
"Let us thank God that we have even one among us."
"He was the first to proclaim Radzivill a traitor."
"And he snatched honorable men from his grasp, and on the road he sopommelled the Swedes at Klavany that a witness of their defeat couldnot escape."
"He won the first victory!"
"God grant, not the last!"
Colonels like Jyromski, Kotovski, Yakub Kmita, and Lipnitski lookedalso on Zagloba with great respect. They urged him to their quarters,seizing him from one another by force; and his counsel was sought ineverything, while they wondered at his prudence, which was quite equalto his bravery.
And just then they were considering an important affair. They had sent,it is true, deputies to the voevoda of Vityebsk, asking him to come andtake command; but since no one knew clearly where the voevoda was atthat moment, the deputies went away, and as it were fell into water.There were reports that they had been taken by Zolotarenko's parties,which came as far as Volkovysk, plundering on their own account.
The colonels at Byalystok therefore decided to choose a temporaryleader who should have management of all till the arrival of Sapyeha.It is not needful to s
ay that, with the exception of Volodyovski, eachcolonel was thinking of himself.
Then began persuading and soliciting. The army gave notice that itwished to take part in the election, not through deputies, but in thegeneral circle which was formed for that purpose.
Volodyovski, after advising with his comrades, gave strong support toJyromski, who was a virtuous man and important; besides, he impressedthe troops by his looks, and a senatorial beard to his girdle. He wasalso a ready and experienced soldier. He, through gratitude,recommended Volodyovski; but Kotovski, Lipnitski, and Yakub Kmitaopposed this, insisting that it was not possible to select theyoungest, for the chief must represent before the country the greatestdignity.
"But who is the oldest here?" asked many voices.
"Uncle is the oldest," cried suddenly Roh Kovalski, with such athundering voice that all turned toward him.
"It is a pity that he has no squadron!" said Yahovich, Jyromski'slieutenant.
But others began to cry: "Well, what of that? Are we bound to chooseonly a colonel? Is not the election in our power? Is this not freesuffrage? Any noble may be elected king, not merely commander."
Then Pan Lipnitski, as he did not favor Jyromski, and wished by allmeans to prevent his election, raised his voice,--
"As true as life! You are free, gracious gentlemen, to vote as mayplease you. If you do not choose a colonel, it will be better; forthere will be no offence to any man, nor will there be jealousy."
Then came a terrible uproar. Many voices cried, "To the vote! to thevote!" but others, "Who here is more famous than Pan Zagloba? Who is agreater knight? Who is a more experienced soldier? We want Pan Zagloba!Long life to him! Long life to our commander!"
"Long life to Pan Zagloba! long life to him!" roared more and morethroats.
"To the sabres with the stubborn!" cried the more quarrelsome.
"There is no opposition! By acclamation!" answered crowds.
"Long life to him! He conquered Gustavus Adolphus! He staggeredHmelnitski!"
"He saved the colonels themselves!"
"He conquered the Swedes at Klavany!"
"Vivat! vivat! Zagloba dux! Vivat! vivat!"
And throngs began to hurl their caps in the air, while running throughthe camp in search of Zagloba.
He was astonished, and at the first moment confused, for he had notsought the office. He wanted it for Pan Yan, and did not expect such aturn of affairs. So when a throng of some thousands began to shout hisname, his breath failed him, and he became as red as a beet. Then hiscomrades rushed around him; but in their enthusiasm they interpretedeverything in a good sense, for seeing his confusion they fell toshouting,--
"Look at him! he blushes like a maiden! His modesty is equal to hismanhood! Long life to him, and may he lead us to victory!"
Meanwhile the colonels also came up,--glad, not glad; theycongratulated him on his office, and perhaps some were even glad thatit had missed their rivals. Pan Volodyovski merely moved his mustachessomewhat, he was not less astonished than Zagloba; and Jendzian, withopen eyes and mouth, stared with unbelief, but already with respect, atZagloba, who came to himself by degrees, and after a while put hishands on his hips, and rearing his head, received with fitting dignitythe congratulations.
Jyromski congratulated first on behalf of the colonels, and then of thearmy. Pan Jymirski, an officer of Kotovski's squadron, spoke veryeloquently, quoting the maxims of various sages.
Zagloba listened, nodded; finally, when the speaker had finished, thecommander gave utterance to the following words,--
"Gracious gentlemen! Even if a man should endeavor to drown honestmerit in the unfordable ocean, or cover it with the heaven-touchingCarpathians, still, having like oil the property of floating to thesurface, it would work itself out, so as to say to the eyes of men, 'Iam that which trembles not before light, which has no fear of judgment,which waits for reward.' But as a precious stone is set in gold, soshould that virtue be set in modesty; therefore, gracious gentlemen,standing here in your presence, I ask: Have I not hidden myself and myservices? Have I praised myself in your presence? Have I asked forthis office, with which you have adorned me? You yourselves havediscovered my merits, for I am this moment ready to deny them, and tosay to you: There are better than I, such as Pan Jyromski, PanKotovski, Pan Lipnitski, Pan Kmita, Pan Oskyerko, Pan Skshetuski, PanVolodyovski,--such great cavaliers that antiquity itself might be proudof them. Why choose me leader, and not some one of them? It is stilltime. Take from my shoulders this office, and clothe in this mantle aworthier man!"
"Impossible! impossible!" bellowed hundreds and thousands of voices.
"Impossible!" repeated the colonels, delighted with the public praise,and wishing at the same time to show their modesty before the army.
"I see myself that it is impossible now," said Zagloba; "then, graciousgentlemen, let your will be done. I thank you from my heart, lordsbrothers, and I have faith that God will grant that you be not deceivedin the trust which you have placed in me. As you are to stand with meto death, so I promise to stand with you; and if an inscrutable fatebrings us either victory or destruction, death itself will not part us,for even after death we shall share a common renown."
Tremendous enthusiasm reigned in the assembly. Some grasped theirsabres, others shed tears; sweat stood in drops on the bald head ofZagloba, but the ardor within him grew greater.
"We will stand by our lawful king, by our elected, and by our country,"shouted he; "live for them, die for them! Gracious gentlemen, sincethis fatherland is a fatherland never have such misfortunes fallen onit. Traitors have opened the gates, and there is not a foot of land,save this province, where an enemy is not raging. In you is the hope ofthe country, and in me your hope; on you and on me the wholeCommonwealth has its eyes fixed! Let us show that it holds not itshands forth in vain. As you ask from me manhood and faith, so I ask ofyou discipline and obedience; and if we be worthy, if we open, by ourexample, the eyes of those whom the enemy has deceived, then half theCommonwealth will fly to us! Whoso has God and faith in his heart willjoin us, the forces of heaven will support us, and who in that hour canoppose us?"
"It will be so! As God lives, it will be so! Solomon is speaking!Strike! strike!" shouted thundering voices.
But Zagloba stretched forth his hands to the north, and shouted,--
"Come now, Radzivill! Come now, lord hetman, lord heretic, voevoda ofLucifer! We are waiting for you,--not scattered, but standing together;not in discord, but in harmony; not with papers and compacts, but withswords in our hands! An army of virtue is waiting for you, and I am itsleader. Take the field! Meet Zagloba! Call the devils to your side; letus make the trial! Take the field!"
Here he turned again to the army, and roared till his voice was heardthroughout the whole camp,--
"As God is true, gracious gentlemen, prophecies support me! Onlyharmony, and we shall conquer those scoundrels, those wide-breeches andstocking fellows, fish-eaters and lousy rogues, sheepskin tanners whosleigh-ride in summer! We'll give them pepper, till they wear off theirheels racing home. Let every living man slay them, the dog brothers!Slay, whoso believes in God, to whom virtue and the country are dear!"
Several thousand sabres were gleaming at once. Throngs surroundedZagloba, crowding, trampling, pushing, and roaring,--
"Lead us on! lead us on!"
"I will lead you to-morrow! Make ready!" shouted Zagloba, with ardor.
This election took place in the morning, and in the afternoon there wasa review of the army. The squadrons were disposed on the plain ofHoroshchan, one by the other in great order, with the colonels andbanners in front; and before the regiments rode the commander, under ahorse-tail standard, with a gilded baton in his hand, and a heronfeather in his cap,--you would have said, a born hetman! And so hereviewed in turn the squadrons, as a shepherd examines his flock, andcourage was added to the soldiers at sight of that lordly figure. Eachcolonel came out to him in turn, and he spoke with each,--praisedsomething, blamed something; a
nd in truth those of the new-comers whoin the beginning were not pleased with the choice were forced to admitin their souls that the new commander was a soldier very wellconversant with military affairs, and for whom leadership was nothingnew.
Volodyovski alone moved his mustaches somewhat strangely when the newcommander clapped him on the shoulder at the review, in presence of theother colonels, and said,--
"Pan Michael, I am satisfied with you, for your squadron is in suchorder as no other. Hold on in this fashion, and you may be sure thatI'll not forget you."
"'Pon my word!" whispered Volodyovski to Pan Yan on the way home fromthe review, "what else could a real hetman have told me?"
That same day Zagloba sent detachments in directions in which it wasneedful to go, and in direction in which there was no need of going.When they returned in the morning, he listened with care to everyreport; then he betook himself to the quarters of Volodyovski, wholived with Pan Yan and Pan Stanislav.
"Before the army I must uphold dignity," said he, kindly; "when we arealone we can have our old intimacy,--here I am a friend, not a chief.Besides, I do not despise your counsel, though I have my own reason;for I know you as men of experience such as few in the Commonwealthhave."
They greeted him therefore in old fashion, and "intimacy"soon reigned completely. Jendzian alone dared not be with him asformerly, and sat on the very edge of his bench.
"What does father think to do?" asked Pan Yan.
"First of all to uphold order and discipline, and keep the soldiers atwork, that they may not grow mangy from laziness. I said well, PanMichael, that you mumbled like a suckling when I sent those partiestoward the four points of the world; but I had to do so to inure men toservice, for they have been idle a long time. That first, second, whatdo we need? Not men, for enough of them come, and more will come yet.Those nobles who fled from Mazovia to Prussia before the Swedes, willcome too. Men and sabres will not be wanting; but there are notprovisions enough, and without supplies no army on earth can remain inthe field. I had the idea to order parties to bring in whatever fallsinto their hands,--cattle, sheep, pigs, grain, hay; and in thisprovince and the district of Vidzko in Mazovia, which also has not seenan enemy yet, there is abundance of everything."
"But those nobles will raise heaven-climbing shouts," said Pan Yan, "iftheir crops and cattle are taken."
"The army means more for me than the nobles. Let them cry! Supplieswill not be taken for nothing. I shall command to give receipts, ofwhich I have prepared so many during the night, that half theCommonwealth might be taken under requisition with them. I have nomoney; but when the war is over and the Swedes driven out, theCommonwealth will pay. What is the use in talking! It would be worsefor the nobles if the army were to grow hungry, go around and rob. Ihave a plan too of scouring the forests, for I hear that very manypeasants have taken refuge there with their cattle. Let the army peoplereturn thanks to the Holy Ghost, who inspired them to choose me, for noother man would have managed in such fashion."
"On your great mightiness is a senator's head, that is certain!"exclaimed Jendzian.
"Hei!" retorted Zagloba, rejoiced at the flattery, "and you are not tobe imposed on, you rogue! Soon it will be seen how I'll make youlieutenant, only let there be a vacancy."
"I thank your great mightiness humbly," replied Jendzian.
"This is my plan," continued Zagloba: "first to collect such suppliesthat we could stand a siege, then to make a fortified camp, and letRadzivill come with Swedes or with devils. I'm a rascal if I do notmake a second Zbaraj here!"
"As God is dear to me, a noble idea!" cried Volodyovski; "but where canwe get cannon?"
"Pan Kotovski has two howitzers, and Yakub Kmita has one gun for firingsalutes; in Byalystok are four eight-pounders which were to be sent tothe castle of Tykotsin; for you do not know, gentlemen, that Byalystokwas left by Pan Vyesyolovski for the support of Tykotsin Castle, andthose cannon were bought the past year with the rent, as PanStempalski, the manager here, told me. He said also that there were ahundred charges of powder for each cannon. We'll help ourselves,gracious gentlemen; only support me from your souls, and do not forgetthe body either, which would be glad to drink something, for it is timenow for that."
Volodyovski gave orders to bring drink, and they talked on at the cups.
"You thought that you would have the picture of a commander," continuedZagloba, sipping lightly the old mead. "Never, never! I did not ask forthe favor; but since they adorn me with it, there must be obedience andorder. I know what each office means, and see if I am not equal toevery one. I'll make a second Zbaraj in this place, nothing but asecond Zbaraj! Radzivill will choke himself well; and the Swedes willchoke themselves before they swallow me. I hope that Hovanski will tryus too; I would bury him in such style that he would not be found atthe last judgment. They are not far away, let them try!--Mead, PanMichael!"
Volodyovski poured out mead. Zagloba drank it at a draught, wrinkledhis forehead, and as if thinking of something said,--
"Of what was I talking? What did I want?--Ah! mead, Pan Michael!"
Volodyovski poured out mead again.
"They say," continued Zagloba, "that Pan Sapyeha likes a drink in goodcompany. No wonder! every honorable man does. Only traitors, who havefalse thoughts for their country, abstain, lest they tell theirintrigues. Radzivill drinks birch sap, and after death will drinkpitch. I think that Sapyeha and I shall be fond of each other; but Ishall have everything here so arranged that when he comes all will beready. There is many a thing on my head; but what is to be done? Ifthere is no one in the country to think, then think thou, old Zagloba,while breath is in thy nostrils. The worst is that I have nochancellery."
"And what does father want of a chancellery?" asked Pan Yan.
"Why has the king a chancellery? And why must there be a militarysecretary with an army? It will be necessary to send to some town tohave a seal made for me."
"A seal?" repeated Jendzian, with delight, looking with growing respectat Zagloba.
"And on what will your lordship put the seal?" asked Volodyovski.
"In such a confidential company you may address me as in old times. Theseal will not be used by me, but by my chancellor,--keep that in mind,to begin with!"
Here Zagloba looked with pride and importance at those present, tillJendzian sprang up from the bench, and Pan Stanislav muttered,--
"_Honores mutant mores_ (honors change manners)!"
"What do I want of a chancellery? But listen to me!" said Zagloba."Know this, to begin with, that those misfortunes which have fallenupon our country, according to my understanding, have come from noother causes than from license, unruliness, and excesses--Mead, PanMichael!--and excesses, I say, which like a plague are destroying us;but first of all, from heretics blaspheming with ever-growing boldnessthe true faith, to the damage of our Most Holy Patroness, who may fallinto just anger because of these insults."
"He speaks truly," said the knights, in chorus; "the dissidents werethe first to join the enemy, and who knows if they did not bring theenemy hither?"
"For example, the grand hetman of Lithuania!"
"But in this province, where I am commander, there is also no lack ofheretics, as in Tykotsin and other towns; therefore to obtain theblessing of God on our undertaking at its inception, a manifesto willbe issued, that whoso is living in error must turn from it in threedays, and those who will not do that will have their propertyconfiscated to the army."
The knights looked at one another with astonishment. They knew thatthere was no lack of adroit reason and stratagem in Zagloba, but theydid not suppose him to be such a statesman and judge of publicquestions.
"And you ask," continued Zagloba, with triumph, "where we shall getmoney for the army? But the confiscations, and all the wealth of theRadzivills, which by confiscation will become army property?"
"Will there be right on our side?" asked Volodyovski.
"There are such times at present that whoever has a sword is right. A
ndwhat right have the Swedes and all those enemies who are raging withinthe boundaries of the Commonwealth?"
"It is true!" answered Pan Michael, with conviction.
"That is not enough!" cried Zagloba, growing warmer, "another manifestowill be issued to the nobles of Podlyasye, and those lands in theneighboring provinces which are not yet in the hands of the enemy, toassemble a general militia. These nobles must arm their servants, sothat we may not lack infantry. I know that many would be glad toappear, if only they could see some government. They will have agovernment and manifestoes."
"You have, in truth, as much sense as the grand chancellor of thekingdom," cried Volodyovski.
"Mead, Pan Michael!--A third letter will be sent to Hovanski, tellinghim to go to destruction; if not, we will smoke him out of every townand castle. They (the Northerners) are quiet now in Lithuania, it istrue, and do not capture castles; but Zolotarenko's men rob, goingalong in parties of one or two thousand. Let him restrain them, or wewill destroy them."
"We might do that, indeed," said Pan Yan, "and the troops would not belying idle."
"I am thinking of this, and I will send new parties today, precisely toVolkovysk; but some things are to be done, and others are not to beomitted. I wish to send a fourth letter to our elected, our good king,to console him in his sorrow; saying that there are still men who havenot deserted him, that there are sabres and hearts ready at his nod.Let our father have at least this comfort in a strange land; ourbeloved lord, our Yagellon blood, which must wander in exile,--think ofit, think of it!"
Here Zagloba fell to sobbing, for he had much mead in his head, and atlast he roared from pity over the fate of the king, and Pan Michael atonce seconded him in a thinner voice. Jendzian sobbed too, or pretendedto sob; but Pan Yan and Pan Stanislav rested their heads on theirhands, and sat in silence.
The silence continued for a while; suddenly Zagloba fell into a rage.
"What is the elector doing?" cried he. "If he has made a pact with thePrussian towns, let him take the field against the Swedes, let him notintrigue on both sides, let him do what a loyal vassal is bound to do,and take the field in defence of his lord and benefactor."
"Who can tell that he will not declare for the Swedes?" asked PanStanislav.
"Declare for the Swedes? Then I will declare to him! The Prussianboundary is not far, and I have some thousands of sabres within call!You will not deceive Zagloba! As true as you see me here, the commanderof this noble army, I will visit him with fire and sword. We have notprovisions; well, we shall find all we need in Prussian storehouses."
"Mother of God!" cried Jendzian, in ecstasy. "Your great mightinesswill conquer crowned heads!"
"I will write to him at once: 'Worthy Pan Elector, there is enough ofturning the cat away by the tail, enough of evasion and delay! Come outagainst the Swedes, or I will come on a visit to Prussia. It cannot beotherwise.'--Ink, pen, and paper!--Jendzian, will you go with theletter?"
"I will go!" answered the tenant of Vansosh, delighted with his newdignity.
But before pen, ink, and paper were brought to Zagloba, shouts wereraised in front of the house, and throngs of soldiers darkened thewindows. Some shouted "Vivat!" others cried, "Allah," in Tartar.Zagloba and his comrades went out to see what was taking place.
It appeared that they were bringing those eight pounders which Zaglobahad remembered, and the sight of which was now delighting the hearts ofthe soldiers.
Pan Stempalski, the manager of Byalystok, approached Zagloba, andsaid,--
"Serene, great mighty Commander! From the time that he of immortalmemory, the lord marshal of the Grand Principality of Lithuania, leftby will his property at Byalystok to support the castle of Tykotsin, I,being manager of that property, have applied faithfully and honestlyall its income to the benefit of that castle, as I can show to thewhole Commonwealth by registers. So that working more than twenty yearsI have provided that castle with powder and guns and brass; holding itas a sacred duty that every copper should go to that object to whichthe serene great mighty marshal of the Grand Principality of Lithuaniacommanded that it should go. But when by the changing wheel of fate thecastle of Tykotsin became the greatest support in this province of theenemies of the country, I asked God and my own conscience whether Iought to strengthen it more, or whether I was not bound to give intothe hands of your great mightiness this wealth and these militarysupplies obtained from the income of the present year."
"You should give them to me!" interrupted Zagloba, with importance.
"I ask but one thing,--that your great mightiness be pleased, inpresence of the whole army and in writing, to give me a receipt, that Iapplied nothing from that property to my own use, and that I deliveredeverything into the hands of the Commonwealth, worthily representedhere by you, the great mighty commander."
Zagloba motioned with his head as a sign of assent, and began at onceto look over the register.
It appeared that besides the eight-pounders there were put away in thestorehouses three hundred German muskets, very good ones; besides twohundred Moscow halberts, for infantry in the defence of walls andbreastworks; and six thousand ducats in ready money.
"The money will be divided among the army," said Zagloba; "and as tothe muskets and halberts,"--here he looked around,--"Pan Oskyerko,you will take them and form a body of infantry; there are a fewfoot-soldiers here from the Radzivill fugitives, and as many as arelacking may be taken from the millers."
Then he turned to all present: "Gracious gentlemen, there is money,there are cannons, there will be infantry and provisions,--these are myorders, to begin with."
"Vivat!" shouted the army.
"And now, gracious gentlemen, let all the young men go on a jump to thevillages for spades, shovels, and pickaxes. We will make a fortifiedcamp, a second Zbaraj! But whether a man belongs to cavalry orinfantry, let none be ashamed of the shovel, and to work!"
Then the commander withdrew to his quarters, attended by the shouts ofthe army.
"As God is true, that man has a head on his shoulders," saidVolodyovski to Pan Yan, "and things begin to go in better order."
"If only Radzivill does not come soon," put in Pan Stanislav, "for heis such a leader that there is not another like him in theCommonwealth. Our Pan Zagloba is good for provisioning the camp; but itis not for him to measure strength with such a warrior as Radzivill."
"That is true!" answered Pan Yan. "When it comes to action we will helphim with counsel, for he does not understand war. Besides, his rulewill come to an end the moment Sapyeha arrives."
"He can do much good before that time," said Volodyovski.
In truth, the army needed some leader, even Zagloba; for from the dayof his election better order reigned in the camp. On the following daythey began to make breastworks near the Byalystok ponds. Pan Oskyerko,who had served in foreign armies and understood fortification, directedthe whole labor. In three days there had arisen a very strongentrenchment, really something like Zbaraj, for the sides and the rearof it were defended by swampy ponds. The sight of this work raised thehearts of the soldiers; the whole army felt that it had some groundunder its feet. But courage was strengthened still more at sight of thesupplies of food brought by strong parties. Every day they drove inoxen, sheep, pigs; every day came wagons bringing all kinds of grainand hay. Some things came from Lukovo, others from Vidzko. There camealso, in continually greater numbers, nobles, small and great, for whenthe tidings went around that there was a government, an army, and acommander, there was more confidence among people. It was burdensomefor the inhabitants to support a "whole division:" but to begin with,Zagloba did not inquire about that; in the second place, it was betterto give half to the army and enjoy the rest in peace, than to beexposed every moment to losing all through the unruly bands, which hadincreased considerably and raged like Tartars, and which, at command ofZagloba, were pursued and destroyed.
"If the commander turns out to be such a leader as he is a manager,"said the soldiers in camp, "the Comm
onwealth does not know yet howgreat a man it has."
Zagloba himself was thinking, with definite alarm, of the coming ofYanush Radzivill. He called to mind all the victories of Radzivill;then the form of the hetman took on monstrous shapes in the imaginationof the new commander, and in his soul he said,--
"Oh, who can oppose that dragon? I said that he would choke himselfwith me, but he will swallow me as a sheat-fish a duck."
And he promised himself, under oath, not to give a general battle toRadzivill.
"There will be a siege," thought he, "and that always lasts long.Negotiations can be tried too, and by that time Sapyeha will come up."
In case he should not come up, Zagloba determined to listen to Pan Yanin everything, for he remembered how highly Prince Yeremi prized thisofficer and his military endowments.
"You, Pan Michael," said Zagloba to Volodyovski, "are just created forattack, and you may be sent scouting, even with a large party, for youknow how to manage, and fall on the enemy, like a wolf on sheep; but ifyou were commanded to be hetman of a whole army,--I pass, I pass! Youwill not fill a vault with your mind, since you have no wit for sale;but Yan, he has the head of a commander, and if I were to die he is theonly man who could fill my place."
Meanwhile contradictory tidings came. First it was reported thatRadzivill was marching through Electoral Prussia; second, that havingdefeated Hovanski's troops, he had taken Grodno and was marching thencewith great force; further, there were men who insisted that not PrinceYanush, but Sapyeha, with the aid of Prince Michael Radzivill, haddefeated Hovanski. Scouting-parties brought no reliable news, savingthis, that a body of Zolotarenko's men, about two thousand in number,were at Volkovysk, and threatened the town. The neighborhood was inflames.
One day later fugitives began to come in who confirmed the news,reporting besides that the townspeople had sent envoys to Hovanski andZolotarenko with a prayer to spare the place, to which they receivedanswer from Hovanski that that band was a separate one, having nothingto do with his army. Zolotarenko advised the people to ransomthemselves; but they, as poor men after the recent fire and a number ofplunderings, had no ransom to give. They implored the commander inGod's name to hasten to their rescue, while they were conductingnegotiations to ransom the town, for afterward there would not be time.Zagloba selected fifteen hundred good troops, among them the Lauda men,and calling Volodyovski, said,--
"Now, Pan Michael, it is time to show what you can do. Go to Volkovyskand destroy those ruffians who are threatening an undefended town. Suchan expedition is not a novelty for you; I think you will take it as afavor that I give such functions." Here he turned to the othercolonels: "I must remain in camp myself, for all the responsibility ison me, that is, first; and second, it does not beseem my office to goon an expedition against ruffians. But let Radzivill come, then in agreat battle it will be shown who is superior,--the hetman or thecommander."
Volodyovski set out with alacrity, for he was weary of camp life andyearned for battle. The squadrons selected marched out willingly andwith singing; the commander appeared on the rampart on horseback, andblessed the departing, making over them the sign of the cross for theroad. There were some who wondered that Zagloba sent off that partywith such solemnity, but he remembered that Jolkyevski and otherhetmans had the habit of making the sign of the cross over squadronswhen going to battle; besides, he loved to do everything with ceremony,for that raised his dignity in the eyes of the soldiers.
Barely had the squadrons vanished in the haze of the distance, when hebegan to be alarmed about them.
"Yan!" said he, "another handful of men might be sent to Volodyovski."
"Be at rest, father," answered Pan Yan. "For Volodyovski to go on suchan expedition is the same as to eat a plate of fried eggs. Dear God, hehas done nothing else all his life!"
"That is true; but if an overwhelming force should attack him? _NecHercules contra plures_ (Neither Hercules against [too] many)."
"What is the use in talking about such a soldier? He will testeverything carefully before he strikes; and if the forces against himare too great, he will pluck off what he can and return, or will sendfor reinforcements. You may sleep quietly, father."
"Ah, I also knew whom I was sending, but I tell you that Pan Michaelmust have given me some herb; I have such a weakness for him. I havenever loved any one so, except Podbipienta and you. It cannot be butthat little fellow has given me something."
Three days passed. Provisions were brought continually, volunteers alsomarched in, but of Pan Michael not a sound. Zagloba's fears increased,and in spite of Pan Yan's remonstrance that in no way could Volodyovskireturn yet from Volkovysk, Zagloba sent one hundred of Yakub Kmita'slight horse for intelligence.
The scouts marched out, and two days more passed without news.
On the seventh day, during a gray misty nightfall, the camp-attendantssent for food to Bobrovniki returned in great haste, with the reportthat they had seen some army coming out of the forest beyondBobrovniki.
"Pan Michael!" exclaimed Zagloba, joyfully.
But the men contradicted that. They had not gone to meet it for thespecial reason that they saw strange flags, not belonging toVolodyovski's troops. And besides, this force was greater. Theattendants, being attendants, could not fix the number exactly; somesaid there were three thousand; others five thousand, or still more.
"I will take twenty horsemen and go to meet them," said CaptainLipnitski.
He went.
An hour passed, and a second; at last it was stated that not a partywas approaching, but a whole army.
It is unknown why, but on a sudden it was thundered through the camp,--
"Radzivill is coming!"
This report, like an electric shock, moved and shook the whole camp;the soldiers rushed to the bulwarks. On some faces terror was evident;the men did not stand in proper order; Oskyerko's infantry onlyoccupied the places indicated. Among the volunteers there was a panicat the first moment. From mouth to mouth flew various reports:"Radzivill has cut to pieces Volodyovski and the second party formed ofYakub Kmita's men," repeated some. "Not a witness of the defeat hasescaped!" said others. "And now Lipnitski has gone, as it were, underthe earth." "Where is the commander? Where is the commander?"
The colonels rushed to establish order; and since all in the camp, savea few volunteers, were old soldiers, they soon stood in order, waitingfor what would appear.
When the cry came, "Radzivill is coming!" Zagloba was greatly confused;but in the first moment he would not believe it.
"What has happened to Volodyovski? Has he let himself be surrounded, sothat not a man has come back with a warning? And the second party? AndPan Lipnitski? Impossible!" repeated Zagloba to himself, wiping hisforehead, which was sweating profusely. "Has this dragon, this man-killer,this Lucifer, been able to come from Kyedani already? Is the last hourapproaching?"
Meanwhile from every side voices more and more numerous cried,"Radzivill! Radzivill!"
Zagloba ceased to doubt. He sprang up and rushed to Pan Yan's quarters."Oh, Yan, save! It is time now!"
"What has happened?" asked Pan Yan.
"Radzivill is coming! To your head I give everything, for Prince Yeremisaid that you are a born leader. I will superintend myself, but do yougive counsel and lead."
"That cannot be Radzivill!" said Pan Yan. "From what direction are thetroops marching?"
"From Volkovysk. It is said that they have taken Volodyovski and thesecond party which I sent not long ago."
"Volodyovski let himself be taken! Oh, father, you do not know him. Heis coming back himself,--no one else!"
"But it is said that there is an enormous army!"
"Praise be to God! it is clear then that Sapyeha is coming."
"For God's sake! what do you tell me? Why then was it said thatLipnitski went against them?"
"That is just the proof that it is not Radzivill who is coming.Lipnitski discovered who it was, joined, and all are coming together.Let us go out, let us go out!
"
"I said that the first moment!" cried Zagloba. "All were frightened,but I thought, 'That cannot be!' I saw the position at once. Come!hurry, Yan, hurry! Those men out there are confused. Aha!"
Zagloba and Pan Yan hastened to the ramparts, occupied already by thetroops, and began to pass along. Zagloba's face was radiant; he stoppedevery little while, and cried so that all heard him,--
"Gracious gentlemen, we have guests! I have no reason to lose heart! Ifthat is Radzivill, I'll show him the road back to Kyedani!"
"We'll show him!" cried the army.
"Kindle fires on the ramparts! We will not hide ourselves; let them seeus, we are ready! Kindle fires!"
Straightway they brought wood, and a quarter of an hour later the wholecamp was flaming, till the heavens grew red as if from daybreak. Thesoldiers, turning away from the light, looked into the darkness in thedirection of Bobrovniki. Some of them cried that they heard a clatterand the stamp of horses.
Just then in the darkness musket-shots were heard from afar. Zaglobapulled Pan Yan by the skirts.
"They are beginning to fire!" said he, disquieted.
"Salutes!" answered Pan Yan.
After the shots shouts of joy were heard. There was no reason forfurther doubt; a moment later a number of riders rushed in on foaminghorses, crying,--
"Pan Sapyeha! the voevoda of Vityebsk!"
Barely had the soldiers heard this, when they rushed forth from thewalls, like an overflowed river, and ran forward, roaring so that anyone hearing their voices from afar might think them cries from a townin which victors were putting all to the sword.
Zagloba, wearing all the insignia of his office, with a baton in hishand and a heron's feather in his cap, rode out under his horse-tailstandard, at the head of the colonels, to the front of thefortifications.
After a while the voevoda of Vityebsk at the head of his officers, andwith Volodyovski at his side, rode into the lighted circle. He was aman already in respectable years, of medium weight, with a face notbeautiful, but wise and kindly. His mustaches, cut evenly over hisupper lip, were iron-gray, as was also a small beard, which made himresemble a foreigner, though he dressed in Polish fashion. Thoughfamous for many military exploits he looked more like a civilian than asoldier; those who knew him more intimately said that in thecountenance of the voevoda Minerva was greater than Mars. But, besidesMinerva and Mars, there was in that face a gem rarer in those times;that is honesty, which flowing forth from his soul was reflected in hiseyes as the light of the sun is in water. At the first glance peoplerecognized that he was a just and honorable man.
"We waited as for a father!" cried the soldiers.
"And so our leader has come!" repeated others, with emotion.
"Vivat, vivat!"
Pan Zagloba, at the head of his colonels, hurried toward Sapyeha, whoreined in his horse and began to bow with his lynx-skin cap.
"Serene great mighty voevoda!" began Zagloba, "though I possessed theeloquence of the ancient Romans, nay, of Cicero himself, or, going toremoter times, of that famous Athenian, Demosthenes, I should not beable to express the delight which has seized our hearts at sight of theworthy person of the serene great mighty lord. The whole Commonwealthis rejoicing in our hearts, greeting the wisest senator and the bestson, with a delight all the greater because unexpected. Behold, we weredrawn out here on these bulwarks under arms, not ready for greeting,but for battle,--not to hear shouts of delight, but the thunder ofcannon,--not to shed tears, but our blood! When however hundred-tonguedFame bore around the news that the defender of the fatherland wascoming, not the heretic,--the voevoda of Vityebsk, not the grand hetmanof Lithuania,--Sapyeha, not Radzivill--"
But Pan Sapyeha was in an evident hurry to enter; for he waved his handquickly, with a kindly though lordly inattention, and said,--
"Radzivill also is coming. In two days he will be here!"
Zagloba was confused; first, because the thread of his speech wasbroken, and second, because the news of Radzivill made a greatimpression on him. He stood therefore a moment before Sapyeha, notknowing what further to say; but he came quickly to his mind, anddrawing hurriedly the baton from his belt, said with solemnity, callingto mind what had taken place at Zbaraj,--
"The army has chosen me for its leader, but I yield this into worthierhands, so as to give an example to the younger how we must resign thehighest honors for the public good."
The soldiers began to shout; but Pan Sapyeha only smiled and said,--
"Lord brother, I would gladly receive it, but Radzivill might thinkthat you gave it through fear of him."
"Oh, he knows me already," answered Zagloba, "and will not ascribe fearto me. I was the first to stagger him in Kyedani; and I drew othersafter me by my example."
"If that is the ease, then lead on to the camp," said Sapyeha."Volodyovski told me on the road that you are an excellent manager andhave something on which to subsist; and we are wearied and hungry."
So saying, he spurred on his horse, and after him moved the others;and all entered the camp amid measureless rejoicing. Zagloba,remembering what was said of Sapyeha,--that he liked feasts and thegoblet,--determined to give fitting honor to the day of his coming;hence he appeared with a feast of such splendor as had not been yet inthe camp. All ate and drank. At the cups Volodyovski told what hadhappened at Volkovysk,--how forces, considerably greater than his own,had been sent out by Zolotarenko, how the traitor had surrounded him,how straitened he was when the sudden arrival of Sapyeha turned adesperate defence into a brilliant victory.
"We gave them something to think of," said he, "so that they will notstick an ear out of their camp."
Then the conversation turned to Radzivill. The voevoda of Vityebsk hadvery recent tidings, and knew through reliable people of everythingthat took place in Kyedani. He said therefore that the hetman had senta certain Kmita with a letter to the King of Sweden, and with a requestto strike Podlyasye from two sides at once.
"This is a wonder of wonders to me!" exclaimed Zagloba; "for had it notbeen for that Kmita, we should not have concentrated our forces to thismoment, and if Radzivill had come he might have eaten us up, one afterthe other, like puddings of Syedlets."
"Volodyovski told me all that," said Sapyeha, "from which I infer thatKmita has a personal affection for you. It is too bad that he hasn't itfor the country. But people who see nothing above themselves, serve nocause well and are ready to betray any one, as in this case KmitaRadzivill."
"But among us there are no traitors, and we are ready to stand up withthe serene great mighty voevoda to the death!" said Jyromski.
"I believe that here are most honorable soldiers," answered Sapyeha,"and I had no expectation of finding such order and abundance, forwhich I must give thanks to his grace Pan Zagloba."
Zagloba blushed with pleasure, for somehow it had seemed to himhitherto that though the voevoda of Vityebsk had treated himgraciously, still he had not given him the recognition and respectwhich he, the ex-commander, desired. He began therefore to relate howhe had made regulations, what he had done, what supplies he hadcollected, how he had brought cannon, and formed infantry, finally whatan extensive correspondence he had carried on; and not without boastingdid he make mention of the letters sent to the banished king, toHovanski, and to the elector.
"After my letter, his grace the elector must declare for us openly oragainst us," said he, with pride.
The voevoda of Vityebsk was a humorous man, and perhaps also he was alittle joyous from drink; therefore he smoothed his mustache, laughedmaliciously, and said,--
"Lord brother, but have you not written to the Emperor of Germany?"
"No!" answered Zagloba, astonished.
"That is a pity," said the voevoda; "for there an equal would havetalked with an equal."
The colonels burst into a thundering laugh; but Zagloba showed at oncethat if the voevoda wished to be a scythe, he had struck a stone.
"Serene great mighty lord," said he, "I can write to the elector, for
as a noble I am an elector myself, and I exercised my rights not solong ago when I gave my voice for Yan Kazimir."
"You have brought that out well," answered Sapyeha.
"But with such a potentate as the Emperor I do not correspond,"continued Zagloba, "lest he might apply to me a certain proverb which Iheard in Lithuania."
"What was the proverb?"
"Such a fool's head as that must have come out of Vityebsk!" answeredZagloba, without confusion.
Hearing this, the colonels were frightened; but the voevoda leaned backand held his sides from laughter.
"Ah, but you have settled me this time! Let me embrace you! Whenever Iwant to shave my beard I'll borrow your tongue!"
The feast continued till late in the night; it was broken up by thearrival of nobles from Tykotsin, who brought news that Radzivill'sscouts had already reached that place.