Pan Michael: An Historical Novel of Poland, the Ukraine, and Turkey

  CHAPTER IX.

  That same day Pan Michael announced himself at the quarters of thehetman, who gave command to admit the little knight, and said to him,"I must send Rushchyts to the Crimea to see what is passing there, andto stir up the Khan to observe his treaties. Do you wish to enterservice again and take the command after Rushchyts? You, Vilchkovski,Silnitski, and Pivo will have an eye on Doroshenko, and on the Tartars,whom it is impossible to trust altogether at any time."

  Pan Michael grew sad. He had served the flower of his life. For wholetens of years he had not known rest; he had lived in fire, in smoke, intoil, in sleeplessness, without a roof over his head, without a handfulof straw to lie on. God knows what blood his sabre had not shed. He hadnot settled down; he had not married. Men who deserved a hundred timesless were eating the bread of merit; had risen to honors, to offices,to starostaships. He was richer when he began to serve than he wasthen. But still it was intended to use him again, like an old broom.His soul was rent, because, when friendly and pleasant hands had beenfound to dress his wounds, the command was given to tear himself awayand fly to the desert, to the distant boundaries of the Commonwealth,without a thought that he was so greatly wearied in soul. Had it notbeen for interruptions and service, he would have enjoyed at least acouple of years with Anusia. When he thought of all this, an immensebitterness rose in his soul; but since it did not seem to him worthy ofa cavalier to mention his own services and dwell on them, he answeredbriefly,--

  "I will go."

  "You are not in service," said the hetman; "you can refuse. You knowbetter yourself if this is too soon for you."

  "It is not too soon for me to die," replied Pan Michael.

  Sobieski walked a number of times through the chamber, then he stoppedbefore the little knight and put his hand on his shoulderconfidentially. "If your tears are not dried yet, the wind of thesteppe will dry them for you. You have toiled, cherished soldier, allyour life; toil on still further! And should it come ever to your headthat you are forgotten, unrewarded, that rest is not granted you, thatyou have received not buttered toast, but a crust, not a starostaship,but wounds, not rest, but suffering only, set your teeth and say, 'Forthee, O Country!' Other consolation I cannot give, for I haven't it;but though not a priest, I can give you the assurance that serving inthis way, you will go farther on a worn-out saddle than others in acarriage and six, and that gates will be opened for you which will beclosed before them."

  "To thee, O Country!" said Pan Michael, in his soul, wondering at thesame time that the hetman could penetrate his secret thoughts soquickly.

  Pan Sobieski sat down in front of him and continued: "I do not wish tospeak with you as with a subordinate, but as with a friend,--nay! as afather with a son. When we were in the fire at Podhaytse, and beforethat in the Ukraine; when we were barely able to prevent thepreponderance of the enemy,--here, in the heart of the country, evilmen in security, behind our shoulders, were attaining in turbulencetheir own selfish ends. Even in those days it came more than once to myhead that this Commonwealth must perish. License lords it too much overorder; the public good yields too often to private ends. This has neverhappened elsewhere in such a degree. These thoughts were gnawing me inthe day in the field, and in the night in the tent, for I thought tomyself: 'Well, we soldiers are in a woful condition; but this is ourduty and our portion. If we could only know that with this blood whichis flowing from our wounds, salvation was issuing also.' No! even thatconsolation there was not. Oh, I passed heavy days in Podhaytse,though I showed a glad face to you officers, lest you might think thatI had lost hope of victory in the field. 'There are no men,' thoughtI,--'there are no men who love this country really.' And it was tome as if some one had planted a knife in my breast, till a certaintime--the last day at Podhaytse, when I sent you with two thousand tothe attack against twenty-six thousand of the horde, and you all flewto apparent death, to certain slaughter, with such a shouting, withsuch willingness, as if you were going to a wedding--suddenly thethought came to me: 'Ah, these are my soldiers.' And God in one momenttook the stone from my heart, and in my eyes it grew clear. 'These,'said I, 'are perishing from pure love of the mother; they will not goto confederacies, nor to traitors. Of these I will form a sacredbrotherhood; of these I will form a school, in which the younggeneration will learn. Their example will have influence; through themthis ill-fated people will be reborn, will become free of selfishness,forget license, and be as a lion feeling wonderful strength in hislimbs, and will astonish the world. Such a brotherhood will I form ofmy soldiers!'"

  Here Sobieski flushed up, reared his head, which was like the head of aRoman Caesar, and stretching forth his hands, exclaimed, "O Lord!inscribe not on our walls 'Mene, Tekel, Peres!' and permit me toregenerate my country!"

  A moment of silence followed. Pan Michael sat with drooping head andfelt that trembling had seized his whole body.

  The hetman walked some time with quick steps through the room andthen stopped before the little knight. "Examples are needed," saidhe,--"examples every day to strike the eye. Volodyovski, I havereckoned you in the first rank of the brotherhood. Do you wish tobelong to it?"

  The little knight rose and embraced the hetman's knees. "See," said he,with a voice of emotion, "when I heard that I had to march again, Ithought that a wrong had been done, and that leisure for my sufferingbelonged to me; but now I see that I sinned, and I repent of my thoughtand am unable to speak, for I am ashamed."

  The hetman pressed Pan Michael to his heart in silence. "There is ahandful of us," said he; "but others will follow the example."

  "When am I to go?" asked the little knight. "I could go even to theCrimea, for I have been there."

  "No," answered the hetman; "to the Crimea I will send Pan Rushchyts. Hehas relations there, and even namesakes, likely cousins, who, seized inchildhood by the horde, have become Mussulmans and obtained officeamong the Pagans. They will help him in everything. Besides, I need youin the field; there is no man your equal in dealing with Tartars."

  "When have I to go?" repeated the little knight.

  "In two weeks at furthest. I need to confer yet with thevice-chancellor of the kingdom and with the treasurer, to prepareletters for Rushchyts and give him instructions. But be ready, for Ishall be urgent."

  "I shall be ready from to-morrow."

  "God reward you for the intention! but it is not needful to be ready sosoon. Moreover, you will not go to stay long; for during the election,if only there is peace, I shall need you in Warsaw. You have heard ofcandidates. What is the talk among nobles?"

  "I came from the cloister not long since, and there they do not thinkof worldly matters. I know only what Pan Zagloba has told me."

  "True. I can obtain information from him; he is widely known among thenobles. But for whom do you think of voting?"

  "I know not myself yet; but I think that a military king is necessaryfor us."

  "Yes, yes! I have such a man too in mind, who by his name alone wouldterrify our neighbors. We need a military king, as was Stefan Batory.But farewell, cherished soldier! We need a military king. Do you repeatthis to all. Farewell. God reward you for your readiness!"

  Pan Michael took farewell and went out. On the road he meditated. Thesoldier, however, was glad that he had before him a week or two, forthat friendship and consolation which Krysia gave was dear to him. Hewas pleased also with the thought that he would return to the election,and in general he went home without suffering. The steppes too had forhim a certain charm; he was pining for them without knowing it. He wasso used to those spaces without end, in which the horseman feelshimself more a bird than a man.

  "Well, I will go," said he, "to those measureless fields, to thosestanitsas and mounds, to taste the old life again, make new campaignswith the soldiers, to guard those boundaries like a crane, to frolic inspring in the grass,--well, now, I will go, I will go!"

  Meanwhile he urged on the horse and went at a gallop, for he wasyearning for the speed a
nd the whistle of the wind in his ears. The daywas clear, dry, frosty. Frozen snow covered the ground and squeakedunder the feet of the horse. Compressed lumps of it flew with forcefrom his hoofs. Pan Michael sped forward so that his attendant, sittingon an inferior horse remained far behind. It was near sunset; a littlelater twilight was in the heavens, casting a violet reflection on thesnowy expanse. On the ruddy sky the first twinkling stars came out; themoon hung in the form of a silver sickle. The road was empty; theknight passed an odd wagon and flew on without interruption. Only whenhe saw Ketling's house in the distance did he rein in his horse and lethis attendant come up. All at once he saw a slender figure comingtoward him. It was Krysia.

  When he recognized her, Pan Michael sprang at once from his horse,which he gave to the attendant, and hurried up to the maiden, somewhatastonished, but still more delighted at sight of her. "Soldiersdeclare," said he, "that at twilight we may meet various supernaturalbeings, who are sometimes of evil, sometimes of good, omen; but for methere can be no better omen than to meet you."

  "Pan Adam has come," answered Krysia; "he is passing the time withBasia and Pani Makovetski. I slipped out purposely to meet you, for Iwas anxious about what the hetman had to say."

  The sincerity of these words touched the little knight to the heart."Is it true that you are so concerned about me?" asked he, raising hiseyes to her.

  "It is," answered Krysia, with a low voice.

  Pan Michael did not take his eyes from her; never before had she seemedto him so attractive. On her head was a satin hood; white swan's-downencircled her small, palish face, on which the moonlight wasfalling,--light which shone mildly on those noble brows, downcast eyes,long lids, and that dark, barely visible down above her mouth. Therewas a certain calm in that face and great goodness. Pan Michael felt atthe moment that the face was a friendly and beloved one; therefore hesaid,--

  "Were it not for the attendant who is riding behind, I should fall onthe snow at your feet from thankfulness."

  "Do not say such things," answered Krysia, "for I am not worthy; but toreward me say that you will remain with us, and that I shall be able tocomfort you longer."

  "I shall not remain," said Pan Michael.

  Krysia stopped suddenly. "Impossible!"

  "Usual soldier's service! I go to Russia and to the Wilderness."

  "Usual service?" repeated Krysia, And she began to hurry in silencetoward the house. Pan Michael walked quickly at her side, a trifleconfused. Somehow it was a little oppressive and dull in his mind. Hewanted to say something; he wanted to begin conversation again; he didnot succeed. But still it seemed to him that he had a thousand thingsto say to her, and that just then was the time, while they were aloneand no one preventing.

  "If I begin," thought he, "it will go on;" therefore he inquired all atonce, "But is it long since Pan Adam came?"

  "Not long," answered Krysia.

  And again their conversation stopped.

  "The road is not that way," thought Pan Michael. "While I begin in thatfashion, I shall never say anything. But I see that sorrow has gnawedaway what there was of my wit."

  And for a time he hurried on in silence; his mustaches merely quiveredmore and more vigorously. At last he halted before the house and said,"Think, if I deferred my happiness so many years to serve the country,with what face could I refuse now to put off my own comfort?"

  It seemed to the little knight that such a simple argument shouldconvince Krysia at once; in fact, after a while she answered withsadness and mildness, "The more nearly one knows Pan Michael, the moreone respects and honors him."

  Then she entered the house. Basia's exclamations of "Allah! Allah!"reached her in the entrance. And when they came to the reception-room,they saw Pan Adam in the middle of it, blindfolded, bent forward, andwith outstretched arms trying to catch Basia, who was hiding in cornersand giving notice of her presence by cries of "Allah!" Pani Makovetskiwas occupied near the window in conversation with Zagloba.

  The entrance of Krysia and the little knight interrupted the amusement.Pan Adam pulled off the handkerchief and ran to greet Volodyovski.Immediately after came Pani Makovetski, Zagloba, and the panting Basia.

  "What is it? what is it? What did the hetman say?" asked one,interrupting another.

  "Lady sister," answered Pan Michael, "if you wish to send a letter toyour husband, you have a chance, for I am going to Russia."

  "Is he sending you? In God's name, do not volunteer yet, and do notgo," cried his sister, with a pitiful voice. "Will they not give youthis bit of time?"

  "Is your command fixed already?" asked Zagloba, gloomily. "Your sistersays justly that they are threshing you as with flails."

  "Rushchyts is going to the Crimea, and I take the squadron after him;for as Pan Adam has mentioned already, the roads will surely be black(with the enemy) in spring."

  "Are we alone to guard this Commonwealth from thieves, as a dog guardsa house?" cried Zagloba. "Other men do not know from which end of amusket to shoot, but for us there is no rest."

  "Never mind! I have nothing to say," answered Pan Michael. "Service isservice! I gave the hetman my word that I would go, and earlier orlater it is all the same." Here Pan Michael put his finger on hisforehead and repeated the argument which he had used once with Krysia,"You see that if I put off my happiness so many years to serve theCommonwealth, with what face can I refuse to give up the pleasure whichI find in your company?"

  No one made answer to this; only Basia came up, with lips pouting likethose of a peevish child, and said, "I am sorry for Pan Michael."

  Pan Michael laughed joyously. "God grant you happy fortune! But onlyyesterday you said that you could no more endure me than a wildTartar."

  "What Tartar? I did not say that at all. You will be working thereagainst the Tartars, and we shall be lonely here without you."

  "Oh, little haiduk, comfort yourself; forgive me for the name, but itfits you most wonderfully. The hetman informed me that my command wouldnot last long. I shall set out in a week or two, and must be in Warsawat the election. The hetman himself wishes me to come, and I shall behere even if Rushchyts does not return from the Crimea in May."

  "Oh, that is splendid!"

  "I will go with the colonel; I will go surely," said Pan Adam, lookingquickly at Basia; and she said in answer,--

  "There will be not a few like you. It is a delight for men to serveunder such a commander. Go; go! It will be pleasanter for Pan Michael."

  The young man only sighed and stroked his forelock with his broad palm;at last he said, stretching his hands, as if playing blind-man's-buff,"But first I will catch Panna Barbara! I will catch her most surely."

  "Allah! Allah!" exclaimed Basia, starting back.

  Meanwhile Krysia approached Pan Michael, with face radiant and full ofquiet joy. "But you are not kind, not kind to me, Pan Michael; you arebetter to Basia than to me."

  "I not kind? I better to Basia?" asked the knight, with astonishment.

  "You told Basia that you were coming back to the election; if I hadknown that, I should not have taken your departure to heart."

  "My golden--" cried Pan Michael. But that instant he checked himselfand said, "My dear friend, I told you little, for I had lost my head."