CHAPTER XVI.
Pan Zagloba had his head mightily full when he hurled the word"traitor" thrice at the eyes of the terrible hetman. At an hour nearermorning, when the wine had evaporated from his bald head, and he foundhimself with the two Skshetuskis and Pan Michael in a dungeon ofKyedani Castle, he saw, when too late, the danger to which he hadexposed his own neck and the necks of his comrades, and was greatlycast down.
"But what will happen now?" asked he, gazing with dazed look on thelittle knight, in whom he had special trust in great peril.
"May the devil take life! it is all one to me!" answered Volodyovski.
"We shall live to such times and such infamy as the world and thiskingdom have not seen hitherto!" said Pan Yan.
"Would that we might live to them!" answered Zagloba; "we could restorevirtue in others by our good example. But shall we live? That is thegreat question."
"This is a terrible event, passing belief!" said Pan Stanislav. "Wherehas the like of it happened? Save me, gentlemen, for I feel that thereis confusion in my head. Two wars,--a third, the Cossack,--and inaddition treason, like a plague: Radzyovski, Opalinski, Grudzinski,Radzivill! The end of the world is coming, and the day of judgment; itcannot be otherwise! May the earth open under our feet! As God is dearto me, I am losing my mind!"
And clasping his hands at the back of his head, he began to pace thelength and width of the cellar, like a wild beast in a cage.
"Shall we begin to pray, or what?" asked he at last. "Merciful God,save us!"
"Be calm!" said Zagloba; "this is not the time to despair."
Pan Stanislav ground his teeth on a sudden; rage carried him away. "Iwish you were killed!" cried he to Zagloba. "It was your thought tocome to this traitor. May vengeance reach you and him!"
"Bethink yourself, Stanislav," said Pan Yan, sternly. "No one couldforesee what has happened. Endure, for you are not the only mansuffering; and know that our place is here, and not elsewhere. MercifulGod! pity, not us, but the ill-fated country."
Stanislav made no answer, but wrung his hands till the joints werecracking.
They were silent. Pan Michael, however, began to whistle through histeeth, in despair, and feigned indifference to everything happeningaround him, though, in fact, he suffered doubly,--first, for themisfortune of the country, and secondly, because he had violated hisobedience to the hetman. The latter was a terrible thing for him, asoldier to the marrow of his bones. He would have preferred to die athousand times.
"Do not whistle, Pan Michael," said Zagloba.
"All one to me!"
"How is it? Is no one of you thinking whether there are not means ofescape? It is worth while to exercise one's wits on this. Are we to rotin this cellar, when every hand is needed for the country, when one manof honor must settle ten traitors?"
"Father is right," said Pan Yan.
"You alone have not become stupid from pain. What do you suppose? Whatdoes that traitor think of doing with us? Surely he will not punish uswith death?"
Pan Michael burst out in a sudden laugh of despair. "But why not? I amcurious to learn! Has he not authority, has he not the sword? Do younot 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 themeasured 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 again after a while: "Iwill not believe that we are to be put to death. If for every wordspoken in haste and in drink, a head were cut off, not one noble inthis Commonwealth would walk around with his head on his shoulders. But_neminem captivabimus?_ 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 princewill take a second thought. We are strangers; in no way do we comeunder his jurisdiction. He must respect opinion, and not begin withviolence, so as not to offend the nobles. As true as life, our party istoo large to have the heads cut from all of us. Over the officers hehas authority, I cannot deny that; but, as I think, he will look to thearmy, which surely will not fail to remember its own. And where is yoursquadron, 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 thehetman is above me."
Zagloba meditated awhile. "Give me an order to them to obey me ineverything, as they would you, if I appear among them."
"You think that you are free!"
"There is no harm in that. I have been in hotter places, and God savedme. Give an order for me and the two Skshetuskis. Whoso escapes firstwill go straight to the squadron, and bring it to rescue the others."
"You are raving! It is a pity to lose time in empty talk! Who willescape from this place? Besides, on what can I give an order; have youpaper, 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 began to walkand meditate.
Meanwhile the smoking candle went out, and darkness embraced themcompletely; only through the grating of the high window a couple ofstars were visible, twinkling in the clear sky. Zagloba's eye did notleave the grating. "If heaven-dwelling Podbipienta were living and withus," mattered the old man, "he would tear out that grating, and in anhour we should see ourselves beyond Kyedani."
"But raise me to the window," said Pan Yan, suddenly.
Zagloba and Pan Stanislav placed themselves at the wall; in a momentYan was on their shoulders.
"It cracks! As God is dear to me, it cracks!" cried Zagloba.
"What are you talking about, father? I haven't begun to pull it yet."
"Crawl up with your cousin; I'll hold you somehow. More than once Ipitied Pan Michael because he was so slender; but now I regret that heis not still thinner, so as to slip through like a snake."
But Yan sprang down from their shoulders. "The Scots are standing onthis side!" said he.
"May God turn them into pillars of salt, like Lot's wife!" saidZagloba. "It is so dark here that you might strike a man in the face,and he could not see you. It will soon be daybreak. I think they willbring us food of some kind, for even Lutherans do not put prisoners toa hunger death. Perhaps, too, God will send reflection to the hetman.Often in the night conscience starts up in a man, and the devils pinchsinners. Can it be there is only one entrance to this cellar? I willlook in the daytime. My head is somehow heavy, and I cannot think out astratagem. To-morrow God will strengthen my wit; but now we will saythe Lord's Prayer, and commit ourselves to the Most Holy Lady, in thisheretical dungeon."
In fact they began a moment later to say the Lord's Prayer and thelitany to the Mother of God; then Yan, Stanislav, and Volodyovski weresilent, for their breasts were full of misfortune, but Zagloba growledin a low voice and muttered,--
"It must be beyond doubt that to-morrow he will say to us, _aut_,_aut!_ (either, or). 'Join Radzivill and I will pardon everything.' Butwe shall see who outwits the other. Do you pack nobles into prison,have you no respect for age or services? Very good! To whom the loss,to him the weeping! The foolish will be under, and the wise on top. Iwill promise what you like, but what I observe would not make a patchfor your boot. If you do not hold to the country, he is virtuous whoholds not to you. This is certain, that final ruin is coming on theCommonwealth if its foremost dignitaries join the enemy. This has neverbeen in the world hitherto, and surely a man may lose his senses fromit. Are there in hell torment
s sufficient for such traitors? What waswanting to such a Radzivill? Is it little that the country has givenhim, that he should sell it like a Judas, and in the very time of itsgreatest misfortunes, in the time of three wars? Just is thy anger, OLord! only give swiftest punishment. So be it! Amen! If I could onlyget out of here quickly, I would create partisans for thee, mightyhetman! Thou wilt know how the fruits of treason taste. Thou wilt lookon me yet as a friend; but if thou findest no better, do not hunt abear unless thy skin is not dear to thee."
Thus did Zagloba converse with himself. Meanwhile one hour passed, anda second; at last day began to dawn. The gray light falling through thegrating dissipated slowly the darkness in the cellar, and brought outthe gloomy figures sitting at the walls. Volodyovski and theSkshetuskis were slumbering from weariness; but when things were morevisible, and when from the courtyard came the sounds of soldiers'footsteps, the clatter of arms, the tramp of hoofs, and the sound oftrumpets at the gate, the knights sprang to their feet.
"The day begins not too favorably for us," said Yan.
"God grant it to end more favorably," answered Zagloba. "Do you knowwhat I have thought in the night? They will surely treat us with thegift of life if we will take service with Radzivill and help him in histreason; we ought to agree to that, so as to make use of our freedomand stand up for the country."
"May God preserve me from putting my name to treason," answered Yan;"for though I should leave the traitor afterward, my name would remainamong those of traitors as an infamy to my children. I will not dothat, I prefer to die."
"Neither will I!" said Stanislav.
"But I tell you beforehand that I will. No one will think that I did itvoluntarily or sincerely. May the devils take that dragon Radzivill! Weshall see yet who gets the upper hand."
Further conversation was stopped by sounds in the yard. Among them werethe ominous accents of anger and indignation. At the same time singlevoices of command, the echo of footsteps of whole crowds, and heavythunder as of cannon in motion.
"What is going on?" asked Zagloba. "Maybe there is some help for us."
"There is surely an uncommon uproar," said Volodyovski. "But raise meto the window, for I shall see right away what it is."
Yan took Volodyovski and raised him as he would a boy. Pan Michaelcaught the grating, and looked carefully through the yard.
"There is something going on,--there is!" said he, with suddenalertness. "I see the Hungarian castle regiment of infantry whichOskyerko led--they loved him greatly, and he too is arrested; they aredemanding him surely. As God lives! 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 Stahovich, and what ashout! I see that Stahovich with two officers is walking away from thetroops. They are going of course as a deputation to the hetman. As Godis dear to me, mutiny is spreading in the army! The cannon are pointedagainst the Hungarians, and the Scottish regiment is also in order ofbattle. Men from the Polish squadrons are gathering to the Hungarians.Without them they would not be so daring, for in the infantry there isstern discipline."
"In God's name!" cried Zagloba. "In that is salvation for us. PanMichael, are there many Polish squadrons? If they rise, it will be arising!"
"Stankyevich's hussars and Mirski's mailed squadrons are two days'march from Kyedani," answered Volodyovski. "If they had been here, thehetman would not have dared to arrest their commanders. Wait! There areKharlamp's dragoons, one regiment, Myeleshko's another; they are forthe prince. Nyevyarovski declared also for the prince, but his regimentis 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 are against the prince,--what squadrons?"
"First, these Hungarians evidently, two hundred men; then a number ofdetached men from the commands of Mirski and Stankyevich; some noblesand Kmita,--but he is uncertain."
"God grant him!--By God'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 the cannon; it looks like abattle!"
Yan and Stanislav were silent; Zagloba was writhing as in a fever,--
"Slay the traitors! Slay the dog-brothers! Ai, Kmita! Kmita! Alldepends on him. Is he daring?"
"As the devil,--ready for anything."
"It must be that he will take our side."
"Mutiny in the army! See to what the hetman has brought things!" criedVolodyovski.
"Who is the mutineer,--the army, or the hetman who rose against his ownking?" asked Zagloba.
"Godwin judge that. Wait! Again there is a movement! Some of Kharlamp'sdragoons take the part of the Hungarians. The very best nobles serve inthat regiment. Hear how they shout!"
"The colonels! the colonels!" cried threatening voices in the yard.
"Pan Michael! by the wounds of God, cry to them to send for yoursquadron and for the armored regiment and the hussars."
"Be silent!"
Zagloba began to shout himself: "But send for the rest of the Polishsquadrons, and cut down the traitors!"
"Be silent there!"
Suddenly, not in the yard, but in the rear of the castle, rang forth asharp salvo of muskets.
"Jesus Mary!" cried Volodyovski.
"Pan Michael, what is that?"
"Beyond doubt they have shot Stahovich and the two officers who went asa deputation," said Volodyovski, feverishly. "It cannot be otherwise!"
"By the passion of our Lord! Then there is no mercy. It is impossibleto hope."
The thunder of shots drowned further discourse. Pan Michael grasped thegrating convulsively and pressed his forehead to it, but for a while hecould see nothing except the legs of the Scottish infantry stationed atthe window. Salvos of musketry grew more and more frequent; at last thecannon were heard. The dry knocking of bullets against the wall overthe cellar was heard distinctly, like hail. The castle trembled to itsfoundation.
"Jump down, Michael, or you will be killed!" cried Yan.
"By no means. The balls go higher; and from the cannon they are firingin the other direction. I will not jump down for anything."
And Volodyovski, seizing the grating more firmly, drew himself entirelyto the window-sill, where he did not need the shoulder of Pan Yan tohold him. In the cellar it became really dark, for the window was smalland Pan Michael though slender filled it completely; but as arecompense the men below had fresh news from the field of battle everyminute.
"I see now!" cried Pan Michael. "The Hungarians are resting against thewall and are firing. I was afraid that they would be forced to acorner, then the cannon would destroy them in a moment. Good soldiers,as God is dear to me! Without officers, they know what is needed. Thereis smoke again! I see nothing--"
The firing began to slacken.
"O merciful God, delay not thy punishment!" cried Zagloba.
"And what, Michael?" asked Yan.
"The Scots are advancing to the attack!"
"Oh, brimstone thunderbolts, that we must sit here!" cried Stanislav.
"They are there already, the halberd-men! The Hungarians meet them withthe sabre! Oh, my God! that you cannot look on. What soldiers!"
"Fighting with their own and not with an enemy."
"The Hungarians have the upper hand. The Scots are falling back on theleft. As I love God! Myeleshko's dragoons are going over to them! TheScots are between two fires. Korf cannot use his cannon, for he wouldstrike the Scots. I see Ganhoff uniforms among the Hungarians. They aregoing to attack the gate. They wish to escape. They are advancing likea storm,--br
eaking everything!"
"How is that? I wish they would capture this castle!" cried Zagloba.
"Never mind! They will come back to-morrow with the squadrons ofMirski and Stankyevich--Oh, Kharlamp is killed! No! He rises; he iswounded--they are already at the gate. What is that? Just as if theScottish guard at the gate were coming over to the Hungarians, for theyare opening the gate,--dust is rising on the outside; I see Kmita!Kmita is rushing through the gate with cavalry!"
"On whose side is he, on whose side?" cried Zagloba.
For a moment Pan Michael gave no answer; but very soon the clatter ofweapons, shrieks, and shouts were heard with redoubled force.
"It is all over with them!" cried Pan Michael, with a shrill voice.
"All over with whom, with whom?"
"With the Hungarians. The cavalry has broken them, is trampling them,cutting them to pieces! Their flag is in Kmita's hand! The end, theend!"
When he had said this, Volodyovski dropped from the window and fellinto the arms of Pan Yan.
"Kill me!" cried he, "kill me, for I had that man under my sabre andlet him go with his life; I gave him his commission. Through me heassembled that squadron with which he will fight now against thecountry. I saw whom he got: dog-brothers, gallows-birds, robbers,ruffians, such as he is himself. God grant me to meet him once morewith the sabre--God! lengthen my life to the death of that traitor, forI swear that he will not leave my hands again."
Meanwhile cries, the trample of hoofs, and salvos of musketry werethundering yet with full force; after a time, however, they began toweaken, and an hour later silence reigned in the castle of Kyedani,broken only by the measured tread of the Scottish patrols and words ofcommand.
"Pan Michael, look out once more and see what has happened," beggedZagloba.
"What for?" asked the little knight. "Whoso is a soldier will guesswhat has happened. Besides, I saw them beaten,--Kmita triumphs here!"
"God give him to be torn with horses, the scoundrel, the hell-dweller!God give him to guard a harem for Tartars!"
The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 1 (of 2) Page 20