CHAPTER II.
THE BERDICZOV MONASTERY.
"Don't worry," said Nyedzviedz again, when he saw my distress. "Don'tworry! You can still be of great service to us, even if you are lame.We have long wanted to add to our number just such a cripple."
Then he summoned a sturdy, broad-shouldered robber and bade him takeme on his back and in this fashion I journeyed with the band, thestronger members taking turns in carrying me.
When we arrived at Oezakover forest, where we halted to rest, theleader said to me:
"You will leave us here, Baran, and hobble to Berdiczov as best youcan. I want you to spy out the situation there for us and get all theinformation you can. Then you will return to the cavern and on thenews you bring will depend our plans of attack; I propose to capturethe monastery."
The extraordinary success of the Mohilow expedition had made ourleader so arrogant that, because he had, with three-hundred menvanquished two-thousand, half of whom were armed, he now aspired tonothing of less importance than a garrisoned castle.
And the wedge with which he proposed to force an entrance was mycrippled leg!
From near and far--from distant lands even, all manner of crippledfolk, and invalids afflicted with divers maladies, journeyed toBerdiczov in search of healing. The indigent limped and hobbled oncrutches to the miracle-working spot; the well-to-do rode on mules;the peasant was trundled in a barrow by his sturdy spouse; thetradesman travelled in his two-wheeled ox-cart; and the magnate wasborne in his sedan-chair by his servants.
Berdiczov monastery was the property of the Premonstrant monks. Itstood on an elevation in the center of a charming valley. It wasstrongly fortified, and surrounded by thick walls, which wereprotected outside by a deep moat and palisades.
A thermal spring at the foot of the hill fed the moat and turned thewheels of a grist mill. The only entrance to the monastery was over anarrow drawbridge that spanned the moat at its deepest part. Themultitude of visitors to the healing spring found lodgings in thelittle village outside the walls of the monastery; and only onehundred worshippers at a time were permitted to enter the chapelinside the gates. If the crowd gathered at the drawbridge at the hourfor services exceeded that number then mass was celebrated all daylong, one hundred of the faithful entering at one door, as the hundredthat had worshipped passed out by the other. Day and night guardsarmed to the teeth patrolled the walls and the court-yard; and novisitor was allowed to enter with weapons of any sort, for enormouswealth lay heaped within the walls of the monastery. When I saw theheaps on heaps of valuables in the treasure-chamber, I no longerwondered that Nyedzviedz desired to possess it. There was a massivealtar of pure silver, the gift of King Stanislaus; golden alms basins,engraved with the name and history of the donor, Count Leszinsky;images of saints with mosaics of priceless gems; golden chalices;shrines glittering with rubies and diamonds; gemmed thuribles; antiquecrowns which had once adorned crania twice the size of the heads ofour day; costly reliquaries; and, amid all this splendor, countlessnumbers of crutches and staves, the votive offerings of the afflictedwho had found healing in the waters of the spring.
The crutches and staves were the first objects to attract my eye, andI said to myself: "How gladly would I add to this collection the oldTurk's koltuk-dengenegi with all its gold, could I but find healingfor my crippled leg."
When the choral began, I can't describe the feeling which tookpossession of me as I listened to the beautiful melody. I had nothought then for the treasures of gold and silver--no glance foranything but the image of the saint above the altar. I could notescape from the reproachful eyes it fixed on me. I felt that it wasreading all the wicked thoughts in my breast. But, as I listened tothe beautiful music, all the evil intentions I had brought with me tothe monastery faded from my heart; and when the last sounds died away,there was not, in all the devout company, a more bitterly repentantwretch than I. When the service was concluded, the worshippers passedin front of the prior to receive his benediction. The prior was avenerable saint with a flowing white beard; his countenance expressedinfinite goodness and benevolence.
We had been told not to offer any gifts to the monks on entering themonastery; but to leave whatever we might think fit to bestow, ondeparting.
The venerable prior dispensed his blessing to all alike. He did notinquire if the recipient were a believer, or a heretic. Christians,Jews, Mohammedans, all alike, received the godly man's benediction.
I quitted the chapel wholly repentant. I had completely forgotten theerrand on which I had been sent. Not once did it occur to me that Iwas there as a spy, to examine the walls, the mortars, to learn thestrength of the garrison.
I took my place in the procession of cripples, and hobbled along withthem, mumbling the prayers prescribed for us.
When we arrived at the miracle-working spring, I and myfellow-sufferers were undressed and placed on rafts in the water--richand poor alike, no distinction was made between the magnate and thebeggar.
I can't say exactly how long I remained in the water; but when I cameout, the crook had left my leg, it was straight and sound as before Icame into possession of the old Turk's crutch.
"Miraculum! Miraculum!" shouted the entire company; while I wept likea little child, for joy and gratitude.
With my crutch over my shoulder, instead of under it I returned to theprior, who received me with a benignant smile.
I knelt at his feet and asked him to receive my confession. I told himevery thing; that I was there at the behest of the haidemaken leaderto spy out the strength of the fortifications and the garrison; thatthe band was preparing to assault the monastery, so soon as theyshould hear from me; that they intended to bring with them a powerfulfield-gun, with which to force a breach in the walls through which thefour-hundred fearless robbers would enter and overpower the soldiery.When I had concluded, and the prior had given me absolution, he said:
"Now, my son, go back to those who sent you here and tell them whatyou have learned. Let them come with their field-gun, and do you comewith them. When you are ordered to bombard the walls, do you obey--"
"What? father;" I interrupted in astonishment. "You advise me to dothat?"
"Yes. On the bombardier depends the effect of the bombardment! Itrests with him to aim well, or ill! Better you at the gun thananother!"
I understood the sagacious reply, and said:
"I shall take good care not to aim well, father."
"On you, my son, will it depend that the relief troops I shall sendfor reach here in time to save us from the robbers."
"And you may rest assured, father, that I shall know how to prolongthe siege!"
As a pledge that I would keep faith with him I gave him my crutch,gratitude also prompting the gift, for, not even a gold-filled crutchis too great a price to pay for a sound leg!
"I will keep it for you, my son," said the benevolent sage. "If yousucceed in averting the danger which threatens us you shall have thecrutch back, and something in addition--something of more value thangold: aid to reform. Take this image of the Holy Virgin to your wifewith my blessing."
A changed man at heart, I returned to the cavern, where, however, Iwas forced again to tell untruths, in order to deceive the robbers.But it was for a good cause.
My comrades received me with gratulatory shouts when they saw mewalking on two healthy legs. I told them I had been healed bymagic--by the incantations of a witch, and they believed me! Had Itold the truth, and that I had received the blessing of the prior, itwould have made them suspicious.
We now held a council of war, at which I delivered my report. I knewfrom experience that, to gain credence for a lie, one must invest itwith a modicum of truth. Therefore, I described, without deviating oneiota from the truth, the treasures I had seen, and even added tothem--as, for instance: I said there were barrels filled with gold andsilver, which made the robbers' mouths water. Nyedzviedz was full ofambitious plans. He intended, so soon as he got money enough, tocombine under his leadership all the pr
edatory bands in the Carpathianregion, and with them invade and plunder the wealthy Galician cities,castles, and monasteries. He felt confident that the common peoplewould be glad to aid in plundering the prelates and nobles.
I described the fortifications of Berdiczov monastery as almostimpregnable, when the truth was, that I could, with the culverin, havebattered down the walls the first day while the rusty old mortarswould do little damage among the beleaguerers. I ascribed to the priorthe strategic talents of a field-marshall. My description of the moat,with the formidable palisades concealed under the water, quitediscouraged the robbers from the plan they had made to swim across it,and storm the walls.
Indeed, I told such astounding tales about the powder mines under thewalls and moat, that their confidence in me became absolute when Isketched my plan of assault. I proposed to batter the fortificationsin such a manner, that the _debris_ would fall into and fill up themoat, which would enable us to cross it without injury, and enterthrough the breaches I had made in the walls. I won the leader's favorand approval to such an extent that he committed the entire conduct ofthe important expedition into my hands.
At the conclusion of the council, I asked as a special favor to beallowed to spend a day with my beloved Madus before we set out on theexpedition.
Nyedzviedz at first was unwilling to consent. "I know," he said, "justhow women-folk are. It is best for a soldier to have nothing to dowith them. Their tears are sure to melt a soft heart."
But I persisted in my request, and at last received permission tovisit the Viszpa Ogrod.
It was a beautiful autumn afternoon when I descended the steep path tothe secluded valley. While yet some distance from our little cottage,I heard my Madus singing sweetly--I can hear her now, and see her asshe came joyfully to meet me.
How happy she was!
The poor child believed I had come to stop, and as I did not want tocloud her joy, I put off until the moment of my departure, telling herthat I was again to accompany her father on a distant expedition.
One day at least I would spend happily. So, I let my Madus tell me allthat had happened in the valley during my absence; I heard also howmuch dried fruit, how many smoked trout, how many cheeses, she had instore for the winter; how many yards of beautiful linen she had wovenfrom the flax she had cultivated with her own hands.
Last of all, she exhibited, with blushing cheeks, her littletreasures: cunning little caps, and jackets, at sight of which myheart leapt for joy in my bosom. She confided to me in a whisper that,when Christmas should arrive, her Bethlehem crib would have receivedits occupant.
Oh, how gladly would I have remained with her! But it could not be. Ihad more ambitious plans for her. I was bent on escaping with her tothe great world, where she should--as she deserved--become a finelady.
After she had told me everything about herself, she asked me to relatewhat I had done while absent. When I told her how successful theexpedition had proved, I found that the Madus who tended her dovesand made cheeses in the Viszpa Ogrod, was vastly different from theMadus who had once accompanied the haidemaken expeditions. She grewpale with horror when I described the slaughter of the caravan; andthe occurrence which resulted in my becoming the inheritor of the oldTurk's crutch, and a lame leg. She became more composed, however, whenI told her about the marvelous cure at the healing spring; and quiterecovered her composure when I gave her the image of the Holy Virginthe prior had sent her. Ah me! that image was her death, as well asher salvation.
The next morning I told her I had to leave her again. She sought withtears and caresses to dissuade me from going. She clasped her armsaround my neck, then flung herself at my feet, and clasped myknees--she seemed unable to control her wild despair.
I have often thought since that the poor child had a presentiment shewould never again behold me in this life.
I sought in vain to comfort her; in vain I assured her that I wouldnever leave her again after I returned from this expedition, fromwhich I hoped to secure what would enable me to establish a home forher in some large city. She was inconsolable.
She accompanied me to the entrance to the rock-corridor, and wouldhave gone clear to the cavern, had not her father met us just as wewere entering the passage. He frightened her by saying it would beunsafe to venture among the haidemaken in her condition, as allrobbers entertained the superstitious belief that the fourth fingerfrom the hand of an unborn babe rendered the possessor invulnerable tobullet and sword.
Nyedzviedz would not even allow a last embrace, but thrust us roughlyapart; and forced me to precede him into the corridor. I kept lookingback from time to time, so long as the entrance remained in sight. MyMadus stood, looking after me, in the circular opening of the rockywall; she seemed like a saint encompassed by a halo of light, and asthe corridor grew darker and more gloomy the radiant image at my backincreased in brilliance until a sudden turn hid the beautiful visionfrom my sight.
That same evening we set out for Berdiczov--four-hundred haidemaken,with the culverin.
CHRISTMAS.
It was early Autumn when we began the siege, which I conducted in soskillful--from my point of view!--a manner, that December found usstill outside the walls of the monastery. Three times I changed theposition of our assaulting forces; but took good care every time toselect a point far enough from the walls to prevent our shots fromdamaging them to any considerable extent.
Nyedzviedz kept urging me to a nearer approach: he said we were sodistant, that the cannon-balls from the fortifications had to rollover the ground to reach our lines. So, one day, after he had examinedthe ground, and discovered what he believed to be a more advantageousposition, I was forced, in order not to rouse his suspicions, tocomply with his request. While superintending the throwing up ofintrenchments the first night I managed to secrete under theearth-works a keg of powder, and in the morning I told the leader thatextreme caution would be necessary, now that we were so much nearer tothe fortifications, as the monks were having powder-mines laid underour breast-works. I had heard peculiar noises during the night, I toldhim, and, suspecting what was being done, I had scattered a few peason the head of a drum standing on the ground. The lively dancing ofthe peas had convinced me that my suspicions were correct.
But the leader was incredulous. He decided to take observations forhimself; and would spend the following night in the trenches, when hecould also watch the result of our bombardment. This would make itimpossible for me to carry out my plans for exploding the keg ofpowder hidden in the breast-works. But, I was not to be outdone. Ihappened to remember an expedient I had once employed with success,and resorted to it again: I drew the fuse through a long reed, one endof which I thrust into the keg.
I had to be very cautious; for Nyedzviedz had a nose that could smella match cord at long range; but with the fuse inside the reed, I couldprevent the fumes from getting into the range of his olfactor.
The powder exploded at the right moment, just when the leader wasbending eagerly over the breast-work to peer after a bomb. After thesmoke and dust cleared away, I drew him from under the heap of earth,from which only his legs protruded. He had not been injured in theleast, but all desire to assault the enemy at so close a range hadfled, and I was allowed to return to our former position, on the browof a hill, a considerable distance farther from the fortifications.
I consoled the dissatisfied haidemaken with the assurance that, whenthe real cold weather of winter should set in, the moat would freezeover; then it would be an easy matter to storm the walls at closerange. I did not think it necessary to tell them that the warm springwould prevent the water in the moat from freezing. In the meantimecame Christmas--an anxiously longed-for day in many respects. With thedawn of Christmas morning came a furious snow-storm, the north windflinging down on us such masses of flakes that it was impossible tosee ten steps away.
It was just the sort of weather I had calculated on. The bombardmenthad to cease, as the monastery was completely hidden from view behindthe veil of snow. The
haidemaken retired to their tents, and amusedthemselves, gaming with dice and cards, for what stakes do youimagine? They had no money, remember! Why, the winner paid, and theloser received, a box on the ear! I hadn't any fondness for the gamemyself; but my comrades seemed to enjoy it hugely.
While gaming, drinking, cursing, were going on in the other tents, Isat in my own, alone, and silent, pondering over my past years. Irecalled the different anniversaries of the blessed day, beginningwith the first I could remember when, held in my mother's arms, Iremoved from the Christmas-tree my first ginger-bread doll, which Iwas loath to eat because of its beautiful golden hue.
Then, my thoughts turned to the humble cot in the Viszpa Ogrod; and Iwondered, with a strange trembling in my bosom, if the littleBethlehem crib, my Madus had prepared for the reception of a preciousoccupant, now held its treasure.
The monastery bells were ringing for the Christmas service; on thebastion a long procession of monks with innumerable lamps was movingtoward the chapel.
The wind was driving the clouds across the sky, and hundreds ofwitch-forms rioted above the camp, in the faint light which came froma mist-veiled moon.
The snow-fall had ceased; only the wind, which was scattering thestorm-clouds, still swept with unabated vigor across the plain,packing the fine snow more compactly together.
Suddenly, amid the noise of carousing and shouting which came from theneighboring tents, I heard a sound that made me drop quickly to myknees, and lay my ear close to the ground. At last! At last! They werecoming! I could hear distinctly the hoof-beats, when they crossed therocky road from which the wind had swept the snow. Then, the soundceased--they were come to the plain where the snow muffled the noiseof the hoofs. Duke Visznovieczky's dragoons were approaching at abrisk trot to the assistance of Berdiczov monastery.
I did not wait for them to come up. In the dark all cows are black! Isaid to myself: "It will be useless to try to convince the dragoonwho raises his sword against me that I am this one, and not the otherone!" So I wrapped myself in my mantle, slipped from the tent, and ranfleetly toward the monastery.
When I paused to look back, after the relief troop had begun theattack on the robber camp, I saw the witch-dance I had seen earlier,it had descended to the earth, and with it was joined a tumult ofdemons; of black forms, and white, darting hither and thither; offurious sword cuts; frenzied cries; mad flight, and swift pursuit!
The early morning assault was successful. The dragoons routed thehaidemaken without a shot. What became of my comrades I cannot say,for I continued on my way to the monastery, where I shouted myselfhoarse before the draw-bridge was lowered to admit me.
Early mass had just been concluded. The monks with their tallcandlesticks, chanting a psalm of praise, led the procession returningfrom the chapel; the cripples hobbling in the rear, hummed theantiphony. But, hei! didn't the devout company break ranks quicklywhen I appeared before them with the announcement:
"Duke Visznovieczky's dragoons are come, and have attacked thehaidemaken camp!"
The psalm-singing ceased at once; and, instead, everybody wasshouting: "To arms! To arms!"
Even the canopy-bearers left the prior in the middle of thecourt-yard, and ran to fetch their arms; while the cripples hoppedabout on one leg and brandished their crutches and staves.
By this time we could see that the beleaguerers were fleeing beforethe dragoons in every direction. The valiant burgers who, at thebeginning of the siege, had taken refuge in the monastery, could nowno longer repress their heroic feelings. Seizing whatever would serveas a weapon, the brave fellows dashed across the draw-bridge and spedtoward the field of battle; the reverend fathers followed at a moredignified pace; the cripples brought up the rear, and assisted theworthy burgers to complete the work of destruction begun by thedragoons, by cutting off the feet of those haidemaken who had alreadybeen decapitated.
Whether Nyedzviedz had succeeded in escaping the fate of many of hiscomrades, I could not learn then; nor did I care! I was too thankfulthat I had been spared from destruction and delivered from the clutchof the robber-band. Therewith ended my career as a haidemak.
The prisoner here paused in his confession, feeling that he, as wellas the court, needed a rest.
"I am inclined to believe," observed the prince, "that the accusedrehabilitated himself through his valiant act. So much as he sinned,so much he made good! He was healed by a miracle of God; therefore, itbehooves us earthly judges to consider well before we pass sentencewhere the Heavenly Judge granted absolution."
To this the chair, with obvious irritation, made reply: "If yourhighness intends to permit this malefactor to extenuate, in a likemanner, all the rest of his misdeeds, when he gets to the end of thelist we shall feel that he deserves canonization instead ofpunishment."
PART III.
IN THE SERVICE OF THE DUKE.