CHAPTER XLIV.
A number of weeks passed. The nobles assembled in greater and greaternumbers for the election. The population of the city increased tenfold;for with the crowds of nobles poured in thousands of merchants andshopkeepers of the whole world, from distant Persia to England beyondthe sea. On the field of Vola a booth was built for the senate, andaround it whitened already thousands of tents, with which the spaciousmeadows were entirely covered. No one could tell yet which of the twocandidates--Prince Kazimir, the cardinal, or Karl Ferdinand, the bishopof Plotsk--would be elected. On both sides great were the efforts andexertions made. Thousands of pamphlets were given to the world,relating the merits and defects of the candidates. Both had numerousand powerful adherents. On the side of Karl stood, as is known, PrinceYeremi, who was the more terrible for his opponents, as it was alwayslikely that he would draw after him the inferior nobles, who wereenamoured of him; and with the inferior nobles lay the ultimatedecision. But neither did Kazimir lack power. Seniority was in hisfavor. On his side was the influence of the chancellor; the primateappeared to incline to him. On his side stood the majority of themagnates, each of whom had numerous clients; and among the magnatesalso was Prince Dominik Zaslavski Ostrogski, voevoda of Sandomir, withgreatly injured reputation after Pilavtsi and even threatened withprosecution, but always the greatest lord in the Commonwealth, nay,even in all Europe, and able at any moment to throw the immense weightof his wealth into the scale of his candidate.
Still the adherents of Kazimir more than once had bitter hours ofdoubt; for as has been said, everything depended on the inferiornobles, who, beginning from the 4th of October, had camped in crowdsaround Warsaw and were coming still in thousands from every side of theCommonwealth, and who in an incalculable majority declared for PrinceKarl, attracted by the magic of Vishnyevetski's name and the liberalityof the prince in public objects. Karl was a good manager and wealthy;he did not hesitate at that moment to devote considerable sumsto the formation of new regiments which were to be placed undercommand of Yeremi. Kazimir would have followed his example willingly;it was certainly not greed that held him back, but just theopposite,--excessive liberality, the immediate result of which was aninsufficiency, and continual lack of money in his treasury.
Meanwhile both sides were canvassing. Every day messengers were flyingbetween Nyeporente and Yablonna. Kazimir in the name of his ownseniority and brotherly affection adjured Karl to resign; but thebishop held back, answering that it would not become him to contemn,the fortune which might meet him, since that fortune was in the freegift of the Commonwealth, and was his to whom the Lord had designed it.Time passed; the term of six weeks was approaching, and together withit the Cossack storm. News had come that Hmelnitski, having raised thesiege of Lvoff, which had ransomed itself after a number of assaults,had invested Zamost, and night and day was storming that last rampartof the Commonwealth.
It was said too that besides the delegates whom Hmelnitski had sent toWarsaw with a letter and declaration that as a noble of Poland he wouldgive his vote to Kazimir, there were nobles hidden among the crowd, andthat the city itself was full of disguised Cossack elders whom no onecould detect, for they had come like regular and wealthy nobles,differing in nothing, even in speech, from other electors, especiallythose from the Russian provinces. Some, as was said, had crept inthrough simple curiosity to look at the election and Warsaw; others tospy, to obtain news, to hear talk about the war,--how many troops theCommonwealth thought of putting in the field, and what grants itproposed for the levies. Perhaps there was much truth in the reportsconcerning these guests; for among the Zaporojian elders were manynobles who had become Cossacks, who had picked up some Latin andtherefore were not to be recognized in any way. Besides, in the distantsteppes Latin did not flourish as a rule, and such princes as theKurtsevichi did not know it any better than Bogun and other atamans.
But reports like these with which the election field as well as thecity were filled, together with news of the movements of Hmelnitski andthe Cossack-Tartar expeditions,--which had reached, it was said, theVistula,--filled people's minds with alarm, and more than once becamecauses of tumult. In the crowd of nobles to cast on a man the suspicionof being a Zaporojian in disguise was enough to insure his being sabredinto small pieces before he could show who he was. In this way innocentmen might perish and the dignity of deliberations be destroyed,especially since with the custom of the time sobriety was nottoo much observed. The chapter "propter securitatem loci" (concerningpublic peace) was inadequate to stop the endless quarrels in whichpeople were cut down for the slightest cause. But if those tumults,sabre-slashings, and drinking-bouts alarmed orderly people, penetratedwith a love of good and peace, through the danger with which theythreatened the country, on the other hand the reckless, the disorderly,the gamblers and disturbers felt as it were in their element; theyconsidered this as their own special season, their day of harvest, andthe more boldly permitted themselves various misdeeds.
It is needless to add that among these Zagloba was first. His primacywas secured by his great fame as a knight, his unquenchable thirstupheld by a supply of drink, a tongue so tanned that it had no equal,and by a self-confidence which nothing could shake. But he had at timeshis attacks of "melancholy;" then he shut himself up in a room or atent, and did not go out, or if he did go he was in angry humor,inclined to quarrels and genuine fighting. It happened, in fact, thatin such a humor he hacked up Pan Dunchevski badly, only because he hadknocked against his sabre in passing. At such times he endured only thepresence of Pan Michael, to whom he complained that a longing forSkshetuski and the "poor young lady" was devouring him. "We havedeserted her, Pan Michael," he used to say; "we have betrayed her likeJudas into godless hands. Don't excuse yourself to me with your _nemineexcepto_. What is happening to her, Pan Michael, tell me that?"
In vain Pan Michael explained that had it not been for Pilavtsi, theywould have been searching for "the poor young lady," but that now whenthe whole power of Hmelnitski separated them from her it was animpossible thing. Zagloba did not yield himself to consolation, butfell into still greater passion, cursing by what the world standson,--"Feather-bed," "Baby," and "Latin."[16]
But these periods of gloom were of short duration. When they were overZagloba, as if wishing to reward himself for lost time, generallyrevelled and drank more than ever. He spent his time in taverns incompany with the mightiest drinkers or with women of the capital, inwhich occupation Pan Michael held him trusty companionship.
Pan Michael, a soldier and a splendid officer, possessed not, however,a farthing's worth of that seriousness which misfortune and sufferinghad developed, for instance, in Skshetuski. Volodyovski understood hisduty to the Commonwealth in this way: he killed whomsoever he wasordered to kill,--cared for naught else. He knew nothing of publicquestions; he was always ready to bewail a military defeat, but itnever entered his head that quarrels and tumults were as harmful topublic affairs as defeats; in one word, he was a thoughtless young manwho, having entered the bustle of the capital, sank in it to his ears,and stuck like a thistle to Zagloba, for he was his master in license.He went therefore with him among the nobles, to whom Zagloba at hiscups related things uncreated, winning at the same time adherents forPrince Karl; he drank with him, protected him when necessary; they bothcircled around in the field of election and the city like flies in apot, and there was no corner into which they did not crawl. They wereat Nyeporente and in Yablonna; they were at all the feasts and dinnersgiven by magnates; they were at taverns,--they were everywhere, andtook part in everything. Pan Michael's youthful hand was restive; hewanted to exhibit himself, and to prove at the same time that thenobility of the Ukraine was better than any other and that the soldiersof the prince were higher than all. They went therefore to seekadventures on purpose among the Poles of the kingdom, as the mostskilled with the sword, and specially among the partisans of PrinceDominik Zaslavski, for whom both felt a particular hatred. They engagedonly with th
e most celebrated champions, men of undoubted and settledfame, and plotted the quarrels beforehand. "You pick the quarrel," saidPan Michael, "and then I will step in." Zagloba, very skilful in fenceand by no means timid in duelling with a brother noble, did not alwaysagree to have a substitute, especially in affairs with adherents ofZaslavski; but when it was a question with some famous swordsman, hehalted in the dispute; if the noble was eager for the sword andchallenged, Zagloba said: "My good sir, I should be without conscienceif I were to expose you to evident death by fighting with you myself;better try my little son and pupil here, and I am not sure that youwill be able to manage him." After such words Volodyovski appeared onthe scene with his little upturned mustaches, nose in the air, andgaping face. Whether accepted or not, he opened the fight, and being intruth a master above masters, he generally stretched out his antagonistafter a few blows. In this fashion the two found sport from which theirfame increased among restless spirits and the nobles, but especiallythe fame of Pan Zagloba, for it was said: "If the pupil is such a man,what must the master be!" Pan Kharlamp was the one person thatVolodyovski could not find for a long time. He thought: "Perhaps theyhave sent him back to Lithuania on business of some sort."
In this way nearly six weeks had gone, during which time public affairshad advanced notably. The protracted battle of the candidate brothers,the efforts of their adherents, the fever and storm of passion amongpartisans had passed, leaving scarcely trace or memory. It was nowknown to all that Yan Kazimir would be chosen; for Prince Karl hadyielded to his brother, and resigned the candidature of his owngood-will. It is a wonderful thing that the voice of Hmelnitski hadgreat weight; for it was hoped on every side that he would yieldto the authority of the king, especially when chosen according tohis wish. These previsions were justified in great part. But forVishnyevetski--who, like Cato of old, ceased not one moment fromrepeating that the Zaporojian Carthage must be destroyed--this turn ofaffairs was a fresh blow. Negotiations must be the order of the day.The prince knew, it is true, that these negotiations would eitherresult in nothing from the start or would be broken off soon from thenature of the case, and saw war in the future; but disquiet seized himat the thought: "What will be the issue of that war? After negotiationsthe justified Hmelnitski will be still stronger, and the Commonwealthstill weaker. And who will lead its forces against a chief so famous asHmelnitski? Will not there be new defeats and new catastrophes whichwill exhaust its forces to the last?" For the prince did not deceivehimself, and knew that to him, the most eager adherent of Karl, thecommand would not be given. Kazimir had promised, it is true, to favorhis brother's adherents as much as his own. Kazimir was high-souled,but he was a partisan of the chancellor's policy. Some one else willreceive the command, not the prince; and woe to the Commonwealth if hebe not a leader superior to Hmelnitski! At this thought a twofold painstraitened the soul of Yeremi,--fear for the future of the country, andthe unendurable feeling of a man who sees that his services are passedover, that justice will not be done him, and that others will raisetheir heads above his. He would not have been Yeremi Vishnyevetski ifhe had not been proud. He felt within himself the power to wield thebaton, and he had earned the baton; therefore he suffered doubly.
It was reported among officers that the prince would not wait for theclose of the election, and would leave Warsaw; but that was not true.The prince not only did not leave, but he visited, in Nyeporente,Prince Kazimir, who received him with unbounded favor; then he returnedto the city for a prolonged stay, caused by military affairs. It was aquestion of finding support for the army, which the prince urgeddiligently. Besides, new regiments of dragoons and infantry wereequipped at Karl's expense. Some had been sent to Russia already;others were to be drilled. For this purpose the prince sent out onevery side officers expert in organizing troops. Kushel and Vershul hadbeen sent, and finally the turn came for Volodyovski. One day he wassummoned to the prince, who gave him the following order:--
"You will go by way of Babitse and Lipki to Zaborovo, where horses forthe regiment are waiting; you will inspect them, reject those unfit,and pay Pan Tshaskovski for those accepted; then you will bring themfor the soldiers. The money you will receive here in Warsaw from thepaymaster on this my order."
Volodyovski set about the work briskly. He took the money, and on thesame day he and Zagloba with eight others set out with a wagon bearingthe money. They moved slowly, for that side of Warsaw was swarming withnobles, attendants, and horses; the villages as far as Babitse were sopacked that in every cottage there were guests. It was easy to meetadventures in a press of people of various humors; and in spite oftheir greatest efforts and modest bearing, our two friends did notescape them.
On reaching Babitse they saw before the public house a number of nobleswho were just mounting to continue their journey. The two parties,after saluting each other, were about to pass, when suddenly one of theriders looked at Volodyovski, and without saying a word rode up to himon a trot.
"Ah, you are here, my little fellow!" cried he. "You have beenskulking, but I have found you. You won't escape me this time! Eh,gentlemen!" shouted he to his comrades, "just wait a bit. I havesomething to say to this little stub of an officer, and I should liketo have you as witnesses of my words."
Volodyovski smiled with pleasure, for he recognized Pan Kharlamp. "Godis my witness that I was not hiding," said he; "more than that, I waslooking for you myself to ask if you still cherished rancor against me,but somehow we couldn't meet."
"Pan Michael," whispered Zagloba, "you are on duty."
"I remember," muttered Volodyovski.
"Come to business!" roared Kharlamp. "Gentlemen, I have promised thismilksop, this bald mustache, to clip his ears for him, and I'll clipthem as true as I am Kharlamp. Be witnesses, gentlemen, and you,youngster, come up here!"
"I cannot, as God is dear to me, I cannot," said Volodyovski; "let meoff even for a couple of days."
"Why can you not? You are frightened, I suppose. If you do not meet meat once, I will slap you so with my sword that you'll think of yourgrandfather and grandmother. Oh, you dodger, you venomous gadfly, youknow how to get in the way, you know how to buzz, you know how to bite,but when it comes to the sabre you are not there."
Here Zagloba interfered. "It seems to me that you are pressing mattersrather far," said he to Kharlamp, "and look out that this fly does notsting; if he does, no plaster will help you. Tfu! the devil take it,don't you see that this officer is on duty? Look at that wagon withmoney which we are taking to the regiment, and understand that hisperson is not at his own disposal and he cannot meet you. Whoever can'tunderstand that is a dunce and not a soldier. We serve under thevoevoda of Rus, and we have fought men different from you; but to-dayit is impossible, and what is deferred will not escape."
"It is certain," said one of Kharlamp's comrades, "that they aretransporting money; he cannot meet you."
"What is their money to me?" screamed the irrepressible Kharlamp; "lethim stand before me or I'll slap him with my sword."
"I will not meet you to-day, but I give you the word of a soldier tomeet you in three or four days, wherever you please, the moment I havecarried out my orders. And if this does not satisfy you, gentlemen, Ishall give order to touch the triggers, for I shall believe that I haveto do not with soldiers, but with brigands. Take yourselves off then toall the devils, for I have no time to loiter."
On hearing this, the dragoons of the escort turned the muzzles of theirguns on the aggressors. That movement, as well as the decisive words ofPan Michael, produced an evident impression on the comrades ofKharlamp. "Oh, let him off!" said they. "You are a soldier yourself,you know what service is; it is certain that you will receivesatisfaction. He is a bold piece, like all men of the Russian squadron;restrain yourself, since we ask you."
Pan Kharlamp blustered awhile longer, but saw at last that he wouldeither make his companions angry or expose them to an uncertainstruggle with the dragoons. He turned therefore to Volodyovski, andsaid: "Give me your word that yo
u will meet me."
"I will seek you myself, were it only because you have asked twiceabout such a thing. To-day is Wednesday, and let it be Saturday at twoo'clock in the afternoon. Select your ground."
"Here in Babitse there is a crowd of travellers," said Kharlamp;"something might interfere. Let it be over there at Lipki; it isquieter, and not far for me, because our quarters are in Babitse."
"Will there be as large a company of you as to-day?" asked the prudentZagloba.
"Oh, it's not necessary," said Kharlamp; "I shall come only with theSelitskis, my relatives. You will be without your dragoons, I trust."
"Perhaps they fight duels with the aid of soldiers among you," repliedPan Michael; "but it is not the custom with us."
"In four days then, on Saturday," said Kharlamp. "We shall be in frontof the public house at Lipki; and now with God!"
"With God!" said Volodyovski and Zagloba.
The opponents parted quietly. Pan Michael was made happy by the comingamusement, and promised himself to make a present to Pan Longin ofmustaches shorn from the light-horseman. He went therefore in goodspirits to Zaborovo, where he found Prince Kazimir, who had come tohunt. But Pan Michael saw his future lord only at a distance, for hewas in a hurry. In two or three days he carried out his orders,inspected the horses, paid Pan Tshaskovski, returned to Warsaw, and atthe appointed time, yes, an hour earlier, he was at Lipki with Zaglobaand Pan Kushel, whom he had asked to be his other second.
On arriving in front of the inn kept by a Jew, they entered to moistentheir throats a little with mead and amuse themselves with conversationat the glass.
"Here, scald-head! is your master at the castle?" asked Zagloba of theinnkeeper.
"He is away in the town."
"Are there many nobles stopping in Lipki?"
"My house is empty. Only one has stopped with me, and he is sitting inthe next room,--a rich man, with servants and horses."
"And why did he not go to the castle?"
"Because it is evident he does not know our master. Besides, the placehas been closed for a month past."
"Maybe it is Kharlamp," said Zagloba.
"No," said Volodyovski.
"Well, Pan Michael, it seems to me that it is he. I'll go and see whoit is. Jew, has this gentleman been long here?"
"He came to-day, not two hours ago."
"And don't you know where he came from?"
"I do not; but it must be from a distance, for his horses are used up;his men said, from beyond the Vistula."
"Why did he come here then to Lipki?"
"Who knows?"
"I'll go and see," repeated Zagloba; "perhaps it is some acquaintance."Approaching the closed door of the room, he knocked with his sword-hiltand said: "Worthy sir, may I enter?"
"Who is there?" answered a voice within.
"A friend," said Zagloba, opening the door. "Ah, begging your pardon,maybe I'm not in season," he added, pushing his head into the room. Hedrew back suddenly, and slammed the door as if he had looked on death.On his face was depicted terror coupled with the greatest astonishment.His mouth was open, and he looked with vacant stare on Volodyovski andKushel.
"What is the matter?" asked Volodyovski.
"By the wounds of Christ, be quiet!" said Zagloba. "Bogun is there!"
"Who? What's happened to you?"
"There--Bogun!"
Both officers rose to their feet.
"Have you lost your reason? Compose yourself! Who is it?"
"Bogun! Bogun!"
"Impossible!"
"As I live! As I stand before you here, I swear to you by God and allthe saints."
"Why are you so disturbed?" asked Volodyovski. "If he is there, thenGod has given him into our hands. Compose yourself! Are you sure thatit is he?"
"As sure as that I am speaking to you, I saw him; he was changing hisclothes."
"And did he see you?"
"I don't know; I think not."
Volodyovski's eyes gleamed like coals. "Jew," whispered he, beckoninghurriedly with his hand. "This way! Are there doors from the room?"
"No, only through this room."
"Kushel, you go under the window!" whispered Pan Michael. "Oh, he willnot escape us this time!"
Kushel, without speaking a word, ran out of the room.
"Come to your senses," said Volodyovski. "Not over you, but over hisneck hangs destruction. What can he do to you? Nothing!"
"Nothing; but from astonishment I am unable to catch my breath." And hethought to himself: "True, I have nothing to fear. Pan Michael is withme. Let Bogun be afraid!" And putting on a terribly savage look, hegrasped the hilt of his sabre. "Pan Michael, he must not escape us."
"But is it he?--for still I can't believe. What should he be doinghere?"
"Hmelnitski has sent him as a spy; that is most certain. Wait! PanMichael, we will seize him and lay down the condition that unless hegives up the princess, we will deliver him to justice. If he gives upthe princess, then let the devil take him."
"But are there not too few of us,--two, and Kushel? He will defendhimself like a madman, and he has attendants also."
"Kharlamp will come with two; there will be six of us. That's enough;be quiet!"
At that moment the door opened, and Bogun entered the room. He couldnot have seen Zagloba looking into his room, for at the sight of him hequivered suddenly, a flush as it were went over his face, and his handas quick as lightning rested on the hilt of his sabre; but all thislasted only the twinkle of an eye. The flush went from his face, whichgrew slightly pale.
Zagloba looked at him, and said nothing. The ataman also remainedsilent, and in the room a fly on the wing could be heard. Those twopersons whose fates had crossed in such a wonderful manner pretended atthe moment not to know each other. The interval was rather long; itappeared to Pan Michael that whole ages were passing.
"Jew," said Bogun, all at once, "is it far from here to Zaborovo?"
"Not far," answered the Jew. "Are you going now?"
"Yes," said Bogun, and turned toward the door leading to the anteroom.
"With your permission," sounded the voice of Zagloba.
The chief halted at once as if he had grown to the floor, and turningto Zagloba, fastened his dark and terrible eyes on him. "What do youwish?" asked he, curtly.
"It seems to me that we made acquaintance somewhere,--at a wedding on afarm in Russia, was it not?"
"Yes," said the chief haughtily, putting his hand again on the hilt.
"How does your health serve you?" asked Zagloba. "For you rode off insuch haste that I had no time to bid you farewell."
"And were you sorry for that?"
"Of course I was sorry. We should have had a dance, and the companywould have been larger." Here Zagloba pointed to Volodyovski. "This isthe cavalier who came in, and he would have been glad of a neareracquaintance with you."
"Enough of this!" shouted Pan Michael, rising suddenly. "I arrest you,traitor!"
"With what authority?" asked the ataman, raising his head haughtily.
"You are a rebel, an enemy of the Commonwealth, and have come here as aspy."
"And who are you?"
"Oh, I will not explain that to you; but you won't escape me!"
"We shall see," said Bogun. "I should not explain to you who I am ifyou had challenged me to sabres like a soldier; but since you threatenwith arrest, then I will explain. Here is a letter which I carry fromthe Zaporojian hetman to Prince Kazimir, and not finding him inNyeporente, I am going with it to Zaborovo. How will you arrest menow?"
Bogun looked haughtily and sneeringly at Volodyovski. Pan Michael wasgreatly confused, like a hound which feels that the game is escapinghim; and not knowing what to do, he turned an inquiring look atZagloba. A painful moment of silence followed.
"It is difficult indeed," said Zagloba. "Since you are an envoy, wecannot arrest you; and you will not meet this cavalier with a sabre,for you have already fled before him till the earth groaned."
Bogun's face grew purple, for that moment he recognized Volodyovski.Shame and wounded pride sprang into play in the fearless chief. Theremembrance of that flight scorched him like fire. It was the singlestain on the fame of his heroism,--the fame which he loved beyond life,beyond all.
The inexorable Zagloba continued in cold blood: "You had almost lostyour trousers, when pity penetrated this cavalier. Tfu! young hero, youhave a woman's face, and a woman's heart too. You were brave with theold princess and the lad her son, but with a knight you are a wind-bag.Carry letters, steal young ladies,--that's your work, not war! As Godis dear to me, I saw with my own eyes how your trousers were flyingaround. Tfu, tfu! Now you talk of the sabre, for you are carrying aletter. How are we to meet you when you shield yourself with thatletter? All dust in the eyes, young hero! Hmelnitski is a good soldier,Krivonos a good one; but among the Cossacks there is many a cowardlysneak."
Bogun pushed up suddenly to Zagloba, and Zagloba drew back with equalswiftness behind Volodyovski, so that the two young knights stoodbefore each other, eye to eye.
"Not from fear did I retreat before you, but to save my men," saidBogun.
"I know not your reasons for fleeing, but I know that you fled," saidVolodyovski.
"I will meet you anywhere, even here, this minute."
"Will you challenge me?" asked Volodyovski, half closing his eyes.
"You have touched my fame, tried to cast shame on me, I need yourblood."
"No dispute on those points," said Volodyovski.
"No harm to the consenting party," added Zagloba. "But who will deliverthe letter to the prince?"
"Give yourself no headache over that; it is my affair."
"Fight, then, if it cannot be otherwise," said Zagloba. "But if fortunefavors you against this cavalier, remember that you will have to meetme. And now, Pan Michael, come out to the front of the house; I havesomething important to say."
The two friends went out and called Kushel from under the window of theroom.
"Gentlemen, our affair is a bad one. He has really a letter to theprince; if we kill him, it is a capital crime. Remember that thechapter 'propter securitatem loci' has jurisdiction ten miles from thefield of election, and he is the same as an envoy. A weighty question!We must either hide somewhere afterward, or perhaps the prince willprotect us; otherwise it may go hard with us. And to let him go freeagain is still worse. This is the only way to liberate our poor younglady. For when he is no longer in the world we shall find her moreeasily. The Lord himself evidently wishes to aid her and Skshetuski;that's clear. Let us help."
"Will you invent some stratagem?" asked Kushel.
"With my stratagem I have already brought him to challenge us. Butseconds are necessary,--strangers. My idea is to wait for Kharlamp. Iwill undertake to make him yield his first place, and in case of need,to testify how we were challenged and obliged to defend ourselves. Wemust also find out more accurately from Bogun where he hid the younglady. If he has to die, she is nothing to him; perhaps he will tell ifwe press him. And if he won't tell, then it is better that he shouldnot live. It is necessary to do everything with foresight anddiscretion. My head is bursting, gentlemen."
"Who will fight with him?" asked Kushel.
"Pan Michael first, I second," said Zagloba.
"And I third."
"Impossible!" interrupted Volodyovski. "I will fight with him alone,and that will be the end. If he brings me down, it is his fortune. Lethim go in peace."
"I've told him already," said Zagloba; "but if it is your wish, Iyield."
"If it is his wish, he may fight with you, but with no one else."
"Let us go to him then."
"Let us go."
They found Bogun in the main room, drinking mead. He was perfectlycalm.
"Listen," said Zagloba, "for these are important questions which wewant to discuss with you. You have challenged this cavalier. Very well.But you must know that since you are an envoy you are protected by law,for you come among civilized men, not among wild beasts; and thereforewe cannot meet you unless you state before witnesses that you havechallenged us of your own free will. A number of nobles with whom wehad to fight a duel will come here, and you will make this statementbefore them. We will give you our knightly word that if fortune favorsyou against Pan Volodyovski you will go away at liberty, and no onewill hinder you, unless you wish to make a trial with me."
"Agreed," said Bogun. "I will make that statement before those nobles,and I will tell my men to deliver the letter and to inform Hmelnitski,if I perish, that I made the challenge. And if God favors me tovindicate my Cossack fame against this knight, I will ask you tosabres."
When he had spoken he looked into Zagloba's eyes, Zagloba was ratherconfused, coughed, spat, and said,--
"Agreed! When you have made a trial of my pupil, you will know whatsort of work you will have with me. But enough of this! There isanother and more important point in which we appeal to your conscience;for though a Cossack, we wish to treat you as a knight. You carried offPrincess Helena Kurtsevichovna, the betrothed of our comrade andfriend, and you hold her secreted. Know that if we had accused you ofthis it would not have helped you that Hmelnitski made you his envoy,for this is 'raptus puellae,' a capital offence, which would be judgedhere immediately. But since you are going to combat, and may perish,bethink yourself what will happen to that unfortunate lady if you die.Do you, who love her, wish evil and destruction to her? Will youdeprive her of protection and give her to shame and misfortune? Do youwish to be her executioner, even when you are dead?"
Here the voice of Zagloba sounded with unusual solemnity for him. Bogungrew pale and asked: "What do you want of me?"
"Tell us where she is hidden, so that we may find her if you die, andgive her to her betrothed. If you do this, God will have mercy on yoursoul."
The chief rested his head on his hands, and thought deeply. The threecomrades watched carefully the changes in that mobile face, which wassuddenly covered with such touching grief as if neither anger, rage,nor any fierce feeling had ever played upon it, and as if that man hadbeen created only for love and yearning. A long time this silencelasted, till finally it was broken by the voice of Zagloba, whichtrembled while uttering the following words,--
"If you have already put her to shame, may God condemn you and let herfind shelter in a cloister."
Bogun raised his sad, moistened eyes, and said: "If I have shamed her?I know not how you Poles love, knights and cavaliers, but I am aCossack. I protected her in Bar from death and disgrace, and afterwardtook her to the desert, and there guarded her as the eye in my head;did no injury to her, fell at her feet and bowed to her as before animage. If she told me to go, I went, and have not seen her since, forwar detained me."
"God will remember that for you at the judgment," said Zagloba, sighingdeeply, "But is she safe? Krivonos and the Tartars are there."
"Krivonos is at Kamenyets, and sent me to ask Hmelnitski whether he wasto march on Kudak. He has surely gone there, and where she is there areneither Cossacks nor Poles nor Tartars. She is safe."
"Where is she, then?"
"Listen to me, Poles! Let it be as you wish. I will tell you where sheis, and I will give the order to render her up; but you must give meyour knightly word that if God favors me, you will not look for her.You promise for yourselves and for Pan Skshetuski, and I will tellyou."
The three friends looked at one another.
"We cannot do that," said Zagloba.
"Oh, as true as life we cannot!" cried Kushel and Volodyovski.
"Is it possible?" asked Bogun. His brows were frowning and his eyesflashed. "Well, why can you not?"
"Because Pan Skshetuski is not present; and besides, you may be surethat none of us would cease to seek for her, even if you have hiddenher under ground."
"So you would make this bargain with me: 'Cossack, give up your soul,and then we will sabre you!' Oh, don't wait for it! And do you think myCossack sabre is not made of steel, that you are croaking over
me likeravens over a dead carcass? And why am I to die, and not you? You wantmy blood, but I want yours! We shall see who gets whose."
"Then you will not tell?"
"Why talk to me? Death to you all!"
"Death to you! You deserve to be cut to pieces with sabres!"
"Try it!" said the chief, rising quickly.
Kushel and Volodyovski sprang at the same moment from the bench.Threatening looks were exchanged, breasts overflowing with angerbreathed more violently, and it is unknown what might have happened,had not Zagloba, who had looked through the window, cried: "Kharlamphas come with his seconds!"
The light-horse captain with his two companions, the Selitskis, enteredthe room. After the first greeting, Zagloba took them aside to explainthe affair. He spoke so eloquently that he soon convinced them,especially when he declared that Volodyovski asked only for a shortdelay, and immediately after his struggle with the Cossack would beready to meet Kharlamp. Here Zagloba related how old and terrible wasthe hatred of all the soldiers of the prince for Bogun; how he was anenemy of the whole Commonwealth, and was one of the most desperaterebels; and finally, how he had carried off the princess, a lady of anoble house, the betrothed of a noble who was the mirror of everyknightly virtue. "And if you are a noble and have some feeling ofbrotherhood, you know that the wrong inflicted on one is inflicted onthe whole order. Can you let it go then unavenged?"
Kharlamp raised difficulties at first, and said that since matters werein that state, Bogun should be cut to pieces on the spot. "But let PanVolodyovski meet me according to agreement."
Zagloba had to explain to him again why this could not be, and that itwould not be knightly to attack one man from behind in this fashion.Happily the Selitskis helped him, both men of judgment and prudence, sothat the stubborn Lithuanian let himself be convinced at last, andagreed to a delay.
Meanwhile Bogun went to his men, and returned with the essaulEliasenko, to whom he told how he had challenged two nobles, and thenrepeated the same thing aloud, in presence of Kharlamp and theSelitskis.
"We on our part declare," said Volodyovski, "that if you come outvictorious in the struggle with me, it will depend on your will whetheryou are to fight with Pan Zagloba, and in no case will any one elsecall you out, and this company will not attack you; you will go whereyou please. For this I give my knightly word, and I beg you, gentlemenwho have just come, to add the same on your part."
"We do," said Kharlamp and the two Selitskis, solemnly.Then Bogun delivered to Eliasenko Hmelnitski's letter to the prince;and said: "You will give this letter to the prince; and if I die youwill tell him and Hmelnitski that the fault was mine, and that I wasnot killed through treachery."
Zagloba, who had a watchful eye on everything, saw not the leastdisquiet on the sullen visage of Eliasenko. It was evident that he wastoo sure of his ataman.
Bogun then turned haughtily to the nobles: "Well, to one death, toanother life," said he. "We may begin."
"Time, time!" said all, tucking back the skirts of their coats undertheir belts, and taking their sabres under their arms.
They went in front of the inn, and turned down to a creek which flowedamong a growth of hawthorns, wild roses, and plum-trees. November hadstripped, it is true, the leaves from the bushes, but the thicket wasso close that it looked black as a mourning-ribbon along through theempty fields to the forest. The day was pale, but pleasant with thatmelancholy mildness of autumn full of sweetness. The sun embroideredsoftly with gold the naked branches of the trees, and lighted up theyellow, sandy banks extending some distance along the right side of thecreek. The combatants and their seconds went straight to these banks.
"We will stop here," said Zagloba.
"Agreed," answered all.
Zagloba grew more and more unquiet; at last he approached Volodyovski,and whispered: "Pan Michael--"
"Well?"
"For the love of God, Pan Michael, exert yourself! In your hands now isthe fate of Skshetuski, the freedom of the princess, your own life andmine. God keep you from accident! I could do nothing with this robber."
"Why did you challenge him then?"
"The word came out of itself. I trusted in you, Pan Michael. I am old,and my breath is short. I choke, and this beauty can jump like a goat.He is a fleet hound, Pan Michael."
"I'll do my best," said the little knight.
"God give you aid! Don't lose courage!"
"Why should I?"
At that moment one of the Selitskis came up to them. "He is a trimfellow, your Cossack," he whispered; "he acts with us as if he were anequal, if not a superior. What a bearing! It must be that his motherlooked on some noble."
"It is more likely," said Zagloba, "that some noble looked on her."
"And so it appears to me," said Volodyovski.
"To our places!" called Bogun, suddenly.
"To our places, to our places!"
They took their places,--the nobles in a half-circle, Volodyovski andBogun opposite each other.
Volodyovski, as a man experienced in such affairs though he was young,tested the ground first with his feet to see if it was firm; then hecast his eye about, wishing to know all the unevenness of the place.And it was apparent that he did not underestimate the affair. He had tomeet with a knight the most celebrated in the whole Ukraine, of whomthe people sang songs, and whose name was known through the breadth ofRussia to the Crimea. Pan Michael, a simple lieutenant of the dragoons,promised himself much from that struggle, for it was either a gloriousdeath or an equally glorious victory; therefore he neglected nothing toshow himself worthy of such an opponent. He had an unusual seriousnessin his face, seeing which Zagloba was frightened. "He is losingcourage," thought he; "it is over with him, and then it is over withme!"
Meanwhile Volodyovski, having examined the ground carefully, began tounbutton his vest. Bogun followed his example, and both threw off theirupper garments, so that they were in trousers and shirts; then theyrolled up the sleeves on their right arms.
But how insignificant appeared little Pan Michael before the large andpowerful ataman! He was almost invisible. The seconds looked uneasilyon the broad breast of the Cossack, on the great muscles visible fromunder the rolled-up sleeve, like knots and cords. It seemed as though alittle cock had stood up to fight with a powerful falcon of thesteppes. The nostrils of Bogun were distended as if snuffing blood inadvance; his face was so contracted that his dark foretop seemed totouch his brow, and the sabre quivered in his hand; he fixed his eyesrapaciously on his opponent and waited the word.
Volodyovski looked once more through the light at the edge of hissword, moved his little yellow mustache, and stood in position.
"There will be straight cuts here," muttered Kushel to Selitski.
Meanwhile the voice of Zagloba, slightly trembling, said: "In the nameof God, begin!"