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

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XLVI.

  But a certain day Panna Anusia Borzobogati arrived at Taurogi with aconvoy of some tens of soldiers.

  Braum received her very politely, for he had to do so, since he wasthus commanded by a letter from Sakovich, signed by Boguslav himself,enjoining him to have every regard for this lady-in-waiting of PrincessGriselda Vishnyevetski. The young lady herself was full of vivacity;from the first moment she began to pierce Braun with her eyes, so thatthe sullen German moved about as if some one were touching him withfire; she began also to command other officers,--in a word, to managein Taurogi as in her own house. In the evening of the same day she madethe acquaintance of Olenka, who received her with distrust, it is true,but politely, in the hope that she would get news from her.

  In fact, Anusia had news in plenty. Her conversation began withChenstohova, since the prisoners in Taurogi were most eager for thatnews. The sword-bearer listened with special diligence; he held hishands behind his ears so as to lose no word, merely interruptingAnusia's narrative from time to time with the exclamation,--

  "Praise be to God on high!"

  "It is a wonder to me," said Anusia, at last, "that news of thesemiracles of the Most Holy Lady have only just reached you, for that isan old story. I was still in Zamost, and Pan Babinich had not come forme--ai! how many weeks was it before that? Then they began to beat theSwedes everywhere, in Great Poland and with us; but most of all PanCharnyetski, before whose very name they fly."

  "Oh, Charnyetski!" cried the sword-bearer, rubbing his hands; "he willgive them pepper! I heard of him even from the Ukraine, as of a greatwarrior."

  Anusia merely shook her dress, and exclaimed to herself with aversion,as if it were a question of the smallest matter: "Oh, it is all overwith the Swedes!"

  Old Pan Tomash could not restrain himself. Seizing her small hand, heburied the little thing entirely in his enormous mustaches and kissedit eagerly; at last he cried,--

  "Oh, my beauty! honey flows from your mouth, as God is dear to me! Itcannot be but an angel has come to Taurogi."

  Anusia began at once to twist the ends of her tresses, tied with rosyribbons, and cutting with her eyes from under her brows, said,--

  "Oh, it is far from me to the angels! But the hetmans of the kingdomhave begun to beat the Swedes, and all the quarter soldiers with them,and the knights; and they have formed a confederation in Tyshovtsi. Theking has joined it, and they have given out manifestoes; even thepeasants are beating the Swedes, and the Most Holy Lady gives Herblessing."

  She spoke as if a bird were warbling, but from that warblingBillevich's heart grew soft, though some of the news was already knownto him. He bellowed at last like an aurochs from delight; tears, too,began to flow over the face of Olenka, silent and many.

  Seeing this, Anusia, having a good heart from nature, sprang to her atonce, and putting her arms around her neck, began to say quickly,--

  "Do not cry; I am sorry for you, and cannot see you shed tears. Why doyou weep?"

  There was so much sincerity in her voice that Olenka's distrustvanished at once; but the poor girl wept still more.

  "You are so beautiful," said Anusia, comforting her. "Why do you cry?"

  "From joy," answered Olenka, "but also from suffering; for we are herein grievous captivity, knowing neither the day nor the hour."

  "How is that? Are you not with Prince Boguslav?"

  "That traitor! that heretic!" roared Billevich.

  "The same has happened to me," said Anusia; "but I do not cry for thatreason. I do not deny that the prince is a traitor and a heretic; buthe is a courteous cavalier, and respects our sex."

  "God grant that in hell they will respect him in the same fashion!Young lady, you know him not, for he has not attacked you as he hasthis maiden. He is an arch-ruffian, and that Sakovich is another. Godgive Sapyeha to defeat them both!"

  "As to defeating, he will defeat them. Prince Boguslav is terriblysick, and he has not a great force. It is true that he advancedquickly, scattered some squadrons, and took Tykotsin and me; but it isnot for him to measure with the forces of Pan Sapyeha. You may trustme, for I saw both armies. With Pan Sapyeha are the greatest cavaliers,who will be able to manage Prince Boguslav."

  "Well, do you see! have I not told you?" asked the old man, turning toOlenka.

  "I know Prince Boguslav from of old," continued Anusia, "for he is arelative of the Vishnyevetskis and Zamoyski; he came once to us atLubni, when Prince Yeremi himself was campaigning against the Tartarsin the Wilderness. He remembered that I was at home there and nearestthe princess. I was such a little thing then, not as I am to-day. MyGod! who could think at that time that he would be a traitor? Butgrieve not; for either he will fail to return, or we shall escape fromthis place in some way."

  "We have tried that already," said Olenka.

  "And you did not succeed?"

  "How could we?" asked Billevich. "We told the secret to an officer whomwe thought ready to aid us; but it turned out that he was ready tohinder, not to help. Seniority over all here is with Braun,--the Devilhimself could not win that man."

  Anusia dropped her eyes.

  "Maybe I can. If Pan Sapyeha would only come, so that we might havesome one with whom to take refuge."

  "God give him at the earliest," answered Pan Tomash, "for among his menwe have many relatives, acquaintances, and friends. Among them, too,are former officers of the great Yeremi,--Volodyovski, Skshetuski,Zagloba,--I know them."

  "But they are not with Sapyeha. Oh, if they were, especiallyVolodyovski, for Shshetuski is married, I should not be here, for PanVolodyovski would not let himself be picked up as Pan Kotchyts did."

  "He is a great cavalier," said Billevich.

  "The glory of the whole Commonwealth," added Olenka.

  "Have they not fallen, since you did not see them?"

  "Oh, no!" answered Anusia, "for the loss of such knights would bespoken of; but nothing was said. You do not know them, they will neveryield; only a bullet will kill them, for no man can stand beforeSkshetuski, Zagloba, or Pan Michael. Though Pan Michael is small, Iremember what Prince Yeremi said of him,--that if the fate of the wholeCommonwealth depended on a battle between one man and another, he wouldchoose Pan Michael for the battle. He was the man who conquered Bogun.Oh, no, Pan Michael will help himself always."

  Billevich, satisfied that he had some one with whom to talk, began towalk with long strides through the room, asking,--

  "Well, well! Then do you know Pan Volodyovski so intimately?"

  "Yes; for we lived in the same place so many years."

  "Indeed! Then certainly not without love!"

  "I'm not to blame for that," answered Anusia, taking a timid posture;"but before this time surely Pan Michael is married."

  "And he is just not married."

  "Even if he were, it is all one to me."

  "God grant you to meet! But I am troubled because you say that they arenot with the hetman, for with such soldiers victory would be easier."

  "There is some one there who is worth them all."

  "Who is he?"

  "Pan Babinich from Vityebsk. Have you heard of him?"

  "Not a word; which is a wonder to me."

  Anusia began to relate the history of her departure from Zamost, andeverything that happened on the road. Babinich grew in her narrative tosuch a mighty hero that the sword-bearer was at a loss to know who hewas.

  "I know all Lithuania," said he. "There are houses, it is true, withsimilar names, such as Babonaubek, Babill, Babinovski, Babinski, andBabiski. Babinich I have not heard, and I think it must be an assumedname; for many who are in parties take such names, so that theirproperty and relatives may not suffer from the enemy. Hm! Babinich! Heis some fiery cavalier, since he was able to settle Zamoyski in thatfashion."

  "Oh, how fiery!" cried Anusia.

  The old man fell into good humor. "How is that?" asked he, stoppingbefore Anusia and putting his hands on his hips.

&
nbsp; "If I tell you, you'll suppose God knows what"

  "God preserve me, I will suppose nothing."

  "Barely had we come out of Zamost when Pan Babinich told me that someone else had occupied his heart, and though he received no rent, stillhe did not think of changing the tenant."

  "And do you believe that?"

  "Of course I believe it," answered Anusia, with great vivacity;"he must be in love to his ears, since after so long atime--since--since--"

  "Oh, there is some 'since he would not,'" said the old man, laughing.

  "But I say that," repeated Anusia, stamping her foot, "since-- Well, weshall soon hear of him."

  "God grant it!"

  "And I will tell you why. As often as Pan Babinich mentioned PrinceBoguslav, his face grew white, and his teeth squeaked like doors."

  "He will be our friend!" said the sword-bearer,

  "Certainly! And we will flee to him, if he shows himself."

  "If I could escape from this place, I would have my own party, and youwould see that war is no novelty to me either, and that this old handis good for something yet."

  "Go under command of Pan Babinich."

  "You have a great wish to go under his command."

  They chatted yet for a long time in this fashion, and always morejoyously; he that Olenka, forgetting her grief, became notably morecheerful, and Anusia began at last to laugh loudly at the sword-bearer.She was well rested; for at the last halting-place in Rossyeni she hadslept soundly; she left them then only late in the evening.

  "She is gold, not a maiden!" said Billevich, after she had gone.

  "A sincere sort of heart, and I think we shall soon come toconfidence," answered Olenka.

  "But you looked at her frowningly at first."

  "For I thought that she was some one sent here. Do I know anythingsurely? I fear every one in Taurogi."

  "She sent? Perhaps by good spirits! But she is as full of tricks as aweasel. If I were younger I don't know to what it might come; even asit is a man is still desirous."

  Olenka was delighted, and placing her hands on her knees, she put herhead on one side, mimicking Anusia, and looking askance at her uncle.

  "So, dear uncle! you wish to bake an aunt for me out of that flour?"

  "Oh, be quiet, be quiet!" said the sword-bearer.

  But he laughed and began to twist his mustache with his whole hand;after a time he added,--

  "Still she roused such a staid woman as you; I am certain that greatfriendship will spring up between you."

  In truth, Pan Tomash was not deceived, for in no long time a verylively friendship was formed between the maidens; and it grew more andmore, perhaps just for this reason,--that the two were completeopposites. One had dignity in her spirit, depths of feeling, invinciblewill, and reason; the other, with a good heart and purity of thought,was a tufted lark. One, with her calm face, bright tresses, and anunspeakable repose and charm in her slender form, was like an ancientPsyche; the other, a real brunette, reminded one rather of an _ignisfatuus_, which in the night hours entices people into pathless placesand laughs at their vexation. The officers in Taurogi, who looked atboth every day, were seized with the desire to kiss Olenka's feet, butAnusia's lips.

  Kettling, having the soul of a Scottish mountaineer, hence full ofmelancholy, revered and adored Olenka; but from the first glance hecould not endure Anusia, who paid him in kind, making up for her losseson Braun and others, not excepting the sword-bearer of Rossyenihimself.

  Olenka soon won great influence over her friend, who with perfectsincerity of heart said to Pan Tomash,--

  "She can say more in two words than I in a whole day."

  But the dignified lady could not cure her vain friend of one defect,coquetry; for let Anusia only hear the rattle of spurs in the corridor,immediately she would pretend that she had forgotten something, thatshe wanted to see if there were tidings from Sapyeha; would rush intothe corridor, fly like a whirlwind, and coming up against an officer,cry out,--

  "Oh, how you frightened me!"

  Then a conversation would begin, intermingled with twisting of herskirts, glancing from under her brows, and various artful looks,through the aid of which the hardest heart may be conquered.

  This coquetry Olenka took ill of her, all the more that Anusia after afew days confessed to a secret love for Babinich. They discussed thisamong themselves more than once.

  "Others beg like minstrels," said Anusia; "but this dragon chose tolook at his Tartars rather than at me, and he never spoke otherwisethan in command,--'Come out, my lady! eat, my lady! drink, my lady!'And if he had been rude at the same time, but he was not; if he had notbeen painstaking, but he was! In Krasnystav I said to myself, 'Do notlook at me--wait!' And in Lanchna I was so overcome that it wasterrible. I tell you that when I looked into his blue eyes, and when helaughed, gladness seized me, such a prisoner was I."

  Olenka dropped her head, for blue eyes came to her memory too; and thatone spoke in the same way, and he had command ever on his lips,activity ever in his face, but neither conscience nor the fear of God.

  Anusia, following her own thoughts, continued,--

  "When he flew over the field on his horse, with his baton, I thought,That is an eagle or some hetman. The Tartars feared him more than fire.When he came, there had to be obedience; and when there was a battle,fires were striking him from desire of blood. I saw many worthycavaliers in Lubni, but one such that fear seized me in his presence Ihave never seen."

  "If the Lord God has predestined him to you, you will get him; but thathe did not love you, I cannot believe."

  "As to love, he loves me a little, but the other more. He told mehimself more than once, 'It is lucky that I am not able to forget orcease loving, for it would be better to confide a kid to a wolf thansuch a maiden as you are to me."

  "What did you say to that?"

  "I said, 'How do you know that I would return your love?' And heanswered, 'I should not have asked you.' Now, what are you to do withsuch a man? That other woman is foolish not to love him, and she musthave callousness in her heart. I asked what her name is, but he wouldnot tell me. 'Better,' said he, 'not to touch that, for it is a sore;and another sore,' said he, 'is the Radzivills,--the traitors!' Andthen he made such a terrible face that I would have hidden in amouse-hole. I simply feared him. But what is the use in talking? He isnot for me!"

  "Ask Saint Michael for him; I know from Aunt Kulvyets that he is thebest aid in such cases. Only be careful not to offend the saint byduping more men."

  "I never will, except so much,--the least little bit."

  Here Anusia showed on her finger how much; and she indicated at mostabout half the length of the nail, so as not to anger Saint Michael.

  "I do not act so from waywardness," explained she to Billevich, whoalso had begun to take her frivolity to heart; "but I must, for ifthese officers do not help us we shall never escape."

  "Braun will not let us out."

  "Braun is overcome!" replied Anusia, with a thin voice, dropping hereyes.

  "But Fitz-Gregory?"

  "He is overcome too!" with a voice still thinner.

  "And Ottenhagen?"

  "Overcome!"

  "And Von Irhen?"

  "Overcome!"

  "May the forest surround you! I see that Kettling is the only man whomyou could not manage."

  "I cannot endure him! But some one else will manage him. Besides, wecan go without his permission."

  "And you think that when we wish to flee they will not hinder?"

  "They will go with us!" said Anusia, stretching her neck and blinking.

  "For God's sake! then why do we stay here? I should like to be far awaythis day."

  But from the consultation which followed at once, it appeared needfulto await the decision of Boguslav's fate and Pan Sapyeha's arrival inthe neighborhood of Jmud. Otherwise they would be threatened byterrible destruction from even their own people. The society of foreignofficers not only would not be a defence, but would add
to theirdanger; for the peasants were so terribly envenomed against foreignersthat they murdered without mercy every one who did not wear a Polishdress. Even Polish dignitaries wearing foreign costume, not to speak ofAustrian and French diplomats, could not travel save under theprotection of powerful bodies of troops.

  "You will believe me, for I have passed through the whole country,"said Anusia. "In the first village, in the first forest, ravagers wouldkill us without asking who we are. It is impossible to flee except toan army."

  "But I shall have my own party."

  "Before you could collect it, before you could reach a village whereyou are known, you would lose your life. News from Prince Boguslav mustcome soon. I have ordered Braun to inform me at once."

  But Braun reported nothing for a long time.

  Kettling, however, began to visit Olenka; for she, meeting him on acertain day, extended her hand to him. The young officer prophesiedevil from this profound silence. According to him the prince, out ofregard for the elector and the Swedes, would not hold silence touchingthe least victory, and would rather exaggerate by description thanweaken by silence the significance of real successes.

  "I do not suppose that he is cut to pieces," said the young officer;"but he is surely in such a difficult position that it is hard to finda way out."

  "All tidings arrive here so late," said Olenka, "and the best proof isthat we learned first from Panna Borzobogati, the particulars of themiraculous defence of Chenstohova."

  "I, my lady, knew of that long ago, but, as a foreigner, not knowingthe value which that place has for Poles, I did not mention it. That ina great war some small castle defends itself for a time, and repulses anumber of storms, happens always, and importance is not attached to itusually."

  "But still for me that would have been the most welcome news!"

  "I see in truth that I did ill; for from what has happened since thedefence, as I hear now, I know that to be an important event, which mayinfluence the whole war. Still, returning to the campaign of the princein Podlyasye, it is different. Chenstohova is far away, Podlyasye isnearer. And when the prince succeeded at first, you remember howquickly news came. Believe me, my lady, I am a young man, but from thefourteenth year of my life I am a soldier, and experience tells me thatthis silence, is prophetic of evil."

  "Rather good," said the lady,

  "Let it be good!" answered Kettling. "In half a year my service will beended. In half a year my oath will cease."

  A few days after this conversation news came at last. It was brought byPan Byes of the shield Kornie; called, at Boguslav's court,Cornutus.[8] He was a Polish noble, but altogether foreignized; forserving in foreign armies almost from years of boyhood, he had wellnighforgotten Polish, or at least spoke it like a German. He had also aforeignized soul, hence was greatly attached to Prince Boguslav. He wasgoing on an important mission to Koenigsberg, and stopped in Taurogimerely to rest.

  Braun and Kettling brought him at once to Olenka and Anusia, who atthat time lived and slept together.

  Braun stood like a soldier before Anusia; then turned to Byes andsaid,--

  "This lady is a relative of Pan Zamoyski, therefore of the prince ourlord, who has commanded to show her every attention; and she wishes tohear news from the mouth of an eyewitness."

  Pan Byes in his turn stood erect, as if on service, and awaited thequestions.

  Anusia did not deny relationship with Boguslav, for the homage of themilitary pleased her; therefore she motioned to Pan Byes to sit down.When he had taken his place she asked,--

  "Where is the prince at present?"

  "The prince is retreating on Sokolka, God grant successfully," said theofficer.

  "Tell the pure truth: how is it with him?"

  "I will tell the pure truth and hide nothing, thinking that yourworthiness will find strength in your soul to hear news lessfavorable."

  "I will!" said Anusia, striking one heel against the other under herrobe, with satisfaction that she was called "worthiness," and that thenews was "less favorable."

  "At first everything went well with us," said Byes. "We rubbed out onthe road several bands of peasants; we scattered the forces of theyounger Sapyeha, and cut up two squadrons of cavalry with a regiment ofgood infantry, sparing no one. Then we defeated Pan Horotkyevich, sothat he barely escaped, and some say that he was killed. After that weoccupied the ruins of Tykotsin."

  "We know all this. Tell us quickly the unfavorable news," interruptedAnusia, on a sudden.

  "Be pleased, my lady, to listen calmly. We came to Drohichyn, and therethe map was unfolded. We had news that Sapyeha was still far away;meanwhile two of our scouting parties were as if they had sunk throughthe earth. Not a witness returned from the slaughter. Then it appearedthat some troops were marching in front of us. A great confusion roseout of that. The prince began to think that all preceding informationwas false, and that Sapyeha had not only advanced, but had cut off theroad. Then we began to retreat, for in that way it was possible tocatch the enemy and force him to a general battle, which the princewished absolutely. But the enemy did not give the field; he attackedand attacked without ceasing. From that everything began to melt in ourhands; we had rest neither day nor night. The roads were ruined beforeus, the dams cut, provisions intercepted. Reports were soon circulatedthat Charnyetski himself was crushing us. The soldiers did not eat, didnot sleep; their courage fell. Men perished in the camp itself, as ifthe ground were swallowing them. In Byalystok the enemy seized a wholeparty again, camp-chests, the prince's carriages and guns. I have neverseen anything like it. It was not seen in former wars, either. Theprince was changed. He wanted nothing but a general battle, and he hadto fight ten small ones every day, and lose them. Order became relaxed.And how can our confusion and alarm be described when we learned thatSapyeha himself had not come up yet, and that in front of us was merelya strong party which had caused so many disasters? In this party wereTartar troops."

  Further words of the officer were interrupted by a scream from Anusia,who, throwing herself suddenly on Olenka's neck, cried,--

  "Pan Babinich!"

  The officer was surprised when he heard the name; but he judged thatterror and hatred had wrested this cry from the breast of the worthylady; so only after a while did he continue his narrative:--

  "To whomsover God has given greatness, he has given also strength tobear grievous misfortunes; be pleased, therefore, my lady, to calmyourself. Such indeed is the name of this hell-dweller who hasundermined the success of the whole expedition, and become the cause ofother immense evils. His name, which your worthiness has divined withsuch wonderful quickness, is repeated now with fear and rage by everymouth in our camp."

  "I saw that Babinich at Zamost," said Anusia, hastily; "and could Ihave guessed--"

  Here she was silent, and no one knew what would have happened in suchan event. The officer, after a moment's silence, continued,--

  "Thaws and heat set in, despite, it may be said, the regular order ofnature; for we had news that in the south of the Commonwealth there wasstill severe winter; but we were wading in spring mud, which fastenedour heavy cavalry to the earth. But he, having light troops, advancedwith more ease. We lost wagons and cannon at every step, and wereforced at last to go on horseback. The inhabitants round about, intheir blind venom, favored the attackers. What God gives will happen;but I left the whole camp in a desperate condition, as well as theprince himself, whom a malignant fever does not leave, and who loseshis power for whole days. A general battle will come quickly; but howit will end, God knows. If He favors, we may hope for wonders."

  "Where did you leave the prince?"

  "A day's journey from Sokolka. The prince intends to intrench himselfat Suhovola or Yanov and receive battle. Sapyeha is two days distant.When I came away, we had a little more freedom; for from a capturedinformant we learned that Babinich himself had gone to the main camp;without him the Tartars dare not attack, satisfying themselves withannoying scouting parties. The prince, who is an inc
omparable leader,places all his hopes on a general battle, but, of course, when he iswell; if the fever seizes him, he must think of something else, thebest proof of which is that he has sent me to Prussia."

  "Why do you go?"

  "Either the prince will win the battle or lose it. If he loses it, allElectoral Prussia will be defenceless, and it may happen easily thatSapyeha will pass the boundaries, force the elector to a decision,--Isay this, for it is no secret, I go to forewarn them to have somedefence prepared for those provinces; for the unbidden guests may comein too great numbers. That is the affair of the elector and the Swedes,with whom the prince is in alliance, and from whom he has the right toexpect rescue."

  The officer finished.

  Anusia heaped a multitude of other questions on him, preserving withdifficulty dignity sufficient. When he went out, she gave way toherself completely. She fell to striking her skirts with her hands,turning on her heels like a top, kissing Olenka on the eyes, pullingBillevich by the sleeves, and crying,--

  "Well, now, what did I say? Who has crushed Prince Boguslav? Maybe PanSapyeha? A fig for Sapyeha! Who will crush the Swedes in the samestyle? Who will exterminate traitors? Who is the greatest cavalier, whois the greatest knight? Pan Andrei, Pan Andrei!"

  "What Andrei?" asked Olenka, growing pale suddenly.

  "Have I not told you that his name is Andrei? He told me that himself.Pan Babinich! Long life to Babinich! Volodyovski could not have donebetter!--What is the matter, Olenka?"

  Panna Billevich shook herself as if wishing to throw off a burden ofgrievous thoughts. "Nothing! I was thinking that traitors themselvesbear that name. For there was one who offered to sell the king,dead or alive, to the Swedes or to Boguslav; and he had the samename,--Andrei."

  "May God condemn him!" roared Billevich. "Why mention traitors atnight? Let us be glad when we have reason."

  "Only let Pan Babinich come here!" added Anusia. "That's what isneeded! I will fool Braun still more. I will, I will, of purpose toraise the whole garrison, and go over with men and horses to PanBabinich."

  "Do that, do that!" cried Billevich, delighted.

  "And afterward--a fig for all those Germans! Maybe he will forget thatgood-for-nothing woman, and give me his lo--"

  Then again her thin voice piped; she covered her face with her hands.All at once an angry thought must have come to her, for she clapped herhands, and said,--

  "If not, I will marry Volodyovski!"