The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 2 (of 2)

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XIV.

  At the moment when the king was saying that the voevoda of Vilna wasstanding, perhaps, before the judgment of God, he spoke as it were witha prophetic spirit, for at that hour the affair of Tykotsin wasdecided.

  On December 25 Sapyeha was so sure of capturing Tykotsin that he wenthimself to Tyshovtsi, leaving the further conduct of the siege to PanOskyerko. He gave command to wait for the final storm till his return,which was to follow quickly; assembling, therefore, his more prominentofficers, he said,--

  "Reports have come to me that among the officers there is a plan tobear apart on sabres the voevoda of Vilna immediately after capturingthe castle. Now if the castle, as may happen, should surrender duringmy absence, I inform you, gentlemen, that I prohibit most strictly anattack on Radzivill's life. I receive letters, it is true, from personsof whom you gentlemen do not even dream, not to let him live when Itake him. But I do not choose to obey these commands; and this I do notfrom any compassion, for the traitor is not worthy of that, but becauseI have no right over his life, and I prefer to bring him before theDiet, so that posterity may have in this case an example that nogreatness of family, no office can cover such offence, nor protect himfrom public punishment."

  In this sense spoke the voevoda of Vityebsk, but more minutely, for hishonesty was equalled by this weakness: he esteemed himself an orator,and loved on every occasion to speak copiously, and listened withdelight to his own words, adding to them the most beautiful sentencesfrom the ancients.

  "Then I must steep my right hand well in water," answered Zagloba, "forit itches terribly. But I only say this, that if Radzivill had me inhis hands, surely he would not spare my head till sunset. He knows wellwho in great part made his troops leave him; he knows well whoembroiled him with the Swedes. But even if he does, I know not why Ishould be more indulgent to Radzivill than Radzivill to me."

  "Because the command is not in your hands and you must obey," saidSapyeha, with dignity.

  "That I must obey is true, but it is well at times also to obeyZagloba. I say this boldly, because if Radzivill had listened to mewhen I urged him to defend the country, he would not be in Tykotsinto-day, but in the field at the head of all the troops of Lithuania."

  "Does it seem to you that the baton is in bad hands?"

  "It would not become me to say that, for I placed it in those hands.Our gracious lord, Yan Kazimir, has only to confirm my choice, nothingmore."

  The voevoda smiled at this, for he loved Zagloba and his jokes.

  "Lord brother," said he, "you crushed Radzivill, you made me hetman,and all this is your merit. Permit me now to go in peace to Tyshovtsi,so that Sapyeha too may serve the country in something."

  Zagloba put his hands on his hips, thought awhile as if he wereconsidering whether he ought to permit or not; at last his eye gleamed,he nodded, and said with importance,--

  "Go, your grace, in peace."

  "God reward you for the permission!" answered the voevoda, with alaugh.

  Other officers seconded the voevoda's laugh. He was preparing to start,for the carriage was under the window; he took farewell of all,therefore, giving each instructions what to do during his absence; thenapproaching Volodyovski, he said,--

  "If the castle surrenders you will answer to me for the life of thevoevoda."

  "According to order! a hair will not fall from his head," said thelittle knight.

  "Pan Michael," said Zagloba to him, after the departure of the voevoda,"I am curious to know what persons are urging our Sapyo[2] not to letRadzivill live when he captures him."

  "How should I know?" answered the little knight.

  "If you say that what another mouth does not whisper to your ear yourown will not suggest, you tell the truth! But they must be someconsiderable persons, since they are able to command the voevoda."

  "Maybe it is the king himself."

  "The king? If a dog bit the king he would forgive him that minute, andgive him cheese in addition. Such is his heart."

  "I will not dispute about that; but still, do they not say that he isgreatly incensed at Radzivill?"

  "First, any man will succeed in being angry,--for example, my anger atRadzivill; secondly, how could he be incensed at Radzeyovski when hetook his sons in guardianship, because the father was not better? Thatis a golden heart, and I think it is the queen who is making requestsagainst the life of Radzivill. She is a worthy lady, not a word againstthat, but she has a woman's mind; and know that if a woman is enragedat you, even should you hide in a crack of the floor, she will pick youout with a pin."

  Volodyovski sighed at this, and said,--

  "Why should any woman be angry with me, since I have never made troublefor one in my life?"

  "Ah, but you would have been glad to do so. Therefore, though you servein the cavalry, you rush on so wildly against the walls of Tykotsinwith infantry, for you think not only is Radzivill there, but PannaBillevich. I know you, you rogue! Is it not true? You have not drivenher out of your head yet."

  "There was a time when I had put her thoroughly out of my head; andKmita himself, if now here, would be forced to confess that my actionwas knightly, not wishing to act against people in love. I chose toforget my rebuff, but I will not hide this: if Panna Billevich is nowin Tykotsin, and if God permits me a second time to save her fromtrouble, I shall see in that the expressed will of Providence. I needtake no thought of Kmita, I owe him nothing; and the hope is alive inme that if he left her of his own will she must have forgotten him, andsuch a thing will not happen now as happened to me the first time."

  Conversing in this way, they reached their quarters, where they foundPan Yan and Pan Stanislav, Roh Kovalski and the lord tenant of Vansosh,Jendzian.

  The cause of Sapyeha's trip to Tyshovtsi was no secret, hence all theknights were pleased that so honorable a confederacy would rise indefence of the faith and the country.

  "Another wind is blowing now in the whole Commonwealth," said PanStanislav, "and, thanks be to God, in the eyes of the Swedes."

  "It began from Chenstohova," answered Pan Yan. "There was newsyesterday that the cloister holds out yet, and repulses more and morepowerful assaults. Permit not, Most Holy Mother, the enemy to put Thydwelling-place to shame."

  Here Jendzian sighed and said: "Besides the holy images how muchprecious treasure would go into enemies' hands; when a man thinks ofthat, food refuses to pass his throat!"

  "The troops are just tearing away to the assault; we can hardly holdthem back," said Pan Michael. "Yesterday Stankyevich's squadron movedwithout orders and without ladders, for they said, 'When we finish thistraitor, we will go to relieve Chenstohova;' and when any man mentionsChenstohova all grit their teeth and shake their sabres."

  "Why have we so many squadrons here when one half would be enough forTykotsin?" asked Zagloba. "It is the stubbornness of Sapyeha, nothingmore. He does not wish to obey me; he wants to show that without mycounsel he can do something. As you see yourselves, how are so many mento invest one paltry castle? They merely hinder one another, for thereis not room for them all."

  "Military experience speaks through you,--it is impossible!" answeredPan Stanislav.

  "Well, I have a head on my shoulders."

  "Uncle has a head on his shoulders!" cried Pan Roh, suddenly; andstraightening his mustaches, he began to look around on all present asif seeking some one to contradict him.

  "But the voevoda too has a head," answered Pan Yan; "and if so manysquadrons are here, there is danger that Prince Boguslav might come tothe relief of his cousin."

  "Then send a couple of light squadrons to ravage Electoral Prussia,"said Zagloba; "and summon volunteers there from among common people. Imyself would be the first man to go to try Prussian beer."

  "Beer is not good in winter, unless warmed," remarked Pan Michael.

  "Then give us wine, or gorailka, or mead," said Zagloba.

  Others also exhibited a willingness to drink; therefore the lord tenantof Vansos
h occupied himself with that business, and soon a number ofdecanters were on the table. Hearts were glad at this sight, and theknights began to drink to one another, raising their goblets each timefor a new health.

  "Destruction to the Swedes, may they not skin our bread very long!"said Zagloba. "Let them devour their pine cones in Sweden."

  "To the health of his Royal Grace and the Queen!" said Pan Yan.

  "And to loyal men!" said Volodyovski.

  "Then to our own healths!"

  "To the health of Uncle!" thundered Kovalski.

  "God reward! Into your hands! and empty though your lips to the bottom.Zagloba is not yet entirely old! Worthy gentlemen! may we smoke thisbadger out of his hole with all haste, and move then to Chenstohova."

  "To Chenstohova!" shouted Kovalski. "To the rescue of the Most HolyLady."

  "To Chenstohova!" cried all.

  "To defend the treasures of Yasna Gora from the Pagans!" addedJendzian.

  "Who pretend that they believe in the Lord Jesus, wishing to hide theirwickedness; but in fact they only howl at the moon like dogs, and inthis is all their religion."

  "And such as these raise their hands against the splendors of YasnaGora!"

  "You have touched the spot in speaking of their faith," saidVolodyovski to Zagloba, "for I myself have heard how they howl at themoon. They said afterward that they were singing Lutheran psalms; butit is certain that the dogs sing such psalms."

  "How is that?" asked Kovalski. "Are there such people among them?"

  "There is no other kind," answered Zagloba, with deep conviction.

  "And is their king no better?"

  "Their king is the worst of all. He began this war of purpose toblaspheme the true faith in the churches."

  Here Kovalski, who had drunk much, rose and said: "If that is true,then as sure as you are looking at me, and as I am Kovalski, I'llspring straight at the Swedish king in the first battle, and though hestood in the densest throng, that is nothing! My death or his! I'llreach him with my lance,--hold me a fool, gentlemen, if I do not!"

  When he had said this he clinched his fist and was going to thunder onthe table. He would have smashed the glasses and decanters, and brokenthe table; but Zagloba caught him hastily by the arm and said,--

  "Sit down, Roh, and give us peace. We will not think you a fool if youdo not do this, but know that we will not stop thinking you a fooluntil you have done it. I do not understand, though, how you can raisea lance on the King of Sweden, when you are not in the hussars."

  "I will join the escort and be enrolled in the squadron of PrincePolubinski; and my father will help me."

  "Father Roh?"

  "Of course."

  "Let him help you, but break not these glasses, or I'll be the firstman to break your head. Of what was I speaking, gentlemen? Ah! ofChenstohova. _Luctus_ (grief) will devour me, if we do not come in timeto save the holy place. _Luctus_ will devour me, I tell you all! Andall through that traitor Radzivill and the philosophical reasoning ofSapyeha."

  "Say nothing against the voevoda. He is an honorable man," said thelittle knight.

  "Why cover Radzivill with two halves when one is sufficient? Nearly tenthousand men are around this little booth of a castle, the best cavalryand infantry. Soon they will lick the soot out of all the chimneys inthis region, for what was on the hearths they have eaten already."

  "It is not for us to argue over the reasons of superiors, but to obey!"

  "It is not for you to argue, Pan Michael, but for me; half of thetroops who abandoned Radzivill chose me as leader, and I would havedriven Karl Gustav beyond the tenth boundary ere now, but for thatluckless modesty which commanded me to place the baton in the hands ofSapyeha. Let him put an end to his delay, lest I take back what Igave."

  "You are only so daring after drink," said Volodyovski.

  "Do you say that? Well, you will see! This very day I will go among thesquadrons and call out, 'Gracious gentlemen, whoso chooses come with meto Chenstohova; it is not for you to wear out your elbows and knifesagainst the mortar of Tykotsin! I beg you to come with me! Whoso mademe commander, whoso gave me power, whoso had confidence that I would dowhat was useful for the country and the faith, let him stand at myside. It is a beautiful thing to punish traitors, but a hundred timesmore beautiful to save the Holy Lady, our Mother and the Patroness ofthis kingdom from oppression and the yoke of the heretic.'"

  Here Zagloba, from whose forelock the steam had for some time beenrising, started up from his place, sprang to a bench, and began toshout as if he were before an assembly,--

  "Worthy gentlemen! whoso is a Catholic, whoso a Pole, whoso has pity onthe Most Holy Lady, let him follow me! To the relief of Chenstohova!"

  "I go!" shouted Roh Kovalski.

  Zagloba looked for a while on those present, and seeing astonishmentand silent faces, he came down from the bench and said,--

  "I'll teach Sapyeha reason! I am a rascal if by tomorrow I do not takehalf the army from Tykotsin and lead it to Chenstohova."

  "For God's sake, restrain yourself, father!" said Pan Yan.

  "I'm a rascal, I tell you!" repeated Zagloba.

  They were frightened lest he should carry out his threat, for he wasable to do so. In many squadrons there was murmuring at the delay inTykotsin; men really gnashed their teeth thinking of Chenstohova. Itwas enough to cast a spark on that powder; and what if a man sostubborn, of such immense knightly importance as Zagloba, should castit? To begin with, the greater part of Sapyeha's army was composed ofnew recruits, and therefore of men unused to discipline, and ready foraction on their own account, and they would have gone as one manwithout doubt after Zagloba to Chenstohova.

  Therefore both Skshetuskis were frightened at this undertaking, andVolodyovski cried,--

  "Barely has a small army been formed by the greatest labor of thevoevoda, barely is there a little power for the defence of theCommonwealth, and you wish with disorder to break up the squadrons,bring them to disobedience. Radzivill would pay much for such counsel,for it is water to his mill. Is it not a shame for you to speak of sucha deed?"

  "I'm a scoundrel if I don't do it!" said Zagloba.

  "Uncle will do it!" said Kovalski.

  "Silence, you horseskull!" roared out Pan Michael.

  Pan Roh stared, shut his mouth, and straightened himself at once.

  Then Volodyovski turned to Zagloba: "And I am a scoundrel if one man ofmy squadron goes with you; you wish to ruin the army, and I tell youthat I will fall first upon your volunteers."

  "O Pagan, faithless Turk!" said Zagloba. "How is that? you would attackknights of the Most Holy Lady? Are you ready? Well, I know you! Do youthink, gentlemen, that it is a question with him of an army ordiscipline? No! he sniffs Panna Billevich behind the walls of Tykotsin.For a private question, for your own wishes you would not hesitate todesert the best cause. You would be glad to flutter around a maiden, tostand on one foot, then the other, and display yourself. But nothingwill come of this! My head for it, that better than you are runningafter her, even that same Kmita, for even he is no worse than you."

  Volodyovski looked at those present, taking them to witness whatinjustice was done him; then he frowned. They thought he would burstout in anger, but because he had been drinking, he fell all at onceinto tenderness.

  "This is my reward," said he. "From the years of a stripling I haveserved the country; I have not put the sabre out of my hand! Ihave neither cottage, wife, nor children; my head is as lone as alance-point. The most honorable think of themselves, but I have norewards save wounds in the flesh; nay, I am accused of selfishness,almost held a traitor."

  Tears began to drop on his yellow mustaches. Zagloba softened in amoment, and throwing open his arms, cried,--

  "Pan Michael, I have done you cruel injustice! I should be given to thehangman for having belittled such a tried friend!"

  Then falling into mutual embraces, they began to kiss each other; theydrank more to good understanding, and when sorrow had gone co
nsiderablyout of his heart, Volodyovski said,--

  "But you will not ruin the army, bring disobedience, and give an evilexample?"

  "I will not, Pan Michael, I will not for your sake."

  "God grant us to take Tykotsin; whose affair is it what I seek behindthe walls of the fortress? Why should any man jeer at me?"

  Struck by that question, Zagloba began to put the ends of his mustachesin his mouth and gnaw them; at last he said: "Pan Michael, I love youas the apple of my eye, but drive that Panna Billevich out of yourhead."

  "Why?" asked Pan Michael, with astonishment.

  "She is beautiful, _assentior_ (I agree)," answered Zagloba, "but sheis distinguished in person, and there is no proportion whatever betweenyou. You might sit on her shoulder, like a canary-bird, and peck sugarout of her mouth. She might carry you like a falcon on her glove, andlet you off against every enemy, for though you are little you arevenomous like a hornet."

  "Well, have you begun?" asked Volodyovski.

  "If I have begun, then let me finish. There is one woman as if createdfor you, and she is precisely that kernel-- What is her name? That onewhom Podbipienta was to marry?"

  "Anusia Borzobogati!" cried Pan Yan. "She is indeed an old love ofMichael's."

  "A regular grain of buckwheat, but a pretty little rogue; just like adoll," said Zagloba, smacking his lips.

  Volodyovski began to sigh, and to repeat time after time what he alwaysrepeated when mention was made of Anusia: "What is happening to thepoor girl? Oh, if she could only be found!"

  "You would not let her out of your hands, for, God bless me, I have notseen in my life any man so given to falling in love. You ought to havebeen born a rooster, scratch the sweepings in a house-yard, and cry,'Co, co, co,' at the top-knots."

  "Anusia! Anusia!" repeated Pan Michael. "If God would send her tome--But perhaps she is not in the world, or perhaps she is married--"

  "How could she be? She was a green turnip when I saw her, andafterward, even if she ripened, she may still be in the maiden state.After such a man as Podbipienta she could not take any common fellow.Besides, in these times of war few are thinking of marriage."

  "You did not know her well," answered Pan Michael. "She was wonderfullyhonest; but she had such a nature that she let no man pass withoutpiercing his heart. The Lord God created her thus. She did not misseven men of lower station; for example, Princess Griselda's physician,that Italian, who was desperately in love with her. Maybe she hasmarried him and he has taken her beyond the sea."

  "Don't talk such nonsense, Michael!" cried Zagloba, with indignation."A doctor, a doctor,--that the daughter of a noble of honorable bloodshould marry a man of such low estate! I have already said that that isimpossible."

  "I was angry with her myself, for I thought, 'This is without limit;soon she will be turning the heads of attorneys.'"

  "I prophesy that you will see her yet," said Zagloba.

  Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of PanTokarzevich, who had served formerly with Radzivill, but after thetreason of the hetman, left him, in company with others, and was nowstandard-bearer in Oskyerko's regiment.

  "Colonel," said he to Volodyovski, "we are to explode a petard."

  "Is Pan Oskyerko ready?"

  "He was ready at midday, and he is not willing to wait, for the nightpromises to be dark."

  "That is well; we will go to see. I will order the men to be ready withmuskets, so that the besieged may not make a sortie. Will Pan Oskyerkohimself explode the petard?"

  "He will--in his own person. A crowd of volunteers go with him."

  "And I will go!" said Volodyovski.

  "And we!" cried Pan Yan and Pan Stanislav.

  "Oh, 'tis a pity that old eyes cannot see in the dark," said Zagloba,"for of a surety I should not let you go alone. But what is to be done?When dusk comes I cannot draw my sword. In the daytime, in the daytime,in the sunlight, then the old man likes to move to the field. Give methe strongest of the Swedes, if at midday."

  "But I will go," said, after some thought, the tenant of Vansosh. "Whenthey blow up the gate the troops will spring to the storm in a crowd,and in the castle there may be great wealth in plate and in jewels."

  All went out, for it was now growing dark; in the quarters Zaglobaalone remained. He listened for a while to the snow squeaking under thesteps of the departing men, then began to raise one after another thedecanters, and look through them at the light burning in the chimney tosee if there was something yet in any of them.

  The others marched toward the castle in darkness and wind, which rosefrom the north and blew with increasing force, howling, storming,bringing with it clouds of snow broken fine.

  "A good night to explode a petard!" said Volodyovski.

  "But also for a sortie," answered Pan Yan. "We must keep a watchful eyeand ready muskets."

  "God grant," said Pan Tokarzevich, "that at Chenstohova there is astill greater storm. It is always warmer for our men behind the walls.But may the Swedes freeze there on guard, may they freeze!"

  "A terrible night!" said Pan Stanislav; "do you hear, gentlemen, how ithowls, as if Tartars were rushing through the air to attack?"

  "Or as if devils were singing a requiem for Radzivill!" saidVolodyovski.