CHAPTER LII.
If Zagloba was bored at Zbaraj, no less bored was Volodyovski, who waslonging especially for war and its adventures. They went out, it istrue, from time to time with the squadron in pursuit of plunderingparties who were burning and slaying on the Zbruch; but that was asmall war, principally work for scouts, difficult because of the coldwinter and frosts, yielding much toil and little glory. For thesereasons Pan Michael urged Zagloba every day to go to the assistance ofSkshetuski, from whom they had had no tidings for a long time.
"He must have fallen into some fatal trap and may have lost his life,"said Volodyovski. "We must surely go, even if we have to perish withhim."
Zagloba did not offer much opposition, for he thought they had stayedtoo long in Zbaraj, and wondered why mushrooms were not growing on themalready. But he delayed, hoping that news might come from Skshetuskiany moment.
"He is brave and prudent," answered he to the importunities ofVolodyovski. "We will wait a couple of days yet; perhaps a letter willcome and render our whole expedition useless."
Volodyovski recognized the justice of the argument and armed himselfwith patience, though time dragged on more and more slowly. At the endof December frost had stopped even robbery, and there was peace in theneighborhood. The only entertainment was in public news, which camethick and fast to the gray walls of Zbaraj.
They spoke about the coronation and the Diet, and about the questionwhether Prince Yeremi would receive the baton which belonged to himbefore all other warriors. They were terribly excited against those whoaffirmed that in view of the turn in favor of a treaty with Hmelnitski,Kisel alone could gain advancement. Volodyovski had several duels onthis point, and Zagloba several drinking-bouts; and there was danger ofthe latter's becoming a confirmed drunkard, for not only did he keepcompany with officers and nobles, but he was not ashamed to go evenamong townspeople to christenings and weddings, praising especiallytheir mead, for which Zbaraj was famous.
Volodyovski reproved him for this, saying that familiarity with peopleof low degree was not befitting a noble, since regard for a whole orderwould be diminished thereby; but Zagloba answered that the laws were toblame for that, because they permit townspeople to grow up in luxuryand to come to wealth, which should be the portion of nobles alone; heprophesied that no good could come of such great privileges forinsignificant people. It was difficult indeed to blame him in a periodof gloomy winter days amidst uncertainty, weariness, and waiting.
Gradually Vishnyevetski's regiments began to assemble in greater andgreater numbers at Zbaraj, from which fact war in the spring wasprophesied. Meanwhile people became more lively. Among others came thehussar squadron of Pan Yan, with Podbipienta. He brought tidings of thedisfavor in which the prince was at court, and of the death of PanYanush Tishkyevich, the voevoda of Kieff, whom, according to generalreport, Kisel was to succeed, and finally of the serious illness withwhich Pan Lashch was stricken down in Cracow. As to war, Podbipientaheard from the prince himself that only by force of events andnecessity would it come, for the commissioners had gone withinstructions to make every concession possible to the Cossacks. Thisaccount of Podbipienta's was received by the prince's knights withrage; and Zagloba proposed to make a protest and form a confederation,for he said he did not wish his labor at Konstantinoff to go fornothing.
All February passed with these tidings and uncertainties, and themiddle of March was approaching; but from Skshetuski there was no word.Volodyovski began to insist all the more on their expedition.
"We have to seek now not for the princess," said he, "but for Pan Yan."
It was soon shown that Zagloba was right in delaying the expeditionfrom day to day, for at the end of March the Cossack Zakhar came with aletter from Kieff addressed to Volodyovski. Pan Michael summonedZagloba at once, and when they had closeted themselves with themessenger in a room apart, he broke the seal and read the following:--
I discovered no trace on the Dniester as far as Yagorlik. Supposingthat she must be hidden in Kieff, I joined the commissioners, with whomI went to Pereyaslav. Obtaining there the hoped for consent fromHmelnitski, I arrived at Kieff, and am making a search for hereverywhere, in which the metropolitan assists me. Many of our peopleare hidden in private houses and in monasteries, but fearing the mob,they do not declare themselves; therefore search is difficult. God notonly guided and protected me, but inspired Hmelnitski with an affectionfor me; wherefore I hope that He will assist me and have mercy on mefor the future. I beg the priest Mukhovetski for a solemn Mass, atwhich you will pray for my intention.
Skshetuski.
"Praise be to God the Eternal!" cried Volodyovski.
"There is a postscript yet," said Zagloba.
"True!" answered the little knight; and he read further:--
"The bearer of this letter, the essaul of the Mirgorod kuren, had me inhis honest care when I was at the Saitch and in captivity, and now hehas aided me in Kieff and has undertaken to deliver this letter withrisk to his life. Have him in your care, Michael, so that nothing maybe wanting to him."
"'You are an honest Cossack; there is at least one such!" said Zagloba,giving his hand to Zakhar.
The old man pressed it with dignity.
"You may be sure of reward," interjected the little knight.
"He is a falcon," said the Cossack; "I like him. I did not come herefor money."
"I see you are not lacking in a spirit which no noble would be ashamedof," said Zagloba. "They are not all beasts among you,--not all beasts.But no more of this! Then Pan Skshetuski is in Kieff?"
"He is."
"And in safety, for I hear that the mob is revelling?"
"He stops with Colonel Donyets. They will do nothing to him, for ourfather Hmelnitski ordered Donyets to guard him at the peril of his lifeas the eye in his head."
"Real wonders take place! How did Hmelnitski get such a liking for PanYan?"
"Oh, he has liked him a long time!"
"Did Pan Skshetuski tell you what he was looking for in Kieff?"
"Why shouldn't he tell me when he knows that I am his friend? Isearched with him and searched by myself; so he had to tell me what hewas looking for."
"But so far you haven't found her?"
"We have not. Whatever Poles are there yet are hiding, one does notknow of the other, so that it is not easy to find any one. You heardthat the mob kill people, but I have seen it; they kill not only Poles,but those who hide them, even monks and nuns. In the monastery ofNikolai the Good there were twelve Polish women with the nuns; theysuffocated them in the cells together with the nuns. Every couple ofdays a shout is raised on the street, and people are hunted and draggedto the Dnieper. Oh, how many have been drowned already!"
"Perhaps they have killed the princess too?"
"Perhaps they have."
"No," interrupted Volodyovski; "if Bogun took her there, he must havemade it safe for her."
"Where is it safer than in a monastery? But for all that they killpeople there."
"Uf!" said Zagloba. "So you think, Zakhar, that she might haveperished?"
"I don't know."
"It is evident that Skshetuski is in good heart," said Zagloba. "Godhas visited him, but he comforts him. And is it long since you leftKieff, Zakhar?"
"Oh, long! I left Kieff when the commissioners were passing there ontheir return. Many Poles wished to escape with them, and did escape,the unfortunates! As each one was able, over the snow, over pathlesstracts, through forests, they hurried to Belogrodki; but the Cossackspursued and beat them. Many fled, many were killed, and some Pan Kiselransomed with what money he had."
"Oh, the dog-souls! And so you came out with the commissioners?"
"With the commissioners to Gushchi, and from there to Ostrog; farther Icame alone."
"Then you are an old acquaintance of Pan Skshetuski?"
"I made his acquaintance in the Saitch, nursed him when he was wounded,and then
I learned to like him as if he were my own child. I am old,and have nobody to love."
Zagloba called to the servant, gave orders to bring in mead and meat,and they sat down to supper. Zakhar ate heartily, for he was road-wearyand hungry; then he sank his gray mustaches eagerly in the dark liquid,drank, smacked his lips, and said: "Splendid mead!"
"Better than the blood which you folks drink," said Zagloba. "But Ithink that you are an honest man, and loving Pan Skshetuski, will notgo any more to the rebellion, but remain with us. It will be good foryou here."
Zakhar raised his head. "I delivered the letter, now I'll go back. I ama Cossack. It is for me to be a brother with the Cossacks, not with thePoles."
"And will you beat us?"
"I will. I am a Cossack of the Saitch. We elected Hmelnitski hetman,and now the king has sent him the baton and the banner."
"There it is for you, Pan Michael! Have not I advised a protest? Andfrom what kuren are you?"
"From the Mirgorod; but it is no longer in existence."
"What has happened to it?"
"The hussars of Pan Charnetski at Joltiya Vodi cut it to pieces. I amunder Donyets now, with those who survived. Pan Charnetski is a realsoldier; he is with us in captivity, and the commissioners haveinterceded for him."
"We have your prisoners too."
"That must be so. In Kieff they say that our best hero is a captivewith the Poles, though some say he is dead."
"Who is that?"
"Oh, the famous ataman, Bogun."
"Bogun was killed in a duel."
"But who killed him?"
"That knight there," said Zagloba, pointing proudly to Volodyovski.
The eyes of Zakhar, who at that moment had raised the second quart ofmead, stared, his face grew purple, and at last he snorted the liquidthrough his nostrils as he laughed. "That knight killed Bogun?" heasked, coughing violently from laughter.
"What's the matter with the old devil?" asked Volodyovski, frowning."This messenger takes too much liberty on himself."
"Be not angry, Pan Michael!" interrupted Zagloba. "He is clearly anhonest man, and if a stranger to politeness it is because he is aCossack. On the other hand, it is the greater praise for you thatthough you are so paltry in appearance you have wrought such mightydeeds in your time. Your body is insignificant, but your soul is great.I myself, as you remember, when looking at you after the duel, though Isaw the struggle with my own eyes, could not believe that such awhipper-snapper--"
"Oh, let us have peace!" blurted out Volodyovski.
"I am not your father, so don't be angry with me. But I tell you this;I should like to have a son like you, and if you wish, I will adopt youand convey all my property to you; for it is no shame to be great in asmall body. The prince is not much larger than you, and Alexander theGreat would not deserve to be his armor-bearer."
"What makes me angry," said Volodyovski, somewhat mollified, "isspecially this, that nothing favorable to Skshetuski is evident fromthis letter. He did not lay down his head on the Dniester, God bethanked for that; but he has not found the princess yet, and whatsurety is there that he will find her?"
"True. But if God through us has freed him from Bogun, and hasconducted him through so many dangers, through so many snares, if hehas inspired even the stony heart of Hmelnitski with a wonderfulaffection for him, you have no reason to dry up from torment and sorrowinto smoked bacon. If you do not see in all this the hand ofProvidence, it is clear that your wit is duller than your sabre,--areasonable arrangement enough, since no man can have all gifts atonce."
"I see one thing," answered Volodyovski, moving his mustaches,--"thatwe have nothing to do here, and still we must stay here till we witherup altogether."
"I shall wither up sooner than you, for I am older, and you know thatturnips wither and salt meat grows bitter from age. Let us rather thankGod for promising a happy end to all our troubles. Not a little have Igrieved for the princess,--more indeed than you have, and little lessthan Skshetuski,--for she is my dear daughter, and it is true that Imight not love my own so much. They say indeed that she is as much likeme as one cup is like another; but I love her besides that, and youwould not see me either happy or at peace if I did not hope thather trouble would soon come to an end. To-morrow I shall write awedding-hymn; for I write very beautiful verses, though in recent timesI have neglected Apollo somewhat for Mars."
"What is the use in thinking of Mars now! May the hangman take thatKisel and all the commissioners and their treaties! They will makepeace in the spring as true as two and two are four. Pan Podbipienta,who saw the prince, says so too."
"Podbipienta knows as much of public affairs as a goat does of pepper.While at the court his mind was more on that tufted lark than anythingelse, and he pushed up to her as a dog to a partridge. God grant thatsome one else may get her from him! But enough of this! I do not denythat Kisel is a traitor,--all the Commonwealth knows that; but as totreaties,--well, grandmother talks both ways."
Here Zagloba turned to the Cossack. "And what, Zakhar, do they sayamong your folks? Will there be peace or war?"
"There will be peace till next grass, and after that there will bedestruction either to us or to the Poles."
"Comfort yourself, Pan Michael. I have heard too that the mob arearming everywhere."
"There will be such a war as has not been," said Zakhar. "Our peoplesay that the Sultan of Turkey will come and the Khan of all the hordes.Our friend Tugai Bey is near, hasn't returned home at all."
"Console yourself, Pan Michael," repeated Zagloba. "There is a prophecytoo about the new king, that his whole reign will be passed under arms.It is most likely that the sabre will not be sheathed for a long timeto come. Man will tremble from continual war, like a broom fromshaking; but that is our soldier lot. When you have to fight, PanMichael, keep close to me and you will see beautiful things,--you willlearn how we used to fight in past and better times. Oh, my God! notsuch people as at present were those in years gone by. You are not likethem either, Pan Michael, though you are a fierce soldier and killedBogun."
"You speak truly, Pan," said Zakhar; "not such are people now as theyused to be." Then he began to gaze at Volodyovski and shake his head."But that this knight killed Bogun,--never, never!"