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l^opulac <(BDttton. 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ. 
 Vol. I. 
 
THE WORKS OF 
 
 HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ. 
 
 AUTHORIZED UNABRIOQED TRANSLATIONS BY 
 JEREMIAH OURTIN. 
 
 LIBBABT EDITION. 
 
 J^tstorical i&oinaitces. 
 
 Poland, Turkey, Rmsia, and Sweden. 
 
 With Fire and Sword, i vol. 
 The Deluge, a vols. 
 Pan Michael, i vol. 
 
 Rome in the time of Nero. 
 "QUO Vadis." I vol. 
 
 Nci\iel(( of iWloliecn ^olanU. 
 Children of the Soil, i vol. 
 Without Dogma. (Translated by Iza Young.) 
 
 Sljott Stories. 
 
 HANfA. and Other Stories, i vol. 
 SlELANKA, A FOREST PICTURE, and Other Stories. 
 1 vol. 
 
 On the Bright Shore, i vol. 
 Let Us Follow Him. i vol. 
 %* The above two are also included in the volume 
 entitled " Hania." 
 
 Yanko the Musician, and Other Stories, i vol. 
 L'LLIAN Morris, and Other Stories, x vol. 
 
 \* The tales and sketches included in these two 
 volumes are now reprinted with others by Sienkie- 
 wicz in the volume entitled " Sielanka, a Forest 
 Picture, and Other Stories." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 9in WtovitA HSobel 
 
 OF 
 
 POLAND, SWEDEN, AND RUSSIA. 
 
 A SEQUEL TO 
 
 "WITH FIRE AND SWORD. 
 
 it 
 
 BY 
 
 HBNRYK SIENKIEWICZ. 
 
 AUTHORIZED AND UNABRIDGED TRANSLATION FROM 
 
 THE POLIiiU BY 
 
 JEREMIAH CURTIN. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 Vol. I 
 
 TORONTO : 
 
 GEORGE N. MORANG, 
 68 YoNQE Street. 
 
 1898. 
 
Copifriffht, 1S91, 1898, 
 By Jkrkmiah Cuktin. 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 •jLjc^cv-a^v 
 
 John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, C:i.A 
 
TO HON. CHARLES A. DANA, 
 
 Editor of "The Sun," 
 
 New York. 
 
 SfR, — I beg to dedicate to you chis translation of a reina.kable 
 work, touching a period eventful in the history of the Poles, and 
 the Slav race in general. You will appreciate the pictures of battle 
 and trial contained in these volumes, for you know great events 
 not from books merely but from personal contact. You receive 
 pleastue from various literatures, and from considering those points 
 of character by which nations and men are distinguished ; hence, 
 as I think, Tkr Dbluor will give you some mental enjoyment, 
 and perhaps turn your attention to a new field of history. 
 
 JEREMIAH CURTIN. 
 
 BmITHSONIAN iNSTITUTIOy, BUKRAU OF EtHNOLOOT, 
 
 November 26, 1891. 
 
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From the author of "Quo Vadis, 
 
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INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The wars described in The Deluge are the most compli- 
 cated and significant in the whole career of the Common- 
 wealth, for the political motives which came into play 
 during these wars had their origin in early and leading 
 historical causes. 
 
 The policy of the Teutonic Knights gave the first of its 
 final results in the war of 1655, between Sweden and Po- 
 land, since it made the elector independent in Prussia, where 
 soon after, his son was crowned king. The war with Great 
 Russia in 1654, though its formal cause came, partly at 
 least, from the struggle of 1612, in which the Poles had 
 endeavored to subjugate Moscow, was really roused by 
 the conflict of Southern Russia with Poland to win re- 
 ligious and material equality. 
 
 The two fundamental events of Polish history are the 
 settlement of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia, through the 
 action of the Poles themselves ; and the union of Poland 
 with Lithuania and Russia by the marriage of Yadviga, the 
 Polish princess, to Yagyello, Grand Prince of Lithuania. 
 
 Before touching on the Teutonic Knights, a few words 
 may be given to the land where they began that career 
 which cut off Poland from the sea, took from the Poles 
 their political birthplace, and gave its name and territory 
 to the chief kingdom of the new German Empire, the 
 kingdom which is in fact the creator and head of that 
 Empire. 
 
 Prussia in the thirteenth century extended from the 
 Vistula eastward to the Niemen, and from the Baltic south- 
 ward about as far as it does at present. In this territory 
 lived the Prussians. East of the Niemen lived the Lithu- 
 anians, another division of the same stock of people. West 
 of the Vistula lay Pomorye,^ now Pomerania, occupied at 
 that time exclusively by Slavs under Polish dominion. 
 
 1 Means "On the sea." 
 
m 
 
 VI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Prussians, a people closely related to the Slavs, were 
 still Pagans, as were also the Lithuanians; and having a. 
 more highly developed religion than either the pre-Christian 
 Slavs or the Germans, their conversion was likely to be of a 
 more difficult nature. 
 
 At the end of the tenth and in the beginning of the thir- 
 teenth ;&nturies attempts were made to convert the Prus- 
 sians ; but the only result was the death of the missionaries, 
 who seem to have been too greatly filled with zoal to praise 
 their own faith and throw contempt on that of the people 
 among whom they were really only guests and sojourners. 
 
 Finally, a man appeared more adroit and ambitious than 
 others, — Christian, a mon^ of Olivka, near Uantzig. This 
 monk, we are told, had a knowledge of the weak points of 
 men, spoke Prussian ps well as Polish, was not seeking the 
 crown of martyrdom, and never made light of things held 
 sacrod by those to whom he was preaching. After a few 
 years his suopess was such as to warrant a journey to Bome, 
 where he explained to Innocient III. the results of his labor. 
 The Pope encouraged the missionary, and in 1211 in- 
 structed the Archbishop of Gnezen to aid Christian with 
 his co-workers and induce secular princes to help them. 
 
 Christian returned from Rome with renewed zeal; but 
 instead of being helped he was hindered, for tribute and 
 labor were imposed on his converts by the secular power. 
 Since tb3 new religion was coupled with servitude, the 
 Prussians were roused greatly against it. 
 
 Christian strove to obtain relief for Lis converts, but in 
 vain. Then, taking two native followers, he made lecond 
 journey to Rome, was created first Bishop of Prussia, and 
 returned again to the field. 
 
 The great body of Prussians now considered all converts 
 as traitors. The priests of the native religion roused the 
 people, and attacked those persons as renegades who had 
 deserted the ancient faith and were bringing slavery to the 
 country. They went farther and fell upon Mazovia, whence 
 the propaganda had issued. Konrad, unable to defend 
 himself, bought them off with rich presents. The newly 
 made converts were killed, captured, or driven to deep 
 forests. 
 
 Christian turned to the Pope a third time, and implored 
 him to direct against Prussia those Polef who were going 
 to the Holy Land. 
 
 The Archbishop of Gnezen was instructed from Rome to 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 VU 
 
 om Borne to 
 
 make this change, and the Poles were suir'noned against 
 Prussia for the following year. The crusac. j was preached 
 also in Germany. 
 
 Warriors arrived from both countries in fairly large 
 numbers, and during their presence ruined villages and 
 churches were rebuilt in -the district of Culm, where the 
 conversions had taken place mainly. In a couple of 
 seasons the majority of the warriors found their way home 
 again. A second crusade was proclaimed, and men re- 
 sponded freely. All these forces were simply guarding the 
 missionaries and the converts, — a position which could 
 not endure. 
 
 Christian, seeing this, farmed the plan of founding an 
 order of armed monks in Poland like the Knights of the 
 Sword in Livonia. Konrad gawei^ his approval at once. 
 
 The Bishop of Modena, at that time papal legate in 
 Poland, hastened the establishment of the order ; for to him 
 it seemed the best agent to bend the stiff necks of idolaters. 
 Permission to found the order was obtained from the Pope, 
 and a promise of means to maintain it from Konrad. 
 
 Christian, who had interested Rome and the West in his 
 work, now gave great praise before the world to the Prince 
 of Mazovia, who thereupon rewarded him with a ^ift of 
 twelve castles and one hundred villages, reserving merely 
 sovereign rights without income. This gift was confirmed 
 to the Bishop of Prussia by Honorius III. 
 
 Christian labored so zealously that in 1225 he conse- 
 crated twenty-five superior knights in his new order, which 
 received the same rules as the Livonian Knightb of the 
 Sword, — that is, the rules of the Templars. 
 
 The new knights were called Brothers of Dobjin, from 
 the castle of Dobjin, which Konrad gave them as a resi- 
 dence, adding the district of Leslin near Inovratslav as a 
 means of support. 
 
 As soon as the Brothers had settled in their castle, they 
 attacked the Prussians, ruined villages, and brought in 
 plunder. The enragad Prussians collected large forces, and 
 attacked the land of Culm, with the intent to raze Dobjin. 
 On hearing this, Konrad with his own troops and a general 
 levy hastened to the relief of the order. 
 
 A bloody and stubborn battle of two days' duration was 
 fought with great loss on both sides. Konrad, despairing 
 of victory, left the field, thus causing the complete over- 
 throw of the Poles. The surviving Brothers of Dobjin 
 
• • • 
 
 VIU 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 took refuge in the castle, which the Prussians were unable 
 to capture. The order, shattered at its very inception, 
 hoped for reinforcements from abroad; but the Pope ut 
 that juncture was sending a crusade to Palestine, and would 
 not permit a division in the forces of the West. The 
 Prussians, elated with victory, plundered at pleasure the 
 lands bordering on their own. 
 
 In this disa3ter Christian conceived the idea of calling in 
 the Teutonic Knights against Prussia. This idea, suicidal 
 from a Polish point of view, was accepted by the Prince of 
 Mazovia. 
 
 The Teutonic Order was founded in Palestine near the 
 end of the twelfth century to succeed some Germaii hos- 
 pitallers who had resided in Jerusalem till the capture of 
 the city by Saracens in 1187. 
 
 In a few years the new order became military, and under 
 the patronage of Frederick, Duke of Suabia, afterward the 
 Emperor Frederick II., acquired much wealth, with great 
 imperial and papal favor. Under Herman Von Salza, who 
 was grand master from 1210 to 1239, the future of the 
 order was determined, its main scene of action transferred 
 to the West, and that career begun which made the Teu- 
 tonic Order the most remarkable of the weapon-bearing 
 monks of Europe. Herman Von Salza — a keen, crafty man, 
 of great political astuteness and ambition — had determined 
 to win separate territory for the order, and the dignity of 
 Prince of the Empire for the grand master. 
 
 Nothing therefore could be more timely for his plans 
 than the invitation from the Prince of Mazovia, who in 1225 
 sent envoys to Herman ; especially since the order had just 
 been deprived in Transylvania ^of lands given to support it 
 while warding off heathen Rumanians. 
 
 The envoys offered the Teutonic master Culm and some 
 adjoining lands for the order, in return for curbing the 
 Prussians. Herman resolved to accept, should the Emperor 
 prove friendly to the offer. He hastened to Frederick at 
 Rimini, explained the whole question, received a grant in 
 which Konrad's endowment was confirmed; besides the 
 order was given all the land it could conquer and make 
 subject to the Emperor alone. The grand master's next 
 care was to obtain papal approval. 
 
 Two envoys from Herman were sent to Poland, where they 
 obtained, as the chronicles of the order relate, a written 
 title to Culm and the neighboring land as well as to all 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ix 
 
 Prussia which they could conquer. Near Torun (Thorn) 
 a wooden fortress was built, called in Grerman Fogelsang 
 (Bird-song). This fortress was the first residence of the 
 knights, who later on had so much power and such influence 
 in the history of Poland. 
 
 Only two years later did Herman send his knights to 
 Calm. One of the first acts was to purchase for various 
 i considerations, from the Bishop of Plotsk and from Chris- 
 Itian, the Bishop of Prussia, their rights over the lands 
 I granted them in Culm. The labor of conversion began, and 
 soon the grand master prevailed on the Pope to proclaim 
 j throughout Europe a crusade against Prussia. 
 
 From Poland alone came twenty thousand men, and 
 i many more from other parts of Europe. When the knights 
 I had made a firm beginning of work, their design of indepen- 
 dence was revealed. They wished to be rid of even a show 
 'of submission to the Prince of Mazovia. They raised the 
 [question by trying to incorporate the remaining Brothers of 
 Dobjin, and thus acquire the grant given them by Konrad. 
 They had disputes also with Bishop Christian and the 
 Bishop of Plotsk. In 1234 the Bishop of Modena was sent 
 as papal legate to settle the disputes. The legate decided, 
 [to the satisfaction of the bishops, that of all lands won from 
 [the Pagans two thirds were to be retained by the knights 
 and one third given to the bishops, the church administra- 
 tion being under the order in its own two thirds. For the 
 [Prince of Mazovia nothing was left, though he asserted 
 {sovereign rights in Culm and Prussia, and would not permit 
 Ithe order to acquire the grant given the Brothers of Dobjin 
 [by incorporating the remaining members of that body. 
 
 The Teutonic Order would not recognize the sovereignty 
 jof the Polish prince, and insisted on incorporating the 
 JBrothers of Dobjin. The order, knowing that Konrad 
 Jwduld yield only under constraint, placed its possessions 
 jat the feet of the Pope, made them the property of the 
 iHoly See. This action found success; the Pope declared 
 iCulm and all the acquisitions of the order the property of 
 jSaint Peter, which the church for a yearly tax then gave 
 pn feudal tenure to the Teutonic Knights, who therefore 
 30uld not recognize in those regions the sovereignty of any 
 secular prince. In August, 1234, the Pope informed Kon- 
 rad in a special bull of che position of the order, and 
 mjoined on him to aid it with ail means in his power. 
 The Polish prince could do nothing; he could not even 
 
I 
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 prevent the incorp ration of the majority of the remaining 
 Brothers of Dobjin, and of the lands and property given 
 for their use he was able to save nothing but the castle of 
 Dobjin. 
 
 Konrad now found himself in a very awkward position ; 
 he had introduced of his own will a foreign and hostile 
 power which had all Western Europe and the Holy See to 
 support it, which had unbounded means of discrediting the 
 Poles and putting them in the wrong before the world ; and 
 these means the order never failed to use. In half a cen- 
 tury after their cominp the knights, by the aid of volun- 
 teers and contributions from all Europe, had converted 
 Prussia, and considered Poland and the adjoining parts of 
 Lithuania as sure conquests to be made at their own 
 leisure and at the expense of all Western Christendom. 
 
 The first Polish territory acquired was Pomerania. The 
 career of the knights was easy and successful till the union 
 of Poland and Lithuania in 1386. In 1410, at the battle 
 called by the names both of Griinwald and Tannenberg, 
 the power of the order was broken. Some years later 
 Pomerania was returned to Poland, and the order was 
 allowed to remain in East Prussia in the position of a 
 vassal to the Commonwealth. In this reduced state the 
 knights lived for a time, tried to gain allies, but could not ; 
 the most they did — and* that was the best for the German 
 cause — was to induce Albert, a member of the Franconian 
 branch of the HohenzoUerns, to become grand master. He 
 began to reorganize the order, and tried to shake ofl^ alle- 
 giance to Poland; but finding no aid in the Empire or 
 elsewhere, he acted on Luther's advice to introduce Prot- 
 estantism and conveii; Prussia into a secular and hereditary 
 duchy. This he did in 1525^ Poland, with a simplicity 
 quite equal to that of Konrad, who called in the order at 
 first, permitted the change. The military monks married, 
 and were converted into hereditary nobles. Albert became 
 Duke of Prussia, and took the oath of allegiance to Po- 
 land. Later the HohenzoUerns of Brandenburg inherited 
 the duchy, became feudatories of Poland as well as electors 
 at home. This was the position during the war between 
 Sweden and Poland described in The Deluge. Frederick 
 William, known as the Great Elector, was ruling at that 
 time in Brandenburg and Prussia. He acted with great 
 adroitness and success ; paying no attention to his oath as 
 vassal, he took the part of one side, and then of the other 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 jX 
 
 when he saw fit. He fought on the Swedish side in the 
 three days' battle around Warsaw in which Yan Kazimir 
 was defeated. This service was to be rewarded by the 
 independence of Prussia. 
 
 - Hardly had the scale turned in favor of Poland when the 
 Great Elector assisted Yan Kazimir against Sweden ; and 
 in the treaty of Wehlau (1667) Poland relinquished its 
 rights over Prussia, which thus became sovereign and inde- 
 pendent in Europe. This most important change was con- 
 firmed three years later at the peace of Oliva. 
 
 Frederick, son of the Great Elector, was crowned "King 
 in Prussia " at Konigsberg in 1701. The Elector of Bran- 
 denburg became king in that territory in which he had no 
 suzerain. 
 
 At the first division of Poland, Boyal Prussia of The 
 Deluge, the territory lying between the Vistula and Bran- 
 denburg, went to the new kingdom ; and Brandenburg, Pom- 
 erania, and Prussia became continuous territory. 
 
 The early success of the Teutonic Knights was so great 
 that in the third half century of their rule on the Baltic 
 their power overshadowed Poland, which was thus seriously 
 threatened. Toward the end of the fourteenth century, how- 
 ever (1386), the Poles escaped imminent danger by their 
 union with Lithuania and Bussia. Through this most impor- 
 tant connection they rose at once from a position of peril to 
 one of safety and power. 
 
 This union, brought about through the marriage of the 
 Polish princess Yadviga to Yagyello, Grand Prince of 
 Lithuania, and by exceedingly adroit management on the 
 part of the Polish nobles and clergy, opened to the Poles 
 immense regions of country and the way to vast wealth. 
 Before the union their whole land was composed of Great 
 and Little Poland, with Mazovia (see map) ; after the union 
 two thirds of the best lands of pre-Tartar Russia formed 
 part of the Commonwealth. 
 
 Since Poland managed to place and maintain itself at the 
 head of affairs, though this roused at all times opposition 
 of varying violence in the other two parts of the Common- 
 wealth, the social ideals and political structure of Poland 
 prevailed in Lithuania and Russia, so far as the upper 
 classes were concerned. In Lithuania, by the terms of the 
 union, all were obliged to become Catholic ; in different parts 
 of Russia, which was Orthodox, the people were undisturbed 
 in their religion at first ; but after a time the majority of 
 
zu 
 
 INTR0DUC3TI0N. 
 
 the nobles became Catholioin religion, and Poles ilhlan- 
 guage, name, manners, and ideas. To these was added a 
 large ii|^migration of Polish nobles seeking advancement 
 and wealth. All Bussia found itself after a time under 
 control of an upper class which was out of all sympathy 
 with the great raass and majority of the people. 
 
 During the Yagyellon dynasty, which lasted from 1386 to 
 1572, the religious question was not so prominent for any 
 save nobles ; but ownership of their own land and their own 
 labor was gradually slipping away from the people. During 
 the reign of Sigismund III. (1587-1632), religion was pushed 
 to the foreground, the United Church was brought into 
 Bussia; and land and religion, which raiee the two greatest 
 problems in a State, the material and the spiritual, were the 
 main objects of thought throughout Bussia. 
 
 Under Vladislav in 1648 the storm burst forth in 
 Southern Bussia. There was a popular uprising, the most 
 wide-spread and stubborn in history, during v/hich the Poles 
 lost many bat;tles and gained one great victory, that of 
 Berestechko ; the Southern Bussians turned to the North, 
 and selected the Tsar Alexai Mihailovich as sovereign. 
 
 Jan. 8, 1654, there was a great meeting in Pereyaslav,* 
 at which Bogdan Hmelnitski, hetman of the Zaporojian 
 army and head of all Southern Bussia, after he had con- 
 sulted with the Cossacks, took his place in the centre of 
 the circle, and in presence of the army, the people, and 
 Buturlin, the envoy of Alexai Mihailovich, said : — 
 
 " Gentlemen, Colonela, Essauls, Commanders of hundreds, 
 the whole Zaporojian p.rmy, and all Orthodox Christians, — 
 You know how the Lord delivered us from the hands of 
 our enemies who persecuted the Church of God and were 
 envenomed against all Christians of our Eastern Orthodoxy. 
 We have lived six years without a sovereign, in endless 
 battles against our persecutors and enemies who desire to 
 root out the church of God, so that the Bussian name may 
 not be heard in our land. This position has grown unendur- 
 able, and we cannot live longer without a sovereign. There- 
 fore we have assembled a council before the whole people, so 
 that you with us may choose from four sovereigns that one 
 whom you wish. The first is the Sovereign of Turkey, who 
 has invi^iCd us under his authority many times through his 
 
 1 Perejaslav wilJ be remembered by the readers of Fire and Sword 
 a<s the place where the Polish commissioners with Adam Kisel brought 
 the baton and banner from the king to Hmelnitski. 
 
INTRCDUOTION. 
 
 \xni 
 
 Poles fti Ian- 
 was added a 
 advancement 
 a time under 
 all sympathy 
 lople. 
 
 i from 1386 to 
 linent for any 
 and their own 
 ople. Daring 
 3n was pushed 
 brought into 
 3 two greatest 
 itual, were the 
 
 urst forth in 
 sing, the most 
 hich the Poles 
 3tory, that of 
 to the North, 
 overeign. 
 [i Pereyaslav,^ 
 e Zaporojian 
 he had con- 
 Ithe centre of 
 people, and 
 aid : — 
 of hundreds. 
 Christians, — 
 the hands of 
 od and were 
 n Orthodoxy. 
 |n, in endless 
 ho desire to 
 |an name may 
 )wn unendur- 
 reign. There- 
 lole people, so 
 jigns that one 
 Turkey, who 
 through his 
 
 [re and Sword 
 Kisel broaght 
 
 envoys ; the second is the Khan of the Crimea y^ tike third 
 the King of Poland, who, if we wish, may teoeivftiUA into 
 former favor; the fourth is the Orthodox sbvereigii, the' 
 Tsar and Grand Prince Alexai Mihailovich, the sole ruler 
 of all Russia, whom we have been imploring six years with 
 unceasing petitions. Choose whom you like. The Soirer- 
 eign of Turkey is a Mussulman ; you all know how our 
 brethren, the Greeks, Orthodox Christians, suffer, and what 
 persecution they endure from godless men. A Mussulman 
 also is the Khan of the Crimea, whom we took into friend- 
 ship of necessity, by reason of the unendurable woes which 
 we passed through. Of persecutions from Polish lords 
 it is nfeedless to speak; you know yourselves that they 
 esteemed a Jew and a dog more than a Christian, our 
 brother. But the great Orthodox sovereign of the East 
 is of one faith with us, one confession t f the Greek rite ; 
 we are one spiritual body with the Orthodoxy of Great Rus- 
 sia, having Jesus Christ for our head. This great sover- 
 eign, this Christian Tsar, taking pity on the suffering of 
 our Orthodox church in Little Russia, giving ear to our six 
 years' entreating, has inclined his heart to us graciously, 
 and v/as pleased to send with his favor dignitaries from 
 near his person. If we love him earnestly, we shall not 
 find a better refuge than his lofty hand. If any man is 
 not agreed with us, let him go whither he pleases ; the road 
 is free — " 
 
 Here the whole people shouted : " We choose to be under 
 the Orthodox sovereign ; better to die in our Orthodox faith 
 than to go to a hater of Christ, to a Pagan ! " 
 
 Then the Pereyaslav colonel, Teterya, passed around in 
 the circle, and asked in every direction : " Are all thus 
 agreed ? " 
 
 "All with one spirit," was the answer. 
 
 The hetman now said : " May the Lord our God strengthen 
 us under the strong hand of the Tsar." 
 
 The people shouted back in one voice : " God confirm us ! 
 God give us strength to be one for the ages ! " 
 
 The hetman, the army, and the representatives of South- 
 ern Russia took the oath of allegiance to the Tsar. The 
 result of this action was a war between the Commonwealth 
 on one side, and Northern and Southern Russia on the 
 other. The Commonwealth being thus occupied on the 
 east, Sweden decided to attack on the west. 
 
 The war between Russia and the Commonwealth lasted 
 
xiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 
 r 
 
 thirteen years, and ended with a truce of thirteen yearc. 
 moi9, made at Andrusovo. By this agteement the city and 
 province of Smolensk went to Russia, and all the left bank 
 of the Dnieper, while Kieff was to be occupied by Poland 
 after two years. This truce became a traaty during the 
 reign of Sobyeski. Kieff remained with the Russians, and 
 peace was unbroken till the second half of the following 
 century, when all Russia west of the Dnieper was restored 
 to the East in nearly the same limits which it had before 
 the Tartar invasion ; exceptinfr the territory included in 
 Galicia, and known as Rea Rvssia. 
 
 Jbrtjmiah Curtin. 
 
 Smithsonian In8titction, Burbau or Ethnoloot, 
 Nove^nber 26, 18U1. 
 
 I 
 
 tJ '.■:>;! 
 
REMARKS ON PERSONAGES IN « THE DELUGE." 
 
 MIAH CURTIN. 
 
 Yan Kazimir was a son of Sifj^ismund ^Tj., ^ho was a son of 
 King John of Sweden and Catherine, daugt, .«r of Sigismund I. of 
 
 Poland. 
 
 John of Sweden was succeeded by his son Sigismund, who under 
 the tiame of Sigismund III. was elected King of P)land in 1587 to 
 succeed his rootner's brother, Sigismund Augustus, the last descend- 
 ant of Yagyello in the male line. 
 
 Sigisn! and III. was dethroned by tha Sweden, and his issue ex- 
 cluded from the succession. Duke Charles, the ablejt of Gustavus 
 Vasa's sons, and uncle of Sigismund, was made king as Charles IX. 
 
 This Charles IX. was father of Gustavus Adolphus. Gustavus 
 Adolphus w?9 succeeded by his only daughter, Christina, who would 
 not marry, and who after reigning for a time resigned in favor of 
 her cousin Karl Gustav of Zweibriicken,* son of the only sister of 
 Gustavus Adolphus. Gustavus Vasa was therefore the great-grand- 
 father of both Yan Kazimir and Karl Gustav, who were thus second 
 cousins. The Polish Vasas laid claim to the Swedish crown, there- 
 by causing the Commonwealth during 6l:;..iiv years much loss in 
 money and men. Yan Kazimir relinqiuishea this claim when he 
 mt\de peace with Sw/eden. 
 
 Before his election Yan Kazimir, being a cardinal, was dispensed 
 from his vows by the Pope. Chosen king, he married Louise Marie, 
 daughter of the Duke o( Nevers, a woman of strong will and much 
 beauty. 
 
 Discouraged and wearied by many wars and reverses, and more 
 
 than all by the endless dissensions of magnates, Yan Kazimir re- 
 
 I signed the kingly ofBce in 1668, and retired to France. Being now 
 
 widower, he became Abbot of St. Germain and St. Martin, 
 and lived on his stipend from these foundations, for the Poles re- 
 fused to continue his pension. It seems, however, that he did not 
 i-eratein in seclusion t;ll the end, for he is mentioned as marrying 
 in secret a widow who had once been a laundress. He died in 1672, 
 \ remembering the world much, more than the world remembered 
 jhim. 
 
 Yan Zamoyski, one of the most celebrated nobles in Polish his- 
 tory, was the grandfather of Sobiepan Zamoyski. The time of 
 j Zamoyski's success was during the reign of Stephen Batory, who 
 j gave nira more offices and power than any citizen of the Common- 
 
 1 '• Two-bridges," the Bipont of page 523, Vol. II. 
 
xvi REMARKS ON PKRSONAQKfl IN "THE DELtJGE/' 
 
 " ill! 
 
 ^ii 
 
 !"!'' 
 
 wealth had over enjoyed. As Cr ^aii of Cracuw, he was the first 
 among lay senators; asstarosta he same territory, he had ex- 
 tensive jurisdiction over criminals m Little Poland ; as hetman, he 
 was commander of all the military forces of the kingdom; as chan> 
 cellor, he held the seals, without which no official act of the king 
 had validity. 
 
 Perhaps the most notable action in Zamoyski's career as a 
 civilian during Batory'n ruign was his treatment of the ZborovskiH, 
 oirj of whom no had beheaded, and another condemned to decapi- 
 tation and infamy. The hatred of the Zborovskis for Zamoyski 
 became ho intense that later on they tried to seat their candidate, 
 Maximilian of Austria, in opposition to Sigismund III., Zamoyski's 
 choice and that of the majority. The Zborovski party brought 
 their candidate to the gate of Cracow, intending to enthrone him 
 with armed hand. Zamoyski repulsed and pursued them to Silesiii, 
 where he defeated and made Maximilian prisoner. The Austrian 
 Archduke was held in captivity till he renounced all claim to the 
 throne. This is the captivity to which Sobiepan refers on page 
 324, Vol. II.' 
 
 Zamoyski had Sigismund impeached in 1602, not to condemn him, 
 but to give ^lim a lesson. Zamoyski's course in this affair, and his 
 last speech in the Diet of 1605 are his most prominent acts during 
 a reign in which he was first in opposition, as he had been first on 
 the king's side during Batory's time. Zamoyski died in 1805, 
 alarmed, as Lelevel says, for the future of his country. 
 
 Sobiepan Zamoyski, who conceived such a friendship for Zagloba, 
 married the daughter of Henri de la Grange, a captain in the guard 
 of Philip, Duke of Orleans. After Zamoyski's death, his widow, a 
 woman of great beauty and ambition, married Sobyeski, subse- 
 quently elected king to succeed Michael Vishnyevetski, who is men- 
 tioned on page 253, Vol. II. 
 
 Kmita, the hero of Thr Deluge, was probably of the Kmitas of 
 Little Poland, and of those who inherited lands granted Poles in 
 Lithuania and Russia ailer the union. 
 
 Kmitsits, which means ** son of Kmita," as " starostsits " means 
 ** son of a starosta," is the nan\e used by Sienkiewicz ; but as that 
 word would baffle most English readers, I have taken Kmita, the 
 original form of the family name. Kmita is mentioned in Solovy- 
 dff's Russian history as co-operating with Sapyeha and Charnyetski 
 against Hovanski and Dolgoruki ; in that connection he is called 
 Kmitich. 
 
 I . 
 
NOTES. 
 
 POLISH ALPHABET. 
 
 SiNCK the Polish alphnbet hiiH iiiuiiy peculiar phonetic combi* 
 liiiitioiis wliicli ar«* ditHiMilt for onu who does not know tlie lau- 
 
 juage, it wa.s decided t<> trausliterato tlio naineH of perHotiH and 
 IplaceH in which Huch cnmbiiiationH occur in this woric. 'J'he ful- 
 |lowing are tlie letters and combinations which are met with mo8t 
 
 frequently : — 
 
 Poliab Letters. English Bounds. 
 
 Ch •..*•.• A 
 
 c» ch 
 
 rz r followed by the French J 
 
 az ...,,.. sh 
 
 8ZCZ ahch 
 
 w V ' 
 
 Tn this transliteration ch retains its ordinary English sound. ./ 
 Is the French _/; the vowels e, i, u, are, reai>ectively, ai in '• bait," 
 \e in " beet," oo in "pool," when long ; when short, *' bet," " bit," 
 I'put" would represent their values. /, when unaccented and 
 |ollowed by a vowel, is sounded as ?/. 
 
 The following names will illustrate the method of this trans- 
 literation: — 
 
 Polish Form of Name. Form in Tranftliteration. 
 
 Potocki Pototski 
 
 Chudzynski Hudzynski 
 
 (^zarnkowski Charnkovski 
 
 Rzendzian Jendzian 
 
 Bleszynski « Bleshynski 
 
 Szandarowski Shandarovski 
 
 Szczaniecki Shchanyetski 
 
 Wlostowski Vlostovski 
 
 2yromski Jyromski 
 
 In Jendzian and Jechytsa, — the only names, as T believe, 
 kginning in Polish with rz in this work, — the initial r has been 
 
fl 
 
 u 
 
 i I 
 
 n< 
 
 J 
 
 xvui 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 omitted in the transliteration on account of the extreme diffi- 
 culty, for any one not a Pole, of pronouncing r followed by the 
 French J. * 
 
 ACCENT. ^ 
 
 All Polish words, with few exceptions, are accented on the syl- 
 lable next the last, the penult. The exceptions are foreign names, 
 some compounds, some words with enviitics. Polish names of 
 men and places are accented, with very few exceptions, on the 
 penult. 
 
 MAP OF THE POLISH COMMONWEALTH. 
 
 This map, though diminutive, contains data through which 
 the reader may see, at least in part, the historical course of the 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 The territory is indicated which was lost to the Teutonic Knights, 
 and which became later the kingdom of Prussia. On the east are 
 indicated the Russian lands which became connected with Poland, 
 and which ryse against Polish rule in 1648. These lands are in- 
 cluded between the lines running north and south on the map, 
 and which are designated, respectively, " Western limit of Russia 
 before the Tartar invasion," " Eastern limit of the Polish Com- 
 monwealth ai the accession of Yan Kazimir." 
 
 The names of more important places mentioned in Fire and 
 Sword and Thr Deluge appear also on the map. A few of 
 these names are not so familiar in their Polish forms, which I 
 have preserved ; therefore the German is given, as follows : — 
 
 Polioh. > German. 
 
 Elblang Elbing 
 
 Glogov , . Glogau 
 
 Gnyezno Gnesen 
 
 Taurogi Tauroggen 
 
 Tyltsa Tilsit 
 
 Opol * . . . . Oppeln 
 
 Poznan Posen 
 
 TITLES OF RANK AND ADDRESS. 
 
 The highest military rank in Poland was grand hetman; next 
 in order came field-hetnian, which has appeared inadvertently in 
 these volumes as full hetman. '* Your worthiness," so frequently 
 used, would be better translated "your dignity," " dignity" being 
 used in the sense of "office." The terms Pan, Pani, and Panna 
 are applied, respectively, to a gentleman, a married lady, and 
 an unmarried lady; they are now equivalent to Mr., Mrs. or 
 Madame, and Miss, 
 
;he extreme diffi- 
 r followed by the 
 
 centdd on the syl- 
 
 irc foreign names, 
 
 Polish names of 
 
 xceptions, on the 
 
 '^e, 
 
 VEALTH. 
 
 ;a through which 
 rical course of the 
 
 Teutonic Knights, 
 Oil the east are 
 ;cted with Poland, 
 'hese lands are in- 
 outh on the map, 
 rn limit of Russia 
 f the Polish Com- 
 
 ned in Fire and 
 map. A few of 
 h forms, which I 
 is follows : — 
 
 man. 
 )ing 
 
 )gau 
 
 esen 
 
 iiroggen 
 
 sit 
 
 leln 
 
 en 
 
 lESS. 
 
 nd hetman; next 
 inadvertently in 
 js," so frequently 
 "dignity" being 
 Pani, and Panna 
 arried lady, and 
 to Mr., Mrs. pr 
 
 >* 
 
 
 CTf 
 
 f'-' c:^ 
 
 <r w> 
 
 ru 
 
 CD 
 
 «C3 
 
 Xl 
 
 >'; 
 
 V 
 
 
 V 
 
 ^<t»a^ 
 
 o 
 
 *--«*•■■ 
 
 f 
 
 .X 
 
 h 
 
m 
 
 i) 
 
 '{ 11 
 
 III 
 
 > IM 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 There was in Jmud a powerful family, the Billeviches, 
 {descended from Mendog, connected with many, and re- 
 jspected, beyond all, in the district of Rossyeni. The Bille- 
 jviches had never risen to great offices, the highest they had 
 illed were provincial; but in war they had rendered the 
 30untry unsurpassed services, for which they were richly 
 rewarded at various times. Their native nest, existing to 
 this day, "v/as called Billeviche ; but they possessed many 
 )ther estates, both in the neighborhood of Rossyeni and 
 farther on toward Krakin, near Lauda, Shoi, Nyevyaja, and 
 )eyond Ponyevyej. In later times they branched out into 
 number of houses, the members of which lost sight of 
 Dne another. They all assembled only when there was a 
 3ensus at Rossyeni of the general militia of Jmud on the 
 Dlain of the invited Estates. They met also in part under 
 the banners of the Lithuanian cavalry and at provincial 
 liets ; and because they were wealthy and influential, even 
 \,he Radzivills, all powerful in Lithuania and Jmud, had 
 fco reckon with them. 
 In the reign of Yan Kazimir, the patriarch of all the 
 Jilleviches, was Heraciius, colonel of light-horse and under- 
 phamberlain of Upita. He did not dwell in the ancestral 
 lest, which was rented at that time by Tomash, the 
 jvv' rd-bearer of Rossyeni ; Heraciius Billevich owned also 
 "^odokty, Lyubich, and Mitruny, situated near Lauda, sur- 
 |rounded, as if with a sea, by agriculturists of the petty 
 lobility. 
 
 Besides the Billeviches there were only a few of the more 
 Considerable families in the neighborhood, such as the SoUo- 
 nibs, the Montvillc:, the Schyllings, the Koryznis, the Sit- 
 kinskis, — though there was no lack of smaller nobility of 
 
 TOL. I. — 1 
 
Illi 
 
 i 
 
 • 5! 
 
 Ife 
 
 2 - TIIE DELUGE. 
 
 these names ; finally, the wholo river region of Lauda was 
 thickly studded with so-called " neighborhoods," or, in com- 
 mon parlance, zastsianki,'^ occupied by the nobility of Lauda, 
 renowned and celebrated in the history of Jmud. 
 
 In other neighborhoods of the region the families took 
 their names from the places, or the places from the families, 
 as was customary in Podlyasye ; but along the river region 
 of Lauda it was different. In Morezi dwelt the Stakyans, 
 wliom Batory in his time settled there for bravery at PskofE ; 
 in Volmontovichi, on good land, swarmed the Butryms, the 
 bulkiest fellows in all Lauda, noted for few words and 
 heavy hands, — men who in time of provincial diets, raids 
 on property, or wars were wont to go in close rank and in 
 silence. The lands in Drojeykani and Mozgi were managed 
 by the numerous Domasheviches, famed hunters ; these men 
 tramped through the wilderness of Zyelonka as far as Wil- 
 komir on bear-trails. The Gashtovts occupied Patsuneli; 
 their women were famous for beauty, so that finally all 
 pretty girls around Krakin, Ponyevyej, and Upita were 
 known as Patsuneli girls. The Sollohubs Mali were rich 
 in horses and excellent cattle, bred in forest pastures. 
 The Gostsyeviches in Goshchuni made tar in the woods, 
 from which occupation they were called Gostsyevichi 
 Charni (Black) or Dymni (Smoky), — the Black or Smoky 
 Gostsyeviches. 
 
 There were other villages and families also. The names 
 of many of them are still extant ; but these villages are 
 not situated as before, and men call them by other names. 
 Wars came too with misfortunes and fires, villages were 
 not always rebuilt on the ruins ; in a word, much has 
 changed. But in that time old Lauda was still flourishing 
 in its primeval estate ; and the nobles had reached their 
 highest repute a few years before, when, fighting at Loyovo 
 against the uprisen Cossacks, they covered themselves with 
 great glory under the load of Yanush Kadzivill. 
 
 All the Lauda men served in the regiment of old Hera- 
 clius Billevich, — the richer with two horses, the poorer 
 with one, and the poorest as attendants. In general, 
 these nobles were warlike, and especially enamoured of a 
 knightly career ; but in questions which formed the ordi- 
 nary subjects of discussion at a provincial diet they were less 
 
 * This word means teclmioally "villages inhabited by petty nobles;" 
 etymologically it means " behind walls," — hence, " beyond or outside the 
 walls," as above. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 a of Lauda was 
 ids," or, in coin- 
 bility of Lauda, 
 mud. 
 
 le families took 
 3m the families, 
 bhe river region 
 t the Stakyans, 
 I very at Pskoft" ; 
 le Butryms, the 
 few words and 
 cial diets, raids 
 386 rank and in 
 i were managed 
 ters ; these men 
 a as far as Wil- 
 ipied Patsuneli; 
 that finally all 
 md Upita were 
 
 Mali were rich 
 forest pastures, 
 p in the woods, 
 d Gostsyevichi 
 
 lack or Smoky 
 
 ISO. The names 
 
 3se villages are 
 
 )y other names. 
 
 1, villages were 
 
 lord, much has 
 
 still flourishing 
 
 reached their 
 
 iting at Loyovo 
 
 hemselves with 
 
 ill. 
 
 t of old Hera- 
 ;es, the poorer 
 In general, 
 namoured of a 
 irmed the ordi- 
 t they were less 
 
 Iby petty nobles ; " 
 roud or outside the 
 
 skilled. They knew that there was a king in Warsaw ; that 
 Radzivill and Pan Hlebovich were starostas in Jmud, and 
 Pan Billevich at Vodokty in Lauda. That was sufficient 
 for them ; and they voted as Pan Billevich instructed them, 
 convinced that he wanted the same as Pan Hlebovich, and 
 that the latter went hand in hand with Radzivill. Radzivill 
 was the king's arm in Lithuania and Jmud; the king was 
 the consort of the Commonwealth, the father of the legion 
 of nobles. 
 
 Pan Billevich was, in fact, a friend rather than a client 
 of the powerful oligarchs in Birji, and a greatly esteemed 
 one at that ; for at every call he had a thousand voices and 
 a thousand Lauda sabres, — and sabres in the hands of the 
 Stakyans, the Butryms, the Domasheviches, or the Gash- 
 tovts were despised at that period by no man on earth. It 
 was only later that everything changed, just at the time 
 when Pan Heraclius Billevich was no more. 
 
 This father and benefactor of the nobles of Lauda died 
 in 1654. In that year a terrible war * flamed forth along 
 I the whole eastern line of the Commonwealth; Pan Bille- 
 ! vich did not go to it, for his age and his deafness did not 
 i permit ; but the Lauda men went. When tidings came that 
 Radzivill was defeated at Shklov, and the Lauda regiment in 
 Ian attack on the hired infantry of France was cut almost to 
 I pieces, the old colonel, stricken by apoplexy, yielded his soul. 
 
 These tidings were brought by a certain Pan Michael 
 I Volodyovski, a young but very famous warrior, who instead 
 of Heraclius had led the Lauda regiment by appointment of 
 Radzivill. The survivors came with him to their inherited 
 fields, wearied, weighed down, and famished; in common 
 with the whole army, they complained that the grand het- 
 raan, trusting in the terror of his name and the spell of 
 victory, had rushed with small forces on a power ten times 
 greater than his own, and thus had overwhelmed the army 
 [and th3 whole country. 
 
 But amid the universal complaining not one voice was 
 [raised against Volodyovski. On the contrary, those who 
 [had escaped lauded him to the skies, relating wonders of his 
 jskill and his deeds. And the only solace left the survivors 
 [was the memory of the exploits performed under the young 
 Icolonel's leadership, — how in the attack they had burst 
 [through the first line of reserves as through smoke ; 
 
 ^ This war was carried on by tlie Tsar Alexis, father of Peter the 
 [Great and sou of Michael Romanoff. See Introduction. 
 
v.: S:,l i: 
 
 » ^ THE DELUGE. 
 
 how later they fell on the Frencli mercenaries and cut to 
 pieces with their sabres the foremost regiment, on which 
 occasion Pan Volodyovski with his own hand killed the 
 colonel ; how at last, surrounded and under fire from four 
 sides, they saved themselves from the chaos by desperate 
 fighting, falling in masses, but breaking the enemy. 
 
 Those of the Lauda men who, not serving in the Lithu- 
 anian quota, were obliged to form a part of the general 
 militia, listened in soirow but with pride to these narratives. 
 It was hoped on all sides that the general militia, the final 
 defence of the country, wculd soon be called. It was 
 agreed already that Volodyovski would be chosen captain of 
 Lauda in that event ; for though not of the local residentr, 
 there was no man among them more celebrated than he. 
 The survivors said, besides, that he had rescued the hetman 
 himself from death. Indeed, all Lauda almost bore him' in 
 its arms, and one neighborhood seized him from another. 
 The Butryns, the Domasheviches, and the Gashtovts dis- 
 puted as to whose guest he should be for the longest period. 
 He pleased that valiant nobility so much that when the 
 remnant of Radzivill's troops marched to Birji so as to be 
 brought to some order after the defeat, he did not go with 
 others, but passing from village to village took up his abode 
 at last in Patsuneli with the Gashtovts, at the house of Pa- 
 kosh Gashtovt, who had authority over all in that place. 
 
 In fact, Pan Volodyovski could not have gone to Birji in 
 any event, for he was so ill as to be confined to the bed. 
 First an acute fever came on him ; then from the contusion 
 which he had received at Tsybihovo he lost the use of his 
 right arm. The three daughters of his host, who were 
 noted for beauty, took him into their tender care, and vowed 
 to bring back to his original fiealth such a celebrated cava- 
 lier. The nobility to the last man were occupied with tb'3 
 funeral of their former chief, Heraclius Billevich. 
 
 After the funeral the will of the deceased was opened, 
 from which it transpired that the old colonel had made his 
 granddaughter, Aleksandra Billevich, daughter of the chief 
 hunter of Upita, the heiress of all his property with the ex- 
 ception of the village of Lyubich. Guardianship over 
 her till her marriage he confided to the entire nob: lity of 
 Lauda — 
 
 "who, as they were well wishing to me," continued he in the will, 
 "and returned kindness for kindness, let them do the same too 
 for the orphan in these times of corruption and wickedness, when 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 no one is safe from the license of men or free of fear; let them 
 guard the orphan from mischance, tlirough memory of me. 
 
 " They are also to see that she has safe use of her property with 
 the exception of the village of Lyubich, which I give, present, and 
 convey to the young banneret of Orsha, so that he may meet no 
 obstacle in entering into possession of it. Should any man wonder 
 at this my affection for Andrei Kmita, or ae^ in it injustice to my 
 own granddaughter Aleksandra, he must and should know that [ 
 held in friendship and true brotherly love from youthful years till 
 the day of his death the father of Andrei Kmila. I was with him 
 in war, he saved my life many times; and when the malice and envy 
 of the Sitsinskis strove to wrest from me my fortune, he lent me 
 his aid to defend it. Therefore I, Ileraclius Billevich, under- 
 chamberlain of Upita, and also an unworthy sinner standing now 
 before the stern judgment of God, went four years ago, while alive 
 and walking upon the earthly vale, to Pan Kmita, the father, the 
 sword-bearer of Orsha, to vow gratitude and steady friendship. 
 On that occasion we made mutual agreement, according to ancient 
 noble and Christian custom, that our children — namely his sou 
 Andrei and my granddaughter Aleksandra — were to be married, so 
 that from them posterity might rise to the praise of God and the 
 eood of the State, which I wish most earnestly ; and by the will here 
 written I bind ray granddaughter to obedience unless the banneret 
 of Orsha (which God forbid) stain his reputation with evil deeds 
 and be despoiled of honor. Should he lose his inheritance near 
 Orsha, which may easily happen, she is to take him as husband 
 with blessing ; and even should he lose Lyubich, to pay no heed to 
 the loss. 
 
 " However, if by the special favor of God, my granddaughter 
 should wish in praise of Him to make an offering of her virginity 
 and put on the habit of a nun, it is permitted her to do so, for I 
 know that the praise of God is to precede that of man." 
 
 In such fashion did Pan Heraclius Billevich aispose of his 
 fortune and his granddaughter, at which no one virondered 
 much. Panna Aleksandra had been long aware of what 
 awaited her, and the nobles had heard from of old of the 
 friendship between Billevich and the Kmitas ; besides, in 
 time of defeat the thoughts of men were occupied with 
 other things, so that soon they ceased to talk of the will. 
 
 But they talked of the Kmitas continually in the house 
 at Vodokty, or rather of Pan Andrei, for the old sword- 
 bearer also way dead. The younger Kmita had fought at 
 Shklov with his own banner and with volunteers from 
 Orsha. Then he vanished from the eye ; but it was not 
 admitted that he had perished, since the death of so noted 
 a cavalier would surely not have escaped notice. The 
 Kmitas wero people of birth in Orsha, and lords of con- 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 I J< 
 
 siderable fortune ; but the flame of war had ruined those 
 regions. Districts and entire lands were turned into 
 deserts, fortunes were devoured, and people perished. 
 After the crushing of Radzivill no one offered firm resist- 
 ance. Gosyevski, full hetman, had no troops; the het- 
 mans of the Crown with their armies in the Ukraine 
 were struggling with what strength they had left and 
 could not help him, exhausted as well as the Common- 
 wealth by the Cossack wars. The deluge covered the 
 land more and more, only breaking here and there against 
 fortified walls ; but the walls fell one after another, as had 
 fallen Smolensk. The province of Smolensk, in which lay 
 the fortune of the Kmitas, was looked* on as lost. In the 
 universal chaos, in the general terror, people were scat- 
 tered like leaves in a tempest, and no man knew what 
 had become of the banneret of Orsha. 
 
 But war had not reached Jmud yet. The nobles of 
 Lauda returned to their senses by degrees. "The neigh- 
 borhoods " began to assemble, and discuss both public and 
 private affairs. The Butryms, readiest for battle, mut- 
 tered that it would be necessary to go to Bossyeni to 
 the muster of the general militia, and then to Gosyevski, 
 to avenge the defeat of Shklov ; the Domasheviches, the 
 hunters, had gone through the wilderness of Rogovo by 
 the forests till they found parties of the eneiny and 
 brought back news ; the Smoky Gostsyeviches smoked 
 meat in their huts for a future expedition. In private 
 affairs it was decided to send tried and experienced men 
 to find Pan Andrei Kmita. 
 
 The old men of Lauda held these deliberations under 
 the presidency of Pakosh Gashtovt and Kaasyan Butrym, 
 two neighborhood patriarchs. All the nobility, greatly 
 flattered by the confidence which the late Pan Bille- 
 vich had placed in them, swore to stand faithfully by 
 the letter of the will, and to surround Panna Aleksandra 
 with well-nigh fatherly care. This was in time of war, 
 when even in places to which war had not come dis- 
 turbance and suffering were felt. On the banks of the 
 Lauda all remained quiet, there were no disputes, there 
 was no breaking through boundaries o^ the estates of the 
 young heiress, landmarks were not shifted, no ditches 
 were filled, no branded pine-trees were felled on forest 
 borders, no pastures were invaded. On the contrary, the 
 heiress was aided with provisions, — whatever the neigh- 
 
THE Fi^LUGE. 
 
 borhood had ; for iustanue, the Stakyans on the river sent 
 I salt-fish, wheat eaiue from the surly Uutrynis at Volmou- 
 tovicl% hay from the Gashtovts, game from the Domashe- 
 viches (the hunters), tar and pitch from the Gostsyeviches. 
 iOf Panna Aleksandra no one in the villages spoke other- 
 wise than as " our lady," and the pretty girls of Patsuneli 
 waited for Pan Kmita perhaps as impatiently as she. 
 
 Meanwhile came the summons calling the nobility. The 
 iLauda men began to move. He who from being a youth 
 I had grown to be a man, he whom age had not bent, had 
 I to mount his horse. Yan Kazimir arrived at Grodno, and 
 I fixed that as the place of general muster. There, then, 
 I they mustered. The Butryms in silence went forth ; after 
 them others, and the Gashtovts last, — as they always did, 
 ! for they hated to leave the Patsuneli girls. The nobles 
 jfrom other districts appeared in scant numbers only, and 
 the country was left undefended j but God-fearing Lauda 
 [had appeared in full quota. 
 
 Pan Volodyovski did not march, for he was not able yet 
 
 [to use his arm; he remained therefore as if district com- 
 
 Imander among the women. The neighborhoods were de- 
 
 : serted, and only old men and women sat around the fires 
 
 in the evening. It was quiet in Ponyevyej and Upitaj 
 
 they were waiting on all sides for news. 
 
 Panna Aleksandra in like manner shut herself in at 
 Vodokty, seeing no one but servants and her guardians 
 of Lauda. 
 
8 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 wild beasts approached the dwellings 
 poor gray birds hammered with their 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The new year 1656 came. January was frosty, bat dry ; 
 a stern winter covered sacred Jraiid with a white coat 
 three feet thick, the forests were bending and breaking 
 under a wealth of snow bunches, snow dazzled the eyes 
 during days of sunshine, and in the night by the moon 
 thee glittered as it were sparks vanishing on a surface 
 stiffened by frost ; 
 of men, and the 
 
 beaks the windows covered with hoar frost and . snow- 
 flowers. 
 
 On a certain evening Panna Aleksandra was sitting in 
 the servants* hall with her work-maidens. It was an old 
 custom of the Billeviches, when there were no guests, to 
 spend evenings with the servants singing hymns and edi- 
 fying simple minds by their example. In this wise did 
 Panna Aleksandra; and the more easily since among her 
 house-maidens were some really noble, very poor orphans. 
 These performed every kind of work, even the rudest, and 
 were servants for ladies; in return they were trained in 
 good manners, and received better treatment than s mple 
 girls. But among them were peasants too, differing mainly 
 in speech,* for many did not know Polish. 
 
 Panna Aleksandra, with her relative Panna Kulvyets, sat 
 in the centre, 1 the girls around on benches ; all were 
 spinning. In a great chimney with sloping sides pine- 
 logs were burning, now dyin^ down and now flaming freshly 
 with a great bright blaze or with sparks, as the youth stand- 
 ing near the chimney threw on small pieces of birch or 
 pitch-pine. When the flame shot upward brightly, the dark 
 wooden walls of the great hall were to be seen, with, an 
 unusually low ceiling resting on cross-beams. From the 
 beams hung, on threads, many-colored stars, made of wa- 
 fers, trembling in the warm air ; behind, from both sides of 
 the beams, were bunches of combed flax, hanging like eap- 
 tuied Turkish horse-tail standards. Almost the whole ceU- 
 
 1 The speech of the ma.in body of the people in Jmad is Lithoaniaa to 
 this d&y. 
 
la Kulvyets, sat 
 
 s seen, with, an 
 JUS. From the 
 
 ad is Lithuanian to 
 
 fm DteLtJGE. 
 
 d 
 
 mg wa8 covered with them. On the darV -vails glittered, 
 like stars, tin plates, large and small, stanamg straight or 
 leaning on long oaken shelves. 
 
 In the distance, near the door, a shaggy-haired man of 
 Jmud was making a great noise with a hand-mill, and mut- 
 tering a song with nasal monotone. Fanna Aleksandra 
 slipped her beads through her fingers in silence ; the spin- 
 ners spun on, saying nothing the one to the other. 
 
 The light of the flame fell on their youthful, ruddy faces. 
 They, with both hands raised, — with the left feeding the 
 soft flax, with the right turning the wheel, — spun eagerly, 
 as if vying with one another, urged on by the stern glances 
 of Panna Kulvyets. Sometimes, too, they looked at one 
 another with quick eye, and sometimes at Panna Aleksan- 
 dt":*; as if in expectation that she would tell the man to stop 
 grinding, and would begin the hymn ; but they did not 
 cease working. They spun and spun on ; the threads were 
 winding, the wheel was buzzing, the distafE played in the 
 hand of Panna Kulvyets, the shaggy-haired man of Jmud 
 rattled on with his mill. 
 
 But at times he stopped his work. Evidently something 
 was wrong with the mill, for at those times was heard his 
 angry voice : " It 's down ! " 
 
 Panna Aleksandra raised her head, as if roused by the 
 silence which followed the exclamations of the man ; then 
 the blaze lighted up her face and her serious blue eyes look- 
 ing from beneath black brows. She was a comely lady, with 
 flaxen hair, pale complexion, and delicate features. She 
 had the beauty of a white flower. The mourning robes 
 added to her dignity. Sitting before the chimney, she 
 seemed buried in thought, as in a dream ; doubtless she 
 was meditating over her own lot, for her fates wej-e in the 
 balance. The will predestined her to be the wife of a man 
 whom she had not seen for ten years ; and as she was now 
 almost twenty, there remained to her but unclear childhood 
 reminiscences of a certain boisterous boy, who at the time 
 when he with his father had come to Vodokty, was more 
 occupied with racing through the swamps with a gun than 
 in looking at her. " Where is he, and what manner of man 
 is he now ? " These were the questions which thrust them- 
 selves on the mind of the dignified lady. She knew him 
 also, it is true, from the nnrratives of the late under-cham- 
 berlain, who four years before had undertaken the long 
 journey to Orsha. According to those narratives, he was a 
 
•^r- 
 
 10 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 J. 
 
 Mi', 
 
 i 
 
 im 
 
 cavalier "of great courage, though very quick-tempered." 
 By the contract of marriage for their descendants concluded 
 between old Billevich and Kmita the father, Kniita the son 
 was to go at once to Vodokty and be accepted by the lady ; 
 but a great war broke out just then, and the cavalier, in> 
 stead of going to the lady, went to the fields of Berestechko. 
 Wounded at Berestechko, he recovered at home ; then he 
 nursed his sick father, who was near death ; after that an- 
 other war broke out, and thus four years passed. Since 
 the death of the old colonel considerable time had elapsed, 
 but no tidings of Kmita. 
 
 Panna Aleksandra therefore had something to meditate 
 upon, and perhaps she was pining for the unknown. In 
 her pure heart, especially because it knew not love as yet, 
 she bore a great readiness for that feeling. A. spark only 
 was needed to kindle on that hearth a flame quiet but 
 bright, and as steady as the undying sacred lire of Lithuania. 
 
 Disquiet then seized her, — at times pleasant, at times 
 bitter ; and h^r soul was ever putting questions to which 
 there was no answer, or rather the answer must come from 
 distant fields. The first question was whether he would 
 marry her with good-will and respond with readiness to her 
 readiness. In those days contracts by parents for the mar- 
 riage of their children were usual ; and if the parents died 
 the children, held by the blessing, observed in most cases 
 the contract. In the engagement itself the young lady saw 
 nothing uncommon ; but good pleasure does not always go 
 hand in hand with duty ; hence the anxiety that weighed 
 down the blond head of the maiden. " Will he love me ? " 
 And then a flock of thoughts surrounded her, as a flock of 
 birds surround a tree standing alone in spacious fields : 
 " Who art thou ? What manner of person ? Art walking 
 alive in the world, or perhaps thou hast fallen ? Art 
 thou distant or near ? " The open heart of the lady, like 
 a door open to a precious guest, called involuntarily tb dis- 
 tant regions, to forests and snow-fields covered with night : 
 " Come hither, young hero ; for there is naught in the world 
 more hitter than waiting." 
 
 That moment, as if in answer to the call, from outside, 
 from those Mpwy distances cov?red with night, came the 
 sound of a bell. 
 
 The lady trembled, but regaining her presence of mind, 
 remembered that almost every evening some one came to 
 Vodokty to get medicine for the young colonel. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 11 
 
 ick-tempered." 
 ants concluded 
 Kniita the son 
 d by the lady ; 
 [le cavalier, in- 
 •f Beresteohko. 
 kome ; then he 
 after that an- 
 passed. Since 
 le had elapsed, 
 
 ig to meditate 
 
 unknown. In 
 
 ot love as yet, 
 
 A spark only 
 
 ime quiet but 
 
 e of Lithuania. 
 
 <8ant, at times 
 
 bions to which 
 
 lUst come from 
 
 ;her he would 
 
 iadiness to her 
 
 s for the mar- 
 
 e parents died 
 
 in most cases 
 
 Dung lady saw 
 
 lot always go 
 
 that weighed 
 
 e love me ? " 
 
 , as a flock of 
 
 ious fields : 
 
 Art walking 
 
 alien ? Art 
 
 |the lady, like 
 
 tarily to dis- 
 
 with night : 
 
 in the world 
 
 From outside, 
 [ht, came the 
 
 ice of mind, 
 lone came to 
 
 Panna Kulvyets confirmed that idea by sayiug, " Some 
 one from the Gashtovts for herbs." 
 
 The irregular sound of the bell shaken by the shaft rang 
 more distinctly each moment ; at last it stopped on a sudden. 
 Evidently the sleigh had halted before the door. 
 
 "See who has come," said Panna Kulvyets to the man of 
 Jmud who was turning the mill. 
 
 The man went out of the servants' hall, but soon returned, 
 and taking again the handle of the mill, said phlegniati- 
 cally, " Panas Kraitas." * 
 
 " The word is made flesh ! " cried Panna Kulvyets. 
 
 The spinners sprang to their feet ; the flax and the dis- 
 stafts fell to the floor. 
 
 Panna Aleksandra rose also. Her heart beat like a ham- 
 mer ; a flush came forth on her face, and then pallor ; but she 
 turned from the chimney, lest her emotion might be seen. 
 
 Then in the door appeared a certain lofty figure in a fur 
 mantle and fur-bound cap. A young man advanced to the 
 middle of the room, and seeing that he was in the servants' 
 hull, inquired in a resonant voice, without removing his cap, 
 " Hei ! but where is your mistress ? " 
 
 " I am the mistress," said Panna Billevich, in tones suffi- 
 ' iently clear. 
 
 Hearing this, the newly arrived removed his cap, cast it 
 on the floor, and inclining said, " I am Andrei Kmita." 
 
 The eyes of Panna Aleksandra rested with lightning-like 
 swiftness on the face of Kmita, and then dropped again to 
 the floor; still during that time the lady was able to see 
 the tuft shaven high, yellow as wheat, an embrowned com- 
 plexion, blue eyes, looking quickly to the front, dark mus- 
 tache, a face youthful, eagle-like, but joyous and gallant. 
 
 He rested his left hand on his hip, raised his right to his 
 mustache, and said : " I have not been in Lyubich yet, for I 
 hastened here like a bird to bow down at the feet of. the 
 lady, the chief hunter's daughter. The wind — God grant 
 it was a happy one ! — brought me straight from the camp." 
 
 " Did you know of the death of my grandfather ? " asked 
 the lady. 
 
 "I did not ; but I bewailed with I'ot tears my benefactor 
 when I learned of his death from those rustics who came 
 from this region to me. He was a sincere friend, almost a 
 brotl er, of my late father. Of course it is well known to 
 
 ^ Lithuanian forms, with nominative ending in s anda«. 
 
w 
 
 ■«M 
 
 12 
 
 THE DfiLUOfl. 
 
 3'ou that four years ago he came to us at Orsha. Then he 
 promised me your ladyship, and showed a portrait about 
 which I sighed in the night-time. I wished to come sooner, 
 but war is not a mother : she makes matches for men with 
 death oi.!y." 
 
 This bold speech confused the lady somewhat. Wishing 
 to change the subject, she said, " Then you have not seen 
 Lyubich yet ? " 
 
 " There will be time for that. My first service is here ; 
 and here the dearest inheritance, which I wish to receive first, 
 liut you turned from the hearth, so that to this moment I 
 have not been able to look you in the eye — that 's the way ! 
 Turn, and I will stand next the hearth ; that 's the way 1 " 
 
 Thus speaking, the daring soldier seized by the hand 
 Olenka, ^ who did not expect such an act, and brought her 
 face toward the fire, turning her like a top. She was still 
 more confused, and covering her eyes with her long lashes, 
 stood abashed by the light and her own beauty. Kmita re- 
 leased her 'at last, and struck himself on the doublet. 
 
 " As God is dear to me, a beauty ! I '11 have a hundred 
 Masses said for my benefactor because he left you to me. 
 When the betrothal ? " 
 
 " Not yet awhile ; I am not yours yet," said Olenka. 
 
 " But you will be, even if 1 have to burn this house ! As 
 God lives, I thought the 'portrait flattered. I see that the 
 painter aimed high, but missed. A thousand lashes to such 
 an artist, and stoves to paint, not beauties, with which eyes 
 are feasted ! Oh, 't is a delight to be the heir to such an 
 inheritance, may the bullets strike me ! " 
 
 "My late grandfather told me that you were very 
 hot-headed." 
 
 " All are that way with us in Smolensk ; not like your 
 Jmud people. One, two ! and it must be as we want ; if 
 not, then death." 
 
 Olenka laughed, and said with a voice now more confi- 
 dent, raising her eyes to the cavalier, " Then it must be 
 that Tartars dwell among you ? " 
 
 " All one ! but you are mine by the will of parents and 
 by your heart." 
 
 " By my heart ? That I know not yet." 
 
 " Should you not be, I would thrust myself with a knife ! " 
 
 " You say that laughing. But we are still in the servants' 
 
 ^ The diminutive or more familiar form for Aleksandra. 
 frequently in this book. 
 
 It is used 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 13 
 
 you were very 
 
 1 of parents and 
 
 hall ; T beg you to the reception-room. After a long road 
 doubtless supper will be acceptable. I beg you to follow 
 
 me." 
 Here Olenka turned to Panna Kulvyets. " Auntie, dear, 
 
 come with us." 
 
 The young banneret glanced quickly. "Aunt?" he 
 inquired, — " whose aunt ? " 
 " Mine, — Panna Kulvyets." 
 
 '<Then she is mine!" ansvered he, going to kiss her 
 hand. " I have in my company an officer named Kulvyets- 
 Hippocentaurus. Is he not a relative ? " 
 
 " He is of the same family," replied the old maid, with 
 I a courtesy. 
 
 "A good fellow, but a whirlwind like myself," added 
 I Kmita. 
 
 Meanwhile a boy appeared with a light. They went to 
 [the antechamber, where Pan Andrei removed his shuba; 
 [then they passed to the reception-room. 
 
 Immediately after their departure the spinners gathered 
 
 I in a close circle, and one interrupted another, talking and 
 
 making remarks. The stately young man pleased them 
 
 greatly J therefore they did not spare words on him, vying 
 
 [with one another in praises. 
 
 " Light shines from him," said one ; " when he came I 
 [tliought he was a king's son." 
 
 " And he has lynx eyes, so that he cuts with them," said 
 |another ; " do not cross such a man." 
 " That is worst of all," said a third. 
 " He met the lady as a betrothed. It is easily seen that 
 she pleased him greatly, for whom has she not pleased ? " 
 
 " But he is not worse than she, never fear ! Could you 
 jget his equal, you would go even to Orsha, though likely 
 that is at the end of the world." 
 "Ah, lucky lady!" 
 
 " It is always best for the rich in the world. Ei, ei, that 's 
 jgold, not a knight." 
 
 " The Patsuneli girls say that that cavalry captain who is 
 stopping with old Pakosh is a handsome cavalier." 
 " I have not seen him ; but how compare him with Pan 
 Lmita ! Such another as Pan Kmita surely there is not in 
 the world I " 
 
 "It 's down ! " cried the man of Jmud on a sudden, when 
 something broke again in the mill. 
 ** Gk> out, shaggy head, with thy freaks I Give us peaoe. 
 
14 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 ,i; :i 
 
 
 for we cannot hear. — True, true ; hard to find better than 
 Pan Kmita in the whole world ; surely in Kyedani there is 
 none such." 
 
 "Dream of one like him ! " 
 
 " May his like come in a dream ! " 
 
 In such fashion did the girls talk among themselves in 
 the servants' hall. Meanwhile in the dining-room the table 
 was laid in all haste, while in the drawing-room Panna Alek- 
 sandra conversea face to face with Kmita, for Aunt Kulvyets 
 had gone to bustle about the supper. 
 
 Pan -A ndrei did not remove his gaze from Olenka, and his 
 eyes shot sparks more and more every moment ; at last he 
 said, — 
 
 " There are men to whom land is dearer than all things 
 else ; there are others who chase after plunder in war, others 
 love horses ; but I would not give you for any treasure. . As 
 God lives, the more I look the more I wish to marry ; so 
 that even if it were to-morrow — Oh, that brow, — just as 
 if painted with burned cork ! " 
 
 " I hear thdt some use such strange things, but I am not 
 of that kind." 
 
 " And eyes as from heaven ! From confusion, words fail 
 me.' 
 
 " You are not greatly confused, if in my presence you can 
 be so urgent that I am wonder-stricken." 
 
 " That is our way in Smolensk, — to go boldly at women as 
 we do into battle. You must, my queen, grow accustomed 
 to this, for thus will it ever be." 
 
 " You must put it aside, for thus it cannot be." 
 
 " Perhaps I may yield, may I be slain ! Believe, believe 
 me not, but with gladness would I bend the skies for you. 
 For you, my queen, I am ready to learn other manners ; for 
 I know myself that I am a simple soldier, I have lived 
 more in camps than in chambers of castles." 
 
 " 0.1, that harms nothing, for my grandfather was a sol- 
 dier; but I give thanks for the good-will," said Olenka; 
 and her eyes looked with such sweetness on Pan Andrei 
 that his heart melted like wax in a moment, and he 
 answered, — 
 
 " You will lead me on a thread." 
 
 " Ah, you are not like those who are led on threads ; to 
 do that is most difficult with men who are unsteady." 
 
 Kmita showed in a smile teeth as white as a wolf's teeth. 
 "How is that?" asked he. "Are the rods few that the 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 Vi 
 
 gs, but I am not 
 ision, words fail 
 
 resence you can 
 
 r manners ; for 
 r, I have lived 
 
 fathers broke on me in the monastery to bring me to steadi- 
 ness and make me remember various fair maxims for guid- 
 ance in life — " 
 
 "And which '^ne do you remember best ? ** 
 
 " < When in love, fall at the feet,' — in this fashion." 
 
 When he had spoken, Kmita was already on his knees. 
 The lady screamed, putting her feet under the table. 
 
 " For God's sake ! they did not teach that in the mon- 
 astery. Leave off, or I shall be angry — my aunt will come 
 this minute — " 
 
 Still on his knees, he raised his head and looked into her 
 eyes. " Let a whole squadron of aunts come } I shall not 
 forbid their pleasure." 
 . "But stand up!" 
 
 " I am standing." 
 
 "SItdown!" 
 
 "I am sitting." 
 
 " You are a traitor, a Judas ! " 
 
 "Not true, for when I kiss 't is with sincerity, — will you 
 be convinced ? '* 
 
 " You are a serpent I " 
 
 Panna Aleksandra laughed, however, and a halo of youth 
 and gladness came from her. His nostrils quivered like the 
 nostrils of a young steed of noble blood. 
 
 "Ai! ail" said he. "What eyes, what a face I Save 
 me, all ye saints, for I cannot keep away ! " 
 
 "There is no reason to summon the saints. You were 
 absent four years without once looking in here; sit still 
 
 nOvf t 
 
 "But I knew only the counterfeit. I will have that 
 painter put in tar and then in feathers, and scourge him 
 through the square of Upita. I will tell all in sincerity, — 
 forgive, if it please you ; if not, take my head. I thought 
 to myself when looking at that portrait : * A pretty little 
 rogue, pretty ; but there is no lack of pretty ones in the 
 world. 1 have time.' My late father urged me hither, but 
 I had always one answer : ' I have time I The little wife 
 will not vanish ; maidens go not to war and do not perish.' 
 1 was not opposed at all to the will of my father, God is 
 my witness ; but I wanted first to know war and feel it on 
 my own body. This moment I see my folly. I might have 
 married and gone to war afterward ; and here every delight 
 was waiting for me. Praise be to God that they did not 
 hack me to deatii I Permit me to kiss your hand." 
 
16 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 m 
 
 fflv-i 
 
 M :i 
 
 1 -l 
 
 "Better, I '11 not permit." 
 
 " Then I will not ask. In Orsha we say, * Ask ; but if 
 they don't give, take it thyself.' " 
 
 Heie Pan Andrei clung to the hand of the lady and began 
 to kiss it ; and the lady did not resist too greatly, lest she 
 might exhibit ill-will. 
 
 Just then Panna Kulvyets came in. When she saw what 
 was going on, she raised her eyes. That intimacy did not 
 please her, but she dared not scold. She gave invitation to 
 supper. 
 
 Both went to the supper-room, holding each the other's 
 hand as if they were related. In the room stood a table cov- 
 erea, and on it an abundance of all kinds of food, especially 
 choice smoked meats and a mouldy thick bottle of strength- 
 giving wine. It was pleasant for the young people with each 
 other, gladsome, vivacious. The lady had supped already ; 
 therefore Kmita sat alone, and began to eat with animation 
 equal to that with which he had just been conversing. 
 
 Olenka looked at him with sidelong glance, glad that he 
 was eating and drinking. When he had appeased his first 
 hunger, she began again to inquire, — 
 
 " Then you are not direct from Orsha ? " 
 
 " Scarcely do I know whence I come, — here to-day, to- 
 morrow in another place. I prowled near the enemy as a 
 wolf around sheep, and what was possible to seize I 
 seized." 
 
 "And how had you daring to meet such a power, before 
 which the grand hetman himself had to yield ?" 
 
 " How had I daring ? I am ready for all thiiigs, such is 
 the nature within me." 
 
 " That is what my grandfather said. Great luck that you 
 were not killed I " 
 
 " Ai, they covered me with cap and with hand as a bird 
 is covered on the nest ; but I, whom they covered, sprang 
 out and bit them in another place. I made it so bitter for 
 them that there is a price on my head — A splendid half- 
 goose ! " 
 
 " In the name of the Father and the Son ! " cried Olenka, 
 with unfeigned wonder, gazing with homage on that young 
 man who in the same moment mentions the price on his 
 head and the half-goose. "Had you many troops for 
 (V^fence ? " 
 
 "I had, of course, my poor dragoons, — very exoellenct 
 men, but in a month they were all hacked to bits. Then \ 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 17 
 
 went with volunteers whom I gathered wherever I could 
 without question. Good fellows for battle, but knave upon 
 knave ! Those who have not perished already will sooner 
 or later be meat for the crows." 
 
 Pan Andrei laughed, emptied his goblet of wine, and 
 added : "Such plunderers you have not seen yet. May the 
 hangman light them ! Officers, — all nobles from our parts, 
 men of family, worthy people, but against almost every one 
 of them is a sentence of outlawry. They are now in Lyu- 
 bich, for where else could I send them ? " 
 
 " So you have come to us with the whole squadron ? " 
 
 " I have. The enemy took refuge in towns, for the win- 
 ter is bitter. My men too are as ragged as brooms after 
 long sweeping. The prince voevoda assigned me winter 
 quarters in Ponyevyej. God knows the breathing-spell is 
 well earned ! " 
 
 « Eat, I beg you." 
 
 " T would eat "poison for your sake ! I left a part of my 
 ragged fellows in Ponyevyej, a part in Upita, and the most 
 worthy officers I invited to Lyubich as guests. These men 
 will come to beat to you with the forehead." 
 
 " But where did the Lauda men find you ? " 
 
 " They found me on the way to winter quarters in Pon- 
 yevyej. Had I not met them I should have come here." 
 
 " But drink." 
 
 " I would drink even poison for you ! " 
 
 " Were the Lauda men the first to tell you of my grand- 
 j father's death and the will ? " 
 
 " They told of the death. — O Lord, give light to the soul 
 I of my benefactor 1 — Did you send those men to me ? " 
 
 "Think not such a thing ! I had nothing but mourning 
 jand prayer on my mind." 
 
 " They too said the same. They are an arrogant set of 
 {homespuns. I wanted to give them a reward for their toil ; 
 instead of accepting it, they rose against me and said that 
 the nobility of Orsha might take drink-money, but the 
 Lauda men never. They spoke very foully to me; while 
 listening, I thought to myself: 'If you don't want money, 
 I then I'll command to give you a hundred lashes.' " 
 
 Panna Aleksandra seized her head. " Jesus Mary 1 and 
 [did you do that ? " 
 
 Kmita looked at her in astonishment. " Have no fears I I 
 I did not, though my soul revolts within me at such trashy 
 [nobility, who pretend to' be the equal of us. But I thought 
 voi,.!.— a 
 
18 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 f 
 
 ji i' 
 
 :' 
 
 lit 
 
 to myself, ' They will cry me down without cause in those 
 parts, call me tyrant, and calumniate me before you ! * " 
 
 " Great is your luck," said Olenka, drawing a deep breath 
 of relief, <'for I should not have been able to look, you in 
 the eyes." 
 
 « But how so ? " 
 
 "That is a petty nobility, but ancient and renowned. 
 My dear grandfather always loved them, and went with 
 them to war. He served all his life with them. In time 
 of peace he received them in his house. That is an old 
 friendship of our family which you must respect You 
 have moreover a heart, and will not break that sacred har- 
 mony in which thus far we have lived." 
 
 " I knew nothing of them at that moment, — may I be slain 
 if I did 1 — but yet I confess that this barefooted nobledom 
 somehow cannot find place in my head. With us a peasant 
 is a peasant, and nobles are all men of good family, who do 
 not sit two on one mare. God knows that«8uch scurvy fel- 
 lows have nothing to do with the Kmitas nor with the Bil- 
 leviches, just as a mudfish has nothing to do with a pike, 
 though this is a fish and that also." 
 
 " My grandfather used to say that blood and honor, not 
 wealth, make a man ; and these are honorable people, or 
 grandfather would not have made them my guardians." 
 
 Pan Andrei was astonished and opened wide his eyes, 
 " Did your grandfather make all the petty nobility of Lauda 
 guardians over you ? " 
 
 "He did. Do not frown, for the will of the dead is 
 sacred. It is a wonder to me that the messengers did not 
 mention this." 
 
 " I should have — But that cannot be. There is a number 
 of villages. Will they all discuss about you ? Will they 
 discuss me, — whether I am to their thinking or not ? But 
 jest not, for the blood is storming up in me." 
 
 " Pan Andrei, I am not jesting ; I speak the sacred and 
 sincere truth. They will not debate about you ; but if you 
 will not repulse them nor show haughtiness, you will cap- 
 ture not only them, but my heart. I, together with them, 
 will thank you all my life, — all my life. Pan Andrei." 
 
 Her voice trembled as if in a beseeching request ; but he 
 did not let the frown go from his brow, and was gloomy. 
 He did not burst into anger, it is true, though at moments 
 there flew over his face as it were lightnings; but he an 
 Bwereid with haughtiness and pride, -— 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 19 
 
 the sacred and 
 ou ; but if you 
 
 « I did not look for this ! I respect the will of the dead, 
 and I think the under-chamberlain might have made those 
 petty nobles your guardians till the time of my coming j 
 but when once I have put foot here, no other, save me, 
 will be guardian. Not only those gray coats, but the 
 Radzivills of Birji themselves have nothing in this place 
 to do with guardianship." 
 
 Panna Aleksandra grew serious, and answered after a 
 short silence: "You do ill to be carried away by pride. 
 The conditions laid down by my late grandfather must h^^ 
 either all accepted or all rejected. I see no other way. 
 The men of Lauda will give neither trouble nor annoyance, 
 for they are worthy people and peaceful. Do not suppose 
 that they will be disagreeable. Should any trouble arise, 
 they might say a word ; but it is my opinion that all will 
 pass in harmony and peace, and then the guardianship will 
 be as if it had not been." 
 
 Kmita held silence a moment, then waved his hand and 
 said: "It is true that the marriage will end everything. 
 There is nothing to quarrel about. Let them only sit 
 quietly and not force themselves on me ; t God knows I 
 will not let my mustache be blown upon. But no more of 
 them. Permit an early wedding ; that will be best." 
 
 "It is not becoming to mention that now, in time of 
 mourning." 
 
 " Ai, but shall I be forced to wait long ? " 
 
 " Grandfather himself stated that no longer than half a 
 year." 
 
 " I shall be as dried up as a chip before that time. But 
 let us not be angry. You have begun to look on me as sternly 
 as on an offender. God be good to you, my golden queen ! 
 In what am I to blame if the nature within me is such that 
 when anger against a man takes me I would tear him 
 to pieces, and when it passes I would sew him together 
 again." 
 
 " 'T is a terror to live with such a man," answered Olenka, 
 more joyously. 
 
 " Well, to your health ! This is good wine ; for me the 
 sabre and wine are the basis. What kind of terror to live 
 with me ? You will hold me ensnared with your eyes, 
 and make a slave of me, — a man who hitherto would en- 
 dure no superior. At the present time I chose to go with 
 my own little company in independence rather than bow to 
 the hetman. My golden queen, if anything in me does 
 
P'V s 
 
 20 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 If 
 
 ms 
 
 ■•:(" 
 
 . 
 
 not please you, overlook it ; for I learned manners near 
 cannon and not among ladies, in the tumult of soldiers and 
 not at the lute. Our region is restless, the sabre is never 
 let go from the hand. There, though some outlawry rests 
 on a man, though he be pursued by sentences, 'tis noth- 
 ing I People respect him if he has the daring of a warrior. 
 For example, my companions who in some other place 
 would have long been in prison are in their fashion worthy 
 persons. Even women among us go in boots, and with 
 sabres lead parties, — like Pani Kokosinski, the aunt of 
 my lieutenant. She died a hero's death ; and her nephew in 
 my command has avenged her, though in life he did not love 
 her. Where should we, even of the greatest families, 
 learn politeness ? But wo know when there is war how to 
 fight, when there is ,?, diet how to talk ; and if the tongue 
 is not enough, then the sabre. That 's the position ; as a 
 man of such action did the late chamberlain kuow me, and 
 as such did he choose me for you." 
 
 " I have Always followed the will of my grandfather 
 willingly," answered the lady, dropping her eyes. 
 
 " Let me kiss your hand once again, my dear girl ! God 
 knows you have come close to my heart. Feeling has so 
 taken hold of me that I know not how I can find that 
 
 Lyubich which I have not yet seen." 
 
 " I will give you a guide." 
 
 " Oh, I shall find the way. I am used to much pound- 
 ing around by night. I have an attendaufc from Ponyevyej 
 who must know the road. And there Kokosinski and his 
 comrades are waiting for me. With us the Kokosinskis 
 are a great family, who use the seal of Pypka. This one 
 was outlawed without reason because he burned the house 
 of Pan Orpishevski, carried off a maiden, and cut down 
 some servants. A good comrade ! — Give me your hand 
 once more. I see it is time to go." 
 
 Midnight began to beat slowly on the great Dantzig 
 clock standing in the hall. 
 
 " For God's sake ! 't is time, 't is time ! " cried Kmita. 
 " I may not stay longer. Bo you love me, even as much 
 as would go around your finger ? " 
 
 "I will answer another time. You will visit me, of 
 course ? " 
 
 " Every day, even if the ground should open under me I 
 May I be slain ! " 
 
 Kmita roje, and both went to the antechamber. The 
 
'TliE DELUGE. 
 
 21 
 
 ices, 'tis noth- 
 
 great Dantzig 
 
 sleigh was already waiting before the porch ; so he enrobed 
 himself in the shiiba, and began to take farewell, begging 
 her tp return to the chamber, for the cold was flying in 
 from the poi-ch. 
 
 " Good-night, niy dear queen," said he, " sleep sweetly, for 
 surely I shall not close an eye thinking of your beauty." 
 
 " May you see nothing bad ! But better, I '11 give you 
 a man with a light, for there is no lack of wolves near 
 Volmontovichi." 
 
 " And am I a lamb to fear wolves ? A wolf is a friend 
 to a soldier, for often has he profit from his hand. We 
 have also firearms in the sleigh. Good-night, dearest, 
 good-night." 
 
 " With God." 
 
 Olenka withdrew, and Pan Kmita went to the porch. 
 But on the way, through the slightly open door of the 
 servants' hall he saw a number of pairs of eyes of maidens 
 who waiting to see him once more had not yet lain down 
 to sleep. To them Pan Andrei sent, soldier-fashion, kisses 
 from his mouth with his hand, and went out. After a 
 Avhile the bell began to jingle, at first loudly, then with 
 a continually decreasing sound, ever fainter and fainter, till 
 at last it was silent. 
 
 It grew still in Vodokty, till the stillness amazed Panna 
 Aleksandra. The words of Pan Andrei were sounding in 
 her ears ; she heard his laughter yet, heartfelt, joyous ; 
 in her eyes stood the rich form of the young man ; and 
 now after that storm of words, mirth, and joyousness, 
 such marvellous silence succeeded. The lady bent her ear, 
 — could she not hear even one sound more from the 
 sleigh ? But no ! it was sounding somewhere off in the 
 forest, near Volmontovichi. Therefore a mighty sadness 
 seized the maiden, and never had she felt so much alone 
 in the world. 
 
 Taking the light, slowly she went to her chamber, and 
 knelt down to say the Lord's Prayer. She began five 
 times before she could finish with proper attention ; and 
 when she had finished, her thoughts, as if on wings, 
 chased after that sleigh and that igure sitting within. 
 On one side were pine-woods, pine-woods on the other, in 
 the middle a broad road, and he driving on, — Pan Andrei I 
 Here it seemed to Olenka that she saw as before her the 
 blond foretop, the blue eyes, the laughing mouth in which 
 are gleaming teeth as white as the teeth of a young dog. 
 
22 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 U '.<' 
 
 "^'k\ 
 
 For this dignified lady could hardly deny before her own 
 face that this vild cavalier had greatly pleased her. He 
 alarmed her a little, he frightened her a little, but he at- 
 tracted her also with that daring, that joyous freedom and 
 sincerity, till she was ashamed that he pleased her, espe- 
 cially with his haughtiness when at mention of the guardians 
 he reared his head like a Turkish war-horse and said, 
 " Even the Radzivills of Birji themselves have nothing to 
 do here with guardianship." 
 
 " That is no dangler around women ; that is a true man," 
 said the lady to herself. " He is a soldier of the kind that 
 my grandfather loved most of all, — and he deserved it ! " 
 
 So meditated the lady ; and a happiness undimmed by 
 anything embraced her. It was an unquiet ; but that un- 
 quiet was something dear. Then she began to undress; 
 the door creaked, and in came Panna Kulvyets, with a 
 candle in her hand. 
 
 " You sat tjerribly long," said she. " I did not wish to 
 interfere with young people, so that you might talk your 
 fill the first time. He seems a courteous cavalier. But 
 how did he please you?" 
 
 Panna Aleksandra gave no answer at first, but barefooted 
 ran up to her aunt, threw herself on her neck, and placing 
 her bright head on her bosom, said with a fondling voice, 
 " Auntie, oh. Auntie ! " 
 
 " Oho ! " muttered the old maid, raising her eyes and the 
 candle toward heaven. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 23 
 
 but that un- 
 
 jr eyes and the 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 When Pan Andrei drove up to the mansion at Ly^ "" "jh, 
 [the windows were gleaming, and bustle reached the tront 
 yard. The servants, hearing the bell, rushed out through 
 the entrance to greet their lord, for they had learned from 
 his comrades that he would come. They greeted him with 
 submission, kissing his hands and seizing his feet. The 
 old land-steward, Znikis, stood in the entrance holding 
 bread and salt, and beating worship with the forehead; 
 all gazed with uneasiness and curiosity, — how would 
 their future lord look? Kmita threw a purse full of 
 thalers on the tray, and asked for his comrades, astonished 
 that no one of them had come forth to meet his pro- 
 Iprietary mightiness. 
 
 But tiiey could not come forth, for they were then the 
 [third hour at the table, entertaining themselves at the cup, 
 [and perhaps in fact they had not taken note of the sound- 
 ling of the bell outside. But when he entered the room, 
 [from all breasts a loud shout burst forth : " The heir, the 
 [heir has come I " and all his comrades, springing from their 
 [places, started toward him with their cups. But he placed 
 [his hands on his hips, and laughed at the manner in which 
 [they had helped themselves in his house, and had gone 
 |to drinking before his arrival. He laughed with increas- 
 [ing heartiness when he saw them advance with tipsy 
 [solemnity. 
 
 Before the others went the gigantic Pan Yaromir Koko- 
 
 jsinski, with the seal of Pypka, a famous soldier and swag- 
 
 jgerer, with a terrible scar across his forehead, his eye, and 
 
 "lis cheek, with one mustache short, the other long, the 
 
 lieutenant and friend of Kmita, the "worthy comrade," 
 
 3ondemned to loss of life and honor in Smolensk for steal- 
 
 [ing a maiden, for murder and arson. At that time war 
 
 saved him, and the protection of Kmita, who was of the 
 
 same age ; and their lands «rere adjoining in Orsha till Pan 
 
 iTaromir had squandered his away. He came up holding 
 
 [in both hands a great-eared bowl filled with dembniak. 
 
 Next came Ranitski, whose family had arms, — Dry 
 [Chambers (Suche Komnaty). He was born in the province 
 
24 
 
 fvi& Dfitmfi. 
 
 • I' 
 
 of Mstislavsk, from whi^h he was an outlaw for killing 
 two noblemen, landowneis. One he slew in a duel, the 
 other he shot without an encounter. He had no estate, 
 though he inherited his step-mother's land on the death of 
 his father. War saved him, too, from the executioner. He 
 was an incomparable hand-to-hand sword-slasher. 
 
 The third in order was Rekuts-Laliva, on whom blood 
 did not weigh, save the blood of thi) enemy. But he had 
 played away, drunk away his substance. For t^e pasl 
 three years he had clung to Kmita. 
 
 With him came the fourth, also from Smolensk, Pan 
 Uhlik, under sentence of death and dishonor for breaking 
 up a court. Kraita protected him because he played beauti. 
 fully on the flageolet. 
 
 Besides them was Pan Kulvyets - Hippocentaurus, in 
 stature the equal of Kokosinski, in strength even his su. 
 perior ; and Zend, a horse-trainer, who knew how to imitate j 
 wild beasts and all kinds of birds, — a man of uncertain j 
 descent, though claiming to be a noble of Courland ; being j 
 without fortune he trained Kmita's horses, for which hftj 
 received an allowance. 
 
 These then surrounded the laughing Pan Andrei. Koka 
 sinski raised the eared bowl and intoned : — 
 
 " Drink with ua, dear host of ours, 
 Dear host of onrs ! 
 With us thou mightst drink to the grave, 
 Drink to the grave ! " 
 
 Others repeated the chorus ; then Kokosinski gavft 
 Kmita the eared bowl, and Zend gave Kokosinski h 
 goblet. 
 
 Kmita raised high the eared bowl and shouted, " Health 
 to my maiden ! " 
 
 " Vivat ! vivat ! " cried all voices, till the window-panes 
 began to rattle in their leaden fittings. "Vivat! the 
 mourning will pass, the wedding will come!" 
 
 They began to pour forth questions : " But how does i 
 she look ? Hei ! Yendrus,* is she very pretty, or such as 
 you pictured her ? Is there another like her in Orsha ? " 
 
 " In Orsha ? " cried Kmita. " In comparison with her 
 you might stop chimneys with our Orsha girls I A hundred 
 thunders 1 there 's not another such in the world." 
 
 ^ The diminutive of Andrei. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 26 
 
 ppocentaurus, in 
 
 — / V* 1 
 
 es, for which h^l 
 a. Andrei. Koka 
 
 houted, "Health 
 
 " That 'h the kind we wanted for you," answered Uanitaki. 
 " Well, when is the wedding to be ? " 
 "The luinute the luourniiig is over." 
 " Oh. tie on the mourning ! Children are not born 'olack, 
 
 but white." 
 
 " When the wedding comes, there will be no mourning. 
 Hurry, Yendrus ! " 
 
 " Hurry, Yendrus ! " all began to exclaim at once. 
 
 "The little bannerets of Orsha are crying in heaven for 
 the earth," said Kokosinski. 
 
 " Don't make the poor little things wait ! " 
 
 " Mighty lords,'' added Rekuts-LeLva, with a thin voice, 
 " at the wedding we '11 drink ourselves drunk as fools." 
 
 " My dear lambs," said Kmita, " pai-don me, or, speaking 
 more correctly, go to a hundred devils, let me look around 
 in my own house." 
 
 " Nonsense ! " answered Uhlik. " To-morrow the inspec- 
 tion, but now all to the table ; there is a pair oi demijohns 
 there yet with big bellies," 
 
 "We have already made inspection for you. This 
 Lyubich is a golden apple," said Ranitski. 
 
 " A good stable ! " cried Zend ; " there are two ponies, 
 two splendid hussar horses, a pair of Jmud horses, and u, 
 pair of Kalmuks, — all in pairs, like eyes in the head. 
 We will look at the mares and colts to-morrow." 
 
 Here Zend neighed like a horse ; they wondered at his 
 perfect imitation, and laughed. 
 
 " Is there such good order here ? " asked Kmita, rejoiced. 
 
 " And how the cellar looks ! " piped Eekuts ; " resinous 
 kegs and mouldy jugs stand lik# squadrons in ranks." 
 
 " Praise be to God for that ! let us sit down at the table." 
 
 " To the table ! to the table ! " 
 
 They had barely taken their places and filled their cups 
 I when Ranitski sprang up again : " To the health of the 
 Under-chamberlain Billevich ! " 
 
 " Stupid ! " answered Kmita, " how is that ? You are 
 [ drinking the health of a dead man." 
 
 " Stupid ! " repeated the others. " The health of the 
 1 master ! " 
 
 " Your health ! " 
 
 " May we get good in these chambers ! '* 
 
 Kmita cast his eyes involuntarily along the dining-hall, 
 [and he saw on the larchwood walls, blackened by age, a row 
 lof stern eyes fixed on him. Those eyes were gazing out of 
 
26 
 
 TlIE DELUGE. 
 
 I' fl 1 
 
 i:i: 
 
 the old portraits of the HiHoviches, hanging low, within 
 two ells of the tioor, lor the wall was low. Above the jjor- 
 traits in a long unbroken jow were fixed skulls of tho 
 aurochs, of stags, of elks, crowned with their antlers : some, 
 blackened, were evidently very old; others were shining 
 with wliiteness. All four walls were ornamented with 
 them. 
 
 " The hunting must be splendid, for I see abundance of 
 wild beasts," said Kmita. 
 
 " We will go to-morrow or the day after. We must learn 
 the neighborhood," answered Kokosinski. " Happy are 
 you, Ycnulrus, to have a plice to shelter your head ! " 
 
 " Not like us," groaned Ranitski. 
 
 " Let us drink for our solace," said Rekuts. 
 
 "No, not for our solace," answered Kulvyets-Hippoceiv- 
 taurus, " but once more to the health of Yendrus, our 
 beloved captain. It is he, my mighty lords, who has given 
 here in Lyubicli an asylum to us poor exiles without a roof 
 above our heads." 
 
 " He speaks justly," cried a number of voices ; " Kulvyets 
 is not so stupid as he seems." 
 
 " Hard is our lot," piped Eekuts. " Our whole hope is 
 that you will not drive us poor orphans out through your 
 gates." 
 
 " Give us peace," said Kmita ; " what is mine is 
 yours." 
 
 With that all rose from their places and began to take 
 him by the shoulders. Tears of tenderness flowed oyer 
 those stern drunken faces. 
 
 "In you is all our hope, Yendrus," cried Kokosinski. 
 "Let us sleep even on pea strawy drive us not forth." 
 
 " Give us peace," repeated Kmita. 
 
 " Drive us not forth ; as it is, we have been driven, — we 
 nobles and men of family," said Uhlik, plaintively. 
 
 "To a hundred fiends with you, who is driving you out ? 
 Eat, drink ! What the devil do you want ? " 
 
 "Do not deny us," said Ranitski, on whose face spots 
 came out as on the skin of a leopard. "Do not deny us, 
 Andrei, or we are "lost altogether." 
 
 Here he began to stammer, put his finger to his forehead 
 as if straining his wit, and suddenly said, looking with 
 sheepish eyes on those present, " Unless fortune changes.*' 
 
 And all blurted out at once in chorus, " Of courge it. 
 will change." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 ,bundance of 
 
 IS mme is 
 
 •< And we will yet pay for our wrongs." 
 
 " And come to fortune." 
 
 " And to office." 
 
 " God bless the innocent I Our prosperity ! " 
 
 " Your health ! " cried Pan Andrei. 
 
 " Your words are holy, Yendrus," said Kokosinski, plac- 
 ing his chubby face before Kmita. " God grant us improve- 
 ment of fortune ! " 
 
 Healths began to go around, and tufts to steam. All were 
 talking, one interrupting the other; and each heard only 
 himself, with the exception of Rekuts, who dropped his 
 head on his breast and slumbered. Kokosinski began to 
 sing, " She bound the flax in bundles," noting which Uhlik 
 took a flageolet from his bosom and accompanied him. 
 
 Ranitski, a great fencer, fenced with his naked hand 
 against an unseen opponent, repeating in an undertone, 
 "You thus, I thus J you cut, I strike, — one, two, three, 
 check!" 
 
 The gigantic Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus stared fixedly for 
 some time at Ranitski ; at last he waved his hand and said : 
 " You 're a fool ! Strike your best, but still you can't hold 
 your own before Kmita with a sabre." 
 
 " For no one can stand before him ; but try yourself." 
 
 " You will not win against me with a pistol." 
 
 " For a ducat a shot." 
 
 " A ducat ! But where and at what ? '* 
 
 Ranitski cast his eyes around ; at last he cried out, point- 
 ing at the skulls, " Between the antlers, for a ducat ! " 
 
 " For what ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 " Between the antlers, for two ducats, for three ! Bring 
 the pistols ! " 
 
 "Agreed!" cried Kmita. "Let it be three. Zend, get 
 the pistols ! " 
 
 All began to shout louder and louder, and bargain among 
 themselves ; meanwhile Zend went to the antechamber, 
 and soon returned with pistols, a pouch of bullets, and a 
 horn with powder. 
 
 Ranitski grasped for a pistol. "Is it loaded ? " asked he. 
 
 "Loaded." ,,. ■ ' 
 
 "For three, fbilr, five dudats!" blustered Kmita, drunk. 
 
 " Quiet ! you will miss, you will miss." 
 
 "I shall hit at that skull between the antlers —; one I 
 two!" - . 
 
 All eyes w6re turli«^itb th6 strong elk-skull fixed in front 
 
28 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 <\m« 
 
 Wm 
 
 three ! " 
 fell from 
 
 of Eaaitski. He straightened his arm ; the pistol turned in 
 his palm. 
 
 « Three I " cried Kmita. 
 
 The shot sounded; the room was filled with powder 
 smoke. 
 
 " He has ininsed, he has missed ! See where the hole is ! " 
 cried Kmita, pointing with his iiand at the dark wall from 
 which the bullet had torn out a brighter chip. 
 
 " Two shots each time t " 
 
 "No ; give it to me/' cr'ed Kul/yets. 
 
 At that moment the astonit:ihed servants ran in at the 
 sound of the shot. 
 
 " Away ! awn ^ ! " called Kmita. " One ! two ! 
 
 Again the ro.jr of a shot ; this time ohe pieces 
 the bone. 
 
 " But give us pistols too ! " shouted all at the same time. 
 
 And springing up, they began to pound on the shoulders 
 of their attendants, urging them to hurry. Before a quarter 
 of an hour had passed, the whole room was thundering v/ith 
 shots. The smoke hid the light of the candles and tiie 
 forms of the men shooting. The report of discharges was 
 accompanied by the voice of Zend, who croaked Uke a 
 raven, screamed like a falcon, howled like a wolf, bellowed 
 like an aurochs. The whistle of bullets interrupted him ; 
 bits flew from the skulls, chips from the wall, and portraits 
 from their frames ; in the disorder the Billeviches were 
 shot, and Ranitski, falling into fury, slashed them with his 
 sabre. 
 
 The sflr grants, astonished and teri'ified, stood as if bereft of 
 their senses, gazing with startled eyes on that sport which 
 resembled a Tartar invasion. The dogs began to howl 
 and bark. All in the house* were on their f 3et ; in the 
 yard groups of people assembled. The girls of the house 
 ran to the windows, and putting their faces to the panes, 
 flattening their noses, gazed at what was passing within. 
 
 Zend saw them, at last; he whistled so piercingly that it 
 rang i!i the ears of all, and then shouted, " Mighty lords ! 
 titmice are under the window, — titmice ! " 
 
 "Titmice! titmice!" 
 
 "Now for a dance ! " roai3d dissonant voices. 
 
 The drunken crowd sprang through the anteroom to the 
 porch. The frost did not sober their steaming heads. The 
 girls, screaming in voices thp": rose to the sky, ran In every 
 direct' ^n through the yard ; but the men chased them, and 
 
 I ' ■!!, 
 
pistol turned in 
 
 d with powder 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 29 
 
 )rought each one they seized to the room. After a while 
 they began dancing in the midst of smoke, bits of bone, 
 md chips around the table on which spilled wine lay in 
 )ools. 
 
 In such fashion did Pan Kmita and his wild company 
 revel in Lyubich. 
 
 3 ran in at the 
 
sa 
 
 THE DELUQE. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 lis ■: 
 
 m 
 
 For a number of subsequent days Pan Andrei was at 
 Vodokty daily ; and each time he returned more in love, and 
 admired more and more his Olenka. He lauded her to the 
 skies, too, before his companions, till on a certain day he said 
 to them, — 
 
 " My dear lambs, you will go to-day to beat with the fore- 
 head ; then, as we have stipulated with the maiden, we will 
 go to Mitruny to have a sleigh-ride through the forests and 
 look at the third estate. She will entertain us there, and 
 do you bear yourselves decently ; for I would cut into hash 
 the man who offended her in anything." 
 
 The cavaliers hurried willingly to prepare, and soon four 
 sleighs were bearing the eager young men to Vodokty. 
 Kmita sat in the first sleigh, which was highly ornamented 
 and had the form of a silvery bear. This sleigh was drawn 
 by three captured Kalmuk horses in variegated harness, in 
 ribbons and peacock feathers, according to the Smolensk 
 fashion, borrowed from more distant neighbors. A young 
 fellow sitting in the neck of the bear drove the horses. 
 Pan Andrei was dressed in a green velvet coat buttoned on 
 golden cords and trimmed with sable, and wore a sable cap 
 with a heron's feather. He was gladsome, joyous, and spoke 
 to Kokosinski sitting at his side, — 
 
 " Listen, Kokoshko ! I suppose we played tricks wild 
 beyond measure on two evenings, and especially the first, 
 when the skulls and the portraits suffered. But tlie case of 
 the girls was still worse. The Devil always pushes forward 
 that Zend, and then on whom does he pound out the punish- 
 ment ? On me. I am afraid that people will talk, for in 
 this place my reputation is at stake." 
 
 " Hang yourself on your reputation ; it is good for 
 nothing else, just like ours." 
 
 " And who is to blame for that, if not you men ? Re- 
 member, Kokoshko, they held me for a disturbing spirit In 
 Orsha, and tongues were sharpened on me like knives on a 
 whetstone." 
 
 " Bu*; who dragged Pan Tumgrat out in the frost with a 
 horse, who cut up that official, who asked whether men 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 31 
 
 walked on two feet in Orsha or on four ? Who hacked the 
 Vyzinskis, father and son ? Who broke up the last provin- 
 cial Diet?" 
 
 " I broke up the Diet in Orsha, not somewhere else ; that 
 was a home aifair. Pan Tumgrat forgave me when he was 
 dying ; and as to the others, speak not, for a duel may hap- 
 pen to the most innocent." 
 
 " I have not told all yet ; I have not spoken of the trials 
 in the army, of which two are still waiting for you." 
 
 " Not for me, but for you men ; for I am to blame only 
 for letting you rob the people. But no more of this ! Shut 
 your mouth, Kokoshko, and say nothing to Olenka about 
 the duels, and especially nothing of that shooting at the 
 portraits and of the girls. If it is told, I shall lay the 
 blame on you. I have informed the servants and the girls 
 that if a word is said, I will order belts taken out of their 
 skins." 
 
 " Have yourself shod like a horse, Yendrus, if you are 
 in such dread of your maiden. You were another man in 
 Orsha. I see already that you will go in leading-strings, 
 and there is no good in that. Some ancient philosopher 
 says, ' If you will not manage Kahna, Kahna will manage 
 you.' You have given yourself to be tied up in all things." 
 
 " You are a fool, Kokoshko ! But as to Olenka you will 
 stand on one foot and then on the other when you put eyes 
 on her, for another woman with such proper intent is not to 
 be found. What is good she will praise in a moment, but 
 the bad she will blame without waiting ; for she judges 
 according to virtue, and has in herself a ready measure. 
 The late under-chamberlain reared her in that way. Should 
 you wish to boast of warlike daring before her, and say that 
 you trampled on justice, you will soon be ashamed ; for at 
 once she will say, 'An honorable citizen should not do that; 
 it is against the country.' She will speak so to you that it 
 will be as if some one had slapped you on the face, and 
 you '11 wonder that you did not know these things yourself. 
 Tfu ! shame ! We have raised fearful disorder, and now 
 must stand open-eyed before virtue and innocence. The 
 [worst was those girls — " 
 
 " By no means the worst. I have heard that in the vil 
 llages there are girls of the petty nobility like blood and 
 I milk, and probably not stubborn at all." 
 
 '' Who told you ? " asked Kmita, quickly. 
 
 "Who told me ? Who, if not Zend ? Yesterday while 
 
32 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 )" 
 
 trying the roan steed he rode to Volniontovjchi ; he merely 
 rode along the highway, but he saw many titmice, for they 
 were coming from vespers. 'I thought/ said he, *that I 
 should fly off the horse, they were so handsome and pretty.' 
 And whenever he looked at any one of them she showed 
 her teeth directly. And no wonder ! for all the grown men 
 of the nobles have gone to Kossyeni, and it is dre . 'y for the 
 titmice alone." 
 
 Kmita punched his companion in the side with his fist. 
 " Let us go, Kokoshko, some time in the evening, — pretend 
 we are astray, — shall we ? " 
 
 " But your reputation ? " 
 
 " Oh, to the Devil ! Shut your mouth I '^-o alone, if that 
 is the way ; but better drop the matter. It v ould not pass 
 without talk, and I want to live in peace with the nobles 
 here, for the late under-chamberlain made them Olenka's 
 guardians." 
 
 "You have spoken of that, but I would not believe it. 
 How did he have such intimacy with homespuns ? " 
 
 " Because he went with them to war, and I heard of this 
 in Orsha, when he said that there was honorable blood in 
 those Lauda men. But to tell the truth, Kokoshko, it was 
 an immediate wonder to me, for it is as if he had made them 
 guards over me." 
 
 " You will yield to them and bow to your boots before 
 dish-cloths." 
 
 " First may the pestilence choke them I Be quiet, for I 
 am angry ! They will bow to me and serve me. Their 
 (piota is ready at every call." 
 
 "Some one else will command this quota. Zend says 
 that there is a colonel here among them — I forget his 
 name — Volodyovski or something ? He led them at 
 Shklov. They fought well, it appears, but were combed 
 out there." 
 
 " I have heard of a Volodyovski, a famous warrior — But 
 here is Vodokty in sight." 
 
 " Hei, it is well for people in Jmud ; for there is stern 
 order. The old man must have been a born manager. And 
 the house, — I see how it looks. The enemy brought fire 
 here seldom, and the people could build." 
 
 " I think that she cannot have heard yet of that outburst 
 in Lyubich," said Kmita, as if to himself. Then he turned 
 to his comrade : " My Kokoshko, I tell you, and do you 
 repeat it to the others, that you must bear yourselves de- 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 33 
 
 boots before 
 
 arrior — But 
 
 lently here ; and it any man jpermits himself anything, as 
 }od is dear to me, I will cut him up like chopped straw." 
 
 « Well, they have saddled you ! " 
 
 " Saddled, saddled not, I will cut you up ! " 
 
 " Don't look at my Kasia or I '11 cut you to pieces," said 
 :okosinski, phlegm atically. 
 
 " Fire out thy whip ! " shouted Kmita to the driver. 
 
 The youth standing in the neck of the silvery bear whirled 
 ^is whip, and cracked it very adroHly ; other drivers fol- 
 )wed his example, and they drove with a rattling, quick 
 lotion, joyous as at a carnival. 
 
 Stepping out of the clf!in:h«, they came first to an ante- 
 
 Jhamber ".s large as a grai:wry, an unpainted room ; thence 
 
 [niita conducted them to the dining-hall, ornamented as in 
 
 yubich with skulls and antlers of s^ain beasts. Here they 
 
 Raited, looking carefully and with curiosity at the door of 
 
 le adjoining room, by which Panna Aleksandra was to 
 
 Inter. Meanwhile, evidently keeping in r "nd Kmita's 
 
 rarning, they spoke with one another in suodued tones, 
 
 in a church. 
 
 " You are a fellow of speech," whispered LFhlik to Koko- 
 inski, "you will greet her for us all." 
 
 " I was arranging something to say on the road," answered 
 [okosinski, "but I know not whether it will be smooth 
 lough, for Yendrus interrupted my ideas." 
 
 "Let it be as it comes, if with spirit. But here she 
 
 !" . 
 
 Panna Aleksandra entered, halting a little on the thresh- 
 Id, as if in wonder at such a large company. Kmita him- 
 jlf stood for a while as if fixed to the floor in admiration 
 
 her beauty; for hitherto he had seen her only in the 
 rening, and in the day she seemed still more beautiful, 
 [er eves had the color of star-thistles ; the dark brows 
 )0ve them were in contrast to the forehead as ebony with 
 [hite, and her yellow hair shone like a crown on the head 
 
 a queen. Not dropping her eyes, she had the self- 
 )ssessed mien of a lady receiving guests in her own house, 
 [ith clear face seeming still clearer from the black dress 
 pimmed v/ith ermine. Such a dignified and exalted lady 
 le warriors had not seen ; they were accustomed to women 
 " another type. So they stood in a rank as if for the en- 
 siling of a company, and shuffling their feet they also 
 )wed together in a row ; but Kmita pushed forward, and 
 issing the hand of the lady a number of times, said, — 
 
 VOL. X. — 3 
 
34 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 i / ' 
 
 '^ 
 
 " See, my jewel, I have brought you fellow soldiers with 
 whom I fought in the last war." 
 
 " It is for nie no small honor," answered Fanna Billevich, 
 "to receive in my house such worthy cavaliers, of whose 
 virtue and excellent qualities I have heard from their com- 
 mander. Pan Kmita." 
 
 When she had said this she took her skirt with the tips 
 of her fingers, and raising it slightly, courtesied with un- 
 usual dignity. Kmita bit his lips, but at the same time he 
 was flushed, since his maiden had spoken with such spirit. 
 
 The worthy cavaliers continuing to shuffle their feet, all 
 nudged at the same moment Pan Kokosinski : " Well, 
 begin I " 
 
 Kokosinski moved forward one step, cleared his thi'^at, 
 and began as follows :' " Serene great mighty lady, under- 
 chamberlain's daughter — " 
 
 " Chief-hunter's daughter," corrected Kmita. 
 
 " Serene great mighty lady, chief-hunter's daughter, but 
 to us right merciful benefactress," repeated Kokosinski, -— 
 "pardon, your ladyship, if I have erred in the title — " 
 
 " A harmless mistake," replied Panna Aleksandra, " and 
 it lessens in no wise such an eloquent cavalier — " 
 
 " Serene great mighty lady, chief-hunter's daughter, bene- 
 factress, and our right merciful lady, I know not what 
 becomes me in the name of all Orsha to celebrate more, — 
 the extraordinary beauty and virtue of your ladyship, our 
 benefactress, or the unspeakable happiness of the captain 
 anr" our fellow-soldier, Pan Kmita; for though I were to 
 approach the clouds, though I were to reach the clouds 
 themselves — I say, the clouds^ — " 
 
 " But come down out of those clouds I " cried Kmita. 
 
 With that the cavaliers burst into one enormous laugh; 
 but all at once remembering the command of Kmita, they 
 seized their mustaches with their hands. 
 
 Kokosinski was confused in the highest degree. He grew j 
 purple, and said, " Do the greeting yourselves, pagans, since 
 you confuse me." 
 
 Panna Aleksandra took again, with the tips of her fingers, 
 her skirt. " I could not follow you gentlemen in eloquence," | 
 said she, " but I know that I am unworthy of those homages | 
 which you give me in the name of all Orsha." 
 
 And again she made a courtesy with exceeding dignity, I 
 and it was somehow out of place for the Orsha roisterers j 
 in the presence of that courtly maiden. They strove to 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 35 
 
 soldiers with 
 
 jxhibit themselves as men of politeness, but it did not be- 
 come them. Therefore they began to pull their mustaches, 
 to mutter and handle their sabres, till Kmita said, — 
 
 " We have come here as if in a carnival, with the thought 
 to take you with us and drive to Mitruny through the forest, 
 IS was the arrangement yesterday. The snow-road is firm, 
 iiid God has given frosty weather." 
 
 " I have already sent Aunt Kulvyets to Mitruny to pre- 
 )are dinner. 'But now, gentlemen, wait just a little till I 
 [)ut on something warm." 
 
 Then she turned and went out. 
 
 Kmita sprang to his comrades. " Well, my dear lambs, 
 |s n't she a princess ? Now, Kokosinski, you said that she 
 lad saddled me, and why were you as a little boy before 
 lier ? Where have you seen her like ? " 
 
 " There was no call to interrupt me ; though I do not 
 leny that I did not expect to address such a person." 
 
 " The late under-chamberlain," said Kmita, " lived with 
 ler most of the time in Kyedani, at the court of the prince 
 roevoda, or lived with the Hleboviches ; and there she ac- 
 juired those high manners. But her beauty, — what of 
 that ? You cannot let your breath go yet." 
 
 " We have appeared as fools," said Ranitski, in anger ; 
 but the biggest fool was Kokosinski." 
 
 " Traitor ! why punch me with your elbow ? You should 
 lave appeared yourself, with your spotted mouth." 
 
 "Harmony, lambs, harmony!" said Kmita; "I will let 
 jou admire, but not wrangle." 
 
 " I would spring into the fire for her," said Rekuts. " Hew 
 lie down, Yendrus, but I '11 not deny that." 
 
 Kmita did not think of cutting down ; he was satisfied, 
 
 kwisted his mustache, and gazed on his comrades with 
 
 iriumph. Now Panna Aleksandra entered, wearing a mar- 
 
 m-skin cap, under which her bright face appeared still 
 
 brighter. They went out on the porch. 
 
 "Then shall we ride ir ihis sleigh?" asked the lady, 
 pointing to the silvery bear. " I have not seen a more 
 sautiful sleigh in my life." 
 
 " I know not who has used it hitherto, for it was captured. 
 [t suits me very well, for on my shield is a lady on a bear. 
 Jiere are other Kmitas who have banners on their shield, 
 [ut they are descended from Filon Kmita of Charnobil ; he 
 ras not of the same house from which the great Kmitas are 
 lescended." 
 
96 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " And when did you capture this bear sleigh ? " 
 
 "Lately, in this war. We poor exiles who have fallen 
 away from fortune have only what war gives us in plunder. 
 But as I serve that lady faithfully, she has rewarded me." 
 
 " May God grant a better ; for war rewards one, but 
 presses tears from the whole dear fatherland." 
 
 " God and the hetmans will change that." 
 
 Meanwhile Kmita wrapped Panna Aleksandra in the 
 beautiful sleigh robe of white cloth lined with white wolf- 
 skin; then taking his own seat, he cried to the driver, 
 " Move on ! " and the horses sprang forward at a run. 
 
 The cold wind struck their faces with its rush ; they were 
 silent, therefore, and nothing was heard save the wheezing 
 of frozen snow under the runners, the snorting of the horses, 
 their tramp, and the cry off the driver. 
 
 At last Pan Andrei bent toward Olenka. " Is it pleasant 
 for you ? " I 
 
 " Pleasant," answered she, raising her sleeve and holding 
 it to her mouth to ward off the rush of air. 
 
 The sleigh dashed on like a whirlwind. The day was 
 bright, frosty ; the snow sparkled as if some one were scat- 
 tering sparks on it. Prom the white roofs of the cottages, 
 which were like piles of snow, rosy smoke curled in high 
 columiis. Flocks of crows from among the leafless trees by 
 the roadside flew before the sleighs with shrill cawing. 
 
 About eighty rods from Vodokty they came out on a 
 broad road into dark pine-woods which stood gloomy, hoary, 
 and silent as if sleeping under the thick snow-bunches. 
 The trees flitted before the eye, appeared to be fleeing to 
 some place in the rear of the sleigh ; but the sleigh flew on, 
 every moment swiftly, more swiftly, as if the horses had 
 wings. From such driving the head turns, and ecstasy 
 seizes one ; it seized Panna Aleksandra. She leaned back, 
 closed her eyes, and yielded completely to the impetus. 
 She felt a sweet poweriessness, and it seemed to her that 
 that boyar of Orsha had taken her by violence ; that he is 
 rushing away like a whirlwind, and she growing weak has 
 no strength to oppose or to cry, — and they are flying, flying 
 each moment more swiftly. Olenka feels that arms are 
 embracing her ; then on her cheek as it were a hot burning 
 stamp. Her eyes will not open, as if in a dream ; and they 
 
 fly, fly. 
 
 An inquiring voice first roused the sleeping lady : " Do 
 you love me ? " 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 37 
 
 She opened her eyes. " As my own soul." 
 
 " And I for life and death." 
 
 Again the sable cap of Kmita bent over the marten-skin 
 cap of Olenka. She knew not herself which gave her more 
 delight, — the kisses or the magic ride. 
 
 And they flew farther, but always through pine-woods, 
 through pine-woods. Trees fled to the rear in whole regi- 
 ments. The snow was wheezing, the horses snorting ; but 
 the man and the maiden were happy. 
 
 " I would ride to the end of the world in this way," cried 
 Kmita. 
 
 " What are we doing ? This is a sin ! " whispered 
 Olenka. 
 
 ." What sin ? Let us commit it again." 
 
 " Impossible I Mitruny is not far." 
 
 " Far or near, 't is all one ! " 
 
 And Kmita rose in the sleigh, stretched his arms upward, 
 and began to shout as if in a full breast he could not find 
 place for his joy : " Hei-ha ! hei-ha ! " 
 
 "Hei-hop! hoop-ha!" answered the comrades from the 
 sleighs behind. 
 
 " Why do you shout so ? " asked the lady. 
 
 " Oh, so, from delight ! And shout you as well ! " 
 
 " Hei-ha ! " was heard the resonant, thin alto voice. 
 
 " thou, my queen ! I fall at thy feet." 
 
 " The company will laugh." 
 
 After the ecstasy a noisy joyousness seized them, as wild 
 as the driving was wild. Kmita began to sing, — 
 
 " Look thou, my girl ! look through the door, 
 
 To the rich fields ! 
 Oh, knights from the pine-woods are coming, my mother, 
 
 Oh, that 's my fate ! 
 Look not, my daughter ! cover thy eyes, 
 
 With thy white hands. 
 For thy heart will spring out of thy bosom 
 
 With them to the war." 
 
 "Who taught you such lovely songs?" asked Panna 
 Aleksandra. 
 
 " War, Olenka. In the camp we sang them to one an- 
 other to drive away sadness." 
 
 Further conversation was interrupted by a loud calling 
 from the rear sleighs : " Stop ! stop ! Hei there — stop ! " 
 
 Pan Andrei turned around in anger, wondering how it 
 came to the heads of his comrades to call and stop him. 
 
38 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 He saw a few tens of steps from the sleigh a horseman ap- 
 proaching at full speed of the horse. 
 
 "As God lives, that is my sergeant Soroka; what ban 
 have happened ? " said Pan Andrei. 
 
 That moment the sergeant coming up, reined his horse on 
 his haunches, and began to speak with a panting voice : 
 " Captain ! — " 
 
 " What is the matter, Soroka ? " 
 
 " Upita is on fire ; they are fighting ! " 
 
 " Jesus Mary ! " screamed Olenka. 
 
 " Have no fear ! — Who is fighting ? " 
 
 " The soldiers with the townspeople. There is a fire on 
 the square ! The townspeople are enraged, and they have 
 sent to Ponyevyej for a garrison. But I galloped here to 
 your grace. I can barely draw breath." 
 
 During this conversation the sleighs behind caught up ; 
 Kokosinski, Rafiitski, Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus, Uhlik, Ke- 
 kuts, and Zend, springing out on the snow, surrounded the 
 speakers with a circle. 
 
 " What is the matter ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 " The townspeople would not give supplies for horses or 
 men, because there was no order for it ; the soldiers began 
 to take by force. We besieged the mayor and those who 
 barricaded themselves in the square. Firing was begun, 
 and we burned two houses ; at present there is terrible vio- 
 lence, and ringing of bells — " 
 
 Kmita's eyes gleamed with wrath. 
 
 " We must go to the rescue ! " shouted Kokosinski. 
 ' " The rabble are oppressing the army ! " cried Banitski, 
 whose whole face was covered at once with red, white, and 
 dark spots. " Check, check ! mighty lords ! " 
 
 Zend laughed exactly as a screech-owl hoots, till the 
 horses were frightened ; and Rekuts raised his eyes and 
 piped, "Strike, whoso believes in God! smoke out the 
 ruffians ! " 
 
 " Be silent ! " roared Kmita, till the woods echoed, and 
 Zend, who stood nearest, staggered like a drunken man. 
 " There is no need of you there, no need of slashing ! Sit 
 all of you in two sleighs, leave me the third. Drive back 
 to Lyubich ; wait there unless I send for succor." 
 
 " How is that ? " asked Ranitski, opposing. 
 But Pan Andrei laid a hand on his throat, and his eyes 
 gleamed more terribly. " Not a breath out of you ! " said 
 he, threateningly. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 31) 
 
 Lorseman ap- 
 
 i] what ban 
 
 his horse on 
 mting voice : 
 
 They were silent ; evidently they feared him, though 
 usually on such familiar footing. 
 
 « Go back, Olenka, to Vodokty," said Kmita, " or go for 
 your Aunt Kulvyets to Mitruny. Well, our party was not 
 a success. But it will be quieter there soon ; only a few 
 heads will fly off. Be in good health and at rest ; I shall be 
 quick to return." 
 
 Having said this, he kissed her hand, and wrapped her in 
 the wolf-skin ; then he took his seat in the other sleigh, and 
 cried to the driver, " To Upita I " 
 
 e is a fire on 
 id they have 
 oped here to 
 
 • 
 
 i caught up ; 
 s, Uhlik, Re- 
 rrounded the 
 
 for horses or 
 
 )ldiers began 
 
 d those who 
 
 was begun, 
 
 terrible vio- 
 
 sinski. 
 
 ed Banitski, 
 
 I, white, and 
 
 ots, till the 
 lis eyes and 
 )ke out the 
 
 echoed, and 
 
 unken man. 
 
 ishihg ! Sit 
 
 Drive back 
 
 f. 
 
 >j 
 
 and his eyes 
 you!" said 
 
40 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 A NUMBER of days passed, and Kmita did not return ; 
 but three men of Lauda came to Vodokty with complaints 
 to the lady. Pakosh Gashtovt from Patsuneli came, — the 
 same who was entertaining at his house Pan Volodyovski. 
 Ho was the patriarch of the village, famed for wealth and 
 six daughters, of whom three had married Butryms, and 
 received each one hundred coined dollars as dowry, besides 
 clothing and cattle. The second who came was Kassyan 
 Butrym, who remembered Batory well, and with him the 
 son-in-law of Pakosh, Yuzva Butrym; the latter, though 
 in the prime of lifje, — he was not more than fifty years 
 old, — did not go to Rossyeni to the registry of the gene- 
 ral militia, for in the Cossack wars a cannon-ball had 
 torn off his foot. He was called on this account Ankle- 
 foot, or Yuzva Footless. He was a terrible man, with the 
 strength of a bear, and great sense, but harsh, surly, judg- 
 ing men severely. For this reason he was feared somewhat 
 in the capitals, for he could not pardon either himself or 
 others. He was dangerous also when in liquor ; but that 
 happened rarely. 
 
 These men came, then, to the lady, who received them 
 graciously, though she divined at once that they had come 
 to make complaints, and wanted to hear something from 
 her regarding Pan Kmita. 
 
 " We wish to pay our respects to Pdn Kmita, but perhaps 
 he has not come back yet from Upita," said Pakosh ; " so 
 we have come to inquire, our dear darling, when it will be 
 possible to see him." 
 
 " I think the only hindrance is that he is not here," 
 answered the lady. " He will be glad with his whole soul 
 to see you, my guardians, for he has heard much good con- 
 cerning you, — in old times from my grandfather, and 
 lately from me." 
 
 "If only he does not receive '.is as he received the Doma- 
 sheviches when they went to him with tidings of the 
 colonel's death," muttered Yuzva, sullenly. 
 
 The lady listened to the end, and answend at once with 
 animation : "Be not unjust about that. ] Perhaps he did 
 
*mvi DteLtlGE. 
 
 41 
 
 not receive them politely enough, but he has confessed his 
 fault in this house. It should be rfuneml)ei"ed too that he 
 was returning from a war in which he endured much coil 
 and suffering. We must not wonder at a soldier, even if 
 he snaps at his own, for warriors have tempers like sharp 
 swords." 
 
 I'akosii Gashtovt, who wished always to be in accord 
 with tho whole world, waved his hand and said : " We did 
 not wonder, either. A beast snaps at a beast when it sees 
 one suddenly ; why should not a man snap at a man ? We 
 will go to old Lyubieh to greet Pan Kriita, so that he may 
 live with us, go Lo war and to the wilderness, as the late 
 uiider-chamberlain used to d'-.'' 
 
 " Well, tell us, dear darling, did he please you or did he 
 not please you ? " asked Kassyan Butrym. " It is our duty 
 to ask this." 
 
 *' God reward you for your care. Pan Kmita is an hon- 
 orable cavalier, and even if I had found something against 
 him it would not be proper to speak of it." 
 
 " But have you not seen something, our dearest soul ? " 
 
 " Nothing ! Besides, no one has the right to judge him 
 here, and God save us from showing distrust. Let us 
 rather thank God." 
 
 " Why thank too early ? When there will be something 
 to thank for, then thank ; if not, then not thank," answered 
 the sullen Yuzva, who, like a genuine man of Jmud, was 
 very cautious and foreseeing. 
 
 " Have you spoken about the marriage ? " inquired 
 Kassyan. 
 
 Olenka dropped her eyes : " Pan Kmita wishes it as 
 early as possible." 
 
 " That 's it ! and why should n't he wish it ? " muttered 
 Yuzva ; " he is not a fool ! What bear is it that does not 
 want honey from a tree ? But why hurry ? Is it not 
 better to see what kind of man he is ? Father Kassyan, 
 tell what you have on your tongue; do not doze like a 
 hare at midday under a ridge." 
 
 " I am not dozing, I am only turning in my head what to 
 say," answered the old man. " The Lord Jesus has said, 
 * As Kuba [Jacob] is to God, so will God be to Kuba.' '^Ve 
 wish no ill to Pan Kmita, if he wishes no ill to u^i, — 
 which God grant, amen." 
 
 " If he will be to our thinking," said Yuzva. 
 
 Panna Billevich frowned with her falcon brows, and said 
 
1U 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 %. 
 
 k 
 
 1 1" 
 
 
 with a certain haughtiness: "Remember that we are not 
 receiving a servant. He will be master here ; and his wjll 
 must have force, not ours. He will succeed you in the 
 guardianship." 
 
 " Does that mean that we must not interfere ? " asked 
 Yuzva. 
 
 " It means that you are to be friends with him, as he 
 wishes to be a friend of yours. Moreover he is taking 
 cai-e of his own property here, which each man manages 
 according to his wish. Is not this true, Father Pakosh ? " 
 
 " The sacred truth," answered the old man of Patsuneli. 
 
 Yuzva turned again to old Butrym. " Do not doze, 
 Fatl;.:r Kassyan ! " 
 
 * I am not dozing, I am only looking into my mind." 
 
 " Then tell what you see there." 
 
 " What do I see ? This is what I see : Pan Kmita is a 
 man of great family, of high blood, and we are small 
 people. Moreover he is a soldier of fame ; he alone op- 
 posed the enemy when all had dropped their hands, — God 
 give as many as possible of such men ! But he has a com- 
 pany that is worthless. Pan Pakosh, my neighbor, what 
 have you heard about them from the Domasheviches ? 
 That they are all dishonored men, against whom outlawry 
 has been declared, infamous and condemned, with declara- 
 tions and trials hanging over them, children of the hang- 
 man. They were grievous to the enemy, but more grievous 
 to their own people. They burned, they plundered, they 
 rioted ; that is what they did. They may have slain people 
 in duels or carried out executions, — that happens to honest 
 men ; but they have lived in pure Tartar fashion, and long 
 ago would lavc been rotting in prisbn but for the protection 
 of Pan Kmita, who is a powerful lord. He favors and 
 protects them, and they cling to him just as flies do in 
 summer to a horse. Now they have come hither, and it 
 is known to all what they are doing. The first day at 
 Lyubich they fired out of pistols, — and at wliat ? — at the 
 portraits of the dead Billeviches, which Pan Kmita should 
 not have permitted, for the Billeviches are his benefactors." 
 
 Olenka covered her eyes with her hands. "It cannot 
 be ! it cannot be ! " 
 
 " It can, for it has been. He let them shoot at his bene- 
 factors, with whom he was to epter into relationship ; 
 and then they dragged the girls of the house into the room 
 for debauchery. Tf u I an offence against God I That has 
 
tME DELUafi. 
 
 43 
 
 re ? " asked 
 
 nevei' been among us I The first day they began shooting 
 and dissoluteness, — the first day ! " 
 
 Here old Xassyan grew angry, and fell to striking the 
 floor with his staff. On Olenka's face were dark blushes, 
 and Yuzva said, — 
 
 " And Pan Kmita's troops in Upita, are they better ? 
 Like officers, like men. Some people stole Pan Sollohub's 
 cattle J it is said they were Pan Kraita's men. Some persons 
 struck down on the road peasants of Meizagol who were 
 drawing pitch. Who did this ? They, the same soldiers. 
 Pan SoUohub went to Pan Hlebovich for satisfaction, and 
 now there is violence in Upita again. All this is in opposi- 
 tion to God. It used to be quiet here as in no other place, 
 and now one must load a gun for the night and stand 
 guard; but why? Because Pan Kmita and his company 
 have come." 
 
 " Father Yuzva, do not talk so," cried Olenka. 
 
 " But how must I talk ? If Pan Kmita is not to blame, 
 why does he keep such men, why does he live with such 
 men ? Great mighty lady, tell him to dismiss them or give 
 them up to the hangman, for otherwise there will be no 
 peace. Is it a thing heard of to shoot at portraits and 
 commit open debauchery ? Why, the whole neighborhood 
 is talking of nothing else." 
 
 " What have I to do ? " asked Olenka. " They may be 
 evil men, but he fought the war with them. If he will 
 dismiss them at my request?" 
 
 " If he does not dismiss them," muttered Yuzva, in a low 
 voice, " he is the same as they." 
 
 With this the lady's blood began to boil against those 
 men, murderers and profligates. 
 
 " Let it be so. He must dismiss them. Let him choose 
 me or them. If what you say is true, — and I shall know 
 to-day if it is true, — I shall not forgive them either the 
 shooting or the debauchery. I am alone and a weak 
 orphan, they are an armed crowd; but I do not fear 
 them." 
 
 " We will holp you," said Yuzva. 
 
 *'In God's name," continued Olenka, more and more 
 excited, "let them do what they like, but not here in Lyu- 
 bich. Let them be as they like, — that is their affair, their 
 necks' answer ; but let them not lead away Pan Kmita to 
 debauchery. Shame and disgrace I I thought they were 
 awkward soldier?, but now I see that they are vile traitors, 
 
u 
 
 THE DfittTGE. 
 
 who stain both themselves and him. That*s the truth 1 
 Wickedness was looking out of their eyes ; but I; foolish 
 woman, did not recognize it. Well, I thank you, fathers, 
 for opening my eyes on these Judases. I k 'W what it 
 beseems me to do." 
 
 " That 's it ! " said old Kassyan. " Virtue speaks through 
 you, and we will help you." 
 
 " Do not blame Pan Kmita, for though he has offended 
 against good conduct he is young; and they tempt him, 
 they lead him away, they urge him to license with example, 
 and bring disgrace to his name. This is the condition ; as I 
 live, it will not last long." 
 
 Wrath roused Olenka's heart more and more, and indig- 
 nation at the comrades of Pan Kmita increased as pain 
 increases in a wound freshly given ; for terribly wounded 
 in her were the love special to woman and that trust with 
 which she had ^iven her whole unmixed feeling to Pan 
 Andrei. She was ashamed for his sake and for her own, 
 and anger and internal shame sought above all guilty 
 parties. 
 
 The nobles were glad when they saw their colonel's 
 granddaughter so terrible and ready for unyielding war 
 against the disturbers from Orsha. 
 
 She spoke on with sparkling eyes : " True, they are to 
 blame ; and they must leave not only Lyubich, but the 
 whole country-side." 
 
 "Our heart, we do not blame Pan Kmita," said old 
 Kassyan. " We know that they tempt him. Not through 
 bitterness nor venom against him have we come, but 
 through regret that he keeps near* his person revellers. It 
 is evident, of course, that being young he is foolish. Even 
 Pan Hlebovich the starosta was foolish when he was young, 
 but now he keeps us all in order." 
 
 "And a dog," said the mild old man from Patsuneli, 
 with a voice of emotion, — " if you go with a young one to 
 the field, won't the fool instead of running after the game 
 fall about your feet, begin to play, and tug you by the 
 skirts ? " 
 
 Olenka wanted to say something, but suddenly she 
 burst into tears. 
 
 " Do not cry," said Yuzva Butrym. 
 
 " Do not cry, do not cry," repeated the two old 
 men. 
 
 They tried to comfort her, but could not. After they 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 45 
 
 had gone, care, anxiety, and as it were an offended 
 feeling against them and against Pan Andrei remained. It 
 pained the proud lady more and more deeply that she had 
 to defend, justify, and explain him. But the men of that 
 company! The delicate hands of the lady clinched at 
 thought of them. Before her eyes appeared as if present 
 the faces of Pan Kokosinski, Uhlik, Zend, Kulvyets-Hip- 
 pocentaurus, and the others ; and she discovered what she 
 had not seen at first, that they were shameless faces, on 
 which folly, licentiousness, and crime had all fixed their 
 stamps in common. A feeling of hatred foreign to Olenka 
 begaii to seize her a/, a rattling fire seizes fuel ; but to- 
 gether with this outburst offence against Pan Kmita 
 increased every minute. 
 
 " Shame, disgrace," whispered the maiden, with pallid 
 lips, " that yesterday he went from me to house- wenches ! " 
 and she felt herself overborne. A crushing burden stopped 
 the breath in her breast. 
 
 It was growing raw out of doors. Panna Aleksandra 
 walked in the room with hurried step, but anger was seeth- 
 ing in her soul without ceasing. Hers was not the nature to 
 endure the persecutions of fate without defending herself 
 against them. There was knightly blood in the girl. She 
 wanted straightway to begin a struggle with that band of 
 evil spirits, — straightway. But what remained to her ? 
 Nothing, save tears and the prayer that Pan Andrei would 
 send to the four winds those shame-bringing comrades. 
 But if he will not do that — And she did not dare to think 
 more of the question. 
 
 The meditations of the lady were interrupted by a 
 youth who brought an armful of juniper sticks to the 
 chimney, and throwing them down at the side of the 
 hearth, began to pull out the coals from under the smoul- 
 dering ashes. Suddenly a decision came to Olenka's 
 mind. 
 
 " Kostek ! " said she, " sit on horseback for me at once, 
 and ride to Lyubich. If the master has returned, ask him 
 to come here ; but if he is not there, let the manager, old 
 Znikis, mount with thee and come straight to me, and 
 quickly." 
 
 The youth threw some bits of pitch on the coals and 
 covered them with clumps of dry juniper. Bright flames 
 began to crackle and snap in the chimney. It grew some- 
 what lighter in Olenka's mind. 
 
. ' ' 
 
 if ' 
 
 46: 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 "Perhaps the Lord God will change this yet," thought 
 she to herself, '' and maybe it is not so bad as the guardians 
 have said." 
 
 After a while she went to the servants* room to sit, ac- 
 cording to the immemorial custom of the Billeviches, with 
 the- maidens to oversee the spinning and sing hymns. 
 
 In two hours Kostek entered, chilled from cold. 
 " Znikis is in the antechamber," said he. " The master 
 is not in Lynbich." 
 
 The lady rose quickly. The manager in the ante- 
 chamber bowed to her feet. "But how is your bjalth, 
 serene heiress ? God give you the best." 
 
 They passed into the dining-hall ; Znikis halted at the 
 door. 
 
 " What is to be heard among you people ? " asked the lady. 
 
 The peasant w^ved his hand. "Well, the master is 
 not there." 
 
 "I know that, because he is in Upita. But what is 
 going on in the house ? " 
 
 "Well! — " 
 
 " Listen, Znikis, speak boldly ; not a hair \*'ill fall from 
 thy head. People say that thQ master is good, but his 
 companions wild ? " 
 
 " If they were only wild, serene lady ! — " 
 
 "Speak candidly." 
 
 "But, lady, if it is not permitted me — I am afraid— 
 they have forbidden me." 
 
 " Who has forbidden ? " 
 
 "My master." 
 
 " Has he ? " asked the lady. ' * 
 
 A moment of silence ensued. She walked quickly in 
 the room, with compressed lips and frowning brow. He 
 followed her with his eyes. Suddenly she stopped before 
 him. 
 
 " To whom dost thou belong ? " 
 
 "To the Billeviches. I am from Vodokty, not from 
 Lyubich." 
 
 " Thou wilt return no more to Lyubich ; stay here. Now 
 I command thee to tell all thou knowest." 
 
 The peasant cast himself on his knees at the threshold 
 where he was standing. " Serene lady, I do not want to 
 go back ; the day of judgment is there. They are bandits 
 and cut-throats ; in that place a man is not sure of the 
 day nor the hour." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 47 
 
 Panna Billevich staggered as if stricken by an arrow. 
 She grew very pale, but inquired calmly, " Is it true 
 that they fired in the room, at the portraits ? " 
 
 "Of course they fired! And they dragged girls into 
 their rooms, and every day the same debauchery. In the 
 village is weeping, at the house Sodom and Gomorrah. 
 Oxen are killed for the table, sheep for the table. The 
 people are oppressed. Yesterday they killed the stable- 
 man without cause." 
 
 " Did they kill the stable-man ? " 
 
 " Of course. And worst of all, thoy abused the girls. 
 Those at the house are not enough for them j they chase 
 others through the village." 
 
 A second interval of silence followed. Hot blushes 
 came out on the lady's face, and did not leave it. 
 
 " When do they look for the master's return ? " 
 
 "They do not know, my lady. But I heard, as they 
 were talking to one another, that they would have to start 
 to-morrow for Upita with their whole company. They 
 gave command to have horses ready. They will come 
 here and beg my lady for attendants and powder, because 
 they need both there." 
 
 " They are to come here ? That is well. Go now, 
 Znikis, to the kitchen. Thou wilt return to Lyubich no 
 more." 
 
 "May God give you health and happiness !" 
 
 Panna Aleksandra had learned what she wanted, and 
 she knew how it behooved her to act. 
 
 The following day was Sunday. In the morning, before 
 the ladies had gono to church, Kokosinski, Uhlik, Kulvyets- 
 Hippocentaurus, Eanitski, Rekuts, and Zend arrived, fol- 
 lowed by the servants at Lynbich, armed and on horseback, 
 for the cavaliers had decided to march to Upita with succor 
 for Kmita. 
 
 The lady went out to meet them calmly and haughtily, 
 altogether different from the woman who had greeted them 
 for the first time a few days before. She barely motioned 
 with her l^ead in answer to their humble bows ; but they 
 thought that the absence of Pan Kmita made her cautious, 
 and took no note of the real situation. 
 
 Kokosinski stepped forward more confidently than the 
 first time, and said, — 
 
 " Serene great mighty lady, chief-hunter's daughter, bene- 
 factress, we have come in here on our way to Upita to fall 
 
48 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 at the feet of our lady benefactress and be^; for assistance, 
 such as powder, and that you would permit your servant^ 
 to mount their horses and go with us. We will take Upita 
 by storm, and let out a little blood for the basswood- 
 barks." 
 
 " It is a wonder to me," answered Panna Billevich, " that 
 you are going to Upita, when I heard myself how Pan 
 Kmita commanded you to remain quietly in Lyubich, and I 
 think that it beseems him to command and you to obey, as 
 subordinates." 
 
 The cavaliers hearing these words looked at one another 
 in astonishment. Zend pursed out his lips as if about to 
 whistle in bird fashion. Kokosinski began to draw his broad 
 palm over his head. 
 
 " As true as life," said he, " a man would think that you 
 were speaking to Pan Kmita's baggage-boys. It is true that 
 we were to sit at home ; but since the fourth day is passing 
 and Yendrus has n^t come, we have reached the conviction 
 that some serious tumult may have risen, in which our sabres, 
 too, would be of service." 
 
 " Pan Kmita did not go to a battle, but to punish turbu- 
 lent soldiers, and punishment may meet you also if you go 
 against orders. Besides, a tumult and slashing might come 
 to pass more quickly if you were there." 
 
 "It is hard to deliberate with your ladyship. We ask 
 only for powder and men." 
 
 " Men and powder I will not give. Do you hear me, 
 sirs ! " 
 
 " Do I hear correctly ? " asked Kokosinski. " How is this ? 
 You will not give ? You will spare in the rescue of Kmita, 
 of Yendrus ? Do you prefer that sbme evil should meet 
 him ? " 
 
 " The greatest evil that can meet him is your company." 
 
 Here the maiden's eyes began to flash lightning, and 
 raising her head she advanced some steps toward the cut- 
 throats, and they pushed back before her in astonishment. 
 
 " Traitors ! " said she, " you, like evil spirits, tempt him to 
 sin ; you persuade him on. But I know you, — your profli- 
 gacy, your lawless deeds. Justice is hunting you ; people 
 turn away from you, and on whom does the shame fall? 
 On him, through you who are outlaws, and infamous." 
 
 " Hei, by God's wounds, comrades, do you hear ? " cried 
 Kokosinski. " Hei, what is this ? Are we not sleeping, 
 comrades ? " 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 49 
 
 lear me. 
 
 Panna Billevich advanced another step, and pointing with 
 her hand to the door, said, " Be ofE out of here ! " 
 
 The ruffians grew as pale as corpses, and no one of them 
 found a word in answer. But their teeth began to gnash, 
 their hands to quiver toward their sword-hilts, and their 
 eyes to shoot forth malign gleams. After a moment, how- 
 ever, their spirits fell through alarm. That house too was 
 under the protection of the powerful Kmita ; that insolent 
 lady was his betrothed. In view of this they gnawed their 
 rage in silence, and she stood unflinchingly with flashing 
 eyes pointing to the door with her finger. 
 
 At last Kokosinski spoke in a voice broken with rage : 
 " Since we are received here so courteously, nothing remains 
 to us but to bow to the polished lady and go — with thanks 
 for the entertainment." 
 
 Then he bowed, touching the floor with his cap in pur- 
 posed humility ; after him all the others bowed, and went 
 out in order When the door closed after the last man, 
 Olenka fell exhausted into the armchair, panting heavily, 
 for she had not so much strength as daring. 
 
 They assembled in counsel in front of the entrance near 
 their horses, but no man wanted to speak first. At last 
 Kokosinski said, " "Well, dear lambs, what 's that ? " 
 
 "Do you feel well?" 
 
 "Do you?" 
 
 " Ei ! but for Kmita," said Ranitski, rubbing his hands 
 convulsively, " we would revel with this lady here in our 
 own fashion." 
 
 " Go meet Kmita," piped Rekuts. 
 
 Ranitski's face was covered completely with spots, like 
 the skin of a leopard. " I '11 meet him and you too, you 
 reveller, wherever it may please you ! " 
 
 "That 's well ! " cried Rekuts. 
 
 Both rushed to their sabres, but the gigantic Kulvyets- 
 Hippocentaurus thrust himself between. *' See this fist! " 
 said he, shaking as it were a loaf of bread ; " see this fist ! " 
 repeated he. " I '11 smash the head of the first man who 
 draws his sabre." And he looked now at one and now at 
 the other, as if asking in silence who wished to try first ; 
 but they, addressed in such fashion, were quiet at once. 
 
 " Kulvyets is right," said Kokosinski. " My dear lambs, 
 we need agreement now more than ever. I would advise to 
 go with all speed to Kmita, so that she may not see him 
 first, for she would describe us as devils. It is well that 
 
 VOL.1. — 4 
 
50 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 none of us snarled at her, though my own hands and tongue 
 were itching. Jf she is going to rouse him against us, it is' 
 better for us to rouse him first. God keep him from leaving 
 us ! Sltraightway the people here would surround us, hunt 
 us down like wolves." 
 
 "Nousense!" said R?.nitski. " They will do nothing to 
 us. There is wa^ now ; are there few men straggling 
 through the worl ' ta' v- a roof, without bread ? Let us 
 collect a party for ou elvi^Sj dear comrades, and let all the tvi- 
 bunals pursue us. Gi/e you and, Rekuts, I forgive you." 
 
 " I should have cut off your ears," piped Rekuts ; " but let 
 us be friends, a common insult has met us." 
 
 " To order out cavaliers like us ! " said Kokosinski. 
 
 " jLud me, in whom is senatorial blood!" added Ranitski. 
 
 " Honorable people, men of good birth ! " 
 
 " Soldiers of merit ! " 
 
 "And exiles!" « 
 
 " Innocent orphans ! " 
 
 " I have boots lined with wool, but my feet are freezing," 
 said Kulvyets. " Shall we stand like minstrels in front of 
 this house ? They will not bring us out heated beer. We 
 are of no use here ; let us mount and ride away. Better 
 send the servants home, for what good are they without 
 guns and weapons ? We will go on alone." 
 
 "ToUpita!" 
 
 " To Yendrus, our worthy friend 1 We will make com- 
 plaint before him." 
 
 " If only we do not miss him." 
 
 " To horse, comrades, to horse !," 
 
 They mounted, and moved on at a walk, chewing their 
 anger and shame. Outside the gate Ranitski, whom rage 
 still held as it were by the throat, turned and threatened 
 the house with his fist. " Ei ! I want blood ! I want blood ! " 
 
 " If we can only raise a quarrel between her and Kmita," 
 said Kokosinski, " we shall go through this place yet with 
 fire." 
 
 " That may happen." 
 
 « God aid us ! " added Uhlik. 
 
 " Oh, pagan's daughter, mad heath-hen ! " 
 
 Railing thus, and enraged at the lad^, snarling sometimes 
 too at themselves, they reached the fo: "*st. They had barely 
 passed the first trees when an enormous flock of crows 
 whirled above their heads. Zend began at once to croak 
 in a shrill voice j thousands of voices answered him from 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 61 
 
 above. The flock came down so low that the horses began 
 to be frightened at the sound of their wings. 
 
 " Shut your mouth ! " cried Ranitski to Zend. " You '11 
 croak out misfortune on us yet. Those crows are circling 
 over us as over carrion." 
 
 The others laughed. Zend croaked continually. The 
 crows came down more and more, and the party rode as if 
 in the midst of a storm. Fools! they could not see the 
 ill omen. 
 
 Beyond the forest appeared Volmontovichi, toward which 
 the cavaliers moved at a trot, for the frost was severe ; they 
 were very cold, and it was still a long way to Upita,^ but they 
 had to lessen their speed in the village itself. In the broad 
 road of the village the space was full of people, as is usual on 
 •Sundays. The Butryras, men and women, were returning 
 on foot and in sleighs from Mitruny after receiving indul- 
 gence. The nobles looked on these unknown horsemen, half 
 guessing who they were. The young women, who had heard 
 of their license in Lyubich and of the notorious public sin- 
 ners whom Pan Kmita had brought, looked at them with still 
 greater curiosity. But they rode proudly in imposing mili- 
 tary posture, with velvet coats which they had captured, in 
 panther-skin caps, and on sturdy horses. It was to be seen 
 that they were soldiers by profession, — their gestures fre- 
 quent and haughty, their right hands resting on their hips, 
 their heads erect. They gave the way to no man, advan- 
 cing in a line and shouting from time to time, "Out of the 
 road ! " One or another of the Butryms looked at them 
 with a frown, but yielded ; the party chatted among them- 
 selves about the village. 
 
 " See, gentlemen," said Kokosinski, " what sturdy fellows 
 there are here ; one after another like an aurochs, and eacJ;^ 
 with the look of a wolf." 
 
 " If it were not for their stature and swords, they might 
 be taken for common trash." 
 
 " Just look at those sabres, — regular tearers, as God is 
 dear to me ! " remarked Ranitski. " I would like to make 
 a trial with some of those fellows." Here he began to fence 
 with his hand : " He thus, I thus ! He thus, I thus — and 
 check ! " 
 
 "You can easily have that delight for yourself," said 
 Rekuts. " Not much is needed with them for a quarrel." 
 
 " I would rather engage with those girls over there," said 
 Zend, all at once. 
 
 'it 
 
 ^'' a 
 
S2 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " They are candles, not girls ! " cried Bekuts, with 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 " What do you say, — candles ? Pine-trees ! And each 
 one has a face as if painted with crocus." 
 
 " It is hard to sit on a horse at such a sight." 
 
 Talking in this style, they rode out of the village and 
 moved on again at a trot. After half an hour's ride they 
 came to a public house called Dola, which was half-way 
 between Volmontovichi and Mitruny. The Butryms, men 
 and women, generally stopped there going to and returning 
 from church, in order to rest and warm themselves in frosty 
 weather. So the cavaliers saw before the door a number of 
 sleighs with pearstraw spread in them, and about the same 
 number of saddle-horses. 
 
 " Let us drink some gorailka, for it is cold," said 
 Kokosinski. 
 
 " It would n't hunt," answered the others, in a chorus. 
 
 They dismounted, left their horses at the posts, and 
 entered the drinking-hall, which was enormous and dark. 
 They found there a crowd of people, — nobles sitting on 
 benches or standing in groups before the water-pail, drink- 
 ing warmed beer, and some of them a punch made of mead, 
 butter, vudka, and spice. Those were the Butryms them- 
 selves, stalwart and gloomy ; so sparing of speech that in 
 the room scarcely any conversation was heard. All were 
 dressed in gray overcoats of home-made or coarse cloth 
 from Eossyeni, lined with sheepskin ; they had leather 
 belts, with sabres in black iron scabbards. By reason of 
 that uniformity of dress they had the appearance of sol- 
 diers. But they were old men of sixty or youths under 
 twenty. These had remained at home for the winter 
 threshing ; the others, men in the prime of life, had gone 
 to Rossyeni. 
 
 When they saw the cavaliers of Orsha, they drew back 
 from the water-bucket and began to examine them. Their 
 handsome soldierly appearance pleased that warlike nobil- 
 ity ; after a while, too, some one dropped the word, — 
 
 "Are they from Lyubich ? " 
 
 " Yes, that is Pan Kmita's company ! " 
 
 "Are these they?" 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 Tho cavaliers drank gorailka, but the punch had a stronger 
 odor. Kokosinski caught it first, and ordered some. They 
 sat around a table then ; and wLan the steaming kettle was 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 «8 
 
 brought they began to drink, looking around the room at 
 the men and blinking, for the place was rather dark. The 
 snow had blocked the windows ; and the broad, low opening 
 of the chimney in which the fire was burning was hidden com- 
 pletely by certain figures with their backs to the crowd. 
 
 When the punch had begun to circulate in the veins of 
 the cavaliers, bearing through their bodies an agreeable 
 warmth, their cheerfulness, depressed by the reception at 
 Vodokty, sprang up again ; and all at once Zend fell to 
 cawing like a crow, so perfectly that all faces were turned 
 toward him. 
 
 The cavaliers laughed, and the nobles, enlivened, began 
 to approach, especially the young men, — powerful fellows 
 with broad shoulders and plump cheeks. The figures sitting 
 at the chimney turned their faces to the room, and Eekuts 
 was the first to see that they were women. 
 
 Zend closed his eyes and cawed, cawed. Suddenly he 
 stopped, and in a moment those present heard the cry of a 
 hare choked by a dog ; the hare cried in the last agony, 
 weaker and lower, then screamed in despair, and was silent 
 for the ages ; in place of it was heard the deep bellow of a 
 furious stag as loud as in spring-time. 
 
 The Butryms were astonished. Though Zend had stopped, 
 they expected to hear something again ; but they heard only 
 the piping voice of Rekuts, — 
 
 " Those are titmice sitting near the chimney ! " 
 
 " That is true ! " replied Kokosinski, shading his eyes 
 with his hand. 
 
 " As true as I live ! " added Uhlik, " but it is so dark in 
 the room that I could not see them." 
 
 " I am curious. What are they doing ? " 
 
 " Maybe they have come to dance." 
 
 " But wait ; I will ask," said Kokosinski. And raising 
 his voice, he asked, " My dear women, what are you doing 
 there at the chimney ? " 
 
 " We are warming our feet," answered thin voices. 
 
 Then the cavaliers rose and apjjroached the hearth. 
 There were sitting at it, on a long bench, about ten women, 
 old and young, holding their bare feet on a log lying by the 
 fire. On the other side of the log their shoes wet from the 
 snow were drying. 
 
 " So you are warming your feet ? " asked Kokosinski. 
 
 " Yes, for they are cold." 
 
 " Very pretty feet," piped Rekuts, inclining toward the log. 
 
 " But keep at a distance," said one of the women. 
 
Zi 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 'li 
 
 *' I prefer to come near. I have a sure method, bettef 
 than nre, for cold feet ; which is, — only dance with a will, 
 and tho cold flies away." 
 
 " If to dance, then dance," lb,id Uhlik. " We want neither 
 fiddles nor bass-viols. I will play for you on the flageolet." 
 
 Taking from its leather case which hung near his sabre 
 the ever-present flageolet, he began to play ; and tho cava- 
 liers, pusning forward with dancing movement to the maid- 
 ens, sought to draw tliem from the benches. The maidens 
 appeared to defend themselves, but more with their voices 
 than their hands, for in truth they were not greatly opposed. 
 Maybe the men, too, would have been willing in their turn ; 
 for 'igainst dancing on Sunday after Mass and during the 
 carnival no one would protest greatly. But the reputation 
 of the " company " was already too well known in Volmon- 
 tovichi ; therefore first the gigantic Yuzva Butrym, he who 
 had but one foot, rose from the bench, and approaching 
 Kulvyets-Hippocentan.rus, caught him by the breast, h^ld 
 him, and said wit a sullen voice, — 
 
 " If your grace wants dancing, then dance with me." 
 
 Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus blinked, and began to move his 
 mustaches convulsively. " I prefer a girl," said he ; "I can 
 attend to you afterward." 
 
 Meanwhile Ranitski ran up with face already spotted, 
 for he sniffed a quarrel. " Who are you, road-blocke^- ? " 
 asked he, grasping his sabre. 
 
 Uhlik stopped playing, and Kokosinski shouted, -Hei, 
 comrades ! together, together ! " 
 
 But the Butryms were already behind Yuzva ; sturdy old 
 men and great youths began to assemble, growling like 
 bears. 
 
 " What do you want ? A.re you looking for bruises ? " 
 asked Kokosinski. 
 
 " No talk ! Be off out of here I " said Yuzva, stolidly. 
 
 Then Eanitski, whose interest it was that an hour should 
 not pass without a fight, struck Yuzva with the hiit of his 
 sword in the breast, so that it was heard in the whole ro«^iii, 
 r;nd cried, " Strike ! " 
 
 Rapiers glittered ; the scream of women was heard, the 
 clatter of sabres, uproar and disturbance. Then the gigan- 
 tic Yuzva pushed out of the. crowd, took a roughly hewn 
 bench from beside a table, and raising it as though it were 
 B, light strip of wood, shouted, " Make way ! make way I " 
 
 Dust rose from the floor and hid the combatants ; but in 
 the confusion groans were soon heard. 
 
 was msi 
 
TICS DELUGE. 
 
 55 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 In the evening of that same day Pan Kinita came to 
 Vodokty, at the head of a hundred and some tens of men 
 whom he hacl brought from Upita so as to send them to 
 Kyedani ; for he saw himself that there were no quarters in 
 such a small place for a large number of soldiers, and when 
 the townspeople had been brought to hunger the soldierH 
 would resort to violence, especially soldiers who cjuld be 
 held in discipline only by fear of a leader. A glance at 
 Kmita's volunteers was enough to convince one that it 
 would be difficult to find men of worse character in the 
 whole Commonwealth. Kmita could not have others. 
 After the defeat of the grand hetman, the enemy deluged 
 the whole country. The remnants of the regular troops of 
 the Lithuanian quota Trithdrew for a certain time to Birji 
 and Kyedani, in order to rally there The nobility of Smo- 
 lensk, Vityebsk, Polotsk, Mstislavsk, and Minsk either 
 followed the army or took refuge in the provinces still 
 unoccupied. Men of superior courage among the nobility 
 assembled at Grodno around the imder treasurer, Pan Gos- 
 yevski; for the royal proclamation summoning the general 
 militia appointed that as the place of muster. Unfortu- 
 nately few obeyed the proclamation, and those who followed 
 the voice of duty assembled so negligently that for the time 
 being no one offered real resistance save Kmita, who fought 
 on his own account, animated more by knightly daring than 
 patriotism. It is easy to understand that in the absence of 
 regular troops and nobility he took such men as he could 
 tind, consequently m 'u who were x^ot drawn by duty to the 
 hetmans and who had nothing to lose. Therefore there 
 gathered around him vagrants without a roof and without a 
 home, men of low rank, runaway servants from the army, 
 foresters grown wild, serving-men from towns, or scoundrels 
 pursued by the law. These expected to find protection un- 
 der a flag and win profit from plunder. In the iron hands 
 of Kmita they were turned into daring soldiers, daring even 
 to madness ; and if Kmita had been prudent he might have 
 rendered high service to the Commonwealth. But Kmita 
 was insubordinate himself, his spirit was always seething ; 
 
56 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 1 1 
 
 li 
 
 >. 
 
 
 I 
 
 besides, whence could he take provisions and arms and 
 horses, since being a partisan he did not hold even a com- 
 mission, and could not look for any aid from the treasury 
 of the Commonwealth ? He took therefore with violence, — 
 often from the enemy, often from his own, — could suffer no 
 opposition, and punished severely for the least cause. 
 
 In continual raids, struggles, and attacks he had grown 
 wild, accustomed to bloodshed in such a degree that no com- 
 mon thing could move the heart within him, which however 
 was good by nature. He was in love with people of un- 
 bridled temper who were ready for anything. Soon his 
 name had an ominous sound. Smaller divisions of the en- 
 emy did not dare to leave the towns and the camps in those 
 regions where the terrible partisan was raging. But the 
 *' ^ wnspeople ruined by war feared his men little less than 
 they did the enemy, especially when the eye of Kmita in per- 
 son was not resting on them. When command was taken by 
 his officers, Kokosmski, Uhlik, Kulvyets, Zend, and particu- 
 larly by Ranitski, — the wildest and most cruel of them all, 
 though a man of high lineage, — it might always be asked, 
 Are those defenders or ra"^agers ? Kmita at times punished 
 his own men without mercy when something happened not 
 according to his humor ; but more frequently he took their 
 part, regardless of the rights, tears, and lives of people. 
 His companions with the exception of Rekuts, on whom 
 innocent blood was not weighing, persuaded the young leader 
 to give the reins moie and more to his turbulent nature. 
 Such was Kmita's army. Just then he had taken his rabble 
 from Upita to send it to Kyedani. 
 
 When they stopped in front of the house atVodokty, 
 Panna Aleksandra was frightened as^she saw them through 
 the window, they were so much like robbers. Each one had 
 a different outfit: some were in helmets taken from the 
 enemy ; others in Cossack caps, in hoods and Polish caps ; 
 some in faded overcoats, others in sheep-skin coats ; their 
 arms were guns, spears, bows, battle-axes ; their horses, poor 
 and worn, were covered with trappings, Polish, Russian, or 
 Turkish. 
 
 Olenka was set at rest only when Pan Andrei, gladsome 
 and lively as ever, entered the room and rushed straight to 
 her hands with incredible ouickness. 
 
 And she, though resolved in advance to receive him 
 with dignity and coldness, was still unable to master the 
 joy which his coming had caused her. rjrainine cunning 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 67 
 
 too may have played a certain part, for it was necessary to 
 tell Pan Andrei about turning his comrades out of doors ; 
 therefore the clever girl wished to incline him first to her 
 side. And in addition he greeted her so sincerely, so lov- 
 ingly that the remnant of her offended feeling melted like 
 snow before a blaze. 
 
 " He loves me ! there is no doubt about that," thoiight 
 she. 
 
 And he said : " I so longed for you that I was ready to 
 burn all Upita if I could only fly to you the sooner. May 
 the frost pinch them, the basswood barks ! " 
 
 " I too was uneasy lest it might come tc a battle there. 
 Praise be to God that you have returned ! " 
 
 " And such a battle ! The soldiers had begun to pull 
 around the basswood barks a little — " 
 
 " But you quieted them ? " 
 
 " This* minute I will tell you how it all happened, my 
 jewel ; only let me rest a little, for I am wearied. Ei ! it 
 is warm here. It is delightful in this Vodokty, just as in 
 paradise. A man would be glad to sit here all his life, 
 look in those beautiful eyes, and never go away — But it 
 would do no harm, either, to drink something warm, for 
 there is terrible frost outside." 
 
 "Eight away I will have wine heated, with eggs, and 
 bring it myself." 
 
 " And give my gallows' birds some little keg of gorailka, 
 and give command to let them into the stable, so that they 
 may warm themselves a little even from the breath of the 
 cattle. They have coats lined with wind, and are terribly 
 chilled." 
 
 "I will spare nothing on them, for they are your 
 soldiers." 
 
 While speaking she smiled, so that it grew bright in 
 Kmita's eyes, and she slipped out as quietly as a cat to 
 have everything prepared in the servants' hall. 
 
 Kmita walked up and down in the room, rubbing the top 
 of his head, then twirling his young mustache, thinking 
 how to tell her of what had been done in Upita. 
 
 " The pure truth must be told," muttered he ; " there is 
 no help for it, though the company may laugh because I 
 am here in leading-strings." And again he walked, and 
 again he pushed the foretop on his forehead ; at last he 
 grew impatient that the maiden was so long in returning. 
 
 Meanwhile a boy brought in a light, bowed to the girdle, 
 
mm 
 
 58 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 and went out. Directly after the charming lady of the 
 house entered, bringing with both hands a shining tin tray, 
 and on it a small pot, from which rose the fragrant steam of 
 heated Hungarian, and a goblet of cut glass with the es- 
 cutcheon of the Kmitas. Old Billevich got this goblet in 
 his time from Andrei's father, when at his house as a 
 guest. 
 
 Pan Andrei when he saw the lady sprang toward her. 
 " Hei ! " cried he, " both hands are full, you will not escape 
 me." 
 
 He bent over the tray, and she drew back her head, 
 which was defended only by the steam which rose from the 
 pot. " Traitor ! desist, or I will drop the drink." 
 
 But he feared not the threat ; afterward he cried, " As 
 God is in heaven, from such delight a man might lose 
 his wits ! " 
 
 " Then you lost your wit long ago. Sit down." 
 
 He sat down obediently j she poured the drink into the 
 goblet. ' 
 
 " Tell me how you sentenced the guilty in Upita." 
 
 " In Upita ? Like Solomon ! " 
 
 " Praise to Goc". for that ! It is on my heart that all in 
 this region should esteem you as a steady and just man. 
 How was it then ? " 
 
 Kmita took a good draught of the drink, drew breath, 
 and began, — 
 
 " I must tell from the beginning. It was thus : The 
 townspeople with the mayor spoke of an order for pro- 
 visions from the grand hetman or the under-treasurer. 
 * You gentlemen,' said they to the soldiers, * are volunteers, 
 and you cannot levy contributions. We will give you 
 quarters for nothing, and provisions We will give when it is 
 shown that we shall be paid.' " 
 
 ** Were they right, or were they not ? " 
 
 "They were right according to lawj bm the soldiers had 
 sabres, and in old fashion whoever has a sabre has the best 
 argument. They said then to the basswood barks, ' We will 
 write orders on your skins immediately.' And straightway 
 there rose a tumult. The mayor and the people barricaded 
 themselves in the street, and my men attacked them ; it 
 did not pass without firing. The soldiers, poor fellows, 
 burned a couple of barns to frighten the people, and 
 quieted a few of them also." 
 
 " How did they quiet them ? " 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 "Whose gets a sabre on his skull is as quiet as a 
 coward." 
 
 " As God lives, that is murder ! " 
 
 " That is just why I went there. The soldiers ran to me 
 at once with complaints and outcries against the oppression 
 in which they were living, being persecuted without cause. 
 ' Our stomachs are empty,' said they, * what are we to do ? ' 
 I commanded the mayor to appear. He hesitated long, 
 but at last came with three other men. They began : 
 ^ Even if the soldiers had not orders, why did they beat us, 
 why burn the place ? We should have given them to eat 
 and to drink for a kind word ; but they wanted ham^ mead, 
 dainties, and we are poor people, we have not these things 
 for ourselves. We will seek defence at law, and you will 
 answer before a court for your soldiers.' " 
 
 "God. will blesL you," cried Olenka, " if you have ren- 
 dered justice as was proper." 
 
 " If I have." Here Pan Andrei vriggled like a student 
 who has to confess his fault, and began to collect the fore- 
 lock on his forehead with his hand. " My queen ! " cried he 
 at last, in an imploring voice, " my jewel, be not angry with 
 me ! " 
 
 " What did you do then ? " asked Olenka, uneasily. 
 
 " I commanded to give one hundred blows apiece to the 
 mayor and the councillors," said Kmita, at one breath, 
 
 OlQnka made no answer ; she merely rested her hands on. 
 her knees, dropped her head on her bosom, and sank into 
 silence. 
 
 " Cut off my head ! " critl Kmita, " but do not be angry ! 
 I have not told all yet ! " 
 
 " Is there more ? " groaned the lady. 
 
 " There is, for they sent then to Ponyevyej for aid. One 
 hundred stupid fellows came with officers, Tliese men I 
 frightened away , but the officers — for God's sake be not 
 angry ! — I ordered to be chased and flogged with braided 
 whips, naked over the snow, aci I once did to Pan Tunigrafc 
 in Orsha." 
 
 Panna Billevich raised her head ; her stern eyes were 
 flashing with indignation, and purple came aut on her 
 cheeks. " You have neither shame nor conscience ! " said 
 she. 
 
 Kmita looked at her in astonishment; he was silent for a 
 moment, then asked with changed voice, " Are you speak- 
 ing seriously or pretending ? " 
 

 »»^ 
 
 60 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " I speak seriously ; that deed is becoming a bandit and 
 not a cavalier. I speak seriously, since your reputation is 
 near my heart ; for it is a shame to me that you have barely 
 come here, when all the people look on you as a man of 
 violence and point at you with their fingers." 
 
 " What care I for ine people ? One dog watches ten of 
 their cabins, and then has not much to do." 
 
 " There is no infamy on those modest people, there is no 
 disgrace on the name of one of them. Justice will pursue 
 no man here except you." 
 
 "Oh, lee not your head ache for that. Every man is 
 lord for himself in our Commonwealth, if he has only a 
 sabre in his hand and can gather any kind of party. What 
 can they do to me? Whom fear I here ? " 
 
 " If you fear not man, then know that I fear God's an- 
 ger, and the tears of people; I fear wrongs also. And 
 moreover I am not willing to share disgrace with any one ; 
 though I am a weak woman, still the honor of my name is 
 dearer to me than it is to a certain one who calls himself a 
 cavalier." 
 
 " In God's name, do not threaten me with refusal, for 
 you do not know me yet." 
 
 "I think that my grandfather too did i ot know 
 
 )} 
 
 you 
 
 Kmita's eyes shot sparks ; but the Billevich blood began 
 to play in her. 
 
 "Oh, gesticulate and grit your to<M-i\ '' continued she, 
 boldly ; " but I fear not, though I am aione and you have a 
 whole party of robbers, — my innocence defends me. You 
 think that I know not how you fired at the portraits in 
 Lyubich and dragged in the girls for' debauchery. You do 
 not know me if you suppose that I shall humbly be silent. 
 I want honesty from you, and no will can prevent me from 
 exacting it. Nay, it was the will of my grandfather that I 
 should be the wife of only an honest man." 
 
 Kmita was evidently ashamed of what had happened at 
 Lyubich ; for dropping his head, he asked in a voice now 
 f.almer, " Who told you of this shooting ? " 
 
 " All the nobles in the district speak of it." 
 
 " I will pay those homespuns, the traitors, for their good 
 will," answered Kraita, si llenly. "But that happened in 
 drink, -— in company, -- ior soldiers are not aljle to restrain 
 themselves. At; for the girls I had nothing to do with 
 them." 
 
 In 
 
^\f \r^ 
 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 el 
 
 "I know that those brazen ruffians, those murderers, 
 persuade you to everytliing." 
 
 <' They are not murderers, they are my officers." 
 
 " I commanded those officers of yours to leave my house." 
 
 Olenka looked for an outburst ; but she saw with greatest 
 astonishment that the news of turning his comrades out of 
 the house made no impression on Kmita ; on the contrary, 
 it seemed to improve his humor. 
 
 " You ordered them to go out ? " asked be. 
 
 " I did." 
 
 " And they went ? " 
 
 " They did." 
 
 " As God lives, you have the courage of a cavalier. That 
 pleases me greatly, for it is dangerous to quarrel with such 
 people. More than one man has paid dearly for doing so. 
 But they observe manners before Kmita ! You saw they 
 bore themselves olxnliently as lambs ; you saw that, — but 
 why ? Because they are afraid of me." 
 
 Here Kmita looked boastfully at Olenka, and began to 
 twirl his mustache. This fickleness of humor and inoppor- 
 tune boastfulness enraged her to the last degree ; therefore 
 she said haughtily and with emphasis, " You must choose 
 
 between me and them ; there is no other 
 
 way 
 
 >j 
 
 Kmita seemed not to note the decision with which she 
 spoke, and answered carelessly, almost gayly : " But why 
 choose when I have you and I have them ? You may do 
 what you like in Vodokty ; but if my comrades have com- 
 mitted no wrong, no license here, why should I drive them 
 away ? You do not understand what it is to serve under 
 one flag and carry on war in company. No relationship 
 binds like service in common. Know that they have saved 
 my life a thousand times at least. I must protect them all 
 the more because they are pursued by justice. They are 
 almost all nobles and of good family, except Zend, who is 
 of uncertain origin ; but such a horse-trainer as he there is 
 not in the whole Commonwealth. And if you could hear 
 how he imitates wild beasts and every kind of bird, you 
 would fall in love with him yourself." 
 
 Here Kmita laughed as if no anger, no misunderstanding, 
 had ever found place between them ; and she was ready to 
 wring her hands, seeing how that whirlwind of a nature 
 was slipping jiNvay fi'om her grasp. All that she had said 
 of the opinior.!^ of raen, of the need of sedateness, of dis- 
 grace, slipped alon;; on him like a dart on steel armor. 
 
 ■;!*ii 
 
 i i.- 
 
 W 
 
 •V. 
 
T ' h^ 
 
 62 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 if . 
 
 The unroused conscience of this soldier could give no re- 
 sponse to her indignation at every injustice and every 
 dishonorable deed of license. How was he to be touched, 
 how addressed ? 
 
 " Let the will of God be done," said she at last ; " since 
 you will resign me, then go your way. God will remain 
 with the orphan." 
 
 " I resign you ? " asked Kmita, with supreme astonish- 
 ment. 
 
 " That is it ! — if not in words, then in deeds ; if not you 
 me, then I you. For I will not marry a man weighted by 
 the tears and blood of people, whom men point at with 
 their fingers, whom they call an outlaw, a robber, and 
 whom they consider a traitor." 
 
 " What, traitor ! Do not bring me to madness, lest I do 
 something for which I should be sorry hereafter. May the 
 thunderbolts strikcf me this minute, may the devils flay me, 
 if I am a traitor, — I, who stood by the country when all 
 hands had dropped ! " 
 
 " You stand by the country and act like an enemy, for you 
 trample on it. You are an executioner of the people, re- 
 garding the la\rs neither of God nor man. No ! though my 
 heart should be rent, I will not many you ; being such a 
 man, I will not ! " 
 
 " Do not speak to me of refusal, for I shall grow furious. 
 Save me, ye angels ! If you will not have me in good-will, 
 then I '11 take you -yithout it, though all the rabble from 
 the villages were here, though the Radzivills themselves 
 were here, the very k'.ng himself and all the devils with 
 their horns stood in iiie way, even if ^I had to sell my soul 
 to the Devil ! " 
 
 "Do not summon evil spirits, for they will hear you," 
 cried Ole uka, stretching forth her hands. 
 
 " What do you wi.ih of me ? " 
 
 " Be honest ! " 
 
 Both ceased sp' aki?'^, and silence followed ; only the 
 panting of Pan A.ndrei \/as hoard. The last words of 
 (31enka had penetrated, however, the armor covering his 
 conscience. He felt himself conquered; he knew not 
 what to iniRwer, how to defend himself. Then he began 
 to go 7 ith swift steps through the room. She sat there 
 motionless. Above them hung disagreement, dissension, 
 and regret. They vvere oppressive to each other, and the 
 long silence became every instant more unendurable. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 63 
 
 " Farewell I " said Kmita, suddenly. 
 
 " Go, and may God give you a different inspiration I " 
 answered Olenka. 
 
 " I will go ! Bitter was your drink, bitter your bread. 
 I have been treated here to gall and vinegar." 
 
 " And do you think you have treated me to sweetness ? " 
 answered she, in a voice in which tears were trembling. 
 
 « Be well." 
 
 " Be well." 
 
 Kmita, advancing toward the door, turned sudc^enly, and 
 springing to her, seized both her hands and said, " By the 
 wounds of Christ ! do you wish me to drop from the horse 
 a corpse on the road ? " 
 
 That moment Olenka burst into tears ; he embraced her 
 and held her in his arms, all quivering, repeating through 
 her set teeth, " Whoso believes in God, kill me ! kill, do not 
 spare ! " 
 
 At last he burst out : " Weep not, Olenka ; for God's sake, 
 do not weep ! In what am I guilty before you ? I will do 
 all to please you. I '11 send those men away, I '11 come to 
 terms in Upita, I will live differently, — for I love you. As 
 God lives, my heart will burst ! I will do everything ; only 
 do not cry, and love me still." 
 
 And so he continued to pacify and pet her ; and she, when 
 she had cried to the end, said : " Go now. God will make 
 peace between us. I am not offended, only sore at heart." 
 
 The moon had risen high over the white fiel'\3 when Pan 
 Andrei pushed out on his way to Lyubich, and after him 
 clattered his men, stretching along the broad road like a 
 serpent. They went through Volraontovichi, but by the 
 shortest road, for frost had bound up the swamps, which 
 might therefore be crossed without danger. 
 
 The sergeant Soroka approached Pan Andrei. " Captain," 
 inquired he, " where are we to find lodgings in Lyubich ? " 
 
 " Go away ! " answered Kmita. 
 
 And he rode on ahead, speaking to no man. In his heart 
 rose regret, at moments anger, but above all, vexation at 
 himself. That was the first night in his life in which he 
 made a reckoning with conscience, and that reckoning 
 weighed him down more than the heaviest armor, Behold, 
 he had come into this region with a damaged reputation, 
 and what had he done to repair it ? The first day he had 
 permitted shooting and excess in Lyubich, and thought that 
 he did not belong to it, but he didj then he permitted it 
 
 ^, 
 
 1-1 
 
 r ---t -rf^f^ra 
 
64 
 
 THE DELtlGfi. 
 
 m 
 
 %m 
 
 every day. Further, his soldiers wronged the townspeople, 
 and he increased those wrongs. Worse, he attacked the 
 Ponyevyej garrison, killed men, sent naked officers on the 
 snow. They will bring an action against him ; he will lose 
 it. They will punish him with loss of property, honor, per- 
 haps life. But why can he not, after he has collected an 
 armed party of the rabble, scoff at the law as before ? Be- 
 cause he intends to marry, settle in Vodokty, serve not on 
 his own account, but in the contingent ; there the law will 
 f;nd him and take him. Besides, even though these deeds 
 should pass unpunished, there is something vile in them, 
 something unworthy of a knight. Maybe this violence can 
 be atoned for ; but the memory of it will remain in the hearts 
 of men, in his own conscience, and in the heart of Olenka. 
 
 When he remembered that she had not rejected him yet, 
 that when he was going away he read in her eyes forgive- 
 ness, she seemed to him as kind as the a,ngels of heaven. 
 And behold the desire was seizing him to go, not to-morrow, 
 but straightway, as fast as the horse could spring, fall at her 
 feet, beg forgetfulness, and kiss those sweet eyes which to- 
 day had moistened his face with tears. Then he wished to 
 roar with weeping, and felt that he loved that girl as he had 
 never in his life love'3 imj one. " By the Most Holy Lady ! " 
 thought he, in his soul, " 1 will do what she wishes ; I will 
 provide for my comrades bountifully, and send them to the 
 end of the vorld ; for it is true that they urge me to evil." 
 
 Then it entered his head that on ooming to Lyubich he 
 would find them most surely drunk or with girls ; and such 
 rage seized him that he wanted to slash somebody with a 
 sabre, even those soldiers whom he was leading, and cut 
 thf m up without mercy. 
 
 " I '11 give it to them ! " muttered he, twirling his mus- 
 tache. " They have not yet seen me as they will see me." 
 
 Then from madness he began to prick the horse with his 
 spurs, to pull and drag at the reins till the steed grew wild. 
 Soroka, seeing this, muttered to the soldiers, — 
 
 " The captain is mad. God save us from falling under 
 his hand ! " 
 
 Pan Andrei had become mad in earnest. Round about 
 there was great calm. The moon shone mildly, the heavens 
 were glittering with thousands of stars, not the slightest 
 breeze was moving the limbs on the trees ; but in the heart 
 of the knight a tempest was raging. The road to Lyubich 
 seemed to him longer than ever before. A ceVtahi hitherto 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 ^ 
 
 unknown alarm began to play upon him from the gloom of 
 the forest depths, and from the fields flooded with a green- 
 ish light of the moon. Finally weariness seized Pan Andrei, 
 — for, to tell the truth, the whole night before he had passed 
 in drinking and frolicking in Upita ; but he wished to over- 
 come toil with toil, and rouse himself from unquiet by 
 swift riding ; he turned therefore to the soldiers and com- 
 manded, — 
 
 " Forward ! " 
 
 He shot ahead like an arrow, and after him the whole 
 party. And in those woods and along those empty fields 
 they flew on like that hellish band of knights of the cross 
 of whom people tell in Jmud, — how at times in the middle 
 of bright moonlight nights they appear and rush through 
 the air, announcing war and uncommon calamities. The 
 clatter flew before them and followed behind, from the 
 horses came steam; and only when at the turn of the road 
 the roofs of Lyubich appeared did they slacken their speed. 
 
 The swinging gate stood open. It astonished Kmita that 
 when the yard was crowded with his men and horses no one 
 came out to see or inquire who they were. He expected to 
 find the windows gleaming with lights, to hear the sound of 
 Uhlik's flageolet, oi' fiddles, or the joyful shouts of conversa- 
 tion. At that time in two windows of the dining-hall quiv- 
 ered an uncertain light ; all the rest of the house was dark, 
 quiet, silent. The sergeant Soroka sprang first from his 
 horse to hold the stirrup for the captain. 
 
 ",Go to sleep," said Kmita ; " whoever can find room in 
 the servants' hall, let him sleep there, and others in the 
 stable. Put the horses in the cattle-houses and in the barns, 
 and bring them hay from the shed." 
 
 " I hear," answered the sergeant. 
 
 Kmita came down from the horse. The door of the 
 entrance was wide open, and the entrance cold. 
 
 " Hei ! Is there any one here ? " cried Kmita. 
 
 No one answered. 
 
 " Hei there ! " repeated he, more loudly. 
 
 Silence. 
 
 " They are drunk ! " muttered Pan Andrei. 
 
 And such rage took possession of him that he began to 
 grit his teeth. While riding he was agitated with anger at 
 the thought that he should find drinking and debauchery ; 
 now this silence irritated him still more. 
 
 He entered the dining-hall. On an enormous table was 
 
 VOL. I. ~5 
 
 n 
 
 '.'J f: 
 
 
66 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 burning a tallow lamp-pot with a reddish smoli^ing light. 
 The force of the wind wliich came in from the antechamber 
 deflected the flame so that for a time Pan Andrei could not 
 see anything. Only when the quivering had ceased did he 
 distinguish a row of forms lying just at the wall. 
 
 "Have they made themselves dead drunk or what?" 
 muttered he, unquietly. 
 
 Then he drew near with ibipatience to the side of the 
 first figure. He could not see the face, for it was hidden in 
 the shadow ; but by the white leather belt and the white 
 sheath of the flageolet he recognized Pan Uhlik, and began 
 to shake him unceremoniously with his foot. 
 
 " Get up, such kind of sons ? get up ! " 
 
 But Pan Uhlik lay motionless, with his hands fallen 
 without control at the side of his body, and beyond him 
 were lying others. No one yawned, no one quivered, no one 
 woke, no one muttered. At the same moment Kmita no- 
 ticed that all were lying on their backs in the same position, 
 and a certain fearful presentiment seized him by the heart. 
 Springing to the table, he took with trembling hand the 
 light and thrust it toward the faces of the prostrate men. 
 
 The hair stood on his head, such a dreadful sight met his 
 eyes. Uhlik he was able to recognize only by his white 
 belt, for his face and his head presented one formless, foul, 
 bloody mass, without eyes, without nose or mouth, — only 
 the enormous mustaches were sticking out of the dreadful 
 pool. Kmita pushed the light farther. Next in order 
 lay Zend, with grinning teeth and eyes protruding, in which 
 in glassy fixedness was terror before death. The third in 
 the row, Ranitski, had his eyes closed, and over his whole 
 face were spots, white, bloody, and dark. Kmita took the 
 light farther. Fourth l3,y Kokosinski, — the dearest to 
 Kmita of all his oflicers, being his former near neighbor. He 
 seemed to sleep quietly, but in the side of his neck was to 
 be seen a large wound surely given with a thrust. Fifth in 
 the row lay the gigantic Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus, with the 
 vest torn on his bosom and his face slashed many times. 
 Kmita brought the dght near each face ; and when at last 
 he brought it to the sixth, Rekuts, it seemed that the lids of 
 the unfortunate victim quivered a little from the gleam. 
 
 Kmita put the light on the floor and began to shake the 
 wounded man gently. After the eyelids the face began to 
 move, the eyes and mouth opened and closed in turn. 
 
 " Rekuts, Rekuts, it is I ! " said Kmita. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 67 
 
 The eyes of Rekuts opened for a moment ; he recognized 
 the face of his friend, and groaned in a low voice, " Yen- 
 drus — a priest — " 
 
 " Who killed you ? " cried Kmita, seizing himself by the 
 hair. 
 
 " Bu-try-my — " (The Butryms), answered he, in a voice 
 so low that it was barely audible. Then he stretched him- 
 self, grew stiff, his open eyes became fixed, and he died. 
 
 Kmita went in silence to the table, put the tallow lamp 
 upon it, sat down in an armchair, and began to pass his 
 hands over his face like a man who waking from sleep does 
 not know yet whether he is awake or still sees dream figures 
 before his eyes. Then he looked again on the bodies lying 
 in the darkness. Cold sweat came out on his forehead, the 
 hair rose on his head, and suddenly he shouted so terribly 
 that the panes rattled in the windows, — 
 
 " Come hither, every living man ! come hither ! " 
 
 The soldiers, who had disposed themselves in the ser- 
 vants' hall, heard that cry and fell into the room with a 
 rush. Kmita showed them with his hand the corpses at the 
 wall. 
 
 " Murdered ! murdered ! " repeated he, with hoarse voice. 
 
 They ran to look ; some came with a taper, and held it 
 before the eyes of the dead men. After the first moment 
 of astonishment came noise and confusion. Those hurried 
 in who had found places in the stables and barns. The 
 whole house was bright with light, swarming with men ; 
 and in the midst of all that whirl, shouting, and questioning, 
 the dead lay at the wall unmoved and quiet, indifferent to 
 everyti^ing, and, in contradiction to their own nature, calm. 
 The souls had gone out of them, and their bodies could not 
 be raised by the trum] et to battle, or the sornd of the gob- 
 lets to feasting. 
 
 Meanwhile in the din of the soldiers shouts of threatening 
 and rage rose higher and higher each instant. Kmita, who 
 till that moment had been as it were unconscious, sprang 
 up suddenly and shouted, " To horse ! " 
 
 Everything living moved toward the door. Half an hour 
 had not passed when more than one hundred horsemen were 
 rushing with breakneck speed over the broad snowy road, 
 and at the head of them flew Pan Andrei, as if possessed of 
 a demon, bareheaded and with a naked sabre in his hand. 
 In the still night was heard on every side the wild shouts : 
 "Slay! kill I » 
 
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68 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 i 
 
 (I 
 
 The moon had reached just the highest point on its road 
 through the sky, when suddenly its beams began to be min- 
 gled and mixed, w.jh a rosy light, rising as it were from 
 under the ground ; gradually the heavens grew red and still 
 redder as if from the rising dawn, till at last a bloody glare 
 filled the whole neighborhood. One sea of fire raged over 
 the gigantic village of the Butryms ; and the wild soldiers 
 of Kmita, in the midst of smoke, burning, and sparks burst- 
 ing in columns to the sky, cut down the population, 
 terrified and blinded from fright. 
 
 The inhabitants of the nearer villages sprang from their 
 sleep. The greater and smaller companies of the Smoky 
 Gostsyeviches and Stakyans, Gashtovts and Domashe- 
 viches, collected on the road before their houses, and look- 
 ing in the direction of the fire, gave alarm from mouth to 
 mouth : " It must be that an enemy has broken in and is 
 burning the Butryms, — that is an unusual fire ! " 
 
 The report of i^fiuskets coming at intervals from the 
 distance confirmed this supposition. 
 
 " Let us go to assist them ! " cried the bolder ; " let us 
 not leave our brothers to perish ! " 
 
 And when the older ones spoke thus, the younger, who 
 on account of the winter threshing had not gone to Ross- 
 yeni, mounted their horses. In Krakin and in Upita they 
 had begun to ring the church bells. 
 
 In Vodokty a quiet knocking at the door roused Panna 
 Aleksandra. 
 
 " Olenka, get up ! '' cried Panna Kulvyets. 
 
 " Come in. Aunt, what is the matter ? " 
 
 " They are burnilig Volmontovichi I " 
 
 " In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! " 
 
 " Shots are heard, there is a battle I God have mercy 
 on us ! " 
 
 Olenka screamed terribly; then she sprang out of bed 
 and began to throw on her clothes hurriedly. Her body 
 trembled as in a fever. She aloi^e guessed in a moment what 
 manner of enemy had attacked tiie ill-fated Butryms. 
 
 After a while the awakened women of the whole house 
 rushed into the room with crying and sobbing. Olenka 
 threw herself on her knees before an image ; they followed 
 her example, and all began to repeat aloud the litany for 
 the dying. 
 
 They had scarcely gone through half of it when a violent 
 pounding shook the door of the antechamber. The women 
 
THE UELUGE. 
 
 69 
 
 sprang to their feet ; a cry of alarm was rent from their 
 breasts. 
 
 « Do not o^jen ! do not open ! " 
 
 The pounding was heard with redoubled force ; it seemed 
 that the door would spring from its hinges. That moment 
 the youth Kostek rushed into the midst of the assembled 
 women. 
 
 "Fanna!" cried he, "some man is knocking; shall I 
 open or not ? " 
 
 "Is he alone?" 
 
 "Alone." 
 
 " Go open." 
 
 The youth hurried away. She, taking a light, passed 
 into the dining-room ; after her, Panna Kulvyets and all the 
 spinning-women. 
 
 She had barely put the light on the table when in the 
 antechamber was heard the rattle of iron bolts, the creak of 
 the opening door ; and before the eyes of the women ap- 
 peared Pan Kmita, terrible, black from smoke, bloody, 
 panting, with madness in his eyes. 
 
 "My horse has fallen at the forest," cried he; "they 
 are pursuing me ! " 
 
 Panna Aleksandra fixed her eyes on him : " Did you burn 
 Volmontovichi ? " 
 
 "I— I — " 
 
 He wanted to say something more, when from the side 
 of the road and the woods came the sound of voices 
 and the tramp of horses approaching with uncommon 
 rapidity. 
 
 " The devils are after my soul ; let them have it ! " cried 
 Kmita, as if in a fever. 
 
 Panna Aleksandra that moment turned to the women. 
 " If they ask, say there is no one here ; and now go to the 
 servants' hall and come here at daylight ! " Then to Kmita : 
 " Go in there," said she, pointing to an adjoining room ; and 
 almost by force she pushed him through the open door, 
 which she shut immediately. 
 
 Meanwhile armed men filled the front yard ; and in the 
 twinkle of an eye the Butryms, Gostsyeviches, Domashe- 
 viches, with others, burst into the house. Seeing the lady, 
 they halted in the dining-room ; but she, standing with a 
 light in her hand, stopped with her person the passage to 
 doors beyond. 
 
 " Men, what has happened ? What do you want ? " asked 
 
70 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 she, without blinking an eye before the terrible looks and 
 the ominous gleam of drawn sabres. 
 
 " Kmita has burned Volmontovichi ! " cried the nobles, in 
 a chorus. " He has slaughtered men, women, children, — 
 Kmita did this." 
 
 " We have killed his men,'' said Yuzva Butrym ; " now 
 we are seeking his own head." 
 
 " His head, his blood ! Cut down the murderer ! " 
 
 " Pursue him ! " cried the lady. " Why do you stand 
 here ? Pursue him ! " 
 
 "Is he not hidden here? We found his horse at the 
 woods." 
 
 " He is not here ! The house was closed. Look for him 
 in the stables and barns." 
 
 " He has gone off to the woods ! " cried some noble. 
 "Come, brothers." 
 
 " Be silent ! " roared with powerful voice Yuzva Butrym. 
 " My lady," said he, " do not conceal him ! That is a 
 cursed man ! " ' 
 
 Olenka raised both hands above her head : " I join you 
 in cursing him ! " 
 
 "Amen!" shouted the nobles. "To the buildings, to 
 the woods ! We will find him ! After the murderer ! " 
 
 " Come on ! come on ! " 
 
 The clatter of sabres and tramp of feet was heard again. 
 The nobles hurried out through the porch, and mounted 
 with all speed. A part of them searched still for a time 
 in the stables, the cow-houses, and hay-shed; then their 
 voices began to retreat toward the woods. 
 
 Panna Aleksandya listened till they had ceased alto- 
 gether; then she tapped feverishly at the door of the 
 room in which she had hidden Kmita. " There is no one 
 here now, <jome out." 
 
 Pan Andrei pushed himself forth from the room as if 
 drunk. " Olenka ! " he began. 
 
 She shook her loosened tresses, which then covered her 
 face like a veil. "I wish not to see you or know you. 
 Take a horse and flee hence ! " 
 
 " Olenka I " groaned Kmita, stretching forth his hands. 
 
 " There is blood on your hands, as on Cain's ! " screamed 
 she, springing back as if at the sight of a serpent. " Be 
 gone, for the ages 1 " 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 71 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The day rose gray, and lighted a group of ruins in Vol- 
 montovichi, — the burned remnants of houses, out-build- 
 ings, bodies of people and horses burned or slain with 
 swords. In the ashes amidst dying embers crowds of 
 pale people were seeking for the bodies of the dead or the 
 remains of their property. It was a day of mourning and 
 misfortune for all Lauda. The numerous nobility had ob- 
 tained, it is true, a victory over Kmita's men, but a grievous 
 and bloody one. Besides the Butryms, who had fallen 
 in greater numbers than the others, there was not a village 
 in which widows were not bew^ailing husbands, parents 
 sons, or children their fathers. It was the more difficult 
 for the Lauda people to finish the invaders, since the 
 strongest were not at home ; only old men or youths of 
 early years took part in the battle. But of Kmita's 
 soldiers not one escaped. Some yielded their lives in 
 Volmontovichi, defending themselves with such rage that 
 they fought after they were wounded ; others were caught 
 next day in the woods and killed withou*' mercy. Kmita 
 himself was as if he had dropped into waici. The people 
 were lost in surmising what had become of him. Some 
 insisted that he had reached the wilderness of Zyelonka 
 and gone thence to Kogovsk, where the Domasheviches 
 alone might find him. Many too as&crted that he had 
 gone over to Hovanski and was bringing the enemy ; but 
 these were the fewest, their fears were untimely. 
 
 Meanwhile the surviving Butryms marched to Vodokty, 
 and disposed themselves as in a camp. The house was 
 full of women and children. Those who could not find a 
 place there went to Mitruny, which Panna Aleksandra 
 gave up to those whose homes had been burned. There 
 were, besides, in Vodokty for defence about a hundred armed 
 men in parties which relieved one another regularly, think- 
 ing thai, Kmita did not consider the affair ended, but might 
 any day make an attempt on the lady with armed hand. 
 The most important houses in the neighborhood, such as 
 the Schyllings. the SoUohubs, and others, sent their afctcn- 
 
72 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 f'i ft' 
 
 dant Cossacks and haiduks. Vodokty looked like a place 
 awaiting a siege. And Panna Aleksandra went among 
 the armed men, the nobles, the crowds of women, 
 mournful, pale, suffering, hearing the weeping of people, 
 and the curses- of men against Pan Kmita, — which pierced 
 her heart like swords, for she was the mediate cause 
 of all the misfortune. For her it was that that frenzied 
 man had come to the neighborhood, disturbed the peace, 
 and left the memory of blood behind, trampled on laws, 
 killed people, visited villages with fire and sword like an 
 infidel, till it was a wonder that one man could commit so 
 much evil in such a short time, and he a man neither en- 
 tirely wicked nor entirely corrupt. If there was any one 
 who knew this best, it was Panna Aleksandra, who had 
 become acquainted with him most intimately. There was 
 a precipice between Pan Kmita himself and his deeds. But 
 it was for this reason precisely that so much pain was 
 caused Panna Aleksandra by the thought that that man 
 whom she had loved with the whole first impulse of a young 
 heart might be different, that he possessed qualities to 
 make him the model of a knight, of a cavalier, of a neigh- 
 bor, worthy to receive the admiration and love of men 
 instead of their contempt, and blessings instead of curses. 
 
 At times, therefore, it seemed to the lady that some 
 species of misfortune, some kind of power, great and un- 
 clean, impelled him to all those deeds of violence ; and then 
 a sorrow really measureless possessed her for that unfor- 
 tunate man, and unextinguished love rose anew in her heart, 
 nourished by the fresh remembrance of his knightly form, 
 his words, his imploring, his loving. 
 
 Meanwhile a hundred complaints were entered against 
 him in the town, a hundred actions threatened, and the 
 starosta. Pan Hlebovich, sent men to seize the criminal. 
 The law was bound to condemn him. 
 
 Still, from sentences to their execution the distance was 
 great, for disorder increased every hour in the Common- 
 wealth. A terrible war was hanging over the land, and 
 approaching Jmud with bloody steps. The powerful Rad- 
 zivill of Birji, who was able alone to support the law with 
 arms, was too much occupied with public affairs and still 
 more immersed in great projects touching his own house, 
 which he wished to elevate above all others in the country, 
 even at the cost of the common weal. Other magnates too 
 were thinking more of themselves than of the State, All 
 
THE DELtlGfi. 
 
 73 
 
 the bonds in the strong edifice of the Commonwealth had 
 burst from the time of the Cossack war. 
 
 A country populous, rich, filled with a valiant knight- 
 hood, had become the prey of neighbors ; and straightway 
 arbitrariness and license raised their heads more and more, 
 and insulted the law, so great was the power which they 
 felt behind them. The oppressed could find the best and 
 almost the only defence against the oppressor in their own 
 sabres ; therefore all Lauda, while protesting in the courts 
 against Kmita, did not dismount for a long time, ready to 
 resist force with force. 
 
 But a month passed, and no tidings of Kmita. People 
 began to' breathe with greater freedom. The more power- 
 ful nobility withdrew the armed servants whom they had 
 sent to Vodokty as a guard. The lesser nobles were yearn- 
 ing for their labors and occupations at home, and they too 
 dispersed by degrees. But when wr '••ike excit'^ment calmed 
 down, as time passed, an increased desire cai'" e to that in- 
 digent nobility to overcome the absent man with law and 
 to redress their wrongs before the tribunals. For although 
 decisions could not reach Kmita himself, Lyubich remained 
 a large and handsome estate, a ready reward and a payment 
 for losses endured. Meanwhile Panna Aleksandra restrained 
 with great zeal the desire for lawsuits in the Lauda people. 
 Twice did the elders of Lauda meet at her house foi* coun- 
 sel ; and she not only took part in these deliberations but 
 presided over them, astonishing all with her woman's wit and 
 keen judgment, so that more than one lawyer might envy 
 her. The elders of Lauda wanted to occupy Lyubich with 
 armed hand and give it to the Butryms, but "the lady" 
 advised against this firmly. 
 
 " Do not return violence for violence," said she ; "if you 
 do, your case will be injured. Let all the innocence be on 
 your side. He is a powerful man and has connections, he 
 will find too in the courts adherents, and if you give the 
 least pretext you may suffer new wrongs. Let your case be 
 so clear that any court, even if made up of his brothers, 
 could not decide otherwise than in your favor. Tell the 
 Butryms to take neither tools nor cattle, and to leave Lyu- 
 bich completely in peace. Whatever they need I will give 
 them from Mitruny, where there is more than all the prop- 
 erty that was at any time in Volmontovichi. And if Pan 
 Kmita should appear here again, leave him in peace till 
 there is a decision, let them make no attempt on his per- 
 
 
 ?■<'-« 
 
 ii 
 
74 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 if 
 
 id 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 fit," 
 I 
 
 son. Remember thot only while he is alive have you some 
 one from whom to recover for your wrongs." 
 
 Thus spoke the wise lady with prudent intent, and they 
 applauded her wisdom, not seeing that delay might benefit 
 also Pan Andrei, and especially in this that it secured his 
 life. Perhaps too Olenka wished to guard that unfortunate 
 life against sudden attack. But the nobility obeyed her, 
 for they were accustomed from very remote times to 
 esteeni as gospel every word that came from the mouth of 
 a Billevich. Lyubich remained intact, and had Pan Andrei 
 appeared he might have settled there quietly for a time. 
 He did not appear, but a month aiid a half later a messen- 
 ger came to the lady with a letter. He was some strange 
 man, known to no one. The letter was from Kmita, written 
 in the following words : — 
 
 *' Beloved of my heart, most precious, unrelinquished Olenka! 
 It is natural for all creatures and especially for men, even the 
 lowest, to avenge wtiongs done them, and when a man has suffered 
 evil he will pay it back gladly in kind to the one who inflicted it. 
 If I cut down those insolent nobles, God sees that I did so not 
 thiough cruelty, but because they nmrdered my officeis in defiance 
 of laws human and divine, without regard to their youth and high 
 jirth, with a death so pitiless that the like could not be found 
 among Cossacks or Tartars. I will not deny that wrath more than 
 human possessed me; but who will wonder at wrath which had its 
 origin in the blood of one's friends V The spirits of Kokosinski, 
 F'^nitski, Uhlik, Kekuts, Kuivyets, and Zend, of sacred memory; 
 slain in the flower of their age and repute, slain without reason, 
 put arms in my hands when I was just thinking, — and I call Cod 
 to witness, — just thinkiiig of peace and friendship with the nolles 
 of Lauda, wishing to change my life altogether according to your 
 pleasant counsels. While listening to complaints against me, do 
 not forget my defence, and judge justly* I am sorry now for those 
 people in the village. The innocent may have suffered; but a 
 soldier avenging the blood of his brothers cannot distinguish the 
 innocent from the guilty, and respects no one. God grp.nt that 
 nothing has happened to injure me in your eyes. Atonement for 
 other men's sins and faults and my own just wrath is most bitter 
 to me, for since I have lost you I sleep in despair and I wake in 
 despair, without power to forget either you or my love. Let the 
 tribunals pass ntence on me, unhappy man; let the diets confirm 
 the sentences, let them trumpet me forth to infamy, let the ground 
 open under my feet, I will endure everything, ^uff«r everything, only, 
 for God's sake, cast me not out of your hci rt ! I will do all that 
 they ask, give up Lyubich, give up my propei fcy in Orsha, -- 1 have 
 captured rubles buried in the woods, let them take those, — if you 
 will promise to keep faith with me as your late grandfather com- 
 
THE DELUOfi. 
 
 76 
 
 mands from the other world. You have saved my life, save also 
 my soul; let me repair wrongs, let me change m^ life for the 
 better; for I see that if you will desert me God will desert me, 
 and despair will impel me to still worse deeds." 
 
 How many voices of pity rose in the soul of Olenka in 
 defence of Pan Andrei, who can tell ! Love flies swiftly, 
 like the seed of a tree borne on by the wind ; but when it 
 grows up in the heart like a tree in the ground, you can 
 pluck it out only with the heart. Panua Billevich was of 
 those who love strongly v/ith an honest heart, therefore she 
 covered that letter of Kmita's with tears. But still she 
 could not forget everything, forgive everything after the 
 first word. Kmita's compunction was certainly sincere, 
 but his soul remained wild and his nature untamed ; surely 
 it had not changed so much through those events that the 
 future might be thought of without alarm. Not words, but 
 deeds were needed for the future on the part of Pan Andrei. 
 Finally, how could she say to a man who had made the 
 whole neighborhood bloody, whose name no one on either 
 bank of the Lauda mentioned without curses, " Come ! in 
 return for the corpses, the burning, the blood, and the tears, 
 I will give you my love and my hand " ? Therefore she 
 answered him otherwise : — 
 
 ** Since I have told you that I do not wish to know you or see you, 
 I remain iu that resolve, even though my heart be rent. Wrongs 
 such as you have inflicted ou peop)<) here are not righted either 
 with property or money, for it is impssible to raise the dead. 
 You have not lost property only, but i*eputation. Let these 
 nobles whose houses you have burned and whom you have killed 
 forgive you, then I will iorgive you ; let them receive vou, and I 
 will receive you ; let them rise up for you first, then I will listen to 
 their intercession. But as this can never be, seek happiness else- 
 where ; and seek the forgiveness of God before that of man, for 
 you need it more." 
 
 Panna Aleksandra poured tears on every wor'L of the 
 letter ; then she sealed it with the Billevicli seal and took 
 it herself to the messenger. 
 
 " Whence art thou ? " asked she, measuring with her 
 glance that strange figure, half peasant, half servant. 
 
 " From the woods, my lady." 
 
 " And where is thy master ? " 
 
 " That is liot permitted me to say. But he is far from 
 here; I rode five days, and wore out my horse." 
 
t6 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ill 
 
 " Here is a thaler ! " said Olenka. " And thy master ift 
 well?" 
 
 *' He is as well,, the young hero, as an aurochs." 
 
 " And he is not in hunger or poverty ? " 
 
 " He is a riah lord." 
 
 " Go with God." 
 
 " I bow to my lady's feet." 
 
 " Tell thy master — wait — tell thy master — may God 
 aid him ! " 
 
 The peasant went away ; and again began to pass days, 
 weeks, without tidings of Kmita, but tidings of public af- 
 fairs came worse and worse. The armies of Moscow under 
 Hovanski spread more and more widely over the Com- 
 monwealth. Without counting the lands of the Ukraine, 
 in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania alone, the provinces 
 of Polotsk, Smolensk, Vitebsk, Mstislavsk, Minsk, and 
 Novgorodek were occupied; only a part of Vilna, Brest- 
 Litovsk, Trotsk, a»d the starostaship of Jmud breathed 
 yet with free breast, but even these expected guests from 
 day to day. 
 
 The Commonwealth had descended to the last degree of 
 helplessness, since it was unable to offer resistance to just 
 those forces which hitherto had been despised and which 
 had always been beaten. It is true that those forces were 
 assisteu by the unextinguished and re-arisen rebellion of 
 Hmelnitski, a genuine hundred-headed hydra ; but in spite 
 of the rebellion, in spite of the exhaustion of forces in pre- 
 ceding wars, both statesmen and warriors gave assurance 
 that the Grand Duchy alone might be and was in a condi- 
 tion not only to hurl back attack, but to carry its banners 
 victoriously beyond its own borders.^ Unfortunately inter- 
 nal dissension stood in the way of that strength, paralyzing 
 the efforts even of those citizens who were willing to 
 sacrifice their lives and fortunes. 
 
 Meanwhile thousands of fugitives had taken refuge in the 
 lands still unoccupied, — both nobles and common people. 
 Towns, villages, and hamlets in Jmud were filled with men 
 brought by the misfortunes of war to want and despair. 
 The inhabitants of the towns were unable either to give 
 lodgings to all or to give them sufficient food; therefore 
 people died not infrequently of hunger, — namely, those 
 of low degree. Not seldom they took by force what was 
 refused them ; hence tumults, battles, and robbery became 
 more and more common. 
 
 came, a 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 7T 
 
 The winter was excessive in its severity. At last April 
 came, and deep snow was lying not only in the forests but 
 on the fields. When the supplies of the preceding year 
 were exhausted and there were no new ones yet, Famine, 
 the brother of War, began to rage, and* extended its rule 
 more and more widely. It was not difficult for the way- 
 farer to find corpses of men lying in the field, at the road- 
 side, emaciated, gnawed by wolves, which having multiplied 
 beyond example approached the villages and hamlets in 
 whole packs. Their howling was mingled with the cries 
 of people for charity ; for in the woods, in the fields, and . 
 around the many villages as well, there gleamed in the 
 night-time fires at which needy wretches wainied their 
 chilled limbs; and when any man rode past they rushed 
 after him, begging for a copper coin, for bread, for alms, 
 groaning, cursing, throcitening all at the same time Super- 
 stitious dread seized the minds of men. Many said that 
 those wars so disastrous, and those misfortunes till then 
 unexampled, were coupled with the name of tho king ; 
 they explained readily that the letters " J. C. K." stamped 
 on the coins signified not only " Joannes Casimirus Rex," 
 but also " Initium Calamitatis Kegni " (beginning of calam- 
 ity for the kingdom). And if in the provinces, which were 
 not yet occupied by war, such terror rose with disorder, it 
 is easy to understand what happened in those which were 
 trampled by the fiery foot of war. The whole Common- 
 wealth was distracted, torn by parties, sick and in a fever, 
 like a man before death. New wars were foretold, both 
 foreign and domestic. In fact, motives were not wanting. 
 Various powerful houses in the Commonwealth, seized by 
 the storm of dissension, considered one another as hostile 
 States, and with them entire lands and districts formed 
 hostile camps. Precisely such was the case in Lithuania, 
 where the fierce quarrel between Yanush Radzivill, the 
 grand hetman, and Gosyevski, full hetman, and also under- 
 treasurer of Lithuania, became almost open war. On the 
 side of the under-treasurer stood the powerful Sapyeha, to 
 whom the greatness of the house of Radzivill had long been 
 as salt in the eye. These partisans loaded the grand hetman 
 with heavy reproaches indeed, — that wishing glory for 
 himself alone, he had destroyed the army at Shklov and 
 delivered the country to plunder ; that he desired more than 
 the fortune of the Commonwealth, the right for his house 
 of sitting in the diets of the German Empire ; that he even 
 
78 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 imagined for himself an independent crown, and that he 
 persecuted the Catholics. 
 
 It came more than once to battles between the partisans 
 of both sides, as if without the knowledge of their patrons; 
 and the patrons made complaints against one another in 
 Warsaw. Their quarrels were fought out in the diets ; at 
 home, license was let loose and disobedience established. 
 Such a man as Kniita might be sure of the protection of 
 one of those magnates the moment he stood on his side 
 against his opponent. 
 
 . Meanwhile the enemy were stopped only here and there 
 by a castle ; everywhere else the advance was free and 
 without opposition. Under such circumstances all in the 
 Lauda region had to be on the alert and under arms, espe- 
 cially since there were no hetmans near by, for both het- 
 raans were struggling with the troops of the enemy without 
 being able to effect much, it is true, but at least worrying 
 them with attacks and hindering approach to the provinces 
 still unoccupied. Especially did Pavel Sapyeha show re- 
 sistance and win glory. Yanush Radzivill, a famous war- 
 rior, whose name up to the defeat at Shklov had been a 
 terror to the enemy, gained however a number of important 
 advantages. Gosyevski now fought, now endeavored to re- 
 strain the advance of the enemy by negotiations ; both 
 leaders assembled troops from winter quarters and whence- 
 soever they could, knowing that with spring war would 
 blaze up afresh. But troops were few, and the treasury 
 empty ; the general militia in the provinces already occu- 
 pied could not assemble, for the enemy prevented them. 
 "It was necessary to think of that before the affair at 
 Shklov," said the partisans of 6osy6vski ; ♦* now it is too 
 late." And in truth it was too late. The troops of the 
 kingdom could not give aid, for they were all in the 
 Ukraine . and had grievous work against Hmelnitski, 
 Sheremetyeff, and Buturlin. 
 
 Tidings from the Ukraine of heroic battles, of captured 
 towns, of campaigns without parallel, strengthened failing 
 hearts somewhat, and gave courage for defence. The 
 names of the hetmans of the kingdom thundered with a 
 loud glory, and with them the name of Stefan Oharnetski 
 was heard mo^'e and more frequently in the mouths of men ; 
 but glory could not take the place of troops nor serve as an 
 auxiliary. The hetmans of Lithuania therefore retreated 
 slowly, without ceasing to fight among themselves. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 7» 
 
 At last Radzivill waa in Jmud. With him came momen- 
 tary peace in Lauda. But the Calvinists, emboldened by 
 the vieinity of their chief, raised their heads in the towns, 
 inflicting wrongs and attacking Catholic churches. As an 
 offset, the leaders of various volunteer band? and parties — 
 it is unknown whose — who under the colors of Radzivill, 
 Gosyevski, and Sapyeha had been ruining the country, 
 vanished in the forests, discharged their ruffians, and let 
 people breathe more freely. 
 
 Since it is easy to pass from despair to hope, a better 
 feeling sprang up at once in Lauda. Panna Aleksandra 
 lived quietly in Vodokty. Pan Volodyovski, who dwelt 
 continually in Patsuneli, and just now had begun to return 
 gradually to health, gave out the tidings that the king with 
 newly levied troops would come in the spring, when the 
 war would take another turn. The encouraged nobles be- 
 gan to go out to the fields with their ploughs. The snows 
 too had melted, and on the birch-trees the first buds were 
 opening. Lauda River overflowed widely. A milder sky 
 shone over that region, and a better spirit entered the 
 people. 
 
 Meanwhile an event took place which disturbed anew the 
 quiet of Lauda, tore away hands from the plough, and let 
 not the sabres be stained, with red rust. 
 
80 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Pan Volodyo , ski — a famous and seasoned soldier, 
 though a young man — was living, as we have said, in Patsu- 
 neli with the patriarch of the place, Pakosh Gashtovt^ who 
 had the reputation of being the wealthiest noble among all 
 the small brotherhood of Lauda. In fact, he had dowered 
 richly with good silver his three da\ jhters who had mar- 
 ried Butryms, for he gave to each one a hundred thalers, 
 besides cattle, and an outfit so handsome that not one noble 
 woman or family had a better. The other three daughters 
 were at homo unmarried; and they nursed Volodyovski, 
 whose arm was well at one time and sore at another, when 
 wet weather appedred in the world. All the Lauda people 
 were occupied greatly with that arm, for Lauda men had 
 seei^ it working at Shklov and Sepyel, and in general they 
 were of the opinion that it would be difficult to find a better 
 in all Lithuania. The young colonel, therefore, was sur- 
 rounded with exceeding honor in all the neighborhoods. The 
 Gashtovts, the Domasheviches, the Gostsyeviches, the Sta- 
 kyans, and with them others, sent faithfully to Patsuneli 
 fish, mushrooms, an l game for Volodyovski, and hay for his 
 horses, so that the knight and his servants might want for 
 nothing. Whenever he felt worse they vied with one an- 
 other in going to Ponyevyej for a barber ; Mn a word, all 
 strove to be first in serving him. 
 
 Pan Volodyovski w^s so much aft ease that though he 
 might have had more comforts in Kyedani and a noted 
 physician at his call, still he remained in Patsuneli. Old 
 Gashtovt was glad to be his host, and almost blew away 
 the dust from before him, for it increased his importance 
 extremely in Lauda. that he had a guest so famous that he 
 might have adde 1 to the importance of Radzivill himself. 
 
 After the defeat and expulsion of Kmita, I;he nobility, in 
 love with Volodyovski, searched in their own heads for 
 counsel, and formed the project of marrying him to Panna 
 Aleksandra. " Why seek a husband for her through the 
 world ? " said the old men at a special meeting at which 
 
 ^ A barber in those parts at that time did duty for a surgeon. 
 
 they 
 befoi 
 alive 
 cast 
 the 
 her. 
 thus 
 leade: 
 Wl 
 men 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 81 
 
 they discussed this question. "Since that traitr has so 
 befouled himself with infamous deeds that if he is now- 
 alive he should be delivered to the hangman, the lady must 
 cast him out of her heart, for thus was provision made in 
 the will by a special clause. Let Pan Volodyovski marry 
 her. As guardians we can permit that, and she will 
 , thus find an honorable cavalier, and we a neighbor and 
 leader." 
 
 When this proposition was adopted unanimously, the old 
 men went first to Volodyovski, who, without thinking long, 
 agreed to everything, and then to "the lady," who with 
 still less hesitation opposed it decisively. "My grand- 
 father alone had the right to dispose of Lyubich," said she, 
 " and the property cannot be taken from Pan Kmita until 
 the courts punish him with loss of life; and as to my 
 marrying, do not even mention it. I have too great sorrow 
 on my mind to be able to think of such a thing. I have 
 cast that man out of my heart ; but this one, even though 
 the most worthy, bring not hither, for I will not receive 
 him." 
 
 There was no answer to such a resolute refusal, and the 
 nobles returned home greatly disturbed. Less disturbed 
 was Pan Volodyovski, and least of all the*young daughters 
 of Gashto^t, — Terka, Mary ska, and Zonia. They were well- 
 grown, blooming maidens, wilh hair like flax, eyes like vio- 
 lets, and broad shoulders. In general the Patsuneli girls were 
 famed for beauty ; when they went in a flock to church, 
 they were like flowers of the field. Besides, old Gashtov' 
 spared no expense on the education of his daughters. The 
 organist from Mitruny had taught them reading and church 
 hymns, and the eldest, Terka, to play on the lute. Having 
 kind hearts, they nursed Volodyovski sedulously, each striv- 
 ing to surpass the others in watchfulness and care. People 
 said that Maryska was in love with the young knight ; but 
 the whole truth was not in that talk, for all three of them, 
 not she alone, were desperately in love with Pan Michael. 
 He loved them too beyond measure, especially Maryska and 
 Zonia, for Terka had the habit of complaining too much of 
 the faithlessness of men. 
 
 It happened often in the long winter evenings that old 
 Gashtovt, after drinking his punch, went to bed, and the 
 maidens with Pan Michael sat by the chimney ; the charm- 
 ing Terka spinning flax, mild Maryska amusing herself 
 with picking down„ and Zonia reeling thread from the 
 
 ' TOL. I. — 6 
 
 ■:!1 
 
 fl 
 
82 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I ( 
 
 spindle into skeins. But when Volodyovski began to tell 
 of the wars or of wonders which he had seen in the great 
 houses of magnates, work ceased, the girls gazed at him as 
 at a rainbow, and one would cry out in astonishment, " Oh ! 
 I do not live in the world ! Oh, my dears I " and another 
 would say, " I shall not close an eye the whole night ! " 
 
 Volodyovski, as he returned to health and began at times 
 to use his sword with perfect freedom, was more joyous and 
 told stories more willingly. A certain evening they were 
 sitting as usual, after supper, in front of the chimney, from 
 beneath which the light fell sharply on the entire dark 
 room. They began to chat ; the girls wanted stories, and 
 Volodyovski begged Terka to sing something with the 
 lute. 
 
 " Sing something yourself," answered she, pushing away 
 the instrument which Volodyovski was handing her ; " I 
 have work. Having been in the world, you must have 
 learned many songs.*" 
 
 " True, I have learned some. Let it be so to-day ; I will 
 sing first, and you afterward. Your work will not run away. 
 If a woman had asked, you would not have refused ; you 
 are always opposed to men." 
 
 " For they deserve it." 
 
 " And do you disdain me too ? " 
 
 " Oh, why should I ? But sing something." 
 
 Volodyovski touched the lute ; he assumed a comic air, 
 and began to sing in falsetto, — 
 
 " I have come to such places 
 Where no girl w''l have me ! 
 
 " Oh, that is untrue for you," interrupted Maryska, blush- 
 ing as red as a raspberry. 
 
 " That 's a soldier's song," said Volodyovski, " which we 
 used to sing in winter quarters, wishing some good soul to 
 take pity on us." 
 
 " I would be the first to take pity on you." 
 
 " Thanks to you. If that is true, then I have no reason 
 to sing longer, and I will give the lute into worthier 
 hands." 
 
 Terka did not reject the instrument this time, for she 
 was moved by Volodyovski's song, in which there was 
 more cunning indeed than truth. She struck the strings at 
 once, and with a simpering mien began, — 
 
THE DELUGE. 83 
 
 " For berries of elder go not to the green wood. 
 TroBt not a mad dog, believe not a young man. 
 Each man in his heart bears rank poison ; 
 If he sajs that he loves thee, say No." 
 
 Volodyovski grew so mirthful that he held his sides from 
 laughter, and cried out : " All the men are traitors ? But 
 the military, my benefactress ! " 
 
 Panna Terka opened her mouth wider and sang with re- 
 doubled energy, — 
 
 .*' Far worse than mad dogs are they, far worse, oh, far worse !" 
 
 "Do not mind Terka; she is always that way," said 
 Marysia.* 
 
 " Why not mind," asked Volodyovski, " when she speaks 
 so ill of the whole military order that from shame I know 
 not whither to turn my eyes ? " 
 
 "You want me to sing, and then make sport of me and 
 laugh at me," said Terka, pouting. 
 
 " I do not attack the singing, but the cruel meaning of it 
 for the military," answered the knight. " As to the singing 
 I must confess that in Warsaw I have not heard such re* 
 markable trills. All that would be needed is to dress you 
 in trousers. You might sing at St. Yan's, which is the ca- 
 thedral church, and in which the king and queen have their 
 box." 
 
 "Why dress her in trousers ?" asked Zonia, the young- 
 est, made curious by mention of Warsaw, the king, and the 
 queen. 
 
 " For in Warsaw women do not sing in the choir, but men 
 and young boys, — the men with voices so deep that no 
 aurochs could bellow like them, and the boys with voices so 
 thin that on a violin no _sound could be thinner. I heard 
 them many a time when we came, with our great and la- 
 mented voevoda of Eus, to the election of our present gra- 
 cious lord. It is a real wonder, so that the soul goes out of 
 a man. There is a host of musicians there : Forster, famous 
 for his subtle trills, and Kapula, and Gian Battista, and 
 Elert, a master at the lute, and Marek, and Myelchevski, — 
 beautiful composers. Wlien all these are performing to- 
 
 * Maiysia and Maryska are both diminntives of Marya «= Maria or 
 Mary, and are need without distinction by the author. There are in Polisb 
 eight or ten other rariants of thn same name. 
 
 »l i 
 
 
 ■i 
 

 'H 
 
 ■' 
 
 "W 
 
 ■i i, 
 
 84 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 gether in the church, it is as if you were listening to choirs 
 of seraphim in the flesh." 
 
 " Oh, that is as true as if living ! " said Marysia, placing 
 her hands together. 
 
 " And the king, — have you seen him often ? " asked 
 Zonia. 
 
 " I have spoken with him as with you. After the battle 
 of Berestechko he pressed my head. He is a valiant lord, 
 and so kind that whoso has once seen him must love him." 
 
 " We love him without having een him. Has he the 
 crown always on his head ? " 
 
 " If he were to go around every day in the crown, his 
 head would need to be iron. The crown rests in the church, 
 from which its importance increases ; but his Grace the 
 King wears a black cap studded with diamonds from which 
 light flashes through the whole castle." 
 
 " They say that the castle of the king is even grander 
 than that at Kyedani ? " 
 
 " That at Kyedani ! The Kyedani castle is a mere play- 
 thing in comparison. The king's castle is a tremendous 
 building, all walled in so that you cannot see a stick of 
 wood. Around are two rows of chambers, one more splen- 
 did than the other. In them you can see different wars and 
 victories painted with brushes on the wall, — such as the 
 battles of Sigismund III. and Vladislav ; a man could not 
 satisfy himself with looking at them, for everything is as if 
 living. The wonder is that they do not move, and that those 
 who are fighting do not shout. But not even the best artist 
 can paint men to shout. Some chambers are all gold ; 
 chairs and benches covered with brocade or cloth of gold, 
 tables of marble and alabaster, and the caskets, bottle-cases, 
 clocks showing the hour of day and night, could not be de- 
 scribed on an ox-hide. The king and queen walk through . 
 those chambers and delight themselves in plenty ; in the 
 evening they have a theatre for their still greater amuse- 
 ment — " 
 
 "What is a theatre?" 
 
 " How can I tell you ? It is a place where they play 
 comedies and exhibit Italian dances in a masterly manner. 
 It is a room so large that no church is the equal of it, all 
 with beautiful columns. On one side sit those who wish to 
 see, and on the other the arts are exhibited. Curtains are 
 raised and let down ; some are turned with screws to differ- 
 ent sides. Darkness and clouds are shown at one moment; 
 
l-HE DELUGE. 
 
 85 
 
 at anotliei? pleasant light. Above is the sky with the sun 
 or the stars ; below you may see at times hell dreadful — " 
 
 " Oh, God save us ! " cried the girls. 
 
 " — with devils. Sometimes the boundless sea; on it 
 ships and sirens. Some persons come down from the skies ; 
 others rise out of the earth." 
 
 " But I should not like to see hell," cried Zonia, " and it 
 is a wonder to me that people do not run away from such a 
 terrible sight." 
 
 '^ Not only do they not run away, but they applaud from 
 pleasure," said Volodyovski ; " for it is all pretended, not 
 real, and those who take farewell do not go away. There 
 is no evil spirit in the affair, only the invfintiou of men. 
 Even bishops come with his Grace the King, and vari- 
 ous dignitaries who go with the king afterward "and sit 
 down to a feast before sleeping." 
 
 " And what do they do in the morning and during the 
 day ? " 
 
 " That depends on their wishes. When they rise in the 
 morning they take a bath. There is a room in which there 
 is no floor, only a tin tank shining like silver, and in the 
 tank water." 
 
 " Water, in a room — have you heard ? " 
 
 " It is true ; and it comes and goes as they wish. It can 
 be warm or altogether cold ; for there are pipes with spigots, 
 running here and there. Turn a spigot and the water runs 
 till it is possible to swim in the room as in a lake. No king 
 has such a castle as our gracious lord, that is known, and 
 foreign proverbs tell the same. Also no king reigns over 
 such a worthy people ; for though there are various polite 
 nations on earth, still God in his mercy has adorned ours 
 beyond others." 
 
 " Our king is happy ! " sighed Terka. 
 
 " It is sure that he would be happy were it not for un- 
 fortunate vrars which press down the Commonwealth in 
 return for our discords and sins. All this rests on the 
 shoulders of the king, and besides at the diets they reproach 
 him for our faults. And why is he to blame because peo- 
 ple will not obey him ? Grievous times have come on the 
 country, — such grievous times as have not been hitherto. 
 Our most despicable enemy now despises us, — us who till 
 recently carried on victorious wars against the Emperor of 
 Turkey. This is the way that God punishes pride. Praise 
 be to Him that my arm works well in its joints, — for it is 
 
 i! 
 
 1 
 
 i ■ '■ 
 
 
 
 t| 
 
 ' J 
 
 i 1 
 
 ' ' ^ !i 
 
TH£ DELUOC. 
 
 h 
 
 i 
 
 W n 
 
 II '^ 
 m 
 
 K'lt;- 
 
 high time to remember the country and move to the field. 
 'T is a sin to be idle iu time of such troubles." 
 
 " Do not mention going away." 
 
 "It is difficult to do otherwise. It is pleasant for me here 
 among you ; but the better it is, the worse it is. Let men 
 in the Diet give wise reasons, but a soldier longs for the 
 field. While there- is life there is service. After death 
 God, who looks into the heart, will reward best those who 
 serve not for advancement, but through love of the country ; 
 and indeed the number of such is decreasing continually, 
 and that is why the black hour has come." 
 
 Marysia's eyes began to grow moist; at last they were 
 filled with tears which flowed down her rosy cheeks. " You 
 will go and forget us, and we shall piae away here. Who 
 in this place will defend us from attack ? " 
 
 " I go, but I shall preserve my gratitude. It is rare to 
 find such honest people as in Patsuneli. Are you always 
 afraid of this Kmita ? " 
 
 " Of course. Mothers frighten their children with him as 
 with a werewolf." 
 
 " He will not come back, and even if he should he will 
 not have with him those wild fellows, who, judging from 
 what people say, were worse than he. It is a pity indeed 
 that such a good soldier stained his reputation and lost his 
 property." 
 
 " And the lady." 
 
 " And the lady. They say much good in her favor." 
 
 " Poor thing ! for whole days she just cries and cries." 
 
 '*H'm!" said Volodyovski ; '-'but is she not crying for 
 Kmita?" 
 
 " Who knows ? " replied Marysia. 
 
 " So much the worse for her, for he wiU not come back. 
 The hetman sent home a part of the Lauda men, and those 
 forces are here now. We wanted to cut him down at once 
 without the court. He must know that the Lauda men have 
 returned, and he will not show even his nose." 
 
 " Likely our men must march again," said Terka, " for 
 they received only leave to come home for a short time.*' 
 
 " Eh ! " said Volodyovski, " the hetman let them come, 
 for there is no money in the treasury. It is pure despair ! 
 When people are most needed they have to be sent away. 
 But good-night ! it is time to sleep, and let none of you dream 
 of Pan Kmita with a fiery sword." 
 
 Volodyovski rose from the bench and prepared to leave 
 
THE DELUGB. 
 
 87 
 
 the room, but had barely made a step toward the closet when 
 suddenly there was a noise in the entrance and a [shrill 
 voice began to cry outside the door — 
 
 " Hei there I For God's mercy ! open quickly, quicMy ! " 
 
 The girls were terribly frightened. Volodyovski sprang 
 for hio sabre to the closet, but had not been able to get it 
 when Terka opened the door. An unknown man burst into 
 the roopi and threw himself at the feet of the knight. 
 
 " Kescue, serene Colonel ! — The lady is carried away I " 
 
 "What lady?" 
 
 " In Vodokty." 
 
 " Kmita ! " cried Volodyovski. 
 
 " Kmita ! " screamed the girls. 
 
 " Kmita ! '" repeated the messenger. 
 
 " Who art thou ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 " The manager in Vodokty." 
 
 "We know him," said Terkaj "he brought herbs for 
 you." 
 
 Meanwhile the drowsy old Ga^'htovt came forth from 
 behind the stove, and in the door appeared two attendants 
 of Pan Volodyovski whom the uproar had drawn to the 
 room. 
 
 " Saddle the horses ! " cried Volodyovski. " Let one of 
 you hurry to the Butryms, the other give a horse to me ! " 
 
 " I have been already at the Butryms," said the manager, 
 " for they are nearer to us ; they sent me to your grace." 
 
 " When was the lady carried away ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 "Just now — the servants are fighting yet — I rushed 
 for a horse." 
 
 Old Gashtovt rubbed his eyes. "What's that? The 
 lady carried off?" 
 
 "Yes; Kmita carried her off," answered Volodyovski. 
 " Let us go to the rescue ! " Then he turned to the messen- 
 ger : " Hurry to the Doraasheviches ; let them come with 
 muskets." 
 
 "Now, my kids," cried the old man suddenly to his 
 daughters, "hurry to the village, wake up the nobles, let 
 them take their sabres ! Kmita has carried off the lady — 
 is it possible — God forgive him, the murderer, the rufl&an ! 
 Is it possible ? " 
 
 " Let us go to rouse them," said Volodyovski ; "that will 
 be quicker ! Come ; the horses are ready, I hear them." 
 
 In a moment they mounted, as did also the two attend- 
 ants, Ogarek and Syruts. All pushed on their way between 
 
8d 
 
 Utti DBLtGfl. 
 
 m. 
 
 the cottages of the village, striking the doors and windows, 
 and crying with sky-piercing voices : " To your sabres, to 
 your sabres I The lady of Vodokty is carried away ! Kmita 
 is in the neighborhood ! " 
 
 Hearing these cries, this or that man rushed forth from 
 his cottage, looked to see what was happening, and when he 
 had learned what the matter was, fell to shouting himself, 
 " Kmita is in the neighborhood ; the lady is carried away ! " 
 And shouting in this fashion, he rushed headlong to the 
 out-buildings to saddle his horse, or to his cf ttage to feel in 
 the dark for his sabre or. the wall. Every moment more 
 voices cried, " Kmita is in the neighborhood ! " There was 
 a stir in the village, lights began to shine, the cry of 
 women was heard, the barking of dogs. At last the nobles 
 came out on the road, — some mounted, some on foot. 
 Above the multitude of heads glittered in the night sabres, 
 pikes, darts, and even iron forks. 
 
 Volodyovski surveyed the company, sent some of them 
 immediately in di^erent directions, and moved forward 
 himself with the rest. 
 
 The mounted men rode in front, those on foot followed, 
 and thev marched toward Volmontovichi to join the Bu- 
 tryms. The hour was ten in the evening, and the night 
 clear, though the moon had not risen. Those of the nobles 
 whom the grand hetman had sent recently from the war 
 dropped into ranks at once ; the others, namely the infantry, 
 advanced with less regularity, making a clatter with their 
 weapons, talking and yawning aloud, at times cursing that 
 devil of a Kmita who had robbed them of pleasant rest. In 
 this fashion they reached Volmontovichi, at the edge of 
 which an armed band pushed out to meet them. 
 
 t* Halt ! who goes ? " called voices from that band. 
 
 "TheGashtovts!" 
 
 " We are the Butryms. The Domasheviches have come 
 already." 
 
 " Who is leading you ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 " Yuzva the Footless at the service of the colonel." 
 
 " Have you news ? " 
 
 "He took her to Lyubich. They went through the 
 swamp to avoid Volmontovichi." 
 
 " To Lyubich ? " asked Volodyovski, in wonder. " Can he 
 think of defending himself there ? Lyubich is not a for- 
 tress, is it?" 
 
 "It seems he trusts in his strength. There are two 
 
 hundred 
 from Lyi 
 It must 
 army, f o 
 
 " That 
 escape tfa 
 
 "We, 
 twice as 
 
 "Very 
 defead t 
 como wit 
 
 " Acco] 
 
 There 
 the Foot 
 number 
 nobles m 
 
 "Aret 
 
 "Yes, 
 arrived, 
 through 
 Lyubich ' 
 
 "Ikno 
 
 There ' 
 which Ki 
 erable for 
 that the -v 
 in Lyubi 
 Gostsyev 
 in season 
 three hui 
 trained. 
 
 In fact 
 advanced 
 expected 
 sion, and 
 with whii 
 was cleai 
 nobles, 
 thought ' 
 distant p 
 
 They i 
 the pine- 
 before, 
 at last ii 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 89 
 
 hundred with him. No doubt he wants to take the property 
 from Lyubich ; they have wagoua and a band of led horses. 
 It must be that he did not know of our return from the 
 army, for he acts very boldly." 
 
 " That is good for us ! " said Volodyovski. " He will not 
 escape this time. How many guns have you ? " 
 
 " We, the Butryms, have thirty ; the Doroasheviches 
 twice as many." 
 
 " Very good. Let fifty men with muskets go with you to 
 defend the passage in the s.wamps, quickly , the rest will 
 come with me. Remember the axes." 
 
 " According to command." 
 
 There was a movement ; the little division under Yuzva 
 the Footless went forward at a trot to the swamp. A 
 number of tens of Butryms who had been sent for other 
 nobles now came up. 
 
 " Are the Gostsyeviches to be seen ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 **Yes, Colonel. Praise bo to God!" cried the newly 
 arrived. " The Gostsyeviches are coming ; they can be heard 
 through the woods. You know that they carried her to 
 Lyubich?" 
 
 " I know. He will not go far with her." 
 
 There was indeed one danger to his insolent venture on 
 which Kmita had not reckoned ; he knew r -^ j that a consid- 
 erable force of the nobles had just returned home. He judged 
 that the villages were an empty as at the time of his first stay 
 in Lyubich ; while on the present occasion counting the 
 Gostsyeviches, without the Stakyans, who could not come up 
 in season, Volodyovski was able to lead against him about 
 three hundred sabres held by men accustomed to battle and 
 trained. . 
 
 In fact, more and more nobles joined Volodyovski a» he 
 advanced. At last came the Gostsyeviches, who had been 
 expected till that moment. Volodyovski drew up the divi- 
 sion, and his heart expanded at sight of the order and ease 
 with which the men stood in ranks. At the first glance it 
 was clear that they were soldiers, not ordinary untrained 
 nobles. Volodyovski rejoiced for another reason ; he 
 thought to himself that soon he would lead them to more 
 distant places. 
 
 They moved then on a swift march toward Lyubich by 
 the pine-woods through which Kmita had rushed the winter 
 before. It was well after midnight. The moon sailed out 
 at last in the sky, and lighting the woods, the road, and 
 
 p; 
 
 
 li 
 
90 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 m 
 
 the marching warriors, broke its pale rays c, ' e points of 
 the pikes, and was reHected on the gleaming res. The 
 nobles talked in a low voice of the unusual evf^nt which had 
 dragged them from their beds. 
 
 " Various people have been going around here," said one 
 of the Domasheviches ; " we thought they were deserters, 
 but they were surely his spies." 
 
 ' Of course. Every day strange minstrels used to visit 
 Vodokty as if for alms," said others. 
 
 " And what kind of soldiers has Kmita ? " 
 
 " The servants in Vodokty say they are Cossacks. It is 
 certain that Kmita has mjule friends with Hovanski or 
 Zolotarenko. Hitherto he "was a murderer, now he is an 
 evident traitor." 
 
 " How could he bring Cossacks thus far ? " 
 
 " With such a great band it is not easy to pass. Our first 
 good company would have stopped him on the road." 
 
 "Well, they might go through the forests. Besides, arc 
 there few lords travelling with domestic Cossacks ? Who 
 can tell them from the enemy ? If these men are asked 
 they will say that they are domestic Cossacks." 
 
 " He will defend himself," said one of the Gostsyeviches, 
 " for he is a brave and resolute man ; but our colonel will 
 be a match for him." 
 
 " The Butryms too have vowed that even if they have to 
 fall one on the other, he will not leave there alive. They 
 are the most bitter against him." 
 
 " But if we kill him, from whom will they recover their 
 losses ? Better take him alive and give him to justice." 
 
 "What is the use in thinking of courts now when all 
 have lost their heads ? Do you know that people say war 
 may come from the Swedes ? " 
 
 " May God preserve us from that ! The Moscow power 
 and Hmelnitski at present ; only the Swedes are wanting, 
 and then the last day of the Commonwealth." 
 
 At this moment Volodyovski riding in advance turned 
 and said, " Quiet there, gentlemen ! " 
 
 The nobles grew silent, for Lyubich was in sight. In a 
 quarter of an hour they had come within less than forty 
 rods of the building. All the windows were illuminated ; 
 the light shone into the yard, which was full of armed men 
 a^^d horses. Nowhere sentries, no precautions, — it was 
 evident that Kmita trusted too much in his strength. 
 When he had drawn still nearer, Pan Volodyovski with 
 
THE DELUOB. 
 
 91 
 
 one glance recognized the CoRsacks against whom he had 
 warred so much during the life oi the great Yeremi, and 
 later under Radzivill. 
 
 "If those are strange Cossacks, then that ruffian has 
 passed the limit." 
 
 He looked farther; brought his whole party to a halt. 
 There was a terrible bustle in the court. Some Cossacks 
 were giving light with torches; others were running in 
 every direction, coming out of the house and going in 
 again, bringing out things, packing bags into the wagons; 
 others were leading horses from the stable, driving cattle 
 from the stalls. Cries, shouts, commands, crossed one 
 another in every direction. The gleam of torches lighted 
 as it were the moving of a tenant to a new estate on 
 St. John's Eve. 
 
 Kryshtof, the oldest among the Domashoviches, pushed 
 up to Volodyovski and said, "They want to pack all 
 Lyubich into wagons." 
 
 " They will take away," answered Volodyovski, " neither 
 Lyubich n^r their own skins. I do not recognize Kmita, 
 who is an experienced soldier. There is not a single sentry." 
 
 " Because he has great force, — it seems to me more than 
 three hundred strong. If we had not returned he might 
 have passed with the wagons through all the villages." 
 
 " Is this the only road to the house ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 " The only one, for in the rear are ponds and swamps." 
 
 « That is well. Dismount ! " 
 
 Obedient to this command, the nobles sprang from their 
 saddles. The rear ranks of infantry deployed in a long 
 line, and began to surround the house and the buildings. 
 Volodyovski with the main division advanced directly on 
 the gate. 
 
 "Wait the command!" said he, in alow voice. "Fire 
 not before the order." 
 
 A few tens of steps only separated the nobles from the 
 gate when they were seen at last from the yard. Men 
 sprang at once to the fence, bent forward, and peering care- 
 fully into the darkness, called threateningly, " Hei I Who 
 are there ? " 
 
 " Halt ! " cried Volodyovski ; " fire ! " 
 
 Shots from all the guns which the nobles carried thun- 
 dered together ; but the echo had not come back from the 
 building when the voice of Volodyovski was heard again : 
 "On the run I" 
 
99 
 
 THE DELUGE 
 
 "Kill! slay!" cried t!ie Lauda men, rushing forward 
 like a torrent. 
 
 The Cossacks i\nswercd with shots, but they had not time 
 to reload. The tliroiig of nobles rushed against the gate, 
 which soon fell before the pressure of armed men. A 
 struggle began to rage in the yard, among the wagons, 
 horses, and bags. The powerful Butryms, the fiercest in 
 haud-to-hand conflict and the most envenomed against 
 Kmita, advanced in line. They went like a herd of stags 
 bursting through a growth of young trees, breaking, tramp- 
 ling, destroying, and cutting wildly. After them rolled 
 the Domasheviches and the Gostsyeviches. 
 
 Kmita's Cossacks defended themselves manfully from 
 behind the wagons and packs ; they began to fire too from all 
 the windows of the house and from the roof, — but rarely, 
 for the trampled torches were quenched, and it was difllcult 
 to distinguish their own from the enemy. After a while 
 the Cossacks were jjushed from the yard and the house to 
 the stables ; cries for quarter were heard. The nobles had 
 triumphed. 
 
 But when they were alon*? in the yard, fire from the house 
 increased at once. All the windows were bristling with 
 muskets, and a storm of bullets began to fall on the yard. 
 The greater part of the Cossacks had taken refuge in the 
 house. 
 
 " To the doors ! " cried Volodyovski. 
 
 In fact, the discharges from the windows and from the 
 roof could not injure those at the very walls. The posi- 
 tion, however, of the besiegers was difficult. They could 
 not think of storming the windows, for fire would greet 
 them straight in the face. Volodyovski therefore com- 
 manded to hew down the doors. But that was not easy, 
 for they were bolts rather than doors, made of oak pieces 
 fixed crosswise and fastened with many gigantic nails, on 
 the strong heads of which axes were dented without break- 
 ing the doors. The most powerful men pushed then from 
 time to time with their shoulders, but in vain. Behind the 
 doors were iron bars, and besides they were supported in- 
 side by props. But the Butryms hewed with rage. At the 
 doors of the kitchen leading also to the storehouse the 
 Domasheviches and Gashtovts were storming. 
 
 After vain efforts of an hour the men at the axes were 
 relieved. Some cross-pieces had fallen, but in place of them 
 appeared gun-barrels. Shots sounded again. Two Butryms 
 
 fell to the 
 of being i 
 
 By com 
 with bun( 
 new shout 
 the aid oi 
 ))easants f 
 
 The an 
 turbed the 
 called lou 
 hundred d 
 
 Volodyc 
 " Who is I 
 
 "The b 
 speaking ? 
 
 « Col. M 
 
 "With 
 the door. 
 
 " There 
 
 " It wou 
 You do no 
 
 "Traito] 
 of Lauda i 
 accounts w 
 and for th< 
 know wha 
 life." 
 
 A mome 
 
 "You Ti 
 Kmita, "v 
 
 " Open i 
 
 " More \ 
 his legs be 
 
 " Then ^ 
 to us ! " 
 
 " Listen 
 let us go, ' 
 burning al 
 in it with 
 me!" 
 
 This til 
 sought an 
 another ir 
 words of 
 
THK DELUGE. 
 
 fell to the ground with pierced hreasts. The others, instead 
 of being put to disorder, hewed still more savagely. 
 
 By command of Volodyovski the openings were stopped 
 with bundles of coats. !now in the direction of the road 
 new shouts were heard from the Stakyans, who had come to 
 the aid of their brethren ; and following them were armed 
 ])easants from Vodokty. 
 
 The arrival of these reinforcements had evidently dis- 
 turbed the besieged, for straightway a voice behind the door 
 called loudly : " Stop there ! do not hew 1 listen ! Stop, a 
 hundred devils take you ! let us talk." 
 
 Volodyovski gave orders to stop the work and asked, 
 *' Who is speaking ? " 
 
 *' The banneret of Orsha, Kmita j and with whom am I 
 speaking ? " 
 
 "Col. Michael Volodyovski" 
 
 " With the forehead ! " answered the voice from behind 
 the door. 
 
 " There is no time for greetings. What is your wish ? " 
 
 " It would be more proper for me to ask what you want. 
 You do not know me, nor I you ; why attack me ? " 
 
 " Traitor 1 " cried Volodyovski. " With me are the men 
 of Lauda who have returned from the war, and they have 
 accounts with you for robbery, for blood shed without cause 
 and for the lady whom you have carried away. But do you 
 know what raptus puellae means ? You must yield your 
 
 A moment of silence followed. 
 
 "You would not call me traitor a second time," said 
 Kmita, " were it not for the door between us." 
 
 " Open it, then ! I do not hinder." 
 
 " More than one dog from Lauda will cover himself with 
 his legs before it is open. You will not take me alive." 
 
 " Then we will drag you out dead, by the hair. All one 
 to us ! " 
 
 " Listen with care, note what I tell you ! If you do not 
 let us go, I have a barrel of powder here, and the match is 
 burning already. I '11 blow up the house and all who are 
 in it with myself, so help me God I Come now and take 
 me!" 
 
 This time a still longer silence followed. Volodyovski 
 sought an answer in vain. The nobles began to look at one 
 another in fear. There was so much wild energy in the 
 words of Kmita that all believed his threat. The whole 
 
 " "■ ':! 
 
94 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 victory might be turned into dust by one spark, and Panna 
 Billevich lost forever. 
 
 " For God's sake ! " muttered one of the Butryms, " he is 
 a madman. He is ready to do what he says." 
 
 Suddenly a happy thought came to Volodyovski, as it 
 seemed to him. "There s another way!" cried he. 
 " Meet me, traitor, with a sabre. If you put me down, you 
 will go away in freedom." 
 
 For a time there was no answer. The hearts of the 
 Lauda men beat unquietly. 
 
 " With a sabre ? " asked Kmita, at length. " Can that 
 be?" 
 
 " If you are not afraid, it will b«^ " 
 
 " The word of a cavalier that I shall go away in freedom ? " 
 
 "The word — " 
 
 "Impossible!" cried a number of voices among the 
 Butryms. 
 
 " Quiet, a hundred devils ! " roared Volodyovski ; " if not, 
 then let him blow you up with himself." 
 
 The Butryms were silent ; after a while one of them said, 
 " Let it be as you wish." 
 
 " Well, what is the matter there ? " asked Kmita, deri- 
 sively. " Do the gi-ay coats agree ? " 
 
 "Yes, and they will take oath on their swords, if you 
 wish." 
 
 " Let them take oath." 
 
 " Come together, gentlemen, come together ! " cried Volo- 
 dyovski to the nobles who were standing under the walls 
 and surroundiiig the whole house. 
 
 After a while all collected at the main door, and soon the 
 news that Kmita wanted to blow himself up with powder 
 spread on every side. They were as if petrified with terror. 
 Meanwhile Volodyovski raised his voice and said amid si- 
 lence like that of the grave, — 
 
 " I take you all present here to witness that I have chal- 
 lenged Pan Kmita, the banneret of Orsha, to a duel, and I 
 have promised that if he puts me dov.'n he shall go hence 
 in freedom, without obstacle from you ; to this you must 
 swear on your sword-hilts, in the name of God and tne holy 
 cross — " 
 
 " But wait ! " cried Kmita, — " in freedom with all my 
 men; and I take the lady with me." 
 
 "The lady will remain here," answered Volodyovski, 
 " and the men will go as prisoners to the nobles." 
 
 a 
 
 "That 
 "Then 
 mourned 
 Silenc 
 « Let : 
 take her 
 under thi 
 " Take 
 "We 
 Amen ! 
 "Well 
 "You 
 "Nora 
 The ir 
 groan. 
 
 Volody 
 
 make roo 
 
 Andrei, t 
 
 coming, 
 
 knightly, 
 
 looked bo 
 
 " I hav 
 
 well, but 
 
 The lit 
 
 he. 
 
 "Oh! ^ 
 
 • 
 
 tic referei 
 more con 
 evidently 
 " I can- 
 sentries. 
 I shall nc 
 " Whci 
 " Here, 
 " Agree 
 "Aijy 
 "Itis< 
 doubt. 1 
 heard of ' 
 last time 
 should w< 
 tack me ? 
 property : 
 true that 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 95 
 
 "That cannot be." 
 
 " Then blow yourself up with powder ! We ha-^e already 
 mourned for her ; as to the men, ask them what they prefer." 
 
 Silence followed. 
 
 " Let it be so," said Kmita, after a time. " If I do not 
 take her to-day, I will in a month. You will not hide her 
 under the ground ! Take the oath ! " 
 
 " Take the oath ! " repeated Volodyovski. 
 
 " We swear by the Most High God and the Hr>ly Cross. 
 Amen ! " 
 
 " Well, come out, come out ! " cried Volodyovski. 
 
 " You are in a hurry to the other world ? " 
 
 " No matter, no matter, only come out quickly." 
 
 The iron bars holding the .door on the inside began to 
 groan. 
 
 Volodyovski pushed back, and with him the nobles, to 
 make room. Soon the door opened, and in it appeared Pan 
 Andrei, tall, straight as p. poplar. The dawn was already 
 coming, and the first pale light of day fell on his daring, 
 knightly, and youthful face. He stopped in the door, 
 looked boldly on the crowd of nobles, and said, — 
 
 " I have trusted in you. God knows whether I have done 
 well, but let that go. Who here is Pan Volodyovski ? " 
 
 The little colonel stepped forward. " I am ! " answered 
 he. 
 
 " Oh ! you are not like a giant," said Kmita, with sarcas- 
 tic reference to Volodyovski's stature, " I expected to find a 
 more considerable figure, though I must confess you are 
 evidently a soldier of experience." 
 
 " I cannot say the same of you, for you have neglected 
 sentries. If you are the same at the sabre as at command, 
 I shall not have work." 
 
 " Where shall we fight ? " asked Kmita, quickly. 
 
 " Here, — the yard is as level as a table." 
 
 " Agreed ! Prepare for death." 
 
 " Ai 3 you so sure ? " - 
 
 " It is clear that you have never been in Orsha, since you 
 doubt. Not only am I sure, bat I am sorry, for I have 
 heard of you as a splendid soldier. Therefore I say for the 
 last time, let me go ! We do not know each other ; why 
 should we stand the one in the way of the other ? Why at- 
 tack me ? The maidbP is mine by the will, as well as this 
 property ; and God knows I am only seeking my own. It is 
 true that I cut down the nobles in Volmontovichi, but let 
 
 11 
 
 mM 
 
TriE DELtOS. 
 
 God decide who oommitted the first wrong. Whether my 
 officers were men of violence or not, we need not discuss ; it 
 is enough that they did no harm to any one here, and they 
 were slaughtered . to the last man because they wanted to 
 dance with girls in a public house. Well, let blood answer 
 blood ! After that my soldiers were cut to pieces. I swear 
 by the wounds of God that I came to these parts without 
 evil intent, and how was I received? But let wrong 
 balance wrong, I will still add from my own and make 
 losses good in neighbor fashion. I prefer that to another 
 way." 
 
 " And what kind of people have you here ? Where did 
 you get these assistants ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 " Where I got them I got them. I did not bring them 
 against the country, but to obtain my own rights." 
 
 " Is that the kind of man you are ? So for private af- 
 fairs you have joined the enemy. And with what have you 
 paid him for this service, if not with treason ? No, brother, 
 I should not hinder you from coming to terms with the 
 nobles, but to call in the enemy is another thing. You will 
 not creep out. Stand up now, stand up, or I shall say that 
 you are a coward, though you give yourself out as a master 
 from Orsha." 
 
 "You would have it," said Kmita, taking position. 
 
 But Volodyovski did not hurry, and not taking his sabre 
 out yet, he looked around on the sky. Day was already- 
 coming in the east. The first golden and azure stripes were 
 extended in a belt of light, but in the yard it was still 
 gloomy enough, and just in front of the house complete dark- 
 ness reigned. 
 
 " The day begins well," said Volodyovski, " but the sun 
 will not rise soon. Perhaps you woul4 wish to have light ? " 
 
 " It is all one to me." 
 
 " Gentlemen ! " cried Volodyovski, turning to the nobles, 
 " go for some straw and for torches ;. it will be clearer for us 
 in this Orsha dance." , 
 
 The nobles, to whom this humorous tone of the young 
 colonel gave wonderful consolation, rushed quickly to the 
 kitchen. Some of them fell to collecting the torches tram- 
 pled at the time of the battle, and in a little while nearly 
 fifty red flames were gleaming in the semi-darkness of the 
 earl}'^ morning. 
 
 Volodyovski showed them with his sabre to Kmita. 
 " Look, a regular funeral procession 1 " 
 
THE DfiLIlGE. 
 
 97 
 
 did 
 
 And Kmita answered at once: "They are burying a 
 colonel, so there must be parade." 
 
 " You are a dragon ! " 
 
 Meanwhile • the nobles formed in silence a circle around 
 the knights, and raised the burning torches aloft; behind 
 them others took their places, curious and disquieted ; in 
 the (sentre the opponents measured each other with their 
 eyes. A grim silence began ; only burned coals fell with a 
 crackle to the ground. Volodyovski was as lively as a gold- 
 finch on a bright morning. 
 
 " Begin ! " said Kmita. 
 
 The first clash raised an echo in the heart of every on- 
 looker. Volodyovski struck as if unwillingly ; Kmita 
 warded and struck in his turn ; Volodyovski warded. The 
 dry clash grew more rapid. All held breath. Kmita at- 
 tacked with fury. Volodyovski put his left hand behind 
 his back and stood quietly, making very careless, slight, 
 almost imperceptible movements ; it seemed that he wished 
 merely to defend himself, and at the same time spare his 
 opponent. Sometimes he pushed a short step backward, 
 again he advanced ; apparently he was studying the skill of 
 Kmita. Kmita was growing heated ; Volodyovski was cool 
 as a master testing his pupil, and all the time calmer and 
 calmer. ' At last, to the great surprise of the nobles, he 
 said, — 
 
 " Now let us talk ; it will not last long. Ah, ha ! is that 
 the Orsha method ? 'T is clear that you must have threshed 
 peas there, for you strike like a man with a flail. Terrible 
 blows ! Are they really the best in Orsha ? That thrust is 
 in fashion only among tribunal police. This is from Cour- 
 land, good to chase dogs with. Look to the end of your 
 sabre! Don't bend your hand so, for see what will hap- 
 pen ! Raise your sabre ! " 
 
 Volodyovski pronounced the last words with emphasis ; 
 at the same time he described a half-circle, drew the hand 
 and sabre toward him, and before the spectators understood 
 what " raise " meant, Kmita's sabre, like a needle pulled 
 from a thread, flew above Volodyovski's head and fell be- 
 hind his shoulders ; then he said, — 
 
 " That is called shelling a sabre." 
 
 Kmita stood pale, wild-eyed, staggering, astonished no 
 less than the nobles of Lauda ; the little colonel pushed to 
 one side, and repeated again, 
 
 " Take your sabre 
 voi- I. — 7 
 
 •f ,, 
 
 » 
 
 Ki'* 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 For a time it seemed as if Kmita would rush at him with 
 naked hands. He was just ready for the spring, when 
 Volodyovski put his hilt to his own breast, presenting the 
 point. Kmita rushed to take his own sabre,, and fell with 
 't aerain on his terrible opponent. 
 
 A loud murmur rose from the circle of spectators, and 
 the ring grew closer and closer. Kmita's Cossacks thrust 
 their heads between the shoulders of the nobles, as if they 
 had lived all their lives in the best understanding with 
 them. Involuntarily shouts were wrested from the mouths 
 of the onlookers ; at times an outburst of unrestrained, 
 nervous laughter was heard ; all acknowledged a master of 
 masters. 
 
 Volodyovski amused himself cruelly like a cat with 
 a mouse, and seemed to work more and more carelessly 
 with the sabre. He took his left hand from behind his 
 back and thrust it into his trousers' pocket. Kmita was 
 foaming at the mouth, panting heavily ; at last hoarse 
 words came from his throat through his set lips, — 
 
 " Finish — spare the shame ! " 
 
 " Very well ! " replied Volodyovski. 
 
 A short terrible whistle was heard, then a smothered cry. 
 At the same moment Kmita threw open his arms, his sabre 
 dropped to the ground, and he fell on his face at the feet of 
 the colonel. 
 
 "He lives!" said Volodyovski; "he has not fallen on 
 his back ! " And doubling the skirt of Kmita's coat, lie 
 began to wipe his sabre. 
 
 The nobles shouted with one voice, and in those sliouts 
 thundered with increasing clearness : " Finish the traitor ! 
 finish him ! cut him to pieces ! " 
 
 A number of Butryms ran up with drawn sabres. Sud- 
 denly something wonderful happened, — and one would 
 have ,:aid that little Volodyovski had grown tall before 
 their eyes : the sabre of the nearest Butrym flew out of his 
 hand after Kmita's, as if a whirlwind had caught it, and 
 Volodyovski shouted with flashing eyes, — 
 
 " Stand back, stand back ! He is mine now, not yours ! 
 Be off!" 
 
 All were silent, fearing the anger of that man ; and he 
 said : " I want no shambles here ! As nobles you should 
 understand knightly customs, and not slaughter the 
 wounded. Enemies do not do that, and how could a man 
 in a duel kill his prostrate opponent?" 
 
 "He is 
 is right t( 
 
 « If he 
 to suffer 
 But as I 
 covers yc 
 and it w 
 ing than 
 wounds ? 
 
 " Krysl 
 for years. 
 
 "Let h 
 and I will 
 
 So sayi 
 The nobl( 
 hencefortl 
 rendered ^ 
 through t 
 ponds, bu 
 were stati 
 plunderinj 
 ful booty 
 but they f 
 of Panna ] 
 killed, ami 
 viches, th 
 according 
 dig a ditcl 
 
 Volodyo 
 house, anc 
 ated in a ( 
 the sleepii 
 strongly b 
 mighty w; 
 KmiLa ha< 
 would ha\ 
 better opii 
 not far fro 
 almost hie 
 heard the ] 
 was Kmitj 
 ovski stoo 
 seeing no 
 
 " My la( 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 99 
 
 "It 
 
 " He is a traitor ! " muttered one of the Butryms. 
 is right to kill such a man." 
 
 "If he is a traitor he should be given to the hetman 
 to suffer punishment and serve as an example to others. 
 But as I have said, he is mine now, not yours. If he re- 
 covers you will be free to get your rights before a court, 
 and it will be easier to obtaiu satisfaction from a liv- 
 ing than a dead man. Who here knows how to dress 
 wounds ? " * 
 
 " Krysh Domashevich. He has attended to all in Lauda 
 for years." 
 
 " Let him dress the man at once, then take him to bed, 
 and I will go to console that ill-fated lady." 
 
 So saying, Volodyovski put his sabre into the scabbard. 
 The nobles began to seize and bind Kmitg-'s men, who 
 henceforth were to plough land in the villages. They sur- 
 rendered without resistance ; only a few who had escaped 
 through the rear windows of the house ran toward the 
 ponds, but they fell into the hands of the Stakyans who 
 were stationed there. At the same time the nobles fell to 
 plundering the wagons, in which they found quite a' plenti- 
 ful booty; some of them gave advice to sack the house, 
 but they feared Pan Volodyovski, and perhaps the presence 
 of Panna Billevich restrained the most daring. Their own 
 killed, among whom were three Butryms and two Domashe- 
 viches, the nobles put into Avagons, so as to bury them 
 according to Christian rites. They ordered the peasants to 
 dig a ditch for Kmita's dead behind the garden. 
 
 Volodyovski in seeking the lady burst through the whole 
 house, and found her at last in the treasure-chamber situ- 
 ated in a corner to which a low and narrow door led from 
 the sleeping-room. It was a small chamber, with narrow, 
 strongly barred windows, built in a square and with such 
 mighty walls, that Volodyovski saw at once that even if 
 KmiLa had blown up the house with powder that room 
 would have surely remained unharmed. This gave him a 
 better opinion of Kmita. The lady was sitting on a chest 
 not far from the door, with her head drooping, and her face 
 almost hidden by her hair. She did not raise it when she 
 heard the knight coming. She thought beyond doubt that it 
 was Kmita himself or some one of his people. Pan Volody- 
 ovski stood in the door, coughed once, a second time, and 
 seeing no result from that, said, — 
 
 " My lady, you are free ! " 
 
 .1 
 
100 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " From under the drooping hair blue eyes looked at the 
 knight, and then a comely lace appeared, though pale and 
 as it were not conscious. Volodyovaki was hoping for 
 thanks, an outburst of gladness ; but the lady sat motion- 
 less, distraught, and merely looked at him. Therefore the 
 knight spoke again, — 
 
 " Come to yourself, my lady ! God has regarded inno- 
 cence, — you are frim, and can return to Vodokty." 
 
 This time there was more consciousness in the look of 
 I'anna Billevich. She rose from the chest, shook back her 
 hair, and asked, " Who are you ? " 
 
 "Michael Volodyovski, colonel of dragoons with the 
 voevoda of Vilna." 
 
 " Did I hear a battle — shots ? Tell me." 
 
 " Yes. We came to save you." 
 
 She regained her senses completely. " I thank you," 
 said she hurriedly, with a low voice, through which a 
 mortal disquiet was breaking. "But what happened to 
 him?" ^ 
 
 "To.Kmita? Fear not, my l.idy! He is lying lifeless 
 in the yard; and without praising myself I did it." 
 
 Volodyovski uttered this with a certain boastful ness ; 
 but if he expected admiration he deceived himself terribly. 
 She said not a word, but tottered and began to seek support 
 behind with her hands. At last she sut heavily on the 
 same chest from which she had risen a moment before. 
 
 The knight sprang to her quickly : " What is the matter, 
 my lady ? " 
 
 "Nothing, nothing — wait, permit me. Then is Pan 
 Kmita killed ? " 
 
 " What is Pan Kmita to me ? " interrupted Volodyovski ; 
 " it is a question here of you." 
 
 That moment her strength came back ; for she rose again, 
 and looking him straight in the eyes, screamed with anger, 
 impatience, and despair : " By the living God, answer ! Is 
 he killed ? " 
 
 "Pan Kmita is wounded," answered the astonished 
 Volodyovski. 
 
 " Is he alive ? " 
 
 "He is alive." 
 
 " It is well ! I thank you." 
 
 And with step still tottering she moved toward the door. 
 Volodyovski stood for a while moving his mustaches vio- 
 lently and shaking his head j then he muttered to himself, 
 
THE DKLUOE. 
 
 101 
 
 the 
 
 »> 
 
 " Does she thank ine because Kmita is wounded, or because 
 he is alive ? " 
 
 He follower' Olenka, and found her in the adjoining bed 
 room standing in the middle of H as if turned to stone. 
 Four nobles were bearing in at that moment Pan Kmita ; 
 the tirst two advancing sidewise appeared in the door, and 
 between them hung toward the floor the ])ale head of Pan 
 Andrei, with closed eyes, and clots of black blood in his 
 hair. 
 
 " Slowly," said Krysh Domashevich, walking behind, 
 " slowly across the threshold. Let some one hold his head. 
 Slowly ! " 
 
 " With what can we hold it when our hands are full ? " 
 answered those in front. 
 
 At that moment Panna Aleksandra approached them, pale 
 as was Kmita himself, and placed both hands under his life- • 
 less head. 
 
 " This is the lady," said Krysh Domashevich. 
 
 " It is I. Be careful ! " answered she, in a low voice. 
 
 Volodyovski looked on, and his mustaches quivered 
 fearfully. 
 
 Meanwhile they placed Kmita on the bed. Krysh Do- 
 mashevich began to wash his head with water ; then he 
 fixed a plaster previously prepared to thfj wound, and said, — 
 
 " Now let him lie quietly. Oh, that 's an iron head not 
 to burst from such a blow ! He may recover, for he is 
 young. But he got it hard." 
 
 Then he turned to Olenka : " Let me wash your hands, — 
 here is water. A kind heart is in you that you were not 
 afraid to put blood on yourself for that man." 
 
 Speaking thus, he wiped her palms with a cloth ; but she 
 grew pale and changed in the eyes. 
 
 Volodyovski sprang to her again : " There is nothing here 
 for you, my lady. You have shown Christian charity to an 
 enemy ; return home." And he offered her his arm. 
 
 She however, did not look at him, but turning to Krysh 
 Domashevich, said, " Pan Kryshtof, conduct me." 
 
 Both went out, and Volodyovski followed them. In the 
 yard the nobles began to shout at sight of her, and cry, 
 " Vivat ! " But she went forward, pale, staggering, with 
 compressed lips, and with fire in her eyes. 
 
 " Long life to our lady ! Long life to our colonel ! " cried 
 powerful voices. 
 
 An hour later Volodyovski returned at the head of the 
 
102 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Lauda men toward the villages. The sun had risen already ; 
 the early morning in the world was gladsome, a real spring 
 morning. The Lauda men cliwttered forward in a formless 
 crowd along the highway, discussing the events of the night 
 and praising Volcdyovski to the skies ; but he rode on 
 thoughtful and silent. Those eyes looking from behind the 
 dishevelled hair did not leave his mind, nor that slender 
 form, imposing though bent by grief and pain. 
 
 " It is a marvel what a wonder she is," said he to himself, 
 — "a real princess ! I have saved her honor and surely her 
 life, for though tl^cj powder would not have blown up the 
 treasure-room she would have died of pure fright. She 
 ought to be grateful. But who can understand a fair head ? 
 She looked on me as on some serving-lad, I know not 
 whether from haughtiness or perplexity." 
 
 a woman's 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 103 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 These thoughts did not let Volodyovski sleep on the 
 night following. For a number of days he was thinking 
 continually of Panna Aleksandra, and saw that she had 
 dropped deeply into his heart. Besides, the Lauda nobles 
 wished to bring about a marriage between them. It is true 
 that she had refused him without hesitation, but at that 
 time she neither knew him nor had seen him. Now it was 
 something quite different. He had wrested her in knightly 
 fashion froi. the hands of a man of violence, had exposed 
 himself to bullets and sabres, had captured her like a for- 
 tress. Whose is she, if not his ? Can she refuse him any- 
 thing, even her hand ? Well, shall he not try ? Perhaps 
 affection has begun in her from gratitude, since it happens 
 often in the world that the rescued lady gives straightway 
 her hand to her rescuer. If she has not conceived an affec- 
 tion for him as yet, it behooves him all the more to exert 
 himself in the matter. 
 
 " But if she remembers and loves the other man still ? " 
 
 " It cannot be," repeated Volodyovski to himself ; " if she 
 had not rejected him, he would not have taken her by force. 
 She showed, it is true, uncommon kindness to him ; but it is 
 a woman's work to take pity on the wounded, even if they 
 are enemies. She is young, without guardianship; it is 
 time for her to marry. It is clear that she has no vocation 
 for the cloister, or she would have entered one already. 
 There has been time enough. Men will annoy such a comely 
 lady continually, — some for her fortune, others for her 
 beauty, and still others for her high blood. Oh, a defence 
 the reality of which she can see with her own eyes will be 
 dear to her. It is time too for thee to settle down, my dear 
 Michael ! " said Volodyovski to himself. " Thou art young 
 yet, but the years hurry swiftly. Thou wilt win not fortune 
 in service, but rather more wounds in thy skin, and to thy 
 giddy life will come an end." 
 
 Here through the memory of Pan Volodyovski passed a 
 whole line of young ladies after whom he had sighed in his 
 life. Among them were some very beautiful and of high 
 blood, but one more charming and distinguished there was 
 
 ► ; 
 
104 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 not. Besides, the people of these parts exalted that family 
 and that lady, and from her eyes there looked such honesty 
 that may God give no worse wife to the best man. 
 
 Pan Volodyovski felt that a prize was meeting him which 
 might not come a second time, and this the more since he 
 had rendered the lady such uncommon service. "Why 
 delay ? " said he to himself. " What better can I wait for ? 
 I must try." 
 
 Pshaw ! but war is at hand. His arm was well. It was 
 a shame for a knight to go courting when his country was 
 stretching forth its hands imploring deliverance. Pan Mi- 
 chael had the heart of an honest soldier ; and though he had 
 served almost from boyhood, though he had taken part in 
 nearly all the wars of his time, he knew what he owed his 
 country, and he dreamed not of rest. 
 
 Precisely because he had served his country not for gain, 
 reward, or praise, but from his soul, had he in that regard 
 a clean conscience, ,he felt his worth, and that gave him 
 solace. "Others \yere frolicking, but I was fighting," 
 thought he. " The Lord God will reward the little soldier, 
 and will help him this time." 
 
 But he saw that soon there would be no time for court* 
 ing ; there was need to act promptly, and put everything on 
 the hazard at once, — to make a proposal on the spot, and 
 either marry after F^.ort bans or eat a watermelon.* "I 
 have eaten more than one ; I '11 eat another this time," mut- 
 tered Volodyovski, moving his yellow mustaches. " What 
 harm will it do ? " 
 
 But there was one side to this sudden decision which did 
 not please him. He put the question to himself if going 
 with a visit so soon after saving the lady he would not be 
 like an importunate creditor who wis'hes a, debt to be paid 
 with usury and as quickly as possible. Perhaps it will not ve 
 in knightly fashion ? Nonsense ! for what can gratitude be 
 asked, if not for service ? And if this haste does not please 
 the heart of the lady, if she looks askance at him, why, he 
 can say to her, " Gracious lady, I would have come court- 
 
 ing one year, and gazed at you as if I were near-sighted; 
 but I am 
 battle ! " 
 
 " So I '11 go," said Pan Volodyovski. 
 
 / C7 V KJ f 
 
 a soldier, and the trumpets are sounding for 
 
 ^ It is the castom to put a watermelon in tbe carriage of an undesirable 
 suitor, — a refusal without words. 
 
tHfi DELUafi. 
 
 m 
 
 >aid 
 
 he 
 urt- 
 ;ed; 
 
 for 
 
 ible 
 
 But after a while another thought entered his head : if 
 she says, " Go to war, noble soldier, and after the war you 
 will visit me during one year and look at me like a near- 
 sighted man, for I will not give in a moment my soul and 
 my body to one whom I know not I " 
 
 Then all will be lost I That it would be lost Pan Volo- 
 dyovski felt perfectly; for leaving aside the lady whom 
 in the interval some other man might marry, Volodyovski 
 was not sure of his own constancy. Conscience declared 
 that in him love was kindled like straw, but quenched as 
 quickly. 
 
 Then all will be lost! And then wander on farther, 
 thou soldier, a vagrant from one camp to another, from 
 battle to battle, with no roof in the world, with no living 
 soul of thy kindred ! Search the four corners of earth 
 when the war will be over, not knowing a place for thy 
 head save the barracks ! 
 
 At last Volodyovski knew not what to do. It had be- 
 come in a f'ertain fashion narrow and stifling for him in the 
 Patsuneli house ; he took his cap therefore to go out on the 
 road and enjoy the May sun. On the threshold he came 
 upon one of Kmita's men taken prisoner, who in the divi- 
 sion of spoils had come to old Pakosh. The Cossack was 
 warming himself in the sun and playing on a bandura. 
 
 "What art thou doing here ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 "I am playing," answered the Cossack, raising his thin 
 face. 
 
 " Whence art thou ? " asked Volodyovski, glad to have 
 some interruption to his thoughts. 
 
 " From afar, from the Viahla." 
 
 " Why not run away like the rest of thy comrades ? Oh, 
 such kind of sons ! The nobles spared your lives in Lyu- 
 bich so as to have laborers, and your comrades all ran away 
 as soon as the ropes were removed." 
 
 " I will not run away. I '11 die here like a dog." 
 
 " So it has pleased thee here ? " 
 
 " He runs away who feels better in the field ; it is better 
 for me here. I had liiy leg shot through, and tlie old man's 
 daughter here dressed it, and she spoke a kind word. Such 
 a beauty I have not seen before with my eyes. Why 
 should I go away ? " 
 
 " Which o le pleased thee so ? " 
 
 " Maryskp." 
 
 " And so thou wilt remain ? " 
 
106 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " If I die, they will carry me out; if not, I will remain " 
 
 " Dost thou think to earn Takosh'a daughter ? " 
 
 " J know not." 
 
 " He would give death to such a poor fellow before he 
 would his daughter." 
 
 " I have gold pieces buried in the woods," said the Cos- 
 sack, — " two purses." 
 
 " From robbery ? " 
 
 "From robbery." 
 
 " Even if thou hadst a pot of gold, thou art a peasant 
 and Pakosh is a noble." 
 
 " I am an attendant boyar." 
 
 " If thou art an attendant boyar, thou art worse than a 
 peasant, for thou 'rt a traitor. How couldst thou serve the 
 enemy ? " 
 
 " I did not St'Tve the enomy." 
 
 "And where lid Pan Kmita find thee and thy comrades ? " 
 
 " On the road. I served with the full hetman ; but the 
 squadron went tq pieces, for we had nothing to eat. I had 
 no reason to go home, for my house was burned. Others 
 went to rob on the road, and I went with them." 
 
 Volodyovski wondered greatly, for hitherto he had 
 thought that Kmita had attacked Olenka with forces 
 obtained from the enemy. 
 
 " So Pan Kmita did not get thee from Trubetskoi ? " 
 
 " Most of the other men had served before with Trubet- 
 skoi and Hovanski, but they had run away too and taken 
 to the road." 
 
 " Why did you go with Pan Kmita ? " 
 
 " Because he is a splendid ataman. We were told that 
 when he called on any one to go with him, thalers as it 
 were flowed out of a bag, to that ifian. That 's why we 
 went. Well, God did not give us good luck ! " 
 
 Volodyovski began to rack his head, and to think that 
 they had blackened Kmita too much; then he looked at 
 the pale attendant boyar and again racked his head. 
 
 " And so thou art in love with her ? " 
 
 " Oi, so much ! " 
 
 Volodyovski walked away, and while going he thought : 
 " That is a resolute man. He did not break his head ; he 
 fell in love and remained. Such men are best. If he is 
 really an attendant boyar, he is of the same rank as the 
 village nobles. When he digs up his gold pieces, perhaps 
 the old man will give him Maryska. And why ? Because 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 lor 
 
 V 
 
 he did not go to drumming with his fingers, but made up 
 his mind that he would get her. I'll make up my mind 
 too." 
 
 Thus meditating, Volodyovski walked along the road in 
 the sunshine. Sometimes he would stop, fix his eyes on 
 the ground or raise them to the sk^, then again go farther, 
 till all at once he saw a flock of wild ducks flying through 
 the air. He began to soothsay whether he should go or 
 not. It came out that he was to go. 
 
 " I will go ; it cannot be otherwise." 
 
 When he had said this he turned toward the house ; but 
 on the way he went once more to the stable, before which 
 his two servants were playing dice. 
 
 " Syruts, is Basior's mane plaited ? " 
 
 "Plaited, Colonel!" 
 
 Voloujovski went into the stable. Basior neighed at him 
 from thfi manger ; the knight approached the horse, patted 
 him on the side, and then began to count the braids on his 
 neck. " Go — not go — go." Again the soothsaying came 
 out favorably. 
 
 "•Saddle the horse and dress decently," commanded 
 Volodyovski. 
 
 Then he went to the house quickly, and bepan to dress. 
 He put on high cavalry boots, yellow, with ijilded spurs, 
 and a new red uniform, besides a rapier with steel scabbard, 
 the hilt ornamented with gold ; in addition a half breast- 
 plate of bright steel covering only the upper part of the 
 breast near the neck. He had also a lynxskin cap with a 
 beautiful heron feather ; but since that was worn only with 
 a Polish dress, he left it in the trunk, put on a Swedish hel- 
 met with a vizor, and went out before the porch. 
 
 " Where is your grace going ? " asked old Pakosh, who 
 was sitting on the railing. 
 
 " Where am I going ? It is proper for me to go and in- 
 quire after the health of your lady ; if not, she might think 
 me rude." 
 
 " From your grace there is a blaze like fire. Every bul- 
 finch is a fool in comparison ! Unless the lady is without 
 eyes, she will fall in love in a minute." 
 
 Just then the two youngest daughters of Pakosh hurried 
 up on their way home from the forenoon milking, each with 
 a pail of milk. When they saw Volodyovski they stood as 
 if fixed to the earth from wonder. 
 
 " Is it a king or not ? " asked Zonia. 
 
108 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 y i'- 
 
 '• Your grace is like one going to a wedding," added 
 Marysia. 
 
 " Maybe there will be a wedding," laughed old Pakosh, 
 " for he is going to see our lady." 
 
 Before the old man had stopped speaking the full pail 
 dropped from the hand of Marysia, and a stream of milk 
 flowed along till it reached the feet of Volodyovski. 
 
 " Pay attention to what you are holding ! " said Pakosh, 
 angrily. " Giddy thing ! " 
 
 Marysia spid nothing ; she raised the pail and walked off 
 in silence. 
 
 Volodyovski mounted his horse ; his two servants followed 
 him, riding abreast, and the three moved on toward Vodokty. 
 The day was beautiful. The May sun played on the breast- 
 plate and helmet of the colonel, so that when at a distance 
 he was gleaming among the willows it seemed that another 
 sun was pushing along the road. 
 
 " I am curious to know whether I shall come back with a 
 ring or a melon ? " feaid the knight to himself. 
 
 " What is your grace saying ? " asked Syruts. 
 
 " Thou art a blockhead ! " 
 
 Syruts reinel in his horse, and Volodyovski continued : 
 " The whole luck of the matter, is that it is not the first 
 time ! " 
 
 This idea gave him uncommon comfort. 
 
 When he arrived at Vodokty, Panna Aleksandra did not 
 recognize him at the first moment, and he had to repeat 
 his name. She greeted him heartily, bat ceremoniously and 
 with a certain constraint ; but he presented himself befit- 
 tingly, — for though a soldier, not a courtier, he had still 
 lived long at great houses, had been among people. He 
 bowed to her therefore with great ijespect, and placing his 
 hand on his heart spoke as follows : — 
 
 " I have comt to inquire about the health of my lady 
 benefactress, whether some pain has not come from the 
 fright. I ought to have done this the day after, but I did 
 not wish to give annoyance." 
 
 " I '; Is very kind of you to keep me in mind after having 
 saved ^ne from such striits. Sit down, for you are a wel- 
 come guest." 
 
 " My lady," replied Volodyovski, " had I forgotten you I 
 should not have deserved the favor which God sent when he 
 permitted me to give aid to so worthy a person." 
 
 " No, I ought to thank first God, and then you." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 109 
 
 " Then let us both thank ; for I implore nothing else than 
 this, — that he grant me to defend you as often as need 
 comes." 
 
 Pan Michael now moved his waxed mustaches, which 
 curled up higher than his nose, for he was satisfied with 
 
 himself for having gone straight in medias res and placed 
 his sentiments, so to speak, on the table. She sat embar- 
 rassed and silent, but beautiful as a spring day. A slight 
 flush came on her cheeks, and she covered her eyes with the 
 long lashes from which shadows fell on the pupils. 
 
 " That confusion is a good sign," thought Volodyovski ; 
 and coughing ho proceeded : " You know, I suppose, that I 
 led the Lauda men after your grandfather ? " 
 
 " I know," answered Olenka. " My late grandfather was 
 unable to make the last campaign, but he was wonderfully 
 glad when he heard whom the voevcda of Vilna had ap- 
 pointed to the command, and said that he knew you by repu- 
 tation as a splendid soldier." 
 
 " Did he say that ? " 
 
 " I myself heard how he praised you to the skies, and how 
 the Lauda men did the same after the campaign." 
 
 "I am a simple soldier, not worthy of being exalted 
 to the skies, nor above other men. Still I rejoice that 
 I am not quite a stranger, for you do not think now that an 
 unknown and uncertain guest has fallen with the last rain 
 from the clouds. Many people are wandering about who 
 call themselves persons of high family and say they are in 
 office, and God knowi^ who they are ; perhaps often they are 
 not even nobles." 
 
 Pan Volodyovski gave the conversation this turn with 
 the intent to speak of himself and of what manner of man 
 he was. Olenka answered at once, — 
 
 " No one would think that of you, for there are nobles of 
 the same name in Lithuania." 
 
 " But they have the seal Ossorya, while I am a Korchak 
 Volodyovski and we take our origin from Hungary from a 
 certain noble, Atylla, who while pursued by his enemies 
 made a vow to the Most Holy Lady that he would turn from 
 Paganism to the Catholic faith if he should es(}ape with his 
 life. He kept this vow after he had crossed three rivers in 
 safety, — the same rivers that we bear on our shield." 
 
 " Then your family is not from these parts ? " 
 
 " No, my lady, I am from the Ukraine of the Bussian 
 Volodyovskis, and to this time I own villages there which 
 
 fh\ 
 
 w 
 
 ;} 
 
 Si lui 
 
 if H J 
 
 1 
 
 \m 
 
110 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 the enemy have occupied ; but I serve in the army from 
 youth, thinking less of land than of the harm inflicted on 
 our country by strangers. I have served from the earliest 
 years with the voovoda of Rus, our not sufficiently lamented 
 Prince Yeremi, with whom I have been in all his wars. I 
 was at Mahnovka and at Konstantinoff ; I endured the hun- 
 ger of Zbaraj, and after Berestechko our gracious lord the 
 king pressed my head. God is my witness that I have not 
 come here to praise myself, but desire that you might know, 
 my lady, that I am no hanger-on. whose work is in shouting 
 and who spares his own blood, but that my life has been 
 passed in honorable service in which some little fame was 
 won, and my conscience stained in nothing, so God be my 
 aid ! And to this worthy people can give testimony." 
 
 " Would that all were like you ! " sighed Olenka. 
 
 " Surely you have now in mind that man of violence who 
 dared to raise his godless hand against you." 
 
 Panna Aleksanc^ra fixed her eyes on the floor, and said 
 not a word. 
 
 " He has received pay for his deeds," continued Volody- 
 ovski, " though it is said tliat he will recover, still he will 
 not escape punishment. All honorable people condemn him, 
 and even too much ; for they say that he had relations with 
 the enemy so as to obtain reinforcements, — which is untrue, 
 for those men with whom he attacked you did not come 
 from the enemy, but were collected on the highway." 
 
 " How do you know that ? " asked the lady, raising her 
 blue eyes to Volodyovski. 
 
 "From the Cossacks themselves. He is a wonderful 
 man, that Kmita ; for when I accused him of treason be- 
 fore the duel he made no denial, though I accused him un- 
 justly. It is clear that there is a devilish pride in him." 
 
 "And have you said everywhere that he is not a traitor ? " 
 
 " I have not, for I did not know that he was not a traitor ;' 
 but now I will say so. It is wrong to cast such a calumny 
 even on our own greatest enemy." 
 
 Panna Aleksandra's eyes rested a second time on the 
 little knight with an expression of sympathy and gratitude. 
 " You are so honorable a man that your equal is rare." 
 
 Volodyovski fell to twitching his mustaches time after 
 time with contentment. " To business, Michael dear ! " 
 said he, mentally. Then aloud to the lady : " I will say 
 more: I blame Pan Kmita's method, but I. do not wonder 
 that he tried to obtain you, my lady, in whose service 
 
 Venus 
 to an i 
 should 
 such be 
 like Kn 
 and wil 
 favor t 
 Gradivi 
 lady. 
 Neither 
 ferent 
 
 Here 
 
 " My gi 
 
 the con 
 
 grandda 
 
 me enjo 
 
 petual 
 
 care, fo 
 
 fend yo 
 
 The 1 
 
 ovski w 
 
 "I aiJ 
 
 I swear 
 
 the sligl 
 
 this has 
 
 country, 
 
 comfort 
 
 a kind v 
 
 "You 
 
 be!" ar 
 
 "Itd( 
 
 "For 
 
 frowned 
 
 not den-' 
 
 thing ex 
 
 Pan A 
 
 lady? 
 
 "lea 
 
 "And 
 
 "The 
 
 "Perl 
 
 some he 
 
 ""I ca 
 
 "The 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Venus herself might act as a maid. Despair urged him on 
 to an evil deed, and will surely urge him a second time, 
 should opportunity offer. How will you remain alone, with 
 such beauty and without protection ? There are more men 
 like Kmita in the world ; you will rouse more such ardors, 
 and will expose your honor to fresh perils. God sent me 
 favor that I was able to free you, but now the trumpets of 
 Gradivus call me. Who will watch over you ? My gracious 
 lady, they accuse soldiers of fickleness, but unjustly. 
 Neither is my heart of rock, and it cannot remain indif- 
 ferent to so many excellent charms." 
 
 Here Volodyovski fell on both knees before Olenka. 
 " My gracious lady," said he, while kneeling, " I inherited 
 the command after your grandfather; let me inherit the 
 granddaughter too. Give me guardianship over you; let 
 me enjoy the bliss of mutual affection. Take me as a per- 
 petual protection, and you will be at rest and free from 
 care, for though I go to the war my name itself will de- 
 fend you." 
 
 The lady sprang from the chair and heard Pan Volody- 
 ovski with astonishment ; but he still spoke on : — 
 
 " I am a poor soldier, but a noble, and a man of honor. 
 I swear to you that on my shield and on my conscience not 
 the slightest stain can be found. I am at fault perhaps in 
 this haste ; but understand too that I am called by the 
 country, which will not yield even for you. Will you not 
 comfort me, — will you not give me solace, will you not say 
 a kind word ? " 
 
 "You ask the impossible. As God lives, that cannot 
 be!" answered Olenka, with fright. 
 
 " It depends on your will." 
 
 " For that reason I say no to you promptly." Here she 
 frowned. " Worthy sir, I am indebted to you much, I do 
 not deny it. Ask what you like, I am ready to give every- 
 thing except my hand." 
 
 Pan Volodyovski rose. " Then you do not wish me, my 
 lady? Is that true?" 
 
 " I cannot." 
 
 " And that is your last word ? " 
 
 " The last and irrevocable word." 
 
 " Perhaps the haste only has displeased you. Give me 
 some hope." 
 
 ""I cannot, I cannot." 
 
 "Then there is no success for me here, as elsewhere 
 
 
 I f}^ 
 
 II 
 
 i 
 
 '? -A 
 
 4 I 
 
 if 
 
 
 II 
 
112 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 there was none. My worthy lady, offer not pay for services, 
 I have not come for that ; and if I ask your hand it is not 
 as pay, but from your own good-will. Were you to say 
 that you give it because you must, I would not take it. 
 Where there is no freedom there is no happiness. You 
 have disdained me. God grant that a worse do not meet 
 you. I go from this house as I entered, save this that I 
 shall not come here again. I '■m accounted here as nobody. 
 Well, let it be so. Be happy even with that very Kmita, 
 for perhaps you are angry because I placed a sabre between 
 you. If he seems better to you; then in truth you are not 
 for me." 
 
 Olenka seized her temples with her hands, and repeated a 
 number of times : " O God ! O God ! O God ! " 
 
 But that pain of hers made no impression on Volody- 
 ovski, who, when he had bowed, went out angry and wrath- 
 ful ; then he mounted at once and rode off. 
 
 " A foot of mine shall never stand there again ! " said he, 
 aloud. ! 
 
 His attendant Syruts riding behind pushed up at once. 
 " What does your grace say ? " 
 
 " Blockhead ! " answered Volodyovski. 
 
 "You told me that when we were coming hither." 
 
 Silence followed; the!Q Volodyovski began to mutter 
 again : " Ah, I was entertained there with ingratitude, paid 
 for affection with contempt. It will coine to rae surely to 
 serve in the cavalry till death ; that is fated. Such a devil 
 of a lot fell to me, — every move a refusal ! There is no 
 justice on earth. What did she find against me ? " 
 
 Here Pan Michael frowned, and began to work mightily 
 with his brain; all at once he slapped his leg with his 
 hand. "I know now," shouted he; "she loves that fellow 
 yet, — it cannot be otherwise." 
 
 But this idea did not clear his face. "So much the 
 worse for me," thought he, after a while ; " for if she loves 
 him yet, she will not stop loving him. He has already done 
 his worst. He may go to war, win glory, repair his reputa- 
 tion. And it is not right to hinder him ; he should rather 
 be aided, for that is a service to the country. He is a good 
 soldier, 't is true. But how did he fascinate her so ? Who 
 can tell ? Some have such fortune that if one of them 
 looks on a woman she is ready to follow him into fire. If a 
 man only knew how this is done or could get some captive 
 spirit, perhaps he might effect something. Merit has no 
 
 weight 
 fox and 
 But I gr 
 woman, 
 tious as 
 will mar 
 and disa 
 peace, bu 
 everythi 
 but mayl 
 
 Here 
 fate of 
 lips. At 
 
 "May 
 It is not 
 suffering, 
 sorrows, 
 besides hi 
 do that, a 
 struck m( 
 asking fc 
 can." 
 
 Furthei 
 by the at 
 " Pardon, 
 with somf 
 
 " Wher< 
 
 « Over 
 
 "Itist 
 lamp rem 
 dost thou 
 
 "By hi 
 that horsi 
 
 "As ti 
 view, but 
 
 " Wher 
 
 They s] 
 soon Vol 
 approachi 
 
 Pan K] 
 ron in th( 
 ance of lo 
 he and tl 
 ward whi] 
 
 VOL. 1. • 
 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 113 
 
 no 
 
 weight with a fair head. Pan Zagloba said wisely that a 
 fox and a woman are the most treacherous creatures alive. 
 But I grieve that all is lost. Oh, she is a terribly beautiful 
 woman, and honorable and virtuous, as they say ; ambi- 
 tious as the devil, — that 's evident. Who knows that she 
 will marry him though she loves him, for he has offended 
 and disappointed her sorely. He might have won her in 
 peace, but he chose to be lawless. She is willing to resign 
 everything, — marriage and children. It is grievous for me, 
 but maybe it is worse for her, poor thing ! " 
 
 Here Volodyovski fell into a fit of tenderness over the 
 fate of Olenka, and began to rack his brain and smack his 
 lips. At last he said, — 
 
 "May God aid her! T have no ill feeling against her! 
 It is not the first refusal for me, but for her it ia the first 
 suffering. The poor woman can scarcely recover now from 
 sorrows. I have put out her eyes with this Kmita, and 
 besides have given her gall to drink. It was not right to 
 do that, and I must repair th6 wrong. I wish bullets had 
 struck me, for I have acted rudely. I will write a letter 
 asking forgiveness, and then help her in what .vay I 
 
 }) 
 
 can. 
 
 Further tLoughts concerning Pan Kmita were interrupted 
 by the attendant Syruts, who riding forward again said: 
 " Pardon, but over there on the hill is Pan Kharlamp riding 
 with some one else." 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 "Over there!" 
 
 " It is true that two horsemen are visible, but Pan Khar- 
 lamp remained with the prince voevoda of Vilna. How 
 dost thou know him so far away ? " 
 
 "By his cream-colored horse. The whole army knows 
 that horse anjrwhere." 
 
 " As true as I live, there is a cream-colored horse in 
 view, but it may be some other man's horse." 
 
 " When I recognize the gait, it is surely Pan Kharlamp." 
 
 They spurred on ; the other horsemen did the same, and 
 soon Volodyovski saw that Pan Kharlamp was in fact 
 approaching. 
 
 Pan Kharlamp was the lieutenant of a light-horse squad- 
 ron in the Lithuanian quota. Pan Volodyovski's acquaint- 
 ance of long standing, an old soldier and a good one. Once 
 he and the little knight had quarrelled fiercely, but after- 
 ward while serving together and campaigning they acquired 
 
 VOL. I. — 8 
 
 ' 1 * .1 
 
 
 M 
 
 > 
 
 
114 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 a love for each other. Volodyovski sprang forward quickly, 
 and opening his arms cried, — 
 
 " How do you prosper, O Great-nose ? Whence do you 
 ^ome ? " 
 
 The officer — who in truth deserved the nickname of 
 Great-nose, for he had a mighty nose — fell into the em- 
 braces of the colonel, and greeted him joyously ; then after 
 he had recovered his breath, he said, " I have come to you 
 with a commission and money." 
 
 " But from whom ? " 
 
 " From the prince voevoda of Vilna, our hetman. He 
 sends you a commission to begin a levy at once, and 
 another commission to Pan Kmita, who must be in this 
 neighoorhood." 
 
 " To Pan Kmita also ? How shall we both make a levy 
 in one neighborhood ? " 
 
 " He is to go to ^roki, and you to remain in these parts." 
 
 " How did you know where to look for me ? " 
 
 " The hetman himself inquired carefully till the people 
 from this place who have remained near him told where to 
 find you. I came with sure information. You are in great 
 and continual favor there. I have heard the prince himself 
 say that he had not hoped to inherit anything from Prince 
 Yeremi, but still he did inherit the greatest of knights." 
 
 " May God grant him to inherit the military success of 
 Yeremi ! It is a great honor for me to conduct a levy. I 
 will set about it at once. There is no lack of warlike 
 people here, if there was only something with which to 
 give them an outfit. Have you brought much money ? " 
 
 " You will count it at Patsuneli." 
 
 " So you ^lave been there already*? But be careful ; for 
 there are shapely girls in Patsuneli, like poppies in a 
 garden." 
 
 " Ah, that is why stopping there pleased you ! But wait, 
 I have a private letter from the hetman to you." 
 
 " Then give it." 
 
 Kharlamp drew forth a letter with the small seal of the 
 Radzivills. Volodyovski opened it and began to read : — 
 
 Worthy Colonel Pan Volodyovski, — Knowing your sin- 
 cere wish *o serve the country, I send you a commission to make a 
 levy, and not as 'iS usually done, but with great haste, for periculum 
 m mora (there is danger in delay). If you wish to give us joy, 
 then let the squadron oe mustered and ready for the campaign by 
 the'end of July, or the middle of August at the latest. We are 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 115 
 
 anxious to know how you can find good horses, espeniaJly since we 
 send money sparingly, for more we could not hammer from the 
 under-treasurer, who after his old fashion is unfriendly to us. Give 
 one half of this money to Pan Kmita, for whom Pan Kharlamp 
 has also a commission. We hope that he will serve us zealously. 
 But tidings have come to our ears of his violence in Upita, there- 
 fore it is better for you to take the letter directed to him from 
 Kharlamp, and discover yourself whether to deliver it to him or 
 not. Should you consider the accusations against him too great, 
 and creating infamy, then do not give it, for we are afraid lest our 
 enemies — such as the under-treasurer, and the voevoda of Vity- 
 ebsk — might raise outcries against us because we commit such 
 functions to unworthy persons. But if you give the letter after 
 having found th^t there is nothing important, let Pan Kmita 
 endeavor to wipe away his faults by the greatest exertion in ser- 
 vice, and in no case to appear in the courts, for he belongs to our 
 hetman's jurisdiction, — we and no one else will judge him. Pay 
 attention to our charge at once, in view of the confidence which 
 we have in your judgment and faithful service. 
 
 Yanush Radzivill, 
 Prince in Birji and Dubinki, Voevoda of Vilna. 
 
 i'l'i 
 
 a i. 
 
 }> 
 
 " The hetman is terribly anxious about horses for you," 
 said Kharlamp, when the little knight had finished reading. 
 
 " It will surely be difficult in the matter of horses," 
 answered Volodyovski. " A great number of the small nobil- 
 ity here will rally at the first summons, but they have only 
 wretched little Jmud ponies, not very capable of service 
 For a good campaign it would be needful to give them all 
 fresh horses." 
 
 " Those are good horses ; I know them of old, wonderfully 
 enduring and active." 
 
 "Bah!" responded Volodyovski, "but small, and the 
 men here are large. If they should form in line on such 
 horses, you would think them a squadron mounted on dogs. 
 There is where the rub is. I will work with zeal, for I am in 
 haste myself. Leave Kmita's commission with me, as the 
 hetman commands ; I will give it to him. It has come just 
 in season." 
 
 "But why?' 
 
 " For he has acted here in Tartar fashion and taken a 
 lady captive. There are as many lawsuits and questions 
 hanging over him as he has hairs on his head. It is not a 
 week since I had a sabre-duel with him." 
 
 " Ai ! " cried Kharlamp. " If you had a sabre-duel with 
 him, he is in bed at this moment." * 
 
 Wi 
 
 Mjl|!:i 
 
 ■s n 
 
 ill 
 
116 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " But he is better already. In a week or two he will be 
 well. What is to be hoard de pubUcis ? " 
 
 "Evil ill the old fashion. The under-treasurer, Pan 
 Gosyevski, the full hetman, is ever quarrelling with the 
 prince ; and as the hetnians do not agree, affairs do not 
 move in harmony. Still we have improved a little, and I 
 think that if we had concord we might manage the enemy, 
 (rod will permit us yet to ride on their necks to their own 
 land. Gosyevski is to blame for all." 
 
 " But others say it is specially the grand hetman, Prince 
 Kadzivill." 
 
 " They are traitors. The voevoda of Vityebsk talks that 
 way, for he and the under-treasurer are cronies this long 
 time." 
 
 " The voevoda of Vityebsk is a worthy citizen." 
 
 " Are you on the side of Saj)yeha against the Radzivills ? " 
 
 "I am on the side of the country, on whose side all 
 should be. In this is Uie evil, — that even soldiers are divided 
 into parties, instead of fighting. That Sapyeha is a worthy 
 citizen, I would say in the j)resence of the prince himself, 
 even though I servo under him." 
 
 " Good peoi)le have striven to bring about harmony, but 
 Avith no result," said Kharlamp. " There is a terrible 
 movement of messengers from the king to our prince. 
 They say that something is hatching. We expected with 
 the visit of the king a call of the general militia ; it has not 
 come ! They say that it may be necessary in some places." 
 
 "In the Ukraine, for instance." 
 
 " I know. But once Lieutenant Brohvich told what he 
 heard with his own ears. Tyzenhauz came from the king 
 to our hetman, and when they had shtit themselves in they 
 talked a long time about something which Brohvich could 
 not overhear ; but when they came out, with his own ears 
 he heard the hetman say, * From tliis a new war may 
 come.' We racked our heads greatly to find what this 
 could mean." 
 
 " Surely he was mistaken. With whom could there be a 
 new war ? The emperor is more friendly to us now than to 
 our enemies, since it is proper for him to take the side of a 
 civilized people. With the Swedes the truce is not yet at 
 an end, and will not be for six years ; the Tartars are help- 
 ing us in the Ukraine, which they would not do without the 
 will of Turkey." 
 
 " Well, we could not get at anything." 
 
tHte DELUGE. 
 
 117 
 
 j> 
 
 '' For there was nothing. But, praise God, I have fresh 
 work ; 1 bfigan to yearn for war." 
 
 " Do you wish to carry the commission yourself to 
 Kmita ? " 
 
 " I do, because, as I have told you, the hetman has so 
 ordered. It is proper for me to visit Kmita now accordinjr 
 to knightly custom, and having the commission I shall havo 
 a still bettcu" chance to talk with liini. Whether I give the 
 commission is .'mother thing ; L think that I shall, for it is 
 left to my discretion." 
 
 "That suits me ; I am in such haste for the road. I have 
 a third commission to Pan Stankyevich. Next I am com- 
 manded to go to Ky<Mlani, to remove the cannon which are 
 there; then to inspect liirji and see if everything is ready 
 for defence." 
 
 « And to Birji too ? " 
 
 « Yes." 
 
 " That is a wonder to me. The enemy have won no new 
 victories, and it is far for them to go to Birji on the boun- 
 dary of Courland. And since, as I sec, new squadrons are 
 being formed, there will be men to defend even those parts 
 which have fallen under the power of the enemy. The 
 Courlanders do not think of war with us. They are good 
 sohliers, but few ; and lladzivill might put the breath out of 
 them with one hand." 
 
 " I wonder too," answered Kharlamp, " all the more that 
 haste is enjoined on me, and instructions given that if I find 
 Anything out of order I am to inform quickly Prince Bogus- 
 lav lladzivill, who is to send Peterson the engineer." 
 
 " What can this mean ? I hope 't is no question of do- 
 mestic war. May God preserve us from that ! But when 
 Prince Boguslav touches an affair the devil will come of the 
 amusement." 
 
 " Say nothing against him ; he is a valiant man." 
 
 " I say nothing against his valor, but there is more of the 
 German or Frenchman in him than the Pole. And of the 
 Commonwealth he never thinks ; his only thought is how to 
 raise the house of Radzivill to the highest point and lower 
 all others. He is the man who rouses pride in the voevoda 
 of Vilna, our hetman, who of himself has no lack of it ; and 
 those quarrels with Sapyeha and Gosyevski are the tree and 
 the fruit of Prince Boguslav's planting." 
 
 " I see that you are a great statesman. You should marry, 
 
 1^ 
 
118 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Michael dear, as soon as possible, so that such wisdom b« 
 not lost." 
 
 Volodyovski looked very attentively at his comrade. 
 " Marry, — why is that ? " 
 
 " Maybe you are going courting, for I see that you are 
 dressed as on parade." 
 
 " Give us peace ! " 
 
 " Oh, own up ! " 
 
 "Let each man eat his own melons, not inquire about 
 tliose of other men. You too have eaten more than one. 
 It is just the time now to think of marriage when we have 
 a levy on our hands ! " 
 
 " Will you be ready in July ? " 
 
 " At the end of July, even if I have to dig horses out of 
 the ground. Thank God that this task has come, or melan- 
 choly would have devoured me." 
 
 So tidings from the hetman and the prospect of heavy 
 work gave great consolation to Pan Michael ; and before he 
 reached Patsuneli, he had scarcely a thought of the rebuff 
 which had met him an hour before. News of the commis- 
 sion flew quickly through the whole village. The nobles 
 came straightway to inquire if the newi was true; and 
 when Volodyovski confirmed it, his word.s made a great im- 
 pression. The readiness was universal, though some were 
 troubled l)ecause they would have to march at the end of 
 July before harvest. Volodyovski sent messengers to other 
 neighborhoods, — to Upita, and to the most considerable 
 noble houses. In the evening a number of Butryras, Sta- 
 kyans, and Domasheviches came. 
 
 They began to incite one another, show greater readiness, 
 threaten the enemy, and promise victory to themselves. 
 The Butryms alone were silent ; but that was not taken ill, 
 for it was known that they would rise as one man. Next 
 day it was as noisy in all the villages as in bee-hives. Peo- 
 ple talked no more of Pan Kmita and Panna Aleksandra, 
 but of the future campaign. Volodyovski also forgave 
 Olenka sincerely the refusal, comforting himself meanwhile 
 in his heait that that was not the last one, as the love was 
 not the last. At the same time he pondered somewhat on 
 what he had to do with the letter to Kmita. 
 
 A TIME ( 
 
 letter- writi 
 transferred 
 tiie levy, 
 and small, 
 came the 
 Volodyovsl 
 since he wa 
 , successf nil; 
 Kmita, wlu 
 though he 1 
 he would r( 
 
 Kmita r( 
 pale at sig 
 toward the 
 when he sai 
 thin hand, i 
 
 "I thanl 
 such a cavi 
 
 " I have < 
 me," said P 
 
 "I have 
 me, but a 
 escaped." 
 
 <-Andho 
 
 '' It is su 
 1 confess n 
 laughed. " 
 at your pie 
 
 " I have ] 
 
 "You m 
 have a capt 
 at this moi 
 but before 
 sabre in th< 
 not have w 
 Tell me wi 
 
 " I had s 
 
THE DELUQE. 
 
 119 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A TIME of serious labor began now for Volodyovski, — of 
 letter-writing and journeying. The week following he 
 transferred his head-quarters to Upita, where he began 
 the levy. The nobles flocked to him willingly, both great 
 and small, for he had a wide reputation. Buo especially 
 (jarae the Lauda men, for whom horses had to be provided. 
 Volodyovski hurried around as if in boiling water ; but 
 since he was active and spared no pains, everything went on 
 , successfully enough. Meanwhile he visited in Lyubich Pan 
 Kmita, who had advanced considerably toward health ; and 
 though he had not risen yet from his bed, it was known that 
 he would recover. 
 
 Kmita recognized the knight at once, and turned a little 
 pale at sight of him. Even his hand moved involuntarily 
 toward the sabre above his head ; but he checked himself 
 when he saw a smile on the face of his guest, put forth his 
 thin hand, and said, — 
 
 " I thank you for the visit. This is courtesy worthy of 
 such a cavalier." 
 
 " I have come to inquire if you cherish ill feeling against 
 me," said Pan Michael. 
 
 "I have no ill feeling; for no common man overcame 
 me, but a swordsman of the first degree. Hardly have I 
 escaped." 
 
 <• And how is your health ? " 
 
 •' It is surely a wonder to you that I have come out alive. 
 1 confess myself that it is no small exploit." Here Kmita 
 laughed. " Well, the affair is not lost. You may finish me 
 at your pleasure." 
 
 " I have not come with such intent — " 
 
 " You must be the devil," interrupted Kmita, " or must 
 have a captive spirit. God knows I ar^ far from self-praise 
 at this moment, for I am returning from the other world ; 
 but before meeting you I thought, 'If I am not the best 
 sabre in the Commonwealth, I am the second.' But I could 
 not have warded off the first blow if you had not wished it. 
 Tell me where did you learn so much ? " 
 
 " I had some little innate capacity, and my father taught 
 
liO 
 
 tftE DteLUGt. 
 
 me from boyhood. He said many a time, ' God has given 
 you insignificant stature; if men do not feai* you, they will 
 laugh Jit you.' Later on, while serving with the voe voda of 
 Kus, 1 finished my course. With hiu were a few men who 
 could stand boldly before me." 
 
 " But could there bo such ? " 
 
 " There could, for there were. There was Pan Podbini- 
 enta, a Lithuanian of high birth, who fell at Zbaraj, — the 
 Lord light his soul! — a man of such strength that there 
 were no means to stoj) him, for he could cut through opiK)- 
 nent and weapons. Then there was Skshetuski, my heart- 
 felt friend una confidant, of whom yci must have heard." 
 
 " Of course ! He camo out of Zbaraj, and burst through 
 the Cossacks. So you are of such a brace, and a man of 
 Zl)araj ! With the forehead ! with the forehead ! Wait a « 
 moment ; T h.ave heard of you at the castle of Kadzivill, voe- 
 voda of Vilna. Your name is Michael ? " 
 
 "Exactly; I an\ Micha'd. My first name is Yerzi; but 
 since Saint Michael leads the whole host of heaven, and 
 has gained so many victories over the banners of hell, I 
 prefer him as a patron." 
 
 "It is sure that Yerzi is not equal to Michael. Then you 
 are that same Volodyovski of whom it is said that he cut up 
 Bogun ? " 
 
 " I am he." 
 
 " Well, to receive a slash on the head from such a man 
 is not a misfortune. If God would grant us to be friends ! 
 You called me a traitor, 't is true, but you were mistaken." 
 When he said this, Kmita frowned as if his wound caused 
 him pain again. , 
 
 "I confess my mistake," answered Volodyovski. "I do 
 not learn that from yoii ; your men told me. And know 
 that if I had not learned it I should not have come here." ■ 
 
 " Tongues have cut me and cut me," said Kmita, with bit- 
 terness. " Let come what may, I confess more than one 
 mark is against me ; but in this neighborhood men have re- 
 ceived me ungraciously." 
 
 "You injured yourself most by burning Volmontovichi, 
 and by the last seizure." 
 
 " Now they are crushing me with lawsuits. I am sum- 
 moned to courts. They will not give a sick man time to re- 
 cover. I burned Volmontovichi, 'tis true, and cut down 
 some people ; but let God judge me if I did that from ca- 
 price. The same night, before the burning I made a vow to 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 121 
 
 live with all men in peatM', in uttrju't to myself these home- 
 spuns around here, to satisfy the basswood barks in Upita, 
 for there I really played the tyrant. I returned to my 
 house, and what did I find ? I found my comrades cut up 
 like cattle, lying at the wall. When I learned that the 
 Butryms had done this, the devil entered me, and I took 
 stern vengeance. Would you believe why they were cut uj), 
 why they were slaughtered ? I learned myself later from 
 one of the Butryms, whom I found in the woods. Behold, 
 it was for this, — that they wanted to dance with the women 
 of the nobles in a public house ! Who would not have taken 
 vengeance ? " 
 
 " My worthy sir," answered Volodyovski, " it is true that 
 they acted severely with your comrades ; but was it the 
 nobles who killed them ? No ; their previous reputation 
 killed them, — that which they brought with them ; for if 
 orderly soldiers had wished to dance, suifly they would 
 not have slain them." 
 
 "Poor fellows !" said Kmita, following his own thoughts, 
 " while I was lying here now in a fever, they carae in 
 every evening through that door from the room outside. I 
 saw them around this bed as if living, blue, hacked up, and 
 groaning continually, * Yendrus ! give money to have a 
 Mass for our souls ; we are in torments! ' Then I tell you 
 the hair stood on my head, for the smell of sulphur from 
 them was in the room. I gave money for a Mass. Oh, 
 may it help them!" 
 
 A moment of silence then followed. 
 
 " As to the carrying off," continued Kmita, " no one 
 could have told you about jthat ; for in truth she saved my 
 life when the nobles were hunting me, but afterward she 
 ordered me to depart and not show myself before her eyes. 
 What was there left for me after that ? " 
 
 " Still it was a Tartar method." 
 
 " You know not what love is, and to what despair it may 
 bring a man when he loses that which he prizes most dearly." 
 
 " I know not what love is ? " cried Volodyovski, with 
 excitement. " From the time that I began to carry a sabre 
 I was in love. It is true that the object changed, for I was 
 never rewarded with a return. Were it not for that, there 
 could have been no Troilus more faithful than I." 
 
 "What kind of love can that be when the object is 
 changing ? " said Kmita. 
 
 " I will tell you something else which I saw with my own 
 eyes. In the first period of the Hmelnitski affair, Bogun, 
 
 I -I, 
 
 M: 
 
 -' 
 
 . ? 
 
 < 
 I 
 
 
 f , 
 
 '!. 
 
 * 
 
 " 
 
 .i 
 
 •m 
 
 ft 
 
 '^ 
 
 '■ 
 
 .1 
 
 \ 
 
 , 
 
 '^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 J 
 
 i 
 
 ' 1 
 
A./" 
 
 122 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 the same who next to Hmelnitski has nc h the highest re« 
 spect of the Cossacks, carried off Princess Kurtsevich, a 
 maide loved by Skshetuski above all things. That was a 
 love ! The whole army was we- ping in view of Skshetuski's 
 despair ; for his beard a'j tome years beyond twenty grew 
 gray, and can you guess whtct he did ? " 
 
 '' I have no means of knowing." 
 
 " Well, because the country was in need, in humiliatioii, 
 because the terrible Hmelnitski was triumphing;, he did not 
 go to seek the girl. He offered his suffering to God, and 
 fought under Prince Yeremi in all the battles, including 
 Zbaraj, and covered himself vith such glory that to-day all 
 repeat his name ivith respect. Compare his action with 
 your twn and see the difference." 
 
 Kmita was silent, gnawed his mustache. Volodyovski 
 continued, — 
 
 " Then God rewarded and gave him the maiden. They 
 married immediately after Zbaraj, and now have three 
 children, though he has not ceased to serve. But you by 
 making disturbance have given aid to the enemy and 
 almost lost your own life, not to mention that a few days 
 ago you might have lost the lady forever." 
 
 " How is that ? " asked Kmita, sitting up in the bed ; 
 " what happened to her ? " 
 
 •' Nothing ; but there was found a man who asked for 
 her hand and wanted to marry her." 
 
 Kmita grew very pale; his hollow eyes begf-n to shoot 
 flames. He wanted te rise, even struggled for a moment ; 
 then cried, " Who was this devil's son ? By the living God, 
 tell me ! " 
 
 " I," said Pan Volodyovski. 
 
 " You, — you ? " asked Kmita, with astonishment. " Is 
 it possible ? " 
 
 "ItiG.'- 
 
 *' Traitor ! that will not go "/V^ith you ! But she — what 
 
 — tell me everything. Did she accept ? " 
 
 " She refused me on the spot, without thinking." 
 
 A moment of silence followed. Kmiti* bieathed heavily, 
 and fixed his eyes on Volodyovski, who s?id, — 
 
 " Why call me traitor ? Am I your brother or your best 
 man ? Have I broken faith with you ? T conquered you 
 in battle, and could have done what I liked " 
 
 " In old fashion one of us would seal this with his blood, 
 
 — if not with a sabre, with a gun. I would shoot youj 
 then let the devils take me," 
 
 *'Then 
 fused I s 
 I to fight 
 
 "Why 
 
 " Becai 
 
 That w 
 man coul 
 sweat can 
 
 "lam 
 you know 
 
 " Becai: 
 observe ; 
 became cl 
 to tell he 
 dazed, an 
 entirely ; 
 you in, s 
 because w 
 were givi: 
 are not si 
 your mine 
 
 "If ths 
 " many pi 
 your word 
 
 "But a 
 
 "Oh, fo 
 my mind, 
 
 "I said 
 wish for y 
 
 "If she 
 the wall ; 
 
 "You n 
 faults. T 
 important 
 with trav( 
 fault? W 
 But the re 
 sinned th: 
 offended a 
 of war, s 
 against m 
 and a sure 
 
 Kmita 
 " You spej 
 
 "I amn 
 
"Ts 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 123 
 
 **Then you would have shot me, for if she had not re- 
 fused I should not have accepted a second duel. What had 
 I to fight for ? Do you know why she refused me ? " 
 
 " Why ? " repeated Kmita, like an echo. 
 
 " Because she loves you." 
 
 That was more than the exhausted strength of the sick 
 man could bear. His head fell on the pillows, a copious 
 sweat came out on his forehead, and he lay there in silence. 
 
 " I am terribly weak," said he, after a while. " How do 
 you know that she loves me ? " 
 
 " Because I have eyes and see, because I have reason and 
 observe ; just after I had received the refusal my head 
 became clear. To begin with, when after the duel I came 
 to tell her that she was free, for I had slain you, she was 
 dazed, and instead of showing gratitude she ignored me 
 entirely; second, when the Domasheviches were bringing 
 you in, she carried your head like a mother ; and third, 
 because when I visited her, she received me as if some one 
 were giving me a slap in the face. If these explanations 
 are not sufficient, it is because your reason is shaken and 
 your mind impaired." 
 
 "If that is true," said Kmita, with a feeble voice, 
 " many plasters are put on my wounds ; better balsam than 
 your words there could not be." 
 
 "But a traitor applies this balsam." 
 
 " Oh, forgive me ! Such happiness cannot find place in 
 my mind, that she has a wish for me still." 
 
 " I said that she loves you ; I did not say that she has a 
 wish for you, — that is altogether difPerent." 
 
 " If she has no wish for me, I will break my head against 
 the wall ; I cannot help it." 
 
 " You might if you had a sincere desire of effacing your 
 faults. There is war now; you may go, you may render 
 important services to our dear country, you may win glory 
 with travery, and mend your reputation. Who is without 
 fault ? Who has no sin on his conscience ? Every one has. 
 But the road to penance and correction is open to all. You 
 sinned through violence, then avoid it henceforth ; you 
 offended against the country by raising disturbance in time 
 of war, save the country now; you committed wrongs 
 against men, make reparation for them. This is a better 
 and a surer way for you than breaking your head." 
 
 Kmita looked attentively at Volodyovski ; then said, 
 " You speak like a sincere friend of mine." 
 
 "I am not your friend, but in truth I am not your enemy ; 
 
 I 
 
124 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 and I am sorry for that lady, though she refused me and I 
 said a sharp word to her in parting. I shall not hang my^ 
 self by reason of the refusal ; it is not the first for me, and 
 I am not accustomed to ti <iasure up offences. If I persuade 
 you to the right road, th;.' will be to the country a service 
 on my part, for you are a , ood and experienced soldier." 
 
 "Is there time for me to return to this road? How 
 many summonses are waiting for me ? I shall have to go 
 from the bed to the court — unless I flee hence, and I do 
 not wish to do that. How many summonses, and every 
 case a sure sentence of condemnation ! " 
 
 " Look, here is a remedy ! " said Volodyovski, taking out 
 the commission. 
 
 " A commission ! " cried Kmita ; " for whom ? " 
 
 " For you ! You need not appear at any court, for you 
 are in the hetman's jurisdiction. Hear what the prince 
 voevoda writes ma." 
 
 Volodyovski read to Kmita the private letter of Radzivill, 
 drew breath, moved his mustaches, and said, " Here, as you 
 see, it depends on me either to give you the commission or 
 to retain it." 
 
 Uncertainty, alarm, and hojie were reflected on Kmita's 
 face. " What will you do ? " asked he, in a low voice. 
 
 " I will give the commission," said Volodyovski. 
 
 Kmita said nothing at first ; he dropped his head on the 
 pillow, and looked some time at the ceiling. Suddenly his 
 eyes began to grow moist ; and tears, unknown guests in 
 those eyes, were hanging on the lashes. 
 
 "May I be torn with horses," said he at last, "may I 
 be pulled out of my skin, if I have ^een a more honorable 
 man ! If through me you have received a refusal, — if 
 Olenka, as you say, loves me, — another would have taken . 
 vengeance all the more, would have pushed me down 
 deeper; but you give your hand and draw me forth as it 
 were from the grave." 
 
 "Because I will not sacrifice to personal interests the 
 country, to which you may render notable service. But I 
 say that if you had obtained those Cossacks from Trubet- 
 skoi or Hovanski, I should have kept the commission. It 
 is your whole fortune that you did not do that." 
 
 "It is for others to take an example from you," said 
 Kmita. " Give me your hand. God permit me to repay you 
 with some good, for you have bound me in life and in death." 
 
 " Well, we will speak of that later. Now listen ! There 
 is no need of appearing before any court, but go to work. 
 
THE DELtGft. 
 
 nH 
 
 It you will render service to the Commonwealth, these 
 nobles will forgive you, for they are very sensitive to the 
 honor of the State. You may blot out your offences yet, 
 win reputation, walk in glory as in sunlight, and I know of 
 one lady who will give you a lifelong reward." 
 
 " Hei ! " cried Kiuita, in ecstasy, " why should I rot here 
 in bed when the enemy is trampling the country ? Hei ! is 
 there any one there ? Come, boy, give me my boots ; come 
 hither ! May the thunderbolts strike me in this bed if I 
 stay here longer in uselessness ! " 
 
 Volodyovski smiled with satisfaction and said, "Your 
 spirit is stronger than your body, for the body is not able to 
 serve you yet." 
 
 When he had said this he began to take farewell ; but 
 Kmita would not let him go, thanked him, and wished to 
 treat him with wine. In fact, it was well toward evening 
 when the little knight left Lyubich and directed his course 
 to Vodokty. 
 
 " I will reward her in the best fashion for her sharp word," 
 said he to himself, " when I tell her that Kmita will rise, 
 not only from his bed, but from evil fame. He is not 
 ruined yet, only very passionate. I shall comfort her won- 
 derfully too, and I think she will meet me better this time 
 than when I offered myself to her." 
 
 Here our honest Pan Michael sighed and muttered: 
 " Could it be known that there is one in the world predes- 
 tined to me ? " 
 
 In the midst of such meditations he came to Vodokty. 
 The tow-headed man of Jmud ran out to the gate, but made 
 no hurry to open ; he only said, — 
 
 " The heiress is not at home." 
 
 " Has she gone away ? " 
 
 "She has gone away." 
 
 " Whither ? " 
 
 "Who knows?" 
 
 " When will she come back ? " • 
 
 " Who knows ? " 
 
 "Speak in human fashion. Did she not say when she 
 would return ? " 
 
 "Maybe she will not return at all, for she went away with 
 wagons and bags. From that I think she has gone far for a 
 long time." 
 
 " Is that true ? " muttered Pan Michael. " See what I 
 have done ! " 
 
126 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Usually when the warm rays of the sun begin to break 
 through the wintry veil of clouds, and when the first buds 
 appear on the trees and the green fleece spreads over the 
 damp fields, a better hope enters the hearts of men. But 
 the spring of 16u5 brought not the usual comfort to the 
 afflicted inhabitants of the Commonwealth. The entire 
 eastern boundary, from the north to the wilderness or the 
 south, was bound as it were by a border of flame ; anc \e 
 spring torrents could not quench the conflagration, but tuat 
 border grew wider continually and occupied broader regions. 
 And besides there appeared in the sky signs of evil omen, 
 announcing still greater defeats and misfortunes. Time 
 after time from the clouds which swept over the heavens 
 were formed as it were lofty towers like the flanks of for- 
 tresses, which afterward rolled down with a crash. Thun- 
 derbolts struck the earth while it was still covered with 
 snow, pine-woods became yellow, and the limbs of trees 
 crossed one another in strange sickly figures ; wild beasts 
 and birds fell down and died from unknown diseases. 
 Finally, strange spots were seen on the sun, having the form 
 of a hand holding an apple, of a heart pierced through, and 
 a cross. The minds of men were disturbed more and more ; 
 monks were lost in calculating what these signs might mean. 
 A wonderful kind of disquiet seized all hearts. 
 
 New and sudden wars were foretold, God knows from 
 what source. An ominous report began to circulate from 
 mouth to mouth in villages and towns that a tempest was. 
 coming from the side of the Swedes. Apparently nothing 
 seemed to confirm this report, for the truce concluded with 
 Sweden had six years y^t to run; and still people spoke of 
 the danger of war, even at the Diet, which Yan Kazimir the 
 king had called on May 19 in Warsaw. 
 
 Anxious eyes were turned more and more to Great Poland, 
 on which the storm would come first. Leshchj'nski, the 
 voevoda of Lenchytsk, and Narushevich, chief secretary of 
 Lithuania, went on an embassy to Sweden ; but their depar- 
 ture, instead of quieting the alarmed, increased still more 
 the disquiet. 
 
 "That 
 "If a I 
 why were 
 
 Kanazy 
 Stockholn 
 nothing, 
 were sent. 
 
 Howevt 
 the possil 
 " has give 
 How coulc 
 lated, and 
 Besides, S 
 lish sabre i 
 who i' wei 
 ber of tim 
 expose sue 
 tain hazar 
 never beer 
 Commonw< 
 Prussia an 
 suffer at al 
 people bey< 
 no war." 
 
 To this 
 Diet at Wa 
 the provinc 
 boundary o 
 which wou] 
 
 And so 
 grievous m 
 when sudd( 
 Boguslav I 
 moning the 
 Kalisk for 
 ing Swedis] 
 
 Every d( 
 throughout 
 wealth. 
 
 That wai 
 reinforced I 
 Hovanski a 
 was approa 
 come a fier^ 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 127 
 
 **That embassy smells of war," wrote Yanush Radzivill. 
 
 "If a storm were not threatening from that direction, 
 why were they sent ? " asked others. 
 
 Kanazyl, the first ambassador, had barely returned from 
 Stockholm ; but it was to be seen clearly that he had done 
 nothing, since immediately after him important senators 
 were sent. 
 
 However people of more judgment did not believe yet in 
 the possibility of war. "The Common'-, ealtli," said they, 
 " has given no cause, and the truce endures in full validity. 
 How could oaths be bi*oken, the most sacred agreements vio- 
 lated, and a harmless neigiiuo- T-ttacked in robber fashion ? 
 Besides, Sweden remembers the wounds inflicted by the Po- 
 lish sabre at Kirchholm and Putsk ; and Gustavus Adolphus, 
 who i' western Europe found not his equal, yielded a imm- 
 ber of times to Pan Konyetspolski. The Swedes will not 
 expose such great military glory won in the world to uncer- 
 tain hazard before an opponent against whom t' iy have 
 never been able to stand in the field. It '.3 true that the 
 Commonwealth is exhausted and weakened by war; but 
 Prussia and Great Poland, which in the last wars did not 
 suffer at all, will of themselves be able to drive that hungry 
 people beyond the sea to their barren rocks. There will be 
 no war." 
 
 To this alarmists answered again that even before the 
 Diet at Warsaw counsel was taken by advice of the king at 
 the provincial diet in Grodno concerning the defence of the 
 boundary of Great Poland, and taxes and soldiers assigned, 
 which would not have been done unless danger was near. 
 
 And so minds were wavering between fear and hope ; a 
 grievous uncertainty weighed down the spirits of people, 
 when suddenly an end was put to it by the proclamation of 
 Boguslav Loshchynski, commander in Great Poland, sum- 
 moning the general militia of the provinces of Poznan and 
 Kalisk for the defence of the boundaries against the impend- 
 ing Swedish storm. 
 
 Every doubt vanished. The shout, " War ! " was heard 
 throughout Great Poland and all the lands of the Common- 
 wealth. 
 
 That was not only a war, but a new war. Hmelnitski, 
 reinforced by Buturlin, was raging in the south and the east ; 
 Hovanski and Trubetskoi on the north and east ; the Swede 
 was approaching from the west ! The fiery border had be- 
 come a fiery wheel. 
 
 
1^8 
 
 tliE bELUGft. 
 
 The country was like a besieged camp ; and in the camp 
 evil was happening. One traitor, Radzeyovski, had fled 
 from it, and was in the tent of the invaders. He was guid- 
 ing them to ready spoil, he was pointing out the weak sides ; 
 it was his work to tempt the garrisons. And in addition 
 there was no lack of ill will and envy, — no lack of magnates 
 quarrelling among themselves or angry with the king by 
 reason of offices refused, and ready at any moment to sacri- 
 fice the cause of the nation to their own private profit ; there 
 was no lack of dissidents wishing to celebrate their own 
 triumph even on the grave of the fatherland ; and a still 
 greater number was there of the disorderly, the heedless, 
 the slothful, and of those who were in love with themselves, 
 their own ease and well being. 
 
 Still Great Poland, a country wealthy and hitherto un- 
 touched by war, did not spare at least money for defence. 
 Towns and villages of nobles furnished as many infantry as 
 were assigned to them ; and before the nobles moved in their 
 own persons to the camp many-colored regimer.ts of land 
 infantry had moved thither under the leadership of captains 
 appointed by the provincial diet from among men experi- 
 enced in the art of war. 
 
 Pan Stanislav Dembinski led the land troops of Poznan, 
 Pan yiadyslav Vlostovski those of Kostsian, and Pan Gclts, 
 a famous soldier and engineer, those of Valets. The peas- 
 ants of Kalisk were commanded by Pan Stanislav Skshe- 
 tuski, from a stock of valiant warriors, a cousin of the 
 famous "ian from Zbaraj. Pan Katsper Jyhlinski led the 
 millers and bail'^s of Konin. From Pyzdri marched Pan 
 Stanislav Yarachevski, who had spent his youth in foreign 
 wars; from Ktsyna, Pan Pyotr Storashevski, and from 
 Naklo, Pan Kosletski. But in military experience no one 
 was equal to P?n Vladyslav Skorashevski, whose voice was 
 listened to even by the commander in Great Poland himself 
 and the voevodas. 
 
 In three places — at Pila, Uistsie, Vyelunie — had the 
 captains fixed the lines on the Notets, waiting for the arri- 
 val of the nobles summoned to the general militia. The 
 infantry dug trenches from morning till* evening, looking 
 continually toward the rear to see if the wished for cavalry 
 were coming. 
 
 The first dignitary who came was Pan Andrei Grudzinski, 
 voevoda of Kalisk. He lodged in the house of the mayor, 
 with a numerous retinue of servants arrayed in white and 
 
 blue colo: 
 
 gather ro 
 
 he sent fc 
 
 in digginj 
 
 "Whei 
 
 ings of th 
 
 "What 
 
 "Theg 
 
 A smile 
 
 swarthy 
 
 " Seren( 
 time for 
 for badly 
 washing 
 will not 
 "How 
 no one hei 
 "Not a 
 sides, the 
 home at sv 
 "What( 
 "Butth 
 nearer," re 
 The poc 
 purple. " 
 a shame fo 
 here alone 
 Pan Stai 
 me to rem 
 fching here, 
 no shame ; 
 nobles, are 
 " They h 
 "No; bu 
 the Swedes 
 "Wait!' 
 an attenda 
 paper; thei 
 hour he hac 
 and said, — - 
 "I will i 
 latest pro < 
 month), an( 
 
 VOL. I. — 
 
THfi DfiLUGE. 
 
 12§ 
 
 nski, 
 
 blue colors. He expected that the nobles of Kalisk Would 
 gather round him straightway ; but when no one appeared 
 he sent for Captain Stanislav Skshetuski, who was occupied 
 in digging trenches at the river. 
 
 " Where are my men ? " asked he, after the first greet- 
 ings of the captoin, whom he had known from childhood. 
 
 '* What men ? " asked Pan Stanislav. 
 
 " The general militia of Kalisk." 
 
 A smile of pain mingled with contempt appeared on the 
 swarthy face of the soldier. 
 
 "Serene great mighty voevoda," said he, "this is the 
 time for shearing sheep, and in Dantzig they will not pay 
 for badly washed wool. Every noble is now at a pond 
 washing or weighing, thinking correctly that the Swedes 
 will not run away." 
 
 " How is that ? " asked the troubled voevoda ; " is there 
 no one here yet ? " 
 
 " Not a living soul, except the land infantry. And, be- 
 sides, the harvest is near. A good manager will not leave 
 home at such a season." 
 
 " What do you tell me ? " 
 
 " But the Swedes will not run away, they will only come 
 nearer," repeated the captain. 
 
 The pock-pitted face of the voevoda grew suddenly 
 purple. " What are the Swedes to me ? But this will be 
 a shame for me in the presence of the other lords if I am 
 here alone like a finger." 
 
 Pan Stanislav laughed again : " Your grace will permit 
 me to remark," said he, "that the Swedes are the main 
 fching here, and shame afterward. Besides, there will be 
 no shame ; for not only the nobles of Kalisk, but all other 
 nobles, are absent." 
 
 " They have run mad ! " exclaimed Grudzinski. 
 
 " No ; but they are sure of this, — if they will not go to 
 the Swedes, the Swedes will not fail to come to them." 
 
 " Wait ! " said the voevoda. / id clapping his hands for 
 an attendant, he gave command to bring ink, pen, and 
 paper ; then he sat down and began to write. In half an 
 hour he had covered the paper ; he struck it with his hand, 
 and said, — 
 
 "I will send another call for them to be here at the 
 latest pro die 27 praesentis (on the 27th of the present 
 month), and I think that surely they will wish at this last 
 
 VOL. 1. — 9 
 
130 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 date non deesse patricn (not to fail the country). And now 
 tell me have you any news of the enemy ? " 
 
 " We have. Wittemberg is mustering his troops on the 
 fields at Dama." 
 
 " Are there many ? " 
 
 " Some say seventeen thousand, others more." 
 
 " H'm I then there will not be so many of ours. What 
 is your opinion ? Shall we be able to oppose them ? " 
 
 "If the nobles do not appear, there is nothing to talk 
 about." 
 
 " They will come ; why should they not come ? It is a 
 known fact that the general militia always delay. But 
 shall we be able to succeed with the aid of the nobles ? " 
 
 "No," replied Pan Stanislav, coolly. "Serene great 
 mighty voevoda, we have no soldiers." 
 
 " How no soldiers ? " 
 
 "Yoiir grace knows as well as I that all the regular 
 troops are in the Ukraine. Not even two squadrons were 
 sent here, though at this moment God alone knows which 
 storm is greater." 
 
 " But the infantry, and the general militia ? " 
 
 " Of twenty peasants scarcely one has seen war ; of ten, 
 one knows how to hold a gun. After the first war they 
 will be good soldiers, but they are not soldiers now. And 
 as to the general militia let your grace ask any man who 
 knows even a little about war whether the general militia 
 can stand before regulars, and besides such soldiers as the 
 Swedes, veterans of the whole Lutheran war, and accus- 
 tomed to victory." 
 
 "Do you exalt the Swedes, then, so highly above your 
 own ? " 
 
 " I do not exalt them above my own ; for if there were 
 fifteen thousand such men here as were at Zbaraj, quarter 
 soldiers and cavalry, I should have no fear. But with such 
 as we have God knows whether we can do anything worth 
 mention." 
 
 The voevoda placed his hands on his knees, and looked 
 quickly into the eyes of Pan Stanislav, as if wishing to 
 read some hidden thought in them. " What have we come 
 here fur, then ? Do you not think it better to yield ? " 
 
 Pan Stanislav spat in answer, and said: "If such a 
 thought as that has risen in my head, let your grace give 
 command to impale me on a stake. To the question do I 
 believe in victory I answer, as a soldier, th^t I do not. But 
 
 jm 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 131 
 
 why we have come here, — that is another question, to 
 which as a citizen I will answer. To offer the enemy the 
 first resistance, so that by detaining them we shall enable 
 the rest of the country to make ready and march, to re- 
 strain the invasion with our bodies until we fall one on 
 the other." 
 
 '* Your intention is praiseworthy," answered the voevoda, 
 coldly; "but it is easier for you soldiers to talk about 
 death than for us, on whom will fall all the responsibility 
 for so much noble blood shed in vain." 
 
 " What is noble blood for unless to be shed ? " 
 
 " That is true, of course. We are ready to die, for that 
 is the easiest thing of all. But duty commands us, the men 
 whom Providence has made leaders, not to seek our own 
 glory merely, but also to look for results. War is as good 
 as begun, it is true ; but still Carolus Gustavus is a rela- 
 tive of our king, and must remember this fact. Therefore 
 it is necessary to try negotiations, for sometimes more can 
 be effected by speech than by arms." 
 
 " That does not pertain to me," said Pan Stanislav, dryly. 
 
 Evidently the same thought occurred to the voevoda at 
 that moment, for he nodded and dismissed the captain. 
 
 Pan Stanislav, however, was only half right in what he 
 said concerning the delay of the nobles summoned to the 
 general militia. It was true that before sheep-shearing was 
 over few came to the camp between Pila and Uistsie ; but 
 toward the 27th of June, — that is, the date mentioned in 
 the second summons — they began to assemble in numbers 
 considerable enough. 
 
 Every day clouds of dust, rising by reason of the dry and 
 settled weather, announced the approach of fresh reinforce- 
 ments one after another. And the nobles travelled noisily 
 on horses, on wheels, and with crowds of servants, with 
 jjrovisions, with wagons, and abundance on them of every 
 kind of thing, and so loaded with weapons that many a 
 man carried arms of every description for three lances, 
 muskets, pistols, sabres, double-handed swords and hussar 
 hammers, out of use even in that time, for smashing armor. 
 Old soldiers recognized at once by these weapons men 
 unaccustomed to war and devoid of experience. 
 
 Of all the nobles inhabiting the Commonwealth just those 
 of Great Poland were the least warlike. Tartars, Turks, 
 and Cossacks had never trampled those regions which from 
 the time of the Knights of the Cross had almost forgotten 
 
 II 
 
 1:1' 
 
132 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 how war looked in the country. Whenever a noble of Great 
 Poland felt the desire for war he joined the armies of the 
 kirgdom, and fought there as well as the best ; but those who 
 jjreferred to stay ut home became real householders, in love 
 with wealth and with ease, — real agriculturists, tilling with 
 their wool and e8})ecially with their wheat the markets of 
 Prussian towns. But now when the Swedish storm swept 
 them away from their peaceful pursuits, they thought it im- 
 possible to pile up too many arms, provide too great supplies, 
 or take too many servants to protect the persons and goods 
 of the master. 
 
 They were marvellous soldiers, whom the captains could 
 not easily bring to obedience. For example, one would 
 present himself with a lance nineteen feet long, with a 
 breastplate on his breast, but with a straw hat on his head 
 " for coolness ; " another in time of drill would complain of 
 the heat ; a third would yawn, eat, or drink ; a fourth would 
 call his attendant ; and all who were in the ranks thought 
 it nothing out of the way to talk so loudly that no man 
 could hear the command of an officer. And it was difficult 
 to introduce discipline, for it offended the brotherhood ter- 
 ribly, as being opposed to the dignity of a citizen. It is 
 true that " articles " were proclaimed, but no one would 
 obey them. 
 
 An iron ball on the feet of this army was the innumerable 
 legion of wagons, of reserve and draft horses, of cattle in- 
 tended for food, and especially of the multitude of servants 
 guarding the tents, utensils, millet, grits, hash, and causing 
 on the least occasion quarrels and disturbance. 
 
 Against such an army as this w^is advancing from the 
 side of Stettin and the plains on the Oder, Arwid Wittem- 
 berg, an old leader, whose youth had been passed in the 
 thirty years' war ; he came at the head of seventeen thou- 
 sand veterans bound together by iron discipline. 
 
 On one side stood the disordered Polish camp, resembling 
 a crowd at a country fair, vociferous, full of disputes, dis- 
 cussions about the commands of leaders, and of dispatisfac- 
 tion ; composed of worthy villagers turned into prospective 
 infantry, and nobles taken straight from aheep-shearing. 
 From the other side marched terrible, silent quadrangles, 
 which at one beck of their leaders turned, with the precision 
 of machines, into lines and half-circles, unfolding into 
 wedges and triangles as regularly as a sword moves in the 
 hands of a fencer, bristling with musket-barrels and darts j 
 
 genuine 
 toined pc 
 ence cou 
 side the 
 
 The n 
 greater n 
 Poland ai 
 of attend 
 Pan Gru 
 powerful 
 red and 
 before th 
 nobles sii 
 order of 
 forms sin 
 was in a 
 whose du 
 
 The en 
 consolatiu 
 kingly mi 
 under the 
 wise and : 
 posture, c( 
 to such pc 
 
 Tothos 
 it seemed 
 to raise a 
 those who 
 felt safer 
 joyfully I 
 through w 
 of the ma 
 who was a 
 windows ( 
 answered, 
 and gravit 
 
 Barely 1 
 when coui 
 cousin was 
 ski, with 
 voda of I 
 fifty arme 
 day passei 
 zivoi Char 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 133 
 
 genuine men of war, cool, calm ; real masters who had at- 
 tained perfection in their art. Who anions men of experi- 
 ence could doubt the outcome of the meeting and on whose 
 side the victory must fall ? 
 
 The nobles, however, wore assembling in greater and 
 greater numbers ; and still earlier the dignitaries of Great 
 Voland and other i)rovinces began to meet, bringing bodies 
 of attendant troops and servants. Soon after the arrival of 
 Pan Grudzinski at Pila came Pan Kryshtof Opalinski, the 
 powerful voevoda of Poznan. Three hundred haiduks in 
 red and yellow uniforms and armed wicli muskets went 
 before the carriage of the voevoda ; a crowd of attendant 
 nobles surrounded his worthy person; following them in 
 order of battle came a division of horsemen with uni- 
 forms similar to those of the haiduks ; the voevoda himself 
 was in a carriage attended by a jester, Staha Ostrojka, 
 whose duty it was to cheer his gloomy master on the road. 
 
 The entrance of such a great dignitary gave courage and 
 consolation to all ; for those who looked on the almost 
 kingly majesty of the voevoda, on that lordly face in which 
 under the lofty vaulting of the forehead there gleamed eyes 
 wise and severe, and on the senatorial dignity of his v. hole 
 posture, could hardly believe that any evil fate could come 
 to such power. 
 
 To those accustomed to give honor to office and to person 
 it seemed that even the Swedes themselves would not dare 
 to raise a sacrilegious hand against such a magnate. Even 
 those whose hearts were beating in their breasts with alarm 
 felt safer at once under his wing. He was greeted therefore 
 joyfully and warmly ; shouts thundered along the street 
 through which the retinue pushed slowly toward the house 
 of the mayor, and all heads inclined before the voevoda, 
 who was as visible as on the palm of the hand through the 
 windows of the gilded carriage. To these bows Ostrojka 
 answered, as well as the voevoda, with the same importance 
 and gravity as if they had been given exclusively to hira. 
 
 Barely had the dust settled after the passage of Opalinski 
 when couriers rushed in with the announcement that his 
 cousin was coming, the voevoda of Podlyasye, Pyotr Opalin- 
 ski, with his brother-in-law Yakob Rozdrajevski, the voe- 
 voda of Inovratslav. These brought each a hundred and 
 fifty armed men, besides nobles and servants. Then not a 
 day passed without the arrival of dignitaries such as Send- 
 zivoi Gharnkovski; the brother-in-law of Krishtof Opalinski, 
 
 ' I 
 
134 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 and himself castellan of Kalisk ; Maksymilian Myaskovslii, 
 the castellan of Kryvinsk ; and Pavel Gembitski, the lord 
 of Myendzyrechka. The town was so filled with people 
 that houses failed for the lodging even of nobles. The 
 neighboring meadows were many-colored with the tents of 
 the general militia. One might say that all the various 
 colored birds had flown to Pila from the entire Common- 
 wealth. Red, green, blue, azure, white were gleaming on 
 the various coats and garments ; for leaving aside the gen- 
 eral militia, in which each noble wore a dress different from 
 his neighbor, leaving aside the servants of the magnates, 
 even the infantry of each district were dressed in their own 
 colors. 
 
 Shop-keepers came too, who, unable to find places in the 
 market-square, built a row of booths by the side of the town. 
 In these they sold military supplies, from clothing to arms 
 and food. Fiel^-kitchens were steaming day and night, 
 bearing away in the steam the odor of hash, roast meat, 
 millet ; in some liquors were sold. Nobles swarmed in front 
 of the booths, armed not only with swords but with spoons, 
 eating, drinking, and discussing, now the enemy not yet 
 to be seen, and now tha incoming dignitaries, on whom 
 nicknames were not spared. 
 
 Among the groups of nobles walked Ostrojka, in a dress 
 made of party-colored rags, carrying a sceptre ornamented 
 with bells, and with the mien of a simple rogue. Wher- 
 ever he showed himself men came around in a circle, and 
 he poured oil on the fire, helped them to backbite the digni- 
 taries, and gave riddles over which the nobles held their 
 sides from laughter, the more firmly the more biting the 
 riddles. 
 
 On a certain midday the voevoda of Poznan himself came 
 to the bazaar, speaking courteously with this one and that, or 
 blaming the king somewhat because in the face of this ap- 
 proaching enemy he had not sent a single squadron of 
 soldiers. 
 
 " They are not thinking of us, worthy gentlemen," said 
 he, " and leave us without assistance. They say in Warsaw 
 that even now there are too few troops in the Ukraine, and 
 that the hetmans are not able to make head against Hmei- 
 nitski. Ah, it is difficult! It is pleasanter to see the 
 Ukraine than Great Poland. We are in disfavor, worthy 
 gentlemen, in disfavor ! They have delivered us here as it 
 were to be slaughtered." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 135 
 
 " And who is to blame ? " asked Pan Shlihtyng, the 
 judge of Vskov. 
 
 " Who is to blamo for all the misfortunes of the Common- 
 wealth," asked the voevoda, — " who, unless we brother 
 nobles who shield it with our breasts ? " 
 
 The nobles, hearing this, were greatly flattered that the 
 "Count in Bnino and Opalenitsa" jmt himself on an 
 equality with them, and recognized himself in brother- 
 hood ; hence Pan Koshutski answered, — 
 
 " Serene great mighty voevoda, if there were more such 
 counsellors as your grace near his Majesty, of a certainty 
 we should not be delivered to slaughcer here ; but probably 
 those give counsel who bow lower." 
 
 " I thank you, brothers, lor the good word. The fault is 
 his who listens to evil counsellors. Our lil)erties are as salt 
 in the eye to those people. The more nobles fall, the easier 
 Avill it be to introduce ahsolutuni dommium (absolute rule)." 
 
 " Must we die, then, that our children may groan in 
 slavery ? " 
 
 The voevoda said nothing, and the nobles began to look 
 at one another and wonder. 
 
 " Is that true then ? " cried many. " Is that the reason 
 why they sent us here under the knife ? And we believe ! 
 This is not the first day that they are talking about aJbsolu- 
 turn, dominium. But if it comes to that, we shall be able to 
 think of our own heads." 
 
 " And of our children." 
 
 " And of our fortunes, which the enemy will destroy igne 
 et fetro (with fire and sword)." 
 
 The voevoda was silent. In a marvellous manner did this 
 leader add to the courage of his soldiers. 
 
 " The king is to blame for all I " was shouted more and 
 more frequently. 
 
 " But do you remember, gentlemen, the history of Yan 
 Olbracht ? " asked the voevoda. 
 
 "The nobles perished for King Olbracht. Treason, 
 brothers I " 
 
 " The king is a traitor ! " cried some bold voices. 
 
 Tb3 voevoda was silent. 
 
 Now Ostrojka, standing by the side of the voevoda., 
 struck himself a number of times on the legs, and crowed 
 like a cock with such shrillness that all eyes were turned 
 to him. Then he shouted, " Gracious lords 1 brothers, dear 
 hearts! listen to my riddle." 
 
136 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 With the genuine fickleness of March weather, the 
 stormy militia changed in one moment to curiosity and 
 desire to hear some new stroke of wit from the jester. 
 
 "We hear ! we hear !" cried a number of voices. 
 
 The jester began to wink like a monkey and to recite in a 
 squeaking voice, — 
 
 " After his brother he solaced himself with a crown and a wife, . 
 But let glory go dowu to the grave with his brother. 
 He drove out the vice-ch?,ncellor ; heuce now has the fame 
 Of being vice-chancellor to — the vice-chancellor's wife." 
 
 " The king ! the king ! As alive ! Yau Kazimir ! " they 
 began to ci- v from every side ; and laughter, mighty as 
 thunder, w?.3 heard in the crowd. 
 
 " May the bullets strike him, what a masterly explana^ 
 tion ! " cried the nobles. 
 
 The voevoda laughed with the others, and when it liad 
 grown somewhat calm he said, with increased dignity: 
 " And for this affair we must pay now with our blood and 
 our heads. See what it has come to! Here, jester, is a 
 ducat for thy good verse." 
 
 " Kryshtofek ! Krysh dearest ! " said Ostrojka, " why 
 attack others because they keep jesters, when thou not only 
 keepest me, but payest separately for riddles ? Give me 
 another ducat and I '11 tell thee another riddle." 
 
 " Just as good ? " 
 
 " As good, only longer. Give me the ducat first." 
 
 « Here it if ! " 
 
 The jester slapped his sides with his hands, as a cock 
 with his wings, crowed again, and cried out, " Gracious 
 gentlemen, listen ! Who is this ? '* 
 
 " He complains of self-seeking, stands forth as a Cato; 
 Instead of a sabre he took a goose's tail-feather 
 He wantetl the legacy of a traitor, and not getting that 
 He lashed the whole Commonwealth with a biting rhyme. 
 
 "God grant him love for the sabre ! less woe would it bring. 
 Of his satire the Swedes have no fear. 
 But he has barely tasted the hardships of war 
 When following a traitor he is ready to betray his king." 
 
 All present guessed that riddle as well as the first. Two 
 or three laughs, smothered at the same ins*-ant, were heard 
 in the assembly ; then a deep silence fell. 
 
 The voevoda grew purple, and he was the laore confused 
 
 In that a 
 jester lo 
 said, «N 
 
 When 
 most ins 
 too not V 
 know? 
 
 « Herd 
 
 "God 
 not perc 
 Radzeyo 
 
 "No 
 his cap 
 I must g< 
 
 "To t: 
 added Os 
 cil how 
 imitating 
 gentleme' 
 
 Both \ 
 when an 
 the voevc 
 the gener 
 
 The CO 
 Poznan p 
 dignitarie 
 the magn 
 low the e 
 Ukraine 
 
 In liitl 
 a chancel] 
 body red 
 in the st 
 ambushes 
 In Great 
 though tl 
 general n 
 time of w 
 courage o 
 in former 
 were una 
 scholars, 
 was teacl 
 
 The di 
 
tm mtm% 
 
 137 
 
 In that all eyes were fixed on him at that moment. But the 
 jester looked on one noble and then on another ; at last h» 
 said, " None of you gentlemen can guess who that is ? " 
 
 When silence was the only answer, he turned with the 
 most insolent mien to the voevoda : " And thou, dost thou 
 too not know of what rascal the speech is ? Dost thou not 
 know ? Then pay me a ducat." 
 
 " Here I " said the voevoda. 
 
 "God reward thee. But tell me, Krysh, hast thou 
 not perchance tried to get the vice-chancellorship after 
 Radzeyovski ? " 
 
 "No time for jests," replied Opalinski; and removing 
 his cap to all present: -'With the foreliead, gentlemen! 
 I must go to the council of war." 
 
 " To the family ^jouncil thou didst wish to say, Krysh," 
 added Ostrojka; "for there all thy relatives will hold coun- 
 cil how to be off." Then he turned to the nobles and 
 imitating the voevoda in bis bows, he added, "And to you, 
 gentlemen, ♦^hat 's the play." 
 
 Both withdrew; but they had barely gone a iew steps 
 when an immense outburst of laughter struck the ears oi 
 the voevoda, and thundered long before it was drov/ned in 
 the general noise of the camp. 
 
 The council of war was held in fact, and the voevoda of 
 Poznan presided. That was a strange council ! Those very 
 dignitaries took part in it who knew nothing of war ; for 
 the magnates of Great Poland did not and could not fol- 
 low the example of those " kinglets " of Lithuania or the 
 Ukraine who lived in continual fire like salamaiiders. 
 
 In Lithuania or the Ukraine whoever was a voevoda or 
 a chancellor was a leader whose armor pressed out on his 
 body red stripes which never left it, whose youth was spent 
 in the steppes or the forests on the eastern border, in 
 ambushes, battles, struggles, pursuits, in camp or in tabors. 
 In Great Poland at this time dignitaries were in office who, 
 though they had marched in times of necessity with the 
 general militia, had never held positions of command in 
 time of war. Pi ''found peace had put to sleep the military 
 courage of the descendants of those warriors, before whom 
 in former dc-ys the iron legions of the Knights of the Cross 
 were unable to stand, and turned them into civilians, 
 scholars, and writers. Now the stern school of Sweden 
 was teaching them what they had forgotten. 
 
 The dignitaries assembled in council looked at one an- 
 
 ' 
 
 • '<' il 
 
Mi 
 
 138 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 1. ;;{{ 
 I 
 
 I'tl ■1^ 
 
 other with uncertain eyes, and each feared to speak first, 
 waiting for what "Agamemnon," voevoda of Poznan, would 
 say. 
 
 But "Agamemnon" himself knew simply nothing, and 
 began his speech again with complaints of the ingratituu • 
 and sloth of the king, of the frivolity with which all Great 
 Poland and they wore delivered to the sword. But how 
 eloquent was He ; what a majestic figure did he present, 
 worthy in truth of a Roman senator ! He held his head 
 erect while speaking ; his dark eyes shot lightnings, his 
 mouth thunderbolts; his iron-gray beard trembled with ex- 
 citement when he described the future misfortunes of the land. 
 
 "For in what does the fatherland suffer," said he, "if 
 not in its sons ? and we here suffer, first of all. Through 
 our private lands, through our private fortunes won by the 
 services and blood of our ancestors, will advance the feet of 
 those enemies who now like a storm are approaching from 
 the sea. And why do we suffer ? For what will they 
 take our herds, trample our harvests, burn our villages built 
 by our labor ? Have we wronged Radzeyovski, who, con- 
 demned unjustly, hunted like a criminal, had to seek the pro- 
 tection of strangers ? No ! Do we insist that that empty 
 title "King of Sweden," which has cost so much blood al- 
 ready, should remain with the signature of our Yan Kazi- 
 mir ? No ! Two wars are blazing on two boundaries; was 
 it needful to call forth a third ? Who was to blame, may 
 God, may the country judge him ! We wash our hands, for 
 we are innocent of the blood which will be shed." 
 
 And thus the voevoda thundered on further : but when it 
 came to the question in hand he was not able to give the 
 desired advice. 
 
 They sent then for the captains leading the land infantry, 
 and specially for Vladyslav Skorashevski, who was not only 
 a famous and incomparable knight, but an old, practised 
 soldier, knowing war as he did the Lord's Prayer. In fact, 
 genuine leaders listened frequently to his advice ; all the 
 more eagerly was it sought for now. 
 
 Pan Skorashevski advised then to establish three camps, 
 — ac Pila, Vyelunie, and Uistsie, — so near one another 
 that in time of attack they might give mutual aid, and be- 
 sides this to cover with trenches the Avhole extent of the 
 river-bank occupied by a half-circle of camps which were to 
 command the passage. 
 
 " When we know," said Skorashevski, " the place where 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 139 
 
 id 
 
 ,o 
 
 •e 
 
 the enemy will attempt the crossing, we shall unite from all 
 three camps and give him proper resistance. But I with 
 the permission of your great mighty lordships, will go with 
 a small party to Chaplinko. That is a lost position, and in 
 time I shall withdraw from it ; uut there I shall first get 
 knowledge of the enemy, and then will inform your great 
 mighty lordships." 
 
 All accepted this counsel, and men began to move around 
 somewhat more briskly in the camp. At last the nobles 
 assembled to the number of fifteen thousand. The land in- 
 fantry dug trenches over an extent of six miles. Uistsie, 
 the chief position, was occupied by the voevoda of Poznau 
 and his men. A part of the knights remained in Vyelunie, 
 a part in Pila, and Vladyslav Skorashevski went to Cha- 
 plinko to observe the enemy. 
 
 July began ; all the days were clear and hot. The sun 
 burned on the plains so violently that the nobles hid in the 
 woods between the trees, under the shade of which some of 
 them gave orders to set up their tents. There also they 
 had noisy and boisterous feasts ; and still more of an uproar 
 was made by the servants, especially at the time of washing 
 and watering the horses which, to the number of several 
 thousand at once, were driven thrice each day to the Notets 
 and Berda, quarrelling and fighting for the best approach 
 to the bank. But in the beginning there was a good spirit 
 in the camp; only the voevoda of Poznan himself acted 
 rather to weaken it. 
 
 If Wittemberg had come in the first days of July, it is 
 likely that he would have met a mighty resistance, which in 
 proportion as the men warmed to battle might have been 
 turned into an invincible rage, of which there were often 
 examples. For still there flowed knightly blood in the 
 veins of these people, though thej* had grown unaccustomed 
 to war. 
 
 Who knows if another Teremi Vishnyevetski might not 
 have changed Uistsie into another Zbaraj, and described in 
 those trenches a new illustrious career of knighthood? 
 Unfortunately the voevoda of Poznan was a man who could 
 only write ; he knew nothing of war. 
 
 Wittemberg, a leader knowing not merely war but men, 
 did not hasten, perhaps on purpose. Experience of long 
 years had taught him that a newly enrolled soldier is most 
 dangerous in the first moments of enthusiasm, and that 
 often not bravery is lacking to him, but soldierly endurance, 
 
140 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 which practice alone can develop. More than once have 
 new soldiers struck like a storm on the oldest regiments, v 
 and passed over their corpses. They are iron which while 
 it is hot quivers, lives, scatters sparks, burns, destroys, but 
 which when it grows cold is a mere lifeless lump. 
 
 In fact, when a week had passed, a second, and the third 
 had come, long inactivity began to weigh upon the general 
 militia. The heat became greater each day. The nobles 
 would not go to drill, and gave as excuse that their horses 
 tormented by flies would not stand in line, and as to marshy 
 places they could not live from mosquitoes. Servants raised 
 greater and greater quarrels about shady places, concerning 
 which it came to sabres among their masters. This or that 
 one coming home in the evening from the water rode off to 
 one side from the camp not to return. 
 
 Evil example from above was also not wanting. Pan 
 Skorashevski had given notice from Chaplinko that the 
 Swedes were not distant, when at the military council Zyg- 
 munt Grudzinski gcb leave to go home ; on this leave his 
 uncle Andrei Grudzinski, voevoda of Kalisk, had greatly 
 insisted. " I have to lay down my head and my life here," 
 said he; "let my nephew inherit after me my memory and 
 glory, so that my services may not be lost." Then he grew 
 tender over the youth and innocence of his nephew, praising 
 the liberality with which he had furnished one hundred 
 very choice soldiers ; and the military council granted the 
 prayer of the uncle. 
 
 On the morning of July 16, Zygmunt with a few ser- 
 vants left the camp openly for home, on the eve almost of 
 a siege and a battle. Crowds of noblps conducted him amid 
 jeering cries to a distance beyond the camp. Ostrojka led 
 the party, and shouted from afar after the departing, — 
 
 "Worthy Pan Zygmunt, I give thee a shield, and as 
 third name Deest ! " ^ 
 
 " Vivat l>eest-Grudzinski ! " 
 
 " But weep not for thy uncle," continued Ostrojka. " He 
 despises the Swedes as much as thou ; and let them only 
 show themselves, he will surely turn his back on them." 
 
 The blood of the young magnate rushed to his face, but 
 he pretended not to hear the insults. He put spurs to his 
 horse, however, and pushed aside the crowds, so as to be 
 away from the camp and his persecutors as soon as possible, 
 
 1 Deest = lacking. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 141 
 
 who at last, without consideration for the birth and dig- 
 nity of the departing, began to throw clods of earth at 
 him and to cry, — 
 
 " Here is a gruda, Grudzinski ! * You hare, you 
 coward ! " 
 
 They made such an uproar that the voevoda of Poznan 
 hastened up with a number of captains to quiet them, and 
 explain that Grudzinski had taken leave only for a week on 
 very urgent affairs. 
 
 Still the evil example had its effect ; and tha*" 3ame day 
 there were several hundred nobles who did not wish to be 
 worse than Grudzinski, though they slipped away with 
 less aid and more quietly. Stanislav Skshetuski, a cap- 
 tain from Kalisk and cousin of the famous Yan of Zbaraj, 
 tore the hair on his head ; for his land infantry, following 
 the example of " officers," began to desert from the camp. 
 A new council of war was held in which crowds of nobles 
 refused absolutely to take part. A stormy night followed, 
 full of shouts and quarrels. They suspected one another 
 of the intention to desert. Cries of " Either all or none ! " 
 flew from mouth to mouth. 
 
 Every moment reports were given out that the voevodas 
 were departing, and such an uproar prevailed that the 
 voevodas had to show themselves several times to the 
 excited multitude. A number of thousands of men were on 
 their horses before daybreak. But the voevoda of Poznan 
 rode between the ranks with uncovered head like a Roman 
 senator, and repeated from moment to moment the great 
 words, — 
 
 " Worthy gentlemen, I am with you to live and die." 
 
 He was received in some places with vivats ; in others 
 shouts of derision were thundering. The moment he had 
 pacified the crowd he returned to the council, tired, hoarse, 
 carried away by the grandeur of his own words, and con- 
 vinced that he had rendered inestimable service to his 
 country that night. But at the council he had fewer words 
 in his mouth, twisted his beard, and pulled his foretop from 
 despair, repen ting, — 
 
 "Give counsel if you can; I wash my hands of the 
 future, for it is impossible to make a defence with such 
 soldiers." 
 
 "Serene great mighty voevoda," answered Stanislav 
 
 ^ The name Grudzinski is derived from groda = clod. 
 
 -I 
 
 it 
 i|H! 
 
142 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 IP 
 
 Skshetuski, "the enemy will drive away that turbulence 
 and uproar. Only let the cannon play, only let it come to 
 defence, to a siege, these very nobles in defence of their 
 own lives must serve on the ramparts and not be disorderly 
 in camp. So it has happened more than once." 
 
 " With what can we defend ourselves ? We have no 
 cannon, nothing but saluting pieces good to lire off in time 
 of a feast." 
 
 " At Zbaraj Hraelnitski had seventy cannon, and Prince 
 Veremi only a few eight-pounders and mortars." 
 
 "But he had an army, not militia, — his own squadrons 
 famed in the world, not country nobles fresh from sheep- 
 shearing." 
 
 " Send for Pan Skorashevski," said the castellan of Poz- 
 nan. " Make him commander of the camp. He is at peace 
 with the nobles, and will be able to keep them in order." 
 
 " Send for Skorkshevski. Why should he be in Drahim 
 or Chaplinko ? " repeated Yendrei Grudzinski, the voevoda 
 of Kalisk. 
 
 "Yes, that is the best counsel !" cried other voices. 
 
 A courier was despatched for Skorashevski. No other 
 decisions were taken at the council ; but they talked much, 
 and complained of the king, the queen, the lack of troops, 
 and negligence. 
 
 The following morning brought neither relief nor calm 
 spirits. The disorder had become still greater. Some gave 
 out reports that the dissidents, namely the Calvinists, were 
 favorable to the Swedes, and ready on the first occasion to 
 go over to the enemy. What was more, this news was not 
 contradicted by Pan Shlihtyng nor by Edmund and Yatsck 
 Kurnatovski, also Calvinists, but sincerely devoted to the 
 country. Besides they gave final proof that the dissidents 
 formed a separate circle and consulted with one another 
 under the lead of a noted disturber and cruel man. Pan 
 Rei, who serving in Germany during his youth as a volun- 
 teer on the Lutheran side, was a great friend of the Swedes. 
 Scarcely had this suspicion gone out among the nobles 
 when several thousand sabres were gleaming, and a real 
 tempest rose in the camp. 
 
 "Let us punish the traitors, punish the serpents, ready 
 to bite the bosom of their mother ! " cried the nobles. 
 
 " Give them this way ! " 
 
 " Cut them to pieces ! Treason is most infectious, worthy 
 gentlemen. Tear out the cockle or we shall all perish I " 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 143 
 
 The voevodas and captains had to i)acify the in again, but 
 this time it was more difficult than the day before. Be- 
 sides, they were themselves convinced that Rei was ready 
 to betray his country in the most open manner ; for he was 
 a man completely foreignized, and except his language had 
 nothing Polish in him. It was decided therefore to send 
 him out of the camp, which at once pacified somewhat the 
 angry multitude. Still shouts continued to burst forth for 
 a long time, — 
 
 " Give them here ! Treason, treason ! " 
 
 Wonderful conditions of mind reigned finally in the 
 camp. Some fell in courage and were sunk in grief ; others 
 walked in silence, with uncertain steps, along the ramparts, 
 casting timid and gloomy glances along the plains over 
 which the enemy had to approach, or communicated in 
 whispers worse and worse news. Others were possessed 
 of a sort of desperate, mad joy and readiness for death. In 
 consequence of this readiness they arranged feasts and 
 drinking-bouts so as to pass the last days of life in rejoic- 
 ing. Some thought of saving their souls, and spent the 
 nights in prayer. But in that whole throng of men no one 
 thought of victory, as if it were altogether beyond reach. 
 Still the enemy had not superior forces; they had more 
 cannon, better trained troops, and a leader who understood 
 war. 
 
 And while in this wise on one side the Polish camp was 
 seething, shouting, and feasting, rising up with a roar, 
 dropping down to quiet, like a sea lashed by a whirlwind, 
 while the general militia were holding diets as in time of 
 electing a king, on the other side, along the broad green 
 meadows of the Oder, pushed forward in calmness the 
 legions of Sweden. 
 
 In front marched a brigade of the royal guard, led by 
 Benedykt Horn, a terrible soldier, whose name was repeated 
 in Germany with fear. The soldiers were chosen men, 
 large, wearing lofty helmets with rims covering their ears, 
 in yellow leather doublets, armed with rapiers and mus- 
 kets ; cool and constant in battle, ready at every beck of 
 the leader. 
 
 Karl Schedding, a German, led the West Gothland bri- 
 gade, formed of two regiments of infantry and one of heavy 
 cavalry, dressed in armor without shoulder-pieces. Half of 
 the infantry had muskets ; the others spears. At the begin- 
 ning of a battle the musketeers stood in front, but in case 
 
144 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 P 
 I 
 
 
 of attack by cavalry they stood behind the spearmen, who, 
 placing each thn butt of his spear in the ground, held the 
 point againbt the onrushing horses. At a battle in the time 
 of Sigismund III. one squadron of hussars cut to pieces with 
 their sabres and with hoofs this same West Gothland bri- 
 gade, in which at present Germans served mainly. 
 
 The two Smaland brigades v/P'V) led by Irwin, surnanied 
 Handless, for he had losl 'i -^t hand on a time while 
 
 defending his flag; but to . ke i^ for this loss he had in 
 his left such strength that y/ii'i one ! -ow he could hew off 
 the head of a horse. He was a gloomy warrior, loving bat- 
 tles and bloodshed alone, stern to himself and to soldiers. 
 While other captains trained themselves in continual wars 
 into follower^ of a craft, and loved war for its own sake, he 
 remained the same fanatic, and while slaying men he sang 
 psalms to the Lord. 
 
 The brigade of Westrmanland marched under Draken- 
 borg ; and that of Helsingor, formed of sharpshooters famed 
 through the world, under Gustav Oxenstiern, a relative of 
 the renowned chancellor, — a young soldier who roused great 
 hopes. Fersen commanded the East Gothland brigade ; the 
 Nerik and Werland brigades were directed by Wittemberg 
 himself, who at the same time was supreme chief of the 
 whole army. 
 
 Seventy-two cannon pounded out furrows in the moist 
 meadows ; of soldiers there were seventeen thousand, the 
 tierce plunderers of all Germany, and in battle they were 
 so accurate, especially the infantry, that the French royal 
 guard could hardly compare with them. After the regi- 
 ments followed the wagons and t^ents. The regiments 
 marched in line, ready each moment for battle. A forest of 
 lanoes was bristling above the mass of heads, helmets, and , 
 hats ; and in the midst of that forest flowed on toward the 
 frontier of Poland the great blue banners with white crosses 
 in the centre. With each day the distance decreased be- 
 tween the two armies. 
 
 At last on July 27, in the forest at the village of Hein- 
 richsdorf, the Swedish legions beheld for the first time the 
 boundary pillar of Poland. At sight of this the whole army 
 gave forth a mighty shout; trumpets and druma thundered, 
 and all the flags were unfurled. Wittemberp rode to the 
 front attended by a brilliant staff, and all the regiments 
 passed before him, presenting arms, — the cavalry with 
 drawn rapiers, the cannon with lighted matches. The time 
 
 was mi 
 brought 
 
 The 
 road ov« 
 ing out 
 When t 
 est, thei 
 ing with 
 with oa^ 
 there ou 
 rose bits 
 grazing, 
 spread, 
 
 A cert 
 that lane 
 its arms < 
 not inva 
 
 At thii 
 all the s 
 accustom 
 land. T: 
 with des 
 appeared 
 
 But thi 
 War, exp 
 that grai] 
 people, vi 
 living in 
 three tho 
 eighteen 
 cottages 
 told tales 
 Fresher j 
 Gustavua 
 who had 
 via, ere 1 
 talons on 
 
 Theref 
 hearts of 
 chief, Wi 
 passing r 
 which a i 
 rear man, 
 wig fallii 
 
 TOL. I 
 
THE DELUGB. 
 
 145 
 
 
 be- 
 
 was midday ; the weather glorious. The forest breeze 
 brought the odor of resin. 
 
 The gray road, covered with the rays of the sun, — the 
 road over which the Swedish regiments had passed, — bend- 
 ing out of the Heinrichsdorf forest, was lost on the horizon. 
 When the troops marching by it had finally passed the for- 
 est, their glances discovered a gladsome land, smiling, shin- 
 ing with yellow fields of every kind of grain, dotted in places 
 with oak groves, in places green from meadows. Here and 
 there out of groups of trees, behind oak groves andfar away 
 rose bits of smoke to the sky ; on the grass herds were seen 
 grazing. Where on the meadows the water gleamed widely 
 spread, walked storks at their leisure. 
 
 A certain calm and sweetness was spread everywhere over 
 that land flowing with milk and honey, and it seemed to open 
 its arms ever wider and wider before the army, as if it greeted 
 not invaders but guests coming with God. 
 
 At this sight a new shout was wrested from the bosoms of 
 all the soldiers, especially the Swedes by blood, who were 
 accustomed to the bare, poor, wild nature of their native 
 land. The hearts of a plundering and needy people rose 
 with desire to gather those treasures and riches which 
 appeared before their eyes. Enthusiasm seized the ranks. 
 
 But the soldiers, tempered in the fire of the Thirty Years' 
 War, expected that this would not come to them easily ; for 
 that grainland was inhabited by a numerous and a knightly 
 people, who knew how to defend it. The memory was still 
 living in Sweden of the terrible defeat of Kirchholm, where 
 three thousand cavalry under Hodkyevich ground into dust 
 eighteen thousand of the best troops of Sweden. In the 
 cottages of West Gothland, Smaland, or Delakarlia they 
 told tales of those winged knights, as of giants from a saga. 
 Fresher still was the memory of the struggles in the time of 
 Gustavus Adolphus, for the warriors were not yet extinct 
 who had taken part in them. But that eagle of Scandina- 
 via, ere he had flown twice through all Germany, broke his 
 talons on the legions of Konyetspolski. 
 
 Therefore with the gladness there was joined in the 
 hearts of the Swedes a certain fear, of which the supreme 
 chief, Wittemberg himself, was not free. He looked on the 
 passing regiments of infantry and cavalry with the eye with 
 which a shepherd looks on his flock ; then he turned to the 
 rear man, who wore a hat with a featiber, and a light-colored 
 wig falling to his shoulders. 
 
 TOL. I. — 10 
 
 
 i Hi 
 
146 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ■ 
 
 " Your grace, assiiros me," said he, "that with these forces 
 it is possible to break the army occupying Uistsie ? " 
 
 The man with the light wig smiled and answered : " Your 
 grace may rely completely on my words, for which 1 am 
 ready to pledge my head. If at Uistsie there were regular 
 troops and some one of the hetmans, I first would give 
 (counsel not to hasten, but to wait till his royal Grace 
 should come with the whole army ; but against the general 
 militia and those gentlemen of Great Poland our forces will 
 be more than sufHcient." 
 
 " But have not reinforcements come to them ? " 
 
 " Reinforcements have not come for two reasons, — first, 
 because all the regular troops, of which there are not many, 
 are occupied in Lithuania and the Ukraine; second, because 
 in Warsaw neither the King Yan Kazimir, the chancellor, nor 
 the senate will believe to this moment that his royal Grace 
 Karl Gustav luis really begun war in spite of the truce, and 
 notwithstanding the last embassies and his readiness to 
 compromise. They are confident that peace will be made at 
 the last hour, — ha, ha! " 
 
 Here the rear man removed his hat, wiped the sweat 
 from his red face, and added : " Trubetskoi and Dolgoruki 
 in Lithuania, Hmelnitski in the Ukraine, and we entering 
 Great Poland, — behold what the government of Yan Kazi- 
 mir has led to." 
 
 Wittemberg gazed on him with a look of astonishment, 
 and asked, "But, your grace, do you rejoice at the 
 thought ? " 
 
 " I rejoice at the thought, for my wrong and my inno- 
 cence will be avenged ; and besides 1 see, as on the palm of 
 my hand, that the sabre of your grace and my counsels will 
 place that new and most beautiful crown in the world oii 
 the head of Karl Gustav." 
 
 Wittemberg turned his glance to the distance, embraced 
 with it the oak-groves, the meadows, the grain-fields, and 
 after a while said : " True, it is a beautiful country and fer- 
 tile. Your grace may be sure that after the war the 
 king will give the chancellorship to no one else but 
 you." 
 
 The man in the rear removed his cap a second time. 
 " And I, for my part, wish to have no other lord," added 
 he, raising his eyes to heaven. 
 
 The heavens were clear and fair ; no thunderbolt fell and 
 crushed to the dust the traitor who delivered his country, 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 groanin 
 power ( 
 
 The 
 Radzey 
 to Swec 
 
 They 
 brigade 
 dary ; 
 trumpet 
 drums 
 forest y> 
 Radzey 
 
 " Oxe 
 afraid t 
 not kno 
 with let 
 
 "Itw 
 at the CI 
 there ; 
 
 "But 
 
 "Rei 
 they sho 
 will giv( 
 know th 
 merely t 
 Our wh( 
 grace m£ 
 not fall j 
 soon for 
 
 "And 
 effect ? " 
 
 Radze; 
 tell what 
 and lear 
 ously am 
 a Romar 
 to begin 
 his bloo( 
 honor, ai 
 to fall fc 
 
 Radze; 
 Witteml: 
 
 "Youi 
 as he wr; 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 147 
 
 and 
 
 raced 
 and 
 fer- 
 tile 
 but 
 
 groaning under two war8 already and exhausted, to the 
 power of the enemy on that boundary. 
 
 The man conversing with Wittemberg was Hieronim 
 Radzeyovski, late uuder-chancellor of the Crown, now sold 
 to Sweden in hostility to his (lountry. 
 
 They stood a time in sih'iuu*. iMeanwhile the last two 
 brigades, those of Nerik and Wcrmland, i)a88ed the boun- 
 dary ; after them others began to draw in the cannon ; the 
 trumpets still played unceasingly; the roar and rattle of 
 drums outsounded tho tramp of tho soldiers, and filled the 
 forest with ominous echoes. At last the staff moved also. 
 Radzeyovski rode at the side of WitteniVxjrg. 
 
 " Oxenstiern is not to be seen," said Wittemberg. " I am 
 afraid that something may have, happened to him. I do 
 not know whether it was wise to send him as a trumpeter 
 with letters to Uistsie." 
 
 " It was wise," answered Radzeyovski, " for he will look 
 at the camp, will see the leaders, and learn Avliat they think 
 there ; and this any kind of camp-follower could pot do." 
 
 " But if they recognize him ? " 
 
 " Rei alone knows him, and he is ours. Besides, even if 
 they should recognize him, they will do him no harm, but 
 will give him supplies for the road and reward him. I 
 know the Poles, and I know they are ready for anything, 
 merely to show themselves polite people before strangers. 
 Our whole effort is to win the praise of strangers. Your 
 grace may be at rest concerning Oxenstiern, for a hair will 
 not fall from his head. He has not come because it is too 
 soon for his return." 
 
 "And does your grace think our letters will have any 
 effect?" 
 
 Radzeyovski laughed. "If your grace permits, I will fore- 
 tell what will happen. The voevoda of Poznan is a polished 
 and learned man, therefore he will answer us very courte- 
 ously and very graciously ; but because he loves to pass for 
 a Roman, his answer will be terribly Roman. He will say, 
 to begin with, that he would rather shed the last drop of 
 his blood than surrender, that death is better than dis- 
 honor, and the love which he bears his country directs him 
 to fall for her on the boundary." 
 
 Radzeyovski laughed still louder. The stem face of 
 Wittemberg brightened also. 
 
 " Your grace does not think that he will be ready to act 
 as he writes ? " asked Wittemberg. 
 
 ,J 
 
148 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 "He?" answered Radzeyovski. "It is true that he 
 nourishes a love for his country, but with ink ; and that is 
 not over-strong food. His love is in fact more scare than 
 that of his jester who helps him to put rhymes together. I 
 am certain that alter that Roman answer will come good 
 wishes for health, success, offers of service, and at last a 
 request to spare his property and that of his relatives, for 
 which again he with all nis relatives will be thankful." 
 
 " And what at last will be the result of our letters ?" 
 
 " The courage of the other side will weaken to the last 
 degree, senators will begin to negotiate with us, and we 
 shall occupy all Great Poland after perhaps a few shots in 
 the air.'' 
 
 " Wonld that your grace be a true prophet I " 
 
 " I am certain that it will be as I say, for I know these 
 people. I have friends and adherents in the whole country, 
 and I know how tp begin. And th'it I shall neglect nothing 
 is made sure by the wrong which I endure from Yan Kazi- 
 mir, and my love for Kitri Gustav. People with us are 
 more tender at present about their own fortunes than the 
 integrity of the Commonwealth. All those lands upon 
 which we shall now march are the estates of the Opalinskis, 
 the Charnkovskis, the Grudzinskis; and because they are 
 at Uistsie in person they will be milder in negotiating. As 
 to the nobles, if only their freedom of disputing at the 
 diets is guaranteed, they will follow the voevodas." 
 
 " By knowledge of the country and the j)eople your grace 
 renders the king unexampled service, which cannot remain 
 without an equally noteworthy reward. Therefore from 
 what you say I conclude that I may look on this land as 
 ours." 
 
 "You may, your grace, you may, you may,*"' repea+ed 
 Radzeyovski hurriedly, a number of times. 
 
 " Therefore I occupy it in the name of his Royal Grace 
 Karl Gustav," answered Witteraberg, solemnly. 
 
 While the Swedish troops were thus beginning beyond 
 Heinrichsdorf to walk on the land of Great Poland, and 
 even earlier, for it was on July 18, a Swedish trumpeter 
 arrived at the Polish camp with letters from Radzeyovski 
 and Wittemberg to the voevodas. 
 
 Vladyslav Skorashevski himself conducted the trumpeter 
 to the voevoda of Poznan, and the nobles of the general 
 militia gazed with curiosity on the " first Swede," wonder- 
 ing at his valiant bearing, his manly face, his blond mus- 
 
 taches, 1 
 really lo 
 acquaint 
 their fin 
 round 1 
 called a 
 The Sw^ 
 hat, as 
 forces, a 
 whose o 
 last he 
 grouped 
 
 The U 
 The voe\ 
 be entert 
 the atter 
 began to 
 
 r \n S 
 tiny ; bu 
 disguise, 
 to the vc 
 and did 
 
 "Thou 
 hither as 
 addition 
 road." 
 
 The tn 
 with tho! 
 towns, ur 
 won by ^ 
 iug again 
 hitherto 
 nobles w 
 aggeratec 
 
 That ] 
 midnight 
 separate 
 deliberat 
 and the i 
 of the Sv 
 
 With i 
 peter ab( 
 method ( 
 from mc 
 
THE T>ELUOE. 
 
 149 
 
 taches, the ends combed upvard in a broad brush, and his 
 really lordlike mien. Crowds followed him to the voevoda ; 
 acquaintances called to one another, pointing him out with 
 their fingers, laughed somev/hat at his boots with enormous 
 round legs, and at the long straight rapier, which they 
 called a spit, hanging from a belt richly worked with silver. 
 The Swede also cast curious glances from under his broad 
 hat, as if wishing to examine the camp and estimate the 
 forces, and then looked repeatedly at the crowd of nobles 
 whose oriental costumes were apparently novel to him. At 
 last he was brought to the voevoda, around whom were 
 grouped all the dignitaries in the camp. 
 
 The letters were read immediately, and a counc'l \\e\0. 
 The voevoda committed the trumpeter to his attendaiiis to 
 be entertained in soldier fashion ; the nobles took him from 
 the attendants, and wondering at the man as a curiosity, 
 began to drink for life and death with him. 
 
 Vm Skorashevski looked at the Swede with equal scru- 
 tiny ; but because he suspected him to be some officer in 
 disguise, he went in fact to convey that idea in the evening 
 to the voevoda. The latter, however, said it was all one, 
 and did not permit his arrest. 
 
 "Though he were Wittemberg himself, he has come 
 hither as an envoy and should go away unmolested. In 
 addition I command you to give him ten ducats for the 
 road." 
 
 The trumpeter meanwhile was talking in broken German 
 with those nobles who, through intercourse with Prussian 
 towns, understood that language. He told them of victories 
 won by Wittemberg in various lands, of the forces march- 
 ing against Uistsie, and especially of the cannon of a range 
 hitherto unknown and which could not be resisted. The 
 nobles were troubled at this, and no small number of ex- 
 aggerated accounts began U circulate through the camp. 
 
 That night scarcely any one slept in Uistsie. About 
 midnight those men came iii who had stood hitherto in 
 separate camps, at Pila and Vyelunie. The dignitaries 
 deliberated over their answer to the letters till daylight, 
 and the nobles passed the time in stories about the power 
 of the Swedes. 
 
 With a certain feverish curiosity they asked the trum- 
 peter about the leaders of the army, the weapons, the 
 method of fighting; and every answer of his was given 
 from mouth to mouth. The nearness of the Swedish 
 
! 
 
 150 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 |l ! 
 
 i\ 
 
 legions lent unusual interest to all the details, which were 
 not of a character to give consolation. 
 
 A.bout daylight Stanislav Skshetuski came with tidings^ 
 that the Swedes had arrived at Valch, one. day's march from 
 the Polish camp. There rose at once a terrible hubbub; 
 most of the horses with the servants were at pasture on 
 the meadows. They were sent for then with all haste. 
 Distilcts mounted and formed squadrons. The moment 
 before battle was for the untrained soldier the most terrible ; 
 therefore before the captains were able to introduce any kind 
 of systom there reigned for a long time desperate disorder. 
 
 Neither commands nor trumpets could be heard ; nothing 
 but voices crying on every side : " Yan ! Pyotr ! Onufri ! 
 This way ! I wish thou wert killed ! Bring the horses I 
 Whei^ are my men ? Yan ! Pyotr ! " If at that moment 
 one cannon-shot had been heard, the disorder might easily 
 have been turned to a panic. 
 
 Gradually, however, the districts were ranged in order. 
 The inborn capacity of the nobles for war made up for the 
 want of experience, and about midday the camp presented 
 an appearance imposing enough. The infantry stood on 
 the ramparts looking like flowers ir their many-colored coats, 
 smoke was borne away from the lighted matches, and out- 
 side the ramparts under cover of the guns the meadows and 
 plain were swarming with the district squadrons of cavalry 
 bi/anding in line on sturdy horses, whose neighing roused an 
 echo in the neighboring foresta and filled all hearts with 
 military ardor. 
 
 Meanwhile the voevoda of Poznan sent away the trum- 
 peter with an answer to the letter reading more or less 
 as Radzeyovski had foretold, therefore both courteous and 
 Roman ; then he determined to send a party to the northern 
 bank of the Notets to seize an informant from the enemy. 
 
 Pyotr Opalinski, voevoda of Podlyasye, a cousin of the 
 voevoda Poznan,%as to go in person with a party together 
 with his own dragoons, a hundred and fifty of whom he 
 had brought to Uistsie ; and besides this it was given to 
 Captains Skorashevski and Skshetuski to call out volunteers 
 from the nobles of the general militia, so that they might 
 also look in the eyes of the enemy. 
 
 Both rode before the ranks, delighting the eye by manner 
 and posture, — Pan Stanislav blacK as a beetle, like all the 
 Skshetuskis, with a manly face, stern and adorned with a 
 long sloping scar which remained from a sword-blow, with 
 
 
 raven blac 
 portly, wil 
 with red li 
 — but noi 
 be in fire 
 ten fingers 
 fore the 
 moment to 
 "Now, g 
 the Swedes 
 gentlemen, 
 And so 
 for no man 
 another, 
 fear of the 
 than one nv 
 I '11 go." [ 
 once, when 
 certain man 
 not from th 
 " Graciou 
 and ye will 1 
 " Ostrojkf 
 " I am jus 
 jester. 
 
 "Tfu! to 
 judge, " a tr 
 "And I! 
 " Once mj 
 " As good 
 " Freedom 
 others." 
 
 And as no 
 
 to rush out 1 
 
 ses, disputin 
 
 In the twinh 
 
 and still the 
 
 rashevski be 
 
 " Enough, 
 
 Then the 1 
 
 The voevo 
 
 were riding c 
 
 the hand croi 
 
 time on the ^ 
 
5r 
 
 18 
 
 la 
 h 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 151 
 
 raven black beard blown aside by the wind ; Pan Vladyslav 
 portly, with long blond mustaches, open under lip, and eyes 
 with red lids, mild and honest, reminding one less of Mars, 
 — ^but none the less a genuine soldier spirit, as glad to 
 be in fire as a salamander, — a knight knowing war as his 
 ten fingers, and of incomparable daring. Both, riding be- 
 fore the ranks extended in a long line, repeated from 
 moment to moment, — 
 
 " Now, gracious gentlemen, who is the volunteer against 
 the Swedes ? Who wants to smell powder ? Well, gracious 
 gentlemen, volunteer ! " 
 
 And so they continued for a good while without result, 
 for no man pushed forward from the ranks. One looked at 
 another. There were those, who desired to go and had no 
 fear of the Swedes, but indecision restrained them. More 
 than one nudged his neighbor and said, " Go you, and then 
 I 'II go." The captains were growing impatient, till all at 
 once, when they had ridden up to the district of Gnyezno, a 
 certain man dressed in many colors sprang forth on a hoop, 
 not from the line but from behind the line, and cried, — 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen of the militia, I '11 be the volunteer 
 and ye will be jesters ! " 
 
 " Ostrojka ! Ostrojka ! " cried the nobles. 
 
 " I am just as good a noble as any of you ! " answered the 
 jester. 
 
 " Tfu ! to a hundred devils I " cried Pan Kosinski, under- 
 judge, " a truce to jesting ! I will go." 
 
 " And I ! and I ! " cried numerous voices. 
 
 " Once my mother bore me, once for me is death ! " 
 
 " As good as thou will be found ! " 
 
 " Freedom to each. Let no man here exalt himself above 
 others." 
 
 And as no one had come forth before, so now nobles began 
 to rush out from every district, spurring forward their hor- 
 ses, disputing with one another and fighting to advance. 
 In the twinkle of an eye there were five hundred horsemen, 
 and still they were riding forth from the ranks. Pan Sko- 
 rashevski began to laugh with his honest, open laugh. 
 
 " Enough, worthy gentlemen, enough ! We cannot all go." 
 
 Then the two captains put the men in order and marched. 
 
 The voevoda of Podlyasye joined the horsemen as they 
 were riding out of camp. They were seen as on the palm of 
 the hand crossing the Notets ; after that they glittered some 
 time on the windings of the road, then vanished from sight. 
 
 , 
 
 (^ 
 
 \\ 
 
162 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 i t, 
 
 At the expiration of half an hour the voevoda of Poznan 
 ordered the troops to their tents, for he saw that it was im- 
 possible to keep them in the ranks when the enemy were 
 still a day's march distant. Numerous pickets were thrown 
 outj however ; it was not permitted to drive horses to pas- 
 ture, and the order was given that at the first low sound 
 of the trumpet through the mouthpiece all were to mount 
 and be ready. 
 
 Expectation and uncertainty had come to an end, quarrels 
 and disputes were finished at once, for the nearness of the 
 enemy had raised their courage as Pan Skshetuski had 
 predicted. The first successful battle might raise it indeed 
 very high ; and in the evening an event took place which 
 seemed of happy omen. 
 
 The sun was just setting, — lighting with enormous glit- 
 ter, dazzling the eyes, the Notets, and the pine-woods be- 
 yond, — when on the other side of the river was seen first a 
 cloud of dust, and then men moving in the cloud. All that 
 was living went out on the ramparts to see what manner 
 of guests these were. At that moment a dragoon of the 
 guards rushed in frori the squadron of Pan Grudzinski 
 with intelligence that the horsemen were returning. 
 
 " The horsemen are returning with success ! The Swedes 
 have not eaten them ! " was repeated from mouth to 
 mouth. 
 
 Meanwhile they in bright rolls of dust approached nearer 
 and nearer, coming slowly ; then they crossed the Notets. 
 
 The nobles with their hands over their eyes gazed at 
 them ; for the glitter became each moment greater, and the 
 whole air was filled with gold and purple light. 
 
 " Hei ! the party is somewhat lUrger than when it went 
 out," said Shlihtyng. 
 
 "They must be bringing prisoners, as God is dear to 
 me ! " cried a noble, apparently without confiav ice and not 
 believing his eyes. 
 
 " They are bringing prisoners ! They are bringing 
 prisoners ! /' 
 
 They had now come so near that their faces could be rec- 
 ognized. In front rode Skorashevski, nodding his head as 
 usual and talking joyously with Skshetuski; after them 
 the strong detachment of horse surrounded a few tens of 
 infantry wearing round hats. They were really Swedish 
 prisoners. 
 
 At this sight the nobles could not contain themselves ; 
 
 and ran 
 Skshetu 
 A de 
 looked 
 affair? 
 
 "Ah-1 
 to war 
 
 " Give 
 
 them ! " 
 
 "Ha, 
 
 "Gra( 
 
 prisoner 
 
 shevski ; 
 
 of war." 
 
 The V 
 
 pride on 
 
 "How V 
 
 sweat ov 
 
 " The} 
 
 themselv 
 
 them." 
 
 "Soth 
 
 " They 
 
 " Graci 
 
 could not 
 
 Impetus 
 
 "Reme 
 
 method s 
 
 If at t] 
 
 rush at i 
 
 lacking ; 
 
 a trumpe 
 
 arrived m 
 
 nobles to 
 
 cut the 1 
 
 letter int 
 
 insolent. 
 
 TheSM 
 his troop! 
 against t] 
 Poland s] 
 on read in: 
 struck th 
 quieted h 
 
THE DELTTGE. 
 
 163 
 
 " Vivat IJkorashevski ! Vivat 
 
 at once. 
 " How was 
 
 Some 
 the 
 
 and ran forward with shouts 
 Skshetuski ! " 
 
 A dense crowd surrounded the party 
 looked at the prisoners ; some asked, 
 affair ? " others threatened the Swedes. 
 
 " Ah-hu ! Well now, good for you, ye dogs ! Ye wanted 
 to war with the Poles ? Ye have the Poles now I " 
 
 " Give them here ! Sabre them, make mince-meat of 
 them ! " 
 
 " Ha, broad-breeches ! ye have tried the Polish sabres ? " 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen, don't shout like little boys, for the 
 prisoners will think that this is your first war," said Skora- 
 shevski ; " it is a common thing to take prisoners in time 
 of war." 
 
 The volunteers who belonged to the party looked with 
 pride on the nobles who overwhelmed them with questions : 
 " How was it ? Did they surrender easily ? Had you to 
 sweat over them ? Do they fight well ? " 
 
 " They are good fellows," said Rosinski, " they defended 
 themselves well ; but they are not iron, — a sabre cuts 
 them." 
 
 " So they could n't resist you, could they ? " 
 
 " They could not resist the impetus." 
 
 "Gracious gentlemen, do you hear what is said, — they 
 could not resist the impetus. Well, what does that liiean ? 
 Impetus is the main thing." 
 
 "Remember if only there is impetus!— that is the best 
 method against the Swedes." 
 
 If at that moment those nobies had been commanded to 
 rush at the enemy, surely impetus would not have been 
 lacking ; but it was well into the night when the sound of 
 a trumpet was heard before the forepost. A trumpeter 
 arrived with a letter from Wittemberg summoning the 
 nobles to surrender. The crowds hearing of this v^anted to 
 cut the messenger to pieces ; but the voevodas took the 
 letter into consideration, though the substance of it was 
 insolent. 
 
 The Swedish general announced thst Karl Gustav sent 
 his troops to his relative Yan Kazimir, as reinforcements 
 against the Cossacks, that therefore the people of Great 
 Poland should yield without resistance. Pan Grudzinski 
 on reading this letter could not restrain his indignation, and 
 struck the table with his fist ; but the voevoda of Poznan 
 quieted him at once with the question, — 
 
 ll'^ 
 
 
 tin 
 
 Hi 
 
 4; ,, 
 
 j ri, M 
 
w^:ri 
 
 [Hi 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 r 5^ 
 
 " Do you believe in victory ? How many days can we 
 defend ourselves ? Do you wish to take the responsibility 
 for so much noble blood which may be shed to-morrow ? " 
 
 After a long deliberation it was decided not to answer, 
 and to wait for wliat would happen. They did not waih 
 long. On Saturday, July J4, the pickets announced that 
 the whole Swedish army had appeared before Pila. There 
 was as much bustle in camp as in a beehive on the eve of 
 swarming. 
 
 The nobles mounted their horses ; the voevodas hurried 
 along the ranks, giving contradictory commands till Vla^ly- 
 slav Skorashevski took everything in hand ; and when he 
 had established order he rode out at the head of a few 
 hundred volunteers to try skirmishing beyond the river 
 and accustom the men to look at the enemy. 
 
 The cavalry went with him willingly enough, for skir- 
 mishing consisted generally of struggles carried on by small 
 groups or singly, and such struggles the nobles trained to 
 sword exercise did not fear at all. They went out there- 
 fore beyond the river, and stood before the enemy, who 
 approached nearer and nearer, and blackened with a long 
 line the horizon, as if a grove had grown freshly from 
 the ground. Regiments of cavalry and infantry deplo^-^ed, 
 occupying more and more space. 
 
 The nobles expected that skirmishers on horp^eback might 
 rush against them at any moment. So far ■ y were not to 
 be seen; but on the low hills a fvjvv hundr». 1 ; -rds distant 
 small groups halted, in which were to be seen men and 
 horses, and they began to turn around on the place. Seeing 
 this, Skorashevski commanded without delay, " To the left ! 
 to the rear ! " 
 
 But the voice of command had not yet ceased to sound 
 when on the hills long white curls of smoke bloomed forth, 
 aiid as it were birds of some kind flew past with a whistle 
 among the nobles ; then a report shook the air, and at the 
 same moment were heard cries and groans of a few wounded. 
 
 " H^lt ! " cried Skorashevski. 
 
 T'.' birds flew past a second and a third time; again 
 groans accompan^d the whistle. The nobles did not listen 
 to the command of the chief, but retreated at increased 
 speed, fOiouti p.g, and calling for the aid of heaven. Then 
 the divisioi! soabtere'l, in the twinkle of an eye, over the 
 plain, and rushed on a gallop to the camp. Skorashevski 
 was cursing, but that did no good. 
 
 non," c 
 
V.^-^.,F!>^'<-^j.,'^.; 
 
 ^*?^^ 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 165 
 
 Wittemberg, having dispersed the skirmishers so easily, 
 pushed on farther, till at last he stood in front of Uistsie, 
 straight before the trenches defended by the nobles of 
 Kalish. The Polish guns began to play, but at first no 
 answer was made from the Swedish side. Tho smoke fell 
 away quietly in the clear air in long stref.ks stretching 
 between the armies, and in the spaces between them the 
 nobles saw the Swedish regiments, infantry and cavalry, 
 deploying with terrible coolness as if certain of victory. 
 
 On the hills the cannon were fixed, trenches raised ; in a 
 word, the enemy came into order without paying the lt;ast 
 attention to the balls which, without reaching them, merely 
 scattered sand and earth on the men working in the 
 trenches. 
 
 Pan Skshetuski led out once more two squadrons of the 
 men of Kalish, wishing by a bold attack to confuse the 
 Swedes. But they did not go willingly ; the division fell 
 at once into a disorderly crowd, for when the most daring 
 urged their horses forward the most cowardly held theirs 
 back on purpose. Two regiments of cavalry sent by Wit- 
 temberg drove the nobles from the field after a short 
 struggle, and pursued them to the camp. Now drsk camo, 
 and put an end to the bloodless strife. 
 
 There was firing from cannon till night, when firing 
 ceased ; but such a tumult rose in the Polish camp that it 
 was heard on the other bank of the Nctets. It rose first 
 for the reason that a few hundred of the general militia 
 tried to slip away in the darkness. Others, seeing this, 
 began to threaten and detain them. Sabres were drawn. 
 The words " Either all or none " flew again from mouth to 
 mouth. At every moment it seemed most likely that all 
 would go. Great dissatisfaction burst out against the 
 leadeijs : " They sent us with naked breasts against can- 
 non," cried the militia. 
 
 They were enraged in like degree against Wittemberg, 
 because without regard to the customs of war he had not 
 sent skirmishers against skirmishers, but had ordered to 
 fire on them unexpectedly from cannon. *' Every one will 
 do for himself what is best," said they ; " but it is the 
 custom of a swinish people not to meet face to face." 
 Others were in open despair. " They will smoke us out of 
 this place like I uiprrs out of a hole," said they. "The 
 camp is badly pUnne u the trenches are badly made, the 
 place i? not fitted for 1'.. u^nce." From time to time voices 
 
 i &, m 
 
 rt: 
 
 ill, 
 
 1 t* ! , .(l. 
 
156 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 iP 
 
 were heard : " Save yourselves, brothers ! " Still others 
 cried : " Treason ! treason ! " 
 
 That was a terrible night: confusion and relaxation 
 increased every moment ; no one listened to commands. 
 The voevod ,3 lost their heads, and did not even try to 
 restore order; and the imbecility of the general militia 
 appeared as clearly as on the palm of the hand. Wittem- 
 berg might have taken the camp by assault on that night 
 with the greatest ease. 
 
 Dawn came. The day broke pale, cloudy, and lighted a 
 chaotic gathering of people fallen in courage, lamenting, 
 and the greater number drunk, more ready for shame than 
 for battle. To complete the misfortune, the Swedes had 
 crossed the Notets at Dzyembovo and surrounded the 
 Polish camp. 
 
 At that side there were scarcely any trenches, and there 
 was nothing from behind which they could defend them- 
 selves. They shoidd have raisetT breastworks without 
 delay. Skorashevski and Skslietuski had implored to have 
 this done, but no one would listen to anything. 
 
 The leaders and the nobles had one word oa their lips, 
 " Negotiate ! " Men a* ore sent out to parley. In answer 
 there came from the Swedish camp a brilliant party, at the 
 head of which rode Radzeyovski and General Wirtz, both 
 with green branches. 
 
 They rode to the house in which the voevoda of Poznan 
 was living ; but on the way Radzeyovski stopped amid the 
 crowd of nobles, bowed with the branch, with his hat, 
 laughed, greeted his acquaintances, and said in a piercing 
 voice, — 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen, dearest brothers, be not alarmed ! 
 N'ot as enemies do we come. On you it depends whether 
 a drop of blood :i\ore wil^> be shed. If you wish instead 
 of a tyrant who "s eiHvroiM':>'ng on your liberties, who is 
 planning for absolate power, who has brought the country 
 to final destruction, — if vou wish, I repeat, a good ruler, 
 a noble one, a warrior of saiih boundless glory that at 
 bare mention of his name all the enemies of the Common- 
 wealth will flee, — give yourselves under the protection of 
 the most serene tiarl Gustav. Gracious gentlemen, dearest 
 brothers, beho^ d, I bring to you the guarantee of all your 
 liberties, of your freedom, of your religion. On yourselves 
 your salvation depends. Gracious gentlemen, the most 
 serene Swedish king undertakes to quell the Cossack rebel- 
 
 lion, to 
 that. T 
 pity on ; 
 Here 
 
 tears. ' 
 there s( 
 vice-chai 
 new thrc 
 " Gracio 
 and Wir 
 the voev 
 
 The n 
 would hi 
 felt and 
 deciding 
 country, 
 came out 
 to the < 
 burst in 
 door, the 
 the walls 
 
 A dee 
 nearest tl 
 shrill vol 
 of quarre 
 no end to 
 
 Sudder 
 out burst 
 back in ai 
 of whom 
 hand, had 
 look wild 
 were gras 
 among th 
 
 "Treas 
 Poland n 
 
 He be^ 
 cry, and t 
 A silence 
 ful forebc 
 
 Skorasl 
 the noblei 
 arms, to a 
 
 Then c( 
 
tHtJ DELUGt. 
 
 I6'i 
 
 lion, to finish the war in Lithuania ; and only he can do 
 that. Take pity on the unfortunate country if you havo no 
 pity on yourselves." 
 
 Here the voice of the traitor quivered as if stopped by 
 tears. The nobles listened with astonishment; here and 
 there scattered voices cried, " Vivat Radzeyovski, our 
 vice-chancellor!" He rode farther, and again bowed to 
 new throngs, Pnd again was heard his trumpet-like voice : 
 " Gracious gentlemen, dearest brothers ! " And at last he 
 and Wirtz with the whole retinue vanished in the house of 
 the voevoda of Poznan. 
 
 The nobles crowded so closely before the house that it 
 would have been possible to ride on their heads, for they 
 felt and understood that there in that house men were 
 deciding the question not only of them but of the whole 
 country. The servants of the voevodas, in scarlet colors, 
 came out and began to invite the more important personages 
 to the council. They entered quickly, and after them 
 burst in a few of the smaller ; but the rest remained at the 
 door, they pressed to the windows, put their ears even to 
 the walls. 
 
 A deep silence reigned in the throng. Those standing 
 nearest the windows heard from time to time the sound of 
 shrill voices from within the chamber, as it were the echo 
 of quarrels, disputes, and fights. Hour followed hour, and 
 no end to the council. 
 
 Suddenly the doors were thrown open with a crP'^h, and 
 out burst. Vladyslav Skorashevski. Those present pushed 
 back in astonishment. That man, usually so calm and mild, 
 of whom it was said that wounds might be healed under his 
 hand, had that moment a terrible face. His eyes were red, his 
 look wild, his clothing torn open on his breast ; both hands 
 were grasping his hair, and he rushed out like n thunderbolt 
 among the nobles, and cried with a piercing voice, — 
 
 " Treason ! murder ! shame ! We are Sweden now, and 
 Poland no longer!" 
 
 He began to roar with an awful voice, with a spasmodic 
 cry, and to tear his hair like a man who is losing his reason. 
 A silence of the grave reigned all around. A certain fear- 
 ful foreboding seized all hearts. 
 
 Skorashevski sprang away quickly, began to run among 
 the nobles and cry with a voice of the greatest despair : " To 
 arms, to arms, whoso believes in God ! To arms, to arms ! " 
 
 Then certain murmurs began to fly through the throngs, 
 
 I' 
 II 
 
 I :i 
 
158 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 5 I* 
 
 — certain momentary whispers, sudden and broken, like the 
 first beatings of the wind before a storm. Hearts hesitated, 
 minds hesitated, ahd in that universal distraction of feelings 
 the tragic voice was calling continually, "To arms, to arms I " 
 
 Soon two other voices joined his, — those of Pyotr Sko- 
 rashevski and Stanislav Shshetuski. After them ran up 
 Klodzinski, the gallant captain of the district of Poznan. 
 An increasing circle of nobles began to surround them. A 
 threatening murmur was heard round about; flames ran 
 over the faces and shot out of the eyes ; sabres rattled. 
 Vladyslav Skorashevski mastered the first transport, and 
 began to speak, pointing to the house in which the council 
 was being held, — 
 
 " Do you hear, gracious gentlemen ? They are selling the 
 country there like Judases, and disgracing it. Do you 
 know that we belong to Poland no longer ? It was not 
 enough for them to give into the hands of the enemy all of 
 you, — camp, army, dannon. Would they were killed ! They 
 have aflSrmed with their own signatures and in your names 
 that we abjure our ties with the country, that we abjure our 
 king; that the whole land — towns, towers, and we all — 
 shall belong forever to Sweden. That an army surrenders 
 happens, but who has the right to renounce his country and 
 his king ? Who has the right to tear away a province, to 
 join strangers, to go ( ver to another people, to renounce his 
 own blood ? GracioiiS gentlemen, this is disgraco, treason, 
 murder, parricide ! Save the fatherland, brothers ! In 
 God's name, whoever is a noble, whoever has virtue, let 
 him save our mother. Let us give our lives, let us shed our 
 blood ! We do not want to be Swedes ; we do not, we do 
 not ! Would that he had never been' born who will spare 
 his blood now ! Let us rescue our mother ! " 
 
 "Treason!" cried several hundred voices, "treason! 
 Let us cut them to pieces." 
 
 " Join us, whoever has virtue ! " cried Skshetuski. 
 
 '' Against the Swedes till death ! " added Klodzinski. 
 
 And they went along fartlier in the camp, shouting: 
 " Join us ! Assemble ! There is treason ! " and after them 
 moved now several hundred nobles with drawn sabres. 
 
 But an immense majority remained in their places ; and 
 of those who followed some, seeing that they were not 
 many, began to look around and st^nd still. 
 
 Now the door of the council-house was thrown open, and 
 in it appeared the voevoda of Poznan, Pan Opalinski, having 
 
 
 on his rig 
 ski. Aft 
 Kalisk ; 
 castellan 
 
 Pan Op 
 appended ; 
 his look u 
 joyful. H 
 midst of a 
 though SOB 
 
 " Gracioi 
 imder the 
 Vivat Caro 
 
 Silence g 
 voice thunc 
 
 The voe\ 
 and said 
 not in pla 
 against the 
 liour could 
 
 Then he 
 said Veto ? 
 
 No one ai 
 
 The voevi 
 oraphaticall 
 clergy will 
 will be coll 
 will suffer 
 Majesty ha^ 
 nobles nor t 
 the Polish s 
 
 Here he \ 
 nobles, as if 
 he beckoned 
 
 " Besides 
 Wirtz, givei 
 w liole count 
 ;ii mies will : 
 and will not 
 tresses of th 
 (.xustavus R( 
 
 " Vivat C{ 
 '•Vivat Car 
 luudly in t] 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 159 
 
 ' IM 
 
 
 on his right side General Wirtz, and on the left Eadzeyov* 
 ski. After them came Apdrei Grudzinski, voevoda of 
 Kalisk; Myaskovski, castellan of Kryvinsk; Gembitski, 
 castellan of Myendzyrechka, and Andrei Slupski. 
 
 Pan Opalinski had in his hand a parchment with seals 
 appended ; he held his head erect, but his face was pale and 
 his look uncertain, though evidently he was trying to be 
 joyful. He took in with his glance the crowds, and in the 
 midst of a deathlike silence began to speak with a piercing 
 though somewhat hoarse voice, — 
 
 "Gracious gentlemen, this day we have put ourselves 
 under the protection of the most serene King of Sweden. 
 Vivat Carolus Gustavus Rex!" 
 
 Silence gave answer to the voevoda ; suddenly some loud 
 voice thundered, " Veto ! " 
 
 The voevoda turnedjiis eyes in the direction of the voice 
 and said : " This is not a provincial diet, therefore a veto is 
 not in place. And whoever wishes to veto let him go 
 against the Sweitish cannon turned upon us, which in one 
 hour could make of this camp a pile of ruins." 
 
 Then he was silent, and after a while inquired, " Who 
 said Veto?" 
 
 No one answered. 
 
 The voevoda again laised his voice, and began still more 
 emphatically : " All the liberties of the nobles and the 
 clergy will be maintained ; taxes will not be increased, and 
 will be collected in the same manner as hitherto ; no man 
 will suffer wrongs or robbery. The armies of his royal 
 jMajesty have not the right to quarter on the property of 
 nobles nor to other exactions, unless to such as the quota of 
 tlie Polish squadrons enjoy." 
 
 Here he was silent, and heard an anxious murmur of the 
 nobles, as if they wished to understand his meaning ; then 
 he beckoned with his hand. 
 
 " Besides this, we have the word and promise of General 
 Wirtz, given in the name of his royal Majesty, that if the 
 whole country will follow our saving example, the Swedish 
 iiimies will move promptly into Lithuania and the Ukraine, 
 and will not cease to war until all the lands and all the for- 
 tresses of the Commonwealth are won back. Vivat Carolus 
 Gustavus Rex ! " 
 
 " Vivat Carolus Gustavus Rex ! " cried hundreds of voices. 
 '• Vivat Carolus Gustavus Rex I " thundered still more 
 luudly in the whole camp. 
 
 *•< iM'il 
 
 «' 1 
 
 lii 
 
 ill. 
 
 
 
160 
 
 l-HE DEttGfti 
 
 Here, before the eyes of all, the voevoda of 
 turned to Radzeyovski and embraced him heartily 
 
 I^oznati 
 J ; then he 
 embraced Wirtz ; then all began to embrace one another. 
 The nobles followed the example of the dignitaries, and joy 
 became universal. They gave vivats so loud that the 
 echoes thundered throughout the whole region. But the 
 voevoda of Poznan begged yet the beloved brotherhood for 
 a moment of quiet, and said in a tone of coi.'diality, — 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen ! General Witteraberg invites us to- 
 day to a feast in his camp, so that at the goblets a brotherly 
 alliance may be concluded with a manful people." 
 
 " Vivau Wittemberg ! vivat ! vivat ! vivat I " 
 
 " And after that, gracious gentlemen," added the voevoda, 
 " Idt us go to our homes, and with the assistance of God let 
 us begin the harvest with the thought that on this day we 
 have saved the fatherland." 
 
 " Coming ages will render us justice," said Radzeyovski. 
 
 " Amen ! " finished the voevoda of Poznan. 
 
 Meanwhile he saw that the eyes of many nobles were 
 gazing at and scanning something above his head. He 
 turned and saw his own jester, who, holding with one hand 
 to the frame above the door, was writing with a coal on the 
 wall of the council-house over the door : " Mene Tekel- 
 Peres." * 
 
 In the world the heavens were covered with clouds, and a 
 tempest was coming. 
 
 1 See Daniel v. 25-28. 
 
 In th€ 
 
 stood th( 
 a garden 
 sitting 01 
 one five, 
 gypsies, 
 seemed 
 broad sh 
 for he 
 and goo( 
 strength 
 with a 
 visible. 
 
 The lit 
 
 pulling i 
 
 pond, wh 
 
 pond, in ^ 
 
 the smool 
 
 "Thef 
 
 fear, ye v 
 
 or when \ 
 
 turned to 
 
 when I cs 
 
 mad hors 
 
 let me al 
 
 young; b 
 
 Ah, tormf 
 
 the pond. 
 
 But it ^ 
 
 tion to t 
 
 threats; ( 
 
 the boot-li 
 
 "Oh, G 
 
 "Be off 
 
 "Oh, G 
 
 "I'Ugi 
 
 Yaremli 
 
 to the ga 
 
 VOL. 1. - 
 
Ttt£ t>£LUGE. 
 
 ICl 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 In the district of Lukovo, on the edge of Podlyasye, 
 stood the village of Bujets, owned by the Skshetuskis. In 
 a garden between the mansion and a pond an old man was 
 sitting on a bench ; and at his feet were two little boys, — 
 one five, the other four years old, — dark and sunburned as 
 gypsies, but rosy and healthy. The old man, still fresh, 
 seemed as sturdy as an aurochs. Age had not bent his 
 broad shoulders ; from his eyes — or rather from his eye, 
 for he had one covered with a cataract — beamed health 
 and good-humor ; he had a white beard, but a look of 
 strength and a ruddy face, ornamented on the forehead 
 with a broad scar, through which his skull-bone was 
 visible. 
 
 The little boys, holding the straps of his boot-leg, were 
 pulling in opposite directions ; but he was gazing at the 
 pond, which gleamed with the rays of the sun, — at the 
 pond, in which fish were springing up frequently, breaking 
 the smooth surface of the water. 
 
 " The fish are dancing," muttered he to himself. " Never 
 fear, ye will dance still better when the floodgate is open, 
 or when the cook is scratching you with a knife." Then he 
 turned to the little boys : " Get away from my boot-leg, for 
 when I catch one of your ears, I '11 pull it off. Just like 
 mad horse-flies ! Go and roll balls there on the grass and 
 let me alopp. ! I do not wonder at Longinek, for he is 
 young; but Yaremka ought to have sense by this time. 
 Ah, torments ! I '11 take one of you and throw him into 
 the pond." 
 
 But it was clear that the old man was in terribi;; subjec- 
 tion to the boys, for neither had the least fear of his 
 threats ; on the contrary, Yaremka, the elder, began to pull 
 the boot-leg still harder, bracing his feet and repeating, — 
 
 " Oh, Grandfather, be Bogun and steal away Longinek." 
 
 " Be off, thou beetle, I say, thou rogue, thou cheese-roll I " 
 
 « Oh, Grandfather, be Bogun ! " 
 
 *' T '11 give thee Dogun ; wait till I call thy mother ! " 
 
 Yaremka looked toward the door leading from the house 
 to the garden, but finding it closed, and seeing no sign of 
 
 VOL. I. — 11 
 
 « 
 
 ill 
 

 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
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 L25 i 1.4 
 
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 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
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 (716) 873-4503 
 
 
^ 
 
 ^..f^ 
 
162 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I 
 
 his mother, he repeated lihe third time, pouting, "Grand- 
 father, be Bogun ! " 
 
 " Ah, they will kill me, the rogues ; it cannot be other- 
 wise. Well, I'll be Bogun, but only once. Oh, it is a 
 punishment of God ! Mind ye do not plague me again ! " 
 
 When he had said this, the old man groaned a little, 
 raised himself from the bench, then suddenly grabbed little 
 Longiuek, and giving out loud shouts, began to carry him 
 off in the direction of the pond. 
 
 Longinek, however, had a valiant defender in his brother, 
 who on such occasions did not call himself Yaremka, but 
 Pan Michael Volodyovski, captain of dragoons. 
 
 Pan Michael, then, armed with a basswood club, which 
 took the place of a sabre in this sudden emergency, ran 
 swiftly after the bulky Bogun, soon caught up with him, 
 and began to beat him on the legs without mercy. 
 
 Longinek, playing the role of his mamiaa, made an up- 
 roar, Bogun made an uproar, Yaremka-Volodyovski made 
 an uproar; but valor at last overcame even Bogun, who, 
 dropping his victim, began to make his way back to the 
 linden-tree. At last he reached the bench, fell upon it, 
 panting terribly and repeating, — 
 
 " Ah, ye little stumps ! It will be a wonder if I do not 
 suffocate." 
 
 But the end of his torment had not come yet, for a 
 moment later Yaremka stood before him with a ruddy face, 
 floating hair, and distended nostrils, like a brisk young 
 falcon, and began to repeat with greater energy, — 
 
 " Grandfather, be Bogun ! " 
 
 After much teasing and a soleipn promise given to the 
 two boys that this would surely be the last time, the story 
 was repeated in all its details ; then they sat three in a row 
 on the bench and Yaremka began, — 
 
 "Oh, Grandfather, tell who was the bravest." 
 
 " Thou, thou ! " said the old man. 
 
 " And shall I grow up to be a knight ? " 
 
 " Surely thou wilt, for there is good soldier blood in thee. 
 God grant thee to be like thy father ; for if brave thou wilt 
 not tease so much — understand me ? " 
 
 " Tell how many men has Papa killed ? " 
 
 " It 's little if I have told thee a hundred times I Easier 
 for thee to count the leaves on this linden-tree than all the 
 enemies which thy father and I have destroyed. If I had 
 as many hairs on my head as I myself have put down, the 
 
 barbers 
 my temj 
 
 Here '. 
 become 1 
 the abse 
 children 
 especiaU 
 pond wi 
 
 "Wei 
 the nigh 
 the bajak 
 
 Now 
 opened, 
 midday 
 brunette 
 years ol( 
 shading 
 the lindc 
 princely 
 
 Seeing 
 the tree, 
 full of ^ 
 are plag 
 
 ^*How 
 said the 
 
 The b 
 "What \ 
 
 "We] 
 
 "I'll 
 asleep in 
 
 "It is 
 Yan, Da 
 
 "Hel 
 
 PaniS 
 daughtei 
 dwelt bt 
 nyevetsl 
 told vai 
 rendered 
 was stil] 
 dangers ; 
 father, s 
 yond me 
 the unco 
 
lii 
 
 rrand- 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 163. 
 
 barbers in Lukovsk would make fortunes just in sbaving 
 my temples. T am a rogue if I li — " 
 
 Here Pan Zagloba — for it was he — saw that it did not 
 become him to adjure or swear before little boys, though in 
 the absence of other listeners he loved to tell even the 
 children of his former triumphs ; he grew silent this time 
 especially because the fish had begun to spring up in the 
 pond with redoubled activity. 
 
 " We must tell the gardener," said he, " to set the net for 
 the night ; a great many fine fish are crowding right up to 
 the bank." 
 
 Now that door of the house which led into the garden 
 opened, and in it appeared a woman beautiful as the 
 midday sun, tall, firm, black-haired, with bloom on her 
 brunette face, and eyes like velvet. A third boy, three 
 years old, dark as an agate ball, hung to her skirt. She, 
 shading her eyes with her hand, looked in the direction of 
 the linden-tree. This was Pani Helena Skshetuski, of the 
 princely house of Bulyga-Kurtsevich. 
 
 Seeing Pan Zagloba with Yaremka and Loaginek under 
 the tree, she went forward a few steps toward the ditch, 
 full of water, and called : " Come here, boys I Surely you 
 are plaguing Grandfather ? " 
 
 * How plague me I They have acted nicely all the time," 
 said the old man. 
 
 The bojjrs ran to their mother ; but she asked Zagloba, 
 "What will Father drink to-day, — dembniak or mead?" 
 
 " We had pork for dinner ; mead will be best." 
 
 "1*11 send it this minute; but Father must not fall 
 asleep in the air, for fever is sure to come." 
 
 " It is warm to-day, and there is no wind. But where is 
 Yan, Daughter ? " 
 
 " He has gone to the bams 
 
 Pani Skshetuski called Zagloba father, and he called her 
 daughter, though they were in no way related. Her family 
 dwelt beyond the Dnieper, in the former domains of Vish- 
 nyevetski ; and as to him God alone knew his origin, for he 
 told various tales about it himself. - But Zagloba had 
 rendered famous services to Pani Skshetuski when she 
 was still a maiden, and he had rescued her from terrible 
 dangers ; therefore she and her husband treated him as a 
 father, and in the whole region about he was honored be- 
 yond measure by all, as well for his inventive mind as for 
 the uncommon bravery of which he had given many proofs 
 
 iiiii 
 
164 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ia various wars, especially in those against the Cossacks. 
 His name was known in the whole Commonwealth. The 
 king himself was enamored of his stories and wit ; and ^n 
 general he was moie spoken of than even Pan Skshetuski, 
 though the latter in his time had burst through besieged 
 Zbaraj and all the Cossack armies. 
 
 Soon after Pani Skshetuski had gone into the house a 
 boy brought a decanter and glass to the linden-tree. Za- 
 globa poured out some mead, then closed his eyes and began 
 to try it diligently. 
 
 . " 'Che Lord God knew why he created bees," said he, 
 with a nasal mutter. And he fell to drinking slowly, draw- 
 ing deep breaths at the same time, while gazing at the 
 pond and beyond the pond, away to the dark and blue pine- 
 woods stretching as far as the eye could reach on the other 
 side. The time was past one in the afternoon, and the 
 heavens were cloudless. The blossoms of the linden were 
 falling noiselessly to the earth, and on the tree among the 
 leaves were buzzing a whole choir of bees, which soon began 
 to settle on the edge of the glass and gather the sweet fluid 
 on their shaggy legs. 
 
 Above the great pond, from. the far-off reeds obscured by 
 the haze of distance, rose from time to time flocks of ducks, 
 teal, or wild geese, and moved away swiftly in the blue ether 
 like black crosses ; sometimes a row of cranes looked dark 
 high in the air, and gave out a shrill cry. With these ex- 
 ceptions all around was quiet, calm, sunny, and gladsome, as 
 is usual in the first days of August, when the grain has ri- 
 pened, and the sun is scattering as it were gold upon the 
 earth. 
 
 The eyes of the old man were raised now to the sky, 
 following the flocks of birds, and now they were lost in the 
 distance, growing more and more diowsy, as the mead in 
 the decanter decreased ; his lids became heavier and heavier, 
 — the bees buzzed their song in various tones as if on pur- 
 pose for his after-dinner slumber. 
 
 " True, true, the Lord God has given beautiful weather 
 for the harvest," muttered Zagloba. " The hay is well gath- 
 ered in, the harvest will be finished in a breath. Yes, yes — " 
 
 Here he closed his eyes, then opened them again for a 
 moment, muttered once more, " The boys have tormented 
 
 rae," and fell asleep in earnest. 
 
 He slept 
 roused by a 
 
 rather long, but after a 
 light breath of cooler air. 
 
 certain time he was 
 together with the 
 
 converse 
 
 rapidly. 
 
 Zbara], 
 
 hetmans 
 
 Zagloba 
 
 form an( 
 
 "I pr 
 Pan Stai 
 
 "You 
 and sha 
 had I m( 
 tuski!' 
 
 "It is 
 factor," 
 well knc 
 monweal 
 example. 
 
 "Wit! 
 felt stre: 
 to taste < 
 ond nati 
 that Yan 
 
 " Stan 
 "The S^ 
 entirely.' 
 
 Zaglol 
 dropped 
 untarily 
 sabre. 
 
 "How 
 occupied 
 
 "Yes, 
 have gi> 
 Stanislas 
 
 "For 
 rendered 
 
 "Not 
 a compa 
 Hencefo 
 
 "Byt 
 Is the W( 
 day Yan 
 for news 
 both con 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 166 
 
 conversation and steps of two men drawing near the tree 
 rapidly. One of them was Yan Skshetuski, the hero of 
 Zbaraj, who about a month before had returned from the 
 hetmans in the Ukraine to cure a stubborn fever; Pan 
 Zagloba did not know the other, though in stature and 
 form and even in features he resembled Yan greatly. 
 
 " I present to you, dear father," said Yan, " my cousin 
 Pan Stanislav Skshetuski, the captain of Kalish." 
 
 " You are so much like Yan," answered Zagloba, blinking 
 and shaking the remnants of sleep from his eyelids, " that 
 had I met you anywhere I should have said at once, * Skshe- 
 tuski ! ' Hei, what a guest in the house ! " 
 
 " It is dear to me to make your acquaintance, my bene- 
 factor," answered Stanislav, "the more since the name is 
 well known to me, for the knighthood of the whole Com- 
 monwealth repeat it with respect and mention it as an 
 example." 
 
 " Without praising myself, I did what I could, while I 
 felt strength in my bones. And even now one would like 
 to taste of war, for consuetudo altera natura (habit is a sec- 
 ond nature). But why, gentlemen, are you so anxious, so 
 that Yan's face is pale ? " 
 
 " Stanislav has brought dreadful news," answered Yan. 
 " The Swedes have entered Great Poland, and occupied it 
 entirely." 
 
 Zagloba nprang froux the bench as if forty years had 
 dropped from him, opened wide his eyes, and began invol- 
 untarily to fee', at his side, as if he were looking for a 
 sabre. 
 
 " How is that ? " asked he, " how is that ? Have they 
 occupied all of it ? " 
 
 "Yes, for the voevoda of Poznan and others at Uistsie 
 have given it into tne hands of the enemy," answered 
 Stanislav. 
 
 " For God's sake ! What do I hear ? Have they sur- 
 rendered ? " 
 
 " Not only have they surrendered, but they have signed 
 a compact renouncing the King and the Commonwealth. 
 Henceforth Sweden, not Poland, is to be there." 
 
 "By the mercy of God, by the wounds of the Crucified! 
 Is the world coming to an end ? What do I hear ! Yester- 
 day Yan and I were speaking of this danger from Sweden, 
 for news had come that they were marching ; but we were 
 both confident that it would end in nothing, or at most in 
 
166 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 the renunciation of the title of King of Sweden by our lord, 
 Yan Kazimir.'' 
 
 <<But it has begun with the loss of a province, and Will 
 end with God knows what." 
 
 " Stop, for the blood will boil over in me ! How was it ? 
 And you v/ere at Uistsie and saw all this with your own 
 eyes ? That was simply treason the most villanous, un- 
 heard of in history." 
 
 << I was there and looked on, and whether it was treason 
 you will decide when you hear all. We were at Uistsie, the 
 general militia and the land infantry, fifteen thousand men 
 in all, and we formed our lines on the Notets ab incursione 
 hostili (against hostile invasion). True the armv was 
 small, and as an experienced soldier you know best whether 
 the place of regular troops can be filled by general militia, 
 especially that of Great Poland, where the nobles have 
 grown notably unused to war. Still, if a leader had been 
 found, they might have shown opposition to the, enemy in 
 old fashion, and at least detained them till the Common- 
 wealth could find reinforcements. But hardly had Wittem- 
 berg shown himself when negotiations were begun before a 
 drop of blood had been shed. Then Radzeyovski came up, 
 and with his persuasions brought about what I have said, 
 — that is, misfortune and disgrace, the like of which has 
 not been hitherto." 
 
 " How was that ? Did no one resist, did no one protest ? 
 Did no one hurl treason in the eyes of those scoundrels ? 
 Did all agree to betray the country and the king ? " 
 
 " Virtue is perishing, and with it the Commonwealth, for 
 nearly all agreed. I, the two Skorashevskis, Pan Tsisvitski, 
 and Pan Klodzinski did what we eould to rouse a spirit of 
 resistance among the nobles. Pan Vladyslav Skorashevski 
 went almost frantic. We flew through the camp from the 
 men of one district to those of another, and God knows 
 there was no beseeching that we did not use. But what 
 good was it when the majority chose to go in bonds to 
 the banquet which Wittemberg promised, rather than with 
 sabres to battle ? Seeing that the best went in every direc- 
 tion, — some to their homes, others to Waroaw, — the Sko- 
 rashevskis went to Warsaw, and will bring the first news to 
 the king ; but I, having neither wife nor children, came here 
 to my cousin, with the idea that we might go together against 
 the enemy. It was fortunate that I found you at home." 
 
 " Then yon are directly from Uistsie ? " 
 
 "Dir 
 horses 
 The Sw 
 will qui 
 Here 
 knees, 1 
 gloomil; 
 recover* 
 on the c 
 "Tho 
 merly f< 
 tonishec 
 come, 
 whole 
 
 "For 
 
 the wor 
 
 «Wh 
 
 "Itie 
 
 is shaki 
 
 and chi 
 
 relative. 
 
 Byalov) 
 
 Commoi 
 
 they wo 
 
 my wife 
 
 "And 
 
 uislav ; 
 
 who kn 
 
 regions 
 
 « The 
 
 and thi 
 
 yet." ] 
 
 go witli 
 
 wildern 
 
 «I?' 
 
 taken i 
 
 should : 
 
 flesh ag 
 
 breeche 
 
 calves, 
 
 but crs 
 
 such a 
 
 against 
 
 took Gi 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 167 
 
 un- 
 
 tor 
 
 ''Directly. I rested on the road only as much as my 
 horses ueeded, and as it was I drove one of them to death. 
 The Swedes must be in Poznan at present, and thence they, 
 will quickly spread over the whole country." 
 
 Here all grew silent. Yan sat with his palms on his 
 knees, his eyes fixed on the ground, and he was thinking 
 gloomily. Pan Stanislav sighed ; and Zagloba, not having 
 recovered, looked with a staring glance, now on one, now 
 on the other. 
 
 " Those are evil signs," said Yan at last, gloomily. " For- 
 merly for ten victories there came one defeat, and we as- 
 tonished the world with our valor. Now not only defeats 
 come, but treason, — not merely of single persons, but of 
 whole provinces. May God pity the country I " 
 
 "For God's sake," said Zagloba, "I have seen much in 
 the world. I can hear, I can reason, but still belief fails me." 
 
 " What do you think of doing, Yan ? " asked Stanislav. 
 
 " It is certain that J shall not stay at home, though fever 
 is shaking me yet. It will be necessary to place my wife 
 and children somewhere in safety. Pan Stabrovski, my 
 relative, is huntsman of the king in the wilderness of 
 Byalovyej, and lives in Byalovyej. Even, if the whole 
 Commonwealth should fall into the power of the enemy, 
 they would not touch that region. To-morrow I will take 
 my wife and children straight there." 
 
 " And that will not be a needless precaution," said Sta- 
 nislav ; " for though 't is far from Great Poland to this place, 
 who knows whether the flame may not soon seize these 
 regions also ? " 
 
 "The nobles must be notified," said Yan, "to assemble 
 and think of defence, for here no one has heard anything 
 yet." Here he turned to Zagloba : " And, Father, will you 
 go with us, or do you wish to accompany Helena to the 
 wilderness ? " 
 
 " I ? " answered Zagloba, " will I go ? If my feet had 
 taken root in the earth, I might not go ; but even then I 
 should ask some one to dig me out. I want to try Swedish 
 flesh again, as a wolf does mutton. Ha ! the rascals, trunk- 
 breeches, leng-stockings ! The fleas make raids on their 
 calves, their legs are itching, and they can't sit at home, 
 but crawl into foreign lands. I know them, the sons of 
 such a kind, for when I was under Konyetspolski I worked 
 against them; and, gentlemen, if you want to know who 
 took Gustavus Adolphus captive, ask the late Konyetspolski. 
 
168 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ill's 
 
 m 
 
 I '11 say no more ! I know them, but they know me too. 
 It must be that the rogues have heard that Zagloba has 
 grown old. Isn't that true? Wait I you'll see him yetl 
 O Lord! O Lord, all-Powerful 1 why hast thou unfenced 
 this unfortunate Commonwealth, so that all the neighboring 
 swine are running into it now, and they have rooted up 
 three of the best provinces ? What is the condition ? Ba ! 
 but who is to blame, if not traitors ? The plague did not 
 know whom to take ; it took honest men,.but left the trai- 
 tors. Lord, send thy pest once more on the voevoda of 
 Poznan and on hini of Kalish, but especially on itadzeyovski 
 and his whole family. But if 'tis thy will to favor hell 
 with more inhabitants, send thithe'r all those who signed the 
 pact at Uistsie. Has Zagloba grown old ? has he grown 
 old? You will find out! Yan, let us consider quickly 
 what to do, for I want to be on horseback." 
 
 " Of course we must know whither to go. It is difficult 
 to reach the hetikans in the Ukraine, for the enemy has 
 cut them off from the Commonwealth and the road is open 
 only to the Crimea. It is lucky that the Tartars are on our 
 side this time. According to my head it will be necessary 
 for us to go to Warsaw to the king, to defend our dear lord." 
 
 "If there is time," remarked Stanislav. "The king 
 must collect squadrons there in haste, and will march on 
 the enemy before wre can come, and perhaps the engagement 
 is already taking place." 
 
 " And that may be." 
 
 " Let us go then to Warsaw, if we can go quickly," caid 
 Zagloba. " Listen, gentlemen ! It is true that our names are 
 terrible to the enemy, but still three of us cannot do much, 
 therefore I should give this advicb: Let us summon the 
 nobles to volunteer ; they will come in such numbers that 
 we may lead even a small squadron to the king. We shall 
 persuade them easily, for they must go anyhow when the 
 call comes for the general militia, — it will be all one tothem 
 — and we shall tell them that whoever volunteers before 
 the call will do an act dear to the king. With greater 
 power we can do more, and they will receive us (in Warsaw) 
 with open arms." 
 
 "Wonder not at my words," said Pan Stanislav, "but 
 from what I have see-i I feel nuch a disliKe to the general 
 militia that I choose to go alone i.ither than with a crowd 
 of men who know nothing of war." 
 
 "You have no acquaintance with the nobles of this 
 
 
HiE DfiLUGE. 
 
 I6d 
 
 
 place. Here a man cannot be found who has uat served in 
 the army ; all have experience and are good soldiers.'^ 
 
 "That maybe." 
 
 "How could it be otherwise? But wait! Yan knows 
 that when once I begin to work with my head I have no 
 lack of resources. For that reason I lived in great intimacy 
 with the voevoda of Rus, Prince Yeremi. Let Yan tell 
 how many times that greatest of warriors followed my 
 advice, and thereby was each time victorious." 
 
 " But tell us, Father, what you wish to say, tcv time is 
 precious." 
 
 " What I wish to say ? This is it : not he defends the 
 country and the king who holds to the king's skirts, but he 
 who beats the enemy; and he beats the enemy best who 
 serves under a great warrior. Why go on aAcertainties to 
 Warsaw, wken the king himself may have gone to Cracow, 
 to Lvoif or Lithuania ? My advice is to put ourselves at 
 once under the banners of the grand hetman of Lithuania, 
 Prince Yanush Badzivill. He is an honest man and a 
 soldier. Though they accuse him of pride, he of a certainty 
 will not surrender to Swedes. He at least is a chief 
 and a hetman of the right kind. It will be close there, 't is 
 true, for he is working against two enemies ; but as a 
 recompense we shall see Pan Michael Volodyovski, who is 
 serving in the Lithuanian quota, and again we shall be 
 together as in old times. If I do not counsel well, then 
 let tlie firot Swede take me captive by the sword-strap." 
 
 " Who knows, who knows ? " answered Yan, with 
 pnimation. "Maybe that will be the best course." 
 
 " And besides we shall take Halshka^ with the children, 
 for we must go right through the wilderness." 
 
 " And we shall serve among soldiers, not among militia," 
 added Stanislav. 
 
 " And we shall fight, not debate, iior eat chickens and 
 cheese in the villages." 
 
 " I see that not only in war, but in council you can hold 
 the first place," said Stanislav. 
 
 " Well, are you satisfied ? " 
 
 "In truth, in truth,'" said Yan, "that is the best advice. 
 We shall be with Michael as before ; you will know, 
 Stanislav, the greatest soldier in the Commonwealth, my 
 tnie friend, my brother. We will go now to Halshka, and 
 tell her so that she too may be ready for the road." 
 
 * Helena. 
 
170 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " Does she know of the war already ? " asked Zagloba. 
 
 "She knows, she knows, for in her presence Stanislav 
 told about it first. She is in tears, poor woman I But if I 
 say to her that' it is necessary to go, she will say straight* 
 way. Go ! " 
 
 *' I would ".tart in ihe morning," cried Zagloba. 
 
 "We will start in the morning and beifore daybreak," 
 said Yan. "You must be terribly tired after the road, 
 Stanislav, but you will rest before morning as best you can. 
 1 will send horses this evening with trusty men to Byala, 
 to Lostsi, to Drohichyn and Byelsk, so as to have relays 
 everywhere. And just beyond Byelsk is the wilderness. 
 Wagons will start to-day also with supplies. It is too bad 
 to go into the world from the dear comer, but 't is God's 
 will 1 This is my comfort : I am safe as to my wife and 
 children, for the wilderness is the best fortress in the 
 world. Come to the house, gentlemen ; it is time for me to 
 prepare for the iourney." 
 
 They went in. Pan Stanislav, greatly road-weary, had 
 barely taken food and drink when he went to sleep straight- 
 way; but Pan Yan and Zagloba were busied in prep- 
 arations. And as there was great order in Pan Yan's 
 household the wagons and men started that evening for an 
 all-night journey, and next morning at daybreak the 
 ^rriage followed in which sat Helena with tne children 
 and an old maid, a companion. Pan Stanislav and Pan 
 Yan with five attendants rode on horseback near the 
 carriage. The whole party pushed forward briskly, for 
 fresh horbes were awaiting them. 
 
 Travelling in this manner and without resting even at 
 night, they reached Byelsk on the fifth day, and on the sixth 
 they sank in the wilderness from the side of Hainovshyna. 
 
 They were surrounded at once by the gloom of the 
 gigantic pine-forest, which at that period occupied a number 
 of tens of square leagues, joining on one side with an un- 
 broken line the wilderness of Zyelonka and Bogovsk, and on 
 the other the forests of Prussia. 
 
 No invader had ever trampled with a hoof those dark 
 depths in which a man who knew them not might go astray 
 and wander till he dropped from exhaustion or fell a prey 
 to ravenous beasts. In the night were heard the bellowing 
 of the aurochs, the growling of bears, with the howling of 
 wolves and the hoarse screams of panthers. Uncertain roads 
 led through thickets or clean-trunked trees, along fallen 
 
THE DELtJGB. 
 
 171 
 
 timber, swamps, and terrible stagnant lakes to the scattered 
 villages of guards, i)itch-burners, and hunters, who in 
 many cases did not leave the wilderness all their lives. 
 To Byalovyej itself a broader way led, continued by the 
 Suha road, over which the kings went to hunt. By that 
 road also the Skshetuskis came from the direction of 
 Byelsk and Hainovshyna. 
 
 Pan Stabrovski, chief-hunter of the king, was an old 
 hermit and bachelor, who like an aurochs stayed always in 
 the wilderness. He received the visitors with open arms, 
 and almost nmothered the children with kisses. He lived 
 with beaters-in, never seeing the face of a noble unless 
 when the king went to hunt. He had the management of 
 all hunting matters and all the pitch-making of the 
 wilderness. He was greatly disturbed by news of the war, 
 of which he heard first from Pan Yan. 
 
 Often did it happen in the "Commonwealth that war broke 
 out or the king died and no news came to the wilderness ; 
 the chief-hunter alone brought news when he returned from 
 the treasurer of Lithuania, to whom he was obliged to 
 render account of his management of the wilderness each 
 year. 
 
 "It will be dreary here, dreary," said Stabrovski to 
 Helena, ** but safe as nowhere else in the world. No 
 enemy will break through these walls, and even if he 
 should try the beaters-in would shoot down all his men. 
 It would be easier to conquer the whole Commonwealth — 
 which may God not permit ! — than the wilderness. I 
 have been living here twenty years, and even I do not 
 know it all, for there are places where it is impossible to 
 go, where only wild beasts live and perhaps evil spirits 
 have their dwelling, from whom men are preserved by the 
 sound of church-bells. But we live according to God's law, 
 for in the village there is a chapel to which a priest from 
 Byelsk comes once a year. You will be here as if in 
 heaven, if tedium does not weary you. As a recompense 
 there is no lack of firewood." 
 
 Pan Yan was glad in his whole soul that he had found 
 for his wife such a refuge ; but Pan Stabrovski tried in 
 vain to delay him awhile and entertain him. 
 
 Halting only one night, the cavaliers resumed at day- 
 break their journey across the wilderness. They were led 
 through the forest labyrinths by guides whom the hunter 
 sent with them. 
 
172 
 
 THE DELUOE. 
 
 \l ■ 
 
 III 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 When Pan Skshetuuki with his cousin Stanislav and 
 Zagloba, after a toilsome journey from the wilderness, came 
 at last to Upita, Pan Volodyovski went almost wild from de- 
 light, especially since he had long had no news of them ; he 
 thought that Yan was with a squadron of the king which 
 he commanded under the hetmans in the Ukraine. 
 
 Pan Michael took them in turn by the shoulders, and 
 after he had pressed them once he pressed them again and 
 rubbed his hands. When they told him of their wish to 
 serve under Kadzivill, he rejoiced still more at the thought 
 that they would not separate soon. 
 
 " Praise God t^at we shall be together, old comrades of 
 Zbaraj ! " said he. " A man has greater desire for war 
 when he feels friends near him." 
 
 " That was my idea," said Zagloba ; " for they wanted to 
 fly to the king. But I said, * Why not remember old times 
 with Pan Michael ? If God will give us such fortune as 
 he did with Cossacks and the Tartars, we shall soon have 
 more than one Swede on our conscience.' " 
 
 " God inspired you with that thought," said Pan Michael. 
 
 " But it is a wonder to me," added Yan, " how you know 
 already of the war. Stanislav came to me with the last 
 breath of his horse, and we in that same fashion rode 
 hither, thinking that we should be first to announce the 
 misfortune." 
 
 " The tidings must have come through the Jews," said 
 Zagloba ; " for they are first to know everything, and there 
 is such communication between them that if one sneezes in 
 Great Poland in the morning, others will call to him in 
 the evening from Lithuania and the Ukraine, *To thy 
 health!'" 
 
 " I know not how it was, but we heard of it two days 
 ago," said Pan Michael, " and there is a fearful panic here. 
 The first day we did not credit the news greatly, but on the 
 second no one denied it. I will say more ; before the war 
 came, you would have said that the birds were singing 
 about it in the air, for suddenly and without cause all be- 
 gan to speak of war. Our prince voevoda must also have 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 173 
 
 looked for it and have known something before others, for 
 he was rushing about like a fly in hot water, and during these 
 last hours he has hastened to Kyedani. Levies were made 
 at his order two months ago. I assembled men, as did also 
 Stankyevich and a certain Kmita, the banneret of Orsha, 
 who, as I hear, has already sent a squadron to Kyedani. 
 Kmita was ready before the rest of us." 
 
 " Michael, do you know Prince Radzivill virell ? " asked 
 Yan. 
 
 " Why should I not know him, when I have passed the 
 whole present war * under his command ? " 
 
 " What do you know of his plans ? Is he an honest 
 man ? " 
 
 " He is a finished warrior; who knows if after the death 
 of Prince Yereuii he is not the greatest in the Common- 
 wealth ? He was defeated in the last battle, it is true ; but 
 against eighteen thousand he had six thousand men. The 
 treasurer and the voevoda of Vityebsk blame him terri- 
 bly for this, saying that with small forces he rushed against 
 such a disproportionate power to avoid sharing victory 
 with them. God knows how it was I But he stood up 
 manfully and did not spare his own life. And I who 
 saw it all, say only this, that if we had had troops and 
 money enough, not a foot of the enemy would have left the 
 country. So I think that he will begin at the Swedes more 
 sharply, and will not wait for them here, but march on 
 Livonia." 
 
 « Why do you think that ? " 
 
 " For two reasons, — first, because he will wish to improve 
 his reputation, shattered a little after the battle of Tsybi- 
 hova ; and second, because he loves war." 
 
 " That is true," said Zagloba. " I know him, for we were 
 at school together and I worked out his tasks for him. He 
 was always in love with war, and therefore liked to keep 
 company with me rather than others, for I too preferred a 
 horse and a lance to Latin." 
 
 " It is certain that he is not like the voevoda of Poznan ; 
 he is surely a different kind of man altogether," said Pan 
 Stanislav. 
 
 Volodyovski inquired about everything that had taken 
 place at Uistsie, and tore his hair as he listened to the story. 
 At last, when Pan Stanislav had finished, he said, — 
 
 ^ The war against Russia. 
 
 1., 
 
 I 
 
17i 
 
 THE DELUGE, 
 
 «*You are right! Our Radzivill is incapable of such 
 deeds. He is as proud as the devil, and it seems to him 
 that in the whole world there is not a greater family than 
 the Radzivills. He will not endure opposition, that iS 
 true ; and at the treasurer, Pan Gosyevski, an honest 
 man, he is angry because the latter will not dance when 
 ^ladzivili plays. He is displeased also with his Grace 
 the king, because he did not give him the gra,nd baton of 
 Lithuania soon enough. All true, as well as this, — that 
 he prefers to live in the dishonorable error of Calvinism 
 rather than turn to the true faith, that he persecutes Catho- 
 lics where he can, tJ i,t he founds societies of heretics. But 
 as recompense for this, I will swear that he would rather 
 ?hed the last drop of his proud blood than sign a surrender 
 like that at Uistsie. We shall have war to wade in ; for 
 not a scribe, but a warrior, will lead us." 
 
 " That 's my play, " said Zagloba, " I want nothing 
 more. Pan Opalinski is a scribe, and he showed soon what 
 he was good for. Tley are the meanest of men ! Let but 
 oiie of them pull a quill out of a goose's tail and he thinks 
 straightway that he has swallowed all wisdom. He will 
 say to others, ' Son of a such kind,' and when it comes to 
 the sabre you cannot find him. When I was young myself, 
 I put rhymes together to captivate the hearts of fair heads, 
 and I might have made a goat's horn of Pan Kohanovski 
 w'fch his silly verses, but later on the soldier nature got 
 the upper hand." 
 
 " I will add, too," continued Volodyovski " that the no- 
 bles will soon move hither. A crowd of peuple will come, 
 if only money is not lacking, for that is most important." 
 
 " Tti God's name I want no gerteral militia ! " shouted 
 Pan btanislav. "Yan and Pan Zagloba know my senti- 
 ments already, and to you I say now that I would rather 
 be a camp-servant in a regular squadron than hetman over 
 the entire general militia." 
 
 "The people here are brave," answered Volodyovski, 
 " and very skilful. I have an example from my own levy. 
 I could not receive al. who came, and among those 
 whom I accepted there is not a man who has not served 
 before. I will show you this squadron, gentlemen, 
 and if you had not learned from me you would not know 
 that they are not old soldiers. Every one is tempered 
 and hammered in fire, like an old horseshoe, and stands in 
 order like a Koman legionary. It will not be so easy for 
 
 » 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 175 
 
 no- 
 
 the Swedes with them, as wit} he men of Great Poland at 
 Uistsie." 
 
 " I have hope that God will change everything," said Pan 
 Yan. "They say that the Swedes are good soldiers, but 
 still they have never been able to stand before our regular 
 troops. We have beaten them always, — that is a matter 
 of trial; we have beaten them even when they were led by 
 the greatest warrior they have ever had." 
 
 " In truth I am very curious to know what they can do," 
 answered Volodyovski ; " and were it not that two other wars 
 are now weighing on the country, I should not be angry a 
 whit about the Swedes. We hav e tried the Turks, the Tar- 
 tars, the Cossacks, and God knov/s whom we have not tried ; 
 it is well now to try the Swedes. The only trouble in the 
 kingdom is that all the troops are occupied with the het- 
 mans in the Ukraine. But I see already what will happen 
 here. Prince Radzivill will leave the% existing war to the 
 treasurer and full hetman Pan Gosyevski, and will go 
 himself at the Swedes in earnest. It will be heavy 
 work, it is true. But we have hope that God will assist 
 us." 
 
 "Let us go, then, without delay to Kyedani," said Pan 
 Stanislav. 
 
 " I received an order to have the squadron ready and to ap- 
 pear in Kyedani myself in three days," answered Pan Mi- 
 chael. " But I must show you, gentlemen this last order, for 
 it is clear from it that the prince is thinking of the Swedes." 
 
 When he had said this, Volodyo^'^ski unlocked a box 
 standing on a bench under the window, took out a paper 
 folded once, and opening it began to read : — 
 
 Colonel Volodyovski: 
 
 Gracious Sib, —We have read with great delight your report that 
 the squadron is ready and can move to the campaign at any mo- 
 ment. Keep it ready and alert, for such difficult times are coming 
 as have not oeen yet ; therefore come yourself as quickly as possible 
 to Kyedani, where we shall await you with impatience. If anv re- 
 f)orts come to you, believe them not till you have heard everything 
 from our lips. We act as God himself and our conscience command, 
 without reference to what malice and the ill will of man ma;;^ invent 
 against us. But at the same time we console ourselves with thb, 
 — that times are coming in which il will be shown definitely who 
 is a true and real friend of the house of Radzivill and who even in 
 rebus adversis is willing to serve it. Kmita, Nyevyarovski, and 
 Stankyevich have brought their squadrons here already; let yours 
 remain iu Upita, for it may be needed there, and it may have to 
 
176 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 11 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 v\ 
 
 march to Podlyasye under command of my cousin Prince Bo^slav, 
 iivho has considerable bodies of our troops under his command there. 
 Of all this you will learn in detail from our lips; meanwhile we 
 confide to your loyalty the careful execution of orders, and awikit 
 you in Kyedani. 
 
 Yanush Radzivill, 
 
 Prince in Birji and Duhinki, voevoda of Vilna, 
 grand hetmqn of Lithuania. 
 
 " Yes, a new war is evident from this letter," said Zagloba. 
 
 " And the prince's statement that he will act as God com- 
 mands him, means that he will fight the Swedes," added 
 Stanislav. 
 
 "Still it is a wonder to me," said Pan Yan, "that he 
 writes about loyalty to the house of Badzivill, and not to 
 the country, which means more than the Badzivills, and de- 
 mands prompter rescue." 
 
 "That is their lordly manner," answered Volodyovski; 
 "though that did not please me either at first, for I too 
 serve the country and not the Radzivills." 
 
 " When did you receive this letter ? " asked Pan Yan. 
 
 "This morning, and I wanted to start this afternoon. 
 You will rest to-night after the journey ; to-morrow I shall 
 surely return, and then we will move with the squadron 
 v^herever they command." 
 
 " Perhaps to Podlyasye ?" said Zagloba. 
 
 " To Prince Boguslav," added Pan Stanislav. 
 
 " Prince Boguslav is now in Kyedani," said Volodyovski. 
 " He is a strange person, and do you look at him carefully. 
 He is a great warrior and a still greater knight, but he is 
 not a Pole to the value of a copper. He wears a foreign 
 dress, a yd talks German or French altogether ; you might 
 think he was cracking nuts, might listen to him a whole 
 hour, and not understand a thing." 
 
 " Prince Boguslav at Berestechko bore himself well," said 
 Zagloba, " and brought a good number of German infantry." 
 
 "Those who know him more intimately do not praise 
 bim very highly," continued Volodyovski, "for he loves 
 onl^ V < Germans and French. It cannot be otherwise, 
 eince b*' was born of a Geriii m mother, the daughter of the 
 elertr- '^^ Brandenburg, with whom his late father not only 
 received no dowry, but, since those small princes (the elec- 
 tors) as may be seen ^"ve poor housekeeping, he had to 
 pay something. But w th the Kadzivills it is important 
 to have a vote in the German Empire, of which they are 
 
 nous 
 man. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 177 
 
 princes, and therefore they make alliances with the Germans. 
 Pan Sakovich, an old client of Prince Boguslav, who made 
 him starosta of Oshmiani, told me about this. He and Pati 
 Nyevyarovski, a colonel, were abroad with Prince Boguslav 
 in various foreign lands, and £>cted always as seconds in his 
 duels." 
 
 " How many has he fought ? " asked Zagloba. 
 
 " As many as he has hairs on his head ! He cut up va- 
 rious princes greatly and foreign counts, French and Ger- 
 man, for they say that he is very fiery, brave, and daring, 
 and calls a man out for the least word." 
 
 Pan Stanislav was roused from his thoughtfulness and 
 said : " I too have heard of this Prince Boguslav, for it is 
 not far from us to the elector, with whom he lives continu- 
 ally. I have still in mind how my father said that when 
 Prince Boguslav's father married the elector's daughter, 
 people complained that such a great house as that of the 
 Badzivills made an alliance with strangers. But perhaps 
 it happened for the best ; the elector as a relative of the 
 Badzivills ought to be very friendly now to the Common- 
 wealth, and on him much depends at present. What 
 you say about their poor housekeeping is not true. It is 
 certain, however, that if any one were to sell all the posses- 
 sions of the Badzivills, he could buy with the price of them 
 the elector and his whole principality ; but the present 
 kurfurst, Friedrich Wilhelm, has saved no small amount of 
 money, and has twenty thousand very good troops with 
 whom he might boldly meet the Swedes, — which as a 
 vassal of the Commonwealth he ought to do if he has God 
 in his heart, and remembers all the kindness which the 
 Commonwealth has shown his house." 
 
 « Will he do that ? " asked Pan Yan. 
 
 " It would be black ingratitude and faith-breaking on his 
 part if he did otherwise," answered Pan Stanislav. 
 
 " It is hard to count on the gratitude of strangers, and 
 especially of heretics," said Zagloba, " I remember this 
 kurfurst of yours when he was still a stripling. He was 
 always sullen ; one would have said that he was listening 
 to what the devil was whispering in his ear. When I was 
 in Prussia with the late Konyetspolski, I told the kurfiirst 
 that to his eyes, — for he is a Lutheran, the same as the 
 King of Sweden. God grant that they make no alliance 
 against the Commonwealth ! " 
 
 "Do you know, Michael,^" said PaA Yain, suddenly, "I 
 
 VOL. 1. — 12 
 
 I 
 
178 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 will not rest here } I will go with you to Kyedani. It is 
 better at this season to travel in the night, for it is hot in 
 the daytime, and I am eager to escape from uncertainty. 
 There is resting-time ahead, for surely the prince vill not 
 march to-morrow." 
 
 " Especially as he has given oiders to keep the fjqr -ylion 
 in Upita," answered Pan Michael. 
 
 " You speak well ! " cried Zagloba ; " I will go too." 
 
 " Then we will all go together," said Pan Stanifdav. 
 
 "We shall be in Kyedani in the morning," said Pan 
 Michael, "and ^n the road we can sleep sweetly in our 
 saddles." 
 
 Two hours later, after they had eaten and drunk some- 
 what, the knights started on their journey, and before sun- 
 down reached Krakin. 
 
 On the road Pan Michael told them about the neighbor- 
 hood, and the famous nobles of Lauda, of Kmita, and of all 
 that had happened during a certain time. He confefsed 
 also his love for Panna Billevich, unrequited as usual. 
 
 "It is well that war is near," said he, "otherwije I 
 should have suffered greatly, when I think at times that 
 such is my misfortune, and that probably I shall die in the 
 single state." 
 
 "No harm will come to you from that," said Zag.'oba, 
 " for it is an honorable state and pleasing to God. I have 
 resolved to remain in it to the end of my life. Someti aies 
 I regret that there will be no one to leave my fame t,nd 
 name to ; for though I love Yan's children as if they wt re 
 my own, still the Skshetuskis are not the Zaglobas." 
 
 " Ah, evil man 1 You have made this choice with a feol- 
 ing like that of the wolf when he ^vowed not to kill shet p 
 after all his teeth were gone." 
 
 " But that is not true," said Zagloba. " It is not so long, 
 Michael, since you and I were in Warsaw at the election. 
 At whom were all the women looking if not -^t me ? Do 
 you not remember how you used to complain chat not one of 
 them was looking at you ? But if you have such a desire 
 for the married state, then be not troubled ; your turn will 
 come too. This seeking is of no use ; you will find just 
 when you are not seeking. This is a time of war, anr*. 
 many good [cavaliers perish every year. Only let this 
 Swedish war continue, the girls will be alone, and we shall 
 find them in market by the dozen." 
 
 <* Perhaps I shall perish too," said Pan Michael. " I have 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 179 
 
 had enough of this battering through the world. Never 
 shall I be able to tell you, gentlemen, what a worthy and 
 beautiful lady Panna Billevich is. And if it were a man 
 who had loved and petted her in the tenderest way — No ! 
 the devils had to bring this Kmita. It must be that he gave 
 her something, it cannot be otherwise ; for if he had not, 
 surely she would not have let me go. There, look 1 Just 
 beyond the hills Vodokty is visible ; but there is no one in 
 the house. She has gone God knows whither. The bear 
 has his den, the pig his nest, but 1 have only this crowbait 
 and this saddle on which I sit." 
 
 " I see that she has pierced you like a thorn," said 
 Zagloba. 
 
 " True, so that when I think of myself or when riding 
 by I see Vodokty, I grieve still. I wanted to strike out the 
 wedge with a wedge,* and went to Pan Schilling, who has 
 a very comely daughter. Once I saw her on the road at a 
 distance, and she took my fancy greatly. I went to his 
 house, and what shall I say, gentlemen ? I did not tind the 
 father at home, but the daughter Panna Kahna thought 
 that I was not Pan Volodyovski, but only Pan Volody- 
 ovski's attendant. I took the affront so to heart that I 
 have never shown myself there again." 
 
 Zagloba began to laugh. " God help you, Michael ! The 
 whole matter is this, — you must find a wife of such 
 stature as you are yourself. But where did that little 
 rogue go to who was in attendance on Princess Vishnye- 
 yetski, and whom the late Pan Podbipienta — God light his 
 soul ! — was to marry ? She was just your size, a regular 
 peach-stone, though her eyes did shine terribly." 
 
 "That was Anusia Borzabogati," said Pan Yan. "We 
 were all in love with her in our time, — Michael too. God 
 knows where she is now ! " 
 
 "I might seek her out and comfort her," said Pan Michael. 
 " When you mention her it grows warm around my heart. 
 She was a most respectable girl. Ah, those old days of 
 Lubni were pleasant, but never will they return. They 
 will not, for never will there be such a chief as our Prince 
 Yeremi. A man knew that every battle would be followed 
 by victory. Eadzivill was a great warrior, but not such, 
 and men do not serve him with such heart, for he has not 
 
 1 This Polish saying of striking out a wedge with a wedge means 
 here, of course, to cure one love with another. 
 
 --4. 
 
n 
 
 IH' 
 
 I 
 Mi 
 
 m 
 
 180 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 that fatherly love for soldiers, and does not admit them 
 to confidence, having something about him of the mon- 
 arch, though the Vishnyevetskis were not inferior to the 
 Radzivills." 
 
 "No matter," said Pan Yan. "The salvation of the 
 country is in his hands now, and because he is ready to 
 give his life for it, God bless him ! " 
 
 Thus conversed the old friends, riding along in the night. 
 They called up old questions at one time ; at another they 
 spoke of the grievous days of the jiresent, in which three 
 wars at once had rolled on the Commonwealth. Later they 
 repeated " Our Father " and the litany ; and when they had 
 finished, sleep wearied them, and they began to doze aiad nod 
 on the saddles. 
 
 The night was clear and warm ; the stars twinkled by 
 thousands in the sky. Dragging on at a walk, they slept 
 sweetly till, when day began to break, Pan Michael woke. 
 
 " Gentlemen, Qpen your eyes ; Kyedani is in sight ! " 
 cried he. 
 
 "What, where ? " asked Zagloba. " Kyedani, where ? " 
 
 " Off there ! The towers are visible.^' 
 
 "A respectable sort of place," said Pan Stanislav. 
 
 " Very considerable," answered Volodyovski ; " and of 
 this you will be able to convince yourselves better in the 
 daytime." 
 
 " But is this the inheritance of the prince ? " 
 
 " Yes. Formerly it belonged to the Kishkis, from whom 
 the father of the present prince received it as dowry with 
 Panna Anna Kishki, daughter of the voevoda of Vityebsk.' 
 In all Jmud there is not such a well-ordered place, for the 
 Radzivills do not admit Jews, save by permission to each 
 one. The meads here are celebrated." 
 
 Zagloba opened his eyes. 
 
 " But do people of some politeness live here ? What is 
 that immensely great building on the eminence ? " 
 
 " That is the castle just built during the rule of Yanush." 
 
 " Is it fortified ? " 
 
 " No, but it is a lordly residence. It is not fortified, for 
 no enemy has ever entered these regions since the time of 
 the Knights of the Cioss. That pointed steeple in the mid- 
 dle of the town belongs to the parish church built by the 
 Knights of the Cross in pagan times ; later it was given to 
 the Calvinists, but the priest Kobylinski won it back for 
 the Catholics through a lawsuit with Prince Krishtof." 
 
 Th 
 subur 
 world 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 181 
 
 for 
 
 ^'l^raise be to God for that ! " 
 
 Thus conversing they arrived near the first cottages of the 
 suburbs. Meauwhil t it grew brighter and brighter in the 
 world, and the sun began to ri.e. The knights looked with 
 curiosity at the new place, and Pan Yolodyovski continued 
 to speak, — 
 
 " This is Jew street, in which dwell those of the Jews 
 who have permission to be here. Following this street, 
 one comes to the market. Oho ! people are up already, 
 and beginning to coyie out of the houses. See, a crowd 
 of horses before the forges, and attendants not in the 
 Radzivill colors ! There must be some meeting in Kyedani. 
 It is always full of nobles and high personages here, and 
 sometimes they come from foreign countries, for this is the 
 capital for heretics from all Jmud, who under the protection 
 of the Radzivills carry on their sorcery and superstitious 
 practices. That is the market-square. See what a clock is 
 on the town-house ! There is no better one to this day in 
 Dantzig. -And that which looks like a church with four 
 towers is a Helvetic (Calvinistic) meeting-house, in which 
 every Sunday they blaspheme God ; and farther on the 
 Lutheran church. You think that the townspeople are 
 Poles or Lithuanians, — not at all. Real Germans and 
 Scots, but more Scots. The Scots are splendid infantry, 
 and cut terribly with battle-axes. The prince has also one 
 Scottish regiment of volunteers of Kyedani. Ei, how many 
 wagons with packs on the market-square ! Surely there is 
 some meeting. There are no inns in the town ; acquaint- 
 ances stop with acquaintances, and nobles go to the castle, in 
 which there are rooms tens of ells long, intended for guests 
 only. There they entertain, at the prince's expense, every 
 one honorably, even if for a year ; there are people who stay 
 there all their lives." 
 
 " It is a wonder to me that lightning has not burned that 
 Calvinistic meeting-house," said Zagloba. 
 
 " But do you not know that that has happened? In the 
 centre between the four towers was a cap-shaped cupola ; 
 on a time such a lightning-flash struck this cupola that 
 nothing remained of it. In the vault underneath lies the 
 father of Prince Boguslav, Yanush, — he who joined the 
 mutiny against Sigismund III. His own haiduk laid open 
 his skull, £o that he died in vain, as he had lived in sin." 
 
 "But what is that broad building which looks like a 
 walled tent?" asked P;iu Yan. 
 
182 
 
 TttE DELUGE. 
 
 m ii 
 
 " That is the paper-mill founded by the prince ; and at the 
 side of it is a printing-office, in which heretical bo<)ks are 
 printed." 
 
 « xfu ! " said Zagloba ; " a pestilence on this place, where 
 a man draws no air into his stomach but what is hereti- 
 cal I Lucifer might rule here as we'll as Radzivill." 
 
 " Gracious sir," answered Volodyovski, " abuse not Badzi- 
 vill, for perhaps the country will soon owe its salvation to 
 him." 
 
 They rode farther in silence, gazing at the town and 
 wondering at its good oider, for the streets were all paved 
 with scone, which was at that period a novelty. 
 
 Afjer they had ridden through the market-square and 
 the 'itreet of the castle, they saw on an eminence the lordly 
 residence recently built by Prince Yanush, — not fortified, 
 it is true, but surpassing in size not only palaces but castles. 
 The great pile was on a height, and looked on the town lying, 
 as it were, at its feet. From both sides of the main build- 
 ing extended at right angles two lower wings, which formed 
 a gigantic courtyard, closed in front with an iron railing 
 fastened with long links. In the middle of the railing tow- 
 ered a strong walled gate ; on it the arms of the Radzivills 
 and the arms of the town of Kyedani, representing an eagle's 
 foot with a black wing on a golden field, and at the fori; a 
 horseshoe with three red crosses. In front of the gate were 
 sentries and Scottish soldiers keeping guard for show, not 
 for defence. 
 
 The hour was early, but there was movement already in 
 the yard ; for before the main building a regiment of dra- 
 goons in blue jackets and Swedish helmets was exercising. 
 Just then the long line of men was motionless, with drawn 
 rapiers; an officer riding in front^said something to the 
 soldiers. Around the line and farther on near the walls, 
 a number of attendants in various colors gazed at the 
 dragoons, making remarks and giving opinions to one 
 another. 
 
 "As God is dear to me," said Pan Michael, "that is Khar- 
 lamp drilling the regiment ! " 
 
 " How ! " cried Zagloba ; " is he the same with whom you 
 were going to fight a duel at Lipkovo ? " 
 
 " The very same ; but since that time W3 have lived in 
 close friendship." 
 
 " 'T is he," said Zagloba ; " I know him by his nose, which 
 sticks out from under his helmet. It is well that visors have 
 
 
 li 
 
 gone ou 
 visor; !^ 
 
 That 
 to him 
 is well 
 
 "It 
 Zagloba, 
 Syenniti 
 of the k 
 
 "I S( 
 Poland ! 
 foreheat 
 
 "And 
 who con 
 
 " FroE 
 know all 
 
 "It k 
 come, ho 
 
 "You 
 
 "We 
 
 "I gr^ 
 and that 
 knights, 
 barracks 
 to chang 
 for I ha\ 
 
 PanK 
 in a quic 
 
 Hoofs 
 two ; the 
 Ijegan t( 
 barracks 
 
 " Gooc 
 eye at th 
 
 " Thos 
 serve in 
 
 "Oh, : 
 militia," 
 
 "But 
 "or am 
 light-hor 
 
 « True 
 years sir 
 soldier, s 
 

 THE DELUGE. 
 
 183 
 
 gone out of fashion, for that knight could not close any 
 visor; he would need a special invention for his nose." 
 
 That moment Pan Kharlamp, seeing Volodyovski, came 
 to him at a trot. " How ire you, Michael ? " cried lie. " It 
 is well that you have come." 
 
 "It is better that I meet you first. See, here is Pan 
 Zagloba, whom you met in Lipkovo — no, before that in 
 Syennitsy ; and these are the Skshetuskis, — Yan, captain 
 of the king's hussars, the hero of Zbaraj — " 
 
 "I see, then, as God is true, the greatest knight in 
 Poland !" cried Kharlani) . " With the forehead, with the 
 forehead ! " 
 
 "And this is Stanislav Skshetuski, captain of Kalisk, 
 who comes straight from Uistsie." 
 
 " From Uistsie ? So you saw a terrible disgrace. We 
 know already what has happened." 
 
 "It in just because such a thing happened that I have 
 come, hoping that nothing like it will happen in this place." 
 
 " You may be certain of that ; Radzivill is not Opalinski." 
 
 " We said the same at Upita yesterday." 
 
 " I greet you, gentlemen, most joyfully in my own name 
 and that of the prince. The prince will be glad to see such 
 knights, for he needs' them much. Come with me to the 
 barracks, where my quarters are. You will need, of course, 
 to change clothes and eai; breakfast. I will go with you, 
 for I have finished the drill." 
 
 Fan Kharlamp hurried again to the line, and commanded 
 in a quick, clear voice : " To the left I face — to the rear ! " 
 
 Hoofs sounded on the pavement. The line broke into 
 two ; the halves broke again till there were four parts, which 
 began to recede with slow step in the direction of the 
 barracks. 
 
 "Good soldiers," said Skshetuski, looking with skilled 
 eye at the regular movements of the dragoons. 
 
 "Those are petty nobles and attendant boyars who 
 
 serve in that arm," answered Volodyovski. 
 
 " Oh, you could tell in a moment that they are not 
 militia," cried Pan Stanislav. 
 
 " But does Kharlamp command them," asked Zagloba, 
 "or am I mistaken ? I remember that he served in the 
 light-horse squadron and wore silver loops." 
 
 "True," answered Volodyovski; "but it is a couple of 
 years since he took the dragoon regiment. He is an old 
 soldier, and trained." 
 
iU 
 
 THte DBLttOfi. 
 
 J 
 
 Meanwhile Kharlai having dismissed the dracroons, 
 returned to the knightb. I beg you, gentlemen, to Follow 
 me. Over tliere are the barracks, beyond the uastle.'^ . 
 
 Half an hour later the five were sitting over a bowl of 
 heated beer, well whitened with oreu.ni, and were talking 
 about the impending war. 
 
 '^ And what is to be iieard here ? " asked Pan Michael. 
 
 "With us something new may be Inward every day, for 
 people are lost in suriiilHes and give out new reports all the 
 time," said Khar lam p. " Hut in truth the prince alone 
 knows wiiat is coming. He has something on his mind, for 
 tiiough he simuhites gladness and is kind to ueople as 
 never before, he is terribly thoughtful. In tne night, 
 they say, he does not sleep, but walks with heavy treatl 
 through all tiie ehaml)ers, talking audibly to himself, and 
 in the daytime takes counsel for whole hours witli 
 Harasimovich." 
 
 " Who is Haiasimovicli ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 " The manager from Zabludovo in Podly»i,8ye, — a man 
 of small stature, wlio looks as though he kept the devil 
 under his arnv ; but ho is a confidential agent of the prince, 
 and probably knows all his secrets. According to my think- 
 ing, from these counsellings a terrible and vengeful war 
 with Sweden will come, for which war we are all sighing. 
 Meanwhile letters are flying hither from the Prince of Cour- 
 land, from Hovanski, and from the Elector of Brandenburg. 
 . Home say that the prince is negotiating with Moscow to join 
 the league against SwtMlen ; others say the contrary ; but it 
 seems there will Iw jihijigue with no one, but a war, as I have 
 said, with these and those. Fresh troops are coming con- 
 tinually ; letters are siMit to nobles most faithful to the 
 Radzivills, asking them to assemble. Kvery place is full 
 , of armed men, Ei, gentlemen, on whomsoever they put 
 the grain, on him will it be ground ; but we shall have our 
 hands red to the elbowa, for when Radzivill moves to the 
 field, he will not negotiate." 
 
 '* That 's it, that 's it 1 " said Zagloba, rubbing his palms. 
 " No small amount of Swedish blood has dried on my hands, 
 and there will be more of it in future. Not many of 
 those old soldiers are alive yet who remember me at Putsk 
 and Tjtsiauna ; but those who are living will never forget 
 
 me. 
 
 » 
 
 urer. 
 
 " Is Prince Boguslav here ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 " Of course. Besides him we expect to-day some great 
 
THR DEI UGB. 
 
 18A 
 
 l^msts, fur tho upper chutnberH are tiiado ready, and there 
 IS to bo u banquut in tliB uvoniitK. I havo my doubts, 
 Mi(5luu)l, wluitluT you will roaoh thu priiujo to-day." 
 
 "lie 8ont for mo hiuiHolf yi^Htorday." 
 
 "Tlmt'8 m)thing; ho in tcu-ribly oc.cupiiMl. KoHides, 1 
 don't know whothor I can HpiMik of it to you — but in an 
 hour ovurybody will know of it, tlmroforo I will toll you — 
 8omothing or anothor vttry Htrango in going on." 
 
 <* What is it, what iu it V" awkod Zagloba. 
 
 '' It must bu known to you, gtuitlemen, that two dayu ago 
 Pan Yudytuki camo, a knight of Malta, of whom you ntU8t 
 have hoard." 
 
 " Of (!our8o," said Yan ; "ho is a groat knight." 
 
 " Immodiately after him camo the full hotman and trean- 
 uror. Wo wore greatly astonished, for it is known in what 
 rivalry and enmity J'an Gosyovski is with our prince. Some 
 persons wore rejoiced therefore that harmony had come 
 l)etwt(!a the lords, and said that the Hwcdish invasion was 
 the real cause of this. I thought so myself ; then y(!ster- 
 day tho three uhut themscdves up in counsel, fastened all 
 the doors, no ono could he«ir what they were ta* ng about ; 
 •but Tan Krepshtul, who guarded thci door, tjld us that 
 their talk was terribly loud, especially the talk of Pan Go- 
 bvevski. Later the prince himself conducted them to their 
 sleeping-chambers, and in the night — inuigino to your- 
 selves " (here Kharlamp lowered his voice) — " guards were 
 placed at the door of each chamber." 
 
 Volodyovski sprang up from his seat. " In God's name I 
 impossible ! " 
 
 " But it is true. At the doors of each Scots are standing 
 with muskets, and they have tho order to let no one in or 
 out under pain of death." 
 
 The knights looked at one another with astonishment ; and 
 Kharlamp was no less astonished at his own words, and 
 looked at his companions with staring eyes, as if awaiting 
 the explanation of the riddle from them. 
 
 " Does this mean that Pan Gosyevski is arrested ? Has 
 the grand hetman arrested the full hetman ? " asked Za- 
 globa ; " what does «his mean ? " 
 
 " As if I know, and Yudy tski such a knight ! " 
 
 "'But the officers of the prince must speak with one 
 another about it and guess at causes. Have you heard 
 nothing ? *' 
 
i 
 
 
 186 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " I asked Harasimovich last night." 
 
 " What did he sajr ? " asked Zagloba. 
 
 " He would explain nothing, but he put his finger on his 
 mouth and said, ' They are traitors ! ' '^ 
 
 " How traitors ? " cried Volodyovski, seizing his head. 
 "Neither the treasurer nor Pan Yudytski is a traitor. 
 The whole Commonwealth knows them as honorable men 
 and patriots." 
 
 " At present 't is impossible to have faith in any man," 
 answered Pan Stanislav, gloomily. " Did not Pan Opalin- 
 ski pass for a Cato ? Did he not reproach others with 
 defects, with otfences, with selfishness ? But when it came 
 to do something, he was the first to betray, and brought 
 not only himself, but a whole province to treason." 
 
 " I will give my head for the treasurer and Pan Yudytskil" 
 cried Volodyovski. 
 
 "Do not give your head for any man, Michael dear," 
 said Zagloba. 'Vi'^ey were not arrested without reason. 
 There must have been some conspiracy ; it cannot be other- 
 wise, — how could it be ? The prince is preparing for a 
 terrible war, and every aid is precious to him. Whom, 
 then, at such a time can he put under arrest, if not those 
 who stand in the way of war ? If this is so, if these two* 
 men have really stood in the way, then praise be to God that 
 Radzivill has anticipated them. They deserve to sit under 
 ground. Ah, the scoundrels ! — at such a time to practise 
 tricks, communicate with the enemy, rise against the country, 
 hinder a great warrior in his undertaking! By the Most 
 Holy Mother, what has met them is too little, the rascals ! " 
 
 " These are wonders, — such wonders that I cannot put 
 them in my head," said Kharlamp ; " for letting alone that 
 they are such dignitaries, they ai*e arrested without judg- 
 ment, without a diet, without the will of the whole Com- 
 monwealth, — a thing which the king himself has not the 
 right to do." 
 
 " As true as I live," cried Pan Michael. 
 
 •* It is evident that the prince wants to introduce Roman 
 customs among us," said Pan Stanislav, " and become dicta- 
 tor in time of war." 
 
 " Let him be dictator if he will only beat the Swedes," 
 said Zagloba ; " I will be the first to vote for his dictator- 
 ship." 
 
 Pan Yan fell to thinking, and after a while said, " Unless 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 1S7 
 
 his 
 
 >» 
 
 he should wish to become protector, like that English Crom- 
 well who did not hesitate to raise his sacrilegious hand on 
 his own king." 
 
 " Nonsense I Cromwell ? Cromwell was a heretic I " 
 cried Zagloba. 
 
 "But what is the prince voevoda?" asked Pan Yan, 
 seriously. 
 
 At this question all were silent, and considered the dark 
 future for a time with fear ; but Kharlamp looked angry 
 and said, — 
 
 " I have served under the prince from early years, though 
 I am little younger than he ; for in the beginning, when I 
 was still a stripling, he was my captain, later on he was 
 full hetman, and now he is grand hetman. I know him 
 better than any one here ; I both love and honor him ; 
 therefore I ask you not to compare him with Cromwell, so 
 that I may not be forced to say something which would 
 not become me as host in this room." 
 
 Here Kharlamp began to twitch his mustaches terribly, 
 and to frown a little at Pan Yan ; seeing which, Volodyovski 
 Axed on Kharlamp a cool and sharp look, as if he wished 
 to say, " Only growl, only growl ! " 
 
 Great Mustache took note at once, for he held Volodyov- 
 ski in unusual esteem, and besides it was dangerous to get 
 angry with him ; therefore he continued in a far milder 
 tone, — 
 
 "The prince is a Calvinist; but he did not reject the 
 true faith for errors, for he was born in them. He will 
 never become either a Cromwell, a Kadzeyovski, or an 
 Opalinski, though Kyedani had to sink through the earth. 
 Not such is his blood, not such his stock." 
 
 " If he is the devil and has horns on his head," said Za- 
 globa, " so much the better, for he will have something to 
 gore the Swedes with." 
 
 " But that Pan Gosyevski and Pan Yudytski are arrested, 
 well, well!" said Volodyovski, shaking his head. "The 
 prince is not very amiable to guests who have confided 
 in him." 
 
 " What do you say, Michael ? " answered Kharlamp. " He 
 is amiable as he has never been in his life. He is now a 
 real father to the knights. Think how some time ago he 
 had always a frown on his forehead, and on his lips one 
 word, 'Service.' A man was more afraid to go uear his 
 majesty than he was to stand before the king ; and now he 
 
 I! 
 
 i 
 
rir 
 
 188 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 m 
 
 goes every day among the lieutenants and the officers, 
 converses, asks each one about his family, his children, 
 his property, calls each man by name, and inquires if 
 injustice has been done to any one in service. He who 
 among the highest lords will not own an equal, walked 
 yesterday arm-in-arm with young Kmita. We could not 
 believe our eyes ; for though the family of Kmita is a 
 great one, he is (][uite young, and likely many accusations 
 are weighing on him. Of this you know best." 
 
 " I know, I know," replied Volodyovski. " Has Kmita 
 been here long ? " 
 
 " He is not here now, for he went yesterday to Chey- 
 kishki for a regiment of infantry stationed there. No one 
 is now in su-^ii favor with the prince as Kmita. When he 
 was going away the prince looked after him awhile and 
 said, * That man is equal to anything, and is ready to seize 
 the devil himself by the tail if I tell him ! ' We heard this 
 with our own eatfs. It is true that Kmita brought a squad- 
 ron that has not an equal in the whole army, — men and 
 horses like dragons!" 
 
 " There is no use in talking, 'he is a valiant soldier, and 
 in truth ready for everything," said Pan Michael. "Ho 
 performed wonders in the last campaign, till a price was 
 set on his head, for he led volunteers and carried on war 
 himself." 
 
 Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of 
 a new figure. This was a noble about forty years of age, 
 small, dry, alert, wriggling like a mud-fish, with a small 
 face, very thin lips, a scant mustache, and very crooked 
 eyes. He was dressed in a ticking-coat, with such long 
 sleeves that they covered his han^s completely. When he 
 had entered he bent double, then he straightened himself 
 as suddenly as if moved by a spring, again he inclined with 
 a low bow, turned his head as if he were taking it out of 
 his own armpits, atid began to speak hurriedly in a voice 
 which recalled the squeaking of a rusty weather-cock, — 
 
 " With the forehead. Pan Kharlamp, with the forehead. 
 Ah ! with the forehead. Pan Colonel, most abject servant ! " 
 " With the forehead, Pan Hcrasimovich," answered Khar- 
 lamp ; " and what is your wish ? " 
 
 " God gave guests, distinguished guests. I came to offer 
 my services and to inquire their rank." 
 
 " Did they come to you. Pan Harasimovich ? " 
 
 " Certainly not to me, for I am not worthy of that j but 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 189 
 
 because I take the place of the absent marsha. I have come 
 to greet them profoundly." 
 
 "It is far from you t the marshal," se^id Kharlamp.; 
 " for he is a personage with inherited land, while you with 
 permission are urder-starosta of Zabludovo." 
 
 "A servant of the servants of Radzivill. That is true. 
 Pan Kharlamp, T make no denial ; God preserve me there- 
 from. But since tLo prince has heard of the guests, he has 
 sent me to inquire who they are ; therefore you will answer. 
 Pan Kharlamp, if I were even a haiduk and not the under- 
 starosta of Zabludovo." 
 
 " Oh, I would answer even a monkey •' he were to come 
 with an order," said Big Nose. "Listen now, arid calk 
 these names into yourself if your head is not able to 
 hold them. This is Pan Skshetuski, that hero of Zbaraj j 
 and this is his cousin Stanislav." 
 
 " Great God ! what do I hear ? " cried Harasimovich. 
 
 « This is Pan Zagloba." 
 
 « Great God I what do I hear ? " 
 
 "If you are so confused at hearing my name," said 
 Zagloba, "think of the confusion of the enemy in the 
 field." 
 
 " And this is Colonel Volodyovski," finished Kharlamp. 
 
 " And he has a famous sabre, and besides is a Kadzivill 
 man." said Harasimovich, with a bow. " The prince's head 
 is splitting from labor ; but still he will find time for such 
 knights, surely he will find it. Meanwhile with what can 
 you be served ? The whole castle is at the service of such 
 welcome guests, and the cellars as well." 
 
 " We have heard of the famous meads of Kyedani," said 
 Zagloba, hurriedly. 
 
 " Indeed ! " answered Harasimovich, " there are glorious 
 meads in Kyedani, glorious. I will send some hither for 
 you to choose from right away. I hope that my benefac- 
 tors will stay here long." 
 
 "We have come hither," said Pan Stanislav, "not to 
 leave the side of the prince." 
 
 " Praiseworthy is your intention, the more so that trying 
 times are at hand." 
 
 When he had said this, Harasimovich wriggled and 
 became as small as if an ell had been taken from his 
 stature. 
 
 "What is to be heard ?". asked Kharlamp. "Is there 
 any news ? " 
 
190 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 
 i 1 
 
 If I 
 
 ''The prince has not closed an eye all night, for two 
 envoys have come. Evil are the tidings, increasingly evil. 
 Karl Gustav * has already entered the Commonwealth 
 after Wittemberg ; Poznan is now occupied, all Great 
 Poland is occupied, Mazovia will be occupied soon; the 
 Swedes are in Lovich, right at Warsaw. Our king has 
 fled from Warsaw, which he left undefended. To-day or 
 to-morrow the Swedes will enter. They say that the king 
 has lost a considerable battle, that he thinks of escaping to 
 Cracow, and thence to foreign lands to ask aid. Evil, 
 gracious gentlemen, my benefactors ! Though there are 
 some who say that it is well ; for the Swedes commit no 
 violence, observe agreements sacredly, collect no imposts, 
 respect liberties, do not hinder the faith. Therefore all 
 accept the protection of Karl Gustav willingly. For our 
 king, Yan Kazimir, is at fault, greatly at fault. All is lost, 
 lost for him I One would like to weep, but all is lost, lost I " 
 
 " Why the de^il do you wriggle like a rnudfish going to 
 the pot," howled Zagloba, " and speak of a misfortune as 
 if you were glad of it ? " 
 
 Harasimovich pretended not to hear, and raising his eyes 
 to heaven he repeated yet a number of times : " All is lost, 
 lost for the ages ! The Commonwealth cannot stand against 
 three wars. Lost ! The will of God, the will of God I Our 
 prince alone can save Lithuania." 
 
 The ill-omened words had not yet ceased to sound when 
 Harasimovich vanished behind the door as quickly as if he 
 had sunk through the earth, and the knights sat in gloom 
 bent by the weight of terrible thoughts. 
 
 " We shall go mad ! " cried Volodyovski at last. 
 
 " You are right," said Stanislav* " God give war, war at 
 the earliest, — war in which a man does not ruin himself 
 in thinking, nor yield his soul to despair, but fights." 
 
 " We shall regret the first period of Hmelnitski's war," 
 said Zagloba ; " for though there were defeats then, there 
 were no traitors." 
 
 " Three such terrible wars, when in fact there is a lack 
 of forces for one," said Stanislav. 
 
 "Not a lack of forces, but of spirit. The country is 
 perishing through viciousness. God grant us to live to 
 something better!" said Pan Yan, gloomily. 
 
 " We shall not rest till we are in the field," said Stanislav. 
 
 " If we can only see this prince soon ! " cried Zagloba. 
 
 Their wishes were accomplished directly; for after an 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 191 
 
 r two 
 jr evil, 
 wealth 
 Great 
 i; the 
 Lg has 
 day or 
 3 king 
 ling to 
 Evil, 
 re are 
 mit no 
 nposts, 
 ore all 
 ^or our 
 is lost, 
 lost!" 
 oing to 
 lune as 
 
 lis eyes 
 
 I is lost, 
 against 
 
 II Our 
 
 d when 
 \s if he 
 gloom 
 
 war at 
 limself 
 
 s war," 
 I, there 
 
 a lack 
 
 ntry is 
 live to 
 
 uaislav. 
 Loba. 
 fter an 
 
 hour's time Harasimovich came again, with still lower bows, 
 and with the announcement that the prince was waiting 
 anxiously to see them. 
 
 They sprang up at once, for they had already changed 
 uniforms, and went. Harasimovich, in conducting them 
 from the barracks, passed through the courtyard, which 
 was full of soldiers and nobles. In some places they were 
 conversing in crowds, evidently over the same news which 
 the under-starosta of Zabludovo had brought the knights. 
 Oil all faces were depicted lively alarm and a certain fever- 
 ish expectation. Isolated groups of officers and nobles were 
 listening to the speakers, who standing in the midst of 
 them gesticulated violently. On the way were heard the 
 words : " Vilna is burning, Vilna is burned ! — No trace of 
 it, nor the ashes I Warsaw is taken ! — Untrue, not taken 
 yet 1 — The Swedes are in Little Poland ! The people of 
 Syeradz will resist ! — They will not resist, they will follow 
 the example of Great Poland ! — Treason 1 misfortune ! O 
 God, (rod I It is unknown where to put sabre or hand ! " 
 
 Such words as these, more and more terrible, struck the 
 ears of the knights ; but they went on pushing after Hara- 
 simovich through the soldiers and nobles with difficulty. 
 In places acquaintances greeted Volodyovski : " How is your 
 health, Michael ? 'T is evil with us ; we are perishing 1 
 With the forehead, brave Colonel! And what guests are 
 these whom you are taking to the prince ? " Pan Michael 
 answered not, wishing to escape delay ; and in this fashion 
 they went to the main body of the castle, in which the 
 janissaries of the prince, in chain-mail and gigantic white 
 caps, were on guard. 
 
 In the antechamber and on the main staircase, set 
 around with orange-trees, the throng was still greater than 
 in the courtyard. They were discussing there the arrest of 
 Gosyevski and Yudytski ; for the affair had become known, 
 and roused the minds of men to the utmost. Tliey were 
 astonished and lost in surmises, they were indignant or 
 praised the foresight of the prince ; but all hoped to hear 
 the explanation of the riddle from Radzivill himself, there- 
 fore a river of heads was flowing along the broad staircase 
 up to the hall of audience, in which at that time the 
 prince was to receive colonels and the most intimate nobil- 
 ity. Soldiers disposed along the stone banisters to see 
 that the throng was not too dense, repeated, from moment 
 to moment, " Slowly, gracious gentlemen, slowly ! " And 
 
192 
 
 THK DKI.UdK. 
 
 fa* 
 
 
 the crowd ptialiod forward or Imltod for a momont, when ft 
 Hohlior Htoppod t.ho way with a lialhnrt 8o that those in 
 front might havo tinm to ontor tho hall. 
 
 At last tho l)luo vaii1tin({H of the hall gl<Mined before the 
 open door, and our acquaintanuos entered. Their glanooH 
 fell tirHt on an elevation, ])laeed in the depth of the hall, 
 oeeupied by a brilliant retinue of knightH and lords in rieh, 
 raa'iy-eolored drrsHi^s. In front Htood an em[)ty arm-ohair, 
 pushed forward beyond tho others. This chair had a lofty 
 i)aek, ending with the gilded coron(«t of the ]n'ince, from 
 beneath which Howed downward orange-colored velvet 
 trimmed with ermine. 
 
 The prince wiih not in the hall yet ; but Harasimovich, 
 conducting the knights witlunit interruption, ])U8h(ul ♦■.hrougli 
 tlw nobility till he nuiched a snuill door conc(>aled in the 
 wall at tho side of tin? elovjition. There he directed them to 
 remain, and di8a])peared through the door. 
 
 After a while ^he returniMl with the anno\incement that 
 the prince aHke<l them to (r.iter. 
 
 Tlie two SkshetuHkis, with Zagloba and Volodyovski, 
 entered a small but very well-lighted room, having walls 
 cover(»d with leather 8tam])ed in flowers, which were gilded. 
 The oflicors halttMl on seeing iji the depth of the room, at a 
 table covered with papers, two men (jonversing intently. 
 One of them, still yonng, dressed in for(»ign fashion, wear- 
 ing a wig with long locks falling to his slumlders, whis- 
 pere<l something in the ear of his elder companion^ the 
 latter Inward him with frowning brow, and nodded from time 
 to time. So much was he occupied with the subject of the 
 conversation that ho did not turn attention at once to those 
 who had entcn'cd. 
 
 He was a man aomewhiit beyond forty years, of giganti(? 
 stature and grout shouUh^ra. 1!(^ wore a scMirlet Tolish coat, 
 liiatened at the nc^ck with costly brooches. He had an 
 jujormous face, with features «^x])ressing pride, importaht^e, 
 and power. It was at once the fact^ of an angry lion, of a 
 warrior, and a ruler, l^ong ])end(M»t mustaclu^s lent it a 
 stern expression, and altogi'tlun* in its strength and size it 
 was as if struck out of marble with great blows of a ham- 
 mer. The brows were at that moment frowning from in- 
 tense thought ; but it co»ild easily be seen that when they 
 were frowning from anger, woe to those men and those 
 armies on whom the tlnniders of that anger should fall. 
 
 There was something so great in the form that it seemed 
 
THE DKLUOE. 
 
 193 
 
 H'l 
 
 hen A 
 )Be in 
 
 fo the 
 lancoH 
 > hall, 
 n rich, 
 -ohair, 
 I lofty 
 , from 
 velvet 
 
 [lovioh, 
 h rough 
 in the 
 ihem to 
 
 nt that 
 
 [yovski, 
 g walls 
 gihhid. 
 )m, at a 
 itently. 
 woar- 
 wluH- 
 the 
 imtinio 
 , of the 
 ;() those 
 
 ;iganti(^ 
 IhIi coat, 
 Ihad an 
 
 )rtaa(5e, 
 ion, of a 
 
 int it a 
 size it 
 a hani- 
 Irom in- 
 
 3n they 
 
 Itl those 
 
 Nh 
 I seemed 
 
 f 
 t)n 
 
 to those knights that not only the room, but the whole 
 cnHtle was too narrow for it; in Uwt, thtMr Hrst impression 
 had not deceived them, for sitting in ihv'w presence was 
 Yanush ItadTiivill, prince at Hirji and Dublnki, voevoda of 
 Vilna and grand hetman of liithuania, — a man so powerful 
 and proud that in all his immiMiHe cNtatifN, in all his dig- 
 nities, nay, in ilniud ai.;l in Lithuania itself, it was too 
 narrow for him. 
 
 The younger man in the long wig and fonMgn dress was 
 Vrinee Hognslav, tlie couHin of Yanush. Aft(!rawhile he 
 whispered something more in the ear of the hetman, and at 
 last said audibly, — 
 
 " I will leave, then, my signature on the doetimeni and 
 
 » 
 
 " Since it cannot be other wise?, go," said Yanush, " though 
 I wcmld that you rentained, for it is unknown what may 
 happen." 
 
 " Yo\i have planned everything |)rop<u*ly; henceforth it 
 is needful to look carefully to the cause, and now 1 commit 
 you to God." 
 
 " May the Lord have in care our whole house and bring 
 it praise." 
 
 " Adieu, mon frere." 
 
 " Adieu." 
 
 The two princes shook hands ; then Boguslav went out 
 hurriedly, and the grand hetman turned to the? visitors. 
 
 " Pardon me, genthnnen, that I let you wait," said he, 
 with a low, deliberate voice; "but now time and att(Mition 
 are snatched from us on every sichi. I have heard your 
 names, and rejoice in my soul that (iwd s(Mit me such knights 
 in thir crisis. Be seated, dear gu(!sts. Who of you is i*an 
 Yan Skshetuski ? " 
 
 "I am, at the service of your highness." 
 
 " Then you ari^ a starosta — pardon uw, I forgot." 
 
 " I am not a starosta," atiswe-red Yan. 
 
 " How is that? " asked the princes, frowning with his two 
 mighty brows; "thcsy havc^ not made you a starosta for 
 wiiat you did at Zbaraj ? " 
 
 " l have never asked for the o(lie<!." 
 
 "But they should have? made you starosta without the 
 asking. How is this? What do you tell me? You 
 rewarded with nothing, forgottcin entirely ? This is a 
 wonder to me. But T am talking at ranclom. It should 
 astonish no man ; for in these days only he is rewarded who 
 vot. I. — 13 
 
 111 
 
t 
 
 m 
 
 194 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 i;;|.!l 
 
 has the back of a willow, light-bending. You are not a 
 starosta, upon my word ! Thanks b«> to God that you have 
 come hither, for here we have not such short memories, 
 and no service remains unrewarded. How is it with you, 
 worthv Colonel Volodyovski ? " 
 
 " I have earned nothing yet." 
 
 " Leave that to me, and now take this document, drawn 
 up in Rossyeni, by which I give you Dydkyemie for lifo. 
 It is not a bad piece of land, and a hundred ploughs go out 
 to work there every spring. Take even that, for I cannot 
 give more, and tell Pan Skshetuski that Radzivill does not 
 forget his friends, nor those who give their service to the 
 country under his leadership." 
 
 " Your princely highness ! " stammered Pan Michael, in 
 confusion. 
 
 " Say nothing, and pardon that it is so small ; but tell 
 these gentleme\i that he who joins his fortune for good and 
 ill with that of Radzivill will not perish. I am not king; 
 but if I were, God is my witness that I would never forget 
 such a Yan Skshetuski or such a Zagloba." 
 
 " That is I ! " said Zagloba, pushing himself forward 
 sharply, for he had begun to be impatient that there was no 
 mention of him. 
 
 "I thought it was you, for I have been told that you 
 were a man of advanced years." 
 
 " I went to school in company with your highness's 
 worthy father ; and there was such knightly impulse in him 
 from childhood that he took me to his confidence, for I 
 loved the lance before Latin." 
 
 To Pan Stanislav, who knew Zagloba less, it was strange 
 to hear this, since only the dky before; Zagloba said in 
 Upita that he had gone to school, not with the late Prince 
 Kryshtof, but with Yanush himself, — which was unlikely, 
 for Prince Yanush was notably younger. 
 
 " Indeed," said the prince ; " so then you are from Lithu- 
 ania by family ? " 
 
 "From Lithuania!" answered Zagloba, without hesita- 
 tion. 
 
 " Then I know that you need no reward, for we Lithua 
 nians are used to be fed with ingratitude. As God is true, if 
 I should give you your deserts, gentlemen, there would be 
 nothing left for myself. But such is fate I We give our 
 blood, lives, fortunes, and no one nods a head to us. Ah ! 
 't is hard ; but as they sow will they reap. That is what 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 195 
 
 ) not a 
 »u have 
 niorles, 
 th you, 
 
 , drawn 
 [or liio. 
 \ go out 
 cannot 
 loes not 
 ie to the 
 
 shael, in 
 
 but tell 
 rood and 
 ,ot king; 
 er forget 
 
 forward 
 e was no 
 
 that you 
 
 ighness's 
 is in him 
 ee, for I 
 
 3 strange 
 said in 
 ,e Prince 
 lunlikely, 
 
 Im Lithu- 
 
 ^t hesita- 
 
 Lithua 
 
 ^s true, if 
 
 irould be 
 
 I give our 
 
 IS. Ah! 
 
 is what 
 
 God and justice command. It is you who slew the famous 
 Burlai and ^ut off three heads at a blow in Zbaraj ? " 
 
 " I slew Burlai, your highness," answered Zagloba, " for 
 it was s:id that no man could stand before him. I wished 
 therefore to show younger warriors that manhood was not 
 extinct in the Commonwealth. But as to cutting off the 
 three heads, it may be that I did that in the thick of battle ; 
 but in Zbaraj some one else did it." 
 
 The prince was silent awhile, then continued : "Does not 
 that contempt pain you, gentlemen, with which they pay 
 you ? " 
 
 "What is to be done, your highness, even if it is dis- 
 agreeable to a man ? " said Zagloba. 
 
 " Well, comfort yourselves, for that must change. I am 
 already your debtor, since you have come here ; and though 
 I am not king, still with me it will not end with promises." 
 
 "Your princely highness," said Pan Yan, quickly and 
 somewhat proudly, " we have come hither not for rewards 
 and estates, bub because the enemy has invaded the country, 
 and we v/ish to go with our strength to assist it under the 
 leadership of a famous warrior. My cousin Stanislav saw 
 at Uistsie fear, disorder, shame, treason, and finally the 
 enemy's triumph. Here under a great leader and a faithful 
 defender of cir country and king we will serve. Here not 
 victories, not triumphs, but defeats and death await the 
 enemy. This is why we have come to offer our service to 
 your highness. We are soldiers ; we want to fight, and are 
 impatient for battle." 
 
 " If such is your desire, you will be satisfied," answered 
 the prince, with importance. "You will not wait long, 
 though at first we shall march on another enemy, for the 
 ashes of Vilna demand vengeance. To-day or to-morrow 
 we shall march in that direction, and God grant will re- 
 deem the wrongs with interest. I will not detain you 
 longer, gentlemen ; you need rest, and work is burning me. 
 But come in the evening to the hall ; maybe some proper 
 entertainment will take place before the march, for a great 
 number of fair heads have assembled under our protection 
 at Kyedani before the war. Worthy Colonel Volodyovski, 
 entertain these welcome guests as if in your own house, and 
 remember that what is mine is yours. Pan Harasimovich, 
 tell my brother nobles assembled in the hall, that I will not 
 go out, for I have not the time, and this evening they will 
 learn everything that they wish to know. Be in good health, 
 
 '..t 
 
196 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I 
 
 
 "I 
 
 gentlemen, and be friends of Kadzivill, for that is greatly 
 important for him now." 
 
 When he had said this, that mighty and proud lord gave 
 his hand in turn to Zagloba, the two Skshetuskis, Volody- 
 ovski, and Kharlamp, as if to equals. His stern face grew 
 radiant with a cordial and friendly smile, and that inacces- 
 sibleness usually surrounding him as with a dark cloud 
 vanished completely. 
 
 "That is a leader, that is a warrior!" said Stanislav, 
 when on the return they hUd pushed themselves through 
 the throng of nobles assembled in the audience-hall. 
 
 " I would go into fire after him ! " cried Zagloba. " Did 
 you notice how he had all my exploits in his memory ? It 
 will be hot for the Swedes when that lion roars, and I sec- 
 ond him. There is not another such man in the Common- 
 wealth; and of the former men only Prince Yeremi first, and 
 second Konyetspblski, the father, might be compared with 
 him. That is not some mere castellan, the first of his 
 family to sit in a senator's chair, on which he has not 
 yet smoothed out the wrinkles of his trousers, and still 
 turns up his nose and calls the nobles younger brothers, 
 and gives orders right away to paint his portrait, so that 
 while dining he may have his senatorship before him, since 
 he has nothing to look at behind. Pan Michael, you have 
 come to fortune. It is evident now that if a man rubs 
 against Radzivill he will gild at once his threadbare coat. 
 It is easier to get promotion here, I see, than a quart of 
 rotten pf '^^ with us. Stick your hands into the water 
 in this piace, and with closed eyes you will catch a pike. 
 For me he is the magnate of magnates! God give you 
 luck, Pan Michael ! You are as confused as a young wo- 
 man just married ; but that is nothing ! What is the name 
 of your life estate ? Dudkovo, or something ? Heathen 
 names in this country ! Throw nuts against the wall, and 
 you will have in the rattling the proper name of a village 
 or noble. But names are nothing if the income is only 
 good." 
 
 " I am terribly confused, I confess," said Pan Michael, 
 "because what you say about easy promotion is not true. 
 More than once have I heard old soldiers charge the prince 
 with avarice, but now unexpected favors are showered one 
 after the other." 
 
 " Stick that document behind your belt, — do that for me, 
 — and if any one in future complains of the thanklessness 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 197 
 
 Since 
 I have 
 rubs 
 3 coat, 
 lart of 
 water . 
 pike, 
 e you 
 g wo- 
 name 
 eathen 
 ,11, and 
 |village 
 only 
 
 tichael, 
 \t true, 
 prince 
 led one 
 
 for me, 
 ;ssness 
 
 of the prince, draw it out ;id give it to him on the nose. 
 You will not find a better argument." 
 
 " One thing I see clearly : the prince is attracting people 
 to his person, and is forming plans for which he needs 
 help," said Pan Yan. 
 
 " But have you not heard of those plans ? " asked Zagloba. 
 " Has he not said that we have to go to avenge the ashes of 
 Vilna ? They complained that he had robbed Vilna, but he 
 wants to show that he not only does not need other people's 
 property, but is ready to give of his own. That is a beauti- 
 ful ambition, Yan ; God give us more of such senators." 
 
 Conversing thus, they found themselves in the courtyard, 
 to which every moment rode in now divisions of mounted 
 troops, now crowds of armed nobles ; and now carriages 
 rolled in, bringing persons from the country around, with 
 their wives and children. 
 
 Seeing this, Pan Michael drew all with him to the gate to 
 look at those entering. 
 
 " Who knows, Michael, this is your fortunate day ? May- 
 be there is a wife for you among these nobles' daughters," 
 said Zagloba. "Look! see, there an open carriage is ap- 
 proaching, and in it something white is sitting." 
 
 " That is not a lady, but a man who may marry me to 
 one," answered the swift-eyed Volodyovski ; for from a dis- 
 tance he recognized the bishop Parchevski, coming with 
 Father Byalozor, archdeacon of Vilna. 
 " If they are priests, how are they visiting a Calvinist ? " 
 " What is to be done ? When it 's necessary for public 
 affairs, they must be polite." 
 
 " Oh, it is crowded here ! Oh, it is noisy ! " cried Zagloba, 
 with delight. " A man grows rusty in the country, like an 
 old key in a lock ; here I think of better times. I 'm a 
 rascal if T don't make love to some pretty girl to-day." 
 
 Zagloba's words were interrupted by the soldiers keeping 
 guard at the gate, who rushing out from their booths stood 
 in two ranks to salute the bishop ; and he rode past, mak- 
 ing the sign of the cross with his hand on each side, bless- 
 ing the soldiers and the nobles assembled near by. 
 
 "The prince is a polite man," said Zagloba, "since he 
 honors the bishop, though he does not recognize the su- 
 premacy of the Church. God grant this to be the first step 
 toward conversion ! " 
 
 " Oh, nothing will come of it ! Not few were the efforts of 
 his first wife, and she accomplished nothing, only died from 
 
 1 it 
 
|.!^ 
 
 Mf^^ 
 
 198 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 vexation. But why do tl»e Scots not leave the line ? It is 
 evident that an()ther dignitary will pass." 
 
 In fact, a whole retinue of armed soldiers appeared in 
 the distance. 
 
 "Those are Ganhoff's dragoons, — I know them," said 
 Volodyovski ; " but some carriages are in the middle I " 
 
 At that moment the drums began to rattle. 
 
 " Oh, it i.s evident that some one greater than the bishop 
 of Jmud is there ! " cried Zagloba. 
 
 " Wait, they are here already." 
 
 " There are two carriages in the middle." 
 
 "True. In the first sits Pan Korf, the voevoda of 
 Venden." 
 
 " Of course 1 " cried Pan Yan ; " that is an acquaintance 
 from Zbaraj." 
 
 The voevoda recognized them, and first Volodyovski, 
 whom he had evidently seen oftener ; in passing he leaned 
 from the carriage and cried, — 
 
 " I greet you, gentlemen, old comrades I See, I bring 
 guests ! " 
 
 In the second carriage, with the arms of Prince Yanush, 
 drawn by four white horses, sat two gentlemen of lordly 
 mien, dressed in foreign fashion, in broad-brimmed hats, 
 *Tom under which the blond curls of wigs flowed to their 
 shoulders over wide lace collars. One was very portly, 
 wore a pointed light-blond beard, and mustaches bushy 
 and turned up at the ends ; the other was younger, dressed 
 wholly in black. He had a less knightly form, but per- 
 haps a higher office, for a gold chain glittered on his neck, 
 with some order at the end. Apparently both were for- 
 eigners, for they looked with curiosity at the castle, the 
 people, and the dresses. 
 
 " What sort of devils ? " asked Zagloba. 
 
 " I do not know them, I have never seen them," answered 
 Volodyovski. 
 
 Meanwhile tho carriages passed, and began to turn in the 
 yard so as to reach the main entrance of the castle, but the 
 dragoons remained ou+side the gate. Volodyovski knew 
 the officer leading them. 
 
 " Tokarzevich ! " called he, " come to us, please." 
 
 " With the forehead, worthy Colonel." 
 
 " And what kind of hedgehogs are you bringing ? '' 
 
 " Those are Swedes." 
 
 "Swedes!" 
 
 our 
 
 run 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 199 
 
 *' Yes, and men of distinction. The portly one is Count 
 Lowenhaupt, and the slender man is Benedikt Schitte, 
 Baron von Duderhoff." 
 
 « Duderhoff ? " asked Zagloba. 
 
 " What do they want here ? " inquired Volodyovski. 
 
 " God knows ! " answered the officer. " We escorted them 
 from Birji. Undoubtedly they have come to negotiate with 
 our prince, for we heard in Birji that he is assembling a 
 great army and is going to move on Livonia." 
 
 " Ah, rascals ! you are growing timid," cried Zagloba. 
 " Now you are invading Great Poland, now you are depos- 
 ing the king, and now you are paying court to Kadzivill, so 
 that he should not tickle you in Livonia. Wait ! you will 
 run away to your Dunderhotf till your stockings are down. 
 We '11 soon dunder with you. Long life to Kadzivill ! " 
 
 " Long life 1 " repeated the nobles, standing near the 
 gate. 
 
 " Defender of the country I Our shield ! Against the 
 Swedes, worthy gentlemen, against the Swedes ! " 
 
 A circle was formed. Every moment nobles collected 
 from the yard; seeing which, Zagloba sprang on the low 
 guard-post of the gate, and began to cry, — 
 
 " Worthy gentlemen, listen ! Whoso does not know me, 
 to him I will say that I am that defender of Zbaraj who 
 with this old hand slew Burlai, the greatest hetman after 
 Hmelnitski ; whoso has not heard of Zagloba was shelling 
 peas, it is clear, in the first period of the Cossack war, 
 or feeling hens (for eggs), or herding calves, — labors 
 which I do not connect with such honorable cavaliers as 
 you." 
 
 " He is a great knight ! " called numerous voices. " There 
 is no greater in the Commonwealth ! Hear ! " 
 
 " Listen, honorable gentlemen. My old bones craved re- 
 pose ; better for me to rest in the bakehouse, to eat cheese 
 and cream, to walk in the gardens and gather apples, or 
 putting my hands behind my back to stan^ over harvesters 
 or pat a girl on the shoulder. And it is certain that for the 
 enemy it would have been better to leave me at rest ; for 
 the Swedes and tLe Cossacks know that I have a very 
 heavy hand, and God grant that my name is as well known 
 to you, gentlemen, as to the enemy." 
 
 " What kind of rooster is that crowing so loud ? " asked 
 some voice in the crowd, suddenly. 
 
 " Don't interrupt 1 Would you were dead I " cried others. 
 
 ltd 
 
 
2(K) 
 
 THK DKI.UOK. 
 
 y 
 
 Hilt. ZiiKlobii lituird him. " Kurgivn tliat oookurol, goiitU^ 
 nioii/' Huiil ho; '* for he kiiowH not yot on whiuh (muI of him 
 iH hiH Uiil, nor on which hiH hiuul." 
 
 'i ho nohh'H hui'Ht into mighty hiuKlit^^i't and i\n\ coiifnMiMl 
 (liNiurlMM* imnhod (|ni<^kly iM^iind tlio crowd, to t^Hcapc thn 
 HiicorH which camo mining <>n liiH htwid. 
 
 " I rctiiin to the Hiilijiu't,*' Hiiid /tiKhtba. " [ repeat, rcHt 
 wonhl he proper for nie ; hut hi^iMutm^ th(^ (^mntry in in a 
 oaroxyHni, Ummuino the enemy iH trampling our html, I am 
 ln<n>, worthy fjftuitlenuMi, witii you to reniHt tiie enemy in 
 tiie nann^ of that mothiu* who ntmriHhed uh all. WIioho 
 will not staini hy l.cr to-day, wIioho will mit run to Have her, 
 in not a hou, hut a ntep-Hoii ; he Ih unworthy of her lovn. 
 I, an old nuui, am K<*i>iKi h't tlui will of (iod he done; and if 
 it conum to me to illc, with my hiHt breath will 1 cry, 
 ' A^aiiiHt the Sweden ! hrothern, a^aiuHt the Sweden ! ' Let 
 UH Hwear that w\\ will not drop the Hahre from our handM 
 till we driv(3 them out of the country." 
 
 '• We are ready t«) <lo thiit without oathn ! " lu'ied uum- 
 Iku's of voici^H. " We will go whore our hutnuui the ]>rinue 
 leads »J8 ; wo will go wluire *tiH needful." 
 
 " Worthy brothorn, you have Heen how two Btocking- 
 weanu'H canu? here in a gilded carriage. Tlu\y know that 
 there in no trifling with Kad/ivill. They will f(dlow him 
 from (diaiulM^r to chamber, and kisH him on the ellK)W8 to 
 give them poa<te. Hut the prince, worthy gentlemen, with 
 whom 1 have been advining and from whom I have iust re- 
 turned, has assured mo, in the name of all Lithuania, that 
 there will be no lu^gotiations, no parchments, nothing but 
 war and war ! " 
 
 " War I war I " repeated, as an' echo, the voicos of the 
 hearers. 
 
 " Hut because the lead(M'," continued Zagloba, " will begin 
 the more lK)hlly, the surer ho is of his soldiers, lot us show 
 him, worthy gentlemen, our sentiments. And now lot us 
 go under tho windows of the prince and shout, • Down with 
 tho Swedes ! * After mo, worthy gontlomen ! " 
 
 Then he sprang from the post and moved forward, and 
 after him the crowd. They came under the very windows 
 with an uproar increasing eaidi moment, till at last it was 
 mingled in one gigantic shout, — ♦' Down with the Swedes I 
 down with the Swedes I " 
 
 Immediately Pan Korf, the voevoda of Venden, ran out 
 of the antechamber greatly confused ; after him Ganhoff ; 
 
TIIR DRUlOlfi. 
 
 201 
 
 und both Ix^gan to roHtraiii thn nobloH, (juit^tinK ihoin, lM)g* 
 giiig thrm to (liHiiurHo. 
 
 " For (lod's Hukn I " HJiid Korf, " in tho uptM»r hull th« 
 wiiulow-patu*H uro rattling. Vou g<Mitl(uiMm do not think 
 what an awkward timu you havo (;Iioh(mi lot your Hhuuting. 
 How can vou troat rnvoyH with diHnmixtct, and givo an ex- 
 aniplu of inMubordination ? Who rouHiMl you to thiH V " 
 
 " I," said Zagloba. " Your graiu^ toll tho princo, in tho 
 nanio of uh all, that wo beg him to bo firm, tiiat wo aro 
 roady to ronmin with him to tho laHt drop of our blood." 
 
 '* L thank you, gontlonuui, in tho nanut of tho hotman, 1 
 thank you; but f bog you to diHporH«». (JouHidor, wortliy 
 gontlomon. Uy tho living ()o<l, ouuHidor that you uro nink- 
 ing tho country I WhoHo iuHidtH an onvoy to-day, rendurH 
 a l)oar'8 Horvicu to tho (/ommonwoalth." 
 
 " What (h) wo oaro for onvoys I Wo want to fight, not 
 to nogotiato I " 
 
 " Your oourago oomfortH mo. Tho tinu; for fighting will 
 oonio boforo long, (lod grant very Boon. lloHt now before 
 tho expedition. It iH time for a drink of Hpirits and lunch. 
 Jt Ih bad to fight on an empty stonuioh." 
 
 ''That \H aH true aa \ live !" oriod Zagloba, lirHt. 
 
 "True, ho struek the right Hj>ot. Since the prince 
 knowH our Hentinuuitn, wo have nothing to do here I " 
 
 And the crowd began to diHporRe. The greater part 
 flowed on to rooniB in which nuiny tables were already 
 Horead. Zagloba Hat at the head of one of them. Pan 
 Korf and Colonel Gaidioff returned then to the prince, who 
 was sitting at counsel with tho Swedish envoys, Bishop 
 I'archevski, Father Hyalozor, Pan Adam Komorovski, and 
 Pan Aloxaiulor Myerzeyovski, a courtier of Yan Kazimir, 
 who was stopping for the time in KytMlani. 
 
 " Who incdted that tumult ? " asked tho prince, from 
 whoso lion-like face ang(^r had not yet disappeared. 
 
 " It was that nobhi who has just come here, that famous 
 Zagloba," answ(n'od J*a,n Korf. 
 
 " That is a brave knight," said the prince, "but he is be- 
 ginning to manage me too soon." 
 
 Having said tliis, he biuikoned to Colonel Ganhoff and 
 whispered something in his oar. 
 
 Zagloba meanwhile, diOighted with himself, went to the 
 lower halls with solemn tread, having with him Volody- 
 ovski, with Yan and Stanislav Skshetuski. 
 
 " Well, friends, 1 have barely appeared and have roused 
 
202 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ' 5 
 
 love for the country in those nobles. It will be easier i^ow 
 for the prince to send oft" the envoys with nothing, for all 
 he has to do is to call upon us. That will not be, I think, 
 without reward, though it is more a question of honor with 
 me. Why have you halted, Michael, as if turned to stone, 
 with eyes fixed on that carriage at the gate ? " 
 
 " That is she ! " said Volodyovski, with twitching mus- 
 taches. " Bv the living God, that is she herself ! " 
 
 "Who?"" 
 
 "PannaBillevich." 
 
 " She who refused you ? " 
 
 " The same. Look, gentlemen, look ! Might not a man 
 wither away from regret ? " 
 
 " Wait a minute ! " said Zagloba, " we must have a closer 
 look." 
 
 Meanwhile \fhe carriage, describing a half-circle, ap- 
 proached the speakers. Sitting in it was a stately noble 
 with gray mustaches, and at his side Panna Aleksandra; 
 beautiful as ever, calm, and full of dignity. 
 
 Pan Michael fixed on her a complaining look and bowed 
 low, but she did not see him in the crowd. 
 
 " That is some lordly child," said ZagloLa, gazing at her 
 fine, noble features, " too delicate for a soldier. I confess 
 that she is a beauty, but I. prefer one of such kind that 
 for the moment you would ask, *Is that a cannon or a 
 woman ? ' " 
 
 " Do you know who that is who has just passed ? " asked 
 Pan Michael of a noble standing near. 
 
 " Of course," answered the noble ; " that is Pan Tomash 
 Billevich, sword-bearer of Rossyeni. All here know him, 
 for he is an old servant and friend of the Eadzivills." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 203 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The prince did not show himself to the nobles that day- 
 till evening, for he dined with the envoys and some digni- 
 taries with whom he had held previous counsel. But or- 
 ders had come to the colonels to have the regiments of 
 Radzivill's guard ready, and especially the infantry under 
 foreign officers. It smelt of powder in the air. The castle, 
 though iiot fortified, was surrounded with troops as if a 
 battle was to be fought at its walls. Men expected that 
 the campaign would begin on the following morning at 
 latest ; of this there were visible signs, for the countless ser- 
 vants of the prince were busied with packing into wagons 
 arms, valuable implements, and the treasury of the prince. 
 
 Harasimovich told the nobles that the wagons would 
 go to Tykotsin in Podlyasye, for it was dangerous to leave 
 the treasury in the undefended castle of Kyedani. Military 
 stores were also prepared to be sent after the army. Re- 
 ports went out that Gosyevski was arrested because he 
 would not join iiis squadrons stationed at Troki with those 
 of Radzivill, thus exposing the whole expedition to evi- 
 dent destruction. Moreover preparations for the march, the 
 movement of troops, the rattle of cannon drawn out of the 
 castle arsenal, and all that turmoil which ever accompanies 
 the first movements of military expeditions, turned atten- 
 tion in another direction, and caused the knights to forget 
 the arrest of Pan Gosyevski and cavalier Yudytski. 
 
 The nobles dining in the immense lower halls attached 
 to the castle spoke only of the war, of the fire at Vilna, 
 now burning ten days and burning with ever-growing fury, 
 of news from Warsaw, of the advance of the Swedes, and of 
 the Swedes themselves, against whom, as against faith- 
 breakers attacking a neighbor in spite of treaties still valid 
 for six years, hearts and minds were indignant and souls 
 filled with rancor. News of swift advances, of the capitu- 
 lation of Uistsie, of the occupation of Great Poland and 
 the large towns, of the threatened invasion of Mazovia and 
 the inevitable capture of Warsaw, not only did not cause 
 alarm, but on the contrary roused daring and a desire 
 for battle. This took place since the causes of Swedish 
 
^04 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 Ilii i t 
 
 success were evident to all. Hitherto the Swedes had 
 not met a real army once, or a real leader. Radzivill was 
 the first warrior by profession with whom they had to 
 measure strength, and who' at the same time roused in the 
 nobility absolute confidence in his military gifts, espe- 
 cially as his colonels gave assurance that they would con- 
 quer the Swedes in the open field. 
 
 " Their defeat is inevitable !" said Pan Stankyevich, an 
 old and experienced soldier. " I remember former wars, 
 and I know that they always defended themselves in cas- 
 tles, in fortified camps, and in trenches. They never dared 
 to come to the open field, for they feared cavalry greatly, and 
 when trusting in their numbers they did come out, they re- 
 ceived a proper drilling. It was not victory that gave Great 
 Poland into their hands, but treason and the imbecility of 
 general militia." 
 
 "True," said Zagloba. "The Swedish people are weak, 
 for their land is terribly barren, and they have no bread ; 
 they grind pine cones, and of that sort of flour make ash- 
 cakes which smell of resin. Others go to the seashore and 
 devour whatever the waves throw up, besides fightin 
 
 about it as a tidbit. Terrible destitution ! so there are no 
 people more greedy for their neighbors' goods. Even the 
 Tartars have horse-flesh in plenty, but these Swedes do 
 not see meat once a year, and are pinched with hunger 
 unless when a good haul of fish comes.'' 
 
 Here Zagloba turned to Stankyevich: "Have you ever 
 made the acquaintance of the Swedes ? " 
 
 " Under Prince Krishtof, the father of the present 
 hetman." 
 
 " And I under Konyetspolski, the father. We gave Gus- 
 tavus Adolphus many crushing defeats in Prussia, and took 
 no small number of prisoners ; there I became acquainted 
 with them through and through, and learned all their 
 methods. Our men wondered at them not a little, for you 
 must know that the Swedes as a people always wading iu 
 water and having their greatest income from the sea, are 
 divers exquisitissimi. What would you, gentlemen, say 
 to what we made them do ? We would throw one of the 
 rascals into a hole in the ice, and he would swim out 
 through another hole with a live herring in his mouth." 
 
 " In God's name, what do you tell us ? " 
 
 " May I fall down a corpse on this spot if with my own 
 eyes I have not seen this done at least a hundred times, as 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 206 
 
 well as other wonderful customs of theirs ! I remember 
 also that as soon as they fed on Prussian bread, they did 
 not want to go home. Pan Stankyevich says truly that 
 they are not sturdy soldiers. They have infantry which is 
 so-so; but the cavalry — God pity us! for there are no 
 horses in their country, and they cannot train themselves 
 to riding from childhood." 
 
 " Probably we shall not attack them first, but march on 
 Vilna," said Pan Shchyt. 
 
 " True, I gave that advice to the prince myself, when he 
 asked what I thought of this matter," answered Zagloba. 
 "But when we have finished with the others,^ we will 
 go against the Swedes. The envoys upstairs must be 
 sweating ! " 
 
 " They are received politely," said Pan Zalenski, " but 
 they will not effect the least thing ; the best proof of that 
 is that orders are issued to the army." 
 
 " Dear God, dear God ! " said Pan Tvarkovski, judge of 
 Rossyeni, " how alacrity comes with danger ! We were 
 well-nigh despairing when we had to do with one enemy, 
 but now we have two." 
 
 "Of course," answered Stankyevich. "It happens not 
 infrequently, that we let ourselves be beaten till patience 
 is lost, and then in a moment vigor and daring appear. Is 
 it little that we have suffered, little endured ? We relied 
 on the king and the general militia of the kingdom, not 
 counting on our own force, till we are in a dilemma ; now 
 we must either defeat both enemies or perish completely." 
 
 " God will assist us ! We have had enough of this delay." 
 
 " They have put the dagger to our throats." 
 
 " We too will put it to theirs ; we '11 show the kingdom 
 fellows what sort of soldiers we are ! There will be no 
 Uistsie with us, as God is in heaven !•" 
 
 In the measure of the cups, heads became heated, and 
 warlike ardor increased. At the brink of a precipice the 
 last effort often brings safety; this was understood by 
 those crowds of soldiers and that nobility whom so recently 
 Yan Kazimir had called to Grodno with despairing univer- 
 sals to form the general militia. Now all hearts, all minds 
 were turned to Radzivill ; all lips repeated that terrible 
 name, which till recently had ever been coupled with vic- 
 tory. In fact, he had but to collect and move the 
 scattered and drowsy strength of the country, to stand at 
 1 " Others " here = " RosBians." 
 
 ff 
 
206 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 S; il 
 
 "i'' m 
 
 I i'r 
 
 the head of a power sufficient to end both wars with 
 victory. 
 
 After dinner the colonels were summoned to the prince 
 in the following order: Mirski, lieutenant of the armored 
 squadron of the hetman ; and after him Stankyevich, 6an- 
 hoif, Kharlamp, Volodyovski, and SoUohub. Old soldiers 
 wondered a little that they were asked singly, and not col- 
 lectively to counsel ; but it was a pleasant surprise, for each 
 came out with some reward, with some evident proof of the 
 prince's favor ; in return the prince asked only loyalty and 
 confidence, which all offered from heart and soul. The het- 
 man asked anxiously also -if Kmita had returned, and or- 
 dered that Pan Andrei's arrival be reported to him. 
 
 Kmita came, but late in the evening, when the hall was 
 lighted and the guests had begun to assemble. He went 
 first to the barracks to change his uniform ; there he found 
 Volodyovski, and made the acquaintance of the rest of the 
 company. ' 
 
 "I am uncommonly glad to see you and your famous 
 friends," said he, shaking the hand of the little knight, "as 
 glad as to see a brother ! You may be sure of this, for I 
 am unable to pretend. It is true that you went through 
 my forehead in evil fashion, but you put me on my feet 
 afterward, which I shall not forget till death. In presence 
 of all, I say that had it not been for you I should be at this 
 moment behind the grating. Would more such men were 
 born ! Who thinks differently is a fool, and may the devil 
 carry me off if I will not clip his ears." 
 
 " Say no more ! " 
 
 " I will follow you into fire, even should I perish. Let 
 any man come forward who does not believe me ! " 
 
 Here Pan Andrei cast a challenging look on the officers. 
 But no one contradicted him, for all loved and respected 
 Pan Michael ; but Zagloba said, — 
 
 " This is a sulphurous sort of soldier ; give him to the 
 hangman ! It seems to me that I shall have a great liking 
 to you for the love you bear Pan Michael, for I am the man 
 to ask first how worthy he is." 
 
 " Worthier than any of us ! " said Kmita, with his usual 
 abruptness. Then he looked at the Skshetuskis, at Za- 
 globa, and added : " Pardon me, gentlemen, I have no wish 
 to offend any one, for I know that you are honorable men 
 and great knights ; be not angry, for I wish to deserve your 
 friendship." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 207 
 
 with 
 
 .« 
 
 as 
 
 Let 
 
 usual 
 it Za- 
 wish 
 men 
 3 your 
 
 " There is no harm done," said Pan Yau ; " what 's in the 
 heart may come to the lip." 
 
 " Let us embrace ! " cried Zagloba. 
 
 " No need to say such a thing twice to me ! " 
 
 They fell into each other's arms. Then Kmita said, 
 <* To-day we must drink, it cannot be avoided ! " 
 
 " No need to say such a thing twice to me ! " said Za- 
 globa, like an echo. 
 
 " We '11 slip away early to the barracks, and I '11 make 
 provision." 
 
 Pan Michael began to twitch his nmstaches greatly. 
 "You will have no great wish. to slip out," thought he, 
 looking at Kmita, "when you see who is in the hall to- 
 night." And he opened l.is mouth to tell Kmita that the 
 sword-bearer of Rossyeni and Olenka had come; but he 
 grew as it were faint at heart, and turned the conversation. 
 "Where is your squadron ? " asked he. 
 
 "Here, ready for service. Harasimovich was with me, 
 and brought an order from the prince to have the men on 
 horseback at midnight. ^ asked him if we were all to 
 march ; he said not. I kno »v not what it means. Of other 
 officers some have the same order, others have not. But all 
 the foreign infantry have received it." 
 
 " Perhaps a part of the army will march to-night and a 
 part in the morning," said Pan Yan. 
 
 " In every case I will have a drink here with you, gentle- 
 men. Let the squadron go on by itself; I can come up 
 with it afterward in an hour." 
 
 At that moment Harasimovich rushed in. " Serene great 
 mighty banneret of Orsha 1 " cried he, bowing in the doorway. 
 
 " What ? Is there a fire ? I am here ! " said Kmita. 
 
 " To the prince ! to the prince ! " 
 
 "Straightway, only let me put on .ay uniform. Boy, my 
 coat and belt, or I '11 kill thee ! " 
 
 The boy brought the rest of the uniform in a twinkle ; 
 and a few minutes later Pan Kmita, arrayed as for a wed- 
 ding, was hurrying to the prince. He was radiant, he 
 seemed so splendid. He had a vest of silver brocade with 
 star-shaped buttons, from which there was a gleam over his 
 whole figure ; the vest was fastened at the neck with a 
 great sapphire. Over that a coat of blue velvet ; a white 
 belt of mestimable value, so thin that it might be drawn 
 through a finger-ring. A silver-mounted sword set with 
 ^apphires hung from the belt by silk pendants j behind the 
 
 
 11 
 
iri! 
 
 !' 
 
 m 
 
 h^h, 
 
 V;- (,} 
 
 i- 
 
 
 208 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 belt was thrust the baton, which indicated his office. This 
 dress became the young knight wonderfully, and it would 
 have been difficult in that countless throng gathered at 
 Kyedani to find a more shapely man. 
 
 Pan Michael sighed while looking at him ; and when 
 Kmita had vanished beyond the door of the barracks he 
 said to Zagloba, " With a fair head there is no opposing a 
 man like that." 
 
 " But take thirty years from me," answered Zagloba. 
 
 When Kmita entered, the prince also was dressed, at- 
 tended by two negroes ; he was about to leave the room. 
 The prince and Pan Aadrei remained face to face. 
 
 " God give you health for hurrying ! " said the hetman. 
 
 " At the service of your highness." 
 
 " But the squadron ? " 
 
 " According to order." 
 
 "The men arc reliable?" 
 
 "They will "go into fire, to hell." 
 
 " That is good ! I need such men, — and such as you, 
 equal to anything. I repeat continually that on no one 
 more than you do I count." 
 
 "Your highness, my services cannot equal those of old 
 soldiers ; but if we have to march against the enemy of the 
 country, God sees that I shall not be in the rear." 
 
 "I do not diminish the services of the old," said the 
 prince, " though there may come such perils, such grievous 
 junctures, that the most faithful will totter," 
 
 " May he perish for nothing who deserts the person of 
 your highness in dan^per ! " 
 
 The prince looked quickly into the face of Kmita. " And 
 you will not draw back ? " 
 
 The young knight flushed. " What do you wish to say, 
 your princely highness ? I have confessed to you all my 
 sins, and the sum of them is such that I thank only the 
 fatherly heart of your highness for forgiveness. But in all 
 these sins one is not to be found, — ingratitude." 
 
 " Nor disloyalty. You confessed to me as to a father ; I 
 not only forgave you as a father, but I came to love you as 
 that son — whom God has not given me, for which reason 
 it is often oppressive for me in the world. Be then a friend 
 
 to me. 
 
 )> 
 
 When he had said this, the prince stretched out his hand. 
 The young knight seized it, and without hesitation pressed 
 it to his lips. ' 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 209 
 
 They were both silent for a long time ; suddenly the 
 prince fixed his eyes on the eyes of Kmita and said, "Panna 
 Billevich is here ! " 
 
 Kmita grew pale, and began to mutter something 
 unintelligible. 
 
 " I sent for her on purpose so that the misunderstanding 
 between you might be at an end. You will see her at once, 
 as the mourning for her grandfather is over. To-day, too, 
 though God sees that my head is bursting from -labor, I 
 have spoken with the sword-bearer of Rossyeni." 
 
 Kmita seized his head. " With what can I repay your 
 highness, with what can I repay ? " 
 
 " I told him emphatically that it is my will that you and 
 she should be married, and he will not be hostile. I com- 
 manded him also to prepare the maiden for it gradually. 
 We have time. All depends upon you, and I shall be happy 
 if a reward from my hand gees to you ; and God grant you 
 to await many others, for you must rise high. You have 
 offended because you are young ; but you have won glory 
 not the last in the field, and all young men are ready to fol- 
 low you everywhere. As God lives, you must rise high ! 
 Small offices are not for such a family as yours. If you 
 know, you are a relative of the Kishkis, and my mother was 
 a Kishki. But you need sedateness ; for that, marriage is 
 the best thing. Take that maiden if she has pleased your 
 heart, atid remember who gives her to you." 
 
 " Your highness, I shall go wild, I believe ! My life, my 
 blood belongs to your highness. What must I do to thank 
 you, — what ? Tell me, command me ! " 
 
 " Return good for good. Have faith in me, have confi- 
 dence that what I do I do for the public good. Do not fall 
 away from me when you see the treason and desertion of 
 others, when malice increases, when — " Here the prince 
 stopped suddenly. 
 
 " I swear," said Kmita, with ardor, " and give my word 
 of honor to remain by the person of your highness, my 
 leader, father, and benefactor, to my last breath." 
 
 Then Kmita lookeu with eyes full of fire at the prince, 
 and was alarmed at the change which had suddenly come 
 over him. His face was purple, the veins swollen, drops of 
 sweat were hanging thickly on his lofty forehead, and his 
 eyes cast an unusual gleam. 
 
 " What is the matter, your highness ? " asked the knight, 
 unquietly. 
 
 VOL. I. — 14 
 
 .- Hi 
 
 'tH 
 
 i 
 
210 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ft- 
 It 
 
 n 1' 
 
 « Nothing ! nothing I " 
 
 Radzivill rose, moved with hurried step to a kneeling 
 desk, and taking from it a crucifix, said with powerful, 
 smothered voice, " Swear on this cross that you will not 
 leave me till death." 
 
 In spite of all his readiness and ardor, Kmita looked for 
 a while at him with astonishment. 
 
 "On this passion of Christ, swear ! " insisted the hetman. 
 
 " On this passion of Christ, I swear ! " said Kmita, plac- 
 ing his finger on the crucifix. 
 
 " Amen ! " said the prince, with solemn voice. 
 
 An echo in the lofty chamber repeated somewhere under 
 the arch, " Amen," and a long silence followed. There was 
 to be heard only the breathing of the powerful breast of 
 Radzivill. Kmita did not remove from the hetman his 
 astonished eyes. 
 
 " Now you are mine," said the prince, at last. 
 
 "I have alwciys belonged to your highness," answered 
 the young knight, hastily ; " but be pleased to explain to me 
 what is passing. Why does your highness doubt ? Or does 
 anything threaten your person? Has any treason, have 
 any machinations been discovered ? " 
 
 "The time of trial is approaching," said the prince, 
 gloomily, " and as to enemies do you not know that Pan 
 Gosyevski, Pan Yudytski, and the voevoda of Vityebsk 
 would be glad to bury me in the bottom of the pit ? This 
 is the case I The enemies of my house increase, treason 
 spreads, and public defeats threaten. Therefore, I say, the 
 hour of trial draws near." 
 
 Kmita was silent ; but the last words of the prince did 
 not disperse the darkness which had settled around his 
 mind, and he asked himself in vain what could threaten at 
 that moment the powerful Radzivill. For he stood at the 
 head of greater forces than ever. In Kyedani itself and in 
 the neighborhood there were so many troops that if the 
 prince had such power before he marched to Shklov the for- 
 tune of the whole war would have come out differently 
 beyond doubt. 
 
 Gosyevski and Yudytski were, it is true, ill-wishers, but 
 he had both in his hands and under guard, and as to the 
 voevoda of Vityebsk he was too virtuous a man, too good 
 a citizen to give cause for fear of any opposition or machi- 
 nations from his side on the eve of a new expedition against 
 enemies. 
 
 iu 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 211 
 
 have 
 
 ''God knows I understand nothing ! " cried Kmita, being 
 unable in general to restrain his thoughts. 
 
 " You will understand all to-day," said Radzivill, calmly. 
 "Now let us go to the hall." 
 
 And taking the young colonel by the arm, he turned with 
 him toward the door. They passed through a number of 
 rooms. From a distance out of tht mense hall came the 
 sound of the orchestra, which was directed by a Frenchman 
 brought on purpose by Prince Boguslav. They were 
 playing a minuet which at that time wa& d&nced at the 
 French court. The mild tones were blended with the 
 sound of many voices. Prince Radzivill halted and 
 listened. 
 
 " God grant," said he, after a moment, " that all these 
 guests whom I have received under my roof will not pass 
 to my enemies to-morrow." 
 
 " Your highness," said Kmita, " I hope that there are no 
 Swedish adherents among them." 
 
 Radzivill quivered and halted suddenly. 
 
 " What do you wish to say ? " 
 
 " Nothing, worthy prince, but that honorable soldiers are 
 rejoicing there." 
 
 " Let us go on. Time will show, and God will decide who 
 is honorable. Let us go ! " 
 
 At the door itself stood twenty pages, — splendid lads, 
 dressed in feathers and satin. Seeing the hetman, they 
 formed in two lines. When the prince came near, he asited, 
 " Has her princely highness entered the hall ? " 
 
 " She has, your highness." 
 
 "And the envoys ? " 
 
 " They are here also." 
 
 "Open!" 
 
 Both halves of the door opened in the twinkle of aii eye ; 
 a flood of light poured in and illuminated the gigantic form 
 of the hetman, who having behind him Kmita and the 
 pages, went toward the elevation on which were placed 
 chairs for the most distinguished guests. 
 
 A movement began in the hall ; at once all eyes were 
 turned to the prince, and one shout was wrested from hun- 
 dreds of breasts : " Long live Radzivill ! long live ! Long 
 live the hetman ! long live ! " 
 
 The prince bowed with head and hand, then began to 
 greet the guests assembled on the elevation, who rose the 
 moment he entered. Among the best known, besides the 
 
 1 I 
 
212 
 
 THE DEIJIGE. 
 
 princess herself, wer"i th»? two Swedish envoys, the envoy 
 of Moscow, the voevoda of Venden, Hishop Parchevski, the 
 firiest Hyalozor, l*an Koniorovski, Pan Myorzoycivski, Pan 
 lllebovich, starostii of Jmud, brother-in-hiw of the hetnian, 
 a young I*ats, CoU)nel GmiliofF, Coh)nel Mirski, WoisenholT, 
 the envoy of the Prince of Courl md, and ladies in the suite 
 of the princess. 
 
 The hctnian, as was proTM»r for a welcoming host, l)ogan 
 by greeting the envoys, with whom he exchanged a few 
 friendly words; then he gretittul others, and when ho 
 had finished he sat on the chair with a canopy of ermine, 
 and gazed at the hall in which shouts were still sounding : 
 " May he live I May he be our hetman ! May he live ! " 
 
 Kmita, hidden behind the canopy, looked also at the 
 throng. His glance darted from face to face, seeking 
 among them the beloved features of her who at that mo- 
 ment held all th^ soul and heart of the knight. His heart 
 beat like a hammer. 
 
 '' She is here ! After a while I shall see her, I shall speak 
 to her," said he in thought. And he sought and sought 
 with more and moro eagerness, with increasing disquiet. 
 " There ! beyond the feathers of a fan some dark brows are 
 visible, a white forehead and blond hair. That is she 1 " 
 Kmita held his breath, as if fearing to frighten away the 
 picture ; then the feathers moved and the face was disclosed. 
 " No ! that is not Olenka, that is not that dear one, the dear- 
 est." His glance flies farther, embraces charming forms, 
 slips over feathers and satin, faces blooming like flowers, 
 and is mistaken each moment. That is she, not she ! Till 
 at last, see ! in the depth, near thq drapery of the window, 
 something white is moving, and it grew dark in the eyes of 
 the knight ; that was Olenka, the dear one, the dearest. 
 
 The orchestra begins to play ; again throngs pass. Ladies 
 are moving around, shapely cavaliers are glittering ; but he, 
 like one blind and deaf, sees nothing, only looks at her as 
 eagerly as if beholding her for the first time. She seems 
 the same Olenka from Vodokty, but also another. In that 
 great hall and in that throng she seems, as it were, smaller, 
 and her face more delicate, one would say childlike. You 
 might take her all in your arms and caress her ! And then 
 again she is the same, though different, — the very same fea- 
 tures, the same sweet lips, the same lashes casting shade 
 on her cheeks, the same forehead, clear, calm, beloved. 
 Here memory, like lightning-flashes, began to bring be- 
 
THE bftLUGR. 
 
 213 
 
 fore the c;yes of Pan Andrei that servants' hall in 
 Vodokty where ho saw her the first time, and those quiet 
 rooms in which they had sat togother. What delight only 
 just to remember ! And the sleigh-ride to Mitruny, the 
 time that he kissed her ! After that, people began to estrange 
 them, and to rouse her against him. 
 
 "Thunderbolts crush it I" cried Kmita, in his mind. 
 " What have I had and what have 1 lost ? How near she 
 has been and how far is she now ! " 
 
 She sits there fa/ off, like a stranger ; she does not even 
 know that ho is hero. Wrath, but at the same time im- 
 measurable sorrow seized I'an Andrei, — sorrow for which 
 ho had no expression save a scream from his soul, but a 
 iBoroam that passed not his lips : " O thou Olenka 1 " 
 
 More than once Kmita was so enraged at himself for his 
 previous deeds that he wished to tell his own men to 
 stretch him out and give him a hundred blows, but never 
 had he fallen into such a rage as that time when after long 
 absence he saw luu' again, still more wonderful than ever, 
 more wonderful indeed than he had imagined. At that 
 moment he wished to torture hims<3lf ; but because he was 
 among people, in a worthy company, he only ground his 
 teeth, and as if wishing to give himself still greater pain, 
 he repeated in mind : "It is good for thee thus, thou fool ! 
 goo<l for thee ! " 
 
 Then the sounds of the orchestra were silent again, and 
 Pan Andrei heard the voice of the hetman : " Come with me." 
 
 Kmita woke as from a dream. 
 
 The prince descended from the elevation, and went 
 among the guests. On his face was a mild and kindly 
 smile, which seemed still more to enhance the majesty of 
 his figure. That was the same lordly man who in his time, 
 while receiving Queen T.Iarya Ludwika in Nyeporente, 
 astonished, amazed, and eclipsed the French courtiers, not 
 only by his luxury, but by the polish of his manners, — the 
 same of whom Jean La Boureur wrote with such homage in 
 the accoun* of his journey. This time he halted every 
 moment before the most important matrons, the most 
 respectable nobles and colonels, having for each of the 
 guests some kindly word, astonishing those present by his 
 memory and winning in a twinkle all hearts. The eyes of 
 the guests followed him wherever he moved. Gradually he 
 approached the sword-bearer of Rossyeni, Pan Billevich, 
 and said, — 
 
 \v^m 
 
214 
 
 TIIR DKLUOE. 
 
 lit' 
 
 i'B 
 
 -Mi l'j 
 
 " T tluink you, old frioiul, for liavinfjj come, though I hod 
 tliH v'\\r\\t to hit) iin^ry. Hillnvi(;)io is not a hundred miles 
 from Kyedtuii, but you are a rara avis (rare bird) under my 
 roof." 
 
 " Your higlinoHs," an.-^wored Pan Hillovioh, l)owing low, 
 " \w wrongs tho country who oocupios your time." 
 
 " Hut I was thinking to tako vtingmin«o on you by going 
 myself to liillovicOui, and f think still you would have 
 n'ctiived with hospitality an old (lomrado of tho oamp." 
 
 Hearing this, i^in itillevich Hushed with delight, and the 
 prince continued. — 
 
 " Tin»e, time is ever lacking ! Hut when you give in 
 marriage your relative, the granddaughtt^r of the late Pan 
 ileraclius, of (bourse [ shall come to the wedding, for I owe 
 it to you and to her." 
 
 "God grant that as early as possible," answered the 
 sword-bearer. ' 
 
 " ^^eanwhile I present to you Pan Kmita, the banneret 
 of Orsha, of those Kmitas who are related to the Kishkis 
 and through the Kishkis to the Had/ivills. You must have 
 lieard his name from lleraclius, for he loved the Kmitas 
 as brothers." 
 
 " With the forehead, with the forehead I " repeated the 
 sword-bearer, who was awed somewhat by the greatness of 
 the young cavalier's family, heralded by Kadzivill himself. 
 
 " 1 greet the sword-beanu*, my benefactor, and offer him 
 my service!!?," said Pan Andriu, boldly and not without a 
 certain loftiness. "Pan Heraclius was a father and a 
 benefactor to me, and though his work w.as spoiled later on, 
 still I have not ceased to love alb the Billeviches as if my 
 own blood were flowing in them." 
 
 " Especially," said the prince, placing his hand con- 
 fidentially on the young man's shoulder, " since he has not 
 ceased to love a certain Panna Billevich, of which fact he 
 has long since informed us." 
 
 "And I will repeat it before every one's face," said 
 Kmita, with vehemence. 
 
 " Quietly, quietly ! " said the prince. "This you see, worthy 
 sword-bearer, is a cavalier of sulphur and fire, therefore he 
 has made some trouble ; but because he is young and under 
 my special protection, I hope that when we petition together 
 we snail obtain a reversal of the sentence from that 
 charming tribunal." 
 
 " Your highness will accomplish what you like," answered 
 
 (( 
 
THE DKLUOK. 
 
 210 
 
 i 
 
 lO 
 
 iwered 
 
 Pan Billevich. "Tho inaidtm niuHt oxcluiin, as that pagO 
 priestess did to Alexander tho Great, * Who oan oppo 
 thee ? ' " 
 
 "And wo, like that Macedonian, will stop with that 
 prophecy," replied tho prince, smiling. " Hut enough of 
 this I Conduct us now tt) vour relative, for 1 shall be glad 
 to see her. Let that work of Pan Heraclius which was 
 spoiled be nuMidod." 
 
 " I serve your highness — There is tho maiden ; she 
 is under the prot«'etion of I'ani Voynillovich, our relative. 
 hut 1 beg pardon if she is confuHod, for I have not had 
 timo to forewarn her." 
 
 rhe foresight of Pan Pillevicih was just. Luckily that 
 was not the first moment in which Olcnka saw Pan Andrei 
 at the side of the hetman ; she was abh" therefore to collect 
 herself somewhat, but for an instant iiresence of mind 
 almost left her, an 1 she looked at the young knight as if 
 she were looking ;it a spirit from the other world. And 
 for a long timt^ she could not believe her eyes. She had 
 really imagined that that unfortunate was either wandering 
 somewhere through forests, without a roof above his he[Ml, 
 deserted by all, hunted by the law, as a wild boast is 
 hunted by man, or enclosed in a tower, gazing with despair 
 through tho iron grating on tho glad world of God. The 
 Tiord alonO knew what terriblo pity sometimes gnawed her 
 heart and her eyes for that lost man ; God alone could 
 count the tears which in her solitude she had i)oured out 
 over his fate, so terrible, so cruel, though so deserved ; but 
 now he is in Kyedani, free, at the side of the hetman, 
 proud, splendid, in silver brocade and in velvet, with the 
 baton of a colonel at his belt, with head erect, with com- 
 manding, haughty, heroic face, and the grand hetman Rad- 
 zivill himself places his hand confidentially on his shoulder. 
 Marvelhms and contradictory feelings interwove themselves 
 at once in the heart of the maiden ; therefore a certain 
 great relief, as if some one had taken a weight from her 
 shoulders, and a certain sorrow as well that so much pity 
 and grief had gone for naught; also the disappointment 
 which every honest soul feels at sight of perfect impunity 
 for grievous offences and sins ; also joy, with a feeling of 
 personal weakness, with admiration bordering on terror, 
 before that young hero who was able to swim out of such 
 a wLli'lpool. 
 
 Meai^while the prince, the sword-bearer, and Kmita had 
 
 1*1 
 
216 
 
 THE DfiLUGfi. 
 
 finished conversation and were drawing near. The maiden 
 covered her eyes with her lids and raised her shoulders, as 
 a bird does its wings when wishing to hidr its head. She 
 was certain that they were coming to her. Without look- 
 ing she saw them, felt that they were nearer and nearer, 
 thai they were bef: d her. She was so sure of this that 
 without raising her lid!;% she rose suddenly and made a deep 
 courtesy to the prince. 
 
 He was really before her, and said : " By the passion of 
 the Lord ! Now I do not wonder at this young man, for a 
 marvellous flower has bloomed here. I greet you. my lady, 
 I gr*»et you with my whole heart and soul, beloved grand- 
 daughter of my Billevich. Do you know me ? " 
 
 " [ know your highness," answered the maiden. 
 
 '* I should not have known you ; you were still a young, 
 unblossomed thing when I saw you last, not in this orna- 
 ment in whic^ I see you now. But raise those lashes from 
 your eyes. As God lives ! fortunate is the diver who gets 
 such a pearl, ill-fated he who had it and lost it. Here he 
 stands before you, so despairing, in the person of this cava- 
 lier. Lo you know him ? " 
 
 " I know," whispered Olenka, without raising her eyes. 
 
 " He is a great sinner, and I have brought him to you for 
 confession. Impose on him what penance you like, but re- 
 fuse not absolution, for despair may bring him to still 
 greater sins." 
 
 Here the prince turred to the sword-bearer and Pani 
 Voynillovich : " Let us leave the young people, for it is not 
 proper to be present at a confession, and also my faith for- 
 bids me." 
 
 After a moment Pan Andrei and Olenka were alone. 
 The heart beat in Olenka's bosom as the heart of a dove 
 over which a falcon is hovering, and he too was moved. 
 His usual boldness, impulsiveness, and self-confidence had 
 vanished. For a long time both were silent. At last he 
 spoke in a low, stifled voice, — 
 
 " You did not expect to see me, Olenka ? " 
 
 " I did not," whispered *;he maiden. 
 
 " As God is true ! you would be less alarmed if a Tartar 
 were standing here near you. Fear not ! See how many 
 people are present. No harm will meet you from me. And 
 though we were alv^ne you would have nothing to fear, for 
 I have given my::,elf an oath to respect you. Have confi- 
 dence in me." 
 
 you. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 217 
 
 e maiden 
 ilders, as 
 ad. She 
 lOut look- 
 d nearer, 
 this that 
 de a deep 
 
 jassion of 
 
 aan, for a 
 
 my lady, 
 
 ed grand- 
 
 [ a young, 
 this orna- 
 shes from 
 who gets 
 Here he 
 this eava- 
 
 ler eyes, 
 o you for 
 ce, but re- 
 to still 
 
 and Pani 
 it is not 
 faith for- 
 
 re alone. 
 
 )f a dove 
 
 ,s moved. 
 
 ence had 
 
 t last he 
 
 a Tartar 
 ow many 
 ne. And 
 
 fear, for 
 ave confi- 
 
 For a moment she raised her eyes and looked at him, 
 " How can I have confidence ? " 
 
 " It is true that I sinned, but that is past and will not be 
 repeated. When on the bed and near death, after that duel 
 with Volodyovski, I said to myself: <Thou wilt not take 
 her by force, by the sabre, by tire, but by honorable deeds 
 wilt thou deserve her and work out thy forgiveness. The 
 heart in her is not of stone, and her anger will pass ; she 
 will see thy reformation and will forgive.' Therefore 1 
 swore to reform, and I will hold to my oath. God blessed 
 me at once, for Volodyovski came and brought me a com- 
 mission. He had the power not to give it ; but he gave it, — 
 he is an honorable man ! Now I need not appear before 
 the courts, for I am under the hetman's jurisdiction. I 
 confessed all my offences to the prince, as to a father ; he 
 not only forgave me, but promised to settle everything 
 and to defend me against the malice of men. May God 
 bless him ! I shall not be an outlaw, 1 shall come to har- 
 mony with people, win glory, serve the country, repair the 
 wrongs I have committed. What will you answer ? Will 
 you not say a good word to me ? " He gazed at Olenka 
 and put his hands together as if praying to her. 
 
 "Can 1 believe?" 
 
 " You can, as God is dear to me ; it is your duty to believe. 
 The hetman believed, and Pan Volodyovski too. All my 
 acts are known to them, and they believed me. You see 
 they did. Why should you alone have no trust in me ? " 
 
 " Because I have seen the result of your deeds, — peo- 
 ple's tears, and graves not yet grown over with grass." 
 
 " They will be grown over, and I will moisten them with 
 tears." 
 
 " Do that first." 
 
 " Give me only the hope that when I do that I shall win 
 you. It is easy for you to say, ' Do that first.' Well, I do 
 it ; meanwhile you have married another. May God not 
 permit such a thing, for I should go wild. In God's name 
 I implore you, Olenka, to give me assurance that I shall 
 not lose you before I come to terms with your nobles. Do 
 you remember ? You have written me of this yourself. I 
 keep the letter, and when my soul is deeply downcast I 
 read it. I ask you only to tell me again that you will wait, 
 that you will not marry another." 
 
 " You know that by the will I am not free to marry 
 another. I can only take refuge in a cloister." 
 
 IH 
 
 ji 
 
 : 
 
218 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 pi 
 
 U I 
 
 
 " Oh, that would be a treat for nie ! By the living God, 
 mention not the cloister, for the very thought of it makes 
 me shudder. Mention it not, Olenka, or 1 will fall down 
 hero at your feet in the presence of all, and implore you 
 not to do so. You refused Volodyovski, I know, for he 
 tol( me himself. He urged me to win you by good deeds. 
 But what use in them if you are to take the veil ? If you 
 tell me that virtue should be practised for its own sake, I 
 will answer that I love you to distraction, and I will hear 
 of nothing else. When you left Vodokty, 1 had barely 
 risen from the bed but I began to search for you. When I 
 was enlisting my squadron every moment was occupied ; I 
 had not time to eat food, to sleep at night, but I ceased not 
 to seek you. 1 was so affected that without you there was 
 neither life for me nor rest. I was so deeply in the toils 
 that I lived only on sighs. At last I learned that you were 
 in Billevicl '^ with the sword-bearer. Then I tell you I 
 wrestled with my thoughts as with a bear; 'To go or not 
 to go-?' I dared not go, lest I should be treated to gall. I 
 said to myself at last: *I have done nothing good yet, I 
 will not go.' Finally the prince, my dear father, toek 
 pity OK me, and sent to invite you and your uncle to 
 Kyedani, so that I might fill even iny eyes with my love. 
 Since we are going to the war, I do not ask yo«' to marry 
 me to-morrow; but if with God's favor 1 hear a good 
 word from you, I shall feel easier, — you, my only soul I 
 I have no wish to die ; but in battle death may strike 
 any man, and 1 shall not hide behind others ; therefore 
 'tis your duty to forgive me as a man before death." 
 
 " May God preserve you and guide you," responded the 
 maiden, in a mild voice, by wiiich Pan Andrei knew at 
 once that his words had produced their effect. 
 
 " You, my true gold I I thank you even for that. But 
 you will not go to the cloister ? " 
 
 " I will not go yet." 
 
 " God bless you ! " 
 
 And as snow melts in spring-time, their mutual distrust 
 was now melting, and they felt nearer to each other than 
 a moment before. Their hearts were easier, and in their 
 eyes it grew clear. But still she had promised nothing, 
 and he had the wit to ask for nothing that time. But she 
 felt herself that it was not right for her to close the road 
 to the reform of which he had spoken so sincerely. Of 
 his sincerity she had no doubt for a moment, for he was 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 219 
 
 ng God, 
 it makes 
 .11 down 
 lore you 
 ', for he 
 d deeds. 
 If you 
 1 sake, I 
 vill hear 
 
 I barely 
 When r 
 upied ; I 
 ased not 
 lere was 
 the toils 
 ^ou were 
 
 II you I 
 50 or not 
 ) gall. I 
 id yet, I 
 er, took 
 uncle to 
 my love, 
 to marry 
 
 a good 
 ly soul I 
 strike 
 herefore 
 
 V 
 
 a 
 
 nded the 
 knew at 
 
 at. But 
 
 distrust 
 ler than 
 
 in their 
 nothing, 
 
 But she 
 ;he road 
 
 ly. Of 
 
 he was 
 
 not a man who could pretend. But the great reason why 
 she did not repulse him again, why she left him hope, was 
 this, — that in the depth of her heart she loved yet that 
 young hero. Love had brought her a mountain of bitterness, 
 disillusion, and pain j but love survived ever ready to 
 believe and forgive without end. 
 
 " He is better than his acts," thought the maiden, " and 
 those are .iving no longer who urged him to sin; he might 
 from despair permit himself to do something a second time; 
 he must never despair." And her honest heart was rejoiced 
 at the forgiveness which it had given. On Olenka's cheeks 
 a flush came forth as fresh as a rose under the morning dew ; 
 her eyes had a gleam sweet and lively, and it might be said 
 that brightness issued from them to the hall. People passea 
 and admired the wonderful pair ; for in truth such a noWe 
 couple it would have been difficult to find in that hall, in 
 which, however, were collected the flower of the nobility. 
 
 Besides both, as if by agreement, were dressed in like 
 colors, for she wore silver brocade fastened with sapphire 
 and a sacque of blue Venetian velvet. " Like a brother and 
 sister," said persons who did not know them ; but others 
 said straightway, " Impossible, for his eyes are too ardent 
 toward her." 
 
 Meanwhile in the hall the marshal announced that it was 
 time to be seated at table, and at once there was unusual 
 movement. Count Lowenhaupt, all in lace, went in advance, 
 with the princess on his arm; her train was borne by two 
 very beautiful pages. Next after them Baron Schitte es- 
 corted Pani Hlebovichj next followed Bishop Parchevski 
 with Father Byalozor, both looking troubled and gloomy. 
 
 Prince Yanush, who in the procession yielded to the 
 guests, but at the table took the highest place next to the 
 princess, escorted Pani Korf, wife of the voevoda of Ven- 
 den, who had been visiting about a week at Kyedani. And 
 so the whole line of couples moved forward, like a hundred- 
 colored serpent, unwinding and changing. Kmita escorted 
 Olenka, who rested her arm very lightly on his; but he 
 glanced sidewise at the delicate face, was happy, gleaming 
 like a torch, — the greatest magnate among those magnates, 
 since he was near the greatest treasure. 
 
 Thus moving to the sound of the orchestra, they entered 
 the banqueting-hall, which looked like a whole edifice by 
 itself. The table was set in the form of a horseshoe, for 
 three hundred persons, and was bending under silver and 
 
220 
 
 Tin<: DKUjnK. 
 
 i ,:; 
 
 I ii 
 
 M 
 
 5 if 
 
 gold. I'rince Yanush, iia having in hiniHelf a nortion of 
 kingly nuijo8ty iuhI tuMiig tho bUux) rt>lativo or so many 
 kingH, took tho liigiiosi \muw, iit tin* h'hUi of iho prinnnNH ; 
 and all when piiHHing him, bowed low and took thoir pliuuts 
 according to rank. 
 
 Hnt evidently, as it .seiMned to those present, the hetnian 
 reinendM»red that this was the last I'en before an awful war 
 in whi(d» the destiny <if great states would be decided, for 
 his face was not calm. It(> siuudated a smile and joyoUs- 
 nesH, but he looked as if a fever were burning him. At 
 times a visible eloud S(>ttled on his nu'uacing forehead, and 
 those sitting near him vm\\d see that that forehead was 
 thickly covered with drops of eat; at times his glan'5e 
 ran. «piickly ovt»r the a.sseud)led ^ "ch, ami halted (puistion- 
 ingly on the ft'aturcs of various coUuiels ; then again i^noso 
 lion brows frowned on a su(hl(M), as if pain had pierced 
 them, or as iftthisor that face had roused in him wrath. 
 And, a wondiudul thing I the dignitaries sitting near the 
 prince, such as the envoys, Hishop Parchev.ski, Father 
 Hyalo/.or, Pan Komtu'ovski, Pan Myerzeyevski, l*an Hlebo- 
 vich, the voevoda of V'enden, and others, were ecpuilly Jis- 
 traught aiul disturbed. The two sides of the immense 
 horseshoe sound<>d with a, lively conversation, and the 
 bustle tiaual at feasts ; but the centre of it was gloomy 
 ami silent, whisp(»red rare wtu'ds, or exchanged wandering 
 and as it were alarnuMl glances. 
 
 Hut there was nothing wonderfvd in that, for lower down 
 sat colomds and knights whom tlu^ approaching war threat- 
 ened at most with death. It is easier to fall in a war than 
 to Iwar the responsibility for it. ^ The mind of the soldier is 
 not troubled, lor when ho has re<leenu>d his sins with his 
 blood, he Hies fron\ the battlefield to heaven ; he alone 
 bends his head heavily who in his soul must satisfy God 
 and his own conscience, ami who on the eve of the deciaiv«i 
 day knows not what chalice the country will give him to 
 drink on the morrow. 
 
 This was the explanation which nuMi gave themselves at 
 the lower parts of the table. 
 
 " Always before each war he talks thus with his own 
 soul,'' said the old (,'olonel Stankyevich to Zagloba : " but 
 the gloomier he is the worse for the enemy, for on the day 
 of battle he will be joyful to a certainty." 
 
 " The lion too growls before battle," said Zagloba, " so as 
 to rouse in himself fierce hatred for the enemy. As to 
 
Tttfi DKLUOB. 
 
 221 
 
 irtion of 
 BO many 
 [)rino«88 ; 
 nv pliuHts 
 
 } liotmiii) 
 wt'til war 
 lidod, for 
 I joyoilH- 
 litn. At 
 load, and 
 uMid waH 
 is glan';e 
 i|ueHtion- 
 lin uwm 
 I j)ier«i»d 
 ni wrath, 
 near tho 
 , Fatlicr 
 ,n Hldbo- 
 uilly '.lis- 
 iinnionsn 
 and tint 
 1 ^flooniy 
 andering 
 
 rev down 
 r threat- 
 var tlian 
 loldier is 
 with his 
 10 ah)n(3 
 isfy God 
 dooiaivo 
 him to 
 
 selves at 
 
 his own 
 
 a: "but 
 
 tne day 
 
 I, " so as 
 As to 
 
 great warriors, eanh has his nustom. Hannibal uflo<l to phiy 
 ai(!o: 8cipio Afrioanus dycihiimod versos; J'an KonyotsiK)!- 
 ski tno father always oonvorsod about fair hoa<ls ; and I like 
 to sleep an hour or so before battle, though I am not averse 
 to a glass with good fri(*nds.'' 
 
 "See, gentlonuMi, Hishop Parchevski is as pale as a sheet 
 of paper!" said Htanislav Skshetuski. 
 
 " lU)r he is sitting at a Calvinist table, and ntay swallow 
 easily something unelean in the food," explained Zagloba, 
 in a low voieo. "To drinks, the old people say, the devil 
 h!iH no approa(!h, and those <;an be taken everywhere; but 
 food, ai, s'8|>eeialiy soups, onc! shotdd avoid. So it was in 
 tiio Crimea, when I was tlnM*e in eaptivity. Tho Tartar 
 mullahs or priests kmtw how to eook mutton with garlie in 
 Bueh a wav that Whoever tasted it was willing that moment 
 to desert his faith and aiuu'pt their scoundrel of a prophet.'* 
 Here Zagloba lowered his voict^ still more: " Not through 
 eontompt for the prinee do . say this, but I advise; you, gen- 
 tlemen, to let the food pass, for God protects tin; guarded." 
 
 "What do you say V Whoso commends himself to God 
 before eating is safe ; with us in Great Poland there is no 
 end of Lutherans and Calvinists, but I have not heard that 
 they bewitched food." 
 
 "With you in Great Poland there is no end of Lutherans, 
 and so they sniffed around at once with the Swedes," said 
 Zaghiba, "and are in friendship with them now. In the 
 j»riiice's pla(!e, 1 would hunt those envoys away with dogs, 
 instead of filling their stomachs with dainties. But look at 
 that Lowenhaupt; he is eating just as if he were to be 
 driven to the fair with a rope around his leg before the 
 montii's end. Besides, he will stuff his pockets with dried 
 fruit for his wife and (diildnui. I hav(? forgotten how that 
 other follow from over the soa is called. Oh, may thou — " 
 
 " Father, ask Michael," said Van, 
 
 Pan Michael was sitting not far away ; but he heard 
 nothing, ho saw nothing, for ho was Ixftween two ladies. 
 On his left sat ranna Syelavski, a worthy maiden about 
 forty years old, and on his right Olenka, beyond whom 
 sat Kmita. Tanna Syelavski shook her feather-decked 
 head above tho little knight, and niirratctd something 
 with great rapidity. He looked at her from time to time 
 with a vacant stare, and answered continually, "As true 
 as life, gracious lady I " but understood not a word she said, 
 for all his attention was turned to tlie other side. He 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
222 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ;:l ' X 
 
 was seizing with his ear the sound of Olenka's words, the 
 flutter of h(;r silver dress, and from sorrow moving his mus- 
 taches in such fashion as if he wished to frighten kway 
 Panna Syelavski with them. 
 
 " Ah, that is a wonderful maiden ! Ah, but she is beau- 
 tiful ! " said he, in his mind. " God, look down on my 
 misery, for there is no lonelier orphan than I. My soul is 
 piping within me to have my own beloved, and on whomso- 
 ever 1 look another soldier stands quartered there. Where 
 shall I go, ill-fated wanderer?" 
 
 "And after the war, what do you think of doing?" 
 inquired Panna Syelavski, all at once pursing up her mouth 
 and fanning herself violently. 
 
 " I shall go to a monastery ! " said the little knight, testily. 
 
 " Who mentions a monastery here at the ba.: 'i uet ? " cried 
 Kmita, joyously, bending in front of Olenka. "Oh, that is 
 Pan Volodyoyski." 
 
 " There is nothing like that in your head," retorted Pan 
 Michael ; "but I think I shall go." 
 
 Then the sweet voice of Olenka sounded in his ear : "Oh, 
 no need to think of that ! God will give you a wife beloved 
 of your heart, and honest as you are." 
 
 The good Pan Michael melted at once : " If any one were 
 to play on a flute to me, it would not be sweeter to my ear." 
 
 The increasing bustle stopped further conversation, for 
 it had come now to the glasses. Excitement increased. 
 Colonels disputed about the coming war, frowning and 
 casting fiery glances. 
 
 Pan Zagloba was describing to the whole table the siege 
 of Zbaraj ; and the ardor and daring of the hearers rose till 
 the blood went to their faces *and hearts. It might seem 
 that the spirit of the immortal "Yarema"^ was flying 
 above that hall, and had filled the souls of the soldiers with 
 heroic inspiration. 
 
 "That was a leader!" said the famous Mirski, who led 
 all Radzivill's hussars. " I saw him only once, but to the 
 moment of my death I shall remember it." 
 
 " Jove with thuuderbolts in his grasp ! " cried old Stan- 
 kyevich. "It would not have come to this were he alive now ! " 
 
 "Yes; think of it! Beyond Romni he had forests cut 
 down to open a way for himself to the enemy." 
 
 "The victory at Berestechko was due to him." 
 
 "And in the most serious moment God took him." 
 1 Prince Yeremi Vishnyevetsla. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 223 
 
 ords, the 
 his mus- 
 «Q kway 
 
 3 is beau- 
 
 n on my 
 
 [y soul is 
 
 whomso- 
 
 Where 
 
 doing?" 
 ler mouth 
 
 it, testily. 
 ;?" cried 
 ►h, that is 
 
 )rted Pan 
 
 jar: "Oh, 
 fe beloved 
 
 one were 
 
 my ear." 
 
 ation, for 
 
 increased. 
 
 ning and 
 
 the siege 
 s rose till 
 ight seem 
 iras flying 
 diers with 
 
 who led 
 )ut to the 
 
 old Stan- 
 ive now ! " 
 orests cut 
 
 ff 
 
 " God took him," repeated Pan Yan, in a loud voice ; " but 
 he left a testament behind him for all coming leaders and 
 dij^nitaries and for the whole Commonwealth. This is it : 
 to negotiate with no enemy, but. to fight them all." 
 
 " Not to negotiate ; to fight ! " repeated a number of pow- 
 erful voices, " tight ! fight ! " 
 
 The heat became great in the hall, and the blood was 
 boiling in the warriors ; therefore glances began to fall like 
 lightning-flashes, and the heads shaven on the temples and 
 lower forehead began to steam. 
 
 "Our prince, our hetman, will be the executioner of that 
 will ! " said Mirski. 
 
 Just at that moment an enormous clock in the upper part 
 of the hall began to strike midnight, and at the same time 
 the walls trembled, the window-panes rattled plaintively, and 
 the thunder of cannon was heard saluting in the courtyard. 
 
 Conversation was stopped, silence followed. Suddevily at 
 the head of the table they began to cry : " Bishop Parchev- 
 ski has fainted ! Water ! " 
 
 There was confusion. Some sprang from their seats to 
 see more clearl}' what had happened. The bishop had not 
 fainted, but had grown very weak, so that the marshal 
 supported him in his chair by the shoulders, while the 
 wife of the voevodaof Venden sprinkled his face with water. 
 
 At that moment the second discharge of cannon shook 
 the window-panes ; after it came a third, and a fourth. 
 
 "Live the Commonwealth! May its enemies perish!" 
 shouted Zagloba. 
 
 But the following discharges drowred his speech. The 
 nobles began to count : "Ten, eleven, twelve ! " 
 
 Each time the window-panes answered with a mournful 
 groan. The candles quivered from the shaking. 
 
 " Thirteen, fourteen ! The bishop is not used to the 
 thunder. With his timidity he has spoiled the entertain- 
 ment; the prince too is uneasy. See, gentlemen, how 
 swollen he is I Fifteen, sixteen ! — Hei, they are tiring as if 
 in battlv. ! Nineteen, twenty ! " 
 
 " Quiet there ! the prince wants to speak ! " called the 
 guests at once, from various parts of the table. "The 
 prince wishes to speak ! " 
 
 There was perfect silence ; and all eyes were turned to 
 Radzfvill, who stood, like a giant, with a cup in his hand. 
 But what a sight struck the eyes of those feasting ! The 
 face of the prince was simply terrible at that moment, for 
 
 n 
 
 1^1 
 
224 
 
 /HE DELUGE. 
 
 it was not pale, but blue and twisted, as if in A Convulsion, 
 by a smile which he strove to call to his lips. His breath- 
 ing, usually, short, became still shorter; his broad bijeast 
 welled up under the gold brocade, his eyes were half 
 covered with their lids, and there was a species of terror 
 and an iciness on that powerful face such as are usual on 
 features stiffening in the moments before death. 
 
 " What troubles the prince ? what is taking place here ? " 
 was whispered unquietly around ; and an ominous fore- 
 boding straitened all hearts, startled expectation was on 
 every face. 
 
 He began to speak, with a short voice broken by asthma : 
 " Gracious gentlemen ! this toast will astonish many among 
 you, — or simply it will terrify them, — but whoso trusts 
 and believes in me, whoso really wishes the good of the 
 country, whoso is a faithful friend of my house, will drink 
 it with a will, and repeat after me, ' Vivat Carolus Gusta- 
 vus Kex, from^this day forth ruling over us graciously I ' " 
 
 " Vivat ! " repeated the two envoys, Lowenhaupt and 
 Schitte ; then some tens of officers of the foreign command. 
 
 But in the hall there reigned deep silence. The colonels 
 and the nobles gazed at one another with astonishment, as 
 if asking whether the prince had not lost his senses. A 
 number of voices were heard at last at various parts of the 
 table : " Do we hear aright ? What is it ? " Then there 
 was silence again. 
 
 Unspeakable horror coupled with amazement was re- 
 flected on faces, and the eyes of all were turned again 
 to Kadzivill ; but he continued to stand, and was breathing 
 deeply, as if he had cast off some immense weight from his 
 breast. The color came back by degrees to his face ; then 
 he turned to Pan Komorovski, and said, — 
 
 " It is time to make public the compact which we have 
 signed this day, so that those present may know what 
 course to take. Read, your grace ! " 
 
 Komorovski rose, unwound the parchment lying before 
 him, and began to read the terrible compact, beginning 
 with these words : — 
 
 " Not being able to act in a better and more proper way 
 in this most stormy condition of affairs, after the loss of all 
 hope of assistance from the Most Serene King, we the 
 lords and estates of the Grand Principality of Lithuania, 
 forced by extremity, yield ourselves to the protection of 
 the Most Serene King of Sweden on these conditions : — 
 
I^HE DELUGE. 
 
 225 
 
 ^1. To make war together against mutual enemies, ex- 
 cepting the king and the kingdom of Poland. 
 
 "2. The Grand Principality of Lithuania will not be 
 incorporated with Sweden, but will be joined to it in such 
 manner as hitherto with the kingdom of Poland ; that is, 
 people shall be equal to people, senate to senate, and 
 knighthood to knighthood in all things. 
 
 " 3. Freedom of speech at the diets shall not be prohib- 
 ited to any man. 
 
 " 4. Freedom of religion is to be inviolable — " 
 
 And so Pan Komorovski read on further, amid silence 
 and terror, till he came to the paragraph : " This act we 
 confirm with our signature for ourselves and our descend- 
 ants, we promise and stipulate — " when a murmur rose in 
 the hall, like the first breath of a storm shaking the pine- 
 woods. But before the storm burst, Pan Stankyevich, gray 
 as a pigeon, raised his voice and began to implore, — 
 
 "Your highness, we are unwilling to believe our own 
 ears I By the wounds of Christ I must the labor of Vladis- 
 lav and Sigismund Augustus come to nothing ? Is it pos- 
 sible, is it honorable, to desert brothers, to desert the 
 country, and unite with the enemy ? Remember the name 
 which you bear, the services which you have rendered the 
 country, the fame of your house, hitherto unspotted ; tear 
 and trample on that document of shame. I know that I ask 
 not in my own name alone, but in the names of all soldiers 
 here present and nobles. It pertains to us also to con- 
 sider our own fate. Gracious prince, do not do this ; 
 there is still time ! Spare yourself, spare us, spare the 
 Commonwealth ! " 
 
 " Do it not ! Have pity, have pity ! " called hundreds of 
 voices. 
 
 All the colonels sprang from their places and went toward 
 him ; and the gray Stankyevich knelt down in the middle 
 of the hall between the two arms of the table, and then was 
 heard more loudly : '• Do that not ! spare us ! " 
 
 Radzivill raised his powerful head, and lightnings of 
 wrath began to fly over his forehead ; suddenly he burst 
 out, — 
 
 " Does it become you, gentlemen, first of all to give an 
 example of insubordination ? Does it become soldiers to 
 desert their leader, their hetman, and bring forward pro- 
 tests ? Do you wish to be my conscience ? Do you wish 
 to teach me how to act for the good of the country ? This 
 
 VOL. I, — 15 
 
 1 m. 
 
226 
 
 THE jyM.vnF.. 
 
 m 
 
 ill 
 
 (III' 
 
 w. 
 
 "In*! 
 
 is not a diet, and you are not called here to vote ; but be- 
 fore God I take the responsibility I " 
 
 And he struck his broad breast with his iist, and looking 
 with flashing glance on the ofHcers, after a while he shouted 
 again : " Whoso is not with ino is against me ! I knew you, 
 I knew what would happen ! But know ye that the sword 
 is hanging over your heads ! " 
 
 " Gracious prince 1 our hetman ! " implored old Stankye- 
 vich, " spare yourself and spare us I " 
 
 But his speech was interrupted by Stanislav Skshetuski, 
 who seizing his own hair with both hands, began to cry 
 with despairing voice : " Do not implore him ; that is vain. 
 He has long cherished this dragon in his heart I Woe to 
 thee, O Commonwealth ! woe to us all I " 
 
 " Two dignitaries at the two ends of the Commonwealth 
 have sold the country ! " cried Yan Skshetuski. " A curse 
 on this house, shame and God's auger ! " 
 
 Hearing this, Zagloba shook himself free from amaze- 
 ment and burst out : " Ask him how great was the bribe he 
 took from the Swedes ? How much have they paid him ? 
 How much have they promised him yet ? Oh, gentlemen, 
 here is a Judas Iscariot. May you die in despair, may 
 your race perish, may the devil tear out your soul, O 
 traitor, traitor, thrice traitor I " 
 
 With this Siankyevich, in an ecstasy of despair, drew the 
 colonel's baton from his belt, and threw it with a rattle at 
 the feet of the prince. Mirski threw his next ; the third 
 was Yuzefovich ; the fourth, Hoshchyts ; the fifth, pale as 
 a corpse, Volodyovski; the sixth, Oskyerko, — and the 
 batons rolled on the floor. Meanwhile in that den of the 
 lion these terrible words were repeated before the eyes of 
 the lion from more and more mouths every moment: 
 "Traitor! traitor!" 
 
 All the blood rushed to the head of the haughty magnate. 
 He gi'ew blue ; it seemed that he would tumble next mo- 
 ment a corpse under the table. 
 
 " Ganhoff and Kmita, to me ! " bellowed he, with a terri- 
 ble voice. 
 
 At that moment four double doors leading to the hall 
 opened with a crash, and in marched divisions of Scottish 
 infantry, terrible, silent, musket in hand. Ganhoff led 
 them from the main door. 
 
 "Halt!" cried the prince. Then he turned to the 
 colonels : " Whoso is Avith me. let him go to the right side 
 of the hall I" 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 m 
 
 "I am a soldier, I serve the hetman; let God be my 
 judge ! " said Kiiarlamp, passing to tlie right side. 
 
 " And T 1 " added Myeleshko. "Not mine will be the sin 1 " 
 
 "I protested as a citizen; as a soldiar I must obey," 
 added a third, Nyevyarovski, who, though he had thrown 
 down his baton before, was evidently afraid of Kadzivill now. 
 
 After them passed over a number of others, and quite a 
 large group of nobles ; but Mirski, the highest in office, and 
 Stankyevich, the oldest in years, Hoshchyts, Volodyovski, 
 and Oskyerko remained where they were, and with them 
 the two Skshetuskis, Zagloba, and a great majority as well 
 of the officers of various heavy and light squadrons as of 
 nobles. The Scottish infantry surrounded them like a wall. 
 
 Kmita, the moment the prince proposed the toast in honor 
 of Karl Gustav, sprang up from his seat with all the guests, 
 stared fixedly and stood as if turned to stone, repeating with 
 pallid lips, " O God ! O God ! O God 1 what have I done ? " 
 
 At the same time a low voice, but for his ear distinct, 
 whispered near by, "Pan Andrei!" 
 
 He seized suddenly his hair with his hands. "I am 
 cursed for the ages ! May the earth swallow me ! " 
 
 A flame flashed out on Olenka's face ; her eyes bright as 
 stars were flxed on Kmita. " Shame to those who remain 
 with the hetman ! Choose ! O God, All Powerful ! — What 
 are you doing ? Choose ! " 
 
 " Jesus ! O Jesus ! " cried Kmita. 
 
 Meanwhile the hall was filled with cries. Others had 
 thrown their batons at the feet of the prince, but Kmita 
 did not join them ; he did not move even when the prince 
 shouted, " Ganhoff and Kmita, to me I " nor when the 
 Scottish infantry entered the hall ; and he stood torn with 
 suffering and despair, with wild look, with blue lips. 
 
 Suddenly he turned to Panna Billevich and stretched his 
 hands to her. "Olenka! Olenkal" repeated he, with a 
 sorrowtul groan, like a child whom some wrong is con- 
 fronting. 
 
 But she drew back with aversion and fear in her face. 
 " Away, traitor ! " she answered with force. 
 
 At that moment GanhofE commanded, " Forward ! " and 
 the division of Scots surrounding the prisoners moved 
 toward the door. 
 
 Kmita began to follow them like one out of his mind, not 
 knowing where he was going or why he was going. 
 
 The banquet was ended. 
 
2'J8 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 .1 
 -.f> 
 
 r 
 
 
 I 
 
 :i!D!'; 
 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 That samo iii^ht tlie piinco liold a long consultation with 
 the voovodsi ol Vt'iidcn and with the SwcdiMh envoys. The 
 result of the treaty had disappointed his expectations, and 
 disclosed to him a threatening future. It was the prince's 
 phiii to make the announcement in time of feasting, when 
 minds are excited and intdined to agreement. He expected 
 opposition in every evt'ut, hut lu*. counted on adherents also; 
 meanwiiile the energy of the protest had exceeded his 
 reckoning. Save a few tens of Calvinist nobles and a hand- 
 ful of otticers of foreign origin, who as strangers could have 
 no voi(ui in the (question, all declared against the treaty 
 concluded with ICarl Gustav, or rather with his field-mar- 
 shal and brother-in-law, Pontus de la Gardie. 
 
 The prince had given orders, it is true, to arrest the 
 stubborn officers of the army, but what of that ? What 
 will the squadrons say ? Will they not think of their 
 colonels? Will they not rise in mutiny to rescue their 
 officers by force? If they do, what will remain to the 
 proud prince beyond a few dragoon regiments and foreign 
 infantry ? Then the wliole country, all the arnuul nobles, 
 and Sapyeha, voevoda of Vityebsk, — a terrible opponent of 
 the house of Kadzivill, ready to fight with the wnole world 
 in the name of the unity of the Commonwealth ? Other 
 colonels whose heads he cannot cut otf, and Polish squadrons 
 will go to Sapyeha, who will stand at the head of all the 
 forces of the country, and Prince Kadzivill will see himself 
 without an army, without adherents, without significance. 
 What will happen then ? 
 
 These were terrible questions, for the position was terri- 
 ble. The prince knew well that if he were deserted the 
 treaty on which he had toiled so much in secret would by 
 the force of events lose all meaning and the Swedes would 
 despise him, or take revenge for the discovered- deceit. But 
 he had given them his Birji as a guaranty of Lis loyalty ; 
 by that he had weuk«ned himself the more. 
 
 Karl Gustav was ready to scatter rewards and honors 
 with both hands for a powerful Kadzivill, but Kadzivill 
 weak and deserted by all ho would despise; and if the 
 
THE DELUOE. 
 
 229 
 
 torri- 
 ;ed the 
 luld by 
 would 
 But 
 oyalty ; 
 
 
 changing wheel of fortune should send vietory to Yan Kazi* 
 n)ir, tinal deHtruction would (^onie to that lord who this day 
 in the morning had no e(^ual in thu (Jonunonwealth. 
 
 When the envoys aiid tlio voevoihi of Venden luul gone, 
 the prince seized with both hands his head weighed down 
 with care, and began to walk with swift steps through the 
 room. From without came the voices of the Scottish guards 
 and the rattle of the departing carriages of the nobles. They 
 drove away (quickly and iiurriedly, as if a pest had fallen on 
 the lordly castle of Kyedani. A terrible di;s(iuiet rent the 
 soul of Kad/ivill. At times it S(!enied to him that besides 
 himself there was some other person who walked behind 
 hiia and whiHi)er(?d in his ear, " A'oandonment, poverty, and 
 infamy as v/oUl" But he, the voevoda of Vilna and grand 
 lioiiiian, vas already trampled upon and humiliated 1 Who 
 woulci liave admitted yesterday that in all Kyedani, in 
 Lithuania, nay, in the whole world, there could be found a 
 man who would dare to shout before his eyes, "Traitor I" 
 Nevertheless he had heard it, and he lives yet, and they 
 who s|K)kt^ that word are living too. Perhaps if he were to 
 re-enter that hall of the bancpiet ho would still hoar as an 
 echo among the cornices and under the vaults, " Traitor 1 
 traitor ! " 
 
 And wild, nuid rage seized at moments the breast of the 
 oligarch. His nostrils dilated, his eyes shot lightnings, 
 veins came out on his forcdiead. Who here dares to op- 
 pose his will ? His enraged mind brought before his eyes 
 the picture of punishments and torments for rebels who 
 had the daring not to follow his feet like a dog. And he 
 saw their blood flowing from the axes of executioners, he 
 heard the crunching of their bones broken by the wheel, 
 and he took delight in and sated himself with visions of 
 blood. 
 
 JUit when more sober judgment reminded him that be- 
 hind those rebels is an army, that he cannot take their 
 heads with impunity, an unendurable and hellish unquiet 
 came back and filled his soul, and some one whispered 
 anew in his ear, " Abandonment, poverty, judgment, and 
 infamy ! " 
 
 How is that ? Is it not permitted to Radzivill to decide 
 the fate of the country, — to retain it for Yan Kazimir or 
 give it to Karl Gustav, — to give, to convey, to present, to 
 whom it may please him ? 
 
 The magnate looked before himself with amazeinent. 
 
 .- ii' 
 
230 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Who then are the Radzivills ? Who were they yester- 
 day ? What was said everywhere in Lithuania ? Was that 
 all deception? Will not Prince Boguslav join the grand 
 hetman with his regiments, after him his uncle the Elector 
 of Brandenberg, and after all three Karl Gustav, the Swedish 
 king, with all his victorious power, before which recently 
 all Germany trembled through the length and the breadth 
 of it ? Did not the Polish Commonwealth itself extend its 
 arms to the new master, and yield at the mere report of 
 the approach of the lion of the North ? Who will offer 
 resistance to that unrestrained power ? 
 
 On one side the King of Sweden, the Elector of Branden- 
 berg, the Radzivills, in case of necessity Hmelnitski too, 
 with all his power, and the hospodar of Wallachia, and 
 Rakotsy of Transylvania, — almost half Europe ; on the 
 other side the voevoda of Vityebsk with Mirski, Pan Stan- 
 kyevich, and those three nobles who had just come from 
 Lukovo, and al^o a few rebellious squadrons! What is 
 that? — a jest, an amusement. 
 
 Then suddenly the prince began to laugh loudly. " By 
 Lucifer and all the Diet of hell, it must be that I have gone 
 mad ! Let them all go to the voevoda of Vityebsk ! " 
 
 But after a while his face had grown gloomy again: 
 " The powerful admit only powerful to alliance. Radzivill 
 casting Lithuania at the feet of the Swedes will be sought 
 for ; Rpdzivill asking aid against Lithuania will be despised. 
 « What is to be done ? " 
 
 The foreign officers will stay with him, but their power 
 is not enough ; and if the Polish squadrons go over to the 
 voevoda of Vityebsk, he will have the fate of thd country 
 in his hands. Each foreign officer will carry out commands, 
 it is true ; but he will not devote his whole soul to the 
 cause of Radzivill, he will not give himself to it with ardor, 
 not merely as a soldier, but as an adherent. For devotion 
 there is absolute need, not of foreigners, but of men of his 
 own people to attract others by their names, by their 
 bravery, by their reputation, by their daring example and 
 readiness to do everything. He must have adherents in 
 the country, even for show. 
 
 Who of his own men responded to the prince ? Khar- 
 lamp, an old, worn-out soldier, good for service and nothing 
 more ; Nyevyarovski, not loved in the army and without 
 influence ; besides these a few others of still less distinc- 
 tion ; no man of another kind, no man whom an army 
 would foil' w- no man to be the apostle of a cause, 
 
ji!> 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 231 
 
 "By 
 
 There remained Kmita, young, enterprising, bold, covered 
 with great knightly glory, bearing a famous name, standing 
 at the head of a powerful squadron, partly fitted out at his 
 own expense, — a man as it were created to be the leader 
 of all the bold and restless spirits in Lithuania, and withal 
 full of ardor. If he should take up the cause of Badzivill, 
 he would take it up with the faith which youth gives, he 
 would follow his hetman blindly, and spread the faith in 
 his name ; and such an apostle means more than whole 
 regiments, whole divisions of foreigners. He would be able 
 to pour his faith into the heart of the young knighthood, 
 to attract it and fill the camp of Kadzivill with men. 
 
 But he too had hesitated evidently. He did not cast his 
 baton, it is true, at the feet of the hetman, but he did not 
 stand at his side in the first moment. 
 
 " It is impossible to reckon on any one, impossible to be • 
 sure of any man," thought the prince, gloomily. " They 
 will all go to the voevoda of Vityebsk, and no man will 
 wish to share with me." 
 
 " Infamy ! " whispered his conscience. 
 
 " Lithuania ! " answered, on the other hand, pride. 
 
 It had grown dim in the room, for the wicks had burned 
 long on the candles, but through the windows flowed 
 in the silver light of the moon. Radzivill gazed at those 
 rays and fell into deep thought. Gradually something 
 began to grow dark in those rays ; certain figures rose up 
 each moment, increasing in number, till at last the prince 
 saw as it were an army coming toward him from the upper 
 trails of the sky on the broad road of the moonbeams. 
 Regiments are marching, armored hussars and light horse ; 
 a forest of baimers are waving; in front rides some man 
 without a helmet, apparently a victor returning from war. 
 Around is quiet, and the prince hears clearly the voice of 
 the army and people, " Vivat defensor patriae ! vivat defen- 
 sor patriae! (Live the defender of the country!)" The 
 army approaches, each moment increasing in number ; now 
 he can see the face of the leader. He holds the baton in 
 his hand ; and by the number of bunchuks ( horse-tails on 
 his standard ) Radzivill can see that he is the grand hetman. 
 
 "In the name of the Father and the Son!" cries the 
 prince, " that is Sapyeha, that is the voevoda of Vityebsk I 
 And where am I, and what rs predestined to me ? " 
 
 " Infamy ! " whispers his conscience. 
 
 " Lithuania ! " answers his pride. 
 
 U 
 
282 
 
 TUB DRLUOK. 
 
 |i >. 
 
 The priiUH) clapped Iuh haiulH ; Ilarasimovioh, watching 
 in the adioiniug ruoiu, appeared at once in the door and 
 bent double. ^, 
 
 " Lights I '^ said the prin<ie. 
 
 Uarasiniovich snufled the eandhvs, then went out and 
 returned with a candlestick in hi; ind. 
 
 " Vour Highness," said he, "it is ti-no to repose j the 
 cocks have crowed a second time." 
 
 " I have no wish to sletu)," replied the prince. " I dozed, 
 and the nightmare was suffocating nie. What is there new? " 
 
 "Son.\o noblemen brought a letter from Nyosvyej from 
 the Prince Michael, but 1 did not venture to enter 
 unsummoned." 
 , " Give mo the letter at once ! " 
 
 Uarasiniovich gave the sealed letter j the prince opened 
 • it, and began to read as follows : — 
 
 May God guard and restrain your highneHH from such plans as 
 might bring eternal infamy and destruction to our house! Set 
 your mind on a hair-shirt rather tlian on dominion. The great- 
 ness of our house lies at my heart also, and the best proof of 
 this is in the efforts which I made in Vienna that we should have 
 a vote in the diets of the £mpire. But I will not betray the coun- 
 try nor my king for any reward or earthly power, so as not to 
 gather after sucli a sowmg a harvest of infamy during life and 
 damnation aftcM' death. Consider, your highness, the services of 
 your ancestors and their unspotted fame; uiink of the meroy of 
 God while tlie time is fitting. The enemy have surrounded me in 
 Nyesvyej, and I know not whether this letter will reach your 
 hands ; but though destruction threatens me every moment, I dc 
 not ask God t.o rescue me, but to restrain your highness from 
 those plans and bring you to the path of virtue. Even if some- 
 thing evil is done already, it is possible yet to draw back, and 
 it is necessary to blot out the offences with a swift hand. Itut do 
 not expect aid from me, for 1 say in advance that without regard 
 to bonds of blood, I will join my forces with those of Pan Gosyov- 
 ski and the voevoda of Vityobsk ; and a hundred times rather 
 would I turn my arms against your highness than put my hands 
 voluntarily to that infamous treason. I commend your highness 
 to God. 
 
 MiCHARL KaZIMIK, 
 
 Prince in Nyesvyef and Olyta, Chamberlain of the 
 Grand Principality of Lithuania. 
 
 When the hetman had finished the letter he dropped it 
 on his knee, and began to shake his head with a painful 
 smile on his face. 
 
THIS DBLUO^. 
 
 m 
 
 ** And he leaves me, my own blood rejects me, because I 
 wished to adorn our house with a glory hitherto unknown I 
 Ah ! it is diihcult 1 Boguslav remains, and he will not 
 U)ave me. With us is the Elector and Karl Gustav ; and 
 who will not sow will not reap." 
 
 " Infamy I " whispered his conscience. 
 
 " Is your highness pleased to give an answer ? " asked 
 Harasiniovich. 
 
 " There will be no answer." 
 
 " May I go and send the attendants ? " 
 
 " Wait ! Are the guards stationed carefully ? " 
 
 « They are." 
 
 " Are orders sent to the squadrons ? " 
 
 " They are." 
 
 "What is Kniita doing?" 
 
 " He was knocking liis head against the wall and crying 
 about disgrac(!. He wuh wriggling like a mudfish. He 
 wanted to run aft(5r the liillovicheH, but the guards would 
 not ko him. Ho drew his sabre ; they had to tie hiin. He 
 is lying quietly now." 
 
 " Has the sword-bearer.of Rossyoni gone ? " 
 
 "There was no order to stop him." 
 
 " I forgot I " said the prince. " Open the windows, for it 
 is stifling and asthma is choking me. Tell Kharlamp to go 
 to Upita for the squadron and bring it here at once. Give 
 him money, let him pay the men for the first quarter and 
 let them get merry. Tell hiin that he will receive l)yd- 
 kyemie for life instead of Yolodyovski. The asthma is 
 choking me. Wait ! " 
 
 " According to order." 
 
 "What Is Kmita doing?" 
 
 "As I Slid, your highness, he is lying quietly." 
 
 " True, you told me. Give the order to send him here. 
 I want to speak with him. Have his fetters taken off." 
 
 " Your highness, he is a niidman." 
 
 " Have no fear, go ! " 
 
 Harasiniovich went out. The prince took from a Vene- 
 tian cabinet a case with pistols, opened it, and placed it 
 near at hand on the table by which lio sat. 
 
 In a quarter of an hour Kniita entered, attended by four 
 Scottish soldiers. The prince ordered the men to with- 
 draw, and remained face to face with Kmita. 
 
 There did not seem to be one drop of blood in the visage 
 of the young man, so pale was it, but his eyes were gleam* 
 
234 
 
 THE DELUGB. 
 
 ing feverishly ; for the rest he was calm, resigned, though 
 apparently sunk in endless despair. 
 
 Both were silent for a while. The prince spoke first. 
 
 " You took oath on the crucifix not to desert me." 
 
 "I shall be damned if I keep that oath, damned if I 
 break it. It is all one to me ! " 
 
 " Even if I had brought you to evil, you would not be 
 responsible." 
 
 " A month ago judgments and punishments threatened 
 me for killing ; to-day it seems to me that then I was as 
 innocent as a child." 
 
 " Before you leave this room, you will feel absolved from 
 all your previous sins," said the priiiCe. 
 
 Suddenly, changing his tone, he inquired with a certain 
 confidential kindness, " What do you think it was my duty 
 to do in the face of two enemies, a hundred-fold stronger 
 than I, enemies against whom I could not defend this 
 country ? " ' 
 
 " To did ! " answered Kmita, rudely. 
 
 " You soldiers, who can throw off so easily the pressing 
 burden are to be envied. To die ! For him who has 
 looked death in the eyes and is not afraid, there is nothing 
 in the world simpler. Your head does not ache over this, 
 and it will occur to the mind of none that if I had roused 
 an envenomed war and had died without making a treaty, 
 not a stone would be left on a stone in this country. May 
 God not permit this, for even in heaven my soul could not 
 rest. 0, terque, quaterque beati (0 thrice and four times 
 blessed) are ye who can die ! Do you think that life does 
 not oppress me, that I am not hungry for everlasting sleep 
 and rest ? But I must drain -the chalice of gall and vine- 
 gar to the bottom. It is needful to save this unhappy 
 land, and for its salvation to bend under a new burden. 
 Let the envious condemn me for pride, let them say that I 
 betrayed the country to exalt myself. God has seen me, 
 God is the jildge whether I desire this deviation, and 
 whether I vould not resign it could matters be otherwise. 
 Find you who desert me means of salvation ; point out the 
 road, ye who call me a traitor, and this night I will tear 
 that document and rouse all the squadrons from slumber to 
 move on the enemy." 
 
 Kmita was silent. 
 
 " Well, why are you silent ? " exclaimed Badzivill, in a 
 loud voice. " 1 will make you grand hetman in my place 
 
 « 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 236 
 
 and voevoda of Vilna. You must not die, for that is no 
 achievement, but save the country. Defend the occupied 
 provinces, avenge the ashes of Vilna, defend Jmud against 
 Swedish invasion, nay, defend the -"vhole Commonwealth, 
 drive beyond the boundaries every enemy ! Kush three 
 on a thousand ; die not, — for that is not permitted, — but 
 save the country." 
 
 " I am not hetman and voevoda of Vilna," answered 
 Kmita, "and what does not belong to me is not on my 
 head. But if it is a question of rushing the third against 
 thousands I will go." 
 
 " Listen, then, soldier ! jince your head has not to save 
 the country, leave it to mine." 
 
 " I cannot ! " said Kmita, with set teeth. 
 
 Radzivill shook his head. "I did not Count on the 
 others, I looked for what happened ; but in you I was de- 
 ceived. Interrupt not, but listen. 1 placed you on your 
 feet, I freed you from judgment and punishment, I gath- 
 ered yod to my heart as my own son. Know you why ? 
 Because I th »iight that in you was a daring soul, ready for 
 grand undertakings. I needed such men, I hide it not. 
 Around me was no man who would dare to look at the sun 
 with unflinching eye. There were men of small soul and 
 petty courage. To such never show a path other than that 
 on which they and their fathers have travelled, for they 
 will halt saying that you have sent them on a devious way. 
 And still, where, if not to the precipice, have we all come 
 by these old roads ? What is happening to the Common- 
 wealth which formerly could threaten the world ? " 
 
 Here the prince seized his head in his hands and re- 
 peated thrice : « O God ! God ! God ! " 
 
 After a while he continued : " The time of God's anger 
 has come, — a time of such misfortunes and of such a fall 
 that with the usual methods we cannot rise from this sick- 
 ness ; and if I wish to use new ones, which alone can bring 
 us salvation, even those desert me on whose readiness I 
 counted, whose duty it was to have confidence, who took 
 oath on the cross to trust me. By the blood and wounds of 
 Christ ! Did you think that I submitted to the protection 
 of Karl Gustav forever, that :n truth I think to join this 
 country to Sweden, that the treaty, for which I am called 
 a traitor, will last beyond a year ? Why do you look with 
 aFXonished eyes ? You will be still more astonished when 
 you hear all. You will be more astonished, for something 
 
236 
 
 THE DELUOE. 
 
 will happen which no one will think of, no one admit, 
 which the mind of a common man has not power to grasp. 
 But I say to' you, Tremble not, for in this is the country's 
 salvation ; do not draw back, for if I find no one to help 
 me, possibly I may perish, but with me will perish the 
 Commonwealth and ye all for the ages. I alone can save, 
 but I must bend and trample all obstacles. Woe to hira 
 who opposes me ; for God himself will crush him through 
 me, whether he be the voevoda of Vityebsk or Pan Gosyev- 
 ski or the army, or a refractory nobility. I wish to save 
 the Commonwealth; and to me all ways, all methods are 
 good for that end. Rome in times of disaster named dicta- 
 tors, — such power, nay, greater and more lasting, is need- 
 ful to me. Not pride draws me to it, — whoso feels equal 
 to this power let him take it instead of me. But if no one 
 does I will take the power, though these walls should fall 
 first on my head ! " 
 
 Then the prince stretched both his hands upward, as if in 
 fact he wished to support the arches falling upon his head, 
 and there was in him something so gigantic that Kmita 
 opened his eyes and gazed as if he had never seen him be- 
 fore ; and at last he asked with changed voice : " Whither 
 art thou striving, your highness ? What do you wish ? " 
 
 " A crown ! " cried Radzivill. 
 
 " Jesus, Mary ! " 
 
 A moment of deep silence followed ; but an owl on the 
 tower of the castle began to hoot shrilly. 
 
 "Listen," said the prince, "it is time to tell you all. 
 The Commonwealth is perishing, and must perish. There 
 is no salvation on earth for it. The question is to save first 
 from the ruin this country (Lithuania), this our immediate 
 fatherland, and then — then make the whole Common- 
 wealth rise from its own ashes, as the phoenix rises. I 
 will do this ; and the crown, which I desire, I will place as 
 a burden on my head, so as to bring out from this great 
 tomb a new life. Do not tremble ! The ground will not 
 open, everything stands on its own place ; but new times are 
 coming. I give this country to the Swedes so as to stop 
 with Swedish arms another enemy, to drive him beyond the 
 boundaries, to win back what is lost, and force with the sword 
 a treaty from that enemy in his own capital. Do you hear 
 me V But in rocky, hungry Sweden there are not men enough, 
 not forces enough, not sabres enough to take possession of 
 this immense Commonwealth. They may defeat our army 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 237 
 
 once and a second time ; but to hold us in obedienoe they can- 
 not. If one S\7ede were given as a guard to every ten men 
 in this land, there would still be many tens of them without 
 guards. Karl Gustav knows this well, and neither does he 
 wish nor is he able to take the whole Commonwealth. He 
 will occupy Royal Prussia, most of Great Poland, and will bo 
 content with that. But to hold in coming time these acqui- 
 sitions securely, he must break the union of the kingdom 
 with us ; otherwise he could not remain in those provinces. 
 What will happen then to this country? To whom will 
 it be given ? Well, if I refuse the crown which God and 
 fortune places on my head, it will be given to him who at 
 this moment is in possession. But Karl Gustav is not will- 
 ing to consent to this act, which would increase a neighbor- 
 ing power too greatly, and create for himself a formidable 
 enemy. But if T refuse the crown, he will be forced to con- 
 sent. Have I the right, then, to refuse ? Can I allow that 
 to take place which would threaten us with final ruin ? For 
 the tenth and the hundredth time I ask, Where are there 
 other means of salvation ? Let the will of God, then, be done I 
 I take this burden on my shoulders. The Swedes are on my 
 side ; the elector, our relative, promises aid. I will free the 
 country from war! With victories and extension of boun- 
 daries will begin the rule of my house. Peace and pros- 
 perity will flourish ; fire will not burn towns and villages. 
 Thus it will be, thus it must be. So help me God and the 
 holy cross I I feel within me power and strength from 
 heaven, I desire the happiness of this land, and that is not 
 yet the end of my plans. And by those heavenly lights I 
 swear, by those trembling stars, that* if only strength and 
 health remain to me, I will build anew all this edifice, now 
 tumbling to ruins ; I will make it stronger than ever." 
 
 Fire was flashing from the pupils and eyes of the prince ; 
 his whole form shed an uncommon halo. 
 
 "Your highness," cried Kmita, "I cannot grasp that 
 thought ; my head is bursting, my eyes fear to look ahead." 
 
 "Besides," said Radzivill, as if pursuing the further 
 course of his own thoughts, " the Swedes will not deprive 
 Yan Kazimir of the kingdom nor of rule, but will leave 
 him in Mazovia and Little Poland. God has not given him 
 posterity. An election will come in time. Whom will 
 they choose to the throne if they wish a further union 
 with Lithuania ? When did the kingdom grow strong 
 and crush the Knights of the Cross? After Vladyslav 
 
238 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Yagyello had mounted the throne. It will be the same this 
 time. The Poles can call to the throne only him who will 
 be reigning h,ere. They cannot and will not call another, 
 for they would perish, because the breath would not remain 
 in their breasts between the Germans and the Turks, and 
 as it is, the Cossack cancer is gnawing the kingdom. 
 They can call no one else ! Blind is he who does not see 
 this; foolish who does not understand it. Both countries 
 will -»i^e ^Lgain and become one power in my house. Then 
 I sh. :-d '. those kinglets of Scandinavia will remain in 
 their . ussia and Great Poland acquired co-day. Then I 
 will say to the..\ Quos ego T and with this foot will crush 
 their lean ribs, and create a power such as the world has 
 not seen, such as history has not described ; perhaps I may 
 carry the cross with fire and sword to Constantinople, and 
 in peace at home terrify the enemy. Thou pjreat God, 
 who orderest the circuits of the stars, grant me to save this 
 ill-fated land, ^or thy glory and that of all Christendom ; 
 give me men to understand my thought, men to put their 
 hands to salvation. There is where I stand ! " Here the 
 prince opened his arms, and raised his eyes aloft : " Thou 
 seest me, thou judgest me ! " 
 
 " Mighty prince, mighty prince ! " cried Kmita. 
 
 " Go, desert me, cast the baton at my feet, break your 
 oath, call me traitor! Let no thorn be lacking in that 
 prickly crown which they have put on my head. Destroy 
 ye the country, thrust it over the precipice, drag away the 
 hand that could save it, and go to the judgment of God I 
 Let him decide between us." 
 
 Kmita cast himself on his knees before Radzivill. 
 " Mighty prince, I am with you to the death ! Father of 
 the country, savior ! '* 
 
 Radzivill put both hands on his head, and again followed 
 a moment of silence. Only the owl hooted unceasingly on 
 the tower. 
 
 "You will receive all that you have yearned for and 
 wished," said the prince, with solemnity. " Nothing will 
 miss you, and more will meet you than your father and 
 mother desired. Rise, future grand hetman and voevoda 
 ofVilna!" 
 
 It had begun to dawn in the sky. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 239 
 
 and 
 
 will 
 
 and 
 
 bvoda 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Pan Zagloka had his head mightily full when he hurled 
 the word "traitor" thrice at the eyes of the terrible het- 
 man. At an hour nearer morning, when the wine had 
 evaporated from his bald head, and he found himself with 
 the two Skshetuskis and Pan Michael in p dungeon of 
 Kyedani Castle, he saw, when too late, the da ge to which 
 he had exposed his own neck and the necks of his omrades, 
 and was greatly cast down. 
 
 " But what will happen now ? " asked he, gazing with 
 dazed look on the little knight, in whom he had special 
 trust in great peril. 
 
 " May the devil take life 1 it is all one * me I " answered 
 Volodyovski. 
 
 "We shall live to such times and such infamy as the 
 world and this kingdom have not seen hitherto ! " said Pan 
 Yan. 
 
 " Would that wo might live to them I " answered Zagloba ; 
 " we could restore virtue in others by our good example. 
 But shall we live ? That is the great question." 
 
 "This is a terrible event, passing belief!" said Pan 
 Stanislav. "Where has the like of it happened? Save 
 me, gentlemen, for I feel that there is confusion in my 
 head. Two wars, — a third, the Cossack, — and in addition 
 treason, like a plague : Radzyovski, Opalinski, Grudzinski, 
 Radzivill ! The end of the world is coming, and the day of 
 judgment ; it cannot be otherwise ! May the earth open 
 under our feet! As God is dear to me, I am losing my 
 mind ! " 
 
 And clasping his hands at the back of his head, he began 
 to pace the length and width of the cellar, like a wild beast 
 in a cage. 
 
 " Shall we begin to pray, or what ? " asked he at last. 
 "Merciful Grod, save us!" 
 
 "Be calm!*' said Zagloba; "this is not the time to 
 despair." 
 
 Pan Stanislav ground his teeth on a sudden ; rage car- 
 ried him away. " I wish you were killed ! " cried he to 
 
240 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Zagloba. " It was your thought to come to this traitor. 
 May vengeance reach you and him ! " 
 
 " Bethink , yourself, Stanislav," said Pan Yan, sternly. 
 "No one could foresee what has happened. Endure, for 
 you are not the only man suffering ; and know that our 
 place is here, and not elsewhere. Merciful God 1 pity, not 
 us, but the ill-fated country." 
 
 Stanislav made no answer, but wrung his hands till the 
 joints were cracking. 
 
 They were silent. Pan Michael, however, began to 
 whistle through his teeth, in despair, and feigned indiffer- 
 ence to everything happening around him, though, in fact, 
 he suffered doubly, -r- first, for the misfortune of the country, 
 and secondly, because he had violated his obedience to the 
 hetman. The latter was a terrible thing for him, a soldier 
 to the marrow of his bones. He would have preferred to 
 die a thousand times. 
 
 " Do not whf stle. Pan Michael," said Zagloba. 
 
 " All one to me ! " 
 
 " How is it ? Is no one of you thinking whether theie 
 are not means of escape? It is worth while to exercise 
 one's wits on this. Are we to rot in this cellar, when every 
 hand is needed for the country, when one man of honor 
 must settle ten traitors ? " 
 
 " Father is right," said Pan Yan. 
 
 " You alone have not become stupid from pain. What do 
 you suppose ? What does that traitor think of doing with 
 us ? Surely he will not punish us with death ? " 
 
 Pan Michael burst out in a sudden laugh of despair. " But 
 why not ? I am curious to learn I Has he not authority, 
 has he not the sword ? Do you not know Radzivill ? " 
 
 " Nonsense ! What right do they give him ? " 
 
 " Over me, the right of a hetman ; over you, force ! " 
 
 " For which he must answer." 
 
 "To whom, — to the King of Sweden?" 
 
 " You give me sweet consolation ; there is no denying 
 that!" 
 
 *' I have no thought of consoling you." 
 
 They were silent, and for a time there was nothing to be 
 heard but the measured tread of Scottish infantry at the 
 door of the cellar. 
 
 " There is no help here," said Zagloba, " but stratagem." 
 
 No one gave answer ; therefore he began to talk agcin 
 after a while : ^' I will not believe that we are to be put to 
 
 in 
 
THE DEI.TTGE. 
 
 241 
 
 death. If for every word spoken in haste and in drink, a 
 head were cut off, not one noble in this Commonwealth 
 would walk around with his head on his shoulders. But 
 neminem captivahimua ? Is that a trifle ? " 
 
 " You have an example in yourself and in us," answered 
 Stanislav. 
 
 " Well, that happened in haste ; but I believe firmly that 
 the prince will take a second thought. We are strangers ; 
 in no way do we come under his jurisdiction. He must 
 respect opinion, and not begin with violence, so as not to 
 offend the nobles. As true as life, our party is too large 
 to have the heads cut from all of us. Over the officers he has 
 authority, I cannot deny that ; but, as I think, he will look 
 Co the army, which surely will not fail to remember its own. 
 And where is your squadron, Michael ? " 
 
 « In Upita." 
 
 " But tell me, are you sure that the men will be true to 
 you ? " 
 
 " Whence should I know ? They like "me well enough, 
 but they know that the hetinan is above me." 
 
 Zagloba meditated awhile. " Give me an order to them 
 to obey me in everything, as they would you, if I appear 
 among them." 
 
 " You think that you are free I " 
 
 " There is no harm in that. I have been in hotter places, 
 and God saved me. Give an order for me and the two 
 Skshetuskis. Whoso escapes first will go straight to the 
 squadron, and bring it to rescue the others." 
 
 " You are raving ! It is a pity to lose time in empt^ talk I 
 Who will escape from this place ? Besides, on what can I 
 give an order ; have you paper, ink, pen ? You are losing 
 your head." 
 
 "Desperation!" cried Zagloba; "give me even your 
 ring." 
 
 " Here it is, and let me have peace ! " 
 
 Zagloba took the ring, put it on his little finger, and be- 
 gan to walk and meditate. 
 
 Meanwhile the smoking candle went out, and darkness 
 embraced them completely ; only through the grating of the 
 high window a couple of stars were visible, twinkling in 
 the clear sky. Zagloba 's e^e did not leave the grating. 
 " If heaven-dwelling Podbipienta were living and with us," 
 muttered the old man, "he would tear out that grating, 
 smd in aii hour we should 3Qe ourselves beyond Kyedani." 
 
 VOL. I.— 16 . _ ' 
 
 
 .Jt. 
 
 i 
 
 
242 
 
 THK DELUGE. 
 
 .- iiv 
 
 
 m ■ 
 
 " But raise me to tho window," suid^an Yan, auddeuly. 
 
 Zagloba and Pun Htanisiuv oltwed theniselvoi at the 
 wail ; in a momont Yan was on tneir Hiiouldere. 
 
 « it oraoks ( As God is duar Ui me, it craolis I *' cried 
 Zugloba. 
 
 *' What aro vou tallcing al)out, fatlior? I haven't begun 
 to jMill it yot." 
 
 •'Crawl up with your cousih; I'll hohl you somehow. 
 Moru than oncu I pitied l*an Miuhtusl hot^auHo ho wns ho 
 slender ; but now I regntt that he is not still thinner, so as 
 to slip through like a Huuko. " 
 
 But Yan sprang down from their shoulders. " The Scots 
 are standing on this side I " said lie. 
 
 "May God turn them into pillars of salt, like Lot's 
 wife ! " said Zagloba. " It is so dark here that you might 
 strike a man in the face, and he could not see you. It 
 will soon l)e daybreak. I think they will bring us food of 
 some kind, foj- yven Lutherans do not put prisoners to a 
 hunger death. Perhaps, too, God will sencf reflection to 
 tlie hefcman. Often in the night conscience starts up ir. a 
 man, aiul the devils pinch sinners. Can it be tliere is only 
 one entrance to this cellar ? I will look in the daytime. 
 My head is somehow heavy, and I cannot think out a 
 stratagem. To-morrow God will strengthen my wit ; but 
 now we will say the Lord's I'rayer, and commit ourselves 
 to tho Most Holy Lady, in this heretical dungeon." 
 
 In fact they began a moment later in .(,y the Lord's 
 Prayer and the litany to the Mother of Uod : then Yan, 
 Stanislav, and Volodyovski were silent, for tneir breasts 
 were full of misfortune, but Zagloba growled in a low voice 
 and muttered, — 
 
 "It must l)e beyond doubt thaf to-morrow he will say to 
 us, aut, aut / (either, or). • Join Radzivill and I w;.ll pardon 
 everything.' But we shall see who outwits the ocher. Do 
 you pack nobles into prison, have you no respect for age or 
 services ? Very good I To whom tho loss, to him vhe weep- 
 ing ! The foolish will be under, and the wise on top. I 
 will promise what you like, but what I observe would not 
 make a patch for your boot. If you do not hold to the 
 country, he is virtuous who holds not to you. This is cer- 
 tain, that final ruin is coming on the Commonwealth if its 
 foremost dignitaries join the enemy. This has never been 
 in the world hitherto, and surely a nlan may lose his senses 
 from it Are there in hell torments sufficient for suoh 
 
THE DKUKiK. 
 
 243 
 
 rW 
 
 ge or 
 weep- 
 
 1 not 
 the 
 cer- 
 lif its 
 been 
 Knaes 
 suoh 
 
 traitovH ? What wiih wanting to hu(;Ii a Rad/ivill ? In it 
 little vhat the country han given him, that he shouhl Hell it 
 like a JudaH, and in the very time of itH greateut miHfor- 
 hinen, in the time of three wars? Juwt is thy anger, O 
 Lord! only give swiftest ininishment. So be it I Amen I 
 If I could only get out of luu'e (luiekly, I would create 
 partisauii for thee, mighty hetnum i Thou wilt know how 
 the fruitH of treason tant*;. Thou wilt look on me yet as 
 a friend; but if thou fiuih^st no bettor, do not hunt a bear 
 unless thy skin is not <U!ar to tlu^e." 
 
 Thus did Zagloba converse with himself. Meanwhile one 
 hour passed, and a second ; at last day began to dawn. The 
 gray light falling through the grating dissipated slowly the 
 darlcness in the cellar, and bi-oughu out the gloomy figures 
 sitting at the walls. Volodyov-jki and the Hkshetuskis 
 were slumbering from weariness ; but when things were 
 moH! visible, and when from the courtyard came the sounds 
 of soldiers' footsteps, the clatter of arms, the tramp of hoofs, 
 and the sound of trumptits at the g<ite, the knights sprang 
 to their feet. 
 
 "Ti.3 uay begins not too favorably for us," said Yan. 
 
 " God grant it to mu\ more favorably," answered Zagloba. 
 "Do you know what I have thought in the night? They 
 will surely treat us with the gift of life if we will take ser- 
 vice with Kadzivill and help him in his treason ; we 
 ought to agree to that, so as to make use of our freedom 
 and stand up for the country." 
 
 " May God preserve me from putting my name to treason," 
 answered Yan ; " for though I should leave the traitor after- 
 ward, my name would remain among those of traitors as an 
 infamy to my children. I will not do that, I prefer to 
 die." 
 
 " Neither will I ! " said Stanislav. 
 
 "But I tell you beforehand that I will. No one will 
 thint that I did it voluntarily or sincerely. May the devils 
 take tiiat dragon Kadzivill 1 We shall see yet who gets the 
 upper hand." 
 
 Further conversation was stopped by sounds in the yard. 
 Among them were the ominous accents of anger and indig- 
 nation. At the same time single voices of command, the 
 echo of footsteps of whole crowds, and heavy thunder as of 
 cannon in motion. 
 
 "What is going on?" asked Zagloba. "Maybe there 
 is some help for us." 
 
244 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " There is surely an uncommon uproar," said Volodyovski. 
 "But raise me to the window, for I shall see right away 
 what it is." 
 
 Yan took Volodyovski and raised him as ho would a boy. 
 Pan Michael caught the grating, and looked carefully through 
 the yard. 
 
 "There is something going on, — there is!" said he, with 
 sudden alertness. " 1 see the Hungarian castle regiment of 
 infantry which Oskyerko led — they loved hin* greatly, and 
 he too is arrested ; they are deman(ling him surely. As God 
 lives 1 they are in order of battle. Lieutenant Stahovich is 
 with them ; he is a friend of Oskyerko." 
 
 At that moment the cries grew still louder. 
 
 " Ganhoff has ridden up. He is saying something to Sta- 
 hovich, and what a shout ! I see that Stahovich with two 
 officers is walking away from the troops. They are going of 
 course as a deputation to the hetman. As God is dear to me, 
 mutiny is spreading in the army I The cannon are pointed 
 against the Hungarians, and the Scottish regiment is also in 
 order of battle. Men from the Polish sniiadvons are gather- 
 ing to the Hungarians. Without them tliejy would not be so 
 daring, fo in the infantry there is stern discipline." 
 
 " In God's name ! " cried Zagloba. " In that is s.alvation 
 for us. l*an Michael, are there many Polish squadrons? 
 If they rise, it will be a rising!" 
 
 " Stankyevich's hussars and Mirski's mailed squadrons 
 are tv.'o days' march from Kyedani," answered Volodyovski. 
 " If they had been here, the hetman would not have dared 
 to arrest their commanders. Wait ! There are Kharlamp's 
 dragoons, one regiment, Myeleshko's another ; they are for 
 the prince. Nyevyarovski declajTed also for tlo prince, but 
 his regiment is far away, — two Scottish regiments." 
 
 " Then there are four with the prince ? " 
 
 " And the artillery under Korf, two regiments." 
 
 " Oh, that 's a strong force ! " 
 
 " And Kmita's squadron, well equipped, — six hundred 
 men." 
 
 " And on whose side is Kmita ? " 
 
 " I do not know." 
 
 " Did you not see him ? Did he throw down his baton ? " 
 
 " We know not." 
 
 " Who a? ^ against the prince, — what squadrons ? " 
 
 "First, these Hungarians evidently, two hundred men; 
 then a number of detached men from the commands of Mir- 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 246 
 
 ski and Stankyevicli ; some nobles and Kmita, — but he is 
 uncertain." 
 
 " God grant him ! — By (Jod's, mercy ! — Too few, too few." 
 
 "These Hungarians are as good as two regiments, old 
 soldiers and tried. But wait! They are lighting the 
 matches at tlie cannon ; it looks like a battle ! " 
 
 Yan and Stanislav were silent ; Zagloba was writhing as 
 in a fever, — 
 
 " Slay thf; traitors ! Slay the dog-brothers ! Ai, Kmita I 
 Kmita ! All depends on him. Ts he daring ? " 
 
 •' As the devil, — ready for anything." 
 
 " It nuist be tiiat he will take our side." 
 
 " Mutiny in tiie aru'y 1 See to what the hetman has 
 brought things ! " cried Volodyovski. 
 
 "Who is the niutiueer, — the army, or the hetman who 
 rose against his own king ? " asked Zagloba. 
 
 " God will judge that. Wait ! Again there is a move- 
 ment 1 Some of Kharlamp's dragoons take the part of the 
 Ifungarians. The very best nobles serve in that regiment. 
 Hear how they shout ! " 
 
 " The colonels I the colonels I " cried threatening voices 
 in the yard. 
 
 " Pjin Michael I by the wounds of God, cry to them to 
 send for your squadron and for the armored regiment and 
 the hussars." 
 
 " lie silent ! " 
 
 Zagloba began to shout himself: "But send for the rest 
 of the Polish S(iuadrons, and cut down the traitors 1 " 
 
 " Be silent there ! " 
 
 Suddenly, not in the yard, but in the rear of the castle, 
 rang forth a sharp salvo of muskets. 
 
 " Jesus Mary ! " cried Volodyovski. 
 
 '' Fan Michael, what is that ? " 
 
 "Beyond doubt they have shot Stahovich and the two 
 officers who went as a deputation," said Volodyovski, 
 feverishly. " It cannot be otherwise ! " 
 
 " By the passion of our Lord ! Then there is no mercy. 
 It is impossible to hope." 
 
 The thunder of shots drowned further discourse. Pan 
 Michael grasped the grating convulsively and pressed his 
 forehead to it, but for a while he could see nothing except 
 the legs of the Scottish infantry stationed at the window. 
 Salvos of musketry grew more and more frequent ; at last 
 the cannon were heard. The dry knocking of bullets 
 
246 
 
 THE DKLIKIE. 
 
 :M 
 
 against tlio wall ovor tlio cj^llar vvaH heard distinctly, like 
 hail. Thy casthi tronibhMl to its foundation. 
 
 "Jump down, Miehaol, or you will bo killed !" criod 
 Yan. 
 
 "By no moans. Tho balls go higlu^r; and from tho 
 cannon thoy aro firing in tho othor direction. 1 will not 
 jump down for anything." 
 
 And Voh>dy()v.ski, .seizing the grating nioro firmly, drew 
 himaolf ontiroly to tho window-sill, wluu'o ho did not noed 
 tho shouldor of l*an Van to hold him. In tho cellar it 
 hooann^ rojilly dark, for tln^ vvind«)\v was small and Tan 
 Michiiol though slondor iillod it oomplotidy ; but as a roi;- 
 omponso tho nion holow had frosh news from tlio field of 
 hatthi ovory ininnl.o. 
 
 " I 800 now 1 " (uiod Pan Michaol. "Tho Hungarians aro 
 rosting against tho wall and aro Hring. I was afraid that 
 tliov would bo forotul to a oorntu', thon tho <;annon would 
 
 destroy tlnnn in a inomont. 
 
 (iood 
 
 soldiers, as (Jod is 
 
 dear to mo ! Witl'.out olli<*.ers; tlu^y know w.hat is luiodod. 
 There is smoke again ! I see nothing — " 
 
 The firing began to slacken. 
 
 "O merciful G(»d, diday not thy imnishmont ! " cried 
 Zagloba. 
 
 "And what, Mieliaol?" asked Van. 
 
 "Tho Scots an^ advancing to tho .ittack !" 
 
 "Oh, brim."tone thunderbolts, that we must sit here!" 
 cried Stanislav, 
 
 "Thoy an^ there already, tho halbord-men ! Tho Hun- 
 garians luet't them with tho sabrt^ ! Oh, my CJod ! that you 
 cannot look on. What st)hliers ! " 
 
 " Fighting with their own and not with an enemy." 
 
 "The Hungarians have the upper hand. Tho Scots aro 
 falling back on tho left. As I love God! Myoloshko's 
 tlragoons aro going over i them! The Scots aro between 
 two liros. Korf c^annot use his cannon, for ho would strike 
 the Soots. I see (Janhoff uniforms among tho Hungarians. 
 They are going to attack tho gate. They wish to escape. 
 They aro advancing like a storm, — breaking everything!" 
 
 " How is that ? I wish thoy would capture this castle ! " 
 cried Zagloba. 
 
 " Never mind ! Thoy will como back to-morrow with the 
 scpiadrons of Mirski and Stankyevich — Oh, Kharlamp is 
 killed ! No ! He rises ; he is wounded — they are already 
 at tho gat(>. What is that ? Just as if the Scottish guard 
 
 sliri 
 
THE DKLUGE. 
 
 247 
 
 at the gate wer^ ooniing ovor t(> the Hunfj;arianH, for they 
 are opening the ^ate, — duHt is riHing on tlie outHich; j I see 
 Kmita 1 Kmita is rushing through the gate with cavalry ! " 
 
 " On whose side is ho, on wlioso sido ? " cried Zagloba. 
 
 For a moment Van Michael gave no answer; but very 
 soon the clatter of wea[)or,s, shrieks, and shouts were 
 heard with redoubled force. 
 
 "It is all over with tliomi" cried Pan Michtwjl, with a 
 shrill voice. 
 
 " All over with whom, with whom ? " 
 
 "With the Hungarians. The cavalry has l)roken them, 
 is trampling them, cutting them to ])ioces ! Their flag is in 
 Kmita'shand! The en(l, tlui end! " 
 
 When he had said this, Volodyovski dropped from the 
 window and fell into the arms of Van Van. 
 
 "Kill me!" cried lie, "kill me, for I had that man under 
 my nabre and \vX him go with his life; 1 gave him his com- 
 mission. Througli uii) lu? assembled tnat sfjuadron with 
 which he will fight now against the country. I saw whom 
 h(^got: dog-brothers, gallows-birds, robbers, ruffians, such 
 at; he is himself. God grant me to m(;et him once more 
 with the sabre — () God! lengthen my life to the death of 
 that traitor, for I swear tiiat he will not leave my hands 
 again." 
 
 Meanwhile cries, the trample of hoofs, and salvos of mus- 
 ketry were thundering yet with full force ; after a time, 
 howev*^r, they began to weaken, and an hour later silence 
 reigned in the (castle of Kyedani, broken only by the meas- 
 ured treiid of the Scottish patrols and words of command. 
 
 " Pan Michael, look out once more and see what has 
 hfjppened," Iw^gged Zagloba. 
 
 "What for?" asked the little knight. "Whoso is a 
 soldier will gu(>ss what has happened. Jksides, I saw them 
 beaten, — Kmita triumphs here ! " 
 
 "God give him to be torn with horses, the scoundrel, 
 the hell-(lwerer ! (iod give him to guard a harem for 
 Tartars I " 
 
 m* 
 
 iW 
 
 fin 
 
'e^ :vt .j.^^ "^ : .>: 
 
 
 ^' 
 
 TM 
 
 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 iSMimm 
 
 ■ i4 
 
 248 
 
 THE DELUGE 
 
 w I 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Pan Michael was right. Kmita had triumphed. The 
 Hungarians and a part of the dragoons of Myeleshko and 
 Kharlamp who had joined them, lay dead close together in 
 the court of Kyedani. Barely a few tens of them had 
 slipped out and scattered around the castle and the town, 
 where the cavalry pursued them. Many were caught ; others 
 never stopped of a certainty till they reached the camp of 
 Sapyeha, voevoda of Vityebsk, to whom they were the first 
 to bring the terrible tidings of the grand hetman's treason, 
 of his desertion to the Swedes, of the imprisonment of the 
 colonels and the resistance of the Polish squulrons. 
 
 Meanwhile Kmita, covered with blood and du;'£, presented 
 himself with the banner of the Hungarians before Radzivill, 
 who received him with open arms. But Pan Andrei was 
 not delighted with the victory. He was as gloomy and 
 sullen as if he had acted against his heart. 
 
 " Your highness," said he, " I do not like to hear praises, 
 and would rather a hundred tim3s fight the enemy than 
 soldiers who might be of service to the country. It seems 
 to a man as if he were spilling his own blood." 
 
 I lot those insurgents ? " answered 
 
 i.. prefer to send them to Vilna, and 
 
 But they chose to rebel against 
 
 happened will not be undone. It 
 
 was and it will be needful to give an example." 
 
 "What does your highness think of doing with the 
 prisoners ? " 
 
 "A ball in the forehead of every tenth man. Dispose 
 the rest among other regiments. You will go to-day to the 
 squadrons of Mirski and Stankyevich, announce my order to 
 them to be ready for the campaign. I make you commander 
 over those two squadrons, and over the third, that of Volo- 
 dyovski. The lieutenants are to be subordinate to you and 
 obey you in everything. 1 wished to send Kharlamp to 
 that squadron at first, but he is useless. I have changed 
 my mind ' 
 
 " What shall 1 do in case of resistance ? For with 
 Volodyovski are Lauda men who hate me terribly." 
 
 "Who is to blamt 
 the prince. " I too wt 
 I intended to do so. 
 authority. AVhat has 
 
 « 
 
 V* 
 
 m^M. 
 
»^ ./*» 
 
 j^»0m 
 
 [^j' 
 
 r..-:. 
 
 jd. The 
 hko and 
 pettier lu 
 lem had 
 lie town, 
 t; others 
 
 camp of 
 the first 
 
 treason, 
 it of the 
 
 )resented 
 iadzivill, 
 idrei was 
 omy and 
 
 • praises, 
 my than 
 It seems 
 
 inswered 
 
 ilna, and 
 
 against 
 
 one. It 
 
 v^ith the 
 
 Dispose 
 Ly to the 
 order to 
 iimander 
 of Volo- 
 you and 
 lamp to 
 changed 
 
 or with 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 249 
 
 "Announce that Mirski, Stankyevich, and Volodyovski 
 will be shot immediately." 
 
 "Then they may come in arms to Kyedani to rescue 
 these officers. All serving under Mirski are distinguished 
 nobles.'' 
 
 "Take a regiment of Scottish infantry and a German 
 regiment. First surrounu them, then announce the order." 
 
 " Such is the will of youi* highness," 
 
 Radzivill rested his hands on his knees and fell to 
 thinking. 
 
 "I would gladly shoot Mirski and Stankyevich were they 
 not respt^cted in the whole country as well as in their own 
 regiments. I fear tumult and open rebelli(^u, an example of 
 which we have just had before our eyes. I am glad, 
 thanks to you, that they have received a good lesson, and 
 each squadron will think twice before rising against us. 
 But it is imperative to act swiftly, so that resisting men 
 may not go to the voevoda of Vityebsk." 
 
 "Your highness has spoken only of Mirski and Stankye- 
 vich, you have not mentioned Volodyovski and Oskyerko." 
 
 " I must spare Oskyerko, too, for he is a man of note and 
 widely related; but Volod}'ovski comes from Russia^ and 
 has no r^^latives here. He is a valiant soldier, it is true. 
 1 counted on him, — so much the worse that I was deceived. 
 If the devil had not brought hither those wanderers his 
 friends, he might have acted differently ; but after what has 
 happened, a bullet in the forehead waits hiir, as well as 
 those two Skshetuskis and that third fellow, that bull who 
 began first to bellow, " Traitor, traitor ! ' " 
 
 Pan Andrei sprang up as if burned with iron : " Your 
 highness, the soldiers say that Volodyovski saved your 
 life at Tsibyhova." 
 
 "He did his duty; therefore I wanted to give him Dyd- 
 kyemie for life. Now he has betrayed me ; hence I give 
 command to shoot him." 
 
 Kmita's eyes flashed, and his nostrils began to quiver. 
 
 " Y'our highness, that cannot be ! " 
 
 " How cannot be ? " asked Radzivill, frowning. 
 
 "I implore your highness," said Kmita, carried away, 
 "that not a hair fall frpm Volodyovski. Forgive me^ I 
 implore. Volodyovski had the power not to deliver to me 
 commission, for it was sent to him and left at his 
 
 tie 
 
 Volodyovski was from the Ukrainp. 
 
 ^'m^:^£ -smAM 
 

 
 250 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ■pi 
 
 ■S ■:' . • 
 
 disposal. But he gave it. He plucked me out of the 
 whirlpool. Through that act oi: his I passed into the 
 jurisdiction of your highness. He did not hesitate to save 
 me, though he and I were trying to win the same woman. 
 I owe him gratitude, and I have vowed to repay him. Your 
 highness, grant for my sake that no punishment touch him 
 or his friends. A hair should not fall from the head of 
 either of them, and as God is true, it will not fall while I 
 live. I implore your highness." 
 
 Pan Andrei entreated aiid clasped his hands, but his 
 words were ringing with anger, threats, and indignation. 
 His unrestrained nature gained the upper hand, and he 
 stood above Radzivill with flashing eyes and a visage like 
 the head of an angry bird of prey. The hetman too had a 
 storm in his face. Before his iron will and despotism 
 everything hitherto in Lithuania and Russia had bent. 
 No one had ever dared to oppose him, no one to beg mercy 
 for those once! condemned; but now Kmita's entreating was 
 merely for show, in reality he presented demands ; and the 
 position was such that it was impossible to refuse him. 
 
 At the very beginning: of his career of treason, the despot 
 felt that he would have to yield more than once to the des- 
 potism of men and circumstances, and would be dependent 
 on adherents of far less importance than this one ; that 
 Kmita, whom he wished to turn into a faithful dog, would 
 be rather a captive wolf, ready when angry to bite its 
 master's hand. 
 
 All this roused the proud blood of Radzivill. He resolved 
 to resist, for his inborn terrible vengefulness urged him to 
 that. 
 
 '' \ olodyovski and the other tjiree must lose their heads," 
 said he, with a loud voice. 
 
 But to speak thus was to throw powder on fire. 
 
 " [f I had not dispersed the Hungarians, these are not 
 tLf' in?n who had lost their heads," shouted Kmita. 
 
 " Ho w is this ? Are you renouncing my service already ? " 
 askod iiiQ hetman, threateningly. 
 
 "Your highness," answered Pan Andrei, with passion, 
 " I am not renouncing ; I am begging, imploring. But the 
 harm will not happen. These men are famous in all Poland. 
 It cannot be, it cannot be ! I will not be a Judas to 
 Volodyovski. I will follow your highness into fire, but 
 refuse not this favor." 
 
 "But if I refuse?" 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 251 
 
 
 "Then give command to shoot me ; I will not live 1 May 
 thunderbolts split me I May devils take me living to hell !" 
 
 "Remember, unfortunate, before whom you are speaking." 
 
 " Bring me not to desperation, your highness." 
 
 "To a prayer I may give ear, but a threat I will not 
 consider." 
 
 " I beg, — I implore." Here Pan Andrei threw himself 
 on his knees. "Permit me, your highness, to serve you 
 not from constraint, but wjth my heart, or 1 shall go mad." 
 
 Radzivill said nothing. Kuiita was kneeling ; pallor and 
 flushes chased each other like lightning gleams over his 
 face. It was clear that Im moment more and he would burst 
 forth in terrible fashion. 
 
 " Rise ! " said Radzivill. 
 
 Pan Andrei rose. 
 
 " To defend a friend you are able. I have the test that 
 you will also be able to defend me and will never desert. 
 But God made you of nitre, not of flesh, and have a care 
 that you run not to fluid. I cannot refuse you anything. 
 Listen to me : Stankyevich, Mirski, and Oskyerko I will send 
 to the Swedes at Birji ; let the two Skshetuskis and Volo- 
 dyovski go with them. The Swedes will not tear ofP their 
 lieads there, and it is better that they sit out the war in 
 quiet." 
 
 " I thank your highness, my father," cried Andrei. 
 
 " Wait," said the prince. " I have respected your oath 
 already too much ; now respect mine. I have recorded 
 death in ray soul to that old noule, — I have forgotten his 
 name, — that bellowing devil who came here with Skshe- 
 tuski. He is the man who first called me traitor. He 
 mentioned a bribe ; he urged on the others, and perhaps 
 there would not have been such opposition without his 
 insolence." Here the prince struck the table with his 
 fist. " I should have expected death sooner, aad the end 
 of the world sooner, than that any one would dare to shout 
 at me, Radzivill, to my face, * Traitor ! ' In presence of 
 people ! There is not a death, there are not torments 
 l)efitting such a crime. Do not beg me for him ; it is 
 useless." 
 
 But Pan Andrei was not easily discouraged when once 
 lie undertook a thing. He was not angry now, not did he 
 blaze forth. But seizing again the hand of the hetman, 
 he began to cover it with kisses and to entreat with all the 
 earnestness in his soul, — 
 
I '• 
 
 252 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 "With no ropo or chain coiilil your highness bin'd my 
 heart as with this favor. Only (h) it not liall'-way nor in 
 part, but completely. That noble Haid yesterday wliat all 
 ihought. I myself thought the same till you opened my 
 eyes, -- may fire consume me, if I did not ! A man is not to 
 blame for being unwise. That nobhi was so drunk that 
 what he had on his heart lie shouted forth. II(> thought 
 that he was defending the country, and it is hard to punish 
 a man for love of country, lit* tnow that he was exposing 
 his life, and shouted what he had on his mind. He neither 
 warms nor fretr/.es me, but he is to I 'an Volodyovski as a 
 brother, or <pnto as a father. Volodyovski would mourn 
 for him beyond measure, and T do not want that. Such is 
 the nature within nu', tluit if I wish good to a man I would 
 give my sold for him. If any one has spared me, but killed 
 my friend, may the devil take him for such a favor ! Your 
 highness, my fatl\er, benefactor, do a perfecit kindness, — 
 give mo this 'noble, and I will give you all my blood, even 
 tomorrow, this day, this monu'nt ! " 
 
 Radzivill giuiwe<l his mustaches. " I det(M'mined death 
 to him yesterday in my soul." 
 
 "What the hetnian and voevoda of Vilna determined, 
 that can the (Irand I*rinet> id' Lithuania and, (Jod grant in 
 tlje fiiture, the King of Poland, as a gracious monarch, 
 efface." 
 
 Pan Andrei spoke sin(uu*ely what he felt and thought ; 
 but had htvbeen the u\ost adroit of courtiers he could not 
 have found a more powerfid argument in defence of his 
 friends. The proud facv^ of th(^ nuignate grew bright at the 
 sound of those titles which he did not possess yet, and he 
 said, — 
 
 "You have so understood me that I can refuse you 
 nothing. They will all go to Hirji. Let tluMU ex])iate 
 their faults with the Swedes; and when that has happened 
 of which you have spoken, ask for them a ntvv favor." 
 
 "As true as life, T will ask, and may God grant as (piickly 
 as possible ! " said Kmita. 
 
 " Go now, and bear the good news to them." 
 
 " The news is good for me, not for them ; and surely they 
 win not receive it with gratitude, especially since they did 
 not suspect what threatened them. I will not go, your 
 highness, for it would seem as if I were hurrying to boast 
 of my intercession." 
 
 " Do as you please about that, but lose no time in bring- 
 
 tiu'm. 
 
THK l)KI.U(iE. 
 
 263 
 
 bin"(l my 
 ay nor in 
 r what all 
 ppned my 
 1 Ih not to 
 I'liiik that 
 (> thought 
 U) punish 
 I (ixpo.sin^ 
 Iti lU'ithtT 
 rtvski as a 
 i1(l inouni 
 . Such is 
 u I wouhl 
 but kiHed 
 )r ! Your 
 ndnoss, — 
 lood, cvon 
 
 u(h1 doath 
 
 >t<M'niiu«'d, 
 
 I ^vaut in 
 
 monarch, 
 
 thought ; 
 
 iouhl not 
 ICO of his 
 glvt at the 
 
 t, and hv. 
 
 !fuso you 
 a cx])iato 
 lappcnod 
 or." 
 us (piickly 
 
 rely they 
 
 they did 
 
 go, your 
 
 f to boast 
 
 in bring- 
 
 ing the squadrons of Mirski ami Htankyevich ; immediatelv 
 alter there will bo another expedition lOr you, from which 
 surely you will not floe." 
 
 « What is that ? " 
 
 "You will go to ask on my tjehalf Pan Billevich, the 
 sword-bearer of Kossyeni, to come to mo here at Kyedani, 
 with his niece, and stay during the war. Do you under- 
 stand ? " 
 
 Kmita was confused. " He will not be ready to do that. 
 He went from Kyedani in a great rage," 
 
 " 1 think tluit the rage has hd't him already. In every 
 case take men, and if they will not (ioine of their own will 
 put them in a carriage, surround it with dragoons, and bring 
 them. He was as soft as wax when 1 spoke with him ; he 
 blushed like a maiden and bowed to the floor, but ho was 
 as frightened at the name of the Swedes as the devil is at 
 holy water, and went away. T want him hero for myself 
 and for you ; 1 hope to form out of that wax a candle that 
 I can light when I like and for whom I like. It will be 
 all the bettcu- if it happens so ; but if not, I will have a 
 hostage. Th(5 Billevichcs are very powerfid in Jmud, for 
 tiicy are related to almost all the nobles. When I have one 
 (>!' them in my hands, and that o\w the eldtjst, the othcirs 
 will think twice before they undertake anything against 
 !ue. Furthermore, behind them and your maiden are all 
 that throng of Lauda nuiii, who, if they were to go to the 
 camp of the voevoda of Vityebsk, would be received by him 
 with oium arms. That is an important affair, so important 
 that 1 tliink to begin with the Billeviches." 
 
 *' In Volodyovski's scpiadron are Lauda men only." 
 
 "The guardians of your maiden. If that is true, begin 
 by conveying her to Kyedani. Only list(!n : 1 will undertake 
 to bring the sword-luiarer to our side, but do you win the 
 maiden as you can. When 1 bring over the sword-bearer, 
 lie will help you with the girl. 11 she i>i willing, 1 will have 
 the wedding for you at once. If not, take her to the 'iltar 
 without ceremony. When the storm is over, all will be well, 
 'i'hat is the best method with women. She will weep, she 
 will despair, when they drag her to the altar ; but next day 
 she will think that the devil is not so terrible as they 
 l)aint him, and the third day she will be glad. How did 
 you part from her yesterday ? " 
 
 " As if she had given me a slap in the face." 
 
 " What did she say ? " 
 
 
 * { 
 
 '* 1 
 
254 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 1 r 
 
 i, 
 
 1. ■[ 
 
 " She called me a traitor. I waa almost struck with 
 paralysis.*' 
 
 " Is she so furious ? When you are her husband, tell 
 her that a distaff is litter for her than public affairb, and 
 hold her tight." 
 
 " Your highness does not know her. She must have a 
 thing either virti^e or vice ; according to that she judges, 
 and more than one man might envy her her mind. Before 
 you can look around she has struck the point." 
 
 " She has struck you to the heart. Try to strike herin 
 like manner." 
 
 " If God would grant that, your highness I Once I took 
 her with armed hand, but afterward I vowed to do so no 
 more. And something tells me that were I to take her by 
 force to the altar it would not be to my heart, for I have 
 promised her and myself not to use force again. If her 
 uncle is conVinced he will convince her, and then she will 
 look on me differently. Now I will go to Billeviche and 
 bring them both here, for I am afraid that she may take 
 refuge in some cloister. But I tell your highness the 
 
 fmre truth, that though it is a great happiness for me to 
 ook on that maiden, I would rather attack the whole 
 Swedish power than stand before her at present, for she 
 does not know my honest intentions and holds me a 
 traitor." 
 
 "If you wish I will send another, — Kharlamp or 
 Myeleshko." 
 
 "No, I would rather go myself; besides, Kharlamp is 
 wounded." 
 
 "That is better. I wanted -to send Kharlamp yesterday 
 to Volodyovski'3 squadron to take command, and if need be 
 force it to obedience ; but he is an awkward fellow, and it 
 turns out that he knows not how to hold his own men. I 
 have no service for him. Go first for the sword-bearer and 
 the maiden, and then to those squadrons. In an extreme 
 case do not spare blood, for we must show the Swedes that 
 we have power and are not afraid of rebellion. I will send 
 the colonels away at once under escort ; I hope that Pontus 
 de la Gardie will consider this a proof of my sincerity. 
 Myeleshko will take them. The beginning is difficult. 
 I see that half Lithuania will ris against me." 
 
 "That is nothing, your highness. WTioso has a clean 
 conscience fears no man." 
 
 " I thought that all the Radzivills at least would be on 
 
ick with 
 
 and, tell 
 airb, and 
 
 it have a 
 
 e judges, 
 
 Before 
 
 ke her' in 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 265 
 
 my side, but see what Prince Michael- writes from 
 Nyesvyej." 
 
 Here the hetman gave Kmita the letter of Kazimir 
 Michael. Pan Andrei cast his eveb over the letier. 
 
 '' If I knew not the intentions of your highness I should 
 think him right, and the most virtuous man in the world. 
 God give him everything good ! He speaks what he 
 thinks." 
 
 " Set out now ! " said the prince, with a certain impatience. 
 
 ice I took 
 do so no 
 ke her by 
 or I have 
 I. If her 
 a she will 
 viche and 
 may take 
 tiness the 
 for me to 
 he whole 
 t, for she 
 Ids me a 
 
 •lamp or 
 
 arlamp is 
 
 jresterday 
 : need be 
 jw, and it 
 
 men. I 
 earer and 
 
 extreme 
 edes that 
 will send 
 it Pontus 
 sincerity. 
 
 difficult. 
 
 a clean 
 
 
 old be on 
 
fit. 
 
 v^ ^ 
 
 <?». . ^^p^ 
 
 S^ 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-S) 
 
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 Sciences 
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 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 
 
 (716) S73-4S03 
 
 
 '<^ 
 
256 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XVm. 
 
 IS'' 
 
 w ■ 
 Mr 
 m 
 
 !? ii'^l 
 
 
 Kmita, however, did not start that day, nor the follow- 
 ing, for threatening news began to arrive at Kyedani from 
 every side. Toward evening a courier rushed in with 
 tidings that Mirski's squadron and Stankyevich's also were 
 marching to the hetman's residence, prepared to demand 
 with armed hand their colonels; that there was terrible 
 agitation among them, and that the officers had sent 
 deputations to all the squadrons posted near Kyedani, and 
 farther on to Podlyasye and Zabludovo, with news of the 
 hetman's treason, and with a summons to unite in defence of 
 the country. From this it was easy to see that multitudes 
 of nobles would fly to the insurgent squadrons and form 
 an important force, which it would be difficult to resist 
 in unfortified Kyedani, especially since not every regiment 
 which Kadzivill had at hand could be relied on with 
 certainty. 
 
 This changed all the calculations and plans of the 
 hetman ; but instead of weakening, it seemed to rouse his 
 courage still more. He determined to move at the head 
 of his faithful Scottish regiments, cavalry and artillery, 
 against the insurgents, and stamp out the fire at its birth. 
 He knew that the soldiers without colonels were simply an 
 unorganized throng, that would scatter trom terror at the 
 mere name of the hetman. He determined also not to 
 spare blood, and to terrify with examples the whole army, 
 all the nobles, nay, all Lithuania, so that it should not dare 
 even to tremble beneath his iron hand. Everything that 
 he had planned must be accomplished, and accomplished 
 with his own forces. 
 
 That very day a number of foreign officers went to 
 Prussia to make new enlistments, and Kyedani was 
 swarming with armed men. The Scottish regiments, 
 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 were obliged to 
 increase the military forces ; and it was determined to 
 hasten the transfer of the prisoners to Birji, where it would 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 257 
 
 f ollow- 
 ,ni from 
 in with 
 [so were 
 demand 
 terrible 
 a,d sent 
 ani, and 
 8 of the 
 sfence of 
 iltitudes 
 nd form 
 CO resist 
 •egiment 
 jn with 
 
 of the 
 
 ouse his 
 
 he head 
 
 irtillery, 
 
 ts birth. 
 
 mply an 
 
 r at the 
 
 ) not to 
 
 e army, 
 
 lot dare 
 
 ng that 
 
 iplished 
 
 went to 
 mi was 
 iments, 
 Ro and 
 f, were 
 iks, his 
 iged to 
 ined to 
 t would 
 
 be safer to keep them than in exposed Kyedaui. The prince 
 hoped with reason that to transport the colonels to a remote 
 fortress, in which, according to treaty, there must b^ a 
 Swedish garrison already, would destroy in the minds of the 
 rebellious soldiers all hope of rescuing them, and deprive 
 the rebellion itself of every basis. Pan Zagloba, the 
 Skshetuskis, and Volodyovski were to share the lot of the 
 others. 
 
 It was already evening when an officer with lantern 
 in hand entered the cellar in which they were, and said, — 
 
 " Prepare, gentlemen, to follow me." 
 
 " Whither ? " asked Zagloba, with a voice of alarm. 
 
 " That will be seen. Hurry, hurrv I " 
 
 " We come." 
 
 They went out. In the corridor Scottish soldiers armed 
 with muskets surrounded them. Zagloba grew more and 
 more alarmed. 
 
 " Still they would not lead us to death without a priest, 
 without confession," whispered he in the ear of Volodyovski. 
 Then he turned to the officer: "What if. your rank, I 
 pray ? " 
 
 "What is my rank to you ? " 
 
 " I have many relatives in Lithuania, and it is pleasant 
 to know with whom one has to do." 
 
 " No time for inquiries, but he is a fool who is ashamed 
 of his name. I am Roh Kovalski, if you wish to know." 
 
 " That is an honorable stock I The men are good 
 soldiers, the women are virtuous. My grandmother was a 
 Kovalski, but she made an orphan of mo before I came to" 
 the world. Are you from the Vyerush, or the Korab 
 Kovalskis?" 
 
 "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 have the same build. You have large bones and 
 shoulders, just like mine, and I 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 our heads off ? " 
 
 VOL. I. — 17 
 
 
 1 
 
2BS 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I'S-i 
 
 Meanwhile they had reached the courtyard. Night had 
 fallen completely. In places red torches were burning or 
 lanterns gleaming, throwing an uncertain light on groups of 
 soldiers, horse and foot, of various arms. The whole court 
 was crowded with troops. Clearly they were ready to march, 
 for a great movement was manifest on all sides. Here and 
 there in the darkness gleamed lances and gun-barrels; horses' 
 hoofs clattered on the pavement ; single horsemen hur- 
 ried between the squadrons, — undoubtedly officers giving 
 commands. 
 
 Kovalski stopped the convoy and the prisoners before an 
 enormous wagon drawn 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, clam- 
 bering up. "But our packs ?" 
 
 " They are under the straw," said Kovalski ; " hurry, 
 hurry I " , 
 
 " But who are sitting here ? " asked Zagloba, looking at 
 dark figures stretched on the straw. 
 
 " Mirski, Stankyevich, Oskyerko," answered voices. 
 
 " Volodyovski, Yan and Stanislav Skshetuski, and Za- 
 globa," answered our knights. 
 
 " With the forehead, with the forehead ! " 
 
 "With the forehead I We are travelling in honorable 
 company. And whither are 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 dragoons surrounded the wagon and moved on. 
 The prisoners began to converse in a low voice. 
 
 " They will give us to the S\^edes," said Mirski ; " I ex- 
 pected that." 
 
 " I would rather sit among enemies than traitors," an- 
 swered 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 Birji also ; but it is hard to 
 escape with a bullet in the forehead. I foresaw that that 
 traitor would not dare to put bullets in our heads." 
 
 " Is there a thing which Radzivill does not dare to do ? " 
 
 asked 
 andki 
 that n 
 stance 
 "Bi 
 sweret 
 for yo 
 "Ai 
 "Be 
 a cons 
 Crimej 
 too. 1 
 with t\ 
 in Litl 
 "Ah 
 devil di 
 against 
 observe 
 "I t] 
 hetman 
 could s 
 Swedes 
 "Oi! 
 They 
 had rol 
 sleeping 
 the dog 
 party. 
 
 "Wei 
 
 and perl 
 
 come to 
 
 " Gentle 
 
 about th 
 
 I have 
 
 this who 
 
 not to ac 
 
 and join 
 
 "Thai 
 
 swered ( 
 
 "Ikn. 
 
 him; fo] 
 
 stupid." 
 
 " But 
 
 "Hec 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 269 
 
 asked Mirski. " It is clear that you have come from afar 
 and know him not. On whomsoever he has sworn vengeance, 
 that man is as good as in the grave ; and I remember no in- 
 stance of his forgiving any one the slightest offence.'' 
 
 " But still he did not dare to raise hands on me ! " an- 
 swered 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 conspiracy against his life when I was a captive in the 
 Crimea. And our gracious king, Yan Kazimir, loves me 
 too. Eadzivill, the son of a such a one, did not wish to break 
 with two such potentates ; for they might reach him, even 
 in Lithuania." 
 
 " Ah ! what are you saying ? He hates the king as the 
 devil does holy water, and would be still more envenomed 
 against you ^id he know you to be a confidant of the king," 
 observed Stankyevich. 
 
 "I think this," said Oskyerko. "To avoid odium the 
 hetman would not stain himself with our blood, but I 
 could swear that this oflScer is bearing 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 the square of Kyedani. The town was 
 sleeping, there were _ lights in the windows, only 
 the dogs before the houses snapped angrily at the passing 
 party. 
 
 "Well," said Zigloba, "we have gained time anyhow, 
 and perhaps a chan.^e will serve us, and some stratagem may 
 come to my head." Here he turned to the old colonels: 
 "Gentlemen, you know me little, but ask my comrades 
 about the hot places in v hich I have been, and from which 
 I have always escaped. Tell me, what kind of officer is 
 this who commands the convoy ? Could he be persuaded 
 not to adhere to a traitor, but take the side of his country 
 and join us ? " 
 
 "That is Roh Kovalski of the Korab Kovalskis," an- 
 swered Oskyerko. 
 
 " I know him. You might as well persuade his horse as 
 him; for as God is bountiful I know not which is n^ore 
 stupid." 
 
 " But why did they make him officer ? " 
 
 " He carried the banner with Myeleshko's dragoons ; for 
 
260 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 m^ 
 
 WW 
 
 this no wit is needed. But he was made officer because his 
 fist pleased the prince ; for he breaks horseshoes, wrestles 
 with tame l;)ears, and the man has not yet 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 him to batter down a wall with his head he would 
 fall to battering it without a moment's delay. He is ordered 
 to take us to Birji, and he will take us, even if the earth had 
 to sink." 
 
 " Ton my M'ord," said Zagloba, who listened to this con- 
 versation with great attention, "he is a resolute fellov." 
 
 " Yes, but with him resolution consists in stupidity alone. 
 When he has time, 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 the barracks, and yawned when 
 they dragged him from the plank bed." 
 
 " This officer pleases me greatly," said Zagloba, " for I 
 always like to know 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 itl" 
 
 "How give it?" 
 
 " You know, gracious Kovalski, if it were not permitted 
 you would have had 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 to assist a blood relative and an older man, who, if 
 he had married your mother, might have been your father 
 as easily an wink." 
 
 " What relative are you of mine ? " 
 
 "I am, for there are two stocks of Kovalskis, ^ they 
 who use the seal of Vyerush and have a goat painted on 
 their shield, with upraised hind leg ; and they who have on 
 their shield the ship in which their ancestor Kovalski sailed 
 from England across the sea to Poland ; and these are my 
 relatives, through my grandmother, and this is why I, too, 
 have the ship on my shield." 
 
 " As God lives I you are my relative." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 2cl 
 
 " Are you a Korab (ship) ? " 
 
 "AKorab." 
 
 " My own blood, as God is dear to me ! " cried Zagloba. 
 " It is lucky that we have met, for in very truth I have come 
 here to Litnuania to see the Kovalskis ; and though I am 
 in bonds while you are on horseback and in freedom I 
 would gladly embrace you, for what is one's own is one's 
 own." 
 
 " How can I help you ? They commanded me to take 
 you to Birji ; I will take 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 pleasant warmth spread through his members. 
 It began to grow clear in his brain, and his mind became 
 bright. 
 
 " Gome down from the horse," said he to Kovalski, " and 
 sit here a short time in the wagon ; let us talk, for I should 
 like to have you say something about our family. I respect 
 service, but this too is permitted." 
 
 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 himself gladly 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 his name.'' 
 
 " Roh, also." 
 
 " That 's right, that 's right. Roh begat Roh, — that is 
 according to command. You must call your son Roh as 
 well, so that every hoopoo may have his topknot. But are 
 you married ? " 
 
 f* Of course I I am Kovalski, and here is Pani Kovalski ; 
 I don't want any other." 
 
 So saying, the young officer raised to tlxe eyes of Zagloba 
 the hilt of a heavy dragoon sabre, and repeated, " I don't 
 want any other." 
 
 "Proper!" said Zagloba. "Roh, son of Roh, you are 
 greatly pleasing to me. 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 
 
262 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Ik i 
 
 in-' >• 
 
 only pity is that you cannot have younj? Rohs by her, for I 
 see that you are a keen cavalier, and it vould be a sin were 
 such a stock to die out." 
 
 " Oh, no fear of that 1 " said Kovalski ; " there are six 
 brothers of us." 
 
 "And all Rohs?" 
 
 " Does Uncle knov/ that if not the first, then the second, 
 has to be Roh ? — for Koh is our special patron." 
 
 " Let us drink again." 
 
 " Very well." 
 
 Zagloba raised the bottle ; he did not drink all, however, 
 but gave it to tne officer and said, •" To the bottom, to the 
 bottom ! It is a pity that I cannot see you," continued he 
 " The night is so dark that you might hit a man in the face, 
 you would not know your own fingers by sight. But hear 
 me, Roh, where was that army going from Kyedani when 
 we drove 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 king did not command him to join the 
 Swedes. Would you not rather slay the Swedes 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. Speaking between us, the hetma.a has rebelled against 
 the king and the country. Don't say this to any one, but 
 it is so ; and those who ser^e liim are rebels too." 
 
 " It is not proper for me id hear this. The hetman has 
 his superior, and I have mme ; what is his own belongs to 
 the hetman, and God would punish me if I were to oppose 
 him. That is an unhesird of thing." 
 
 " You speak honestly ; but think, Roh, if you were to 
 happen into the hands of those insurgents, I should be free, 
 and it would be no fault of yours, fpr nee Hercules contra 
 plttres ! — I do not know where those squadrons are, but 
 you must know, anu you see we might turn toward them a 
 little." 
 
 « How is that ? " 
 
 " As if we went by chance to them ? It would not be 
 your fault if they rescued us. You would not have me on 
 
her, for I 
 , sin were 
 
 e are six 
 
 le second, 
 
 however, 
 )m, to the 
 binued he 
 L the face, 
 
 But hear 
 lani when 
 
 — you or 
 
 what my 
 
 ommands, 
 
 join the 
 
 than give 
 
 lence." 
 
 I know 
 id against 
 T one, but 
 
 tman has 
 telongs to 
 ;o oppose 
 
 were to 
 i be free, 
 es contra 
 are, but 
 i them a 
 
 d not be 
 e me on 
 
 !l!:i 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 263 
 
 your conscience, — and to have a relative on a man's con- 
 science, believe me, is a terrible burden." 
 
 " Oh Uncle, what are you saying I As God lives, I will 
 leave the wagon and 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, t\ough I was your uncle before Radzivill 
 was your hetman. And do you know, Roh, whtt an uncle 
 is?" 
 
 " An uncle is an uncle." 
 
 " You have calculated very adroitly ; but when a man has 
 no father, the Scriptures say that he must obey his uncle. 
 The power of an uncle is as that of a father, which it is a 
 sin to resist. For consider even this, that \» lioever marries 
 may easily beconie a father ; but in your uncle flows the 
 same blood as in your mother. I am not in truth the 
 brother of your mother, but my grandmother must have 
 been your grandmother's aunt. Know then that the author- 
 ity of several generations rests in me ; for like eveiything 
 else in the world we are mortal, therefore authority passes 
 from one of us to another, and neither the hetman nor the 
 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 not merely a noble or an officer, but 
 any kind of camp-follower, to rise up against his father, 
 his mother, his grandfather, or his blind old grandmother ? 
 Answer me thdt, Roh. Has he the right ? " 
 
 " What ? " asked Kovalski, with a sleepy voice. 
 
 " Against hie blind old grandmother ! " repeated Zagloba. 
 " Who in that case would be willing to marry and beget 
 children, or wait for grandchildren ? Answer me that, 
 Roh." 
 
 " I am Kovalski, and this is Pani Kovalski," said the 
 still sleepier officer. 
 
 "If it is your wish, let ic be so," answered Zagloba. 
 " Better indeed that you have no children, there will be 
 fewer fools to storm ai ?und in the world. Is it not true, 
 Roh ? " 
 
 Zagloba held down his ear, but heard nothing, — no an- 
 swer now. 
 
 " Roh I Roh ! '^ called he, in a low voice. 
 
 Kovalski was sleeping like a dead man. 
 
 '* Are you sleeping ? " muttered Zagloba, " Wait a bit — 
 
 !IH| 
 
 ■4 
 
 
364 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I 
 
 I will take this iron pot off ^uur head, for it is of no use 
 to you. ThiB uloak is too tight iit the throat; it might 
 cause apoplexy. What sort of relative were I, did I not 
 save you ?" 
 
 Here Zagloba's hands began to move lightlv about the 
 head and n'luk of Kovalski. In the wagon all were in a 
 deep sleep ; the soldiers too nodded in the saddles ; some 
 in front were singing in a low voice, while looking out the 
 road carefully, — for the night, though not rainy, was ex- 
 ceedingly dark. 
 
 After a time, however, the soldier leading Kovalski's 
 horse behind the wagon saw in the darkness the cloak and 
 bright helmet of his ofticer. Kovalski, without stopping 
 the wagon, slipped out and nodded to give him the horse. 
 In a moment he mounted. 
 
 "Pan Commandant, where shall we stop to feed?" 
 asked the sergeant, approaching him. 
 
 Pan Roh ffave no word in reply, but moving forward 
 passed slowly those riding in front and vanished in the 
 darkness. Soon there came to the ears 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 house near by. It is time to feed the 
 horses, — time." 
 
 A half-hour passed, an hour, two hours, and Pan Koval- 
 ski seemed to oe ahead all the time, for somehow he was 
 not visible. The horses grew very tired, especially those 
 draviring i;he wagon, and began: to drag on slowly. The 
 stars were leaving the sky. 
 
 " Gallop to the commandant," said the sergeant ; " tell 
 him the horses are barely able to drag along, and the wagon 
 horses are tired." 
 
 One of the soldiers moved ahead, but after an hour re- 
 turned 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 the wagon ; but do thou, soldier, pound through the 
 night with the last breath of thy horse and thyself I " 
 
 " There is an inn eighty rods distant," said the soldier 
 who had ridden ahead. " I thought to find him there^ but 
 
 (( 
 
 «< 
 
ttm bEtuofi. 
 
 26^ 
 
 of no use 
 it might 
 did I not 
 
 kbout the 
 were in a 
 68 ; some 
 g out the 
 , was ex- 
 
 [ovalski's 
 
 cloak and 
 
 stopping 
 
 }he horse. 
 
 ) feed?" 
 
 J forward 
 3d in the 
 goons the 
 
 d they to 
 
 to see if 
 
 feed the 
 
 ,n Koval- 
 he was 
 ly those 
 
 The 
 
 it; "tell 
 le wagon 
 
 hour re- 
 
 andant," 
 ■vre miles 
 
 and just 
 Dugh the 
 !" 
 
 ) soldier 
 lere, but 
 
 not I listened, trying to hear the horse — Nothing to 
 be heard. The devil knows where ho is I " 
 
 " We will stop at the inn anyhow," said the sergeaht. 
 "We must let the horses rest." 
 
 In fact they halted before the inn. The soldiers dis- 
 mounted. Some went to knock at the door ; others untied 
 bundles of hay, hanging at the saddles, to feed the horses 
 even from their hands. 
 
 The prisoners woke when the movement of the wagon 
 ceased. 
 
 " But where are wo going ? " asked old Stankyovioh. 
 
 "I cannot tell in the night," answered volodyovski, 
 "especially as we are not going to Upita." 
 
 " But does not the road from Kyedani to Birji lie through 
 Upita ?" asked Pan Yan. 
 
 " It does. But in Upita is my squadron, which clearly 
 the prince fears may resist, the -afore he ordered Kovalski 
 to take another road. Just outside Kyedani we turned to 
 Dalnovo and Kroki ; from the second pl^ce we shall go 
 surely through Beysagoli and Shavli. It is a little out of 
 the way, but Upita and Ponyevyej will remain at the right. 
 On this road tnere are no squadrons, for all that were 
 there were brought to Kyedani, so as to have them at 
 hand." 
 
 "But Pan Zagloba," said Stankyevich, "instead of 
 thinking of stratagems, as he promised, is sleeping sweetly, 
 and snoring." 
 
 " Let him sleep. It is clear that he was wearied from 
 talk with that stupid commandant, relationship with whom 
 he confessed. It is evident that he wanted to capture him, 
 but with no result. Whoso would not leave Kadzivill for 
 his country, will surely not leave him for a distant relative." 
 
 " Are they really relatives ? " asked Oskyerko. 
 
 " They ? They are as much relatives as you and I," an- 
 swered Volodyovski. "When Zagloba spoke of their com- 
 mon 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," said Mirski, " for my bones are benumbed." 
 
 " He will not grant that," said Stankyevich ; " for the 
 night is dark, you could easily put spurs to the horse, and 
 be oif. Who could overtake ? " 
 
 li^l 
 
 mil 
 nil 
 
 "1 
 
 

 266 - THE d?:luge. 
 
 " I will give him my word of honor not to attempt es- 
 cape ; besides, dawn will begin direcitly." 
 
 "Soldier,, where is the commaudant ? " asked Volodyov- 
 ski of a dragoon standing 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. " Since he 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 Ijud 
 vawning was heard on the wagon ; the horses were chewing 
 hay at one side. The soldiers around the wagon, resting 
 on the saddles, were dozing ; others talked 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 dark background of the sky was becoming slightly grav ; 
 the stars, going out gradually, twinkled with an uncertain, 
 failing light. Then the roof of the 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 it 
 was possible to distinguish faces, and the yellow color of the 
 cloaks. The helmets began to reiiect the morning gleam. 
 
 Volodyovski opened his arms and stretched himself, yawn- 
 ing from ear to ear ; then he looked at the sleeping Zagloba. 
 All at once he threw back his arms and shouted, — 
 
 " May the bullets strike him ! ^ In God's name ! Gracious 
 gentlemen, look here ! " 
 
 " What has hai)i)ened ? " asked the colonels, opening 
 their eyes. 
 
 " Look here, look here 1" said Volodyovski, pointing at 
 the sleeping form. 
 
 The prisoners turned their glances in the direction in- 
 dicated, and amazement was reflected on every face. Under 
 the burka, and in the cap of Zagloba,' slept, with the sleep 
 of the just, Pan Roh Kovalski ; but Zagloba was not in the 
 wagon. 
 
 " He has escaped, as God is dear to me ! " said the aston- 
 ished Mirski, looking around on every side, as if he did not 
 yet believe his own eyes. 
 
THiii DELtGli. 
 
 267 
 
 racious 
 
 jemng 
 
 ting at 
 
 Ion in- 
 
 fUnder 
 
 sleep 
 
 I in the 
 
 aston- 
 lid not 
 
 " Oh, he is a finished rogue I May the hangman — " 
 cried Stankyevich. 
 
 " He took the helmet and yellow cloak of that fool, and 
 escaped on his horse." 
 
 " 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 I One cannot believe his eyesight," said 
 Pan Stanislav. 
 
 The soldiers now saw what had happened. An uproar 
 rose among them. One crowded ahead of the other to the 
 wagon, stared at their commandant, dressed in a camel's- 
 haii burka and lynx-skin cap, and sleeping soundly. 
 
 The sergeant began to shake him without ceremony. 
 " Commandant ! commandant I " 
 
 " 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 Wky noble who was talkitg 
 with the commandant." 
 
 The officer came to his senses. " Impossible ! " cried he, 
 with terrified voice. "How was it? What happened? 
 How did he escape ? " 
 
 " In the helmet and cloak of the commandant ; the sol- 
 diers did not know him, 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 Naza- 
 reth I King of the Jews ! " 
 
 After a while he shouted, "Give here that dog-faith, 
 that son of a such a one who gave him the horse ! " 
 
 "Pan Commandant, the soldier is not to blame. The 
 night was dark, you might 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 the wagon, 
 he could not have done it." 
 
268 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " Kill me, kill me I " cried the unfoiftunate oflBcer. 
 
 "What is to be done?" 
 
 "Kill him, catch him!" v 
 
 " That canDot be done in any way. He is on your hoMP, 
 
 — the best horse ; ours are terribly road-weary. He fled 
 at the first cock-crow ; we cannot overtake him." 
 
 "Hunt for a wind in the field ! " said Stankyevich. 
 
 Kovaiski, in a rage, turned to the prisoners. "You 
 helped him to escape! I will — " 
 
 Here he balled his gigantic fist, and began to approach 
 them. Then Mirski said threateningly, " Shout not, and 
 remember that you are are?king to superiors.'* 
 
 Kovaiski quiverea, and straightened himself involunta- 
 rily ; for realty his dignity in presence of such a Mirski was 
 nothing, and all his prisoners were a head above him in 
 rank and significance. 
 
 Stankyevich added: " If you have been commanded to 
 take us, take iis ; but raise no voice, for to-morrow you may 
 be under the command of any one of us." 
 
 Kovaiski stared and was silent. 
 
 " There is no doubt you have fooled away your head, Pan 
 Roh," said Oskyerko. "To say, as you do, that we helped 
 him is nonsense ; for, to begin with, we were sleeping, just 
 as you were, and secondly, each one would have helped 
 himself rather than another.' But you have fooled away 
 year head. There is no one to blame here but you. I 
 would be the first to order you shot, since being an ofiicer 
 you fell asleep like a badger, and allowed a prisoner to es- 
 cape in your own helmet and cloak, nay, on ^ ur own horse, 
 
 — an unheard of thing, such as has not happened since the 
 beginning of the world." ^ 
 
 "i^i. old fox has fooled the young man I " said Mirski. 
 
 " Jesus, Mary ! I have not even the sabre ! " cried 
 Kovaiski. 
 
 " Will not the sabre be of use to him ? " askec! Stankye- 
 vich, laughing. " Pan Oskyerko has said well, — you have 
 fooled away your head. You must have had pistols in the 
 holsters too ? " 
 
 " I had ! " said Kovaiski, as if out of his mind. 
 
 Suddenly he seized his head with both hands : " And the 
 letter of the prince to the commandant of Birjil What 
 shall I, unfortunate man, do now ? I am lost for the ages ! 
 God give me a bullet in the head ! " 
 
 " That will not miss you," said Mirski, seriously. " How 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 269 
 
 hM 
 
 a hoi*s<», 
 He fled 
 
 5h. 
 « You 
 
 ipproach 
 not, and 
 
 ivoluntar 
 rski was 
 e him in 
 
 Einded to 
 you may 
 
 lead, Pan 
 ^e helped 
 )ing, just 
 B helped 
 ed away 
 you. I 
 m omcer 
 ler to es- 
 th horse, 
 since the 
 
 irski. 
 ' " cried 
 
 Stankye- 
 ^ou have 
 Is in the 
 
 And the 
 What 
 )he ages I 
 
 "How 
 
 will you take us to Bivji now ? What will happen if you 
 say that you have brought us a? risoners, and we, superior 
 in rank, say that you are to be thrown into th 3 dungeon ? 
 Whom will they believe ? Do you think that the Swedish 
 commandant will detain us for the reason simply that Pan 
 Kovalski will beg him to do so ? He will rather believe us, 
 and confine you under ground.'' 
 
 " 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, where to go ? God give thunderbolts to slay 
 thee ! " 
 
 " Gro on, go on to Birji ; you wi?l see ! " said Mirski. 
 
 " Turn back to Kyedani," cried Kovalski. 
 
 " If they will not plant you at tho wall there and shoot you, 
 may bristles cover me ! " said Oskyerko. " How will you 
 appear before the hetman's face ? Tf u ! Infamy awaits you, 
 and a bullet in the head, — nothing more." 
 
 "For I deserve nothing more!" cried the unfortunate 
 man. 
 
 "Nonsense, Pan Rohl We alone can save you," said 
 Oskyerko. " You know that we were ready to go to the end 
 of the world with the hetman, and perish. We have shed 
 our blood more than once for the country, and always shed 
 it willingly ; but the hetman betrayed the country, — he gave 
 this land to the enemy ; he joined with them against our 
 gracious lord, to whom we swore allegia ice. Do you think 
 that it came easy to soldiers like us to refuse obedience to 
 a superior, to act against discipline, to resist our own het- 
 man ? But whoso to-day is with the hetman is against the 
 king. Whoso to-day is with the hetman is a traitor to the 
 king and the Commonwealth. Therefore we cast down our 
 batons at the feet of the hetman; for virtue, duty, faith, 
 and honor so commanded. And who did it? Was it I 
 alone ? No I Pan Mirski, Pan Stankyevich, the best sol- 
 diers, the worthiest men. Who remained with the hetman ? 
 Disturbers. But why do you not follow men better, wiser, 
 and older than yourself ? Do you wish to bring infamy on 
 your name, and be trumpeted forth as a traitor? Enter 
 into yourself ; ask your conscience what you should do, — 
 remain a traitor with Radzivill, the traitor, or go with us, 
 who wish to give our last breath for the country, shed the 
 
270 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ii ^f' 
 
 last drop of our blood for it. Would the ground had 
 swallowed us before we refused obedience to the hetman ; 
 but would that our souls never escaped hell, if we were 
 to betray' the king and the country for the profit of 
 Radzivill!" 
 
 This discourse seemed to make a great impression on 
 Kovalski. He stared, opened his mouth, and after a while 
 said, " What do you wish of me, gentlemen ? " 
 
 " To go with us to the voevoda of Vityebsk, who will 
 fight for the country." 
 
 " 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 with us ; do you understand ? " said 
 Oskyerko, impatiently. 
 
 " Say what you like, but nothing will co^ne of that. I 
 am a soldier ; what would I deserve if I left the hetman ? 
 It is not my mind, but his ; not my will, but his. When he 
 sins he will i.nswer for himself and for me, and it is my 
 dog-duty to obey him. I am a simple man; what I do. 
 not effect with my hand, I cannot with my head. But I 
 know this, — it is my duty 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 to Kyedani, for I was ordered to go to Birji ; but 
 I bepame a fool through that noble, who, though a relar 
 tive, did to me what a stranger would not have done. I 
 wish he were not a relative, but he is. He had not God in 
 his heart to take my horse, deprive me of the favor of the 
 prince, and bring 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 the dragoons to sit in the wagon ; then he 
 mounted that man's horse, ami rode by the side of the pris- 
 oners, repeating for a time, " A relative, and to do such a 
 thing ! " 
 
 The prisoners, hearing this, though not certain of their 
 fate and seriously troubled, could not refrain from laugh- 
 ter; at last Volodyovski said, "Comfort yourself, Pan 
 
 « 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 271 
 
 Kovalski, for that man has hung on a hook persons not 
 such as you. He surpassed Hmelnitski himself in cunning, 
 and in stratagems no one can equal him." 
 
 Kovalski said nothing, but fell away a little from the 
 wagon, fearing ridicule. He was shamefaced in presence 
 of the prisoners and of his own soldiers, and was so 
 troubled that he was pitiful to look at. 
 
 Meanwhile the colonels were talking of Zagloba, and 
 of his marvellous escape. 
 
 "In truth, *tis astonishing," said Volodyovski, "that 
 there are not in the world straits, out of which that man 
 could not save himself. When strength and bravery are 
 of no avail, he escapes through stratagem. Other men lose 
 courage when death is hanging over their heads, or they 
 commit themselves to Grod, waiting for what will happen ; 
 but he begins straightway to work with his head, and 
 always thinks out something. He is as brave in need as 
 Achilles, but he prefers to follow Ulysses." 
 
 " I would not be his guard, though he were bound with 
 chains," said Stankyevich ; " for it is nothing that he will 
 escape, but besides, he will expose a man to ridicule." 
 
 " Of course ! " said Pan Michael. " Now he will laugh 
 at Kovalski to the end of his life; and God guard a man 
 from coming under his tongue, for there is not a sharper 
 in the Commonwealth. And when he begins, as is his 
 custom, to color his speech, then people are bursting from 
 laughter." 
 
 " 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, " for he took the letters of the hetman, and who 
 knows what was written in them against us ? I do not 
 think that the Swedish commandant at Birji will give ear 
 to us, and not to Kovalski. That will not be, for we come 
 as prisoners, and he as commanding the convoy. But 
 certainly they will not know what to do w;ith us. In every 
 case they will not cut off our heads, and that is the main 
 thing." 
 
 "I spoke as I did merely to confuse Kovalski com- 
 pletely," said Mirski; "but that they will not cut off our 
 
272 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 heads, as you say, is no great consolation, God knows. 
 Everything so combines that it would be better not to live ; 
 now another war, a civil war, will break out, that Vfill be 
 final ruin. What reason have I, old man, tvO look on these 
 things ? " 
 
 "Or I, who remember other times ? " said Stankyevich. 
 
 " You should not say that, gentlemen ; for the mercy of 
 God is greater than the rage of men, and his almighty hand 
 may snatch us from the whirlpool precisely when we least 
 expect." 
 
 "Holy are tl ise words," said Pan Yan. "And to us, 
 men from under the standard of the late Prince Yeremi, it 
 is grievous to live now, for we were accustomed to victory ; 
 and still one likes to serve the country, if the Lord G^d 
 would give at last a leader who is not a traitor, but one 
 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 de- 
 spair," said Mirski; "for every one wanders as in darkness, 
 and asks himself what to do, and uncertainty stifles him, 
 like a nightmare. I know not how it is with yon, but 
 mental disquiet is rending me. And when I think that I 
 cast my baton at the feet of the hetman, that I was the 
 cause of resistance and mutiny, the remnants of my gray 
 hair stand on my head from terror. So it is ! But what 
 is to be done in presence of open treason ? Happy are 
 they who do not need to give themselves such questions, 
 and seek for answers in their souls." 
 
 " A leader, a leader ; may the merciful Lord give a 
 leader ! " said Stankyevich, raising his eyes toward heaven. 
 
 " Do not men say that the vdevoda of Vityebsk is a won- 
 derfully honest man ? " asked Pan Stanislav. 
 
 " They do," replied Mirski ; " but he has not the baton of 
 grand or full hetman, and before the king clothes him with 
 the office of hetman, he can act only on hip o -n account. 
 He will not go to the Swedes, or anywhere 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 came to me, I was distressed, and had 
 an immediate foreboding of evil." 
 
 Pan Michael fell to thinking, and said after a while : 
 "I was in Warsaw once, and went to the king's palace. 
 
L knows. 
 ; to live ; 
 , will be 
 on these 
 
 yevich. 
 mercy of 
 hty hand 
 we least 
 
 .d to us, 
 reremi, it 
 
 victory ; 
 lOrd Grod 
 
 but one 
 [ soul." 
 m would 
 
 latest de- 
 
 iarkness, 
 
 fles him, 
 
 you, but 
 
 ik that I 
 
 was the 
 
 my gray 
 
 5ut what 
 
 appy are 
 
 uestions, 
 
 give a 
 
 heaven. 
 
 is a won- 
 
 jaton of 
 lim with 
 account, 
 that is 
 
 edani." 
 kyerko. 
 and had 
 
 while : 
 palace. 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 273 
 
 Our gracious lord, since he loves soldiers and had praised 
 me for the Berestechko affair, knew me at once and com- 
 manded me to come to dinner. At this dinner I saw Pan 
 Charnyetski, as the dinner was specially for him. The king 
 grew a little merry from wine, pressed Charnyetski's head, 
 and said at last : < Even should the time come in which all 
 will desert me, you will be faithful.' With my own ears 
 I heard that said, as it were with prophetic spirit. Pan 
 Charnyetski, from emotion, was hardly able to speak. He 
 only repeated : * To the last breath ! to the last breath ! ' 
 And then the king shed tears — " 
 
 "Who knows if those were not prophetic words, for the 
 time of disaster had already come," said Mirski. 
 
 "Charnyetski is a great soldier," replied Stankyevich. 
 "There are no lips in the Commonwealth which do not 
 repeat his name." 
 
 " " They say," said Pan Yan, " that the Tartars, who are 
 aiding Revera Pototski against Hmelnitski, are so much in 
 love with Charnyetski that they will not go where he is not 
 with them." 
 
 "That is real truth," answered Oskyerko. "I heard 
 that told in Kyedani before the hetman. We were all prais- 
 ing at that time Charnyetski wonderfully, but it was not to 
 the taste of Radzivill, for he frowned and said, *He is 
 quartermaster of the king, but he might be understarosta 
 with me at Tykotsin.'" 
 
 " Envy, it is clear, was gnawing him." 
 
 " It is a well-known fact that an apostate cannot endure 
 the lustre of virtue." 
 
 Thus did the captive colonels converse; then their 
 speech was turned again to Zagloba. Volodyovski assured 
 them that aid might be looked for from 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 find my 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, which I do not expect ; for 
 in the squadron are Lauda men chiefly, and they are fond 
 of me." 
 
 " But they are old clients of Radzivill," remarked MirskL 
 
 " 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, it will turn their hearts 
 away greatly from Radzivill. Those are honest nobles; 
 
 VOL. 1. — ■ 18 
 
 I- 
 
 I 
 
274 
 
 THK DKLUOR. 
 
 i"*' 
 
 I:: 
 
 li'' . 
 
 it 
 
 It; ' 
 
 m 
 
 Ul- 
 
 If 
 
 Pan Zagloba will nogloot iiothiiiK to patpt the hetmau with 
 soot, and he vim do that hotter tlian any of us." 
 
 " True, " said Tan Htanislav ; " but nieanwhilo we shall 
 be in Birji.'* 
 
 "That oaunot b<v for wc are making a nirclo to avoid 
 Itpita, and from IJpita tho road is direot as if out with a 
 sioklo. Even wore thoy t() start a <lay later, or two days, 
 they eould still bo in Hirji before us, and block our way. 
 We are ojdy ^oing to Shavli now, and from there we shall 
 go to Hirji directly ; but yon ninst know that it is nearer 
 from Upita to Hirji timn to Hhavli." 
 
 '* As I liv(>, it is nearer, and the road is better/' said 
 Mirski, ** for it is a high-road.'' 
 
 "There it is 1 And we are not yet in Shavli." 
 
 Otdy in the evening did they see the hill called Saltuves- 
 Kalnas, at the foot of which Hhavli stands. On the road 
 they,saw that disq^uiet was reigning in all the villages and 
 towns through whioh they passed. Kvidently news of tho 
 hetman's desertion to the Swedes had run through all 
 Jmud. Here and there the jieople asked the soldiers if it 
 were true that the country was to be occupied by Swedes ; 
 here aud tln^re crowds of peasants were leaving the villages 
 with their wives, chihlren, cattle, and eifects, and going to 
 the depths of the forest, with which the whole region was 
 thickly covered. In places the aspect of the peasants was 
 almost throutoning, for evidently tne dragoons were taken 
 for Swedes. In villages inhabited by nobles they wore 
 tisked directly who they were and where they were going ; 
 and when Kovalski, instead of answering, commanded them 
 to leave the roud. it came to shouts and threats to such a 
 degree that muskets levelled for firing were barely sufficient 
 to open a passage. » 
 
 The highway leading froii^ Kovno through Shavli to 
 Mitava was covered with wjigons and carriages^ in which 
 were tho wives and children of nobles wishing to take ref- 
 uge from war in estates in Courland. In Shavli itself, 
 which was an appanage of the king, there were no private 
 squadrons of tho hetinan, or ,men (>f tho quota ; but here 
 the captive colonels saw for tho iii;^t time a Swedish de- 
 tachment, composed of twenty-five knights, who had come 
 on a reconnoissance from Birji. Crowds of Jews and citi- 
 zens were staring at the strangers. The colonels too gazed 
 at them with curiosity, especially Volodyovski, who had 
 never before seen Swedes ; hence he examined them eagerly 
 
 
 wi 
 of 
 ] 
 oer 
 
i\au with 
 
 we tthall 
 
 to avoid 
 it with a 
 wo days, 
 our way. 
 we HJiall 
 is nearer 
 
 jr," said 
 
 Saltuves- 
 
 the road 
 
 iages and 
 
 V8 of the 
 
 rough all 
 
 liers if it 
 
 Swedes ; 
 
 p villages 
 
 going to 
 
 gion was 
 
 ants was 
 
 ire taken 
 
 ley were 
 
 e going ; 
 
 ed thoni 
 
 10 such a 
 
 mffioient 
 
 havli to 
 n which 
 sake ref- 
 ii itself, 
 
 private 
 )ut here 
 jdish de- 
 lad come 
 
 md oiti- 
 >o gazed 
 
 rho had 
 
 eagerly 
 
 THE DKLUOR. 
 
 276 
 
 with the desiring eyes with which a wolf looks at a flock 
 of sheen. 
 
 Fan Kovalski entered into comniunieation with the ofll- 
 oer, declared who he was, where he was going, whom he 
 was conveying, and reqiumted him to join his men to the 
 dragoons, for griMiter saiety on the road. Hut the olHcer 
 answered that he had an order to push as far as possible 
 into the depth of the country, so as to be convinced of itH 
 condition, therefore he could not return to Birji ; but he 
 gave assurance that the road was safe everywhere, for 
 small detachments, sent out from iUrji, 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 
 very tired, Pan Roh moved on his way, turning from Shavli 
 to the east through YohavishkycOe and Posvut toward 
 Birji, so as to reach the direct highway from Upita and 
 Ponvevyej. 
 
 "If ^agloba comes to our rescue," said Volodyovski, 
 about daylig! t, " it will Im 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 it striked me that there is no hel]> for us." 
 
 " Zagloba has a head to avoid them or to fool them ; and 
 he will be able to do so." 
 
 " But he does not know the country." 
 
 "The Lauda people know it; for some of them take 
 hemp, wainscots, and pitch to Higa, 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 the little knight, " man for man splendid ! 
 Did you notice what well-fed horses they had ? " 
 
 "Those are Livlapd horses, very powerful," said Mirski. 
 "Our hussar and armored officers send to Livland for 
 horses, since our beasts are small." 
 
 " Tell me of the Swedish infantry I " put in Stankyevich. 
 " Though the cavalry makes a splendid appearance. It is In- 
 ferior. Whenever one of our squadrons, and especially 
 of the important divisions, rushed on their cavalry, the 
 Swedes did not hold out while you could say ' Our Father ' 
 twice." 
 
 ( m 
 
 i* 
 
 )<:!l| 
 
 ¥:M 
 
 i i'l- 
 
 \l 
 
»70 
 
 TIIH DKI.IMIK. 
 
 ; 
 
 
 jt 
 
 
 " YiMi Imvn f.vlr«i Miniti in old Uiiihn," HAld Uin lltUn 
 kitlglit), " l»ui I liavn tin nlinii(H< iif UmiliiK Uikiii I ()(>lt vou, 
 
 f[oiii)lr«miin,, whnn I miw (•tiiMii now in Hliiivli, wiMi Uioir 
 MMiin yoltow UN ttiix, iintjN liogAii io omwl ov«m' my llnKoi'M, 
 Ki| iltM Moul wotild to pHi'miiHti ; hut. Hit) iliou Imfn in Uio 
 wiiifon, mnl nIkU.'' 
 
 Thd (MilonolN wnro NitiMiij Imi(. ovidpntily itoi Ttui Minlinnl 
 tilonn WH.N liui'tiinu wiili i^ucii IVIi^n<lly InnliiiH; toward tlio 
 HwndnH, for MiHin thn roilowin^ oonvnrMiition of tlui drUKoonH 
 Hurronniiing ttio wH^on (inn* to ihn (mu'm of tlm priNonnrn. 
 
 " DiM yon Nnn ilioNo \h\^m\ (tog-ftiitiiN V *' niiid onn nolilinr | 
 "wti v/nrii to tlglit with mm\, hut uuw wu nuiHt u.'yan their 
 hornrtH." 
 
 " M(iy thn hrt^ht thnn(hn*t)o)tN uruMh thninP' nnittnriMJ 
 n>tH)tlinr driiKoott. 
 
 '* Wis qui<i^ thn HwimIo will tonolt thoo nittunom with tk 
 hrttom ovfir tny htiml t '' 
 
 «• Or I him,''^ 
 
 " Thnu (irt ri fool t Not Nunh iin thou wiHli to niNh nt 
 thdin { thoti NooMt what har* haponniMJ," 
 
 " Wt) arn takiitg thn grnatoNt Kni|(litN to thnni, an if into 
 t\w dou*H nnmth. 'rin^y, tim mum of «l(iw tnotluirM, will 
 MntMn tWt^ ktiiKhtH.'' 
 
 " Withoist A dow ymi twiiu)t talk witli Hunh tranh. Tim 
 (HnnmAmlAnt in Hliavll had to Rand for a ijow rigli'^i 
 away." 
 
 "May tht< ntaguti kill Unun 1" 
 
 llnro thti ftrHt Moldinr lownrod hid voioo Nonitiwhat anil 
 Haid, "Thoy nay tho lumt Holdiorit du not wiiih to ilght 
 agaiuHt thoir own king.'' 
 
 " Of oours« not I Hid yoti not non tho HtingarianN, or 
 how thn hotinait UNnd troopn a|^aitmi> thoNo rrNlNtlng. tt In 
 nnknow^i yc<t what will hapoon. Hointi of r>nr dratfoouM too 
 took |mrt with tho HinigarianM; thono nuni vniy liknly aro 
 Hhot by thin timo." 
 
 "'rilat in a roward for faithftd niirvino I" 
 
 "'ro tho diwil with muvh work t A .r«w'B Borvlno I " 
 
 " Halt 1 " orliuL mx a iiudtlon, Koval«kl riding in front, 
 
 <'Mfty ahnlh^t nalt in thy etnoutl'' nuittortMl a voiuo noar 
 th« wagon. 
 
 *' Who in there ? " askod tho soldlern of on« nno' hor. 
 
 ** Halt I " oAine a Hooond ooninuuid. 
 
 The wagmi stopped. The (mldiem held in their horsen. 
 The day was ploasant, clear. The sun had risen, auil by its 
 
rilM DKMUIK. 
 
 877 
 
 myN wiiN in bn unrtti, on itin liigfiwny nhnad, nlu«Virii of duNt 
 rlRlll^ iM if t«nrilf< (ir tvunm wtirn (Hitrittig. 
 
 HiMMi (itm (hini bn^iut fti Mliiiii^, hm if Noiiin oiitt worn Noai- 
 inriiiK Npai'ttN id tlin mitinlitm of iti| mu\ W^Hn ^\[UMrM\ nm^U 
 tnotttPiit) tiiorn nlnnrly, liltn luiniiiiK (nviMlldN Kurroutiddd with 
 mnoltn. 
 
 "MMinNn tivn HprnuN Klt^iuiiititfl *' uriail I'ati Mloiiatili 
 
 "Trootm urn notiiiug." 
 
 ••Mnrnly Homo HwrMlinli itntiuilitiiiMit. I " 
 
 "VVIili itiniM only iiifti try liHvn NomiN ; JMit. iUttvts itu* 
 (iuNi In iiioviiiK miioltly. 'V\mh \n navuiry, — -uur men 1 '* 
 
 "OiirN, oiii'M I '* rMpniU.nil Mm ilm)(oo(iN. 
 
 " t'^oiiii I" iilniiidnrMil Vm\ lioti, 
 
 IM1M dm^ootiH NiinoiiiidtMl ilin wii^ntt in ft (droln, T*aii 
 VidodyovNki liiul Hiitiin in lii;< tiym, 
 
 "T\\mvi urn my liiuniii nmn with Znglotxtl It. nnnnoi \m 
 oMini'wiM»i I " 
 
 Now oniv I'oi'iy rodn dividt*d MioHti (ippmncddn^ from f<tin 
 wiiKon, iitHi l.lin diNiiUHJM drMU'iiannd t>vt<iry inNttint. for ilm 
 (lomiiiHi dnt.tM^iiimnif. wtw moving iii; li f.rot/. Kimuly^ from 
 ouf. itin dtiNt; puitlmd n HiiroiiK hmiy of iroopN moyinf( in good 
 ordnr, t\n if \,u n.f.t,iint<. in » nionmnt Umy wnrn nMiirnr. In 
 tiiM ili'Mi riuii<, II liiMn from ilin ri^tit< niiln, niovnd. nndor 11 
 iiumdiult, Nomn pownrft'^ nuui wiUi ii baion in liiN hand. 
 H'.mrmdy iitid VolodyovMiti )Mit. nyo on him when h« 
 nri«»d, — 
 
 " I 'an ZaMilolia t An 1 tovn (iod. Pan Zagloba t ** 
 
 A Nmiin liri)(liiniuMl ilm fann of j'an Van. " If. \n hi\ and 
 no ono nlN<% ami tindor a iitimdnili ! I In liax alrnadv nrnaitid 
 It'^nnnlf hniman, I Nh(Mdd Inivn known liim Uy ihai whim 
 anywhnrn. Tliati man will din an lin wan Unu." 
 
 " May Uin Lord Ood glvn liim hnalMil" Maid ONkynrko. 
 
 Tlinn hn ptii IiIm liandn around liin monUt and ongan Ut 
 (Mill; "Oranioiin Kovalnki t your rnlaiivn iH noming to viitii 
 you I " 
 
 Hut Pan Holt did not Imar, for hn wan junt forming hin 
 dragootiH. Atid it in only juHti(!n i/O dn<darn that though hn 
 Itad a handful of mnn, and on tlin othnr Hldn a wholo Ntpuid- 
 ron waN rolling agaitiHt him. hn waM not nonfunnd, nor did 
 hn loHn nouragn. iln pltuuMl tho dragoons in two rankn in 
 f't'ont of thn wagon ; but thn othnrm Mtrnt(;h»d out and Ai>- 
 proaohnd In a half^uroln. Tartar fatdiion, from k»th sidoM of 
 thn flold. Hut nvidnntiy thny wixlind to parlny, for they 
 began to wave a flag and cry, — 
 
 •In 
 
 ii 
 
 ft 
 
278 
 
 THV OELUQE. 
 
 
 '■'i 
 
 if - X 
 
 ijii..-- 
 
 |1. -T 
 
 M-'-- 
 
 1 
 
 "Stopl stop!" 
 
 " Forward ! " cried KovalsKi. 
 
 *• Yield ! " was cried from the road. y 
 
 " Fire ! " commanded in answer Kovalski. 
 
 Dull silonce followed, — not a single dragoon fired. Pan 
 Koh was dumb for a momunt ; then he rushed as if wild on 
 his own dragoons. 
 
 " Fire, dog-faiths I " roared he, with a terrible voice ; and 
 with one blow of his fist he knocked from his horse the 
 nearest soldier. ^ 
 
 Others begar to draw back before the rage of the man, 
 but no one obeyed the command. All at once they scattered, 
 like a flock of frightened partridges, 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 hisi horse to the attacking ranks. 
 
 " For me death is there ! " cried he, with a terrible 
 voice. 
 
 And he sprang at them, like a thunderbolt. But i)efore 
 he had passed half the di.stance a shot rattled from Zagloba's 
 ranks. 
 
 Pan Boh's horse thrust his nose into the dust and fell, 
 throwing his rider. At the same moment a soldier of 
 Volodyovski's squadron pushed forward like lightning, 
 and caught by the shoulder the officer rising from the 
 ground. 
 
 "That is Yuzva Butrym," cried Volodyovski, "Yuzva 
 Footless ! " 
 
 Pan Koh in his turn seized Yuzva by the skirt, and the 
 skirt remained in his hand ; then they struggled like two 
 enraged falcons, for both had gigantic strength. Butrym's 
 stirrup broke ; he fell to the ground and turned over, but 
 he did not let Pan Roh go, and both formed as it were one 
 ball, which rolled along the road. 
 
 Others ran up. About twenty hands seized Kovalski, 
 who tore and dragged like 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 to die, 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 
 knight 
 pantin 
 "Hi 
 will g 
 and w( 
 
 {)ropert 
 lave g 
 so bloM 
 vill's 
 proper! 
 I dol" 
 Furtl 
 who ra 
 Butrym 
 the Sta 
 and po^ 
 "Vivi 
 " Grai 
 grew so 
 you for 
 fuse obe 
 but sine* 
 will not 
 Johanne 
 "Viva 
 dred voi( 
 "Atta 
 " empty 
 "Hors 
 They | 
 Then 
 these pe< 
 that thei 
 I yield tl 
 "Let J 
 Pan Micl 
 "I do 
 colonel. 
 "Then 
 "Ihav 
 stranger. 
 satisfacti( 
 and they 
 
bning, 
 the 
 
 alski, 
 men 
 again 
 ■ut he 
 alive !^ 
 nd he 
 
 n the 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 279 
 
 wagon, and had seized 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 that Radzivill. We are free gentlemen, 
 and we have men. We'll go straightway to ravage his 
 
 {)roperty. Well ! did the stratagem succeed ? I should 
 save got you out, — if not in one way, in another. I am 
 so blown that I can barely draw breatli. Now for Radzi- 
 vill's property, gracious gentlemen, now for Radzivill's 
 property ! You do not know yet as much of Radzivill as 
 I dol" 
 
 Further outbursts were interrupted by the Laudamen, 
 who ran one after another to greet their colonel. The 
 Butryms, the Smoky Gostsyeviches, the Domasheviches, 
 the Stakyans, the Gashtovts, crowded around the wagon, 
 and powerful throats bellowed continually, — 
 
 "Vivat! vivatl" 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen, " said the little knight when it 
 grew somewhat quieter, "most beloved comrades, I thank 
 you for your love. It is a terrible thing that we ist re- 
 fuse obedience to the hetman, and raise hands agair st him ; 
 but since his treason is clear, we cannot do otherwise. We 
 will not desert our country and our gracious king — Vivat 
 Johannes Casimirus Rex ! " 
 
 " Vivat Johannes Casimirus Rex ! " repeated three hun- 
 dred voices. 
 
 "Attack the property of Radzivill!" shouted Zagloba, 
 " empty his larders and cellars ! " 
 
 " Horses for us ! " cried the little knight. 
 
 They galloped for horses. 
 
 Then Zagloba said, "Pan Michael, I was hetman over 
 these people in place of you, and I acknowledge willingly 
 that they acted with manfulness ; but as you are now free, 
 I yield the command into your hands." 
 
 " 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 ! You know the men, they know you, 
 and they will fight better under you." 
 
 '•'ii 
 
 A rf 
 
 m I 
 
 fiii 
 
 I 
 
280 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I*" 
 
 
 Iff 
 
 I 
 
 ''Do 80, Michael, do so, for otherwise it would not be 
 well,'* said Pan Yan. 
 
 « I will do so." 
 
 So saying. Pan Michael took the baton from Zagloba's 
 hands, drew up the squadron for inarching, and moved with 
 his comrades to the head of it. 
 
 " And where shall we go ? " asked Zaglolm. 
 
 " To tell the truth, I don't know myself, for I have not 
 thought of that," 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 thanks to Pan Zagloba in the name 
 of all, that he did not forget us in straits and rescued us so 
 effectually ? " 
 
 " Well," said Zagloba, with pride, raising his head and 
 twisting his mustache. "Without me you would be in 
 Birji! Justice commands to acknowledge that what no 
 man can think out, Zagloba thinks out. Pan Michael, we 
 were in straitb not like these. Remember how I saved you 
 when we were fleeing before the Tartars with Helena ? " 
 
 Pan Michael might have answered that in that juncture 
 not Zr vgloba saved him, but he Zagloba ; still he was silent, 
 and his mustache began to quiver. The old noble spoke on, — 
 
 " Thanks are not necessary, since what I did for you to- 
 day you certainly would not fail to do for me to-morrow 
 in case of need. I am as glad to see you free as if I had 
 gained the greatest battle. It seems that neither 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 ? Of course to UpiJba ; and it is certain that I did 
 not spare the horse, and a good beast he was. Yesterday 
 early I was in Upita, and at midday we started 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 two or 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, I had your ring. Pan Michael, and secondly, the men 
 had just learned of your arrest and the treason of the het- 
 man. I found a deputation to them from Pan Mirski's 
 squadron and that of Pan Stankyevich, asking to join them 
 against the hetmau, the traitor. When I informed them 
 
not be 
 
 iagloba^s 
 ^ed with 
 
 lave not 
 
 uld do," 
 nay I be 
 he name 
 led us so 
 
 lead and 
 d be in 
 what no 
 hael, we 
 ived you 
 na?'^ 
 juncture 
 IS silent, 
 
 feon, — 
 you to- 
 -morrow 
 if I had 
 ny hand 
 
 asked 
 
 into the 
 hat I did 
 jsterday 
 Birji, in 
 
 or, with 
 uarters, 
 
 for first 
 
 nthe men 
 
 (the het- 
 
 [irski's 
 
 in them 
 
 Id them 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I 
 
 281 
 
 that you were being taken to Birji, it was as if a man had 
 thrust a stick into an ant-hill. Their horses were at pas- 
 ture ; boys were sent at once to bring them in, and at midday 
 we started. I took the command openly, for it belonged 
 to me." 
 
 " But, father, where did you get the bunchuk ? " asked Pan 
 Yan. "We thought 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 deputa- 
 tions from the resisting squadrons, came also Pan Shchyt 
 with a command to the Lauda men to march to Kyedani, 
 and he brought a bunchuk to give greater weight to the 
 command. I ordered his arrest on the spot; and had the 
 bunchuk borne 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 at last. " 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 you to 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 never to turn head 
 to a pike, for he can swallow them easily, but tail, for then 
 the sharp scales protect them. May the devil fix him on a 
 spit in all haste, and baste him with pitch lest he burn over- 
 much." . 
 
 " Secondly ? " asked Mirski. 
 
 " Secondly," answered Zagloba, " if at any time, by any 
 fortune, we should fall into his hands, he would give 
 us such a flaying that all the magpies in Lithuania would 
 have something to scream about. See what was in that 
 letter which Kovalski was taking to the Swedish command- 
 ant at Birji, and know the voevoda of Vilna, in case he was 
 unknown to you hitherto." 
 
 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 can read this letter?" 
 
 It appeared that Pan Stanislav alone knew a little Ger- 
 man, for he had gone frequently to Torun (Thorn), but he 
 could not read writing. 
 
292 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " I will tell you the substance of it," said Zagloba. " When 
 in Upita the soldiers 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 said was dreadfully wise, 
 and he, with a sabre at his throat, read (juickly all that was 
 in the let*;er and shelled it out to mo. Behold the hetman 
 enjoined on the commandant at Birji, and for the good 
 of the King of Sweden directed him, after the convoy 
 had been sent back, to shoot every one of us, without 
 sparing a man, but so to do it that no report might go 
 abroad." 
 
 All the colonels began to clap their hands, except Mirski, 
 who, shaking his head, said, — 
 
 " It was fo: ne who knew him marvellous, and it could 
 not find a place in my head, that he would let us out of 
 Kyedani. There must surely be reasons to 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 ; " for without mentioning services, I and Ganhoif 
 saved his life not so long ago.'' 
 
 " And I," said Stankyevich, " served under his father 
 and under him thirty-five years." 
 
 " He is a terrible man ! " added Pan Stanislav. 
 
 "It is better not to cra\'l into the hands of such a one, 
 
 » 
 
 said Zagloba. " Let the devils take him ! We will avoid 
 fighting with him, but we will pluck bare these estates of 
 his that lie on our way." 
 
 " Let us go to the voevoda of Vityebsk, so as to have some 
 defence, some leader ; 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 it is sure that I will let 
 no one surpass me in this work. What money we can tako 
 from land-bailiffs we will take. The more noisily and 
 openly we go to the voevoda of Vityebsk, the more gladh 
 will he receive us." 
 
 "He will receive us gladly as we are," said Oskyerko. 
 " But it is good advice to go to him, and better can no ono 
 think out at present." 
 
 "Will all agree to that ? " asked Stankyevich. 
 
 " As true as life I " said Pan Mirski. " So then to the 
 voevoda cf Vityebsk ! Let him be that leader for whom we 
 prayed to God." 
 
 ants 
 
"When 
 ir horses, 
 to me by 
 uUy wise, 
 L that was 
 e hetman 
 the good 
 e convoy 
 , without 
 might go 
 
 )t Mirski, 
 
 1 it could 
 us out of 
 unknown, 
 
 opinion 
 
 5> 
 
 the little 
 I GanholT 
 
 lis father 
 
 h a one," 
 vill avoid 
 estates of 
 
 lave some 
 ake what 
 cellars. 
 I will let 
 can take 
 isily and 
 re gladb 
 
 Dskyerko. 
 n no on? 
 
 n to the 
 whom we 
 
 !il 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 283 
 
 " Amen I " said the others. 
 
 They rode some time in s: 3nce, till at last Fan Michael 
 began to be uneasy in the saddle. " But could we not 
 pluck the Swedes somewhere on the road ? '' asked ^e at 
 last, turning his eyes to his comrades. 
 
 " My advice is : if a chance comes, why not ? " answered 
 Stankyevich. "Doubtless Eadizvill assured the Swedes 
 that he had all Lithuania in his hands, and that all were 
 deserting Yan Kazimir willingly ; let it be shown that this 
 is not true." 
 
 " And properly ! " said Mirski. " If sc:ie 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, avoiding battles, 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 Fan Stankyevich will join us. If they are already 
 defeated, — and they may be, — the men will come to us 
 singly. It will not pass either without a rally of nobles to 
 us. We will bring Pan Sapyeha fresh forces with, which 
 he can easily undertake something." 
 
 In fact, that reckoning was good ; and the dragoons of the 
 convoy served as the first example, though Kovalski himself 
 resisted — all his men went over without hesitation to Pan 
 Michael. There might be found more such men in Radzi- 
 vill's ranks. It might also be supposed that the first at- 
 tack on the Swedes would call forth a general uprising in 
 the country. 
 
 Pan Michael determined therefore to move that night 
 toward Ponyev^ej, assemble whom he could of the Lauda 
 nobles in the vicinity of Upita, and thence plunge into the 
 wilderness of Rogovsk, in which, as he expected, the rem- 
 nants of the defeated resisting squadrons would be in hid- 
 ing. Meanwhile he halted for rest at the river Lavecha, to 
 refresh horses and men. 
 
 They halted there till night, looking from the density of 
 the forest to the high-road, along which were passing con- 
 tinually new crowds of peasants, fleeing to the woods before 
 the expected Swedish invasion. 
 
 The soldiers sent out on the road brought in from time 
 to time single peasants as informants concefning the Swedes ; 
 but it was impossible to learn much from them. The peas- 
 ants were frightened, and each repeated separately that the 
 
 iii 
 
284 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 M «» 
 
 i;th 
 
 Swedes were here and there, but no one could give accurate 
 information. 
 
 When it had become completely dark, Pan Volodyovaki 
 commanded the men to mount their horses ; but before 
 tho^ started a rather distinct sound of 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 ! " said he. 
 
 Then he went along the line. " And does anjr one here 
 know what village or town there is in that direction ? " 
 
 " Klavany, Colonel," answered one of the Gostsyeviches ; 
 " we go that way with potash." 
 
 " Do you hear bells ? " 
 
 " We hear 1 That is something unusual." 
 
 Volodyovski nodded to the trumpeter, and in a low note 
 the trumpet pounded in the dark forest. The squadron 
 pushed forward. 
 
 The eyes of all were fixed in the direction from which the 
 ringing came each moment more powerful; indeed they 
 were not looking in vain, for soon 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 1" 
 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 attacked the church." 
 
 " Well, we shall see ! " said Pan Michael. And he was 
 panting with satisfaction. 
 
 Then Zagloba clattered up to him. " Pan Michael ? " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " I see that the odor of Swedish flesh has come to you. 
 There will surely 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 
 terribly iniportant thing that he should not escape. Re- 
 member that the hetman knows nothing of what has hap- 
 pened, and will learn from no one, if Kovalski does not 
 report to him. It is requisite to order some trusty men 
 
 
THU DBLUGE. 
 
 M 
 
 aoourate 
 
 odyovski 
 t before 
 oame to 
 
 I for the 
 
 hat is an 
 
 one here 
 )n ? " 
 reviohes ; 
 
 low note 
 squadron 
 
 vhich the 
 eed they 
 )d on the 
 
 wedes I " 
 
 risen if 
 he was 
 liel?" 
 to you. 
 
 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 you have him under your eye during 
 this time ? " 
 
 " H'm ! I am sorry to be away from the battle I It is 
 true that in the night near fire I am as good as blind. If 
 it were in the daytime you would never have persuaded 
 me ; but since the public good rec^uires it, let this be so.'' 
 
 " Very well, I will leave you with five soldiers to aesist ; 
 and if he tries to escape, fire at his head." 
 
 " I *11 squeeze him like wax in my fingers, never fear 1 — 
 But the fire is increasing every moment. Where shall I 
 stay with Kovalski ? " 
 
 " Wherever you like. I We no time now 1 " answered Pan 
 Michael, and he rode on. 
 
 The flames were spreading rapidly. The wind was blow- 
 ing from the fire and toward the squadron, and with the 
 sound of bells brought the report of firearms. 
 
 " On a trot 1 " commanded Volodyovski. 
 
 'It.. 
 
 1, it is a 
 )e. Re- 
 las hap- 
 oes not 
 ty men 
 
ii« 
 
 286 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 s* ' 
 
 iiu 
 
 
 I'),. 
 
 11 
 
 i 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 When near the village, the Lauda men slackened their 
 speed, and saw a broad street so lighted byilames that pins 
 might be picked from the ground ; for on both sides a num- 
 ber of cottages were burning, and others were catching 
 lire from these gradually, for the wind was strong and 
 carried sparks, nay, whole clusters of them, like fiery birds, 
 to the adjoining roofs. On the street the flames illuminated 
 greater and smaller crowds of people moving quickly in 
 various directions. The cries of men were mingled with 
 the sounds of the church-bells hidden among trees, with 
 the bellowing of cattle, the barking of dogs, and with infre- 
 quent discharges of firearms. 
 
 After they Had ridden nearer, Volodyovski's soldiers saw 
 troopers wearing round hats, not many men. Some were 
 skirmishing with groups of peasants, armed with scythes 
 and forks ; firing at them from pistols, and pushing them 
 beyond the cottages, into the gardens ; others were driving 
 oxen, cows, and sheep to the road with rapiers ; others, 
 whom it was barely possible to distinguish among whole 
 clouds of feathers, had covered themselves with poultry, 
 with wings fluttering in the agonies of death ; some were 
 holding horses, each man having two or three belonging 
 to officers who w^ere occupied evidently in plundering the 
 cottages. 
 
 The road to the village descended somewhat from a 
 hill in the midst of a birch-grove ; so that the Lauda men, 
 without being seen themselves, saw, as it were, a picture 
 representing the enemy's attack on the village, lighted up 
 by flames, in »;he glare of which could be clearly distin- 
 guished foreign soldiers, villagers, women dragged by 
 troopers, and men defending themselves in disordered 
 groups. All were moving violently, like puppets on 
 springs, shouting, cursing, lamenting. 
 
 The conflagration shook a full mane of flame over the 
 village, and roared each moment more terribly. 
 
 Volodyovski led his men to the open gate, and ordered 
 them to slacken their pace. He might strike, and with one 
 blow wipe out the invaders, who were expecting nothing; 
 
 buttl 
 in op 
 him c 
 Son 
 proacl 
 officer, 
 sidera 
 and be 
 was d< 
 with h 
 and at 
 gled w 
 And 
 Swedis 
 trumpe 
 hot ha 
 articles 
 the twi 
 of whi( 
 select w 
 in coats 
 hats wil 
 horses, i 
 looking 
 Anofl 
 wishing 
 proachin 
 one of I 
 expected 
 hat; th( 
 they wis 
 "Lets 
 that he i 
 The re 
 distance 
 there wa 
 and to w 
 "Let! 
 After 1 
 though n 
 preached 
 The fir 
 The Sv 
 rapiers, h 
 
on 
 
 the 
 
 cdered 
 bh one 
 bhing; 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 287 
 
 but the little knight had determined " to taste the Swedes " 
 in open battle, — he had so arranged that they might s^e 
 him coming. 
 
 Some horsemen, standing near the gate, saw the ap- 
 proaching squadron first. One of them sprang to an 
 officer, who stood with drawn rapier in the midst of a con- 
 siderable group of horsemen, in the middle of the road, 
 and began to speak to him, pointing to where Volodyovski 
 was descending with his men. The officer shaded his eyes 
 with his hand and gazed for a time ; then he gave a sign, 
 and at once the sharp sound of a trumpet was heard, min- 
 gled with various cries of men and beasts. 
 
 And here our knight could admire the regularity of the 
 Swedish soldiers; for barely were the first tones of the 
 trumpet heard, when some of the horsemen rushed out in 
 hot haste from the cottages, others left the plundered 
 articles, the oxen and sheep, and ran to their horses. In 
 the twinkle of an eye they stood in regular line ; at sight 
 of which the little knight's heart rose with wonder, so 
 select were the men. All were large, sturdy fellows, dressed 
 in coats, with leather straps over the shoulders, and black 
 hats with rim raised on the left side ; all had matched bay 
 horses, and stood in line with rapiers at their shoulders, 
 looking sharply, but calmly, at the road. 
 
 An ofl&cer stepped forth from the line with a trumpeter, 
 wishing apparently to inquire what sort of men were ap- 
 proaching so slowly. Evidently they were thought to be 
 one of Eadzlvill's squadrons, from which no encounter was 
 expected. The officer began to wave his rapier and his 
 liat; the trumpeter sounded continually, as a sign that 
 they wished to parley. 
 
 " Let some one fire at him," said the little knight, " so 
 ihat he may know what to expect from us." 
 
 The report sounded ; but the shot did not reach, for the 
 distance was too great. Evidently the officer thought that 
 there was some misunderstanding, for he began to shout 
 and to wave his hat. 
 
 " Let him have it a second time ! " cried Volodyovski. 
 
 After the second discharge the officer turned and moved, 
 though not too hurriedly, toward his own, who also ap- 
 proached him on a trot. 
 
 The first rank of Lauda men were now entering the gate. 
 
 The Swedish officer, riding up, shouted to his men ; the 
 rapiers, hitherto standing upright by the shoulders of the 
 

 2d8 
 
 THE PRLUGfi. 
 
 horsemen, dropped and hung at thoir bcltR ; but all at the 
 same instant (Irow piHtolM from the holstci'H, and rested 
 them on the puniniels of thoir saddlos, holding the muzzle 
 upward. v 
 
 *' Finished Boldiorsl" muttered Volodyovski, seeing the 
 rapidity of their juovonients, which were sinniltaneous and 
 almost muc.lianinal. Then he looked at his r»wn men to see 
 if the ranks were in order, straightened himself in the 
 saddle, and cried, — 
 
 "Forwarll" 
 
 The Lauda men bent down to the necks of their horseSi 
 and rushed on like a whirlwind. 
 
 The Swedes let them come ntuir, and then gave a simul- 
 taneous discharge from their pistols ; Init this did little 
 harm to the Lauda nuni hidden behind the heads of their 
 horses; only a few dropixMl the reins and fell backward, 
 the rest rushed on and struck the horsenuMi, breast to 
 breast. 
 
 The Lithiii«nian light scpiadrons used lances yet, which 
 in the army of the kingdom the hussars alone used; but 
 Volodyovskij expecting a battle at close (quarters, had or- 
 dered nis men to plant their lances at the roadside, there- 
 fore it came to sabres at once. 
 
 The first impetus was not sufficient to break the Swedes, 
 but it pushed them back, so that they began to retreat, 
 cutting and thrusting with their rapii^rs ; but the Lauda 
 men pushed tlieni furiously along the road, liodies began 
 to fall thickly. The tiirong grow denser each moment; 
 the clatter of sabres frightened the peasants out of the 
 broad road, in which the heat from the burning houses was 
 unendurable, though the houses were separated from the 
 road and the fences by garden 8» 
 
 The Swedes, pressed with increasing vigor, retreated 
 gratiually, but still in good order. It was (lifficult more- 
 over to scatter them, since strong fences closed the roiul 
 on both sides. At times they tried to stop, but were 
 iniable to do so. 
 
 It was a wonderful battle, in which, by reason of the 
 relatively narrow phiee of meeting, only the first ranks 
 fought, those next m order could only push forward those 
 standing in front of them; but just for this reason the 
 struggle was turned into a furious encounter. 
 
 Volodyovski, having previously requested the old colo- 
 nels and Pan Yan to look after the men during the attack, 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 S 
 289 
 
 , at the 
 
 . rested 
 
 muzzle 
 
 ling the 
 
 ous and 
 
 n to see 
 
 in the 
 
 ' horses, 
 
 a simul- 
 id little 
 of their 
 vckward, 
 reast to 
 
 tt, which 
 Bed; but 
 , had or- 
 ,e, there- 
 Swedes, 
 retreat, 
 ^e Lauda 
 B began 
 loment ; 
 of the 
 lises was 
 from the 
 
 [etreated 
 lit more- 
 \\\& road 
 (ut were 
 
 of the 
 ht ranks 
 Vd those 
 Lson the 
 
 nd colo- 
 attack, 
 
 enjoyed himself to the full in the first rank. And every 
 moment some Swedish hut fell before him in the thrpng, 
 as if it had dived into the ground ; sometimes a rapier, 
 torn from the hand of a horseman, flew whistling above 
 the rank, and ut the same instant was heard the piercing 
 cry of a man, and again a hut fell ; a second took its place, 
 then a third the place of the second; but Volodyovski 
 pushed ever forward. His eyes glittered like two ill- 
 omened sparks, but he was not curried away and did not for- 
 get himself; at moments, when he )»ud no one at sword's 
 length in front of him, he turned hiw fuee and blade some- 
 what to the right or left, and destroyed in the twinkle of 
 an eye a horseman, with u movement upparently trifling; 
 and lie was terrible through these slight and lightning 
 movements which were almost; not human. 
 
 As a woman pulling hemp disap])ears in it and is hidden 
 completely, but by the falling stalks her road is known 
 easily, so he vanished from the eye for a time in the 
 throng of largo men ; but where soldiers were falling like 
 stalks under the sickle of the harvester who cuts near the 
 ground, there was Van Michael. Pan Stanislav and the 
 gloomy Yuzva Butrym, called Footless, followed hard in his 
 track. 
 
 At length the Swedish rear ranks began to push out 
 from between the fences to the broad grass-plot before the 
 church and the bell-tower, and after them came the front 
 ranks. Now was heard the command of the officer, who 
 wished evidently to bring all bis men into action at once ; 
 and the oblong rectangular body of horsemen stretched out, 
 deployed in the twinkle of an eye, into a long line to 
 present its whole front. 
 
 But Pan Yan, who directed the battle and led the 
 squadron, did not imitate the Swede; he rushed forward 
 with a dense column which, striking the now weaker line, 
 broke it, as if with a wedge, and turned swiftly to the 
 right toward the church, taking with this movement the 
 rear of one half of the Swedes, while on the other half 
 Mirski and Stankyevich sprang with the reserve in which 
 were a part of the Lauda men and all of Kovalski's 
 dragoons. 
 
 Two battles now began ; but they did not last long. The 
 left wing, on which Pan Yan had struck, was unable tx) 
 form, and scattered first ; the right, in which was the com- 
 manding officer, resisted longer, but being too much ex- 
 
 VOL. I. — 19 
 
 m 
 
 i si 
 
 lilt] 
 
 u\ 
 
290 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 \>P 
 
 tended, it began to break, to full into disorder, and at last 
 followed the example of the left wing. 
 
 The grassrplot was broad, but unfortunately was enclosed 
 on all sidei by a lofty fence ; and the church-servants 
 closed and proppcul the opposite gate when they saw what 
 was taking place. 
 
 The scattered Swedes then ran around, but the Lauda 
 men rushed after them. In sonie places larger groups 
 fought, a number at a time, with sabres and rapiers ; m 
 other places the conflict was turned into a series of duels, 
 and man met man, the rapier crossed the sabre, and at 
 ^imes the report of a pistol burst forth. Here and there 
 a Swedish horseman, escaping from one sabre, ran, as if 
 to a trap, under another. Here and there a Swede or 
 a Lithuanian rose from under a fallen horse and fell that 
 moment under the blow of a weapon awaiting him. 
 
 Through the grass-plot terrified horses rushed about 
 riderless, witl) waving mane and nostrils distended from 
 fear; some bit one another; others, blinded from fright, 
 turned their tails to the groups of fighting men and kicked 
 them. 
 
 Pan Volodyovski, hurling down Swedes as he went, 
 searched the whole place with his eyes for the officer in 
 command; at last he saw him defending himself against 
 two Butryms, and he sprang toward him. 
 
 "Aside ! " cried he to the Butryms, " aside I" 
 
 The obedient soldiers sprang aside, the little knight 
 rushed on and closed with tne Swede, the horses of the two 
 stood on their haunches. 
 
 The offlr ished evidently to unhorse his opponent with 
 a thrust ; bui Volodyovski, interposing the hilt of his sabre, 
 described a half-circle like lightning, and the rapier flew 
 away. The officer bent to his holsters, but, cut through the 
 cheek at that moment, he dropped the reins from his left 
 hand. 
 
 " Take him alive ! " shouted Volodyovski to the Butryms. 
 
 The Lauda men seized the wounded officer and held him 
 tottering in the saddle ; the little knight pushed on and rode 
 farther against the Swedes, quenching them before him like 
 candles. 
 
 But the Swedes began to yield everywhere before the 
 nobles, who were more adroit in fencing and single combat. 
 Some of the Swedes, seizing their rapier blades, extended 
 the hilts to their opponents ; others threw their weapons at 
 
 ^v 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 \ 
 291 
 
 their feet ; the word " l*ardoT» ! " was lioard more and more 
 frequently on the field. But no attention was paid to the 
 word, for Pan Michael had (ionnnandod to spare but few. 
 The Swedefi, seeing thiH, rushod anew to the struggle, and 
 died as became soldierH altera d(^Hperate defence, redeeming 
 richly with blood their own death. 
 
 An hour later the last of them were out down. The 
 [)easant8 ran in crowds from the village to the grass-plot 
 to catch the horses, kill the wounded, and plunder the dead. 
 
 Such was the end of the first encounter of Lithuanians 
 with Swedes. 
 
 Meanwhile Zagloba, stationed at a distance in the birch- 
 grove with the wagon in whi(di lay Pan lloh, was forced to 
 hear the bitter reproach that, though a relative, he had 
 treated that young man shamefully. 
 
 " Uncle, you have ruined me utterly, for not only is a 
 bullet in the head waiting for me at Kyodani, but eternal 
 infamy will fall on my name. Henceforth whoso wants to 
 say, ' Fool,* nui^y say, * Roh Kovalski ! ' " 
 
 " The truth is that not many will be found to contradict 
 him," answered Zagloba ; " and the best proof of your folly 
 is tliat you wonder at being hung on a hook by me who 
 moved the Khan of the Crimea as a puppet. Well, did 
 you think to yourself, worthless fellow, that I would let 
 you take me and other men of importance to Birji, and 
 throw us, the ornanuuits of the Commonwealth, into the 
 jaws of the Swedes ? " 
 
 " I was not taking you of my own will." 
 
 " But you were the servant of an executioner, and that 
 for a noble is infamy from which you must purify yourself, 
 or I will renounce you and all the Kovalskis. To be a 
 traitor is worse than to be a crabmonger, but to be the 
 servant of some one worse than a crabmonger is the lowest 
 thing." 
 
 " 1 was serving the hetman." 
 
 " And the hetman the devil. There you have it I You 
 are a fool, Roh : get thab into your head once and forever, 
 dispute not, but hold to my skirts, and a man will come of 
 you yet ; for know this, that advancement has met more 
 than one personage through me." 
 
 The rattle of shots interrupted further conversation, for 
 the battle was ji'".t beginning in the village. Then the dis- 
 charges stopped, but the noise continued, and shouts 
 reached that retreat in the birch-grove. 
 
i:^ 
 
 imp; 
 
 292 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ''Ah, Pan Michael is working," said Zagloba. "He is 
 not big, but he bites like a viper. They are shelling out 
 those devils from over the sea lilce peas. I would rather be 
 there than here, and through you I must listen here. Is 
 this your gratitude ? Is this the act of a respectable 
 relative ? " 
 
 " What have I to be grateful for ? " asked Koh. 
 
 " For this, that a traitor is not ploughing with you, as with 
 an ox, — though you are grandly fitted for ploughing, since 
 you are stupid and strong. Understand me ? Ai ! it is 
 getting hotter and hotter there. Do you hear ? That must 
 be the Swedes who are bawling like calves in a pasture." 
 
 Here Zagloba became serious, for he was a little dis- 
 turbed ; on a sudden he asked, looking quickly into Pan 
 Koh's eyes, — 
 
 " To whom do you wish victory ? " 
 
 " To ours, of course." 
 
 " See that ! \ And why not to the Swedes ? " 
 
 " I would rather pound them. Who are ours, are ours I 
 
 " Conscience is waking up in you. But how could you 
 take your own blood to the Swedes?" 
 
 " For I had an order." 
 
 " But now you have no order ? " 
 
 "True." 
 
 ** Your superior is now Pan Volodyovski, no one else.** 
 
 "Well, that seems to be true." 
 
 " You must do what Pan Volodyovski commands." 
 
 " I must." 
 
 " He commands you now to renounce Radzivill for the 
 future, and not to serve him, but the country." 
 
 " How is that ? " asked Pan Roh, scratching his head. 
 
 " A command ! " cried Zagloba. 
 
 " I obey ! " said Kovalski. 
 
 " That is right ! At the first chance you will thrash the 
 Swedes." 
 
 " If it is the order, it is the order I " answered Kovalski, 
 and breathed deeply, as if a great burden had fallen from 
 his breast. 
 
 Zagloba was equally ^^ell satisfied, for he had his own 
 views concerning Kovalski. They began then to listen in 
 harmony to the sounds of the battle which came to them, 
 and listened about an hour longer, until all was silent. 
 
 Zagloba was more and more alarmed. " If they have not 
 succeeded ? " asked he. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 mi 
 
 " Uncle, you an old warrior and can say such things I 
 If they were beaten they would come back to us in small 
 groups." 
 
 " True 1 I see thy wit will be of service." 
 
 " Do you hear the tramp, Uncle ? They are riding slowly. 
 They must have cut the Swedes to pieces." 
 
 " Oi, if they are only ours ! Shall I go forward, or not ? " 
 
 Saying this, 2«agloba dropped his sabre at his side, took 
 his pistol in his hand, and moved forward. Soon he saw 
 before him a dark mass moving slowly along the road ; at 
 the same time noise of conversation reached him. 
 
 In front rode a number of men talking with one another 
 loudly ; soon the well-known voice of Pan Michael struck 
 the ear of Zagloba. " They are good men ! I don't 
 know what kind of infantry they have, but the cavalry is 
 perfect." 
 
 Zagloba touched his horse with the spurs. "Ah! how 
 is it, how is it ? Oh, impatience was tearing me, I wanted 
 to fly into the fire ! But is no one wounded ? " 
 
 " All are sound, praise to God ; but we have lost more 
 than twenty good soldiers." 
 
 " And the Swedes ? " 
 
 " We laid them down like a pavement." 
 
 " Pan Michael, you must have enjoyed yourself as a dog 
 in a spring. But was it a decent thing to leave me, an old 
 man, on guard ? The soul came near goiwg out of me, so 
 much did I want Swedish meat. Oh, I should have gnawed- 
 them ! " 
 
 " You raay have a roast now if you like, for a number of 
 them are in the fire." 
 
 " Let the dogs eat them. And were prisoners taken ? " 
 
 "A captain, and seven soldiers." 
 
 " What do you think to do with them ? " 
 
 " I would have them hanged ■ for like robbers they fell 
 on an innocent village and were killing the people. Yaii 
 says, however, that that will not do." 
 
 " Listen to me, gentlemen, hear what has come to my 
 head just now: there is nc good in hanging them ; on the 
 contrary, let them go tr Birji as soon as possible." 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 " You know me as a soldier, know me now as a statesman. 
 We will let the Swedes go, but we will not tell them who 
 wo are. We will say that we are Radzivill's men, that we 
 hfi,ve cut off this detachment at command of the hetman, 
 
204 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 if; 
 
 
 and in future will cut off whom wo meet, for the hetman 
 only pretended, through strategy, to join the Swedes. They 
 will break their heads over thi.s, and thus wo will under- 
 mine the hetman's credit terribly. Just think, this hits 
 the Jwedes and hits Kud/ivill too. Kyedani is far from 
 Birjf, and Kadzivill is still further from Vontus de la 
 Garilio. liefore they explain to each other what has haj)- 
 pened and how, they will bo ready to fight. Wo will set 
 the traitor against the iVivudors ; and who will gain by this, 
 if not the Commonwealth ?" 
 
 " This is excellent counsel, and (piite worth the victory. 
 May the bullets strike him ! " said Stankytjvich. 
 
 " You have the mind of a chancellor," added Mirski, 
 "for this will disturb their plans." 
 
 "Surely we should act thus," said I'an Michael. "I will 
 set them free to-morrow ; but to-day T do not wish to know 
 of anything, for I am dreadfully wearied. It was as hot in 
 the village as in an oven I Uf ! my arms are paralyzed 
 completely. *rhe oftioer could not go to-day in any case, for 
 his face is cut." 
 
 " But in what language shall we tell them all this ? 
 What is your counsel, father ? " asked Pan Yan. 
 
 " 1 have been thinking of that too," answered Zagloba. 
 " Kovalski told me that there are two Prussians among his 
 dragoons who know how to jabber German, and are sharp 
 follows. Let them tell in German, — which the Swedes 
 know of course, after fighting so many years in Germany. 
 Kovalski is ours, soul and body. He is a num in a hundred, 
 and we will have no small profit from him." 
 
 " Well done ! " said Volodyovski. " Will some of you, 
 gentlemen, be so kind as to see to this, for I have no voice 
 in my throat from weariness ? i have told the men that we 
 shall stay in this grove till morning. The villagers will 
 bring us food, and now to sleep ! My lieutenant will see 
 to the watch. 'Pon my word, I cannot see you, for my eyes 
 are closing." 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Zagloba, " there is a stack of hay just 
 outside the birches ; let us go to the stack, we shall sleep 
 like susliks, and to the road on the morrow. We shall not 
 come back to this country, unless with Pan Sapyeha against 
 Hadzivill." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 295 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 In Lithuania a oivil war hod begun, which, with two 
 invasions of the Cotninouwealth and tho evor moro stub- 
 born war of the Ukraine, lillwl the measure of misfortune. 
 
 The army of the Lithuanian quota, though so small in 
 number that alone it could not offer effectual resistance to 
 any of the enemies, was divided into two camps. Some 
 regiments, and specially the foreign ones, remained with 
 Hadzivill; others, forming the majority, proclaimed the 
 hetman a traitor, protested in arms against joining Sweden, 
 but without unity, without a leader, without a plan. Sapy- 
 eha might be its leader, but he was too much occupied at 
 that time with the defence of Byhovo and with the desper- 
 ate struggle in the interior of the country, to be able to 
 take his place immediately at the head of the movement 
 against Radzivill. 
 
 Meanwhile, the invaders, each considering a whole region 
 as his own, began to send threatening messages to the 
 other. From their misunderstandings might rise in time 
 the salvation of the Commonwealth ; but before it came to 
 hostile steps between them there reigned the most terrible 
 chaos in all Lithuania. Radzivill, deceived in the army, 
 determined to bring it to obedience through force. 
 
 Volodyovski had barely reached Ponyevyej with his sc[uad- 
 ron, after the battle of Klavany, when news came to him of 
 the destruction, by Badzivill, of Mirski's squadron, and that 
 of Stankyevich. Some of the men were placed by force 
 among Radzivill's troops ; others were cut down or scattered 
 to the four winds; the remainder were wandering singly 
 or in small groups through villages and forests, seeking a 
 place to hide their heads from vengeance and pursuit. 
 
 Fugitives came daily to Pan Michael's detachment, in- 
 creasing his force and bringing news the most varied. 
 
 The most important item was news of the mutiny of 
 Lithuanian troops stationed in Podlyasye, near Byalystok 
 and Tykotsin. After the armies of Moscow had occupied 
 Vilno the squadrons from that place had to cover the 
 approach to the territories of the kingdom. But hearing 
 of the hetman'a treason, they formed a confederation, at the 
 
 : I 
 
 tl 
 
296 
 
 IHE DFLUGE. 
 
 g«i 
 
 { 
 
 head of which were two colonels, Horotkyevich and Yakub 
 Kmita, a cousin of Andrei, th3 most trusty assistant of 
 Radzivill. 
 
 The name of the latter was repeated with horror by the 
 soldiers. He mainly had caused the dispersion of Stankye- 
 vich's squadvon and that of Mirski ; he shot without mercy 
 the captured oflficers. The hetman trusted him blindly, 
 and just recently had sent him against Nyevyarovski's 
 squadron, whichj disregarding the example of its colonel, 
 refused obedience. 
 
 Volodyovski heard the last account with great attention ; 
 then he turned to the officers summoned in counsel, and 
 asked, — 
 
 " What would you say to this, — that we, instead of hurry- 
 ing to the voevoda of Vityebsk, go to those squadrons which 
 have formed a confederacy in Podlyasye ? " 
 
 " You have taken that out of my mouth ! " said Zagloba. 
 " It is nearer home there, and it is always pleasanter among 
 one's own people." 
 
 " Fugitives mention too a report," added Pan Yan, " that 
 the king has ordered some squadrons to return from the 
 Ukraine, to oppose the Swedes on the Vistula. If this 
 should prove true, we might be among old comrades instead 
 of pounding from corner to corner." 
 
 " But who is going to command those squadrons ? Does 
 any one know ? " 
 
 " They say that Charnyetski will,'' answered Volodyovski ; 
 " but people say this rather than know it, for positive in- 
 telligence could not come yet." 
 
 "However it may be," said Zagloba, "my advice is to 
 hurry to Podlyasye. We can bring to our side those squad- 
 rons that have risen against Radzivill, and take them to the 
 king, and that certainly will not be without a reward." 
 
 " Let it be so ! " said Oskyerko and Stankyevich. 
 
 " It is not easy," said the little knight, " to get to Podly- 
 asye, for we shall have to slip through the fingers of the 
 hetman. If fortune meanwhile should grant us to snap up 
 Kmita somewhere on the road, I would speak a couple of 
 words 'n his ear, fiom which his skin would grow green." 
 
 " He deserves it," said Mirski. " That some old soldiers 
 who ha\ e served their whole lives under the Radzivills hold 
 to the hetman, is less to be wondered at ; but that swaggerer 
 serves only for his own profit, and the pleasure whiqh he 
 finds in betrayal." 
 
tilE bELUGtJ. 
 
 1 
 29t 
 
 d Yakub 
 Lstant of 
 
 ►r by the 
 Stankye- 
 ut mercy 
 blindiy, 
 arovski's 
 } colonel, 
 
 ttention ; 
 Dsel, and 
 
 of hurry- 
 )ns which 
 
 Zagloba. 
 er among 
 
 m, " that 
 
 from the 
 
 If this 
 
 is instead 
 
 ? Does 
 
 (dyovski ; 
 (sitive in- 
 
 rice is to 
 }e squad- 
 ^m to the 
 Ird." 
 
 [o Podly- 
 
 ps of the 
 snap up 
 
 pouple of 
 peen." 
 soldiers 
 
 Klls hold 
 raggerer 
 rhigh he 
 
 
 " So then to Podlyasye ? " asked Oskyerko. 
 
 " To Podlyasye ! to Podlyasye ! " cried all in one voice. 
 
 But still the affair was difficult, as Volodyovski had said ; 
 fox- to go to Podlyasye it was necessary to pass near Kye- 
 dani, as near a den in which a lion was lurking. 
 
 The roads and lines of forest, the towns and villages were 
 in the hands of Radzivill ; somewhat beyond Kyedani was 
 Kmita, with cavalry, infantry, and cannon. The hetman 
 had heard already of the escape of the colonels, the mutiny 
 of Volodyovski's squadron, and the battle of Klavany ; the 
 last brought him to such rage that there was fear for his 
 life, since a terrible attack of asthma had for a time almost 
 stopped his breathing. 
 
 In truth he had cause enough for anger, and even for 
 despair, since that battle brought on his head a whole Swe- 
 dish tempest. People began at once after this battle to cut 
 up here and there small Swedish detachments. Peasants 
 did this, and individual nobles independently; but the 
 Swedes laid it to the account of Radzivill, especially as the 
 officers and men sent by Volodyovski to Birji declared 
 before the commandant that one of Radzivill's squadrons 
 had fallen upon them at his command. 
 
 In a week a letter came to the prince from the command- 
 ant at Birji, and ten days later from Pontus de la Gardie 
 himself, the commander-in-chief of the Swedish forces. 
 
 " Either your highness has no power and significance," 
 wrote the latter, — " and in such case how could you conclude 
 a treaty in the name of the whole country ! — or it is your 
 wish to bring about through artifice the ruin of the king's 
 army. If that is the case, the favor of my master will turn 
 from your highness, and punishment will come quickly, un- 
 less you show obedience and efface your faults by faithful 
 service." 
 
 Radzivill sent couriers at once with an explanation of 
 what had happened and how ; but the dart had fastened in 
 his haughty soul, and the burning wound began to rankle 
 more and more. He whose word not long before terrified 
 the country more than all Sweden ; he for the half of whose 
 property all the Swedish lords might have been bought; 
 he who stood against his own king, thinking himself the 
 equal of monarchs ; he who had acquired fame in the whole 
 world by his victories, and who walked in his own pride as 
 m sunshine — must now listen to the threats of one Swedish 
 geneial, must hear lectures on obedience and faithfulness. 
 
298 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 It is true that that general was brother-in-law to the king ; 
 >)ut the king himself, — who was he ? A usurper of the 
 ^.hfone belonging by right and inheritance to Yan Kazii^ir. 
 
 Above all, the rage of the hetmau was turned against 
 those who were the cause of that humiliation, and he swore 
 to himself to trample Volodyovski and those colonels who 
 were with him and the whole squadron of Lauda. With 
 this object he marched against them; and as hunters to 
 clear out the wolf's nest surround a forest with snares, he 
 surrounded them and began to pursue without rest. 
 
 Meanwhile tidings came that Kmita had crushed Nyev- 
 yarovski's squadron, cut down or scattered the officers, and 
 joined the men to his own. Rjvdzivill, to strike the more 
 surely, commanded Pan Andrei to send him some of these 
 troops. ^ 
 
 " Those men," wrote the hetman, " for whose lives you 
 interceded with us so persistently, and mainly Volodyovski 
 with that other straggler, escaped on the road to Birji, 
 We sent the stupidest officer with them on purpose, so 
 that they might not win him over ; but even he either be- 
 came a traitor, or they fooled him. Now Volodyovski has 
 the whole Lauda squadron, and fugitives are reinforcing 
 him. They cut to pieces one hundred an'', twenty Swedes 
 at Klavany, saying that they did it at our command, from 
 which great distrust has arisen between us and Pontus. 
 The whole cause may be ruined by those traitors, whose 
 heads, had it not been for your interference, would have 
 been cut off at our command, as God is in. heaven. So we 
 have to repent of our mildness, though we hope in God 
 that vengeance will soon overtake them. Ti:lings have 
 come to us, too, that in Billeviche nobles assemble at the 
 house of the sword-bearer and^eonspire against us. This 
 must be stopped ! You will send all the cavalry to us, and 
 the infantry to Kyedani to guard the castle and the town, 
 for from those traitors anything may be expected. You 
 will go yourself with some tens of horsemen to Billeviche, 
 and bring the sword-bearer and his niece to Kyedani. At 
 present it is important, not only for you, but for us ; for 
 whoso has them in hand has the whole Lauda region, in 
 which the nobles, following the example of Volodyovski, 
 are beginning to rise against us. We have sent Harasimo- 
 vich to Zabludovo with instructions how to begin with those 
 confederates. Of great importance among them is Yakub, 
 your cousin, to whom you will write, if you think you can 
 
tHfi DELUGE. 
 
 m 
 
 he 
 
 act on him through a letter. Signifying to you our con- 
 tinual favor, we commit you to the care of God." 
 
 When Kmita had read this letter, he was content at heart 
 that the colonels had succeeded in escaping the Swedes, 
 and in secret he wished them to escape Badzivill. Still he 
 carried out all commands of the prince, sent him the cav- 
 alry, garrisoned Kyedani with infantry, and began to make 
 trenches along the castle and the town, promising himself 
 to go immediately after this work was done to Billeviche 
 for the sword bearer and the young woman. 
 
 " I will use no force, unless in the last resort," thought 
 he, " and in no case will I urge Olenka. Fjnally, it is not 
 my will, 't is the command of the prince. She will not 
 receive me pleasantly, I know ; but God grant that in time 
 she will know my intentions, and that I serve Badzivill not 
 against the country, but for its salvation." 
 
 Thinking thus, he labored zealously at fortifying Kyedani, 
 which was to be the residence of his Olenka in the future. 
 
 Meanwhile Volodyovski was slipping away before the 
 hetman, but the hetman pursued him furiously. It was, 
 however, too narrow for Pan Michael ; for from Birji con- 
 siderable detachments of Swedish troops pushed toward 
 the south, the east of the country was occupied by the 
 legions of the Tsar, and on the road to Kyedani the het- 
 man was lying in wait. 
 
 Zagloba was greatly depressed by such a condition of 
 aifairs, and he turned with increasing frequency to Pan 
 Michael with questions : " Pan Michael, by the love of 
 God, shall we break through or shall we not break 
 through ? " 
 
 "There is not even talk of breaking through here," 
 answered the little knight. "You know that I am not 
 lined with cowardice, and that I attack whom I will, even 
 the devil himself. But I cannot meet the hetman, for I am 
 not equal to him. You have said yourself that he is a pike 
 and we perches. I shall do what is in my power to slip out ; 
 but if it comes to a battle, 1 tell you plainly that he will 
 defeat us." 
 
 " Then he will command to chop us up and throw us to 
 the dogs. As God lives I into any man's hands save 
 Radzivill's! But in this case why not turn to Pan 
 Sapyeha ? " 
 
 "It is too late now, for the hetman's troops and the 
 Swedes have closed the roads.'' 
 
 I'iii 
 
300 
 
 THE DELUGK. 
 
 I 
 
 " The (lovil tcMnptod mo when I porsuoded Pan Yan and 
 his oouHiu tO'Ko to Uadzivill 1 ** said Zagloba, in despair,^ 
 
 h\it I'an Mioluud did not Ioho hope yet, especially sinoe 
 tho nobloH, and yvon the peasants, V)rou|j;ht him warning of 
 the hetmaii's movements ; for all hearts were turning from 
 i Rad/avill. Pan Miehaol twisted out therefore as ho knew 
 
 how, — and he knew liow famously, for almost from child- 
 hood lie had inured himsidf to war with Tartars and 
 Cossaeks. lie had been made renowned in tho army of 
 Yeremi by dese«»nt8 on Tartar ehambuls, by scouting ex- 
 )editions, un(^x])eeted attacks, lightning escapes, in which 
 10 8urpass(Ml otluu* ottieers. 
 
 At ])reseut luMumed in between Upita and Kogova on one 
 side and Nvevyaja on the otluM*, he doubled around on the 
 snaei^ of a few mdes, avoiding battle continually, worrying 
 tne Itadxivill S(niadrons, and even plucking them a little 
 as a wolf hunt*>(l by dogs slips by often near the hunters, 
 and when the dogs press him too closely, turns and shows 
 his white gleaming tei^th. 
 
 Hut wh»M» Kmita's (uivalry came up, the hetman closed 
 the narrowest gaps with them, and went himself to see 
 that the two ends of the snare came together. 
 
 That was at Myevyaja. 
 
 The n^giments of IVTyeleshko and GanhofP with two 
 H(piadronh of cavalry, under the h^ad of the priniic himself, 
 formed as it were a bow, the string of which was the river. 
 Volodyovski with his scpiadron was in the centre of the 
 bow. lie had in front of him, it is true, one ford which 
 led through a swampy stream, but jiist on the other side of 
 the ford were two Scottish refjiments and two hundred of 
 lladziviU's (\issacks, with six iieldpioces, turned in such 
 manner that even one man (iould not have reached the 
 other side under the tire of them. 
 
 Now the bow began to contract. The middle of it was 
 led by the hc^tman himself. 
 
 1 lapi)ily for Volodyovski, night and a storm with pouring 
 rain stopped the advan(H^ ; but for the enclosed men there 
 romained not more than a square half-mile of meadow, 
 grown over with willows, in the middle of the half-ring of 
 iiadziviU's army, and the river guarded on the other side 
 by the Scots. 
 
 ISext morning when the early dawn was just whitening 
 the tops of the willows, the regiments moved forward to 
 the river and were struck dumb with amazement. 
 
 ti 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 dpi 
 
 Volodyovski had goue through the uurth, — there was uut 
 a living soul in the willowH. 
 
 The hetinan himself was atltuundud, and thou real 
 thuuderB fell on the headH of the oftlueru cununanding at 
 the ford. And again an attack of asthma seiiced tho prince 
 with such force that thcv«e present trembled for his life. But 
 rage overcame even the asthma. Two otHcers, intrusted 
 with guarding the bank, were to be shot ; but Ganhoff pre- 
 vailed on the prince to have inquiries made first as to how 
 the beast had escai)ed from the toils, 
 
 It appeared in fac^t that Volodyovski, taking advantage 
 of the darkness and rain, had led his whole squadron, out oi' 
 the willows into the river, and swimming or wading with 
 the current had slipped alun,^ liad/ivill's right wing, which 
 touched the bank at that point. Some horses, sunk to their 
 bellies in the mud, indicated the place wluu'e ho had come 
 out on the right bank. From farther traciks it was easy to 
 see that he had moved with all horse-breath in the direction 
 of Kyedani. The hetman fuossed at once from this that 
 he wished to make his wa> io Horotkyevich and Yakub 
 Kmita in Podlyasye. 
 
 "But in passing near Kyodani would ho not bum the 
 town or try to plunder the castle ? " 
 
 A terrible fear straitened the heart of the prince. The 
 greater part of his ready money and treasures were in 
 Kyodani. Kmita, it is true, was bound to supply it with 
 infantry ; but if he had not done so, the undefended castle 
 would easily become plunder for the insolent colonel. 
 Radzivill felt sure that courage would not be wanting 
 "Volodyovski to attack the residence of Kyedani itself. It 
 might be that time would not be wanting, for escaping in 
 the beginning of the night he had loft pursuit at least six 
 hours behind. 
 
 In every case it was imperative to hasten with all breath 
 to the rescue. The prince left the infantry, and pushed on 
 with the cavalry. Whon he arrived at Kyedani he did not 
 find Kmita, but he found everything quiet; and the opinion 
 which he had of the young colonel's ability increased 
 doubly at sight of the finished trenches and field-csannon 
 standing on them. That same day he reviewed them in 
 company with Ganhoff, to whom he remarked in the 
 evening, — 
 
 " He acted thus of his own mind, without my order, and 
 finished those trenches so well that a protracted defence 
 
 IK'i ill 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 i 
 
302 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 , It 
 ii 
 
 t!! 
 
 might be made here, even against artillery. If that man 
 does not break his neck too early, he may rise high." v 
 
 There was another man, at thought of whom the hetman 
 could not restrain a certain kind of admiration, but mingled 
 with rage, for the man was Pan Michael. " I could finish 
 the mutiny soon," said he to GanhofP, " if I had two such 
 servants. Kmita may be still more alert, but he has not 
 the experience, and the other was brought up in the school 
 of Yeremi, beyond the Dnieper." 
 
 " Does your highness give commana to pursue him ? " 
 asked GanhofP. 
 
 The prince looked at Ganhoff, and said with emphasis, 
 "He would beat you and escape from me." But after 
 a while he frow aed, and added, " Everything is quiet here 
 now : but we must move to Podlyasye at once, and finish 
 those there." 
 
 " Your highness," said GanhofP, " as soon as we move a 
 foot out of this place, all will seize arms against the 
 Swedes." 
 "Which all?" 
 
 " The nobles and peasants. And not stopping with the 
 Swedes, they will turn against the dissidents, for they put 
 all the blame of this war on our co-religionists, saying that 
 we sent to the enemy, and in fact brought the enemy in." 
 "It is a question with me of my cousin Boguslav. I 
 know not whether he is able to hold out against the 
 confederates in Podlyasye." 
 
 " It is a question of Lithuania to keep it in obedience to 
 us and the King of Sweden." 
 
 The prince began to walk jbhrough the room, saying, 
 " If I could in any way get Horotkyevich and Yakub Kmita 
 into my hands ! They will devour my property, destroy, 
 plunder it ; they will not leave a stone upon a stone." 
 
 " Unless we stipulate with General de la Gardie to 
 send hither as many troops as possible, while we are in 
 Podlyasye." 
 
 " With Pontus, — never ! " answered Radzivill, to whose 
 head a wave of blood rushed. " If with any one, with the 
 king himself. I do not need to treat with servants when I 
 can treat with their master. If. the king were to command 
 Pontus to place two thousand cavalry at my disposal, that 
 would be another thing. But I will not ask Pontus for 
 them. It is needful to send some one to the king ; it is 
 time to negotiate with him directly." 
 
 « 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 303 
 
 The lean face of Ganhoff flushed slightly, and his 
 eyes were lighted with desire. "If your highness 
 comraanded — " 
 
 " You would go ; but for you to arrive there is another 
 thing. You are a German, and it is dangerous for a for- 
 eigner to enter an uprisen country. Who knows where the 
 king is at this moment, and where he will be in half a 
 month or a month ? It is necessary to ride through the 
 whole country. Besides, it cannot be ! You will not go, 
 for it is necessary to send one of my own people, a man of 
 high family, so as to convince the king that not all the 
 nobles have left me." 
 
 " An inexperienced man might do much harm," said Gan- 
 hoft, timidly. 
 
 " An envoy will have no work there except to deliver my 
 letter, and bring back an answer ; and any man can explain 
 that it was not I who gave orders to beat the Swedes at 
 Klavany." 
 
 GanhofE was silent. 
 
 The prince began again to walk with unquiet steps 
 through the room ; on his forehead was manifest a continual 
 struggle of thought. In truth, he had not known a mo- 
 ment of peace from the time of his treaty with the Swedes. 
 Pride devoured him, his conscience gnawed him, the un- 
 expected resistance of the country and the army gnawed 
 him ; the uncertainty of the future, and the threat of ruin 
 terrified him. He struggled, he fought, he passed sleepless 
 nights, he was failing in health. His eyes were sinking, he 
 was growing thin ; his face, formerly red, became blue, and 
 almost with every hour silver threads increased in his 
 mustaches atnd his forelock. In a word, he lived in torment, 
 and bent under the burden. 
 
 Ganhoff followed him with his eyes as he walked 
 through the room ; he had still a little hope that the prince 
 would bethink himself, and send him. 
 
 But the prince halted suddenly, and struck his forehead 
 with his palm. "Two P'; madrons of cavalry, to horse at 
 oncfc ! I will lead them myself." 
 
 Ganhoff looked on him with wonderment. " An expedi- 
 tion ? " inquired he, involuntarily. 
 
 " Move onl " said the prince. " God grant that it be not 
 too late ! " 
 
 
304 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Whkn Kmita had finished thi; trcjiiohes and secured 
 Kyodani from Huddun attack, ho was unable to delay further 
 his expedition for the sword-lnsaror aad Olenka, especiall)^ 
 since the command of the prince to bring them to Kyedani 
 was imperative. But still Pan Andrei loitered, and when 
 at last lie did move at the head of fifty dragoons, he was as 
 unquiet as if going on a forlorn hope. He felt that he 
 would not be thankfully received, and he trembled at the 
 thought that the old nuin might try to resist, even with 
 armed hand, and in such an event it would be necessary to 
 use force. l|ut he determined first to persuade and entreat. 
 With the intent of stripping his visit of all semblance of 
 armed attack, he left the dragoons at an inn a quarter of a 
 mile from the village, and two from the house, and order- 
 ing the carriage to follow a little later, rode ahead himself, 
 with only the sergeant and one attendant. 
 
 It was in the afternoon, and the sun was already well in- 
 clined toward the west, but after a rainy and stormy night 
 the day was beautiful and the sky pure, only here and 
 there was it variegated on the western side by small rosy 
 clouds which pushed slowly beyond the horizon, like a 
 flock of sheep leaving a field. Kmita rode through the 
 village with throbbing heart and as uneasy as the Tartar 
 who entering a village first, in advance of a chambul, looks 
 .around on every side to see if he can discover armed men 
 in ambush. But the three horsemen attracted no attention. 
 Barefooted little peasant boys merely jumped out of the 
 road before the horses ; peasants seeing the handsome 
 officer, bowed to him, sweeping the ground with their caps. 
 He rode on, and passing the village saw ahead a large 
 dwelling, the old Billevich nest ; behind it broad gardens 
 ending far l)eyond in the flat fields. 
 
 Kmita slackened his pace still more, and began to talk 
 with himself, evidently framing answers to questions ; and 
 meanwhile he gazed with anxious eve on the buildings 
 rising before him. It was not at all a lordly mansion, 
 but at the first glance it would have been guessed that a 
 noble lived there of more than medium fortune. The 
 
THE DKLUOB. 
 
 305 
 
 secured 
 yr further 
 Hoecially 
 Kyedani 
 nd when 
 le was as 
 
 that he 
 id at the 
 iron with 
 lessary to 
 i entreat. 
 )lance of 
 <rter of a 
 nd order- 
 L himself, 
 
 r well in- 
 my night 
 liere and 
 nail rosy 
 
 like a 
 ugh the 
 
 Tartar 
 »ul, looks 
 med men 
 ,ttention. 
 it of the 
 andsome 
 leir caps, 
 a largo 
 gardens 
 
 to talk 
 ons ; and 
 )uildings 
 mansion, 
 d that a 
 )e. The 
 
 house itself, with its back to the .gardens and front to 
 the highway, was enormous, but of wood. The pine of the 
 walls had grown > so dark with age that the panes iii tlie 
 windows seemed white in contrast. Above the walls rose 
 a gigantic roof with four chimneys in the middle, and two 
 dovecotes at the gables. A whole ^^' "d of white doves 
 were collected on the roof, now flying uway with clapniug 
 of wings, now dro^)ping, like snowy kerchiefs, on the black 
 ridges, now flapping around the pillars sur)porting the 
 entrance. 
 
 That entrance, adorned with a shield on which the Bil- 
 levich arms were painted, disturbed the proportion! of the 
 house, for it was not in the middle, but toward one side 
 of it. Evidently the house had once been smaller, but new 
 parts were added subsequently from one side, though the 
 added parts had grown so black with the passage of years' 
 as not to differ in anything from the old. Two wings, of 
 enormous length, rose on both sides of tlu? house proper, and 
 formed as it were two arms of a horseshoe. In these 
 wings were guest-chambers used in time of great gatherings, 
 kitchens, store-houses, carriage-houses, stables for carriage 
 horses which the masters wished to keep near at hand, 
 rooms for officials, servants, and house Cossacks. 
 
 In the middle of the broad yard grew old linden-trees, 
 on them were storks' nests. Among the trees was a bear 
 chained to a pillar. Two well-sweeps at the sides of the 
 yard, a cross with the Passion of the Lord between two 
 spears at the entrance, completed this picture of the resi- 
 dence of a powerful, noble family. At the right of the 
 house, in the middle of frequent linden-trees, rose the straw 
 roofs of stables, cow-houses, sheep-houses, and granaries. 
 
 Kmita entered the g{ite, which was open on both sides ; 
 like the arms of a noble awaiting the arrival of a guest. 
 Then two dogs loitering through the yard announced the 
 stranger, and from a wing two boys ran to take the 
 horses. 
 
 At the same moment in the door of the main building 
 stood a female figure, m which Kmita recognized Olenka 
 at once. His heart beat more quickly, and throwing the 
 reins to the servant, he went toward the porch with uncov- 
 ered head, holding in one hand his sabre, and in the other 
 his cap. 
 
 She stood before him like a charming vision, shading 
 her eyes with her hand against the setting sun, and then 
 vol.. 1.-20 
 
 i 
 
Iiid< 
 
 306 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 ^ ! 
 
 vanished on a suddeb. as if frightened by the eight of the 
 approaching guest. 
 
 " Bad ! " thought Pan Andrei ; " she hides from me." 
 
 He was pained, and iris pain was all the greater since 
 just before the mild sunset, the view of that house, and the 
 calm so spread around it tilled his heart with hope, though 
 perhaps Pan Andrei did not note that. 
 
 He cherished as it were an illusion that he was going^ to 
 his betrothed, who would receive him with eyes gleaming 
 from joy and a blush on her cheeks. 
 
 And the illusion was broken. Scarcely had she seen him 
 when she rushed away, as if from an evil spirit ; and 
 straightway Pan Tomash came out to meet him with a face 
 at once unquiet and cloudy. 
 
 Kmita bowed and said, " I have long wished to express 
 duly my devotion to you, my benefactor ; but I was unable 
 to do so sooner in these times of disturbance, though surely 
 there was no lack in me of desire." 
 
 " I am very grateful, and I beg you to enter," answered 
 the sword-bearer, smoothing the forelock on his head, — 
 an act usual with him when confused or uncertain of him- 
 self. And he stepped aside from the door to let the 
 guest pass. 
 
 Kmita for a while did not wiph to enter first, and they 
 bowed to each other on the threshold ; at last Pan Andrei 
 took the? step before the sword-bearer, and in a moment thej 
 were in the room. 
 
 They found there two nobles, — one, a man in the bloom 
 of life. Pan Dovgird of Plemborg, a near neighbor of the 
 Billeviches ; the other, Pan Hudzynski, a tenant in Eyra- 
 goly. Kmita noticed that they had barely heard his name 
 when their faces changed and they seemed to act like dogs 
 at sight of a wolf ; he looked at them first defiantly, and 
 then feigned not to see them. 
 
 A disagreeable silence succeeded. 
 
 Pan Andrei grew impatient and gnawed his mustaches ; 
 the guests looked at him with a fixed frown, and the sword- 
 bearer stroked his forelock. 
 
 " Will you drink a glass of poor nobles' mead with us ? " 
 asked he at last, pointing to a decanter and a glass. I re- 
 quest you — " 
 
 " I will drink with a gentleman ! " said Kmita, rather 
 abruptly. 
 
 Dovgird and Hudzynski began to puff, taking the answer 
 
 a 
 Jm 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
[it of the 
 
 me." 
 
 ter since 
 , and the 
 i, though 
 
 going to 
 gleaming 
 
 seen him 
 Irit; and 
 th a face 
 
 ) express 
 as unable 
 gh surely 
 
 answered 
 head, — 
 
 [1 of him- 
 let the 
 
 and the^ 
 n Andrei 
 lent thej 
 
 le bloom 
 tr of the 
 |in Eyra- 
 lis name 
 [ike dogs 
 itly, and 
 
 [staches ; 
 sword- 
 
 bh us ? " 
 I re- 
 
 |,, rather 
 
 answer 
 
 \V4 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 307 
 
 as an expression of contempt for them ; but ihey would not 
 begin a quarrel at once in a friendly hcucie, and that with 
 a roisterer who had a terrible reputation throughout all 
 Jmud. Still the insult nettled them. 
 
 Meanwhile the sword-bearer clapped his hands for a 
 servant, and ordered him to bring a fourth glass ; then he 
 tilled it, raised his own to his lips, and said, " Into your 
 hands — I am glad to see you in my house." 
 
 " I should be sincerely glad were tbat true." 
 
 " A guest is a guest," st id the sword-bearer, sententiously. 
 
 After a while, conscious evidently of his duty as a host to 
 keep up the conversation, he asked, " What do you hear at 
 Kyedani ? How is the health of the hetman ? " 
 
 "Not strong," answered Kmica, "and ia these unquiet 
 times it cannot be otherwise. The prince has a .world of 
 troubles and annoyances." 
 
 "I believe that! " said Pan Hudzynski. 
 
 Kmita looked at him for a while, then turned to the host 
 and continued, — 
 
 " The prince, being promised assistance by the Swedish 
 King, expected to move against the enemy at Viina without 
 delay, and take vengeance for the ashes of that place, which 
 have not yet grown cold. And it must be known also to 
 you that now it is necessary to search for Vilna in Vilna, 
 for it was burning seventeen days. They say that nothing 
 is visible among the ruins but the black holes of cellars 
 from which smoke is still rising continually." 
 
 " Misfortune ! " said the sword-bearer. 
 
 " Of course a misfortune, which il it could not have been 
 prevented should be avenged and similar ruins made of the 
 enemy's capital. In fact, it was coming to this when dis- 
 turbers, suspecting the best intentions of an honorable 
 man, proclaimed him a traitor, and resisted him in arms 
 instead of aiding him against the enemy. It is not to be 
 wondered, therefore, that the health of the prince totters, 
 since he, whom God predestined to great things, sees that 
 the malice of man is ever preparing new obstacles through 
 which the entire undertaking may come to naught. The 
 best friends of the prince have deceived him; those on 
 whom he counted most have left him, or gone to the 
 enemy." 
 
 " So it is," said the sword-bearer, seriously. 
 
 "That is very painful," continued Kmita, "and I myself 
 have heard the prince say, 'I know that honorable men 
 
II 
 
 308 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 pass evil judgments on me ; but why do they not come to 
 Kyedani, why do they not toll nj») to my face what they 
 have against me, and listtni to my reasons '/'" 
 
 " Whom has the prince in mind ? " asked the sword- 
 bearer. 
 
 " In the first rank you, my benefactor, for whom he has 
 a genuine regard, and he suspects that you belong to the 
 enemy." 
 
 The sword-bearer began to smooth his forelock quickly. 
 At last, seeing that the conversation was taking an undesir- 
 able turn, he clapped his hands. 
 
 A servant appeared in the doorway. 
 
 "Seest not that it is growing dark? Bring lights!" 
 cried Pan Tomash. 
 
 " God sees," continued Kmita, " that I had intended to 
 lay before you proper assurances of my own devotion sep- 
 arately, but I have come here also at the order of the 
 prince, who'would have come in person to Billevioho if the 
 time yere more favoring." 
 
 " Our thresholds are too lowly," said the sword-bearer. 
 
 " Do not say that, since it is customary for neighbors to 
 visit one another ; but the prince has no time unoccupied, 
 therefore he said to me, 'Explain in my name to Pan 
 Billevich that I am not able to visit him, but let him come 
 to me with his niece, and that of course without delay, for 
 to-morrow or the day following I know not where I shall 
 be.' So I have come with a request, and I trust that both 
 of you are in good health ; for when I drove in here I saw 
 Panna Aleksandra in the door, but she vanished at once, 
 like mist from the field." 
 
 " That is true," said the sword-bearer ; " I sent her my- 
 self to see who had come." 
 
 "I am waiting for your reply, my benefactor," said 
 Kmita. 
 
 At that moment the attendant brought in a light and 
 placed it on the table ; by the shining of the light it was 
 seen that Billevich was greatlj'^ confused. 
 
 "This is no small honor for me," said he, "but — I can- 
 not go at once. Be pleased to excuse me to the hetman — 
 you see that I have guests." 
 
 "Oh, surely that will not hinder, for these gentlemen 
 will yield to the prince." 
 
 " We have our own tongues in our mouths, and can an- 
 swer for ourselves," said Pan Hudzynski. 
 
 ing 
 
 i<i 
 
 << 
 
THE DELUOfi. 
 
 309 
 
 «' 
 
 ;he sword- 
 
 " Without waiting for others to make decisions concern- 
 ing us," added Dovgird. 
 
 "You see," continued Kniita, pretending to take in good 
 part the churlish words of the nobU^s, " I knew that these 
 were polite (iavaliors. Jiut to avoid slighting any one, I 
 invite them also in the name of the prince to come to 
 Kyedani." 
 
 "Too much favor," said both ; "we have something else 
 to do." 
 
 Kmita looked on them with a peculiar expression, and 
 then said coldly, as if speaking to some fourth person, 
 " When the prince invites, it is not i)ermitted to refuse." 
 
 At t)iat they rose from their (diairs. 
 
 " Uut is that constraint ? " asked the sword-bearer. 
 
 " Pan Hilhwicih, my benefactor," answered Kmita, quickly, 
 " those gentlemen will go whether they wish or not, for 
 thus it has jHeased me ; but 1 desire not to use force with 
 you, and I beg most si cerely that you will deign to gratify 
 the prince. I am on service, and have an order to bring 
 you ; but as long as I do not lose hope of effecting some- 
 thing with entreaty, I shall not cease to entreat, — and I 
 swear to you that not a hair will fall from your head while 
 there. The prince wishes to talk with you, and wishes 
 you to live in Kyedani during these troubled times, when 
 even peasants collect in crowds and plunder. This is the 
 whole affair! You will be treated with fitting respect in 
 Kyedani, as a guest and a friend; I give my word of 
 honor for that." 
 
 " As a noble, I protest," said the sword-bearer, " and the 
 law protects me." 
 
 " And sabres ! " cried Hudzynski and Dovgird. 
 
 Kmita laughed, frowned, and said, "Put away your 
 sabres, gentlemen, or I shall give the order to place you 
 both against the barn and put a bullet into the head of 
 each one of you." 
 
 At this they grew timid, and began to look at each other 
 and at Kmita; but the sword-bearer cried, — 
 
 "The most outrageous violence against the freedom of 
 nobles, against privileges ! " 
 
 " There will be no violence if you comDly of your own 
 will," said Kmita; "and the proof is in this that I lei't dra- 
 goons in the village, and came here alone to invite you as 
 one neighbor another. Do not refuse, for the times are 
 such thit it is difficult to pay attention to refusals. Tho 
 
310 
 
 THE DELUOfi. 
 
 iill 
 
 nrinoe himself will exouHe you therefore, and know that yott 
 vvill he received as a neighl[X)r and a friend. Understand, 
 too, that could yuu l)e received otherwise, I would a hundred 
 times rather have a bullet in my head than con^a here for 
 you. Not a hair will fall from any liillevich head while I 
 am alive. Call to mind who I am, remember Heraclius 
 Killevich, romembor his will, and consider whether the 
 prince would have selected mo did he not intend to deal 
 with you iu sincerity." 
 
 " Why then does he use force, why have I to go under 
 constraint ? How am I to crust him, when all Lithuania 
 talks of the oppression under which honorable citizens are 
 groaning in Kyodani ? " 
 
 Kmita Irew breath; for, from his words and voice he 
 kneiw that Billevich was beginning to weaken in his 
 resi.stiU'oe. 
 
 ** Worthy benefactor," said he, almost joyously, " con- 
 straint rjuong neighbors often rises from affection. And 
 when you order servants to put the carriage-wheel of a 
 welcome guest iu the storehouse, or his provision-ohest in 
 the larder, is not that constraint ? Aiid when you force 
 him to drink, even when wine is flowing out through his 
 nostrils, is not that constraint ? And be assured that even 
 had I to bind you and take you bound to Kyedani among 
 dragoons, that would be for your good. Just think, insurgent 
 soldiers are wandering about and committing lawless deeds, 
 peasants are mustering, Sw(Mlish troops are approaching, 
 nnd do you think to save yourself from accident in the 
 uproar, or that some of these will not come to-day or to- 
 morrow, plunder and burn y(>ur property, and attack your 
 person ? Is liillevicho a fortress ? Can you defend your- 
 self here ? What does the print;e wish for you ? Safety ; 
 for Kyedani is tlu^ only place where you are not in danger. 
 A detachnuuit of the princM^'s troopji will guard your prop- 
 erty here, as the eyes in their heatls, from all disorder of sol- 
 diers ; and if one fork is lost, then take my whole fortune." 
 
 Billevich began to walk through the room. "Can I trust 
 your word ? " 
 
 At that moment Panna Aleksandra entered the room. 
 Kmita approached her quickly, but suddenly remembered 
 the events of Kyedani, and her cold face fixed him to the 
 floor ; he bowed therefore from a distance, in silence. 
 
 Pan Billevich stood before her. " We have to go to 
 Kyedani," said he. 
 
that you 
 lerstand, 
 hundred 
 here for 
 while I 
 {eracliuB 
 ther the 
 I to deal 
 
 go under 
 Lithuania 
 izens are 
 
 voice he 
 I in his 
 
 ly, " con- 
 on. And 
 leel of a 
 i-;!he8t in 
 |rou force 
 <ough his 
 that even 
 ni among 
 insurgent 
 8J; deeds, 
 roaching, 
 in the 
 ly or to- 
 [ick your 
 nd your- 
 
 THE DELUGl?. 
 
 dii 
 
 danger, 
 ur prop- 
 Br of 8ol- 
 3rtune." 
 n I trust 
 
 le room, 
 embered 
 to the 
 ^e. 
 
 go to 
 
 " And for what reason ? " asked she. 
 
 " For the hetman invites." 
 
 " Very kindly, — as a neighbor," added Kmita. 
 
 " Yes, very kindly," said Billevich, with a certain bitter- 
 ness ; " but if we do not go of our own will, this cavalier 
 has the order to surround us with dragoons and take us by 
 force." 
 
 " God preserve us from that ! " said Kmita. 
 
 "Have not I told you, Uncle," asked I'anna Aleksandra, 
 " that we ought to flee as far as possible, for they would not 
 leave us here undisturbed ? Now my words have come true." 
 
 " What 's to bo done, what 's to be done ? There is no 
 remedy against force," cried Billevich. 
 
 " True," answered the lady : " but we ought not to go to 
 that infamous house of our own will. Let murderers take 
 us, bind us, and bear us. Not we alone shall suffer 
 
 persecution, not us alone will the vengeance of traitors 
 reach ; but let them know that we prefer death to infamy." 
 
 Here she turned with an expression of supreme contempt 
 to Kmita : " Bind us, sir officer, or sir executioner, and take 
 us wit!i horses, for in another wav we will not go." 
 
 The l)lood rushed to Kmita's face ; it seemed for a time 
 that he would burst forth in terrible anger, but he re- 
 strained himself. 
 
 " Ah, gracious lady," said he, with a voice stifled from 
 excitement, " I have not favor in your eyes, since you wish 
 to make me a murderer, a traitor, and a man of violence. 
 May God judge who is right, — whetlier I serving the hetman, 
 or you insulting me as a dog. God gave you beauty, but a 
 heart venomous and implacable. You are glad to suffer 
 yourself, that you may inflict still greater pain on another. 
 You exceed the measure, — as I live, you exceed it, — 
 and nothing will come of that." 
 
 "The maiden speaks well," cried Billevich, to whom 
 daring came suddenly ; " we will not go of our own will. 
 Take us with dragoons." 
 
 But Kmita paid no attention whatever to him, so much 
 was he excited, and so <ieej)ly touched. 
 
 " You are in love with the sufferings of people," con- 
 tinued he to Olenka, "and you proclaim me a traitor 
 without judgment, without considering a reason, without 
 permitting me to say a word in my own defence. Let it be 
 so. But you will go to Kyedani, — of your own will or 
 against your will ; it is all one. There my intentions will 
 
 ^^fZ '. 
 
312 
 
 TIlK nKLtTC.tt. 
 
 Illi! 
 
 iHHJonie iwidont; thero you will know whother ^ou have 
 Justly aooused nie of wrong, thorn consoienco wiil tell you 
 who of us was whoso oxeoutioner. 1 want no other 
 vengeance. God ho with you, hut I want that vengeance. 
 And T want notliing moro of you, for you have hont the 
 Iww to the breaking. There is li Heri»ent under your beauty 
 as nnd t a flower.*' 
 
 " W< will not go 1 " repeated Hillevi(^h, still more 
 resolute ly. 
 
 " As true as life we will not! "shouted Hudzynski and 
 Dovglrd. 
 
 Kraita turned to theui ; hut he was very i)ale now, for 
 rage was throttling him, and his teeth chattered as in a 
 fever. 
 
 " Ei I Try now tt) resist 1 My horses are to be heard, — 
 in^ dragoons are coming. Will some one say again that he 
 will not go ? " 
 
 In fact the ^ramp of numerous horses was heard. All 
 saw that there was no lu^lp, and Kmita said, — 
 
 "Young lady, withiti the time that a man could repeat 
 the Lonl's Trayer twice vou must be in the carriage, or 
 your uncle will have a bullet in his head." 
 
 And it was evident that the wihl fren/y of anger was 
 taking pos^ession more and more of Pan Andrei, for sud- 
 denly he shouted till the panes rattled in the w'ndows, 
 " To the road I " 
 
 That same Instant the door of the front chamber opened 
 quietly, and some strange voice inquired, — 
 
 " To what place, Cavalier ? " 
 
 All l>ecann as stone from amazement, and every eye was 
 turned to the door, in which stood some small man in 
 armor, and with a naked sabre'in his hand. 
 
 Kmita retreated a stt»p, as if he had seen an apparition. 
 " Pan Volodyovskl I " cried he. 
 
 " At your service ! •' answered the little man. And he 
 advanced into the middle of the chamber; after him entered 
 in a crowd Mlrski, Zagloba, Pan Yan, Pan Stanislav, 
 Stankyevich, Oskyerko and Roh Kovalski. 
 
 "Hal"' cried Zagloba ; "the Cossack caught a Tartar, 
 and the Tartar holds him by the head!" 
 
 Hlllevich began to speak: "Whoever you are, gentle- 
 men, save a citizen whom in spite of law, birth, and office 
 they wish to arrest and confine. Save, brothers, the freedom 
 of a noble, whoever you may be." 
 
^011 have 
 
 I tell you 
 no other 
 HiigeaiKH^ 
 
 bmit the 
 ur bea\ity 
 
 iill niorti 
 
 ^imki and 
 
 now, for 
 
 II as in a 
 
 heard, — 
 in that he 
 
 jard. All 
 
 nld repeat 
 irriage, or 
 
 [inger was 
 
 i, for 8ud- 
 
 w'ndows, 
 
 ler opened 
 
 |y eye was 
 
 ll man in 
 
 Ipparition. 
 
 And he 
 Ini ent«M'«'(i 
 Istanishiv, 
 
 I a Tartar, 
 
 5, gentle- 
 land office 
 freedom 
 
 THE DFXUOB. 
 
 313 
 
 " Pear not ! " answered Volodydvski, ^' the dragoons of 
 this oavalier are already in fetters, and now he needs 
 rescue himself more than you do." 
 
 ** But a priest most of all ! " added Za^loba. 
 
 " Sir Knight," said Volodyovski^ turning to Kmita, "you 
 have no luck with me ; a second time I stand in your way. 
 You did not expect mo '/ " 
 
 "I did not! I thought you were in the hands of the 
 prince." 
 
 " I have just slipped out of those hands, — this is the 
 road to Podlyasye! But enough ! The first time that you 
 bore away this lady I challenged you to sabres, is it not 
 true ? " 
 
 " True," answered Kmita, reaching involuntarily to his 
 head. 
 
 " Now it is another affair. Then you were given to 
 fighting,— a thing usual with nobles, and not bringing the 
 last infamy. To-day you do not deserve that an honest 
 man should challenge you.*' 
 
 " Why is that ? " asked Kmita ; and raising his proud 
 head, he looked Volodyovski straight in the eyes. 
 
 " You are a traitor and a renegade," answered Volo- 
 dyovski, "for you havj cut down, like an executioner, 
 honest soldiers who stood by their country, — for it is 
 through your work that this unhappy land is groaning under 
 a new yoke. Speaking briefly, prepare for death, for as 
 God is in heaven your last hour has come." 
 
 " By what right do you judge and execute me ? " 
 inquired Kmita. 
 
 " Gracious sir," answered Zagloba, seriously, " say your 
 prayers instead of asking us almut a right. But if you 
 nave anything to say in your defence, say it quickly, for 
 you will not find a living soul to take your part. Once, as 
 I have heard, this lady here present begged you from the 
 hands of Pan Volodyovski ; but after what you have done 
 now, she will surely not take your part." 
 
 Here the eyes of all turned Involuntarily to Panna 
 Altiksandra, whose face at that moment was as if cut 
 from stone; and she stood motionless, with downcast 
 lids, icy-cold, but she did not advance a step or speak a 
 word. 
 
 The voice of Kmita broke the silence ' "I do not ask 
 that lady for intercession." 
 
 Fauna Aleksandra was silent. 
 
I 
 
 314 
 
 TUG DELUCJK. 
 
 " This way ! " called Volodyovski, turning toward the 
 door. 
 
 Heavy steps were heard, followed by the gloomy rattle 
 of spurs ; and six soldiers, with Yuzva Butrym in front, 
 entered the room. 
 
 " Take him 1 " commanded Volodyovski, " lead him outside 
 the village and put a bullet in his head." 
 
 The heavy hand of Butrym rested on *. ) collar of Kmita , 
 after that two other hands. 
 
 "Do not let them drag me like a dog!" said Kmita to 
 Volodyovski. " I >^ill go myself." 
 
 Volodyovski nodded to the soldiers, who released him at 
 once, but surrounded him; and he walked out calmly, not 
 speaking to any nuin, only whi8i> , ng his prayers. 
 
 Panna Aleksandra went out also, ih rough the opposite 
 door, to the adjoining rooms. 8he passed the first and tne 
 second, stretching out her hand in the darkness before her ; 
 suddenly lun head whirled, the breath failed in her bosom, 
 and she fell, as if dead, on the floor. 
 
 Among those who were assembled in the first room r* 
 dull silence reigned for some time ; at lastBillevich broke it. 
 *' Is there no mercy for him ? " asked he. 
 
 " 1 am sorry for him," answered Zagloba, '♦ for he went 
 manfully to death." 
 
 To which Mirski said, " He shot a number of officers 
 out of my squadron, besides those whom he slew in attack." 
 
 "And from mine too," added Stankyevich; "and he 
 cut up almost all of Nyevyarovski's men." 
 
 " He must have had orders from Kadzivill," said Zagloba. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Billevich, " you bring the vengeance 
 of Radzivill on my head." ^ 
 
 " You must flee. We are going to Podlyasye, for there 
 the squadrons have risen against traitors ; go with us. 
 There is no other help. You can take refuge in Byalovyej, 
 where a relative of Pan Skshetuski is the king's hunter. 
 There no one will find you." 
 
 " But my property will be lost." 
 
 " The Commonwealth will restore it to you." , 
 
 * Pan Michael," said Zagloba, suddenly, " I will gallop olT 
 and see if there are not some orders of the hetman on thai 
 unfortunate man. You remember what I found on Roli 
 Kovalski." 
 
 "Mount a horse. There is time yet; later the papers 
 will be bloody. 1 ordered them to take him beyond the 
 
 Vi 
 
 of 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 315 
 
 or he went 
 
 village, 80 that the lady might not be alarmed at the rattle 
 of muskets, for women are sensitive and given to fright." 
 
 Zagloba went out, and after a while the tramp of the 
 horse on which he rode away was heard. Volodyovski 
 turned to the host. 
 
 " WJiat is the ladv doing ? " • 
 
 " Beyond doubt she is praying for that soul which must 
 go before God." 
 
 " May the Lord ^ive him eternal rest I " said Pan Yan. 
 "Were it not for his willing service with Radzivill, I 
 bhould be the first to speak in his favor ; but if he did not 
 wish to f'-nd by his country, he might at least not have 
 sold his scul to Radzivill." 
 
 " That is true 1 " added Volodyovski. 
 
 " He is guilty and deserves what has come upon him," 
 said Pan Stanislav ; " but I would that Radzivill were in his 
 place, or Opalinski — oh, Opalinski ! " 
 
 " Of how far he is guilty, y« < have best pi3of here," put 
 in Oskyerko ; " this lad^ , who was his betrothed, did not 
 find a word in his favor. 1 saw clearly that she was in 
 torment, but she was silent ; for how could she take the 
 part of a traitor." 
 
 ^'She loved him once sincerely, I know that," said 
 Billevich. "Permit me, gentlemen, to go and see what has 
 befallen her, as this is a grievous trial for a woman." 
 
 " Make ready for the road ! " cried the little knight, " for 
 we shall merely give rest to the horses. We move farther. 
 Kyedani is too near this place, and Radzivill must have 
 returned already." 
 
 " Very well 1 " said the noble, and he left the room. 
 
 After a while his piercing cry was heard. The knights 
 sprang toward the sound, not knowing what had happened ; 
 the servants also ran in with the lights, and they saw 
 Billevich raising Olenka, whom he had found lying senseless 
 on the floor. 
 
 Volodyovski sprang to help him, and together they placed 
 her on the sofa. She gave no sign of life. They began to rub 
 her. The old housekeeper ran in with cordials, and at last 
 the young lady opened her eyes. 
 
 " Nothing is the matter," said the old housekeeper ; " go 
 ye to that room, we will take care of her." 
 
 Billevich conducted his guests. " Would that this had 
 not happened I " said the anxious host. " Could you not 
 take that unfortunate with you, and put him out of the way 
 
»16 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 How can I 
 barely 
 
 IS 
 
 somewhere on the road, and not on my place ? 
 travel now, how flee, when the young woman 
 alive, on the brink of serious illness ? " 
 
 "The illness is all over now," answered Volodyovski. 
 " We will put the lady in a carriage ; you must both flee, 
 for the vengeance of Eadzivill spares no man." 
 
 " The lady may recover q\uckly," said Pan Yan. 
 
 " A comfortable carriage is ready, with horses attached, 
 for Kmita brought it with him," said Volodyovski. " Go 
 and tell the lady how things are, and that it is impossible to 
 delay flight. Let her collect her strength. We must go, for 
 before to-morrow morning Radzivill's troops may be here." 
 
 " True," answered Billevich ; " I go ! " 
 
 He went, and after a while returned with his niece, who 
 had not only collected her strength, but was alrerdy dresse** 
 for the road. She had a high color on her face, and her 
 eyes were gleaming feverishly. 
 
 " Let us gb, let us go ! " repeated she, entering the room. 
 
 Volodyovski went out on the porch for a moment to send 
 men for the carriage ; then he returned, and all began to 
 make ready for the road. 
 
 Before a quarter of an hour had passed, the roll of 
 wheels was heard outside the windows, and the stamping of 
 horses' hoofs on the pavement with which the space before 
 the entrance was covered. 
 
 " Let us go ! " said Olenka. 
 
 " To the road ! " cried the officers. 
 
 That moment the door was thrown open, and Zagloba 
 burst into the room like a bomb. 
 
 " I have stopped the execution ! " cried he. 
 
 Olenka from being ruddy became in one moment as white 
 as chalk; she seemed ready to faint again; but no one 
 paid attention to her, for all eyes were turned on Zagloba, 
 who was panting like a whale, trying to catch breath. 
 
 " Have you stopped the execution ? " inquired Volodyov- 
 ski. "Why was that?" 
 
 "Why ? — Let me catch breath. This is why, — without 
 Kmita, without that honorable cavalier, we should all of us 
 be hang'pg on trees at Kyedani. Uf ! we wanted to kill 
 our benefactor, gentlemen ! Uf ! " 
 
 "How can that be ? " cried all, at once. 
 
 " How can it be ? Bead this letter ; in it is the answer." 
 
 Here Zagloba gave a letter to Volodyovski. He began to 
 read, stopping every moment and looking at his comrades ; 
 
How can I 
 is barely 
 
 lodyovski. 
 both flee, 
 
 n. 
 
 i attached, 
 ski. " Go 
 possible to 
 lUst go, for 
 ' be here." 
 
 niece, who 
 dy dressei* 
 je, and her 
 
 the room, 
 ent to send 
 11 began to 
 
 jhe roll of 
 tamping of 
 )ace before 
 
 id Zagloba 
 
 nt as white 
 »ut no one 
 n Zagloba, 
 eath. 
 Volodyov- 
 
 — without 
 "d all of us 
 ted to kill 
 
 le a,nswer." 
 Xe began to 
 (comrades ; 
 
 TH£ DELUGfi. 
 
 317 
 
 for it was in fact the letter in which Eadzivill reproached 
 Kmita bitterly because by his stubborn persistence he had 
 freed thd colonels and Zagloba from death at Kyedani. 
 
 " Well, what do you think ? " repeated Zagloba, at each 
 interval. 
 
 The letter ended, as we know, with the commission for 
 Kmita to bring Billevich and his niece to Kyedani. Pan 
 Andrei had the letter with him, apparently to show it to 
 the sword-bearer in case of necessity, and it had not come 
 to that. 
 
 Above all there remained no shadow of doubt that but 
 for Kmita the two Skshetuskis, Yolodyovski, and Zagloba 
 would have been killed without mercy in Kyedani, immedi- 
 ately after the famous treaty with Pontus de la Gardie. 
 
 " Worthy gentlemen," said Zagloba, " if you wish now to 
 shoot him, as G^d is dear to me, I will leave your company 
 and know you ifo longer." 
 
 " There is nothing more to be said here ! " replied 
 Volodyovski. 
 
 " Ah ! " said Skshetuski, seizing his head with both hands, 
 <<what a happiness that father read that letter at once, 
 instead of bringing it to us!" 
 
 "They must have fed you with starlings from child- 
 hood ! " cried Mirski. 
 
 "Ha! what do you say to that?" asked Zagloba. 
 " Every one else would have put a bullet in his head. But 
 the moment they brought me the paper which they found 
 on him, something touched me, because I have by nature 
 a universal curiosity. Two men were going ahesid of me 
 with lanterns, and they were already in the field. Said I to 
 them, ' Give me light here ; let me know what is in this ! ' 
 I began to read. I tell you, gentlemen, there was dark- 
 ness before me as if some man had thumped my bald head 
 with his fis^. ' In God's name ! ' said I, ' why did you not 
 show this letter ? ' And he answered, ' Because it did not 
 suit me ! ' Such a haughty fellow, even at the point of 
 death ! But didn't I seize him, embrace him? 'Benefactor,' 
 cried I, 'without you the crows would have eaten us 
 already ! ' I gave orders to bring him back and lead him 
 here; and I almost drove the breath out of the horse to 
 tell you what had happened as quickly as possible. Uf ! " 
 
 " That is a wonderful man, in whom it is clear as much 
 good as evil resides," said Pan Stanislav. " If such would 
 not — " 
 
 ^l U H > I 
 
318 
 
 *WK DKLUOR. 
 
 
 ll'l' 
 
 But before he had iHnishod, the duor opened and the 
 soldiers oame in with Kniitti. 
 
 "You at-o free," said Voh)dyov8ki, at once; "and' while 
 wo are alive none of us will attacik you. What a desperate 
 man you are, not to show us that letter iuiniediately I We 
 would not have disturbed you." ' 
 
 Here he turiuKl to the soldiers: "Withdraw, and every 
 man to horse I " 
 
 The soltUers withdrew, and Pan Andrei remained alone 
 in the middle of the room. He had a (^alm face ; but it was 
 jjfloomy, and he looked at the olhcers standing before him, 
 not without i)rid(^ 
 
 "You are free !" repeated Vol odyovski ; "go whitherso- 
 ever you please, even to Kadzivill, though it is painful to 
 see a man of honorable blood aiding a traitor to his 
 country." 
 
 " Kefleet well," answered Kmita, "for 1 say beforehand 
 that I whall ^o nowhere else but to Radzivill." 
 
 "Join us; let the thundtM'bolt crush that tyrant of Kye- 
 dani ! " cried Zagh)ba. " You will be to us a friend and 
 dear comrade ; the country, your mother, will forgive your 
 offences against her." 
 
 " It is no use," said Kmita, with energy. " God will 
 decide who serves the country better, — you who begin civil 
 war on your own responsibility, or J, serving a lord who 
 aloni» can save this ill-fated Commonwealth. Go your own 
 way, I will go mine. It is not time to convert you, and the 
 attempt is vain ; but I tell you from the depth of my soul 
 that you are ruining the country, — you who stand in the 
 way of Its salvation. I do not call you traitors, for I know 
 that your intentions are honorable ; but this is the position, 
 — tlie country is i)eri8hing, Radzivill stretches a hand to it, 
 and you thrust swords into that hand, and in blindness 
 make traitors of him and all those who stand by him." 
 
 "As God is true ! " said Zagloba, "if I had not seen how 
 manfully you went to meet death, I should think that 
 terror had disturbed your mind. To whom have you given 
 oath, — to Radzivill or Yan Kazimir, to Sweden or the 
 Commonwealth ? You have lost your wits ! " 
 
 " 1 knew that it would be vain to attempt to convert you. 
 Farewell ! " 
 
 "But wait," said Zagloba; "for here is a question of 
 importance. Tell me, did Radzivill promise that he would 
 spare us when you interceded for us m Kyedani ? " 
 
 on 
 
 one. 
 
THE AfiLUOb. 
 
 310 
 
 " He did," said Kmita. " You were to remain during the 
 war in Birji." 
 
 "Know now your Radzivill, who betrays not only the 
 country, not only the king, but his own sorvantH." When 
 he had said this, Zagloba gave the hetnian'8 letter to Kinita. 
 He took it, and began to run over it with Iuh eyes ; and an 
 he read, the blood came to his face, und a blush of shame 
 for his own leader covered his forehead more and more. 
 All at once he crushed the letter in his hand, and threw it 
 on the floor. 
 
 " Farewell ! " said he. " Better I luwl perished at your 
 hands I " and he went out of the room. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Pan Yan, after a moment's silence, 
 '■' an affair with that man is difficult, for he l)elieveB in his 
 Kadzivill as a Turk in Mohammed. I thought myself, as 
 you do, that he was serving him for profit or ambition, but 
 that is not the case. He is not a bad man, only an erring 
 
 » 
 
 one. 
 
 " If he has had faith in his Mohammed hitherto, I have 
 undermined that faith infernally," said Zagloba. "Did 
 you see how he threw down the letter as soon as he had 
 read it ? There will bt^ no small \vork between them, for 
 that cavalier is ready to spring at the eyes, not only of 
 Kadzivill, but the devil. As God is dear to me, if a man 
 had given me a herd of Turkish horses I should not be so 
 well pleased as 1 am at having saved him from death." 
 
 " It is true he owes his life to you," said Billevich ; " no 
 one will deny that." 
 
 " God be with him 1 " said Volodyovski ; " let us take 
 counsel what to do." 
 
 " But what ? Mount and take the road ; the horses have 
 r(\sted a little," answered Zagloba. 
 
 " True, we should go as quickly .as possible ! Are you 
 going with us ? " asked Mirski of the sword-bearer. 
 
 " 1 cannot remain here in peace, I must go. But if you 
 wish to take the road at once, gentlemen, 1 say sincerely 
 that it is not convenient to tear away now with you. Since 
 that man has left here alive, they will not burn me up im- 
 mediately, neither will they kill any one ; and before such a 
 journey it is necessary to provide onts's self with this tiling 
 and that. God knows when I shall return. It is necessary 
 to make one arrangement and another, — to secrete the most 
 valuable articles, send my cattle to the neighbors, pack 
 trunks. I have also a little ready money which I would 
 
320 
 
 THK DEhfJuii. 
 
 
 take with me. t shall be ready to-morroW at daybreak ; but 
 to go now, in seize-grab fuHhion, I cannot." 
 
 " On our part we cannot wait, for the sword is hanging 
 over our heads," said Volodyovski. "And where do you 
 wish to take refuge ? " 
 
 " In tlie wilderness, as you advised. At least, I shall 
 leave the maiden there ; for I am not yet old, and my poor 
 sabre may be of use to the country an(l the king." 
 
 " Farewell 1 God grant us to meet in better times 1 " 
 
 "God reward you, gentlemen, for coming to rescue me. 
 Doubtless we shall see one another in the field." 
 
 " Good health 1 " 
 
 " Happy journey 1 " 
 
 They began to take farewell of one another, and then 
 each came to bow down before Panna Billovich. 
 
 " You will see my wife and little boys in the wilderness : 
 embrace them for me, and bloom in good health," said Pan 
 Yan. \ 
 
 " Bemember at times the soldier, who, though he had no 
 success in your eyes, is always glad to bend tlie skies for 
 you." 
 
 After them others approached, and last Zagloba. 
 
 "Receive, charming flower, farewell from an old man 
 too. Embrace Pani Skshetuski and my little stumps. 
 They are boys in a hundred ! " 
 
 riistead of an answer, Olenka seized his hand, and 
 pressed it in silence to her lips. 
 
 the 
 
 ■4r 
 
TUK DELUUU. 
 
 321 
 
 eak} but 
 
 hanging 
 3 do you 
 
 b, I shall 
 . my poor 
 
 58 1" 
 98cue me. 
 
 and then 
 
 ilderness : 
 said Pan 
 
 he had no 
 skies for 
 
 old man 
 e stumps. 
 
 land, and 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 That night, at the latest two houvR aftnr the departure 
 of Volodyovski's detachment, Radzivill hiu.solf came to 
 Hilleviche at th« head of liia cavalry. He came to the 
 assistance of Kmita, fearing lest he might fall into the 
 hands of Volodyovski. When he learned what had hap- 
 pened he took the sword-bearer and Olenka and returned 
 to Kyedani, without even giving rest to the horses. 
 
 The hetman was enraged beyond measure when he heard 
 the story from the mouth of tho sword-bearer, who told 
 everything in detail, wishing to turn from himself the 
 attention of the terrible magnate. Ho dared not protest, 
 for the same reason, against the journey to Kyedani, and 
 was glad in his soul that tho storm ended thus. Kadzivill, 
 on his part, though suspecting Billevich of " practices " 
 (conspiracy), had in fact too many cares to remember the 
 matter at that moment. 
 
 The escape of Volodyovski might change affairs in Podly- 
 asye. Horotkyevich and Yakub Kmita, who were there at 
 the head of squadrons confederated against the hetman, 
 were good soldiers, but not important; hen(;e the whole 
 confederacy had no weight. But now with Volodyovski 
 had fled such men as Mirski, Stankyevich, and Oskyerko, 
 without counting the little knight hnnself, — all excellent 
 officers, enjoying universal respect. 
 
 But in Podlyasye was Prince Boguslav also, who with 
 the castle squadrons was opposing the confederates, waiting 
 meanwhile for aid from his uncle the elector ; but the 
 elector delayed, evidently waiting for events ; and the con- 
 federated forces were gaining strength, and adherents came 
 to them every day. 
 
 For some time the hetman had been wishing to march to 
 Podlyasye himself, and crush the insurgents with one blow, 
 hut he was restrained by the thought that let him set foot 
 over the boundary of Jmud the whole country would rise, 
 and the importance of the Badzivills be reduced in the 
 eyes of the Swedes to zero. The prince was meditating 
 whether it were not better to abandon Podlyasye altogether 
 i'nr the time, and bring Prince Boguslav to Jmud. 
 
 VOL. I. — 21 
 
822 
 
 THE DEIJTOE. 
 
 hi 
 
 
 ..! 
 
 That was nonossary and urgent. On the other hand, 
 threatoninu; news came touching the deeds of the voevoda 
 of Vityebsk. The hetniau had tried to negotiate and bring 
 him over to his phms, but Sapyeha sent l>;u'k the letters 
 unanswered ; and besides, as report said, the voevoda was 
 selling his effects at auction, disposing of what he could, 
 melting silver into coin, selling his cattle for ready money, 
 pawning tapebtry and valuables to the Jews, renting his 
 lands and collecting troops. 
 
 The hetman, gi*eedy by nature and incapable of making 
 sacrifices of money, refused to believe, at fir.st, that any 
 man would cast his whole fortune without hesitation on the 
 altar of the country ; but time convinced him that this was 
 really the case, for Sapyeha's military power increased 
 daily. Fugitives, settled nobles, patriots gathered around 
 him, — enemies of the hetman, and atill worse, his blood 
 relatives, such as Prince Michael Radzivill, of whom news 
 came that hb had ordered all the income of his estates still 
 unoccupied by the enemy to be given to the voevoda of 
 Vityebsk. 
 
 In this way then did the edifice, built by the pride of 
 Yanush Radzivill, crack from its foundations and totter. 
 The whole Commonwealth was to find a place in that edi- 
 fice, but now it appeared in advance that it could not con- 
 tain even Jmud. 
 
 The condition was becoming more and more like a vicious 
 circle ; for Radzivill might summon against the voevoda of 
 Vityebsk Swedish forces which were occupying the country 
 by degrees, but that would be to acknowledge his own 
 weakness. Besides, the relations of the hetman with the 
 generalissimo of the Swedes were strained since the affair at 
 Klavany, thanks to the plan of Zagloba; and in spite of all 
 explanations, irritation and distrust reigned between them. 
 
 The hetman, when setting out to aid Kmita, had hope 
 that perhaps he might yet seize Volodyovski and destroy 
 him ; therefore, when his reckoning was at fault, he returned 
 to Kyedani angry and frowning. It astonished him too 
 that he did not meet Kmita on the road to Billeviche ; this 
 happened because Pan Andrei, whose dragoons Volodyovski 
 did not fail to take with him, returned alone, and therefore 
 chose the shortest ic?.d through the forest, avoiding Plem- 
 borg and Eyragoly. 
 
 After a night spent entirely on horseback the hetman 
 came back to Kyedani on the following day at noon with 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 323 
 
 ,her hand, 
 le voevoda 
 and bring 
 tho letters 
 evoda was 
 i he could, 
 idy money, 
 renting his 
 
 of making 
 b, that any 
 ition on the 
 at this was 
 L' increased 
 ired around 
 3, his blood 
 whom news 
 estates still 
 voevoda of 
 
 ihe pride of 
 and totter, 
 in that edi- 
 ild not con- 
 
 ikc a vicious 
 k voevoda of 
 jthe country 
 re his own 
 i,n with the 
 |the affair at 
 spite of all 
 /een them. 
 L, had hope 
 md destroy 
 le returned 
 jd him too 
 [viche ; this 
 olodyovski 
 Id therefore 
 ding Plem- 
 
 the hetman 
 noon with 
 
 his troops, and his first question was alxiut Kmita. He 
 was informed that Pan Andrei had returned, but withgut 
 soldiers. Of that last circumstance the prince knew already ; 
 but he was curious to hear from the lips of Kmita him- 
 self the story, therefore he gave command to call him 
 at once. 
 
 "There was no sncoess for you, as there was none for 
 me," said he, when Kmitu stood Imfore him. "The sword- 
 bearer told me that you fell into the hands of that little 
 devil." 
 
 *' That is true," answered Kmita. 
 
 " And my lettev saved you V " 
 
 '* Of what letter are you speaking, your highness ? For 
 when th*iy ha-l read themselves the one found ou me, they 
 read to me in return another letter, written to the com- 
 mandant of Birji." 
 
 The gloomy face of Radzivill was covered as it were with 
 a bloody skin. " Then do you know ? " 
 
 " I know ! " answered Kmita, emphatically. "Your high 
 ness, how could you act so with me ? For a common noble 
 it is a shame to break his word, but what is it for a prince 
 and a leader ? " 
 
 " Silence ! " cried Radzivill. 
 
 " I will not be silent, for before the eyes of those men I 
 had to take your place. They were urging me to join them ; 
 but I would not, and said, ' 1 serve Radzivill ; for with him 
 is justice, with him virtue.' Then they showed me that 
 letter : ' See what a man your Radzivill is ! ' I had to shut 
 my mouth and gulp shame." 
 
 The hetman's lips V)egan to quiver from fury. A wild 
 desire seized him to wring that insolent head from its 
 shoulders, and he was already raising his hands to clap for 
 the servants. Rage closed his eyes, stopped the breath in 
 his breast; and surely Kmita would have paid dearly for 
 his outburst were it not for the sudden attack of asthma 
 which at that moment seized the prince. His face grew 
 black, he sprang up from the chair and began to beat the 
 air with his hands, his eyes were coming out of his head, 
 and from his throat rose a hoarse bellow, in which Kmita 
 barely heard the word, " Choking ! " 
 
 At the alarm the servants and the castle physicians ran 
 in. They tried to restore the prince, who had lost conscious- 
 ness. They roused him in about an hour ; and when he 
 showed signs of life Kmita left the room. 
 
d24 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 9 
 
 Mi 
 
 m 
 
 B 
 
 >:«.' U 
 
 m 
 
 In the corridor he met Kharlamp, who had recovered 
 from the wounds and bruises received in the battle with 
 Oskyerko's' insurgent Hungarians. 
 
 " What news ? " asked Great Mustache. 
 
 " He has come to himself," answered Kmita. 
 
 "H'm ! But any day he may not come! Bad for us, 
 Colonel ; for when the prince dies they will grind out his 
 deeds on us. My whole hope is in Volodyovski. I trust 
 that he will shield his old comrades ; therefore I tell you " 
 (here Kharlamp lowered his voice) "that I am glad he 
 escaped." 
 
 " Was he cornered so closely, then ? " 
 
 " What, cornered ! From'that willow grove in which we 
 surrounded him wolves could not have sprung out, and he 
 sprang out. May the bullets strike him ! Who knows, 
 who knows that we shall not have to grasp hold of his 
 skirts, for there is something bad about us here. The 
 nobles are tuWing away terribly from our prince, and all 
 say that they would rather have a real enemy, a Swede, 
 even a Tartar, than a renegade. That is the position. And, 
 besides, the prince gives more and more orders to seize and 
 imprison citizens^ — which, speaking between us, is against 
 law and liberty. To-day they brought in the sword-bearer 
 of Kossyeni." 
 
 " Have they indeed ? " 
 
 " Yes, with his niece. The lady is a beauty. You are to 
 be congratulated ! " 
 
 " Where are ^-hey lodged ? " 
 
 " Jn the right wing. Five rooms are assigned them ; they 
 cannot complain, unless of this, — that a guard walks before 
 t) leir doors. And when will tlte wedding be, Colonel ? " 
 
 " The music is not yet engaged for it. Farewell ! " added 
 Kmita. 
 
 Pan Andrei went from Kharlamp to his own room. A 
 sleepless night with its stormy events, and his last meeting 
 with the prince had wearied him to such a degree that he 
 was barely able to stand. And as every touch causes pain 
 CO a wearied, bruised body, so had he a soul full of anguish. 
 Kharlamp's simple question * When will the wedding be ? ' 
 pierced him sorely ; for before his eyes at once appeared, as 
 if alive, the icy face of Olenka, and her fixed lips when 
 their silence confirmed the death-sentence against him. 
 Even a word from her would have saved him. Volodyovski 
 would have respected it. All the sorrow and pain which 
 
ecovered 
 ±\e with 
 
 i for us, 
 
 i out his 
 
 I trust 
 
 bell you " 
 
 glad he 
 
 wrhich we 
 t, and he 
 o knows, 
 Id of his 
 jre. The 
 3, and all 
 a Swede, 
 on. And, 
 seize and 
 ^s against 
 rd-bearer 
 
 ou are to 
 
 iBn) ; they 
 cs before 
 el?" 
 » " added 
 
 oom. A 
 meeting 
 that he 
 ses pain 
 anguish, 
 ng be ? ' 
 bared, as 
 ps when 
 st him. 
 xiyovski 
 n which 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 325 
 
 Kmita felt at that moment consisted in this, that she did 
 not say that word. Still she had not hesitated to save him 
 twice before. Such now was the precipice between them, 
 so utterly quenched in her heart was not merely love, but 
 simple kind feeling, which it was possible to have even for 
 a stranger, — simple pity, which it is incumbent to have for 
 every one. The more Kmita thought over this, the more 
 cruel did Olenka seem to him, the greater his complaint 
 against her, and the deeper his wrong. "What have I 
 done of such character," asked he of himself, " that I am 
 scorned, like one cursed by the church ? Even if it were 
 evil to serve Radzivill, still I feel innocent, since I can 
 answer on my conscience, that not for promotion, not for 
 gain, nor for bread do I serve him, but because I see profit 
 to the country from my service. Why am I condemned 
 without trial ? Well, well ! Let it be so ! I will not go 
 to clear myself of uncommitted offences, nor to beg love," 
 repeated he for the thousandth time. 
 
 Still the pain did not cease; ii increased. On returning 
 to his quarters Pan Andrei cast himself on the bed and 
 tried to sleep ; but he could not, despite all his weariness. 
 After a while he rose and began to walk through the room. 
 From time to time he raised his hands to his forehead and. 
 said aloud to himself, — 
 
 " Oh, the heart of that woman is hard ! " 
 
 And again, — 
 
 " I did not expect that of you, young lady, — May God 
 reward you ! " 
 
 In these meditations an hour passed, and a second. At 
 last he tired himself out and began to doze, sitting on the 
 bed ; but before he fell asleep an attendant of Radzivill, 
 Pan Skillandz, roused him and summoned him to the 
 prince. 
 
 Radzivill felt better already, and breathed more freely, 
 but on his leaden face could be seen a great weakening. 
 He sat in a deep armchair, covered with leather, having 
 before him a physician whom he sent out immediately after 
 Kmita entered. 
 
 " I had one foot in the other world and through you," 
 said he to Pan Andrei. 
 
 "Your highness, it was not my fault; I said what I 
 thought." 
 
 "Let no further mention be made of this. But do not 
 add to the weight of the burden which I bear ; and know 
 

 
 ;-,' 
 
 326 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 this, that what I have forgiven you I would not forgive 
 another." 
 
 Kmita wus silent. ^ 
 
 " If I gave order," added the prince, after a while, " to 
 execute in Birji these men whom at y< !• request I pardoned 
 in Kyedani, it was not because I warned to deceive you, 
 but to spare you pain. I yielded apparently, because I 
 have a weakness for you. But their d(>ath was imperative. 
 Am I an executioner, or do you think that I spill blood 
 merely to feast my eyes on red ? But when older you 
 will know that if a man would achieve anything in this 
 world, he is not free to sacrifice great causes to smaller. It 
 was imperative that these men should die here in Kyedani, 
 for see what has happened through your prayers : resist- 
 ance is increased in the country, civil war begun, friend- 
 ship with the Swedes is strained, an evil example given 
 to others, from which mutiny is spreading like a plague. 
 More than tHis, I had to go on a later expedition in my 
 own person, and be tilled with confusion in the presence of 
 the whole army ; you came near death at their hands, and 
 now they will go to Podlyasye and become chiefs of an up- 
 rising. Behold and learn ! If they had perished in Kye- 
 dani, nothing of all this would have happened ; but when 
 imploring for them you were thinking only of your own 
 feelings. I sent them to die at Birji, for I am experienced, 
 I see farther; for I know from practice that whoso in run- 
 ning stumbles, even against a small stone, will easily fall, 
 and whoso falls may not rise again, and the faster he was 
 running the less likely is he to rise. God save us, what 
 harm these people have done ! " 
 
 " They are not so important^as to undo the whole work 
 of your highness." 
 
 " Had they done no more than rouse distrust between me 
 and Pontus, the harm would be incalculable. It has been 
 explained that they, not my men, attacked the Swedes ; but 
 the letter with threats \^'hich Pontus wrote to me remains, 
 and I do not forgive him that letter. Pontus is brother-in- 
 law of the king, but it is doubtful whether he could be- 
 come mine, and whether the Radzivill thresholds are not 
 too high for him." 
 
 " Let your highness treat with the king himself, and not 
 with his servant." 
 
 " So I intend to do ; and if vexation does not kill me I 
 will teach that little Swede modesty, — if troubles do not 
 
 kill 
 
 spar 
 
 Who 
 
 Jech 
 
 Com 
 
 suns. 
 
 trem 
 
 univ( 
 
 me 
 
 your 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 327 
 
 kill me ; and would that that were all, for no one here, 
 spares me thorns or pain. It is grievous to me, grievous ! 
 Who would believe that I am the man who was at Loyovo, 
 Jechytsa, Mozyr, Turoff, Kieff, Berestechko ? The whole 
 Commonwealth gazed at me and Vishnyevetski, as ut two 
 suns. Everything trembled before Hmelnitski, but he 
 trembled before me. And the very men whom in time of 
 universal disaster I led from victory to victory, forsake 
 me to- day and raise their hands against me as against a 
 parricide." 
 
 " But all are not thus, for there are some who believe in 
 your highness yet," said Kmita, abruptly. 
 
 " They believe till they stop," added Radzivill, with bit- 
 terness. " Great is the love of the nobles .' God grant that 
 I be not poisoned by it ! Stab after stab does each one of 
 you give me, though it occurs not to any that — " 
 
 " Consider intentions, not words, your highness." 
 
 " I give thanks for the counsel. Henceforth I will con- 
 sider carefully what face each common man shows mo, and 
 endeavor with care to please all." 
 
 " Those are bitter words, your highness." 
 
 "But is life sweet? God created me for great things, 
 and look at me; I must wear out my powers in district 
 struggles, which village might wage against village. I 
 wanted to measure myself with mighty monarchs, and I 
 have fallen so low that I must hunt some Volodyovski 
 through my own estates. Instead of astonishing the world 
 with my power, I astonish it with my weakness ; instead 
 of paying for the ashes of Vilna with the ashes of Moscow, 
 I have to thank you for digging trenches around Kyedani. 
 Oh, it is narro^v for me, and I am choking, — not alone 
 because the astlima is throttling me ; helplessness is kill- 
 ing me, inactivity is killing me ! It is narrow for me 
 and heavy for nio ! Do you understand ? " 
 
 "I thought myself that affairs, would go differently," 
 answered Kmita, gloomily. 
 
 Radzivill began to breathe with effort. 
 
 " Before another crown can come to me they have 
 crowned me with thorns. I commanded the minister, 
 Aders, to look at the stars. He made a figure and said 
 that the conjunctions were evil, but that they would pass. 
 Meanwhile I am suffering torments. In the night there is 
 something which will not let me sleep ; something walks in 
 the room, faces of some kind stare at me in the bed, and 
 
328 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I 
 
 at times a sudden cold comes. This means that death is 
 walking around me. I am suffering. I must be prepared 
 for more treason and apostasy, for I know that th^re are 
 men still who waver." 
 
 "There are no longer such," answered Kmita, "for whoso 
 was to go has gone." 
 
 "Do not deceive yourself; you see that the remnant of 
 the Polish people are beginning to take thought." 
 
 Kmita remembered what he had heard from Kharlamp 
 and was silent. 
 
 " Never mind ! " continued Radzivill, " it is oppressive and 
 terrible, but it is necesrjary to endure. Tell no one of what you 
 have heard from me. It is well that this tfctack came to-day, 
 for it will not be repeated ; and especially to-day I need 
 strength, for I wish to have a feast, and show a glad face 
 to strengthen tho courage of people. And do^ you brighten 
 your face and cell nothing to any man, for what I say to 
 you is for this purpose only, that you at least refrain from 
 tormenting m3. Anger carried me away to-day. Be care- 
 ful that this happen not again, for it is a question of your 
 head. But I have forgiven you. Of those trenches with 
 which you surrounded Kyedani, Peterson himself would 
 not be ashamed. Go now and send me Myeleshko. They 
 have brought in deserters from his squadron, — common sol- 
 diers. I shall order them hanged to a man. We need to 
 give an example. Farewell ! It must be joyful to-day in 
 Kyedani." 
 
tm DfiLUGE. 
 
 m 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 The sword-bearer of Rossyeni had a difficult struggle 
 with Panna Aleksandra before she consented to go to that 
 feast which the hetman had prepared for his people. He 
 had to implore almost with tears the stubborn, bold girl, and 
 swear that it was a question o^ his head ; that all, not only 
 the military, but citizens dwelling in the region of Kyedani, 
 as far as Radzivill's hand reached, were obliged to appear 
 under terror of the prince's wrath: how then could they 
 oppose who were subject to the favor and disfavor of the 
 terrible man? Olenka, not to endanger her uncle, gave 
 way. 
 
 The company was really not small, for he had forced 
 many of the surrounding nobles to come with their wives 
 and daughters. Bat the military were in the majority, and 
 especially officers of the foreign regiments, who remained 
 nearly all with the prince. Before he showed himself to 
 the guests he prepared an affable countenance, as if no care 
 had weighed on him previously ; he wished with that ban- 
 quet to rouse courage, not only in his adherents and the 
 military, but to show that most of the citizens were on his 
 side, and only turbulent people opposed the union with 
 Sweden. He did not spare therefore trouble or outlay to 
 make the banquet lordly, that the echo of it might spread 
 as widely as possible through the land. Barely had dark- 
 ness covered the country when hundreds of barrels were 
 set on fire along the road leading to the castle and in the 
 courtyard ; from time to time cannons were thundering, 
 and soldiers were ordered to give forth joyous shouts. 
 
 Carriages and covered wagons followed one another on 
 the roadj bringing personages of the neighborhood and the 
 "cheaper" (smaller) nobility. The courtyard was filled 
 with equipages, horses, and servants, who had either come 
 with guests or belonged to the town. Crowds dressed in 
 velvet, brocade, and costly furs filled the so-called " Golden 
 Hall ; " and when the prince appeared at last, all glittering 
 from precious stones, and with a welcoming smile on his 
 face, usually gloomy, and besides wrinkled at that time by 
 sickness, the first officers shouted in one voice, — 
 
330 
 
 ill 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 1-1 
 
 If 
 
 III 
 
 Em. I 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 "Long live the prince hetman ! Long live the voevoda 
 ofVilna!" 
 
 Radzivill cast his eyes suddenly on the assembled citi- 
 zens, wishing to convince himself whether they repeated 
 the cries of the soldiers. In fact a few tens of voices from 
 the most timid breasts repeated the cry ; the prince on his 
 part began at once to bow, and to thank them for the sin- 
 cere and " unanimous " love. 
 
 " With you, gracious gentlemen ! " said he, " we will 
 manage those who would destroy the country, God reward 
 you ! God reward you ! " 
 
 And he went around through the hall, stopped before 
 acquaintances, not sparing titles in his speech, — " Lord 
 brother," " dear neighbor ; " and more than one gloomy 
 face grew bright under the warm rays of the magnate's favor. 
 
 " But it is not possible," said those who till recently 
 looked on his deeds with dislike, " that such a lord, such 
 a lofty senator should wish ill to his country; either he 
 could not act differently from what he has acted, or there 
 is some secret in this, which will come out for the good of 
 the Commonwealth." 
 
 " In fact, we have more rest already from one enemy who 
 does not wish to tight about us with the Swedes." 
 
 " God grant that all turn out for the best." 
 
 Some, however, shook their heads, or said with a look to 
 one another, "We are here because they put the knife 
 to our throats." 
 
 But these were silent ; meanwhile others, more easily 
 brought over, said in loud voices, to be heard by the 
 prince, — 
 
 " It is better to change the king than ruin the Common- 
 wealth." 
 
 " Let the kingdom think of itself, but we will think of 
 ourselves." 
 
 "Besides, who has given us an example, if not Great 
 Poland ? Extrema necessitas, extremis nititur rationihus ! 
 Tentanda omnia ! " 
 
 " Let us put all confidence in our prince, and trust him in 
 everything. Let him have Lithuania and the government 
 in his hands." 
 
 " He deserves both. If he will not save us, we perish, — 
 in him is salvation." 
 
 "He is nearer to us than Yan Kazimir, for he is our 
 blood." 
 
 (( 
 
THE DELUGfi. 
 
 ^1 
 
 roevoda 
 
 ed citi- 
 epeated 
 es from 
 e on his 
 the sin- 
 
 we will 
 . reward 
 
 I before 
 - « Lord 
 gloomy 
 3's favor, 
 recently 
 )rd, such 
 iither he 
 or there 
 I good of 
 
 emy who 
 
 a, look to 
 e knife 
 
 [e easily 
 by the 
 
 Jommon- 
 
 Ithink of 
 
 Dt Great 
 tionihis ! 
 
 \t him in 
 
 lernraent 
 
 erish, — 
 is our 
 
 Eadzivill caught with an eager ear those voices, dictated 
 by fear or flattery, and did not consider that they came 
 from the mouths of weak persons, who in danger would be 
 the first to desert him, — from the mouths of persons whom 
 every breath of wind might bend as a wave. And he was 
 charmed with those expressions, and tempted himself, or 
 his own conscience, repeating from the maxims he had 
 heard that which seemed to excuse him the most : " Ex- 
 trema necessitas, extremis nititur rationilms / " 
 
 But when passing a large group of nobles he heard from 
 the lips of Pan Yujits, "He is nearer to us than Yan Ka- 
 zimir," his face grew bright altogether. To compare him 
 with the king, and then to prefer him, flattered his pride ; 
 he approached Pan Yujits at once and said, — 
 
 . " You are right, brothers, for in Yan Kaziniir, in one pot 
 of blood there is a quart of Lithuanian, but in me there is 
 nothing but Lithuanian. If hitherto the quart has com- 
 manded the potful, it depends on you, brothers, to change 
 that condition." 
 
 "We are ready to drink a potful to your health," an- 
 swered Pan Yujits. 
 
 "You have struck my mind. Rejoice, brothers; I would 
 gladly invite hither all Lithuania." 
 
 "It would have to be trimmed still better," said Pan 
 Shchanyetski of Dalnovo, — a bold man, and cutting with 
 the tongue as with the sword. 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " asked the princo, fixing 
 his eyes on him. 
 
 "That the heart of your highness is wider than 
 Kyedani." 
 Eadzivill gave a forced laugh and went farther. 
 At this moment the marshal of the castle approached 
 him with the announcement that the banquet was ready. 
 Crowds began to flow, like a river, after the prince to the 
 same hall in which not long before the union with Sweden 
 was declared. The marshal seated the guests according to 
 dignity, calling each one by name and rank. But it was 
 evident that the orders of the prince had been issued in ad- 
 vance on this point, for Kniita's place was between Billevich 
 and Panna Aleksandra. 
 
 The hearts jumped in both when they heard their names 
 called in succession, and both hesitated at the first moment ; 
 but it occurred to them that to refuse would be to draw on 
 themselves the eyes of ajl present, therefore they sat side 
 
332 
 
 THE D£LUG£1 
 
 
 
 r i 
 
 
 ;;- 1 
 
 [f:f 
 
 by side. They were apgry and ill at ease. Pan Andrei 
 determined to be as indifferent as if a stranger were sitting 
 next him ;' but soon he understood that he could not be so 
 indifferent, and that his neighbor was not such a stranger 
 that they could begin an ordinary conversation. But both 
 saw that in that throng of persons of the most varied feel- 
 ings, interests, and passions, he thinks only of her and she 
 of him, lor this very reason it was awkward for them. 
 They '11 r>o\ and could not tell sincerely, clearly, and 
 openly, v'lat i iy on their hearts. They had the past, but 
 no future^ Ret • *: feelings, confidence, even acquaintance, 
 were all broken. There was nothing between ohem save 
 the feeling of disappointment and offence. If this link 
 should burst, they would be freer; but time only could 
 bring forgetfulness : it was too soon for that. 
 
 For Kmita it was so disagreeable that he almosi suffered 
 torments ; still he would not have yielded, for anything in 
 the world, thfe place which the marshal had given him. He 
 caught with his ear the rustle of her dress ; he watched 
 every movement of hers, — he watched while feigning not 
 to watch ; he felt the warmth beating from her, and all this 
 caused him a certain painful delight. 
 
 At the same moment he discovered that she too was 
 equally on the alert, though she was as if not paying atten- 
 tion. An unconquerable desire of looking at her drew him 
 on ; therefore he glanced sidewise, until he saw her clear 
 forehead, her eyes covered with dark lashes, and her fair 
 face, not touched by paint, as were those of other ladies. 
 For him there had always been something attractive in 
 that face, so that the heart in the poor knight was shiver- 
 ing from sorrow and pain. "*To think that such animosity 
 could find a place with such beauty," thought he. But the 
 offence was too deep ; hence he added soon in his soul, " I 
 have nothing to do with you; let some other man take 
 you." 
 
 And he felt suddenly that if that " other " were merely 
 to try to make use of the permission, he would cut him 
 into pieces as small as chopped straw. At the very 
 thought terrible anger seized him ; but he calmed himself 
 when he remembered that he was still alone, that no 
 " other " was sitting near her, and that no one, at least at 
 that moment, was trying to win her. 
 
 "I will look at her once more and turn to the other 
 side/' thought he. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 333 
 
 Andrei 
 
 B sitting 
 lot be so 
 stranger 
 Jut both 
 ied feel- 
 ■ and she 
 or them, 
 arly, and 
 past, but 
 aintance, 
 lem save 
 this link 
 ily could 
 
 I, suffered 
 ything in 
 him. He 
 } watched 
 gning not 
 d all this 
 
 too was 
 ing atteu- 
 drew him 
 her clear 
 her fair 
 [er ladies, 
 active in 
 las shiver- 
 mimosity 
 But the 
 soul, " I 
 an take 
 
 \e merely 
 cut him 
 
 Ithe very 
 himself 
 that no 
 least at 
 
 the other 
 
 And again he cast a sidelong glance ; but just at that 
 moment she did the same, and both dropped their eyes 
 with all quickness, terribly confused, as if they had been 
 caught in a crime. 
 
 Panna Aleksandra too was struggling with herself. 
 From all that had happened, from the action of Kmita at 
 Billeviche, from the words of Zagloba and Pan Yan, she 
 learned that Kmita erred, but that he was not so guilty 
 and did not deserve such contempt, such unreserved con- 
 demnation, as she had thought previously. Besides, he 
 had saved those worthy men from death, ard tl re was so 
 much in him of a certain grand pride that wLvin le had 
 fallen into their hands, having a letter on his »erson suffi- 
 cient to vindicate him, or at least to save him from execu- 
 tion, he did not show that letter, he said not a word, but 
 went to death with head erect. 
 
 Olenka, reared by an old soldier who pl« ^ed contempt 
 for death above all virtues, worshipped couiage with her 
 whole heart ; therefore she could not resist an involuntary 
 admiration for that stern knightly daring which could be 
 driven from the body only with the soul. 
 
 She understood also that if Kmita served Radzivill he 
 did so in perfect good faith j what a wrong therefore to 
 condemn him for intentional treason ! And still she had 
 put that wrong on him, she had spared him neither injus- 
 tice nor contempt, she would not forgive him even in the 
 face of death. 
 
 " Bight the wrong," said her heart ; " all is finished be- 
 tween you, but it is thy duty to confess that thou hast 
 judged him unjustly. In this is thy duty to thyself 
 also." 
 
 But there was in this lady no little pride, and perhaps 
 something of stubbornness ; therefore it came at once to 
 her mind that that cavalie"r was not worth such satisfaction, 
 and a flush came to her face. 
 
 " If he is not worth it, let him go without it," said her 
 mind. 
 
 But conscience said further that whether the injured one 
 is worth satisfaction or not, it is needful to give it ; but on 
 the other side her pride brought forth continually new 
 arguments, — 
 
 " If — which might be — he was unwilling to listen, she 
 would have to swallow her shame for nothing. And 
 secondly, guilty oi not guilty, whether he acts purposely 
 
 
 !l! 
 
334 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 {ill 
 
 m ' 
 
 t ! 
 
 I- " 
 i ' ' 
 
 m 
 
 rii 
 
 m 
 
 ur throuj^h bliiuIiioHs, it is enouj<h that ho holds with trai* 
 t()rH and oneinit^s of thn country, and helps thorn to ruin it. 
 It is the sdjue to tho country whether he lacks reasbn or 
 hontvsty. God may forgive hini; unni must and ought to 
 condemn, and the name of traitor will remain with him. 
 That is true! If he is not guilty, is she not right in 
 despising a man who has not the wit to distinguish wrong 
 from right, crimf from virtue Y " 
 
 Here anger began to carry the lady away, and her 
 cheeks flushed. 
 
 "I will be silent!" said she to herself. "Let him 
 sutV(>r what he lias deserved. Until I see penitence 1 have 
 the right to condemn him." 
 
 Then she turned h«>r glance to Kmita, as if wishing to 
 be convinced whether ptMutenee was yet to l)e seen in his 
 iiu'o. Just then it was that the meeting of their eyes took 
 place, at which both were so shanu'-stricken. 
 
 Olenka, it Aiay be, did not see penitence in the face of the 
 cavalier, but she saw [)siin and suffeiing; she saw that face 
 pale as after sickness; therefore deep pity seized her, tears 
 came perforce to her eyes, and she bent still more over the 
 table to avoid betraying emotion. 
 
 Meanwhile the bancjuet Avas becoming animated. At 
 first all were evidently under a disagreeable impression, 
 but with the cups came l'an(;y. The bustle increased. At 
 last the prince rose, — 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen, T ask leave to speak." 
 
 " The prince wishes to speak 1 The prince wishes to 
 speak ! " was called from every side. 
 
 " I raise the first toast to the Most Serene King of 
 Sweden, who gives us aid against our enemies, and ruling 
 meanwhile this country, will not leave it till he brings peace. 
 Arise, gentlemen, for that health is drunk standing." 
 
 The guests rose, except ladies, and filled their glasses, 
 but without shouts, without enthusiasm. Pan Shchanyetski 
 of Dalnovo muttered something to his neighbors, and they 
 bit their mustaches to avoid laughter. It was evident that 
 he was jeering at the King of Sweden. 
 
 It was only when the prince raised the other toast to his 
 "beloved guests " kind to Kyedani, who had come even from 
 distant places to testify their confidence in the intentions of 
 the host, that they answered him with a loud shout, — 
 
 " We thank you from our hearts I " 
 
 « The health of the prince 1 " 
 
THK DELUliK. 
 
 330 
 
 ith tral' 
 ruin it. 
 losnn or 
 lUKht to 
 ith him. 
 li^ht in 
 
 I wrong 
 
 md her 
 
 jet him 
 ) I have 
 
 shing to 
 
 II in his 
 ^es took 
 
 ce of the 
 hat face 
 ,er, teara 
 over the 
 
 ;ecl. At 
 )ression, 
 )ed. At 
 
 ishes to 
 
 ing of 
 ruling 
 (8 peace. 
 
 glasses, 
 myetski 
 nd they 
 ent that 
 
 it to his 
 en from 
 tions of 
 
 ** Our Hector of Lithuania I " 
 
 " May ho live ! Long life to the prince hetnian, our 
 voevoda." 
 
 Now Pan Yujits, a little drunk already, cried with all 
 thn strength of his lungs, *< Long life to Yanush L, Grand 
 rrinoo of Lithuania!" 
 
 Uadzivill blushinl like a young lady at her betrothal, but 
 remarking that those assi'mbled were stubbornly silent 
 and looking at him with astonishment, he said, — 
 
 " That is in your power; but your wishes are premature, 
 Tan Yujits, premature." 
 
 " Long live Yanush I., Grand Trince of Lithuania I " 
 ro])cated Pan Yujits, with the stubbornness of a drunken 
 man. 
 
 Pan Shohanyetski rose in his turn and raised his glass. 
 "True," said he, coolly, "Grand Prince of Lithuania, 
 King of Poland, and Emperor of Garmanyl" 
 
 Again an interval of silence. Suddenly the company 
 burst out into laughter. All were staring, their mustaches 
 were dancing on their reddened faces, and laughter shook 
 their bodies, echoed from the arches of the hall, and lasted 
 long ; and as suddenly as it rose so suddenly did it die on 
 the li^s of all at sight of the hetman's face, which was 
 changing like a rainbow. 
 
 Radzivill restrained the terrible anger which had seized 
 his breast and said, " Low jests. Pan Shchanyetski." 
 
 The noble pouted, and not at all disconcerted answered : 
 " That also is an elective throne, and we cannot wish your 
 highness too much. If as a noble your highness may be- 
 come King of Poland, as a prince of the German Empire 
 you might bo raised to the dignity of Emperor. It is as 
 far or near for you to the one as to the other ; and who does 
 not wish this to you, let him rise. I will meet him with 
 the sabre." Here he turned to the company : " Rise, whoso 
 does not wish the crown of the German Empire to the 
 voevoda of Vilna!" 
 
 Of course no one rose. They did not laugh either, for in 
 the voice of Pan Shchanyetski there was so much insolent 
 malice that an involuntary disquiet came upon all as to 
 what would happen. 
 
 Nothing happened, save that relish for the banquet was 
 spoiled. In vain did the servants of the castle fill the 
 glasses every moment. Wine could not scatter gloomy 
 thought? in the minds of the bancj^ueters^ nor the disquiet 
 
 I 
 
336 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Si 
 
 1 
 
 M 
 
 Mi 
 1,1 
 
 increasing every moment. Kadzivill concealed his anger 
 with difficulty, for he felt that, thanks to the toasts of Pan 
 Shchanyetski, ho was belittled in the eyes of the {assembled 
 nobles, and that, intentionally or not, that, man had forced 
 the conviction on those present ohat the voevoda of Vilna 
 was no nearer the throne of grand prince than the crown of 
 Germany. Everything was turned into jests, into ridicule, 
 while the banquet was given mainly to accustom men's 
 minds to the coming rule of the Kadzivills. What is more, 
 Kadzivill was concerned legt this ridicule of his hopes 
 should make a bad impression on the officers, admitted to 
 the secret of his plans. In fact, deep dissatisfaction was 
 depicted on their faces. 
 
 Ganhoff filled glass after glass, and avoided the glance of 
 the prince. Kmita, however, did not drink, but looked at 
 the table before him with frowning brow, as if he were 
 thinking of something, or fighting an internal battle. Badzi- 
 vill trembled ^t the thought that a light might flash into 
 that mind any moment, and bring forth truth from th;; 
 shadow b, and then that officer, who furnished the single 
 link binding the remnants of the Polish squadrons with 
 the cause of Kadzivill, would break the link, even if he 
 had at the same time to drag the heart out of his own 
 breast. 
 
 Kmita had annoyed Kadzivill already over much; and 
 without the marvellous significance given hin: y events, he 
 would long since have fallen a victim to his o\, u impetuosity 
 and the wrath of the lietman. But the prince was mis- 
 taken in suspecting him of a hostile turn of thought, for 
 Pan Andrei was occupied wholly with Olenka and that 
 deep dissension which separated them. 
 
 At times it seemed to him that he loved that woman 
 sitting at his side beyond the whole world ; then again he 
 felt such hatred that he would give death to her if l.e could 
 but give it to himself as well. 
 
 Life had become so involved that for hw simple nature it 
 was too difficult, and he felt what a wild beast feelii wheni 
 entangled in a net from which it cannot escape. 
 
 The unquiet and gloomy humor of the whole banquet 
 irritated him in the highest degree. It was simply 
 unendurable. 
 
 The banquet became more gloomy every moment. It 
 seemed to those present that they were feasting under a 
 leaden roof resting on their heads. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 &T7 
 
 i anger 
 of Pan 
 lembled 
 I forced 
 >f Vilna 
 rown of 
 •idicule, 
 L men's 
 is more, 
 3 hopes 
 Litted to 
 ion was 
 
 lanoe of 
 »oked at 
 lie were 
 , Badzi- 
 ish into 
 rom the 
 e single 
 ns with 
 pn if he 
 lis own 
 
 ch; and 
 ents, he 
 Btuosity 
 ras mis- 
 ght, for 
 nd that 
 
 woman 
 I5ain he 
 le could 
 
 ii,ure it 
 i-j wheni 
 
 )anquet 
 simply 
 
 knt. It 
 Inder a 
 
 At that time a new guest entered the hall. The prince, 
 seeing him, exclaimed,—- 
 
 " That is Pan Suhanyets, from Cousin Boguslav ! Surely 
 with litters ! " 
 
 The newly arrived bowed profoundly. "True, Most 
 Serene Prince, I come straight from Podlyasye." 
 
 " But give me the letters, and sit at the table yourself. 
 The worthy guests will pardon mo if I do not defer the 
 reading, thout^h we are sitting at a banquet, for t]iere may 
 be news which I shall need to impart to you. Sir Marshal, 
 pray think of the welcome envoy there." 
 
 Speaking thus, he ^ook from the hands of Pan Suhanyets 
 a package of letters, and broko the seal of the first in 
 haste. 
 
 All present fixed curious eyes on hvi face, and tried to 
 divine the substance of the letter. The first letter did not 
 seem to announce anything favorable, for the face of the 
 prince was filled with blood, and his eyes gleamed with 
 wild anger. 
 
 " Brothers I '-' said tlui hetman, " Prince Boguslav reports 
 to me that those men w ho havj chosen to form a confedera- 
 tion rather than march against the enemy at Vilna, are 
 ravaging at this moment my villages in Podlyasye. It is 
 easier of course to wage war with peasant women in villages. 
 Worthy knights, there is no denying that ! — Never mind ! 
 Their reward will not miss them." 
 
 Then he took the second letter, but had barely cast his 
 eyes on it when his face brightened with a smile of triumph 
 and delight, — 
 
 " The province of Syeradz has yielded to the Swedes ! " 
 cried he, "and following Great Poland, has accepted the 
 protection of Karl Gustav." 
 
 And after a while another, — 
 
 " Thit is the latest dispatch. Good for us, worthy gentl*"- 
 men, Yaii Kazimir is beaten at Vidava and Jarnov. The 
 army is leaving him ! He is retreating on Cracow ; the 
 Swedes are pursuing. My cousin writes that Cracow too 
 must fall." 
 
 " Let us rejoice, gracious gentlemen," said Shchanyetski, 
 with a strange voice. 
 
 " Yes, let us rejoice ! " repeated the hetman, without 
 noticing the tone in which Shchanyetski had spoken. And 
 delight issued from the whole person of the prince, his face 
 became in one moment as it were younger, his eyes gained 
 
 VOL. I. — 22 
 
 |{ 
 
it>i 
 
 I 
 
 
 I 
 
 iiii 
 
 L 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 lustre ; with hands trembling from happiness, he broke the 
 seal of the last letter, looked, became all radiant as the sun, 
 and cried, -^ 
 
 " Warsaw is taken ! Long life to Karl Gustav ! " 
 
 Here he first noticed that the impression which these 
 tidings produced on those present was entirely different 
 from that which he felt himself. For all sat in silence, 
 looking forward with uncertain glance. Some frowned ; 
 others covered their faces with their hands. Even cour- 
 tiers of tRe hetman, even men of weak spirit, did not dare 
 to imitate .the joy of the prince at the tidings that Warsaw 
 was taken, that Cracow must fall, and that the provinces, 
 one after the other, would leave their legal king and yield 
 to the enemy. Besides, there was something monstrous in 
 the satisfaction with which the supreme leader of half the 
 armies of the Commonwealth, and one of its most exalted 
 senators, announced its defeats. The prince saw that it 
 was necessary to soften the impression. 
 
 " Grentlemen," said he, " I should be the first to weep with 
 you, if harm were coming to the Commonwealth ; but here 
 the Commonwealth suffers .no harm, it merely changes 
 kings. Inste vd of the ill-fated Yan Kazimir we shall have 
 a great and fortunate warrior. I see all wars now finished, 
 and enemies vanquished." 
 
 " Your highness is right," answered Shchanyetski. " Cup 
 for cup, the same thing that Eadzeyovski and Opalinski 
 held forth at Uistsie. Let us rejoice, gracious gentlemen ! 
 Death to Yan Kazimir ! " 
 
 When he had said this, Shchanyetski pushed back his 
 chair with a rattle, and walked out of the hall. 
 
 " The best of wines that are in the cellar ! " jried the 
 prince. 
 
 The marshal hastened to carry out the order. In the 
 hall it was as noisy as in a hive. When the first impres- 
 sion had passed, the nobles began to talk of the news and 
 discuss. They asked Pan Suhanyets for details from Pod- 
 lyasye, and adjoining Mazovia, whioh the Swedes had 
 already occupied. 
 
 After a while pitchy kegs were rolled into the hall and 
 opened. Spirits began to grow brighter and improve by 
 degrees. 
 
 More and m -re frequently voices were heard to repeat: 
 " All is over ! perhaps it is for the best ! " " We must 
 bend to fortune 1" "The prince will not let us be 
 
>Toke the 
 the sun, 
 
 ch these 
 different 
 silence, 
 frowned ; 
 en cour- 
 not dare 
 
 Warsaw 
 irovinces, 
 ,nd yield 
 strous in 
 
 half the 
 t exalted 
 V that it 
 
 reep with 
 but here 
 changes 
 hall have 
 [ finished, 
 
 "Cup 
 )palin8ki 
 ntlemen ! 
 
 3ack his 
 
 jried the 
 
 In the 
 impres- 
 ews and 
 om Pod- 
 des had 
 
 hall and 
 rove by 
 
 repeat : 
 Ve must 
 us be 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 339 
 
 wronged." "It is better for us than for others. Long 
 life to Yanush Radzivill, our voevoda, hetman, and 
 prince ! " 
 
 " Grand Prince of Lithuania ! " criod again Pan Yujits. 
 
 But at this time neither silence nor laughter answered 
 him ; but a number of tens of hoarse throats roared at 
 once, — 
 
 " That is our wish, — from heart and soul our wish ! 
 Long life to him ! May he rule ! " 
 
 The magnate rose with a face as red as purple. "I 
 thank you, brothers," said he, seriously. 
 
 In the hall it had become as suffocating and hot, from 
 lights and the breath of people, as in a bath. 
 
 Panna Aleksandra bent past Kmita to her uncle. " I 
 am weak," said she ; " let us leave here." 
 
 In truth her face was pale, and on her forehead glittered 
 drops of perspiration ; but the sword-bearer of Rossyeni 
 cast an unquiet glance at the hetman, fearing lest it be 
 taken ill of him to leave the table. In the field he was a 
 gallant soldier, but he feared Radzivill with his whole 
 soul. 
 
 At that moment, to complete the evil, the hetman said, — 
 
 " He is my enemy who will not drink all my toasts to 
 the bottom, for I am joyful to-day." 
 
 " You have heard ? " asked Billevich. 
 
 " Uncle, I cannot stay longer, I am faint," said Olenka, 
 with a beseeching voice. 
 
 " Then go alone," answered Pan Tomash. 
 
 The lady rose, wishing to slip away unobserved ; but her 
 strength failed, and she caught the side of the chair in her 
 weakness. 
 
 Suddenly a strong knightly arm embraced hei, and sup- 
 ported the almost faiiiting maiden. 
 
 "I will conduct you," said Pan Andrei. 
 
 And without asking for permission he caught her form 
 as if with an iron hoop. She leaned on him more and more ; 
 before they reached the door, she was hanging powerless 
 on his arm. 
 
 Then he raised her as lightly as he would a child, and 
 bore her out of the hall. 
 
 ):■ r' 
 
 'M 
 
 ^i 
 
 ■i 
 
 M 
 
 'id 
 
l! 
 
 I" 
 
 340 
 
 THE DELUOB. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 i( 
 r 
 II 
 
 y 
 
 ti 
 
 That ovoning after tho baiKiiiot, Piin Androi wished al)- 
 Holutoly to 800 the [u'iiK^o, but he was told that the prince 
 W5US oocupiod in a seeret interview with Pan Suhanyets. 
 
 Ho wont thoroforo early next morning, and was admitted 
 at once. 
 
 " Your highness," said he " T have come with a prayer." 
 
 " What do you wish mo to do for you ? " 
 
 " I am not aWe to live here longer. Each day intu'eascm 
 niy torment. There is nothing for uw lusre in Kyedani. 
 Let your highness Knd some otliee i'or me, siuid me whither- 
 aoover it please you. I have heard that n^ginuuits are to 
 move against Zolotarcnko ; I will go with them." 
 
 " Zolotarenko would be glad to have an uproar with us, 
 but he cannot get at us in any way, for Swedish protection 
 is here already, and we cannot go against him without the 
 Swedes. (\)unt Magiuis advances with terrible dilatori- 
 noss because he <loes not trust me. But is it so ill for you 
 her«^ in Kyedani at our side Y " 
 
 '• Vour highness is gracious to me, and still my suffering 
 is so keen tliat I cannot describe it. To tell tlie truth, I 
 thought everything would take another course, — I thought 
 that we should fight, tluit W(* should live in fire and smoke, 
 day and night in the saddle. God created me for that. 
 But to sit her(\ listen to (juarrels and disputes, rot in inac- 
 tivity, or hunt down m^ own people instead of the enemy, 
 — I cannot endure it, simply I am unable. I ])rofer death 
 a hundred times. As God ic dear to uw,, this is i)ure 
 torture ! " 
 
 "l know when:^e that despair comes. From lovo, — 
 nothing more. When older, you will learn to laugh at 
 these torments. I saw yesterday that you and that maidon 
 were more and more angry with oiivli other." 
 
 " 1 am nothing to her, nor she to me. What has been is 
 ended." 
 
 "But what, did she fall ill yesterday '*" 
 
 " She did." 
 
 The prince was silent for a while, then said : " I havo 
 
 to 
 
 1 
 
 th 
 
slipd iil)- 
 t3 prinut) 
 
 4iiiitti)(l 
 
 n'ayor." 
 
 ticreasoH 
 Cyedani. 
 whitlu^r- 
 8 iiro to 
 
 witli us, 
 otoctiou 
 loiit. tho 
 IdilatorU 
 or you 
 
 ufforing 
 
 ruth, I 
 
 lought 
 
 Hinoko, 
 
 that. 
 
 II inac- 
 
 (iiuuny, 
 
 (ieuth 
 
 it* pure 
 
 ovo, — 
 lugh at 
 maidou 
 
 been is 
 
 I havo 
 
 THE DELUOK. 
 
 S41 
 
 )!' 
 
 advised you alrem'y, and I advise onoe more, if you care 
 tor her take her. 1 will give oounnand to havo the mar- 
 riage performed. There will be a little sereamiug and cry- 
 ing, — that 's nothing 1 After the marriage take her to 
 your quarters ; and if next day she still cries, tliat will bo 
 the most." 
 
 " 1 beg, yf)ur highness, for some office in the army, not 
 for marriagr," said Kmita, roughly. 
 
 "Then you do not want her ?" 
 
 "I do not. Neither I lun', nor she me. Though it were 
 to tear tho soul within m(% I will not ask her for anything. 
 I only wish to Ix^ as far away as possiblo, to forget every- 
 thing before Jtiy mind is lost. Here there is nothing to do; 
 and inactivity is the worst of all, for trouble gnaws a man 
 like sickness. llenuMaber, your higlnu'ss, how grievous 
 it v'as for yon yc^shsrduy till good n«»ws came. So it is 
 with ji'.e to-day, and so it will be. What have T to do? 
 Seize my li« ad, hsst bitter thoughts split it, and sit down ? 
 What eai) I w;rit for? (iod knows what kind of times 
 these are, (Jod knows what kind of war this is, which I 
 cannot understand nor gras[» with nny mind, — which causes 
 me still more grief. Now, as God is dear to me, if your 
 highness will not use me in sonu? way, I will flee, collect a 
 party, and light." 
 
 "Whom?" asked the prince. 
 
 ''Whom? I will go to Vilna, and attack as I did^o- 
 vanski. ijct your highness permit my squadron to go with 
 me, and war will begin." 
 
 '* 1 need .your s(juadron luM'e against internal enemies." 
 
 "That is the pain, that is the torment, to watch in 
 Kyedani with folded arms, or chase after some Volodyov- 
 ski whom f would rather have as a comrade by my side." 
 
 " 1 have an office for y(m," said the j>rince. " I will not 
 let you go to Vilna, nor will I give you a squadron; and if 
 you go against my will, collect a squadron and fight, know 
 that by this you "ease to serve me." 
 
 "But I shall Her\'(^ the count-ry." 
 
 "He serves the ^mntry who serves mo, — I have con- 
 vinced you of that already. Utuiunnber also that you have 
 taken an oath to jne. Fina.lly, if you go as a volunteer you 
 will go also from under my jurisdiction, and tht^ courts are 
 waiting for you with sentences. In your own interest you 
 sh(mld not do this." 
 
 " What power have courts now ? " 
 
 / r; 
 
342 
 
 THE DELUGK. 
 
 >; 
 
 
 *' Boyond Kovno none ; hut horo, where the country is 
 still quii't, they havc^ not ceased to act. Jt is true you may 
 not appear, l)ut decisions will be given and will weigh 
 upon you until times of peace. VVhoni they have once 
 declared they will renjeiuber even in ten years, and the 
 nobles of Liuida will see that you are not forgotten." 
 
 "To tell the truth to your highness, when it conies to 
 atonement I will yield. Formerly I was ready to war with 
 the whole Commonwealth, and to win for myself as many 
 sentences as th(^ late Pan TjasluOi, who had a (doak lined 
 with them. Hut now a kind of galled spot has come out 
 on my conseiencie. A man fears to wade farther than he 
 wished, and mental disquiet touching everything gnaws 
 him." 
 
 ".\re you so s(]ueamish ? Jiut a truce to this! 1 will 
 tell you, if 'tis your wish to go hence, 1 have an oiticH for 
 you and a very honorable^ one. (Janhoff is cretMnnj.r into 
 my eyes for this oHiee, and talks of it every day. 5 iiavc; 
 been thiidiiug to givt^ it to him. Still 'tis impossil>le to 
 do so, for 1 must have a man of note, not with a tritiing 
 name, not a foreigner, but a Pole, who by his very person 
 will bear witness that not all men have left me, tlsit there 
 are still weighty citizens on my side. You are just the 
 mail ; you have so much good daring, are more wUling 
 to make others IkmuI tiian to bow down yourself." 
 
 " What IS the task ? " 
 
 "To go on a long journe.; " 
 
 "1 am ready to-day ! " 
 
 "And at your own cost, since I am straitened for money. 
 Soaie of my revenues the eiunny have taken ; others, our 
 own people an^ ravaging, and -no part comes in season; 
 besides, all the army which I have here, has fallen to my 
 expense. Of a (Certainty the treasurer, whom 1 have now 
 behind a locked door, does not give me a copper, — first, 
 because^ he has not tlie wish to do .lo ; second, because he 
 has not the coin. Whattwer public money there is, 1 take 
 without asking ; but is there much ? From the Swedc^s 
 you will get anything sooner than money, for their hands 
 tremble at sight of a farthing." 
 
 ••' Your highness need not e.\i)lain. If 1 go, it will be at 
 my own expense." 
 
 "But it will oe necessary to appear with distinction, 
 without sparing." 
 
 "I will spaio nothing." 
 
 to 
 
T"^*'' 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 343 
 
 intry is 
 ou may 
 I yfiiigh 
 
 iiid tho 
 ten." 
 Miiea to 
 far with 
 LS many 
 ,k lined 
 ;)iuc out 
 than ho 
 r gnaws 
 
 1 will 
 jfficB lor 
 ivig into 
 
 1 have 
 ■isilth^ to 
 L tritiing 
 y jHM'Son 
 \:\i the, re 
 just thvi 
 
 willing 
 
 money, 
 ors, our 
 season ; 
 li to my 
 live now 
 - first, 
 iause he 
 i, 1 take; 
 Swedes 
 hands 
 
 11 be at 
 
 linetion, 
 
 The hetman's face brightened; lor in truth he had no 
 rejuly money, though he had plundered Vilna not long be- 
 fore, and, besides, he was greedy by nature, it Avas also 
 true that the revenues from his immense estates, extend- 
 ing from Livonia to Kieif and from Smolensk to Mu,zovia, 
 had really ceased to tiow in, and the cost of the army in- 
 ei-eased every day. 
 
 " That suits me," said he ; "GanhofF would l)egin at once 
 to knock on my coffers, but you are another kird of man. 
 Hear, then, your instnuitions." 
 
 "1 amlistiMiing with care." 
 
 " First, you will ^'o to I'odly.asye. The rond is perilous ; 
 for the c(>nf(!(l(!rates, wiio left the camp, are there and act- 
 ing against m«'. How you will escape them is your own 
 aflair. Yakub Kmita might spare you; but beware of 
 Horotkyevich, »Jyromski, and especially of Volodyovski 
 with liis L'luda men." 
 
 "1 have been in their hands already, and no evil has 
 haj)pened to me." 
 
 "Tliat is v/(dl. You will go to Zabludovo, where Pan 
 Harasimovi(!h lives; you will order him to collect what 
 money he can from my rev(!nues, the public taxes and 
 whencesoever it is ])ossible, and send it to mo, — not to this 
 place, however, but to Tyltsa, where there are effects of 
 mine alr(\'idy. What goods or proj)erty ho can pawn, let 
 him i)awn ; what he can get from the Jews, let him take. 
 Secondly, let him think how to ruin the confederates. But 
 that is not your mission ; I will send him instructions under 
 my own hand. You will give him the letter and move 
 straight to Tykotsin, to l*rince Boguslav — " 
 
 Here the lietman stopped .and began to breathe heavily, 
 for ccmtinuous speaking tortured him greatly. Kmita 
 looked eagerly at Radzivill, for his own soul was chafing 
 to go, and he felt that the journey, full of expected adven- 
 tures, would be balsam to his grief. 
 
 vVfter a while the hetman continued: "I am astonished 
 that lioguslav is loitering still in Podlyasje. As God is 
 true, 1)0 may ruin both me and himself. Pay (iili«.,'ent atten- 
 tion to what he says ; for though you will give him my 
 hitters, you should supplement them with living speech, and 
 explain that which may not be written. Now i-P.derstand 
 th^'' vi sterday's in*^^elligonce was good, but not so good as 
 I i'ild f.Vi.<> nobles, — not so good, in f;ict, as I myself thought 
 at firsl. 'i*he Swedes liave the upper hand, it is true; they 
 
 MM 
 
 
 ri 
 
 
 >Mmii, 
 
Os-<' 
 
 344 
 
 THE DELUQK. 
 
 It 
 
 \n 
 
 lilt 
 
 have occupied Great Poland, Mazovia, Warsaw ; the prov- 
 ince of Syeradz has yielded to them, they are pursuing 
 Yan Kazimir to Cracow, and as God is in heaven, they will 
 besiege the place. Charnyetski is to defend it. He is a 
 newly baked senator, but, I must confess, a good soldier. 
 Who can foresee what will happen? The Swedes, of 
 course, know how to take fortresses, and there was no 
 time to fortify Cracow. Still, that spotted little castellan * 
 (Charnyetski) may hold out there a month, two, three. 
 Such wonders take place at times, as we all remember in 
 the case of Zbaraj. If he will stand obstinately, the devil 
 may turn everything around. Learn now political secrets. 
 Know first that in Vienna they will not look with willing 
 eye on the growing power of Sweden, and may give aid. 
 The Tartars, too, I know this well, are inclined to assist 
 Yan Kazimir, and to move against the Cossacks and Mos- 
 cow with all force ; and then the armies in the Crimea under 
 Pototski would assist. Yan Kazimir is in despair, but to- 
 morrow his fortune may be preponderant." 
 
 Here the prince was forced to give rest again to his 
 wearied breast, and Pan Andrei experienced a wonderful 
 feeling which he could not himself account for at once. 
 BeLold, he, an adherent of Radzivill and Sweden, felt as it 
 were a great joy at the thought that fortune might turn 
 from the Swedes ! 
 
 "Suhanyets told me,'' said the prince, "how it was at 
 Vidava and Jarnov. Tliere in the first onset our advance 
 guard - 1 mean the Polish — ground the Swedes into the 
 dust. They were not general militia, and the Swedes lost 
 courage greatly." 
 
 " Still /ictory was with the Swedes, was it not ? " 
 
 " It was, for the squadrons mutinied against Yan Kazi- 
 mir, and the nobles declaied that they would stand i" line, 
 hufwoJild not fight. Still it was shown that the Swedes 
 arf- no ^'tler in the field than tlie quarter soldiers. Only 
 let tliere bo one or two victories and their courage may 
 change Lnt money come to Yan Kazimir to pay wages, 
 and the troops will not mutiny. Pototski has not many 
 men, but they are sternly disciplined and as resolute as 
 horneti. The Tartars will come with Pototski, but the 
 elector will not move with his reinforcement." 
 
 " How is that ? " 
 
 " Boguslav and I concluded that he would enter at once 
 * Charnyetski was pock-marked. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 345 
 
 the prov- 
 pursuing 
 they will 
 He is a 
 1 soldier, 
 iredes, of 
 9 was no 
 jastellan * 
 ro, three, 
 ember in 
 the devil 
 il secrets. 
 ;h willing 
 give aid. 
 to assist 
 and Mos- 
 nea under 
 ir, but to- 
 
 in to his 
 
 wonderful 
 
 at once. 
 
 felt as it 
 
 ight turn 
 
 it was at 
 advance 
 i:ito the 
 
 redes lost 
 
 fan Kazi- 
 i*^ line, 
 Swedes 
 [•s. Only 
 fage may 
 |iy wages, 
 lot many 
 bolute as 
 but the 
 
 at once 
 
 into a league with the Swedes and with us, for we know 
 how to measure his love for the Commonwealth. He is 
 too cautious, however, and thinks only of his own interest. 
 He is waiting to see what will happen ; meanwhile he is 
 entering into a league, but with the Prussian towns, which 
 remain faithful to Yan Kazimir. I think that in this 
 there will be treason of some kind, unless the elector is not 
 himself, or doubts Swedish success altogether. But until 
 all this is explained, the league stands against Sweden ; and 
 let the Swedes stumble in Little Poland, Great Poland 
 and Mazovia will rise, the Prussians will go with them, and 
 it may come to pass — " Here the prince shuddered as if 
 terrified at his supposition. 
 
 " What may come to pass ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 "That not a Swedish foot will go out of the Common- 
 wealth," answered the prince, gloomily. 
 
 Kmita frowned and was silent. 
 
 " Then," continued the hetman, in a low voice, " our for- 
 tune will have fallen as low as before it was high." 
 
 Pan A-udrei, springing from his seat, cried with sparkling 
 eyes and flushed face : " What is this ? Why did your high- 
 ness say not long ago that the Commonwealth was lost, — 
 that only in league with the Swedes, through the person 
 and future reign of your highness, could it possibly be 
 saved ? What have I to believe, — what I heard then, or 
 what I hear now ? If what your highness says to-day is 
 true, why do we hold with the Swedes, instead of beating 
 them ? — and the soul laughs at one thought of this." 
 
 Radzivill looked sternly at Kmita. " You are over bold ! " 
 said he. 
 
 But Kmita was careering on his own enthusiasm as on 
 a horse. " Speak later of what kind of man I am ; but now 
 answer my question, your highness." 
 
 " I will give this answer," said Radzivill, with emphasis : 
 " if things take the turn that I mention, we will fall to 
 beating the Swedes." 
 
 Pan Andrei ceased distending his nostrils, slapped his 
 forehead with his palm, and cried, " I am a fool ! I am a 
 fool ! " 
 
 " I do not deny that," answered the prince. " I will say 
 more : you exceed the measure of insolence. Know then 
 that I send you to note the turns of fortune. I desire the 
 good of the country, nothing else. I have mentioned to you 
 suppositions which may not, which certainly will not, come 
 
 
Mi) 
 
 TIIK DKlAiiit:, 
 
 pi I 
 
 inu*. Hut tlioro is uvvd io \w ciuitiotiM. Wlioao wmhoi 
 tluit watt'i' Nltoutd not hear liiiii away luust know how to 
 Hwiiiii and wiioMo i^i)VH tliro(i);li a pathli^Hs lorcHt iniiut Ntop 
 ot'ttMi to Motu tlio (linuitiou in wliicii Im siiuuld truvul. Do 
 yon unilorHtantl ? " 
 
 " As (dnarly as sunshine." 
 
 •• Wk) aro trtui io draw hark, and wo art^ lM)und to <h) bo iC 
 it will ho ht'ttor lor l.ho (Country; hut wo siiall nijt ho ahh» 
 iC I'l'inoo Ito^ushiv stays hui^or in Todiyasyo. lias lio h)st 
 liis h«'ii.d, or whatV li' ho stays there, no must (h*(^hm^ for 
 ono side or tht^ otiier, — eithtM* I'or tiie Swothm or Van Ka/.i- 
 luir, — and tliat is just wiuit wouhl ho worst ol' alh" 
 
 " I inn (hdl, your highness, i'or again I do not un«hu*stand." 
 
 '* I'odlyiisyo is uiiar Ma/oviii.; and oithtu' the Swedes will 
 oooupy it or reinl'oreenu'nts will eouio from tho Prussian 
 towns against tho Swi'des. Then it will Ik! nooessary to 
 ohooso." 
 
 " Ihit why do(»s n»)t Prineo Hoguslav ehooso?" 
 
 " Until ho ehooses, the Swedtvs will sook us greatly and 
 must win our favor; tho same is true of the ele(;tor. If it 
 oonu's to n'tnsiting and turning against the Sweth's, he is 
 to he the Hide hetween uw au«l Yan Ka/.inur. I It; is to east^ 
 my return, whieh ho eould not do if previiMisly he had 
 talten the side oi tho Swedes. Hut huwo 1h^ will he fonuid 
 to make a iinal ehoiee if he remains in INnllyasye, let him 
 iTo to Prussia,. ti> 'r\lt-^;u and wait there for events. The 
 rleetor stays in Hrandenhurg. Hoguslav will he oi gr(»ater 
 importaneo in Prussia; he may take the Prussians in hand 
 altogether, inerease his army, aiul stand at the head of a 
 eonsiderahle for(H». And tluMi hoth the Swedes and Van 
 Ka/imir will give what we ask in order to win us hoth ; 
 and our house will not oidy not fall, hid. will rise higher, 
 aiul that is tho main thing.'' 
 
 '* Vour highness said that the good of tho country was 
 the main thing." 
 
 '* Hut do not hreak in at (wery word, sim^o I toM you at 
 first that the two are ono; and listen farther. I know well 
 that Prince l?oguslav, though he signed tlu! act of union 
 with Sweden hert^ in Ryedani, chu's not })ass as an adherent 
 of theirs. Tluuigh the report will he haseless, do you de- 
 clare along the road that I fonuMl him to sign it against 
 his heart. People will helievo this readily, for it hap- 
 ])ens fre(pu)ntly that oven full hrothers helong to different 
 parties. In this way ho will bo ablo to gain the conli. 
 
tr 
 
 ■«;ii 
 
 TIIK DKIJIOK. 
 
 347 
 
 (liMicfl of tlio <M»iif(i(1(M'iit>(%M, iiivittf Mm- hnuld'H to his camp 
 iiH if for ii('(^(itiiitioiiM, mid then nWi/.a and tako ilitMii to 
 TruHHia. That will lio a ^nod iikiUkxI, iiiid Halutary for ilio 
 country, wliidli tiioso nutu will ruin coiupluttdy unlcHH tlicy 
 aro Htoppcd." 
 
 " Ih tlii.s all that I havo to d«)?" aHktMl Kniita, with a 
 cortain diHilluHJon. 
 
 "ThiH iH merely a part, and not tlu^ most ituportant. 
 From Prinee MoguHlav you will k" with my letters to Karl 
 Oustav himsitlf. I (tannot (tome to harmony with Oount 
 Ma^^nuH from the time of that liattle at Klavany. lie looks 
 at me askan(M>, and ihntH not eeaHo from HuppoHin^ that if 
 the Sweden were to Htund>le, if the TiirtarH w(!re to ruHh at 
 the other eiuimy, I would turn a^aiuHt tin; SwiideH." 
 
 Hy what your hi^hneHH has Haid juHt now, IiIh HuppoHi« 
 
 (( 
 
 }) 
 
 tioti iM cornHit 
 
 " (Jorre(5t or not, I do not winli it held, or wish him to 
 He(^ what trumps I have in my hand, ^esid(^s, Ik; is ilU 
 disposiMl toward um per.soiially. Surely Im has writt(Ui 
 more than onee against me to the kin^% iuid beyond a 
 douht one of two thing's, — tiithi-r th;it I iim weak, or that I 
 am not reliable. This must be renmdied. V'ou will ^Ivo 
 my letter to the kiii^;. If he asks about tlui Klavany alTiiir, 
 ted the truth, neither addiuK nor takiuf^ away. YtMi may 
 eonfess t'lat I (MUidemned those oitiiM-rs to detith, and you 
 obtaiui'd their pardon. That will cost you nothing', but 
 the sine.erity may pleast! him. Vou will not (tomplain 
 ;i|(;i,inst Count Magnus directly in prctseneci of the kiiij,', for 
 he is his brother-in-law. Hut if the \<'u\\; should ask, so, 
 in passing;, what p(M)ple here tliitdt, say that they are sorry 
 IxMiauHo Count Mafjiuus does not nspay the hetman sulli- 
 ei(M\tly, in vitMV of his siueerii friendship for the Swedes; 
 that the prince himself (tli;it is I) j^rievtis ^^rcatly over this. 
 If lu^ asks if it is true that all the (pu)ta troops liav(t left 
 me, say that 'tis not true; and as pioof offer yourself. Tell 
 him that you are colonel; for you are. Say that the pa'ti- 
 sans of Pan Gosyovski brouisdit the troops to mutiny, but 
 add that therci is a mortal enmity luitwcMUi us. Say that if 
 Coiuit Magnus had sent nu^ ('annon a,nd cavalry I should 
 have crushed the confederates loufjf aj^o, — that this is the 
 general opinion. Kinally, tak(! not(! of everything, give 
 ear to what they are saying near the [)erson of the king, 
 and r(»port, not to m(», but, if (xiciwion offers, to Princc! 
 lioguslav in Prussia. You may do so even through the 
 
348 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 t 
 
 § 
 
 I ■ 
 
 ll! 
 
 "I 
 
 1; 
 
 J! 
 
 elector's men, should you meel- them. Perhaps you know 
 German ? " 
 
 " I had an officer, a noble of Courlaud, a certain Zend, 
 whom the Lauda men slew ; from him 1 learned German not 
 badly. I have also been often in Livonia." 
 
 " That is well." 
 
 "But, your highness, where nhaM I find the King of 
 Sweden ? " 
 
 " You will find him where he will be. In time of war he 
 may be here to-day and there to-morrow. Should you find 
 him at Cracow, it would be better, for you will take letters 
 to other persons who live in those parts." 
 
 " Then I am to go to others ? " 
 
 " Yes. You must make your way to the marshal of the 
 kingdom, Pan Lyubomirski. It is of great moment to me 
 that he come to our views. He is a powerful man, and in 
 Little Poland much depends on him. Should he declare 
 sincerely for the Swedes, Yan Kazimir would have no place 
 in the Commonwealth. Conceal not from the King of 
 Sweden that you are going from me to Lyubomirski to will 
 him for the Swedes. Do not boast of this directly, but 
 speak as it were inadvertently. That will influence him 
 greatly in my favor. God grant that Lyubomirski declare 
 for us. He will hesitate, that I know ; still I hope that my 
 letters will turn the scale, for there is a reason why he 
 must care greatly for my good will. I will tell you the 
 whole affair, that you may know how to act. You see Pan 
 Lyubomirski has been coming around me for a long time, 
 as men go around a bear in a thicket, and trying from afar 
 to see if I would give my only daughter to his son Hera- 
 clius. They are children yet/ but the contract might be 
 made, — which is very impoi tant for the marshal, more than 
 for roo, since there is not another such heiress in the 
 Commonwealth, and if the two fortunes were united, there 
 would not be another such in the world. That is a well- 
 buttered toast ! But if the marshal were to conceive the 
 hope that his son might receive the crown of the Grand 
 Principality as the dower of my daughter ! Rouse that 
 hope in him and he will be tempted, as God is in heaven, 
 for he thinks more of his house than he does of the 
 Commonwealth." 
 
 " What have I to tell him ? " 
 
 "That which I cannot write. But it must be placed 
 before him with skill. God preserve you from disclosing 
 
Tim DELUGB. 
 
 M 
 
 i? 
 
 that you have heard from n; e how I desire the crown, — it 
 is too early foi that vet, — but say, 'AH the nobles in 
 Lauda and Lithuania talk of crowning Radzivill, and rejoice 
 over it ; the Swedes themselves mention it, I have heard it 
 near the person of the king.' You will observe who of his 
 courtiers is the marshal's confidant, and suggest to that 
 courtier the following thought: 'Let Lyuboniirski join the 
 Swedes and ask in return the marriage of Heraclius and 
 Radzivill's daughter, then let him support Radzivill as 
 Grand Prince. Heraclius will be Radzivill's heir.' That 
 is nut enough; suggest also that once Heraclius has the 
 Lithuanian crown he will be elected in time to the throne 
 of Poland, and so the two crowns may be united again in 
 these two families. If they do not grasp at this idea with 
 both hands, they will show themselves petty people. 
 Whoso does not aim high and fears great plans, should be 
 content with a little baton, with a small castellanship ; let 
 him serve, bend his neck, gain favor through chamber at- 
 tendants, for he deserves nothing better ! God has created 
 me for something else, and therefore I dare to stretch my 
 hands to everything which it is in the power of man to 
 reach, and to go to those limits which God alone has placed 
 to human effort." 
 
 Here the prince stretched his hands, as if wishing to 
 seize some unseen crown, and gleamed up altogether, like 
 a torch; from emotion the breath failed in his throat 
 again. 
 
 After a while he calmed himself and said with a broken 
 
 voice, — 
 
 " Behold — where my soul flies — as if to the sun — Dis- 
 ease utters its warning — let it work its will — I would 
 rather death found me on the throne — than in the ante- 
 chamber of a king." 
 
 "Shall the physician be calVi?" asked Kmita. 
 
 Radzivill waved his hand. 
 
 "No need of him — I feel better now — That is all I had 
 to say — In addition keep your eyes open, your ears open — 
 See also what the Pototskis will do. They hold together, 
 are true to the Vazas (that is, to Yan Kazimir) — and they 
 are powerful — It is not known either how the Konyetspol- 
 skis and Sobyeskis will turn — Observe and learn — Now 
 ihe suffocation is gone. Have you understood everything 
 clearly ? " 
 
 " Yes. If I err, it will be my own fault." 
 

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360 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ,6!'' 
 
 "I have letters written already; only a few remain. 
 When do you wish to start ? " 
 
 " To-day! As soon as possible." 
 
 " Have you no request to make ? " 
 
 ♦'Your highness," began Kmita, and stopped suddenly. 
 The words came from his mouth with difficulty, and on his 
 face constraint and confusion were depicted. 
 
 *' Speak boldly," said the hetman. 
 
 " I pray," said Kmita, " that Billevich and she — suffer 
 no harm while here." 
 
 " Be certain of that. But I see that you love the girl 
 yet." 
 
 " Impossible," answered Kmita. '• Do I know ! An hour 
 I love her, an hour I hate her. The devil alone knows I 
 All is over, as I have said, '■ — suffering only is left. I do 
 not want her, but I do not want another to take her. Your 
 highness, pardon me, I know not myself what I say. I 
 must go, — gb with all haste! Pay no heed to my words. 
 God will give back my mind the moment I have gone 
 through the gate." 
 
 "I understand that, because till love has grown cold 
 with time, though not wanting her yourself, the thought 
 that another might take her burns you. But be at rest on 
 that point, for I will let no man come here, and as to going 
 away they will not go. Soon it will be full of foreign sol- 
 diers all around, and unsafe. Better, I will send her to 
 Tanrogi, near Tyltsa, where my daughter is. Be at rest, 
 Yendrek. Go, prepare for tl e road, and come to me to 
 dine." 
 
 Kmita bowed and withdrew, and Radzivill began to 
 draw deep breaths. He was * glad of the departure of 
 Kmita. He left him his squadron and his name as an ad- 
 herent; for his person the prince cared less. 
 
 But Kmita in going might render him notable services ; 
 in Kyedani he had long since grown irksome to the hetman, 
 who was surer of him at a distance than near at hand. 
 The wild courage and temper of Kmita might at any in- 
 stant bring an outburst in Kyedani and a rupture very 
 dangerous for both. The departure put danger aside. 
 
 " Go, incarnate devil, and serve ! " muttered the prince, 
 looking at the door through which the banneret of Orsha 
 had passed. Then he called a page and summoned 
 Ganhoff. 
 
 "You will take Kmita's squadron," said the prince to 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 851 
 
 remain. 
 
 mddenly. 
 id on his 
 
 » — suffer 
 
 I the girl 
 
 An hour 
 e knows 1 
 ift. I do 
 }r. Your 
 [ say. I 
 ay words, 
 ave gone 
 
 •own cold 
 fe thought 
 it rest on 
 to going 
 reign sol- 
 d her to 
 J at rest, 
 to me to 
 
 >egan to 
 irture of 
 las an ad- 
 
 services ; 
 hetraan, 
 it hand. 
 
 any in- 
 ire very 
 le. 
 
 prince, 
 )f Orsha 
 Immoned 
 
 Irince to 
 
 him, " and command over all the cavalry. Kmita is going, 
 on a journey." 
 
 Over the cold face of GauhofE there passed as it were a 
 ray of joy. The mission had missed him, but a higher mili- 
 tary office had come. He bowed in silence, and said, — 
 
 " I will pay for the favor of your highness with faithful 
 service." Then he stood erect and waited. 
 
 " And what will you say further ? " asked the prince. 
 
 " Your highness, a noble from Vilkomir came this morn- 
 ing with news that Pan Sapyeha is marching with troops 
 against your highness." 
 
 Badzivill quivered, but in the twinkle of an eye he mas- 
 tered his expression. 
 
 " You may go," said he to Ganhoff. 
 
 Then he fell into deep thought. 
 
 il! 
 
35^ 
 
 tU£ DELUG^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Kmita was very busily occupied in preparations for the 
 road, and in choosing the men of his escort; for he de- 
 termined not to go without a certain-sized party, first for 
 his own safety, and second for the dignity of his person as 
 an envoy. He was in a hurry, since he wished to start 
 during the evening of that day, or if the rain did not cease, 
 early next morning. He found men at last, — six trusty 
 fellows who had long served under him in those better days 
 when before his journey to Lyubich he had stormed around 
 Hovanski, — old fighters of Orsha, ready to follow him even 
 to the end of ^he earth. They were themselves nobles and 
 attendant boyars, the last remnant of that once powerful 
 band cut down by the Butryms. At the head of them waS 
 the.sergeant Soroka, a trusty servant of the Kmitas, — an old 
 soldier and very reliable, though numerous sentences were 
 hanging over him for still more numerous deeds of violence. 
 
 After dinner the prince gave Pan Andrei the letters and 
 a pass to the Swedish commanders whom the young envoy 
 might meet in the more considerable places ; he took fare- 
 well of him and sent him away with much feeling, really 
 like a father, recommending wariness and deliberation. 
 
 Meanwhile the sky began to grow clear ; toward evening 
 the weak sun of autumn shone over Kyedani and went 
 down behind red clouds, stretched out in long lines on the 
 west. 
 
 There was nothing to hinder the journey. Kmita was 
 just drinking a stirrup cup with Ganhoff, Kharlamp, and 
 some other officers when about dusk Soroka came in and 
 asked, — 
 
 " Are you going, Commander ? " 
 
 " In an hour," answered Kmita. 
 
 " The horses and men are ready now in the yard." 
 
 The sergeant went out, and the officers began to strike 
 glasses still more; but Kmita rather pretended to drink 
 than to drink in reality. The wine had no taste for him, 
 did not go to his head, did not cheer his spirit, while the 
 others were already merry. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 353 
 
 " Worthy Colonel," said Ganhoff, " commend me to the 
 favor of Prince Boguslav. That is a great cavalier ; such 
 another there is not in the Commonwealth. With him you 
 will be as in France. A different speech, other customs, 
 every politeness may be learned there more easily than 
 even in the palace of the king." 
 
 "I remember Prince Boguslav at Berestechko," said 
 Kharlamp ; " he had one regiment of dragoons drilled in 
 French fashion completely, — they rendered both infantry 
 and cavalry service. The officers were French, except a few 
 Hollanders ; of the soldiers the greater part were French, 
 all dandies. There was an odor of various perfumes from 
 them as from a drug-shop. In battle they thrust fiercely 
 with rapiers, and it was said that when one of them thrust a 
 man through he said, ' Pardonnez-moi ! ' (pardon me) ; so 
 they mingled politeness with uproarious life. But Prince 
 Boguslav rode among them with a handkerchief on his 
 sword, always smiling, even in the greatest din of battle, 
 for it is the French fashion to smile amid bloodshed. He 
 had his face touched with paint, and his eyebrows blackened 
 with coal, at which t^e old soldiers were angry and called 
 bim a bawd. Immediately after battle he had new 
 ruffs brought him, so as to be always dressed as if for a 
 banquet, and they curled his hair with irons, making mar- 
 vellous rmglets out of it. But he is a manful fellow, and 
 goes firsu into the thickest fire. He challenged Pan 
 Kalinovski because he said something to him, and the king 
 had to make peace." 
 
 " There is no use in denying," said Ganhoff. " You 
 will bcc curious things, and you v/ill see the King of Sweden 
 himself, who next to our prince is the best warrior in the 
 world." 
 
 "And tan Charnyetski," said Kharlamp; " they are 
 speaking more and more of him." 
 
 "Pan Charnyetski is on the side of Yan Kazimir, and 
 therefore is our enemy," remarked Ganhoff, severely. 
 
 "Wonderful things are passing in this world," said 
 Kharlamp, musingly. " If any man had said a year or two 
 ago that the Swedes would come hither, we should all have 
 thought, ' We shall be fighting with the Swedes ; ' but see 
 
 now. 
 
 » 
 
 " We are not alone ; the whole Commonwealth has received 
 them with open arms," said Ganhoff. 
 
 ** True as life," put in Kmita, also musingly. 
 
 VOL. I.-r23 
 
354 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " Except Sapyeha, Gosyevski, Charnyetski, and the het- 
 mans of the crown," answered Kharlamp. 
 
 " Better not speak of that," said Ganhoff . " But, -worthy 
 Colonel, come back to us in good health ; promotion awaits 
 you." 
 
 " And Panna Billevich ? " added Kharlamp. 
 
 " Panna Billevich is nothing to you," answered Kmita, 
 brusquely. 
 
 " Of course nothing, I am too old. The last time — Wait, 
 gentlemen, when was that ? Ah, the last time during the 
 election of the present mercifully reigning Yan Kazimir." 
 
 " Cease the use of that name from your tongue," inter- 
 rupted Ganhoff. "To-day rules over us graciously Karl 
 Gustav." 
 
 "Truel Consuetudo altera natura (custom is a second 
 nature). Well, the last time, during the election of Yan 
 Kazimir, our ex-king and Grand Duke of Lithuania, I fell 
 terribly in lov'e with one lady, an attendant of the Princess 
 Vishnyevetski. Oh, she was an attractive little beast I But 
 ■when I wanted to look more nearly into her eyes. Pan 
 Volodyovski thrust up his sabro. I was to fight with him ; 
 then Bogun came between us, — Bogiin, whom Volodyovuki 
 cut up like a hare. If it had not been for that, you would 
 not see me alive. But at that time I was ready to fight, 
 even with the devil. Volodyovski stood up for her only 
 through friendship, for she was betrothed to another, a 
 still greater swordsman. Oh, I tell you, gentlemen, that I 
 thought I should wither away — I could not think of eating 
 or drinking. When our prince sent me from Warsaw to 
 Smolensk, only then did I shake ofE my love on the road. 
 There is nothing like a journey for such griefs. At the 
 first mile I was easier, before I had reached Vilna my head 
 was clear, and to this day I remain single. That is the 
 whole story. There is nothing for unhappy love like a 
 journey."'* 
 
 " Is that your opinion ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 " As I live, it is 1 Lot the black ones take all the 
 pretty girls in Lithuania and the kingdom, I do not 
 need them." 
 
 " But did you go away without farewell ? " 
 
 " Without farewell ; but I threw a red ribbon behind me, 
 which one old woman, very deeply versed in love matters, 
 advised me to do." 
 
 "Good health!" interrupted Ganhoff, turning again to 
 Pan Andrei. 
 
thehet- 
 
 t, worthy 
 m awaits 
 
 d Kmita, 
 
 - Wait, 
 iiring the 
 Cazimir." 
 e," inter- 
 sly Karl 
 
 a second 
 1 of Yan 
 da, I fell 
 ) Princess 
 ist ! But 
 
 yes, 
 
 Pan 
 
 irith him ; 
 odyovuki 
 ou would 
 
 to fight, 
 her only 
 
 other, a 
 m, that £ 
 
 )f eating 
 larsaw to 
 Ithe road. 
 At the 
 |my head 
 
 it is the 
 like a 
 
 all the 
 do not 
 
 lind me, 
 {matters, 
 
 ;gain to 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 355 
 
 " Good health I " answered Kmita, " I give thanks from 
 my heart." 
 
 " To the bottom, to the bottom ! It is time for you to 
 mount, and service calls ug. May God lead you forth and 
 bring you home." 
 
 « Farewell ! " 
 
 " Throw the red ribbon behind," said Kharlamp, " or at 
 the first resting-place put out the fire yourself with a 
 bucket of water; that is, if you wish to forget." 
 
 " Be with God ! " 
 
 " We shall not soon see one another." 
 
 " Perhaps somewhere on the battlefield," added Ganhoff. 
 " God grant side by side, not opposed." 
 
 " Of course not opposed," said Kmita. 
 
 And the officers went out. 
 
 The clock on the tower struck seven. In the yard the 
 horses were pawing the stone pavement with their hoofs, 
 and through the window were to be seen the men waiting. 
 A wonderful disquiet seized Pan Andrei. He was repeat- 
 ing to himself, " I go, I go ! " Imagination placed before 
 his eyes unknown regions, and a throng of strange faces 
 which he was to see, and at the same time wonder seized 
 him at the thought of the journey, as if hitherto it had 
 never been in his mind. 
 
 He must mount and move on. "What happens, will 
 happen. What will be, will be ! " thought he to himself. 
 
 When, however, the horses were snorting right there at 
 the window, and the hour of starting had struck, he felt 
 that the new life would be strange, and all with wjiich he 
 had lived, to which he had grown accustomed, to which he 
 had become attached heart and soul, would stay in that 
 region, in that neighborhood, in that place. The former 
 Kmita would stay there as well. Another man as it were 
 would go hence, — a stranger to all outside, as all outside 
 were strangers to him. He would have tc* begin there an 
 entirely new life. God alone knew whether there would be 
 a desire for it. 
 
 Pan Andrei was mortally wearied in soul, and therefore 
 at that moment be felt powerless in view of those new 
 scenes and new people. He thought that it was bad for him 
 here, that it would be bad for him there, at least it would 
 be burdensome. 
 
 But it is time, time. He must put his cap On his head 
 and ride off. 
 
 I' 
 
im 
 
 THK DELUGE. 
 
 
 l^ut will he go without a last word ? Is it possible to be 
 HO near and later to be so far, to say not one word and go 
 forth ? See to what it has come ! But what can he say to 
 her ? Shall he go and say, " Everything is ruined ; my lady, 
 go thy way, I will go mine " ? Why, why sav even that, 
 when without saying it is so ? Ho is not her betrothed, as 
 she is not and will not be his wife. What has been is lost, 
 is rent, and will not return, will not be bound up afresh. 
 Loss of time, loss of words, and new torture. 
 
 " I will not go ! " thought Pan Kmita. 
 
 But, -)n the other hand, the '\vrill of a dead man binds them 
 yet. It is iieedf\il to ypeak clearly and without anger of rinal 
 separation, and to say to her, " My lady, you wish me not ; I 
 return you your word. Therefore we shall both act as 
 though there had been no will, and let each seek liappiness 
 where each can find it ? " 
 
 But she may answer : " I have said that long since ; why 
 tell it to me now ? " 
 
 " T will not go, happen what may I " repeated Kmita to 
 himself. 
 
 And pressing the cap on hia head, he went out of the 
 room into the corridor. He wished to mount straightv;ay 
 and be outside tlie gate quickly. 
 
 All at ouce, in the corridor, something caught him as it 
 were by the hair. Such a desire to see her, to speak to 
 her, possessed him, that he ceased to think whether to go or 
 not to go, he ceased to reason, and rather pushed on with 
 closed eyes, as if wishing to spring into water. 
 
 Before tlie very door whe:»ee the guard had just been 
 removed, he came upon a youth, a servant of the sword- 
 bearer. 
 
 " Is Pan Billevich in the room ? " asked he. 
 
 " The sword-bearer is among the cfficers in the barracks." 
 
 "And the lady?" 
 
 " The lady is at home.'' 
 
 " Tell her that Pan Kmita is going on a long journey and 
 wishes to see the lady." 
 
 The youth obeyed the command ; but before he returned 
 with an an£:\ver Kmita raised the latch and went in without 
 question. 
 
 "I have 'ome to take fareweil," said he, "for I do not 
 know whetlier we shall meet again in life." 
 
 Suddenly he turned to the youth : " Why stand here 
 yet ? " 
 
THE DELUGK. 
 
 367 
 
 bio to be 
 1 and go 
 le say to 
 aay lady, 
 en that, 
 }thed, as 
 n is lost, 
 p afresh. 
 
 nds them 
 )r of linal 
 le not ; I 
 h act as 
 tappiness 
 
 nee ; why 
 
 Slmita to 
 
 Lit of the 
 aightway 
 
 lim as it 
 speak to 
 I* ti> go or 
 on with 
 
 lust been 
 |e sword- 
 
 irracks." 
 
 rney and 
 
 Ireturned 
 without 
 
 ll do not 
 
 Ind here 
 
 " My gracious lady," continued Kniita, when the door had 
 closed after the servant, "1 intended to go witljout parting, 
 but had not the power. God knows when I shall return, 
 or whether I shall return, for misfortunes come lightly. 
 Better that we part without anger and offence in our hearts, 
 so that the punishment of God fall not on either of us. 
 There is much to sav, much to say, and now the tongue can- 
 not say it all. Well, there was no happiness, clearly by the 
 will of God there was not ; and now, ■) man, even if thou 
 batter thy head against the wall, there is no cure I Blame 
 me not, and I will not blame you. We need not regard 
 that testament now, for as I have said, the will of man is 
 nothing against the will of God. God grant you happiness 
 and peace. The main thing is that we forgive each other. 
 I know not what will meet mo outside, whither I am 
 g'^ing. But I cannot sit longer in torture, in trouble, in 
 sorrow. A man breaks himself on the four walls of a room 
 without result, gracious lady, without result ! One has no 
 labor here, ;— only to take grief on the shoulders, only think 
 for whole days of unhappy events till tho head aches, and 
 in the end think out nothing. This journey is as needful 
 to me, as water to a fish, as air to a bird, for without it I 
 should go wild " 
 
 " God grant you happiness," said Panna Aleksandra. 
 
 She stood before him as if stunned by the departure, the 
 appearance, and the words of Pan Kmita. On her face 
 were confusion and astonishment, and it was clear that she 
 was struggling to recover herself ; meanwhile she gazed on 
 the young man with eyes widely open. 
 
 " I do not cherish ill will against you," said she after a 
 time. 
 
 " Would that all this had not been ! " said Kmita. • " Some 
 evil spirit came between us and separated us as if with a sea, 
 and that water is neither to be swum across nor waded 
 through. The man did not do what ho wanted, he went 
 not where he wished, but something as it were pushed him 
 till we both entered pathless regions. But since we are to 
 vanish the one from the eyes of the other, it is better to 
 cry out even from remoteness, * God guide ! ' It is needful 
 also for you to know that offence and anger are one thing, 
 and sorrow another. From anger I have freed myself, but 
 sorrow sits in me — maybe not for you. Do I know myself 
 for whom and for what ? Thinking, I have tiiought out 
 nothing ; but still It seems to me that it will be easier both 
 
 
.'{58 
 
 THE DKLUQE. 
 
 
 to you and to me if we talk. Vou hold me a traitor, and 
 that pricks me most bitterly of all, for as I wish mv soul's 
 salvatiou, I have not been and shall not be a traitor." 
 
 " I hold you that no longer," said Olenka. 
 
 " Oi, how could vou have held me that even one hour ? 
 Ytu know of nie, that once 1 was ready for violence, ready 
 to slay, burn, shoot ; that is one thing, but to betray for 
 gain, tor advancement, never ! God guard me, Qod judge 
 me I You are a woman, and cannot see in what lies the 
 country's salvation ; hence it beseems you not to condemn, 
 to give sentence. And why did you utter the sentence ? 
 God be with you ! Know this, that salvation is in Prince 
 Badzivill and the Swedes ; and who thinks otherwise, and 
 especially acts, is just ruining the country. But it is no 
 time to discuss, it is time to go. Know that I am not a 
 traitor, not one who sells. May I perish if I ever be that ! 
 Know that unjustly you scorned me, unjustly consigned me 
 to death — I tell you this under oath and at parting, and 
 I say it that I may say with it, I forgive you from my 
 heart ; but do you forgive me as well." 
 
 Panna Aleksandra had recovered completely. "You say 
 that I have judged you unjustly ; that is true. It is my 
 fault ; I confess it and beg your forgiveness." 
 
 Here her voice trembled, her blue eyes tilled with tears, 
 and he cried with transport, — 
 
 *' I forgive ! I forgive ! I would forgive you even my 
 death!" 
 
 " May God guide you and bring you to the right road. 
 May you leave that on which you are erring." 
 
 " But give peace, give peace I " cried Kmita, excitedly ; 
 " let no misunderstanding rise between us again. Whether 
 I err or err not, be silent on that point. Let each man follow 
 the way of his conscience ; God will judge every intention. 
 Better that I have come hither, than to go without fare- 
 well. Give me your hand for the road. Only that much 
 is mine; for to-morrow I shall not see you, nor after to- 
 morrow, nor in a month, perhaps never — Oi, Olenka! and 
 in my head it is dim — Olenka! And shall we never 
 meet again ? " 
 
 Abundant tears like pearls were falling from Panna 
 Aleksandra's lashes to her cheeks. 
 
 " Pan Andrei, leave traitors, and all may be." 
 
 " Quiet, oh, quiet ! " said Kmita, with a broken voice. 
 " It may not be — I cannot — better say nothing — Would 
 
itor, and 
 ny soul's 
 
 le hour ? 
 Be, ready 
 etray for 
 i)d judge 
 
 lies the 
 condemn, 
 jiitence ? 
 ti Prince 
 vise, and 
 
 it is no 
 im not a 
 be that ! 
 igned me 
 t^ing, and 
 [rom my 
 
 You say 
 Lt is my 
 
 bh tears, 
 
 sven my 
 
 ht road. 
 
 citedly ; 
 Vhether 
 n follow 
 ;ention. 
 ut fare- 
 Lt much 
 iter to- 
 cal and 
 J never 
 
 Panna 
 
 voice. 
 Would 
 
 THK DELUQK. 
 
 359 
 
 I were slain I less should I suffer — For God's sake, why 
 does this meet us ? Farewell for the last time. And then 
 let death close my eyes somewhere outside — Why are you 
 weeping ? Weep not, or i shall go wild I " 
 
 And in supreme excitement he seized her half by con- 
 straint, and though she resisted, he kissed her eyes and 
 her mouth, then fell at her feet. At last ho sprang up, and 
 grasping his hair like a madman, rushed forth from the 
 chamber. 
 
 "The devil could do nothing here, much less a red 
 ribbon." 
 
 Olenka saw him through the window as he was mounting 
 in haste; the seven horsemen then moved forward. The 
 Scots on guard at the gate made a clatter with their 
 weapons, presenting arms ; then the gate closed after the 
 horsemen, and they were not to be seen on the dark road 
 among the trees. 
 
 Night too had fallen completely. 
 
 ! \ 
 
9dO 
 
 THE DRLIJOE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 KovNo, and tho whole region on the loft bank of the 
 Vllia, with all tho roads, wore occupied by the enemy (the 
 Rus.siana) ; thtirefore Kniita, not being able to go to l*od- 
 lyjisyo by tho high-road loading from Kovno to Grodno 
 and thence to Hyalystok, wont by side-roads from Kyedani 
 straight down tho course of tho Nyevyaja to the Nyeraen, 
 which he crossed near Vilkovo, and found himself in the 
 province of Trotsk. 
 
 All that part of tho roatl, which was not over great, he 
 passed in quiet, for that region lay as it were under the 
 hand of Radzivill. 
 
 Towns, and) hero and there even villages, were occupied 
 by castle squadrons of tho hctman, or by small detachments 
 of Swedish cavalry which the hetman pushed forw.ard thus 
 far of i)urpose against tho legions of Zolotarenko, which 
 stood there beyond the Vilia, so that occasions for collisions 
 and war might be more easily found. 
 
 Zolotarenko would have boon glad too to have an 
 "uproar" with the Swedes, according to the words of the 
 hetman ; but those whose ally he was did not wish war with 
 them, or in every case wished to put it off as long as 
 possible. Zolotarenko therefore received the strictest 
 orders not to cross the river, and in case that Radzivill 
 himself, together with the Swedes, moved on him, to 
 retreat with all haste. 
 
 For these reasons the country on the right side of the 
 Vilia was (juiet ; but since from one side Cossack pickets, 
 from the other those of the Swedes and Radzivill were 
 looking at one another, one musket-shot might at any 
 moment let loose a terrible war. 
 
 In prevision of this, people took timely refuge in safe 
 places. Therefore the whole country was quiet, but empty. 
 Pan Andrei saw deserted towns, everywhere the windows 
 of houses held up by sticks, and whole villages depopu- 
 lated. The fields were also empty, for there was no crop 
 that year. Common people secreted themselves in fathom- 
 less forests, to which they drove all their cattle ; but the 
 nobles fled to neighboring Electoral Prussia, at that time 
 
tllR MLUQ15. 
 
 Ml 
 
 altogether safe from war. For thin reason there was an 
 uncoininon movement over tlie rorals and trails of the 
 wilderness, and the number of fuf^itives was still more 
 increased by those who from the left bank of the Vilia 
 were able t4) escape the oppression of Zolotarenko. 
 
 The number of these was enormous, and especially of 
 peasants ; for the nobles who had not Ixicn able nitherto to 
 flee from the left bank went into captivity or yielded their 
 lives on their thresholds. 
 
 Pan Andrei, therefore, met every moment whole crowds 
 of peasants with their wives and chiUlren, and driving 
 before them flocks of sheep with horses and cattle. That 
 j)art of the province of Trotsk touchinj? upon Electoral 
 Prussia was wealthy and produ(!tive ; therefore the well-to- 
 do people had something to save and guard. The ap- 
 proaching winter did not alarm fugitives, who preferred to 
 await better days amid mosses of the forest, in snow 
 covered huts, than to await death in their native villages at 
 the hands of the enemy. 
 
 Kmita often approached the fleeing crowds, or fires 
 gleaming at night in dense forest places. Wherever he met 
 people from the left bank of the Vilia, from near Kovno, 
 or from still remoter neighborhoods, he heard terrible tales 
 of the cruelties of Zolotarenko and his allies, who extermi- 
 nated people without regard to age or sex; they burned 
 villages, cut down even trees in the gardens, leaving only 
 land and water. Never had Tartar raids left such desola- 
 tion behind. 
 
 Not death alone was inflicted on the inhabitants, but 
 before death they were put to the most ingenious tortures. 
 Many of those people fled with bewildered minds. These 
 filled the forest depths at night with awful shrieks ; others 
 were ever in a species of continual fear and expectation of 
 attack, though they had crossed the Nyemen and Vilia, 
 though forests and morasses separated them from Zolota- 
 renko's bands. Many of these stretched their hands to 
 Kmita and his horsemen of Orsha, imploring rescue and 
 pity, as if the enemy were standing there over them. 
 
 Carriages belonging to nobles were moving toward Prus- 
 sia; in them old men, women, and children ; behind them, 
 dragged on wagons with servants, effects, supplies of 
 provisions, and other things. All these fleeing people were 
 panic-stricken, terrified and grieved because they were 
 going into exile. 
 
 fit 
 
 H 
 
362 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ] 
 
 Pan Andrei comforted these unfortunates at times by 
 telling them that the Swedes would soun pass over and 
 drive that enemy far away. Then the fugitives stretched 
 their hands to heaven and said, — 
 
 " God giv<) health, God give fortune to the prince voevoda I 
 When the Swedes come we will return to our homes, to our 
 burned dwellings." 
 
 And they blessed the prince everywhere. From mouth 
 ^o mouth news was given that at any moment he might 
 cross the Vilia at the head of his own and Swedish troops. 
 Besides, they praised the " modesty " of the Swedes, their 
 dicipline, and rood treatment of the inhabitants. Radzivill 
 was calLd the Gideon of Lithuania, a Samson, a savior. 
 These people from districts steaming with fresh blood and 
 fire were looking for him as for deliverance. 
 
 And Kmita, hearing those blessings, those wishes, those 
 almost prayers, was strengthened in his faith concerning 
 Badzivill, and repeated in his soul, — 
 
 " I serve such a lord ! I will shut my eyes aad follow 
 blindly his fortune. At times he is terrible and beyond 
 knowing ; but he has a greater mind than others, he knows 
 better what is needed, and in him alone is salvation." 
 
 It became lighter and calmer in his breast at this thought ; 
 he advanced therefore with greater solace in his heart, 
 dividing his soul between sorrow for Kyedani and thoughts 
 on the imhappy condition of the country. 
 
 His sorrow increased continually. He did not throw the 
 red ribbon behind him, he did not put out the fire with 
 water ; for he felt, first, that it w '' useless, and then he did 
 not wish to do so. 
 
 "Oh that she were present that she could hear the 
 wailing and groans of people, she would not beg God to 
 turn me away, she would not cell me that I err, like 
 those heretics who have left the true faith. But never 
 mind ! Earlier or later she will be convinced, she will 
 see that her o\: n judgment was at fault. And then what 
 God will give will be. Maybe we shall meet again in 
 life." 
 
 And yearning increased in the young cavalier; but the 
 conviction that he was marching by the right, not by the 
 wrong road, gave him a peace long since unknown. The 
 conflict of thought, thn gnawing, the doubts left him by 
 degrees, and he rode forward ; he sank in the shoreless 
 forest almost with gladness. From the time that he had 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 863 
 
 come to Lyubioh, p^^er his famous raids oa Hovanski, he 
 had not felt so viv ^ious. 
 
 Kharlamp was right in this, that there is no cure like 
 the road for cares and troubles. Pan Andrei had iron 
 health ; his daring and' love of adventures were coming 
 back every hour. He saw these adventures before him, 
 smiled at them, and urged on his convoy unceasingly, 
 barely stopping for short night-rests. 
 
 Olenka stood ever before the eyes of his spirit, tearful, 
 trembling in his arms like a bird, and he said to himself, " I 
 shall return." 
 
 At times the form of the hetman passed before him, 
 gloomy, immense, terrible. But it may be just because he 
 was moving- away more and more, that that form became al- 
 most dear to him. Hitherto he had bent before Radzivill ; 
 now he began to love him. Hitherto Radzivill had borne him 
 along as a mighty whirlpool of water seizes and attracts 
 everything that comes within its circle ; now Kmita felt 
 that he wished with his whole soul to go with him. 
 
 And in the distance that gigantic voevoda increased con- 
 tinually in the eyes of the young knight, and assumed almost 
 superhuman proportions. More than once, at his night 
 halt, when Pan Andrei had closed his eyes in sleep, he saw 
 the hetman sitting on a throne loftier than the tops of the 
 pine-trees. There was a crown on his head; his face was 
 the same, gloomy, enormous ; in his hand a sword and a 
 sceptre, at his feet the whole Commonwealth. And in his 
 soul Kmita did homage to greatness. 
 
 On the third day of the journey they left the Nyemen 
 far behind, and entered a country of still greater forests. 
 They met whole crowds of fugitives on the roads ; but no- 
 bles unable to bear arms were going almost without excep- 
 tion to Prussia before the bands of the enemy, who, not 
 held in curb there, as on the banks of the Vilia, by the 
 regiments of Sweden and Radzivill, pushed at times far 
 into the heart of the country, even to the boundary of 
 Electoral Prussia. Their main object was plunder* 
 
 Frequently these were detachments as if from the army 
 of Zolotarenko, but really recognizing no authority, — 
 simply robber companies, so called " parties " commanded 
 at times even by local bandits. Avoiding engagements in 
 the field with troops and even with townspeople, they 
 attacked small villages, single houses, and travellers. 
 
 The nobles on their own account attacked these parties 
 
 1 
 

 II 
 
 J- • 
 
 364 
 
 THK MLUOB. 
 
 with * their household servants, and ornamented with them 
 the pine-trees along the roads ; still it was easy in the forest 
 to stumble upon their frequent bands, and therefoM. Pan 
 Andrei was forced to exercise uncommon care. 
 
 But somewhat beyond Pilvishki bn the Sheshupa, Kmita 
 found the population living quietly in their homes. The 
 townspeople told him, however, that not longer than a 
 couple of days before, a strong band of Zolotarerko's men, 
 numbering as many as iive hundred, had made an attack, 
 and would, according to their custom, have cut down all the 
 people, and let the place rise in smoke, were it not for un- 
 expected aid which fell as it were from heaven. 
 
 " We had already committed ourselves to God," said the 
 master of the inu in which Pan Andrei had taken lodgings, 
 " when the saints of the Lord sent some squadrons. We 
 thought at first that a new enemy had come, but they were 
 ours. They sprang at once on Zolotarenko's ruffians, and 
 in an hour they laid them out like a pavement, all the more 
 easily as we helped them." 
 
 " What kind of a squadron was it ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 " God give them health ! They did not say who they 
 were, and we did not dare to ask. They fed their horses, 
 took what hay and bread there was, and rode away." 
 
 " But whence did they come, and whither did they go ? " 
 
 " They came from Kozlova Kuda, and they went to the 
 south. We, who before that wished to flee to the woods, 
 thought the macter over and stayed here, for the under- 
 starosta said that after such a lesson the enemy would not 
 look in on us again soon." 
 
 The news of the battle interested Kmita greatly, there- 
 fore he asked further: "And^do you not know who com- 
 manded that squadron ? " 
 
 " We do not know ; but we saw the colonel, for he talked 
 with us on the square. He is young, and sharp as a needle. 
 He does not look like the warrior that he is." 
 
 " Volodyovski ! " cried Kmita. 
 
 " Whether he is Volodyovski, or not, may his hands be 
 holy, may God m ke him hetman ! " 
 
 Pan Andrei fell into deep thought. Evidently he was 
 going by the same road over which a few days before 
 Volodyovski had marched with the Lauda men. In fact, 
 that was natural, for both were going to Podlyasye. But 
 it occurred to Pan Andrei that if he hastened he might 
 easily meet the little knight and be captured ; in that ease, 
 
;h them 
 e forest 
 >M Pan 
 
 , Kmita 
 8. The 
 than a 
 ^8 men, 
 attack, 
 n all the 
 t for un- 
 said the 
 odgings, 
 ns. We 
 ley were 
 ans, and 
 ihe more 
 
 ba. 
 
 rho they 
 
 r horses, 
 
 ygo?" 
 
 t to the 
 |e woods, 
 under- 
 ould not 
 
 there- 
 Fho com- 
 
 |e talked 
 needle. 
 
 lands be 
 
 he was 
 before 
 lln fact, 
 >e. But 
 might 
 Lat case, 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 aes 
 
 all the letters of Badzivill would fall with him into pos- 
 session of the confederates. Such an event might d!estroy 
 his mission, and bring God knows what harm to the cause 
 of Badzivill. For this reason Pan Andrei determined to 
 stay a couple of days in Pilvishki, so that the ^c^uadron of 
 Lauda might have time to advance as far as possible. 
 
 The men, as well as the horses, travelling almost with 
 one sweep from Kvedani (for only short halts had been 
 given on the road hitherto), needed rest ; therefore Kmita 
 ordered the soldiers to remove the packs from the horses 
 and settle themselves comfortably in the inn. 
 
 Next day he was convinced that he had acted not only 
 cleverly but wisely, for scarcely had he dressed in the 
 moriiing, when his host stood bemre him. 
 
 " I bring news to your grace," said he. 
 
 "It is good?" 
 
 "Neither good nor bad, but that we have guests. An 
 enormous court arrived here to-day, and stopped at the 
 starosta's house. There is a regiment of infantry, and 
 what crowds of cavalry and carriages with servants ! — 
 The people thought that the king himself had come." 
 
 "What king?" 
 
 The innkeeper began to turn his cap in his hand. " It is 
 true that we have two kings now, but neither one came, — 
 only the prince marshal." 
 
 Kmita sprang to his feet. " What prince marshal ? 
 Prince Boguslav ? " 
 
 " Yes, your grace ; the cousin of the prince voevoda 
 of Vilna." 
 
 Pan Andrei clapped his hands from astonishment. " And 
 so we have met." 
 
 The innkeeper, understanding that his guest was an 
 acquaintance of Prince Boguslav, made a lower bow than 
 the day before, and went out of the room ; but Kmita be- 
 gan to dress in haste, and an hour later was before the 
 house of the starosta. 
 
 The whole place was swarming with soldiers. The in- 
 fantry were stacking their muskets on the square ; the 
 cavalry had dismounted and occupied the houses at the 
 side. The soldiers and attendants m the most varied cos- 
 tumes had halted before 'the houses, or wore walking 
 along the streets. From the mouths of the officers were 
 to be heard French and German. Nowhere a Polish sol- 
 dier, nowhere a Polish uniform ; the musketeers and dr»* 
 
366 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 goons were dressed in strange fashion, different, indeed, 
 from the foreign squadrons which Pan Andrei had seen in 
 Kyedani, fdr they were not in German but in French 'style. 
 The soldiers, handsome men and so showy that each one 
 in the ranks might be taken for an officer, delighted the 
 eyes of Pan Andrei. The officers looked on him also with 
 curiosity, for he had arrayed himself richly in velvet and 
 bi-ocadp, and six men, dressed in new uniforms, followed 
 him as a suite. 
 
 Attendants, all dressed in French fashion, were hurry- 
 ing about in front of the starosta's house ; there were 
 pages in caps and feathers, armor-bearers in velvet kaftans, 
 and equerries in Swedish, high, wide-legged boots. 
 
 Evidently the prince did not intend to tarry long in 
 Pilvishki, and had stopped only for refreshment, for the 
 carriages were not taken to the shed ; and the equerries, 
 in waiting, were feeding horses out of tin sieves which 
 they held in 'their hands. 
 
 Kmita announced to an officer on guard before the house 
 who he was and what was his mission ; the officer went to 
 inform the prince. After a while he returned hastily, to 
 say that the prince was anxious to see a man sent from the 
 hetman ; and showing Kmita the way, he entered the house 
 with him. 
 
 After they had passed the antechamber, they found in 
 the dining-hall a number of attendants, with legs stretched 
 out, slumbering sweetly in arm-chairs ; it was evident that 
 they must have started early in the morning from the last 
 halting-place. The officer stopped before the door of the 
 next room, and bowing to Pan Andrei, said, — 
 
 " The prince is there." 
 
 Pan Andrei entered and stopped at the threshold. The 
 prince was sitting before a mirror fixed in the corner of 
 the room, and was looking so intently at his own face, ap- 
 parently just toxiched with rouge ?nd white, that he did 
 not turn attention to the incomer. Two chamber servants, 
 kneeling before him, were fastening buckles at the ankles on 
 his high travelling-boots, while he was arranging slowly with 
 his fingers the. luxuriant, evenly cut forelock of his oright 
 gold-colored wig, or it might be of his own abundant hair. 
 
 He was still a young man, of thirty-five years, but seemed 
 not more than five and twenty. Kmita knew the prince, 
 but looked on him always with curiosity : first, because of 
 the great knightly fame which surrounded him, and which 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 367 
 
 indeed, 
 seen in 
 h style, 
 iioh one 
 ted the 
 80 with 
 vret and 
 bllowed 
 
 I hurry- 
 re wen» 
 kaftans. 
 
 long in 
 for the 
 [uerries, 
 i which 
 
 e house 
 went to 
 stily, to 
 rom the 
 e house 
 
 )und in 
 
 retched 
 
 nt that 
 
 he last 
 
 of the 
 
 The 
 rner of 
 Euje, ap- 
 he did 
 irvants, 
 kles on 
 ly with 
 bright 
 hair, 
 seemed 
 prince, 
 mse of 
 which 
 
 was won mainly through duels fought with various foreign 
 magnates ; second, by reason of his peculiar figure, — whoso 
 saw his form once was forced to remember it ever after. 
 The prince was tall and powerfully built, but on his broad 
 shoulders stood a head as diminutive as if taken from an- 
 other body. His face, also, was uncommonly small, al- 
 most childlike ; but in it, too, there was no proportion, for 
 he had a great Boman nose and enormous eyes of unspeak- 
 able beauty and brightness, with a real eagle boldness of 
 glance. In presence of those eyes and the nose, the rest 
 of his face, surrounded, moreover, with plentiful tresses 
 of hair, disappeared almost completely; his mouth was 
 almost that of a child; above it was a slight mustache 
 barely covering his upper lip. The delicacy of his com- 
 plexion, heightened by rouge and white paint, made him 
 almost like a youhg lady ; and at the same time the inso- 
 lence, pride, and self-confidence depicted in that face per- 
 mitted no one to forget that he was that chercheur de 
 noises (seeker of quarrels), as he was nicknamed at the 
 French court, — a man out of whose mouth a sharp word 
 came with ease, but whose sword came from its scabbard 
 with still greater ease. 
 
 In Germany, in Holland, in France, they related marvels 
 of his military deeds, of his disputes, quarrels, adventures, 
 and duels. He was the man who in Holland rushed into 
 the thickest whirl of battle, among the incomparable regi- 
 ments of Spanish infantry, and with his own princely hand 
 captured a flag and a cannon ; he, at the head of the regi- 
 ments of the Prince of Orange, captured batteries declared 
 by old leaders to be beyond capture ; he, on the Rhine, at 
 the head of French musketeers, shattered the heavy squad- 
 rons of Germany, trained in the Thirty Years' War ; he 
 wounded, in a duel in France, the most celebrated fencer 
 among French knights. Prince de Fremouille; another 
 famous fighter. Baron Von Goetz, begged of him life, on 
 his knees; he wounded Baron Grot, for which b had to 
 hear bitter reproaches from his cousin Yanush, because he 
 was lowering his dignity as prince by fighting with men 
 beneath him in rank; finally, in presence of the whole 
 French court, at a ball in the Louvre, he slapped Marquis 
 
 « 
 
 un- 
 
 de Rieux on the face, because he had spoken to him 
 becomingly.^' The duels that he had fought incognito in 
 smaller towns, in taverns and inns, did not enter into 
 reckoning. 
 
368 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 He was a mixture of efFeminaoy and unbounded daring. 
 During rare and short visits to his native land he amused 
 himself by quarrels with the Sapyehas, and with hunting ; 
 but on those occasions the hunters had to find for him she- 
 bears with their young, as being dangerous and enraged; 
 against these he went armed onlv with a spear. 
 
 But it was tedious for him in his own country, to which 
 he came, as wa-j said, unwillingly, most frequently in time 
 of war; he distinguished himself by great victories .at 
 Herestechko, MogilyofF, and Smolensk. War was his ele- 
 ment, though he had a mind c^uick and subtle, equally 
 fitted for intrigues and diplomatic exploits. In these he 
 knew how to be patient and enduring, far more enduring 
 than in the "loves," of which a whole series completed 
 the history of his life. The prince, at the courts where he 
 had resided, was the terror of husbands who had beautiful 
 wives. For that reason, doubtless, he was not yet married, 
 though his h)gh birth and almost inexhaustible fortune 
 made him one of the most desirable matches in Europe. 
 The King and Queen of France, Marya Ludvika of Poland, 
 the Piince of Orange, and his uncle, the Elector of Bran- 
 denburg, tried to make matches for him ; but so far he 
 preferred his freedom. 
 
 " I do not want a dower," said he, cynically ; " and of the 
 other pleasures I have no lack as I am." 
 
 In this fashion he reached the thirty-fifth year of his 
 age. 
 
 Kmita, standing on the threshold, examined with curios- 
 ity Boguslav's face, which the mirror reflected, while he 
 was arranging with seriousness the hair of his forelock; 
 at last, when Pan Andrei coughed once and a second time, 
 he said, without turning his head, — 
 
 " But who is present ? Is it a messenger from the prince 
 voevoda ? " 
 
 " Not a messenger, but from the prince voevoda," replied 
 Pan Andrei. 
 
 Then the prince turned his head, and seeing a brilliant 
 young man, recognized th?.t he had not ' to do with an 
 ordinary servant. 
 
 " Pardon, Cavalier," said he, affably, " for I see that I was 
 mistaken iu the office of the person. But your face is known 
 to me, though I am not able to recall your name. You are 
 an attendant of the prince hetman ? " 
 
 " My name is Kmita," answered Pan Andrei, " and I am 
 
 no 
 br 
 
 th( 
 nol 
 yoj 
 
 ful 
 
 wh 
 
 cut 
 i 
 
 ma 
 
THE DELUGi::. 
 
 309 
 
 )rmoe 
 
 jplied 
 
 [Uiant 
 Ih an 
 
 ll am 
 
 not an attendant; I am a colonel from the time that I 
 brougt ir>y own squadron to the prince hetman." 
 
 " Kmita I " cried the prince, '< that same Kmita, famous in 
 the last war, who harried Hovanski, and later on managed 
 not worse on his own account ? I liave heard much about 
 you." 
 
 Having said this, the prince began to look more care- 
 fully and with a certain i)lea8ure ut Tan Andrei, for from 
 what he had heard he thought him a man of his own 
 cut. 
 
 " Sit down," said he, " I am glad to know you more inti- 
 mately. And what is to be heard in Kyedani ? " 
 
 "I^re is a letter from the prince hetman," answered 
 Kmita. 
 
 The servants, having finished buckling the prince's bootsj 
 went out. The prince broke the seal and l)egan to read. 
 After a while there was an expression of weariness and 
 dissatisfaction on his face. He threw the letter under the 
 Uii rror and said, — 
 
 "Nothing new 1 The prince voevoda advises me to go to 
 Prussia, to Tyltsa or to Taurogi, which, as you see, I am 
 just doing. Mafoif I do not understand my cousin. He 
 reports to me that the elector is in Brandenburg, and that 
 he cannot make his way to Prussia through the Swedes, 
 and he writes at the same time that the hairs are standing 
 on his head because I do not communicate with him, either 
 for health or prescription ; and how can I ? If the elector 
 cannot make his way through the Swedes, how can my 
 messenger do so ? I am in Podlyasye, for I have nothing 
 else to do. I tell you, my cavalier, that I am as much 
 l)ored as the devil doing penance. I have speared all the 
 bears near Tykotsin ; the fair heads of that region have the 
 odor of sheepskin, which my nostrils cannot endure. But — 
 Do you understand French or German ? " 
 
 " I understand German," answered Kmita. 
 
 " Praise be to God for that ! I will speak German, for 
 my lips fly off from your language '* 
 
 When he had said this the prince put out his lower lip 
 and touched it with his fingers, as if wishing to be sure 
 that it had not gone off : then he looked at the mirror and 
 continued, — 
 
 "Report has come to me that in the neighborhood of 
 Lukovo one Skf^hetuski, a noble, has a wife of wonderful 
 beauty. It is far from here ; but I sent men to carry her 
 vol.. I. — 24 
 
: 
 
 370 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 off and bring her. Now, if you will believe it, Pan Kmita, 
 they did not Und her at home." 
 
 " That was good luck," said l*an Andrei, " for she is the 
 \vife of an honorable cavalier, a celobratcd man, who made his 
 way out of Zbaraj through the whole power of Hmelnitski." 
 
 "The husband was besieged in Zbaraj, and I wouhl have 
 besieged the wife in Tykotsin. Do you think she would 
 have held out as stubbornly as her husband V " 
 
 " Your highness, for such a siege a counsel of war is not 
 needed, lot it pats without my opinion," answered Pan 
 Andrei, brusquely. 
 
 " True, loss of time 1 " said the prince. " Let us return to 
 business. Have you any letters yet ? " 
 
 " What I had to your highness I have delivered ; besides 
 those I have one to the King of Sweden. Is it known t;D 
 your highness where I must seek him ? " 
 
 " I know nothing. What can ^ know ? He is not in 
 Tykotsin ; I oian assure you of that, for if he had once seen 
 that place he would have resigned his dominion over the 
 whole Commonwealth. Warsaw is now in Swedish hands, 
 but you will not find the king there. He must be before 
 Cracow, or in Cracow itself, if ho has not gone to Boyal 
 Prussia by this time. To my thinking Karl Oustav must 
 keep the Pruss'an towns in mind, for he cannot lyave them 
 in his rear. Who would have expected, when the whole 
 Commonwealth abandons its king, when all the nobles ioin 
 the Swedes, when the provinces yield one after thv3 other, 
 that just then towns, German and Protestant, would not 
 hear of the Swedes but prepare for resistance ? The^ wish 
 to save the Commonwealth and adhere to Yan Kazimir. In 
 beginning our work we thought»that it would be otherwise : 
 that before all they would help us and the Swedes to cut 
 that loaf which you call your Commonwealth; but now 
 they won't move I The luck is that the elector has his eye 
 on them. He has offered them forces already agaiubt tno 
 Swedes ; but the Dantzig people do not trust himj and say- 
 that they have forces enough of their own." 
 
 " We knew that already in Kyedani," said Kmita. 
 
 " If they have not forces enough, in every case they have 
 a good sniff," continued the prince, laughing; "for the 
 elector cares as much, I think, about the uommonwealth as 
 I do, or as the prince voevoda of Vilna does." 
 
 " Your highness, permit me to deny that," said Kmita, 
 abruptly. " The prince cares that much about the Common- 
 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 371 
 
 Kmitay 
 
 le is the 
 iiade his 
 litski." 
 h! have 
 ) would 
 
 r is not 
 ed Pan 
 
 eturn to 
 
 besides 
 aown t:3 
 
 } not in 
 
 tice seen 
 
 )ver the 
 
 I hands, 
 
 9 before 
 
 o Royal 
 
 IV must 
 
 re them 
 
 whole 
 
 es join 
 
 other, 
 
 uld not 
 
 e^ wish 
 
 iir. In 
 
 erwise : 
 
 to cut 
 
 it now 
 
 lis eye 
 
 tibt tne 
 
 nd sa^ 
 
 y have 
 'or the 
 ilth as 
 
 Imita, 
 imon> 
 
 
 wealth that he is ready at every moment to give his last 
 breath and spill his last blood for it" 
 
 Prinoe Boguslav besan to laugh. 
 
 "You are young, Cavalier, young I But enough I My 
 uncle the elector wants to grab Eoyal Prussia, and for 
 that reason onlv, he offers his aid. If he has the towns 
 once in hand, it he has his garrisons in them, he will bo 
 ready to agree with the Swedes next day, nay, even with 
 the Turks . r with devils. Let the Swedes add a bit of 
 Great Poland, he will be ready to help them with all his 
 power to take the rest. The only trouble is in this, that 
 the Swedes are sharpening their teeth against Prussia, and 
 hence the distrust between them and the elector." 
 
 " I hear with astonishment the words of your highness," 
 said Kmita. 
 
 " The devils were taking me in Podlyasyc," answered the 
 prinoe, — •*! had to stay there so long in idleness. But 
 what was I to do ? An agreement was made between me 
 and the prince voevoda, that until affairs were cleared up 
 in Prussia, I was not to take the Swedish side publicly. 
 And that was right, for thus a gate remains open. I sent 
 even secret couriers to Yan Kazimir, announcing that I was 
 ready to sunimon the general militia in Podlyasye if a 
 manifesto were sent me. The king, as king, might have 
 let himself be tricked ; but the queen it is clear does not 
 trust me, and must have advised against it. If it were not 
 for that woman, I should be to-day at the head of all the 
 nobles of Podlyasye ; and what is more, those confederates 
 who are now ravaging the property of Prince Yanush 
 would have no choice but to come under my orders. I 
 should have declared myself a partisan of Yan Kazimir, 
 but, in fact, having power in my hand, would treat with 
 the Swedes. But that woman knows how grass grc-, i, r ^d 
 guesses the most secret thought. She is the real ^ijvg uot 
 queen 1 She has more wit in one finger than Yan K jmir 
 in his whole body." 
 
 " The prince voevoda — " began Kmita. 
 
 " The prince voevoda," interrupted Boguslav, with im- 
 patience, " is eternally late with his counsel ; he writes to 
 me in every letter, 'Do this and do that,' while I have in 
 fact done it long before. Besides, the prince voevoda loses 
 his head. For listen what he asks of me." 
 
 Here the prince took up the letter and began to read 
 aloud,— 
 
372 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ** B« oautioiu rself on the road; and those rasoaLi, the ooa' 
 federates, who hav^c iiutinied against me and are ravaging Podly- 
 asye, for God's sake think how to disperse them, lest they go to the 
 king. They are preparing to visit Zabludovo, and beer in that 
 place is strong ; Wnen they get drunk, let them be out off, — each 
 nost may finish his guest. Nothing better is needed ; for when the 
 heads are removed, the rest will scatter — " 
 
 Boguslav threw the letter with vexation on the table. 
 
 " Listen, Pan Kmita," said he, " you see I have to go to 
 Prussia and at the same time arrange a slaughter in Zablu- 
 dovo. I must feign myself a partisan of Yan Kazimir and 
 a patriot, and at the same time cut off those people who 
 are unwilling to betray the king and the country. Is that 
 sense ? Does one hang to the other ? Mafoi, the prince 
 is losing his head. I have met now, while coming to Pil- 
 vishki, a whole insurgent squadron travelling along through 
 Podlyasye. I should have galloped over their stomachs with 
 gladness, even (to gain some amusement; but before I am 
 an open partisan of the Swedes, while my uncle the elector 
 holds formally with the Prussian towns, and with Yan 
 Kazimir too, I cannot permit myself such pleasure, God 
 knows I cannot. What could I do more than to be polite 
 to those insurgents, as they are polite to me, suspecting me 
 of an understanding with the hetman, but not having 
 black on white ? " 
 
 ' Here the prince lay back comfortably in the armchair, 
 stretched out his legs, and putting his hands behind his 
 head carelessly, began to repeat, — 
 
 '* Ah, there is nonsense in this Commonwealth, nonsense ! 
 In the world there is nothing like it ! " 
 
 Then he was silent for a moment ; evidently some idea 
 came to his head, for he struck his wig and inquired, — 
 
 " But will you not be in Podlyasye ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Kmita, " I must be there, for I have a letter 
 with instructions to Harasimovich, the under-starosta in 
 Zabludovo." 
 
 " In God's name I " exclaimed the prince, " Harasimovich 
 is here with me. He is going with the hetman's effects 
 to Prussia, for we were afraid that they might fall into 
 the hands of the confederates. Wait, I will have him 
 summoned." 
 
 Here the prince summoned a servant and ordered him to 
 call the under-starosta. 
 
 " This has happened well," said the prince. " You will 
 
 c 
 s 
 
THB DELUOti. 
 
 373 
 
 BaVd yourself a Jourtiey, — though it may be too had that 
 you will not visit Podlyasye, for among the heads, of the 
 confederacy there is a namesake of yours whom you might 
 secure." 
 
 " I have no time for that," said Kmita, " since I am in a 
 hurry to go to the king and Pan Lyubomirski." 
 
 " Ah, you have a letter to the marshal of the kingdom ? 
 Well, I can divine the reason of it. Once the marshal 
 thought of marrying his son to Yanush's daughter. Did 
 not the hetman wish this time to renew negotiations 
 delicately ? " 
 
 " That is just the mission." 
 
 " Both are quite children. H'm ! that 's a delicate mis- 
 sion, for it does not become the hetman to speak first. 
 Besides — " 
 
 Here the prince frowned. 
 
 *' Nothing will come of it. The daughter of the hetman 
 is not for Heraclius, I tell you that ! The prince hetman 
 must understand that his fortune is to remain in possession 
 of the Radzivills." 
 
 Kmita looked with astonishmenf n the prince, who was 
 walking with quicker and quicker ^ ace through the room. 
 
 All at once he stopped before Pan Andrei, and said, 
 "Give me the, word of a cavalier that you will answer 
 truly my question." 
 
 " Gracious prince," said Kmita, " only those lie who are 
 afraid, and I fear no man." 
 
 " Did the prince voevoda give orders to keep secret from 
 me the negotiations with Lyubomirski ? " 
 
 " Had I such a command, I should not have mentioned 
 Lyubomirski." 
 
 " It might have slipped you. Give me your word." 
 
 " I give it," said Kmita, frowning. 
 
 " You have taken a weight from my heart, for I thought 
 that the voevoda was playing a double game with me." 
 
 " I do not understand, your highness." 
 
 " I would not marry, in France, Rohan, not counting half 
 threescore other princesses whom they were giving me. 
 Do you know why ? " 
 
 « I do not." 
 
 " There is an agreement between me and the prince 
 voevoda that his daughter and his fortune are growing up 
 for me. As a faithful servant of the Radzivills, you may 
 know everything." 
 
374 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " Thank you for the oonfldenoe. But your highness is 
 mistaken. I am not a servant of the Kadzivills." 
 
 Boguslav opened his eyes widely. " What are you ? " 
 
 "I am a colonel of the hetman, not of the castle ; and 
 besides I am the hetmau's relative." 
 
 "A relative?" 
 
 '* I am related to the Kishkis, and the hetman is born of 
 a Kishki." 
 
 Prince Boguslav looked for a while at Kmita, on whose 
 face a light flush appeared. All at once he stretched forth 
 his hands and laid, — 
 
 « I beg your pardon, cousin, and I am glad of the rela- 
 tionship." 
 
 The last words were uttered with a certain inattentive 
 though showy politeness, in which there was something 
 directly painful to Pan Andrei. His face flushed still more, 
 and he was opening his mouth to say something hasty, 
 when the door ) opened and Harasimovich api>eared on the 
 threshold. 
 
 " There is a letter for you," said Boguslav. 
 
 Harasimovich bowed to the prince, and then to Pan 
 Andrei, who gave him the letter. 
 
 " Bead it I " said Prince Boguslav. 
 
 Harasimovich began to read, — 
 
 " Pan Harasiroovich ! Now is the time to show the good will of 
 a faithful servant to his lord. As whatever money you ara able to 
 collect, you in Zabludovo and Pan Pjinski in Orel — " 
 
 "The confederates have slain Pan Piinski in Orel, for 
 which reason Pan Harasimovich has taken to his heels," 
 interrupted the prince. 
 
 The under-starosta bowed and 'read further, — 
 
 " — and Pan Pjinski in Orel, even the public revenue, even the 
 excise, rent — " 
 
 " The confederates h£tve already taken them," interrupted 
 Boguslav again. 
 
 " — send me at once," continued Harasimovich. ** If you can 
 mortgage some villages to neighbors or townspeople, obtaining as 
 much money on them as possible, do so, and whatever means there 
 may be of obtaining money, do your best in the matter, and send 
 the money to me. Send horses and whatever effects there are in 
 Orel. There is a great candlestick too, and other things, — pic- 
 tures, ornaments, and especially the cannons on the porch at my 
 cousins; for robbers may be feared — " 
 
 u , 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 375 
 
 " Again counsel too late, for these cannons are going with 
 me," said the prince. 
 
 •« If they are heavy with the stooks, then take them without the 
 iitooks and cover th«tn, so it may not be known that you are brinff- 
 ing them. And take tliese things to Prussia with all spetsd, avoid- 
 iug with utmost oare those traitors who have oaiuted mutiny in my 
 army and are ravaging my estates — " 
 
 " As to ravaging, they are ravaging ! They are pounding 
 them into dough." interrupted the prince anew. 
 
 ** — ravaging my estates, and are preparing to move against Zablu- 
 dovo on their way perhaps to the icing. With them it is diiAoult 
 to fight, for they are raanv ; but if they are admitted, and given 
 plenty to drink, and killed in the night while asleep (ever^ host 
 can do that), or poisoned in strong beer, or (which is not difficult 
 in that place) a wild crowd let in to plunder them — " 
 
 "Well, that is nothing new!" said Prince Boguslav. 
 " You may journey with me, ]*an Ilarasimovich." 
 
 "There is still a supplement," said the under-starosta. 
 And he read on, • 
 
 ** The wines, if you cannot bring them away (for with us such 
 can be had nowhere), koU them quickly — " 
 
 Here Harasimovich stopped and seized himself by the 
 head, — 
 
 " For God's sake ! those wines are coming half a day's 
 road behind us, and surely have fallen into the hands of 
 that insurgent squadron which was hovering around us. 
 There will be a loss of some thousands of gold pieces. Let 
 your highness give witness with me that you commanded 
 me to wait till the barrels were packed in the wagons." 
 
 Harasimovich's terror would have been still greater had 
 he known Pan Zagloba, and hud ho known that he was in 
 that very squadron. Meanwhile Prince Boguslav smiled 
 and said, — 
 
 " Oh, let the wines be to their health ! Bead on ! 
 
 ** — if a me> chant cannot be found — " 
 
 Prince Boguslav now held his sides from laughter. " He 
 has been found," said he, '' but you must sell to him on 
 credit." 
 
 « — but if a merchant cannot be found,'* read Harasimovich, in 
 a complaining voice, ■' bury it iu the ground secretly, so that more 
 
576 
 
 ^flE b^LtJGfi. 
 
 II ! 
 
 tlian two should not know where it is ; but leave a keg«in Orel and 
 one in Zabludovo, and those of the best and sweetest, so that the 
 officers may take a liking to it; and put in plenty of poison, so that 
 the officers < at least may be killed, then the sqjuadron wiU break 
 up. For God's sake, serve me faithfully in this, and secretly, for 
 the mercy of God. Burn what I write, and whoso finds out any- 
 thing send him to me. Either the confederates will find and drink 
 the wine, or it may be given as a present to make them friendly." 
 
 The under-starosta finished reading, and looked at Prince 
 Boguslav, as if waiting for instructions; and the prince 
 said, — 
 
 " I see that my cousin pays much attention to the confed- 
 erates ; it is only a pity that, as usual, he is too late. If he 
 had '^ome upon this plan two weeks ago, or even one week, 
 it i^ight have been tried. But now go with God, Pan 
 Harasimovich ; I do not need you." 
 
 Harasimovich bowed and went out. 
 
 Prince Boguslav stood before the mirror, and 
 examine his' own figure carefully ; he moved 
 
 began to 
 his h3ad 
 slightly from right to left, then stepped back from the 
 mirror, then approached it, then shook his curls, then 
 looked askance, not paying any attention to Kmita, who 
 sat in the shade with his back turned to the window. 
 
 But if he had cast even one look at Pan Andrei's face he 
 would have seen that in the young envoy something won- 
 derful was taking place ; for Kmita's face was pale, on his 
 forehead stood thick drops of sweat, and his hands shook 
 convulsively. After a while he rose from the chair, but 
 sat down again immediately, like a man struggling with 
 himself and suppressing an outburst of anger or despair. 
 Finally his features settled and became fixed ; evidently he 
 4iad with his whole strong force of will and energy enjoined 
 calm on himself and gained complete self-control. 
 
 " Your highness," said he, " from the confidence which 
 the prince hetman bestows on me you see that he does not 
 wish to make a secret of anything. I belong scul and sub- 
 stance to his work ; with him and your highrxess my for- 
 tune may increase ; therefore, whither you both go, thither 
 go I also. I am ready for everything. But though I serve 
 in those affairs and am occupied in them, still 1 do not of 
 course understand everything perfectly, nor can I penetrate 
 all the secrets of them with my weak wit." 
 
 "What do you wish then, Sir Cavalier, or rather, fair 
 cousin ? " 
 
\ 
 
 i 
 
 1 Orel and 
 > that the 
 on, so that 
 «?iU break 
 icretly, for 
 s out any- 
 aud drink 
 riendly." 
 
 at Prince 
 le prince 
 
 e confed- 
 te. If he 
 ine week, 
 Jod, Pan 
 
 began to 
 
 his h3ad 
 
 from the 
 
 rls, then 
 
 lita, who 
 
 ndow. 
 
 s face he 
 
 ing won- 
 
 e, on his 
 
 is shook 
 
 hair, but 
 
 ing with 
 
 despair. 
 
 ently he 
 
 enjoined 
 
 e which 
 does not 
 and sub- 
 my for- 
 , thither 
 1 1 serve 
 D not of 
 enetrate 
 
 ler, fair 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 377 
 
 **1 ask instruf>tion, your highness; it would be a shame 
 indeed were I unable to learn at the side of such stateshien. 
 I know not whether your highness will be j^leased to 
 answer me without reserve — " 
 
 " That will depend on your question and on my humor," 
 answeriid Boguslav, not ceasing to look at the mirror. 
 
 Kmita's eyes glittered for a moment, but he continued 
 calmly, — 
 
 " This is my question : The prince voevoda of Vilna 
 shields all his acts with the good and salvation of the Com- 
 monwealth, so that in fact the Commonwealth is never 
 absent from his lips ; be pleased to tell me sincerely, are 
 these mere pretexts, or has the hetman in truth nothing 
 but the good of the Commonwealth in view ? " 
 
 Boguslav cast a quick glance on Pan Andrei. ** If I should 
 say that they are pretexts, would you give further service ? " 
 
 Kmita shrugged his shoulders carelessly. " Of course I 
 As I have said, my fortune will increase with the fortune of 
 your highness and that of the hetman. If that increase 
 
 comes, the rest is all one to me." 
 
 " You will be a man ! Eemember that I foretell this. 
 But why has my cousin not spoken openly with you ? " 
 
 "Maybe because he is squeamish, or just because it did 
 not happen to be the topic." 
 
 " You have quick wit. Cousin Cavalier, for it is the real 
 truth that he is squeamish and shows his true skin unwil- 
 lingly. As God is dear to me, true ! Such is his nature. 
 So, even in talking with me, the moment he forgets himself 
 he begins to adorn his speech with love for the country. 
 When I laugh at him to his eyes, he comes to his senses. 
 True ! true ! " 
 
 " Then it is merely a pretext ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 The prince turjied the chair around and sat astride of it, 
 as on a horse, and resting his arms on the back of it was 
 silent awhile, as if in thought ; then he said, — 
 
 " Hear me. Pan Kmita. If we Radzivills lived in Spain, 
 Ji'rance, or Sweden, where the son inherits after the father, 
 and. where the right of the king comes from God himself, 
 then, leaving aside civil war, extinction of the royal stock, 
 or some uncommon event, we should serve the king and the 
 country firmly, being content with the highest offices which 
 belong to us by family and fortune. But here, in the land 
 where the king has not divine right at his back, but tha no- 
 bles create him, where everything is in free suffrage, we ask 
 
 i 
 
378 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 II 
 
 ourselves with reason, — Why should a Vaza rule, and not 
 a Radzivill ? There is no objection so far as the Vazas are 
 concerned, for they take their origin from hereditary kings ; 
 but who will assure us, who will guarantee that after the 
 Vazas the nobles will not have the whim of seating on the 
 throne of the kingdom and on the throne of the Grand 
 Principality even Pan Harasimovich, or some Pan Mye- 
 leshko, or some Pan Pyeglasyevich from Psivolki ? Tfu I 
 can I guess whom they may fancy ? And must we, Badzi- 
 vills, and princes of the German Empire, come to kiss the 
 hand of King Pyeglasyevich? Tfu! to all the horned 
 devils, Cavalier, it is time to finish with this ! Look 
 meanwhile at Germany, — how many provincial princes 
 there, who in importance and fortune are fitted to be under- 
 starostas for us. Still they have their principalities, they 
 rule, wear crowns on their heads, and take precedence of 
 us, though it« would be fitter for them to bear the trains of 
 our mantles. It is time to put an end to this, and accom- 
 plish that which was already planned by my father." 
 
 Here the prince grew vivacious, rose from the chair, and 
 began to walk through the room. 
 
 " This will not take place without difficulty and obsta- 
 cles," continued he, " for the Radzivills of Olyta and Nyes- 
 vyej are not willing to aid us. I know that Prince Michael 
 wrote to my cousin that he would better think of a hair-shirt 
 than of a royal mantle. Let him think of a hair-shirt him- 
 self, let him do penance, let him sit on ashes, let the Jesuits 
 lash his skin with disciplines ; if he is content with being 
 a royal carver, let him carve capons virtuously all his vir- 
 tuous life, till his virtuous de^th ! We shall get on with- 
 out him and not drop our hands, for just now is the time. 
 The devils are taking the Commonwealth ; for now it is so 
 weak, has gone to such dogs, that it cannot drive them away. 
 Every one is crawling in over its boundaries, as into an un- 
 fenced garden. What has happened here with the Swedes 
 has happened nowhere on earth to this day. We, Sir Cav- 
 alier, may sing in truth ' Te Deum laudamus.' In its way the 
 event is unheard of, unparalleled. Just think : an invader 
 attacks a country, an invader famous for rapacity ; and not 
 only does he not find resistance, but every living man deserts 
 his old king and hurries to a new one, — magnates, nobles, 
 the army, castles, towns, all, — without honor, without fame, 
 without feeling, without shame ! History gives not another 
 such example. Tfu ! tfu ! trash inhabit this country, — 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 379 
 
 , and not 
 Vazas are 
 ry kings ; 
 after the 
 ag on the 
 lie Grand 
 Pan Mye- 
 :i? Tful 
 ve, Radzi- 
 > kiss the 
 le horned 
 s! Look 
 ,1 princes 
 be under- 
 ities, they 
 edence of 
 ) trains of 
 ad accom- 
 er." 
 chair, and 
 
 ,nd obsta- 
 ind Nyes- 
 e Michael 
 hair-shirt 
 shirt him- 
 le Jesuits 
 th being 
 . his vir- 
 on with- 
 the time, 
 iw it is so 
 em away, 
 ito an un- 
 le Swedes 
 Sir Cav- 
 ;s way the 
 invader 
 and not 
 ,n deserts 
 s, nobles, 
 out fame, 
 t another 
 luntry, — 
 
 men without conscience or ambition. And is such a country 
 not to perish ? They are looking for our favor ! Ye will 
 have favor ! In Great Poland already the Swedes are thumb- 
 screwing nobles ; and so will it be everywhere, — it cannot 
 be otherwise." 
 
 Kmita grew paler and paler, but with the remnant of his 
 strength he held in curb an outburst of fury ; the prince, 
 absorbed in his own speech, delighted with his own words, 
 with his own wisdom, paid no attention to his listener, and 
 continued, — 
 
 " There is a custom in this land that when a man is dying 
 his relatives at the last moment pull the pillow from under 
 his head, so that he may not suffer longer. I and the prince 
 voevoda of Vilna have determined to render this special ser- 
 vice to the Commonwealth. But because many plunderers 
 are watching for the inheritance and we cannot get it all, we 
 wish that a part, and that no small one, should come to us. 
 As relatives, we have that right. If with this comparison I 
 have not spoken on a level with your understanding, and have 
 not been able to hit the point, I will tell you in other words : 
 Suppose the Commonwealth a red cloth at which are pulling 
 the Swedes, Hmelnitski, the Hyperboreans,^ the Tartars, the 
 elector, and whosoever lives around. But I and the prince 
 voevoda of Vilna have agreed that enough of that cloth must 
 remain in our hands to make a robe for us ; therefore we do 
 not prevent the dragging, but we drag ourselves. Let Hmel- 
 nitski stay in the Ukraine ; let the Swedes and the elector 
 settle about Prussia and Great Poland ; let Rakotsy, or who- 
 ever is nearer, take Little Poland, — Lithuania must be for 
 Prince Yanush, and, together with his daughter, for me." 
 
 Kmita rose quickly. " I give thanks, your highness ; that 
 is all I wanted to know." 
 
 " You are going out, Sir Cavalier ? " 
 
 "lam." 
 
 The prince looked carefully at Kmita, and at that mom it 
 first noted his pallor and excitement. 
 
 "What is the matter. Pan Kmita?" asked he. "You 
 look like a ghost." 
 
 " Weariness has knocked me off my feet, and my head is 
 dizzy. Farewell, your highness ; I will come before starting, 
 to bow to you again." 
 
 " Make haste, then, for I start after midday mys 
 
 " I shall return in an hour at furthest." 
 
 ^ The RasBians. 
 
 » 
 
880 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 When he haH said this, Kmita bent his head and went out 
 In the other room the servants rose at sight of him, but he 
 passed like a drunken man, seeing no one. At the threshold 
 of the room he caught his head with both hands, and began 
 to repeat, almost with a groan, — 
 
 " Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews ! Jesus, Mary, 
 Joseph ! " 
 
 With tottering steps he passed through the guard, com- 
 posed of six men with halberds. Outside the gate were his 
 own men, the sergeant Soroka at the head of them. 
 
 " After me I '' called Kmita. And he moved through the 
 town toward the inn. 
 
 Soroka, an old soldier of Kmita's, knowing him perfectly, 
 noticed at once that something uncommon had happened to 
 the colonel. 
 
 " Let your soul be on guard," said he quietly to the men ^ 
 " woe to him on whom his anger falls now ! " 
 
 The soldiers hastened their steps in silence, but Kmita did 
 not go at a wUk ; he almost ran, waving his hand and repeat- 
 ing words well-nigh incoherent. 
 
 To the ears of Soroka came only broken phrases, — 
 
 " Poisoners, faith-breakers, traitors ! Crime and treason, — 
 the two are the same — " 
 
 Then he began to mention his old comrades. The names 
 Kokosinski, Kulvyets, Ranitski, Rekuts, and others fell from 
 his lips one after another ; a number of times he mentioned 
 Volodyovski. Soroka heard this with wonder, and grew 
 more and more alarmed ; but in his mind he thought, — 
 
 " Some one's blood will flow ; it cannot be otherwise." 
 
 Meanwhile they had come to the inn. Kmita shut him- 
 self in his room at once, and for about an hour he gave no 
 sign of life. The soldiers meanwhile had tied on the packs 
 and saddled the horses without order. 
 
 " That is no harm," said Soroka ; " it is necessary to be 
 ready for everything." 
 
 " We too are ready ! " answered the old fighters, moving 
 their mustaches. 
 
 In fact, it came out soon that Soroka knew his colonel 
 well ; for Kmita appeared suddenly in the front room, with 
 out a cap, in his trousers and shirt jnly. 
 
 " Saddle the horses ! " cried he. 
 
 "They are saddled." 
 
 " Fasten on the packs I " 
 
 " They are fastened." 
 
. went out 
 m, but he 
 threshold 
 md began 
 
 ms, Mary, 
 
 aard, com- 
 :e were his 
 n. 
 irough the 
 
 perfectly, 
 ippened to 
 
 ) the men ; 
 
 Kmita did 
 md repeat- 
 
 BS, 
 
 treason, — 
 
 The names 
 
 rs fell from 
 
 mentioned 
 
 and grew 
 
 ought, — 
 
 irwise." 
 
 shut him- 
 
 le gave no 
 
 the packs 
 
 }ary to be 
 
 rs, moving 
 
 lis colonel 
 oom, with 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 381 
 
 '* A ducat a man ! " cried the young colonel, who in spite 
 of all bis fever and excitement saw that those soldierS' had 
 guessed his thought quickly. 
 
 " We give thanks. Commander ! " cried all in chorus. 
 
 " Two men will take the pack-horses and go out of the place 
 immediately toward Dembova. Go slowly through the town ; 
 outside the town put the horses on a gallop, and stop not till 
 the forest is reached." 
 
 " According to cofaimand ! " 
 
 " Four others load their pistols. For me saddle two horses, 
 and let another be ready." 
 
 " I knew there would be something ! " muttered Soroka. 
 
 " Now, Sergeant, after me ! " cried Kmita. 
 
 And undressed as he was, in trousers only, and open shirt, 
 he went out of the front room. Soroka followed him, open- 
 ing his eyes widely with wonder ; they went in this fashion 
 to the well in the yard of the inn. Here Kmita stopped, 
 and pointing to the bucket hanging from the sweep, said, — 
 
 " Pour water on my head ! " 
 
 Soroka knew from experience how dangerous it was to ask 
 twice about an order ; he seized the rope, let the bucket down 
 into the water, drew up quickly, and taking the bucket in his 
 hands, threw the water on Pan Andrei, who, puffing and blow- 
 ing like a whale, rubbed his wet hair with his hands, and 
 cried, — 
 
 "Morel" 
 
 Soroka repeated the act, and threw water with all his force, 
 just as if he were putting out a fire. 
 
 " Enough ! " said Kmita, at length. " Follow me, help me 
 to dress." 
 
 Both went to the inn. At the gate they met the two men 
 going out with two pack-horses. 
 
 " Slowly through the town ; outside the town on a gallop ! " 
 commanded Kmita ; and he went in. 
 
 Half an hour later he appeared dressed completely, as if 
 for the road, with high boots and an elkskin coat, girded 
 with a leather belt into which was thrust a pistol. 
 
 The soldiers noticed, too, that from under his kaftan 
 gleamed the edge of chain mail, as if he were going to battle. 
 He had his sabre also girt high, so as to seize the hilt more 
 easily. His face was calm enough, but stern and threaten- 
 ing. Casting a glance at the soldiers to see if they were 
 ready and armed properly, he mounted his horse, and throw- 
 ing a ducat at the innkeeper, rode out of the place. 
 
382 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Soroka rode at his side; three others behind, leading a 
 horse. Soon they found themselves on the square tilled 
 by Boguslav's troops. There was movement among them 
 already ; evidently the command had come to prepare for 
 the road. The horsemen were tightening the girths of the 
 saddle and bridling the horses ; the infantry were taking 
 their muskets, stacked before the houses ; others were at- 
 taching horses to wagons. 
 
 Kmita started as it were from meditation. 
 
 "Hear me, old man," said he to Soroka; "from the 
 starosta's house does the road go on, — it will not be neces- 
 sary to come back through the square ? " 
 
 " But where are we going. Colonel ? " 
 
 "ToDembova." 
 
 "Then we must go from the square past the house. The 
 square will be behind us." 
 
 " It is well," said Kmita. 
 
 " Oh, if only those men were alive now ! Few are fitted 
 for work like this, — few ! " 
 
 Meanwhile they passed the square, and began to turn 
 toward the starosta's house, which lay about one furlong 
 and a half farther on, near the roadside. 
 
 " Stop ! " cried Kmita, suddenly. 
 
 The soldiers halted, and he turned to them. "Are you 
 ready for death ? " asked he, abruptly. 
 
 " Ready I " answered in chorus these dare-devils of Orsha. 
 
 " We crawled up to Hovanski's throat, and he did not de- 
 vour us, — do you remember ? " 
 
 " We remember ! " 
 
 " There is need to dare great things to-day. If success 
 comes, our gracious king will piake lords of you, —^ I guar- 
 antee that I If failure, you will go to the stake I " 
 
 " Why not success ? " asked Soroka, whose eyes began to 
 gleam like those of an old wolf. 
 
 " There will be success ! " said three others, — Biloiis, Zav- 
 ratynski, and Lubyenyets. 
 
 " We must carry off the prince marshal ! " said Kmita. 
 Then he was silent, wishing to see the impression which 
 the mad thought would make on the soldiers. But they 
 were silent too, and looked on him as on a rainbow ; only, 
 their mustaches quivered, and their faces became terrible 
 and murderous. 
 
 " The stake is near, the reward far away," added Kmita. 
 
 " There are few of us," muttered Zavratynski. 
 
leading a 
 are tilled 
 ong them 
 epare for 
 ihs of the 
 re taking 
 s were at- 
 
 frora the 
 be neces- 
 
 use. The 
 
 are fitted 
 
 n to turn 
 e furlong 
 
 "Are you 
 
 of Orsha, 
 id not de- 
 
 [f success 
 - 1 guar- 
 
 began to 
 
 foils, Zav- 
 
 Kmita. 
 )n which 
 Jut they 
 |w; only, 
 terrible 
 
 Kmita. 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 883 
 
 " It is worse than against Hovanski," said Lubyenyets. 
 
 "The troops are all in the market-square, and at the 
 houso are only the sentries and about twenty attendants," 
 said Kmita, " who are off their guard, and have not even 
 s\/ords at their sides." 
 
 " You risk your head ; why should we not risk ours ? " 
 said Soroka. 
 
 " Hear me," continued Kmita. " If we do not take him 
 by cunning, we shall not take him at all. Listen ! I will 
 go into the room, and after a time como out with the prince. 
 If the prince will sit on my horse, I w ill sit on the other, 
 and W8 will ride on. When we have ridden about a hun- 
 dred or a hundred and fifty yards, then seize him from 
 both sides by the shoulders, and gallop the horses with all 
 breath." 
 
 " According to order I " answered Soroka. 
 
 " If I do not come out," continued Kmita, " and you hear 
 a shot in the room, then open on the guards with pistols, 
 and give me the horse as I rush from the door." 
 
 " That will be done," answered Soroka. 
 
 " Forward ! " commanded Kmita. 
 
 They moved on, and a quarter of an hour later halted at 
 the gate of the starosta's house. At the gate were six guards 
 with halberds ; at the door of the anteroom four men were 
 standing. Around a carriage in the front yard were occu- 
 pied equerries and outriders, whom an attendant of conse- 
 quence was overseeing, — a foreigner, as might be known 
 from his dress and wig. 
 
 Farther on, near the carriage-bouse, horses were being at- 
 tached to two other carriages, to which gigantic Turkish 
 grooms were carrying packs. Over these watched a man 
 dressed in black, with a face like that of a doctor or an 
 astrologer. 
 
 Kmita announced himself as he had previously, through 
 the officer of the day, who returned soon and asked him to 
 the prince. 
 
 " How are you, Cavalier ? " asked the prince, joyfully. 
 "You left me so suddenly that I thought scruples had 
 risen in you from my words, and I did not expect to see 
 you again." 
 
 " Of course I could not go without making my obeisance." 
 
 " Well, I thought : the prince voevoda has known whom 
 to send on a confidential mission. I make use of you also, 
 for I give you letters to a number of important persons, and 
 
384 
 
 THE DfiLUGS. 
 
 ^' 
 
 to the King of Sweden himself. But why armed as if for 
 battle ? " 
 
 " I am going among confederates ; I have heard right here 
 in this place, and your highness has confirmed the report, 
 that a confederate sc[uadron passed. Even here in Pilvishki 
 tliey brought a terrible panic on Zolotarenko's men, for a 
 famed soldier is leading that squadron." 
 
 "Who is he?" 
 
 " Pan Volodyovski ; and with him are Mirski, Oskyerko, 
 and the two Skshetuskis, — one that man of Zbaraj, whose 
 wife your highness wanted to besiege in Tykotsin. All re- 
 belled against the prince voevoda ; and it is a pity, for thev 
 were good soldiers. What is to be done? There are still 
 fools in the Commonwealth who are unwilling to pull the 
 red cloth with Cossacks and Swedes." 
 
 "There is never a lack of fools in the world, and espe- 
 cially in this country," said the prince. " Here are the let- 
 ters ; and besides, when you see his Swedish grace, say as if 
 in confidence that in heart I am as much his adherent as 
 my cousin, but for the time I must dissemble." 
 
 " Who is not forced to that ? " answered Kmita. " Every 
 man dissembles, especially if he thinks to do something 
 great." 
 
 " That is surely the case. Acquit yourself well, Sir Cava- 
 lier, I will be thankful to you, and will not let thel hetman 
 surpass me in rewarding." 
 
 " If the favor of your highness is such, I ask reward in 
 advance." 
 
 " You have it ! Surely my cou "n has not furnished you 
 
 er abundantly for the road. There is a serpent in his 
 money-box." 
 
 " May God guard me from asking money ! I did not ask 
 it of the hetman, and I will not take it from your highness. 
 I am at my own expense, and I will remain so." 
 
 Prince Boguslav looked at the young knight with 
 wonder. " I see that in truth the Kniitas are not of those 
 who look at men's hands. What is your wish then. Sir 
 Cavalier ? " 
 
 " The matter is as follows : without thinking carefully in 
 Kyedani, I took a horse of high blood, so as to show myself 
 before the Swedes. I do not exaggerate when I say there 
 is not a better in the stables of Kyedani. Now I am sorry 
 for him, and I am afraid to injure him on the road, in the 
 st<ables of inns, or for want of rest. And as accidents are 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 m 
 
 as if for 
 
 rigl]Lt here 
 he report, 
 Pilvishki 
 aeu, for a 
 
 Oskyerko, 
 raj, whose 
 1. All re- 
 f, for they 
 e are still 
 3 p'lll the 
 
 and espe- 
 ire the let- 
 e, say as if 
 iherent as 
 
 ^ « Every 
 something 
 
 , Sir Cava- 
 le hetman 
 
 reward in 
 
 lished you 
 ent in his 
 
 id not ask 
 highness. 
 
 ight with 
 )t of those 
 then. Sir 
 
 irefully in 
 ow myself 
 say there 
 am sorry 
 ad, in the 
 idents are 
 
 not hard to meet, he may fall into enemies' hands, even 
 those of that Voloayovski, who personally is terribly hostile 
 to me. I have thought, therefore, to beg your highness to 
 take him to keep and use until I ask for him at a more con- 
 venient time." 
 
 " Better sell him to me." 
 
 " Impossible, — it would be like selling a friend. At a 
 small estimate that horse has taken me a hundred times 
 out of the greatest danger ; for he has this virtue too, that 
 in battle he bites the enemy savagely." . 
 
 " Is he such a good horse ? " asked Prince Boguslav, with 
 lively interest. 
 
 " Is he good ? If I were sure your highness would not 
 be offended, I would bet a hundred gold florins without 
 looking, that your highness has not such a one in your 
 stables." 
 
 " Maybe I would bet, if it were not tliat to-day is not the 
 time for a trial. I will keep him willingly, though ; if pos- 
 sible, I would buy. But where is this wonder kept ? " 
 
 " My men are holding him just here in front of the gate. 
 As to nis being a wonder, he is a wonder ; for it is no ex- 
 aggeration to say th&t the Sultan might covet such a h irse. 
 He is not of this country, but from Anatolia ; and in Ana- 
 tolia, as I think, only one such was fouri." 
 
 "Then let us look at him." 
 
 " I serve your highness." 
 
 Before the gate Kmita's men were holding two horses 
 completely equipped : one was indeed of high breed, black 
 as a raven, with a star on his forehead, and a white fetlock 
 to a leg like a lance ; he neighed slightly at sight of his 
 master. 
 
 " I guess that to be the one," said Boguslav. " I do not 
 know whether he is such a wonder as you say, but in truth 
 he is a fine horse." 
 
 '''Try him!" cried Kmita; "or no, I will mount him 
 myself I " 
 
 The soldiers gave Kmita the horse ; he mounted, and began 
 to ride around near the gate. Under the skilled rider the 
 horse seemed doubly beautiful. His prominent eyes gained 
 brightness as he moved at a trot ; he seemed to blow forth 
 inner fire through his nostrils, while the wind unfolded his 
 mane. Pan Kmita described a circle, changed his gait ; at 
 last he rode straight on the prince, so that the nostrils of 
 the horse were not a yard from his face, and cried;, — 
 VOL. 1. — 25 
 
386 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 "Haiti"" 
 
 The horse stopped with his four feet resisting, and stood 
 as if fixed to the ground. 
 
 " What do you say ? " asked Kinita. . v 
 
 " The eyes and legs of a deer, the gait of a wolf, the nos- 
 trils of an ellc, and the breast of a woman I " said Boguslav. 
 " Here is all that is needed. Does he understand German 
 command ? " 
 
 " Yes ; for my horse-trainer Zend, who was a Courlander, 
 taught him.'' 
 
 " And the beast is swift ? " 
 
 " The wind cannot come up with him ; a Tartar cannot 
 escape him." 
 
 " Your trainer must have been a good one, for I see that 
 the horse is highly taught." 
 
 " Is he taught ? Your highness will not believe. He goes 
 so in the rank that when the line is moving at a trot, you 
 may let the reins drop and he will not push one half of his 
 nose beyond the line. If your highness will be pleased to 
 try, and if ill two furlongs he will push beyond the others 
 half a head, then I will give him as a gift." 
 
 " That would be the greatest wonder, not to advance with 
 dropped reins." 
 
 " It is wonderful and convenient, for both hands of the 
 rider are free. More than once have I had a sabre in one 
 hand and a pistol in the other, and the horse went alone." 
 
 " But if the rank turns ? " 
 
 " Then he will turn too without breaking the line." 
 
 " Impossible 1 " exclaimed the prince ; " no horse will do 
 that. I have seen in France horses of the king's muske- 
 teers, greatly trained, of purpose not to spoil the court 
 ceremonies, but still it was necessary to guide them with 
 reins." 
 
 " The wit of man is in this horse. Let your highness try 
 him yourself." 
 
 " Give him here ! " said the prince, after a moment's 
 thought. 
 
 Kmita held the horse till Boguslav mounted. He sprang 
 lightly into the saddle, and began to pat the steed on his 
 shining neck. 
 
 "A wonderful thing," said he; "the best horses nhed 
 their hair in the autumn, but this one is as tf he had come 
 out of water. In what direction shall we go ? " 
 
 "Let us move in a line, and if your highness perraits^ 
 
 tol 
 thi 
 
 W£ 
 
 anj 
 ri(l 
 
 ^h€ 
 
 he 
 
and stood 
 
 If, the noB- 
 
 Boguslav. 
 
 id German 
 
 lourlander, 
 
 tar cannot 
 
 I see that 
 
 ). He goes 
 I trot, you 
 lalf of his 
 pleased to 
 bhe others 
 
 rsmae with 
 
 ids of the 
 )re in one 
 b alone." 
 
 le." 
 
 le will do 
 s muske- 
 he court 
 em with 
 
 kuess try 
 
 loment's 
 
 |e sprang 
 on his 
 
 $es nhed 
 (tome 
 
 )erTait8, 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 S8T 
 
 toward the forest. The road is even and broad, but in 
 the direction of the town some wag^n might come ii^ the 
 way." 
 
 " Let us ride toward the forest." 
 
 " Just two furlongs. Let your highness drop the reins 
 and start on a gallop. Two men on each side, and I will 
 ride a little behind." 
 
 " Take your places ! " said the prince. 
 
 The line was formed ; thi^y turned the horses' heads from 
 -^ihe town. The prince was in the middle. 
 
 " Forward I " said he. " On a gallop from the start, — 
 march ! " 
 
 The line shot on, and after a certain time was moving 
 like a whirlwind. A cloud of dust hid them from the eyes 
 of the attendants and equerries, who, collecting in a crowd 
 at the gate, looked with curiosity at the racing. The trained 
 horses going at the highest speed, snorting from effort, had 
 run already a furlong or more ; and the prince's steed, though 
 not held by the reins, did not push forward an inch. They 
 ran another furlong. Kmita turned, and seeing behind only 
 a cloud of dust, through which the starosta's house could 
 barely be seen, and the people standing l)efore it not at all, 
 cried with a terrible voice, — 
 
 " Take him ! " 
 
 At this moment Biloiis and the gigantic Zavratynski 
 seized both arms of the prince, and squeozed them till the 
 bones cracked in their joints, and holding him in their iron 
 lists, put spurs to their own horses. 
 
 The prince's horse in the middle held the line, neither 
 pushing ahead nor holding back an inch. Astonishment, 
 fright, the whirlwind beating in his face, deprived Prince 
 Boguslav of speech for the firrt moment. He struggled 
 once and a second time, — without result, however, f ^ pain 
 from his twisted arms pierced him through. 
 
 " What is this, ruffians? Know ye not who I am ? " cried 
 he at last. 
 
 Thereupon Kmita pushed him with the barrel of the 
 pistol between the shoulders. "Resistance is useless; it 
 will only bring a bullet in your body ! " cried he. 
 
 "Traitor!" said the prince. 
 
 " But who are you ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 And they galloped on farther. 
 
388 
 
 TH£ DBLUGB. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Thry ran long through the pine-forest with such speed 
 that the trees by the roadside seemed to flee backward in 
 panic; inns, huts of forest guards, pitch-oUmrings, flashed b^, 
 and at times wagons singly or a few together, going to Pil- 
 vishki. From time to time Boguslav bent forward in the 
 saddle as if to struggle ; but his arms were only wrenched 
 the more painfully in the iron hands of the soldiers, while 
 Pan Andrei held the pistol-barrel between the prince's 
 shoulders again, and they rushed on till the whitd foam 
 was falling in flakes from the horses. 
 
 At last they were forced to slacken the speed, for breath 
 failed both men and beasts, and Pilvishki was so far be- 
 liind that all possibility of pursuit had ceased. Thoy rode 
 on then a certain time at a walk and in silence, surrounded 
 by a cloud of steam, which was issuing from the horses. 
 
 For a long time the prince said nothing ; he was evidently 
 trying to calm himself and cool his blood. When he had 
 done this he asked, — 
 
 " Whither are you taking me ? " 
 
 " Your highness will know that at the end of the road," 
 answered Kmita. 
 
 Jioguslav was silent, but after a while said, " Cavalier, 
 command these trash to let me go, for they are pulling out 
 my arms. If you command them to do so, they will only 
 hang; if not, they will go t() the stake." 
 
 " They are nobles, not trash," answered Kmita ; " and as 
 to the punishment which your highness threatens, it is not 
 known whom death will strike first." 
 
 " Know ye on whom ye have raised hands ? " asked the 
 prince, turning to the soldiers. 
 
 " We know," answered they. 
 
 " By a million horned devils ! " cried Boguslav, with an 
 outburst. " Will you command these people to let me go, 
 or not?" 
 
 " Your highness, I will order them to bind your arms 
 behind your back ; then you will be quieter." 
 
 " Impossible ! You will put my arms quite out of joint." 
 
 *^ I would give orders to let another off on his word that 
 
1 such speed 
 backward in 
 8, flashed l)^, 
 going to Pil- 
 ward in the 
 ily wrenched 
 Idiers, while 
 the prince's 
 whitd foam 
 
 3, for breath 
 ^s so far be- 
 Thoy rode 
 , surrounded 
 e horses, 
 ras evidently 
 Vhen he had 
 
 f the road," 
 
 " Cavalier, 
 pulling out 
 r will only 
 
 «a ; " and as 
 ns, it is not 
 
 asked the 
 
 IV, with an 
 let me go, 
 
 your arms 
 
 t of joint." 
 word that 
 
 TU£ DELUtiE. 
 
 389 
 
 he would not try to escape, but you know how to break 
 your word," said Kmitu. 
 
 " I will give another word," answered the prince, — " that 
 not only will I escape at the first opportunity, but I will 
 have you torn apart with horses, when you lall into nty 
 hands." 
 
 " VVhut God wants to give, he gives ! " said Kmita. " But 
 I prefer a sincere threat to a lying promise. Let go his 
 hands, only hold his horse by the bridle ; but, your higlinuss, 
 look here ! I have but to touch the trigger to put a bullet 
 into your body, and I shall not miss, for I never miss. Sit 
 quietly ; do not try to escape." 
 
 " I do not care, Cavalier, for you or your pistol." 
 
 When he had said this, the prince stretched his aching 
 arms, to straighten them and shake otf the numbness. The 
 soldiers caught the horse's bridle on both sides, and led 
 him on. 
 
 After a while Boguslav said, " You dare not look me in 
 the eyes. Pan Kmita ; you hide in the rear." 
 
 " Indeed ! " answered Kmita ; and urging forward his 
 horse, he pushed Zavratynski away, and seizing the reins of 
 the prince's horse, he looked Boguslav straight in the 
 face. " And how is my horse ? Have 1 added even one 
 virtue ? " 
 
 " A good horse ! " answered the prince. "If you wish, I 
 will buy him." 
 
 " This horse deserves a better fate than to carry a traitor 
 till his death." 
 
 " You are a fool. Pan Kmita." 
 
 " Yes, for I believed the Radzivills." 
 
 Again came a moment of silence, which was broken by 
 the prince. 
 
 " Tell me, Pan Kmita, are you sure that you are in your 
 right mind, that your reason has not left you ? Have you 
 asked yourself what you have done, madman ? Has it not 
 come to your head that as things are now it would have 
 been better for you if your mother had not given you birth, 
 and that no one, not only in Poland, but in all Europe, 
 would have ventured on such a dare-devil deed ? " 
 
 " Then it is clear that there is no great courage in that 
 Europe, for I have carried off your highness, hold you, and 
 will not let you go." 
 
 " It can only be an affair with a madman," said the prince, 
 as if to himself. 
 
! 
 
 390 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 11 f- 
 
 jii 
 
 " My gracious prince," answered Pan Andrei, " you are 
 in my hands ; })e reconciled to that, and waste not words in 
 vain. Pursuit will not come up, for your men think to this 
 moment that you have come off with me voluntarily. 
 When my men took you by the arms no oue saw it, for the 
 dust covered us ; and even if there were no dust, neither the 
 equerries nor the guards could have seen, it was so far. 
 They will wait for you two hours ; the third hour they will 
 be impatient, the fourth and fifth uneasy, and the sixth 
 will send out men in search ; but we meanwhile shall be 
 beyond Maryapole." 
 
 « What of that ? " 
 
 " This, that they will not pursiie ; and even if they should 
 start immediately in pursuit, your horses are just frcm the 
 road, while ours are fresh. Even if by some miracle they 
 should come up, that would not save you, for, as truly as 
 you see me (here, I should open your head, — which I shall 
 do if nothing else is possible. This is the position ! Kadzi- 
 vill has a court, an army, cannon, dragoons ; Kmita has six 
 men, and kmita holds Radzivill by the neck." 
 
 " What further ? " asked the prince. 
 
 " Nothing further ! We will ';o where it pleases me. 
 Thank God, your highness, that you are alive ; for were it 
 not that I gave orders to throw many gallons of water on 
 my head to-day, you would be in the other world already, 
 that is, ill hell, for two reasons, — as a traitor and as a 
 Calvini'st." 
 
 " And would you have dared to do that ? " 
 
 "Without praising myself I say that your highness 
 would not easily find an undertaking on which I would not 
 venture ; you have the best pioof of that in yourself." 
 
 The prince looked carefully at the young man and 
 said, " Cavalier, the devil has written on your face that you 
 are ready for anything, and that is the reason why I have a 
 proof in myself. I tell you, indeed, that you have been able 
 to astonish me with your boldness, and that is no easy 
 tiling." 
 
 " That 's all one to me. Give thanks to God, your high- 
 ness, that you are alive yet, and quits." 
 
 " No, Cavalier. First of all, do you thank God ; for if 
 one hair had fallen from, my head, then know that the 
 Radzivills would find you even under the earth. If you 
 think that because there is disunion between us and those 
 of Nyesvyej and Olyta, and that they will not pursue you, 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 391 
 
 i, "you are 
 aot words in 
 jhink to this 
 voluntarily. 
 ,w it, for the 
 ;, neither the 
 was so far. 
 lur they will 
 id the sixth 
 liile shall be 
 
 I they should 
 ust from the 
 miracle they 
 , as truly as 
 vhich I shall 
 tion! Kadzi- 
 Imita has six 
 
 pleases me. 
 
 ; for were it 
 
 of water on 
 
 arid already, 
 
 or and as a 
 
 lir highness 
 I would not 
 irself." 
 
 man and 
 
 ace that you 
 
 hy I have a 
 
 ve been able 
 
 is no easy 
 
 , your high- 
 God; for if 
 >w that the 
 'th. If you 
 s and those 
 pursue you, 
 
 you are mistaken. Radzivill blood must be avenged, an 
 awful example must be given, otherwise there would be no 
 life for us in this Commonwealth. You cannot hide abroad, 
 either : the Emperor of Germany will give you up, for I 
 am a prince of the German Empire ; the Elector of Bran- 
 denburg is my uncle ; the Prince of Orange is his brother-in- 
 law ; the King and Queen of France and their ministers are 
 my friends. Where will you hide ? The Turks and Tar- 
 tars will sell you, though we had to give them half our 
 fortune. You will not find on earth a corner, nor such 
 deserts, nor such people — " 
 
 " It is a wonder to me," replied Kmita, " that your high- 
 ness takes such thought in advance for my safety. A great 
 person a Radzivill ! Still I have only to touch a trigger." 
 
 " I do not deny that. More than once it has happened 
 in the world that a great man died at the hands of a com- 
 mon one. A camp-follower killed Pompey ; French kings 
 perished at the hands of low people. Without going far- 
 ther, the same thing happened to my great father. But I 
 ask you what will come next ? " 
 
 " What is that to me ? I have never taken much thought 
 of what will be to-morrow. If it comes to close quarters 
 with all the Radzivills, God knows who will be warmed up 
 best. The sword has been long hanging over my head, but 
 the moment I close my eyes I sleep as sweetly as a suslik. 
 And if one Radzivill is not enough for me, I will. carry off 
 a second, and a third." 
 
 *' As God is dear to me, Cavalier, you please me much ; 
 for I repeat that you alone in Europe could dare a deed 
 like this. The beast does not care, nor mind what will 
 come to-morrow. I love daring people, and there are fewer 
 and fewer of them in the world. Just think ! he has car- 
 ried off a Radzivill and holds him as his own. Where 
 were you reared in this fashion, Cavalier ? Whence do you 
 come ? " 
 
 " I am banneret of Orsha." 
 
 "Pan Banneret of Orsha, I grieve that the Radzivills 
 are losing a man like you, for with such men much might 
 be done. If it were not a question of myself — h'm! I 
 would spare nothing to win you." 
 
 "Toolate !" said Kmita. 
 
 " That is to be understood," answered the prince. "Much 
 too late ! But I tell you beforehand that I will order you 
 only to be shot, for you are worthy to die a soldier's death. 
 
392 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 iil 'i, 
 
 'i ' 
 
 your 
 
 What an incarnate devil to carry Die oif from the midst of 
 my men ! " 
 
 Kmita inade no answer; the prince meditated &,while, 
 then cried, — 
 
 " If you free me at once, I will not take vengeance. Only 
 give me your word that you will tell no one of this, and 
 command your men to be silent." 
 
 " Impossible ! " replied Kmita. 
 
 " Do you want a ransom ? " 
 
 " I do not." 
 
 " What the devil, then, did you carry me off for ? I 
 cannot understand it." 
 
 "It would take a long time to tell. I will tell 
 highness later." 
 
 " But what have we to do on the road unless to talk ? 
 Acknowledge, Cavalier, one thing: you, carried me off in 
 a moment of anger and desperation, and now you don't 
 know well What to do with me." 
 
 " That is my affair ! " answered Kmita ; " and if I do not 
 know what to do, it will soon be seen." 
 
 Impatience was depicted on Prince Boguslav's face. 
 
 " You are not over-communicative, Pan Banneret of 
 Orsha ; but answer me one question at least sincerely : Did 
 you come to me, to Podlyasye, with a plan already formed 
 of attacking my person, or did it enter your head in the 
 last moment ? " 
 
 " To that I can answer yoiir highness sincerely, for my 
 lips are burning to tell you why I left your cause ; and while 
 I am alive, while there is breath in my body, I shall not 
 return to it. The prince voevoda of Vilna deceived me, 
 and in advance brought me to swear on the crucifix that I 
 would not leave him till death." 
 
 •* And you are keeping the oath well. There is nothing 
 to be said on that point." 
 
 " True ! " cried Kmita, violently. " If I have lost my soul, 
 if I must be damned, it is through the Kadzivills. But I give 
 myself to the mercy of God, and I would rather lose my 
 soul, I would rather burn eternally, than to sin longer with 
 knowledge and willingly, — than to serve longer, knowing 
 that I serve sin and treason. May God have mercy on me ! 
 I prefer to burn, I prefer a hundred times to burn; I 
 should burn surely, if I remained with you. I have noth- 
 ing to lose ; but at least I shall say at the judgment of 
 God: *I knew not what I was swearing, and had I dis- 
 
the midst of 
 
 ited iawhile, 
 
 eance. Only 
 of this, and 
 
 off for? I 
 
 11 tell your 
 
 ess to talk ? 
 )d me off in 
 w you don't 
 
 id if I do not 
 
 's face. 
 Banneret of 
 icerely: Did 
 •eady formed 
 head in the 
 
 jrely, for my 
 56 ; and while 
 , I shall not 
 eceived me, 
 ucifix that I 
 
 e is nothing 
 
 lost my soul, 
 But I give 
 her lose ray 
 longer with 
 er, knowing 
 erey on me ! 
 to burn; I 
 have noth- 
 udgment of 
 had I dis- 
 
 l^ttfi DELUGfi. 
 
 393 
 
 covered that I had sworn treason to the country, destruction 
 to the Polish name, I should have broken the oath right 
 there.' Now let the Lord (Jod be my judge." 
 
 " To the question, to the question ! " said Boguslav, calmly. 
 
 But Pan Andrei breathed heavily, and rode on some time 
 in silence, with frowning brow and eyes fixed on the earth, 
 like a man bowed down by misfortune. 
 
 " To the question ! " repeated the prince. 
 
 Kmita roused himself as if from a dream, shook his head, 
 and said, — 
 
 " I believed the prince hetman as I would not have 
 believed my own father. I ■ remember that banquet at 
 which he announced his union with the Swedes. What I 
 suffered then, what I passed through, God will account to 
 me. Others, honorable men, threw their batons at his feet 
 and remained with their country ; but I stood like a stump 
 with the baton, with shame, with submission, with infamy, 
 in torture, for I was called traitor to my eyes. And who 
 called me traitor? Oi, better not say, lest I forget my- 
 self, go mad, and put a bullet right here in the head of 
 your highness. You are the men, you the traitors, the 
 Judases, who brought me to that." 
 
 Here Kmita gazed with a terrible expression on the prince, 
 and hatred came out on his face from the bottom of his soul, 
 like a dragon which had crawled out of a cave to the light 
 of day ; but Boguslav looked at the young man with a calm, 
 fearless eye. At last he said, — 
 
 "But that interests me. Pan Kmita; speak on." 
 
 Kmita dropped the bridle of the prince's horse, and 
 removed his cap as if wishing to cool his burning head. 
 
 " That same night," continued he, " I went to the hetman, 
 for he gave command to call me. I thought to myself, * I 
 will renounce his service, break my oath, suffocate him, 
 choke him with these hands, blow up Kyedani with 
 powder, and then let happen what may.' He knew too that 
 I was ready for anything, knew what I was ; I saw well 
 that he was fingering a box in which there were pistols. 
 * That is nothing,' thought I to myself ; ' either he will miss 
 me or he will kill me.' But he began to reason, to speak, to 
 show such a prospect to me, simpleton, and put himself 
 forward as such a savior, that your highness knows what 
 happened." 
 
 " He convinced the young man," said Boguslav. 
 
 " So that I fell at his feet," cried Kmita, " and saw in him 
 
394 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I » 
 
 :■*! 
 
 f i 
 
 ij 
 
 I! 
 i' 
 
 the father, the one savior, of tlie country ; so that I gave 
 myself to him soul and body as to a devil. For him, for 
 his honesty I was ready to hurl myself headlong from the 
 tower of Kyedani." 
 
 " I thought such would be the end," said Boguslav. 
 
 " What I lost in his cause I will not say, but I rendered 
 him important services. I held in obedience my squadron, 
 which is in Kyedani now, — God grant to his ruin ! Others, 
 who mutinied, I cut up badly. I stained my hands in 
 brothers' blood, believing that a stern necessity for the 
 country. Often my soul was pained at giving command to 
 shoot honest soldiers ; often the nature of a noble rebelled 
 against him, when one time and another he promised some- 
 thing and did not keep his word. But I thought : * I am 
 simple, he is wise ! — it must be done so.' But to-day, when 
 I learned for the first time from those letters of the 
 poisonc, th« marrow stiffened in my bones. How? Is 
 this the kind of war ? You wish to poison soldiers ? And 
 that is to be in hetman fashion ? That is to be the 
 Radzivill method, and am I to carry such letters ? " 
 
 "You know nothing of politics, Cavalier," interrupted 
 Boguslav. 
 
 " May the thunders crush it ! Let the criminal Italians 
 practise it, not a noble whom God has adorned with more 
 honorable blood than others, but at the same time obliged 
 him to war with a sabre and not with a drug-shop." 
 
 " These letters, then, so astonished you that you deter- 
 mined to leave the Radzivills?" 
 
 " It was not the letters, — I might have thrown them to 
 the hangman, or tossed thei^i into the fire, for they refer 
 not to my duties ; it was not the letters. I might have 
 refused the mission without leaving the cause. Do I 
 know what I might have done ? I might have joined the 
 dragoons, or collected a party again, and harried Hovanski 
 as before. But straightway a suspicion came to me : *But 
 do they not wish to poison the country as well as those 
 soldiers ? ' God granted me not to break out, though my 
 head was burning like a grenade, to remember myself, to 
 have the power to think : ' Draw him by the tongue, and 
 discover the whole truth ; betray not what you have at 
 heart, give yourself out as worse than the Badzivills 
 themselves, and draw him by the tongue.'" 
 
 « Whom, — me ? " 
 
 "Yes! God aided me, so that I, simple man, deceived 
 
tiat I gave 
 
 him, for 
 
 J from the 
 
 }lav. 
 
 [ rendered 
 
 squadron, 
 i! Others, 
 
 hands in 
 ty for the 
 nnmand to 
 lie rebelled 
 lised some- 
 ;ht: *I am 
 i-day, when 
 Brs of the 
 How ? Is 
 ers ? And 
 to be the 
 ;ers ? " 
 interrupted 
 
 al Italians 
 
 with more 
 
 me obliged 
 
 rou deter- 
 
 vn them to 
 they refer 
 [light have 
 Do I 
 joined the 
 Hovanski 
 me: 'But 
 1 as those 
 ;hough my 
 myself, to 
 )ngue, and 
 u have at 
 Radzivills 
 
 deceived 
 
 THE DELUGE, 
 
 396 
 
 3e 
 
 ft politician, — so that your highness, holding me the last 
 of ruffians, hid nothing of your 'Own ruffianism, confessed 
 everything, told everything, as if it had been written on 
 the hand. The hair stood on my head, but I listened 
 and listened to the end. O traitors ! arch hell-dwellers ! 
 O parricides t How is it, that a thunderbolt has not 
 stricken you down before now ? How is it that the eartli 
 has not swallowed you ? So ' you are treating with 
 Hmelnitski, with the Swedes, with the elector, with 
 Rakotsy, and with the devil himself to the destruction of 
 this Commonwealth ? Now you want to cut a mantle out 
 of it for yourself, to sell it to divide it, to tear ^our 
 own mother like wolves ? Such is your gratitude for all 
 the benefits heaped on you, — for the offices, the honors, 
 the dignities, the wealth, the authority, the estates which 
 foreign kings envy you ? And you were ready without 
 regard to those tears, torments, oppression. Where is 
 your conscience, where your faith, where your honesty ? 
 What monster Ibvought you into the world ? " 
 
 "Cavalier," ini^ rupted Boguslav, coldly, "you have me 
 in your hand, you can kill me ; but I beg one thing, do not 
 bore me." 
 
 Both were silent. 
 
 However, it appeared plainly, from the words of Kmita, 
 that the soldier had been able to draw out the naked truth 
 from the diplomat, and that the prince was guilty of great 
 incautiousness, of a great error in betraying his most secret 
 plans and those of the hetman. This pricked his vanity j 
 therefore, not caring to hide his ill-humor, he said, — 
 
 " Do not ascribe it to your own wit merely. Pan Kmita, 
 that you got the truth from me. I spoke openly, for I 
 thought the prince voevoda knew people better, and had 
 sent a man worthy of confidence." 
 
 " The prince voevoda sent a man worthy of confidence," 
 answered Kmita, "but you have lost him. Henceforth 
 only' scoundrels will serve you." 
 
 " If the way in which you seized me was not scoundrelly, 
 then may the sword grow to my hand in the first battle." 
 
 "It was a stratagem ! I learned it in a hard school. 
 You wish, your highness, to know Kmita. Here he is ! I 
 shall not go with empty hands to our gracious lord." 
 
 " And you think that a hair of my head will fall from the 
 hand of Yan Kazimir ? " 
 
 " That is a question for the judges, not for me." 
 
396 
 
 THE DELUOfi. 
 
 "But the 
 letter 
 
 on 
 
 i> 'I 
 
 S! il 
 
 8< I 
 
 i i 
 
 letter 
 your 
 
 Suddenly Kmita reined in his horse 
 of the prince voevoda, — have you that 
 person ? •' 
 
 " If I had, 1 would not give it. The letter remained in 
 Pilvishki.»' 
 
 " Search him ! " cried Kmita. 
 
 The soldiers seized the prince again by the arms. Soroka 
 began to search his pockets. After a while he found the 
 letter. 
 
 " Here is one document against you and your works," 
 said Pan Andrei, taking the letter. " The King of Poland 
 will know from it what you have in view ; the Swedish 
 King will know too, that although now you are serving him, 
 tie prince voevoda reserves to himself freedom to withdraw 
 if the Swedish foot stumbles. All your treasons will come 
 out, all your machinations. But I have, besides, other 
 letters, — ^o the King of Sweden, to Wittemberg, to Radze- 
 yovski. You are great and powerful ; still 1 am not sure 
 that it will not be too narrow for you in this Common- 
 wealth, when both kings will prepare a recompense worthy 
 of your treasons." 
 
 Prince Boguslav's eyes gleamed with ill-omened light, 
 but after a while he mastered his anger and said, — 
 
 " Well, Cavalier ! For life or death between us ! We 
 have met ! You may cause us trouble and much evil, but 
 I say this : No man has dared hitherto to do in this coun- 
 try what you have done. Woe be to you and to yours ! " 
 
 " I have a sabre to defend myself, and I have something 
 to redeem my own with," answered Kmita. 
 
 " You have me as a hostage," said the prince. 
 
 And in spite of all his anger he breathed calmly; he 
 understood one thing at this moment, that in no case was 
 his life threatened, — that his person was too much needed 
 by Kmita. 
 
 Then they went again at a trot, and after an hour's ride 
 they saw two horsemen, each of whom led a pair of -pack- 
 horses. They were Kmita's men sent in advance from 
 Pilvishki. 
 
 " What is the matter ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 "The horses are terribly tired, for we have not rested 
 yet." 
 
 " We shall rest right away ! " 
 
 " There is a cabin at the turn, maybe 't is a public 
 house." ! 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 397 
 
 t the lettet 
 ,er on your 
 
 remained in 
 
 rms. Soroka 
 lie found the 
 
 rour works," 
 g of Poland 
 the Swedish 
 serving him, 
 
 to withdraw 
 ns will come 
 Bsides, other 
 srg, to 'Radze- 
 
 am not sure 
 his Common- 
 pense worthy 
 
 mened light, 
 said, — 
 Ben us! We 
 uch evil, but 
 this coun- 
 o yours ! " 
 re something 
 
 \n 
 
 calmly; he 
 no case was 
 much needed 
 
 n hour's ride 
 pair of -pack- 
 dvance from 
 
 re not rested 
 'tis a public 
 
 '^Let the sergeant push on to prepare oats. Public 
 house or not, we must halt." 
 
 " According to order. Commander." 
 
 Soroka gave reins to the horses, and they followed him 
 slowly. Kmita rode at one side of the prince, Lubyenyets at 
 the other. Boguslav had become completely calm and quiet ; 
 he did not draw Pan Andrei into further conversation. He 
 seemed to be exhausted by the journey, or by the position 
 in which he found himself, and dropping his head some- 
 what on his breast, closed his eyes. Still from time to 
 time he cast a side look now at Kmita, now at Lubyenyets, 
 who held the reins of the horse, as if studying to discover 
 who would be the easier to overturn so as to wrest himself 
 free. 
 
 They approached the building situated on the roadside at 
 a bulge of the forest. It was not a public house, but a forge 
 and a wheelwright-shop, in which those going by the toad 
 stopped to shoe their horses and mend their wagons. Be- 
 tween the forge and the road there was a small open area, 
 sparsely covered with trampled grass ; fragments of wagons 
 and broken wheels lay thrown here and there on that place, 
 but there were no travellers. Soroka's horses stood tied to 
 a post. Soroka himself was talking before the forgo to the 
 blacksmith, a Tartar, and two of his assistants. 
 
 " We shall not have an over-abundant repast," said the 
 prince ; ** there is nothing to be had here." 
 
 " We have food and spirits with us," answered Kmita. 
 
 " That is well ! We shall need strength." 
 
 They halted. Kmita thrust his pistol behind his belt, 
 sprang from the saddle, and giving his horse to Soroka, 
 seized again the reins of the prince's horse, which however 
 Lubyenyets had not let go from his hand on the other side. 
 
 " Your highness will dismount ! " said Kmita. 
 
 " Why is that ? I will eat and drink in the saddle," said 
 the prince, bending down. 
 
 " I beg you to come to the ground ! " said Kmita, threat- 
 eningly. 
 
 " But Into ^-he ground with you ! " cried the prince, with 
 a terrible voice j and drawing with the quickness of light- 
 ning the pistol from Kmita's belt, he thundered into his 
 very face. 
 
 " JesQS, Mary ! " cried Kmita. 
 
 At this moment the horse under the prince struck with 
 spurs reared so that he stood almost erect; the prince 
 
398 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 !. ( 
 
 turned like a snake in the saddle toward Lubyenyets , and 
 with all the strength of his powerful arm struck him with 
 the pistor between the eyes. 
 
 Lubyenyets roared terribly and fell from the horse. 
 
 Before the others could understand what had happened, 
 before they had drawn breath, before the cry of fright 
 had died on their lips, Boguslav scattered them as a storm 
 would have done, rushed from the square to the road, and 
 shot on like a whirlwind toward Pilvishki. 
 
 " Seize him ! Hold him ! Kill him ! " cried wild voices. 
 
 Three soldiers who were sitting yet on the horses rushed 
 after him ; but Soroka seized a musket standing at the 
 wall, and aimed at the fleeing man, or rather at his horse. 
 
 The horse stretched out like a deer, and moved forward 
 like an arrow urged from the string. The shot thundered. 
 Soroka rushed through the smoke for a better view of what 
 he had done; he shaded his eyes with his hand, gazed 
 awhile, and cried at last, — 
 
 "Missed!" 
 
 At this moment Boguslav disappeared beyond the bend, 
 and after him vanished the pursuers. 
 
 Then Soroka turned to the blacksmith and his assistants, 
 who were looking up to that moment with dumb astonish- 
 ment at what had happened, and cried, — 
 
 " Water ! " 
 
 The blacksmith ran to draw water, and Soroka knelt 
 near Pan Andrei, who was lying motionless. Kmita's face 
 was covered with powder from the discharge, and with 
 drops of blood ; his eyes were closed, his left brow and left 
 temple were blackened. The sergeant began first to feel 
 lightly with his fingers the head of his colonel. 
 
 " His head is sound." 
 
 But Kmita gave no signs of life, and blood came abun- 
 dantly from his face. The blacksmith's assistants brought a 
 bucket of water and a cloth. Soroka, with equal delibera- 
 tion and care, began to wipe Kmita's face. 
 
 Finally the wound appeared from under the blood and 
 blackness. The ball had opened Kmita's left cheek deeply, 
 and had carried away the end of his ear. Soroka examined 
 to see if his cheek-bone were broken. 
 
 After a while he convinced himself that it was not, and 
 drew a long breath. Kjnita, under the influence of cold 
 water and pain, began to give signs of life. His face quiv- 
 ered, his breast heaved with breath. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 399 
 
 " He is alive I — nothing ! he will be unharmed," cried 
 Soroka, joyfully; and a tear rolled down the murderous 
 face of the sergeant. 
 
 Meanwhile at the turn of the road appeared BiloUs, one 
 of the three soldiers who had followed the prince. 
 
 « Well, what ? " called Soroka. 
 ■ The soldier shook his hr ' " Nothing ! " 
 
 " Will the others return soon ? " 
 
 "The others will not return." 
 
 With trembling hands the sergeant iaid Kmita's head on 
 the threshold of the forge, and sprang to his feet. '•' How 
 is that ? " 
 
 " Sergeant, that prince is a wizard ! 2'avratynski caught 
 up first, for he had the best horse, and because the \>rmce 
 let him catch up. Before our eyes Boguslav snatched the 
 sabre from his hand and thrust him through. We had 
 barely to cry out. Vitkovski was next, and sprang to 
 help J and him this Radzivill cut down before my eyes, as 
 if a thunderbolt had struck him. He did not give a sound. 
 I did not wait my turn. Sergeant, the prince is ready to 
 come back here." 
 
 "There is nothing in this place for us," said Soroka. 
 "To horse!" 
 
 That moment they began to make a stretcher between 
 Ihe horses for Kmita. Two of the soldiers, at the command 
 of Soroka, stood with muskets on the road, fearing the re- 
 turn of the terrible man. 
 
 But Prince Boguslav, convinced that Kmita was not alive, 
 rode quietly to Pilvishki. About dark he was met by a 
 whole detachment of horsemen sent out by Patterson, whom 
 the absence of the prince had disturbed for some time. The 
 officer, on seeing the prince, galloped to him, — 
 
 " Your highness, we did not know — " 
 
 "That is nothing!" interrupted Princy Boguslav. "I 
 was riding this horse in the company of that cavalier, of 
 whom I bought him." 
 
 And after a while he added : I paid him well." 
 
400 
 
 THE DKLUGB. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Thb trusty Soroka i!arri«d his colonel through the deep 
 forest, not knowing hiuiseli what to begin, whither to go 
 or to turn. 
 
 Kmita was not only wounded, but stunned by the shot. 
 Soroka from time to time moistened the piece of cloth in a 
 bucket hanging by the horse, and washed his face ; at times 
 he halted to take fresh water from the streams a:id forest 
 ponds; but neither halts nor the movement of the horse 
 could restore at once consciousness to Pan Andrei, and he 
 lay as if dead, till the soldiers going with him, jtnd less ex- 
 perienced in the matter of wounds than Soroka, began to 
 be alarmed for the life of their colonel. 
 
 *' He is alive," answered Soroka ; " in three days he will 
 be on horseback like any of us." 
 
 In fact, an hour later, Kmita opened his eyes ; but from 
 his mouth came forth one word only, — 
 
 " Drink ! " 
 
 Soroka held a cup of pure water to his lips ; but it seemed 
 that to open his moath caused I^an Andrei unendurable 
 pain, and he was unable to drink. But he did not lose 
 consciousness : he asked for nothing, apparently remem- 
 bered nothing; his eyes were wide open, and he gazed, 
 without attention, toward the depth of the forest, on the 
 streaks of blue sky visible through the dense branches 
 above their heads, and at his comrades, like a man roused 
 from sleep, or like one recovered from drunkenness, and 
 permitted Soroka to take care of him without saying a 
 word, — nay, the cold water with which the sergeant washed 
 the wound seemed to give him pleasure, for at times his 
 eyes smiled. But Soroka comforted him, — 
 
 " To-morrow the dizziness will pass. Colonel ; God grant 
 recovery." 
 
 In fact, dizziness began to disappear toward evening ; for 
 just before the setting of the sun Kmita seemed more self- 
 possessed and asked on a sudden, " What noise is that ? " 
 
 " What noise ? There is none," answered Soroka. 
 
 Apparently the noise was only in the head of Pan Andrei, 
 for the evening was calm. The setting sun, piercing the 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 401 
 
 f;loom with its slanting rays, filled with golden glitter the 
 forost darkness, and lighted the 13d trunks of the pine-trees. 
 There was no wind, and only here and there, from hazel, 
 biroh, and hornbeam trees leaves drop^)ed to the ground, jt 
 timid beasts made slight rustle in fleeing to the depths of 
 the forest in front of the horsemen. 
 
 The evening was cool ; but evidently fever had begun to 
 attack Pan Andrei, for he repeated, — 
 
 " Your highness, it is life or death between us ! " 
 
 At last it ^)ecame dark altogether, and Soroka was think- 
 ing of a night camp; but because thev had entered a damp 
 forest and the ground began to yield under the h^ofs of 
 their horsas, they continued to ride in order to reach high 
 and dry places. 
 
 They rode one hour and a second without being able to 
 pass the swamp. Meanwhile it was growing lighter, for 
 the moon had ri&en. Suddonly Soroka, who was in ad- 
 vance, sprang from the saddle and began to look carefully 
 at the ground. 
 
 " liCorses have passed this way," said he, at sight of 
 tracks in the soft earth. 
 
 " Who could have passed, when chere is no road ? " asked 
 one of the soldiers supporting Pan Kmita. 
 
 "But there are tracks, and a whole crowd of them! 
 Look here between the pines, — as evident as on the palm 
 of the hand ! " 
 
 " Perhaps cattle have passed." 
 
 " Impossible. It is' not the time of forest pastures ; 
 horse-^hoofs are clearly to be seen, somebody must have 
 passed. It would be well to find even a forester's cabin." 
 
 " Let us follow the trail." 
 
 " Let us uide forward ! " 
 
 Soroka mounted again and rode on. Horses' tracks in 
 the turfy ground w tre more distinct; and some of them, as 
 far as could be seen in the light of the moon, seemed quite 
 fresh. Still the horses sank to their knees, and beyond. 
 The soldiers were afraid that they could not wade through, 
 or w^ ild come to some deeper quagmire ; when, at the end 
 of half an hour, the odor of smoke and rosin came to their 
 nostrils. 
 
 " There must be a pitch-clearing here," said Soroka. 
 
 " Yes, sparks are to be seen," said a soldier. 
 
 And really in the distance appeared a line of reddish 
 VOL. I. — 26 
 
402 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 1 1 
 
 i . 
 
 smoke, filled with flame, around which were dancing the 
 sparks of a fire burning under the ground. 
 
 When they had approached, the soldiers saw a cabin, a 
 well, and a strong shed built of pine logs. The horses. 
 Wearied ^rom the road, began to neigh ; frequent neighing 
 answered them from under the shed, and at the same time 
 there stood before the riders some kind of a figure, dressed 
 in sheepskin, wool outward. 
 
 " Are there many horses ? " asked the man in the sheep- 
 skin. V 
 
 " Is this a pitch-factory ? " inquired Soroka. 
 
 " What kind of people are ye ? Where do ye come from ? " 
 asked the pitch-maker, in a voice in which astonishment and 
 alarm were evident. 
 
 " Never fear ! " answered Soroka ; " we are not robbers." 
 
 " Go your own way j there is nothing for you here." 
 
 " Shut thy mouth, and guide us to the house since we ask. 
 Seest not, scoundrel, that we are taking a wounded man ? " 
 
 " What kind of people are ye ? " 
 
 " Be quick, or we answer from guns. It will be better for 
 thee to hurry. Take us to the house ; if not, we will cook 
 thee in thy own pitch." 
 
 " I cannot defend myself alone, but there will be more 
 of us. Ye will lay down your lives here." 
 
 " There will be more of us too ; lead on ! " 
 
 " Go on yourselves ; it is not my affair." 
 
 " What thou hast to eat, give us, and gorailka. We are 
 carrying a man who will pay." 
 
 " If he leaves here alive." 
 
 Thus conversing, they entered the cabin ; a fire was burn- 
 ing in the chimney, and from pots, hanging by the handles, 
 came the odor of boiling meatt The cabin was quite large. 
 Soroka saw at the walls six wooden beds, covered thickly 
 with sheepskins. 
 
 " This is the resort of some company," muttered he to his 
 comrades. " Prime your guns and watch well. Take care 
 of this scoundrel, let him not slip away. The owners sleep 
 outside to-night, for we shall not leave the house." 
 
 " The men will not come to-day," said the pitch-maker. 
 
 "That is better, for we shall not quarrel about room, and 
 to-morrow we will go on," replied Soroka ; " but now dish 
 the meat, for we are hungry, and spare no oats on the 
 horses." 
 
 « Where can oats be found here, great mighty soldiers ? " 
 
 J ' 
 
ancing the 
 
 a cabin, a 
 'he horses, 
 t neighing 
 same time 
 re, dressed 
 
 the sheep- 
 
 aie from ? " 
 ihment and 
 
 it robbers." 
 here." 
 nee we ask. 
 ed man ? " 
 
 e better for 
 e will cook 
 
 11 be more 
 
 i. We are 
 
 ) was burn- 
 le handles, 
 uite large, 
 ed thickly 
 
 d he to his 
 Take care 
 ners sleep 
 
 i-maker. 
 room, and 
 now dish 
 ts on the 
 
 oldiers?" 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 403 
 
 oats 
 
 ''We heard horses under the shed, so there mus*" *" 
 thou dost not feed them with pitch." 
 
 " They are not my horses." 
 
 " Whether they are yours or not, they must oat . well as 
 ours. Hurry, man, hurry I if thy skin is dear to thee I " 
 
 The pitch-maker said nothing. Tlie soldiers entered the 
 house, placed tht) sleeping Kmita on a bed, and sat down to 
 supper. They ate eagerly the boiled meat and cabbage, a 
 large kettle of which was in the chimney. There was millet 
 also, and in a room at the side of the cabin Soroka found 
 a large decanter of spirits. 
 
 He merely strengthened himself with it slightly, and gave 
 none to the soldiers, for he had determined to hold it in re- 
 serve for the night. This empty house with six beds for 
 men, and a shed in which a band of horses were neighing, 
 seemed to him strange and suspicious. He judged simply 
 that this was a robbers' retreat, especially since in the room 
 from whi h he brought the decanter he found many weapons 
 hanging on the wall, and a keg of powder, with various fur- 
 niture, evidently plundered from noble houses. In case the 
 absent occupants of the cabin returned, it was impossible to 
 expect from them not merely hospitality, but even mercy. 
 Soroka therefore resolved to hold the house with armed 
 hand, and maintain himself in it by superior force or 
 negotiations. 
 
 This was imperative also in view of the health of Pan 
 Kmita, for whom a journey might be fatal, and in view of 
 the safety of all. 
 
 Soroka was a trained and seasoned soldier, to whom one 
 feeling was foreign, — the feeling of fear. Still in that 
 moment, at thought of Prince Boguslav, fear seized him. 
 Having been for long years in the service of Kmita, be had 
 blind faith, not only in the valor, but the fortune of t\ man ; 
 he had seen more than once deeds of his which in Glaring 
 surpassed every measure, and touched almost on madness, 
 but which still succeeded and passed without harm. With 
 Kmita he had gone through the " raids " on Hovanski ; had 
 taken part in all the surprises, attacks, fights, and onsets, 
 and had come to the conviction that Pan Andrei could do all 
 things, succeed in all things, come out of every chaos, and* 
 destroy whomsoever he wished. Kmita therefore was for 
 him the highest impersonation of power and fortune, — but 
 this time he had met his match seemingly, nay, he had met 
 his superior. How was this ? One man carried away, with- 
 
404 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 out weapons, and in Kmita's hands, had freed himself from 
 those hands j not only that, he had o'v erthrown Kmita, con- 
 quered his soldiers, and terrified them so that they ran 
 away in fear of his return. That was a wonder of won. 
 ders, and Sorc;^a lost his head pondering over it. To his 
 thinking, anything might come to pass in the world rather 
 than this, that a man might be found whq could ride over 
 Kmita. 
 
 " Has our fortune then ended ? " muttered he to himself, 
 gazing around in wonder. 
 
 • It was not long since with eyes shut he followed Pan 
 Kmita to Hovanski's quarters surrounded by eighty thou- 
 sand men ; now at the thought of that long-haired prince 
 with lady's eyes and a painted face, superstitious terror 
 seized him, and he knew not what to do. The thought 
 alarmed him, that to-morrow or the next day he would 
 have to travlel on highways where the terrible prince him- 
 self or his pursuers might meet him. This was the rea- 
 son why he had gone from the road to the dense forest, 
 and at present wished to stay in that cabin until pursuers 
 were deluded and wearied. 
 
 But since even that hiding-place did not seem to him safe 
 for other reasons, he wished to discover what course to take ; 
 therefore he ordered the soldiers to stand guard at the door 
 and the windows, and said to the pitch-maker, — 
 
 " Here, man, take a lantern and come with me." 
 
 " I can light tho great mighty lord only with a pitch-torch, 
 for we have no lantern." 
 
 " Then light the torch ; if thou burn tho shed and the 
 horses, it is all one to me." * 
 
 After such words a lantern was found right away. Soroka 
 commanded the fellow to go ahead, and followed himself 
 with a pistol in his hand. 
 
 " Who live in this cabin ? " asked he on the road. 
 
 " Men live here." 
 
 " What are their names ? " 
 
 " That is not free for me to say." 
 
 " It seems to me, 3?ellow, that thou 'It get a bullet in thy 
 head." 
 
 " My mastor," answered the pitch-maker, " if I had told 
 in a lie any hind of name, you would have to be satisfied." 
 
 " True ! But are there many of those men ? " 
 
 ** There is an old one, two sons, and two servants." 
 
 " Are they nobles ? '' 
 
mself from 
 :^mita, con- 
 ,t they ran 
 ier of won* 
 it. To his 
 orld rather 
 d ride over 
 
 to himself, 
 
 llowed Pan 
 jighty thou- 
 ured prince 
 tious terror 
 :he thought 
 y he would 
 prince him- 
 was the rea- 
 lense forest, 
 itil pursujrs 
 
 to him safe 
 
 irse to take ; 
 
 at the door 
 
 )) 
 
 le 
 pitch-torch, 
 
 led and the 
 
 I'ay. Soroka 
 red himself 
 
 road. 
 
 illet in thy 
 
 I had told 
 I satisfied." 
 
 tH£ DELUGE. 
 
 405 
 
 its: 
 
 » 
 
 ** Surely nobles." 
 
 " Do they live here ? " 
 
 " Sometimes here, and sometimes God knows where." 
 
 " But the horses, whence are they ? " 
 
 " God knows whence they bring them." 
 
 " Tell the truth ; do thy masters not rob on the high- 
 way ? " 
 
 "Do I know? It seems to me they take horses, but 
 whose, — that's not on my head." 
 
 " What do they do with the horses ? " 
 
 " Sometimes they take ten or twelve of them, as many as 
 there are, and drive them away, but whither I know not." 
 
 Thus conversing, they reached the shed, from which was 
 heard the snorting of horses. 
 
 "Hold the light," said Soroka. 
 
 The fellow raised the lantern, and threw light on the 
 horses standing in a row at the wall. Soroka examined 
 them one after another with the eye of a specialist, shook 
 his head, smacked his lips, and said, — 
 
 "The late Pan Zend would have rejoiced. There are 
 Polish and Muscovite horses here, — there is a Wallachian, 
 a German, — a mare. Fine horses ! What dost thou give 
 them to eat ? " 
 
 " Not to lie, my master, I sowed two fields with oats in 
 springtime." 
 
 "Then thy masters have been handling horses since 
 spring ? " 
 
 " No, but they sent a servant to me with a command." 
 
 " Then art thou theirs ?" 
 
 " I was till they went to the war." 
 
 "What war?" 
 
 " Do I know ? They went far away last year, and came 
 back in the summer." 
 
 " Whose art thou now ? " 
 
 " These are the king's forests." 
 
 " Who put thee here to make pitch ? " 
 
 "The royal forester, a relative of these men, who also 
 brought horses with them ; but since he went away once 
 with them, he has not come back." 
 
 " And do guests come to these men ? " 
 
 " Nobody comes here, for there are swamps around, and 
 only one road. It is a wonder to me that ye could come, my 
 master ; for whoso does not strike the road, will be drawn in 
 by the swamp." 
 
406 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I . 
 
 II! 
 
 1 
 
 Soroka wanted to answer that he knew these woods and 
 the road very well ; but after a moment's thought he deter- 
 mined that silence was better, and inquired, — 
 
 " Are these woods very great ? " 
 
 The fellow did not understand the question. " How is 
 that ? " 
 
 "Do they go far?" 
 
 "Oh! who has gone through them? Where one ends 
 another begins, and God knows where they are not ; I have 
 never been in that place." 
 
 " Very well ! " said Soroka. 
 
 Then he ordered the man to go back to the cabin, and 
 followed himself. 
 
 On the way he was pondering over what he should do, 
 and hesitated. On one hand the wish came to him to take 
 tht, horses while the cabin-dwellers were gone, and flee with 
 this plunder. Tlie booty was precious, and the horses 
 pleased the old soldier's heart greatly ; but after a while he 
 overcame the temptation. To take them was easy, but 
 what to do further. Swamps all around, one egress, — how 
 hit upon that ? Chance had served him once, but perha] .s 
 it would not a second time. To follow the trail of hoots 
 was useless, for the cabin-dwellers had surely wit enough 
 to make by design false and treacherous trails leading 
 straight into quagmires. Soroka knew clearly the methods 
 of men who steal horses, and of those who take booty. 
 
 He thought awhile, therefore, and meditated ; all at once 
 he struck his head with his fist, — 
 
 " I am a fool ! " muttered he. " I '11 take the fellow on a 
 rope, and make him lead me to the highway." 
 
 Barely had he uttered the last word when he shuddered, 
 " To the highway ? But that prince will be there, and 
 pursuit. To lose fifteen horses ! " said the old fox to 
 himself, with as much sorrow as if he had cared for the 
 beasts from their colthood. " It must be that our fortune is 
 ended. We must stay in the cabin till Pan Kmita re- 
 covers, — stay with consent of the owners or without their 
 consent ; and what will come later, that is work for the 
 colonel's head." 
 
 Thus meditating, he returned to the cabin. The watch- 
 ful soldiers were standing at the door, and though they 
 saw a lantern shining in the dark from a distance, — the same 
 lantern with which Soroka and the pitch-maker had gone 
 out, — still they forced them to tell who they were before 
 
 •'-> 
 
woods and 
 lit he deter- 
 
 , "How is 
 
 >e one ends 
 not ; I have 
 
 cabin, and 
 
 ) should do, 
 him to take 
 nd flee with 
 
 the horses 
 r a while he 
 s easy, but 
 ;ress, — how 
 but perha])s 
 ail of hoots 
 
 wit enough 
 lils leading 
 
 tie methods 
 
 x)oty. 
 
 all at once 
 
 fellow on a 
 
 shuddered, 
 there, and 
 old fox to 
 red for the 
 r fortune is 
 Kmita re- 
 ithout their 
 ork for the 
 
 The watch- 
 lough they 
 — the same 
 r had gone 
 were before 
 
 THE DBLUOE. 
 
 467 
 
 they let them enter the cabin. Soroka ordered his soldiers 
 to change the watch about midnight, and threw himself 
 down on the plank bed beside Kmita. 
 
 It had become quiet in the cabin ; only the crickets raised 
 their usual music in the adjoining closet, and the mice 
 gnawed from moment to moment among the rubbish piled 
 up there. The sick man woke at intervals and seemed to 
 have dreams in his fever, for to Soroka's ears came the 
 disconnected words, — 
 
 "Gracious king, pardon — Those men are traitors — I 
 will tell all tbeir secrets — The Commonwealth is a red 
 cloth — Well, I have you, worthy prince — HoM him I — 
 Gracious king, this way, for there is treason ! " 
 
 Soroka rose on the bed and listened ; but the sick man, 
 when he had screamed once and a second time, fell asleep, 
 and then woke and cried, — 
 
 " Olenka, Olenka, be not angry ! " 
 
 About midnight he grew perfectly calm and slept 
 soundly. Soroka also began to slumber ; but soon a gentle 
 knocking at the door of the cabin roused him. 
 
 The watchful soldier opened 
 springing to his feet went out. 
 
 his eyes at once, and 
 
 " But what is the matter ? " asked he. 
 
 " Sergeant, the pitch-maker has escaped." 
 
 " A hundred devils ! he '11 bring robbers to us right away." 
 
 " Who was watching him ? " 
 
 "BiloUs." 
 
 " I went with him to water our horses," said BiloUs, ex- 
 plaining. "I ordered him to draw the water, and held 
 the horses myself." 
 
 " And what ? Did he jump into the well ? " 
 
 " No, Sergeant, but between the logs, of which there are 
 many near the well, and into the stump-holes. I let the 
 horses go ; for though they scattered there are others here, 
 and sprang after him, but I fell into the first hole. It was 
 night, — dark ; the scoundrel knows the place, and ran 
 away. May the pest strike himl" 
 
 " He will bring those devils here to us, — he '11 bring 
 them. May the thunderbolts split him ! " 
 
 The sergeant stopped, but after a while said, — 
 
 " We will not lie down ; we must watch till morning. Any 
 moment a crowd may come." 
 
 And giving an example to the others, he took his place 6n 
 the threshold of the cabin with a musket in his hand. The 
 
40^ 
 
 ttiE DELtlGfi. 
 
 i i! i' 
 
 ill 
 
 I:' I'l 
 
 soldiers sat neax him talking in an undertone, listening 
 sometimes to learn if in the night sounds of the pine- 
 woods the tramp and snort of coming horses could reach 
 them. 
 
 It was a moonlight night, and calm, but noisy. In the 
 forest depths life was seel ■ ing. It was the season of 
 mating; therefore the wildti^ess thundered with terrible 
 bellowing of stags. These sounds, short, hoarse, full of 
 anger and rage, were heard round about in all parts of the 
 forest, distant and near, — sometimes right there, as if a 
 hundred yards from the cabin. 
 
 " If men come, they HI bellow too, to mislead us,'' 3aid 
 Biloiis. 
 
 "Eh I they will not come to-night. Befo-i the pitch- 
 maker finds them 'twill be day," said the other soldiers. 
 
 " In the daytime, Sergeant, it would be well to examine 
 the cabin arid dig under the walls ; for if robbers dwell here 
 there must be treasures." 
 
 "The best treasures are in that stable," said Soroka, 
 pointing with his finger to the shed. 
 
 « But we '11 take them ? " 
 
 " Ye are fools ! there is no way out, — nothing but 
 swamps all around." 
 
 " But we came in." 
 
 "God guided us. A living soul cannot come here or 
 leave here without knowing the road." 
 
 " We will find it in the daytime." 
 
 " We shall not find it, for tracks are made everywhere 
 purposely, and the trails are misleading. It was not right 
 to let the man go." 
 
 " It is known that the highroad is a day's journey dis- 
 tant, and in that direction," said Biloiis. 
 
 Here he pointed with his finger to the eastern part of the 
 forest. 
 
 "We will ride on till we pass through, — that's what 
 we '11 do ! You think that you will be a lord when you 
 touch the highway ? Better the bullet of a robber here 
 than a rope there." 
 
 " How is that, father ? " asked Biloiis. 
 
 " They are surely»looking for us there." 
 
 "Who, father?" 
 
 "The prince." 
 • Soroka was suddenly silent ; and after him were silent the 
 others, as if seized with fear. 
 
ae, listening 
 of the pine- 
 
 I could reach 
 
 oisy. In the 
 he season of 
 with terrible 
 )arse, full of 
 L parts of the 
 there, as if a 
 
 lead us," 3aid 
 
 >^-i the pitch- 
 3r soldiers. 
 
 II to examine 
 3rs dwell here 
 
 said Soroka, 
 
 - nothing but 
 
 come here or 
 
 everywhere 
 vas not right 
 
 journey dis- 
 
 rn part of the 
 
 -that's what 
 )rd when you 
 robber here 
 
 THE J>EL\JGE. 
 
 409 
 
 ere silent tha 
 
 ** Oi I " said Biloiis, at last. ** It is bad here and bad 
 there; though you twist, you can't turn." 
 
 " They have driven us poor devils into a net ; here rob- 
 bers, and there the prince," said another soldier. 
 
 " May the thunderbolts burn them there ! I would . 
 rather have to do with a robber than with a wizard," added 
 Biloiis; "for that prince is possessed, yes, possessed. 
 Zavratynski could wrestle with a bear, and the prince took 
 the sword from his hands as from a child. It can only be 
 that he enchanted him, for I saw, too, that when he rushed 
 at Vitkovski Boguslav grew up before the eyes to the size 
 of a pine-tree. If he had not, I should n't have let him go 
 alive." 
 
 " But you were a fool not to jump at him." 
 
 " What had I to do. Sergeant ? I thought this way : he 
 is sitting on the b^st horse ; if he wishes, he will run away, 
 but if he attacks . ^e I shall not be able to defend myself, 
 for with a wizard is a power not human ! He becomes in- 
 visible to the eye or surrounds himself with dust — " 
 
 " That is truth," answered Soroka ; " for when I fired at 
 him he was surrounded as it were by a fog, and I missed. 
 Any man mounted may miss when the horse is moving, 
 but on the ground that has not happened to me for ten 
 years." 
 
 " What 's the use in talking ? " said Biloiis, " better count : 
 Lyubyenyets, Vitkovski, Zavratynski, our colonel ; and one 
 man brought them all down, and he without arms, — such 
 men that each of them has many a time stood against 
 four. Without the help of the devil he could not have 
 done this." 
 
 " Let us commend our souls to God ; for if he is possessed, 
 the devil will show him the road to this place." 
 
 " But without that he has long arms for such a lord." 
 
 " Quiet ! " exclaimed Soroka, quickly ; " something is 
 making the leaves rustle." 
 
 The soldiers were quiet and bent their ears. Near by, 
 indeed, were heard some kind of heavy steps, under which 
 the fallen leaves rustled very clearly. 
 
 " I hear horses," whispered Soroka. 
 
 But the steps began to retreat from the cabin, and soon 
 after was heard the threatening and hoarse bellowing of a 
 stag. 
 
 " That is a stag ! He is making himself known to a doe, 
 or fighting off another horned fellow." 
 
410 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ■4- 
 
 « Throughout the whole forest are outertaiuments as if 
 at the wedding of Sataii." 
 
 They were silent again and began to doze. The sergeant 
 raised his head at times and listened for a while, then 
 dropped it toward his breast. Thus passed an hour, and a 
 second ; at last the nearest pine-trees from being black be- 
 came gray, and the tops grew whiter each moment, as if 
 some one had burnished them with molten silver. The 
 bellowing of stags ceai<ed, and complete stillness reigned in 
 the forest depths. Dawn passed gradually into day ; the 
 white and pale light began to absorb rosy and golden 
 gleams ; at last perfect morning had come, and lighted the 
 tired faces of the soldiers sleeping a ^vm sleep at the cabin. 
 
 Then the door opened. Kmita appeared on the threshold, 
 and called, — 
 
 " Soroka I come here 1 " 
 
 The soldiers sprang up. 
 
 " For God's sake, is your grace on foot ? " asked Soroka. 
 
 "But you have slept like oxen; it would have been 
 possible to cut off your heads and throw tlieni out before 
 any one would have been roused." 
 
 " We watched till morning. Colonel ; we fell asleep only 
 in the broad day." 
 
 Kmita looked around. " Where are we ? " 
 
 " In the forest. Colonel." 
 
 " I see that myself. But what sort of a cabin is this ? " 
 
 " We know not ourselves." 
 
 " Follow me," said Kmita. And he turned to the inside 
 of the cabin. Soroka followed. 
 
 " Listen," said Kmita, sitting on the bed. " Did the 
 prince fire at me ? " 
 
 "He did." 
 
 " And what happened to him ? " 
 
 " He escaped.'* 
 
 A moment of silence followed. 
 
 " That is bad," said Kmita, " very bad ! Better to lay 
 him down than to let him go alive." 
 
 " We wanted to do that, but — " 
 
 "But what?" 
 
 Soroka told briefly all that had happened. Kmita lis- 
 tened with wonderful calmness; but his eyes began to 
 glitter, and at last he said, — 
 
 " Then he is victor ; but we '11 meet again. Why did you 
 leave the highroad ? '* 
 
 ^ 
 
TlIK I)£LUQ£. 
 
 411 
 
 niuents as if 
 
 Better to lay 
 
 " I was afraid of pursuit." 
 
 "That was right, for surely there was pursuit. There 
 are too few of us now to tight against lioguslav's power, — 
 too few. Besides, he has gone to Prussia ; we cannot reach 
 him there, we must wait — " 
 
 Soroka was relieved. Pan Kuiita evidently did not fear 
 Boguslav greatly, since he talked of overtaking him. This 
 confidence was communicated at once to the old soldier 
 accustomed to think with the head of his colonel and to 
 feel with his lieart. 
 
 Meanwhile I'an Andrei, who had fallen into deep 
 thought, came to himself on a sudden, and began to seek 
 something about his person with both his hands. 
 
 " Where are my letters ? " asked he. 
 
 « What letters ? " 
 
 " Letters that I had on my body. They were fastened 
 to my belt ; where is the belt ? " asked Pan Andre*., in 
 haste. 
 
 "I unbuckled the belt myself, that your grace might 
 breathe more easily; there it is." 
 
 "Bring it." 
 
 Soroka gave him a bplt lined with white leather, to which 
 a bag was attached by cords. Kniita untied it and took out 
 papers hastily. 
 
 "These are passes to the Swedish commandants; but 
 where are the letters ? " asked he, in a voice full of 
 disquiet. 
 
 " What letters ? " asked Soroka. 
 
 " Hundreds of thunders ! the letters of the hetman to the 
 Swedish King, to Pan Lyubomirski, and all those that I 
 had." 
 
 " If they are not on the belt, they are nowhere. They 
 must have been lost in tlie time of the riding." 
 
 *■ To horse and look for them ! " cried Kmita, in a terrible 
 "oice. 
 
 But before the astonished Soroka could leave the room 
 Pan Andrei sank to the bed as if strength had failed him, 
 and seizing his head with his hands, began to repeat in a 
 groaning voice, — 
 
 " Ai ! my letters, my letters ! " 
 
 Meanwhile the soldiers rode off, except one, whom Soroka 
 commanded to guard the cabin. Kmita remained alone in 
 the room, and began to meditate over his position, which 
 was not deserving of envy. Boguslav had escaped. Over 
 
 
412 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I II; 
 
 Pan Andrei was hanging tho terrible and inevitable ven- 
 geance of the powerful Kadzi villa. And not only over 
 him, but over all whom he loved, and speaking briefly, 
 over Olenka. Kinita knew that Prince Yanush would not 
 hesitate to strike where he could wound him most pain- 
 fully, — that is, to pour out his vengeance on the person 
 of Panna Billevich. And Olenka was still in Kyedani at 
 the mercy of tho terrible magnate, whose heart knew no 
 pity. The more Kmita meditated over his position, the 
 - more clearly was ho convinced that it was simply dreadful. 
 After the seizure of Boguslav, tho Uadzivills will hold him 
 a traitor ; the adherents of Yan Kazimir, the i)artisans of 
 Sapyeha, and the confederates who had risen up in Podlya- 
 sye look on him as a traitor now, and a damned soul of the 
 Kadzivills. Among the many cam])8, })arties, and foreign 
 troops occupying at that moment tlie fi(flds of the Com- 
 monwealth, there is not a camp, a party, a body of troops 
 which would not count him <as the greatest ami most ma- 
 lignant enemy. Indeed, the reward olfered for his head by 
 Hovanski is still in force, and now Kadzivill and the 
 Swedes will otter rewards, — and who knows if the adher- 
 ents of the unfortunate Yan Kazimir have not already 
 proclaimed one ? 
 
 " I have brewed beer and must drink it," thought Kmita. 
 When he bore away I'rince Hoguslav, he did so to throw 
 him at the feet of the confederates, to convince them be- 
 yond question that he had broken with the Kadzivills, to 
 purchase a place with them, to win the right of fighting for 
 the king and the country. Besides, lioguslav in his hands 
 was a hostage for the safety of Olenka. J^ut since Boguslav 
 has crushed Kmita and escaped, not only is Olenka's safety 
 gone, but also the proof that Kmita has really left the 
 service of tho Kadzivills. But tho road to tho confederates 
 is open to him ; and if he meets Volodyovski's division and 
 his friends the colonels, they may grant him his life, but 
 will they take him as a comrade, will they believe him, 
 will they not think that he has appeared as a spy, or has 
 come to tamper with their courage and bring over people 
 to Kadzivill ? Here he remembered that the blood of c(m- 
 federates was weighing on him ; that to begin with, he had 
 struck down the Hungarians and dragoons in Kyedani, that 
 he had scattered the mutinous squadrons or forced them to 
 yield, that he had shot stubborn officers and exterminated 
 soldiers, that he had surrounded Kyedani with trenches 
 
THE DELUGB. 
 
 413 
 
 and fortified it, and thus assured the triumph of Badzivill 
 in Jmud. " How could I go ? " thought he ; " the plague 
 would in fact be a more welcome guest there than 1 1 With 
 Boguslav on a lariat at the saddle it would be possible; 
 but with only my mouth and empty hands ! " 
 
 If he had those letters he miglit join the confederates, he 
 would have had Prince Yanusn in hand, for those letters 
 might undermine the credit of the hetman, even with the 
 Swedes, — even with the price of them he might save 
 Olenka; but some evil spirit had so arranged that the 
 letters were lost. 
 
 When Kmita comprehended all this, he seized his own 
 head a second time. 
 
 "For the Radzivills a traitor, for Olenka a traitor, for 
 the confederates a traitor, for the king a traitor ! I have 
 ruined my fame, m^ honor, myself, and Olenka ! " 
 
 The wound in his face was burning, but in his soul hot 
 pain, a hundred-fold greater, was burning him. In addition 
 to all, his self-love as a knight was suffering. For he was 
 shamefully beaten by Boguslav. Those slashes which Volo- 
 dyovski had given him in Lyubich were nothing. There he 
 was finished by an armed man whom he had called out in a 
 duel, here by a defenceless prisoner whom he had in his 
 hand. 
 
 With every moment increased in Kmita the conscious- 
 ness of how terrible and shameful was the plight into 
 which he had fallen. The longer he examined it the more 
 clearly lie saw its horror ; and every moment he saw new 
 black corners from whicli were peering forth infamy and 
 shame, destruction to himself, to Olenka, wrong against 
 the country, — till at last terror and amazement seized 
 him. 
 
 " Have I done all this ? " asked he of himself; and the hair 
 stood on his head. 
 
 " Impo88il)le I It must be that fever is shaking me yet," 
 cried he. " Mother of God, this is not possible ! " 
 
 "Blind, foolish qnarrellcr," said his conscience, "tins 
 would not have come to thee in fighting for the king and 
 the country, nor if thou hadst listened to Olenka." 
 
 And sorrow tore him like a whirlwind. Hei ! if only he 
 could say to himself : " The Swedes against the country, I 
 against them ! Radzivill against the king, I against him ! " 
 Then it would be clear and transparent in his soul. Then 
 he might collect a body of cut-throats from under a dark 
 
414 
 
 THE DELUQR 
 
 I 
 
 star and, frolic with thtnn as a gypsy at a fair, fall upon the 
 Swedes, and ride over their breasts with pure heart and 
 consoience ;' then ho might stand in glory as in sunlight be-' 
 fore Olenka, and say, — 
 
 " I am no longer infamous, but defensor patriae (a defen- 
 der of the country) ; love me, as 1 love thee." 
 
 But what was he now? That insolent 8j)irit, accus- 
 tomed to 8elf-in(lnlgonc(s would not (fonfoss to a fault alto- 
 gether {it first. It was the lladzivills who (according to 
 him) had pushed him down in this fashion; it was the 
 Uadzivills who had brought him to ruin, covered him with 
 evil repute, bound his hands, despoiled him of honor and 
 love. 
 
 Here Pan Knuta gnashed his teeth, stretched out his 
 hands toward Jmnd, on which Yanush, the hetman, was 
 sitting like a wolf on a corpse, and began to call out in a 
 voice choking with rage, — 
 " Vengcancd ! Vengeance ! " 
 
 Suddenly he threw himself in despair on his knees in the 
 middle of the room, and began to cry, — 
 
 " 1 vow to thee, O Lord Christ, to bend 'those traitors and 
 gallop over them with justice, with fire, and with sword, to 
 cut them, while there is breath in my throat, steam in my 
 mouth, and life for me in this world ! So help me, 6 
 Nazarene King ! Amen ! " 
 
 Some kind of internal voice told him in that moment, 
 " Serve the country, vengeance afterward." 
 
 Pan Andrei's eyes were flaming, his lips were baked, and 
 he trembled as in a fever; he waved his hands, and talking 
 with himself aloud, walked, or rather ran, through the room, 
 kicked the bed with his feet ; at hist he threw himself once 
 more on his knees. 
 
 "Inspire me, O Christ, what to do, lest I fall into 
 frenzy." 
 
 At that moment came the report of a gun, which the for- 
 est echo threw from pine-tree to pine-tree till it brought it 
 like thunder to the cabin. 
 
 Kmita sprang up, and seizing his sabre ran out. 
 
 " What is that ? " asked he of the soldier standing at the 
 threshold. 
 
 " A shot. Colonel." 
 
 " Where is Soroka ? " 
 
 " He went to look for the letters." 
 
 " In what direction was the shot ? " 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 415 
 
 The soldier pointed to the eastern part of the forest, which 
 was overgrown with dense underwood. * 
 
 "There!" 
 
 At that moment was heard the tramp of horses not yet 
 visible. 
 
 " Be on your guard I " cried Kmita. 
 
 But from out the thicket apjMsared Soroka, hurrying as 
 fast aa his horse could galloj), and aft(3r him the other soldier. 
 They rushed up to the cabin, sprang from the horses, and 
 from behind them, as from l)ehind breastworks, took aim at 
 the thicket. 
 
 " What is there ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 " A party is coming," answered Soroka. 
 
416 
 
 TIIK DKMIOK. 
 
 CTTAITKH XXIX. 
 
 li 11 
 
 : 
 
 \: > 
 
 r ' 
 
 Bii.KNcK nui>(MmmI(mI i \n\l soon HoiiioiliiiiK )H>^llll to ruHt.i!« in 
 iho iKMir ihiuki't, hh it wild UmimU vvoro paHsinK. Tli<^ iiiovo- 
 mont, hoNvovor, mow slowtM" iho iu»;inM' il. cimu*. Thou Uu^ro 
 wuH Hiloiu'o IV N(M<iti)(l iiino. 
 
 "How luiiny <>(' iliom urn l,lw>v«»V" aHJ^cd Kiiiita. 
 
 " AlnmiHix, and ihm'1\iu)m oiuhi; tor to toll ilio truth 1 ooidd 
 
 »• 
 
 not ooinit th(>ni Huvoly," said H<n'oka. 
 
 "That XH owv luok I Thoy JMiniutt Htand iijjainHt uh, 
 
 "Thoy cannot, ('olouol ; b.d. wo nniHt tiiko ono «>f thoni 
 alivo, and H(\oroh him mo thid. ho will .show tho road." 
 
 "Thoro will bo tinn» for thai. Ho wnlohl'ul I" 
 
 Kntita had bandy Haid, " Ho watohrul," wIhmi a ntnMik of 
 whito Hnioko bloonnul forth front tho thickot, and yon woidd 
 havo Haid that birdH iuid tiniiorod in th(> ntnir ^raHH, about 
 thirty yanlH from tho cabin. 
 
 "Thoy shot from (dd k'>'>n» with hob-nailHl" Haid Kinita; 
 
 if thoy havo not tnuskots, th(>y will do nothinjif to uh, for 
 ohl guna will not oarry from tho thirkot." 
 
 Horoka, li(ddin>( with ono hand tho nniskot n^stinff on 
 tho Haddlo of tho hor.so Htandiiifj; in front of him, phuMMl tho 
 othor hand in tho form of a trumiM't boforo his mouth, ami 
 nhoutod, — 
 
 Lot any man oomo out of tln^ IhihIu'h, ho will (M)vim' him- 
 Holf wd.h luH lofjs ri^jht away.'^ 
 
 A monuMit (»f silonoi^ followed ; thon a throatoiun^? voioo 
 wa« hoard in tho t.hi(^k«>t, — 
 
 ti 
 
 « 
 
 u >» 
 
 " What kind of mon aro you ? " 
 
 " Hottor that! thoso who nd) on tho hijj[hroad.'* 
 
 " Wy what riv^ht havo you found out onr dwollinj? 'i 
 
 " A r(d)bor isks alnnit ri^jfht I Tho hangman will nhow yon 
 
 right ! Co\\\iy to tho oabin." 
 
 " Wo will «nu)ko you out just as if you woro badgors." 
 " Hut oonu> on ; only .koo that tho smoko doos not ntifli^ 
 
 you t-oo." 
 
 The voi(^o in ti»"t thic^kot was silont ; tho invadors, it 
 
 soonu'd, Inu! b^gini to tako counsol. Mi^anwhile Soroka 
 
 whispered to Kmita, — 
 
TIIK DKMMlK 
 
 417 
 
 at.«MunK voico 
 
 " Wo iiiiiNt iliHtoy NdiniHuin liithor, mid liiint liiiii ; wn iihall 
 ihoii havn II ^^n\^\^^ iiinl ii lumtu^tv" 
 
 " I'nIihw I '* iiiiNWtM'od Kinitit, " il' any oiin (•.iiiium it will Im) 
 (III piirol«^*' 
 
 " WiUi riililMTH |»ui'ul(< iiiiiy \»i lirnkiMi." 
 
 " It. iM hdUor nut l,o givn ill *' Niiid Kiiiit.a. 
 
 WiUi tiliat qiKmt.iniis hoiiiuIimI a^uiii ri'oiii tlio tliiokot. 
 
 •• VVIiat. ilo yon want,'/" 
 
 Now Kiiii!,ii, Ih'i^iiii in H|M*ak. *' Wn hIioiiM liav«^ k<iii*hm 
 w«^ oaiiio ii' yon liail kimwii poliioni'HH ami not. tii'tMl from 
 
 a Kiiii'*' 
 
 " Voii will !iol> Htjiy l\um\ — t.lioro will Imi a huiiilritil Iioi'ho 
 
 of IIM »ii| tllO OVl'llillK." 
 
 ** tii-i'oi'oi'vniiiiKiwo liiiiHlnMl dva^ootiHwill roiiK^and your 
 MWiii!i|)M will not. Hav«* you, lor iln\v will paHH aH wo [laHHtid." 
 
 '• Aro you Holdioi-H V " 
 
 •• Wt< aro not, n»ltlM'rs, you may \n* huio." 
 
 " Kroiu wliai. K«|uadnui '/ " 
 
 " Hul, aro you Imt.iiian ? Wo will not, ropori to »ou." 
 
 <*'riio wolvoH will dovoiir you, in old I'aHliiiui." 
 
 " And tlio rrowH will piok you ! " 
 
 "Tidl what you want, a liundrod dcwilHl Why did you 
 o«)iiio to our (viiiiii ?" 
 
 "(!omo youi'HolvoH, and you will not Hplit your throat (uy- 
 in^ from tlu^ thiokot. Noaror, uoanu*! ' 
 
 "Oil your wonl." 
 
 '* A word iH for kninhtH, not for roblnu'H. If it plonHoyou, 
 boliovo; if not, Indiovo not." 
 
 •* May two (u>mo ?" 
 
 " 'riioy niJiy." 
 
 Aftora wiiilo from out tlio thiokot a hundt-od yardH diHtant 
 .ippoarod two moii, tall and hrond-Hliouldorod. <)m^ Homo< 
 what liont himmiumI to bo a miin of yoarK ; tho otlior wont up- 
 right, hut HtrotoluMl his nock with curiosity toward tho cabin. 
 Both won^ hIkuI. HhoopHkin coatw <M»vcrod with ^jray (dotli of 
 tho kind imcd by potty nobles, hi^h cdwhidu IniotH, and fur 
 caps drawn down to tiioir (Nirs. 
 
 "What tho dovil!" said Kmit.'i, oxamining tho two mon 
 with oaro. 
 
 " Oolouol 1 " oriod Horoka, " a miraolo indood, but those are 
 our pooplo." 
 
 Moanwhilo tluiy apuroacduvl within a f(nv 8te])8, but could 
 not 800 tho nuMi standing U'.ar tho cabin, for tlu! horsoH oon- 
 coalod thorn. 
 
 VOL. 1. — 27 
 
 m 
 
418 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 41 1^ 
 
 All at once Kmita stepped forward. Those approaching 
 did not recognize him, however, for his face was bound up ; 
 they halted, and began to measure him with curious and un- 
 quiet eyes, v i 
 
 "And where is the other son, Pan Kyemlich?" asked 
 Kmita; "he has not fallen, I hope." 
 
 " Who is that — how is that — what — who is talking ? " 
 asked the old man, in a voice of amazement and as it were 
 terrified. 
 
 And he stood motionless, with mouth and eyes widely 
 open ; then the son, who since he was younger had quicker 
 vision, took the cap from his head. 
 
 " For God's sake, father ! that 's the colonel ! " cried he. 
 
 " Jesus I sweet Jesus ! " cried the old man, " that is Pan 
 Kmita 1" 
 
 And both took the fixed posture of subordinates saluting 
 their commanders, and on their faces were depicted both 
 shame and wonder. 
 
 " Ah ! such sons," said Pan Andrei, laughing, "and greeted 
 me from a gun ? " 
 
 Here the old man began to shout, — 
 
 " Come this way, all of you ! Come ! " 
 
 From the thicket appeared a number of men, among whom 
 were the second son of the old man and the pitch-maker ; all 
 ran up at breakneck speed with weapons ready, for they knew 
 not what had happened. But the old man shouted again, — 
 
 " To your knees, rogues, to your knees ! This is Pan Kmita! 
 What fool was it who fired ? Give him this way ! " 
 
 " It was you, father," said young Kyemlich. 
 
 " You lie, — you lie like a ^iog ! Pan Colonel, who could 
 know that it was your grace who had come to our cabin ? 
 As God is true, I do not believe my own eyes yet." 
 
 " I am here in person," answered Kmita, stretching his 
 hand toward him. 
 
 " Jesus ! " said tho old man, " such a guest in the pine- 
 woods. I cannot believe my own eyes. With what can we 
 receive your grace here ? If we expected, if we knew ! " 
 
 Here he turned to his sons : " Run, some blockhead, to 
 the cellar, bring mead I " 
 
 " Give the key to the padlock, father." 
 
 The old man began to feel in his belt, and at the same 
 time looked suspiciously at his son. 
 
 " The key of the padlock ? But I know thee, gypsy ; 
 thou wilt drink more thyself than thou 'It bring. What 's 
 
)p)'oaching 
 30und up ; 
 lis and un- 
 
 ?" asked 
 
 talking?" 
 as it were 
 
 res widely 
 ad quicker 
 
 cried he. 
 bhat is Pan 
 
 es saluting 
 licted both 
 
 ,nd greeted 
 
 Long whom 
 laker; all 
 
 they knew 
 again, — 
 
 'anKniita! 
 !" 
 
 I who could 
 )ur cabin ? 
 
 [tching his 
 
 the pine- 
 hat can we 
 jknew ! " 
 Ickhead, to 
 
 the same 
 
 36, gypsy ; 
 
 What 's 
 
 THE- DELUGE. 
 
 419 
 
 to be done ? I '11 go myself ; he wants the key of the pad- 
 lock I But go roll off the logs, and I '11 open and bring it 
 myself." 
 
 " I see that you have spoons hidden under the logs, Pan, 
 Kyemlich," said Kmita. 
 
 " But can anything be kept from such robbers ! " asked 
 the old man, pointing to the sons. " They would eat up 
 their father. Ye are still here? Go roll away the logs. 
 Is this the way ye obey him who begat you ? " 
 
 The young men went quickly behind the cabin to the pile 
 of logs. 
 
 " You are in disagreement with your sons in old fashion, 
 it seems ? " said Kraita. 
 
 " Who could be in agreement with them ? They know 
 how to fight, they know how to take booty ; but when it 
 comes to divide with their father, I must tear my part from 
 them at risk of my life. Such is the pleasure I have ; but 
 they are like wild bulls. I beg your grace to the cabin, for 
 the cold bites out hex'e. For God's sake ! such a guest, such 
 a guest ! And under the command of your grace we took 
 more booty than during this v/hole year. We are in poverty 
 now, wretchedness! Evil times, and always worse; and 
 old age, too, is no joy. I beg ycu to thie cabin, over our 
 lowly threshold. For God's sake ! who could have looked 
 for your grace here ! " 
 
 Old Kyemlich spoke with a marvellously rapid and com- 
 plaining utterance, and while speaking cast quick, restless 
 glances on every side. He was a bony old man, enormous 
 in stature, with a face ever twisted and sullen ! He, as well 
 as his two sons, had crooked eyes. His brows were bushy, 
 and also his mustaches, from beneath which protruded be- 
 yond measure an underlip, which when he spoke came to 
 his nose, as happens with men who are toothless. The 
 agedness of his face was in wonderful contrast to the quick- 
 ness of his movements, which displayed unusual strength 
 and alertness. His movements were as rapid as if a spring 
 stirred him ; he turned his head continually, trying to take 
 in with hid eyes everything around, — men as well as things. 
 Toward Kmita he became every minute more humble, in 
 proportion as subservience to his former leader, fear, and 
 perhaps admiration or attachment were roused i" him. 
 
 Kmita knew the Kyemliches well, for the father and two 
 sons had served under him when single-handed he had car- 
 ried on war in White Russia with Hovanski. They were 
 
420 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 1! 
 
 valiant soldiers, and as cruel as valiant One son, Kosma, 
 was standard-bearer for a time in Kmita's legion ; \but he 
 soon resigned that honorable office, since it preventedi him 
 from taking booty. An i{? the gamblers and unbridled 
 souls who formed Kmita's legion and who drank away and 
 lost in the day what they won with blood in the night from 
 the enemy, the Kyemlichos were distinguished for mighty 
 greed. They accumulated booty carefully, and hid it in the 
 woods. They took with special eagerness horses, which 
 they sold afterward at country houses and in towns. The 
 father fought no worse than the twin sons, but after each 
 battle he dragged away from them the most considerable 
 part of the booty, scattering at the same time complaints 
 and regrets that they were wronging him, threatening a 
 father's curse, groaning and lamenting. The sons grum- 
 bled at him, but being sufficiently stupid by nature they 
 let themsel-vtes be tyrannized over. In spite of their end- 
 less squabbles and scoldings, they stood up, one for the 
 other, in battle venomously without sparing blood. They 
 were not liked by their comrades, but were feared univer- 
 sally, for in quarrels they were terrible ; even officers avoided 
 provoking them. Kmita was the one man who had roused 
 indescribable fear in them, and after Kmita, Pan Banitski, 
 before whom they trembled when from anger his face was 
 covered with spots. They revered also in both lofty birth ; 
 for the Kmitas, from old times, had high rank in Orsha, and 
 in Banitski flowed senatorial blood. 
 
 It was said in the legion that they had collected great 
 treasures, but no one knew surely that there was truth in 
 this statement. On a certaio day Kmita sent them away 
 with attendants and a herd of captured horses ; from that 
 time they vanished. Kmita thought that they had fallen ; 
 his soldiers said that they had escaped with the horses, the 
 temptation in this case being too great for their hearts. 
 Now, as Pan Andrei saw them in health, and as in a shed 
 near the cabin horses were neighing, and the rejoicing and 
 subservience of the old man were mingled with disquiet, 
 he thought that his soldiers were right in their judgment. 
 Therefore, when they had entered the cabin he sat on a 
 plank bed, and putting his hands on his sides, looked 
 straight into the old man's eyes and asked, — 
 
 " Kyemlich, where are my horses ? " 
 
 "Jesus I sweet Jesus ! " groaned the old man. " Zolo- 
 tarenko's men took the horses ; they beat us and wounded 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 m 
 
 US, drove us ninety miles ; we hardly escaped wit^ our Uvea. 
 Oh, Most Holy Mother ! we CQuld not find either your grace 
 or your men. They drove us thus far into these pine-woods, 
 into misery and hunger, to this cahin and these swamps. 
 God is kind that your grace is living and in health, though, 
 I see, wounded. Maybe we can nurse you, and put on 
 herbs ; and those sons of mine went to roll off the logs, and 
 they have disappeared. What are the rogues doing ? They 
 are ready to ta^e out the door and get at the mead. Hun- 
 ger here and misery; nothing more! We live on mush- 
 rooms ; but for your grace there will be something to drink 
 and a bite to eat. Those men took the horses from us, robbed 
 us, — there is no denying that ! And they deprived us of 
 service with your grace. We shall not have a bit of bread 
 for old age, unless your grace takes us back into service.'^ 
 
 " That may happen too," answered Kmita. 
 
 Now the two sons of the old man came in, — Kosma and 
 Damian, twins, big fellows, awkward, with enormous heads 
 completely overgrown with an immensely thick bush of 
 hair, stiff as a brush, sticking out unevenly around the ears, 
 forming hair-screws and fantastic tufts on their skulls. 
 When they came in they stood near the door, for in pres- 
 ence of Kmita they dared not sit down; and Damian 
 said, — 
 
 " The cellar is cleared." 
 
 " 'T is well," answered old Kyemlich, " I will go to bring 
 mead." 
 
 Here he looked significantly at his sons. 
 
 "And Zolotarenko's men took the horses," said he, with 
 emjjhasis ; and went out of the cabin. 
 
 Itmita glanced at the two who stood by the door, and 
 who looked as if they had been hewn out of logs roughly 
 with an axe. 
 
 " What are you doiug now ? " 
 
 " We take horses ! " answered the twins at the same time. 
 
 " From whom ? " 
 
 " From whomsoever comes along." 
 
 « But mostly ? " 
 
 " From Zolotarenko's men." 
 
 " That is well, you are free to take from the enemy ; but 
 if you take from your own you are robbers, not nobles. 
 What do you do with those horses?" 
 
 '•' Father sells them in Prussia." 
 
 ** Has it hap£>ened to you to take from the Swedes ? 
 
I '; 
 
 422 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 you 
 
 
 Swedish companies are not far from here. Have 
 attacked the Swedes ? " . \ 
 
 " We have." 
 
 " Then you fall on single men or small companies ; but 
 when they defend themselves, what then ? " 
 
 " We pound them." 
 
 " Ah, ha, you pound them ! Then you have a reckoning 
 with Zolotarenko's men and with the Swedes, and surely 
 you could not have got away dry had you fallen into their 
 hands." 
 
 Kosma and Damian were silent. 
 
 " You are carrying on a dan^^erous business, more becom- 
 ing to robbers than nobles. It must be, also, that some 
 sentences are hanging over you from old times ? " 
 
 " Of course there are ! " answered Kosma and Damian. 
 
 " So I thought. From what parts are you ? " 
 
 " We are from these parts." 
 
 " Where did your father live before ? " 
 
 " In Borovichko." 
 
 '•' Was that his village ? " 
 
 " Yes, together with Pan Kopystynski." 
 
 " And what became of him ? " 
 
 " We killed him." 
 
 "And you had to flee before the law. It will be short 
 work with you Kyemliches, and you'll finish on trees. 
 The hangman will light you, it cannot be otherwise ! " 
 
 Just then the door of the room creaked, and the old man 
 came in bringing a decanter of mead and two glasses. He 
 looked unquietly at his sons and at Kmita, and then said, — 
 
 " Go and cover the cellar." ^ 
 
 The twins went out at once. The old man poured mead 
 into one glass ; the other he left empty, waiting to see if 
 Kmita would let him drink with him. 
 
 But Kmita was not able to drink himself, for he even 
 spoke with difficulty, such pain did the .^ound cause him. 
 Seeing this, the old man said, — 
 
 " Mead is not good for the wound, unless poured in, to 
 clear it out more quickly. Your grace, let me look at the 
 wound and dress it, for I understand this matter as well as 
 a barber." 
 
 Kmita consented. Kyemlich removed the bandage, and 
 began to examine the wound carefully. 
 
 " The skin is taken ofl', that 's nothing ! The ball passed 
 along the outside ; but still it is swollen." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 423 
 
 Have you 
 anies ; but 
 
 reckoning 
 and surely 
 . into their 
 
 lore becom- 
 that some 
 s?" 
 Damian. 
 
 1 be short 
 on trees, 
 erwise ! " 
 le old man 
 asses. He 
 hen said, — 
 
 )ured mead 
 g to see if 
 
 or he even 
 cause him. 
 
 ►ured in, to 
 ook at the 
 as well as 
 
 indage, and 
 
 ball passed 
 
 •• That is why it pains me." 
 
 " But it is not two days old. Most Holy Mother ! some 
 one who must have been very near shot at your grace." 
 
 " How do you know that ? " 
 
 " Because all the powder was not burned, and grains like 
 cockle are under the skin. They will stay with your grace. 
 Now we need only bread and spider-web. Terribly near 
 was the man who tired. It is well that he did not kill 
 
 )> 
 
 your grace 
 
 " It was not fated me 
 and put them 
 
 on 
 
 Mix the bread and the spider-web 
 quickly as possible, for I must talk 
 
 with you, and my jaws pain me. 
 
 The old man looked suspiciously at the colonel, for in 
 his heart there was fear that the talk might touch again on 
 the horses said to have been taken by the Cossacks ; but he 
 busied himself at once, kneaded the moistened bread first) 
 and since it was not hard to find spider-webs in the cabin 
 he attended promptly to Kmita. 
 
 " I am easy now," said Pan Andrei ; " sit down, worthy 
 Kyemlich." 
 
 " According to command of the colonel," answered the old 
 man, sitting on the edge of a bench and stretching out his 
 iron-gray bristly head uneasily toward Kmita. 
 
 But Kmita, instead of conversing, took his own head in 
 his hands and fell into deep thought. Then he rose and 
 began to walk in the room ; at moments he halted before 
 Kyemlich and gazed at him with distraught look ; appar- 
 ently he was weighing something, wrestling with thoughts. 
 Meanwhile about half an hour passed; the old man 
 squirmed more and more uneasily. All at once Kmita 
 stopped before him. 
 
 " Worthy Kyemlich." said he, ** wuere are the nearest of 
 those squadrons which rose up against the prince voevoda 
 of Vilna ? " 
 
 " The old man began to wink his eyes suspiciously. 
 " Does your grace wish to go to them ? " 
 
 " I do not request you to ask, but to answer." 
 
 " They say that one squadron is quartered in Shchuchyn, 
 — that one which came here last from Jmud." 
 
 " Who said so ? " 
 
 " The men of the squadron themselves." 
 
 "Who led it?" 
 
 " Pan Volodyovski." 
 
 "That 'swell. CallSoroka!" 
 
11 
 
 ! I 
 
 424 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ! i 
 
 I . 
 
 The old man weut out, and returned soon with the sergeant. 
 
 " Have the letters been found ? " asked Kmita. ^ 
 
 " They have not, Colonel," answered Soroka. 
 
 Kmita shook his hands. " Oh, misery, misery ! You 
 may go, Soroka. For those letters which you have lost you 
 deserve to hang. You may go. Worthy Kyemlich, have 
 you anything on which to write ? " 
 
 " I hope to find something," answered the old man. 
 
 " Even two leaves of paper and a pen." * 
 
 The old man vanished through the door of a closet which 
 was evidently a storeroom for all kinds of things, but he 
 searched long. Kmita was walking the while through the 
 room, and talking to himself, — 
 
 " Whether I have the letters or not," said he, " the hetman 
 does not know that they are lost, and he will fear lest I 
 publish them. I have him in hand. Cunning against 
 cunning ! 1 will threaten to send them to the voevoda of 
 Vityebsk. That is what I will do. In God is my hope, 
 that the hetman will fear this." 
 
 Further thought was interrupted by old Kyemlich, who, 
 coming out of the closet, said, — 
 
 " Here are three leaves of paper, but no pens or ink." 
 
 " No pens ? But are there no birds in the woods here ? 
 They may be shot with a gun." 
 
 " There is a falcon nailed over the shed." 
 
 " Bring his wing hither quickly ! " 
 
 Kyemlich shot off with all speed, for in the voice of 
 Kiiiita was impatience, and as it were a fever. He re- 
 turned in a moment with the falcon's wing. Kmita seized 
 it, plucked out a quill, and began to make a pen of it with 
 his dagger. 
 
 " It will do ! " said he, 16oking at it before the light ; " but 
 it is easier to cut men's heads than quills. Now we need 
 ink." 
 
 So saying, he rolled up his sleeve, cut himself deeply in 
 the arm, and moistened the quill in blood. 
 
 " Worthy Kyemlich," said he, " leave me." 
 
 The old man left the room, and Pan Andrei began to 
 write at once : — 
 
 I renounce the service of your highness, for I will not serve 
 traitors and deceivers. And if I swore on the crucifix not to leave 
 your highness, God will forgive me ; and even if he were to damn 
 me, I would rather burn for my error than for open and purposed 
 treason to my country and king. Your highness deceived me, so 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 42i> 
 
 e sergeant. 
 
 jry ! You 
 ,ve lost you 
 alich, have 
 
 man. 
 
 loset which 
 ngs, but he 
 hrough the 
 
 the hetman 
 fear lest I 
 ug against 
 voevoda of 
 s my hope, 
 
 mlich, who, 
 
 or ink." 
 oods here ? 
 
 le voice of 
 He re- 
 mita seized 
 of it with 
 
 ight; "but 
 w we need 
 
 6 deeply in 
 
 began to 
 
 ill not serve 
 not to leave 
 ere to damn 
 nd pui'posed 
 eived me, so 
 
 that I was like a blind sword in your hand, ready to spill the blood 
 of my brethren. Therefore I summon your highness to the judg- 
 ment of God, so that it may be known on whose side was treason, 
 and on whose honest intention. Should we ever meet, though you 
 are powerful and able to strike unto death, not only a private man, 
 but the whole Commonwealth, and I have only a sabre in my hand, 
 still I will vindicate my own, and will strike your highness, for 
 which my regret and compunction will give me power. And your 
 highness knows that I am of those who without attendant squad- 
 rons, without castles and cannon, can injure. While in me tliore is 
 breath, over you there is vengeance, so that you can be sure neither 
 of the day nor the hour. And this is as ceitain to be as thiit this is 
 my own blood with which I write. I have your letters, lettei-s to 
 ruin you, not only with the King of Poland, but the King of 
 Sweden, for in them treason to the Commonwealth is made mani- 
 fest, as well as this too, that you are ready to desert the Swedes if 
 only a leg totters under them. Even had you twice your present 
 power, your ruin is in my hands, for all men miist believe signatures 
 and seals. Therefore I say this to your highness : If a hair falls from 
 the heads which I love and which are left in Kyedani, I will send 
 those letters and documents to Pan Sapyeha, and I will have copies 
 printed and scattered through the land. Your highness can go by 
 land or water (you have your choice) ; but after the war, when 
 peace comes to the Commonwealth, you will give me the BiHe- 
 viches, and I will give you the letters, or if I hear evil tidings Pan 
 Sapyeha will show them straightway to Pontus de la Gardie. Your 
 highness wants a crown, but where will you put it when your head 
 falls either from the Polish or the Swedish axe ? It is better, I 
 think, to have this understanding now; though 1 shall not forget 
 revenge hereafter, I shall take it only in private, excepting this 
 case. I would commend you to God were it not that you put. the 
 help of the devil above that of God. Kmita. 
 
 P. S. Your highness will not poison the confederates, for there 
 will be those who, going from the service of the devil to that 
 of God, will forewarn them to drink beer neither in Orel nor 
 Zabludovo. 
 
 Here Kmita sprang up and began to walk across the 
 room. His face was burning, for his own letter had heated 
 him like fire. This letter was a declaration of war against 
 the Kadzivills ; but still Kmita felt in himself some extra- 
 ordinary power, and was ready, even at that moment, to 
 stand eye to eye before that powerful family who shook 
 the whole country. He, a simple noble, a simple knight, 
 an outlaw pursued by justice, who expected assistance 
 from no place, who had oifenaed all so that everywhere 
 he was accounted an enemy, — he, recently overthrown, 
 felt in himself now such power that he saw, as if with the 
 
426 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 eyes of a prophet, the humiliation of Prince Yanush and 
 lioguslav, and his own victory. ]Iow he would wage war, 
 where he would find allies, in what way he would conquer, he 
 knew not, — what is more, he had not thought of this. But 
 he had profound faith that he would do what he ought to 
 do, — that is, what is right and just, in return for which God 
 ^voidd be with him. He was filled with confidence beyond 
 nj^?aure and bounds. It had become sensibly easier in his 
 SOI 1. Certain new regions were opened as it were entirely 
 befoi ' im. Let him but sit on his horse and ride thither 
 to honor, to glory, to Olenka. 
 
 " But a hair will not fall from her head," repeated he to 
 himself, with a certain feverish joy ; " tlie letters will defend 
 her. The hetman will guard her as the eye in his head, — 
 as I myself would. Oh, I have settled this ! I am a poor 
 worm, but they will be afraid of my sting." 
 
 Then thisi thought came to him : " An^ shall I write to 
 her too ? The messenger who will take the letter to the 
 hetman can give a slip of paper to her secretly. Why not 
 inform her that I have broken with the Radzivills, and that 
 I am going to seek other service ? " 
 
 This thought struck his heart greatly. Cutting his arm 
 again, he moistened the pen and began to write, — 
 
 Or.KNKA, — I am no longer on tlie Radzivill side, for I have seen 
 through them at last — 
 
 But suddenly he stopped, thought awhile, and said to 
 himself, " Let deeds, not words, bear witness for me 
 henceforth ; I will not write." And he tore the paper. 
 But he wrote on a third sheefr a short letter to Volodyovski 
 in the following words, — 
 
 Gracious Colonel, — The undersigned friend warns you and 
 the other colonels to be on your guard. There were letters from 
 the hetman to Prince Rognslav and Pan Harasimovich to j^ioison 
 you, or to have men muider you in your own quarters. Harasimo- 
 vich is absent, for he has gone with Prince Boguslav to Tyltsa in 
 Prussia; but there may be similar commands to other managers. 
 Be careful of those managers, receive nothing from them, and at 
 night do not sleep without guards. I know also to a certainty that 
 the hetman will inarch against you soon with an army; he is wait- 
 ing only for ca^ "Iry which General de la Gardie is to send, fifteen 
 hundred in number. See to it, therefore, that he does not fall upon 
 you and destroy you singly. But better send reliable men to the 
 voevoda of Yi'tyebsk to come with all haste and take chief command. 
 
 « 
 
THE l)t!LlfGFl. 
 
 427 
 
 anush and 
 
 wage war, 
 
 3onquer, he 
 
 this. But 
 
 le ought to 
 
 which God 
 
 nee beyond 
 
 asier in his 
 
 3re entirely 
 
 ride thither 
 
 )eated he to 
 
 will defend 
 
 his head, — 
 
 I am a poor 
 
 II I write to 
 etter to the 
 r. Why not 
 ills, and that 
 
 bing his arm 
 ^ite, — 
 
 or I have seen 
 
 and said to 
 Hess for me 
 the paper. 
 Volodyovski 
 
 arna you and 
 
 •e letters from 
 
 rich to poison 
 
 I. Harasimo- 
 
 ' to Tyltsa in 
 
 ler managers. 
 
 them, and at 
 
 Icertainty that 
 
 ly; he is wait- 
 
 ► send, fifteen 
 
 not fall upon 
 
 [le men to the 
 
 Ijief command. 
 
 A well-wisher counsels this, — believe him. Meanwhile keep to- 
 gether, choosing quarters for the squadrons one not far from tlio 
 other, so that you may be able to give mutual assistance. The het- 
 man has few cavalry, only a small number of dragoons, and Kmita's 
 men, but they are not reliable. Kmita himself is absent. The het- 
 man found some other office for him ; it being likely that he does not 
 trust him. Kmita too is not such a traitor as men say ; he is merely 
 led astray. I commit you to God. Babinich. 
 
 Pan Andrei did not wish to put his own name to the 
 letter, for he judged that it would rouse in each one aver- 
 sion and especially distrust. " In cas they understand," 
 thought he, "that it would be better Iot hem to retreat 
 before the hetman than to meet hir in i body, they will 
 suspect at once, if they see my name, that I wish to collect 
 them, so that the hetman may finish them at a blow ; they 
 will think this a new trick, but from borae Babinich they 
 will receive warning more readily." 
 
 Pan Andrei called himself BaLwiich from the village 
 Babiniche, near Orsha, which from remote times belonged 
 to the Kmitas. 
 
 When he had written the letter, at the end of which he 
 placed a few timid words in his own defence, he felt new 
 solace in his heart at the thought that with that letter he 
 had rendered the first service, not only to Volodyovski and 
 his friends, but to all the colonels who would not desert 
 their country for Badzivill. He felt also that that thread 
 would go farther. The plight into which he had fallen 
 was difficult, indeed, almost desperate ; but still there was 
 some help, some issue, some narrow path which would lead 
 to the highroad. 
 
 But now when Olenka in all probability was safe from 
 the vengeance of Radzivill, and the confederates from an 
 unexpected attack. Pan Andrei put the question. What 
 was he to do himself ? 
 
 He had broken with traitors, he had burned the bridges 
 in the rear, he wished now to serve his country, to devote to 
 it his strength, his health, his life ; but how was he to do 
 this, how begin, to what could he put his hand ? 
 
 Again it came to his head to join the confederates ; but 
 if they will not receive him, if they will proclaim him a 
 traitor and cut him down, or what is worse, expel him in 
 disgrace ? 
 
 "I would rather they killed me!" cried Pan Andrei; 
 and he flushed from shame and the feeling of his own 
 
428 
 
 TIIR MUTOW. 
 
 M ^ 
 
 t Ml i 
 
 liiM^raiMv IVr)iii|m it in ofw\vv to nuvi^ Olnnka or t.ho 
 ooni'iMlui'Hitm thmt hirt own t'luno, 
 
 Now tho poNiiioi) wivn roiilly (i(«H)M«mto, and aKuiti tho 
 youiiK Ixm'o'm moiiI lM»Kiin to H(M«i1io. 
 
 " Itui (uui i not. art. UH I <lii) uKainHi lloviuiNki ? " nnVwX hn 
 of hiniKolf. <* I will f^atliri' ii party, will attack tlin HwmloN, 
 Inini, pnrmio. That \h nothing now i'or nii^ ! No ono Iuih 
 voHiHttMi tluMn ; I will ivNiNt tintil the tinuMMnnrH wlinn tin* 
 wliolo OonintonwonlMi will ask, an <li<l liitiinania, who \h 
 that horo who all alono <lnn*N torvonp into thn month of tho 
 lion ? ThiM) I will nMnovo my rap and Nav* ' Hon, it in I, it in 
 Kmita!'" 
 
 And snoh a hnvnin^; «h>Hiro drow him on to that hloody 
 work that, ho wishod to rnnh ont of tho room and iH'dor tho 
 Kyomlii'hos, thoir i\tt«>ndantH, and IiIk own nion to nioinit 
 and movo on. Ihit hofon* ho roaohod tho dtNM' ho lolt nn 
 if 8onn> out* had snddoidy pnnohod him in tho hroant and 
 pn.shod him ha«*k fron) th«« throNhold. Ilo ntood in tho 
 ndihih« of tho room, and lookod forward in ama/onuMit. 
 
 *' How is this? Shall I not olYaoo my «»tV<>nooH in thiH 
 way ? " 
 
 An»l at iwu'o ho lM>f;nu to riH^kon with his own consoionoo. 
 
 " Whoro is MtononuMit for ^nilt ? " afikod his oonsoionoo. 
 " lloro sonu'thinijf t*lso is roipurtMl 1 '' 
 
 •♦What?"!»skod Kmit.ji. 
 
 " With what, oati thy gnilt Im» offaood, if not with 8orvio«« 
 of sonn' kind, diltionltatui imnuMiso, tumoraltlo and \n\n\ as a 
 a t(»ar '/ Is it sorvi(M> *.o colloot a hand (d' ruHians and rago liko 
 a whirlwiiul with thom thi'ongh tho tiiddRand ihowildornoNsV 
 l>»>sttlnm not d«>sir»» this Imm'jpiso li^dd.ing has for thoo a HWoot 
 odor, as has nxist moat for a do^ V 'I'hat is amnsiMnont, mtt 
 sorvioo; a oarnival, not war; rohlw^ry, not <lofonoo of tho 
 oonntry ! An<l didst thoti not do tho samo against llovanski. 
 bnt wliat ditlst t hon ^'ain i' h'ntlinns infostinp; tho foroHts aro 
 roady alst> toattnok tho Swotlish oonnna.nds,and whonotuMinst. 
 tlu»u ,i;ot. othor n»on ? Thon wilt atta(d< tho Swodos, bnt also 
 tho inhabitants; t.hon wilt brinf? von^oanoo o\\ thoso inhabi 
 tants, and what wilt tho\i oHVot ? Thon art tryinj? to oHi;a|H', 
 thon fool, from t<nl junl aton(Mn«Mit." 
 
 So oonsoiojH'o spok(> in Knnta; and Kmitaaaw that itwas 
 rii-ht, and vt»xation soi/.od him, ami a spooios of f;friof over his 
 own o»msoi«»noo lk»oanso it spoko snoh bittor trnth. 
 
 *' What shall I lM\v;in ? " Jiskod he, at last; " who will help 
 mo, who will save mo?" 
 
THK DKIilKlK. 
 
 VJ\) 
 
 Hfirn Noiiiohow IiIm Uium'n Im^kuii io Umd till ut laHt Iih ktiult 
 (town ut. tlio plunk IhhI uikI Inikuii to pruy uloud, uiid imploro 
 froni litH wholr houI and luMirt, — 
 
 "() ih^HUN (llii'iHt, (Umu* liord,** Nuid li«>, '*uh on tlio oi'ohh 
 thou hadHt pity for tlio thud', no now liiivo pity tor niu. Jto- 
 liold T dnHii'o to idouiiHO niyHnli' Ironi HiiiH, to \n^\f'\\\ a nnw 
 lifo, aiul to HtM-vo my country lioiii<Htly ; Init I know not liuw, 
 for I am fooliNli. I m^rviMl tlioNd truitorH, O lionl, uIho not 
 NO nuu)h from ntuli(u^, butoH|HM)ially uh it wcni through folly; 
 onliglitmi mo, iuHpiro nio, comfort mo in my doHpuir, and 
 rrmnio nm in thy mercy, or I poriHh." 
 
 Il(*rn I 'an Anilrci'H voiciupiivcrod; ho boat hiHbruud broiiMt 
 till it thundorod in tho room, and repeated, "Jtomoroiful to 
 m«, a Hinner ! Mo mentiful to mw. a Hinnor I Hu merciful to 
 mc, a Hinner I *' TIumi placing ItiH liandN together and Htrctch- 
 iiiK them upward, he Haid, *' And thou, MoHt llolvr liiuly, in- 
 Nultcd by hereticH in tliiH la:id, take my part with thy Hon, 
 inttu'ccde for my rcHcue, dtmert nu) not in my HulTiu'irif; and 
 miNory, ho that I nuiy be able to Horvc thc(% to aven^u the 
 iuHultH agaiiiHt tluMs and at the hotu* of my death havu thuu 
 aH a patrom^H for my unhappy houI." 
 
 WhiMi Pan Amirci wiih imploring thuH, tears iMigan to fall 
 from hiH eyt^H ; at hiHt hu drornxMl IiIh head on the |>laiik 
 bed and Hank into Hih^nce, im it waiting fur tho clYcct uf Iuh 
 ardent prayer. Silence followed in tliu room, and only the 
 deep Hound of the neighlK)ring oine-treoM entered from out- 
 side. Then chipH crtuikhid under heavy HtepH l>eyond tho 
 wimhiw, and two men iM^gan to Hpeak, — 
 
 '* What do you think, Horgeant ? Whuru uliall we go from 
 here?" 
 
 '• Do 1 know?" answered Soroka. " We hIuiU ^n sonie- 
 where, inayln) far olY, to th(^ king who is groaning under tho 
 Swedish hand." 
 
 " Is it true that all have hd't him ? " 
 
 '* Itut the Lord (k)d hiis not left him." 
 
 KmiUi rose smUlenly from the bed, but his face wjis clear 
 and cuvlni ; he wont straight to tho door, and opening it said 
 to the soldier, — 
 
 " llavo the horses roiuly ! it is time for tlie road I " 
 
i 
 
 430 
 
 THE DELUOB. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 A MovKMENT tose quickly among the soldiers, who were 
 glad to go out of the forest to the distant worM, all the more 
 since they feared pursuit on the part of Boguslav Kadzivill ; 
 and old KyeniliGli went to the cabin, understanding that 
 Kmita would need him. 
 
 " Does your grace wish to go ? " asked he. 
 
 " I do. Will you guide me out of the forest ? Do you 
 know all the roads ? " 
 
 •* I know all the roads in these parts. But whither does 
 your grace Wish to go ? " 
 
 " To our gracious king." 
 
 The old man started back in astonishment. "0 Wise 
 Lady ! " cried he. " To what king." 
 
 " Not to the Swedish, you may be sure." 
 
 Kjremlich not only failed to recover, but began to make 
 the sign of the cross. 
 
 " Then surely your grace does not know that people say 
 our lord the king has taken refun-o in Silesia, for all have 
 deserted him. Cracow is besiege' ' 
 
 " We will go to Silesia." 
 
 " Well, but how are we to pass through the Swedes ? " 
 
 " Whether we pass through as nobles or peasants, on horse- 
 back or on foot, is all one to uie, if only we pass." 
 
 " Then too a tremendous lot of time is needed." 
 
 "We have time enough, but I should be glad to go as 
 quickly as possible.'' 
 
 Kyemlich ceased to wonder. The old man was too cun- 
 ning not to surmise that there was some particular and se- 
 cret cause for this undertakixig of Pan Kmita's, and that 
 moment a thousand suppositions began to crowd into his 
 head. But as the soldiers, on whom Pan Andrei had en- 
 joined silence, said nothing to the old man or his sons about 
 the seizure of Prince Boguslav, the supposition seemed to 
 him most likely that the prince voevoda of Vilna had sent 
 the young colonel on some mission to the king. He was 
 confirmed in this opinion specially because he counted 
 Kmita a zealous adherent of Prince Yanush, and knew 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 4S1 
 
 rs, who were 
 
 all the more 
 
 IV Radzivill ; 
 
 tauding that 
 
 jt ? Do you 
 whither does 
 
 L. «0 Wise 
 
 gan to make 
 
 it people say 
 for all have 
 
 Swedes?" 
 nts, on horse- 
 
 18." 
 
 d." 
 
 lad to go as 
 
 was too cun- 
 iular and se- 
 a's, and that 
 )wd into his 
 drei had en- 
 is sons about 
 n seemed to 
 ilna had sent 
 ig. He was 
 he counted 
 I, and knew 
 
 of his services to tho hetnian ; for the confederate squad- 
 rons had spread tidings of him throughout the whole prov- 
 ince of I'odlyasye, creating the opinion that Kmita was a 
 tyrant and a traitor. 
 
 " The hetuian is sending a confidant to the king," thought 
 the old man ; " that means that surely he wishes to agree 
 with him and leave tlio Swedes. Their rule must be bitter 
 to him already, else why send ? " 
 
 Old Kyeralich did not struggle long over this question, 
 for his interest in the matter was altogetlier different ; and 
 namely, what profit could he draw from such circumstances ? 
 If he served Kmita ho would serve at the same time the 
 hetman and the king, whic' would not be without a notable 
 reward. The favor o;' such lords would be of service, too, 
 should he be summoned to account for old sins. Besides, 
 there will surely be war, the country will flame up, and then 
 plunder will crawl of itself into his hands. All this smiled 
 at the old man, who besides was accustomed to obey Kmita, 
 and had not ceased to fear him like fire, cherishing toward 
 him also a certain kind of love, which Kmita knew how 
 to rouse in all his subordinates. 
 
 " Your grace," said he, " must go through the whole Com- 
 monwealth to reach the -king. Swedish troops are noth- 
 ing, for we may avoid the towns and go through the woods ; 
 but the worst is that the woods, as is usual in unquiet times, 
 are full of parties of freebooters, who fall upon travellers ; 
 and your grace has few men." 
 
 " You will go with me, Pan Kyemlich, and your sons and 
 the men whom you have ; there will be more of us." 
 
 " If your grace commands I will go, but I am a poor man. 
 Only misery with us ; nothing more. How can I leave even 
 this poverty and the roof over my head ? " 
 
 " Whatever you do will be paid for ; and for you it is 
 better to take your head out of this place while it is yet on 
 your shoulders." 
 
 " All the Saints of the Lord ! What does your grace 
 say ? How is that ? What threatens me, innocent man, in 
 this place ? Whom do we hinder ? " 
 
 " I know you robbers ! " answered Pan Andrei. " You 
 had partnership with Kopystynski, and killed him; len 
 you ran away from the courts, you served with mt ou 
 took away my captured horses. 
 
 " As true as life ! O Mighty Lady ! " cried the old man. 
 
 ♦* Wait and be silent I Then you returned to your old 
 
432 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 lair, and began to ravage in the neighborhood like robbers, 
 taking horses and booty everywhere. Do not deny it, for I 
 am not your judge, and you know best whether I tell the 
 truth. If you take the Lorses of Zolotarenko, that is well ; 
 if the horses of the Swedes, that is well. If they catch you 
 they will flay you ; but that is their affair." 
 
 " True, true ; but we take 
 
 only 
 
 from the enemy," said 
 
 the old man. 
 
 " Untrue ; for you attack your own people, as your sons 
 have confessed to me, and that is simple robbery, and a 
 stain on the name of a noble. Shame on you, robbers ! you 
 should be peasants, not nobles." 
 
 " Your grace wrongs us," said old fox, growing red, " for 
 we, remembering our station, do no peasant deed. We do 
 not take horses at night from any man's stable. It is some- 
 thing different to drive a herd from the fields, or to capture 
 horses. Thi^ is permitted, and there is no prejudice to a 
 noble therefrom in time of war. But a horse in a stable is 
 sacred ; and only a gypsy, a Jew, or a peasant would steal 
 from a stable, — not a noble. We, your grace, do not do that. 
 B^t war is war ! " 
 
 '^ Though there were ten wars, only in battle can plunder 
 be taken ; if you seek it on the road, you are robbers." 
 
 " God is witness to our innocence." 
 
 " But you have brewed beer here. In few words, it is 
 better for you to leave this place, for sooner or later the 
 halter will take you. Come with me ; you w^ill wash away 
 your sins with faithful service and win honor. I will re- 
 ceive you to my service, in which there will be more profit 
 than in those horses." 
 
 " We will go with your grace everywhere ; we will guide 
 you through the Swedes and through the robbers, — for true 
 is the speech of your grace, that evil people persecute us 
 here terribly, and for what? For our poverty, — for noth- 
 ing but our poverty. Perhaps God will take pity on us, 
 and save us from suffering." 
 
 Here old Kyemlich rubbed his hands mechanically, and 
 his eyes glittered. "From these works," thought he, "it 
 will boil in the country as in a kettle, and foolish the man 
 who takes no advantage." 
 
 K'nita looked at him quickly. " Only don't try to betray 
 me ! ' said he, threateningly, " for you will not be able, and 
 the hand of Grod only could save you." 
 
 " We have never betrayed," answered Kyemlich, gloomily, 
 
like robbers, 
 ieny it, for I 
 er I tell the 
 that is well; 
 ley catch you 
 
 enemy 
 
 )j 
 
 said 
 
 Eis your sons 
 bbery, and a 
 robbers ! you 
 
 ing red, " for 
 Leed. We do 
 ). It is sorae- 
 or to capture 
 rejudice to a 
 in a stable is 
 b would steal 
 [o not do that. 
 
 3 can plunder 
 obbers." 
 
 words, it is 
 or later the 
 wash away 
 I will re- 
 more profit 
 
 ve will guide 
 s, — for true 
 persecute us 
 — for noth- 
 pity on us, 
 
 mically, and 
 ught he, "it 
 ish the man 
 
 try to betray 
 be able, and 
 
 eh, gloomily, 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 433 
 
 " and may God condemn me if such a thought entered my 
 head." 
 
 " I believe you," said Kmita, after a short silence, " for 
 treason is something different from robbery ; no robber 
 will betray." 
 
 " What does your grace command now ? " asked Kyemlich. 
 
 "First, here are two letters, requiring quick delivery. 
 Have you sharp men ? " 
 
 " Where must they go ? " 
 
 " Let one go to the prince voevoda, but without seeing 
 Radzivill himself. Let him deliver the letter in the first 
 squadron of the prince, and come back without awaiting an 
 answer." 
 
 "The pitch-maker will go; he is a sharp man and ex- 
 perienced." 
 
 " He will do. The second letter must be taken to Pod- 
 lyasye ; inquire for Pan Volodyovski's Lauda squadron, 
 and give it into the hands of the colonel himself." 
 
 The old man began to nmtter cunningly, and thought, 
 " I see work on every side ; since he is sniffing with the 
 confederates there will be boiling water, ■— there will be, 
 there will be ! " 
 
 " Your grace," said he, aloud, " if there is not such a 
 hurry with this letter, when we leave the forest it perhaps 
 might be given to some man on the road. There are many 
 nobles here friendly to the confederates ; any one would 
 take it willingly, and one man more would remain to us." 
 
 " You have calculated shrewdly," answered Kmita, " for 
 if^ is better that he who delivers the letter should not know 
 from whom he takes it. Shall we go out of the forest 
 soon ? " 
 
 "As your grace wishes. We can go out in two weeks, 
 or to-morrow." 
 
 " Of that later ; but now listen to me carefully, Kyemlich." 
 
 " I am attending with all my mind, your grace." 
 
 " They have denounced me in the whole Coyimonwealth 
 as a tyrant, as devoted to the hetnifin, or altogether to 
 Sweden. If the king knew who I am, he might not trust 
 me, and might despise my intention, which, if it is not sin- 
 cere, God sees ! Are you attending, Kyemlich ? " 
 
 " I am, your grace." 
 
 "Therefore I do not call myself Kmita, but Babinich, 
 do you understand ? No one must know my real name. 
 Open not your lips ; let not a breath out. If men ask 
 
 i^fi 
 
 
 
 VOL. I.- 
 
 28 
 
 III 
 
m 
 
 i'm }' 
 
 It ' 'f • 
 
 111 III 
 
 434 
 
 TIIE DELUGE. 
 
 whence I come, say that you joined me on the road and 
 do not know, but say, ' Whoso is curious, let him ask the 
 man himself.' " 
 
 " I understand, your grace." 
 
 " Warn your sons, and also your men. Even if straps 
 were cut out of them, they must say my name is Babinich. 
 You will answer for this with your life." 
 
 " It will be so, your grace. I will go and tell my sons, 
 for it is necessary to put everything into the heads of those 
 rogues with a shovel. Such is the joy I have with them. 
 God has punished me for the sins of my youth ; that is the 
 trouble. Let me say another word, your grace." 
 
 " Speak boldly." 
 
 " It seems to me better not to tell soldiers or men where 
 we are going." 
 
 " That is true." 
 
 " It is enqugh for them to know that Babinich, not Pan 
 Kmita, is travelling. And on such a journey it is better to 
 conceal vour grace's rank." 
 
 " Why ? " 
 
 " Because the Swedes give passes to the more consider- 
 able people ; and whoso has not a pass, him they take to the 
 commandant." 
 
 " I have passes to the Swp Jish troops." 
 
 Astonishment gleamed in the cunning eyes of Kyemlich ; 
 but after a while he asked, " Will your grace let me say 
 once more what I think ? " 
 
 " If you give good counsel and delay not, speak ; for I 
 see that you are a clever man." 
 
 " If you have passes, it is better, for in need they may be 
 shown ; but if your grace is travelling on an errand that 
 should remain secret, it is safer not to show tlie passes. I 
 know not whethe- +hey are given in the name of Babinich 
 or Kmita ; but if you show them, the trace will remain and 
 pursuit will be easier." 
 
 " You have struck the point ! " cried Kmita. "I prefer 
 to reserve the passes for anotlier time, if it is possible to go 
 through without them." 
 
 " It is possible, your grace ; and that disguised either as 
 a peasant or a petty noble, — which will be easier, for I 
 have some clean clotlies, a cap and gray coat, for example, 
 just such as petty nobles wear. We may travel with a 
 band of .horses, as if we were going to the fairs, and drive 
 farther till we come to Lovich and Warsaw, as I liave done 
 
 ff ■u. 
 
he road and 
 lim ask the 
 
 en if straps 
 is Babinich. 
 
 ,ell my sons, 
 lads of those 
 3 with them. 
 ; that is the 
 
 r men where 
 
 ich, not Pan 
 t is better to 
 
 ore consider- 
 y take to the 
 
 f Kyemlich; 
 let me say 
 
 [speak ; for I 
 
 [they may be 
 errand that 
 passes. I 
 of Babinioh 
 
 |l remain and 
 
 " I prefer 
 lossible to go 
 
 ted either as 
 
 leasier, for I 
 
 for example, 
 
 ravel with a 
 
 and drive 
 
 i have done 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 435 
 
 more than once during peace, and I know the roads. About 
 this time there is a fail- in Sobota, to which r<eople come 
 from afar. In Sobota we shall learn of other places where 
 there are fairs, and so on. The Swedes too take less note 
 of small nobles, for crowds of them stroll about at all the 
 fairs. If some commandant inquires we will ; xplain our- 
 selves, but if a small party asks we will gallop over their 
 bellies, God and the Most Holy Lady permitti ig." " 
 
 " But if they take our horses ? Requisitions in time of 
 war are of dailv occurrence." 
 
 " Either they will buy or they will take them. If they 
 buy we will go to Sobota, not to sell, but to buy horses ; and 
 if they take them, we will raise a lament and go with our 
 complaint to Warsaw and to Cracow." 
 
 " You have a cunning mind," said Kmitir, " and I see 
 that you will serve me. Even if the Swedes take these 
 horses, seme man will be found to pay for them." 
 
 " I was going to Elko in Prussia with them ; this turns 
 out well, for just in that direction does our road lie. From 
 Elko we will go along the boundary, then turn to Ostro- 
 lenko, thence through the wilderness to Pultusk and to 
 Warsaw." 
 
 " Where is that Sobota ? " ^ 
 
 " Not far from Pyantek." ^ 
 
 " Are you jesting, Kyemlich ? " 
 
 " How should I dare," answered the old man, crossing his 
 arms on his breast and bending his head ; " but they have 
 s'lch wonderful names for towns in this region. It is a 
 good bit of road beyond Lovich, your grace." 
 
 " Are there large fairs in that Sobota ? " 
 
 " Not such as in Lovich ; but there is one at this time of 
 year, to which horses are driven from Prussia, and crowds 
 of people assemble. Surely it will not be v/orse this year, 
 for it is quiet about there. The Swedes are in power 
 everywhere, and have garrisons in the towns. Even if a 
 man wanted to rise against them, he could not." 
 
 " The.i I will take your plan. We will go with horses, 
 and that you suffer no loss I will pay for them in advance." 
 
 " I thank your grace for the rescue." 
 
 " Only get sheepskin coats ready and com:>ion saddles 
 and sabres, for we will start at once. Tell your sons and 
 men who I am, what my name is, that I am travelling with 
 horses, that you and they are hired assistants. Hurry I " 
 * Saturday. ^ Friday. 
 
 Uf! 
 
US I I 
 
 ml 
 
 i^i 
 
 
 436 
 
 THE DELOQE. 
 
 When the old man turned to the door, Pan Andrei said 
 further, " No one will call me grace nor commandant nor 
 colonel, only you and Babinich." 
 
 Kyemlich went out, and an \iour later all were sitting on 
 their horses ready to start oii the long journey. Kmita 
 aressed in the gray coat of a poor noble, a cap of worn 
 sheepskin, and with a bandaged face, as if after a duel in 
 some inn, was diflflcult of recognition, and looked really like 
 some poor devil of a noble, strolling from one fair to 
 another. He was surrounded by people dressed in like 
 fashion, armed with common poor sabres, with long whips 
 to drive the horses, and lariats to catch those that might 
 try to escape. 
 
 The soldiers looked with astonishment at their colonel, 
 making various remarks, in low tones, concerning him. It 
 was a wonder to them that ho was 15abi!»U;h instead of Pan 
 Kmita, that t^ey were to say you to him ; and most of all 
 shrugged his shoulders old Soroka, wli-i, looking at the 
 terrible colonel as at a rainbow, mutiored to Bilous, — 
 
 "That you will not pass my throat. Let him kill me, 
 but I will give him, as of old; what belongs to him." 
 
 The soldiers knew not that the soul in Pan Andrei had 
 changed as well as his exttjrnal form. 
 
 " Move on ! " cried Babinich, on a suddou. 
 
 The whips cracik<;d ; the riders surrounded the horses, 
 which were hu < i* r. together, and they moved on. 
 
 
 !i [ 
 
 ,. ' i!l._ , . 
 
 if 
 
 •'\.,,^ 
 
 r- 
 
 f X 
 
 

 \.ndrei said 
 laudapiit nur 
 
 ) sitting on 
 ey. Kinita 
 )ap of worn 
 r a duel in 
 I really like 
 Dno fair to 
 3ed in like 
 long whips 
 that might 
 
 aeir colonel, 
 ng him. It 
 tead of Pan 
 most of all 
 king at the 
 loiis, — 
 lim kill me, 
 lim." 
 Andrei had 
 
 the horses, 
 on. 
 
 
 tHE DEtilJGfi. 
 
 43? 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 Passing along the very boundary Ix ^ween the province 
 of Trotsk and Prussia, they travelled through broad and 
 pathless forests known only to Kyemlich, until they entered 
 J*russia and reached Leng, or, as old Kyenriich, called it, 
 Elko, where they got news of public affairs from nobles 
 stopping there, who, taking their wJves, children, and effects, 
 lijicl fled from the Swedes and sought refuge under the 
 power of the elector. 
 
 Leng had the look of a camp, or rather it might be 
 thought that some petty diet was in session there. The 
 noblee drank I'russian beer in the public houses, and talked, 
 while every now and then some one brought news. With- 
 out making inquiries and merely by listening with care, 
 Babinich learned that Royal Prussia and the chief towns in 
 it had taken decisively the side of Yan Kazimir, and had 
 made a treaty of mutual defence with the elector against 
 every enemy. Tt was said, however, that in spite >f the 
 treaty the most considerable towns were unwilling tt Tlmit 
 the elector's garrisons, fearing lest that adroit prinr. wh* .1 
 he had once entered with armed hand, m'ghthold c! :m for 
 good, or might in the decisive moment join himself I -ach- 
 erously to the Swedes, — a deed which his inborn cuuniri-.^ 
 mafle him capable of doing. 
 
 The nobles murmured against this distrust entertain \l by 
 townspeople ; but Pan Andrei, knowing the Radzivili 
 intrigues with the elector, had to gnaw his tongue to refrain 
 from telling what was known to him. He was held back 
 by the thought that it was dangerovis in Electoral Prussia 
 to sp^ak openly against the elector ; and secondly, because 
 it did not beseem a small gray-coated noble who was going 
 to a fair with horses, to enter into the intricate subject of 
 politics, over which the ablest statesmen were racking th^^ 
 l>rains to no purpose. 
 
 He sold a pair of horses, bought new ones, and journeyed 
 farther, along the Prussian boundary, but by the road 
 leading from Leng to Slichuchyn, situated in the ve^y 
 coiner of the province of Mazovia, between Prussia on the 
 one side and the province of Podlyasye on the other. To 
 
 1 V^ 
 ; f 
 
 1 
 
 
 Ill 
 
 :^''m ./ 
 
43$ 
 
 THE delugh:. 
 
 Shchuchyn Pan Andrei had no wish to go, for he learned 
 that in that town were the quarters of the confederate 
 squadron commanded by Volodyovski. 
 
 Volodyovski nmst have passed over almost the same 
 road on which Kmita was travelling, and stopped before the 
 very boundary of Podlyasye, either for a short rest or for 
 temporary quarters, in Shchuchyn, where it must have been 
 easier to' find food for men and horses than in greatly 
 plundered Podlyasye. 
 
 Kmita did not wish to meet the famous colonel, for he 
 judged that having no proofs, except words, he would not be 
 able to persuade Volodyovski of his conversion and sin- 
 cerity. He gave command, therefore, to turn to the west 
 toward Vansosh, ten miles from Shchuchyn. As to the 
 letter he determined to send it to Pan Michael at the first 
 opportunity. ^ 
 
 But before arriving at Vansosh, they stopped at a way- 
 side inn called " The Mandrake," and disposed themselves 
 for a night's rest, which promised to be comfortable, for 
 there was no one at the mn save the host, a Prussian. 
 
 •But barely hal Kmita with the three Kyemliches and 
 Soroka sat down to supper when the rattling of wheels and 
 tl.e tramp of horses were heard. As the sun had not gone 
 down yet, Kmita Avent out in front of the inn to see who 
 was coming, for he was curious to know if it was some 
 Sweaish party ; but instead of Swedes he saw a carriage, 
 and following it two pack-wagons, surrounded by armed 
 men. 
 
 At the first glance it was easy to see that some personage 
 was coming. The carriage was drawn by four good 
 Prussian horses, with large bones and rather short backs ; 
 a jockey sat on one of the front horses, holding two beau- 
 tiful dogs in a leash ; on the seat was a d-lver, and at his 
 side a haiduk dressed in Hungarian fashion ; in the carriage 
 was the lord himself, in a cloak lined with wolfskiji and 
 Tastened with numerous gilded buttons. 
 
 Ir the rear followed two wagons, well filled, and at each 
 of them four servants armed with sabres and guns. 
 
 The lord, though a personage, was still quite young, a 
 little beyond twenty. He bad a plump, red face, and in 
 his whole perso there was evidence that he did not stint 
 himself in easing. 
 
 When the carriage stopped, the haiduk sprang to give 
 his hand to help down the lord ; but the lord, seeing Kmita 
 
THE DFLUQB. 
 
 439 
 
 \e learned 
 anfederate 
 
 the same 
 
 before the 
 
 •est or for 
 
 have been 
 
 in greatly 
 
 mel, for he 
 ouldnot be 
 11 and sin- 
 
 the west 
 As to the 
 at the first 
 
 1 at a way- 
 themselves 
 brtable, for 
 ssian. 
 
 mliches and 
 wheels and 
 id not gone 
 to see who 
 t was some 
 
 a carriage, 
 by armed 
 
 e personage 
 four good 
 
 hort backs ; 
 two beau- 
 and at his 
 
 ;he carriage 
 
 olfskiji and 
 
 [ind at each 
 
 ns. 
 
 be young, a 
 
 ace, and in 
 
 id not stint 
 
 ang to givo 
 eing Kmita 
 
 standing on the threshold, beckoned with his glove, and 
 called, — 
 
 " Come this way, my good friend ! " 
 
 Kmita instead o2 going to him withdrew to the interior, 
 for anger seized him at once. He had not become ac- 
 customed yet to the gray coat, or to being beckoned at with 
 a glove. He went back therefore, sat at the table, and 
 began to eat. The unknown lord came in after him. 
 When he had entered he half closed his eyes, for it was 
 dark in the room, Rince there was merely a small fire 
 burning in the chiiuney. 
 
 "But why di(^ no one come out as I was driving up?" 
 asked the unknown lord. 
 
 "The host has gone to another room," answered Kmita, 
 "and we are travellers, like your grace." 
 
 " Thank you for the eontidence. And what manner of 
 travellers ? " 
 
 " Oh, a noble travelling with horses." 
 
 " And your company are nobles too ? " • 
 
 " Poor men, but nobles." 
 
 " With the forehead, then, with the forehead. Whither is 
 God guiding you ? " 
 
 " From fair to fair, to sell horses." 
 
 " If you stay here all night, I '11 see, perhaps I '11 pick 
 out something. Meanwhile will you permit me to join 
 you at the table ? " 
 
 The unknown lord asked, it is true, if they would let him 
 s\t with them, but in s^ch a tone as if he wei-e perfectly 
 sure that they would ; and he was not mistaken. The young 
 horse-dealer said, — 
 
 " We beg your grace very kindly, though we have nothing 
 to offer but sausage and peas." 
 
 " There are better dainties in my bags," answered the 
 lordling, not without a certain pride ; "bat I have a soldier's 
 palate, and sausage with peas, if well cooked, I prefer to 
 everything." When he had said this, — and he spoke very 
 slowly, though he looked quickly and sharply, — he took 
 his seat on the bench on which Kmita pushed aside to give 
 convenient room. 
 
 " Oh, I beg, I beg, do not incommode yourself. On the 
 road rank is not regarded ; and though you were to punch 
 me with your elbow, the crown would not fall from my 
 head." 
 
 Kmita, who was pushing a plate of peas to the unknown, 
 
 
440 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 !■!■ 
 
 and who, as has been said, was not used to such treatment, 
 would certainly have broken the plate on the head of the 
 puffed up young man if there had not been something in 
 that pride of his which amused Pan Andrei ; therefore not 
 only did he restrain his internal impulse at once, but 
 laughed and said, — 
 
 " Such times are the present, your grace, that crowns fall 
 from the loftiest heads ; for example, our Hing Yan Kazimir, 
 who by right should wear two crowns, has none, unless it 
 be one of thorns." 
 
 The unknown looked quickly at Kmita, then sighed and 
 said, " Times are such now that it is better not to speak of 
 tliis unless with confidants." Then after a moment he 
 added: "But you .have brought that out well. You must 
 have served with polished people, for your speech shows 
 more training than your rank." 
 
 " Rubbing against people, I have heard this and that, but 
 I have never been a servant." 
 
 "Whence are you by birth, T bog to ask ?" 
 " From a village in the pi-ovinco of Trotsk." 
 " Birth in a village is no drawkick, if you are only 
 noble ; that 's the main thing. Whjit is to be heard in 
 Lithuania ? " 
 
 "The old story, — no lack of traitors." 
 " Traitors, do you say ? What kind of traitors ? " 
 " Those who have deserted the king and the Common- 
 wealth." 
 
 " How is the prince voevoda of Vilna ? " 
 "Sick, it is said; his breath fails liim." 
 '' God give liim health, he is a worthy lord ! " 
 " For the Swedes he is, since he opened the gates to 
 them. " 
 
 " I see that you are not a partisan of his." 
 Kmita noticed that the stranger, while asking him ques- 
 tions as it were good-naturedly, was observinjj^ him. 
 
 " What do 1 care!" said he; "let others think of him. 
 My fear is that the Swedes may take my horses in 
 requisition." 
 
 " You should have sold them on the spot, then. In Pod- 
 lyasye are stationed, very likely, the squadrons which 
 rebelled against the hetman, and surely they have not too 
 many horses." 
 
 " I do not know that, for I have not been among them, 
 though some man in passing gave me a letter to one of 
 their colonels, to be delivered when possible." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 441 
 
 the, gates to 
 
 <<How could that passing man give you a letter when 
 you are not going to Podlyasye?" 
 
 "Because in Shchuchyn one confederate squadron is 
 stationed, therefore the man said to me, ' Either give it 
 yourself or find an opportunity in passing Shchuchyn.' " 
 
 " That comes out well, for I am going to Shchuchyn." 
 
 " Your grace is fleeing also before the Swedes ? ■' 
 
 The unknown, instead of an answer, looked at Kmita and 
 asked phlegmatically, " Why do you say also, since you nof; 
 only are not fleeing from the Swedes, but are going among 
 them and will sell them horses, if they do not take your 
 beasts by force ? " 
 
 At this Kmita shrugged his shoulders. " I said also, be- 
 cause in Leng I saw many nobles who. escaped before the 
 Swedes ; and as to me, if all were to serve them as much 
 as I wish to serve them, I think they would not warm the 
 places here long." 
 
 " Are you not afraid to say this ? " 
 
 "I am not afraid, for I am not a coward, and in the 
 second place your grace is going to Shchuchyn, and there 
 every one says aloud what ho thinks. God grant a quick 
 passage from talking to action." 
 
 '* 1 see that you are a man of wit beyond your station," 
 repeated the unknown. " But if you love not the Swedes, 
 why leave these squadrons, whiiih luive mutinied against the 
 hetman ? Have they mutinied because their wages were 
 kept back, or from caprice ? No ! but because they would 
 not serve the hetman and the Swedes. It would have been 
 better for those soldiers, poor fellows, to remain under the 
 hetman, but they preferred to give themselves the name of 
 rebels, to expose themselves to hunger, hardships, an<l 
 many destructive things, rather than act against the king. 
 That it will come to war between them and the Swedes is 
 certain, and it would hrve come already were it not that 
 the Swedes have not advanced to that corner as yet. Wait, 
 they will come, they will meet here, and tuen you will 
 see ! " 
 
 " I think, too, that war will begin here- very soon," said 
 Kmita. 
 
 " Well, if you have such an opinion, and a sincere hatred 
 for the Swedes, — which looks out of your eyes, for you 
 speak truth, I am a judge of that, — then why not join these 
 worthy soldiers ? Is it not time, do they not need hands 
 and sabres ? Not a few honorable men are serving among 
 
 n 
 

 
 III 
 
 Is 
 
 ill 11 
 
 442 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 thein, who prefer their own kiii;., to a foreign one, and soon 
 there will l)u more of these. You come from places in 
 which men know not the Swedes as yet, but those who 
 liave made their acquaintance are shedding hot tears. In 
 Great Poland, though it surrendered to them of i^s own 
 will, thry thumbscrew nobles, plunder, make requisitions, 
 seize every thiiig they can. At present in this province 
 their manner is no better. General Stenbok gave forth a 
 numifesto that each man remain, (piietly at home, and his 
 property would be respected. But what good was in that! 
 The General has his will, and the smallest commandants 
 have theirs, so tliat no man is sure of to-morrow, nor of 
 what property he holds. Every man wishes to get good of 
 what he has, to use it in peace, wants it to bring him 
 pleasure. But now the first best adventurer will come and 
 say, ' Give.' If you dc not give, he will find reason to strip 
 you of your' property, or vv ithout reason will have your 
 head cut otf. Many shed bitter tears, when they think of 
 their former king. All are oppressed and look to those 
 confederates unceasingly, to see if some rescue for the 
 country and the people will not come from them.'' 
 
 " Your grace, as I see, has no better wish for the Swedes 
 than I have," said Kmita. 
 
 The unknown looked around as it were with a certain 
 alarm, but soon calmed himself and spoke on, — 
 
 " I would that pestilence crushed them, and I hide that 
 not from you, for it seems to me that 3'ou are honest ; and 
 though you were not honest, you would not bind me and 
 take me to the Swedes, for I should not yield, having 
 armed mer, and a sabre at my side." 
 
 " Your grace may be sure that I will not harm you ; your 
 courage is to my heart. And it pleases me that your grace 
 did not hesitate to leave property behind, in which the 
 enemy will not fail to punish you. Such good-will to the 
 country is highly deserving of praise." 
 
 Kmita began unwittingly to speak in a patronizing tone, 
 as a superior to a subordinate, without thinking that such 
 words might seem strange in the mouth of a small horse- 
 dealing noble ; but apparently the young lord did not pay 
 attention to that, for he merely winked cunningly and 
 said, — r 
 
 "But am I a fool? With me the first rule is that my 
 own shall not leave me, for what the Lord God has given 
 must be respected. I stayed at home quietly with my pro- 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 44» 
 
 ifch a certain 
 
 duce aiid grain, and when I had sold in Prussia all my 
 crops, cattle, and utensils, I thought to myself : " It is time 
 for the road. Let them take vengeance ou mo now, let 
 them take whatever pleases their taste." 
 
 " Your grace has left the land and the buildings for good ? " 
 
 "Yes, for I hired the starostaship of Vansosh from the voe- 
 voda of Mazovia,and just now the term has expired. I have 
 not paid the last rent, and I will not, for 1 hear the voevoda 
 of Mazovia is an adherent of the Swedes. Let the rent he 
 lost to him for that, and it will add to my reiuly money.'* 
 
 "Ton my word," said Kmita, smiling, "I see that yt'uv 
 grace is not only a brave cavalier, but an adroit one." 
 
 " Of course," replied the unknown. " Adroitness is the 
 main thing ! But I was not speaking of that. Why is it that, 
 feeling the wrongs of our country and of our gracious king, 
 you do not go to those honorable soldiers in I'odlyasye and 
 join their banner ? You would serve both God and yourself ;, 
 luck might come, for to more than one has it happened to 
 come out of war a great man, from being a small nuble. It 
 is evident that you are bold and resolute, and since your birth 
 is no hindrance, you might advance quickly to some fortune, 
 if God favors you with booty. If you do not squander that 
 which here and there will fall into your hands, the purse will 
 grow heavy. I do not know whether you have land or not, 
 l)ut you may have it ; with a purse it is not hard to rent an 
 estate, and from renting an estate to owning one, with the 
 help of the Lord, is not far. And so, beginning as an atten- 
 dant, you may die an officer, or in some dignity in the coun- 
 try, in case you are not lazy in labor ; for whoso rises early, 
 to him God gives treasure." 
 
 Kmita gnawed his mustache, for laughter seized him ; then 
 his face quivered, and he squirmed, for from time to time pain 
 came from the healin^r wound. The unknown continued, — 
 
 " As to receiving yci there, they will receive you, for they 
 need men ; besides, you have pleased me, and 1 take you under 
 my protection, with which you may be certain of promotion." 
 
 Here the young man raised liis plump face with pride, and 
 began to smooth his mustaches ; at last he said, — 
 
 " Will you be my attendant, carry my sabre, and manage 
 my men ? " 
 
 Kmita did not restrain himself, but burst out in sincere, 
 joyous laughter, so that all his teeth gleamed. 
 
 " Why laugh ? " asked the unknown, frowning. 
 
 " From delight at the service." 
 
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444 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 If 
 
 I 
 
 But iihe youthful personage was offended in earnest, and 
 said, — , 
 
 " He was a fool who taught you such manners, and be care- 
 ful with whom you are speaking, lest you exceed measure in 
 familiarity." 
 
 " Forgive me, your grace," answered Kmita, joyously, " for 
 really I do not know before whom I am standing." 
 
 The young lord put his hands on his hips : " I am Pan Jend- 
 zian of Vansosh," said he, with importance. 
 
 Kmita had opened his mouth to tell his assumed urune, 
 when Bilotis came hurriedly into the room. 
 
 " Pan Com— " 
 
 Here the soldier, stopped by the threatening look of 
 Kmita, was confused, stammered, and finally coughed out 
 with effort, — 
 
 " I beg to tell you some people are coming." 
 , « Where frbm?" 
 
 "From Shchuchyn." 
 
 Kmita was embarrassed, but hiding his confusion quickly, 
 he answered, " Be on your guard. Are there many ? " 
 
 " About ten men on horseback." . . 
 
 " Have the pistols ready. Go ! " 
 
 When the soldier had gone out, Kmita turned to Pan Jend- 
 zian of Vansosh and asked, — 
 
 " Are they not Swedes ? " 
 
 " Smce you are going to them," answered Pan Jendzian, 
 who f«;r some time had looked with astonishment on the 
 young noble, " you must meet them sooner or later." 
 
 " I should prefer the Swedes to robbers, of whom thene are 
 many everywhere. Whoso go^s with horses must go armed 
 and keep on the watch, for horses are very tempting." 
 
 " If it is true that Pan Volodyovski is in Shchuchyn," said 
 Pan Jendzian, " this is surely a party of his. Before they 
 take up their quarters there they wish to know if the coun- 
 try is safe, for with Swedes at the border it would be diffi- 
 cult to remain in quiet." 
 
 When he heard this, Pan Andrei walked around in the 
 room and sat down in its darkest corner, where the sides of 
 the chimney cast a deep shadow on the corner of the table ; 
 but meanwhile the sound of the tramp and snorting of 
 horses came in from outside, and after a time a number of 
 men entered the room. 
 
 Walking in advance, a gigantic fellow struck with wooden 
 toot the loose planks in the floor of the room. Kmita looked 
 
THE DStitJOfi. 
 
 at him, and the heart died within his bosom. It was Ynzva 
 Butrym, called Footless. 
 
 "But where is the host?" inquired he, halting in the 
 middle of the room. 
 
 " I am here ! " answered the innkeeper, " at your service." 
 
 " Oats for the horses ! " 
 
 " I have no oats, except what these men are using." Say- 
 ing this, he pointed at Jendzian and the horse-dealer's men. 
 
 " Whose men are you ? " asked Jendzian. 
 
 " And who are you yourself ? " 
 
 " The starosta of Vansosh." 
 
 His own people usually called Jendzian starosta, as he 
 was the tenant of a starostaship, and he thus named himself 
 on the most important occasions. 
 
 Yuzva Butrym was confused, seeing with what a high 
 personage he had to do ; therefore he removed his cap, and 
 said, — 
 
 " With the forehead, great mighty lord. It was not possi- 
 ble to recognize dignity in the dark." 
 
 "Whose men are these?" repeated Jendzian, placing his 
 hands on his hips. 
 
 "The Lauda men from the former Billevich squadron, 
 and now of Pan Volodyovski's." 
 
 " For God's sake ! Then Pan Volodyovski is in the town 
 of Shchuchyn ? " 
 
 "In his own person, and with other colonels who have 
 come from Jmud." 
 
 "Praise be to God, praise be to God!" repeated the 
 delighted starosta. "And what colonels are with Pan 
 Volodyovski ? " 
 
 " Pan Mirski was," answered Butrym, " till apoplexy 
 struck him on the road ; but Pan Oskyerko is there, and 
 Pan Kovalski, and the two Skshetuskis." 
 
 " What Skshetuskis ? " cried Jendzian. " Is not one of 
 them Skshetuski from Bujets ? " 
 
 " I do not know where he lives," said Butrym, " but I know 
 that he was at Zbaraj." 
 
 " Save us ! that is my lord ! " 
 
 Here Jendzian saw now strangely such a word would 
 sound in the mouth of a starosta, and added, — 
 
 " My lord godson's father, I wanted to say." 
 
 The starosta said this without forethought, for in fact he 
 had been the second godfather to Skshetuski's first son, 
 Yaremka. 
 
446 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I 
 
 1: 
 
 <i 
 If 
 
 1 
 .11 
 
 Meanwhile thoughts one after another were crowding to the 
 head of Pan Kmita, sitting in the dark corner of the room. 
 First the soul within him was roused at sight of the terrible 
 graycoat, and his hand grasped the sabre involuntarily. For 
 he knew that Yuzva, mainly, had caused the death of his 
 comrades, and was his most inveterate enemy. The old- 
 time Pan Kmita would have commanded to take him and 
 tear him with horses, but the Pan Babinich of that day con- 
 trolled himself. Alarm, however, seized him at the thought 
 that if the man were to recognize him various dangers might 
 come to his farther journey and the whole undertaking. 
 He determined, therefore, not to let himself be known, and 
 he pushed ever deeper into the shade ; at last he put his 
 elbow on the table, and placing his head in his palms began 
 to feign sleep ; but at the same time he whispered to Soroka, 
 who was sitting at the table, — 
 
 " Go to the ptable, let the horses be ready. We will go in 
 the night." 
 
 Soroka rose and went out ; Kmita still feigned sleep. 
 Various memories came to his head. These people reminded 
 him of Lauda, Vodokty, and that brief past which had van. 
 ished as a dream. When a short time before Yuzva Butrym 
 said that he belonged to the former Billevich squadron, 
 the heart trembled in Pan Andrei at the mere name. And 
 it came to his mind that it was also evening, that the fire 
 was burning in the chimney in the same way, when he 
 dropped unexpectedly into Vodokty, as if with the snow, 
 and for the first time saw in the servants' hall Olenka 
 among the spinners. 
 
 He saw now with closed lids, as if with eyesight, that 
 bright, calm lady; he remembered everything that had 
 taken place, — how she wished to be his guardian angel, to 
 strengthen him in good, to guard him from evil, to show 
 him the straight joad of worthiness. If he had listened to 
 her, if he had listened to her ! She knew also what ought 
 to be done, on what side to stand ; knew where was virtue, 
 honesty, duty, and simply would have taken him by the 
 hand and led him, if he had listened to her. 
 
 Here love, roused by remembrance, rose so much in Pan 
 Andrei's heart that he was ready to pour out all his blood, 
 if he could fall at the feet of that lady ; and at that moment 
 he was ready to fall on the neck of that beav of Lauda, that 
 slayer of his comrades, simply because he was from that 
 region, had named the Billeviches, had seen Olenka. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 447 
 
 His own name repeated a number of times by Yuzva 
 Butrym roused him first from his musing. The tenant, of 
 Vansosh inquired about acquaintances, and Yuzva told him 
 what had happened in Kyedani from the time of the mem- 
 orable treaty of the hetman with the Swedes ; he spoke of 
 the oppression of the army, the imprisonment of the 
 colonels, of sending them to Birji, and their fortunate 
 escape. The name of Kmita, covered with all the horror 
 of treason and cruelty, was repreated prominently in those 
 narratives. Yuzva did not know that Pan Volodyovski, the 
 Skshetuskis, and Zagloba owed their lives to Kmita ; but he 
 told of what had happened in Billeviche, — 
 
 " Our colonel seized that traitor in Billeviche, as a fox in 
 his den, and straightway commanded to lead him to death ; 
 I took him with great delight, for the hand of God had 
 reached him, and from moment to moment I held the 
 lantern to his eye j, to see if he showed any sorrow. But 
 no ! He went boldly, not considering that he would stand 
 b«^fore the judgment of God, — such is his reprobate 
 nature. And when I advised him to make even the sign of 
 the cross, he answered, * Shut thy mouth, fellow ; 't is no 
 affair of thine ! ' We posted him under a pear-tree out- 
 side the village, and I was already giving the word, wh^n 
 Pan Zagloba, who went with us, gave the order to search 
 him, to see if he had papers on his person. A letter was 
 found. Pan Zagloba said, * ^-.Id the light ! ' and he read. 
 He had barely begun reading when he caught his head : 
 * Jesus, Mary ! bring him back to the house ! ' Pan 
 Zagloba mounted his horse and rode off, and we brought 
 Kmita back, thinking ti:*^y would burn him before death, 
 to get information from him. But nothing of the kind! 
 They let the traitor go free. It was not for my head to 
 judge what they found in the i'.etter, but I would not have 
 let him go." 
 
 " What was in that letter ? " asked the tenant of Vansosh. 
 
 " I know not ; I only think that there must have been 
 still other officers in the hands of the prince voevoda, who 
 would have had them shot right away if we had shot Kmita. 
 Besides, our colonel may have taken pity on the tears of 
 Pauna Billevich, for she fell in a fain% so that hardly were 
 they able to bring her to her senses. I do not make bold 
 to complain ; still evil has happened, for the harm which that 
 man has done, Lucifer himself would not })e ashamed of. All 
 Lithuania weeps through him j and how many widows and 
 
44d 
 
 THE DELUGft. 
 
 I 
 
 u 
 
 orphans and how many poor people complain against him 
 is known to God only. Whoso destroys him will have 
 merit in hea/ven and before men." \ 
 
 Here conversation turned again to Pan Volodyovski, the 
 Skshetuskis, and the squadrons in Podlyasye. 
 
 " It is hard to find provisions," said Butrym, " for the 
 lands of the hetman are plundered completely, — nothing 
 can be found in them for the tooth of a man or a horse; 
 and the nobles are poor in the villages, as with us in Jmud. 
 The colonels have determined therefore to divide the horses 
 int/ hundreds, and post them five or ten miles apart. But 
 when winter comes, I cannot tell what will happen." 
 
 Kmita, who had listened patiently while the conversa- 
 tion touched him, moved now, and had opened his mouth 
 to say from his dark corner, " The hetman will take you, 
 when thus divided, one by one, like lobsters from a net." 
 But at that moment the door opened, and in it stood So- 
 roka, whom Ilmita had sent to get the horses ready for 
 the road. The light from the chimney fell straight on 
 the stern face of the sergeant. Yuzva Butrym glanced 
 at him, looked a long time, then turned to Jendzian and 
 asked, — 
 
 " Is that a servant of your great mightiness ? I know 
 him from some place or another." 
 
 " No," replied Jendzian ; " those are nobles going with 
 horses to fairs." 
 
 " But whither ? " asked Yuzva. 
 
 "To Sobota," said old Kyemlich. 
 
 « Where is that ? " 
 
 " Not far from Pyantek." 
 
 Yuzva accounted this answer ^n untimely jestj as Kmita 
 had previously, and said with a frown, " Answer when 
 people ask ! " 
 
 " By what right do you ask ? " 
 
 " I can make that clear to you, for I am sent out to see 
 if there are not suspicious men in the neighborhood. In- 
 deed it seems to me there are some, who do not wish to tell 
 where they are going." 
 
 Kmita, fearing that a fight might rise out of this conver- 
 sation, said, without moving from the dark corner, — 
 
 "Be not angry, worthy soldier, for Pyantek and Sobota 
 are towns, like others, in which horse-fairs are held in the 
 fall. If you do not believe, ask the lord starosta, who 
 must know of them." 
 
THK DELUGE. 
 
 449 
 
 ■ this conver- 
 
 " They are regular places," said Jendzian. 
 
 " In that ease it is all right. But why go to those places ? 
 You can sell horses in Shchuchyn, where there is a great 
 lack of them, and those which wo took in Pilvishki are 
 good for nothing ; they are galled." 
 
 " Every man goes where it is better for him, and we 
 know our own road," answered Kmita. 
 
 " I know not whether it is better for you ; but it is not 
 better for us that horses are driven to the Swedes and in- 
 formants go to them." 
 
 " It is a wonder to me," said the tenant of Vansosh. 
 " These people talk against the Swedes, and somehow they 
 are in a hurry to go to them." Here he turned to Kmita : 
 "Andyju do not seem to me greatly like a horse-dealer, 
 for I saw a fine ring on your finger, of which no lord would 
 be ashamed." 
 
 " If it has pleased your grace ^ buy it of me ; I gave two 
 quarters for it in Leng." 
 
 "Two quarters? Then it is not genuine, but a splendid 
 counterfeit. Show it." 
 
 " Take it, your grace." 
 
 " Can you not move yourselfi^? Must I go ? " 
 
 " I am terribly tired." 
 
 " Ah, brother, a man would say that you are trying to 
 hide your face." 
 
 Hearing this, Yuzva said not a word, but approached 
 the chimney, took out a burning brand, and holding it high 
 above his head, went straight toward Kmita and held the 
 light before his eyes. 
 
 Kmita rose in an instant to his whole height, and during 
 one wink of an eyelid they looked at each other eye to eye. 
 Suddenly the brand fell from the hand of Yuzva, scattering 
 a thousand sparks on the way. 
 
 "Jesus, Mary!" screamed Butrym, "this is Kmita!" 
 
 " I am lie ! " said Pan Andrei, seeing that there were no 
 further msans of concealment. 
 
 "This way, this way! Seize him!" shouted Yuzva to 
 the soldiers who had remained outside. Then turning to 
 Pan Andrei, he said, — 
 
 " Thou art he, hell-dweller, traitor ! Thou art that 
 Satan in person ! Once thou didst slip from my hands, 
 and now thou art hurrying in disguise to the Swedes. Thou 
 art that Judas, that torturer of women and men ! I have 
 thee ! " 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 29 
 
450 
 
 TIIK DKLIIGK. 
 
 So 8ayii»K, l»o roIzcmI Tan AiuIihm hy tho shouldor; but 
 Tan Androi HoiztMl him. Kirst, hownvor, tho two youtig 
 KyumlichoH, Kosinsi uiul Damian, Itad riHon i'roin the 
 iM^noh, aliuoHt (ouoliing tho coiling with thoir bushy 
 hoa<1a, and Koania askod, — 
 
 " Shall wo pound, father ? " 
 
 " Pound ! " answered old Kyomlioh, unsheathing his 
 sabro 
 
 Tho doors burst open, and Yuzva's soldinrs rtished in ; 
 Imt bohiud them, filmost on tUoir necks, e»uno Kyenilioh's 
 nuMi. 
 
 Ytizva caught l*an Andrei by tho shoulder, and in his right 
 hand held a naked racier, making a whirlwind and light- 
 ning with it around himself. Hut Tan Andrei, though he 
 had not the gigantic strength of his enemy, sei/.ed liutrym's 
 throat as if in a vice. Yuzva's (yes were coming out; he 
 tried to stun Kmita with the hilt of his rapier, but did not 
 succeed, for K«»ita thundered Hrst on his forehead with the 
 hilt of his sabre. Yu/.va's flngerH, holding tho shoulder of 
 his opponent, opened at once ; he tottered and bent back- 
 ward under the blow. To make room for a second blow, 
 KmitA pushed him again, and slashed him with full sweep 
 on tho face with his sabre. Yiizva fell on his back like an 
 oak-tree, striking the floor with his skull. 
 
 " Strike ! " cried Kmita, in whom was roused, in one 
 moment, the old lighting sp.irit. 
 
 But he had no need to urge, for it v/as boiling in the 
 room, as in a pot. The two young Kyemliches slashed 
 with their sabres, and at times buvled with tl^eir heads, 
 like a pair of bullocks, putting down a man with each 
 blow ; after them adv.uced the\r old father, bending every 
 nuunent to the Hoor, half closing his eyes, and thrusting 
 (piiekly the point of his weapon r.nder the arms of his 
 sons. 
 
 But Soroka, accustomed to fighting in inns and c?ose 
 quarters, spread the greatest destruction. He pressed his 
 opponents so sorely that they could not reach him with 
 a rade; and when he had discharged his pistols in the 
 crov.d, he smashed heads with the butts of the pistols, 
 crushing noses, knocking ov t. teeth and eyes. Kyemlich's 
 servants and Kmita's two soldiers aided their : asters. 
 • The fight moved from the table to the npper end of the 
 room. The Laiida men defended themselves with rage ; but 
 from the moment that Kmita, having finished Yuzva, sprang 
 
TiiR nKi.troK. 
 
 451 
 
 jldor; but 
 
 ,wo ytmtig 
 
 from tho 
 
 oil' bushy 
 
 ftthing his 
 
 ruBhod iu ; 
 Kyeinlioh'B 
 
 ill his right 
 auil light- 
 , though ho 
 (d Hutrym'fl 
 [iig out; ho 
 but did not 
 m\ with tho 
 flhouldor of 
 I l)ont baok- 
 [>ooud blow, 
 1 full swoop 
 |>aok liko an 
 
 laod, in one 
 
 iling in tho 
 hos slaahod 
 Itl^oir heads, 
 with oaoh 
 [nding every 
 ]id thrusting 
 trms of his 
 
 and o^oao 
 prcssod his 
 Ih him with 
 Istola in tho 
 1 the pistols, 
 ' Kyemlich's 
 : asters, 
 end of tho 
 jth rage ; bnt 
 lizva, sprang 
 
 into tho Hght and strotohod out another Ihitryiu, tho viittory 
 began to iiu^litio to his side. 
 
 Jend/Jan's s(;rvants also sprang in^.o tho room with sabre b 
 and guuH ; but though thoir master oried, " Strike I " thoy 
 wore at a loss what to do, for thoy oould not diHtingiiish rmo 
 aide from tlu^ othtu*, sinoo tho Lauihi nuui wore no uniforms, 
 and in the d*sturbanoo tho ';tarosta's young men wore puii- 
 ishod by lM)th sides. 
 
 •lon<l/.ian hold himsolf oarofnily outside tho battle, wish- 
 ing to r4Mu)gni/o Kniiia, and point him nut for a shot ; but 
 by tiio faiut liglit of tho iir«^ Ktnitii, vanished time after tinu 
 from his eye, — at osio instant springing to view us red as a 
 devil, thou again lt)st in darkiums. 
 
 Iiosistano(t on tho part of tho Lauda men grow v cakor 
 and weak(M', for tho fall of Yuzva and tho terrible nanu; of 
 Kmita had lessoned tluur oourago; still they fought on 
 with rage. M(>anwhilo tho innk(M;por wont past the strug- 
 glers quietly with a bucket of wat(M' in his haiul and dashed 
 it on the fire. In tho room followed blaok darkness; tin; 
 strugglors gathered into suoh a dtuise crowd that they couhl 
 strike with fists only ; aftor a while ori(?s ceased ; only pant- 
 ing breaths could bo lu^ard, and tho ordorloss stamp of Ixxtts. 
 Through the door, then flung oi)op, sprang first Jendziau's 
 people, aft«M* them tho Lauda men, thou Kmita's attendants. 
 
 I*ur8uit Iwgan in tho first room, in tho bins before the 
 house, and in tlio shod. Some shots wore hoard ; then up- 
 roar and the noise oi horsos. A battle l)ogan at jendzian's 
 wagons, under which his people hid thomsolvoa; the Lauda 
 men too sought lofugo there, and flondzian's people, taking 
 them for \,he other party, AhmI at them a number of 
 times. 
 
 " Surrender I " cried old Kyomlioh, thrusting the point of 
 his sabre between tho spokes of tho wagon and stabbing at 
 random the men erouchod Iwneath. 
 
 " Stop I we surrender ! " answered a r umber of voices. 
 
 Then the peojile from Vansosh threw from under the 
 wagon their sabres and guns ; after that tho young Kyem- 
 liches began to drag them out by the hair, till tho old man 
 cried, — 
 
 " To the wagons ! take what comes under your hands ! 
 Quick ! quick ! to tho wagous ! " 
 
 The young men did not let tho command be given thrice, 
 but rushed to untie the coverings, from beneath which 
 the swollen sideK of Jendzian's sacks appeared. They had 
 
402 
 
 TilK DKUir.K. 
 
 iK^guii to throw out tho sacks, when suddenly Kmita's voice 
 thundered, — 
 
 "Stoj)!" ^ 
 
 And Kniitji, supportinj; his command by his hand, fell to 
 slashing them with 'ho Hat of his bloody sabre. 
 
 Kosma and J)amian spranjjj (piickly aside. 
 
 "Cannot we take tluMu, your grace ? " asked the old man, 
 submissively. 
 
 "Stand back!" cried Kinita. "Find the starosta for 
 nu^" 
 
 Kosnia and Danuan rushed to the search in a moment, 
 and l)ehind them thcMr father; in a «|uarter of an hour they 
 eamo bringing •lendziaii, who, when he saw Kmita, bowed 
 low and said, — 
 
 " With the permission of ycmr grace, I will say that 
 wrong is done lue here, for 1 did not attack any man, and 
 U) visit acquaintances, Jis I am going to do, is free to 
 all.'' 
 
 Kmita, resting on his sabre, breathed heavily and was 
 silent; Jendzian continued, — 
 
 " I did no harm here either to the Swedes or the prince 
 hetman. I was only going to Van Volodyovski, my old 
 accjuaintanco ; we campaigned together in Russia.. Why 
 should r seek a quarrel ? 1 have not been in Kyedani, and 
 what took phwie there is nothing to me. I am trying to 
 carry off a sound skin ; and what God has given nu^ should 
 not be lost, ft)r I did not steal it, but earned it in the sweat 
 of my brow. I liave nothing to do with this whole ques- 
 tion ! Let me go free, your great mightiness — " 
 
 Kmita breathed heavily, looking absently at Jendzian 
 all the time. 
 
 "I beg hiunbly, your great mightiness," began the sta- 
 rosta again. " Your great mightiness saw that T did not 
 know those people, and was not a friend of theirs. They 
 fell upon your grace, and now they have their pay ; but 
 why shouhl 1 be made to suffer ? Why should my prop- 
 erty be lost ? How am I to blame ? If it cannot be other- 
 wise, I will pay a ransom to the soldiers of your great 
 mightiness, though there is not much remaining to me, 
 l)oor man. I will give them a thaler apiece, so that their 
 labor be not lost, — I will give them two ; and your great 
 mightiness will receive from me also — " 
 
 " Cover the wagons ! " cried Kmita, suddenly. " But do 
 you take the wounded men and go to the devil ! " 
 
Cmitu's vuico 
 
 hand, fell to 
 
 I the old man, 
 
 Btarosta for 
 
 in a nioniont, 
 
 an hour thoy 
 
 Kniita, bowed 
 
 will say that 
 any man, and 
 lo, is free to 
 
 [ivily and was 
 
 or the prince 
 pvski, my old 
 [iussia.. Why 
 Kyedani, and 
 am trying to 
 ;en me should 
 t in the sweat 
 8 whole ques- 
 
 at Jendzian 
 
 tegan the sta- 
 lat 1 did not 
 ;heirs. They 
 heir pay; but 
 :)uld my pro})- 
 nnot be other- 
 of your great 
 lining to me, 
 so that their 
 nd your great 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 453 
 
 II!" 
 
 « But do 
 
 " I thauk your grace humbly," said the lord tenant of 
 Vansosh. 
 
 Then old Kyemlich approached, pushing out his uuder- 
 lip with the remnants of his teeth, and groaning, — 
 
 << Your grace, that is ours. Mirror of justice, that is 
 ours." 
 
 l^ut Kmita gave him such a look that the old man cow- 
 ered, and dared not utter another word. 
 
 tJendzian's people rushed, with what breath thoy had, to 
 put the horses to the wagons. Kmita turned again to the 
 lord starosta, — 
 
 " Take all the wounded and killed, carry them to Pan 
 Volodyovski, and tell him from mo thit I am not his enemy, 
 but may bo a better friend than he thinks. I wish to avoid 
 him, for it is not yet time for us to meet. Perhaps that 
 time will come later; but to-day he would neither believe 
 mo, nor have I that wherewith to convi \ce him, — perhaps 
 later — Do you understand ? Tell him that those people 
 fell upon me and I had to defend inyself." 
 
 " In truth it was so," responded Jendzian. 
 
 " Wait ; tell Pan Volodyovski, besides, to keep the troops 
 together, for Eadzivill, the moment he receives cavalry 
 from Pontus de la Gardie, will move on them. Perhaps 
 now he is on the road. Yanush and Boguslav RadziviU 
 are intriguing with the Elector of Brandenburg, and it is 
 dangerous to be near the boundary. But above all, let them 
 keep together, or they will perish for nothing. The voe- 
 voda of Vityebsk wishes to come to Podlyasye ; let them 
 go to meet him, so as to give aid in case of obstruction." 
 
 ♦' I will tell everything, as if I were paid for it." 
 
 "Though Kmita says this, though Kmita gives warning, 
 let them believe him, take counsel with other colonels, and 
 consider that they will be stronger together. I repeat that 
 the hetman is already on the road, and I am not an enemy 
 of Pan Volodyovski." 
 
 " If I had some sign from your grace, that would be still 
 better," said Jendzian. 
 
 " What good is a sign ? " 
 
 "Pan Volodyovski would straightway have greater be- 
 lief in your grace's sincerity ; would think, * There must be 
 something in what he says if he has sent a sign.' " 
 
 " Then here is the ring ; though there is no lack of signs 
 of me on the heads of those men whom you are taking to 
 Pan Volodyovski." 
 
454 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Kmita drew the ring fruin his tinger. Jendzian on his 
 part took it huutily, uiul said, — 
 
 " 1 thank your grace humbly." \ 
 
 An hour later, Jendzian with his wagons and his people, a 
 little shaken up however, rode forward quietly towai'd 
 Shchuchyn, taking three killed and the rest wounded, among 
 whom were Yuzva Butryni, with a cut face and a broken 
 head. As he rode along Jendziun looked at the ring, in 
 which the stone glittered wonderfully in the moonlight, and 
 he thought of that strange and terrible man, who having 
 caused so much harm to the confederates and so much good 
 to the Swedes and Uadzivill, still wished apparently to 
 save the confederates from final ruin. 
 
 " For he gives sincere advice," said Jendzian to himself. 
 "It is always better to hold together. But why does he 
 forewarn ? Is it from love of Volodyovski, because the 
 latter gave him his life in Billeviche ? It must be from 
 love ! Yes, but'that love may come out with evil result for 
 the hetman. Kmita is a strange man ; he serves Radzivill, 
 wishes well to our people, and is going to the Swedes ; I do 
 not understand this." After a while he added : " He is a 
 bountiful lord ; but it is evil to come in his way." 
 
 As earnestly and vainly as Jendzian, did old Kyemlich 
 rack his brain in effort to find an answer to the query, 
 " Whom does Pan Kmita serve ? " 
 
 " He is going to the king, and kills the confederates, who 
 are fighting specially on the king's side. What is this ? 
 And he does not trust the Swedes, for he hides from them. 
 What will happen to ms ? " 
 
 Not being able to arrive at any conclusion, he turned in 
 rage to his sons: "Rascals! ^You will perish without 
 blessing ! And you. could not even pull away a little from 
 the slain?" 
 
 " We were afraid ! " answered Kosma and Damian. 
 
 Soroka alone was satisfied, and he clattered joyously after 
 his colonel. 
 
 " Evil fate has missed us,'' thought he, " for we killed 
 those fellows. I 'm curious to know whom we shall kill 
 next time." 
 
 And it was all one to him, as was also this, •— whither 
 he was faring. 
 
 No one dared approach Kmita or ask him anything, for 
 the young colonel was as gloomy as night. He grieved 
 terribly that he had to kill those men, at the side of whom 
 
rH£ DELUGE. 
 
 466 
 
 he would have buuii glad tu Htaiid vm quickl^r au uusHiblo iu 
 the raiikB. Hut it' he had yielded aud let himself be ti>,ken 
 to Volodyovski, what would Volodyovaki have thought ou 
 learning that he was seized making his way iu disguise to 
 the Swedes, and with passes to the Swedish commandants ? 
 
 '< My old sins are pursuing and followii.g me," said 
 Kmita to himself. '' I will tlee to the farthest place ; and 
 guide me, O God!" 
 
 He began to pray earnestly and to appease his conscience, 
 which repeated, " Again corpses against thee, and not 
 corpses of Swedes." 
 
 " O God, be merciful ! " answered Kmita. " I am going 
 to my king ; there my service will begin." 
 
 -^ whither 
 
456 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 J BNDZiAN had no intention of passing a night at " The 
 Mandrake," for from Vansosh to Shohuchyn was not far, — 
 he wanted merely to give rest to his horses, especially to 
 those drawing the loaded wagons. Therefore, when Kmita 
 let him travel farther, Jenddan losi no time, and entered 
 Shchuchyn late in the evening. Having announced him- 
 self to the sentries, he took his place on the square ; for the 
 houses were occupied by soldiers, who even then were not 
 all able to find lodgings. Shchuchyn passed for a town, 
 but was not one in reality ; for it had not yet even walls, 
 a town hall, co\irts of justice, or the college of monks, 
 founded in the time of King Yan III. It had a few houses, 
 but a greater number of cabiny than houses, and was called 
 a town, because it was built in a quadrangular form with a 
 market-place in the centre, slightly less swampy than the 
 pond at which the paltry little place was situated. 
 
 Jendzian slept under his warm wolfskin till morning, and 
 then went straight to Pan Volodyovaki, who, as he had not 
 seen him :*^or an age, received him with gladness and took 
 him at once to Pan Yan and Zagloba. Jendzian shed tears 
 at sight of his former master, whom he had served faith- 
 fully so many years ; and with whom he had passed ti.. jugh 
 so many adventures and worked himself finally to fortune. 
 Without shame of his former service, Jendzian began to 
 kiss the hands of Pan Yan and repeat with emotion, — 
 
 " My master, my master, in what times do we meet 
 again ! " 
 
 Then all began in a chorus to complain of the timeii ; 
 at last Zagloba said, — 
 
 " But you, Jendzian, are always in the bosom of fortune, 
 and as I see have come out a loid. Did I not prophesy 
 that if you were not hanged you would have fortune ? 
 What is going on with you now ? " 
 
 " My master, why hang iiio, when I have done nothing 
 against God, nothing against the law ? I have served 
 faithfully; and if I have betrayed any man, he was an 
 enemy, — which I consider a special service. And if I de- 
 
THE DELtJGE. 
 
 46t 
 
 E the time;i; 
 
 stroyed a scoundrel here and there by st tagem, as some one 
 of the rebels, or that witch, — do you remember, my mas'^r ? 
 
 even if it were a sin, it ia my 
 it was from you that I learned 
 
 — that is not a sin ; but 
 
 master's, not mine, for 
 stratagems." 
 
 [' Oh, that cannot be ! See what he wants ! " said Zagloba. 
 " If you wish me to howl for your sins after death, give me 
 their fruit during life. You are using alone all that wealth 
 v/hich you gained with the Cossacks, and alone you will be 
 turned to roast bacon in hell." 
 
 " God is merciful, my master, though it is untrue that I 
 use wealth for myself alone ; for first I beggared our wicked 
 neighbors with lawsuits, and took care of my parents, who 
 are living now quietly in Jendziane, without any disputes, — 
 for the Yavorskis have gone off with packs to beg, and I, 
 at a distance, am earning my living as I can." 
 
 " Then you are not living in Jendziane ? " asked Pan 
 Yan. 
 
 " In Jendziane my parents live as of old, but I am living 
 in Vansosh, and I cannot complain, for God has blessed me. 
 But when I heard that all you gentlemen were in Shchuchyn, 
 I could not sit still, for I thought to myself, * Surely it is 
 time to move again ! ' There is going to be war, let it 
 oome ! " 
 
 "Own up," said Zagloba, "the Swedes frightened you 
 out of Vansosh ? " 
 
 "There are no Swedes yet in Vidzka, though small 
 parties appear, and cautiously, for the peasants .re terribly 
 hostile." 
 
 " That is good news for nie," said Volodyovski, " for yes- 
 terday 1 sent a party purposely to get an informant con- 
 cerning the Swedes, for I did not know whether it was 
 possible to stay ifi Shchuchyn with safety; surely that 
 party conducted you hither ? " 
 
 " That party ? Me ? I have conducted it, or rather I 
 have brought it. for there is not even one man of that 
 party who can sic on a horse alone." 
 
 " What do you say ? What has happened ? " inquired 
 Volodyovski. 
 
 ".They are terribly beaten ! " explained Jendzian. 
 
 " Who beat them ? " 
 
 « Pan Kmita." 
 
 The Skshetuskis and Zagloba sprang up from the benches, 
 one interrupting the other in questioning, — 
 
458 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 i[ 
 
 11 
 
 " Pan Kmita ? But what was he doing here ? Has the 
 prince liimself como already ? Well ! Tell right away 
 what has happened." 
 
 Pan Volodyovski rushed out of the room to see with his 
 eyes, to verify the extent of the misfortune, and to look at 
 the men ; therefore Jendzian said, — 
 
 " Why should I tell ? Better wait till Pan Volodyovski 
 comes back ; for it is more his affair, and it is a pity to 
 move the mouth twice to repeat the same story." 
 
 " Did you see Kmita with your own eyes ? " asked 
 Zagloba. 
 
 " As I see you, my master ! " 
 
 " And spoke with him ? " 
 
 "Why should 1 not speak with him, when we met at 
 ' The Mandrake ' not far from here ? I was restincr my 
 horses, and he had stopped for the night. An hour would 
 have been short for our talk. I complained of the Swedes, 
 and he complaiAed also of the Swedes — " 
 
 " Of the Swedes ? He complained also ? " asked Pan 
 Yan. 
 
 " As of devils, though he was going among them." 
 
 " Had he many troops ? " 
 
 "He had no troops, only a few attendants; true, they 
 were armed, and had such snouts that even those men who 
 slaughtered the Holy Innocents at Herod's command had 
 not rougher or viler. He gave himself out as a small noble 
 in pigskin boots, and said that he went with horses to the 
 fairs. But though he had a number of horses, his story did 
 not seem clear to me, for neither his person nor his bearing 
 belonged to a horse-dealer, and I saw a fine ring on his 
 finger, — this one." Here Jendjyan held a glittering stone 
 before the listeners. 
 
 Zagloba struck himself on the side and cried : " Ah, 
 you gypsied that out of him ! By that alone might I know 
 you, jendzian, at the end of the world ! " 
 
 " With permission of my master, I did not gypsy it ; for I 
 am a noble, not a gypsy, and feel myself the equal of any 
 man, though I live on rented lands till I settle on my own. 
 This ring Pan Kmita gave as a token that what he said was 
 true ; and very soon I will repeat his words faithfully to 
 your graces, for it seems to me that in this case our skins 
 are in question." 
 
 " How is that ? " asked Zagloba. 
 
 At this moment Volodyovski came in, roused to the 
 
THte DELUGfc. 
 
 4l>d 
 
 Has the 
 ght away 
 
 8 with hU 
 to look at 
 
 olodyovski 
 » a pity to 
 
 y." 
 
 , ? '' asked 
 
 we met at 
 restincr my 
 hour would 
 ;he Swedes, 
 
 asked Pan 
 
 Bm." 
 
 ; true, they 
 
 ise men who 
 
 iinmand had 
 
 small noble 
 
 lorses to the 
 
 is story did 
 
 his bearing 
 
 ring on his 
 
 iring stone 
 
 Ked: "Ah, 
 light I know 
 
 Ipsy it ; for I 
 Iqual of any 
 Tpn my own. 
 [he said was 
 [aithfully to 
 \e our skins 
 
 ised to the 
 
 utmost, and pale from anger; he threw his cap on the table 
 and cried, — 
 
 " It passes imagination ! Three niou killed ; Yuzva 
 Butrj'm cut up, baroly breathing 1 " 
 
 " Yuzva Butryni ? He is a man with the strength of a 
 bear ! " said the astonished Zagloba. 
 
 "Before my eyes Tan Kmita stretched liim out," put in 
 Jendzian. 
 
 " I 've had enough of that Kmita I " cried Volodyovski, 
 beside liimself; " wherevor that man sliows himself he 
 leaves corpses behind, like the plague. Enough of this ! 
 Balance for balance, life for life ; but now a new reckon- 
 ing 1 He has killed my men, fallen upon good soldiers ; 
 that will be set to his account Inifore our next meeting." 
 
 " He did not attack them, but they him ; for he hid himself 
 in the darkest corner, so they should not recognize him," 
 explained .fendzian. 
 
 "And you, instead of giving aid to my men, testify in 
 his favor!" said Volodyovski, in anger. 
 
 " I speak according to justice. As to aid, my men tried 
 to give aid ; but it was hard for thern, for in the tumult they 
 did not know whom to boat and whom to spare, and there- 
 fore they suffered. That I came away with my life and my 
 sacks is due to the sense of Pan Kmita alone, for hear how 
 it happened." 
 
 Jendzian began a detailed account of the battle in " The 
 Mandrake," omitting nothing; and when at length he told 
 what Kmita had commanded him to tell, they were all 
 wonderfully astonished. 
 
 " Did he say that himself ? " asked Zagloba. 
 
 "He himself," replied Jendzian. "'I/said he, 'am not 
 an enemy to Pan Volodyovski or the confederates, though 
 they think differently. Later this will appear ; but nu\an- 
 while let them come together, in God's name, or the voevoda 
 of Vilna will take them one by one like lobsters from a 
 net.' " 
 
 " And did he say that the voevoda was already on the 
 march ? " asked Pa.n Yan. 
 
 " He said that the voevoda was only waiting for Swed- 
 ish reinforcements, and that he would move at once on 
 Podlyasye." 
 
 "What do«you think of all this, gentlemen?" asked 
 Volodyovski, looking at his comrades. 
 
 "Either that man is betraying JUidzivill, or he is prepar- 
 
460 
 
 THK MLUOfi. 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 ing some aiubu»h for us. But of what kind ? He advises 
 us tu keep iu a body. What harm to us may rise out of 
 that ? » 
 
 " To perish of hunger," answered Volodyovski. "I have 
 just received news that Jyromski, Kotovski, and Lipnitski 
 must dispose their cavalry in parties of some tens each 
 over the whole province, for they cannot get forage to- 
 gether." 
 
 "But if Radzivill really does come," asked Pan Stani- 
 slav, "who can oppose nm?" 
 
 No one could answer that question, for really it was as 
 clear as the sun that if the grand hetman of Lithuania 
 should come and find the confe<lorates scattered, ho could 
 destroy them with the greatt^st ease. 
 
 " An astonishing thing ! " repeated Zagloba ; and after a 
 moment's silence he contini. >d: "Still 1 should think that 
 he had abandoned Radzivill. But in such a case he would 
 not bo slippin'g past in disguise, jvnd to whom, — to the 
 Swedes." Here he turned to Jendzian : " Did he tell you 
 that he was going to Warsaw ? " 
 
 "Ho did." 
 
 " But the Swedish forces are there already." 
 
 " About this hour he must have met the Swedes, if he 
 travelled all night," answered Jendzian. 
 
 " Have you ever seen such a man ? " asked Zagloba, look- 
 ing at his comrades. 
 
 " That there is in him evil with good, as tares with wheat, 
 is certain," said Pan Yan ; " but that there is any treason 
 in this counsel that he gives us at present, 1 simply deny. I 
 do not know whither he is going, why he is slipping past 
 in disguise ; and it would be idle to break my head over 
 this, for it is some mystery. But he gives good advice, 
 warns us sincerely : I will swear to that, as well Jis to this, 
 — that the only salvation for us is to listen to his advice. 
 Who knows if we are not indebted to him again, for . '.fety 
 and life ? " 
 
 "For God's sake," cried Volodyovski, "how is Radzivill 
 to come here wlu>n Zolotarenko's men and Hovanski's in- 
 fantry are in his way? It is different in our case! One 
 squadron may slip tlirough, and even with one we had to 
 open a way through Pilvishki with sabres. It is another 
 thing with Kmita, who is slipping by with a'few men ; but 
 when the prince hetman passes with a whole army ? Eithei 
 he will destroy thoLd first — " 
 
THK DMiUGK. 
 
 461 
 
 Volodyovski had not Knished 8|M3aking when the door 
 opened and an attendant came in. 
 
 <' A mesHenger with a letter to the Colonel/' said he. 
 
 " Bring it." 
 
 The attendant went out and returned in a moment with 
 the letter. l*an Miuhael broke the ueal quickly and read, — 
 
 That which I did not finish tulliiig the tenant uf VauHOHh yeHter- 
 day, I add tu-day in writing. Tliu heiman uf hiniHolt' has troops 
 enough against ,vuu, but lie is waiting for Swedish reinforcements, 
 so as to go with the authoi ily of the King of Sweden ; for then if the 
 Northerners' atttvuk him the;yr will have to strike the Swedes too, 
 and that would mean war with the King of Sweden. They will 
 not venture to make war wilhout orders, for they fear the Swedes, 
 and will not take on themselves the ri's{ionsihility of beginning a 
 war. They have discovered that it is lituiisivitl's pur[)ose to put the 
 Swedes forward against them everywhere ; let them sitoot or cut 
 down even one man, there would be war at once. The Northerners 
 themselveB know not what to do now, for Lithuania is given up 
 to the Swedes ; they stay thcntfore in one place, only waiting for 
 what will be, and warring no further. For these reasons they do 
 not restrain Kadzivill,'nor op|)osu him. He will go directly against 
 ^tou, and will destroy you one after the other, unless you collect in 
 one body. For God's sake, do this, and beg the voovoda of Vityebsk 
 to come quickly, since it is easier for him to reach you now through 
 the Northerners while they stand as if stu|telied. I wanted to warn 
 you under another name, so that you might more easily believe, 
 but because tidings are given you already from another, I write my 
 own name. It is destruction if you do not believe. 1 am not now 
 what I was, and God grant that you will hear something altogether 
 different about me. 
 
 Kmita. 
 
 " You wished to know how liadzivill would come to us j 
 here is your answer ! " said Pan Yan. 
 
 " That is true, he gives good reasons," answered 
 Volodyovski. 
 
 -• What good reasons ! holy reasons ! " cried Zagloba. 
 " There can be no doubt here. I was the first to know that 
 man ; and though there are no curses that have not been 
 showered on his head, I tell you we shall bless him yet. 
 With me it is enough to look at a man to know his value. 
 You remember how he dropped into my heart at Kyedani ? 
 He loves us, too, as knightly people. When he heard mv 
 name the first tiihe, he came near suffocating me with 
 admiration, and for my sake saved you all." 
 
 * Rustians. 
 
462 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ,1 
 
 " You have not changed," remarked Jendzian ; " why 
 should Tan Kniita admire you more than my master or Pan 
 Voh)dyov8ki ? " 
 
 '• You are a fool ! " answered Zagloba. " He knew you 
 at once ; and if he called you the tenant, and not the fool of 
 Vansosh, it was through politeness." 
 
 "Then maybe he admired you through politeness!" re- 
 torted Jendzian. 
 
 " See how the bread swells ; get jnarried, lord tenant, and 
 surely you will swell better — I guarantee that." 
 
 " That is all well," said Volodyovski ; " but if he is so 
 friendly, why did he net come to us himself instead of slip- 
 ping around us like a wolf and biting our men ? " 
 
 " Not your head, Pan Michael. What we counsel do you 
 carry out, and no evil will come of it. If your wit were as 
 good as your sabre, you would bo grand hetman already, in 
 place of Itevera Pototski. And why should Kmita come 
 here ? Is it not because you would not believe him, just as 
 you do not now believe his letter, from which it might come 
 to great trouble, for he is a stubborn cavalier. But suppose 
 that you did believe him, what would the other colonels do, 
 such as Kotovski, Jyromski, or Lipnitski? What would 
 your Lauda men say ? Would not they cut him down the 
 moment you turned your head away ? " 
 
 " Father is right ! " said Pan Yan ; " he could not come 
 here.'' 
 
 " Then why was he going to the Swedes ? " insisted the 
 stubborn Pan Michael. 
 
 " The devil knows, whether he is going to the Swedes j 
 the devil knows what may flash into Kmita's wild noddle. 
 That is nothing to us, but let*us take advantage of the 
 warning, if we wish to carry away our heads." 
 
 "There is nothing to meditate on here," said Pan 
 Stanislav. 
 
 " It is needful to inform with all speed Kotovski, Jyrom- 
 ski, Lipnitski, and that other Kmita," said Pan Yan. " Send 
 to themj Michael, news at once ; but do not write who gave 
 the warning, for surely they would not belie .e." 
 
 " We alone shall know whose the service, and in due time 
 we shall not fail to publish it ! " cried Zagloba. " Onward, 
 lively, Michael ! " 
 
 " And we will move to Byalystok ourselves, appointing a 
 muster there for all. God give us the voevoda of Vitye^k 
 at the earliest," said Yan, 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 463 
 
 luess ! " le- 
 
 " From ByalyHtok we must send a deputation from the 
 army to him. God grant thu'; wo shall stand before the- 
 eyes of the hetman of Lithua!iia," said Zagloba, " with equal 
 force or greater than his own. It is not for us to rush at 
 him, but ii'i is different with the voevoda. He is a worthy 
 man, and honest ; there is not another such in the Common- 
 wealth." 
 
 " Do you know Pan Sapyeha ?" asked Stanislav. 
 
 " Do I know him ! I know him as a little boy, not higher 
 than my sabre. But he Wiis then like an angel." 
 
 " And now he has turned into money, not only his prop- 
 erty, not only his silver and jewels, but most, likely he has 
 united into coin the metal of his horse-trappings, so as to 
 collect as many troops as i^ossible agoinst the enemy," said 
 Volodyovski. * 
 
 "Thank God that there is even one such man," an- 
 swered Pan Stanislav, " for remember how we trusted in 
 Kadzivill." 
 
 " Oh that is blasphoy[icu8 ! " cried Zagloba. " Voevoda 
 of Vityebsk, ba ! ba ! Long life to the voevoda of Vityebsk ! 
 And you, Michael, to the road with all speed, to the road ! 
 Let the mudfish remain in these swamps of Shchuchyn, but 
 we will go to Byalystok, where perhaps we shall find other 
 fish. The Jews there, on Sabbath, bake very excellent 
 bread. Well, at least war will begin ; I am yearning for 
 it. And if we break through Radzivill we will begin at 
 the Swedes. We have shown them already what we can 
 do. To the road, Michael, for periculum in mora (there is 
 danger in delay) ! " 
 
 "I will go to put the squadrons in line ! " said Pan Yan. 
 
 An hour later, messengers, between ten and twenty in 
 number, were flying as a horse gallops toward Podlyasye, 
 and soon after them moved the whole squadron of Lauda. 
 The officers v/ent in advance, arranging and discussing ; and 
 Koh Kovalski, the lieutenant, led the soldiers. They went 
 through Osovyets and Gonyandz, shortening for themselves 
 the road to Byalystok, where they hoped to find other con- 
 federate squadrons. 
 
4<ii 
 
 TiiK nKi.ruBc 
 
 
 1 
 
 ». 
 
 '% '■ 
 
 » 
 
 i^wi / 
 
 t 
 
 M^v -V' 
 
 
 H* 
 
 
 B^B 
 
 
 ~ n^H 
 
 
 III' 
 
 
 .( B^B ' 
 
 ■ 
 
 i 
 
 ^^H ' 
 
 CirAPTKR XXXIIL 
 
 Pan Voi.oDYovNKrM 1i«U<m-.s, annouiiuiiiK ilu> (•x^itMlitioii 
 of Ru()/.ivill, i'ouiKi lioariiiK with Ul dho (MiIoiioIn, Motit>t<>nHl 
 i)uHMii<hout. ilio wliolo proviuoo rl' INuliyiiHYO. Honw had 
 «livi(lo(l t.liiMr Hi^uiulroitN already into Niiiiilltt' dotaohiiuMits. 
 Mu ;iH to wiiilor tluMu inoro oa.sily ; ot.luM'H poi'iPitUMi otlliHU'H 
 U> lodgo in privattt Iumihi^h, ho tlial t.luM'o rcuiaiiuMl at oatdi 
 Ha4( inoroly » IVw oHUhu'h and Noino ioim oi' HoldiiU'H. 'I^lio 
 coIouoIm |H»nuiU»Ml this partly in viow of Iiumkoi', atul partly 
 thrtutgh tlio diHiculty ot rotaiiiing in juMt dimnplino H<piad- 
 rons whiolt afttM' tlioy li<^d ndusod olH«dionuo to tlioii own 
 pro[K>r authority Wi\n\ inolinod to oppo.so otlhnM'H on thi) Hlight> 
 08t pri>t«>xt. If a (il)i(d' of HutKoiont widght had Ikh^ii found, 
 anil had lod tluMu at onoo to iNittlo againHt idthor of thu two 
 onemioM, or cvon againHt liad/.ivill, disiMplino would havu 
 nMuaincd Nuroly intact; hut it had hooonui woakoiuMJ by idhv 
 m>88 in l^tdlyaHyo, whoro tho tinio pUHHod in Hhooting at 
 U{ulziviir.s ouMtlovS, in plutuloring (!io goods of tho voovoda, 
 and in |M\rh\ying with Prince PogUHlav. In thoso (Mr(3uni- 
 stanooH tho soldior givw a»HMjstoniod only to violoniu* and 
 oppression of peaeeful people in the province. Some of 
 tho soldiers, es|)eeia.lly attendants and eanip-followtu's, de- 
 serted, ami forming imruly bands, worki^l at roll»ery on 
 tho highway. And so that army, wliieh had not mined 
 any enemy and was the one lio(te »of the king and the pa- 
 triots, .vjis tlwindling day by day. The division of scpiad- 
 rons into small detaehments had dissolved them eomph^tely. 
 It is true that it was ditlieult to std)sist in a body, but slill 
 it may Ih^ that the fear of want was exaggerated purposely. 
 It wtis autumn, and the harvest had beiMi good ; no enemy 
 had up to that time ravaged the province with fire and 
 swonl. Just then the robberies of the oonfederato sol- 
 diers were destroying this province prccistdy as iiuictivity 
 was destroying the soldiers themselvoo ; for things liad com- 
 bined so wonderfully that tho enemy loft those scjuadrons 
 in peace. 
 
 The Swedes, Hooditig the country from the west and ex- 
 tending to the south, had not yet (;omo to that corner which 
 
 betv 
 
 Pod 
 
 Trul 
 
 tri«ft 
 
 what 
 
 aiul 
 
 tluMi 
 
 by P 
 
 was 
 
 it fui 
 
 to (hi 
 
 I'ousti 
 
 fore 
 
rilK DKLUdK. 
 
 40A 
 
 )»ptwiinn thn |»r(»vitinn of Mii/.oviu iiiul liiiliuuiiiK formi^d 
 INMllyuNyo} from ilut othur huIo tlio toKioim of HuvtutMki, 
 TnilM^Ukoi, uiul Horobrymii, HLood in iiiiM^tiviiy in i\w liiN- 
 tridt (Huuipinil by iiuun, lu^Hiiiilinm, or ruilMU' not knowiiiK 
 v/luil. to lay hold on. In tliu ItuHHiiin jit'ovintM^M Mutni'lin 
 iiiul KniolnitHki Hont ixirtit^M ont in oUI fiiHliion, iumI JuMt 
 tluMi tln\y hill il(<f(*iit(>(l ut (Iroiluk ii, hunilfnl of trooptt lod 
 by PototNki, gnutd htil.niiui of th<^ kinK<hini. Hnt liithiiania 
 wiiH utultM* HwoiliHli prottMition. T ' l'avll^u niid to oiMUipy 
 it fni'tlnu* nuMint, hh wuh HtattMJ juMtiy liy Kniita in hid luttM*, 
 to (l(H)lai'o war a^ainHt tint HwimIch, wiio woro turriblo anil 
 rottMiMl univtu'Hal alarm in tlii^ world. "Ilinro waH thoru' 
 'oro A mumoiit of rolinf from tln^ Nortluwmn'H ; " anil hoiim) 
 oxporioniHul mon ilunlaroil that tlioy wonlil Hoon bu allioH of 
 Van Ka/.imir anil tho (JommonwiMiltl; affainnt tho Kinf(of 
 •Swoilon, whimo ptiwiM', woro ho to biuionu) lord of tho wholu 
 OommonwiMilth, would not havo an iv.pial in Knropo. 
 
 HovauHki thurofori! attaokod niMtluu* I'odlyaHyo nor the 
 iMnifuihs.*atu HiptailroiiN, wliilo tliKMo H(|uailronH, Hoattorod 
 liiid without a luadnr, attankrd no ono, and woro unablo io 
 iittai^k or to unihu'tako anything morn intportant than plun* 
 diM'in^ tho property of Uad/ivill ; ami withal tlii^ worn 
 dwindling away. Hut VidodyoYHkiVs lottiu'M, totuthing tho 
 imponding attai^k by thn liotman, louHod tlm oidonolH frinn 
 thoir inactivity ami sliimbor. Thoy aHHiunblod tho Hqiitul- 
 roiiH, oalhMl in, HoattoriMl uoldiorH, thronioning with ponaltioH 
 MioHo who would not I'.omo. dyroinHki, tho mimt important 
 of till) (3olomdH, and whoHo Hqiuidron waH in tho boHt con- 
 dition, movod HrHt, ami without ilolay, to MyalvHtok ; aftor 
 hini oamo in ono wook Vakub Kmita, trno, with only otm 
 liundrod ai'id twonty mon ; thon tho HoldiorH of KotovHiii and 
 liipnitHki bogan to aHHiunblo, now Hingly, now in crowdH; 
 pi'tl.y nobloH from tho Hiirrounding villagoH .'iJho {•mm) in an 
 voluntoorH, hucIi uh tho ZyontHiidtiH, tlio SvidorBkiH, thn 
 ^'avorttkiH, tho .Jnnd/.iaiiH, tho Ma/ovyotHkiw; volunto(frH 
 c'liuo uvea from tho provinc-o of LyubolHk, Huoh aH tho 
 KarvovskiB and tlio TurH; and from timo to timo ap- 
 poarod a moro woalthy noblo with a fow Horvants, woll 
 iiiniod. Doputins woro sont from tho squadronH to lovy 
 r.ontributimiH, to colloct monoy ami provisions for rocoiptH ; 
 in a word, activity roignod evi^-rywhoro, and military prepa- 
 rations sprang up. When Volodyovski with his Lauda 
 squadron arrived, thore were alrotwly some thousands of 
 |KH)ple under arms, to whom only a leader was wanting. 
 
 VOL. I." 
 
 30 
 
466 
 
 THE I)E» 'JE. 
 
 til 
 
 ThoHO men were uii()r>j;jiniz(Ml . unruly, though not ho 
 unorganiziMl nor so unruly as tlicHo nobles of (Iruat rdand, 
 who a fuw months lH)i'oro had iho tusk of defending the 
 
 iKisuage of Uistsie against the Swedes ; for these nton from 
 *oillyasye, Lublin, and Lithuania were accustomed to war, 
 and there weye none among them, uidess ycmths, who had 
 not srielled powder, and who "had not used the anutf-box 
 of (Jradivus." Each in liis time had fought, — now against 
 the Co8sa(!ks, now against the Turks, now against Tartars ; 
 there were some who still held in remembrance the Swed- 
 ish wars. Jiut above all towered in militiiry experience 
 and tdoquence Pan Zagloba; and he was glad to bo in that 
 asstMublagt; of soldiers, in which there were no deliberatious 
 witl". a dry throat. 
 
 ' Zagloba extinguished the importance of colonels the most 
 important. The Lauda men declared that had it not been 
 for him, Volodyovski, the Skshetuskis, Mirski, and Osky- 
 erko would haVe died at the iiands of Kadzivill, for they 
 were being taken to Hirii to execution. Zagloba did not 
 hide his own services, l)ut rendered complete justice to 
 himself, so that all might know whom they had before 
 them. 
 
 "I do not like to praise myself," said he, "nor to speak 
 of what has not been ; for with me truth is the basis, as my 
 sister's son also can testify." 
 
 Here he turned to Roh Kovalski, who straightway 
 stepped forth from behind Pan Zagloba, and said, with 
 a ringing, stentorian voice, — 
 
 " Uncle never lies ! " 
 
 And, puffing. Pan Roh rolled his eyes over the audience, as 
 if seeking the insolent man who would dare to gainsay him. 
 
 But no one ever gainsaid him. Then Zagloba began to 
 tell of his old-time victories, — how during the life of Ko- 
 nyetspolski he had caused victory twice over Gustavus Adol- 
 phus, how in later times he staggered Hmelnitski, how he 
 acted at Zbaraj, how Prince Yeremi relied on his counsels in 
 everything, how he confided to him the leadership in sorties. 
 
 " And after each sortie," said he, " when we had spoiled 
 five or ten thousand of the ruffians, Hmelnitski in despair 
 used to butt his head against the wall, and repeat, *No 
 one has done this but that devil of a Zagloba ! ' and when 
 it came to the treaty of Zborovo, the Khan himself looked 
 at me as a wonder, and begged for my portrait, since he 
 wished to send it as a gift to the Sultan," 
 
ough not 80 
 roat Polaiul, 
 iluntling the 
 8t) inon from 
 )UuhI to war, 
 hs, who hatl 
 iio 8nutM»ox 
 ■ now against 
 nst Tartars ; 
 i!0 the Swed- 
 y experionco 
 to b« in that 
 deliboratious 
 
 nols the most 
 (I it not been 
 .i, and Osky- 
 vill, for they 
 !;h)ba did not 
 3te justice to 
 y had before 
 
 nor to speak 
 ) basis, as my 
 
 straightway 
 id said, with 
 
 audience, as 
 kinsay him. 
 pba began to 
 [e life of Ko- 
 listavus Adol- 
 }tski, how he 
 is counsels in 
 lip in sorties, 
 had spoiled 
 ^ki in despair 
 repeat, 'No 
 ! ' and when 
 Imself looked 
 fait, since he 
 
 THK UK LUG K. 
 
 467 
 
 " Such men do wo need now more than over," said the 
 hearers. 
 
 And since many liud lirard besides of the marvellous 
 deeds of Zagloba, acciounts of which were travelling over 
 the whole Commoiiwealih, and siiu^e recent ev(;ntH in Kye- 
 dani, such as tlic libt^ration of the colonttls, and the battle 
 with the Swed(?s at Klavuny, conlirmcd the old opinion 
 concerning the man, — his glory inereasetl still more; and 
 Zagloba walked in it, as in the sunlight, Ixd'ore the eyes of 
 all men, bright and radiant Ixjyond others. 
 
 " If there were a thousand such men in the Contmonwealth, 
 it would not have come to what it has ! " said the soldiers. 
 
 " lict us thank God that we liave even one among us." 
 
 " lie was the first to proclaim Kjulzivill a traitor." 
 
 " And he snatched honorable mtni from his grasp, and on 
 the road he so pommelled the Hwedes at Klavany that a 
 witness of their defeat could not escape." 
 
 " He won the first victory ! " 
 
 " God grant, not the last ! " 
 
 Colonels like Jyromski, Kotovski, Yakub Kmita, ai 
 Lipnitski looked also on Zagloba with great respect. Th' y 
 urged him to their quarters, seizing him from one another 
 by force ; and his counsel was sought in everything, while 
 they wondered at his prudence, which was quite equal to 
 his bravery. 
 
 And just then they were considering an important affair. 
 They had sent, it is true, deinities to the voevoda of Vity- 
 ebsk, asking him to come and take command; but since 
 no one knew clearly where the voevoda was at that moment, 
 the deputies went away, and as it were fell into water. There 
 were reports that they had been taken by Zolotarenko's par- 
 ties, which came as far as Volkovysk, plundering on their 
 own account. 
 
 The colonels at Byalystok therefore decided to choose a 
 temporary leader who should have management of all till 
 the arrival of Sapyeha. It is not needful to say that, with 
 the exception of Volodyovski, each colonel was thinking of 
 himself. 
 
 Then began persuading and soliciting. The army gave 
 notice that it wished to take part in the election, not through 
 deputies, but in the general circle which was formed for 
 that purpose. 
 
 Volodyovski, after advising with his comrades, gave strong 
 support to Jyromski, who was a virtuous man and important ; 
 

 
 
 408 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 besides, he impressed the troops by his looks, and a senato- 
 rial beard to his girdle. He was also a ready and exi)erienced 
 soldier. He, throu^'h gratitude, recommended Volodyovski ; 
 but Kotovski, Li])nitski, and Yakub Kmita opposed this, 
 insisting that it was not possible to select the youngest, for 
 the chief must represent before the country the greatest 
 dignity. 
 
 " But who is the oldest here ? " asked many voices. 
 
 " Uncle is the oldest," cried suddenly Uoh Kovalski, with 
 such a thundering voice that all turned toward him. 
 
 << It is a pity that he has no oquadron ! " said Yahovich, 
 Jyromski's lieutenant. 
 
 But others began to cry: "Well, what of that? Are 
 we bound to choose only a colonel ? Is not the election in 
 our power ? Is this not free suffrage ? Any noble may 
 be elected king, not merely commander." 
 
 Then Pan Lipnitski, as he did not favor Jyromski, and 
 wished by all ikieans to prevent his election, raised his 
 
 voice, — 
 
 " As true as life I You are free, gracious gentlemen, to 
 vote as may plcf'.se you. If you do not choose a colonel, it 
 will be better ; for there will be no offence to any man, nor 
 will there be jealousy." 
 
 Then came a terrible uproar. Many voices cried, " To 
 the vote I to the vote ! " but others, " Who here is more 
 famous than Pan Zagloba ? • Who is a greater knight ? 
 Who is a more experienced soldier? We want Pan Za- 
 globa ! Long life to him ! Long life to our commander ! " 
 
 " Long life to Pan Zagloba I long life to him ! " roared 
 more and more throats. 
 
 " 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 staggered Hmelnitski ! " 
 
 " 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 through the camp in search of Zagloba. 
 
 He was astonished, and at the first moment confused, for 
 he had not sought the office. He wanted it for Pan Yan, and 
 did not expect such a turn of affairs. So when a throng of 
 
THK DELUGE. 
 
 469 
 
 Some thousands began to shout his name, his breath failed 
 him, and he became as red as a beet. Then his comrades 
 rushed around him ; but in their enthusiabm they inter- 
 preted everything in a good sense, for seeing his confusion 
 they fell to shouting, — 
 
 " Look at him ! he blushes like a maiden ! His modesty 
 is equal to his manhood ! Long life to him, and may he lead 
 us to victory ! " 
 
 Meanwhile the colonels also came up, — glad, not glad ; 
 they congratulated him on his office, and i)ernaps some were 
 even glad that it had missed their rivals. Pan Volodyovski 
 merely moved his mustaches somewhat, he was not less aston- 
 ished than Zagloba ; and Jendzian, with open eyes and mouth, 
 stared with unbelief, but already with respect, at Zagloba, 
 who came to himself by degrees, and after a while put his 
 hands on his hips, and rearing his head, received with fitting 
 dignity the congratulations. 
 
 Jyromski congratulated first on l)ehalf of the colonels, and 
 then of the army. Pan Jymirski, an officer of Kotovski's 
 squadron, spoke very eloquently, quoting the maxims of 
 various sages. 
 
 Zagloba listened, nodded ; finally, wlit>n the speaker had 
 finished, the commander gave utterance to the following 
 words, — 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen ! Even if a man should endeavor to 
 drown honest merit in the unfordable ocean, or cover it with 
 the heaven-touching Carpathians, still, having like oil the 
 property of floating to the surface, it would work itself out, 
 so as to say to the eyes of men, * I am 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, so should 
 that virtue be set in nmdesty ; therefore, gracious gentle- 
 men, standing hero in your presence, I ask : Have I not hid- 
 den niyself and my services ? Have I praised myself in your 
 presence ? Have I asked for this office, with which you have 
 adorned me ? You yourselves have discovered my merits, 
 for I am this moment ready to deny them, and to say to you : 
 There are better than I, such as Pan Jyromski, Pan Kotov- 
 ski, Pan Lipnitski, Pan Kmita, Pan Oskyerko, Pan Skshe- 
 tnski, Pan Volodyovski, — such great cavaliers that an- 
 tiquity itself might be proud of them. Why choose me 
 "leader, and not some one of them ? It is still time. Take 
 from my shoulders this office, and clothe in this mantle a 
 worthier man ! " 
 
470 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " Impossible ! impossible ! " bellowed hundreds and thou- 
 sands 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, gracious gendemen, let your will be done. I thank 
 you from my heart, lords brothers, and I have faith that 
 God will grant that you be not deceived in the trust which 
 you have placed in me. As you are to stand with me to 
 death, so 1 promise to stand with you ; and if an inscrutable 
 fate brings us either victory or destruction, death itself will 
 not part us, for even after death we shall share a common 
 renown." 
 
 Treniendous enthusifism reigned in the assembly. Some 
 grasped their sabres, otliers shed tears ; sweat stood in drops 
 on the bald head of Zagloba, 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, since this fatherHnd is a father- 
 land never have such misfortunes fallen on it. 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 of the country, and in me your hope ; on you and on me 
 the whole Commonwealth has its eyeo fixed ! Let us show 
 that it holds not its hands forth in vain. As you ask from 
 me manh(.:>d and faith, so I ask of you discipline and obedi- 
 ence : and if we be worthy, if we open, by our example, the 
 eyes of those whom the enemy has deceived, then half the 
 Commonwealth will fly to us ! Whoso has God and faith in 
 liis heart will join us, the forces o^ heaven will support us, 
 and who in that hour can oppose 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 of Lucifer ! We are waitinjj for you, — not 
 scattered, but standing together ; not in discord, but ia har- 
 mony ; not with papers and compacts, but with swords in 
 our hands I An army of virtue is waiting for you, and I am, 
 its leader. Take the neld ! Meet Zagloba ! Call the devils 
 to your side ; let us make the trial ! Take the field I " 
 
 I 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 471 
 
 eds and thou- 
 
 Here he turned again to the array, anr* roared till his voice . 
 was heard throughout the whole camp, — 
 
 " As God is true, gracious gentlemen, prophecies support 
 me ! Only harmony, and we shall conquer those scoundrels, 
 those wide-breeches and stocking fellows, fish-eaters and 
 lousy rogues, sheepskin tanneis who sleigh-ride in summer ! 
 We '11 give them pepper, till they wear off their heels racing 
 home. Let every living man slay then, the dog brothers! 
 Slay, whoso believes in God, to whom virtue and the country 
 are dear ! " 
 
 Several thousand sabres were gleaming at once. Throngs 
 surrounded Zagloba, 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 after- 
 noon there was a review of the army. The squadrons were 
 disposed on the plain of Horoshchan, one by the other in 
 great order, with the colonels and banners in front ; and be- 
 fore the regiments rode the commander, under a horse-tail 
 standard, with a gilded baton in his hand, and a heron 
 feather in his cap, — you would have said, a born hetman! 
 And so he reviewed in turn the squadrons, as a shepherd 
 examines his flock, and courage was added to the soldiers at 
 sight of that lordly figure. Each colonel came out to him in 
 turn, and he spoke with each, — praised something, blamed 
 something ; and in truth those of the new-comers who in the 
 beginning were not pleased with the choice were forced to 
 admit in their souls that the new commander was a soldier 
 very well conversant with military affairs, and for whom 
 leadership was nothing new. 
 
 Volodyovski alone moved his mustaches somewhat 
 strangely when the new commander clapped him on the 
 shoulder at the review, in presence of the other colonels, 
 and said, — 
 
 " Pan Michael, I am satisfied with you, for your squadron 
 is in such order as no other. Hold on in this fashion, and 
 you may be sure that I '11 not forget you." 
 
 " 'Pon my word ! " whispered Volodyovski to Pan Yan on 
 ihe way home from the review, " what else could a real 
 hetman have told me ? " 
 
 That same day Zagloba sent detachments in directions in 
 which it was needful to go, and in direction in which there 
 
 ^-1 
 
 *■ 4 '"I 
 
m 
 
 TliE t)ELdG^. 
 
 was no need of going. When they returned in the morn- 
 ing, he listened with care to every report ; then he betook 
 himself to the quarters of Volodyovski, who lived with Pan 
 Yan and Pan Stanislav. 
 
 " Before the army I must uphold dignity," said he, kindly ; 
 " when we are alone we can have our old intimacy, — here I 
 am a friend, not a chief. Besides, I do not despise your coun- 
 sel, though I have my own reason ; for I know you as men of 
 experience such as few in the Commonwealth have." 
 
 They greeted him therefore in old fashion, and "intimacy " 
 soon reigned completely. Jendzian alone dared not be with 
 him as formerly, 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 at work, that they may not grow mangy from lazi- 
 ness. I said well, Pan Michael, that you mumbled like a 
 suckling when I sent those parties toward the four points 
 of the world ; but I had to do so to inure men to service, 
 for they have been idle a long time. That first, second, 
 what do we need ? Not men, for enough of them come, 
 and more will come vet. Those nobles who fled from 
 Mazovia to Prussia before the Swedes, will come too. 
 Men and sabres will not be wanting ; but there are not 
 provisions enough, and without supplies no army on earth 
 can remain in the field. I had the idea to order parties to 
 bring in whatever falls into their hands, — cattle, sheep, 
 pigs, grain, hay ; and in this province and the district of 
 Vidzko in Mazovia, which also has not seen an enemy yet, 
 there is abundance of everything." 
 
 " But those nobles will raise heaven-climbing shouts," 
 said Pan Yan, " if their crops an/l cattle are taken." 
 
 "The army means more for me than the nobles. Let 
 them cry ! Supplies will not be taken for nothing. I shall 
 command to give receipts, of which I liave prepared so many 
 during the night, that half the Com nion wealth might b«> 
 taken under requisition with tliem. I have no money ; but 
 when the war is over and the Swedes driven out, the Com- 
 monwealth will pay. What is the use in talking ! It would be 
 worse for the nobles if the army were to grow hungry, go 
 around and rob. I have a plan too of scouring the forests, 
 for I hear that vory many peasants have taken refuge there 
 with their cattle. Let the army people return thanks to 
 the Holy Ghost, who inspired them to choose me, for no 
 other man would have managed in such fashion." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 473 
 
 i in the morn- 
 bhen he betook 
 lived with Pan 
 
 laid he, kindly ; 
 macy, — here I 
 jpise your coun- 
 V you as men of 
 h have." 
 md "intirafwjy " 
 red not be with 
 : his bench. 
 L*an Yan. 
 le, and keep the 
 langy from lazi- 
 numbled like a 
 the four points 
 men to service, 
 it first, second, 
 
 of them come, 
 
 who fled from 
 
 iwill come too. 
 
 it there are not 
 
 army on earth 
 )rder parties to 
 — cattle, sheep, 
 
 the district of 
 
 an enemy yet, 
 
 nbing shouts," 
 taken." 
 
 3 nobles. Let 
 •thing. I shall 
 i^pared so many 
 salth might bo 
 110 money; but 
 out, the Coin- 
 isT ! It would be 
 w hungry, go 
 |ig the forests, 
 n refuge there 
 lurn thanks to 
 fse me, for no 
 hion." 
 
 "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 to be imposed on, you rogue ! Soon it will be 
 seen how I'll make you lieutenant, only let there be a 
 vacancy." 
 
 "I thank your great mightiness humbly," replied 
 Jendzian. 
 
 " This is my plan," continued Zagloba : " first to coUecl 
 such supplies that we could stand a siege, then to make a 
 fortified camp, and let lladzivill come with Swedes oi 
 Avith devils. I'm a rascal if I do not make a second 
 Zbaraj here ! " 
 
 "As God is dear to me, a noble idea!" cried Volody- 
 ovski ; " but where can we get cannon ? " 
 
 " Pan Kotovski has two howitzers, and Yakub Kmita has 
 one gun for firing salutes; in Byalystok are four eight- 
 pounders which were to be sent to the castle of Tykotsin ; 
 for you do not know, gentlemen, that Byalystok was left by 
 Pan Vyesyolovski for the support of Tykotsin Castle, and 
 those cannon were bought the past year with the rent, as 
 Pan Stempalski, the manager here, told me. He said also 
 that there were a hundred charges of powder for each 
 cannon. We '11 help ourselves, gracious gentlemen ; only 
 support me from your souls, and do not forget the body 
 either, which would be glad to drink something, for it is 
 time now 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," continued Zagloba, sipping lightly the old 
 mead. " Never, never ! I did not ask for the favor ; but 
 since they adorn me with it, there must be obedience and 
 order. I know what each office means, and see if I am not 
 equal to every one. I '11 make a second Zbaraj in this 
 place, nothing but a second Zbaraj ! Radzivill will choke 
 himself well ; and the Swedes will choke themselves before 
 they swallow me. I hope that Hovanski will try us too : I 
 would bury him in such style that he would not be found at 
 the last judgment. They are not far away, let them try ! 
 — Mead, Pan Michael ! " 
 
 Volodyovski poured out mead. Zagloba drank it at a 
 draught, wrinkled his forehead, and as if thinking of 
 something said, — 
 
474 
 
 THE DKUKJK. 
 
 "Of what wjiH I talking? What did I waiit? — Ah! 
 moad, Pail Michaol ! " 
 
 Volodyovski poured out mead again. 
 
 " Thoy say," continuod Zagloba, " tliat Pan Sapyeha likos 
 a drink in got)d company. No wonder I every honorable 
 man dooa. Only traitors, who have false thoughts for 
 their counfy, abstain, lest they tell their intrigues, liadzi- 
 vill drinks birch sa[), and after death will drink pitch. I 
 think that Sapyeha and I shall bo fond of each other ; but 
 I shall have everything hero so arranged that when he 
 comes all will be ready. Theie is many a thing on my 
 1 ad ; but what is to bo done? If there 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 no 
 chancellory." 
 
 " And what does father want of a chancellory ? " asked 
 Pan Yan. 
 
 " Why hjis tHo king a chancellery ? And why must there 
 be a military secretary with an army ? It will be necessary 
 to send to some town to have a seal made for mo." 
 
 «' A seal ? " repeated Jendzian, with delight, looking with 
 growing respect at 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. The seal will not be used by me, but by my 
 chancellor, — keep that in mind, to begin witii ! " 
 
 Hero Zagloba looked with pride and importance at those 
 present, till Jendzian sprang up from the bench, and Pan 
 Stanislav muttered, — 
 
 " Honores mutant mores (honors change manners) I " 
 
 " What dp I want of a chancellery ? liut listen to 
 mo ! " said Zagloba. " Know this, to begin with, that those 
 misfortunes which have fallen upon our country, according 
 to my understanding, have come from no other causes 
 than from license, unruliness, and excesses — Mead, Pan 
 Michael ! — and excesses, I say, which like a plague are 
 destroying us.; but first of all, from heretics blaspheming 
 with ever-growing boldness the true faith, to the damage 
 of our Most Holy Patroness, who may fall into just unger 
 because of these insults." 
 
 " He speaks truly," said the knights, in chorus ; " the 
 dissidents were the first to join the enemy, and who 
 knows if they did not bring the enemy hither ? " 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 476 
 
 want? — Ah! 
 
 " For uxainple, tito gmud hutniaii of Lithuania ! " 
 
 <<Butin this provincu, whoro I am commander, theru is 
 also no lack of lieruticB, as in Tykotsiti and other towns ; 
 thorefore to obtain thu blussing ol God on our undertaking 
 at its inception, a manifesto will ly issued, that whoso is 
 living in error niust turn from it in three days, and those 
 who will not do that will have their propei'ty contiscated to 
 the army." 
 
 The knights looked at one another with astonishment. 
 They knew that there was no lack of adroit reason and 
 stratagem in Zagloba, but they did not su[)po8e him to be 
 such a statesman and judge of public questions. 
 
 " And you ask," continued Zagloba, with triumph, " where 
 we shall get money for the army ? But the confiscations, 
 and all the wealth of the lladzivills, which by confiscation 
 will become army property ? " 
 
 " Will there be right on our side ? " asked Volodyovski. 
 
 « Th6re are such times at present that whoever has a 
 ;jWord is right. And what right have the Swedes and all 
 those enemies who are raging within the boundaries of the 
 Commonwealth ? " 
 
 " It is true 1 " answered Pan Michael, with conviction. 
 
 " That is not enough ! " cried Zagloba, growing warmer ; 
 " another manifesto will bo issued to the nobles of Podly- 
 usye, and those lands in the neighboring provinces which 
 are not yet in the hands of the enemv, to assemble a gen- 
 (!ral militia. Those nobles must arm their servants, so that 
 we jnay not lack infantry. I know that many would be 
 ^'lad to appear, if only they could see some government, 
 'rhey will have a government and mjinifestoes." 
 
 " You have, in truth, as much sense as the grand chancel- 
 lor of the kingdom," cried Voloilyovski. 
 
 " Mead, Pan Michael ! — A third letter will be sent to 
 llovanski, telling him to go to destruction ; if not, we will 
 smoke him out of every town and castle. They (the 
 Northerners) are quiet now in Lithuania, it is true, and 
 do not capture castles ; but Zolotarenko's men rob, going 
 along in parties of one or two thousand. Let him restrain 
 them, or we will destroy them." 
 
 ** We might do that, indeed," said Pan Yan, " and the 
 troops would not bo lying idle." 
 
 " I am thinking of this, and I will send new parties to- 
 day, precisely to Volkovysk ; but some things are to be done, 
 and others are not to be omitted. I wish to send a fourth 
 
476 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 letter to our elected, our good king, to console him in his 
 sorrow ; saying that there are still men who have not de- 
 serted him, that there are sabres and hearts ready at his 
 nod. Let our father have at least this comfort in a strange 
 land; our beloved lord, our Yagellon blood, which must 
 wander in exile, — think of it, think of it ! " 
 
 Here Zagloba fell to sobbing, for he had much mead in 
 his head, and at last he roared from pity over the fate of 
 the king, and Pan Michael at once seconded him in a thin- 
 ner voice. Jendzian sobbed too, or pretended to sob ; but 
 Pan Yan and Pan Stanislav rested their heads on their 
 hands, 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 the Prussian towns, let him take the 
 field against the Swedes, let him not intrigue 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 Pan Stanislav. 
 
 " Declare for the Swedes ? Then I will declare to him ! 
 The Prussian boundary is not far, and I have some thou- 
 sands of sabres within call ! You will not deceive Zagloba ! 
 As true as you see me here, the commander of this noble 
 
 sword. We have not 
 need in Prussian 
 
 we 
 
 army, I will visit him with fire and 
 provisions; well, we shall find all 
 storehouses." 
 
 "Mother of God!" cried Jendzian, in ecstasy. "Your 
 great mightiness will conquer crowned heads ! " 
 
 "I will write to him at once: 'Worthy Pan Elector, 
 there is enough of turning the cat away by the tail, 
 enough of evasion and delay! Come out against the 
 Swedes, or I will come on a visit to Prussia. It cannot 
 be otherwise.' — Ink, pen, and paper ! — Jendzian, will you 
 go with the letter ? " 
 
 " I will go ! " answered the tenant of Vansosh, delighted 
 with his new dignity. 
 
 But before pen, ink, and paper were brought to Zagloba, 
 shouts were raised in front of the house, and throngs of 
 soldiers darkened the windows. 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 pound- 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 477 
 
 Isosh, delighted 
 
 ers which Zagloba had remembered, and the sight of which 
 wrs now delighting the hearts of the soldiers. 
 
 Pan Stempalski, thr manager of Byalystok, approached 
 Zagloba, and said, — 
 
 " Serene, great mighty Commander ! From the time that 
 he of immortal memory, the lord marshal of the Grand 
 Principality of Lithuania, left by will his property at 
 Byalystok to support the castle of Tykotsin, I, being 
 manager of that property, have applied faithfully and 
 honestly all its income to the benefit of that castle, as I 
 can show to the whole Commonwealth by registers. So 
 that working more than twenty years I have provided that 
 castle with powder and guns and brass ; holding it as a 
 sacred duty that every copper should go to that object to 
 which the serene great mighty marshal of the Grand Princi- 
 pality of Lithuania commanded that it should go. But when 
 by the changing wheel of fate the castle of Tykotsin became 
 the greatest support in this province of the enemies of the 
 country, I asked God and my own conscience whether I 
 ought to strengthen it more, or whether I was not bound to 
 give into the hands of your great mightiness this wealth 
 and these military supplies 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, in presence of the whole army and in writing, to 
 give me a receipt, that I applied nothing from that prop 
 erty to my own use, and that I delivered everything into the 
 hands of the Commonwealth, worthily represented here by 
 you, the greaty mighty commander." 
 
 Zagloba motioned with his head as a sign of assent, and 
 began at once to look over the register. 
 
 It appeared that besides the eight-pounders there were 
 put away in the storehouses three hundred German mus- 
 kets, very good ones ; besides two hundred Moscow hal- 
 l)erts, for infantry in the defence of walls and breastworks ; 
 and six thousand ducats in ready money. 
 
 "The money will be divided among the army," said 
 Zagloba ; " and as to the muskets and halberts," — here he 
 looked around, — " Pan Oskyerko, you will take them and 
 form a body of infantry ; there are a few foot-soldiers here 
 from the Radzivill fugitives, and as many as are lacking 
 may be taken from the millers." 
 
 r-'i '*„ 
 
I! 
 
 478 
 
 TIIK. I>KM1(}K. 
 
 ! 
 
 Thon ho turnod to all prrMont. . "Grn^^ioufl f^ntlomtni, 
 t.hcro is inonoy, tluM'o aro cannoits, thoro will Im) iiifuntry 
 uiul nrovisioiiH, — tlumo aro luy ordui'H, to hojfiii with." 
 
 " Vivat ! '* shouUMl tho army. 
 
 " And now, gracious (j;ontl(>ni(ni, lot all tho yinini^ nion ^(o 
 on a jump to tho villap<iH Tor KpadoH, hIiovoIr, and piolc- 
 axos. Wo will nuiko a fortiliod oanip, a sooond Zluiraj I 
 Ihit whothor :i. man lM>lonfifs t.o oavalrv or infantry, lot nono 
 \h\ iushamod ol' tho shovol, and to worn I " 
 
 Thon tho oommandor wiMulrow to his ipiartors, attiMwlod 
 by tho shouts o\' t,ho army. 
 
 " A. (Sod is truo, that n»an has a hoatl on his shonldors," 
 said Volodyovski to ran Van, "a.nd things hogin to go in 
 l)ottor ordor." 
 
 '* If only Uad/.ivill doos not oomo soon," put in Pan 
 iStauislav, " for ho is snoh a, Icador that tluM'o is not anothor 
 liko him in tho (>(uumonwoalth. Our I'an Zagloha is goo<l 
 for provisioning:; t.ho oantp; hut it is not for him to moasuro 
 atrongth with snoh a warrior ;us Kadzivill." 
 
 "That is truo 1 " .inaworod Pan Van. " Whon it conios 
 to .aotion wo will holp him with oounsol, for ho do(»s not 
 iimlorstand war. Itosidos, his rulo will oomo to an ond tin; 
 niomont Sapyoha. arriv(»s." 
 
 " Ho oan do muoh g(U)d htd'oro that tim(>," s!ii<l Volodyovski. 
 
 Tn tnith, tho .irmy ucmmUmI som<^ loader, (»von Zagloha; r)r 
 fi*oni tho flay of his oh»otio>i Iwttor ordor roignod in tho 
 camp. On tho following day th(»y hogan to mako broast- 
 worka noar tho Pyalystok ponds. Pan Oskyorko, who had 
 sorvod in fon'ign avmios jind undorstood fortitioatu^n, di- 
 rootod tho wholo ^r. In throo days thoro had arison 
 a vory strong ontroiiohmont, roally somothing liko Zbaraj, 
 for the sid«'s an<l tho roar of it woro dofondod by swamny 
 ponds. Tho sight of this work raisod tho hoarts of t\w 
 soldiers ; tho wholo arniy fidt that it had somi^ ground un- 
 der its foot. Hut (wurago was strongtluMiod still more at 
 sight of the su[)plioa of fo(Ml brouglit by strong parties. 
 Every day they drove in oxen, shoc^p, pigs; every day eame 
 wagons bringing all kinds of grain and hay. Some things 
 came from Tjukovo, others from Vidzko. 'I hero c.ame also, 
 in continually greater numbers, nobles, small and great ; 
 for when the tidings w«Mit around that there was a govern- 
 ment, an army, and a commander, there was more confi- 
 dence among people. It was burdensome for the inhabitants 
 to sup]>ort a " whole division ; " but to begin with, Zagloba 
 
;mi4 gentloinnii, 
 ill Im) infuiitry 
 
 young inon go 
 ^ols, rtiul piok- 
 wMMtiul XlMimj! 
 'tiniry, lui none 
 
 j'tors, atiiMHlf^d 
 
 his h1u)uM<u'h," 
 bogin to go in 
 
 I," put. in Pan 
 > iM not. lUioMun' 
 ^iHgloha in good 
 liini to niouHuro 
 
 Wh<Mi it comoR 
 or ho d(M'H not 
 !• to an end th(» 
 
 id Voh)dyovaki. 
 
 n Ziigloba; fu* 
 
 Iroigncnl in tho 
 
 1) mako broast- 
 
 t>rko, who liad 
 
 Drtihoatiou, di- 
 
 vo had arison 
 
 |g lik'i Zbaraj, 
 
 'd by swamny 
 
 hc^art.s of tlio 
 
 i\o ground un- 
 
 still moro at 
 
 |t.rong parties. 
 
 cry day oanio 
 
 Some thing.s 
 
 TO came also, 
 
 I and great; 
 
 jwas a govern- 
 
 Ls more confi- 
 
 lio inhabitants 
 
 ith, Zagloba 
 
 TIIK DKMKWC. 
 
 479 
 
 did not inquire atHtut that ; in the koooim) phioo, it was bet- 
 tor to give hair to the army and (uijoy thi^ rest in poaee, 
 than to be expoHod every monuMit to losing all througli the 
 unrulv bands, whieh had ineroased eotisidorably and raged 
 like Tartars, and whieh, at eomniand ol' Zagh)l»a, w<u'e pur- 
 sued and destroyed. 
 
 " It' the eonnnand<<r turns out to bo suidi a huider as he is 
 a manager,*' said the soldii^rs in y'iu\\\\, «tlM« <!<numonwealtlt 
 iloes not know yet how gr«'at a man it has." 
 
 Zagloba hiniseU' was tliinkiug, with (Udinito alarm, of the 
 enming of Yauush Rad/.ivill. Ho eallod to mitul all the 
 victorioa of liad/.ivill ; th<>n the form of tho hotnuin took 
 on nnmstrous shapes in the imiigiuation <»f the n(^w eom- 
 mander, and in his soul ho said, — 
 
 <M)h, who can (u>poso that dragon ? I said that ho would 
 i.iioke himsfdf with mo, but lii^ will swallow nu^ as a shout- 
 Hsh a duek." 
 
 And he promised hims(df, under oath, not to give a gen- 
 eral Ixittle to Rad/ivill. 
 
 "There will be a sieg«%" thought ho, "and that always 
 lasts long. Negotiations oan be tri<Ml too, and by that tiiiu^ 
 Sanyeha will oonui up." 
 
 In ease ho sh«)uld not oome up, Zagloba determined to 
 listen to Pan Van in everything, for lie remomSored how 
 highly Priueo Vonuni prized this ollieor and his military 
 endowments. 
 
 "You, Pa,n Mieha(d," said Zagloba to Volodyovski, "are 
 just created for attack, and you may bo sent scouting, ev(ui 
 with a larger pui'ly* f»>i^ you know how to manage, and fall 
 on the onomy, like a wolf on sheep; but if you wor(» com- 
 nuinded to be luitman of a whole army, — i pjiss, I pass t 
 Vou will not fill a vault with your mind, since you have no 
 wit for sale; but Van, he has tho head of a commander, 
 Miul if I were? to die he is tho only num who could lill my 
 place." 
 
 IVTeanwhilo contradictory tidings came. First it was 
 n^portod that Itad/ivill was marching through Khictoral 
 Prussia; .second, that having (l(d'<'a,to<l llovanski's troops, 
 li(^ had taken (Irodno and was marching thoncc with great 
 force; further, th(U'(' w<m'o men who insisted that not Prince 
 Vanush, but Sapycha, with the aid of Prince Micha(d lladzi- 
 vill, had defeated JIovauHUi. Scouting-partios brought no 
 reliable news, saving this, that a body of Zolotaronko's 
 men, about two thousatul in number, were at Volkovysk, 
 
460 
 
 THE bELUGli. 
 
 i'i 
 
 and thi't'atened the town. The neighborhood was in 
 flame». 
 
 One day later fugitives began to come in who confirmed 
 the news, reporting besides that the townspeople had sent 
 envoys to Hovanski and Zulotarenko with a prayer to spare 
 the place, to which they received answer from Hovanski 
 that that band was a separate one, having nothing to do 
 with his army. Zolotarenko advised the people to ransom 
 themselves ; but they, as poor men after the recent tire find 
 a number of plundorings, had no ransom to give. They 
 implored the comnuinder in God's nana; to hasten to their 
 rescue, while they were conducting negotiations to ransom 
 the town, for afterward there would not be time. Zag'.ciba 
 selected fifteen hundred good troojis, among them the Lauda 
 nien, and calling Volodyovski, said, — 
 
 '' Now, Pan Michael, it is time to show what you can do. 
 (io to Volkovysk and destroy those ruffians who are threat- 
 ening an undefended town. Such an expedition is not a 
 novelty for yoii ; I think you will take it as a favor that I 
 give such functions." Here he turned to tlic other colonels : 
 "I must remain in camp myself, for all the responsibility 
 is on me, that is, first; and second, ic does not beseem my 
 office to go on an expedition against ruffians. But let Rad- 
 zivill come, then in a great battle it will be shown who is 
 superior, — the hetman or the commander." 
 
 Volouyovski set out with alacrity, for he was weary of 
 camp life and yearned for battle. The squadrons selected 
 marched out willingly and with singing ; the commander 
 appeared on the rampart on horseback, and blessed the 
 departing, making over them the sign of the cross for the 
 road. There were some who wondered that Zagloba sent 
 off that party with such solemnity, but he remembered that 
 Jolkyevski and other hetmans had the habit of making the 
 sign of the cross over squadrons when going to battle ; be- 
 sides, 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 he began 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 Volod- 
 yovski to go on such an expedition is the same as to eat a 
 plate of fried eggs. Dear God, he has done nothing else 
 all his life I " 
 
x)rhood was in 
 
 n who confirmed 
 jpeople had sent 
 I prayer to spare 
 from Hovanski 
 g nothing to do 
 people to ransom 
 le recent fire and 
 I to give. They 
 hasten to their 
 itions to ransom 
 e time. Zag':»ba 
 r them the Lauda 
 
 svliat you can do. 
 s who are threat- 
 )edition is not a 
 as a favor that I 
 je other cok>nels : 
 ihe responsibility 
 s not beseem my 
 IS. But let Rad- 
 36 shown who is 
 
 le was weary of 
 
 luadrons selected 
 
 the commander 
 
 md blessed the 
 
 he cross for the 
 
 |at Zagloba sent 
 
 femembered that 
 
 it of making the 
 
 \g to battle ; be- 
 
 mony, for that 
 
 the haze of the 
 )ut them. 
 |n might be sent 
 
 " For Volod- 
 ime as to eat a 
 le nothing else 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 481 
 
 " That is true ; but if an overwhelming force should at- 
 tack him ? Nee Herculet contra plures (Neither Hercu^s 
 against [too] many)." 
 
 " What is the use in talking about such a soldier ? He 
 will test everything carefully before he strikes ; and if the 
 forces against him are too great, he will pluck off what he 
 can and return, or will send for reinforcements. You may 
 sleep quietly, father." 
 
 " Ah, I also knew whom I was sending, but I tell you that 
 Pan Michael must have given me some herb ; I have such a 
 weakness for him. I have never loved any one so, except 
 Podbipienta and you. It oannot be but that little fellow 
 has given me something." 
 
 Three days passed. Provisions were brought continually, 
 volunteers also marched in, but of Pan Michael not a sound. 
 Zagloba's fears increased, and in spite of Pan Yan's remon- 
 strance that in no way could Volodyovski return yet from 
 Volkovysk, Zagloba sent one hundred of Yakub Kmita's 
 light 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-attendants sent for food to Bobrovniki returned in 
 great haste, with the report that they had seen some army 
 coming out of the forest beyond Bobrovniki. 
 
 " Pan Michael ! " exclaimed Zagloba, joyfully. 
 
 But the men contradicted that. They had not gone to 
 meet it for the special reason that they saw strange flags, 
 not belonging to \olodyovski's troops. And besides, this 
 force was greater. The attendants, being attendants, cdttld 
 not fix the number exactly ; some said there were three 
 thousand ; others five thousand, or still more. 
 
 "I will take twenty horsemen and go to meet them," 
 said Captain Lipnitski. 
 
 He went. 
 
 An hour passed, and a second ; at last it was stated that 
 not a party was 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 
 ^ hole camp ; the soldiers rushed to the bulwarks. On some 
 tfjoea terror was evident ; the men did not stand in proper 
 order ; Osliyerko's infantry only occupied the places indi- 
 
 VOL. X. — 31 
 
 is' ■ ; 
 
 f ; 
 
 f -Ml 
 
482 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 /' 
 
 cated. Among the rolunteers th(>re was a panic at the 
 first moment. From mouth to mouth flew various report.*} : 
 " Kadziviii has out to pieces Volodyovski and the second 
 party formed of Yakub Kmita'a men," repeated some. 
 " Not a witness of the defeat has escaped ! '' said others. 
 " And now Lipnitski has gone, as it were, under the earth." 
 " Where is the commander ? Where is the Commander ? " 
 
 The colonels rushed to establish order ; and since all in 
 the camp, save a few volunteers, were old soldiers, they 
 soon stood in order, waiting for what would appear. 
 
 When the cry came, " Radzivill is coming ! " Zagloba was 
 greatly confused ; but in the first moment he would not be- 
 lieve it. 
 
 " What has happened to Volodyovski ? Has he let him- 
 self be surrounded, so that not a man has come back with a 
 warning ? And the second party ? And Pan Lipnitski ? 
 Impossible I "t repeated Zagloba to himself, wiping nis fore- 
 heskd, which was sweating profusely. " Has this dragon, 
 this man-killer, this Lucifer, been able to come from Kye- 
 dani already ? Is the last hour approaching ? " 
 
 Meanwhile from every side voices more and more numer- 
 ous cried, " Radzivill 1 Radzivill I " 
 
 Zagloba ceased to doubt. He sprang up and rushed to 
 Pan Yan's quarters. " Oh, Yan, save I It is time now I " 
 
 " What has happened ? " asked Pan Yan. 
 
 " Radzivill is coming ! To your head I give everything, 
 for Prince Yeremi said that you are a born leader. I will 
 superintend myself, but do you give counsel and lead." 
 
 " That cannot be Radzivill ! '• said Pan Yan. " From 
 what direction are the troops marching ? " 
 
 "From Volkovysk. It is said that they have taken 
 Volodyovski and the second party which I sent not long 
 ago." 
 
 " Volodyovski let himself be taken ! Oh, father, you 
 do not know him. He is coming back himself, — no one 
 else ! " 
 
 " But it is said that there is an enormous army I " 
 
 "Praise be to God! it is clear then that Sapyeha is 
 coming." 
 
 " For God's sake I what do you tell me ? Why then was 
 it said that Lipnitski 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 ! " 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 488 
 
 a panic at the 
 ariouB reportfj ; 
 ind the second 
 repeated some. 
 1 " said others, 
 ider the earth." 
 commander ? " 
 tnd since all in 
 1 soldiers, they 
 aid appear. 
 5!" Zaglobawas 
 lie would not be- 
 
 Has he let hira- 
 ome back with a 
 
 Pan Lipnitski ? 
 , wiping nis fore- 
 las this dragon, 
 
 come from Kye- 
 
 ng?" 
 
 and more numer- 
 
 ap and rushed to 
 is time now 1 " 
 
 give everything, 
 n leader. I will 
 isel and lead." 
 m Yan. " From 
 
 ;hey have taken 
 I sent not long 
 
 Oh, father, you 
 Limself, — no one 
 
 IS army ! " 
 
 that Sapyeha is 
 
 -VHiy then was 
 
 Radzivill who is 
 b, joined, and all 
 us go out ! " 
 
 have no 
 show him 
 
 hide our- 
 fires!" 
 
 « I said that the first moment ! " cried Zagloba. " All were 
 frightened, but I thought, * That cannot be ! * I saw the 
 position at once. Come I hurry, Yan, hurry ! Those men 
 ()\it there are confused. Aha! " 
 
 Zagloba and Pan Yan hastened to the ramparts, occupied 
 already by the troops, and began to pass along. Zagloba's 
 face was radiant ; he stopped every little while, and cried so 
 that all heard him, — 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen, we have guests ! I 
 reason to lose heart ! If that is Kadzivill, I '11 
 the road back to Kyedani ! " 
 
 " We '11 show him 1 " cried the army. 
 
 " Kindle fires on the ramparts I We will not 
 selves ; let them see us, we are ready ! Kindle 
 
 Straightway they brought wood, and a quarter of an hour 
 later the whole camp was flaming, till the heavens grew red 
 as if from daybreak. The soldiers, turning away from the 
 light, looked into the darkness in the direction of Bobrovniki. 
 Some of them cried that they heard a clatter and the stamp 
 of horses. 
 
 Just then in the darkness musket-shots were heard from 
 afar. Zagloba pulled 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 for further doubt ; a moment later a number of riders 
 rushed in on foaming horses, crying, — 
 
 " Pan Sapyeha ! the voevoda of Vityebsk I " 
 
 Barely had the soldiers heard this, when they rushed 
 forth from the walls, like an overflowed river, and ran for- 
 ward, roaring so that any one hearing their voices from afar 
 might think them cries from a town in which victors were 
 putting all to the sword. 
 
 Zagloba, wearing all the insignia of his office, with a baton 
 in his hand and a heron's feather in his cap, rode out under 
 his horse-tail standard, at the head of the colonels, to the 
 front of the fortifications. 
 
 After a while the voevoda of Vityebsk at the head of 
 his officers, and with Volodyovski at his side, rode into 
 "the lighted circle. He was a man already in respectable 
 years, of medium weight, with a face not beautiful, but 
 wise and kindly. His mustaches, cut evenly over his upper 
 lip, were iron-gray, as was also a small beard, which made 
 him resemble a foreigner, though he dressed in Polish 
 
 'I'll 
 mm 
 
484 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 fashion. Though famous for many military exploits he 
 looked more like a civilian than a soldier; those who knew 
 him more ihtimately said tliat in the countenance of the 
 voevoda Minerva was greater than Mars. But, besides 
 Minerva and Mars, there was in that face a gem larer in 
 those times ; that is honesty, which flowing forth from his 
 soul was reflected in his eyes as the light of the sun is in 
 water. At the first glance people recognized 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 
 Sapyoha, who reined in his horse and began to bow with his 
 lynx-skin cap. 
 
 " Serene great mighty voevoda ! " began Zagloba, 
 " though I possessed the eloquence of the ancient Romans, 
 nay, of Cicero himself, or, going to remoter times, of that 
 famous Athenian, Demosthenes, I should not be able to 
 express the delight which has seized our hearts at sight of 
 the worthy person of the serene great mighty lord. The 
 whole Commonwealth is rejoicing in our hearts, greeting 
 the wisest senator and the best son, with a delight all the 
 greater because unexpected. Behold, we were drawn out 
 here on these bulwarks under arms, not ready for greeting, 
 but for battle, — not to hear shouts of delight, but the 
 thunder of cannon, — not to shed tears, but our blood ! 
 When however hundred-tongued Fame bore around the 
 news that the defender of the fatherland was coming, not 
 the heretic, — the voevoda of Vityebsk, not the grand 
 hetman of Lithuania, — Sapyeha, not Radzivill — " 
 
 Bat Pan Sapyeha was in an evident hurry to enter; for 
 he waved his hand quickly, with a kindly though lordly 
 inatt-ention, and said, — 
 
 "Radzivill also is coming. In two days he will be 
 here ! " 
 
 Zagloba vas confused; first, because the thread of his 
 speech was .broken, and second, because the news of Radzi- 
 vill made a great impression on him. He stood therefore a 
 moment before Sapyeha, not knowing what further to say ; 
 but he came quickly to his mind, and drawing hurriedly the 
 baton from his belt, said with solemnity, calling to mind 
 what bad taken place at Zbaraj, — 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 485 
 
 [ays he will be 
 
 " The army has chosen me for its leader, but I yield this 
 into worthier hands, so as to give an example to the 
 younger how we must resign the highest honors for the 
 public good." 
 
 The soldiers began to shout j but Pan Sapyeha only 
 smiled and said, — 
 
 " Lord brother, I would gladly receive it, but Eadzivill 
 might think that you gave it through fear of him." 
 
 " Oh, he knows me already," answered Zagloba, " and will 
 not ascribe fear to me. I was the first to stagger him in 
 Kyedani ; and I drew others after me by my example." 
 
 " If that is the case, then lead on to the camp," said 
 Sapyeha. " Volodyovski told me on the road that you are 
 an excellent manager and have 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 the goblet, — determined to give 
 fitting honor to the day of his coming ; hence he appeared 
 with a feast of sucli splendor as had not been yet in the 
 camp. All ate and drank. At the cups Volodyovski told what 
 had happened 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 a desperate 
 defence into a brilliant victory. 
 
 " We gave them something to think of," said he, " so 
 that they will not stick an ear out of their camp." 
 
 Then the conversation turned to Eadzivill. The voevoda 
 of Vityebsk had very recent tidings, and knew through 
 reliable people of everything that took place in Kyedani. 
 He said therefore that the hetman had sent a certain 
 Kmita with a letter to the King of Sweden, and with a 
 request to strike Podlyasye from two sides at once. 
 
 "This is a wonder of wonders to me!" exclaimed 
 Zagloba; "for had it not been for that Kmita, we should 
 not have concentrated our forces to this moment, and if 
 lladzivill had come he might have eaten us up, one after 
 the other, like puddings of Syedlets." 
 
 " Volodyovski told me all that," said Sapyeha, " from 
 which I infer that Kmita has a personal affection for you. 
 It is too bad that he has n't it for the country. But people 
 who see nothing above themselves, serve no cause well 
 
486 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 and are ready to betray any one, as in this case Kmita 
 Radzivill." 
 
 " But among us there are no traitors, and we are i:eady 
 to stand up with the serene great mighty voevodk 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, for which I must give thanks 
 to his grace Pan Zagloba." 
 
 Zagloba blushed with pleasure, for somehow it had 
 seemed to him hitherto that though the voevoda of 
 Yityebsk had treated him graciously, still he had not 
 giveu him the recognition and respect which he, the 
 ex-commander, desired. He began therefore to relate how 
 he had made regulations, what he had done, what sup- 
 plies he had collected, how he had brought cannon, and 
 formed infantry, finally what an extensive correspondence 
 he had carried on ; and not without boasting did he make 
 mention of th^ letters sent to the banished king, to Ho- 
 vanski, and to the eleotbr. 
 
 " After my letter, his grace the elector must declare for 
 us openly or against us," said he, with pride. 
 
 The voevoda of Yityebsk was a humorous man, and 
 
 Eerhaps also he was a little joyous from drink; therefore 
 e smoothed his mustache, laughed maliciously, 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 have talked with an equal." 
 
 The colonels burst into a thundering laugh ; but Zagloba 
 showed at once that 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 so long ago when I gave my voice 
 for Yan Kazimir." 
 
 " You have brought that out well," answered Sapyeha. 
 
 " Brit with such a potentate as the Emperor I do not cor- 
 respond," continued Zagloba, " lest he might apply to me a 
 certain proverb which I heard in Lithuania." 
 
 " What was the proverb ? " 
 
 " Such a fool's head as that must have come out of Yi- 
 tyebsk!" answered Zagloba, without confusion. 
 
 to 
 
I case Kmita 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 487 
 
 Hearing this^ the colonels were frightened ; but the voe- 
 voda leaned back and held his sides from laughter. 
 
 " Ah, but you have settled me this time ! Let me embrace 
 you ! Whenever I want to shave my beard I '11 borrow your 
 tongue ! " 
 
 The feast continued till lite in the night ; it was broken 
 up by the arrival of nobles from Tykotsin, who brought news 
 that BadziviU's scouts had already reached that place. 
 
 Bt declare for 
 
488 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Radzivill would have fallen on Podlyasye long before, 
 had not various reasons held him back in Kyedani. First, 
 he was waiting for the Swedish reinforcements, which Pon- 
 tus de la Gardie delayed by design. Although bonds of 
 relationship connected the Swedish general with the king 
 himself, he could not compare in greatness of family, in 
 importance, in extensive connections by blood, with that 
 Lithuanian magnate ; and as to fortune, though at that time 
 there was no ready money in Radzivill's treasury, all the 
 Swedish generals might have been portioned with one half 
 of the prince's estates and consider themselves wealthy. 
 Now, when by^the turn of fortune Radzivill was dependent 
 on Pontus, the general could not deny himself the pleasure 
 of making that lord feel his dependence and the superiority 
 of De la Gardie. 
 
 Radzivill did not need reinforcements to defeat the con- 
 federates, since for that he had forces enough of his own ; 
 but the Swedes were necessary to him for the reasons men- 
 tioned by Kmita in his letter to Yolodyovski. He was shut 
 off from Podlyas/e by the legions of Hovanski, who might 
 block the road to him ; but if Radzivill marched together 
 with Swedish troops, and under the aegis of the King of 
 Sweden, every hostile step on the part of Hovanski would 
 be considered a challenge to Karl Gustav. Radzivill wished 
 this in his soul, and therefore he waited impatiently for the 
 arrival of even one Swedish squadron, and while urging 
 Pontus he said more than once to his attendants, — 
 
 " A couple of years ago he would have thought it a favor 
 to receive a letter from me, and would have left the letter 
 by will to his descendants ; but to-day he takes on the airs 
 of a superior." 
 
 To which a certain noble, loud-mouthed and truth-telling, 
 known in the whole neighborhood, allowed himself to an- 
 swer at once, — 
 
 "According to the proverb, mighty prince, *As a man 
 makes his bed, so must he sleep on it.' " 
 
 Radzivill burst out in anger, and gave orders to cast the 
 noble into the tower ; but on the following day he let him 
 
B long before, 
 sdani. First, 
 8, which Pon- 
 igh bonds of 
 ^ith the king 
 of family, in 
 Dd, with that 
 h at that time 
 Eisury, all the 
 with one half 
 lives wealthy, 
 iras dependent 
 f the pleasure 
 he superiority 
 
 efeat the con- 
 h of his own ; 
 I reasons men- 
 
 He was shut 
 
 ti, who might 
 
 3hed together 
 
 f the King of 
 
 ivanski would 
 
 izivill wished 
 
 iently for the 
 
 while urging 
 
 its, — 
 
 ■ht it a favor 
 [eft the letter 
 
 s on the airs 
 
 I truth-telling, 
 imself to an- 
 
 <As a man 
 
 Is to cast the 
 he let him 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 489 
 
 out and presented him with a gold button ; for of this noble 
 it was said that he had ready money, and the prince wanted 
 to borrow money of him on his note. The noble accepted 
 the button, but gave not the money. 
 
 Swedish reinforcements came at last, to the number of 
 eight hundred horse, of the heavy cavalry. Pontus sent 
 directly to the castle of Tykotsin three hundred infantry and 
 one hundred light cavalry, wishing to have his own garrison 
 there in every event. 
 
 Hovanski's troops withdrew before them, making no oppo- 
 sition J they arrived therefore safely at Tykotain, for this 
 took place when the confederate squadrons were still scat- 
 tered over all Podlyasye, and were occupied only in plun- 
 dering the estates of Radzivill. 
 
 It was hoped that the prince, after he had received the de- 
 sired reinforcements, would take the field at once ; but he 
 loitered yet. The cause of this was news from Podlyasye 
 of disagreement in that province ; of lack of union among 
 the confederates, and misunderstandings between Kotovski, 
 Lipnitski, and Yakub Kmita. 
 
 " It is necessary to give them time," said the prince^ " to 
 seize one another by the heads. They will gnaw one an- 
 oiuer to pieces ; their power will disappear without war ; 
 and then we will strike on Hovanski." 
 
 But on a sudden contradictory news began to come ; the 
 colonels not only did not fight with one another, but had 
 assembled in one body at Byalystok. The prince searched 
 his brain for the cause of this change. At last the name of 
 Zagloba, as commander, came to his ears. He was informed 
 also of the making of a fortified camp, the provisioning of 
 the army, and the cannon dug out at Byalystok by Zagloba, 
 of the increase of confederate strength, of volunteers com- 
 ing from the interior. Prince Yanush fell into such wrath 
 that Ganhoff, a fearless soldier, dared not approach him for 
 some time. 
 
 At last the command was issued to the squadrons to pre- 
 pare for the road. In one day a whole division was ready, — 
 one regiment of German infantry, two of Scottish, one of 
 Lithuanian. Pan Korf led the artillery ; Ganhoff took com- 
 mand of the cavalry. Besides, Kharlamp's dragoons, the 
 Swedish cavalry, and the light regiment of Nyevyarovski, 
 there was the prince's own heavy squadron, in which Slizyen 
 was lieutenant. It was a considerable force, and composed 
 of veterans. With a force no greater the prince, during the 
 
49() 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 tirst wars with Hmelnitski, had won those victories which 
 had adorned his name with ininiortal glory ; with a power 
 no greater he had beaten Nebaba at Loyovo, crushed a 
 number of tens of thousands led by the famous Krechovski, 
 destroyed Mozyr and Turott", had taken Kieff by storm, and 
 so pushed Hmelnitski in the steppes that he was forced to 
 seek safety in negotiations. 
 
 But the star of that powerful warrior was evidently set- 
 ting, and he had no good forebodings himself. He cast his 
 eyes into the future, and saw nothing clearly. He would 
 go to Podlyasye, tear apart with horses the insurgents, give 
 orders to pull out of his skin the hated Zagloba, — and 
 what would come of that ? What further ? What change 
 of fate would come ? Would he then strike Hovanski, 
 would he avenge tho defeat at Tsibyhova, and adorn his 
 own head with new laurels ? The prince said that he 
 would, but he doubted, for just then reports began to 
 circulate widely that the Northerners, fearing the growth 
 of Swedish power, would cease to wage war, and might 
 even form an alliance with Yan Kazimir. Sapyeha con- 
 tinued to pluck them still, and defeated them where he 
 could ; but at the same time he negotiated with them. Pan 
 Gosyevski had the same plans. 
 
 Then in case of Hovanski's retreat that field of action 
 would be closed, and the last chance of showing his power 
 vould vanish from Radzivill ; or if Yan Kazimir could make 
 a treaty with those who till then had been his enemies, and 
 urge them against the Swedes, fortune might incline to his 
 aide against Sweden, and thereby against Radzivill. 
 
 From Poland there came, it is true, the most favorable 
 news. The success of the Swedes surpassed all expectation. 
 Provinces yielded one after another ; in Great Poland Swedes 
 ruled as in Sweden; in Warsaw, Radzeyovski governed; 
 Little Poland offered no resistance ; Cracow might fall at 
 any moment ; the king, deserted by the army and the nobles, 
 with confidence in his people broken to the core, went to 
 Silesia ; and Karl Gustav himself was astonished at the ease 
 with which he had crushed that power, always victorious 
 hitherto in war with the Swedes. 
 
 But just in that ease had Radzivill a foreboding of danger 
 to himself ; for the Swedes, blinded by triumph, would not 
 count with him, would not consider him, especially because 
 he had not shown himself so powerful and so commanding 
 as all, not excepting himself, had thought him. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 491 
 
 ictories which 
 with a power 
 vo, crushed a 
 LS Krechovski, 
 by storm, and 
 was forced to 
 
 evidently set- 
 . He cast his 
 ly. He would 
 isurgents, give 
 5agloba, — and 
 
 What change 
 ike Hovanski, 
 and adorn his 
 ) said that he 
 >orts began to 
 ag the growth 
 ar, and might 
 
 Sapyeha con- 
 hem where he 
 th them. Pan 
 
 field of action 
 ing his power 
 ir could make 
 enemies, and 
 incline to his 
 zivill. 
 
 ost favorable 
 .1 expectation. 
 *oland Swedes 
 iki governed; 
 might fall at 
 |nd the nobles, 
 core, went to 
 ed at the ease 
 ys victorious 
 
 ling of danger 
 )h, would not 
 ^ially because 
 commanding 
 
 Will the Swedish King give him then Lithuania, or even 
 White Russia ? Will he nolf prefer to pacify an eternally 
 hungry neighbor with some eastern slice of the Common- 
 wealth, so as to have his own hands free in the remnants 
 of Poland ? 
 
 Tliese were the questions which tormented continually 
 the soul of Prince Yanush. Days and nights did he pass in 
 disquiet. He conceived that Pontus de la Gardie would not 
 have dared to treat him so haughtily, almost insultingly, had 
 he not thought that tlie king would confirm such a manner 
 of action, or what is worse, had not his instructions been 
 previously prepared. 
 
 " As long as I am at the head of some thousands 
 of men," thought Radzivill, " they will consider me ; but 
 when money fails, when my hired regiments scatter, what 
 then ? " 
 
 And the revenues from his enormous estates did not come 
 in. An immense part of them, scattered throughout Lithu- 
 ania and far away to Polesie or Kieff, lay in ruins ; those m 
 Podlyasye the confederates had plundered completely. At 
 times it seemed to the prince that he would topple over the 
 precipice ; that from all his labor and plotting only the 
 name traitor would remain to him, — nothing more. 
 
 Another phantom terrified him — the phantom of death, 
 which appeared almost every night before the curtain 
 of his bed, and beckoned with its hand, as if wishing 
 to say to him, ''Come into darkness, cross the unknown 
 river." 
 
 Had he been able to stand on the summit of glory, had 
 he been able to place on his head, even for one day, for one 
 hour, that crown desired with such passion, he might meet 
 that awful and silent phantom with unterrified eye. But to 
 die and leave behind evil fame and the scorn of men, seemed 
 to that lord, who was as proud as Satan himself, a hell dur- 
 ing life. 
 
 More than once then, when he was alone or with his as- 
 trologer, in whom he placed the greatest trust, did he seize 
 his temples and repeat with stifled voice, — 
 
 " I am burning, burning, burning ! " 
 
 Under these conditions he was preparing for the campaign 
 against Podlyasye, when the day before the march it was 
 announced that Prince Boguslav had left Taurogi. 
 
 At the mere news of this. Prince Yanush, even before he 
 saw his cousin, revived as it were ; for that Boguslav brought 
 
 
492 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 with him his youth and a blind faith in the future. In him 
 the line of Birji was to be renfl\ved, for him alone was Prince 
 Yanush toiling. 
 
 When he heard that Boguslav was coining, the hetman 
 wished to go out to meet him, but etiquette did not permit 
 him to go forth to meet a younger cousin ; he sent therefore 
 a gilded carriage, and a whole scjuadron as escort, and from 
 the breastworks raised by Kmita and from the castle itself 
 mortars were fired at his command, just as at the coming 
 of a king. 
 
 When the cousins, after a ceremonial greeting, were left 
 alone at last, Yanush seized Boguslav in his embrace and 
 began to repeat, with a voice of emotion, — 
 
 " My youth has returned ! My health has returned in a 
 moment ! " 
 
 But Boguslav looked at him carefully and asked, — 
 
 " What troubles your highness ? " 
 
 "Let us not give ourselves titles if no one obeys us. 
 What troubles me? Sickness irritates me so that I am 
 falling like a rotten tree. But a truce to this 1 How is my 
 wife and Maryska ? " 
 
 "They have gone from Taurogi to Tyltsa. They are 
 both well, and Marie is like a rosebud ; that will be a won- 
 derful rose when it blooms. Ma foi I more beautiful feet 
 there are not in the world, and her tresses flow to the very 
 ground." 
 
 " Did she seem so beautiful to you ? That is well. God 
 inspired you to come ; I feel better in spirit when I see 
 you. But what do you bring touching public affairs ? What 
 IS the elector doing ? " 
 
 " You know that he has made^a league with the Prussian 
 towns ? " 
 
 " I know." 
 
 " But they do not trust him greatly. Dantzig will not 
 receive his garrisons. The Germans have a good sniff." 
 
 " I know that too. But have you not written to him ? 
 What are his plans touching us ? " 
 
 "Touching us ? " repeated Boguslav, inattentively. 
 
 He cast his eyes around the room, then rose. Prince 
 Yanush thought that he was looking for something ; but ho 
 hurried to a mirror in the corner, and withdrawing a proper 
 distance, rubbed his whole face with a finger of his right 
 hand ; at last he said, — 
 
 " My skin is chapped a little from the journey, but before 
 
 t 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 493 
 
 returned in a 
 
 Ih the Prussian 
 
 morning it will be healed. What are the elector's plans 
 touching us ? Nothing ; he wrote to me that he will not 
 forget us." 
 
 " What does that mean ? " 
 
 " I have the letter with mo ; I will show it to you. He 
 writes that whatever may hapi)en he will not ' get us; 
 and I believe him, for his interests enioin that. The elec- 
 tor cares as much for the Commonwealth as 1 do for an old 
 wig, and would be glad to give it to Sweden if he could 
 seize Prussia ; but the power of Sweden begins to alarm 
 him, therefore he would be glad to have an ally ready for 
 the future ; and he will have one if you mount the throne 
 of Lithuania." 
 
 " Would tliat had happened I Not for myself do I wish 
 that throne !■" 
 
 " All Lithuania cannot be had, perhaps, at first, but even 
 if We get a good piece with White Russia and Jmud — " 
 
 " But what of the Swedes ? " 
 
 "The Swedes will be glad also to use us as a guard 
 against the East." 
 
 " You pour balsam on me." 
 
 " Balsam ! Aha ! A certain necromancer in Taurogi 
 wanted to sell me balsam, saying that whoever would 
 anoint himself with it would be safe from spears, swords, 
 and sabres. I ordered a soldier to rub him with it at once 
 and thrust a spear into him. Can you imagine, the spear 
 went right through his body." 
 
 Here Prince Boguslav laughed, showing teeth as white 
 as ivory. But this conversation was not to the taste of 
 Yanush ; he began again therefore on public affairs. 
 
 " I sent letters to the King of Sweden, and to many others 
 of our dignitaries. You must have received a letter through 
 Kmita." 
 
 " But wait ! I was coming to that matter. What is your 
 idea of Kmita?" 
 
 " He is hot-headed, wild, dangerous, and cannot endure 
 restraint ; but he is one of those rare men who serve us in 
 good faith." 
 
 " Surely," answered Boguslav ; " and he came near earn- 
 ing the kingdom of heaven for me." 
 
 " How is that ? " asked Yanush, with alarm. 
 
 " They say, lord brother, that if your bile is stirred 
 suffocation results. Promise me to listen with patience 
 and quieUy, and I will tell something of your Kmita, from 
 
494 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 which you will know him better than you have up to this 
 moment." 
 
 "Well, I will be patient, onlj begin." 
 
 " A miracle of God saved me from the hands of that in- 
 carnate devil," said Boguslav; and he Vegan to relate all 
 that had happened in Pilvishki. 
 
 It was no smaller miracle that Prince Yanush did not 
 have an attack of asthma, but it might be thought that apo- 
 plexy would strike him. He trembled all over, he gnashed 
 his teeth, he covered his eyes with his hand ; at last he 
 cried with a hoarse voice, — 
 
 " Is that true ? Very well ! He has forgotten that his 
 little wench is in my hands — " 
 
 " Restrain yourself, for God's sake 1 Hear on. I acquitted 
 myself with him as beseems a cavalier, and if I have not 
 noted this adventure in my diary, and do not boast of it, 1 
 refrain because 't is a shame that I let myself be tricked by 
 that clown, as if I were a child, — I, of whom Mazarin said 
 that in intrigue and adroitness there was not my equal in 
 the whole court of France. But no more of this ! I thought 
 at first that I had killed yoiir Kmita ; now I have proof in 
 my hands that he has slipped away." 
 
 " That is nothing ! We will find him I We will dig him 
 out ! We will get him, even from under the earth ! Mean- 
 while I will give him a sorer blow than if I were to flay 
 him alive." 
 
 " You will give him no blow, but only injure your own 
 health. Listen ! In coming hither I noticed some low fel- 
 low on a pied horse, who held himself at no great distance 
 from my carriage. I noticed him specially because his 
 horse was pied, and I gave the order at last to summon 
 him. ' Where art thou going ? ' 'To Kyedani.' ' What 
 art thou taking? ' *A letter to the prince voevoda.' I or- 
 dered him to give the letter, and as there are no secrets be- 
 tween ua I read it. Here it is ! " 
 
 Then he gave Prince Yanush Kmita's letter, written from 
 the forest at the time when he was setting out with the 
 Kyemliches. 
 
 The prince glanced over the letter, and crushing it with 
 rage, cried, — 
 
 " True ! in God's name, true ! He has my letters, and in 
 tl\em are things which may make the King^of Sweden him- 
 self suspicious, nay more, give him mortal offence." 
 
 Here choking seized him, and the expected attack came 
 
%ye up to this 
 
 ds of that in- 
 1 to relate all 
 
 mush did not 
 ught that apo- 
 ar, he gnashed 
 id ; at last he 
 
 otten that his 
 
 in. I acquitted 
 I if I have not 
 } boast of it, I 
 f be tricked by 
 n Mazarin said 
 ot my equal in 
 his! I thought 
 ; have proof in 
 
 ^e will dig him 
 earth ! Mean- 
 were to flay 
 
 ure your own 
 some low fel- 
 great distance 
 because his 
 st to summon 
 iani.' ' What 
 )evoda.' I or- 
 no secrets be- 
 
 r, written from 
 out with the 
 
 ishing it with 
 
 lletters, and in 
 Sweden him- 
 lence." 
 
 attack came 
 
 THE DELUGB. 
 
 495 
 
 on. His mouth opened widely, and he gasped quickly after 
 air; his hands tore the clotning near his throat. Prince 
 Boguslav, seeing this, clapped his hands, and when the ser- 
 vants ran in, he said, — 
 
 " Save the prince your lord, and when he recovers breath 
 beg him to come to my chamber ; meanwhile I will rest a 
 little." And he went out. 
 
 Two hours later, Yanush, with bloodshot eyes, hanging 
 lids, and a blue face, knocked at j?rince Boguslav's cham- 
 ber. Boguslav received him lying in bed, his face rubbed 
 with milk of almonds, which was to enhance the softness 
 and freshness of his skin. Without a wig on his head, 
 without the colors on his face, and with uublackened brows, 
 he seemed much older than in full dresEi ; but Prince Ya- 
 nush paid no heed to that. 
 
 " I have come to the conclusion," said he, " that Kmita 
 will not publish those letters, for if he should he would by 
 that act write the sentence of death for the maiden. He 
 understands well that only by keeping them does he hold 
 me ; but I cannot pour out my vengeance, and that gnaws 
 me, as if I were carrying about a mad dog in my breast." 
 
 "Still, it will be necessary to get tho3e letters," said 
 Boguslav. 
 
 " But quo modo (in what way ) ? " 
 
 " Some adroit man must be sent after him, to enter into 
 friendship and at a given opportunity seize the letters and 
 punch Kmita with a knife. It is necessary tc offer a great 
 reward." 
 
 " Who here would undertake that deed ? " 
 
 " If it were only in Paris, or even in Germany, I could 
 find a hundred volunteers in one day, but in this country 
 such wares are not found." 
 
 " And one of our own people is needed, for he would be on 
 his guard against a stranger." 
 
 "It seems to me that I can find some one in Prussia.*' 
 
 " Oh, if he could be taken alive and brought to my hands, 
 I would pay him once for ail. I say that the insolence of 
 that man passes every measure. I sent him away because 
 he enraged me, for he would spring at my throat for any 
 reason, just like a cat; he hurled at me his own wishes 
 in everything. A hundred times lacking little had I the 
 order just — just in my mouth, to shoot him ; but I could 
 not, I could not." 
 
 " Tell me, is he really a relative of ours ? " 
 
496 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 " He is a relative of the Kiskkis, and through the Kisl^kis 
 of us." 
 
 ** In his fashion he is a r^evil, and an opponent dangerous 
 in the highest degree." 
 
 " He ? You might command him to go to Tsargrad * and 
 pull the Sultan from his throne, or tear out the beard of the 
 King of Sweden and bring it to Kyedani. Hut what did he 
 not do here in time of war ? " 
 
 " He lias that look, but he has promised us vengeance to 
 the last breath. Luckily he has a lesson from me that 't is 
 not easy to encounter us. Acknowledge that 1 treated him 
 in Radzivill fashion ; if a French cavalier had done a deed 
 like mine, he would boast of it whole days, excepting the 
 hours of sleeping, eating, and kissing ; for they, when 
 they meet, emulate one another in lying, so that the sun is 
 ashamed to shine." 
 
 " It is true th!at you squeezed him, but I would that it 
 had not happened." 
 
 " And I would that you had chosen better confidants, with 
 more respect for the Radzivill bones." 
 
 " Those letters ! those letters ! " 
 
 The cousins were silent for a while. Boguslav spoke 
 first. 
 
 " But what sort of a maiden is she ? " 
 
 "PannaBillevich?" 
 
 " Billevich or Myeleshko, one is the equal of the other. 
 I do not ask for her name, but if she is beautiful." 
 
 " I do not look on those things ; but this is certain, — the 
 Queen of Poland need not be ashamed of such beauty." 
 
 " The Queen of Poland ? Maryat Ludvika ? In the time 
 of Cinq-Mars maybe the Queen of Poland was beautiful, but 
 now the dogs howl when they see her. If your Panna Bille- 
 vich is such as she, then I '11 hide myself ; but if she is 
 really a wonder, let me take her to Tanrogi, and there she 
 and I will think out a vengeance for Kmita." 
 
 Yanush meditated a moment. 
 
 " I will not give her to you," said he at last, " for you will 
 constrain her with violence, and then Kuiita will publish 
 the letters." 
 
 " I use force against one of your tufted larks ! Without 
 boasting I may say that I have had affairs with not such as 
 she, and I have constrained no one. Once only, but that was 
 
 Tsargrad = Tsar's city, Constantinople. 
 
1 the Kiubkis 
 
 nt dangerous 
 
 sargrad * and 
 beard of the 
 what did he 
 
 vengeance to 
 me that 't is 
 
 treated him 
 done a deed 
 accepting the 
 
 they, when 
 at the sun is 
 
 ould that it 
 
 iidants, with 
 
 uslav spoke 
 
 the other. 
 
 tain, — the 
 eauty." 
 "n the time 
 autiful, but 
 anna Bille- 
 it if she is 
 there she 
 
 •or you will 
 ill publish 
 
 Without 
 lot such as 
 it that was 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 4d7 
 
 in Flanders, — she was a fool, — the daughter of a jeweller. 
 After me came the infantry of Spain, and the affair was 
 accounted to them." 
 
 " You do not know this girl ; she is from an honorable 
 house, walking virtue, you would say a nun." 
 
 " Oh, we know the nuns too ! '" 
 
 " And besides she hates us, for she is a patriot. She has 
 tried to influence Kmita. There are not many such among 
 our women. Her mind is purely that of a man ; and she is 
 the most ardent adherent of Yan Kazimir." 
 
 " Then we will increase his adherents." 
 
 " Impossibl*^, for Kmita will publish the letters. I must 
 guard her like the eyes in my nead — for a time. After- 
 ward I will give her to you or to your dragoons, all one 
 to me ! " 
 
 " I give my word of a caval-cr that I will not constrain 
 her ; and a word given in private I always keep. In politics 
 it is another thing. It would be a shame for me indeed if 
 I could gain nothing by her." 
 
 " You will not." 
 
 " In the worst case I '11 get a slap in the face, and from a 
 woman that is no shame. You are going to Podlyasye, 
 what will you do with her? You will not take her with 
 you, you cannot leave her here ; for the Swedes will come to 
 this place, and the girl should remain always in our hands 
 as a hostage. Is it not better that I take her to Tanrogi 
 and send Kmita, not an assassin, but a messenger with a 
 letter in which I shall write, ' Give the letters and I '11 give 
 you the maiden.' " 
 
 " True," answered Prince Yanush ; " that 's a good 
 method." 
 
 " But if," continued Boguslav, " not altogether as I took 
 her, that will be the first step in vengeance." 
 
 " But you have given your word not to use violence." 
 
 " I have, and I say again that it would be a shame for 
 me — " 
 
 " Then you must take also her uncle, the sword-bearer of 
 Rossyeni, who is staying here with her." 
 
 " 1 do not wish to take him. The noble in the fasnion of 
 this region wears, of course, straw in his boots, and I cannot 
 bear that." 
 
 " She will not go alone." 
 
 " That 's to be seen. Ask them to supper this evening, 
 so that I may see and know whether she is worth putting 
 VOL. I. — 32 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 498 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 between the teeth, and immeaiately I '11 think out methods 
 against her.- Only, for God's sake, mention not Kmita'^^ act, 
 for that would confirm her in devotion to him. But during 
 supper, no matter »rhat I say, contradict not. You will see 
 my methods. &.nd they will remind you of your own years 
 of youth." 
 
 Prince Yanush waved his hands and went out ; and Bo- 
 guslav put his hands under his head, and began to meditate 
 over means. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 499 
 
 link out methods 
 L not Kmita''^> act, 
 dm. But during 
 )t. You will see 
 your own years 
 
 jnt out ; and Bo- 
 egan to meditate 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 To the supper, besides the sword-bearer of Rossyeni and 
 Olenka, were invited the most distinguished officers of 
 Kyedani and some attendants of Prince Boguslav. He 
 came himself in such array and so lordly that he attracted 
 all eyes. His wig was dressed in beautiful waving curls ; 
 his face in delicacy of color called to mind milk and roses ; 
 his small mustache seemed to be of silken hair, and his eyes 
 stars. He was dressed in black, in a kaftan made of stripes 
 of silk and velvet, the sleeves of which were slashed and 
 fastened together the length of the arm. Around his neck 
 he had a broad collar, of the most marvellous Brabant lace, 
 of irestimablo value, and at the wrists ruffles of the same 
 material. A gold chain fell on his breast, and over the 
 right shoulder along the whole kaftan went to his left hip 
 a sword-strap of Dutch leather, so set with diamonds that 
 it looked like a strip of changing light. The hilt of his 
 sword glittered in like manner, and in his shoe-buckles 
 gleamed the two largest diamonds, as large as hazel-nuts. 
 The whole figure seemed imposing, and as noble as it was 
 beautiful. 
 
 In one hand he held a lace handkerchief ; in the other he 
 carried, according to the fashion of the time, on his sword- 
 hilt, a hat adorned with curling black ostrich feathers of 
 uncommon length. 
 
 All, not excepting Prince Yanush, looked at him with 
 wonder and admiration. His youthful years came to the 
 memory of the prince voevoda, when he in the same way 
 surpassed all at the French court with his beauty and his 
 wealth. Those years were now far away, but it seemed at 
 that moment to the hetman that he was living again in that 
 brilliant cavalier who bore the same name. 
 
 Prince Yanush grew vivacious, and in passing he touched 
 with his index finger the breast of his cousin. 
 
 " Light strikes from you as from the moon," said he. " Is 
 it not for Panna Billevich that you are so arrayed ? " 
 
 "The moon enters easily everywhere," answered Bo 
 guslav, boastingly. 
 
 
600 
 
 THE DELUGR. 
 
 And then he began to talk with Ganhoff, near whom he 
 halted, perhaps of purpose to exhibit himself the better, 
 for Ganhoff was a man marvellously ugly ; he had a face 
 dark and pitted with small-pox, a nose like the beak of a 
 hawk, and mu.-taches curled upward. He looked like the 
 spirit of darknt ss, but Boguslav near him like the spirit of 
 light. 
 
 The ladies entered, — Pani Korf and Olenka. Boguslav 
 cast a swift glance at Olenka, and bowed promptly to Pani 
 Korf ; he was just putting his fingers to his mouth, to send 
 in cavalier fashion a kiss to Panna Billevich, when he saw 
 her exquisite beauty, both proud and dignified. He changed 
 his tactics in an instant, caught his hat in his right hand, 
 and advancing toward the lady bowed so low that he al- 
 most bent in two ; the curls of his wig fell on both sides of 
 his shoulders, his sword took a position parallel with the 
 floor, and he remained thus, moving purposely his cap and 
 sweeping the floor in front of Olenka with the ostrich 
 feather, in sign of respect. A more courtly homage he 
 could not have given to the Queen of France. Panna 
 Billevich, who had learned of his coming, divined at once 
 who stood before her; therefore seizing her robe with 
 the tips of her fingers, she gave him in return a courtesy 
 equally profound.' 
 
 All wondered at the beauty and grace of manners of the 
 two, which was evident from the greeting itself, — grace 
 not over usual in Kyedani, for, as a Wallachian, Yanush's 
 princess was more in love with eastern splendor than 
 with courtliness, and Yanush's daughter was still a little 
 
 girl. 
 
 Boguslav now raised his head, shook the curls of his wig 
 over his shoulders, and striking his heels together with 
 force, moved quickly toward Olenka ; at the same time he 
 threw his hat to a page and gave her his hand. 
 
 " I do not believe my eyes, and see as it were in a dream 
 
 I see," said he, conducting her to the table ; 
 
 you 
 
 "but 
 have 
 
 what 
 
 tell me, beautiful goddess, by what miracle 
 
 descended from Olympus to Kyedani ? " 
 
 "Though simply a noble woman, not a goddess," an- 
 swered Olenka, "I am not so simple-minded as to take 
 the words of your highness as anything beyond courtesy." 
 
 " Though I tried to be politest of all, your glass would 
 tell more than I." 
 
 "It would not tell more, but more truly," answered 
 
 ^-^ 
 
THE DELUGB. 
 
 601 
 
 fcCle you have 
 
 Oleuka, pursing her mouth according to the fashion of the 
 time. 
 
 " Were there a mirror in the room, I would conduct you 
 to it straightway ; meanwhile look into my eyes, and you 
 will see if their admiration is not sincere." 
 
 Here Boguslav bent his head before Olenka; his eyes 
 gleamed large, black as velvet, sweet, piercing, and at the 
 same time burning. Under the influence of their fire the 
 maiden's face was covered with a purpte blush. She 
 dropped her glance and pushed away somewhat, for she 
 felt that with his arm Boguslav pressed lightly her arm 
 to his side. 
 
 So he came to the table. He sat near her, and it was 
 evident that in truth her beauty had made an uncommon im- 
 pression on him. He expected to find a woman of the 
 nobles, shapely as a deer, laughing and playful as a nut- 
 cracker, ruddy as a poppy-flower; but he found a proud 
 lady, in whose black brows unbending will was revealed, 
 in whose eyes were reason and dignity, in whose whole 
 face was the transparent repose of a child ; and at the same 
 time she -was so noble in bearing, so charming and wonder- 
 ful, that at any king's castle she might be the object of 
 homage and courtship from the first cavaliers of the 
 realm. 
 
 Her beauty aroused admiration and desire ; but at the 
 same time there was in it a majesty which curbed these, so 
 that despite himself Boguslav thought, " I pressed her arm 
 too early ; with such a one subtlety is needed, not haste ! " 
 
 Nevertheless he determined to possess her heart, and he 
 felt a wild delight at the thought that the moment would 
 come when the majesty of the maiden and that purest 
 beauty would yield to his love or his hatred. The threaten- 
 ing face of Kmita stood athwart these imaginings ; but to 
 that insolent man this was but an incentive the more. 
 Under the influence of these feelings he grew radiant; blood 
 began to play in him, as in an Oriental steed ; all his 
 faculties flashed up uncommonly, and light gleamed from 
 his whole form as from his diamonds. 
 
 Conversation at the table became general, or rather it 
 was turned into a universal chorus of praise and flattery of 
 Boguslav, which the brilliant cavalier heard with a smile, 
 but without overweening delight, since it was common and 
 of daily occurrence. They spoke first of his military deeds 
 and duels. The names of the conquered princes, margraves. 
 
 I 
 
 'I 
 
602 
 
 THE DKUJGK. 
 
 
 barons, streamed as if out of a hIoovo. Ho threw in oaro- 
 lessly from time to timo oiio more. Tho listonors were 
 astonished ; Prince Yanush Htroked his long mUHtaciies witii 
 delight, and at last Ganhoif said, — 
 
 " ICven if fortune and birth did not stand in my way, I 
 should not like to stand in the way of your hi hness, and 
 the only wonder to me is that men of such darii.', have been 
 found." 
 
 " Wliat is to bo done, (lanhoff ? There are men of iron 
 visage and wild-eat gtanee, whose appcaranue alone causes 
 terror; but God has denied me that power, — even a young 
 lady would not bo frightened at my face." 
 
 " Just as darkness is not afraid of \\ torch," said 
 Pani Korf, simpering and posing, " until tne torch burns 
 in it." 
 
 !<oguslav laughed, and Pani Korf talked on without 
 ceasing to pose^ — 
 
 " Duels concern soldiers more, but we ladies would be 
 glad to hear of your love Jiffairs, tidings of which have 
 come to us." 
 
 " Untrue ones, my lady benefactress, untrue, — they 
 have all merely grown on the road. Proposals were made 
 for me, of course. Her Grace, the Queen of France was 
 so kind — " 
 
 "With the Princess de Kohan," added Yanush. 
 
 " V/ith another too, — Do la Forse," added Hoguslav ; " but 
 even a king cannot command liis own ln»art to love, aiid we 
 do not nee«l, praise be to God, tf) seek wealth in France, hence 
 there could be no bread out of that flour. Graceful ladies 
 they were, 'tis true, and beautifid»boyond imagination; but 
 we iuive still more Ixmutiful, antl I need not go out of this 
 hall to find such." 
 
 Here he looked long at Olenka, who, feigning not to hear, 
 began to say something to the sword-bearer; and Pani Korl' 
 raised her voice again, — 
 
 "There is no lack here of beauties; still there are none 
 who in fortune and birth could be the equal of your 
 highness." 
 
 "Permit mo, my benefactress, to differ," responded 
 Boguslav, with aninuition ; " for first T do not think that a 
 Polish noble lady is inferior in any way to a Kohan or De la 
 B'orse ; second, it is not a novelty for the Radzivills to marry 
 a noble woman, since history gives many examples of that. 
 I assure you, my benefactress, that that noblo lady who 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 603 
 
 ed on without 
 
 Rhould become Badzivill would have the step and precedence 
 of princesses in Franco." 
 
 "An affable lord I" whispered the sword-bearer to 
 Oleuka. 
 
 "That is how I have always understood," continued 
 Hoguslav, " though more than once have 1 been ashamed of 
 Polish nobles, when I compare thera with those abroad; for 
 never would that have happened there which has happened 
 in this Commonwealth, — that all should desert their king, 
 nay, even mnn are ready to lay in wait for his life. A 
 French noble may . rmit the worst action, but he will not 
 betray his king — " 
 
 Those present began to look at one another and at the 
 prince with astonishment. Prince Yanush frowned and 
 ^rew stern ; but Olenka fixed her blue eyes on Boguslav's 
 face with an expression of admiration a'^d thankfulncs. 
 
 "Pardon, your highness," said Bo^uslav, turning to 
 Yanush, who was not able yet to rt?cover himself, " I know 
 that you could not act otherwise), for all Lithuania would 
 have perished if you had followed my advice ; but respect- 
 ing you as older, and loving you as a brother, I shall* not 
 cease to dispute with you touching Yan Kazimir. We are 
 among ourselves, I speak therefore what I think. Our 
 insufHciently lamented king, good, kind, pious, and doubly 
 dear to me, — I was the first of Poles to attend him when he 
 was freed from durance in France. I was almost a child at 
 the time, but all the more I shall never forget him ; and 
 gladly would I give my blood to protect him, at loast from 
 those who plot against his sacred person." 
 
 Though Yanush understood Boguslav's game now, still 
 it seemed to him too bold and too hazardous for such a 
 trifling object; therefore without hiding his displeasure he 
 said, — 
 
 " In God's name, of what designs against the safety of 
 our ex-king are you speaking ? Who cherishes them, where 
 (u)uld such a monster be found among the Polish people ? 
 True as life, such a thing has not happened in the Common- 
 wealth since the beginning of the world." 
 
 Boguslav hung his head. 
 
 " Not longer than a month ago," said he, with sadness in 
 his voice, " on the road between Podlyasye and Electoral 
 l^russia, when I was going to Tanrogi, there came to me a 
 noble of respectable family. That noble, not being aware 
 of my real love for our gracious king, and thinking that I, 
 
504 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 I 
 
 like others, was an enemy of his, promised for a considerable 
 reward to go to Silesia, carry off Yan Kazimir and deliver 
 him to the Swedes, either living or dead." 
 All were dumb with amazement. 
 
 " And when with anger and disgust I rejected such an 
 offer," said Boguslav, in conclusion, " that man with brazen 
 forehead said, ' I will go to Badzeyovski ; he will buy and 
 pay me gold by the pound.' " 
 
 " I am not a friend of the ex-king," said Yanush ; '' but if 
 the noble had made me a proposal like that, I should have 
 placed him by a wall, and in front of him six musketeers." 
 " At the first moment I wanted to do so, but did not," 
 answered Boguslav, "as the conversation was with four 
 eyes, and people might cry out against the violence a.nd 
 tyranny of the Radzivills. I frightened him, however, by 
 saying that Radzeyovski and the King of Sweden, even 
 Hmelnitski, wyuld put him to death for such a proposal ; 
 in one word, I brought that criminal so far that he 
 abandoned his plan." 
 
 " That was not right ; it was not proper to let him go 
 living, he deserved at least the impaling-stake," cried Korf. 
 Boguslav turned suddenly to Yanush. 
 « I cherish also the hope that punishment will not miss 
 him, and first I propose that he perish not by an ordinary 
 death ; but your highness alone is able to punish him, for 
 he is your attendant and your colonel." 
 
 "In God's name! my colonel? Who is he, — who? 
 Speak! 
 
 " His name is Kmita," said Boguslav. 
 " Amita ! " repeated all, with astonishment. 
 " That is not true ! " cried Panna Billevich at once, rising 
 from her chair, with flashing eyes and heaving breast. 
 
 Deep silence followed. Some had not recovered yet from 
 the fearful news given by Boguslav ; others were astonished 
 at the boldness of that lady who had dared to throw a 
 lie in the eyes of Prince Boguslav ; the sword-bearer began 
 to stutter, " Olenka ! Olenka ! " But Boguslav veiled his 
 face in sorrow, and said without anger, — 
 
 " If he is your relative or betrothed, I am grieved that I 
 mentioned this fact ; but cast him out of your heart, for he 
 is not worthy of you, lady." 
 
 She remained yet a moment in pain, flushed, and aston- 
 ished ; but by degrees her face became cool, until it was cold 
 and pale. She sank down in the chair, and said, — 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 605 
 
 ent will not miss 
 
 is he, — who ? 
 
 " Forgive me, your highness j I made an unseemly con- 
 tradiction. A'l is possible for that man." 
 
 " May God punish me if I feel aught save pity ! " answered 
 Boguslav, mildly. 
 
 " He was the betrothed of this lady," said Prince Yanush, 
 " and I myself made the match. He was a young man, hot- 
 headed ; he caused a world of turmoil. I saved him from 
 justice, for he was a good soldier. I saw that he was law- 
 less, and would be ; but that he, a noble, could think of 
 such infamy, I did not expect." 
 
 " He is an evil man ; that I knew long since," said Ganhoff . 
 
 " And why did you not forewarn me ? " inquired Yanush, 
 in a tone of reproach. 
 
 " I was afraid that your highness might suspect me of 
 envy, for he had everywhere the first step before me." 
 
 " Horrihile dictu et auditu (horrible in the speaking and 
 the hearing)," said Korf. 
 
 " Gracious gentlemen," exclaimed Boguslav, " let us give 
 peace to him. If it is grievous for you to hear of this, what 
 must it be for Panna Billevich ? " 
 
 "Your highness, be pleased not to consider me," said 
 Olenka ; " I can listen to everything now." . 
 
 The evening was drawing toward its close. Water was 
 given for the washing of fingers ; then Prince Yanush rose 
 first and gave his arm to Pani Korf, and Prince Boguslav 
 to Olenka. 
 
 " God has punished the traitor already," said he to her ; 
 " for whoso has lost you has lost heaven. It is less than 
 two hours since I first saw you, charming lady, and I should 
 be glad to see you forever, not in pain and in tears, but in 
 joy and in happiness." 
 
 " I thank your highness," answered Olenka. 
 
 After the departure of the ladies the men returned to the 
 table to seek consolation in cups, which went around fre- 
 quently. Prince Bop^slav drank deeply, for he was satis- 
 lied with himself. Prince Yanush conversed with the 
 sword-bearer of Rossyeni. 
 
 " I march to-morrow with the army for Podlyasye," said 
 he. " A Swedish garrison will come to Kyedani. God knows 
 when I shall return. You cannot stay here with the maiden ; 
 it would not be a fit place for her among soldiers. You will 
 Ijoth go with Prince Boguslav to Taurogi, where she may 
 stay with mv wife among her ladies in waiting." 
 
 " Your highness," answered the sword-bearer, " God has 
 
 
506 
 
 THE Dc^LUGE. 
 
 given us a corner of our own ; why should we go to strange 
 places ? It is a great kindness of your highness to think of 
 us : but not wishing to abuse favor, we prefer to return to 
 our own roof." 
 
 The prince was unable to explain to the sword-bearer all 
 the reasons for which he would not let Olenka out of his 
 hands at any price j but some of them he told with all the 
 rough outspokenness of a magnate. 
 
 " If vou wish to accept it as a favor, all the better, but I 
 will tell you that it is precaution as well. You will be a 
 hostage there; you will be responsible to. me for all the 
 Billeviches, who I know well do not rank themselves among 
 my friends, and are ready to raise Jmud in rebellion when 
 I am gone. Advise them to sit in peace, and do nothing 
 against the Swedes, for your head and that of your niece 
 will answer for their acts." 
 
 At this junc|;ure patience was evidently lacking to the 
 sword-bearer, for he answered quickly, — 
 
 " It would be idle for me to appeal to my rights as a noble. 
 Power is on the side of your highness, and it is all one to 
 me where I must sit in pilison ; I prefer even that place to 
 this." 
 
 " Enough ! " said the prince, threateningly. 
 
 " What is enough, is enough ! " answered the sword- 
 bearer. " God grant to this violence an end, and to justice 
 new power. Speaking briefly, do not threaten, your high- 
 ness, for I fear not." 
 
 Evidently Boguslav saw lightnings of anger gleaming on 
 the face of Yanush, for he approached quickly. 
 
 "What is the question?" asked he, standing between 
 them. 
 
 " I was telling the hetman," said the sword-bearer, with 
 irritation, " that I choose imprisonment in Taurogi rather 
 than in Kyedani." 
 
 " In Taurogi there is for you not a prison, but my house, 
 in which you will be as if at home. I know that the hetman 
 chooses to see in you a hostage ; I see only a dear guest." 
 
 " I thank your highness," answered the sword-bearer. 
 
 " And I thank you. Let us strike glasses and drink to- 
 gether, for they say that a libation must be made to friend- 
 ship, or it will wither at its birth." 
 
 So saying, Boguslav conducted the sword-bearer to the 
 table, and they fell to touching glasses and drinking to each 
 other often and frequently. An hour later the sword-bearer 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 007 
 
 lacking to the 
 
 turned with somewhat uncertain step toward his room, re- 
 peating in an undertone, — 
 
 " An amiable lord ! A worthy lord ! A more honest one 
 could not be found with a lantern, — gold, pure gold I I 
 would gladly shed my blood for him ! " 
 
 Meanwhile the cousins found themselves alone. They 
 had something yet to talk over, and besides, certain letters 
 came ; a page was sent to bring these from Ganhoff. 
 
 " Evidently," said Yanush, " there is not a word of truth 
 in what you reported of Kmita?" 
 
 "Evidently. You know best yourself. But, well? 
 Acknowledge, was not Mazarin right ? With one move to 
 take terrible vengeance on an enemy, and to make a breach 
 in that beautiful fortress, — well, who could do that ? This is 
 called intrigue worthy of the first court in the world 1 But 
 that Fanna Billevich is a pearl, and charming too, lordly 
 and distinguished as if of princely blood. I thought I should 
 spring from my skin." 
 
 " Remember that you have given your word, — remember 
 that he will ruin us if he publishes those letters." 
 
 " What brows ! What a queenly look, so that respect 
 seizes one I Whence is there such a girl, such well-nigh 
 royal majesty? I saw once in Antwerp, splendidly em- 
 broidered on Gobelin tapestry Diana hunting the curious 
 Actseon with dogs. She was like this one as cup is like cup." 
 
 " Look out that Kmita does not publish the letters, for 
 then the dogs would gnaw us to death." 
 
 " Not true ! I will turn Kmita into an Actseon, and hunt 
 him to death. I have struck him down on two fields, and it 
 will come to battle between us yet." 
 
 Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of 
 a page with a letter. The voevoda of Vilna took the letter 
 in his hand and made the sign of the cross. He did that 
 always to guard against evil tidings ; then, instead of 
 opening, he began to examine it carefully. All at once his 
 countenance changed. 
 
 " Sapyeha's arms are on the seal ! " exclaimed he } " it is 
 from the voevoda of Vityebsk." 
 
 " Open quickly I " said Boguslav. 
 
 The hetman opened and began to read, interrupting him- 
 self from time to time with exclamations. 
 
 " He is marching on Podlyasye ! He asks if T have no 
 messages for Tykotsin ! An insult to me ! Still worse ; for 
 listen to what he writes further, — 
 
 II ii 
 
508 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 *< ' Do you wish civil war, your highness? do you wish to sink one 
 naore sword in the l>osom of the mother? If you do, come to Pod- 
 iyasye. I am waiting for you, and I trust that God will punish 
 your pride with my hands. But if you have pity on the country, 
 if conscience stirs within you, if you value your deeds of past times 
 and you wish to make reparation, the field is open before you. In 
 (itead of beginning a civil war, summon the general militia, raise 
 the peasants, and strike the Swedes while Pontus, feeling secure, sus- 
 pects nothing and is exercising no vigilance. From Hovanski you 
 will have no hindrance, for reports come to me from Moscow that 
 they are thinking there of an expedition against Livonia, though 
 they keep that a secret. Besides, if Hovanski wished to undertake 
 anything I hold him in check, and if I could have sincere trust 
 I would certainly help you with all my forces to save the country. 
 All depends on you, for there is time yet to turn from the road and 
 efface your faults. Then it will appear clearly that you did hot 
 accept Swedish protection for personal purposes, but to avert final de- 
 feat from Lithuania. May God thus inspire you ; for this I implore 
 him daily, though your highness is pleased to accuse me of envy. 
 
 " ' P. S. I have heard that the siege of Nyesvyej is raised, and 
 that Prince Michael will join us as soon as he repairs his losses. 
 See, your highness, how nobly your family act, ana consider their 
 example ; in every case remember that you have now a boat and 
 a carriage.* ^ 
 
 " Have you heard ? " asked Prince Yanush, when he had 
 finished reading. 
 
 " I have heard — and what ? " answered Boguslav, looking 
 quickly at his cousin. 
 
 " It would be necessary to abjure all, leave all, tear down 
 our work with our own hands." 
 
 "Break with the powerful Karl Gustav, and seize the 
 exiled Yan Kazimir by the feet, IJhat he might deign to for- 
 give and receive us back to his service, and also implore 
 Sapyeha's intercession." 
 
 Yanush's face was filled with blood. 
 
 " Have you considered how he writes to me : < Correct 
 yourself, and I will forgive you,' as a lord to an underling." 
 
 " He would write differently if six thousand sabres were 
 hanging over his neck." 
 
 " Still — " Here Prince Yanush fell to thinking gloomily 
 
 « Still, what ? " 
 
 " Perhaps for the country it would be salvation to do as 
 Sapyeha advises." 
 
 « 
 
 ^ " A boat and a carriage " means you can go by either, — that is, by land 
 or water ; you have your choice. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 509 
 
 " But for you, — for me, for the Radzivills ? " 
 
 Yanush made no answer ; he dropped his head on his 
 fists and thought. 
 
 " Let it be so ! " said he, at last ; " let it be accomplished ! " 
 
 " What have you decided ? " 
 
 " To-morrow I march on Podlyasye, and in a week I shall 
 strike on Sapyeha." 
 
 " You are a Radzivill 1 " cried Boguslav. And they 
 grasped each other's hands. 
 
 After a while Boguslav went to rest. Yanush remained 
 alone. Once, and a second time he passed through the room 
 with heavy steps. At last he clapped his hands. A page en- 
 tered the room. 
 
 " Let the astrologer come in an hour to me with a ready 
 figure," said he. 
 
 The page went out, and the prince began again to walk 
 and repeat his Calvinistic prayers. After that he sang a 
 psalm in an undertone, stopping frequently, for his breath 
 failed him, and looking from time to time through the win- 
 dow at the stars twinkling in the sky. 
 
 By degrees the lights were quenched in the castle ; but 
 besides the astrologer and the prince one other person was 
 watching in a room, and that was Olenka Billevich. 
 
 Kneeling before her bed, she clasped both hands over her 
 head, and whispered with closed eyes, — 
 
 " Have mercy on us ! Have mercy on us I " 
 
 The first time since Kmita's departure she would not, 
 she could not pray for him. 
 
 , — that is, by laml 
 
MO 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Kmita had, it is true, Had/ivill's passes to all the Swe- 
 dish captains, commandants, ami governors, to give him a 
 free road everywhere, and make no opposition, but he did 
 not dare to use those passes; tor ho expeoted that Prince 
 Boguslav, immediately after Vilvishki, had hurried off 
 messengers in every direction with information to the 
 Swedes of what had happened, and with an order to seize 
 him. For this reason Pan Andrei had assumed a strangtt 
 name, and also changed his rank. Avoiding therefore 
 Lomja and Ostrolenko, to which the first warning might 
 have come, he directed his horses and his company to 
 Piasnysh, whence he wished to go through Piiltusk to 
 Warsaw. 
 
 But before he reached Pjasnysh he made a bend on the 
 Prussian boundary through Vansosh, Kolno, and Myshy- 
 nyets, because the Kyemliches, knowing those wildernesses 
 well, were acquainted with the forest trails, and besides 
 had their " cronies " among the Bark-shoes,* from whom 
 they might expect aid in case of emergency. 
 
 The country at the boundary was occupied for the most 
 part by the Swedes, who limited themselves, however, to 
 occupying the most considerable towns, going not too boldly 
 into the slumbering and fathomless forests inhabited by 
 armed men, — hunters who never left the wilderness, and 
 were still so wild that just a year before, the Queen, Marya 
 Ludvika, had given a command to build a chapel in Myshy- 
 nyets and settle there Jesuits, who were to teach religion 
 and soften the manners of those men of the wilderness. 
 
 " The longer we do not meet the Swedes," said old 
 Kyemlich, "the better for us." 
 
 " We must meet them at last," answered Pan Andrei. 
 
 " If a man meets them in a large town they are often 
 afraid to do him injustice ; for in a town there is always 
 some government and some higher ccmmandant to whom 
 
 ^ So called because they wore shoes made f roi i the inner bark of bass- 
 wood or linden trees. 
 
THE DELUQE. 
 
 511 
 
 ; to all the Swe- 
 s, to give him a 
 ition, but he did 
 •ted that Prince, 
 had hurried oft' 
 Drniation to the 
 m order to seize 
 jsuined a strangt! 
 oiding therefore 
 b warning might 
 his company to 
 )ugh Pultusk to 
 
 ie a bend on the 
 Ino, and Myshy- 
 lose wildernesses 
 lils, and besides 
 )es,* from whom 
 
 ly- 
 
 led for the most 
 
 res, however, to 
 
 ig not too boldly 
 
 |ts inhabited by 
 
 wilderness, and 
 ^6 Queen, Marya 
 hapel in Myshy- 
 [o teach religion 
 
 wilderness. 
 
 jdes," said old 
 
 i*an Andrei, 
 they are often 
 |f;here^is always 
 idant to whom 
 
 linner bark of bass- 
 
 it is possible to make complaint. I have always asked 
 people about this, and I know that there are commands 
 from the King of Sweden forbidding violence and extor- 
 tion. But the smaller parties sent far av/ay from the eyes 
 of commandants have no regard for orders, and plunder 
 l>eaceful people." 
 
 They passed on then through the forests, meeting Swedes 
 nowhere, spending the nights with pitch-makers in forest 
 settlements. The greatest variety of tales concerning the 
 invasion were current among the Bark-shoes, though al- 
 most non<^ of t.hem had known the Swedes hitherto. It 
 was said that 3. people liad come irom over the sea who did 
 not understand huiaan speech, who did not believe in Christ 
 the Lord, the Most Holy Lady, or the Saints, and that they 
 were wonderfully greedy. Some told of the uncommon 
 desire of those enemies for cattle, skins, nuts, mead, and 
 dried mushrooms, which if refused, they burned the woods 
 straightway. Others insisted that, on the contrary, they 
 were a people of were-wolves, living on human flesh, and 
 feeding specially on the flesh of young girls. 
 
 Under the innuence of those terrible tidings, which flew 
 into the remotest depths of the wilderness, the Bark-shoes 
 began to watch and to search through the forests. Those 
 who were making potash and pitch ; those who worked at 
 gathering hops; wood-cutters and fishermen, who had 
 their wicker nets fixed in the reedy banks of the Rosoga; 
 trappers and snarers, bee-keepers and beaver-hunters, as- 
 sembled at the most considerable settlements, listening to 
 tales, communicating news, and counselling how to drive 
 out the enemy in case they appeared in the wilderness. 
 
 Kmita, going with his party, met more than once greater 
 or smaller bands of these men, dressed in hemp shirts, and 
 skins of wolves, foxes, or bears. More than once he was 
 stopped at narrow places, and by inquiries, — 
 
 " Who art thou ? A Swede ? " 
 
 " No I " answered Pan Andrei. 
 
 " God guard thee ! " 
 
 Kmita looked with curiosity at those men who lived al- 
 ways in the gloom of forests, and whose faces the open sun 
 had never burned ; he wondered at their stature, cheir bold- 
 ness of look, the sincerity of their speech, and their daring, 
 not at all peasant-like. 
 
 The Kyemliches, who knew them, assured Pan Andrei 
 that there were no better shots than these men in tho whole 
 
512 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Commonwealth. When he discovered that they all had 
 good German muskets bought in Prussia for skins, he 
 asked them to show their skill in shooting, was astonished 
 at sight of it, and thought, "Should I need to collect a 
 party, I will come here." 
 
 At Myshynyets itself he found a great assembly. More 
 than a hundred marksmen held constant watch at the mis- 
 sion, for it was feared that the Swedes would show them- 
 selves there first, especially because the starosta of Ostro- 
 lenko had commanded them to cut out a road in the forest 
 so that the priests settled at the mission might have " ac- 
 cess to the world." 
 
 The hop-raisers, who took their produce to Pjasnysh to 
 ihe celebrated breweries there, and hence passed for men of 
 experience, related that Lomja, Ostrolenko, and Pjasnysh 
 were swarming with Swedes, who were managing and col- 
 lecting taxes th^ere as if at home. 
 
 Kmita tried to persuade the Bark-shoes not to wait for 
 the Swedes in the wilderness, but to strike on them at Os- 
 trolenko, and begin war ; he offered to command them him- 
 self. He found a great willingness among them ; but two 
 priests led them away from this mad enterprise, telling 
 them to wait till the whole country moved, and not draw 
 on themselves the terrible vengeance of the enemy by pre- 
 mature attack. 
 
 Pan Andrei departed, but regretted his lost opportunity. 
 The only consolation remaining was this, — he had con- 
 vinced himself that if powder were to explode anywhere, 
 neither the Commonwealth nor the king would lack defend- 
 ers in those parts. 
 
 " This being the case," thought he, " it is possible to be- 
 gin in anotner place." 
 
 His fiery nature was restive for quick action, but judg- 
 ment said: "The Bark-shoes alone cannot conquer the 
 Swedes. You will go through a part of +^he country ; you 
 will look around, examine, and then obey the king's order." 
 
 He travelled on therefore. He went out of the deep 
 wilderness to the forest borders, to a neighborhood more 
 thickly settled ; he saw an uncommon movement in all the 
 villages. The roads were crowded with nobles going in 
 wagons, carriages, and carts, of various kinds, or on horse- 
 back. All were hastening to *:he nearest towns and vil- 
 lages to give Swedish commanders an oath of loyalty to the 
 new king. In return they received certificates which were 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 513 
 
 ;hey all had 
 
 )r skins, he 
 
 3 astonished 
 
 to collect a 
 
 nably. More 
 1 at the mis- 
 . show them- 
 ista of Ostro- 
 in the forest 
 ;ht have " ac- 
 
 Pjasnysh to 
 3d for men of 
 md Pjasnysh 
 ^ing and col- 
 
 >t to wait for 
 a. them at Os- 
 ,nd them him- 
 lem; but two 
 rprise, telling 
 md not draw 
 nemy by pre- 
 
 opportunity. 
 -he had con- 
 ic anywhere, 
 
 lack defend- 
 
 )ssible to be- 
 
 )n, but judg- 
 
 I conquer the 
 
 [ountry; you 
 
 pg's order." 
 
 of the deep 
 
 )rhood more 
 
 Intin all the 
 
 les going in 
 
 ' or on horse- 
 
 irns and vil- 
 
 pyalty to the 
 
 which were 
 
 to preserve their persons and property. In the capitals of 
 provinces and districts " capitulations " were published 
 securing freedom of confession and privileges pertaining to 
 the order of nobles. 
 
 The nobles went with the requisite oath, not only will- 
 ingly, but in haste ; for various punishments threatened the 
 stubborn, and especially confiscation and robbery. It was 
 said that here and there the Swedes had already begun, as 
 in Great Poland, to thumb-screw suspected men. It was re- 
 peated also, with alarm, that they were casting suspicion on 
 the wealthiest on purpose to rob them. 
 
 In view of all this, it was unsafe to remain in the coun- 
 try ; the wealthier therefore hurried to the towns to Kve 
 under the immediate eye of Swedish commandants, so as to 
 avoid suspicion of intrigue against the King of Sweden. 
 
 Pan Andrei bent his ear carefully to what nobles were 
 saying, and though they did not wish greatly to speak with 
 him, since he was a poor fellow, he discovered this much, 
 that near neighbors, acquaintances, evon friends, did not 
 speak among themselves with sincerity touching the 
 Swedes or the new government. It is true they complained 
 loudly of the " requisitions ; " and in fact there was reason, 
 for to each village, each hamlet, came letters from com- 
 mandants with orders to furnish great quantities of grain, 
 bread, salt, cattle, money ; and frequently these orders ex- 
 ceeded the possible, especially because when supplies of one 
 kind were exhausted, others were demanded ; whoso did not 
 
 pay, 
 
 to him was sent an execution in thrice the amount. 
 
 But the old days had gone ! Each man extricated him- 
 self as best he was able, took out of his own mouth, gave, 
 paid ; complaining, groaning, and thinking in his soul that 
 long ago it was different. But they comforted themselves 
 for the time, saying that when the war was over the 
 requisitions would cease. The Swedes promised the same, 
 saying, 'Only let the king gain the whole country, he will 
 begin to govern at once like a father." 
 
 For the nobles who had given up their own king and 
 country ; who before, and not long before, had called the 
 kindly Yan Kazimir a tyrant, suspecting him of striving for 
 absolute pov/er ; who opposed him in everything, protesting 
 in provincial and national diets, and in their hunger for 
 novelty and change went so far that they recognized, almost 
 without opposition, an invader as lord, so as to have some 
 change, — it would be a shame then even to compla'.i. 
 VOL. I. — 33 
 
 i 
 
 III 
 
 r 
 
614 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Karl Gustav had freed them from the tyrant, they hr^d 
 abandoned of their own will their lawful king ; but they 
 had the change so greatly desired. 
 
 Therefore the most intimate did not sneak sincerely 
 among themselves touching what they th ^^'ht of that 
 change, inclining their ears willingly to those who asserted 
 that the attacks, requisitions, robberies, and ooutiscations 
 were, of course burdens, but only temporary ones, which 
 would cease as soon as Karl Gustav was firm on the 
 throne. 
 
 " This is grievous, brother, grievous," said one noble to 
 another at times, "but still we must be thankful for the 
 new ruler. He is a great potentate and warrior ; he will 
 conquer the Tartars, restrain the Turks, drive the North- 
 erners away from the boundaries ; and we together with 
 Sweden will flourish." 
 
 " Even if we were not glad," answered another, " what is 
 to be done against such power ? We cannot fly to the sun 
 on a spade." 
 
 At times, too, they referred to the fresh oath. Kmita 
 was enraged listening to such talks and discussions ; and 
 once when a certain noble said in his presence in an inn 
 that a man must be faithful to him to whom he had taken 
 oath. Pan Andrei shouted out to him, — 
 
 " You must have two mouths, — one for true and the other 
 for false oaths, for you have sworn to Yan Kazimir ! " 
 
 There were many other nobles present, for this hap- 
 pened not far from Pjasnysh. Hearing these words, all 
 started. On some faces wonder was visible at the boldness 
 of Kmita; others flushed. At last the most important man 
 said, — 
 
 " No one here has broken his oath to the former king. 
 He broke it himself; for he left the country, not watching 
 over its defence." 
 
 "Would you. were killed!" cried Kmita. "But King 
 Lokyetek, — how many times was he forced to leave the 
 country, and still he returned, for the fear of God was yet 
 in men's hearts. It was not Yan Kazimir who deserted, 
 but those who sold him and who now calumniate him, 
 so as to palliate their own sins before God and the 
 
 world.!" 
 
 " You speak too boldly, young man ! Whence come you 
 who wish to teanh us people of this place the fear of God ? 
 See to it that the Swedes do not overhear you." 
 
THE DELUGE, 
 
 615 
 
 "If you are curious, T will tell you whence I am. I am 
 from Electoral Prussia, and belong to the elector. But 
 being of Sarmatian blood, I feel a good will toward the 
 country, and am ashamed of the indifference of this 
 people." 
 
 Here the nobles, forgetting their anger, surrounded him 
 and began to inquire hurriedly and with curiosity, — 
 
 " You are from Electoral Prussia ? But tell what you 
 know ! What is the elector doing there ? Does he think 
 of rescuing us from oppression ? " 
 
 " Prom what oppression ? You are glad of the new ruler, 
 so do not talk of oppression. As you have made your bed, 
 so you must sleep on it."* 
 
 " We are gUid, for we cannot help it. They stand with 
 swords over our necks. But speak out, as if we were not 
 glad." 
 
 " Give him something to drink, let his tongue be 
 loosened ! Speak boldly, there are no traitors here among 
 
 » 
 
 us. 
 
 " You are all traitors ! " roared Pan Andrei, " and I don't 
 wish to drink with you ; you are servants of the Swedes." 
 
 Then he went out of the room, slamming the door, and 
 they remained in shame and amazement; no man seized his 
 sabre, no man moved after Kmita to avenge the insult. 
 
 But he went directly to Pryasnysh. A few furlongs 
 before the place Swedish patrols took him and led him 
 before the commandant. There were only six men in the 
 patrol, and an under-ofRcer was the seventh ; therefore 
 Soroka and the two Kyemliches began to look at them 
 hungrily, like wolves at sheep, and asked Kmita with their 
 eyes, if he would not give order to. surround them. 
 
 Pan Andrei also felt no small temptation, especially since 
 the Vengyerka flowed near, between banks, overgrown with 
 reeds ; but he restrained himself, and let the party be taken 
 quietly to the commandant. 
 
 There he told the commandant who he was, — that he had 
 come from the elector's country, and that he went every 
 year with horses to Sobota. The Kyemliches too had 
 certificates with which they provided themselves in Leng, 
 for the place was well known to them ; therefore the 
 commandant, who was himself a Prussian German, made 
 no difficulty, only inquired carefully what kind of horses 
 they were driving and wished to see them. 
 
 When Kraita's attendants drove the beasts up, in 
 
 u 
 
 I- 
 
 I! I 
 
516 
 
 THE 1>ELUGE. 
 
 accordance with the commandant's wish, he looked at them 
 carefully and said, — ' ^ 
 
 "I will buy these. From another I would have taken 
 them without pay ; but since you are from Prussia, I will 
 not harm you." 
 
 Kmita seemed somewhat confused when it came to sell- 
 ing, for by this the reason for going farther was lost, and 
 he would have to go back to Prussia. He asked therefore 
 a price so high that it was almost twice the real value of 
 the horses. Beyond expectation the officer was neither 
 angry, nor did he haggle about the price. 
 
 " Agreed ! " said he. " Drive the horses into the shed, 
 and 1 will bring you the pay at once." 
 
 I'he Kyemliches were glad in their hearts, but Pan 
 Andrei fell into anger and began to curse. Still there was 
 no way but to drive in the horses. If they refused, they 
 would be suspeqted at once of trading only in appearance. 
 
 Meanwhile the officer came back, and gave Kmita a piece 
 of paper with writing. 
 
 " What is this ? " asked Pan Andrei. 
 
 " Money or the same as money, — an order." 
 
 " And where will they pay me ? " 
 
 " At headquarters ! " 
 
 " Where are headquarters ? " 
 
 " In Warsaw," said the officer, laughing maliciously. 
 
 " We sell only for ready money." 
 
 " How 's that, what 's that, oh, gates of heaven ? " began 
 old Kyemlich, groaning. 
 
 Kmita turned, and looking at him threateningly, said. — 
 
 " For me the word of the conjmandant is the same as 
 ready money. I will go willingly to Warsaw, for there I 
 can buy honest goods from the Armenians, for which I shall 
 be well paid in Prussia." 
 
 Then, when the officer walked away, Pan Andrei said, to 
 comfort Kyemlich, — 
 
 " Quiet, you rogue ! These orders are the best passes ; 
 we can go to Cracow with our complaints, for they will not 
 pay us. It is easier to press cheese out of a stone than 
 money out of the Swedes. But this is just playing into my 
 hand. This breeches fellow thinks that he has tricked me, but 
 he knows not what service he has rendered. I '11 pay you out 
 of my own pocket for the horses ; you will be at no loss." 
 
 The old man recovered himself, and it was only from 
 habit that he did not cease yet for a while to complain, — 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 617 
 
 :j: 
 
 " They have plundered us, brought, us to poverty ! " 
 
 But Pan Andrei was glad to find the road open before 
 him, for he foresaw that the Swedes would not pay for the 
 horses in Warsaw^ and in all likelihood they would pay no- 
 where, — hence he would be able to go on continually as it 
 were seeking for justice, even to the Swedish king, who was 
 at Cracow occupied with the siege of the ancient capital. 
 
 Meanwhile Kmita resolved to pass the night in Pjasnysh 
 to give his horses rest, and without changing his assumed 
 name to throw aside his exterior of a i;jor noble. Ho saw 
 that all despised a poor horse-dealer, that any one might 
 attack him more readily and have less fear to answer for 
 injustice to an insigniiicant man. It was more difficult in 
 that dress to have approach to important nobles, and there- 
 fore more difficult to discover what each one was thinking. 
 
 He procured therefore clothing answeting to his station 
 and his birth, and Avent to an inn so as to talk with his 
 brother nobles. But he wa not rejoiced at what he heard. 
 In the taverns and public houses the nobles drank to the 
 health of the King of Sweden, and to the success of the pro- 
 tector, struck glasses with the Swedish officers, laughed at 
 the jokes which these officers permitted themselves to make 
 at the expense of Yan Kazimir and Charnyetski. 
 
 Fear for their own lives and property had debased people 
 to such a degree that they were affable to the invaders, and 
 hurried to keep up their good humor. Still even that de- 
 basement had its limits. The nobles allowed themselves, 
 their king, the hetmans, and Pan Charnyetski to be ridi- 
 culed, but not their religion ; and when a certain Swedish 
 captain declared that the Lutheran faith was as good as t' e 
 Catholic, Pan Grabkovski, sitting near him, not being able 
 to endure that blasphemy, struck him on the temple with a 
 hatchet, and taking advantage of the uproar, slipped out of 
 the public house and vanished in the crowd. 
 
 They fell to pursuing him, but news came which turned 
 attention in another direction. Couriers arrived with 
 news that Cracow had surrendered, that Pan Charnyetski 
 was i.i captivity, and that the last barriei to Swedish 
 (dominion was swept away. 
 
 The nobles were dumb at the first moment, but the Swedes 
 l)egan to rejoice r.nd cry " Vivat." In the church of the 
 Holy Ghost, in the church of the Bernardines, and in the 
 cloister of Bernardino nuns, recently erected by Pani Mus- 
 kovski, it was ordered to ring the bells. The infantry and 
 
 
 If 
 
518 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 cavalry came out on the square, from the breweries and 
 cloth-sheariujjf mills, in battle-array, and began to fire from 
 cannons and muskets. Then they rolled out barrels of go- 
 railka, mead, and beer for the army and the citizens ; they 
 burned pitch-barrels and feasted till late at night. The 
 Swedes dragged out the inhabitants from the houses to 
 dance with them, to rejoice and frolic ; and together with 
 throngs of soldiers straggled along nobles who drank with 
 the cavalry, and wtu-e forced to feign joy at the fall of 
 Cracow and the defeat of Charnyetski. 
 
 Disgust carried away Kmita, and ho took refuge early in 
 his quarters outside the town, but he could not sleep. A 
 fever tormented him, and doubts besieged his soul. Had he 
 not turned from the road too late, when the whole country 
 was in the hands of the Swedes ? It came into his head 
 that all was lost no'w, and the Commonwealth would never 
 rise from its falU 
 
 " This is not a mere unlucky war," thought he, " which 
 may end with the loss of some province ; this is accom- 
 plished ruin ! This means that the whole Commonwealth be- 
 comes a Swedish province. We have caused this ourselves, 
 and I more than others." 
 
 This thought burned him, and conscience gnawed. Sleep 
 fled from him. He knew not what to do, — to travel far- 
 ther, remain in the place, or return. Even if he collected 
 a party and harried the Swedes, they would hunt him as a 
 l)andit, and not treat him as a soldier. Besides, he is in a 
 strange region, where no one knows who he is. Who will 
 join. him ? Fearless men rallied to him in Lithuania, where 
 he, the most famous, called them together ; but here, even 
 if some had heard of Kmita, they held him a traitor and a 
 friend of the Swedes, but surely no one had ever heard of 
 3^abinich. 
 
 All is useless ! It is useless to go to the king, for it is 
 too late ; it is useless to go to Podlyasye, for the Confed- 
 erates think him a traitor; it is useless to go to Lithuania, 
 for there the Radzivills own all ; it is useless to stay where 
 he is, for there he has nothing to do. The best would be 
 to drive out the soul, and not look on this world, but flee 
 from remorse. 
 
 But will it be better in that world for those who having 
 sinned their fill in this life, have not effaced their sins in 
 any way, and will stand before judgment beneath the whole 
 weight of these sins ? Kmita struggled in his bed, as if 
 
veries and 
 o fire from 
 rels of go- 
 zens; thfiy 
 ight. Tlie 
 houses to 
 rether with 
 drank witli 
 the fall of 
 
 ige early in 
 b sleep. A 
 il. Had he 
 ole country 
 ;o his head 
 rould never 
 
 he, "which 
 a is accom- 
 )nwealth. be- 
 is ourselves, 
 
 wred. Sleep 
 travel far- 
 le collected 
 nt him as a 
 he is in a 
 Who will 
 ania, where 
 here, even 
 aitor and a 
 er heard of 
 
 Lg, for it is 
 
 the Confed- 
 
 Lithuania, 
 
 |stay where 
 
 would be 
 
 |d, but flee 
 
 /ho having 
 
 leir sins in 
 
 the whole 
 
 bed, as if 
 
 THE DELIJGE. 
 
 619 
 
 lying on a bod of torture. Such unendurable torments he 
 had not passed through, oven in the forest cabin of the 
 KyemlichuH. 
 
 He felt strong, health^/, enterprising, — the soul in him 
 was rushing out to begni sonuithiiig, to do something, — 
 jind here every road was blocked ; even knock the head 
 against a wall, — there is no issue, no salvation, no hope. 
 
 After lu) had tossed during the night on his bed, he 
 sprang up before daybreak, roused his men, and rode on. 
 They went toward Warsaw, but he knew not himself 
 wherefore or why. He would hav(5 escaped to the Saitch 
 in despair, if times had not changed, and if Hmelnitski, to- 
 gether with Buturlin, had not just overborne the grand 
 hetman of the kingdom, at Gro(lek, carrying at the same 
 time fire and sword through the southwestern regions of 
 the Commonwealth, and sending predatory bands as far 
 as Lublin. 
 
 Alo"«j the roads to Pultusk, Pan Andrei met at all points 
 Swedish parties, escorting wagons with provisions, grain, 
 bread, beer, and herds of every kind of cattle. With the 
 herds and wagons went crowds of jjcasants, small nobles, 
 weeping and groaning, for they wore dragged away num- 
 bers of miles with the wagons. Happy the man who was 
 allowed to return home with his wagon ; and this did not 
 happen in every case, for after they had brought the sui> 
 l)lios peasants and petty nobles were forced to labor at 
 repairing castles, building sheds and magazines. 
 
 Kmita saw also that in the neighborhood of Pultusk the 
 Swedes acted more harshly with the people than in Pjas- 
 nysh ; and not being able to understand the cause, he in- 
 quired about it of the nobles whom he met on the road. 
 
 " The nearer you go to Warsaw," answered one of the 
 travellers, " the harsher you will find the oppressors. 
 Where they have just come and are not secure, they are 
 more kindly, publish the ccjmmands of the king against 
 oppression, and promulgate the capitulations ; but where 
 they feel safe, and have occupied castles in the neighbor- 
 hood, they break all promises, have no consideration, 
 commit injustice, plunder, rob, raise their hands against 
 churches, the clergy, and sacred nuns. It is nothing here 
 yet, but to describe what is going on in Great Poland words 
 fail in the mouths of men." 
 
 Here the noble began to describe what was taking place in 
 Great Poland, — what extortions, violence, and murders the 
 
 't' -M 
 
 if I 
 '.at- 
 
 IE 
 
 m 
 
620 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 savage enemy committed ; how men were thumbscrewed and 
 tortured to discover money ; how the Provincial, Father 
 Branetski, wais killed in Poznan itself; and peasants were 
 tortured so fearfully that the hair stood on one's head at 
 the mere thought of it. 
 
 " It will come to this everywhere," said the noble ; " it is 
 the punishment of Ood. The last judgment is near. Worse 
 and worse ev '^ iay, — and salvation from no point." 
 
 " It is a ma . 'a « -e," said Kmita, " for I am not of these 
 parts and knov ot ac ./ neople feel here, that you, gvacioas 
 gentlemen, being noble.: ' id knightly persons, endure these 
 oppressions in patience." 
 
 " With what can we rise up ? " answered the noble. " In 
 their hands are the castles, fortresses, cannon, powder, mus- 
 kets ; they have taken from us even fowling-pieces. There 
 was still some hope in Charnyetski ; but since he is in prison, 
 and the king in Silesia, who will think of resistance ? -There 
 are hands, but nbthing in them, and there is no head." 
 
 " And there is no hope," added Kmita, in a hollow voice. 
 
 Here they dropped the conversation, for a Swedish divi- 
 sion came up convoying wagons, small nobles, and a "requisi- 
 tion." It was a wonderful spectacle. Sitting on horses as 
 fat as bullocks, mustached and bearded troopers rode on in a 
 cloud of dust, with their right hands on their hips, with their 
 hats on the sides of their heads, with tens of geese and hens 
 hanging at their saddles. Looking at their warlike and 
 insolent faces, it was easy to see that they felt like lords, 
 gladsome and safe. But the brotherhood of petty nobles 
 walked at the side of the wagons, not only barefooted, but 
 with heads drooping on their bosoms, abused, troubled, fre- 
 quently urged forward with whipe. 
 
 On seeing this, Kmita's lips quivered as in a fever, and he 
 fell to repeating to the noble near whom he was riding, — 
 
 " Oh, my hands are itching, my hands are itching, my 
 hands, are itching ! " 
 
 " Quiet, in the name of the Merciful God ! you will ruin 
 yourself, me, and my little children." 
 
 More than once, however, Pan Andrei had before him 
 sights still more marvellous. Behold at times, among 
 parties of horsemen, he saw marching groups, larger or 
 smaller, of Polish nobles, wllh armed attendants ; these 
 nobles were joyous, singing son^ , drunk, and with Swedes 
 and Germans on the footing of " lord brother." 
 
 " How is this ? " asked Kmita, " They are persecuting 
 
THE DELItOIi. 
 
 621 
 
 8ome nobles and crushing them, while with others they 
 enter into friendship. It must be that those citizens 
 whom I see among the soldiers are fanatical traitors ? " 
 
 "Not merely fanatical traitors, but worse, for they are 
 heretics," answered the noble. " They are more grievous 
 to us Catholics than the Swedes ; they are the men who 
 plunder most, burn houses, carry off maidens, commit 
 private offences. The whole country is in alarm from them, 
 for everything drops from these men altogether without 
 punishment, and it is easier to get justice from Swedish 
 commanders against a Swede, than against one of our o' i 
 heretics. Every commandant, if you utter a word, w '1 
 answer at once, * I have no right to touch him, for he is not 
 my man ; go to your own tribunals.' And what tribunals 
 are there here now, and what execution of law when 
 everything is in Swedish hands? Where the Swede cd.i- 
 not go the heretics will take him, and they are the men 
 chiefly who incite the Swedes against churches and c ..rgy. 
 This is the way in which they punish the country, oui 
 mother, for having given them refuge here and freedom 
 for their blasphemous faith when they were persecuted 
 in other Christian lands justly, for their intrigues and 
 abominations." 
 
 The noble stopped and looked with alarm at Kmita, — 
 
 " But you say that you are from Electoral Prussia, so you 
 may be a Lutheran ? " 
 
 " God save me from that," answered Pan Andrei. " I am 
 from Prussia, but of a family Catholic for ages, for we went 
 from Lithuania to Prussia." 
 
 " Then praise to the Most High, for I was frightened. 
 My dear sir, as to Lithuania there is no lack of dissidents 
 there ; and they have a powerful chief in Kadzivill, who 
 has turned out so great a traitor that he can come into 
 comparison with Kadzeyovski alone." 
 
 " May God grant the devils to pull the soul out through 
 his throat before the New Year ! " exclaimed Kmita, with 
 venom. 
 
 " Amen ! " answered the noble, " and also the souls of his 
 servants, his assistants, his executioners, of whom tidings 
 have come even to us, and without whom he would not 
 have dared to bring destruction on this country." 
 
 Kmita grew pale and said not a word. He did not ask 
 even — he did not dare to ask — of what assistants, 
 servants, and executioners that noble was speaking. 
 
' 
 
 622 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Travelling slowly, thoy came to Piiltiisk late in the 
 evening; there they called Kniita to the bishop's palace 
 or castle to give answer to the commandant. 
 
 " I am furnishing horses to the army of his Swedish 
 Grace," said Tan Andrei, " and 1 have orders with which 
 I am going to Warsaw for money." 
 
 Colonel Israel (such was the name of the commandant) 
 smiled under his mustaches and said, — 
 
 " Oh, make haste, make haste, and take a wagon for the 
 return, so as to have something to carry that money in I " 
 
 " I thank you for the counsel," answered Pan Andrei. 
 " I understand that you are jeering at me ; but I will go for 
 my own, even if I have to go to his grace the king ! " 
 
 " Go ! don't give away your own ; a very nice sum belongs 
 to you." 
 
 "The hour will come when you'll pay me," retorted 
 Kmita, going out. 
 
 In the town iflself he came on celebrations again, for rejoic- 
 ing over the capture of Cracow was to last three days. He 
 learned, however, that in Pjasnysh the Swedish triumph 
 was exaggerated, perhaps by design. Charnyetski, the 
 castellan of Kieff, had not fallen into captivity, but had 
 obtained the right of marching from the city with his 
 troops, with arms and lighted matches at the cannon. It 
 was said that he was to retire to Silesia. This was not 
 a great consolation, but still a consolation. 
 
 In Pultusk there were considerable forces which were to 
 go thence to the Prussian boundary, under command of 
 Colonel Israel, to alarm the elector ; therefore neither the 
 town nor the castle, though very spacious, could furnish 
 lodging for the soldiers. Hera too, for the first time, 
 Kmita saw soldiers encamped in a church, — in a splendid 
 Gothic structure, founded almost two hundred years before 
 by Bishop Gijytski, were quartered hireling German infantry. 
 Inside the sanctuary it was flaming with light as on Easter, 
 for on the stone floor were burning fires kindled in various 
 places. Kettles were steaming over the fires. Around 
 kegs of beer were groups of common soldiers, — hardened 
 robbers, who had plundered all Catholic Germany, and of a 
 certainty were not spending their firsi night in a church. 
 In the church were heard talking and shouting. Hoarse 
 voices were singing camp songs ; there sounded also the out- 
 cry and merriment of women, who in those days straggled 
 usually in the wake of ah army. 
 
THE bliLUGri. 
 
 623 
 
 Kmita stood in tlie open door j through the smoke in the 
 midst of ruddy flames he saw the red, mustached faces of 
 soldiers who, inflamed witii drink, were sitting on kegs and 
 quaffing beer ; some throwing dice or playing cards, some 
 selling church vestments, others embracing low women 
 dressed in bright garments. Uproar, laughter, the clatter 
 of tankards, the sound of muskets, the echoes thundei-ing 
 in the vaults deafened him. His head whirled ; he could 
 not believe what his eyes saw; the breath died in his 
 breast; hell would not have more greatly pmazed him. 
 At last he clutched his hair and ran out repeating as if 
 in bewilderment, — 
 
 " God, aid us ! O God, correct us ! O God, deliver us ! " 
 
 11 
 
r>24 
 
 THB DELUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 In Warsaw the Swedes had been managing for a long 
 time. Wittembevg, the real governor of the city and the 
 coinmander of the garrison, was at that moment in Cracow ; 
 Kadzeyovski carried on the government in his place. Not 
 ]ess than two thousand soldiers were in the city proper sur- 
 rounded by walls, and in the jurisdictions beyond the walls 
 built up with splendid edifices belonging to the church and 
 the world. The castle and the city were not destroyed ; for 
 Pan Vessel, starosta of Makovo, had yielded them up without 
 battle, and he >vith the garrison disappeared hurriedly, fear- 
 ing the personal vengenace of Kadzeyovski, his enemy. 
 
 But when Pan Kmita examined more closely and care- 
 fully, he saw on many houses the traces of plundering hands. 
 These were the houses of those citizens who had fled from the 
 city, not wishing to endure foreign rule, or who had offered 
 resistance when the Swedes were breaking over the walls. 
 
 Of the lordly structures in the jurisdictions those only 
 retained their former splendor the owners of w'; -ih stood 
 soul and body with the Swedes. Therefore the . azanovski 
 Palace remained in all its magnificence, for Kadzeyovski 
 had saved that, his own, and the palace of Konyetspolski, 
 the standard-bearer, as well as the edifice reared by Vla- 
 dislav IV., and which was afterward known as the Kazi- 
 mirovski Palace. But edifices* of the clergy were injured 
 considerably ; the Denhof Palace was half wrecked ; the 
 chancellor's or the so-called Ossolinski Palace, on Kefor- 
 matski Street, was plundered to its foundt.tions. German 
 hirelings looked out through its windows ; and that contly 
 furniture which the late chancellor had brought from Italy 
 at such outlay, — those Florentine leathers, Dutch tapestry, 
 beautiful cabinets inlaid with mother-of-pearl, pictures, 
 bronze and marble statues, clocks from Venice and Dant- 
 zig, and magnificent glasses were either lying in disor- 
 dered heaps in the yard, or, already packed, were waiting 
 to be taken, when the time came, by the Vistula to Sweden. 
 Guards watched over these precious things, but meanwhile 
 they were being ruined under the wind and rain. 
 
THE DEI.UOE. 
 
 625 
 
 g for a long 
 city and the 
 it in Cracow ; 
 8 place. Not 
 ty proper sur- 
 ond the walla 
 le church and 
 iestroyed ; for 
 em up without 
 Lurriedly, fear- 
 is enemy, 
 sely and care- 
 ndering hands, 
 ^ fied from the 
 ho had offered 
 rer the walls, 
 lis those only 
 f w' 'ih stood 
 le .azanovski 
 Radzeyovski 
 ..onyetspolaki, 
 •eared by Vla- 
 as the Kazi- 
 were injured 
 wrecked ; the 
 ace, on Refor- 
 ions. German 
 Lnd that coi^tly 
 ght from Italy 
 )utch tapestry, 
 •earl, pictyres, 
 ace and Dant- 
 ing in disor- 
 were waiting 
 [ula to Sweden. 
 >ut meanwhile 
 •ain. 
 
 In other citiei the same thing might bo seen ; and though 
 the capital hud yielded without kittle, still thirty gigantic 
 tiat-boutd were i-eady on the Vistula to bear away the plunder. 
 
 The city looked like a foreign place. On the streets 
 foreign languages were heard more than Polish ; every- 
 where were mot k'iwedish soldiers, Gernuiu, French, Eng- 
 lish, and Scottish mercenaries, in the greatest variety of 
 uniforms, — in hatt', in lofty helmets, in kaftans, in breast- 
 plates, half breastplates, in stockings, or Swedish boots, 
 with legs as wide as water-buckets. Everywhere a foreign 
 medley, foreign garments, foreign faces, foreign songs. 
 Even the horses had forms different from ♦^hose to which 
 the eye was accustomed. There had also rushed in a mul- 
 titude of Armenians with dark faces, and black hair covered 
 with bright skull-caps ; they had come to buy plundered 
 articles. 
 
 But most astonishing of all was the incalculable number 
 of gypsies, who, it is unknown for what purpose, had 
 gathered after the Swedes from all parts of the country. 
 Their tents stood at the sido of the Uyazdovski Palace, 
 and along the monastery jurisdiction, forming as it were 
 a special town of linen houses within a town of walled 
 structures. 
 
 In the midst of these various-tongued throngs the inhabi- 
 tants of the city almost vanished ; for their own safety they 
 sat gladly enclosed in their houses, showing themselves 
 rarely, and then passing swiftly along the streets. Only 
 occasionally the carriage of some magnate, hurrying from 
 the Cracow suburbs to the castle, and surrounded by 
 haiduks, Turkish grooms, or troops in Polish dress, gave 
 reminder that the city was Polish. 
 
 Only on Sundays and holidays, when the bells announced 
 services, did crowds come forth from the houses, and the 
 capital put on ts former appearance, — though even then 
 lines of foreign soldiers stood hedgelike in front of the 
 churches, to look at the women or pull at their dresses 
 when, with downcast eyes, they walked past them. These 
 soldiers laughed, and sometimes sang vile songs just when 
 the priests were singing Mass in the churches. 
 
 All this flashed past the astonished eyes of Pan Kmitalike 
 jugglery ; but he did not warm his place long in Warsaw, 
 for not knowing any man he had no one before whom to 
 open his soul. Even with those Polish nobles who were 
 stopping in the city and living in public houses built during 
 
 I 
 
 !i'!i^| 
 
526 
 
 THE DELUGFi. 
 
 the reign of King Sigismund III. on Dluga Street, Pan An- 
 drei did not associate closely. He conversed, it is true, with 
 this one and that, to learn the news ; but all were fanatical 
 adherents of the Swedes, and waiting f::. the return of 
 Karl Gustav, clung to Kadzeyovski and the Swedish officers 
 with the hope of receiving starostaships, confiscated private 
 estates, and profits from church and other recoupments. 
 Each man of them would have been served rightly had 
 some one spat in his eyes, and from this Kmita did not 
 make great effort to restrain himself. 
 
 From the townspeople Kmita only heard that they re- 
 gretted past times, and the good king of the fallen country. 
 The Swedes persecuted them savagely, seized their houses, 
 exacted contributions, imprisoned them. They said also 
 that the guilds had arms secreted, especially the linen- 
 weavers, the butchers, the furriers, and the powerful guild 
 of tailors ; that they were looking 'continually for the re- 
 turn of Yan Kaj^mir, did not lose hope, and with assistance 
 from outside were ready to attack the Swedes. 
 
 Hearing this, Kmita did not believe his own ears. It 
 could not find place in his head that men of mean station 
 and rank should exixibit more love for the country and 
 loyalty to their lawful king than nobles, who ought to 
 bring those sentiments into the world with their birth. 
 
 But it was just the nobles and magnates who stood by 
 the Swedes, and the common people who for the greater 
 part wished to resist ; and more than once it happened that 
 when the Swedes were driving common people to work at 
 fortifying Warsaw, these common people chose to endure 
 flogging, imprisonment, even death itself, rather than aid i i 
 confirming Swedish power. 
 
 Beyond Warsaw the country was as noisy as in a bee- 
 hive. All the roads, the towns, and the hamlets were occu- 
 pied by soldiers, by attendants of great lords and nobles, 
 and by lords and nobles serving the Swedes. All was 
 captured, gathered in, subdued ; everything was as Swedish 
 as if the country had been always in their hands. 
 
 Pan Andrei met no people save Swedes, adherents of the 
 Swedes, or people in despair, indifferent, who were con- 
 vinced to the depth of their souls that all was lost. Ko one 
 thought of resistance ; commands were carried out quietly 
 and promptly one hair or a tenth part of which would 
 have been met in times not long past with opposition and 
 protest. Fear had reached that decree that even those 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 527 
 
 treet, Pan An- 
 it is true, with 
 were fanatical 
 the return of 
 wedish officers 
 iscated private 
 recoupments, 
 d rightly had 
 K^mita did not 
 
 that they re- 
 fallen country, 
 i their houses, 
 ["hey said also 
 Jly the linen- 
 powerful guild 
 ,lly for the re- 
 ivith assistance 
 s. 
 
 own ears. It 
 
 f mean station 
 
 e country and 
 
 who ought to 
 
 their birth. 
 
 who stood by 
 
 DT the greater 
 
 happened that 
 
 pie to work at 
 
 ose to endure 
 
 ler than aid i i 
 
 as in a bee- 
 ets were occu- 
 
 and nobles, 
 es. All was 
 as as Swedish 
 ds. 
 
 lerents of the 
 ho were con- 
 lost. No one 
 d out quietly 
 which would 
 pposition and 
 t even those 
 
 who were injured praised loudly the kind protector of the 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 Formerly it happened often enough that a noble received 
 his own civil and military deputies of exaction with gun in 
 hand, and at the head of armed servants ; now such tributes 
 were imposed as it pleased the Swedes to impose, and the 
 nobles gave them as obediently as sheep give their wool to 
 the shearer. It happened more than once that the same 
 tribute was taken twice. It was vain to use a receipt as 
 defence ; it was well if the executing officer did not moisten 
 it in wine and make the man who showed -it swallow the 
 paper. That was nothing ! " Vivat protector ! " cried the 
 noble ; and when the officer had departed he ordered his 
 servant to crawl out on the roof and see if another were not 
 coming. And well if only all were ended with Swedish 
 contributions ; but worse than the enemy were, in that as 
 in every other land, the traitors. Old private grievances, 
 old offences were brought up ; ditches were filled, meadows 
 and forests were seized, and for the friend of the Swedes 
 everything went unpunished. Worst, however, were the 
 dissidents ; and they were not all. Armed bands were 
 formed of unfortunates, desperadoes, ruffians, and gamblers. 
 Assisted by Swedish marauders, Germans, and disturbers 
 of all kinds, these bands fell upon peasants and nobles. 
 The country was filled with fires ; the armed hand of the 
 soldier was heavy on the towns ; in the forest the robber 
 attacked. No one thought of curing the Commonwealth ; 
 no one dreamed of rescue, of casting off the yoke ; no one 
 had hope. 
 
 It happened that Swedish and German plunderers near 
 Sohachev besieged Pan Lushchevski, the starosta of that 
 place, falling upon him at Strugi, his private estate. He, 
 being of a military turn, defended himself vigorously, though 
 an old man, Kmita came just then ; and since his patience 
 had on it a sore ready to break at any cause, it broke at 
 Strugi. He permitted the Kyemliches, therefore, " to 
 pound," and fell upon the invaders himself with such vigor 
 that he scattered them, struck them down ; no one escaped, 
 even prisoners were drowned at his command. The sta- 
 rosta, to whom the aid was as if it had fallen from heaven, 
 received his deliverer with thanks and honored him at once. 
 Pan Andrei, seeing before him a personage, a statesman, and 
 besides a man of old date, confessed his hatred of the Swedes, 
 and iij(juired of the starosta what he thou^'ht of the future 
 
 
 .!ft' 
 
528 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 of tho Cojiuiu)nwealth, in the lioi)o that he would pour 
 bal»aui on his soul. 
 
 lUit tho starosta viewed the past diiferently, and said : 
 " My gracious sir, I know not what 1 should have answered 
 had this (juestion been put when I had ruddy mustaches 
 and a mind clouded by physitud liumor ; but to-day 1 have 
 gray mustaidies, and the experience of seventy years on 
 my shoulders, and I see future things, for I am near tho 
 grave ; therefore I say that not only we, even if we should 
 correct our errors, but all Kurope, cannot break the Swedish 
 power." 
 
 '* Mow can that be ? Where did it come from ? " cried 
 Kmita. "When was Sweden such a [)()wer? Are there 
 not more of the Polish people on earth, can we not have 
 a larger army? lias that army yielded at any time to 
 Sweden in bravery ? " 
 
 *' There are ten times as many of our people, (rod ha.s 
 increased our m*oduce so that in my starostaship of So- 
 haehev more wheat is grown than in all SwimUmi ; and as to 
 bravery, 1 was at Kivchholm when thnu* thousand hussars 
 of us scattered in the dust eighteen thousand of the best 
 troops of Sw*Hlen." 
 
 *'If that is tru(^," sai*l Kmita, whose! eyes flasht!!! at re- 
 mend)ranee of Kirchholm, " what, t'artlily causes are there 
 why we should not put an end to them now ? " 
 
 " First, this," answered the old nuin, with a deliberate 
 voice, "that we have bfcomc small and iUvy have grown 
 great; that they have i*(.)n(]uei'*'{l us with our own hands, 
 as before now they coiKpicirtul i\w (Jcnuaiis witJ» (iermans. 
 Such is the will of God ; and tluut! is no power, I repeat, 
 that can oi)i)ose them to-day." 
 
 '* lint if the nobles should eomc- to their senses and ndly 
 around their ruler, — if all should seize arms, what would 
 you advise to do tluni, and what woul • you do yourself? " 
 
 "1 should go with others and fall, and I should advise 
 every man to fall ; but after that would come times on 
 which it is better not to look." 
 
 " Worse times cannot come ! As true as life, they cannot ! 
 It is impossible ! " cried Kmita. 
 
 " You see," continued the starosta, " before the end of the 
 world and before the last judgment Antichrist will come, 
 and it is said that evil men will get the up])er hand of the 
 good. Satans will go through the world, will })reach a faith 
 opposed to the true one, and will turn men to it. With the 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 B'M 
 
 pnniiisaioM of God, ovil will coiKiiior ovorywherw until the 
 iiioirumt in which trumpeting' aiigols hIuiII Hound tor the 
 end of the world." 
 
 Hero the staroHtii leiuied afi;;iiMHt the hiiek of the chair on 
 which he was aittiiig, cloaod his eyes, and spoke on in a low, 
 mysterious voi(;e, — 
 
 "It was said, 'There will be signs.' There have boon 
 signs on the sun in the form of a hand and a sword. God 
 l)e merciful to us, sinners! The (!vil gain victory over the 
 Just, for the Swedes and their adherents are concimu'ing. 
 'iMie true faith is failing, for behold the Lutheran is rising. 
 Men ! do ye not see that i/ies Inn, dies iU<i (the day of 
 wrath, that day) is approaching? I am seventy years ohl; 
 I stand on the brink of i\w Styx, — I am waiting for the 
 ferryman and the boat, — I see — " 
 
 Here thestarosta became silent, iind Ivinita looked \\,t him 
 with terror; for tiu; r";isonH scrmed to him just, the conclu- 
 sions fitting, thendbre he was frightened at his detjisions 
 and r(dlected deejdy. Mid, tin' starostadid not look at hinii; 
 he only looked in front of himself, and said at last, — 
 
 " And of course the Sw(Mles«u)ii(pier here when tluit is the 
 {lermission of (Jod, tlu; express will nuiutioned and spoken 
 of in the Prophecies — ()i, i)eoph!, to (Jhenstohova, to (Jhen- 
 stohova!" And again the starosta vv;i.s silent. 
 
 The sun was just setting, and looking only aslant into the 
 r«H)m, ii,s light brok'" into (jolors on the glass fitted in lead, 
 and made seven colored strijuis on the floor ; the rcist of tlu? 
 room was in darknes*.. It InM-ann^ more and more awes- 
 inspiring for Kmita; ist monuud-s it SiMuruul to him that if 
 the light were to vanish, that instant the trumpeting ang(d 
 wouhl summon I > judgment. 
 
 "Of what propluicies is your grace sjK'aking?" askvsd 
 Kmita, at last; for the silence seemed to him still more 
 solemn. 
 
 The starosta instead of ;in answer turned to the door of 
 an adjoining room, and (;alle(j, — 
 
 " O'lenka ! ( )lenka ! " 
 
 " In God's name ! " cried Kmiia, " whom are you calling '-' " 
 
 At that moment he belitived everything, — believed that 
 his Olenka by a miracle was brought from Ky(Mlani and would 
 appear before his eyes, lie forg<jt everything, fastened hisi 
 ga/e on the door, and waited without breath in his breast. 
 
 "Olenka! Olenka!" 
 
 The door opened, and there entered not Panna Billevich, 
 VOL. I. — 3* 
 
 1 ,i 1 
 
fV-^ 
 
 
 530 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 but a young woman, shai)ely, slender, tall, a little like 
 Olenka, with dignity and calm spread over her fa(?e. She 
 was pale, perhaps ill, and maybe irightened at the recent 
 attack ; she walked with downcast 't^yes as lightly and 
 quietly as if some breath were moving her forward. 
 
 " This is my .laughter," said the starosta. " 1 have no 
 sons at home ; they are with Fan Pototski, and with him 
 near our unfortunate king." 
 
 Then he turned to his daughter : " Thank first this manful 
 cavalier for rescuing us, and then read to him the prophecy 
 of Saint Bridget." 
 
 The maiden bowed down before Ian Andrei, then went 
 out, and after a while returned witii a printed roll in her 
 hand, and standing in that many-colored light, began to 
 read in a resonant and sweet voice, — 
 
 " The prophecy of Saint Bridget, I will declare to you first of ih-y 
 five kings and their rule: Gustcav the son of Erick, the liizy ass, ' y- 
 cause newlectinj; tne right worshij) he went over to the false, lie- 
 jecting the faitli of the Apostles, he brought to the kingdom the 
 Augsburg Confession, putting a stain on his reputation. Look at 
 Ecclesiastes, where it is stated of Solomon that he defiled his glory 
 with idolatry — " 
 
 " Are you listening ? " asked the starosta., pointing to- 
 ward Kmita with the index finger of his left hand and 
 holding the others, ready for counting. 
 
 " Yes," answered Kmita. 
 
 " Eriek, the son of Gustavus, a woi! ji unsatiable greed," read the 
 lady, " with which he drew on himself the hatred of all men and of 
 his brotlier Yan. First, suspecting Yan of intrigues with Denmark 
 and Poland, he tormented him with war, and taking him with his wife 
 he held tlieni four years in a diuigeoA. Yan, at last brought out of 
 imprisonment and aided by change of fortune, eomiuered Erick, 
 expelled him from the kingdom, and put him into prison forever- 
 more. There is an unforeseen event ! " 
 
 " Consider," said the old man. 
 The lady read further : — 
 
 " Here is another.' 
 
 "Yan, the brother of Erick, a lofty eagle, thrice conqueror over 
 Erick, the Danes, and the Northerners. His son Sigismund, in whom 
 dwells .-mobility of blood, chosen to the Polish throne. Praise to his 
 offshoots I — " 
 
 '^ V*o you underst vnd ? " asked the starosta. 
 " May (iod prosper the years of Yan Kazimir ! " answered 
 Kmita. 
 
^.-*^Yil>-»^ '^i 
 
 ■^m'^iv- 
 
 a little like 
 31 face. She 
 it the recent 
 
 lightly and 
 forward. 
 
 " 1 have no 
 md with him 
 
 st this manful 
 the prophecy 
 
 rei, then went 
 h1 roll in her 
 ght, began to 
 
 yon first cl tb'> 
 the liizy ass, '«- 
 ) tlu' false. Uc- 
 he kiiigOom the 
 tation. Look at 
 defiled his glory 
 
 pointing to- 
 left hand and 
 
 greed," read the 
 all men and of 
 with Denmark 
 liin with his wife 
 It brought out of 
 Wjuered Eriek, 
 prison forever- 
 
 iiother." 
 
 I conqueror over 
 smund, in whom 
 Praise to his 
 
 ! " answered 
 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 631 
 
 " Karl, the prince of Sudernianii, the ram, who as rams lead the 
 flock, so he led the Swedes to injuatiee ; and he attacked justice." 
 
 " That is the fourth ! " interrupted the starosta. 
 
 " The fifth, Gustavus Adolphus," road the lady, " is the lamb 
 slain, but not spotless, whose blood was the cause of suffering and 
 misfortune — " 
 
 " Yes ; that is Gustavus Adolphus ! " said the starosta. 
 '* Of Christiana there is no hieution, for only men are 
 counted. Kead now the end, which refers accurately to 
 the present time." 
 
 She read as follows : — 
 
 " I will show to thee the sixth, who distracts land and sea and 
 brings trouble on the simple ; whose hour of punishment I will 
 place in my own hand. Though h«5 attained his end (juickly, my 
 judgment draws near him ; he will leave the kingdom in suffering and 
 It will be written : They sowed rebellion and reap suffering and 
 pain. Not only will I visit that kingdom, but rich cities and power- 
 ful ; for the hungry are called, who will devour their sufficiency. 
 Internal evils wul not be lacking, and misfortune will abound. 
 The foolish will rule, and the wise and the old men will not raise 
 their heads. Ffonor and truth will fall, till that man shall come 
 who will implore away my anger and who will not spare his own 
 soul in love of truth.'' 
 
 " There you have it ! " said the starosta. 
 
 " All is verified, so that only a blind man could doubt ! " 
 answered Kmita. 
 
 " Therefore the Swedes cannot be conquered," said the 
 starosta. 
 
 " Till that man shall come who will not spare his soul 
 for the love of truth ! " exclaimed Kmita. " The prophecy 
 leaves hope ! Not judgment, but salvation awaits us." 
 
 " Sodom was to be spared if ten just men could be found 
 in it," said the starosta ; " but that ma.ny were not found. 
 In the same mann*^r will not be found the man who will 
 not spare his soul for love of truth ; and the hour of 
 judgment will strike." 
 
 " It cannot be but that he will bo found," called out 
 Kmita. 
 
 Before the starosta answered the door opened, and into 
 the room wall. ;(1 a man no longer young, in armor and with 
 a musket ic >ii; ijuud. 
 
 '' Pan SL^cheijyfski ? " said the starosta. 
 
 "Yes," ans^.ti'td the newly arrived. "I heard that 
 
 •m /. 
 
 -? Aj ' ... . 
 
532 
 
 THE D£LUQ£. 
 
 ruffians had besieged you, and I hastened with my servants 
 to the rescue." 
 
 *' Without the will of God a hair will not fall from the 
 head of a man," answered the starosta. " This cavalier has 
 already freed me from oppression. But whence do you 
 come ? " 
 
 " From Sohachev." 
 
 " Have you heard anything new ? " 
 
 " Every news is worse. New misfortune — " ' 
 
 " What has happened ? " 
 
 " The provinces of Cracow, Saudomir, Rus, Lubelsk, 
 Belzk, Volynia, and KiefP have surrendered to Karl Gustav. 
 The act is already signed by envoys and by Kaii." 
 
 The starosta shook his head, and turned to Kmita, — 
 
 " See," said he, " do you still think that the man will be 
 found who will not spare his soul for the love of truth ? " 
 
 Kmita began to tear the hair from his forelock : <* Despair ! 
 despair ! " repeated he, in distraction. 
 
 AnJ. Pan Shchebjytski continued: ' They say also that 
 the remnants of the army, whi^'h are with Pototski, the 
 heti::an, have already refused obedience and wish to go to 
 the Swedes. The hetman probably is not sure of safety or 
 lifo among them, and must do what they want." 
 
 " They sow rebellion and reap suffering and pain," said 
 the starosta. " Whoso wishes to do penance for his sins, 
 now is his time ! " 
 
 Kmita coald not hear further either prophecies or news ; 
 he wanted to sit with all speed on his horse and cool his 
 head in the wind. He sprang up therefore, and began to 
 take farewer of the starosta. 
 
 " But whither so hastily ? " asked the latter. 
 
 " To Chenstohovd, for I too am a sinner ! " 
 
 '•TJiough glad to entertain, I will not delay you, since 
 yonr w*^rlr. u more urgent, for the day of judgment is 
 at h.in€l." 
 
 Kmita ^vnt out; and after him went the young lady, 
 wishing instead of her father to do honor to the guest, for 
 the old mail was weak on his feet. 
 
 "Be in g^od health, young lady," said Kmita; "you do 
 no';; know how thankful I am to you." 
 
 "If you are thaniful to me," answered the young lady, 
 "do me one service. You are going to Chenstohova; here 
 is a ruddy ducat, — take it, I beg, and give it for a Mass in 
 the chapel." 
 
THE DELUOB. 
 
 SSS 
 
 h my servants 
 
 " For whose intention ? " asked Kmita. 
 
 The prophetess dropped her eyes, trouble spread over 
 her face ; at the same time a slight flush came to her cheeks, 
 and she said with a low voice, like the rustle of leaves, — 
 
 " For the intention of Andrei, that God may turn him 
 from sinful ways." 
 
 Kmita pushed back two steps, stared, and from astonish- 
 ment could not speak for a time. 
 
 " By the wounds of Christ ! " crjod he, at last, " what 
 manner of house is this ? Whero am I ? The prophecy 
 itself, the soothsaying, and the indications — Your name 
 is Olenka, and you give me for a Mass for the intentions of 
 a sinful Andrei. This cannot be chance ; it is the finger 
 of God, — it is, it is. I shall go wild ! — As God lives, I 
 shall ! " 
 
 " What is the matter ? " 
 
 He caught her hands violently and began to shake them. 
 " Prophesy further, speak to the end ! If that Andrei will 
 return and afface his faults, will Olenka keep faith 
 with him ? Speak, answer, for I shall not go away 
 without that ! " 
 
 " What is your trouble ? " 
 
 " Will Olenka keep faith with him ? " repeated Kmita. 
 
 Tears came suddenly into the eyes of the maiden : " To 
 the last breath, to the hour of death ! " said she, with 
 sobbing. 
 
 She had not finished speaking when Kmita fell his whole 
 length at her feet. She wanted to flee ; he would not let 
 her, and kissing her feet, he said, — 
 
 " I too am a sinful Andrei, who wants to return. I too 
 have my loved one, Olenka. May yours return, and may 
 mine keep faith. May your words be prophetic. You ha^'^e 
 poured balsam and hope into my suffering soul, — God 
 reward you, God reward you ! " 
 
 Then he sprang up, sat on his horse, and rode away. 
 
 
 
5U 
 
 THE D£LU0£. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 The words of the young daughter of the starosta of 
 Sohachev filled Kmita with great consolation, and for three 
 days they did not leave his head. In the daytime on 
 horseback, in the night on the bed, he was thinking of what 
 had happened to him, and he came always to the conclusion 
 that this could not be simple chance, but an indication 
 from God, and a presage that if he would hold out, if he 
 would not leave the good road, that same road which 
 Olenka had shown him, she would keep faith and give him 
 her former affection. 
 
 " If the starosta's daughter," thought Kmita, " keeps 
 faith with her Andrei, who has not begun to grow better, 
 there is still hope for me, with my honest intention of 
 serving virtue, the country, and the king." 
 
 But, on the other hand, suffering was not absent from Pan 
 Andrei. He had an honest intention, but liad it not come 
 too !*vte ? Was there yet any road, were there yet any 
 means ? The Oommouvvealth seemed to sink deeper each 
 day, and it was diflieult to close one's eyes to the terrible 
 truth that for it there was no salvation. Kmita wished 
 nothing more intently than to begin some kind of work, 
 but he saw no willing people. Every moment new figures, 
 every moment new faces, passed 'before him in the time of 
 his journey ; but the sight of them, their talk and discus- 
 sions, merely took from him the remnant of his hopes. 
 
 Some had gone body and soul to the Swedish camp, seek- 
 ing in it their own profit ; these people drank and caroused 
 as at a wake, drowning, in cups and in riot, shame and the 
 lionor of nobles ; others told, with blindness beyond under- 
 standing, of that power which the Commonwealth would 
 form in union with Sweden, under the sceptre of the first 
 warrior on earth; and t] ese were the most dangerous, for 
 tliey were sincerely convinced that the whole earth must 
 bow liefore such an alliance. A third party, like the sta- 
 rosta of Sohachev, honorable people and wishing well to the 
 country, sought signs on the earth and in the heavens, re- 
 
THE r>ELUOE. 
 
 636 
 
 e atarosta of 
 
 and for three 
 
 5 daytime on 
 
 nking of what 
 
 bhe conclusion 
 
 an indication 
 
 Lold out, if he 
 
 B road which 
 
 and give him 
 
 [mita, "keeps 
 o grow better, 
 t intention of 
 
 isent from Pan 
 ul it not come 
 jhere yet any 
 k deeper each 
 o the terrible 
 mita wished 
 ind of work, 
 It new figures, 
 lin the time of 
 and discus- 
 is hopes, 
 ih camp, seek- 
 and caroused 
 ame and the 
 leyond under- 
 svealth would 
 |e of the first 
 ,ngerous, for 
 earth must 
 like the sta- 
 g well to the 
 heavens, re- 
 
 peated prophecies, and seeing the will of God azid unbend- 
 ing predestination in all tliingp, that happened, came to the 
 conclusion that there was no hope, no salvation ; that the 
 end of the world was drawing nigh ; therefore it would be 
 madness to think of earthly instead of heavenly salvation. 
 Others hid in the forest, or escaped with their lives beyond 
 the boundaries of the Commonwealth. Kmita met only un- 
 restrained, corrupted, mad, timid, or desperate people. He 
 met no man who had hope. 
 
 Meanwhile the fortune of the Swedes was increasing. 
 News that the rest of the army had revolted, were conspir- 
 ing, threatening the hetmans, and wishing to go over to 
 the Swedes, gained certainty every day. The report that 
 Konyetspolski with his division had joined Karl Gustav 
 reverberated like thunder through every corner of the 
 Commonwealth, and drove out the remnant of faith from 
 men's hearts, for Konyetspolski was a knight of Zbaraj. He 
 was followed by the starosta of Yavor and Prince Dymitr 
 Vishnyevetski, who was not restrained by a name covered 
 with immortal glory. 
 
 Men had begun now to doubt Lyubomirski, the marshal. 
 Those who knew him well asserted that ambition surpassed 
 in him both roason and love of country; that for the time 
 being he was on the king's side because he was fiatt(M'ed, 
 because all eyes were turned to him, because one side and 
 the other tried to win him, to persuade him, because he 
 was told that he had the fate of the country in his hands. 
 But in view of Swedish success he began to hesitate, to de- 
 lay ; and each moment he gave the unfortunate Yan Kazimir 
 to understand more clearly that he could save him, or sink 
 him completely. 
 
 The refugee king was living in Glogov with a handful of 
 trusted persons, who shared his fate. Each daj'^ some one 
 deserted him, and went over to the Swedes. Thus do the 
 weak bend in days of misfortune, even men to whom the 
 first impulse of the heart points out the thorny path of 
 honor. Karl Gustav received the deserters with open arms, 
 rewarded them, covered them with promises, tempted and 
 attracted the remnant of the faithful, extended more widely 
 his rule ; fortune itself pushed from before his feet every 
 obstacle ; he conquered Poland with Polish forces ; he was 
 a victor without a battle. 
 
 Crowds of voevodas, castellans, officials of Poland and 
 Lithuania, throngs of armed nobles, complete squadrons of 
 
C36 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 incomparable Polish cavalry, stood in his camp, watching 
 the eyes of their newly made lord and ready at his beck. 
 
 The last of. the armies of the kingdom was calling more 
 and more emphatically to its hetman : " Go, incline thy 
 gray head before the majesty of Karl, — go, for we wish to 
 belong to the Swedes." 
 
 " To the Swedes ! to the Swedes ! '' 
 
 And in support of these words thousands of sabres flashed 
 forth. 
 
 At the same time war was flaming continually on tho east. 
 The terrible Hmelnitski was besieging Lvoft" again; and 
 legions of his allies, rolling on past the unconquered walls of 
 Zamost, spread over the whole province of Lubelsk, reaching 
 even to Lublin. 
 
 Lithuania was in the hands of the Swedes and Hovanski. 
 Radzivill had begun war in Podlyasye, the elector was loiter- 
 ing, and any mome'nt he might give the last blow to the ex- 
 piring Commoawealth ; meanwhile he was growing strong in 
 Royal Prussia. 
 
 Embassies from every side were hastening to the King of 
 Sweden, wishing him a happy conquest. 
 
 Winter Avas coming ; leaves were falling from the trees ; 
 flocks of ravens, crows, and jackdaws had deserted the 
 forests, and were flying over the villages and tov/ns of the 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 Beyond Pyotrkoff Kmita came again upon Swedish par- 
 ties, who occupied all the roads and highways. Some of 
 them, after the capture of Craoow, were marching to War- 
 saw, for it was said that Karl Gustav, having received 
 homage from the northern and eastern provinces and 
 signed the " capitulations," was^ only waiting for the sub- 
 mission of those remnant? of the army under Pototski and 
 
 Lantskoropski ; that 
 
 given. 
 
 he would go straightway to 
 
 Prussia, and therefore he was sending the army ahead. 
 The road was closed in no place to Pan Andrei, for in gen- 
 eral nobles roused no suspicion. A multitude of armed at- 
 tendants were going with the Swedes ; others were going 
 to Cracow, — one to bow down before the new king, another 
 to obtain something from him. No one was asked for 
 a pass or a letter, especially since in the neighborhood 
 of Karl, who was counterfeiting kindness, no man dared 
 trouble another. 
 
 The last night before Chenstohova met Pan Andrei in 
 Krushyn; but barely had he settled down when guests 
 
TUB DELUGE 
 
 537 
 
 ro, incline thy 
 for we wish to 
 
 f sabres flashed 
 
 ; to the King of 
 
 arrived. First a Swedish detachment of about one hun- 
 dred horse, under the lead of a number of officers and some 
 important captain. This captain was a man of middle age, 
 of a form rather imposing, large, powerful, broad-shouldered, 
 quick-eyed ; and though he wore a foreign dress and looked 
 altogether like a foreigner, still when he entered the room 
 he spoke to l*an Andrei in purest Polish, asking who he 
 was and whither he was going. 
 
 Pan Andrei answered at once that he was a noble from 
 Sohachev, for it might have seemed strange to the officer 
 that a subject of the elector had come to that remote place. 
 Learning that Pan Andrei was going to the King of Sweden 
 with complaint that payment of money due him by the 
 Swedes was refused, the officer said, — 
 
 " Prayer at the high altar is best, and wisely you go to 
 the king ; for though he has a thousand affairs on his head, 
 he refuses hearing to no one, and he is so kind to Polish 
 nobles that you are envied by the Swedes." 
 
 " If only there is money in the treasury ? " 
 
 " Karl Gustav is not the same as your recent Yan Kazi- 
 mir, who was forced to borrow even of Jews, for whatever 
 he had he gave straightway to him who first asked for it. 
 But if a certain enterprise succeeds, there will be no lack 
 of coin in the treasury." 
 
 " Of what enterprise is your grace speaking ? " 
 
 " I know you too little to speak confidentially, but be as- 
 sured that in a week or two the treasury of the King of 
 Sweden will be as weighty as that of the Sultan." 
 
 " Then some alchemist must make money for him, since 
 there is no place from which to get it in this country." 
 
 " In this country ? It is enough to stretch forth daring 
 hands. And of daring there is no lack among us, as is 
 shown by the fact that we are now rule a here." 
 
 " True, true," answered Kmita ; " we are very glad of that 
 rule, especially if you teach us how to get money like chips." 
 
 " The means are in your power, but you would rather die 
 of hunger than take one copper." 
 
 Kmita looked quickly at the officer, and said, — 
 
 " For there are places against which it is terrible, even 
 for Tartars, to raise hands." 
 
 " You are too mysterious. Sir Cavalier," answered the offi- 
 cer, " and remember that you are going, not to Tartars, but to 
 Swedes for money." 
 
 Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a 
 
 |!;:r' 
 
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 4^ ^ 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-S) 
 
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 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 ri>^ 
 
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 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO 
 
 (716) 873-4503 
 
 

 ^% 
 
538 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 new party of men, whom the officer was evidently expect- 
 ing, for he hurried out of the inn. Kmita followed and 
 stood in the door to see who were coming. 
 
 In front was a closed carriage drawn by four horses, and 
 surrounded by a party of Swedish horsemen ; it stopped 
 before the inn. The officer who had just been talking to 
 Kmita went up to the carriage quickly, and opening the door 
 made a low bow to the person sitting inside. 
 
 " He must be some distinguished man," thought Kmita. 
 
 That moment they brought from the inn a flaming torch. 
 Out of the carriage stepped an important personage dressed 
 in black, in foreign fashion, with a cloak to his knees, lined 
 with fox-skin, and a hat with feathers. The officer seized 
 the torch from the hands of a horseman, and bowing once 
 more, said, — 
 
 " This way, your excellency ! " 
 
 Kmita pulhed back as quickly as possible, and they en- 
 tered after him. In the room the officer bowed a third time 
 and said, — 
 
 "Your excellency, I am Count Veyhard Vjeshchovich, 
 ordinarius proviantmagister, of his Royal Grace Karl Gus- 
 tav, and am sent with an escort to meet your excellency." 
 
 " It is pleasant for me to meet such an honorable cavalier," 
 said the personage in black, giving bow for bow. 
 
 " Does your excellency wish to stop here some time or 
 to go on at -^nce? His Royal Grace wishes to see your 
 excellency so jn." 
 
 "I had intended to halt at Chenstohova for prayers," 
 answered the newly arrived, " but in Vyelunie I received 
 news that his Royal Grace commands me to hurry ; there- 
 fore, after I have rested, we will go on. Meanwhile dismiss 
 the escort, and thank the captain who led it." 
 
 The officer went to give the requisite order. Pan Andrei 
 stopped him on the way. 
 
 " Who is that ? " asked he. 
 
 " Baron Lisola, the Imperial Envoy, now on his way from 
 the court of Brandenburg to our lord," answered the officer. 
 Then he went out, and after a while returned. 
 
 " Your excellency's orders are carried out," said he to 
 the baron. 
 
 " I thank you," said Lisola ; and with great though very 
 lofty affability he indicated to Count Veyhard a place oppo- 
 site himself. " Some kind of storm is beginning to whistle 
 outside," said he, ''and rain is falling. It may continue 
 
 the 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 539 
 
 Pan Andrei 
 
 long ; meanwhile let us talk before supper. What is to be 
 heard here ? I have been told that the voevodas of Little 
 Poland have submitted to his Grace of Sweden." 
 
 "True, your excellency; his Grace is only waiting for 
 the submission of the rest of the troops, then he will go at 
 once to Warsaw and to Prussia." 
 
 " Is it certain that they will surrender ? " 
 
 " Deputies from the army are already in Cracow. They 
 have no choice, for if they do not come to us Hmelnitski 
 will destroy them utterly." 
 
 Lisola inclined his reasoning head upon his breast. " Ter- 
 rible, unheard of things ! " said he. 
 
 The conversation was carried on in the German language. 
 Kmita did not lose a single word of it- • ^ 
 
 " Your excellency," said Count Veyhard, " that has hap- 
 pened which had to happen." 
 
 " Perhaps so ; but it is difficult not to feel compassion for 
 a power which has fallen before our eyes, and for which a 
 man who is not a Swede must feel sorrow." 
 
 " I am not a Swede ; but if Poles themselves do not feel 
 sorrow, neither do I," answered the count. 
 
 Lisola looked at him seriously. "It is true that your 
 name is not Swedish. From what people are you, I pray ? " 
 
 " I am a Cheh " (Bohemian). 
 
 " Indeed ? Then you are a subject of the German 
 emperor? We are under the same rule." 
 
 " I am in the service of the Most Serene King of Sweden," 
 said Veyhard, with a bow. 
 
 " I wish not to derogate from that service in the least," 
 answered Lisola, " but such employments are temporary j 
 being then a subject of our gracious sovereign, whoever 
 you may be, whomsover you may serve, you cannot consider 
 any one else as your natural sovereign." 
 
 " I do not deny that." 
 
 " Then I will tell you sincerely, that our lord mourns over 
 this illustrious Commonwealth, over the fate of its noble 
 monarch, and he cannot look with a kindly or willing eye 
 on those of his subjects who are aiding in the final ruin of 
 a friendly power. What have the Poles done to you, that 
 you show them such ill will ? " 
 
 "Your excellency, I might answer many things, but I 
 fear to abuse your patience." 
 
 " You seem to me not only a famous soldier, but a wise 
 man. My office obliges me to observe, to listen, to seek 
 
 ''■I 
 If 
 
 1!!;J 
 
5i0 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 causes ; speak then, even in the most minute way, apd fear 
 not to annoy my patience. If you incline at any time to 
 the service of the emperor, which I wish most strongly, you 
 will find in me a friend who will explain and repeat your 
 reasons, should any man wish to consider your present ser- 
 vice as wrong." 
 
 " Then I will tell you all that I have on my mind. Like 
 many nobles, younger sons, I had to seek my fortune outside 
 my native land. I came to this country where the people 
 are related to my own, and take foreigners into service 
 readily." 
 
 " Were you badly received ? " 
 
 "Salt mines were given to my management. I found 
 means of livelihood, of approach to the people and the 
 king himself; I serve the Swedes at present, but should 
 any one wis^ to consider me unthankful, I could contradict 
 him djrectly." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " Can more be asked of me than of the Poles themselves ? 
 Where are the Poles to-day ? Where are the senators of this 
 kingdom, the princes, the magnates, the nobles, if not in the 
 Swedish camp ? And still they should be the first to know 
 what they ought to do, where the salvation of their country 
 is, and where its destruction. I follow their example ; who 
 of them then has the right to call me unthankful ? Why 
 should I, a foreigner, be more faithful to the King of Poland 
 and the Commonwealth than they themselves are ? Why 
 should I despise that service for which they themselves are 
 begging ? " 
 
 Lisola made no answer. He rested his head on his hand 
 and fell into thought. It would seem that he wr" listen- 
 ing to the whistle of the wind and the sound of the 
 autumn rain, which had begun to strike the windows of 
 the inn. 
 
 " Speak on," said he, at last ; " in truth you tell me strange 
 things." 
 
 " I seek fortune where I can find it," continued Count 
 Veyhard ; « and because this people are perishing, I do not 
 need to care for them more than they do for themselves. 
 Besides, even if I were to care, it would avail nothing, for 
 they must perish." 
 
 " But why is that ? " 
 
 " First, because they wish it themselves ; second, because 
 they deserve it. Your excellency, is there another country 
 
 cious. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 541 
 
 1 me strange 
 
 in the world where so many disorders and such violence 
 may be seen ? What manner of government is there here ? 
 The king does not rule, because they will not let him ; the 
 diets do not rule, because the members break them ; there 
 is no army, because the' Poles will not pay taxes ; there is 
 no obedience, for obedience is opposed to freedom ; there is 
 no justice, for there is no one to execute decisions, and each 
 strong man tramples on decisions ; there is no loyalty in this 
 people, for all have deserted^ their king ; there is no love for 
 the country, for they have given it to the Swede, for the 
 promise that he will not prevent them from living in old 
 fashion according to their ancient violence. Where could 
 anything similar be found? What people in the world 
 would aid an enemy in conquering their own country ? 
 Who would desert a king, not for his tyranny, not for his 
 evil deeds, but because a stronger one came ? Where is 
 there a people who love private profits mote, or trample 
 more on public affairs ? What have they, your excellency ? 
 Let any one mention to me even one virtue, — prudence, rea- 
 son, cleverness, endurance, abstinence. What have they? 
 Good cavalry ? that and nothing more. But the Numidians 
 were famous for cavalry, and the Gauls, as may be read in 
 Koman history, had celebrated soldiers ; but where are they ? 
 They have perished as they were boun ' "^-^ perish. Whoso 
 wishes to save the Poles is merely losing time, for they will 
 not save themselves. Only the mad, the violent, the mali- 
 cious, and the venal inhabit this laud." 
 
 Count Veyhard pronounced the L st words with a genuine 
 outburst of hatred marvellous in a foreigner who had found 
 bread among that people ; but Lisola was not astonished. 
 A veteran diplomat, he knew the world ard men. He knew 
 that whoso does not know how to pay his benefactor with 
 his heart, seeks in him faults, so as to shield with them his 
 own unthankfulness. Besides, it may be that he recognized 
 that Count Veyhard was right. He did not protest, but 
 asked quickly, " Are you a Catholic ? " 
 
 The count was confused. "Yes, your excellency," an- 
 swered he. 
 
 '» I have heard in Vyelunie that there are persons who 
 persuade the king, Karl Gustav, to occupy the monastery of 
 Yasna Gora.* Is it true ? " 
 
 " Your excellency, the monastery lies near the Silesian 
 boundary, and Yan Kazimir can easily receive messages 
 
 1 Bright Monntain. 
 
642 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 therefrom. We must occupy it to prevent that. I was the 
 first to direct attention to this matter, and therefore his 
 Boyal Grace has confided these functions to me." 
 
 Here Count Veyhard stopped suddenly, remembered 
 Kmita, sitting- in the other corner of the room, and com- 
 ing up to him, asked, — 
 
 " Do you understand German ? " 
 
 " Not a word, even if a man were to pull my teeth," 
 answered Pan Andrei. 
 
 " That is too bad, for we wished to ask you to join our 
 conversation." Then he turned to Lisola. 
 
 " There is a strange noble here, but he does not under- 
 stand German ; we can speak freely." 
 
 "I have no secret to tell," said Lisola; "but as I am 
 a Catholic too, I should not like to see such injustice 
 done to a sacred place. And because I am certain that 
 the most s^fene emperor has the same feeling, I shall 
 beg his Grace the King of Sweden to spare the monks. 
 And do not hurry with the occupation until there is a 
 new decision." 
 
 " I have express, though secret, instructions ; but I shall 
 not withhold them from your excellency, for I wish to serve 
 faithfully my lord the emperor. I can assure your excel- 
 lency that no profanation will come to the sacred place. I 
 am a Catholic." 
 
 Lisola laughed, and wishing to extort the truth from a 
 man less experienced than himself, asked jokingly, — 
 
 " But you will shake up their treasury for the monks ? It 
 will not pass without that, will it ? " 
 
 "That may happen," answered Count Veyhard. "The 
 Most Holy Lady will not ask for thalers from the priors' 
 caskets. When all others pay, let the monks pay too." 
 
 " But if the monks defend themselves ? " 
 
 The count laughed. " In this country no man will de- 
 fend himself, and to-day no man is able. There was a time 
 for defence, — now it is too late." 
 
 " Too late," repeated Lisola. 
 
 The conversation ended there. After supper they went 
 away. Kmita remained alone. This was for him the bitter- 
 est night that he had spent since leaving Kyedani. While 
 listening to the words of Count Veyhard, Kmita had to 
 restrain himself with all his power to keep from shouting at 
 him, " Thou liest, thou cur ! " and from falling on him with 
 his sabre. But if he did not do so, it was unhappily because 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 543 
 
 he felt and recognized truth in the words of the foreigner, -— 
 awful truth burning like fire, but genuine. 
 
 " What could 1 say to him ? " thought he ; " with what 
 could I offer denial except with my fist ? What reasons 
 could I bring ? He snarled out the truth. Would to God 
 he were slain! And that statesman of the emperor ac- 
 knowledged to him that in all things and for all defence it 
 was too late." 
 
 Kmita suffered in great part perhaps because that " too 
 late " was the sentence not only of the country, but of his 
 own personal happiness. And he had had his fill of suffer- 
 ing ; there was no strength left in him, for during all those 
 weeks he had heard nothing save, " All is lost, there is no 
 time left, it is too late." No ray of hope anywhere fell 
 into his soul. 
 
 Ever riding farther, he had hastened p^eatly, night and 
 day, to escape from those prophecies, to find at last some 
 place of rest, some man who would pour into his spirit 
 even one drop of consolation. But he found every moment 
 greater fall-, every moment greater despair. At last the 
 words of Count Veyhard filled that cup of bitterness and 
 gall ; they showed to him clearly this, which hitherto was 
 an undefined feeling, that not so much the Swedes, the 
 Northerners, and the Cossacks had killed the country, as 
 the whole people. 
 
 " The mad, the violent, the malicious, the venal, inhabit 
 this land," repeated Kmita after Count Veyhard, "and there 
 are no others 1 They obey not the king, they break the 
 diets, they pay not the taxes, they help the enemy to the 
 conquest of this land. They must perish. 
 
 " In God's name, if I could only give him the lie I Is there 
 nothing good in us save cavalry; no virtue, nothing but 
 evil itself ? " 
 
 Kmita sought an answer in his soul. He was so wearied 
 from the road, from sorrows, and from everything that had 
 passed before him, that it grew cloudy in his head. He 
 felt that he was ill and a deathly sickness seized possession 
 of him. In his brain an ever-growing chaos was working. 
 Faces known and unknown pushed past him, — those whom 
 he had known long before and those whom he had met on 
 this journey. Those figures spoke, as if at a diet, they 
 quoted sentences, prophecies ; and all was concerning 
 Olenkp. She was awaiting deliverance from Kmita; but 
 Count Veyhard held him by the arms, and looking into 
 
644 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 his eyes repeated: "Too late! what is Swedish is Swed- 
 ish ! " and Boguslav Radzivili sneered and supported Count 
 Veyhard. Then all of them began to scream : " Too late, 
 too late, too late I " and seizing Olenk^ they vanished with 
 her somewhere in darkness. 
 
 It seemed to Pan Andrei tha« Olonka and the country 
 were the pame, that he had ruined both and had given 
 them to the Swedes of his own will. Then such meas- 
 ureless sorrow grasped bold of him that he woke, looked 
 around in amazement and listening to the wind which 
 in the chimney, in the walls, in the roof, whistled in 
 various voices and played through each cranny, as if on 
 an organ. 
 
 But the visions returned, Olenka and the country were 
 blended again in his thoughts in one person whom Count 
 Veyhard was conducting away saying : " Too late, too 
 late!" ( 
 
 So Pan Andrei spent the night in a fever. In moments 
 of consciousness he thought that it would come to him to 
 be seriously ill, and at last he wanted to call Soroka to bleed 
 him. But just then dawn began; Kmita sprang up and 
 went out in front of the inn. 
 
 The first dawn had barely begun to dissipate the dark- 
 ness ; the day promised to be mild ; the clouds were breaking 
 into long stripes and streaks on the west, but the east was 
 pure ; on the heavens, which were growing pale gradually, 
 stars, unobscured by mist, weye twinkling. Kmita roused 
 his men, arrayed himself in holiday dress, for Sunday had 
 come and they moved to the road. 
 
 After a bad sloepless nighty Kmita was wearied in body 
 and spirit. Neither could that autumn morning, pale but 
 refreshing, frosty and clear, scatter the soi ?*ow crushing the 
 heart of the knight. Hope in him had burned to the last 
 spark, and was dying like a lamp in which the oil is 
 exhausted. What would that day bring ? Nothing ! — 
 the same grief, the same suffering, rather it will add to the 
 weight or his soul ; of a surety it will not decrease it. 
 
 He rode forward in silence, fixing his eyes on some point 
 which was then greatly gleaming upon the horizon. The 
 horses were snorting ; the men fell to singing with droi sy 
 voices their matins. 
 
 Meanwhile it became clearer each moment, tne heavens 
 from pale became green and golden and that point on the 
 horizon began so to shine that Kmita's eyes were dazzled 
 
THE DELUQE. 
 
 645 
 
 by its glitter. The men ceased their singing and all gazed 
 in that direction, at last Soroka said, — 
 
 " A miracle or what ? — That is the west, and it is as if 
 the sun were rising." 
 
 In fact, that light, increased in the eyes : from a point it 
 became a ball, from & ball a globe ; from afar you would 
 have said that some one had hung abov€( the earth a giant 
 star, which was scattering rays immeasurable. 
 
 Kmita aud his men looked with amazement on that bright, 
 trembling, radiant vision, not knowing what was before 
 their sight. Then a peasant came along from Krushyn in 
 a wagon with a rack. Kmita turning to him saw that the 
 peasant, holding his cap in his hand and looking at the 
 light, was praying. 
 
 " Man," asked Pan Andrei, " what is that which shines 
 so?" 
 
 " The church on Yasna Gora." 
 
 " Glory to the Most Holy Lady ! " cried Kmita. He took 
 his cap from his head, and his men removed theirs. 
 
 After so many days of suffering, of doubts, and of 
 struggles. Pan Andrei felt suddenly that something wonder- 
 ful was happening in him. Barely had the words, " the 
 church on Yasna Gora," sounded in his ears when the 
 confusion fell from him as if some hand had removed it. 
 
 A certain inexplicable awe seized hold of Pan Andrei, full 
 of reverence, but at the same t?me a joy unknown to ex- 
 perience, great and blissful. From ichat church shining on 
 the height in the firrt rays of the sun, hope, such as for a 
 long time Pan Andrei had not known, was beating, — a 
 strength invincible on which he wished to lean. A new life, 
 as it were, entered him and began to course through his 
 veins with the blood. He breathed as deeply as a sick man 
 coming to himself out of fever and unconsciousness. 
 
 But the church glittered more and more brightly, as if it 
 were taking to itself all the light of the sun. The whole 
 region lay at its feet, and the church gazod at it from the 
 height; you would have said, " 'T is the senlry and guardian 
 of the land." 
 
 For a long time Kmita could not take his eyes from that 
 light ; he satisfied and comforted himself with the sight of 
 it. The faces of his men had grown serious, and were pene- 
 trated with awe. Then the sound of a bell was heard in the 
 silent morning air. ^ 
 
 " Frori your horses ! " cried Pan Andrei. 
 VOL. I. — 86 
 
 mM 
 
046 
 
 THB DBLUGB. 
 
 All spranff from their saddles, and kneeling on the road 
 began the Titanv. Kmita repeated it, and the soldiers 
 responded together. 
 
 Other wagons came up. Peasants seeing the praying men 
 on the road joined them, and the crowd grew greater oon- 
 tinually. When at length the prayers were finished Pan 
 Andrei rose, and after him his men ; but thev advanced on 
 foot, leading their horses and singing : " Hail, ye bright 
 gates I " 
 
 Kmita went on with alertness as if he had wings on his 
 shoulders. At the turns of the road the church van- 
 ished, then came out again. When a height or a mist con- 
 cealed it, it seemed to Kmita that light had been captured 
 by darkness ; but when it gleamed forth again all faces were 
 radiant. 
 
 So they went on for a long time. The cloister and the 
 walls surrounding it came out more distinctly, became mure 
 imposing, more immense. At last they saw the town in the 
 distance, and under the mountain whole lines of houses 
 and cottages, which, compared with the size of the church, 
 seemed as small as birds' nests. 
 
 It was Sunday ; therefore when the sun had risen well the 
 road was swarming with wagons, and people on foot going 
 to church. From the lofty towers the bells great and small 
 began to peal, filling the air with noble sounds. There was 
 in that sight and in those metal voices a strength, a majesty 
 immeasurable, and at the same time a calm. That bit of 
 land at the foot of Yasna Gk)ra resembled in no wise the 
 rest of the country. 
 
 Throngs of people stood black around the walls of the 
 church. Under the hill were "hundreds of wagons, car- 
 riages, and equipages ; the talk of men was blended with 
 the neighing of horses tied to posts. Farther on, at the 
 right, along the chief road leading to the mountain, were to 
 be seen whole rows of stands, at which were sold metal offer- 
 ings, wax candles, pictures, and scapulars. A river of peo- 
 ple flowed everywhere freely. 
 
 The gates were wide open ; whoso wished entered, whoso 
 wished went forth ; on the walls, at the guns, were no sol- 
 diers. Evidently the very sacredness of the place guarded 
 the church and the cloister, and perhaps men trusted in the 
 letters of Karl Gustav in which he guaranteed safety. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 547 
 
 i 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 From the gates of the fortress peasants and nobles, vil- 
 lagers from various neighborhoods, people of every age, of 
 both sexes, of all ranks, pressed forward to the church on 
 their knees, singing prayerful hymns. That river flowed 
 slowly, and its course was stopped whenever the bodies of 
 people crowded against one another too densely. At times the 
 songs ceased and the crowds began to repeat a litany, and then 
 the thunder of words was heard from one end of tho place 
 to the other. Between hymn and litany, between htany and 
 hymn, the people were silent, struck the ground with their 
 foreheads, or cast themselves down in the form of a cross. 
 At these moments were heard only the imploring and shrill 
 voices of beggars, who sitting at both banks of the human 
 river exposed their deformed limbs to public gaze. Their 
 howling was mingled with the clinking of coi>pers thrown 
 into tin and wooden dishes. Then again the river of heads 
 flowed onward, and again the hymns thundered. 
 
 As the river flowed nearer to the church door, excitement 
 grew greater, and was turned into ecstasy. You could see 
 hands stretched toward heaven, eyes turned upward, faces 
 pale from emotion or glowing with prayer. Differences of 
 rank disappeared : the coat of the peasant touched the robe 
 of the noble, the jacket of the soldier the yellow coat of the 
 artisan. 
 
 In the church door the crush was still greater. The bodies 
 of men had become not a river, but a bridge, so firm that you 
 might travel on their heads and their shoulders without 
 touching the ground with a foot. Breath failed their breasts, 
 space failed their bodies ; but the spirit which inspired gave 
 them iron endurance. Each man was praying; no one 
 thought of aught else. Each one bore on himself the pres- 
 sure and weight of the whole of that mass, but no man fell ; 
 and pressed by those thousands he felt in himself power 
 against thousands, and with that power he pushed forward, 
 lost in prayer, in ecstasy, in exaltation. 
 
 Kmita, creeping forward in the first ranks with his men, 
 reached the church with th^ earliest ; then the current car* 
 
 • I 
 
548 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 ried him too to the chapel of miracles, where the multitude 
 fell on their faces, weeping, embracing the floor with their 
 hands, and kissing it with emotion. So also did Pan Andrei ; 
 and when at last he had the boldness to raise his head, de- 
 light, happiness, and at the same time mortal awe, almost 
 took from him consciousness. 
 
 In «he chapel there was a ruddy gloom not entirely dispersed 
 bv the rays of candles burning on the altar. Colored rays fell 
 also through the window-panes ; and all those gleams, red, 
 violet, golden, fiery, quivered on the walls, slipped along the 
 carvings and windings, made their way into dark depths 
 bringing forth to sight indistinct forms buried as it were in 
 a dream. Mysterious glimmers ran along and united with 
 darkness, so undistinguishable that all difference between 
 light and darkness was lost. The candles on the altar had 
 golden halos ; the smoke from the censers formed purple 
 mist ; the white robes of the monks serving Mass played 
 with the darkened colors of the rainbow. All things there 
 were half visible, half veiled, unearthly ; the gleams were 
 unearthly, the darkness unearthly, mysterious, majestic, 
 blessed, filled with prayer, adoration, and holiness. 
 
 From the main nave of the church came the deep sound 
 of human voices, like the mighty sound of the sea ; but in 
 the chapel deep silence reigned, broken only by the voice 
 of the priest chanting Mass. 
 
 The image was still covered ; expectation therefore held 
 the breath in ail breasts. There were only to be seen, 
 looking in one direction, faces as motionless as if they had 
 parted with earthly life, hands palm to palm and placed 
 before mouths, like the hands pf angels in pictures. 
 
 The organ accompanied the singing of the priest, and gave 
 out tones mild and sweet, flowing as it were from flutes be- 
 yond the earth. At moments they seemed to distil like 
 water from its source ; then again they fell softl f but quickly 
 like dense rain showers in May. 
 
 All at once the thunder of trumpets and drums roared, 
 and a quiver passed through all hearts. The covering be- 
 fore the picture was pushed apart from the centre to the 
 sides, and a flood of diamond light flashed from above on 
 the faith^'ul. 
 
 Groans, weeping, and cries were heard throughout the 
 chapel. 
 
 ** Salve, Regina f " (Hail, Queen!) cried the nobles, 
 . "Motutra teeasematrem/" (Show thyself a im)ther) ; but the 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 649 
 
 peasants cried, " O Most Holy Lady ! Golden Lady ! Queen 
 of the Angels I save us, assist us, console us, pity us ! " 
 
 Long did those cries sound, together with sol^ of women 
 and complaints of the hapless, with prayers for a miracle on 
 the sick or the maimed. 
 
 The soul lacked little of leaving Kmita ; he felt only that 
 he had before him infinity, which he could not grasp, could 
 not comprehend, and before which all things were effaced. 
 What were doubts in presence of that faith which all exist- 
 ence could not exhaust ? what was misfortune in presence 
 of that solace ? what was the power of the Swedes in pres' 
 ence of that defence ? what was the malice of men before 
 the eyes of such protection ? 
 
 Here his thoughts became settled, and turned into facul' 
 ties ; he forgot himself, ceased to distinguish who he was, 
 where he was. It seemed to him that he had died, that his 
 soul was now flying with the voices of organs, mingled in 
 the smoke of the censers ; his hands, used to the sword and 
 to bloodshed, were stretched upward, and he was kneeling 
 in ecstasy, in rapture. 
 
 The Mass ended. Pan Andrei knew not himself how he 
 reached again the main nave of the church. The priest gave 
 instruction from the pulpit ; but Kmita for a long time heard 
 not, understood not, like a man roused from sleep, who does 
 not at once note where his sleeping ended and his waking 
 moments began. 
 
 The first words which he heard were : " In this place 
 hearts change and souls are corrected, for neither can the 
 Swedes overcome this power, nor those wandering in dark- 
 ness overcome the true light ! " 
 
 " Amen ! " said Kmita in his soul, and he began to strike 
 his breast ; for it seemed to him then that he had sinned 
 deeply through thinking that all was lost, and that from no 
 source was there hope. 
 
 After the sermon Kmita stopped the first monk he met, 
 and told him that he wished to see the prior on business of 
 the church and the cloister. 
 
 He got hearing at once from the prior, who was a man iij 
 ripe age, inclining then toward its evening. He had a face 
 of unequalled calm. A thick black beard added to the 
 dignity of his face ; he had mild azure eyes with a penetrat- 
 ing look. In his white habit he seemed simply a saint. 
 Kmita kissed his sleeve ; he pressed Kmita's bead, and in- 
 quired who he was and whence he had come. 
 
fi50 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 "I have come from Jmud," answered Kmita, "to serve- 
 the Most Holy Lady, the suffering country, and my desi)3rted 
 king, against all of whom I have hitherto sinned, and in 
 sacred confession I beg to make a mlLUte explanation. I 
 ask that to-day or to-morrow my confession be heard, sinoe 
 sorrow for my r'ns draws me to this. I will tell you also, 
 revered father, my real name, — under the seal of con- 
 fession, not otherwise, for men ill inclined to me prevent 
 and bar me from reform. Before men I wish to be called 
 Babinich, from one of my estates, taken now by the enemy. 
 Meanwhile I bring important information to which do you, 
 revered father, give ear with patienoe, for it is a question of 
 this sacred retreat and this cloister." 
 
 " I praise your intentions and the change of life which 
 you have undertaken,'' said the prior. Father Kordetski ; 
 " as to confession, I will yield to your urgent wish and hear 
 it now." 
 
 " I have travelled long," added Kmita, " I have seen 
 much and I have suffered not a little. Everywhere the 
 enemy has grown strong, everywhere heretics are raising 
 their heads, nay, even Catholics themselves are going Qver 
 to the camp of the enemy ; who, emboldened by this, as well 
 as by the capture of two capitals, intend to raise now 
 sacrilegious hands against Yasna Gora." 
 
 " From whom have you this news ? " asked the prior. 
 
 "I spent last night at Krushyn, where I saw Count 
 Veyhard Vjeehchovich and Baron Lisola, envoy of the 
 Emperor of Germany, who was returning from the Brand- 
 enburg court, and is going to the King of Sweden." 
 
 " The King of Sweden is no longer in Cracow," said the 
 prior, looking searcL'vgly into the eyes of Pan A.ndrei. 
 ^ Buf; Pan Andrei did not drop his lids and talked on, — 
 
 " I do not know whether he is there or not. I know that 
 Lisola is going to him, and Count Veyhard was sent to 
 relieve the escort and conduct him farther. Both talked 
 before me in German, taking no thought of my presence ; 
 for they did not suppose that I understood their speech. I 
 , knowing German, was able to learn that Count Veyhard has 
 proposed the occupation of this cloister and the taking of 
 its treasure, for which he has received permission from the 
 king." 
 
 " And you have heard this with your own ears ? " 
 
 *• Jubu as I am standing here." 
 
 " The will of God be done 1 " said the priest, calmly. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 561 
 
 Kmita was alarmed. He thought that the \> . lest called 
 the command of the King of Sweden the will of Grod and 
 was not thinking of resistance; therefore he said, — 
 
 '' I saw in !Pultusk a church in Swedish hands, the soldiers 
 were playing cards in the sanctuary of God, kegs of beer 
 were on the altars, and shameless women were tiiere with 
 the soldiers.'' 
 
 The prior looked steadily, directly in the eyes of the 
 soldier. "A wonderfid thing!" said hej "sincerity and 
 truth, are looking out of your eyes." 
 
 Kmita flushed. " May I fall a corpse here if what I say 
 is not true." 
 
 "In every case these tidings over which we must 
 deliberate are important." 
 
 " You will permit me to ask the older fathers and some 
 of the more important nobles who are now dwelling with 
 us. You will permit, — " 
 
 " i will repeat gladly the same thing before them." 
 
 Father Kordetski went out, and in quarter of an hour 
 returned with four oldei fathers. Soon after Pan Bujyts- 
 Zamoyski, the sword-bearer of Syeradz, entered, — a dignified 
 man; Pan Okyelnitski, banneret of Vyelunie; Pan Pyotr 
 Gharnyetski, a young cavalier with a fierce war-like face, 
 like an oak in stature and strength; and other nobles of 
 various ages. The prior presented to them Pan Babinich 
 from Jmud, and repeated in the presence of all the tidings 
 which he had brought. They wondered greatly and beg'^n 
 to measure Pan Andrei with their eyes inquiringly and 
 incredulously, and when no one raised his voice the prior 
 said, — 
 
 " May God preserve me from attributing to this cavalier 
 evil intention or calumny ; but the tidings which he brings 
 seem to me so unlikely that I thought it proper for us to ask 
 about them in company. With the sincerest intention this 
 cavalier may be mistaken ; he may have heard incorrectly, 
 understood incorrectly, or iiave been led into error through 
 heretics. To fill our hearts with fear, to cause panic in a 
 holy place, to harm piety, is for them an immense delight, 
 which surely no one of them in his wickedness would like 
 to deny himself." 
 
 " That seems to me very much like truth," said Father 
 Nyeshkovski, the oldest in the assembly. 
 
 "3t would be needful to know in advance if this cavalier 
 is not a heretic himself ? " said Pyotr Charnyetski. 
 
552 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 " I am a Catholic, as you are 1 " answered Kmita. 
 
 " It behooves us to consider first the circumstances," put 
 in Zamoyski. 
 
 " The circumstances are such," said the prior, Kordetski, 
 " that surely God and His Most Holy Mother have sent blind- 
 ness of purpose on these enemies, so that they might exceed 
 the measure in their iniquities ; otherwise they never would 
 have dared to raise the sword against this sacred retreat. 
 Not with their own power have they conquered this Com- 
 monwealth, whose own sons have helped them. But 
 though our people have fallen low, though they are wading 
 in sin, still in sin itself there is a certain limit which they 
 would not dare to pass. They have deserted their king, 
 they have fallen away from the Commonwealth ; but they 
 have not ceased to revere their Mother, their Patroness and 
 Queen: The enemy jeer at us and ask with contempt what 
 has remained t9 us of our ancient virtues. I answer they 
 have all perished ; still something remains, for faith in the 
 Most Holy Lady and re v^erence for Her have remained to 
 them, and on this foundation the rest may be built. I see 
 clearly that, let one Swedish ball make a dint in these 
 sacred walls, the most callous men will turn from the con- 
 queror, — from being friends will become enemies of the 
 Swedes and draw swords against them. But the Swedes 
 have their eyes open to their own danger, and understand 
 this well. Therefore, if God, as I have said, has not sent 
 upon them blindness intentionally, they will never dare to 
 "strike Yasna Gora; for that day would be the day of their 
 change of fortune and of our revival." 
 
 Kmita heard the words of the^ prior with astonishment, 
 words which were at the same time an answer to what had 
 come from the mouth cf Count Veyhard against the Polish 
 people. • But recovering from astonishment, he said, — 
 
 " Why should we not believe, revered father, that God 
 has in fact visited the enemy with blindness ? Let us 
 look at their pride, their greed of earthly goods, let us 
 consider their unendurable oppression anc' the tribute 
 which they levy even on the clergy, and we may un- 
 derstand with ease that they will not hesitate at sacrilege 
 of any kind." 
 
 The prior did not answer Kmita directly, but turning to 
 the whole assembly, continued, — 
 
 " This cavalier says that he saw Lisola, the envoy, going 
 to the King of Sweden. How can that be since I have 
 
 (( 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 663 
 
 undoubted news from the Paulists in Cracow that ^e king 
 is not in Cracow, nor in Little Poland, since he went to 
 Warsaw immediately after the surrender of Cracow." 
 
 " He cannot have gone to Warsaw," answered Kmifca, " and 
 the best proof is that he is waiting for the surrender and 
 homage of the quarter soldiers, who are with Pototski." 
 
 " C eneral Douglas is to receive homage in the name of 
 the king, so they write me from Cracow." 
 
 Kmita was silent ; he knew not what to answer. 
 
 " But I will suppose," continued the prior, " that the 
 King of Sweden does not wish to see the envoy of the 
 emperor and has chosen purposely to avoid him. Carolus 
 likes to act thus, — to come on a sudden, to go on a sudden ; 
 besides the mediation of the emperor displeases him. I 
 believe then readily that he went away pretending not to 
 know of the coming of the envoy. I am less astonished 
 that Count Veyhard, a person of such note, was sent out to 
 meet Lisola with an escort, for it may be they wished to 
 show politeness and sugar over the disappointment for the 
 envoy ; but how are we to believe that Count Veyhard would 
 inform Baron Lisola at once of his plans," 
 
 " Unlikely ! " said Father Nyeshkovski, " since the baron is 
 a Catholic and friendly both to us and the Commonwealth." 
 
 " In my head too that does not find place," added 
 Zamoyski. 
 
 " Count Veyhard is a Catholic himself and a well-wisher 
 of ours," said another father. 
 
 <* Does this cavalier say that he has heard this with his 
 own ears ? " asked Charnyetski, abruptly. 
 
 " Think, gentlemen, over this too," added the prior, " I 
 have a safeguard from Carolus Gustavus that the cloister 
 and the church are to be free forever from occupation and 
 quartering." 
 
 '' It must be confessed," said Zamoyski, with seriousness, 
 " that in these tidings no one thing holds to another. It 
 would be a loss for the Swedes, not a gain, to strike Yasna 
 Gora ; the king is not present, therefore Lisola could not go 
 to him ; Count Veyhard would not make a confidant of him ; 
 farther, Count Veyhard is not a heretic, but a Catholic, — 
 not an enemy of the cloister, but its benefactor ; finally, 
 though Satan tempted him to make the attack, he would 
 not dare to make it against the order and safeguard of 
 the king." Here he turned to Kmita, — 
 
 " What then will you say, Cavalier, and why, with what 
 
664 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 purpose, do 70U wish to alarm the reverend fathers and us 
 in this pla(;e ?" \ 
 
 Kmita was as a criminal before a court. On one hand, 
 despair seized him, because if they would not believe, the 
 cloister would become the prey of the enemy ; on the other, 
 shame burned him, for he saw that all appearances argued 
 against his information, and that he might easily be ac- 
 counted a calumniator. At thought of this, anger tore him, 
 his innate impulsiveness was roused, his offended ambition 
 was active; the old-tiriie half-, ild Kmita was awakened. 
 But he struggled until he conquered himself, summoned all 
 his endurance, and repeated in his soul : " For my sins, for 
 my sins ! " and said, with a changing face, — 
 
 " What I have heard, I repeat once more : Count Veyhard 
 is going to attack this cloister. The time I know not, but 
 I think it will be soon, — I give Wianing and on you will 
 fall the responsibility if you do not listen." 
 
 " Calmly, Cavalier, calmly," answered Pyotr Chamyetski, 
 with emphasis. " Do not raise your voice." Then he spoke 
 to the assembly, — " Permit me, worthy fathers, to put a few 
 questions to the newly arrived." 
 
 " You have no right to offend me," cried Kmita. 
 
 " I have not even the wish to do so," answered Pan Pyotr, 
 coldly ; " but it is a question here of the cloister and the 
 Holy Lady and Her capital. Therefore you must set aside 
 offence j or if you do not set it aside, do so at least for the 
 time, for be assured that I will meet you anywhere. You 
 Bring news which we want to verify — that is proper and 
 should not cause wonder ; but if you do not wish to answer, 
 we shall think that you are afraid of self-contradiction." 
 
 " Well, put your questions I "* said Babinich, through his 
 teeth. 
 
 " You say that you are from Jmud ? " 
 
 « True." 
 
 " And you have come here so as not to serve the Swedes 
 and Radzivill the traitor ? " 
 
 "True." 
 
 " But there are persons there who do not serve him, and 
 oppose him on the side of the country ; there are squadrons 
 which have refused him obedience ; Sapyeha is there. Why 
 did you not join them ? " 
 
 « That is my affair." 
 
 '* Ah, ha ! your affair," said Chamyetski. " You may 
 give me that answer to other questions." 
 
 he 
 
 th 
 
 A 
 
 do 
 
 gai 
 
 ni( 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 585 
 
 ;hers and us 
 
 ;hc Swedes 
 
 Pap Andrei's hands quivered, he fixed his eyes on the 
 heavy brass bell standing before him on the table, and from 
 that bell they were turned to the head of the questioner. 
 A wild desire seized him to grasp that bell and bring it 
 down on the skull of Gharnyetski. The old Kmita was 
 gaining the upper hand over the pious and penitent Babi- 
 nich ; but he broke himself once more and said, — 
 
 " Inquire." 
 
 " If you are from Jmud, then you must know what is 
 happening at the court of tiie traitor. Name to me those 
 who have aided in the ruin of the country, name to me 
 those colonels who remain with him." 
 
 Kmita grew pale as a handkerchief, but still mentioned 
 some names. Gharnyetski listened and said, "I have a 
 friend, an attendant of the king, Pan Tyzenhauz, who told 
 me of one, the most noted. Do you know nothing of this 
 arch criminal ? " 
 
 " I do not know." 
 
 " How is this ? Have you not heard of him who spilled 
 his brother's blood, like Gain ? Have you not heard, being 
 from Jmud, of Kmita ? " 
 
 "Revered fathers! screamed Fan Andrei, on a sudden, 
 shaking as in a fever, " let a clerical person question me, 
 I will tell all. But by the living God do not let this noble 
 torment me longer 1 " 
 
 " Give him peace," said the prior, turning to Pan Pyotr. 
 " It is not a question here of this cavalier." 
 
 " Only one more question," said Zamoyski ; and turning 
 to fiabinich, he asked, — " You did not expect that wa 
 would doubt your truth ? " 
 
 " As God is in heaven I did not ! " 
 
 " What reward did you expect ? " 
 
 Pan Andvei, instead of giving an answer, plunged both 
 hanib into a small leather sack which hung at his waist 
 from a belt, and taking out two haudfuls of pearls, emer- 
 alds, turquoises, and other precious stones, scattered them 
 on the table. " Tliere ! " said he, with a broken voice, " I 
 have not come here for money ! Not for your rewards ! 
 Th^se are pearls and other small stones ; all taken from 
 the caps of boyars. You see what I am. Do I want a re- 
 ward ? I wish to offer these to the Most Holy Lady ; but 
 only after confession, with a clean heart. Here they are — 
 That 's the reward which I ask. I have more, God grant 
 you—' 
 
 
 mm 
 
 mi 
 

 
 r 
 
 V. 
 
 656 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 
 
 All were silent in astonishment, and the sight of jewels 
 thrown out as easily as grits from a sack made no small 
 impression ; for involuntarily every one asked himself what 
 reason could that man have, if he had no thought of 
 rewards ? 
 
 Pan Pyotr was confused ; for such is the nature of man 
 that the sight of another's power and wefiJth dazzles him. 
 Finally his suspicions fell away, for how could it be supposed 
 that that great lord, scattering jewels, wanted to frighten 
 monks for profit. 
 
 Those present looked at one another and Kmita stood 
 over his jewels with head upraised like the head of a 
 roused eagle, with fire in his eyes and a flush on his face. 
 The fresh wound passing through his cheek and his temple 
 was blue \ and terrible wsus Pan Babinich threatening with 
 his predatory glance Oharnyetski, on whom his anger was 
 specially turn^. 
 
 "Through your anger truth itself bursts forth," said 
 Kordetski ; " but put away those jewels, fcr the Most Holy 
 Lady cannot receive that which is offered in anger, even 
 though the anger be just ; besides, as T have said, it is not a 
 question here of you, but of the news which has filled us 
 with terror and fear. God knows whether there is not 
 some misunderstanding or mistake in it, for, as you see 
 yourself, what you say does not fit with reality. How are 
 we to drive out the faithful, diminish the honor of the Most 
 Holy Lady, and keep the gates shut night and day ? " 
 
 " Keep the gates shut, for God's mercy, keep the gates 
 shut ! " cried Pan Andrei, wringing his hands till his fingers 
 cracked in their joinl^s. 
 
 There was so much truth and unfeigned despair in his 
 voice that those present trembled in spite of themselves, as 
 if danger was really there at hand, and Zamoyski said, — 
 
 "As it is, we give careful attention to the environs, and 
 repairs are going on in the walls. In the day-time we can 
 admit people for worship ; but it is well to observe caution 
 even for this reason, that the king has gone, and Wittem- 
 berg rules in Cracow with iron hand, and oppresses the 
 clergy no less than the laity." 
 
 "Though I do not believe in an attack, I have nothing 
 to say against caution," answered Oharnyetski. 
 
 "And 1," said the prior, "will send monks to Count 
 Veyhard to enquire if the safeguard of the king has 
 validity." 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 657 
 
 Kmita breathed freely and cried, — / "" 
 
 " Praise be to God, praise be to God ! ' 
 
 " Cavalier," said the prioF> " Grod reward you for the good 
 intention. If you have warned us with reason, you will 
 have a memorable merit before the Holy Lady and the 
 country ; but wonder not if we have received your informa- 
 tion with incredulity ; more than once have we been alarmed. 
 Some frightened us out of hatred to our f stith, to destroy the 
 honor shown the Most Holy Lady ; others, out of greed, so as 
 to gain something ; still others, so as to bring news and gain 
 consideration in the eyes of people ; and maybe there were 
 even those who were deceived. Satan hates this place most 
 stubbornly, and uses every endeavor to hinder piety here 
 and to permit the faithful to take as little part in it as 
 possible, for nothing brings the court of hell to such despair 
 as reverence for Her who crushed the head of the serpent. 
 But now it is time for vespers. Let us implore Her love, 
 let us confide ourselves to Her ^ i:ardiauship, and let each 
 man go to sleep quietly ; for where should there be peace 
 and safety, if not under Her wings ? " 
 
 All separated. When vespers were finished Father 
 Kordetski himself heard the confession of Pan Andrei, and 
 listened to him long in the empty church ; after that, Psin 
 Andrei lay in the form of a cross before the closed doors of 
 the chapel till midnight. At midnight he returned to his 
 room, roused Soroka, and commanded the old man to flog 
 him before he went to sleep, so that his shoulders and 
 back were covered with blood. 
 
668 
 
 TllE DKLUGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 Next morning, a wonderful and unusual movement 
 reigned in the cloister. The gate was open, and entrance 
 was not refused to the pious. Services vere celebrated in 
 the usual course; bu*j after services all strangers were 
 directed to leave the circuit of the cloister. Kordetskf him- 
 self, in company witli Zamoyski and Pan Pyotr, examined 
 carefully the embrajures, jvnd the escarpments supporting 
 the walls from the inside and outside. Directions were given 
 for repairing places here and there ; blacksmiths in the town 
 received orders to make hooks and spears, scythes fixed on 
 long handles, clubs and heavy sticks of wood filled with 
 strong spikes. And since it was known that the^ had 
 already a considerable supply of such implements m the 
 cloister, people in the town began at once to say that the 
 cloist* r expected a sudden attacjk. New orders in quick 
 succession seemei! to confirm these reports. Toward night 
 two hundred men were working at the L.ide of the walls. 
 Twelve heavy guns sent at the time of the siege of Cracow 
 by Pan Varshytski, castellan of Cracow, were placed on 
 new carriages and properly planted. 
 
 From the cloister storehouses monks and attendaiits 
 brought out balls, which were placed in piles near tho 
 guns ; carts with powder were rolled out ; bundles of mus- 
 kets were untied, and distribute^ to the garrison. On the 
 towers and bastions watchmen were posted to look care- 
 fully, night and day, on the region about ; men were sent 
 also to make investigation through the neighborhood, — to 
 Pjystaini, Klobuchek, Kjepitsi, K rushy n, and Mstov. 
 
 To the cloister storehouses, which were already well 
 filled, came supplies from the town, from Chenstohovka 
 and other villages belonging to the cloister. 
 
 The report went like thunder through the whole neighbor- 
 hood. Townspeople and peasants began to assemble and 
 take counsel. Many were unwilling to believe that any 
 enemy would dare to attack Yasna Gora. 
 
 It was said that only Chenstohova itself was to be occu- 
 pied ; but- even that excited the minds of men, cBpecially 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 559 
 
 when some of them remembered that the Swedes were 
 heretics, whom nothing restrained, and who were ready to 
 offer a purposed affront to the Most Holy Lady. 
 
 Therefore men hesitated, doubted, and believed in turn. 
 Some wrung their hands, waiting for terrible signs on 
 earth and in heaven, — visible signs of God's anger; 
 others were sunk in helpless and dumb despair; an anger 
 more than human seized a third party, whose heads were 
 filled as it were with flame. And when or « the fancy of 
 meti had spread its wings for flight, straightway there was 
 a whirl of news, ever changing, ever more feverish, ever 
 more monstrous. 
 
 And as when a man thrusts a stick or throws fire into an 
 ant-hill, unquiet swarms rush forth at once, assemble, separ 
 rate, reassemble ; so was the town, so were the neighboring 
 hamlets, in an uproar. 
 
 In the afternoon crowds of townspeople and peasants, 
 with women and children, surrounded the walls of the 
 cloister, and held them as it were in siege, weeping and 
 groaning. At sunset Kordetski went out to them, and 
 pushing himself into the throng, asked, — 
 
 " People, what do you want ? " 
 
 " We want to go as a garrison to the cloif.ter to defend 
 the Mother of God," cried men, shaking tneir flails, forks, 
 and other rustic weapons. 
 
 " We wish to look i'or the last time on the Most Holy 
 Ladv," groaned women. 
 
 The prior went on a high rock and said, — 
 
 " The gates of hell will not prevail against the might of 
 heaven. Calm yourselves, and receive consolation into 
 your hearts. The foot of a heretic will not enter these 
 noly walls. Neither Lutherans nor Calvinists will cele- 
 brate their superstitious incantations in this retreat of 
 worship and faith. I know not in truth whether the 
 insolent enemy will come hither ; but I know this, that 
 if he does come, he will be forced to retreat in shame 
 and disgrace, for a superior power will crush him, his 
 malice will be broken, his power rubbed out, and his 
 fortune will fail. Take consolation to your hearts. 
 You are not looking for the last time on our Patroness: 
 you will see her in still greater glory, and you will see 
 new miracles. Take consolation, dry your tears, and 
 strengthen yourselves in faith; for I tell you — and it 
 is not I who speak, but the Spirit of God speaks through 
 
560 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 me — that the Swede will not enter > i walls; grace 
 will flow hence, and darkness will not put out the light, 
 just as the night which is now coming will not hinder 
 God's sun from rising to-morrow." 
 
 It was just sunset. Dark shade had covered already 
 the region about ; but the church was gleaming red in 
 the last rays of the sun. Seeing this, the people knelt 
 around the walls, and consolation flowed into their hearts 
 at once. Meanwhile the Angelus was sounded on the 
 towers, and Kordetski began to sing, " The Angel of the 
 Lord J " and after him whole crowds sang. The nobles and 
 the soldiers standing on the walls joined their voices, the 
 bells greater and smaller pealed in accompaniment, and it 
 seemed that the whole mountain wa,s singing and sound- 
 ing like a gigantic organ to the four points of the earth. 
 
 They sang till late ; the prior blessed the departing on 
 their way, and said, — 
 
 " Those men who have served in war, who know how to 
 wield weapons and who feel courage in their hearts, may 
 come in the morning to the cloister." 
 
 " I have served, I was in the infantry, I will come ! " 
 cried numerous voices. 
 
 And the throngs separated slowly. The night fell 
 calmly. All woke next morning with a joyous cry : " The 
 Swede is not here ! " Still, all day workmen were bringing 
 supplies which had been called for. An order went out 
 also to those who had shops at the eastern walls of the 
 cloister to bring their goods to the cloister; and in the 
 cloister itself work did not cease on the walls. Secured 
 especially were the so-called "passages;" that is, small 
 openings in the walls, which wjere not gates, but which 
 might serve in making sallies. Pan Zamoyski gave orders 
 to bring beams, bricks, and dung, so at a given moment 
 they could be easily closed from within. 
 
 All day, too, wagons were coming in with supplies and 
 provisions ; there came also some noble families who were 
 alarmed by the news of the impending attack of the enemy. 
 About midday the men who had been sent out the pre- 
 ceding day to gather tidings came back; but no one 
 had seen the Swedes nor even heard of them, except 
 those who were stationed near Kjepitsi. 
 
 Still, preparations were not abandoned in the cloister. 
 By order of the prior, those of the townspeople and peas- 
 antry came who had formerly served in the infantry and 
 
 th( 
 du 
 ins 
 the 
 
 Th 
 
 ten 
 ara 
 and 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 561 
 
 who were accustomed to service. They were assigned 
 to the command of Pan Mosinski, who was defeudiniff 
 the liOrtheastern bastion. Pan Zamoyski was occupied 
 during the day either in disposing the men in their places, 
 instructing each one what to do, or holding counsel with 
 the fathers in the refectory. 
 
 Kmita with joy in his heart looked at the military 
 preparations, at the soldiers as they were mustered, at 
 the cannon, at the stacks of muskets, spears, and hooks. 
 That was his special element. In the midst of those 
 terrible implements, in the midst of the urgent prep- 
 arations and military feverishness, it was light, pleasant, 
 and joyous for him. It was the easier and more joyous be- 
 cause he had made a general confession of his whole life, 
 and beyond his own expectations had received absolution ; 
 for the prior took into account his intention, his sincere 
 desire to reform, and this too, that he had already entered 
 on the road. 
 
 So Pan Andrei had freed himself from the burdens 
 under which he was almost falling. Heavy penances had 
 been imposed on him, and every day his back was bleeding 
 under Soroka's braided lash ; ho was enjoined to practice 
 obedience, and that was a penance still more difficult, for he 
 had not obedience in his heart; on the contrary, he had 
 pride and boastfulness. Finally, he was commanded to 
 strengthen his reformation by virtuous deeds j but that was 
 the easiest, he desired and asked for nothing more ; his 
 whole soul was tearing forth toward exploits, for by ex- 
 ploits he understood war and killing the Swedes from 
 morning till evening without rest and without mercy. 
 And just then, what a noble road was opening to him ! 
 To kill Swedes, not only in defence of the country, not 
 only in defence of the king to whom he had sworn loyalty, 
 but fti defence of the Queen of the Angels, — that was a 
 happiness beyond his merit. 
 
 Whither had those times gone when he was standing as 
 it were on the parting of the roads, asking himself whither 
 he should go ? where are those times ii which he knew not 
 what to begin, in which he was always meeting doubt, and 
 in which he had begun to lose hope ? And those men, 
 those white monks, and that handful of peasants and nobles 
 were preparing for serious defence, for a life-and-death 
 struggle. That was the one spot of such character in the 
 Commonwealth, and Pan Andrei had come just to that 
 VOL. I -- 36 ~ 
 
 ! 
 
5(>2 
 
 THE D£LUOE. 
 
 Spot, as if led by some fortunate star. And he bolieved 
 sacredly in victory, though the whole |K)wer of Sweden were 
 to encircle those walls ; hence in his heart he had prayer, 
 joy, and gratitude. 
 
 In this frame of mind he walked along the walls, and 
 with a bright face examined, insi)ected, and saw that good 
 was taking place. With the eye of experience, he saw .it 
 once from the preparations that they were made by men of 
 experience, who would be able to show themselves when it 
 came to the test. He wonduritd at the calmness of the 
 prior, for whom he had conceived a deep reverence; he 
 was astonished at the prudence of Zamoyski, and even 
 of Pan Charnyetski ; though he was displeased at him, he 
 did not show a wry face. But that knight looked on 
 Pan Andrei harshly, and meeting him on the wall the day 
 after the return of the messengers, he said, — 
 
 " No Swedes are to Ite seen ; and if they do not come, the 
 dogs will eat yf>ur reputation." 
 
 "If any harm should result from their coming to this 
 holy place, then let the dogs eat my reputation. 
 
 " You would rather '?ot smell their powder. We know 
 knights who have boots lined with hare s skin." 
 
 Kmita dropped his eyes like a young girl. " You might 
 rather let disputes rest," said he. "In what have I of- 
 fended you? I have forgotten your offences against me, 
 do you forget mine against you." 
 
 "You called me a whipper-snapper," said Charnyetski, 
 sharply. " I should like to know who you are. In what 
 are the Babiniches better than the Charnyetskis ? Are 
 they a senatorial family too?" 
 
 " My worthy sir," said Kmita,^ with a pleasant face, " if 
 it were not for the obedience which was imposed on me in 
 confession, if it were not for those blows which are given 
 me every day on my back for my follies of past •time, 
 I would speak to you differently; but I am afraid of 
 relapsing into previous offences. As to whether the 
 Babiniches or the Charnyetskis are better, that will ap- 
 pear when the Swedes come." 
 
 "And what kind of office do you think of getting? 
 Do you suppose that they will make you one of the 
 commanders ? " 
 
 Kmita grew serious. "You accused me of seeking 
 profit; now you speak of office. Know that I have not 
 come her9 for honor. I might have received higher 
 
 hoi 
 un 
 
 me 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 003 
 
 honor elsewhere. I will remain a simple soldier, evea 
 under your oommaud." 
 
 " Why, for what reason ? " 
 
 ** Because you do me injustice, and are ready to tonnent 
 me." 
 
 " H'm 1 There is no reason for that. It is very beauti- 
 ful of you to be willing to remain a simple soldier when it 
 is clear that you have wondiu-ful daring, and obedience 
 does not come easy. Would you like to tight ? " 
 
 " That will appear with the Swedes, as I have said." 
 
 " But if the Swedes do not come ? " 
 
 " Then do you know what ? we will go to look for them," 
 said Kmita. 
 
 " That pleases me I " cried Charnyetski. " We could 
 assemble a nice party. Silesia is not far from this place, 
 and at once soldiers could be collected. Officers, like my 
 uncle, have promised,' but nothing has been said about 
 soldiers ; a great number of them might be had at the first 
 call." 
 
 "And this would give a saving example to others!" 
 cried Kmita, with warmth. "I have a handful of men 
 too, — you ought to see them at work." 
 
 " Good, good ! " said Charnyetski, " as God is dear to 
 me ! let me have your face ! " 
 
 " And give yours," said Kmita. 
 
 And without long thinking they rushed into each other's 
 arms. Just then the prior was passing, and seeing what 
 had happened he began to bless both. They told at once . 
 of what they had been talking. The prior merely smiled 
 quietly, and went on saying to himself, — 
 
 " Health is returning to the sick." 
 
 Toward evening preparations were finished, and the 
 fortress was entirely ready for defence. Nothing was 
 wanting, — neither supplies, nor powder, nor guns; only 
 walls sufficiently strong and a more numerous garrison. 
 
 Chenstohova, or rather Yasna Gora, though strengthened 
 by nature and art, was counted among the smallest and 
 weakest fortresses of the Commonwealth. But as to the 
 garrison, as many people might have been had for the 
 summoning as any one wished; but the prior purposely 
 did not overburden the walls with men, so that supplies 
 might hold out for a long time. Still there were those, 
 especially among the German gunners, who were convinced 
 that Chenstohova could not defend itself. 
 
 ■i: 1 I 
 
 r1 
 Hi 
 
 
564 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Fools! they thought that it had no defence but its 
 walls and its weapons ; they knew not what hearts filled 
 with faith are. The prior then fearing lest they might 
 spread doubt among the people, dismissed them, save one 
 who was esteemed a master in his art. 
 
 That same day old Kj emlich and his sons came to Kmita 
 with a request to be freed from service. Anger carried 
 away Pan Andrei, "Dogs!" cried he, "you are ready 
 to resign such a service and will not defend the Most 
 Holy Lady. — Well, let it be so ! You have had pay for 
 your horses, you will receive the rest for your services 
 
 » 
 
 soon. 
 
 Here he took a purse fr'^'i a casket, and threw it on 
 the floor to them. " Here are your wages ! You choose to 
 seek plunder on that side of the walls, — to be robbers in- 
 stead of defenders of Mary ! Out of my sight ! you are 
 not worthy to be here ! you are not worthy of Christian 
 society ! you'are not worthy to die such a death as awaits 
 you in this place ! Out, out ! " 
 
 " We are not worthy," answered the old man, spreading 
 his hands and bending his head, "we are not worthy to 
 have our dull eyes look on the splendors of Yasna Gora, 
 Fortress of heaven ! Morning Star ! Refuge of sinners ! 
 We are not worthy, not worthy." Here he bent so low 
 that he bent double, and at the same time with his thin 
 greedy hands, grown lean, seized the purse lying on the 
 floor. "But outside the walls," said he, "we shall not 
 cease to serve your grace. In sudden need, we will let 
 you kno'^ everything ; we will go where 't is needful ; 
 we will do what is needful. Your grace will have ready 
 servants outside the walls." * 
 
 " Be off ! " repeated Pan Andrei. 
 
 They went out bowing ; for fear was choking them, and 
 they were happy that the affair had ended thus. Toward 
 evening they were no longer in the fortress. 
 
 A dark and rainy night followed. It was November 8 ; 
 an early winter was approaching, and together with waves 
 of rain the first flakes of wet snow v/ere flying to the 
 ground. Silence was broken only by the prolonged voices 
 of guards calling from bastion to bastion, " Hold watch ! " 
 and in the darkness slipped past here and there the white 
 habit of the prior, Kordetski. Kmita slept not ; he was on 
 the walls with Charnyetski, with whom he spoke of his past 
 campaigns. Kmita narrated the course of the war with 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 566 
 
 of Christian 
 ath as awaits 
 
 Hovanski, evidently not mentioning the part hich he had 
 taken in it himself; and Gharnyetski talked of the skir- 
 mishes with the Swedes at Pjedbor, at Jarnovtsi, and in the 
 environs of Cracow, of which he boasted somewhat and 
 said, -— 
 
 " What was possible was done. You see, for every Swede 
 whom I stretched out I made a knot on my sword-sash. 
 1 have six knjts, and God grant me more ! For this rea- 
 son I wear the sword higher toward my shoulder. Soon 
 the sash will be useless ; but I '11 not take out the knots, 
 in every knot I will have a turquoise set ; after the war 
 I will hang up the sash as a votive offering. And have you 
 one Swede on your conscience ? " 
 
 " No ! " answered Kmita, with shame. " Not far from 
 Sohachev I scattered a band, but they were robbers." 
 
 " But you might make a great score of Northerners ? " 
 
 « I mighL do that." 
 
 " With th3 Swedes it is harder, for rarely is there one of 
 them who is not a wizard. They learned from the Finns 
 how to use the black ones, and each Swede has two or three 
 devils in his service, and there are some who have seven. 
 These guard them terribly in time of battle ; but if they 
 come hither, the devils will help them in no way, for the 
 power of devils can do nothing in a circle where the tower 
 on Yasna Gora is visible. Have you heard of this ? " 
 
 Kmita made no answer; he turned his head to listen 
 attentively. . 
 
 " They are coming ! " said he, suddenly. 
 
 *♦ Who, in God's name ? What do you say ? " 
 
 " I hear cavalry." 
 
 *' That is only wind and the beating of rain." 
 
 " By the wounds of Christ ! that is not the wind, but 
 horses ! I have a wonderfully sharp ear. A multitude of 
 cavflry are marching, and are near already ; but the wind 
 drowns the noise. The time has come ! The time has 
 come 1 " 
 
 The voice of Kmita roused the stiffened guards, dozing 
 near at hand ; but it had not yet ceased when below in the 
 darkness was heard the piercing blare of trumpets, and 
 they began to sound, prolonged, complaining, terrible. All 
 sprang up from slumber in amazement, in fright, and asked 
 one another, — 
 
 "Are not those the trumpets sounding to judgment in 
 this gloomy night ? " 
 
566 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 Then the monks, the soldiers, the nobles, began to come 
 out on the square. \ 
 
 The bell-ringers rushed to the bells ; and soon they were 
 all heard, the great, the smaller, and the small bells, as if 
 for a fire, mingling their groans with the sounds of the 
 trumpets, which had not ceased to play. 
 
 Lighted matches were thrown into pitch-barrels, pre- 
 pared of purpose and tied with chains ; tljen they were 
 drawn upward with cranks. Eed light streamed over the 
 base of the cliff, and then the people on Yasna Gora 
 saw before them a party of mounted trumpeters, — those 
 standing nearest with trumpets at their mouths, behind 
 them long and deep ranks of mounted men with unfurled 
 flags. 
 
 The trumpeters played some time yet, as if they wished 
 with those brazen sounds to express the whole power of 
 the Swedes, and to terrify the monks altogether. At last 
 they were silent ; one of them separated from the rank, and 
 waving a white kerchief, approached the gate. 
 
 " In the name of his Koyal Grace," cried the trumpeter, 
 " the Most Serene Kiag of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals, 
 Grand Prince of Finland, Esthonia, Karelia, Stettin, Pom 
 erania, and the Kashubes, Prince of Rugen, Lord of Ingria, 
 Wismark, and Bavaria, Count of the Rhenish Palatinate, 
 open the gates." 
 
 " Admit him," said Kordetski. 
 
 They opened, but only a door in the gate. 
 
 The horseman hesitated for a time ; at last he came down 
 from his horse, entered within the circle of the walls, and 
 seeing a crowd of white habits, he asked, — 
 
 " Who among you is the superior ? " 
 
 " I am," answered Kordetski. 
 
 The horseman gave him a letter with seals, and said : 
 " Count Veyhard will wait for an answer at Saint 
 Barbara's." 
 
 The prior summoned at once the monks and nobles to 
 the council-chamber to deliberate. 
 
 On the way. Pan Charnyetski said to Kmita : " Come you 
 also." 
 
 " I will go, but only through curiosity," answered Pan 
 Andrei ; "for I have no work there. Henceforward I will 
 not serve the Most Holy Lady with my mouth." . 
 
 When they had entered the council-chamber, the prior 
 broke the seal and read as follows : — 
 
^gan to come 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 667 
 
 ** It is not a secret to you, worthy fathers, with what favorable 
 mind and with what heart I have always looked on this holy place 
 and your Congregation ; also, how constantly I have surrounded you 
 with my care and heaped benefits on you. Therefore I desire that 
 you remain in the conviction that neither my inclination nor good 
 wishes toward you have ceased in the present juncture. Not as an 
 enemy, but as a friend, do I come this day. Put your cloister under 
 my protection without fear, as the time and present circumstances 
 demand. In this way you will find the calm which you desire, as 
 well as safety. I promise you solemnly that the sacredness of the 
 
 Elace will be inviolate ; your property will not be destroyed. I <"ill 
 ear all expenses myself, and in fact add to your means. Consider 
 also carefully how much you will profit if, satisfying me, you confide 
 to me your cloister. Remember my advice, lest a greater misfortune 
 reach you from the terrible General Miller, whose orders will be the 
 more severe because he is a heretic and an enemy of the true faith. 
 When he comes, you must yield to necessity and carry out his com- 
 mands; and you will raise useless complaints with pain in your souls 
 and your bodies, because you disregarded my mild counsel." 
 
 The memory of recent benefactions of Count Veyhard 
 touched the monks greatly. There were some who had con- 
 fidence in his good-will, and wished to see in his counsel 
 the avoidance of future defeats and misfortunes. But 
 no one raised a voice, waiting for what Kordetski would 
 say. He was silent for a while, but his lips were moving in 
 prayer ; then he said, — 
 
 "Would a true friend draw near in the night-time and 
 terrify with such a dreadful voice of trumpets and crooked 
 horns the sleeping servants of God? Would he come at 
 the head of those armed thousands who are now standing 
 under these walls ? Why did he not come with four or 
 nine others, if he hoped for the reception given a wel- 
 come benefactor ? What do those stern legions mean, if not 
 a threat in case we refuse to yield up this cloister ? Listen ; 
 remember, too, dearest brothers, that this enemy has never 
 kept word nor oath nor safeguard. We too have that of the 
 King of Sweden sent us spontaneously, in which is an express 
 promise that the cloister sjiall remain free of occupation. 
 And why are they standing now under its walls, trumpeting 
 their own lie with fearful brazen sound ? My dear brothers, 
 let each man raise his heart to heaven, so that the Holy 
 Ghost may enlighten it, and then let us consider what 
 conscience dictates to each one touching the good of this 
 holy retreat." 
 
 Silence followed. Then Kmita's voice rose : " I heard in 
 Krushyn Lisola ask him, ' Will you shake up their treas- 
 
 
568 
 
 THE DELUGB. 
 
 ury for the monks ?' to which the county who now stands 
 under these walls, answered, ' The Mother of Qod will not 
 ask for the thalers in the priors' chests.' To-day this dame 
 Count Veyhard writes to you, reverend fathers, that he will 
 bear all expenses himself, and besides add to your means. 
 Consider his sincerity ! " 
 
 To this Father Myelko, one of the oldest in the assembly, 
 and besides a former soldier, answered : " We live in pov- 
 erty, and burn these torches before the altar of the Most 
 Holy Lady in Her praise. But though we were to take them 
 from the altar so as to purchase immunity i^v this holy place, 
 where is o'l'* guarantee that the Swedes will respect the im- 
 munity, that they with sacrilegious hands will not remove 
 offerings, sacred vestments, church furniture ? Is it possi- 
 ble to trust liars ? " 
 
 " Without the Provincial to whom we owe obedience, we 
 can do nothing," said Father Dobrosh. 
 
 " War is ndt our affair," added Father Tomitski ; " let 
 us listen to what these knights will say who have taken 
 refuge under the wings of the Mother of God in this 
 cloister." 
 
 All eyes were now turned to Pan Zamoyski, the oldest in 
 years, the highest in dignity and office. He rose and spoke 
 in the following words : — 
 
 "It is a question here of your fate, reverend fathers. 
 Compare then the strength of the enemy with the resistance 
 which you can place against him according to your force and 
 will. What counsel can we, guests here, impart to you ? 
 But, reverend fathers, since you ask us what is to be done, 
 I will answer : Until the inevitable forces us, let the thought 
 of surrender be far away; for it is a shameful and an 
 unworthy act to purchase with vile submission an uncertain 
 peaco from a faithless enemy. We have taken refuge here 
 of our own will, with our wives and children ; surrender- 
 ing ourselves to the guardianship of the Most Holy Lady, 
 we have determined with unswerving faith to live with you, 
 and, if God shall so desire, to die with you. It is indeed 
 better for us thus than to accept a shameful captivity or be- 
 hold an affront to a holy place ; of a certainty, that Mother 
 of the Most High God who has inspired our breasts with 
 a desire of defending Her against godless and sacrilegious 
 heretics will second the pious endeavors of Her servants 
 and support the cause of Her own defence." 
 
 At this point Pan Zamoyski ceased speaking; all paid 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 569 
 
 attention to his words, strengthening themselves with the 
 meaning of them i and Kmita, without forethought, as was 
 his wont, sprang forward and pressed the hand of the old 
 man to his lips. The spectators were edified by this sight, 
 and each one saw a good presage in that youthful ardor, 
 and a desire to defend the cloister increaseu and seized 
 all hearts. 
 
 Meanwhile a new presage was given : outside the win- 
 dow of the refectory was heard unexpectedly the trembling 
 and aged voice of Constantsia, the old beggar woman of the 
 church, singing a pious hymn : — 
 
 " In vain doHt thoii threaten me, O Ravage TIuRHite, 
 In vain doHt t)iou Hutnmon deviln' hornH to thy aid, 
 In vain doHt thou hum, sparing no blood, 
 
 Kor tliou 'It not nubdue me ; 
 Though thouHandfl of pngunH were now runhing hither. 
 Though armien were flying against mo on dragons, 
 Neither sword, flame, nor men will avail thee, 
 For I shall be victor ! " 
 
 " Here," said Kordetski, " is the presage which God sends 
 through the lips of that old beggar woman. Let us defend 
 ourselves, brothers ; for in truth besieged people have never 
 yet had such aids as will come to us." 
 
 " We will give our lives willingly," said Charnyetski. 
 
 " We will not trust faith-breakers ! We will not trust 
 heretics, nor those among Catholics who have accepted the 
 service of the evil spirit ! " shouted others, who did not 
 wish to let those speak who opposed. 
 
 It was decided to send two priests to Count Veyhard with 
 information that the gate., would remain closed and the 
 besieged would defend themselves, to which action the safe- 
 guard of the king gave them a right. 
 
 Bvt in their own way the envoys were to beg the Count 
 humbly to desist from his design, or at least to defer it for 
 a time until the monks could ask permission of Father 
 Teotil Bronyevski, Provincial of the order, who was then 
 in Silesia. 
 
 The envoys. Fathers Benedykt Yarachevski and Martseli 
 Tomitski, passed out through the gate ; the others awaited, 
 in the refectory, their return with throbbing hearts, for 
 terror had seized those monks, unused to war, when the hour 
 had struck and the moment had come in which they were 
 forced to choose between duty and the anger and vengeance 
 of the enemy. 
 
 ! 
 
670 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 But half an hour had barely elapsed when the two fathers 
 appeared before the council. Their heads were hanging 
 over their breasts, on their faces were pallor and grief. In 
 silence they gave Kordetski a letter from Count Veyhard, 
 which he took from their hands and read aloud. There 
 were eight points of capitulation under which the count 
 summoned the monks to surrender the cloister. 
 
 When he had finished reading, the prior looked long in 
 the faces of those assembled } at last he said with a solemn 
 voice, — 
 
 " In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! in 
 the name of the Most Pure and Most Holy Mother pf God! 
 to the walls, beloved brethren ! " 
 
 " To the walls, to the walls ! " was the answer of all. 
 
 A little later a bright flame lighted the base of the 
 cloister. Count Veyhard had given orders to burn the 
 buildings connected with the church of Saint Barbara. 
 The fire seizing the old houses grew with each moment. 
 Soon pillars of red smoke reared themselves toward the sky j 
 in the midst of these, fiery sparkling tongues were gleaming. 
 Finally one conflagration was spreading in clouds. 
 
 By the gleam of the fire, divisions of mounted soldiers 
 could be seen passing quickly from place to place. The 
 usual license of soldiers had begun. The horsemen drove 
 out from the stables cattle, which running with fright, filled 
 the air with plaintive bellowing ; sheep, gathered in groups, 
 pushed at random toward the fire. Many of the defenders 
 saw for the first time the bloody face of war, and their 
 hearts grew benumbed with terror at sight of people driven 
 by soldiers and slashed with sabres, at sight of women 
 dragged by the hair through the market-place. And by the 
 bloody gleams of the fire all this was as visible as on the 
 palm of the hand. Shouts, and even words, reached the ears 
 of the besieged perfectly. 
 
 Since the cannon of the cloister had not answered yet, 
 horsemen sprang from their horses and approached the foot 
 of the mountain itself, shaking their swords and muskets. 
 Every moment some sturdy fellow, dressed in a yellow cav- 
 alry jacket, putting his hands around his mouth, jeered and 
 threatened the besieged, who listened patiently, standing at 
 their guns with lighted matches. 
 
 Kmita was at the side of Charnyetski, just in front of the 
 church, and saw everything clearly. On his cheeks a deep 
 flush came out, his eyes were like two torches, and in his 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 671 
 
 hand he held an excellent bow, which he had received as 
 an inheritance from his father, who had captured it from 
 a celebrated Agd at Hotsin. He heard the threats and in- 
 vectives, and finally when a gigantic horseman had come 
 under the cliff and was making an uproar he turned to 
 Charnyetski, — 
 
 " As God is true, he is blaspheming against the Most 
 Holy Lady. I understand German; he blasphemes dread- 
 fully ! I cannot endure it ! " And he lowered the bow ; 
 but Charnyetski touched him with his han J, — 
 
 " God will punish him for his blasphemy," said he j " but 
 Kordetski has not permitted us to shoot first, let them 
 begin." 
 
 He had barely spoken when the horseman raised his 
 musket to his face ; a shot thundered, and the ball, with- 
 out reaching the walls, was lost somewhere among the 
 crannies of the place. 
 
 " We are free now ! " cried Kmita. 
 
 " Yes," answered Charnyetski. 
 
 Kmita, as a true man of war, became calm in a moment. 
 The horseman, shading his eyes with his hands, looked 
 after the ball ; Kmita drew the bow, ran his finger along 
 the string till it twittered like a swallow, then he bent care- 
 fully and cried, — 
 
 " A corpse, a corpse ! " 
 
 At the same moment was heard the whirring whistle of 
 the terrible arrow ; the horseman dropped his musket, 
 raised both hands on high, threw up his head, and fell on 
 his back. He struggled for a while like a fish snatched from 
 water, and dug the earth with his feet ; but soon he stretched 
 himself and remained without niotion. 
 
 " That is one ! " said Kmita. 
 
 " Tie it in your sword-sash," answ ered Charnyetski. 
 
 "A bell-rope would not be long enough, if God will 
 permit ! " cried Pan Andrei. 
 
 A second horseman rushed to the dead man, wishing to 
 see what had happened to him, or perhaps to take his purse, 
 but the arrow whistled again, and the second fell on the 
 breast of the first. Meanwhile the field-pieces which 
 Count Veyhard had brought with him opened fire. He 
 could not storm the fortress with them, neither could he 
 think of capturing it, having only cavalry ; but he gave 
 command to open fire to terrify the priests. Still a begin- 
 ning was made. 
 
572 
 
 THE DELUGE 
 
 Kordetski appeared at the side of Charnyetski, and with 
 him came Father Dobrosh, who managed the cloister artillery 
 in time of peace, and on holidays fired salutes i therefore he 
 passed as an excellent gunner among the monks. 
 
 The prior blessed the cannon and pointed them out to 
 the priest, who rolled up his sleeves and began to aim at a 
 point in a half circle between two buildings where a number 
 of horsemen were raging, and among them an officer with 
 a rapier in his iiand. The priest aimed long, for his repu- 
 tation was at stake. At last he took the match and touched 
 the priming. 
 
 Thunder shook the air and smoke covered the view ; but 
 after a while the wind bore it aside. In the space between 
 the buildings there was not a single horseman left. A 
 number were lying with fcheir horses on the ground ; the 
 others had fled. 
 
 The monks on the walls began to sing. The crash of 
 buildings falling around Saint Barbara's church accompanied 
 the songs. It grew darker, but vast swarms of sparks sent 
 upward by the fall of timbers pierced the air. 
 
 Trumpets were sounded again in the ranks of Count Vey- 
 hard's horsemen ; but the sound from them receded. The 
 fire was burning to the end. Darkness enveloped the foot 
 of Yasna Gora. Here and there was heard the neighing of 
 horses ; but ever farther, ever weaker, the Count was with- 
 drawing to Kjepitsi. 
 
 Kordetski knelt on the walls: 
 
 " Mary ! Mother of the one God," said he, with a powerful 
 voice, "bring it to pass *' t he whose attack comes after 
 this man will retreat in Iikc manner, — with shame and vain 
 anger in his soul." 
 
 While he prayed thus the clouds broke suddenly above 
 his head, and the bright light of the moon whitened the 
 towers, the walls, the kneeling prior and the burned ruins 
 of buildings at Saint Barbara. 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 673 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 The following day peace reigned at the foot of Yasna 
 Gora ; taking advantage of which, the monks were occupied 
 the more earnestly in preparations for defence. The last re- 
 pairs were made in the walls and the curtains, and still more 
 appliances were prepared to serve in resisting assault. 
 
 From Zdebov, Krovodja, Lgota, and Grabuvka a number 
 of tens of "easants volunteered, who had served before in 
 the land-iniantry. These were accepted and placed among 
 the defenders. Kordetski doubled and trebled himself. He 
 performed divine service, sat in council, neglected the sick 
 neither day nor night, and in the interval visited the walls, 
 talked with nobles and villagers. Meanwhile he had in his 
 face and whole person a calm of sucn character that one 
 might almost say it belonged to stone statues only. Looking 
 at his face, grown pale from watching, it might be thought 
 that that man slept an easy and sweet sleep ; but the calm 
 resignation and almost joy burning in his eyes, his lips 
 moving in prayer, announced that he watched, thought, 
 prayed, and made offerings for all. From his spirit, with 
 all its powers intent upon God, faith flowed in a calm 
 and deep stream ; all drank of this faith with full lips, 
 and whoso had a sick soul was made well. Wherever his 
 white habit was seen, there calm appeared on the faces of 
 men, their eyes smiled, and their lips repeated : " Our kind 
 father, our comforter, our defender, our good hope." They 
 kissed his hands and his habit ; he smiled like the dawn, 
 and went farther, while around him, above and before him, 
 went confidence and serenity. 
 
 Still he did not neglect earthly means of salvation ; the 
 fathers who entered his cell found him, if not on his knees, 
 over letters which he sent in every direction. He wrote to 
 Wittemberg, the commander-in-chief at Cracow, imploring 
 him to spare a sacred place ; and to Yan Kazimir, who in 
 Opola had made the last effort to save a thankless people ; 
 to Stefan Charnyetski, held by his own word as on a chain 
 at Syevyej ; to Count Veyhard ; and to Colonel Sadovski, a 
 Lutheran Cheh, who served under Miller, but who, having 
 
 -I 
 
674 
 
 THE DELUOB. 
 
 a noble soul, had endeavored to dissuade the fi(>rce general 
 from this attack on the cloister. 
 
 Two conflicting councils were held before Miller. Count 
 Veyhard, Irritated by the stubbornness which he had met on 
 November 8, used all efforts to incline the general to a 
 campaign ; he promised him untold treasures and profit, 
 he asserted that in the whole world there were scarcely 
 churches which could be compared with Chenstohova or 
 Yasna Gora. Sadovski opposed in the following manner ; — 
 
 " General," said he to Miller, " you who have taken so 
 many famed fortresses that you have been justly named 
 Poliorcetes by cities in Germany, know how much blood 
 and time it may cost to take even the weakest fortress, 
 if the assaulted are willing to resist unto death. 
 
 " But the monks will not resist ? " asked Miller. 
 
 " I think just the contrary. The richer they are, the 
 more stubborn a defence will they make ; they are confident 
 not only in the might of arms, but in the sacredness of the 
 place, which the Catholic superstition of this whole country 
 considers inviolable. It is enough to recall the German 
 war; how often have monks given an example of daring 
 and stubbornness, even in cases where soldiers themselves 
 despaired of defence 1 It will take place this time too, all 
 the more since the fortress is not so insignificant as Count 
 Veyhard would 'ike to consider it. It is situated on a rocky 
 eminence difficult for the miner, the walls which, if they 
 were not indeed in good condition, have been repaired bo- 
 fore this time ; and as to supplies of arms, powder, and 
 provisions, a cloister so rich has inexhaustible supplies; 
 fanaticism will animate their hearts and, — " 
 
 " And do you think, gracious colonel, that they will force 
 me to retreat ? " 
 
 "I do not think that, but I believe that we shall bo 
 forced to remain long under the walls, we shall have to 
 send for larger guns than those we have here, and you must 
 go to Prussia. It is necessary to calculate how much time 
 we can devote to Chenstohova ; for if his Grace the Kinjjf ol 
 Sweden summons you from the siege, for the more important 
 affairs of Prussia, the monks will report without fail that you 
 were forced to retreat. And then think, your grace, what 
 a loss your fame as Poliorcetes will sustain, not to speak 
 of the encouragement which the resisting will find in the 
 whole country. Only [here Sadovski lowered his voice] let 
 the mere intention of attacking th?s cloister be noised about, 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 576 
 
 fioroe general 
 
 \iiller. Oount 
 he bad met on 
 ) general to a 
 es and profit, 
 were scarcely 
 henstohova or 
 ng manner ; — 
 have taken so 
 justly named 
 wr much blood 
 ikest fortress, 
 kth. 
 liller. 
 
 they are, the 
 ^ are confident 
 redness of the 
 whole country 
 [1 the German 
 iple of daring 
 jrs themselves 
 s time too, all 
 cant as Count 
 -ted on a rocky 
 \rhich, if they 
 in repaired bo- 
 powder, and 
 ble supplies; 
 
 hey will forco 
 
 and it will make the worst impression. You do not know — 
 for no foreigner, not a papist, can know — what Chenstohova 
 is to this people. Very important for us are those nobles, 
 who yielded so readily ; those magnates ; the quarter troops, 
 who together with the hetmans, have come over to our 
 side. Without them we could not havo done what we have 
 (lone. With their hands wo have occupied half tins country, 
 
 — nay, more than half ; but let one shot fall at Chenstohova, 
 
 — who knows ? perhaps not a Vole will remain with us. So 
 l^reat is the strength of superstition I A new most terrible 
 war may flame up 1 " 
 
 Miller recognized in his soul the justice of Sadovski's 
 reasoning, all the more since he considered monks in 
 general, and the Chenstohova monks in particular, wizards, 
 
 — that Swedish general feared enchantments more than 
 guns; still wishing to irritate, and maybe prolong the 
 dispute, he said, — 
 
 " You speak as though you were prior of Chenstohova, or 
 as if they had begun to pay you a ransom." 
 
 Sadovski was a daring soldier and impulsive, and because 
 he knew his value he was easily offended. 
 
 " I will not say another word," answered he, haughtily. 
 
 Miller in his turn was angry at the tone in which the 
 above words were spoken. 
 
 " I will make no further request of you," said lie ; " Count 
 Veyhard is enough for me, he knows this country better." 
 
 " We shall see ! " responded Sadovski, and went out of 
 the room. 
 
 Count Veyhard in fact took his place. He brought a 
 letter, which ho had received from Varshytski with a 
 request to leave the cloister in peace ; but from this letter 
 the obstinate man drew counsel directly opposed. 
 
 "They beg," said he to Miller; "therefore they know 
 that there will be no defence." 
 
 A day later the expedition against Chenstohova was 
 decided upon at Vyelunie. 
 
 It was not kept a secret; therefore Father Yatsek 
 Uudnitski, provost of the monastery at Vyelunie, was able 
 to go in time to Chenstohova with the news. The poor 
 monk did 'ot admit for one moment that the people of 
 Yasna Gora would defend themselves. He only wanted to 
 forewarn th( m so that they might know what course to take 
 and seek favorable conditions. In fact, the news bowed 
 down the minds of the monks. In some souls courage 
 
 
576 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 weakened at onoe. But Kordetski strengthened it; ho 
 warmed the cold with the heat of liis own heart, he 
 
 Sromised days of miracle, he made the verv presence of 
 eath agreeable, and changed them so much through the 
 inspiration of his own soul that unwittingly they began to 
 prepare for the attack as thev were accustomed to prepare 
 for great church festivals, — hence with joy and solemnity. 
 
 The chiefs of the lay garrison, Zamovski and Charnyetskj, 
 also made their final preparations. Thev burned all tlu; 
 shops which were nestled around the walls of the fortress 
 and which might lighten an assault for the enemy ; the 
 buildings near the mountain were not spared either, so 
 that for a whole day a ring of flame surrounded the fortress ; 
 but when there remained of the shops merely the ashes of 
 timbers and planks, the guns of the cloister had before 
 them empty space, unhedged by any obstacles. Their black 
 jaws gaped freely into the distance, as if searching for the 
 enemy impatiently and wishing to greet them at the earliest 
 moment with ominous thunder. 
 
 Meanwhile winter was drawing near with swift step. A 
 sharp north wind was blowing, swamps were turned into 
 lumps of earth ; and in the mornings, water in shallow places 
 was congealed into frail icy shells. IMie prior, Kordetski, 
 making the rounds of the walls, rubbed his hands blue from 
 cold, and said, — 
 
 " God will send frost to assist us. It will be hard to 
 intrench batteries and dig mines ; meanwhile you will take 
 veat in warm rooms, and the north wind will soon disgust 
 them with the siege." 
 
 But for this very reason Miller was anxious to finisli 
 quickly. He had nine thousand troops, mostly infantry, and 
 nineteen guns. He had also two squadrons of I'olish cavalry, 
 but he could not count on them : first, because he could not 
 employ the cavalry in taking the lofty fortress ; and second, 
 because the men went unwillingly, and gave notice before- 
 hand that they would take no part in the struggles. Thoy 
 went rather to protect the fortress, in case of capture, 
 against the greed of the conquerors., — so at least the 
 colonels declared to the soldiers ; tliey went llnally because 
 the Swedes commanded, for the whole army of the country 
 was in their camp and had to obey. 
 
 From Vyelunie to Chenstohova the road is short. • On 
 November 18 the siege was to begin. But the Swedish 
 general calculated that it would not last above a couple of 
 
THK DELUGE 
 
 677 
 
 days, and that ho would take the precious fortress by 
 iiegutiation. 
 
 Meauwhile Kordetski, the prior, prepared the souls of 
 men. Tltey went to divine services us on a great and joyous 
 festival ; and hod it not l)een for the unquiet and pallor of 
 some faces, it might have been sup{H)sed that that was a joy- 
 ous and solemn thanksgiving. The prior himself celebrated 
 Mass; all the bells were ringing. The services did not end 
 with Mass, for a grand procession went out on the walls. 
 
 The prior, bearing the Most Holy Sacrament, was sup- 
 ported under the arms by Zamoyski and Pan Pyotr 
 Charnyetski. in front walked young boys in robes, they 
 carried censers with myrrh and incense ; before and after 
 the baldachin marched ranks of white-habited nionks, with 
 eyes and heads raised toward heaven, — men of various 
 years, from decrepit old men to tender youths who had just 
 l)egun their novitiate. The yellow flames of the candles 
 quivered in the air; but the monks moved onward and sang, 
 buried altogether in God, as if mindful of naught else in 
 the world. Behind them appeared the shaven temples of 
 nobles, the tearful faces of women, but calm beneath their 
 tears, inspired with faith and trust; peasants marched 
 also, long-haired, wearing coarse coats, resembling the 
 primitive Christians ; little children, maidens, and boys 
 mingled with the throng, joining their thin voices with the 
 general chorus. And God heard that pouring forth of 
 hearts, that fleeing from earthly oppression to the single 
 defence of His wings. The wind went down, the air grew 
 calm, the heavens became azure, and the autumnal sun 
 poured a mild pale golden, but still warm, light on the 
 earth. The procession passed once around the walls, but 
 did not return, did not disperse, — went farther. Bays from 
 the monstrance fell on the face of the prior, and that face 
 seemed golden and radiant from their light. Kordetski kept 
 his eyes closed, and on his lips was a smile not of earth, — a 
 smile of happiness, of sweetness, of exaltation ; his soul 
 was in heaven, in brightness, in endless delight, in un- 
 broken calm. But as if taking orders from above, and 
 forgetting not this earthly church, the men, the fortress, 
 and that hour then impending, he halted at moments, 
 opened his eyes, elevated the monstrance, and gave 
 blessing. 
 
 He blessed the people, the army, the squadrons, bloom- 
 ing like flowers and gleaming like a rainbow ; he blessed 
 
 VOL. 1—37 
 
678 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 the walls, and that eminence which looked dov^n and around 
 upon the land ; he blessed the cannon, the guns, smaller 
 and greater, the balls, iron and lead, the vessels with powder, 
 the planking at the cannon, the piles of harsh implements 
 used to repel the assaults of the enemy; he blessed the 
 armies lying at a distance , he blessed the north, the south; 
 the east, and the west, as if to cover that whole region, that 
 whole land, with the power of God. 
 
 It had struck two in the afternoon, the procession was 
 still on the walls ; but meanwhile on those edges, where the 
 sky and the earth seemed to touch, a bluish haze was spread 
 out, and just in that haze something began .to shimmer, to 
 move, — forms of some kind were creeping. At first dim, 
 unfolding gradually, these forms became every moment 
 more distinct. A cry was heard suddenly at the end of 
 the procession, — 
 
 " The Swedes are coming ; the Swedes are coming ! " 
 
 Then silence fell, as if hearts and tongues had grown 
 numb; bells only continued to sound. But in the still- 
 ness the voice of the prior thundered, far reaching though 
 calm, — 
 
 "Brothers, let us rejoice! the hour of victories and 
 miracles is drawing near!" 
 
 And a moment later he exclaimed : " Under Thy protec- 
 tion w* take refuge. Our Mother, Our Lady, Our Queen ! " 
 
 Meanwhile the Swedish cloud had changed into an im- 
 measurable serpent, which was crawling forward ever 
 nearer. Its terrible curves were visible. It twisted, un- 
 coiled; at one time it glittered under the light with its 
 gleaming steel scales, at another it grew dark, crawled, 
 crawled on, emerged from the^ distance. 
 
 Soon eyes looking from the walls could distinguish every- 
 thing in detail. In advance came the cavalry, after it 
 infantry in quadrangles; each regiment formed a long 
 rectangular body, over which rose a smaller one formed 
 of erect spears ; farther on, behind, after the infantry, 
 came cannon with jaws turned rearward and inclined to 
 tb^^ earth. 
 
 Their slowly movii r; barrels, black or yellowish, shone 
 with evil omen in the imn ; behind them clattered over the 
 uneven road the powder-boxes and the endless row of 
 wagons with tents and every manner of military appliance. 
 
 Dreadful but beautiful was that advance of a regular 
 army, which moved before the eyes of the people on Yasna 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 679 
 
 Lctories and 
 
 Gora, as if to terrify tliem. A little later the cavalry separ 
 rated from the rest of the army and approached at a trot, 
 trembling like waNes moved by wind. They broke soon 
 into a number of greater and smaller parties. Some 
 pushed toward the fortress; some in the twinkle of an 
 eye scattered through the neighboring villages in pursuit 
 of plunder j others began to ride around the fortress, to 
 examine the walls, study the locality, occupy the buildings 
 which were nearest. Single horsemen flew back continually 
 as fast as a horse could gallop from the larger parties to 
 the deep divisions of infantry to inform the ofl&cers where 
 they might dispose themselves. 
 
 The tramp and neighing of horses, the shouts, the ex- 
 clamations, the murmur of thousands of voices, and the 
 dull thump of cannon, came distinctly to the ears of the be- 
 sieged, who till that moment were standing quietly on the 
 wall, as if for a spectacle, looking with astonished eyes at 
 that great movement and deploying of the enemy's troops. 
 
 At last the infantry regiments arrived and began to wan- 
 der around the fortress, seeking places best fitted for forti- 
 fication. N'ow they struck, on Chenstohovka, an estate near 
 the cloister, in which there were no troops, only peasants 
 living in huts. 
 
 A regiment of Finns, who had come first, fell savagely on 
 the defenceless peasants. They pulled them out of the 
 huts by the hair, and simply cut down those who resisted ; 
 the rest of the people driven from the manor-house were 
 pursued by cavalry and scattered to the four winds. 
 
 A messenger was sent with Miller's summons to surren- 
 der; he had already sounded his trumpet before the gates 
 of the church ; but the defenders, at sight of the slaughter 
 and cruelty of the soldiers in Chenstohova, -answered with 
 cannon fire. 
 
 Now, when the people of the town had been driven out 
 of all the nearer buildings, and the Swedes had disposed 
 themselves therein, it behooved to destroy them with all 
 haste, so that the enemy might not injure the cloister under 
 cover of those buildings. Therefore the walls of the clois- 
 ter begf.n to smoke all around like the sides of a ship sur- 
 rounded by a storm and by robbers. The roar of cannon 
 shook the air till the walls of the cloister were trembling, 
 and glass in the windows of the church and other buildings 
 was rattling. Fiery balls in the form of whitish cloudlets 
 describing ill-omened arcs fell on the Swedish places of 
 
680 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 refuge, they broke rafters, roofs, walls ; and columns of 
 smoke were soon rising from the places into which balls 
 had descended. 
 
 Conflagration had enwrapped the buildings. Barely had 
 the Swedish regiments taken possession when they fled from 
 the new quarters with all breath, and, uncertain of their 
 positions, hurried about in various directions. Disorder 
 began to creep among them ; they removed the cannon not 
 yet mounted, so as to save them from being struck. Miller 
 was amazed ; he had not expected such a reception, nor such 
 gunners on Yasna Gora. 
 
 Meanwhile night came, and since he needed to bring the 
 army into order, he sent a trumpeter with a request for a 
 cessation. The fathers agreed to that readily. 
 
 In the morning, however, they burned another enormous 
 storehouse with great supplies of provisions, in which 
 building the Westland regiment had taken its quarters. 
 The fire caught the building so quickly, the shots fell, one 
 after another, with such precision that the Westlanders were 
 unable to carry off their muskets or ammunition, which ex- 
 ploded, hurling far around burning brands. 
 
 The Swedes did not sleep that night ; they made prepara- 
 tions, entrenchments for the guns, filled baskets with earth, 
 formed a camp. The soldiers, though trained during so 
 many years in so many battles, and by nature valiant and 
 enduring, did not wait for the following day with joy. The 
 first day had brought defeat. 
 
 The cannon of the cloister caused such loss among v.iie 
 Swedes that the oldest warriors were confounded, attribat- 
 ing this to careless approach to the fortress, and to going 
 too near the walls. * 
 
 But the next day, even should it bring victory, did not 
 promise glory ; for what was the capture of an inconsiderable 
 fortress and a cloister to the conquerors of so many famed 
 cities, a hundred times better fortified ? The greed of rich 
 plunder alone upheld their willingness, but that oppressive 
 alarm with which the allied Polish squadrons had approached 
 this greatly renowned Yasna Gora was imparted in a mys- 
 terious way to the Swedes. Some of them trembled at the 
 thought of sacrilege, while others feared something indefi- 
 nite, which they could not explain, and which was known 
 under the general name of enchantment. Miller himself 
 believed in it; why should not the soldiers believe? 
 
 It was noticed that when Miller was approaching the 
 
 ass 
 sel 
 ter, 
 inti 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 681 
 
 iv enormous 
 
 eed of rich 
 
 church of Saint Barbara, the horse under him slipped sud- 
 denly, started back, distended his nostrils, pricked up his 
 ears, snorted with fright, and refused to advance. The old 
 general showed no personal alarm ; still the next day he 
 assigned that place to the Prince of Hesse, and marched him- 
 self with the heavier guns to the northern side of the clois- 
 ter, toward the village of Chenstohova; there he made 
 intrenchments during the night, so as to attack in the 
 morning. 
 
 Barely had light begun to gleam in the sky when heavy 
 artillery firing began ; but this time the Swedish guns opened 
 first. The enemy did not think of making a breach in the 
 walls at once, so as to rush through it to storm ; he wanted 
 only to terrify, to cover the church and the cloister with 
 balls, to set fire, to dismount cannon, to kill people, to 
 spread alarm. 
 
 A procession went out again on the walls of the fortress, for 
 nothing strengthened the combatants like a view of the Holy 
 Sacrament, and the monks marching forward with it calmly. 
 The guns of the cloister answered, — thunder for thunder, 
 lightning for lightning, so far as the defenders were able, 
 so far as breath held out in the breast. The very earth 
 seemed to tremble in its foundations. A sea of smoke 
 stretched over the cloister and the church. 
 
 What moments, what sights for men who had never in 
 their lives beheld the bloody face of war ! and there were 
 many such in the fortress. That unbroken roar, lightnings, 
 smoke, the howling of balls tearing the air, the terrible hiss 
 of bombs, the clatter of shot on the pavement, the dull blows 
 against the wall, the souna of breaking windows, the ex- 
 plosions of bursting bombs, the whistling of fragments of 
 them, the breaking and cracking of timbers ; chaos, annihi- 
 lation, hell! 
 
 In those hours there was not a moment of rest nor ces- 
 sation ; breasts half-suffocated with smoke, every moment 
 new flocks of cannon-balls ; and amid the confusion shrill 
 voices in various parts of the fortress, the church, and the 
 cloister, were crying, — 
 
 " It is on fire I water, water ! " 
 
 " To the roof with barefooted men I more cloth I " 
 
 " Aim the cannon higher ! — higher I — aim at the centre 
 of the buildings — fire ! " 
 
 About noon the work of death increased still more. It 
 might seem that, if the smoke were to roll away, the Sv\redes 
 
582 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 would see only a pile of balls and bombs in place of the 
 cloister. A cloud of lime, struck from the walls by the 
 cannon, rose up, and mingling with the smoke, hid the light. 
 Priests went out with relics to exorcise these clouds, lest 
 they might hinder defence. The thunders of cannon were 
 interrupted, but were as frequent as the breath gulps of a 
 panting dragon. 
 
 Suddenly on a tower, newly built after a fire of the pre- 
 vious year, trumpets began to sound forth the glorious 
 music of a church hymn. That music flowed down through 
 the air and was heard round about, was heard everywhere, 
 as far as the batteries of the Swedes. The sound of the 
 trumpets was accompanied by the voices of people, and 
 amidst the bellowing and whistling, amidst the shouts, the 
 rattle and thunder of muskets, were heard the words, — 
 
 " Mother of God, Virgin, 
 Glorified by God Mary ! " 
 
 Here a number of bombs burst ; the cracking of rafters 
 and beams, and then the shout : " Water ! " struck the ear, 
 and again the song flowed on in calmness. 
 
 " From Thy Son the Lord 
 Send down to us, win for us, 
 A time of bread, a time of plenty." 
 
 Kmita, who >vas standing on the wall at the cannon, op- 
 posite the village of Chenstohova, in which Miller's quarters 
 were, and whence the greatest fire came, pushed away a less 
 accurate cannoneer to begin work himself ; and worked so 
 well that soon, though it was in November and the day cold, 
 he threw oif his fox-skin coat, tljrew off his vest, and toiled 
 in his trousers and shirt. 
 
 The hearts grew in people unacquainted with war. at 
 sight of this soldier blood and bone, to whom all that was 
 passing — that bellowing of cannon, those flocks of balls, that 
 destruction and death — seemed as ordinary an element as 
 fire to a salamander. 
 
 His brow was wrinkled, there was fire in his eyes, a flush 
 on his cheeks, and a species of wild joy in his face. Every 
 moment he bent to the cannon, altogether occupied with 
 the aiming, altogether given to the battle, thinking of 
 naught else ; he aimed, lowered, raised, at last cried, " Fire ! " 
 and when Soroka touched the match, he ran to the opening 
 and called out from time to time, — 
 
 H 
 
 whe 
 of c 
 rate 
 into 
 tion. 
 look 
 open 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 583 
 
 " One by the side of the other ! " 
 
 His eagle eyes penetrated through smoke and dust, and 
 when among the buildings he saw somewhere a dense mass 
 of caps or helmets, straightway he crushed it with an accu- 
 rate shot, as if with a thunderbolt. At times he burst out 
 into laughter when he had caused greater or less destruc- 
 tion. The balls flew over him and at his side, — he did not 
 look at anything ; suddenly, after a shot he sprang to the 
 opening, fixed his eyes in the distance, and cried, — 
 
 "The gun is dismounted! Only three pieces are pay- 
 ing there now ! " 
 
 He did not rest until midday. Sweat was pouring from 
 him, his shirt was steaming ; his face was blackened with 
 soot, and his eyes glittering. Pyotr Charnyev^t^ki himself 
 wondered at his aim, and said to him repeater'.iy, — 
 
 " War is nothing new to you ; that is clear at a glance. 
 Where have you learned it so well ? " 
 
 At three o'clock in the afternoon a second Swedish gun 
 was silent, dismounted by Kmita's accurate aim. They drew 
 out the remaining guns from the intrenchmeiu about an 
 hour later. Evidently the Swedes saw that the position 
 was untenable. 
 
 Kmita drew a deep breath. 
 
 " Rest ! " said Charnyetski to him. 
 
 " Well ! I wish to eat something. Soroka, give me what 
 you have at hand." 
 
 The old sergeant bestirred himself quickly. He brought 
 some gorailka in a tin cup and some dried fish. Kmita 
 began to eat eagerly, raising his eyes from time to time 
 and looking at the liombs flying over at no great distance, 
 just as if he were looking at crows. But still they flew in 
 considerable number, not from Ghenstohova, but from the 
 opposite side ; namely, all those which passed over the clois- 
 ter and the church. 
 
 " They have poor gunners, they point too high," said Pan 
 Andrei, without ceasing to eat ; " see, they all go over us, and 
 they are aimed at us." 
 
 A young monk heard these words, — a boy of seventeen 
 years, who had just entered his novitiate. He was the 
 first always to bring balls for loading, and he did not leave 
 his place though every vein in him was trembling from 
 fear, for he saw war for the first time, Kmita made an 
 indescribable impression on him by his calmness, and hear- 
 ing his words he took refuge near him with an involun- 
 
584 
 
 THE DELUGE. 
 
 tary movement as if wishing to seek protection and safety 
 under the wings of that strength. 
 
 " Can they reach us from that side ? " asked ^ 
 
 " Why not ? " answered Kmita. " And why, my dear 
 brother, are you afraid ? " 
 
 " I thought,'' answered the trembling youth, " that war 
 was terrible ; but I did not think it was so terrible." 
 
 " Not every bullet kills, or there would not be men in the 
 world, there would not be mothers enough to give birth to 
 them." 
 
 " I have the greatest fear of those fiery balls, those bombs. 
 Why do they burst with such noise ? Mother of God, save 
 us ! and they wound people so terribly." 
 
 " I will explain to you, and you will discover by experi- 
 ence, young father. That ball is iron, and inside it is loaded 
 with powder. In one place there is an opening rather small, 
 in which is a fuse of paper or sometimes of wood." 
 
 " Jesus of iNazareth ! is there a fuse in it ? " 
 
 " There is ; and in the fuse some tow steeped in sulphur, 
 which catches fire when the gun is discharged. Then the 
 ball should fall with the fuse toward the ground, so as to 
 drive it into the middle ; then the fire reaches the powder 
 and the ball bursts. But many balls do not fall on the 
 fuse ; that does not matter, however, for when the fire burns 
 to the end, the explosion comes." 
 
 On a sudden Kmita stretched out his hand and cried, 
 " See, see ! you have an experiment." 
 
 " Jesus ! Mary ! Joseph ! " cried the young brother, at 
 'sight of the coming bomb. 
 
 The bomb fell on the square .that moment, and snarling 
 and rus^'ng along began to bound on the pavement, drag- 
 ging behind a small blue smoke, turned once more, and 
 rolling to the foot of the wall on which they were sitting, 
 fell into a pile of wet sand, which it scattered high to the 
 battlement, and losing its power altogether, remained with- 
 out motion. 
 
 Luckily it had fallen with the fuse up ; but the sulphur 
 was not quenched, for the smoke rose at once. 
 
 " To the ground 1 on your faces I " frightened voices 
 began to shout. " To the ground, to the ground ! " 
 
 But Kmita at the same moment sprang to the pile of 
 sand, with a lightning movement of his hand caught the 
 fuse, plucked it, pulled it out, and raising his hand with 
 the burning sulphur cried, — 
 
THE DELUGE. 
 
 685 
 
 " Rise up ! It is just as if you had pulled the teeth out 
 of a dog ! It could not kill a fly now." 
 
 When he had said this, he kicked the bomb, those 
 present grew numb at sight of this deed, which surpassed 
 human daring, and for a certain time no one made bold to 
 speak; at last Charnyetski exclaimed, — 
 
 " You are a madman ! If that had burst, it would have 
 turned you into powder ! " 
 
 Pan Andrei laughed so heartily that his teeth glittered. 
 
 " But do we not need powder ? You could have loaded a " 
 gun with me, and after my death I could have done harm to 
 the Swedes." 
 
 " May the bullets strike you I Where is your fear ? " 
 
 The young monk placed his hands together and looked 
 with mute homage on Kmita. But the deed was also seen 
 by Kordetski, who was approaching on that side» He came 
 up, took Pan Andrei with his hands by the head, and then 
 made the sign of the cross on him. 
 
 " Such men as you will not surrender Yasna Gora ; but I 
 forbid exposing a needful life to danger. When the firing 
 is over and the enemy leave the field, take that bomb, pour 
 the powder out of it, and bear it to the Most Holy Lady. 
 That gif'j will be dearer to Her than those pearls and bright 
 stones which you offered Her." 
 
 " Father," answered Kmita, deeply moved, " what is there 
 great in that ? For the Most Holy Lady I would — Oh ! 
 words do not rise in my mouth — I would go to torments, 
 to death. I know not what I would not do to serve Her." 
 
 Tears glistened in the eyes of Pan Andrei, and the prior 
 said, — 
 
 " Go to Her with those tears before they dry. Her favor 
 will flow to thee, calm thee, comfort thee, adorn thee 
 with glory and honor." 
 
 When he had said this he took him by the arm and led 
 him to the churrh. Pan Charnyetski looked after them 
 for a time. At last he said, — 
 
 " I have seen many daring men in my life, who counted 
 no danger to themselves; but this Lithr;. ian is either the 
 D- 
 
 » 
 
 Here Charnyetski closed his mouth with his hand, so as 
 not to speak a foul name in the holy place. 
 
 END OF VOL. I.