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

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XXXIV.

  Zagloba in unbroken despair betook himself to Charnyetski, with arequest that he would send to the Swedes to see what had happened toKovalski. Is he alive yet, is he groaning in captivity, or has he paidwith his life for his daring?

  Charnyetski agreed to this willingly, for he loved Zagloba. Thencomforting him in his suffering, he said,--

  "I think your sister's son must be alive, otherwise the water wouldhave brought him ashore."

  "God grant that he is!" answered Zagloba; "still it would be hard forthe water to raise him, for not only had he a heavy hand, but his witwas like lead, as is shown by his action."

  "You speak justly," answered Charnyetski. "If he is alive I ought togive orders to drag him with a horse over the square, for disregard ofdiscipline. He might alarm the Swedish army, but he has alarmed botharmies; besides, he was not free to touch the Swedes without commandand my order. Is this a general militia or what the devil, that everyman has a right to act on his own account?"

  "He has offended, I agree; I will punish him myself, if only the Lordwill bring him back."

  "But I forgive him in remembrance of the Rudnik affair. I have manyprisoners to exchange, and more distinguished officers than Kovalski.Do you go to the Swedes and negotiate about exchange; I will give twoor three for him if need be, for I do not wish to make your heartbleed. Come to me for a letter to the king, and go quickly."

  Zagloba sprang with rejoicing to Kmita's tent, and told his comradeswhat had happened. Pan Andrei and Volodyovski exclaimed at once thatthey too would go with him, for both were curious to see the Swedes;besides Kmita might be very useful, since he spoke German almost asfluently as Polish.

  Preparations did not delay them long. Charnyetski, without waiting forthe return of Zagloba, sent the letter by a messenger; then theyprovided a piece of white cloth fixed to a pole, took a trumpeter, satin a boat, and moved on.

  At first they went in silence, nothing save the plash of oars was to beheard; at last Zagloba was somewhat alarmed and said,--

  "Lot the trumpeter announce us immediately, for those scoundrels areready to fire in spite of the white flag."

  "What do you say?" answered Volodyovski; "even barbarians respectenvoys, and this is a civilized people."

  "Let the trumpeter sound, I say. The first soldier who happens alongwill fire, make a hole in the boat, and we shall get into the water;the water is cold, and I have do wish to get wet through theircourtesy."

  "There, a sentry is visible!" said Kmita.

  The trumpeter sounded. The boat shot forward quickly; on the othershore a hurried movement began, and soon a mounted officer rode up,wearing a yellow leather cap. When he had approached the edge of thewater he shaded his eyes with his hand and began to look against thelight. A few yards from the shore Kmita removed his cap in greeting;the officer bowed to him with equal politeness.

  "A letter from Pan Charnyetski to the Most Serene King of Sweden!"cried Pan Andrei, showing the letter.

  The guard standing on the shore presented arms. Pan Zagloba wascompletely reassured; presently he fixed his countenance in dignitybefitting his position as an envoy, and said in Latin,--

  "The past night a certain cavalier was seized on this shore; I havecome to ask for him."

  "I cannot speak Latin," answered the officer.

  "Ignoramus!" muttered Zagloba.

  The officer turned then to Pan Andrei,--

  "The king is in the farther end of the camp. Be pleased, gentlemen, tostay here; I will go and announce you." And he turned his horse.

  The envoys looked around. The camp was very spacious, for it embracedthe whole triangle formed by the San and the Vistula. At the summit ofthe triangle lay Panyev, at the base Tarnobjeg on one side, andRozvadov on the other. Apparently it was impossible to take in thewhole extent at a glance; still, as far as the eye could reach, were tobe seen trenches, embankments, earthworks, and fascines at which werecannons and men. In the very centre of the place, in Gojytsi, were thequarters of the king; there also the main forces of the army.

  "If hunger does not drive them out of this place, we can do nothingwith them," said Kmita. "The whole region is fortified. There ispasture for horses."

  "But there are not fish for so many mouths," said Zagloba. "Lutheransdo not like fasting food. Not long since they had all Poland, now theyhave this wedge; let them sit here in safety, or go back to Yaroslav."

  "Very skilful men made these trenches," added Volodyovski, looking withthe eye of a specialist on the work. "We have more swordsmen, but fewerlearned officers; and in military art we are behind others."

  "Why is that?" asked Zagloba.

  "Why? It does not beseem me as a soldier who has served all his life inthe cavalry, to say this, but everywhere infantry and cannon are themain thing; hence those campaigns and military man[oe]uvres, marches,and countermarches. A man in a foreign army must devour a multitude ofbooks and turn over a multitude of Roman authors before he becomes adistinguished officer; but there is nothing of that with us. Cavalryrushes into the smoke in a body, and shaves with its sabres; and if itdoes not shave off in a minute, then they shave it off."

  "You speak soundly, Pan Michael; but what nation has won so many famousvictories?"

  "Yes, because others in old times warred in the same way, and nothaving the same impetus they were bound to lose; but now they havebecome wiser, and see what they are doing."

  "Wait for the end. Place for me now the wisest Swedish or Germanengineer, and against him I will put Roh, who has never turned overbooks, and let us see."

  "If you could put him," interrupted Kmita.

  "True, true! I am terribly sorry for him. Pan Andrei, jabber a littlein that dog's language of those breeches fellows, and ask what hashappened to Roh."

  "You do not know regular soldiers. Here no man will open his lips toyou without an order; they are stingy of speech."

  "I know that they are surly scoundrels. While if to our nobles, andespecially to the general militia, an envoy comes, immediately talk,talk, they will drink gorailka with him, and will enter into politicaldiscussion with him; and see how these fellows stand there like postsand bulge out their eyes at us! I wish they would smother to the lastman!"

  In fact, more and more foot-soldiers gathered around the envoys,looking at them curiously. The envoys were dressed so carefully inelegant and even rich garments, that they made an imposing appearance.Zagloba arrested most attention, for he bore himself with almostsenatorial dignity; Volodyovski was less considered, by reason of hisstature.

  Meanwhile the officer who received them first on the bank returned withanother of higher rank, and with soldiers leading horses. The superiorofficer bowed to the envoys and said in Polish,--

  "His Royal Grace asks you, gentlemen, to his quarters; and since theyare not very near we have brought horses."

  "Are you a Pole?" asked Zagloba.

  "No, I am a Cheh,--Sadovski, in the Swedish service."

  Kmita approached him at once. "Do you know me?"

  Sadovski looked at him quickly. "Of course! At Chenstohova you blew upthe largest siege gun, and Miller gave you to Kuklinovski. I greet you,greet you heartily as a famous knight."

  "And what is going on with Kuklinovski?" asked Kmita.

  "But do you not know?"

  "I know that I paid him with that with which he wanted to treat me, butI left him alive."

  "He died."

  "I thought he would freeze to death," said Pan Andrei, waving his hand.

  "Worthy Colonel," put in Zagloba, "have you not a certain RohKovalski?"

  Sadovski laughed: "Of course."

  "Praise be to God and the Most Holy Lady! The lad is alive and I shallget him. Praise be to God!"

  "I do not know whether the king will be willing to yield him up," saidSadovski.

  "But why not?"

  "Because he has pleased him greatly. He recognized him at once as thesame man who had pushed after him with such
vigor at Rudnik. We heldour sides listening to the narrative of the prisoner. The king asked:'Why did you pick me out?' and he answered, 'I made a vow.' Then theking asked again, 'But will you do so again?' 'Of course!' answered theprisoner. The king began to laugh. 'Put away your vow,' said he, 'and Iwill give you your life and freedom.' 'Impossible!' 'Why?' 'For myuncle would proclaim me a fool.' 'And are you so sure that you couldmanage me in a hand-to-hand fight?' 'Oh, I could manage five men likeyou,' said he. Then the king asked again: 'And do you dare to raiseyour hand against majesty?' 'Yes,' said he, 'for you have a vilefaith.' They interpreted every word to the king, and he was more andmore pleased, and continued to repeat: 'This man has pleased me.' Thenwishing to see whether in truth he had such strength, he gave orders tochoose twelve of the strongest men in camp and bring them to wrestle inturn with the prisoner. But he is a muscular fellow! When I came awayhe had stretched out ten one after another, and not a man of them couldrise again. We shall arrive just at the end of the amusement."

  "I recognize Roh, my blood!" said Zagloba. "We will give for him eventhree famous officers!"

  "You will find the king in good humor," said Sadovski, "which is a rarething nowadays."

  "Oh, I believe that!" answered the little knight

  Meanwhile Sadovski turned to Kmita, and asked how he had not only freedhimself from Kuklinovski, but put an end to him. Kmita told him indetail. Sadovski, while listening, seized his own head with amazement;at last he pressed Kmita's hand again, and said,--

  "Believe me, I am sincerely glad; for though I serve the Swedes, everytrue soldier's heart rejoices when a real cavalier puts down a ruffian.I must acknowledge to you that when a daring man is found among you,one must look with a lantern through the universe to find his equal."

  "You are a courteous officer," said Zagloba.

  "And a famous soldier, we know that," added Volodyovski.

  "I learned courtesy and the soldier's art from you," answered Sadovski,touching his cap.

  Thus they conversed, vying with one another in courtesy, till theyreached Grojytsi, where the king's quarters were. The whole village wasoccupied by soldiers of various arms. Our envoys looked with curiosityat the groups scattered among the fences. Some, wishing to sleep awaytheir hunger, were dozing around cottages, for the day was very clearand warm; some were playing dice on drums, drinking beer; some werehanging their clothes on the fences; others were sitting in front ofthe cottages singing Scandinavian longs, rubbing with brick-dust theirbreastplates and helmets, from which bright gleams went forth. Inplaces they were cleaning horses, or leading them out; in a word, camplife was moving and seething under the bright sky. There were men, itis true, who bore signs of terrible toil and hunger, but the suncovered their leanness with gold; besides, days of rest were beginningfor those incomparable warriors, therefore they took courage at once,and assumed a military bearing. Volodyovski admired them in spirit,especially the infantry regiments, famous through the whole world forendurance and bravery. Sadovski gave explanations as they passed,saying,--

  "This is the Smaland regiment of the royal guard. This is the infantryof Delekarlia, the very best."

  "In God's name, what little monsters are these?" cried Zagloba on asudden, pointing to a group of small men with olive complexions andblack hair hanging on both sides of their heads.

  "Those are Laplanders, who belong to the remotest Hyperboreans."

  "Are they good in battle? It seems to me that I might take three ineach hand and strike with their heads till I was tired."

  "You could surely do so. They are useless in battle. The Swedes bringthem for camp servants, and partly as a curiosity. But they are themost skilful of wizards; each of them has at least one devil in hisservice, and some have five."

  "How do they get such friendship with evil spirits?" asked Kmita,making the sign of the cross.

  "Because they wander in night, which with them lasts half a year ormore; and you know that it is easier to hold converse with the Devil atnight."

  "But have they souls?"

  "It is unknown; but I think that they are more in the nature ofanimals."

  Kmita turned his horse, caught one of the Laplanders by the shoulders,raised him up like a cat, and examined him curiously; then he put himon his feet, and said,--

  "If the king would give me one such, I would give orders to have himdried and hung up in the church in Orsha, where, among othercuriosities, are ostrich eggs."

  "In Lubni, at the parish church, there were jaws of a whale or even ofa giant," said Volodyovski.

  "Let us go on, for something evil will fall on us here," said Zagloba.

  "Let us go," repeated Sadovski. "To tell the truth, I ought to have hadbags put on your heads, as is the custom; but we have nothing here tohide, and that you have looked on the trenches is all the better forus."

  They spurred on their horses, and after a while were before the castleat Gojytsi. In front of the gate they sprang from their saddles, andadvanced on foot; for the King was before the house.

  They saw a large number of generals and very celebrated officers. OldWittemberg was there, Douglas, Loewenhaupt, Miller, Erickson, and manyothers. All were sitting on the balcony, a little behind the king,whose chair was pushed forward; and they looked on the amusement whichKarl Gustav was giving himself with the prisoner. Roh had juststretched out the twelfth cavalier, and was in a coat torn by thewrestlers, panting and sweating greatly. When he saw his uncle incompany with Kmita and Volodyovski, he thought at once that they toowere prisoners. He stared at them, opened his mouth, and advanced acouple of steps; but Zagloba gave him a sign with his hand to standquietly, and the envoy stood himself with his comrades before the faceof the king.

  Sadovski presented the envoys; they bowed low, as custom and etiquettedemanded, then Zagloba delivered Charnyetski's letter.

  The king took the letter, and began to read; meanwhile the Polishenvoys looked at him with curiosity, for they had never seen himbefore. He was a man in the flower of his age, as dark in complexion asthough born an Italian or a Spaniard. His long hair, black as a raven'swing, fell behind his ears to his shoulders. In brightness and colorhis eyes brought to mind Yeremi Vishnyevetski; his brows were greatlyelevated, as if he were in continual astonishment. In the place wherethe brows approached, his forehead was raised in a large protuberance,which made him resemble a lion; a deep wrinkle above his nose, whichdid not leave him even when he was laughing, gave his face athreatening and wrathful expression. His lower lip protruded like thatof Yan Kazimir, but his face was heavier and his chin larger; he woremustaches in the form of cords, brushed out somewhat at the ends. Ingeneral, his face indicated an uncommon man, one of those who when theywalk over the earth press blood out of it. There was in him grandeur,the pride of a monarch, the strength of a lion, and the quickness ofgenius; but though a kindly smile never left his mouth, there waslacking that kindness of heart which illuminates a face from withinwith a mild light, as a lamp placed in the middle of an alabaster urnlights it. He sat in the arm-chair, with crossed legs, the powerfulcalves of which were indicated clearly from under the black stockings,and blinking as was his wont, he read with a smile the letter fromCharnyetski. Raising his lids, he looked at Pan Michael, and said,--

  "I knew you at once; you slew Kanneberg."

  All eyes were turned immediately on Volodyovski, who, moving hismustaches, bowed and answered,--

  "At the service of your Royal Grace."

  "What is your office?" asked the king.

  "Colonel of the Lauda squadron."

  "Where did you serve before?"

  "With the voevoda of Vilna."

  "And did you leave him with the others? You betrayed him and me."

  "I was bound to my own king, not to your Royal Grace."

  The king said nothing; all foreheads were frowning, eyes began to boreinto Pan Michael; but he stood calmly, merely moving his mustaches timeafter time.

  All at once the king said,--

  "It is pleasant for me
to know such a famous cavalier. Kanneberg passedamong us as incomparable in hand-to-hand conflict. You must be thefirst sabre in the kingdom?"

  "_In universo_ (In the universe)!" said Zagloba.

  "Not the last," answered Volodyovski.

  "I greet you, gentlemen, heartily. For Pan Charnyetski I have a realesteem as for a great soldier, though he broke his word to me, for heought to be sitting quietly till now in Syevej."

  "Your Royal Grace," said Kmita, "Pan Charnyetski was not the first tobreak his word, but General Miller, who seized Wolf's regiment of royalinfantry."

  Miller advanced a step, looked in the face of Kmita, and began towhisper something to the king, who, blinking all the time, listenedattentively; looking at Pan Andrei, he said at last,--

  "I see that Pan Charnyetski has sent me chosen cavaliers. I know fromof old that there is no lack of daring men among you; but there is alack of faith in keeping promises and oaths."

  "Holy are the words of your Royal Grace," answered Zagloba.

  "How do you understand that?"

  "If it were not for this vice of our people, your Royal Grace would notbe here."

  The king was silent awhile; the generals again frowned at the boldnessof the envoys.

  "Yan Kazimir himself freed you from the oath," said Karl, "for he leftyou and took refuge abroad."

  "From the oath we can be freed only by the Vicar of Christ, who residesin Rome; and he has not freed us."

  "A truce to that!" said the king. "I have acquired the kingdom bythis," here he struck his sword, "and by this I will hold it. I do notneed your suffrages nor your oaths. You want war, you will have it. Ithink that Pan Charnyetski remembers Golembo yet."

  "He forgot it on the road from Yaroslav," answered Zagloba.

  The king, instead of being angry, smiled: "I'll remind him of it."

  "God rules the world."

  "Tell him to visit me; I shall be glad to receive him. But he musthurry, for as soon as my horses are in condition I shall marchfarther."

  "Then we shall receive your Royal Grace," said Zagloba, bowing andplacing his hand slightly on his sabre.

  "I see," said the king, "that Pan Charnyetski has sent in the embassynot only the best sabres, but the best mouth. In a moment you parryevery thrust. It is lucky that the war is not of words, for I shouldfind an opponent worthy of my power. But I will come to the question.Pan Charnyetski asks me to liberate this prisoner, offering twoofficers of distinction in return. I do not set such a low price on mysoldiers as you think, and I have no wish to redeem them too cheaply;that would be against my own and their ambition, but since I can refusePan Charnyetski nothing, I will make him a present of this cavalier."

  "Gracious Lord," answered Zagloba, "Pan Charnyetski did not wish toshow contempt for Swedish officers, but compassion for me; for this ismy sister's son, and I, at the service of your Royal Grace, am PanCharnyetski's adviser."

  "In truth," said the king, "I ought not to let the prisoner go, for hehas made a vow against me, unless he will give up his vow in view ofthis favor."

  Here he turned to Roh, who was standing in front of the porch, andbeckoned: "But come nearer, you strong fellow!"

  Roh approached a couple of steps, and stood erect.

  "Sadovski," said the king, "ask him if he will let me go in case I freehim."

  Sadovski repeated the king's question.

  "Impossible!" cried Roh.

  The king understood without an interpreter, and began to clap his handsand blink.

  "Well, well! How can I set such a man free? He has twisted the necks oftwelve horsemen, and promises me as the thirteenth. Good, good! thecavalier has pleased me. Is he Pan Charnyetski's adviser too? If he is,I will let him go all the more quickly."

  "Keep your mouth shut!" muttered Zagloba to Roh.

  "A truce to amusement!" said the king, suddenly. "Take him, and havestill one more proof of my clemency. I can forgive, as the lord of thiskingdom, since such is my will and favor; but I will not enter intoterms with rebels."

  Here the king frowned, and the smile left his face: "Whoso raises hishand against me is a rebel, for I am his lawful king. Only fromkindness to you have I not punished hitherto as was proper. I have beenwaiting for you to come to your minds; but the hour will strike whenkindness will be exhausted and the day of punishment will rise. Throughyour self-will and instability the country is flaming with fire;through your disloyalty blood is flowing. But I tell you the last daysare passing; you do not wish to hear admonitions, you do not wish toobey laws, you will obey the sword and the gallows!"

  Lightnings flashed in Karl's eyes. Zagloba looked on him awhile withamazement, unable to understand whence that storm had come after fairweather; finally he too began to grow angry, therefore he bowed andsaid only,--

  "We thank your Royal Grace."

  Then he went off, and after him Kmita, Volodyovski, and Roh Kovalski.

  "Gracious, gracious!" said Zagloba, "and before you can look around hebellows in your ear like a bear. Beautiful end to an embassy! Othersgive honor with a cup at parting, but he with the gallows! Let him hangdogs, not nobles! O my God! how grievously we have sinned against ourking, who was a father, is a father, and will be a father, for there isa Yagyellon heart in him. And such a king traitors deserted, and wentto make friendship with scarecrows from beyond the sea. We are servedrightly, for we were not worthy of anything better. Gibbets! gibbets!He is fenced in, and we have squeezed him like curds in a bag, so thatwhey is coming out, and still he threatens with sword and gibbet. Waitawhile! The Cossack caught a Tartar, and the Tartar has him by thehead. It will be closer for you yet.--Roh, I wanted to give you a slapon the face or fifty blows on a carpet, but I forgive you now since youacted so like a cavalier and promised to hunt him still farther. Let mekiss you, for I am delighted with you."

  "Uncle is still glad!" said Roh.

  "The gibbet and the sword! And he told that to my eyes," said Zaglobaagain, after a while. "You have protection! The wolf protects in thesame fashion a sheep for his own eating. And when does he say that?Now, when there is goose skin on his own back. Let him take hisLaplanders for counsellors, and with them seek Satan's aid. But theMost Holy Lady will help us, as she did Pan Bobola in Sandomir whenpowder threw him and his horse across the Vistula, and he was not hurt.He looked around to see where he was, and arrived in time to dine withthe priest. With such help we will pull them all by the necks likelobsters out of a wicker trap."